Ristobar

Man … this one is tough. The pizza was pretty good, but the pasta was terrible. The sauce was super heavy and not properly seasoned or balanced. Service was just ok.

From start to finish, everything was perfect. The waitstaff was impeccably trained, attentive, and friendly, making us feel warmly welcomed throughout the evening. The ambiance is wonderful—beautifully lit and incredibly inviting. We started with the Caesar salad, which was fresh and delicious. The fritto misto was perfectly executed—crispy and light without being greasy. The raviolini with wild mushrooms was packed with flavor and cooked to perfection. The rigatoni carbonara was a standout—it’s as good as (if not better than) anything you’ll find in Rome! Dessert was heavenly. Their cheesecake is unlike any cheesecake we’ve ever had—creamy, decadent, and unforgettable. And the homemade hazelnut gelato? Absolute perfection. We’re already planning our next visit to Risto Bar. If you’re looking for an exceptional dining experience in San Francisco, this is the place to go! Highly recommended!

Since Puccini's in North Beach closed, there hasn't been a superb Italian restaurant in San Francisco... Until I discovered this place. Every single thing we ate was absolutely delicious - from homemade bread and real, flavorful olive oil, to pillow soft gnocchi, fresh and exciting marinara sauce, intense Bolognese, everything. Move over North Beach and Sausalito, this is the real deal! My new favorite place for Italian in the Bay Area. Update: Came here for my birthday, and the octopus salad, scampi spaghetti & seafood risotto were just as good if not better! I grew up with superb cooks on Italian side of my family (Bologna area & Dalmatia) and family made olive oil & wine, so it takes a lot to impress me.

Good place for brunch, really tasty. Service could improve and so the decor. The eggs were really good.

We booked a large party holiday dinner at Ristobar with the GM Mattia. He was amazing! Everything from the menu, the wine, the food, the service was perfectly executed for our large party of 20 guests. The restaurant has a very nice atmosphere and a great vibe. We have done large party dinners for many years and everyone on our team agreed this was absolutely the best experience in all aspects. Thank you Mattia for all your hard work. We appreciate it.

We had the most delightful dining experience at Ristobar. The establishment exudes an atmosphere of charm and sophistication, creating an ambiance that is both inviting and refined. The service provided by Alberto was nothing short of exemplary; one could scarcely imagine a more gracious and attentive host. Without a doubt, we shall be returning to this splendid venue.

We had a delicious dinner at Ristobar last night. Inventive cocktails (I had the White Lotus), delicious pear & gorgonzola salad, and handmade fresh pasta - I had agnolotti, little pillows filled with lamb. Highly recommended!

Came here for our anniversary dinner (which we noted on the reservation) and our anniversary also happens to be Christmas Eve. Neither of us had been to Ristobar despite having lived in the area a while, but were excited to try. We ended up stuck in a dark corner table in the side room with two large, loud family parties. We ended up waiting for 40 minutes with no water and without a server stopping by. After we were finally able to order our food and we were moved to a much better table, things were looking up — until we were told 20 mins after placing our order that they ran out of our meal. We PAID for our drinks and left. Understand that Christmas Eve is a busy night and the team were likely short staffed, but a really disappointing experience nonetheless on the occasion.

I've dined here several times for dinner and recently started sitting at the bar for a fun experience & interaction with the bar staff. I love their arancini & had that as a snack in addition to the beef tartare, an off the menu item that we were informed about by Scott, the bar manager. Great recommendation & it was delicious! My recent favorite cocktail is their Italiano, which is vodka based with strawberry purée. Service is friendly & helpful. Very lively restaurant & bar area with additional quieter dining room towards the back. We always have a great time when we're at Ristobar!

Food is amazing, I had the fried Calamari for appetizer and Gnocchi (same set up on their menu with fettuccine substituted without Roma tomatoes). The Pasta is amazing and Scotti and the staff were very attentive. All pasta is made by the owners' company and test and texture is out of this world. Real authentic Italian food, not the American style but real Italian style and quality. If you want lots of food for cheap, go somewhere else. If you want reasonable portions and prefer quality over quantity, this is the place to eat. Otherwise there's lot more places one can eat for less and get bigger portions. This place ranks on top for me. Right up there with "Harris steakhouse" and "Brazen head"

Tiny, INCREDIBLY overpriced food. It was ok but damn, you could at least serve bread. I left hungry and kinda pissed. Mediocre service, mediocre food. Give this place a miss for sure, it's surrounded by better options.

