Cioppino's

Bring your appetite! And get the Cioppino! It's exquisite! Perfect for a cool San Francisco evening. The portion is big enough for two to share, but you won't want to. You will want to savor every bite and soothe your soul. Our servers were friendly, attentive, responsive to our needs and efficient. I will try come back whenever I return to San Francisco. Walking past the other diners, the pizza and pasta dishes looked delicious. What a gem of a restaurant! Thank you! Update: Cioppino's was so good we returned the next night! Part Two was just as delicious!

I hate eating in a tourist trap kind a place like fisherman’s wharf, my wife and I just completed a vw bus tour and we were hungry. This place is awesome, they did not skimp on any thing from the quality or service. The appetizer to the entrees, I felt the love of quality throughout. The service was prompt and friendly. I would highly recommend.

Our hotel concierge recommended this restaurant to us. We went to visit it 4 days later and saw him there with his family! How's that for a genuine recommendation! We had the cioppinos special seafood stew and a grilled shrimp linguine. The stew was very nice and had succulent chunks of seafood. The pasta was a bit more ordinary but still tasty.

Came to SF for vacation. This restaurant was a pleasant surprise. Expecting a tourist type restaurant…we found well flavored and well portioned meals at appropriate prices. The snapper melted in my mouth. The pasta was cooked to perfection. Nice outdoor seating and spacious indoor seating. I would recommend this restaurant as a place to try.

Great service and really solid food. This place very easily could be a bad tourist trap restaurant with cheap food and bad service. The reality is this is a bit of a tourist trap location but the food and service were amazing. The restaurant is very large and has outdoor seating. They have a huge bar and a pretty good selection of meals and appetizers. If you are looking for gourmet high end food, this isn’t it, but if you want a solid lunch or dinner with great quick and friendly service I would recommend this place

This was the first restaurant we ate at during our first trip to San Francisco. It was so good we actually came back a second time on the last day of the trip. The staff were professional and welcoming, and a big shout out goes to Meo and Diego who were our servers on the first and second visits. The atmosphere was calm and inviting and the food was outstanding. We ordered the signature Cioppino (Seafood Stew) and calamari on our first visit and the fried shrimp, the seafood cocktail, and the shrimp pasta on our second visit. Everything tasted fresh and it was a big reason why we came back. This place comes highly recommended!

With a group of 7 the hosts were very easy going and quickly moved tables so we could sit outside. The appetizers came out quickly and were amazing. The garlic bread was perfect! All of the main dishes were delicious. They even gave us sodas to go and waiters were attentive.

Visited San Francisco for the first time staying opposite the restaurant at the Argonaut. Popped in and ordered the clam chowder in a bread bowl, fried King prawns and a scampi linguini. Fog craft beer and a lemonade. The chowder was stunning as was the main courses which were quite large portions. Friendly staff. Worth a visit just for the chowder.

Everything was wonderful from the ambiance, food quality and service! My Mom, Grandma and I visited Cioppino's for the first time since I was visiting from La. We love some good Italian and seafood, and that's exactly what we got! Food was amazing, from the quality of cheese in the tortellini, the perfect crisp on the fried fish platter, and the creamy white sauce in the Alfredo. And let's not forget about the music !! Just brought me back and we reflected and bonded over memories and old movies ( Lifetime LOL) the songs would in. Our Server Vicente L was absolutely spectacular. Handsome man, nice smile, good aura and does his job swiftly! I genuinely love when a server knows when to visit you and comes in just at the perfect times. Overall great experience and when I come back to visit, this restaurant will for sure be one of my first stops back ! We had a great time, Thank you Cioppino's !!

Great place near Fisherman's Wharf, but just far enough that's it's not a total zoo. I stopped in for a birthday lunch, and ordered the fish & chips. The batter on the fish was over seasoned, and the fish was a bit mushy so, can't say I'd recommend it. I'd definitely come back again and try something different. Lovely spot to sit outside and people watch. Staff were friendly and attentive.

We stumbled upon this place while walking the SF wharf area on Valentine's day. Somewhat expected needing to wait but we were seated immediately. I got the Cioppino as I saw it on another table as we entered. Taste was good. It is a sort of tomato stew of a bunch of seafood items in it. I opted to have my crab shelled for me so I wouldn't need to struggle with that as I ate. Of course the dish looks more impressive for pictures if you leave the crab whole. It goes well with the toasted bread that comes with it. Nothing foodgasmic but good. The carbonara was good. I took a bite off that plate to taste it. Our server was friendly as was the hostess that seated us. I would not mind coming back.

