A16

04/05/09

Well worth the drive to SF

by lazde at Citysearch

Took a while to get reservations. After eating there, no wonder! Arrived early and sat at the bar. We are really picky on our wines and the bartender had great suggestions which we ended up with for dinner. Staff was excellent, friendly, very helpful. We had the Tuna Conserva Panzanella for starters (WOW), the Salsiccia Pizza, the Pasta Special with spring peas inside (very light)and a Chocolate Budino Tart recommended by our waitress (very light). Served as 3 courses shared by the two of us. Everything was amazing! When we got the bill, we could not believe how inexpensive for such great wine and food. Would definitely go back ...

• Pros: Excellent food, excellent service
• Cons: Never an open seat (except early at the bar)

01/07/09

Our Favorite Restaurant in San Francisco!

by luvmybasset at Citysearch

We've gone to A16 nearly every Friday night for the last year because it's always a perfect dining experience. The food is excellent, the staff couldn't be better and the wine list is divine. It's the perfect way to unwind and start the weekend. Our favorites include the mozzarella burrata, the funghi and margherita pizzas, the maccaronara pasta and the chocolate budino tart for dessert - all delicious!

This restaurant has a great vibe and we love it!

02/06/08

Not Overrated

by yxes2008 at Citysearch

I have only been to this restaurant once. However, the experince was wonderful. Our server was friendly and answered our many questions regarding the menu options. The sommelier was educated on the extensive wine list, and gave us some history about the winemaker and the varietal we selected. The food was full of flavors, and cooked perfect. The restaurant is not cheap, but I highly recommend it. It's a great location for celebrating something special!

• Pros: Wine/Food/Service
• Cons: Dark setting

03/08/07

Best Italian and wine list

by jeffhol at Citysearch

Had a fanstastic dinner there yesterday. The buccatini with clams was amazing with al dente pasta, clams in the shell (rather than the typical shell off canned clams) so you know the clams were alive when cooked, as you find in Italy and wonderful tomato sauce. The porchetta (pork belly) roasted with lots of rosemary and crackling skin was also delicious, but fat phobic Americans should stay away. The wine list is incredible and they feature wines that most restuarants would not do by the glass because of expense, .e.g most restos only do cheap wines by the glass at A16 you can get a glass of wine for $12 a glass of Taurasi that normally retails at $70 and would be on a wine list for $140. Service was efficient and friendly. Seems like the negative reviews on this site result from people who are used to Italian American food. Prices are reasonable with the most expensive entree being $24 and with that you get your choice of side (one word for sides: beans mmm creamy delicious). The food is authentic with pastas that some will consider underdone and meats that some will consider challenging such as tripe, quail, pork shoulder, etc. If you like rustic Slow Food restos in Italy, you will love A16. If you are an adventuresome diner that gets offfal at Asian places, you will love A16. Otherwise, don't bother going and leave the scarse tables to those who appreciate it.

• Pros: Authentic food not common in the U.S. affordable wine list
• Cons: Too many people who like it so hard to get a table

01/03/07

Great Food, Wine and Service

by travelgirlsf at Citysearch

What a place. Great food and wine. My husband and I came down from Stockton to dine at A16 and was it worth it. The service was great and the ambience was incredible.

• Pros: Outstanding food and service

10/11/06

Service, ambience, wine, wine and more wine

by yomi at Citysearch

A great ol' chummy pal offered to take my wife and I out dining at his favorite Italian. I was apprehensive at first, being that pasta isn't my favorite meal, but he assured us that this was authentic Southern Italian cuisine. Cabs were hard to find from his place on Broadway (Friday night that it was), so was parking once we got there. There was a line but luckily we had reservations. Mark was a familiar face we soon found out. Back-slappings, hugs, kisses and finally we were at our table.

