It’s hard to believe that I used to eat pasta pretty much every single day back when I lived in Florence a few years ago.

Of course now that I’ve moved back to the states, I only eat Italian food a few times a month and I actually really miss it. Locanda, in the Mission, has been on my list for years. It’s the sister restaurant of Delfina, where I used to go as a child but haven’t been in ages, and also Pizzeria Delfina. 

Crostini with Cauliflower, Capers, and Calabrian Chili (8/10).

As a bread lover, I had to get the crostini and this didn’t disappoint. The toasted warm bread was smothered in creamy cauliflower cream, charred slices of cauliflower, fried capers, and Calabrian chilis that gave a pop of heat. Simple yet delicious.

Supplì (7.5/10).

Supplì are Roman style arancinis, basically fried risotto balls. The exterior was perfectly fried, golden and crispy, and the middle was oozing with a cube of melted cheese. The filling just needed a pinch more salt.

Shaved Artichoke Salad with Arugula, Ricotta Salata, and Avocado (7/10).

I love raw thinly shaved artichokes but there was barely any in the salad. However, all the flavors were great with peppery arugula, salty Ricotta Salata, and creamy avocado.

Radiatore: Lamb, Pecorino, and Mint (7.5/10).

This fun shaped pasta was coated in a rich tomato lamb sauce with Pecorino cheese. I didn’t taste much of the fresh mint which really would have elevated the dish.

Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe (7.5/10).

Cacio e pepe is one of my favorite Roman pasta dishes because I love cheese. Even though it’s a simple pasta dish (Pecorino Romano cheese and black pepper), it’s hard to nail it. The sauce wasn’t emulsified as much as I would have liked it but it was still satisfying.

Squid Ink Torchiette with Octopus and Celery Soffritto (6/10).

This was my least favorite pasta dish because it lacked seasoning. The octopus ragù was bland and the celery soffritto didn’t add much flavor. Some citrus zest or juice and chili would have really amped up the flavor.

Chocolate Cake and Chocolate Caramel and Bergamot Gelato (7.5-8/10).

Can’t really go wrong with moist chocolate cake drenched with chocolate caramel.

Apple Cardamom Zeppole with Lemon Ricotta Curd (7/10).

These zeppole (donuts) didn’t have any apple cardamom flavor. While they were nicely fried and airy, they lacked some excitement.

I enjoyed majority of the dishes at Locanda but nothing was exceptional. Everything was tasty more or less so my rating is a 7/10.