Aster

Aster was a great dining experience.
We were in a booth (4 people) and the table was comfortable, the restaurant was quiet but still playing great music, and the décor was modern and interesting. I always love an open kitchen, too.
The service was perfect. Helpful waiters, attentive but not overbearing, and perfect timing for all courses and aspects of the meal.
The food was delicious. If you’re going to do the four course meal, everyone at the table has to do it, but each person can pick whichever dishes they want. The homemade sourdough with butter was so comforting and good, the bread warm and the salted butter melted on top. Definitely worth getting. The cold starters were 5 stars. The salad was beautifully plated and delicious, the smoked albacore was a highlight, and the beets were also fantastic. All the plating was gorgeous. The hot appetizers (second course) was also delicious. The potato dumplings were my favorite dish of the night. The main courses were creative and incredibly tasty. Overall, just really interesting flavors that were executed very well. The desserts were very interesting, all of them had a savory aspect; not typical desserts, but really good.
I highly recommend this restaurant!

inventive, fresh, casual
service was prompt and cordial
i enjoyed the radish appetizer and another with liver mousse.
beautiful plating.

Nice service
Real food simple ant tasty
And correct price
I will come back very interesting concept

beginning of the year — i will be generous with my stars. more of a 3.5 experience for me i guess. nothing wrong with the restaurant at all — i thought the dishes were presented nicely, had nice components, service was pretty good, etc., but definitely a disappointment in terms of a patterson collaboration and a michelin star rating. but i think perhaps we dont have the best luck with his restaurants — visited coi a few years ago and definitely not a 2-​star experience for me…
anyhoo. had a 715 reservation on a thursday — we were early. the restaurant gets packed later in the evening. there is a long communal table with 2– and 4– tops along the walls. good décor — the space looks pretty inviting. i did some research on their wine list and decided that i didnt want to pay 3x retail, so i brought a bottle of grgich hills chardonnay — nomsies — for a $ 30 corkage fee. not terrible, but not great either.
we did the 4 course tasting for $ 59 — pretty good deal, and added bread n butter to start. i got — bay scallops, potato dumplings, trout and the cheese course. boi got — beets, soft cooked egg, lamb, and also cheese with a dessert wine pairing that was delicious. i think the potato dumplings were my favorite part of the meal, lol. really nicely cooked and chewy and made me feel warm n fuzzy inside. everything else wasnt super memorable, well maybe the scallops were good, but trout was kinda bland, egg dish had WAY too much going on in it, and lamb was very meh, and he likes ALL lamb, so… that was disappointing.
would i come back again — probably when the menu changes, and in a year so that i could judge any progress…

