Insalata Owner Heidi Insalata Krahling began her white tablecloth restaurant career at Joyce Goldsteins iconic San Francisco restaurant, Square One. It would be hard to surpass enjoying the cuisines of the Mediterranean's southern shores at Insalata's. It goes like this: The folks at Insalata entered a lamb recipe into a contest sponsored by the American Lamb Board. Insalatas interior strikes the right note in recalling the colors and romance of the countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. 
Order Online The warm cake was more like a pudding than a dry cake, and was served in a bowl with a scoop of vanilla ice cream accompanied by spiced pears and a caramel sauce. Over ice with an orange twist, This is what a Mojito wants to be when it grows up! Guests are nicely dressed, and the tables are often made up of multi-generational families and friends. The rooms are spacious, with large, luscious paintings of fruits on the walls. In both of these wines, you can taste the proximity of land and sea on the palate. Copyright 1996-2022 GAYOT All Rights Reserved GAYOT (pronounced guy-OH) The Guide To The Good Life - All Rights Reserved - Terms of Use - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy. 
Well, just ask the staff. Hours: Over ice with an orange slice, Tito's Handmade Vodka Shaken with Fever Tree Ginger Beer over ice with Lime, St. George Botanivore Gin, Gran Classico, Carpano Punt E Mes, stirred and served up with an Orange Peel, Sazerac 6 year Rye, Peychaud & Angostura Bitters, seasoned with Kubler Absinthe and served with a twist, 209 Gin, Lemon Juice, Dram Honey & Chamomile Bitters. Gone was the paste of our past and in its place was a truly delicious, spicy, silky, garlicky, and peppery delight. 
The dish looked good, and from the sighs of the guests it must have been wonderful. How does anyone navigate a list this complex? "This wine is medium in body with rich, ripe cherry fruit, supple in texture with hints of leather and pepper spice that complement and seduce the many flavors of this dish, from the earth of the lamb and the bite of the peppers and eggplant in the pepperonata.".
At a restaurant named Insalata, how could we possibly skip the salad course? If a person's name is a food, I assume that they're good at making it. When dessert time approached, we took a look around and realized that we were surrounded by tables awash in plates of Smorsetto, which is the Insalata version of smores. How could this be hummus?
GAYOT presents the Wine of the Week, featuring tasting notes as well as history on the vineyards and winemaker. Very tropical, a bit herbaceous with a touch of orange peel flavor in the finish of the wine. Owner Heidi Insalata Krahling became interested in food as a child in a food-intensive Italian family. The San Anselmo lifestyle focuses on relaxed, healthy, family life; and a stroll through the center of town is a somewhat nostalgic walk past family-owned businesses and restaurants that are situated along the local creek. "This is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Viognier. Definitely will return here for al fresco dining. organic greens, prosciutto, pickled red onions, pinenuts, grana, balsamic vinaigrette, with Fresh Run Farm beets, blue cheese, sunflower seeds, crispy quinoa, with Skyhill Farms yogurt and seasonal fresh fruit, With crushed avocado, pancetta, fried eggs and chimichurri, two poached eggs, chive scones, spinach, wild mushrooms, smoked pork loin, lemon hollandaise, crispy potatoes, house corned beef, crispy potatoes, seasonal vegetables, two poached eggs, Dijon hollandaise, zatar, lemony greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, sumac onions, cumin yogurt, lemony lentils, Japanese eggplant, curried spinach, Turkish yogurt, couscous, sweet herbs, shallots, white wine, shoestring potatoes, buffalo mozzarella cheese, pesto aioli, housemade focaccia, potato chips, St. George "Terroir" Gin, Fresh Lime Juice, Diced Fresh Cucumber, Soda. Parker used all of that canvas to paint no more than eight persimmons, huge in scale, and opulent in shape and color. It was flavored with the spices of the Mediterranean, transforming the Ginger Cake into a rich and luscious finale. The tables are generously sized, the chairs are comfortable, and the murmur of dinner conversation flows around you softly. Food-wine pairing: Braised Lamb Shank with Roasted Summer Pepperonata and Sardinian Fregola ($19.95), paired with 2001 La Carraia Sangiovese, Umbria, Italy ($24). ", Wine chef has with her meal: 2001 Luna Pinot Grigio ($31). Recently had dinner where we shared great starter salads (mista with prosciutto, fattoush with feta,) followed by a tasty (though a tad chewy,) bavette steak with perfectly grilled vegetables and a lamb aushak, (ricotta and eggplant filled pasta that was delightfully smoky, topped Cuisines: Asian, Mediterranean, Caterers, Greek, Family Style, Take Out, Fast Food, Italian, European, Middle Eastern, Continental, Kientz