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Acquerello
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
1722 Sacramento St(between Polk St & Van Ness Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94109
Neighborhood: Nob Hill
(415) 567-5432
- Hours:
Tue-Sat 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Upscale, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
506 reviews for Acquerello
Review Highlights
"We also had the ridged pasta with foie gras."
(in 77 reviews)
"Because its scented with black truffles and Marsala."
(in 23 reviews)
"The parmesan budino was so so creamy and delicious."
(in 44 reviews)
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506 reviews in English
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Review from Tina N.
1/29/2012
Oh so wonderful in so many ways.
My boyfriend wanted to surprise me here but I was in no mood to leave the house, especially given how my baby hairs were acting up. He literally dragged me here.
BUT, upon arrival, something in me changed - I was all smiles, chatting non-stop and felt at ease. The rustic feel of Acquerello was charming and delightful!
I could go on about our fabulous meal (worthy of several trips to the gym) but I will you this much: listen to the servers.
Often times, I ask the servers what they think is a must-have dish or what their favorite dish is. Who else would know than the servers themselves? Of course, you get those who will say any dish with caviar is worthy or any dish costing an arm and a leg is to die for.
But Acquerello's more than helpful, friendly and easygoing staff are all fantastic. They spoke from their hearts and I am so grateful I listened.
Nissa, Gianpaolo, and Loreal (name sounds close to a cosmetics brand, which I forgot. I'm usually great with names but I apologize if I got this wrong!) were all very, very helpful. We chose our dishes beforehand but definitely added a few dishes that were overlooked.
For example, the "delicate parmesan budino" appetizier, recommended by Gianpaolo. My boyfriend and I paid no attention to this dish but after squeezing it in, we fell in love. SO creamy, rich and delicious. Everything a cheese appetizer should be. My absolute favorite dish of the night. I would order these to go and take them everywhere with me...can I?
We also tried:
- broth soup: delicious, light and flavorful. I could drink this soup every day.
- parmesan budino: a MUST try.
- lobster panzerotti: recommended; absolutely delicious.
- beef tartare: very good but I added dijon mustard.
- ridged pasta with foie gras: very good but I was expecting a lot from this dish. It was a little sweet for me.
- duck: really sweet again.
- lobster & calamari & mussels with squid ink: for all seafood lovers like myself!
The food was excellent. Best Italian food I've ever had. But the best part of our meal was definitely the service. Service itself deserves 5 stars. We had a great time eating their delicious food, enjoying one's company and talking with the servers. They were cautious as to not disturb our conversation too! Afterwards, the wine sommelier, Gianpaolo, asked us if we wanted to take a look in their wine room. We graciously accepted and got to taste a few wines. Again, WONDERFUL service.
They gave us a box of home made biscotti, which were SO GOOD. I wish I got another box to go :)
Definitely a place I would recommend to everyone!
P.S. I dined here back in 2010 so the menu probably changed since then!Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Alicea W.
2/8/2012
Wow, there is foie gras on everything here! I am personally not a big fan of foie gras, liver pâté, duck liver, chicken liver, pig liver, human liver...any livers, but I still like Acquerello. I came here with a large group of about 15 people and we were seated in their private dining room. My favorites of the night were:
* Truffled arancini with cream
* Parmesan budino with "black truffle caviar"
* Truffle-stuffed chicken breast, leek custard, potato gratin and shaved cremini mushrooms
* Meyer lemon-white chocolate bar
* Espresso panna cotta with hazelnut-gianduja praline and teeccino granita
...as you can see, I must prefer truffles over livers.
After dinner, I asked for a cup of hot chocolate. Even though they do not have it on their menu, they still made it for me -- not just some cocoa powder + sugar + water either, but it came out really smooth, not too sweet, with frothed milk on top. It tied the whole meal together.
1 star off: Although their food is exquisite, I am not sure their menu tailors to every taste bud. I know I have my own quirky taste buds to blame: not only do I not like foie gras, I also do not like goat or sheep milk or cheese. Unfortunately, their butter is churned with a little sheep milk.
I guess things could be worse. Like Sarah Palin or superPACs. -
Review from Tammy C.
(See pics) This rating was for the chef's tasting menu.
We were hesitant about the chef's tasting since this is a more classical Italian restaurant. Tasting menu, in my learning, apart from a restaurant having only tasting menus, usually represents a bit of experimental style.
And I believe that's why Acquerello was not the best when it comes to that. However, since I had eaten here ala carte, we wanted something different.
Sliced pear on foie gras was a bit too much pear taste. It was delicate but did not totally fit in the plate.
Rabbit and stuffed quail were unusually more a sausage style. It made it a bit challenging to know the taste of the original meat.
The stuffed salmon pasta was with the fish more minced, thus taking out the texture.
Well, the tart dessert was actually the total highlight, perfectly sweet but not over the top sugary.
The wine pairing was very very good, thus putting this dinner to 4 stars and saving the dishes. The wines were perfect to bring out the dishes, giving it a nice touch of each one of them.
Service was phenomenally nice and beautiful, in this villa style castle like church setting. The experience was wonderful and I plan to come back to have the other multi-course dinners.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/5/2007
This is a cozy place to have quiet conversations with good friends and family or a very romantic… Read more »
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Review from Clark H.
San Francisco, CA
2/1/2012
I'm sorry. I usually do not put in negative reviews. But I feel so strongly about this sub-par meal at this supposedly excellent restaraunt I just had to put this in here. I went here last weekend with a party of 8. We did have our own room and the service was fine. But the food was so unbelievably tasteless or even downright bad tasting that I wouldnt have normally paid more than $4 bucks for it. And that me and my date got out of there for $400 is just robbery. Maybe it was an offnight - but not one of the 8 or 9 dishes I tried I would ever want again. My dates fish smelled and tasted like the bottom of a rotting boat. The lobster ravioli was not better than Chef Boy R D. And we ordered something called "The Forest" - which was an apt name - because it tasted like mold and dirt off of a forest floor. Get it together guys!
