54 Mint

54 Mint Restaurant Review:

This restaurant, salumeria and wine bar from the team behind New York's Il Buco is actually located at 16 Mint, on renovated Mint Plaza, a strip of space directly behind San Francisco’s Old Mint. The interior features brick walls, most of which are painted white, gleaming sealed concrete floors and sleek stainless steel chandeliers. Shelves stocked with imports such as olive oil, vinegar and sea salt add homey rusticity to the otherwise spotless and sparse environs highlighted by a long marble-topped bar and an appealing outdoor patio. Guests who enjoy the fine plates of assorted chorizo, pancetta, prosciutto and other house-cured meats can purchase the salumi retail. Pasta dishes are also successful --- gnocchi with a meat ragù is simple yet luscious. Wines are exclusively Italian, with the majority of the reds hailing from Piemonte, with a separate list devoted to Super Tuscans. Desserts include the requisite tiramisu and flourless chocolate cake, while panna cotta drizzled with aged balsamic adds an interesting choice to the mix. 54 Mint has a second location in Concord, and a casual pizza eatery (54 Mint - Il Forno) in Walnut Creek.