3.5 stars Came here for my birthday last weekend. Overall, I enjoyed the meal. All of the dishes were good to great. I would describe it as Japanese-ish. Service was good (not exceptional). We ordered the $99 tasting menu. My partner just started ozempic (or one of those) and he didn't want the $139 tasting menu (I did) and, of course, we both needed to order the same menu so we did the "ozempic" menu. Unfortunately, I found the portions pretty chintzy and I left hungry. I also felt like the experience was rushed. For instance, they bring out, like, 6 dishes at once. It was hard for me to absorb or remember what I ate because there was so much at once. Then the larger courses all came in the second round. Now, I'm not one of those people who likes to sit at the dinner table and confabulate over coffee once the meal is over, but I was hoping for something a bit more for birthday. Since I can't really remember everything that was served to me, I will abbreviate the experience: Good: citrus salad, short rib, fried rice. The citrus salad was bursting with flavor. The short rib was glazed with hoisin and bursting with flavor. The fried rice had great flavor and tons of texture......I just wanted more....of all of it. Meh: beef tartar on sushi rice. It was served with dried seaweed so that you could make your own handroll. The only problem was that there was maybe a hockey puck size serving to share between us so not really enough to fit into the seaweed. The seaweed completely overpowered any flavor that the tartar had. I decided to eat the rest of it without the seaweed but the damage was already done. All I could taste was seaweed from that point on. Also, the soft serve ice cream they served at the end was a pretty pathetic way to end a tasting menu, especially after seeing these huge mounded of shaved ice and amazing looking cheesecake served to other tables. The cocktails were pretty good. The msg martini, shiso gimlet and alpine colada were good. Makrut lime fizz was fine but forgettable. Overall, liked the flavors, but was a bit disappointed with the overall experience. I don't like spending $100 on food (not including tax, tip and drinks) and leaving hungry. It just didn't feel special. If I go, I recommend ordering à la carte. read more

We went into Ernest wanting to try their medium-rare basque cheesecake, so we got that for takeout. For some reason, the cheesecake had an odd taste for me and my partner even though basque cheesecake is one of our favorite desserts. I was rather disappointed with the flavor since it tasted oddly tart. The texture also wasn't as gooey as I thought it was going to be. I'm giving four stars since I haven't tried their actual food and the service was good. read more

Ernest - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Food was excellent! Service was good for the most part. Other than our server constantly brushing past me (once almost knocking my glass out of my hand, and then keeping his butt right in my face so close that i couldn't pick up my fork to eat), we enjoyed our visit. The lamb was the best I've had in years, as was the squid dish. The swordfish prosciutto was a little heavy on the melon & light on the fish. The basque cheesecake had a great texture, but was overly salty. read more

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Our friend wanted a fancy night out for her birthday . We were 30 minutes late. My dumbass typed Earnest on Google maps instead of Ernest which took me from Moscone to Mission . Girls also had to get ready so were enjoying their drinks . For parking , there's only street parking available. Their cocktail selection was amazing . Tbh it was the highlight of the night . My favorite was the baiju milk punch which had baiju , whiskey and toasted sesame. It was definitely an interesting drink and a most try . If you are late , you aren't able to choose the tasting menu as the the kitchen needs time to prep . Customers with dietary restrictions must be told in advance as they don't have the ingredients to substitute. We ordered almost everything on the menu . Here my highlights: -Uni toast was creamy and nice . -Beef tartare and Ikura was a great combo . The burst of ikura and fattiness of the beef goes hand in hand -Hamachi collar was bony and meaty . The drizzle of the hot sauce and blue cheese was interesting combo of heat and funk . Herbal garnish gave it an earthy accent . -sadly , there was only 4 pork Tsukune and 4 leeks . Egg yolk was incorporated into the juices and sauce. Both pork and leek were charred . Great charred flavors . Lemon helps cut the charred intensity . -basque or burnt cheesecake wins dessert . It was light, airy and creamy . It could have been more darker . Staff was attentive with our need for water Dishes ordered: Sushi Rice Ikura, Raw Beef, Toasted Nori Uni Toast Jidors Egg Yolk, Brioche Bluefin Tuna Carpaccio Nicoise King Salmon Tostada Chile Morita, Daikon Parker House Rolls House Cultured Butter & Its Milk Maitake Tempura Romesco, Castelvetrano Olives Entree Hamachi Collar Ernest Hot Sauce, Blue Cheese Dressing BBQ Pork Tsukune Leeks, Jidori Egg Yolk Hanger Steak Frites Miso Au Poivre Dessert Medium Rare Basque Cheesecake Hazelnut Soft Serve Sundae Orange Creamsicle Kakigori read more

