Cotogna — Restaurant in San Francisco

Where do we even begin ….. nero and Seneca rendezvous at Cotogna, we felt a charm that is so unique to SF. It's more than just the ambiance; it's the perfect symphony of outstanding service, exquisite food, and an atmosphere that feels both intimate and inviting 😋

Starting off the evening with a glass of Charles Dufour, “Tchin Tchin, #10,” alongside the subtly sweet and unobtrusive Fiori di Sambuco, set the tone for what is promised to be a memorable meal. The bubbly effervescence of the champagne, expertly selected by Adam, highlighted Cotogna's attention to detail and premium offerings. Also A heartfelt kudos to Adam for his impeccable champagne choices; his knowledge and recommendations truly hit the mark!

The GNOCCO FRITTO was a delightful surprise, crispy and light, providing the perfect canvas for the bold flavors of prosciutto, gorgonzola, and pickled onion. Adding to the appetizer lineup, the CASEIFICIO IGNALAT BURRATA was a creamy dream, further accentuating Cotogna's mastery in presenting balanced and contrasting flavors. Every bite from both dishes was a harmonious melding of textures and tastes.

After the appetizers set a high bar, the main dishes arrived in grand style. First up, the FOCACCIA: airy, golden, and delightfully crusty, serving as a true testament to Cotogna's mastery over bread. The GARGANELLI was a culinary journey of its own, beautifully al dente and cradling its sauce with finesse. As for the duo of the CORN TRIANGOLI and RAVIOLO, they complemented each other flawlessly. The TRIANGOLI had a delightful corn-filled burst, while the RAVIOLO's filling was perfectly seasoned, making each bite a harmonious blend of textures and flavors truly all these meals just chef kiss. Nero and Seneca have been so excited to come here. Not a single moment of disappointment.

Now for Nero’s and Seneca’s favorite…. dessert, we indulged in Jenn’s gelato, a blend of espresso and fudge that melted on our palates. The cannoli, covered with pistachios, was simply divine. And in the spirit of legendary film lines, don’t forget the cannoli !!! Especially if it's as good as this one 😋

Let’s not forget Cotogna’s staff truly outdid themselves. Not only were they attentive and warm to us, but they also took special care for Nero and Seneca, ensuring they were comfortable and even providing water. Such thoughtfulness speaks volumes about their professionalism and genuine hospitality. This added touch enhanced our dining...

THE $75 CORKAGE STORY

My wife and I are foodies, so much so that when out of town folks have friends visiting San Francisco they always ask for recommendations. One of the places always on the list is Cotogna for their fresh ingredients, crispy pizzas and inventive pasta dishes. On a recent Friday we were excited to see Cotogna had reopened during COVID with a massive outdoor seating area and decided to check it out. We have been to Cotogna hundreds of times over the past 8-9 years but it is always fun to visit a familiar restaurant.

The only reservation available was 4:30 but we booked it and paid $50 each to secure the reservation, so $100 has been prepaid. We arrive and are quickly seated. As an aspiring sommelier and avid wine collector, we brought our own bottle of Brunello di Montalcino from an up and coming Italian winemaker. We ordered two $16 cocktails to start and then placed our order for a salad, pizza and 2 pasta dishes. The cocktails were tasty and the food soon started to arrive. As usual everything was delicious and the wine was a bit lighter bodied than expected. Within an hour, every bite had been consumed and the check arrived. I glanced at it and the total read $163, which is around the norm for Cotogna. However, I then realized we already paid $100 to secure the reservation and I thought “no way this could be correct.” Upon closer inspection, there it was...$75 corkage fee. I asked our server if that was an error as we have always paid $25-30 corkage here, so this had to be an error. The server responds “No, would you like to speak with the manager?” The manager approaches the table ready to defend the absurd corkage fee and simply says “Restaurants are struggling to survive COVID and we believe $75 is a fair corkage fee to help our restaurant survive these times.” I explained it would have been nice to know in advance that they nearly tripled the fee and I could have purchased one of their bottles of wine for less. The manager agreed to reduce the fee by 50% which was a nice gesture, but sadly the experience was ruined with this truly ridiculous fee. While we really enjoy the food at Cotogna, this will be our last visit as I cannot support a restaurant charging a $75 corkage fee.

PS. They also add a 25% gratuity, so $263.11 for two cocktails, a salad, one pizza and two pasta dishes...you have...

My Spouse and I went here for lunch on the first day of our honeymoon, just a couple hours after landing in San Francisco. First impression, the atmosphere is equally impressive and inviting, with a counter in front of the open kitchen on one side and a large bar on the other the whole restaurant feels incredibly open and alive. The place was slammed when we got there at 1:30 and was almost too noisy, it was difficult to hear each-other across the table, but the fever pitch died down throughout our meal.

We had the hamachi crudo as a starter, which I regret not snapping a picture of as it was beautiful. My spouse loved it, the pungent radish/onion flavor threw me personally as I'm really not an onion fan, but it was still a very well-composed dish. We each had a cocktail, Her's I believe was the "West of the Sun" a pisco, lime, sour cherry and meringue drink which was delicious. I struggle to remember what mine was called or contained but it was also quite good and strong!

For main courses we each just got a pasta dish as it was a late lunch and we had dinner reservations only four hours later. I had the tagliatelle with shredded lamb, the pasta was incredible in and of itself and when you got a whole bite with plenty of lamb, sauce and the bits of vegetables it was fantastic. That said my spouse, who has a knack for picking out things that the waitstaff then goes "ooo! that's one of my favorites!" tried the Agnolotti del plin, neat little pillows of pasta stuffed with rabbit and served in a brown butter sauce that was simply to die for. Oof, just thinking about that pasta dish has my mouth watering, I had to restrain myself from eating too much of hers. Again because of time constraints and later plans we neglected getting desert even though it looked very tempting.

All in all it wasn't a cheap lunch, the end tab was three digits pre-tip but not close to starting with a 2 and for an app, two mains and two drinks in San Francisco that's really reasonable for this quality of product. Everything was delicious, service was prompt and courteous without being over-bearing and the atmosphere was awesome. Definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a great Italian meal without totally...