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We came here for an early dinner on a Saturday! This is a wonderful nice cocktail and small plate type place. We did the smaller "trust the chef" tasting ($99 a person) - the dishes are so incredibly unique! I don't remember everything - but there was chilled shrimp, carpaccio, oysters, rice, burrata with figs, little beef tartare hand roll wraps with salmon eggs, eggplant, tomato, mini parker house rolls, shortub and a delicious Hazelnut soft serve with chocolate magic shell to finish. Basically all the good dishes on the regular menu. The service staff were very polite and the interior was stylish!
Finally got to try Ernest. I booked this restaurant a month in advance for a table for 5 and I liked that the table was located on the second floor with a nice view of the restaurant interior. It's really interesting how food were super fusiony and since menu wasn't extensive, we ordered a good amount of food from the menu for share. I had the daiquiri bolognese and it's slightly sweet and foamy on top. Some of us ordered wine and I was impressed with the quality of the wine. We had the uni toast, oysters, sushi rice and swordfish prosciutto. Sushi rice is a must order. I didn't get to try the prosciutto so no comment on that. I would rather prefer Uni on rice to on the toast. We had the house rolls which performed average. Chicken liver was very smooth and done well. I normally don't eat organs like liver but this is actually good and didn't taste like organ. Next up we had the fried rice, eggplant and burrata. Fried rice kinda tastes like Thai basil fried rice but the rice was harder and with some hint of non Thai sauces. The eggplant dish gives Mediterranean vibe and burrata is a combination of Chinese mala, Italian burrata and lots of fresh figs. I'm not sure who's the winner here but I really appreciate the fun experience eating a seemingly traditional dish with a modern international twist. Onto the meat and seafood- the hanger steak tastes like Chinese (Cantonese) style bbq pork and very tender that is served with mustard and pickles. The grilled hamachi with nardello peppers were made very well and the Smoky flavor of both compliment each other very well. The pork dumplings with rendang curry was also good. Dessert was basque cheesecake and non caffeinated tea and both were ok. Would love to try their other desserts next time. Good job Ernest!
Came here for dinner on the weekend. Reservations were easy to make online. They opened promptly at 5 PM and got guests seated immediately. Amazing natural light inside with super high ceilings. I normally dislike bar seating because they're typically so uncomfortable but their seats had a back and were quite comfy. Ernest's menu is relatively pared down. I do wish they had a few more vegetable forward dishes especially since we're in the height of summer. I ordered the SF Halibut, oysters, and the BBQ shortrib. The halibut was my favorite dish of the night. The halibut sashimi was paired with sweet slices of pluot and this slightly sweet pink sauce. Refreshing and delightful. I prefer my oysters straight up and plain, but I didn't mind the Michelada sauce they put on top. I thought it hid the "flavor" of the oyster a bit, but that's just a personal preference. The BBQ shortrib reminded me of Chinese char siu and the hot mustard reminded me of the Chinese mustard I grew up eating, which is probably what they were going for. I appreciated that the pork wasn't overly greasy or fatty. Service was attentive and professional. All of the staff were working as a team refilling water, folding napkins back on tables, getting checks ready etc. Overall, I had a wonderful dinner experience at Ernest and would recommend it to friends and family, especially if they're looking for a date night spot.
Always a solid meal at Ernest. I've been there a couple of times now and the small plates are better than the mains in my opinion. Must orders are the beef tartare with ikura and the uni toast. And you MUST save room for dessert because they have some of the best desserts. They have a rotating kakigori that uses seasonal ingredients and is soo good. There's also plenty of street parking around the restaurant always a plus.
one of the best meals i've ever had in SF! There's something for everyone on this menu and I love how shareable it all is. We got practically one of everything on the menu but the standouts are definitely: Sushi Rice - not really a beef tartare person usually but this was so incredibly fresh and well done. Fried Rice - sounds simple but was perfectly executed with a unique blend of veggies you don't usually see included. Hazelnut Soft Serve - also not usually a dessert or ice cream person but this came highly recommended and I was thoroughly impressed! This was the lightest, fluffiest, smoothest soft serve I've ever had. There wasn't a single disappointment on the menu - can't wait to come back for more!
I think it's better to just order individual dishes rather than do the chef's menu because the price and presentation wasn't adding up. Unless they really do serve pitiful single portions if you order single appetizers or dishes. I really hope they give a party of 3 or 4 more than just a single serving of their ice cream to share. I went with a friend and although some dishes were interesting, I wouldn't pay $150 per person for such an experience again. Especially since the only stand out bite for me was the $13 shared soft serve. With these shared dining experiences it's hard to justify the price, especially when we didn't even get individual plates. Try the ice cream and the steak dish if you come here, but everything else wasn't memorable.
