Bambino's Ristorante

Wow! What can I say? Thank you everyone for making our meal so lovely. We were on vacation and checked Google for a top-rated restaurant. We didn’t have a reservation, but they found us a table. The service was excellent, and the food was unreal – amazing! We were speaking to the owner, who told us about his amazing homemade dessert. The tiramisu didn’t disappoint – it was amazing!

Cute Italian restaurant with a 44 year history in SF. Serves a wide variety of traditional and contemporary Italian food. Cozy atmosphere with lots of seating, both indoors & outdoors. Has a nice family feel, with decor and art that makes you feel like you're in Italy. They have a long list of unique salads, something that is often lacking in Italian restaurants. We tried the orange and brie one and it was very tasty. I ordered the Foiade di Funghi mushroom pasta, which was very good. Service was great and we didn't feel rushed to order or hurriedly eat our appetizers, since they held our main dishes until we were ready for them. It was a bit slow to get the bill though, even though there weren't many guests. I'd love to come back here to try many of the other dishes that looked delicious!

The pizza crust is on point, with generous amount of cheese and proteins. I love the creamy mixed marinara sauce for the ravioli. Price is suitable in the region. Waitress a bit impolite, but the boss was very friendly and helpful, that’s why I gave a 3 for the service.

Bambino’s is the perfect mix of cozy, formal, and familiar, with delicious meals and perfect desserts! Their dining area is perfect for important celebrations or simple family dinners in Cole Valley, with beautiful decorations and lighting and a very friendly staff. Their pastas and salads are my favorite in SF, and their tiramisu is my favorite ever!

I had lunch here with a friend and it was wonderful. I ordered a three egg omelet with spinach, mushroom, and avocado. It came with country potatoes, 3 slices of batard style toast, and a few sliced strawberries. It was a generous sized plate of food for the price. It was well made and presented. The waitress was attentive. It is a shame more people don't dine here. It is truly under rated,

Awesome spot in Cole Valley for a special occasion or just because! Wonderful staff and delicious food. It has a warmth and familiarity that few restaurants in SF have. The portions are generous yet I still always find a way to clean my plate. Over our visits, highlights have included the eggplant and chicken parms, cioppino, chicken Marsala, the salads, salmon, and all the desserts! Great bread basket. Photo of a special treat from the owner on account of my bringing my 3-mo old in the day after Mother’s Day.

Amazing Cole Valley spot with great food, service and atmosphere. The best french toast with a crunchy twist and warm syrup. Will be back!

The place is excellent! Very Italian, in an American way. We had the Finocchio Salad and the angel hair pasta with shrimp. Both were phenomenal. But THE BEST dish was the tiramisu. Homemade delicious manna from heaven. We will be back…soon.

Kosta Thank you so much for your generosity and kindness. I ordered pizza Uno with black olives and a chopped Italian salad and both were so delicious. The Boys from Apt 14

We were treated to a kings feast for brunch at this wonderful restaurant! Our friends are regulars and recommended we go here and I am so glad we listened. The French Toast was delicious and cooked to perfection. We also tried and loved the Chocolate Belgian Waffle. Lattes here are huge and made like you would expect them to be. The bread is made in-house daily and is probably the best I have had, anywhere! We also treated ourselves to the unbelievably delicious Creme Brulé and Tiramisu for dessert(huge portions). The owner and staff couldn't have been more attentive and kind. We will definitely be back again and again!

We decided to try Bambino's which is just steps away from another popular brunch spot in Cole Valley. What a fantastic find! Spacious dining room serving up some yummy favorites like eggs benedict. The buttermilk pancakes that my husband ordered were great as well. Not something we often eat a lot of, but their house bread was soft & delicious. Wonderful service and just lovely ambiance. Will definitely return. Located on Cole and Parnassus.

