This SF Insider Tip takes you down a bright alley off a sketchy street that even some overly nervous locals ridiculously avoid. Montesacro is a restaurant worth seeking out–I often recommend it to my private tour guests staying near Union Square. It serves pinsa, which if you haven’t had it, you want it.
A pinsa is a Roman flatbread, made with rice, soy, and wheat flour, and leavened for at least 72 hours. That makes a difference, as the result is much easier to digest than typical American pizza.
But easy digestion is not the reason to go to Montesacro. All the food is simple, delicious, made with top quality ingredients, many imported directly from Rome. Montesacro is named for an area outside of Rome, and the interior makes you feel like you’ve stepped into one of its neighborhood restaurants.
There is an interesting wine list, many of which are little known Italian imports, and offer a chance to drink something outside the usual Zin and Cabs. Tell your server what style of wine you like, and at what price. and they will make several suggestions.
Reservations are usually a good idea, but they do hold space for walk-ups.
You will probably have to walk past some of the local folks who live and hang out on 6th street. They’re not going to hassle you. Remember, they’re poor, not dangerous. It’s their neighborhood, and they see people like you all the time, whether you’re going to have pinsa from Montesacro or Pho Bo from Tu Lan (the celebrated Vietnamese place on 6th St/Market You’ll probably walk by it.)
510 STEVENSON ST (at SIXTH STREET)
SAN FRANCISCO
415-795-3040