Where-To-Wednesday Adventure #20: Contigo

Oh prince. You dazzled us with Purple Rain. You blew our minds with Kiss. But you captured our hearts with Take Me With You. That song would get me dancing in the middle of Sunday service. And now that I'm all grown up and hitting restaurants a tad more frequently than clubs (when did I get old?), as I walk in a tapas restaurant, that song suddenly becomes my anthem. With dishes meant for sharing, I need to get a taste of each....simple math people. And how fitting, Contigo literally translates to "with you." Oh Prince, you could have been a restaurateur in another life. But lucky for us, we've got your songs to jam to while going to town on the delicious food at Contigo. Let's go crazy. (Oh yeah, I went there). At this latest Where-To-Wednesday adventure on October 24th picked by Melissa - Becky, myself and Elizabeth all experienced the charm of Contigo and the glorious lesson of sharing when it comes to Spanish tapas. Yum. Yum. Read on to check out our experience on the 0/10 and if we "adore"d Contigo...or not. I promise, that was the last one. Maybe. 

Ambiance 9: A true neighborhood gem, this place leaves me scratching my head as to why I'm not living in Noe Valley. It's a charming spot, with the energy of a restaurant and the comfort of a home. The open kitchen gives it a lively feel, and the overall floor plan is welcoming - with multi-level indoor seating, outdoor dining, and seats along the kitchen counter AND a cava bar. Yes, a cava bar. When am I getting one of these installed in my house? The heavy scent of flavors and aromas brewing in old world dishes cooking up in the kitchen, envelope you in a warmth that is echoed through the soft lighting and carefully placed candles atop each table. So...when are we going back? 

Wine 7.5: Did I mention there is Cava bar? Because...there's a cava bar. And so, cava we must. We each tried different kinds. I opted for the Suriol "Castell de Grabuac" brut from Penedes, which was pretty darn magnificent. A tad sweeter than your standard brut with a lingering depth to the cava that brings out its soul. This cava is aged in chestnut barrels which give it a very unique finish - almost a touch of port at the end of each sip. Cava and port in one fantastic drink? How...’extraordinary’. Teehehehe. We also chose a red to go with dinner: the Manchuela, Ponce Buena Pinta, Garnatxa blend 2010 which had a bit of bite at first but mellowed out after giving it some time to breath. Overall good…but not spectacular. Especially when we’re starting with Cava. That’s like being a recognizable one-name know-all and then referring to yourself as a symbol. Wait a second…did I just…yes, I did.

Food 9.5: One of the greatest things about our Where-To-Wednesdays is that we essentially create a tapas style for everything we order. Countless dishes…and we all get the benefit of trying it all. Does it get any better than that? Needless to say, when a true tapas style menu presents itself, we tuck in our napkins and get to work. We all opted for the tapas tasting menu, which included 7 of the nights’ best dishes served family style. Check them out:

-          Pimientos de Padron: They must have hired pepper sales reps who go to each restaurant and pitch the pepper, because I’m seeing these more and more and have mixed reviews. The good: they’re lightly salted, slightly crispy and even have a hint of buttery warmness to them. The bad: hidden in this array of seemingly normal peppers are extremely hot, firey peppers just waiting to jump in your mouth and surprise you with a scorching flame. Some might find this fun. Some might find this scary. I don’t remember this issue in the story of Peter Piper when he picked his peppers. Oh how this world has changed.

-          Wood Oven Roasted Local Sardine and Avocado Toast: This warm, smoky sardine lays atop a crisp toast, layered with pickled onions and avocado that add depth to the dish and enhance the smoky aroma. Get over the fact that it’s a sardine, and take a big bite!

-          Warm Pelicata Squash Salad: This beautiful, brightly colored salad is equally delicious. With crispy frisee topped with shaved Idiazabal cheese, soft squash and crunchy pomegranates literally bursting with flavor, this dish is a sensory overload that you’ll absolutely love.

-          Samfaina: Think Ratatouille…re-envisioned. Delicious, fresh vegetables are baked with cheese in a wood oven, creating a warm, inviting dish. And topping it off, are two farm eggs atop, adding a depth and creating a deeper complexity of flavors.

-          Calamars a la Planxa: I’ll admit it. In the past, I’ve been scared off by squid ink. It just sounds…disgusting. But if you can get over the name (which you probably can because the words “squid” and “ink” aren’t listed in the dish title), then you’ve got yourself an amazing dish to enjoy. This was absolutely delicious – by far my favorite dish on the menu. The taste is mind blowing – with the salty, soft rice, the rubbery calamari, the zesty artichokes, the hearty chorizo, and the garlicky, sweet allioli and chile oil that both give a sweetness and kick to the dish. An absolute must-have. You’ll thank me.