What an amazing dinner! So good, beautiful restaurant. The service was excellent, everyone was so friendly yet professional..We just left the Warriors game and had decided to try The Risto Bar on a friend's recommend..Im so glad we did..Our dinner was absolutely delicious.. The Bar tender was awesome hope my video comes through..I would highly recommend The Risto Bar..You will not be disappointed. Stephanie and Nicolai were our servers..Thankyou so much for making our dinner experience the best it can be..We appreciate you. Peter, and Kat

I asked for sauce on side for my lamb chops but got it with sauce on it beside they were 3 small chops and soit's so noisy the guy in the kitchen area might be the owner or manager with shirt putting his finger in his mouth openly

Overall, Food was not bad for the price. Steak was chewy and well done when we asked for medium rare. Pasta were good. The service was not on par at all. We waited in between each meal 40+ minutes for the food to come out. The dessert was the longest. We waited over 40min and the moment we complained she brought the pre made dessert in a jar out immediately. We ordered a tiramisu and lemon dessert. We got a cheesecake instead of the tiramisu. Instead of telling us they ran out or something the waitress insisted it was correct. They need to staff the place better on a Saturday night. The staff was running around with very little coordination.

Such a fun spot to hop into. Fancy ambiance, but also chill. Food is delicious and staff is incredible, kind and knowledgeable. If you are in the neighborhood, make sure you pop in. Also, great music.

Don't come at me, but I really did not like this place. I think I would've had a much better experience if the sommelier wasn't in my personal space. he was talking to the marina bros next to us, and his back was up against our table and his elbows nearly kept touching the food. I was so irritated with that behavior, and I just moved to the table next to me because I really didn't want someone's elbow touching my food. when it comes to fried food, I always love a good batter and something extra extra crispy. There was not enough sauce for all the food on this dish and I had to add a lot of lemon juice to make it taste like something. If they added more herbs or something to give it more flavor, I would've enjoyed the dish a lot more. I also don't think they fried it very well because things got soggy very quickly. Now let's talk about the carbonara. I had one bite and I was like whoa this is hella salty. So then I ended up mixing it cause I was like oh maybe the cheese that was hella salty or something in this dish, but no it was a whole dish. I kept taking a few bites so I could figure out exactly what it was. I couldn't figure it out, and I hated this dish more and more as I try to figure out what was the salty part of this dish. I want nothing to do with this dish and wanted it out of my sight. The staff came back and told us that they ended up trying the dish and said the cheese was what was making it "salty" and it's just the taste of the cheese -it's not actually salt. we were told it was gonna get taken off the bill but in the end it wasn't taken off. They tried to offer dessert since they couldn't take it off the bill, but I just wanted to get out of this place. Honestly, I was so done. I don't care to pay for the dish, but don't tell me one thing then not follow through. I think the pizza was the only thing I enjoyed partially . I love having sauce on my pizza so that was my favorite part but there was not a lot of basil and I think if you combined all the basil pieces together, it probably made one leaf. Overall, I would never come back here because I felt disrespected by the staff, and the food was lacking in many departments. This is my brutally honest review. ‍

