We have visited Nightbird 13 times in the past two years; the last time being December 31st 2025. Hands-down, it is our very favorite restaurant in San Francisco for dinner (we love Foreign Cinema for lunch / brunch). The tasting menu is out-of-this-world, Chef Kim does an incredible job of crafting delicious dishes in a way that some Michelin starred restaurants cannot. There's a couple of staple dishes that always appear on the menus, despite the seasonal rotations, there's clearly a reason for that - they are expertly constructed and very tasty. Being attached to the Linden Room Bar allows you to select from a wide-range of beverages from the cocktail menu as you settle into the night. The bar and restaurant venues have their own distinct vibes, the restaurant is the perfect place if you like a low-to-medium level of noise from other diners and background music, this allows you to have very civilized conversations over dinner without raising your voice to be heard. The servers are on-point and so kind and friendly. We always receive the warmest of welcomes (Thank you Jordan, Mark and William. They will also suggest wines as you move through the menu to complement each dish. Do go and try Nightbird, it's a real gem in Hayes Valley and so easy to get to from Muni and Bart. It's also super-handy if you're seeing a show at the Orpheum, which is a stone's throw away. read more

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I had high hopes as this area needs good fine dining. There was a funky smell when we walked in the door. Our server was either new or just a really off night for him. We ordered cocktails that came after like 2-3 courses which was annoying. Definitely would have gotten wine if I knew I was stuck with water for multiple courses. My wife and I eat at a lot of Michelin Star places and this clearly was attempting that approach of lots of courses or carefully crafted dishes but landed a bit flat. We didn't finish several of the dishes and left hungry. Slow service and not great food. Plating was cool. It was more expensive than most Michelin restaurants too. We ended up paying well over $600 and grabbed bar bites someone else after as we were still a little hungry and left unfulfilled. I'm worried about this place. read more

Came here on a Friday for my partner's dinner. Great spot for a fancier tasting menu that doesnt completely break the bank (at least for SF prices...) The restaurant itself is tucked away and unassuming, giving speakeasy vibes. The attached bar, The Linden Room, is an actual speakeasy. We were able to pop over for a quick look after dinner and they had pretty limited space. Luckily, we were able to try their drinks over in the Nighbird restaurant as well. Dinner overall was delicious, with some very creative courses (definitely the donuts and tea). The squab main course was the star! Very well-presented and polite service. There was that slight spark missing that would really bring it to a peak fine dining experience, but we still left very full and satisfied. Worth a visit for a fancy dinner! read more

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Friendly & wonderful sommelier who had interesting wines to share. One of the service staff seemed a bit out of sorts. Beautiful presentation of dishes. Both the filet with black trumpet truffle and scallop dishes were a tad overcooked. While it may have been an off night, I expect more with the cost of this dinner. read more

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One of my best friends wanted to celebrate a life milestone over a bougie dinner with her closest girlfriends. I was tasked with finding the restaurant and came across Nightbird on SF's Michelin Guide. I wasn't able to make reservations online for a table, so I called the restaurant for assistance. William, who helped me over the phone, was so easy going and great to chat with. Loved his enthusiasm, which got me really excited about dinner the following night. Our reservation was for a party of 6 at 7:30pm on a Friday. We happened to arrive around 7 and was hoping to go next door to Linden Room for a cocktail to pass time. The place was closed for a private event, but get this... as we were walking past Nightbird, William, the same employee who helped me with my reservation, happened to be stepping outside at the same time we were passing by. He invited us earlier to our table, which was already setup, and said there was a surprise bottle of champagne waiting for us (thanks to my husband). Nightbird was beautifully simple. The lighting was low but the hues were warm. I appreciated that the music wasn't terribly loud, and we could hear our conversations across the table. Overall service was excellent. Not only did each course come out in a timely manner, but William also ended up being our host. He was just such a joy to have around because of his friendliness and bubbly personality, and he really went above and beyond to provide a fantastic experience for us. That said, the other staff members were great. 16% gratuity was automatically to the final tip, but I gave them a little somethin' somethin' extra to bring them up to 20%. It was well deserved because of the outstanding customer service. We had the 12-course meal but also splurged on extras, such as orders of A5 Wagyu, cocktails, and wine pairings. I enjoyed the majority of the courses we had. The most memorable dishes for me included the following: - Beignet bite and caviar tart amuses bouches - Quail egg (particularly amazing!) - Ceviche - Taiyaki - Trout - Squab - Wagyu - Granita palace cleanser - Whatever the final dessert was - Mignardise & Petite Fours (especially the caramel tart) Honorable Mention: - The donut with broth was incredibly unique. Possibly an acquired taste for some folks. The donut was slightly sweet but mostly savory, and the broth was warm and comforting. The donut and broth were made from the squab, so the umami flavor stood out. The courses that were mediocre: - I didn't mind the "Taste of Ocean" dish, but it was too fishy for some of the girls. - I've had better chawanmushi at Omakase restaurants. - The breads were fine. Not memorable. That said, the butter made with bone marrow was delightful. read more