Received 1 Star on the 2016 Michelin List
3.5 stars but rounding down since I didn’t love the majority of the dishes, and the portions were on the smaller side for the prices. I was able to make same day reservations for a dinner on a Thursday night, for a party of 4 at 6:30pm. Our table was ready when we arrived, and they weren’t busy at all during that time. The restaurant eventually got busier, but they weren’t packed by any means. We tried:
–Sourdough (House Cultured Butter, $ 5,
): Just ok– the bread was very dense, and I thought the butter was too sour and had the texture of a Greek yogurt versus butter. I wish restaurants had an option for diners to choose regular butter instead of all this house cultured butter, since I always think regular butter tastes better. Skip!
–Bay Scallop (Radish, Persimmon, Sunflower Seed, Basil, $ 16,
): Yum– the scallop was super fresh, and went really well with the rest of the ingredients. This is one of the better dishes we had.
–Duck Liver Mousse (Sprouted Grains, Strawberry, Fennel, Sesame, $ 13,
): The mousse was smooth and creamy, but the combination of ingredients didn’t quite work for me. The texture of the sprouted grains was strange, and I didn’t get the strawberries. We all felt like this dish needed a bread/​cracker of some sort since the mousse was too rich to eat on its own.
–Soft-​Cooked Egg (Crispy Potato, King Salmon Roe, Agretti, $ 14 + Uni Add-​On,
): I thought I would love this dish, and it was good, but the crispy potato really threw off the texture for me. I wasn’t a fan of the combination of ingredients for this dish, and wouldn’t order it again. However, the uni was really fresh, but not worth the cost of adding it on.
–Potato-​Caraway Dumplings (Chanterelle, Brussels, Yogurt, $ 15,
): Yum– this was probably my favorite dish of the night. The dumplings were pillowy soft, and I loved the combination of chanterelle and brussels. I just wish they gave you a larger portion– recommended!
–Pork Loin (Delicata Squash, Kishu, Shiitake Furikake, $ 26,
): Just ok– I liked the delicata squash, but the pork loin didn’t do anything for me. Skip.
–Milk-​Fed Lamb (Cabbage, Quince, Sunchoke, Hibiscus, $ 27,
): Pretty good, and I liked this a lot more than the pork loin. The lamb was seasoned well and really tender– recommended!
–Chocolate Ganache (Black Caramel, Cocoa Nib, $ 12,
): This was my favorite out of the three desserts we tried, but it was still just ok. The texture of the chocolate was really smooth and creamy, but it didn’t have much sweetness/​taste. I wouldn’t get this again.
–Pink Lady Apple (Brioche, Sunflower Seed, Shiso, $ 12,
): I didn’t like this at all– the apples were kind of soft but still partially hard, and the flavors didn’t work for me since it had a savoriness to it. Skip!
–Pumpkin Parfait (Pecan, Coriander, $ 12,
): I also wasn’t a fan of this dessert, since I didn’t think it had that much sweetness/​flavor, aside from a savory note. Skip!
They also offer an option of a 4 course menu for $ 59/​person, but the entire table has to participate. The presentation of all the dishes was beautiful, and I wish the taste matched the appearance for more of the dishes. The restaurant itself is very sleek and modern, and I loved the ambiance. I’m a big fan of new and inventive dishes, but I felt like there was too much was going on for the ones that we had, and the ingredients didn’t get to speak for themselves. Since it seems like the menu changes often, I hope the next version is more successful. Parking in this area is difficult since there is street parking, but a lot are taken by the residents.

Raining evening. I walked gingerly, skipping puddles as I had been working and did not have time to change into my rain boots. Restaurant called and said that there were some cancelations due to weather and asked if we’d be willing to come early. I emailed friends mid day and solidified a 8 PM dinner schedule in lieu of 9:30. Pouring rain. We got the best seat in the house, it’s tucked in by the front window, you simply cannot get a better view than that with the rain coming down. Endless Victorians. A bottle of Bordeaux was ordered for the table. San Francisco is now rich people’s playground, with residential home sometimes well over $ 1000 per sq foot (Nice, Provence, in French Riviera, where I’m at, at the top of the market is about $ 400 per sq foot). Aster’s prime Guerrero and 22^nd street location is a quintessential food mecca. They are surrounded by their peers and the food, as I’d later learn, justifies its one star Michelin rating.
That evening, instead of looking at the traffic, with the rain storm hitting us, you see a skewed view of the streets and car passing, and a lot of Victorian architectural elements through the window.
We went for the 4-​course but there were lots to choose from. The price range is right for what we want to eat, the portion of the food well managed. The scallops were quite delicious, the second course were dumplings, pumpkin soup, and soft boiled egg with salmon roe. Simply all divine. The mains we chose were pork shoulder and lamb. The desserts were good, but for me, thankfully, they had included cheese.
Overall, the food reflects this city: it’s modern, Californian, European light, with abundant Asian influence.
The menu is surprisingly assembled similarly to Sbraga, which also serves a four course menu for the same price range, and located in Philly. I’d be interested in seeing if the two chefs have studied under the same chef.
Think, I shall rename the city by the bay as La Petite Ville de Bijou Victorienne (the Small city of Victorian jewel,) after dining here. It’s that quintessential Californian cuisine coupled with the locale that give Aster, the newly minted Michelin star restaurant a leg up over its peers. While it’s the chef’s name dropping prior digs at Saison, Coi, State Bird, Outerlands that send new patrons here; it’s the food, however, that keeps people coming back.

