Piccolo Forno

After our trip to Alcatraz and an afternoon of shopping at the Wharf, we worked up quite an appetite and decided to try Piccolo Forno. The restaurant is small and cozy, and as many have mentioned, there was a bit of a wait since we arrived later in the evening, but we didn’t mind at all. The incredible aromas coming from the kitchen made it worth it. Our table ordered a great variety of dishes including pizza col salame, lasagna classica, ravioli di zucca, pappardelle al ragù, and ravioli di aragosta. For dessert, my friend enjoyed the cannolo siciliano. Overall, the food was delicious, comforting, and clearly made with care. Service was friendly overall. There was a small hiccup when I was initially served the wrong dish. When I mentioned it, there was some confusion as I was told it was what I had ordered. However, my group did hear my order, and as a vegetarian, the dish I received wasn’t something I could eat. That said, this didn’t negatively affect our experience. The rest of the staff were very accommodating, and the owner handled the situation wonderfully, which we truly appreciated. I don’t enjoy confrontation and never want to make an issue, but I felt the way the situation was resolved spoke volumes about their professionalism and care for guests. We left full, happy, and satisfied and would absolutely return.

I was lucky to grab an outside table before the lunch rush fully hit. The restaurant quickly got busy but felt I still received good service. Food was delicious and staff was responsive. Would definitely stop by again when I’m in SF.

A cosy restaurant serving genuinely delicious Italian fare. The meal began with complimentary bread and olive oil. The burrata arrived like a cloud - creamy, soft, and beautifully balanced with briny olives and sweet cherry tomatoes. The lobster stuffing of ravioli di aragosta was perfectly minced, and luxurious. The spaghetti alla carbonara was silky, and lifted by generous chunks of guanciale. We ended with an affogato that delivered the perfect finale - bold, sweet and beautifully comforting. The pastas did take a while to reach our table, but knowing everything was freshly prepared made the wait feel entirely worth it. The staff were warm, cheerful, and genuinely welcoming throughout our meal. This is one spot I’ll happily return to, no hesitation.

This restaurant instantly became one of my favorite restaurants in San Francisco! The food is amazing and the atmosphere is just like you’re somewhere in Italy. These guys serve you with the real Italian passion and the last but not least you MUST try their Tiramisu, it’s from a different planet!

This place was fantastic. When there are so many solid options for Italian in this area, piccolo doesn’t disappoint. My wife has a pine nut allergy and they were confident in making sure she didn’t get cross contamination. We got pepperoni pizza, dough is amazing. Pizza sauce is top notch. Lasagna was so good. The bolognese was what dreams are made of. Food was excellent service equally matched. Will totally visit again.

This place was such a delight. The service was amazing and everyone was so friendly and made us feel right at home. The Cesar salad was divine. We also got the mushroom and sausage pizza and it was soooo good! Highly recommend stopping by!

A 5-star experience. We chose the place because of the menu options offered a nice array of options from traditional fare to adventurous flavors, and some easy going options for our younger family. A fantastic dining experience. Getting seated we were welcomed in. Then the fun started as we began selecting our food. Some great recommendations were provided. The food arrived with good timing, allowing us to enjoy some bread and appetizers and then during the meal there wasn’t a moment we felt forgotten. The ravioli al funghi was equally delicious as meals we’ve had in Urbino, Italy. The exceptional hospitality and service was truly what made this memorable. We would certainly have marked this for a return visit, with the friendly staff and Donato’s humor we felt like we were visiting relatives not at a restaurant. We left with our kids sharing that this was a highlight of the trip, our appetites were satisfied and our hearts full. Grazie mille.

Great italian restaurant with great service! Place was busy so we sat outside and got some Pinse and paste. both really tasty and we enjoyed it! 10/10 would recommend

Unbelievably good. I ordered their Salmon Vodka pasta for lunch. I have never had it as good as this. Each meal was made to order and out of the six of us here, there were no leftovers. Great family business!!!! Thank you

We went to Piccolo on a whim when walking around North beach and it was one of the best Italian lunches we have had in a long time. The wine was very reasonably priced and the owner suggested a fabulous red wine which was less than 40 for the bottle! The bread was warm. They had a lot of vegetarian pasta options. We got the fettuccine and a pizza and enjoyed both. We also loved the dessert and macchiato's! hope to return