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My husband and I recently tried this restaurant for the first time and we really enjoyed it and had a lot of fun. The food and dishes were very creative, well presented and delicious! We also tried the pairing wine tasting and discovered so many new good wines that we will have to explore more again in the future. The staff were very friendly and attentive and the restaurant is well decorated and very comfortable. read more

Words can't describe how wonderful of a time we had at Nightbird. The staff were personable and knowledgeable and the taste and plating of the food was spectacular! The food was well balanced, not overly salty or sweet like other restaurants we've tried. The ambiance was intimate and noise level was appropriate for the type of setting we were going for. This wasn't our original place to celebrate our 10 year anniversary, but I'm so glad we did celebrate it here. Found out the restaurant was also opened for 10 years. How serendipitous is that? I'm surprised this hasn't received the much coveted Michelin stars, but in a way, I'm kinda selfishly happy (sorry!) about that only bc we know the price will def go up once it does receive one. Chef kiss to chef Kim and her team! Keep up the great and creative food coming out of the kitchen! read more

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Went for a friend's birthday and we had a wonderful host William that took case of us, answered all of our questions, and very knowledgeable about the wines. Overall great experience. read more

A cold place with colder and condescending service. A Michelin wannabe., that has no clue about how to take care of their customers. We went there on a Saturday evening , around day of the dead celebration last year. When we made the reservation we had to give our credit card to hold, with number of people etc. There was no option to choose seats or tables. So walk in, and as soon as the door opens you are in the restaurant, No front waiting room or nothing. It was completely empty when we walked in and the guy standing at the entrance seated us right in front on the door. So we asked for a different table and the guy said he can't seat us anywhere else because tables are set!! How can they be set I asked and he said since he doesn't know how many people are going to show up he can't seat us. Then he went and checked with another lady who seems to be front of the house and came back with the same message. Ok, so we are spending close to $1000 and this is what we were in for. Then it went downhill from there. I hate it when the wait staff in a restaurant like this put on airs and act condescending,. He got us the compressed coin towels and gave us a warning not to eat those!! Really? This isn't our first rodeo. Then the food followed. As a concept, they were honoring chefs that passed away and it is a great concept but please don't take random stuff and then connect it to a chef. So for Bay are locals, what is chef Judy Rogers of Zuni cafe fame , known for? Apparently she's known for her scallops and not for her chicken. Go figure. Tony Bourdain is apparently known for his ceviche. Then I got this beautiful piece of filet mignon that was somehow cooked to a bland nothing with pieces of ash particles in your mouth. Please don't feed us ash!! Smokey is good but real gritty pieces of ash in your mouth ., yuck!!Only item that was tasty was the hot savory soup type thing served in beautiful English Tea cups. That was it.So a cold place with bland food and snooty wait staff is how I would describe this place. After a multi course menu that took us over $1K , we were still hungry and we walked out of this place and walked into Absinthe Brasserie next door, and ate our food like we were hungry for 6 hours craving for food!! I am not going to Nightbird again. I usually try to give a benefit of doubt to a restaurant and I usually don't post negative reviews based on a single visit but this place is not worth my time or money read more

