This lovely cafe has an interesting menu with fresh salads, beautiful pastas, pizza and treats standard assortment of secondi. This is the third time we've been there for dinner and it was delicious. Staff is attentive but not hovering.
Charley S.
Roman Italian food!! Delicious cacio y Pepe! carbanara!! Great pizzas.., Great wine list. Service is knowledgeable and helpful.. If you want wonderful Italian food, go...
D H.
The service was very good and they were very accommodating to our party of 6. We were originally going to be 2 separate parties but they were gracious and accommodated us by putting us together at our request. Since the service was so friendly, I hate to report that the food was disappointing. Appetizers were good: Prosciutto w/pear Steak bruschetta Sadly all the pasta was mushy and overcooked. Very disappointed. Was expecting much better. The carbonara tasted very "porky" and sauce was a little "curdled" rather than being creamy. The special seafood pappardelle was underwhelming and sauce was a bit bland and acidic. I really wanted to like this small intimate restaurant but the food was not worth a second visit.
Megan Soriano
I would say this place is just fine. Nothing amazing especially for the price. Ambiance isn’t great, dated decor. Super slow service. Took forever to both place our order and to get our check. I would say from the time we asked for our check to when we got it was about 20 minutes. I’m sure there are better Italian restaurants in North Beach. I’d skip this place.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 2
AmyC
We had a DELIGHTFUL dinner here. We had the beef dish, the catch of the day, broccoli rabe and vegetarian platter with grilled zucchini, eggplant, red pepper, artichokes and mushrooms. The setting was lovely with art on the walls and italian music -- was it an opera?!? on the stereo. Good service, great meal. Enjoyed by all.
Arthur Book
each dish has its own twist. what's not to like. the service is friendly too!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Zach H.
Went back again, and really enjoyed it. Amazing food and service and super unique dishes. Classic Italian food with a great ambience and great decorations. You can't go wrong.
Gabby T.
Ideale is tucked away on a small street in North Beach and quite unassuming from the outside, but it's truly a hidden gem that has yet to be discovered by many. The first time I was here I came with my friends and I for Valentine's Day dinner. It was crowded and took awhile to get our food, but understandable on such a busy night. Between the four of us, we split a burrata bruschetta appetizer, two pastas, and a pizza. We gave our compliments to the chef/owner and he was kind enough to give us limoncello shots on the house! Everything was so fresh and flavorful. We enjoyed everything. I couldn't stop thinking about the fettuccine alla norcina so I ended up coming back with another friend the following week. I tried the tiramisu this time and wow... it was the best I've ever tried. The bitterness of the espresso really balanced out the sweet cream. It was just delicious in every way. Prices are reasonable, ambiance and service is good, and food is authentic and flavorful. I'll definitely be back and bring more friends & family :)
Roberth K.
We had been running around San Francisco for a few hours participating in the "Chinese New Year Treasure hunt", needless to say we were really hungry! We got seated promptly (we did have a reservation) but ended up with a single menu for a company of seven! Well, camera phones to the rescue! Just as we all had managed to get the photos shared and zoomed to go over the options our server returned with more menus! Well, that little mess aside we had a great evening. Food was plentiful on the plates, the appetizers shareable between two or three persons (even really hungry ones) and the pizza that I ordered was just the right size for one (maybe two if you're not starving and shared a few appetizers as well). Our servers were attentive, service was quick and friendly. The place is very unassuming from the outside, but inside it's a great atmosphere and the noise level is not intrusive. This was a good find for a Saturday night.
Tori English ..
Drinks were good! Service was just okay. We felt we were burdening the staff by asking for another drink or Parmesan- Maybe they were just really busy. My boyfriend got the pasta special and it seemed underdone. My gluten free pasta was great but I didn't love the sauce. Overall fine!
After we were seated & drinks were served. The server came to setup mats & re do the table which was off putting. We didn't get olive oil for breads after repeatedly asking for it. And the cacio e Pepe was not alle dante.