We've eaten at Bambino's multiple times over the past 6 months for brunch and dinner. There's a lot of wonderful options and the food is always fresh and delicious. The staff is friendly and attentive. I particularly liked that they offer gluten free pizza crust which is very good. They make two kinds of homemade bread and his desserts are all handmade including gelatos and sorbets. Very impressive!! The owner is super friendly and really cares about providing high quality food and good service. Highly recommend eating here!

Directly across from Cole's Ace Hardware in the Cole Valley district of San Francisco. My waiter was very attentive and personable. I never had to ask for anything, and the cannelloni was outstanding. Clearly home-made with care, the flavors were perfect. Oven fresh hot, with fresh parmesan shredded at my table. The olives are whole as they should be and have just the right 'zing' to match the olive oil and bread. I don't drink, but you will find all you need to help you unwind and enjoy the company of your friends. For desert, I enjoyed their homemade tiramisu, and it was a meal in itself! Drizzled with three different glazes underneath, with fresh blueberries and strawberries, and crème fresca on a large dinner plate. Kosta is a very warm and attentive host, and he recommends reservations on Fridays and Saturdays.

It was rainy Sunday that we decided to get some Sunday brunch at ZazIe. However upon arriving there was a line with an expected wait time for about 1 hour. We noticed an Italian restaurant next door called Bambino which was open for brunch. Upon entering the restaurant had a few open tables and it was also obvious that they were shorthanded. I was guessing some of the patrons were from the Zazie overflow. After a wait of about 20 minutes we were finally seated. After a few minutes the owner was able to take our orders. From the brunch menu we ordered the Omelet Speciale, a vegetable scramble, the Red Velvet Waffle special, a Lobster Ravioli and the Cioppino. Even though the restaurant was slowly emptying, it took about 30 minutes for all our items to arrive. Bottom line the brunch dishes were alright. However the Italian dishes was quite good. Definitely worth a visit for the Italian food. The ambiance is very clean and simple. There was nothing fancy but definitely the food spoke for itself.

A friend lives in the area so we stopped by for dinner. We got a large salad, a medium sized pizza, and a pasta between the 3 of us to share. We were so full with left over! Margarita pizza - all of us loved the thin crust, no sauce, and garlic on top. It is definitely great combo Orange pear salad - we all loved this dish as well with simple pairing that brought the flavor out Pappardelle do Grano Saraceno - I thought was ok but the companion loved it. I thought it was simple flavor wise comparing to the other 2 dishes. It doesn't mean it is not good, it was just not as good. Tiramisu - it is a huge piece and you can tell it was made fresh daily. No wonder everyone said to get the tiramisu. We talked to both the server and the owner/server. Both of them said everything is made fresh in-house daily and the staff is just so proud of their food. I am surprised this place is not busier considering the price and position you get. The staff is also very kind and came to our table multiple times. We will definitely come back again.

Wonderful place. I went to celebrate my birthday with a few friends and we ended up spending almost three hours eating, drinking, and chatting. Service was extremely warm with multiple wait staff checking in on us and making us smile. We order appetizers (calamari, mussels, and garlic bread) with a salad to share. It was all delicious! I ordered their buckwheat mushroom pasta and that was very tasty! They are generous with their portions and we all felt stuffed and satisfied. It's a fun place and I'd happily go back.

Delicious Italian restaurant in Cole Valley. It's been opened since 1980 and under appreciated. It's super nice inside with a corner bar (not huge), along with plenty of tables inside and a couple smaller tables out front. Service is always stellar. They really pay attention to what you want and make great recommendations. I have always enjoyed the food here- love to start with Burrata Caprese. My go-to main dish is gluten free penne with fresh clams in wine sauce. The Butter Lettuce & Fuji Apple salad is really good as well. My friends have also enjoyed everything that they have tried. If you are in the area and are craving Italian, this is the place!