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Review from Jeanne L.
12/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
It was a perfect night. Great food, wine, service and an impeccable experience. What more can I ask for?
Foie gras, Kobe beef tartare, lobster ravioli, foie gras pasta, rare kobe beef steak, lamb, 2 bottles of fine wine served by the young sommelier with a fancy decanter, and the perfect ending accompanied by assorted complimentary chocolate truffles. Service was well synchronized and napkins were not re-folded but replaced with brand new ones when we left our seats. -
Review from r t.
San Francisco, CA
1/28/2012
First off I agree with other reviewers comments about the foul smell in the dining room.
I just don't get what everyone likes about this place. The food was very average in fact my wife had to send her chicken entree back. It smelled and tasted super gamy.
As to the atmosphere, nothing special. Just one big room with poor lighting, dated and worn.
They don't even have full bar, beer and wine only.
There are so many better dining choices in San Francisco, it's foolish to waste an evening in this place. -
Review from Stephanie Y.
San Francisco, CA
1/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
I love "authentic" places!! I love it when the waiters in an Italian restaurant has a slight Italian accent. It just makes the experience that much better. My boyfriend brought me here for my birthday and we both decided to go with the chef's pre fixe menu. We started off with the chef's surprise, a bite sized fried risotto, cheese and truffle ball. Then there was the mushroom ravioli.. savory, soft mushrooms chopped up and stuffed into an al dente pasta skin. Ravioli is the best food in the word. Everything delicious in a bite. Next came the fish in a yuzu like broth. It was also absolutely delicious, a bit salty for me. For the entree, we had the duck. It's just a few slices of ducks paired with bok choy. The sauce was pretty salty and so was the duck meat. The dessert was pretty phenomenal. Because the one on the tasting menu had nuts, they replaced it with a chocolate mousse, salted caramel ice cream with some edible and yummy decorations.
I would want to go back for the ravioli though!! -
Review from Angela M.
San Francisco, CA
12/19/2011
Almost perfect! Acquerello is a great spot for special occasions, romantic dinners and entertaining clients. We had a party of 6 in the private dining room.
Parking: There is a lot right around the corner, no valet.
Service: Spot on! We are gluten and meat free, which can really taint a dining experience, but our server was incredibly accommodating, and ensured our dietary restrictions were met. Multiple people came in and out of the dining room to check on us about every 3 minutes. My wine glass was never empty, and empty plates were removed as soon as I set my fork down. They also gave me a black napkin to avoid lint on my slacks.
The food: Exceptional. I loved everything I tasted. Just for comparison, I thought Gary Danko's food was boring and expected.
Wine: Sommelier was outstanding and based on my ridiculous explanations of what I like (I'm not a wine connoisseur), helped me select the perfect bottle.
While Acquerello is very spendy, I thought the quality of the food, service and atmosphere were right on for the price. -
Review from Denise C.
Campbell, CA
12/12/2011
I have to agree with Grace D. that this is exceptional and superb dining at its best...A perfect spot for an intimate dinner to celebrate a special occasion. You are greeted at the front door by name and escorted to your table.
The food is very inventive and extraordinary to say the least. One of my top 5 dining destinations in SF. -
Review from Trung L.
San Francisco, CA
11/26/2011
Probably the most amusing moment of the night came when the sommelier dropped by, noticed our half-finished wine glasses, and stuttered, "Y-you folks enjoying the pairings?" He was a nice guy and interesting to listen to. My date and I are just novice wine drinkers, but we got the pairings anyway because we love to try new things.
Service itself was pretty solid on the night I chose to dine at Acquerello. My dishes, too, were quite enjoyable. I started with the classic parmesan budino that I've heard so much about. I personally enjoy cheese, but I thought the dish was rather one-note. There's really only so much salty parmesan custard you can swallow or maybe it's just me. My second course was the ridged pasta with foie gras that everyone seems to think is lick-the-plate good. While I wouldn't sell my firstborn son to taste it again, I did like the dish (my girlfriend commented that it was too rich for her tastes). But seriously, I can't really pan any of the dishes I had that night. If there was any substantive criticism to make, my girlfriend found her scallop entree sandy and unpleasant to eat.
Although I'm not in a hurry to return to Acquerello, I do believe I would return one day. Having a cab ready for my date and I when we exited the restaurant was a huge plus. -
Review from Sharon S.
Hayward, CA
1/14/2012
My boyfriend took me there for my birthday couple days ago. I am not fa big fan of Italian food, but I am a huge fan of fine dining. Host was very friendly. Dining room was small and cozy. I loved the layout and the decor. Food menu was simple, huge wine menu selection. They had 2 Sommeliers on shift and they were both extremely helpful. We had parmesan budino with black truffle caviar, creamy ham brodo with potato soup as our first course. They were just too creamy for us, and that's just personal preference. Second course, we had the lamb shank raviolo and lobster panzerotti. The lamb shank was just soso, but the lobster panzerotti was very tasty, they were probably better than most restaurants. Third course, we had the kobe beef and truffle stuffed chcken breast. I thought the kobe beef was just okay, in face, I really doubt that was kobe beef, it was not tender enough. Chicken breast was very good, very juicy and flavorful. We finished our dinner with a complimentary geleto dessert and some chocolate.
I would recommend this restaurant if you are looking for a quiet and romantic atmosphere. However, you are looking for heavy portion food, this is definitely not for you! -
Review from Mister K.
