Had a fabulous dinner here on Easter Sunday! The restaurant is beautiful and inviting with a great vibe. We all had a different main course and they were delicious. The fried rice was so good as were the buttery Parker House rolls. Everything was so fresh and the seasonings and sauces really complemented the dishes. Had two of the three desserts and both were wonderful! The kakigori was almost too pretty to eat. Fantastic cocktails and really friendly, knowledgeable staff who made it a pleasure to dine at Ernest! read more

Ernest - Strawberry Shortcake Kakigori - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Heard a lot of great reviews about this restaurant so I had really high expectation coming in. Highly recommend making a reservation ahead of time since they are fully booked during prime dinner time almost every day. I believe they take reservations 28-30 days in advance and they are released in the evening PST daily. We came here on a Saturday at 5pm and the restaurant was already quite busy. We started our meal with some cocktails. I ordered the Makrut Lime Fizz which I really enjoyed. For food, we ordered 5 dishes to share as recommended by our server (2-3 dishes per person). We got the Mexican Shrimp Coctel, CA King Salmon, Sushi Rice, Coachella Valley Yellow Corn Tempura, Lo Mein, as well as the Strawberry Shortcake Shaved Ice to end our meal. My favourites were the Shrimp Coctel and Sushi Rice, which were both refreshing. The Lo Mein was one of the most popular dishes according to our server but we found it a bit too heavy and too al dente. The desserts also had generous portion so they were great for sharing. Overall, the food and drinks were good but nothing really wowed us. We enjoyed our dinner and would still recommend checking this place out. read more

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Ernest is new and beautiful. I love the minimalistic design and appreciate that it is upscale, but not stuffy. The service is amazing and the food pics are even better. Now onto why Ernest didn't quite work for me. The first red flag was that none of the chefs in the open kitchen were Asian...however, that alone shouldn't be a good indicator of anything. I read that head chef and owner Brandon Rice had experience at Boston's Clio, so I was still hopeful the Asian fusion would be done right. As the meal went on, it felt less like culinary appreciation and more like fusion for the sake of "creativity". Ernest describes itself as "familiar flavors with new ingredients" which apparently is their way of saying "let's pick and choose Asian ingredients and combine them with western recipes". Some of these combinations just do not work and only serve to make both components, the Asian ingredient and the western recipe, worse. The tator tots with crème frâiche? That was pretty good. Cheesy, crunchy goodness with a little extra salt from the caviar. The tonkatsu with tomatoes and green goddess dressing?? Really strange. The tomato and tonkatsu pairing was more reminiscent of a pork parmesan than anything else. There is a reason why tonkatsu is typically served with a tangy sauce - it helps to cut through the oily nature of the fried pork. The creamy dressing did the opposite and, since it was poured on top, turned the crispy katsu into a soggy afterthought. The lo mein with uni ended up being my favorite out of the six items we ordered. I liked the creativity of using a chewier noodle and the slight nod to carbonara. Though, I did think the dish could have more uni flavor and the sauce to noodle ratio was off. It had way too much sauce which made the serving very heavy and difficult to finish if not shared. There are better uni pastas elsewhere in SF. The beef tartar with ikura was great for photos but not great in flavor. It was almost bland, more like a raw steak sushi than a tartar, and missing a treatment for the beef or an egg yolk. Almost all of the items (three appetizers and three entrees) we ordered were misses for me. Everything was lacking that harmonious balance well known in Asian cuisine - the food was either too salty or too creamy or underseasoned etc. I have to agree with the other reviewer that the best dish I had was the raw oysters. My entire meal wasn't bad, it was just forgettable. Compared to other SF restaurants in the same price range, Ernest falls short. All of the above and the fact that some chefs were not wearing masks make it very unlikely for me to return to Ernest. I found it ironic that guests were required to wear masks to enter but the individuals handling my food did not have to. I would only consider coming back for drinks because the cocktails we ordered were actually very delicious. read more

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After a long time just looking at their menu, we finally tried dining at Ernest. Many foodie friends and chefs recommended this spot. Tldr: we left satisfied and wanted more. Creative yet familiar dishes. Attentive service, open kitchen concept and a nice ambience. - Oysters: 7.5/10. The sauce was good. Oysters were so creamy. Didn't blow us away though. - Bluefin tuna tartare with smoked ponzu and miso cream. The cream was a real winner of this dish. It added the creaminess and a tint of umami to the fish. - SF Bay Halibut Tostada: it's good but not very memorable. - Smoked heirloom tomatoes, tantanmen vinegrette and ramen egg. This is chef's take on the tantanmen. The best dish of the meal. If you add some ramen to make a dry noodle dish, it would be a big hit. The tomatoes were slightly smoky, combined with the sesame flavor and vinegrette. Excellent! - Koshihikari fried rice with Brentwood corn: another great dish. It's better than many fried rice spots out there. I wished that it had less corn. - Chrysanthemum salad with some shaved bonito flakes and parmesan: this was too salty. I wouldn't order it again. Of course we cannot skip the kakigori - Flavor king pluot with shisho kakigori: the pluot was tangy and it went well with the shisho ice. Very refreshing. I really enjoyed this dinner and will be back. read more

