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Why did we dine here? – Octavia is the latest restaurant from Melissa Perello, chef-owner of 1 Michelin Starred and well lovedย 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 second visit to Octavia, the first was in April 2015. With a limited time window, we were able to sample a variety of starters. Sometimes this strategy lets you enjoy all their offering even more.
Insider Tip – Reservations or come early and nab a table.
Cuisine – New American
Location – Pacific Heights
Opened – 2015
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 inventive cooking that takes simple dishes and makes them special. A week prior, we dined at Trestle. Comparing the food, Octavia clearly kicks it up another notch.
They offer a Chef’s Table nightly in our lower kitchen which can seat a maximum of 12 people and has a special menu.
Is this restaurant worth a 5 minute drive? Yes. 30 minute? Yes. 1 Hour? Maybe.
Octavia Signature Dishes – Deviled Egg, squid ink pasta
Octavia’s Menu of 14 to 16 dishes rotates through different dishes all the time.
Octavia Food Picks:
Josey Baker Bread is dark, dense and really good. We will have to seek out this bakery.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Crispy EGGPLANT, Miso Butter & Charred Sungold Tomato ($7) Lightly breaded, looking like a yam. Hot out of the fryer with a soft inside.
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.
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.
Creamsicle Float ($9) was a fun dessert. It really did taste like a creamsicle popsicle and a soda on the side.
OK: (Order if you like this dish)
None
Pans: (We would not reorder these dishes)
None
Do you agree with our review? Have you found other similar restaurants that are better?
Octavia Overall Rating: 
(Excellent
Come Back? 
| Food Rating: | (Excellent) |
| Service Rating: |  (Very Good) |
| Atmosphere Rating: | (Very Good) |
| Value Rating: | (Very Good) |
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 |
1 Comment
Anonymous
November 28, 2015 at 1:15 pmHi,
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.