Cinque Terre (aka. Cinqueterre)

The awning has the spelling one way, the business card says differently. Either way, this restaurant on Vallejo just off Columbus is one of the few in the neighborhood that isn't completely packed on a Saturday night. Ironically, it's also one of the few decent meals I've had in North Beach. Life-altering it's not, but it's reasonably priced for the neighborhood and the quality is superior to most of the tourist traps that line Columbus.

A common complaint at our table seemed to be that the food was over salted, and that it's nowhere near as good as Il Borgo. Still, if you're wandering around North Beach with some friends, don't know where to go, or can't find a place with tables available, Cinqueterre is a place to keep on your radar screen. Rumor has it that it's never packed, so if you're with a big indecisive group that didn't plan ahead and make reservations, it could be a real life saver.

The lighting inside was bizarrely orange. I couldn't take clear photos to save my life, and I thought a purple hat was green. I'm also leaving things blank that I don't remember, and will fill it in after I find out from tonight's note taker.

Carpaccio: fresh beef, nice cheese, good ratio of ingredients.

Eggplant: nice flavors, though I like my eggplant a little more cooked.

Pizza: I really liked the sausage on this, and the moist quartered button mushrooms were a nice change from the usual sliced mushrooms. The crust, which to me was like a softened cracker, was not really for me.

Mashed cauliflower with ginger: yes, a bizarre combination. The ginger was very subtle and actually was a nice departure from garlic or plain broccoli. I liked it. I didn't like the shrimp. They were a little mushy from poor freezing, and grilled in a way that made them taste the way butane smells (a major peeve of mine).

(?) possibly my favorite dish of the night, although I fear it might be too heavy to eat a whole plate of by myself. Under the cheese was little nuggets composed of thin crepe-like pasta wrapped around chunks of lobster meat. Sure, some people got lobster shell in their pieces, but it was a forgiveable mistake for the quality of the sauce and ample amount of lobster.

err...not only is this a horrid photo, I can't remember what it was. Tomatoes and homemade spaghetti. I liked the irregular nubbly texture, elasticity, and length of the pasta, but it was just okay.

Pesto and gnocchi: I liked the pesto, but the gigantic gnocchi were like gummy mashed potatoes. I think this sauce with a big mound of the homemade spaghetti would have made me happier than either dish did tonight.

My plate, clockwise from top right: spaghetti, lobster canneloni, pesto gnocchi, and lasagna. I didn't get a shot of the lasagna by itself, but it was very good. Moist layers of thin pasta with well seasoned meat.