Finally tried Ernest and it lives up to the hype. They have a prix fixe menu that's $99 and includes the majority of the menu (except caviar) and all the desserts! All the dishes were innovative and beautiful. The prix fixe menu would be great for a large party since you'll usually have leftovers. I would say the highlights were the following: - bbq morel mushrooms that were stuffed with duck - Parker house rolls - the bread and butter here is the best - avocado with artichoke - shaved ice Restaurant is two levels, but feels roomy.
I went Ernest for my birthday. Upon arrival, the server led us to a nice seat with a background view of the bar from the second floor, I figured they save some good-photo seats for special reservation. The waitress checked on us very often that made us feel cared. The food was so great! Everything was delicious and very good portion for two people to share. It now ranks one of my favorite restaurants in SF. Highly recommended!
Ernest was nothing like I was expecting, but in the best way haha. My coworker suggested checking it out, and she always has the best recs, so of course I said yes. It's such a cute restaurant with its own charm. The whole experience felt fun and special. The only intimidating part for me was the menu haha. I'm a very visual person, so I had a hard time picturing some of the dishes at first. Shoutout to our kind & patient server, plus all the Yelp photos I studied beforehand lol. Everything was delicious. The quality of every dish really stood out, and I'd happily order all of them again, but here were my favorites: * Sushi Rice: SO good. Definitely a must order. The beef somehow almost tastes like tuna haha. * Fried Rice: I'm obsessed with corn, so this was a must for me. * Maitake Tempura: A must for mushroom lovers. Also, the ranch was incredible. * Kakigori: Absolutely mandatory for dessert. No further notes lol. * Lamb Kofta: Really flavorful and delicious, though next time I'd probably try some other dishes instead. * Avocado: A great option if you want something fresh and green on the table too. * Parker House Rolls: These were good, but probably not my favorite. I think I'm biased because I don't really love rolls in general, and the other dishes felt more unique and memorable to me. These were just the items we had, but the menu changes often, so you may see different dishes when you go. The Sushi Rice is one of the staples though, and I definitely think it's a must try. Overall, such a great experience. Our server was so attentive, and the whole meal felt really memorable. Already planning to bring my boyfriend here for a date night. What a special place!
What happened? Earnest used to be so good.. this seasonal menu has got to go. Their fried rice was so good it was actually fried with some protein.. this time it's steamed with strange vegetables that should not be in a fried rice. The pour for the sake is a taste not a pour.. why earnest why?! The server kept trying to take all the sauces away while we had the shrimp dumplings on our plate and they tasted very floral and strange.. why?
Came here with a group of 6 adults & 1 baby and were lucky to be seated in the private dining room. It's a lovely space & plenty of room for the group we had. We made our reservation about a month ago on OpenTable & they do require a credit card to hold your reservation. They have a 48 hour cancellation policy at $50/person so pretty rigid. We typically do the "Let the Kitchen Cook for You" but decided to do à la carte this time because we had someone with a raw fish allergy. Favorites include the beef tartare dish, and the duck entree but you honestly can't go wrong. The desserts are a must (we got one of each - ice cream with hazelnut/chocolate, shaved ice & basque cheesecake). Service here was top notch. We were seated right away and Oscar was a fantastic server. Very attentive, love the crumbing in between meals & cutlery changes + beverage refills were frequent. Would highly recommend & will be back!
Ernest should reserve space for walk-ins. We showed up at 7:30 and it was nearly empty, and yet entirely reserved. Restaurants should favor living over virtual. IRL over online. Also the hostess could barely contain her haughty glee to tell us it was reserved until 9:15 -- though the place was nearly empty. I would rather be told "you have an hour at the bar" than "we are booked until 9:15 even there's only 2 people in the entire lower section." See photo...
Ernest will always be our family's go-to celebration restaurant. We've been over 10 times and have never been disappointed. This most recent visit was one of the best, perhaps we can thank the new chef de cuisine! Vibes are always immaculate, the tucked away private room is perfect for big groups. Staff is always on top of the service! Food was delightful. The classics hit, and there were some new dishes like the banana bread caviar and asparagus that were lovely. My only minor critique is the cocktail list has never changed! I recommend ordering classic cocktails like whisky sours!
