50 Best Italian Restaurants near Kensington

“My daughter and I love the Fried Sage Pizza and the Strozzapreti Bolognese and my twin grandsons love the Pepperoni Piza.“

“Amazing service and food!!!!“

“Sorella is one of our favorite restaurants in SF. We're moving out in March, so we had to come back to it one last time, and, as with all the other times we have been there, it did not disappoint. 5 star service 5 star food and drinks 5 star setting What more could you ask? Shoutout to Jocyln for bringing us an extra treat at the end of the night and for being a great waitress. :) Timo“

“Great leisurely lunch with girlfriends. Staff was friendly attentive. The butternut squash ravioli was to die for! Nice ambiance (we sat outside). Enjoyed!“

“We loved our long lunch at Zuni Cafe during a recent SF trip. We sat upstairs next to the window. The chicken & bread salad is amazing. The NA cocktails and NA wine are delicious, as were the alcoholic options. Service was lovely. Highly recommend if you have time to linger over a meal.“

“Excellent service and great food!“

“Amazing service and food!!!!“

“My daughter took me and the hubby here for our Thanksgiving celebration since she couldn't come home (Sac) for actual Thanksgiving, we went to her. This was a night I won't soon forget! Having a nice meal with our daughter was a treat, the service was amazing and the food....OMG! Every bite of every dish I tasted was so so delicious! I can't get the butternut soup out of my head it was THAT good! We all ordered different food & shared bites with one another. This night was so enjoyable! Thank you, Sis & Thank you Mama Oakland!“

“Great atmosphere and delicious food! Outdoor dining, too!“

“Short wait on a Friday night for 7 of us. Really small place but the wait staff and owner very friendly and everyone was very happy with their meal. If I lived here I would go back.“

“It was our first time and the service was amazing. Our dinner was more than excellent, the grilled pork chops with sweet potato puree best ever tasted. Great selection in red wine and great atmosphere! Owners were there and were very welcoming and down to earth! 100% recommended“

“Excellent food and service. My friends from NYC enjoyed their dinners as well. Will definitely be back!“

“The lamb chops were phenomenal!“

“Had a luncheon @ Perbacco with my 9 coworkers and Manager to say “goodbye & farewell” to a retiring coworker and “welcome” to a new coworker. Started with a round of hors d'oeuvre’s. The thin sliced veal with a sauce and capers was delicious! The fried shrimp, veggies and olives/anchovies…also with a sauce was awesome as well. For my main, I had CRESTE DI GALLO - semolina pasta - wild mushroom ragu - spinach - ricotta salata. Our waiter was the best! I saved one of the sugar cookies from my deserts…Burnt Carmel Gelato. Mentioned it to our waiter and as we were leaving, I heard “Sir! Sir!” He brought me one of their meringue cookies to also share with my partner! I thought that was just awesome! Top notch food and customer service. We’ll be back!“

“I’m here for business from Canada. Was taken here for supper by a coworker. The quaintest little restaurant, the owner and his wife are just awesome. The food is gorgeous! And his limoncello is the best I’ve ever had. Will be going back before I head home. ❤️❤️❤️“

“A wonderful experience from the friendly greeting to the waiter who recommended outstanding dishes to the wine selection and ambiance! My wife had linguini with clams and I had the wild boar with paparadelle! Amazing. We started with pai pai oysters which were buttery And delicious. We paired our meal with a bottle of Vermentino, a lovely crisp dry white with a slight fruity finish. For dessert we had the chef special a lively custard with strawberries. We were treated like we were special and never rushed! Overall an enjoyable dinner. I would highly recommend North Beach Restaurant for anyone visiting San Francisco!“

“The food was really good. The standouts were the Calamari Fritti, Caponatta, and the Cosacca. The Ruccola was the only dish that felt flat, but tasted fresh. Service was good and we luckily did not need a reservation. Would definitely return and it's recommended!“

“The owner and staff are amazing. They are actively walking around and making you feel welcome and like a regular. We showed up without a reservation and some regulars were happy to scoot over and make room at the bar. Food was great and we had a really great time.“

“Lovely friendly Italian wine bar and delicious restaurant. Fresh innovative salads, pastas and main courses. Highly recommended.“

“The best Italian I’ve ever had. Great service great drinks as well.“

“My wife and I went here for a Italian supper and wow was it good! Only good things to say about this place, and the best service we have had In years. We were very impressed!“

“(Make a reservation)
We arrived at Capo’s around 7:20 pm on a Saturday and were told we would have to wait 40 minutes for a table.
As hungry travelers, we said thank you and as we were about to leave, the hostess finds a nook and sat us down outside. I appreciate the fact that she did us that favor.
There were no patio heaters, so if sitting outside or walking in during busy hours, expect to dine outside in the cold with no heat (during winter).

(The Staff)
It was a very busy night, but the staff did a spectacular job in checking in on us.

(The Food)
The appetizers come in a reasonably sized portion, we ordered the garlic bread with mozzarella and was given a complimentary dish of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
My partner ordered the meat lasagne and I ordered the rigatoni alla vodka with smoked pancetta. The food was really good, it’s unlike anything I have ever had.
Take in mind that the dishes do serve up to 2 people, on busy nights it make take a bit to get your food, and regular pizzas take up to 20 minutes to bake, deep dish pizzas take up to 45 minutes to bake (but they look like they are worth the time!)

