Famished Girl
Pizzeria Delfina, Mission Dolores
Okay, let me be clear about something: I am not a big fan of pizza. But my husband is. And I love Italian eatery Delfina. So when I heard that Chefs Anne and Craig Stoller were opening a pizza place next door to their Tuscan-inspired trattoria, I figured I’d give it a try. It’s definitely a good thing that I did.
Since Pizzeria Delfina does not accept reservations, we arrived for an early dinner on a Saturday night. We’re talking early-bird special early, yet there was still a short wait. (I recommend using any wait time to grab a coffee from Tartine Bakery, located just a few doors down.) The pizzeria’s interior is small and seats about 24; the stools at the counter are ideal for watching the dough being tossed. Out on the street, there are a handful of tables — wisely situated beneath heat lamps.
We started our dinner with two appetizers. The first featured fresh figs and pecorino cheese. The second was a serving of heirloom tomatoes with black olive vinaigrette, red onion and a goat cheese crostino. Both plates were licked cleaned.
Okay, so what about the pizzas? The menu features six Neapolitan-inspired pies, as well as two daily specials. On the night we went, we opted for one of the usual menu offerings: the Salsiccia, which is house-stretched mozzarella topped with fennel sausage, tomato, bell peppers and onions; and the daily special that was topped with fontina cheese and hen-of-the-woods mushrooms. The 13″ pizzas boasted a wonderful thin and crunchy crust. The waiter brought us a small plate with red pepper flakes, dried oregano and grated parmesan — in case we wanted to sprinkle any on the pizzas. We didn’t. The flavors on both of the pizzas was wonderful, and it’s obvious only the freshest ingredients are used here. Again, there was nothing left on the plates when we were done. (My husband was a little disappointed that he wouldn’t have any leftovers.)
Since pizza is the focus here, I didn’t expect much from the desserts. But they were fantastic. They change frequently, and on our visit, we enjoyed a hazelnut-chocolate torte and a blackberry-plum crostata. The waiter was kind enough to bring us a cannoli to sample as well. All were delicious, and a perfect ending to a superb meal.
While I still don’t have a passion for pizza, I must admit that I can see myself making many repeat trips to Pizzeria Delfina. It’s a little pricier than your average neighborhood pizza joint, but the high quality of the food and the friendly service make it worth the few extra bucks … and worth the extra time you’ll probably spend searching for parking in this popular area.
Pizzeria Delfina
3611 18th Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 437-6800
