everything was spot on. the salmon was exquisite and the lamb tartare was unbelievable. our waitress also was also very courteous and informative about the menu. incredibly classy read more

See all

TLDR: Octavia is a very cute, upscale dinner spot in lower Pac Heights. Come here for special occasions and date night. I can understand all the 3 star reviews because not everything here is standout for the price, but if you order right, you can have a lovely, unique, and satisfying meal at Octavia. ------ FOOD: 1. SWEET POTATO MOCHI (5/5) A very unique appetizer that was so satisfying to eat and perfect to share. Slightly crisp exterior, very chewy interior, and savory accompaniments. 2. SWEETWATER RANCH COPPA (4.5/5) Surprisingly large portion. Very tasty pork (though still a tad chewy, but maybe that's expected from this cut) with a great portion of greens along with it. 3. CORN LASAGNA (4.5/5) Super unique dish. Very well cooked lasagna sheets with layers of sweet, fresh corn and parm fondue. Was surprisingly easy to cut through so was still sharable. Wish there was a bit more parm fondue to make this a bit creamier, but otherwise love seeing a refreshing take on a classic. 4. AGNOLOTTI DEL PLIN (4.5/5) Excellent agnolotti dish in a rich sauce with the punchy feta cheese. Another plus is how easy it is to share. 5. CHARRED CABBAGE (4.5/5) A great savory veggie appetizer, would definitely order again. 6. KIBO FARM LETTUCES (4.5/5) A very good salad dish. Large portion, nice vinaigrette. 7. HOMEMADE SOURDOUGH (4/5) Love that this comes out steaming and fresh. That being said, this was doughier and denser than to my preference, vs a bit airier and springy. The butter it came with was excellent. 8. GRILLED STONE FRUIT (4/5) Love a good stone fruit dish and they were generous with the amount of fruit and stracciatella, which would have been delicious with the sourdough. 9. BRAISED LAMB DUMPLING (3.5/5) Good but nothing special and a very small portion for the price. 10. LIBERTY FARM DUCK (3.5/5) Great sauce, garnishes, and greens. However the duck itself was a bit dry and pretty tough to chew. Wish it was a lot more tender - my jaw started to hurt after a few slices. But still a good portion and easy to share. 11. CHOCOLATE TART (2.5/5) Had higher hopes for this one because it is one of their pastry chef's specialties. It's a beautiful dessert, but the croquant cracker was a tad too sweet, the ice cream was surprisingly not as strong in sesame flavor as expected, and the chocolate tart was both dry and without much of a chocolate flavor. The ice cream helped balance the dryness of the tart, but I was really missing that deep chocolate flavor throughout. ------ ENVIRONMENT / AMBIANCE: * It's a very cute single dining room with a small outdoor parklet. The outdoor parklet looks appropriately covered such that it should be fine in all weather, though potentially a bit chilly * The indoor space was warm and a bit tight but still fine overall * Our dinner lasted almost 3 hours and given the small dining space, you should definitely make a reservation or be prepared to wait a long time if you want to dine here ------ SERVICE: * We had a very kind and funny server who was attentive throughout the night * They changed our plates and wiped down the table between each course, which we really appreciated * The only ding would be that there were many moments when our bottle of water was empty * Saw that they gifted a table next to us a beautiful slice of vanilla cake with buttercream and fruit for their birthday read more

See all

Really wanted to love this place, but was left a bit unsatisfied. First, the dishes didn't feel very innovative, except for the sweet potato mochi. Second, we had a salad that had artichoke hearts. Unfortunately, the artichokes were so stiff that they frankly were inedible. The rest of the salad was quite boring. Lastly, we ordered negronis, not knowing they don't have a full bar. Instead of a classic negroni, we received a sweeter, lighter version. While the cocktail itself was fine, it would have been nice to know that we weren't getting a proper negroni before committing. The desserts, however, were incredible. read more

