Mooove Over Steak House, Here Comes The 5A5 Steak Lounge

The "everyday foodie"  hits San Francisco to try the new 5A5 Steak Lounge located in the the Financial District at 244 Jackson in the space that used to be Frisson was a scrumptious but pricey experience.  The "steak lounge" is becoming popular in other metropolitan cities especially for our neighbors down south, but this is the first in SF.   5A5 opened in May, and the ambience is relaxed but social.  The gas flames  in the wall as you walk in the door tie into the large video projection of flames over the bar.   The circular ceiling over the dining area is cool with its lit pink polka dots and the woven plexi-glass partitions which separate the dining area from the kitchen. Happy hour was going on when we arrived and the bar was crowded.  As I understand, the happy hour specials are well priced and by the size and liveliness of the crowd I would guess it to be true.  We sat at a table in the dining section, but remember the name, this is a lounge so the tables are all more laid back than your standard steak restaurant with low-back cream colored semi-circular booths.  This is definitely a cross between an upscale restaurant and cocktail lounge.  Our waitress was super sweet and quite attentive.  Her attention did wane a little bit as the dining area got more crowded, but we were never neglected.  Now this is a place for high-end steaks and next time I will have to order one. The website boasts "US Certified Angus Beef, American and Australian 'Kobe', and 100% A5 Wagyu imported from Japan (highest grade of beef in the world)."  But my friend and I could not resist ordering from the amazing small plates that they offer.  To start, the bread served at the table is this sinfully delicious house-made cheese and bacon bread -- I would have been happy to eat that all night.  The Edamame is amazing cooked with sake and garlic.  We were advised that we had to try a Shooter; they have five different types Hamachi, Poke, Caviar, Oyster and A5 Wagyu.  Per our server's recommendation, we had the Poke Shooter.  But we chose to eat it with our fork rather than have poke tumble down our cheeks out of the shot glass.  It was fabulous the seawood and sesame oil gave the fish great flavor.  The Kobe Sliders were out of this world, good thing there were only two; one for each of us because I could have eaten a plate full.  Now onto the Truffle Fries......Yum!  Not shoe string and not wedge-cut fries, they were the perfect size with the perfect flavor.  Dip those truffle fries in the sriracha aioli served with them and have at it.  The beef tataki was delicious and tender.  But the best small plate on the menu, by far, was the Lobster Tempura with a sweet and sour shitake dipping sauce.  I thought I had died and gone to heaven and I don't even like lobster!!!  We didn't have room for dessert but when I go back for my steak dinner, I will definitely get some.  One thing to note, the bathrooms are downstairs and unisex so don't be confused when a person of the opposite sex comes out of the stall at the same time as you to wash their hands.  San Francisco's first "steak lounge" is a great place to hang out and have some great food with great friends.  I'd like to come back for happy hour on my next visit and sit in the bar.