Perspectives through a prism.
Experiences served on a platter.

Prisms & Platters is where I share my authentic thoughts on the restaurants I patronize, the mixology offerings I sample, and the experiences I have the opportunity to immerse myself in. I am Kamal and it is my passion to make the name a practice. A prism takes a single beam of light and shows you every color it is hiding. That is what a review should do. One meal, one room, one bottle, held up to the light until the true colors come through.

And the platter. Great food and great experiences are not meant to be a secret. They are meant to be set down before people, shared, and discussed. This is my aim for this site, to provide something that is upscale, generous, considerate. A seat at a table where the good stuff is mutually enjoyed with respect for the people who made it.

I have spent most of my life in the Bay Area and wherever the road takes me. I am a Level 6 Google Local Guide (soon to be Level 7) with numerous contributions on record on a number of different platforms. I care about heritage, hospitality, and the small things people and establishments do to make you feel at home and part of the family. I care about Black-owned kitchens, the diversity that makes the Bay unique, great American cuisine, and the traditions that shape how a region eats. Every check is mine and I'm putting my money where my mouth is, so you don't have to do the guesswork. These reviews are to help you save money, save time, and go straight to the good times.

If something here changes where you go this weekend or on your next trip, that's the point!

You can also find my reviews over on TripAdvisor, where I post as The Amateur Mixologist.