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Tue-Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
"I tried this place the other day and thought the pizza was pretty good. Food: They serve pasta, salads, and most importantly pizza. It's…" read more »
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I have a personal policy for ordering food. If I see foie gras, caviar or white truffles on a menu, I must order them.
It's November and it's white truffle season! I had Acquerello"s
1. Tagliolini with butter, egg yolks and Parmesan - one of the best dish I had this year. Amazing creamy egg yolk coated Tagliolini with beautiful sliced white truffles covering entire dish.
2. Risotto 'mantecato' with butter and Parmesan cheese - perfectly cooked creamy risotto with sliced truffles on top. Great balance where Parmesan cheese is not overpowering the dish.
Their White truffle supplement is $65 a plate. Reasonable price for quality and quantity of the white truffles you get.
Their services, timing and flow of each courses (everyone at the table for the each courses are served at the same time ie. 5 guests = 5 servers for each dish), knowledge of wait staff, and wine paring was perfect (I almost never say perfect in my reviews) .
Just back from yet another visit to Acquerello, reminding me once again why this place is eternally popular. It's the fact that you're experiencing the best of 1,000s of years of Italian culture in one spot half a world away. It's watching the sommelier decant your wine over a candle into a weirdly shaped vessel as he describes the minerals in the soil of Piedmont. It the biscotti waiting for you as you leave, yet another amuse bouche which you were far too full to eat, but know will be tomorrow's perfect breakfast. It's having a meal in a church with a Sunday morning noise level that eliminates all stress. It's the fact that behind a door in a storefront sliver of my gritty neighborhood something truly unique to the Bay Area is happening.
So...how was the food, you ask? Was it 13.8% better than Gary Danko? Such as question misses not only the point of Acquerello, but many of the pleasures of life itself.
Absolutely the the real deal!
This is fine dining and I don't know why I don't hear more about this place. It seems like a secret.
We went all out and got the 5 courses and even though it was not cheap by any means I don't regret spending the money at all. The flavors of each course were so tender and lovely that I am still thinking about this place a few weeks removed.
The cheese cart is damn good on par with the best in the city; obviously I highly recommend it!
What's strange is I can't for the life of me remember the dessert . . . I guess the cheese really blew me away. On another note these guys are serious about their wine and have a very smart list.
And speaking if lists, Acquerello is definitely on my top five dining experiences in the city.
There isn't anything to dislike about Acquerello, except....
Had dinner there several weeks ago and really enjoyed the meal. The food was excellent - everyone in our party thought what they ordered was perfect. The only knock on this place was the staff constantly pushing their wine list on us. At one point our waiter handed me the wine list mid-way through our meal without my asking for it. Not a big deal, but it did feel a bit like they were pushing us to order more wine.
I will definitely go back to Acquerello and would recommend it to friends.
5 stars for service
3 stars for food
My loverman and I both agreed that it was the best service we've ever gotten. Everyone was super nice but in the best way. They were really helpful and even got a cab for us at the end of the night. There was a guy who held the cab door open for us the entire time and he was so friendly!
I thought the restaurant was awkwardly tiny. I was almost forced to stare at everyone else at the restaurant. My loverman came to the conclusion that it felt like a banquet hall. Eek.
We both got 3 courses since neither of us were that hungry.
Mine: Lobster Panzerotti, Seared Sea Bass, Dark Chocolate Ganache.
His: Parmesan Boudino, Rabbit Agnolotti, Veal Loin
I don't know if its because I'm not used to Italian food but everything seemed over-cooked and over-seasoned. The food was really disappointing. Its never a good sign when a meat lover's favorite dish was the dessert and not because the dessert was amazing, but because everything else was so bad in comparison.
Impeccable service can only compensate for so much.
View photos here: http://tiffanyvan.com/...
Amazing! Speechless! good food with awesome service!!
Don't need to describe anymore because we love Franco the server here and he makes us dinner more wonderful way.
But i have to share this with you all that there was one night for us got into fight and went here (didn't want to cancel the reservation) I was still mad at my bf and did not speak at all for like 15 min in the restaurant and soon later I got a feeling that staff there knew something was wrong with us and the food was slowing down to us table. I was pleased that their great service kept checking us if we were OK or not.
Highly recommend here!
This just might be one of the best restaurants you've never heard of.
My husband and I were introduced to it via an episode of Check Please Bay Area and I took him for his bday. I'd definitely classify it as a special occasion place - especially if you plan to splurge on the chefs tasting with wine pairings. I had to dip into my retirement fund to pay for it, but it was worth it.
Every course was amazing, the service was spectacular, and the restaurant is gorgeous. My only complaint, other than being far too full when the whole thing was over, was that none of the wines really blew me away. There were even one or two that I didn't finish (and you'll just have to trust me here - that NEVER happens with me) and so I'm holding back a star for that.
But other than that, this was a near-perfect dining experience and we will certainly return.
I've eaten here before and ate here again last night with my sister.
