Fino

Location: Lower Nob Hill, San Francisco, CA
Cuisine type: Traditional Italian
Atmosphere: rustic, elegant, intimate
Meal: dinner
Overall score: 8.1

Nina

We landed here since it was the nearest place with good Yelp reviews from where we found parking on Geary (not a very exciting story). The restaurant is hidden in a hotel lobby, with the main entrance from a higher level back alley, which makes it feel low-key. The atmosphere is subdued and authentic, with rugged-looking stone walls, warm tones, dim lighting and rustic decor. Their wine selection was all Italian imports, with enough wines served by the glass that we didn’t have to get bottle service to enjoy something we liked.

One of their daily special was certainly not authentic Italian, but a tempting treat - fries with parmesan, parsley, garlic and truffle oil. They came on a plate in a huge pile of crispy potato sticks, almost glued together by melted parmesan, and with a pleasant nuance of garlic and truffle.
For the entree, I turned to something more in tune with the restaurant’s theme - I ordered gnocchi with gorgonzola, tarragon and cream sauce. While the gnocchi were a bit dense and chewy, they had a delicate flavor that paired well with the gorgonzola cream sauce, and the tarragon provided much welcome relief from the richness of the dish. It was a generous portion a little on the heavy side, but overall a good experience.

For dessert (of course there had to be dessert) I ordered the zabaione marsala mousse with fresh berries - for the cost and just generally for what I am used to for dessert portion sizes, I was expecting a small cup (maybe a martini glass?) with berries, topped with a few spoonulls of decadent zabaione. What I got was a little surprising - a large, hurricane glass, with berries at the bottom and filled, overfilled even, with warm marsala and egg yolk mousse. The presentation was messy, with the zabaione flowing over the sides of the glass and pooling around it on the plate. However, the execution was beyond reproach, with the warm mousse light and delicate, complementing the berries perfectly, and the marsala coming through without overwhelming the flavor of everything else.

Overall, I found the restaurant to be authentic with sparks of brilliance, but not outstanding; portions were very generous but presentation was somewhat lacking, and service was good, but the experience not quite memorable.

Food	8
Drinks	8
Atmosphere	9
Service	9
Value	7

Ben

A classic italian restaurant downtown SF with a dimly lit, intimate ambience. This is a place on the edge of casual and formal, and both seem perfectly in place. Following some delicious fresh-baked bread, we started with a mountain of french fries for appetizer; loaded with parmesan and garlic, along with parsley and truffle oil. In all its simplicity, it was delicious and a tough dish to beat if you’re in the mood (though it is probably more appropriately portioned for a party of 4 than 2). My main course was al dente fettucine with prosciutto and mushrooms in a creamy garlic tomato sauce. A classic, heavy, simple italian dish - “it is what it is” - it was executed very well and I really enjoyed it. Completing the theme of large portions - I tend to eat what is on the table .. so no complaints from me :) - we had a “zabaione”(very airy warm mousse) with marsala and fresh berries, served in a tall glass that had been completely overfilled, spilling down the sides and puddling into the bottom. As desserts go … it was pretty solid (though a little too light, almost soda-esque flavor), and we again managed to take care of the large portion. I will say Nina’s dish was less recommended - in that it was extraordinarily heavy with dense gnocchis and a very rich thick cream sauce, which had a somewhat homogenous cream flavor, but overall it is a solid downtown Italian date place, with reasonable prices.

Food	8
Drinks	8
Atmosphere	9
Service	7
Value	8

Pasta Market

Location: San Jose, CA
Cuisine type: Italian, mostly pasta dishes
Atmosphere: casual, order at the counter with table service
Meal: dinner
Overall score: 7.67

Nina

When I first laid my eyes on this place, I assumed it was a store that sold homemade pasta for cooking at home. Turns out that wasn't the case, they actually have a small, but not tiny dining area with pasta-themed decor (paintings) and simple wooden tables and benches. There is table service, but ordering is at the counter, which makes it feel casual but not quite fast food.
I ordered what seems to call to me every time on an Italian menu - veal medallions (scallopini) with mushroom Marsala sauce (the combination of cream and mushrooms must be it, though veal is a plus too).

But first things first. They brought us a basket of bread sticks without having ordered them. I have to admit I was surprised, since I didn't expect the free bread and dip treatment from a place where you order at the counter. The bread was nice, a focaccia style loaf broken up in thick strips, served with a tangy, slightly spicy cheese sauce. The sauce was a little too thick to count as a dip, and it felt strange to treat cheddar as butter; aside from that, it tasted a little too much like something that came out of the box than the homemade treat it was meant to be, I suspect due to the quality of the cheese.
Along with my entree I ordered a clam chowder. That's a treat I've come to enjoy greatly since moving to the bay area, so I was looking forward to it. The soup was a little disappointing, too many chunks of celery and too little of clams, not quite creamy enough but not exactly light either. I'll probably save ordering the chowder for places that are closer to the ocean or focus on seafood a little more in their menu.

