An incredibly overpriced tourist trap, with a jazz gimmick. It’s a bit of a joke (and borderline offensive) among those who work in food-forward restaurants in San Francisco.
Pro-tip: when you also see *a lot* reviews mentioning an employee name, it's because they are asking folks for reviews, usually tourists, with a QR code. Their 3.6 stars on Yelp are generous, considering that they aggressively report low star reviews.
For the same price you can eat at a Michelin-starred restaurant in town for less, and not deal with the $75 bottles of wine that are $7 in stores (seriously — look up the wine list).
If you're in the market for an actually lovely Italian meal at a similar price point, try Seven Hills or Altovino. Or for a screaming deal and atmosphere — A Mano — or anything from the Back of House Group (e.g. Flores).
Edit in response to the owner’s reply:
(1) New ownership? Your website lists Krishan Miglani as the owner. Which has been the same since the mid-90s. Where the food seems to be stuck.
(2) It wasn’t classified as spam, it was filtered when I made an edit.
(3) Your response says everything anyone needs to know. Especially when high prices for mediocre, grocery store wines are public information.
Please do better.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Dan Beltramo
This place is tired and the food is mediocre. It is a waste of a dinner in SF. They even misrepresented items on the menu.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 3
kevin pierdant
Best mixed drinks in the city! Tyler the mixologist was a great host at the bar very knowledgeable all of his drinks are amazing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
a v
Thank you guys for everything. The service was amazing. Everyone we met in there working was soooo friendly and amazing! And the food was the absolute best! Super delicious and amazing. We are from Nevada and were in town visiting for our anniversary, the whole staff made us feel so special. Vibe was super intimate and perfect.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Timothy Reardon
Very attentive and charming staff. Excellent food. Lovely ambience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Heidi Haynes
A recent stay at the Donatello prompted us to dine in at Zinagari. We were a bit early for dinner service but the wait staff at the bar was very pleasant and sat us at a table. The jazz music was a nice touch. We ordered a glass of red wine it was excellent. We started with the polipo carpaccio. It was perfectly sliced seasoned and fresh. For main course we ordered the seafood angioletti. It was good although the creamy sauce with corn a bit unconventional. We also ordered the bread service. While tasty as far as garlic bread goes it is not a traditional bread. I agree with other reviews, surprisingly $$$$. It did help that our drinks were 1/2 price due to Happy Hour. Staff was very friendly and since it wasn’t busy everything arrived in a timely manner.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Pedro Vicente
The food was really good (nana’s pasta) and the prosciutto appetizers. The Italian wine recommended by the staff was smooth and liked by everyone in the table. The atmosphere and service were amazing back in the private dining room.
Disclosure: I’ve only been here twice for work events.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Hassan Aldarbesti
Zingari Steakhouse & Pasta Bar delivers an impressive dining experience anchored by exceptional Italian cuisine and outstanding service. The standout feature here is undoubtedly the pasta - authentically prepared with sauce that achieves absolute perfection. Each bite transports you straight to Italy with its rich, well-balanced flavors that clearly demonstrate the kitchen’s expertise and attention to traditional techniques.
The team at Zingari deserves special recognition. From the moment you walk in, the staff creates a welcoming atmosphere with their professionalism and genuine enthusiasm for the food they’re serving. Their knowledge of the menu and willingness to make recommendations enhances the overall dining experience significantly.
While the restaurant’s name suggests equal emphasis on both steak and pasta, the steak falls into “solid but unremarkable” territory. It’s certainly not bad - but it doesn’t quite reach the exceptional heights of their pasta offerings. For a steakhouse, this feels like a missed opportunity to truly excel in both specialties.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
daniel magay
My family and I had a delightful experience dining at Zingari and listening to the “MyGuy Trio” perform.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Andrea Novoa
I had the best pasta in San Francisco at Zingari! This spot truly delivers an authentic Italian dining experience elegant, cozy, and full of flavor. From the moment I walked in, the ambiance and live music set the tone for a perfect evening.
