We went here for restaurant week and while I wasn’t expecting much, I was underwhelmed by some of the dishes like the salad and the focaccia (with butter). I got the Wagyu Steak which was cooked well, and my favorite was the Chocolate Pot D’Creme. No qualms with the service, in fact the staff were friendly, and pace was ok. Overall it was just ok.
Perhaps their regular menu would be much better.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Wesley Yu
Highly recommended. A very non pretentious upscale dining restaurant. The quality was upscale (as are the prices) but it seemed very fun and casual otherwise. Approachable I would say.
I posted photos but didn't catch the menu so not quite sure what the dishes were called. The squash soup, uni creme brulee, the beef and the panna cotta were all very good.
Recommended dishes: Uni Creme Brulee, Focaccia
Linda Munoz
Went during restaurant week and although food was very good, service was definitely hovering and the sense they wanted to turn the tables quickly were evident when the server tried to take my salad plate away even though I hadn't finished. Wine list is ridiculously priced and most diners (at all tables) opted for a glass due to prices. Not sure who the owner thinks they're serving but this neighborhood is not that upscale and there are more friendly and equally good restaurants nearby. $75 posted prix fixe ended up being $125/each; three smallish courses. Corkage fee $65!!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 3
Andrew Dugowson
This is a review of the vegan tasting menu - my wife kindly brought me here to celebrate my birthday. While staff were kind and engaging, and the service was great, the food generally ranged from lackluster to not good.
I am always appreciative of restaurants that offer vegan options, but for just shy of $200 per person, the tasting menu fell far short of my hopes and expectations. The courses were generally just vegetables without much seasoning: one course was beans, radishes, zucchini, and mushrooms, all cooked until the flavors were faint, and lightly seasoned with a vegan dashi that just tasted like salt. There was an heirloom tomato, fig, and balsamic vinaigrette that was nice (though the tomatoes were again not flavorful) but the vegan option was just the vegetarian option without any cheese. The main dish was a single piece of fig, three Brussels sprouts without discernible sauce, a nicely cooked piece of tofu that had a faint teriyaki taste, and a small amount of (if I recall correctly) date and tamarind sauce that was pleasant but in short supply. The most flavorful dish was pasta with broccolini that had so much tahini that the pasta had a texture like it was covered in creamy peanut butter; unfortunately, the taste of sesame was overpowering. The only truly bad dish, though, was the dessert: while the vegetarian dessert was a nicely plated panna cotta with toasted marshmallow, the vegan option was a single scoop of chocolate almond milk ice cream that was freezer burnt to the extent that I could feel ice crystals crunch in every bite. It also tasted more of almond milk than it did of chocolate; I did not finish it. The best dish was the first one, a simple salad with an interesting but not overpowering basil vinaigrette.
I did mention to our server that I was underwhelmed and she was gracious and was kind enough to comp us a juice we purchased, but I’d rather have paid the full price and had better food. Ultimately my impression is that they developed their vegan menu by looking at their other tasting menus and seeing what they needed to subtract, rather than building a plant-based option from the ground up. I do not like leaving negative reviews but, again, at a price point nearly double what Dirt Candy charges, this review felt merited. That said, I’m just one opinion and your mileage may vary.
For those looking to celebrate a special occasion at a nice restaurant with vegan options, I’d recommend Besharam, Aiso, Cha Ya, Shizen, and Greens, all of which come at a much lower price point than 3rd Cousin. I do hope 3rd Cousin reconsiders their vegan menu because everything but the food was wonderful.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 5
Brock
My wife and I have eaten at world-class restaurants and funky joints around the world. This was one of the worst meals I've ever had. We live in the neighborhood, and I wanted nothing more than to fall in love with 3rd Cousin. Sadly, the food was bad, the service was stressed, the menu was confusing, and the bill was as high as we've paid at much finer establishments. The one highlight is that we did have to move our reservation last minute, and the staff was accommodating.
Keith
Great celebratory dinner, our first time here. We all had the 5-course tasting menu, and added on extras (focaccia - deelish; A5 dumplings, okay) They accommodated my wifes allium allergy incredibly - although they said they would just not sauce her plates...they actually subbed in two dishes completely, to her great enjoyment as the replacements were right up her fresh vegetable alley. Pastas were really really really good. Great flavor but not overpowering. Sea bass sublime. Desserts were straightforward but excellent. Wine pairings were really really solid - with the GSM and muscato our favorites. Our server was gracious but started out a bit preoccupied. They forgot to bring our our uni creme brulee, but were very gracious in comping it later (a must order) and comping sparkling wine and extra end of the night dessert wine, which was amazing. So in the end the service really came through - overall a memorable and super fun dinner in a casually elegant atmosphere in a really interesting location!
