I had the absolute pleasure of celebrating my birthday at Acquerello, and it was an unforgettable evening from start to finish. From the moment I walked in, the staff made me feel welcomed and celebrated. Every detail felt intentional from the personalized birthday card at my table, to the elegant dessert with a candle. To make the night even more special, they surprised me with a menu personally signed by the chef. The service was great, warm, attentive, and professional. Each course was presented like a piece of art, with flavors that were refined, balanced, and unforgettable. The wine pairings elevated the dishes beautifully, showing the care and thought that went into curating the entire experience. What stood out most was how personal and genuine everything felt. Acquerello didn't just serve food they created a memory. The atmosphere was intimate and refined, making it the perfect place to celebrate such an important occasion. Thank you, Acquerello, for giving me a birthday I'll never forget. This is fine dining at its very best, and I can't wait to return.

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The restaurant had a lovely atmosphere upon entering, especially the vase in the center, the small floral arrangements on each table, and even the flowers in the restrooms! While the entire place resembled a giant cowshed, the dim lighting, displays, and floral arrangements added to the atmosphere. We were served three appetizers, all of which were average: truffle puffs, scallion bread, and a caviar cigar. They said we had to order them in order, but I wasn't sure what the difference was. For our appetizer, we ordered the beef carpaccio, which they said had three different sauces. The tuna sauce and cheese were a good combination, but overall, it was pretty ordinary. Another dish was smoked salmon and salmon roe with a fennel sauce. The whole dish looked exquisite and delicious, and tasted rich and fragrant, paired with green apples and other vegetables for a rich and complex flavor. For our main course, we ordered their 30-year-old duck liver and truffle pasta. It was a bit of a letdown: they're not very innovative, but it was actually delicious. The sauce was rich but not cloying, the foie gras had a creamy texture, and the pasta was perfectly al dente! (I'm going to criticize the truffle pasta at the two-star Oriole in Chicago; it's truly terrible!) Another dish we ordered was oxtail pasta, which was also very delicious, but a bit lighter. The addition of thymus might be a turnoff for those who don't eat offal, but it's my honey! The main course was duck, perfectly cooked, with crispy skin. The duck sausage in red wine sauce was also unique, and the flavor felt familiar... The fried leafy vegetables were also good, though a bit greasy after eating too much. Another dish was bluefin tuna, perfectly cooked, with a rich, fishy flavor and rich texture. The peppery crust added a nice touch of texture. I highly recommend this fish! I'm not going to comment on the rice pudding for dessert, but the pana cotta was absolutely delicious. It's shaped like an egg, and you're shown how to cut it open to reveal the lava. Underneath it was a rich, creamy chocolate nest, rich and creamy, with a nice, creamy sauce in the middle. They also gave me a mini coffee cake, which was thoughtful, but not as good as Whole Foods. Finally, the all-you-can-eat dessert food truck was what I was most looking forward to! I got one of each and added a pina colada jelly. They were all delicious, with the pistachio tart and black sesame chocolate being my favorites. If I were shameless, I'd probably be able to keep getting them. At the end, they even gave me a complimentary homemade treetree cookie with a rich nutty aroma. I loved it!

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I think this is the best Italian restaurant in town, maybe one of the best restaurants in San Francisco, period. It's not cheap but on special occasions worth the splurge. Ambiance is gorgeous, service impeccable and the food delicious. A wine list that wins awards. What more can you ask for?

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One should expect consistent excellence when dining at Acquerello. We dined there on August 6, 2025, with that expectation and chose the four-course menu with the wine pairing. The various amuse bouchées were fun, the best being the truffle potato “cannolo” which was delicious. The first course: the chilled Maine lobster with passion fruit, radish, hearts of palm, olio nuovo was beautiful and delicious. The deconstructed vitello tonnato was too clever in its presentation and merely good in flavors. It was improved by a generous sprinkling of salt. The second course: The risotto with nettle, artichoke, preserved lemon was a fun vibrant green, but the vibrancy did not carry over to the flavor. But it was good. On the other hand, the ridged pasta with faux “foie gras,” black truffle, and Marsala was pedestrian to look at but was amazing in the mouth – a delicious marriage of three umami flavors. For the third course, the A5 Wagyu beef was perfectly seared and medium rare as we requested. And delicious. The rest of the presentation and items on the plate were good, as was the duck course. For dessert, the Valrhona dark chocolate with raspberry and vanilla was beautiful and absolutely delicious. The mignardises were delightful. One ventures into the unknown with wine pairings, which is part of the fun. Drinking unknown wines, from unknown grapes, in surprising matches is delightful. Our favorite was the late harvest style Nero D’Avola which was paired with and amplified the chocolate and raspberry flavors of the Valrhona chocolate dessert. Wow! The restaurant ambiance is very beautiful, though less intimate, in my opinion, than it could be because the seating for two is oriented toward the middle of the room, as if the message is intended to be “look at us rather than your dining companion.” Obviously, other couples may, and the restaurant owner does, feel differently about this. The service started slowly for some reason but after we were on the radar the service was timely and excellent. The servers and the sommelier were lighthearted and friendly – not at all pretentious. However, one of our servers was obviously dealing with a wet and runny nose, and he would sniffle loudly and repeatedly, while bending over me to serve and describe our dishes. It was very unappetizing. I turned my head away. It may, or may not be a coincidence, that the following evening my nose started running and I got a sore throat and cold. In any case, in my opinion, the gentleman should not have been serving that night. Be aware that the restaurant does not serve hard liquor, so enjoy a glass of champagne before service of the meal and wine pairing starts. I would give the restaurant four stars because it is very good. Some dishes were amazingly good, and nothing was less than good. But on the night that we dined there it was not consistently excellent, which is what we expected. But because of the service issues that I describe, I must rate it three stars on the night we dined there.

