SFReview
photo credit: Erin Ng
Ciccino
Included In
“New Italian restaurant” is a well-worn phrase in this city. Maybe we just really like twirling pasta, or maybe it’s our desire to impress the always-complaining Brooklyn transplants. Ciccino is another “new Italian restaurant” joining the oversaturated pasta market, but this spot has a special edge: time slows down here. This is good news for you, since you’re going to want to devote as much time as possible to their deceptively simple pastas and perfect seafood skewers.
Ciccino looks like a classic Italian cafe, filled with black-and-white photos and bistro chairs. It’s rustic European escapism right in Nob Hill—all that’s missing is a plaza, some umbrellas, and an Aperol Spritz. It’s also a pretty lean operation—just a few servers doing their best take on nonchalant, unhurried service (though occasionally it can border on chaotic). Everyone feels like a regular, and delights in five-minute chats with the chef (who often serves the food himself). Go ahead and order that third glass of wine, even when you think your night is over. You won’t want to leave.
photo credit: Erin Ng
Citrusy, charred, and bright best describe Ciccino’s seafood-y Northern Italian dishes. The sorcery in their skewers, carpaccios, tartares, and pastas is the simplicity—each high-quality ingredient outshines the next, often accentuated by just a squeeze of seared lemon. The olive and fennel oils are fragrant. The scallop and squid skewers are light and slightly smoky from the binchotan grill. A salty-creamy mozzarella di bufala under a simply grilled lobster tail are a rockstar-level duo.
As for the pasta? You should order them all, but the ravioli carbonara—oozing with buttery cream and egg yolk when you slice it open, and topped with crispy guanciale—is king. And because time is a meaningless, flat circle, and this is f*cking delicious, consider going in on two or three orders.
These days, some acts force us to lock up our phones in a bag before a big show. Ciccino is a place that inspires us to do just that—and immerse ourselves in a fantastic meal, offline, on planet earth. It’s a pretension-free zone that’s not trying to over-impress but always does. Yes, it’s another on the long list of Italian restaurants, but this is one where you can forget about the global meltdown outside. So tee up your questions about those handmade copper fork rests, pour the wine, and just relax.
Food Rundown
photo credit: Erin Ng
Fritto Misto
Skewers
photo credit: Erin Ng
Ravioli Carbonara
photo credit: Erin Ng
Pasta con le 'Sarde'
photo credit: Erin Ng
Lobster Salad
photo credit: Erin Ng
Tartare Della Rita
Panna Cotta