Acquerello

Wouldn’t know. They turned down a reservation for 5 people because one of then was wearing shorts. BIG mistake. HUGE.

Amazing service, really went above and beyond what I expected.
You get way more food that you expect here, with the chef giving out the occasional complimentary dish. The appetizers are amazing and the foie gras pasta is superb. The main courses on the Prix Fixe menu are decent, but not as amazing as the appetizers.
Definitely deserves its two Michelin stars!

I often pass by Acquerello since I live nearby. From the outside, it looked like a small restaurant that wasn’t overly lavish. One morning I made a last minute same day reservation for 2. I glanced at reviews previously and saw that the prix fixe 3 course menu was around 70 bucks. We later found out it was 2 Michelin stars and $ 95 for the 3 course menu — Oops. We caught up by reading more reviews, learned about the dress code and price range, but thought it would be nice to dress up for once (let’s face it, you pretty much never have to dress up to expensive restaurants in this city).
Stepping inside, the interior was very spacious and well decorated — which is surprising given how discrete the store front is. We were greeted and seated quickly.
We were given some starters which were fruity and juicy. The rosemary bread wasn’t anything special, but I really liked the olive bread.
For the first course, we ordered the seared ahi tuna and squab carpaccio. Both were very delicious, the carpaccio just melted in our mouthes.
For the second course, we ordered the short rib saccottini, and ridgid pasta with foie gras + truffle (off the seasonal menu). I regret ordering the short rib dish — I actually expected it to have some carb portions, but it was mostly meat. It was very flavorful, but a bit too strong for me. The foie gras pasta with truffle however was amazing. DEFINITELY recommend getting this dish. The foie gras and truffle together makes a great pairing. PS. dip your bread into the remaining sauce of this dish, mm so good.
For the third course, bison and rabbit loin. Both were quite meaty. The rabbit loin paired with roasted strawberries, a very delicious combination. The bison was a lighter dish, though still flavorful.
At the end of it, we were very full. All of the dishes we chose happened to be flavorful and hearty. We did not get the cheese or dessert courses, but we were given complimentary dessert selections. They brought over a cart which had several options — mostly chocolate, as well as tiramisu and some pastries. Nothing really stood out, but it was a nice finisher.
In regards to layout of the dining area, we were seated on the side at a table with chairs facing the centre. Because of the extra space and the direction we were facing, the dinner did not feel as intimate as what we would have liked.
The meal overall was well paced. I would say they proceeded a bit quickly in the beginning. I prefer to have time settling in at the restaurant and looking at my surroundings, but the two starters and the bread both came very quickly one after another. The service is astounding, definitely the best service I’ve experienced (I have only gone to one Michelin star restaurants in the past). We loved that they did not come over and ask «how is everything» because obviously everything is delicious and well crafted.
I enjoyed our meal here and would recommend it to those willing to spend the money :)

One of the best culinary experiences I’ve had in my life. For a 2 star Michelin restaurant it’s hard to keep your menu and place friendly and inspiring at the same time and I believe they’ve made it. The food was unique, rich and tasty. We had the Bison, the Ahi tuna, the ravioli and the Foie gras pasta. All were superb, accompanied with interesting portions of «surprises» by the chef.
The service was out of the ordinary and not over pressing. I love how the place is designed in a very roomy layout and diners are positioned inwards which make it feel quiet, friendly and different then high end fine dinning places I’ve been at.

This place is just amazing. From the warm greeting, everyone acknowledging your special occasion (if you told them when you made your reservation), to the excellent, knowledgeable, friendly servers, to the incredibly decadent and delicious food — it all combines to create a first class dining experience.
The ambience is beautiful but warm — I believe it used to be a church. It looks like one, with the vaulted and beamed ceilings. It’s formal, and the dress code reflects that, but not stuffy.
We loved every dish we had — the squid ink risotto, the foie gras pasta (as good as everyone says), the testa terrine with foie gras, the rabbit wrapped in pancetta, the short rib purse pasta (can’t remember the Italian name — sacchetini maybe?), the cheeses and the desserts (the zuppa (which was a layer cake, not a soup, and amazing) and the semifreddo).
We had the sommelier pair glasses with our courses, which I really enjoyed and would do again. He let us taste each one first, which was a nice touch. It wasn’t overly pricey either.
Next time I would skip the dessert course since they come around with the dessert cart afterward — but I only need a taste of sweet after dinner. The desserts were amazing and if you are a dessert person you probably won’t want to miss them.
Overall a fantastic special occasion restaurant which we will return to again and again.

WOWZA.
This was the bf and I’s first 2 Michelin star restaurant. He made reservations at Acquerello for our 3 year anniversary. When we got to the table there was a card addressed to us which I thought was a nice touch.
Before our meal we were given a shot of orange juice and vermouth to get the palate going. Then the next amuse bouche was a fried lobster roll which was soooo good. I wish I could have a jumbo version of this.
We decided to get the prix fixe menu.
I ordered:
‘Terrina di testa’ — this was my least favorite dish. But my mistake, I just saw foie gras on the menu and ordered it. It was a little too meaty for me, so I wasn’t a fan.
Squid ink risotto — SO GOOD. I’m usually a snob when it comes to risotto, but this was AMAZING. And the octopus that was on top?! Tender and delicious. Loved the kick of spices as well.
Maine lobster — I can’t remember the last time that I ordered lobster at a restaurant, but the reviews convinced me. I’m so glad I did! I’m not fond of butter sauces, but the butter sauce with the lobster was out of this world. Loved the incorporation of green tea as well! Highly recommend.
Cheese course — If there’s one thing that you need to get, it’s the CHEESE COURSE. I would have been perfectly content with 3 courses, but the rare Italian cheeses called out to me. After being explained which each cheese was and about it, I was allowed to pick 3. All of them were unique and the accompaniments that came with the cheese plate elevated all 3 to the next level!
BF ordered:
Black Angus beef tartare — first tartare at a restaurant and he thoroughly enjoyed it
Red wine short rib saccottini — he said it was more on the sweeter side, but still good.
Ridged pasta with foie gras — this is part of the seasonal tasting menu, but the waiter said he could have this as one of his courses. Both of us were anticipating this dish, and I knew once it came out he’d have to share it with me =) but I think the chef had a camera on us because when this dish came out, they also gave me a complementary dish of the pasta so I wouldn’t have to steal any of his! Such a nice touch. But HOLY MOLY. This was by far the BEST TASTING THING IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. Our taste buds were singing the entire time. This is a MUST GET!!! And be sure to ask for a piece of bread to scoop up the delicious sauce.
Bison — it game with a game sauce consisting of rabbit liver. He said it made the bison gamier than he expected, but not overly so. He loved the torta and sweetbreads.
We received a complementary dessert said Happy Anniversary. One piece was a light passion fruit panna cotta and a dark chocolate tart. Both were delicious!
Then the complimentary dessert cart came around! By this time we were stuffed but grabbed a few bites. My favorite was the chocolate and strawberry pop!
Service was impeccable. Exactly what you would expect of a 2 michelin restaurant.
Thank you, Acquerello for making our anniversary a memorable one!

