Morella

Italian restaurant · Marina District

Morella

Italian restaurant · Marina District

4

2001 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA 94123

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Highlights

Italian-Argentinian fusion with pastas, steaks & creative cocktails  

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2001 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA 94123 Get directions

morellasf.com
@morella.sf

$50–100 · Menu

Reserve

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2001 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA 94123 Get directions

+1 628 286 9698
morellasf.com
@morella.sf

$50–100 · Menu

Reserve

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Last updated

Aug 17, 2025

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@eater

The Best Brunch Restaurants in San Francisco | Eater SF

"If you and the crew are looking for a boozy brunch to catch up over with vibes to spare, Morella in the Marina is more than happy to accommodate. If you’re of the Tiktok persuasion, the beautiful decor is a distraction in itself, while the restaurant’s list of not one but six coffee cocktails will keep everyone caffeinated and chatty. There’s a solid list of nonalcoholic beverages, too, whether you want a matcha latte or an Immunity Booster juice drink stuffed with carrot, turmeric, ginger, pineapple, coconut, and lemon — which should help ward off any oncoming colds. The food is a hodgepodge of Italian and Argentinian fare, making it a bit different from your average brunch spot, but one can still find waffles (guava, in this case) or a yogurt-granola bowl if preferred." - Dianne de Guzman

https://sf.eater.com/maps/best-brunch-san-francisco
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@eater

These Are San Francisco’s Most Beautiful Restaurants | Eater SF

"One of the Marina’s recent openings, Morella offers an interesting blend of Argentinian and Italian cuisines — and a lavish decor that’s right on trend with the dining scene’s renewed love for maximalism; think coral, emerald, and sapphire jewel-toned hues, crystal chandeliers and gold sconces, and pattern wallpaper accents. On the menu, executive chef Jesus Dominguez serves vibrant dishes like grilled octopus with shishito peppers, and a “dirty martini” dip served in a giant martini glass." - Flora Tsapovsky

https://sf.eater.com/maps/most-beautiful-restaurants-san-francisco
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@infatuation

Morella - Review - Marina - San Francisco - The Infatuation

"From the team behind Westwood, Morella is an Italian-Argentinian spot that serves Dungeness crab sorrentinos, empanadas, and lots of asados. Argentinian specialties like fernet with coke and yerba mate-infused drinks round out the cocktail menu. We haven’t been here yet, but want you to know this spot exists." - Team Infatuation

https://www.theinfatuation.com/san-francisco/reviews/morella
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@eater

16 Bay Area Restaurant and Bar Openings to Know, November 2023 - Eater SF

"Menu includes pasta, asado, Milanese, and a whole Iberian ham leg carved tableside." - Justine Jones

https://sf.eater.com/2024/11/13/24295852/new-restaurant-openings-san-francisco-bay-area-2024-november
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Elizabeth Cortez

Google
Morella was on my radar for a few months before we finally got to go. It was an early dinner, and the dining area was just starting to fill up. The bar was busy, though. The service was excellent! We enjoyed everything we ordered, especially the carbonara and the rib eye.

Аlisa Paludeti

Google
I picked this place for a special date celebration and it’s been amazing decision! This restaurant is beautiful, very spacious and has a chill vibe - exactly what you need for a date night. We didn’t try Argentinian options but were very happy with lamb papardelle bolognese with lamb and house burger. The cocktails were really good too. Service was good and not annoying. Highly recommend this place and will come back for more Argentinian foods

aparna k

Google
We had such a great experience at Morella in San Francisco! From the moment we walked in, the space gave off a breezy, upscale resort vibe like a little escape tucked right into the city. Think modern coastal charm meets Mediterranean warmth, with sunlit interiors, relaxed music, and a chic-yet-inviting atmosphere that instantly makes you want to settle in and linger. We started with the beet salad and burrata both incredibly fresh and beautifully plated. The beets had a subtle earthiness that paired perfectly with the light citrus dressing, and the burrata was a dream: rich, creamy, and paired with juicy, ripe tomatoes, basil oil, and a touch of sea salt that made every bite sing. A perfect opener. For mains, the shrimp Alfredo pasta was a standout. The pasta was al dente, the sauce was silky and indulgent without being too heavy, and the shrimp were plump, juicy, and clearly high quality. It’s one of those dishes that feels familiar but elevated. We also had the rabbit braised in white wine a bold choice that absolutely paid off. It was tender, subtly herbed, and melt-in-your-mouth good. A dish that really sets Morella apart from more typical brunch/dinner spots. Let’s talk drinks don’t skip the mimosa. It’s not your average brunch cocktail; it was perfectly chilled, light on the sugar, and had just the right amount of citrusy brightness to balance everything out. Super refreshing. They also have an intriguing cocktail list that we’ll definitely be exploring next time. For dessert, we couldn’t resist the ube pancakes, and wow, what a fun surprise. Soft, fluffy, slightly sweet with that signature ube flavor, and topped with whipped cream and berries. It was part-dessert, part-art-piece, and totally Instagram-worthy. Service-wise, it was spot-on. The staff were warm, knowledgeable, and attentive without hovering. Each course arrived with perfect timing, and they made sure we felt taken care of from start to finish. Overall, Morella is a gem. Whether you’re out for brunch with friends, a cozy date night, or just want a little “vacation magic” without leaving the city, this place nails it. Beautiful space, thoughtful food, and a relaxed, elevated vibe. We’ll absolutely be back. Highly recommend.