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It has been awhile since I have come across a restaurant that I have been counting down the days, all 30 of them, until it was my turn. One downside of its popularity and making reservations so far in advance is that what you may have your eye on may no longer be available when you dine. For me, that was the black sesame tiramisu shaved ice. If you would like to try half to 2/3 of the menu, choose the "Let the Kitchen Cook for You" for $95pp. Since my husband is shellfish intolerant, it probably wouldn't work out so well for us if he couldn't eat a good number of the dishes, defeating its purpose. So we did a la carte instead. I did hear them advise a nearby table that if you have dietary restrictions (e.g. gluten sensitivity, etc.,) if you let them know a day or two ahead of time, they may be able to accommodate their tasting menu for you. Tsar Nicolai Caviar with Creme Fraiche and Tater Tots - Since pictures can be a bit deceiving in terms of scale, this is a small dish since caviar is pricey. The creme fraiche covers just the bottom of the bowl so just enough to top the 6 tater tots that accompanies it. This is definitely one to savor. - MAY GET AGAIN Big Eye Tuna with pickled hijiki and togarashi - Super fresh and nice balance in flavors but I only had a bite since I knew I would have the uni carbonara to myself. - WOULD GET AGAIN Uni Carbonara Lo Mein with bacon - With the small starters, this super rich dish will ensure you don't leave hungry but felt like it needed more noodles or bread to pick up the extra sauce and wish it had more uni flavor to it. - MAY GET AGAIN Monterey Bay Squid with Pole Beans and Calabrian Chili - For an entree, this was on the light side so if you're not eating the uni carbonara, you would want to add another dish or choose something else. Asian fish sauce and calabrian chili didn't really mix for me. - PASS Pork Tonkatsu with Smoked Gribiche and Tobiko - The silver lining of the light squid dish is we added the pork tonkatsu and it was one of my favorite dishes of the night. The smoked gribiche and tobiko just worked so well with the crunchy on the outside but perfectly cooked pork on the inside. - WILL GET AGAIN Medium Rare Basque Cheesecake - I've never had basque cheesecake before so maybe it's suppose to be salty but I did not care for how salty this was. - PASS Strawberry Shortcake Shaved Ice - This was the highlight of the meal for me that I didn't even mind missing out on the previous month's Black Sesame Tiramisu version. Every bite was perfectly balanced between the sweet of the strawberry and crumble to the slight tartness of the li-hing powder. Such a refreshing ending to the meal. This does change monthly depending on what's seasonal. - WILL GET AGAIN Overall, the raw bar items are small, the meats depending on what you get as the carbonara and pork was filling but the squid was not, and the desserts are enough to share. Knowing what I know now, I have a good idea of what to get but with how often the menu changes, I hope our faves will still be on there. read more

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A easy 5 stars!! Not pictured: The dessert in the tasting menu which included the cheesecake, soft serve, and strawberry shaved ice (all 3 were DELICIOUS as well) Decided to go with the tasting menu which seemed the most worth it for a party of 3 and definitely kept our stomachs full with 4 boxes of leftovers to take home!! Everything was so great and delicious and I was asked to try this place and I am definitely happy I did. Even the bread and butter was AMAZINGG and soooo soft and hot and fresh!! read more

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*** In Short *** Pretty, but over-salted and over-hyped. *** In Depth *** I'm not sure what it is about Ernest that makes it so divisive (especially noticeable here on Yelp), but for a place that's been SO hyped up by all my friends, I was definitely hoping for much, much more, especially after having been floored by my dinner at Pearl the week before. There isn't really that much to call out here: while the katsu and soft serve were two notably tasty dishes, everything else was either lackluster, or, more often, way too salty (from slightly so to almost inedible-y so), which seems to be a common complaint other Yelpers have made here. Service was pretty stellar, and on par with what you'd expect at a place in this price tier, but the food quality was just not there. ***Accessibility Info*** Venue - Outdoor seating is pretty nicely spaced out and accessible, but be warned that it can get REALLY chilly out here. Indoor seating appeared to offer up a mix of accessibility options, from regular tables to counter and upstairs dining. read more

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4 stars for a great new addition to San Francisco by Chef Brandon Rice from Rich Table (Michelin Star restaurant). It's clear they are trying to get a star here, too, which is why I'm trying to judge them fairly as I couldn't get myself to round up. Not yet anyway. Just a tip, despite the official address being on Bryant, the place is actually located on the corner of Mariposa and Florida. Parking shouldn't be too difficult (for SF anyway). The service was spectacular and we got lucky being seated without a reservation. Had my dog with us so we were outside and despite being windy, the heaters did a good enough job. Our server even offered to move some/turn the heaters up, etc. Overall, the pace of service was brisk, they were attentive, and pretty helpful with their suggestions. Could have cleaned the table a few more times in-between courses but no biggie. As far as the food goes, this is where I had the hardest time. We went with a la carte rather than prix fixe. The small plates were mostly spectacular with a few exceptions but the main dishes were a bit of a letdown. There was just too much inconsistency. I enjoyed the Asian fusion twist but it didn't seem to always hit the mark when it came to the proportions and mix of the ingredients. The oysters were fresh, as expected. I appreciated the attention to detail. The hot sauce came in a nice pouring container. The dressing was executed perfectly which elevated the experience from getting the same oysters at Hog Island. The lemon was in a cover to prevent lemon seeds from dropping. A solid start to our meal. The heirloom tomatoes were fresh and packed full of flavor. The chili crisp, stone fruit, and yogurt elevated the experience and brought an interesting twist. One thing was that there seemed to have been way too much of the toppings given the ratio with the tomatoes. I actually found myself leaving some of it off as it masked the tomatoes too much at that point. Probably closer to half would have been plenty. The point is to showcase the tomatoes, not hide them entirely. The parker house rolls were to die for. Absolutely amazing, fluffy, slightly crunchy, and full of flavor. The house butter with milk was the perfect compliment to the roll and I was seriously considering ordering seconds. The aged beef and bone marrow dumplings on the other hand, left a lot to be desired. The beef inside was rather dry, the dumpling skin was mediocre, and the only memorable thing about the dish was the sauce (but even it couldn't save the dumplings). The lo mein uni carbonara was a twist to Rich Table's uni pasta. The dish was heavy and while you can definitely taste the uni in the sauce, there were no big chunks to be found which definitely would have been a great touch. Flavor wise, the sauce was dense but not as flavorful as I would have hoped; no umami tingling here. Also since when did we start calling things carbonara when they don't even have guanciale or at least pancetta? Those would have definitely helped the dish as the bacon they used was just ok. Overall, this was a bit of a letdown as it was the dish I was looking forward to the most. I've had much better uni pasta elsewhere. The Monterey bay squid was just... almost considered asking them to take it back. Some of the beans and veggies seemed undercooked and overly crunchy (didn't end up finishing them obviously). The fish sauce was like a poor take on Asian oysters and fish sauce and trying too hard. Sadly the otherwise fresh and perfectly cooked squid was tainted by the mediocrity of the sauce. Overall, definitely the worse dish of the night. For dessert we had both the basque cheesecake and soft serve sundae. Both were surprisingly middle-of-the-road and not memorable. The cheesecake was actually quite bitter and not in a "sweet touch of lemon flavor" type bitter either which I would have preferred. Definitely not my favorite but not bad. Just don't order it expecting it to be sweet. The daiquiri bolognese was light and tasty. They can make good cocktails here. The prices are high but to be expected. You'll easily be dropping $100 per person or more. Overall, while the service was impeccable and many of the dishes were definitely Michelin-level worthy, there were quite a few let downs for me to be able to overlook and leave a 5 star review. There's a bit more work to be done to get there in my opinion and I hope they do figure it out. read more