3.5 stars. You can’t really fault this restaurant since everything is ultimately well-​cooked and delicious. Service is immaculate.
That being said, for a 2-​Michelin star restaurant, I was expecting creativity and to have my taste buds blown away by interesting and invigorating flavors. Unfortunately, it wasn’t. This is more of your traditional fare.
The restaurant itself is intimate (about 15 tables) but the décor is old-​fashioned and desperately needs an update.
While everything was tasty, I couldn’t help but to be slightly disappointed. It is a good place to try once but at this price point, it will probably be a one time thing since it wasn’t particularly memorable or amazing.

This of one of those places that I actually salivate when I think about it. Hands down, one of my favorite restaurants I’ve ever been to.
I took my boyfriend here for his birthday and we absolutely fell in love with EVERYTHING about this place. From the intimate setting to the impeccable service (and great wine suggestions!) to every dish melting in our mouth. And the amount of TRUFFLE we had… oh my!
Our personal favorites were the celery root budino (so fresh and refreshing with the apple and dill), truffled leek torta with lobster mushrooms (the compliment of the truffle and mushroom was amazing), ridged pasta with foie gras, black truffle, and marsala (our FAVORITE dish of the night. i mean… just look at those ingredients), and the oxtail and bone marrow.
But really, everything here is to die for. They have a seasonal tasting menu, like all fine dining restaurants, so these dishes may change, but I highly suggest going with this option. It’s a splurge, but so worth it. We didn’t get it with the wine pairing, however. We opted to ask the sommelier for his suggestions and we weren’t disappointed at all. He kept us within our price and taste ranges.
At the end, the dessert cart was brought out and a special dessert dish saying «Happy Birthday» for my boyfriend. The entire experience left a big hole in my wallet… but it has never been more worth it. If you’re looking for a fine dining Italian experience, come here. You won’t regret it.

I honestly don’t understand what all the hype is about. I know they have a Michelin star, but I wasn’t impressed. Throughout the meal we were presented with little chef surprises, or amuse buche’s. It was nice to see that the restaurant gave us a bunch of «freebies» especially being to many tasting venues and not receiving such a service. I started with the mushroom pasta. This dish was overly salty. The bison was next. I have to say, this plate was really good. The bison was cooked perfect, the sweet richness of the sauce was a wonderful accent to the meat. I was not fond of the purée. For dessert I had the panna cotta which was good. All in all though for Micheline status I felt it really didn’t hit the mark. And with so many Italian restaurants to choose from the competition is fierce.

We always love acquerello and last night — our 5 year anniversary — was no exception. Last time, we had the truffle prix fixe and this time we took the three-​course, with lobster and cheese supplements (both worth it)! The two amuse bouches were phenomenal, and our favorite dish was the lobster with smoked butter. Omg just incredible, especially with the wine pairing. I always adore the dessert cart and, last night, the pesca (size and shape of a macaron) with alkermis liqueur was the highlight.
Wonderful, thoughtful, generous, and caring service. Stellar dinner!

Acquerello’s prices are steep, but the food is delicious, the atmosphere is wonderful, and the service is excellent.
Recently, my boyfriend and I enjoyed a fabulous three course dinner at Acquerello.
For his first course, he had the black angus beef tartare, chickpea, beef tendon, black olive, and egg yolk. I started with the ora king salmon with beets, roasted lemon, and pickled ramps. We both loved our selections and we sampled each other’s plate, of course! YUM!
For the second course, my guy ordered the acquerello risotto with prosecco-​mussels, saffron, fennel, and osetra caviar. I chose the cuttlefish tagliatelle with capers, chili flakes, lobster, and agretti. Again, we were in love with our dishes and we shared! SCORE!
For the final course, he selected the bison, pumpernickel, spiced red wine, currant agro dolce, and «Millefoglie» potatoes. After much discussion with my guy and the waiter, I decided on the grimaud air chilled duck breast, spuma, roasted carrots, hazelnuts and huckleberry. WOW! We were SO happy with our choices, and, yes, we sampled each other’s plate again.
Acquerello definitely is a place we cannot afford often, but we definitely plan to return for special occasions or just as a special treat.

Yes, it’s a Michellin 2 star and the deco and service were great! The price is not as crazy as Atelier Crenn, but the dishes overall are very traditional, and the problem is that being a fully explored Italian cuisine, there’s actually an disadvantage that it’s hard to being new or refreshing.
The service got down to the details of offering us black napkins just because we wore black. The sommelier is very knowledgeable and the suggestions are right on the spot. The servers spoke very heavy Italian accent English, not sure if it’s to show authenticity or they have some hiring criteria. The dishes associated with cheese are good, I personally don’t like candied fruits in the dishes, so that makes the lamb, the cheese dish a bit unbearable. The other thing I don’t like is that it was pretty loud in a fine dining place like that. I understand that maybe it’s the sheer Italian atmosphere, but I can’t quite put the level of noise and fine dining together.
Overall, I would rate Atelier Crenn higher.