They are known for their cioppino - hence the name. The sauce is very good and the seafood was cooked just right but it was incredibly skimpy on the seafood. 3/4 of the dish it came in was the sauce. While it was good, it was not worth $53. The other people in my group liked their pasta. dishes.

Came in for dinner on a Thursday evening after touring all day. I'll start by saying that if you have a shellfish allergy, do not order anything fried as its all cooked in the same oil. Due to that, I ordered the linguini carbonara and my wife got the cheese tortellini. Food came out very quickly. The carbonara had real thick pieces of guanciale, very creamy and yummy. The tortellini was made with three colors pasta, also very delicious. For dessert, we had their homemade tiramisu which was fantastic. Only thing I'd say is that I felt they were trying to turn tables quickly, even though there was no wait.

Fabulous. 4 of us raved over the food. Cioppino was the best. Our waitress was so pleasant. Prices were reasonable. Thank you very much for a great dining experience. We shared 2 appetizers and the Cioppino which was delish! and plenty of fish and sauce for all of us. Shared a apple tart, yummy and just perfect for ending our marvelous meal. What a find! Highly recommend this restaurant on right on the water. Perfect!!!!

This is my first visit to this establishment. It's in Fishermans wharf. I dined outside on a beautiful day on April 21, 2025. I was seated immediately, Staff was friendly and accommodating. The menu is extensive. I went for fish and chips, which is always a favorite of mine to try wherever I travel. The food was absolutely perfect. The fish was light and airy, and had a nice crispy Edge. The fries were nicely done. I enjoyed Guinness with it. I think the prices are reasonable, given the location. I added one extra star for the quality of the people watching in this rather special location. The menu looks extensive, there will be a lot more things for me to try when I return.

My wife and I decided to rate the local clam chowder while we were visiting San Francisco and the warf. Cioppino's clam chowder was not as good as Boudin oyster restaurant's clam chowder. The reason for the bad review was actually for Cioppino's calamari. We actually finished our soup and about 10 minutes later we received the calamari. It tasted a little overcooked but the actual calamari was very tender. With that being said, the plate as well as the batter were soaked in oil. It was like they cooked it, forgot to bring it to us so they dropped it in the oil to heat it up again. When it got to the table it was slightly warm at best. Sorry Cioppino's, the visit was not what we thought it would be. Not worth the $20

11/28/2024: Happy Thanksgiving, Peeps Around The Planet! Meeting BF and Family before heading home. BTW: Ironically, Cioppino's used to be a different venue and different restaurant in the 1990's. Everything has drastically changed. FYI: When entering Cioppino's, the olfactory senses float into scintillating, wafting aromas of fresh garlic, squid, seafood, marinara sauces, etc. . . . Oooof~If I wasn't hungry , I'll definitely undergo an inhalation session; however, I inhaled a barrage of turkey and a gargantuan servings of sides just two hours before arriving at Cioppino's! As Ahnold Szwarzenegger has proclaimed, "Ah'll BE back!"

A nice Italian seafood place between fisherman's wharf and Ghirardelli square. As a solo diner I walked right in and sat at the bar and was immediately greeted. Overall the service was good and bartender checked in and made sure all of my needs were met throughout my time dining. There were a couple of TVs on around the bar so I was able to watch the football game that was on too. As a whole, the restaurant had the decor of a nice Italian eatery. I had the sangria to drink, it was pretty average with all of the other sangrias I've had in my lifetime. I ordered the seafood fettuccine since I was craving both seafood and pasta. The pasta was nicely cooked and the mussels were open and easy to eat. The clams I had to work a bit more with. There was plenty of salmon throughout the dish but the downside was the lacking of shrimp and I thought the tomato cream sauce was a bit bland. The dish as a whole though did satisfy my craving but nothing blew me away. They did offer some bread and butter prior to my entree. Despite the average food experience I would come here again. They had lots of things on their menu and seeing some of the other dishes come out to dining patrons, I'd be willing to try something else.

