Firenze By Night

Oh my goodness, where do I even begin with Firenze? This isn't just a restaurant; it's an experience crafted with love. Each bite was a revelation of authentic Italian flavors. The gnocchi is absolute perfection. Specials are always delish as well. Beyond the exquisite cuisine, the hospitality is truly exceptional. The team’s genuine care and attention to detail made our evening feel incredibly special. It's clear they pour their hearts and souls into this restaurant, and it shines through in every aspect, from the welcoming ambiance to the heartfelt service. If you're looking for an authentic taste of Italy at an SF staple, you've found your spot!

What a delightful experience! The intimate setting at Firenze by Night was incredibly cozy. The staff were warm and welcoming, making us feel right at home -- beginning with a cheerful greeting from Chef Paolo who was happy to find us a table even without a reservation. We began with the gnocchi, which was simply divine. For our main courses, we both opted for veal dishes - both were beautifully presented and incredibly flavorful. We were thoroughly impressed with the quality of the food and the overall service. It was a truly memorable dining experience.

Such a gem of a restaurant. Authentic food, service, and ambiance! My fiancé and I cannot get enough of Firenze. Highly recommend.

Life changing gnocchi! So fluffy, so pillowy, truly I have not had gnocchi like that before. The service and atmosphere were both top notch. Cozy vibes, white tablecloths but comfy and welcoming. The food was amazing! A north beach classic. Can’t wait to go back

Wow a a dinner. Some of the best raviolis ever!! The romaine salad with Gorgonzola was perfect, great service. My first time at Firenze won't be my last!

Our family favorite in San Francisco. They have some of the best Italian food especially the pastas and risotto! Aside from great food, amazing service. We love this classic Italian restaurant - be sure not to miss one of the best no frills Italian restaurants in SF!

Wife and I had an amazing meal here at Firenze by Night! The service was absolutely amazing and attentive! The food was so delicious! I highly recommend the Melon e Prosciutto! We did half and half pastas for both of us and every single pasta dish was perfection! Espresso Martini was fantastic too!

Such a great old school Italian experience. Very welcoming chef/owner at the door who genuinely got to know us and made us feel at home. Food was incredible. We got the gnocchi and chicken piccata and both were delicious. Will definitely come back next time we’re in town!

Tonight, we dined at Firenze By Night, a cozy Italian gem in San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood, and it was nothing short of spectacular. * Caesar Salad: Absolutely perfect! The greens were crisp, the croutons were perfectly crunchy, and the dressing was balanced with just the right tang and creaminess. * Alfredo Pasta with Jumbo Prawns: Creamy, rich, and indulgent. The jumbo prawns were cooked to perfection, adding a fresh and luxurious touch to the dish. * Fettuccine Pesto with Chicken: This was, without a doubt, the best pesto I've ever tasted. The vibrant basil flavor, paired with tender chicken and perfectly cooked fettuccine, made it unforgettable. * Gnocchi: Light, pillowy, and coated in a delicious sauce--this award-winning dish lived up to its reputation. * Bread with Olive Oil and Olive Paste: The olive oil itself was great, but the olive paste served with it was out of this world! It added an intense, savory richness that elevated the bread to another level. The ambiance was warm and inviting, with a classic Italian charm, and the service was friendly and attentive throughout the evening. However, the place can get loud if there are too many large parties, which might affect the overall experience for some diners. Overall, Firenze By Night delivered an exceptional dining experience. From the unforgettable pesto to the incredible olive paste, this is a must-visit spot for authentic Italian cuisine in San Francisco. Highly recommend!

We came to Firenze on a Thursday night and I have to say it was pretty good! We ordered the penne allo zenzero and the firenze gnocchi. I felt the penne allo zenzero was decent but when compared to the firenze gnocchi, I personally would have picked the latter. The gnocchi was creamy, soft, and the sauce was so flavorful. Service was quite good as well and it felt like an authentic experience, I would love to come back!

