Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959

Italian restaurant · Russian Hill

Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959

Italian restaurant · Russian Hill

2

759 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133

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Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null
Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 by null

Highlights

Homemade pasta, Neapolitan pizza, seafood dishes, and great wine.  

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759 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133 Get directions

luisasrestaurantwinebarsince1959.com
@luisarestaurantsince1959

$30–50 · Menu

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759 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133 Get directions

+1 415 872 9638
luisasrestaurantwinebarsince1959.com
@luisarestaurantsince1959
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@luisa_since

$30–50 · Menu

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Aug 14, 2025

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Wells Fargo Seeks Judicial Foreclosure on China Live Building in San Francisco - Eater SF

"After opening her latest restaurant in the Mission District, longtime San Francisco restaurateur Luisa Hanson has been making headlines across the city." - Lauren Saria

https://sf.eater.com/2024/3/13/24099596/china-live-foreclosure-lawsuit
View Postcard for Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959
@eater

Hog Island Oyster Co. Stops Harvesting Following Health Scare - Eater SF

"Local burger chain Burgermeister has abruptly closed its North Beach location (759 Columbus Avenue). Following the recent closure of the Duboce Triangle restaurant, there is just one remaining San Francisco location in Cole Valley. The North Beach space already has a new owner: Luisa Hanson of now-closed spots La Vinoteca and Delaney’s Bar." - Janelle Bitker

https://sf.eater.com/2019/1/17/18186885/hog-island-oyster-co-recall-stop-harvesting-tomales-bay
View Postcard for Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959

Mr. Bravo

Google
Great place to have some pasta pizza we tried a vegetarian calzone. It had OK flavor, but it did not come with sauce so it lacks some flavor. It also took an hour for our food to come out. We also tried the vodka gnocchi, which was just OK the gnocchi was good, but the sauce was not the best. Surprisingly the Caesar salad was the best thing we tried with a glass of wine.

Katherine

Google
We enjoyed the food here and it's reasonably priced for SF. I've had the manicotti with vodka sauce and it is deliciously cheesy and fresh. The lasagna with spinach and mushrooms wasn't as tasty and the filling was a little dry. My husband really liked the clams in wine and olive oil and the chicken with lemon and capers. The portions are good, but not huge. We liked the spumoni bomb. This is a casual place with lots of regulars. The service is uneven. Sometimes the staff is very friendly and other times they seem disinterested.

Nicholas Segard

Google
The food and atmosphere of this true Italian restaurant was nothing less than amazing. Luisa comes from true Italian ingredients and simply uses authentic Italian dishes. She is from Italy and came to the United States in 1957. She started her restaurant in 1957 but her grandson claims 1959 which was funny to hear. When we went for our visit, Luisa ordered herself the Gnocchi which was one of the best dishes she claims and she gave her plate to use to try for free. My girlfriend is from Spain and she adored the European experience you get with Luisa. This is a 10/10 place to come eat and experience Italian food. I recommended this place. She also makes her own wine and it’s authentic Italian.

ny

Google
Had some dishes based off of the reviews I read here: The meatballs and their sauce were very yummy. The pappardelle in vodka sauce was very good 🤌🤌 tasty noodles and sauce was tomatoey and not heavy and perfect amount of salt with some parmesan The tiramisu was YUGE and also very yummy ☕️ Nice homey humble space. Well, the prices are a bit eye-watering, but it's sf... And the tall older man server who didnt speak much english was a cutie 😘

Renata Williams

Google
Beautiful gnocchi with pesto it melts in your mouth. The pinot noir from California was nice and smooth and easy to drink. I would highly recommend this place for a meal.

ROBERTO LOERA

Google
Omg the best place to have some good Italian food I recommend it The marco the cook is excellent at what he does Marco the server very friendly at what he does Everyone superb You all need to come and try some home cook Italian food

T.J. Sevilla

Google
Went to Luisa's for a quick dinner to satisfy my craving for carbonara and salad. The staff were very friendly, the place looked clean and cozy, and the ambience was good. I ordered the Caesar salad and the Spaghetti Carbonara, but unfortunately both were bland and lacking in flavor, even with the extra pepper and cheese. The Caesar salad lacked saltiness, particularly the flavor of anchovies, though the croutons on the salad actually tasted good. As for the carbonara, it also lacked flavor, even with the additional cheese. The pieces of guanciale were not too bad, but the dish overall was not up to par. Nice place, but food could be better.

