As soon as you walk past Ama’s lacquered bar area and into its curtained-off “social club” section, it makes perfect sense that chef Bradley Kilgore hails from Miami. Where else in San Francisco will you find patrons in towering heels and lacy dresses dining on extravagant bites with their Diplo-esque companions? If it sounds like the food is an afterthought, think again — the menu is sharp, inventive, and full of surprises.
The lighting is sultry and flattering, and the layout includes a DJ booth and a see-and-be-seen living room with low seating. A postcard with your name on it — a gimmick, but a good one — awaits at the table when you arrive. The restaurant offers plenty of Instagrammable moments, even though phones are discouraged here.
The restaurant is popular for birthday bashes and group celebrations; you’ll need to book way ahead to host one there. If you are dining with a friend and want to hear each other better, request to sit at one of the booths in the middle of the restaurant, farther from the group tables.
Dining and Cooking