Yelpers let me down big time. High expectations only to be incredibly let down. Let me start with the Pros so that this review is not completely lopsided. Made reservations a day ahead, it was very nice that they could accommodate us on short notice. Parking was great, the location is a bit closer to the business area to plenty or street parking. 7:30 reservations and was seated promptly. When I made reservations I told them it was my anniversary and they left a nice card on the table. Service was very good but not fantastic. CONS: Here we go! The place is small and packed so the noise level is off the chart, expected. No table cloths but I got the sense this is just not that sort of place, meaning not very upscale, OK can live with that. But let me get to the food. We ordered the Chefs Choice menu for $80 per person and this is what you get along with the cost they charge on the menu and I will explain why later. 1. A cup Roasted Almonds $5. If I wanted nuts I can get at a bar then I would go to a bar. 1 star 2. Bread $4. Comes out warm and is a bit dense, Crust on it was OK. 2 stars 3. King Salmon Collar $8, Tiny, tiny, tiny piece. No meat on the fish collar, taste was ok, better at a Japanese restaurant. 2 stars 4. Sardine Chips $7. This was the best thing I ate all night. They debone the sardine and then stick it between a slice of potato and deep fry it until crispy. 4stars 5. Sugar Snap peas honey mustard $7. This also was a tasty dish but I really could have cooked this at home. 3 stars 6. 4 oysters on a half shell, $3each or $12. Fresh oysters 3 stars The above were all appetizers and one full portion. This is followed by salad, pasta, and meat, all portions were either 1/2 or less in size with no sides. 7. Peach leaf cured hamachi sunflower $15, Hamachi was fresh but all I could taste was the sunflower which was salty and crunchy. Waste of good fish. 2 stars 8. Garganelli shrimp pasta, $18 this was good pasta soft, sauce was tasty. 4 stars 9. Bucatini pork belly pasta, $18. Horrible, pasta was way too al dente and the pork was swimming in fat. 1 star 10. King Salmon green tomato and almonds $26. Taste was OK, I was tired with the seafood at this point and we already salmon app. Plus the skin on my salmon had some scales on it, bad prep, not what you expect for the money. 2 stars 11. New York Steak $30. 2 cubes about 1 1/2 inch square and about 1/2 inch thick. I would think at this size they could afford to serve Wagu. Plus no sides. Taste, average. About as pedestrian as it gets. Big letdown. 2 stars We had 2 dishes not on the menu. 12. Wonton with mushroom filling. It came on a teaspoon, one bite. The texture was weird like the skin was not cooked, the filling was worse, I got some mushroom taste with no filling just mushroom water or something. Fail. 1 star. 13. Melon shaved ice. They told us this was FREE, by this point I'm thinking nothing is Free but OK lets go with. Presentation, like a 3 year old put it together, it was basically melon balls with melon juice foamed up and shaved ice covering it. It came in a huge bowl so it looked like a big bowl of ice, go figure. Taste was what you expect sweet melon balls with ice. 2 stars. Finally Desert! 14. Blue Corn Cake Muffin $9. You get 1/2 of a muffin, really 1/2 with 3 slices of grilled plums and a ton of raw honey. Horrible, all you can taste is the honey. I took one bite and shuddered from the sweetness! FAIL! 1 Star. Here is my main gripe with this place. They left a menu on our table so as the food came we could see what we were eating and how much each item cost. As we ate I watched the same dishes on go to other tables that were 2-3 times our portions size. I'm thinking WTF?! Ok maybe were going to get a bunch of other items not on menu. Not! Other than the nasty mushroom dumpling and shaved ice we got nothing else and in hindsight they really could have kept that off our menu! As the food kept coming the calculator in my head kept adding things up and the problem was that it did not add UP! When you order the Chefs choice menu you expect the best they have to offer and for it be of some value. In our case we basically got about $50-$60 in food for what they charge $80 for. I was full, what they served me was enough food. But I expect to get what I paid for, even if I can't eat it all. If I pay $80 then that is what I expect. So during the whole evening as I watched table after table get the same food as us for less $ I couldn't help but feel cheated! I've been to many expensive restaurants, and you either have to deliver on at least one of many fronts. The place either has to be in a spectacular place, obviously food has to be great, and the service outstanding. Rich Table not only did not deliver on any of these fronts and worse, left me feeling ripped off! Lastly, I did notice that many other tables NOT on the Chefs Choice Menu seemed to be really enjoying themselves. Too bad I was not one of them. read more

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After 6 months of waiting to eat and get a reservation this place completely disappointed me. I don't understand what a hype is about. The only thing that was good was the DOUGLAS FIR LEVAIN with butter. We tried the Dried Porcini Doughnuts which was nothing special, and the pasta that was recommended by our waiter Tajarin pasta was so disappointing, nothing special. This place is so overated. read more

I was incredibly excited to try Rich Table. I love the shared small plates concept and was not disappointed. My dining partner and I were worried about getting seated as walk-ins because of the difficulty in making reservations (usually a month in advance), so we arrived well before the 5pm open time. Our preparation turned out to be unnecessary, and there were several open seats at the bar (the only available area for walk-ins) after all waiting parties had been helped. We tried: Douglas Fir Levain: An excellent starter. Simple, but done very well. Sardine Chips: These were amazing and completely worth trying. I loved them and the horseradish dip, which was not overpowering in the slightest. I just wish I had ordered more. Porcini Doughnuts: I really wanted to love this, but found it to be overly salty. The flavor is comparable to Top Ramen seasoning packets, as my fellow Yelpers have pointed out Aged Beef Wontons: This was delicious and my favorite out of the small bites. The chili oil picked up some of the beef flavor of the wontons and I ended up dipping my bread in it. Oysters: Great savory flavor. We enjoyed it, but not a must-order. Uni Cacio e Pepe Tonnarelli : Disappointing. There was not enough pepper to be labeled a cacio e pepe, and even the cheese flavor seemed somewhat tempered. Uni is such a treat in pasta, so I was expecting there to be pieces throughout the dish. The overall result was bland, failing to highlight and harmonize the three star ingredients. Lobster spaghetti: Whereas the tonnarelli was lacking in flavor, the spaghetti was on the opposite end of the spectrum and was too salty and strangely sweet. I usually like a contrast in flavors, but the diavolo sauce fell flat and reminiscent of a canned version of spaghetti. Ribeye with bone marrow bordelaise: The standout of the night. My partner and I agreed that this was one of the best steaks that we have had. The meat was cooked perfectly and I would return for this dish alone. My partner was blown away by the intricacy of the potato millefeuille. Cyprus Cup: I liked this and it was strong. However, it didn't really taste like mandarin or mango as described. Douglas Fir soft drink: I also enjoyed this drink, but my partner hated it. The Douglas Fir really comes through so it depends on your taste. Our servers (the bartenders) were both friendly, knowledgeable and chatty without being intrusive. Overall, a great first experience. I will definitely return to try more items on their changing menu! read more

