Best Hot Spot Restaurants in SOMA

Super happy with the service! Came to celebrate my birthday and was able be sat early and enjoy the energy of the restaurant! I love the juicy cuts of meat and my party was able to finish their meat and get an extra slice after!

We got lucky getting the best table in the restaurant, across from the bar in a nook under the stairs, so we easily heard each other! We chose a plant forward menu and our waiter Kai (sp?) decided on the order of the dishes. I’d trust his judgment again because we had a great time. The pigs head hid a shaved fennel and pear salad underneath. I delightfully learned how different parts of fennel tastes when shaved so finely. The Hokkaido scallops were soooo good and fresh and compared to a sushi restaurant, a very good value. My partner normally doesn’t like shellfish but he loved the scallops. We ended the savory portion of the meal with the seaweed noodles and the grilled cabbage with dill pickle butter and roe. Both plates had amazing, complimentary sauces and Kai brought us some bread to savor the last drops. The One Punch Man cocktail complemented entire the meal so well with its fruity yet creamy flavor. We got the chocolate semifreddo for dessert for the texture. It had a toasted umeboshi meringue that tasted like dates if they were slightly pickled. I left food drunk and with very happy tastebuds. I loved the restraint in all the flavors. I think a lot of dishes could’ve easily gone sideways in less capable hands, or even the meal because this menu had a lot of citrus and pickled items, and instead they nailed it just right.

Overall this is our first time here at Waterbar and let me tell you it did go above and beyond our expectations on food ! As a sous chef new to the area this was beyond amazing , the lobster risotto was flavorful full of umami and an overall beautiful delicate dish. Service was great , our guest talked with us the whole time , he did have to ask us to repeat ourselves several times due to the large loud party beside us , but kept the pace of the night very fluid and engaging. Would dine in and recommend any day of the week.

It is always a special experience to dine at the Rotunda because it is so much a part of San Francisco history and a beautiful venue! My friend Manuel had never been there so he had a blast seeing the space and enjoying the food. Ralph, our server, was polite and attentive and the food was good as always. I do enjoy a place where I am already recognized by the hosts especially since one feels like one is being greeted by family. :)

This is one of our very favorite restaurants in San Francisco. Food and service are impeccable. It is particularly lovely to sit in the main room with the fireplace where they are often roasting meat. It is a special place. Don’t tell too many people!!