Italian Restaurants

Kuleto’s embodies the vintage charm and refined class of historic San Francisco. Lavish marble floors and cathedral-like vaulted ceilings greet diners and immediately plunge them into an atmosphere of sublime sophistication. A 40-foot-long carved wood bar is a highlight, transported from the Palace Hotel and steeped in a history that precedes the 1906 earthquake. While the atmosphere is almost regal in its ostentation, Kuleto’s Northern Italian-inspired menu embodies the satisfaction of a home-cooked meal, albeit with masterful execution. Kuleto’s is an exercise in true sensual gratification, an immensely pleasurable feast for the eyes and the taste buds.

Even the most avid diner might be surprised how many types of cuisine have come out of the culinary paradise known as Italy. While it might be difficult to tell the difference between styles of cooking, guests at A16 will remember the signature delicacies of the Campania region in Southern Italy. Located on Chestnut Street in the Marina neighborhood, A16 presents the finest Southern Italian dishes in San Francisco, crafted by talented chefs and served by a friendly wait staff. Whether diners are stopping in to meet friends for a glass of wine and appetizers, or enjoying a celebratory meal, …

Delfina Restaurant sits nestled in the heart of the Mission district among a large range of trend-setting and highly regarded bistros, brasseries, trattorias, rosticerias, taquerias, pizzerias, and eateries. With a menu presented in the traditional Italian style, Executive Chef Craig Stoll creates relatively fine-tuned dishes that explore the entire country of Italy with local, lavish ingredients. Low-level lighting, shiny steel tabletops, a beautiful mosaic of small blue tiles behind the bar, a garden patio, and an open kitchen create an unpretentious exquisiteness that flows through to the wait staff and makes for good meal.

When it comes to restaurants, Zuni Café is a San Francisco institution. Its warm and inviting space, unpretentious feel, and delicious food are reasons to come back again and again. Judy Rogers cooks the way mom might if she had access to all the best produce and hours of time. Whether it is the classic Chicken-For-Two with a side of bread salad, a perfect cut of meat, or the heavenly Ricotta Gnocchi, the dishes are all wonderfully executed and mouth-watering. It’s near impossible to sample everything San Francisco has to offer, but if you’ve had a chance to dine at …

Located in the Westin Hotel on Market Street, Ducca presents an innovative menu featuring many of Italy’s culinary staples. Guests can dine under the sparkling chandeliers or enjoy the popular style of bar dining, as seen in the Veneto region. Chef Erica Holland-Toll crafts a variety of mouth watering dishes that are geared to leave even the most discriminating foodie satisfied. The wine list highlights the dual regional influence, with a focus on Italian and California vintages offered by the glass and bottle. The Venetian inspired décor (take note of the gold forks), combined with impeccable service and delicious cuisine, …

With Rome-style cuisine and the atmosphere of a lively trattoria, a night at SPQR in the Pacific Heights neighborhood feels like a night in Rome. House-made semolina pastas, fresh vegetables, exotic cuts of meat, an all-Italian wine list, and plenty of Umbrian olive oil ensure that SPQR’s simple dishes are anything but ordinary. Executive Chef Nate Appleton, also of sister restaurant A16, serves the traditional ingredients and recipes that have made Rome an epicurean epicenter for thousands of years.

Rustic Italian cuisine takes root on California soil, and shines with a perfect balance of Old World charm and contemporary sophistication. Every aspect of the dining experience Incanto offers is a thoughtful expression of bettering the meal for all involved. The water is filtered and carbonated in-house, and the produce and meats used are sustainably grown and harvested. Also, “odd cuts” of meat are highlighted on the menu to both invigorate the palate and honor the animal. The Warm Pig’s Head Salad is sure to intrigue diners, while the Whole Roasted Local Sardines is a tantalizing prospect, indeed.

As Executive Chef and Owner Staffan Terje says, "You don’t choose who you fall in love with." To that same affect, diners may not have a choice but to swoon over the elegant experience a visit to Perbacco promises. A romantic ambiance is achieved through the restaurant’s showcase of exposed brick walls, high ceilings, and opulent accents of marble. Chef Terje’s menu delights the palate just as the décor treats the eyes, and presents a truly authentic selection of Italian dishes. For example, the Coniglio Al Civet, or Devil’s Gulch Rabbit, is rich and rustic in a spiced red wine …

Revel in an eating scene that encourages patrons to try new tastes and strengthen bonds by sharing plates, at Pesce. This Venetian cuisine-inspired restaurant relies on the freshest ingredients and high quality fish and meat to serve the equivalent of Spanish tapas with a varied Cicchetti menu of hot and cold dishes. These miniature entrees may be petite, but their flavor is anything but timid. The cold Cicchetti selection offers such delicacies as the Alici Bruschette (white anchovies, olives, and roasted peppers), while the hot menu hoasts the Tortino (a saffron risotto cake with Dungeness crab meat).

