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"Guests who manage to wedge themselves into one of 1550 Hyde's 42 coveted seats find that what the spare, mostly candlelit
restaurant lacks in floor space, it makes up for in outsize wine bargains. "I'd rather have wine go out the door than
sit on the shelf," says Kent Liggett, who co-owns 1550 Hyde along with chef Peter Erickson. The restaurant scrapped its
original "40 wines under $40" concept, partly because Liggett found that diners couldn't be talked into ordering
bargains, but the 140-bottle list still has a center of gravity in the mid-$30 range. Split between California and Europe
(France, Italy and Spain), it complements the food from Chef Peter Erickson. His Californian-Mediterranean menu features superfresh,
seasonal, organic dishes that change daily"
San Francisco Chronicle
"Owners Peter Erickson, the cook, and Kent Liggett, the sommelier and front-of-the-house expert, have poured their hearts,
souls and extensive restaurant experience into this charming storefront, one of the best places to open in 2003. They've continued
to draw a crowd, thanks to Erickson's rustic take on American food and Liggett's keen matching ability."
"Erickson's 1550 Hyde shoehorns about two dozen tables and a stand-up wine bar into a double storefront on the Hyde Street
cable-car line. From his cramped kitchen, the chef issues high quality California cuisine with wine-friendly Italian and southern
French leanings. The delicate sweetness of pea tendrils balances grease-free fried oysters that spurt their juices when bitten.
A rabbit fricassee, falling from the bone, gets a welcome lift from balsamic vinegar.
Erickson's partner, Kent Liggett, presides over a list of some 125 wines. In addition to a few big-ticket Chardonnays
and Cabernet Sauvignons, such as Ridge Monte Bello Santa Cruz Mountains 1999 ($120), there are plenty of Sauvignon Blancs,
Pinot Noirs, Syrahs and smart choices from Spain, Italy, the Rhône and Oregon. A fine example is Nora Albariño Rias Baixas
2002 ($28). Judging by the prices-most bottles sell for less than $50-and the program of tasting flights, Liggett wants to
share his enthusiasm. On a recent visit, we could try three glasses of different producers' Pinot Noirs from Sleepy Hollow,
a Santa Lucia Highlands vineyard, for $14."
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"A charming neighborhood restaurant that's worth a drive from yours. The short but generally reliable menu (about seven
starters, about the same number of main courses) features seasonal California cooking with a Mediterranean influence, complemented
by a thoughtful and interesting wine list. Impeccable fresh salads, luscious ricotta gnocchi, carefully cooked flesh and fish
sided by unusual vegetables (such as parsnip purée and broccoli rabe paired with roast chicken), and very good desserts (we
love the chocolate pot de crème and the rich carrot cake, as well as the terrific cheese plate) lure you to linger at the
antique marble cafe tables in snug storefront rooms lit with golden candlelight."
"I'm not sure which is more memorable from my visit to 1550 Hyde, the glass of Aglianico I was given to sample, or the
sweetbreads with fava beans. Ultimately it's this conflict that made the whole dinner an extremely pleasurable experience,
the menu and the wine list are treated as equal players in the meal.
The small, comfortable dinning room reminded me of a favorite childhood home in one of Seattle's residential neighborhoods,
open rooms with white walls and simple, tailored, gray wainscoting. The minimalist décor is given a splash of color from the
glowing amber bar, matching amber shadow box sconces, and the four-foot flower arrangement at the end of the bar."
1550hyde@earthlink.net
1550 Hyde St.
San Francisco, CA 94109
415-775-1550
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