Penny Roma — Restaurant in San Francisco

Penny Roma offers a unique dining experience in San Francisco's Mission District. From the street, you're greeted by a quirky charm - a cabinesque entrance with a neon green sign that sets the tone for a fun, vibrant evening. Stepping inside, the atmosphere takes a dramatic shift. A small water fountain trickles by the entrance, setting the mood for a more whimsical space. Dim, low-hanging lights cast an inviting glow over the high ceilings, adorned with cascading plants and creeping vines. The seating area near the entrance is particularly delightful, with a relaxed, almost fairy tale vibe thanks to the abundance of greenery.

The service at Penny Roma was top-notch. Attentive and friendly, our server was knowledgeable about the menu and happy to answer questions. My only suggestion for the staff is that they should give groups some time to settle in. 3 of us went to Penny Roma for dinner, and while 2 of us were waiting for our friend to arrive, our server stopped by twice to ask us if we were ready to order. The only downside to the lively atmosphere is the noise level. It can be hard to have a conversation at times, especially with larger groups. I found myself having to ask my friends to repeat themselves on a couple of occasions.

Now, on to the food! My friends and I tried Penny Roma's SF restaurant week menu with mixed results.

The Yellowfin Crudo (cured olive, orange, chili aioli) was good - fresh and flavorful.

The Citrus & Avocado (toasted hazelnut, fennel, mint) was a bit of a head-scratcher. While alright, it felt more like a deconstructed Mexican fruit cup dusted with Tajin seasoning, not quite what I expected from an Italian restaurant.

The true star of the appetizers was the Prosciutto San Daniele. The combination of smoked dates and creamy jersey cow mozzarella was phenomenal, adding unexpected complexity to the dish.

The Spinach & Chard Pansotti (salsa di noci, toasted walnut, marjoram) was also a winner. The generous amount of toasted walnuts added a delightful crunch, and the spinach and chard filling weren't overpowering.

The Rigatoni Arrabiata (san marzano, garlic, chili flake, ricotta) was decent, a classic arrabiata execution.

The Grilled Pork Chop (blood orange relish polenta, fava beans) was a bit of a letdown. The cook was uneven, with some areas dry and others perfectly cooked. The polenta side dish was also disappointing - there wasn't much of it, and it didn't quite complement the pork chop.

The Wild Arugula (parmigiano, cannonau wine vinaigrette) was a simple but satisfying salad (I didn't try it, but my friend did, and she liked it).

We ended the night on a high note with the Polenta Cake (strawberry, whipped cream). This dessert was absolutely delicious! The perfect amount of sweetness, a light and slightly crunchy polenta cake, and fresh strawberries with whipped cream - a delightful way to cap off the meal.

Overall, Penny Roma is a fun and lively spot with a focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients. The noise level can be a bit much at times. While a couple of dishes fell short, the attentive service, unique atmosphere, and some truly fantastic dishes make it a 4-star experience. Just be sure to save room for the...

Okay Penny Roma, we see you 👀 As the little sister of Flour and Water, we were recommended this place after our walk-in at Flour and Water proved unsuccessful. And I’m so glad we decided to give it a try! Excellent food, sexy and sophisticated vibe, and attentive service made for a great night.

For as great as the food is at Penny Roma, the real charm of this place is definitely the space. With lofty ceilings, tons of plants, an open kitchen, and spa-like water feature in the waiting area, this place is an ultra-modern garden with a decidedly sophisticated feel.

The dining room is separated into two main areas — one in the garden, and one next to the kitchen — although the one cautionary spot is being seated at the bar counter in the back (which unfortunately we were). The large drawers of silverware are immediately behind the seats, which means that the night was filled with the consistent clashing of the silverware (a small price to pay, but would be worth avoiding if possible).

Be prepared for an expensive meal, but one that lives up to all of its potential. We thoroughly enjoyed everything we ordered, from the buttery focaccia to the bright tuna, but the star of the main stage was 100% the mushroom pasta. Get. The. Mushroom. Pasta. I’m still thinking about it weeks later — the perfect balance of hearty umami and chewy noodle.

The service was attentive, almost TOO attentive if you can believe it — in the space of 15 minutes, three different waiters approached us asking to take our order. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good problem to have, but it did get a bit old having the same conversation over and over (“we already ordered”). By the end of the night, we counted interactions with six different servers! 😂 we liked the friendly, collaborative style of the staff, but probably didn’t need to be asked about dessert four times. Otherwise, the service was flawless!

Keep in mind that the dining room can accommodate groups of 6 or less, but groups of 7 or more must book their private room and prix fixe family style menu. This place is ideal for a...

I used to be a fan of this place. I loved their concept of “locally sourced ingredients from Northern California”. When I visited on a Wednesday night it wasn’t busy. The waitress came by and asked what I wanted to drink. I told her “I’m struggling because I really want a glass of wine but you don’t have any that I would typically like”. She was really put off and snooty for lack of a better word. She asked what I normally drink and I said “well, a Chardonnay or Cabernet— you don’t have any of those? And, you don’t have many California wines at all”. (I thought of ALL places, a restaurant that bills itself as supporting LOCAL farmers and producers would have a wine list full of California wines!).

The waitress recommended a French viognier. FRENCH wine as I’m sitting miles from Napa and Somoma. I took her recommendation and I didn’t like the wine or the ridiculousness of having a French wine in a locally sourced restaurant. But it doesn’t matter because she didn’t come back to ask me if I liked it. Someone else brought my food and I never saw my waitress again until it was time for the check.

I ordered the cod. Let me state two things here: I travel a LOT and have been to some of the best restaurants around the world. Second, I’m a dietitian. I’m not into huge portion sizes and I appreciate fine food. But what was set in front of me left me speechless: about a 2.5 ounce very thin filet of cod. It was smaller than what I would even consider an appetizer size. It took about 30 seconds to eat and I was going slow. It took you longer to read this paragraph than it took me to eat that dish. On the side was a saffron broth. I poured that in the bowl and was so hungry that I started to drink that broth with the tines of my fork. Should I pick up the bowl and sip it from the sides? No one was even walking past that I could even ask for a spoon!

I was so completely SAD (and still hungry) after visiting Central Kitchen. It’s not the same as before. It’s a horrible feeling leaving a restaurant hungry. Total bill: $47....