SF Michelin Star βοΈ Nisei | Autumn Menu Review π
Nisei, a Japanese-Californian fusion restaurant in San Francisco, has held a Michelin star for four consecutive years. The ambiance is intimate and refined, though the space is compact. Since they donβt rush table turnovers, the pacing between dishes is quite slow β our meal spanned nearly three hours. β³ A small surprise (not the good kind π ): Shortly after we ordered drinks, the staff brought over sparkling tea and sparkling wine. As we were celebrating a birthday, we assumed it was complimentary β but it was added to the bill. We shouldβve asked, but still, a tiny letdown. π Autumn Menu Highlights & Lowlights: One-Bite Appetizers π½οΈ Each was exquisite and memorable. Santa Barbara Uni π Unexpectedly fresh and sweet β a delightful surprise. Caviar Omurice π The sauce was overly salty, and we all agreed: more rice, please! It was so savory, it deserved more base. π Black Cod π Perfectly executed β you really canβt go wrong with cod. Lobster with Pumpkin Foam π¦π Pleasant but not outstanding β neither a win nor a loss. Grilled Eel πβ¨ The star of the night! Crispy, fragrant, and deeply flavorful. Miso Soup & Wagyu π²β The last savory course was a letdown. The miso soup tasted like creamy mushroom soup β too rich. The highly anticipated Wagyu didnβt impress, and the small portion of rice left usβ¦ speechless (in a not-so-good way). Desserts π§ Saved the night! Refreshing, tangy, and sweet β they even whet the appetite again. A lovely finish! π Final Thoughts: The flavors generally meet the one-Michelin-star standard, but for $300 per person (excluding drinks), the autumn menu felt somewhat lackluster. The ingredients were mostly sourced from the U.S., and the overall variety didnβt quite justify the price. Good β but not unforgettable. On a sweet note, they gifted the birthday celebrant a candle π―οΈ and a Polaroid photo π β a thoughtful touch! #BayAreaFood #BayAreaExploration #SFFood #Michelin #SFMichelin #BayAreaLife #BayAreaWeekend #BayAreaVibes #Foodie #BayAreaMichelin