The service was good. Staff can be blunt, but that's part of the Italian style experience. There is no waitlist, just line up outside the door and they will quickly seat you. The ambiance is pretty cozy. The tables and chairs and well cleaned. Lots of talking and excited yelling. Most, if not all staff are Italian, this provides a more authentic/community experience. The main point of why I'm leaving a 3 star review is because it took them a long time to make my dish and it turned out okay. We had someone at our table come in 15 minutes late to order and they still got their food ahead of me. I didn't finish the plate because some of my guanciale was burnt, texture, and the flavor profile was okay. The texture was of pan-cooked pasta (a little bit on the harder side, that's fine, some dishes are intended for that) collided with the texture of the over-cooked eggs and unmixed chunk of Parmesan that led to a very clumpy looking carbonara. I'm sad to say I cook better tasting carbonara at home. I am truly disappointed as I had really high expectations considering the hype and almost all employees being Italian.

We visited Piccolo forno between Christmas.as and new years and it was packed! I never knew SF gets tourists in the winter hahaha lesson learned! We originally wanted to have lunch at Tony's but they had a 2-3 hour wait? Madness! We walked instead and Piccolo forno (which we had passed countless times in the past) had only 2 to 3 people lined up. We waited just 5min and got seated outdoors. Service is relatively quick and the staff is friendly. My dad and I speak Italian so a few jokes here and there added some fun to it. We had the pesto pasta, amatriciana,carbonara and pinse (instead of pizza, they have both). We also had a bottle of red! They give you complimentary bread with olive oil and balsamic a staple to have with wine as you wait for your food. Pasta was all great. My fav was amatriciana but we found the meat to be quite lacking in both amatriciana and carbonara. They kind of forgot the pinse so I reminded them. It was very fresh and very tasty! Kind of like a sourdough pizza! Food was great overall and the staff is hard working so give them a break! It is a small place so try going when not super busy so you can enjoy the experience leisurely!

Cute spot in North Beach that feels very authentic. The staff have great personalities and really add to the charm. I visited on New Year's Eve when it was cold and raining and hardly anywhere else was open, yet this place was packed and full of people having a great time. The pizzas were decent and the monkfish special that night was good. They also have a great espresso machine, which I definitely took advantage of. Overall, it's a casual spot with cozy, homey vibes.

One of my favorite spots for Italian food in the city! The staff were super friendly and attentive. The vibe of the place is really cute, similar to a shop you might see in Italy. I love the lobster ravioli and the fettuccine alfredo. Rich, creamy, and full of flavor. Generous portions on the fettuccine alfredo too. What more could I ask for! Definitely recommend checking this place out!

This is recommended by a friend and now we know why! The line started at 6 pm when we arrived. No reservation and no wait list. You just have to wait outside in line. But it's definitely worth the wait. We were lucky to be seated by the bar and get to see the bartender with his charisma! Everyone at the bar was having a good time and we felt the dinner was even enhanced by the happy atmosphere. All of us ordered different pasta. I tried the buccatini and squid ink pasta. Those 2 were the best I've ever tried so far. It's fresh and the sauce is perfectly combined with the pasta each bite in my mouth! Definitely a place I would love to go back!!

Wow. Had this place back in August and I still think about the food. Everything tasted incredibly fresh. I'm a huge Caesar salad person, and this was hands down the best one I've ever had . The gnocchi was buttery and airy, and the pizza tasted super authentic. Service was amazing ! Our waiter felt like talking to an uncle and checked in on us throughout the meal. Definitely a must-try if you're into Italian food.

10/10! The service was amazing despite the entire block being without power they were able to whip us up an amazing lunch! We can't wait to come back.

Service: Fun servers! Very sweet. They were chopping it up with the table next to us, offering shots of limoncello Ambiance: pretty crowded, situated in a more hectic area. Found this gem after a show at Cobb's comedy club. We sat outdoors, which was actually really nice. Not too cold of a night out and and they have an insulated heated enclosure even if it is a chillier night. Restroom inside is in the back of the kitchen so it's interesting to walk through the back and see all the action if you need to use the restroom. Difficult to find parking because it's north beach We ordered: Ravioli al funghi: SO GOOD! Very creamy and would definitely order again. Flavor was perfectly balanced, though for some they might think it's a bit more on the bland side. I loved it though! Pasta was perfectly al dente. Also loved the hint of truffle Funghi and salsiccia pizza: I like the combo of the mushroom and sausage, and it wasn't too tomatoey which is normally my issue with pizzas with marinara sauce Overall despite not looking like much in terms of portion size, my friend and I were stuffed afterwards! Will be back again!

