Ducca

(SoMa)
50 Third St.  
415-977-0271 Map it
www.duccasf.com

$$$
Italian
bar scene, breakfast, business lunch, dine at the bar, fine dining, hotel, open 7 days, outdoor dining, private dining or party space, valet parking

SCENE: It’s official: Hotel dining has taken a turn for the better. Ducca, which dominates the first floor of the Westin San Francisco Market Street, still has that something–for–everyone hotel dining vibe (a huge outdoor patio and a leather–couch–filled lounged for cocktails, a capacious dining room for more “serious” meals), but it’s stylist enough to draw locals in addition to the expected crowd of hotel guests.

EATS: The finest moments in Ducca’s dining room occur when the kitchen goes rustic. Its version of arancini is among the best in the city, and the gorgonzola–stuffed fried olives make perfect cocktail companions. Skip the corn–filled ravioli in favor of the robust tagliatelle with a hearty lamb sugo, and make a point to order the classic chicken arrosto, a crisp–skinned triumph set atop rich mascarpone polenta. A calssic panna cotta is redefined with a layer of espresso gelée and a spoonful of chocolate granita; a buttery almond cake, topped with roasted seasonal fruit, make another strong case for ordering dessert.