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We went for a birthday celebration. The 3 of us loved the food. We did the $139 per person Chef's choice. The selection and portions were abundant. The food was creative and the taste was fresh and vibrant. The service was excellent. read more

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Good food in a great space sums up Ernest, which has some really unique dishes. The halibut katsu sando with homemade tartar sauce was just awesome. Uni toast! Need a whole loaf of Uni toast! I forgot the picture of the soft serve ice cream too. Everything was fresh and flavorful. The service was very attentive and always on point, checking up on us if we needed anything. It's not realistic to order everything, but you almost feel like you want to. So good! Must come back! read more

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Loved the interior and feel of the restaurant Highlight is the fried rice - great texture on the grains and enjoyed the bites of veggies mixed in. The ikura tartar was delicious. The parker rolls have a nice crunch on the exterior and fluffy inside. And soft serve is always a must to finish off the meal! Pork tsukune was nothing out of ordinary - the leek could have been cooked less to hold texture. On the plus, the steak frites was tender and well cooked. read more

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Finally came back for their pre fixe menu after having sampling a few dishes! First of all, we came for a birthday and they spent time writing a handwritten note, and added a candle to the dessert at the end as a special treat. It was thoughtful and really appreciated the gesture. We ordered the $139 pre fixe menu, which includes a sampling of all the appetizers vs. a select few appetizers for the $99 pre fixe menu. The appetizers were truly amazing and rich in taste. I love all the appetizers. Then, they serve the vegetables which were the salad and carrots. Both were not to my preference and the carrot has way too much sauce. Then can the entree. We had steak with fries and fried rice. The steak was perfect and so was the parings. The fried rice was amazing and I would come back for just the fried rice. Lastly, we had the shaved ice with orange flavor! It wasn't exactly an Asian flavor I was hoping for and the panna cotta in the shaved ice was a bit disappointing as well. Overall, the food was good enough for me to come back especially for the appetizers and entree. The service was also phenomenal. They were so attentive and made sure our water was always filled up. read more

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Amazing service and overall great value for their chef's tasting menu. My partner and I both left feeling full. The only critique I have is that the flavor profiles for some dishes weren't as balanced as I would have liked. Certain dishes would definitely have benefited with a bit more acidity and lacked some clarity with the flavors running somewhat muddy. My favorite dish was their egg and tomatoes in the ramen broth, the broth was delicious! read more

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Solid 4 stars! Food is very good. Love the uni toast! Service is good, but seems like they could use one or two more servers. Love the decor, from the fortune lucky cats to the nice bar area...very creative and roomy. read more

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was difficult to find b/c it was not on bryant but around the corner but once found, LOVED the decor. Not a quiet stuffy restaurant. But a fun and yummy one. We got almost everything on the menu from the cooked side and my colleagues got the sushi rice with beef tartar, ikura and toasted nori. Parker House rolls with cultured butter. yum! Tete de Cochon croquettes with thai peanut, yum! Honey Walnut Prawns, yum! large prawns. Grilled Ribeye chimichurri and onion rings. $$$ smoked early girl tomatoes with ramen egg. ooo so smoky and yum burrata, figs, hazelnut + scallion pancake. got it for the panacke but the rest was yum watermelon with ricotta, yum service was attentive. perfect definitely coming here again! read more