Gabs

Google
I’d heard this was the place to try—and I’m so glad I did! We came here for brunch a few weeks ago and had a lovely time. The food was delicious, and the drinks were just as good. Can’t wait to come back for dinner sometime soon!

Elizabeth Fenchel

Google
Cocktails- super cute; I had the Funky Flamingo, it was a little on the sweet side, but I enjoyed it! the Caesar salad was AMAZING, our favorite thing of the night. The Crab Sorrentinos was good and there was a generous amount of Crab. The short ribs were the most disappointing of the meal, they were incredibly dry. I was with a group of 8, the server was helpful and on top of things, the host was also wonderful and welcoming. The restaurant is cute and fun, the food was good, but not the I can’t wait to go back type of good.

Grace W

Google
This was the former Dorian corner space and they did a phenomenal job renovating it so that now it’s vibey and spacious with lots of color. Second time having dinner here and they excelled at everything from the food to the service. Still dreaming about their pasta days later. Great for date nights, small groups, and instagram girlies (they have the cutest booths).

Bob Joe

Google
The service is great, the ambiance is nice, and the food tastes good. I ordered the lamb bolognese; however, the portion was comically small and it cost $25 before tax, tip, and a 5.5% surcharge. Considering this was one of the cheaper entrees on the menu, all the food is quite overpriced. The drinks on the other hand were quite good and normal SF prices. I'm not someone who eats a lot of food, but the portion was so small that by the time I got home I was already hungry again. I'm glad we tried it, but unfortunately the value is just not close to being acceptable compared with other restaurants in SF and I don't plan on coming back, at least not for food.

T.C. Inzana

Google
Had to tip the scales back here on Google maps review.. Morella is a new Italian-Argentinian spot and… it’s great! I can understand any new spot finding their groove but there weren’t any stress points for me. The ‘Morella’ namesake cocktail hit the spot. I went ahead and tried the Manhattan and fernet too for good measure - each was cleverly served and I wasn’t disappointed. I won’t bore you.. it’s a fun spot and the food/drinks are good. Relax, it’s pasta, meat, and sides with friendly service in a hip spot. Gnocchi was really good, octopus was really good, and of course the MEATS. Short ribs ✅ Argentinian steak ✅.. Or just check out the bar. Cheers 🍻
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Marcelo L.

Yelp
OBSESSED!! This spot popped up on my IG feed a couple weeks ago and its interior design drew me in so I added it to my "must visit" spots in SF. I finally stopped by over the weekend and OMG, I was not disappointed! Went in for the beautiful interior, fell in love with the wait staff's beautiful service and obsessed with the short rib! Nothing short about that short rib! LOL TIP: go hungry, the portions are sizable! My friend and I went to Wilder down the street for a drink and an app before our reservation and could not finish our meals at Morella. 100 out of 10! We ordered the Braised Short Rib, Midnight Pasta and Sautéed Garlic Broccolini.

Corey R.

Yelp
Everything was beyond amazing! From the food to the service and the restaurant itself is just beautiful! The lamb chops and the carbonara is some of the best I've ever had, and let's not even start with how awesome sauce the oysters were! An amazing experience. 10 out of 10, all the way around!
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Rosie W.

Yelp
I love the decor of Morella. It's like you were brought back on a time capsule back to the 80's, but with a modern twist. I love the non traditional chairs and soft booths; it makes for a comfortable setting and the warm tone on the walls and beautiful gigantic plants that divides the areas adds so much character to the room. I loved that they serve coffee and cocktails for brunch :) ----------------------------- White mocha latte: strong coffee taste, creamy. MAZCAL COCKTAIL: good burnt mazcal flavor if you're into that. MOJITO: was not expecting it to be in slushy form but it was nonetheless tasty NEGRONI: very sharp and has a floral complexity. Also comes with a side of rose so that was a nice surprise :) BEEF AND CHICKEN EMPENADAS: cant go wrong with empenadas! These are fried to perfection, crispy on the outside and full of flavor inside. Comes with 3 fun sauces to dip them in. LAMB BOLOGNASE: The star of the show. We didn't know what to get, but the waiter said the bolognaise was good but I was a bit skeptical since I don't eat lamb but the waiter convinced me that because the sauce is cooked and stewed for so long, you can't even taste the gaminess .. and he was correct. It was probably one of the best bolognaise I've ever had. It's not that saucy but the flavor is in the thick, rich tomato based sauce and it sticks to the fresh tasting pasta like glue. Get this, you won't regret it.
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Karlee J.

Yelp
I was really excited to try this place as it took the place of the Dorian and it's a great location and large space with ample amount of seating! They did an amazing job with the decorations. It's fun, stylish and luxurious. I love the fun twist on food here. Argentine meets Italian. we loved the empanadas, particularly the pork empanada was our favorite! We shared everything which is my love language and really enjoyed the midnight pasta and the Argentine steak. The steak comes as an à la cart menu item and you can add on sides which we chose not to this time! I'm in my pasta was very garlic, which I personally loved but caution for anyone who isn't a garlic lover This was a perfect date night spot! Definitely recommend getting a reservation prior! We will be back
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Mitchell S.

Yelp
We goin start with the positives. Positively beautiful inside. The aesthetic got me soaked. The TikTok's and social media do not do the place justice. Staff was really kind. Now let's talk business. The food was Mid. The ravioli came with 5 pieces and the filling was minimal. The braised short ribs were tasteless. It was literally just texture. Additionally, it took us 2+ hours in there with 1.8 hours of waiting for drinks and food to arrive. Cute place, for the vibes. Not for the belly
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Noopur D.

Yelp
I had a hard time picking what to review this place - there were good things and not so good things. We came here for a light lunch on my birthday since we were in the area and I had seen this place on TikTok. Obviously first off, the decor and interior was absolutely stunning, so colorful and bright and fun! The service was not so good, there seemed to be only one waiter and he seemed overwhelmed I felt bad! The food took ages to come out and we only got appetizers and a mocktail. We ordered the cherry blossom mocktail which was good And had nice flavors. For food we got the arancini which was just okay, and the avocado bruschetta which was actually just avocado toast - and had absolutely no flavors or any salt so that was disappointing. They did bring ice cream with a sparkler which was nice and that tasted very good. I probably wouldn't come back but it was nice to check it out once!!
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Andrew S.

Yelp
My friend and I had a really great Sunday night dinner and shared the empanadas with beef, caprese salad, Dungeness crab sorrentinos, broccolini and half rack of the grilled lamb chops. All of the dishes were excellent. The empanadas with beef were a good starter. The caprese salad was nice and refreshing. The Dungeness crab sorrentinos was the perfect pasta dish and was the highlight of the meal for me. The grilled lamb chops and broccolini was a great main entree and side dish combination. Service was really good and attentive. The space itself is nice and cavernous. With tax and tip, this was under $80, which is great value for the meal. Highly recommended if you are looking for good pasta and lamb. I'll be back.
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Kathy N.

Yelp
I kept seeing this place on Instagram and decided to stop by for my birthday. I want to start off by stating how beautiful this place was. My friend and I were definitely wowed when we walked in. The hostess was super nice. And the first guy who introduced himself to us was super nice and charming and we were excited to have him as our server. I don't know how the serving industry works or how competitive it could be but a second guy came and swooped up on us and he didn't have the same energy as the first guy and I don't want to say he was aggressive, he just wasn't as charming and thoughtful I guess. And after we placed our order with him a third person comes and says she's been on break and that she would be our server for the night. Lol so it was a bit confusing on who our server was. Anyways. My friend and I ordered the beef Argentinian empanadas and garlic bread as appetizers. The empanadas weren't bad but their sauces were lacking a bit. The taste of the sauces kind of takes you on a little ride. It starts off with some flavor and then it ends a little bland. I definitely wish that the sauces were more flavorful or have some sort of kick to it. For my entree I got the 10 ounce Argentinian picanha steak while my friend got the dungeness crab sorrenti. My steak was served pretty much cold and it tasted bland and burnt. It also was definitely not a 10 ounce steak. The portion of my friend's pasta was definitely small. She said the best part of it was probably the crab, other than that there was nothing really to rave about it. We did get free gelato for my birthday and I think that might have been the best part of the whole meal and the garlic bread. Overall we spent over $200 on our meal and were left still hungry. This experience felt very underwhelming from the bland food to the small portions, I don't think we'll be back anytime soon.
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Abby O.

Yelp
Enjoyed a nice evening at Morella's bar. The Messi Mojito was a standout - perfectly refreshing and fruity. Tried the baked oysters and arancini for appetizers, both solid choices. I would definitely order them again. The interior is beautifully designed, making it perfect for a special occasion. Looking forward to coming back for a proper dinner next time.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
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Maria De Los Angeles P.

Yelp
I love discovering new places and, of course, trying out new options that bring happiness to my taste buds! Yesterday, I had the opportunity to visit Morella, a new and exquisite spot offering Italian and Argentine cuisine, located in the heart of the Marina in my beautiful city of San Francisco. The place is gorgeous and spacious actually with a special touch that makes you feel comfortable and surrounded by beauty. It's perfect for going with friends to celebrate a special occasion, or why not? To surprise your date. The service is incredibly friendly and kind. Our server was very attentive and helpful. I had a Fernet to reminisce about our Argentine friends who introduced me to the drink. I ordered the octopus salad, crab ravioli, and the medium rare picanha steak, cooked to perfection. Thank you, Morella team!
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Megan P.

