THE BUZZ

Scala's Bistro awarded the Best Restaurant with Private Dining by the Northern California Meetings & Events in their 2010 Best Industry Awards. "With two private dining rooms, a Union Square location and celebrity chef Jennifer Biesty (of Bravo TV's "Top Chef" fame), Scala's Bistro is the super classy, go-to spot for groups of 100 or fewer."

"Scala's Bistro is wonderful," Says Jim Wood of the San Francisco Examiner, "the food is super, the ambience is just about perfect..." The Chronicle's Michael Bauer agrees. "The way the service, food and ambience come together makes it obvious why the restaurant is capturing crowds..."

John Mariani of Esquire Magazine called it "an enveloping space done up in deep hues of gold and brown, with culinary murals, gilt mirrors, pretty Mediterranean tiles, and a fiery open kitchen that gave off the restorative aromas of roast chicken, lamb and pork."

San Francisco CitySearch recommends the atmosphere, too. "Soaring ceilings with elaborate pewter-painted plasterwork, mahogany wainscoting and butter-colored beaded lampshades make for a very convincing reproduction of a Parisian bistro, while hordes of high-end diners make for a near-roaring, feel-good atmosphere. As for the food, CitySearch tells its users, "The expansive menu offers enormous portions of traditional French and Italian fare, expertly prepared with fresh ingredients, entrees shine..."

Fodors.com calls Scala's Bistro "one of downtown's most attractive destinations, while Frommer's declares: "With just the right balance of elegance and informality, it's a perfect place to have some fun (and apparently most people do)."