We got there just as brunch was ending and there was a bit of confusion as to what the kitchen was willing to do, but they offered to extend the brunch menu for us and even offered us something complimentary for the confusion, which we declined. The service was attentive and the owner came out to chat with us. He was very friendly and charming. It seems like the classic SF staple is alive and well. The food was delicious and the atmosphere is SF cozy. We'd be happy to come back again.

So just spent a lot of money for a salmon dinner & Greek salad. We go here a lot since it's a neighborhood spot- but I'm disappointed on the Greek salad. Just got home from Greece and a Greek salad is Cucumbers, tomatoes, black olives, & Feta cheese. NOT 94% Romaine lettuce, 1 % tomato pieces, 1% bell pepper, 2% cucumber bits, 2 olives, & feta cheese. Lose the lettuce increase the other ingredients. Salmon dinner was good.

A small Italian restaurant -- the interior was nice and almost homey. The server was great, kept coming by to check in or make some conversation with us, but the service itself was a little slow. Food took forever to come out, but we weren't in a rush so it was no big deal. I ordered a spaghetti bolognese, and while it was good, it wasn't anything too special. I also still felt hungry after eating it, had to get myself more food from another place afterwards

I recently came to this incredible, family oriented restaurant with my husband and daughter. This Italian restaurant is a true gem, serving up authentic, flavorful dishes that transport you straight to Italy. Their pizza is absolutely top-notch--crispy, perfectly baked crust with fresh, delicious toppings. The Caesar salad is just as impressive, with a rich, creamy dressing and crisp romaine. The dressing is home made - where can you get that these days? It's also incredibly kid-friendly, making it a perfect spot for a relaxed family meal. Huge shout out to the owner, Kosta! As a small business owner myself, I really loved what Kosta is all about. He does it all: cooks, bakes, serves, cleans! It's wonderful to see how much heart he's put into this restaurant. 10 stars and we will be back (especially since we will be in this area more now)! Planning to bring my son and mom here too.

We had such a great experience this past weekend! Great indoor dining, the atmosphere is so intimate but lots of chatter happening around you. Immediately you feel welcome by the staff. The food was delicious from start to finish, unfortunately we were too full to try the tiramisu so make sure to leave room!! Definitely will be coming back for another round of wine and pasta. Highly recommend!

The food and service is wonderful here. Not a quick dining service, but if you want good quality food, you know it takes time. We had the calzone and tiramisu. The food here is made with love! I highly recommend!

I don't give out five star reviews unless I mean it. In full transparency, we did not initially seek out Bambino's for brunch. We were standing outside waiting to be seated at Zazies next door when we saw a small sign in the window at Bambino's that read "Now serving brunch". Stunned at how empty the restaurant was, I picked up the menu and saw they offered all the brunch staples and even a "breakfast pizza" that was right on brand for an Italian ristorante. If I could sum it up briefly, this was the best unplanned find I've had in a long time. I stuck with a traditional breakfast and let me tell you, the fruit was fresh, the pancakes were fluffy, and the potatoes were seasoned and crisped to perfection. My boyfriend opted for the breakfast pizza and described it as "unrivaled". There are a lot of brunch spots in SF and I almost regret sharing this review because I know their reservations are going to blow up, but they truly deserve it. You can tell the chef appreciates the best ingredients and the host was so sweet and patient with all our questions. The food was so good, I'm going back for dinner next week. Can't wait for my next meal at Bambino's! I'll be back with the dinner recommendations ;)

It's a nice sit down restaurant with friendly service. They have a decent number of vegetarian options. The pesto fettuccine was good but on the more oily side. The lasagna sheets in the vegetarian lasagna were wayy too thick. Overall it's a good place to go to if you're in the area but wouldn't go out of the way for it

The food tastes amazing, the service is good and the owner is very friendly and polite. The ambiance is nice and fresh.

