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"This place was delicious! I kept eying everyone's meals through the window as I walked up and down the hill and I'm glad that we stopped…" read more »
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Spectacular and beautiful restaurant. Venticello sits atop Nob Hill and is tucked away and almost hidden among the residential apartment buildings. The décor is almost like a Tuscany feel, deep reds and light orange/browns. The restaurant itself has a 2 level dining room. Larger parties on the bottom first level for "family style" dining feel with round tables, etc. Doubles upstairs on the 2nd floor. Dimly lit and uber romantic. Too bad my BF and I were super underdressed for our belated 2 month Anniversary dinner post our 2 month Anniversary Spa Day.
We called in about 6pm and asked if we needed a reservation. The host said that we did not and to just come in. When we got there the host asked for our reservation. We said we didn't have one. He walked away and had a pow-wow of some sort trying to figure out where to seat us. Coldest stare ever.
We were seated in the "corner" upstairs dining room. We were okay with that seeing as we were in flip flops and sneakers. We were served some bread and some olive oil garlic mixture which was AWESOME. I'd say almost the best part of the meal was it. We shared a cesar salad, an arugula & fungi pizzetta, the herb and goat cheese ravioli and the tiramisu for dessert. All were excellent. The cesar salad wasn't to die for but nice. The pizzetta was quite tasty. The mix between the mushrooms and arugula went well together. The herb and goat cheese ravioli (half helping split between 2 and also divided onto 2 bowls) was a bit overpowering. It was a good idea to split the dish as pasta can get quite heavy. The tiramisu was fantastic. It came with some almond cookies which were the 2nd best part of the meal. I love my carbs.
4 stars for an awesome romantic meal in flip flops. 2 stars for the walk up those dang hills. 5 stars for a beautiful night out in Nob Hill. Quite possibly one of the nicest neighborhoods that go overlooked.
I have mixed feelings about this place. My hubby and I went there for my birthday. Here's my list of pro's and con's:
Pros:
- GREAT food! Homemade pasta, tender cuts of meat, etc...
- Beautiful atmosphere (warm & nicely lit)
- Super friendly host / bartender
- Easy location to find by taxi
- We were seated immediately (no waiting for table)
Cons:
- The food is on the expensive side and you don't get that much of it.
- Our waiter was REALLY rude. He was definitely fresh off the boat from Italy and his attitude was horrible. We could tell that he was pissed off because we didn't order any alcohol. As soon as we turned down wine, he became short and showed little to no attention to our table. As a result, we left him a very minimal tip because of his poor attitude. Our waiter really ruined the meal for me.
i had a wonderful dinner here with my mother the other night when the wait at Nob Hill Cafe was too long, and boy were we glad we kept walking. This place has a really nice, rustic feeling lower dining area, and we loved the open wood-burning oven and interesting detail work/antique-like, yet tasteful decor. But more importantly, everything we ate was delicious.
We started w/ a daily special salad of fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil over arugula with a sundried tomato vinaigrette (a nice spin on the classic caprese). I don't even like sundried tomatoes, but I found the dressing delicious and the ingredients were impressively fresh.
My mother ordered the herb and goat cheese ravioli in a tomato, basil, garlic sauce. As much as I love ravioli, I usually shy away from ordering anything resembling marinara sauce when at a restaurant because it seems like something I can make just as easily at home, but I have to say the pasta certainly was delicious (they make it themselves) and the sauce certainly did not come from a jar.
I had the grilled lamb tenderloins (i adore lamb), and they cooked it perfectly(i.e. rare...I hate getting overcooked meat). I also was expecting little circular medallions, but they cut it more in a vertical from the tenderloin, which was interesting and thus made for larger portions. Plus the mashed potatoes and mushroom chianti sauce were divine. Even my mother who has sworn off lamb b/c she can't stand the taste anymore actually enjoyed a bite of mine.
Dessert of fresh berries in custard cream served in a martini glass was a lovely cap on the evening.