Andrew, our barman, brought a bottle of incredibly tropical-tasting red wine. I could bet my bottom dollar that guava was fused in there, somewhere. I thought we ordered 5 dishes between us three but the chef kept sending out dish after dish. As if to complement the chef, Shelly, the owner, brought us 2 additional bottles of exquisite red wine. The fact that I didn't suffer a hangover the next morning assured me of the quality of the wines. The tripe dish I ordered reminded me so very much of a West African vegetable dish sauteed with assorted meat. It was succulent, sumptuous and hm hmm hmmm. I was taken in by the hostesses too, well dressed yet very chic, most professional.

This a place to go if you need to impress a date or a special guest. Just remember to make reservations and call a cab!

• Pros: Great crowd, warm service, really nice wine
• Cons: Parking

09/22/06

Overall GREAT Experience

by ketalrocks at Citysearch

One of my friends brought me to this restaurant this past Tuesday (around 7PM). Although I'm not a huge fan of Italian food and saucey dishes, we decided to give this place a whirl anyways. We were proptly seated at the bar in the main room (no wait) in front of the brick oven and prep line.

The wine list was VERY impressive and am a HUGE fan of the 1/2 bottle carafes they have to offer. The sommelier was even nice enough to come over and explain to us his favorites and how the list is formatted. The complexity that some of the Italian wines carry with them are unparallel to most California wines. Our waitress was also very friendly and even swapped out our side plates before every course...service points.

My friend had been here a few times before so I let her ordered a few small plates, a pizza, and a pasta dish to share (Prosciutto and beet salad, tripe, mozzarella burrata, garlic/anchovy pizza, and mushroom pasta.) I rarely go to a restaurant and truly enjoy every dish; the tripe was my least favorite and I don't even like tripe! The fresh ingredients are highlighted in every plate and are unmasked by heavy sauces and butter. If you're a fan of Olive Garden Style pasta swimming in their signature butter/cream/tablewine slurry, I'm unsure whether to recommend this restaurant to you. I've never been to Italy therefore can not preach to you if this is an 'authentic' Italian restaurant, however I think their approach to food is uncompromising and refreshing. I can't wait to go back!

• Pros: Wine List, Great Food, Service
• Cons: Typical Marina Crowd

08/25/06

Crowded but worth the wait!

by castles25 at Citysearch

This is one of my favorite restaurants in the city by far. I have come many times and had nothing but amazing food, with excellent, attentive service. You can go casual and order one of their delicious pizzas, or try any of the entrees for a more formal meal. If you're into wine at all, this is one of the best wine lists in SF. The only downside is they are always busy and you can have trouble getting reservations. I recommend going early and just putting your name in, and having a glass of wine at the bar while you wait. Well worth it!

• Pros: Amazing food, wine
• Cons: Small and tough to get a table

08/24/06

Great Pizza and Salumi

by mikeop34 at Citysearch

It was hard to get a reservation to this place, so we settled on an early evening seating. Although we were told beforehand that we needed to leave by a certain time, we were never rushed. Comfortable place, but can get a little loud.

Great sausage pizza, and great plates of burrata and soppressata. Would go back any time for those. Desserts were good, but my chocolate dessert, while interesting with touches of olive oil and sea salt, was a bit too savory for my taste.

• Pros: Pizza, Salumi, nice outdoor area

08/12/06

Best Northern Italian food in the Bay Area

by rakeshtondon at Citysearch

I was vowed by the excellent food, excellent service and the New York ambience at A16 - the first I went, and then, again, the second and third time. In my opinion, it serves the best pizzas in San Francisco, and maybe even the US. It's time for Mario Batali to consider himself second best since A16's pizzas reign supreme. The wine list has something for everyone's taste buds and different pocket sizes, and the food always impresses. Two thumbs up. For those who go back, please order the house pasta - excellent is the only way I can describe the simplicity and the tastefulness of the dish - and please don't forget to try the roasted peppers with anchiove. The desserts sound a little weird, but again, I think for anyone with a good palate, you're going to appreciate the fare.