We sat outdoor, it was nice to see the tourists walking around. Servers were very nice and attentive. However, we don't feel the cioppino is worth $49. Taste was good but portion is small; not enough seafood for the price. Willing to come back and try other dishes though. But for now, 3/5.

We have strolled by this place dozens of times over the years. It has a large outdoor patio which is great for mild weather and a good sized interior and bar for the cooler evenings. The place feels just right, not too big, not too small, feels like a mom and pop place. The menu is vast and there is a good choice of wine (and other beverages) to pick from. There are many restaurants where I struggle to find one or two items to choose. At Cioppino's there were at least 6 items I easily could have ordered. Even though fish items are dominant (obviously), I choose the burger with bacon just because I felt like it. It was juicy and delicious and the bacon had like a smoked flavor. The fries were spot on as well. My partner had the breaded prawns which were plentiful and delicious. They had that nice crunch when bitten into. We came in early for dinner due to our schedule before it got busy. The highly spirited server was insanely attentive coming by often to offer more water or drink refills and making sure we were doing OK. Given all the retaurant closures along the Wharf, Cioppino's is a survivor and now we know why. Will definitely be back.

Mon night dinner at 630 was pretty busy but there were seats available The food came out super fast Casual place, good low key without having to dress up Food was delicious Cioppino feeds 2! We could barely touch our platter The tiramisu was delicious & I actually don't like tiramisu but I enjoyed this one. The rum was not strong. The top layer of cream is very rich. The bad: servers were so busy, we had to flag our server down for water refills and check.

It's been a while since we were there but the Calamari appetizer I shared with my wife still stands out as one of the most amazing I ever had. We were "Grazing" from restaurant to restaurant ordering drinks and appetizers from one place and then moving off to try the wares at another. At Cioppino's we ordered the Steamed Clams $20 and of course the Calamari $19. I think that squid was so fresh it must have been swimming in the ocean that morning because it almost melted in your mouth it was so fresh and tender. It was a little pricey but hey, we were on vacation mode so the cost was incidental to the yum factor. We will hit that one up again when next we return to San Francisco.

The service here is great. They sat our large party quickly and the food arrived fast and hot. The restaurant itself was clean and nicely decorated. It's right on the wharf and a 2 minute walk from the argonaut hotel. However the food itself is pretty plain. It's not bad, but it's not good either. Had to add a lot of salt and pepper to our plates. It's expensive but think of it as paying for convenience and a nice clean place by the water vs paying for the foot itself. If you need somewhere to eat after getting to your hotel, this place will take care of you quickly.

Came in with a large party. We tried to make reservations ahead of time but we were advised that they have a limit of 8 people per reservation. So once we got there, we were seated at two separate tables of 8 people each. We ordered drinks. The staff was nice. But then shortly after the manager came by and offered to move us into a separate dining area which would be able to accommodate the whole party together. We were very pleased about that. The food came out great. Lots of flavor. Again staff was just amazing. We had a wonderful experience and plan on returning again

Service: Nice, friendly and very professional. As soon as i walked in i felt welcomed. Food: The food was good. I enjoyed the pasta, and my friend enjoyed her fish. The alcoholic drinks are watered down and overpriced. Ambiance: Very clean.

Me and my girlfriend's family were looking for a place to eat lunch in Fisherman's Wharf and we were recommended Cioppino's by a friend. Cioppino's was a really nice restaurant. The service was incredible and the atmosphere was really cool. The reason I give the service and incredible status is because our waiter was so on-top of things. He would consistently come back to refill our waters, he took our empty plates almost immediately and he didn't make us wait long for when we were ready to order. Again, very good service. The food was also very delish! I was a little disappointed that they didn't give complimentary bread for the table, as that's usual for an Italian restaurant, but I won't hold it against them. What I got, was the "Shrimp Aurora". It was, again, really tasty. From my personal experience, I would give this restaurant 4-stars. I give it that because I think it was good Italian food, but I think there's better out there, more authentic Italian. I would consider this simple Italian food. That being said, I would recommend Cioppino's if you're looking for Italian food that hits the spot but also isn't crazy fancy and too expensive!

Stopped here after a long travel day and it hit the spot. Delicious cheese tortellini and prawn cocktail! Loved the easy going music that paired with the wharf ambiance. Service was great and we enjoyed a late lunch.

