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Mon-Thu. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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A pleasant neighborfood Italian seafood restaurant.
The food here is great for a fair price.
Very warm service here too!
Pesce reminds me of a restaurant I went to in Venezia near the Ponte Rialto.
That being said, I gotta say that I had the best sardine I've ever had here. The polenta was yummy, if you like that sorta thing. The lobster pasta (fettuccine, I think) was delicious but I was most impressed with the polpo. Again, this is a dish that really appeals to my unique tastes. I can't remember what I had for dessert but I do remember that it was gonna very quickly. Of note, I found one of my favorite Soave here but with a 100% markup.
The service was casual but very efficient and the decor was small and intimate. It can be a nice date spot if you go on the right night and time.
This isn't an expensive place but I dropped about $120 for 2 people but I barely could walk afterwards. I doubt I'll go back to Venezia so I'll just come here instead.
Okay you know the scene in the Godfather when Michael assassinates Sollozzo in the Italian restaurant? As soon as I walked into Pesce I felt like I was in a similar scene. Well, minus the white table cloths and the getting shot in the head part. This is a tile floored, wooden walled, no frills, neighborhood Italian joint that is taking a spin on "family style" by serving seafood tapas instead of giant platters of baked ziti. And it works.
The atmosphere is a little bit quieter than I would've expected, and I wouldn't necessarily go there for a first or second date, but I was there in a group of 5 so we certainly livened the place up. It was also convenient because, after a good 15 minutes of debating exactly how we were going to split the food up between everyone, we just decided to share everything. What I'm trying to say is I had the chance to try about 1/2 of their menu.
The clear winner: the SCALLOPS. I love scallops. Everyone knows they're delicious and hard to mess up. But, I also think it's hard to make a scallop to-die-for, and somehow Pesce hits it on the head with chanterelles, green onion, cream, and truffle essence.
The other clear winner - the BARBERA d'ASTI wine. Next time I go and the waitress asks if I'd like a glass of wine I'm going to say "No, I think I'll take the whole bottle. No, seriously."
Other favorites included the braised OCTOPUS, squid ink RISOTTO (which seems to be popping up on Italian menus everywhere nowadays!), and herb-crusted TUNA. While there was not a single dish that disappointed, other than the scallops there were also not very many dishes that knocked my socks off. I'm having trouble finding the words to write this review because everything was solid but nothing impressed me enough that I want to write an ode to its memory.
So, because I was there with a great group of friends, because the wine was delicious, because I have no complaints of the service, and because the food was on point, I have to lean towards 4 stars as opposed to 3, although 3 1/2 stars would hit the nail on the head (a trend I'm beginning to think applies to almost every restaurant I try in Russian Hill). I'm sure if I lived in the area, or I wanted to kill a mafioso, I'd be back, but for now I think I'll stick to my neighborhood Italian joint - Delfina.
Great food, convenient location and impressive wine list. I recently tried Pesce with a group of girlfriends and we have a fantastic meal. The small plates are great for sharing and the variety. One of our favorite dishes was the brussels sprouts - they were cooked perfectly, charred on the outside and tender inside. We also enjoyed the simple but delicious Rucola salad, the Tonno Puttamesca and the Braised Octopus. We also enjoyed a bottle of the 2007 Vermentino which went great with the seafood and greens. All around, a great experience. And I would recommend going with a group so you can be sure to try a wide variety of dishes from the menu.
I was here last week and one word - YUM! Although its categorized as "seafood" they do offer non-seafood dishes. I had the risotto with porcini mushrooms and was pleased. I WILL go back very soon.
Only downside: seating is limited and i encourage reservations.
Best Oyster shooters with vodka. I might go again just for that. And order 6 of them.
PHENOMENAL.
Small restaurant--try a weeknight to get in and get a table. Small plates featuring authentic Italian dishes with seafood (we got a tuna panzanella salad, tagliatelle with duck, a whole snapper branzino style) and everything was just SO FLAVORFUL. Fresh and clean flavors--these dishes are perfect, perfect, perfect. Only downside: no California wines.
The service was so wonderful. The hostess was wonderful when I called for a res. And our server, a cute guy, was gracious, honest, down to earth, and went above and beyond--but he wasn't obnoxious. He just seemed like a really great guy.
Can't wait to return.
