The food here was phenomenal! The meal was broken into 3 rounds plus dessert, with each round having a number of items in it. The first 2 rounds, the bites and the appetizers were our favorite. They had some of the best fine dining dishes I have ever eaten. Everything was so delicious and inventive, there was a spicy coconut cream soup cappuccino thing that I’m going to remember forever!!!
It was a LOT of food, some of which we didn’t finish but this was probably the only time I’ve eaten at a fine dining restaurant and not woken up hungry the next morning!
It is definitely very pricey and I think the combination of the location and the price is going to deter a lot of people out of trying or returning. But the food was amazing!
Rich Robeson
This is a hidden gem in San Francisco. Do not miss this place! It's a prefix tasting menu that is perfectly timed, diverse & delicious! It's the perfect amount of food...not too much, not too little. Guaranteed you will walk out very satisfied. Service is incredible as well.
Tyler Roach
Just visited SF for the weekend and found this place on the Michelin website. The food, wine and service are world class. In a city filled with great restaurants, this was the highlight. Loved it!
Sahan Paliskara
I took my sister here for her 21st birthday, and it was honestly one of the most meaningful dining experiences we’ve shared.
We’re Sinhalese American, and the food here authentically reminded us of our childhood—even more so than more traditional Sri Lankan restaurants in the U.S. Many dishes creatively reinterpreted classic Sri Lankan flavors in refreshing ways, like presenting kiri bathe (milk rice) as an airy foam or using coconut milk to accompany raw scallops. It also thoughtfully addressed common culinary pitfalls (at least in the area we grew up); for example the meat dishes retained their signature bold flavors while being perfectly cooked and remarkably tender, and the majority of the meal wasn’t rice 🫠)
Nostalgic standouts like the cutlets and egg hoppers felt like elevated versions of our favorite childhood classics—beautifully executed and deeply nostalgic. The atmosphere was intimate, and the service matched Michelin-level tasting menus I’ve experienced elsewhere.
It’s pricey, but absolutely worth it if you’re in the market for a fine dining esque experience. The portions are generous (come hungry!), and each course genuinely feels too good to miss. Highly recommend for anyone seeking a memorable dining experience that truly captures the heart of Sri Lankan cuisine.
Mark Briscoe
So this review is kinda split into two sections. Food and service versus price.
Food and service were excellent. Great flavors. Great presentation. Great fusion.
Price was $150/person. That's too high. If you don't care about price, the food is great.
Hsin Yi Wei
We had an amazing dining experience at 1601 Bar & Kitchen on New Year’s Eve, which was also my daughter’s 3rd birthday.
The restaurant serves a Prix Fixe menu inspired by Sri Lankan cuisine, and every dish was flavorful and unique.
The staff went above and beyond with their service, making us feel so special. They even prepared a lovely birthday surprise for my daughter, which made her day unforgettable.
The warm and thoughtful gestures, combined with the delicious food, made it a perfect evening. Highly recommended for a special occasion!
Felicia Chen
I had a wonderful dinner here in December 2024 - intimate and delicious and perhaps the most filling tasting menu I’ve ever had (we were already stuffed by the second course)!
Highly recommend, everything was super flavorful esp the chicken curry and dessert was 🔥
Efthymios Philip Papageorgiou
This place is very unique. I don’t know Sri Lankan food well, but my friend who accompanied did and mentioned how many of the dishes were based on traditional things, but with an interesting and creative twist. The tasting menu was in my opinion fantastic with a nice variety, the people very nice, and it was very easy to park on the street, so basically everything you could ever want. Considering the quality, time we spent there, and number of dishes (something like 10ish items), it was well worth it!
Sean Hennessey-Hsieh
Every course was delicious, and the service was perfect - attentive and approachable without being hovering or too casual. You can see and taste the love and care that has been put into making an exceptional dining experience. We’re already looking forward to our next visit!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Stella
Amazingly delicious food! Even compared to London standards, the food is exceptional.
Amazing discovery of unique foods cooked by chef Brian that are Sri Lankan influenced. Great wine selection in an intimate setting with top notch service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Pavan
We attended a private event at this beautiful cozy restaurant. The hosts were so welcoming, generous and attentive. We had a set menu so that made it easy to not worry about the ordering... And above all, the food was absolutely delish! The 'semifreddo' with Ceylon tea (Pic) was so lovely... ??.
Every single dish was a hit! Thanks Brian and team!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cindee Clemens
Came during happy hour with my daughter and the service was phenomenal. The waiter was absolutely the best. I wish I had gotten his name. He cater to us without a bothersome type of atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
John Sheehy (Jake)
We had a really spectacular meal here. The menu was creative and fresh, and was presented beautifully. Our server was friendly and attentive, and ensured we had a great meal. One of the better tasting menus I’ve had in San Francisco.
We were recently in San Francisco and had an amazing evening at 1601. We were there with a large group and we had our 2 little boys with us. We all had so much fun tasting course after course! Everything was delicious and they easily accommodated our gluten preference. We will definitely go back next time we're in town.