Pretty quick, and the prices are good for Fisherman's wharf. However, at busy times, they work quite bad, forgetting giving spoons and napkinss

Tried this spot for the first time with my boyfriend because we heard that the clam chowder was good. We shared the bowl and both said the chowder was a solid, but the bread bowl was a bit stale. The carbonara that I ordered had pretty big pieces of pancetta which was great and overall portions for the pasta were worth the price. Recommend this if you love something savory! The seafood fettuccine was also super flavorful. Service was friendly and quick and overall the ambiance was casual! This is a great spot for larger parties as well

The food is fantastic. My husband and I each got clam chowder and we shared the seafood fettuccine. The seafood is very fresh and tasty. It's a bit pricey, but it's not surprising considering the area. Only drawback was that the service wasn't great. There were a lot of larger parties seated around us and our waiter didn't seem interested in just the two of us. I think waiters can get annoyed when you share meals because it'll mean the check is less = less % to tip. Ours wasn't friendly and rarely checked on us even though we saw him being kinder and more attentive to the larger groups. I don't really care too much about that though as long as the food is good. But the lack of good service could be a drawback for some.

We ordered one Garlic Dungeness Crab, Cioppino, and Fisherman's Platter to share between three people. It was a lot of food. The crab was good. The fisherman's platter was great. This was my first time having cioppino and it was just ok to me. I just don't think cioppino is something that I really care for generally speaking.

We were in the area on a Sunday night with a group of 12 of us. We were looking around for a restaurant, knowing this area is full of tourist and mediocre food. We choose this restaurant and was pleasantly surprised with the ambiance and spacious restaurant. We were seated in 2 tables that were next to each other fairly quickly. We ordered: Fish and chips - tons of fresh crispy fries and nicely battered fish, very crispy and full of flavor. Highly recommended Clam chowder - nice creamy broth. Recommended Clams and linguine with white white sauce - always a hit or miss with me, but this was also really yummy, sauce was savory. Recommended as well. Seafood risotto- probably my least favorite of the entrees. Fried Calamari - so crisp and tender All desserts were wonderful! We were pleasantly surprised, during the meal, we kept complimenting the dishes and how surprised that the food was good for a 3.7 star rated place

I had high hopes for Cioppino, especially since they were able to seat our party of seven immediately without reservations (which made sense after tasting the food). The friendly staff was a nice touch, but unfortunately, that's where the positives ended. The food felt mass-produced and lacked the quality I remember from previous visit years ago. The cioppino was a disappointment--I've definitely had better elsewhere. The rest of the dishes tasted bland, reminiscent of a hospital meal: no salt, no flavor. On a brighter note, the cheese pizza was surprisingly decent. It's hard to mess up a classic like that. The place has a large dining area and a pretty big bar. But overall, this place was decent in the past, and it feels like it's fallen off significantly. I doubt I'll be returning anytime soon nor do I recommend.

AMBIANCE Cioppino's, aptly named after it's invention of the classic San Franciscan seafood stew, is a seafood restaurant in San Francisco's historic waterfront, Fisherman's Wharf. SERVICE Staff were friendly, attentive, and helpful with recommendations for a party of 10+! FOOD 5/5 ROASTED SHELLFISH MEDLEY (garlic butter shellfish heaven and envy of the table): Dungeness crab legs, Jumbo shrimp, clams, and mussels roasted in garlic and extra virgin olive oil. Served with garlic pasta

Meal was okay; the cioppino was good but not worth the price; the crab cakes tasted fresh but overcooked/tough to cut; we also ordered garlic bread and the pear salad which were pretty good. The service was really sweet but went MIA often. It's very touristy; lots of families. It was fun but probably don't have a reason to come back

Husband absolutely wanted cioppono when we were in town and cioppionos was two blocks from where we were staying. We went in a mid week evening and had no issue getting inside seating. Service was excellent. Kids got pastas and husbands and I split a cioppoino. Splitting for two was the perfect amount. It was all tasty and super fresh seafood with just the amount of spice. Serving sizes were large so recommend splitting or planning on taking some to go, which might it be ideal if you are visiting the city. Prices matched the touristy location but weren't outrageous. One note is that we did often see people dining outside and there is a lot of foot traffic walking by and we also noticed a car club gathering next door in the weekends. Their high nose level of music and car engines might not be for everybody so take that i to consideration if you are there on a weekend afternoon/evening. Overall, solid choice for Italian in the area.

