Last Tuesday evening a friend and I indulged in cava, white wines and nouveau Catalonian temptations at Contigo in Noe Valley. Our server was knowledgeable and well versed on the traditional and "improved" Catalonian and Spanish gastronomies.
Prior to our meal we enjoyed both a white wine and cava flight as our he versed us on the ancient cava making process. We both agreed that the German Gilabert cava and the Bodegas As Laxas white wine were the best.
As for the main course, the chef has taken the best from Catalonian cuisine and modernized the flavors. Our favorite dish was the calamares a la plancha. I would go back just to sip on Bodegas As Laxas and savor the sauteed calamari.
I give this restaurant two pomegranates for authenticity: There are some plates that are traditional from Catalonia and others that have preserved the traditional Mediterranean ingredients of Catalonia and Spain in general, but are their own amalgam. Most importantly, the owner is Catalan and has hired servers who speak Spanish.
Our server was more than happy to engage in both languages.The restaurant fills up, so get there early (or park it at the bar while you wait while enjoying your own wine or cava flight).
1320 Castro Street
San Francisco, CA 94114
415.285.0250
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