Modi pulls off its menu of Italian and Mexican mashups - Review - San Francisco - The Infatuation
"A good restaurant inside a bus terminal sounds like a Mad Libs punchline, but Modi is no joke. The place, inside the Salesforce Transit Center, feels like it belongs on the Embarcadero, especially with its twinkle lights and vine-encrusted patio. But the menu, on the other hand, is new territory for the city, with a lineup of non-gimmicky Italian and Mexican hybrid dishes. (Think good tacos with scallops and frisée, birria lasagna, and grilled nopales parmigiana.) There’s a chance you’ll have to battle with corporate buyouts and team-building dinners to get a table here, but jazzy Miley Cyrus covers and friendly service make it a nice choice for a casual post-work date night or small group get-together. Food Rundown Parmigiana Di Nopales A slightly mixed experience. The nopales are smoky and grilled until they just have a little bit of chew left. But the layers of cheese are overwhelming and muddle the flavors. photo credit: Patrick Wong Tacos Capesante & Funghi Our favorite taco. It's a bit messy to eat, but well worth it. The tortillas are pliable but snappy, cradling a fistful of mushrooms and charred chunks scallops that have some bounce left in them. photo credit: Patrick Wong Birria Lasagna The beef is so moist and soft, you could eat it with a compostable straw. We wish the lasagna noodles had a bit more presence, but we fully understand why the staff recommends this dish above all others. photo credit: Patrick Wong Spaghetti Chorizo And Clams A standout in the same league as the birria lasagna. It’s a combo we’ve rarely had, with savoriness from the chorizo and brininess from the clams. We’d get this again and again. photo credit: Patrick Wong Pizza Regina Margherita Modi does the classic pie well. The chewy crust is blistered to the point of almost being burnt, and it’s loaded with cheese. Some parts of the crust are a little wet and floppy, but that's easy to overlook. photo credit: Patrick Wong Churro Tiramisu Delicious. Modi swaps out traditional ladyfingers for freshly fried churros. And while we love the stacked presentation of the churros, we'd prefer just dipping them in the mascarpone cream instead of having it slicked onto the plate. photo credit: Patrick Wong" - Patrick Wong
