SF’s new giant rooftop bar is already booked through November

Chotto Matte unveiled its massive rooftop bar and Nikkei-style restaurant on Saturday, welcoming guests to its expansive 400-seat dining space — complete with a DJ lounge, robata grill and sweeping views of Union Square. The opening comes years after the international chain first announced its plan to open a West Coast site at the former Macy’s men’s department store.

Kurt Zdesar, Chotto Matte founder, flew in from London and has spent the past month in San Francisco overseeing his latest project. An invite-only party held on Friday hosted about 450 guests to celebrate the completion of the restaurant, and since opening Saturday, reservations have been booked through November.

“It’s a humbling feeling,” Zdesar said.

On Tuesday afternoon, I walked over to Chotto Matte, which is perched on the eighth floor of 50 O’Farrell St. A private elevator transferred me to the top floor, where dozens of staff were preparing for dinner service. The restaurant’s massive floor-to-ceiling windows emitted natural light that balanced the otherwise moody space. There’s a blend of light and darkness at Chotto Matte: Blackout ceilings and black rectangular floor tiles are combined with pops of colors produced from several interior lush plants and burnt-orange velvet chairs.

It’s hard to pin down the best seat in the house among the hundreds of options, but a solid choice is at the back corner in the main dining space, which gives way to San Francisco’s cityscape aligned on O’Farrell Street and nearby Market Street in the distance. On the outside patio, guests can catch better views of the city’s skyscrapers, including Salesforce Tower, which is spotted in the distance.

While Chotto Matte’s flagship store is in London, Zdesar jokes that the much larger San Francisco outpost ought to claim the title. He calls his new restaurant location “exceptional” and is most excited about the wide selection of Bay Area produce available to his kitchen staff.

“I’m happy that we were able to find the best products around,” Zdesar said. “We’re spoiled with choices here. Everyone really cares about the environment and what they eat.”

The menu is broken down into six sections, including appetizers, small plates, sushi, robata grill and raw bar. Nikkei tastings are also available and feature four different options, including a vegetarian option, with prices that range from $70 to $140 per person. The sushi section offers five different sushi rolls, including a classic soft crab roll and a vegan roll called El Jardin, which is made with bok choy, broccoli, cauliflower and pea puree. 

After a moment, a server swings by with a bowl of shrimp and pork gyoza that are gently placed over a bed of sweet potato puree. A plate of nigiri is delivered from the large lava stone sushi counter near the entrance and comes served with four pieces of fresh fish: salmon, tuna, yellowtail and cooked shrimp. Attention to detail is a common theme spotted in each dish, with respect to both the plating and the flavor profiles.

Drinks aren’t any less impressive. The Kintsugi, a bourbon, whiskey and pear-infused drink, is dropped off at the table and features an ice cube etched with the restaurant logo. Once Chotto Matte settles into its new digs, the cocktail menu will get more personalized with curated San Francisco drinks, Zdesar shared.

The restaurant is open daily, with service until 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. For now, the restaurant accepts only guests with reservations but plans to accommodate walk-ins soon. Additional locations are expected to open in Los Angeles, Nashville and Philadelphia.  

Chotto Matte, 50 O’Farrell St., San Francisco. Open Monday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-12 a.m.; Friday, 11:30 a.m.-1 a.m.; Saturday 3 p.m.-1 a.m.; Sunday, 3 p.m.-12 a.m.