Ernest - Menu 8.2025 - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Someone in my life who has their namestake in this restaurant brought me here as I do pride myself on being a foodie and open to trying new and all dishes. We had a reservation for 7:45PM in the dining room and arrived accordingly, however were seated mid 8PM, which felt so odd as we all crowded in the front of the restaurant and were eventually led to an already set two seater near the podium. This left us scratching our heads, but we decided to bypass this and get right to ordering since we already had enough waiting time to scheme, and order the below: Uni Toast Bluefin Tuna Carpaccio Belgian Endive Black Cod Mezcal Negroni 2021 Ampeleia 'Rosato di Ampeleia' Carignan/Alicante Tuscany It was an odd interaction because we kept making eye contact with servers in order to start the night, and right when they came near our table, they walked up the stairs so I suppose seating equates to attentive service here. The uni toast made me smile since the toast tasted like a croissant bread, the endive salad was perfectly seasoned with each leaf having enough dressing but not an overwhelming amount, the halibut was disappointing because they had to notify us that this was the substitute fish being served (tasted like something my mom could prepare at home). All in all, the tuna carpaccio was sadly the highlight of our meal-the combination of tuna with Asian pear, sesame/miso sauce was chef's kiss and seamlessly felt like something you could finely dice up to make hand rolls for a night in. Unfortunately, the lack of service/attentiveness and the mediocre meal would maybe not warrant a trip back, however appreciate our server bringing out the medium rare Basque cheesecake-the charred top was the best. read more

Ernest - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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*4.5 stars rounded up Make sure to make your reservation early because they do get booked out quickly! Parking is fairly easy in the area, we came a bit early and were seated before our reservation time. We opted for the $99 tasting menu, and added uni toasts on the side. For the 3 of us, it was quite a lot of food! We were definitely stuffed by the end. My favorites were the uni toast, everything in the raw seafood course, the rolls, the broccolini and squid, the fried rice, and the ice cream sundae. The ingredients were fresh, and the sauces used in the dishes were all delicious. I will say that we were surprised there wasn't really a meat dish (except for the beef check croquette), especially for the price point. There were also some dishes that were better than others, but overall the flavors were all very solid! Would recommend to come for a special occasion. read more

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Hubby surprised me by going to the city to this Ernest place. Since it was our first time going there the waiter Oscar suggested we did "Let the kitchen cook for you." We chose the $99 menu since the $139 was not available anymore. Oscar said the $139 menu had uni and caviar and they ran out of them. Love the whole thing! You practically get to taste majority of the dishes on the menu without having to think. Since it was to celebrate my birthday, in addition to the 2 desserts they also gave me a HUGE shaved ice. Oscar is a wonderful waiter, he made the experience really enjoyable. Would definetely return. read more

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Came for birthday dinner and thought this place was great! Loved sitting in front of the beautiful bar and service was pretty quick We did sushi rice, scallop sashimi, beef cheek karokke, fried rice, lamb shoulder and katsu dishes. I also got a cocktail which was delicious and creamy. Honestly really enjoyed all the dishes here and the mains were decent portions. Consider taking some leftovers back but we managed to finish everything. read more

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Good food, good service. Some dishes are super delicious and have me thinking over and over again, some are just decent for the quality and price we paid. We made a reservation a few days in advanced and the restaurant was quite filled on a weekday night. Food: The fried rice is a MUST GET I love every bite of it. There's salted egg yolk bits and cheese that balanced so well with the bitterness from the greens. The rice was well made. I would go back for the fried rice. Honestly we could skip the Parker house rolls. I don't really get the appeal of it - the bread tasted just fine and nothing too special. Service wise it was decent. They were busy and it was kind of harder to flag the waiter down. read more

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After having Ernest bookmarked for ages, I finally got the chance to try it--and overall, it was a solid experience. We started with cocktails, which were super creative and a great way to kick off the night. For food, we ordered the uni toast, sushi rice, chilled Monterey Bay squid, Parker House rolls, and Zuckerman's asparagus. My favorite dish of the night was the sushi rice--it was incredibly flavorful with the cured ikura and crispy seaweed, definitely the standout. I also really enjoyed the chilled Monterey Bay squid--it was light, fresh, and had a really clean finish. While every dish was enjoyable and well-prepared, none of them blew me away. The flavors were good, but I was expecting a bit more given the hype. We wrapped up with the Basque cheesecake, which was delicious. It was creamy with a beautifully caramelized top--definitely a satisfying end to the meal. read more

