This restaurant does not have an extensive menu but the margarheta pizza appetizer, the ciappino and special pasta of the day that we ordered were all delicious. The service was attentive and what I enjoy most is its relatively quiet environment as it is so difficult to find a restaurant with good Italian food where you could carry a conversation without yelling but this restaurant fits the bill. Enjoyed our dining there and will definitely be back...
Chris T.
Impeccable service. Dinner was elegantly plated and delicious. This is not a "family" style, huge portion, mediocre tasting chain type of restaurant. Great setting for a special night out or just dinner with the family. The place is small and cozy. Wait staff was attentive, but not over bearing. Thank you for a wonderful meal and night!
Gladys T.
Impeccable service. Dinner was elegantly plated and delicious. This is not a "family" style, huge portion, mediocre tasting chain type of restaurant.
Paula M.
My husband and I had a very good meal here while visiting San Francisco. We stayed at the Mark Hopkins hotel, and it was a short stroll to the restaurant. I had the Carbonara with a side of brocolini. Both were fresh and flavorful. Perfect place for a date night
Gary Assim
Excellent food and very helpful staff. Convenient if you are staying at the Fairmont.
RobA
Personable, attentive service in a beautiful corner spot with cable cars and views of the Bay Bridge. We went for my wife's birthday and I had messaged to ask them to do what they could to make it special. They gave us a window seat with the spectacular view described above. The hostess and our waitress were awesome. The wine list was good with many lesser known local wineries, including our absolute favorite from the Russian River Valley, Pellegrini (2016 unoaked chardonnay). We ordered a beet salad and the special chickpea soup to start, both were delicious, perfect as starters to get you ready but not fill you up. For dinner, my wife got the wild mushroom pappardelle...she loved it (I loved tasting it), beautiful mushroom flavor in a light cream sauce that didn't overpower the homemade pasta. I ordered the pork chop on white beans with chimichurri sauce. Perfectly cooked...and the compliment of flavors was wonderful. We also ordered a side of roasted Brussels sprouts...now, I LOVE Brussels sprouts...like, crave them. These rank among the best I've ever had. We devoured them. Our waitress then brought a nice piece of their tiramisu with a single candle for dessert. It was light, delicate, and instead of chocolate, it had a wonderful caramel based sauce...oh so good! When we first arrived, there were 4 other tables with guests. By the time we left, it was full. The entire ambiance and experience was perfect for us...unhurried and personal. As we were leaving, we met a couple who wished my wife a happy birthday and asked if it was our first time there. They shared it was probably around their 20th time there. We talked about the dining experience and the hosts, how they create such a welcoming place with delicious food. It was our first time, but certainly won't be our last.
Mary B.
Wonderful spot, close to the Masonic for an East before-show dinner. Our server was perfect. I don't like dairy -- good luck with that in an Italian restaurant -- but she helped me find all the best non-dairy options. I had the tiger prawns and a beet salad -- both were delicious. My husband ordered the sausage pizza, which he loved. And the bread served with olive oil and balsamic was amazing -- super light and fresh. We mentioned that we would be going to a show and the server made a note of what time we wanted to be out by, and made sure we had our meal in plenty of time. I'm so glad we found this treasure, and will surely come back.
Isabella Zuber
Wonderful place Awesome food and service
Cara W.
A nice place for date night--especially if you're going to a show at the Masonic! The menu has a decent amount of vegetarian options and our waitress was able to answer our questions about it. We got the eggplant parmesan ($14) for our starter, and it was delicious! I really enjoyed the parmesan crisp! I got the pappardelle with mushroom ragu ($20)--highly recommend! So many mushrooms of all sorts! My fiancé got the carbonara ($20) (he's not a vegetarian) in a continuation of his ongoing quest to find one as good as he had in Italy. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to his hopes (a little saucier than expected) and the peas felt a little out of place amongst the other flavors. We also got tiramisu ($9) for dessert. This was the one truly disappointing item, with it lacking the usual richness and instead having a heavy chemically-citrusy flavor. Corkage is ($25) and we brought one of our favorite wines, so I can't speak to their wine list. The service was cordial and just the right amount of attentive. The location is only a couple blocks away from the Masonic, making it easy to walk to the venue from it (so you don't have to repark after dinner)! Additionally, the windows look out onto the street where cable cars pass by which makes a nice backdrop for the evening. Will likely be back when we're out to another show!
michaelw
Both the gnocchi and the Halibut were excellent and along with the beet salad and the Caesar Salad we had a delightful meal. The service was prompt and the wine list was satisfactory and gave numerous choices. A perfect spot for an authentic northern Italian meal.