-          Santa Cruz White Sea Bass: Garlicky and delicious, the sea bass sits atop a bed of vegetables – crunch corn, hearty chanterelles and cherry tomatoes – each which add a variety of zest to the dish.  

-          Albondigas: Meatballs! These four delicious gems filled with pork and jamon, sit in a sea of warm, hearty tomato sherry sauce. At first taste, you’ll swoon at the flavor – warm, juicy meat cooked to perfection with the perfect balance of salt and sweet. What is that...you’ll think. That slightly sweet deep spice you can’t quite put your finger on… It’s cinnamon! And it’s divine. This dish will get you singing like Prince.

Dessert: Yes…yes we did.

-          Churros: I see these everywhere I go, and yet I never buy them. Why? What is wrong with me? These are heavenly! With sugar and spice and all that’s nice, these deep fried crunchy churros will get you closing your eyes as you enjoy their goodness. And Contigo even takes it a step further - adding a side of dark chocolate to dip in. Let’s be honest, adding dark chocolate to anything makes it better. But to churros? You will cross over to the other side, my friend.

-          Chocolate Sorbet: Delicious and amazingly rich – something you don’t typically find with a “sorbet”

-          Vanilla Bean Gelato: this creamy gelato was topped with rich olive oil and sea salt, creating a unique combination of flavors that is absolutely spectacular. The varying textures in the dish – the crisp salt, rich gelato and smooth olive oil – are a perfect combination, and create an unexpected taste at every bite.

-          Mint Ice Cream: Creamy and smooth, this fresh dessert was the perfect ending to a delicious meal

Service 9.5: We dined, we drank….and we even learned a few things, thanks to our fabulous server Andrew. Not only did he provide great food recommendations, cava tastes to make sure our first cava experience was a good one, but he seemed to always mysteriously appear whenever we had a question. “These meatballs are amazing, but what’s that spice in them…I can’t seem to put my finger on-“ Enter Andrew from a poof of smoke. “Cinnamon.” Ah yes, that’s it. We probably should have tried out three wishes instead of food questions, but alas, we walked away knowing even more about the delicious food we had tasted.

Price 7: Bring your appetites…and your wallets, especially if you’re drinking. This is the story of our W2W life, but was emphasized even more so at Contigo. The food pre-fixe menu was $40 per person which wasn’t bad, however, the total with dessert (not included!) and wine was a whopping $110 per person. Congratulations Contigo, you win the award for most over-priced restaurant we’ve hit so far. Now if you’ll excuse us, we’ll be in the back…we’ve got some dishes to wash.

Noise Level 9: Contigo embodies the liveliness and energy of constant background buzz you hear at a restaurant where you know engaging conversations are bubbling up everywhere, and the place is alive with excitement. Now…we enter the realm where most fail, and only a few succeed: can you actually hear the people in your group amongst the background clatter? Well, I’m happy to report that Contigo passes the test. Our small group could easily hear each other as we carried on conversation amidst the other chatter in the background. The restaurant is set up with smaller areas throughout the space to dine, which creates a more intimate experience.

All About The Area: Every time I set foot in Noe Valley, I get a bit more smitten with the area. The tree-lined streets, the quaint true neighborhood feel, the little bars and restaurants adorning each corner…it’s such a cozy area I find myself shaking my head as I head about town to the hustle and bustle I currently call home. And during this time of year, as fall nods off to winter and the trees become decorated with millions of tiny twinkle lights, Noe truly embraces and welcomes in the season with open arms. I don’t know about you…but I’m jumping right in!

Overall Score: 8.5

Pimientos de Padron

Wood Oven Roasted Local Sardine & Avocado Toast

Warm Delicata Squash Salad

Samfaina (Ratatouille)

Calamars a la Planxa

Santa Cruz White Sea Bass

Albondigas...meatballs!

Vanilla Bean Gelato

Chocolate Sorbet & Mint Chocolate Ice Cream

Churros

Where-To-Wednesday Adventure #19: Terzo

It was bound to happen at some point. The months spent in preparation of avoiding the Marina at all costs abruptly came to a halt. When Terzo was announced as our first Marina W2W adventure, I calmly prepared myself for the worst. I imagined hair flips knocking me in the face like Tyson, Lulu lemon and American Apparel mash-ups strategically arranged in a way that screamed, "I spent hours to look like I didn’t" (don’t even try to fool me), and college campus hats still paying tribute to the “best four – er, was it five years – of my life that I am still hell bent on living out.”  My cringe face was ready. But the biggest let down: I didn’t even get to use it! And so, at the latest W2W adventure on September 19th selected by Natasha and attended by myself, Chelsea, Melissa, Bree and Elizabeth – we all were reminded of the age-old lesson: don’t judge a book by its cover. Read on to see how the rest of our story unfolded…and how we rated it on the 0/10 scale. That’s right…we won’t judge the book’s cover, but you can bet your ass we’ll rate each chapter. This is for you, friends. Yes, you are welcome. In the first chapter, we cover ambiance – enjoy.