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overall: 5/5 came to celebrate a promotion on Thursday evening with a reservation, came a bit early and was able to get sat immediately. Makrut Lime Fizz: 5/5, i love how the citrus cuts through the drink and really well balanced. We just did the chef's choice and got to try a bit of everything since this was our first time coming. Uni toast, caviar, scallop, sushi rice and oysters were amazing. Did not care much about the shrimp cocktail, a bit too tomato-y for my personal taste. Parker house rolls were really good as expected. Smoked early girl tomato was a sleeper hit, love how good this came out to be. Koshihikari Fried Rice and the short rib were delicious. My favorite was the Yuzu and Cream shaved ice, i loveeee yuzu and it was everything i wanted it to be, layers of cream and flavor between the ice and not just a whole bunch of ice in the middle. If you are on the fence, I would def give this place a try and just do the chef selection to try a bit of everything. Only note is that I would mention is that parking is a bit packed here, so i would come early to try to find a good spot. read more

Modern, open atmosphere means noise level is up there. We arrived about 15 min early before our reservation in hope we can just have a drink before seated. At check in our host said our table won't be ready until then reservation time as expected, but I asked if we can get a drink while we wait, she said we need to wait at the nook and the bar tender would tend to us. She gave us a menu to look at. There were others parties waiting to be seated as well, it was busy and the bar tender never did ask if we need a drink, I finally flagged down a waitress to order my cocktail but by then our table was ready...so ariiving early for cocktail was not the option. Overall the food was good, we love the sushi rice with the raw beef and salmon row most, the oysters was fresh and dressed well with a nice surprise of the crunchy pickle cucumber, the cold squid salad and the halibut was delish. The avocado and eggplant was a bit too rich for me. Service was prompt and attentive, casual vibe, open kitchen. All in all it was a good dinner, glad we tried it. read more

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Not sure if they were having an off night but man I'm so surprised to have left this dinner underwhelmed. I just invited my boyfriend for his birthday and I'm not sure I'll be returning. We opted for the higher tier tasting menu at $140. The seafood course was great, and the following course had some hits and a miss (the carbonara, which was dry and too creamy at the same time). Our entree course was a short rib croquette with a brussels sprout fried rice. It was just alright. The fried rice in particular was pretty dry and left a lot to be desired. Last time I was here, I remember the dessert being a highlight because of the cheesecake we got as a part of the tasting menu. However, at $140 receiving just an ice cream sundae was extremely unfortunate. read more

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My partner and I have been to Ernest a handful of times. My friends came for the first time and thought the food was good however, portions on the smaller side. Earnest is typically booked in advance and restaurant tends to be crowded most days and times. Ordered the steak with onion rings, uni toast, ikura hand rolls, kama, fried rice and the dessert. Unfortunately, we were still hungry afterwards. Given the price point, I wished we'd leave with a full belly. read more

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Ernest is a great value tasting menu in San Francisco. Easy parking, very nice wait staff, and consistently good flavors make it an easy favorite. Some of my top dishes from past visits include the Parker rolls, beef tartare, uni carbonara, soft serve sundae, and kakigori. They are extremely accommodating to those with dietary allergies or restrictions read more

