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Keiko à Nob Hill
Category: Restaurants French French
1250 Jones St(between Pleasant St & Clay St)
San Francisco, CA 94109
Neighbourhood: Nob Hill
(415) 829-7141
- Hours:
Tue-Sun 5:30 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Upscale, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
Cherylynn N. said: "L'EDITION FRANCAISE (The French Edition): BALLIN' ON A BUDGET Located inside the enchanting Cornell Hotel de France is one of Union Square's best kept secrets. Walking down the steep spiral staircase and through a large wooden door,…" read more »
65 reviews for Keiko à Nob Hill
Review Highlights
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"The foie gras with espresso sauce was rich and delicious." In 3 reviews -
"The ginger panna cotta was surprising." In 2 reviews -
"My favorites from the tasting menu were the l'extravagance..." In 4 reviews
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65 reviews in English
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Review from Food E.
San Francisco, CA
5/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
I rarely 1) give 5 stars and 2) visit the same restaurant twice for a sit down dinner - but I think Keiko a Nob Hill will be an exception - it was excellent!! I came here with my mother who was in town for the weekend - and both she and I were extremely impressed! If it doesn't deserve 5 stars, I don't know what does. Food / Presentation was flawless - excellent balance of tastes. I am so surprised that such a young, petite chef can create such powerful dishes!
Service was also excellent. Some of the timing between dishes could be improved, but overall waiters/waitresses were knowledgeable, attentive, but not overbearing.
Highlights- for sure, the trois of dungeness crab with tomato coulis and red bell pepper mousse - the crispy rice with squid ink crackers in between gave it a delightful texture... and foie gras with espresso sauce, artichoke and Japanese sweet potato puree - I don't think I've ever had finer foie gras (the espresso sauce really brings out the sweetness of the foie gras) and fourme d'ambert cheese - the perfect dish of sweetness, bitterness, saltiness and sourness! Finally the Cannelé Bordelais was extremely impressive- I've never had a cannelé that perfect - most people in the US do not know how to bake it - and consequently I've never liked it - but Keiko has certainly perfected it.
As for wine - please do try La Chouette (Pinot Noir, 2009, Oregon and Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Reserve) which is produced by Keiko's husband, Mr. Seigo Takei.
I'm definitely going back.... -
Review from Sean M.
5/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
I took my fiance to Keiko à Nob Hill for our third anniversary and it was the perfect choice.
We were seated in the smaller of the two dining rooms, to the left of the main entrance, which only contained four or five small tables. It was the perfect intimate setting for the occasion.
The food was absolutely flawless. I'm not going to go crazy describing every course but there were a few highlights:
-Trois of Dungeness crab with tomato coulis and red bell pepper mousse: this dish was perfection in every way. Chef Keiko put together a great combination of flavor and texture without overshadowing the crab. We loved this one.
-Foie gras with espresso sauce, artichoke and Japanese sweet potato puree: the flavor and preparation were excellent, I would have preferred to have the brioche integrated into the dish rather than served on the side - seemingly an afterthought - but combined they were delicious.
-Duo of black angus rib eye 'Deux with wild mushrooms, and truffle sauce: normally a beef dish is the low light of a fine dining meal. I actually can't recall one truly amazing beef course at any restaurant - until this one. This dish was fantastic! The wild mushrooms and the truffle sauce worked so well with the perfectly cooked rib eye. This was another favorite for sure.
So why four stars?
We spent an awful lot of time with empty dishes and wine glasses in front of us. On several of the courses we had servers pass our table more than once without clearing the empty places and wine glasses. Don't get me wrong, the service wasn't bad, our servers were very friendly and helpful, the courses and wine were well timed. Correcting this minor flaw would put the meal on par with some of the best restaurants in the world that I've dined at.
Overall it was a great meal and the perfect choice for our anniversary. -
Review from Andrew Y.
San Francisco, CA
5/14/2012
Great presentation.
One of the bests I've seen.
The Taste... Eh.
The atmosphere is pretty somewhat stuffy.
Actually it gets pretty stuffy because everything slows down.
The service, people, etc.
The highlight was the sommelier.
The Sommelier... was a POS... More on that later.
Foie gras was great (a part of the pre fix course).
The rest was mediocre at best.
Without looking at the pictures of that night, I can't recall what I ate.
The chef sure likes cream/mousse/etc stuff. Nothing bad, Japanese creams are the best and adds up very nicely to the presentation.
Sure each of those plates looked beautiful, but the #1 concern of food should be taste.
More of an eye candy than food.
A great wine list, but the sommelier was so full of himself to entertain me with wines. If he had been nice, I could have ordered several good bottles even though I'd never finish them, but no. Instead, he gave me wines by glass without explaining anything... Just handed me the glass and ran off before I say anything.
What kinda service was that???
Just because I let him pick, did he think I don't know shit about wine?
I was so tired so I let the sommelier pick wines for me for my main and dessert, I didn't want to try their wine pairing however. Was that my fault?
Only one time, I almost had him to answer my question like where was the winery located at coz the wine sure tasted like the cab near mountain side of St. Helena. He told me which winery it was and just ran off...
But there were only 3 tables at that time, he had no other customers to run off to.
When I pay $20+ per glass, they certainly charged so, I want good experiences with each. I don't care about the price if the whole experience is good, but I tried not to spit when I walk out coz it was a date night.
There are way better restaurants in the city.
Too bad the chef makes the plate like a piece of art.
Too bad that seems to be the first or the only consideration instead of the taste.
So, I told myself that I paid almost $200 for EACH order of foie gras and other crap to fill my hunger and sour feeling about their service. Would u spend almost $400 here or other fine dining in the city where you think you are being treated nicely?
No brainer.Comment from Keiko a. of Keiko à Nob Hill 5/15/2012
Thank you for your comment. But it puzzles me because our… More » -
Review from Jenn B.
5/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
Hours after taking my very last law school final, I celebrated by enjoying a fine meal at Keiko a Nob Hill. I booked the reservation a few weeks in advance, indicating that it was a celebration dinner, and I was really pleased at the special table and luxurious chairs they set up for us in a corner of the restaurant. The dessert course had "Congratulations" written with chocolate as well. Sweet touch.
I'm not going to write a novel describing each dish. I feel like Cherylynn N.'s reviews give a great rundown on the dishes from the tasting menu. The amuse bouche we had on Saturday wasn't a carrot trio, but peas made in two ways: a custard topped with peas, fava beans, and flowers (I didn't write the descriptions down, so this is just from memory) and a pea "shooter" which was multilayered and went from hot to cold. The foie gras with espresso sauce was definitely my favorite dish, and I loved the piece of brioche provided for sopping up all the leftover sauce and juices. Our server told us that Chef Takahashi spent 20 years perfecting this recipe and it truly was perfecting. Each course was perfectly plated and well balanced. I was afraid that I would leave a little bit hungry, but I left feeling completely satisfied.
Although one might assume that this place is really stuffy and pretentious, I found it to be warm. I came straight from an exam so I was afraid that I would be dressed too casually (blouse, statement necklace, black pants) but I didn't feel underdressed.