Their attempts at being creative Californian came off as cold and corporate. They’re more concerned about getting your cash than creating a comfortable experience.
Our party called in advance to inquire about the mandatory four-​course participation policy, and the manager confirmed that a la carte for our party of 5 adults and 2 kids was fine.
Ten minutes after we all placed our orders the manager sent the waiter back to require us to select the four-​course menu. We were surprised the manager didn’t take responsibility for the fiasco. This dinner was a special occasion and we didn’t want to cause a scene, so we reluctantly re-​ordered according to the four-​course menu.
The food was okay but not worth the headache. Restaurants like this are a dime-​a-​dozen in San Francisco.
Lesson to take away about Aster: NOT good for groups! Their communication issues ruined my birthday dinner.

Great food! Went for their 3-​course tasting menu and thought each item was sophisticated both in conceptualization and execution. There’s nothing worse than spending a lot of money on food you could have made at home, but I’m happy to say that was not the case – I didn’t even know what half the ingredients were, so I definitely could not have made even one of those dishes myself!

Let’s be real, the Michelin Star ratings are a bit inflated these days. There are definitely some places that deserve them, but there are also a ton of places that don’t deserve them. Aster, while decent, did not live up to my expectations. I would give this place 3.5 stars if I could.
My girlfriend took me here for my birthday dinner. Unfortunately, though we made reservations well in advance we were still seated at the communal table. I guess if you make reservations you are seated there by default. You would think that it would actually be the other way around.
Aside from that, we both had the tasting menu so we could try everything. Honestly the food was pretty good. When I say pretty good, I mean the majority of the food was good, so basically ⁵⁄₈ dishes delighted my taste buds. The one dish that really did stand out was the trout. TROUT TROUT TROUT, seriously come for the trout it is actually amazing. Everything else was good but not memorable.
Service-​wise, Aster definitely needs help. You are a Michelin rated restaurant, so act like one. I already mentioned the communal table, but what really irked me, is that we mentioned it was my birthday, and I didn’t even get a candle on my dessert… Okay I sound like spoiled brat, I guess I’m just used to going to these restaurants and expecting excellence.
Regardless, one dinner at Aster was enough for me. Try it if you are looking for an affordable Michelin star restaurant to mark off your list, but don’t go if you are expecting a Michelin experience.

It seems as though people haven’t had positive experiences at Aster, but I had a fantastic time at dinner awhile back! Having heard a lot about Aster, and its recent inclusion on SF’s Michelin List for 2016, I wanted to make sure that I gave it a fair shake before writing it off as a place to try but not in a hurry to get to. In coming here with my in-​laws, and knowing how hard it can be to sometimes come to a consensus on what to eat, Aster’s four course menu option at $ 59/​person seemed like the best way to go so that everyone could be satisfied with their meal. That being said, it was pretty amusing that we all generally gravitated towards the same menu items save dessert. Since full participation is required by all parties at the table for the four course menu, we did our best to cover as much ground as possible. In any case, here’s what went down that evening among the four of us:
Appetizers (I):
Chicories, Olive, Early Girl Tomato & Buttermilk
Chilled Golden Beet Soup with Mussels, Pistachio Crumble, Dill
I had the chicories salad and was a little hesitant about the inclusion of olives (not a huge fan) but actually this was really delicious and light! The tomatoes break up the saltiness of the salad, so it actually turned out to being a very well-​balanced dish!
Appetizers (II):
Potato-​Caraway Dumplings, Maitake, Brussels, Yogurt
Sweetbreads with Pickled Summer Squash, Charred Peppers, Thyme
Sourdough bread
I absolutely loved the dumplings! I tried a half of the sweetbreads dish, and to be totally honest, I was annoyed that I had forfeited half of the dumplings dish for the sweetbreads. The soft, pillow-​y dumplings were fantastic, and the yogurt sauce that came with it was money. The sourdough bread that came was also incredible, and the presentation of the softened butter on the plate was genius since we were sharing.
Mains:
Trout with Tokyo Turnip, Grapes, Charred Scallion, Brown Butter
Pork Shoulder with Sweet Potato, Umeboshi, Grilled Bok Choy
I didn’t get around to trying the trout, but the pork shoulder was good! It was a little on the small side for a main, so if you’re looking for a hefty entrée, be prepared. The pork was presented in little cubes/​bite-​sized, and was definitely pretty to look at.
Dessert:
Pink Lady Apple with Brioche, Sunflower Seed, Shiso
Frozen Yogurt with Concord Grape, Sourdough
Chocolate Ganache with Black Caramel and Cocoa Nib
I had the frozen yogurt, and I couldn’t be more surprised when the dish came out and it was totally not what I was expecting! The concord grapes and jelly that came with the yogurt (which was presented in a square!) was delicious and definitely something that I had never tasted before! Things were going well until I saw that my father-​in-​law had ordered the chocolate ganache, and had a small bit of regret when I saw how beautiful the plate was. He definitely enjoyed the chocolate ganache but said that the black caramel was something he didn’t really enjoy since it was a little too bitter.
Overall, we really enjoyed the meal at Aster, and service wise, everything came out in a timely manner and our server was very helpful in assisting us with the navigation of the menu. The restaurant itself wasn’t overly busy, but I felt like we had just enough attention paid to us and not overwhelming at the same time. I would definitely like to visit Aster again, and I would like select the four course menu option as well since I think this was the best way to try as much as possible and not run the risk of being uncomfortably full.

