Restaurant suggestions for Pac Heights (near the Landmark Clay, on a Saturday night)

[abstractpoet]

We're thinking about grabbing dinner at SPQR this Saturday after a movie at the Landmark Clay Theatre. Any recent reports/recommendations? Or are there other chow-worthy spots in Pac Heights that would be within reasonable walking distance of the theater? Pizzeria Delfina was my initial preference, but I'd imagine that at 8:30 or 9:00-ish, which is when we'd be eating, there might be a significant wait.

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SPQR
1911 Fillmore Street, San Francisco, CA 94115

Pizzeria Delfina
2406 California St, San Francisco, CA 94115

[abstractpoet]

Thanks, everyone. We ended up at Pizzeria Delfina. Report here: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/694474

[vulber]

I've found a great way to eat at SPQR these days without a wait is to dress warmly and request an outside table. It's too cold for most people right now to want these tables, so they'd rather wait 2 hours for an indoor table.

[pauliface]

When I go to the Clay I usually eat either at Jackson-Fillmore (great italian) or Ten-Ichi (pretty good japanese), both within a couple of blocks.

[abstractpoet]

Thanks, pauliface and DavidT, for the Jackson Fillmore rec. I snagged a reservation there in the meantime while we're still contemplating the prospect of eating super early at Pizzeria Delfina or trying to walk in later at SPQR. =\

What do you like at Jackson Fillmore?

[tvham]

Pizzeria Delfina for a pre-movie meal would be my choice. They serve straight through from lunch to dinner and you shouldn't have a problem being seated that early.

SPQR could have a long wait - we tried walking in on a random Tuesday evening and it was an hour + wait at 8:30pm.

[pauliface]

I love their eggplant parmigiana appetizer (not always on the menu as an app, but they'll make it).
ALso:
the veal chop is great, my mom loves the contadino, the spaghetti bolognese, the bombolotti al sugo, pollo alla siciliana...
and they make a great warm zabalione for dessert, overflowing the glass...

[Amy G]

SPQR has a bunch of bar seats and chef counter seats for walk-ins Have not had a problem going there after 8:45 pm. I think they are doing the best stuffed pastas in the city right now. Dreaming about the duck ravioli or rabbit cappelletti just writing about this. Dosa or Pizzeria Delfina are good alternatives.

[lmarie]

Four of us ate at SPQR in January. Nothing stood out as anything above average. In particular, I had a pasta with shredded duck; the duck tasted warmed-over. I won't go back.

[DavidT]

SPQR is likely to be rather busy on a Saturday evening, although I believe they now take reservations. Alternatives in the same block worth considering are Florio and Woodhouse Fish Co. There is a good Peruvian restaurant (called Fresca) in the block on Fillmore north of California St.

[abstractpoet]

Yeah, I should have snagged the 9:00 reservation at SPQR when I saw it available yesterday. Now they're showing up as all booked until 10:00, at least on Open Table. Anyone know what the Peruvian restaurant is called?

[DavidT]

It is Fresca.

[abstractpoet]

Hmm. These other options don't look very appealing to me, though I suppose Woodhouse Fish Co. is the most promising of the three. I'll try to read up a bit more on Fresca too, and see if any reports sway me. My initial impression is that the dinner menu seems pricy. Do people often do a whole meal of appetizers there, tapas style?

Another thought would be to just grab an early dinner at Pizzeria Delfina before our movie, when there'd be less of a wait. Anyone know when they start dinner service? If we went at like 4:30, would we be able to order dinner? Or how bad would it be if we just showed up at 8:30 on a Saturday? A 45-minute wait? Longer?

[DavidT]

Jackson Fillmore (on Fillmore just north of Jackson) is another option, trattoria-style Italian. It is a little smaller than SPQR, but they do take reservations.