Nightbird - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Not sure why anyone gave them a bad review this restaurant is exceptional! I sat at the bar at the linden room for a bites tasting and everything I had was amazing. And I did not get sick so the person here who left that review they must have eaten something else before they ate here so don't let that review discourage you from trying them out. The wait staff were really attentive and sweet and the food delicious. I definitely will be back at another time for a sit down dinner. The bartender also knows what he is doing with the cocktails so if you want to go in just to drink I also highly recommend the bar you can't go wrong with any of the drinks on the menu. If you get a chance do the tasting bites that's definitely a good way to introduce yourself to the restaurant. read more

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Came here with 3 others for a mid-week dinner and I was really impressed! The interior was pretty, with a clear focus on hand crafted ornaments. From the plates to the lights, it was clear Nightbjrd work with an artisan to design and craft its materials. The menu was well designed in a way that made sense, tasted great, and looked beautiful. The overall experience spans over ~13 bites/dishes. Each dish was delicate, looked beautiful, and had a unique taste I wouldn't have found elsewhere. In particular, their pasta and truffle, with the sauce spiraling into the bowl was both whimsical and absolutely delicious. Several types of bread were brought out throughout the meal and each was excellent- hats off to your pastry chef/baker. I also thought the "echos" in later dishes to earlier tastes was an interesting and clever way to make the full menu feel coheasive. My favorite bite might've been the first one- the caviar and beignet bites were such a strong start to the meal and set us up for an incredible dining experience. There's an option for a wine tasting, but we decided to just get a few cocktails/glasses of wine each. The cocktails at this restaurant are excellent and really inventive. The service was excellent. Even with a small dining area, Nightbird makes sure to be fully staffed so that plates were brought out and "prepared" at the same time. And my water cup was never empty! Overall, this was an excellent dinner. It's not cheap- expect to spend ~$300pp- but for a special occasion, I'd say this dining experience is worth it. read more

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I wanted to love Nightbird, but I ended up just enjoying it. It's all beautiful, with professional and attentive service, excellent plating, and a playful series of wonderful bites. Four stars because while I enjoyed everything, what i most remember from the meal was the dishes. They're adorable, and there's a number of cute nods to owls throughout the restaurant. When looking through the pictures (the plating is extraordinary) I remember the dishes, but not the same way you hope to when it's that high-end a meal. The most clever dish is a playful take on donuts and coffee (I won't ruin the surprise) that comes in the midst of savory dishes. Also notable is that the wagyu supplement is priced quite well. read more

