The Divine Dish

Coqueta Brings Tapas to Pier 5, San Francisco

Posted on Jan 31, 2014 under Archives, San Francisco | No Comment

Chef Michael Chiarello, owner of Chiarello Family Vineyards, Napa Style and Bottega in Yountville, opened Coqueta, his first Spanish influenced restaurant, last year on Pier 5 in San Francisco.

Working with chef de cuisine Ryan Mcllwrath, Chiarello spent two years in Spain researching recipes for the tapas inspired menu.  Lots of work also went into renovating the space. Tables were raised so diners can admire the ocean view, the outdoor terrace was glassed in to create an enclosed al fresco bar area, a huge wood fired oven was added to the open kitchen, and the inside décor was enhanced with long dramatic drapes and cowhide rugs.

“Coqueta” translates to “flirt,” which references the chef’s playful dishes, drinks and experimentation with a new Spanish cuisine.

The 56-seat restaurant offers a variety of plates. Here is what we sampled when I visited last month.

The Pintxos, one-bite skewers, are a fun way to start a meal and include house cured boquerones; chorizo, roasted artichokes and piquillo peppers; Serrano ham, manchego cheese and apricot conserve; baby beets with cana de cabra cheese, and quails egg with pickled mustard seed and ham.

We also sampled the El Plat Cap which was a nice selection of cured meats served with nuts and a pan de cristal con tomato.

Our tapas items began with white gazpacho with marcona almonds, grapes and syrah. We loved this.

 

Next came the red kale ensalada with roasted squash, fuyu persimmons, and warm rancho cordo.

The tapas also included a nice smoked salmon bite with queso fresco and truffle honey.  Yum.

My fave of all the tapas was the chicken and English pea croquetas with cured cara cara orange.

We also sampled the sunny side-up egg with shrimp, crispy potato and a chorizo dressing. This is the most popular dish of the tapas.

The grilled albondigas, pork and duck meatballs, with a tart cherry and tempranillo puree were also lovely, as was the grilled shortribs served Catalan style.

Larger family style plates include a variety of paellas, we had the classic with bomba rice in a Jamon serrano and shellfish broth with root vegetables, chorizo, gulf prawns, clams and lemon alioli.  A must to order.

 

Other main courses on the menu include a whole grilled branzino, a 32 ounce ribeye and a pork shoulder loin.

Dessert includes a strawberry rhubarb gazpacho in liquid nitrogen, churros, caramel lollipos with popcorn and ice cream sandwiches.  We sampled the lollipops and the churros, both were a great end to a fabulous meal.

The cocktail menu is equally inventive, with specialty sangria, mojitos, margaritas and traditional porrons – party pitchers of refreshing libations.  We had the festive mojito costa brava with mint, white rum, lime and minted cane sugar as well as the J&T, a non-alcoholic juniper, lime and tonic beverage.  I also got to sample a special holiday cocktail, don’t remember what it was but it was delicious.

 

Coqueta is a perfect spot to wind down with a sangria and tapas and travel to Spain while remaining in San Francisco.  Located at Pier 5, The Embarcadero, reservations highly recommended at 415.704.8866.