We waited for an hour for our entrees. We were served after people that arrived after us. The special hardly had any fish in it. It's like we were the forgotten table. They did accommodate gluten and dairy allergies. But the overall experience wasn't great for the price so we won't be returning. On our reservation we indicated we were celebrating a birthday and that was completely ignored.
Ilaria P.
Every visit to this gem in San Francisco solidifies its status as one of my top choices, with each experience surpassing the last. Whether it's the consistently flawless service, the exceptional food, or the warm, welcoming ambiance, even during their busiest moments, the staff ensures every table feels seen and attended to. Opting for a casual spot at the counter, a glass of wine and a quick snack always feels like a return home. The cuisine is authentically uncompromising, which may challenge some palates, especially those unaccustomed to the genuinely al dente pasta that's a staple in Rome, potentially mistaking it for undercooked. My go-to is the 'nduja pizza, boasting real spicy Italian sausage for those who favor a kick in their meal. Alternatively, the Sausage and Mushroom pizza offers a milder but equally delicious choice. Picking a favorite among the pastas is tough, as each dish delivers a memorable journey. Yet, when pressed, I gravitate towards the Cacio e Pepe for vegetable enthusiasts and the Spaghetti dello Chef for seafood lovers. Not to overlook a true hidden treasure on their menu: the Sauteed Broccoli Rabe with garlic and chili flakes. Eagerly anticipating my next visit, this place never fails to draw me back time and again.
Emma B.
Enjoyed a wonderful time at Ideale - located in the heart of North Beach, but was not too busy on a Saturday evening. Cozy ambiance and service was friendly. Would recommend the Tiramisu!
Aviva Briskin
Food never disappoint at this fine Italian restaurant! We had the fish of the day pasta , grouper, some excellent wine to pair with and discovered the espresso martini for dessert .The dissatisfaction was with service, although knowledgeable and making excellent recommendations, more than 45 minutes wait to get some bread on the table is way too long . There was clearly a lack of staff on the floor , when the food finally arrived, it was piping hot and really delicious.
This lovely cafe has an interesting menu with fresh salads, beautiful pastas, pizza and treats standard assortment of secondi. This is the third time we've been there for dinner and it was delicious. Staff is attentive but not hovering.
Roman Italian food!! Delicious cacio y Pepe! carbanara!! Great pizzas.., Great wine list. Service is knowledgeable and helpful.. If you want wonderful Italian food, go...
The service was very good and they were very accommodating to our party of 6. We were originally going to be 2 separate parties but they were gracious and accommodated us by putting us together at our request. Since the service was so friendly, I hate to report that the food was disappointing. Appetizers were good: Prosciutto w/pear Steak bruschetta Sadly all the pasta was mushy and overcooked. Very disappointed. Was expecting much better. The carbonara tasted very "porky" and sauce was a little "curdled" rather than being creamy. The special seafood pappardelle was underwhelming and sauce was a bit bland and acidic. I really wanted to like this small intimate restaurant but the food was not worth a second visit.
I would say this place is just fine. Nothing amazing especially for the price. Ambiance isn’t great, dated decor. Super slow service. Took forever to both place our order and to get our check. I would say from the time we asked for our check to when we got it was about 20 minutes. I’m sure there are better Italian restaurants in North Beach. I’d skip this place.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 2
We had a DELIGHTFUL dinner here. We had the beef dish, the catch of the day, broccoli rabe and vegetarian platter with grilled zucchini, eggplant, red pepper, artichokes and mushrooms. The setting was lovely with art on the walls and italian music -- was it an opera?!? on the stereo. Good service, great meal. Enjoyed by all.
each dish has its own twist. what's not to like. the service is friendly too!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Went back again, and really enjoyed it. Amazing food and service and super unique dishes. Classic Italian food with a great ambience and great decorations. You can't go wrong.
Ideale is tucked away on a small street in North Beach and quite unassuming from the outside, but it's truly a hidden gem that has yet to be discovered by many. The first time I was here I came with my friends and I for Valentine's Day dinner. It was crowded and took awhile to get our food, but understandable on such a busy night. Between the four of us, we split a burrata bruschetta appetizer, two pastas, and a pizza. We gave our compliments to the chef/owner and he was kind enough to give us limoncello shots on the house! Everything was so fresh and flavorful. We enjoyed everything. I couldn't stop thinking about the fettuccine alla norcina so I ended up coming back with another friend the following week. I tried the tiramisu this time and wow... it was the best I've ever tried. The bitterness of the espresso really balanced out the sweet cream. It was just delicious in every way. Prices are reasonable, ambiance and service is good, and food is authentic and flavorful. I'll definitely be back and bring more friends & family :)
We had been running around San Francisco for a few hours participating in the "Chinese New Year Treasure hunt", needless to say we were really hungry! We got seated promptly (we did have a reservation) but ended up with a single menu for a company of seven! Well, camera phones to the rescue! Just as we all had managed to get the photos shared and zoomed to go over the options our server returned with more menus! Well, that little mess aside we had a great evening. Food was plentiful on the plates, the appetizers shareable between two or three persons (even really hungry ones) and the pizza that I ordered was just the right size for one (maybe two if you're not starving and shared a few appetizers as well). Our servers were attentive, service was quick and friendly. The place is very unassuming from the outside, but inside it's a great atmosphere and the noise level is not intrusive. This was a good find for a Saturday night.
Drinks were good! Service was just okay. We felt we were burdening the staff by asking for another drink or Parmesan- Maybe they were just really busy. My boyfriend got the pasta special and it seemed underdone. My gluten free pasta was great but I didn't love the sauce. Overall fine!
Restaurantji Recommends
After we were seated & drinks were served. The server came to setup mats & re do the table which was off putting. We didn't get olive oil for breads after repeatedly asking for it. And the cacio e Pepe was not alle dante.
We waited for an hour for our entrees. We were served after people that arrived after us. The special hardly had any fish in it. It's like we were the forgotten table. They did accommodate gluten and dairy allergies. But the overall experience wasn't great for the price so we won't be returning. On our reservation we indicated we were celebrating a birthday and that was completely ignored.
Every visit to this gem in San Francisco solidifies its status as one of my top choices, with each experience surpassing the last. Whether it's the consistently flawless service, the exceptional food, or the warm, welcoming ambiance, even during their busiest moments, the staff ensures every table feels seen and attended to. Opting for a casual spot at the counter, a glass of wine and a quick snack always feels like a return home. The cuisine is authentically uncompromising, which may challenge some palates, especially those unaccustomed to the genuinely al dente pasta that's a staple in Rome, potentially mistaking it for undercooked. My go-to is the 'nduja pizza, boasting real spicy Italian sausage for those who favor a kick in their meal. Alternatively, the Sausage and Mushroom pizza offers a milder but equally delicious choice. Picking a favorite among the pastas is tough, as each dish delivers a memorable journey. Yet, when pressed, I gravitate towards the Cacio e Pepe for vegetable enthusiasts and the Spaghetti dello Chef for seafood lovers. Not to overlook a true hidden treasure on their menu: the Sauteed Broccoli Rabe with garlic and chili flakes. Eagerly anticipating my next visit, this place never fails to draw me back time and again.
Enjoyed a wonderful time at Ideale - located in the heart of North Beach, but was not too busy on a Saturday evening. Cozy ambiance and service was friendly. Would recommend the Tiramisu!
Food never disappoint at this fine Italian restaurant! We had the fish of the day pasta , grouper, some excellent wine to pair with and discovered the espresso martini for dessert .The dissatisfaction was with service, although knowledgeable and making excellent recommendations, more than 45 minutes wait to get some bread on the table is way too long . There was clearly a lack of staff on the floor , when the food finally arrived, it was piping hot and really delicious.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 3