I wanted to really like this place, especially since service was amazing, even from the get-go while making reservations. prices are reasonable, including the wine. at the end of the night, tho, we had to admit that most of the dishes didn't hit it (maybe we ordered wrong?). the pork chop was the star of the table -- tender and perfectly seasoned. husband had to fight us off of every bite. especially since both pasta dishes were duds. the porcini doughnuts, while perfectly fried and airy, disappointingly had no porcini flavor. over hyped: sardine chips, altho it's worth trying for 2 bucks. douglas fir levain, unless you really like a mouthful of pine. surprise runner-up: burrata with strawberries and crispy chicken skin bits. sounds gross but don't knock it til you try it. read more

I'd been here once before and really liked it, so I booked our team's holiday dinner here 2 days ago. Since we were 8 people, we had to do the tasting menu for $70/person, which I was a bit worried about because we had a lot of dietary restrictions (1 vegan, 1 no red meat, 1 no beef, 1 pregnant). But we had SUCH a fantastic dinner and it was a STEAL for the price! I called exactly a month in advance (their maximum advance reservation limit) and we were seated promptly at 6 PM. We had no idea what we were eating ahead of time since their menu changes, but when we sat down our waitress told us we were getting ALL 14 ITEMS. We knew we were in for an adventure. Half the things were really good, so now I know which items to order when I pay full price: THE AWESOME: 1. Sardine chips + creme fraiche -- Someone's job at RT is to poke holes in potato chips and thread fish through them. This brings a whole new meaning to "fish and chips." You will seriously never find these anywhere else. They were perfectly crisp and because there are sardines, they are substantive and I don't feel like I'm eating junk food. These are a MUST try. 2. Tajarin + pecans + apples -- Talk about under-promising and over-delivering. While looking over the pastas, I automatically skipped over this one because I was distracted by the uni and bone marrow in the other pastas. But this one was actually my favorite pasta -- the roasted pecans and crunchy apples really made it so good. I was very impressed. 3. Pierogis -- I've only had pierogis once before this, but because these had a nice crust they were SO much better. They are actually flavored with Douglas Fir. (like, the tree. Tree-flavored.) 4. Chitarra + sea urchin -- Uni pasta!!! I love uni. This dish had three pieces of uni. Yum. 5. Lemon parfait + quince + dulcey ganache -- This was a great end to our dinner. The lemon parfait was tangy and the fruit made me felt less guilty about violently gorging myself. 6. Porcini Doughnuts + cheese dip -- Porcini is mushroom, so these doughnuts are full of umami!! Add molten cheese onto it... and it's hard to stop eating these. I would've eaten more had I not already had a giant piece of levain bread in the beginning. 7. Salted Chocolate Sable + mint milk ice -- This was a lighter dessert than the lemon parfait, and very good, just wish the milk ice was a tad more minty! The Good: 1. Ribeye -- The cut was fantastic (so much fat, yay!), but I feel like it wasn't seared enough! I love my steak piping hot with a nice crust, and this one came out soft and just warm. 2. Spaghetti + mussels -- Loved the mussels in this! Apparently this had bone marrow in it too, but I didn't really taste any -- wish I could've, I love it! 3. Burrata + apples -- I'm not the biggest burrata fan, but my coworkers who are liked it. 4. Trout + beets + orange -- My favorite part about eating fish is the crispy skin. The beets and oranges were really refreshing, but unfortunately this was served skin-side down and the skin was soggy. 5. Grilled Chicory, Brussel Sprouts -- these are 2 different dishes, but I felt both were over-flavored the same way. Grilled and roasted veggies are so delicious when they come out crispy with just a bit of spice, why overdress it and oversalt them? 6. Fennel Pollen Levain -- I know levain has been popular in restaurants these days... but I really miss that rustic bread with crust and the slightly burnt off holes. My slice of levain was so huge I wish I'd just skipped over it and ate porcini doughnuts instead. There weren't very many vegan dishes, but they also included some dishes specially made for him (1 app, 1 main, and 1 dessert, I think). All in all, it was a very good dinner and I love that they are experimental and take risks, but still make sure the food tastes good. We were so stuffed and even had an entire strip of steak leftover to take home. Beautiful restaurant; love the surrounding area as well! Perfect for walking around and window shopping or getting dessert afterwards. read more

I'm surprised by the low ratings that others have given this place. The space is really well designed. It's country rustic yet clean and modern. The menu changes daily based on what the chefs find at the farmers market that day. Every dish we tried was delicious and innovative. They were familiar yet nothing tasted exactly like something you could have gotten at any other typical SF restaurant. There was a twist in each plate that gave it a subtle punch and made it unique. We ordered... CORN FRITTERS, YEAST, CILANTRO SALSA VERDE SARDINE CHIPS, HORSERADISH, PEPPER CRESS PLANCHA BREAD, SUMMER SQUASH, MIMOLETTE, SHISO WATERMELON, SQUID, BLACK OLIVE VINAIGRETTE, CRISPY ONIONS TAGLIOLINI, BOLOGNESE, BONE MARROW, KALE PORK BELLY PANZANELLA, TOMATO, BASIL, CUCUMBER MIXED MELONS, MINT BUTTERMILK PANNA COTTA,STONE FRUITS, ALMOND CRUMBLE SALTED CHOCOLATE SABLE, CHOCOLATE CREAM, RASPBERRIES, SORREL CARAMELIZED OLIVE OIL CAKE, ROASTED STRAWBERRIES,CREAM CHEESE Again everything was great! but our favorites were the corn fritters, sardine chips, pork belly, panna cotta and olive cake. The watermelon squid was probably the most interesting in a good way. :) The staff was super informative and friendly. People seem to be complaining about the prices, but my entire party thought it was reasonable for the level of food. Yes the portions are small, but this isn't meant to be a buffet. The chefs here are coming from fine dining backgrounds. We actually thought it was a steal. read more