Afshin Afshar-Ghasemlou

Google
Great Food at Luisa's A few weeks ago, a neighbor mentioned that they had dinner at Luisa's and that they enjoyed the food. That made me realize that despite being a long-time North Beach resident, I had never eaten there. So last night, when the weather was nice and warm, we walked over and sat in the parklet. Our server, Alexandro, a very pleasant young man with a thick Sicilian accent, took our orders. We started with Burrata salad, and I had a glass of Pinot Grigio. We told Alexandro we would decide on the main course while munching down the Burrata! While waiting for the salad, I went in to check the inside. Luisa's is not a big restaurant, but the space is cozy and nice. The salad arrived shortly after I returned to the table, and it was very fresh and delicious. My significant other ordered the chicken parmesan, and I tried the Pappardelle with vodka sauce. Both arrived in a nice portion, and both were really delicious. I had never tried the dish, so I asked Alexandro what he thought before ordering. He said he preferred the vodka sauce over the meat, and I must say he was right on! We were so full that we did not get to try their tiramisu, but they are in the neighborhood, so perhaps next time!
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Paul R.

Yelp
This is an intimate/cozy real deal Italian restaurant in the North Shore Little Italy section of San Fran. Be aware you will receive large portions of delightfulness. Our journey began with Ceasar and Caprese Salads. The Ceasar salad arrived with homemade dressing, and you could catch a whiff of anchovy. This is the real deal. The Caprese salad had organic tomatoes and delightfully soft buffalo mozzarella cheese. We also ordered a Chianti that opened up beautifully and was a wonderful accompaniment to our meal. On to our main course lobster ravioli and my fruit of the sea. My dish had a generous amount of shrimp, scallops, squid, and a surprise large mussels on the half shell. The linguini was served al dente perfectly. Plus 1s Lob ravioli was OK it really could have used more Lob. I called it hint of Lob ravioli. It was delicious but needed more Lob. We are spoiled as we have previously had the best lobster ravioli (IMHO) at Rinos in East Boston, MA. Large homemade raviolis packed with lobster. If you do visit Boston, take the blue line to Maverick station and a quick Uber to Rinos. No reservations and a line but....... Onto dessert! A large cannoli and espresso coffees ended a fantastic dining experience. Service was on point, and we never wanted for attention. As a bonus Christmas carolers stopped by and we all got to sing along to a few songs. Buon natale e buone feste!
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Ashleigh S.

Yelp
The service was fantastic. Great people who were attentive but also didn't rush us at all and offered recommendations. For food this visit - shared the Caprese, friend had the chicken parmesan with pasta, I had the vodka sauce on parpadelle, and we split the limoncello marscapone cake. The buffalo mozzarella in the caprese was amazing. Tasted very homemade and fresh. The tomatoes and olive oil were also really good. I would have loved a bit more basil. My friend finished his chicken parm so fast. Like inhaled. He said it was delicious. I saw another review say the same thing so this is your second reminder that if you like chicken parm at all or it's something you're looking at...order it. Get the chicken. My pasta was not quite as good as I would have liked (vodka sauce is my absolute favorite so it's a high bar). The sauce was a little thinner than I would have liked and the ratio of sauce to pasta seemed lower than I prefer. I do think this could be due to my noodle choice and will try it with another pasta option next time. The limoncello marscapone cake was AMAZING. So light and fluffy and moist and perfect amount of lemon and sweet without being overwhelming on either front. I'm glad we ordered, but the tiramisu and cannoli are made in house, so I obviously have to come back and try them next! 10/10 for a National Pasta Day dinner.
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P. L.

Yelp
My wife & I went for dinner before a show at Cobb's Comedy Club and chose an Italian restaurant convenient to the venue - Luisa's Risorante. We were there at 5:30, plenty of time for dinner and to get good seats after at the show. After our pasta course was served at dinner, the head waiter helped a senior citizen (not me....) up the steps and past our table as she headed to her seat at the window. As she passed, she said, pointing at my gnocchi with meat sauce and my wife's lobster ravioli, "I make that!" and walked to her seat. Could it be Luisa? After hearing her giving commands to the wait staff, I was certain. I had to go over and let her know we enjoyed the fruit of her labors. I shared that I was born the same year she opened her restaurant. She responded with feeling that she had not opened her business at this location--she didn't own the building. "!" She had started sharing her home-style Italian dishes with "only the best ingredients" in the Sunset District, far from San Fransciso's North Beach (our Little Italy) where her restaurant is now a fixture. She's still going strong at 95! I suppose we can chalk her continued vitality up to eating 'only the best ingredients' for a lifetime. Cheers to Luisa and wishing her many happy returns to the best seat in her own restaurant. And, her gnocchi, ravioli and Ceasar Salad were all fantastic. I'd be happy to sample other items on the menu.
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Suvondal T.

Yelp
Very small and intimate restaurant. Some of the best staff around. As a Chicagoan, we're born being food critics! Lbs! I think are expectations are extremely high. I had the Caesar Salad, Garlic Bread (which was excellent), lasagna and tiramisu. The only thing I didn't like which brought my rating down from a five to four stars is the tiramisu was too wet/soggy for my liking. Other than that, it was a great choice for my solo trip.

Julie M.

Yelp
Small space with extensive menu and nice selection of Italian wines. Our server was great and the food was tasty. Try the ice cream bomb for dessert it's fun and yummy. Bonus: we got lucky with street parking right across the street
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Afshin A.

Yelp
Great Food at Luisa's A few weeks ago, a neighbor mentioned that they had dinner at Luisa's and that they enjoyed the food. That made me realize that despite being a long-time North Beach resident, I had never eaten there. So last night, when the weather was nice and warm, we walked over and sat in the parklet. Our server, Alexandro, a very pleasant young man with a thick Sicilian accent, took our orders. We started with Burrata salad, and I had a glass of Pinot Grigio. We told Alexandro we would decide on the main course while munching down the Burrata! While waiting for the salad, I went in to check the inside. Luisa's is not a big restaurant, but the space is cozy and nice. The salad arrived shortly after I returned to the table, and it was very fresh and delicious. My significant other ordered the chicken parmesan, and I tried the Pappardelle with vodka sauce. Both arrived in a nice portion, and both were really delicious. I had never tried the dish, so I asked Alexandro what he thought before ordering. He said he preferred the vodka sauce over the meat, and I must say he was right on! We were so full that we did not get to try their tiramisu, but they are in the neighborhood, so perhaps next time!

Ruth H.

Yelp
All of the food was so delicious; from the meatballs, caesar salad and Italian bread to the pasta and steak special. I have to take my family there. Luisa is an absolute treasure! R. Harris
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Alison K.

Yelp
Great wine, food and service at reasonable prices. The shrimp was wonderful and the salmon was perfect.
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Ryan W.

Yelp
We had dinner at Luisa's last night and Luisa herself gave us an unforgettable evening of entertainment and food. The gnocchi is incredible and Luisa herself still makes the meatballs every morning which are also delicious. Very LGBTQ+ friendly. Thanks Luisa and team!

Steve A.

Yelp
Seems my one-star review of last year was scrubbed. They were not busy. We were the only ones at the outside tables. To repeat, the three of us ordered separate pasta dishes. Overcooked and underflavored. The side of meatballs was bland. The very smalll bread order ($6) tasted like a piece of cheap Safeway bread with a little butter and garlic. Waiter was hard to find. I wanted salt (not on the table) but could not find him. I asked about the daily specials, he pointed to a board with no prices. I told a shop owner nearby of our experience. He asked why we would have gone there as the neighborhood people avoid it.
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Catalina L.

Yelp
A wonderful and memorable dinner experience - thank you for making the birthday celebration so special! We did call and make reservation ahead. Super attentive and friendly staff - gave suggestions and took care of our large table well with all different drinks. Range of food was all positive feedback from the group. APPETIZERS Burrata Salad was a favorite and it was awesome to share, plus getting order of Garlic Bread. Bruschetta was okay but a bit small. ENTREES Lobster Ravioli - so delicious in the lemon sauce with the brightness and it was fresh, no ocean fishy flavor Gnocchi - their most popular dish was great! Super soft texture and delicious vodka sauce Portion sizes seemed larger and more filling for pizzas and the pancetta spaghetti (compared to ravioli or cheese manicotti) DESSERT Limoncello mascarpone cake - my favorite of the dessert with bright lemon flavor and soft texture Chocolate cake - deep chocolate flavor and also good Tiramisu - nice but a little too much of the cocoa powder and cream not quite fully set Cannoli - crunchy shell and light cream was average Lemon sorbet - super cool it was served in a lemon! though most average of the dessert options
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Angela G.