Yelp
As others have mentioned, Morella seems to be pretty hit or miss... staff was friendly, ambiance and decor were nice, but the food was very mediocre unfortunately. I ordered the carbonara, which was recommended by the server, and a side of broccolini. The carbonara was sadly bland with a few bright moments of pancetta... the broccolini was cooked and seasoned well but nothing special. The best part of the meal were the cocktails which both my friend and I enjoyed. I might be willing to give it another chance but wouldn't go out my way to dine here like I did the other day.
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Kelvin L.

Yelp
We ordered so many dishes, I think our table looked like the set of a cooking show--except we eating it all and the food kept coming. The chef even came to greet us (friend of friend), and had explained a few of the delicious dishes. Got calamari, shrimp, octopus salad, oysters, and baked oysters were so fresh. The baked oysters? Pure buttery magic. We ordered more. Instead of waking in the middle of night for water, get the midnight pasta. This dish was so good with braised short rib. Probably my 2nd most favorite dish here. Add lemon juice for more zest. The caesar salad was sauced the sauce up. And then there was this Spanish prosciutto special. I don't know what it was called but it was imported from Spain and it was something i never had before. Rare. Boujiee. Great to impress with. Like a jerky and tuna had a kid with soft chewiness. Overall place was packed! Open til 2am so you could eat, drink, and sit for the night. Turns into a cool dim lighted lounge/bar at night.
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Susan T.

Yelp
Oh my god !!!! Where do I even begin?! WOW !! This place really blew me away!!! Let's start off with how amazing this place looks ! Definitely makes me feel happy when I walked in. The decoration was amazing! From the pictures to the wall paper. Wow ! If you guys ever need a date night this is definitely a place to go! We ordered a bunch of food to try it out, I want to say everything was sooooo good ! My favorite were the baked oysters ! The fact that the flavors were all there ! Wow! My second favorite was the midnight pasta ! That's a GO TO item !!! The Garlic taste was sooo bold ! It's a dish that everyone should get !!! We also got some fries which OMG Soooooooo crispy !!!!! You can leave it there for 30 mins and come back to it and it's still crispy !! Hahah I was sooo addicted to it ! This place did not disappoint at all. The chef Jesus even came out to make sure every thing was to our liking which is awesome because we really don't get the chance connected to chefs whenever we go to a restaurant. That shows he cares about his work and wants to make sure his food is up to everyone liking ! Love that he puts so much effort and love in his craft ! Highly recommended place to go for a date night or even a gathering ! Their drinks are amazing! Definitely would come back !
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Michelle N.

Yelp
Saw that this place took over the Dorian and was excited to try because the interior looked so cute online. We walked in around 6:30pm on a Wednesday. They didn't have reservations online but we got lucky as the host was able to seat us in the dining area right away. Our server was the sweetest (glasses, short hair, mask) and took our drink and food order and made sure our food all came out together. We ordered the Messi Mojito, Give Me A Melon Reasons, and the Funky Flamingo. The Funky Flamingo was my favorite. For food, our table shared the porchetta sliders, truffle fries, and beef and chicken empanadas. The sliders and fries were very good and i'd like to try the pork empanadas next time. The server was so sweet and even gave us a gelato for my birthday. 10/10 would come back. Hopefully they have more reservations on their site next time.
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Mary Bryan O.

Yelp
Already been back for a second time! They have updated their menu to a more digestible format but all the options should remain the same! We walked in and sat at the bar around 7pm on a Wednesday. The bartender was so nice and recommended the martini which was great! (And I'm not a big gin girl) I tried more of their starters with some cocktails. The empanadas were great - had 1 pork and 1 chicken. I surprisingly preferred the chicken empanada! It was packed with way more flavor than I was expecting. Also you have to try the martini dip! You get a blue cheese essence but the marscapone really smooths out the flavors.
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Pam M.

Yelp
Officially open! I went on their first day to check the food & drinks & we anticipated a long wait but were seated quickly, which was nice. The restaurant features pretty banquettes swathed in velvet fabric in soft pink & muted green & tulip shaped chairs (back cushion shape) which were pretty comfortable. I had the Old Fashioned cocktail @ my friend had the Negroni. The drinks were pretty good, For food, we had the porchetta sliders (4/5) which were tender & seasoned perfectly, grilled octopus (4/5) which was also tender, lamb bolognese (5/5), my favorite dish of the evening & grilled scallops (3.5/5), although cooked perfectly, it was a bit over seasoned (salty). We were too full to attempt dessert but will try it next time, Service is friendly & helpful. Parking is scarce so I would recommend taking an Uber or Lyft. I live nearby so it was an easy walk.
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Sharon B.

