We recently went out with our friends Thomas and Julia (check out their website Gal Meets Glam here) to Montesacro Pinseria-Enoteca, a Roman restaurant in the SoMa district of San Francisco that we’ve wanted to check out ever since we moved to California. Montesacro is the first pinseria in the U.S., serving pinsas or ancient Roman style flatbreads. They also offer an assortment of charcuterie and cheese that you can enjoy there or take home.
Montesacro is owned by Italians, and its location off a small alley close to Market Street reminded us of a restaurant we would eat at in Rome. Lights are strung above as you walk into the cozy and inviting enoteca, with bottles of wine lining the walls. Most of the people who work here are also Italian, which adds to the authentic experience.
We started off our dinner with a kale salad, cheese plate, and a bottle of wine. We were impressed with the wine list and the cheese selections. The wine list has a lot of interesting bottles from all over Italy at reasonable prices, and the cheese list also featured a lot of unique selections. If you don’t know your Italian wines, just ask for a recommendation.
Pinsas are made with a special blend of rice, soy, and wheat flour imported from Rome. The crust was bubbly, light, and airy and we didn’t feel over-stuffed. It’s a great option if you are gluten-free, but we were told it’s still not safe for people with allergies to wheat. We’ve found that easily digestible pizza dough is very important in Italian culture, and this is no exception. We decided to share four pinsas so we could try as many as possible and ordered a second bottle of wine. The pinsas came out of the oven perfectly crisp and with just the right amount of charring on the crust.
There are giant coal ovens over 100 years old (no longer in use) that add to the character of the space and remind you of the bakery that once occupied the space. You really do feel like you stepped out of San Francisco and into Rome.
We wrapped up the night with a round of espresso, and the ladies shared a chocolate budino. What a fun night! We understand that a restaurant on the edge of the Tenderloin might not be everyone’s idea of a date night, but just get over the location and go. It reminded us of being in Napoli or down an alley in Rome. Take a taxi or a ride share. We’ll be back for more of their delicious, simple, authentic Italian food.
Montesacro Pinseria-Enoteca
510 Stevenson St. (at 6th Street)
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