Coqueta
San Francisco-Financial District
May 11, 2018
The name Coqueta means ‘flirt’ in Spanish, which is apt as this place does give you the come on. Located at the end of Pier 5, Michael Chiarello’s first San Francisco venue focuses on modern Spanish food. Check out the dazzling display of pintxos on the counter, it’s almost like being in Barcelona. The venue itself is made up of two spaces: a handsome indoor restaurant and a tented outdoor bar with scattered seating and a long communal table.
The cocktails are excellent with a diverse drinks menu care of mixologist Joe Cleveland. There’s a real degree of invention in evidence with a list that includes Gin & Tonics made with ham-infused gin, a new twist on the current bacon obsession. There’s Sangria on tap and sherry, in all its glorious forms, features prominently as an ingredient. All the drinks are attractively and creatively presented. One even comes with a liquid nitrogen-frozen gin merengue. The food menu contains Chiarello’s take on the cuisine of Madrid, Catalonia, and the Basque Country. Everything is incredibly fresh and locally sourced and it’s clear that there’s as much skill in the kitchen as there is behind the bar. The view of the Bay Bridge just caps the experience.
Main photo credit: Coqueta Official Website