Octavia - pavlova and chocolate tart. Both 10/10 - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Just a few days ago, I dined at Octavia with family to celebrate a birthday. I had high expectations since it is a new restaurant for me but the food and experience together fell short. For this meal, I reserved my table for the opening time of 5pm. That evening, it was cold outside. Blowing wind and no one outside on the street. It's a nice neighborhood in Pacific Heights very close to Japantown with Queen Anne houses and architectural points of interest. I could see the staff setting up the tableware inside through the large front picture windows. Since the restaurant interior has no reception, the door remained shut while I waited for 15 minutes outside. Staff came out to an enclosed patio space where the restaurant might stash some cutlery or stemware. No one acknowledged me. When it was time for the restaurant to open, an older woman bustled by me and went straight to the check in stand - she was obviously a neighborhood regular and was welcomed as such. Since my party were all present, we were seated next. Happily, the staff read the notes that I placed in my Open Table reservation and we were seated mid Diningroom along the right wall. The wall seating is a wood banquette (read: long bench) with down/feather back pillows which I used. My sister didn't use her back pillow so I used hers as a seat cushion which I was very thankful for. My other family member who sat in a chair told me later it was hard and uncomfortable - oh no! Our server presented an option of still or sparking water. The next moments were dedicated to perusing the menu. Food: There were quite a few starters, an assortment of pasta dishes and three main protein items plus a trio of desserts. Personally, it was interesting to see what Octavia considered " new " American cuisine. Dashes of international ingredients it seemed. We ordered the house sourdough bread and the sweet potato mochi to start. The bread (which they sell at their side Saturbake door on Bush Street) had a nice texture. The crust was firm and springy - not crisp and not very strong in Sourdough flavor. I enjoyed the sweet potato mochi . I kept thinking to myself: this could be dessert! The inside was soft and chewy. The mochi was nestled in cinnamon-dusted butter (very dessert like) with a side cup of chili oil making it savory. My sister loved the oil which had no heat behind it but was subtle in flavor. I tasted it but passed on eating the mochi with the oil. For mains: we had Wild King Salmon, the Squid Ink spaghetti and the Liberty Farm Duck. The salmon was deliciously moist and blush pink, very delicate with crisp skin on top. It came with a layered, baked layered square of zuchini and eggplant with melted Parmesan cheese on top (think lasagna-style). There was charon sauce on the plate which for me did not work with the salmon. The flavor was very strong tomato and better suited with the baked vegetable square. Unfortunately, once I ate some of the sauce, I couldn't taste the salmon much anymore. My sister loved the duck. It was a generously sized breast portion with over 10 slices. She was kind enough to share. My other family member liked the spaghetti with mussels and chorizo. She said it was lucky we had the sourdough bread, otherwise she would have still been hungry. Unfortunately an order of bread was only 4 slices (a quarter loaf?). It was not replenished. For dessert, the restaurant surprised the birthday gal with a frosted tea cake with a candle on top. How nice! We did order another dessert to share. The Pavlova was tasty with a small circular meringue and tiny stone fruit chunks (softly poached nectarines, perhaps?), mulberry coulis and pistachios tossed in. I had to ask what was in the tea cake since the flavor as indistinct. I was told black tea. The cake was moist and pleasant reminiscent of a financier. Other than the duck, most dishes were sized for a single portion for a not big eater - (note: definitely not manly portions) . If dining at Octavia, the best approach is to order multiple courses such as a pasta, a main and a starter or dessert for a full meal. Light eaters will state that the portions are just right. I would say, there were elements to the meal that I liked (not loved) and some were a miss. Service: Good. Our server was jovial and not intrusive. Empty plates were not quickly removed. Ambiance: Pleasant. The restaurant filled up with families, couples and groups of friends. It was definitely a Pacific Heights casual crowd with some chic attire and, definitely, relaxed. Noise level was medium to high at the end when the restaurant was full. Overall, Octavia was okay. I wasn't wowed. For the $$$ price plus 7% server mandate, I wish I had been!!! read more

