Nightbird

Truly amazing experience. Kim Alter is a phenomenal chef and eating here should be on your MUST list. I’ve been three times and each time is not only special but fun. Being surprised and delighted by food seems rarer and rarer, esp in a great food city like SF. But each bite and sip at Nightbird is enticing and surprising in the most fun way. The service is warm and friendly and professional, you feel really cared for, while you get to look forward to each course. I’ve had some of the best bites of my life there - just blown away by multiple courses. Also the wine pairings were inspired!

We lucked out and had dinner here while visiting from out of town. What a treat! The tasting menu ate well, was interesting and well prepared. Their attention to detail, including accommodating allergies, sending us home with treats and a copy of that nights menu and their cocktail selection made for s truly great dining experience. And lets not forget the amazing bar in the backroom. They definitely had my favourite cocktails while visiting San Fran. I am so happy we got to dine here and would recommend it to others.

John Rushforth

We have visited Nightbird 13 times in the past two years; the last time being December 31st 2025. Hands-down, it is our very favorite restaurant in San Francisco for dinner (we love Foreign Cinema for lunch / brunch). The tasting menu is out-of-this-world, Chef Kim does an incredible job of crafting delicious dishes in a way that some Michelin starred restaurants cannot. There's a couple of staple dishes that always appear on the menus, despite the seasonal rotations, there's clearly a reason for that - they are expertly constructed and very tasty. Being attached to the Linden Room Bar allows you to select from a wide-range of beverages from the with a cocktail menu as you settle into the night. Both venues have their own distinct vibe, the restaurant is the perfect place if you like a low-to-medium level of noise from other diners and background music, this allows you to have very civilized conversations over dinner without raising your voice to be heard. The servers are on-point and so kind and friendly. We always receive the warmest of welcomes (Thank you Jordan, Mark and William. They will also suggest wines as you move through the menu to complement each dish. Do go and try Nightbird, it's a real gem in Hayes Valley and so easy to get to from Muni and Bart. It's also super-handy if you're seeing a show at the Orpheum, which is a stones throw away.

May Bresler Herzog

We got to experience nightbird's "day of the dead" inspired menu - a homage to deceased chefs, and it was a very pleasant experience overall. Most dishes were quite tasty, and they made great adjustments for our vegetarian friends. While I found some parts of the meal harder to get over (like half a squab head, which wasn't very appetizing, or the combo of squab in a dounut with chocolate and sprinkles) I appreciate them trying to push the envelope and be more adventurous with the food they serve.

Helen M.

Hubby and I I celebrated our wedding anniversary here and had a great time. The serving staff were so friendly, they took the time to chat and answer our (many!) questions. The food was stunning, presented with such care and attention. Menu is technically 5 courses but in between there are lots of surprises and treats that use the remaining parts of the main dishes. Love the thoughtfulness around waste. They had some wonderful zero proof cocktails which were delicious. Menu featured a lot of seafood which is not typically our preference hence the 4/5 but the quality and everything else was perfection.

Jackie Green

This was our first experience with this kind of fine dining and it was very comfortable and a great experience! My husband had the meat menu and I had the vegetarian. It was about 13 courses and 2.5hrs. The servers were very nice and explained what we were eating to us. It's a nice place but people were dressed from suits to dresses to jeans and sweatshirt. There were some courses I didn't enjoy but overall it was an amazing food experience with flavors I'll never taste again I'm sure.

Ingrid

Perhaps our new favorites one star! Love the thematic menu although we did not expect it would be horror movies and the dessert spook me out quite a bit 😅😅 But every course was meticulously crafted and very creative - and the flavors just work, didnt feel forced at all. Also loved the concept of “reflection dishes” after the main courses. Service was flawless, we loved our waiter. And price point is so fair! Our favorites were the brown butter quail egg, prawns in potato espuma, scallops in squash and chestnut sauce, and the pecan pie with foie gras. The wagyu was perfect as well - not too fatty and so flavourful.

jaujin

Facebook Post: An Unforgettable Dining Experience at Nightbird ✨🍽️😋 Just had an absolutely outstanding dinner at Nightbird! 🌟 Every dish was a work of art, and the flavors were perfectly balanced. 🥂 The caviar tart was an explosion of oceanic flavors—the cream elevated the taste, making each bite even more indulgent. The chef also incorporated Asian elements like mochi (麻糬) and bamboo shoots (竹筍) into some dishes, creating unique and delicious combinations. 🐚 The sea scallop was perfectly seared and seasoned just right, while the butternut squash tart was savory, rich, and utterly satisfying. 🍰 To top it all off, the desserts were incredibly thoughtful—three Western-style desserts echoed the first three courses, beautifully paired with cognac 🥃. It was the perfect combination! It’s no surprise that Nightbird has earned its Michelin star—every bite was exceptional! If you’re looking for a refined and innovative dining experience, I highly recommend it! ❤️