Last but not least, came my entree. The plate was quite large, and it was separated in three distinct sections, which looked more homey than professional. On one end I had the steamed vegetables, which were quite plain but well done (not overcooked) and reasonably well seasoned. On the other end of the plate I had some pasta, which was delicious and perfect al dente, though not dressed with anything and just a little too wet. In the middle was the most prized component - the actual scallopini. the veal was tender and cooked just right, the sauce was creamy and mushroomy, and the mushrooms were well integrated, though nothing out of the ordinary (plain sliced button mushrooms).
I was happy to see that they not only offered carryout service of their full menu, but they sold individual components for the home cook - fresh pasta, various sauces, and Italian seasoning mixes (parmesan with herbs etc). The prices were reasonable and the service was great, and while I am not sure I would come back to eat in their dining room - I am looking forward to picking up some fresh pasta and a possibly even some sauce and pairing it with veggies (and maybe meat) of my choice at home and tweak it to my taste.

Food	7
Drinks	7
Atmosphere	7
Service	8
Value	8

Ben

I had a great first impression of the Pasta Market, and the food lived up to expectation. It is a place where one orders at the counter, but with plentiful seating. They offer raw noodles, pastas to go, and a variety classic italian entrees. The prices are a little high for what looks like a to-go market, but the food generally lived up it. The minestrone I had was decent, but the pasta bolognese (with a rich tomato sauce and sausage) was fantastic. As was the fresh bread on the table served with the meal served with a chili cream cheese. They offered a variety of wines, and we got a small half carafe of some table (red) wine that was a great complement for the food (and pretty cheap at ~$6).

I would say all of us really enjoyed the food. It has the quality (and price) of a decent italian restaurant, but the feel of a small market despite the large amount of seating. Without the “wow”- or romantic - factor of a more formal italian restaurant, they have a strong design and execution of classic italian dishes.

Food	9
Drinks	8
Atmosphere	7
Service	8
Value	7

Tomatina

Location: Santa Clara, CA (by Mission College)
Cuisine type: Italian, pizza
Atmosphere: casual, family style seating, subdued lighting
Meal: dinner
Overall score: 8

Nina

Seeking a quick late dinner, we stopped by the Mexicali Grill in Santa Clara. After sitting at our outdoor table for 15 minutes and not even getting water (or the promise of water), we crossed the parking lot and entered a much more welcoming and well staffed Tomatina. The lighting was dim, the seating was a combination of smaller tables and banquet/family style shared tables, and we were quickly presented with menus and water, and soon afterwards offered drinks.
The menu was classic and rustic Italian, with a broad selection of vegetarian and seafood dishes, along with smaller sections specifically designated as for meat eaters. It was nice to see this kind of balance, where vegetarian options are not an afterthought, while at the same time not being the only thing available.
I ordered a beer and the mushroom veal medallions with marsala sauce, served alongside mashed potatoes and roasted bell peppers with zucchini. The dish was quite flavorful, the meat was tender and the sauce was rich and creamy without being too heavy. The vegetables were perfectly cooked, which I appreciated given how many times I’ve had both of them either overcooked or virtually raw. That being said, there could have certainly been improvements to add an extra zing - more seasoning with the sauce and vegetables, an extra softness or golden sear to the meat, but I guess you can’t have it all.
A much redeeming factor was the classic, solid tiramisu that I had for dessert. Dessert always makes everything better :)

Food	8
Drinks	8
Atmosphere	8
Service	9
Value	8

Ben

This is a pretty solid italian place, average location across from a strip mall in Santa Clara. The pizza was pretty tasty; a little thick but generous with the toppings (we had meat lovers: pepperoni, prosciutto, spicy italian sausage and mushrooms). The atmosphere is decent, somewhat dimly lit, wooden tables in a combination of booths, long tables, and several (small) TVs hung up throughout, tonight playing the olympic opening ceremony though I imagine they tend to play the sport of the day. They offered a reasonable beer selection with some local favorites. The price was about average. Not a bad place if you are in the area and looking for italian (though I can only speak to the pizza).