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TLDR: I loved almost everything we ordered for dinner, but if I were to go again, I probably wouldn't get their famous Basque cheesecake dessert again. They have a very seasonal menu so dishes change frequently, but I was so impressed by the depth of flavor of everything we tried that I'm sure that permeates through any menu they serve. Beautiful, modern warehouse-like space in the Mission close to Tartine Manufactory. ------ FOOD / DRINK: 1. [MUST TRY] BBQ Duck Tsukune (5/5) - Incredibly tender duck, and such a fun dish too because you get to beat a raw smoked egg with some seasoning to form a dipping sauce 2. [MUST TRY] Chawanmushi (5/5) - A true flavor explosion. I've had so many version of an egg souffle from different cultures and this was by far the most complex and mind-blowing rendition of it. 3. Makrut Lime Fizz (5/5) - An exceptional cocktail. Not too sweet but sweet enough that you couldn't taste the alcohol. Egg white foam was a great textural addition. 4. Hog Island Oyster (4.5/5) - I'm not an oyster girl but these were fantastic. I'd get them again. 5. Cherry Tomatoes (4/5) - This dish was tasty but not super memorable for me 6. Hanger Steak (3.5/5) - This one is hard to rate. It came with the BEST onion rings I've ever had, not to mention how great it was that they paired this dish with onion rings instead of fries or another classic pairing. However the steak was really unique-tasting. Tasted almost waxy? Hard to explain and maybe it was meant to be that way, but we didn't love this steak and it wasn't what we were expecting. 7. Basque Cheesecake (2.5/5) - The only thing that truly didn't do it for me. It had a strange taste I wasn't expecting, like it used a lot of sour cream that was...very sour. I know they sell this cheesecake as whole cakes too for people to buy so I assume folks actually do this and like it. ------ AMBIANCE / ENVIRONMENT: * The front door can be hard to find and the address online will probably bring you to the wrong corner of the block. Use Google Maps to find the right corner, and look for a metal gate -- that's the front door. You'll be let into a small courtyard before entering the two-level restaurant. The higher level isn't a full-story higher, but it does give you a nice view onto the rest of the restaurant * There's also a private room on the "2nd" floor so you could get that space for an event or birthday * The neighborhood is very quiet and relatively clean/safe. There's lots of parking around the neighboring blocks. ------ SERVICE: * Excellent service throughout the entire meal. We were well taken care of * The kind of place where everyone will stop and great you as you walk by read more

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Bottom line up front: expensive, good food, weird service, tasting menu was too much for us to finish. Full review: Since my parents were visiting town, I needed somewhere suitably celebratory to take them - enter Ernest. I had been eying it for some time due to the buzz it has and the menu which looked intriguing to me given the heavy asian influence. First off it's located in the north mission, not too crowded of an area, easier to find parking, which is nice. The space is lovely - two floors, large, super high ceilings, distinctly industrial. There are stairs inside but there is an ADA accessible elevator if needed. Before we even arrived at the restaurant they called me to make clarifications as I had mentioned on my reservation we had a young child with us. They admonished me for not including them in the reservation (although I did clearly write it in the note) and said they had a strict no stroller policy. I told them it was ok, but they said actually I can bring one if I want but just not in the future. I thanked them, although it seems strange to me to call someone and tell them that you have a rule but that they don't need to follow it. When we arrived at the restaurant, we sat down and were oriented to the menu (a la carte vs tasting) by a very kind waitress who we immediately liked. We instantly saw things we liked the look of - uni toast! kakigori! - but were also intrigued by the possibility of "off menu items" only available with the set menu. To our confusion a different waitress than the first came to our table to take our order, and she was much more brusque and seemed a bit rushed. We ordered the premium tasting menu ($139 pp!!) and she said "I can't hear you -- you need to be more confident when you order. After all... you're getting caviar!!!" We found this a little off-putting but what can you do... it's true that we were getting caviar. The service shenanigans continued as when the first course came it was brought by the earlier waitress who we really liked. Then the second course was brought by the other waitress. They may have a model where servers are not assigned dedicated tables, but I also saw the two of them standing to the side and talking while gesturing to us so I got the impression there might have been some confusion. Also... we asked to talk to someone about wine and they sent over the sommelier who also got off on the wrong foot with us, "What's your question??" "What do you need?" like we were bothering him by asking for a bottle recommendation as if that isn't a normal thing to do in a fancy restaurant. However -- he had some great recommendations and came back a few times to chat with us and we ended up appreciating him. Despite all this, the food was honestly incredible. There was way way too much of it on the tasting menu - it felt like they gave us full size dishes of basically everything on the a la carte menu but the majority of it was amazing. Special shout out to the fish toasts - uni toast was so rich and buttery and the anchovy toast was briny and tasty, and, for me, the char siu BBQ shortrib - so savory and tender! Honorable mention to the tonkatsu and the desserts as well, I see why their cheesecake is famous - I never thought I'd ever had a runny basque cheesecake and like it as much as I did! We packed leftovers and went home at the end, very satisfied. The next night, we had so much remaining we whipped up an incredible fried rice for three people by dumping everything together and it was really great! My wife and I were a little perplexed by the fact that the menu leaned so heavily asian but we know the head chef is not asian himself. However, despite mixed feelings there, he definitely did his food justice, I just wish the service had been a little more befitting of the price point. Overall happy with the experience although it was a significant splurge. I might try another fancy place next time rather than come back here, but I think if you haven't been I would recommend it. Just order a la carte! read more

