San Francisco - April 01, 2008

Son of a Gun

Beretta Opens

Finding late-night eats in the Mission without a side of rice and beans is a shot in the dark.

But Beretta, a bang-up new bar and pizzeria opening today, is a surefire hit.

Hand-painted murals in shades of gray, sculptural black chandeliers, and simple Edison lamps above the bar spiff up the old Last Supper Club space. Long communal tables welcome hungry posses. Score seats outside in a few weeks.

The kitchen turns out seasonal Italian provisions until midnight. Latey birds fuel up on antipasti (broccolini with pepperonici; fritto misto di pesce), risotti (asparagus and robiola), and specialty pies (bianca, EVOO, and sea salt; spicy Italian sausage, panna, and spring onions).

Get fired up with cocktails like the Dolores Park Swizzle (strong white rum, lime, maraschino, absinthe, and bitters over crushed ice) or choose from 50 vinos for under fifty bucks.

Either way, you’ll have a total blast.

Beretta, 1199 Valencia Street, at 23rd Street (415-695-1199 or berettasf.com). For the month of April, a quarter of net pizza sales will go to help shelter families who lost their homes in the recent fire in the Mission.