Valentina

08/10/08

Wonderful gnocchi, and friendly staff!

by fishjj at Citysearch

We ate there last night (8-09-08), and was blown away. Our four person party was seated around 9:30 p.m. after a thirty minute wait. The restaurant is small and cozy. The staff was kind and friendly. We started off with bruschette. I am sure a lot of people would think you can't mess up bruschette, however I've seen it and eatin it. This was light and wonderfully balanced. I would highly recommend it. My wife had the gnocchi in the gorganzola sauce. It was the best gnocchi ever. It was rich and flavorful to the last bite. My sister and her husband both had the chicken marsala, one again wonderful. Both were cooked perfect, tender and very juicy. I had the veal saltimbocca. The saltimbocca was amazeing. It was able to be cut with just my fork, the sauce was a perfect pair. It was not overpowering at all but did what it should and made everthing melt together. The chef must have a beutiful soul to create food so wonderful and beutiful.

• Pros: The wonderful food that was consistant through the entire meal.
• Cons: Small place, but to me adds in the flavor

12/31/07

Want an authentic Italian ristorante experience. This is the place to eat.

by sough01 at Citysearch

Don't let any of the other negative reviews keep you from eating here. The food is excellent and the service is too. It is not a "touristy" restaurant like you will find in North Beach. Everything on the menu is familiar to anyone who as ever eaten at a small ristorante in Italy. My wife and I had a difficult time choosing but eventually settled on the caprece (very good) , house-made gnocci and the veal saltimbocca - both were excellent. Had a good medium-priced sangiovese. The ultimate price (something like $85) was perfectly in line with other restaurants of the same caliber. I'd eat here again (if I didn't live so far away.) Note: There is change of ownership notice in the window, so don't know the impact of that.

• Pros: Authentic Italian food. Prepared properly and served as in Italy.
• Cons: Very out of the way. Street parking can be dicy. Tough to spot as you're driving by.

10/02/07

A RUDE EXPERIENCE

by mrfricke2002 at Citysearch

So, Bernal Heights is a real neighborhood area of the town and I enjoy it tremendously. All the restaurants and shops in this area are real neighborly, except for this one. This evening, September 2nd, 2007, I was at the Bank of America immediately next to the restaurant. It was late, 11PM, but I noticed the front door wide open at the restaurant and customers in the window; I needed a pen. With reluctance, I walked in to ask a dark haired girl for a huge favor since I forgot to bring a pen for a deposit, and before I finished my sentence to ask, I was told "NO" WE ARE CLOSED. I said, I just wanted to see if I can borrow a pen, didn't need food. I DON'T CARE, YOU DON'T WALK INTO A PLACE WHEN IT IS CLOSED. As I walk out, she said, HERE TAKE THIS PEN, GOODBYE. When I walked out, I immediately hear her discuss with the customers in the window how I was wrong for coming into the restaurant and why I was rude for doing so. To me, I guess that's pretty neighborly :(. Granted, I maybe should not have walked in to ask for a pen, but I don't feel too uncomfortable in this part of town since it's usually pretty friendly and understanding. Seems like this place sticks out like a soar thumb. To note, I've never had the food there and I cannot comment on that. However, I do know that I will never go this establishment because of this situation and I hope others do not as well. On this night, I also told the story to another friend who told of a similar story about how rude the staff was to him and his friends once, as well... and that the food is overpriced and not worth it. My decision is set, that was easy.

09/14/07

Nothing Special. Expensive mediocre food and a dull ambience.

by onconc at Citysearch

The word "average" comes to mind everytime i have eaten here. it's ok. nothing special. definitely not romantic. you either stare at a wall or sit by a door or bathroom. and it's $8 for a salad and $20 for pasta.

• Pros: it's on cortland
• Cons: everything else

07/01/07

Reservationist Needs to Pay Attention

by lbrmouse at Citysearch

We made a reservation over the phone and when we arrived, we found out that they're not open on Sundays! You'd think the person on the phone would have told us that. Six people had to find somewhere else to go. This is very poor service. Sure the web site indicates that they are closed on Sunday, but we didn't look at the damn web site BEFORE phoning.