Nadia is my wife's bestie so I have been here a couple of times, maybe not nearly as much as I should, since this is one of the few spots in north beach with good food and not hyped up or touristy (don't want to make names, if you know, you know). The ambiance is old school, friendly, and cozy, you feel like family. Service is on point even on busy nights and won't feel rushed. One major plus, they still use table cloths, which make the spot perfect for date nights. The musts: * gnocchi (any of the flavors): you can't find a better one in the whole SF, case closed * espresso martini: one of the few places that do it right, definitely better tasting than the one at the renowned Balboa Cafe * tartufo al cioccolato: this is a dessert that only Italians know

I'll start with the good: the foccacia was DELICIOUS. we ordered two servings of it. 10/10! The gnocchi and caesar salad were okay. Not outstanding. The caesar didn't taste the most fresh and was slightly overdressed. The gnocchi came out 20+ minutes before the other pasta dishes and wasn't that warm - I'm thinking they made it in bulk since it's popular. I'd skip the rabbit pasta and the clam linguine. Both tasted mediocre and the pasta itself wasnt good either. The rabbit just tasted like bad turkey and the clams were maybe from a can. Service was really nice, but pretty slow at 7pm on a saturday. The inside was super warm and cozy, but nice at the same time. People were dressed up and it was a great lively ambiance!

One of the best dining experiences of the new year . A truly amazing spot with incredible decor and excellent lighting. I'm told it has never varied much from the eighties when this restaurant was established. Very classy spot . One room is a large bar with incredibly pro bartenders and the best espresso martini I have ever had. The gnocchi here is somewhat famous and well deserved and the bread is made in house and is amazing slightly sweet and accompanies any of their sauces well but olive oil (really tasty) is also served . The staff was attentive, knowledgeable and through the roof nice . The fish was cooked to perfection with a light glaze which paired perfectly it is accompanied by some broccoli and a delicious hominy style grits . The cheesecake is as delicious as well with a raspberry drizzle that is subtle yet delicious. The orange sorbet comes in an actual orange which was delicious and an excellent presentation. If there were more stars to give I would. Very highly recommended and an excellent date spot .

What a delightful experience! The intimate setting at Firenze by Night was incredibly cozy. The staff were warm and welcoming, making us feel right at home -- beginning with a cheerful greeting from Chef Paolo who was happy to find us a table even without a reservation. We began with the gnocchi, which was simply divine. For our main courses, we both opted for veal dishes - both were beautifully presented and incredibly flavorful. We were thoroughly impressed with the quality of the food and the overall service. It was a truly memorable dining experience.

My family and I have been coming here for decades, it is our go to special occasion spot for Italian food. It's more old school which feels fun, with cloth tablecloths, servers in pressed white shirts and black vests and very traditional Italian food. You'll find many traditional dishes you'd think of for classic Italian food like caprese salad, lasagna, and eggplant Parmesan, but done well, their food is always delicious and flavorful. My family always gets their stuffed mushrooms, which we get multiple orders of because they are just so tasty, we always need to soak up the sauce with their delicious house bread and basically lick the plate! We also get the bruschetta which has a punch of garlic flavor. I always love their pasta dishes including their gnocchi, or paparadelle which are house made, as are their ravioli, and lasagna noodles, and their pene which I always enjoy. While the food is delicious, what keeps my family coming is the hospitality! The owners are the most hospitable and friendly individuals you could meet and they just make you feel at home! We only come a few times a year at this point but always remember us and make us feel so special. Their servers are also always attentive, warm and on top of it. I know we will be coming here forever!

My family and I went to see a show in North Beach and decided to have dinner before the show. We had reservations on the early side - around 5pm - and the restaurant was quite empty, but it started to fill up around 6pm. For the table, we ordered the caprese salad and the spinach salad, and I had the veal with porcini mushrooms as my entree. I can never resist tiramisu which I ordered for dessert. The meal was solid and service was good (if a bit overly solicitous), but I wouldn't consider it a destination.

So this place was pretty dang amazing. I had the gnocchi and it was the best I've ever had anywhere! It melted in your mouth...soooo good! My wife had the giant prawn and calamari in a white wine and lemon sauce. We both ate all of our food! The only downside we had is it was quite hot outside, which made it very warm in the restaurant. Other than that our service was great as well as the food!

