Best Contemporary American Restaurants in SOMA

We went for valentines, great experience! We’re seated immediately, food came out quickly & was very good. Plus one of the best espresso martinis in SF!

We enjoyed an early valentines dinner around 7:45pm. We were worried about the temperature in the outside seating space but the experience was very pleasant. We felt cozy under heaters and was nice to be outside during the rain. For dinner we enjoyed the “Chef’s Choice” - a family style 4 course meal that included several shared dishes. Each dish was delicious! Would be hard to pick a favorite. We left 1000% satisfied with the food and overall experience. Would recommend anyone looking to explore a cool restaurant.

We got lucky getting the best table in the restaurant, across from the bar in a nook under the stairs, so we easily heard each other! We chose a plant forward menu and our waiter Kai (sp?) decided on the order of the dishes. I’d trust his judgment again because we had a great time. The pigs head hid a shaved fennel and pear salad underneath. I delightfully learned how different parts of fennel tastes when shaved so finely. The Hokkaido scallops were soooo good and fresh and compared to a sushi restaurant, a very good value. My partner normally doesn’t like shellfish but he loved the scallops. We ended the savory portion of the meal with the seaweed noodles and the grilled cabbage with dill pickle butter and roe. Both plates had amazing, complimentary sauces and Kai brought us some bread to savor the last drops. The One Punch Man cocktail complemented entire the meal so well with its fruity yet creamy flavor. We got the chocolate semifreddo for dessert for the texture. It had a toasted umeboshi meringue that tasted like dates if they were slightly pickled. I left food drunk and with very happy tastebuds. I loved the restraint in all the flavors. I think a lot of dishes could’ve easily gone sideways in less capable hands, or even the meal because this menu had a lot of citrus and pickled items, and instead they nailed it just right.

It is always a special experience to dine at the Rotunda because it is so much a part of San Francisco history and a beautiful venue! My friend Manuel had never been there so he had a blast seeing the space and enjoying the food. Ralph, our server, was polite and attentive and the food was good as always. I do enjoy a place where I am already recognized by the hosts especially since one feels like one is being greeted by family. :)

It was a special occasion and they treated it like one. Very good service and good food.