I have walked by this place many times and never really noticed it, but after reading some reviews about homemade pasta, I had to try it. We came without reservations about 4:00 on a Saturday, we didn't have to wait, they were pretty busy, and we were seated outside. I ordered the Bucatini Amatriciana and my wife ordered the lasagna. Both dishes were outstanding. The bucatini seemed to be more of an Italian dish, while the lasagna more American, but they were both great. The portions were generous. I think the owner was waiting on us, and he was super friendly. The décor is typical SF Italian bistro. I highly recommend.

Never a bad meal here. The service is quick and excellent. Love that they have gluten free options for pizza.

Heard this place is THE spot for pasta, so I really had high expectations, but it was quite disappointing. The line was out the door on a Sunday night but we were seated after a 20 min wait. They also gave us bread, and they can refill it for you. We also ordered wine, but was quite expensive compared to other places. As for the pasta, I had the chicken alfredo, and it was good but not the best thing ever as people say it was. My boyfriend got the pasta with the tomato sauce, and it was so underwhelming. It tasted like something that we can make yk. Overall, this place is good but not the greatest. I recommend going to Luisa's instead

The experience at Piccolo Forno was good!! We came for a late lunch and it was very chill and we got good service and the food came fast too. The place feels very homey and local which I really liked! Looked like a lot of the patrons were regulars. We got bread to start off, which I always love. We tried the vegetarian pizza and pesto pasta, both had good portion size and tasted delicious. Solid food at good prices. Overall a great choice!

The food was delicious! Everything we ordered we loved it and we are very "Italian level picky" lol pasta was perfectly cooked and my plate that had truffle, you really could taste the truffle which sometimes you barely notice it. The ambiance was nice too, pretty relaxed, felt comfortable in our whatever outfits that day haha. It is a small place but charming Recommended 100% if you're in the area.

Stopped by Piccolo Forno with a friend after work. It was quiet around 5:30pm on a weekday, which was a nice start. The food was solid overall: - Pizza Capri (we subbed prosciutto for ham): great white sauce base, excellent flavor. - Penne Piccolo Forno: favorite of the night--rich, cheesy marinara with a nice basil kick. - Tiramisu: kind of a miss--small, dry, and not really worth ~$10. But the service? Pretty disappointing. We were at a window seat and trying to avoid a giant mosquito when our server came over and said, "Seriously? Are you kidding me?" before walking off. No offer to help or move us--just attitude. On the way out, he stared us down without a word. Super uncomfortable and honestly, kind of disrespectful. Food was good, but not worth being treated like that.

While visiting San Francisco, we were looking for an Italian restaurant and came across Piccolo Forno--what a find! We absolutely loved the Penne Piccolo Forno; it's a must-try. We also really enjoyed the Burrata, Bucatini Amatriciana, and the Fettuccine Alfredo--everything was delicious. The service was amazing. A special thank you to Salvatore, who took the time to explain each dish and made us feel very welcome. He was warm, knowledgeable, and so kind. Highly recommend this place!

I'm a big fan of Italian food, so my friends and I decided to visit this spot at North Beach for dinner on a Sunday night (around 7 PM). It was a bit rainy, and there was only outdoor seating available, which I don't mind at all--except that the roof was leaking, so in the middle of our dinner, water was coming out from the ceiling, which was unpleasant. I went inside to ask if we could move indoors since a table had opened up, but a same-size party came in a minute later, and they prioritized them over us--even though we were in the middle of our meal. It was a bit frustrating, to say the least, particularly because the staff seemed to be annoyed by the request. However, around 5-10 minutes later, a table opened up indoors and we were able to move inside. I ordered Gnocchi Alla Sorrentina and Spaghetti Alla Carbonara to split with a friend. I'm not a huge fan of gnocchi, but these were very good and came in a generous portion. The gnocchi were slightly chewy and cheesy, with a slightly sweet tomato sauce. The carbonara was good, but I've definitely had better in the area. The sauce was lacking a bit of creaminess and had far fewer pieces of guanciale than anticipated. Overall, I wouldn't revisit this spot, primarily because of the service. The seating situation was frustrating--it seemed like they knew the outdoor seating was problematic in the rain, but still decided to seat us there to retain customers. We wouldn't have minded waiting for indoor seating instead. Additionally, for the price point, I think there are better pasta dishes around the area.

