South Bay - Spoon House vs Il Chianti?

[twinkienic]

I will be in the South Bay area this summer and am curious about Spoon House and Il Chianti. They both look like Japanese/Italian fusion. Is one much better than the other? How do the food and atmosphere differ at each? Thanks!

[BobMack]

I haven't been to Il Chianti for a while but here's my comparison. Spoon house is much more casual down home place. It's a small joint and can get crowded. It's fairly cheap for what I order which is some pasta. It's a family style joint.

Il Chianti is not as casual, the last time I went (a few years back) they weren't sure if they could seat me without reservations (probably not as crowded now). The food was significantly more expensive but more refined. They had more options as well. We ordered appetizers, entrees and desserts here. BTW they charged for our second bread which irks me.

I enjoy both but they are totally different vibes.

[heinous]

Spoon House really only serves spaghetti and bread, while Il Chianti has a fuller menu, including salads, pastas, and meat dishes. Il Chianti is not at all crowded anymore; each time I've been there, it's been fairly open. They do a decent business, but I've never had to wait for a table.

[E Eto]

Il Chianti is miles better than Spoon House.

[Nicole]

I will have to try it the next time I get a Spoon House craving. Any particular must-order items?

[Nicole]

I've only been to Spoon House, so I can't make the comparison, but I can say that Spoon House is really good. Great spaghetti with uni sauce and bread. Although this is a very casual place, they make each batch to order. South Bay is great for Japanese food.