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Aperto

4 star rating
based on 235 reviews

Category: Italian  [Edit]

Neighborhood: Potrero Hill
1434 18th St
(between Connecticut St & Missouri St)
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 252-1625
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  • Hours:
    Mon-Fri 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
    Mon-Fri 5:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
    Sat 11:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
    Sat 5:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
    Sun 10:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
    Sun 5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
  • Price Range: $$
  • Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
  • Parking: Street
  • Attire: Casual
  • Good for Groups: No
  • Good for Kids: Yes
  • Takes Reservations: Yes
  • Delivers: No
  • Take-out: Yes
  • Waiter Service: Yes
  • Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
  • Outdoor Seating: Yes
  • Good for: Dinner
  • Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only

235 Reviews for Aperto

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One of Aperto's Favorite Reviews

Photo of Sue L.

Elite '08

130

144

Sue L.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
04/28/2008

Okay? What rock have I been hiding under? How is it that I've lived in San Francisco almost my whole life, tried almost every Italian restaurant in the city (yes, even the very "unauthentic" Olive Garden at Stonestown), and yet somehow I have never even heard of Aperto? Ai Yah, shame on me! Shame, Shame!

Aperto is a tiny rustic Italian restaurant on the corner of 18th Street in the Portrero Hill. My dinner was like a work of art. First, they prepped the canvas by tantalizing my taste buds with their mussels steamed in a creamy sauce and topped with buttery grilled bread. Then, they proceeded to clean out the palettes with their refreshing pear salad. Finally, they worked their magic and dabbled detail on every spot of my senses with their risotto dish with sweet peas, asparagus, leeks, basil, and grana cheese.

I will definitely have to come back as my masterpiece is not complete without the grand finale--dessert (yes, shame on me again)!

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Photo of Rana A.

Elite '08

21

167

Rana A.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
06/17/2008

Great brunch spot!! Friendly staff and really yummy food!!!

We came during prime brunch time, but the host was really good about getting us a table in a timely manner.

OH the best part are these little walnut muffins that they give you for free. They only give you one and you can't order them. So SAVOR the flavor kids!!

Thanks for showing me the spot Shamoli!!

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1

6

Peter W.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
06/24/2008

in my very humble opinion, this is as good as eating gets.
I LOVE this restaurant and it is my go-to whenever I have people in town or if my husband and I want a relaxed evening.
Regardless of who I go with, everyone ALWAYS has an empty plate at the end of dinner.
love love love Aperto!

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3

27

Jessica F.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
06/22/2008

Hubby and I dined here when we were on a bit of a time constraint and the waitress did a fabulous job of getting our food out quickly, getting our bill quickly, and getting us on our way.  I had the artichoke ravioli - very flavorful, and the ravioli was just the right tenderness/chewiness ratio.  Hubby had the linguini - very good as well.  Great service, small, intimate restaurant, good food!  Can't go wrong!

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0

3

A B.

San Francisco, CA

1 star rating
07/03/2008

What can i say. Our experience was not good at all. The food came late, the fish was undercooked (seriously how can one undercook fish ??) and the wait staff while being friendly was clearly just paying lip service. They were not all apologetic about either the delay or the fact that 2 out of 3 orders were undercooked. If they had at least being apologetic one could have probably given them a 2 star. For the price this was terrible. The portion sizes and the sides are small as well. Never going back and def not recommending this to anyone.

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0

7

Timothy S.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
06/22/2008

The focaccia.  Oh yes, the focaccia.  

They are also great about making certain dishes vegetarian-friendly.  Great, nice staff and intimate atmosphere.  

I have had to sit next to the bathroom a few times, which has been a bit unpleasant.

Amazing find---great for date nights.

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1

18

Kara H.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
06/16/2008

The last company I  worked for ordered lunch for us every day.  Our favorite restaurant was Aperto.
I especially liked the fish and any of the specials.

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Photo of Chris Y.