See all

On Friday evening at 6pm, I finally had the chance to try this restaurant with my husband and our three-year-old daughter. We ordered the homemade bread, the Dungeness crab brioche, the pasta with squash, and the black cod. Overall, the dishes were good, but unfortunately nothing truly stood out to me. I may have had higher expectations. The black cod was probably my favorite dish, although my daughter ended up eating most of it! The crab brioche was also enjoyable and generously filled with crab, though it felt a bit too buttery for my taste. One aspect that surprised me was the portion size. The servings were extremely small; for example, the pasta dish had roughly a dozen pieces of maccheroni, and the portion of cod was also quite small. The biggest portion was the bread. At the same time, the prices are quite high. Since the restaurant is no longer Michelin-starred, I would personally hope for a bit more balance between portion size and price. Overall, it was a pleasant experience, but it didn't quite meet my expectations. read more

See all

Came through for a valentines set menu, while the decor, ambience and service were just the part, unfortunately the food did not rise to the occasion. Starting with and endive salad, this felt light, crunchy and good sharp flavours, followed by a softer beet dish. Wrapping this up with the salmon tartare, which doesn't try anything new pretty much tasting as you'd expect raw salmon to taste Our first dish (mushroom soup and pappardelle) was agreed by us both as the highlight of the menu. The pappardelle was perfectly springy and all the flavours came together into one delicious mouthful. If I could have 5 of these I easily would, as these lasted about 3 bites Our mains were well cooked but did not deliver on taste for both salmon and steak. While I was not asked how I wanted my steak, it came out a perfect rare/medium rare. The fortunate part is that it was super chewy. I was practically mewing by the end of it, TMJ simulator dish right here. I ended up slicing it thinner but there was not much flavour in the smaller bites... Dessert brought us back to the endive salad with blood orange being the shared ingredient. Dessert was nice and the choc madeleine wrapped it all up. Overall, since our mains were unfortunately disappointing, I had to round down our 3.5 opinion on the menu. Definitely get the pappardelle if it's on the regular menu though! read more

See all

I recently visit Octavia for their Saturbake pastry pop up after seeing their pop up on IG and was excited to try the pastries from their pastry chef. I figured given the popular bakery scene in SF, it would be busy but I didn't expect a line around the corner when I arrived ~15 min before it started on a Saturday morning. We ended up waiting almost an hour before we got our goods and a couple of items were already sold out! It was hard to choose between all the delicious sounding pastries and breads but we landed on the bulgogi croissant, banana pudding danish and cacio e pepe milk bun. We were also tempted by the fluffy, pillowly looking scallion foccacia but had to pass as our eyes were bigger than our stomachs. The banana pudding danish was truly a standout with yummy layers of banana pudding, whipped cream and banana nilla wafers. Loved how flaky and buttery their pastry dough is. The bulgogi croissant was also good and while I enjoyed the cacio e pepe cream on the milk bun, I thought the bun itself was a little dense and expected a softer dough. The Saturbake is definitely worth a visit and they sell pre-order boxes on Hotplate as well so you can skip the line! I wasn't sure I wanted to commit to a box this time around but I'll definitely try to snatch one next time to avoid a wait. The menu changes every time as well so I'll be sure to be back to other pastries. read more

See all

The Satur-bake had quite the line but was worth the wait! I liked the citrus olive oil cake was the favorite and I would order that again and again. read more

See all

We celebrated our anniversary with dinner at Octavia! The service was attentive and we enjoyed all the different seasonal fresh flavors. The crab dish was my personal favorite! Octavia's menu changes often but you can check their instagram for new drops. - Apps: kampachi crudo, dungeness crab croissant - Mains: black cod, duck breast - Dessert: cheesecake with huckleberries A perfect way to celebrate! :) read more

See all

This review is for the pastry pop up at Octavia, Saturbake. Got there around 9:30 (they open at 10am), and was ~20th in line. They also offer preorder for boxes. The pastries were $7 each, so close to $9 after tax and tip. Overall was pretty disappointed by the pastries - we got the cacio e Pepe milk bread and the bread was extremely doughy and dense. The cinnamon roll was also more dense vs fluffy read more

