Alimento
Deli · North Beach
507 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133
Highlights
Italian deli with sandwiches, gelato, and imported goods
Italian deli with sandwiches, gelato, and imported goods
"Alimento has been collecting accolades and making critic lists since it's opening in Summer 2014. The Italian cuisine by Zack Pollack (formerly at Sotto) is clever and grounded, and not the usual Italian fare you know. Reservations fill quickly and walk-ins may have to settle for counter seating. The prized dish is the Tortellini in Brodo and our favorite is the Yellowtail Collar Affumicato." - Presshaus LA
"What makes Alimento’s gelato stand out is the stretchy texture—every scoop has a slight, taffy-adjacent chew. There are about 50 flavors to choose from, but our favorites are the ones with mix-ins like the hazelnut brownie with fudgy chunks, and the mint chip with crunchy chocolate flakes. (Alimento also offers a small selection of dairy-free, fruit-based flavors, in case your stomach has a vendetta against lactose.)" - patrick wong, julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez
"Alimento isn’t subtle. The first thing you encounter from the Columbus Ave entrance is a giant dairy welcome mat in the form of a gelato display case. But even more surprising is when you walk just a few feet in and encounter yet another display case with 24 more flavors. Their gelato is among the best in the city. It’s, of course, smooth and creamy, but also has a stretchy, borderline-taffy-like texture that gives it a satisfying chew. With about 50 options to choose from—including sorbets—our favorites are the flavors with mix-ins, like the hazelnut brownie with fudgy chunks and the mint chip that gets a little bit of crunch from chocolate flakes. You're really here for the gelato, but this North Beach shop also serves solid sandwiches. While you can find better versions elsewhere, these more than get the job done for a grab-and-go lunch. There are sidewalk tables if you’d like to stick around and eat, but we prefer heading a block over to Washington Square Park. photo credit: Patrick Wong photo credit: Patrick Wong photo credit: Patrick Wong Pause Unmute" - Patrick Wong
"The intimate Silver Lake spot is back open with their excellent handmade pastas like braised pork sugo radiatori (a certified LA classic), a rich and hearty fusilli topped with clams and smoked butter, and one of the best chicken liver crostones in town. The low-key sidewalk cafe hasn’t changed much in quarantine, but now offers more space between tables and has expanded in front of neighboring storefronts. Reservations can be made here." - kat hong
"This Silver Lake Italian spot is one of our favorites in the city - and it’s not just because of their excellent pasta. Their chicken Milanese sandwich is a perfect balance of crispy chicken, pepperoncini slaw, and prosciutto, and goes great with the chopped salad, a vinegary blend of chickpeas, salami, and peppers. That being said, the pasta is pretty damn good here - the radiatori with pork sugo and kale is our favorite, but you’ll be happy with whatever’s on the menu. Call for pick-up at (323) 928-2888, app delivery also available." - brett keating