The waiter was very friendly and attentive (i loved the big water glasses because I go through water in restaurants like nobody's business). I also heard our waiter telling the table next to us that they've been in sf for decades now, before the small-plate craze became popular, so they still like to serve large hearty portions.
Yes, this is a nicer restaurant for slightly more special occasions if you're on a budget, but the food is definitely top notch, the ingredients fresh, and the atmosphere comforting and friendly.
overall , pretty swanky place. we mosied in (is that a word?) after a taxing day at the Nob Hill Spa (yawn).... no reservations on a sunday night. no problem. place was busy but only about half full. no one on the upstairs area. i was going to raise an objection to the host seating us upstairs - alone - but then i thought that the upstairs was nicely designed and pretty and solitary so it was just as fine as being seated with the masses down below. so i can't say that i'd prefer upstairs to down. they both seem cool, but , of course, next time, i'd go downstairs since i was up this first time. any case, the pizzetta wasn't the accomplishment of the ages. it was a bit too big for an appetizer and wasn't terribly inventive. some veggies on baked bread was about it, but the salad and the ravioli and the well done tiramisu saved the day. i really liked the most important dish, the ravioli the most. the wine list was good. i had a glass of red while the girl had a glass of prosecco. ambiance and decor ... wine list and service .... entrees and dessert... all very nice. the lack of a truly great dessert wine and the pizzetta's plainness were the only thing i can hold against it. next time you're in the neighborhood, give it a try. not the ridiculous wait of some of the spots in the hood but very nice addition.
I enjoy the ambiance, the staff is friendly, The food is excellent. I just park somewhere else and take a cab. I wouldn't drive and try to park. A small friendly bar when you walk in. The restaurant is quaint, charming, and well appointed. I have received very nice service at Venticello. I must go again soon. I always meet very nice people there and it is a very friendly atmosphere. I must go back soon. {repeating myself}
I'm torn on this one....there is so much good Italian food in San Francisco and while this place didn't rank highest for me on food, I really did appreciate the ambiance and service.
Let me begin by saying that my bf and I visited Venticello on one of the warmest evenings of the year and were unfortunately seated next to the pizza oven. But even that didn't bring my experience down because just as quickly, I was delivered a perfect, icy cold Ketel One martini and was immediately pacified.
Our food server was on his game - professional and attentive but not overbearing. The fresh foccacia and garlic olive oil was to die for...but then the heirloom tomato salad with fresh mozzarella left a little to be desired. My opinion is that the sun dried tomato vinaigrette was too heavy for the salad but it's hard to identify what went wrong there. I then proceeded to have the fresh (albeit seared) sushi grade ahi tuna. The prob there is that fresh sushi grade tuna need not be seared and smothered in a creamy caper sauce. It tasted pretty good but it was much heavier than I'd anticipated as a result of the sauce. My bf had the sirloin and only told me the next day that the first half of the dish was delicious and the second half was tough as shoe leather. He's never one to stay quiet so I'm not sure why he didn't send it back.
We skipped dessert in lieu of picking up Swensen's on Union but the dessert menu did look interesting....
I'd go again but probably wouldn't cross town to do it.
my favorite italian restaurant in san francisco. serves amazing food, and is always consistent. the wait staff is nice enough, though the hostess seems to be imbued with an unhealthy amount of self-importance, considering it's a neighborhood place and she's not all that much to look at -- usually stuffed into a pair of leggings 3 sizes too small.
our waiter always remembers us, and the bottle of wine we like to order. the ambiance is wonderful, this is a perfect place for a date, or a dinner with a group of friends. the lighting is low, so everyone looks good.
this place is also good for the single diner, who can chose to sit at the bar. you don't need a reservation, we never make them unless its at 7 on a friday or saturday. then i would recommend it.
Overall: 4
This was my second visit in two years and I loved my first visit but this visit I just liked. Seems like the food wasn't as good as last time. I guess spectacular is hard to replicate consistently.
Food: 4
Great mushroom potato gnocchi and tasty sweet lamb. I wish they offered more wines by the glass but the limited wine list does offer some quality vino by the bottle.
Service: 4
Quick and friendly and authentic. You can definitely practice your Italian here.