Yelp
Love this place! The food and service are impeccable. We had carpaccio, gnocchi special, meat lovers pizza and special order cacio de Pepe along with focaccia and all were fantastic! Best of all we got to meet the woman behind the magic. Thank you Louisa!
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Ricky P.

Yelp
Great food and service. Came here after the comedy show at Cobbs. The customer service was great and the spot felt roomy and like I was eating at someone's house. Loved it. I ordered the margherita pizza and some garlic bread. The garlic bread was ok. A little burnt but ok. The pizza was really good. The dough had a great flavor.
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Mary C.

Yelp
Luisa the owner greeted us upon arriving she is the sweetest woman! Our time here was embellished by her presence and her recommendations. What a beautiful experience it was to dine here. The pesto gnocchi and the meatballs were our table appetizers since the reviews in yelp mentioned these being particularly delicious. Our group loved both, I loved the pesto gnocchi for the richness, savoriness and it was so delicious and seasoned terrifically! My main entree was the linguini prawns in an oven baked tomato sauce, it was so savory, salted perfectly and with an incredibly delicious amount of garlic. My friend got the same dish but the white wine and lemon, and she loved it as well. Chicken parmigiana was spectacular with organic veggies in a garlic butter and finally for dessert the tiramisu as well as the canola were fantastic. My friends specifically mentioned that the cream inside the cannoli was spectacular. Finally we all shared the Luisa Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa and it was delicious! The service was excellent and the ambiance is darling, you must dine here! Luisa mentioned the recipes were in the family for over 7 generations, classic, traditional, clean, aromatic, and delicious flavors. Thank you Luisa !
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Mark M.

Yelp
Met a friend here and he had the GNOCCHI and said it was good. I had the MEAT BALLS 5 STAR ON YELP (actual name I am not kidding). Was more like a 2 star pizza. Crust wasn't any better than a Tombstone Frozen pizza and Meatball just OK. Service was fine. Nice day so ate at the outside parklet which is a bit worn down.
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Kevin R.

Yelp
Luisa's is a great little spot in North Beach. Luisa just turned 94 and she's still here walking around greeting guests. She firmly believes that when you retire, that's when it's all over. We were very appreciative since dogs aren't allowed but they made an accommodation for us and let us sit at a table away from the other customers outside. We had a very friendly waiter who was having fun and cracking jokes all night. We split 2 entrees: Chicken Parmesan and cheese tortellini. The chicken is very tender and covered in delicious sauce. The cheese in the tortellini is rich but then the rest of dish was a bit plans. All it needed was a bit of salt and pepper and it was good to go.
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Danielle Y.

Yelp
Regretting the three star review and changing it to one after all this time. Experience and food were really awful. Being honest may help this establishment get it together to serve edible and real Italian pizza with fresh mozzarella at least. I'm still upset over it.
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Clara L.

Yelp
So so good! The gnocchi was good, but the carbonara was seriously the best I have ever had! Burrata was fresh and savory. Highly recommend if you are in the area. Getting a reservation on a Friday evening was very easy also.
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Melody U.

Yelp
This is exactly the quality and experience I am craving when I want Italian food. Luisa's has a laid back and warm atmosphere, our service was a 10/10, and the food was excellent. I got the vegetarian lasagna, my boyfriend ordered the house dish, the pollo piamontese, and my sister ordered the beef ravioli. We also ordered bruschetta and a burrata salad as starters. Everything was perfect. I now have a new favorite restaurant in North Beach. Our server was attentive and friendly. Luisa herself blew us kisses as she was leaving the restaurant.
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Amy O.

Yelp
8/1/2023 Half a mile from the hotel and it was a nice walk.. Haven't had pizza in a while, so this was a perfect choice.. Arrived before 5 pm and a few customers dining.. Seated right away without a reservation. Ordered the spinach salad- good size to share and very good!. Garlic bread caught my eye because they make their bread.. nice and light .. Ordered the pizza with sausage, mushrooms..and mozzarella.. Slightly thin crust with toppings -(could use a tad more sauce).. but still very good. To go was the lemon cello mascarpone cake.. Small but very, very good!
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Cyn C.