 

4

3

Chris Y.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
06/05/2008

I've been to Aperto many times and it has never been anything but a great experience.  Very friendly, professional staff and everything that I've tried on the menu has been tasty.  I had my last birthday dinner here and they handled our extra large party with smiles and relaxed service.  Granted, I haven't tried every last thing on the menu.  The pepati is my favorite italian pasta dish, and I keep on ordering it, again, and again.  Just... can't seem to stop ordering the pepati.  It has hindered my exploration of the rest of the menu.  Should I take a star off for that?  Anyways, the wine list is nice too... I've seen better but the prices are reasonable so everyone wins.  All in all an excellent restaurant for wining and dining in style that won't cost an arm and a leg.

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2

8

Homechicken P.

San Francisco, CA

2 star rating
05/13/2008

The meal started with everyone ordering a salad but me. That's right I was saving room for the good stuff...after reading the Yelp reviews I came with plan in tow.  The menu promised creamy risotto made from my favorite veggies (asparagus and sweet peas)... and just the thought had my mouth watering and my stomach growling...

But unfortunately the good stuff never came.  Well, at least not to me.  My plus one ordered a pasta and bacon dish that was quite tasty, but my risotto was tasteless and unsatisfying.  My mouth stopped watering (and instead focused on the wine) and my stomach was growling... all the way thru the next morning. Boo.

4 stars for the ambience
4 stars for the service
4 stars for my plus ones dish
and 0 stars for the uncomfortable, something doesn't feel right,  don't know what I'm eating because there is no flavor feeling my risotto left me with.

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Photo of Vincent K.

 

38

94

Vincent K.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
05/22/2008

Who knew that the Potrero hill would have these restaurants/lounges that are just what the city is all about, small lil places that are unique in their very own way.

Aperto is a koo spot for dinner.  They got a nice wine menu with half bottles, so my friend and I split the 1/2 bottle of Chardonnay to go with our meal, which we each got the Tagliolini Pepati, this pasta with bacon and veggies with a creamy spicy sauce.  While the taste was really good, I was a intrigued by the amount of oil it was drenched in.  Had there not been a pool of oil at the end, I may have walked away thinking to myself that was a great pasta.    However, that was not the case, so I'd have to say it wasn't spectacular.  

The chocolate souffle would have to be one of the best i've had.  The usual chocolate crisp outside and a gooey inside along with whipped cream and this honey roasted grip of nuts, which i think made the dish even better.  It wasn't too sweet and you could really taste the roast in the nuts.  

The venue was pretty calm with a dim lighting that made it a really good place for a date.  The lady who seemed to be the manager was also very attentive to us and made sure we were comfortable.  I'd suggest going a little bit early as the wait could be some, but for 2 of us, it seemed easy to get a seat.  I'll definitely come back cuz i really wanna try the artichoke ravioli and the asparagus pasta.

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2

14

Jimbo K.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
05/12/2008

The meal started with a soft shell crab salad, transitioned into a great pasta dish, and ended with a gelato sundae.  Good food here with good prices.  Yum.

I would also like to commend the maturity of my friends for not giggling when the menu said the sundae was topped with "wet nuts."

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0

5

T F.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
07/01/2008

Fresh, friendly, fast and delicious. Have been going there for years and really enjoy the menu.

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5

11

stacie l.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
05/03/2008

Straight up hole in the wall but props to the management for definitely making the most out of it. The staff is very efficient and unusually upbeat. Expect to wait a while because the spot is so tiny but the food comes very promptly. I ordered the pan fried steak which was seasoned very well and was very good aside from the fact that it was a little too tough for me. The fries that it came with was HELLA good and I also enjoyed my mamosa.

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Photo of Catherine B.

 

11

55

Catherine B.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
05/11/2008

This place never disappoints. I was just here recently and they have tweaked their dinner menu for the better. They have stepped up their seasonal ingredients and it works.

The service, variety and prices are spot on. A classic, really.

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Photo of Naomi N.

 

3

54

Naomi N.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
05/11/2008

The food here is yum.  I ordered the seafood spaghetti and it was fresh and tasty.  The serving portion was perfect too - not too much where you feel like you need to be rolled home, but enough to satisfy your hunger and have room to squeeze in a dessert or another drink.  The server was attentive and friendly, and I like the chill atmosphere there.