I've now been to Rich Table 4 times. To be honest, I think the reason I've been that many times is only because I like the challenge of getting a reservation. Each time I've succeeded I have been proud of myself; stupid as that sounds. Because it is nearly impossible to get a table at this place it makes you think that it must be great and that it is worth it. Well,,, after my 4th visit last Friday night and considering all 4 experiences, I've decided once and for all,,, Its just not worth it. The Food is good. Not great, just good. I think people go crazy for it because its novel. For example, last week we had a starter that consisted of hummus, cooked kale, and buratta cheese. On another visit, I had a pasta with sunflower seeds on it. Were the dishes good? Yes. Were they amazing? No. Just because they do combinations that have never been done before doesn't make it great. It just makes it new and it some cases, weird. I will say that the Porcini doughnuts ARE amazing. Straight up. The Sardine Chips are not. The Service is not friendly. There are no smiles, there is no warmth. They are simply order takers. I have never had a friendly hospitiable server wait on me at Rich Table. At times, it has been so cold that I feel awkward, like I am "lucky" and "privileged" to be eating there. In fact, it almost feel like they are mad at you, like if you need something, you are putting them out. Finally, it is WAY over priced. (this makes the service even more upsetting. I don't want to have to give a huge tip to an order taker just because the food is so expensive) The entree's themselves aren't that offensive its the wine, starters and desserts that pad the bill. Appetizers start at around 15 dollars and the cheapest dessert last Friday was 10 dollars. Im sorry, paying north of 10 dollars for a dessert is silly. The "Bites" are less expensive but are quite small. In fact, aside from the steak, all of the portions are small. All that said, I will give Rich Table 3 stars which implies I think this restaurant is ok. I will give credit where credit is due. Again, the doughnuts are delicious and the food in general, is "good". The hostess and bartenders have been friendly, in fact, very friendly. The tasting menu is good. That is the key. If you go, get the tasting menu. While it is expensive, at least you get a lot of food. read more

Only 4% of restaurants I have Yelped received 5-stars from me. Why is Rich Table one of the special few? The food is loaded with flavors. This is not for those wanting demure and delicate which I often times find flaccid and fussy. The restaurant's motto could easily be, go big or go home. I'm not a fan of doughnuts and grudgingly let my girlfriend order their porcini doughnuts. It was a good concession on my part. Using a lighter batter so the doughnuts weren't dense and cakey, they were tear-apart amoebas of fried frittery fun that were fabulously enhanced by a dusting of porcini. The cheese sauce made with raclette partially helped, but wasn't entirely needed. Compared to the doughnuts, the brandade hushpuppies seemed ordinary. The chunky Douglas fir tartar sauce sounded more fun that it really was. My favorite dish of the night was the beef tartare because it was clever, balanced, and had big flavors. I normally like tartare focused on letting the raw beef shine. This version didn't do that, but it didn't matter because the array of ingredients combined into a perfect bite. The dish was like a Japanese tataki where the red radish represented the daikon and the spicy heat from pepper flakes was the wasabi. Wrapped in dried seaweed, the sweetness from peaches and the lightness from the greens helped complete the dish. Interestingly, the ingredients weren't good separately, but great all put together. The softshell crab was covered in sauces. The big flavors of the sauces tasted fine, but the hot sauce along with the green tomato jam were too much and covered the crab flavors. The tajarin pasta had a creamy bone marrow sauce, diced plums, and black truffle. Who puts fruit in pasta and then adds an earthy element like truffles? It's insane, but produced a pleasing and daring combination. A couple days earlier, I had Perbacco's signature tajarin dish which didn't come close to the fullness of Rich Table's tajarin. The pork chop was properly thick and tender, but it was the aggressive amount of ginger and the diced green and yellow string beans that made this dish unusual. Along with the grilled peaches, these were some huge flavors to place on a pork chop, but it again worked. The dishes go best with cocktails. Not only because the bold flavors in the cooking are too big for wine, but because the cocktails are conceived similarly to the savory dishes, using the same ingredients like Douglas fir, coriander, and seasonal stone fruits. Every dish we had was garnished with chives. I like chives, but don't believe that chives are a one-size-fits-all ingredient. If you don't like chives, be sure to tell your server. read more

Innovative ingredients combined in interesting ways. Who ever knew sunflower petals with bone marrow would be so delicious together? The sardine potato chips with horseradish cream were amazing. An informed staff brings the food out proudly. read more

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I wish I had saved a 5 star rating for the meal I had last night. It was the best thing I'd had in years. I eat out in San Francisco a lot, and this was truly exceptional. My boyfriend and I both had the tasting menu and split a wine pairing. Three remarkable things: A great innovation in service: each course (except for the ribeye) consisted of two different dishes. Our server said this was because the chef wants you to try as many of the dishes they are cooking that night as possible. When we eat out, we usually share dishes, so the downside to a typical tasting menu is that we each receive the same dish for each course. Not here. The consistent intensity and complexity of flavor was beyond anything I've had before. Flavors and textures were fresh and interesting. But unlike other great experiences, the portions were actually appropriately-sized *tastes*, and balanced rich proteins and fats with lighter ingredients so you weren't full after two courses. The tasting menu is expensive, but overall this place is an incredible value. The first course consisted of 7 or 8 amuses, then two seafood courses (of two dishes each between), then a pasta course (again two different dishes), then matched ribeye steaks, then three dessert dishes. For $85 a piece. Service was uniformly friendly, casual, and engaged. Ambience was charming, modern, organic textures. It was a great date night out. read more

Holly crap. This place is EPIC. I've taken two big parties (8 and 10) here and it's always a great time. FANTASTIC service. Jonny the GM is quick to help you find a wine or book a large party. Great price for a 4 course prefix. Pastas are dynamite. desserts are to die for. Wines are INSANE. service is GREAT. EAT HERE. EXPERIENCE HERE! read more

