SPQR

SPQR
Category: Italian (Roman-style)
Neighborhood: Pacific Heights
Price Range: $$$

After having read so much about SPQR and after trying their Pork Soffrito on top of ridiculously Creamy Polenta at the Wine & Wishes event that I attended a few weeks ago, I finally got to try it and let me tell you, SPQR did not disappoint.

This place is great! I've gone for Dinners and recently for Brunch and I seriously love the Food. How can you not?

Some may contend that they dislike the no reservation policy and the long waits. I am of another school of thought, in that, if the Food is great, then I do not mind waiting for it. One night of the nights that I went, I met some girlfriends for dinner there at around 8pm and although it was packed, we waited at the bar and had a glass of wine. The wait went by quickly, which I think was all of 20 minutes, perhaps even 30, but I just didn't notice, because I was enjoying myself chatting with my friends and learning about the different Italian wines at the Bar. The place is certainly lively and although I loved the dark, romantic vibe of its predecessor, Chez Nous, not just for the atmosphere, but also for the Food, which was mostly small plates-style as well, and always perfect for a date…

SPQR is the opposite in its liveliness and I love it.

Let me share my experience with you...

The Antipasti are a sweet deal at $7 each, or a choice of three for $18 or five for $28 from a Menu which consists mainly of Small Plates which is broken down into 3 categories of Cold, Hot & Fried, giving you much to choose from...

This particular evening, the girls and I decided to go for the fiver deal, plus a Pasta Dish & an Entrée to share amongst the three of us.

Here’s what we had:

We started with the Chicory Salad with Anchovy and Lemon, which was a great start with its Crisp Chicory, combined with the Saltiness of the Anchovy Bits and the Tartness of the Lemon. It whet the appetite nicely and prepared us for what was to come…

Our next 4 Plates consisted of the following:
-Tender & Flavorful Broccoli Rabe (Rapini) sautéed in Garlic & Olive Oil and finished with Lemon.
-A beautifully tender Calamari that was prepared with Tondini Beans, Capers & Fried Bread Crumbs. A seriously yummy preparation... Embarrassingly enough, when some of it fell on the table, we quickly battled to get to the Fried Bread Crumb Goodness so as not to waste it, it was that good...
-The Brussel Sprouts with Garlic, Capers, Lemon and Parsley were as good as prior reviews had indicated. The Brussel Sprouts were fried and incredibly light, that they were like Popcorn, you couldn’t have just one. And how could you go wrong with the combination of Garlic, Capers, Lemon and Parsley to accompany it? Seriously now. It is that good.
-Veal Meatballs with Arugula and Lemon. Tasty…

For the Pasta Dish we had the Cannelloni of Pork Sausage, Ricotta and Pecorino. The Pasta was freshly made on site and the Dish was Absolutely Delicious! Definitely My Favorite of the night…

Our Entree was a Dish of Bay Scallops with Roasted Cauliflower, Rapini and Olives

All of it was so good, that we practically licked our plates clean. You gotta try it. It is well worth the wait and I personally could not wait to go back for more...

So I did...

Brunch:
Went back for Brunch and I just had to tell you about it...

I had the Chicken Livers with Pancetta, Potatoes, Fried Eggs & Salsa Verde, which was quite good, but my companion’s Dish was to die for!

He had the Cellini Beans with Pork Soffrito, Chiles & Two 'Fried Eggs' Dish which was truly incredible. It was something completely unlike anything I had ever had or even seen before. When it first came out, we both were a bit perplexed as the Dish (pictured above) was laid on the table before us. I should have taken a shot of what it looked like when it was broken into.
Essentially, the clever play on ‘Fried Eggs’ was boiled soft with a yolk that seeped out when you put your fork through it. The Soft Boiled Eggs were rolled in Fried Bread Crumbs and perhaps flash fried to keep the Fried Crumb Bits on.

Hmm… Now that I think about it, I wonder if they were dredged in Flour and then dipped in Egg first? Interesting, if that was the case…

So anyway, these Bad Boys, and yes, they are Bad Boys, were placed atop a bed of Cellini Beans - Tender on the out, and Creamy on the inside Cellini Beans and SPQR’s incredibly yummy Pork Soffrito.
Oh, there’s that Pork Soffrito again… It is so damn Good, I can't stop thinking about it! Mmm…

Creamy…Tender…Savory? Now that is one sexy Dish if you ask me!

All this and it's Unbelievably Delicious... I must go back for more!

And I’m going to get one just for myself and that’s no joke.

Mangia, People. Mangia.