Decor: 4
Small and cozy spot which makes it a great date place. Since it's so small it can get loud so get a late seating for a romantic evening.
Value: 4
I left stuffed. The primi (pasta) dishes are bigger than the secondi but certainly filling especially if you get an appetizer.
My absolute favorite Italian restaurant in SF. Great staff and very accomodating with last minute reservations.
Nice dating ambiance, just try not to get stuck upstairs otherwise you end up getting the draft from folks coming and going (for some reason I remembered there isn't a spring to keep the door closed).
Pastas are great. 4.5 stars for fresh pasta but the one complaint I have are the sauces are loaded with butter and creams. This invariably is why the pasta tastes so good.
Antipasti and secondis were about 3 stars. Nothing really special. There are some affordable bottles of wine under $50. This is a good date place, just order the pasta tho. A bit on the spendy side for pasta tho around 17-20, but it's so filling and tasty.
One other thing - the place has valet parking, which is huge plus given the neighborhood. It's reasonable - I believe $10.
Apparently the other reviewer/ dude here doesn't understand. Good italian food is about loving life not just dinner. Italian dining is a total experience. When someone finds a nice neighborhood restaurant like Venticello's they tell their close friends and bring them there as I have done. But, you got to do it right..... Doing Italian right is about optimizing the pleasure quotient.
Venticello's has its own flavor. The main dining area is very cozy. It has kind of a rustic wooden italian feel to it. You can see a sliver of the view down to the bay bridge from the corner window. This is all part of the atmosphere. The food and wine list at venticello is quite good. I later found out that venticello's offers a corkage fee. So, the last time we brought in two bottles of vino, which we happily consumed. Also, the people who work here are a fun group and have passion for the place.
This venue, plus great italian food, plus italian wine, (sangiovese), plus passion, plus good company, equals a beautifully satisfying dining experience. To sum it up, this place is a slice of the good life.
I know people rave about this place, but I just wasn't feeling it. It is fairly standard italian fare, but VERY expensive for what you get - it's like the average italian joint on the corner of NYC that you can get your take out from when you are feeling lazy. This is definitely the place you take your parents to - it's got good ambience, not too loud, but most importantly they can foot the bill!
If you are willing to deal with the wait and are OK with something much more low key, go to nob hill cafe which is a block away.
I live right across the street - I feel like the best thing about Venticello is the fact that it is a great place to catch a cab from because of all the customers that are getting dropped off.
What can I say, this place is amazing. I've been here twice so far, and will continue to be going back. I took my girlfriend here for her birthday and another special occasion and it couldn't have been better. The atmosphere is really romantic and is in a very nice neighborhood so if after dinner you want to take a walk it has some great views.
To get to the food the first time I went I got the Veal Scallopine... it was extremely delicious and tender. For the second time I went I got the Penne Bolognese, it was a special at the time, and I must say it was the best Bolognese It was just soooooo amazing once it hit you lips!
Came here for dinner and enjoyed every minute of it. Its not huge with lots of sections and tables. Perfect size and lighting. Not too dark, and not too bright.
Service was awesome, very attentive.
bonus points for serving Hess Allomi Vineyards (mmmm)
This restaurant appears in Patricia Untermann's guide to solid restaurants, but I found it lacking for a few reasons. The views of the Bay Bridge are best outside the restaurant. The decor is a bit cheesy. The restaurant is extremely loud. The food was delicious, but how excited can one get about Italian food? I would prefer Delfina over Venticello, for price, atmosphere, and quality of food.
BTW, people on Yelp engage in gross grade inflation. Just because they served you dinner doesn't mean the restaurant deserves 5 stars.
Adorable location - I love restaurants that clearly used to be homes. We were a bit squished in to the bar area (sorry sir, I did not mean to rub all up on you that much on my way to and from the restroom), right across from the open door which was nice initially, but then got a little chilly.
The ambiance was great, the company was great, the service and food just okay. I'd come back and give it another shot, but I wasn't blown away on my first visit.
My new favorite upscale Italian in the city.
