Via Veneto

Traditional and cozy Italian restaurant on Fillmore. The owner, Massimo, has lived above the restaurant for over 20 years. Via Veneto is inviting and a perfect spot for a date night or with friends and family. The food is delicious at a very reasonable cost. Will definitely be coming back here again.

Had a rare craving for Italian. Slipped in solo on a Saturday evening. Massimo, the owner greeted me like an old friend. Genuine hospitality and excellent food. I’ve found my new go to!!

As another reviewer stated - this is a rare San Francisco gem! I love this place that is just a few blocks from our home. It is sort of like Cheers - everyone knows your name. Massimo (owner) greets you like you are his best friend. Food is fabulous and service is exceptional and relaxed. You are never rushed - I swear you could stay there all night and they would think nothing of it. Massimo makes a mean (and large) Martini. The menu is always very extensive with Massimo adding options that are not listed on that nights menu. If something is not on the menu they will make it for you - or if you want something prepared a totally different way - no problem. The place is relatively small and cozy and the back enclosed patio was great during Covid. The pricing is exceptional for a very large meal and you always feel like you got a great deal on excellent food. This is the place for your favorite comfort meal.

A fantastic restaurant on a vibrant street. We stopped here on our honeymoon and had an amazing dinner. The service was genuine and generous, making it a very pleasant evening for us. The gnocchi was the best one we’ve had! If we would have lived in San Francisco, we would definitely go back every week!

If you love authentic Italian food with old classic and welcoming Italian style of service. This is your place. Good Chianti wines for affordable price tag, personal touch by the owner. This is now my go to Italian restaurant in our neighborhood 🤍

Via Veneto is one of the best Italian restaurants in SF to enjoy authentic dishes and experience the atmosphere. I've never been disappointed with the menu items I tried: a flavourful minestrone soup, clam chowder, or gorgeous Cacciucco Adriatico, tender involtini, mozzarella caprese. Even more charming are the entrées: salmon piccata, petrale sole, pasta with crabs, or lobster ravioli, signature rack of lamb, huge ribeye steak, etc. All dishes are always cooked to perfection. Don't forget to leave some space to accommodate desserts: splendid tiramisu, mango panna cotta, orange pancakes, pera arlecchina. The Italian vibe of the place is very attractive, Massimo is a very hospitable host and I always feel at home there. If you love Italian cuisine and are not in a hurry, consider the Via Veneto restaurant in the Pacific Heights.

A very unpleasant dining experience. The owner was incredibly rude and condescending, the food was overpriced for none of the pasta being made in house, and to top it all off, they tried to charge us double for our bill.

Via Veneto is a true San Francisco gem! The ambiance here is so inviting—charming, cozy, and perfect for a relaxing evening out. The warm, welcoming atmosphere really enhances the experience. Massimo, the owner and host, is incredibly hospitable and always makes us feel at home. His attention to detail and care for his guests are truly exceptional. On our recent visit, we had a reservation for four, but when we showed up with five people, they were more than happy to accommodate us—even though the place was bustling. That kind of service is hard to find these days! Now, the food—WOW. We ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo, Rack of Lamb, Gnocchi, and the Pink Sauce Ravioli, which was a daily special, and let me tell you, it was out of this world. The Fettuccine Alfredo was creamy and rich, the Rack of Lamb was perfectly cooked with a delicious sear, and the Gnocchi was light and pillowy. But the star of the show was definitely the Pink Sauce Ravioli. It had such a fantastic depth of flavor, with the perfect balance of creaminess and tang, and was honestly one of the best pasta dishes I've had in a long time. Every bite was pure bliss! Massimo also suggested a wonderful wine pairing for each of our dishes, and he nailed it every time. If you're craving authentic Italian cuisine in a cozy, welcoming setting, Via Veneto is a must-visit. Can't wait to return!

