Melissa Perello gained quite some recognition far beyond SF with Frances over the last decade and opened in 2015 her second restaurant - Octavia. Often described the less fancier sibling to Frances, it still serves well refined dishes in a relaxing ambience with laid-back yet professional service. Beside a la carte ordering they are also offering a tasting menu which is not your classical version but more a family style served best-of which is a good way to really explore their cuisine. Overall a very good dinner - refined, yet “rustic”/homey and we will definitely be back
homemade sourdough levain, cultured butter - served warm, quite rustic and very good
asparagus, oeuf mimosa, wild onions & their blossoms - tender asparagus with tasty “egg salad”
fava bean tempura - nicely fried fava beans which still had a nice “bite”
fresh bamboo shoots, mozzarella, black olives, heirloom greens - interesting combination of bamboo shoots and mozzarella which worked really well with olives adding some acidity
smoked custard, fava beans, fava bean leaves, walnut - very nice smoked cauliflower custard which covered fava beans as a textural play
little gems, shio koji dressing, sugar snap peas, hass avocado - deceptive “simple” salad but so fresh tasting with an addictive “umami” dressing
ramp casarecce, duck ragu - great tasting duck and nice slightly herbal tasting pasta
halibut, broccolini, amorosa potatoes, bloomsdale spinach - perfectly cooked fish with slightly bitter vegetables
buttermilk fried quail, winter vegetable chow chow, pickled mustard seeds, savoy cabbage - very crunchy quail (but obviously relatively little meat) with a good balance from the (not too) sour “coleslaw”
citrus custard, grapefruit granite, torched marshmallow - light and refreshing
dark chocolate creme brulee tart, popcorn ice cream, miso caramel - not overly sweet tart and a nice savory component with the miso caramel, really tasty popcorn ice cream