Eat in San Francisco: Pinsa Rossa

Arugula e Pera salad made with arugula, pear, Gorgonzola, walnuts, prosciutto di San Daniele, balsamic glaze, and olive oil

Prosciutto Cotto calzone made with San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella, "Gran Biscotto," cremini mushrooms, basil, and olive oil

Prosciutto & Stracciatella pinsa made with San Marzano tomatoes, arugula, stracciatella di burrata, prosciutto di San Daniele, grana padano, black pepper, and balsamic glaze

I visited Pinsa Rossa, a pinsa restaurant on the corner of Fillmore and California in Lower Pacific Heights, for the first time with my dining companion and an old friend in mid August.

We ordered a few things to share, starting with the Arugula e Pera salad made with arugula, pear, Gorgonzola, walnuts, prosciutto di San Daniele, balsamic glaze, and olive oil. We then had two mains: the Prosciutto Cotto calzone, made with San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella, "Gran Biscotto," cremini mushrooms, basil, and olive oil, and the Prosciutto & Stracciatella pinsa, made with San Marzano tomatoes, arugula, stracciatella di burrata, prosciutto di San Daniele, grana padano, black pepper, and balsamic glaze. Everything was quite good: the salad ingredients were fresh and the textures and flavors balanced each other well. The calzone was warm and filled with the classic Italian ingredients we love. The pinsa had that light, dynamic crust I like and delicious toppings to boot.

The next time I'm in the area, I would try the Spicy Calibrian or Pepperoni + Sausage pinsa.

Pinsa Rossa

Website | Instagram | Yelp

2101 Fillmore St., San Francisco, CA 94115

Open: Monday - Thursday 4:30 - 9pm, Friday 4:30 - 10pm, Saturday 12 - 10pm, Sunday 12 - 9pm

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Eat in San Francisco: Montesacro Pinseria Romana

Maranella Pinsa made with mozzarella, broccolini, spicy pork sausage, and stracciatella di burrata

Ceci e Barbabietole made with chickpeas, beets, mixed greens, pistachio, pickled red onion, and goat cheese

Torta del Ghetto: Roman Ghetto Tart with sheep’s ricotta, chocolate, and wild cherry 

I visited Montesacro Pinseria Romana, an Italian restaurant located on Stevenson and 6th in San Francisco's SoMa district, for the first time a few weeks ago. Montesacro specializes in an ancient Roman flatbread called pinsa that's made with a combination of rice, soy, and wheat flour. This was my first time trying pinsa, but it won't be my last. 

My dining companion and I ordered the Maranella Pinsa made with mozzarella, broccolini, spicy pork sausage, and stracciatella di burrata. It came with huge chunks of cheese and flavorful sausage, the latter being my requisite pizza topping. I didn't even notice it didn't have sauce. The flatbread itself is worth writing home about. It has an interesting, rustic texture and a heartiness that makes me want more. We also tried the Ceci e Barbabietole beet and chickpea salad made with fresh ingredients and ended the meal with the Torta del Ghetto, a tart made with ricotta, chocolate, and cherry. Overall, this was a fantastic meal I want to repeat soon.

Like their rustic dough and its ancient beginnings, the restaurant itself is a sight to see. It's located in one of SoMa's alleys (what San Franciscans call "streets") and its interior transports you to an old Roman pinseria, or even someone's own kitchen, with its metal seats and wooden tables. If you've visited Montesacro Pinseria Romana before, what do you recommend trying?

Montesacro Pinseria Romana

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510 Stevenson St., San Francisco, CA 94103

Open: Sunday - Thursday 5 - 9pm, Friday - Saturday 4 - 9pm

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