4/5 food 4/5 service 5/5 ambiance and decor We tried the scallop sashimi, sushi rice, chicken liver, autumn chopped salad, fried rice, Monterey bay squid, sea urchin pierogis, carrot cake shaved ice and sundae ice cream. The standouts for me were the scallops, sushi rice, Monterey bay squid, and pierogis. The salad tasted like a basic Costco pre packaged salad. The ingredients didn't seem innovative or particularly special. Fried rice is not worth the money. Carrot cake shaved ice tastes bland in comparison to the sundae. The sundae was bomb though. Gin fizz was so good. It's a dangerous drink. read more
2 years ago
Hidden gem - EXCELLENT flavors, textures & creativity in dishes. Plated beautifully. Great vibes, on point music. Only disappointment was timing of our dishes. There were some longer than what seemed normal delays in between our courses. Kind of like, this shouldn't be taking so long feels ya know. But food itself, was outstanding. Wonderful service as well! read more
4 years ago
As a fine dining restaurant, I had high expectations for the food. Visually each plate looks great but taste of all the dishes I tried were lacking umami and was just "ok" hence the 3 stars. Our party of 3 decided to get specific dishes vs the "let the kitchen cook for you". We ended up not finishing a couple things since we were full. Asked the waitress to pack up our leftovers. When we left the restaurant, we realized that she did not give us our leftovers. At that point we weren't too far from the restaurant but the food wasn't worth eating again to go back and get our leftovers. read more
We tried the chef's tasting back in July and didn't get to leave a review! We had a 5pm dinner and was there for about 2 hours. It was a great experience and super fun to try everything. Highlights - The ikura beef tartare, the house bun, the salmon with the green goddess sauce, the tonkatsu, the sundae, AND the lime fizz !! read more
Stellar food and service with a subtle Asian twist. I really recommend it! We did a special tasting menu for $125/pp because we had a larger group, and it was SO MUCH FOOD. It was honestly an insanely good value for the price, but I would've happily paid 25% less and consumed 50% less food. The drinks were also really refreshing and well-done. Some of my favorites: -Fried rice was a standout -All of the seafood starters - the dip, ikura+beef+rice, carpaccio, literally everything -Pork jowl katsu -Soft serve with chocolate magic shell The only think I did not like were the dumplings (oddly bitter) - everything else was fantastic. read more
Saw uni carbonara/lo mein was listed on their menu so of course we had to check them out. Reservations isn't too hard to get if you don't mind eating at 9pm, but for the 5pm time slot, you do have to plan a bit ahead of time. We had the 9pm reservation and parking was plenty down the street. Here's what we ordered and some quick thoughts about them: Uni toast - you only get 1 piece and it's quite small for the price Parker House Rolls - super soft and warm, tasted great with the butter Sushi Rice - wish there was just a bit more raw beef to help balance out the ikura flavor Lo Mein - decent portions and creamy uni taste, but can get a bit heavy after a couple bites Pork Neck Tonkatsu - huge portions, really like the tomatoes and dill sauce to help lighten up the taste and make it more refreshing Soft Serve Sundae - creamy ice cream, chocolate shell, and caramelized hazelnut. The combination reminded me of a ferrero rocher Strawberry Shortcake Shave Ice - this was huge as well and it had a nice balance of sweet and tartness. There was some cake crumble on top that also added a nice change of texture Overall, I wasn't necessarily blown away from any of these dishes, but I did like the main dishes more than the starters. Everything was still very tasty and I fully enjoyed my meal. I think I'll come back with a group so I can try more of the other dishes as well. read more
I was so undecided on what to get when coming here but had more of an idea when the waiter did a breakdown of the menu. Decided that we were going to order a la carte and get the things we wanted to try. Smoked Fish Dip (3.5/5): I liked the potato chips to dip with! I was eating them alone. The dip itself is very dill flavored and not too fishy but not my favorite. Lo Mein with Manila Clam (3/5): The texture of the lo mein noodle was very al dente and was a bit too salty with the roe. For the price point it was a bit steep and I felt as if the dish could be more elevated! Cucumber & Avocado (5/5): This had melon in it which provided a whole other flavor to the dish. The melon wasn't listed on the menu so it really took us by surprise, but I ended up liking it. The cucumbers were so crunchy and this was good to cut through the saltier dishes. Sushi Rice (3.5/5): The idea of everything sounded better in my head, but the sushi rice was a bit on the vinegary side. I feel as if the beef tartare didn't really do much in the dish, but wrapping it in seaweed was fun. Fried Rice (3.5/5): I actually really enjoyed the smoky flavor of the rice, however, the fried egg was the only protein. I love that they sprinkle in a lot of thai basil. They wrote a little hbd note and brought me a soft serve for my birthday which I really appreciated! I wasn't planning on getting any desserts but they made me feel special! The service and staff bumps my rating to a 4, but the food was honestly stuff I've tasted before. read more