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Photo of Alyssa W.

Elite '08

21

100

Alyssa W.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
05/05/2008

One of my favorite Italian restaurants in the city.  Still on the hunt for that 5 star-worthy italian joint though...

try the ravioli (whatever kind it may be when you go), delicious!

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Photo of Amy O.

 

3

9

Amy O.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
04/25/2008

Favorite place for brunch. Consistently great service, consistently yummy! My favorite dish is the Huevos Rancheros, it's soo good. Also you get complimentary mini muffins for brunch. For a long time I've held off reviewing this place because I  secretly wanted it all to myself. My bad :( It's in Potrero Hill so you rarely have to wait to be seated, which is a huge plus when you're hungry for brunch on the weekend.

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0

2

dama h.

San Bruno, CA

4 star rating
05/25/2008

Loved that street parking was no problem, loved the friendly efficient staff, loved the specials, and the contorni.

We started with the mussels, very good, but slightly underseasoned. Nothing a pinch of salt can't fix.

The balsamic blue cheese pear salad was very good, the dressing was perfect, the pears flavorful and perfectly ripe. Only gripe: didn't really get much blue cheese, although this is very likely due to my family grabbing up every bit of it before I got to it.

We ordered the artichoke ravioli, the pork chop (a special), and the brussel sprout gratin (special). T

The ravioli smelled and looked great...but fell flat on flavor. I could not taste artichoke. Couldn't even taste garlic or anything else. It was pretty flavorless.

The pork chop special: pork chop served over a winter vegetable (read parsnips and squash -- YUM) brussel sprout and chorizo hash. EXCELLENT. Also, the largest pork chop I have ever been served, which was *just dandy* because we were dining family style. The meat was tender, very juicy, perfectly seasoned, and well-complemented by the hash, which was heavenly.

The brussel sprout gratin wasn't really a gratin in my opinion.. you picture layered brussel sprouts with cream and cheese on top. this was more like a baked brussel sprout with bread crumbs and grana on top. despite the misnomer, it was excellent. flavorful and not at all dull.

All in all: excellent service, great prices, good/approachable/affordable wine list, comfy family-oriented atmosphere, and pretty good food. Get the specials, they were excellent. Skip the ravioli.

We had the chocolate mousse/molten/whatever cake, great. the nuts that accompanied made it distinctive yet familiar.

* Solid 4 stars *

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14

48

sonam d.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
05/07/2008

Good stuff! Had lunch there today and food was fresh and tasty! I would have liked to taste their desserts but I was too full. Maybe another time!

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17

35

Daniele D.

San Jose, CA

5 star rating
05/29/2008

OOOoooooohhhh...Aperto!  (Remember that "Ooooo Alberto" commercial?)

Back to subject...I have a friend who lives around the corner from here and I met her one night after a convention I was attending in the city.  She took me to this restaurant...and I was in love...with the restaurant.  =)

To be very honest, I cannot remember exactly what I had since it was over a year ago...I just know that everything was spectacular, from start to finish.  I remember meat being tender, everything well seasoned, veggies cooked perfect...just great.  There is one thing I do remember, though...dessert.  Why you may ask?  Because it was THE BEST carrot cake I have had in my life!  No question about it.  I was in heaven.  The host came over and asked what we thought.  I told him how amazing I thought it was and joked that I wonder if someone could give me the recipe.  He came back a minute later asking for my email address and told me the chef would send it to me the next day.  He wasn't kidding.  The next day, on a Sunday, I received an email from Laura Guagliano-Montiel of Aperto with the recipe attached and tips on how to make the cake.  How freaking awesome and sweet was that?!  (I'm not positive if she is still there but I still feel very grateful to her for doing that.)

I have been back once more a couple of months ago with a group of people before seeing Rodrigo y Gabriela...and it was just as terrific as the first time I went.  They all loved it just as much as I do.  If it was closer I would frequent the joint.  I am jealous of my friend's locale.