Overall, a superb dining experience. Many thanks to the chef and staff for the lovely celebration dinner. -
Review from Christina L.
San Bruno, CA
I don't know if you have to run here as suggested by Adolfo L., but this definitely was a solid fine dining experience with top notch service.
The 7-course tasting menu was creative with some hits and misses.
HITS:
Trois ensemble of Dungeness crab, which the menu notes is accompanied by tomato coulis and red bell pepper mousse. But, it was the squid ink layers in between the mini mounds of crab that did it for me.
Pan seared artisan foie gras with espresso sauce is apparently Chef Keiko's signature dish, and after a few bites, it was obvious why. The expresso
sauce really helps cut the sometimes overwhelming fattiness of the foie gras.
Duo of black angus rib eye 'Deux: Braised beef, rib eye roti, wild mushrooms, and truffle sauce. The braised beef was so tender and flavorful. I didn't really have much room for the seared cut of rib eye, so I asked them to box it up, which they forgot . . . the only snag of the night, which I didn't discover until I got home.
Fourme d'ambert cheese: Pate filo stuffed with some delicious blue cheese from France, I think. Loved it. But, I love anything deep fried and I love blue cheese, so this dish couldn't go wrong for me.
MISSES:
First course of green stuff accompanied with a liquid shot of green stuff; warm on top, cool on bottom. Tasted too healthy for me.
The last two courses were sweet, and sweet things don't really do it for me. I wish they would have some non-sweet options since they only provide the 7- course option in the dining room. For example, Michael Mina has a 3 or 4 course lunch menu, but for the last course, you can choose from 3 or 4 sweet options or a cheese dish.
It's $85 for the set 7-course menu, and with 2 bottles of $80ish bottles of wine, our grand total was roughly $165/person (including tip). -
Review from Nhung T.
Oakland, CA
4/25/2012
It was a nice small restaurant, similar to the boulevard. The husband was basically the host and the wife was the chef. Being that I was in the dining room, prefix menu was required but you can still order from the bar menu. I chose the prefix menu with paired wines. I have to say hands down, the pairing was exquisite (5 stars). The hostess knew what he was doing, I just can't get enough. Being that I ordered some sushi items, the hostess provided sake too. From the bar menu, I ordered Amberjack sashimi and an Uni dish. The amberjack was so fresh and good (5 stars). The uni which came with some kind of tofu soaked with miso broth. It was good, but the broth took away the taste of the uni (3.5 stars). Now to the prefix menu, overall it was good with some items that were so and so.
- 1st dish was carrot cake with carrot moose (1 star): There were no flavors in either dishes, it was so one dimensional. The cake tasted like any other sponge cake.
- The crab dish with squid crush, had sides of different mousses (2 stars): The crab was fresh, but it lacked flavor by itself. The dish had two different types of mousses that didn't compliment each other. However, if you take one mouse and eat it with the crab then there was some flavor. I think there was too much going on with this dish.
- Foie Gras (4 stars): it was a nice portion and the espresso sauce complemented the dish really well.
- Duo Black Angus Rib Eye (5 stars): The braised beef was very tender and tasty. The rib eye was also yummy, cooked perfectly. The mash potato was pretty good.
- Cheese dish: I thought it was okay, nothing spectacular (2 stars).
Overall, I'll give the food 3.5 stars. It was a nice experience but I wished the food was more dynamic. -
Review from Drew P.
San Francisco, CA
4/29/2012
Excellent restaurant that is already a premier dining experience and will get better. Service was excellent, and the simple menu gives everyone less to worry about and more to enjoy.
PROS:
- Every course was interesting and good, although some were better than others
- The tasting menu was reasonably priced ($85) considering the level of fare
- Excellent service
CONS:
- Wasn't thrilled with the pacing of the meal, which had unreasonably long gaps between courses. Considering that the menu is set, I would think we would only need a few minutes between courses. Instead, I felt that we spent more time waiting than eating.
TIPS:
- Despite what the Yelp profile says, there is only beer and wine, not a full bar -
Review from Shen J.
Mountain View, CA
4/22/2012
I vacillated between giving Keiko a Nob Hill four or five stars, the food is definitely five star. I'd be shocked if they don't get a Michelin Star. Yes, the foie gras dish is very good, but the standouts for me were the rabbit/porcini mushroom special and the ribeye dish. The two desserts weren't up to the standard of the rest of the meal though.
So why not five stars? Our table was HUGE, so I felt that I was 2 miles away from my wife. As previous reviewers have mentioned you hear every conversation in the dining room since everyone has to speak up, this means that they hear yours too. Not good for an intimate dinner out. Go to Keiko a Nob Hill with a pack of food friends, don't go on a date I say. Also, No cocktails here, beer (2 types!) and wine only.
There is a parking garage on the corner, no valet. Will we go back? Absolutely! The food was incredible. -
Review from Christie W.
San Francisco, CA
5/9/2012
My husband and I went here for my birthday a while back and we seriously had one of the BEST meals of my life here. It was back in January in the main dining room, but I still remember it vividly - each course was perfectly portioned and beautifully styled. And the beef course! Honestly the most perfect piece of beef I've ever had - it was seriously heaven (and I am not that big on steak usually). They also have an incredibly impressive wine collection that is remarkably reasonable in pricing, considering the rare vintages! Definitely pricey with all courses and wine - but a great special occasion restaurant and one of the "must-go" places in SF.
-
Review from David T.
Alameda, CA
4/15/2012
We ate there last night 4/14/12. Everything written about Keiko is spot on. This is the place you go for a special occasion or if you want the heighth of service, ambiance and taste.
Party of 4. Extraordinary gastric delight. The presentation, each course described perfectly by the staff, down to the smallest dot on the plate. The wine selection was superb and we really felt special .
Our head waiter , Robbie, was a delight, entertaining, knowledgeable and very friendly. Although this is high end dining, there was no boorish, snobby beahaviour here.
Also, Keiko's husband, Seigo, talked to us at least 15 min. telling us about selling El Paseo, waiting to sign the lease and then opening up Keiko. Very nice , and down to earth. We wanted to meet Keiko, but it was ver y busy , so he told us to come a little later next time so could could meet her.
I am glad we found this new gem, because as word gets out it will be tough to get a reservation. 5 Stars to Keiko's. Bon Apetit !!!!! -
Review from Belinda C.
San Francisco, CA
It was a perfect ending to a beautiful day in SF. It's nice an quiet here and you can actually carry on a conversation. The place is located in what looks like either a hotel or a private residence. We got the foie gras with the espresso sauce. After your first bite, you will want to scream. It was perfect! You can perfectly taste the foie gras and the espresso sauce. So if you are a coffee lover, this dish is a MUST. You will not regret it. Well actually, you might regret not getting enough of it. My mine entree was the Pork Belly. It was juicy and it didn't a lot a fat, just the way i like it. I hope to come back to this place and try the prix. menu. The service here is superb, all the waiters and even the owner was very attentive . oh how i still dream of the foie gras dish, my daily espresso will never be the same again.
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Review from Peter M.