Our dinner at Acquerello was such a wonderful experience! We booked a late 9 PM dinner to celebrate my brother’s birthday and I’m so glad we did. The atmosphere is very classy and upscale, so you likely won’t get away with the casual dress seen at other restaurants.
I would give 5 stars for the service alone. The service was fantastic and so accommodating. My brother was wished a happy birthday and given a small complimentary dessert. We were also rushed at the end of our meal due to the garage closing but our server didn’t blink an eye — he wrapped up our meal with a quick dessert cart selection, processed our check, and sent us on our way just in the nick of time. A+!
We ordered the seasonal tasting menu, which consisted of:
— Chef’s surprises for the evening
— Parmesan budino with truffle perlage
— Truffled leek torta with seasonal mushrooms, walnut, sunchokes, and vegetable glaze
— Seared scallop with Perigord truffles, potato, and Osetra Caviar
— Cocoa caramelle with duck confit, Black trumpet mushrooms, and Butternut squash
— Ridged pasta with foie gras, black truffle, and Marsala
— Veal loin and braised cheeks, Shitake mushroom, cipolline onion, prosciutto, and veal jus
— ‘Ol sciur’, berries, candied radicchio, Manuka honey, and toasted pinenuts
— ‘Burro e marmellata’
— Coconut mousse, white chocolate, caramelized pineapple, hibiscus, and lime
Oh. My. Goodness. Everything was SO delicious. Even the Ol sciur, (which I didn’t finish because I can’t eat a ton of goat cheese) was wonderfully plated and flavorful. While every dish we had was great, the absolute standouts were the seared scallops, the cocoa caramelle, and the ridged foie gras pasta. I particularly enjoyed the cocoa caramelle which was duck confit wrapped in a cocoa pasta to look like a little candy.
The ridged pasta is their signature dish, and rightly so. Despite the small portion, the sauce was absolutely packed with flavor and the pasta was cooked to perfection. We all agreed that it was the best dish of the night.
I will absolutely be back to dine at Acquerello. Thank you for a wonderful evening!

Acquerello doesn’t really need any more reviews, so I’ll keep it short. Had an absolutely amazing anniversary dinner here. Service was impeccable. I was wearing a dark dress, so I was offered a dark napkin instead of the standard white. Maybe I’m just not fancy enough, but I’ve never had that happen before. I didn’t realize that was even a thing people do :) All courses were delicious, especially dessert.
–1 star because as we were leaving, the host asked me where I was from. ‘NY’ I replied. ‘No, I mean, what country?’ he asked. I know he was just trying to be friendly and make conversation, but it irked me a little. Yes, I know I’m brown and I’m proud of my Indian heritage. But I’m NY born and bred — where do you want me to say I’m ‘from’?

Our experience at Acquerello was of course very good. But… for a Michelin star restaurant, I just wasn’t as blown away as I was hoping.
First, it’s important to understand that this restaurant and overall dining experience has a very traditional, old-​school feel. In comparison, I’ve been to Coi which was much more trendy and modern and I have to say I preferred that. But if traditional (think white tablecloths, china patterns, roses on the table) is what you’re looking for, then this is the spot.
We opted for the regular menu instead of the seasonal tasting menu, and we chose to do three courses. The crazy thing is, we went a few weeks ago, and writing this now I can’t even remember most of what I ate. That right there signals it wasn’t as memorable as it should be. The thing I do remember was the lobster. I ordered this as my main course, and you actually have to pay a supplement on top of the pre fixe menu price. However, it was worth it! De-​shelled when it arrived and cooked to perfection.
The bottle of wine we ordered, on recommendation of the sommelier, was also top notch. Then again, it was $ 100 — yikes!
All in all I’ve had better meals at less celebrated and more affordable restaurants. While it was a different experience for us, if I have the money to spend in the future, I’ll most likely opt to spend it somewhere else.

We came here for valentines dinner and they were absolutely amazing!!! The service is impeccable! The restaurant can sit a descant amount of people and there is no gas table in the restaurant! From the moment we walked in we felt so welcomed, the food was amazing! Their tasting menu changes by the season and there’s an a la crate menu to choose from too! I had our waiter choose courses for me and I was so glad he did!!! There’s no words to explain each and every dish! But I swear the good here is to die for! We also got a bottle of wine Roth our dinner and their selections are wonderful! This place is s define must try and go to for the holiday!