I have only dined at Venticello once, and ordered the Caprese salad as an appetizer and the Pork Tenderloin Medallions as my entree.
I was treated to the meal so no comment on whether the price is right, but the food, views and experience was excellent.
I'm giving this place three starts, but I considered giving it one star just to offset the sycophants. Because this place is not 5-star good. Especially not in SF.
But not to be a hater (first), I'll start with the strong points.
Physically: It's off the beaten path. It's small. Dare I say quaint. Also quaint in the way that they have no system to greet guests. Other than the quaintness of no check-in plan, which would only be problem upon first visit. Setting: ****
Food: We attempted to do a 3-course meal. Ordered antipasti, pasta, then main courses. We didn't do it in an incredibly douche-y way, but we let our server know our plan. The antipasti came out at scary light speed. (Like was it already plated?) Our table had five people. The shrimp app had four shrimp. Never did the server mention that fact. Sort of common practice at a decent place. Also the shrimp was small and dried out, like not cooked to order, I think. Pizza part of our first course was good. Pasta course was pretty good. Not great, but good.
Entrees and desserts were pretty okay. Lamb was over-cooked. Chicken marsala was really good. Great sauce. Pork was okay. Nothing really inspired.
Service: Saved it for last 'cause it was worst. The waiter clearing an expensive bottle of wine with much wine left in the bottle was a new treat. At best the service was robotic--like timely, with zero personal touch.
End of story. It's pretty okay. The 5 star reviews on Yelp are a little bit misleading.
Went here last night with a friend for dinner. It's a cute, comfy little place that you will need reservations in order to eat, unless you want to eat at the bar or in the bar area. It is a bit squished, but still ok.
Our service was excellent and on top of things. We started with the portabello mushroom polento appetizer which was absolutely the best out of all the food. Excellent flavor. We each had the caesar salads which were just ok. We shared the risotto dinner plate with scallops and shrimp. I thought it was good, but I expected a little bit more from this place.
All in all, the place is definitely good. I personally think there are many places in the city that outdo this place, but it is definitely worth a try if you're in the area and looking for some yummy food.
Italiana rustica!!
This place has a very beautiful interior, with a cozy fireplace, and beautiful plates. Super mellow, dressy, atmosphere. Wonderful service! rsrvtns suggested.
The soft herb-y italian bread and delicious herb and garlic infused oil is AMAZING. The imported italian wine is A+!
I had the herb ravioli, and it was al-dente for sure. They make pasta in house, as you will see noted on the menu. The marinara was tangy and flavorful. They have a huge block of parmesan they grate in your face, which is beautiful. I sampled the rabbit stew, and it was... rabbit stew. It took me back... like ratatouille... to my grandfather's cooking. Appetizers were satisfying. Large portions.
It was 70 per person. Quite pricey, but we did have a bottle. I could tell the difference btw this place and the many random italian north beach places i've stumbled upon. all around Italian is difficult to make exceptional, because its such a homey cusine, no?
Oh. Oh, my.
How we've managed to overlook Venticello, which we can see from our front window, is beyond me. We ate here once shortly after we moved here two years ago and only made it back this evening.
This was some serious, rustic Italian cuisine.
The table bread was even that good, served with a side of garlic olive oil. If this bread isn't baked fresh here, then someone please let me know where they get it, 'cause it's that good.
The wife raved about her Venticello salad--baby lettuce in a honey mustard dressing with toasted walnuts and Gorgonzola cheese. These are some of her favorite things.
I opted for the Barbabietola salad, an earthy, fresh mix of roasted beets, tomatoes, and arugula, topped with just the right amount of a tarragon caper vinaigrette, all contained in a nice bowl of radicchio. Uh, huh.
We shared a couple of entrees. The spaghetti carbonara was the best I've had, hands down. The pancetta was cooked down to just-this-side-of-crispy perfection. The creamy sauce was seasoned to a perfect balance of zesty/rich. I'll probably have dreams about this dish.
The grilled pork tenderloin medallions in a balsamic rum syrup was another winner. The syrup makes the dish shine.