Bay Area
12/13/2011
Had a superb dinner here. It was the third time for us, but that's three times over the course of about 10-12 years and we hadn't been here in 8 years, we figured. The first time we went it was awesome. Second time, not quite as good. This time - wow, better than ever.
We didn't do the strict wine pairing menu. The waiter and sommelier let us pick our own dishes and then they matched the wines with what we chose. The pairings may have been the greatest part of the meal. I saw that someone complained but I tell you, the night we were there, the sommelier was absolutely dead on with everything he chose. And he experimented a bit with us. Every pairing was superb.
It's hard to know where to start with the food. All was great. We kind of stuck with their signature dishes, and the ones that stick out in my mind were:
- Ridged past with foie gras, scented with black truffles and Marsala. A signature dish and it did not disappoint.
- Panzerotti with lobster. Sublime.
- Sous vide lamb - perfectly cooked and seasoned.
- vanilla ice cream (gelato) with balsamic vinegar. Wow.
Can't remember the rest. It is very expensive so don't have any illusions about that part of it. Just enjoy a remarkable meal. Wish I could come back soon but it'll take a while to build the bank account back up. -
Review from Kaeko B.
Boynton Beach, FL
1/14/2012
My family and I just ate at Acquerello tonight. This was our last night in SF. What a disappointing way to end our trip... Based on all of the reviews, we were looking forward to this dinner. Everyone ordered something different (4 of us) and we decided my dad's potato and ham soup was the best dish - the rest were mediocre at best. My mom gave her dinner zero stars. We're from Japan, where we have many Michelin rated restaurants and based on our experience at other Michelin rated restaurants, we are shocked to here that Acquerello has a star! Swervice was excellent, but the food was terrible. We passed on the dessert and went to Ghirardelli Square for a sundae instead.
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Review from Patrick H.
Scottsdale, AZ
12/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is a great place for a special occasion meal. The service is unbelievable. The dining room is charming with the arched ceiling and woodwork. The food is delicious. My favorite dish was the pasta with the foie gras.
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Review from Michelle Z.
Torrance, CA
1/9/2012
Wonderful food and exceptionally wonderful service. Especially the biscotti that they gave us to take home it would have been a perfect snack for our flight the next day if only we had remembered to eat it.
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Review from Shen J.
Mountain View, CA
11/26/2011
Acquerello doesn't have valet, but there's a parking garage next door (it does close at midnight, be warned). It's a bit formal, jackets recommended, and we were the youngest people there (we're mid-thirties).
It was our anniversary dinner and we were greeted with a glass of bubbly on the house. The service here is phenomenal, maybe the best in the City.
The amuse for the evening was a fried rice ball, I didn't care for it. They also gave us an orange juice and vermouth drink that was good. The bread came with goat butter, interesting.
We both had a four course meal. The food:
1st: Kobe beef tartare & foie gras and pear raviolo - Both good, but I preferred the raviolo. The pear and the foie gras complemented each other well.
2nd: Pasta with foie gras and black truffles & lobster ravioli - Best part of the meal. Both were delicious! You can't go wrong with either.
3rd: Dorade & american kobe beef - The beef is a bit better, but neither dish blew me away.
Dessert: Creme fraiche mousse & caramel semifreddo - The caramel dish was great, the creme fraiche mousse was not good.
Some people might leave here a little hungry, but it was the right amount for us. Less than 2 hours for this meal, a first for this kind of restaurant. We'll be back for the full tasting menu. -
Review from M B.
San Diego, CA
1/14/2012
Excellent food, outstanding service. The atmosphere is a little dated, almost to the point where the restaurant feels uptight or stuffy, but although the service is very formal, it is very nice to be waited on in a way that makes you feel entirely taken care of. I had the lobster raviollo as a first course and the Kobe beef as a second, I would highly recommend both dishes. Be prepared to not get out of this restaurant for less than $100 per person; you definitely pay for the delicious food and service, but the amount of care they put into the experience definitely makes it well worth it. Leave room for the cheese course, they have some very unusual cheeses in their selection.
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Review from J W.
San Francisco, CA
10/2/2011
The high-wire act of any fine dining restaurant is to convince its diners that the food is, in fact, rather a work of performance art -- and therefore is worth the premium prices. It's particularly difficult to do so with Italian cuisine, long known for its rustic simplicity. For that reason, Acquerello is a standout -- a "refined" Italian restaurant that has consistently earned a Michelin star.
Unfortunately, for me, I found the food a bit dated and, as with many ambitious productions, this bit of performance art had a serious third act problem.
The parmesan budino is a "classic" and it's topped with "black truffle caviar." It's perfectly fine and precisely what you expect: a little custard topped with some black pearls. There's a nutmeg and parmesan and truffle essence; the whole affair is rather aromatic, as it should be.
Ultra concentrated vegetable filled ravioli in their own sauce. The idea here seems to be a sort of "mirepoix reduction." But it's heavily sweet, almost to the point of losing its savory character. My perception is that the ratio of carrots in the broth ruins the party.
Given it's a refined Italian restaurant and the aim was to increase the umami character of the dish, shouldn't the predominant element be tomatoes? Ultra-concentrated tomatoes are an umami bomb, and that's a very appealing flavor profile in a vegetarian dish; much more so than the cloying sweetness on display here.
Lamb loin rolled in herbs with fennel gratin, tapenade, and polenta.
This dish was a total bomb. I really love lamb. It's difficult to cook well, and one of the reasons I go to Michelin-starred restaurants is to get the Hard Stuff Done Right.
