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Friends Only San Francisco Reviews
It was our first time to this kind of meal experience.
Friends recommended this place. Everything from the quality of ingredients to presentation and service was great. Every item served was rich in flavor and creative. The cocktail was unique too. Definitely recommend this restaurant for a unique culinary experience.
Incredible dining experience.
Came here to celebrate my birthday and every dish was delicious and luxurious. From the over the top Chawanmoshi (with truffles and foie gras) to the mixed rice bowl and nigiri, every dish hit the right notes. This meal is a blend of kitchen and sushi, so with our 17 course meal expect 7-8 pieces of nigiri mixed with hot kitchen items. So if you want more traditional edomae sushi coursing, this place isn't it. But you won't be disappointed. The ingredients are over the top - heaps of beluga caviar and uni - with most from Japan other than the toro. The dry aged fish mixed with the sushi rice - using two types of vinegar - were all hits. You'll pay for it with the alcohol though: markup is 4+ times which is rough. My guess is that is how they break even. You won't be disappointed. Will definitely come back. Music playlist was also on point.
For the rare date night, we normally go with omakase.
Have been wanting to try here and were delighted. They start with a glass of champagne or alcohol free wine and jump right in. The courses move quickly, but I thought were very well paced. The bites were very harmonious. Some of the places seem to try to be overly fancy and it ends up making the fish be forgotten and way too brash. Every course here kept the flavor of the dish in balance and their use of aging the fish really brought out some lively flavors to fish I had eaten many times before. I look forward to coming back.
A wonderful day with 'A Friend in Town' private tour
I had a wonderful tour with Jesse. He was so knowledgeable about San Francisco and American life in general, especially helpful for a foreign visitor like me. His flexible approach meant that we went to the places I wanted to go to. These were two coastal redwood woods (Armstrong State Park and Muir Woods) near SF that I have always wanted to visit. I was able to spend time in both, photographing and experiencing these magnificent woods without feeling rushed, as I would on a group tour. We saw many other sights around SF, including brilliant views of the Pacific and harbour seals, a fog-free Golden Gate Bridge and the quaint houses / house-boats of SF residents along the bay shores. Overall a super day!
A bit too pricey for omakase at this level But it's still
A bit too pricey for omakase at this level But it's still worth it Food was good but not very creative For $700/person I'd expect something better or different than the places that I spent less than $500/ person Everything is a "meet expectation", nothing exceeds
From the moment we settled into my seat at the intimate
From the moment we settled into my seat at the intimate sushi bar, I knew we were in for something extraordinary. The modern ambiance was serene yet charged with anticipation, setting the stage for an unforgettable culinary adventure. Each course that graced my plate was delicious! From the delicate slices of sashimi to the meticulously handcrafted nigiri, every bite was a perfect balance of texture, temperature, and taste. The quality of the ingredients was unmistakable, with each piece of fish showcasing the freshest, most pristine flavors imaginable. Whether it was the velvety richness of the toro or the briny complexity of the uni, each ingredient was treated with the utmost respect, allowing its natural beauty to shine through. The service was excellent throughout the evening and the chefs and staff were attentive. Also, they were accommodating when we showed up a bit late for our seating. We will def be coming back soon!
Food, service, ambiance - all resulted in an evening both
Food, service, ambiance - all resulted in an evening both of us enjoyed. We went with sake paring as well and it was well done and fun!
Omakase so good, it transcends resolutions.
New year, new memories made with the fams. So lucky to have gotten a reservation on January 6th for 7 of us out of the 10 seatings available each service. Thank Linda for helping us score this dinner. The ambiance was like home away from home, very intimate + made to order everything, it was the perfect culinary escape. They use a dry-aging process that is a very interesting approach to enhancing the textures (melt-in-your mouth tenderness) and flavors of the fish (reducing fishy odors) that truly elevates the entire experience. From the fresh tasting fish to the great choices of dinnerware to add visual appeal, we really enjoyed every single bit of the meal from start to finish. Friends Only is a restaurant you must try. Reservations are tough but so well worth the effort.
Not worth the price tag.