Venticello is one of those special intimate neighborhood places that has stood the test of time and continues to thrive based on authenticity and excellence. The wine list is largely Italian, and our waiter steered us skillfully after asking what sort of wines we like to a great super tuscan which was both reasonable and delicious. I recommend it highly
Lily A.
Absolutely amazing restaurant. The food is great, we started with olives, the pear pizza and the watercress salad. I have never had watercress salad that is so deliciously done. We had the spaghetti carbonara and the halibut as well - all top class in presentation and taste. The service, our server was attentive, gracious and top rate.
Theater dining in between Harry Potter and the Cursed Child parts 1 & 2 at The Curran. Dinner was exquisite as always, beautiful atmosphere, and outstanding service. A MUST dinner destination in SF!!!
Lisa B.
just had dinner there this evening ~ pleasant experience overall - charming and intimate - the service was adequate tho could have been a bit more attentive. And the meal was quite tasty. However, having been in restaurant management previously, I perhaps am a tad exacting & critical - I had the tiger prawn appetizer - the flavor was delicious, but they were overcooked so a bit dry; the mushroom Ragu paparadelle good but a bit greasy; the biscotti for dessert was rather bland-I would've expected something a little more special like some almonds or almond flavoring or poppyseeds or something - however the whipped cream that came with them was quite good. Overall a really pleasant experience with some room for improvement~
TheGaloppingGormond2022
Classic OG northern Italian restaurant on Nob Hill. Not an extensive menu but very serviceable and they have fabulous pizzas with an authentic wood fire pizza oven. Cozy yet open space on the corner of the block.
This restaurant does not have an extensive menu but the margarheta pizza appetizer, the ciappino and special pasta of the day that we ordered were all delicious. The service was attentive and what I enjoy most is its relatively quiet environment as it is so difficult to find a restaurant with good Italian food where you could carry a conversation without yelling but this restaurant fits the bill. Enjoyed our dining there and will definitely be back...
Impeccable service. Dinner was elegantly plated and delicious. This is not a "family" style, huge portion, mediocre tasting chain type of restaurant. Great setting for a special night out or just dinner with the family. The place is small and cozy. Wait staff was attentive, but not over bearing. Thank you for a wonderful meal and night!
Impeccable service. Dinner was elegantly plated and delicious. This is not a "family" style, huge portion, mediocre tasting chain type of restaurant.
My husband and I had a very good meal here while visiting San Francisco. We stayed at the Mark Hopkins hotel, and it was a short stroll to the restaurant. I had the Carbonara with a side of brocolini. Both were fresh and flavorful. Perfect place for a date night
Excellent food and very helpful staff. Convenient if you are staying at the Fairmont.
Personable, attentive service in a beautiful corner spot with cable cars and views of the Bay Bridge. We went for my wife's birthday and I had messaged to ask them to do what they could to make it special. They gave us a window seat with the spectacular view described above. The hostess and our waitress were awesome. The wine list was good with many lesser known local wineries, including our absolute favorite from the Russian River Valley, Pellegrini (2016 unoaked chardonnay). We ordered a beet salad and the special chickpea soup to start, both were delicious, perfect as starters to get you ready but not fill you up. For dinner, my wife got the wild mushroom pappardelle...she loved it (I loved tasting it), beautiful mushroom flavor in a light cream sauce that didn't overpower the homemade pasta. I ordered the pork chop on white beans with chimichurri sauce. Perfectly cooked...and the compliment of flavors was wonderful. We also ordered a side of roasted Brussels sprouts...now, I LOVE Brussels sprouts...like, crave them. These rank among the best I've ever had. We devoured them. Our waitress then brought a nice piece of their tiramisu with a single candle for dessert. It was light, delicate, and instead of chocolate, it had a wonderful caramel based sauce...oh so good! When we first arrived, there were 4 other tables with guests. By the time we left, it was full. The entire ambiance and experience was perfect for us...unhurried and personal. As we were leaving, we met a couple who wished my wife a happy birthday and asked if it was our first time there. They shared it was probably around their 20th time there. We talked about the dining experience and the hosts, how they create such a welcoming place with delicious food. It was our first time, but certainly won't be our last.