Brought a $40 bottle of 2007 Phillips Hill Corby Vineyard Pinot which was recently rated 92 by Wine Enthuisats.which was a perfect wine pairing for every course. Acquerello has a high $35 corkage fee and won't let you bring any wine that they already have on their wine list, but the cost of the wine plus corkage was still less than comparable wines on their list - such as 2006 Goldeneye Pinot, that I also have in my wine cellar, which was listed at $92 but retails for $55. So, got a better deal by bringing the bottle of Phillips Hill.
The wine was taken from me when we arrived, poured in the proper glasses and refilled throughout the meal w/o asking. Service was very good, but the waiter was a bit too attentive and asked once too often if every thing was fine, which bordered on annoying. Everything was fine, but he didn't have to inquire so often.
The tasting menu was heavy with meat dishes, so we decided to construct our own meal of 4 and 5 courses respectively. My sister had lamb tongue, a penne w/foie gras and truffles (I had this also), Kobe beef and a desert (which I've forgotten). I had a poached egg over leeks, the penne dish, a lobster ravioli, scallops wrapped in pancetta and a cheese plate. Everything was very nicely prepared, but for some reason not very memorable this evening.
We weren't rushed and spent 3 hours in the restaurant eating and chatting. The cost was also less than expected and quite reasonable at "only" $200, including the corkage fee. All in all a very fine meal. Not the "perfect" experience this time around as it was the last time I was there - hence the 4 Star rating, but still the best place to experience fine Italian dining in the City..
Where do I begin? Italian food is my favorite food. I have traveled to Europe almost every summer and eaten the most amazing Italian food. This place is so OVER THE TOP fancy and none of the dishes I tried were good. Even the dessert was so fancy and tiny it wasn't good. The only thing I liked about this restaurant is their extensive wine list.
i would never go back, and much less pay the amount of money we paid to eat here. Trust me, don't go here. Go to QUINCE or DELFINA.
Hope this review helps...considering I have never written a review on yelp but this restaurant was so disappointing I had to write about it.
A very special place, intimate and elegant after all these years, food is deliciously authentic Italian, we usually have the chef's tasting menu, and add a couple of extras that strikes our fancy (now is the white truffle season); I like the fact everything is close to perfection yet understated, and the reservation is still relatively easy to make; superb sommelier and wine list, excellent service, a great place for dates, for those in love, or everyone in a good mood, highly recommended!
One of my favorite Italian restaurants in California, the other one being Valentino in Los Angeles;… Read more »
Acquerello is the only Italian restaurant in the Bay Area with a Michelin Star. According to the Michelin guide, one star means "A very good restaurant in its category". This is certainly a fair assessment of Acquerello.
For those who want to try authentic Italian food, I can think of no better place in the Bay Area. Sure, you can go to North Beach and get giant plates of bland pasta, chicken parmesan, and so forth. While I enjoy these dishes sometimes, there's a time for something more refined, more authentic, and just a more fulfilling overall experience. And it's for those occasions that you want to come Acquerello.
The occasion was my girlfriend's birthday, which I noted on my reservation. They were considerate enough to seat us at a table where we could sit side-by-side. So if you're coming here with a significant other, be sure to mention it when you make a reservation.
Soon after we were seated, we were served an apertif involving vermouth and oranges, I can't remember the exact ingredients, but it was a good way to start the meal. There are 3, 4, and 5 course options. You can get anything on the menu for any course, so you could conceivably get 5 dessert courses if you have a crazy sweet tooth.
For my first course, I had the parmesan budino. The texture and flavor of this dish was excellent. There were also soft parmesan flakes around the perimeter which were nice. I have no idea where they got that parmesan but I have to find out, it was by far the best parmesan cheese I've ever had.
My second course was the ridged pasta with foie gras and black truffles & marsala. My girlfriend was sitting out this course, but they were kind enough to bring her a small portion so she wasn't left out. This was my favorite dish by far, the pasta was perfectly Al Dente and tasted homemade. The sauce was incredibly rich and delicious - foie gras and black truffles are two of the best ingredients you can get, and to have them balanced perfectly in a sauce over (possibly) homemade pasta was pretty amazing.
Third course was the seared lamb loin. This was very good and cooked perfectly, I don't remember much about it because the dish didn't wow me as much as the first two courses. That's not to say the dish was bad, but there wasn't anything exceptional about it.
Finally for dessert, I got the caramel semifreddo. This was very good, the texture and consistency was perfect for a semifreddo, and the dish wasn't overwhelmed with the sweetness of caramel which was my concern. Everything was particularly well balanced in this dish. They also had a candle and a Happy Birthday message in my girlfriend's dessert, which was a nice touch.