Okay first off, this restaurant looks nothing like a restaurant! There are no windows where you can look into the restaurant and it has a very homey vibe. I’ve lived a block away since I was 10 years old and I am in my early 20’s now and have passed by this place a bazillion times and I’ve always thought Acquerello was an apartment complex!!! Nor did I know I’ve lived so close to a 2 Michelin Star restaurant! Wowza!
5 years of being stuck with someone calls for a celebratory dinner, don’t you agree? We arrived at the restaurant 10 minutes before our dinner reservations on a Wednesday and were seated right away.
The dining room area is very intimate and looks like a home. There’s no windows so creepers can’t stare you down while you eat. Upon sitting them, we noticed there was an envelope on our table addressed to us. We opened it up and it was a card from the lovely staff of Acquerello, wishing us a happy anniversary! Yay!!! *Que the confetti!*
For starters we were given shots of orange juice with sweet vermouth. OMG it was so good, that I think I might be over mimosas! It was citrusy, tangy and sweet all at the same time. It was wonderful and I wanted more of it! (Much later in the night, we flagged a server down to settle the grapefruit vs orange juice dispute my BF and I had & the server educated us on what exactly it was. It was OJ which meant I lost the bet, boo! & he was kind enough to offer us complimentary glasses of it because we enjoyed it so much!) ⁵⁄₅
A series of chef surprises followed after the shot.
–Teensy tiny cream puffs filled with savory cheese and chives: Okay, I know what you’re thinking! Cream puffs are supposed to sweet, savory is just weird. You are dead wrong, my friend! Savory cream puffs are just as scrumptious as sweet ones if not better! It was nice and airy with just the right amount of creamy cheese filling inside! I tried to savor as much of it as possible and stretch to at least 2 bites! ⁵⁄₅
–Cheese custard topped with mixed greens and lined with black truffle pearls: This was also very yummy. It had the right amount of airiness & denseness. You would think that the black dots are caviar but it’s actually black truffles pearled out. It was not very overwhelmingly cheesy, which was great. ⁵⁄₅
We opted for the 5 course prix fixe menu.
For starters:
Me: Snake River Farms pork belly with radicchio and pickled apple: I’ve never had a bad piece of pork belly in my life and the streak lives on with Acquerello’s Pork Belly. It was a fat slab of fatty goodness with just the right amount of seasonings and paired with both pickled and fresh apples. I give this dish a ⁵⁄₅
BF: Black Angus beef tartare, chickpea, beef tendon, black olive, and egg yolk: Okay, neither one of us was a big fan of this dish but he finished it off anyways. We both didn’t think that the beef was seasoned well enough and personally I don’t like the idea of eating raw meat aside from raw fish. However, the deep fried tendons were brilliant! They tasted exactly like the colorful shrimp chips accompanied with your crispy chicken from a Chinese restaurant. Which is weird but oh so yummy. ¹⁄₅ (for the beef tendons)
2^nd Course: (Pastas)
Me: Cannellini filled cappelletti with grilled lemon, kale pesto, and pebble beans-​Navy bean filled ravioli topped with kale bathing in a broth with a bunch of pebble beans hanging out. I didn’t really enjoy this as my ravioli tastes kinda like soap. Bleckkk ⁰⁄₅.
BF: Porcini and Chanterelle casonsei with sweetbreads, roasted garlic, Parmesan, and watercress: Tasted better than mine but I can’t really stomach the idea of eating sweetbreads. For those who don’t know what sweetbreads are, just know that its not bread nor is it sweet. BF didn’t really enjoy it either but I liked the pramesan crisps! ¹⁄₅
3^rd Course: (Main Course)
Me: Maine lobster with smoked butter, brassicas, and anchovy-​brioche crumb: Sooooo good, smoked butter is drizzled over your lobster before consumption. You cannot taste the anchovy in the brioche crumb coating, which was amazing because I was a little afraid I wouldn’t like it. On the opposite side of your lobster tail, there is a medallion made of lobster topped with a cauliflower? crème that was so rich and tasty. Everything on that plate was amazing and oh so yummy. ⁵⁄₅!!!
BF: Grilled Swordfish with Beluga lentils, Brussels sprouts, black garlic, and sunchoke-​Swordfish was a little bit overcooked and dry. Did not enjoy this dish as much as we thought we would. ¹⁄₅
4^th Course: (Cheese cart)
Decided to skip it because we were way too full!
Desserts:
Me: Modern Tiramisù served with warm chocolate-​espresso ganache: A tiramisu coated with a crisp airy outer layer in which the server pours over hot chocolate-​espresso ganache to cut through the coating and into the insides of the dessert. ⁴⁄₅
BF: Flambéed apple gelato, brown butter, lemon ricotta, yuzu meringue, and bee pollen: The gelato was the winner in the desserts game. ⁵⁄₅!
We had a good time here

Didnt try this spot because we have a 1-​year old daughter and they do not allow any kids under 8-​years old. For that…1-star.

Best restaurant I have ever been to!
We arrived and were tended to right away with amazing service. Three ‘surprises’ from the chet were sent to the table: a shot of a drink, a spoon of calamari, and a pastry ball filled with ricotta. All three were exquisite :)
I got the beef tar tar, gnocchi, and the lobster. Each were absolutely amazing and perfection. I could not get over the great flavors of the food. I ended the meal with the semifreddo, which they also brought a smaller version of for my fiancée even though he did not order it. They also came around with the small cart with about ten different desserts they offered to each table for free. Finally, they sent us home with a box of biscotti that we ate the following night, but they still tasted as fresh as if they just came out of the oven.
The service is what stood out the most to me. We were never left wanting and it’s like the staff read our minds before we had to say anything. The gentleman who was our server was absolutely charming, attentive, and so personable. I loved him from the moment we sat down. I also very much enjoyed the wine that was recommended for my meal.
What a fabulous restaurant, I hope to come back for another special occasion in the future!

Amazing all around! This place has always been on my bucket list from hearing such amazing things from my friends, and was lucky enough to get a reservation on a Friday night just a few days prior to celebrate my new gig. Don’t let the exterior of the venue fool you, once you step inside, it’s fitting of a Michelin star venue.
Firstly, huge kudos to the hostess Thereza (spelling?) who made sure my party and myself were well taken care of. My parents aren’t huge foodies so this was a first for them experiencing a Michelin star restaurant, and they ended up loving it! The chef even cooked up an extra dessert at the end of the meal to congratulate on my new journey.
I decided beforehand to try out the seasonal tasting menu, the braised oxtail and ridged pasta with foie gras pretty much sealed the deal.
CHEF’S SURPRISES
The chef had a a couple of surprise starters to start the evening with, and both were exquisite and unique in their own ways. The first dish was an amuse-​bouche with fennel cheese, both savory and creamy, foreshadowing what we were in store for the rest of the evening. The second surprise came in the form of a biscuit, although I can’t recall what type of cheese filling powered this dish. You could tell it was carefully constructed with just the right amount of filling though.
STARTERS
Corn salad — Probably the best corn salad I’ve ever had, especially the budino! The corn was a perfect complement to the pudding
Sorbet and fruit salad — Light and refreshing. The presentation of the dish was impeccable and contents included a full belly farm melon, tomato-​basil sorbetto, and proscuitto.
MAIN COURSES
Manila clams with baby abalone — Sprinkled on top with parsley and fried leeks. Perfect combination of flavors and something light to start for the main courses.
Braised oxtail — Mixed with chanterelle mushrooms, golden raisin, bone marrow, and shaved dark chocolate.
Ridged pasta with foie gras — Don’t let the size of the dish fool you, this was by far the most filling dish of the night. Rich and creamy texture with black truffle and marsala made this one of many highlights on the menu.
Lamb loin — Cooked with roasted garlic, green onion, and pistachio crisp. Lamb was beautifully done and just melted right in your mouth.
DESSERT
Strawberry cannolo — Mixed with bocconcino di capra, fennel, and black pepper. This was the one plate I wasnt particularly a fan of, the goat cheese was way too overwhelming but they were nice enough to swap this out with a cheese plate.
Meyer lemon chantilly — with meringue and lime
Mosaic of summer fruit — with marsala and lemon
In addition, a full cart of additional dessert items was wheeled out in front of us after we finished our meal with different assortments of chocolate, cookies, and cake pops. All in all, a fantastic experience with 5 star service.