Octavia - Saturbake - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

The food here is great and the dishes are creative and well executed. You can tell a lot of thought goes into the flavors and presentation. The service was good in terms of professionalism, but it felt a bit distant. Not unfriendly, just not very warm or attentive, especially for a restaurant at this level. Overall, the food is definitely the highlight and worth coming for, but the service experience could be improved. read more

See all

I wanted so badly to love this place, but the whole thing fell short. We opted for the $98 tasting menu, which included around 10 things (+ bread!). The appetizers were fine - my favorite was the asparagus. I was a bit confused about the lettuce salad - I love my salads but this felt a little underdone. The two main courses were also not outstanding - the lamb was overly salty and the fish was a bit plain. The desserts were probably our favorite dishes of the evening - beautiful, light, a good balance of acid and cream. The restaurant is lovely, with tons of natural light, so I was a bit disappointed with the food itself. Even more, the entire experience ended up being 3 hours. I expect this from a restaurant that has only a fixed menu (without à la carte) - thinking Lazy Bear, Saison, Benu... This, especially for the quality and type of food, should not have been 3 hours... I'll return to try Saturbake but unfortunately, I won't be recommending Octavia for its dinner. read more

See all

Octavia is the real deal. The whipped ricotta with prosciutto, honey, toasted breadcrumbs. For mains the salmon was flawless, crispy skin, zucchini blossoms and roasted eggplant all working together beautifully. And that pavlova to finish? the fluffiest meringue you have ever seen. Every single dish was a winner. read more

See all

lovely ambiance, more casual but service is classy. our server was accommodating and gave us great recommendations. the sweet potato mochi was really delicious -- pillowy soft inside and slightly crispy outside. the duck was a pretty generous portion. the gnocchi was a bit small for the price but cooked well read more

Octavia - duck, cod, gnocchi - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Under $100 for a tasting menu? Sign me up! Great value and great experience. It's like fine dining but more accessible. I walked by Octavia so many times but never went. We booked a reservation for 7:45pm in their parklet that morning and it was packed when we got there! The parklet has lights and heat. We got the wine pairing as well and enjoyed it. The bluefin tuna crudo was quite good--could taste the freshness of the fish as well as of the peach and wild plum ponzu. The sweetwater ranch pork coppa with bacon jam and halibut were very good--complex flavors. The corn lasagna was insanely good and unique. The gazpacho and corn ice cream were delicious. Everything was a delight and I loved the very Californian flavors (they source their ingredients from the region's best farms and it shows!) Service was wonderful. It was a wonderful experience. I told my parents they had to try it as well. read more

See all

On my computer, they popped up a request to review them and I've never eaten there. Very annoying. Desperate, I guess, but now they've earned a negetive review. read more

