Bocconcino

My girlfriend and I were visiting San Francisco and decided to explore Little Italy and found this restaurant and decided to try it, best decision we could have taken. The restaurant is small, but welcoming. It is nicely decorated, with soft music playing. The staff and owner welcomed us with welcome arms and were both friendly and helpful. Our server was attentive and friendly, both the waiter and the owner were attentive if we needed anything. They have a big wine selection, and all of them are great. The food was amazing, really tasty and enjoyable, perfect amount as well. The dessert was lovely as well and the coffee was on point too. If you come to San Francisco, please come by, it feels like a neighborhood restaurant and the vibes are amazing, you feel like home. 10/10.

During my first visit, the pasta, vegetables, grilled fish, and steak at Bocconcino were of decent quality, but pricey. However, the quality really dropped during my second visit, with poor quality pasta sauce, small portions, and bizarre tasting ravioli. The rice dish was small and not good tasting at all. We all have our ups and downs, but I leave a two star review for now. The interiors of the restaurant are high quality works of craftsmanship.

We decided to try a little known restaurant on a whim. This small restaurant had big taste and great service. We shared a wonderful bottle of wine but decided to skip appetizers for the entrees. As a GF diner, I chose the grilled fish entree. My snapper was perfectly cooked, not overly so. It had a tasty light sauce. There were five of us and everyone approved heartily of their wine, meals and desserts. Service was very friendly and attentive. We couldn’t have asked for a better dinner experience. Thank you!

Amazing food and atmosphere. I had the Lasagna, it was served in a rich Vodka sauce that was perfect. The Wine recommended by the waiter to pair was also perfect. Totally recommend this place for great atmosphere and amazing food.

**HIDDEN GEM** Rosario served our table and was an absolute delight. Brought the energy and local flavor. We ordered two of the specials: the red snapper and squid ink pasta. They were both delicious and generous portions.

Loved it! I’ve never been to Italy, but this is how I imagine authentic Italian food would taste lol. Great service and very friendly staff:)

This is a fantastic family style Italian restaurant. We visited on Columbus Day and, despite the busy dining room, were able to find a seat at the bar. The service was excellent and prompt, even with the restaurant's high volume. We appreciated our waitress's honesty and helpful explanations of the menu items. The food was delicious, and I particularly enjoyed the grilled octopus and calamari with white beans. The prices were reasonable. We'll definitely return to try more of their food and wine.

Classic, good Italian food in North Beach. We were able to get seated almost right away on a Tuesday without reservations. Friendly staff. The food is good: The octopus is worth getting. The Caesar salad was OK. We did not try dessert.

Bomb comfort Italian in the heart of North Beach. Has an old school vibe and feels like it's in a building with some great north beach history. We hit this spot up before catching a show at Cobbs and really enjoyed the pastas we had! I had a fish ravioli in a pink sauce which was AMAZING, my sis had the pesto ravioli and We tried the special which was an Amatriciana. We also had their dessert special which was some sort of limoncello torte on a shortbread crust... we all agreed it was a perfect way to end the meal! The waiter was so friendly and the owner was the one who recommended we try the dessert special so, he did not miss!

