 |
 |
 |
|
| HOME
| ABOUT US
| FOOD
| WINES
| EVENTS
| WINE CLUB
| GALLERY
| NEWSLETTER
| CONTACT US |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
In The News
Wednesday, November 9, 2005 (SF Chronicle)
Optimism inspires wine bar
By, GraceAnn Walden
In the next few weeks, former high-tech marketeer Melissa Gisler and Jerad
Ruhl, who was the wine director/sommelier of Rose Pistola, will launch an
interesting-sounding Italian wine bar and small-plates venue called
Ottimista Enoteca-Cafe. Ottimista means optimist in Italian; enoteca means
wine bar.
In the past three years, the space at 1838 Union St. (near Octavia Street)
in San Francisco has turned over twice, first as Charlie's and then as
Rica, the Latino-style restaurant that closed six weeks ago.
In my opinion, the crowd that they appealed to were the perennial
first-nighters -- people who flock to the newest of the new, but don't
necessarily lend long-term support. Gisler and Ruhl have been planning a
wine bar for nearly a year.
When Ottimista opens later this month, there will be 40 seats inside and
20 on the patio. On the wine side of the equation, they'll stock 250
bottles, split among Italy, California and other parts of the world. They
will offer 25 different wines by the glass priced $6-$12. Cocktails,
grappas and spirits will also be offered.
Mark Young, former chef de cuisine of Bungalow 44 in Mill Valley, is the
chef. Young also worked at the Slow Club and the Slanted Door. His menu
will concentrate on northern Italian small plates priced $4-$14.
On the "bigger tastes" side of the menu will be a daily house-made
gnocchi, such as potato gnocchi with roasted Brussels sprouts, bacon,
hazelnuts and brown butter. Another dish is butternut squash, wild
mushroom and fresh mozzarella lasagna.
The owners have exposed the plaster walls and painted them parchment
color, added a large map of Italy that measures 12 by 5 feet, and
installed wooden beams to further the rustic look.
Young says Ottimista will open slowly, with dinner the first week and more
hours thereafter. Eventually the hours will be 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m.
Tuesday-Thursday; 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m.-11
p.m. Sunday.
Source
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
HOURS
11:30 AM to 11:00 PM Tuesday - Thursday
11:30 AM to 2:00 AM Friday
10:00 AM to 2:00 AM Saturday
10:00 AM to 10:00 PM Sunday |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LOCATION (map)
1838 Union Street
San Francisco, California 94123
tel (415) 674.8400
fax (415) 674.8333 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
