Specchio in the Mission to Become Piattini

[Photo: Rose Garrett]

After five years in business, Specchio Ristorante will be getting a new name and new concept, going from a more traditional Italian restaurant to a spot focused on Italian-inspired small plates. Now called Piattini, the restaurant has changed ownership but will continue to operate under the management of chef Gino Assaf, who hails from Venice and says the changes were inspired by a recent trip to Italy.

Nestled between Dr. Teeth and the shuttered Charanga on Mission Street, the new Piattini will have a renewed focus on the bar, with an expanded cocktail menu including new drinks like the Camerino (grappa, orange juice, prosecco and rhubarb bitters) and Rosmarino (gin, pomegranate liqueur, lime and rosemary), plus a modest extension of the bar area.

The new menu will be divided into fish, meat and starter small plates, featuring dishes like fresh burrata with Parma ham and olives, mussels with cannellini beans, and wild boar and eggplant meat balls in spicy tomato sauce. Some familiar entrees like the pork chop and fried pumpkin ravioli will carry over from the Specchio menu, but the old pasta dishes have been dropped in the shuffle. Pizza, albeit in smaller, personal pie sizes, will still be on offer. (See the new menu here, though it's still got the old name attached.)

The name change has already taken place, but Assaf will complete the makeover by putting up the new Piattini sign within the next few days, so look out for a new face on Mission Street shortly.

· Carsons En Route to Former Charanga Space [~ ESF ~]
· Is The Mission Ready For Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem? [~ ESF ~]