I had to stop in North Beach while I was in the city. I absolutely love the vibes in this neighborhood, which is kind of funny because, hot take, I am not a huge enjoyer of Italian food when it comes to pasta dishes. A cannoli here and an Italian deli sandwich there is about all that really gets me going. Pasta does not particularly excite me, and maybe I have just been looking in the wrong places, so take this review with a grain of salt. We made a reservation for 7 p.m. since Bocconcino right in the heart of North Beach. Tons of people were out, lights were flashing, and the energy was great. When we got to the restaurant, it was absolutely packed to the brim, which I imagine is pretty typical for this part of town and SF in general. That said, we were a few minutes early and were still seated quickly. It was so tightly packed that the servers had to constantly shift around tables with people still sitting at them to help new parties get in and out. Honestly, I found it kind of comical, though I could see it driving people who value personal space a little crazy. A lot of people would probably be turned off by how loud and crowded it was, but I actually enjoyed the organized chaos. Our servers were absolutely lovely and very attentive which made the whole thing feel fun rather than stressful. We brought a bottle of wine and the waitress kindly corked it for us. Complimentary bread came out a few minutes later. The bread was definitely freshly baked but not warm which was a bit of a miss, and the extra virgin olive oil was good, though I didn't think there was enough balsamic. Not super impressive, but fine. I ordered the Spaghetti Cipolla e Salsiccia at the waitress's recommendation and my girlfriend ordered the Spaghettini Burrata. The food came out quickly for how busy it was and the portions were generous. The Spaghetti Cipolla e Salsiccia is spaghetti with sausage, onions, and parmesan served inside a gloriously charred onion skin. It looked fantastic but was honestly a letdown. When the only ingredients are sausage, onions, and parmesan, you really expect big flavor, especially from the sausage. Instead, it mostly tasted like sweet onion juice mixed with spaghetti and bits of fairly flavorless sausage. It wasn't terrible, but there was not much nuance, no crisp on the sausage, no spice, nothing to really balance the sweetness. I asked for more pepper and parmesan which helped a bit, but it still leaned heavily sweet without any savory depth. I finished the dish, so it was not inedible, just not what I had hoped for. I did get to try some of the Spaghettini Burrata and thought it was much better thanks to the tomato based sauce, so I think I may have just ordered poorly and that one is on me. We finished with affogato which is always going to be great. This place was quite the experience, and even though I didn't love my dish, I would come back and try something else because the vibes were great and the staff were fantastic. If you appreciate authentic Italian food and do not mind a bustling, lively restaurant, this is a solid option. Just make sure you get a reservation!

This is such a cute little spot in North Beach! I went on a Sunday evening with my bf and some friends. It had a really nice balance of diners coming in, but not too packed that it felt chaotic or stuffy. The interior is more classic and old school so it has a more homey, quaint, neighborhood feel to it which I love. For food, here is what my party of 4 ordered: - Bruschetta mixta: I would probably not get this again. It tasted good but for almost $20 I expected more than 4 small pieces of bread. You only got 2 pieces of classic bruschetta and 2 pieces of the eggplant version. - Pinsa margherita: a classic that you can't really go wrong with but nothing mind blowing - Pinsa diavola: my fav of the 2 pinsa's I tried! Salty and sweet with a slight kick - Gnocchi al Gorgonzola: this was one of my favorite dishes of the night! Made even better with some their spicy chili oil drizzled over it! - Spaghetti cipolla e salsiccia: this one was also good but I think I preferred the gnocchi a bit more. It was really interesting how they served it. If you look in the picture, there's a bread looking thing with noodles coming out of it. I thought it was a piece of toasted bread but it's actually an empty onion shell with no onion. They do stuff it really full of noodles though, so almost like an nice unexpected surprise of a 2nd serving The servers were also really attentive! Always made sure our water was filled, checked in with us on how we were doing and made sure we had plenty of grated cheese, chili oil, and fresh bread!

Great, casual Italian restaurant with delicious food & friendly service. I had dinner here recently with my cousin's son & his gf. We shared the caprese & calamari appetizers & I had the risotto of the day which was sausage & zucchini. The caprese salad was standard but the calamari was pretty good, not overbattered or overcooked & had a nice dipping sauce. My risotto was delicious & our server told me that it's his favorite menu item. The gnocchi was pillowy soft, not too chewy & had a light Gorgonzola sauce. The spaghetti with clams was also delicious (I tried a bite of each). For dessert, we shared the crème brûlée & strawberry tiramisu which was light & fluffy, not too sweet. Reservations are recommended (I made my reservations via Open Table) but they will take walk ins. They are not a big restaurant but can accommodate small to medium sized groups.

Small but charming restaurant. Very busy on a Saturday night at 7pm but they managed to seat us within 15 min with no reservation. We were seated in a bank of 4 (2 person) tables so it was a little tight. The octopus was tasty and not tough. The beans were an unusual addition but we didnt mind it. I got the sausage & onions pasta and he got the spinach pesto ravioli. Both of these dishes were very flavorful. We enjoyed dinner and felt it was a true $$ rating. All in we spent $88 (22% tip included). The waiter also brought us the cutest little almond cookies to finish off dinner.

