Poggio @ Sausalito

This is my favourite city in whole of USA, a small waterfront town of Sausalito. You can spend a leisurely afternoon here simply by hopping on ferry from San Francisco.

Sausalito

Sausalito is a laid-back town with a Mediterranean vibe across the Golden Gate Strait from San Francisco. The best way to visit is to take the ferry across from Pier 39 San Francisco or drive through the Golden Gate Bridge.

It’s known for its Richardson Bay houseboat enclaves, built by artist squatters after WWII. Most of the time, you’ll only be able to admire the exteriors, but Sausalito’s 500 or so houseboats in five floating home marinas are a sight to see.

Right off the ferry terminal, you will come the Bridgeway Promenade, a row of shops and restaurants right across the open park called Viña del Mar Park. Poggio is located right opposite the park.

Poggio is a classic Italian trattoria with comfortable neighbourhood charm and destination-caliber cuisine. Created by Larry Mindel, who also founded numerous other restaurants in the Bay Area and beyond, Poggio has been ranked among the very best Italian restaurants since it opened.

Led by Executive Chef and Partner Ben Balesteri, Poggio’s daily changing menus use the best available local ingredients including dishes inspired by the seasonal bounty of local farmers, ranchers and fishermen and the traditional methods of Italy, including wood-fired ovens, house made pastas from scratch and a wide variety of dishes serving guests breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Tartare

raw yellowfin tuna, horseradish creme fraiche, capers, arugula, pine nuts, crostini

A great replacement from beef, yellowfin tuna (kihada maguro in Japanese) has always been a good sashimi choice. Nicely spiced with the horseradish cream taking the place of wasabi.

Pollo

oak grilled half chicken, yukon gold potato & leek gratin, maitake mushrooms, lemon

Half a chicken, grilled to a perfect char on the outside, slightly burnt on the tips, but it was a very well brined piece of meat. Served with potato gratin on the side with pieces of leeks incorporated into the creamy sauce. The whole maitake mushroom was grilled and drizzled with lemon – this is an idea for my next BBQ.

Risotto

shrimp, scallops, mussels, clams, saffron, mascarpone cheese, fines herbs

These three courses were enough food for two persons, and the risotto simply filled us up with the necessary carbs after a day of walking around Sausalito. The amount of seafood (mussels, clams, scallops, shrimps) was generous, and the creamy sauce with a dash of tomato puree hit the spot.

What a way to end a wonderful afternoon in Sausalito, and then we have to rush to catch the last ferry back to San Francisco.

Poggino Trattoria
777 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 94965
Tel : +1 (415) 332-7771

Visited Oct 2023

@PoggioTrattoria

Michelin San Francisco Bay Area Guide Bib Gourmand 2017-2019, California Guide Recommends 2020-2023