Octavia has wonderful bread and a fantastic sticky toffee pudding dessert, but outside of those two items, I felt the dishes left something to be desired. That something often was just more of the dish. Housemade sourdough ($9): This was wonderful. It was one of the best breads I've had in the city, and that's saying something because there's a lot of amazing bread in SF. The crust was just amazing. It was crusty obviously, but not in the way that, like, shreds the roof of your mouth. Just a nice crispy, crunchy, and non-violent crust. The interior was fantastic. It was warm and soft. It had a nice chew and light tang. The most comparable bread is Josey Baker's Country Round, and I think this might have been just a bit better (but I still love love you Josey Baker). It's a steep price for four half slices of bread, but it is a higher-end restaurant. Get the bread. Daikon (~$12): This was a very small dish and my friend and I didn't enjoy it very much, but this is no longer on the menu, so I won't spend more time on this. Crudo (~$20): This was, again, quite a small dish. We found that the amount of citrus overwhelmed the fish in flavor and portion. They have since changed the specifics of the dish, so the ratio may be more balanced now. Carnaroli risotto ($28): This was a very small portion of pasta. It was tasty and comforting, but there needed to be more. Pasta at comparable establishments can be around $1 to $6 more expensive than this dish and I've found them to be a more satisfying portion. Knowing this, I think Octavia has room to increase the portion and increase the price to maintain margin. Cod with lentils (~$40+): This was the most disappointing dish of the night. My friend and I were starving at this point given the size of all the previous dishes, so we were excited for something heartier. Unfortunately, the fish was very small, certainly smaller than the size of your average smartphone. There weren't many lentils and they were very salty, and I'm someone who usually loves more salt. This dish was over $40, so this was tough. Sticky toffee pudding ($14): This was the other highlight of the night. The portion was good and the cake was moist, delicious, and full of toffee flavor. The crumble added some fun crunch and ice cream is ice cream. Definitely order this if you come here. Chocolate namelaka ($15): This was a no from me. The brownie felt almost stale, like it was all hard bits. Maybe it was an off night, because if the brownie was good, then this would be great. But at this point, I would say you're safer with the STP. I think Octavia is a great choice for a fancier but light meal -- that's not up my alley because if I'm paying a high price, I expect to see comparable value. But everyone is different. That, or you're willing to pay a lot more to get more dishes. read more

See all

We truly enjoyed the tasting menu and the wines were perfect with each course. We even relished every last drop of sauce, especially on the pasta. Also, they did a great job managing my lactose intolerance. read more

I was excited to try this place but my experience was mediocre at best. As we walked in with my friend on a Tuesday night, we were just met with a blank stare and silence by the man behind the desk. We had to smile and introduce ourselves. Then we were seated and our server on the other hand was very kind so he made the experience better. We ordered the rock fish crudo, artichokes and black cod. The crudo was really good, citrusy and fresh. Artichokes were decent, I'd pass on them. My friend thought they were okay. The black cod on the other hand was tiny and not worth the $42. The lentils around the fish were tastier than the fish itself for me... The best part was the sticky toffee dessert. We sat at a table that was super crammed and close to others, there were better tables at the restaurant. I might give this place another chance but probably not anytime soon given other options available in the city. read more

See all

it's always a treat to come to octavia! i think they always shine with their desserts, and the bread and butter is to die for. perfect start to any meal! the rest of the menu is pretty seasonal, so you should always go with whatever sounds good. i think two apps, a mid-course, an entree, and a dessert or two is plenty to share! read more

See all

I've always walked by this place but never been yet. Decided it was time to try it out and was able to snag a last min Saturday night dinner ressie. | v i b e | The restaurant is on the smaller side but has ample seating. I adore the parklets! By the time we booked a ressie, there was only outdoor seating available. Upon arriving, we were worried it'd be cold sitting outside, but it ended up being very cozy. There are heaters inside and cute little lights! | s e r v i c e | Shout out to our server Zachary! Loved his humor. And he gave us great dish recommendations. | f o o d | Every dish we had was solid and well-thought out. I thoroughly enjoyed every dish we ordered. You must get the duck liver mousse! The rolls with the lavender salt + the mousse is delicious. | t l ; d r | A solid dining experience if you're looking for a new restaurant to try or a nice night out. read more

See all

Another great visit at this spot These were outstanding: Fritto mixto Crudo Tagliatelle Corn lasagna Pork chop read more

See all

Overall, we enjoyed our visit to Octavia, but with a few important caveats. The service was excellent, and the food was generally very good. We ordered the pork and cod entrées; both were tasty, although the pork and the persimmon salad were noticeably oversalted. Additionally, the persimmon salad surprisingly had very few persimmons. Our biggest gripe was with the small plates. At $18 each for a tiny and rather mediocre apple-potato salad and a simple hummus flatbread, it felt like the restaurant was padding its profit margins a bit excessively. Another concern is the 7% service fee that contributes to employee healthcare. I'm completely supportive of restaurants providing healthcare benefits, but the way it's currently structured is unclear and confusing. Because it's automatically included in the total bill (rather than itemized separately as a healthcare surcharge), tipping 20% on top of that effectively means you're tipping on the service fee too, bringing your total tip and fee closer to nearly 30%. To avoid double-tipping, we ended up subtracting this 7% from our tip amount. In total, our bill came to just over $300 for two people (2 mains, 3 small plates, 1 dessert, 4 drinks). While the meal was enjoyable overall, these details slightly diminished the value of the experience. read more