Good food, great gnocchi, but expensive! Our waiter was so funny and friendly, and ensured that ladies ordered first. The free bread was great, too. Keep in mind that gratuity is included. The restaurant itself is super cute, and has two separate rooms. Awesome location in north beach. Due to the price I would be reluctant to come back but it was overall pretty good.

Celebrated my birthday here couple of weeks ago. First time here and the first thing that came to my mind when I walked into the restaurant is: what so damn hot !? It's SF and the restaurant has no window and no fan where we were seated. It was very uncomfortable. I was sweating and so were my friends. It's really a downer. Anyway, the food was good. Portion wise ~ the appetizer and salad were small portion. If you have 9 ppl like us: you need to order at least 2 or 3 to share. I had the lamb shank which is pretty good. It's tender and seasoned well. Overall, I enjoyed my dish, but I had to get up and walked out to get some air. I also used their menu to fan myself coz it's just too got in there.

In town with the family for the week, we ask the kids "what would you like for dinner tonight?" The littlest one shouts out "Italian!" Of course. Italian. But isn't it always Italian? Nonetheless, whatever you wish my princess... We jump on the Yelp machine, and find this wonderful restaurant that can seat a table of four in about 90 minutes. Boom. Lock it in. Check in, get seated in a few minutes. Wonderful service and food came out fast. All four of us enjoyed our meals, generous portions, we did not finish, but we certainly did try! I personally went for the eggplant Parmesan, and I'm glad I did. Very tasty, I wolfed that puppy down. Eight thumbs up between all four of us. You can't go wrong here.

Excelente ambiente y presentación de comida... gran sabor. Atendidos por el dueño recomendaciones a la carta... no vaya sin reserva menos en fin de semana

Perfezione! Il servizio è stato spettacolare! Il cibo era assolutamente delizioso! Adoro! Adoro! Adoro questo ristorante! Hands down the best Italian food I have ever had! The ambiance is cozy and inviting. The service...was attentive, friendly and they made perfect recommendations! I cannot wait to go back and highly recommend as a must go! Wine only. *Food was so good I did not take time to take pictures! Just trust me!

Bocconcino is located in the North Bay Area in San Francisco. From outside it looks like a small tight restaurant, once you walk in you get to see a restaurant with multiple rooms to accomodate large groups. The service was great! We had a reservation and as soon as we arrived they had us seated. The appetizers were tasty and a large amount for our group. I had the lamb shank for dinner and it was well cooked. The staff service and attention really stood out. Will definitely revisit soon.

The food was pretty great! The portions were decent. Their dessert was also really good! Called ahead for a reservation, and when my group got there, the host mentioned that there is no reservation. But they'll seat us anyway. Left a bad taste in my mouth so hopefully just a one-off experience. The rest of the service was great! The vibe is pretty cutesy-casual. The decor is more of that traditional design, and the crowd is a bit more on the older side compared to other spots in the area. Overall, great spot but would try other places before going back.

After weeks of deep reflection, it's hard for me to give it higher than a 2/5. The good - the host and the staff were so warm and welcoming. They seated us quickly. You can tell their customers really like this place- through how openly complimentary they were. The bad was unfortunately the food. - The meatball for $15 tasted like it came out of a can. The meatballs were tiny and didn't have any bite or chewiness on to them. Biggest let down. - everything else was unimpressive for all the praise and high review it had gotten. My bill was 120$ without tip and I left feeling hungry and disappointed. The worst part it was taking my dad to it. He said it if was up to him he would've given it 1 star.

You can make a reservation for larger parties & there's an adorable side room for this away from the packed ( Friday night) main restaurant . Overall positive- service was fantastic. Nice wine list. What wasn't as great appetizer were a weak spot - calamari almost seemed underdone which was ick for me but others enjoyed it fine. Tomato w the mozzarella was not flavorful ( maybe try again when in season). Enjoyed our entrees- although my friends' eggplant spaghetti looked much more hearty & tasty than my dish. Linda looked good. Corkage $20. Parking the usual nightmare.

The staff was very friendly and attentive. They are Italian and it's authentic! We got spaghetti with bolognese sauce. It was delicious! The restaurant is small and cute and has nice ambiance.