Now, having great food will not get you a Michelin Star alone, a restaurant must also have great service, and Acquerello shined here as well. Of particular note was the excellent service by the sommeliers - that's right, *two* sommeliers for a fairly small restaurant. The first sommelier gave us an excellent recommendation, as neither of us were even remotely familiar with any of the Italian wines. The second sommelier had the enviable job of tasting a tiny portion of every single wine before serving it. Maybe I should look into becoming a sommelier, tasting $100 bottles of wine every day sounds like a pretty awesome gig.
The wait between each course was perfectly timed, we didn't feel like we were being rushed, but we also never felt that we were sitting around and waiting. I wouldn't call the waiters particularly friendly, but they were very professional - and personally I prefer someone not pretending to be my friend just so I leave a bigger tip. Save that garbage for Hooters. :)
Total bill was a touch over $200 for a 3 course dinner, a 4 course dinner, and a half bottle of wine. A shockingly low sum for a Michelin Star restaurant of this caliber. If you're looking for a restaurant to go for a special occasion, and like Italian food, I highly recommend Acquerello. I guarantee it will take your tastebuds on a journey they haven't been on before.
My parents took me here for my 21st birthday last month... What an amazing and special treat. The service was nothing less of excellent and the food of course was amazing. Such a great place, it is fancy and it's incredible... If you have the opportunity don't pass it up! The wine list is exceptional.... Giancarlo is the sommelier and he literally knows the thousands of wines insde and out. Grazie per la cena y vino!
Fine dining at it's best.
The food and service are excellent. I have nothing more good to say that what previous reviewers have said.
I will only say this. It's not true Italian but an upscale, Americanized Italian restaurant.
Make no mistake, Acquerello is a fine restaurant and one that would be a top restaurant in most cities around the world. Being SF, though, I'd have to reserve the 5 stars for the one or two restaurants in this class that I'd take (well heeled) visitors to. Acquerello unfortunately did not manage to knock either of those restaurants off their perches, but I would heartily include it in my current top 10. I presume you're reading this to see how it compares to other fine dines. If you've got reservations and are just wondering if it is any good, then GO NOW.
Some amazing dishes we had included the noodles with a foie gras infused sweet truffle sauce. The sweetness was the touch of genius that brought this dish to glory.
We also adored the monkfish and kobe beef short rib. We suspect that we'd find many favorites in the menu as we return to this place in the future.
While not as good as Gary Danko or French Laundy, I'll go ahead and say this place is the best Fine Dining Italian establishment in town. From the earthy interior to the fine service, I was highly impressed with Acquerello. I didn't like that they took my credit card with a 24 hour cancellation fee but I guess times are hard?
On to the food..
Our favorites were:
Ridged Pasta with sweet truffle sauce: Wow.. amazing. Perfectly sweet with a mushroomy truffly flavor. Blew our friggin minds. Eyeballs popping out on the table and stuff like that.
Mosaic of Heirloom tomatoes, basil, watermelon, and anchovy sauce: Refreshing and perfectly matched. I love this dish.
Lobster Ravioli: Perfectly made ravioli with super smooth lobster filling and in an awesome broth.
Kobe Beef Short Rib: So tender.. omg.
Kobe Beef Ribeye: Perfectly seasoned and cooked rare.
Monkfish in a mushroom broth: Once again.. tender as hell and in a great mushroom broth.
Bourbon semifreddo : Its like a half melted ice cream with caramel and crumbs with chocolate sauce. drool.
I think everyone should try this place out at least once. Everything was good here.
My wife and I headed out to Acquerello for our anniversary. I read on Yelp that it was a great place to celebrate special occasions.
First off, we got there about a half our early and the host told us that she had "several" other customers to sit and we would have to wait at the chairs in the front of the restaurant. There isn't a bar here, so we ended up walking up and down Polk, my wife in her nice dress and me in a suit.
We came back at our time and were immediately seated. We were given a complimentary glass of champagne, which was very tasty. We had the four course menu. We ordered the pancetta wrapped figs, pasta with foie gras, risotto with pork belly, the sea bass and the lamb. The pancetta was so tasty! We just loved it. I never thought pancetta and figs would taste so good! The pasta with foie gras was good also. It had a sweet, carmel like taste. the risotto was good. It was thick but not overwhelming. My wife said her sea brass was "alright". She said she had better. My Lamb was very good. The seasoning and freshness made it outstanding.
For desert I had the "House made vanilla gelato with Aceto Balsamico "25 anni"". Who would have thought that gelato with balsamic vinegar would taste so good! To be honest, this was the best tasting ice cream I ever had considering I ate plenty of gelato in Italy in all of the famous parlors!
The service was slow, which we expected. The waiters were attentive during the serving, but as the restaurant emptied, they sort of disappeared. We ended up waiting for our check for a half hour.
The only thing we didn't like was the front hostess. She was rude and somewhat smug. We really enjoyed the first and second entrees, but the final entrees could have been better. Over all, we had a good experience. We might return, but there are other restaurants to be had in SF. Expect to pay at least $250 for your meal.
If you want the best Italian food and service look no further as this is it. I went with a group of friends so we had our own room and everything was perfect.