We were too sated to even attempt dessert, all of which sounded delectable.
The service was excellent, always attentive, but never intrusive. The space is a bit cramped, but when you're in a state of culinary bliss, you tend not to notice.
We'll be making Venticello a member of our family.
Great service- it was RAGING hot last night and we were unfortunately upstairs so the firecracker prawns were reeeeeally hot! I had the sole, and am bummed I didnt get the carbonara like my dad... I love a good fresh pasta!!! Their pinot by the glass really was excellent like the waiter said- decent glass size too. Stepmom got the veal she said it was excellent, and it was a lot of food. Boyfriend got the caesar and then the ahi- he had no complaints!
Heres how cool they are tho - my dad left his credit card and they called the house not 5 mins after we walked thru the door, so he walked back and got it!! Sooo sweet of them, saved a pain in the hind!
This restaurant is straight out of a movie.
It's small, cozy, serves impeccable Italian cuisine, and has a view of the Bay Bridge that, at night, is almost magical.
The bread basket is warm and soft. The wrapped shrimp appetizer is delicious, with a spicy sauce on the side that I can't get enough of. The ravioli melt in your mouth.
Prices are a bit steep, but for a special or romantic occasion, you can't beat it.
A good neighborhood place for sure, If I lived near by I would be there all the damn time. This place isn't trip worthy, but since my grandparents live right down the street, I go there semi-often.
The food never fails to dissapoint, the waiters and waitresses are pleasant, and the view (if your sitting at the right table) is amazing.
Last time I was there I had the proscutto wrapped shrimp with some extremely fiery dipping sauce, and the dipping sauce I kept for the rest of the meal to adorn everything else I got. It was great.
Then I had some braised spare ribs, which I admittedly am a spare rib addict, and they were good, not le colonial good, but they were good.
Dessert ....... i forgot what I had for dessert, so yea,,, forgettable I guess.
Over all a great local joint that I would go to more if I lived closer.
It's smaller than we thought so it was of much more noises that we expected.
We split the chef salad and it was great! Bf had the ravioli and he finished it all. I had saffron risotto with tiger shrimps. It was as good as expected.
We liked the most its panna cotta, our first time experience of orange flavor mixed with mint. It was very tasteful, soothing, refreshing, light and impressive.
This place may not be a good place for conversation unless you can manage to talk loud or even scream. But if it has to be the case, the panna cotta could be a good comfort.
It was our 5th year anniversary dinner.
I must say that everything was just perfect for us.
Especially there was a nice low key waitress.
When you have a good mannered wait staff, you are just pleased.
But there was something, small things, it was not the big of deal, but,
My gf ordered a grilled steak, medium rare,
the steak was nice, thick and perfect medium rare, but sesame seeds stuck around the meat and we tasted Shoyu flavor.
Asian fusion steak? I don't know.
When I have a nice thick steak,
I'd rather have a grilled steak with just salt and pepper.
Grilled asparagus was thin kind and a bit burned.
I'd rather like thick asparagus for grill.
I like thin asparagus boiled, but not over cooked.
I like my gf''s grilled asparagus, a lot better.
4 grilled prawns came with Chinese red hot sauce.
My pasta came with an Asian-ish large bowl which is good idea keeping pasta warm.
I thought this place is authentic Italian food but ....a bit of Asian influence, maybe?
Hey, what do I know?
I'd like to go back.
Nice, cozy, good, low key neighborhood restaurant.
We had a great dinner.
Venticello... so cute, the wine great, food excellent, and the ambiance super cozy. However, the our waiter was a jerk!! He may have just been having an off night but come on when you drop $150 plus tip in dinner for 2 the service should be great.
I loved the food and feel so much i will going back for a second try.
My boyfriend and I were able to get a reservation here last minute.
First of all -- incredible setting. There's a priceless view down Washington St. of the Bay Bridge. The ambiance is beautiful... soft lighting, huge windows.
