SFist: Ask SFist: Italian Dining

rahir

Sun, 12 Aug 2007 13:21:00 -0800

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.

jnice

Sat, 11 Aug 2007 21:40:25 -0800

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

guest

Sat, 11 Aug 2007 16:43:43 -0800

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!

guest

Sat, 11 Aug 2007 12:48:44 -0800

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

Cement Brunette

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 22:10:01 -0800

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.

guest

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 20:54:34 -0800

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

iris

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 19:54:21 -0800

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.

suckafree

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 17:36:40 -0800

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?

Jeremy

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 17:27:36 -0800

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

guest

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 17:20:54 -0800

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

guest

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 16:29:23 -0800

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

guest

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 16:24:53 -0800

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.)

Rain

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 16:17:25 -0800

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.

guest

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 15:56:26 -0800

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

guest

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 15:51:12 -0800

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

guest

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 15:49:53 -0800

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.

guest

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 15:46:34 -0800

Uh, A16. Come on. http://www.a16sf.com/

guest

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 15:33:39 -0800

I second L'Osteria. http://www.bunrab.com/dailyfeed/dailyfeed_april-06_p1.html#040806

guest

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 15:25:58 -0800

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.

guest

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 15:24:31 -0800

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

Jeremy

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 15:23:46 -0800

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.

baldguy

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 15:20:01 -0800

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.

guest

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 15:08:52 -0800

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!

staysuburban

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 15:07:08 -0800

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.

Deborah

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 15:06:48 -0800

Hmm...fancy and formal, but not upscale. Can't think of anything. I do so love Pazzia. It's not a "pizza joint."

guest

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 15:01:20 -0800

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.