Anomaly

Anomaly in Lower Pacific Heights is another SF tasting menu spot that’ll burn a hole in your wallet. It leans into theatrics to make the experimental, “post-modern” cooking stand out, and does so with varying degrees of success. You’re led into a dark space that looks like an Anthropologie showroom, centered around an open kitchen lit up by spotlights. A cast of staff will hand you 10-ish courses ($128), including the memorable “An Egg…Sort Of,” a stinging nettle soup finished with dry ice for a dramatic flourish, and a snoozy but perfectly fine duck dish that’s dropped off without explanation. This is a good option if you’re looking for a trendy, dress up-worthy meal in the area—in the context of our inflation-ridden fine dining scene, it’s at the lower end of the price spectrum.