Our table was at the back of the first room with the garbage cans and plunges it. Loud. The room has no ventilation, leaving the front door gaping and our table in full draft. Have you ever eaten down jacket? impossible to be placed at a table of 4, protected from the draft: because it is a table of 4. And there were two of us. No matter what's available... The map is short. The food is not exceptional. Disappointing carbonara pasta.
johnjimdc
We just enjoyed a wonderful dining experience at this excellent establishment on Nob Hill. Service was warm and welcome, and our dishes were fresh and delicious. The menu, while not large, offered a good selection of pasta, salad, pizza and main dishes. Our wait time on a weekday evening was surprisingly fast. Felt local and relaxed yet special enough for a date night or dinner with friends. Highly recommend!
sopaca
Having eaten a lot on our trip we were looking for somewhere close to our hotel where we could have a more moderate size meal. Nob Hill Cafe was a perfect location for us as we just had a pasta course each. We had Penne Bettola (spicy tomato cream, vodka, garlic) and Fettuccine al Pesto (creamy basil pesto, toasted pine nuts). Both were $22 and excellent. Good quality ingredients, freshly cooked and delicious. Nice decor and friendly and efficient service. The restaurant is in a really nice neighbourhood too. We'd definitely come here again.
seanzik
There aren't a lot of choices in Nob Hill for good restaurants. We did our research first and tried this spot - and were deeply impressed. As a starter, the fresh home-made focaccia was great. The spaghetti alla cecca (fresh tomatoes, basil and garlic) and the chicken parmigiana were delicious. The best the piccata di vitello - sauce was fantastic! The kitchen is open so you can see when they're preparing as well. Finally, our waiter and host was truly professional and knowledgable.
Eddie1087
A brilliant find! The restaurant was relaxed and staff were very welcoming. It had a really lovely neighbourhood feel. Many patrons were well known by all staff. The food was delicious! We enjoyed the focaccia. The salad caprese was tasty and a great accompaniment for the bread. We then had pizzas which were super too. I would definitely recommend and return!
jvG4409AL
While vacationing in San Francisco, our daughter Nina led us to an unforgettable little gem: Nob Hill Cafe. What a find! Tucked into a cozy corner of the city, this small café radiates a warm, home-like energy that immediately puts you at ease. We were seated right next to the kitchen, which turned out to be a front-row seat to something magical. Chris, the chef, was a joy to watch—he crafted every dish with visible care, soul, and love. It felt like watching an artist at work, and the food reflected that devotion. Every single dish was absolute perfection. My husband hasn’t stopped raving about the mashed potatoes—creamy, flavorful, and unlike any he’s had before. His veal was tender and beautifully prepared. I ordered the risotto and honestly, it was one of the best I’ve ever tasted—rich, perfectly cooked, and deeply satisfying. And then came dessert… Their house-made tiramisu was simply next-level. Light, decadent, and just the right amount of sweet—this dessert alone is worth the visit. Our waiter made the experience even better. He was friendly, attentive, and made us feel like we were being welcomed into a family kitchen. That kind of hospitality is rare and truly appreciated. We’re genuinely sad to live all the way on the other coast, because if we were local, we’d be regulars. Nob Hill Cafe is a place we’ll always remember—and we can’t wait to return someday.
BethP548
Pros: Service was great Our family of 5 was seated and served very quickly Focaccia bread was wonderful Chocolate ganache dessert was exceptional Cons: Our group of 5 was squeezed on a 4-top right behind an outside door, which wasn’t particularly comfortable. Two of the meals were extremely, intensely salty. We didn’t say anything about it - we just drank a ton of water. Great flavors but SO salty.
632deirdreh
Service was excellent, but the food was just average. I had a meal at this restaurant several years prior and it was excellent. Maybe it was just a bad night.
NorthStar68448271318
Food was excellent and service was outstanding. Quaint and quite - great place for a couples night out. Wine was very good to be a house type wine.
C4695MMjasonh
Was looking forward to this little neighborhood restaurant, but turned out to be a disappointment. Focaccia was good, but then waited a long time for our food. I think they forgot to check with the kitchen. We suspect it was sitting off to the side for some time. Gnocchi was cold, and chicken parm was bland. Like they slapped down a piece of warm chicken and dumped tomato sauce on it. Wait staff never checked to see how our meal was as well.
Buzzy, very local pizza and pasta restaurant. No frills but good food and atmosphere. We had decent pizza but the pasta looked good as well. Service was prompt.
Ian
Could be better, still decent but expensive
JMF5293
Really delicious and reasonable food. If you are in this area in town, this would be a great choice. We went on a Thursday evening in February and didn't have to wait. We were staying at the Fairmont Hotel, so it was only a 5 minute walk and it was a very pleasant evening. Great ambiance. Will definitely go back.
boxergirl2014
This cute little restaurant was highly recommended to us from a manager at the Ritz Carlton so we were surprised by what an unpleasant experience it was . We arrived at 5 and they were not ready to open and seemed offennded that we showed up! Very very cold atmosphere with both the hostess and our server treated us in a very unplesant way-I would never go back and would not suggest it to others. Contacted the woman from Ritz Carlton that told us about it and told her we were not impressed. The food is decent, but the coldness of the staff flavored our meal for sure. Note to self-get up and leave when you are confronted by unpleasant staff!! We should have!!
harrywebster
Really good authentic tasting Italian food in a nice area of the city, walking up the steep slopes was definitely worth it!!