Fantastic seafood! Overall $30 per person for food+tip.
There is a long wait for tables for walk-ins, but they ask you to sit at their sister bar down the street until space at the bar clears up in 15-30 minutes. Had these 4 small plates and loved each of them:
- SALMONE AFFUMICATO: House smoked salmon bruschetta with capers,red onion and horseradish cream
- CAPESANTE: Pan seared scallops with chanterelles, green onions,
cream and truffle essence
- RISOTTO DI ASPARAGI: Carnaroli rice with asparagus and mascarpone cheese
- PAPPARDELLE: Wide noodle with braised duck and porcini sauce
The other reviews pretty much sum up Pesce. I would add: great go-to place when you're driving around with that special someone, and are in a pinch because you were either too busy or didn't have the wherewithal to plan in advance, and you're having that "What do you want? I don't know what do you want? I don't know what do you want? I don't care, what do you want?" kind of conversation. To remedy that simply head toward Pesce, ramp your car onto the sidewalk if you can't find parking, head right to their bar if the tables are booked, and order up.
Big plus is that their bartenders actually know how to describe a wine, so that if you're having difficulty choosing an Italian varietal, they'll narrow it down some for you with descriptive flourish and accuracy. Not to mention the fact that the service is attentive without being overbearing. And for the LOVE OF GOD ...they DO NOT say "ARE YOU STILL WORKING ON THAT? when trying to determine the status of your meal's longevity. No member of any waitstaff, anywhere, any place should consider eating a good meal to be WORK!!! Do not confuse the issue PA-freakin'-LEASE!!!!! Take note from the staff at Pesce who check-in by simply using their peripherals.
I can't believe I have never reviewed this place!! I've been here so many times!!
It's always solid. This is our go-to restaurant when we want some tasty, light italian seafood.
they always have perfect oysters (and the only truly enjoyable oyster shooter I've ever had). The crab tower is good and makes a nice, light appetizer. The crab pasta is some of the best I've ever had (second only to Delfina's). Milk-braised pork is always tender and juicy. They have a delicous scallop dish with truffle oil that I could eat every day of my life (make sure you use your bread to sop up the sauce when you're done!).
Why not 5 stars? I've had some not-so-great dishes there too. For example, the other day we had the special: 1/2 a lobster on a bed of spaghetti with tomato/cream sauce. The lobster was overcooked and tough, and not worth the $27 we paid for it! Their wine list is small (especially by the glass) and their cocktails never taste as good as they sound.
Pesce is definitely worth trying though!
What a great late night surprise. For whatever reason my flight from Boston to SF took 6.5 hours because of teh wind. When will man conquer wind once and for all? My roommate and I went to this place and ate a bunch of items. Said items were good....one of the items was a mozz and heirloom tomato thingie. Another one had a bunch of pork in it. Most of the pork related foodz were in this dish. so to recap, you should go here and consume items.
this review is useful. Also, "there" is like "here" but with a T.
I have had some really spectacular dishes at this Russian Hill hidden gem. I often day dream about this place. It is specifically Venetian cuisine and makes SFgate top 100 every year. It is a tiny place that you probably wouldn't spot unless you were looking for it. The bar is very comfy if you want to settle in with a friend for dinner and I have always been satisfied with their wine list.
To start your meal, the oyster shooters are stellar.
The salads are absolutely amazing. The Caesar and the Fennel and Arugula are my favorites. After splitting 2 salads, my companion and I didn't even think we needed to eat more, but of course we did!
The Gnocchi is a MUST. I have tried both a black olive and the Prosciutto and was extremely impressed with both. I am not into Gnocchi normally, but this is their specialty, and is way to good to pass up.
Ravioli di Salmone: Tasty, but not amazing. Hold out for a salmon pasta special that comes around every now and then
Linguini Al Granchio: Fresh dungeness crab linguini with garlic white wine and chili flakes. I would order this again but there are plenty of other items on the menu that I want to try first.
Desserts: I WILL try next time. I am not a dessert person but was drooling over our neighbor's selections.
Items on the menu tend to change up and I have been a bit sad when I have come here and discovered that something I loved was no longer on the menu. I had some sort of a salmon pasta over a year ago that i have thought about every day since. However, they work with the local markets and seasonal ingredients as they become available and you really can't go wrong with that.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in San Francisco, hands down. The service is fabulous and the waitresses are very knowledgeable.
