Adrie Reinders

Dutch design in San Fran
Credo

www.credosf.com
360 Pine Street
San Francisco, CA 94104
(415) 693-0360
I had dinner last night in Credo, a new restaurant in the heart of San Francisco which was designed by Piet Hein Eek. Piet Hein Eek became world famous with his furniture made from drift wood, which forms a main part of the decor in Credo. It looks nice and clean – lots of space, white walls decorated with famous sayings all starting with “I believe….” the english translation for the latin “Credo”. Tastefully done.
Unfortunately, like so many modern restaurants these days, the noise levels were too high and made it hard to have a comfortable conversation. This effect is emphasised by the bar in the middle of the restaurant. I never like that so much, drinking people always seem to make more noise then those around them.

Service was very good, professional and well instructed. Decor, as said, beautiful and reasonably comfortable. The food was excellent, I have to admit. Great dishes, mainly derived from Italian classics. I fancied the Pizza which was great, nice thin curst and fresh ingredients. For dessert a very non-Italian dish – Crema Catalan… superb!!

Food: 8,5
Service: 8
Comfort: 7.5
Price/quality: 8

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A classic from Calabri

Restaurant Poggio, 777 Bridgeway, Sausalito CA

Restaurant Poggio is a real Italian classic, traditonal interior design – lots of wood and a typical Italian feel to it
Every day they have a special menu with dishes based on produce in season.

My menu consisted of a carpaccio. Whilst good, it was a little too cold and felt like it had been plated and kept refridgerated waiting for my order. As a main course, I had chargrilled Tuna with mashed potatoes – which was excellent. For desert I had a fresh Tangerine sorbet which was in one word delicious – and in a generous sizing.

Service was friendly and efficient but without a lot of the pleasant dramatics that I like so much about a real Italian place.

As I mentioned, the decor was heavy and classical but comfortable nevertheless.

Food: 8.5
Service: 7.5
Comfort: 7.5
Price/Quality: 7.5

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Dinotto, North Road, Chicago IL60614

The way to describe this evening was: “interesting”. A local Italian restaurant, looking very welcoming on the outside. You know in advance that most Italian restaurants have a similar service and interior, a bit “standardised” even but the food is almost always good and fresh.

This time, during my dinner, Gordon Ramsey’s “Hell’s Kitchen” cropped up in my mind. Nothing was right – the basket of bread that landed on our table was full of at least a day-old-bread, the soup which was meant to mushroom was vague in flavour to the extreme, the delicate grilled portabella mushrooms that were served, were doused in a undefinable liquid and were black and burned. When I sent them back to the kitchen, hardly touched – nobody came to check why.
My main course, a Veal Milanese which I usually love (and a dish that is very hard to get wrong) was boring, flavourless and the texture was all wrong. Even the biscotti that were served with the undrinkable coffee were old and soft.

On the walls they had some recommendations by Zagat dated 2006 and 2007 – so it may have just been a very bad day, or they had an inexperienced chef stand in for the real one…but for me it was hopeless and a place to avoid in future.

Interior/Comfort:  6
Service:  6
Food: 5
Price/Quality: 5

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