Via Aurelia
Restaurant · Mission Bay ·
Tuscan fine dining featuring bistecca, wild game, seafood, pasta
Tuscan fine dining featuring bistecca, wild game, seafood, pasta
"Not only the crown jewel of the Giants' Mission Rock development, this fine-dining Tuscan restaurant from Back Home Hospitality opened in September 2025 and pairs sweeping views of the water and ballpark with a gorgeous, warm room by Jon de la Cruz of DLC-ID. The menu changes with the season, but I can't miss the sformato - an Italian custard that really sings with the season's vegetables; a standout version arrived with Brentwood corn soup poured around the custard under a Parmigiano foam. For pasta, both the tortelli mugellani (potato-filled, served over a layer of ragu with a luxurious punch of Parmigiano espuma) and the tortellini di formaggio (topped with a beautifully symmetrical, hole-filled Parmigiano-Reggiano crisp - trypophobia warning - and a nice, light tomato-based sauce) are standouts. I regret to inform diners watching their credit card statements that the bistecca served with jus is one of the best steaks I've had in town, with options like a 32-ounce American wagyu porterhouse ($190), 29-ounce American wagyu T-bone, or 25-ounce wagyu New York strip ($145). It's best for classy date nights, special occasions, or show-off client dinners, though the bar and lounge also work for a cocktail and a pasta; there's no official dress code, but people get reasonably dressed up (no sweats or athleisure in sight). Insider tip: there's both a la carte and a five-course tasting menu for $155, plus an optional $95 wine pairing, and the wine list will delight Italian wine fanatics with bottles from Tuscany, Umbria, Campania, and Sicily alongside options from California, France, Germany, and Austria." - Dianne de Guzman
"I can experience Via Aurelia in San Francisco, an ambitious fine‑dining restaurant from local chef David Nayfeld generating buzz in the city's reopened culinary scene." - Arati Menon, Megan Spurrell
"The Che Fico team’s fine-dining venture sings the praises of Tuscan cooking in a softer, Jon de la Cruz–designed space, with hearty pastas and a seasonal menu highlighting bistecca alla Fiorentina and lesser-known seafood options." - Paolo Bicchieri
"A fine-dining Tuscan showcase from the Che Fico team, this Mission Rock restaurant leans refined and elegant rather than abrasive, dressed in soft yellows, blues, and greens and set against views of China Basin Park, the Bay, and Oracle Park. Chef David Nayfeld and partner Matt Brewer explore both classics and lesser-known regional dishes: bistecca alla Fiorentina rendered as an American wagyu porterhouse and panzanella; hearty pastas like pappardelle with wild boar ragù and pici all’aglione built on a seven-hour heirloom tomato sauce; and a seasonal sformato di funghi with a chanterelle custard veiled in pecorino Toscano, Brentwood corn soup, and a rim of Parmigiano foam—a monochromatic “moment of exploration” that still prioritizes deliciousness. From the coastline influence come line-caught black cod with braised leeks and potatoes and raw plates inspired by colatura di alici, including tatara di tonno made from chopped dry-aged bluefin tuna belly seasoned with Tuscan tamari, finished with trout roe and shaved cuore di tonno. The menu shifts with the seasons—game like duck and wild boar paired with fruit in the fall, more seafood in winter, and spring’s suckling pig and vegetables. Alongside à la carte, a five- to seven-course tasting runs $155 with optional pairings, supported by a 650-selection wine list heavy on vintage Tuscany and Italy with additions from France and California under wine director Jason Alexander. Designed with Jon de la Cruz (DLC-ID) and curated by Marisa Gray (Tableau Gray)—including a Windy Chien knot piece evoking Florence’s skyline and custom ceramic lamps and plateware—it reads as “refined cuisine, but not pretentious,” the sort of place for weekly dinners as well as anniversaries, with an all-weather patio and OpenTable reservations." - Dianne de Guzman
"Mission Rock will soon have a sit-down Italian restaurant in Via Aurelia, a Tuscan spot from theChe Ficoteam. The menu will include lots of seafood, seasonal vegetables, and Tuscan wines." - Julia Chen