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Ame
Categories: Restaurants American (New) Restaurants Japanese American (New), Japanese [Edit]
St Regis Hotel689 Mission St
San Francisco, CA 94105
Neighborhood: SOMA
(415) 284-4040
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 5:30 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Classy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
645 reviews for Ame
Review Highlights
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"Broiled Sake Marinated Alaskan Black Cod." In 58 reviews -
"try the black cod and you won't be sorry." In 190 reviews -
"and Shrimp Dumplings in Shiso Broth." In 50 reviews
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645 reviews in English
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Review from Arden C.
What an amazing dining experience. I was in SF for business and was able to get reservations Sunday evening (pretty last minute) and was extremely full & happy on my flight back to LA!
The decor is modern, minimalist w/ a slight Asian flair. A very tasteful use of natural woods in the architecture. I love the open kitchen. Great place for a date, important meeting or any special occasion!
We pretty much had a 7 course chefs choice:
The Amberjack hamachi was an amazing burst of refreshing flavor and texture. I'm not sure what the foam was but it was a citrusy yuzu infused flavor. This was one of my favorites. Really special - I wish I had more than one bite!!!
http://www.yelp.com/us...
The Chilled carrot soup w/ salmon was tangy, zesty, yet creamy. It's a flavor I've never had before. I actually normally don't like cold soups or carrot soup in general but this was pretty bomb. The salmon melts in your mouth.
http://www.yelp.com/us...
A shrimp/scallop salad - perfectly cooked w/ a slight tinge of chili & the tanginess of ponzu sauce. Very fresh and light.
http://www.yelp.com/us...
For this dish the sommelier paired this sake, it was light, sweet but not too sweet and had a very clean taste. I thought it was a perfect pairing with the shrimp/scallops.
http://www.yelp.com/us...
Tempura "Poke" w/ Dicon - amazing!!! No words to describe it, it's just a burst of flavor. Lined w/ a thick but very soft layer of kelp, lightly fried to perfection. This dish really stood out to me, the combination of flavors/textures were perfect.
http://www.yelp.com/us...
"Chawan-Mushi" Japanese Savory Custard with Lobster, Sea Urchin, Shiitake and Mitsuba Sauce was warm, heavenly and oddly comforting. Perfection! I don't even like uni but I loved this dish.
http://www.yelp.com/us...
Broiled Sake Marinated Alaskan Black Cod and Shrimp Dumplings in Shiso Broth: so sweet and tender - literally melts in your mouth. This dish is a MUST it's hard to describe how perfectly tender it is, in a very savory flavorful broth. And the shrimp dumplings, as if the cod wasn't perfect enough the dumplings melt as well - infused with the richness of the broth and full of flavor. Really a 5 star dish.
http://www.yelp.com/us...
For the cod the sommelier paired the Pommard: It was a very elegant wine, smooth and went great with the cod even though it's a red. The Umami mushroom flavor with a delicate cod really brings out the richness.
http://www.yelp.com/us...
Grilled Berkshire Pork Chop with Bacon Roasted Cauliflower. The pork was perfectly cooked, slightly pink in the center, melts in your mouth and smokey on the outside. A charcoal smoke infused flavor, reminiscent of a fine ham made with lean berkshire pork exhibiting a tenderness usually reserved for the fattiest portions. Love the bacon like cubes on the side w/ roasted cauliflower, fava beans and a squid ink aioli to perfectly compliment the pork. Smokey tender roasted squid - you've never tasted squid like this before.
http://www.yelp.com/us...
http://www.yelp.com/us...
This second wine was much bolder w/ a stronger kick, perfect pairing with the pork. It had the aroma of sun dried raisins. Really great wine.
http://www.yelp.com/us...
Flourless chocolate cake: Liquor infused icecream to offset the sweetness of the rich Flowerless chocolate cake. I definitely recommended this one for chocolate lovers. If you like chocolate you might die eating this dessert.
http://www.yelp.com/us...
Strawberry Rhubarb Custard: Very unique, never had a desert like this before w/ actual tangy pieces of fresh rhubarb. Perfect combination of sweet and tangy. Absolutely loved it. http://www.yelp.com/us...
Yummmmmmmmy
http://www.yelp.com/us...
I think it's pretty obvious, but I'd definitely recommend Ame :) Happy dining! -
Review from B. Y.
San Francisco, CA
5/20/2012
Delicious, well-prepared seafood. High prices but good for a nice night out. Had the kibbe tuna appetizer, which was delicious, as well as the nightly crudo - very fresh. The foie gras three ways was also good but not as memorable as the seafood.
The black cod, as reviewed, was delicious and perfectly cooked. -
Review from e f.
San Francisco, CA
5/13/2012
It's OK.
Some elements of the meal were very good and innovative, such as the raw fish dishes. However, other elements such as the cooked meat at just OK or even slightly odd. I'm a fan of Asian fusion, but some of the oddness is not related to anything fusion.
The atmosphere is elegant, and the service is exceptional.
At about $100 per meal plus alcohol and tip, I'd probably go elsewhere. Not bad by any means, but not great at that price level. -
Review from Catherine W.
Iowa City, IA
5/22/2012 Seated via OpenTable
We had a wonderful meal here. The bread is fantastic. Their tasting menu is a fun way to try a bit of everything the menu has to offer. The black cod was my favorite dish but the rest of my parte liked selections off the raw bar menu, the kibbeh in particular. Nice atmosphere, enjoyable cocktails, and an extensive wine list with some reasonable choices
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Review from Ren L.
4/29/2012 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
I was here for an anniversary dinner, and thought it was a good idea to come here.
Like some of the reviews, I grabbed the Chawanmushi. This wasn't my first time having a chawanmushi, as I had a similar version at another restaurant, but I still enjoyed the uniqueness of the bits of seafood in the custard.
My entree consisted of the cod and shrimp dumplings. The presentation was simple yet elegant and delicious. It wasn't mindblowing though, but it was still acceptable.
Because it was an anniversary, our host was able to vouch for a surprise dessert on the house, which was mighty nice of them (+1 star). Overall, I was fine with the service and the prices, and it was a good time. -
Review from C S.