Service was amazing. Host was so accomodating. Food was also delicious. (+There was vegetarian friendly food :))

We had an amazing dinner at Via Veneto! Our server provided exceptional service with great wine and food recommendations. They made my favorite food for me without it being on the menu. He also made sure our dinner was enjoyable and romantic by bringing a candle and flowers to our table! Great vibes and music as well. Definitely recommend!!

Cute, buzzy restaurant with lovely Italian wines. The garlic oil that comes free with bread at the beginning is yum, rest of food came out super quick.Thanks Rolando for the great service!

Highly Recommended! Great service+food The restaurateur always give the most genuine recs

I love this place, I have been here twice. I'm a vegetarian so the first time we went they had a Veg Lasagna Special for the Entree and for the appetiser we loved the Involtini Di Melanzane (went there the 2nd time for this dish). We also tried one of their pasta - Penne Ala Puttanesca and a Mushroom dish (I don't think I liked them a lot tbh) I'd go here again, the service is so nice everyone is so warm and inviting and the ambiance is soo gooddd

Had reservations here on a Saturday night with friends and we started off with the limoncelli spritz which was super refreshing and also kind of strong, but not too sweet at all. They had a seasonal special menu as well as seafood. I got the halibut which was perfectly seasoned and the vegetables were super fresh. The seafood ravioli also looked amazing! I love the cozy ambiance of this place and the location is super prime. Also surprisingly ample amount of parking nearby.

This was our first time here. My husband ordered the penne with bacon and tomato sauce, I ordered the spicy prawns and my teenage son ordered the spaghetti with clams and all of us thought it was a 10. Great service, great vibe and we will be coming back.

As they say - those who are closest to the church are often farthest from the church. Via Veneto - in the neighbourhood, almost round the corner from where we live - was a chance discovery. One of the finest Italian place in San Francisco we have visited. Massilmo, the owner, is a charmer - who pied us with some choicest Single Malt Scotch and a fabulous Cabernet-Sauvignon. Their signature Rack of Lamb in Port Wine Sauce was divine and the Chicken Risotto near perfect. Great service to add to the experience.

Everything is SO fresh!! The calamari: incredible. My mom recently returned from a trip to Italy and felt like she was back on vacation! Highly recommend the pastas, bruschetta, calamari, and ceasar! It's a small, quiet place and the staff was very excited to greet us and offer suggestions from the menu. This place makes me want to spend more time in San Francisco!

Delicious food and a homestyle ambiance, service was exceptional, perfect for a date!

My favourite here was their appetisers. They have a lot of specials nightly as well. The food isn't the most elegant, but it is rustic and homey, and very tasty. The staff are so friendly and attentive, and that makes them such a great neighbourhood eatery. There is no fuss, just quick ordering and service, and they cater well to diverse groups (we were 12 with 3 kids and Xmas presents to hand out and they made it comfortable).

My favorite mom & pop restaurant in SF. Excellent food, excellent service. ********** Lovely Italian restaurant for family dinners or dates... my new favorite mom&pop spot for Italian in SF. Brought my parents here for my father's 80th birthday (because they like veal dishes, which were excellent here). Adorable couple that make you feel at home. Cozy atmosphere... and there were holiday carolers that evening. Great spot for post-shopping dinner!