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I went here with a friend who was returning for the third time, and he had said really good things so I was definitely looking forward to it. We chose the tasting menu, which ended up being really nice in terms of variety and volume. Although now doing the math, i think the value of what we got is less than what we paid for the tasting menu option... From the Raw Bar: - Raw Oyster and Littleneck Clam (1 each) - these were quite tasty! Quite heavily drenched in sauce so there wasn't a necessary focus on the freshness of the shellfish, but there weren't any fishy aftertastes so I assume it was quite fresh - Shrimp Ceviche - again, quite a salty dish. Loved the balance from saltines and the creaminess of the avocado, but the sauce was the dominant flavor here - Beef Tartare with Ikura Rice - Loved this! Served with the rest of the raw bar this ended up tasting rather bland since everything else was so strongly flavored, but great texture and super fresh - Tuna Tostada - this was probably my favorite piece of this raw course. The rayu was a super tasty complement to the fresh tuna Next course was their Parker House rolls along with two dishes from their Vegetables section: - Parker House Rolls: I love bread. Enough said. I would eat a whole plate of this - Heirloom Tomatoes: I really enjoyed the miso and Thai basil flavors on this one! And the unexpected pairing with Yuba was a surprising but very pleasant complement - Grilled Avocado: This dish had an unexpected aftertaste that I didn't really enjoy. I asked the waiter about it because I couldn't quite figure it out, but it might have been the avocado leaf oil. Our Main course was Roasted Squab with Buffalo Sauce and a Blue Cheese dressing, which wasn't on the menu! Personally not the biggest fan of buffalo sauce or squab, but this was quite decent. Dessert was their signature Soft Serve Sundae, which is the only thing I don't have a picture before because we were so excited to dig in. A tall soft serve sundae drenched in a DELICIOUS hazelnut toffee sauce and a chocolate magic shell. This is something I would come back to Ernest for just on its own. In my friend's prior visits he mentioned that he'd gotten a couple more dishes, so we were a little surprised that there was no carb dish, for e.g. I left pleasantly (but not uncomfortably) full, so this was a good amount of food regardless, but still wondering if I should've just done a la carte instead... read more

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Occupying a former two-level Coffee Bar space, the transformation of Ernest is stunning. The 9-seat bar area welcomes guests near the entrance, while the dining area and kitchen occupying the upper level. The menu has Chef Rice's love affairs of communal meals that bear similarities to the good old times at Rich Table. There is a great selection of chilled seafood beyond a typical seafood platter (peel and eat shrimps, assorted oysters, little neck clams, Hokkaido uni spoon (was the star of this selection!). The beef tartare with salmon roes and sushi rice was another highlight of the meal! Larger format items for two or more diners designed to encourage sharing: the Lo Mien noodles with uni butter was heavenly, the prime rib eye with a buttery mushroom sauce was Chef's Rice signature dish. Everyone enjoyed the meal so much and is definitely a very memorable meal. read more

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I so thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Ernest. We ate off the prix fixe menu, and every selection from the chef was delicious. The service was outstanding. It's a beautifully designed restaurant with tasteful kitch with modern industrial design elements which really fits the neighborhood. Always love an open kitchen. We will be back! read more

I have nothing but good things to say about this place. You'll need to make a reservation prior to arriving, which I recommend you do a few weeks in advance. The servers Daniel and Daniella were both super friendly each time that we were there. I love the modern aesthetics and the cute line of lucky cats on the wall. Highlights Tonkatsu- the Tonkatsu itself was perfectly crisp on the outside yet moist on the inside. The pork was a perfect combination of lean and fat. The only thing I would say is that the dill and roe on the top didn't do this dish justice so I just scraped it off the Tonkatsu. Uni Carbonara- rich creamy long buttery goodness. Wow. Basque Cheesecake- the texture is surreal and the creaminess just makes this a perfect ending to the meal. Shaved ice- the first time I unfortunately missed out on the tiramisu shaved ice but the second time I got to try their strawberry shortcake shaved ice and it had a nostalgic flavor. It reminded me of those strawberry shortcake ice cream bars that you would get from the ice cream cart at a playground. Absolutely amazing. Overall, I would recommend this place and I cannot wait to try this place again. read more

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Originally I saw a beautiful interior shot on Instagram (they have huge windows overlooking a beautiful sunset), booked an RSVP for a sunset time at a random day, and found that it's one of the hottest restaurants in SF. What a win, thanks Instagram algorithm!! First off, it's on an off-street, which was great because street parking was easy! And food is wonderful. Their menu changes slightly often. We had: + "Grilled Avocado" - roe, sprouts, and avocado. Surprisingly this was our hands down favorite!! This was a sleeper hit, I wasn't expecting much but the flavors were otherwordly. Incredibly unique. The olive oil was super fresh, there was this citrisy bright flavor, and just topped with smoked roe and crunchy furikake (and popcorn pieces?) that added a lot of interesting textures. + Hamachi Sashimi -- Pretty good solid sashimi. Sauce was very flavorful. It was great, but a safe and not unique option. + "Lo Mein" - Uni carbonara I think the name "Lo Mein" threw us off a bit because this was better than expected -- it isn't typical lo mein noodles but really chewy handmade noodles! That was a really nice surprise! The uni cream sauce was very flavorful but too salty. We were really thirsty after. + Soft serve sundae Yum! HUGE sundae so it's great to share. They pour the magic chocolate shell in front of you! Extremely soft and silky ice cream with some buttery hazelnut sauce. Pretty good way to end the meal. Overall, Ernest was a delightful time! And of course, the interior is beautiful!! Loft-style, huge windows -- come at sunset. :) Oh and make reservations via Resy. It's a bit frightening that Resy will charge you $50 for cancellations, like wow that's commitment in these uncertain times. But if you ask earnestly, I think Ernest will show grace. read more