This is a bit of a tale. I'm glad I can finally write a review about it that I know other people will see. Here we go...
On our wedding day (over a year ago), I flew my new bride and myself out to San Francisco to start our road-trip-honeymoon back to Texas. I spent about a month reading reviews, looking for the best restaurant in San Francisco. All signs pointed to Acquerello. I went to their web-page and was pleased to find that I could make a reservation from there. Great! Only problem was, you could only make a reservation 2 weeks in advance. At this point my honeymoon was a month and a half away but I wanted to have all of the specifics ironed out waaaaaay ahead of time.
So I called to the restaurant and to my surprise, the owner, Giancarlo (thanks Grace), answered the phone. I explained the situation. Without hesitating, he was gracious enough to write us in over a month ahead of time! He told me he would make sure that we were served by his best server and I could rest assured his entire staff would be at my disposal. What a relief....
Fast-forward to our second night in San Francisco. I receive a phone call from Acquerello to confirm our reservation the next night. I hadn't thought to call before we left Austin and make sure we were still on the guest list. Things could happen in a months time...but they not only didn't forget, they reminded ME! WOW.
We get to the restaurant and it was everything I could have dreamed. The service was stellar. The decor was beautiful. We had the best table in the house as promised. The food was out of this world and the wine list....oh that wine list. This was (and still is) the best meal I have EVER eaten in my 30+ years.
After dessert, I am presented with the check and in reaching for my back pocket I realize that I have left my credit card at the hotel. OH MY GOD...how embarrassing. I'm looking at a $250 tab and have no way to pay for it. The server doesn't even flinch. He tells me not to worry, to go back to our hotel and I can call him with the card number. I offer to leave my license as collateral and he refuses. He says, "I can tell you are good people. Please, enjoy the rest of your evening and you can call us tomorrow with the number." (direct quote...I'll never forget it) CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT??????? I've waited tables for a long time and I wouldn't let people leave a $40 tab without leaving something with me. Needless to say, buddy got a $100 tip the next morning when I called.
I will return! No telling when, but next time I'm lucky enough to be in San Fran this place will be on the top of my list of things to do.
BEST FINE-DINING SPOT THUS FAR!
This is a perfect couples dinner spot for any special occassion! I took my boyfriend here last night for his 29th birthday and he loved it. He's really into "fine dining", so I found this on YELP and decided to make reservations. Typically, I hear this restaurant only takes reservations at least 2 weeks in advance. But, I got lucky! (Keep in mind i RARELY write YELP reviews) ;)
The restaurant had a very nice ambiance--elegant and rustic. The space wasn't as big as I thought it would be either. But, it was the perfect size for a fancy restaurant.
We were greeted at the door and waited only a couple of minutes before we were sat in a cute corner, where we sat next to each other. The waiter gave us both a complimentary drink and a complimentary taste tester (crusted olive filled with anchovie..YUM) We both decided to go with a 4-course meal, which I think was the perfect amount. The following is a breakdown of our dishes:
1. Ridged Pasta with foie gras: Nothing like I've ever tasted! So good! The sauce is sweet, but had a really nice flavor.
2. Potato and pancetta filled tortellini: This was also good. The lobster and the foie gras was more to my liking.
3. Lobster panzerotti: Lobster, sauce, texture..PERFECT
4. Bourbon caramel semifreddo: This was SOO yummy! It reminded me of coffee icecream. It was drizzled with chocolate and garnished with a cleverly designed sugar stick. NUMBER 1 dessert pick. :)
BF
1. Rabbit filled agnolotti: Don't be fooled. This dish was extremely delicious! Definitely try this if you think you're too scared to taste something as cute and cuddly as a rabbit.
2. Pan seared scallops: Perfect combination of foods on one plate. The scallops were seared just right! This goes in my top 3.
3. Grilled short rib of Kobe Beef: Tender and savory. This is also a must have if you're a meat lover.
4. Basil gelato: Not a big fan of basil-flavored ice cream. The basil was really strong, but the combination of the strawberries and pistachio actually made it a pretty good dessert. Because it was my BF's birthday, they placed a candle in the ice cream and wrote out "Happy Birthday" in chocolate on the plate. :)
Our wine was served in a crazy looking glass flute, that made for a fancier evening. Besides the staff being super friendly, it was just a great overall experience!
I would definitely go back after a big bonus. Otherwise, this is a once-a-year spot. :)
This is a beautiful, romantic restaurant in what used to be a church. It's quaint and cozy and has a lovely ambiance. Good place for a romantic dinner for two. The food is very, very good and the service from the family who runs it (at least they used to) is all that it should be. A place for very special occasions.
This restaurant is definitely one of the best in San Francisco.
Decor:
Comfortable, homely, older feeling
Service:
Echoing many of the reviews below, top notch. Knowledgable, friendly and patient.
Food:
Perhaps the most important part, and they delivered a great meal. Included many interesting items that most people would not be able to put together. Was here on business dinner, so saw or sampled most plates on the menu. Wine was equally satisfying.
