Che Fico Pizzeria - Review - Mission Bay - San Francisco - The Infatuation
"First there was Che Fico, then Che Fico Alimentari came and went, and now there’s Che Fico Pizzeria. Like its predecessors, Pizzeria is a casual sit-down but with the addition of a gigantic patio overlooking the water. Unfortunately, unlike its sister restaurants, Che Fico Pizzeria hasn’t mastered turning dough and cheese into something worth ordering. The crust of the pepperoni pizza is soggy and cheese sloughs off onto your plate in between bites, taking the meat—the best part of this pie—with it. Ironically, the non-pizza dishes of the menu are a lot better. The caesar salad has a thick dusting of parmesan, sturdy croutons that don’t cut open the roof of your mouth, and a tangy vegetarian dressing that you’ll want to explore adoption opportunities with. The parmigiana sandwich with a fried chicken cutlet and a thick blanket of mozzarella is solid. The only downside is that you’ll need to inhale it within minutes before the marinara-laden bread disintegrates in your hands. Soft serve is the only option for dessert, and it’s a good one. The strawberry flavor tastes like the actual fruit and has a hint of salt to balance it out. Would we come back for a full meal? Not right now. But, would we stop by for some soft serve from their to-go window or a glass of wine outside while admiring the view of Bay Front Park? Definitely. Food Rundown Caesar Salad The highlight of the meal. Parmesan covers every shred of little gem and we don't miss the anchovies in the dressing one bit. If you only have space for one salad on your table, get this one. photo credit: Patrick Wong Chopped Salad This gluten-free salami and provolone-heavy dish tastes like a deconstructed Italian sub. The pepperonici and olives make some bites too salty, but the radicchio and chickpeas help. photo credit: Patrick Wong OG Pepperoni The pepperoni are done right on this pie. Crispy, slightly curled at the edges, and just salty enough. Sadly, that’s where the pros on this pizza end. The cheese is stringy and barely attached to a soggy crust. photo credit: Patrick Wong Pineapple and Chili We like a firm stance on pineapple on pizza. Unlike the OG, the thin slices of the fruit and onion adhere to a puffy, chewy crust. Without anything salty to counter the pineapple, this pizza eats a tad too sweet and misses any kind of spice from the chili. photo credit: Patrick Wong Suppli Just fine. Fried mini-footballs of cheesy rice never hurt a meal, but these are completely skippable. photo credit: Taylor Gomez Parmigiana Ready some napkins for this one. This thing’s got plenty of sauce and cheese, but the fried chicken manages to cling onto some crispiness. For those not wanting to take a chance on pizza or want a shareable entree, this is a good choice. photo credit: Taylor Gomez Strawberry Soft Serve Everything we want out of a good soft serve is here. Creamy, thick, and tastes like there’s real fruit in it. A vegan flavor is also on rotation if you’ve had enough dairy for the day." - Patrick Wong
