It was my first time at this restaurant. The service wasn't that great. The waiter was a little rude and impatient to us. The food was mediocre at best. I had the salmon and it was overcooked and burnt at the bottom.
Robin
A cozy, neighborhood Italian eatery, Amarena has a great vibe and decent menu. Service was attentive and top notch! Calamari (almost a fritto misto) was solid and octopus was tender, had an awesome char but texture was mealy. Half-chicken was excellent; both pappardelle w/boar and pacchetti both seemed to be under-seasoned and weren't all that flavorful. The dipping sauce that comes along with the bread is excellent, but the bread itself could use a little upscaling.
DR . KEN RUSSELL
An evening at Amarena offers a quiet celebration of Italian cuisine in the heart of San Francisco. We dined indoors, though the inviting outdoor space appears well suited for larger gatherings on warmer evenings. The meal began with warm bread accompanied by a fragrant basil pesto, ideal for dipping. This was followed by a thoughtfully curated trio of shared starters - arugula salad, burrata, and bruschetta - each understated in presentation yet full of flavor. For the main course, the carpaccio , sea bass, house-made truffle mushroom tagliolini, and ossobuco stood out for their balance and depth, reflecting careful technique and restraint. A bottle of Sangiovese complemented the meal beautifully. Dessert provided a graceful finale- a classic affogato alongside gelato drizzled with cherries, offering a restrained sweetness that lingered just long enough to close the evening on a memorable note.
Cathy
One of the best Italian meals I've had. The only difficult thing is finding parking. In residential neighborhood Russian Hill.
Demetrius & Gyzelle
We had the new year's eve dinner course. It was perfectly portioned and each dish delicious. The host and servers were attentive and friendly. We will be back for more dinner dates here.
Amy Chung
Pasta tastes really good! Will come here again!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
brian hendricks
Classic spot
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
James
Staff were nice but food was only okay. Had the truffle pasta (not great) and the butternut squash ravioli (decent). Was expecting better pasta for $30/plate
Caryn Wong
The service here is 10/10 Vibes are so cozy and nice Love the bread and calamari were my fave!
It was my first time at this restaurant. The service wasn't that great. The waiter was a little rude and impatient to us. The food was mediocre at best. I had the salmon and it was overcooked and burnt at the bottom.
A cozy, neighborhood Italian eatery, Amarena has a great vibe and decent menu. Service was attentive and top notch! Calamari (almost a fritto misto) was solid and octopus was tender, had an awesome char but texture was mealy. Half-chicken was excellent; both pappardelle w/boar and pacchetti both seemed to be under-seasoned and weren't all that flavorful. The dipping sauce that comes along with the bread is excellent, but the bread itself could use a little upscaling.
An evening at Amarena offers a quiet celebration of Italian cuisine in the heart of San Francisco. We dined indoors, though the inviting outdoor space appears well suited for larger gatherings on warmer evenings. The meal began with warm bread accompanied by a fragrant basil pesto, ideal for dipping. This was followed by a thoughtfully curated trio of shared starters - arugula salad, burrata, and bruschetta - each understated in presentation yet full of flavor. For the main course, the carpaccio , sea bass, house-made truffle mushroom tagliolini, and ossobuco stood out for their balance and depth, reflecting careful technique and restraint. A bottle of Sangiovese complemented the meal beautifully. Dessert provided a graceful finale- a classic affogato alongside gelato drizzled with cherries, offering a restrained sweetness that lingered just long enough to close the evening on a memorable note.
One of the best Italian meals I've had. The only difficult thing is finding parking. In residential neighborhood Russian Hill.
We had the new year's eve dinner course. It was perfectly portioned and each dish delicious. The host and servers were attentive and friendly. We will be back for more dinner dates here.
Pasta tastes really good! Will come here again!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Classic spot
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Staff were nice but food was only okay. Had the truffle pasta (not great) and the butternut squash ravioli (decent). Was expecting better pasta for $30/plate
The service here is 10/10
Vibes are so cozy and nice
Love the bread and calamari were my fave!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We loved our meal!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Great food and service!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Such a wonderful restaurant to enjoy with friends! Food and service were great!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Delicious food and amazing staff! I will definitely be back
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lovely atmosphere to have a great night with friends!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We had a great time! Great food and service :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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