Monday, December 15, 2014

San Francisco's Pizzeria Delfina in Palo Alto

Pizza is one of my top comfort foods.  But it's not just any pizza.  I love artisan and Napoletana style pizzas.  The best pizzas have a fully-cooked chewy dough (chewy from the high quality of the flour), not soggy in the middle, and can sometimes even have a nice crunch while maintaining the chewy bite.  The toppings don't overwhelm, instead they balance the whole pie with the quality of choice and seasonal ingredients.  The perfect pizza is not about that one perfect bite, it's about that experience of the whole slice.

Being a pizza lover, I have a small, but growing list of favorite pizza restaurants around the world.  Growing up the Bay Area, San Francisco plays a part in that list of favorite places.  Delfina is one spot that will always have my interest.  In its original location in the Mission, it's known for wait times of more than an hour.  Lining up for food in this street in the Mission is worth it.  Food here at Delfina, pastries at Tartine, and ice cream at Bi-Rite.

Now that my home base is away from the Peninsula, Delfina has additional locations around the Bay Area including one in Palo Alto.  Growing up in the area meant frequent meals in Palo Alto.  Sunday lunches at Empire Tap Grill was the perfect spot for nice sunny days.  That perfect place for outdoor eating is now housed by Delfina.  Great food, drinks, and family friendly.  This is ideal for families wanting a nice meal together in a relaxed, casual environment.  While it's good for families, it's also a great place for food and pizza lovers.

Just like its San Francisco location, this Palo Alto location has a selection of antipastis, seasonal vegetables, and pizzas.  They also have some of the tastiest meatballs in the area.  Now you don't have to drive all the way up to the city for a quality slice of great pizza.

21st Amendment's Watermelon Wheat Beer
A local summer brew

Padrones
Local Spanish style spicy peppers

Insalata Tricolore
With lemon vinaigrette and grana padano

Housemade Tuna Conserva
With lemon vinaigrette and grana padano

Neapolitean Meatballs in Sugo
Pork, beef, and veal meatballs with tomato sauce and crostini

Peppers, cheese, and herbs for the pizzas

Margherita
Tomato, fior di latte mozzarella, basil

4 Formaggi
Tomato, mozzarella, fontal, provolone, pecorino

Prosciutto Pie
Prosciutto di Parma, caciocavallo, mozzarella, panna, arugula

Gelato
Tcho chocolate and Tahitian vanilla bean

2 comments:

Unknown said...

There are so many great restaurants where we can find good and healthy food. I have heard that Boston people are very foodie and always serve new tasty dishes with new flavors. That’s why Boston restaurants are very famous. What you think about this?

Angela said...

Hi Cris Mic! There are countless of places with healthy options these days - it's great!

Boston has an excellent reputation as a food destination, and it's definitely well deserved. In the US, Boston is as famous for food as is New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, etc. I think it's because of the "celebrity" chef presence and the media's attention to these cities. After professionals, critics, and eaters hear about it, the cities become bigger and bigger and become a showcase for excellent quality of food.

Food television and food writing has played a huge factor in today's popular for chosen food destinations.