Trattoria Contadina
San Francisco
Kort fortalt
Anmeldelser
I always complain about how hard it is (impossible even, when it comes to sandwiches) to find comparable Italian fare in the SF bay area, coming from NY/NJ. I visited here for dinner based on others' recommendations. It's no doubt a proud joint with long history (which serves as a proof of quality itself), so obviously there's some lower bound on the food/service quality to expect. TLDR; the food was ok. I had gnocchi and as everyone mentions this place really wants everything al dente so it was a bit too firm for my taste. I personally found the sauce (I got the creamy tomato) had two problems: (1) it was too little (barely any left to soak up with bread), and (2) it was a bit too mild in flavor. All in all I had had better gnocchi at a random Italian restaurant I dropped by on the street in NY. I also had tiramisu for dessert, but this was unfortunately absolutely mediocre. I think it was the quality of store-bought. I did enjoy the glass of cab which was a good pick and poured generously! And the staff was exceptionally hospitable, so no problem there. I think it's still a solid option in the area, hence 4 stars. But for me the food wasn't quite hitting the level I'd have liked, especially for the very high price they charge.
Nice looking Italian bistro style restaurant, they ah e small bar by the entrance where you can order drinks. We ordered 2 bottles of the Montepulciano and it was a good vino, but with the pasta it put me in a good coma for hours 🥱 The food can be hit or miss, for appetizers we got the mussels and clams in a red sauce and the beef tartare and arugula salad with pistachios and golden beets. The tartare was pretty unremarkable and didn’t have a zing in the dressing, it was quite plain and ordinary. The arugula salad was also quite ordinary but the clams and mussels were quite flavorful but a tad too salty For mains I tried the classic spaghetti and meatballs, but the sauce and the meatballs were quite flavorless, and I sent it back. My friends enjoyed their Calabrian pasta which was the most flavorful dish in the place and the pasta was al dente to the max which added to the flavor of the dish. For dessert we share a tiramisu and it was quite good, but not made in house.
We had a great dinner. Pasta was perfectly cooked. Risotto was some of the best I’ve had. Tiramisu was great.
First timer and will most definitely be back!! Deliciously fresh food coupled with the friendliest staff who went above and beyond. Not to mention it is on a street corner with the charming sight of a cable car every so often. A true SF gem! ❤️
I had a great experience at this cozy Italian restaurant. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, with a charmingly rustic feel, complete with a well-stocked bar and string lights that give it a homey, comfortable vibe. The service was friendly and attentive without being overbearing, and our waiter was helpful with the menu. The real standout of the meal, and something you can tell from the photos, is the sheer size of the portions. They don't mess around! I ordered a pasta dish topped with a generous amount of fresh basil and what looked like burrata or a similar creamy cheese. My friend's spaghetti with a huge, impressive-looking meatball was also massive, and the clams in white wine sauce were abundant and delicious. You definitely get your money's worth here, and you'll likely have leftovers. For dessert, we had a simple but delicious bowl of vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup. It was the perfect way to cap off a very filling meal. I highly recommend giving this place a try.
