About
Welcome to Acquerello, a culinary gem nestled in the vibrant heart of San Francisco. Renowned for its two Michelin stars, Acquerello effortlessly merges a romantic, upscale atmosphere with exquisite Italian cuisine. Positioned near Van Ness at 1722 Sacramento St, this restaurant is a haven for food enthusiasts seeking an exceptional dining experience.
Upon entering, guests are greeted by an elegant decor that transports them straight to Italy. The ambiance is perfect for intimate dinners, special celebrations, or simply indulging in a remarkable meal with loved ones. Acquerello is not just a restaurant; it's a destination where every detail is meticulously crafted for your enjoyment.
Acquerello proudly offers a diverse menu that showcases the beauty of Italian gastronomy. The first courses, such as the sumptuous Sturgeon and Caviar and the tender Grilled Octopus, offer a tantalizing introduction to the culinary artistry that awaits. Each bite bursts with flavor, leaving diners craving more. As one reviewer enthusiastically noted, the pasta with faux foie gras was a standout—a dish so memorable it lingers in one's mind long after the meal is over.
The second courses continue this tradition of excellence, featuring offerings such as the decadent Saffron Risotto and the rich Swiss Chard and Mushroom Raviolo. Acquerello’s chefs skillfully balance textures and flavors, resulting in a dining experience that is both sophisticated and satisfying. For those looking to elevate their experience, the optional caviar supplement is a luxurious touch that truly enhances the meal.
Wine lovers will appreciate Acquerello’s curated selection of Italian wines, enhancing each dish with perfectly paired sips. The service is attentive and knowledgeable, guiding guests through the menu and wine choices with ease. As one diner remarked, the staff's commitment to hospitality elevates the overall experience.
For those who wish to make the most of their meal, the restaurant accommodates reservations and offers outdoor seating, catering to both casual and special occasions. Acquerello also welcomes groups and families, maintaining a friendly atmosphere that balances sophistication with approachability.
In conclusion, Acquerello is more than just a fine dining establishment; it is a sensory journey through the richness of Italian cuisine. With its breathtaking ambiance, exceptional food, and top-notch service, it's no wonder that Acquerello is a staple for both locals and visitors. As you plan your visit, remember to dress smartly and prepare for an unforgettable gastronomic experience that is worth every penny.
If you are looking for a place that defines upscale Italian dining in San Francisco, look no further than Acquerello—where every bite tells a story and every meal is a celebration.
“ This place didn't disappoint, but I felt like it was a little stuffy for me. Service was on par and attentive. We did the tasting menu and I felt like there were 1 or 2 items that were off. I did enjoy the company and the food overall. Looking back, I would recommend to try this restaurant at least once, but be prepared to pay $$$$. ”
“ acquerello was an insane experience. as a 2 michelin star restaurant, i would expect nothing less, especially for what you are paying. from the moment you walk in the door, the service you receive is unmatched. there was one server who did forget a severe food allergy in my party which i did note clearly on the reservation. however, other than that, service was great. all of the food was phenomenal, with some appetizers and desserts coming out before and after the 4-course meal ($165). every bite had so many different flavors and textures - it truly was such a culinary experience. my favorite dishes were the pre-menu appetizers (amuse bouche), stracciatella appetizer, beet appetizer, mezzelune, and all of the desserts. the restaurant is quite small and the service is very attentive. i would come back again for a very special occasion. i would definitely recommend acquerello. ”
“ Acquerello is a 2 Michelin star restaurant. I have been wanting to try this place for couple years but always had a change in plans. I am so glad I finally got to try this place out because it did not disappoint! We'd ended up doing the tasting menu and came here on the Saturday of Valentine's day. The restaurant filled up eventually and the ambience of the restaurant is incredibly beautiful. It was romantic and the decor of it brings me back to Italy. The food was delicious, with each bite bursting with flavors! The pasta with the 'faux foie gras' was moth watering! What an amazing dish, I still think about to this day! I am also not a fan of veal and was hesitant to try that dish but I am so amazed by how delicious and easy to eat that meal was here. The chefs did a wonderful job balancing each dish with its complementing flavors. Our servers were attentive and polite. We truly enjoyed our experience here! I have tried many Michelin restaurants and not all meets its deserving stars but I must say, this place is one of my favorites and I would love to come back here again. Parking is very difficult but we realized there was the Chinese new year parade happening on the same day we were there so definitely try to avoid that unless you are getting dropped off. We ended up being 15mins late due to parking. We hope you can give this place a try too! ”