Doug Lockyer
Food was creative and pretty well executed but overpriced. Beware: 20 % gratuity added to bill for party of 2 on top of city tax...THAT IS OUTRAGEOUS. OTHER MAJOR FLAW. Way too many tables for the space. ' -
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 5
Linda
The food was definitely first class. We each had the tasting menu and tried all of the different choices so we could compare. The heirloom tomato soup was melt in your mouth cream and the had a real tomato taste. Both starter pastas were unique. I especially like the campanelle with brocolini in a white green curry sauce. The agnoloti with mushroom porcini sauce was also great. The mains were a crispy striped bass and an outstanding wagu veal and pork plate with celery root puree, pole beans and roasted pepper. My husband ate both deserts as I was too full. Our server was knowledgeable and very personable. The only downside is that the tables were too close together making it loud. The great playlist at least drowned out the patron noise.
Shiny Singh
Service felt very rushed. The food was very average for the price. Good ingredients but lacked taste. I also didn’t like the extra added gratuity and city mandate charges.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 3
Kirsten Schwind
My husband and I had a wonderful time celebrating my birthday at Third Cousin! Really delicious food. Thank you to our server Oceano for the excellent service and thoughtful wine pairing suggestions.
A group of us celebrated September birthdays at 3rd Cousin and we’re so glad we did—not only was the food outstanding, but also our server Oceano introduced us to some absolutely delicious wines and helped us with pairings. We had an amazing night and tried a lot of new things! We’re so lucky to have this place in the neighborhood.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Frank
A nice neighborhood spot with very good food and service, but the wine markups and $65 corkage fee are pretty outrageous, even for San Francisco.  Once you add tax and the mandatory tip and healthcare charge, 3rd Cousin starts in a $50 hole compared to the many comparably good restaurants in the city. 
Nikk Tavo
Amazing food, amazing service, must go
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Duck Breast
Nathan Kipniss
I’ve been dining at Third Cousin since 2019, and it’s a delightful experience every single time. I appreciate that the menu has signature dishes amongst seasonal offerings, to offer a delicious taste of something familiar with something new. Every summer I appreciate how they transform and utilize corn, this year a delicious corn soup. Uni Creme Brûlée is not to be missed, and is available year round. In particular, I find their desserts to be seasonal and well thought out given what is most fresh (like peaches and strawberries for summer, chocolate during the winter). Every bite is delicious, with perfect wine pairings should one want them. Service is on point, and everyone is friendly and helpful. Third Cousin is a local staple I will always return to!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Black Truffle and Porcini Mushroom Ravioli, Uni Creme Brulee, Wine Pairing, Grilled Octopus, Focaccia, Crostini
Issara Thongdaeng
What a fantastic experience! We celebrated a birthday at 3rd Cousin, and everything from start to finish was perfect. The food was not only delicious but also very creative. We especially loved the crème brûlée and the caviar—truly memorable dishes. The service was top-notch, with the staff being both attentive and friendly. The atmosphere was so warm and welcoming, and the decor was gorgeous. They've really paid attention to every detail, even making the restroom feel like a luxurious spa. We'll definitely be back!
We went here for restaurant week and while I wasn’t expecting much, I was underwhelmed by some of the dishes like the salad and the focaccia (with butter). I got the Wagyu Steak which was cooked well, and my favorite was the Chocolate Pot D’Creme. No qualms with the service, in fact the staff were friendly, and pace was ok. Overall it was just ok.
Perhaps their regular menu would be much better.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Highly recommended. A very non pretentious upscale dining restaurant. The quality was upscale (as are the prices) but it seemed very fun and casual otherwise. Approachable I would say.
I posted photos but didn't catch the menu so not quite sure what the dishes were called. The squash soup, uni creme brulee, the beef and the panna cotta were all very good.
Recommended dishes: Uni Creme Brulee, Focaccia
Went during restaurant week and although food was very good, service was definitely hovering and the sense they wanted to turn the tables quickly were evident when the server tried to take my salad plate away even though I hadn't finished. Wine list is ridiculously priced and most diners (at all tables) opted for a glass due to prices. Not sure who the owner thinks they're serving but this neighborhood is not that upscale and there are more friendly and equally good restaurants nearby. $75 posted prix fixe ended up being $125/each; three smallish courses. Corkage fee $65!!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 3
This is a review of the vegan tasting menu - my wife kindly brought me here to celebrate my birthday. While staff were kind and engaging, and the service was great, the food generally ranged from lackluster to not good.
I am always appreciative of restaurants that offer vegan options, but for just shy of $200 per person, the tasting menu fell far short of my hopes and expectations. The courses were generally just vegetables without much seasoning: one course was beans, radishes, zucchini, and mushrooms, all cooked until the flavors were faint, and lightly seasoned with a vegan dashi that just tasted like salt. There was an heirloom tomato, fig, and balsamic vinaigrette that was nice (though the tomatoes were again not flavorful) but the vegan option was just the vegetarian option without any cheese. The main dish was a single piece of fig, three Brussels sprouts without discernible sauce, a nicely cooked piece of tofu that had a faint teriyaki taste, and a small amount of (if I recall correctly) date and tamarind sauce that was pleasant but in short supply. The most flavorful dish was pasta with broccolini that had so much tahini that the pasta had a texture like it was covered in creamy peanut butter; unfortunately, the taste of sesame was overpowering. The only truly bad dish, though, was the dessert: while the vegetarian dessert was a nicely plated panna cotta with toasted marshmallow, the vegan option was a single scoop of chocolate almond milk ice cream that was freezer burnt to the extent that I could feel ice crystals crunch in every bite. It also tasted more of almond milk than it did of chocolate; I did not finish it. The best dish was the first one, a simple salad with an interesting but not overpowering basil vinaigrette.
