Acquerello in Oakland

Theres not much more I can add. The place has two Michelin Stars. I had the Seasonal Tasting Menu, 11 courses, 14 different wine pairings. We had a few extras. My wife had the 11 course vegetarian menu. Service throughout the five hours was excellent. Thats right you need the time to savior and appreciate the offerings. The sommelier has amazing knowledge of the massive wine cellar and wines. Food and wine pairings are amazing. If youre celebrating, want to impress, live or, earn in the stratosphere, Acquerello should be on your go to list.

If you think that a dress code is a good idea, you have a traditional sense of civility, and you understand the dignity inherent in the concept of service, then come here for the wonderful food and beautiful setting.

Easily my best restaurant experience in years.We had dinner for four, two vegetarian dinners plus different wines with all eleven courses.Each offering was perfectly plated. Four servers simultaneously delivering each dish while the head waiter explained each offering. A perfect performance.Over the five hours it was one feast after enother.The sommelier was excellent; pairing the perfect wine with each offering.

Wow.Just... Wow.Amazing (reallyfood, top notch service, perfect wine pairings, excellent ambiance.If youre fortunate enough to done here, youre fortunate enough!

Food was incredible, most of the staff was amazing, venue is gorgeous. Expect to pay a significant amount for the experience, which was outstanding.

The food was amazing as was the service. The only reason Im giving 3 stars is that I had received a phone call that emphasized the dress code however when I showed up there were other men in sweatpants, sweatshirts, track suits and I was one of maybe 4 that adhered to the dress code that evening. Had I known the dress code was seemingly optional I would have dressed in a casual modern day style approach.Would recommend for the food, and I guess dress codes optional.

What a fantastic fine dining experience. Everything we ordered was incredible and beautifully presented, especially the culurgiones and the duck. The wine pairing included some of the most exquisite wines we had ever tried. The service was top notch and the atmosphere was lovely.

Thanks to the whole Aquerello team for an evening to remember!I held a milestone birthday there this weekend and the service, cuisine, and ambiance were everything I had hoped for! Everyone had a delightful time, and I cant imagine a better birthday celebration.I hosted 13 guests in the Gold Room for dinner. After reviewing the menu choices, I went with the recommended 4 course menu with two options for pasta and two for entree. All was delicious & artfully plated with the highlights being the hor doeuvres at the beginning, especially the potato cannolos with truffle & Parmesan decorated with gold flakes. Communicating with Isabella in the weeks beforehand was a pleasure with her responsive attention to every detail from menu selection to flowers to place settings.Ive compared multiple private dining options, and Aquerello is definitely not a trendy SF restaurant, but if you crave a classic fine dining experience with impeccable service and a wonderful environment for dinner conversation, this is the place. If you are looking to host a special occasion event, put this at the top of your list!

Amazing food and service! The duck was outstanding, I’d highly recommend this restaurant.

My wife and I had an amazing experience with the seasonal and vegetable tasting menus. Each dish was unique, well presented, and full of flavor. The staff was attentive and did an excellent job describing each dish to us.My only complaint is just the proximity to the table next to us. It was hard to listen to them complain about every dish and the wine they chose to order while we were having such a nice meal. I know it’s nothing anyone can control but that was the only downside to our night. Luckily they finished before us. I hope to be back in SF again just so I can revisit Acquerello. Thank you for a wonderful experience!

Amazing experience! Great for celebratingThe chefs surprises and the dish with water buffalo cheese were absolutely amazing! Service was excellent!! Desserts could be better although we were just too full by the end.

The food and service was the best I’ve had.The one star is the immense disappointment that the owner doesn’t appreciate their staff enough to cover their health care and asking me to supplement that AFTER a 20% mandatory gratuity.As a business owner in Canada it’s important for me to cover the cost of my employees insurance .It’s dispicable and goes against any true hospitality. The whole place should be ashamed of themselves.

Food taste good but so overpriced and small. Service is worse than expected for a restaurant at this level. Throughout the dinner, no one checked how we’re doing or ask us how the food tastes. Interrupting our conversation multiple times to serve food. And the way they serve and take away food seems quite abrupt, not elegant like a fine dining service should have.

