Ist time here. My nephew Frankie and sister Tricia brought me here. Food was amazing! Service was good. Atmosphere is 💯 NORTH BEACH . We will definitely be back! Thank
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cioppino, Oysters Rockefeller
Afshin Afshar-Ghasemlou
Seafood Heaven!
Portofino Seafood Restaurant is a cozy spot on Grant Street in North Beach, San Francisco. With an old-fashioned charm, the menu is displayed on a hand-painted board instead of a website.
During our visit, owner Frankie Gaetano Balistreri greeted us warmly. Frankie and his wife run the restaurant, creating a friendly atmosphere that makes guests feel like family.
Our meal started with flavorful clam chowder, followed by a perfect beet salad. I had the Seafood Risotto with fresh seafood in tomato sauce, while my significant other enjoyed tender grilled halibut. Both dishes showcased the kitchen's skill.
We ended with a light tiramisu. Portofino excels among North Beach's Italian restaurants, especially for seafood lovers. Dishes like roasted sardines, sole almandine, and cioppino—a tangy tomato broth stew with shrimp, scallops, mussels, and squid—are standout options.
Frankie and his wife's passion for exceptional dining is evident, making Portofino a beloved spot in North Beach. It's the perfect place for a memorable meal in a warm, welcoming setting.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cioppino
V L
Fettuccine with lobster was my favorite thing I tried here. The lobster was fresh and sweet, and there was a ton of it! The marinara sauce was very flavorful as well, the kind of food where you really want to clean your plate. Frankie is super friendly.
Recommended dishes: Cioppino
Katie
Food was bland and overpriced for the quality of ingredients, but the owner is charming. There is no liquid soap in the restroom and the lock is broken. There is a very old bar of soap and God knows the places it’s been to.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 3
Carlo A
Great place in North Beach, huge selection of seafood and pasta, good service and friendly staff.
Food was very good. The workers were very nice. We met Frankie, the owner…. Very sweet kind person. I love places like this…. Very fresh authentic food and very welcoming environment…I would definitely recommend this place 💜
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
T.C. Redding
Where do I start. This is the definition of an amazing hole in the wall. Food a 10°° Frankie the owner is so welcoming and the service makes your feel like family. Trust, you will keep coming back. We definitely will!!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ed Butler
Had such a nice experience! If you want to back to a nice small restaurant with every dish meant for you and not 250 others in the next half hour...go here...
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cioppino
Trey Imamura
Costco meatballs and grocery store pumpkin cheesecake. Overall very kind and attentive family restaurant. I wanted spaghetti and meatballs and that is what I got. Unfortunately it was not very appetizing. The sauce was lacking in flavor and the meatballs were the frozen ones from Costco. They were generous enough to give me a piece of pumpkin cheesecake which I saw them cut from a store bought container. Maybe their seafood pastas are actually from scratch? Be wary though. Overall thanks for your hospitality. I regret spending $30 on Costco food.
Had a really good experience, Frankie and the other staff were very friendly and personable. Highly recommend the crab cakes and tiramisu, they were excellent. My girlfriend and I shared the cioppino which was good and had us feeling full.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
林静
We ordered eel and other seafood pasta, which was very delicious. The service was excellent. The boss is Italian and very amiable. We had a great evening. We will come again
Parking: Plenty of parking nearby. It just takes a bit of walking.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Evan Pu
Wife and I ate 3 ppls worth of food and extra serving of bread. Restaurant was so surprised gave us extra desert on the house hahahaha
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Eren Zulfikar
Amazing restaurant
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Patrick O'Brien
Delicious fresh food. No frills. Quick and dry friendly service
The owner is very concerned about the service
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ist time here. My nephew Frankie and sister Tricia brought me here. Food was amazing! Service was good. Atmosphere is 💯 NORTH BEACH .
We will definitely be back! Thank
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cioppino, Oysters Rockefeller
Seafood Heaven!
Portofino Seafood Restaurant is a cozy spot on Grant Street in North Beach, San Francisco. With an old-fashioned charm, the menu is displayed on a hand-painted board instead of a website.
During our visit, owner Frankie Gaetano Balistreri greeted us warmly. Frankie and his wife run the restaurant, creating a friendly atmosphere that makes guests feel like family.
Our meal started with flavorful clam chowder, followed by a perfect beet salad. I had the Seafood Risotto with fresh seafood in tomato sauce, while my significant other enjoyed tender grilled halibut. Both dishes showcased the kitchen's skill.
We ended with a light tiramisu. Portofino excels among North Beach's Italian restaurants, especially for seafood lovers. Dishes like roasted sardines, sole almandine, and cioppino—a tangy tomato broth stew with shrimp, scallops, mussels, and squid—are standout options.
Frankie and his wife's passion for exceptional dining is evident, making Portofino a beloved spot in North Beach. It's the perfect place for a memorable meal in a warm, welcoming setting.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cioppino
Fettuccine with lobster was my favorite thing I tried here. The lobster was fresh and sweet, and there was a ton of it! The marinara sauce was very flavorful as well, the kind of food where you really want to clean your plate. Frankie is super friendly.
Recommended dishes: Cioppino
Food was bland and overpriced for the quality of ingredients, but the owner is charming. There is no liquid soap in the restroom and the lock is broken. There is a very old bar of soap and God knows the places it’s been to.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 3
Great place in North Beach, huge selection of seafood and pasta, good service and friendly staff.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Roasted Sardines, Seafood Platter
Food was very good. The workers were very nice. We met Frankie, the owner…. Very sweet kind person. I love places like this…. Very fresh authentic food and very welcoming environment…I would definitely recommend this place 💜
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Where do I start. This is the definition of an amazing hole in the wall. Food a 10°° Frankie the owner is so welcoming and the service makes your feel like family. Trust, you will keep coming back. We definitely will!!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Had such a nice experience! If you want to back to a nice small restaurant with every dish meant for you and not 250 others in the next half hour...go here...
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cioppino
Costco meatballs and grocery store pumpkin cheesecake. Overall very kind and attentive family restaurant. I wanted spaghetti and meatballs and that is what I got. Unfortunately it was not very appetizing. The sauce was lacking in flavor and the meatballs were the frozen ones from Costco. They were generous enough to give me a piece of pumpkin cheesecake which I saw them cut from a store bought container. Maybe their seafood pastas are actually from scratch? Be wary though. Overall thanks for your hospitality. I regret spending $30 on Costco food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Had a really good experience, Frankie and the other staff were very friendly and personable. Highly recommend the crab cakes and tiramisu, they were excellent. My girlfriend and I shared the cioppino which was good and had us feeling full.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We ordered eel and other seafood pasta, which was very delicious. The service was excellent. The boss is Italian and very amiable. We had a great evening. We will come again
Parking: Plenty of parking nearby. It just takes a bit of walking.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wife and I ate 3 ppls worth of food and extra serving of bread. Restaurant was so surprised gave us extra desert on the house hahahaha
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing restaurant
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Delicious fresh food. No frills. Quick and dry friendly service
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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