My wife and I were craving pasta for our last night in SF and were pleasantly surprised when we stumbled across Cioppino's. We were seated quickly despite it being a busy Friday Night. The staff were friendly and helpful with my wife's wine pairings. That being said service was a little slow but I mainly attribute that to how busy they were. We started with the fried Calamari which was amazing. Flaky with just the right amount of chew. I had the seafood fettucine while she had the Alfredo with salmon. Both dishes tasted great and my only knock was the Alfredo that for a pasta dish to not include any protein it felt a little more on the expensive side.

The food is good here - calamari is perfectly cooked and crunchy yet light breading. The Louie salad has a variety of seafood and is really fresh. Clam chowder is worth a try. The cioppino has a good amount of seafood and great flavor. How does it compare to sotte mare and woodhouse? Sotto mare has the most seafood yet the flavor is a bit watered down; woodhouse is top notch all around ... cioppino's is solidly right in between. The restaurant is very large so you can definitely get a table even on a weekend but I still recommend making reservations. Just to note - there's no real water view but you can still see the ships. Service is good but the staff has large areas to cover so not the most attentive. Overall, I recommend checking it out!

I'm surprised this place only got a 3.7 rating on yelp! I rely heavily on yelp reviews since they have proven more trustworthy and accurate than company websites and Google so this place wouldn't have been on my radar if it had not been recommended by a fellow foodie! The place opens at 11am and we arrived at 1130am (we're early birds!) we were greeted and quickly seated (inside next to a window, favorite kind of spot!) our server was kind and attentive. Not really talkative but that was great since we were hungry and not in a chit chat mood anyways. The ambiance is casual, welcoming and open. The place looks and smells clean walking in. The smells from the kitchen (which is open) were delightful. I ordered the Cioppino since this place is known for it and I'm given to understand that it's "uniquely San Fransiscan". I love seafood and I love soup. This dish is both! It's described as "lusty and flavorful" and I would have to agree! My cioppino came out piping hot with two toasted slices of sourdough. There was tons of seafood in it: fish, Dungeness crab legs (out of shell is $6) mussels, clams, snapper, shrimp and calamari was plentiful in this soup and everything was perfectly cooked. Nothing too chewy. The only thing I wished for is colder weather! I haven't tasted much else from this place but based on the Cioppino dish alone I would definitely recommend this place. PS- the bathrooms were clean too!

We're super excited to visit the nicest restaurant in the USA! It's been on our list for a while, and we can't wait to experience it!

Sat at the outside patio shaded with umbrellas for lunch, basically exhausted. A beer perked me up and I saw my old friend Geraldo, a server with so much positive energy, just loved him! He also works at Buena Vista, up the street. Please tip him well!!! He ran after 2 customers while I was there to return their credit cards. Literally ran after them. What a hero. The food was ok, we had appetizers, and ate it like tapas. The crabcakes were the best. Skip the mussels.

Our group of six friends just had a wonderful dinner of comfort food after arriving from the our flights on this windy day. Four of us had the most magnificent Seafood fettuccine loaded with heart healthy fresh salmon cubes, juicy shrimp, fresh clams on a shell and mussels. It's my third time ordering this dish in this restaurant. My husband had the Linguine with clams, his favorite. He had minestrone soup and I had the clam chowder. All we had in the table including the salads and fresh loaf of sourdough bread and butter were perfection in its own. Service by Rodrigo was top notch. Can't wait to go back again.

We came here for my daughter's sweet 16 lunch ordered an appetizer of garlic fries they were really good. Could you use some more garlic and a lot more cheese and maybe melt the cheese if you like cheese if not, then it was the right amount of cheese, but it was not melted. I ordered the fish and chips and they were so good fresh tasting. The fish was delicious and the fries were crisp and so good. The birthday girl ordered linguine and meatballs and her Besty ordered the kids linguine. They were the same exact portions so if you can get away with ordering off the kids menu do it because it is the same portion you can look in the pictures they even have a kids linguine with meatballs. It's a little bit more I think that one's $22 instead of the eight but the portion sizes are the same the plates look different but the portion size is exactly the Same. I also ordered a margarita and it was very strong. It was $15 I don't usually drink so I guess for somebody who likes to drink it is worth the buck that you pay but I am a little buzzed and it's probably because I don't drink so that should tell you how strong I got margaritas and yes, I finished it even though I didn't like the taste of it. The servers from the host who shot us to our server awesome. Awesome awesome. So kind so sweet. They even celebrated my daughter on her birthday. It was a special treat and we appreciate it. I've been coming to Cioppinos for years they never disappoint. They are always fresh fast on points. I definitely suggest you try this out for a lunch or a drink or a dinner. They have clam chowder bowls that are really really good and the bread will come from the sourdough company if you know what that is you know that is dang good sourdough.

