A16 Rockridge

Reviews 4

SP

Spooky Emer

Took my hubby here for bday dinner and noted it on the reservation but looks like they do nothing to acknowledge it. Oh well. Wow, when we went to Roys, the dessert plate had writing on it to wish you a happy birthday. When we arrived Sunday night, table for 2, we both got there at 8:28pm, our reservation was 8:30pm. Host was like, I guess I can seat you guys now, its not quite 8:30pm. Huh? We had Punica Montessu, good red while hubby had a Manhattan. Glad they made it though it was not on the list of drinks. We had the pork trotter and the calamari. Although the pork trotter was good, you can miss this and get something else. But OMG, the calamari was cooked to perfection! It also didnt seem to come from a frozen batch of seafood. Yay! The beans that came with it was just as yum! We had a great view of the pizza making process. The guy making pizza just looked unhappy the whole time. Even interacting with other staff, its like there was no camaraderie. Its like he didnt enjoy his job or he knew how good he was so hes really the pizza nazi like the soup nazi in Seinfeld. Foodtainment didnt happen so I stopped watching. Hubby had the Accuiga pizza (anchovy pizza) The anchovy was cut up so I had to really look for it. Its not whole like some other pizza places. The pizza was still the highlight to me. The base was so good I had to ask where the ingredients were sourced from. The assistant manager (who was a joy to talk to) was kind enough to let me know that they are certified organic flour from Italy. So are the tomato base. Man, it was so amazing, I kept telling friends that this is how food should taste. I understand a woodfire oven has a lot to do with it too but daaayyymn! It was the best pizza Ive ever had. The right amount of spiciness too. I had the bucatini (seafood pasta) Im sure it was good in their standards but it was meh to me. Nothing amazing or out of the ordinary. I couldnt be bothered finishing it. I just fished all the garlic chunks and seafood. The noodles couldve been cooked a little more. I know it should be el dente but dang, it was a little too el dente. The seafood I must say was superb! I ordered the ricotta tart but when I got it, it was still a bit frozen so I had to take it home and reminded me to increase my upper body workout. Struggled with the frozen center. It was alright. I wouldve skipped it and had something else. It came with pine nut brittle and lemon curd. I liked the assistant manager more than our server. Our server asked if we wanted bread and we said yes but it never arrived while the couple next to us just got their bread automatically. The assistant manager was also so smiley and cheerful throughout the night. Even smiled at us even though she was not looking after us, she still has that wonderful customer service demeanor. Our server just seem to go through the minimal motions and so casual with the way she talked to us. Ya wanna box that up? Was one of the casual lines. I get more professionalism from a $$ restaurant. No smiles, no warmth hence not very welcoming. It wasnt a very welcoming place but I love the pizza so hopefully they will take orders to go. I cant be bothered to dine in a place that is snooty. We werent dressed like bums or anything. Hence I always think its more of a race issue. Glad it was easy to park. Last time we were at Soi Four up the road, parking was few and far between.

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Anne Lowry

Last night we went to A16 Rockridge for the first time with an Italian friend of ours and had an absolutely wonderful evening. If you liked Girabaldis (the restaurant that formerly occupied the space), you will like A16 even more! We had a reservation and we were warmly greeted and promptly seated at a nice table. We were given an extensive wine and cocktail list and were provided with a menu offering a wide range of Italian foods, including great starters, many pizzas, a nightly special, intriquing pastas and a balanced assortment of entrees. We selected the beet and cucumber salad (very tasty, especially with the beet and mint leaf combo) and the kholrabi salad - both beautifully crafted with nice colors and complimentary veggies and dressings. We were treated to a delicious corn on the cob side dish and it was fabulous. For entrees, we ordered the mezze rigatoni (Awesome! The lamb sausage was more flavorful than the standard beef fare one usually receives, but it was not so "lamby" as to overshadow everything - it was the best of the 4 entrees we had); the chicken "special" (very moist and flavorful with a nice crispy skin); and the squid ink fettuccine (the weakest dish). We also received an additional entree - the bucatini, which was excellent. All the pasta was cooked to al dente perfection and the spices/flavorings were really delicious. The Easton Old Vine zin we shared complimented everything. We finished our dinner with a yummy trio of ice creams - vanilla, chocolate and peach - which filled what few gaps remained in our very full tummies. Then, there were the cookies..., yum! The staff was very nice and attentive. Nothing felt rushed. The price was appropriate for the dining experience we enjoyed. Our Italian friend said she would make A16 her first choice for fine Italian dining from here on out and noted she would bring her brother the next time he visits from Italy. As for us, we would go back in a heartbeat and we would enthusiastically recommend A16 to anyone.

SE

Sean Huck

The atmosphere in the Rockridge location is fantastic, but its large size creates an echo chamber where dinner conversation becomes an exercise in shouting. Be prepare to talk loudly through your meal. The menu is baffling - one of those pretentious constructs that uses the Italian language to add mystique to the offerings, but mostly just embarrasses diners who have to rely on their server to explain what things are. The food did nothing to win me over. I had the fried calamari and vegetables (red peppers and sweet potato) but it came out tasting bland, no seasoning at all, mostly just reminiscent of basic tempura. We were given one lemon slice to add acidity, which was not nearly enough. The pizzas were underwhelming as well. I got the sausage with dandelion greens and they were so bitter I didnt even finish the pizza. My husband got a tomato-sauce, burrata and arugula salad, which had two tablespoons of sauce and four very small slices of burrata. Underwhelming at best. To be fair, the crust was superb, very chewy and flavorful, but thats about it. The server heard our criticisms and brought us a very astringent apertif as a consolation. I wasnt drinking that night but my husband said it tasted like liquid Riccola. Overall, with so many better food (and pizza!) options, I wouldnt bother going back. If you want to try it out for yourself, do make reservations, the place is consistently packed.

MI

Mike Anderson

What a shame -- this place has some great food and an amazing wine list. Unfortunately, it also has some serious holes in the service. Showed up for a 5 pm reservation. They seat us in a table that is getting punished by the late-afternoon sunlight. (Seriously, cant you spend a few hundred bucks on some shades??) After first ordering some expensive wine, we ask for another table not in the sunlight. There were many empty, well-shaded tables. Nope, cant move us -- even though the other tables remained empty throughout our meal. After our main course, they put on our table two dishes we didnt order. We thought maybe they were comping us, but when we pointed out that we didnt order them, the couple next to us said "Um... Those are ours." So the waitress picked them up and promptly put them at the other couples table. LOL. Then, to top it off, they brought us the other couples check... This kind of service is a total joke. Some of the food is really great. We had the lamb meatballs -- they were $27 -- but they were amazing. I would order them again, if I went back. But I wont. As for the pizza, it was soggy. You can get better at Pizzaiolo or Boot & Shoe, and the service there is far superior. We wont be back.