Ilya Grigorik

A hidden gem. The menu spans the full range: caviar and scallops, a delicious brown butter ravioli, quail and perfectly cooked tenderloin, plus a host of delicious small bite interludes along the way. We loved the range and balanced flavours. Great service too. You won't go wrong.

Ryan Chua

This place is definitely for special occasions due to the cost but the experience is worth it. We came here for our friend's 40th birthday and had a wonderful experience. They have a good selection of wines, spirits, and a few cocktails. But the main attraction is the multiple course tasting menu. Each course is small portions but by the end you are fully satisfied. Highly recommend this place!!!

Fred Twum-Acheampong

The outside of the building is very unassuming, but the inside is nicely decorated and inviting. There's incredible artwork on the ceilings, subtle table pieces, and great background music. The staff is very friendly and gave detailed explanations of the foods and wine. Everything was plated exceptionally and the flavors were on point. Our favorites of the night were the blackened chicken and the prawns. The chef put together a masterful menu and we were delighted with every course! We also had we soft bread with garlic butter and several small bites. Will absolutely return to Nightbird in the future!

SMD

Truly amazing experience. Kim Alter is a phenomenal chef and eating here should be on your MUST list. I’ve been three times and each time is not only special but fun. Being surprised and delighted by food seems rarer and rarer, esp in a great food city like SF. But each bite and sip at Nightbird is enticing and surprising in the most fun way. The service is warm and friendly and professional, you feel really cared for, while you get to look forward to each course. I’ve had some of the best bites of my life there - just blown away by multiple courses. Also the wine pairings were inspired!

Amanda Lim

We lucked out and had dinner here while visiting from out of town. What a treat! The tasting menu ate well, was interesting and well prepared. Their attention to detail, including accommodating allergies, sending us home with treats and a copy of that nights menu and their cocktail selection made for s truly great dining experience. And lets not forget the amazing bar in the backroom. They definitely had my favourite cocktails while visiting San Fran. I am so happy we got to dine here and would recommend it to others.

Michele Charles Gustafson

If you a special dinner to celebrate - even if it is as simple as celebrating life, this is the place. Chef Kim and her team take you on a culinary journey with their attention to detail, artistry on the plate and care that you can feel. It will make you slow down and savour the moment with every bite and sip. It was my absolute pleasure to be able to meet tableside with a warm and genuine conversation about Haskap berries. What a delight! Thank you! Nightbird is a must in San Francisco.

Food was amazing but the service was somehow even better? The minor things that get dealt with SEAMLESSLY melted my heart. Partner ordered an NA cocktail? Champagne toast for the table was NA. Mother is slightly hard of hearing? All entree descriptions given standing next to her. None of these things were called out by us or the staff, they were just done! I wonder what else I missed that the staff did to accommodate us? It left us completely unencumbered to laugh, drink, and enjoy the amazing food. Thank you so much for an amazing experience!

Came here for a celebration and had an amazing time. Our server and the kitchen went above and beyond meeting dietary restrictions. The food was delicious and interesting but the service was just impeccable. We will definitely be back