The food —
Bread was incredible, heartier than expected for sourdough and house made butter was rich and milky.
Duck Liver Mousse — Light, rich and creamy with pieces of lamb hearts. It didn’t come with anything to spread it on but I spread it on the bread. Not a fan of the wheat berries which threw off the texture.
Sweetbreads — Crispy chickpea (?) flour coating, fatty. Okay, I’ve had better.
Milk Fed Lamb — Done a few ways. Some pieces were tough while other cuts were chewier. Just okay. The braised cabbage was amazingly seasoned and the best part of this dish.
Chocolate Ganache — Dense, chewy and dark but not remarkable. Usually not big on sweets but the caramel had deep burnt flavor and was the highlight.
Service is kind of strange. We were seated at the communal table despite there being a two person table that remained unoccupied the entirety of our time there. The server was mostly attentive and genial.
The food came out in bursts and it took over two hours to get served all four courses — not the waitstaff’s fault but seems the kitchen is understaffed. Kitchen crew looked kind of heads down and stressed out. The bread (which they charge $ 5 extra for) held us over between courses, without it I may have been left hungry at the end of the meal.
I had a few bites of my friend’s selections as well.
Scallops — subtly, well seasoned. One of the best.
Soft baked egg — runny yolk with some random vegetables.
Trout — really good texture, soft and buttery but fully cooked. I regretted not getting this as my main instead.
The most memorable part was the bread which was off the hook and costs extra. The food was pretty mediocre compared to other restaurants of the same caliber. Duck mousse was also really tasty. With stiff competition on the scene, Aster is not disappointing but won’t knock your socks off either.

Don’t get me wrong here… The food is fantastic, the atmosphere great, the servers (while assigned to many tables) were on top of their game.
My big problem & it really is a huge problem was that they don’t fully disclose important parts of their dishes.
For instance, my friend & I ordered duck liver mouse which I love & she was willing to try. When it arrived at our table our server presented it & then we were informed there were du k hearts in the dish. This was too much for my friend & I– I work in cardiac surgery.
Also, the local halibut was outstanding but it was not cooked~ totally fine with me but not if I were pregnant.
The servers were super accommodating & took the chicken heart dish away & off of our bill.
Instead we super enjoyed their house made bread & butter, their local halibut which was fresh, with spot on clean flavors & a little spice.
We also enjoyed the trout & park shoulder. The trout melted in your mouth as did the pork shoulder. My only critic of the pork dish was that the bok choy it was served with was waay over done & floppy from being water logged.
I would def come back again! In a heart beat! Not a duck heart beat ;)

One of the best meals I’ve had in San Francisco. And I’ve had plenty. Don’t pay attention to the negative reviews (especially if you work at Aster), this place is excellent and it’s obvious that the entire staff puts great love into every element of the restaurant.
Although everything was superb, my favorite dish was the beet soup — it just stood out as totally unique and delicious haute cuisine. Aster is almost certainly beyond the palateal comprehension of most restaurant-​goers but that’s not Aster’s fault.