Well, it's not done right here. The lamb has almost no fat. The cut is not well-marbled. The herbed crust is a poor substitute for a great sear and a drizzling of some rendered fat. The overwhelming lean-ness of the meat made the dish feel as if it were designed by a dietician for a low-fat, low-carb menu.
The vegetables are mediocre. Fennel gratin is exceedingly fibrous. Who wants a dense stack of unappealing cellulose?
With respect to this third course -- the unsatisfying resolution of the "story" told by the menu -- I can only speculate that it's yet another case of misusing the sous vide technique.
Let's not be mistaken -- I love sous vide; I have a machine at home; it is indeed revolutionary.
But sous vide cooking should be an enabler, not a crutch. The herbed lamb loin felt like it was "designed" for a sous vide-based process, and therefore to take pressure off the kitchen. As a diner, I want the food to be designed predominantly for me. And I REALLY want it to be unbelievably delicious.
Overall, Acquerello missed the mark for me. The story had a great beginning, but fell flat by the end. -
Review from Barbara M.
New York, NY
10/28/2011
We were thoroughly delighted with our dinner at Acquerello on our recent visit to San Francisco. We tried about 10 highly rated restaurants and this was our second favorite.
We had the tasting menu so we could try a lot of dishes and felt that it was a good value for the quality and quantity of the food. Each course was outstanding and the wine pairings were well chosen.
Service was on the formal side but charming and not at all pretentious, just the right amount of solicitous care without being intrusive - perfect.
The room felt a bit dated, and might improve with an update, but it was still lovely. Lots of space between tables to encourage private conversation and a reasonable noise level.
Don't miss the chance to dine here! -
Review from Jen S.
1/24/2012
sometimes you just want a fancy dinner. yes its expensive but when done right, it's worth every penny. we made last minute reservations and so we didn't get seated until 8:30 and were one of the last ones out of the restaurant. the dining room is an intimate space. the lighting was bright (great for pictures and to actually see what you're eating) but not too bright to take away from a romantic dinner if that's what you're going for. the servers were amazing and the food delicious. deserving of their one star michelin.
the unique thing about their menu is that they give you plenty of options. 3, 4 or 5 course meals. or the chef's tasting. with or without wine. that way everyone's happy.
- Pear and foie gras raviolo - foie gras is being banned! had to eat it since who knows when we'll have it again!
- American Kobe beef tartare - beautifully prepared
- Classic Parmesan budino with 'black truffle caviar' - YUM. not cavier dont be deceived. according to the waiter, one of their more popular first dishes
- Ridged pasta with foie gras, scented with black truffles and Marsala - truffle and foie gras in one plate? i thought i was in heaven.. but when the plate arrived it wasn't that amazing..
- Lamb shank-filled raviolo- same as above. i wasn't amazed with their 2nd dishes
- Bavette of American Kobe beef- medium rare, tender and juicy!
- Cervena venison loin - never was too big of a fan of venison. too gamey for me
- California swordfish- fish was great. sea urchin though exotic is not one of my faves.. too bland for me
- Olive oil cake, poached pears, thyme, honey-vanilla ice cream - yumm almost feels like a healthier dessert b/c its made of olive oil but its probably not haha
- Espresso panna cotta with hazelnut-gianduja praline and teeccino granita - def not what i expected. not your normal panna cotta. it was served in a cup with crushed ice!
- Bourbon caramel semifreddo with Amaretti crumbs and drizzle of chocolate sauce - great for those alcohol and chocolate lovers -
Review from Ryan W.
Berkeley, CA
12/11/2011
They must buy reviews.
The food was subpar and I need some emmodium after my meal. The flavors of the food were too intense and unbalanced. The wine the sommelier picked tasted like a sour pinot noir and the wines from napa were off vintage. -
Review from Grace D.
San Francisco, CA
12/5/2011
Exceptional and superb dining experience...A perfect spot (in my opinion) for an intimate dinner to celebrate a special occasion.
Greeted by name at the front by a warm and friendly young lady then courteously escorted to our table together with an Italian accented suited gentleman, I casually look over to my right staring at this cute/small stool where she immediately pointed out that I may place my purse on it...hmmmm....then asked wether a white napkin was sufficient because since I was wearing a black outfit, I might prefer a black napkin...wow...(white napkin will do...it's already there...)
Due to his heavy Italian accent, I was trying not to project a confused look on my face as he was explaining the menu and dinner courses but I want to say he probably sensed it as he politely smiled and went about re-iterating again how to order.
We settled for the 3 course dinner each (@ $70/person). Before you are served with dinner, you are given 2 complimentary aperitif (sweet vermouth, san pellegrino sanbitter and fresh oj) to stimulate your appetite...description - refreshing!!!. The gentleman who served it to us was gracious enough to even explain to us how easy it is to make at home to enjoy.
Me:
-Flavor of the forest: mushroom puree, chanterelle and maitake, tiny turnips, carrots, onion and radish blossoms
-Truffle-stuffed chicken breast, leek custard, potato gratin and shaved cremini mushrooms
-Creme fraiche mousse, grapefruit compressed with Mosacato Chinato, tarragon and olive oil
***Dinner selection is counted as a course***
-Paired with a glass of Rotari Rose Brut sparkling wine
Ed:
-Lamb shank-filled raviolo with baby carrots and pickled pearl onions
-Poached egg with saved white truffles (truffle supplement is an extra $65 so we said...what the heck...why not)
-Bavette of American Kobe bee, pine scented sunchoke puree, brusse sprouts, shallot red wine sauce
- Paired with half bottle of Falesco Montiano 03 Merlot
*Wine selection as suggested by our server*
ALL were perfect! Food was beautifully presented and taste/quality was exceptional...(sheesh....half of the ingredients, we didn't know about except for the truffles...we knew truffles were pricey but they are just simply a delicacy one must try if you can and it was well worth it!)