4 years ago
A reluctant 3.5ish. the food is probably a 4-4.5 but given the hype and price, we expected more notes: - there are two ways to enjoy: (1) a tasting menu that lets you enjoy smaller portions of 75% of the menu for $97/pp, or: (2) a la carte. we eyeballed the numbers and it worked out to be the same price if we just ordered half of the menu, and then we'd get to choose what we wanted - the menu changes by month - make reservations on resy a month in advance - they're best at apps, desserts, and bread - dog-friendly when there is outdoor seating food: - king salmon -- hit - uni toast -- miss - oysters -- hit - beef tartare (sushi rice) -- miss - aged beef dumplings -- miss - Parker rolls -- def a hit - tonkatsu -- miss - sundae -- def a hit drinks: - msg martini -- miss - alpine colada -- hit read more
Had a pleasant dinner here with a group of 3. The restaurant is both minimalist and modern at the same time. The place is open and bright. Our reservation was at 5:45 PM and we were let in at 5:30 sharp, along with other groups. Everyone was greeted by servers that fell in a straight line wearing aprons and Dunks... Maybe 1 with LV trainers- I found that quirky and fun. We were sat down and were greeted by a server immediately. Right away, she asked if we wanted sparkling or tap and our water cups were always refilled - loved that! Our group opted for the $139 "Let the chef cook for you" option.... By the way, on the menu, you'd see 2 prices, a $99 and $139. The difference is that for the lower price, you don't get the Uni toast nor the Caviar. Some commentary on the food: Uni Toast - Perfect! Uni was fresh and succulent. With the butter toast, divine! Caviar - came with corn bread madeleines. Both are good separately, but I don't think it goes well together. XO Endive - Loved everything about this except for the XO sauce. I'm familiar and do like XO sauce, but something about this one didn't leave a good lingering taste Savoy Cabbage - Possibly my favorite in the entire service. Smoky, spicy and full of flavor. My gosh, I would love a tub of this... and I'm not a vegetable type of person too And here are the reasons I didn't give a 5/5. 1. A meat dish was placed in-front of us. My friends and I asked what kind of meat or what cut it was. The server says it's a NY steak. I looked at the dish and mentioned to my friends that it looked too dark and looked overcooked. I cut into it and it tasted a bit off. Immediately I told my friends that I'm not a fan and it reminded me of something - like a shawarma or something Mediterranean. My friend then tried it and she agreed that she understood what I meant and it tasted off. As another server checked on us, she jovially greeted us with, How are you enjoying the Lamb? My friend and I looked at each other and said, "Ahhhhhhhhhhh!" Now it makes sense. (We both don't like Lamb) Kid you not, it seemed like it was a sitcom and we started laughing! Don't get me wrong, I know a-lot of people enjoy Lamb, but it's just not for me. It's just the fact that I was told that it was Beef, so my mind was conditioned and expecting it to be Beef while ending up tasting something totally different. 2. The fish dish. I swear that the server said it was Halibut, but as I look at the menu online now, It says it's Cod. Not a big deal, but I just wish we were informed correctly. Anyway, the fish was cooked to perfection and I would order it again.. whatever fish that was. Food: 4/5 Service 5/5 Ambiance 5/5 I recommend this place! read more
Where do I begin? I love the food, the ambiance, and everything about Ernest. We've been here multiple times celebrating birthdays and special occasions. Then, it just started to become a stable that we would frequent even on a regular weeknight. Their service and attention to detail always blow me away. For me, it's the little notecard on the table before you arrived (if you mention in your resy that you're celebrating a certain occasion), or the way the servers greet you and tell you what they love about the dish, or the thoughtfulness of plating each dish so you have the best experience possible. It really is the little things. The food was amazing. We always opt for the tasting menu so we can try a little bit of everything that's popular during that season's menu. Their Parker House roll is to die for. It is always worth saving room at the end for their ice cream, or what I called their "Ferrero Rocher" sundae. I would come here just for that. It's the tastiest, decadent, sweet and savory, soft serve I have ever had. I just love that the menu is fun and exciting, yet has a familiar taste that can't go wrong (think Nashville hot chicken, but with katsu pork!; or creamy carbonara, but with even richer uni!) I love it. It gets a little loud as they turn up the background music, so you almost have to speak loudly to hear someone across from you. read more
2 years ago
It's a good place to go. I stayed at the bar because it is usually crowded and the waiting list would be long. We ordered fried rice, tonkatsu and hazelnut sundae. I recommend. read more
4 years ago
Harder to get out as a parent nowadays but this place was worth getting the babysitter for The tasting menu is the way to go -- gives you a little bit of everything in portions large enough to enjoy the taste, but small enough so that you can still get the entire sampling from raw bar to entree and dessert. Also, I may not have ordered some of these dishes on my own. I'm glad to have gone with the chef's recommendations because it put me out of my comfort spot and exposed me to some real hidden delights. Every flavor and texture is so well executed in these dishes. It's food that makes your eyes open in amazement at what's happening to your tastebuds Raw bar had some great stuff, especially the ikura on tartare Lo mein carbonara has amazing uni flavor with bacon and al dente pasta Mozzarella tomato with sesame so flavorful Chili crisp on the age beef dumplings Fried rice like from a high-end dimsum place 28 day aged duck with sides of morel mushrooms stuffed with duck mousse. The acidity on the mushroom so nice Ends with a tall spiral of salted hazelnut soft serve Come hungry cuz there's a lot of food and it comes so quickly Also, the service is incredibly attentive read more
Dinner review. Third visit. Ala carte. Raw Bar: 4 Each Useless Oyster, Effingham Co., Useless Inlet, BC Samish Pearl Oyster, Penn Cove Co., Samish Bay, WA Sweetwater Oyster, Hog Island Co., Tomales Bay, CA Kaluga Caviar Tater Tots, Crème Fraîche 57 (Highlight) Uni Toast Jamón Serrano, Quail Egg 25 Sushi Rice Ikura, Raw Beef, Toasted Nori 23 A5 WAGYU +20 Snacks: Parker House Rolls House Cultured Butter & Its Milk 9 Crab Rangoon Dip Cranberry Sweet & Sour 18 Chicken Liver Terrine Apple Butter, Naan 19 Meat & Seafood: (Best) Sea Urchin Pierogis Kabocha Squash, Cabbage, Brown Butter 35 (Highlight) Aged Beef Dumplings Lobster Béarnaise 23 Overall, "as good as it gets." read more
Probably one of my favorite meals i've had in SF. Hands down. We booked through Resy about a month in advance, since reservations go pretty fast! The 4 of us got a 8pm slot, and we probably left the restaurant around 10:30 after a great meal. All 4 of us did the $97 pre fixe menu, and overall I think it was totally worth the price. I've had other set menus for even higher prices but had way less food! You get a good taste of many things from the whole menu, and it changes day to day. The food came in 4 rounds, summarized below: Appetizers From this round, the oysters (so fresh and umami), citrus burrata salad (super unique flavor), and beef tartare were my favorites. Everything was delicious this round! You also get whole crab which some people aren't used to eating, but just get in there with your hands and they give you warm towels after. The waiters were really nice to point out that there was still meat left inside, being very mindful of food waste. Entrees pt 1 This round was the least exciting imo, as the lo mein and fried prawns didn't wow me. But the coraline chicories and parker rolls were delicious! Entrees pt 2 This round was soooo good. The pork tonkatsu didn't look out of the ordinary, but the flavor was insane. The more you chewed the better it tasted, along with the homemade ranch/pickles. My friends really liked the oxtail fried rice and potato pave. Dessert The classic soft serve! Super lovely flavor and chocolate shell. Basque cheesecake was tasty too. We were all thoroughly stuffed after the meal, and we felt no rush from the staff to leave at all! The service was really good at recognizing when we were done with a course, and made sure every bit of food was eaten with no waste. They change your plates and utensils every time. The ambiance was super cozy and lively as it was packed in there! All in all it came out to about $125-130 with tax and tip per person. I'd definitely come back again to bring other people. This was highly recommended to me and I totally get it now! read more
3 years ago
Went here for my birthday with 4 other people on a Wednesday night and it was fabulous. They left a cute birthday card for me on the table upon arrival :-) We pretty much ordered almosttt everything on the menu and everything was beyond amazing. I must admit... the oysters were so delicious it felt like the perfect nut in my mouth. Also, don't sleep on the onion rings!! Definitely will be coming back again and again! read more
Last of the Birthday celebrations and finally made it over to Ernest. I've been peeping out this place the last several months and decided why not celebrate with my best gals! RSVP highly suggested. We had our own private dining area. Waiter was a great host, and atmosphere was popping. Sleek and modern space located off Bryant street. What did we order? Appetizers were A-OK Scallop Sashimi and the Grilled Avocado except the Uni toast blew my mind! Buttery and light Presentation was beautiful but average to my palet, however the main entrees were delicious. Koshihikari rice, aged duck breast, lo mein w/uni, and Miyazaki Wagyu Katsu Sando. I was amazed how uberlicious our meals were. read more
Absolutely LOVED Ernest and will definitely be coming back. We ubered to the restaurant because we live close by but parking is relatively easy in this area (compared to other areas of the city). We did the "Let the Kitchen Cook for You" option with the beverage pairings. The beverage pairings are all wine, and you end up getting ~3 glasses of wine (probably a little more, the pours were generous). For food, everything we had was SPECTACULAR. I'll try my best to remember everything. - Heirloom Tomatoes (LOVED this) - 2 raw oysters (tons of flavor) - Salmon with Tom Kha (very good, but not a standout) - Mexican Shrimp Coctel (wasn't my favorite, but my husband loved this - tons of flavor) - Sushi Rice (SO SO good - must get this) - Parker House Rolls (best bread I've ever had, must get this) - Aged Beef Dumplings (this was actually one of the only things I wasn't crazy about, the dumplings were super high quality but something in the sauce tasted super burnt) - Brentwood Corn (super unique & really good) - Fried Rice (very quality & I loved that it had okra in it) - Lo mein with clams (AMAZING, must get) - Pork Tonkatsu (my favorite dish of the night!!!) - Soft serve dessert (DO NOT SKIP THIS ITS SOOOOO GOOD) Overall, this place was insanely good. I will definitely be coming back!! read more
