Through Open Table, I was successfully able to secure us a table overlooking the bar. Orson might be a little industrial for some, but I think the space is fun. It wouldn't be my choice of ambiance for every night, but once in awhille it's fun to go modern.
There was an amuse bouche of fig compote and cheese cubes, which arrived with our duck fat fries. The fries were perfect: crispy, hot, and fragrant.
We shared an array of appetizers. The octopus salad was universally liked. The tempura fried egg was excellent--much better than Salt Houses's version, in my opinion. The pork belly and watermelon, on the other hand, was merely okay.
"Wondrous Pig" is the name of this dish. It was basically pork four ways: slices of what seemed like roast tenderloin, crispily seared pork belly, a deep fried ball of porky filling, and a wonton filled with pork juice, served over a very soft potato-like puree and somme sauteed greens. I think this dish failed to be a hit with the table because it was very difficult to share. It would have been much more enjoyable to be able to get good sized tastes of the various preparations.
Pizza topped with ham, figs, goat cheese, and arugula. Very nice crust, and for me a lovely combination of flavors.
Roasted bone marrow and garlic. This was the "meh" dish of the evening for me. Not as good as either Epic Roasthouse or Bix's rendition.
The "Rosebud Remastered" rose creme brulee continues to be my favorite dessert at Orson. I think it was a hit with everyone else too. It was possibly the favorite dish of the evening.
I forget the whimsical name of this dessert, but it was cooked plums, a light foam, a crispy filo crust, all floating on a bed of cashew soup. There was some concern that cashew soup would be like soy milk, but it had more body and tasted more like almond tofu. A refreshing summer dessert, and one that keeps Orson's dessert menu high on my list of favorites. And at $161 after tax for three cocktails and enough dinner for four people, a lovely meal at a reasonable price.
The day started out gray and dreary, but the fog soon gave way to blue skies and a light breeze. Upon reaching the art festival, however, we realized the admission was $20. Responses to the high price ranged from mild surprise to complete indignation. Finally, we decided we'd rather spend our collective $80 eating than looking at unaffordable art.
There's even an in-depth manure display, with instructions about how to start a compost pile in your backyard or even in a milk carton. They had samples from each step in the process, and surprisingly none of them smelled bad. The bricks weren't available for taking home yet, but I hope to get one Sunday. 
A salami sandwich, a tweaked version of a mufaletta, a bottle of Gravenstein apple juice, and some free Greek yogurt made up my lunch. No, I did not eat two sandwiches! I took the bus over to J's office and we ate outside.
For later: a miniature sweet potato pie, peach, and sweet corn. 