Definitely check it out! I don't know why this place was not busier last night, 1/23/25, a Thursday. It is much better than the place across the street, and the ambiance at Ristobar is superior, including the recently renovated room which is beautifully decorated with comfortable chairs and amazing marble table tops. Seriously, this place is consistently remarkable. I read an outstanding review I wrote for it over 15 years ago (Emporio Rulli, same restaurant under a different name), reminding me just how long this place has been turning out amazing meals. Last night was great, and our recent visit on Christmas eve 2024 was outstanding. Wonderful oysters and hamachi antipasti, mushroom and truffle pappardelli primi, branzino secondi, with a few expertly paired wines (by Nicola, the server). My wife and I split all courses, including desert, and had plenty of food and were very happy. We didn't hold back (oysters, truffles, etc.) since it was Xmas eve and the bill of $350 including tip reflected that, but it was Christmas Eve. The place is not inexpensive but we normally get out for less than $200, sharing. It's not just the food, the whole environment transports you to Italy. And it's not just the chef, all the staff take good care of you. Mattia, the GM, is terrific, and if you're lucky you'll get there on a night when he put together the menu after chatting with his Mom in Italy - I kid you not. (1/24/25 update: Sadly I must report that Mattia has left, a real loss for the restaurant and dining experience. I know you guys are always looking to mix things up but this is unfortunate, in my opinion.) Our favorite Italian in SF, and top couple of restaurants overall. As I said, definitely check it out!

I now have a new hangout for extended meetings over bottles of wine, fresh oysters, small plates and selected gourmet cheeses. They understand cheese here, You need not venture to the Fisherman's Wharf to struggle with parking and crowds to have a great fish dinner. The corner foot traffic was also great for people watching. Service was excellent and the Manager Mattia, was indulgent. Can't wait to be back.

The food at Ristobar is outstanding but the thing that keeps me coming back is the service. From the minute you walk in the door, you are taken care of by everyone in the restaurant. This is my second time going and both times, I have left extremely happy with the service and food. Our waiter both times has been enthusiastic, helpful and attentive. Not to mention the owner who walks around to check that you're enjoying your meal, the host also comes around to make sure you have water or wine. Can not recommend Ristobar enough, the service makes the experience even better!

Ristobar, an Italian restaurant located in San Francisco's Marina will make your dining experience truly memorable with their attention to service, nice atmosphere and hearty fare. We ordered cocktails, along with the frito misto, grilled octopus, and San Daniele Pinsa with prosciutto, cheese and arugula. We shared a variety of pastas, expertly cooked al dente and complemented with delicious, rich sauces. My personal favorites were the Cavatelli al pesto and Agnolotti that were filled with beef, veal, and pork. For desserts, we tried cassata, which is a Sicilian rolled cake filled with ricotta cream, pistachio rum sponge, and candied orange. The interior of Ristobar is a treat for the eyes, with a painted ceiling, crown moulding and chandelier, creating a charming and romantic ambiance that is perfect for a romantic evening out.

We booked a large party holiday dinner at Ristobar with the GM Mattia. He was amazing! Everything from the menu, the wine, the food, the service was perfectly executed for our large party of 20 guests. The restaurant has a very nice atmosphere and a great vibe. We have done large party dinners for many years and everyone on our team agreed this was absolutely the best experience in all aspects. Thank you Mattia for all your hard work. We appreciate it.

Food ordered was burrata, arancini, insalata and the Cavatelli pasta. In total be aware this is a small portion kind of place - especially for the apps. The flavors were solid with the biggest standout being the cavatelli veggie pasta. The sauce was SO flavorful with just the slightest hint of a kick that was more like a kiss from the flavor gods. I would do without the burrata, in hindsight - it left me wanting more in portion and taste. Drinks ordered were rulli, desidero and Italiano. Favorites being rulli and italiano but all were great! Service staff was superb! Pro tip: you can ask for bread which isn't on the menu but they do charge for it fyi.

Ribeye was cooked to perfection and served with fresh asparagus and pomme de terre frites. Downed with non alcoholic IPA suggested by bartender. Hostess was lovely.

Best Italian restaurant in San Francisco and the North Bay, hands down. Their pasta and bread are home made, seafood fresh and flavourful (real scampi, not shrimp), they have a wide selection of excellent wines, and don't miss the olive oil/balsamic that comes with bread - it's superb, and this is coming from someone whose Mediterranean family makes their own olive oil. We came in on Monday around 5pm, and needed no reservations. The outdoor seating had heaters, and service was absolutely fantastic. Can't figure out the bad reviews unless the place has changed owners since they were left.

Staff was so friendly and welcoming even with our 2 kids in tow. The pizza, pasta and halibut were delicious. Think we found a new favorite spot. Can't believe it took this long to try.

