 |
|
|
|
Acquerello
1722 Sacramento St, San Francisco, CA 94109 · 415-567-5432
|
User Rating: (Rate It!)
My Suitcase: (Add to My Suitcase)
NOB HILL. Elegant and subdued, this intimate restaurant (whose name means "watercolor") exhibits artistry in both cuisine and appearance. Its serene ambience and its vaulted, beamed ceiling evoke Acquerello's former incarnation as a chapel. Contemporary Italian dishes are the main draw, though, and a frequently-changing menu features dishes like parsley-encrusted pork loin, beef carpaccio with hearts of palm and black truffles, and tuna in fennel-dill crust with saffron sauce. The wine list features fine Italian and California vintages.
User Rating: (Rate It!)
My Suitcase: (Add to My Suitcase)
NORTH BEACH. Owner Bruno Viscovi generously shares his authentic Istrian cuisine with local diners, exposing them to the culinary hybrid of Italian and Eastern Europe fare. The menu offers a unique blend of dishes, including fried potato gnocchi, chifeleti (deep-fried croquettes), and homemade pastas and desserts. Friendly service punctuates the terrific food, and the warm, comfortable place proves appealing to all.
|
Allegro
1701 Jones St, San Francisco, CA 94109 · 415-928-4002
|
User Rating:
(Rate It)
My Suitcase: (Add to My Suitcase)
RUSSIAN HILL. A great place to get together with friends and catch sight of folks in the political arena, intimate Allegro also promises lovely views and terrific Italian food. The elegant ambience is enhanced by subtle lighting, and patrons feel completely at ease as they tuck into wonderful pastas, rack of lamb, much-favored gnocchi, and a variety of hearty meat entrees. Service is friendly and accommodating.
|
Frascati
1901 Hyde St, San Francisco, CA 94109 · 415-928-1406
|
User Rating:
(Rate It)
My Suitcase: (Add to My Suitcase)
RUSSIAN HILL. Warm, intimate Frascati teems with neighborhood folks who appreciate its comfortable ambience and toothsome cuisine. (For people not so close, the Powell & Hyde cable car runs just beyond the front door.) The menu covers that nebulous territory that unites Italian, Mediterranean, and Californian fare – to wit, lamb carpaccio with minted eggplant caponata, pan-roasted pork tenderloin with Italian sausage and creamy basil farro, and tiger prawn risotto with melted leeks and prosciutto. Cap your choice with artisan cheeses or the restaurant's coveted black and white chocolate bread pudding.
|
Incanto
1550 Church St, San Francisco, CA 94131 · 415-641-4500
|
User Rating: (Rate It!)
My Suitcase: (Add to My Suitcase)
NOE VALLEY. Solid, rustic, comforting interiors impart an age-old quality to Incanto and work beautifully in tandem with a menu that honors traditional Italian fare and delights in offering what most restaurants don't. The kitchen cures its own meats; boasts a great, versatile, all-Italian wine list; and expands culinary horizons with dishes that capitalize on unusual recipes and cuts of meat. Possibilities include roasted lamb neck with kale and farro polenta, grilled quail with cippolini, and spaghettini with anchovies, pine nuts, and currants. For groups, Incanto will roast a whole suckling pig, goat, or lamb; for adventurous folks, an eye-opening tasting menu highlights the appeal of offal.
|
Palio d' Asti
640 Sacramento St, San Francisco, CA 94111 · 415-395-9800
|
User Rating: (Rate It!)
My Suitcase: (Add to My Suitcase)
FINANCIAL DISTRICT. Colorful pennants accent a comfortably elegant interior at this restaurant, which also boasts a vibrant, always-tempting cuisine. In fact, diners can watch chefs at work in the glass-enclosed kitchen while enjoying homemade antipasti, cioppino, milk-braised pork loin, and brick-cooked chicken. The food pays homage to Piedmont and Tuscan traditions, and desserts include hand-rolled truffles, panna cotta, and a classic tiramisu. Service is outstanding. Reservations are accepted. Business dressy attire.
User Rating: (Rate It!)
My Suitcase: (Add to My Suitcase)
PACIFIC HEIGHTS. Quince's subdued, elegant interior gets grace notes of glitter from Murano glass chandeliers and lush photography. They're a nice foil to cuisine that's simultaneously accomplished and rustic. Chef Michael Tusk cut his teeth at Chez Panisse and brings a taste for high quality to his own restaurant. The ever-changing menu unites French and Italian sensibilities, as seen in Jerusalem artichoke soup with morels, mouthwatering pastas, and main courses like pork loin crusted with wild nettles and parmesan, spring lamb prepared three ways, or squid flavored with artichokes, olives, and potatoes. An exceptionally well-considered wine list offers both value and variety, and homemade desserts often include tortes, gelati, and galettes. The place is small, so book well in advance.
|
Scala's Bistro
432 Powell St, Sir Francis Drake Hotel, San Francisco, CA 94102 · 415-395-8555
|
User Rating:
(Rate It)
My Suitcase: (Add to My Suitcase)
UNION SQUARE. Awash in burnished tones and murals, this warm restaurant creates incredible dishes in an open kitchen and also offers a see-and-be-seen atmosphere. Cozy seating makes chatting easy, and the menu is full of affordable options, like grilled octopus, braised lamb shank, pan-roasted monkfish, and steak frites. You'll also find pastas and a few pizzas. Desserts, created by the pastry chef, include pies, sorbets, and a melange of chocolate temptations.
|
Sociale
3665 Sacramento St, San Francisco, CA 94118 · 415-921-3200
|
User Rating: (Rate It!)
My Suitcase: (Add to My Suitcase)
| Avg. Entrée: |
$$$16 - $30
|
| Reservations: |
Recommended |
| Outdoor Dining: |
 |
PRESIDIO HEIGHTS. Hidden away down an alley, this neighborhood jewel is understated and romantic, just the kind of place you'd take someone special. Enjoy the delightful patio out front, or have a quiet conversation in the gracious, mellow dining room. Dependent on perfect, simple ingredients, the cuisine shines in dishes like duck rillettes, wild boar ravioli with sage butter, oven-roasted quail, or a lush, fennel-tinged fish stew. A carefully chosen wine list is intended to offer ideal complements without making you agonize over a lengthy tome.
|
Venticello
1257 Taylor St, San Francisco, CA 94108 · 415-922-2545
|
User Rating: (Rate It!)
My Suitcase: (Add to My Suitcase)
NOB HILL. You'll always meet up with a strong contingent of locals at this rustic, romantic haunt. The cable car line runs outside, and inside, a wood-burning oven and Bay views impart especial charm. The menu's Tuscan cooking features gnocchi with mushroom cream sauce and gorgonzola, rosemary grilled lamb tenderloins, veal scaloppini, and seared ahi tuna over buttered spinach. End on a sweet note with mainstays like panna cotta, tiramisu, or Frangelico cheesecake. Cozy and inviting.
Looking for a restaurant? We've explored the options, checked with critics, and pounded the pavement to offer only the best. Recommendations come complete with contact information and a brief description highlighting the important features of the restaurant. Fit our choices to your mood, or let us guide your tastes. You'll likely find a few places that not even locals know about.
|
|
Discounted Gift Certificates
Find everything you need to
know about San Francisco.
|
|
Print this Page
Email this Page
Click here to share it »
