SFist: Ask SFist: Italian Dining

August 10, 2007

Ask SFist: Italian Dining

Since we barely digest our own food, much less eat in public for fear people might find us shoveling heaps of it into our mouths, maybe you, dear readers, can help this rookie San Franciscan find a place to take the parents out? He or she is looking for a tasty, semi-semi-formal, non-Stinking Rose-y, yet inexpensive Italian place, and we can't seem to be of any help.

What about you?

-----Original Message-----
On 8/10/07, Hungry For Hot Italian wrote:
Hi SFist,

I wanted to know if you could recommend a nice Italian place to eat around between the bart stations Embarcadero and Powell. My parents are coming to visit and I have no idea where to take them. Anywhere around those two bart stations is fine, thanks!

Cheers,
Hungry For Hot Italian

----------
From: SFist Editor [mailto:editor@sfist.com]
Sent: Friday, August 10, 2007 1:18 PM
To: From: Hungry For Hot Italian
Subject: Re: new to sf

You know where I like to go? It's a little off Market Street: Pazzia, 337 Third St (at Folsom). Easily accessible off of Montgomery, kinda cheap, price-wise, and very friendly.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/0LVKwqqzwiUnGtKFo7f6AA

brock

-----------
from Hungry For Hot Italian
to SFist Editor
date Aug 10, 2007 1:23 PM
subject RE: new to sf

Is this a fancy place?

I was looking for not too upscale but still a little bit more fancy than a pizza joint. (I don't know exactly if Pazzia is a pizza joint.)

I have a party of seven

What about this place called Kuleto's?

Thanks!

----------
From: SFist Editor [mailto:editor@sfist.com]
Sent: Friday, August 10, 2007 1:33 PM
To: From: Hungry For Hot Italian
Subject: Re: new to sf

pazzia isn't a fancy place at all, but it is authentic. somewhere between a pizza place and mid-range dining.

never heard of kuleto's. sorry.

----------
From: Hungry For Hot Italian
Date: Aug 10, 2007 1:36 PM
Subject: RE: new to sf
To: SFist Editor

Can you recommend a place a little bit more formal dining Italian?

Sorry for the bombarding emails

By Brock in Miscellaneous | Link | Comments (26) | Recommend this! (3) |

Tags: AskSFist, food, Hot, Italian, Market Street, Original Message, people, Rose, San Franciscan, SFist Editor, Stinking Rose, Third St

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Comments (26)

[1] | 08/10/07 03:01PM

Ristorante Umbria is on Howard and 2nd. Here is the yelp - http://www.yelp.com/biz/PKckGcKfdwK3Hx0HUtSNFQ#hrid:lSY90PXiWbDCNGM666ALcw/query:umbria
It's yummy and definitely not a pizza place but you could show up in jeans and be fine. Much better than Kuleto's. Kuleto's is part of a chain who's local outlet is a Union Square tourist destination.
I don't think it's "cheap" per se - but it shouldn't break the bank.

[2] | 08/10/07 03:06PM

Hmm...fancy and formal, but not upscale. Can't think of anything.

I do so love Pazzia. It's not a "pizza joint."

[3] | 08/10/07 03:07PM

I would say a good plan would be to head up to North Beach. If you are taking BART, just exit Montgomery and head up to Columbus. There's the whole street full of great Italian, from the touristy (which, they all are to some degree) to more authentic environments.

There is also the option of getting off at Powell and heading up to some of the fine dining restaurants in the Union Square area hotels. I believe the Sir Francis Drake has a good Italian restuarant, but in that area reservations are pretty necassary.

Depending on the level of walking you are comfortable with, North Beach would require a quick trip in a taxi. Powell is walkable, just mind the pan handlers and crowded sidewalks.

[4] | 08/10/07 03:08PM

I agree that Umbria is great...it's also very informal, almost cafe-like.

I don't quite think of Kuleto's as a chain, though. I mean, it's hardly Mickey D's!

[5] | 08/10/07 03:20PM

Umbria is pretty good, I agree. But I can't imagine coming into the city looking for Italian food and not going to North Beach. My favorite place there is Sodini's. You'd have to wait. Probably a long time if it's a weekend night. But it's authentic and it's good. Might be dicey for a 7-top, though...so, maybe ignore me.