My family went to Bambino's for lunch and this restaurant is a treasure. My sister had fettuccini alfredo and my mom (who is a lasagna connoisseur) raved about her lasagna. Not only this, but the desserts and gelato are made in house! My family is from North Beach and they know good Italian food - because it not only the food that makes the meal but the service, too. Our party stayed for a few hours enjoying our meals and time with one another. Bambino's did not hurry us along like other restaurants would because the restaurant embodies Italian cuisine - great food, time with family/loved ones AND incredible Tiramisu. In the hustle and bustle of SF, it is amazing to find a spot in the city that makes you feel comfortable and at home, as if you were in your own Italian family's kitchen.

Went here for a date night and it did not disappoint! It was my first time here, but I had previewed the menu beforehand and, as an Italian food junkie, I had high expectations!! It truly did not disappoint!! When we first arrived, we were immediately greeted and seated. Unfortunately, I do not recall the names of the people that helped us, but every interaction we had was beyond pleasant. Everyone was so attentive, helpful, and willing to give recommendations. We never had to ask for more water or cheese, etc because the service was that great. My date and I shared our meals and since I'm a vegetarian, we went with the cheese ravioli with marinara sauce and a medium pizza! There were plenty of veg options (at LEAST 6 different veg pastas, not to mention tons of salads, pizza, calzones) The ravioli was divine! One of the best raviolis I've had and the sauce was equally delicious. The pizza (veg side) was Margherita and didn't have sauce which was my first time having a pizza like that but it was so good! The crust was rich in flavor so I didn't feel like I was missing anything! Already planning on coming back here asap!!

Just not good. Got food delivered, was super disappointed in taste of each dish. Don't need to elaborate further.

Everything I've ever ordered comes out delicious, but the bread... Oh! the bread! brought tears of joy & bliss... and I don't usually eat bread! But THIS bread, this freshly baked bread, this bread of the gods, is heavenly!

We had a great meal at Bambino's tonight, where my daughter took me for an early Father's Day dinner. Everything was delicious: calzone, salmon, tiramisu & pomegranate/chocolate chip ice cream. The service was excellent as well and the owner was friendly and attentive. It turns out they also serve brunch. We'll be back for sure!

Great service and good. Portions were also respectable. Ordered the chicken marsala, which was amazing. Would definitely return.

How to describe the perfect lunch experience? Bambino's on Cole St. checked all the boxes. From the minute we walked in until we finished lunch, everything just worked. We had probably one of the best, warmest, most efficient servers that I can remember. Her name was Usha & she made our lunch experience even better. After the meal, the owner stopped by our table, introduced himself as Costa & engaged us in a fun conversation with some SF restaurant history thrown in. We were a group of 6, so we can comment on a lot of our meals. The apps...garlic bread & bruschetta - were good (only criticism was way too salty), then we ordered meat lasagna (omg), salmon (undercooked EXACTLY like my husband requested so he was a happy camper), the veal saltimbocca was full of flavor & the spaghetti & meat balls & the cannelloni were perfection. Everyone loved their meal. Of course we had to try multiple desserts...the tiramisu was one of the best I've ever tasted, & we had zabaione & 2 different gelatos. What I loved about Bambino's is that is unpretentious, upscale but homey, reasonably priced & delicious. It'd be great for a date & definitely family-friendly as well. I mean, what else can you ask for??

Not being from the area and relying on reviews to book an Italian restaurant to celebrate my daughter's USF graduation dinner is a bit nerve-racking. Coordinating with Kosta, the owner, was an easy process. He was attentive and thorough. They happily accommodated my party of 22. Service was great and the food was amazing! Not one complaint.

Thank you for an amazing first time eating at your restaurant. Great menu, beautiful ambiance and friendly staff. I will definitely recommend this to a friend and will need to come back.

Showed up late on a Saturday with a party of five and a well behaved dog. They sat us and we had the most delicious meal. The calzone pizza is something I will dream about. Their desserts are delicious too! I will be going back!

