SFReview
A16
A16 is an Italian restaurant in the Marina doling out great Neapolitan pizzas and pastas, plus equally solid starters and small plates. It’s also casual (this spot works well for basically any occasion, from a quick bite to date night to a weeknight catch-up with friends) and pretty easy to get a table at. And while nothing on the menu is absolutely mind-blowing, you’ll definitely leave satisfied.
The energetic, slightly-too-loud dining room wraps around an open kitchen with a couple of blazing wood-fired ovens (if you sit at the bar, you’ll get a front-row seat to the action). You’ll want to focus most of your attention on the pizzas, which are made with a chewy, thin crust, and the antipasti like roasted corn or arugula salad, all of which are great for sharing. So, the next time you spontaneously make plans to grab dinner with a coworker, or forget to make a reservation on a Saturday night, keep A16 in your back pocket.
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Food Rundown
Burrata
A great way to start off your meal—the burrata is light and comes with sea salt and high-quality olive oil, plus crostinis and prosciutto so you can make perfect little bites.
Arugula Salad
This salad is light and refreshing, with hazelnuts for an added crunch. Get this for the table to share.
Maccaronara
If you want to switch it up from pizza, the maccaronara with ragu and ricotta salata is a good bet. The thick spaghetti is cooked at just the right level of al dente.
Margherita
A margherita is the true mark of pizza proficiency, and A16 makes a great one. The tomato sauce is light and sweet, and the crust is nice and chewy.
Funghi
This pizza has a nice smoky flavor, with a generous helping of mushrooms and garlic. If someone in your group is anti-mushroom, it might even convert them.
Salsiccia
Feels more like a flatbread than a pizza—the sausage, cheese, and Jimmy Nardello peppers aren’t spread super evenly, so you might be left with a couple of slices that are basically half crust. But the flavors are great, and if you’re the type of person who jumps at the chance to eat your friends’ leftover crusts, go forth.