Now I am curious to try their new sister location in Oakland.  Might have to take a road trip!!!

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Photo of Liz C.

Elite '08

67

165

Liz C.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
04/20/2008

I found out that I am allergic to tasty cheese made from sheep milk at Aperto.  Add that to my allergy list of goat cheese and avocado.  

This place puts the meaning into tight-knit community.  A small restaurant whose boss wants to cram as many customers in as possible.  This resulted in the guy a foot to my left being more interested in our conversation than the one he was having with his date.  Well, maybe it wasn't the close proximity...maybe she was just that boring.

Anyway, we started out with a very tasty asparagus-wild mushroom salad.  Expectations elevated!  However, the main courses were slightly disappointing.  Their seafood pasta tasted like Fisherman's Wharf, and I couldn't even tell the artichoke raviolis had artichoke in them.  I did like the slightly burnt mint creme brulee...but I have a soft spot the size of Jupiter for creme brulee.  The mint was a light touch, although about 10 minutes later, I felt like I had rinsed my mouth with a glass of mojito.  Not a very inviting sensation for someone that had just gotten over a hangover and wants no where near the concept/reminder of alcohol...like me that night.

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9

37

Kristen D.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
04/10/2008

One of my coworkers took me here for lunch as a thank you. I never go out for lunch, so right there I was pretty excited.

Our waiter was very friendly and attentive and brought warm bread and olive oil over as soon as we sat down. We ordered a beet salad to share, plus two entrees.

The salad was brought out on two plates, which is a nice touch. So much nicer than one big plate you  have to split yourself. And the two half salads were very generous.

I ordered a fancy grilled cheese sandwich and my friend had pasta with lamb sausage. Both were fantastic. I fully intended to eat only half my sandwich and save the rest, but there was no way that was going to happen. Just too good.

We didn't get dessert because we were already pushing the limits of my lunch break. But if they're as good as the entrees, I'm sure they're fabulous.

Recommend.

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Elite '08

16

184

Nicole J.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
04/15/2008

What a quaint restaurant over on Potrero Hill.  I was taken here for my birthday dinner, and I thought the food was quite nice and hearty, but a tad expensive.  Thank goodness I was the guest!  The desserts were HUGE.  I really liked the bruschetta!

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1

38

Dave G.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
04/24/2008

We went last Saturday...That was the night of the high winds.  I will come back to this later.

The restaurant is small but holds about 35-40 people.  One thing that we marveled at was that there were 4 or 5 kids in the restaurant and they were so well behaved.  Makes us think that maybe we can raise kids in the city...until they lose the lottery and have to go to elementary school in the Bayview, but I digress.

We started out with Butter lettuce salad for my gf and I had the ceasar.  Both were huge and either could have been split.  Both salads were very nicely prepared and fresh ingredients.  The couple next to us were wise to this fact and did split it.  

We also shared the crab cakes which were wonderful.  They even had a few nice chunks of crabs, not just all shredded.

My gf had the Orecchiette Pasta which had a variety of mushrooms, in addition to a tasty sauce.  I personally don't like italian sausage so it wouldn't have been my choice but she loved it.

I had the lamb shank which was amazingly cooked.  I commented that I was surprised they could get the thing intact on the plate from the oven.  The meat fell off the bone the second I touched it with my knife.  I loved the asparagus...cooked perfectly, it still had its snap.

We noticed that we wolfed the entrees and we had half a bottle left so we ordered dessert.  Both were excellent: I had a kind of apple tort with ice cream (I am sure it was called something else) with caramel drizzled across the top and my gf had what amounted to espresso with ice cream in it and whipped cream on top.

We will be back!

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16

135

Andrew K.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
04/19/2008

What we had:

Grilled asparagus appetizer - delicious bacon and mushrooms, covered in flaked cheese. But the dressing was everywhere, and kind of overpowered the main ingredients. Still a good dish, though.

Spaghetti with clams and mussels - the grit at the bottom of the broth made for interesting texture, and the flavor of the broth wasn't part of the pasta

Artichoke ravioli - homemade, rustic, and filling. We went for some extra cheese on top, but that was completely unnecessary. The dish had some good flavors that was a little overpowered by our mistake.

