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.“

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

“Amazing service and food!!!!“

“I honestly don’t even know where to begin. From start to finish, it was the most mind-blowing experience I’ve ever had.

We met this beautiful, joyful woman named Luka, who was so kind. She sat us down at the bar, where we enjoyed some lovely drinks. They also gave us happy hour oysters, which were, of course, delicious.

Then we were seated at our table, where we got to meet the whole team. Each person individually welcomed us and attended to all our needs. Even the head chef came out personally, greeted us, and offered us items from the menu as a gesture of kindness—which, honestly, I don’t feel we even deserved.

The food was absolutely amazing. Everything was so delicious, and the flavors never clashed. I truly don’t have a single bad word to say. I can’t wait for them to receive their first Michelin star—they all deserve it.

I will definitely be coming back. Thank you to all the wonderful people for the hard work they put in—not just in bringing the food out quickly, but in doing so with love and care.

Thank you again.“

“Zuni has always been my favorite go to restaurant.  Yesterday‘s lunch was sadly a poor experience. Our waiter was apathetic. The service was unbelievably slow and sloppy and the food didn't live up to its normal standards. I'm really sorry to report this because I love it there. It was super disappointing. I hope it was just a one off experience“

“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!“

“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.“

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

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

“We had such a wonderful experience celebrating my mom’s birthday here! From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere felt warm, elegant, and perfect for a special occasion.

Every dish we ordered was absolutely delicious. The pasta was rich and flavorful, the steak was cooked perfectly and paired beautifully with the cheese and sauce, and the seafood dish was fresh and well-balanced. Even the sides like the vegetables and polenta were done so well. And the desserts — especially the tiramisu and cheesecake — were the perfect ending to the meal!

What really stood out was the presentation and attention to detail. Every plate looked beautiful and tasted just as good as it looked.

The service was also excellent — attentive, friendly, and made the whole experience feel relaxed and special without being rushed.

Overall, this was the perfect place for a family celebration. My mom had a great birthday, and we’ll definitely be coming back again. Highly recommend!“

“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“

“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. ❤️❤️❤️“

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

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

“(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.“

“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!“

“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.“

“This is a classic Italian restaurant with a lively atmosphere and excellent service. The portions are generous and the food is delicious. We ordered the classic pepperoni pizza, the classic cheese and bacon pizza, as well as the lasagna and carbonara. The pizzas were cooked to perfection, with a crispy and delicious crust. The pasta was cheesy and filling.“

“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.“

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

“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😋“

“Awesome food and outstanding service“

“Excellent value for money. Very good food, good service, nice location, great atmosphere. A very Italia - Italian restaurant (as opposed to Italian American) in SF. Caccio Pepe special was very good, sauce on melanzane parmigiano very delicious, simple Italian delicious, and torta della Nonna ❤️“

“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!😋“

“We had a relaxed and enjoyable meal. The owner is warm and friendly. Personable service. Food was great. Especially enjoyed the pasta tossed in Parmesan wheel. Everything was top notch. And laid back. Sitting inside was great. Sat and the bar and she told us about her product and process. Will also be nice to return in wam weather and take advantage of outdoor seating. Unpretentious comfortable restaurant with excellent food & quality of product & service.“

“We had the sweet potato gnocchi, focaccia, Italian wedding soup, and the short rib pappardelle. Best Italian I've had in the states!! The gnocchi was so soft and the sauce was divine. The focaccia was crunchy and salty and the outside and so soft on the inside. And the best was the short rib pappardelle - the flavor had layers and left a hint of orange which was so delightful!“

“Delicious food and excellent service! Highly recommend!“

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

“Sodinis is probably my favorite restaurant of all time. The first time I came to SF on vacation 6 years ago me and my father loved sodinis the first night of our trip so much that we went back for dinner every day the rest of my trip. Now luckily, I live in this beautiful city and get to frequent this restaurant all the time! The second you walk in the host, bartender, and servers are giving you top notch service. The usual host there is the sweetest guy ever. Going to Sodinis feels like a warm family dinner, my pro ordering tip is to order anything on the menu that has the name sodini in it- regardless everything is amazing. Thanks Sodinis team for years of quality, hard work, and compassion toward your customers, this city loves you!“

“Went to dinner for my birthday! Had a delicious chicken a la parmigiana, a Peroni beer and for dessert, a slice of chocolate cake and some crème brûlée! 😋 Everything was so delicious! 👍🏼🥳“

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

“Very good food ...everything was really fresh“

“It is such a beautiful little place. It has a cozy atmosphere. The food was fabulous. We had a party of 13. We had a wide range of delicious food. Lamb ..Chicken Filet Mignon.. Mussels .. Prawns... Sausage . with pastas spinach mashed potatoes green peppers it was all just so good. I totally recommend“

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

“They have a guest dock. Good food.“

“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.“

“We had reservations but it took a bit to seat us. Other than that, everything was great. The pastas we ordered( lasagna, a spicy squid ink pasta dish and sausage and rigatoni), all had distinct sauces and flavors. Very good. The cocktails were on point. We did not order the pizza but it looked delicious and made us doubt our choices.“

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

“I once ate here with my family .“

“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 ⭐️“