Recently went here with a friend and our dogs- I love that they have outdoor seating. The ravioli was super rich and filling. The pizza was crispy and the dough was great. I'd order both again. Best part- I loved the service. All of the staff were super sweet and even brought out meatballs for the pups.

This restaurant is always packed. All of the wait staff is very friendly and Italian. Lots of selections for pasta and pizza. Great place for a casual night out in north beach.

Amazing spot! Very fresh pizza, good pasta, spicy (very!) olive oil, and great tirramisu. The service was amazing; the servers are very attentive. For five people for dinner, the bill came to $104, including tax but not tip. The only feedback for the kitchen is to scale back the dressing a bit on the Caesar salad -- maybe ask for light dressing for that dish.

I really enjoy eating out by myself, and on a particular Saturday a couple weeks ago, I found myself really craving some pappardelle in a red sauce with meat. After searching on yelp, I came across Piccolo Forno and knew I had to try. The atmosphere was immediately very calm, yet warm and energetic. I was really surprised by how large the arugula salad was. I'm so glad it was large because I found it so delicious and could've eaten a ton of it because it was so refreshing. I also loved my pasta. I am really looking forward to trying the butternut squash and sage ravioli next time. The best part: a man who I believe may be one of the owners brought me out a chocolate profiterole, on the house, after I finished eating my pasta. He basically read my mind because that was the dessert I was actually looking at when browsing the menu! Overall, the food was very high-quality here for the price. I would say this place is generally more affordable than many of the other Italian spots in the area but still just as delicious and high-quality. I can't wait to come back here and try more!

This place was solid. Italian owners, some Italian staff and delicious classic Italian food. I had to go through the kitchen to get to the bathroom which is a little different. Good value as the restaurant is casual and prices are reasonable. Bookmarked for future visits!

I absolutely enjoyed my time at Piccolo Forno!! My friends and I stopped by for lunch and the wait time was around 25 minutes which wasn't too bad given we were a group of five. The restaurant is on the smaller side but nice ambiance. We ended up ordering a couple pizzas and pastas. I got the Ideale Pinse which I enjoyed! Some of the reviews commented on having thicker crust but it was still on the thinner side for me. We also got a couple desserts including the Tiramisu which I loved. I would say the highlight of my experience was the service. The server was very sweet and funny, making our time there 10x better. I will say the food is on the pricier side but I'd definitely recommend that you try the food at least once. I will certainly be returning in the future!

Solid/causal italian spot in north beach. Came with some friends at noon on a friday and it was very empty. Got a classic lasagna and a capricciosa pinsa to share. Pasta tasted fresh, pinsa dough was fluffy, everything tasted deliciously homemade. Our server was a real one for keeping us refilled with bread. Love when restaurants have chili oil on the side that you can add to your pastas/pizzas.

Awesome place to go! The chicken Alfredo was the best but omg the spaghetti with meatballs (meat sauce) was heaven!!! Highly recommend both but you have to try the spaghetti!!! The bread wasn't that great but the entrees definitely made up for it! The price was incredible for the quality of food.

AMAZING ITALIAN FOOD!! This place is a must. Friendly staff and awesome vibes. We always try to stop by whenever we're in SF. Their vegetarian pizza is absolutely divine. They have gluten free options, which staff are knowledgable about.

penne: 4.5/5 amazing flavor with a tinge of spicy marinara. I wish the dish had some sort of meat or protein to pair with it tho pizza: 4/5: tasty thin crust pizza service: 5/5 amazing staff ambiance: cute sf small restaurant in north beach

Everything about this place was perfect! Everyone on staff treats you like friends and the food was super delicious. Perfect place to celebrate a birthday which I did!

