10/10 pacing, execution, food really impressed by the team's hospitality and knowledge. chef was inspired by his time at Aska in Brooklyn but i can say with confidence that this was even better than my experience there great ingredients & techniques read more

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What an amazing experience at Kiln! Every bite was complex, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. The drink pairings were spot on and really elevated the meal. And the Polaroid photo at the end was such a thoughtful and fun touch. Highly recommend for a special night out! read more

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A great experience with a panoply of dishes. I immediately want to praise the Sacramento sturgeon. What a delicious dish. I would say the shirako was the best I ever had, but the night after I went to Itria, whose shimaaji crudo was just as delicious. Can we get a Chefs' Challenge to see who can do the most with shimaaji? Also not to miss are the Modesto squab, which at first glance when served seemed too rare for my taste, but upon tasting was perfect. The most delectable dish was the Californian Iberico Pork jerky. I want that available by retail. Best jerky ever. Special thanks to the maitra d' who recognized me from Sons and Daughters. The restaurants are similar in style add cuisine, very minimalist in decor, with kiln having almost twice the courses. We even had the loud "yes, chef" coming from the kitchen, just like the movie, The Menu, though all the guests survived. Very expensive but worth it. Can't wait for the menu to change for the next experience. read more

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What a truly special gem. Absolutely magical experience, full sensory overload! Beyond the outstanding culinary journey with each mind-bending and blowing course (complete with phenomenal globally influenced wine et al pairing), the service, music, space, and all details in between reflected deep curation, intention, and care. Highly recommended. Thank you, Kiln Team!! read more

Lovely dinner, but music choice was a bit interesting, considered this is a fine dining place. Waiting area is right by my table, so it was not ideal. Overall experience is good, but there is lots of room for improvement! Thank you Kiln! read more

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I am SO impressed by Kiln. Every single dish was magnificent. There was one dish in particular that was an oyster with this sauce that distinctively tasted like Big Mac sauce and I was just blown away. The taste, the textures, the presentation was top notch. read more

Had a delicious & delightful dinner at Kiln tonight to celebrate a friend's birthday. We were early and was waiting outside before they opened the gate. When the gate opened, we were pleasantly surprised that we had actually met the general manager/owner: Julianna before when she was at Sons & Daughters. Her warmth & welcome set the tone for the evening. All the servers were friendly & attentive without being too intrusive. They all seemed to work well as a team, & they looked like they enjoyed what they were doing. We also liked the dining room. The tables are set far enough apart that it felt like we were in our own bubble. The lighting was focused on the table so we could see what we were eating, & the background music was just loud enough for us to enjoy without interfering with our conversation. They also had sound proofing panels on the walls which helped. I think they did an excellent job designing the dining area, it was minimalistic, but the chairs were comfortable, which made our dining experience enjoyable. As for the food, it was amazing! There were a couple of dishes that were a little too salty for me, the croustade of sturgeon was one, it was filled to the brim with the sturgeon mix, which was too generous. I think half filled would be better as I really liked the crispy topping & would prefer more of it! The other salty dish was the crab, not sure if it was from the seaweed garnish as the sauce was delicious, and there was a generous amount of crabmeat. All the other dishes were on point though, my favorite was the lobster, the potato bread, & the monkfish. The caviar was also the most generous serving of caviar I've ever had in a restaurant, & the sauce it was served in was an unusual & delicious pairing. I also loved the rhubarb sorbet, really nice & refreshing. This was an extensive tasting menu, and was fairly pricey, but I think it was worth it. read more

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What a fine dining experience !! My kids and my sister took me to this new place to celebrate my birthday. Each dish was so delicious and unique in its own way ! The flavor, the presentation, the atmosphere ... everything was perfect tonight !! It was raining tonight in the city, but the restaurant was still packed. We made the reservation a month ago and it is so worth the wait !! The staffs are very friendly and the owner even speak Mandarin which is something we can related to ! We even got a chance to take a pic with all the kitchen staffs and the chefs Definitely one of the best dining experience I've had !! Thank you guys !! read more