We were there with my 21 year old daughter as a belated 59th birthday for my husband. The 3 of us went to the Van Gogh Immersed exhibit at 7pm and were ready for dinner after around 8, so we checked Yelp in Hayes Valley. Each restaurant we approached had a 90 minute wait. Yelp was useless, so we decided to wander the neighborhood. We happened upon this busy corner restaurant. The 3 of us were hesitating outside trying to find the menu when a busy friendly server stopped to assist. We had no reservation and had never heard of this place. He went in to ask his fellow staff and came out to tell us they were working on it, have a seat at the bench next door. 10 minutes later we had an outside table. The staff would each introduce themselves when they came to our table and were super friendly and relatable. Despite the full restaurant and only a few waiters working, no one seemed the least bit stressed or unhappy to be there. I think this is such a draw for a good restaurant. So many others take their waitstaff for granted and it shows! Anyways, the food was absolutely phenomenal. We had a pasta and clams with crispy artichokes and garlic, a Tonarelli pasta with sea urchin sauce (!!) and a Risotto with English peas which was out of this world! The presentation was beautiful and the desserts were even more dreamy with one the waitress recommended from their secret menu! The menu changes daily according to the Chef (and co-owner), Evan Rich. He stopped at our table a couple of times and we asked what his inspiration for these unique dishes was. He said, he likes good food and would discover these interesting tastes in other places and figure out ways to make them into his recipes. I must say he's very good at putting it all together! The plates were not over flowing with food and yet were so incredibly tasty that we were full before we were finished! Yes, it's a pricey menu, but you most certainly get what you pay for! For 3 people we had 3 entrees, 2 appetizers, 3 desserts (created by his wife and co-owner, Sarah), 2 (AMAZING using peas, tequila and Prosecco!) "EZ-Peazy" cocktails and 2 bottles of Pelligrino for $180. The food was $150 of that bill. We will definitely go on a date night there soon! I don't usually bother with reviews every time I go out, but this place has inspired me. Dont skip it! read more

The food is quite good, but a bit too much for a prix fixe on NYE. From a value standpoint, it's a good thing, but still a waste to serve too much. Service was an embarrasment to the kitchen. Our server could not have made us more uncomfortable with his standoffish and pretentious nature. He made the entire experience an awful one. sI do not believe that over a 2 hour dinner with 8 guests that he uttered more than 5 words. Unfortunately a forced service charge restricted us from voting with our pocketbooks when it came to tipping! read more

I have been a fan of Rich Table since they first opened maybe close to ten years ago. It started out with a bang and has continued to be a great restaurant. Consistently excellent and unusual food and impeccable service. Yes it is hard to get a reservation but stick with it as it is definitely worth it. Get on the waiting list. The staff really know their product but are not condescending and feel they have to explain every single bite. Wine list is extensive although a bit pricey, but so is everywhere nowadays. We had a hiccup tonight in that we had a reservation for 8pm but the table before us just lingered and lingered and we were not seated for close to 40 minutes late however the hostess, Dana (?) and host Kevin(?) went out of their way to make it up for us.. a complementary glass of champagne, which will never go amiss, but in addition they had obviously told the wait staff the situation who also apologized for the delay and thanked us for being patient. It is things like this which take a restaurant heads above the rest. Oh yes, then there was the food.....as always delicious. The signature dish of Sardine toasts cannot fail, the chicken liver pate was heavenly and unusual and the lumpia (spring rolls by any other name) all were really tasty. We both had pasta, both of which were perfect. Campanelle with mushrooms and egg and tonarelli with sea urchin . We finished off with a heavenly pana cotta with strawberries and other. a truly lovely meal and evening which could have been disastrous but was salvaged by the thoughtfulness of the staff. It is what makes Rich Table a very special place. read more

Having heard so many superlatives about Rich Table, I was skeptical that it could live up to its reputation. It actually surpassed all expectations. Exquisite, innovative dishes perfectly executed. Friendly, attentive service. The porcini doughnuts and sardine chips are every bit as good as you've heard they are. The duck confit lumpia and sea urchin pasta were equally impressive. Rich Table definitely deserves its reputation as a not-to-be-missed dining destination in SF. read more

We came here last year for New Year's Eve dinner and it was great so we came back again tonight. Tonight (New Year's Eve 2017), it seemed like the theme was salt. Everything was caked in salt, it was pretty disappointing. 5/5 for service but 2/5 for food. read more

I've heard great things about this place and made reservations one month in advance (nothing was available sooner). The day finally came and I was really excited to finally be able to check them out. Sadly at the end, I left unimpressed. We did the tasting menu (chef's pick for $70/pp) which basically are dishes pulled from the regular menu so we were able to try most of the items on the menu. It's family style. For the two of us, each dish comes as one regular size order from the regular menu. Two oysters each Two slices of black garlic mortadella Potato fish puree Winter squash croquettes Sardines chips Flat bread with burrata Pork Bolognese pasta Tajarin pasta with butter Trout Steak Grape granita (palate cleanser) Chocolate ice milk dessert Only the pasta dishes stood out. Everything else was not bad but I could not say that it was good either. Value wise, it was excellent. There was an abundance of food. We were stuffed by the fish course. They had housemade non-alcoholic drinks. That was nice. Not sure why but not many places make their own non-alcoholic drinks. Service was fine. There were times where we felt a bit abandoned but our server was nice when he was around. Dislikes: -They charge $4 for bread. It was good but not good enough to pay for. Comes out nice and warm but just tasted like sourdough. -One unisex restroom. -It was pretty loud. -Hard to get a table. Don't bother going without reservations. Overall the meal did not impress. If I go back, I would just order pasta. Note: Prices for the tasting menu have gone up to $80/pp now. read more

