Fiorella - Review - Richmond - San Francisco - The Infatuation

"When you’d rather not face the line at Pizzetta 211 or The Laundromat, Fiorella is a great back-up plan. The Italian spot (with other locations in Russian Hill and the Sunset) is a reliable standby for blistered wood-fired pizza in a spacious dining room, complete with wallpaper of Bay Area celebrities like E-40 and Alice Waters. The pies are mixed—some have floppy crusts while others are sturdy. Thankfully, the outer rim maintains an excellent chew. We like to focus on the consistently well-executed pastas here instead, like the bolognese that’s hearty without being overly rich. Come here with a group and chit-chat on the heated patio, or swing by on a whim when you’re in the Richmond and need pizza that doesn’t require an hour-long wait. photo credit: Krescent Carasso RESERVE A TABLE WITH RESERVE A TABLE Food Rundown NYC Style Pepperoni Pie An excellent version of a classic. The pepperoni cups are appropriately crunchy around the edges, and the crust maintains a bubbly char. Rigatoncini Al Bolognese Classico Fiorella’s pork and beef bolognese is meaty rather than overly saucy like some other versions in town, and we love it. Order this for the table to split alongside a pie or two. Radiatore Alla Vodka Diavolo Another fantastic pasta. There’s a decent kick to the vodka sauce, which is mellowed out by a dollop of ricotta. Arancini Al Parmigiano Sometimes, these come out piping hot and gooey in the center; other times, they’re lukewarm and the mozzarella in the center is still in block form. But when they’re good, they’re really good. Burrata Pie Good in theory, but a slice has no structural integrity, making it easy for the cheese to slide off—still, once you get all of the elements back together, it tastes delicious. You might just need a fork and knife." - Julia Chen