Classic Italian on Fillmore! Are you tired from a long day of hopping from upscale retailers to ridiculously priced boutiques? Is your nose clogged up from trying scents at le labo and diptyque and then realizing that you should have just gone to the ministry of scent down the street instead? Has the pastry and flat white that you got from blue bottle at 7AM finally worn off? Are you finally tired from pantomiming what you think the SF elite get up to on their weekends? OR, perhaps, are you just a hungie guy trying to get some pasta? OR (and), are you a pac heights/fillmore/japantown resident trying to support local family-owned small businesses that rock? Come to Via Veneto!!! This is such a lovely, cozy, classic Italian joint! Honestly I think they trying to be fancier to match the landscape of the area but it's easy embrace a casual vibe over a good meal here. My partner and I got dinner and we shared the mussels in white wine, the prawn linguine and the lobster ravioli (this is a LOT of food for 2 people, even with me on deck btw). First of all, the bread came with cloves of garlic drowning in olive oil and I was gobbling it up. Then came one of my favorite dishes, the mussels in white wine (Cozze e Vongole in Casseruola) and man after a huge squeeze of lemon I was INHALING. I deVOURED those mussels and I was burning through bread baskets as I was using the bread to soak up the delicious sauce to maximize the dish. I literally did not let them take away the mussel-less saucer, how could I let the remaining juice go to waste?? Then the prawn spaghett (Spaghetti al Gamberi) came out along with the lobster ravioli and perhaps I should not have spent so much stomach space on the bread but honestly it was worth it and also no matter at all because I SMASHED my full entree too. The owner stopped by our table and told my partner I was a catch for eating so well and for eating so much and you know what!! he's right :))) He complimented me for finishing all of the food and I told him it was easy, it was all so delicious!!! We chatted and he (and all the staff) are truly so kind. we talked about how real estate giants are snapping up storefronts and land in the area and driving up rent prices and making it increasingly difficult for them to hold their business. Via Veneto truly deserves to be a mainstay on Fillmore, stop by for a meal and see why!

Really old school neighborhood Italian place - the decor takes me back to my New Jersey childhood Italian spots, with the plain white tablecloths and handwritten bills. I got a seafood linguine of sorts and it was tasty - sauce not too overpowering and the seafood flavor came through. I came with a friend on a weeknight and it was laidback atmosphere and the servers were nice. My friend (a foodie) also enjoyed his ravioli. The only awkward part was the elderly couple next to us kept asking if we were a couple and making remarks during dinner about it. The old school vibe was certainly there

This place is incredible! The food, the service, the vibes. All amazing! Went with my friends for a last minute dinner, and the staff were so welcoming and kind. Definitely one of the most generous and friendly family-owned restaurants in SF. Will be coming back soon.

A very authentic Italian experience! Great wine choices and had an amazing bottle of red. Simple but delicious menu, great choice of starters, salads and entrees. Their specials sounded amazing as well. Our server, Rolando was welcoming and fantastic!

I've been to Via Veneto a few times now and have had nothing but good experiences! To start off, the atmosphere is great. The staff is very nice and the service is good. Most of all, I really appreciate the chill, laid back nature of this restaurant. Some other restaurants on Fillmore are more bustling and require reservations days in advance, whereas you can roll up to Via Veneto and have a solid meal without having to deal with the crowds. Also important, the food is good. The first few times I went (in late 2022 and early 2023) they had a large binder menu and everything I tried in there was great. Since then, they have narrowed down the menu to one page but I still enjoyed my order of the Butternut Squash Ravioli. My favorite (their amazing Fettuccine Alfredo) wasn't on the most recent menu, so I hope they bring this one back soon. I also want to mention that this restaurant has a beautiful, calm, and low-key outdoor patio in the back! This is super nice if you are still Covid cautious or just if you looking for something a bit quieter. Sometimes it has been closed, so if this is important to you I would recommend calling in advance. Overall, Via Veneto is a hidden gem on Fillmore St and I'm excited to go back. Please bring back the Fettuccine Alfredo though :)

The restaurant is a gem. From the owner, to the food to the vibe. The service was great for our group of 12.

Kind of a odd spot among the more bougie establishments along Fillmore street! It seems like this spot is trying to emulate a more classy Italian restaurant vibe, but the interior and decor left a lot to be desired. That being said, our service was great and the food was good. The complimentary bread was perhaps the best I've had in a while, the go above and beyond by providing olive oil with crushed garlic. We ordered bruschetta for the table, which was okay. It was a little too simple for my taste, as the topping seemed to have not much more than just tomato. I ordered the fettuccine alla norma, which had eggplant in a tomato sauce. I really enjoyed this, and was pleased that they offered vegetarian dishes that go beyond just pasta with sauce. I'd recommend Via Veneto for a casual meal!