The pasta? Absolutely unforgettable. Fresh, perfectly al dente, and the sauce was rich and beautifully balanced true comfort in every bite. The service was also top-notch, warm and attentive without being overbearing.
If you're in San Francisco and craving real Italian food, Zingari is a must. Can’t wait to come back!
We booked a business dinner for 9 of us and it was great. Perfect service, great food and wine. Everyone had a great time and we will be sure to be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Arjun Mehta
We love coming to Zingari! Family owned and upscale vibe - Fancy dinner for a special occasion or even a chill night out when the wife is in the mood for a combo of Italian food and modern variety with a date night ambience. Food is spectacular - I love it when our family goes together because then we get to try an assortment of appetizers like the truffle and honey bruschetta, bruschetta al pomodoro, and crostini fichi with figs and honey! While my family loves the tried and true dishes like the salmon and fillet mignon, my wife and I are always in the mood for a different pasta.. they have a lot of options and they change occasionally so there’s always something fun to try. But one thing we all definitely agree on is the meatballs… suuuper yum and we always order more. The service…absolutely next level. Staff is super friendly, warm, delightful, and unbelievably above and beyond. We dined there on Thanksgiving once, and I had to make Mac n cheese for a potluck the next day and totally forgot to get… the cheese 🤦🏻♂️And all grocery stores were closed! When I asked the server for recommendations, the owner came back with 2 cups of Parmesan cheese for me to take home - no joke!!! Unreal!! I was blown away. And while I don’t expect most folks to run into that unique scenario, something more realistic is how they’re always happy to customize the pasta even when what you’re in the mood for isn’t quite on the menu! Highly recommend!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
David Landis
A great Italian offering in Union Square. Perfect for pre or post theatre. Delicious food and upscale atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Krishna Sagar
It's a nice place for team or group dinners. The food was nice, service was great. We did a team dinner here, we were seated in a separate room. Wine was nice!! It's real pricey through. I guess everything is in SFO.
$75 bottles that are $7 in stores.
An incredibly overpriced tourist trap, with a jazz gimmick. It’s a bit of a joke (and borderline offensive) among those who work in food-forward restaurants in San Francisco.
Pro-tip: when you also see *a lot* reviews mentioning an employee name, it's because they are asking folks for reviews, usually tourists, with a QR code. Their 3.6 stars on Yelp are generous, considering that they aggressively report low star reviews.
For the same price you can eat at a Michelin-starred restaurant in town for less, and not deal with the $75 bottles of wine that are $7 in stores (seriously — look up the wine list).
If you're in the market for an actually lovely Italian meal at a similar price point, try Seven Hills or Altovino. Or for a screaming deal and atmosphere — A Mano — or anything from the Back of House Group (e.g. Flores).
Edit in response to the owner’s reply:
(1) New ownership? Your website lists Krishan Miglani as the owner. Which has been the same since the mid-90s. Where the food seems to be stuck.
(2) It wasn’t classified as spam, it was filtered when I made an edit.
(3) Your response says everything anyone needs to know. Especially when high prices for mediocre, grocery store wines are public information.
Please do better.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
This place is tired and the food is mediocre. It is a waste of a dinner in SF. They even misrepresented items on the menu.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 3
Best mixed drinks in the city! Tyler the mixologist was a great host at the bar very knowledgeable all of his drinks are amazing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Thank you guys for everything. The service was amazing. Everyone we met in there working was soooo friendly and amazing! And the food was the absolute best! Super delicious and amazing. We are from Nevada and were in town visiting for our anniversary, the whole staff made us feel so special. Vibe was super intimate and perfect.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Very attentive and charming staff. Excellent food. Lovely ambience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A recent stay at the Donatello prompted us to dine in at Zinagari. We were a bit early for dinner service but the wait staff at the bar was very pleasant and sat us at a table. The jazz music was a nice touch. We ordered a glass of red wine it was excellent. We started with the polipo carpaccio. It was perfectly sliced seasoned and fresh. For main course we ordered the seafood angioletti. It was good although the creamy sauce with corn a bit unconventional. We also ordered the bread service. While tasty as far as garlic bread goes it is not a traditional bread. I agree with other reviews, surprisingly $$$$. It did help that our drinks were 1/2 price due to Happy Hour. Staff was very friendly and since it wasn’t busy everything arrived in a timely manner.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
The food was really good (nana’s pasta) and the prosciutto appetizers. The Italian wine recommended by the staff was smooth and liked by everyone in the table. The atmosphere and service were amazing back in the private dining room.