3.5 stars Rich Table was one of San Francisco's bigger restaurant openings of last year and continues to be one of the hot tables in town. A decision to dine at Rich Table was kind of a last-minute one. While planning to meet with a friend for dinner the day after Christmas, we scrolled through OpenTable openings and Rich Table popped up with an available table. Knowing that we kind of lucked out finding one, we snatched it up. DOUGLAS FIR LEVAIN, HOUSE CULTURED BUTTER - I'd heard much about the housemade bread so this was a must-try. The levain was warm and soft, and slightly toasted giving it a crispy texture. The subtle woodsy essence of the douglas fir definitely came through. It was very dense though, hearty but a bit filling so early in the meal. SARDINE CHIPS, HORSERADISH - We really enjoyed these crisp potato chips pocketed with sardines. There was a great crunch with each bite, and the horseradish complemented the sardines well. Salty, slightly fishy, kind of playful - this was a very successful dish. TAJARIN, HOUSE CULTURED BUTTER, PERIGORD BLACK TRUFFLES - The long, thin tajarin was dressed in a pretty light cream sauce, but the truffle flavor was still subtle here. The truffle gratings looked pretty generous, but I wanted the flavor to pack more of a punch. TAGLIATELLE, PORK BOLOGNESE, APPLES, ALMONDS - We really enjoyed this pasta. The salty savory sausage, sweet crisp apple slices and crunchy earthy almonds came together very well with al dente strands of pasta. Delicious. COTECHINO, WILD FENNEL LEVAIN STUFFING, KALE, POMEGRANATE - The cotechino, a cooked Italian sausage, was tasty with an interesting kind of loose, almost-grainy texture. The richness was balanced by kale and some sweet pomegranate seeds. MINT CHOCOLATE CREAM, MILK ICE CREAM, CHOCOLATE COOKIE - Surprisingly, dessert may have been our favorite course of the night. I really liked the milk ice cream and the mint chocolate cream, and the chocolate cookie provided some much-needed texture. Simple flavors, but they were very well-balanced, crisp and refreshing. It truly tasted like the holidays. Rich Table presented a number of exceptional dishes and some that we thought were just okay. The sardine chips, tagliatelle and dessert are still memorable over a month later. I actually thought we'd be able to try more of the menu between the two of us, but the bread really did us in early. If I lived in San Francisco, I'd return; since I don't, it'll probably remain behind a bunch of restaurants that I still want to try for the first time. read more

+5 for porcini mushroom donuts. -1 for no free wifi, despite what Yelp has listed. it may be horrible for your metabolism to eat at 9:45pm there's often same-evening ressies available on Opentable during the week read more

Did the tasting menu to get a feel for the place. Overall I was actually sort of let down. This place is expensive. I mean the thing that caught my eye was the steak off the main menu. Sounded great. Sounded like it would be packed with flavor by it's description. What I got instead was a rather bland piece of meat, which was a little over cooked. I'm not a snob by any means but if you are going to charge that much for a steak, it should be perfect. Granted it was the tasting menu so I didn't pay for a full order. The sardines in chips were delicious but would hardly be a meal. Really good presentation and just overall good. The other appetizers were so-so. A lot of really earthy flavors in all the small dishes actually. Dessert was good. There were 2. One which was like a foam sorbet. Very cleansing taste but overall nothing special imo. The second was a really mint and chocolate dessert which was really tasty. I think judging by the tasting menu I would mostly come here for just drinks and appetizers.The entree showing of the tasting menu did not show through. However you need to reserve a table :) Unless you come early and snag a bar seat. I will be honest I probably will not return. read more

Upscale comfort food has never been my wheelhouse (why dine out for it when you can make it yourself) but the food was creative and interesting enough at Rich Table that I would be happy to come back every week. The best food was the smallest and the only real miss are the entrees. There are so many tasty small dishes here that it's probably best to come with 3-4 friends so you can try everything without breaking the bank. If you are looking for the super high end dining you find at Coi (the former workplace of the owner/chefs) you would find it here. The is all about SF style farm to table, relaxed style/fine dining prices. That's not a bad thing but can be jarring for out-of-towners & people expecting more. People had mentioned how hard it was to get a table but I had no problem get a reservation for 2 at 7pm on a Monday a week in advance. The place was completely full the entire time we were there so I think advanced reservations are the way to go. I agree with everyone saying the bites and the apps are the way to go and I wish we had been there with a couple more people so we could try more dishes and not fill up on the bites and the apps. We didn't have any delays or lags between meals and our servers was attentive but not always around. We got two dishes at a time without telling them how we would like them coursed. Dishes we had: Bread-the spouse, a European Bread snob liked it, I was happy we got it since we ordered the brandade and there was no bread with that (which I find odd). 1. Donuts (7)-honestly this was one of our favorite things. Just perfect light beignets. The porcini mushroom flavour wasn't that strong but there was an earthiness that a sweet donut doesn't have. There was nice serving of what they were calling raclette but it wasn't warm or that cheesy. Still it was great with the donuts. 2. Sardine Chips (7)-loved these too and plan on making some in my deep fryer. nice and crisp. 3. Brandade (8) we had to try this since we both grew up eating it. It's wasn't as thick as I like it, it's probably the first one I've had not made with salt cod and it could have used more oil olive. don't think I would get it again. They put the crumbled chicken skin in a little bowl since the Spouse doesn't eat land creatures. It added the salt needed for the dish. 4. Scarlet turnip soup, vadouvan, black radish (10) Spouse loved this and didn't want to share. It did have lots of rich deep flavours as you'd expect using vadouvan. Nice to see it in US restaurants. Never understood why it's so uncommon here. 5.1/2 dozen oysters (18), nice and well prepped, the mignonette has some peppers in it and a real kick. 6.Roasted Potatoes, to fu miso puree, arugula salsa verdi.(19). this was super sized side dish and I found it lacking in ingredients and boring. The formely veggie Spouse thought it was great but was wishing for some protein in it. The puree was more a sauce and there wasn't a ton of it. The roasted potatoes were sweet and white large fries. We ended the meal with the sweet donuts (9) with bourbon sauce. It was a large portion and super tasty again but more than two people could eat and the sauce had way too much alcohol in it with such a harsh taste that overpowered the cream of the sauce. We also got two housemade non-alcohol refreshers (5 each) that were meh. One too sour, one too sweet. All in all, we spent more than we expect considering we only got one entree but we really liked almost everything we got and we'll probably go back regularly. I probably will watch the bill a little bit closer next time. The decor is the usual faux homey wood on the walls, fixtures made out of pipes. They did have some sound baffling panels on the ceiling but could have used more. The space looks wheelchair accessible although the tables are close together. The light is bright enough for signing and the noise is on the border for those hard of hearing. I don't really care much for upscale comfort food but Rich Table has taken it and made it interesting. read more