We arrived a few minutes early and were seated promptly. The warm foccacia with garlic olive oil was just a glimpse of the delicious food that awaited our palates. We started with the pear, prosciutto, and mascarpone antipasto. One word: WOW! The combination of sweet and crunchy pear, salty prosciutto, creamy and tangy mascarpone was genius. It was drizzled in a light balsamic reduction.
Next, we split the ceasar which was huge. It was topped off with delicious authentic parmiggiano reggiano.
For the main course, my boyfriend had the lobster and crab ravioli topped with a lobster bisque sauce. It was delightful and very fresh. I had the artichoke and bell pepper risotto. It was just the perfect consistency, not too mushy -- slightly al dente. The flavor was excellent as well, not too rich, and it had just the slightest hint of peppery heat.
Next was the highlight of the night... As we awaited the dessert menus, the waiter arrived and announced, "this is our flourless chocolate cake" as he set it down in front of me. A bright sparkle caught my eye -- an incredible engagement ring was resting beside the slice of cake, as if it were part of the garnish! Next thing I knew, my boyfriend knelt down in front of me and proposed :) I was speechless as he slid the ring on my finger. The waiter immediately came by with generously-sized glasses of Veuve Cliquot on the house ($16 per glass). Everyone in the restaurant congratulated us, it was such a beautiful moment! (The cake was great too, by the way..)
The waiter gave us plenty of time to finish up, although we couldn't wait to call all our friends. What a treat! We will hold Venticello dear in our hearts for years to come. The staff was wonderful overall, and assisted in the covert engagement operation so seamlessly and beautifully. :) :) :)
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UPDATE 06/09/06: i'm so touched that this was chosen as review of the day. this is awkward and uncomfortable to say, but the two of us actually split up a few months ago... i had considered changing the review to reflect the status quo, but venticello really deserves accolades for their amazing service and delicious cuisine. also, this was a beautiful and perfect experience, nonetheless... what's past is past! anyway, wanted to let you all know so there's no confusion.
Very nice place. I made a huge mistake of not checking before I went there with my date and was seriously underdressed. Next time I think when I see "Nob Hill" I best pay attention. Other than that snafu, the dinner was superb. I had the pasta special while my date had a tasty fish plate. Overall very nice impression and ambiance. Only reason for only four stars was that the waiter was a bit pushy, and the table we were seated is was sort of in the way of a corner table. So much so, I ended up with a man's ass in my face. Not cool.
Tagged onto Amy S. and her man's dinner reservations and was reminded of how I should go here more often than every 5 years! I'm not a pasta person so much, but the cesar salad and ahi tuna were well prepared and seasoned. Wine list was good and reasonably priced (god I love Stag's Leap). Panna Cotta and port were divine.
Only drawback this night was the service. Host was great, but we nearly had to goose the spacey server to get her attention for more wine, to order, for the check--kind of nuts considering it wasn't very packed.
Warm and inviting. Perfect place to escape a chilly Knob Hill night. Looove the fireplace! Great date restaurant, old world Tuscan-Italian menu. Cozy, romantic..
The goat cheese and herb ravioli in roma tomatoes was very good. There were 6 of us and we all left very happy.......
I'd been meaning to eat here for about 4 years and so glad I finally did!
Why you should eat here:
- You miss the Tuscan countryside.
- You miss 'higher-end' rustic Italian food.
- You want to eat somewhere that's been going strong for 14 years, and that's owned by 6th generation San Franciscans.
- You want to get engaged. (No joke, they have tons of people getting down on the knee here.)
- You live in the hood and want a pasta and glass of wine after work. (Nice small granite bar.)
It's one of the most charming (and large) neighborhood restaurants tucked away on a hilly street in Nob Hill. Replete with a high stack wood-burning oven, and cable cars occasionally passing by.
Food-wise, it seems they've mastered tastes and textures even in the simplest dishes... The apps were my favorite: 1) Smokey portobello mushroom cooked in the wood oven, served on soft polenta with crunchy, chopped pine nuts mixed throughout, rosemary and some tangy tomato dice. 2) Salty pancetta-wrapped succulent prawns with a very hot pepper oil/sauce. 3) Salad of sweet red & gold beets, salty capers, tangy vinaigrette, in a bitter radicchio cup.