We were a group of six - all of whom are used to good food! From the moment we walked in, we felt welcomed. It was almost surreal - a real SF/NY old school restaurant. Our service was excellent. Homemade pasta, delicious salmon, unique homemade bread, a fruit platter created for those that didn't want to indulge in Affogato or sorbet, attentive servers, comfortable seating....we didn't want to leave but had theater tickets! None of us live in SF but look forward to an excuse to return! Highly recommend.

My friends and I made a last minute reservation here for a group of 8, and they were so accommodating. The servers were very friendly and helpful in recommending dishes, and everything we tried was so delicious - the flavor of the truffle ravioli fonduta was especially tasty I just wish we had more! The restaurant also had a nice ambiance, great for chatting with friends. I would certainly go back again!

Service started strong but quickly went downhill. While the restaurant was nearly empty, it took an unreasonably long time to get our entrées. We were also charged $20 for still water and bread, and an extra $2 just to split a carbonara onto two plates. The experience felt more focused on nickel-and-diming than providing good service. They may have squeezed a bit more money out of us tonight, but we won't be back.

Home made pasta dishes are delicious. Fritto misto perfectly seasoned and fried. Desserts are super tasty as well.

This place is amazing! Daniel makes the best Espresso Martinis! Service is amazing! Cooper is super friendly. Staff is very welcoming!

Wow. We live in the neighborhood but have never been here. Ristobar is a total GEM. The food was not just good -- it was off-the-charts amazing. The Caprese Di Burrata salad, which we shared, was delicious. We had the "Bianco" bread with it, which was outstanding. The Margarita Pinsa had puffy yummy crust and was outstanding. The Agnolotti Del Plin was rich and bursting with flavor. The Scarpone Montepulciano was sublime. The ambiance was perfect. Our server, Cooper, was incredibly attentive and took the time to thoughtfully describe all of the choices incredibly well. A total home run all around. We can't wait to return. A++++++

Incredible new restaurant on Chestnut St. Stylish sophisticated interior, full bar and incredible Italian food. Service excellent with great interaction. They know their stuff

Ristobar does it again we love this place and the staff are SO friendly and fun!!! The dessert is always bomb as well as every meal I've ever had there love it

Excellent Bronzino and salmon dishes . Authentic northern Italian fair ( roasted potatoes are outstanding) Fair prices with excellent caring service. Great wine list that isn't overpriced. The menu is as if a good Italian mother chef created the menu. Best value in the marina by far.

Excellent pastas! The veggie bruschetta was lovely, as was the salad. Tasty cocktails. Wonderful service. Great to see this place is still around - I hadn't been back in years and need to return frequently.

This place is amazing!!! My husband took me on a surprise 29th (50th) choose my own adventure trip. I picked Ristobar for dinner. It was the best choice I could have picked!!! They seated us in a back room that was cozy, and had another birthday being celebrated. The food was amazing!!! When we were ordering wine, the most amazing Manager, Mattia, steered us in the right direction, brought us tastings, and never tried to upsell us. He found us the perfect wine. We ordered the burrata for an appetizer, and Mattia curated the perfect pairing. We ordered an amazing farfalle pasta. After dinner, they presented us with the most amazing dessert, and drinks that kept on flowing. If you want an amazing food experience, but want an amazing service experience as well, go see Mattia and all of the amazing people at Ristobar!!! You can't go wrong!!!

This restaurant is a hidden gem on Chestnut. While the food is top notch, the service is some of the best I've ever experienced at a restaurant. The staff are all very friendly and a lot are actually from Italy. On one occassion, I asked the waiter if they had anything with pesto in it and he responded and said no but we can make you some fresh pesto and surprise you with a dish that's not on the menu. It was some of the best pesto I've ever had! Then after we paid our bill, the waiter told us to wait one second because he wanted to give us something, and came out with a piece of chocolate cake!

Walked in with a friend on a Friday night for and we were seated right away. Service was prompt, professional and attentive. Ambiance was upscale and the decor was unique and pleasing. Food and drinks were tasty. The gorgonzola salad was superb and the recommended pastas (raviolini and pappardelle) were great! All of their pastas are skillfully handmade there in the kitchen.