San Francisco, CA
5/23/2012
I have eaten here over the last 3 years a handful of times and haven't remembered to write a review....but thought it was about time. Having the luxury of living in SF and the availability of so many amazing restaurants has afforded me numerous fantastic culinary experiences. Ame has to be by far one of my favorite restaurants. I have NEVER been disappointed. The food is exceptional and many of the dishes definitely match in quality, execution, sophistication and taste with those you will find at many of the top restaurants in SF and with the exception of Benu...I have eaten at all of them. Ame is a not-so-hidden-gem that won't empty your wallet but will deliver an ultimate eating experience. It's not cheap by any means but it's not excessively out priced. Service is warm and wonderful. There is a formal, casualness that is approachable but not. I always bring guests who are foodies, here and it delivers. Without exception, my favorite item is the Broiled Sake Marinated Alaskan Black Cod and Shrimp Dumplings in Shiso Broth...Divine. The sake list should not be overlooked for the normal wine and dine as it truly complements the menu's aesthetic. My only critique and why it's not a 5 in my book would be the actual space. I love the ability to view the kitchen and sushi bar but I wish there was a way to make it more special/seeming more detached from the general public of the hotel. I don't give 5 unless it blows my skirt up so this should be considered high praise at a 4!
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Review from Angela X.
Oakland, CA
I chose Ame for my birthday dinner after I received a gift certificate that would subsidize, without fully covering, the cost of an evening for two here. Let's not beat about the bush here: Ame is expensive, even for a Michelin-starred restaurant, which probably has to do with its location in the St. Regis.
Early signs were not promising. About two other people were seated in the eerily quiet dining room by the time of our 6:30 reservation, while staff with nothing to do hovered sepulchrally in the shadows. Nobody offered to take my coat, and our waiter (clearly a new hire) stuttered through naming our courses when our appetizers arrived.
But as our food started coming out, the restaurant filled up, and I began to enjoy Ame. My boyfriend and I started with the chawan mushi and the foie gras presented three ways (seared, torchon sandwich, and salad). I'd never had chawan mushi before, and I loved the light, briny custard and soup, which were delicately infused with seafood flavors from uni and lobster. The foie gras presented a mixed bag, as the doughy white bread and onions in the torchon sandwich overpowered the foie gras, while the salad seemed an awkward way to serve foie gras. Three servings of the seared foie gras would have sufficed.
The shrimp dumplings and soy-sauce tasting broth in my black cod entree were nothing special, but the black cod itself was one of the best-cooked fish I've ever had. Snowy white on the interior, and so tender, each mouthful veritably melted in my mouth.
The highlight of the night had to be my dessert, the arancini of kumquat risotto with chamomile ice cream. I'm usually drawn to weird-sounding foods, and this didn't disappoint. Crunching past the fried, crumb-coated exterior of the arancini, I encountered a soft, warm kumquat risotto (it's exactly what it sounds... a kumquat-based sauce with short grain rice). I don't even think I've had chamomile tea that tasted as intensely chamomile as this ice cream. Order this if you're here; I mean, you can order a flourless chocolate cake or a fruit sorbet anywhere else, right?
Ultimately, the spotty service in the beginning was balanced out by a complementary birthday dessert, and another waiter who helped me order a delicious mocktail that wasn't on the menu (a concoction of mango and citrus purees, sparkling water, and lime). I'm satisfied with my experience at Ame, but I can't recommend it without reservation, since I think you can find better value and a better ambiance elsewhere (Gary Danko comes to mind). Still, giving it four stars because everything I ordered was a revelation. -
Review from Yee Gan O.
4/6/2012
I do have a slight bias against restaurants based in hotels but the promise of inventive food enhanced primariy by the flavours of Asia in the Michelin guide led me to make a booking at Ame. Hence, my meeting Tammy C, my local Yelp fine dining partner in crime outside the St Regis hotel
We were at the end of another week of restaurant indulgences and decided, probably wisely, to eschew our usual tasting menu and instead choose from the a la carte.
An array of beautifully appointed plates arrived, bearing food with Italian roots and ingredients with Asian accents, reflecting the food heritages of chefs Hiro Sone and Lisa Doumani.
I love lardo (pig fat cured with rosemary and other herbs & spices) and this came with sea urchin on bruschetta. Other highlights were rich unctuous eel and some crispy pork belly. As you can tell, passing on the tasting menu didn't mean a non-rich meal. Well, it was our last indulgent meal for that trip.
The cooking was solid and delivered on standards though not perhaps on surprises.Listed in: Top USA Restaurants
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Review from Anna V.
5/11/2012
Beautiful hotel restaurant with impeccable service and some tasty food. We ordered mostly appetizers to share and loved it. The favorite of the night was the "Chawan-Mushi" and "Sunomono" Salad, though the other items we ordered were also extremely well done and delicious. I would love to come back and try more things on their menu.
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Review from Erica T.
Irvine, CA
4/10/2012
One of my favorite restaurants in San Francisco.
Just go. (well also know that you'll probably spend a good fat wad but it will be worth it) I still remember it like it was yesterday although it's been a couple years since I've been there. We had the lobster bisque with the corn hush puppies and the best squab we've ever had.
The service was impeccable, the food was terrific. Just go. -
Review from Elaine N.
L (R) and I came to Ame in search of beignets. Whilst being all picky-choosey about which restaurant we should attend to (because Frances wouldn't welcome us with open arms), L threw out some options. He eats good, too! It was Ame vs. Le Colonial, only I couldn't understand any of the menu items for Le Colonial. Ame had beignets, so I squealed and kicked and screamed. He gave in quickly (smart) and made us some rezzies.
I showed up wobbly and drunk as a horse, with my growling tummy filled with Seagram's Seven. Looking at the menu, I wondered if it would be offensive to have my usual entree with two desserts. I figured convention was good every once in awhile, so I went with oysters, lobster, and flourless chocolate cake. Yumminess with some diabetic tendencies to spare.