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I had a memorable experience at Ernest, where the food truly takes center stage. Every dish was executed with bold, thoughtful flavors that felt both global and deeply personal. The plating was elegant without being fussy, and I appreciated how the overall aesthetic, from the ambiance to the cutlery and glassware, remained clean and understated. There's a quiet confidence in letting the food speak for itself, and Ernest does exactly that!! Each bite reaffirmed the kitchen's mastery of both restraint and creativity. The service, while attentive in the technical sense, lacked a bit of warmth. It's something I've come to expect from certain Bay Area dining spots, where hospitality can lean a bit cold. Still, the food made up for it! People replaced silverware between courses and maintained the flow. I'm giving this 4.8 Stars if i could, just because the front-of-house polish didnt quite keep pace with culinary ambition. Ernest absolutely delivers where it matters most, the food! fun fact: They have Maneki-Nekos (Lucky Cats) on ledges with a gold plate under each cat. Each cat represents a supporter for when Ernest was a Kickstarter. how cool! read more

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I was really looking forward to check out this place and it did not disappoint at all. Three space is bright and airy thanks to the high ceiling and huge windows letting in natural light. Front house staff were very friendly and attentive. We decided to try the omakase option to try most of the menu. We started with the cold options with oysters clams and cocktail shrimp. I love the Korean and Japanese infusion too make these pop! The sushi rice with tartar needs something I felt. The Parker rolls were some of the better ones I had. The chrysanthemum needs something too because it was just all leaves. We finished with the shortribs that tasted just like CHASIU but the perfectly battered and fried onion rings were the highlight! I'm definitely coming back to try all the other items! read more

Ernest - Menu - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Ernest is amazing! Their tasting menu is incredible value - make sure you go with more people since they portion according to party size. I went with a group of 5 in October, and we got to try almost their full menu. However a friend went with a group of 3, and wasn't able to try the honey walnut shrimp or the bingsoo. My favorite dishes were the first course (raw / cold starters - the oysters are always phenomenal) and the early girl tomatoes with eggs. Flavor profile on the tomatoes was slightly savory which balanced out the freshness of the tomatoes. read more

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Have been super eager to try this place, this review has been sitting in my drafts. let's summarize....we did the pre-fixe menu without really knowing what we were getting into. I think they should have mentioned that the courses were coming out in 3 waves. Perhaps we missed the moment she said it? But anyways now we know! First wave - all superrrr yummy seafood dishes. We honestly thought this was all we were getting LOL. it was good but obviously we thought oh, we're probably going to be a bit hungry still. So we took our sweet time. Only to realize there was definitely MORE. We were seriously laughing over this the whole night. Second wave and main dishes - we actually didn't love the following courses. I can't remember the dishes, but some were just overly salty (endive salad with xo sauce) or the flavors were just okay (koshikari fried rice was basic). we all had cocktails and those were refreshing and well made. but overall it was a good meal, I think we all agreed we would rather do ala carte next time and pick and choose. The price point was very good as well. We had a concert to head to after dinner, so perhaps if we didn't linger on that first wave, we wouldn't have had to rush and pack everything else to go. Very cute vibey location for date night and GNO. read more

Decided to splurge and come here for my birthday dinner since I was able to get a last minute reservation. We were seated at the bar, at the lower table, but didn't like how close it was to the restroom. My view was basically plates, bottles, and the bathroom door. Between the friendly customer service and the bright, airy ambience, that's about where the good stuff ends for us. We ordered a couple cocktails and the set menu "Let the Kitchen Cook For You" premium version ($139/pp). Unfortunately, neither one of us enjoyed most of the dishes that were put together that evening. I tried! But it just wasn't for us. The flavors didn't seem nuanced or balanced. It also seemed overpriced for what it was. The highlight was probably the ice cream sundae with the birthday candle at the end. The initial bowl of ice cream started to tip over and become lopsided, so the server ended up taking it back to get a new one. I wish she would have just left the old one there too but that's just wishful thinking lol. I can't really say I would come back here or recommend it to others, but maybe we just came on an off night. read more