San Francisco, CA
The folks at Keiko have really created a spectacular experience for their guests. From the moment you come in the door to the moment you leave, you feel like you've gone to an old friends house, except the food is better than anything my friends have ever cooked.
The restaurant has multiple dining rooms, each with a few tables and decorated more like an old house with modern furniture than a restaurant. When you are seated, the only option you have is what you want to drink. We chose to order wine by the glass rather than the $85 pairing and each person who took our drink order was extremely knowledgeable about their list and more than happy to suggest a wine that wold pair well with the next couple of courses.
The entire menu was fantastic from the carrot three ways, to the caneles, especially the optional additional dish of deboned rabbit stuffed with foie gras and truffles ($30).
I will definitely come back, if not for the tasting, to sit at the bar and order a la carte. I was worried that the bar would have a long wait on a Saturday night, but I didnt see anyone there the entire time I was there. I'm actually worried about writing this on Yelp because I dont want the bar section to start filling up but the food is so good that more people need to experience Chef Keiko's food. -
Review from Arlene M.
5/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
This review is for the lounge, not the main dining room. Went here for a girls night out and this place was perfect! The main dining room serves a tasting menu only, but they let you order a bunch of small plates a la carte in the lounge where we stayed. There were 11 items on the lounge menu and we decided to get one of everything and share among the four of us!
We started off with the Burdock 'Kinpira'...this was the one that looked least appetizing on the menu but it was actually very tasty, earthy and satisfying. Maybe it seemed even more so since we were starving! Next was the Farmer's Market Salad, which was light and refreshing. Third we had the Mushroom "Nibitashi", which was again very earthy, with great mushroom flavor. Next was the Amberjack sashimi. It was very fresh and tasted great, though I guess there's nothing that distinguishes it from sashimi at a really good sushi restaurant. Then we got Chef Keiko's signature dish, pan-seared artisan foie gras with espresso sauce...this was definitely the knockout dish of the night. I thought I would taste the espresso more but it was very subtle. I only wish the portion was larger! This was the only dish that we had two orders of and unfortunately the second piece was even smaller than the first. At least I'm glad I got to taste it before the ban...still on a quest to eat as much foie as possible before July! Next we had the "Forufuki daikon" radish, which was pretty good but I have to admit a bit anticlimactic after the foie gras. The "Kumiage" (yuba with sea urchin) was much better...the uni was fresh and buttery, and the sauce was fabulous. Then we had the oyster gratin with spinach, bacon, and champagne cream...this was good but I think the richness of the other ingredients overpowered the oyster itself a little bit. The wild mushroom risotto that followed was perfectly cooked, with loads of mushrooms (and seems like a little bit of truffle oil)...it was delish and I could have eaten at least twice as much! The Fried chicken "Tatsuta" was probably one of the best versions of chicken karaage that I've had, if not the best. The batter was so crispy but not greasy, the chicken was not overcooked and so juicy and tender. The shishito peppers went perfectly with it. Finally, we had the beef tongue "Persillade", which was tasty and had a decent-sized portion and a good sauce, but I have to admit I liked the fried chicken better.
For dessert, there were 3 choices and since we're such gluttons, again we got one of each. The first was a fourme d'ambert cheese in a fillo pouch, accompanied by some greens/flowers. It looked gorgeous and tasted even better. This was probably my favorite dessert out of the three. There was a chocolate dessert which came with some caramel(?) ice cream, which was good but I think a bit forgettable...I would probably have preferred it to be a little darker and more bitter. There was also a panna cotta with some mango sorbet and small pieces of mango...I'm not the biggest fan of fruity desserts but my friends enjoyed it.
We ordered two bottles of wine, the first was a Pinot that they recommended and it was pretty reasonably priced compared to the rest of the list (~$80), and for our second wine we got a Gigondas which was even cheaper (didn't want to pay more for the second bottle!) Both wines were good, though I enjoyed the Pinot better and it went with more of the dishes. Since the wines we chose were on the low end, the whole dinner wound up costing us a little over $400 ($100/pp) after tax but before tip, which I think is a steal for the amount of food and wine we had.
The service was decent but could use improvement...I'm not sure if this is because it's the lounge, but it took them a while to refill our wine when some of us were empty (kinda wish they just left the bottle at the table if they're not going to be timely about refilling our glasses). I also wish that the plates would have come more slowly, perhaps 1-2 at a time as opposed to getting as much food as would fit in our table all at once. I'm not sure if they were just trying to turn the table but it seemed like there was plenty of empty space at the bar so we didn't feel bad lingering. Though they were sometimes hard to find though, the servers we encountered were all pretty friendly and nice.
I do want to try the dining room (hopefully before they get the Michelin star they probably will get), probably when it's just me and the hubby. I think for a group though it's much better to hang out in the lounge, since you can try more dishes. Also it was a good option for us since we couldn't plan too far ahead to make reservations on time. I think the lounge was especially suited for a girls night out since the food was relatively light and we didn't feel bloated/disgusting in the end (not sure heavy eaters would enjoy as much).
I would definitely go back and I highly recommend this place for a special occasion! -
Review from Sam W.
3/16/2012 1 photo
Date & Time: Sunday March 11, 2011 @ 5:45pm
Location: Former Le Club
Dining Companion: Vu
Scene: Decked out to T-shirts and beards
Atmosphere: Intimate and classy
Decor: Beautiful -- plush rooms with tasteful leather pillows
Service: 5 Stars. Knowledgable and attentive
Imbibe: H20
Devour: Set Menu, japanese french fusion: carrot chiffon cake with carrot blanc mange, dungeness crab wafers, foie gras w/ espresso sauce, dry aged and braised ribeye, bluecheese & filo/ fig confection (sweet & savory), raspberry mint dessert
Total: $85+
Additional notes: will definitely need to try the wine pairings next time... -
Review from Georgia T.
San Bruno, CA
3/16/2012
My husband and I came here for date night last weekend. I'm surprise with all the 5 stars review. We were excited to try this place but it was quite disappointing. Well, it was just OK nothing spectacular.
1 star for ambiance-it's very intimate and classy
1 star for presentation-beautiful like art
1 star for the blue cheese & filo/fig confection
My husband had wine pairing with his dinner. The sommelier was knowledable but seemed little spacey at times. There was one pairing that did not go well with the dish. It was almost disgusting it smelled like stinky feet.
The food was "just ok". It wasn't memorable.
I think the BIGGEST turned off was the owner (husband) did not greet/knowledge us at all. There were about 7-8 tables in the dining room. (imagine how intimate) We were seated right in the middle of the room (nice "STAR" table) The husband/owner made small chats to EVERY SINGLE table EXCEPT for us. Japanese people are very polite and hospitable but we didn't feel any love. We don't expect any ass kissing because we paid over $300 for dinner. I think even at your neighborhood "ma and pa" restaurant you still get a "thank you". I'll probably get hate emails after I post this but I"m speaking from "our" experience. As for us, we will never come back.Comment from Keiko a. of Keiko à Nob Hill 3/17/2012
We are terribly sorry for not coming to your table. We… More » -
Review from Gloria N.
