Octavia, San Francisco

Reviewer: Foodnut.com

Octavia

1701 Octavia St

San Francisco, CA 94109

(415) 408-7507

Octavia Website

Octavia, San Francisco

Why did we dine here? – Octavia is the latest restaurant from Melissa Perello, chef-owner of 1 Michelin Starred and well loved Frances. A small 54 seat neighborhood restaurant that is already drawing crowds from throughout the City. We are in this area a lot, so we were waiting for it to finally open.

This is our third visit to Octavia in Winter 2023 during the Pandemic, the first was in April 2015. Octavia has 2 nice heated parklets outside. Chefs tasting menu available if entire table participates.

Insider Tip – Reservations or come early and nab a table.

Cuisine – New American
Location – Pacific Heights
Opened – 2015

Octavia San Francisco interior decor

Service – Octavia impressed us with very professional service. This is a small restaurant, yet they employe staff that constantly scan each table.

Verdict – Octavia impressed us with really good service.  The food did not live up to the high prices though. Definitely not as good as the past visits, especially with prices jacked up.

Is this restaurant worth a 5 minute drive? Maybe. 30 minute? Maybe. 1 Hour? Maybe.

Octavia Signature Dishes – Deviled Egg, squid ink pasta, quail.

Octavia’s Menu of 14 to 16 dishes rotates through different dishes all the time, so our past reviewed items were not present.

Website Octavia Menu

Octavia Food

Sparking Water ($4)

housemade SOURDOUGH levain, cultured butter or ligurian olive oil ($8) is a solid bread option. They gave us both butter and olive oil. 8/10

white salsify CAKES, chili bomba, hominy koji salt ($18) is sort of like Chinese turnip cakes. Deep fried goodness. 9/10

gilfeather & purple top TURNIPS, kalamata olive gremolata ($16) was okay but not particularly special. Very firm turnips. 7/10

annabelle’s ESCAROLE HEARTS, pomegranate, oro blanco, medjool date ($20) was an odd salad. Slightly bitter, mushy and did not gel. 6/10

wolfe ranch QUAIL, brussels sprouts, bearss lime, hedgehog mushroom  ($42) appears to be souvide and then lightly fried. Claws left on for crunchy eating, even though they weren’t fried enough.  It’s an okay dish but not amazing. 8/10

Chocolate Sorbet ($6) had solid dark chocolate flavors. 8/10

Octavia Food Picks from the past:

Octavia San Francisco toast Josey baker bread warm ricotta

Josey Baker Bread is dark, dense and really good. We will have to seek out this bakery.

Octavia San Francisco Deviled egg

“DEVILED EGG,” Fresno Chile Relish, Marash Pepper & Spice ($5) a huge soft poached farm egg coated with chile. One bite and the running egg will splash all over. A signture dish unlike the usual deviled egg. Make sure you use the bread to wipe up every drip.

Octavia San Francisco Squid ink Noodles

Chilled Squid Ink NOODLES, Cortez Bottarga, Fennel, Lemon Oil ($7) looks unlike most squid ink pasta dishes. Small delicate fat noodles bathed in sauce. Nice crispy bits topped the dish.

Octavia San Francisco paccheri olive oil poached baccala

PACCHERI, Olive Oil poached Baccala, Fennel Pollen Pangrattato ($13) is another solid pasta dish, way different from the squid ink pasta.

Toast, Josey Baker Bread, warm ricotta, charred spring onion puree ($5) uses their excellent bread along with some nice warm cheese.

Octavia San Francisco brokaw avocado english pea

Brokaw AVOCADO, English pea, Persian Cucumber, Golden Beat ($6) makes a fab combination especially if you are a vegetarian. Nice contrast of flavors and textures.

Octavia San Francisco blistered summer beans

Blistered Summer BEANS, Romesco Sauce, Roasted Fig & Nardello Peppers ($9) took a while to arrive. A colorful selection of beans cooked to a crisp snap. Bold romesco sauce and some subdued peppers. We are not bean fans, but quality this good… Fantastic for vegetarians.

Octavia San Francisco Crispy Eggplant

Crispy EGGPLANT, Miso Butter & Charred Sungold Tomato ($7) Lightly breaded, looking like a yam. Hot out of the fryer with a soft inside.

Octavia San Francisco Beef Tongue

BEEF TONGUE, Grilled Caroselli Squash, Toasted Garlic, Marrow Broth ($8) looks exotic but is full of tender silky meat. Nice grill marks on the tongue too.

Octavia San Francisco Chilled early girl tomato soup

Chilled Early Girl TOMATO SOUP, Burrata Cheese & Garlic Toast ($11) was poured tableside and feature some bold tomato flavors along with some crisp croutons on top. Great for a warm summer’s early evening. Another candidate for bread wiping up every tasty morsel. Another good dish for vegetarians.

Octavia San Francisco Creamsicle Float

Creamsicle Float ($9) was a fun dessert. It really did taste like a creamsicle popsicle and a soda on the side.

Do you agree with our review? Have you found other similar restaurants that are better?

Restaurant Map:


Octavia Overall Rating: (Excellent 3)

Come Back?

Food Rating: (Good)
Service Rating: (Very Good)
Atmosphere Rating: (Very Good)
Value Rating: (Average)

Guide: 0 = poor, 1 = Below/Average, 2 = Good, 2.5 = Very Good, 3 = Excellent , 4 = Extraordinary

Alcohol:Beer, Wine
Attire:Dressy
Parking:Street (Hard)
Reservations:Yes

You Might Also Like

2 Comments

  • Anonymous
    November 28, 2015 at 1:15 pm

    Hi,
    Thanks a lot dear for sharing the list of these eat out places. I am a food lover and my hobby is to eat and enjoy the different kind of dishes at different places and after that i used to write about them.Thanks for write about these places. I must visit there soon.

  • Routier, San Francisco
    October 19, 2024 at 10:26 pm

    […] – Routier exceeded our expectations, the food is very good and priced reasonably. We ate at Octavia the week before, paid a ton and did not get this quality. This restaurant is definitely worth a […]

Leave a Reply


By using our site you agree to our: Privacy PolicyTerms of Use.

Subscribe to the Free Foodnut Newsletter