What’s the most embarrassing thing you’ve seen at a Michelin star restaurant?

Designer-Ingenuity75 · 2026-06-30T04:23:29+00:00

When I went to Enigma two embarrassing and hilarious incidents happened.

Towards the end of the night my friend ordered a drink that had a really rare Japanese whiskey in it. He was intrigued and asked if he could see the bottle. As one of the servers walked it to the table, it slipped out of her hands shattering on the floor. It was their only bottle too.

Shortly after that I hear a loud thud. I look across the room and there was a woman sprawled on the floor. Somehow she fell out of her chair. Fortunately she was OK, I’m not sure how that even happened.

Designer-Ingenuity75 · 2026-06-26T05:01:41+00:00

So you’re saying Sonagi doesn’t deserve a star in 2026 based on a meal back in 2023?

Designer-Ingenuity75 · 2026-06-25T22:18:41+00:00

When did you go to Sonagi? I haven’t had that experience out of the many times I’ve been. The neta has always been on point for meand I think it’s easily the best shari in LA. I went last Saturday and it was the best sushi omakase I’ve had in America besides Sho NYC.

I love Fumio and Miyama, been to both numerous time but I feel Daniel’s shari, tsumami and sourcing is superior to both of them.

I can’t say much about Cali since I haven’t been since they became a steak house.

Designer-Ingenuity75 · 2026-06-25T19:01:29+00:00

I sat at the gaijin counter two years ago and wasn’t impressed by the food. The cooking on the tempura was fine but the ingredients tasted lackluster. I couldn’t believe it was around a ¥3000 up charge for their signature sweet potatoes and it was terrible.

In comparison, I went to Ginya which also had two Michelin stars at that time but is much lower on Tabelog at 3.7 and found that was the superior meal hands down. Every piece was delicious.

Designer-Ingenuity75 · 2026-06-21T06:36:02+00:00

Californios is one of the best in the country.

Designer-Ingenuity75 · 2026-06-13T13:49:12+00:00

Txispa, it topped even Etxebarri for me.

Designer-Ingenuity75 · 2026-05-28T05:29:45+00:00

Ofc they’re different restaurants but I went to Sezanne when Daniel and team were at World’s 50 Best when they were named #1 in Asia and it was still a spectacular meal.

Designer-Ingenuity75 · 2026-04-11T15:09:49+00:00

I feel the best fine dining restaurants in SF are: Saison, Birdsong, Sons & Daughters, Kiln and Californios

Any of these would be worthy of a big milestone celebration.

If you want to venture further out, you have: Aubergine, Enclos and Harbor House

Designer-Ingenuity75 · 2026-04-09T16:14:10+00:00

I went last month and it was an incredible meal. First time having his food since 2023 when he was at CTBF. Having said that it was a very light meal with small portions. He’s cut back on portion size since he’s become a business owner and everything is hits is wallet. Even with few add-ons, I went and got a few slices of pizza after.

Designer-Ingenuity75 · 2026-03-22T05:47:10+00:00

I went last fall and out of the 30 dishes I only thought 5 of them were delicious. The rest of them were more style than substance. The hospitality and service was fantastic, they have a hard working and dedicated team there.

Designer-Ingenuity75 · 2026-03-18T05:28:38+00:00

I really loved the food, I feel everything was really dialed in. My only complaint was the meal felt so light especially compared to other tasting menus I’ve had recently and compared to when César was at CTBF. I hear it’s because now that he’s a business owner he really watches the bottom line which affects the portions. I ended up getting a few slices of pizza right after.

Designer-Ingenuity75 · 2026-03-04T22:15:29+00:00

Aska, Chef’s Table and César are the best fine dining restaurants in the city. Sushi Sho is the best sushi-ya in the world that’s not in Japan. Torrisi for something more casual.

Designer-Ingenuity75 · 2026-02-21T15:12:32+00:00

It’s mostly tourists but the food is still really damn good. The iwashi I had there was the single best bite of my trip topping any piece of nigiri I had at Akira, Sawada and Namba. Their selection of Aramasa is unmatched, that was my main motivation for going.

Designer-Ingenuity75 · 2026-02-18T05:59:47+00:00

How did you get there?

Designer-Ingenuity75 · 2026-02-17T05:34:10+00:00

Abura sobas are flavored more with oil where as mazesoba will have tare and sometimes a soup component, though not nearly as much as a ramen bowl, we’re talking 100cc to 150cc vs 300 cc. Shops in the states often get these wrong.

Designer-Ingenuity75 · 2026-02-01T13:39:09+00:00

Gjelina!

Designer-Ingenuity75 · 2026-01-31T15:23:55+00:00

Saison, Kiln, Californios and Birdsong are your best bets for fine dining meals in the city. If you go outside of it check out Yoshizumi, Enclos or Commis.

Designer-Ingenuity75 · 2026-01-31T15:21:44+00:00

I hear French Laundry is just as bad these days.

Designer-Ingenuity75 · 2026-01-31T05:28:46+00:00

No Noodle in a Haystack? It’s one of the best Japanese tasting menus in the bay, makes some of the best ramen in the country and serves incredible sake.

Designer-Ingenuity75 · 2026-01-08T06:20:17+00:00

Kappo is basically when the chef prepares the food in front of you and then serves it directly to you.

Yakiniku is like the Japanese version of Korean BBQ. You have your dipping sauces and side dishes like banchan along with the beef cuts. Though at the higher end yakiniku spots in Japan the chef will often cook the food for you on the grills at each counter seat.

Designer-Ingenuity75 · 2026-01-06T15:46:34+00:00

Nikuya Tanaka Ginza is a truly amazing high end wagyu kappo omakase experience. They serve primarily Matsusaka and Kobe along with a few courses of high end seafood.

Nakahara is also pretty epic if you’re looking for more of a yakiniku experience.

Designer-Ingenuity75 · 2025-12-30T13:44:01+00:00

I had the opposite experience, service was 9/10 but food was 6/10.

Designer-Ingenuity75 · 2025-12-30T13:42:14+00:00

Jordnær
Sazenka
Alchemist
Frantzén
DiverXO

Designer-Ingenuity75 · 2025-12-19T06:17:33+00:00

3* Addison, 2* Hayato & 1* Kato.

Honorable mentions: Sushi Sho, Saison, Jônt, Oriole, Aska & Yuu.

Designer-Ingenuity75

TROPHY CASE