We made a reservation a few weeks ago because of the good reviews on Yelp. We were supposed to come in at 5.45 to sit at a table but had a family obligation so changed to sit at the bar at 7.30. Frankly, we only changed our reservation instead of canceling because of the $45 per person charge. We arrived 10 minutes early. You're welcome. And we're made to wait 20 minutes in a tiny doorway, basically sitting in top of some people eating at a table adjacent to the bar. Our reservation was at the bar and we saw a gentleman who clearly did not have a reservation sit down and eat...while we were waiting. He was eating standing up so if he had a reservation, this restaurant should get 1 star instead of 2!! If this gentleman did have a reservation, he should have not been eating while standing up!! By 7.45, we wanted to leave but didn't want to pay the $45 fee. Talked to the manager, he got us out of the fee (the only reason I gave this place 2 stars instead of 1) and said when we want to return, we should email him. We went out for prime rib and beer in the Castro instead. Less pretentious, less wait, more room, low noise so we could talk. Much prefer that to Rich Tablez read more

Everything we ordered was so so good! I had no expectations coming in but later found out they were added to the Michelin list. My first Michelin star experience and every dish amd drink was amazing! Definitely coming back here to try the rest of the menu. Make reservations!! or come when it opens to try to snag a seat at the bar. My friends and I were lucky enough to come in and be seated immediately at the bar area. You won't be disappointed, I definitely wasn't. read more

Rich Table - Sea urchin pasta, porcini doughnuts, Tikka masala something...I can't remember everything. But everything was amazingly delicious!! - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Lousy name, trite space, dude on MacBook, pretentious menu footnotes ("The Road That Leads Into the Tunnel") don't together amount to much at all when pitted against the spot-on swizzle, or the native genius of topping a savory meat sauce with tufts of raw alfalfa. My hamachi appetizer, topped with generous chips of bone marrow and a sprinkling of charred broccolini, was delicious, fancy junk food, and accordingly gobbled down. It's not cheap - expect to drop upwards of $60 to eat to contentedly here - but this reviewer concedes that Rich Table's quality can command such a price point. read more

Dinner with friends and after hearing about how awesome this restaurant was I could not wait to eat here. It's unfortunate that the experience did not come close to the hype. The service was 3 stars, the mask rule was ridiculous. Every time our server came to our table our mask had to be on. A rule that was not consistent with other tables. The food was 3 stars as well. We had several appetizers and main courses. My steak was like eating rubber. The food has no flavor. After hearing they are Michelin rated I'm still wondering how. read more

One of the best dining experiences my husband and I have had in a while. Props to Rich Table; not only was the food spectacular, but the service was friendly/helpful, and the ambiance of the restaurant is very warm and inviting. We have been trying to nab reservations here for quite a while now; however, the only reservations we could ever find were for random times during the week, like 5PM on a Tuesday. We even tried making that kind of a reservation (which is quite early for us), but work seemed to keep getting in the way. Well anyway, this past Wednesday I was searching to see if they by chance had something a month out or something like that, and stumbled upon an 8PM reservation this past Friday. I swooped in and grabbed that reservation ASAP, as I couldn't believe my luck! Typically my husband and I would be all in for a tasting menu with wine pairings and a long drawn out meal, but on the particular night we went we were feeling more "a la carte" as we heard that the tasting menu provides quite a bit of food, which we weren't feeling at that time. We made the decision to do a la carte and go back for the tasting menu if we were pleased with our experience. So we are clearly going to be back for the tasting menu - maybe we'll stop back in over Christmas week while all the other transplants are out of town. So here's what we opted for off of the a la carte menu (yes, it looks like a ton of food, but the bites are small portions - plus it was so worth every single calorie eaten and every dollar spent!): Bites: SARDINE CHIPS, HORSERADISH CRÈME FRAICHE ($2/chip): I had never had sardines before, as I just always assumed I would not be a fan; but my husband and I had to try the chips as clealy people loved them. As expected, I didn't like this dish - but that's most likely only due to my dislike of sardines (which is why I will not rate this dish, as the distaste is not due to lack of execution). If you're a fan of sardines, you'll most likely love this dish. Just wasn't for us. DRIED PORCINI DOUGHNUTS, RACLETTE ($7): 4 stars. These delicious, savory, salty doughnut balls were delicious. The dish was a lot larger than I was expecting; I think we received around 5-6 fairly generously sized donut holes, which we weren't even able to finish between the two of us. TROTTERS, BOSTON LETTUCE, ASIAN PEAR, CILANTRO ($8): 5 stars. This was my ultimate favorite of the bites/appetizers. This unique pork dish is SO delicious; the sweet/tangy slaw pairs nicely with the savory pork meat. I particularly enjoyed the fact that the slaw was favored with a light vinegrette vs. a mayo based sauce, as the overall effect was a much lighter dish. SO SO good; highly recommend. Appetizer: BURRATA, MEYER LEMON, ESCAROLE, BEE POLLEN ($13): 4 stars. Who doesn't love burrata? And this fresh, homemade burrata is stellar. So creamy, soft, and fresh; the meyer lemon flavors just made this dish. Pasta Course: PAPPARDELLE, AGED BEEF, SWEET POTATO, VADOUVAN ($18): 4.5 stars. We were stuck between the garganelli, bucatini, and pappardelle pasta options, so we went with the pappardelle per the suggestion of our waiter. I seriously think any of the pasta dishes would be amazing, but this dish was outstanding. The homemade noodles were perfectly al dente; and oh so soft/smooth! Not to mention the perfect thickness - muah, c'est magnifique! Main Course: SEARED SEA SCALLOPS, RUTABAGA, WASABI, CELTUCE ($28): 5 stars. BEST DISH OF THE NIGHT! I'm a huge lover of scallops, and get them just about any time I can. THESE WERE MY ULTIME FAVORITE SCALLOPS EVER! The crisp buttery top was a special treat, and the scallop was cooked perfectly. Spot on - the execution on this dish was phenomenal. I hardly let my husband have a bite, as I was selfishly wanted all of it to myself! NEW YORK STRIP STEAK, RT ONION RINGS, POMEGRANATE BORDELAISE ($30): 5 stars. The steak was cooked a perfect medium rare as requested, and the pairing of steak with the fried onion rings and pomegranate sauce - holy cow, so tasty. What a wonderful play on fall flavors. Excellent dish. Since we did a la carte, we opted to bring a bottle of Hall wine (Howell Mountain - Cabernet Savignon: http://www.hallwines.com/hall-howell-mountain-cabernet-sauvignon), which we were saving up for a special occassion out. Oh my gosh, if you're into red wine and are looking for a silky, rich cab - please give this a try (if you're not opposed to spending a bit more on a bottle of nice wine). read more