The best Michelin I’ve ever had in SF! The signature pasta dish is to die for. Every dish had outstanding flavor and it kept blowing me away. Would def come back over and over again.

Ate here tonight was not worth it would not go back. Had the seasonal tasting menu. Lazy Bear and Sorrel are multiple times better than this (in the 1-2 Michelin star realm). Avoid and find a better spot, unfortunately just not worth it. Tired and not overly interesting food.

Was here 5 yrs ago for my 10 yrs friendship anniversary with my best friend. The tasting menu is everything everyone been raving about. Its the old school charm that you dont see anymore at some of these upcoming snobby restaurant. Cant wait to take my BFF next week .

Service and the food were top tier. When it was noticed one dish didnt appeal to my wife they seamlessly offered and replaced it with a completely new course and wine pairing for her. Just a completely wonderful experience.

Exceptional tasting menu with an equally impressive wine pairing. An elegant experience with highly knowledgeable staff. When we went, the optional caviar course was rather unique, with avocado and a salt and vinegar beef tendon "chip". This was amazing and a refreshing take on a caviar preparation. One of the finest restaurants in San Francisco.

I loved the service at Acquerello. The server Vidal Mosqueda did a fantastic job. He was very helpful and professional. My wife and I were celebrating our year anniversary and he made us feel at home. Thank you for making our special day more special. Thank you Vidal for all your work.

Like many of the locals, Acquerello is a successful millennial, just a little over three decades old. It would have been cool to have seen this place before it was converted from a chapel. The history seems to linger with the look, feel, and smells of an older building with the dark wooden beams. We came to celebrate an anniversary with the $150 4-course prix fixe and the $95 wine pairing.We were seated in a cozy little corner and served fresh bread with salt flakes and perfectly wheel shaped pat of butter, which the server informed us is Clover butter. To start, we had a trio of amuse bouches - stuffed olives duck liver mousse, and what I believe were hamachi tarts and olive oil cakes. All were incredibly tasty, and the rest of the dishes were good, but actually did not have as much of an oomph.Carpaccio of Hiramasa, melon, tapioca, fermented pepper -Great! Never thought Id be eating raw fish with tapioca, but the textures work, similar to that of a poke bowl.Rossotti Ranch vitelo tonnato, caper, Parmesan, olive -Great! Buttery raw slices of veal accompanied with a buttery parmesan cube, an olive and a caper spread.Ridged pasta with faux "foie gras," black truffle, and Marsala -Great! I was most looking forward to the pasta dishes, which were rich and delicious, though not altogether amazing. I would not mistake the creamy sauce for faux foie gras and the ridged pasta resembled rigatoni to me. The black truffle was the best part.On a side note, they kept upselling the truffle, which was kept in an enclosed case. Every time they opened it, the wonderful aroma wafted throughout the restaurant.Cocoa and oxtail ravioli, spiced peanut, crispy leeks -Good! The ravioli, shaped like ridged tartlets, were also rich and tasty, although it is rather on the sweet side. With each successive bite, the sweetness builds.Liberty duck, sour cherry, fennel, smoked honey, black cardamom -Good! Very tender duck with golden brown skin (which could have been crispiertopped with salt flakes, and with crunchy fennel on the side. Sour cherry sauce also added to the sweetness of the meal.Olive oil-poached black bass in saffron and shellfish broth, butter beans, prawn oil -Good! Tender, flaky bass and tasty broth. I actually could have done without the butter beans and the mussels, which were actually a tad overcooked.Affogato - vanilla gelato, Guanajo chocolate, hazelnut, espresso -Great! I didnt expect much from a dish that is typically ice cream and espresso, but this exceeded my expectations. The bittersweet notes from the espresso, chocolate, hazelnut, and gelato were delicious. What put it over the top was actually the dessert wine our sommelier paired it with. It all came together perfectly.Strawberry and pineapple pavlova, lime, mint -Good! This was beautifully plated and the custardy cream and strawberries were wonderful. I wasnt a fan of the candy-like tablets that topped the meringue structure.Petit Fours -Ok! Also beautifully plated, but it didnt do it for me. Madeleines were a bit dense, and the jellies were too sweet.Almond Biscotti -Great! Who doesnt love a take home treat, especially freshly baked almond biscotti? They went great with coffee the next morning.Wine Pairing -Excellent! I cant remember what the wines were, but I remember each glass complemented the dishes so well. The aperitif, which I initially didnt like because it was so exceedingly sweet, was actually delicious with the espresso in the affogato.Food was great, and service was even better, especially our charming sommelier. The wine pairing itself was actually what tied the entire meal together and made the experience worth it.