(Conclusion)
I would have loved to sit inside, the vibe is really nice. If you are looking for authentic Italian food with a nice atmosphere and friendly staff, book a reservation at Capo’s.“

“Perfect Italian authentic restaurant when enjoying North Beach neighborhood for my friends birthday! I got us tickets to dear San Francisco, which is a wonderful show at Club Fugazi just 3 blocks away from this great restaurant! Paolo took wonderful care of us. His wine, suggestions and appetizer and entrée tips were the best! The pasta is homemade and very delicious and special. We tried the gnocchi with pesto, as well as a delicious braised meat, red sauce over fresh linguine. We also enjoyed the grilled (not fried) octopus. The tiramisu for dessert was perfect! I’ve been here before, and I will go back again and again for the service and authentic delicious Italian cuisine.“

“One of the best tasting pizza I’ve tasted I highly recommend this place.“

“Fresh, delicious. Some of the best brown butter & sage sauce I’ve had in a while.“

“I loved that the menu happened to be all vegetarian when we went. The fact that they have a seasonal rotating menu will also definitely keep us coming back. The mushroom bolognese sauce was so rich and filled with umami. I didn’t take a picture of the saffron poached pears as I took it home to eat but I really enjoyed it - the flavors were very reminiscent of the Indian dessert Srikhand. There’s limited seating so it felt a little loud and crowded inside but I did enjoy the open kitchen concept.“

“This place was one of the best highlights of our trip!! Real Italian food. The owners were real gentlemen. The way that they worked that restaurant was amazing. I was amazed by their food and service, both authentic. My friend and I had the best time. We would go again and again!“

“While visiting San Francisco for work, I had the pleasure of dining at Cafe Tiramisu, and it quickly became a highlight of my trip! From the moment I walked in, the staff was incredibly welcoming – Giuseppe and Christian went above and beyond to make me feel right at home. Christian, my server, recommended the lobster escargot, and I have to say, it’s one of the best dishes I’ve ever had! The Spaghetti Nero with house-made pasta and local seafood was equally outstanding. This family-owned restaurant prides itself on creating as much as possible in-house, and it truly shows in the quality and freshness of the food. As the name would suggest, the tiramisu was also top notch. The ambiance is warm and inviting, with both cozy indoor and charming outdoor seating. Whether you're looking for an intimate meal or a great spot to relax after a long day, Cafe Tiramisu is a must-visit. You won’t be disappointed! I will absolutely return anytime I’m in San Francisco.“

“Great atmosphere, very friendly servers and of course Delicious Italian pizza😋“

“Excellent Roman dishes prepared with care and authenticity. Not just pasta, but a thoughtfully crafted menu paired with a high-quality wine selection. The chef and the owner are amazing, and from the food to the service, everything felt genuinely Roman.“

“Awesome food and outstanding service“

“Great food. Great experience“

“We had the Cesar, meatballs and bread with pesto sauce and the butternut squash as a main. The food was absolutely delish, the atmosphere was perfect and the service was exceptional. Highly recommend and hopefully you get Stefano as your server, he’s wonderful!“

“The food was amazing, home cooking at its best! My whole family, including my picky eaters, loved the food!😋“

“Delicious food and excellent service! Highly recommend!“

“If you like dark places to enjoy your meal- go! If you like great service- go! If you’re into gnocchi that’s like mamas-go! From start to finish all and all a great meal at a great value. And a very generous bartender/server. Thank you!“

“Honestly the best tasting marinara and meatballs I’ve tasted outside of Italy.
Super selection of great European wines and very reasonably priced. On top of that, the owners of this cute little operation are the nicest people. What’s not to like ?“

“When I can’t sleep, I remember the time I had dinner here and I miss the taste of this place.“

“Hands down one of the best meals we’ve had in a long time. Everything was incredible; the Caesar salad, veal carpaccio, spaghetti and meatballs, manicotti, and that tiramisu to finish it off.

But honestly, what made the night special was Jennifer and her husband. They treated us like family, not customers. You can feel how much heart they put into this place. The food’s amazing, but it’s the warmth and hospitality that make it unforgettable. Can’t wait to come back.“

“Exceptionally helpful & friendly staff cooking superb food in a very chill environment. A must visit in the city.“

“Very tasty and carefully seasoned. All dishes were perfection“

“Been to Hotel Mac many many times and never ever been disappointed. The menu often varies with excellence across the board. Just celebrated my 70th birthday there. Wonderful evening in a great atmosphere.“

“I once ate here with my family .“

“Deliciousness for value and warmth for atmosphere. The host is always welcoming and service accommodating. New favorite place for life. 🤓“

“great food, ambiance and service and wine list.“

“Great Italian cuisine on the west coast! Service is top notch!“

“I went for my birthday with a group of friends last night, and everything was amazing! Our waiter Edgardo was attentive and gave great recommendations on what we should have for dinner. They even brought me a piece of the best tiramisu I’ve ever had and sang birthday happy birthday to me ❤️ I believe all of their pastas are handmade in house and you can tell. I had gnocchi with Gorgonzola and sausage. For appetizers, we had the calamari and shrimp, Caprese salad, & bruschetta. All delicious. Highly recommend this place! They also have a very nice outside area for sunny days in the city.“

“They have a guest dock. Good food.“

“Exceptional food, memorable staff, with warm music“

“I had the most amazing dinner here. The half rabbit rabbit with potatoes tasted like fried chicken though it was a little tougher than chicken. The service was very nice and the ambiance was very nice too . I highly recommend this place for lunch or dinner. I give them 5 stars ⭐️“