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My boyfriend took me here for a surprise early birthday celebration and Ernest did not disappoint! Everything from the food, drinks, atmosphere, and service was top notch. They even had a little happy birthday card for me at the table :-) Drinks wise I had the reposado old fashioned and it was so smooth and easy to drink! You can taste fresh strawberries and the basil. As for entrees, we opted to order on our own vs the chef cooks for you option. We had the kaluga caviar, duck confit croquettes, aged beef and bone marrow dumplings, beef tartare, 21 day dry aged rib eye, lo mein uni carbonara, and finished off with the soft serve ice cream. I'm not that big into ikura (fish eggs), but it tasted so good and not overly salty on the beef tartare! My top picks were definitely the beef tartare, bone marrow dumplings (that bone marrow sauce.. I could literally bathe in it) and the 21 dry aged rib eye. Hopefully we get lucky again on reservations so we can try out more! read more

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When they say "Let the Kitchen Cook for you" $95/ head, just keep in mind they will feed you like your grandma did, like it is your last meal for a week. I think it's the only way to go, especially if it's your first visit, and you want to eat half of what's on the menu. We left with each little leftover carefully boxed separately, and tasting great the second day. This is what we were served for two Started with: Desert Island Sazerac - Tropical Rye, Ginger, Citrus Oil, Absinthe: 3.5 stars. our food came out so fast, because of COVID pacing that I didn't drink enough before the huge amount of ice completely watered it down, so maybe not fair Makrut Lime Fizz - Gin & Cachaça, Sour Cream, Egg White, Soda: 3.5 stars. Interesting, but a little too much like a milkshake for me $14 each Then the games begin: 2 each of Kusshi Oyster, Taylor Shellfish, Deep Bay, BC; Chelsea Gem Oyster, Chelsea Farms, Eld Inlet, WA, and some kind of clam I didn't catch the name of. They were all pristine; the unnamed clam was the tastiest to me Live Scallop Sashimi Cucumber, HMB Wasabi: 4 stars. Delectable, but a hint too much of a bitter note to me from the cucumber ash. HMB wasabi was killer Shrimp "Coctel" , Avocado, Cilantro: 4 stars. Beef Tartare Sushi Rice, Ikura, Toasted Nori: 4.5 stars. Though tricky to eat, especially when splitting it, this was wonderful textures and clean earthy flavors. I think the combo is a bit over the top though. I prefer them each separately Koshihikari Fried Rice roasted corn, Shishitos, cotija cheese: 3 stars. One of the weaker dishes for me. The rice was a perfect texture, but the combo didn't work for me. Maybe should have edited out the cheese. Lo Mein Sea Urchin "Carbonara", Olivier's Bacon: 3.5 stars. This was the dish I was most looking forward to. The sauce was rich and delicious, but not enough noodles to carry it. It was just swimming! Parker House Rolls House Cultured Butter & Its Milk: 4 stars. I didn't eat these, Gretch had them both. Seemed like brown and serve rolls to me, but whe loved them. Aged Beef & Bone Marrow Dumplings Sauce Charcutière: 4.5. Deep wonderful flavor in the filling and the dumpling. The wrappers needed a bit more heft to carry that filling though Manila Clams Ginger, Scallion, Thai Basil: 4 stars. a bit too salty, but overall loved the ginger and basil together. BBQ Short Rib Shish Kebab Butter Bolete, Lemon Verbena & Umeboshi: 5 stars. Knockout!! Tender and cooked medium rare. Flavor had a perfect slightly sweet/sour thing going on. Soft Serve Sundae Chocolate Magic Shell, Hazelnut: 4.5 stars. Thanks for a reminder of my favorite childhood ice cream treat (Butter Brickle dipped) I still want to try the caviar tater tots and the tonkatsu, but next time, a la carte for me. read more

Ernest - The short rib kebabs. Get them - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

We were the first to sit down in the restaurant. It was a warm evening outside, but inside the temperature was perfect. Our server was outstanding and so was all the rest of the staff. My wife and I were celebrating our anniversary. All the courses came out timely and perfectly. The bartender came to our table to ask how our drinks were and if we had any suggestions which we had done because they were perfect. read more

Ernest - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I was taken there for my birthday and it was so yummy! Definitely a must try and great, pretty cocktails too. Friendly staff and it was already crowded by 6pm! Thank you. read more

If I could give 3.5 stars, that would probably better depict our expedited at Ernest. Everything was really tasty but the portion sizes were so small that four people pretty much just got a taste of everything. I think we ordered five things and walked out right at the border of full. The drinks were also just mediocre (but we could've ordered the wrong thing). I think this is a cute date night spot but I'm not sure if it'll ever be at the top of my list of suggestions. read more

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The restaurant has high ceiling and pretty spacious sittings. It gets pretty loud when its full of people (it looks like its always gonna be full of people). The food is amazing and very delicious. My husband and I enjoyed every single dishes and we were surprised each first bite of them. The server was nice but it looked like he wanted to go home since it was the 9:15pm reservation. It was our first wedding anniversary and we asked take photos of us and he didn't put any effort on the photos. I wish he could've capture that good moment with amazing food in the photo with more effort but its okay, he's not a photographer. So overall we had such a good time and would highly recommend to other people. read more

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Came to Ernest last week again to give it another shot. The menu changed since we last came and we opted for a la carte again. The standout by far was the sushi rice with raw beef - I'd order 5 of these alone next time. We were disappointed that there was no pork cheek or bone marrow fried rice so we instead settled for the hangar steak, stuffed mushrooms, and normal fried rice, all of which weren't as good as the pork cheek or bone marrow fried rice. Service was prompt but we indicated we were celebrating our engagement, which got overlooked by the waiter. The ambiance was a bit loud given it was a peak time on Friday night but that's to be expected. All in all, I'd definitely come back but will check the menu beforehand to ensure our favorites are there read more

