11/14/08

Classic Italian Food- Phenomenal Meal Snobby Inflexible Service

by meiacomida

Unusual neighborhood location for this high end classic italian cuisine. Amazing white truffles in season, outstanding hand made pastas, meats, cheese cart for dessert. Mouth watering food at competitive prices

BUT ********************************

snobby, out of date service! We brought our own wine for special occasion. Usually we always order the restaurant's wine, but like I said- special occasion- restaurant cap on brought in wine per party 2 bottles. 2 Bottles of 6 people? Wouldn't make an exception or explain their rules, very rude management.

A top restaurant but, expect to get hung out to dry on their wine mark up and don't even think about bringing your own if there is more than 2 people. We'll be holding our reunions at other top Italian restaurants with friendlier serice and more welcoming management.

03/06/07

best italian gourmet food in town, possibly in California,no jeans.

by zabss

A friend of mine knowing that I moved here only few years ago from Italy recommended to try Acquarello for a special occasion. I went there with my husband on my birthday.

What a delightful surprise. The ambiance is really warm and welcoming. I felt like being transported to one of my favorite restaurants in Milan. Acquerello is a refined restaurant so don;t show up in snickers and jeans.

We were welcomed with a complimentary prosecco from the house and few other complimentary appetizers. I order a Budino di Parmiggiano, possibly the best cheese souffle ever had before. I had lobster ravioli so tender and flavorful that melted in my mouth. My husband had the best Rib eye ever. Wines are expensive, the only 45$ bottle is a Rosso di Montalcino which I recommend. We shared a chocolate cake to die for and few of their complimentary cantucci biscuits. Don;t miss the famous dessert wine Recioto, which is a rarity in San Francisco. The service was superlative with an extra surprise for all the women in the room. It is a gourmet style restaurant so don't expect to spend little money. If you are on a low budget just try Acquarello for a special occasion.

• Pros: italian gourmet food, ambiance, service
• Cons: parking, expensive wine list

06/22/06

great food, wine and service

by jiyp

When I first walked into the restaurant, I wasn't very impressed with the decor, but after I had their tasting menu with wine pairing, I thought the food, wine and service was amazing. This is not a hip place to meet people, but if you like to enjoy food and wine, and have a nice dinner, this is definitely the place.

• Pros: food, wine, service
• Cons: decor

10/28/05

TIRED!

by jlangweber

Went to Aquarello with high expetations. Nothing was terribly wrong with the place, but the whole thing just felt tired - like it's past it's prime. The food was good, but uninspired. The decor of a restaurant does not usually make a difference to me, but the decor at Aquarello was pretty ugly. The place felt like it was meant for old people and it seemed that way too as most of the guests were definately over 50. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but this is definately a place to take your grandparents when they're in town - not somewhere you would go with a big group or for a romantic dinner. The one impressive thing is the 700+ bottle wine list, which is mostly italian, but impressive nonetheless. For this kind of money you are much better off at boulevard, myth or any number of places.

• Pros: huge wine list
• Cons: boring food, ugly decor, lame atmosphere

08/12/05

Great dining experience!

by jhm19

Had dinner recently, enjoyed the chef tasting menu with paired wines, we thought it

was very good value as well. Understated elegance, great service and excellent wine list. We will return.

• Pros: Tasting Menu

08/06/05

Tired and funky

by ruggedized

This place is just tired. It's in a run-down part of town and is shopworn. Put it out of its misery and shot the place. The food is just not that good and unless you're an old Lady with a lot of money you won;t like it.

• Pros: nice wine list
• Cons: over priced wine

11/30/04

Elegant northern Italian cuisine and luxurious surroundings make this a special-occasion destination.

by Contributor

The Scene
This venerable Italian restaurant has the same rarefied dignity it's always had, with pale yellow walls and watercolors of Venetian scenes glowing softly in the elegant Murano lamplight. Sparkling crystal decanters and oversized flower bouquets add drama to the small dining room, where anniversaries are celebrated, marriages are proposed and San Francisco's Italophiles come to worship.

The Food
Culinary treasures continue to impress with elegant but earthy takes on dishes like Parmesan budino (a savory custard), accessorized with spinach and zucchini. A tasting menu with paired wines challenges the taste buds with flavors that range from the delicateness of black truffles served with asparagus tortelloni, to robust parsley-crusted lamb loin. For dessert, try a bourbon-caramel semifreddo with amaretto sauce.

08/23/04

Simply Stunning

by ocwineguy

While this place might be a bit too "old-world" to younger diners, the food and the service were simply first rate. A true gem in the city. Perhaps people who have been to Europe will appreciate this place a lot better. You have to try the ridged pasta with melted foie butter, black truffle, and the amazing Marsala reduction - it's pure heaven. And probably one of the BEST Italian wine list I have ever seen in this country. Overall the place gives you an elegantly rustic Michelin star deserving feeling.

• Pros: Excellent food, Great service team, Stellar Italian wines

06/27/04

fabulous evening

by cardwhiz

We highly reccomend this fine restrauant. Everything was great-service, food, presentaion. We will go back if we visit San Francisco again.

John and Debbie from Waco, Texas

03/06/04

Very good but lacking Italian soul

by italophile

The food at Acquerello reminds me of restaurants in Italy that look towards France for inspiration such as Osteria Saddler. While the food is very good, it is overly worked and too elaborate in presentation. The wine list however is stunning. All things considered it is a fantastic place to celebrate a special occasion.