Price:
Appropriate for the service and food.
How do you write a review for a restaurant that is Michelin rated, has "one of the most outstanding wine list in the world" (Wine Spectator), without feeling a little bit uncomfortable?
Well, I'll try.
The atmosphere is great and makes you feel in a place far from the chaotic everyday's life. Decor is simple but well done.
The service is simply perfect. Always prompt and knowledgeable.
The food is the real Italian deal.
Bring your important date for a "successful" evening.
The experience itself was worth it. Very small, charming, rustic atmosphere - this place used to be a church. The service is what makes Acquerello so special, though. And maybe the food too, but I only sort of got to find out....
I came here with my boyfriend, my parents and my mom's cousin who was treating. They wanted to do the tasting menu and the whole table has to agree so that's why I say I wasn't as keen on the food as I hoped I would be.
I was certainly charmed by all the men in their suits hovering over us with recommendations, explanations, and thick accents as a free accompaniment. The meal started out great with a delicious aperitif of orange juice and sweet vermouth. yum! Followed by two "surprises" from the chef. The first, a pate of some sort. The second, a deep fried olive stuff with anchovy which was also really delicious. The first course was tempura eggplant with roasted red pepper stuffed with tuna puree. That was my favorite dish of the night. Next was the pasta with a bolognese sauce - my second favorite dish... and from there the meal sort of went down hill. The pigeon... I mean "squab" was not cooked enough but the barley under it was fabulous. The kobe beef had a really yummy tomato sofrito on top and something delicious underneath but I don't eat meat! The dragon beans with that dish were amazing! The cheese tray was awesome and the dessert was a fig tart and I don't eat figs.
I actually DID try everything, so you can't say I judged the meal based on my preconceived ideas on some of the foods but yea... If I had gotten to choose my meal, I would definitely be giving this place 5 stars.
Boyfriend and I have already agreed to go back so we can experience this place the way we want.
This is definitely a spot for special occasions only - unless your loaded! Because it is VERY expensive.
Acquerello is at the top of their game. It remains our favorite of all the special-occasion choices in the city. Top-notch food, service, and wine. The place was rocking last Saturday night when we went, so business must be good.
We opted for the chef's tasting menu. Fantastic start with the amuse bouche of a cold summer squash soup and then the best meatball I've ever had, in a rich ragout.
Don't be afraid of the lamb's tongue-- it is incredibly flavorful and tender. Just try not to think of it tasting you right back... The beef tartare works well with the hearts of palm.
For the pastas, we loved the pancetta and potato tortellini-- ethereal pasta. Rabbit agnolotti was awesome as well, with the special olive tapenade that the chef adds. It's so hard not to order the foie gras pasta or the lobster panzerotti, but the agnolotti and tortellini were well worth the sacrifice.
For the fish course, I'm not usually a fan of mackerel, but this one was so fresh, it had none of that usual mackerel fishiness. Scallops here are sweet and meaty. Cooked to perfection.
At last onto the meat course. Loved the sweetbreads with the veal loin. Sonoma lamb was super rare--as it should be-- and so tender.
After browsing the wine list a bit, I opted for the wine pairings. Good choice, with some many different types of dishes. The sommelier was happy to explain each of the wines in great detail-- I should have taken notes.. An extra benefit was that he gave us a prelude to some of the special notes of each dish we were about to have, and how the wine would complement it. Like the lemony acidity of the tortellini paired with a richer white wine. Or the peppery and juniper nose of the red that would complement the olives of the agnolotti.
don't forget the cheese cart! You've usually got to hit a Michelin 3 star to get a cart like this. Giancarlo will proudly walk you through each of the 15 or so Italian cheese selections he's got under cover, plus the pungent Talegio he's got hiding underneath.
All in all another excellent evening at Acquerello.
I took my Mom here recently on her birthday with my GF after seeing all the wonderful reviews on yelp. Who knew this michelin rated restaurant was in my neighborhood?
The ambiance is high end italian and the service is exceptional and the food? Where do I begin.....definitely try the lobster panzerotti, the seared lamb and the panna cotta to finish it off. The thought makes me want to get a late night snack...a second reservation will be in the works soon...
Okay, the secrets out on this place -- and that's not such a good thing. I would give it 3.5 stars if I could but hey, use your imagination.
Okay, here's the skinny:
Saturday marked our fifth visit. Used to be my one of my fav restaurants because it's quiet and lovely and wonderfully romantic and the food is delicious BUT it has received lots of good press and a coveted Star and a great Zagat rating and all that good stuff. As a result it has become much more difficult to get a reservation, a little louder (although still relatively quiet) and the patron quality has gone down -- used to be well dressed diners, now I recognized a casual outfit I saw at Target (don't get me wrong, I'm all over Target but not for fancy nights out, ya know!) and more than one pair of jeans.