San Francisco, CA
4/10/2012 3 photos
Thoroughly enjoyed the meal. We had the seven course meal and everything was delicious, the most notable courses were:
Foie gras with espresso sauce: As mentioned repeatedly on all the reviews, this is delicious! It was very tender and the espresso sauce adds a nice flavor to the dish. The brioche that accompanies the foie gras is also cooked perfectly.
Cheese dish: I usually dislike blue cheese, but this was the exception. Probably because it was wrapped in this delicious filo.
Cannele: Perfect combination of the hard caremlized shell and the vanilla custard.
We got there a little earlier than our reservation and got seated right away. The service was great, with the courses timed well and the servers checking on us often. -
Review from Cherylynn N.
San Francisco, CA
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ 2013 MICHELIN STAR CANDIDATE ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
My Chinese mom may not have effectively instilled in me the value of a dollar but there is one thing I will always take away from her nagging, I mean, life lessons: ALWAYS trust your intuition. ALWAYS.
After having one of the most phenomenal meals in my life on Friday, I'm dedicating my ***800th Review*** to Keiko a Nob Hill which without a doubt will be awarded a Michelin Star in 2013. Opened in November 2011, Keiko is owned by the former owners of El Paseo (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). Before selling El Paseo to my [imaginary] future husband Tyler Florence in 2010, Chef Keiko Takahashi and husband/business partner Seigo Takei received one Michelin Star for their French restaurant.
A French-Japanese restaurant, Keiko serves a Japanese Izakaya (tapas) Style Menu in their bar/lounge area and a French Tasting Menu in their formal dining room. If you love French cuisine but appreciate the delicateness of Japanese cuisine then you cannot go wrong with the seasonal tasting menu. And, if you're a wine connoisseur then you will go gaa-gaa over their 5,000+ vintage wine collection.
SEVEN COURSE TASTING MENU - $85
A culinary mastermind, Chef Takahashi created seven unparalleled dishes. Each one was like a painting on a plate; artistically compiled with simple ingredients with eye-catching vibrant colors and then layered, creating a complexity of flavors while still maintaining the integrity of each ingredient.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
(1) Carrot Trip: Carrot Chiffon Cake, Carrot Blanc Manger & Pickled Carrot
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
From the fluffy sponge cake, the velvety smooth blanc manger to the tongue tantalizing pickled carrot, the carrot shined in each component.
(2) Trois Ensemble of Dungeness Crab w/ Tomato Coulis, Red Bell Pepper Mousse & Green Peas Puree
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Dungeness crab alone is divine but the subtleness of the tomato, red bell pepper, and green peas in different forms was like the ocean sea meeting a country vegetable garden.
(3) Seared Artisan Foie Gras w/ Espresso Sauce
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Alone, foie gras can be overwhelming rich so normally both a carb and a fruit component are needed. However, the pairing of the foie gras and the espresso was absolutely genius. The subtle bitterness from the espresso perfectly balanced the luxurious richness of the foie gras.
(4) Duo of Black Angus Ribeye 'Deux Cuissons': Braised Rib, Ribeye Roti & Wild Mushrooms w/ Black Shaved Truffles (+$40 supplement)
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Though different cooking techniques were used for the duo, both the ribeye and the braised rib were seamlessly soft and melted on my palate. An additional $40, I savored each delicate Périgord black truffle flake which gave the beef a wonderful subtle earthiness.
(5) Fourme D'Ambert Cheese: Pate Filo, Rhubarb, Mustard Green & Arugula Salad
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Inside the deliciously flakey filo dough, the bleu cheese and fig mixture was a savory sweet lover's dream.
(6) Red Wine Guimauve w/ Raspberry, Mint Ice Cream, Vanilla Foam & Sugar Tuile
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
A symphony of flavors and textures, the fluffy guimauve, refreshing mint ice cream, fragrant vanilla foam and crisp sugar tuile was like the Beethoven of all desserts,
(7) Cannele Bordelais: Cake w/ Custard Filling enclosed by a Caramelized Shell
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
If cake and crème brulee had a love child, the cannele bordelias would be it. The crisp caramelized encrusted cake was filled with tiny flecks of custard. Intricate yet simply delicious, this cake took Chef Takahashi over 20 tries to perfect the recipe.
SERVICE
Just as impressive as the food was the service. Every dish was impeccably timed and presented. Seigo Takei, Chef Takahashi's husband/business partner greeting each customer and ensuring an enjoyable dinner was the icing on the cake.
AMBIANCE/DÉCOR
Situated in the prestigious Nob Hill, Keiko exudes old European charm with vintage leather furnishings and Victorian lighting fixtures.
PARKING
Very very difficult street parking after 6 PM. Nearest parking lot is a block away on Washington/Jones ($10 for 2 hours $15 till midnight).
Pedigree couple Keiko Takahashi and Seigo Takei did it once and they WILL do it again. It IS in their blood. -
Review from Kevin T.
Union City, CA
I had the best experience here. The ambiance was spectacular. Very european inspired with a splash of Japanese accents here and there. Reservations made on open table, but you could potentially call he restaurant to see if there any cancellations.
The owner and his staff are very welcoming and professional. Every so often the owner would give a nice explanation of his wine parings. I must admit that the wine pairings are phenomenal. And he produces his own wine, so extra brownie points for that.
We had the dinner menu, and it was nothing less than amazing. Oysters, salad, foie gras, scallop with uni, aged rib eye, brioche au fromage, and a crazy dessert ice creme combo. Last was some sort of cake with a caramelized shell. I didn't give much of a description but when you taste the food... The descriptions won't matter.. :)
Towards the end of our meal the chef came out and greeted our table. It was a a wonderful dinner and I had a great time! Make sure u make a reservation... Thanks for reading and hope this helps! -
Review from Christine C.
San Francisco, CA
2/23/2012 17 photos
Once in awhile, a restaurant comes along and you wonder where has it been all your life. Chef Keiko Takahashi and her wine connoisseur husband, Seigo Takei, opened this quaint Japanese influenced French restaurant hidden inside a San Francisco old world Nob Hill building back in November 2011. The couple's credential is impressive, former chef and owner of El Paseo who later sold the Michelin starred restaurant to Tyler Florence.
The six-course tasting dinner began with a glass of champagne and an amuse bouche presented in a simple wine glass. A carrot and sorbet that is light and refreshing, the amuse bouche immediately set the tone for the rest of the dinner. Simple, fresh ingredients paired in ways to highlight the best quality they have to offer. (http://www.yelp.com/bi...)
The Extravagance de Fermier Salad began our coursed dinner. Golden beets, red beets, artichoke, brussels sprouts, sugar peas, green pea hummus, red bell pepper puree, caramelized almonds, and curry mayonnaise decorate the plate like art. The dish well deserves its name, an extravagant salad executed flawlessly. (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) The salad was paired with a 1991 Chateau Woltner's Chardonnay. Chateau Woltner used the first vines grown in St. Helena and the winery is no longer around. (http://www.yelp.com/bi...)