My oysters came with THE most delicious granita-- zesty, sweet, and citrusy! L enjoyed it, also. Later, I asked the server if it was mandarin orange, to which he corrected me. "Yuzu lemon," he said. Ultimate fail here.
My Maine lobster arrived in a larger portion than I expected (never a bad thing)) and was already loosened from the shell. It was quite plendid, as I hate having to put effort into my food. I just want to eat and bulge out of my clothes (;
While L was in the bathroom, our server inquired about my food, and then about L's. I told him, "They were super yummy, but I still liked mine better!" He chuckled.
When it came to dessert, I realized that the beignets had disappeared off the menu! They were seasonal and removed from the menu just two evenings ago. Sadface. Luckily, they kept my flourless chocolate cake. Upon setting it in front of me, the waiter announced "caramel" something-something, and teased my failure to notice. The moist, decadent, chocolatey gooeyness paired with prune ice cream (that smelled a little like whiskey) had this strange catnip effect. I saw rainbows and dancing cows and singing penguins. Had there been beignets, I would have passed out and never snapped back into reality. Nonono~
During my voyage back home, I was approached on the train by a boy in his late twenties. He was that guy you make fun of at high school reunions-- the one who continues holding onto his chest-bumping days from playing on the varsity football team. He made passes at me, telling me how beautiful I was and how amazing I smelled. I told him it was the faint aura Ame left on me. I went on explaining that the aroma came from my burping, and the smile from the happy scent of the burps. It resonated with me all night.
Ame easily surpassed La Folie. I'd even say it beats Michael Mina by a small margin (that lobster pot pie and bread with ricotta is oh-so-delicious!)
With an incredible meal and even better company, who would complain? 5 stars for a great night that even sunk into my dreams.Listed in: Michelin Stardom
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Review from Nikki C.
2/22/2012 4 photos
Classy. Romantic. Upscale.
Ame was a great choice for Valentine's Day. The hotel itself is beautiful, valet parking (for a deeply discounted rate) was totally convenient, and the staff was friendly & knowledgeable.
My hubby made 8pm reservations and we arrived on the dot. We were seated at a bigger table, fit for 4, which I loved. Plenty of room and an empty seat for my purse. After much debate between ordering a la carte or the tasting menu, we both opted to go with the 5-course tasting menu ($89 each). I also added the Wine Pairing ($65).
Our first course was a trio sashimi sampler which included oysters, scallops, and hamachi. My favorite was the hamachi. The beets complemented the flavor perfectly. This course was paired with a chilled Sake.
The next 3 courses were a celery root soup w/braised beef short rib, broiled sake marinated Alaskan Black Cod in shiso broth, and 2 versions of duck. My favorite courses were the soup and cod. Who knew celery root could taste so good?? The braised beef short rib was tender and added a nice element to the dish. I was very excited when I saw the cod was part of the tasting menu because I planned to order it a la carte. The cod was soft but didn't fall apart, and paired well with greens and mushrooms. There were 2 versions of the duck 1 was prepared like a steak while the other reminded me of kalua pork. The kalua pork version was very salty. I could not eat much of it. I would have preferred a different course - perhaps their NY Steak or Pork Chop.
Their Valentine 'special dessert' for the tasting menu was a vanilla ice cream served in wine with pastry. It was absolutely delectable. The pastry had just the right amount of crust, soft to bite w/out flaking. The dessert wine was delicious as well.Listed in: San Francisco Scene, Michelin Rated
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Review from sasha h.
2/9/2012 6 photos
Came here with a group of friends and had a fantastic dinner. Stellar performance on all all fronts - food, service, ambiance. Definitely not a cheap meal and arguably overpriced for a 1 star michelin but was a standout within its category. Great place for a date / other special occasion / food lovers get together. I saw a few business dinners tho it was a very long meal for those tables.
Some recommendations:
Appetizers: Beets salad (great presentation, mixture of different types of beets - puree etc), tuna tartare
Mains: Sake Marinated Black Cod (tastes like the cod at Nobu - delicious, cooked to perfection and the mini stuffed dumplings are a nice add)
Dessert: Huckleberry Pie (if i had a grandma who could make pie i would want her to make this), Hibiscus Vacherin (passion fruit ice cream was really good with chunks of pineapple and vacherin (meringue and whipped cream) on top)
Do not recommend the Kabocha Pumpkin Crème Caramel which is basically pumpkin flan but not very good, especially when compared with the other desserts
Decent wine selection, even by the glass, i went with my normal staple - a riesling -
Review from Jessica W.
Sunnyvale, CA
1/29/2012
I have had chance to have a dinner in this nice and prestigious restaurant. I ordered a soup (which it was a Japanese soup) I could not even have 2 more spoon of that. the taste was horrible. Then I ordered a steak in mushroom sauce. this one was very well cooked and the taste was very good! though it was only a small piece. I was still hungry after finishing it.
The good thing was that they did not charge me for the soup as they realized I did not had much.
Finally, I came out paying 70 bucks and it was late and no where was open to go and have another food! so I stopped by a burger king! and had a double whoper! -
Review from Scott C.
San Francisco, CA
3/10/2012
The meal was quite good, but not great and way over priced. I will admit that the food quality alone is probably higher than 3 stars, but I have to price adjust the review. Ame positions this place as fine dining and although the food was good, for the type of place it is, I would expect more.
The decor was clean but boring. Nothing memorable about it. The service was very good. The waiters paid attention to some details like providing utensils for us to share food even though we didnt ask. They didnt do things like fold napkins when you leave the table or anything like that but they brought warm bread and kept the water glass full. Quite honestly this should be the basic standard of service, but somehow this has turned into good service by comparison to most places.
for the food, I had the tasting menu and my friend put together her own 4 course meal a la carte.
The raw bar is the best stuff here. They use very fresh seafood in combination with very smart choices for sauce. In most of the preparations there is either a radish or something friend to add a little crunch.
That is about there the exceptional stopped. The second course was a soup which was very heavy in garlic taste (which was good) but very one note. You didnt get much else because the garlic was so heavy. Again, would have been amazing for a deli, but for fine dining, only pretty good.