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Fancy dinner for a fancy birthday? This is why I was here. We sat at the bar and had the smaller prefix. Honestly, I don't know how I'd deal with the larger one. The kitchen shot stuff out so fast we had to ask them to slow it down. I think they are timing so if you need to catch a show across the street they can deliver (which is good to know). But we were sitting at the bar chatting and talking with the staff...so we had a different vibe. The place is kinda rustic (looks like the inside of a kiln actually) so it was nice to be at the cozier bar seating than a table. The food was all fine and had a lot of technical fuss (which is also fine) but I could use a drop of chill with it all. read more

Impeccable service, some of the best I've had in the Bay Area (including the 50+ Michelin starred restaurants I've visited). Love that the head chef and kitchen staff get involved in the service. Terrific beverage pairing. Admired the Chef's willingness to get off the beaten path a bit with the 20 or so bites/dishes and not just play the fancy diner's greatest hits. A few misses the night we were there including the pork (dry), minuet & dungeness crab (too salty) and mackerel (too much vinegar/acid). The Som clearly loves his craft and breathes life into his also unusual pairings. A shoo-in for a Michelin Star, and I suspect with time two stars as the food continues to be explored and tested for excellence. $245 for the menu and $165 for the pairing feels neither like a steal or robbery but on the money. Hats off John Wesley and Team. read more

Kiln - Food and Beverage Menu - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

The ambiance is phenomenal here! The tables have a gentle spot light on them and the atmosphere is intimate. You are greeted and shown your table. When I say the food was a culinary experience, every single dish was on point. You will not leave hungry as they will make sure you are stuffed to the point of no return with the most amazing ingredients showcased in a delightful presentation. P.S the restrooms are on point, with the fancy toilets lol ;) read more

This is what fine dining is all about folks! Impeccable service. Friendly knowledgeable staff who anticipate your every need. Beautiful facilties. A simple dining room with amazing bathrooms. Fun playlist to listen to in between talking. Memorable and unique dishes that take you on a flavor journey. A 2.5 hour experience that leaves you satisfied with a dinner you'll never forget! One of the top 3 meals I've ever had. I especially loved all of the seafood dishes, but the variations of venison was a great climax to the savories. The raw milk and wheatgrass dessert was a perfect bright and fresh Segway to sweets. Can't believe they only have one Michelin star tbh. I bet they'll rise to 2 soon. read more

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Overall, I found the meal to be pretty consistently mediocre. I'm not quite sure if they know what a vegetable is as very few appeared in their menu. The snacks were fine but when we got into to main courses, they seemed to uniformly consist of proteins enhanced by a slightly creamy and/or acidic sauce that after four or five courses all seemed to hit the same notes on the palate. The value to price ratio is quite low... they up-charged substantially a caviar course that was tasty but hardly worth the price. And the higher end wine pairing was good but the first few pairings seemed unmatched to the food even when compared to the lower priced pairing. While this isn't an uncommon problem in San Francisco fine dining, it is disappointing nonetheless. The atmosphere itself seemed a little temporary - I commented to my dining companion that it felt a bit like those pop up restaurant episodes of Top Chef - if you had a day to quickly throw together a space, you could easily end up with Kiln. Low level of investment in what should have been a very elegant space for the price point. read more

Other reviews have gone into great descriptions of the dishes, which are at the very heights of technical sophistication. I found the ambience engaging yet also off-putting: ten identical circular tables with a spotlight over each, and almost no other lighting, creates an effect that emphasizes the food more than the eating of it. The semi-open kitchen is somewhat at a distance, but the diners are well within earshot of the frequent slightly militaristic unison vocalizations of the cooks in response (I imagine) to the head chef. Service was very attentive and not stilted, though a surprisingly large range of different staff participated. I think these dishes were not for me because of my preference for one or two clear ingredients being the stars of the show, or lacking that, having a clear sense of story or narrative cohesion with the meal. These were very complex dishes, but in many of them, I would never have been able to identify the main protein if it hadn't been announced (in great detail) to me. Generally these dishes opt for a sort of.. architectural complexity, where a lot of components come together to make something orchestral, rather than a clear expression of something like lamb or shrimp. The exception being chamomile.. I think chamomile somehow featured in at least 4 of the dishes? In some cases - especially the caviar - I felt that the main ingredient was basically overpowered to the point where I questioned its inclusion. It's not disappointing, and I certainly left very full. Yet I imagine bringing someone there because I want to impress them.. more than because I want them to have a good time. There's a certain uptightness about the dishes that to me lacks a sense of generosity. But there's plenty to eat. read more