Phenomenal. One of the best meals I have eaten in my life. Every single course was exemplary and the wine pairings were creative and memorable. Service was superb. Just dialed in in every way.

Food was great, but our server, Nissa, was very slow. It took at least 30 minutes from the time we arrived to get our first course. In between courses was a long wait also. The couple, who sat to us and had a different server, arrived an hour later than us, but they finished the whole courses at least 30-45 minutes before us. That just tells your how slow Nissa was. Before we can ask her to take a picture of us, she was also quick to leave the table as soon as she finish describing the course.

Simply the BEST …. I will never come to San Francisco and not eat here! The service is 100% the best I’ve ever experienced. If the food could get 20 stars it still would not be enough. Life changing is the only words I can think of …. Please write a book, and title it, “This Is How It’s Done”. Your industry needs your help. Cheers to you and the greatest staff ever!!

We had high hopes for Acquarello, and sadly we had a very underwhelming experience for a restaurant at this price point.Theres was noticeable inconsistency in the quality of the dishes, and a general sense of lack of excitement: Very few bites provided that "wow" feeling that you expect for such a luxurious establishment.The pasta dishes and the general service were the highlight.Lowlight were definitely the desserts.

Service is unmatched. 10/10 you need to spoil yourself or your spouse and book a reservation. They all, as a team, serve you making sure your dishes are picked up, silverware replaced, napkins replaced, etc. the food is so creative and an experience to say the least. Except the strawberry risotto haha don’t get that...

This is my first Michelin star restaurant during pandemic, so exciting! their food is good as always! if you have a chance, their wine list is good too, dont miss that. The food includes a lots of fantastic ingredients, from sea to land. We are here to celebrate friends birthday, we got a birthday cake in the end, lovely!

Quick SummaryFor a 2 Michelin star restaurant, I was disappointed by the entrees from the Prix Fixe menu. The service and atmosphere/decor were impeccable. The pastries were fantastic as well. But expected more from the entreesFood- 4 starsStarter course- the meal started with 3 starters: a raw oyster, a seaweed cracker, and I forgot the last starter. The oyster was fresh but there was a bit too much acidity in the sauce. The seaweed cracker was very good thoughBlackcod- this first dish was pretty good. Fish was cooked perfectly and the sauce was phenomenal.Carpaccio of Hiramasa- this was very good first dish as well. Plenty of flavors and glad to have some bread to dip in the rest of the sauceAcquerello risotto- the second dish was the big hiccup for me. I decided to be more adventurous and ordered the risotto with the strawberry soffritto. It was an interesting take on the risotto, but there was way too much acidity on the dish and there were certain areas that were overly doused with balsamic glaze. It didnt make a good impressionRidged pasta with faux "foie gras"- this second dish was good, but it was more of the rich ingredients of the truffle and foie gras that made the dish, rather than anything else that made it spectacularSea scallops- the meal steered to a better course with the third dish. The scallops were cooked perfectly and had plenty of flavor. Again, perhaps my expectations were too high, but there are many restaurants without Michelin stars that would have served a similar quality dishLiberty duck- I would argue this was slightly better than the sea scallops. Duck breast was very juicy and cooked well. Sauce was very good as wellStrawberry and pineapple pavlova- the pavlova was very good and light. Would choose the chocolate mousse though as the better dessertchocolate mousse and sea salt caramel- the pastries were on point. Ive never tasted a chocolate mousse that had the perfect balance of sea salt. Each bite started with some salt to start the bite and also to end it. Its difficult to describe, but probably the best chocolate mousse Ive triedFinal desserts- 4 final dessert dishes were offered to end our night. Each pastry was fantastic and so were the almond cookies given as a gift at the end of the nightService- 5 starsService was impeccable. Each waiter was fantastic throughout our entire experience. They even created a welcome card to celebrate our special occasion!Bottom LinePerhaps it was higher expectations, but the risotto and the lack of awe in the first and third dishes left me wondering why Acquerello was a two-star restaurant. The pastries and service were fantastic, but still disappointed by that risotto.