Our bestie brought us here for a special anniversary dinner and upon pulling up realized I've been in this neighborhood countless times but didn't know this place existed. First off is the bakery aroma from across the street that starts whetting your appetite. The space had tall ceilings with a bar after the hostess desk and two floor main dining area. Decor set the mode beautifully with a mix of modern industrial chic. Once seated our server was there to offer a refresher and explain the menu a bit. We opted for the tasting menu and what a great choice. Trio of apps to steer. Oysters, Seafood cocktail and Steak Tartare with salmon roe. The salty briny hit from each bite was a great start. My wife thought the granita on the oyster was too cold, but I didn't mind at all. The salmon w corn pudding and toasted panko came and was gobbled up. That dish was buttery smooth and one of the highlights for sure. The tasting menu standouts for us were the Fried Elote, English Peas, Duck Confit fried rice, Uni carbonara, soft serve ice cream and a wonderful 1/2 baked cheesecake that had to be one of the hardest dishes to ever plate. Each dish was wonderful and deeply enjoyable. Pace yourself. It's worth the investment. read more
3 years ago
This place really blew me away! The food was all incredible and featured innovative takes on a fusion of Asian cuisines. We ordered a good chunk of the menu and honestly loved everything we had! They also had delicious options for mocktails that were complex and not too sweet. Our server's energy was a bit flat, but other than that it was such a great experience and I can't wait to return. read more
4 years ago
Our friends were raving about this place so definitely had to come try it out! A bit sad that they changed their menu and didn't have the uni lo mein anymore but all their food was so good that it made up for it! We ordered: - uni toast (7/10 - just because of the big uni on top) - 2 of each oyster (paired with great sauces!) - sushi rice (MUST GET) - washugyu NY strip (cooked to perfection) - lo mein (7/10) - Koshihikari Fried rice (8/10) Service was also amazing! Everyone was extremely tentative, food came out reasonably quick, and ambiance was good! :) read more
1 year ago
This place is way too overhyped. We had a reservation here at 9:15p on a Thursday night and were seated quickly in the main dining area after checking in. Uni toast was sold out by then :( Food here is a fusion between Asian (Japanese, Thai, Chinese) and European but definitely more Asian cuisine based. Presentation for each dish was unique and eye-pleasing, but the flavors didn't live up to the expectations. Ambiance: 9/10. Loud diners. Simple interior design. Spacious although tables are close together. Soft music. Bright lights (I thought it'd be dimmed/dark inside). Service: 10/10. Quick, attentive, and friendly. Food: 6/10. Sushi Rice (ikura, raw beef, seaweed)- 5/10. Weird name. Weird combo. Ikura was too salty and overpowered the beef flavor. We tried making a wrap with the seaweed but ikura + seaweed = even saltier combo. It was a no. King salmon- 8/10. The soup served with it is tom kha (coconut soup). Raw salmon with tom kha surprisingly went well together but it was such a rip off.. the dish was $21 with a cut of salmon that was probably less than 1/3 of 1Lb of king salmon. Koshihikari fried rice- 8/10. All the vegetables in this plate were very soft, which is the way I like my veggies. The fried rice itself was very flavorful, but tbh it tastes and smells just like Thai basil fried rice. Pork neck tonkatsu- 8/10. Boyfriend really enjoyed this and says it was very crispy on the outside and tender on the inside and very flavorful. Lo Mein- 6/10. Pretty much an uni pasta. Too salty. Where was the uni? Why is it called lo mein again? read more
one of my favorite higher end restaurants that was worth the money (got tasting menu). soft serve dessert was INSANE. and all the seafood was my favorite (the apps portion) bc so so fresh. steak was good too the rest were fine as nothing outstanding but nice little twist! lovely presentation. read more
Tik tok made us come here! Our party of 4 made reservations about 3 weeks in advance and went in knowing we wanted to try the tasting menu. We got seated promptly and was offered water. Just a note this venue has their music pretty loud as my table found we were practically yelling across the table. The first round featured raw seafood which was pretty tasty. Standout dishes being the meyer lemon scallops, the citrus flavor highlighted the sweetness of the scallops even more. Yummm! Another standout dish in this course was the beef tartare is was so smooth and creamy. The diy hand roll was a fun idea and made us enjoy the experience more. The second round of dishes fell pretty short for us. The bread definitely looked better than they tasted. We thought it was reminiscent of Hk dinner rolls but lacked the slight sweetness normally found. The standout dish of round three was the broccolini and squid. The squid was perfectly cooked, not chewy and had the perfect bounce and texture. One note is we did find the dish to be pretty salty. One theme we found was some dishes were seasoned pretty heavily while some dishes we felt like needed a bit more. Overall we had a good experience, the dishes were served on beautiful plates and the service was attentive. However we found the meal to resemble an elevated Chinese banquet dinner which left us with the feeling of familiarity and craving a wow factor. read more