Yelp
I came here after a North Beach neighborhood meeting, and the servers were friendly but abruptly came to our tables. The food was okay, nothing remarkable but I liked how they served their spumoni with the hard shell chocolate.
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Johnny L.

Yelp
Luisa is a charming and lovable lady. She takes her time to talk to each and every one of her customers and welcomes all that walk by to come in and enjoy her food and wine. We were looking outside her restaurant at the posted menu and her server told us to come in because Luisa wanted to talk to us. Hahaha very clever.. We went in and met her; she was so kind and told us she has excellent food especially her meatballs. Ordered that along with her lasagna. The Best I've had here in the states! Meatballs were tender and flavorful and moist. Sauce was perfect and ate like a meal itself plus I sprinked some parmesan in it. Mmmmmmm Lasagna was so good. Seasoned. Vodka sauce was amazing. Not a big wine person, but we had her white wines, and no lie, her wine hits real good, neutral, not tart nor too sweet. She knows what she's doing. Totally recommend this place! Luisa reminds me of my granny
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Manning L.

Yelp
Wonderful restaurant. The waiters welcomed us when we arrived and the table reserved on Opentable was ready for us. Had a nice drink of Prosecco with mango juice and tutto de mare for dinner. The caprese had a nice presentation and tasted great. You have to try the desserts. So decadent. Both the tiramisu and lemon cake finished off the meal well. Had to walk off that great food after!
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Tim S.

Yelp
Had the Parma ham pizza and it must have been the best pizza I've ever eaten. I'm from LA so maybe my Italian food standards might not be as high but the food was delicious and the service was excellent!
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Monica M.

Yelp
Don't bother calling for a reservation. We made one over the phone the day before for 11ppl at 7pm and had to wait an hour because they didn't reserve indoor space for us. We didn't know we should have said prior? (Shoulder shrug) Anyhow - place was cozy and nice servers. The food for me was - meh. The meatballs were fine and the bolognese my son ordered was good but the Halibut special the server insisted on was way too salty. I ate one piece and couldn't keep going. Everyone else in my party enjoyed their pasta dishes tho so - perhaps I just chose wrong. Anyhow the location is touristy and inconvenient to park - but overall not a horrible experience but not a spectacular one either. It's forgettable but doable.
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J L.

Yelp
Loved Luisa's!! Lasagna and fresh mozzarella and tomato appetizer was delicious!! My waiter (think his name was Massimo, sorry for mis-spelling) was awesome!!

Evie E.

Yelp
Amazing gnocchi and chocolate cake! Not great place for cocktails had a wine lemon cello and it was very medium
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Kim F.

Yelp
The restaurant was very busy but we were able to get a table for two without a reservation. The food was delicious and I would definitely go back.
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Craig H.

Yelp
We had an amazing evening at Luisa's. Our server was charming, helpful and attentive. The food was amazing and our server helped us pair a great Italian wine with our food. We will definitely plan on a return visit when we return to the city.
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Laura G.

Yelp
Authentic Italian food. So good. One of the best lobster raviolis I've had. Hole in the wall but so worth it.

James G.

Yelp
Like being in Rome. Small family restaurant who invite you in. We ordered chicken parmigiana and chicken piccata. Both were fabulous.
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Ryan A.

Yelp
We came Luisa's before going to see Jeff Ross at Cobb's Comedy Club Saturday April 1st. We had a nice meal here. Little Italy is a cool district in SF, and Luisa's is a great place to dine when visiting. We had their famous meatballs as an appetizer along with some bread with tomatoes on it. I struggled to choose my meal as the had a red snapper special that night, but I couldn't resist trying the gnocchi, so I gave it a go with meat sauce. It was really good, although next time I dine there I'll try the vodka sauce with my pasta. That looked good when I saw other people at our table having it. They have a very reasonable corking fee here, well worth bringing your own wine in.
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Elaine Y.