We had an 8:45pm res (only thing available over a month in advance) we waited well over 40 minutes past our reservation time to be seated. In fairness, the staff was very apologetic and generous with a free first course, sparkling wine, etc. but given the pacing of the meal, it was 12:25am before we were able to get the check.
The hostess explained the delay by saying that several tables had the checks but just weren't leaving -- and I think that was the truth. Again, the decline in patron quality meant that there were several prime tables (in a very small restaurant) with ya-hoos camping out. Even an older couple in the primo, primo spot who seemed to have put down roots, took pictures and just didn't budge.
Bummer, bummer, bummer. Food is great, prices are expensive but it's a splurge place, still love the charming waiters -- but the quality of the overall experience has certainly declined.
My stomach hurts right now just thinking about how stuffed I was last Saturday night.
I decided to take my boyfriend (Hey Jeff L. Hey!) here in celebration for his 24th birthday! I originally opted to wine and dine at the Ritz Carlton, but seeing as I also treated him to a spa day at Burke Williams prior to dinner, I didn't want to empty out my savings.
Acquerello was a great last minute decision. A great month ahead of time last minute decision. They were awesome on the phone to make reservations and awesome in person! I let them know ahead of time that 1. I was allergic to scallops and 2. it was going to be my bf's bday.
We arrived on time for our reservation and we were greeted and seated right away. We got a cute little corner to ourselves for almost a majority of the time we were there. The restaurant slowly started to fill up as we sat there.
Now, since this was our first actual 'fine dining' experience, we were amateur in some instances, but quickly caught on with our foodie knowledge.
He ordered a 4 course and I ordered a 3 course, but knowing that his surprise Bday dessert will be actually considered my 4th course. Long story short, 2 4 course dinners. Haha
We started off with the complimentary pre-appetizer drink, which my boyfriend called "amouz-bouche" which I'll assume he picked up from watching Friends over and over, but the "amouz-bouche" was technically the little croquettes we got comp from the chef...which were very delectable btw.
All I know is that I ordered the infamous foie gras pasta and OH. MY. WORD. it was just as everyone said. It was so rich and hearty and although it was 1/4 of what the typical chain restaurants would serve, it filled me up so much! I didn't even finish it...it was like I wanted to finish it because it was so good, but I would've busted a seam. If I was wearing a tight dress. hahaha
Before that I had the Delicate Parmesan budino and it was really good. The asparagus salad added just the right amount of flavor to go with it.
I shared the cheese selection with my BF, but by then we were almost stuffed to full capacity.
He got the Kobe and my mouth is watering just thinking about it. True words of a fatty.
After our final dinner courses and before dessert they served biscotti and so we ordered coffee as well. I forgot to mention my boyfriend who was drunk the night before from partying ordered some wine, but it wasn't my forte.
For my dessert, I asked what the waiter would suggest and had whatever he said...lol I believe it was the Bourbon caramel semifreddo with Amaretti crumbs and drizzle of chocolate sauce. Just as good as the name is long.
My boyfriend got a cobbler of sorts, but when I look at the menu now I believe it was the Peach tart. I didn't have any, but he said it was delish. It had chocolate 'Happy Birthday Jeff!' spelled out and everything =)
Overall, our experience here was great and I would recommend to everyone. Service was awesome. Food was awesome. Place was awesome. Night was awesome. Awesome to the max.
A wonderful place to spend a special occasion!
My husband and I came here for our anniversary and had a wonderful, special evening to remember. We were seated in a booth where we were seated next to each other and right after sitting down, we were given glasses of sparkling rose, compliments of the house. We both opted for the 4-course meal which was the perfect amount of food. I think an extra course would have definitely over-filled me so I'm glad I stuck with the 4.
I started off with the figs wrapped in pancetta with mascapone which was yummy, followed by the lobster pasta which was probably the highlight of my evening. My husband got the pasta with truffle sauce and foie gras which was probably THE BEST pasta I've ever had.
For the main entree, I got the duck which was perfectly cooked and went well with the accompanying cherry sauce. And to top it off, I got the cheese cart (which was yum yum yum!) while my husband got the basil gelato, both of which we were able to share.
All in all, a truly memorable evening. Can't wait for another occasion to celebrate here!
Several years ago, my employer gave me a bonus: go out to dinner with the person of your choice, and the company will pay for it. One of the executives recommended eating here.
It was a few years ago, but it's the best meal I've had since moving to California in the late 1990s. Even though there was so much to be impressed by, I think the expert matching of a glass of wine to each course was the highlight. Many restaurants seem to want to avoid opening lots of bottles, but they offered one glass for each course, and they were all subtly different and a great partner for the food they were served with.
When I made the reservation, I mentioned that my wife was vegetarian. As we were seated, the maitre'd came over, asked which of us was vegetarian, described all of the vegetarian selections on the menu, and offered to prepare something special if it was necessary (it wasn't, but the up-front offer says all you need to know about the amazing service).
My only "complaint" is that I wish I could afford to go back more frequently.