I would go 5 star but we had one misstep that dropped it for me in an otherwise near perfect experience.
We planned a number of weeks ago to come here due to the amazing review, 2 Michelin stars and the online menu samples. The menu and our primary server did not disappoint.
We each started with steak tartare which had heavenly flavors and was also beautiful to look at. Next up I had porcini and chanterelle casonsei with sweetbreads and this was my favorite dish. The sauce had a rich mushroom truffle flavor, the pasta was like soft, rich, delicate clouds that you eat… yes, I know that sounds cheesy but it was that good! My husband had sweet potato and yam gnocchi which had a maple flavor and felt like a plate of Holliday comfort executed at a whole other level. I had sea bass and he had pancetta wrapped venison — his was better, I liked the sea bass but didn’t love it. Last official dish was the unusual Italian cheese course and this was another ‘make the night’ event for me. I can’t name the cheese I will only say try the one that has wine in it … Bliss!
In addition to our selections there were many complimentary treats. Cauliflower panecotta bite, profiterole shaped like a tiny biscuit with ricotta cheese inside and one more dish with truffle that I am failing to describe (sorry, it’s been a few days!). The grand finale was the beautiful mignardises cart, we tried a number of complimentary sweet bites to end our meal.
The only con was our sommelier and drink service. After 20 minutes we inquired about a glass of wine the server said she would send the sommelier. 10 Minutes later he arrives. We asked for recommendations and he said ‘what do you like?’ Then he said, ‘I recommend that.’ He never asked what we were selecting off the menu or offered any value. Not worth the 30 minute wait, it would have been if we tried something amazing.
This doesn’t make me regret my choice but It did mar the experience a bit.

It was a very nice place to have dinner. Pricey? Yes, but well worth it. Take someone here if you want to impress them. :)
Really nice location for a date, or just a different experience. Lovely interior. I would say it was kind of private, as we were seated towards the front, and we were still able to chat with the table next to us. I loved the dessert cart! And of course ladies get to leave with a lovely red box of biscotti!!! And I thought I was special. Lol.
Definitely try this place if you’re visiting SF.

We had a very nice Anniversary dinner here, though we were slightly underwhelmed by the food (admittedly, our expectations were extremely high given the 2 Michelin stars). We had a late reservation at 9:45pm but arrived early and they seated us early which was nice.
Our server was lovely and very smiley in a way that can’t help but make you smile too. I chose 3 courses and the BF had 5 courses. Since the BF had 2 extra courses, they brought me a little chef surprise when I did not have a course — such a wonderful treat! The surprises were one of my favorite parts of the evening.
Started with a Vermouth apéritif that was delicious. I am not a drinker and this little drink was so smooth, and tasted like amazing grapefruit juice (someone will cringe at my description, but that’s what it tasted like to me). Then we had 2 amuse-​bouches, a cauliflower purée bite and a little biscuit. Both were yummy. Then we had another chef special dish that was like a fromage flan with caviar. Delicious as well.
Between the two of us, we ordered:
–Pork Belly: 3.5 stars — It is a large, generous piece, but the belly itself did not have a lot of flavor. You have to eat with the accompanying apples and radicchio to get the right flavor combination.
–Tartare: 4 stars — Very good, BF’s dish, I had a bite with a chip.
–Tomato Gnocchi: 5 stars — Delicious all around.
–Risotto: 2 stars — Probably the most disappointing dish. Surprisingly dry and the flavors missed.
–Ridged Pasta with Foie Gras & Truffles: 3.5 stars — The one item that you can order off the Tasting Menu and their signature dish. I was soo looking forward to this one, however, it was a miss for me. It’s a personal thing if you like it or not. To me, it was too sweet and overwhelmingly rich. I was satiated after just a few bites. So I ate it very slowly, then gave my last few bites to the BF.
–Cuttlefish pasta (chef surprise): 4.5 stars — My first chef surprise while the BF had his additional courses. Strong fish flavor and delicious, light pasta.
–Lobster Ravioli (chef surprise): 5+ stars — My second chef surprise. Easily one of our favorite bites of the night!
–Duck breast w duck liver mousse: 5 stars — Fantastic. Really wonderful and very rich. By now, I was quite full and rather than stuff myself, I decided to take most of this dish home. The next day it was equally amazing.
–Venison: 5 stars (BF dish) — I had a bite and I preferred my duck, and BF preferred his venison.
–Dessert tray: 4.5 stars — I love that they give you the option to try whatever you’d like from this tray. Normally, I think I would devour everything, but the evening’s meal was so rich, that by now, I didn’t really crave the rich desserts as much as I normally would.
–Bread: 5 stars — They had 2 choices — rosemary & olive. Rosemary was the bomb, accompanied by a lovely butter with lava salt, and another sea salt.
Overall, we enjoyed Acquerello. The food was good and there were fantastic dishes, but a few more misses than expected. Also, the food is extremely rich. I think this was the most surprising element for me. However, the experience is lovely and worth a special celebration. Thinking back now, they did not acknowledge our anniversary which I thought I had noted in our reservation, but I made the res a while ago so it’s possible that I left it out.
A few other details… there is a parking garage across the street as well as metered parking in the area. It is an older crowd, and you are all seated in one large room. If you want more privacy, I would request a table in the corner. We were along the side, in the middle, and while it’s not like anyone is in your business, the corner tables seemed a bit more private. Dress code for men is a jacket. It can be dressy but this is also SF, so I think you can get away with being a bit casual. We were both in jeans (our nice jeans!) and initially I was worried about being under-​dressed, but I felt fine.
Compared to the other fancy meals we’ve had in the SF bay area, Gary Danko is still our favorite (as well as State Bird which is not fancy, but I love), then La Folie, then Acquerello. However, Acquerello is the most intimate due to the small space so it’s a different experience.

We did not expect such a high level of service and food quality! We thought it was just another popular SF hip restaurant, packed with hipsters, a nice bar …
It’s a very quiet, well decorated restaurant, not big, but the high ceilings make you feel it’s very spacious. Elegant tables. It actually reminds me of Quince.
The pricing level is like Garry Danko, however this is a much better restaurant in my book, better décor, better ambiance, most importantly better executed food! The service is superb.
We will definitely come back with clients and friends.