2 years ago
The tasting menu was fantastic. Basically had everything on the menu except caviar and uni- and we had a couple off menu gems. We did the wine pairing, which was meh for me. It was a typical progression, but I wish the wine was better matched with specific dishes/flavors. It's honestly hard to pick a favorite since there were so many gems. The crab rangoon dip, the pork tonkatsu, and tempura squash were favorite bites. And the tuna- wowzers. Don't miss anything here. This place deserves all the cred it gets. It was a culinary experience and I can't wait to go back. read more
4 years ago
Don't know how we managed to grab a reservation on a Thursday for a Saturday night dinner, but just utterly ecstatic that I finally got to try this place. We did the tasting menu since we wanted to try a ton of things. Server said 4 savory and 1 sweet so we were unprepared for the amount of food that descended onto the table. The food is just amazing. Our favs were the salmon (the mix of flavors and textures was beyond this world), the steak tartare, and Parker roll (I think my eyes rolled up into the sockets for at least 15 seconds), duck, fried rice and that ice cream with the crack caramel/chocolate sauce. Servers were attentive and friendly. Super comfortable atmosphere that is not stuffy. Saw at least two families with kids/toddlers dining. Would be back in a heartbeat. Absolutely deserve all the rave reviews. read more
4 years ago
Came here for date night & it was definitely very carb-heavy for two. Probably better to come with more people! Favorite thing was the uni toast - expensive, but worth it! Everything else was pretty tasty. The only thing I wouldn't recommend is the uni Lo mien. You barely taste the uni and it basically just tastes like any other chow mien dish at a Chinese restaurant. I came here with high expectations, so maybe that threw me off a bit. Decent food, but I wouldn't rave about it. read more
3 years ago
I have been to Ernest three times now. Making a reservation isn't too difficult, and the food and service have been wonderful. I always opt for the pre fixe menu, and my party always leaves feeling extremely stuffed! They definitely do not skimp out on the portions. The presentation is also beautiful. For me, all of the appetizer and dessert items always hit the spot. The Bluefin Tuna Tostada is a MUST try. However, their more entree items, like their meats and seafoods, always fall a bit flat for me. They're definitely delicious, but not as amazing and interesting as their other items. The ambiance is also really cozy. It doesn't give off that pretentiousness other nicer dining places may give off. TLDR Food : Gorgeous, Almost Perfect except for the "Entree" Dishes Service : Wonderful Ambiance : Cozy, Not Lofty nor Pompous read more
Ernest is one of my favorite spots at the moment! Rich Table is one of my all time favorite SF restaurants, so I knew Ernest would be amazing since the chef worked at RT before! I love the Asian influence on the food here. My favorites are: the beef tartare, uni lo mein, wagyu katsu sando, the tonkatsu, grilled avocado, and the scallop sashimi! My hubby and I have been twice now and have loved almost everything we tried! It's best to go with a group of people so you can try more things. I think a group of 4-6 would be perfect. :) Service is super friendly also. We recently were seated in the private room upstairs and it was so nice! Rezzies are easy to make on Resy (log on around a month before you want the rez, should be fine!) but they also have daily walk-ins available that can be seated at the bar. read more
The food was amazing. Every dish was a hit! There were 6 of us and we tried many dishes on the menu. Many of the dishes are fusion between Asian and western food. The presentation of all the dishes were good. The only dish that was meh was the strange shaved ice they served while I was there which was lime and chili flavor. Service was good. Though I do wish the restaurant has a bit more sound dampening as it was pretty loud. read more
10 months ago
2 years ago
Small seats. Good service. Unique dishes. Dumplings a must and rolls. Wagyu tartar with roe is a delightful treat. Wouldn't rush back. High prices. Lovely experience while it lasted. read more
4 years ago
Great dining experience. This is the sister restaurant of Rich Table. You can make reservations on Resy. There is a $50 fine for canceling and they allow a 2 hour limit. The entrance is on Florida and Mariposa. The interior is very modern and open. Our server was fantastic. They have a rotating menu each week so don't expect them to have something you saw in the pictures on Yelp. Would definitely come back again. What we ordered: beef dumpling with lobster bearnaise sauce Fried rice with Brussels sprouts and aged Parmesan Parker rolls Sushi rice with beef tartare and ikura Bbq pork neck Basque cheesecake read more