Yelp
I came to Morella last night for one of their soft opening nights and had a great experience overall! The vibes inside were lively with fun decor and colors and upbeat pop music. There's lots of seating options, from large booths, bar seating, tables, and high tops. I loved the menu, the theme is Argentinian Italian fusion so they had a wide range of dishes from pastas, steaks, sausages, empanadas, etc. A lot of the restaurants in the area are solely Italian so it's nice to have more diversity in food options here! For food we ordered the bone marrow, sliders, sausages, and lamb bolognese. I thought the prices were pretty reasonable compared to other spots in the area, most of the pasta dishes were under $25 and the lamb bolognese had a huge portion of meat. I thought the food was good, nothing extraordinary but good for the price and the atmosphere of the restaurant. Will definitely be coming back to try more of their extensive menu!
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Liv A.

Yelp
Morella took over the former space of The Dorian. I have not been to The Dorian since my bachelorette party, which was 9 years ago! Needless to say, I don't hang out much in the Maria (mostly because parking is very limited). My husband, son and I went for my birthday dinner on a Saturday evening. We walked in early (around 6 pm) since there were no reservations available. It was quite full already. Luckily, one of the larger tables with booth seating was available. Ambiance was aesthetic and spacious. There was a large bar area with big screen TVs, bar seating/tables and a second main dining room. The upstairs looked to be for after-hours for when they stop serving food. The hostess and servers were very friendly and attentive. We ordered the Midnight Pasta, Pan Seared Scallops, Argentinian Picanha Steak, side of fries and side of steamed veggies. Everything tasted great, cooked and seasoned perfectly; better than expected! Portions were substantial as well. Pricing was very decent, especially for the city. For desserts, we the Coconut Panna Cotta and Chocolate Gelato (chosen by my son, otherwise I would have gotten pistachio). My husband secretly told the hostess it was my birthday so the desserts came out with a huge sparkler. Needless to say, that was a huge surprise and it drew a lot of attention. Both desserts were great but the stand out was the Panna Cotta. Overall, we all enjoyed our experience and the dishes. I would have given 5 stars, but the bussers were just too quick. They kept clearing out dishes before we were finished. Maybe a bit too efficient! We felt a bit rushed because of that. My husband and I plan on returning for dinner in the future on a date night. We would love to try some of the other items on the menu next time. Lots to choose from! Parking is tough in the Maria, but we were lucky to score a close, unmetered spot. If we would have gone later in the evening, we probably would have settled on taking a Waymo there. Give yourself time to look for parking, if you drive.
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Ashley B.

Yelp
Morella is the place to go for a delightful meal, an amazing ambiance, and an unforgettable experience. As a food writer, I'm always on the lookout for the latest culinary gems, but most of them fail to impress and are just one-time visits. However, Morella has consistently captured my attention and will remain my go-to spot. I've even hosted some future events here. Don't miss out on the mezcal cocktail, spaghetti, and arancini--you won't regret it!
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Eve R.

Yelp
My husband I made a reservation to enjoy brunch at Morella but unfortunately ran into horrible traffic getting there. We called ahead to make sure they would still be able to honor our reservation and the hostess was very helpful and let us know the cut off time for the kitchen. Upon arrival, we were seated quickly and our order was taken promptly so we could meet the cut off time. While waiting for our food, I took some time to look around and I really enjoyed the ambiance of the establishment. It was very comfortable and even with it being full, it wasn't so loud that we had to raise our voices to be heard. The food arrived quickly and was absolutely delicious. I ordered the crepe with ham, egg and cheese. Yummy! I also ordered a mimosa with strawberry sorbet. I absolutely loved that the champagne was served in a small decanter so I could pour however much I wanted. The strawberry sorbet was a nice change from the usual orange juice you get with a mimosa and it paired well with the champagne. Even though we showed up late to our reservation, we never felt rushed by any of the staff who checked on us. At the end of the meal, our waiter even asked if we had any feedback we wanted to give, which was a nice touch. My experience as a whole was a really great one and I look forward to dining at Morella again in the future. I highly recommend them!
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Carien L.

Yelp
This is such a nice spot! The interior of the inside was exquisite! They also have a bar there! ! We ordered some cocktails as well as shots, the drinks were well made! We ordered a bunch of different food to try out and every dish we had did not disappoint! They were all so delicious! The baked oysters, the bone marrow, and so much more. Everything on the menu will leave you wanting more! The service here was also wonderful! They approach us to make sure we were taken care of and we sure were taken good care of that night! Check this spot out! I forgot to take more photos of what we ordered because i just couldn't help but to dig in
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Fawn R.

Yelp
Booked this spot for a nice evening out in the Marina District with my friend and we were pleasantly surprised by how great the atmosphere and the food were. We ordered the midnight pasta, braised short ribs and sautéed garlic broccolini. The pasta was cooked to perfection and the dish that stole the show was definitely the short rib. Such a big portion of meat for 2 people to share and we even had to take it home! The drinks were also a hit, we ordered the Morella and Life's a Beach and they did not disappoint. The service had a good flow also, our server came at all the right times and took great care of us. Will be returning again soon to possibly catch their brunch menu! Plus the wallpaper in the women's restroom was adorable.
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Erica C.