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Gianpaolo and his team were all so efficient and a pleasure to watch as they did everything synchronized and with such care for every guest. The wine pairings were all perfectly paired with the amazing food and definitely enhanced the experience. My wife went for the vegetarian options and we both thought those were probably the best vegetarian dishes we've ever had. Everything was plated so beautifully she almost didn't want to start eating. Our server Leslie was so welcoming and knowledgeable. A server from another section Jesus was also very warm and welcoming. Everything is so thought out and carefully placed to create the perfect atmosphere and ambiance.

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Fine dining at value I didn't know that an experience this good could be achieved at this price. The dining experience here was excellent at many levels - the service, the decor, and most importantly, the food. The default menu here is the 4 course a la carte menu, which I shared with my wife. We got to taste 8 great dishes as a result of choosing different dishes. A quick rundown: Starting trio of appetizers 5/5 - all light and surprising. Didn't mind the gold leaf, but obviously not necessary. The potato tube with creme and caviar was light, crispy, savory - easily my fav. The foie gras cone was also tasty with a sweet finish Chilled Maine lobster 5/5 - cooked perfectly in a sweet sauce with just a touch of sour Vitello tonnato 5/5 - Legit a work of art. Veal was tender and perfect, paired so well with the parmasean cube. The olive jelly had an interesting texture Ridged pasta with faux "foie gras" 5/5 - The signature dish and I can see why. Flavor was incredibly intense, like a concentrated umami and caramel flavor bomb. Paired well with the truffle Cappellacci 5/5 - Pasta was cooked perfectly and the hat shape was incredibly cute. The rabbit was soft and tasted like pork? Bluefin tuna 3/5 - This one was a miss for me. Tuna, while tender, was a bit fishy. The escarole and the potato on the side were excellent tho Dry-aged Liberty duck 5/5 - Duck meat was cooked perfectly. Looked like art with a even golden crust. Crispy outside and steak tender on the inside. Duck sausage on the side was interesting, but I prefer regular sausage lol Buttermilk Bavarese 4/5 - Tasted like a strawberry shortcake Vanilla crème fraîche panna cotta 4/5 - Another work of art. Looks like an egg on a nest. They cut the egg tableside, revealing the apricot "yolk". Tastes like chocolate on more chocolate As a bonus, they also gave us an extra tiramisu as we were celebrating our anniversary. Meal ended with an array of small desserts from which we could pick and choose.

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Precious memory . 8.5/10 if I live in SF I am gonna eat it every week.

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June 2025 Seasonal Menu I enjoyed my first visit at Acquerello! The restaurant carries a particular warmth and leads a vintage ambiance. I liked the fresh florals at many corners and the dimmed lights make for a romantic atmosphere. The seasonal menu included 9 courses with two optional choices for their caviar course and cheese course (you can share these and do not have to order per person!). I really like their chef's small surprises bites at the beginning of the meal which included some fresh Dungeness crab cake and a savory Comte financier. I love that every dish here is seasoned but not overly salted! Their pasta with faux foie gras and truffle dish was delicious and stood out. The menu included 5 proteins which made for a full and well-rounded meal. The cheese course included three types of cheese and arrange of accompaniments of fruits and sauces and crackers! The meal ended with two desserts, one rhubarb then one strawberry based alongside a dessert cart which was a sweet surprise! (You can choose 3-4 items from the cart) I really appreciated the prompt and lovely service by Vidal and our nice hostess Liz who was attentive and helpful! Thanks to them, the meal was much more pleasant and smooth! I look forward to coming back to Acquerello to try their four course menu to pick my favorite dishes!