The 6 of us celebrated my hubby's birthday here. We were seated at a large private room on the second level in the back. We felt so special! Ernest even left a happy birthday card for him. What a nice touch! Our waiter was Daniel and his helpers were all very professional and efficient in expediting all our dishes. We haven't been out much since the pandemic so this was an over the top event just to be served all this beautiful tasty food. Of course we ordered mostly everything on their menu and Daniel recommended the chef's tasting menu. So we went with our initial order. The food was fantastic! I love sashimi and Asian fusion. My favorites were the beef tartare and waygu sando. Every dish had a different twist to it, whether it be a crunch or nuts or ponzu sauce or tender cheesecake. We were so full By the time we were done and we did not leave a morsel behind. This is one of the most I've ever paid for a party of 6 on this festive occasion. Once in a while its okay and Ernest did not disappoint. read more
2 years ago
Was recommended Ernest from a friend and it was FANTASTIC! The ambience, the service, and the food were all impeccable. We tried almost the entire menu snd enjoyed every dish. Our favorites are pictured below. My Mom wanted a specific drink off menu that they didn't have all the ingredients for, but the bartender was able to make one on the fly that was incredibly delicious. They knew and explained each dish in fine detail, and really made our experience memorable. Shout to Roland and the team for absolutely crushing our Easter dinner. Cannot wait to come back to The City and bring some friends! PS, the Oysters and Rolls were to die for! I would come back just for that house made butter! read more
3 years ago
Fusion food. Attentive Service, packed even during the week. Young, energetic ambiance. Enjoyed the salad the most: California Citrus - Stracciatella, Salsa Macha, Chicharron Also ordered: Uni Toast - Jidori Egg Yolk, Brioche Sushi Rice - Ikura, Raw Beef, Toasted Nori Dungeness Crab Cake - Kani Miso Remoulade Pork Neck Tonkatsu - Mala Spice, Cabbage, Pickles We came for dinner before a concert at The Fillmore, glad to have tried, but unsure what to come back for. read more
More info about Ernest
1890 Bryant St
Ste 100
San Francisco, CA 94110
Mission
Directions
(415) 829-2961
Call Now
Visit Website
https://www.ernestsf.com
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Food & Alcohol
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Ask the Community - Ernest
Any low sodium options for someone with high blood pressure?
I doubt it. All our dishes were over seasoned. I left with my lips wrinkled from all the salt.
Is this restaurant a good place for large groups, like parties of 14-18?
No, you could book them for an event though
If I get a gift card how much is a reasonable amount for 2 people?
I'd say if they both do the tasting menu then $200-250 atleasr but if you're thinking they'd just do an entree and an app and not go all out $100 would be generous, too.
How far in advance do reservations open up? Is there a specific time as well? I've been before and want to go again but I wasn't the one who booked previously. Thanks in advance!
Usually 2-4 weeks out is when it's beta to make a reservation. But I have called for a day of reservation.
Whats the difference between a lounge table vs dining table?
I think the lounge is the downstairs area by the bar. Dining table are all the regular seatings on the upper level.
Friendly for kids? Babies? We have a 9 month old but would love to come for an early dinner. Thanks!
when we were there, we saw a couple who brought their 1yo. The baby sat in a high chair and was entertained by their iPad. He seemed to enjoy watching the chefs cook
Not seeing a whole lot for vegetarians on the menu.... Will the kitchen make modifications to provide more vegetarian options?
yes, if u give them 48 hours notice
Hello... Are the tables spaced out and how is the air flow? Still being cautious.
It's pretty airy in there. If you reach your arm as far as possible, while seated, you still wouldn't touch a chair from another table. I felt pretty safe and I'm on the higher end of paranoid. Get the uni spoons! Enjoy :)
Can two guests walk in at 5:30 and get dinner on Thursday?
Eddy! Typically the only spot we have for guests without reservations is at the bar! The seats are first come first served and you can usually grab seats pretty easily on a Thursday until about 6pm. I hope this helps and we hope to see you soon!
How gluten free friendly is the menu?
If you want to really enjoy it you need to get the chef's menu, which includes glutenous items. You could navigate around it ala carte, but its not optimum in my opinion
How do you get a reservation? Everything is always booked online
You have to book EARLY- weeks in advance. set up a notification if it's booked because people cancel all the time. They have walkin but it's for a limited bar seating.
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Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
19 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
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Ernest - newamerican - Updated September 2026
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