I highly recommend getting the lobster spaghetti - it's a plate full of amazingness and I get it every time I go there. I've also tried the lamb and swordfish dishes as well as the arugula salad and I have nothing but good things to say about all of them.
Another huge plus is that the menu is reasonably priced for the quality of food. Love it!
This by far is the BEST seafood i have had in the city. I went last night for the 1st time after walking by this place a million times. Open table reservation, check. Makes life way easier.
We got there, had a table waiting for the gentleman caller and I:) Ah, so cute. But down to the food. I started w/ Gadaldi(sp) It is the proseco, campari cocktail. Yummy, delicious! They say 4-6 plates for 2 people. We had 5, and I was stuffed after 3, but so be it.
Started w/ the scallops- um I die, they are so delicate and truffle sauce is dynamite!
Moved onto the gamberoni, Swordfish, which was by far my favorite!! It was inexplicable, sooo amazing. The salt crust knocks it out of the park. Then we ended w/ Ahi and Ink Risotto. Risotto was soooo rich and the ahi had just the right amount of kick!!! I will for sure be back any chance I get. Great date spot or if you are looking for a lovely small group dinner place. Would not advise more than 4.
I've passed by this cute little resto lots of times and always wanted to go in, but finally had an opportunity to do so when my friend organized girl night here a few weeks back. I have to say...this place absolutely rocks! The food was absolutely incredible, specifically the squid ink risotto, scallops, oyster shooter...okay everything I had was fantastic. The desserts were incredible too. Would highly recommend this place for all seafood lovers - it does not disappoint!
To start, I must say that everyone that works here is extremely nice and accommodating which is the main reason for the 3-star rating. Upon arrival I was greeted promptly and was able to enjoy a drink at the bar while I waited for the other half of my party.
Upon the arrival of my brother in law, we were seated promptly at a nice table in the back. We started off with the Salmone Affumicato and the Sardines Bruschetta. The sardines were okay, the salmon was VERY tasty... served with onions and capers, how could you go wrong?!?
Next we ordered the scallops, which although they had potential, they were a bit on the cold side which we found unfortunate as we're both very fond of scallops. On a personal note... I feel that if scallops are cooked right, they are enough on their own and the addition of a heavy cream sauce is unnecessary.
Next we had the tuna which was served with an olive-tomato marinara sauce that was very tasty but we decided the tuna could have used more salt. Our final dish was a butternut squash dish that was divine!!! It was so sweet, almost like sweet potatoes with all the sugar and cinnamon topped with slivered almonds... so good! And to end our meal, we decided on the fudge brownie dessert... how can you go wrong?!? It was sooooooooo good! Served in a drink glass, there's a brownie tucked away somewhere deep in the confines of 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream that has been topped with thick fudge and whipped cream. Yeah... twas goooood, so good that the two of us could only take a few bites, but they were amazing bites nonetheless!!
Overall the ambiance of Pesce was exactly what I was looking for when researching for places to take my out-of-town brother-in-law, however, the food didn't rate quite as high. There might have also been dishes that we missed out on... there are several dishes that we didn't try that other yelpers are raving about, so maybe our choices weren't quite on par.
So I really would give my update a 3.5, but since the experience wasn't quite as good as the time before (4 stars) i have to do 3...
We made reservations and came around 7, so the place wasnt nearly as packed as before...also requested a table in the front to avoid the claustrophobia...while the tables weren't connected so not quite as close together, the 2 top tables are still incredibly small and close together...
regardless, the service was much slower this time around (i guess since it wasnt as busy they werent in a rush to turn over tables), and my favorite drink from last time was no longer available (seasonal cocktail)..
I got the tuna again, which seemed a lot drier and less fresh this time, and we got the crab tower to start--which was well presented and good, but not especially worth the $16 (about 2x the other appetizers cost).
The crab linguine was ok--a fairly good portion and deal for the cost ($13ish).
We also made the mistake of ordering a drink another table had, which we had planned to split, but they gave us two instead--which we pointed out and they didnt charge us (we left with both full as the drink was horrendous, but our own mistake for trying).
