"You could squeeze a very casual date out of the Union Street location because they serve alcohol there and because it’s a little “nicer,” but the North Beach one blasts Italian disco that even your coolest friend will end up Shazamming under the table while they pretend to check their emails. Both spots are counter-service only and make great and affordable pasta. It’s impossible to pick a noodle/sauce combination that doesn’t work, but we like the tortellini with butter and sage and you can’t miss with the nightly specials." - will kamensky
"Despite ballooning to six locations — four in the Bay Area, plus one each in Chicago and Los Angeles — Italian Homemade Company remains a solid place for a meal. Available to eat in or take home, expect hearty, well-made pasta with sauce (plus flatbreads and salads). Pick a pasta, like fettuccine or pappardelle, and then choose a sauce, like pesto, bolognese, or butter and sage." - Dianne de Guzman
"For a more casual bar and pasta situation, hit up The Italian Homemade Company. The Cow Hollow location has bar seating and wine by the glass or bottle, and the pastas hover around $15, making them some of the less expensive options on this list (plus, the portions are big). You can mix and match sauces, but our go-to is the pappardelle with bolognese or the tortellini with butter and sage." - julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez
"Dinner at the Union Street Italian Homemade is like a pregame for a night out if your pregames involve huge portions of delicious handmade pasta to go with the DJ sets and everyone’s drinks. Pick your pasta and sauce, grab a few seats at one of the communal tables, and get ready to start the night." - taylor abrams, will kamensky
"Italian Homemade serves big slabs of lasagna, as well as hearty ravioli and gnocchi, either to go or for delivery. Locations are now around town, with the original in North Beach, as well as outposts in Cow Hollow and Hayes, covering carb needs all across town." - Lauren Saria, Dianne de Guzman, Eater Staff