Aphotic

This fine dining restaurant in SoMa focuses solely on seafood, which is exactly what sets it apart from the many fine dining tasting menu spots in town. The $165, ten-course menu is a parade of entirely pescetarian dishes (both raw and cooked), like milk bread with decadent crab hollandaise, uni and prawn foam-topped risotto, and bite-sized trout onigiri. They’re so rich and luxurious you’ll forget that meat exists. Not every course hits it out of the park—the skate with smoked fish nage is forgettable, as are the desserts, like cream puffs and an amazake chiffon. We’ll gladly look past the misses, since seafood incorporated into every dish (yes, even those desserts) makes this one of the more unique and creative tasting menu experiences in SF. House-distilled spirits made with local eucalyptus or juniper are mounted in vials on the wall like a wizard’s mysterious display of potions. It fits right in with the moodiness of the vaulted ceilings, towering floral arrangements, and a wood-burning hearth that casts a dramatic glow in the space.

Food Rundown

photo credit: Bread & Butter

10-Course Tasting Menu

This seasonal tasting menu is seafood-palooza, from the first course (a trout onigiri) to the stroopwafels with fish sauce caramel finisher. Even the house martini uses seaweed gin, and is topped with a caviar-stuffed olive. Dinner is a mix of one- and two-bite dishes, and heartier plates—so prepare to leave full and with a newfound appreciation for ocean creatures.