Best Italian Restaurants In San Francisco
Pasta (credit: OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/Getty Images)
The city of San Francisco is home to no shortage of fantastic Italian restaurants. Even beyond the borders of North Beach's Little Italy, Italian foodies can find delicious options for a hearty lunch or dinner. Restaurant options abound from those specializing in Northern or Southern Italian cuisine, to the staunchly traditional or more modernized for American palettes. Here is a list of five of San Francisco's hottest Italian joints. For even more ideas, check out this previous list.
489 3rd St.
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 512-0300
www.labriciola-sf.com
Located in SOMA, La Briciola specializes in Northern Italian cuisine, specifically from the regions of Piedmont and Tuscany. It is open for dinner seven days a week and lunch Monday through Friday. The menu includes a tantalizing variety of handmade pasta, seafood and meat dishes. Secondi options include everything from filet mignon and rack of lamb to veal and stewed rabbit. Reservations are recommended for dinner hours.
3854 Geary Blvd.
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 221-0305
www.bellatrattoriasf.com
An inviting neighborhood spot, Bella Trattoria is located in the inner Richmond. When the weather is warm, French doors open up to a smattering of outdoor tables for a street-side al fresco dining experience. The friendly waitstaff serves up traditional Italian favorites like lasagna, carbonara and osso bucco. Adventurous diners will enjoy sampling handmade squid ink pasta or anchovies with chili oil and capers.
1001 Minnesota St.
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 824-4224
piccino.com
Open six days a week, Tuesday through Sunday, Piccino is located in the Dogpatch area of Potrero Hill. This bright and airy restaurant is known for its thin-crust Italian pizzas and polpette meatballs. Fresh organic produce is featured throughout the menu, and the wine list includes a variety of Italian and French wines. Dog-friendly outdoor seating is available.
San Remo Hotel
2237 Mason St.
San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 986-1886
www.fior.com
Having originally opened in 1886, Fior d'Italia holds the title of the city's oldest Italian restaurant. In addition to surviving numerous relocations and several fires, this cultural institution also served up comforting bowls of soup to locals just a day after the famous quake of 1906. Now located in North Beach on Mason St., diners flock to Flor d'Italia's for its historical feel, upscale ambiance and authentic Northern Italian dishes. The extensive menu includes everything from freshly-made ravioli Bolognese and risotto Milanese to veal scaloppini and homemade gnocchi. The restaurant boasts a full bar and a happy hour that runs seven days a week from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
550 Green St.
San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 433-5800
www.vicolettosf.com
Also located in North Beach, Vicoletto serves up Italian eats with a more modern, homey twist. The Calabrian cuisine menu includes everything from house made sausages and meatballs to squid ink pasta and lobster ravioli. Worth every penny of its $18 price tag is the freshly imported Burrata appetizer. The wine list offers an affordable selection of both Calabrian and other regional Italian wines, in addition to a number of sparkling bottles.