Ambiance 8.5: Terzo gives a comfortable nod to a modern atmosphere. A contemporary feel is accentuated through big mirrors creating an illusion of a much larger space, leather seats to rest your back, and lightbulbs that hang from the ceiling in lieu of traditional track lighting. However, coupled with warm rays of candlelight that spill across each table, exposed brick throughout and endless rows of wine bottles that seem to envelope the whole restaurant in a drunk hug, it creates a sense of comfortable warmth for you to bask in as you enjoy your meal. And of course, try some of the wine. After all, it’s not just there to look pretty. Speaking of….

Wine 8:  I’m well aware of my track record, where I fail to remember to take notes on the red because I’m too self-absorbed in the white wine I’m drinking. And if you’re a red wine drinker, you’re probably used to rolling your eyes as you skip this section. Alas, my friends, the book cover wasn’t the only lesson I learned at this W2W…I actually remembered to take notes on the red wine too. Cue the big sigh of relief. I know, I’m learning. First off, the white. We started with the 2010 Smoke Screen Chardonnay. The nose put me off a bit (it smelled a bit yeasty), but still fresh from my learning, I decided not to judge, and down the hatch it went. Another success: I liked it! Creamy with hints of apricot and peach, and a bit of depth from very faint touches of oak and vanilla. Needless to say, we finished off the bottle pretty fast and moved on to the red, which was a 2011 Bovio Barbera D’alba. Unlike the Chardonnay…the nose of the Barbera was intoxicatingly good – like buttery popcorn – delicious! The wine itself was smooth, velvety and medium bodied with hints of blackberry. Overall…two wines, two winners in this chapter. Pulitzer anyone?

Food 9: If you’re coming here with a group, you’ve come to the right place. The menu is mainly filled with small, shareable plates  - -perfect for any large party. Enter: the W2W crew. Yes, we’ll take it all.

-          Heirloom Tomato Panzanella:  Delicious bread salad packed with crispy cucumbers, ripe red tomatoes, red onions, fennel, olives, and topped with feta. As if that weren’t enough, the homemade herb breadcrumbs hidden throughout were an added zesty bonus to this fresh dish. Yum!

-          Humus: Served with warm, house-made pita bread topped with spices (primarily oregano), it was a dish that was comforting without being too heavy…but, in my humble opinion, lacked in taste. Skip.

-          Fresh Fig Bruschetta: Holy figgitty fig! What seems like it will be a normal run of the mill bruschetta, actually ended up being one of my favorite dishes of the night.  The figs are so full of flavor and overall, the dish has a rich, complex taste – it’s a must-order. Thick slices of bread are lightly toasted, with a generous spread of warm, rich ricotta cheese. Chunky figs are placed atop the mixture, filling every inch of room on the bread, and sprinkled with fresh basil. Just a light drizzle of sweet balsamic vinaigrette rounds out the dish, giving it the finishing touch that makes this “small plate” one that I would easily order for my main dish. No shares. Sharing was not a lesson learned today. Phew.

-          Tomato Braised Pork Meatballs: “Now Dat’s A Meat-a-ball-a!” I imagine I would have cried out, had my mouth not otherwise been stuffed full of said meatball. The meatballs were full of flavor, rich and juicy – topped with grated reggiano cheese and sitting atop a bed of fried, crispy, polenta croutons. Delicious!

-          Free Range Chicken Spiedini: Not your average chicken skewers here… Thick pieces of chicken were sandwiched together along with large onion slices and thick cubes of bread. Juicy and a bit on the spicy side, every piece of food on the skewer was packed with flavor, stemming from a mix of the cilantro and spicy chiles….all cooked to perfection.

-          Spaghetti:  Zesty and flavorful, mixed with house cured tesa (think Pancetta), broccoli di Ciccio, and tomatoes bathed in a sweet marinara sauce and topped with Reggiano cheese. Heads up – though this is listed under the “large plates” it’s not exactly about to give the small plates a run for their money. It’s a rather small amount – and although shareable, there just enough for a little bit for everyone. If you’re big spaghetti fan…order two.