I've heard of small plates, but this is ridiculous. On our third visit to RT, we were served a bowl of pasta that really didn't need a bowl. The entire portion could have fit in a large spoon. Oh, and it was $ 21. The food, what little morsels you get, is excellent. The drinks, although served by bartenders who don't want to be bothered, were also excellent. Service with a smile? Not here, people. But at what point to diners of this City unite and say "is it really fair that we are paying $ 150.00 for a few snacks and a couple of drinks"". Enough is enough. Are we mad as hell and not going to take it anymore? Oh, probably not. And why, do you ask, do they give you so little food and charge you so much? Because they can, that's why. And they don't care. I will choose to take my fu fu dining experience elsewhere. Maybe to a restaurant that merely over charges me, rather than robbing me blind. I'm out. read more

Calling all foodies....get your taste buds and happy demeanor to the best new restaurant this side of 2012. Rich Table is everything you want in a restaurant...i.e: great host, great service and yummy cocktails, perfect wine list with a nice layout of options (not all California..thank the gods!) and a husband wife duo that know how to deliver the goods on the plate and the palate. (everything was super tasty, but the Red Pepper soup was sublime!) And save room for dessert!!) The Olive Cake with strawberries are not to be missed) I cannot wait to go back and I hope they don't mind...I will be there a lot! Thank you all and I praise you. read more

I turned down NOPA for this. I had to see what the Rich Table hype was, and I conclude that the hype is great marketing. Because it's not great food. He got a glass of pino and I ordered La Poma, a specialty cocktail with tequila, elderflower liquor, pear and grapefruit juice; what I got tasted was like the watered down bathtub tequila I used to purchase illegally when I was 19. And Julio's hooch was a lot cheaper. Thanks Julio. The best taste of the evening was an appetizer of dried porcini doughnuts: spice covered beignets that taste like good fried chicken with a melt in your mouth gooey center. Everything else was a distant, unattractive second, like the guy you ask to the Sadie Hawkins after the first guy says no. My soup, and pork belly panzanella, his salad and New York Strip steak, were unmemorable. Even now I can barely remember them. The panzanella with light greens were presented with the completely forgettable protein on the bottom topped with hard-to-remember lettuce. Not my favorite plating. I think. Even now, they fade away like a boring dream. His steak was much more beautiful, though both dishes were chewier/drier than expected. There was the cheesecake panna cotta with graham crumble, which after the doughnuts was a bit like getting socks for Christmas. Not bad, but not really want you want. The decor is very unassuming for an audacious name. It's rich kids trying to play it down, which is the definition of Trust-Fund hipster. I'm surprised our waiter didn't have a bacon mustache. Maybe he has one as an ironic tattoo some place on his body where it's ironic to have a tattoo of bacon. Small space, crowded. Not a very private setting - it was impossible not to eavesdrop to our table on the left (celebrating her MTF transition) and the table to the right (who were visiting from the Midwest). Definitely not the place I'd take an intimate date. Service was stellar however. Bravo, maybe-bacon-mustache-tattoo Waiter. You were the bomb. Random FYIs $30 corkage fee for first bottle, $50 for the 2nd. They'll waive corkage fee for bottles ordered on site. I didn't ask what the cost would be if I opened the bottle in the car, however. There are two unisex bathrooms in the back. Pick the one on the right - it's 3xs as spacious and there's no ledge to trip up as the other one. And yes, I totally checked them both. I drank a lot of that water tequila. read more

My wife and I recently retired to Pagosa Springs, Colorado from San Francisco. On a recent return visit to the City we visited Rich Table. This was one of 3 choices or friend gave us on our restaurant run. The drinks were very special, a margarita, Negroni and a rum drink, all fantastic. We started with their version of beef won tons, asparagus, sardine chips and donuts. Each was original, deep in flavor with complexities that built on each other. Then we spilt the Halibut, Octopus pasta, and a pork chop. The halibut was fantastic since we now live in a land locked state, with a delicate broth with pea shoots and wild mushrooms. The pasta was perfect and earthy from the octopus. The bone in chop was breaded and cooked perfectly. The dessert was the disappointment here. We asked the server for her recommendations and she mentioned two. We ordered one of hers and one on our own, we should have listened to her. I think is was an attempt at chocolate Panna Cotta. The flavors just didn't work but their riff on strawberry short cake should not be missed. The service was spot on, from the greeting at the door to the multiple folks that came by the table preforming all service duties with pleasure. read more

Sorely disappointed by this place. Made a reservation with a friend to check this out a few nights ago and the experience was a serious let down in all places except the drinks. Drinks: - Barn Wood - excellent, a little strong for me but so good - Lands End - my favorite, you must like gin to enjoy but it is like a breath of fresh air - Push, Push - also very good, light and refreshing Food: - Broccoli appetizer - this was very good, lightly dressed and flavorful - Levain bread - excellent, I don't love fennel so I couldn't completely appreciate it but very flavorful, moist and crispy - Chilled eggplant soup - I was pretty torn about this. Creamy with eggplant chips but the taste was pretty bland. I probably would not order again - Plancha Bread - I'm really hoping that only the one that I got was messed up but this was inedible for me. The sour of the plums with the charred taste of the bread basically made the cheese taste sour and rotten. I had to return it. - Albacore Tuna - Pretty disappointing as well, the tuna is mixed in with mayo and loses any and all flavor All in all, we were pretty ready to head out and had to hit up some mission burritos to fill ourselves up after this pricey meal. read more

