Ame

I was fortunate to dine with an intelligent and crafty gentleman who allowed Chef Hiro Sone to create for us his signature "Taste of Ame." Each course was elegantly prepared, incredibly fresh, and beautifully presented on perfectly chosen presentation china. Such a devilish little detail, but very important to those of us who enjoy eye-feel as much as mouth-feel. The sashimi was among the best I've ever experienced: fresh, beautiful, divinely choreographed. Each of the waitstaff was more solicitous and polite than the next and the service was so seamless that sometimes I didn't even notice my water glass had been refilled or my napkin replaced. These folks are true professionals! The *ONLY* thing I found sad about the evening was the couple sitting across from us who kept answering their cell phones as if in a duel to see who could be the rudest to the other. Observing them was both fascinating and heartbreaking. Please turn off your cell phones when dining, both in public and in private. If only I'd been in possession of Politenessman's steel hanky, the evening would have been perfect! Pros: If you're serious about sake, this is it! Elegant, quality dining experience! Cons: Bozos on cell phones...but they're everywhere, aren't they? more

We went soon after they openned and were completely dissapointed. We sat at the "Sushi" bar. What a joke..sushi..lol. We had the tuna sampler (prepared 3 ways or something). Was lame..and $$. We also had some cod..in miso I believe. Again, was average at best. It seems like Ame should be better than it is, and it gives the appearance that it should be excellent. They didn't even know how to make to make green tea. My wife had to educate the waiter on the proper water temperature for green tea. The first batch was boiled, brown and bitter. I seriously doubt we will even bother to try Ame again. Pros: Can't really think of any Cons: Just about everything more

We went soon after they openned and were completely dissapointed. We sat at the ""Sushi"" bar. What a joke..sushi..lol. We had the tuna sampler (prepared 3 ways or something). Was lame..and $$. We also had some cod..in miso I believe. Again, was average at best. It seems like Ame should be better than it is, and it gives the appearance that it should be excellent. They didn't even know how to make to make green tea. My wife had to educate the waiter on the proper water temperature for green tea. The first batch was boiled, brown and bitter. I seriously doubt we will even bother to try Ame again. Pros: Can't really think of any Cons: Just about everything more

Maybe sushi is not the best thing for one to eat these days but I still love it. I had the most delicate fish dishes here. I think this is the best San Francisco has to offer as it most certainly is the most fresh and skilled. Pros: Exquisite sushi. more

Maybe sushi is not the best thing for one to eat these days but I still love it. I had the most delicate fish dishes here. I think this is the best San Francisco has to offer as it most certainly is the most fresh and skilled. I would stop into the lounge first as it will really get you ramped up for the dinner. Pros: Exquisite sushi. more

Well my reservation was for 7pm on a Friday night and they were slightly delayed which was fine with me because my partner and I just went to the lounge and enjoyed a couple of cocktails with there lovely bartenders. The bar was cool and hip and they had a great cocktail and wine list. I enjoyed some crazy cucumber martini and my partner had a wonderful glass of rose, while we chatted it up with their bartender. We were sat by 7:30 by some pompous host who couldn't stop talking about how he once worked at Charlie Trotters. He was my least favorite thing of the evening. We were sat and had a very lovely waitress I believe her name was Jen, she was very nice and seemed to really care about us. Our first course was a sushi roll, the tuna 5 ways which were delicious. We were treated very kindly by there manager Joel who seemed to be a little saucy and by saucy I mean Courtney Love saucy wink wink. Its good to see that restaurants let there staff be a little fun and Joel was very fun, along with the rest of his staff. My favorite entree of the evening was this octopus bolognase it was to die for. The host from Charlie Trotters came by a couple of times to see how we were doing and couldn't stop talking about himself we were so bored with him and didn't understand why he kept stoping by our table. Maybe he thought we were cute. Overall my experience was wonderful and I would recommend anyone who is in the city should go there. Pros: great bar, great barstaff great waitstaff Cons: stupid host from Charlie Trotters more

