This post may contain affiliate links. I only recommend excursions, products and tours that I have personally used and purchased myself. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a very small commission at no extra cost to you. All proceeds go to running this blog and your support is truly appreciated! All opinions are my own. Up the street from my old apartment in Nob Hill, a treasure awaits. Contrarily, the area surrounding the restaurant is rather unassuming. However, once you enter the doors of Acquerello, the elegance sets in. It’s a sophisticated atmosphere that serves Northern Italian cuisine with white glove service and top shelf quality. Also, the beautiful potted flowers that brighten the restaurants foyer change seasonally. Previously, 1722 Sacramento Street was a chapel. Now, it’s a space where you can delight in Michellin starred culinary beneath vaulted wood-beam ceilings. For over thirty years now, Acquerello has served Northern Italian delicacies to discerning diners in refined style. Acquerello is owned by Chef Suzette Gresham and Giancarlo Paterlini. They’re both celebrated for their expertise in “cuisine, wine and service.” I can attest that what they’ve created is an exemplary example of service, divine culinary and exquisite wine pairings. I had the pleasure of meeting both Giancarlo and Chef Gresham on my first visit to Acquerello. Firstly, it’s admirable the level of pride and care they take in what they do. Further, it’s commendable how they have kept their prices more reasonable than restaurants of similar class. In recent months, I returned to Acquerello to experience their Prix Fixe Menu and it did not disappoint. Basically, each category of the Prix Fixe menu has four options you can choose from. If you are dining with others, it’s always a nice idea to order different things from each category and share. The meal began with a few Amuse Bouche (ah-mooze boosh) – a few small chef’s surprises. Straightaway, our server recommended a specific order to eat them in, one that would be the most palettable. I have to note, that the butter at Acquerello is simply divine. I also like that they serve it with very high quality sea salt to really add extra flavor. For our second course, I chose the ridged pasta with Black Truffle and Marsala (because, I’ll never pass up anything with Truffle or Marsala). My husband had the Black Truffle Risotto with 36 month old aged Parmesan and we, of course, shared both dishes. For mains, we chose the Pepper crusted Bluefin Tuna, which was exceptional and the Lamb. Kudos to the pastry Chef Theron Marrs for the creative, vibrant and delicious desserts. Unquestionably, both meals I’ve been fortunate to experience at Acquerello have been delicious and the desserts have always been a delight – visually and for your taste buds. If you’re no stranger to the fine dining world, then you’ve likely seen a Mignardise (min-yard-EEZE) cart or two before. Otherwise, a Mignardise cart is rolled over to your table to round out a meal. Obviously, every restaurant is different, but there is usually an assortment of small bite desserts and candies to pick from. Typically, you’ll be exceptionally stuffed by this point. Thankfully, most of these restaurants allow you to take your Mignardise selections to go if you wish. Tip: The Prix Fixe menu is four courses with the option add on a caviar and/or cheese course. It’s $165 per person, which is a great value for a two Michellin Star restaurant. A 20% service charge and 4% surcharge for San Francisco employee mandates will be added to your final bill. To add wine pairings, it is an additional $95.00 per person. If you’re headed to San Francisco for New Year’s Eve and you’re in the mood for a swanky soiree, Acquerello may be an excellent option for you. While you typically pay a premium to celebrate New Years Eve anywhere, fine dining is certainly no exception. Albeit, one of the many things there is to praise about Acquerello is the quality of the food and experience sans the excessive price gauging you might experience at similar restaurants. New Years Eve was my first experience dining at Acquerello. Needless to say, it left me completely swept off my feet. Everything, from the lighting, to the tasteful decor, to the fresh cut blooms placed on the table was thoughtful and hit the mark. As with most dining experiences, our server really contributed to us having a spectacular experience. He really helped create a magical, seamless event certainly worthy of at least the two Michellin stars its been awarded. A big part of fine dining experiences are what I like to call the ‘culinary theater’ you experience. I would classify Acquerello as a classic Michellin starred fine dining experience. The service is polished. There is a bit of a regal air about the service and overall experience. If you are having a dish that is topped with truffles, the owner Giancarlo himself and another member of the staff bring out the truffles in an ornate wooden box and then it is dramatically shaven on your entrée. The dining room is on the dimly lit side and the tables are spaced out considerably, so, generally, it’s a restaurant you will find many couples celebrating an occasion. Acquerello can accommodate parties up to 16 guests for private dining in their gold room. This requires an $150 event fee which includes a wine reception, floral arrangements, printed menus and coordination. You will definitely want to make reservations to dine at Acquerello. You can do so by calling 415-567-5432 or emailing info@acquerellosf.com. Otherwise, you can always book your reservation on Tock, which is used by many similar restaurants. You will need to pay a $200 deposit at the time of booking your reservation that will go towards your total bill. Acquerello offers a vegetarian friendly menu called ‘A Tasting of Vegetables.’ There is also a seasonal menu that changes periodically. Have you been to Acquerello? What did you think? If you have any questions about dining here, please drop them in the comments below! Check these out! Want to know how I travel so frequently? By booking jaw-dropping flight deals that are often so low you’d have to see ’em to believe it. The best part? They’re sent right to my inbox. You can try it out for free: here. I exclusively use this site to book all my stays. I get 20% off on all my stays plus additional perks from their loyalty program. Check it out! Get reliable travel medical insurance for your trip, for just $2 a day – here Looking for a flight on a specific date? Use this search engine and start earning rewards! Need to book your excursions and tours? This company is my favorite. This is another marketplace for tours, that is especially great for Europe. Renting a car for your adventure? Discover the right car for your journey: here. Do you love train travel as much as I do? Get your train tickets here! Want to travel in comfort and have lounge access around the world? Get that right here. You know what I love to do when I visit a new city? This!Acquerello: sensational Northern Italian fine dining in a dreamy milieu
A little bit of history about Acquerello
The Food and Menu at Acquerello
Don’t Skip Dessert
Acquerello on New Years Eve
Service, Atmosphere, Experience
Know Before You Go
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