I still like this place, but the slightly declined service and food quality (and drink) cost .5 stars....but i still would recommend if looking for seafood in the area!
I live right near here yet had never tried it...i said i liked seafood, this is where we went last… Read more »
I know it's a tapas place but the servings were way too small! I also find the restaurant to be small as well. This service is great here and it's in a good location. Definitely try the scalloped potatoes. It adds up here $$ and you will probably leave still feeling slightly hungry. Not my cup of tea but I know of people who swear by this place.
I'll still give this place 3 stars as overall it was a nice experience.. just didn't serve it's purpose of making me full.
Solid B, maybe B+.
Ambiance : Very cute neighborhood spot. Feels local and un-pretentious. Great for a weekday drop in meal.
Food: Good. (not great)
Crab Tower : Good, but the flavors all kinda meshed together and you didn't get that kick of citrus that is so perfect with a fresh crab salad. Heavy on the avocado and bigger chunks of crab than I expected.
Heirloom Tomato salad: Again, good - but nothing out of the ordinary here. Pretty skimpy on the mozarella.
Scallops : Best dish of the night. Nicely cooked and a delicious cream sauce with chantrelle mushrooms. You only get 3 scallops, so if you are sharing it could be a battle for the last scallop.
Linguine with Crab : Nice subtle flavor and generous on the crab. Could have used a little something to punch up the broth, and the noodles were most definitely not hand made. I'd go to Ristorante Milano up the street for better seafood pasta.
Good, not great. Worth dropping in if you live nearby - nothing to attempt parking on Polk Street for.
(For better tapas in the area - Isa and Terzo both beat Pesce hands down.)
I get a stomachache almost every time I eat here. While this is bad for me, it's actually good for you, as I get a stomachache almost every time I eat fresh seafood (it's not from over-eating). For whatever reason, I don't have this problem with non-fresh seafood, just a bad taste in my mouth. (As a side note, if anyone can explain this fresh-seafood stomachache problem to me, do drop me a line).
The best: Risotto Ai Calimari, grilled shrimp
Not bad: oysters, Rucola, Sardine, Crab Tower
Based on our experience, we are given them 1 star although we didn't try their food. The host refused to seat us on a Saturday night at 6:00PM because we were 5 minutes pass our reservation - the host was very inflexible - the Restaurant was empty - only one table had people but the host said there were people on their reservation list that would need those tables....He was extremely rude, we explained that we couldn't find parking, but he didn't care - We went to another restaurant in Russian Hill where we had a fabulous time.
There are certain dishes you have to try when visiting a city, whether it's Chicago Style Pizza, New Orleans Jambalaya, New England Clam Chowder, or Texas Brisket.
In San Francisco it's all about the "Cioppino", a tomato based Seafood stew. Pesce's Cioppino (mixed seafood and spicy saffron-tomato stew) stands on the top pedestal for best place to get this dish... Okay.. okay... I'm not gonna lie, this was my first and only experience having cioppino. But if I have to give a 5 star rating it has to be the best, and it was. In fact my overall experience was superb, try adding their smoked salmon bruschetta, a bottle of rosati, and toping it off with one of their desserts and you'll be raving about this place just like me.
Pesce blends several of my dining loves: Italian food, seafood, small plates, full bar, unpretentious atmosphere.
We were recommended by the server to order about two plates each. We ended up going a little overboard because there were so many delectable-looking options and we wanted to try a lot of different things. We went with the linguine al granchio (linguine with crab meat), seared scallops with chanterelles in a truffle and cream sauce, the romaine salad (basically a caesar salad), the milk-braised pork with pancetta and toasted gnocchi, cioppino, and the patate (scalloped potato).
The linguine was good; very light with extremely fresh lump crab meat. We liked it but were not bowled over. The romaine salad was good but basically a caesar salad. If you enjoy caesar salad, you will definitely like this salad. The cioppino was tasty and full of yummy fresh seafood. The patate was a typical scalloped potato and was a little underseasoned.
Now our favorites: the scallops were unbelievable. The creamy truffly sauce was fabulous and the scallops sweet and perfectly seared. The milk-braised pork was phenomenal and a very ample portion. The pork was fork-tender and married perfectly with the smoky pancetta and toasted gnocchi.
We absolutely want to return to try the pappardelle with duck ragu and the squid ink risotto.