Im going to be absolutely honest. Id been to a lot of high-end restaurants all around the world. Because of their excellent service, I feel this restaurant has the quality and standards to acquire a star. Employees are kind and accommodating. The dinner is delicious! I would recommend this restaurant to everyone.

Fantastic meal and service from start to finish. The wine pairings were both thoughtful and exciting. The food was out of this world. Especially for someone like me, with a few very specific food allergies, everything felt extremely personalized with great attention to detail. The brand new dish with Liberty duck and cherries was to die for; I hope it remains a staple on the menu. The red wine that it was paired with was exquisite, as well. Thank you for a wonderful evening!

Great restaurant for a special meal. We did the seasonal tasting menu, which at the time we were there (Julywas relatively fish focused. My wife and I both thought the meal was great! And the setting/ambience is great, which you wouldn’t expect from the entrance.

I dont get it. How did this restaurant earn and keep 2 Michelin stars? Having recently moved to CA, my husband and I have started sampling the many highly rated restaurants in the Bay Area. Unfortunately, Acquerello was a surprise in just how inconsistent the different dishes are. At first, we were blown away by the creativity, flavor and consistencies of the amuse-bouches. Then we were underwhelmed by the flavorless osetra caviar (I never had caviar that tasted like it needed salt!only to be amazed by the veal carpaccio (although it was not what we expected as it is listed as vitello tonnato on the menu). We enjoyed the rich, smooth faux foie gras pasta, but the poached cod was in fact raw, and the seared scallops had the lightest tan almost-sear on top while the rest of the scallop was raw. I love sushi, but the menu didnt describe the cod or scallop as raw and so it was again an unexpected dish. Unfortunately, and quite oddly, both the cod and scallop were tasteless, and the black garlic atop the cod was harsh and overwhelming even as a tiny taste on the end of single tine. As for the cheese plate, it was incredibly tame. The fruit compotes that accompanied it were robust, which helped the mild, unimpressive cheeses. Costco has much better options. As the meal progressed, we became more disillusioned with our restaurant choice. Well, I could go on but this seems sufficient! I am curious to hear what others think of recent visits to Acquerello.

Far less than stellar Michelin experience. The food was nice, especially the "foie gras" pasta. However great the food was, we were essentially ignored for the first 30 minutes at our table. I had to ask the person refilling our water (who turned out to be the managerto order. He then had to come back and ask for clarification. To be ignored when other tables around you are being treated amazingly was very disconcerting. I would not recommend or go back.

Interesting location and decor, fabulously blended flavors (especially with the vegetables, a distinct palette emerges). Perfectly coiffed service and an exceptionally chosen (and described!wine pairing

Got an exquisite meal to be assembled at home, and everything was perfect, and perfectly delicious, with many of the touches and attention to detail that make this restaurant so special. They sent home extra treats for my 70th birthday, which were beautiful and greatly appreciated. For the level of quality and elegance, the price is very reasonable. Highly recommended.

Acquerello is the wonderful place to make good memories... every dishes were very delicious and waiters with good service mind.

Acquerello wasn’t what I expected it would be like, considering I had walked passed it numerous times. It was off a not so nice part of Polk Street and hidden away. Once we entered, it was like another world. The restaurant was upscale and dark, like REALLY dark. The courses were small, but eloquently prepared and the flavors were perfect. The wine pairings were great. The most impressive part of our experience was the service. With so few tables, there were a surprising number of wait staff. Ours stood away from our table to give us privacy, but was always aware if we needed something. Acquerello taught me what great service really is! I give it 5 stars for sure! The only downside is it is pretty pricey and you can’t go there hungry since the portions aren’t very large. But you will 100% feel special while you’re there and be given the utmost care in food prep and service!