the place is beautiful- the food not so much. Not one of our plates had good food on it. the spices where too strong, the kids pizza bland. the best thing was the meatballs. dont recommend and wont be returning.

Great place to have lunch around Fisherman Wharf. The linguine with clams was delicious. Our server was attentive. Restaurant for sure had an Italian American vibe which was great. The soup and Bloody Mary were not that great. Next time I will try the original Cioppino

Disappointing experience. The food was good but the server (Allan P) was rude and unprofessional. When I requested the receipt, he just told me to get it from the host at the front desk instead of bringing it himself. When I got to the host, she was confused as to why am I asking for the receipt from her. Poor service overall -- won't be coming back.

Food was good not bad. Service was good our server was consistent and the surrounding was good as well. It didn't wow me but it was good

We went here with high hopes and were not disappointed! Service was outstanding. Interior was beautiful. But the food is where this place shines. Seafood Dip appetizer - The dip was REALLY good but the crostini was REALLY crisp. I think a bit chewier would've suited the dip better. 4/5 Fish & Chips - I've had F&C at at least 100 places in numerous countries but I can say truthfully this one is the BEST I've ever had. The chips (aka fries) were fresh cut, nice & crispy and seasoned well. But the fish. OMG!!! The fish had a thin but crispy batter while being extremely tender & flakey. Without a doubt, the best F&C I've ever had. 5/5 Cioppino - My wife had the cioppino, which is a huge bowl and tasted amazing. Fish, shrimp, calamari, & not sure what else but it was DELICIOUS! 5/5 Overall, this was the best meal we had on our entire trip to San Francisco, I 100% recommend it, and would definitely revisit if I ever come back to San Francisco.

Delish!!! So good. Fresh food and great service! Highly recommend You won't be disappointed!!!

This place was amazing! Loved the rustic yet elegant atmosphere, the service was incredible, and the food to die for. I could have eaten loaves of the bread, and the cioppino was delicious. We were visiting from Missouri, but next time we are in San Francisco, we will definitely eat here again!

Our party's comments: "So good I want to cry!" "Best fish n chips ever!" If you're picking a restaurant in San Francisco you can't lose here.

This was awesome experience some of the greatest service the waiters were kind and friendly did not feel pressured the inside of reasrurant was nice food was hot and gave perfect amount of food would recommend if your near the Bay Area

This a cute little tourist spot along the water. The food was pretty good but nothing to write home about. The staff were very friendly and allowed us to pick our own table outside. We ordered a raspberry lemonade (cocktail) and an aperol spritz both were tasty. For food we had steamed clams, bruschetta, and mozzarella patties. All again were fine but nothing to write home about.

The atmosphere was cute and very homey, we went at night where they had the doors opened where the cool breeze came in. Staff was friendly and responsive. Food was good - big portions, sharing some dishes was a good idea. We got the Clam Chowder Bread Bowl, Cioppino, and the Dungeness Crab. It was all good, very filling, and flavorful with garlic!

The service was great. My family enjoyed the food, The Scampi linguini one of the best I've had.

Got takeout here and it was a nice family meal. Especially liked the Alfredo sauce and the bolognese, which were really comforting and a hit with the kids. Also really appreciated that nothing was spicy - not even a hint of spiciness from black pepper - as the kids are pretty sensitive.

Service was on top of everything! And we were there on a Saturday night! The Wharf was jumping! Great service! I ordered crispy calamari for and appetizer and clam chowder in a bread bowl! Iconic! Good clam chowder! Crispy calamari met all expectations. Parking is a struggle but it's the Wharf in SF! Get here! Eat well!