Service was okay. The restaurant got very busy so we did have to wait a little while to get the check. Overall, we really enjoyed our experience.
pesce.. it means fancy yummy food.
we strolled in here on a lovely sunday afternoon. luckily this place had a couple tables open, but traffic was pretty steady. it's cute, warm, quaint, and walking in it smells so yummy.
dishes are similar to tapas, but slightly larger. we went in for a quick, small bite from an afternoon of getting lost in the streets of sf.
we wanted a small bite, but weren't too super hungry, and this place hit the mark just right. the linguine al granchio was superb. delectable dungeness crab in this garlic, white wine sauce. the sauce was light, well seasoned, and a good amount of crab that was well cooked.. all in all nice little bowl of happiness.
we also had the risotto di asparagi.. which was risotto with asparagus and marscapone cheese. this ewwey cheesy goodness was wonderful. the risotto was cooked just right, and the marscapone cheese added a nice kick to it.
service was great. attentive, but not annoying and on you all the time. they were great.
this is just another little treasure that sf offers, and i hope to return to when im back in san francisco.
I have been here four times since my first visit back in November 2008 and I have to say each visit has convinced me of their consistency in taste and quality of their dishes.
Atmosphere is cool, the front 3/4's of the place almost makes me feel like I'm eating at a tavern by the pier or beach, while the rear 1/4 of it is a bit intimate.. intimate enough that it would be difficult to tune out your neighboring table's conversation.
Each time I dined there, I've ordered their special - the Lobster Spaghetti! I've been hooked from the start and it's been difficult for me to try something else on the menu. Pesce consists of mostly tapas, but this special item is actually considered a regular sized dish. I have to mention that each time the dish arrived at the table, I've had people stare and/or ask what I had just ordered.
Other highlights I've sampled (via whatever my party ordered) were the squid ink risotto (Risotto al Calamari), Pappardelle and this bruschette with anchovies (the name escapes me).. reminded me of spanish pintxos (which I love). The scalloped potatoes were nice too.
Service was good, I've had no issues. If you're driving, prepare yourself for parking.. this is in an area where you may spend 30-45 minutes looking for parking. This is probably the reason why I've been here only 4 times.
If stars could be on a decimal system, I'd give it a 4.5. One, because the food was prepared very well overall, two, I felt I had a great and filling meal for my money (which is hard to find when you get to nicer places in San Francisco), and three, the staff catered to my many requests happily.
We started the night off with a plate of oysters - all great, though honestly, I wouldn't be able to tell you which oyster was which just from looking at it.
I was very impressed with almost all the dishes except for the sole. While the cook was great at preparing the dish, the actual fish was not quite as fresh as it should've been.
Our table also ordered the capesante (seared scallops), which came with a wonderful creamy, mushroom like sauce. The risotto al calamari was amazing!! The individual texture of the risotta and the flavor of the squid matched perfectly with one another.
** The linguine al granchio was the highlight of my meal - I think one of the best cooked pastas I've had, and almost made me forget there was crab! **
The merlot-braised lamb was ok. I'm not a big fan of lamb in general, but in general the dish had a little too much sauce for my taste. The meat didn't melt off the knife as I've had at other places (but hey, it' a seafood joint).
As for desserts, get the BREAD PUDDING. I'm not usually a fan, but this plate is quite light, and the mix of cold ice cream layered on warm, cinnamon-touched bread pudding was excellent. We also ordered the puff pastry, but it was only ok - as the creme fraiche at times was a bit too much.
Last but not least, I was initially annoyed at the receptionist, who didn't seem to really care about getting us seated, but our waitress's attitude and service definitely made up for her coworker's lack of care.
I also want to mention that I called ahead and pre-ordered a majority of the dishes (I was being really OCD for the night) and the staff was very understanding and happy to help - so bonus points for that!
And honestly, all those dishes plus a wine and a cocktail, I was expecting to pay a lot - maybe because I prepared myself for a high bill did I actually get surprised that it wasn't too bad. =P
BF and I had real high expectations for Pesce. I was even deciding between here and Yabbie's for his bday dinner back in December...SO GLAD I chose Yabbie's as tonight, Pesce just disappointed both of us.