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Nice atmosphere, great drinks, but there were too many significant misses on the food. Nightbird is trying to be a fun spot. Their atmosphere is upscale and simple, and evokes a ~1920s speakeasy vibe. The service was professional and attentive. Their themed menus are also fun, and for a tasting menu the prices are not too bad. The highlight of the meal were the drinks. I tried 3 or so. They were balanced, delicious, and had a bit of an original twist. They also did not take too long to come out after being ordered which I appreciated. The food is where there were significant misses. Some misses were not just slightly off on seasoning or concept, some dishes were on the bad, not worth eating category. That's pretty rare for this type of restaurant. I usually expect one or two wow-factor dishes, but that was also missing. The lows were pretty low and there were not many highs. The amuse-bouche 'beignet' was a miss. It was dry and heavy like a hushpuppy. The caviar tart below was fine. The pasty was thin crisp. The poached quail egg was one of the best dishes. Simple, tasty. The 'taste of the ocean' dish was not enjoyable. I love oyster, I love uni, but it was not a delicious bite. It was certainly a taste of the ocean in that it was super fishy. It just wasn't tasty. The little disk of pastry with what I think was lobster was just ok. They pasty was not flaky and felt heavy. The lobster broth served on the side, was just lobster broth. I enjoyed the fresh sourdough with butter when it was hot. The tempura (I think it was of a shizo leaf) was bad. It was not crispy, but chewy. The shrimp with potato and crispy onions was perhaps my favorite dish. The shrimp was delicious and cooked perfectly, but it was perhaps a bit on the salty side so not quite perfect. The quail course was fine. I enjoyed it and it was a decent portion. The short rib dish was disappointing. The square of short rib was overly processed where it lost a lot of the nice texture that makes shortrib usually so enjoyable. The cooked mushrooms were nice. The raw mushrooms did not really work. The milkbread was one of the worst things served. I could not finish it. The cheese crisp was chewy (so it was not really a crisp). The bread was dense and heavy. I would hesitate to serve this to others if I had made it myself. Not worth the calories. The strawberry shaved ice palette cleanser was a head scratcher. For something so simple, it is somewhat surprising how it could end up being so unenjoyable. Bad flavor, bad texture and the fact that it was followed by a tart, cold dessert did not really help justify its existence. The dessert was fine. Stabbing the meringue square with the little knife was surprisingly satisfying. So in summary, it was a fun meal due to the company and the drinks. I appreciate the concept, but the food has to come first. These were not small misses, some dishes were simply not enjoyable. PS: I called to specify the occasion for the visit was a birthday and they forgot the note and the candle. read more

The food: spectacular, interesting, thought provoking, well curated, executed superbly. The service: care, thought, humor, personable, kind. The ambiance: the room is cool greys with gold and velvets and luxe feeling. The lights from the street are buffered through the frosted glass and it adds to the mystique. Get the wine pairings, get the cheese and treat yourself. This is such a sleeper hit, I can't believe it's not on everyone's list. SO GOOD. read more

The Food @ Nightbird made me sick - and I'm not the only one! Strange little space - weird decor, glazed windows w/ no views - not necessarily inviting or w/ any real ambiance. Service was attentive & professional, but food was completely underwhelming - in some cases flat-out BAD. Of the 13 courses I tried, virtually all of them were luke-warm or cold. Texture on many was that of goopy mush. They even ruined the (optional) tiny piece of waygu! As we were eating we noticed another patron in obvious discomfort - stopped eating, asked for tea, her companion rushing to get their car. Not a good sign. Shortly later that evening, I started to feel awful - I ended up having a terrible sleepless night with a bad case of food poisoning. My partner - who only nibbled on maybe half of the dishes (a great choice) - felt awful too. The worst part is I paid an EXORBITANT price $$$ for the privilege. Will NOT be back. Avoid this place! read more