This place is amazing!! Julianna and her team at Kiln have truly built something special in the heart of San Francisco. How this place doesn't have 2 or 3 stars from Michelin (let alone 1!) already is beyond me! I've had the privilege of dining at many of the top restaurants around the world and Kiln is right up there with them. From the moment you walk in - the service, the feeling of being welcomed, the friendliness, attention to detail throughout the night, the food, ambiance... the list goes on. In terms of food - wow, wow, wow! Each bite and dish is unique. Several times throughout the dinner my wife and I looked at each other and simply said "WOW!". We got the wine pairing and the non-alcoholic drink pairing. The wines were fantastic (they really took the time to balance the wine with the dishes they were serving) but what was more of a surprise were the amazing (Non Al.) cocktails that were served with my wife's pairing. We were hesitant at first to go with it, but boy were we glad we did! My wife and I were celebrating our 2nd anniversary. The moment we walked in, we knew we had made a great decision. At the end of the evening, they took our photo (polaroid) and wrote a lovely note on it. They printed out our unique menus and sent us on our way beyond satisfied with our experience. Overall, Kiln is one of the best restaurants in San Francisco. It belongs on the list with the 'big dogs' and is a place I'll be bringing friends and others to again in the near future. Kudos Kiln! read more

It's always exciting to try a new restaurant that is going to be a huge success. Yes , yes, it's not a fortune telling scam, rather it's when a dining experience is such that between the food, service, and ambience a diner is treated to such excellence on all levels you begin to nitpick at things to find something wrong. Kiln had excellent food served in a timely fashion by knowledgeable and attentive staff in surroundings that put you and the food in the center of attention. Definitely a place to return visit before the crowds develop! read more

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This restaurant was great. Ever had a 20 course meal to die for well this is the place. Was our first time and a rare special date night for us. The tasting menu was so good. I would had post all the pictures taken but yelp only allows 10 app pics :( read more

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Food was excellent! Flawless execution and presentation. We also really enjoyed the beverage pairing. Highly recommend!

This place was awesome. From the service, to the ambiance and the decor eveyrthing was incredible. The food was obviously the highlight. Skillfully crafted and with wine tastings that worked extremely well. We got the full tasting as opposed to the half tasting. Would recommend the full tasting although it is a lot of food. Will be back again; great for a special occasion read more

Kiln - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Talk about future Michelin star and James Beard winners! It's seriously just a matter of time. My wife and I make it a point to try a new Michelin starred restaurant with a tasting menu for special occasions. This time, it was our anniversary! Though they don't have a Michelin star (yet!) their pedigree is unmatched! They just opened in May and we had to be one of the first people to experience the magic. The fact that they beat out all the other Michelin star restaurant options in SF says a lot! Co-owned by an Asian Woman (Heck ya!) is the cherry on top. We opted for the 18 course tasting menu and it did not disappoint! The service was on point, probably some of the best we have ever experienced even from 2-3 starred places. They were not only attentive, but great conversationalists and it didn't feel stuffy though they were very professional! The ambiance was great, minimalist decor of white and grey that helped the colorful foods pop! All the dishes were delicious, my favorites have to be the lobster with wheat foam, the caviar add on, the goat cheese sorbet, the various goat cheese bites, and the squab. What was the most awesome part of it was they offered a non-alcoholic pairing! I don't think anyone else offers that, a nice treat for a non drinker such as myself. Their drinks were thoughtful and well crafted! This place has my vote and can't wait to go back again! read more

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Food overloaded! We tried the full course 18-20 menu earlier in June, and felt so full & satisfied. Service is amazing, and they take Instax photo for you to take home after dinner. Love this experience Food is good overall, but some might be too salty, better pair with wines. Recommend for dating! read more