Yelp
We came to Little Italy on a whim thinking Sunday night would be less busy but was quickly reminded that that was a terrible assumption to make. All the classic locations had at least an hour's wait time and for the big hitters like Tony's - forget about it! Hopped onto OpenTable and saw Luisa's was available and wow! What a choice! Luisa's is on Columbus but on the not so busy end and let me just say, you have to visit this little corner gem! We began our meal with the burrata salad and was upsold on the bruschetta. I LOVED how fresh both dishes were. The burrata salad featured a whole burrata ball served over a bed of young arugula (peppery but not bitter) and some halved tomatoes. It was delicious! The bruschetta featured diced tomatoes mixed with an ample amount of garlic tossed generously in olive oil and pepper before being topped on fresh slices of just toasted french bread. I will say I like my mom's version more since she uses pesto sauce but this one was also quite good! For entrees we shared the lobster ravioli with vodka sauce, the lasagna, and the meatball pizza. Hands down, without a doubt, the lobster ravioli won! Each ravioli was generously stuffed with lobster. You really got that sweet seafood flavor from each ravioli which was delightful. Then, add in the vodka sauce, and it was definitely next level! We even used the pizza to swipe up more of the sauce because that's how good it was! Speaking of the pizza though, the crust was SO GOOD. It was thin but delightfully chewy and tender. I felt like we could have used just a little more oomph on the toppings besides chopped meatballs (maybe some fresh oregeno or basil) but it wasn't bad. The lasagna was not as saucy as my family usually likes but we loved how tender the noodles were and how well spiced the beef was. For dessert we opted for a couple cappuccinos and a slice of the limoncello mascarpone cake. The cake was DELISH. Do yourself a favor and order it! The cappuccinos were also pretty solid. Total with tip was just over $140 which is a steal in North Beach. Every dish was easily $5-10 less than main Columbus so while it sacrificed some outdoor ambiance it more than made up for in quality. I also loved that they didn't rush you at all. You can definitely have a slow conversation over delicious food here and they would totally respect that. I would definitely recommend this place and would definitely opt for a return trip!
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Joe R.

Yelp
Right on Columbus Avenue in the Little Italy neighborhood of SF, you will find Luisa's! What a find it is - the food is supurb and we were intrigued by the rich history the restaurant has that our server Claudio shared with us. This is the definition of a family owned business where the founder and owner and executive chef Luisa is still in the business well in her golden years! We dined in the early evening because we had a holiday show to catch by 7pm so while we were at Luisa's it wasn't that busy and we re seated as soon as we arrived. Reservations are always a good thing none the less. I had a glass of Rosso Di Montaicino and it was an excellent red wine recommend by Claudio which I really enjoyed. I ordered the Cannelloni de Carne which was baked and every bite seemed to be better than the last. Home cooked and served piping hot, it really was delicious. Ron had the pepperoni pizza and really enjoyed it and so said it reminded him of the pizza we get in Naples, IT. I had to try a slice for myself and oh boy was he right!! After passing on dessert the night before at The Matterhorn (be sure to read my review of it here on Yelp), we saved room this evening for dessert. Both Ron and I cave for good spumoni ice cream, so it wasn't a surprise to me that he ordered the spumoni bombs which was spumoni ice cream rolled up in a ball covered with a crunch chocolate shell and served split in half. I caved for the Limoncello Mascarpone Cake. I can't get enough of Limoncello in fact in Southern Italy a small glass is traditionally served after your meal complementary palate cleanser and is usually ice cold - delicious and high in octane!. The cake was melt in your mouth goodness and the mascarpone cheese was perfect within it all topped off with a double espresso! I've been to a number of different restaurants in the Little Italy neighborhood of SF and now I think I found a new favorite and can't wait to go back again and you should try it too!
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Ali D.

Yelp
Super tasty and cute small restaurant feel. Felt very intimate and the service was so great!
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David O O.

Yelp
A very popular place to eat near North beach. The place has been established for a long time. The food was very good and the ambiance was fitting for a small establishment. Service was very good. Will be back
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Evan S.

Yelp
Delicious and authentic! The meatballs? Maybe not the proclaimed 5-star, but that sauce definitely keeps them at a solid 4. The Caesar salad was spot on--just the right balance of lettuce to dressing, and that dressing was outstanding. I had the gnocchi, which was really good, but the true star of the meal was the meat sauce. I could seriously put that on just about anything--bread, spaghetti, you name it.
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JoAnn Y.

Yelp
Their meatballs are noted in the menu as being 5 star on Yelp, which is a clear thumbs up. The meatballs are indeed worthy. Get them with the garlic bread. We had the meat filled cannoli, delicioso!
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Steve K.

Yelp
Ate here with some friends for the first time a couple of months back. Food, service and atmosphere was great. I had the Lasagna alla Bolognese, it was perfect. The owner, Luisa, was so funny and friendly, she sat near us and told us about her many years in the business, she loves it! Parking can be a bit challenging on the weekends (North Beach, after all) but there are several lots around too.
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Frank T.