Crem brule - probably the best part of the meal, with a good portion and an added hint of mint

It's pretty decent atmosphere in a cozy environment, with service that is friendly. But I wanted a little bit more from the food.

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0

2

Lewis G.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
06/10/2008

This is highly skilled cooking. Moist meat dishes with interesting and multiple flavors. Always a vegetable accompanying the meat in great combinations. The regular menu has pasta dishes that are always flavorful. Homemade bread! We love the lemon chicken and the osso buco is tender with a rich sauce. Straight forward service with no phoney baloney.

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28

kellan e.

Brooklyn, NY

5 star rating
03/24/2008

Great original takes on Italian.  The "bruschetta" was fabulous, and should be shared.   The tagliolini with jalapeno was brilliant, and can be made vegetarian.  

No idea how the food would stack up if you ordered something more traditional.

And no wait.  So happy we ditched the hour long waiting list at Pizzeria Delfina, and uninspired options in the 'hood for a bit farther afield, better food, a table when we waltzed in, and fast friendly service.

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Elite '08

58

170

Erin M.

Burlingame, CA

5 star rating
03/10/2008

My new favorite restaurant. [Although, I'll have to look through my reviews and see how often I say that.] But, Aperto easily topped all my other culinary destinations of late. It's cozy, attentive and delicious. It created one of those nights when everything just goes right. The service was impeccable: friendly but very efficient and knowledge.

To start, we ordered a salad to share: Beet Salad with Goat Cheese and Candied Walnuts ($9). They were kind enough to split it on two plates for us, creating two healthy-sized portions. There were plentiful chunks of several beet varieties with a perfect amount of goat cheese throughout.

JR ordered the Pepati: the $13 specialty of the house is unique and very flavorful. The hand-made pasta is delicate and the jalapenos bring just enough of a kick to make it a standout. I ordered the Rigatoni with lamb sausage, in a tomato-based sauce with a dollop of creme fraiche ($14). Delectable and rich without being heavy. The flavors effortlessly mix together and I found myself savoring each bite.

We finished off sharing the warm chocolate cake and we weren't disappointed. Although we brought in a bottle of wine (corkage $12), they have a good-looking wine list as well as Italian and domestic beers.

Aperto is the type of place that should exist in every neighborhood. Top-notch food at reasonable prices with a warm atmosphere and great service.

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73

cecilia g.

Oakland, CA

4 star rating
04/16/2008

I used to go to Aperto for lunch 10+ years ago when I worked in Potrero Hill and always thought it was pretty good.  I went there last weekend, had the butter lettuce salad and the Tagliolini Pepati, and everything was very tasty and affordable.  It's a cute tiny little place.  It was full , but the service was great.  I was glad to find out that it's just as good as it used to be.

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83

Alice A.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
04/07/2008

Aperto is an excellent Italian restaurant..............

........... if you can get a table............... 30 people seated, max.

There was a party of about 14 there and I believe they take reservations for parties of 6 of more so if you can pull it off, kudos but you will be taking up half the restaurant and might get dirty looks from smaller parties that can't be seated until you're done....  

Thank goodness for Lingba across the street - we had drinks there for about an hour while waiting for our table.  The host at Aperto was very nice and offered to walk over and grab us when our table was ready.  We were very appreciative.  

All four of us had the Tagliolini "Pepati" - excellent choice!  It was the perfect mix of spices and creamy zestiness... the bacon was a little too much for me since I don't really eat meat, but it didn't take away from the dish at all.  

The wait staff is very attentive and helpful, my water glass never went below half full.  

I would love to come here again, but I don't know if I can handle the long wait....

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Elite '08

30

349

Fern D.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
03/12/2008

Squisito! Buon appetito!

Ciao, bella.

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2

Ruth G.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
06/04/2008

Aperto is my favorite neighborhood restaurant.   The food, service, and ambiance is consistently excellent.   There are always new daily specials.   The low noise level makes it easy to have a conversation.    They hang local art on the walls.    They are accommodating in good ways.    We have never had a bad meal or bad service there.   Prices are reasonable.

