Nightbird - San Francisco

My best friend wanted to celebrate a life milestone with a bougie dinner, and I was tasked with finding the perfect restaurant. I discovered Nightbird on SF's Michelin Guide. After struggling to make online reservations, I called the restaurant and spoke with William. He was incredibly easygoing and enthusiastic, which made me even more excited for our dinner. We had a reservation for 6 people at 7: 30 pm on a Friday. We arrived a bit early, hoping to grab a cocktail next door, but it was closed. To our surprise, William happened to be stepping out of Nightbird as we walked by and invited us to our table, which was already set up. He also revealed a surprise bottle of champagne waiting for us – a thoughtful touch from my husband. Nightbird itself was beautifully simple. The low lighting had warm hues, and the music was at a comfortable volume, allowing for easy conversation. The overall service was excellent. Each course arrived promptly, and William became our host, bringing immense joy with his friendliness and bubbly personality. He truly went above and beyond to ensure we had a fantastic experience. The other staff members were also great. Although 16% gratuity was automatically included, I added extra to bring it to 20% for the outstanding customer service. We opted for the 12-course meal and splurged on extras like A5 Wagyu, cocktails, and wine pairings. I enjoyed most of the courses. The most memorable dishes included the beignet bite and caviar tart, the quail egg (particularly amazing!), ceviche, taiyaki, trout, squab, Wagyu, the granita palace cleanser, the final dessert, and the mignardise & petite fours (especially the caramel tart). An honorable mention goes to the donut with broth. It was incredibly unique, with a slightly sweet yet savory donut and a warm, comforting broth made from squab, resulting in a standout umami flavor. It might be an acquired taste for some. The mediocre courses were the "Taste of Ocean" dish, which was too fishy for some of my friends, and the chawanmushi, which I've had better versions of at omakase restaurants. The breads were fine but not memorable, though the butter made with bone marrow was delightful.

My experience at this restaurant was largely negative due to poorly executed food and imbalanced service. The beef with charred leeks tasted as if it had been rolled around in an ashtray, a far cry from well-executed smoky dishes. The menu, featuring only the names of deceased chefs, offered no insight into the dishes, leaving us guessing about savory versus sweet courses. The primary reason for the one-star rating, however, was the terrible service. One server focused all attention on a single person, completely ignoring the rest of my party. Only one of us was offered tea or coffee, asked about the food, or offered another drink. Peculiarly, those ignored were people of color. The waitress mistakenly identified us as vegetarians, then apologized for the wrong table. She also congratulated us on a job promotion before realizing she was at the wrong table again. Fine dining establishments should provide better training; this experience was worse than Burger King.

My experience at Night Bird was truly unforgettable. This is the kind of place that genuinely deserves a Michelin star. Every dish was an explosion of flavor, offering taste combinations I had never experienced before. The creativity and execution were outstanding, making the entire meal a journey for the senses.

My experience at Nightbird was incredibly good. The cuisine is unique and almost whimsical, with superb quality and execution. The staff were fun and knowledgeable, and the great wine pairings made it our current favorite restaurant.

My experience at Nightbird was a mixed bag. The vegetarian tasting menu was beautifully presented and creative, with many flavorful dishes. However, the portions were not very filling, and some courses felt inconsistent, leaving us still a bit hungry after about 10 courses. The restaurant itself offers a lovely, quiet ambiance, but the service, while rated a 4, lacked the warmth and engagement I've experienced at other fine dining establishments in San Francisco. Instead of feeling like a complete "dining experience, " it felt more like simply being served one dish after another. Overall, Nightbird has elegance and creativity, but I left wishing for a little more substance, both in the food and the overall experience.