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

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

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

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The stuffed duck/mushroom was bussin as hell. I'd come back just for that. The hanger steak was also good. Kakigori was good too. This place is solid and banging like a biscuit. read more

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

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

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Loved our dinner here last night. Reservations book fast, they open it up 30 days before. We had a 5.15pm reservation and left before 7pm We opted for the $139 option and were so glad we did. They basically bring you almost everything that is on the menu, so you are able to try so much. Service was very low key and friendly, everyone was very nice. Will be recommending these to others and would come back again as the menu changes frequently read more

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Loved the food, ambiance and service!! My husband and I also loved that all the dishes in the first and second course were brought out together. We don't like waiting too long in between dishes so this was perfect for us. We got the tasting menu and the beverage pairing and were not disappointed. read more

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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My husband and I have been wanting to come to Ernest for SO LONG and we finally got a chance to on our 8 year anniversary! We ordered: -uni toast: super small...tasted delicious but not worth it for the price and portion size. -oysters: 6/10. I love oysters but this was just ok. -hangar steak: 9/10. Cooked to PERFECTION and the sauces paired perfectly. -tuna tartare: 4/10. This was just okay. Nothing too special. Overall, it was a good experience but the service was very slow even on a Wednesday night. Pretty pricey for the amount of food that we ordered. Total came out to around $350. read more

Ernest - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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

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

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

Amazing asian+californian fusion food. Every single dish is interesting and creative but also reminds me of something from my childhood. The ingredients are high quality and fresh. The portions are decent but we still get to order a variety of dishes. Great ambience, the high ceiling and big windows make the space feel airy and I love the bright lighting. Sometimes they are a little inflexible on modifications and it's a little slow to get drinks and hard to flag down a server because they are so busy but the staff is friendly. read more

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

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

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Ernest is one of my very favorite restaurants in the city and I was not disappointed to return for my third time last night; we had a fantastic dinner experience. The corn chawanmushi was our favorite dish ordered. The flavors were amazing. Service was a little slow to start but ended up being very attended to once our server approached our table. The beef tartare with nori was delicious, as was the shrimp tostada. The Grenache wine from Spain was also delicious and paired perfectly with our meal, which also included the hanger steak. The steak was cooked to perfection. read more

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Amazing meal! Everything we had was really good, although I think the Uni toast, poke and desserts were true stand outs. Service is excellent and our server was super attentive and provided great recommendations. Definitely wanna come back again and try their tasting menu, though maybe I'll come with a much bigger appetite next time! read more

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Love the food at Ernest. It was a bit easier for me to snag a reservation this time on Resy compared to last year. They had a few new menu items that we tried. Blue fin tuna tartare - served on milk bread. Tasted like poke and fresh. Scallop - scallop ceviche on a large chip. Fresh Sushi rice with beef - always a goodie Parker bread buns - always a goodie Dungenous crab - very tasty with the aoli. Wagy sando- they have a limited batch of these apparently. We were the first table to order so we were lucky to indulge Soft serve - always a goodie. Love the food at Ernest SF. Highly recommend. read more

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I was looking for places to eat near the Victoria Theatre before a show and discovered Ernest. The photos immediately convinced me to give it a try. We arrived around 6:15 pm without reservations, but luckily, they were able to seat us at the bar. Although we didn't have enough time to order the tasting menu before our 8 pm show, we decided to save that experience for another visit. The service was excellent. The bartenders were attentive, friendly, and helpful, ensuring we ordered the right amount of food and answering all our questions. Ernest offers modern California cuisine and is one of the best restaurants I've visited recently. I wanted to try everything on the menu, especially the tasting menu, but we had to choose the dishes that stood out the most due to time constraints. We ordered: -Uni Toast -Sushi Rice -Chicken Liver Terrine -Monterey Bay Squid -Shio Koji Hanger Steak -Koshihikari Fried Rice Everything we had was amazing, with the Uni Toast, Sushi Rice, Chicken Liver Terrine, and Koshihikari Fried Rice being the true standouts. However, you can't go wrong with any of the items we tried. I will definitely return to try the tasting menu. I highly recommend making a reservation, as the bar seating can be cramped, with guests sitting shoulder to shoulder. read more

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8/6/23 I came here for dinner one night with one of my coworkers. I can't remember what this was place was called before, but I believe it was a coffee shop. My coworker, Vivian, was already there when I arrived. Parking around the area is kinda sketchy because there's a bunch of homeless people that camp around the nearby park...but I was able to park 2 blocks away so not too bad. Here's what we got for dinner to share: 1. Tempura oyster mushrooms. 2. Pork neck tonkatsu 3. Parker house rolls 4. Miso black cod 5. Shaved ice for dessert Both the food and service were excellent. The staff are super professional and very efficient. As soon as a table is empty, it gets cleaned right away and they pay attention to when water cups get low. There was a 2 hour time limit (not sure if that's how it is now), which was accurate since it took some time for the food to come. Everything we got tasted great, but I'd probably not get the shaved ice next time. The parker house rolls were fluffy and the butter that came with it was divine. The tempura oyster mushrooms were crunchy and I really like the dipping sauce that was provided. The cod was super flaky and delicious, I wish I had gotten my own since it's pretty small. The pork neck tonkatsu was tender and the sour pickles paired with it very well. Would definitely return here. read more

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Hands down-my current favorite spot to go for a great tasting experience. By far the best bang for the buck. You leave happy. You leave stuffed. You leave totally satiated. Go crazy and get the upgraded tasting menu and pairing. It will still be cheaper than most places in the city. The ambiance at Ernest is super chill. All the staff are friendly, efficient, and fast. They have a shelf full of waving lucky cat dolls on the wall. Very cute. Speaking of fast - the first few dishes come out and load the table all at once. There's uni, caviar, crab, oysters. Tbh it's overwhelming and totally exciting at the same time. Every dish is tasty and a contrast of hot, cold, spicy, sweet. Hot things come out hot and fresh. Cold dishes are cold. Everything is good. The second wave of courses that follow up the staters are just as good. Heirloom tomatoes with anchovy. Sautéed broccolini with squid. Bread service. Whatever space is left in your stomach gets steak, mushrooms, fried rice, and an awesome chawanmushi for the final round of savory dishes. Hopefully you get the soft serve for dessert. It looks simple but totally worth saving a little time for. All in all- come to Ernest. Def worth it. read more

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