It seems like the norm to be a cynical asshole nowadays and this is especially true in San Francisco, so sure—it's hard not to poke fun at a "progressive agrarian" restaurant, which aims to be a model for enlightened food production and consumption. 

 

There is much to admire about The Perennial. The pedigree of the leadership team. The beautifully-plated dishes. The gorgeous, expansive interior (so large that I almost worry about their rent). I just wish that their food, derived from socially and environmentally-responsible agricultural practices, simply tasted better. It's also easy to roll your eyes at the restaurant's mission given its hefty price tags. But for responsible practices to become commonplace, action should be taken at all levels of dining, so let's not harp too much on that. 

 

I hope their team manages to maintain integrity while nailing their flavors in the long (or short) road ahead. In the meantime, this place's greatest asset is that it is great for the 'gram.

 

Note: I dined at the Perennial in June 2016. I took all of the photos on this page during that dinner on my iPhone.