September 28, 2008
Eccolo
Wanted to go to Pizzaiolo and wasted a ton of time driving up and down Telegraph before giving up. Found out only later that it's not open on Sundays WTF. Ended up driving over to 4th St. to Eccolo, another place I've wanted to try, run by a Chez Pannise alum with a prime location anchoring the top end of the chic 4th St. strip.
The space is high-end California-casual. A warm interior in yellow with dark wood accents was classy and comfortable without being stuffy. Tables were nicely spaced and quiet on an uncrowded evening, a pleasant change in atmosphere compared to SF's hot spots.
Shared an appetizer and you can't lose going with deep-fried goodies. Been ages since we've had fried zucchini blossoms (first since Italy?). The fresh-made aioli went great as a dipping sauce for the fried bits and as a spread on the Acme bread.
We didn't want a super heavy meal so a pasta and a main were enough for the both of us. She found her penne ragu a bit too salty for our tastes. Our experiences in Italy tells us that is exactly the way they do it in the Old Country, though. We probably needed a contorni to go with it. My roast chicken, on the other hand, was impeccable. Tender and flavorful with a light sauce.
To be honest, I found the bill a bit much, so it fell a bit short in the value department, and Chez Pannise is still better. But it's still quite nice to experience the perks of the Bay Area, where one can simply walk into a restaurant and have a very nice experience, and it was fine as our last good meal in town.
Eccolo
1820 4th Street
(between Hearst Ave & Virginia St)
Berkeley, CA 94710
(510) 644-0444