Yelp
Great spot for date night! This is a very vibey, trendy restaurant with great food and service. Everything we ate was delicious but some standouts I would get again are the pork belly slider and the lamb bolognese. The other dishes were also very tasty but nothing you can't get anywhere else in my opinion. The drinks were also a highlight with a creative bar menu and friendly bartenders. Ours were so good we ordered them twice! Definitely recommend trying out at night if you're in the area.
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Kathleen A.

Yelp
We went on opening night so my review should be read with that in consideration. I really like what they've done with the interior - removed the old middle bar and created a lot more open space. The decor is cute and it had a good nighttime vibe. We ordered the prosciutto bruschetta for a starter and while good, it really could've benefitted from more cheese or sauce as it was too dry with too large of a bread to prosciutto ratio. We had the gnocchi and steak for our mains. The steak came out a bit cold but after a reheat it was better. The flavor on it was amazing so again, chalking up the temperature to being opening night. Service was a little slow though there was a lot of staff. I'm giving an optimistic 4 stars with the thought that the details that weren't as good will be worked out with time. I plan to return to get a better sense of my final rating!
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Aileen C.

Yelp
Vibes and food are on point here. Definitely a spot to enjoy the space, great for a cute date night or girls night. We ordered the Argentinian steak, beets salad, and carbonara pasta and it was all so good. I highly recommend the carbonara pasta! Drinks hit the spot too! Service was pretty fast and they were attentive. We went on a Saturday with no reservations and were seated quickly. I can't wait to come back to try the rest of the menu.
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Kelly R.

Yelp
Such a fun and whimsical vibe inside! They have an extensive menu combining Argentinian and Italian flavors. Definitely recommend ordering the smokin with passion cocktail. This was a perfect combination of smokiness and sweetness and one of my favorite mezcal drinks I have had. The lamb bolognese was delicious and the bone marrow was a great deal! Highly recommend coming here with a group of friends and trying a bunch of things on the menu.
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Dhanya J.

Yelp
The food was amazing - the alfredo pasta, gnocchi and lamb bolognese were all thoroughly enjoyed. The drinks were also super fun (organized into 4 "mood" categories) and the interior was super elegant and spacious. Loved the place and had a wonderful time at the opening - will definitely go back!
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Ruby C.

Yelp
Came here for dinner on a Saturday night since we were in the area and we walked in around 7pm without a reservation. We were told to wait upstairs and the host will come get us in about 5-10 minutes. After a while we went back down and it seemed like the host completely forgot about us, after that she seated us. I ordered the summer martini to start and it was pretty good! It had a mini ice bath to sit in so it stayed cold. My boyfriend and I ordered the half dozen baked oysters, gnocchi, and carbonara. The oysters are a must get they taste so fresh and were baked to the perfect doneness! The carbonara was okay it lacked some salt or any depth of flavor, but the gnocchi was really good and a must order here. I would say the service here is on the slower side since it would take a while to flag down our server. Overall the vibe of the restaurant is nice and I would come back to try out some of their other items.
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Daylson R.

Yelp
The decor is super cool, tropical, and unique. We got half a rack of grilled lamb chops and midnight pasta. Both were to die for! It's a new place, and the service was a bit slow, but it was worth it.
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T J.

Yelp
Great ambiance. Charming decor. Pleasant service. Food and drinks were just not up to par; except the arancini which was delicious. The tomatoes on the caprese salad were rock hard. Had the midnight pasta, gnocci, carbonara, Spaghetti & meatballs. All dishes were bland. No pepper offered on salads or mains. I think if they offered fresh ground pepper and/or grated cheese to salads and mains, it would help. Husband requested hot sauce to give the midnight pasta a little flavor, which ended up being Tabasco. Not a great accompanyment. All of the cocktails ordered were too bitter. Returned one and the replacement was much better. Overall, not one person in our group of 4 would choose to return.
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sol a.

Yelp
I am Argentinian and Italian and I don't think this restaurant is a fusion of this two countries Empanadas were all right and the pana cota was excellent. Everything else can improve. The meat portion is very small and pricy for how it taste. I do a better mash potatoes at home. I don't think is worth the hype. There are places way better in SF. Don't waste time or money
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amy T.

Yelp
The wallpaper is gorgeous. The drink menu is fun. I had the Loveless which tasted like an orange creamsicle. So yummy! Arancini was great, but there was a lot of sauce on the bottom of the dish and no bread or anything to eat it with. Our server told us there were four balls. They were good. Not necessary to tell us the ball count. I had the octopus salad. It was ok, but the only seasoning was salt. Those are the three stars. The two sweet hosts sat us right away without a reservation. Awesome table and great to feel that we can walk to dinner and grab a super seat just right for us. The lack of stars goes to our server who was so overwhelmed or just busy. He couldn't tell us what things were on the menu and says he would ask and disappeared for so long we needed to ask someone else for water. He returned to take our order and disappeared until dropping the check which we asked for. Again he walked by and asked if he gave us the bill that he was carrying around in his apron with our credit card. I just was underwhelmed by our server. On a street that has so many choices, the service really needs to step up. If your servers are in the weeds, help them. Our server told us he was sorry because he just got two large parties.
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Jessie S.

