Californios () – San Francisco, CA

From end of Dec 2024. Truly delicious food, completely unpretentious atmosphere, and unique fine dining experience for me. We had a short trip and was originally planning Kiln + Californios, but decided to cut Kiln.

First photo is out of order, it was so amazing I can’t stop thinking about it even now.

1. Halibut – sourdough tortilla, mezcal battered halibut, grilled poblano and anaheim pepper salsa, huitlacoche and corn crema (omg)

2. Chilapita – masa negra, cranberry bean mousse, chive and serrano salsa, Californios estate caviar

3. Tostada – azul masa, bluefin tuna, avocado mousse, serrano, golden reserve caviar (I’d like 12 of these please)

4. Sope – rosado masa, washington dungeness crab, mushroom and aztec bean espuma, grilled chanterelles and shaved perigord truffle

5. Aguachile – citrus sorbet, hawaiian kanpachi, mandarin, blood orange, yuzu, aguachile verde

6. Chilpachole de Langosta – live lobster, smoked trout roe, cacahuazintle maiz, broth of lobster shells and preserved tomatoes

7. Tamal – buffalo mozzarella, swiss chard, pasilla chile, xikil pak mole

8. Codorniz – quail al pastor, grilled pineapple, hickory gold masa with a smoked quail broth

9. Camote Y Mole – nixtamilized camote with mole blanco and mole negro, served with poppy and sesame tortilla

10. Pescado Zarandeado – rock fish “family style”, fresh tortillas, salsas, black turtle beans, herbs (the beans are impossibly smooth)

11. Frutas de Rancho Bernard – cara cara granita, crecenza crema, pink guava, fresh cara caras

12. Empanada – granny smith apples, Californios oaxacan rum ice cream, buttered pecans

13. Memento Mori – assorted sweets

Take home was a couple of bottles of Californios’ own aged vanilla extract, which was super neat.

We ordered a couple of drinks but I wasn’t really a fan of either. One was a martini(?) with chile oil, something I thought I’d love, and ultimately did not.

I’m not sure I’ve eaten anything with my hands in a fine dining restaurant except bread, but we were encourage to eat with our hands or however we preferred. It was a wonderful time and wonderful meal, and I wouldn’t hesitate to go back even if it was the exact same menu.