Hall - 625 San Anselmo Ave, San Anselmo, Julie's Hummus Bar & Grill - 1026 Court St, San Rafael, Kababbq Grill & Caf - 555 Francisco Blvd E, San Rafael, 120 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo, CA 94960, Valenti & Co. Ristorante - 337 San Anselmo Ave, D.G. Served over ice with a Grapefruit Twist, Inspired from Tom Colicchio and Sons' Restaurant in Manhattan. All Rights Reserved. Sparked by Middle Eastern flavors, the kitchen's specialties include velvety smooth potato-leek soup made brilliantly green from watercress pure. Having experienced our fair share of hummus-overload at friends dinner parties throughout the years, my dinner companion and I both had nothing but culinary scorn for hummus. Insalata's wine list takes spicy menu head-on, Jim Warren, sommelier at Insalata's restaurant in San Anselmo. We moved from the bar into the dining room and took a look at the wine list. "This white varietal from Spain and Portugal (where it's known as Alvarinho) is usually rich with apricot or citrus flavors. Krahling's cuisine has Italy at its roots. TableAgent.com. Beautifully presented and perfectly seasoned and flavorful. The Moroccan Lamb Tagine is a complicated recipe with a spice list that includes ginger, curry, coriander, cumin, cardamom, saffron, and cinnamon, plus lamb and another dozen or so ingredients ordering this dish in such a restaurant is the preferred alternative to tackling it at home. When dipped into their cilantro, cumin, and mint sauce, the Cigars were an unusual combination of crisp outer pastry accompanied by a spicy filling tempered by the mint sauce. 120 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo Dinner at Insalata is refreshing and relaxing as the knowledgeable staff will ensure that your wine selection will match the ambitions of Krahlings food. Astonished, I asked our waiter and, sure enough, it actually was hummus. ", Most underrated region: Sardinia. The restaurant information including the Insalata's menu items and prices may have been modified since the last website update. Insalata is a gracious, comfortable restaurant that specializes in the genuine flavors and spices of the Mediterranean region. ", Ratio: 56 percent domestic; 44 percent imported. 120 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo, CA 94960 Insalatas upscale setting is framed by lemon-yellow walls hung with grand depictions of natures bounty, setting the scene for an array of fresh and flavorful cuisine to come. Can scientists reverse Tahoe's worst environmental disaster? The restaurant has an ocher painted exterior covered with ivy. Bulgur is wheat that has been steamed, dried, and ground, and it has a slightly nutty flavor. Nice (if not a bit dated,) interiors but always filled lively ambiance. (415) 457-7700 Website The takeout area in the back is stocked with salads, sides and sandwiches made with house-baked bread. This tasty and refreshing salad got us ready for our entrees. But having decided that we wanted something other than chocolate, we tried the Ginger Pear Cake. Its spices meld seamlessly together; taste exotic with lamb; and result in sophisticated, wonderful comfort food. The sheltered entrance portico is complemented with weathered wood benches and a sparkling carriage house lantern to welcome all guests warmly. Also sample grilled lamb skewers drizzled with cumin-yogurt atop crunchy salad and flatbread. Copyright 2009 - 2022. Insalata has always searched out good, local, food sources and the chicken was so tender and flavorful that it reminded me of how good chicken can and should taste. Great service from waitfolks, bussers and host.
"Some of the indigenous grapes are beautiful, like Nuragus, a delicate and refreshing white with a citrusy scent, or the more rustic Monica, a rich and earthy red. The small, central bar that divides the dining room into smaller spaces was directly before us. The staff loves to drink it, Current passion: Syrah. Named for Krahlings father, Insalata has received honorable mentions from the Michelin and Zagat travel guides, and has earned its title as a Marin County Neighborhood Jewel. OpenMenu is not responsible for the accuracy of the information provided. San Anselmo restaurateur, Chef Heidi Krahling honors her late father, Italo Insalata, at this crowd-pleasing Marin hangout. RESTAURANTS: Best Outdoor Dining Restaurants. Current staff favorite: 2002 Wirra Wirra Vineyards "Scrubby Rise" Australian White Blend ($29). How lucky for diners that the art of the food at Insalata is equal to the art on the walls. Over ice, Patron Silver Tequila, Aperol, Fresh Lemon Juice. Templeton Rye Whisky, Antica Carpano Sweet Vermouth, Regan's Orange Bitters, Angostura Orange Bitters. All rights reserved. Chef-owner Heidi Krahling's Mediterranean fare is some of the most exciting in Marin County. The Insalata dining experience is a creative interpretation of Mediterranean cooking. I bring this up because of Insalata's, the