Second course is miso black cod. I wish chefs would just stop trying to make this dish. So few doing correctly and so overdone. Cod is a delicate white fish and miso is a very salty and bold flavor. The chef at Ame was way too heavy handed with the miso. All I could taste was salt. I would have to say that this was the worse course of the meal. If you go here, stay away from this dish.
The grilled beef was prepared well. Cooked to a perfect medium rare. A very nice piece of meat, but did not see much creativity in the preparation.
Last course was the sesame panna cotta. Horrible. Almost as bad as the cod. Sesame paired with Grapefuit sounds interesting on the menu, but when you taste it, the dish misses on every front. The panna cotta was perfectly made so the texture was quite nice. That is about the only thing that saved it from being worse than the cod.
My friend had the lobster which was again nice, but nothing more special than poached lobster and a couple of grilled scallops. Hardly worth the nearly $40 they charge. The beet salad that she had was amazing though. It might have been the best dish of the night.
All and all, the food was pretty good. Not even close to worth what is being charged. If I wanted to spend this much for dinner, I think would prefer to wait to go to Napa. The restaurants there are far more interesting. -
Review from Rebecca C.
San Francisco, CA
4/10/2012 Seated via OpenTable
fantastic experience:
-- favorites: fois gras (fantastic quality), sake marinated black cod (perfect texture of black cod and the soupy sauce was surprisingly complementary to the black cod)
-- great service: they brought out two plates with candles for 2 of us who are celebrating our belated birthday.
-- ambience: intimate but nothing out of the ordinary.
-- wine: the half bottle of chassagne montrachet (Olivier Leflaive) was exceelent
-- chawanmushi was mediocre: had better versions of this -
Review from David G.
El Sobrante, CA
3/18/2012
Very nice City decor, sorta reminded me of the old Star's/Jeremiah Tower's Bistro except darker-
We had reservations, were fashionably late 15 minutes, but was not an issue and were promptly seated- There were 4 in our party for 8pm and the place was full, not hectic at all and quite comfortable-
The House Alaskan Black Cod was to die for , I would eat it for breakfast with Cherrios - also the cold Lobster pasta w/Caviar is another must-great flavors married with glass of Veuve went dandy-
The Ceviche appetizer was tasty too, plentiful but I thought the spread out display distracted from the great flavor, just a thought-
I skipped dessert, had a great espresso for the end of a great dining date-
Let me know your thoughts- I will definitley dine their again-
Cheers !!
Dave -
Review from Fauzia K.
San Carlos, CA
3/1/2012
All I can say is - Impeccable service & Fantastic food.
I'm not usually a fan of restaurants in Hotels , however I was impressed.
Started off with a yummy Riesling, paired it with tempura poke which was AMAZING. It was so fresh & the taste was so very delicate.
We had the sampler of the Hamachi & that was followed by a asparagus soup. The soup was so very yummy & flavorful.
Of course we had to have the broiled sake marinated Alaskan Black Cod in shiso broth,. I was in heaven, I could have had another helping of it if I could. We then had a beef dish, which I forget what the cut was. It was OK. I'd stick to seafood at Ame.
I'm not a huge dessert person, however my 'foodie' friends were thrilled with the chocolate flourless dessert.
They are getting 4 stars, mainly for the service. They were so 'on' it, I was amazed. Not overly attendant, but just the right amount of 'touch' points. -
Review from Cindy L.
1/20/2012
Expensive meal, but was really good! Would recommend for a date place, although you would see business men eating at the bar by themselves...
We tried the Broiled Sake Marinated Alaskan Black Cod and Shrimp Dumplings in Shiso Broth since that is what Ame is known for and the waiter basically told us we HAD to try that dish. Also had Grilled Half Maine Lobster and Hokkaido Scallops on Potato Gnocchi in Lobster Sauce with Forest Mushrooms and Caramelized Cipollini Onions. Lobster and Scallops were good, but it wasn't any better than good pan seared scallops I've had at other restaurants. I enjoyed the meal since I am a huge seafood fan, but price to portion ratio was so so...
For dessert, we had the Trio of Tea Beignets; Earl Grey, Chai and Green Tea. Earl Grey was really good! Very flavorful! Good end to the meal.
I didn't have to pay for the meal since it was on the company's tab, so it was an overall great meal :D -
Review from Erin C.
San Francisco, CA
2/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
A surprise on my birthday night, I wish I could give this place 5 stars but my Lobster entree was disgusting. It was semi-raw and definitely not fresh. I chewed until I absolutely couldn't any longer and spit it out. Even though I did not pay, I'm not sure if the experience was worth the expense.
The only reason I'm giving Ame 3 stars is because of its excellent service and other dishes. The ambiance was nice/romantic/classy. The bread was warm and delicious and we were offered more bread each time the waiter came around before the entrees. The passion drink was divinely delicious but $8 for this non-alcoholic beverage. My favorite tastes of the night were the sashimi salad and the fois grois. Both had unique tastes and were up to par.
Wasn't impressed nor thrilled with the dessert choices.
If I'd done my Yelp research, it looks as if I should've gotten the Alaskan Black cod. Darn. Will be back for just that, if someone else pays. -
Review from Brian K.
1/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
We came here for New Year's Eve for their 5 course tasting menu + wine pairing. We spent $420 for 2 vegetarian tasting. The most expensive dinner for 2 I've ever thrown down. :)
Food: 3/5
I would consider them average relative to price, given SF's food scene. Their vegetarian menu was half California - half French. Still plenty of creme and butter, but with an attempt to balance with the flavors the ingredients offer.
We had:
1. Beet tartar - basically goat cheese and beets (3 ways) - very nice
2. Cauliflower Soup - creamy cauliflower with fried cauliflower piece - nice
3. Spring vegetable platter with 3 sauces - basically a plate of grilled vegetables. All were cold - likely because dish was fired before the others at table - poor
4. Mushroom ravioli - fresh ravioli - well balanced mushroom flavor - nice
5. Chocolate vanilla mouse - the table seemed to love it - but I found it average
6. Additional truffles - red wine + coconut. A bit disappointing to be honest.
The wine pairing with the meal was chosen for the meat dishes. We were told that the sommalier would choose wines for us - but I guess they didn't get a chance. The same wine that goes with lamb certainly doesn't go with a sweat mushroom ravioli! The wines were interesting overall, but largely unrelated to our dishes. For the $136 - I would have preferred a bottle of our selection. Unfortunately we were misled.