I set up a reminder to make a reservation for the next month when they opened up and still could only get a 5:30pm spot haha. It was already packed when we arrived and rightfully so. The food here is Californian with asian influences; the chef aims to pair familiar flavors with new ingredients and he sure does that in all of his dishes! There is a lot of outdoor seating and more tables inside in a beautiful space where you can see the chefs work in the kitchen. I felt like I was getting a fine dining experience, but in a casual atmosphere (staff were amazing, plate/utensils change every course, etc), which was great. Here is what I ordered to share with my husband: Live Scallop Sashimi $21 We thought this was good, but wish they could have seasoned it a little less so the natural sweetness of the scallops can really shine. Paired well with the cucumbers on top. Aged Beef & Bone Marrow Dumplings $15 This came with 3 dumplings, pretty steep, but it was good. The bone marrow is completely liquified so be careful when you take your first bite. I think I would have preferred something that was more one-bite size so you don't lose anything. Heart of Palm Carpaccio $17 The staff recommended this and i'm so glad we got it! The heart of palm tasted so tender and fresh, and the combo of the Sansho (you'll get a little numbing peppercorn taste), black sesame, and sweet cherries just put it over the top. Lo Mein $23 This is more on the heavy side so I'm glad we got the manila clams to follow. This is a real decadent dish that makes you want to go back in for another bite. This was a really well done carbonara/mac & cheese. We didn't even leave any of the sauce behind :P Where it falls short is really the sea urchin - didn't really taste it anywhere but honestly it probably didn't need it? And not 100% sure where the lo mein part of it comes in. Manila Clams $24 YUMMMM, steamed clams are the best, they were really tender. Warning to people who don't love tasting alcohol - we could definitely still taste some rice wine in there. Medium Rare Basque Cheesecake $13 Lovely way to round out the meal. It had some bright lemon-y flavors that really cut through the richness of the cheesecake. Not the most affordable meal, but once in a while, this is totally worth it :) I need to come back when I can eat all the raw foods they have to offer!!! Oh, and the Koshihikari Fried Rice, the Pork Tonkatsu, the black sesame shaved ice... :P read more

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Yes yes yes! Fantastic restaurant. Don't get the tasting menu - just try a lot of different dishes à la carte and share among your party, especially if it's more than 2 people. The food is so fresh and delicious, and the ambiance is very hip. No wonder it's so popular! We ordered 8 dishes including dessert and everything was amazing except for the artichoke which was okay. The pork rib was a standout, and the uni toast, salmon sashimi, wagyu, and fried rice were also super good. The 2 desserts we got - the shaved ice and the cheesecake - were a perfect ending to this meal. So rich and creamy. read more

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Omakase style (chef's choice) is the way to go. The chef prepares items for your table, but the whole table must participate. I don't even know where to start... I've been to Ernest three times now and each time it has been incredible. The last two times I have gone were within the last month or so and I must say, the first round of dishes were right up my alley with so many raw items. We had a total of 3 rounds (I think? I lost count bc there were so many dishes lol). The first round was filled with yummy small plates with lots of raw items such as raw fish and beef tartare with ikura (a STAPLE that I'm obsessed with). The second round was filled with hot items and a delicious and fresh garden salad. Third round had entrees typically consisting of a meat and/or fish. And we ended with a trio of desserts. I guess that makes 4 rounds total, but 3 rounds of small plates. You will not leave hungry that's for sure! Ambiance is awesome. Cute two level restaurant with the bar at the entrance and most dining tables upstairs by the open kitchen. The servers are all really attentive and friendly. Highly recommend this spot! Parking is not always the easiest so reco taking an Uber if possible. read more

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Should you come here immediately and let the kitchen cook for you? Yes, yes you should. Ernest definitely lived up to all expectations from both a food and decor perspective - the huge bright windows and open atmosphere was great! Chefs menu had a little bit of everything! Even though my friend has a dairy allergy, they were wholly able to accommodate (ricotta on the side, sub a dish for another dish etc.). Star of the show was def the first set of starters. - Oysters with a delicious lemon/yuzu ice: Literally insane starter - Grilled Avocado with Smoked Trout Roe, Sprouts, Everything Seed: Lovely creamy bite - Ora King Salmon: This was such a good mouthful, had like mushrooms and crunchy bread things - idk but amazing - A shrimp cocktail-esque dish that had the perfect balance of spice - Sushi Rice Ikura, Raw Beef, Toasted Nori: Picture perfect to make hand rolls Then came the: - Hothouse Cucumbers Sesame, White Miso, Chili Crisp: You have to eat the white miso cucs intermittently with the chili crisp cucs because then it gets to spicy for the palate (at least mine!) - Spring Peas: Cooked in chicken fat and served with ricotta! Loved the brightness from the peas Mains: - Prawn Fried Rice Yellow Corn, Thai Basil: The Thai basil was really showed through the rice and loved the pops of corn - BBQ Pork Neck Barhi Date, Hot Mustard: This paired so well with the mustard and was the perfect balance of fat and meat Finished with: - Strawberry short cake shaved ice (sans whatever creamy topping they usually have): First few bites were amazing, then because there isn't the cream element, I think it was a little too strawberry syrup sweet :( Surprise got the: - Uni Toast Jamón Serrano, Quail Egg: Sans toast and just uni, jamon, and quail egg on a spoon. What a way to finish the meal. Will definitely come back to try all the other dishes missed and get blessed by all the lucky cats all over the restaurant. read more

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Been wanting to try this place for a while and it was pretty difficult to get a reservation, but finally was able to make a reservation one month out. They're very good about checking vax cards, and masks have to be on when you're not at your table. Felt relatively safe here. Overall, the food was pretty good. It is on the pricier side, but I highly recommend ordering several a la carte items to share with your group. One thing I'll say is although everything was overall good, it wasn't necessarily the best version of each dish I've ever had, which is why it isn't a 5 star for me. Favorite dishes: - house rolls were the fan favorite - scallop crudo was delightful - loved the Asian flavors in their squid dish - caviar with tater tots, small bit delightful - tonkotsu was fried perfectly, the tomatoes on top were perfect Okay dishes: - uni lo mein could've had more uni flavor, so far EMC has the best uni flavor in their noodle dish - uni spoon was good but overpriced in my opinion compared to getting something of similar quality at a Japanese spot - I've had better basque cheesecake - dumplings were fine, nothing too special read more