A random google search led to one of the best Italian meals I've had. The restaurant is extremely beautiful and smells of fresh garlic when you walk in. You can also smell the dough for their pizzas and it draws you in. The service is amazing as everyone is personable and attentive. We ordered the burrata caprese salad, fettuccine with spicy creamy pesto, a calzone, and creme brulee. The burrata caprese salad was amazing and the balsamic reduction on top was perfection! I had the calzone which was very good. My partner enjoyed the fettuccine and I tried a bit which made me wish I'd gotten it too. The creme brulee was delicious. It's a huge serving definitely made to share. We will absolutely be coming back to try the tiramisu as we were told it's even better than the creme brulee. This is a perfect spot for a date night or a casual dinner.

Great staff and awesome food! The pizza was amazing... I have been at UCSF for the past week or so talking care of my Dad. We stopped in here for dinner and left smiling (for the first time 10 days because of my Dad). You will enjoy!

Having recently moved from the North End in Boston, Bambino's made me feel immediately at home. Fantastic food and service. This is my new go to spot when I'm craving Italian!

This restaurant is consistently delicious and the service is excellent! The environment is inviting and the atmosphere adds to your enjoyment of the food. It is definitely on our lists of go to spots!

I ask for things many times and just get some of it. Server said he will come back to give me cheese and pepper, he didn't come back. It does goes to next table so I stop that server from leaving give me cheese. I asked for spoons and never came. Mushroom pasta has at lease 5 tables spoons of oil at the bottom and no salt, no taste. I will sure die of heart attack if I eat this. I left half to throw away and leave hungry. Can't even try to eat this. Cioppino tasted ok. Parking is hard to come by. I walked so far and restaurant is quite empty by 8pm. Never again.

Our new favorite restaurant. The food is perfection. The staff is beyond friendly. A gem of a neighborhood restaurant.

Was on a walk around the area and decided to stop by for dinner on a Wednesday night. We were easily able to get a table. The inside is cute. The server was welcoming and sat us right away. We ordered the pesto with chicken and pizza. The pizza was the best in my eyes because it was perfectly cooked with enough toppings. We had our own bottle of wine which they charged a $18 corkage fee. Will be back to try other items on the menu!

Abysmal service. We had a reservation for five days via OpenTable, we show up and the maître d' tells us we don't have a confirmed reservation. I show him the confirmation email that says, verbatim, "Reservation confirmed! You are confirmed. Thank you for choosing Bambino's," and he simply wouldn't budge. He said, "We give away reservations if people don't show up, so I was going to give you five minutes after the scheduled reservation time." So which is it, I don't have a reservation or you were going to give my reservation away five minutes after the scheduled time?? He asks me to come around the wait station and look at his tablet and says, "There's no check mark next to your name there. You need to confirm your reservation with us." WHY am I going to confirm a reservation when I already have a confirmation email that says "Reservation confirmed???" Again, he wouldn't budge or acknowledge that the system is flawed, and frankly I don't care what some tablet says. He just acknowledged he knew we were coming by showing me my name in their reservation system. I put in the time to come out and give you the business of a party of four and you're going to hassle me about your flawed system? There was a very nice booth in the window so we asked if we could just sit there and he said "No, that specific table is reserved for another party." We got shoved into a small booth instead and for the next two-plus hours that we were there, that window booth sat empty because no one showed up. I guess they don't actually give reservations away five minutes after the scheduled reservation time! After we sat down we were basically ignored. We had to ask for bread. We had to ask twice if someone could take our order. We had to ask twice for our check and then finally had to go up to the wait station to get it. When there's an issue with a customer a business will usually try to make it up by comping a desert or an appetizer or something, but that didn't happen either (I'm certainly not looking for freebies; I've worked in the restaurant industry before and that's the way we always handled these situations). The food was merely passable but frankly I've had much better elsewhere. We will not be back and I recommend you don't go either, and whatever you do don't bother making a reservation because they won't honor it. You certainly won't be treated like you're welcome in this establishment.