Lobster bisque pasta with prawns was a creamy, garlicky delight. Tiramisu was allegedly good, but I don't like that mushy blobby dessert anyway, so can't rate that one...
Great meal. The Clos du Val Chardonnay is nice and smokey, and goes great with all their dishes that come out of the wood oven.
Tucked on the corner of Clay and Taylor- Venticello looked like a Tuscan estate seated majestically atop the hill. It was subtly lighted by candles complete with wood burning fireplace (brick oven)that added to its alluring ambiance.
I arrived a little early to give them a special request on behalf of celebrating my friend's new job. Given that it was busy night (we were seated after a 30 minute wait), Daniel (Manager) welcomed the added request and even comped my champagne and friend's beer to remedy the long wait. What a great way to start the celebration ! :-)
Our waiter was attentive and easily accommodated a seating change due to the proximity to the fireplace (quite warm). The giant open door windows gave a fantastic view of the Bay Bridge and also welcomed the warm gentle breeze inside.
I checked their menu to see if they offered light dishes given the warm week we've been having. I found that they had a few dishes which were not too heavy and was confident that my health conscious friend would find a desirable meal.
We shared the appetizer Prosciutto E Pere Con Mascarpone- this was delightful just enough to whet both our appetites. The pear was softly blanched and added sweetness to the lightly salted prosciutto ham.
My friend ordered the Filetto Di Sogliola- two generous filet of Petrale Sole pan fried to perfection, complimented by the white wine sauce seasoned with capers and cracked pepper. The polenta cake was just enough to make this a perfect comfort food on a warm evening. I was excited to try the Gnocchi al Funghi ( Im making a list of the best ones in the city) and I would probably give this one 3 stars. The gold nuggets were dense and too thick in nature- I was longing for the pillowy, velvety texture but these did not measure up( I think it was overcooked). Its sauce was just a tad salty for my taste and the mushroom pieces didn't add complexity to the creamy nature of this flavoring.
There are others dishes I would like to try the next time I visit:- the Risotto with Tiger Prawns, the Ravioli and Scalopine! Perhaps on a cold rainy day ;-)
PS- The tiramisu congratulatory cake arrived complete with our waiter's well wishes (complimentary as well!). There is nothing more satisfying than having a meal complete with friendly service and attention to detail. Thank you for your wonderful service!
Sigh.
I really wanted to love Venticello. I did. It's got great reviews.
But, it just didn't measure up.
For all the variety and gourmet and creativity and service that I have come to expect in San Francisco, all I can say is that this place barely met my expectations for our $70 per person meal.
We started with a measly portion of carpaccio, which was bland and unexciting. Then we each had a measly portion of caesar, which was delicious but tiny.
The wine was delicious, and no complaints about that. No complaints about the bread and yummy garlic-oil either. Our pastas were good - we had the shrimp scampi-like pasta and a special lobster penne. Both were really good and those were the larger portions.
Dessert (panna cotta and the apflogato) were both pretty unremarkable.
Not sure it was the best $150 I've spent...
Beautiful little italian restaurant in Nob Hill. The good and the bad part about this place was that it was almost identical to a typical restaurant in a small town in Italy.
The service was mind-boggling slow...we had a reservation for 7:30 and weren't seated until 8. Once we were seated it took forever for our food to actually materialize. They weren't very attentive with drinks and we had to flag them down just to get a glass of wine. But again, typical Euro-style service.
The pasta here is made in house and our Seafood pasta special was amazing...perfectly cooked. The procuitto appetizer was pretty good, nothing too amazing. Overall the food was very tasty but the time we had to wait for it muddled the total experience.
A nice rustic venue from which one may see the bay and the bay bridge. I enter and wait for someone to seat me. I wait and wait. Eventually, a waiter condescends to seat me with barely a hello. OK, greetings aren't a strong point. The hostess appears a half hour after I was seated for my early dinner. Perhaps with her there, you may have a better entry.