One of my best friends wanted to celebrate a life milestone over a bougie dinner with her closest girlfriends. I was tasked with finding the restaurant and came across Nightbird on SF's Michelin Guide. I wasn't able to make reservations online for a table, so I called the restaurant for assistance. William, who helped me over the phone, was so easy going and great to chat with. Loved his enthusiasm, which got me really excited about dinner the following night. Our reservation was for a party of 6 at 7:30pm on a Friday. We happened to arrive around 7 and was hoping to go next door to Linden Room for a cocktail to pass time. The place was closed for a private event, but get this... as we were walking past Nightbird, William, the same employee who helped me with my reservation, happened to be stepping outside at the same time we were passing by. He invited us earlier to our table, which was already setup, and said there was a surprise bottle of champagne waiting for us (thanks to my husband). Nightbird was beautifully simple. The lighting was low but the hues were warm. I appreciated that the music wasn't terribly loud, and we could hear our conversations across the table. Overall service was excellent. Not only did each course come out in a timely manner, but William also ended up being our host. He was just such a joy to have around because of his friendliness and bubbly personality, and he really went above and beyond to provide a fantastic experience for us. That said, the other staff members were great. 16% gratuity was automatically to the final tip, but I gave them a little somethin' somethin' extra to bring them up to 20%. It was well deserved because of the outstanding customer service. We had the 12-course meal but also splurged on extras, such as orders of A5 Wagyu, cocktails, and wine pairings. I enjoyed the majority of the courses we had. The most memorable dishes for me included the following: - Beignet bite and caviar tart amuses bouches - Quail egg (particularly amazing!) - Ceviche - Taiyaki - Trout - Squab - Wagyu - Granita palace cleanser - Whatever the final dessert was - Mignardise & Petite Fours (especially the caramel tart) Honorable Mention: - The donut with broth was incredibly unique. Possibly an acquired taste for some folks. The donut was slightly sweet but mostly savory, and the broth was warm and comforting. The donut and broth were made from the squab, so the umami flavor stood out. The courses that were mediocre: - I didn't mind the "Taste of Ocean" dish, but it was too fishy for some of the girls. - I've had better chawanmushi at Omakase restaurants. - The breads were fine. Not memorable. That said, the butter made with bone marrow was delightful.

Mike Fahmie

Food was amazing but the service was somehow even better? The minor things that get dealt with SEAMLESSLY melted my heart. Partner ordered an NA cocktail? Champagne toast for the table was NA. Mother is slightly hard of hearing? All entree descriptions given standing next to her. None of these things were called out by us or the staff, they were just done! I wonder what else I missed that the staff did to accommodate us? It left us completely unencumbered to laugh, drink, and enjoy the amazing food. Thank you so much for an amazing experience!

Brenna Huntley

Came here for a celebration and had an amazing time. Our server and the kitchen went above and beyond meeting dietary restrictions. The food was delicious and interesting but the service was just impeccable. We will definitely be back

Katrina Ventimiglia

One of my best friends wanted to celebrate a life milestone over a bougie dinner with her closest girlfriends. I was tasked with finding the restaurant and came across Nightbird on SF's Michelin Guide. I wasn't able to make reservations online for a table, so I called the restaurant for assistance. William, who helped me over the phone, was so easy going and great to chat with. Loved his enthusiasm, which got me really excited about dinner the following night. Our reservation was for a party of 6 at 7:30pm on a Friday. We happened to arrive around 7 and was hoping to go next door to Linden Room for a cocktail to pass time. The place was closed for a private event, but get this... as we were walking past Nightbird, William, the same employee who helped me with my reservation, happened to be stepping outside at the same time we were passing by. He invited us earlier to our table, which was already setup, and said there was a surprise bottle of champagne waiting for us (thanks to my husband). Nightbird was beautifully simple. The lighting was low but the hues were warm. I appreciated that the music wasn't terribly loud, and we could hear our conversations across the table. Overall service was excellent. Not only did each course come out in a timely manner, but William also ended up being our host. He was just such a joy to have around because of his friendliness and bubbly personality, and he really went above and beyond to provide a fantastic experience for us. That said, the other staff members were great. 16% gratuity was automatically to the final tip, but I gave them a little somethin' somethin' extra to bring them up to 20%. It was well deserved because of the outstanding customer service. We had the 12-course meal but also splurged on extras, such as orders of A5 Wagyu, cocktails, and wine pairings. I enjoyed the majority of the courses we had. The most memorable dishes for me included the following: - Beignet bite and caviar tart amuses bouches - Quail egg (particularly amazing!) - Ceviche - Taiyaki - Trout - Squab - Wagyu - Granita palace cleanser - Whatever the final dessert was - Mignardise & Petite Fours (especially the caramel tart) Honorable Mention: - The donut with broth was incredibly unique. Possibly an acquired taste for some folks. The donut was slightly sweet but mostly savory, and the broth was warm and comforting. The donut and broth were made from the squab, so the umami flavor stood out. The courses that were mediocre: - I didn't mind the "Taste of Ocean" dish, but it was too fishy for some of the girls. - I've had better chawanmushi at Omakase restaurants. - The breads were fine. Not memorable. That said, the butter made with bone marrow was delightful.

Ghazal Z

Dining at Night Bird was an unforgettable experience. the kind of place that truly deserves a Michelin star. Every dish was an explosion of flavor, offering taste combinations I had never experienced before. The creativity and execution were outstanding, making the entire meal a journey for the senses.

