Dining in the new International Terminal - Restaurant Qi

I was seeing a friend off last week, and we decided to voluntarily spend a couple of hours at the airport checking out the new terminal -- and eat lunch since we had heard there are now some real restaurants there.

I'm not sure Restaurant Qi is totally chowhound-ish -- it's pricy, long on design, and a little pretentious. However, the food was really good so I feel compelled to make a report. The kabocha squash veloute had a few highly flavored mochi croutons and was so good I sopped up everything I could with the bread after the spoon ceased to do me any good. I figured it would give someone in the kitchen a good laugh. The Turbot was perched on a pile of shredded cooked daikon and ornamented with a still life of dill fronds and berry size drops of a delicious reddish brown sauce -- very "Japanese celebration of the season" looking. The chef added a few shreds of shiso which happens to be one of my favorite things. My dessert included flecks of gold leaf, but the ne plus ultra was the fruit and cheese plate my friend ordered. I could only look in awe at a dozen PEELED GRAPES. Oh Saint Buelah!!!

The bill, with service compris was $100. I understand from the Chronicle that validated parking is available in International Terminal Parking section G -- which will probably save you spending $8. Such a deal.

For the SFChronicle review, see Wednesday, December 13 Food section.

Link: http://www.sfgate.com