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There are a few restaurants that I wish I could give six stars to. Ernest certainly deserves high praise for one of the most exceptional dining experiences I've ever had in San Francisco. It was upscale, but casual, elevated, but the classics well done, the service reminded me of an exceptional Michelin restaurant, and the food left me speechless for the variety of flavor, profiles, and textures, and sources of inspiration. Dishes we got: overall, I highly recommend getting one or two dishes from each of the menu, sections, or doing the tasting menu if you're hungry, because the portion sizes are definitely quite filling. Butter House Rolls: it was perfectly soft and bouncy, but the outer crest had a nice crunch to it. The butter was definitely unique as it had a milk or topping, which added a nice smooth contrast to the Chrispness of the bread. Uni Toast: the toast was almost a croissant like texture, the Uni was so fresh, and will not fishy at all, I loved the parents of the sauces, as it didn't overpower any of the other elements of the dish Sushi Rice: this was perhaps my absolute favorite dish of the night. It was a no-frills dish, but the simple details of toasting, the nori, the marinade of the raw beef, just the right portion of sugar and vinegar in the sushi, rice, and the use of roe, provided the perfect hand roll bite. (MUST get) Grilled Pork Ribs: if you want a good mix of southern/Seoul food the spareribs provided exactly that. They were fall off the bone, but the Galbi marinade was reminiscent of many of my favorite Korean dishes. The meat was tender and juicy, but the slight charring provided a nice graininess to the texture Hazelnut soft serve: all of the desserts are exceptional, but this is definitely the star of the show. The magic milk, chocolate shell was just mesmerizing as they poured it on top of the deconstructed soft serve in front of you. The hazelnut bites were so delightful, and provided a nice crunch in contrast to the smooth, soft serve that felt like if you had made cotton candy into an ice cream. Overall: 11/10 Price: $$-$$$ Must get: any of the dishes listed above read more

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Came here for a really late night snack/dinner and only ordered a few plates. All the food we got was exceptional, but I docked a star because of our waiter. As soon as we mentioned we'd only want 3 dishes he tried to push us to order more and when we didn't (as we weren't super hungry and didn't see anything else on the menu that stood out) he became very stoic to the point of being cold. Ignoring any "thanks" we gave for a refill or for clearing away some plates. Didn't make for the most comfortable atmosphere. ON TO WHAT MATTERS THE MOST-- FOOOOOOD (and drink)! Makrut Like Fizz: One of the best cocktails I've had in awhile. I love gin but was a bit hesitant to get this drink when I saw soda (I really dislike fizzy drinks) and sour cream. Let me tell you I was so shook at how great this combination turned out you definitely HAVE to try this drink. Rolls: FANTASTIC. They taste just as good as they look in the photo attached. It's nothing fancy or unusual, just some really soft, and filling rolls. Beef Tar Tare: Definitely the star of the show. The ingredients all tasted extremely fresh and they paired exquisitely well with each other. Eating them as a hand roll SLAPS. The sushi rice was so flavorful! Lo Mein: The dish is about the size of a buldak ramen packet which was exactly what we expected and wanted. The carbonara was slightly undercooked making the texture quite hard. The sauce was solid and because of that I'd still recommend it assuming they'll cook it a little longer. Great food! Would recommend checking this place out! read more

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came with a group of 5 and did the $139 pp prix fixe, we sampled the entire menu. standouts: sushi rice steak tartare, uni toast, avocado tostada, veggies + thai coconut sauce. we got way too full by appetizer round 2 so entrees and dessert were a struggle. service was great, no complaints. overall i liked it but i'm disappointed they didn't have uni carbonara (pls bring it back) read more

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We were surprised when our waiter kept acting impressed every time he cleared away our empty plates after each of the early courses in our 5 course "Chef's choice" prix fixe meal but quickly grew to understand our mistake in devouring every delicious morsel of food when we were close to bursting at the seams by the end of course 3! Ernest has a chic SF design district feel as you would expect - it's located in a commercial unit that is shared with Heath Ceramics and the exposed concrete interior and tall warehouse windows are highly industrial. They mix it up with an almost perfectly synchronised row of maneki-neko (beckoning cats) sitting on the shelf along one side of the restaurant. They also use some lovely ceramics for their own serving plates - although these were apparently sourced out of the mid-west - i.e. not Heath! My highlights were the Makrut Lime Fizz cocktail, which was made from sour cream and was incredibly refreshing - to the point where I finished it far quicker than expected! My partner's non-alcoholic Dirty Girl Milk Punch was also excellent. We also enjoyed the fresh oysters, scallops, and salmon served early on, as well as the warm dinner roll (can't really go wrong with fresh bread though, can you) and the chocolate coated soft-serve for dessert. We had enough spiced rice and pasta left over to take home for a delicious - if very carby - lunch the next day. Book indoors if you are vaccinated and comfortable doing so - we were glad to be able to relax in the warmth and enjoy our multiple courses without feeling a need to rush due to the cold. read more

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Ernest provides an oasis for those looking for an elevated culinary experience. Parking can be hard to find so make sure to arrive well ahead of your reservation and be wary of where you walk as the area looks very questionable but which is by no means a fault to the establishment. A heavy door greets you followed by a lovely path to the main glass door inside the premises. The ambiance and energy was on a whole different level and made me feel as though I was inside an aristocratic speakeasy with high profile clientele. The menu consisted of carefully curated dishes which seemed to be heavily inspired by asian cuisine. All of the items were above $15 and if ordered a-la-carte, can amass to a sizable sum of funds. The portions remind me of a tapas style where bite sized pieces are considered a dish. If you were hoping for a hearty and fulfilling dinner I would highly suggest opting for their chef-selected 4-course option. The flavor profile is very based and nothing was too forward venturing which left me feeling wanting just a little more. The emphasis on butter, honey, sweetness was very noticeable and could very well be pleasing for an American-palette. Their cocktails were well received, however I do wish that they used less ice as the shiso drink i ordered was filled to the brim with it and made it hard to enjoy comfortably. The way the dishes come out to the table is grouped and is not served one-by-one so we mistakenly enjoyed the caviar and butter by itself before realizing it was supposed to be paired with the dusted furikake doughnuts. The hangar steak was cooked rare which was pleasant for me but not for my friend which may have been an oversight as we were not asked how we would like it cooked. I do wish the sauce was slightly thicker on the steak as the blood made it hard for the sauce to sit on top. Overall, we had a pleasant dining experience here at Ernest. read more