My best friend and I came here after going wedding dress shopping in the city. We had reservation at 7:30pm and arrived about 5-10 mins late due to parking. The host at the front seemed worried because he couldn't seat us even though we had reservations due to the fact that people were lingering after their dinner to finish watching the Warriors' game. We didn't mind waiting since we were celebrating the fact that I bought my dress! The host notified us 5 mins later that there were 2 seats open at the bar and we sat there. We ordered 2 glasses of champagne to celebrate! They had a few options of specials, but we went with some pastas listed on the menu. They were both delicious! We shared a side of bread, also delicious! To top off our dinner, we each ordered a cocktail, which I recommend the espresso martini. Service was quick, efficient, everybody was very nice. Even though the game was going on, it wasn't too loud where I couldn't hear my friend. We will gladly come back to dine again!

Great service from Danny at the bar and from the manager/host. We had so much fun hanging out, enjoying a bite and some drinks while chatting with the staff. The vibe was relaxed and elegant and the food was just the right size. Try the branzino.

The food was really flavorful. I had the whole branzino which was tender and luscious with perfect accompaniments of cherry tomatoes, roasted potatoes and spinach. The service was amazing--the servers and manager were very friendly, warm and hospitable.

This restaurant does not even deserve one star.... This evening my friend and I decided to try Ristobar for dinner. We did not have a reservation, but was seated immediately by the hostess. The restaurant was not busy at all. After waiting for about 10 minutes, we noticed that we were NEVER acknowledged by any of the waiters nor the bartenders. Normally if the restaurant is pretty busy, the least that happens is an acknowledgment that you are present, by being offered the minimum, some water!! This did not happen. A woman entered the restaurant and was acknowledged immediately by the bartender. It was pretty obvious after watching his interaction with the woman, that our business and money were not wanted nor welcomed at this restaurant. We got up and left. You'd think that with so many options available in the area, the staff/owners of restaurants would be more welcoming to EVERYONE to earn returning patrons. We all know that patrons produce revenue!

Ristobar is an upscale, lively Italian restaurant on Chestnut/Scott in the Marina. When I walked in, I was immediately enamored with the modern interior and the beautiful, Renaissance-style mural on the ceiling. We started with fried calamari, grilled octopus, and prosciutto/mozzarella/arugula pinsa, and then shared an array of pastas. They were cooked perfectly al dente with delicious, rich sauces-my favorites were the cavatelli al pesto and gnocchi w/bolognese sauce. For dessert, I tried cassata for the first time, a Sicilian rolled cake filled w/ricotta cream, pistachio rum sponge and candied orange.

Ristobar could not have done a better job in taking care of us...from manager, Mattia Ballarini to the servers, Alberto & Nicola. Petit Filet Mignon, Day Boat Scallop Risotto, Minestrone & whole prawn salad. Everything was perfectly cooked and delicious. Sometimes restaurants don't love it when you use a Groupon, but not Ristobar--they treated us like high flying patrons. Will be back many more times...really want to try the pastas that looked amazing at the table next to us. And the difference in interior from prior Cafe Rullie is thankfully very well done! Thank you, Ristobar!

Nice place for outdoor dining drinks and snacks on a Thursday evening. We shared the burrata and asparagus and I had the spicy mezcal cocktail with passion fruit. The burrata was very good and the mixed vegetables it came with were addicting. Asparagus with a sort of cheese sauce was also quite tasty. Service was very attentive and they provided good drink recommendations. Would come back for a proper meal.

Was seated by hostess, restaurant not even half full, was never acknowledged by anyone after we were seated. No water, no hey, nothing. A lady walked in and bartender acknowledged her right away asked how can he help her. I guess we were just the wrong color.....we left.

The service was wonderful attention Number 1and food was just tasty and Yum I would recommend highly.

What a phenomenal spot. The food is excellent, and the ambiance is warm. The service? It is impeccable. I had the Arancini for a starter. They were light, crispy on the outside, and creamy on the inside. I had the Rigatoni Carbonara for my entree. Yum! I rounded it up with Tiramisu. I highly recommend this spot for an unforgettable experience.