Atmosphere - 5/5
They did a top notch job. The table was covered with fun NYE decor. We were sat at a large round table next to vertical wood beams - which was very nice. The vibe was sophisticated yet approachable.
Service - 4/5
Interaction was minimal -given we ordered a pri-fix. Professional and friendly - solid but unmemorable.
Value - 2/5
Yes it was New Years - but $420 for 2 is stiff. I do chef's tasting menus a lot and this was definitely 2x the fair market value.
Overall 3/5
I won't go back but I enjoyed going once. -
Review from Sridevi K.
Los Gatos, CA
2/18/2012
Fine dining.. so you do go with some expectations. Lovely setting, St Regis is a nice place anyway.
The tasting menu was what we had, and it surely had good listing. The celery soup, beet salad was wonderful.
The duck main course was a little tough for my liking.
Dessert was underwhelming.
The wine pairings seemed ok, not splendid.
The reason I do 3 stars and not 4, is largely because of the service. They were certainly welcoming and courteous, but not knowledgable. The main staff who was at our table was fumbling a lot, and did not convey some preferences to the ktichen. Kept rambiling about things that we did not ask for or were interested in knowing, overall strange for this kind of a restuarant!
I would go back, but probably order from menu and not the tasting menu. -
Review from Anastacia S.
New York, NY
1/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is a review for the lounge area at Ame, not the restaurant (which I am not even sure where the entrance is for that). The lounge portion is the lobby of the St Regis and has plenty of seating, great ambiance, and incredible service! They were very accommodating, even bringing over more chairs and pushing together pieces to support our group of 8. I would give it 5 stars but the food menu for this area was VERY limited and unsatisfying.
The drinks were wonderful, great wine by the glass selection, and service was quick and attentive. It is VERY expensive so I would not recommend making a night of it (as we did) but maybe coming for a drink or two if you're on a date in the area, or with a group. Great spot for a business meet-up. -
Review from Cicie W.
1/3/2012
We came here for NYE, since that's actually one of my friends' birthday. Had to take the first seating as the second seating was all booked up. We were seated in a corner, pretty private. With vegetarians in the party and some of my diet restrictions, the waiter was able to get everything straight and even split up the check for us, so it's not confusing to do the math. they should get extra points for that.
Here's the breakdown of the 5 course meal:
1. I can't remember the first course, but it was good. sorry...
2. cauliflower soup: very tasty. It didn't bother me at all that this is a vegetarian dish, no lacking of flavor there
3. salt water trout: also a good one, cooked just right, medium rare and in small portion. the skin was very crispy, which gave a good contrast to the meat
4. lamb tender loin: also cooked medium rare, pretty solid dish
5. vanilla chocolate mouse: this was very good. I'm usually not a dessert person, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
one problem I always have with multiple course meals is that it always makes me too full, such as Gary Danko's. but I didn't have problem here, every course just makes me want to have a little bit more. one of my vegetarian friends didn't like the beet salad as her vegetarian option, so the restaurant made a different dish just for her. they also had those crazy NYE hats, bubbles, poppers and horns for us to play with, so we had lots of fun. definitely recommend this place for special occasions. -
Review from Luigi B.
Daly City, CA
12/30/2011
This place was great!
I went on a Wednesday and found parking right in front of the hotel, no Vallet necessary. It was my girls and my anniversary, when I made the reservation the receptionist asked what it was for and at dessert our plate had a happy anniversary written in chocolate. Its the little things that make dinners worth while, like our attentive and knowledgable wait staff. My water glass never met the bottom of the cup, because it was constantly being refilled even without my knowledge. Now on to the food.
My girl and I opted out of the prefix because we both like choosing our own dishes. Our appetizers consisted of the tempura Poke, which was delicious, crunchy on the outside and nice and almost creamy in the inside. Very delicious. The second appetizer was the Lobster and Uni custard, very decadent and rich, almost like a tofu soup but so much more. Now on to the main dishes. The girlfriend had the Cod, which was flakey, and had a good bite to it. It was seasoned perfectly and really tasty. I had the dry aged steak and short beef short rib. The dry aged steak was bomb! It looked meager but it was indeed filling. The dry aged steak was tender and juicy, something about aged steak that just gives the best flavor. The Short rib was a good contrast from the aged steak, sweet and fork tender.
Two specialty drinks, Two appetizers, two entrees, one desert, and latte is about $195 with 20% gratuity. Not bad.
Over all great experience. -
Review from Helen Y.
I had the most Ame-mazing night dining here. I was expecting a good time, and everything ended up being more than I had expected.
Atmosphere:
The interior is designed with sophistication and luxury in mind. The place is dimly lit, and we were sat by a more intimate corner. Everything makes this place very romantic, but it's also very suitable for all occasions: the other two tables that were occupied were a family celebrating a birthday, and what seemed to be a few old friends catching up.
Service:
Absolutely impeccable. Everyone was so polite and welcoming. They were not obnoxious in anyway, and gave us plenty of time to look through the menu. When we asked for wine recommendations, the waitress was so knowledgeable and recommended a wine that was not on the wine list. The wine was light enough and didn't overpower the food. The wine ended up tasting so good I had to ask the waitress to write down the name for me at the end of the meal.
Food:
We considered the tasting menu but ended up ordering from the regular menu.
Appetizer- Tuna tartare with uni
Chawan-Mushi (Japanese Savory Custard with Lobster,
Sea Urchin, Shiitake and Mitsuba Sauce)
Main course - Grilled Half Maine Lobster and Hokkaido Scallops
Grilled Dry Aged NY Strip Steak and Braised Beef Short Rib
Dessert- Flourless Chocolate cake with Prune-rum ice cream
Every bite was exquisite, but my favorites has to be the lobster and the chawan-mushi. It was so delicate, yet rich and flavorful.