It was great until it was sickeningly horrible. Synopsis: We have a high level of confidence that our entire party of 4 received a food-borne illness when we dined at Nightbird on Thursday March 6, 2025. Our experience is detailed below. Details: Thursday afternoon my flight landed at OAK, I made my way into The City to meet up with my engineering leadership team. Our software company had been working hard to get a few big code pushes out the door. I wanted to reward the team for working so hard for the last months, so I booked us a table for 4 at Nightbird on Gough. We don't often spend $500/person for dinner but once a year or so, we like to say thank you by giving the team a treat they wouldn't splurge for themselves. Sadly tonight would not turn out to be the treat we had wanted. The meal was mostly well served and the food, while lacking in some of the more tasty flair that one might learn to expect from the SF temples of culinary excellence, was an excellent tasting menu, and the wine pairings were on point. I left sharply at 7pm, paying the bill and bidding my colleagues a fond farewell as I headed off to other obligations. This was the only 2 hours and 10 minutes that the 4 of us spent together; the 4 of us only ate at Nightbird and we didn't all have any other drinks. The trouble started about 30 hours later. Not 1 or 2, but all 4 members of our party had started vomiting with the type of pressure that leaves your eyes bloodened for days. One of our 4 diners had to be hospitalized. Three of us were unable to hold down liquids for up to 12 hours. Our HR leader called the restaurant asking for a refund. The restaurant said it was certainly not their fault, however they then gave back $780 of our $2300 total bill. When she called back to insist that the entire amount be refunded, she was transferred to the owner, who informed her that it wasn't their fault. The owner claimed that the entire staff had eaten the food and no one got sick as well they claimed no other parties had reported issues. While I cannot speak to the validity of these statements, I can say that as the recipient of comments, it felt unempathetic, irresponsible and ultimately in my opinion, very poor service. To not even ask how everyone was doing or ask another question like, "wait ALL 4 of them got sick?!" As a diner who eats a few tasting meals a year, I know that once in a while you are likely going to get bit by a food-borne illness. It happens if you eat raw food often enough, and most travelers have a story. At the very least one should be able to expect the establishment that profited off their demise to at least have a thimble worth of kindness when the evidence at hand at the very least indicates that it is possible that it was your establishment. We did our civic duty and alerted the SF Department of health, using the details here: https://www.sf.gov/report-food-poisoning-or-food-related-illness The nice nurse that listened to my story sure seemed to think that my concerns that Nightbird likely poisoned us was worth some scientific investigation. It is disappointing to see fine dining restaurant owners, who should be bastions of hospitality, simply fall on their face, thanks to pride and ego. I hope nobody else gets sick. read more

As a vegetarian you always have that existential worry that you'll need to stop by InnOut after a tasting menu dinner. Not here! Had the "Artist-inspired" tasting menu. Amazing food and culinary artistry. Seaweed "caviar", oh-so-creamy tasty bites, and fantastic desserts. Chef is definitely an artist with food Service was great, friendly and engaging, felt like dinner with passionate foody-but-not-pretentious friends... Nightbird is a nice little space, intimate without being brooding. Tables were far enough apart to carry a conversation without hearing everyone else, and the overall noise level was great. Lovely decorations in the space lend to a hideaway feel. Net-def. going back for the next iteration of their tasting menu read more

Nightbird - Dessert with a little friend :) - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

What an incredible find! Dinner at Nightbird was a great way to start off the holiday celebrations. The meal was phenomenal. The food presentation was exquisite and every coarse was outstanding. They had a fun Christmas Grinch theme and a wine pairing option to complete the meal. Staff was very attentive and friendly too. Will definitely go back! Thanks Nightbird read more

So beautiful from the food to the service and everything in between. Very creative and gorgeously presented dishes sprinkled w/ a reflection course after each entree - very cool. Favorite dish is the filet for the hubs and the squab for me. So incredibly tender and flavorful - you can tell it's quality ingredients. Portions were quite big, in my opinion, for the entree courses. Really savored those otter pops which brought a hint of nostalgia. Had such a great time and they send you home w/ goodies at the end of the meal. Everyone was super funny and nice - really made our evening enjoyable. read more

Nightbird - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Went for the special House of Prime Rib tribute dinner. The Ambiance was rather severe. Plus it just didn't feel very festive or special. Especially in comparison to the actual House of Prime Rib. The salad wasn't spinning and paled in comparison to the real one. I didnt even like it. Then came the prime rib which I would have to say was absolutely delicious. The only problem was, there wasn't really very much of it. It came with a little dollop of creamed spinach and the tiniest little potato I've ever seen. Also with Yorkshire pudding. I asked if, like at House of Prime rib, they would bring me an extra slice of beef but no deal. Had there been at least twice as much I might have thought it was worth it. The one thing it left me with was a desire to snag a reservation at the real thing read more

Nightbird - Dessert - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I went there for my birthday dinner a few days back. I got the vegetarian menu while my friends for the regular one. while my friends said the meat dishes were good, but the vegetarian food seemed like a last thought. I didn't finish most of the food. some of it was bland, most of it was just blanched or boiled vegetables or potatoes of some form! if I am paying 175 per person, I expect A well balanced meal. Or atleast a good tasting one! However, the servers were nice and the desserts were quite good (not vegan though). read more