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The service was very structured, you could see that everyone was well trained to behave a certain way. Decor and setup of the restaurant was beautifully but inviting. I got the tasting, which is detailed below. Standouts were the cod and lamb. I think Chez TJ was a very similar experience I had with more consistent flavors, but could be the difference between Italian style and French style! Chef bites- was good but not great. The tartlets were kind of sharp in texture. I wished for a bit more flavor Rosemary Bread- so delicious! Lobster- a very passionfruit forward preparation, so a little sour. But nice and refreshing and the lobster texture was wonderful. Olive bread- this was just okay but I also don't love olives Black cod- this was amazing. Texture was perfect, flavor was light but savory. One of the best preparations of cod I've ever had Rabbit cappellacci- not sure about this one. I think the textures could have been improved. The pasta was very soft so it blended with the filling and felt a bit mushy. Meanwhile the peas were very strong in the flavor but the tasty cheese as the bottom was harder to pick up in combination with the pasta. Quail- very nice. No complaints here Truffle pasta- this was their signature and I was really looking forward to it as all the reviews highlight it, but it was not the best for me. It was weirdly sweet, almost like it should be dessert. Don't know if that's normal but disappointing. Lamb- this was flawless- so tender, and the accompaniments were perfectly cooked and seasoned. Great end to the savories. Desserts- they were fine. A bit sweet but interesting combinations of flavors. The mignardises were particularly well made.

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Impeccable service, attention to details, highly creative seven course vegetarian Italian meal, cozy ambience. We absolutely felt loved and important at Acquerello, celebrating our 21st marriage anniversary. Heartfelt Thank you!!! to the chef and the hosts.

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I've been here twice now, once with my BFF for our 6-year friendiversary and again with my mom 2 or 3 weeks later when she was visiting me. Each time has been genuinely perfect! Truly some of the best meals I've had in my life, and we all left absolutely stuffed. I'm pescatarian, and the second time, the restaurant offered these incredible off-the-menu seafood items that rocked my world. On top of well-portioned main dishes and decadent dessert, they give you all the fresh bread and cultured butter you can eat, and at the end of the meal, there's a lovely surprise... All in all, a real treat, and for a 2-Michelin star restaurant, it's less expensive than you'd guess. (I mean, still pretty pricey, but worth it if you love food.) HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommended. I will be back!

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Good service, interesting menu, well executed, large but very narrow wine list lacking diversity, dining room seems it should be remodeled to more modern taste (not old enough to be classic, and definitely not recent). Overall a very good restaurant but in my opinion, a 2-Michelin stars only because Michelin has lower standards in the US. It probably would get a 1-Michelin-star rating maximum anywhere in Europe (and perhaps 3 stars in Asia where Michelin’s standards are ridiculously low).

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Choose the seasonal tasting menu. The food was good but only a few dishes were great. The service was great, and was almost worth the cost. Very spectacular. The quail and venison were not very good, while Pasta with Faux "foie Gras" and truffle were very good.

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Maybe the best wine list in San Francisco with a knowledgeable sommelier - truly great food and service in a convivial and romantic setting

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My daughter had a birthday last week and was going to spend her birthday weekend in San Francisco. I was looking for a beautiful dinning place using all internet facilities. With a help of Tripadviser I found the Acquerello restaurant. The Acquerello offers a possibility to buy a Gift certificate for special events. A gift certificate can be sent directly to a person you're going to present it to. The whole process is clear and quick. Finally my daughter and her husband were absolutely admired with the stunning food experience in Acquerello! Thank you very much!

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Such a gracious welcome into a beautiful foyer. The dining room is smallish, and lushly decorated. Professional staff provides excellent service. Every menu we’ve enjoyed the years, seasonal and especially truffle season. Wine pairings are superb. Our favorite restaurant. Enjoy!

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This is our favorite high end restaurant in San Francisco. We’ve enjoyed dining here for more than 2 decades, and every dish has been superb. Top notch from greeting onward, and the service is sublime. The Truffle menu, with wines, is a true pleasure. Enjoy!

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Our latest trip to Acquerello showed us why they are is still the class of San Francisco and the pinnacle of Italian fine dining in the bay. Visiting this time for my wife's birthday, we reserved the prix fixe and were greeted with professionalism. The available selections were a mix of old a new. A standout was the Acquerello risotto — served this time with a light cheese-foam that paired brilliantly with the Naples-region white. A surprise mid-course surprise was a sefood ravioli served with a light chili oil. Lightweight and simply brilliant. For the the meat course we selected bluefin tuna and were delighted with a generous cut and some of the most flavorful fava beans we've experienced. Paired with a spicey Fumin red, it was a knockout punch. About the restruant itself — there's a few things that set Acquerello apart from other fantastic two Michelin star restaurants… One: The wine. The pairings are consistently phenomenal and the wine director, Gianpaolo, loves to share his love for wine with patrons. The wine list is an encyclopedia, and there's a world of Italian wines offered that are simply out of reach for American stockists. Two: The staff. Acquerello has been a part of Nob Hill since 1989 and many of the staff have been there for 20+ years. They know their food and patrons in a way thats hard to match on any level. Three: The dang cheese plate. It's like a playground for your senses and a must-do. Lastly, I'll say that Acquerello is one of very few SF destinations that remains below the radar after all these years. It has remained contemporary without chasing trends, and manages to strike a balance of elevated service with a lively, relaxed atmosphere. If you are shortlisting a big-ticket meal for an SF visit, special occasion, or have clients to impress, Acquerello belongs on top of your list.