[6] | 08/10/07 03:23PM

If you can make it to Nob Hill or even Russian Hill, neither of which are especially far from Union Square, there are several swell options: Nob Hill Cafe and Ristorante Milano are two of the things I miss most about not living on (s)nob hill anymore. Venticello too, but you def. need reservations.

[7] | 08/10/07 03:24PM

I love L'Osteria Del Forno, and it definitely seems to meet your reqs. It's also in North Beach.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/JBo-D2iAbMWwJqUnkGfTkw

[8] | 08/10/07 03:25PM

This may be a little out of the zone HFHI is looking at, but I think Original Joes (at Taylor and Eddy) is a great old-school Italian place straight out of the Sopranos.

[9] | 08/10/07 03:33PM

I second L'Osteria.

http://www.bunrab.com/dailyfeed/dailyfeed_april-06_p1.html#040806

[10] | 08/10/07 03:46PM

Uh, A16. Come on.

http://www.a16sf.com/

[11] | 08/10/07 03:49PM

I echo baldguy on Sodini's. It's a real gem and well worth the walk OR taxi ride. I've eaten just about everything on the menu and it's ALL good.

[12] | 08/10/07 03:51PM

Kuleto's is a chain. May as well take them to Olive Garden.

[13] | 08/10/07 03:56PM

L'Osteria is great, but you'll never get a 7-top in there. Way too small.

[14] | 08/10/07 04:17PM

One of the best Italian restaurants in the city is on Mission street, right by the 24th St. BART station. It's called La Traviata.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/eQHepA7u_mb-0TIb8t8EXQ

Yes, on Mission. It is not fancy dancy, but it isn't a dive either. It's been there 30 years and I have been going there regularly since I was a kid. The prices are reasonable and the food is great. The tortellini with white sauce (which comes with most entrees) is to die for.

[15] | 08/10/07 04:24PM

Simple: Bocce.

It's on Grant, just above Green. They have a great wine list, a huge menu, and no qualms about be-sandaled patrons. (stink eye twoards Cinque Terre, and their fussy sensibilities.)

[16] | 08/10/07 04:29PM

Tommaso's in North Beach, 1042 Kearny. The pizza is the best and so is everything else on the menu. Family style dining.

[17] | 08/10/07 05:20PM

There is an objective answer to almost all restaurant decisions in SF--buy Patricia Unterman's San Francisco Food Lover's Guide.

[18] | 08/10/07 05:27PM

Oooh, Guest #15 -- I quite like Bocce as well. Not exactly fine dining, but good enough and good bang for the buck.

[19] | 08/10/07 05:36PM

i'd also second bocce for this reader and his budget/style. lots of fun and food for a great price. why would you limit yourself to the market street area?

[20] | 08/10/07 07:54PM

I think this person needs to choose which is more important: location or cuisine. As just about everyone else has said, North Beach is where you go for a good selection of reasonably-priced and tasty Italian food--especially for out-of-towners. Kills two birds with one stone: tourist attraction and good food.

[21] | 08/10/07 08:54PM

Absolutely Pazzia. First place I thought of while reading the post.

Enjoy Yourselves!

[22] | 08/10/07 10:10PM

So not exactly between Embarcadero and Powell, but rather close--my absolute favorite Itlalian restaurant in San Francisco is Cafe Macaroni on Columbus. Right across from the Copola building.

If you are too lazy to make it there, I highly suggest Uncle Vito's on Powell and Bush. They actually make white pizza--do you know how hard it is to find white pizza in this city?? Also, their fettucine sinea is kick ass.

And all of this is coming from someone who is actually 3/4 Italian (and from the East Coast where the real Italians live).

Check it.

[23] | 08/11/07 12:48PM

Whatever you do, DON'T go to Mona Lisa.

[24] | 08/11/07 04:43PM

Franchino on Columbus is the place to go. It's not one of those touristy places with cheap garlic bread and ketchupy tomato sauce.

Everything is made to order and it is not upscale - very homey - family run and the Franco Show is free.

-Rob

p.s.
The gnocchi with gorgonzola is not to be missed!

[25] | 08/11/07 09:40PM

I just like the sfist magic 8 ball. Can I have one?

[26] | 08/12/07 01:21PM

like pazzia lots, even with the staff's attitude. and it's near BART, so it fits the bill here. for amazing italian not in north beach, try l'ottavo (sutter), mescolanza (clement), or sociale (sacramento). yum, yum, yum.