High quality food is one thing that Emmy's Spaghetti Shack takes very seriously. Otherwise, patrons come to this fifteen-year-old neighborhood favorite to unwind and feel at home.
Emmy Kaplan opened her restaurant when she and her coworkers realized they had nowhere to go for a delicious meal after work (ironically, their work involved serving delicious meals to fine dining patrons, leaving them especially hungry). The one dish everyone craved at the end of the night was a hot plate of spaghetti and meatballs. One waiter, an Italian expat named Giupe, pitched in with an old world recipe and the rest is Mission/Bernal history.
When you walk into Emmy's Spaghetti Shack, you're met with quirky decor, an unstuffy attitude, and a family-friendly bustle. Lovingly called "the Shack," the restaurant has played a pivotal role in some of the Bay Area's fine dining heavyweight restaurants, including chef Sarah Kirnon of Miss Ollie's and chef Rebecca Boice of Zuni Cafe.
Listen to the episode to hear the full story. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter to get more episodes like this one delivered to your inbox.