For those of you who may not be so familiar with 1760, it’s the sister restaurant to the famous Acquerello. Rather than sticking to upscale Italian food, 1760 boasts a fusion menu with an Asian influence. The menu consists of small plates that encourage eaters to share and sample all the flavors, which I am alllll about. The restaurant itself is lovely, and provides an elevated dining experience in a more casual atmosphere. No stuffy waiters here, only good food and pleasant staff. Further emphasizing their belief in the power of shared food, Chef Carl Foronda (formerly of Sushi Ran) is launching a Chef’s Family-Style Menu for the restaurant. Similar to a prix fixe meal, the Family-Style Menu is a six course meal, with an option for a wine pairing. I’m excited to share a sneak peek of what it has to offer. Let’s take a look, shall we?
We began our meal with a striking cocktail made of carrot (that’s right, carrot!), Pimms No. 1, Angostura, lime and rum. They had me at Pimms. Despite its bold color, the drink had just a hint of carrot, and no flavor was too overpowering. Everything melded together perfectly, and the drink itself was beautiful.
Then, we moved on to the FOOD. The starters included a heirloom tomato gazpacho, ocean trout crudo and broccoli di ciccio.
My favorite was definitely the broccoli. Roasted perfectly in the oven to bring out the sweetness of the vegetable, it was topped off with a lime-fish sauce emlsion, yuba and pepitas. Another favorite was the crispy octopus (pictured below).
Thick, hearty chunks of octopus were lightly breaded and fried, and sat upon a bed of heirloom tomatos and roasted red pepper rouille sauce. If I weren’t in public, I’d probably lick the sauce off the plate…
And of course, the star of the night was definitely the Bavette steak, with green farro, miso-sherry jus, potato purée, and Napa cabbage. The steak was thick and juicy, not tough at all. I love a good farro, so the dish was right up my alley. The potato purée was served on the side, which I thought was a smart idea. It had an interesting texture unlike any potato purée I’ve had before, thanks to the strips of crunchy Napa cabbage. Unusual, but I liked it.
We capped off the meal with a brown butter panna cotta, topped with warm chocolate cake crumbles, raspberry sorbet, and thyme. I couldn’t taste the brown butter much due to the rich chocolate and sorbet toppings, but the panna cotta itself was as rich and creamy as a panna cotta should be.
If you haven’t given 1760 a try, I would definitely encourage it. The Chef’s Family-Style Menu is a great way to enjoy a dining experience with out-of-town guests, or a date night with your boo thang. It’s also ideal for those days where you don’t want to think about much— just want some scrumptious food in front of your face after a long day. The Tasting Menu is $65 per person, with an optional beverage pairing for an additional $35.
Bonus! 1760 is also a GREAT option for brunch. They had me at chicken and waffle croquettes.
1760
1760 Polk Street
San Francisco, CA 94109
Reservations available (and encouraged) on OpenTable
Gave 1760 a spin? Let us know what you thought in the comments!