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We came to San Francisco for the weekend to celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary. I chose restaurants several months before the trip. I chose this restaurant because of the arrangement of the tables; it is important for me that my husband and I sit next to each other at the table (not opposite each other). I called in February to make a reservation and was told to call in March as they don't accept reservations more than a month in advance. I called back in March and said exactly what table I wanted (to sit next to each other) and the time was 18:30, to which I was told that this time was no longer there, only 17:45 was left (how is it if you just started accept table reservations?). They asked if we knew their menu, to which we said that it didn’t matter and the card number for prepayment, I was surprised, because usually restaurants do not ask for prepayment. Only the day before dinner I saw that the restaurant had a Michelin star. But it didn’t matter, the most important thing was that we were comfortable and tasty. On the day of dinner we received a message about the dress code, of course we did not take special clothes on this trip, they should have communicated this when booking the table. When we arrived at the restaurant, we were given a small, uncomfortable table where we had to sit opposite each other, explaining that other tables were already reserved. We didn't stay and left. We lost $200, but the restaurant lost more - its reputation. Very bad attitude towards guests. 5 min after our hotel (FS) easily reserved a table in a restaurant The Vault Steakhouse & Piano Bar, where we were given a sofa for two, delicious food in a pleasant atmosphere for our wedding anniversary.

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I have had the pleasure of dining at Acquerello multiple times, and I would be hard-pressed to find any fault in either the food, service, or ambiance. You truly cannot go wrong regardless of what you order, and the service is genuine and attentive without being obtrusive. Amazing experience! You'll be sure to leave with a satisfied stomach and a smile on your face.

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Ambient room, delicate food, great presentation, fantastic service. The only draw-back was that our table was pretty close to another couple's (but it was not an issue).

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Came here for a birthday! The staff did a great job making me feel special - personalized custom menu, birthday treat, special napkins etc. The food course was awesome! Left feeling full and satisfied. Really impressed with the amount of truffle dishes and the amount within each dish. They didn't hold back. Real standouts were the dessert! Decor of the place is inviting, upscale, and intimate!

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It should be 3 Michelin Stars. Great food, fantastic service, superb sommelier. Really good.

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Such a lovely experience. The ambience was so relaxing. Wasn't loud as I was expecting. The service was exceptional! Every single person to cross our table gave such amazing service and attention to me and my partner. One person especially made an amazing impact on our experience, his name was Davide. I would recommend 100% for a very special occasion. My boyfriend brought me here for my birthday.

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The food was also delicious of course, and they're very accommodating of dietary needs. It was so wonderful to celebrate my birthday here, and as someone with a big sweet tooth, the 5 dessert courses at the end were the cherry on top of the experience! ------ FOOD: * Divine! We tried the seasonal tasting menu and the northern Italian flavors really came out in multiple dishes. Expect a lot of acidity and actually quite a good amount of meat and seafood The MUST TRYs if given the choice: 1. Butter poached Maine lobster (insanely buttery and fresh) 2. Wolfe Ranch quail (quail was excellent and the chestnut mousse was such a treat) 3. Lychee Sorbet (sorbets don't usually excite me but this lychee twist with pineapple was the most refreshing way to start the dessert courses) If you also have a sweet tooth, here are the 5 dessert courses I was talking about: 1. Lychee Sorbet 2. Burnt honey cake (this actually was not my favorite flavor-wise or texturally) 3. A raspberry meringue tart (a special birthday dessert that was to die for but on the sweeter side) 4. A dessert cart to choose 3-4 treats from (the cake pop and the black sesame desserts were my favorite here) 5. Take-home biscotti to have with breakfast the next morning (or for dessert at home the same night!) ------ SERVICE: * Impeccable service, the way it should be at restaurants of this caliber * My BF is lower carb so we were actually able to request swaps for the pasta dishes. They surprised us the day of with the swaps and they included innovative alternatives such as cuttlefish "pasta". They were very accommodating * Sommelier was knowledgeable and gave wonderful recommendations ------ ENVIRONMENT: * The restaurant is in a converted church building and the main dining room features really unique vaulted ceilings reflecting this fact * When you walk up to the restaurant, here's someone there waiting to open the doors for you and escort you inside * They have an expansive wine cellar inside that you can peer into while you wait to get seated * Located right off Polk Street

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Definitely not a place you would eat everyday, rather a place you go for a celebration or date night 2 prefix menu options. Everything is well prepared , tasty, and plated beautifully. Service is very well timed and coordinated.

