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photo credit: Stephanie Court

La Ciccia image
8.7

La Ciccia

ItalianPasta

Noe Valley

$$$$Perfect For:Date NightDinner with the Parents
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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.

La Ciccia image

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.

Food Rundown

Inzalaredda De Acciugasa E Arangiu (Marinated White Anchovies With Oranges And Onions)

If bad cartoons turned you off to anchovies like they were abandoned libraries taken care of by someone named Old Man Smithers, this is a good time to change your mind. These are simple and light, and the anchovies are way less fishy than you’d expect. Still, though, don’t go into any abandoned libraries.

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Prupisceddu In Umidu Cun Tomatiga (Baby Octopus Stew In A Spicy Tomato Sauce)

Tender baby octopus in a spicy tomato sauce. Once the octopus is gone, you’ll want to drink everything else, and that’s exactly what you should do.

Casisceddu E Rughitta (Fresh Daily Cheese With Arugula, Artisanal Anchovies, and Truffle Dressing)

The cheese changes, but the dressing is light and doesn’t have an overpowering truffle flavor. Split this with a few people.

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Maccarrones De Busa Cun Arrizonis (Sardinian Macaroni With Sea Urchin, Tomato, And Grated Tuna Heart)

You might have someone special with you, and if you do, ask for forgiveness in advance because you will not be sharing this with them. Get this on your table.

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Spaghittusu Cun Allu Ollu E Bottargia (Fresh Spaghetti With Spicy Oil, Garlic, And Cured Fish Roe)

This is a perfect example of simple things coming together to make something great.

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Malloreddus A Sa Campidanse (Semolina Gnochetti With Pork Sugo, And Pecorino Sardo DOP)

When it’s done really well, it’s tough to go wrong with pork meat sauce. This is one of those times.

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Pisci De Mari Arrustiu (Market Fish)

This changes, but our favorite was a deboned and seared branzino served with vegetables and capers that was like a cross between ratatouille and puttanesca. This is an excellent piece of fish.

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Gamberoisi Arrustisu (Oven-Roasted Whole Prawns With Basil Oil and Parsley)

Unless you’re a trained brain surgeon, you’ll probably look a little ridiculous trying to get the meat out of the shells, but the prawns are sweet and good and the basil oil goes really well with them.

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Pezza De Angioni A Sa Saba (Seared Lamb Tenderloin Tagliata Drizzled With Saba)

The thin slices of lamb are perfectly cooked, and while the balsamic it comes with is great, see if they’ll bring you some of the sea urchin tomato sauce to go with this.

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