What I appreciated about the food as well was the beautiful presentation. Each plate was carefully assembled, as if attention was paid even to the last drop of sauce drizzled on the plate.
Overall I loved the experience. This place is so classy and sophisticated, yet nothing is overly done. Definitely the perfect place for a special occasion or to bring your special someone. -
Review from Serena W.
San Francisco, CA
11/9/2011 1 photo
Despite waiting nearly thirty minutes with a reservation, I really wanted to love this place. The Michelin Star gave it prestige, the decor exuded class, the dimly lit atmosphere invited romance in. The fragmented wooden wall pieced together by undulating strips even brought back memories of my architectural days, a small tug on the heartstrings. How could the palate have gone so wrong when the place begged for appreciation?
It wasn't the Taste of Ame sashimi bar entree (chosen on our part as an appetizer) that initiated the disappointment, it was the service. The sashimi sampler (which served well as an appetizer portion-wise) was delightful -- the service, disastrous.
In short, our waiter tried to up-sell us, and as a result of our hesitation, he looked down upon us. We asked for the German Riesling flight, only to be discouraged with, "We might be sold out of that one because the table [of four] over that just order two." (Note: these are half-bottle flights.) When our bottles came and I politely declined a glass, the waiter asked me snidely, "Why, are you not of drinking age?" If I weren't Asian in my mid-twenties and l actually looked significantly older for the remark to be a compliment, I would've laughed and winked, but of course, I stuttered a defense then sulked in my chair, declining a taste of the chawan-mushi, which my peers seemed to enjoy. Later, I snickered silently when our waiter tried to describe our Kabinett Riesling as a "Cabernet".
Having picked the signature dish of black cod and shrimp dumplings ("which our chef has prepared the same way for 17 years and guests come back for seconds of..."), I had extremely high expectations on top of anticipation for redemption on Ame's behalf.
Redemption never came.
Obviously the piece of fish served to Michael Bauer back in 2006 was much different than the one on my plate -- an exhaustive (and probably repetitive) chore thrown together in haste at 10pm on a Saturday night. The fish flaked nicely on my plate but mushed in my mouth like overcooked sea bass (but this was black cod), and the shiso broth tasted strongly of soy sauce, nothing aromatic about it. Should I attribute flattened dumplings to frugality or tradition lost in translation and presented as "new fusion"? (I uploaded a photo that you might not drool over.)
The flourless chocolate cake was nothing special, but I suppose my mint tea served in a French press was unusual and the only thing worthy of a surprising star.
Note: I've been boycotting Yelp ever since they decided not to renew my elite badge (meaning this is my first Yelp review of the year), despite dining at Chapeau once, Michael Mina twice, and Park Chow way more than thrice. -
Review from Ouroboros B.
Oakland, CA
12/28/2011
Excellent in all ways. We had such a lovely evening here. Our server was impeccable in his suggestions, and very knowledgeable about the wine, sake, production methods, and food pairing.
They had the Tasting menu, I had the raw bar taster and the lobster, scallops, gnocchi.
The poke, crudo, broth of the black cod, lobster, duck, and huckleberry pie with Meyer lemon ice cream were extra yummy.
Thank you Ame for a great evening! -
Review from Angela H.
Berkeley, CA
10/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Ame-fan! Haha... get it...?
I must first say there may be some Asian bias, as this is one of the few Michelin starred restaurants in SF that has a true Asian influence, so the food here just sits that much better with me. I took my mom here for a birthday dinner since she doesn't come to the city much, and the food and experience as a whole left me very content and happy, so for me, that's a 5-star dining experience.
We opted out of the tasting menu here ($89), mainly because for a party of 3 there is just a lot more flexibility ordering a lot of different things instead. Plus, the moment I saw that they had Chawan-mushi (basically a savory Japanese-style egg pudding/broth), I KNEW I had to get 2 bowls of it...
Onward to the food... in summary, every dish was tasty, flavorful, and wonderfully complemented though as I am writing this review the next morning I'm feeling pretty parched which goes to say it was probably a pretty salty meal. So worth it though :P.
Appetizers:
1) Santa Barbara Sea Urchin and Spot Prawn
in Aonori Ocean Gelée with Shimeji Mushrooms and Shiso -
My love for uni is topped by one of the sweetest pieces of prawn (tastes very slightly poached) I've ever eaten... the ocean gelee was a lightly savory/sea-weedy complement to the rich flavors of the uni. So fresh, so gooood. Great start to the dinner.
2) Sautéed Foie Gras with Corn Filled Chive Crepe, Grilled Nectarine
and Ice Wine Gastrique Sauce -
I woulnd't say the foie gras was the best I've ever had BUT, the paring with the fluffy corn filled chive crepe and grilled nectarine was a match made in food-heaven. I think at one point I closed my eyes a few seconds just to savor the creamy medley.
3) "Chawan-Mushi" Japanese Savory Custard
with Lobster, Sea Urchin, Shiitake and Mitsuba Sauce -
God, I love chawan mushi. You can either call me biased, or particularly picky for this one. In fact, knowing my love for it and lack of willingness to share this dish, I ordered 2 so I can one all to myself :P. This dish is served in a large lidded bowl which then revealed the almost golden-brown egg pudding, topped with yet another bite of uni and lobster. The pudding was melt-in-your mouth (as it should be), and I believe there was bits of lemon grass that somehow excentuated the flavors even more. The broth was really rich, and mayybe just a tad salty. But yum.
Main Courses:
4) Broiled Sake Marinated Alaskan Black Cod and
Shrimp Dumplings in Shiso Broth -
Generally, I don't really like ordering fish in westernized restaurants as I'm used to the more Asian style preparation, but since this was broiled and supposely their signature dish, I had to give it a try. The cod was fall-into-pieces soft, while the broth had a miso-like flavor to it... the shrimp dumplings were tasty but didn't blow me away to much as the pasta was a little on the thicker side. And in retrospect, also a little on the saltier end probably beacuse of the miso. Still good though.