We didn't have a reservation, but were seated promptly. Ordered the following:
BREAD $0
It is free, yet you do have to wait forever to get some and it's not even fresh and hot. The plate is warm, but sadly the bread and butter are cold.
ROMANA $6
Hearts of romaine and garlic anchovy crostini (Drowning in caesar dressing...already the unhealthiest salad to begin with, but I think I inhaled enough calories right at the first dish!)
CAPESANTE $12
Pan seared scallops with chanterelles, green onions, cream and truffle essence (We received 4 scallops, yet I believe they started off as 2 then were sliced in half to fill the plate. Very creamy/oily dressing, yummy mushrooms and great to dip your bread in afterwards.)
SOGLIOLA $11
Pan-seared petrale sole, lemon-caper butter and green beans (Sole was fresh, yet I couldn't taste anything but the sauce, aka butter, it was drenched in. Green beans were crispy though)
LINGUINE AL GRANCHIO $13
Dungeness crab meat linguine with garlic, white wine and chili flakes (Nice chunks of crab meat, but again, couldn't taste it as there was way too much oil and butter)
RAVIOLI DI SALMONE $10
Smoked salmon ravioli with thyme and lemon butter (I personally could only eat one of these...just didn't agree with my tummy, but bf ate the other 3)
I may have enjoyed my experience just a tad bit more if it wasn't for the big ass black purse that knocked over my bf's bottle of beer and spilled part of it on the ground...neither the girl nor any of our servers ever offered to get him a new one. I even think that our own server thought it was my bf who knocked it over as she came by to clean it up and said "I heard we had an accident over here." Then purse girl stood there and told all her friends what had happened like 10 minutes later. Really?
Also, we finished our first (and sadly only) round of drinks by the time our second plate was finished. After both servers and the busser walked by several times to pick up our dirty dishes and give us new bread, it wasn't until we finally received our fourth and final dish did we get asked if we would like another round. Mind you...that was 20 minutes later. No thank you. I think we are done. $70 done!
In all, nothing special. Not worth the hype. Retards in bad...really bad outfits go there thinking they are the bomb schizzel. Go to Yabbie's next door. Better quality food, nicer experience and better service for only $10 more.
File this under: great place to recommend to Midwestern, Southwestern, Canadian, Central Mexican or Russian friends in from out of town. Pesce has DELICIOUS fresh fish that is sure to impress those out-of-towners ("we live right next to the ocean, best. fish. evarrrrrr.") and locals alike.
Great space for a date or small group of friends. Be SURE to order the tuna tower with yummy chunks of ahi and avocado. Almost all of the main dishes ordered were superb and got rave reviews. One person ordered the vegetarian risotto dish, which I'm sure was delicious, but no friend of mine would order a veggie dish at a seafood restaurant, so I can't be sure. Pesce also usually has a great drink o' the day. That night's drink de jour was a raspberry mojito with big chunks of fresh raspberries and a healthy dose of rum. Right up my alcoholic alley!
I went here for my birthday with the family and gf. I think the staff there is awesome. The waitress asked if we would move at able so we did. Then she gave us complementary smoked salmon with break and cream cheese. It was delicious. She didn't have to go out of her way for that. My mom wanted the *BUTT* part of the bread and asked one of the latino servers and he went to the back and got her all those pieces of bread.
The problem I had with this place is that it's very over priced. The food I thought was very good but when you share with a bunch of people you only get like one bite per dish and are still left hungry. If they gave a little bigger portions this place would definitely deserve 5 stars!
I honestly think this place is overrated. I came here for my birthday with a few friends and my first thought was "cute place". And we went on ordering... we had the Crab Tower, Ink Risotto, Lobster Spaghetti, Duck pasta, Scallops, and another dish that I can't seem to remember.
Now.. for a restaurant to rank 4 stars in my mind, it needs to be pretty awesome... and for the price and quality, I was sadly disappointed. I'm not saying the food is bad by any means, BUT it's NOT ALL THAT!!!! Everything was good.. but NOTHING was friggin amazing... so the fact that the restaurant has 4 stars.. I feel, is saying too much.
The scallops were really good, the lobster spaghetti was delish, BUT for what you pay, it wasn't THAT good... I definitely wouldn't say no to going here again, but the food isn't soOo amazing that I would venture here on purpose.
Sorry. I really wanted to give this 4 stars but it's just way over hyped... :(
3 words:
VENICE IN SF...
