Kiln

Ethan in the last week

Had such an amazing dinner here! Every single aspect of the evening was so thoughtful and well done. The service was exceptional, and the food was somehow even better. We had a party of 4 people, with two of them celebrating getting engaged recently. There was no shortage of congratulations, making them feel so special! There were quite a few customized little pieces such as the menu and the polaroid photos at the end of the meal, which was super neat! If you’re in the Bay Area (or beyond, as we travelled from Vancouver, BC) I would urge you to eat here and treat yourself to one of the best dining experiences that you will find anywhere in North America (and likely beyond)! So so so worth it!

Ren Du a week ago

Very impressive balance for all delicate appetizers (abalone is a bit too salty for me), I also like the layers of texture. Main course the duck is the best with the right amount of smoke. Lamb is my least favorite tonight. Desserts are simply the best! Chef for sure has top-notch aesthetic taste for both flavor and presentation.

Sao Mai Le 2 weeks ago

Just a general delightful experience. Worth the money

Charlie Benson a month ago

Came here for my birthday! First of all Kiln is truly outstanding. The food, the presentation, the nuance, the molecular gastronomy, the wine pairing, the story arc - all amazing. I wish I had taken more photos to remember, but some of those flavors will always live rent free in my brain. The standouts were: first bite - a gorgeous beignet with a tiny wafer and a mind-blowing glaze presented like the worlds smallest cake and dressed with flowers. Dear lord… The oyster dish with beef fat and caviar, the scallop dish with scallop oil reduction, the impossibly foamy crab bisque, the deconstructed bbq duck dish, the lamb meatball - all insane. Unfortunately the only photos I have are the Abalone and the final dessert. Anyways, the food was truly the best of any meal I’ve ever eaten. I’ve only ever been to one other Michelin 2 star, Harbor House, so that’s my main point of comparison. The only thing that was slightly lacking, in my opinion, was the service. To be fair, Harbor House was on a whole other level when it comes to service, but the front of house staff at Kiln seemed a little cold, anxious, and in-a-rush. First of all, I had several questions about the wines by the glass. The sommelier was happy to answer them but his body language felt a bit closed off… For example, I was curious about where the champagne was from specifically, as my wife and I had recently visited Epernay, and he kind of quickly dismissed my question… Anyway, we did the regular wine pairing, and I just felt that the staff were reciting their script but weren’t super keen to really paint a picture for me about the vineyards, the soil, and all that. The best front of house server was the gentleman with the glasses. He had a wonderful attitude and was easy to engage with. I do appreciate that the food courses were presented by the chefs. I could truly feel how honored they were to lead the construction of these incredible dishes. Such an accomplishment to behold! And again I know the staff has a perfect timeline to adhere to, but they really need to recite the description of each dish slower. It was really hard to absorb what they’re saying. Could also be poor acoustics? In any case, If I was able to fully internalize the descriptions, my experience of eating, smelling, and seeing each dish would have been enhanced. Other than that, incredible 5/5. The head chef is a culinary genius and I would love to go back.

Jennifer L a month ago

When I asked for no oysters, they simply skipped my dish entirely instead of offering even a small alternative while my partner enjoyed the oyster course. I was left sitting there with nothing in front of me, which felt surprisingly inattentive for a restaurant at this level. Down to an 8/10 for the lack of hospitality. I expected a bit more from a 2 star. The food itself was also surprisingly hit or miss. Some dishes were absolutely delicious. the bread and butter and duck w consommé were genuinely some of the best I’ve ever had . genuinely divine and exactly what I’d expect from a restaurant at this level. A few others were quite unpleasant I’d rate them a 1/10 even. The contrast between courses was quite jarring.. When the dishes landed, they really landed, but the misses were equally memorable for the wrong reasons. Overall, this would’ve been a solid 9/10 if they hadn’t disrupted the flow of service. Worth a 1 star. Doubtful on 2.