San FranCelia

If you are interested in experiencing a little taste of Northern Italy right here in San Francisco, and you don’t want to make the trek to North Beach – which boasts great food but horrible parking – I suggest heading over to Presidio Heights (my favorite neighborhood these days) for the taste and feel of Italy at its best.  I wanted to try somewhere new, and decided the locally celebrated – but hidden – spot, Sociale, would be perfect. I had heard good things, but being so

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tucked away and “alone”, so-to-speak, amidst the throng of Italian restaurants in the City, I hadn’t ventured there – until now.

 

When you first walk up to this little treasure, you are greeted with a long pathway that is covered with a flowered veil, and home to a small florists shop on your right. If gives off a delightful aromatic fragrance that instantly calms and makes you feel relaxed. As you get to the restaurant, there is a small veranda to the right with people sitting outdoors under twinkle lights and heat lamps. Classic. I only glanced inside, as I requested somewhere romantic and, thus, was placed on the terrace, but it seemed romantic and lush with hues of yellow and gold with some dark mahogany thrown in for effect. The service here is exceptional – just enough face time with your server, but plenty of alone time. Starting off with a glass of red wine and some bread, it was the perfect temperature outside, even in this balmy San Francisco climate. Thanks God for heat lamps! We had the Ricotta Gnocchi and the Grilled New York Steak cooked rare, and each was unique and savory. The steak was perfectly cooked to our order, and was placed on a bed of greens with a cardoon and artichoke galette. The gnocchi, while very different than the sauce lathered variety that you’ll often find on the Italian restaurant circuit, was amazingly fresh and light, with veggies that seemed to be picked from the garden – scrumptious! For dessert, we split the beignets, and while I have had better at other places, they were a great way to end the meal, being paired with a blackberry glaze that you could dip them in.

 

The biggest highlights for this place, which I touched on briefly, are definitely the atmosphere and ambiance. You walk in off the street, and are instantly calmed and relaxed, as the actual restaurant looks to be as picturesque as a restaurant would be in the Italian countryside. It’s a converted Victorian, so it gives you the feel of being intimate, but is also spacious in contrast. The décor is so romantic and fun, with twinkle lights and flowers decorating every nook and cranny of the patio. Even with the staff in more formal wait clothes, it still seems to give off an air of comfort with understated elegance – not too flashy as to make you feel uncomfortable, and no snobbery, which is something I cannot tolerate in a restaurant, no matter how high end. I highly recommend this place for a different take on Italian cuisine that will convert into a perfect date night. You will be taken to a new world with this one, so definitely check it out.

 

Peace and love Xo

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