3.5
its the lobster spaghetti ($27) that truly blew our minds ... but for $27? ehhhh...
if anything, GET THEIR LOBSTER SPAGHETTI!!! it was to DIE for ... look at the pictures! the lobster was not only humongo, but the spaghetti had a spicy kick to it... fantab! =) i swear, if anything, you are in for a REAL TREAT!
a friend who swears by his culinary adventures raved about pesce and so here i was, giving it a MUST TRY... even SF Chronicle lists as the TOP 100.. you wouldnt believe how many awards they received ... for the prices, alone, they are extremely reasonable ... $13 and up, mind you the specials are to die for which is written on the chalkboard nxt to the restroom in the way back. pretty much, it's tapas style ...
*pictures uploaded*
because we had la mar (nxt review) for lunch, we wanted to control our "seafoody palate" ....
the interior is quite inviting with a nice, wooden finish. very comfy vibe.
we started off with an OYSTER SHOT for $3: Cucumber, cocktail sauce and horseradish, adding a shot of Wasabi sake infused vodka. good stuff but not to the point of being "oh, so good!". then, as an appetizer, we got their SALMONE AFFUMICATO for $8 (House smoked salmon on bruschetta with capers, red onion and horseradish cream) i'd pass on this.... where was the horseradish cream... it was sadly, AFTER my LAST bite that i had tasted it... boo! we also had the CAPESANTE for $11, which are basically scallops dipped in arugula, orange and caramelized fennel, and i must say, these were tasty lil suckers:) the mahi mahi, however, took us on a diff twist. although the sauce went well, the sauce for the scallops blew me away... i guess you just have to appreciate scallops.... and as i mentioned before, you MUST get the lobster spaghetti... $27 was a bit ridiculous but it was so darn yummy!
service was quite attentive.
i highly suggest you making ressies because not only is it the smart thang to do, but when we left around 8ish, there was a LINE out the door.
it is a nice date place...
This is probably my favorite "tapas" restaurant in the bay area. Every time I come here, I see new and exciting things on the menu that I can't wait to try out. So far I haven't been disappointed. My last visit, my girlfriend and I stopped by for a drink and some oyster shots (best oyster shots in SF). We decided to split a light and simple meal since we were snacking all day, so we ordered a crab meat linguine in white wine and roasted garlic. The dish is so simple yet very delicious.
My two favorites here would be the cioppino and braised lamb shanks. It's been a while since I've had them but I remember them being fantastic.
Pesce is great. It has a very chill feel and awesome wait staff - shout out to Carly!! She is great! The menu isn't very large and if you are look for large portions - this is much more of a small plate/tapa feel. The menu can definitely get pricey - but my boyfriend and I are big eaters and we pulled down about 4 plates, 1 dessert, 2 glass of wine, and 1 beer - came out to about $96 - however we were fully satisfied and wanted to keep trying more items on the menu!!
Our meal - started with the Bruschetta with Fava Beans....couldn't really tase any fava beans, but we could taste all of the other amazingly fresh ingredients. The tomatos and basil were bursting with so much flavor and you could tell it was definitely locally grown. We then had the pan-seared scallops in a porcini, chive cream sauce! AWESOME! Make sure you have enough of their amazing bread to soak up the extra sauce! Then came the milk braised pork with gnocchi and proscuitto. Again - words don't describe. Perfect portion size because the flavor is so rich, but truly delicious! We ended our meals with the crab linguine. It was probably our least favorite - although good - this plate didn't compare to the other three...so was a little less exciting. Out dessert was the cinnamon - apricot bread pudding. It was incredible and a perfect ending to a memorable meal.
The service was great - which is hard to find in SF. Go here!!! Definitely go here!!
Disappointing. I wasn't impressed with the limited menu, price or the lackluster staff. I wish I had the same experience as my fellow yelpers, but it just wasn't the case.
Relaxed atmosphere is great, but they need to step it up to get more stars from me!
Quite an adorable spot!
The waitress - honestly - was THE BEST! She caught the joking, easy going vibe of our table and ran with it! Mucho kudos ... :)
I gather that Pesce is known to be a small plates / tapas style seafood bar. I get that. For me, it was my opportunity to order my *own* Penne Arrabbiata - eat the whole thing - and not feel bad about it. Small plate portion = just enough to satisfy the palette / not so much that you swear off carbs til your jeans fit again.