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Best part of the meal. Loved how well we were treated. However they have NO cocktails. Would have been a better experience to unwind into the experience. I would never recommend the food. Out of four dishes I only liked one. I have no idea how this place hangs on to its Michelin stars. Restaurant is dated. Looks like a restaurant Larry David would go to. Food is meh, best parts were the chefs bites, ridged pasta, and dessert cart at the end. Note only one was part of the food we paid for. The rest of the food was boring and borderline unappetizing. Wine pairing was more creative and delicious than the food. Wonderful sommelier. There are so many other places in the Bay Area that are delicious to spend this kind of money. I would avoid this unless someone is set on going. I feel bad this was a birthday gift my partner splurged on and I left feeling saddened by the experience.

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2 Michelin stars! We opted in for the 4-course prix fixe tasting menu. Before going to the restaurant, we learn that there is a dress code. We had to wait about 5-10 minutes before they led us to our table. We were seated, and there was even a nice cushioned stool for my purse. Nice touch, so I can access my stuff easily. This Italian restaurant won a lot of wine accolades. All of their wine awards were displayed in the front when you walked in. Warning: the alcohol option is most likely wine. I did not see any cocktails available. The sommelier gave us some wine options that were within our budget. It was a lovely Italian white wine bottle for less than $200. My husband and I choose different items on the prix fixe. For the dinner, we chose: Shared- Royal Kaluga caviar, smoked eel, potato, pickled beet Course 1- Appetizer- Me-Spanish mackerel crudo, Buddha's hand, radish, yuzu, finger lime Hubs- "Rossoti Ranch" Veal carpaccio, Olive gelee, capers, Parmesan Panna Cotta Course 2-Pasta- Me-Ridged pasta with faux "foie gras," black truffle, and Marsala (BEST DISH OF THE NIGHT MUST ORDER) Hubs-Suckling pig bottoni, Butternut Rugosa, sage brown butter, aged Sherry vinegar Course 3-Entree- Me-Dry age liberty duck Hubs-A5 Wagyu beef, charcoal-roasted celery root, Bluefoot mushroom Shared-Optional supplemental cheese course (MUCH regret.Too full for cheese and the options were too stinky for our palate) Course 4- Dessert- Me-Pistachio bavarese with raspberry and coconut cream Hubs-Burnt honey cake, apple gelato, vanilla, thyme It ended with a candy and dessert cart. Overall, I enjoyed my experience here and will return for another celebration.

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The service and wine pairing were amazing. Best part of the meal. Loved how well we were treated. I would never recommend the food. Out of four dishes I only liked one. I have no idea how this place hangs on to its Michelin stars. Restaurant is dated. Looks like a restaurant Larry David would go to. Food is meh, best parts were the chefs bites, ridged pasta, and dessert cart at the end. The rest of the food was boring and borderline unappetizing. Wine pairing was more creative and delicious than the food. Wonderful sommelier. There are so many other places in the Bay Area to eat delicious food. I’d avoid this unless someone is set on going. Was truly disappointing.

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We recently celebrated my birthday here and had a great time. Nice ambiance and great service. What I enjoy the most was still the food. It is not hard to find a fancy and expensive place to dine in the city. However, not all of them focus on their food. Acquerello's food is so memorable that I am still thinking about it today. The flavor of each dish is so distinctive and enjoyable. I had such a great experience and would like to come back again in the near future.

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The food was ok, my favorite item was part of the chefs welcome bites. But everything else I got wasn't stellar or anything. The veal carpaccio, had way too much tuna flavor to make it enjoyable. Also the duck, just like "is this it, what's the deal with the whole fennel seeds, are they supposed to stay in my teeth"? Apart from the food, host didn't take my jacket, servers couldn't pronounce food items, god it was like Donald Duck trying to explain something. And the dining room, seemed flat and devoid of anything special.

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We ordered the seasonal tasting menu for $275/person. I'll spare the reader and refrain from listing everything we ate, but I found the standouts to be the quail, the poached lobster, and the ridged pasta. The quail was perfectly cooked -- not at all gamy. The lobster was tender and refreshing. And the pasta was al dente and smothered in a thick, delicious truffle sauce. The ambiance was first-rate, and we couldn't believe that such a nice, peaceful place was located right on a bus stop off Polk street. Completely tucked away and serene. And it almost goes without saying but the service was impeccable. Super attentive, friendly, all that. Overall, a great SF institution that you have to try if you're into fine dining.