We did the wine-pairing of the tasting menu here. It deserves the Michelin stars - amazing food, every single course and the choice of wine was phenomenal. Dessert was great too. Just a great ambience and the knowledgeable and friendly staff was very informative with just the right level of conversations. Just a great restaurant - worth visiting again! read more

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I was disappointed given the very high price. The theme was end of times, meant to be about COVID ruining life. I think they could have made this a funny take, but unfortunately I think it was meant to be depressing. The chicken dish was dry and overcooked, but the other dishes were decent. I've had a number of tasting menus that blew me away, but I think this was one of the most expensive and it was the least thrilling. Nothing except the chicken was glaringly bad, but for $500+, I hoped for more. The cocktails were quite good, though also on the high side at $20. read more

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This reservation was a happy little accident. Superlative service and well paced meal. The wine pairing was exceptional as well.

What a great experience, from sitting down to finishing the meal! The staff are all very personable and funny - and I think chef even served a few of the dishes throughout our tasting. Collectively for drinks, we tried: Non-alcoholic - Strawberry rhubarb sour (table fave!) - Blackberry, honey mule (a lil spicy) - Passion fruit coconut cooler (super refreshing) - Iced breakaway matcha (like a matcha lemonade) Alcoholic - Red dawn (loved the prickly pear sour notes) - Lovebird (passionfruit was great in this) - Ralphie boy (smoked egg white!) Loved everything that came out, as it came out - and chef's theme of, "End of times" as a nod to the ongoing pandemic. Cute little notes throughout the experience from staff, skulls on the menu, and sprinkles on the take home poppy seed cake (and house made hand sanitizer!) Table fave had to be either the White asparagus, escargot, yuzu (amazing flavors and accompanied with bread to sop up the sauce!) or Flannery beef (this was served with morrels and the beef was soooo tender). All in all, great experience - 10/10 would recommend! read more

I was lucky enough to secure reservation here for my 30th birthday and it was wonderful! Well, at first I was nervous that the portions were not enough, by the end I was definitely stuffed! The food was absolutely impeccable, and every bite tasted better than the last. On top of that the presentation was just unbelievable, I am so happy that I got to try food from this amazing chef. While I'm not sure I'll be back anytime soon as this was a very heavy and rich meal, I know that I'd like to try a meal from her other restaurants. read more

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I went to Nightbird with a couple of work colleagues on Thursday night and had an excellent experience. My favorite dishes from the tasting menu was the quail egg, beef tartare, and duck breast. The Parker rolls were also really tasty. The restaurant had excellent service, the courses weren't brought out too quickly but we never felt like we waited around too long either. I found it very interesting how the chef doesn't waste food but incorporates the excess scrappings into snacks. I will definitely have to visit Nightbird again for another unforgettable food experience. I was really surprised to learn this restaurant doesn't have any Michelin stars to its name. Not yet at least. read more

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I had visitors from out of town for the holidays and we decided to go have dinner at NB on the 23 December. It's very hard to locate the entrance since there is no name on the outside but the front door is amazing ! the woodwork is one of a kind, really. we got in on time for our reservation and there wasn't any hostess booth ,we basically were in the middle of the dining room. Some lady approached us and asked if we had a reservation. She was not the most pleasant and smiley person, the greeting felt cold to say the least. She sat us down at the table which was right by the front door. The setup is very basic with a few wild flowers and a napkin on the table. We didn't really had one server , I feel like it was a team effort more than a regular server and a busser. The dishes were well executed, and the flavors and textures had some research behind. You could see the check put it some great efforts behind each dish . I remember the scallop dish was my favorite as well as the filet! It was a nice experience, but would I go back? I don't think so. It was very expensive for the service we received. Maybe if they work on the front of the house aspect, I could give it another trend, but I feel there are many options in the city, where you can get better service for the money read more

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Loved the reflections between courses. Attentive staff. Loved meeting the staff that cooked the food. Ended with lovely dessert.