Chef Keiko's signature dish, Pan Seared Artisan Foie Gras with Espresso Sauce was the highly anticipated highlight of the menu. Accompanied with artichoke and Japanese sweet potato puree, the foie gras was accented with a lightly espresso flavored sauce that complimented the buttery, fatty flavors of the foie gras. (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) Paired with the a Cabernet Sauvignon from the couple's private winery and not your usual sauternes, the pairing was surprising and more than complimentary. The owl graphic on the wine label was commissioned by Harry Potter's illustrator, a close friend of the couple and the wine is not distributed to the public.
'Hokkaido' Scallop with Sea Urchin, our third course of the night, was a perfect pairing of scallop and uni. The Hokkaido's cold water gives the scallop a more complex flavor while the sea urchin's boldness adds punches to the dish.. (http://www.yelp.com/bi...)
With an option to add winter black truffle to our fourth course, we could not pass up the opportunity. Black Angus Rib Eye Roti, a lightly dry aged rib eye served with gratin d' affinois, was given a generous shaving of winter black truffle. (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) The meat was a perfect rare to medium rare which lends the most tender and flavorful bites. The winter black truffle added touches of earthiness to the rib eye. (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) Paired with La Chouette "Burgundy style" Pinot Noir (my personal favorite style of the variety) which is also from the owners' private winery, complemented the earth of the black truffle impeccably. (http://www.yelp.com/bi...)
We moved to the fromage course with Gateau au Fromage. Mimolette, cream cheese, mandarinquats, fennel confit , walnuts, dried chderries, dates and brioche sable, it was almost a play on cheesecake and graham cracker crust. (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) Rich and creamy in the perfect portion and paired with a sweet sauternes, this could be one of the cleverest cheese courses I've had experienced. (http://www.yelp.com/bi...)
We finished our meal with a white chocolate confection. White Chocolate Mousse with Cardamom Ice Cream, Poached Quince & Cranberries. (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) The little caramelized cranberries were so amazing that I wouldn't mind having just a candy dish full as dessert. Paired with a 10-year Port Tawny, it tied the entire dinner together. (http://www.yelp.com/bi...)
If that was not enough, Seigo brought out a couple of Cannele Bordelais for us. Rich custardy interior enclosed by a thin caramelized shell made from antique French cast, these definitely top off the dinner. (http://www.yelp.com/bi...)
From the old world décor, flawless execution, impeccable wine pairing, to the exceptional service, Keiko à Nob Hill is well on its way to receive its Michelin star. -
Review from Vickie Z.
3/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great place, great food, great ambiance!
That's all I have to say about this amazing restaurant! -
Review from Laura S.
San Francisco, CA
3/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
Overall, the food at Keiko was tasty, pretty, and fairly simple though plated beautifully. The first course, a martini glass with sorbet, cooked carrots and a tuile cookie, was whimsical, mesmerizing and tasty. On the other hand, the seared rib eye with potatoes au gratin was exactly as described and fairly boring. Thanks to the scallops at Keiko, I now know that a $40 truffle supplement, while fun, and plentiful, is lost on me.
The one stand out was the seared foie gras with espresso reduction. Sour and bitter reduction melting in with incredibly tender liver. It was perfect.
The servers tried a little to hard, and I didn't love that the wine the somolier chose for my one glass was one of the most expensive on the menu. It was also eerily quiet througout the room when we arrived at 5:30 on a Sunday. I now know a lot about life of the trio sitting accross the room. I also know that the kitchen and servers were very flexible for a the nut-allergic, no-raw-meat, diabetic woman sitting next to us.
Avoid parking by taking the cable car from Embarcadero BART. -
Review from Paul K.
San Mateo, CA
3/3/2012
This place gets my rare and coveted "6 star" award, along with Yume and Wakuriya. Magical.
The ingredients are top notch and meticulously cared for by the owners. It shows up in the taste. Service was very good. The owner came by and answered my (many detailed) questions about the food. That was really fun.
BTW as someone else mentioned, there's public parking on Washington, the left hand side; you've got to watch for it because it's not that big. It was $10 for up to 2 hours, $15 until midnight. -
Review from Keiko K.
San Francisco, CA
3/23/2012
The ambiance .. cozy. reminded me of a tiny version of lounge at Ritz Carlton. you must whisper during the courses if you don't want anyone else in the restaurant to listen to your conversation.
Food ... I've definitely had better. At least when I dined, every dishes were fixed sweeter. (Besides the wonderful dish of Foie Gras with espresso sauce. ) -
Review from Eric S.
San Francisco, CA
I used to live down the block from Keiko back when it was the pseudo-classy-but-sort-of-creepy Le Club. The new owners have managed to create an experience that is actually classy, not at all creepy, and was one of the best fine dining meals I've had in San Francisco.
When we arrived, we were greeted by the friendly hosts who took our coats and whisked us to our table, inferring who we were by our arrival time. The dining room has a hushed intimacy to it. Imagine walking into a stately residential dining room but one where everyone is eating at separate tables. The ceilings are low, the clientele is a bit older and the waiters are quieting moving around in nice suits.
The tasting menu was presented to us, the epic wine list opened then almost immediately shut (I always just trust recommendations when the list is this serious) and the service began.
Each course was incredible with a couple standouts: the espresso foie gras and the scallops. I sprung for the fresh truffle upgrade on the scallops which I would highly recommend; it's not often you get to try truffles of this quality and shaved onto your food with this gleaming gold truffle shaver.
The pacing was great and after about 3 hours and 9 courses, we were full, tipsy and happy. We ended our meal with a nice conversation with the owner about his other restaurants, his wine collection and some of the dishes they'd prepared. Normally the business owner chit chat feels a bit forced and pretentious, but at Keiko the guy was casual, interesting and friendly.
The final bill here puts Keiko squarely in the "special occasion" category, but I would definitely recommend the splurge. -
Review from Amy D.
Fremont, CA
4/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
Another 3.5 rounded up to 4 thanks to the wonderful service and ambiance at Keiko. They only offer a 7 course prix fixe for $85, with 3 different wine pairings to choose from: $85 (regular wine paring), $125 (Grand pairing), or $290 (Magnifique pairing). However, there is an option to order a la carte if you dine in their Lounge Area. We made reservations for a party of three at 5:45pm on a Saturday night, and were seated promptly. Although this was the only option available to choose from on Opentable, the restaurant was nearly empty when we arrived. The prix fixe for April 2012 included-
-Carrot 'Trio' (Carrot Chiffon Cake, Carrot Blanc Manger, Pickled Carrot): One of the best dishes of the night! The carrot blanc manger was a carrot mousse on top of a dollop of carrot puree served in a stylish martini glass- the mousse portion was so light and airy that it melted on my tongue, but still imparted a sweet carrot taste. The carrot puree had more substance/body, and a concentrated sweet carrot taste. The chiffon cake was also delicious, but I wished the piece weren't so tiny!
-Trois Ensemble of Dungeness Crab (Tomato Coulis and Red Bell Pepper Mousse): The crab was layered in between small circular tuilles made from squid ink. Although the crab was plentiful and tasted really fresh, it was hard to break the tuille down, and the broken pieces had really jagged/sharp edges that made the dish diffcult to eat. I felt the flavors in this dish didn't work very well together, and was one of my least favorite.