I came here for a date night on a Thursday evening around 6pm and we were able to get a reservation pretty easily just a few days before! We decided not to get the chef tasting and just ordered a la carte to try more dishes. Although I'm not usually someone who enjoys red meat, my favorite dish by far was the duck breast!! The sauce, the veggies, the duck itself - everything paired so well together. All the apps that we ordered were also pretty good - my favorite was the "advanced bagel" (king salmon crudo). The lobster ravioli on the other hand left much to be desired :( There were only a few pieces and the filling was so dry inside!! The pacing of the dinner was on the quicker side, from the time we sat down and left the restaurant it only took about 75 minutes. read more

See all

Had the chance to dine here again and had a great time. We chose the "chef's tasting menu" and the food was fantastic. Service was also outstanding with a friendly, professional and informative team. read more

This place is so cute and the food is delicious. We ordered from the a la carte menu and it's perfect to split about 5 things (assortment of apps, first course and second course) plus one dessert. We had a fish crudo with kiwis that was my absolute favorite - and their homemade sourdough is absolutely delicious! My other favorite was the pichana steak that was so tender it literally melted in your mouth. The service was fantastic too. They coursed everything out in a good cadence so we weren't rushed but also weren't sitting there waiting for our next dish. They also have a chefs tasting menu that I think I will try next time. They include off menu items when you do the tasting menu and those items coming out of the kitchen looked great. read more

Octavia - Interior - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

I would give this place a 3.5 stars. The beets were awful. The crudo was point. The server was nice but our food took more than 35 mins to come. The lamb was good but not great. The spritz was very sweet and average. Also didn't like all the seats were closed to each other because we were the only colored people there and everyone around us was looking at us. This offcourse isn't the restaurants fault but a little bit space with seats would have been nicer. All the staff were very nice though. read more

See all

Located on Octavia street , this creative new american restaurant delivers great ambiance and is a perfect place for a date or a special occasion . Of course , the four of us went ham on the menu. We became major stewards of the economy and almost ordered everything. As foodie , it was our mission to devour and reflect . Waiter didn't think we could finish it but I couldn't let food go to waste . We paired our dishes with French Gamay wine. Fabulous selection. Wine was crisp and sweet but not sweet . Food presentation was spectacular. Highlights were the refreshing crudo with the hot hush puppies. Fritto misto were perfectly fried and vegetable gallum added that coated outside texture .For entrees , it was the duck and black cod . Agnolotti and pork shoulders were a bit salty . Dishes we ordered: housemade SOURDOUGH levain, cultured butter or ligurian olive oil (3/5) sablefish COLLAR, sauce choron, soft herbs (4/5) hominy grits HUSH PUPPIES, preserved meyer lemon & mint (5/5) grilled STONE FRUIT, hass avocado, spiced almonds, miriam's greens (4/5) 21 fritto MISTO, summer squash, walla walla onions, vegetable garum dip (4/5) eggplant CAVIAR, black garlic, blistered jimmy nardellos, pita bread 22 local (3/5) albacore CRUDO, serpent cucumbers, yogurt, miriam's sorrels (5/5) AGNOLOTTI DEL PLIN, sweetwater ranch pork, shasta porcini (3/5) CARAMELLE, zucchini, squash blossoms, calabrian chili butter (4/5) sonora wheat LUMACHE, lamb sausage sugo, pesto, bell peppers (3/5) fresh FETTUCCINE, lobster butter, cherry tomatoes, tarragon (4/5) brentwood corn LASAGNA, fonduta, shishito peppers, garlic chive (3/5) half moon bay BLACK COD, succotash, sofrito, purslane (5/5) liberty farm DUCK CONFIT, peperonata & sungolds (5/5) slow roasted PORK SHOULDER, celtuce, romano beans, unripe tomato jus (3/5) Dessert PAVLOVA, tahitian vanilla crème légère, miriam's mulberry granita, pistachios (5/5) coffee OPERA CAKE, chocolate chiffon, whiskey whipped ganache, cocoa nibs (3/5) All pictures we ate aren't shown . Phone couldn't process all my raw photos read more