Kiln - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Michelin seems to be handing out stars these days. A long 3 hr+ tasting menu with many small courses which most of did not taste good. it looked pretty tho. And the food was creative. but it means nothing if it doesn't taste good. perhaps another visit under a different chef. read more

An avant-garde dining experience with unforgettable exquisite luscious dishes and beverage pairings. A must not fail to enjoy eat!!! "Through a minimalist lens and with the use of technique, the tasting menu is a study of intention, simplicity, and purity of flavor." read more

Kiln - Kiln Bar Menu Servings. - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Amazing service and amazing staff. Very good attention to detail and definitely felt like a meal worthy of multiple Michelin stars. It was a nice atmosphere and great music and ambiance. The taste of every dish felt like there is care read more

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KILN restaurant is AMAZING! The food is incomparable! The staff is exceptional! It is a tasting experience, basically a one or two bite dish. Every bite is a masterpiece of taste and an incredible piece of art. The dishes cover a wide range from seafood, vegetable, and meat. I have been blessed to be able to travel. We have eaten tasting menus around America and the world. This is by far the BEST! They beat them by a mile! Do yourself a favor and visit this restaurant when in San Francisco. read more

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For being only its opening week, Kiln exceeded all my expectations. I learned later that the entire Kiln team previously worked together at Michelin-starred SF institution, Sons & Daughters. Given their history together, it's no wonder they were able to provide such an outstanding dining experience. For starters, my friend and I opted for the expanded menu (18 - 20 servings) instead of their abbreviated menu. We ordered both the alcoholic pairing, as well as the spirit-free pairing. As for drinks, both pairings were spectacular. The alcoholic pairing included both wine as well as sake, while the spirit-free pairing was a diverse mix of non-alcoholic fruit wines and unique mocktails. Moving on to food, the dishes struck the right balance between being creative while still providing the diner with a sense of comfort and familiarity. In particular, the progression of dishes allowed for an experience where each flavor led to the next in a meaningful way. Every component that I had was perfectly cooked, and the portions were ideal. In particular, the fermented potato bread with beef drippings was spectacular, as well as the duck, lobster, and custard dishes. Both desserts were absolutely perfect and we left at the end of the night completely satisfied, both with our experience as well as the amount of food consumed. As for service, it could not have been any better. Given that it was their first week, I did get a glass of wine out of order, but they quickly fixed that and comped the early glass for me. All-in-all, what a wonderful addition to the neighborhood, could not recommend Kiln more. read more

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The ambiance and service were truly amazing. This was my first time dining at a restaurant offering a multi-course meal, and it was a fun and delightful experience. Though it was expensive, it's worth trying for anyone interested in this type of upscale dining. I'm not an expert in fancy fine-diners, but the effort put into each dish and the sheer number of them (more than 20, if I recall correctly) made my visit well worth the cost. Honestly, I didn't enjoy the taste of most dishes. For someone like me, who lacks much fine-dining experience, I'd describe them as "interesting." So for those considering this restaurant for a special occasion, I would advise not to expect every dish to be magical and perfectly pleasing to your palate. You will get to taste things you've never experienced before, and it will certainly broaden your culinary horizons. I am very satisfied with this restaurant, but I will likely not return, as I'd prefer to explore other places for the same amount of money. read more

Nice date-night spot? Sure. Michelin star worthy? Absolutely not. Out of the ~20 courses, only 3-4 spectacular pieces that really stood out. Most were average, some were overly salted. Ambience was nice but again nothing too exciting. What really ruined the experience was the lack of attention to food allergies. Now, it does clearly state on the website that they don't modify/substitute foods; we knew that going in and was fine with it. But what I didn't expect was that I would be served the dish with my allergen (almonds) without any clear notice. My server placed the dish in front of me and mumbled through the ingredients. Luckily I caught something that sounded like almonds and clarified with him. His response... "you can't eat this then." Cool. Why even serve it to me? And miraculously, they were able to substitute a later course by removing a hazelnut oil (something I actually specified I was not allergic to). read more

