Delicious? Yes. Relaxing? Let me get back to you on that.
There's always a line at Delfina, and that nice couple sipping wine by the hostess station is praying you don't order dessert. Avert your eyes, order the chocolate cake, and hope next time it's not you waiting 20 to 30 minutes past the assigned hour of your reservation.

The changeable menu is sometimes less Italian/Mediterranean than you might expect, featuring Niman Ranch steak and pork. It's all elegantly presented (that is, the plates are elegant; the waitstaff is tattooed) and delightfully flavored, subtle without being pretentious. The wine list suits the food without being excessively confusing or snooty.

Service can, however, be slow. Tightly spaced tables make it easy to decide to have "what he's having" but prevent conversational privacy. And it's all very loud. Go -- but recognize that everyone else will be there too.    [22 Jun 2003 15:00:10]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Calamari/white bean salad; chocolate cake.

     ­Anonymous   

Top quality spectacular food, but too crowded!
I cannot rave enough about some of the food items at Delfina. For me the best bet is to order 304 appetizers and skip the main course. The grilled sardines are spectacular. Anything with fava beans has been perfection. The pastas are OK, but not on par with the rest of the items. The big drawback to Delfina - it is simply too noisy and crowded. This is not a place to sit back and savor your food. Service can be slow (but very friendly and knowledgeable).    [31 Jan 2005 13:18:48]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: sardines, fresh seasonal vegetable appetizers

     ­Anonymous