One of my favorite traditional Italian restaurants in North Beach. The gnocchi is excellent - very fresh and flavorful. Their squid ink pasta is phenomenal.

Best meal I've had in a long time! We were a large party and we all appreciate good food and have traveled to Italy, so know the real deal. Each and every one of us was blown away the meal was so good! Sorry was too busy eating and visiting and didn't take pictures. I had the rabbit pasta dish and I had to consciously not moan with joy at every bite. I plan to go back and would like to try something else, but that rabbit dish may have to happen again. One of the guys and I both ordered the Tiramisu for dessert and it was memorable. So many places make it and it's eh, okay, but you cling to hope. Well hope was realized and it was perfection. Was totally stuffed at the end, but it was too good to leave behind and reheating it would be criminal. It's late as I write this, I had a decent size dinner and yet right now if I could make that rabbit pasta dish materialize before me, I'd dive in! Hoping to go again with a different, but another large group of friends. Again folks who appreciate good food. I just need to see about making a reservation. I'm so looking forward to going again! Oh service - equal to the food - superb! Only negative and a small one - the glass of wine recommended was surprisingly not very good. That was the one small disappointment.

Wife and I had an amazing meal here at Firenze by Night! The service was absolutely amazing and attentive! The food was so delicious! I highly recommend the Melon e Prosciutto! We did half and half pastas for both of us and every single pasta dish was perfection! Espresso Martini was fantastic too!

We had a team dinner here (9 people) on a Wednesday night. I enjoyed the ambiance as the staff were all speaking Italian much like Federal Hill in RI and The North End in Boston. We were sat promptly and provided menus by the host. it was certainly a busy evening so our server took a bit to get over to us and take drink orders. I have to say that the service was the weak link. Getting our server's attention to deliver more bread, water or follow-up drinks was painful. He was not the most attentive server I have had. Enough about that. The drinks were well-made. The cocktails were well-balanced and a good size for the cost. They had a marvelous selection of spirits and wines. The food was a solid 4.5 stars. I had a seafood special with sauteed vegetables and it was in a beautifully prepared cream sauce. It was an incredibly flavorful meal. I would definitely give this a try and enjoy!

Last meal in SF, recommended by a friend who lives in Almeida (and was with us). It's such a cute place with lots of seating! So quaint! Such friendly service. Quality was top notch. It was a really wonderful end to our time in San Francisco. My friend and I split the braciole. It came with polenta and vegetables. It was filling and delicious. Very generous portion. We also got 2 desserts: chocolate cake and cheese cake. Both divine. Would love to come back!

Flavorless pasta. Nice service. Good ambiance. Truly mediocre bordering on bad food however.

The food is amazing, especially the gnocchi. Usually I'm not a fan of gnocchi, but it was delicious with the creamiest sauce. The vegetarian lasagna was very filling with nicely layered veggies (usually at other places it's just cheese and spinach), so I was pleasantly surprised. The spicy penne was nice too, but felt similar to something you can make at home. The fettuccine with mushrooms was divine, can't go wrong with that dish. Service was great, especially with a big group of people. The ambiance was very cozy and clean.

This place is so romantic and adorable at the same time. It is great for a date night. We ordered the snails, focaccia bread, and the gnocchi. The snails were delicious and definitely different from the French version. The focaccia bread was very tasty, especially with the herb olive oil they provide--it really takes it to the next level. Dipping the bread in the snail dish was also a delicious way of enjoying the meal as well. The gnocchi was phenomenal. My husband actually hates gnocchi, but loved this dish. It was cooked perfectly and the sauce was great. Their specials of the day also sounded really good, and it's something we want to try next time we are here.