Amazing service and wow the venison blew us away. Worth the experience, time and money for sure. Waited to long to finally do dinner here. Sorry I didn't take any photos but I loved being able to hear my spouse talk to me and not get drowned out by music or other people talking. I saw someone mentioned about overpowering cheese taste. I never got that from anything else, other than the actual cheese tart, which was paired with an amazing broth that I am still thinking about the next day. All of the servers were friendly and Julianna really took care of everyone in the room. All of John's team was very thorough in presenting and lucky enough to have John come out as well. Going back for seconds for sure. Happy to see there is now a long table for parties larger than 4. Lastly thank you for the polaroid! read more

Fantastic meal at Kiln!  Love the protein-forward approach which is a welcome respite from the 'how many ways can we cook a carrot?' approach many fine-dining establishments suffer from these days.  Cannot say enough about the quality of ingredients, beautiful plating, and the truly delicious food.  There were some truly inspired combinations.  The front of house team were friendly, professional, and highly knowledgeable.  I'd put this up against any other fine-dining experience in San Francisco.  Thanks for a great evening.  We will be back. read more

This is everything you want from a fine dining experience. The food was great and I could go on about it but I'll let you discover that by yourself.For me, the standout was the attention to detail. The lighting, the cutlery, the plating, the drink pairings, everything was exquisite. read more

RUN don't walk, to reserve a spot here! I really believe that it's only a matter of time before they get a star. Everything from the service, the plating, the beautiful dinnerware, and of course the food - was on point. You wouldn't even know that they were a fairly new restaurant, which I was very impressed by. Would definitely go back. read more

Exceptional culinary arts experience across all dimensions. It is like the Uffizi, d'Orsay or MOMA but with gustatory sensation and service. Highest recommendation. read more

I normally don't want to write reviews for restaurants like this one because then everyone will rush to go there and it will become more expensive. But in this case, that's inevitable. Its not a matter of IF they will get a michelin star, its just when and how many. This was one of the very best meals I've had and I've been a number of michelin star level restaurants. About 2/3rds of the menu is filled with really interesting, very creatively designed dishes but done with a ton of restraint as it tends to focus on a few highlighted ingredients. In many ways, those were my favorite bites of the whole meal. The heavy courses, by contrast, are very much nailed down to protein execution and unbelievable sauce work. And the dessert was one of the two to three best desserts I've ever had. Oh and the service was top notch as well. Go here fast before everyone else beats you to it. read more

Came here for date night and tried the bar tasting menu. Amazing service, impeccable dishes, better than Michelin two star restaurants that we've tried. Every course was uniquely flavorful and balanced. Exhibited Asian influences, light on the red meat and more seafood and fish. Will definitely come back and try the full tasting menu. read more

Amazing work by the whole staff and the wine paring was exceptional. Thank you again for making our trip to San Francisco complete.

I have been to many Michelin star restaurants in the US and in Europe. Kiln is up there among the best on food and on services. Enjoy now before bookings become impossible. read more

The kitchen shot stuff out so fast we had to ask them to slow it down. I think they are timing so if you need to catch a show across the street they can deliver (which is good to know). But we were sitting at the bar chatting and talking with the staff...so we had a different vibe. The place is kinda rustic (looks like the inside of a kiln actually) so it was nice to be at the cozier bar seating than a table. The food was all fine and had a lot of technical fuss (which is also fine) but I could use a drop of chill with it all. read more

Very impressive. Seafood courses were the stars. Elegant, balanced, creative. I love it. I came here to give them a 3 star, very low expectations of food and wine list. I was proven wrong. Food is stellar and the wine list beat my expectations by far. Make sure to visit this restaurant, I recommend in a group of 4-6. read more

Absolutely stunning. Among the top dining experiences of my life. Took my wife to Kiln for her birthday and boy was I a star. We actually can't stop talking about how amazing it was, how creative and diverse. Every course -- and there were 25 -- was an A+. I did the wine pairings and she did the spirit-free pairings and I have to say both were incredible. The chef/owner John displays genius in his combinations, flavors and dynamic range. My highest rating possible. read more