-Pan Seared Artisan Foie Gras w/ Espresso Sauce (Chef Keiko's Signature Dish: Accompanied w/ Artichoke and Japanese Sweet Potato Puree): The foie gras was YUM! It was seared perfectly and still warm when they brought it out. This dish also comes with a tiny brioche so that you can soak up the foie gras fat. I thought the espresso sauce was overly bitter, which detracted from the sweet foie gras taste instead of balancing it. The artichoke and sweet potato puree was also too bitter, and detracted from my enjoyment of the dish.
-Duo of Black Angus Rib Eye 'Deux (Braised Beef, Rib Eye Roti, Wild Mushrooms, and Truffle Sauce): Keiko ages their beef in house, for about 10 days, which I thought made the beef extra tender. Everyone enjoyed the seared rib eye more than the braised, since the braised dish was overpowered by the wine sauce. THe seared rib eye was cooked a perfect medium rare.
-Fourme D'ambert Cheese (Pate Filo, Rhubarb Confit, Mustard Green and Arugula Salad)- YUCK. Worst dish of the night. I'm not a huge fan of blue cheeses, but have enjoyed most of those that I've tried at nice restaurants. However, the D'ambert cheese was very pungent, and I don't believe combined with anything to round out the flavor. It was basically a big piece of cheese wrapped and baked in phyllo. There also wasn't enough of a sauce to mix with the cheese/phyllo, so I felt this dish was very dry.
Desserts:
-Chocolate and Raspberry Yogurt Mousse, Mint Ice Cream: The mousse was again soft and velvety, but had more gelatin/body to it. The mint ice cream was inspired, as it gave the dessert a fresh quality when you ate it (which is what mint is supposed to do, but people rarely touch the whole mint leaves that are normally stuck on top of desserts).
-Cannelé Bordelais (A Cake w/ a Rich Custardy Interior Enclosed by a Thin Caramelized Shell): DELICIOUS- now I know why people have raved about cannelés in the past, but I've never tried a cannelé as delicious as the one I've had here. The caramelized shell was delicious, and the custardy interior provided a nice contrast. You could also see the vanilla bean specks in the custard.
The parking around this area is definitely tough, so make sure you budget time for that. The booth seating that we got was wonderful, and actually comfortable! Service was also excellent- they kept the dinner on a good pace where we didn't feel rushed but had time to enjoy and savor our food. Overall, I'm glad I was able to experience the food artistry (all of the dishes were beautifully presented) at Keiko à Nob Hill, but disappointed that I didn't enjoy all of my dishes. I also agree with other reviewers that the desserts need improvement/more sophistication- although I loved the cannelé, I didn't feel it was a good dish to round out the courses. It would have been perfect as one of the mignardises. The other detraction from Keiko is there are no amuse bouches, bread, or mignardises provided, and I feel at least one of three should be present for a restaurant that only serves prix fixe dinners. In any case, the portion sizes were satisfactory, as I was full when I left the restaurant. However, my dining companions and I started to get hungry around 10pm. In any case, Keiko is a must try, but I would suggest going a la carte and ordering the dishes you want, instead of being stuck with a few that you wish you could have skipped. -
Review from Skelly A.
San Francisco, CA
3/7/2012
Keiko à Nob Hill:
This place is simply wonderful.
The entire staff is wonderfully knowledgeable about the food and fantastic wine list.
He has immense knowledge of the wine list, as he has collected them over the past 30years, and of the unqiue Japanes-French fusion food he served in his restaurant.
Ooooooh la la. What a jewel Keiko is!
Loved their foie gras with espresso sauce, Keiko's trademark dish.
Food prices are comparatively cheap.
Highly recommend!!! -
Review from Manabu M.
3/26/2012 3 photos
San Francisco's new fine dinning destination. Great for special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries or entertaining out-of-town guests.
"Are you OK?"
A friend of mine asked me in the dinning room of Keiko à Nob Hill.
I didn't even know I was posing like Rodin's "The Thinker."
At that time, with my eyes closed, I was having multiple foodgasm and I was trying very hard not to be Meg Ryan in "When Harry Met Sally...." I know she was faking it in the movie but my case was a real threat. "Do you wanna moan in a fine dinning restaurant?"
Chef Keiko, a female Japanese chef is gifted.
Not every artist can be famous. Artists need somebody who discovers their talents. For Keiko, her Japanese husband, Seigo, discovered her talent and asked her to start studying
French cuisine. Her talent? Whatever she eats at other restaurants, she can tell exactly what the ingredients are and how they were prepared.
Keiko à Nob Hill is hidden in the "Clay Jones Apartment" so you need the exact address. (It's on the corner of Clay St & Jones St., duh!) If you are in a car, you will not be able to see any signs. You will see the sign only when you stand at the door of the apartment building. It is like our own secret club and that's sort of fun. The interior was classic, relaxing and very comfortable. I felt like I had been in the film of "Midnight in Paris."
The noise level is very low and we could enjoy the conversations very much. A big plus!
If you make a reservation, your menu is always a French course menu. $85.00 per person in the dining room. If you do not make a reservation, you have to be in the lounge room but you can enjoy the chef's Japanese comfort food and some of her French dishes.
Seigo loves to collect wine. The wine list here is like a collector's wine list. You can order various kinds of wine from $30.00 a bottle to $8,500.00 a bottle. The wine list is huge. He has collected more than 100,000 bottles of wine so far and we see just a part of his collection in the menu but still it is a huge wine list.
The composition of Keiko's course menu was based on the basic rule.
As the course progresses, the transition is very clear. From cold food to warm food. From delicate consistencies to full-bodied consistencies. From subtle flavor to strong flavor. I really loved the transitions. It was like her course started with a kiss on the neck and ended with July 4th firework display + Macy's Thanksgiving Parade + Space Shuttle Launch.
The course started with very delicate carrot blanc mange and carrot chiffon cake, then sashimi dish (a substitute for Dungeness crab since I am allergic to crab). Honestly I was thinking that they were good but they were not spectacular. BUT the 3rd course, her signature dish, "Pan-seared artisan foie gras with espresso sauce" showed up to our table and that changed everything. It was magnificently delicious. The 4th course, the sauce of the aged black angus rib eye was so exquisite that I had to close my eyes and talked to myself. "Don't be Meg Ryan. She was at Katz's Delicatessen in NYC but you are at a fine dinning restaurant! Don't!" By the time the 5th course was served, I was pretty tired by having multiple foodgasm but there was no time for a break. The 5th course was a cheese course, which was warm blue cheese called Fourme D'Ambert in pate filo. I usually don't like blue cheese but this was so delicious that I am still craving for it. Finally, it's the time for dessert and we had "Chocolate and Raspberry Yogurt Mousse." The mint ice cream was as stronger as Crest with Scope. I liked it very much. And the hard-to-make French dessert, Cannelé Bordelais, at the end of the course was like a sweet pillow talk at the end of the day.
The fun part of having a course menu is that you get to enjoy the transitions and the orchestration that your chef sets. Keiko gracefully composed a wonderful symphony on that night.