San Anselmo restaurant. The zucca-orange stucco exterior alludes to the Mediterranean air within. Insalata has its own small parking lot and, should the lot be full, there is abundant free street parking within an easy walking distance to the restaurant. Service was almost perfect (they forgot one appetizer and one cocktail but it was for the best anyway! And order it you must, because it is delicious and unique. A real dinner gem in Marin county. Clean and fresh. Read the article and see photos. The wine has wonderful black cherry fruit, a bit of toasty vanilla with soft tannins. The service was so attentive and the room was quiet. Warren, 52, honed his wine skills at Joyce Goldstein's Square One in San Francisco for many years, another place that invoked all shores of the Mediterranean. The green swirl that topped the hummus tasted of garlic with a subtle pepper after-shock. The Yogurt-Marinated Chicken was topped with preserved lemons and watercress that tied the spices of the chicken together with the earthy flavors of the bulgur pilaf. It was then rolled, hence the name Cigar, and fried. Tam, Maker's Mark Bourbon shaken with lemon juice and sugar served over ice with a Syrah float, Aperol, Prosecco and a splash of soda. any two together: Panini of the Day, Chicken Fattoush, Soup of the Day, Roasted butternut squash, kale, pancetta, lemon & caciocavallo cheese, Pork shank and fennel sugo, wild mushrooms, parmesan reggiano cheese, thyme bread crumbs, lemony lentils, Japanese eggplant, curried spinach, turkish yogurt, tomato-pistachio relish, couscous, On a saffron corn chowder, haricot verts, fennel, basil and tomato chutney, manila clams, tomato, chorizo, grilled bread, rouille, lamb meatballs in spicy tomato shakshuka, manouri cheese, pickled chilies and housemade grilled flatbread, prosciutto, pickled red onions, pinenuts, grana padano cheese, balsamic vinaigrette, romaine, toasted pita, feta cheese, onions, cherry tomatoes, olives, cucumber, cilantro, mint, lemon vinaigrette, grilled baby artichokes, oven-roasted sweet 100's, arugula & tapenade, roasted butternut squash, kale, pancetta, lemon & caciocavallo cheese, pork shank and fennel sugo, wild mushrooms, parmesan reggiano cheese , thyme bread crumbs, of lemony lentils, Japanese eggplant, curried spinach, tomato-pistachio relish, Turkish yogurt, couscous, cannellini bean puree, pickled pepper relish, butternut squash, preserved lemon, shitake mushrooms, lime yogurt & pumpkin seeds, with quinoa corn cake, pistachio ginger skordalia, sauted kale & pear-quince chutney, with corn, jimmy nardello & padron peppers, maitake mushrooms & red wine jus, on a saffron corn chowder, haricot verts, fennel, basil and tomato chutney, on a lemon aioli with grilled squid, haricot verts, pickled trumpet mushrooms, croutons, pinenuts. "Heidi likes a full-flavored wine with a balanced acidity, like the richly textured wines of Friuli. The chick peas were smooth, comforting, and surprisingly flavorful. Check with the restaurant for accurate menus, menu items and information pertaining to the menu. We werent charged.). We tried the Syrian Fattoush Salad, just because I love to pronounce Fattoush. This was a crisp green salad that combined tiny cherry tomatoes, black olives, onions, and pieces of toasted pita bread (the Fattoush part) with herbs of cilantro and mint. The building that houses Insalata is a nod to an earlier, gentler time. So she literally had Italian food on her birth certificate.
", Most exciting wine by the glass: 2001 Ceja Sonoma County Vino de Casa Red Blend ($9.75) "This is a blend of Merlot, Pinot and Syrah, from third- generation grape farmers in Sonoma. Food was not your typical Mediterranean. A local gin, earthy & infused with the botanicals that thrive on Mt. It's extremely versatile, the best wine to complement Mediterranean dishes. 10 Cane Rum, Lime Juice, Mint Leaves, Angostora Bitters & Mumm Brut Prestige, served up with a lime peel. USD It was served on a bed of bulgur and almond pilaf, which was a robust complement to the heartiness of the chicken. It's probably shortsighted of me, but when a restaurant is named after a food, I assume it's a specialty. The Moroccan Lamb Tagine (pronounced with a soft g, tay-jean) was once called $10,000 Lamb Stew on the Insalata menu. The prevailing theme of the food is bold and rustic; generous flavors laced with earth-toned spices like cumin and coriander, and Jim Warren's wine list projects a kind of supple, elastic quality to match these immediate flavors. Looking at them in all their sumptuous glory, I concluded that San Francisco artist Laura Parker must have been in love with the Mediterranean region when she painted them. Served on the rocks with a grapefruit pee, with Fresh Run Farms beets, blue cheese, fennel, sunflower seeds, crispy quinoa. Insalatas general manager, Jim Warren, worked at San Franciscos Square One restaurant for many years honing his encyclopedic knowledge of world-wines.
