Review: Mason Pacific.

Th newly remodeled Mason Pacific is a cute elegant neighborhood bistro in Nob Hill.

The food at Mason Pacific is inspired by seasonal produce with touches of refinement and creativity. Majority of the dishes are small plates so ordering various items to share is not a problem.

Chicken Liver Mousse with Grilled Onion and Raspberry (6.5-7/10).

After living in Florence for four years, home of fegatini (chicken liver mousse), I’ve come to really appreciate it. While the texture of this chicken liver mousse was creamy and decadent, I wasn’t crazy about the flavor combinations. The raspberry powder had a sour flavor that I didn’t care for.

Homemade Bread (8.5/10).

This homemade bread was bomb. Crusty exterior with a chewy and airy interior. Delicious.

Beef Tartare with Eggplant, Mustard, and Shallot (6.5-7/10).

The beef tartare was tasty but nothing mind blowing. I would have liked a finer cut on the beef.

Carrot with Curry, Mussel, and Coriander (8.5/10).

This was one of my favorite dishes of the meal. Super plump juicy mussels paired brilliantly with the creamy silky carrot curry sauce with various cooked, pickled, and raw pieces of carrot, and aromatic coriander.

Scallop Crudo with Haricot Vert, Avocado, and Mint (8/10).

While the scallop crudo looks slightly bland, this was actually well balanced. The chunks of scallops were extremely tender that paired nicely with creamy avocado, crunchy haricot vert, mint, and a nice acidic vinaigrette.

Trout Roe with Crème Fraîche and Potato Chips (6/10).

The trout roe lacked in flavor, it needed to be marinated more.

Pan Seared Chicken with Celery Root, Mushrooms, and Lemon (7.5/10).

The chicken was cooked perfectly, super crispy skin with a juicy interior. The celery root cream was velvety and delicious but overall the dish was slightly uninspiring and boring to me.

While all the dishes looked beautiful and elegant, some either missed in execution or in flavor. Therefore my rating is a 7/10.

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