All in all, I was pretty disappointed. My gf really wanted to check this place out since we recently read about it. We were easily able to get a reservation and it wasn’t that crowded but in a cool space. I had been to the restaurant it was previously and they did a good job renovating. We shared a quite a few items and our waiter got our order wrong — oh well.
Sourdough bread was really good!
Duck liver mousse — We didn’t order this and it wasn’t accompanied w/​any toast/​cracker, etc. to spread — weird
Sweetbreads — Nothing special
Black pepper dumplings — I’ve had better
Farro — My gf is a huge fan but me — not so much. The best thing on this dish was the kale crisp!
Pork shoulder — Surprised w/​the super small serving and there was nothing special about it.
Surprisingly nothing wowed us on the dessert menu which is hard to do!
Service — they’re super attentive & helpful, almost too much. There was staff constantly circling. Our waiter forgot who ordered the sparkling (thought it was house and we ended up paying for a large pellegrino, smh) vs. still water. Another person came by to refill my gf’s water and refilled it with the incorrect one. Le sigh.
Parking was difficult so be prepared!

My good friend loves surprising me, especially in celebrating my birthday. She confirms a time and date then gives me driving instructions. Being familiar with the neighborhood, we were fortunate to score a street parking space just a few blocks away. Walking into this corner restaurant, I gazed at its interesting design, a cozy feel to an industrial space. I remember the restaurant name, but could not put the face to the place. Only after searching my phone did I remember. After a quick gaze through the menu, we agreed on the four course menu for $ 59.00 which went like this for me:
1. Golden beet soup (
) — Great summer dish, serving a cold soup; nice flavors with the sweetness of the golden beet and the brininess of the mussels.
2. Soft cooked egg (
) — What’s not to love about soft egg?! The crispy potatoes weren’t all that crispy as this had more of a salad feel than a carb dish.
3. Milk fed lamb (
) — Done two ways, the lamb was tasty and not the least bit gamey. The eggplant purée and flavors definitely gave this a Mediterranean feel.
4. Chocolate ganache (
) — Probably my least favorite as nothing about this really shined. Because my gracious host did not enjoy her dessert, I gave her my macarons.
Given the chef’s pedigree and after reading M. Bauer’s recent Sunday paper review, my expectations were tempered but with a lean towards the higher side. The meal was fine and the presentations and flavors were interesting with the first two dishes being my favorites. We also ordered the bread service (yes, it’s extra) which did not disappoint.
The dining room was only a quarter full when we arrived just about 6:30 pm on a recent Friday night, not really a good sign for a growing business. The service was very efficient and professional as dishes were quickly cleared and beverage glasses were replenished. The food rates 3.5 stars in my book with a 0.5 star bump for the service. The location reminded me of several long gone restaurants that I do miss, Watergate on Valencia and Flying Saucer. With the ownership and chef’s experience, I’m sure they’ll figure the formula to filling those tables in no time.