Yelp
What can I say, that I haven't already said about this place. I was so glad to see she survived the pandemic. The pizza is my favorite and some of the best pizza ever, including when compared to some of the best pizza in Rome. They used very fresh ingredients, and the dough is perfect. I watched many guest from Europe and Asia come in and dine, since a large microelectronics conference was going on. They all ordered the pizza and you could see the amazed looks on their faces. We were so full, but could not pass on the desserts, which are the BEST! We ordered a bunch to go for later in the evening in the hotel room. Their beer list is not fantastic, but it works, but their wine list, including Luisa's own, is wonderful. And just a little secret. It is not on the menu, but after a good meal, ask for their lemon cello. It is to die for!
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Karen R.

Yelp
One of the best Italian restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area. Homemade bread and pastas. The best limoncello cake I've ever eaten. Meeting Luisa was a highlight of eating here. Of course, the wine!

Michael W.

Yelp
Fantastic authentic Italian food, intimate setting, exceptional service, and reasonable prices. You won't be disappointed.
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Berenice S.

Yelp
Lovely little spot in North Beach. Excellent service and delicious food! The only con: The tiramisu is advertised as "homemade" but I would say otherwise. Very mushy...
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Julie L.

Yelp
This was such an enjoyable experience! Our meals (gnocchi, lobster ravioli & cannelloni) were amazing! Founder Ms Luisa was sitting in the restaurant and shared she's still making the gnocchi today. It's the best gnocchi I've ever had. Even though we were stuffed, we had to order tiramisu because we love tiramisu! OMG!! It was to die for!! Visiting with Ms Luisa was an extra treat! Wishing her & all the staff the best! We'll be back next time we're in town!
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Sean C.

Yelp
My friend and I went to Luisa's on Sunday night. We studied the menu to get a vegetarian meal and confirmed with the server that the cheese manicotti was vegetarian. He said it was. Then when it arrived, I took the first bite. I immediately felt like something was wrong. Then the server came by again and I asked he was sure it was vegetarian. He confirmed it was. Then my friend took a bite. She immediately confirmed it was meat. When the server came by again, we told him we were served meat. He immediately looked and realized we were served the wrong dish. Now, mistakes happen and both of us understood this is as a possibility. However the server didn't even enough respect for us to acknowledge it was a mistake and apologize. We abstain from meat consumption, and beef especially is not on the menu for many South Asians. At a minimum, we expected him to acknowledge the mistake. But he didn't at all. He brought the new order over and we quietly ate, and quietly also seethed that he didn't even apologize. As we were leaving, my friend walked over to the owner and told him that she was disappointed in the order and that it was a significant transgression for her. And then she specifically said he didn't even acknowledge it or apologize, and he even then did not. As we walked out, we were a mix of disappointed and angry that this all happened. Mistakes are human nature, we all do them. But at a minimum, it's common courtesy to apologize and see what can be done to rectify things. I am not someone to leave a negative review often, but I regret paying for a meal that was prepared with such brazen disregard for its patrons. Very disappointed in my experience with Luisa.
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Brian S.

Yelp
The food smelled disgusting. The server could not have been more of a jerk. The place was dark.abd dirty. They had as many tables as they could crammed together. Many of them leaving at extreme angels. There are reasons this is the only placed that's not packed on the street. My literal thoughts walking up to were "I hope the lack of people isn't a bad sign". It WAS a bad sign.

Christina K.

Yelp
Ordered takeout and got the caprese and parpedelle. Both were flavorless overall and pasta was just ok, but on a positive vodka sauce was good. Unfortunately not worth the $50 charge for ordering takeout. Also surprised based on reviews.
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Blair P.

Yelp
Ambiance: casual and clean, red checkered table cloths topped with a paper table cover Seating: about ten tables inside and ten outside Food: the crust on the pizza is some of the best I've ever eaten, superb. We ate the pepperoni pizza and enjoyed it thoroughly. The Caesar salad is coated well in delicious dressing with excellent croutons. Drink: we drank a couple non alcoholic options, an organic lemon soda and black tea... both really good Service: friendly and quick!

Araceli S.

Yelp
Amazing food and service, I definitely recommend the ravioli. I've been there twice and I have been impressed both times