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Why did we dine here? – Ernest is a hot restaurant in the Potrero Hill area not far from KQED. We had to set multiple alerts on Resy to get a reservation. They have outdoor seating in their courtyard, complete with heat lamps. We dine here twice, once inside and once outside.
The chef is Brandon Rice. Rice spent 5 ½ years as Chef De Cuisine at Rich Table in San Francisco’s Hayes Valley.
Insider Tip – Reserve early and use alerts on rezy. Tables open up close to reservation dates.
Cuisine – Japanese Fusion
Location – San Francisco Mission District
Opened – 2020
Service – Ernest Service was better than expected, although on our first visit, the waiter wasn’t very informed on some ingredients.
Verdict – Ernest has some dishes that were great, while others didn’t work. This is one of those restaurants where you really have to know what to order – slant toward appetizers and dessert. Prices are not cheap, but on par with other restaurants of this caliber. Ernest has a trust the chef, Omakase option for $95. 6% Healhy SF Mandate added.
Is this restaurant worth a 5 minute drive? Yes. 30 minute? Maybe. 1 Hour? No
Ernest Signature Dishes – Carbonara, Beef Tartare
Ernest’s Menu lands the place squarely in a Japanese American fusion spot. Although Parker House rolls and steak don’t really qualify. Tasting menu also available.
Ernest Food Picks:
Mexican Firing Squad ($14) is great for mezcal fans.
Miami Vice ($14) is more fruity and sweet. Not super foo foo.
Beef tartare ($19) is their a signature dish, it comes topped with Ikura. You take the steak tartare and rice and place it in the seaweed. This was a fun dish that also hit the spot. 10/10
Grilled Avocado with Smoked Trout Roe, Sprouts, Everything Seed ($17) is a beautiful looking dish that does not even look like an avocado. Varied textures and flavors. 8.5/10
Parker House Rolls with House Cultured Butter & Its Milk ($9) are a nice golden brown and done well. Not as good as Protege in Palo Alto. 8/10
1/2 lb. Shrimp Cocktail with Yuzu ($20) has 5 fairly large shrimp on a bed of ice. Decent but nothing amazing. 7.5/10
The hearts of palm with Yuba ($17) was a beautiful dish. Tweezers city, great for vegetarians. 9.5/10
Koshihikari Fried rice ($21) was pretty uneventful except for the fact that it included some chunks of ume plum that were really sour. Expensive too. 7/10
Manila clams ($29) were stir fried in a very strong sauce which was slightly too sour. 7.5/10
Lo Mein Sea Urchin “Carbonara”, Olivier’s Bacon ($23) is another famous dish and rightly so. Very rich and a fusion of asian with italian. 8/10
Ice cream sundae ($13) was surprisingly good, very tall and a nice chocolate coating. 9/10
Shaved Ice ($13) is also a fun dish. Spiced Mutsu Apple is infused in the Shaved Ice and 2 add ins are on the side. 9/10
OK: (Order if you like this dish)
None
Pans: (We would not reorder these dishes)
None
Do you agree with our review? Have you found other similar restaurants that are better?
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