“ Tasting Menu is $275/pp and we opted for the supplemental caviar course. 2 Michelin star Italian restaurant. Every plate was delicious and beautifully plated/presented. Staff was very attentive and explained every dish. There is a parking garage right across the street that is a flat rate of $15 in the evening (As of February 20025). ”
“ Acquerello is a San Francisco classic. The decor is more classic and old school but the food is delicious without being too contrived for a fine dining menu. All of the dishes feature seasonal ingredients, the breads that come with the menu are amazing, and service is attentive and kind. We came here to celebrate a birthday and the servers were so friendly, especially as we perused the dessert cart. I'd highly recommend for a reliable choice for a delicious meal. This was one of the few desserts on a fine dining menu that I've really loved and every pasta was so beautiful and well done. ”
“ 12/28/2024 Sat dinner Seasonal 8 course Tasting Menu @ $275/pp Opted in for the caviar ($85) and truffle pasta ($95) supplementary courses Wine pairing @ $185/pp (optional) 20% service charge add on 4% employee benefits surcharge add on Duration: 4 hours 2 Michelin Stars Reservation: Made via Tock with a $100 deposit per person, credited toward the final bill. Appreciated the detailed information provided on Tock, including the dress code, parking options, and cancellation policy. Decor: Romantic and cozy ambiance, simple yet elegant, not overly fancy. The kind of place you'd want to impress a date with. Parking: No valet service, but Tock noted a parking garage across from the restaurant. Luckily, we found a spot right outside. Service: Exceptional. Each course was served in perfect sync by two staff members. I even noticed a staff member ironing table linens after a table was turned. Water glasses were always topped up without having to ask. Food: The savory courses were stellar. You can tell the chefs' attention to detail in crafting each dish, with thoughtful ingredient pairings and great composition. The supplemental caviar course was particularly memorable: a beet panna cotta base topped half with caviar and half with smoked sturgeon, echoing the origins of the oscietra caviar. It demonstrated the chefs' intention and creativity. That said, the desserts fell short in comparison. They lacked the same level of thought and innovation. A creative twist on something classic, like a tiramisu, would have elevated the experience to match the savory courses. Pacing: The meal stretched to four hours, which we didn't anticipate. There were a few lapses between courses. While we weren't in a hurry and enjoyed the leisurely pace, it's something to keep in mind when planning your visit. Amuse bouches - 1) seaweed tart - 2) apple ginger compote duck mousse cone - 3) savory financier filled with caramelized onions top with Comte cheese on top Course #1 - Cold smoked trout and roe Supplement - Caviar Course #2 - Lobster Course #3 - Pasta oxtail farfalle / supplement white truffle pasta Course #4 - Quail Course #5 - Signature foie gras pasta Course #6 - Venison Course Dessert #7 - Sorbet Course Dessert #8 - Quince and Arborio Rice pudding Birthday treat - tiramisu square Petite Fours - Dessert cart pick your own Parting gift - Almond biscotti ”
“ My friend and I decided to come here for a joint birthday celebration! We booked a couple weeks in advance for 6 pm on a Friday night. The interior is stunning with the dark wood fixtures and building details. The service is immediate right when you enter the door with them taking your coat and taking the time to give you a dark napkin that matches our outfits. Starting with the amuse bouche, the one topped with nori and the last cake-like item were our favorites. We also got some starter bread, one was lighter with rosemary and one was a darker wheat bread. They gave us fermented butter which was harder but melted nicely on the hot bread and the best topped with the flakey salt. Huckleberry Shrub - The staff described it as a stronger drink and it was very flavorful. It had a hearty berry flavor that made it sweet and tart. We opted for the four course menu and an interesting thing about the menu is that you can choose 4 courses from any of the sections, except the main entree section, so we opted for two pasta dishes, one entree and one dessert. Caponata-filled mezzelune - This was very light, the sauce was sour and fresh. Usually, I expect pasta dishes to be very heavy but this one wasn't. Added with the red pepper agrodolce, it had a little more of a punch of flavor and hint of spice while the pasta itself was soft and had a subtle flavor. Ridged