 Luxury marries simplicity at Quince, the restaurant that inhabits the historic 19th century apothecary shop on the corner of Octavia and Bush. Soft, flattering light bathes the handsomely appointed room where servers, delighted to expand on the menu descriptions or suggest a wine from the well-chosen list, swoosh from one corner of the small room to the other. Chef Michael Tusk, formerly of Chez Panisse and Oliveto, presides over the rustic mainly Italian-inspired menu that draws strongly on France for its technique-driven approach to plating and saucing and allows the ingredients to shine. A wild nettles starter comes composed in an un-molded dome draped in a rich fonduta sauce. Handmade pastas are the second course standout and include a rich beef sugo over rigatoni, gnocchi with wild mushrooms, and cornmeal pasta with creamed leeks. Tusk misses a step, however, with his spaghetti con bottarga di tonno---an overly generous shaving of the pressed, sun-dried tuna roe overpowers the noodles in this simple Sicilian specialty and renders the dish impossibly salty. If the restaurant's name has left you with a craving for quince, try the duck with quince and buttered parsnips. For a perfectly conceived San Francisco winter dish, the Dungeness crab-stuffed petrale sole paired with a silky smooth blood orange sauce is tremendously satisfying. Tusk's menu changes nightly based on what fresh seasonal ingredients are available. |
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Set the mood for love by reserving a table at one of the Best Romantic Restaurants in San Francisco, or view our list of Valentines Restaurants to find out which restaurants are offering unique menus just for February 14. Also, see who sets the standard for seductive dining across the country with our Top 10 Romantic Restaurants in the U.S. list.