I met with a colleague who was in town for Dreamforce. Since it was his birthday, I thought Bocconcino would be a treat to Philly foodie. Walked in, was seated immediately, and the staff were very attentive. I decided on the pulpito (octopus) as an appetizer- he had caprese salad - and we both had the ravioli special. I could have licked the plate, it was so good. Dessert and an espresso topped it off. Go with the recommendations, they know their food. Loved it and hope to be back soon.

The best food and the best wine!!! Ravioli di pesce had very creamy and soft ravioli with strong seafood fillings. Really loved saltiness coming from strong seafood, not salt. Risotto was also in another level, giving very fresh and strong mushroom flavor with super soft braised beef that had nice little smoky scent. Even wines the server recommended were great (forgot the names), especially the white wine. It started with good and light floral scent and ended with heavy caramel taste. So sad that we forgot to ask which white wine we ordered. Mascar pone chocolate cake was okay, not that sweet and had little bit of good nutty flavor (hazelnut maybe..?). I expected the texture to be softer and bit more airy. But it was bit dense and closer to texture of tofu. It's really challenging to find a parking place. Good part is that neighborhood is very clean and safe, so it'd be okay to park at 5-10 min away from restaurant and walk to the place. We visited around 6PM on Friday, and we were able to be seated immediately. But many people seemed to make reservations around 7pm, so highly recommend to make a reservation if you're planning to visit at later evening.

I'm not sure how this compares to the rest of North Beach, but I thought this was a cute, cozy spot and certainly satisfied my Italian craving! The fried calamari was pretty standard, but was definitely a generous serving for two. The Cesar salad hit the spot. The dressing was thick and had a pretty strong anchovy flavor but it wasn't overwhelming. I ordered the sausage, onion and parmesan pasta, which was a perfect dish if you want something on the lighter side (although the serving size was huge!). The pasta was cooked perfectly and the dish had a good balance of salty / sweet due to the onions. My boyfriend ordered the chicken parmesan; his commentary was that the chicken was great and the pasta sauce was on the soupier side. The service was standard. The only thing that was a little off-putting was when we arrived as a walk-in, the restaurant was 50% full and we were told they were only taking reservations. We managed to make a reservation on Open Table for 15 minutes out, and then they accepted us.

Ho ordinato come se avessi tre stomaci. I couldn't stop ordering. What can I do I have put on a few pounds and came here with a big appetite. I was seated right away - beat the rush. The waiter was very nice and I think he may be the owner as well. The food was good. I ordered the Caesar salad, calamari and the duck gnocchi. The Caesar was tasty but small. The calamari has a very light batter but was a bit on the salty side and the gnocchi was well cooked but the sauce was odd - flavor was just ok. The appetizers came out in decent time but the main course took a long time. Over 30 minutes to arrive from order time. I think they mixed something up. Then asked for some Parmesan which never arrived so asked again. Then took awhile for the bill. I guess don't be in a rush is the moral to the story.

Bocconcino has that classic family-owned Italian vibe and the owner, Rosario, is super friendly. Such a fun little restaurant tucked away in North Beach. We had the lamb ragu rigatoni special, the penne bolognese, and the spaghettini burrata. The burrata one was actually the surprise standout, super flavorful and well balanced. Everything else was fine but not super memorable. Solid meal, fresh ingredients, and really nice service, but food-wise it didn't totally hit for me. Try it out for yourself though!

We ended up here because the place we preferred had a very long wait. On the plus side, we were seated right away at 7:30 on a Saturday night but we were seated in the back room and in retrospect when I smelled what beat can be described as sewer water we should have left - but I don't like to be rude and we were hungry. The wait staff didn't come to us right away and forgot to check on us after the food was served but I felt like they were doing us a favor to seat us without a reservation so it didn't bother me but others might get upset about that. We started with the Bocconcino salad, which is really just a chopped up version of a slice of a caprese salad. It was good just disappointingly small portion for the price. I had the seafood risotto and daughter had the penne bolognese and my son just had a side of buttered noodles and an order of meatballs. The risotto was fine, though the seafood all seemed rubbery to me and the flavor was just ok. Nothing special. The bolognese was like I make at home if I fry up burger meat and add ragu and put it on pasta with no additional spices. It was pretty lacking in the Italian flavor department. The buttered noodles were also fine but the meatballs never arrived. Other than the awful smell and the so-so service the place was just ok but since I was looking for good Italian food I was disappointed.

