We were in the city visiting, found ourselves near Diamond Heights around dinner time, found this place Ingredients on Yelp. High ratings, few reviews, but we were adventurous and decided to try it, glad we did.
Ingredients is on a corner, looked relatively new from the outside LED "Open" sign prominent in the window. Once we walked in, however, we entered a different world from what we were expecting. Luxurious mustard seats, lots of tables for four, seating with high gray bench banquettes, reminding me of a 70s tune ("Diamonds in the back..."); retro vibe elegantly done with modern lighting and sconces. Not cheesy by any stretch, but in a neighborhood place you could wear sweats or a suit to eat at.
Our waiter was Jackie, an enthusiastic young man who seemed like he wasn't just there to wait on tables. Throughout the evening he was easy to chat with while being knowledgeable about his food he served without being condescending. He made someone unfamiliar with the menu feel new-to-us dishes weren't going to be an experiment.
We ordered the beet salad, the 8 ounce hamburger with fries, the mushroom risotto, and on Jackie's recommendation the Nepal BBQ ribs. In the meantime they served us house made brioche buns-warm, soft, delicate and chewy, flaky; reminded me of Texas Roadhouse buns, but far better. Served with a little olive oil and balsamic in a separated dish, you could eat them plain and enjoy the craftsmanship of baked excellence. We wanted more but in retrospect we would've been filled up with brioche and not enjoyed the meal. Tough choice.
The roasted beet salad, served with shaved fennel, a beet balsamic jus, and an apple-citrus slaw that was fresh, sweet with hints of citrus offset by the fennel so it wasn't cloyingly sweet. The textures were enjoyable-the softness of the beets with the crunch of the fennel slaw, we anxiously cleaned the plate!
Next came the risotto and the burger. What was enjoyable was the mushroom risotto-a refreshing presentation of toothsome Arborio, creamy yet firm, interplaying with a variety of mushrooms that immediately became one of the better risotto we've had, texturally excellent, not one note like most risotto, it came out hot but not searing; deft hands created a concoction that kept us going back for more.
The burger was simple, cooked medium, but one of the best we've had in a very long time. We should qualify the burger as a cheeseburger as we were given a choice- bleu cheese or cheddar, we chose the bleu cheese and it was a good choice, just the right amount complimenting the veggies that came with burger. Oh, the fries-skinny, perfectly fried they stayed equally crunchy from first to last, served in a mini fry basket that was cute but it also showed they meant business, these fries were better than that Irish fast food place, and aren't they the iconic standard of French fries? IMO Ingredients is now the new standard. They were served with house made ketchup, excellent with or without.
The ribs came last originally accompanied by a Mac and cheese but since we ordered risotto they served the ribs separately with a slaw. The ribs were fall-off-the-bone, but a little more savory than sweet , served with just enough sauce to accompany the ribs without being messy, easy enough to eat using knife and fork, the kicker was a hint of five spice, subtle enough if it's in your background, but not an annoyance if it's not. Flavorful, hearty, filling, delicious,
We ended our meal with a homemade "apple pie," a creation made of thinly sliced apples, perhaps poached, with cinnamon, cardamom, allspice, along with fresh fruit, and a yummy scoop of "creamy"mango sorbet. Lots of surprising good vibes-no crust, all apple, not heavy; the mix of spices played well with each other; mango sorbet wasn't icy like sorbets tend to be, the fresh fruits added a touch of freshness to the dish that could have been sweet-centric, but not. A delicate yet satisfying end to a delicious meal.
We met the chef, Sok, at the end of our meal, who had his culinary training n Kathmandu and expanded his repertoire in his world travels. He definitely knows how to elevate a good meal, and his Nepal and French influences add an understated flair to what he cooks. Sok takes tremendous pride in what he presents to the diner, evidenced by who he hires, and how each dish is presented. Dining in Ingredients is gratifying, from the dining room to the staff to the dishes themselves. More people should give Ingredients a try, a gem of a neighborhood find, a rarity in SF! Thank you so much, we have a new favorite restaurant! read more