Italian Restaurants

Located in San Francisco's Hotel Vitale, Americano's menu is deeply rooted in Italian tradition. Using only market fresh ingredients, Chef Paul Arenstam entices diners with handmade pasta and bakers pies, while still showcasing locally grown, seasonal products. Americano is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner while also providing a trendy spot for an after work drink. The cocktail lounge's unique circular design coupled with the dynamic panoramic bay view creates a strikingly modern atmosphere. In contrast, the dining room's natural wood and dramatic arches create a comfortable and alluring dining atmosphere. Americano also provides an outdoor patio with a …

At Palomino, guests can feel like they’re visiting the happiest place on earth. With a menu boasting “The Everyday Happy Hour,” Palomino’s suggests pairing their all day $5 drink specials with a special brand of upscale bar snacks such as Prosciutto Flatbread, Dungeness Crab and Artichoke Dip, and Potatoes Gorgonzola. Who can resist? Palomino serves up California style cuisine with a touch of something special. With selections for both lunch and dinner, patrons can drool over their signature entrée’s, steaks, pastas, and pizzas—more notably their Wild Mushroom, Cured Ham, and Goat Cheese Flatbread, a customer favorite. Located on San Francisco’s …

Manned by a staff devoted to quality, authenticity, and hospitality, Flour + Water embodies Old World expertise carried out in a casual and contemporary setting. Truly thoughtful design is not only behind the restaurant’s urban eclectic décor, but it’s also present in every ingredient that goes into each dish on the fine-tuned menu. The meats are cured in-house and the pizzas are served exclusively Neapolitan style. And as memorable as the pizza is, the in-house made pasta is another prize. Flour + Water also works hard to make wine accessible and inviting, pouring glasses of quality drink for all to …

Vampires beware! The Stinking Rose is known throughout San Francisco as being the number one restaurant for fans of garlic and excellent food. Located in North Beach, the restaurant goes through over 3,000 pounds of the garlic each month, and diners visit again and again to indulge in the Californian-Italian cuisine. The Stinking Rose is best known for its Dungeness Killer Crab: a fresh crab weighing over two pounds and roasted in a secret garlic sauce until succulent and juicy. The garlicky goodness extends to the rest of the restaurant’s menu, which includes seafood skillets, tureens, surf and turf, pastas, …

With its yellow walls and bright interior, Frascati fosters a sense of joy within its doors. Multiple levels allow a more open and welcoming dining room with plenty of space for diners to enjoy the Mediterranean inspired coastal cuisines available at this restaurant. In the spirit of appreciating the seasons, Frascati’s menu changes seasonally, with an emphasis placed upon paying homage to the freshest ingredients. Guests can still enjoy the staple ingredient of many popular dishes; however, they come paired with the vegetable superstars of the season. Because of an ever-changing dinner menu, many wines are only available seasonally as …

North Beach Restaurant opened in 1970 and is renown for its authentic Tuscan cuisine. Their menu showcases a vast array of Italian-Tuscan dishes and provides a taste that is unmatched compared to other Italian restaurants. North Beach Restaurant’s décor surrounds guests with relaxing Tuscan-style ambiance, like original Tucsonan works of art, exquisite Florentine floor tiles, Carrara marble, and Venetian granite. North Beach Restaurant has 4 dining rooms including 3 banquet rooms ideal for conventions, business meetings, and parties. Their wine list features over 500 bottles wine with other options like Premiere Grappas, Ports, and Congnacs.

Restaurateur and pastry master Gary Rulli wanted to mimic the Italian ristobars that offer a casual, comfortable neighborhood gathering place where friends and family can take, eat, and drink. Thus, he opened Ristobar in Cow Hollow, serving rustic Italian cuisine and artisanal pizza. Utilizing only the best products, Ristobar creates satisfying dishes like Spaghetti Alla Scoglio and traditional styled Agnolotti. Risobar also serves wine choice from famous wineries, mainly from Italy and other European countries.

Opened in the summer of 2010, Zero Zero in the SOMA neighborhood takes traditional Neapolitan pizza using California ingredients and flavor combinations. Named “Calipolitan” by Head Chef Bruce Hill, Zero Zero uses only the highest quality components, made in house, local or imported straight from Italy in their pizzas. Aside from their Calipolitan style pizzas, Zero Zero has a wide variety of Italian dishes using local produce mixed with Italian herbs and spices. End the night with Hill’s signature organic soft-serve made from proprietary Straus Dairy Farms ice cream blend in chocolate or vanilla. Zero Zero offers a unique tasting …

Cotogna has many features to offer hungry diners: authentic Italian cuisine, late hours, and a convenient location in Jackson Square. As if that weren’t enough, the classic brick walls add another pleasing aspect to the already welcoming décor. Bar dining affords guests an up-close view of the open kitchen, including a classic pizza oven. But pizza isn’t all that Cotogna is serving up: patrons can choose from a list of lunch and dinner options daily, with a special Sunday Supper menu available weekly. Because Cotogna strives to use fresh ingredients, the lunch and dinner menus are subject to change. However, …

With a graduate from a culinary school in Rome as the owner and chef, Allegro Romano is a restaurant where modern décor meets traditional flavors.With time-honored classics such as Bruschetta alla Romana, grilled Italian bread served with garlic and tomatoes, and Homemade Lobster Ravioli gracing the menu of this restaurant, diners’ taste buds will be taken on a culinary adventure through Italian cuisines. This pasta heavy menu affords a number of meatless dishes for the vegetarian to enjoy. Allegro Romano boasts that it is out of the way of many tourist heavy areas in San Francisco, resulting in an oasis …