I know Friends Only is new and the AKIKOS group does some amazing things, but our experience fell short on multiple occasions. - The TORO blue fin tuna (fatty tuna belly that everyone loves), did not melt in my mouth and it was a bit stringy. - The sushi chef couldn't really tell us anything about the mackerel or sea perch. A few patrons wanted to know where it was from and where it swims. He said that it's from Japan and it swims in the water around Japan. He wasn't joking. I overheard the other sushi chef giving actually information that would've made our meal more special. - Not much in the menu--too much sea urchin. Don't get me wrong, I love sea urchin, but there was simply too much. - I didn't like how they were cleaning up the restaurant, like you can see them scrubbing the tables, while we were still enjoying dessert. I did really enjoy the Tostada (hokkaido scallop & sea urchin, golden kaluga cavier, nori). The cocktail I got was also wonderful: Usagi Creamsicle (milk punch, satsuma gin, vermouth, cara cara, white rabbit rice candy). Otherwise, the meal was not exceptional. If you're going to charge $400+ per person, must be an impeccable experience. I cannot recommend coming to this place when there are so many other better experiences for cheaper.
It's honestly shocking that Friends Only doesn't have a
It's honestly shocking that Friends Only doesn't have a Michelin star yet. Truly one of the best omakase experiences in the Bay Area and comparable to omakases in Honolulu and dare I say, Japan as well. As it's name alludes to - dining at Friends Only is akin to hanging out with friends at home in the living room and having great sushi with wine and sake pairings. This is by no means a negative but rather a reflection of the warmth and welcoming embrace as you enter the front door. Chef Weman, Linda, and Quade are spectacular. Chef Weman Li is both fun and educational which is a welcome change to some omakase experiences that are a "sacred temple and hush hush." He actively interacts and chats with guests and can talk endlessly about fish, dry aging techniques, and whatever wild dishes he's thinking about next. Friends Only specializes in dry aged fish and it's remarkable the textural transformation dry aged fish undergoes similarly to that of a dry age steak. More umami, deeper concentration of flavors, and complexity. Every course is grounded in "core" Japanese ingredients but with a flair of a mad man scientist with an unlimited budget and through the roof creativity. Hokkaido scallop served on a sesame tostada with Kaluga caviar and uni? Yup. It's possibly the most luxurious amuse bouche / first course with 0-100 roller coaster acceleration to kickstart the meal with a bang. Chawanmushi with shaved black Perigord truffles served in a clay vessel that looks like a cross of a lantern and a Moai Easter Island statue / Squidward's home? Yup. Lastly, Quade and Carson whip up possibly the best cocktails I've had in SF. Honestly Friends Only should also open a cocktail bar next door :)
My wife surprised me for my birthday by taking me here.
There's only 10 seats total and they are all countertop. I really enjoyed the experience as it wasn't just traditional omakase. TOSTADA - 5/5 hokkaido scallop & sea urchin, golden kaluga caviar, nori SASHIMI madai, tyee salmon, kanpachi - 2 weeks cured. Kanpachi is buttery and fatty. AMADAI tilefish - flaky. Never had the scales like crunchy bonito flakes 5/5 SAWARA japanese spanish mackerel CHAWANMUSHI - 5/5 egg custard, nasu, truffle, duck liver. amazing dish, never had a better tasting chawanmushi. Absolute delight MIRUGAI giant clam - the clam pieces were cut so small it's a bit sad. ZUKE soy cured bluefin - ENSUI UNI - 5/5 organic sea urchin. No added flavoring, the uni quality is impeccable SANMA pike mackerel UNAGI eel - charcoal grilled. Crispy layer soft flesh 4/5. Feels like not much flavor SUJIKO salmon roe - it's a bit stickier than I would like. Not as amazing I would have hoped Liz 4/5 GOKUJYO UNI - 5/5 friends only sea urchin. One of the purest uni that I've had. AKAMUTSU deep sea perch - soft and buttery TORO bluefin belly -5/5 HANDROLL 5/5 hokkaido sea urchin. This comes with an entire row of uni. Best uni handroll. GOHAN 3/5 king crab, kabocha, truffle. Crunchy rice, I couldn't really taste the crab all that well. Rice gets stuck in my teeth SHIRUMONO scallop shinjo, matsutake, dashi. Light soup to top off the meal Matcha ice cream and chocolate chip cookie - 5/5. I love chocolate chip so pleasantly surprised they had this at the end. The matcha ice cream was nice and creamy, not icy at all. Nice smooth consistency
By invite only omakase, by the peeps who brought you AKIKOS.
17 courses. All the fish gets flown in from Japan. There's lots of uni including a fat uni hand roll at the end of your meal. If you get the opportunity to have a meal here, take it.