We tried the vegetarian tasting menu at Nightbird and had a mixed experience. The dishes were beautifully presented, creative, and flavorful, but not especially filling, and a few courses felt hit-or-miss. After about 10 courses, we were still a bit hungry. The restaurant itself has a lovely, quiet ambiance, but the service didn’t feel as warm or engaging as we’ve experienced at other fine dining spots in San Francisco, such as Lazy Bear. Instead of feeling like a full “dining experience,” it came across more as simply being served one dish after another. Overall, Nightbird has elegance and creativity, but we left wishing for a little more substance, both in the food and in the experience.

Our dinner reservation back in Nov was for the Linden Room, which is the bar area. The main dining room was fully booked. It's so loud and crowded, trying to enjoy the wonderful dish is impossible. The waiter tried to explain every dish, but we couldn't hear a thing. The meal itself is amazing. Would return for a proper experience.

A very nice dinner I. A quiet place which makes for great conversations ! Though staff was ‘perfect’, almost too perfect & very serious . Very delicious but made us miss the House of Prime Rib … perfect portion for a smaller eater … the 180lb 6’’1” needed to get a slice or 2 nearby to fill his stomach 😂

Brad Hover

We tried the vegetarian tasting menu at Nightbird and had a mixed experience. The dishes were beautifully presented, creative, and flavorful, but not especially filling, and a few courses felt hit-or-miss. After about 10 courses, we were still a bit hungry. The restaurant itself has a lovely, quiet ambiance, but the service didn’t feel as warm or engaging as we’ve experienced at other fine dining spots in San Francisco, such as Lazy Bear. Instead of feeling like a full “dining experience,” it came across more as simply being served one dish after another. Overall, Nightbird has elegance and creativity, but we left wishing for a little more substance, both in the food and in the experience.

Carl Wong

Our dinner reservation back in Nov was for the Linden Room, which is the bar area. The main dining room was fully booked. It's so loud and crowded, trying to enjoy the wonderful dish is impossible. The waiter tried to explain every dish, but we couldn't hear a thing. The meal itself is amazing. Would return for a proper experience.

SF Chinatown

A very nice dinner I. A quiet place which makes for great conversations ! Though staff was ‘perfect’, almost too perfect & very serious . Very delicious but made us miss the House of Prime Rib … perfect portion for a smaller eater … the 180lb 6’’1” needed to get a slice or 2 nearby to fill his stomach 😂

The food was poorly executed and simply did not taste good (to any of the people in my party). The beef with charred leeks tasted like it was rolled around in an ashtray. There are well executed smoky dishes and then there is this. The menu was a list of dead chefs' names and told us nothing about the dishes at all, so you had no understanding of how many savory vs sweet courses were next. But the key reason for the one star is the imbalanced, poor service. One member of the wait staff showered all of the attention and adoration onto one of us, while completely ignoring the rest of us in my party. Only one of us was asked whether we wanted tea or coffee. Only one of us was asked how the food was. Only one of us was asked if they wanted another drink. Peculiar that those who were ignored were people of color 🤔. The waitress told us we were vegetarians... And then apologized when she got the wrong table. She then congratulated us for our job promotion.... And then apologized she got the wrong table. Fine dining establishments should teach their wait staff better. This is worse than Burger King.

Eric Chow

The food was poorly executed and simply did not taste good (to any of the people in my party). The beef with charred leeks tasted like it was rolled around in an ashtray. There are well executed smoky dishes and then there is this. The menu was a list of dead chefs' names and told us nothing about the dishes at all, so you had no understanding of how many savory vs sweet courses were next. But the key reason for the one star is the imbalanced, poor service. One member of the wait staff showered all of the attention and adoration onto one of us, while completely ignoring the rest of us in my party. Only one of us was asked whether we wanted tea or coffee. Only one of us was asked how the food was. Only one of us was asked if they wanted another drink. Peculiar that those who were ignored were people of color 🤔. The waitress told us we were vegetarians... And then apologized when she got the wrong table. She then congratulated us for our job promotion.... And then apologized she got the wrong table. Fine dining establishments should teach their wait staff better. This is worse than Burger King.

The food that they served were all very salty. So salty that I could not taste the food's flavor. The food was served in a tiny amount each time. I thought they were appetizers and the main dish will come. But those small amount of food were main dish. I am not a big eater, but I felt like I had appetizers and dessert without the main dish. The restaurant is a small room with no interior design. I paid $1200 for 4 including tip and tax and it was not worth it.