A16 AOK

[madbaker]

For our anniversary, we went out to A16. It's a place I've wanted to try for a while - the executive chef recently opened SPQR - but we hadn't gotten around to it until now.

It's called "A16" after an autoroute in Italy. It's one of the recent-ish "regional Italian" restaurants. They're also big customers of the farm from whom we get our weekly CSA box. (I asked the waitress "Besides the agretti, what vegetables on the menu are from Mariquita today?" I always try to ask if I know they're customers, as it can only help out the farm.)

It's similar in price to Rose Pistola. Unlike RP, it's less touristy and more local in feel. (RP is on Columbus in North Beach, so of course it's going to have a tourist component.) Good bar area, both for sitting with drinks and a long bar to sit at for a less formal meal. Noisy though.

We split an appetizer of agretti with calamari, lemon juice, and pepper flakes - it was fabulous, better than our entrees even. bonacorsi had rolled-up skirt steak and I had quail and porchetta. Both were excellent. The desserts were good, although not spectacular.

It's on the other side of town in the Marina, so we won't be going back regularly. (However, there's a small theater across the street. If we'd known, we might have gone to see a movie and then dallied at the bar. Oh well, maybe next time.) But unlike Rose Pistola, we probably will be back.

Comments

[j-i-m-r.livejournal.com]

Also, the number 22 bus will get you to that end of town so you don't have to fret about parking or taxis.

[madbaker.livejournal.com]

Yup. We taxi'd this time because bonacorsi still has bugs in her lungs and the doctor told her to stay away from buses, indoor shopping malls, and other crowded situations for a while.