A terrific fine-​dining experience from start to finish. The tasting menu was thoughtfully done and every plate was beautifully presented.
The sommelier was adorable and kind and offered suggestions without making us feel like a-​holes for not knowing what to order.
Some plates were better than others, particularly the ‘special bites’ not on the menu that were imaginative, but not as delicious. The main staples were all fantastic.

What a lovely surprise. Dined here on ⁹⁄₉ at 8:15pm and the restaurant was 80% occupied. It always helps to call the restaurant — Open Table reservations are somewhat limited to 5:30 or 9:30.
The warm lighting, gentle spy music and cozy décor set us up for a wonderful experience. The food was outstanding and unlike many of fine dining experiences did not last until midnight. The pacing of the courses were spot on and service was exceptional. Every dish was cooked to perfection and complemented with savory jus and reductions that sometimes outshone the meat. We ordered the 4 courses per person. He had the pork belly, foie gras Marsala pasta, guinea hen with crisp prosciutto and the bourbon caramel chocolate semifreddo. She had the beef tartare, porcini and chanterelle sweetbread pasta, Chilean sea bass with red pepper purée and modern twist on a tiramisu. All amazing! Definitely on our top 10 all time favorite restaurants.

I’m not big on sharing. Growing up, my dad’s American birthday was the day after mine. So instead of celebrating that day, we would celebrate his Chinese birthday which was in October. When I met the roommate, I found out his bday is the day before mine! Wtf?! Now I have to share my bday month with him too? Like last Wednesday, this gives my mom an excuse take us all out to dinner. I made a reservation for a party of 4 through OpenTable (
) for August 26^th at 6:15pm. I let them know we were celebrating 3 birthdays: mine, my dad’s and the roommate’s.
They have three prix fixe choices: Three courses ($ 85), Four courses ($ 120) or Five courses ($ 140). They also offer a Seasonal tasting menu ($ 185), but the whole table has to participate, so we chose the prix fixe menu instead. I just went and ordered everything I wanted on the menu and it ended up being 3 courses each. I asked our server to course and distribute it however he wanted.
Amuse bouche:
*Orange juice with sweet vermouth
*Cauliflower panna cotta
*Puff pastry filled with soup
*Sweet corn custard
Lots of fun things to eat. I’m not big on juice, but the OJ was a good palate cleanser. The bitterness from the vermouth made the drink reminiscent of grapefruit. I liked the panna cotta. Silky and savory. The puff pastry was fun and filled with cream of mushroom soup? I wasn’t paying attention when they served it so I’m not too sure what was inside. The sweet corn custard was the size of a full on course. Reminded me of cream of corn soup which I found very comforting. My mom used to make it a lot when I was younger.
First course:
*Kampachi crudo with avocado mousse, navel orange, agresto and pistachio
*Black angus beef tartare, chickpea, beef tendon, black olive and egg yolk
*Snake river farms pork belly with watermelon, radicchio and apple
Since most of our dishes averaged out to 3 per course, they were nice enough to provide an extra small course, so no one would feel left out. We got a small plate of Squash and vegetables. Very pretty. The kampachi was good. Nice and fresh. It was fun eating the beef tartare on the tendon puffs. I’ve never had it that way before. The pork belly was super soft and tender.
Second course:
*Acquerello risotto with prosecco-​mussels, saffron, fennel and osetra caviar
*Porcini and chanterelle casonsei with sweetbreads, roasted garlic, parmesan and watercress
*Ridged pasta with foie gras, black truffle and marsala
Our complimentary small course here was Lobster ravioli. It was delicious! My favorite dish of course was the foie gras pasta. Great flavor with the foie, truffle and marsala. Yum! The risotto was cooked well. The mussels, saffron, fennel and caviar complemented it nicely. I didn’t have much of the casonsei, but the bite I had had a great earthiness from the mushrooms and the pasta was al dente.
Third course:
*Guinea hen remoulade with favas, roasted sweet 100 tomatoes and prosciutto crisp
*Creekstone black angus filet, cipolline, panelle, currant and charred onion crème fraîche x2
*White wine and butter poached maine lobster, mandarin, artichoke and rye (menu supplement of $ 15)
They had also offered two fish options, but my fam is all about meat and shellfish, so we got two filets. Everything dish was super flavorful. The prosciutto crisp with the hen provided a nice contrast. The filet was perfectly rare. I enjoyed the greens that came with it. And lobster tail was nicely poached.
Cheese & Dessert:
*An unusual selection of Italian cheeses presented tableside (menu supplement of $ 10)
*Modern tiramisu served with warm chocolate-​espresso ganache
The cheese and dessert came in separate courses. I loved the cheese. Especially the one reminiscent of blue cheese. Yum. The dessert wasn’t my favorite as it was more like a chocolate cake then a tiramisu. I like the light creaminess and espresso flavor of tiramisu. This was rather dense and chocolatey.
Extra desserts:
*Bourbon-​caramel semifreddo
*Happy birthday dessert
As extra desserts with the tiramisu, they gave us small servings of the semifreddo and a birthday dessert. That way we all had a dessert in front of us during the dessert course. Afterwards, they wrapped it all up with a Petit four cart where we all chose what we wanted from the cart. And to end the meal, they sent us home with a box of biscotti.
I think their corkage is something ridiculous like $ 75. So instead of bringing wine, we ordered a bottle. The Lewis merlot 12 ($ 125). My dad picked it, but it reminded me more of a cab than a merlot. More full bodied and bolder than I expected. I enjoyed it. My dad also ordered a Coffee regular ($ 3) to pair with the desserts.
The food is probably more deserving of 4 stars, but since they were so thoughtful in providing complimentary small plates so no one was left out, I’m bumping them to 5. After all, the service was amazing!