5)
Grilled Half Maine Lobster and Hokkaido Scallops with Potato Gnocchi,
Forest Mushrooms, Corn and Caramelized Cipollini Onions in Lobster Sauce -
The lobster was cooked perfectly and tender to the bite. The gnocchi is standard and paired well with the lobster sauce and forest mushrooms. Scallops were well prepared as well although I feel it's a little harder to mess up scallops.
6)
Grilled Berkshire Pork Jowl on Ragout of Chanterelle Mushrooms
and Beluga Lentils with Blood Sausage and Sauce Dijonnaise -
Ah, this pork literally FELL APART when I put my knife to it. But i wasn't even surprised because the pork just LOOKED that tender. I usually am not a fan of the lentils but they paired almost too perfectlly with the tender pork that I had to pile on the lentils with each bite. I don't believe I've ever had blood sauage until now, and thought it had an interesting texture and taste. Overall, this dish was superb as well.
Dessert:
They brought out a nice little scoop of vanilla bean ice cream for my mommy and a candle for her birthday, always a nice touch :)
7)
Olive Oil Cakes with Strawberries, Yogurt Sorbet and Rosewater Gelée -
Once again, I applaud the chef for a wonderfully complemented dessert dish. Individually, the olive oil cake was moist and tasty. But complemented with the strawberries, sorbet, and gelee... BAM! Music to my taste buds. Not out of this world delicious, but I was still very satisfied.
All-in-all, this has been one of my best dining experiences to date. Maybe it was also seeing my mom (who can be hard to impress) happy and satisfied as well, but it's not very often when every dish is considered delicious in my book. I was at the Restaurant at Meadowood last week but I truly did enjoy the food here more.
We need to have more Asian-influenced Michelin Starred restaurants for me to follow... hehe :)Listed in: My Michelin Adventures
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Review from Ferdinand H.
Cleveland, OH
11/10/2011 Seated via OpenTable
A birthday and several friends:
We ordered and shared 8 Sakes, including a Shizuku, several Namazakes, Junmai Daigijos.
We split a pumpkin soup with five spice powder, and beef cheek, as well as a lobster dish, a raw sampler, crudo, and an amazing flourless chocolate cake with prune ice cream.
On the plus side, the ambiance was stellar and the service attentive. The sake selection was largely on the sweet side (only 2 junmai daiginjo, and a lot of unfiltered sakes of various stripes.) I'd like them to expand their sake selection to a more balanced array, given their Japanese influences.
The fish selections we had were excellent, but we weren't able to get a very detailed sampling of their fish.
The Pumpkin soup was spectacular.
The Wagyu beef and short rib was less stellar, with a rather tough beef and dry short rib. Fortunately, the final dessert erased the slightly less than pleased taste lingering on our palates.
We finished the night with Oban in the lounge, and were satisfied.
Decor is elegant and un-pretentious. -
Review from Amy H.
San Francisco, CA
10/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Hubby took me here for my birthday. I was immediately impressed with the wine list. Okay, I had studied it prior to coming and knew they had a particular German Spatburgunder that I've been searching high and low for since we had it in Europe two years ago. We ordered it and discovered that it was their last bottle - phew! I think that bottle of wine alone already made my night.
We started off with the Taste of Ame sushi bar, which included their crudo, tempura poke, cuttlefish staff meal, uni, and kaisen sashimi salad. It was a great way to get a taste of almost all of the sashimi appetizers on the menu, and perfect for two to share. The uni was heavenly, and the cuttlefish staff meal, which consisted of strips of cuttlefish, uni, and roe was a pleasant surprise with its various flavors and textures.
The sauteed foie gras was one of my favorites. It was soft and smooth and just melted in our mouths. Yes the portion was small but I only really needed one bite as it's such a rich dish. It was accompanied by grilled nectarines and a sweet corn filled chive crepe, which could have been a treat all by itself.
For entrees I had the lobster and scallops, and hubby had the pork jowls. The lobster was perfectly grilled - just enough to be cooked on the outside but almost rare on the inside, the way I like it. I had a taste of hubby's pork jowls and really enjoyed the texture, tender with a crispy crust.
Honestly nothing on the dessert menu really sounded compelling, but I couldn't have a birthday dinner without dessert. We ordered the apple and elderberry pie and the hibiscus vacherin - a light meringue that melted on our tongues. The pineapple sherbet and vanilla ice cream really complimented the meringue nicely. Since hubby had told them it was my bday they even put a candle on the plate.
The service was on par, decor simple and sleek, and all the dishes were done well. Some people have complained about the portion sizes, but I was absolutely stuffed at the end of the meal. Overall it was a terrific dining experience, and the only reason I can't rave up and down about Ame is because we went to Cyrus the following night, and that pretty much has set the benchmark for excellence (in my book). Nevertheless, there are numerous items on Ame's menu that I would still like to try and I would be happy to go again in the future. -
Review from Chris L.
10/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here for a bachelorette party dinner. Most tables were for two or four but they had a long table in the back that gave us a lot of privacy. The hotel staff in the front was very gracious and walked me to the restaurant in the back and the wait staff even walk you out to the bathroom just to make sure you don't get lost (we only had two drinks at this point). I had the "Broiled Sake Marinated Alaskan Black Cod" (just to make sure Yelp picks it up) with Shrimp Dumplings and it was great. Clean but nothing over the top. The broth was a little boring and expected.
The service here is outstanding. Our waiter with the curly hair was attentive and made sure we were taken care of. Would come back for the tasting menu. -
Review from Terry K.
