50 Best Italian Restaurants near South San Francisco

“Charming restaurant inside a former bank.
I tried 3 course fixed price lunch for $24.

Starter is choice between house salad or soup of the day, an entree and dessert. There were 5-6 choices for entree including a vegetarian and seafood option. Dessert was choice of gelato or chocolate mousse

Everything was tasty and we got fresh bread while our food was being prepared. Normally I would say $24 is expensive for lunch but given the inflation as of late I thought this was reasonable given ambiance and quality of food. I probably should have saved 1/2 my entree so I could have enjoyed the mousse more. It was delicious but could only get a few bites in as I was so full by the time dessert came out.

You can order off the menu if 3course meal is not your preference. Pizza is only offered at dinner fyi.“

“Went there for date night. Between the food, the service and the atmosphere, we were both made to feel special. Thank you Buon Gusto!“

“The largest sandwich I’ve ever had at a deli, love the garlic spread. Excellent sandwich!“

“First time customer of Espostos catering, found through a recommendation on Nextdoor and so impressed with the presentation, value, quality and communication. We did a somewhat last minute order for a big party and it was a success! Will definitely be returning again and again.“

“The nachos with carne asada and a michelada! That is a perfect meal.

Vegetarian options: There are vegetarian and seafood options.

Kid-friendliness: We come with our grandkids and the staff is welcoming to us.

Wheelchair accessibility: There are no steps and the restaurant is at ground level.“

“Speedy's Pizza & Grill is a great spot for anyone craving delicious pasta and pizzas in South San francisco area. Their pasta dishes are well-prepared with rich, flavorful sauces and perfectly cooked noodles. The pizzas stand out with their generous toppings and a crust that strikes the right balance between chewy and crispy. Whether you’re grabbing a quick bite or enjoying a relaxed meal, They offers tasty, satisfying options at a good value. Friendly service and a casual atmosphere make it a go-to choice for pizza and pasta lovers.“

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

“Amazing service and food!!!!“

“Exceeded expectations. Extensive menu. Highly recommended!“

“Sorella is one of our favorite restaurants in SF. We're moving out in March, so we had to come back to it one last time, and, as with all the other times we have been there, it did not disappoint. 5 star service 5 star food and drinks 5 star setting What more could you ask? Shoutout to Jocyln for bringing us an extra treat at the end of the night and for being a great waitress. :) Timo“

“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.“

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

“Amazing service and food!!!!“

“Our foursome used to attend Zuni together regularly in the mid-late '90s. It's wonderful to see that Zuni has continued to exhibit the casual-chic serious-about-food but light-heartened ambiance that made it such a pleasure to since then. Unfortunately our long-planned revisit was seriously marred by the lax disinterest and frankly condescending attitude of our waiter, who shared his name as Martin. I had diligently made 12noon reservations for a Sunday that we 4 had a 2pm Ballet. I noted that in the reservation, requesting that we finish by 1:30. I arrived at 11:50, my former spouse at 11:55, and our long time friends at 12:10pm due to cab/rain delays. I ordered a French 75 upon my arrival (fresh lemon juice, but the champagne was flat). Everyone else ordered a beverage, and our main order was taken at 12:30pm: a shared Caesar, a burger, 2 orders of the scrambled eggs with crab, and the Sardines ordered for one of us as their entree. Nothing complicated. At 1pm, after lingering over the Caesar for 20 minutes, and all of us very hungry for our food, we asked if our food was on it's way. The waiter came over and rather than abologize for the 1/2 hour wait, told us he was aware of our ballet and our 30 minute leave time. Pretty dismissive, frankly. The burger and the sardines arrived at 1:10pm and were placed in front of the two men who ordered them. The remaining two women sat without their order for a full 41/2 minutes, finely able to eat their meals 45 minutes after ordering! They had exactly 10 minutes to wolf them down, ask for the check, pay the check. And leave. Apparently it never occured to "Martin" that guests might have thought, with a 90 minute lunch reservation, they would be able to actually enjoy the food they ordered, have a dessert and a coffee, and then leave. The food and wine itself (the cocktail being disappointing) was up to Zuni's high standards. If only we had had more than 15 minutes to enjoy it. An arrogant waiter can ruin it all.“

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

“GREAT SERVICE! They made me feel like family! The owner Carlos is such a nice and friendly man and the bar tender Gio was the sweetest gal! Everyone was so kind! And the food!!! 🤤🤤🤤 So good!! Like…memorable! Highly recommended! The desserts were just as good! ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

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

“We ordered Burrata cheese Arugula Anchovies, Baby Octopus stew, Seafood Squid Ink fregola Seared Lamb The lamb entree was delicious and the portion size was generous. Burrata cheese Arugula Anchovies salad was kind of oily They charged couple dollars extra for each order if you compare with their menu it was nice to get on house muscatel The service was good.“

“Updating my review to 5 stars on google maps (4.5 stars tho tbh because of the price/inconsistency of dishes), we had a great experience here recently. I think there are some dishes that are really standouts, and the others are a bit too expensive for how good they are. I would recommend amatriciana pizza, but more so the agnolotti pasta, really really good. Service was great, nice restaraunt“

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

“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. ❤️❤️❤️“

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

“A quaint, maybe even unassuming, Italian restaurant, that has a top notch kitchen and service. The menu cycles, but I have never been disappointed. Pizzas are outstanding, be they breakfast or lunch, and the all of the baked goods have clearly been perfected. Don't miss this spot, especially if you're a coffee connoisseur.“

“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“

“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!“

“I had a great time celebrating Valentine's Day with a couple of friends. Our main plan was to attend the Sam Smith concert, so we stopped in for some pre-concert bites. The staff was incredibly accommodating, especially considering how busy Valentine's Day is for the restaurant industry. I always appreciate when servers help with recommendations, and our waitress was extremely helpful, suggesting delicious options even as we kept our meal light (we didn't want to be in a food coma during the concert!). Everything we tried was wonderful. I would love to come back and explore more of their menu. I definitely recommend this place!“

“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!“

“(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.“

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

“Great team of real Pros! Husband Chef, Wife Wine Steward & Saul, my friend, Front of House…Outstanding!“

“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!🍷“

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

“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!“

“Being a vegetarian, we had a fantastic experience at Che Fico.

Here’s what we ordered:

Mocktails
• Tiramanto – Excellent, not too sweet.
• Morso Di Vipera – Slightly on the tangy side, but still very enjoyable

Appetizer
• Focaccia – A must-try. Easily one of the best bread and mascarpone combinations I’ve had

Main Course
• Orecchiette Pasta – The only egg-free pasta option. Super tangy in flavor, and the portion felt tiny for the $36 price
• Margherita Pizza – Another must-try, especially with their chili bomba

Overall: Amazing food and a great spot for vegetarians. Highly recommended!“

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

“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!“

“We've been coming here for years. The food is of good quality, portions, presentation and flavor.
They have a large back room for banquets.
The staff has always been great! Marta took excellent care of us. After being away for so long, it's nice to come back and know, we will always have a good meal.“

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

“Great food and great service“

“Consistently incredible food, consistently incredible ingredients for takeout dinners, consistently incredible and amazingly helpful and kind staff. I think this place knocks it out of the park, every time I come in I find something new to appreciate.“

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

“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😋“

“Delicious food, great drinks and amazing service.“

“Very nice portions and very friendly! Enjoyed the people and the food!“

“We loved the food and casual vibe at Manzoni with the owner serving as the host and only server for the entire restaurant! The food was very authentic and delicious. Ravioli with cream sauce eggplant appetizer and the tiramisu were our favorite dishes“

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

“Beautiful locale, cozy and delicious food.“

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