New Tuscan-inspired Italian spot Acquolina (which means "mouth-watering" in Italian) has just quietly swung open its doors in North Beach as SFist can exclusively report. The restaurant is an all-day cafe with a more formal dinner component in the former Cafe Divine space at Stockton and Union, from a trio of partners who call come from Livorno, Italy, in Tuscany: Rutilio Duràn (who also owns C'era Una Volta in Alameda), chef Marco Marianelli, and Dario Nicotra.
Hoodline reported on the project last month, and noted that they're offering breakfast pastry to go with their espresso drinks in the a.m., along with egg dishes, and a breakfast pizza.
They've got a stone-lined oven where they'll be doing focaccia and pizza throughout the day, as well as seafood, meat, and freshly made pasta, and the wine list will focus on Italy all regions, though, and not just Tuscany.
And they're hoping to keep prices affordable, so that's refreshing. I'll update you when we have a menu to share.
As for early reviews (they've been open one day), apparently their panna cotta is "excellent," according to the guy who claimed firsties on Yelp.
Acquolina - 1600 Stockton Street at Union - Now open for breakfast lunch and dinner, 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., and 11:30 p.m. on weekends.