Flawless dining experience... simply perfect. Thank you.
My BF took me here for our first real dinner date. It is by far the funniest time I had in a restaurant. He told them that it was our anniversary and we got complimentary champagne. Food was delicious and the service was excellent. We will come back!
Maybe the best Italian I've had. Soooooo good. So creamy. I needed a stretcher to leave the restaurant. Everything is soooo fattening. Don't plan on eating the day of or day after this meal.
They have a different decanter shape for every bottle of wine. Craziness.
Yeah, it was pretty amazing.
Clarisse C. (hey!) summed up the evening for the both of us, so read her review and I'll leave bullet points.
- Very accessible restaurant. There was a lot of parking around. We opted to take the cable car and it was a block from the stop.
- Attentive service. They even clean your table in between each course. One waiter put down other plates he was carrying before he came to our table. Small details go a long way.
- Knowledgable staff. The cheese guy knew so much about all the cheeses. I didn't even attempt to remember the names so I ended up pointing and saying 'I want that one'.
- Really good food. Straight up. Nom. Nom.
Never having been treated to a full tasting menu (+ wine pairing) at an upscale Italian restaurant, I was quite excited to finally get in touch with my Italian roots and try what I had heard to be the best in this field in SF. Although parts of the dinner were outstanding, my overall impression was that the food was very hit and miss.
Much like Gary Danko, I think if you order the right things, you could have a meal that will blow your socks off. When I order a tasting menu, I think of it like a challenge to the kitchen. I'm telling them "Give me your best shot," and, while some courses made me drift into a dream world of magic, the majority of them were just tasty and well-executed. For example, I feel like there is a limit on how good olive-oil poached halibut can be. For me, even if it is done perfectly (which it was), it is never going to be as good as say, rabbit with morels. So, having that be our final "fish/meat" course of the evening left me wanting more. Kind of like when your favorite band ends their set with some random, unexpected song, and then the concert is over.
Some of the food was just simply a miss. The "chefs specialty" was a rabbit meatball with no flavor whatsoever...not the best way to kick off the meal. Likewise, the spinach ricotta "ravioli" was fairly average.
On the flip side, the burrata with english peas and olive oil made me squeal with joy. I don't even like peas. In fact, even when they are not a central ingredient, they can ruin a dish for me. However, the way they were prepared with this course was so magically delicious and matched the freshness of the cheese so perfectly that I couldn't help but fall in love. Also, having been relatively underwhelmed for part of our meal, we actually added the foie gras pasta as an extra course. It was maybe the best decision I've ever made in my life. This dish was mentioned as one of their specialties and is definitely a must-order. If everything had been this good, the tone of this review would be vastly different.
Finally, the service was what it was supposed to be. The waiters were generally attentive, but didn't really engage us on any more than a purely professional level. I wouldn't say it was uptight, it was just...distant. In the beginning of our meal, we each ordered a glass of champagne while reviewing our menus...glasses which didn't show up until we inquired about them twice. To make up for this mistake, they not only offered them on the house, but the extra pasta course we requested was added in for free.
If I have the chance to go again, I would design my own 5 course meal, and have no doubt that I would be highly impressed. Although, I think if I had the chance to go again, I would tell my date to put that money aside and save it for a trip Italy!
Wonderful evening with mouth watering food and top notch service
I went with the chefs tasting menu and found it to be excellent from top to bottom.
The two tastes that stuck with me after the meal were
Tea smoked trout with creamy whipped egg, American caviar and Rosefir new potatoes
Triangoli of chicken and vegetable filled pasta scanted with fresh black summer truffles
The other real treats here were:
Pancetta wrapped pork medallion, grilled peaches and balsamic cipolline onions
Off of the chef's menu I also tried the Ridged pasta with foie gras (freakn amazing and tasted like dessert!) in addition to the Lobster panzerotti in a spicy lobster brodo with "Diavolicchio" which was also out of this world.
The service was army like when bringing each course and I love that. All individuals at the table had their plate presented to them at the same time, and each server personally walks you through the delectable dish that sits before you.
This is certainly a place to go for foodies or a special occasion. I must say I found the interior and atmosphere pretty sub par. The crowd consisted of mainly blue hairs who had made there way down from Nob Hill and across from Pac Heights.
But again, come here for the food and the service...you wont hardly pay attention to the atmosphere outside of the amount of silence. A times it felt like someone sucked the breath out of the entire space, luckily no one reprimanded me for having a good time.