Walking into Firenze by Night feels almost as if one is walking into a little piece of Italy located in the middle of North Beach. Eager waiters are ready to seat guests at tables with classic presentation atop a crisp white tablecloth. Firenze by Night is not just known for its service and exceptional décor; it is also known for its list of award-winning pastas. These include Firenze by Night’s Gnocchi Firenze, which are potato dumplings in a light tomato cream sauce, and Pappardelle Toscana, pasta in a rabbit sauce. Vegetarian options are also available, such as the Fettuccine Pesto …

Bambino’s Ristorante is one of the oldest restaurants in the Cole Valley neighborhood. With its commitment to traditional Italian dishes and cooking methods, it is no wonder that this restaurant has succeeded—the dinner menu offers guests a healthy blend of soups, salads, and pasta dishes. Gluttons never fear: this menu also features rich and decadent options such as the Gnocchi di Ricotta or the Pancetta Wrapped Filet Mignon. Seasonal prix fixe menus are available weekly, allowing new guests to get a taste of some of the best dishes at Bambino’s. While the lunch menu also offers many traditional pasta dishes, …

Venticello Ristorante is probably the best kept secret restaurant in San Francisco. Located atop Nob Hill, Venticello is an Italian restaurant that offers an intimate atmosphere that is reminiscent of a countryside farmhouse in Tuscan. Walking distance from many key mark sites like Mark Hopkins and Fairmont Hotels, Venticello is noted as one of the most romantic restaurants in SF. Above the main dining area, Venticello has a bar fully stocked with distilled spirits and the finest Italian and California wines. Venticello is a perfect dining establishment for a romantic outing with your significant other.

Luckily for diners, the mere name Cafe Tiramisu evokes taste sensations that can actually be found when one visits the restaurant. Located on Belden Place in the Financial District, Cafe Tiramisu offers surprisingly traditional Northern Italian cuisine in a quaint yet upscale cafe atmosphere. The mellow setting and casual atmosphere is suited for those that enjoy dining and conversing at their own leisure and appreciate a more liberating dining experience. Cafe Tiramisu is best known for its fresh, handmade pastas as well as the delicious local seafood that is used in its dishes. It's also known for the quality of …

Poesia, located in the Castro district, is known as not only an Italian restaurant, but also as a full bar and poetry lounge. The atmosphere of the restaurant itself is poetic, with an expertly decorated dining room that radiates warmth. Lucky diners may even get seated in a cozy nook hidden away in a romantic corner of the restaurant. Poesia makes their pasta fresh daily, resulting in inventive and authentic tasting dishes. Although the menu changes weekly, hungry guests can find a variety of traditional pasta dishes such as Ravioli, Fettuccine, and Gnocchi. These pastas come accompanied by the freshest …

Tucked away in a discrete location on Columbus Ave, Franchino Ristorante serves authentic Italian cuisine. Compared to the other gaudy Italian restaurants in the area, Franchino provides their guests an environment that is quaint, and very cozy. The establishment provides a setting for an intimate night with friends and family. Franchino Ristorante has dishes that are equal to true Italian cuisine made in the homeland. Their Gnocchi with Gorgonzola sauce offers patrons a taste and feel that could only be found in Italy.

Friendly servers and classic décor take guests of Capannina through a tour of Italy during their dinner at this ristorante Italiano. Two menus serve to entice diners in this cozy atmosphere: a three-course prix fixe menu and an a la carte menu. Both feature well thought out dishes that are heavily influenced by Italian traditions. The prix fixe menu starts diners off with either the Soup of the Day or the House Salad before they dive into their choice of entrees from a list featuring options such as the Pappardelle with Mushrooms and Wild Boar Ragu and the Grilled Salmon. …

Checkered floors and quaint, indoor flower boxes set the stage for traditional northern Italian cuisine in a comfortable, family-like atmosphere at Ristorante Milano of Nob Hill. Brightly painted walls capture light from the large windows to help create a bright and welcoming space. With an owner and executive chef that was born and raised in Rome, it is no wonder that this restaurant has gotten a reputation for the authenticity of its dishes. Ristorante Milano is particularly hailed for its Tiramisu dessert and Gnocchi con Salsa Aurora, a dish that consists of fresh, homemade gnocchi with fresh tomatoes. Many of …

Don’t let the size fool you, the intimate space of Trattoria La Siciliana really hums. Resembling more an authentic Sicilian kitchen than a bustling Berkeley eatery, this tiny restaurant buzzes with conversation and huge portions of Italian cuisine. In a world full of just restaurants, it’s nice to find a place where one can feel at home. Saucy, garlic-laden comfort food is the order of the day in this cash only establishment, but make sure there is room for dessert… tira misu is not a dish to be avoided lightly.

Postino of the East Bay is an Italian restaurant located in a picturesque and historic building covered in ivy vines. The interior features classic brick walls and high ceilings, filled with traditional wooden dining tables set up in different dining areas. These smaller dining rooms contribute to the feeling of intimacy when dining in this family-oriented restaurant. Guests can also take advantage of the patio that comes equipped with a fire pit that is ideal for nighttime or chillier days. This Italian restaurant is known for its pasta as well as its other entrée options, such as the Coda Di …