SPQR, San Francisco-11/4/2021

 

SPQR is an Italian osteria known its fresh pasta and located in Pacific Heights, that serves wine and more casual food than their popular sister restaurant A16 in the Marina district.  SPQR is an acronym for Senatus Populusque Romanus and translate to "The People and Senate of Rome". Two thousand years ago it was the emblem for the Roman Empire and now, in 21st century San Francisco, SPQR is the very highest emblem of what's possible in contemporary Italian cuisines.

Executive Chef, Matthew Accarrino, prepares “sophisticated, yet soulful, Italian cuisine using the best local ingredients, traditional and modern cooking techniques delivered in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. Under chef Accarrino direction, SPQR has been awarded a Michelin star every year since 2012.

SPQR has gotten immensely popular after scoring a Michelin Star in 2013 and before the pandemic, I tried so many to get a reservation but was never successful at getting a table.

I reserved our table a few weeks ahead and had no trouble getting a table for 4 but this is on Thursday so it was probably easier than to get in on the weekend,

Even on a Thursday there are lot of people sitting outside.

 

Getting inside the restaurant.

 

 

We are taking Kevin and Kristie out for Kevin's belated birthday.

 

The menu changes every couple days and features a big selection of appetizers, pasta, and six entrée’s.  Diners can eat family style or order a la carte. Many folks dined tapas style with lots of shared small plates.

SPQR also feature a multi-course pasta tasting menu on Tuesday through Thursday and that is what we going for since this is our first time and we wanted to try out as many dishes as we can.

 

The dinning room is small  with a maximum of 45 seats.  No wonder I was never able to reserve a table pre-Covid.

Very cozy and lively ambiance.

 

 

 

The kitchen and Bar are located at the end of the room on the left hand side.

 

PQR has counter seating for those without reservations.  On the right is bar which next to the open kitchen.

 

View of the open kitchen and on the left is the bar.

 

View of the dinning room from the kitchen.

Our table is at the far end of the right, next to the big glass window looking out in the street.

 

Table setting.

 

Our server opening and serving us white wine.

 

This white wine is from their wine list-Not bad at all.

Cheers!

 

A toast to Kevin's birthday!

 

ANTI PASTI

Assorted vegetable pickles.

 

TORTA AL FORMAGGIO-SUMMER SQUASH, SAVORY GRANOLA AND HERB PESTO

What a gorgeous plate! the cheese tart was rich and creamy, I just loved the grilled vegetables with a flavorful herb pesto sauce, and I also appreciate the crunch of the granola.

 

PORK BELLY WITH BRENTWOOD CORN CREMA, GARLIC CHIVE AND SUMAC SYRUP

This dish was really amazing!  The skin of the pork belly was crispy and corn crema is so delicious.

 

INSALATA E PANE-"VERDE" WITH FOCCACIA ALLE ERBE

 

Caesar salad at itS best, the home made Focaccia was simply delicious and we could not stop eating it.

 

PRIMI

CRESTE DI GRANO ARSO, BUFALA BOLOGNESE AND WHIPPED RICOTTA

Creste pasta is a hearty Italian pasta shape with resemble the crest of a rooster and Arno Arso is a burnt wheat flour. 

I never had creste pasta before and I like the texture of the pasta which is paired with a satisfying Bolognese sauce and topped with a whipped ricotta.

 

CHESTNUT CANEDERLI, BRASSICAS, PLUM AND BALSAMIC BROWN BUTTER.

Our waiter recommended this pasta and I did not like it.  The pasta was too doughy and felt really heavy.

 

MUSHROOM FARROTA WITH WHIPPED TOMA CHEESE.

 

TARTUFI

HONEY SQUASH FILLED "ZATTARA" WITH BROWN BUTTER AND BLACK TRUFFLE.

This was optional with an additional cost but we went ahead and order just a plate and we shared amongst the 4 of us.

I love this pasta which was so flavorful with the brown butter and black truffle.  Delicious!

 

SECONDI

KING SALMON AND ROE, SAMPHIRE, ROMANO BEAN AND KALE "STUFATO"

Stufato means Stew.

 

Kristie and I we went with the King Salmon and it did not disappoint.

Very flavorful, the Salmon was cooked to perfection.  I like everything on this dish.

 

BEEF SIRLOIN, YUKON POTATOES, MARSALA MUSHROOM AND RED WINE "LEATHER"

 

Hoa and Kevin oredered the Beef Sirloin and the both like it.

 

Enjoying our meal~

 

DOLCI (DESSERT)

HOT CHOCOLATE TORTA, BAVARESE AND VANILLA ICE CREAM

 

 

HISBISCU SUGAR BOMBOLINI

 

 

 

Nice touch from SPQR with a signed Happy birthday card from all the staff members.

 

Time to sing Happy birthday to Kevin!

 

Happy Birthday Kevin!

 

The hot chocolate cake was really delicious!  We were so full and barely any room for the bombolini (also delicious).

 

Ending the meal with a nice hot cup of coffee for me and Hoa.

SPQR is a really charming restaurant and the atmosphere is the perfect example of what I think of a neighborhood restaurant: cozy, dimly-lit with dark wood interior and full of locals.

The service was friendly, attentive and the staff made you feel at home.  The chef 5 course $85 menu features seasonal and local ingredients with an emphasis to California Italian flavors.

I was a little disappointed in my pasta dish (Chesnut candederli) because they are know to have the best pasta dish but Kevin, Kristie, and Hoa enjoyed their pasta dish. 

However, beside my pasta dish, I thought all the main dishes and the starters were really good.  My favorite pasta dish was the honey squash filled Zattara with brown butter and blackTruflle

The desserts were also delicious.

Overall we had a very good dinning experience.


 

Filed under: Birthday, Restaurants,

 

 

 

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