Molinari Delicatessen

Sandwiches!!! These are a special treat. Made fresh to order.

Very authentic Italian sand which. My Lucca speacial was amazing. Long wait. Take a ticket first in front, the wait for them to call your number to order.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Waited 30 minutes in line for stale bread, and a flavorless sandwich at almost $15 a piece. Severely disappointed, especially after people talking this place up.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

Went in today for the first time and Nathan, the best worker, deserves a raise! Guided us through the experience and was so enthusiastic. We were visiting from out of town, not knowing what to expect but we left very satisfied. We went for the Luciano special and Chicken parm, both delicious. Thank you Nathan, highly recommend!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Luciano Special

A Gem in North Beach!

Molinari Delicatessen is an absolute treasure in the heart of North Beach, San Francisco. If you’re a fan of fresh, handcrafted sandwiches, this is the spot for you. Each sandwich is made to order with care, ensuring every bite is bursting with flavor. The selection of breads and rolls is impressive—focaccia, Dutch crunch, soft rolls—you name it, they have it, and every choice is top-notch.

The variety of charcuterie meats, fresh toppings, and spreads is second to none. Whether you’re in the mood for classic Italian salami, prosciutto, or freshly roasted turkey, paired with their vibrant veggies and creamy spreads, the combinations are endless and always satisfying.

Beyond the sandwiches, Molinaei offers a fantastic array of authentic Italian foods. Their in-house-made ravioli is a must-try—so delicate and flavorful, it’s like a trip to Italy in every bite. The store is also packed with other Italian specialties, from oils and cheeses to pantry staples that any home chef would appreciate.

The experience doesn’t stop at the food. Grab a seat at one of the outdoor tables and enjoy a leisurely meal with a fantastic view of the Transamerica Pyramid. Situated in the bustling, vibrant North Beach neighborhood, it’s the perfect place to soak in the local vibe.

Molinaei Delicatessen is a true gem. Great food, friendly service, and a wonderful atmosphere—it’s a five-star experience every time. Don’t miss it!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Charcuterie, Molinari Special Italian Combo, Italian Sandwich

Good place but the waiting time was way too long (30mins for one sandwich) and in my opinion, the sandwich was not worth the wait.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 4

Really good sandwiches. Got the Joe special which was good next time I would get it warmed up. I would definitely come back next time I’m in the area. A couple tables outside that are nice because you can people watch and watch all the cars go by.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Fresh Mozzarella, Meatball Sandwich, Joe Special

A must have when visiting San

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Molinari Special Italian Combo, Prosciutto

Best sandwich in Sf! A must visit along Columbus Ave.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Italian Combo

Overrated.

Food was okay (with a slight lean towards good, but nothing to go crazy about). It’s just another sandwich shop as far as I’m concerned.

The real kicker however is the god awful slow service. It took us 50 minutes to get two mid sandwiches. Not sure how the place still stays open, but it’s a one and done place for me for sure.

They’ve got this tiny red ticket dispenser hidden at the entrance, so easily missed. We stood in line for about 25 minutes before realizing they’ve got this silly ticketing system from the 19th century.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 3

Service: 1

UNACCEPTABLY SLOW! We arrived with 4-5 people in front of us. It took us 40 minutes for our number to be called and another 22 minutes for our two sandwiches to be made. 1 hour waiting for two simple deli sandwiches is unreal! We could’ve gone to a sit down restaurant and received food faster. Also- don’t forget to get a ticket at the front door. The only thing that could’ve made the experience worse is if we had waited all that time and didn’t have a ticket (which is very possible because the ticket sign is small and not obvious).

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 1

Came here with my daughter to get sandwiches on a Sunday afternoon. It was very busy. We waited about 30 minutes for our number to be called. We bought a few varieties of salami and onion and mushroom focaccia breads. This review is specific to the sandwiches (Molinari Special and Renzo Special). Both sandwiches were the worst sandwiches we ever had. Previously, I only came in to buy deli meats here and it’s always been my favorite place to get deli meats. The service is always friendly and wonderful. I think the person who prepared our sandwiches was new and was not trained properly. He was extremely nice and sliced our salami meats perfectly. He was very courteous, helpful and friendly. Something went very wrong with the sandwiches though. They were extremely dry. It was just all meat and Dutch crunch bread. The condiments were missing. We could not chew and swallow our sandwiches. I had to take the switches apart at home and add in my own condiments to both sandwiches. Only then we were able to enjoy our sandwiches.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 2

Service: 5

Been here many times before for the sandwiches that are the best, any of them. But don't skip on the store made ravioli and marinara sauce that they sale. Both are fine restaurant quality. Was told by friendly clerk that the pesto was great as well. Will definitely go back and get some more.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Fresh Mozzarella, Molinari Special Italian Combo, Fresh Pasta, Prosciutto, Italian Sandwich

I wish I could rate Molinari higher. They have amazing food and very friendly staff. But the lines are just way too long, and they have not been able to fix this for months. There is no indication of wait times, but they can often exceed 20 minutes. This would be OK if it was incidental, but it isn’t. The staff is friendly but don’t seem to work fast or acknowledge this problem. A large part of the problem would go away if there was a separate line for sandwiches, and if they would inform folks of wait times, allowing them to do shopping while they wait. But to fix this long term, they either need to optimize or hire more people. I’ve stopped coming because of this, and know many others that have, too.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 2

The aesthetics dazzle the senses; Andy Warhol would have loved this deli as it resembles an exquisite pantry influenced by his pop art : creative displays of rows upon rows of fine imported Italian foods, wines and cheeses. Didn’t Andy train us to look and admire supermarkets aisles that display Brillo and Tide? During Covid quarantine I loved spending time in supermarkets. There is something relaxing and quite hypnotic about their aisles.

At Molinari, as a vegetarian, my favorite is their Caprese sandwich , focaccia, and white bean salads. Excellent outdoor seating! Superb soundtrack which is grooved to by their staff.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5