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Wow. The FOOD: The food was incredible! We couldn't stop eating even after we were full. The sushi rice was a bed of sushi rice with a layer of beef tartare and ikura. Heaven in my mouth The Mexican shrimp coctel was good - 2-3 bites was enough for me though as the flavor was pretty one dimensional here. The chicken liver terrine was my least favorite as it was giving feta cheese notes and I'm not a fan of feta, but my bf said it was delicious!! The Monterey bay squid was an absolute flavor bomb. It was on a bed of black sesame paste and had chili oil in it. We first had it without mixing it up, and it was quite salty, but once we stirred it all up to get the black sesame paste mixed in, the flavors balanced out really nicely! Overall, this dish definitely needed a blander item to balance it out. We had the leftovers mixed with some blander things the next day and it was perfect. The Dungeness crab fried rice was great! Nothing to write home about, but still very worth the stomach space. Lastly, the soft serve sundae was the frozen dairy treat of my dreams it was a hazelnut vanilla swirl with a praline drizzle and a magic shell. It wasn't super sweet like most ice creams or soft serves are!!! We demolished this. The DRINKS: The daiquiri bolognese was my cup of tea: bright, a bit sour, and citrusy! The MSG martini wasn't my vibe. I love msg, so we had to order this to try it, but we just weren't feeling it. The flavors seemed to change/develop as it sat there longer... maybe we were imagining it The SERVICE: 15/10!!!! Rico was the server of my DREAMS! He seemed to just know exactly when we needed him and came over at the right times, but left us alone otherwise! There's nothing I despise more than overly attentive people in the service industry - it ruins the experience for me to have someone checking in and asking how things are or how I'm doing every few minutes. It's awkward when I'm mid bite and a waiter shows up to ask how the food is. RICO seemed to sense when we were done with each course and came over to offer to box things up for us and make room on the table for the next course. He noticed when someone went to the bathroom and would come over and fold up their napkin like a ninja.. he noticed every small crumb that was on the table and would clean it up between courses. Top notch service without smothering us!! I love you Rico!! Lastly, the AMBIANCE: Feels very casual and relaxed, has good lighting so you can actually see your food Can't wait to come back! read more

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This place is so yummy! Came here for a late night dinner without a reservation and the hostess was great. They were completely filled and had no reservations left but they were able to sit us down. We asked our server what he recommended us to get and we are so glad we went with his suggestion! He highly recommended the Bluefin Tuna Tostada, and it was a hit! We ordered the following: Bluefin Tuna Tostada 10/10 ** must get Sushi rice 10/10 Uni Toast 10/10 Kaluga Caviar 8/10 - I wanted to love this so much but the tots overpowered the caviar MSG Martini - 10/10 Overall great food, drinks and service. Can't wait to come back read more

Ernest - Kaluga caviar - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Finally snagged a seat on a Wednesday at arguably the hottest table in SF right now. I had high hopes and was not let down. Some menu similarities from big sister Rich Table (chips and dip, uni carbonara) though it feels a bit more casual. Went for the $95 tasting menu. Standouts were the beef tartare (as delicious as it was beautiful), fried rice, pork tonkatsu, and the soft serve. Fried rice almost always lacks flavor imho but this packed a punch. Only things I'd skip if coming would be the brussels (too smoky for my taste and not as balance) and the chips and cheese fondue sauce, the sauce being a little too sweet for me. Overall very memorable meal and easy to recommend, if and when you can snag a seat. read more

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COVID-19 OUTDOOR DINING I can't remember the last time I had a solid craft cocktail... Oh wait, I do...though hazy, I nearly made a fool out of myself when I almost crashed a couple's date at OKC in Campbell. Nothing like a crazy lady telling you, what beautiful babies you guys would make...on your first date. Nope, not awkward at all. Thankfully, my voice of reason gave me the death stare to sit my arse down. I really enjoyed the cocktails at Ernest but I had to cut myself off at three because bad decisions don't make good stories in SF, not during covid. Opening yesterday, Ernest is a new restaurant from the former chef of Michelin-starred Rich Table. For now, it's outdoor seating only (open-air). There's eight 4-tops on the sidewalk and one 6-top inside the patio. Reservations are a must. Heat lamps and blankets are available. Even though it was in the low 50's, it was comfortable with the heat lamps and a warm coat. They're located off the busy streets so there wasn't as much car and pedestrian traffic. Remember Circolo and Whisper? Ernest is in that area so plenty of free, non-metered parking. M E N U Global cuisine with heavy Asian influences. See pics for menu: https://bit.ly/3ePHatyand https://bit.ly/3cJrW6B. For a party of two, 3-5 dishes were recommended. Full bar. 6% Healthy SF Tax is added to the bill. C O V I D - 1 9 S A F E T Y P R E C A U T I O N S * Staff wore masks properly. * Clear instructions on COVID protocols on Resy and guests are reminded to keep their masks on at all times, unless you're actively eating and drinking. * Tables were spaced more than 6 feet away from each other. * Wrapped utensils. * Time limitation for tables. * Staff was diligent about sanitizing tables between guests. * Hand sanitizer available. D R I N K S / F O O D * Makrut Lime Fizz: Gin & Cachaça w/ sour cream, egg white, soda ($13): https://bit.ly/3vAF46K Well-balanced and citrusy, and nicely frothy. Not overly sweet. * "Vesper", not on the menu ($13) The bartender didn't have all the ingredients to make the standard Vesper so he made his take on it. The martini was clean, smooth, and very stiff...just the way I liked it. * Hon-Hamachi Sashimi w/ ponzu, new olive oil, radishes ($18): https://bit.ly/3vGJdpA Standard carpaccio dish. * Chicken Liver Terrine w/ bubble waffle, apple butter ($16): https://bit.ly/3qWJjWF Loved the Chinese spin on this French classic. Tear a piece of the egg waffle, dip it into the incredibly rich and smooth, foie-like chicken terrine, top it with a little apple butter and enjoy! The waffle is sturdier and a little denser than the Hong Kong ones so it doesn't crack when using it as a dipping vessel. * Pork Collar Tonkatsu w/ chicories, sicilian xo ($33): https://bit.ly/3cP2qNc Fav dish of the night! The pork collar tonkatsu was perfectly golden brown, crunchy, and richly flavored from the marbling. The xo sauce added a savory, tangy, and umami-rich bite, while the slightly bitter chicories balanced the porky richness. Get this! * Lo Mein: Sea Urchin Carbonara w/ Olivier's bacon ($23): https://bit.ly/2P3aXEc Al-dente, chewy noodles bathed in a an deliciously rich carbonara sauce. There was no uni tongue but you can taste its sweet brininess in the sauce. * Liberty Farm Duck w/ traditional & non-traditional accompaniments (Half - $60): https://bit.ly/3r44BBD Anticipation was high since we waited nearly an hour after our last course for this. The duck is served ssäm style with baby red lettuce, bean sprouts, ginger-scallion sauce, and a plum-like sauce (forgot to ask what this was) to make your own wraps. While I liked that the duck was nicely rendered and cooked medium rare, I was hoping for crispy skin. * Burnt Basque Cheesecake ($13): https://bit.ly/3d0OrnZ Not going to lie, I mainly made reservations for this cheesecake, to see how it stacks up to Basuku's. It's served "medium rare" so it's ultra-custardy with a thin, burnt crown. Ernest's take on it has orange blossom water. I may be in the minority but it's not for me. Not sure if it was the orange blossom water or something else but the cheesecake had a strong bitterness. I did let our server know when he asked for feedback and he kindly removed it from our bill. * Coconut Lime Kakigōri ($13) If you're looking for a light and refreshing end to your meal, can't go wrong with this tropical Japanese shaved ice dessert. S E R V I C E Professional. I appreciate the hospitable manager making his rounds checking in with guests. It's opening night so kinks are to be expected. Dinner lasted longer than we anticipated (2.5 hours) with some considerable lag between courses. I'm confident they'll ramp up soon though. Overall, Ernest is off to a good start and is a nice addition to this part of the Mission. Seriously though..don't sleep on the tonkatsu and cocktails! read more

