As of September, with the launch of their fall menu and decor, AQ also launched a new, frequently changing tasting menu option. The whole table has to participate, and it’s kind of a steal at $68 per person for seven courses, with $45 additional for wine and cocktail pairings. See our photos of what it all looked like on a recent night, which was already fairly different from what’s printed here. It’s a chance for chef Mark Liberman to experiment with new dishes and seasonal ingredients, and allows more frequent customers to try something different before the full seasonal shift happens every three months.
As we said, it changes more often than the regular menu, so keep an eye out for changes here.
AQ - 1085 Mission Street between 6th and 7th - 415-341-9000 - Open Tuesday to Sunday, 5:30 to 11 p.m. - Make reservations here.
Earlier: Exclusive: AQ Expanding With Two New Restaurants Next Year
Things kicked off with this delicious, perfectly seasoned celery root soup with nettles, fresh grapes, and gingerbread “soil.”
Second, we had another tasty soup, this time potato topped with vegetable ash and shaved bottarga (cured fish roe).
Each course was paired with either wine, beer, or a cocktail, and our favorite of the bunch was this fall-ish aperitif with gin, vermouth, and juniper tincture.
smoked salmon with huckleberries and purslane.
Jerusalem artichokes two ways.
Pumpkin seed risotto with wild mushrooms.
Seared albacore tuna with turnip, shallots, and herbs.
Seared lamb loin with braised belly and shoulder, Brussels sprouts, Greek yogurt, and espelette.
A palate cleansing huckleberry soda, huckleberry panna cotta, and hibiscus gelée.
Carrot-pear cake with seed brittle, vanilla ice cream, and caramelized carrots. We will note that those carrots kind of felt like overkill, and were a bit too distractingly savory, but the cake was quite good.
