50 Best Italian Restaurants near South San Francisco

“Nice unassuming Italian restaurant in downtown South San Francisco, the sunny quaint enclave known as the birthplace of biotechnology located in a former bank, hence the name, Andiamo in banca. I dined there for lunch with a friend. I enjoyed the fried calamari appetizer which came with a tomato-ranch style dipping sauce. It was hot, crispy and delicious. I had the mushroom ravioli with truffle cream sauce and my friend had an arugula salad with chicken breast. My ravioli was full of mushrooms and earthy flavor and the cream sauce had just the right amount of truffle essence. My friend enjoyed his salad as well. The lunch came with fresh crusty real sourdough Italian bread with a basil-infused olive oil dipping sauce. Parking on street is easy to find and service was attentive and unobtrusive. All in all a great experience and highly recommended!“

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

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

“Been putting off this small but annoying issue with my oven for way too long. Finally gave them a call for some routine maintenance and they came through quickly. Diagnosed what was wrong in no time and had it fixed without any fuss. Feeling so relieved not to stress over it anymore!“

“WOW, porchetta sammie in the Castro? Ridiculously delicious, like you need to order. Not traditional italian porchetta slices of meat, but even better, chunky cuts of buttery tender goodness. Solid smoke aroma and taste without being overbearing. You get a slight tang of the vinegar mop, but again, not overbearing or distracting. We also ordered smashburgers and those were good, but for me the star was the pork.

I'd like to try the trio sampler or go full on into the pastrami on rye! I hear the pizza square is also pretty tasty.

Great addition to the Castro! Finally, great food options and Johnnie's is absolutely a destination! It's true passion people, when you love what you do (BBQ/Smoke meats), it shows! Keep the que going! Best in the city!“

“Absolutely amazing experience! The pizza was so good, and the service was even better. The young gentleman Yacoub was incredibly helpful, friendly, and made us feel really welcome. I also love that they’re open late, perfect spot for those weekend nights. I’ll definitely be coming back again! Highly recommend! 🍕🔥“

“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!“

“We had the most wonderful dinner at Sorella. The food was amazing, but the best part was our server Luca. She was absolutely incredible - so kind, so fun, so caring, so funny! @whoever is reading this, please give her a raise and promote her. Luca is the best!!!!“

“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.“

“Amazing service and food!!!!“

“a little skeptical coming after hearing mixed reviews but flour and water surprised me in the best way possible.

service was top tier with our server providing detailed recommendations. loved the complimentary sparkling water that was specifically mentioned.

all of the filled pastas were top tier!

carrot agnolotti: reminiscent of a cozy fall, had great spices and flavors. perfectly cooked pasta.

rainbow scarpinocc: the famous signature dish was tasty but honestly expected a little more. would still recommend though

porcini gnochetti sardi: highly recommend. creamy, rich, al dente pasta

budino: don’t typically like chocolate but wasn’t too sweet and decadent.“

“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!“

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

“What a great little find! It was great food. When I asked for a suggestion on wine; our waiter was so nice and asked me a few questions as to what I liked and gave me a great Pinot I loved! No judgements on my lack of familiarity with wines. The squid ink sauce was incredible!!!!“

“Iconic SF bistro famous for wood-fired roast chicken. Fresh seasonal local ingredients, laid-back casual vibe. Copper bar and warm lighting make it great for casual dates or small group meals. Service steady, totally a classic Bay Area spot you shouldn’t skip.“

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

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

“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! ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Very solid and unassuming Italian restaurants! The rigatoni with pink sauce reminds me of the pasta from Aquarello, which holds two Michelin stars, but is much more balanced in flavor. Their polpo is super tender, and I have to say that their panne cotta is probably the best one I’ve ever had! Perfect balance in sweetness and texture. Will definitely come back!“

“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. ❤️❤️❤️“

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

“Great atmosphere, very friendly servers and of course Delicious Italian pizza😋“

“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!“

“We’re visiting from out of town, and I came here with a friend who drove in from San Jose to spend the day with. We went on a Saturday for brunch, and we got the breakfast pizza to share with a side of bacon and roasted potatoes. The pizza and bacon were delicious, but the potatoes I would pass. I think they were over cooked and bland.

Also got a cafe au lait, and it was served in bowl! Super cute.“

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

“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“

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

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

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

“(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 Rustic is the best restaurant in San Francisco that you haven’t yet heard of. Whether you learn of it from this review or from your friends who won’t stop talking about it, you will hear about it eventually. The only question is if you will get in and try it before it’s crowded every day.

Between the staff, the ambiance, and the food, you can’t look anywhere without seeing the care and love being put into what they are building here. If you can’t see it, I’m sorry, but you’re either blind or just not looking hard enough.

Do yourself a favor and try the Porcini Ravioli. Their best dish in my opinion. Though, that is not to say the rest of their food is anything less than some of the best Italian food I’ve ever had. The fried chicken is also to die for, both of which I got tonight.

They also are happy to accommodate family style dining, which was great when I was here one Wednesday with my family. By tomorrow night (Sunday) I’ll have been here three days this week, and I have absolutely no regrets about that decision. Every moment I spend here gives me the peace I’ve been looking for in this city.

If my review can’t convince you it’s worth it to try a good thing, then nothing will.“

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

“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!🍷“

“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!“

“Great food and great service“

“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!“

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

“I would have given them six stars if I could. Their service was impeccable. I felt like I was being adopted by an Italian family because the owner was sharing with us about his life and all the dogs he had.

Food was so legit, we got the lasagna, tortellini, bombolotti, cabonara. Tortellini and lasagna were my favourite.

Extremely dog friendly too! I brought my dog Enzo and the chef, the owner, the waiter all took turns to greet him and play with him. He’s a puppy and we were trying to socialize him by bringing him out. They were really understanding when he took some time to settle down.

Highly recommend this place. We will be back!“

“Ok so this is just a really nice little place. Feels like a place you can come back to and they will remember you. The server (Carlos) was super nice, just nothing negative to say whatsoever. The food was good. The general atmosphere was so very inviting.

Just such a nice little place.

I would have given it 5 stars but they don’t make meatballs… big sad. But the bruschetta is A+.

I will be back to this place very soon.“

“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!!!“

“Exceptional food, memorable staff, with warm music“

“Delicious food, great drinks and amazing service.“

“Cute quaint delicious & authentic!! Truly a neighborhood gem kind of place. The owner is waiting tables himself and really cares about the customer experience. We felt transported back to Italy. Homemade pastas, high quality olive oil, delicious taste, great value. We ordered the clam pasta in a white wine sauce and the gnocchi. Thank you for an amazing experience Manhal!“

“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.“

“I got the Italian Panino delivered and I can’t rave enough about this amazing sandwich. The ciabatta is perfect, all the ingredients tasted so fresh. The veggies didn’t get soggy or weird. My friend got the chicken panino and also was obsessed. We’ll be ordering again for sure!“