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Yummy! Yummy! Yummy! We celebrated our anniversary while visiting San Francisco and every time we mentioned to our friends that we were going to Ernest, their faces would lighten with delight as every one confirmed how Ernest is one of their favorite restaurants in SF. All of their bites were absolute delicious. The people were so friendly and the ambiance was perfect for a semi-casual bite. My favorite? The tuna, the cabbage and the tonkatsu!! read more

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I love this place. We had fried rice, steak and dessert. Good service and ambiance. They have a great location and easy parking. We love the cocktails and dessert so good read more

Ernest - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Loved the location! Plenty of parking in the Mariposa/Bryant area. Loved the decor and vibe inside. Clean, industrial, and open set up. Seating wise the area was pretty small however. Amazing and attentive service. Almost off putting how quick and attentive they are haha. Chose the option for the pre fixed menu aka let the kitchen cook for you. Oysters were good, fresh & nice kick with the shiso leaf. The ikura with tartar- you can't really go wrong with these amazing ingredients, it was good. I wish there was more tartare & the seaweed made it more fun, but didn't really add to the dish flavor wise. Pork katsu with pickles, ranch on the side. Oh my this was pretty good. Breading was light, crispy, and flavorful. And the ranch, amaaaaaazing. Parker Rolls- yes it lives up to the hype. Hawaiian roll, but even better! Fried rice- also yummy! It had a Japanese spin to it, I can't exactly remember what was all in it, but it was still good the next day when I ate my left overs Citrus salad, was light & flavorful. The burrata paired very well. Shrimp coctel- it was ok, wasn't a huge fan. I'd skip. Seemed like a Tex-mex spin on shrimp cocktail. Salt & pepper prawns- soooo good. Nice spin on the traditional dish. The peppered sauce it came with was delicious. Uni toast: didn't make the cut for me. Wasn't a fan of the dense cold toast & accompanying flavors. Soft serve: the lighter brown sauce(praline?) was good. Soft serve is soft serve. Would skip as well. Cacio e pepe: flavorful was good. Wasn't into the noodles texturely. A bit too Al dente for me. Tuna tartar with black trumpets- I enjoyed this dish for the simple fact, I've never had anything like this before. Wish there was more tartar. The puff rice was a nice addition texturally. read more

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I had the 4 course tasting menu here for my birthday and enjoyed it for the most part. The serving sizes for each course was just right -- I was full but not overly stuffed. For the most part, I enjoyed everything I ate and had a great experience trying out a bunch of different foods, although I would say nothing really stood out for me to want to come again. First course Shrimp cocktail - 5/5. This was probably the highlight of the dinner for me. So delicious! Sashimi - 5/5. A thiccc slice of fish with a great marinade. Beef tartare - 2/5. I think this was personal preference but I'm just not adventurous enough to eat raw beef. Spring roll - 4/5. Not much to say about this other than who doesn't love fried foods? I could do without the sauce it came with though (some sort of mustard sauce) Oysters - 3.5/5. I don't remember what it was flavored with but it was pretty good although more seafoody tasting than other oysters I've had. Second course Parker house rolls - 3.5/5. These were your average rolls, nothing special. I was expecting more based on the reviews. Avocado with everything seasoning - 2/5. Weird combination of flavors and I don't like the texture of avocados enough to eat it as a dish. Duck salad - 4/5. Healthy and the duck was very tender! Third course Nashville hot pork neck tonkatsu - 4/5. Interesting seasoning choice, but the meat itself was nice and crispy. Some sort of greens - 3.5/5. This was alright but I wish they would have paired the tonkatsu with something more carby- like their fried rice or lo mein. Fourth course Hazelnut soft serve - 5/5. The portion of this was huge, I couldn't stop eating it even though I was so full lol! Tasted like ferrero rocher in ice cream form. Cookies and cream bday treat - 4/5. This was pretty good and I can't really complain because it was a freebie, but the caramel on the outside was really sweet and overpowering so it tasted more like caramel than cookies and cream. It was a sweet nice finishing touch though and I enjoyed it with the soft serve. read more

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This was my third visit, and the experience has been hit or miss. The dishes are either spot-on or overly salty--this time, both the fish dip and miso halibut were heavily salted. One thing that hasn't changed is the service--unfortunately, it's not very memorable. read more

Everything about this place is perfect. Can't stop thinking about the ice cream !!!! Get the tasting menu - you won't be disappointed. Love love love this place! Super hard to get last minute reservation though. read more

Ernest - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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