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It's still one of my favorite Michelin star restaurants. The staff is always so friendly and courteous to everyone, and always fun to talk to. They're knowledgeable and know exactly where the indigents come from. I always describe the experience as a song and dance of flavors, I still remember my first time here, and the different layers of flavors and plating is truly a work of art.

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Stellar in every respect. Essentially perfect from my perspective. The food is first-rate, indeed. The pastas are both inventive and superb, best I have ever had - here or in Italy. The amuse bouche are beyond extraordinary, as are the mignardises that are a delightful and unexpected finish to a great meal. Very quiet, but not stuffy, atmosphere with very attentive and unobtrusive service, as competent and pleasant as you will find anywhere. And the wine list is a hefty volume, full of a great variety (perhaps a thousand bottles) of superb wines. You can spend an hour or an entire evening perusing it, but I recommend entrusting yourself to the gracious and extraordinarily knowledgeable sommelier, Gianpaulo Paterlini. Some of my favorite wines have become that as a result of his recommendations. Been here a great many times, each a very special treat.

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Essentially perfect from my perspective. The food is first-rate, indeed. The pastas are both inventive and superb, best I have ever had - here or in Italy. The amuse bouche are beyond extraordinary, as are the mignardises that are a delightful and unexpected finish to a great meal. Very quiet, but not stuffy, atmosphere with very attentive and unobtrusive service, as competent and pleasant as you will find anywhere. And the wine list is a hefty volume, full of a great variety (perhaps a thousand bottles) of superb wines. You can spend an hour or an entire evening perusing it, but I recommend entrusting yourself to the gracious and extraordinarily knowledgeable sommelier, Gianpaulo Paterlini. Some of my favorite wines have become that as a result of his recommendations. Been here a great many times, each a very special treat.

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My husband made a reservation for our family to have a special dinner here to celebrate our 22nd wedding anniversary. He wrote that our reservation time was at 6:00 PM, when it was actually at 5:30 PM. Our daughter is T1 diabetic and was having an emergency low blood sugar. We arrived around 15 minutes late and we were scolded by the hostess. We were told another table was booked behind us and that we basically did NOT need to take our time. I am a world-wide traveler and have never been made to feel so humiliated. As a family business owner, this type of treatment sickens me and we will NEVER give money to this business again. Thanks for ruining our anniversary.

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I have dined in great restaurants around the world, and this is one of the best!

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This for a reservation on a Saturday to celebrate a birthday. First time at this 2** Michelin restaurant. This place did not disappoint, from start to finish the experience was enjoyable. We opted for the prix fixe menu with the additional supplements of wagyu and caviar ( so worth it). We opted for wine by the glass as the wine pairing required lots of drinking (next time for sure)Food 5/5 = Amazing- compliments to the chef and the bread server for dishing out the fresh butter from Vermont and French sea salt.Tap water 5/5= hooray to no after tasteService 5/5 = staff were knowledgeable and explained all courses. Food was brought out based on selected courses.The som·me·lier recommended an italian wine to our taste buds as the wines were 90% from italy. Ambiance 5/5= ( kudos for the bag stool. No need to worry about your fancy purses needing an extra seat. There's even a spotlight to highlight your goods )Restroom 4/5 (only 1 per gender). Was hoping for premium paper towels. But the small hand towels are nice.Reservation ease 5/5Through website. $100 deposit required per personYou Will also receive call 24 hrs prior to confirm the reservation.Will we return? DEFINITELY YES!!!

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What looked like a cute ice cream came as our first dish, but it tasted like salted whipped cream wrapped in a wafer cone. The rest of the dishes were unmemorable to say the least, some were good like the foie gras pasta and the dessert was phenomenal. The dessert was the best dish of the night. Overall, while I had a good time, the service was amazing as expected, but the food honestly did not live up to its 2 Michelin stars.

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Great food! No words can fully describe them, you have to try them! They have a wide collection of wine and the pairing was absolutely great! I will DEFINITELY come back again!

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The prix fix menu you is devine as is the service. Great special event place.

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We finally had the opportunity to try Acquerello this past weekend after passing by it for years. The dining room is a good size, not overly large and not too tiny. You can see just about all the other diners in the main room, but most people speak softly so you only hear those directly next to you. We had a menu to choose 4 courses from, two starters, an entree, and a dessert. There are also supplements you can add throughout. Some supplements we got: added caviar to start our meal which came with their homemade potato chips, upgraded entree to A5 wagyu beef, and Italian cheeses and condiments. I would say my absolute fave dish was the ridged pasta with faux foie gras, truffle, and Marsala. This dish is extremely rich however so I would recommend sharing it if you can, but the flavors were so deep and absolutely delicious. There are also few things in life better than warm pasta. The caviar was also great - although note it was a $75 supplement but it was enough to share with 1 person and each have a few bites. I also opted in to get the cheese plate since I figured this would allow me to try something new and different, something I probably wouldn't usually order. Loved the truffle cheese - and overall I liked 2 out of 3 cheeses. For those wine lovers, they have a very extensive wine BOOK. I can't even call it a list because it's massive. There is also a wine pairing that is tailored to your food selections. Lastly, service here was great. One of the gentlemen who kept pouring our water was so nice and friendly, he had the warmest smile. He seemed happy and helped give an overall positive vibe to our meal. Tip: parking is tough here as it is street parking only. Plan to get here really early to find parking, or you can park in the garage across the street which closes at midnight sharp. The price varies depending on time of day and vehicle type, but for an SUV on a weekend evening, it cost $25.