Wonderful spot, close to the Masonic for an East before-show dinner. Our server was perfect. I don't like dairy -- good luck with that in an Italian restaurant -- but she helped me find all the best non-dairy options. I had the tiger prawns and a beet salad -- both were delicious. My husband ordered the sausage pizza, which he loved. And the bread served with olive oil and balsamic was amazing -- super light and fresh. We mentioned that we would be going to a show and the server made a note of what time we wanted to be out by, and made sure we had our meal in plenty of time. I'm so glad we found this treasure, and will surely come back.
Wonderful place Awesome food and service
A nice place for date night--especially if you're going to a show at the Masonic! The menu has a decent amount of vegetarian options and our waitress was able to answer our questions about it. We got the eggplant parmesan ($14) for our starter, and it was delicious! I really enjoyed the parmesan crisp! I got the pappardelle with mushroom ragu ($20)--highly recommend! So many mushrooms of all sorts! My fiancé got the carbonara ($20) (he's not a vegetarian) in a continuation of his ongoing quest to find one as good as he had in Italy. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to his hopes (a little saucier than expected) and the peas felt a little out of place amongst the other flavors. We also got tiramisu ($9) for dessert. This was the one truly disappointing item, with it lacking the usual richness and instead having a heavy chemically-citrusy flavor. Corkage is ($25) and we brought one of our favorite wines, so I can't speak to their wine list. The service was cordial and just the right amount of attentive. The location is only a couple blocks away from the Masonic, making it easy to walk to the venue from it (so you don't have to repark after dinner)! Additionally, the windows look out onto the street where cable cars pass by which makes a nice backdrop for the evening. Will likely be back when we're out to another show!
Both the gnocchi and the Halibut were excellent and along with the beet salad and the Caesar Salad we had a delightful meal. The service was prompt and the wine list was satisfactory and gave numerous choices. A perfect spot for an authentic northern Italian meal.
Restaurantji Recommends
Venticello is one of those special intimate neighborhood places that has stood the test of time and continues to thrive based on authenticity and excellence. The wine list is largely Italian, and our waiter steered us skillfully after asking what sort of wines we like to a great super tuscan which was both reasonable and delicious. I recommend it highly
Absolutely amazing restaurant. The food is great, we started with olives, the pear pizza and the watercress salad. I have never had watercress salad that is so deliciously done. We had the spaghetti carbonara and the halibut as well - all top class in presentation and taste. The service, our server was attentive, gracious and top rate.
Theater dining in between Harry Potter and the Cursed Child parts 1 & 2 at The Curran. Dinner was exquisite as always, beautiful atmosphere, and outstanding service. A MUST dinner destination in SF!!!
just had dinner there this evening ~ pleasant experience overall - charming and intimate - the service was adequate tho could have been a bit more attentive. And the meal was quite tasty. However, having been in restaurant management previously, I perhaps am a tad exacting & critical - I had the tiger prawn appetizer - the flavor was delicious, but they were overcooked so a bit dry; the mushroom Ragu paparadelle good but a bit greasy; the biscotti for dessert was rather bland-I would've expected something a little more special like some almonds or almond flavoring or poppyseeds or something - however the whipped cream that came with them was quite good. Overall a really pleasant experience with some room for improvement~
Classic OG northern Italian restaurant on Nob Hill. Not an extensive menu but very serviceable and they have fabulous pizzas with an authentic wood fire pizza oven. Cozy yet open space on the corner of the block.