Our table was at the back of the first room with the garbage cans and plunges it. Loud. The room has no ventilation, leaving the front door gaping and our table in full draft. Have you ever eaten down jacket? impossible to be placed at a table of 4, protected from the draft: because it is a table of 4. And there were two of us. No matter what's available... The map is short. The food is not exceptional. Disappointing carbonara pasta.
We just enjoyed a wonderful dining experience at this excellent establishment on Nob Hill. Service was warm and welcome, and our dishes were fresh and delicious. The menu, while not large, offered a good selection of pasta, salad, pizza and main dishes. Our wait time on a weekday evening was surprisingly fast. Felt local and relaxed yet special enough for a date night or dinner with friends. Highly recommend!
Having eaten a lot on our trip we were looking for somewhere close to our hotel where we could have a more moderate size meal. Nob Hill Cafe was a perfect location for us as we just had a pasta course each. We had Penne Bettola (spicy tomato cream, vodka, garlic) and Fettuccine al Pesto (creamy basil pesto, toasted pine nuts). Both were $22 and excellent. Good quality ingredients, freshly cooked and delicious. Nice decor and friendly and efficient service. The restaurant is in a really nice neighbourhood too. We'd definitely come here again.
There aren't a lot of choices in Nob Hill for good restaurants. We did our research first and tried this spot - and were deeply impressed. As a starter, the fresh home-made focaccia was great. The spaghetti alla cecca (fresh tomatoes, basil and garlic) and the chicken parmigiana were delicious. The best the piccata di vitello - sauce was fantastic! The kitchen is open so you can see when they're preparing as well. Finally, our waiter and host was truly professional and knowledgable.
A brilliant find! The restaurant was relaxed and staff were very welcoming. It had a really lovely neighbourhood feel. Many patrons were well known by all staff. The food was delicious! We enjoyed the focaccia. The salad caprese was tasty and a great accompaniment for the bread. We then had pizzas which were super too. I would definitely recommend and return!
While vacationing in San Francisco, our daughter Nina led us to an unforgettable little gem: Nob Hill Cafe. What a find! Tucked into a cozy corner of the city, this small café radiates a warm, home-like energy that immediately puts you at ease. We were seated right next to the kitchen, which turned out to be a front-row seat to something magical. Chris, the chef, was a joy to watch—he crafted every dish with visible care, soul, and love. It felt like watching an artist at work, and the food reflected that devotion. Every single dish was absolute perfection. My husband hasn’t stopped raving about the mashed potatoes—creamy, flavorful, and unlike any he’s had before. His veal was tender and beautifully prepared. I ordered the risotto and honestly, it was one of the best I’ve ever tasted—rich, perfectly cooked, and deeply satisfying. And then came dessert… Their house-made tiramisu was simply next-level. Light, decadent, and just the right amount of sweet—this dessert alone is worth the visit. Our waiter made the experience even better. He was friendly, attentive, and made us feel like we were being welcomed into a family kitchen. That kind of hospitality is rare and truly appreciated. We’re genuinely sad to live all the way on the other coast, because if we were local, we’d be regulars. Nob Hill Cafe is a place we’ll always remember—and we can’t wait to return someday.
Pros: Service was great Our family of 5 was seated and served very quickly Focaccia bread was wonderful Chocolate ganache dessert was exceptional Cons: Our group of 5 was squeezed on a 4-top right behind an outside door, which wasn’t particularly comfortable. Two of the meals were extremely, intensely salty. We didn’t say anything about it - we just drank a ton of water. Great flavors but SO salty.
Service was excellent, but the food was just average. I had a meal at this restaurant several years prior and it was excellent. Maybe it was just a bad night.
Food was excellent and service was outstanding. Quaint and quite - great place for a couples night out. Wine was very good to be a house type wine.
Was looking forward to this little neighborhood restaurant, but turned out to be a disappointment. Focaccia was good, but then waited a long time for our food. I think they forgot to check with the kitchen. We suspect it was sitting off to the side for some time. Gnocchi was cold, and chicken parm was bland. Like they slapped down a piece of warm chicken and dumped tomato sauce on it. Wait staff never checked to see how our meal was as well.
Restaurantji Recommends
Buzzy, very local pizza and pasta restaurant. No frills but good food and atmosphere. We had decent pizza but the pasta looked good as well. Service was prompt.
Could be better, still decent but expensive
Really delicious and reasonable food. If you are in this area in town, this would be a great choice. We went on a Thursday evening in February and didn't have to wait. We were staying at the Fairmont Hotel, so it was only a 5 minute walk and it was a very pleasant evening. Great ambiance. Will definitely go back.
This cute little restaurant was highly recommended to us from a manager at the Ritz Carlton so we were surprised by what an unpleasant experience it was . We arrived at 5 and they were not ready to open and seemed offennded that we showed up! Very very cold atmosphere with both the hostess and our server treated us in a very unplesant way-I would never go back and would not suggest it to others. Contacted the woman from Ritz Carlton that told us about it and told her we were not impressed. The food is decent, but the coldness of the staff flavored our meal for sure. Note to self-get up and leave when you are confronted by unpleasant staff!! We should have!!
Really good authentic tasting Italian food in a nice area of the city, walking up the steep slopes was definitely worth it!!
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