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3

27

Jeanne L.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
06/23/2008

3.75 stars. I like this place for 2 reasons - it fares well on my price/value matrix & homemade pasta. A couple things bothered me about this place. 1) I didn't really like my dish...I got the pepati as many raved about - with bacon, jalapenos, creamy tomato sauce, spinach - in all honesty, it was just okay - a bit salty for me - it was one of those sounded good in theory didn't taste so great in reality, 2) i actually found a hair on the side of my plate and i saw one on my friend's pasta. i didn't want to say anything and i tried to keep eating, but it was a bit hard. i'm one of those find hair in food want to barf type of people, even if it is my own - which it wasn't in this case. i didnt' want to alarm my table so i just carried on. but the things i enjoyed is it is a less than $20/person type of place - well depending on how much appetizers/desserts you get. entrees are usu around $13-$14. Good variety of stuff. I actually liked my friend's ravioli and another friend's walnut cream pasta. I had a friend who got pasta with sausage and fava beans but it lacked some real flavor - needed some type of sauce - slightly salty. I wasn't too big of a fan of the oil soaked foccacia they give you in the  beginning as well. The dessert - we got the apple crostata - it was just "ok" for me but enjoyed the vanilla bean gelato that accompanied the dish. Overall, I'd say it's a great place for the $ you are paying with a pretty good atmosphere. We went on one of those nice beautiful  nights and saw the sun go down.

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13

51

Lola G.

Oakland, CA

5 star rating
04/01/2008

I had the "pepita."  It's pasta but spicy and with bacon. It's like a dream come true.  Deeelicious.  My new favorite restaurant.  I also appreciate that it is not too pricey for the high quality. I think my dish was only $13.

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14

102

Colleen D.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
03/31/2008

I thought this was a fabulous italian place. I, along with three other people set out to eat at Chez Maman, Ha! if I only knew that it only sat 8 people! So we looked at the options, and there were plenty. I loved that two locals walking by, clearly baffled about what we'd do next,  offered their recommendations. What a pleasant surprise when we were greeted with an amazingly friendly staff. There was a brief wait, but they offered us bread and wine at the window seats.
  We then proceeded to have a very delicious meal, starting with an assortment of salads. The beet salad was divine. They even split it for us. I had The mixed greens with goat cheese and it was fresh and crunchy. Followed by a rich and flavorful ravioli, filled with butternut squash.
  I would highly recommend this restaurant, and am looking forward to a return visit.

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Elite '08

29

492

Jason B.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
02/13/2008

Fabulous. That seemed to be my adjective of the night. Applied to:

- The weather:  It's early February and we've got a spring-like vibe in the air. Fabulous.

- The wait: The supremely attentive host (perhaps the owner) saw to it that we enjoyed a glass of wine while we were waiting, the start of a decent bottle that improved over dinner. Fabulous.

- The appetizer: Mussels in saffron garlic sauce with bread to act as the sponge, which you will use because it's so freaking delicious. Fabulous.

- The entree: Amazing chicken, and it was no problem swapping in squash for potatoes. My dining companion (what's up Lou!) went with the lamb shank, and to quote his five star review, "it completely fell off the bone". Fabulous.

- The ambiance: Inviting and captivating, making two hours seem like two minutes. Fabulous.

- Price: Exceptionally reasonable. Fabulous.

- Service: Stellar, where it feels like you are a welcome member of their home, and this is your 100th time coming, even if it was your 1st. Fabulous.

About the only thing not fabulous about this experience was the 22 ride over, where I listened to a teenage girl talk endlessly about her "man", and it wasn't in the most pleasant tone. I didn't know people could talk that much. Constantly. Without pause. But that's more a review for the 22.

Otherwise, simply fabulous.

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3

28

T D.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
04/09/2008

Great neighborhood Italian restaurant. I had the Rissotto but I should have gotten the Pepita that everyone yelped about. My Fiance got the Pepita and it was amazing! Tangy & spicy...the taste was amazing. The dish is made with thin egg noodles with jalapeno, bacon, and tomato sauce.