Well my reservation was for 7pm on a Friday night and they were slightly delayed which was fine with me because my partner and I just went to the lounge and enjoyed a couple of cocktails with there lovely bartenders. The bar was cool and hip and they had a great cocktail and wine list. I enjoyed some crazy cucumber martini and my partner had a wonderful glass of rose, while we chatted it up with their bartender. We were sat by 7:30 by some pompous host who couldn't stop talking about how he once worked at Charlie Trotters. He was my least favorite thing of the evening. We were sat and had a very lovely waitress I believe her name was Jen, she was very nice and seemed to really care about us. Our first course was a sushi roll, the tuna 5 ways which were delicious. We were treated very kindly by there manager Joel who seemed to be a little saucy and by saucy I mean Courtney Love saucy wink wink. Its good to see that restaurants let there staff be a little fun and Joel was very fun, along with the rest of his staff. My favorite entree of the evening was this octopus bolognase it was to die for. The host from Charlie Trotters came by a couple of times to see how we were doing and couldn't stop talking about himself we were so bored with him and didn't understand why he kept stoping by our table. Maybe he thought we were cute. Overall my experience was wonderful and I would recommend anyone who is in the city should go there. Pros: great bar, great barstaff great waitstaff Cons: stupid host from Charlie Trotters more

We just ate there for my birthday, the service was good (very nice people), the atmosphere was pleasant (surprisingly quiet given it's on a main street), but the quality of the food was highly variable. The sashimi dish was excellent - amazing combinations of flavors, but two other dishes (including their specialty cod dish) had too much salt. After a couple of bites, the braised veal dish was almost inedible. Interestingly, it was mostly my plate and not my husbands. His was also salty but not to the same degree. It's a shame because it could have been great. The meat was of excellent quality and had clearly been well prepared. It melted in your mouth. Unfortunately, in my case I was left with a lot of salt. I kept trying to like it. The risotto seemed like such a good concept with corn and chanterelle mushrooms, but you just can't enjoy it when it's salty. The restaurant clearly noted that I had a problem with my meal because I did not eat it all, they asked why, and I told them. Hopefully they will fix it. The main owner was not there the night I was there, but food at a restaurant this pricey and of this supposed caliber should be good every night. It's a shame to pay that much and not be able to fully enjoy it. It wasn't worth the price, and I won't go back - except maybe for the sashimi. There are a lot better places to eat for a lot less. I have never felt the need to review a restaurant before, but I really felt this was a shame. If you go there, ask them to watch the salt. more

We just ate there for my birthday, the service was good (very nice people), the atmosphere was pleasant (surprisingly quiet given it's on a main street), but the quality of the food was highly variable. The sashimi dish was excellent - amazing combinations of flavors, but two other dishes (including their specialty cod dish) had too much salt. After a couple of bites, the braised veal dish was almost inedible. Interestingly, it was mostly my plate and not my husbands. His was also salty but not to the same degree. It's a shame because it could have been great. The meat was of excellent quality and had clearly been well prepared. It melted in your mouth. Unfortunately, in my case I was left with a lot of salt. I kept trying to like it. The risotto seemed like such a good concept with corn and chanterelle mushrooms, but you just can't enjoy it when it's salty. The restaurant clearly noted that I had a problem with my meal because I did not eat it all, they asked why, and I told them. Hopefully they will fix it. The main owner was not there the night I was there, but food at a restaurant this pricey and of this supposed caliber should be good every night. more

The service was good and very impressive dining experiences. I would definitely recommend this if you are going out for an anniversary dinner or dating someone special. It was a little bit pricy but it was worth it. Don't forget to try their specialty sake marinated black cod with dumpling. Pros: Very good table service; large wine selection; very good appetitizers Cons: pricy more