Via Veneto has had consistently excellent food for the years we've been coming here. it's authentically Italian in its food and ambiance. we highly recommend it,

The service was amazing here and the food was delicious. Patio is opening soon so definitely will be back for that!

Heated crispy old fashioned bread with garlic olive oil and water for a quick start. Minestrone soup, very basic with light broth and an assortment of veggies. A bit tangy strangely enough. Veal with mushrooms in a unique oil and Marsala sauce was wonderful along with healthy sides of mashed potatoes and Swiss chard. A nice Pinot Grigio was recommended and service was very good. A very "Italian Feel" coming here.

This place is a gem! Massimo is just the sweetest server/host/proprietor and the food was wonderfully simple (our favorite was the calamari and the cold mixed platter). The walls are this gorgeous geometric mural and we felt so warm and welcome. Never gonna forget this place!

I've walked by Via Veneto too many times and always said I would stop in. Tonight I finally did. From the moment we walked in the staff was incredibly friendly, accommodated our request to sit outside (which is incredibly nice), and was super attentive the whole time. The portions are large and delicious. I would 100% come back and recommend this to my friends and family. At times I felt like I was in Italy. 10/10

Amazing food and service - outdoor patio is wonderful. Highly recommend stopping by for a casual or sophisticated night. 10/10

Always our favorite spot for intimate or social meals. Excellent food and service from a consistent owner and his team.

Well it was cold outside so they let me sit at bar. Met friend there. Been on Fillmore for 37years. Had veal what a treat and reasonably priced. Gloria had shrimp. Came with veggies and potatoes. Really tasty. Nice local place.

Came back to this restaurant 8 years later and it was even better than I remembered! I had been dreaming of their fettuccine and bruschetta for years, I had to reorder it. We also got the parpadelle bolognese and the salmon piccata which were also outstanding. The service was top notch. Our server provided us with phenomenal recommendations and was very attentive and entertaining. The atmosphere of the restaurant is warm and welcoming. I will continue to dream of the meal I had here and will return whenever I'm back in the city.

The owner treats you like family. The food is incredible and they always have space for more guests. No matter how busy they are they always make room for more.

One of the best dining experiences I've had in years in San Francisco. Family run, incredible food, incredible community feel. Service and ambiance were unbeatable. Thank you Via Veneto!

Rolando was a star amongst a dark sky when I walked into the restaurant he lit up like a supernova. Not only was the food exceptional, the service was phenomenal. Immaculate exquisite. Wonderful charming waiter. Made me feel like a lady again.

Straight up solid. Great food, not gonna blow you away. Amazing service. Old school family vibe which is hard to come by in SF let alone pac heights. Go to support the family biz

We were celebrating my birthday and did not have any reservations...started walking down Filmore and looked at their menu. First impression was that they had a lot of options and they were priced moderately. There were some tables open so the 4 of us were seated right away. The lady who greeted us was very friendly and accommodating. When she found out we were celebrating a birthday she made every effort to make me feel special. We started with the calamari and shrimp appetizer...it was very crispy with a delicious sauce. We all enjoyed our main dishes (linguine alle vongole, fettuccine Primavera, pollo alla sorrentina, minestrone and salad) Dessert was amazing crepe with espresso cream...we all shared it , was just enough for us all to enjoy Ambience is warm and inviting Would definitely return

Amazing as always ridiculous low prices FANTASTIC food (consistently great as well) and the people are wonderful

3.5*s 1st off the service is very nice! I ordered the pescatore, the seafood was very fresh and good quality but the dish wasn't flavorful, I had to add cheese and peppers due to the bland nature of it, it wasn't completely flavorless but it definitely was average for a red sauce. Now for the bread and garlic/olive oil dip ( fresh garlic cloves) it was AMAZING, that alone is worth a return visit. I'd come back again but not for the linguini pescatore, maybe Alfredo.

