Famished Girl
Bar Bambino, The Mission
“There’s a cute place called Bar Bambino in the Mission. It’s in a not-so-nice neighborhood, but the interior makes you forget all that.” So that was the email from a friend of mine, making the pitch for us try this two-month-old cafe and wine bar — conveniently located just one block from the 16th Street BART station.
She was definitely right about the decor; it’s a gorgeous spot. At the front of the restaurant is a communal table with a cool glass-bottle chandelier above it. Parallel to the bar seating is a handful of small tables. Go down the hallway and you’ll come to another haven within this haven: an outdoor patio, perfect for weekend brunches.
On a recent visit, my dining companions and I ordered: the salumi plate (a must!), grilled asparagus, sausage panini, pork shoulder (slow braised in milk with sage and lemon — yum!), and boiled fresh sausage with lentils. Everything was delicious.
Somehow, we managed to squeeze in a little dessert as well: a platter of cookies (the cranberry/chocolate biscotti was my favorite) and the olive oil cake with grilled peaches. Good stuff.
I came into Bar Bambino not really expecting much, but I was totally impressed by the place. It has the trifecta going for it: excellent ambiance, food and service. Our water glasses were never empty (they carbonate their only sparkling water here!) and the entire staff was always so friendly.
Bar Bambino definitely warrants a repeat visit. Maybe next time I’ll bump into you at the communal table?
Bar Bambino
2931 16th Street
San Francisco, CA
(415) 738-VINO (0444)