Holy crap, we're coming back tomorrow. I ordered the Bresaola pizza and my husband got the traditional calzone. Both were phenomenal. It was so delicious that part of the roof of his mouth is quite burned because he didn't want to wait to continue eating it! He got the cannoli and I got the affogato. Best affogato of my life, best pizza/calzone of our lives, and best cannoli ever for him. Eat here and you will not regret it. I will say the staff was ON IT! We always had water exactly when we needed it. Perfect food, perfect service. I will say you'll wait for a little bit after ordering, but once you eat your food, you will understand why it isn't ready lickety-split. Perfect food takes time to create!

Amazing, authentic Italian spot! We started with the burrata, which was absolutely delicious and fresh. The lasagna was loaded with sauce and meat. I loved the capricciosa pinse, with phenomenal prosciutto on top. The servers were so friendly and fun to chat with. The vibe was upbeat, with Italian music videos playing on a projector and a full dining room enjoying delicious food an hour before closing. Will definitely return to try more items from the menu!

A Pleasant Dining Experience! Last week, we had dinner at Piccolo Forno in North Beach, San Francisco, and it was a very pleasant experience. The food and service were very good. We chose to sit outside. The weather was cooperating, so it was ideal for relaxing and soaking in the North Beach atmosphere, which is slowly returning to its pre-pandemic level. The menu offers a wide selection of authentic Italian dishes, and we enjoyed a few options. From appetizers to desserts, each dish was delicious. We started with Insalata Caprese and Burrata. I had a glass of white wine with mine. Both salads were fresh, delicious, and enjoyable. We had their Lasagna Classica and Spaghetti Alla Carbonara for the main dish. The Lasagna was delicious, as was the spaghetti. However, make sure to bring an empty stomach if you're ordering the Spaghetti Alla Carbonara because it is very filling. We could not eat more than half of the food on our plates because we wanted to leave room for dessert. We had our eyes on the Tiramisu, which we shared and accompanied with a cup of Cappuccino. The Tiramisu was just right, and the coffee was so delicious that we asked them what beans they were using. In closing, the quality of the food was very high. Every dish was prepared with care, showcasing fresh ingredients. The pasta was rich and flavorful, the sauces balanced, and the meat sauce perfectly cooked. The service was excellent. The staff was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable, providing excellent recommendations. They went above and beyond to ensure our dining experience was enjoyable and made us feel special. In conclusion, our evening at Piccolo Forno was a lot of fun. The restaurant excels in both food and service. If you are ever in North Beach, San Francisco, visit Piccolo Forno. You will enjoy it.

Hmm I see a lot of 5 stars for this restaurant and I'm not sure what I'm missing... Our second time here. The food is good, not great especially given there are so many excellent Italian places in the area. Came here for lunch at around 2pm on a Sunday, the place was busy. We were told to give the wait staff about 5-10 minutes, after about 5 minutes we're still standing so we asked if we could go sit at the bar which was empty and so we did. I'm about 9 months pregnant so would've liked to have seen some kind of an offer for that earlier rather than having us loitering near the door and being ignored... Food took at least 30 minutes to come out. Yes the restaurant was busy. The pizza was tasty but the base is an old school type of base which feels dry around the crust. The pasta was very flavorsome but small serving size. There was a dinner line already at around 5pm. Yes it's a decent place for Italian food. There are also many other Italian restaurants in the area I'd be running back to first...

Solid Italian lunch spot. Clean and inviting interiors and service was fast. Pasta was fresh and well seasoned.

Food was amazing. We ordered 1 Cesar and 2 pasta dish. My lobster ravioli was amazing. All the dishes were $15-25 max. Our bill was only $84 for 2 people after taxes and even had wine.

5/5 To start, I have to say I was completely blown away by how delicious this unassuming place in North Beach turned out to be- probably the best Italian food I've had in the city and just in general! We had originally considered going to a different restaurant, but it was a bit too crowded, so we decided to give this spot a try instead. We arrived around 6 PM and only had to wait about 15 minutes to be seated, even though there were already quite a few customers. The waiter and the owner were incredibly pleasant and fun to talk to--they even teased and chatted with us throughout the dinner. We ended up choosing the mushroom ravioli, and wow--what a dish. It was the most delicious, creamy, decadent ravioli I've ever had. So rich in flavor, I honestly think it might be the best ravioli I've ever eaten. We also ordered the carbonara, which was quickly voted one of the best we've had. I had the Pappardelle al Ragu, which was a great contrast to the creamy dishes and paired wonderfully with the red sauce. To round it all out, one of us enjoyed a great Americano and a delightful Bellini, and we shared a tiramisu--a classic that, thankfully, wasn't overly sweet. The ambience woman's great with outdoor seating, chatty environment, and super friendly and social staff! We're definitely planning to come back again and hope more people get to experience this hidden gem!! That said, when we walked by about two hours later, the line was much longer, so I'd recommend going earlier to avoid a long wait!