Since one of the wines was a half a bottle, they pour them in one of the many unique and gorgeous decanters to help "air" the wine.
As our second course was being served, I noticed he just gave me this small soup side dish to accompany my hubby's second course selection and casually/jokingly said that he didn't want me to feel left out. I was a stumped by his comment but I said to myself..."what the heck..." Then I said...oh, Ed ordered 3 meat type dishes but really no dessert. In hindsight, that made our dinner flow easily because when my 3rd course came out which is my dessert, they came out as well with a birthday dessert (Bourbon caramel semifreddo with Amaretti crumbs and drizzle of chocolate sauce) for him with a small candle and chocolate syrup scripted with the words Happy Birthday, complimentary! Wait, wait, wait....I didn't mention we were celebrating his birthday. Not one bit. They must have overheard me say that when my husband and I toasted...WOW...THAT'S CUSTOMER SERVICE!!! Now everything made sense why I got that small side dish to eat.
This place clearly defines what fine dining experience truly is. It is a "pricey" restaurant (average tab with wine $300) BUT...you are pampered, attended to and graciously served by everyone in the restaurant. It looks intimidating with what you think are stuffy wait staff BUT "au contraire" everyone was FRIENDLY, UNPRETENTIOUS AND POLITE. You didn't feel "looked down upon". Service was consistent.
By the way, every time they serve you your course and before you start eating it, they carefully/artfully explain what you are eating...almost like a song...hehehe. Loved it!
While the food, in my opinion is not clearly superior to other restaurants my husband and I have been, the overall/total experience with the small but beautiful setting and great service made this outing even more special and memorable.
A special note...at the end of your dining, you are presented with this small favor type box filled with their famous homemade biscotti which I've heard they are known for and now I know why...they are DELISH!
Make sure you read their disclaimer about attire and reservation policy. Jeans are okay but dress it up a notch or 2.
Thank you Acquerello for making my husband's special day...well...SPECIAL! And definitely, we will be back again...maybe not right away but in the coming future. -
Review from Linda W.
Folsom, CA
11/7/2011
Atmosphere: A perfect place for that special person in your life, quite romantic
Service: Superb, honestly doesn't get better than this
First course: The Kobe beef tartare was delicious, the salmon roe and herbs complimented the beef very well
Second course: Oh my, so delicious! The ridge pasta with foie gras and the lobster panzerotti were perfect in every way. Pasta was al dente, sauces were not too salty and the flavor of each ingredient could be distinguished with every bite.
Third course: The pancetta-wrapped scallops were a disappointment, the scallops were under seared, I wasn't impressed with this particular dish. We also ordered the Bavette of Kobe beef---good but not fantastic
Dessert: the espresso panna cotta was served creatively in an untraditional 1/2 fish bowl with hazelnut praline and teeccino granita. Not sure if the granita complimented the panna cotta that well, the praline was very sweet but went well with my little espresso (prepared just right).
Extras: The goat cheese butter served with bread prior to the first course is savory and delicious. The truffles served after the last course makes you think, can this night get any better?! Yes it does, because they send you home with their house made biscottis.
Extra extra: a stool for your handbag so it doesn't sit on the floor under your table. The sommelier was knowledgeable, friendly and not snooty like most sommeliers.
Bottom line: I would return but hope the third course menu choices improve. -
Review from Rosa L.
San Francisco, CA
I had an amazing experience at Acquerello. Came here for my boyfriend's birthday. My waitress remembered the special note I made in my reservation regarding the special occasion and greeted my boyfriend with birthday wishes and an extra candle-lit dessert.
I love the rustic looking ceilings and classy wall decorations. The decor makes the restaurant feel very warm and welcoming, and not pretentious at all.
You simply cannot miss the below dishes!
-Classic Parmesan budino (signature appetizer - AMAZING!)
-American Kobe beef tartare with gilded wild salmon roe
-Ridged pasta with foie gras
-Truffle-stuffed chicken breast (I rarely order chicken dishes at restaurants b/c I was never impressed. But this chicken dish is different. So tender and moist and savory! I'm sold!) -
Review from Po L.
San Francisco, CA
10/18/2011
Pull out all the stops for that special someone in your life.
They know how to dot the T's and cross the I's.
Wait a minute, that's not right?
Service - superb
Ambiance - let's get it on
Food - Steak was amazing, so was the veal stock soup, but a dish or two was over salted
Wine pairings - on point
Extra points on accommodating special days.
They'll call you a cab at the end of the night too if needed. -
Review from Rina M.
Mountain View, CA
9/25/2011
Echoing the other 400+ reviews, this place is absolutely amazing. I won't do a complete thesis on each plate but here's some highlights:
- Arancini with corn and truffle cream (small amuse bouche)
- parmesan budino with black truffle caviar
- lobster panzerotti (melts in your mouth with nice chunks of fresh lobster)
- dark chocolate earl grey truffle
(Super) minor issue:
Only the male gets to taste the wine before getting a full glass? I haven't eaten at many fancy restaurants so this may be normal but I would have liked to try the wine instead of just sitting there and watching someone else taste it. Not a big deal though.
This place is surreal, from the many food options to impeccable customer service, it was one of the best dining experiences I have ever had. I was surprised that the staff was so pleasant and approachable, I assumed a nice restaurant would automatically have a pretentious atmosphere but this was not the case at all! I would definitely go back and try the other dishes, especially the cheese plate and risotto.
PS: The biscotti you get to take home = perfect!Listed in: Worth A Michelin Star?
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Review from marisol m.
