A gastronomic adventure. The food was uber creative, sensitively sourced and expertly cooked. Focus is on fire roasting and smoking ingredients. Kind of a bougie caveman aesthetic. We had a lovely, relaxing evening with dear ones. It was a phenomenal experience.
Gabriel
The ambience and service at Saison were exceptional, warm, attentive, and exactly what you'd expect at this level. Unfortunately, the courses themselves were hit or miss. While the antelope was cooked properly, the cut felt like an odd choice, resulting in a noticeably chewy texture. The A5 was surprisingly oversalted, and the butterfish left little impression. On the positive side, the caviar and the opening bite-sized courses were outstanding and showed the potential of the kitchen. With wine pairings, our total came to about $1,900 for two, and at that price point we expected to leave feeling far more satisfied. Instead, we walked out before even sampling the three dessert courses.
Jeff K
Atmosphere: it was quiet easy to talk in. The decor is nice and the tables where comfy. The glassware was phenomenal, super thin and the dishware was beautiful.
Drinks: Some of the best cocktail's I've had an at any Michelin restaurant. All I got to say is I hate gin, and the cocktail my partner ordered got me to like gin. I liked the drink so much, I would go back for it. I'm learning to like wine, and they taught me how to love it. The wine selection was amazing, and I was trying not to order bottles of every glass I tasted. Though I do now have a bottle of Chacra.
Food: One of the best meals I've ever had, and something I regularly think back to. The sturgeon chowder with the caviar was the clear stand out for me even above all the meats. I still think back to it. The cherry tomatoes with the spot prawns and to be honest I enjoyed more than spot prawn (which was still amazing and the best prawn I've had in my life). The micro herbs on top and the vinaigrette was astounding. Just in general the vegetables for the dishes made me realize I have never eaten a truly well cooked vegetable. The meats where amazing, the rabbit and antelope stood out to me over the wagyu. The rabbit was my favorite meat dish of the night, my partner was super hesitant about eating it, but after that night she's asked me to cook rabbit more often for date nights. The antelope had this sweetness to the meat, which after asking is due to the preparation. The spot prawn was soft, and with a custardy umami flavor. Obviously everything was well prepared and technical but the halibut course had be doing research. I enjoy cooking at home but that dish made me question my fish and rice preparation just because I was constantly thinking 'how did they do that'. The deserts as you'd expect also amazing with the rhubarb being my favorite by far. It motivated me to cook with rhubarb more often.
Service: The staff where wonderful, easy to talk. I always have question's about food and they would be willing to answer or go to the chef. I really do appreciate them and they made the evening wonderful. The sommelier was one of the best restaurant staff I've had the pleasure of interacting with. He was nice, informative. I saw him help another table find a good place for the evening to continue drinks after they had finished their meal. The chef took time to take pictures with other guest's and speak with them.
Overall: Unforgettable and I will be coming back for sure.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sanjay Subhedar
Celebrated Storm ventures 25th anniversary with my partners. Long 4 hour dinner. Alex had brought 2 bootlegs of 2000 Margaux and I had brought a bottle of Kistler Chardonnay and 2 bottles of Colgin Tychson Hill . Jessica K took good care of us
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ben
Saison is located in an unassuming building but don't let that fool you. What an amazing restaurant with great friendly service and creative cuisine. The atmosphere is upscale and fancy but not stuffy, clinical, or austere - just relaxed and comforting. The tasting course is really fun and everything was cooked to perfection. The cost is pricey, but on par with other restaurants of this caliber. Highly recommended and can't wait to return!
Brenda
My husband and I had an amazing time celebrating our anniversary here. We loved the food and the ambiance.
Sharon
Outstanding experience from start to finish. Every bite was a pleasure We have been walking past this restaurant in our neighborhood since it first opened in 2013. We finally decided to give it a try, to celebrate my partners completion of his cancer treatment. As well as the unpretentious, warm welcoming staff, we had the pleasure of a brief exchange with executive chef Richard Lee who was just as lovely. This is the most relaxing atmosphere we have shared in a restaurant of this caliber with every dish a palatable adventure. Loved it. Highly recommend it. We will return
Tejas
Took great care of us, my partner doesn't eat red meat and their current tasting menu had a couple of courses with red meat. Other restaurants would have just taken it out (even if it was a main part of the course) but they completely redid the courses to use seafood as a highlight instead, never did it feel like it was a placeholder course. The staff was so delightful and fun to be around and talk to. Came for my partners birthday and they went above and beyond on taking care of us. Had a great experience! Definitely recommend.