Caesar salad is fresh romaine, anchovies and is lightly dressed. No croutons. Pepper adds some zest. A nice, refreshing way to start a meal. A half order of fettucine in cream sauce with sausage. A rustic, hearty plate of food. Filling. Nice. Not stylish or compelling in any way. But good. Veal saltimbocca is topped with tasteless chopped tomatoes and accompanied by mashed potatoes, squash, carrot and some sweet cabbage. The vegetable sides seem misplaced, something you might pair with pot roast in a diner. The veal is the real thing but there is an off taste of alcohol that was not cooked away on the plate. Too bad. The serving is substantial but the conception of the plate and preparation of the food was just not there.
Go for the view.
My recent visit to Venticello was a bit of a disappointment. I've always liked that site, even back when it was Yerba Buena Village (if anyone remembers back that far.)
This time, the food was good, as always--good, basic, hearty Italian food well prepared and presented--and the service was pleasant. However, the restaurant itself is showing a bit of wear. The chairs are a bit wobbly, the walls could use some repainting and refreshing (the look is becoming very dated), and the lighting could be tweaked a bit. It wouldn't take much to bring Venticello back to the elegant little neighbourhood boite I so fondly remember.
I really enjoyed my meal here. I will return again, made a reservation already.
Started with the antipasti, which was nice. I liked the anchovy addition. It was not terribly filling for 2 people, but still tasty.
I had the special rack of lamb encrusted with mustard and pistachio. It was 4 chops worth, very filling. One side was an amazing sun-dried tomato cream puree. The veggies were ok at best, would have loved something a little more inventive than zucchini.
We shared the flour-less chocolate cake - it tasted good.
Wine list is good if not a bit small though. It had anything I would need.
Minus 1 star for the thin pad on the chairs. I like a softer chair to sit on at a nice restaurant. If I were there for 20 minutes that is one thing. But this is a 90 minute plus dinner.
There is something to be said for a great space, I don't know why, but I really love this place. I wanted to live there - wierd? Maybe, but if the chef comes with the place, you would pay rent there as well. The restaurant is a beautiful, open two-storied room with high ceilings and an open, welcoming feel.
We had an early meal on a Saturday evening, but the place filled up very fast. The home made squash soup was as authentic as the wait staff. My rack of lamb wasn't the best I'd had in my life, but it was still way above average. The pasta, however, is rave worthy.
The best part about it is it's not on the main drag - feels nice and out of the way. Definitely 2 thumbs up from a serious Italian food lover. Still on the quest to determine the best in SF. And I am committed to trying each and every one until I'm completely sure.
I spent a lot of time researching and coming up with a trip for our 11th wedding anniversary. Every year we have a trip somewhere and do something special, at least for the weekend. We're from Australia (been in the USA for 6 years now) and Faith hasn't really been to many other places around the country, so I try for a new city each time we go somewhere. So I chose San Francisco; kept it a secret until we got to the airport at Seattle.
Since we were going to a new city, finding a restaurant for our anniversary dinner was tough -- you don't want your anniversary to suck. Looking at various reviews (yay! Yelp!) I settled on Venticello as a nice romantic place to have our night out.
We were not disappointed. Our table was cozy and romantic, our server was attentive and respectful of our space -- even though the place was packed we felt cared for and special, and never rushed. The food was very good, nicely prepared and well presented. Venticello takes some standard Italian concepts and morphs them into something sublime. From the moment we sat down, our taste buds were tantalized by the flavours and we were satsfied by the portions -- without it being so much that you felt overfed.
Capping off a wonderful evening was the maitre d' actually waiting outside with us for the cab to come and take us back to our hotel, chatting with us and making us feel like the most important people who came into his restaurant that night.
For a romantic dinner, a special celebration, or just "because", go to Venticello. You won't be disappointed, and you will probably have a magical experience like we did.
Happy Hour and Football…
Neighborhood: Western…
3 courses Prix fixe $31.95
Neighborhood: Mission
Neighborhood: Nob Hill
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Nob Hill
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Civic Center/Tenderloin
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Russian Hill
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Nob Hill
Category: Italian
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