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I rarely rarely give 5 stars, but it is hard for me to give Acquerello anything but a perfect - or near perfect - review. Though I'll probably never be back to Acquerello as I'd probably opt to try another Michelin rated place instead, it was overall a delightful experience.Came here with my boyfriend last night. I booked reservations 3-4 weeks in advance after I saw they have a tasting menu for just $165 per person (the prix fixe). For two Michelin stars that's a steal. Did we end up just spending $165 each? Absolutely not lol. We were originally supposed to go last weekend, but something came up and when I emailed the restaurant they promptly responded and were able to move our res up a week without issue. One thing that is unique and worth noting - they have a dress code, which is super odd for SF, even at Michelin rated restaurants according to my friends. Not a big deal though.The restaurant is located in the Russian Hill just off Polk. The ambiance of this place is very very classy. It is a small dining room (like 10-12 tables max?) with plenty of space. With the prix fixe menu, there are 4 courses total, and you have a choice of around 3-4 options per course (appetizer, small plate, main, and dessert). There are also a number of supplements you can add (Truffle pasta for $50 or A5 Wagyu as a main for $75, etc.). In addition to your courses they give you number of other small eats, sides and desserts - we started with a savory cake of some sort, a seaweed chip, and an oyster. The oyster was the first thing that we ate and it was absolutely amazing. Like best oyster I have ever had (it was very dressed up but don't quite remember with what). They also serve you fresh bread with butter & sea salt as well as a dessert cart with a bunch of choices at the end.For our courses, everything was fantastic, but the standouts were:-The veal carpaccio (vitello): This was so freaking good. Thinly sliced veal, cooked only to brown the edges, with a dollop of parmesan cream/cheese, a smoked red pepper paste, capers, an olive sauce and a tiny bit of horseradish. I tried the horseradish but stayed away after that was it is overpowering and takes away from the flavor. Highly recommend this dish.-The Sausage cappelletti: in contention for the best dish of the night. The sauce was divine and the sausage stuffed pasta was so flavorful. -A5 Wagyu: Absolutely the best Wagyu I've ever had, though I've only had it once before (from Niku) . My boyfriend also said it was better than Alexander's. It was served with a number of peppercorns and peppercorn sauce over a bed of sautéed spinach mushrooms. Absolutely melt in your mouth good, and so worth the extra $75! -Duck: I would have ordered this if my boyfriend didn't get it. It was so good and served with a number of things but the huckleberry jus stood out the most. -Affogato: OH MY GOSH!! Maybe the best dessert I've ever had. Definitely the best affogato. They serve this fresh, pouring the espresso right over a the most divine gelato & hazlenut wafer topped off with a chocolate dome that melts as they pour it. The wine pairing was also very good - almost 1 full pour for each dish, and really worked well with my courses. To finish everything off, they bring over a dessert cart with a number of delectable treats to choose from. I opted for the chocolate lollipop like thing and the banana cream tart. The banana cream tart was delish!As if we didn't get enough food already, they send you home with a small box of freshly baked biscotti, which I had this morning w/ my coffee and were definitely the best I've ever eaten. Overall this was a solid 4.5 star for me - the food was amazing, the service was absolutely perfect, and the ambiance was spot on. Was it "worth it"? For what we paid, probably not, but fun to do every once in a blue moon.

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We were in town for a few days and somehow managed to snag a reservation. We've heard amazing things about Chef Suzette Gresham and I'm happy to report Acquerello did not disappoint.The service was wonderful and comparable to some 3 star Michelin restaurants in Paris. The ambiance was lovely and the interior of an old church was beautiful.All the food was outstanding and it felt so nice to have such a good Italian meal. Some of our favorites were the scallop, oxtail raviolini (which we preferred to the house special ridged pasta with faux "foie gras"), and the quail. There was some debate at our table whether to order the supplemental tajarin pasta with white truffles, but after seeing some other guests receive their plates we asked if we could add it to our meal and they were very accommodating; no questions asked. Although the $125 price tag is high, it is definitely worth it as they do not skimp on the white truffles. We also ordered the spread of unusual Italian cheeses to share and got to try some new cheeses that we really enjoyed. And the dessert!!! Wow! We were blown away by both desserts, but especially the quince and ginger sorbet. And, at the end, they wheel a dessert cart and allow you to pick more treats. Acquerello is very deserving of their 2 Michelin stars with excellent food and service! It was the perfect way to end our holiday trip to SF. Would highly recommend and you should definitely order the supplements too!

