Ama
Asian fusion restaurant · Financial District ·
Itameshi fusion: pasta, uni, umami butter, cocktails, DJ
Itameshi fusion: pasta, uni, umami butter, cocktails, DJ
"From the lacquered bar into the curtained-off social club, I felt the Miami roots of chef Bradley Kilgore in the sultry, flattering lighting, the DJ booth, and a see-and-be-seen living room where patrons in towering heels and lacy dresses dine with Diplo-esque companions. The menu is sharp, inventive, and full of surprises across a Japanese-Italian theme: of the raw bar, the kampachi crudo, gently doused in blood orange ponzu and shiso oil, is especially delicate, while otoro sashimi in roasted garlic dashi is slightly meatier with an Italian-influenced green olive granita. Pastas are the big strength—the uni putanesca pairs dainty agnolinoti with fresh sea urchin and dashes of tomato and basil, and an umami-packed bolognese features a pecorino and dashi cream. A giant wagyu meatball is approachable and fun to eat, an airy meat orb atop a slightly funky tomato sauce under a silky Parm fondue; get the fluffy brioche to soak up the sauce. For dessert, the miso tiramisu is sweet and perfectly sticky, and the mango kakigori is refreshing and light. A postcard with your name awaits at the table—a gimmick, but a good one—and while the room offers plenty of Instagrammable moments, phones are discouraged. It’s popular for birthday bashes and group celebrations (book way ahead), and if I’m dining with a friend and want to hear each other better, I request one of the middle booths, farther from the group tables." - Flora Tsapovsky
"The capstone of Bradley Kilgore’s Transamerica Pyramid project is an “Italian restaurant with Japanese inspirations,” plating playful dishes like a meatball said to be larger than a softball, lamb rib-eye, and eye-catching cocktails." - Paolo Bicchieri
"A new spot for Itameshi cuisine is landing at the Transamerica Pyramid. Ama will serve Italian-Japanese fusion dishes like grilled scallops with n’duja vinaigrette, and vodka pasta with Calabrian and Japanese chilis. Ama is from the same chef behindCafe Sebastianand one of our favorite spots for shaved ice,MadLab, both also inside the iconic building." - Julia Chen
"A new spot for Itameshi cuisine is landing at the Transamerica Pyramid. Ama will serve Italian-Japanese fusion dishes like grilled scallops with n’duja vinaigrette, and vodka pasta with Calabrian and Japanese chilis. This place is from the same team asCafe Sebastianand one of our favorite spots for shaved ice,MadLab, both also inside the iconic building." - Julia Chen
"Ama is the latest restaurant to join the wave of new spots in Jackson Square. The Japanese-Italian spot will open right next to the Transamerica Pyramid, with cocktails, itameshi dishes, and a hi-fi lounge." - julia chen 1, patrick wong