DISCLAIMER: Menu items and prices are subject to change. This bizarre fruit is showing up at Costco and Trader Joe's, LEGO is releasing a 'The Office' set with 1,000+ pieces, This 1,100-piece LEGO Vespa will transport you to Italy. At the same time that our glasses of wine arrived, our server placed a bowl of what appeared to be hummus on our table. The walls are painted a soft butter yellow; the ceilings are high and supported by wood-clad beams; and the lighting is soft, while still enabling diners to both see their companions and food. The big surprise that catapults the dining room from comfortable to extra-special is the huge paintings of sensuous plums, persimmons, and lemons that hang on the walls. Copyright Amid closures, SF tech company expands its headquarters, Alleged KGB spies used dead doubles to live in Hawaii for years. My current favorite is from Portugal, which is not known for its Syrahs -- it's the 2001 Cortes de Cima Alentejo ($64), with rich, ripe fruit that marries up to your food really well. Pastry had been spread with Feta cheese, squash puree, and Turkish spices. After we had ordered dinner, I absent-mindedly picked up a warm piece of pita bread and dipped it into the bowl. Cafe - 411 San Anselmo Ave #102 Suite, EV Lounge - R.H.Cheda building, 500 San Anselmo Ave. It's just wine! You are free to download the Insalata's menu files. (415) 457-7700. this is a wonderful restaurant! The open kitchen is at the back of the restaurant with the busy take-out counter. DRINK: Escape to Saint-Tropez with these Ros Wine Cocktails. The locally sourced products Goldstein used at Square One were a continuation of Krahlings family cooking experience and encouraged Krahling to seek locally grown elements when she opened Insalata. This one's nice and forward, creamy on the palate with fig, pear and nutmeg spice. Krahling does it all with ease. Selecting a wine was a challenge because the extensive by-the-bottle list covers the entire Mediterranean region of Italy, France, and Greece, while layering in wines from Napa and Sonoma Counties, Oregon, Germany, New Zealand, Chile, and Australia. It was a knowledgeable blending of textures and flavors that seemed just right for beginning dinner. Mediterranean Cuisine. Strengths: The full Mediterranean package, from Gibraltar to Beirut, and the forward flavors of the Mediterranean from all points of the globe. Take, for example, the painting of the persimmons, which measures roughly five-feet-high by fourteen-feet-long. ", Most unjustly overlooked wine: Albarino. Good food with wide selection for everyone. Please confirm that this restaurant at this location is permanently closed organic greens, prosciutto, pickled red onions, pinenuts, grana, balsamic vinaigrette, spring greens, fennel, toasted walnuts, manouri cheese, muhamarra croutons, with a choice of Hobbs bacon or Canadian bacon, home fried potatoes, toast, with chorizo, roasted peppers, spinach, manchego cheese, two poached eggs, chive scones with spinach and wild mushroom ragout, smoked pork loin and lemon hollandaise, crispy potatoes, with lemony aioli, endive and fennel salad, shoestring potatoes, topped with 2 poached eggs, Rancherai salsa and Cumin yogurt, strawberry rhubarb compote, whipped mascarpone, toasted almonds, applewood smoked bacon, lamb skewers on grilled housemade flatbread with lemony greens, tomatoes and cucumber sumac, cumin yougurt, Hobbs bacon, avocado, housemade shoestring potato, creamy lime-cilantro dressing, avocado, pumpkin seeds, manouri cheese, cabecou cheese, pistachios, greens, clementine vinaigrette, artichokes, chanterelles, pancetta, pecorino cheese, mint, hot chilies, filled with duck confit, chanterelles, butternut squash, Fromage blanc, lemony lentils, acorn squash, curried spinach, Turkish yogurt, couscous, Hobbs bacon, avocado, shoestring potatoes, zatar, lemony greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, sumac onions, cumin yogurt, sweet herbs, shallots, white wine, shoestring potatoes, on smash-fried potatoes, peppers, venetian pine nut relish, manila clams, tomato, chorizo, grilled bread, rouille, romaine, toasted pita, feta cheese, onions, cherry tomatoes, olives, cucumber, cilantro, mint, lemon vinaigrette, Cabecou cheese, pistachios, greens, Clementine vinaigrette, lemony lentils, acorn squash, curried spinach, turkish yogurt, couscous, chickpea stew, chorizo, wilted greens, cilantro, agrodulce, potato puree, cippoline onions, chanterelle mushroom sweet corn saut, crispy polenta, horseradish cream, bulgar and pumpkin pilaf, ginger pear chutney, chard, peppers, smash- fried potatoes, venetian pine nut relish, with Tahitian vanilla gelato, bourbon caramel sauce, Devils Food Cake, filled with whipped ganache, chocolate pudding, finished with bittersweet chocolate glaze, mocha, caramel sauce, white chocolate curls, with port poached forelle pear, sesame tuile, mascarpone cream, caramel sauce, pumpkinseed-ginger praline, French almond macaroons, mascarpone cream, tuile cookie, cornmeal-raisin, double chocolate-hazelnut, lemon-almond-fennel, Cranberry-Orange, Pear or Grapefruit-Compari with shortbread, with One Piece of Bacon and Crispy Potatoes (Sunday Brunch Only). Boxed lunches are a fun, tasty convenience. Wow! Ask questions, see what the server is excited about and go for it. Insalata's serves 25 wines by the glass as well; you can't get much more versatile than that. But Italy is only a jumping- off point to the rest of the Mediterranean Basin, especially the farther reaches west and south: Sardinia, Southern Spain, and especially North Africa. ", Advice for the adventurous diner: "Don't be intimidated! The flavors are complex and authentic, and they transport each guest to a warm, sunny, fragrant place.