So back to my Rissotto. It was just ok. Had peas, aparagus, and cheese. Not too creamy or soupy. Texture of the rice was good. If I were to go back I would get the Pepita.

One thing to keep in mind is that the dishes are not that big. It's a good size if you're a girl but my fiance said his Pepita did not fill him up.

Also order the chocolate souffle when you place your dinner order. It takes 15-20 minutes to make but it's soooo goood!

The restaurant is very small. Looks like it can seat around 30-40 as mentioned by previous yelpers. Even though we got there 5 mintues before our reservation we still waited around 20 minutes. The staff is extremely nice and attentive. We felt very taken care of =)

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Elite '08

27

73

Michele K.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
04/24/2008

Last night my BF and I went to Aperto....we had just come from a Tattinger champagne tasting at the Presidio Golf Course and we were starving!!!!!  ... I started with a Butter Lettuce, toasted pecans & creamy herb-goat cheese buttermilk dressing---yum and Mahi Mahi for dinner that was the fish special---fantastic.  J had cream of broccoli soup to start and for his entree--- tagiolini "pepati" thin egg pasta, garlic, smoked bacon, jalepeno, roasted tomato, arugula,. butter, and pectin and Gran cheese.---delicious!  We washed down dinner with a to die for Havens-Napa Valley Syrah..spicy and bold--very nice finish.  I always like Aperto, it is an excellent neighborhood restaurant that you can dress in jeans or a suit and be comfortable all the same.  The prices are very reasonable and the portions are very generous.  Oh, and they have excellent focaccia and olive oil to munch on....I love Aperto.

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Elite '08

320

525

Gretchen P.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
01/28/2008

Afraid that Cody over at Lingba might be getting sick of us loitering in his joint all the time, we ducked out after a glass of wine with fellow Potrero Hillers and gave Aperto a whirl for dinner.  

We were treated to warm, efficient service and a very memorable meal. We had the innovative grilled persimmon, frisee, arugula, and hazelnut salad for starters and took turns with the lamb shank and the steak with gorgonzola sauce. The lamb fell off the bone and the steak was insanely decadent and perfectly cooked. The wine list was very reasonably priced (we had a great $36 bottle of wine--when does that ever happen?!). Amy S. ordered the molten lava chocolate souffle that you need to order 20 min in advance and is WELL worth the wait.

It's nice to be able to add another local spot into rotation for lazy-night dinners. Brunch also looks amazing for some day that I feel far too skinny.

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9

4

Mayra S.

San Francisco, CA

2 star rating
04/15/2008

***UPDATE***

Wow, I am totally amazed by Yelp and how it reaches out to people, including restaurant owners! I was contacted by Aperto's owner shortly after posting my review and was assured that the customer service we received was not something that they stand for. Bravo! I still feel I need some space from Aperto, but I want Yelpers to know that my boycott will eventually end (and i didn't think it would!).

5 stars to the owner for being concerned and for being pro-active. 3.5 stars for the food, but since i still have a bruised ego, 2 stars overall for Aperto. Plus, we have been there several times when we've had less than stellar service (which we chose to ignore before)-- the incident below was just the last straw.

**********
i am boycotting this place. i was in here about 3 weekends ago to enjoy  brunch with my husband. We live in Potrero Hill and often go to this place for brunch. The food was good, but the service was awful! We finished our food (of note--we're not slow eaters) and i was right in the middle of finishing up my latte (maybe 3 more sips) when the waitress comes over and says "if there isn't anything more i can get you, then i am going to have to ask you to leave." WHAT? REALLY? Yeh, really. I'm sorry, i thought that i could finish my latte THAT I PURCHASED IN THE RESTAURANT WITH MY BRUNCH. I've never been so rudely treated before. I literally had like 3 sips to go, it would have taken maybe another minute and off we would have gone. They lost two+ customers in that minute. Lesson I learned-- don't pay the check before finishing your meal.

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