Ristobar was amazing! There is plenty of outdoor seating with heat lamps, lighting, socially distanced tables and staff with masks. The food and drinks were delicious! Espresso Martini: This is a must have for coffee lovers! I could barely taste any vodka, the espresso was strong, and the martini was not too sweet! The coconut was a nice touch and the 3 espresso beans on top make the cocktail very Instagram-able. Pappardalle with Sausage and Trumpet Royal Mushrooms: I normally don't like mushroomy things but these mushrooms were different! The sausage, spinach pappardalle noodles, mushrooms and crescenza cheese combined to make a wonderful pasta experience. I'd order this again and again. San Daniele Pizza: This pizza masterpiece had a crispy crust, fresh parmesan cheese and burrata, and flavorful prosciutto with a foundational red sauce that brought it all together. We polished off the night with a bottle of white wine. The owner is funny, friendly, and has great stories which we'd love to come back to hear!

I had low expectations for this place with the ratings but oh my goshhh it was so bomb! We went around 6pm on a Wednesday during the week of Dreamforce and it wasn't too busy but they had two large parties. The service was attentive and I have no complaints, the waiter even asked if we prefer one plate at a time or all at once which I appreciated. We got free focaccia bread which was bomb! The butternut squash risotto, i was hesitant but it tasted so cheesy and good. The raviolini was one of the best I've had and I'm super picky with my Italian pastas. We also got the steak which once again super low expectations because i am picky with my steak but it was perfect medium rare and good! Lastly we got a grilled cabbage dish which i would pass next time but it was still really good. The ambiance was nice and romantic and I would definitely recommend!!

The mushroom pizza (Risto) and the Margherita pizza were excellent again. We really enjoyed the Frito Misto appetizer. It was absolutely delicious, but it could have been a larger portion size. The desserts were excellent, especially the Tiramisu. We will be back. The pizza crust is out of this world.

First time here and quite fortunate to find this excellent Italian place. This was a spur of the moment choice for dining and glad this came up on my OpenTable search. I've been on an Italian cuisine track these last few months and enjoyed the great variety of Italian restaurants outside of North Beach. Decor is fantastic and the waiters were knowledgeable about the menu and specials. The wine selection was large, but not so much as to prevent narrowing things down. I went with a great Chianti and my friend with a local Cabernet Sauvignon. Very happy with my choice. Appetizers were an excellent tagliere and an arancine di risotto. My primi was a pasta and wild boar ragu and the other primi was polpo alla griglia, grilled octopus. Both were great and I was happy to try a dish I never had before.

We chose the Ristobar for a family meet and great with my fiancé and my family. I cannot say enough about the wonderful time we had at Ristobar. It was the perfect evening thank you to Mattia. Mattia took the time to get to know us. He worked with us to find the exact right table for our group and the occasion. He perfectly paced the evening from drinks to appetizers to main courses. He made suggestions as needed and always made sure everyone had exactly what they wanted. The service was fantastic and the food and drinks were phenomenal. The drinks sweetened any tension of the first meet and greet. For your next special occasion, look no further than Ristobar. Mattia and his team will not disappoint.

We decide d to come into the Marina for Halloween since we did that last year. There weren't too many costume people out and the restaurants were a little empty. Lucky for us. The food and service was incredible. The pastas were rich and very good. The steak was cooked perfectly. The only thing I didn't care for that much was dessert. I like my panna cotta more creamy. We will definitely be back.

I just want to express what a great place this is just to hang out and enjoy some great pizza and pasta. I was there with friends and it is very inviting and comfort with friendly service. I will be back again soon. Their pizzas was really delicious and the pasta too.

Nice ambiance with mediocre food. Came here for dinner with co-workers and immediately liked the interior decor. Ordered a steak which took forever and came out incredibly salty. The steak was actually so salty that I ate half of it and had to take the other half home to somehow mix into a different dish in my own kitchen. Because of this, wouldn't come again myself... maybe would consider it if friends wanted to go. Parking was okay too, parked on a nearby street (Fri evening).

Had a great date night here with my husband! The food was delicious - favorites were the scallop appetizer they had as a special and the rum cake dessert. The service was also fantastic - best experience we've had in recent months. Will definitely come back again!