Items selected: Orange Vanilla and Honey Refresher Douglas Fir Levain with House Cultured Butter Dried Porcini Donuts with Raclette Tuna and Salmon Brandade with Green Strawberries and Shrimp Chips Bucatini, Roasted Corn, Nutritional Yeast, Bone Marrow Rigatoni, Octopus Bolognese, Beets, Scallions Stone Fruit Upside Down Cake with Sweet Cream and Sorrel Leaving SBP I received a text from a friend inquiring as to whether I wanted to meet up at San Francisco's other Beard Award Finalist for Best New Restaurant, Rich Table, and although I was already plenty satisfied with the evening it was an offer I figured I shouldn't refuse. Located on Gough and rather nondescript from the outside but homey, rustic, and full of character within I was surprised to find walk-in seating available at 7:30pm on a Friday and seated at a small communal table with a great view of the kitchen a quick perusal of the menu and excellent service from a young man named Don had drinks and appetizers before us shortly thereafter. Not gifted an amuse like the majority of the tables around us but more than impressed by the drinks, bread (or more so by the butter,) and one of the most unique and delicious brandade preparations I've ever experienced the meal unfortunately took a turn for the worse with the oily donuts and oddly textured cheese foam plus the pastas, their textures fine but the unannounced lime zest on the bucatini unbalancing the entire dish while the rigatoni was so oversalted that we both agreed it was nearly inedible. Disappointed but undeterred, dessert would prove a return to form with a dense pudding cake topped with cooked peach, plum, and apricots resting in an aromatic broth - a big peak in a meal with some substantial valleys. read more

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It was my birthday. I ordered the beer suggested. She ordered the cocktail suggested. We ordered most of what Yelp highlighted and we were not disappointed. I ordered a second of one item. As of my birthday we agreed with the majority of the Yelp reviews. Five Stars. read more

Like the majority of the reviews here, you're trying to hard. Waaaaaaay too hard. The food was imaginative and original (sardine chips & squid fig and lardo salad), yet none of the dishes delivered. The cocktails that were twists on classics, we're pretty darn tasty, but nothing measured up to what was on the menu. One final thing. The place is loud. Oh, wait. Not loud, but rather LOUD. Give it a try? Yes Go back for a second turn? Not that I can see. PS. To the couple on a date next to me that I told to skip the sardine appetizer after they just ordered it. Opp. Sorry read more

Solid 4 stars. Rich Table has been around for about 6 years now but I finally expedited it to the top of my To Eat list when it earned its first Michelin star. I had a nice meal, though I'm not overly impressed with the restaurant. A for creativity though. (Btw I'm playing catch up w/ Yelp reviews, so this review is 8 months late. Ignore me entirely if you think that's a problem) We ordered: -PORCINI DOUGHNUTS: Doughnuts are one of my favorite foods ever, and this was a savory take on them. It was honestly my favorite dish that we ordered. These weren't porcini fritters, but more like fluffy clouds dusted with porcini powder. Bonus points for serving them alongside raclette for dipping. Yum! -BUTTERMILK BISCUIT, TSAR NICOULAI CAVIAR: Caviar craving, why not. I wish my bf didn't insist we get 1 order because he just wanted to "try some." I did not want to share (and shouldn't have). I loved this but now they've moved onto a different caviar dish. -BUCATINI, OCTOPUS, POMEGRANATE RELISH, CHICKORIES: Pretty good I guess, nothing to write home about (yelp pun intended) -DRY AGED RIBEYE, CHANTARELLES, BLACK GARLIC, WHITE MISO: This was just okay to me. I'm a minimalist when it comes to steaks and this was just too... busy. Steak was cooked well but too much was going on with the plate that it just wasn't the star. Overall, I liked my meal but I'm not dying to eat here again. Deserving of a Michelin star? Maybe for being innovative and trendy but there are other restaurants I love that aren't on the Michelin guide. I will come back for the uni cacio e pepe though so please don't take that off the menu! read more

This place, the food, the people... amazing. That should sum up my review. But I want to rave how much I love the bites like everyone else. Especially the corn and the sardine chips! Perfect blend of flavor. Hat's off to the chef. Total genius! Can't wait for the cookbook to come out! read more

Very disappointed in our dinner last night. I'd been wanting to try RT since I moved here. Nothing we ordered wowed us. Food was fine but lacked flavor and creativity. For the price, definitely go somewhere else! read more

I have been trying to get a reservation at this place, and every single time I checked they had no openings! Finally, a friend and I decided to show up at 5:35 to see if we could get a table. and, we did. The place got super busy very fast, and I could tell the orders were being overwhelming. anyways, we ordered: heirloom tomato salad with buratta - it was quite good! one just can't go wrong with heirloom tomatoes. fennel bread - it wasn't my decision, but it was pretty good bread.. still felt weird to pay for it though. pork lasagna - it was surprisingly light and pleasant. just a perfect amount for a pasta dish. glazed pork belly - reminded me if some Chinese pork belly dish, it was delightful. ii would've ordered one more appetizer but my friend didn't seem to want it, too bad! white cream, raspberry with buckwheat - questionable, I've had a similar dish at Coi, I had a difficulty understanding the flavor and I had a similar experience with it.. it wasn't as mind blowing as I e or red if to be, but definitely served us some great dishes. too bad, they don't serve tasting menu anymore.. anyways, I would love to give it another shot and order more dishes! read more

It's a great place for friends hangout, relax and enjoy the delicious food! I like their sardine chips, this is "must eat"! You can taste different flavor from each layer. Very creative and yummy! Another dish that I would recommend is the scallops with cauliflowers and risottos. The scallops were well-cooked and juicy, the veggies and risottos bring out the flavor of the freshness. Will definitely come again :) read more

Wow. We were lucky to score a table inside on the first day indoor dining resumed. The experience from the front of the house was above and beyond our expectations. And the food was exciting, unique, and unforgettable. The caviar was perfect and is a must. The chicken liver mousse bacon cinnamon roll should and will win awards. Cocktails were delicious and we had a perfect wine recommendation. I could go on and on. After our amazing meal we walked out to be greeted and thanked by Mr. Rich and other staff members. This was an amazing experience and we can't wait to go back for more. 10/10. read more