Baldoria Restaurant

08/21/08

Fantastic Find

by rshuerta

We were lucky to have found a new resturant in San Francisco. We live about 75 miles from the city and were meeting a friend from Italy and she suggested this resturant. From the minute we walked in the door we felt comfortable. We were greeted by Ashley and Lucca with great personality. They served Procesco while we looked over the menu. The appetizers were wonderful. The salmon tar tar was very flavorful and delicious.

The entrees were plentiful and delicious also. But the "best for the last" was the chocolate souffle....OH MY GOODNESS .....it was wonderful.

All in all we had a wonderful experience and can't wait to come back and see everyone again. Next time we can maybe meet Paolo. Ashley and Lucca, thank you for a great dining experience.

(Maybe we can get Sara and Daniela to move to SF.

• Pros: Ambience, hospitality, food
• Cons: Parking(not too bad...it's SF)

01/02/08

Worst dining experience of 2007...

by evajeff

As a person who lives just doors away, i had been planning to try this restaurant since moving into the neighbourhood. I was delighted when last minute, on Dec. 30th, I was able to secure a reservation for 4 for New Years eve off Open Table. The experience was a disaster. When we arrived, there was a crowd at the front door. We had a 7.30 reservation. There was no one greeting people as they arrived or indeed taking any control over the ever increasing flow into the restaurant. Almost 50 minutes after arriving we were finally seated having waited very graciously. The food was absolutely appalling, a bland starter of procioutto was served to the table, this was sadly the best part of the mean. I had the risotto which was luke warm and semi hard from old age with was tastless and tough. Main course was the Oso bucco which I could have sewed to the sole of my shoe and run a marathon on, it was the fattiest most disgusting piece of meat I'd every been served in a restaurant. I could barely even cut it and it went untouched as did the same course with everone else at the table. At that point the bill was placed on our table without the desert that came with the 'fixe prix' let alone asking us if everything was ok or if we wanted coffee. Upon coffee enquiry we were informed by the Manager that the machine was broken and there was another party waiting despite the fact we hadn't even finished our meal or drinks and had been seated so late. He was rude and pushy and for this lovely experience we all left $115 per head lighter. I eat out most nights of the week and the area has so many great places, I was hoping to add Amarena to the list but frankly the whole night left me with little cheer. We all left hungry and upset. Save your hard earned $$$ for a place that at the very least treats its customers with a bit of respect.

• Pros: None
• Cons: Terrible food and service, expensive

01/01/08

A dissapointing New Year's Eve dinner ...

by openville

The moral of my Amarena story is, "If you have high expectations based on Yelp and friend's reviews, never, never visit on New Year's Eve for a prix fixe meal." The short of it is, the procioutto appetizer was bland and ravoli with wild board bolognese lukewarm. The food uneven ... I tried my GF's octopus appetizer, and then an extra plate that was brought to the table after the kitchen sent out a two salad dishes with wilted greens (with apologies of course); while my GF's octopus was delicious and left me wanting, the second go around dropped me flat on the ground. Sometimes experiencing food is like seeing a highly rated film, you give into the reviews and set your expectations high, but you may at times be disappointed ... very disappointed ... Unfortunately, this was our night of disappointment with Amarena. Even our friends who live around the corner from Amarena, know the owner, and have dined there frequently, were left unsatisfied.

It might have been better to settle for a cup of espresso and the Salame al Cioccolato, and then call it a night.

So, the moral of the story, never set your expectations high for NYE prix fixe dinner. Don't worry Amarena, you might have me for a second kiss, as I do wish to try that gnocchi with sausage everyone is all a chatter 'bout.

• Pros: they offered a good brunello
• Cons: the food, the seating, the service ...