Best Contemporary American Restaurants in Kensington

Really wonderful place and meal for a post Valentine's celebration.We tried several small plates; crab beignets, deviled eggs, the mezzo platter and a beet & kale salad. Each was very well prepared. Our final dish was the dungeness crab pasta. It had a nice flavor but it didn't have much crab in it. Also we each had a Jack Frost cocktail, with and without alcohol and both were delicious.. We'll definitely go back again!

We came for the Valentine's Day prix fixe dinner and it was indeed wonderful food, well presented (although a little pricier than we're used to paying). The problem was the interior table they showed us to was centered between the music speakers and a party (emphasis on the word party) of eight quite near. We ended asking to be moved outdoors, but there aren't a sufficient number of heaters to take care of everyone out there, so we were a little colder than we're used to being while dining. Service was top notch.

We got lucky getting the best table in the restaurant, across from the bar in a nook under the stairs, so we easily heard each other! We chose a plant forward menu and our waiter Kai (sp?) decided on the order of the dishes. I’d trust his judgment again because we had a great time. The pigs head hid a shaved fennel and pear salad underneath. I delightfully learned how different parts of fennel tastes when shaved so finely. The Hokkaido scallops were soooo good and fresh and compared to a sushi restaurant, a very good value. My partner normally doesn’t like shellfish but he loved the scallops. We ended the savory portion of the meal with the seaweed noodles and the grilled cabbage with dill pickle butter and roe. Both plates had amazing, complimentary sauces and Kai brought us some bread to savor the last drops. The One Punch Man cocktail complemented entire the meal so well with its fruity yet creamy flavor. We got the chocolate semifreddo for dessert for the texture. It had a toasted umeboshi meringue that tasted like dates if they were slightly pickled. I left food drunk and with very happy tastebuds. I loved the restraint in all the flavors. I think a lot of dishes could’ve easily gone sideways in less capable hands, or even the meal because this menu had a lot of citrus and pickled items, and instead they nailed it just right.

It is always a special experience to dine at the Rotunda because it is so much a part of San Francisco history and a beautiful venue! My friend Manuel had never been there so he had a blast seeing the space and enjoying the food. Ralph, our server, was polite and attentive and the food was good as always. I do enjoy a place where I am already recognized by the hosts especially since one feels like one is being greeted by family. :)

The ambience and service were top-notch and offered the experience we were seeking.