Last week I took Molly to Chez Papa in Potrero Hill. It was our first time there and I had heard great things about it. We took the 22 bus and it practically dropped us off outside the door of the restaurant. The restaurant is very small and quaint-- only about 40 seats inside and a half dozen seats on the sidewalk under heat lamps. The decor is simple and elegant and very unpretentious.
We decided to order and share a bunch of small plates. We first ordered 2 glasses of Cremant de Bourgogne, a delicious sparkling rose, soft and not too dry or sweet. We started with the Pissaladiere, a caramelized onion tart with anchovy and frisee salad. This dish was good, but wasn't my favorite. The flavors were nice (who doesn't love caramelized onions), but the pastry was lacking for me-- too dry and not enough flavor. This dish wasn't bad by any means, but wasn't as spectacular as some of the other dishes we ordered. Along with the tart we ordered a grilled calamari salad on a bed of frisee with warm pastis vinegarette. This was an incredible dish that, Molly and I both agreed, we could eat everyday. The calamari was cut into small rings and sauteed perfectly and lay on a bed of frisee that was slightly wilting from the warm vinegarette. The flavor of the pastis was a delicious compliment to both the calamari and the earthy bitterness of the frisee.
Next we ordered the pimentos del piquillos stuffed with dungeness crab meat, saffron, tomato coulis and basil. This was a good dish. The flavors were delicious together, but the pepper was battered and fried which felt a little heavy and unnecessary. Next we got the mussels provencale with garlic, shallots, cherry tomatoes, nicoise olives and pastis. Yum. This was so good and flavorful and perfect with a piece of crusty bread. There was a touch of cream in the broth, but it was so light and delicious. We finished with the ricotta ravioli with basil pistou, roasted pine nuts and shaved parmesan. The ravioli was delicious and tasted so fresh.
We were feeling quite full from dinner, so instead of ordering a dessert we split a glass of the 1999 Caves des Vignerons de Beaumes de Venise, a Muscat from Rhone. It was spectacular. It was reccommended by one of the staff and he was right on target. It was perfectly light and floral with a touch of sweetness, but not too much. He was so happy we liked it that he gave it to us on the house.
Overall, this is one of my new favorite restaurants. I will definitely go back here again and again. Food and drinks came to around $100, which felt like a bargain with the delicious wines and fresh seafood we received. Everyone who worked there was fantastic and laid back. Our server was great and had the perfect tableside personality. He also allowed us to sample wines and to split glasses, and had good menu reccomendations. Service really does make a difference, but the food here can definitely speak for itself.
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