"Kramer, do me a favor will ya'? If you insist on making pasta in my apartment, please don't put the tomato sauce on the pasta while it's in the strainer. All the little squares have hardened red sauce in them!!" - Jerry Seinfeld This is NOT an old school "red sauce" joint, step into Tuscany! da Scene: Doin' a boys night out in da City, after a 2 day conference. We start in North Beach but steer clear of the old school spots like Cafe Sport, Sotto Mare, Tony's, etc. just a little up Green St. you'll find a newer spot: food with heart and wine with legs @ Bocconcino. Smart and stylish interior, surrounded by warm light wood, with a mix of contemporary and old school italian beats playing softly so you can chat. da Grub: we were asked if this was our 1st visit and if we were in the mood for something different... of course! Out comes thinly sliced beef tongue with some herbs piped on top, not slathered; just enough to complement the tongue. Could've had another plate of that, but since off menu, didn't wanna push our luck! Next up was grilled artichoke in balsamic, didn't see that on the menu either, gotta love summer. Polipo was charred perfection, smokey with a zesty sauce drizzled. Then the Gnocchi in gorgonzola... easily top 3 ever had, the sauce was somehow rich but light and the pillows of potato just disappeared on your mouth. I love gnocchi in pesto, and was tempted to ask for it, but was glad I kept my trap shut! Secondi was a braised pork rib atop the Risotto del Giorno; today was savory and tomato based, not a creamy/cheesy type (sorry forgot to snap a pic!). No fork needed, a spoon was given confidently and correctly used to gently pull meat from bone and sop up the well-rounded red sauce and rice. Many wines by the glass were offered and paired, happy for the suggestions. Finished with a couple of espresso, they know how to use the 3k machine, thank goodness. da Service: Felt like family friends over for dinner as we sat next to the bar, the guy behind it (thought initially was the manager) struck up a conversation as we pondered the menu. Rosario asked if we would like to try some specials... I learned to be adventurous, and when opportunities present themselves, be ready to pounce. We were well rewarded and later found out he is the chef/owner. Just an excellent experience from seating to invoice, folks that felt more like friends than servers. Can't wait to bring my girls here for elevated Tuscan comfort food with surprises around the corner... thanks for a great night Bocconcino, Aloha & Buona Cera!

Intimate low-lit restaurant. Great for 2 people or for groups of 4-6. Positives: homemade pasta and Italian beats playing from the speakers. Con: finding parking.

Our group had the most delightful time at Bocconcino-- everyone was so so welcoming, the chef was so memorable not only for the OUTSTANDING food but his kind and spirited personality. Everyone loved their dish including the gnocchi and tortelloni, and I was so pleased with the special that day, risotto di rabbit (or something along those lines. We were only in SF visiting but would gladly come again!

Hidden but a quite cozy little spot with delicious Italian food and a warm, authentically Italian ambiance. We had the meatballs to start, then I had spinach and cheese ravioli with a fresh, light pesto--absolutely melt-in-your-mouth good. My husband enjoyed the Penne Bolognese and a couple of beers, while I loved their Montepulciano. Ended the meal with a Tiramisu. The owners and staff were genuinely welcoming and checked in throughout the meal. A thoughtful and memorable dining experience.

My standards for Italian restaurants is so high because say it with me now: it's so easy to cook decent Italian food at home. I've often found myself out at a restaurant and thinking "I could totally just make this at home" and nothing makes the $$$ you're spending hurt more than that. But Bocconcino was hands to the heart the BEST Italian food I've had in a long time. From the surprisingly packed dining room (we were blessed to get seated in the cozy dining room without a reservation), to the warm bread with olive oil appetizer (we even asked for more and boy did they deliver), to the scrumptiously fresh pasta in generous portion sizes (I got so full), right to the to-die-for desserts (I have NEVER liked lime sorbet ice cream before, it was clearly non-artificial and perfectly not-too-sweet) - not once did I think I think of my box pasta and bottle sauce meals. This was at another level. To top it off, the service was excellent and quick. And the staff so so friendly. This was a 10/10 in my book.