My wife, brothers and I had a very lovely dinner at Bambino's. Delicious Italian wine, tasty pasta and savory pizza. We had a very attentive , friendly waiter Sergio who was kind enough to answer any and all questions and although he was busy , always managed to check in on us. One of the main highlights was Constantinos. He was the chef who took the time to get to know us and recommend the amazing desserts on the menu. He was so passionate when describing the desserts he prepared but he really lit up when he talked about his personal Tiramisu. He said it was his favorite and best dish to make and strongly recommended it. Of course I couldn't resist and had the tiramisu and OMG he was not kidding, the best Tiramisu I've probably ever had. Soft, lite and rich. We can't wait to return to Bambino's.

Kosta! Coming back for wife's bday. She specifically asked that we visit again. Can't argue with her request. Looking forward to enjoying something great! Hope to see you this coming Saturday. Warm regards. Christian

Amazing meal at Bambino's! Excellent food with very friendly service. Will come again and thank you to the owner Kosta for providing such a welcoming experience, he clearly takes a huge amount of pride in his restaurant and serving authentic Italian food.

Always a very good and fun time at Bambino's. The owner, Costa, is charming and happy to interact with his patrons, just like the rest of the crew. The food is delicious, no matter what you order, and there's always something good for everyone. Love this place!

Just had a wonderful experience having brunch at Bambino's.We were three couples who, some of whom wanted brunch and others, lunch. We were all able to get what we wanted and all of the meals were excellent. Kosta, the delightful owner spoke to us for a bit, letting us know he bakes their delicious breads and even makes the gelato. I highly recommend Bambino's for the food, atmosphere and service! We will definitely return!

We've been to Bambinos a few times over the years. Great little spot in Cole Valley. Nice ambiance. Service is always very good. Had salad and a pizza and my son had fettuccine both excellent and a good serving size. Would recommend it if you're in the neighborhood.

My third visit here, it's an absolute gem in Cole Valley. I'm never disappointed by anything I've ordered but the Cajun Linguine, Roasted Garlic & Brie, and the Tiramisu are all exceptional. This place deserves to be way busier than it is! The owner, Kosta is hilarious and so friendly as well!

We had dinner at Bambino's last night and the food really was so fresh- especially the bread!, the olives were awesome and the owner even gave us a special taste of their homemade sorbet. It was awesome. We will be coming back for BRUNCH which we didn't even know they served!!

The salads and pizza are muy, muy excelente. The three Nepalese waitresses, who never knew each other before working there, are polite, and attentive, charming and delightful. If you ask, at least ask them about Moostahng, not Mustang! The Italian glazed pottery on the wall may perhaps make you want to read anew Lord Byron's "She Walks In Beauty," if not swim the Hellespont. Whilst gnawing later on the pizza you take home, dawgin' it, you will surely be inspired to read Garcia Lorca's paen to forbidden love, La Casada Infiel. The joint is real; a real joint is optional, so tip them well when out you go into the night, nourished and renourished, and with a smile all across yer mouf from the lingering deliciousness of your titillated sensorium. Then, be mindful that the multi-splendored gastronomic blessing you and your dining companion(s) have just received is a gracious reminder that, when you don't want what you don't need, you will have everything.

I went yesterday with a friend. The pizza was excellent! I'm from the Northeast and am not often impressed with the pizza. This was an exception!

Pizza was ok but service time was horrendous. While leaving, we met a cockroach climbing on the table. AFAIK, he was familiar with the location and its layout.

Delicious. Great service. We especially loved the starter salad and pizza. The desserts were also divine.

This should be a destination brunch restaurant!Super eggs Benedict's and omelets, lovely waffles and amazing delicate,perfect French toast made with brioche. My family comes to San Francisco and Heads straight to the restaurant for their pizza's and the seafood salads. They serve their homemade bread and a small olive plate with every meal. Quite Italian with better bread.