Los Angeles, CA
8/26/2011
Literally THE worst food I've had while living in San Francisco...and I have been to a substantial amount of good restaurants and michelins while here. I looked at yelp and saw 4.5 ratings all throughout. It was a work dinner, so we didn't even really care about the cost and would have been happy spending double (had the food been remotely above chain restaurant food). With the Michelin star and the yelp reviews I thought there was no way this place could be too much of a miss.
My GOD was I wrong?!?
The minute you walk in it smells like a cat threw up (im not exaggerating- my party identified the scent as that), and it doesn't improve once you sit down. You are then seated at a table set like you would see at your grandmother's house and it doesn't stop smelling that way throughout the meal. The room is very old, and the likely culprit of the stale smell.
From there, none of the food you get knocks you off your socks or smells much better. Neither the rigatoni fois gras nor the lobster ravioli were refined or light at all and the rigatoni didn't taste fresh. Sadly, the sauce- drowned, sweet rigatoni dish reminded me of a $10 pasta I'm fond of at Maggiano's called Rigaoni D - and I would never deem Maggiano's fine cuisine.
My co-worker found a fruit fly in his beer, the biscotti they gave at the end tasted like they were entirely made of crisco, and the lemon ricotta panna cotta tastes like bad lemon tarts.
I can't express my thorough disgust anymore than these last paragraphs, but I would keep writing continuously if it kept you from coming here.
This is the first review I've ever given to a restaurant that I thought deserved below 3 or 4 stars. After an uninspired experience at Coi also, I'm seriously questioning the designation of Michelin stars to restaurants in SF.
Another strange thing to note is that after I initially posted this review, it didn't go to the top of the postings, and was shifted below an older, higher rated review. -
Review from Siobhan G.
Vallejo, CA
10/14/2011
I had never heard of this restaurant before, and was asked out on a date and taken here. Definitely a place to take a girl if you are trying to impress her...hey, it worked on me!
And now, that first date at acquerello has turned into a wedding next year! -
Review from Randy T.
8/17/2011
Acquerello has been on my list of places to eat in SF because of the reputation, the accolades, and the awards. I got a chance to eat here when my gf surprised me with a dinner here for my birthday. For the most part I'll concentrate on what my part of the meal. I chose a 4 course menu for $78.
Aperitif: Fresh orange juice, sweet vermouth, San Pellegrino bitters - A refreshing start to the meal. If they allowed I would have ordered that as a drink.
Amuse Bouche: Sweet corn arancini with parmesan-white truffle crema - Fundamentally it's a rice ball. I enjoy anything fried so it was pleasant to eat but I wish I had more. Crackly outer texture with oozy creamy inside. The crema was probably guilding the lily though.
First Course: American Kobe beef tartare with gilded wild salmon roe, basil blossoms, and arugula flowers - Although it said it Kobe beef, I couldn't feel the unctuousness that Kobe should be. There should be a richness that washes over your mouth but it tasted like lean beef to me. The salmon roe added a burst of saltiness that helped the dish. I enjoyed it but it was a miraculous dish.
Second Course: Lobster panzerotti in a spicy lobster brodo with "Diavolicchio" - The hit of the night! I love lobster and this delivered in a multitude of ways. Succulent raviolis filled with lobster meat. A plump piece of lobster meat in the center waiting to be devoured. And the spicy lobster brodo with intense lobster flavor. It was lobster heaven and I wish I could stay for more.
Third Course: Seared breast of Guinea hen with leek involtino, fried potatoes, quail egg and truffled Madeira sauce - A dish that seemed like separate components but didn't marry together into one dish. The guinea hen breast was tender and cooked well. The fried potatoes were average and a bit mushy. The involtino was somewhat bland. Maybe the truffled Madeira sauce which was on each component was
supposed to tie everything together. Too bad it didn't.
Fourth Course: Bourbon caramel semifreddo with Amaretti crumbs and drizzle of chocolate sauce - Dessert was a pleasant ending to the meal. The semifreddo had a strong caramel flavor which I enjoyed and the amaretti crumbs gave another dimension of texture. The Happy Birthday message drawn with chocolate sauce was much appreciated.
I do have to say that my gf had the scallop with braised oxtail dish which contained a piece of bone. A definite downer for our dining experience. Expectations were high but for a Michelin-starred restaurant, I don't think it lived up to the other one starred restaurants I've been to in the city. Checked it off the list. A return visit is still TBD with many other restaurants to choose from in the Bay Area. -
Review from ian c.
San Francisco, CA
12/18/2011
If you're looking for a truly memorable experience, Acquerello is literally as good it gets. I had the best meal and overall dining experience I can remember there. The place is truly elegant without being stuffy at all, every course blew me away in flavor, presentation and inventiveness, the service was warm, friendly and impeccable, and the wine list is one of the best I've seen anywhere. A complete gem that takes full advantage of local wineries and ingredients, but offers an equally good international selection. A real find.
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Review from Craig L.
San Francisco, CA
12/18/2011
If this was an average priced restaurant I'd give it 4 stars but when you go to a Michelin rated place you expect better than we experienced. Great service, excellent sommelier. Food was spotty, creative but not mind blowing. The $65 surcharge option for a white truffles appetizer was a waste of money... Was interesting but just 'ok'. The lobster second course was in an overpowering sauce. The best was the Dorado fish entree. That was superb.
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Review from Debra S.
Los Altos, CA
12/16/2011
I had a lovely birthday dinner at Acquerello last night. We were there last year for my husband's birthday and I was really looking forward to it. There was really only one (rather large) flaw in the experience. Up until the cheese course, service was seamless and the sommelier gave us great advice on a wonderful older Barbaresco to pair with our dinners.