Yelp
Morella is the newest restaurant in SF Marina! What an amazing and fun space. Everything from the food to the service to the atmosphere was top notch. Our server was amazing they were super friendly and helpful. For food we got the picanha steak, broiled oysters, fries, braised short rib pasta, and octopus. My favorite was def the steak and octopus but everything was delicious. Would definitely recommend you checking the new place out!

Elizabeth H.

Yelp
Amazing atmosphere and interior design, and nice service, but the food wasn't really good. We got a beet salad, octopus salad, fried zucchini, midnight pasta, and two of the sausages and the sausages were the best thing. Everything else was bland and nothing special. We all felt sick later that night and the next morning with upset stomachs. Wouldn't go back there for food again.
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Sabreen B.

Yelp
Such a great addition to the marina and chestnut area! Vibey bar and decor is picture perfect with amazing drinks and food to back it up. Service was attentive, my water cup was never empty and for a new restaurant everyone is on top of it. This will be in my regular drinks and dinner rotation for either a girls night out, date night, or a nicer dinner where I can bring my parents. I think bar seating is lively to pop in for drinks and then dining for a more intimate setting. Menu highlights: Empanadas Prosciutto bruschetta Scallops Short rib and steak Mashed potatoes and broccoli for sides Crab ravioli and gnocchi Literally every single cocktail you can't go wrong with but spritzs, refreshing Negroni, and espresso martini are stand outs Bonus is all the fun wallpapers especially in the restrooms!
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Kimberly I.

Yelp
From interior, food to service I'm giving it 11 out of 10! It did not disappoint me!! You know it's a good steak when you don't need a sauce for it!!!! Perfect for a girls night out and date night! Ribeye is a perfection!
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Kathy T.

Yelp
Excellent food and service. I also loved the new renovations done. I would highly recommend reservations as it is very popular.
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Matt L.

Yelp
I was really excited to try Morella, given all the hype, but sadly, it did not live up to expectations. Service: We sat for 15 minutes before anyone came to our table. We were just about to flag someone down when a waiter finally arrived, apologized for the delay, and offered us fries to make up for it. That seemed like a nice gesture--until we got the bill and realized they charged us $20 for the fries ($12 + $8 for truffle). Food: * Burger: Inedibly salty. My partner couldn't even finish it. * Caprese Salad: Extremely underwhelming. A couple of pieces of lettuce, 4 halved cherry tomatoes, and some random Barbara cheese? Not what I expected for a caprese. * Bolognese Pasta: This was okay but definitely not worth the price. Atmosphere: The one redeeming quality is that the space is cute inside, but honestly, it wasn't enough to salvage the experience. Overall, I left disappointed, frustrated, and feeling like I wasted both my time and money. I wanted to love Morella, but this was not it.
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Sandra K.

Yelp
So me and my girls came here for Galentine's dinner and we all got dressed up. It's rare to find a pretty reasonably priced nicer restaurant with great vibes! The food was excellent and we had the sweetest server, Olga! She matched our vibes and gave great service! She took pics of us when we asked and she gave us excellent recs - she even came over and put coffee beans in us for our espresso martinis! Overall there's a great selection of food - I particularly loved the beets and hemp seed salad and the carbonara! Would go again :)
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Jaime B.

Yelp
The service was great, but the food left a lot to be desired as it was very hit or miss and the portions were more like tapas-- very small portions. The bad: We ordered the 14 ounce steak, it was 6-8 ounces at most. Because it was on the menu as 14 ounces, we ordered it to split but when it arrived we couldn't believe how small the portion was of steak for the cost. The menu should be updated to remove 14oz from the description. The creamed spinach was very bland. The duck sausage had great plating but the taste was off. Our drinks were ok, not great. None of us were thrilled with our cocktails. We were a large group celebrating two birthdays and the waitress offered a free dessert to each but then once we ate them, told us she was only able to do one for free after her manager told her only one per table. So, that would have been important to know in advance. They also got one dessert wrong. The good: the yuca was amazing-- we ordered multiple. The lobster ravioli was delicious, although it only was 4 raviolis on the plate. I also loved the beet salad. The oysters were fresh and flavorful. The great: service was wonderful. We had a beautiful table and the decor is super nice. Even though the steak and ravioli were tiny portions, the taste was delicious. We left pretty hungry, including the women in our group.
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Nui N.

Yelp
Went there for my 6 years old stepson's birthday! This is the old spot of Circa and Dorian back in the day! Great space and the new remodeling just stunning! I didn't expect the food and drinks to be this great! Come out of a surprise. We have a nice booth which is prefect for a family with small kids. Our waitress is very friendly and sweet! She's very patient with us and very attentive! Forgot her name! Definitely will come back with a group of girlfriends or date night! J like that their cocktail not over sweet and again food just amazing!
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Emma M.

