 There are nearly a dozen essential oils and plant extracts on the menu at chef Daniel Patterson’s innovative eatery. Choose from four- or eleven-course tasting menus with dishes ranging from asparagus with ravigote sauce to breaded pigs' feet medallions stuffed with herbs and fried crisp. A salad of Cognac, grapefruit and tarragon topped with grapefruit mousse, black pepper and ginger arrives with the same aromatic oils to be dabbed on the wrist for a unique interactive experience. A bite-size piece of sautéed bone marrow is topped with California osetra caviar and served with a swirl of beet gelée. Scallop sashimi is dressed with lemon and olive oil, shaved curls of just-ripe avocado, paper-thin radishes, edible flowers and sea salt; refreshing chilled English pea soup cradles a scoop of ricotta sorbet and mint; sautéed sea bream, set atop Korean-style pork belly, is drizzled with litsea cubeba, a lemon-scented oil from China. Desserts don’t quite match the creativity of the menu, but you can’t argue with warm bittersweet chocolate tart or a petite lemon meringue pie. The space is a visual feast, from walnut burl tables and furry Flokati pillows in the lounge to the serene, rectangular dining room with a low wagami paper-appointed ceiling and artist Catherine Wagner’s framed MRIs of fruits and vegetables on the wall. The wine list is short but offers some nice bottles under $40 as well as reserve wines from splendid vintages. Service is attentive though it could flow better. |
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Set the mood for love by reserving a table at one of the Best Romantic Restaurants in San Francisco, or view our list of Valentines Restaurants to find out which restaurants are offering unique menus just for February 14. Also, see who sets the standard for seductive dining across the country with our Top 10 Romantic Restaurants in the U.S. list.
