Description
Tucked behind the Old Mint in a charming bit of downtown urban renewal is this small, stylish Italian restaurant in SOMA. 54 Mint features the lusty, full-flavored cooking of Sicily: bucatini with fresh sardines, fennel, and raisins; baccala (cod fish croquettes); and arancini (deep-fried rice balls flavored with saffron). The silky potato gnocchi served with a hearty meat ragu are irresistible. Desserts include a flourless chocolate cake chunky with almonds, and panna cotta splashed with aged balsamic vinegar. There's a long marble-topped bar where you can sample the almost-all-Italian wine list. The outdoor tables on the plaza are pleasant at lunch.
