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La Ciccia is a small Sardinian spot in Noe Valley that you’ll want to be on a first name basis with, or exchange holiday cards with for the rest of your life. Not only is the food that good, but you’re treated so well here and feel so at home that you’ll want them to remember you when you come back in.
Every single night it’s open, this place is full of people on dates, families celebrating, and friends getting together. And since it’s always busy, getting a reservation can be pretty tough. The main reason this place is always packed is the food. The menu has a lot of seafood on it and everything is simply prepared - from a salad with anchovies and the perfect amount of lemon to baby octopus stewed in a spicy tomato broth. Both of these are good things to start with, but the pasta is what you’ll find yourself looking out the window and daydreaming about the next day.
They’re all great, from the hearty gnocchetti with pork sugo to the garlicky, spicy, and slightly fishy spaghetti with bottarga, and are large enough that they’re easy to share. If you’re only getting one pasta though, it needs to be the Sardinian macaroni with sea urchin, tomato, and grated tuna (Editor's Note: they now make this with fusilli). This is one of the single best pastas in the entire city. The sauce is intense with tomato and sea urchin. It’s sweet, salty, and creamy, but also airy and light. And once the macaroni is gone, you’ll be scraping up the rest of the sauce with a fork or some bread - anything to keep you from running a finger across your plate.
photo credit: Stephanie Court
You’re also going to feel well taken care of at La Ciccia. You’ll get all new plates and silverware at the end of each course. Napkins are folded, questions are asked, and the chef will come out and make sure you’re enjoying yourself. It doesn’t feel like you’re in a small neighborhood restaurant as much as it does a private club where you’re also somehow related to everyone - maybe like third cousins.
It’s easy to tell yourself that the small restaurant around the corner from your house is one that everyone should know about, and while most of the time that just isn’t the case, it is if you live close to La Ciccia. Even if you don’t live around there, we’ll happily catch a ride across the city to come here anytime.