June 20, 2007

Duke It Out

Ducca Opens

In The Merchant of Venice, Antonio wagers a pound of his flesh to get his buddy 3,000 ducats to woo a rich lady.

Here’s a much better deal: Go mingle with suitors at Ducca, the sweeping Venetian-themed resto opening tomorrow in SoMa.

Sip limoncello mojitos in the rotunda lounge, where white and black marble floors, burnt orange leather booths, and down-tempo beats set the mood. Murano chandelier clusters, Renaissance-style fabrics, floor-to-ceiling Medici renderings, and mod photos of the Venetian countryside adorn the 240-seat dining room.

Start with truffle-scented arancini and Bacari-style crostini from the cicheti (Venetian for “tapas”) bar. Then bet your waistline on chef Richard Corbo’s feast: lobster and polenta sformato, sweet corn and mascarpone tortelloni, roast chicken with morel-English pea ragu.

Star-crossed lovers can meet by the fire pit on the outdoor terrace.

Or leave your romantic fate to the slings of outrageous fortune.

After all, you’ve got nothing to lose.

Ducca, 50 Third Street, between Market and Mission Streets (415-977-0271 or duccasf.com).