When we talk about Chef Keiko, we always mention Michelin Star since she already got one when she worked for the previous restaurant.
Honestly, I do not think that Michelin evaluates Keiko's restaurant but I think that this restaurant will evaluate Michelin's credibility.
So, dear Michelin, if this restaurant fails to earn one Michelin Star in 2013, my fellow Yelpers and I will stand by Keiko and we will stick up our glorious middle fingers at you from the top of Nob Hill. But I am a polite person so I will put a black strip of paper on my middle finger.
The background music will be, of course, Lily Allen's famous song.Listed in: My Favorite Restaurants
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Review from Candice B.
San Francisco, CA
4/17/2012
When I was enjoying Keiko's dishes, I had one thought: in the world of extraordinary writers, there are very few females who excel, much like the modern day culinary world. Let's not dive into the social, economic, patriarchal reasons behind the centuries of gender inequality, because this is yelp, which isn't exactly the right platform for that sort of discussion. But let's face it, there are a lot more great male writer/chefs than female writer/chefs. However, when a female writer is successful in what she does, I find myself so drawn to the delicate and feminine quality of her work. And that's what I was thinking when I tasted Keiko's dishes. They are as good but different from dishes I've had from amazing male chefs. It's like she thought about her dishes in a very well-rounded way (like any good chef would), from the ingredients to the presentation to the editing and refinement, and then she took the time, and thought about it, again. Yes, it's that thoughtfulness and extreme attention to detail that sets her apart.
The foie gras with espresso sauce is as good as the hype. The heavy, bitter, strong, and rich sauce is the only thing that can balance the extreme fat.
I liked her crab dish which was light and showcased crab's natural and delicate sweetness. And the side of asparagus and edible flowers is extremely pretty.
The meats were surprisingly good to someone who never orders red meat. The steak was juicy and flavorful while the rib eye was fall-of-the-bone tender.
The only dish that underwhelmed me was the dessert. I understand that after foie gras and red meat, you may not want to push a piece of chocolate cake up someone's artery, but if I were to spent calories eating dessert, I don't really want marshmellow and fruity stuff. I want the sinful stuff, like buttery cobbler or flourless chocolate cake.
The service was as formal as the decor of the place. I definitely didn't feel like I was dining in SF, but somewhere in Manhattan. The room where you can reserve seats and order the tasting menu only seats about 10, so whatever you talk about, will be intimately shared with those nine around you. So lower your voice and choose your subjects wisely. -
Review from Droo G.
San Francisco, CA
2/27/2012
I wish Yelp had half-star ratings. I would give Keiko 4.5 stars, instead of 4 (and Commonwealth 2.5 instead of 3).
Fun, varied, beautiful food, with great flavors.
The most amazing wine list I've ever encountered (and at surprisingly-reasonable prices for vintage offerings).
Gorgeous setting, in the 'lounge' of the Art Deco Clay-Jones building atop Nob Hill.
The only dings are due to stuffy, somewhat imposing, albeit always-professional, service.
Add more warmth and personability in the wait staff, and this becomes a unreservedly five-star gem. -
Review from Daniel S.
San Francisco, CA
2/23/2012
Ooooooh la la. What a jewel Keiko is! We came here on Feb 15 for our date night, wanting something new and good. From the intimate dining room -- 7 tables -- the effusive service, the amazing food and inestimable wine pairings, and the romantic ambiance: the evening was nothing short of the ultimate dining experience.
We can't wait to come back with our gourmet friends. -
Review from Deanna E.
Austin, TX
2/29/2012
A glass of champagne and three glasses of wine later, I'm pretty sure every person working at Keiko a Nob Hill last night knew that I'd just had the best meal of my life. But when you get the chance to praise the chef, Keiko, herself table-side at meal's end, you don't hold back (especially not after all that wine).
Everything about this place impressed from start to finish. When the owner himself pours you your first glass of champagne and shares the details of the restaurant's history while you wait for your table to be prepared, you know you're about to experience something special.
The main dining room was very small, cozy, and intimate. The service was as attentive as possible, and the dishes were presented in a well timed manner and described in great detail (antique cake pan, really?)
I loved every dish, but one in particular (okay, maybe two) is worth mentioning - Chef Keiko's signature dish, the foie gras. I'm not the biggest fan of foie gras, but this dish was perhaps my favorite of the night. Served with an espresso sauce, the slight bitterness of the sauce complimented the sweetness of the foie gras perfectly. The other was the mini custard cake served at the end... why don't they have these at the bakery near my house?? If they did, I'd have one every morning with my coffee. Sooo, so good.
When I find myself back in San Francisco again, I will make a special effort to have dinner here. Until then, I will be disappointed in all other foie gras, and searching for antique cake pans and custard cake recipes. -
Review from Ryohei A.
Portland, OR
1/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
My my, what a treasure this place is.
I have my best friend living in SFO and he is one savvy guy. He knows the only best, and he took us here for special dinner with his other friends.
I didn't even know what this place serves, as I haven't been in Bay area/SFO for years. I just knew that it was Japanese.
Well it is, but it isn't. You know what I mean?
This place is OLD SCHOOL french meets hard working, passionate Japanese couple. One female chef and male sommelier who's marriage created a one in a lifetime miracle in dining.
Keiko is only female chef to be given a Michelin star. And she's pretty darn young too!
That's bad ass!
Seigo san's knowledge about wine is par to none. Wine is his life. You get the idea.
My friend and Seigo san had been carefully crafting the wines we were going to pair that night.
I also had a chance to taste a very rare spanish beer that had no label. It was very fruity with a hint of malt. Wonderful.
The whole layout of the meal was just....I'm lost for words really.
Perfection doesn't exist, but this was pretty darn close. And you know I am one picky guy.
We had 1970 Burgundy that tasted like if you'd get a liquid gold. It started light and playful, but in 10 minutes it turned smoky and deep. This thing is living creatures I swear! What a incredible wine.
Foie Gra with espresso sauce was great. I am usually bad with Foie Gra because not many places cooks this well and the fat almost always overwhelms the palette.
She nailed with this sauce. I cleaned the plate. 2 thumbs up!
I love it that her cuisine carries such old school french but there are touches of Japanese in it. You just don't get this anywhere in the world.
As my friend says, "This type of old school cuisine is almost extinct." Well I hope she continues to thrive. This is one of the most rare restaurant in the world in that sense. She offers some Japanese dish on the side on different days so I will swear I will fly back to try them.
Pretty close to perfection! -
Review from Stacey L.
San Francisco, CA
12/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
My husband and I have been anxiously awaiting the opening of Chef Keiko & her husbands latest restaurant. We were huge fans of their previous establishment, El Paseo, and couldn't wait to make reservations here. We decided to treat ourselves to an early Christmas dinner a week early.