Only disappointment was the Salmone Affumicato. Change the bread to more of a toasted baguette and it would be terrific.
I've been wanting to eat here for a while, and finally stopped by last week. The place is small and oddly proportioned (the bar is curved and takes up probably more space than it should, which then lends to the really tight tables in the front). We sat at such a table and I kept getting bumped by servers, other patrons, etc. Like other reviewers have mentioned, the place is LOUD so be aware. For me, it actually really detracted from my experience at the restaurant.
In terms of the food, everything we ordered was pretty fantastic. We started with some oysters and then had the sardine bruschetta and the scallops (which melted in your mouth -- the truffle sauce was incredible). We also ordered the duck papardelle, the calamari squid ink risotto and the broccolini (which was more like broccoli rabe). The papardelle and the risotto were both really good.
I would definitely recommend Pesce, but probably not on a romantic date (more of a fun date or with a group of friends).
On our regular Tuesday night out to eat tried this place out up the street from her work on Polk. Not too busy, but it was fat Tuesday... I don't think people were in the fish mood. I thought it was a nice date spot. It was kinda cold in the front of the restaurant. The AC kinda just blows on your there. But I think if there were more people there it would have been different.
We ordered half a dozen Hama Hamas. Good... nice sauces to go along with it.
Got the Crab Tower. Good... I liked the basil sauce drizzled on the plate.
Entree had the whole snapper. Tasty.
Everything was good. Ive just had better fish , oysters and crab. elsewhere. I would come back, have a good time and enjoy myself . It just wouldn't be on the top of my list as a seafood recommendation
I just moved to Russian Hill a few weeks ago so I was excited to try out many of the great restaurants along Polk. When my friends came up from LA, it was the perfect opportunity.
Pesce did NOT disappoint! It was delicious! We started with a sampling of oysters and they were incredibly fresh. We also had the heirloom tomatoes that came with very fresh mozarella, a few shreds of basil (although I would have like a little more) and drizzled with the right amount of balsamic vinegar w/o overpowering it. For the "main courses", we had 4 small plates. The squid-ink w/o calamari risotto was perfectly cook and salted. The scallops in cream w/ truffle essence were absolutely divine... again, perfectly cooked... moist and not overcooked like scallops can so easily be. The milk braised pork was also very well done... the flavors really soaked into the pork and it came through with every bite. Our last dish was the duck with pasta... this was probably the least favorite of the 4 dishes but was still good. The pasta tasted like freshly handmade but I though the red sauce lacked a little salt and the flavor of the duck didn't come through as much as I would have liked. Overall though, the quality of the food was very high and flavor was full, rich, and came though in the right amounts for all but one of the dishes. Highly recommend.
So, I'm taking away 2 stars for two reasons.
The first star goes due to the fact that Pesce doesn't use organic, sustainably raised or hormone free meats. I asked them last night. This issue is becoming increasingly important to me after doing an extensive research project on factory farming, industrial agriculture and the major issues with America's food. Reading the Omnivore's Dilemma has also made this a signifigant issue for me, and I find it offensive when a restaurant in the food mecca of San Francisco doesn't even try to purchase better meat for their customers, especially when they're charging top dollar for it.
The second reason I'm taking a star away is because their squid ink risotto has become bland and lackluster over time. The first time I tasted it, it was so incredibly delicious but now I'm just disappointed whenever I order it. If you want good squid ink risotto, head to Beretta until Pesce picks up the slack.
Pesce is a great little spot- amazing food, casual atmosphere and never leaves me feeling overly… Read more »
The wine the waitress recommended was awesome. She said it was similar to a pinot and it did not disappoint.
The small plates were just the right portions. The tuna was great, thank god, given the name. But honestly, the pork and gnocchi was the best dish of the night - so good!
Special Truffle Menu & Prix…
Neighborhood: Marina/Cow Hollow
Happy Hour
Neighborhood: Nob Hill
Neighborhood: Russian Hill
Category: Seafood
Neighborhood: Russian Hill
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Nob Hill
Category: Seafood
Neighborhood: Russian Hill
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Marina/Cow Hollow
Category: Seafood
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