"Chef Suzette Gresham's two-Michelin-star Italian under a chapel ceiling, foie gras pasta and all. Book the $215 tasting menu for a proposal."
About Acquerello
The ridged pasta with foie gras, black truffle and Marsala has not left the menu in decades, and it is the dish people book Acquerello to eat again. Chef Suzette Gresham has cooked here since 1989, in a former chapel on Sacramento Street whose high peaked ceiling gives the room its hush, and she holds two Michelin stars. The $215 tasting menu is one of the most-requested special-occasion tables in our San Francisco dining guide and a fixture on our list of the best restaurants for a proposal.
The Kitchen
Chef and co-owner Suzette Gresham has run the Acquerello kitchen since 1989 and is one of the few women in the United States to hold two Michelin stars. Her cooking is handmade-pasta Italian with classical technique: the signature ridged pasta with foie gras, black truffle and Marsala is always on the menu, and the Parmesan budino with tomato guazzetto and fried eggplant is the other dish regulars order on sight. The format is a tasting menu at $215 per person, with an optional wine pairing at $185 drawn from a deep Italian-leaning cellar, and shorter set menus on some nights. Desserts are a strength, finished by one of the better mignardises carts in the city, rolled up stacked with chocolates, pâtes de fruits and caramels. The kitchen has held its two stars for years, which in a city this competitive is its own statement. Pacing is unhurried and the room is small, so book ahead and let the menu run its course over the evening. À la carte is limited; the tasting menu is the way the kitchen wants to be read.
The Room
Acquerello occupies a converted chapel on Sacramento Street in Polk Gulch, and the signature A-frame ceiling sets the tone: tall, calm and quiet, the kind of room where you can hear your own conversation. Tables are well spaced and the lighting is low and warm, with cream walls and framed watercolours. The sound level stays soft even on a full night, which is what makes it work for a proposal. There is no jacket rule, but most guests dress up. It seats only a few dozen, and service is formal without being stiff, paced to the tasting menu. Ask for a corner table when you book if you are celebrating.
Best for a Proposal
Book Acquerello for a proposal for three reasons: the converted-chapel room is quiet and intimate enough for a private moment, the tasting-menu pacing gives the evening a natural arc to build toward, and the team is practised at handling the logistics of a ring and a toast. A typical scene: a corner table under the peaked ceiling, the foie gras pasta arriving, the mignardises cart rolling up as the question gets asked. It works equally well for an anniversary or a milestone dinner. Tell the team when you reserve so they can pace the night and have a glass of something ready.
Not for
Skip Acquerello if you want a quick, casual or budget dinner: this is a small, formal two-star room built around a long tasting menu, and a couple will spend well over $700 with wine.
Frequently Asked
Is Acquerello worth it?
Yes, for a special-occasion Italian dinner in San Francisco. Chef Suzette Gresham holds two Michelin stars and has cooked here since 1989, and her foie gras pasta with black truffle and Marsala is one of the city's signature dishes. The tasting menu runs $215 in a converted-chapel room that suits a proposal. It is a destination dinner, not a casual night. See our San Francisco dining guide.
How much is dinner at Acquerello?
The chef's tasting menu is $215 per person, with an optional wine pairing at $185. Acquerello also offers shorter set menus on certain nights. With wine, tax and service, a full evening for two lands comfortably above $700. This is two-Michelin-star pricing in line with San Francisco's top tables, so plan it as the centrepiece of the evening rather than a quick stop.
What is the signature dish at Acquerello?
The ridged pasta with foie gras, black truffle and Marsala is the dish that has stayed on the menu for decades and the one regulars return for. The Parmesan budino with tomato guazzetto and fried eggplant is the other signature. Both show chef Suzette Gresham's handmade-pasta and classical-Italian style. For more rooms like it, see our best fine-dining restaurants guide.
How far ahead should I book Acquerello?
Book two to four weeks ahead, more for a Friday or Saturday or a proposal. Acquerello is a small room and a two-Michelin-star destination, so prime weekend tables go first. Reserve online or by phone and tell them if you are celebrating; the team is used to handling proposals and anniversaries. Midweek dates open up sooner if your timing is flexible.
What is the dress code at Acquerello?
Smart. There is no jacket requirement, but most guests dress up for the occasion, and a jacket does not look out of place under the chapel ceiling. Think collared shirts, dresses and smart separates rather than casual wear. It is a refined, grown-up dining room, so dressing the part adds to the evening, especially if you are marking something.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Acquerello
Book online or by phone two to four weeks ahead. Weekend and proposal tables go first; note any celebration when you reserve.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
Address1722 Sacramento St, San Francisco, CA 94109
NeighbourhoodPolk Gulch / Nob Hill
CuisineItalian (contemporary)
Price$215 tasting; ~$700+ for two with wine
Dress CodeSmart; jacket welcome
SeatingIntimate chapel-ceiling room
ReservationOnline or phone
Phone+1 415-567-5432
HoursDinner, Tue–Sat
DietaryVegetarian tasting on request; note allergies ahead