Under the direction of chef and owner Michael Tusk, Quince is revitalizing a sense of European charm in Pacific Heights. Utilizing only the finest organic, local, and seasonal, ingredients, Chef Tusk creates a new menu each day to exemplify his Italian and French-inspired culinary sensibility. Diners will never experience the same meal twice, but they will always recognize familiar notes of Chef Tusk’s vision. Dishes like the Warm Octopus Salad, the Tonnarelli, and the Devil’s Gulch Rabbit, deliver the classic elegance of fine Parisian fare minus the haute pretense. The ever-changing tasting menu pairs the intricacies of flavors with the …

Whether you’re joining friends for a great conversation over better bites and wine, or you’d like to savor an intimate moment with a fine meal, Terzo will surely accommodate. The elegant and vibrant dining space is home to a custom-made zinc bar, a communal wine-tasting table, and a variety of small party tables. The Pan-Mediterranean cuisine menu features small plates like the Seared Monterey Calamari and the Grilled Halloumi Cheese. Large plates include the Grilled Steelhead Salmon, the Grilled Organic Pork Chop, and the Linguine alla Carbonara. Some of the sweet treats are the Chocolate Chaud, the Fresh Ginger Cake, …

Old World elegance woos modern sophistication at Scala’s Bistro through an ambience and menu that prizes classic presentation and quality. Rustic Northern Italian and Southern French influences converge in the restaurant’s traditional Parisian café setting, and Executive Chef Tim Nugent takes the opportunity to bring the European countryside to his patrons. Dishes like the Beef Carpaccio, Lemon Parsley Gnocchi, and the Seared ‘Loch Duart’ Salmon, hope to seduce you with their fresh and seasonal ingredients, while the 150 bottle wine list and classic cocktail menu compliment the cuisine and offer their own unique rewards.

Order a spread of small, fresh, and tasty, dishes; opt for a quartino of wine to share with friends, and settle in to a relaxing evening at Uva Enoteca. Boris Nemchenok and Ben Hetzel have joined forces and combined their two passions – fine wine and food – to create an environment that celebrates simplicity, company, and quality. Paying homage to its roots, Uva Enoteca relies on classic Italian dishes and wine: meat selections include the Cappocollo, and the Prosciutto di Parma; cheese samplings include the Sampietrino, the Blu del monceniso, and the Montes; other plates are the Funghi Selvatici …

Taste another side of Italy at La Ciccia, where the flavors of the island of Sardinia take center stage. Husband and wife team, Massimiliano Conti and Lorella Degan, introduce patrons to the tastes of their home land, and retain authentic cooking styles and ingredients. The Fregua cun Cozzasa e Zaffaranu is a fregula with mussels in a tomato sauce with San Gavino saffron, and the Pezza de Angioni cun Tuvara is a seared lamb tenderloin with mushrooms. Over a quarter of the Italian-centric wine list is devoted exclusively to Sardinia labels, and the earthy tones of the drink selections only …

Classic Roman Italian cuisine is balanced against the modern and sleek setting of Chiaroscuro Ristorante’s dining space, and reflects an artistic appreciation for contrasting visual elements that bring life to otherwise two-dimensional spaces. Chef Alessandro Campitelli ensures that his dishes are anything but flat by combining flavorful and fresh ingredients to compose specialties like the Tagliolini All’Amatriciana, homemade pasta mixed with caramelized onions, imported guanciale tomatoes, and romano cheese, and the Abbacchio Alla Griglia, grilled Australian lamb served with a polenta soufflé topped with a baked egg and gorgonzola cheese.

While traditional, classic, Italian cuisine has been a hit with diners all over the world for centuries, the owners and chefs at È Tutto Qua strive to infuse cutting edge recipes and techniques from Rome into their menu. Located in the heart of North Beach, È Tutto Qua does an excellent job keeping up with the latest trends in Italy, but the focus is always on quality ingredients and superb service. Meats and fish arrive fresh daily, pasta is made in-house from scratch, and many ingredients aren't added to your dish until right before it heads to your table. Knowing …

Zingari means Gypsy in Italian, and translates well into the charming and relaxing atmosphere this Northern Italian-inspired eatery offers. Nestled in the heart of the Theatre District, Zingari encourages diners to eat, drink, unwind, and enjoy. A twice-daily happy hour and live jazz five nights a week are reason enough to visit, but the heartfelt menu keeps patrons coming back. Nightly dishes include the Fritto Misto (Crispy fried calamari), the Linguine Con Vongole (with manila clams), and the Ossobuco Di Cinghiale (slow braised wild boar). All wines are offered by the glass, and the cocktail menu balances old-Faithfull’s with new …

Located just off San Francisco’s famous Lombard Street, Bistro Aix is bursting with new flavors .These organic dishes are created nightly using fresh ingredients from local growers. . Bistro Aix’s Californian twist on French Provencal food traditions present guests with a taste of this Northern region right here in California. The restaurant’s focus on olive oil and fresh organic products allows for unique menu flexibility and variety in which the chef’s versatility shines. Dishes are intriguing and invite diners to try an old favorite with a new age spin. Bistro Aix provides an intimate and simple and comfortable atmosphere in …

Set in an old transformed warehouse in SoMa, just a mere block from the Moscone Convention Center, Restaurant Lulu evokes the feeling of being in Provence while still staying true to its urban cityscape. Most notably recognized for its wine selection, this French eatery boasts a selection of 500 bottles and over 70 wines by the glass from all around the world, and a slew of awards from Wine Spectator. The seasonal Provençal menu is served family-style on rustic blond wood tables, the bold flavors of the food the ideal complement to the colorful and contemporary space it occupies.

Located in Hayes Valley, Absinthe Brasserie & Bar combines elements of fine French dining with the laid back atmosphere of a Parisian café. Absinthe recalls an earlier time when food and spirits were homemade and without preservatives, and when one could dine on a fine meal without worrying about all the etiquette. The name itself brings to mind nostalgia of a time long past, but certainly not forgotten. The pressed tin ceilings and copper table tops shine amidst the traditional French design and are an ideal setting for the restaurant’s American-inspired French and Northern Italian cuisine.