Food	8
Drinks	8
Atmosphere	8
Service	8
Value	7

Tortellini Originali

Location: Half Moon Bay, CA
Cuisine type: Italian
Atmosphere: deli store, a few small wooden tables
Meal: dinner
Overall score: 6.5

Nina

This was a pretty straight-forward eatery, so not too much to say. After an over two hour long class of exhausting English-style horseback riding (meaning smaller, less comfortable saddle than they have in Texas and US ranches in general), we wanted something quick and effective to give us some energy back.

This small family owned shop is located directly along Highway 1, and sells very authentic Italian (and mediterranean more broadly) groceries and prepared foods. It seems like they cater and sell food to-go, while their dining area is more of an afterthought, something that happened just because a few customers asked if they could just eat the food there.

We sat at one of their small wooden tables, surrounded by the shelves of imported olive oil, roasted pepper jars and olives. The shop attendant (who seemed to be one of the family) served us a basket of crusty freshly baked bread, which had a perfect balance of tenderness and crunch. We had to ask for butter (how could we not) since it didn’t come with the bread, and we got a little bowl with a few dabs of butter cut directly from a larger block - another reminder that table service is not their main business. I ordered the porcini ravioli with rose sauce (part cream sauce, part tomato sauce, mixed together), since I can never resist mushrooms on a menu. It was served in a styrofoam microwave plate and with plastic utensils, that gave the sad first impression of frozen TV dinner. The flavor was intense, balanced and the dish had an overall authentic feel, which redeemed the food in my mind even though the portion size was pretty small for the price. We left the shop still somewhat hungry, but with a roll of pancetta and a tub of tiramisu ice cream to extend our Italian food experience later, at home.

Food 9
Drinks 5
Atmosphere 5
Service 8
Value 6

Ben

A small, family owned deli/catering business in Half Moon Bay. The woman who was working there was friendly and accommodating, we started by buying a couple of cheeses, sausages, and gelato to bring home. We saw they offered sit-down meals, and we each ordered a ravioli. I ordered the "Cajun Crab" with rose sauce. This deli was so pleasant, with a rustic european feel and, in my mind, setting up to be a home-run. But the food that was served was for me very disappointing. It may be hard to fault that they are clearly deli first, but someone from the back did come to serve us, and there was a menu (this is a restaurant review after all, so I'll review the restaurant!). The ravioli was mediocre, very small portion with uninspired flavor, and felt like the dish had just been microwaved (our best guess was that the small raviolis were flash boiled from frozen, with a microwaved sauce poured over the top), at a cost of about $10. They were served in little plastic trays which we threw away. I'd recommend checking the place for the deli, but skip on the restaurant aspect.

Food 5
Drinks 5
Atmosphere 6
Service 8
Value 7

Delarosa

Location: San Francisco, CA (Marina)
Cuisine type: Italian, Roman style pizza
Atmosphere: cozy style cafe seating, modern feel
Meal: lunch
Price range: $10-$17 / pizza
Overall grade: 8.25

Ben

A nice location, hip feel with a lot of activity, cafeteria-style seating with long shared tables, open doors and seating inside and outside.  The service was overwhelmed at the time but we still didn't have to wait long, and the menu offers a wide variety from quirky to standard pizzas. We ordered a mushroom pizza and scallops. This is one of the best pizzas I've had since being in the bay area, with a perfect crush, flavorful fresh sauce, and delicious cheese and herbs. The scallops were OK. It's a perfect place to stop by downtown San Francisco for a slice of pizza and people-watch in a lively atmosphere.

Food           9
Drinks        7
Atmosphere 9
Service       8
Value          8


Nina

After starting the day early in the city with a bottomless mimosa while watching the Purdue Boilermakers play football (and actually winning, which was new to see), I was starving so we just stopped in the first place that looked good. This time, it was a Roman style pizza restaurant, with a simple and modern decor and relaxed atmosphere.

I picked a couple of their more whimsical dishes to share, and I was very pleased with what came out of the kitchen. First, it was a pair of skewered spiced scallops served on leeks with roasted fingerling potatoes. The scallops were cooked just right, barely translucent and perfectly caramelized on both sides, and the leeks just melted in my mouth. The pizza reminded me of a New York style, and since I had no previous experience with Roman style, this was the closest analogy I can make. The crust was thin and crunchy, firm enough to pick up with your hand, but not tough like some thicker pizzas.  It was topped with a thin layer of tomato sauce, which was rich and savory. However, the cheese and mushroom toppings, while delicious and unique (fontina and wild mushroom mix) were fairly scarce. This was the only disappointing part about this experience, but I would definitely look for this place again if I find myself craving some delicious thin crust pizza while in the Marina area.

Food           9
Drinks         8
Atmosphere 8
Service        7
Value          8