Be sure to get the "Grand" Wine Pairing (Chef Keiko's husband, who is also the Sommelier will wisk you away on a journey on world wines & include a tasting from his own collection) & after the truffle presentation you won't want to miss its addition to the Hokkaido Scallop
-'Shigoku' Oyster Soup: Oyster, scallop stock, leek and potato
-(*)Extravagance de Fermier Salad Golden beets, red beets, artichoke, brussels sprouts, sugar peasgreen pea hummus, red bell pepper puree, caramelized almonds, curry mayonnaise
-(*)Pan Seared Artisan Foie Gras with Espresso Sauce : Chef Keiko' s signature dish: accompanied with artichoke and Japanese sweet potato puree
-(*)'Hokkaido' Scallop with Sea Urchin: Hokkaido' s cold water makes scallop more complex flavor
-Black Angus Rib Eye Roti: Lightly dry aged rib eye served with gratin d' affinois
-Brioche au Fromage with epoisses espuma
-Gateau Chocolate with chestnut ice cream and passion fruit caramel sauce
-Cannele Bordelais: A cake with a rich custardy interior enclosed by a thin caramelized shell
(*) = Favorites. $77pp
They also offer a bar menu, but we highly suggest the course dinner. We loved Chef Keiko's preparation of the pork belly a few years back (no other restaurant has been able to prep a pork belly dish that can even compare), so we'll be back to try the "kakuni" on the next round.Listed in: Tasting Menus, Favorite Restaurants
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Review from Paul Y.
San Francisco, CA
1/25/2012
One of the joys of living in San Francisco is the myriad of wonderful restaurant options that we have. I definitely have some of my favorites, but Keiko a Nob Hill has risen quickly to the top.
I went right before Christmas for appetizers and wine with a friend, thinking of a more casual meal to whet the appeal for a return visit in the dining room. Boy was I underestimating the experience. It was a sensory treat, from the elegant decor, to the delectible scents, to the hushed environment.
After several modestly sized yet flavor-explosive appetizers, coupled with silky wines by the glass, I relish my next visit, this time to enjoy the full culinary experience of Keiko and Seigo's abundant talents. -
Review from Goro F.
San Mateo, CA
12/25/2011
I came here with my girlfriend for Christmas Eve. They had a special Christmas menu and I can't recall all the courses we had but all I can say is that every single course tasted heavenly.
It is an intimate quite space and the tables are far enough from each other for you to be able to speak freely. Really nice ambience.
The service is great and we got to meet Keiko (the chef) and her husband/sommelier . Super nice people. I'm certainly going to come back here. I'm also looking forward to check out the lounge menu. The restaurant just opened four weeks ago, definitely worth a visit.
Street parking is a pain but there is a parking garage close by on washington between leavenworth and jones. -
Review from Genevieve Y.
San Francisco, CA
11/10/2011 10 photos
Date & Time: Thursday November 10, 2011 @ 12:30pm
Location: Former Le Club
Dining Companion: Dana
Scene: Well-Heeled Residences of 1250 Jones St.- Gents in Brioni Suits & Ladies in Chanel Suits
Atmosphere: Intimate
Decor: Old-World Charm. Four Tastefully Decorated Rooms: Clubby Lounge, Cozy ClubHouse, Main Dining Room & Elegant Private Dining Room
Service: 5 Stars. Polished & Professional
Imbibe: Vino
Devour: Big Eye Tuna + Hamachi Sashimi, Pan Seared Foie Gras w/ Espresso Sauce, Seafood Decoration Chirashi Sushi, Pan Seared Scallop w/ Saffron Risotto. For Dessert Pot de Creme w/ Sudachi Cake & Ginger Panna Cotta
Total: $116.16Listed in: Good Eats
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Review from Caroline B.
San Francisco, CA
1/15/2012
First impression solely from the bar, so partly review only of ambiance and service. The champagne selection was impressive.
We live close. I would love to be able to love it here.
It is a little stiff. It would be great with a little bit of a lighter atmosphere, we are not in a funeral but I felt like I had to whisper. The male servers at the bar the night we went where trying very hard to be posh, so hard it was disturbing. That was very boring, a little more humor and lightheartedness could work.
As mentioned the list of champagnes served is breathtaking, they only serve that and wine for now. I did not however appreciate the smell of champagne that surround the bar, that's like an upscale version of the alcohol smell of a dive bar in my opinion. I do not want to smell what others are drinking.
And some strange loud noise from the back of the bar when something was prepare. When you are drinking a very good bottle of champagne and it's completely quiet, that noise becomes very loud.
As a side note, my partner went back and tried the bar menu, some being exceptional and some just acceptable. -
Review from Laurence H.
San Francisco, CA
11/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Went here for our bday dinner with some close friends. The restaurant is charmingly located in a old Nob Hill residential building. Not a place you would normally expect to find a restaurant in this exclusive enclave of SF. Decor is contemporary and French. In fact, this was the highlight of the restaurant. The restaurant gets 5 stars for decor alone. This is a perfect place for a quiet, intimate dinner also very accomodating for business meals.
Keiko is the chef. She is a young Japanese woman. All of the dishes were well executed but nothing wowed me to the bring the rating to 5-stars. Great service as well. Best of all, I think the price is very reasonable. They've just opened so I would definitely recommend everyone to try this place. It was definitely one of the better dining experiences I've had in SF this year. -
Review from Chi N.
3/19/2012
My foodie friend claims that the food at Keiko is even better than French Laundry. We had some dishes at the bar and I was duly impressed. My favorite was the Shigoku Oyster Gratin, which tastes very similar to Oyster Rockefeller. The Chanterelle Mushroom Risotto was really delicious too but I prefer my risotto to be cooked a little more than the traditional al dente way. The Braised Pork Belly was ok. It was a little too cooked and chewy for me, not enough melt in your mouth fatty goodness. The crab cakes were very fresh and tasted like the crabs were picked fresh from Fisherman's wharf that day. We also had some really good beer. For $22 a bottle, it better be. I would love to come back here for a full dinner next time.
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Review from Adolfo L.
2/17/2012 ROTD 4/28/2012
RUN HERE, don't walk. Go now. Before they blow up. Actually please don't. I want it to remain accessible for the time being. For I know that soon this place will be packed. So, STAY AWAY! I think I am bipolar. NO, I'm not.
I heard about this place when it opened in November. This Japanese inspired French cuisine restaurant was opened by a married couple who were former owners of El Paseo before they sold it off to Tyler Florence. Keiko, the wife and the chef, is said to be the first US female chef to earn a Michelin star back in 2010. She's small in stature, unassuming, and very humble and nice. The husband Seigo is equally nice and runs the front of the house, is the sommelier, and also makes wine for the restaurant. My buddy and I met both of them as we spent a few hours in their bar area continually eating off the bar menu. And when I say bar menu, it is not your regular bar menu. The soft boiled egg that accompanies the oh-so-tender pork belly has a meticulous 3-step process. And yes, it tasted damn good. Everything from the "Oyster Gratin" which is like an Oyster Rockefeller (but better) to the Cow Tongue (yes, tongue!!!) was simply amazing. I don't use "amazing" when describing food too much, but this one was deserving. The dining room menu is different. An 8 course tasting menu for $88, and I hear it's amazing as well. Though it sounds like a fancy place, it's not too stuffy or pretentious. Very warm and inviting. GO NOW! No, please don't...