Some things just don’t look so exciting on paper: contracts, some resumes, and yes, even menus. I almost didn’t chose Acquerello for my birthday dinner, because the menu sounded good, but nothing really stood out. We did keep our reservations and am so glad that we did because the whole dining experience was magical and tantalizing! I’m so happy that I stuck with a 3 course, because they totally give you a lot of amuse bouches and other complimentary items.
The first amuse bouche was an orange juice and vermouth palate cleanser. Also complimentary for us were sesame financers and cheese pastry balls. It was refreshing and had a little bit of kick to it as well. The financiers weren’t my thing and were a teeny bit dry (probably because I prefer sweet ones) but we loved the crisp and warm cheese balls. I also received a lovely corn soufflé item which was so delicate and silky. Also to match one of his dishes as well, they presented me with a beautiful melody of vegetables. So thoughtful so I never had to just «wait» while I drool over his dishes. I was also ecstatic that I was able to get the ridged foie gras pasta as an appetizer for my three course. I love Allegro Romano’s foie gras pasta but this one was the best I’ve ever had. Al dente rigatoni pieces covered in a creamy Marsala foie gras sauce, topped with shaved black truffle. We used the extra sauce to dip our bread in. His appetizer was the pork belly. The pork belly was a huge hunk of goodness. It had a pretty good fat to meat ratio and melted in our mouths like butter! His second course was the risotto with prosecco mussels, saffron, fennel, and caviar. The risotto was exquisite. We’re not even too big on caviar and mussels but it was well balanced, the risotto was cooked perfectly. Such a hard decision, but this risotto is probably our second favorite that we’ve ever had. Next up were our main courses, I got the Guinea hen roulade. The meat was so tender and the skin was crisp as it was sous vide. The proscuitto crisp was a nice touch, as well, though again a little overly salty. I enjoyed the purée and the sweet tomatoes that accompanied the meat. His filet was cooked perfectly medium rare and accompanied by fried pillowy chickpea cubes and a light airy horseradish foam. We were getting so full but we can’t forget about dessert. I got the modern tiramisu and he got the bourbon caramel semifreddo. I always love a good tiramisu, and this one was a modern take, with a warm chocolate espresso ganache (think like the soufflé filling at Gary Danko which is poured at table side). It was so moist and decadent. I am not a fan of bourbon but really enjoyed his bourbon caramel semifreddo as well. Rich dark chocolate, sweet caramel and that crunchiness from the Amaretti crust. The love from Acquerello doesn’t stop there, they also had another dessert plate for my birthday which was filled with a mango mousse cake, macadamia bar dessert and a meringue. They were refreshing and well done too. Lastly, they also have a dessert cart. I can’t say no to sweets even though I was bursting at the seams. I took a bite each of a cake pop, two different truffles, a jam biscotti, and a hazelnut truffle. The hazelnut truffle was my favorite, I would pass on the others next time.
Service was top notch all around. I love how they also have a stool for bags to be placed on. The décor is charming. You get a lot for your money at Acquerello. I am so happy that I chose to have my birthday dinner here. Again, don’t let brief descriptions on a menu fool you. I can see why Acquerello is a two star Michelin rated restaurant. I can’t wait to come back for another meal, but as hubby says, that won’t be for a little while!

TL;DR:
A long & lethargic meal, shackled to tradition, brown sauce, & salt. Contrary to Google, absolutely not «the best Italian food in the city». Michelin 2 star meals generally contain at least a handful of orgasmic delights; sadly, while Acquerello’s aesthetics were meticulously considered, there was literally nothing that I would come back for.
THE DEETS:
***AMUSE BOUCHE #1: FINANCIERS w/​black sesame & nectarine
Two tiny cakes covered w/​black sesame. Unremarkable & devoid of flavor, nothing that tiny dots of nectarine paste could remedy.
***AMUSE BOUCHE #2: PROFITEROLES SALATI w/​ricotta & herbs
Cheese ball with a molten ricotta core, strong tarragon flavor. Pleasant but unmemorable.
***BRENTWOOD CORN BUDINO w/​corn salad
A thick budino that resembled a soufflé muffin – delicately moist as whipped custard, but tasted mildly burnt. The accompanying corn salad was composed of delightfully crunchy kernels that tasted of truffle oil (excellent) and light vinaigrette. The crumbs added no value. Sadly, best dish of the evening.
***ROSEMARY & OLIVE BREAD, sweet cream butter w/​lava sea salt, French sea salt
Tough as an old shoe. Lava sea salt is novel. And if that wasn’t enough, another dish of salt on the side for full renal failure.
***CUTTLEFISH ‘TAGLIATELLE’ w/​capers, chili flakes, lobster, agretti
In this dish cuttlefish was ground up & formed it into the shape of tagliatelle pasta. Luckily the slight odor did not translate into fishy flavor. While I applaud this creative endeavor, the end result was hearty but not divine. Lobster chunks and capers steered the dish in a heavier direction. Agretti (all the rage in the London food scene) tastes like grass. What was lacking was a bit of sauciness.
***FULL BELLY FARM MELON, PROSCIUTTO, tomato-​basil sorbetto
An haute take on an old favorite. The melons were refreshing, though not ripe or sweet enough. The 2 tiny strips of prosciutto were dry, crispy, & bacon-​esque, an inferior choice imho. Extra +++ for tomato-​basil sorbetto. The adorning flowers & leaves contributed nothing to the flavor.
***MANILA CLAMS w/​local baby abalone, parsley & fried leeks
The diced clams were inserted into mezzaluna pastas that were fragrant, but were lacking in moisture & incredibly salty. The abalone was about the fishiest thing I’ve had this year. Covered in fried leeks, w/​small contributions of kale pesto, so mild as to be practically invisible.
***‘CODA ALLA VACCINARA’: braised oxtail, Chanterelle mushrooms, golden raisin, bone marrow, shaved dark chocolate
A deconstruction of a traditional Roman stew, presenting the individual ingredients as autonomous portions. Oxtail is genetically designed to melt in your mouth, so of course this sad, fibrous, steak-​like creation was a crime against nature. Already insulted, the meat was plopped in a thick excretion of unsavory brown sauce. The mushrooms & celery were so-​so, while the hazelnut powder & surrounding sauces (ostensibly golden raisin paste & tomato) felt cacophonous, as did the 72% cacao Valrhona shavings.
***RIDGED PASTA w/​foie gras, black truffle, Marsala
Firm rigatone pasta coated in a sauce so rich that I might as well have been gnawing on a stick of butter with one hand while taking bites from a block of Manteca lard cradled in the other arm. The flavors of foie gras, black truffle, & sweet Marsala wine were alluring & full, but at some point the human body cannot accept any more fat and automatically shuts down with cringing rapidity.
***LAMB LOIN, green onion, roasted garlic, pistachio crisp
Sous-​vide at a low temperature, the lamb reached an ideal level of tenderness, but besides some crunchy pistachio tuile on the side, I don’t recall any preparations that made this dish stand out. Meh.
***STRAWBERRY CANNOLO w/​Bocconcino di Capra, fennel, black pepper
Not sure if this was intended as a cheese course or a dessert, but as both, it was truly horrifying. Strawberry purée molded into a crystalized cannoli shell & stuffed w/​Bocconcino di Capra, a creamy but incredibly potent cheese (not at all sweetened). I literally choked it down like a donkey. Laid carefully on a bed of meringue strewn with Marcona almonds & fennel seed. Memories of my childhood – that handful of anise seed that I put in my mouth, obtained from the dish by the cash register of an Indian restaurant (& promptly spit into the bushes).
***MEYER LEMON CHANTILLY w/​meringue and lime
A simple but yawn-​inspiring Meyer lemon pudding w/​accompanying citrus flavors – crisp of lime & orange meringue. A dusting of plum. Kinda nice, meh.
***MOSIAC OF SUMMER FRUIT w/​Marsala and lemon
Fresh straw-​, blue-​, black-​, & rasp-​berries w/​plum & peach served on top of (& embedded in) a pastry cream almost too sweet & rich to consume. In fact so heavy that it completely nullified the fruit, which in and of itself tasted like normal grocery produce. Hibiscus crystals meh.
_​_​
Behold Acquerello, my least favorite of the Michelin 2 stars.