Order Online The warm cake was more like a pudding than a dry cake, and was served in a bowl with a scoop of vanilla ice cream accompanied by spiced pears and a caramel sauce. Over ice with an orange twist, This is what a Mojito wants to be when it grows up! Guests are nicely dressed, and the tables are often made up of multi-generational families and friends. The rooms are spacious, with large, luscious paintings of fruits on the walls. In both of these wines, you can taste the proximity of land and sea on the palate. Copyright 1996-2022 GAYOT All Rights Reserved GAYOT (pronounced guy-OH) The Guide To The Good Life - All Rights Reserved - Terms of Use - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy. Well, just ask the staff. Hours: Over ice with an orange slice, Tito's Handmade Vodka Shaken with Fever Tree Ginger Beer over ice with Lime, St. George Botanivore Gin, Gran Classico, Carpano Punt E Mes, stirred and served up with an Orange Peel, Sazerac 6 year Rye, Peychaud & Angostura Bitters, seasoned with Kubler Absinthe and served with a twist, 209 Gin, Lemon Juice, Dram Honey & Chamomile Bitters. Gone was the paste of our past and in its place was a truly delicious, spicy, silky, garlicky, and peppery delight. The dish looked good, and from the sighs of the guests it must have been wonderful. How does anyone navigate a list this complex? "This wine is medium in body with rich, ripe cherry fruit, supple in texture with hints of leather and pepper spice that complement and seduce the many flavors of this dish, from the earth of the lamb and the bite of the peppers and eggplant in the pepperonata.". At a restaurant named Insalata, how could we possibly skip the salad course? If a person's name is a food, I assume that they're good at making it. When dessert time approached, we took a look around and realized that we were surrounded by tables awash in plates of Smorsetto, which is the Insalata version of smores. How could this be hummus?
GAYOT presents the Wine of the Week, featuring tasting notes as well as history on the vineyards and winemaker. Very tropical, a bit herbaceous with a touch of orange peel flavor in the finish of the wine. Owner Heidi Insalata Krahling became interested in food as a child in a food-intensive Italian family. The San Anselmo lifestyle focuses on relaxed, healthy, family life; and a stroll through the center of town is a somewhat nostalgic walk past family-owned businesses and restaurants that are situated along the local creek. "This is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Viognier. Definitely will return here for al fresco dining. organic greens, prosciutto, pickled red onions, pinenuts, grana, balsamic vinaigrette, with Fresh Run Farm beets, blue cheese, sunflower seeds, crispy quinoa, with Skyhill Farms yogurt and seasonal fresh fruit, With crushed avocado, pancetta, fried eggs and chimichurri, two poached eggs, chive scones, spinach, wild mushrooms, smoked pork loin, lemon hollandaise, crispy potatoes, house corned beef, crispy potatoes, seasonal vegetables, two poached eggs, Dijon hollandaise, zatar, lemony greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, sumac onions, cumin yogurt, lemony lentils, Japanese eggplant, curried spinach, Turkish yogurt, couscous, sweet herbs, shallots, white wine, shoestring potatoes, buffalo mozzarella cheese, pesto aioli, housemade focaccia, potato chips, St. George "Terroir" Gin, Fresh Lime Juice, Diced Fresh Cucumber, Soda. Parker used all of that canvas to paint no more than eight persimmons, huge in scale, and opulent in shape and color. It was flavored with the spices of the Mediterranean, transforming the Ginger Cake into a rich and luscious finale. The tables are generously sized, the chairs are comfortable, and the murmur of dinner conversation flows around you softly. Food-wine pairing: Braised Lamb Shank with Roasted Summer Pepperonata and Sardinian Fregola ($19.95), paired with 2001 La Carraia Sangiovese, Umbria, Italy ($24). ", Wine chef has with her meal: 2001 Luna Pinot Grigio ($31). Recently had dinner where we shared great starter salads (mista with prosciutto, fattoush with feta,) followed by a tasty (though a tad chewy,) bavette steak with perfectly grilled vegetables and a lamb aushak, (ricotta and eggplant filled pasta that was delightfully smoky, topped Cuisines: Asian, Mediterranean, Caterers, Greek, Family Style, Take Out, Fast Food, Italian, European, Middle Eastern, Continental, Kientz Hall - 625 San Anselmo Ave, San Anselmo, Julie's Hummus Bar & Grill - 1026 Court St, San Rafael, Kababbq Grill & Caf - 555 Francisco Blvd E, San Rafael, 120 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo, CA 94960, Valenti & Co. Ristorante - 337 San Anselmo Ave, D.G. Served over ice with a Grapefruit Twist, Inspired from Tom Colicchio and Sons' Restaurant in Manhattan. All Rights Reserved. Sparked by Middle Eastern flavors, the kitchen's specialties include velvety smooth potato-leek soup made brilliantly green from watercress pure. Having experienced our fair share of hummus-overload at friends dinner parties throughout the years, my dinner companion and I both had nothing but culinary scorn for hummus. Insalata's wine list takes spicy menu head-on, Jim Warren, sommelier at Insalata's restaurant in San Anselmo. We moved from the bar into the dining room and took a look at the wine list. "This white varietal from Spain and Portugal (where it's known as Alvarinho) is usually rich with apricot or citrus flavors. Krahling's cuisine has Italy at its roots. TableAgent.com. Beautifully presented and perfectly seasoned and flavorful. The Moroccan Lamb Tagine is a complicated recipe with a spice list that includes ginger, curry, coriander, cumin, cardamom, saffron, and cinnamon, plus lamb and another dozen or so ingredients ordering this dish in such a restaurant is the preferred alternative to tackling it at home. When dipped into their cilantro, cumin, and mint sauce, the Cigars were an unusual combination of crisp outer pastry accompanied by a spicy filling tempered by the mint sauce. 120 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo Dinner at Insalata is refreshing and relaxing as the knowledgeable staff will ensure that your wine selection will match the ambitions of Krahlings food. Astonished, I asked our waiter and, sure enough, it actually was hummus. ", Most underrated region: Sardinia. The restaurant information including the Insalata's menu items and prices may have been modified since the last website update. Insalata is a gracious, comfortable restaurant that specializes in the genuine flavors and spices of the Mediterranean region. ", Ratio: 56 percent domestic; 44 percent imported. 120 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo, CA 94960 Insalatas upscale setting is framed by lemon-yellow walls hung with grand depictions of natures bounty, setting the scene for an array of fresh and flavorful cuisine to come. Can scientists reverse Tahoe's worst environmental disaster? The restaurant has an ocher painted exterior covered with ivy. Bulgur is wheat that has been steamed, dried, and ground, and it has a slightly nutty flavor. Nice (if not a bit dated,) interiors but always filled lively ambiance. (415) 457-7700 Website The takeout area in the back is stocked with salads, sides and sandwiches made with house-baked bread. This tasty and refreshing salad got us ready for our entrees. But having decided that we wanted something other than chocolate, we tried the Ginger Pear Cake. Its spices meld seamlessly together; taste exotic with lamb; and result in sophisticated, wonderful comfort food. The sheltered entrance portico is complemented with weathered wood benches and a sparkling carriage house lantern to welcome all guests warmly. Also sample grilled lamb skewers drizzled with cumin-yogurt atop crunchy salad and flatbread. Copyright 2009 - 2022. Insalata has always searched out good, local, food sources and the chicken was so tender and flavorful that it reminded me of how good chicken can and should taste. Great service from waitfolks, bussers and host.
"Some of the indigenous grapes are beautiful, like Nuragus, a delicate and refreshing white with a citrusy scent, or the more rustic Monica, a rich and earthy red. The small, central bar that divides the dining room into smaller spaces was directly before us. The staff loves to drink it, Current passion: Syrah. Named for Krahlings father, Insalata has received honorable mentions from the Michelin and Zagat travel guides, and has earned its title as a Marin County Neighborhood Jewel. OpenMenu is not responsible for the accuracy of the information provided. San Anselmo restaurateur, Chef Heidi Krahling honors her late father, Italo Insalata, at this crowd-pleasing Marin hangout. RESTAURANTS: Best Outdoor Dining Restaurants. Current staff favorite: 2002 Wirra Wirra Vineyards "Scrubby Rise" Australian White Blend ($29). How lucky for diners that the art of the food at Insalata is equal to the art on the walls. Over ice, Patron Silver Tequila, Aperol, Fresh Lemon Juice. Templeton Rye Whisky, Antica Carpano Sweet Vermouth, Regan's Orange Bitters, Angostura Orange Bitters. All rights reserved. Chef-owner Heidi Krahling's Mediterranean fare is some of the most exciting in Marin County. The Insalata dining experience is a creative interpretation of Mediterranean cooking. I bring this up because of Insalata's, the San Anselmo restaurant. The zucca-orange stucco exterior alludes to the Mediterranean air within. Insalata has its own small parking lot and, should the lot be full, there is abundant free street parking within an easy walking distance to the restaurant. Service was almost perfect (they forgot one appetizer and one cocktail but it was for the best anyway! And order it you must, because it is delicious and unique. A real dinner gem in Marin county. Clean and fresh. Read the article and see photos. The wine has wonderful black cherry fruit, a bit of toasty vanilla with soft tannins. The service was so attentive and the room was quiet. Warren, 52, honed his wine skills at Joyce Goldstein's Square One in San Francisco for many years, another place that invoked all shores of the Mediterranean. The green swirl that topped the hummus tasted of garlic with a subtle pepper after-shock. The Yogurt-Marinated Chicken was topped with preserved lemons and watercress that tied the spices of the chicken together with the earthy flavors of the bulgur pilaf. It was then rolled, hence the name Cigar, and fried. Tam, Maker's Mark Bourbon shaken with lemon juice and sugar served over ice with a Syrah float, Aperol, Prosecco and a splash of soda. any two together: Panini of the Day, Chicken Fattoush, Soup of the Day, Roasted butternut squash, kale, pancetta, lemon & caciocavallo cheese, Pork shank and fennel sugo, wild mushrooms, parmesan reggiano cheese, thyme bread crumbs, lemony lentils, Japanese eggplant, curried spinach, turkish yogurt, tomato-pistachio relish, couscous, On a saffron corn chowder, haricot verts, fennel, basil and tomato chutney, manila clams, tomato, chorizo, grilled bread, rouille, lamb meatballs in spicy tomato shakshuka, manouri cheese, pickled chilies and housemade grilled flatbread, prosciutto, pickled red onions, pinenuts, grana padano cheese, balsamic vinaigrette, romaine, toasted pita, feta cheese, onions, cherry tomatoes, olives, cucumber, cilantro, mint, lemon vinaigrette, grilled baby artichokes, oven-roasted sweet 100's, arugula & tapenade, roasted butternut squash, kale, pancetta, lemon & caciocavallo cheese, pork shank and fennel sugo, wild mushrooms, parmesan reggiano cheese , thyme bread crumbs, of lemony lentils, Japanese eggplant, curried spinach, tomato-pistachio relish, Turkish yogurt, couscous, cannellini bean puree, pickled pepper relish, butternut squash, preserved lemon, shitake mushrooms, lime yogurt & pumpkin seeds, with quinoa corn cake, pistachio ginger skordalia, sauted kale & pear-quince chutney, with corn, jimmy nardello & padron peppers, maitake mushrooms & red wine jus, on a saffron corn chowder, haricot verts, fennel, basil and tomato chutney, on a lemon aioli with grilled squid, haricot verts, pickled trumpet mushrooms, croutons, pinenuts. "Heidi likes a full-flavored wine with a balanced acidity, like the richly textured wines of Friuli. The chick peas were smooth, comforting, and surprisingly flavorful. Check with the restaurant for accurate menus, menu items and information pertaining to the menu. We werent charged.). We tried the Syrian Fattoush Salad, just because I love to pronounce Fattoush. This was a crisp green salad that combined tiny cherry tomatoes, black olives, onions, and pieces of toasted pita bread (the Fattoush part) with herbs of cilantro and mint. The building that houses Insalata is a nod to an earlier, gentler time. So she literally had Italian food on her birth certificate.
", Most exciting wine by the glass: 2001 Ceja Sonoma County Vino de Casa Red Blend ($9.75) "This is a blend of Merlot, Pinot and Syrah, from third- generation grape farmers in Sonoma. Food was not your typical Mediterranean. A local gin, earthy & infused with the botanicals that thrive on Mt. It's extremely versatile, the best wine to complement Mediterranean dishes. 10 Cane Rum, Lime Juice, Mint Leaves, Angostora Bitters & Mumm Brut Prestige, served up with a lime peel. USD It was served on a bed of bulgur and almond pilaf, which was a robust complement to the heartiness of the chicken. It's probably shortsighted of me, but when a restaurant is named after a food, I assume it's a specialty. The Moroccan Lamb Tagine (pronounced with a soft g, tay-jean) was once called $10,000 Lamb Stew on the Insalata menu. The prevailing theme of the food is bold and rustic; generous flavors laced with earth-toned spices like cumin and coriander, and Jim Warren's wine list projects a kind of supple, elastic quality to match these immediate flavors. Looking at them in all their sumptuous glory, I concluded that San Francisco artist Laura Parker must have been in love with the Mediterranean region when she painted them. Served on the rocks with a grapefruit pee, with Fresh Run Farms beets, blue cheese, fennel, sunflower seeds, crispy quinoa. Insalatas general manager, Jim Warren, worked at San Franciscos Square One restaurant for many years honing his encyclopedic knowledge of world-wines.
DISCLAIMER: Menu items and prices are subject to change. This bizarre fruit is showing up at Costco and Trader Joe's, LEGO is releasing a 'The Office' set with 1,000+ pieces, This 1,100-piece LEGO Vespa will transport you to Italy. At the same time that our glasses of wine arrived, our server placed a bowl of what appeared to be hummus on our table. The walls are painted a soft butter yellow; the ceilings are high and supported by wood-clad beams; and the lighting is soft, while still enabling diners to both see their companions and food. The big surprise that catapults the dining room from comfortable to extra-special is the huge paintings of sensuous plums, persimmons, and lemons that hang on the walls. Copyright Amid closures, SF tech company expands its headquarters, Alleged KGB spies used dead doubles to live in Hawaii for years. My current favorite is from Portugal, which is not known for its Syrahs -- it's the 2001 Cortes de Cima Alentejo ($64), with rich, ripe fruit that marries up to your food really well. Pastry had been spread with Feta cheese, squash puree, and Turkish spices. After we had ordered dinner, I absent-mindedly picked up a warm piece of pita bread and dipped it into the bowl. Cafe - 411 San Anselmo Ave #102 Suite, EV Lounge - R.H.Cheda building, 500 San Anselmo Ave. It's just wine! You are free to download the Insalata's menu files. (415) 457-7700. this is a wonderful restaurant! The open kitchen is at the back of the restaurant with the busy take-out counter. DRINK: Escape to Saint-Tropez with these Ros Wine Cocktails. The locally sourced products Goldstein used at Square One were a continuation of Krahlings family cooking experience and encouraged Krahling to seek locally grown elements when she opened Insalata. This one's nice and forward, creamy on the palate with fig, pear and nutmeg spice. Krahling does it all with ease. Selecting a wine was a challenge because the extensive by-the-bottle list covers the entire Mediterranean region of Italy, France, and Greece, while layering in wines from Napa and Sonoma Counties, Oregon, Germany, New Zealand, Chile, and Australia. It was a knowledgeable blending of textures and flavors that seemed just right for beginning dinner. Mediterranean Cuisine. Strengths: The full Mediterranean package, from Gibraltar to Beirut, and the forward flavors of the Mediterranean from all points of the globe. Take, for example, the painting of the persimmons, which measures roughly five-feet-high by fourteen-feet-long. ", Most unjustly overlooked wine: Albarino. Good food with wide selection for everyone. Please confirm that this restaurant at this location is permanently closed organic greens, prosciutto, pickled red onions, pinenuts, grana, balsamic vinaigrette, spring greens, fennel, toasted walnuts, manouri cheese, muhamarra croutons, with a choice of Hobbs bacon or Canadian bacon, home fried potatoes, toast, with chorizo, roasted peppers, spinach, manchego cheese, two poached eggs, chive scones with spinach and wild mushroom ragout, smoked pork loin and lemon hollandaise, crispy potatoes, with lemony aioli, endive and fennel salad, shoestring potatoes, topped with 2 poached eggs, Rancherai salsa and Cumin yogurt, strawberry rhubarb compote, whipped mascarpone, toasted almonds, applewood smoked bacon, lamb skewers on grilled housemade flatbread with lemony greens, tomatoes and cucumber sumac, cumin yougurt, Hobbs bacon, avocado, housemade shoestring potato, creamy lime-cilantro dressing, avocado, pumpkin seeds, manouri cheese, cabecou cheese, pistachios, greens, clementine vinaigrette, artichokes, chanterelles, pancetta, pecorino cheese, mint, hot chilies, filled with duck confit, chanterelles, butternut squash, Fromage blanc, lemony lentils, acorn squash, curried spinach, Turkish yogurt, couscous, Hobbs bacon, avocado, shoestring potatoes, zatar, lemony greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, sumac onions, cumin yogurt, sweet herbs, shallots, white wine, shoestring potatoes, on smash-fried potatoes, peppers, venetian pine nut relish, manila clams, tomato, chorizo, grilled bread, rouille, romaine, toasted pita, feta cheese, onions, cherry tomatoes, olives, cucumber, cilantro, mint, lemon vinaigrette, Cabecou cheese, pistachios, greens, Clementine vinaigrette, lemony lentils, acorn squash, curried spinach, turkish yogurt, couscous, chickpea stew, chorizo, wilted greens, cilantro, agrodulce, potato puree, cippoline onions, chanterelle mushroom sweet corn saut, crispy polenta, horseradish cream, bulgar and pumpkin pilaf, ginger pear chutney, chard, peppers, smash- fried potatoes, venetian pine nut relish, with Tahitian vanilla gelato, bourbon caramel sauce, Devils Food Cake, filled with whipped ganache, chocolate pudding, finished with bittersweet chocolate glaze, mocha, caramel sauce, white chocolate curls, with port poached forelle pear, sesame tuile, mascarpone cream, caramel sauce, pumpkinseed-ginger praline, French almond macaroons, mascarpone cream, tuile cookie, cornmeal-raisin, double chocolate-hazelnut, lemon-almond-fennel, Cranberry-Orange, Pear or Grapefruit-Compari with shortbread, with One Piece of Bacon and Crispy Potatoes (Sunday Brunch Only). Boxed lunches are a fun, tasty convenience. Wow! Ask questions, see what the server is excited about and go for it. Insalata's serves 25 wines by the glass as well; you can't get much more versatile than that. But Italy is only a jumping- off point to the rest of the Mediterranean Basin, especially the farther reaches west and south: Sardinia, Southern Spain, and especially North Africa. ", Advice for the adventurous diner: "Don't be intimidated! The flavors are complex and authentic, and they transport each guest to a warm, sunny, fragrant place.