Came here on a Sunday around 7 PM. They don't take reservations and won't seat you unless your whole party is there, so plan accordingly. Unfortunately, our whole party of 5 did not get there on time and they gave the large table to a party of 2, so we were seated outside. I completely understood and didn't mind even though it was rainy and cold since their outdoor patio seating had an overhang. I'm sure on a day with prettier weather this outdoor seating would have been warm and beautiful. However, the roof leaked all throughout dinner onto our table and our party, and when we asked if we could be moved inside, they were seating another party of 5 and said that they had precedent over us and were pretty rude to my friends. They worked to get a table merged inside for us and got us inside after and gave us a free piece of tiramisu at the end, but I did not appreciate the treatment we were given initially. My friend and I split the Gnocchi Alla Sorrentina and the Spaghetti Alla Carbonara. They gave generous amounts of parmesan cheese on top if you want. Gnocchi Alla Sorrentina: 4/5, pillowy gnocchi with a lovely fresh tomato sauce. A generous portion! Spaghetti Alla Carbonara: 3/5, pasta texture was fine, but the sauce itself was lackluster and the guanciale was sparse. I would order something else. Overall, the food was fine, but with the treatment we received, I am unlikely to be back. Parties should not be seated outside if the seating cannot guarantee a meal protected from rain. It seemed very popular and I was looking forward to it; maybe I would order their pizza for takeout so I could try it out since it looked really good.

Loved the food! Was looking for a good Italian place with reasonable prices and was walking by and saw a short line. Folks said it had great food so we got in line. Fortunately, we only waited for about 10 minutes and we were seated. Service was prompt and friendly. Ordered a pasta dish and the chicken Marsala and shared a salad. Salad was fresh and well dressed, the bread was really fresh and delicious served with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. I agree with the locals who said it was the best Italian in the area! I will be going back soon.

We were lucky to snag a table for two when we walked up Saturday night because this place was busy!! It's a very cute restaurant with excellent food. We ordered the penne piccolo forno and the ideale. Both were amazing! The penne was impeccable, the flavor was SO GOOD! Lots of basil on top and the eggplant tasted amazing with the pasta. The pizza was also delicious! It was light and tasted excellent with the pepper oil the table provided. The dough was also very good. We added some prosciutto on half and my friend really liked it. After eating here I didn't feel heavy either, as you can tell they use very fresh and high quality ingredients.

My friend and I are here on a trip and we came on a busy Friday night. There was a wait but if are patient and you watch the men working from the door you will see they operate this place like a well oiled machine, back and forth constantly serving their customers and busing tables to get the next guests seated. All of the gentlemen working were very polite and were working hard. The food was great and the service was even better. We were so happy with our experience that we came back for a second time. The lasagna, lobster ravioli and tiramisu were so delicious!

No reservations, but the line went fairly quickly. Great staff! Lots of menu items to choose from. We had butternut squash ravioli, lasagna, Torta della nonna, and tiramisu. All excellent.

Popular restaurant for a casual meal. Very reasonable prices. Great atmosphere,. Excellent food and service. Go early as there is usually a line.

I've been here more times than I can count, and I've never had a single issue with the food or the service. This restaurant is an absolute gem. The staff here are friendly, attentive, and make you feel like you just walked into your favorite Zio's house for dinner. The warmth, the hospitality, the comfort -- it's unmatched. I'm slowly working my way through the entire menu. The food is absolutely delicious and authentically made. There are dishes here that you simply cannot find done this well anywhere else: the margherita pizza, the lasagna, the ravioli, the bucatini, the spaghetti, the gnocchi. I have never had a bad meal here -- it is consistently delicious every single time. I wish I could be adopted into the family and learn how to cook like this. Whoever created their red sauce deserves to go down in culinary history. I will never stop coming here. It is, without question, my favorite restaurant in San Francisco.