Amazing dining experience with inventive dishes, great ambiance, and excellent service. We had a wonderful special occasion dinner here. The chef impressively accommodated my several allergies without impacting the experience. Each dish was flavorful and delicious. We liked Nightbird more than other restaurants we've been to with a Michelin star(s). Highly recommend! read more

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The service was amazing, we were so well taken care of by a friendly but non-intrusive staff. The food was spectacular. This chef is really something special. Her food carries you through a journey of food and places that will not be easily forgotten. This restaurant is a must try and worth every penny. read more

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Don't get me wrong, we had a good time here and I can see that they are trying to give a Michelin Star vibe. Cocktails were delicious and original and the service was attentive. But the food...left something to be desired. We stopped here before seeing a show at the Orpheum and were running late due to traffic (they shut down the entire bay bridge) and they were more than accommodating on a Wednesday evening. They double checked if we had any time constraints of which we said yes, took our cocktail orders and began. It was difficult to know for sure what we were eating because they spoke quickly and we weren't given any sort of sheet with the menu, but we are pretty adventurous with food and love a good tasting menu so we didn't mind much. They said it was a 5 course meal with some snacks and desserts rounding out with 13 items. I wanted to love the food, actually I wanted to just enjoy it and I couldn't. It really just was not good. The flavors stood completely on their own (not in a good way) and just did not blend together and some also had multiple textures that just did not sit right. Quite a few items were extremely over salted and there were some items I really did not want to finish...which is saying a lot considering it's only one bite. The desserts were decent, and probably better than the food items. They sent us home with a small cake each which had the menu on the box. So we kinda got the menu...as we were leaving(it also had some obscure names on them so still didn't really tell you what it was...maybe they don't want to share the recipe idk but maybe at least give a general idea??) We were full at the end because it was still a large quantity of food, but for $700 and subpar food, we will not be back. read more

If I could give 3.5 Stars, I would. A lot of good things to say - Many of the dishes and bites were very good, the serveware was beautiful, the room was nice, the service was attentive. The wine pairing was thoughtful, all the wines were very good and several were excellent. The wine pairing was pricey (~$155, I think, my date treated). The dessert (a complex layered dish involving rhubarb, foam, creaminess, crispiness, and other delights) was fantastic. But, some of the dishes were misses. The meat course was substantially over-salted. There were "reflection" bites between the courses that were supposed to provide a different twist on the ingredients from the course that we had just completed. But some of these reflection bites felt like an unrefined use of the trimmings - for example, the "seafood dumpling" that followed the giant prawn and asparagus course; the dumpling had unpleasantly gristly/cartilaginous bits that made us think of prawn eyeballs. Eating the prawn and asparagus course required use of fork, knife, and spoon - which made for awkward navigation. (It was delicious, just not well thought out.) There were other off notes. The cutlery was very, very basic, glaringly so, especially sitting next to delightful dishes. The table itself was extremely basic. The room was very simply appointed. The by-the-glass wines were disappointing and very expensive. We had a nice time, but wouldn't return. Madcap in San Anselmo is our best comparison in terms of pricing and type of meal, and they execute theirs far, far better. read more

Every time I come to Nighbird, I know I will be treated like royalty. I know that I will leave completely full. Lastly, I know that it will be an event. Chef Kim makes delicious food and I am here for it. I have been to restaurants around the world and nothing ever quite compares to an experience at Nightbird. I don't often see the chefs come out to the diners tables to greet the customers or interact with them like I see consistently here. She cares about the food she puts out as much as she cares about the diner's experience. I have celebrated all of my birthdays and life events here and it's almost like my home away from home. I love this restaurant. Thanks for showing me what fine dining can be in the best way possible. By making great food. read more