Went for dinner after a show. So glad that we stopped in. The focaccia is the softest I've had and so much flavor. It was served with a delicious olive oil (forgot to ask what kind, I want to buy some) with homemade pesto. Fully worth the cost and then some. We both had the tri-color gnocchi. First off, the gnocchi almost melts in your mouth. This is how gnocchi is supposed to be. The three sauces were pesto (my fav), creamy Gorgonzola (his fav) and the house tomato cream (our least fav). Ended with dessert and finally was able to show my date that there is actually good tiramisu out there. I had the sauv blanc and he had a red blend, both were good. Our server was literally the best! Can't wait to go back and take others with to experience the deliciousness.

This is a solid 4 star old school American Italian restaurant. There were a lot of older people who seemed like regulars, and who greeted the maitre d by name, shook his hand or hugged him. Our waitress was nice and friendly. I had the veal with mushrooms which was pretty decent, and my partner had a seafood pasta with squid ink linguini which was also pretty good. The restaurant is dark and has lots of pictures of famous customers over the years and a wall painting of Florence. A little bit old fashioned and worn in, but comfortable.

We got the Cesar salad to share and it was one of the best Cesar's I've had in the city. I wouldn't recommend sharing since the salads are on the smaller portion size end. I ordered the gnocchi and loved it. It definitely felt authentic as the pasta is hand made and was good amount of saucy. We also wanted a dish with protein and the waiter recommended the dish I have pictured below (not sure what the name was). This was not my favorite as the meat didn't have much flavor and the veggies weren't seasoned. I would definitely recommend to stick to their pastas as that it was they seem to specialize in. We ended the night with gelato which was perfect.

If you haven't tried the gnocchi you have no idea what you are missing. Prob one of the best AUTHENTIC Italian restaurants in SF!!!0

Our group of 8 made our way to Firenze By Night in North Beach, we were greeted by Nadia and we're seated at our table. Nadia then took all eight of the drink orders, made them all correctly and then served us without taking notes. We were very impressed. Paolo was our server and he was extremely knowledgeable about the items on the menu and helped us all choose great dishes. For appetizers, we ordered a pesto gnocchi and a gnocchi in a red sauce, and these were possibly the best gnocchis that I've ever eaten . To top it off my lamb shank was a special and was extremely tender and served with Polenta. This was an excellent choice for me. If you're looking for a truly authentic Italian restaurant in North Beach try Forensic By Night you will not go wrong. Also try the cannoli and tiramisu for sure!!

I actually went here in July/Aug of 2023 after strolling around all the different districts in SFO with my big sis and this was my last meal. I LOVE, love, LOVE Italian food. Bc it was sooo long ago that I went before writing my review I can't remember the names of the dishes. What I can tell you is the flavor was everything. When the flavor is that full and rich you really don't need huge portions. My sis and I were sooo tired and we got there later in the dining evening but the staff was so friendly yet so attuned to the fact that we needed some space. I can't wait to come back!

Firenze is a must stop for us when overnight in North Beach. Stopped in after the holidays and was not disappointed.we always start with tri colored gnocchis which are pillow soft with the three causes of pesto. Red and Alfredo. Three of us had the lemon picatta sole. Cooked perfect and fresh. Service was great and prompt. Ambiance was great. Restaurant clean and location good.can't wait to visit again

We've been going to Firenze by Night every year for the last 6 years on our engagement anniversary to celebrate as this was the place we had dinner the night we got engaged! The food after 6 years is just as good as we remember it from that night. Love the decor at this place and the staff is very nice. They remember what we are celebrating every year and make it special for us. Highly recommend checking it out. Make a reservation.

A weekday dinner experience, the restaurant was quiet. White clothed tables, the service was attentive and we ate all the food, focaccia bread, insalata de spinaci, penne allo zenzero, vitello con porcini and tiramisu.

Best gnocchi ever! Have been here many times and have never been disappointed. There's good parking around the corner next to the police station.

This was a gem of a place. Nice atmosphere and friendly service. I had the veal special which is only prepared on Saturdays. It was absolutely amazing and flavorful. I would definitely return again.