Came in here off the reviews on yelp and they did not disappoint!! The service was stellar and the atmosphere was super quaint. We ordered just dinner and dessert but I want to go back when I have a bigger appetite.

This is a fantastic family style Italian restaurant. We visited on Columbus Day and, despite the busy dining room, were able to find a seat at the bar. The service was excellent and prompt, even with the restaurant's high volume. We appreciated our waitress's honesty and helpful explanations of the menu items. The food was delicious, and I particularly enjoyed the grilled octopus and calamari with white beans. The prices were reasonable. We'll definitely return to try more of their food and wine.

Dim romantic vibes make this place perfect for date night! Our waitress actually sounded Italian, and she was very friendly and attentive. A little later into the night, some Latin music was on, and a lot of the staff were singing along to it. It's got a nice friendly community vibe to the place. We had the grilled octopus and calamari to start off with, and it was delicious and flavorful. I had the spaghetti alle vongole, which seemed to have a few clams that tasted a little off? They weren't a going bad kind of a taste, but if you get what I mean when I say it's like there's some contamination in the water from oil pollution or something, that kind of taste. I might just be overly sensitive to that scent because it was pretty subtle, and only a small amount of the clams were like that. Other than that, the spaghetti is perfectly al dente and flavors were also delicious. My boyfriend got the special pasta for that night which I'm forgetting the name of at this point (the green colored pasta).

Extremely tasty gem we lucked out to get a table last minute at. Classic Italian pastas and mains, with great vegetarian options as well. The owner was a sweet old Italian man as well which really elevated the authenticity of the experience!

Authentic Italian restaurant in north beach with really delicious food. Servers are friendly and responsive with Italian charm! Ask for specials as they will have weekend specials (menu). Good for couples/date. Not good for kids, groups or meetup. Limited indoor seating and expect some wait time but worth it for sure.

The lasagna here is exceptional, fresh and full of flavor. Goes well with a Peroni. Food came quickly. The servers were attentive and helpful. It's a relaxed ambiance. Amazing Italian food. So many delightful specials and a few options for fresh pasta. Yum.

A very friendly family owned small restaurant in North Beach. Food was delicious and all staff welcoming and excellent service. Never had to wait long for anything and reasonable prices. Will be back again! Book a table ahead of time if you can, the restaurant was completely full when we were there.

Cute restaurant with quick service. The portions are on the smaller side so we finished everything we got (which is unsual at some Italian restaurants) but everything was delicious. The eggplant bruschetta, calamari, sausage pasta and chicken parm were great. Also loved the crème brûlée and tiramisu for dessert. No cocktails but they have beer and wine.

Because we were traveling, I usually like to have reservations set for dinner, etc. we were looking for Italian, obviously in the north Beach area. We chose this restaurant because of that and because of the variety of the menu. We sat in the secondary room away from the entrance room. There was a little stuffy inside And didn't have quite the ambience as the other side. The service was friendly and nice. We had the chicken Parm, linguine clams spaghetti with burrata and bolognese. Overall, the dishes were fair. The chicken Parm was the most disappointing to be honest. It wasn't even crisp, but like thin and very greasy. The Alfredo was chewy and tasteless. I probably would not order this again. The actual star was probably the spaghetti. We did not out for dessert cause we needed to get going, but the menu looked pretty basic overall. The meal was good as it was the service but nothing stands out as extraordinary. Street parking is available.

We came here for a friend's birthday dinner without a reservation, but we were seated fairly quickly (maybe a 15 min wait) on a Sunday evening for a table of 4! We were seated in a back room separate from the main dining room area but honestly it was super quiet and private so we didn't mind at all. Our servers were fantastic with helping with recommendations for entrees and wine. To start, we split a bottle of white wine and some appetizers, including bruschetta and caprese. They both were super delicious and fresh. For my entree, I got the Tortelli Panna which was a tortellini pasta in a creamy pasta with prosciutto and peas. The portion size was generous and the sauce was SO GOOD. After dinner, we also got some dessert, including affogato and tiramisu. These were so deliciously sweet and a great way to end the evening. Overall, really great experience and would definitely recommend for a great Italian meal!!