The food here was phenomenal! The meal was broken into 3 rounds plus dessert, with each round having a number of items in it. The first 2 rounds, the bites and the appetizers were our favorite. They had some of the best fine dining dishes I have ever eaten. Everything was so delicious and inventive, there was a spicy coconut cream soup cappuccino thing that I’m going to remember forever!!!
It was a LOT of food, some of which we didn’t finish but this was probably the only time I’ve eaten at a fine dining restaurant and not woken up hungry the next morning!
It is definitely very pricey and I think the combination of the location and the price is going to deter a lot of people out of trying or returning. But the food was amazing!
This is a hidden gem in San Francisco. Do not miss this place! It's a prefix tasting menu that is perfectly timed, diverse & delicious!
It's the perfect amount of food...not too much, not too little. Guaranteed you will walk out very satisfied.
Service is incredible as well.
Just visited SF for the weekend and found this place on the Michelin website. The food, wine and service are world class. In a city filled with great restaurants, this was the highlight. Loved it!
I took my sister here for her 21st birthday, and it was honestly one of the most meaningful dining experiences we’ve shared.
We’re Sinhalese American, and the food here authentically reminded us of our childhood—even more so than more traditional Sri Lankan restaurants in the U.S. Many dishes creatively reinterpreted classic Sri Lankan flavors in refreshing ways, like presenting kiri bathe (milk rice) as an airy foam or using coconut milk to accompany raw scallops. It also thoughtfully addressed common culinary pitfalls (at least in the area we grew up); for example the meat dishes retained their signature bold flavors while being perfectly cooked and remarkably tender, and the majority of the meal wasn’t rice 🫠)
Nostalgic standouts like the cutlets and egg hoppers felt like elevated versions of our favorite childhood classics—beautifully executed and deeply nostalgic. The atmosphere was intimate, and the service matched Michelin-level tasting menus I’ve experienced elsewhere.
It’s pricey, but absolutely worth it if you’re in the market for a fine dining esque experience. The portions are generous (come hungry!), and each course genuinely feels too good to miss. Highly recommend for anyone seeking a memorable dining experience that truly captures the heart of Sri Lankan cuisine.
So this review is kinda split into two sections. Food and service versus price.
Food and service were excellent. Great flavors. Great presentation. Great fusion.
Price was $150/person. That's too high. If you don't care about price, the food is great.
We had an amazing dining experience at 1601 Bar & Kitchen on New Year’s Eve, which was also my daughter’s 3rd birthday.
The restaurant serves a Prix Fixe menu inspired by Sri Lankan cuisine, and every dish was flavorful and unique.
The staff went above and beyond with their service, making us feel so special. They even prepared a lovely birthday surprise for my daughter, which made her day unforgettable.
The warm and thoughtful gestures, combined with the delicious food, made it a perfect evening. Highly recommended for a special occasion!
I had a wonderful dinner here in December 2024 - intimate and delicious and perhaps the most filling tasting menu I’ve ever had (we were already stuffed by the second course)!
Highly recommend, everything was super flavorful esp the chicken curry and dessert was 🔥
This place is very unique. I don’t know Sri Lankan food well, but my friend who accompanied did and mentioned how many of the dishes were based on traditional things, but with an interesting and creative twist. The tasting menu was in my opinion fantastic with a nice variety, the people very nice, and it was very easy to park on the street, so basically everything you could ever want. Considering the quality, time we spent there, and number of dishes (something like 10ish items), it was well worth it!
Every course was delicious, and the service was perfect - attentive and approachable without being hovering or too casual. You can see and taste the love and care that has been put into making an exceptional dining experience. We’re already looking forward to our next visit!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazingly delicious food!
Even compared to London standards, the food is exceptional.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Amazing discovery of unique foods cooked by chef Brian that are Sri Lankan influenced. Great wine selection in an intimate setting with top notch service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We attended a private event at this beautiful cozy restaurant. The hosts were so welcoming, generous and attentive. We had a set menu so that made it easy to not worry about the ordering... And above all, the food was absolutely delish! The 'semifreddo' with Ceylon tea (Pic) was so lovely... ??.
Every single dish was a hit! Thanks Brian and team!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Came during happy hour with my daughter and the service was phenomenal. The waiter was absolutely the best. I wish I had gotten his name. He cater to us without a bothersome type of atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
We had a really spectacular meal here. The menu was creative and fresh, and was presented beautifully. Our server was friendly and attentive, and ensured we had a great meal. One of the better tasting menus I’ve had in San Francisco.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hokkaido Scallops Ceviche, Bittersweet Valrhona Chocolate Mousse Sphere Toasted Aromatics, Egg Popper
We were recently in San Francisco and had an amazing evening at 1601. We were there with a large group and we had our 2 little boys with us. We all had so much fun tasting course after course! Everything was delicious and they easily accommodated our gluten preference. We will definitely go back next time we're in town.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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