However, my advice would be to skip the cheese course - or don't expect a good wine pairing. It really was a waste of money. When we decided to partake of the cheese course, I asked our waiter about a glass of wine to pair with the cheeses he helped us pick out (the cheeses on offer were from the Piemonte). He explained he didn't know anything about the wines, so I asked him if he could call the sommelier over for advice.
The sommelier recommended two white wines (since my husband and I wanted to try 2 different ones and compare). Unfortunately, there was no synergy between the wines and the cheeses. At all. The sommelier checked back with us, and I explained the situation. He did ask which wine I would like instead - well, if I knew what would be better, I wouldn't be asking him. To his credit, he did bring a taste of a wine we had tried last year (more successfully) with the cheese course. Unfortunately, that wasn't much better this time with our choices.
After dinner, when we were leaving, I expressed our disappointment again about that part of the food-wine matching and asked his advice on how we could better have coordinated a more successful cheese-wine pairing for another visit. He said it was impossible to match a wine with multiple cheeses. Period.
That being the case - my advice: Skip it. It added $60 to the bill for the 2 of us. (The cheese course as a 4th course plus $35 for 2 glasses of wine.)
A shame to end an otherwise lovely evening on an off-note. -
Review from Stacey L.
San Francisco, CA
9/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
My husband & I have been wanting to try this restaurant for over a year now. Why it took us this long, I don't know. So maybe it was the anticipation of setting the bar so high that we found the dining experience to just be o-k , just in terms of the food. Service was attentive and prompt.
Normally at all Michelin rated restaurants we always opt for the Chef's Tasting Menu, but this time around we thought it best to order off the dinner menu. I chose the 4 course $78
-(*)Ridged pasta with foie gras, scented with black truffles and Marsala , (added $15 truffle)
-Scallops with braised ox tail
-Seared breast of Guinea hen with leek involtino, fried potatoes, quail egg and truffled Madeira sauce (dry & overcooked. I didn't finish the course)
-Ricotta panna cotta with preserved Meyer lemon and blueberry
(*) = Favorite
**5 Stars to our sommelier who knocked it right out of the park with a recommendation for the Raina, Sagrantino di Montefalco 2007 $92 -
Review from Allie E.
Danville, CA
8/19/2011
Okay, amazing experience. I think I just need to give a play by play of our excellent 3 hour long dinner.
First, when you sit down at the table, they not only offer you a black napkin, but they bring a small stool for the girls to put their purses on. How cool is that?!
Then they bring you a small shot glass of Aperitif, an orange juice mix that is supposed to clench your palette. Tasty.
Next, as we were deciding what to order for each course, we were given hors d'oeuvres. I wish I could remember what they were because they were sooo delicious. One was a little cracker with cheese like spread on it and another was a fried ball of all kinds of goodness. (We liked those so much they gave us two).
First course, I got sturgeon. It was tasty, but if I had known it was cold, I probably would have chosen something different. I tried the beef tartare, which if you like beef tartare (I know some don't), it was excellent.
Second course, the risotto was perfectly creamy. However, the sauce they put it on it after it is placed in front of you was a tad overpowering. I also tried the lobster panzerotti which is a MUST HAVE. Almost everyone at the table got it. If you like lobster, it is to die for.
Third course, the ocean scallops were delicious. I love scallops, so every bite was just delectable. I also tried the New York Steak, which wasn't anything special, but really how special can a steak get?
I did not get a fourth course but some of the guys at the table did, and we were given complimentary raviolis. I don't know what they were but I do know the inside was yummy. Much better than being given an empty plate.
Dessert, the chiffon cake had an excellent presentation and tasted just as good. I do wish I had tried the semifreddo because the waiter said it was his favorite dessert. Their vanilla sorbet is also tasty if you don't like chocolate... My boyfriend just didn't like the vinegar sauce stuff they put on the sorbet (same sauce they put on the risotto.. i wish i knew what it was called).
At last, I thought I would not have to consume food for a long long time due to my bulging waistline, the comical waiter rolls in a cart full of truffles. The milk chocolate with a crunch inside is soooo good. I wish I could have eaten 6, even though I was about to burst. The dark chocolate with brandy actually has liquid brandy inside.. so it is strong. I also heard the salted caramel one is as good as the crunch one. I realy don't think you can go wrong with any kind of truffle ;)
If there was a word better than "fine dining" this place would be its epitome. Not only did they do everything a normal "fine dining" restaurant would do (black napkins, placing each meal on the table in unison), Acquerello went above and beyond with its purse pedestals, the friendly, helpful, and attentive staff who enjoyed joking around with us (I felt like our table of 8 was being served by the entire staff), and the endless complimentary food we were given (probably for being one of their bigger customers.. just so they don't get in trouble :p)
Definitely worth trying...
AND I forgot to mention the ladies got a lovely box of biscotti to take home :) -
Review from Angela B.
San Rafael, CA
11/17/2011
The restaurant had great attention to detail. From the moment my husband and I walked in we received the best service. They knew it was our anniversary and offered us complimentary champagne. We had all of our menu questions answered, the ambiance was great and the food was really good. The only reason why i'm not rating it 5 starts is that every course was excellent except the main course.
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Review from Holland J.
San Francisco, CA
11/17/2011
This was our second visit to acquarello. We were here a year ago and had such a memorable experience that we returned to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary.
We were seated at the same table from a year ago, and when I mentioned this fact to the owner, as he pulled out the table to facilitate our seating, he replied..."I know".
This is a restaurant that makes you feel welcome. This is not a restaurant that makes you feel as if they are doing you a favor by allowing you in. The service is attentive, not suffocating. The attitude is kind, not arrogant.
The food is excellent and I recommend the wine parings. Each course is matched to a complimenting glass of wine and the sommelier provides a great briefing on the history of each wine.