See all

Food would be a 5/5 but service was sub par, for a restaurant that leans more on the expensive side I would expect the service to be exceptional. Regardless I would typically tip 20%. There is a 7% gratuity added to the check which is something for others to be mindful of when visiting and considering the total tip. I overheard our server talking bad and complaining about me for only tipping 10% (on top of the 7% already charged to our bill) and pointing it out to other servers and staff which made me feel extremely uncomfortable. Additionally our food was delayed in coming out to our table because it seems that our server was distracted by having other tables. The restaurant was not completely full. We were also celebrating a birthday and the server did not acknowledge that until we received the check. We would consider coming back to the restaurant but being intentional about not having the same server. read more

Truly a beautiful experience. We did the chef tasting menu, and albeit pricey it was so worth it. Each dish is so beautifully prepared and tasty. The wait staff is very polite and quick with service. I can't wait to come again. read more

See all

KenScale: 8.0/10 Visit: December 2023 After our blissful few days enjoying wine tastings in the Sonoma wine country last December, my wife Jun and I headed down to San Francisco for spend a few days. It's been a while since we last visited the city which seems to have changed so much during the pandemic era, not always for the positive reasons. I always had fond memories of the culinary experience in the city, however, and was looking forward to checking out a few places we hadn't visited before. One of them where we met Jun's long-time friend who moved to the Bay Area a few years ago (and her newly married husband) was Octavia from chef Melissa Perello. After closing during the height of the pandemic, the restaurant re-opened in 2021, and had emerged as a reliable dining destination in San Francisco. We were somewhat distracted during the meal while catching up with Jun's friend and getting to know her husband, but the dinner at Octavia was overall solid. My favorite part of the meal at the restaurant was in the starter dishes. The trio of beef carpaccio (with bluefin tonnato sauce and watercress), demi-sec beets (accompanied by horseradish in green garlic salsa verde) and cabbages (with black masa miso and root vegetable crumble) were all stand-out dishes that made me realize that Octavia is not just another California restaurant and the kitchen is quite skilled at elevating simple dishes to make them extra special. If you are in need of a pasta fix, you would be quite satisfied with agnolotti with roasted pork jus and sunchokes. The main dishes were slightly mixed. While the black cod with caramelized cauliflower was capably cooked, the pork loin with rutabaga was a bit of a head-scratcher because the texture of the meat was uneven. On the other hand, we also enjoyed the chicken breast and sausage along with celeriac puree and Brussels sprouts, another above average dish that you probably had encountered in other places before but nevertheless would've still enjoyed at Octavia. I do recommend getting one or two desserts before finishing up the meal at the restaurant, especially considering how much Jun enjoyed the two dishes we split together, chocolate semifreddo with peanut butter whipped ganache and tiramisu with ladyfingers. Octavia is a fairly popular restaurant (the dining room was full in the course of our meal and we continued to see diners coming in at 9 p.m. and beyond), so I would suggest booking reservations in advance. The restaurant has a broad wine list with selections not just from California but from many places in Europe, particularly Italy and France. The cozy and inviting neighborhood restaurant vibe is an added plus, although the noise can get slightly overwhelming during peak hours. Octavia is one of those places that quite aptly represents the ethos of California cuisine; its focus on seasonality and fresh ingredients demonstrates why the state has long been considered one of the best culinary destinations in America. I encourage you to visit the restaurant with a group larger than two and try to order as many dishes from the menu as possible to fully enjoy the meal at Octavia. read more

