627481 Fri Jun 12 21:12:01 -0700 2009 3 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 4768737 My wife and I have enjoyed these oceanic dinners in years past, but this year's version is, to our minds, even better. We had planned to go for two evenings this year; after tonight's dinner we will return for our third dinner tomorrow. The crudo plates are superb--7, 8, or 9 examples of perfectly fresh fish accompanied by as many garnishes or sauces. Very exciting. The Cannelloni were outstanding--rich and flavorful. Tomorrow night we plan to get to the wood oven roasted fish--petrale, mackerel, or black bass. Or maybe all three. Overall I think the crudo plates are the some of the best things I've ever eaten. Fri Jun 12 21:12:01 -0700 2009 15172 Michael Rodriguez 1 4768857 Any comments that you could make on the "octopus soppressata" or "terrines/preserves"? Fri Jun 12 22:40:30 -0700 2009 4768737 19117 Pollo 2 4770527 We ate there last night. Didn't have the octopus. But we did order the terrines/preserves as a starter. And the crudo-one plate and the sea urchin flan. They were all great. The crudo was terrific--you just wanted more! The terrines/preserves were interesting, flavorful, a great contrast to the crudo. There was broad agreement at our table that the stand-out appetizer (and maybe over-all dish of the whole meal) was the flan--remarkable taste and texture. My husband, and one of our friends ordered lobster bisque for the next course. My husband rated it B+/A-. It was a miniature portion (served w/ a small spoon to fit into the cup). Cannelloni, which our friends shared, and I tasted, was delicious--I'd agree with the rich and flavorful description of the post-er above. I had another appetizer for a second course, the haddock roasted in grape leaves, and I thought it was perfectly cooked, light, and simple--the best haddock I've ever had (I'm from New England). For main courses, one of our friends and I shared the scallops et. al. and fresh beans--which was light and again perfectly cooked--and the black cod, which had a wonderfully fragrant and tasty sauce. My husband had a pasta for his main course, the bucatini with sturgeon, and he'd rate that B/B+ (I concur from my bite). And the mackerel, ordered by another friend, was, I think, successful, though I didn't taste it. We were too full for dessert (there was one weird-sounding shrimp dessert--and the peach crostada was sold out, the one item we might have ordered). Wines were well chosen, albeit pricey. Service was mostly good--our server let us order appetizers and then figure out next courses after we were done with starters, which made for a very agreeable rhythm. She (and every other server) were unfortunately nowhere to be seen, when we had a red wine spill. We were kept waiting for our table for 15 minutes, with little in the way of apology. So to summarize. Many wonderful and original and exciting dishes. At the same time, I often feel about Oliveto's that they try a bit too hard, go for show, crank up the cost, and a little something is lost in the way of authenticity and pleasure. Sat Jun 13 18:23:09 -0700 2009 4768857 145123 sundeck sue 1 4782166 link Wed Jun 17 13:57:56 -0700 2009 4768737 10264 rworange