Gavin
I'm still thinking about this meal. To put it in perspective, I've dined at Albert Adrià's celebrated restaurants in Barcelona, and the food here easily rivaled that experience. Every course was inventive, beautiful, and delicious. That said... the service is what left me speechless. It was something I've never encountered before. The staff wasn't just attentive; they were insightful, passionate, and operated with a level of grace and timing that was almost like a performance. They truly made the experience unforgettable. This restaurant isn't just serving food; it's perfecting hospitality. They explained each dish with such passion, you couldn't help but be excited. My water glass was never empty, my napkin was refolded the second I stood up, and it all happened without ever feeling intrusive. They knew our names when we entered... gave us a to go bag with curated items for some of my home cooking... they didn't miss a single detail.
Marcos
We showed up 15min early to our reservation but they greeted us warmly and sat us right away. The setting and mood of the area where we sat was very warm and inviting. It felt very intimate and romantic which was the vibe we were hoping for as this was our first time there. We were celebrating a birthday and they had even gifted us a specialized card and made it a memorable experience. The courses were phenomenal and the staff did a very good job at explaining each dish to us. Everything either met our expectations or exceeded them. We will definitely recommend this location to others and be back again.
We had a very pleasant experience! We thoroughly enjoyed everything the restaurant offered, from service to food.
david
I have dined at many of the Michelin starred restaurants in San Francisco but this 2 star restaurant is my favorite by far. The food, service and the ambience are exceptional. I can't wait to return again.
Kenneth
This dinner last night was memorable and re-affirmed my love for fine dining. The cooking was precise with a point of view that compelled mindful eating. The wine pairing was thoughtful, and the service was engaging and friendly. It's a big splurge for sure, but if you can afford it, it is well worth it. It remains an important institution in modern American gastronomy.
Erin
Everything about this tasting menu experience was exceptional. The ambience and vibe, all the staff, the food, drinks, even the plating and silverware. I would come back to San Francisco just to visit this restaurant.
E
The courses were solid, for the most part, but the antelope lacked flavor and the spiny lobster dish was lackluster. The black cod was fantastic, as were the caviar dishes. If you sit in the bar area, beware of the booth where the light shines directly in your face. Jeff the sommelier was gracious, knowledgeable, and a real professional, but our server was perfunctory - not what you'd expect for the price tag. The service was swift and efficient, which was both good and bad. No time to linger, little time to chat with the staff.
A gastronomic adventure. The food was uber creative, sensitively sourced and expertly cooked. Focus is on fire roasting and smoking ingredients. Kind of a bougie caveman aesthetic. We had a lovely, relaxing evening with dear ones. It was a phenomenal experience.
The ambience and service at Saison were exceptional, warm, attentive, and exactly what you'd expect at this level. Unfortunately, the courses themselves were hit or miss. While the antelope was cooked properly, the cut felt like an odd choice, resulting in a noticeably chewy texture. The A5 was surprisingly oversalted, and the butterfish left little impression. On the positive side, the caviar and the opening bite-sized courses were outstanding and showed the potential of the kitchen. With wine pairings, our total came to about $1,900 for two, and at that price point we expected to leave feeling far more satisfied. Instead, we walked out before even sampling the three dessert courses.
Atmosphere: it was quiet easy to talk in. The decor is nice and the tables where comfy. The glassware was phenomenal, super thin and the dishware was beautiful.
Drinks: Some of the best cocktail's I've had an at any Michelin restaurant. All I got to say is I hate gin, and the cocktail my partner ordered got me to like gin. I liked the drink so much, I would go back for it. I'm learning to like wine, and they taught me how to love it. The wine selection was amazing, and I was trying not to order bottles of every glass I tasted. Though I do now have a bottle of Chacra.
Food: One of the best meals I've ever had, and something I regularly think back to. The sturgeon chowder with the caviar was the clear stand out for me even above all the meats. I still think back to it. The cherry tomatoes with the spot prawns and to be honest I enjoyed more than spot prawn (which was still amazing and the best prawn I've had in my life). The micro herbs on top and the vinaigrette was astounding. Just in general the vegetables for the dishes made me realize I have never eaten a truly well cooked vegetable. The meats where amazing, the rabbit and antelope stood out to me over the wagyu. The rabbit was my favorite meat dish of the night, my partner was super hesitant about eating it, but after that night she's asked me to cook rabbit more often for date nights. The antelope had this sweetness to the meat, which after asking is due to the preparation. The spot prawn was soft, and with a custardy umami flavor. Obviously everything was well prepared and technical but the halibut course had be doing research. I enjoy cooking at home but that dish made me question my fish and rice preparation just because I was constantly thinking 'how did they do that'. The deserts as you'd expect also amazing with the rhubarb being my favorite by far. It motivated me to cook with rhubarb more often.
