Cucina Sa - San Anselmo

I dropped by for a snack and a cocktail during happy hour. The $10 specials were ideal for a pre-dinner treat. The kitchen offers a limited selection from the happy hour menu, but you can enjoy drinks and small bites until the full menu opens at 5 pm. The service was excellent, and the drinks were delicious, pairing nicely with the small plates. Don't miss out on the Buffalo cauliflower! It was crispy, spicy, and tangy, especially with the blue cheese sauce—this dish will have you loving your vegetables. The patio was a delightful spot for people-watching, and our dog was happy to be provided with a bowl of water. There's truly something for everyone here!

The food at Cucina is perfectly solid Italian, but ultimately, given the price tag, the meal isn't quite on par with the overall upscale setting. The service is excellent and the space is charming but the kale salad and zucchini appetizer both fell short. While Parmesan is always welcome, the flavors are fairly one dimensional and rely solely on salt to get the job done. Though the cuisine wasn't a smash, the experience itself was appealing.

The food here is consistently delicious, service is friendly, and any atmosphere you'd like available (outdoor, bar area, intimate inside seating). I particularly like the caprese and the tartare.

We tried this place for brunch. From the moment we walked in it was terrible. We waited an unusually long period for drinks. When the solo waiter returned, we had some questions about the menu due to dietary restrictions. Both the waiter and the kitchen staff did not know the answers to any of our questions regarding the food menu. We had a direct view of the kitchen from our table and could hear the conversation about our food questions between the waiter and kitchen staff. After listening to their conversation where neither of them knew the answers, we watched the kitchen staff sneeze multiple times in the food prep area. At that point we opted to pay for our drinks and leave. The waiter was also not friendly or welcoming.

I absolutely love the atmosphere here, and the service is consistently excellent. The various seating areas, both inside and outside, really enhance the experience. The food is generally great, especially the pastas and desserts like the almond cake, though the quality can vary from night to night. On a recent visit, which wasn’t very busy, some of the arancini and side vegetables were served lukewarm. Nevertheless, it remains a neighborhood favorite.