See all

3.5 stars Service was decent. Waited a long time between the appetizers and the main courses. Tasting menu: Duck liver mousse - delicious Oysters - a bit fishy for me Rockfish Crudo - ok Truffle mashed potatoes - best I've ever had Steak - very good Black cod - ok Quail - ok Agnolotti - very good Tortellini - very good read more

See all

all was good - food, staff, sweet environment - but alas, the noise level!! This was uncomfortable and cannot be good for digestion. Conversation at our 4-top was restricted to the one immediately next to me. Anyone across the table was out of auditory range. read more

Took my wife and daughters to celebrate our 20th Anniversary. The service was fantastic and the food was delicious. Upon arrival, the host was very friendly. Our main server was assisted by several others and they worked well together. The pace was slower than our usually accustomed establishments, but it felt perfect. We all had a great experience and are eager to return for another visit. read more

See all

What an amazing experience I had at Octavia on Friday night. My date took me here and it did not disappoint. First off, huge shoutout to the staff, they were so personable and really took the time to guide us through the menu based on what we were in the mood for. We started with the tallow fried green tomatoes, then moved on to the crudo, and after that the beef toast, hands down one of the best things I've ever tasted. I honestly wanted to order another one but we had already put in the rest of our order. Next up was the beef picanha, followed by three desserts. The standout for me was the chocolate semifreddo with banana ganache, I was already full but I didn't care because it was that good. The space itself is intimate, dimly lit, and super romantic but would also be great for a nice celebration. It's definitely upscale and classy while still feeling modern and comfortable. I can't wait to come back. read more

Loved loved my dinner there. Very friendly and welcoming service, in a warm ambiance of a small room. It was a weekday and every table was taken so reservations are highly recommended. Wine selection was great. Place is super pricey but as expected for SF. Best part was how veggie forward and flavorful everything was, with clearly very high quality ingredients. Highly recommend! read more

See all

Another stellar meal, Octavia never fails to impress. We got: Sourdough bread - Fluffy as always. Polenta hush puppies, preserved Meyer lemon & mint - These were a group favorite, the polenta was nice and creamy without being heavy and the outside was perfectly crispy. Grilled stone fruit, hass avocado, spiced almonds, miriam's greens - Simple and light but delcious. Heirloom tomatoes, buttermilk sauce, pangrattato, medium farm basils - Tomatoes were juicy and fresh, although probably the weakest starter for me personally. Agnolotti del plin, sweetwater ranch pork, shasta porcini - These were fun small parcels. I liked that the dish felt light (no heavy creams or sauces) and the porcinis was a nice touch, but somehow I didn't love this pasta and the filling. Brentwood corn lasagna, fonduta, shishito peppers, chive oil - Excellent as always. Liberty farm duck breast, pole beans, leek flower capers, cranberry beans - Excellent duck with a great crispy skin. Perhaps my boyfriend's favorite non-Asian duck dish in the city. Pavlova, tahitian vanilla crème légère, miriam's mulberry granita, pistachios - Octavia's pavlova always makes me reconsider my aversion to pavlova. Somehow here, it's always delicious and light and flavorful. So good. Coffee opera cake, chocolate chiffon, whiskey whipped ganache, cocoa nibs - This is a denser dessert than the pavlova, with good flavor and rich coffee and chocolate flavor. read more

We had a great meal in the outside parklet with our dogs. The chef tasting menu was $98 per person and wine pairing at a steal at $68. The food was delicious and wine pairing was on point. Our server was super nice, introducing each course elaborately. The wine pairing pours were very generous. I'm surprised their star was taken away. Will return for celebrations. read more

See all

We went here to celebrate my boyfriend's brothers birthday and were seated at the chefs table in a private area. The set menu was excellent. Every single dish from start to finish was delicious. The service was impeccable! We would highly recommend this restaurant and will come back the next time we are in the Bay Area! read more

Amazing food, top-notch service and mind blowing desserts. You can taste every mentioned ingredient in their desserts. We ordered the Semifroddo and the Triffle. read more