We went to Brindisi last night, making up a table of four well-travelled, notoriously fussy eaters. At the end of the meal, the general concensus was that Brindisi had given each of us one of the... More

We went to Brindisi last night, making up a table of four well-travelled, notoriously fussy eaters. At the end of the meal, the general concensus was that Brindisi had given each of us one of the best meals we had ever eaten. Simply excellent. I have long been a seeker of the perfect Calamari; I think I may have found it at Brindisi. The caesar salad was also the best any of us have had in a long time. Three of us chose puttanesca (with prawns) and all three of us were delighted with the portion and the flavour. The third member of our party chose a simple roasted chicken dish and said it was perfect (roasted chicken in restaurants can be dry and boring -- this was not). We were all full after our starters and entrees, but the lure of the desert was too strong. Their pistachio ice cream will redefine ice cream for you forever. We had it with profiteroles and chocolate caramel sauce. Double yums from everyone. The prices were very good, the waiters were attentive, charming, and informed without being overly obtrusive. An evening to remember and one we intend to repeat while we're in town. Pros: Absolutely everything. Cons: None.
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Great ambience...it's as though you've left the country and are visiting Italy. If you live in the East Bay, take a ferry to truly take it all in. The food's great, and the wait-staff is too.

Great ambience...it's as though you've left the country and are visiting Italy. If you live in the East Bay, take a ferry to truly take it all in. The food's great, and the wait-staff is too.
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Brindisi's is a wonderful example of old San Fran. It has a unique feeling of being straight out of little Italy. The food was great and every sea food item looked great. Sitting outside only made... More

Brindisi's is a wonderful example of old San Fran. It has a unique feeling of being straight out of little Italy. The food was great and every sea food item looked great. Sitting outside only made the experience better with the sea gulls and streetcars in the background I felt like I was in a scene of a movie. A truly magical place.
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the staff is welcoming and the owner is lovevely. I started with gnocchi al pomodoro,homemade delicate gnocchi sank in a fresh tomatoes puree. I shares a delicious fish sicilian cous cous...TO DIE... More

the staff is welcoming and the owner is lovevely. I started with gnocchi al pomodoro,homemade delicate gnocchi sank in a fresh tomatoes puree. I shares a delicious fish sicilian cous cous...TO DIE FOR. We order the sicilian cannoli a variation to the traditional recipe but so fresh and crispy tha we wanted more. Overall the food is highly reccomended, such as the service. We asked twice to change our wine glasses because they were dirty and came back with other dirty wine glasses,preatty common in San Francisco
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We dined here for a low-key Valentine's Day dinner. We were seated quickly (almost rushed by the hostess) into our seats which was snug(!) in between another table of two and the table with five... More

We dined here for a low-key Valentine's Day dinner. We were seated quickly (almost rushed by the hostess) into our seats which was snug(!) in between another table of two and the table with five middle aged men... Needless to say, it wasn't very romantic. Next came the appetizers. We ordered oysters which didn't come to the table chilled and half of them didn't even look like full oysters. The sauce that came with them were pretty good though. We also ordered bruschetta that never came. They looked pretty yummy on the table next to us, but I guess we'll never know... For the entree, I had spaghetti with crab which was pretty good, but a little oily. My boyfriend had the linguine with 1/2 lobster that I thought was delicious. Getting the meat out of the lobster might be messy, but if you're with someone you're comfortable with, it's not too bad. Overall, the experience and service, especially, could have been better. We might try Brindisi again on a weekday when there's not a crowd and a hostess that's harrassing everyone that walks by to come, sit and eat. Pros: Outdoor seating Cons: Service
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Traveling through Europe i've had many experiences that were memorable. Brindisi Cucina di Mare moved me to write this review the very day after the magnificent time my wife and I experienced. We... More

Traveling through Europe i've had many experiences that were memorable. Brindisi Cucina di Mare moved me to write this review the very day after the magnificent time my wife and I experienced. We were given the choice to sit inside or on the patio. We choose the patio and asked our waiter for his wine choice. He choose a smooth full bodied barolo. He also recommended the oysters on the half shell. They were from Washington and extremely fresh. (if you have a chance and enjoy oysters they are mild and the lemon caper sauce has a nice flair from the norm.) We then moved on to the main courses. My wife choose the tuna and I choose the prosciuttio wrapped sole on risotto. Both dishes melted in our mouth. By far the best meal we've experienced in years. We ended the meal with creme brulee' and the profitoroloes. Their expresso is smooth and a bit nutty and was a great finish to our night. It may be a bit difficult to find but the reward is a meal that you'll remember for a lifetime!
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My husband and I visited Bridisi about a month ago for dinner. My husband had the snapper with risotto; I had the lobster and linguine. My husband went on about his entree for weeks afterward--so... More

My husband and I visited Bridisi about a month ago for dinner. My husband had the snapper with risotto; I had the lobster and linguine. My husband went on about his entree for weeks afterward--so much so I tried to duplicate the recipe at home. :) (It was good, but not as good as the original.) My lobster was perfectly cooked, though a little spicy. The best thing about the place, however, is its ambiance and the service. The wait staff speak to each other in Italian, making you feel like you're actually in some little restaurant in Italy. And in addition to our very attentive and funny waiter, the maitre d checked in on us a few times too, wiping off our water glasses when they had too much condensation and bringing me a fresh napkin before we even had to ask. Check it out--you won't regret it.
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This is a very authentic italian restaurant with italian hosts, waiters and cooks. The food was amazing. I had ordered the seafood skewers on a bed of couscous. It was the best dish I have had for a... More

This is a very authentic italian restaurant with italian hosts, waiters and cooks. The food was amazing. I had ordered the seafood skewers on a bed of couscous. It was the best dish I have had for a long time. The waiter was very friendly and accomodating. I am chlostrophobic and so the hostess and the waiters set a special table for me and my boyfriend, away from the people so I can be confortable, and I didnt even have an RSVP. Try their cannoli or the pear tart for dessert. They also have a great wine selection. Pros: Food, Service Cons: none
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We went here based on Citysearch reviews and were not disappointed. The person who seated us was somewhat brusque (seemed to be her personality, not anything to take personally) but our server was... More

We went here based on Citysearch reviews and were not disappointed. The person who seated us was somewhat brusque (seemed to be her personality, not anything to take personally) but our server was lovely - very informative about the dishes, wine, etc. Service was prompt and professional. We had the mussels for an appetizer, I had lobster with linguine in a spicy sauce. My husband had the Dungeness crab spaghetti. The food was definitely not underseasoned! If anything it was a slight bit salty to me, but then we try not to put much salt in our food. Very flavorful. I would recommend arriving early or making reservations as it gets very busy as the evening progresses. Pros: Flavorful food, great service from our waitress Cons: Potentially very crowded
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While during the majority of 2005 this restaurant went through a terrible time of pleasing anyone, they have finally gotten things in order. With new management and the help from the Tiramisu chef,... More

While during the majority of 2005 this restaurant went through a terrible time of pleasing anyone, they have finally gotten things in order. With new management and the help from the Tiramisu chef, this restaurant has really changed to become one of the best on the alley. Not only is the food delicious, but service has been revamped, and you are not asked to pay outrageous prices. The bartender makes great drinks and the wine list is extensive so while prices are lower, quality and selection are not. Pros: great food low price large wine selection Cons: small, a bit noisy
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