Two people dinner. We didn’t order the truffle menu (300+but the regular tasting menu (150ishOverall experience is good. We each had two pasta courses, one protein course and one dessert course. We both like our first pasta course most, creative and tasty! Both Protein courses are just ok. Good desserts. It is worthy trying here, but don’t plan to come back.

I have had the pleasure of dining at Acquerello multiple times, and I would be hard-pressed to find any fault in either the food, service, or ambiance. You truly cannot go wrong regardless of what you order, and the service is genuine and attentive without being obtrusive.If you want delicious food with the highest quality ingredients, impeccable service, and excellent value for money, Acquerello is the restaurant for you. Youll be sure to leave with a satisfied stomach and a smile on your face.

Everything was perfect from the amuse-bouche to the dessert, especially the apricot pana cotta, and the passion fruit chocolat lollypop!! the service was great, waiters are really nice and the dinning room is original. I would highly recommend this restaurant!!!

Acquerello wasn’t what I expected it would be like, considering I had walked passed it numerous times. It was off a not so nice part of Polk Street and hidden away. Once we entered, it was like another world. The restaurant was upscale and dark, like REALLY dark. The courses were small, but eloquently prepared and the flavors were perfect. The wine pairings were great. The most impressive part of our experience was the service. With so few tables, there were a surprising number of wait staff. Ours stood away from our table to give us privacy, but was always aware if we needed something. Acquerello taught me what great service really is! I give it 5 stars for sure! The only downside is it is pretty pricey and you can’t go there hungry since the portions aren’t very large. But you will 100% feel special while you’re there and be given the utmost care in food prep and service!

This is a most remarkable restaurant. One of the top 5 in the city. Every dish is a stunning surprise. You think you understand the dish that will come, and when it arrives you find it has been transformed into something better than you could have ever imagined. The room is a transformed old small church. It is beautiful, wonderfully comfortable, and quiet. The service staff is terrific -- perfectly attentive and informed but never intrusive. If you want a special night out, no place could be better. Different yes, but not better. Enjoy.

Long overdue, but one of the most pleasant experiences in fine dining! My waiter was pleasant mannered and very informative as well as an Sommelier available. Full service in every sense of the word. Will return!IG: mscynthiaromo

It’s amazing and excellent service. Food is beautiful and delicious with multiple layers of flavor.

Imaginative and delicious meal with outstanding service. Impressive wine selection and a very knowledgeable sommelier. Will definitely be back.

Just WOW! Service beyond expectations! Food and presentation is worthy of the two Michelin stars. I will not kid you, this place is not cheap! Its THE restaurant to visit for a really special occasion. This is a really special place.

I had a wonderful night out with my boyfriend, the seasonal tasting menu made our day; it must be one of the best dining experience in SF.The abalone risotto is definitely my favorite, it tasted amazing!! The chef is awesome and the service is excellent. I would love to come back again when I visit SF.

Best time to go: When they just opened. Its still quiet and you can hear whoever youre there with. The later the time, the louder it gets.But over all, the place was amazing, the food was deliciously amazing, and the service was great. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone for birthdays, anniversaries, or celebrations.My only complaint was a little fruit fly that kept flying back to our table.

Acquerello has superior service - dont get me wrong. I really want to give the restaurant above 3 stars, but felt that the food was sub-par. Fortunately, the wine they recommended me (DK - Cabernetwas superior.They started off with 2 complimentary appetizers. Absolutely delicious to cleanse the pallet and kick off with a burst of flavor. I ended up getting the ravioli, beef tartar, the halibut, chocolate mousse, and a bunch of plates from the dessert menu. I also tried the lobster.I was very disappointed in the halibut. It was extremely dry. The lobster was delicious, but on the small side. The ravioli didnt really pack a punch in flavor. The beef tartar was pretty good as well. The dessert at the end was OK - the macaroons werent bad, but nothing spectacular. A bit too soft.The service here is superior though. They bring you bread, water, and food quickly and diligently. I would return for the service alone. Id go in with slightly lower expectations for a Michelin 1. Ill give this place another try and get the seasonal menu.

Wonderful food, excellent service in a elegant setting. Highly recommended for date night out with your special someone.

Love this restaurant. Have to book 2 week for a table. Should try their tasting menu and wine pairing. Food and wine are amazing.