Bottega
Address: 1132 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Visited on July 25, 2024
Author: SF-NO contributor KW
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Bottega is a glorious bright pink oasis shining in the vast quiet grunge of the mission after 10pm. Since the pandemic late night options have withered away; former stalwarts like Beretta and Tacolicious have struggled to nurture a nighttime vibe, and it sometimes seems like only the small cheap taquerias remain for the after-hours dining. But there are signs of life slowly recovering here, with Bottega standing out as beacon of success.
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Just approaching their rather large windowfront parklet gives the feeling of being transported to another climate. Not only is it completely covered in string lights and pastel paint, but its actually alive and humming with late night patrons! They run the gamut too: an older gentleman by himself working fastidiously in an actual paper notebook, a party of young women revealingly dressed and laughing together, a large multigenerational extended family, an elegantly dressed younger couple apparently on a date. It feels wonderfully alive an engaging here.
The staff are relaxed, but still attentive. The wine is cheap and smooth. The decor is a little bit plastic and pastiche, but nevertheless pleasant. Real exposed brick on one end, fake pained brick on the other, neon lettering, and many little pink flowers - it adds up to an ambiance that provides much needed vigor, and even successfully evokes a faint hint of italian countryside.
The menu is focused and to the point, a few pastas, a few pizzas, a handful of appetizers, and a well diversified alcohol list. The pastas are rich, and the pizza is hearty. I found both of them above average, and especially given the lack of options nearby at this hour they are more than acceptable. The pizza especially has well-crisped but still chewy crust, slightly thicker and larger than some similar personal pizzas i’ve had in the neighborhood (looking at you Beretta).
This place is a welcome pace-setter for mission late-nights and I hope it becomes a mainstay and draws competitors. As it stands now, its a charming flower growing through the dead mulch of the post-pandemic mission, and it deserves your time to stop and enjoy the scent.