The Italian Homemade Company

"Available to eat in or take home, Italian Homemade Company is exactly what it sounds like: hearty, well-made pastas with sauces (and flatbreads and salads). Pick a pasta, like fettucine or pappardelle, and then choose a sauce, from pesto to bolognese to butter and sage." - Ellen Fort

"Last night, you tried to introduce your sister to all of your cool friends in SF, but today you’re both getting more acquainted with your old friend, Raging Hangover, and you want to take it easy. Take her to The Italian Homemade in North Beach. Choose your noodles and sauce, share a huge plate of handmade pasta, and show her that there are quiet nights here, too." - will kamensky

"For a casual pasta situation, hit up The Italian Homemade Company. The original North Beach location is our favorite. It’s got a parklet with bar stools, lively music playing in the background, and a “pasta lab” behind the register where you can watch the employees make fresh pasta. To order, just walk up to the register and mix and match your choice of sauce with one of their housemade pastas. Our go-tos are the pappardelle with bolognese or the tortellini with butter and sage." - julia chen 1, lani conway

"The pasta at this counter-service spot is homemade (go figure). It's also just around $15 for a heap of noodles, which is one of the best bang-for-your-buck meals in town. You customize your order here, so just pick your pasta and sauce and let the food come to you. We love all the Italian Homemade locations, but this North Beach one—with a “pasta lab” in the back and Italian disco blasting at all times—is our favorite." - julia chen 1, lani conway

"Finding a great pasta dish for under $15 can feel daunting. But at this counter-service spot in North Beach, it’s entirely possible. This spot is a choose-your-own-adventure situation. You pick from pastas like tagliatelle or gnocchi (most are $10-$12) and add on a sauce for a couple more bucks. The bolognese is extra hearty and filling, and it’s hard to go wrong with their pesto or butter and sage. There are locations in Cow Hollow and Hayes Valley, but we like this original North Beach spot best—it’s got a “pasta lab” in the back where you can see everyone hand-making noodles." - Julia Chen 1, Lani Conway