[Photos: Patricia Chang]
Asian audiences are very familiar with Crystal Jade, the Singapore-based conglomerate of restaurants that can be found in cities as diverse as Seoul, Hong Kong, and Kuala Lumpur, and serves an estimated two million diners each month. Today, Crystal Jade (recently acquired by LVMH, the luxury megalith behind everything from Louis Vuitton bags to Dom Perignon bubbles) makes its stateside entrance with the debut of Crystal Jade Jiang Nan, a massive new project at Four Embarcadero Center that may well earn the title of San Francisco's single largest restaurant.
Sprawling over a whopping 20,000 square feet, Crystal Jade Jiang Nan includes a 200-seat dining room, a bar and lounge, a 4,000-square-foot terrace, three private dining rooms, and Singapore to Go, a takeout cafe. The restaurant's look comes from interior-design superstar Ken Fulk, who spared no expense (the total renovation bill apparently clocked in at $14 million) to transform the long-vacant space into an Asian-meets-modern palace, boasting a seriously killer view of the Ferry Building and the Embarcadero. Gus Murad, former owner of Medjool, consulted on the project.
The fare comes from a monstrous 4,500-square-foot kitchen, with separate rooms dedicated to dim sum, Chinese BBQ, fresh fish, and more. The fare ranges from the simple (ma po tofu, fried rice) to the utterly extravagant: a whole roasted suckling pig, clocking in at a price tag of $328. Live shrimp, lobster, and both Alaskan king and Dungeness crab are also on hand. There's a huge selection of wine, and a cocktail program with an emphasis on shrubs and drinking vinegars. Take a look at the full menu.
Crystal Jade Jiang Nan's hours will be Monday-Friday, 11 am-3 pm and 5-11 pm; Saturday, 5-11 pm, and Sunday, 5-10 pm. Weekend brunch runs from 10 am-3 pm, while the bar stays open straight through from 11 am-11 pm nightly. Singapore To-Go is open weekdays, 11 am-8 pm.
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