Penny Roma

"Penny Roma is the sister restaurant of Flour + Water, but it’s a bit more casual and serves more traditional Italian dishes like lasagna bolognese, agnolotti dal plin, and chicken al mattone. They still have Flour + Water’s DNA, though—so it should come as no surprise that the housemade pastas are always boiled to a textbook al dente, and well-coated in sauces you’ll want to sop up entirely with a hunk of focaccia. This plant-filled Mission spot also has great crudos and small plates that you should get for the table and enjoy with a glass of wine in hand." - julia chen 1, lani conway

"The sister spot from the Flour + Water team focuses on more traditional Italian pasta dishes, like bolognese and cacio e pepe. And you should expect nothing less than al dente perfection from this overachieving offspring. If it’s on the menu, get the rigatoni all’amatriciana—the slightly spicy tomato sauce and guanciale snuggled inside the pasta tubes gush out with every bite." - julia chen 1, lani conway, patrick wong

"From the folks at Flour + Water, Penny Roma specializes in Roman pasta served in a heated courtyard in the Mission outfitted with a retractable roof and lush plants. Dishes from other regions in Italy complete the menu, from crudos to a 32-ounce bone-in ribeye with bone marrow salsa verde. The easy-to-understand wine list features Californian and Italian bottles broken down into natural and classic categories." - Lauren Saria, Dianne de Guzman

"When it comes to siblings, there’s always one over-achiever—just imagine how Seth Curry feels. Penny Roma, the sister restaurant of San Francisco’s Pasta-Hall-of-Famer, Flour + Water, has a lot to live up to, especially considering it also serves pasta, and is also located in the Mission. But even with a high bar to meet, Penny Roma very much stands on its own. The biggest similarity between the two restaurants is that noodles are the main focus—but that’s just about all they have in common. At Flour + Water, you’ll see daily-changing Cal-Ital pastas like triangoli with huckleberry and mint, or spaghetti with salmon and uni. But at Penny Roma, the dishes lean more traditional Italian—so if you’re looking for somewhere to dive into a bowl of meat sauce, this is your place. The menu also doesn’t rotate as often, with dishes like crudos and seared trout or chicken al mattone for mains. photo credit: Erin Ng The entrées are good, but you should try as many of the noodles that have been twisted, rolled, and folded into perfect little shapes next door at the appropriately-named Flour + Water Pasta Shop. Some of the small plates should also be prioritized. The amberjack crudo and tomato salad are fantastic, as is the cake-like focaccia, which is great for soaking up any extra sauce. There are no out-of-the-box flavor combinations at Penny Roma—just simple pastas that will make you feel like you’ve packed all your belongings, hopped on a plane, and touched down in the Italian countryside. Even though you’re actually just in the Mission, the dining room’s high ceilings, skylights, and fountain trickling away in the entryway will feel like an escape from the outside world. That's only one reason why you’ll see couples tucked into corner tables on a date night, families grabbing dinner on a Monday, or groups of friends celebrating a birthday over wine and plates of prosciutto. The other is that Penny Roma is easier to get a reservation than at its restaurant sibling. If you’re familiar with Flour + Water, think of Penny Roma as the more casual (but still impressive) version, with great pastas that require little explanation. Food Rundown photo credit: Erin Ng Amberjack Crudo Sometimes this crudo is made with hamachi, and sometimes it’s amberjack. But regardless of what you end up with, the fish will be incredibly fresh and complement the high-quality olive oil it’s bathing in perfectly. The little bits of jalapeño and radish brighten the whole thing up. Prosciutto San Danielle Slices of pear are buried underneath a blanket of prosciutto. This dish will make you wish you were one of those slices of Shinko pear. Get this for the table to share. photo credit: Erin Ng Tortelloni di Zucca Our favorite pasta on the menu. The roasted squash filling and brown butter sauce are silky smooth, and each bite is more comforting than getting tucked into bed with a heated, weighted blanket. photo credit: Erin Ng Tagliatelle Alla Bolognese An excellent version of a classic. The meaty sauce is tender and flavorful, and clings to the noodles really nicely. photo credit: Erin Ng Agnolotti dal Plin These juicy pork and beef-filled pillows are served in a fragrant sugo d’arrosto that you’ll want to wipe up every last bit of—that’s where the focaccia comes in. Leave no sauce behind. photo credit: Erin Ng Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe We’ve had highs and lows with this cacio e pepe. When it’s good, it’s really good—creamy, well-executed, a love letter to pepper. Other times, it’s bland. Half Chicken al Mattone Like we said, come here for the pasta. But if you really want a bigger entrée on the table, this lemon-y chicken is a great option. Crispy Brussels Sprouts It’s pretty rare for us to leave a restaurant thinking about the brussels sprouts, but it happens here. The buds are packed with a deep sweetness thanks to caramelized onions. And consider this our petition to replace all chips with the crispy parmesan pieces that come with this dish." - Julia Chen

"Penny Roma is the younger sibling restaurant to the certified Cal-Ital pasta icon, Flour + Water. But despite having a lot to live up to, the Mission spot holds its own by focusing on traditional-leaning dishes that might convince you to buy a one-way ticket to a countryside villa somewhere in Italy. The fresh, handmade pastas change from time to time—if it's on the menu, the pillow-like agnolotti dal plin is a must-order, as is the tortelloni with a roasted squash filling that tastes like fall in a spoon. Sip on some wine as you contemplate the pros and cons of booking that flight. " - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez