Dinner at Eight is a regular column by Ms.Collins reviewing restaurants in the Bay Area. If you have a restaurant you want reviewed, please send an email to the editor: midori@realgirlsmedia.com.

Rating Scale: 

Panties in a twist (unimpressed)

Panties low-riding (intrigued)

Panties on the floor (impressed)

Panties swinging from the chandelier (amazed)

Pres a Vi

One Letterman Drive, Building D

San Francisco, CA 94129

(415) 409-3000

Conditions: Friend in town visiting from LA for the night.

Rationale: She used to live here, so she wanted me to take her somewhere she had never been.

Long story short: Hot new small plates place hidden away in the Presidio.

The deal: It’s new and it’s buzzing right now. The space (when you manage to find it) is a great renovation. Here you have a bunch of buildings that all look the same, and who knew? You walk behind one of them and find a charming, dark-wood, low-lit place with wine-barrel ceilings.

It may be too soon to know the crowd. My guess would be that most patrons currently here are trying the new place in town. After a few months, the scene may come down to the neighbors who live nearby. There is parking below, which is somewhat reminiscent of dining in the suburbs, but handy, nevertheless.

The best thing at Pres a Vi? The wine flights—with a whole menu of themes to choose from—that vary by country, flavor, and varietal. One flight equals three generous half glasses that start the night off right. As for the food menu, it’s all small plates, and a lot to choose from. A party of two people, we chose four: tuna sashimi over sushi-style pillars, scallops over truffled mashed potatoes, rib eye sliced and served with potatoes, and some choice vegetables—asparagus with remoulade. It was all deliciously prepared … but those small bites went fast. So we went straight for dessert, a rendition of sticky toffee pudding, which for some tastes would probably be way too alcoholic—but I found it amazing.