Americano Restaurant

Recommends

erikasf

Joined 7 years ago

Enjoyable dinner. The really enjoyed the atmosphere at Americano. The seats are very comfortable, and I like the modern space. The place certainly draws an attractive and trendy crowd. Service and food were good, but not great. I liked the soup and steak that I ordered, but they weren't much different from what I make at home, and there are some neighborhood restaurants that have better food at a lower price. But, higher prices are to be expected at this prime location. The ferry building and waterfront looked great out the window on a dark and slightly foggy night.

I was surprised the server did not keep pouring our wine - we had to do it ourselves. But otherwise, the service was friendly and well-timed. The hostess was especially friendly and warm.

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pjlee1971

Joined 9 years ago

high energy,. Americano has a great bar scene with a crowded happy hour and a nice patio along the Embarcadero. But beyong the bar, Americano also has some serious dining. The bar has some inventive cocktails, includeing some great ones made with calvados. On a quiet evening, it is also a great place to grab a light bite, some chaucuterie, etc. The pizza is definitely interesting with a flaky crust, but the entrees are also solid. As an Italian-Cali restaurant, though, they seem to have very few pasta dishes on the evening I went, though. Overall, a great package in a gorgeous room in a cool hotel!

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jnnrr415

Joined 7 years ago

Friday happy hour rocks.. We waited in line for 40 minutes on a warm Friday evening to get into this place. There's a huge outdoors patio which was packed with a pretty decent 30+ after work crowd. If you're looking for a fun place on a nice night to hang out with your single friends, you might check this out.

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sunsign

Joined 7 years ago

Outdoor bar - Warning: service with a bad attitude. Rude servers working the outdoor bar. I don't mind paying $13 for a decent glass of wine but please, the "talk-to-the-hand" attitude is SO out of place at this upscale restaurant where I've enjoyed the indoor part of it in the past. Where are the managers??

If the price of sipping al-fresco is to be ignored by a bad server, I'll get my fresh air elsewhere.

Doesn't Recommend

nicole_g

Joined 8 years ago

such a scene. I've been here once just for drinks and once for dinner. It took almost 30 min to get a drink at the bar, after waiting outside to get in (at 6p). If you have reservations for dinner, they allow you to go inside. The food was average. Not a huge selection and nothing stood out on the menu. Had a great glass of pinot noir, but that was the highlight. The restuarant itself was not busy at all, however the waiter and busser came by at least 3 times during each course to try to remove items which we were not finished with.

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lhliang

Joined 7 years ago

Great food and impeccable service. We went there on a Monday nite for our anniversary. We got a quiet table away from the bigger crowds. Our waiter was very nice and considerate, he gave us great service without invading our private conversations. They gave us a special Hors D'oeuvre because one of us is vegetarian. They even comped our desserts because it was our anniversary.

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Old-world Italian recipes made with local, sustainable meat and produce and a lively bar scene make the Hotel Vitale's restaurant a foodie destination and an happy hour favorite.. Though this waterfront bar and restaurant is most famous for it's after-work pickup scene--if you're looking for a cocky young banker-type or a not-as-young woman determined to land one, come here--its kitchen deserves some attention. The dining room, far enough from the boisterous bar to be pleasantly quiet, is finished in earthy wood and olive tones, and well-staffed.
Chef Paul Arenstam, picked in 2008 to represent the US Slow Food movement at Terra Madre, takes his time with a seasonal Italian menu (artichoke hearts w/ salt cod "baccala" stuffing and Meyer lemon aioli; tagliatelle w/ wild mushroom, toasted pinenuts and mint; arancini and short ribs) whose Freey Building Farmers Market-fresh indredients translate to robust flavor profiles. House-made pastas and savory pies are specialties, and desserts range from refreshing to decadent.

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dj_abes

Joined 8 years ago

VERY IMPRESSIVE. The ambiance of Americano really stands out. It's part of the gorgeous new Hotel Vitale on Embarcadero. We started out with a couple of their really inventive cocktails in their lounge. The couches were really comfy and the wood floors were really sleek. We started out with a really great pizza to share. It was their version of a "Margarita" pizza which had Jalapenos and cilantro. The crust was almost like a pie crust which made it really tasty and not too filling. I had the special for the evening which was an incredidle Mediterrean Sea Bass with a warm panzanella salad with heirloom market tomatoes. My date had the Pappardelle pasta which was really delicious as well. The server was attentive and she helped me choose a fantastic Italian wine to pair with our meal. Overall, this place is awesome. Great food, really cool ambiance, and sharp servers.

Doesn't Recommend

lilylilylily

Joined 9 years ago

blah food, high prices, snotty staff. I was not impressed by the food. the menu wasn't anything special, the dishes were sort of greasier than i expected and i found the staff to be innattentive and rude. all in all, not worth going.

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sfandnyc

Joined 8 years ago

Exceptional experience. The food is seasonal Cal/Italian and very ahead itself. The food and wine menu offer a great value with professional service in a comfortable, yet casual atmosphere. What more could you ask for? However, although the pizzas were stellar, they seem to overwhelm the menu. Since I have tried everything on the menu, I usually get the 'daily special' because it seems to be the most creative and the most personal to the chef. Sat/Sun brunches are fabulous!! The food is the best I've had in San Francisco.