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In one word: SPECTACULAR! The attention to detail on every level from the ambiance to the imaginative cocktails to the mind blowing tasting menu and impeccable service is orchestrated to deliver an unforgettable experience. Days and weeks later, I find myself reliving in my mind so many of the delicious bites that night. Some of the most notable: - a tiny eclair filled with liver mousse from the squab dish that preceded it; topped with dark chocolate and served with a shot of dashi broth made with bones from the squab - a melt in your mouth buttery and unctuous quail egg - a caviar tart that I could eaten a dozen of Every course played upon the last and came together as the perfect representation of the bounty and diversity of California. I especially love how Asian flavors were woven into the menu through the ingredients and techniques used. Nightbird serves art in the form of food. The chef is a true master of her craft. To my surprise, the restaurant assesses only a 16% tip for the best service I've experienced since the French Laundry in 2003. Nightbird is a MUST! read more

Had an amazing experience/dinner at Nightbird for my birthday. I really enjoyed having multiple small serving of a variety of food. I particularly liked the quail egg, crab dish, and the squab coffee & donuts. I know they've got a new menu for the holidays and I'm very tempted to go. The service was wonderful as well. They moved our table when we thought it was cold and were very friendly in explaining the dishes to us. This is a rather intimate setting and was generally quiet. With that said, there was one table that was a bit more boisterous and, because it's a small place, we needed to be okay with it. I like all the bird and owl decors. read more

I went in October 2023. Incredibly delicious a tasting menu that reminded me a lot of Saison; Nightbird is definitely cooking at the level of a 2 Michelin Star. The menu was extremely cohesive, really appreciated how they highlighted every part of the ingredients. One standout for me was the particular attention on the bread courses and pairings, something that is tragically missing from most restaurants. Come hungry. read more

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I've been wanting to try this place in... FOREVER and we finally managed to get a reservation. The atmosphere inside was super cute and romantic and the service (I believe her name was Imani) was absolutely adorable! The plates were quite interesting and some of them quite rare but like the way caviar was served or the dessert. - the bread was nothing special unfortunately and felt quite underwhelming - the pasta didn't have a lot of flavor and I think the way it was served didn't compliment much the ingredient. We also didn't get the menu at the table to help us follow what we were about to have. I think it's worth trying it but I think the pride point is quite high for what it is. read more

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So here's a fancy place with haute cuisine...but one that loves to stay whimsical and creative. The tasting menu was pretty stellar and the staff and service was stellar. It's a hard line for staff to not be stuffy but not be too casual. Here they nailed it. You don't have to dress to the tilt here but it is a nice place. The dishes and courses were all pretty great although I would say the last two dishes (squab and then tenderloin) were both kinda same note: they were both kinda sous vide and had that kinda gummy texture. Everything to that in the tasting was out of this world. Soft quail egg. Oyster and uni. Caviar tart. All amazing. And we got a little piece of cake and a little house made hand lavender sanitizer to take home...which was actually really a nice surprise (and the cake was lovey with some tea at home). Need a fancy whimsical fun meal...this is a good choice. read more

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We went to Nightbird for a Friday fancy meal and we very much enjoyed the entire experience. They asked in advance about food allergies and accommodated a nut allergy. The service by Imani and team was quite professional and smooth. There is a small but satisfying wine list and fun cocktail list. The sommelier was knowledgeable and helpful. We enjoyed the seasonal and inventive food. Just a few luscious bites each but more substantial multiple entrees plus two amazing homemade bread (sourdough and Parker house rolls). Ah the bread! Every dish was local, organic and in-season. So inventive! So lovingly presented. We loved the raw scallop dish, the squab two ways, and the beignet caviar. We enjoyed each plate and the surprise of tiny in between bites between nearly every dish. There were five dishes and yes three desserts! I was very full by the end! I also want to mention the unique Japanese plates were gorgeous and the calm dining room a la Japan calming. There is a nice small bar in the back. The wait staff wore masks. Thumbs up! read more

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