Chef Brad Kilgore Brings Itameshi Elegance to San Francisco's Financial District

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AMA BY BRAD KILGORE
Designer: Kevin Klein Design
Location: San Francisco, California

On offer: Tucked within the Transamerica Pyramid Center’s Redwood Park, Ama marks James Beard finalist Brad Kilgore’s second San Francisco venture—an intimate 18-seat dining room where Italian soul meets Japanese technique. Designer Kevin Klein conjures a moody, cinematic atmosphere with warm sho sugi-ban wood, glowing copper accents, and blood-red ceramic tile. A sculptural copper-wrapped bar anchors the space, while softly lit backbar shelving and purposeful low lighting cast shadows that invite guests to linger. The materials nod to both Kilgore’s Italian heritage and Japanese precision, echoing the umami-forward menu of inventive pastas, koji-aged meats grilled over Japanese charcoal, and pristine sashimi. The beverage program reflects this duality, featuring Japanese whisky and gin alongside Italian aperitifs and amaro, including a vintage Japanese whisky highball menu that showcases rare bottlings from the 1960s through the 1980s.

Standout features: Hidden behind the main dining room, Ama Social Club channels 1970s glamour through retro nostalgia—plush banquettes, a custom oculus light dome, vintage pinball machines, and a popcorn ceiling set against sleek modern lighting. From Thursday through Saturday, rotating DJ sets and live entertainment activate the space. The Social Club serves dishes with theatrical flair, such as a single wagyu meatball large enough for the entire table, lobster lumache diavolo finished tableside, and a caviar Kakigori dirty martini with yuzu kosho brined olives.