50 Best Italian Restaurants in San Francisco

“Amazing service and food!!!!“

“Wow, what a great restaurant. As soon as we walked in we were greeted kindly by the hostess. She was so sweet and even checked in on us during dinner. Our server Joselyn was very helpful and attentive. She helped steer us in the right direction of what to order since everything on the menu looked delicious. The food was outstanding. The portions aren't super big but perfect which allowed us to order a few entrees. We started with the pan seared brussel sprouts, stuffed calamari, & roasted baby carrots. We then ordered the ricotta strangulet, pumpkin caramelle, braised short rib cappellacci, and the drunken mafaldine. Wow, everything was truly amazing and cooked to perfection. We didn't have room for dessert but our bill came with a tiny assortment of cookies which was the perfect way to end our meal. Thank you Sorrella, we will definitely be back to enjoy your amazing cuisine.“

“everything about the restaurant, from the heated outdoor dining, people who work there, the food so deliciously great especially the one that prepares and cook it, THE CHEFS, amazingly incredible they are and not so pricey above all.“

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

“Truly authentic Calabrese style Italian cuisine takes us back to Nonna’s kitchen“

“Food was very tasty and well prepared, staff attentive and responsive, ambience is perfect“

“I treated my daughter to a birthday dinner. Our waiter very kindly offered to split Caesar salad and celery root soup. Both dishes were outstanding . Caesar as always what that dish should be. Celery root soup — lovely flavor and texture. Vegetarian daughter ordered vegetarian entree, well-thought out, beautifully presented grilled vegetables and polenta with a nicely harissa-spiced yogurt based sauce. My crabmeat risotto was perfectly prepared and presented. Portions are reasonable, not large, just great for our appetites. We split a pavlova for dessert, a Zuni favorite of mine, with fruit component varying with the seasons. Wait staff attentive and well-timed to our specific preferences without being intrusive or obsequious. Zuni is a very special, California-cuisine restaurant. I love the architecture and cordial atmosphere as much the food.. Excellent wine list, great cocktails — both with alcohol and not. Tea arrives, brewed in little iron pots, instead of lukewarm water and a teabag. Can't wait to go back.“

“After having dined at La Ciccia several times since its opening years ago, we were disappointed with our experience the other night. I recall the food as being a stand out in prior visits and while my husband enjoyed his main dish branzino, both our appetizer and my pasta course were disappointing, oily, and generally overdressed/oversauced. We ordered Casisceddu e Rughitta (Burrata cheese Arugula Anchovies and Truffles dressing) and Spaghittusu cun Allu Ollu e Bottariga (Fresh Spaghetti Spicy Oil Garlic Cured Fish Roe). We were not in a hurry, so the wait and somewhat slow service were okay, but other customers near us expressed displeasure and directly asked wait staff to send someone over to take their orders. While I may return to La Ciccia, it will be cautiously.“

“Excellent service and great food!“

“Amazing service and food!!!!“

“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!“

“Food was amazing! Great atmosphere and friendly attentive staff!“

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

“My favorite thing here is the linguine with mussels. I never order anything else, so I can't really comment on the rest of the menu. My husband had the burger, which he thought was fine, and the couple behind us had the skirt steak which he wished he'd ordered. Wine and beer list is great.“

“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!“

“The food is absolutely stunning. Everything is fresh and the flavors mix amazingly“

“My husband and I enjoyed our dinner very much! He had the Paparadele and I had the beet salad and pizza. They were both delicious! We definitely will be going back!🍷“

“Excellent espresso coffee, friendly service and a lovely brunch menu. I look forward to returning sometime for dinner. The chef’s were prepping a range of fresh looking ingredients and the smells emanating from the kitchen were beautiful!“

“(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.“

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

“I have had several 5-star meals here over the years, but tonight’s was very disappointing. The server splashed wine when pouring it then didn’t wipe the glass (so it dripped every time I picked it up), the arancini were mushy and hard to pick up, and of my 3 half pasta servings (a delightful thing they offer at the bar for solo diners), one was overcooked and another so undercooked that I sent the dish back. Hoping that tonight was just an off night on execution, but I expected (and have had here) much better“

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

“From start to finish, the service was stellar. Everyone had warm smiles and welcomed us in. Food was incredible. We sat at the bar and witnessed all the food being prepared. We got the papperadelle and red snapper special. DELICIOUS! The team is hard working. Great local place to support.“

“Awesome yummy food with a friendly atmosphere and Great Service“

“Went for dinner and had a great experience. Ordered a ton of dishes, all vegetarian, for a group of 5. My personal favourite was focaasio and pineapple pizza. Also loved the tiramisu at then end. Had a great vibe overall, and it's a good option for a date and frinds' group.“

“Awesome food and outstanding service“

“I chose Ofena to have my office holiday lunch, which was a group of nine. The place is nice, looking freshly remodeled (which I believe it is). Service was good and attentive. I had the Ferrone sandwich, which was very tasty and came with a side of pickled vegetables. Most of my group had the lunch special, which is a cup of soup, a half sandwich (diner's choice) and a small salad. One person had the Carbonara, which was unusual in that it was gnocci instead of a traditional long pasta and used duck vs. port. Very inventive. Everyone enjoyed their food. I shared the Cannoli desert. One cannoli was definitely enough to satisfy. A nicely done desert, which we both enjoyed a lot. Every dish served was well executed and I noticed their precision to the plating. The pricing is very reasonable! I definitely expect to come back to try their dinner service.“

“Great food!! Service was fantastic. Consistently good!“

“Great Service and food. The waiter was amazing and recommended great wine and food“

“The best pasta and sauces in San Francisco. Authentic Italian cuisine! Highly recommend. Father and son team are amazingly warm hosts!“

“Food is incredible and the service is second to none. Best place in the marina.“

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

“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!“

“Amazing food!!! Fantastic find in the heart of the city!!! Can’t wait to return!!“

“Great food and great service“

“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!“

“Great fun!!! Hosts and servers were super nice!!! Cocktails: YUM!!!“

“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😋“

“Fantastic red sauce, great eggplant parmesan special, good selection of wines at reasonable prices. A great addition to the neighborhood.“

“Great atmosphere, impeccable service, friendly & welcoming staff. Most of all, great food. This is our second time and it didn’t disappoint. We’re visiting from SoCal in Orange County. Thank you!“

“Beautiful locale, cozy and delicious food.“

“Delicious food, great drinks and amazing service.“

“Serafina is one of our “goto” restaurants when we're in the city. The service is above amazing!! The food is ALWAYS consistently outstanding!! For a surprisingly small neighborhood restaurant, Serafina gives a BIG experience!! Highly recommend!!“

“It's great to see specialty shops like these. Pasta is what they focus on and specialize in. The restaurant part of the store let's us taste their pasta properly and perfectly made. It's also a reference on how the pasta is prepared. Try it, like it, but it and make it at home! Awesome pasta and variety.“

“Always a hit! You are welcomed like family!“

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

“This was our first time at Rustic and we all loved it! The space was beautiful. We tried a few appetizers, main courses and desserts and everything was very tasty. The portions were generous. We will definitely come back and also tell our friends about this neighborhood gem.“