Sister highly recommended this place so I had to give this place a go. Amazing service but the real star was the cuisine. You can certainly taste the pasta was fresh. My normal go to when trying out a new Italian place is how they make their gnocchi, but this time I wanted to try a different route. We ended up trying the ravioli and the eggplant parmesan. Both were triumphs. Totally hit the spot and you can certainly notice how fresh that ravioli was. Oh salad was quite delicious too! I'm not the biggest fan of italian salads but I was quite mistaken. I could eat a barrel of it. Great flavors, amazing dressing and cheese. When you have the chance, ask for the limoncello with proseco! Housemade from what I hear. Our server was quite attentive and it's amazing how he takes care of everyone but also makes sure your needs are met. I'm a fan.

We love finding great Italian spots in the city! Firenze by Night definitely lived up to the reviews. We arrived a few minutes before they opened but were seated immediately and greeted by a knowledgeable and friendly manager. She also acted as our waitress and provided a list of excellent dinner specials and drink recommendations. The food was spot on for traditional Italian cuisine. I thought Tony Soprano might pop out at some point. The pasta sauces were seasoned nicely and they definitely didn't skimp on the portion sizes. If you decide to give this place a try - you'll feel like family at the end of your meal!

Love this traditional Italian restaurant in North Beach! It's a favorite with the menu filled with exceptional Italian entrees. A lively bar and restaurant a glow with happy patrons. The most delicious gnocchi outside of Italy. When my cousin from Italy came for a visit he stated this restaurant has the best and most authentic food he tasted during his trip to California. The staff is always welcoming and very attentive. The drinks delish and the food is never disappointing no matter which dish you decide upon!

Far and away one the friendliest places in my beloved, North Beach neighborhood. The owner/operators clearly are engaged in every detail of this popular Italian restaurant. Ask anyone. Firenzei by Night remains a solid choice you and your guests will enjoy. Try their popular Melanzane alla Leonardo (Eggplant Parmesan).

Enjoyed a fabulous meal at this gem of a family restaurant in North Beach. Excellent food and excellent service. Will be back!

Consistently excellent food and atmosphere. I will continue to visit and recommend this restaurant to others!

Being one of our favorite Italian restaurants, we once again visited Firenze last week with family/friends. It never disappoints. Though our reservation was delayed due to a large party that took their time to depart after paying bill, the owner (Nadia) apologized for the delay and brought over an order of bruschetta free of charge. Our dinners were wonderful (as usual!) If you are ever visiting SF and are in the North Beach area, you need to dine here...the food and staff are great!!

All locals in the restaurant, that tells you they can really have great food! Fabio was our waiter and he was wonderful, the place was awesome. White tablecloths and wonderful service and ambience.

Amazing service, authentic menu, warm atmosphere- if looking for a place to have a romantic date, take your family for dinner, or enjoy a lovely dinner with the ability to converse with people at your table, definitely go here. Also great for special occasions with a private room available (think engagement dinner, birthday party, retirement celebration, etc).

Firenze by Night is a wonderful piece of Italy in the city. We had the most beautiful night celebrating our friend's big birthday there. The venue is gorgeous, and the service is excellent. Paolo and his staff treated us like queens and couldn't have been more attentive. The food was exquisite! I highly recommend the parma ham starter and gnocchi for the main. Hands down, it is the best Italian restaurant I have frequented in the Bay Area. Italian hospitality at its finest! Grazie mille!

this little family owned gem in the awesome food town of SF! Great welcoming staff make you feel like family. Don't worry about the extensive menu and just stick to the specials...they kick it out of the park! Don't miss an experience here

11/10 I don't make it to SF but once a year. This place locks in my best experience to date. AMAZING food. Three words describe it best. FAMILY, FAMILY, & FAMILY. You get treated like Family. You get fed like Family. And they make you feel like Family. Off a Random recommendation, I'm glad I listened to. 10000% I'll be back.

My favorite gnocchi. Pillows of savory deliciousness. Tomato cream sauce. I could eat it for days. Simply, the best.

A friend gave me and my husband a gift certificate for our anniversary so we tried this place for the first time. Food was delicious! Loved the limoncello & Prosecco cocktail. Husband and I shared bruschetta and a salad and portions were perfect to share. The house gnocchi was amazing!! Cappuccinos were perfect and Tartufo Chocolate with zabaglione cream and hazelnuts was very yummy. The tiramisu had a gritty texture in the bottom layer that I was not a fan of but otherwise a great meal!