Disclosure: I’ve only been here twice for work events.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Zingari Steakhouse & Pasta Bar delivers an impressive dining experience anchored by exceptional Italian cuisine and outstanding service. The standout feature here is undoubtedly the pasta - authentically prepared with sauce that achieves absolute perfection. Each bite transports you straight to Italy with its rich, well-balanced flavors that clearly demonstrate the kitchen’s expertise and attention to traditional techniques.
The team at Zingari deserves special recognition. From the moment you walk in, the staff creates a welcoming atmosphere with their professionalism and genuine enthusiasm for the food they’re serving. Their knowledge of the menu and willingness to make recommendations enhances the overall dining experience significantly.
While the restaurant’s name suggests equal emphasis on both steak and pasta, the steak falls into “solid but unremarkable” territory. It’s certainly not bad - but it doesn’t quite reach the exceptional heights of their pasta offerings. For a steakhouse, this feels like a missed opportunity to truly excel in both specialties.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
My family and I had a delightful experience dining at Zingari and listening to the “MyGuy Trio” perform.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I had the best pasta in San Francisco at Zingari! This spot truly delivers an authentic Italian dining experience elegant, cozy, and full of flavor. From the moment I walked in, the ambiance and live music set the tone for a perfect evening.
The pasta? Absolutely unforgettable. Fresh, perfectly al dente, and the sauce was rich and beautifully balanced true comfort in every bite. The service was also top-notch, warm and attentive without being overbearing.
If you're in San Francisco and craving real Italian food, Zingari is a must. Can’t wait to come back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
We booked a business dinner for 9 of us and it was great. Perfect service, great food and wine. Everyone had a great time and we will be sure to be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We love coming to Zingari! Family owned and upscale vibe - Fancy dinner for a special occasion or even a chill night out when the wife is in the mood for a combo of Italian food and modern variety with a date night ambience. Food is spectacular - I love it when our family goes together because then we get to try an assortment of appetizers like the truffle and honey bruschetta, bruschetta al pomodoro, and crostini fichi with figs and honey! While my family loves the tried and true dishes like the salmon and fillet mignon, my wife and I are always in the mood for a different pasta.. they have a lot of options and they change occasionally so there’s always something fun to try. But one thing we all definitely agree on is the meatballs… suuuper yum and we always order more. The service…absolutely next level. Staff is super friendly, warm, delightful, and unbelievably above and beyond. We dined there on Thanksgiving once, and I had to make Mac n cheese for a potluck the next day and totally forgot to get… the cheese 🤦🏻♂️And all grocery stores were closed! When I asked the server for recommendations, the owner came back with 2 cups of Parmesan cheese for me to take home - no joke!!! Unreal!! I was blown away. And while I don’t expect most folks to run into that unique scenario, something more realistic is how they’re always happy to customize the pasta even when what you’re in the mood for isn’t quite on the menu! Highly recommend!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A great Italian offering in Union Square. Perfect for pre or post theatre. Delicious food and upscale atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
It's a nice place for team or group dinners. The food was nice, service was great. We did a team dinner here, we were seated in a separate room. Wine was nice!! It's real pricey through. I guess everything is in SFO.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Just a real class act.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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