What a fantastic evening! As soon as I walked into this
What a fantastic evening! As soon as I walked into this intimate and peaceful restaurant, it was a 10 out of 10. The menu was diverse. I had a unique Pink Lotus cocktail that was "uplifting" and had that "ahhh". All the different dishes were great, but some stood out more than others. The half moon bay spot prawn, and the sea scallop tostada were my major two. The chef and all the employees were professional and attentive. The chef was interactive and explained each item on the menu. He made jokes and not just had a conversation with just one person sitting at the counter. The hostess and bartender were both communicative. Friends Only is on the pricier side though. I wouldn't come here often, but it is perfect for a birthday dinner, or perhaps an anniversary date.
I was over all happy with my meal but it was not worth the
I was over all happy with my meal but it was not worth the high high price. The cuts of sushi were obviously high quality however there was a real lack of acidity and diversity in the tasting menu. They had uni on the menu in 4 different places and it was overkill. The sushi rice tasted a bit rancid since they used vinager in it. I thought the meal lacked depth and an overall creativity.it was pretty much straight up sushi and I was expecting to be wowed with interesting and unique dishes for the price point. fun to try but would not recommend as my number 1 tasting menu spot. Service was great, very attentive and the ambiance was cool but the chairs were not comfy and it was a 3 hour long dinner so that was unfortunate.
Terrific private Vertigo tour with a San Francisco expert.
Our half-day Vertigo tour with Jesse was the highlight of our five-day visit to SF. Along with Jesse's obvious passion for the film, he has deep, deep knowledge of San Francisco in general and he presents it in a manner both clear and entertaining. His comfortable vehicle and his flexibility along with pick-up and drop-off at our hotel make for an affordable luxury. I recommend strongly.
Friends Only is the 10--seat sushi counter of Akiko's in
Friends Only is the 10--seat sushi counter of Akiko's in the Nob Hill neighborhood on California Street. It is an amazing omakase Journey, featuring high-quality ingredients from Toyosu Fish Market in Japan and showcasing Chef Lee's dry-aging technique for fish. We were greeted with a glass of non vintage Bollinger special cuvée champagne, which is a nice touch! Cocktails are also spectacular!Last night's dinner offered bites such as katsuo, a cherrywood-smoked skipjack tuna; zuke, a 10-day dry-aged, soy-cured bluefin tuna; a Hokkaido hotate, yummy chawanmushi, with black truffle and duck liver. The tarabagan king crab served in a salad format, and the star of the show is the 2 uni dishes: one in the form of a hand roll and the highest A grade uni nigri.It doesn't come cheap: $300 for the omakase experience with no a la carte option. Chef Lee said he is "focusing on depth of flavor and texture" and yes the thoughtful menu showcase just that and delivers!
Lovely, intimate experience.
The location feels like you are in the private kitchen of wizards. Everything runs like clockwork, and there is such an attention to detail.Unlike other omakase venues in SF (so many!!) Only Friends focuses on aged fish. Aged fish you say??? It's delicious, firm and more smoky than fresh. For our seating I think there were 12 sashimi bites - there were 3 uni. All were good but I couldn't really distinguish one from another. I love that there are only 10 seats that L around the chef - so there was a lot of conversation and connection.It's expensive but at 2.5 hours start to finish consider it dinner and entertainment. Highly recommend.
Wow! I was lucky to secure a seat on 12/28 and found that I
Wow! I was lucky to secure a seat on 12/28 and found that I wasn't the only solo diner. This is intimate dining with only 10 seats and 2 seatings a night and serves as the R&D arm of Akiko. Everyone at this particular seating was friendly, outgoing, and chill which gave the entire experience a great vibe. Their cocktail offerings are tasty and dangerous. I ended up ordering 4 cocktails (Friends with Benefits, Cocomelon, Foreign Delegate, and Child's Play) in total with no regrets. Based on what I've seen on social media since my visit, they seem to make tweaks to the menu often. What you can expect though is a lot of delicious uni, a large variety of aged fish, and a decadent chawanmushi(that night it had snow crab, duck liver, and black truffle) served with pride and flair. These people know what they're doing and they have a lot of fun doing it!If you're looking for a top tier omakase experience with more variety beyond just nigiri sushi, you should book a spot here ASAP.
Casual Thursday night dinner, why not.