Chef Brett Cooper has such an impressive culinary pedigree (Rubicon, Coi, Saison, Outerlands… Outerlands?) that it would have been near-​to-​impossible for him to fail in this relatively new venture under the auspices of Daniel Patterson (Coi). Jamie W. decided to take me here for my birthday even though he probably could have gone for a burrito bowl at Chipotle given what he perceived to be a persnickety approach to the dishes. I certainly won’t argue the meticulous nature of the presentations, but thankfully Cooper has managed to balance most of the bold flavors he and his staff blend together on each plate. Our challenge, and perhaps it was a petty one, was the smallness of the portions.
Understand I was raised by a dad who constantly took us to «All You Can Eat» cafeterias because he was always looking to maximize his money even if the lasting impact was the bottomless pit of my stomach. Even with this in mind, it made sense to go for the $ 59 four-​course dinner for me, while Jamie ordered two plates even if it meant a couple of bites a piece for both of us on a couple of shared plates. He first started with the $ 12 Chilled Golden Beet Soup, which required the server to present the supporting ingredients — mussels, pistachio and dill — naked in a bowl before she poured the soup (photo:
). It was a confusing preamble to a luxuriant ladle of soup. Yes, it was tasty.
Mine came next, the $ 13 Duck Liver Mousse which was almost completely hidden by a passel of fennel marinated with sesame, sprouted grains that tasted like wheat kernels and a strawberry coulis (photo:
). Bits of actual duck were mixed in to give the dish a bit more savory heft. Very good and gone in about two minutes. We decided to share the $ 17 Sweetbreads which were given a surprising deep-​fried treatment and covered with a pickled summer squash relish mixed with charred peppers and thyme (photo:
). The consistency of the sweetbreads was perfect, but given my druthers, I would have preferred them more naked and less Southern in treatment.
Entrees came next, and here is where the meal started to pay off more discernibly. Jamie ordered the $ 24 Pork Shoulder with sweet potato, creamed rhubarb, and grilled bok choy, and it was a savory hit in a more satisfying portion (photo:
). Mine was even better, the $ 27 Milk-​Fed Lamb, which was prepared three ways and accompanied by pole & shelling beans, smoked eggplant and nepitella (an Italian mint herb) (photo:
). That was a masterful dish beautifully prepared with the grilled lamb roulade particularly winning. I got a dessert with my meal, so we shared the $ 12 Chocolate Ganache, two small blocks of dark chocolate and an unbelievably creamy dollop of white chocolate, with black caramel and cocoa nibs (photo:
).
It was a strong finish to an impressive meal that was only curtailed by misjudged portion control. I forgot to describe the ambiance, which was deceptively casual in spite of the price points. The strings of lights on the ceiling were another source of deception but in a good way in the way they reflected in the mirrors. We were seated in the central communal table which fortunately didn’t crowd up until we were finishing our meal. A particularly affectionate couple locked hands as if they were ready to arm wrestle despite the broadness of he table width. Jamie and I were not nearly as demonstrative. An occasional wave sufficed until we left the restaurant into the wilds of the Mission.
FOOD — 4 stars… a strong finish with the lamb and the ganache helping to overcome our marginal disappointment at the paltry portions
AMBIANCE — 3.5 stars… casual considering the price point, a bit loud judging by the cackling hen party behind us
SERVICE — 3.5 stars… efficient, not overly intrusive
TOTAL — 4 stars… Cooper has talent on display here, still think there could be refinements and maybe an extra sweetbread or two on the plate

Overall, I was very pleased with my meal at Aster. As a new place, I feel it’s still got a little bit of work to do to get up to snuff, but the food was delicious and beautifully prepared. There were three of us and we each started with the young garlic soup. Maybe it was too young, but the flavors just weren’t terribly strong for us.
We shared the soft-​cooked egg dish which was very tasty, as were the rabbit meatballs. For entrees, we also shared everything. I think the milk-​fed lamb with smoked eggplant was a standout, with strong flavors that elevated the dish. The black cod was perfectly soft and flaky and moist, and went well with its accompaniments. The gnocchi, however, was not terribly exciting.
As for desserts, the raspberry dish was amazing. A variety of raspberry forms, with a flaky meringue-​like buckwheat cracker, creamy mousse… just wow. The frozen chocolate was good, but nowhere near the «wow» factor of the raspberries.

I had real high hopes for Aster as I had read about it on eater. I got a reservation as the start of a holiday weekend to kick it off right.
The décor inside is very nice, mirrors on the wall give the illusion of a high ceiling and the kitchen is open facing the restaurant. Initially all was well.
To start I ordered the ‘lady in red’ cocktail, which was delivered in a small glass flask like bottle. It was incredibly strong, but more of a pre-​mixed drink. It seems they don’t actually have a bar, so they might just keep drinks pre-​mixed in bottles and serve right out of them, i wasn’t a fan.
For appetizers I ordered the halibut and garlic soup. The halibut was sashimi style, with radishes and chili oil on top, that was great, however they also sprinkled peanuts on it which just didn’t seam to belong. The garlic soup was delicious, but again it had raw daikon which I had to just chew away, it didn’t seem to blend well with the dish. Also ordered the house made sourdough (which is quite the rip off that they charge just for bread).
For the main course I got the poached salmon and hubby got the lamb. Both were small portions and decent tasting.
The dessert was by far my favorite course, as the frozen chocolate was delicious with tiny marshmallows and mango purée drops.
Usually a restaurant will earn back some stars if the food is subpar but the dessert is good, but I felt Aster was lacking in the service. The servers never actually talked to us, just dropped off the food and left. Our waiter seemed chatty with all the other tables but us, and never really explained the menu. The only thing he did manage to say was that they now accept tipping, so that’s encouraged. So after we tipped on our way out not a single staff member said bye, or have a nice night, we just walked our selves out.
So in total I was not impressed, the food was alright, but its definitely lacking in service.