-          Roasted Green Zucchini: Mixed with Tahini to give the zucchini some depth and small pieces of rich ricotta salata for complexity, the zucchini had both a refreshing zing to it and a bit of spice….and all that’s nice.

-          Roasted Wild Coho Salmon: Succulent and full of flavor, the salmon rested between a bed of lentils, juicy baby tomatoes, and spinach – creating a wonderful combination of textures and flavors within the dish.

Dessert: Well, we didn’t order the amount of dishes we typically do, and it’s a good thing we didn’t – because each dish was pretty substantial and left us comfortably full at the end of the meal. Enter: dessert. Upon the recommendation from our server, of some of the ‘must-have’ desserts, we sucked it up and pushed forward. That’s right, it’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it…

-          Lemon Pot de Crème: This looked like it was going to be, quite literally, a heavy pot of cream. It looked rich, it looked intimidating…I was afraid. But alas, looks can be deceiving (why does this sound so familiar…? Yes, we are full of lessons today), and it was actually very light. The lemon cream was delicious, and topped with light and airy whipped cream, with an equally light almond cookie resting on top of the dish. A nice combination of flavors that eases you into the dessert world. Okay…what’s next!?

-          Organic Peach Crisp with Vanilla Ice Cream: One scoop from this dish, and you’ll be looking around for a cozy blanket and fire to nestle up to. I know it sounds cheesy to say, but this dish just tastes like home. The warm, juicy peaches are surrounded by crunchy, sweet pecans and sugary, crispy oats, and topped with a small scoop of refreshing vanilla ice cream on top. It’s a cozy, comforting dish and a perfect way to end the evening.

-          Flourless Chocolate Cake: Nix that last sentence. How could we possibly end the evening without chocolate??? Fear not, the chocolate is here. And oh, is it worth waiting until the end for. Rich and delicious with every bite, the espresso whipped cream accompanying it was a perfect touch in adding a cool, light consistency to the dish.

Service 10: He got us. He just did. And under our wing we took him – into our comments, our stories and even our own little private jokes. Oh Ron…a BFF necklace is certainly in order here. With great service, outstanding recommendations, patience with our group, multiple tastes on wine (come on, it’s hard to choose with a big group of girls)…he was already riding strong around a 9/10. But throughout the night, with more stories and jokes that were told….we liked him more and more, and a final solid 10 was achieved. Cheers Ron!

Price 7.5: Oye vey. We went back and forth on this one for quite a bit. The total bill was $83….one of our more/most expensive W2W nights out. We only had 3 bottles of wine and 8 dishes plus dessert. To me, that’s expensive. BUT a few things to take into account: 1) we’re in the Marina. So I guess if you’re paying $8.99 for fro-yo down the street…you’ve got to create some sort of price distinction between dinner and fake ice-cream.  2) The dishes are meant to be shared. However, with just 3 (don’t even get me started on 3 pieces on a dish) or 4 pieces that come on a “shared” dish, I think they’re expecting groups of ants to dine here. Of course with our group, we had to up the ante with how many pieces we needed per dish – i.e. 6-8. So, I think the hidden cost to add a few more to just about every dish, quickly added up our bill. If you need us, we’ll be washing dishes in the back….

Noise Level 10: I should add a question mark to that statement – noise level: 10? We dined here the week of a big conference in SOMA, and as such, not many people were having dinner outside of SOMA. For us, that meant a very quiet dining experience at Terzo where we could all easily hear each other, because frankly, sans about 3 other tables – we were the only ones in there. However, a few people from our group have been to Terzo before on a “normal night” and said it was quite different, remembering a very loud dining experience. So, if you are going here, and it’s a “normal night” as far as you know it to be: proceed with caution.

All About The Area: It’s the Marina, people. If you read the first paragraph, you know where I stand on this. Terzo is definitely a hidden gem in the Marina and as far as I can tell, doesn’t ring true to the stereotypical things you see in other restaurants/bars in the area. But alas, IT IS THE MARINA. You either love it, or you hate it. Pick a side.

Overall Grade: 8.8

 

Ambiance - view from the front of the restaurant

The back of the restaurant...can you tell there is only one section being sat?

The delicious vino....calling to us from the wall.

The RED! 2011 Bovio Barbera D'Alba

The WHITE! 2010 Smoke Screen Chardonnay

Heirloom Tomato Panzanella

Humus

Fresh Fig Bruschetta

Tomato Braised Pork Meatballs

Free Range Chicken Spiedini

Spaghetti

Roasted Green Zucchini

Roasted Wild Coho Salmon

Lemon Pot de Creme

Organic Peach Crisp with Vanilla Ice Cream

Flourless Chocolate Cake