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Fabulous from start to finish! Beautiful ambiance, comfortable seating and tables are nicely spaced out. Service was impeccable. I haven't had this kind of service in ages. Everyone from the maitre d to the sommelier to the waiter to the young man who brought the bread....there was a server for everything! As for the food it was spectacular. Everything was complex and delicious. I highly recommend the Wagyu beef! We ended with an Afogatto which wasn't the usual I've seen in other restaurants. It was very creative and delicious. The portions of food were plenty for us to walk away satisfied if not leaning toward the full side. We enjoyed everything except the duck might've been too sweet with the sweet nuts on top. I had a taste of my husbands duck and preferred my Wagyu beef.

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They started us off with three different amuse-bouchés, all were delicious and got us excited for the resort of the meal. The first course was the bufala stracciatella and the hiramasa crudo. Both were outstanding! I loved the caramelized sweetness and crunch of whatever was on top of the bufala dish. Next up was the pasta dish. I was absolutely blown away by the faux foie gras pasta. The flavor was intense and incredible. The saffron risotto was also cooked to perfection. For the main entree, we had the salmon and the duck. While the duck and salmon was cooked well and very tender, neither were a surprise or anything we haven't had. They felt very safe in comparison to the dishes we were enjoying prior. For dessert we had the stracciatella gelato and dark chocolate mousse. The grilled strawberries that came with the gelato were a bit overwhelming. The mousse was more dense than I expected, but still good! Service was great the whole time.

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Came here to celebrate a friend's birthday! Certainly not a cheap meal, but service was superb and with the 4 courses in addition to bread, chef's surprises, and dessert cart, I was actually quite stuffed after the meal.Dining room is fairly small--I would guess they have roughly 10 tables total. Since a meal is 3 hours long, they can't accommodate too many people per night, so definitely reserve in advance (we had our reservation for a Saturday around 1 month in advance). Menus are changed over time so I'm not sure how relevant what I ordered even is anymore, but overall, the food was delicious and offered unique flavors for each course. Some personal favorites from this meal: Ridged pasta with faux foie gras--so flavorful and the texture of the pasta was perfect. Roast duck--super tender and juicy. Almond cake--had the texture of a cheesecake without the heaviness and just the right level of sweetness.They also provided a complimentary birthday dessert, a dessert cart with a variety of small candies/cookies/cakes that we try after the meal, and biscotti to take home.Overall and excellent experience!

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. let's start with the service. This would be the main reason I gave a 3 stars. Got here a little early as we were expecting a much worse traffic due to the severe raining. Didn't feel welcomed at all after the first step in the restaurant. The servers just rushed through the presentation of every single dish. What's even more absurd was that we didn't even get served with the drink menu . We waited until the first appetizer kicked in and still no one was offering the drink menu to us, did not even ask us if we needed one. For a 2-star Michelin restaurant, I was expecting a much more connected experience with the restaurant. The servers didn't seem really happy serving us, not sure why though. Most of the 1-star restaurants and even no star fine dining restaurants I have been to have excelled in the service than them. Now the food.. the food was actually pretty epic! It was as good as I have expected. I'm not an expert but I really liked the way Chef has balanced the sweets with different types of meats. The "Foie Gras" pasta was beyond amazing! I would vote 5 stars for the food. But I always believe for a 2-star restaurant, the service should always be equally weighted importantly as the food.

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I really wanted to go back to one of the 3 Michelin Star restaurants here in the Bay to celebrate my birthday, unfortunately, all were fully booked despite that I have tried to book 2 months in advance. Been to all 3 Michelin stars in the Bay Area so no big deal. We ended up here which was not a bad choice. This is our 2nd visit and our first experience was excellent 5 years ago. To start with, the place has not changed much. Still looking a bit plain inside, but the service is still impeccably excellent. Food was good, but 5 years ago, it was excellent (I also reviewed). Food presentation was very good. Taste wise, almost every dish was good except the main dish - lamb. It looked so good, unfortunately, it was too tangy and too salty for our taste. In the middle of our last dish, our waiter delivered my supposedly complimentary birthday cake. Instead, he made a mistake and delivered an anniversary cake which was supposed to be for the other table. I didn’t bother telling him as not to embarrass him. Afterwards, I saw him delivered my birthday cake to the other table which the wife uttered “It’s not my birthday”. I was rather disappointed that two reckless mistakes happened. Please double check and pay more close attention where to send the birthday cake, anniversary cake, etc. After all, these important celebrations are some of the reasons why such as myself dine here.

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