Perbacco, San Francisco

Reviewer: Foodnut.com

Perbacco

230 California Street (Near Front)

San Francisco, CA 94111

415.955.0663

Perbacco Website

Book Reservation

Perbacco, San Francisco

One of our favorite Italian restaurants in San Francisco. Perbacco is a popular Italian restaurant in San Francisco’s financial district that opened in 2006. We had been to their sister restaurant next door Barbacco recently, and felt it was high time that we came back to Perbacco. Founder Chef Staffan Terje left in 2022 but is still an owner.

Perbacco San Francisco interior decor

The restaurant continues to focus on Piemontese, Ligurian, and Venetian regional Italian dishes. “Perbacco” translated is an Italian word to accentuate positive comments. Our last visit was in the Spring of 2023 when they had both indoor and outdoor dining.

Decor, Vibe – Perbacco has a clean and modern feel with exposed brick, with white marble bar counters and floor tiles. Bar seating as well as dining areas on the main floor and on the smaller second floor. Jazzy tunes, mirrors extending around, Open kitchen in the rear. The restaurant was packed when we visited on a Saturday with couples out on the town to families to tourists to friends getting together. Definitely an older crowd here, this is not The Mission!

Perbacco Menu

Perbacco’s Menu has a variety of appetizers including many vegetarian selections. They have pasta dishes available in appetizer and entrée sizes. Great for sampling. Main dishes cover a wide swath of foods. They were even capable of serving some Barbacco dishes. The menu changes but retains lots of the signature dishes.

Signature Dishes – Salumi, the Tajarin, Rabaton, agnolotti dal plin, milk-braised pork shoulder, Bollito Misto, short rib stracotto

Website Perbacco Menu

Food Review

Perbacco San Francisco roasted Octopus

Piastra Roasted Octopus / Olive Oil Crushed Potatoes / Veal Tongue / Radish/ Salsa Verde ($22) was very good with 4 good sized pieces of charred but tender octopus.  9/10

Perbacco San Francisco Risotto

Risotto ($31 entree size) riso carnaroli di acquerello – asparagus – mascarpone – morel mushroom ragu – parmigiano reggiano. A well-balanced pasta dish for everyone including vegetarians. 9/10

Perbacco San Francisco Pappardelle

Pappardelle ($28 entree size) Wide Pasta Ribbons / Short Rib Ragu / Scallion / Horseradish crema had top notch extra-wide al dente egg noodles with shreds of tender lamb. Slight sweet tint to the sauce. Perbacco’s major attribute is the variety of fresh pasta and sauces when compared to smaller restaurants. 9/10

Brown Butter Brussels Sprouts brown butter / shallots / capers / parmigiano reggiano ($9) had a plate full of fresh brussels sprouts covered with lots of Parmesan cheese sprinkle. Strong deep flavors. 8.5/10

Perbacco San Francisco pannacotta

Bay leaf Panna cotta, apricot sorbetto, Marcona almonds ($12) was fairly smooth and rich, possessing a surprising amount of flavor, but not enough to the overpowering. 8/10

Service – Perbacco was had fair service for the parklet outside. Long pauses.

Value – Perbacco’s Prices are in line with restaurants of this caliber, IE not cheap.

Alternatives – Lower key Barbacco is next door of course. A16, Acquellero, and Delfina are the other top Italian restaurants in San Francisco.

Verdict – Perbacco is one of the top Italian restaurants in San Francisco. Food quality was high, service fair, and atmosphere inside, dynamic. We have no problems quickly recommending Perbacco for anyone looking for quality Italian food.

Extensive 21 page wine list, glasses from $8, bottles from $32, some 1/4L, 1/2L.

==

Pre-Pandemic Perbacco Food Picks:
Home made Breadsticks with dipping sauce were a temptation we had to set a limit with. In 2018 they switched to large rolls and even could make fresh gluten free ones.

Fragolino ($11) was a fruity cocktail with strong Prosecco accents. The alcohol was pretty mild in this drink. Nice topping of candied strawberries.

Mojito ($10) was perfectly executed, strong and balanced. They know how to make cocktails here.

Heirloom Tomato Salad / Herbs / Black Olive Condimento / Green Fennel Seed Vinaigrette ($11) is an excellent salad with very fresh, high-quality heirloom tomatoes. This dish included 3 to 4 different types of tomatoes covered with a light dressing.

Pear and Persimmon Salad ($16) gorgonzola crema / pear balsamico / langhe hazelnuts was excellent. Refreshing, contrasting flavors with sweet, bitter, and savory.

Soup winter squash passato ($13) brown butter / sage / amaretti crumbs also hit the mark with lots of balanced squash flavor.

Roasted Formanova Beets / Horseradish Stracciatella / Iberico Ham / Cipolline Agrodolce ($13) was conservative on the amount of tasty beets served. The ham slice very thin and made a nice combination with the beets and the cheese.

Burrata Cheese / Local Asparagus / Citrus Vinaigrette / Shaved Radishes ($12) possessed extremely creamy and smooth mozzarella cheese with some super fresh asparagus. Excellent.

Dandelion Salad / Brooks Cherries / Mangalitza Lardo / Toasted Ground Hazelnuts ($10) was an interesting salad with extremely bitter dandelion leaves that were perfectly balanced out by the sweet cherries.

Tajarin – Handcut Tagliatelle / 5 Hour Pork Sugo / Porcini Mushrooms ($19 appetizer size) was a thin egg-based spaghetti-like pasta with an excellent meat sauce. The waitress said they freshly made pasta every day, starting at 5 AM. They can cook it more al dente like authentic Italian pasta if you ask.