The service was good and very impressive dining experiences. I would definitely recommend this if you are going out for an anniversary dinner or dating someone special. It was a little bit pricy but it was worth it. Don't forget to try their specialty sake marinated black cod with dumpling. Pros: Very good table service; large wine selection; very good appetitizers Cons: pricy more

They really know what they are doing here! The food was great and so was the service. It's expensive but I would go back. more

They really know what they are doing here! The food was great and so was the service. It's expensive but I would go back. more

A sophisticated and humble menu served with class, Ame's understated style makes the St. Regis feel like a million bucks. California cuisine that respects Asian elements are well-portioned; a lean wine list compliments. There isn't a bad seat in the house; however, large parties are best seated in the adjacent lounge. Akin to Michael Minna, Ame sets the standard for a restaurant in a hotel-- not a hotel restaurant. Pros: Service, Open Kitchen, "Wine Wall" Cons: Parking, Large Parties more

A sophisticated and humble menu served with class, Ame's understated style makes the St. Regis feel like a million bucks. California cuisine that respects Asian elements are well-portioned; a lean wine list compliments. There isn't a bad seat in the house; however, large parties are best seated in the adjacent lounge. Akin to Michael Minna, Ame sets the standard for a restaurant in a hotel-- not a hotel restaurant. Pros: Service, Open Kitchen, "Wine Wall" Cons: Parking, Large Parties more

I'm very surprised to see people recommending this restaurant. I recently went there for the first time for my friend birthday. Although our server was nice, her service was lousy (she brought sparkling water when we ordered still and she competely forgot to serve my friend's drink). The food was nothing impressive. Don't bother making reservation and going there just to eat average or even below average food. You can find plenty of better and reasonable priced restaurants in the city. And oh my god.... my friend and I shared a desset, " Coconut Panna Cotta with Passion Fruit Sauce and Tapioca Pearls" and we couldn't stop laughing because it was sooooo BAD. Panna Cotta itself was atable but the tapioca pearls were totally dried up (pearls were all stuck together as well). I cannot believe the mind of Patissier who could serve THAT to us. Honestly, I never had such a bad dining experience in a long time and couldn't help wonder why the place was packed. more

I'm very surprised to see people recommending this restaurant. I recently went there for the first time for my friend birthday. Although our server was nice, her service was lousy (she brought sparkling water when we ordered still and she competely forgot to serve my friend's drink). The food was nothing impressive. Don't bother making reservation and going there just to eat average or even below average food. You can find plenty of better and reasonable priced restaurants in the city. And oh my god.... my friend and I shared a desset, "" more

I've eaten at Ame three times and have enjoyed each of my visits. The only draw back for me is the oddness of eating Italian and Japanese food during the same dinner. During my recent visit I had the tasting menu and was served excellent dishes such as a sashimi sample, country pate, sake marinated black code and the lamb osso buco. The space is elegant without being stuffy. You can dress casually and not feel like your standing out. Service is also flawless. Pros: Food, Service more

I've eaten at Ame three times and have enjoyed each of my visits. The only draw back for me is the oddness of eating Italian and Japanese food during the same dinner. During my recent visit I had the tasting menu and was served excellent dishes such as a sashimi sample, country pate, sake marinated black code and the lamb osso buco. The space is elegant without being stuffy. You can dress casually and not feel like your standing out. Service is also flawless. Pros: Food, Service more

We were there on a Sunday night. The cuttlefish noodles were not fresh and the salmon eggs were so fishy that I couldn't make myself swallow them. The sea urchin was fresh and sweet, and the wine list was interesting and well priced. The sake marinated bass was okay but slight on the fishy side. The waiter was very knowledgeable, but we had to pour our own wine all night. Not the kind of service you would expect from this class of restaurant. We usually don't have any problem with small portions, but the cheese course was ridiculously small. There are plenty of good restaurants in the city, there're no reasons to go back there anytime soon. Pros: Good wine list Cons: Raw seafood not fresh, Needs better service more