Definetly worth the money. Food was excellent; service above expectations. I made reservations through open table. They required a credit card for reservations (will charge you if you cancel within 48 hours I believe). Someone from the restaurant called me the day before to remind me of the reservation. The restaurant was easy to find and street parking wasn't too hard either. When my fiancee and I got there, we were seated right away. A minute later, the waiter brought the flowers I ordered, and wished my fiancee happy birthday. We were also pleasently surprised by the complimentary drink (some mix of orange juice and other fruits) and soup that the chef prepared that day. We both had the lamb's tongue as the first course selection. It was delicious! Very moist and chewy. We also had the ridge pasta and tortelloni, both very filling (very full by this time). We finished it off with duck and short rib. Between each course, our silverware was replaced, and the waiter always explained each plate that was served to us. When it came time for dessert, we ordered the dark chocolate ganache, and house-made vanilla gelato. When the waiter brought my fiancee her dessert, they wrote happy birthday on the plate and lit a candle on the cake. This was very surprising considering I didn't plan it. When it was time for the check, the waiter also gave my fiancee a mini birthday gift (nicely wrapped bag of chocolates). Man, talking about making the woman feel special! Guys....if you're looking for a romantic restaurant, this one is it. Let's summarize:
- You get to dress up
- If you're wearing black, they give you the option to have a black napkin to match your pants/dress.
- Mini stool right next to woman's seat for her purse
- Delicious 3-4-5 course meal (whichever one you choose)
- Candlelight dinner
- Romantic atmosphere
- Service that just exceeds your expectations
The restaurant did all the work, and I got ALLLLLL the credit. :: wink wink::
We were lucky to get a last minute resie here due to a cancellation, so I expected A Lot!
They started us off with a complimentary libation and fried risotto ball which was super tasty. You have a choice of anywhere from a 3 to 5 course meal, very reasonably priced as well, especially for such high quality food. You can also pick and choose from each course to make your meal which I thought was cool. Dessert counts as a course.
Started off with the foie gras pasta. I didn't like it much, it was sweet! I suppose I was expecting something more savory AND the foie gras was pureed into the sauce. : ( My mom liked it though which was fine because I just hijacked her beef carpaccio, which was excellent. Onto the persecco risotto with scallops shrimp and caviar, yummylicious. Kinda pre audente for me, coulda' been cooked just a tad bit longer. My mom's lobster pasta was the same a little hard for pasta, but the filling was good. The best part of the meal was the Angus steak with, get this, bone marrow on top of a crisp sliced mushroom. Wowsa. I never tasted beef so soft and juicy and buttery. Definitely my fav.
Coffee comes out in your own personal pot with complimentary house made biscotti! Really, really good. Coffee was eh' tho'. Even though there was absolutely no room left in my tummy we ordered dessert just to taste. Bourbon caramel Semifreddo with Amaretti crumbs and chocolate sauce. Really, really tasty. Eat it quick tho' because it melts!
Acquerello is one of those places you have to try at least once. The service is EXCELLENT, very polite and informative staff.
Tip: Don't fill up on bread. They spread the courses out into a few hours so your food has time to settle into your system. By the time dinner came around, I was so full, even though the portions are the size of your fist.
Extra Tip: Parking isn't a bitch at all. There is a parking garage right across from the restaurant, so no worries.
Maybe it was the company. Maybe it was the wine. But now I know firsthand that Acquerello really does deserve all the accolades.
This is easily one of the prettiest and most romantic restaurants I've ever been in. When you step inside, it's like you're entering another world. And in a way, you are, since the restaurant is actually a replica of an Italian chapel. I read that they recently redid the interior, but I hope that they didn't change the beautiful earth tones and namesake watercolor paintings. In fact, I thought everything about Acquerello was perfect, from the service, to the decor, to the food (oh, the food!).
Gentlemen, if you want to impress and romance your date, bring her/him here. Don't be scared off by the fact that it has been billed as "the only truly white-tablecloth Italian restaurant in the Bay Area." This is not a snooty restaurant where you will be made to feel ignorant if you don't know your fish knife from your butter knife. They are here to make your dining experience wonderful and memorable. They certainly did mine.
I wanted to take my fiance to a nice romantic dinner for his birthday and this was the perfect spot! We heard about this restaurant from a friend and then saw it on "Check Please Bay Area." The bar was set very high, but the restaurant surpassed expectations.
Acquerello is a fine dining experience. We opted for four course with the wine pairing. Everything was delicious! The risotto and kobe beef were amazing! The wines were fantastic too!!
It's so great that this restaurant is 2 blocks from our house. We will definitely dine there again soon. I highly recommend this restaurant!
My gf is awesome, how many other people can say that their gf takes them to overpriced michelin-starred restaurants for their birthday. My gf got 3 courses and allowed me to get 4. We started off with the ridged pasta and tartar-YUM! This was folllowed by the lobster ravioli, kobe steak, duck, and scallop (yes, just ONE! lol). Everything was good but sooo SMALL! Most of the courses could've been finished off in no more than a couple of bites. From the items ordered, I'd recommend avoiding the scallop (due to it just being ONE fricken scallop) and the tartar, personally I just think its a little weird. Definitely, great service and wonderful ambiance throughout the restaurant.
Neighborhood: Russian Hill
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Russian Hill
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: North Beach/Telegraph Hill
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Nob Hill
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Nob Hill
Category: American (New)
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