Service: The staff where wonderful, easy to talk. I always have question's about food and they would be willing to answer or go to the chef. I really do appreciate them and they made the evening wonderful. The sommelier was one of the best restaurant staff I've had the pleasure of interacting with. He was nice, informative. I saw him help another table find a good place for the evening to continue drinks after they had finished their meal. The chef took time to take pictures with other guest's and speak with them.
Overall: Unforgettable and I will be coming back for sure.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Celebrated Storm ventures 25th anniversary with my partners. Long 4 hour dinner. Alex had brought 2 bootlegs of 2000 Margaux and I had brought a bottle of Kistler Chardonnay and 2 bottles of Colgin Tychson Hill . Jessica K took good care of us
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Saison is located in an unassuming building but don't let that fool you. What an amazing restaurant with great friendly service and creative cuisine. The atmosphere is upscale and fancy but not stuffy, clinical, or austere - just relaxed and comforting. The tasting course is really fun and everything was cooked to perfection. The cost is pricey, but on par with other restaurants of this caliber. Highly recommended and can't wait to return!
My husband and I had an amazing time celebrating our anniversary here. We loved the food and the ambiance.
Outstanding experience from start to finish. Every bite was a pleasure We have been walking past this restaurant in our neighborhood since it first opened in 2013. We finally decided to give it a try, to celebrate my partners completion of his cancer treatment. As well as the unpretentious, warm welcoming staff, we had the pleasure of a brief exchange with executive chef Richard Lee who was just as lovely. This is the most relaxing atmosphere we have shared in a restaurant of this caliber with every dish a palatable adventure. Loved it. Highly recommend it. We will return
Took great care of us, my partner doesn't eat red meat and their current tasting menu had a couple of courses with red meat. Other restaurants would have just taken it out (even if it was a main part of the course) but they completely redid the courses to use seafood as a highlight instead, never did it feel like it was a placeholder course. The staff was so delightful and fun to be around and talk to. Came for my partners birthday and they went above and beyond on taking care of us. Had a great experience! Definitely recommend.
I'm still thinking about this meal. To put it in perspective, I've dined at Albert Adrià's celebrated restaurants in Barcelona, and the food here easily rivaled that experience. Every course was inventive, beautiful, and delicious. That said... the service is what left me speechless. It was something I've never encountered before. The staff wasn't just attentive; they were insightful, passionate, and operated with a level of grace and timing that was almost like a performance. They truly made the experience unforgettable. This restaurant isn't just serving food; it's perfecting hospitality. They explained each dish with such passion, you couldn't help but be excited. My water glass was never empty, my napkin was refolded the second I stood up, and it all happened without ever feeling intrusive. They knew our names when we entered... gave us a to go bag with curated items for some of my home cooking... they didn't miss a single detail.
We showed up 15min early to our reservation but they greeted us warmly and sat us right away. The setting and mood of the area where we sat was very warm and inviting. It felt very intimate and romantic which was the vibe we were hoping for as this was our first time there. We were celebrating a birthday and they had even gifted us a specialized card and made it a memorable experience. The courses were phenomenal and the staff did a very good job at explaining each dish to us. Everything either met our expectations or exceeded them. We will definitely recommend this location to others and be back again.
Restaurantji Recommends
We had a very pleasant experience! We thoroughly enjoyed everything the restaurant offered, from service to food.
I have dined at many of the Michelin starred restaurants in San Francisco but this 2 star restaurant is my favorite by far. The food, service and the ambience are exceptional. I can't wait to return again.
This dinner last night was memorable and re-affirmed my love for fine dining. The cooking was precise with a point of view that compelled mindful eating. The wine pairing was thoughtful, and the service was engaging and friendly. It's a big splurge for sure, but if you can afford it, it is well worth it. It remains an important institution in modern American gastronomy.
Everything about this tasting menu experience was exceptional. The ambience and vibe, all the staff, the food, drinks, even the plating and silverware. I would come back to San Francisco just to visit this restaurant.
The courses were solid, for the most part, but the antelope lacked flavor and the spiny lobster dish was lackluster. The black cod was fantastic, as were the caviar dishes. If you sit in the bar area, beware of the booth where the light shines directly in your face. Jeff the sommelier was gracious, knowledgeable, and a real professional, but our server was perfunctory - not what you'd expect for the price tag. The service was swift and efficient, which was both good and bad. No time to linger, little time to chat with the staff.
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