The service was outstanding and the food was delicious. They accommodated my veganism and the wine was delicious. It's a super cute space with a good vibe and a friendly atmosphere.

We arrived a little after 8. We got seated right away. Everyone was so nice and welcoming. We ordered a bottle of prosecco for our drinks. And for food I ordered the chicken parmigiana and my gf orders the gnocchi. Both were so delicious! The gnocchi were soft little pillows, so good! The chicken parmigiana was good as well and the fettuccine it came with *chefs kiss

After browsing tons of different Italian places in north beach we decided on this place!! It looked cozy and reminded me something straight out of Europe. For our party of 4 we were seated quickly on a Sunday around 6ish which was great. They have a back area separate from the main dining room we were in! Our waitress was great and helpful to explain the menu and help us pick a wine. We bought one of the bottles of white wine and a couple apps. The caprese was so fresh and tasted great and the bruschetta variety was delish also. For the pasta, I got the sausage pasta and it was amazing. Creamy delicious and a generous portion. For dessert, we got the affogato and tiramisu and they were truly icing on the cake. The food here was delicious and everything felt authentic. Staff was great and adorable vibes. A definite revisit.

**A Celebration of Tradition at Bocconcino, North Beach** Nestled in the heart of North Beach at 516 Green Street, Bocconcino is more than just an Italian restaurant, it's a tribute to culinary heritage, family, and the timeless flavors of Italy. Today's special luncheon, inspired by the heartfelt film Nonnas, was an extraordinary homage to the past, masterfully orchestrated by owner and chef Rosario. In a heartfelt nod to tradition, Rosario welcomed Chef Nonno Alberto Cipollina, the longtime chef of the iconic U.S. Restaurant in North Beach, where he served for many years. Returning to the kitchen for this special event, Chef Cipollina brought with him the wisdom, soul, and finesse of a bygone era, delivering a truly memorable and heartfelt meal. The experience began with a simple yet elegant starter: cannellini beans with olive oil, garlic, and fresh parsley, humble ingredients elevated with care and precision. This was followed by a beautifully composed mixed salad, dressed in a light Italian vinaigrette that let the freshness of the greens shine. The bruschetta di mandorle, an almond spread with a smooth, hummus-like consistency and a touch of spice was a delightful and unique addition. The fried calamari was nothing short of perfection, tender, delicately crisped, and undeniably fresh. Served alongside warm, homemade bread, the antipasti course alone was enough to stir deep culinary nostalgia. The main course, a magnificent ,Osso Buco di Vitello (Veal Shank), arrived atop a bed of perfectly cooked risotto. The rich, slow-braised veal paired beautifully with the creamy risotto, each bite a comforting, masterfully crafted tribute to Italian tradition. Complemented by a smooth, full-bodied red wine, the course was both hearty and elegant. Dessert featured a classic tiramisu, airy and well-balanced, not too sweet, with the perfect hint of espresso. And to complete the afternoon, most of us enjoyed a wonderfully rich, great-tasting espresso, a fitting finale to a deeply satisfying meal. Bocconcino's new tradition of welcoming back their (Chef Nonnos) is more than a culinary initiative, it's a cultural celebration. With chefs like Alberto Chipollina stepping back into the spotlight, Chef Rosario is creating a living tribute to the masters who helped shape North Beach's legendary food scene. This is the kind of storytelling and soul you can taste, and I, for one, eagerly await the next chapter. Bravi Rosario and Alberto