Everything about our dinner at this restaurant was wonderful. It started with me calling them to apologize for being late as we were having difficulty finding parking, even in the garage next door. I use a walker and couldn't park far away. The bartender who answered the phone "said, please come back to right in front of the restaurant, we have a spot right in front of the door saved for you." My husband and I were celebrating our 50th Anniversary so we decided to have it all. So my martini, was dry, just the way I like it, we split a half order of the gnocchi for appetizer, as I'd heard it was the best, and it was! I had the caprese salad, my hubby had the Caesar salad, they were both good, but my short ribs and creamy polenta was sooo good! Unfortunately, my husband did not read the menu clearly and thought he was ordering a calamari steak, but instead got a dinner of calamari rings with a red sauce. It was still good, just not what he would have ordered if he'd read the menu correctly. And we had to share a cheesecake to celebrate. Our experience with our waiter, the hostess and the bartender were just perfect. We felt like we were in our neighborhood restaurant even though it was only our second time in 5 years. We will not let 5 years pass before our next visit.

The gnocchi was incredibly smooth and the Petrali Sole was light and flaky. The service and atmosphere were excellent, and we never felt rushed. We discovered our new favorite Italian restaurant in the city.

***4.5 Stars*** A North Beach gem! A classic old school Italian restaurant with scrumptious seafood and pasta dishes. I have to thank the local that we met while bar hopping in North Beach. He raved about this place and told us that we had to come here for dinner. He told us that he's been coming here for years and that they have some of the best Italian food in the city. He was right. We were very impressed with our dinner experience. Popped in around 5:30pm to see if they could accommodate our party without a reservation and they happily obliged. Their dining room area isn't super fancy but well set with the classic white table cloth esthetic. It has a wonderful homey and classic feel to it. We had the honor of being hosted by the owner's daughter Nadia and she was absolutely lovely! Complimentary bread with vinegar and oil was provided and we purchased two bottles of Italian wine from their wine list. We ordered an array of different dishes including the following: *Seafood Linguine: This was actually a special but it was simply amazing. It had a light tomato sauce that was seasoned extremely well, and the pasta was packed full of deliciously plump and fresh seafood. A beautiful execution of a classic dish. Absolutely loved this! So happy that I chose to have this special for dinner. *Petrale Sole: Another amazing special! This was my first friend's dish and it was just phenomenal. The fish was moist, buttery, and tender. Had I not gotten the Seafood Linguine, I would have totally gotten this dish instead. *Gamberoni Pescatore: A beautiful mixed seafood dish accompanied by fresh veggies and rice. I did not try this dish, by my friend really enjoyed and it smelled wonderful. *Minestrone Soup: A hearty rendition of a lovable classic. The broth was delicious. It was well executed. *Tiramisu: Excellent!!! Pillowy soft and delicious! Would definitely get this again for dessert. *Chocolate raspberry cake: Rich and decadent. Not what I'd normally go for, but it was really yummy. I prefer the tiramisu, but this is still a good option for dessert. We were stuffed after this incredible meal! Service was amazing and we had an all around great time. I would definitely recommend to anybody who is looking for delicious Italian fare in the North Beach.

Consistent and tasty classic Italian American dishes and friendly service. You'll never have a bad meal here!

Pasta was over cooked and the rabbit ragu was bland. Also had the veal porcini which had a gravy that tasted like it came from a powder. We were able to eat it since we were very hungry, but "barely edible" is the highest review I can give. Far from a true food experience from Firenze ‍ I have absolutely NO Idea how this place gets so many 5 start reviews for the food as we came here on the recommendation of a close friend. I love food, I love home cooking and hidden gems. Unfortunately for the price, quality, service this is not it.

This is perhaps the best Italian food I've ever had. Beautiful ambiance, attentive service, reasonable prices. It is everything we could want. I cannot recommend this place enthusiastically enough.

An amazing family night was spent here! They had the best gnocchi and espresso martinis I've ever had.