pasta with faux "foie gras" - This dish was different and had many layers to the flavor. The staff said that in cooking the foie gras, there is a natural sugar and sweetness that comes into the dish. This pasta was my favorite, perfectly al dente while being hot. It was reminiscent of a caramel texture with a rich, savory and sweet flavor. I really enjoyed the texture from the truffle as well. Dry aged liberty duck - The duck was so tender and fatty, served with the duck jus that enhanced the duck with meaty and savory flavors. I enjoyed the turnips as well because it reminded me of the consistency and texture of a brussel sprout. On the other hand, the duck sausage didn't stand out or did the spinach add much to the plate. Vanilla Creme Fraiche Panna Cotta - It was cool that it looked like an egg but the amount of milk chocolate to the panna cotta and preserved apricot was a little disproportionate. There were apricot pieces at the bottom under the egg but it was overall a very sweet dessert. They gave us a birthday dessert as well which was nice which was a raspberry tart that was pretty well balanced and a meringue.. At the end, they brought over a cart with small bites and I enjoyed everything. The house made marshmallow with mango passion fruit flavor was a standout. Overall the service was top tier and a little pretty spaced out in between but always in sync with when our dishes arrived and ensuring that every dish was with clean cutlery. The price, however, was a little steep as with the additional charges and another service charge, made it less worth it despite the experience we had. ”
“ A wonderful dining experience in San Francisco with attention to detail a focus of the entire staff. Such a cozy restaurant in a wonderfully historic building with amazing architecture. An absolutely amazing food experience and wine pairing. The chef's menu experience took through multiple courses one better than the last. I have to say that one of the pasta courses was probably one of the best I've ever had in my whole life. Plenty of options to add on to their seasonal menu if you don't feel that the offerings are going to be enough (OMG!) LOL We were invited by the Sommelier to come into one of their multiple wine rooms, which is a wonderful experience as well I highly recommend this restaurant to try some spins on Italian cuisine ”
“ I have so many great things to say about Acquerello that I don't know where to start! My husband and I came here on Black Friday this year for a combo celebration of Thanksgiving and late wedding anniversary. We had both been looking forward to coming here for a while as its a two Michelin star restaurant and focuses (ish) on the region of Italy where my husband is from. Once we decided to go, I was easily able to make a reservation online, and we were able to be seated shortly after arrival. We both had the four-course menu. I wasn't certain if it would be enough food when I made the booking and reviewed the menus, but actually after the fact it ended up being more than enough since there were some "surprise" courses as well. I shared pics of the menu and the courses, each of which was so beautifully presented and described by the staff, and it's difficult to say which one was my favourite. IMHO I don't always enjoy every course of a tasting menu, but Acquerello was certainly the exception since each dish was so tasty and delicious and I'm sure I could have had more if given the option. The staff were very attentive and friendly and helped to create such a positive fine dining environment. The restaurant itself is tasteful (no pun intended) and had a constant hum of good vibes and conversation from the other diners, without feeling full or crowded. I look forward to a future visit here and to trying out more of their excellent dishes! ”
“ We came here to celebrate our first wedding anniversary and got the four course meal. The reservation process was a breeze and we were seated promptly upon arrival. My choice for each course was: - Antipasto: tonnato (a type a tuna) - Pasta: oxtail farfalle and sweetbreads - Entree: Dry-aged duck - Dessert: huckleberries and lemon with almond sablé My favorite was the oxtail farfalle and sweetbreads. Each pasta was stuffed with oxtail bone marrow. It was juicy and had a umami flavor. I didn't mind the sweetbreads but I prefer to not know which organ they came from lol. We did a cheese board add-on for $30. It came with an assortment of cheese, jams and fruit bits. My favorite was the truffle cheese. In addition to the course set, we received a cream tart for the special occasion. I have to say this was my favorite dessert item of the night. We were also given a generous refill of the rosemary bread with butter from Vermont, and a few appetizer and dessert samplers. The entire staff was super attentive and the service was impeccable. I think $165 for a four-course meal at a 2-star Michelin establishment was very reasonable. We were more than satisfied in both terms of the quality and quantity. ”