I did mention to our server that I was underwhelmed and she was gracious and was kind enough to comp us a juice we purchased, but I’d rather have paid the full price and had better food. Ultimately my impression is that they developed their vegan menu by looking at their other tasting menus and seeing what they needed to subtract, rather than building a plant-based option from the ground up. I do not like leaving negative reviews but, again, at a price point nearly double what Dirt Candy charges, this review felt merited. That said, I’m just one opinion and your mileage may vary.
For those looking to celebrate a special occasion at a nice restaurant with vegan options, I’d recommend Besharam, Aiso, Cha Ya, Shizen, and Greens, all of which come at a much lower price point than 3rd Cousin. I do hope 3rd Cousin reconsiders their vegan menu because everything but the food was wonderful.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 5
My wife and I have eaten at world-class restaurants and funky joints around the world. This was one of the worst meals I've ever had. We live in the neighborhood, and I wanted nothing more than to fall in love with 3rd Cousin. Sadly, the food was bad, the service was stressed, the menu was confusing, and the bill was as high as we've paid at much finer establishments. The one highlight is that we did have to move our reservation last minute, and the staff was accommodating.
Great celebratory dinner, our first time here. We all had the 5-course tasting menu, and added on extras (focaccia - deelish; A5 dumplings, okay) They accommodated my wifes allium allergy incredibly - although they said they would just not sauce her plates...they actually subbed in two dishes completely, to her great enjoyment as the replacements were right up her fresh vegetable alley. Pastas were really really really good. Great flavor but not overpowering. Sea bass sublime. Desserts were straightforward but excellent. Wine pairings were really really solid - with the GSM and muscato our favorites. Our server was gracious but started out a bit preoccupied. They forgot to bring our our uni creme brulee, but were very gracious in comping it later (a must order) and comping sparkling wine and extra end of the night dessert wine, which was amazing. So in the end the service really came through - overall a memorable and super fun dinner in a casually elegant atmosphere in a really interesting location!
Food was creative and pretty well executed but overpriced. Beware: 20 % gratuity added to bill for party of 2 on top of city tax...THAT IS OUTRAGEOUS. OTHER MAJOR FLAW. Way too many tables for the space.
'
-
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 5
The food was definitely first class. We each had the tasting menu and tried all of the different choices so we could compare. The heirloom tomato soup was melt in your mouth cream and the had a real tomato taste. Both starter pastas were unique. I especially like the campanelle with brocolini in a white green curry sauce. The agnoloti with mushroom porcini sauce was also great. The mains were a crispy striped bass and an outstanding wagu veal and pork plate with celery root puree, pole beans and roasted pepper. My husband ate both deserts as I was too full. Our server was knowledgeable and very personable. The only downside is that the tables were too close together making it loud. The great playlist at least drowned out the patron noise.
Service felt very rushed. The food was very average for the price. Good ingredients but lacked taste. I also didn’t like the extra added gratuity and city mandate charges.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 3
My husband and I had a wonderful time celebrating my birthday at Third Cousin! Really delicious food. Thank you to our server Oceano for the excellent service and thoughtful wine pairing suggestions.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
A group of us celebrated September birthdays at 3rd Cousin and we’re so glad we did—not only was the food outstanding, but also our server Oceano introduced us to some absolutely delicious wines and helped us with pairings. We had an amazing night and tried a lot of new things! We’re so lucky to have this place in the neighborhood.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A nice neighborhood spot with very good food and service, but the wine markups and $65 corkage fee are pretty outrageous, even for San Francisco.  Once you add tax and the mandatory tip and healthcare charge, 3rd Cousin starts in a $50 hole compared to the many comparably good restaurants in the city. 
Amazing food, amazing service, must go
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Duck Breast
I’ve been dining at Third Cousin since 2019, and it’s a delightful experience every single time. I appreciate that the menu has signature dishes amongst seasonal offerings, to offer a delicious taste of something familiar with something new. Every summer I appreciate how they transform and utilize corn, this year a delicious corn soup. Uni Creme Brûlée is not to be missed, and is available year round. In particular, I find their desserts to be seasonal and well thought out given what is most fresh (like peaches and strawberries for summer, chocolate during the winter). Every bite is delicious, with perfect wine pairings should one want them. Service is on point, and everyone is friendly and helpful. Third Cousin is a local staple I will always return to!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Black Truffle and Porcini Mushroom Ravioli, Uni Creme Brulee, Wine Pairing, Grilled Octopus, Focaccia, Crostini
What a fantastic experience! We celebrated a birthday at 3rd Cousin, and everything from start to finish was perfect. The food was not only delicious but also very creative. We especially loved the crème brûlée and the caviar—truly memorable dishes. The service was top-notch, with the staff being both attentive and friendly. The atmosphere was so warm and welcoming, and the decor was gorgeous. They've really paid attention to every detail, even making the restroom feel like a luxurious spa. We'll definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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