I've walked by this newer restaurant on Green St. in North Beach and have been curious about it since it had replaced a restaurant that I had dined at in the past. I read the review from Mike C. and about good the good was, I put it on my go-to for North Beach. So recently with an event nearby, I suggested Bocconcino for dinner. Our party of four arrived for our 5:15pm Saturday reservations. The restaurant was already half-full and we were seated at a table in front. The menu had a large selection of antipastis, primis and secondis and pinsas. This place is authentic as the gentleman host and our waitress were Italian and had Italian accents. Our waitress welcomed us and gave us the specials of the day. We decided to eat family style and ordered several antipastis, primis, and a secondi. We were first given a house focaccia bread with an olive oil balsamic dip. The bread was soft with a light crisp crust. Fried calamari - lightly battered and fried golden brown with tartare sauce on the side. Polipo alla Griglia - grilled octopus and calamari with white bean drizzled with olive oil and pesto. Perfectly grilled and so tasty. Tortelli Panna - large meat filled tortellinis in a cream sauce with prosciutto and peas. Very tasty. Ravioli Pesce - eight seafood filled squid ink raviolis in a tomato cream sauce. Decadent and delicious. Veal Shank with polenta - expecting a shank like a lamb shank, the entrée consisted of chunks of veal meat over polenta. Maybe it was just language description interpretation. In any case, the veal was very tender. Tiramisu - a square piece topped with cocoa powder with light mascarpone with base of ladyfingers. Nice ending to the meal. Very authentic Italian restaurant with delicious food. Service was a little abrupt at the start, but was friendly and great after that. With so many restaurants in North Beach, Bocconcino is now one of my favorites.

Honestly, I was knocked off my feet by this. The sauce didn't feel too heavy and was the best I've ever had. I am not from the area and have eaten quite a lot of italian in socal: this is #1 by a long shot. So good that I had to write a review. Service was great and the nice waiters tended to our needs. Decent lighting but I'd eat this in a dark alleyway. Best italian EVER!!! I shook hands with the manager (I believe) so if he sees this I WILL BE BACK!

This was the most enjoyable atmosphere, service and genuine Italian food expo in a long time. Walked in with no knowledge of what we in for, and all I can say is outstanding

First time in little Italy eating. The environment and ambience was very cozy. The servers were very attentive and it was a great experience overall. We didn't have the reservation, but they let us go in without waiting and accommodated for us. We also got a fried calamari appetizer that was a little bland. However, was pretty good perfectly cooked and good flavoring. Would go back again

Food was impeccable! Service was Great! Had a family Ambiance! I had the Tortellini, it was cooked to perfection. Great place to stop in for a bite. Grazie

Rosario is an amazing host providing great food with amazing service. You must try this place.

So delicious and the most friendly workers. Our waitress walked us through the menu and gave us her opinions on which we should get, and we didn't doubt a single thing! The vibe was so lively and welcoming and made you feel at home. Do not miss out on their creme brulee-- til this day I'm still thinking about it LOL Make sure to make a reservation to this place as they do not usually have room for walk-ins!

Called 10 minutes ahead and they held a table for six on a Saturday around 6pm. We had not been here before but found it by yelp reviews in the Little Italy area. Staff were very friendly and helpful and service was quick! We ordered a couple appetizers, including the caprese. I was hoping it would be like the picture on yelp (huge basil leaf on top) but it had smaller basil tucked underneath - still tasty though. We got a bottle of white wine which was refreshing after a day in the city. My absolute FAVORITE dish was the gnocchi! I've never had such light and fluffy gnocchi! It just melted in my mouth and was AMAZING. Living in South Bay, I would come back just for the gnocchi!!! No picture would do the gnocchi justice so just imagine the texture and taste! Ambiance was fine - a little stuffy in the side room as no air flow. Music was turned on later in the evening and definitely didn't add to the ambiance.

The food was fantastic--like a warm, fuzzy trip to Italy. And by "warm and fuzzy," I mean a balmy 90° inside while it was a pleasant 65° outside. Water? Well, that's a rare delicacy here. Ours arrived fashionably late, 15 minutes after we sat down, and then was only topped off when the glass was first dropped on the table. With the heat, pounding water was mandatory, but apparently invisible to staff. Family-friendly? Absolutely--if you consider "no changing table" an invitation to balance your baby on a toilet seat or maybe a dining chair. Truly delightful for everyone involved. As for service, our table was graced with attention maybe three times total. Might not sound bad unless you're in a sauna dehydrating while the servers orbit only the front tables. If you want to enjoy the great food without heat stroke, dehydration, and improvised baby acrobatics, I'd suggest ordering it to go.