Yelp
Tried this the other night- delicious! Started with some oysters and calamari. For the lamb chop and garlic broccolini- delicious! Great vibe and atmosphere, perfect for SF! Looking forward to trying more of the menu.

Andrea V.

Yelp
Dinner for six. Service appalling. After 15 minutes of waiting for a waiter to take our drink order before dinner the hostess suggested it would be faster to grab our own drinks at the bar and take them to our dinner table. The bartender graciously bought them to the table. The server was hopeless, had no idea on any type of fine dining. The whole service experience was so bad it felt like a comedy. The food was not good. The empanada fillings except for the beef were dry. The alfajores were anything else but Argentine alfajores. The place was very loud even though it has high ceilings very bad acoustic. We could not hear ourselves talk. Avoid the booth at the left of the entrance of the restaurant. The booth is very uncomfortable and cold by the entrance. We made a reservation weeks before and were seated at a booth by the bar area. Fairly expensive. Not returning anytime soon.
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Nereyda C.

Yelp
Made a reservation for 9:30p. Showed up at 9:20 and was asked to wait; understandably. We did and hostess proceeded to sit everyone else coming in after us. At 9:50 my husband went to check with the hostess who said we could be seated right away.... Sketchy but sure. Waiter started overwhelmed. From what we noticed he was serving about 3-5 tables. He yapped nonsense then excused himself to later return and try again at which point he asked if we could order apps, entrees, drinks, dessert all at once. Seemed very flustered, chaotic and unorganized. We were having a date night out without kids so we were not in a rush but clearly he was. Ordered the steak medium. He repeated medium rare? Clarified with him medium. Steak came out medium rare. At this point expectations were non existent. Never got water refilled. Asked for boxes to go for sauces that come with empanadas x 3. Never brought. Food was alright. Nothing mind blowing. But we only had a Cesar salad, steak and empanadas. Steak empanada was ground beef; unseasoned, bland. Drinks are fine. Overall experience mediocre at best for a bill over $180. There's too much competition in this neighborhood to settle for mediocre. Waiter could have changed the overall experience but made it worse. Who asks for the entire order to be placed up front? Never again.
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Brigid M.

Yelp
Cute interior setting in the new spot where the Dorian was previously. Enjoyed the Lamb Bolognese- hearty portion and good flavor. The have a large menu and plenty of decently priced wines. We ordered the truffle fries to start- large portion. But prefer regular fries. Friend like the Rabbit Sausage the best out of the ones she tried.

Jhoany C.

Yelp
Came here with friends and the environment there was great, pretty calm with some sport games on. Servers were pretty nice and attentive. Asking us how we doing and if we need anything else. For food, my friends and I tried - Prosciutto bruschetta 10/10 really good flavor for starter - Beef empanadas 10/10 + the sauce - Carbonara (my favorite of all) 10/10 especially if you are craving for pasta - Lamb Bolognese 7/10 (I'm not really fan of lamb meat but my friends wanted to try it hahaha and they loved it ) - Argentinian Picanha Steak 8/10 -Yuca fries 10/10. 11/10 with the steak sauce - Broccolini 10/10 the taste was good and if you need more veggies on your plate, this is a good side to add - Beets and Hemps Salad 9/10 I think if there is a splash of lemon juice, I might have love it Cocktails I recommend trying the -Messi Mojito 11/10. We didn't expect that it is a froze mojito drink and it was also a good size. -Give me a Melon reason 10/10 contains kombucha and i like kombucha ‍‍ -Funky Flamingo 7/10 the flavor wasn't strong so if you are looking for a light cocktail, I think this cocktail would have been good. Desserts - Arroz con leche 7/10 because I know how i like my arroz con leche but if you are looking for something not so sweet, this is a good dessert for you to try in a cold weather. I wasn't expecting to be a warm dessert either. - Cannoli 8/10 filling tasted pretty good. I think it is like a lime custard but I am not sure. - Alfajores 8/10 a bit dry but whipped cream helped -Vanilla Gelato was a good combo for the alfajores too This was just few dishes we tried and of course this is just my opinion. Definitely coming back to try other dishes!
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gina t.

Yelp
Good vibes, good service, beautifully designed restaurant l. Wasn't a big fan of the porchetta sliders but would go back for the drinks and vibes

Lily C.

Yelp
I thought the service was spectacular! We had a birthday group of 14 there and had really timely service. The food was great too, I got the bolognese and it was delicious.
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Soran M.

Yelp
Attention management: - increase staffing, especially in cocktail section - don't have a seat right in front of the door which blasts cool air onto your customers - don't double/triple seat your waitstaff back-to-back. Creates a bottle neck at every stage of the process (staff, drinks, food) - cocktail seats, and table are cheap and wobbly, invest in nicer furniture. If the owner is reading this, you need to be hands on and run a tighter ship. It all starts with the leader at the top. This 4-star doesn't reflect my experience, but I want you to succeed, so I'm giving you the criticism that you may not want to hear, but need to hear.