Gary Danko - San Francisco

It's been a while since I've published a post on the blog about my travels and delicious meals that I've had. Recently, I travelled to San Francisco and had the chance to try out a one Michelin Star restaurant, Gary Danko. Gary Danko offers sophisticated contemporary cuisine and has the best servers and sommerlier.

The restaurant is elegant and luxurious with dim lighting that creates a comfortable and intimate setting. My friends and I went on a Monday night at 8pm and the restaurant was very busy. We waited at the bar for no more than 15 minutes before being sat down at our table. The menu offers a variety dishes to choose from - ranging from appetizers, to seafood, to game meats, to artisanal cheeses, and finally dessert. You can enjoy a three to five course meal. The prices are fairly reasonable for a Michelin star restaurant. With three courses at $81 and five courses at $117. You can also have wine pairings for each course that you have selected.

Between the 4 of us, we were able to choose an array of dishes to try out, which includes the following:

Appetizer

Seared Foie Gras with Caramelized Onions and Peaches

Dungeness Crab Salad with Avocado, Citrus, Bulgar and Mustard-Tarragon Vinaigrette

Glazed Oysters with Osetra Caviar, Zucchini Pearls and Lettuce Cream

Fish and Seafood

Roast Maine Lobster with Potato Purée, Chanterelle Mushrooms, Corn and Tarragon

Seared Sea Scallops with English Pea Purée, Leek Fondue, Mint and Pickled Radish

Horseradish Crusted Salmon Medallion with Dilled Cucumbers and Mustard Sauce

Meat and Game Birds

Herb Crusted Loin of Lamb with Spring Vegetable Tian and Polenta

Lemon Pepper Duck Breast with Duck Hash, Bacon Braised Endive and Port Glazed Cherries

Roasted Quail Stuffed with Mushroom Ragout, Leeks, Quinoa and Foie Gras with Fingerling Potatoes and Porcini Cream

Juniper Crusted Bison with King Trumpet Mushrooms, Cipollini Onions and Wild Nettle Spätzle

Seared Filet of Beef with Swiss Chard, Potatoes, Shallot Marmalade and Bordelaise Butter

Dessert

Strawberry Soufflé with Strawberry Sauce and Strawberry Sorbet

Warm Louisiana Butter Cake with Peaches, Huckleberry Compote and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Baked Chocolate Soufflé with Two Sauces

Flambéed Cherries with Mascarpone Filled Crèpes, Oatmeal-Graham Cracker Streusel and Vanilla Ice Cream

This was prepared tableside and an additional $6 but quite the show!

Overall, the meal was extremely enjoyable. The wait between the 3rd and 4th course was a little long and our seared filet of beef was slightly overcooked.

Ratings
1) Environment - 5
2) Drinks - 4.5 - Ordered red wine
3) Food/Desserts - 5
4) Price - $$$$ - approx $175 per person
5) Service - 4 - delay between 3rd and 4th course as well as the filet of beef being overcooked
Overall - 4.5

It was one of the best restaurants I've been to. For the price I paid, I would have expected an explanation for the delay in serving the meals.