A great place for special occasions. Expensive, yes, but no regrets here. We will return again annually. -
Review from Jenny K.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 6/23/2011
Consistently excellent. This time around my first course was the parmesan budino, which had a delightfully smooth texture and umami-esque flavor.
For our second course, the host of our dinner requested a four-part pasta tasting. This is something I didn't know was offered here and it was phenomenal. This pasta tasting consisted of a larger plate divided into four separate sections. I now rank them in order of favorite: (1) lobster panzerotti in lobster broth, (2) foie gras, black truffle and Marsala wine ridged pasta, (3) guinea hen and duck ragu with all potato gnocchi, (4) vegetable ravioli. Previously I felt that the foie gras and black truffle pasta was too sweet; while on the sweeter side, I discovered that I appreciated the intense flavor of this pasta in a smaller portion size.
For third course, I selected the scallops with braised oxtail and morels. The scallops were cooked to perfection. Excellent Sicilian red wine accompanied our meal (can't recall the name).
For dessert, I had an amazing caramel semifreddo. As always, the house made truffles were delicious and I was given a little box of biscotti for breakfast in the morning.Listed in: The Fab Fives
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/2/2011
I had a beautiful birthday dinner here and enjoyed the food, wine and service tremendously.
My… Read more »
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Review from Jeannie L.
San Francisco, CA
7/7/2011
I checked this place out because one of my friends recommended it, and at the mention of fois gras pasta -- I jumped at the chance. It just so happened to be the same time of my bf's bday, so I took him here.
The atmosphere is very dim yet cozy, and very romantic. The tables are spread far apart from each other that you can feel like you're in your own world.
Our server was very nice, attentive, and informative. Anytime my bf's beer was low, it got a refill immediately.
I always seem to be very engrossed in my own food, never tasting my bf's plate so I can only rate my own.
- Beef tartare with quail egg
* It was so perfect! The crunch of the chip mixed with the egg and beef. It was just absolutely delicious
- Foie gras pasta
* I haven't had a good foie gras pasta since I was in Paris, but this matches up. A lot of people complain about sweet and I'm not a fan of sweet in my food, but I had no complaints. Absolutely delicious
- Scallops with oxtail
* The scallop was perfectly seared and the flavors of oxtail and scallop went together in harmony.
I really, really enjoyed this meal. I'd definitely come back for that foie gras pasta. Oh, I did take a small bite of my bf's lobster panzerotti and it was really good especially because there were chunks of lobster in them. Delish! -
Review from Ally C.
Disclaimer: The use of other restaurant names within this review is not used to intentionally hurt anyone's feelings nor to promote revenue towards other restaurants. Rather it is used from one person's point of view to promote honesty.
First and foremost I would like to say, Gary Danko is my first love (and no I do not speak solely of Chef Gary Danko, rather Gary Danko as a restaurant.) From the moment I laid eyes on Gary's five course menu, I knew I was in love. He had me at hello. And to be honest, I never said goodbye. There will always be a soft spot within my heart for Gary even on the day that I dine at the "Best Restaurant in the World" French Laundry. With that said, any other restaurant who comes straggling along after Gary definitely has hard shoes to fill.
Acquerello is something like my third boyfriend... out of seven. There's Gary Danko, my first love and then there's a bunch of other boyfriends in between who just don't compare to the one I place on a pedestal. However, there's always something memorable about each boyfriend whether it be good or bad or even both.
Let's start out with the good memorable traits of Acquerello. Service. Our server (I would like to say her name was Misa), was absolutely wonderful. She was very keen on service. After taking our first bite of each entree, she would gladly check up on us and ask, "And how was your first bite?" It's nice to feel like a valued customer and that our opinion triumphs all. However, I am an introvert and telling someone the first bite sucked ass is something that will never slip out of my mouth, especially when your server is such a doll. Rather you'll hear an "It's good" from me when truthfully, it blows.
And truth be told. My first bite out of each dish just didn't cut it. My first dish was the parmesan budino. A budino is essentially pudding, however puddings should only be limited to chocolate, anything other than chocolate, especially something salty should not be made into budino. Four spoonfuls of parmesan budino left me cringing. I felt like that baby who ate nasty baby food and would make that sour lemon face after each bite. My next entree was the renowned rigged pasta with foie gras that our server mentioned was one of the top dishes of the restaurant. Unfortunately, I am not a fan of al dente pasta, so once again my first bite blew. I gladly dumped a scoopful of rigged pastas into my BF's plate of lobster panzerotti. My last dish was the lamb loin. It's taste was reminiscent of a breakfast sausage. Nothing about my lamb tasted like the gamey lamb I craved and expected as the one described on the menu. So once again I was left dissatisfied. Luckily the BF ordered the Kobe, which was absolutely to die for. We passed on dessert, but did receive complementary truffles. Sadly, those truffles were probably the highlight of my meal.
Sorry Acquerello, my third boyfriend, you just didn't leave any memorable imprints on me that I can compare to the next guy. However, everyone at Acquerello was extremely professional and friendly that I just can't be mad at the disappointing food. -
Review from doctor g.
Alameda County, CA
8/19/2011
It's been awhile since I ate here and I remember it being very good, very formal, very romantic, and very pricey.
However, unfortunately I remember it mostly because we were in an absolute panic because we didn't think we would make it to the restaurant for our reservation time due to the fact that there was absolutely no parking in the entire neighborhood. Fortunately, we got there about a half hour early and spent 30 minutes driving around in circles looking for parking before we got lucky. It's really the only reason we haven't gone back.
Either I didn't see the garage mentioned in Yelp or it wasn't there when I dined here last. I doubt the street parking problem has changed any since then.