Every so often, we swing ’round Guerrero. When this wasn’t The Beast and The Hare anymore (which was awesome btw), we had to learn what in the world replaced it and why.
That happened to be Aster! I liked the architectural setup inside, where certain elevated mirrors made the room feel even larger than it actually was.
On with our order! We shared the following:
–Chicharrones
–Pigs Head Croquettes
–Delta Asparagus
–Broccoli and Pork Belly
–Cold Smoked Trout
–Poached Rhubarb Pumpkin Seeds Dessert
I was really surprised how much I liked the Delta Asparagus, almost addicting. Broccoli and pork belly was amazing. Hats off to the chef of Pigs Head Croquettes, as its mix of flavors will tickle your taste buds until the cows come home!
For dessert, I think we had a split opinion about it. I know I enjoyed trying something new, but we weren’t sure if there were curry influences on that dish, not my partner’s preference. By golly, I still liked it!
It was an enjoyable early-​evening dinner for sure. Great service. Hope to return!

San Francisco,
I hate that I love you.
As my birth city and a city that I adore for its diversity, awesome eats, and liberalness (hello, bare butt cheeks in the castro) but the gentrification is just getting out of hand. From $ 7 beer in a plastic pee pee cup, $ 15 sammies, to a $ 49 million condo (yes, it exists:
). For pete’s sake, my parking space at work has gone up $ 90 a month and when I step out of my car, there’s a pool of used needles on the floor and a drunk hobo offering me a sip of his 40. Sorry, dude… not before 7 am but maybe at happy hour?
When it comes to food, I know no boundaries… as long as it’s good, I don’t mind splurging. For date night, I picked Aster, the new restaurant that opened last week in the old Beast And The Hare space from the Daniel Patterson Group (Coi, Plum, Alta CA). The New American menu is small and focused with 3 small bites ($ 4-​$ 6), 4 apps ($ 14-​$ 17), 4 entrees ($ 27-​$ 34), and 3 desserts ($ 12). Wines by the glass was about $ 12-​$ 42. Prices included tip but not tax.
Our waiter recommended that each person order one dish from each category but $ 200 for a regular date night was too spendy so we ordered 1 small bite, 1 app, and 1 dessert to share, and we each ordered our own entrée. Portions are tiny for the high prices but we didn’t leave hungry. If you have large appetite, I would plan for a second dinner: 20 piece McD nuggets for $ 5. FTW!
We started with the Pig Croquettes ($ 6) had an über soft gelatinous center with a nice, crunchy crust:
. Good amuse bouche-​type starter.
Everything we had after that was underwhelming. Nothing was remotely bad but when compared to all the other brand new restaurants we visited this year (BDK, Sous Beurre Kitchen, Dragon Beaux, Liholiho, Al’s Place, Cockscomb, Californios, and The Progress) nothing stood out.
The Cold Smoked Trout ($ 17) was ok but I wish there was more smoke essence:
. My Black Pepper-​Potato Dumpling entrée ($ 27) was like a pan-​fried gnocchi:
. Mr. NSS’ Lamb Shoulder entrée ($ 33) was tender but minuscule and way overpriced:
. It reminded me of a braised beef dish we had at their sister restaurant, Alta CA except this was $ 10 more and half the portion. =/​
For dessert, we shared the Strawberry w/​cultured cream ($ 12) which was light and refreshing but nothing earth shattering:
.
I washed everything down with a glass of the Hobo Cab ($ 15) and the La Rioja Tempranillo ($ 15). The latter was wonderful and highly recommended.
Service was polite but there were some kinks as to be expected with any new restaurant. Our waiter was very friendly but went MIA after we received our order that we had to request a knife from the manager (?), and ordered dessert from the hostess.
Contemporary rustic space with track lighting. Good for small groups only but there is a large communal table (fits 12) which I believe are for walk-​ins.
Parking is horrible in the area but there’s a parking lot 2.5 blocks away on 21^st and Bartlett.
I feel bad for just giving 3 stars but the prices were too high for underwhelming food. I forgot to mention, it was $ 5 for a 6 ounce glass of soda filled with 90% ice.
AND, Mr. NSS, had the balls to order two!
No wonder he said, it was my turn to pay…