Very rude host. No clear direction on where lines begin and end. And no consideration. Very minimal consideration

This small yet eye-catching restaurant has been on my radar for the better part of four years. I'd drive by during that tenuous time after March 2020 in driving staff to and from the area to my home. The heat lamps, shining bright when full flamed, always made me glare in and wonder how the food is here. Remembering those times, I checked and confirmed that they have a weekday lunch service so I stopped in on a Wednesday afternoon. The dining room was half full with couples and guys just hanging out. The gentleman at the greeting stand gave me my choice tables so I chose the 2nd one before the kitchen. After studying the menu after scanning through menu photos here, I was debating between pasta choices with an app since I dined alone. The menu is a book with a mix of appetizers, pastas, secondi (entrees), pizzas, pinsas, desserts, beverages, wine, and desserts. I started with the Cesare (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=0&select=YjTe74UFJvDEOFR1z5oiCg), Cesar salad with anchovies and Parmesan cheese. Evenly dressed with shredded bite sized lettuce leaves, this was addictively good, to the point I ate one of the two anchovies (not normal for me). I finished half, wanting to save room for my main meal. This was the Lasagna Classica (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=0&select=bNUkviiyRh-9lppdx9RANg), homemade meat lasagna. As mentioned in other Yelp reviews, this was tasty and a good version of a family style favorite diah. The Bolognese was dominating enough to offset the richness of the ricotta cheese. The gentleman who tended to my needs after ordering my food kindly offered to spoon more Parmesan cheese on my dish as requested. I tried the bread bread (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=0&select=G5tffRXxxUDX7cXGLZ5tCA) shortly after starting on my salad, dipping it in the balsamic vinegar olive oil mix, finding it more akin to cornbread texture than the popular sourdough or baguette style. I had one slice before my entree and used another to sop every last drop of the pasta sauce. I was also happy and impressed with the Galvanina organic peach iced tea (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=0&select=RCoBq1LeKFtekgnmKv18VQ), served with a glass of ice. I'd never heard of this and the flavor and sweetness level led me to study the label in learning that it is made in Italy. I would order this again. More customers came in as I ate with a couple sharing a pizza or pinse at the counter and a party of three taking the table to my right. Thanks to my greeted who took my order and served and grinded pepper on my salad. Big thanks for Giuseppe who tender to my needs the rest of my meal, including boxing my leftovers and helping me clear my tab. I'm looking forward to returning and, if with friends, sharing a pizza or pinse.

I have nothing but excellent things to say about this Italian restaurant. We were visiting San Francisco and looking for gluten-free pasta for my celiac husband. I found this place on yelp and the reviews were glowing and they offered gluten-free pasta so we stopped in. Little did we know we would beat an immense dinner rush, because this place is just that fantastic. It's not huge, but there is indoor tables and outdoor seating, and it's authentic from top to bottom. Even as we were sitting and eating, we were flanked by Italian visitors, so you know, this place is legit. Authentic is the word I would use to describe this restaurant. I had the lasagna which was amazing, as well as the tiramisu, and my husband had the spaghetti Bolognese with gluten-free pasta, and it literally gave him the chills! We are seriously dreaming of the day we can come back and eat here again.

I've walked past his restaurant every time and have been wanting to try it out so I was really glad we had dinner here tonight. I enjoyed and love the contemporary modern look. It felt very clean and minimal. We had high expectations for the food because there were so many good reviews, and I can attest to say the food was delicious. My favorite part was the dishes came out really hot And all the same temperature it tasted like homemade authentic Italian food to come back here to try other dishes

Loved the simple red yet clean interior at this restaurant. The service was straight to the point, not exactly unfriendly but in a sense that the food will speak for itself. Ordered the chicken Parm and penne piccolo forno. Plates came out hot and the food was delicious! Probably some of the best red sauces I've seen on Italian dishes in a while! Pasta was cooked perfectly as well as chicken, eggplant and cheese was perfectly melted. Really impressed at the sheer quality, amazing job, will definitely be back for more!

Great Pizza in Little Italy. This is my go to lunch spot when I arrive in San Fran. Cold beer and a great pie.