A hunt for great linguine and clams took us to North Beach this morning. Specifically, we ended up at Sotto Mare. This small, homey, restaurant has been on our radar for quite some time now. It is near the now-defunct Lobster Shack, so we passed by it many times on our way to lobster rolls. Little did we know, Sotto Mare is a local favorite!
The linguine and clams ($19) were lovely. Made with large Manila clams, the white wine sauce was on the creamy side, lightly herbed, with pasta cooked ever so slightly past al dente (which is how I prefer them. Don't judge).
We had heard the cioppino ($27) was a sight to behold, so even though it cost more than I ever pay for lunch I thought I would give it a try. Imagine my surprise when it came in a tureen!!
And then imagine my double surprise when I took off the lid!!! Seafood lovers, this cioppino is a BARGAIN. There's easily enough to make dinner for two, three if you order some raw oysters or want room for some sides and dessert. Embedded in a thick tomato broth were at least half a crab; half a dozen mussels; almost a dozen clams; a handful each of shrimp, scallops, and squid; and plenty of penne pasta at the bottom in case anyone had room for carbs. My one criticism is that the cioppino was intensely salty. With this much seafood in it, however, it would take some serious attention to detail to not overdo the salt. So stay away if you're sensitive to salt like I am. Otherwise, head over and chow down!!
Non-sequitur of the day: my new project is a crocheted blanket! Our new apartment is warm all the time, but there's always room for pretty throw blankets.
1 comments:
I took my parents there when they visited -- they loved it. Dad would dispute that the cioppino could feed two or three though. :)
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