Both menus offer dishes that combine aspects of Californian and Asian cuisine. While Asian fusion restaurants are more common now, many food writers (including the San Francisco Chronicle‘s Michael Bauer) cite Eos as being one of the first on the scene.

For my visit I opted for the tasting menu that I split with one other person. The price changes depending on the dishes offered, but for this night the price was $125, which included a bottle of wine.

I was slightly worried that I might leave hungry since tasting menus can occasionally of micro-sized portions. That fear disappeared after about the third course, when I suddenly realized that this “tasting menu” could probably satisfy a linebacker, both in size and richness.

The first two courses were perfect in portion and taste. The wild arugula and summer melon salad was a perfect balance of peppery bite and sweetness, and the lemongrass crusted ahi tuna practically melted on top of crispy triangles of wonton chips. And then, then it was four courses of heavy, staggeringly rich food that I could barely finish for fear of exploding.

The fourth course consisted of a bowl of sweet corn risotto with julienned slices of apple atop. The flavors reminded me of all my favorite things about corn and apples in a way I hadn’t had before. Unfortunately, a bowl of creamy risotto in the middle of a meal is a gastronomical speed bump that will leave even the most enthusiastic diners staggeringly full.

I wish I could comment more completely on the other courses, but I was so full after the risotto that I could only eat a few bites of the chicken dishes and goat cheese covered squash that came next. The chicken was succulent, and the little pieces of fried skin that accompanied it offered a good balance of textures.

I did enjoy the last course of the slow-cooked pork belly with grits and plum chutney. The meat was decidedly more firm than what I usually expect from pork belly, which is usually very fatty and falls apart. The chutney was sweet but with enough acidity to cut through both the smoky pork and creamy grits.

My appetite had returned by the time dessert arrived, which consisted of an ice cream sampler. Most were good, but the salted caramel tasted much more of salt than sweet. The standout here was the homemade mint chip, which I would happily buy in a gallon size to take home with me. The passion fruit sorbet was a close runner-up to being my favorite and offered a light reprieve from the heaviness of the rest of the meal.

The only mildly annoying aspect of my visit to Eos was some strange service. It was casual to the point of being inattentive, and on multiple times our server asked us which dishes we had received. He also had a habit of setting our dishes down on the table with no explanation of what they were, which is frustrating when you’re eating eight courses that you might not remember the specifics of.

Overall, Eos is worth the price and unavoidable food hangover for a meal that is bound to leave a lasting positive impression even if you eat out on a regular basis. Just be sure to bring your appetite.