Love, love the intimate and exclusive feel of this omakase experience. Their resy is "suppose" to be public now, but not sure how true that is because the chef was also uncertain haha. I was able to get a resy through connecting with the wonderful Linda. There are two times for reservations each night they are open, 5:30p and 8:30p. I highly recommend the 5:30p since it's about a 3 hr dinner, I'm too old to be having dinner at 8:30 lol. What's great about their omakase is that it doesn't follow the "menu" strictly, it's more served as a guide but you will get surprise dishes throughout which was so nice. The service was excellent, one main chef running the bar with another chef in the back prepping. The waitresses were all so friendly and attentive. They're fast, when water, tea or alchy is low - they'll top you off before you know it. The decor is very simple, yet elegant with a lot of wood elements. There is only 10 seats, all at the bar for a communal, yet intimate experience. I can't begin to say which dish was the best, they were all incredibly delicious and creatively executed with each piece getting better and better. I would say the star of the entire night was the caviar and uni tostada...mMmm! There is a good balance of raw fish and hot dishes. The fish quality was A+++, each piece is precisely aged with intentions of drawing the best fattiness, tenderness and flavor. Their omakase is on the pricier side and I really wish there were a few extra pieces for the price, but they didn't come up short with quality, flavor and delivery. If you're able to get a resy, highly recommend to try them.
Decadent.
Luxurious. Maybe one of the best sake pairings I've ever had? It's hard to complain about anything this caliber. Top notch service, ambiance, and people. 10/10 would recommend. Also, black throat sea perch IYKYK.
Absolutely spectacular! This is a new and exclusive
Absolutely spectacular! This is a new and exclusive restaurant that hasn't even opened with a reservation system yet. Currently in its second week of service as they do run throughs of their menu and timing. For those of you who have dined at Akikos on Bush St, this restaurant is run by the same incredible guy, Ray, so you already know it's going to be next level.From the moment I walked in, the ambiance and service was second to none. Linda quickly greeted us with a warm smile and took us to our seats, all of the seats here are counter seats so everyone gets a piece of the action. Quade is the one behind the counter having a party while making your drink creations - he's got a fun and contagious energy. The menu is pre fixe so you don't have to worry about ordering anything. It is all fish based so if you're not a sushi/omakase fan, this isn't for you. But if you are a sushi lover, you will not be disappointed. Each course is so different and so many unique surprises. One of my favorites is the fish with fried scales but medium rare meat. Also love all the various inclusions of uni, the caviar topped chawanmushi - it is all so good!Price point is pricey but on par for a high end sushi spot nowadays. It's not a place I can dine every night at the price (I wish I could though!!). Dinner will cost you $300 per person, and a drink pairing will cost an additional $90 pp. Cocktails were also priced on par at $25 per drink. Overall, I highly recommend checking this spot out if you can get into it as seats are limited and hard to get into at the moment.
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Let's say Peter has a great morning and decides to take his three friends to Friends Only San Francisco at 6 PM the same day.
He checks the restaurant's website and sees that no reservations are available. He then looks at the Friends Only San Francisco page on AppointmentTrader, but finds that there are no user postings either.
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Peter can place a bid on AppointmentTrader, which serves as a reward for any community member who chooses to work on securing the reservation. AT then notifies experienced users who may be able to help.
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1.) Setting a Reward (Bid)
* AppointmentTrader uses historical data to recommend a reasonable reward amount for securing a reservation - let's say $100.
* Peter really wants to go, so he increases the bid (or reward) to $200.
* At this stage, the reservation does not exist yet.
2.) A Community User Picks Up the Bid
* FamousStation67, an experienced AT user, has a strong track record of successfully securing reservations and low refund requests, they receive a notification about Peter's bid.
* FamousStation67 picks up the bid, meaning they will now work on securing the reservation.
* Peter can now talk to FamousStation67 for any questions Peter may have as FamousStation67 user fills the bid.
3.) Finding the Reservation
* FamousStation67 now uses their connections at Friends Only San Francisco to secure the table.
* If they successfully get the 6 PM table for four, Peter receives a confirmation that the reservation has been secured.
* If FamousStation67 fails to secure the reservation, the bid is returned to the pool so another user can try.
4.) Payment & Protection
* Once the reservation is secured, FamousStation67 receives the $200 reward which is credited to FamousStation67's AT balance, where users manage their own funds and can withdraw via available payout options such as bank transfer, PayPal, or Zelle.
* Peter can now enjoy the dinner with his friends at Friends Only San Francisco!
* As with all transactions on AT, disputes and no-show fees are handled through the platform's community-driven resolution system. Users with a strong track record are incentivized to fulfill bids successfully, and community members can report issues to maintain trust in the marketplace.
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