We’d like you to meet a recent addition to Andytown’s wholesale lineup: Ancora! Located in the heart of San Francisco’s Mission district, Ancora is a new seafood restaurant founded by Chef Nick Anichini and Andi Conte of Water2Table Fish Co. If you’ve been a part of the SF restaurant world, you probably know Water2Table, an initiative to connect our local fishing fleet to Bay Area restaurants. They began offering home delivery in 2020 when the pandemic hit and many restaurants had to scale back or close, making their fresh fish fillets, shellfish, lobsters, scallops, and more available direct to consumer. Now they will also cook it for you at Ancora, and we highly recommend you plan a visit! We spoke with Andi Conte, co-founder of Ancora, about the vision and backstory for Ancora. Read on to learn more!
Please introduce yourself and tell us how you ended up in the restaurant world.
I started working in restaurants in college in Chicago and fell in love with the business. Every night is a performance and I still get excited when we get ready to "open the curtains". Working with people who are passionate about food and wine feeds my soul and I love giving people a memorable experience.
What makes Ancora special and different from other restaurants?
Ancora is special because of the people who work here. We have an incredibly talented FOH team and a passionate BOH team that have come together beautifully. The other thing that makes Ancora special is our relationship with Water2Table Fish Co. It gives us the opportunity to provide a direct connection between local fishermen and women and enables us to share the hyperlocal, freshest seafood to our guests.
How do you approach hospitality and customer service?
I love throwing parties and I think my friends would say I'm a really good host. And I think my kids' school would say I throw a really good fundraiser. My approach is the same at Ancora. Whether this is your first time dining or you're a regular, I want to welcome you. I want to get you a beverage right away. I want to make sure you're comfortable. I want to feed you really good food. I will check in with you and when you leave, I will thank you for being here.
Share one random fact about Ancora.
A dear friend of mine moved to Spain a few years ago. When we were working with our designer on the space, we knew we wanted a custom wallpaper and they said they worked with this amazing woman who could design anything I wanted. Three weeks later, the sample arrived in the mail and it was crafted by my dear friend Helena Jausas. From Spain! Serendipity!
What is your favorite Andytown coffee?
Shore Leave Hook. I'm not a fan of high tone notes in my coffee. Burgundy - yes. Coffee - no. It's rich and chocolatey and the perfect way for me to end a meal.
Where is Ancora located?
We are located in the heart of the Mission at 557 Valencia between 16th & 17th.
What are your socials/website?
ancora_sf
www.ancorasf.com
Thanks for tuning in!