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Absolutely phenomenal experience at Ernest! The tasting menu is 100% worth it -- just be prepared, it's a lot of food (in the best way). Every course was creative and perfectly balanced. Our favorites were the Ossetra caviar on banana bread, Korean short ribs, uni toast, and that unforgettable dessert. Service was unmatched -- our server and the entire front-of-house team were so warm, knowledgeable, and perfectly timed. Loved the way the flow of the restaurant kept everything relaxed yet elevated. Can't wait to go back! read more

We ordered the VIP tasting which included most of the menu as well as an Uni carbonara that is off menu. Overall flavors were very inventive and portions were large considering the number of dishes (many) including two deserts. The tasting doesn't kind with the kakigori but we got it anyways and it was delicious and refreshing. Great place for a special meal that isn't stuffy. read more

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One of the most memorable meals I've had in the city. Ernest offers Californian-Asian fusion dishes made with local and sustainably sourced ingredients. Each dish is well crafted in terms of flavor profile, unique quality ingredients, and presentation. Ernest offers a chill and intimate atmosphere suitable for dates, small gatherings, or large groups. Every dish was amazing. Must-haves are the sushi rice, Parker house rolls, chrysanthemum greens, koshihikari fried rice, and smothered hanger steak. For dessert, one must get their ginormous shaved ice (seasonal flavors). Ours was jasmine milk tea and peach with yogurt and boba inside, which was heavenly. Come support Ernest and treat yourself, friends, and family to an amazing unforgettable meal. read more

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I'd been wanting to try this place for a while after seeing it on a few different lists, with the tasting menu peaking my interest. I was able to snag a reservation for 2 at the bar on a Sunday at 7:15pm just the day prior. On arrival, I was immediately struck by the tall, glass entrance and industrial/minimalist decor. My partner and I were immediately seated and welcomed by the bartender. We ordered the 2 non-alcoholic drinks that were both very enjoyable. I really liked the shiso tonic, which had a great balance of flavors. We opted for the more expensive tasting menu, which included uni on toast and in a carbonara, and caviar. Honestly, we really enjoyed all of the offerings, but my favorite bites weren't even any of the big ticket items, so next time I dine there I'll probably go for the cheaper tasting menu. If you do enjoy those items though, it's definitely worth the price! The highlights for us were the anchovy & egg dish, the sushi rice & tartare, the tomato & egg in a dashi broth, the fried rice with mushrooms, and the soft serve sundae with praline & a chocolate shell. What I enjoyed was that there were many familiar flavors that were presented in new and exciting ways! The only thing is that once the bar was full, seating felt a bit cramped. Nevertheless, we definitely will be coming back to try another seasonal tasting menu and booking a reservation earlier to ensure a table. read more

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Great restaurant, food, ambience, service, but ultimately fell short. Ordered the tasting menu for $99 and added the Uni Toast a la carte. The tasting menu is a significant amount of food and should fill anyone up. When booked our reservation, it wasn't clear what was the "Dining" and the "lounge" areas. We booked the dining and it was the right decision to be on the upper floor. Definitely recommend. Service was great. Extremely attentive and great job explaining the dishes. The food was great but quite a few dishes missed and felt lacking. I've rated them all below. 5/5 - Sushi Rice - Bluefin Tuna Carpaccio - Radicchio 4/5 - Hanger Steak Frites - Hog Island Oyster - Uni Toast - Grilled Asparagus 3/5 - Parker House Rolls - King Salmon Tostada - Mortadella Croquettes - Koshihikari Fried Rice Settled the bill and surprised restaurants are still sneaking in SF Mandate for 7%. Why not just raise menu prices? $15-$20 doesn't materially make a different, so why "hide it"? read more

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This one's tough -- because the food at Ernest is genuinely delicious. We did the prix fixe menu and every course was creative, beautifully plated, and full of flavor. The hamachi tostada and pork tonkatsu were definite standouts -- bold, layered, and perfectly executed. It's clear the kitchen knows what they're doing. But unfortunately, the night took a turn. My wife ended up getting food poisoning shortly after dinner, and it put a serious damper on what had been a great experience. We're not 100% sure what caused it, but the timing lined up too closely to ignore. Service was friendly, the vibe was energetic and fun, and honestly, I wanted to love this place -- but food safety is a big one, and it's hard to overlook. If everything had gone smoothly, this would've been a 5-star meal. Just hoping it was a one-off issue, because the food really was something special. read more

