"Like a crisp white button down, or the friend’s friend’s partner who regularly fire reacts to your Instagram stories, Il Casaro is always there when you need it. Want to find a restaurant open on Monday nights? This Castro spot has it covered. What about Happy Hour with $5-off pizzas, or a place you can get into without a reservation? Yup. Craving carbs and wine and want to sit at a bar? Il Casaro does the trick. That said, Il Casaro’s Neapolitan pizzas aren’t necessarily the best in town, or ones we’d plan an entire week around just to get to. The thin crust isn’t always evenly cooked, making for a doughier consistency than we’d like. But other times, the crust gets a nice golden-brown color from the wood-fired oven, and offers a satisfying crunch you can hear from across the room. If you’re looking for something in the non-pie department, there are pretty good small plates, like calamari with spicy aioli and broccolini with a kick from the calabrian chili. Or you can opt for the pastas—the carbonara is a hit. Despite the occasional inconsistencies, we'll still keep Il Casaro in our back pocket for spontaneous midweek dinners and affordable pizzas. Food Rundown Prosciutto Pizza A perfectly solid prosciutto and arugula pizza. Funghi Pizza This is a good vegetarian option. The earthy mushrooms and taleggio create lots of creaminess. Calamari Fried squid and spicy aioli? It’s hard to go wrong. Start with an order of these for the table. Spaghetti Carbonara If you want something that isn’t baked in the wood-fired oven, go for the carbonara. The spaghetti is well-cooked and coated evenly in rich sauce. Whoever you’re eating this with will probably keep taking “just a bite” until the entire plate is finished." - Julia Chen
