08/17/08

Good food, great service, friendly people, nice atmosphere

by goodfellaNW

The people here are fantastic. They were friendly over the phone and in person, and were authentic about it. Noe Valley is lucky to have such a great place in the neighborhood.

As an Italian foodie and chef, I can be pretty demanding of nice Italian restaurants. This one definitely makes the cut, though more times than not the food had a little too much salt.. but to each their own and it was not salty to the point of unedible or salty to make up for lack of flavor. In fact, the food was very flavorful (even if you were to omit the salt).

Menu changes often, it seems. Wine list is great (maybe too great, if that is possible). Prices for wine seem to be a little high (expect a few bottles in the 30's and 40's, most in the 50-80 range)

All in all, the food was very tasty. The staff was extemely nice and fun to be around. The atmosphere was underdone which made me feel as though as I was in Italy once again. For that, thank you La Ciccia. 4 out of 5 for too much salt on my visit and for slightly pricey wine list.

• Pros: Food, Service, People
• Cons: Salt, Wine (Cost)

10/11/07

Wonderful Sardinian restaurant

by seadine

We are so lucky to have this gem of a restaurant in our little neighborhood of Noe Valley. The food is fabulous, distinctive, while still not straying too far from its roots. The owners are delightful and make their guests feel very at home. The atmosphere is simple and lively (primarily because the place is always packed!!) Have been there several times and have not been disappointed.

• Pros: delicious food, very nice atmosphere
• Cons: not great for parking

08/27/07

La Ciccia - Noe/Mission Gem!

by mlewsimpson51

Not your parents' Italian eatery, unless they travel a LOT! This is the most interesting small, neighborhoody Italian restaurant we've discovered in many years. Boston, San Francisco, Chicago, Philiadelphia, New York Italian have nothing on this: unusual seafood choices, interesting combinations of meats, nicely selected vegetable dishes, it's terrific. Tomato sauces? Fuggedaboudit! LaCiccia is not really about red tomato sauces (though I suppose they have some). It's everything else! Simple, elegant, small. Not the biggest place, not the biggest wine list, not the biggest selection of dishes. But each is authentic and wholesome. Waitstaff? We've found them outstanding in each of our visits.

• Pros: Unique, regional, rural, simple italian: not like all those other italian restaurants!
• Cons: Small, a little close.