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This place never disappoints and dining here is always exciting. Each dish is such a delight and i swear every time I bring a new friend here, I love watching them get transported by their first bite of uni toast, or cheesecake. I've been here many times and me and my friends are always giddy and grinning at each course. Service is incredible. They visited us often, gave us great pairing and menu advise, and kept our drinks full. I love how private and smooth the restaurant is. Ernest is such a gem tucked away from busy streets. You HAVE to get the kakigori shaved ice, and sushi rice. Also I'm always impressed with their vegetable dishes. I've never had leeks this tender and flavorful. read more

Ernest - Short ribs, fried rice, tonkatsu - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Awesome experience! Super inventive seasonal menu with a lot of bold Asian flavors. Servers were warm, friendly and engaging. The space is pretty loud and a little generic - good vibes for a group but not sure I'd go there for a date. Price for quality felt good for SF - group of 4, we shared 4 courses a la carte and 3 rounds of drinks, all left super satisfied for less than $200pp. The place was still packed around 10pm. They do a great job of delivering quality for later reservations, a sign to me of a kitchen and staff that cares about guest experience and reputation. read more

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Came for a birthday dinner. Actually loved the food and service and would have given a five star rating easily. However docking two stars because we both got pretty bad food poisoning afterwards :( Service - great service. Our waitress was very attentive and provided helpful recommendations and explanations of the food. Three waiters in all helped change out our cutlery and plates between appetizers and the main in a very well coordinated dance. We also got a table right by the kitchen and was able to observe the comings and goings and marvel at all the different dishes Food - really enjoyed the Asian fusion flavors. The rolls were a true highlight - so fluffy. Even the butter was unique - infused with a Brie like cheese. read more

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Egg roe rice was my favorite item of the night. The clam cucumber was mediocre and not memorable. The chicken was also quite good. The patty was good but I was confused about what I was eating. read more

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Book reservations in advanced! We were on the waitlist for a table of 2 for about 1 week before we were notified via Resy that an availability opened up. This restaurant has a warehouse-style look, otherwise it's nice and spacious. Great service and attentive waitstaff. We checked in with the hostess and she allowed us to switch to a table of our preference. The waitstaff were very attentive and helpful in answering questions about menu items. We ordered 5 appetizers, 1 entree, and 2 drinks for a table of 2, total ~$315 after tip. Strawberry paloma - 3/5 stars. This $16 cocktail contains mezcal so it is smokey. I was anticipating a sweet cocktail, but it wasn't until the ice melted. I would order a different drink next time. Parker House Rolls with House Cultured Butter - 3/5 stars. $9 for 4 rolls with cultured butter. The bread was served hot and soft, however, the flavor of the cultured butter was a bit too odd for me. Hog Island Oysters - 3.5/5 stars. $4.50 each. These oysters were served with Michelada sauce, which both had mild taste/flavors. Nothing too amazing in my opinion. Uni Toast - 3/5. $27 for 1 toast. Normally don't like uni, so it was alright. The flavor of the toast was too strong for the flavor of the uni.. Aonori Doughnuts - 4.5/5 stars. $57 for 6 doughnut holes with a side of caviar. I enjoyed this dish as the caviar added subtle saltiness to the doughnut. Bluefin Tuna Tartare - 5/5 stars. $27 served with two sheets of crispy fried nori. My favorite of all dishes ordered since I normally do not like bluefin tuna. No fishy aftertaste and perfect portion size as an appetizer for 2 people. Shio Koji Hanger Steak with Onion Rings - 3.75/5. $43, served medium rare with side of beer battered deep fried onion rings. To me, the steak was a little more mild and tougher to chew, but the onion rings were crispy, well seasoned, and delicious. Overall: 3.75/5 stars for food, otherwise great service. I'll be able to say I dined here and will remove this from my bookmarks. read more

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