State Bird Provisions is notoriously known as the hardest restaurant to get into in San Francisco. Luckily I snagged a reservation for the Friday night Nick’s sister Alex and her boyfriend Brent were visiting. 

Our table was right next to the kitchen – a dangerous place to be because you can see every dim sum dish leave on its tray. We were warned to order from the stationary menu before we were too carried away by the rotating trays. 

Each dish combined flavors in such a fantastic and unique way. I really appreciate a restaurant experience where I try things I would never pair together. The pork belly combined pork belly, mint, and plouots for a perfectly balanced bite. 

We ordered so many fantastic things. 

Some of my favorites were the pork belly, the state bird, oysters, steak tartare, and the burrata. 

We also ordered the halibut tartare, octopus, roasted avocado, croque madame pancakes, gulf shrimp and heart of palm salad. 

Dessert was unbelievable. The ice cream sandwich and the Black Forest cake with matcha are pictured below and again each surprised me with their combinations and how much I enjoyed them. The peanut butter milk shots are like drinking perfectly melted ice cream. I would and could have had four more at least had we not been at dinner with guests.