so i remember wanting to go here when we went to go see jamie oliver in sf
it was the lunch part of the interview & we walked across the street & remember thinking as i saw the window..hmm i wonder what restaurant this is..it's so nice inside... & then we walked in! & it was aqua & i accidentally interrupted the "interviewer" jason & said "omg i've always wanted to come here!"
it turns out it was ok cuz he was a foodie too
we sat down & jason recommended the ahi tuna tartare appetizer...so i got that & the wild sea bass & he got the seared foie gras (which was on the tasting menu but the waiter said it could replace the trio of foie gras if he wished) & the black cod.
i had never received a better explanation of all my food before...the waiter was very precise in everything he said "the lemon adds a tart freshness & the slivered almonds are for texture....."
i got water & jason got ice tea..it came with a small plate of lemon w/ a mini pitcher of simple syrup...that pitcher made me wish i had gotten the ice tea...
a waiter specifically carry a plate of different breads & rolls covered in a cloth asked what kind we wanted...i chose the olive roll & he got the sourdough...he used tongs to place them on our bread plate & placed a boat of butter in the middle of the table
when the tartare came...it was a flat rectangle of cubed tuna with basil chiffonade & a raw quail egg atop & coriander sprinked around the plate w/ strips of toasted flat bread on the far side & a line of ingredients facing me of lemon zest, slivered almonds, & i think more spices...he used two spoons...picked up the egg & began to mix all the ingredients explaining it to me as he went along...it was soo delicious...i have never had anything like it...i also tasted a bite of jason's foie gras..it was so perfectly buttery & melt in your mouth...
i definitely didn't feel like i was focused on the interview anymore...
i loved how the waiter...even though there was space between our table & the next would walk the perimeter of the restaurant to get to me instead of slipping through the gap
so the entrees came...jason's wrapped in bacon black cod looked super good & mine was lined up sea bass w/ a piquillo pepper in the middle with a fried calamari garnish (which was super crispy & good i wish i had more)& it had a pesto rectangle outline around the whole entree...the waiter had a small plate with two mini pitchers & he said this is a piquillo pepper sauce w/ something & he poured the sauce around the plate & i realized the pesto rectangle was to prevent it from totally soaking the entree...jason's got a similar treatment with carrot something reduction...
the sea bass was incredibly tender & barely pink inside....it was fabulous...the stuffing of the piquillo pepper however was questionable...i think it had calamari stuffing but it was a very strange texture & i couldn't make out what was inside...so i didn't finish it..it was crunchy but soft but yea i don't know...
we looked at the dessert menu but didn't order anything...one stood out to me....
Citrus Tart
Creme Fraiche & Blood Orange Swirl, Cardamom Crumble, Tangerine Foam
$11
But then I remembered that it wasn't about the food...I was sup'd to be impressing the interviewer...
Tartare of Ahi Tuna
Moroccan Spices, Lemon Confit, Fresh Herbs
$17.00
Wild Sea Bass
Calamari Stuffed Piquillo Peppers, Arugula
$23.00
Trio of Cold Artisan Foie Gras
Orange Terrine, Syrah Poached, Truffled Torchon
$20.00
Artisan Foie Gras
Almonds, Grapes, Smoked Duck, Shallot Sherry Sauce
Alaskan Black Cod
Smoked Bacon, Tomato & Date Chutney, Glazed Carrots
$23.00
With a decent tip, the total for two people lunching was $115.



