Anomaly SF — Restaurant in San Francisco

Disappointing. Easily by far the most disappointing fine dining experience I've ever had, especially given the aggregated review score. I've received the worst service I've ever gotten at the $100+ price point and there was nothing new with any of the courses despite their claim to fame for "Anomaly". The reservation was under Sofia.

Menu: None of the courses were anything I haven't already tasted elsewhere. This place is a perfect example of Pete Wells' "global fine dining" remark, where almost every fine dining restaurant's menu is hardly distinguishable from each other's. Over-reliance on French/Japanese cuisines and exact same textures/ingredients everybody else uses.

The main course's sauce on the steak was straight up bland, and the last dessert (cake, jelly, chocolate) literally all tasted like snacks I could buy prepackaged from a convenience store.

I really only liked the pate and main dessert (chocolate custard) but even those two were nothing I haven't already tasted multiple times elsewhere.

Service: Nobody asked me if I wanted to buy any of the additional supplements, nobody explained any of them to me, and nobody asked me if I had wanted to buy any drinks. Complete lack of initiative all-around.

The chefs when introducing the dishes also omitted a lot of details to us. I overheard other tables getting the typical elaborate metaphors of the dish, a story about the origin or the inspiration for the dish but we got absolutely none of that.

My friend was dressed pretty casually and I dressed visibly queer (drop shoulder rock band t-shirt revealing my bird tattoo under my collarbone, baggy jeans, sneakers with a carabiner, chunky necklaces with a transgender symbol, and painted nails) so that was almost certainly the reason for said terrible service.

Maybe they thought their stories would be too over our heads and something we wouldn't comprehend? Maybe they thought we couldn't afford the supplements? Who knows. I wasn't surprised but it was incredibly laughable and pitiful how predictable the bigotry and their attempted classism was.

Drinks: I didn't buy anything, selection was just your typical wine list and some sake. I get that the sommelier's job is to be the wine guy and it's the industry standard but again, given their emphasis on "anomaly", I was really hoping they would have pairings that weren't wine and had more varied alcohols. Once you've tried enough wine, you've really tried them all. No idea why a place called "Anomaly SF" is staying within the confines of French/Japanese traditions so tightly.

This was my first foray back into the fine dining scene since 2021 after I got a little tired of it and Anomaly SF's re-introduction was genuinely worse than I could've ever imagined. Never have I ever been to a restaurant with reviews like theirs and everything was so incredibly lacklustre.

The irony the restaurant is named Anomaly is a little too much tbh

2 stars and not 1 because the food was cooked well and the steak wasn't well done or blue so it technically all could've...

The 11-course menu was incredible. Visited from Ohio and this was just not an experience we can get in Ohio. Perfect for a fancy date night for 2 to sit in the area right in front of the kitchen and see them cooking. Staff was so attentive and we loved the detail of each dish they provided. We just had water as we don't really drink/had hiked some NP the entire week and just needed water. They were quick with their service- never had an empty glass. Would definitely return if we visit SF again!

Summer 25 Menu Review Tomato Popsicle- not the biggest fan but did like the dry tartlet it was served with. Egg Emoji- incurably flavor orful and delicious. Onion Soup and Cheese ball- The cheeseball was my favorite bite of the entire evening and the soup was so cool with the dry ice effect. Beef Tartar- such fun textures with everything mixed together. Tomatoes- so fresh and tasty of bacon. Crab and corn soup- incredible mixture of flavors. Scallops- not cooked to my liking but the flavors and everything went so well together. Quail/Blossom- the zucchini bread with fruit was incredible but the texture of the mixture inside the blossom was not my favorite, but the flavor was great. Basil Slushie- Incredible blend of flavors. Smores- not a fan of the jalapeno ice cream but i loved the warm sauce mixed with the cold chocolate. Mini Treats- Incredible bite sized desserts- i wish i could've had a larger portion of each as they...

Tucked away in Lower Pacific Heights, Anomaly SF delivers a tasting menu experience that masterfully blends theatrical presentation with deeply satisfying flavors. Chef Mike Lanham’s approach is both imaginative and grounded, offering dishes that surprise and delight without venturing into the realm of the overly experimental.  

The 11-course menu is a journey through inventive concepts that remain accessible. Standout dishes include the “Green Goddess Soup” topped with Parmesan snow, creating a dramatic dry ice effect that enhances the dining experience without overshadowing the dish’s essence. Another highlight is the playful egg dish, featuring an egg yolk jam nestled within a dashi foam, served in an egg-shaped vessel—a nod to modernist cuisine that remains comforting and familiar .   

Service at Anomaly SF is impeccable. The staff’s attentiveness ensures that each course is presented with care, and Chef Lanham often engages directly with guests, adding a personal touch that enhances the overall experience .

For those seeking a dining experience that combines creativity with comfort, Anomaly SF stands out as a must-visit destination. It’s a place where culinary artistry meets heartfelt hospitality, resulting in a meal that’s both memorable and...