The best Italian food in SF. I am not a huge fan of mushrooms, but I can eat the Teste Di Funghi Farcite all day! Rolando was phenomenal and brought us some great wines!

i came here with two of my girlfriends about a month ago and i haven't stopped thinking about it since. the food was so good, the owner was our server and he made the entire experience so much fun. such a cute little italian spot near my house, i can't wait to go back.

We had an amazing dinner here with the family last Sunday night. Truth be told, we had reservations at another restaurant and as we walked by Via Veneto we looked in and everyone inside looked like they were having a great time. So we stopped just to take a peak inside..and we never left and were so glad we stayed. The appetizers, salads, and pasta dishes were so good! The crab ravioli was especially delicious. Rolando was fabulous and took great care of us. We will definitely be back soon!

Incredible food. Incredible service. Best date night spot. Thei crab ravioli (daily special) and ribeye was so good.

Delicious meal with wonderful service! Everything we ordered was amazing. Calamari was crispy, shrimp was well seasoned, lobster ravioli was creamy and satisfying. Desserts were not too sweet and complimented the meal. The owners are lovely as well. Excited to find this place so close to work. Will definitely be back to explore the menu.

BEST FOOD IVE EVER HAD. service was just perfect, rolando and massimo are my new favorite people :) beautiful place, i will definitely come back

Rolando our server was attentive and personable. made our dining experience 1000 times better. Would recommend this place over and over. Service is wonderful and food is incredible.

Amazing restaurant with incredible food. This is by far the best service I have ever had. Rolando, our server, was very attentive and made sure we had the best experience. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to everybody.

Unfortunately the owners here are racist towards Asians and treat us with the most disrespect. Arguing about orders, speaking over us, and just tossing our plates in front of us without saying anything. If you can't tell, all of the 5 star reviews here are from white people.

Really surprised at how positive the reviews are. The front desk lady and the person serving us (they may have been the owners) were both incredibly rude and dismissive the entire time. It was quite shocking as I've never had such rude service before in a restaurant and we also ordered quite a lot of food. Given there's so many positive reviews about their great service, I was wondering if it had to do with us being Asian. My mom and sister were visiting me and we are all from East Asia. Despite being incredibly taken aback by the experience, didn't want to leave a review, because I wasn't sure. However, after reading another person's review about having a negative experience at the restaurant as an Asian, wanted to leave this note for others. Other than the unsettling, extremely negative service, would say that while the price of the restaurant is quite high, the food is mediocre and the decor is somewhat tacky. Agree with another reviewer's comment that they seem to want to portray themselves as an upscale restaurant, but does not come close to being able to pull it off.

Absolutely underrated restaurant! The food was so good and great portion, especially compared to the other Italian food on Fillmore. Also the staff was amazing, there were tons of regulars going in and out which is always a great sign. Will be going back pronto

Had the best experience ever eating here with my family. The service was impeccable and never felt rushed. Can't recommend the calamari, bruschetta, and gnocchi enough! We also got their specials of the day which included a super yummy pesto. Incredible prices that make you want to go back the next day. Just try not to fill up on their complimentary bread and garlic olive oil that is from the heavens itself. Love love love them and will be back whenever we are back in the city

Came here with a group of 7 for dinner on a Wednesday night. We made a reservation but when we arrived there was plenty of seating. The restaurant itself has a nice ambiance and seems to be quite large. The complimentary bread with garlic olive oil was quite good. Prices were on the higher side, with pasta entrees ranging from $16-25. I got the meat tortellini with peas and ham in a creamy tomato sauce, which was quite good ($17). Service was pretty good throughout the meal but after plates were cleared the check didn't come for a long time.

Best service ever! Such a charming, quaint location and the pasta is absolutely delicious