Beautiful, mature space.
Was torn on whether to order from the prix fixe menu or the tasting, based on the offerings we ended up with the 4 course prix fixe.
Overall the food was pretty good to good. Not amazing. Solid, will charm some, but not those who are seasoned eaters.
The lobster that everyone raves about was tough. Too many sauces and sweetness in the dishes. Nothing was fresh or light except the compressed apple amuse bouche with prosciutto. Favorites of the evening were the pastas and the cheese course. Pillowy gnocchi, the best I have ever had, much more potato than dough.
The biscotti gift at the end was nice, but not the most appetizing.
Needs refining in the following areas:
–coat check, super awkward having to drape jacket on the back of chair
–new wine glass even though I am ordering the same wine, sommelier poured wine in the glass I was still drinking from
–crumbing throughout the meal not just before dessert
–coffee, tea or dessert wine should be offered without prompting
–check should not be removed from the table when we are still there
Overall I did not think it was a 2 star experience. 1 for sure. I would come back for the tasting menu, after vetting it online.

Acquerello’s been on my list for a while, so when my boyfriend surprised me with reservations here, I was absolutely ecstatic!
1760 has easily become one of my favorite restaurants in Nob Hill, so I had high expectations for sister restaurant Acquerello. It was pretty on point with what I was anticipating — fine dining Italian cuisine with exceptional ingredients. Although I did find that the style of Acquerello wasn’t extremely Italian (to be quite frank I found that the style was a blend of French & Italian) moreso like Quince, I still enjoyed every bit of it!
The dining room was smaller than anticipated, but absolutely delightful and romantic. We went for the tasting menu so it was certainly a splurge, but every dish was amazing. We both agreed though that some of our favorites were the small but delicately prepared amuse bouches at the beginning of our meal: beef tartare and the chip with ikura on top. The entrees that really topped the list were the «Beet caramelle» or candy-​shaped beet pasta with «smoked blue cheese butter» and the Butter poached Maine lobster.
I think the only slightly underwhelming aspect was the wine pairing — with only 2 red wines for the entire pairing — I was left slightly disappointed. With such a rich menu consisting of pastas and meats from both land & sea, I was really hoping that our pairings would be worth the extra splurge and offer an eclectic variety of wines. Rather, the majority of our wines were white.
Overall, the entire dining experience was absolutely wonderful and I intend to return again for another special occasion, however, I think next time I would opt for a $ 115/​bottle of wine, rather than a $ 115/​pp wine pairing that was slightly disappointing.
Service is exceptional. This spot is best for a special occasion with your significant other!

Every single element of this meal was truly outstanding. I’d vote wholeheartedly for Acquerello as the best fine dining restaurant in San Francisco, well over Gary Danko, Saison, Koi, etc.
What stands out for me here, was that it was luxurious and attentive without feeling stuffy or snooty. And all the little extras made the most difference. I only ordered 3 courses, but left feeling like I’d had 8 because of all the little things they brought along the way. Here’s what we had:
Amuse Bouches:
— Blood orange & burbon (?) shooter
— Beef tartare with herbs and on a tiny pastry
— Mini Cauliflower soufflé
— Mini pecorino profiterole
Courses:
— Beet & Yam w/​herbs and goat cheese
— Risotto with 65 degree egg, raddichio, & nasturtium
— Angus beef filet w/​chickpea fries, roasted onions, demi-​glacé
— 3 items from the bon-​bon cart (pistachio lollipop, guava macaron, salted carmel chocolate)
I could describe every dish, but they were all truly perfect. Even the bread and butter was outstanding.
For me though, the true stand-​outs were the main courses. EVERY single bite of the beet & yam starter was interesting and new, with small herbs and a different selection of gels, foams, and flavors. The risotto is extremely rich, but the bitter raddichio and nasturtium leaves cut through the deep creamy flavor of the egg and cheese. And the beef was perfectly cooked and complimented by the other items on the plate.
Pro-​Tip: If you don’t love dessert, don’t waste a course on it. There’s a complimentary cart of sweets that come around at the end, regardless of if you order dessert or not, so you still get a little sweet fix at the end.

I give a 4 star because I was expecting much more based on the previous reviews and ratings.
Don’t get me wrong, 1) it was good food and 2) the service was top notch, for sure. But the food seemed heavy most of the time. My wife ordered sea bass and it seemed overlooked and needed a knife to cut, along with chewy.
My food items were all prepared well, and don’t have any complaints, but just nothing to write home about. Their appetizer plates were great and flavorful.
Mainly I was impressed with their coordinated service, bringing plates in teams, removing plates, drinks, refills, and presentation of the wine.
It would be tough for me to go back and pay top dollar for this place, although it was good.