2/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
I went here for my one yr anniversary with my bf. There were not very many people in the restaurant, probably because it's quite pricey, but the ambiance was good, very classy. I would not recommend going on your first dates here because it's not bustling enough, unless maybe you're Richard Gere taking Julia Roberts on a date in Pretty Woman and you want to make it awkward. I had the prix fixe menu of the sashimi combo, cauliflower bisque with truffle oil, miso cod, and dessert of pineapple meringue and ile flottantes, while my bf got uni chowan mushi, deconstructed ceviche, and grilled fish of the day. Everything tasted very clean and fresh. The miso cod seemed braised in a soy sauce broth, and while the fish was flaky and tender, and paired with delicious greens and carrots, it was a bit salty. The bisque was well whipped and rich, the sashimi combo was a bit bland and did not have enough going on, so I had to ask for a bit of soy sauce to eat with it. There is a lot of latin influence in these japanese dshes, it seems. I think it really depends on what you order, sometimes they hit it on the nail, and sometimes it's more to be desired. I'd highly recommend the chowan mushi, any fish entree, and the more purely japanese entrees.
The best part was when they wrote "happy anniversary" on our dessert, and my bf said that he didn't go to the bathroom and tell them to put that, they asked about whether it was a special occasion when he made the reservation. Good attention to detail!! :) -
Review from Jenn Y.
1/22/2012
My boyfriend brought me here for my birthday dinner and I loved it! Ame is my first Michelin starred restaurant in SF. The pumpkin soup was amazing and I tried the half lobster, scallops and gnocchi for my entree. The staff very sneakily brought me my birthday lemon ice cream even after I declined dessert and had no idea my boyfriend was trying to surprise me (: Overall, it was a great experience. I'm told Ame is truly Asian fusion, and I think the pumpkin/duck soup was a good preview but I want to come back and try more items from the raw bar. We will definitely be coming back!
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Review from Sung C.
San Francisco, CA
11/21/2011
My friend and I went to AME on a Monday evening. We got a table right away - a good start.
We tried their tasting menu which came with 5 courses.
1. Sashimi Trio
Overall, not impressed. The portion was so small, we could barely taste anything. Also, we found the puree a bit overpowering.
2. Crab dungeness soup.
This was definitely one of the highlights of the evening. Sublime.
3. Cod
The waiter described this dish as the chef's signature dish, and it showed. The cod was perfectly cooked and seasoned with the dashi-based broth complimented the fish flawlessly. *****
4. Steak.
Yup, steak. you get the idea.
5. Desserts.
1) Trio beignets (chai, green tea and early grey): delectable but couldn't distinguish from each other, but I would recommend. Interesting concept.
2) Flourless chocolate cake: very rich yet toothsome dessert. We didn't quite understand the soaked-in-rum fruit thing but overall very pleasant. -
Review from Andrea B.
8/29/2011 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
I had a lobster and scallop dish here while my friend got the braised beef. Both were excellent. The best and most surprising part of my dish was the fried okra. I hate okra, and I could have eaten that all night. We had an awesome meal finished by the blueberry pie. Yum.
Service was awesome, and the ambiance was great.
My boyfriend proposed to me that night, so I can't say I remember much from this meal. -
Review from Don B.
7/7/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Posh, hip, fancy, expensive - four words that adequately describe the bar with 3 letters in its name that graces the lobby of the St. Regis. A place where the rich n' famous hobnob that's surprisingly accessible to the hoi polloy (as long as you have $$). And a set of bartenders that know how to mix a drink.
I stopped in to ame a couple of times for some post-workday libations and found the atmosphere to be as welcoming as one could hope for a high-end swankatorium like this. Even (under) dressed in a T-shirt and jeans I was not made to feel unwelcome. The folks at the bar served me up some tasty mixed libations and grubbin' free HHour snax as we chatted and did some people watching. More than a few famous folks have residences in the St. Regis, and some can be seen in this lobby bar on the regular.
While I can't normally afford to be drinking cocktails at this price point on an average day, for a nice respite from the trashy chaos of 3rd and Mission I am sometimes willing to pay a tad more. Especially when the environs so dictate.Listed in: I Left it in San Francisco, San Francisco Bars, SOMA food, Bay Area Hotels
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Review from Courtney C.
New York, NY
9/7/2011
Allow me to preface this by stating it is, of course, merely just my opinion. However, I also feel compelled to say that my opinion is clouded by the fact that I live in New York City, the other foodie's paradise, besides San Francisco of course! Interpret "clouded" as you will, but I think it's a good thing, as living where I live means I've had the privilege of dining at some of the best restaurants in the country--Morimoto, Babbo, Ilili, Craftbar, you name it. I found a few things quite irritating about Ame:
- SMALL PORTION SIZE. I was immediately turned off when the plates were placed at my table. Sure, the food was fresh, but any restaurant worth its salt uses fresh ingredients. Bottom line: pray you walk by a White Castle on the way out because you're going to want an after-dinner snack.
- INSANELY, PRETENTIOUSLY EXPENSIVE. I've been to pretentious restaurants, too, but the difference between those and Ame, is that the pretentious restaurants I've been to have decent sized portions for entrees that BEGIN AT $36. Yep, expect one piece of grilled lobster on the lobster dish, or 1/4 of the standard cod filet on the Black Cod specialty dish.
The service was good, and the food was fine--nothing to write home about. My suggestion from a foodie who doesn't mind spending money on a good meal is to look elsewhere. -
Review from Frankie L.
10/30/2011
Beef = 5/5
Cheese Board = 5/5
Service = 4/5
Fig Dessert = 5/5 -
Review from Jen M.
Earth, TX
2/16/2012
The food here was very good but I'm giving it 3 stars because the portions are very small and they didn't cook my steak well enough. I asked for my steak medium well and it came it out medium rare. It was red in the center. Normally, I would have sent it back because rare steaks have a tendency of forming pools of blood when you go to cut them and that grosses me out, however, this one didn't do that so I ate it anyway.
My date ordered the lobster and he nearly lost it when he saw that it was half of the tiniest lobster you've ever seen. It was a one pound lobster at most, and he got half of it for $40. I don't eat lobster so I don't know what the going rate of it is, but he seemed pretty upset about it. The lobster also came with exactly two scallops, and not much else. If your portions are going to be that small, it might be worthwhile to advise patrons so that they may order a second appetizer or more sides to go with their plate.
My steak was on the small side, too, but it was more filling since it was red meat, and I don't need a big portion anyway. There was some kind of bulgar wheat/barley on the plate which was good.