Agnolotti Dal Plin – Pasta Filled With Roasted Vitellone And Savoy Cabbage / Sugo D‟Arrosto ($17 appetizer size) is their signature pasta and it proved the fantastic. A ravioli like pasta filled with bites of tender filling.

Orecchiette di gatti – “little ears” pasta / rossotti ranch veal sugo / brown butter chanterelle mushrooms ($14) was also cooked to a perfect al dente. The pasta was crisp and chewy. Sugo tasted like it was long boiled, just like Nona would do it. Fantastic.

In 2018 we had a riso carnaroli di acquerello / braised black chanterelles / roasted sunchokes / smoked pancetta / parmigiano reggiano ($25 entree size) which was very cheesy and rich.

Roasted fig’s / radicchio / young onion / speck / blu di langa risotto was very interesting.  A sweet – savory combination.

Beef Short Rib Stracotto / Bone Marrow Crust / Chantenay Carrot Purée / Roasted Cipolline ($24) is another signature dish that deserves this designation. An extremely hearty dish filled with tender short rib, topped off with a nice crust and some super fresh  tiny mushrooms.

Slow roasted pancetta wrapped pork loin filled with salsiccia / heirloom corn polenta / roasted beets ($27) was highly recommended by the waitress. Tender pork with a ton of flavor from the spices and a bit of smoke. Perfect for pork fans.

Local King Salmon/ Morel Mushroom And Spring Vegetable Ragout /Herb butter ($26) was a beautiful looking dish that also proved to be excellent. Very tender and fresh fish which was superior to one at Chapeau.

Fingerling potatoes roasted corbaci and shishito peppers / roasted young onion ($8) had crispy potatoes cooked just right.

Melon Sorbetto / Sage-Brown Butter Shortbread ($7) had a large scoop of refreshing homemade sorbet along with a nice piece of shortbread. A low-calorie way to finish off a meal.

Complementary very dark hazelnut chocolates and nougat rounded out the evening.

OK:

Pesce crudo – hamachi / buddah’s hand citron / taggiasca olive / anise hyssop ($15) seems to be on every menu in The City. This version was just ok, with the fish being a little too chunky.

Alaskan halibut / shellfish and heirloom tomato ragout / fennel /cranberry beans / saffron brodetto ($28) looked great but was overcooked.

Balsamic raspberry sorbetto($8) was overpowering.

Pans:
None

Restaurant Map:


Perbacco Overall Rating: (Very Good 2.5)

Come Back?

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

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

Alcohol:Full Bar
Attire:Business Casual
Hours:Monday - Friday: 11:30am - 2:30pm, Monday - Saturday: 5:30pm -10:00pm, Closed Sun
Parking:Street, Paid Valet
Reservations:Yes
Prices:$18 - $29

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13 Comments

  • sarah
    September 28, 2010 at 9:11 am

    what a beautiful restaurant! The porcini mushroom ragout sounds particularly up my alley! Also, I work for a company. There, you can see all dining deals and info on one site. You can get deals from opentable, groupon, living social, etc AND all restaurants’ tweets. Check us out!

  • New Michelin Guide San Francisco 2011 | Foodnut.com
    October 29, 2010 at 10:18 am

    […] Market – St. Helena Monti’s Rotisserie – Santa Rosa Nopa Oenotri – Napa Perbacco – Deserves 1 star. Add Barbacco to Bib Gourmand. Picán – Oakland Risibisi – […]

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    December 3, 2010 at 12:02 am

    […] – Nearby restaurants include excellent Italian restaurant Perbacco and sister restaurant Barbacco. One Market and Boulevard are not far […]

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    December 8, 2010 at 12:02 am

    […] and food took a long time to arrive. Service prevents this place from rising to the top like say Perbacco in San […]

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    December 16, 2010 at 2:52 pm

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    February 4, 2011 at 2:29 pm

    […] flour + water had slightly above average service that was competent but not exceptional. The server was training a new recruit who was desperately needed . Our sense is this is an excellent neighborhood place, not a destination restaurant. The food is very good, but not as spectacular as say Perbacco. […]

  • Osteria Coppa Restaurant, San Mateo | Foodnut.com
    February 25, 2011 at 10:22 am

    […] strong Italian options on the Peninsula. You have to travel to San Francisco to places like A16 or Perbacco to kick it to the next level. Compact wine list with glasses from $7, bottles from $25, $15 […]

  • New Michelin Guide San Francisco 2012 | Foodnut.com
    October 26, 2011 at 3:36 pm

    […] San Francisco Oenotri – Napa Osteria Coppa – San Mateo – Damn good pasta tasting menu Perbacco – Deserves 1 star. Add Barbacco to Bib Gourmand. Picán – Oakland Plum – Oakland […]

  • Delfina, San Francisco | Foodnut.com
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    June 4, 2012 at 10:32 am

    […] is the Peninsula’s best Italian restaurant, while a reference place in the city is excellent Perbacco. Acquapazza has grown more popular and has live music on several nights. Glasses of wine from […]

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    August 15, 2012 at 10:28 pm

    […] times and the food remains very good at A16.  Food quality is close to our favorites: Delfina and Perbacco. A16 remains a very popular place that anyone interested in high quality Italian food should […]

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    August 19, 2012 at 11:56 am

    […] on their pastas. Dishes like pizza are just fair. You’ll find better Italian at places like Perbacco, Delfina or A16 in San Francisco, but in San Mateo only Acquapazza and Osteria Coppa are […]

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