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Lasagna from Original Joe’s

15 Primo Italian Restaurants in San Francisco

Try these restaurants for fresh pasta, blistered pizzas, and more

by Lauren Saria, Dianne de Guzman, and Eater Staff Updated Mar 19, 2024, 11:00am PDT

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by Lauren Saria, Dianne de Guzman, and Eater Staff Updated Mar 19, 2024, 11:00am PDT

Original Joe’s

There’s a long and wonderful tradition of Italian food in San Francisco. Immigrants flooded the Bay Area during the Gold Rush, and while many southerners stayed in New York, simmering hearty red sauces, many northerners landed in San Francisco, bringing a taste for fresh fish, green olives, and bright citrus. North Beach is the historic Italian neighborhood, and it’s predictably filled with tourist traps as well as old standbys, many ladling out cioppino, San Francisco’s iconic fisherman’s stew.

But these days, Italian restaurants are all over the city, serving Roman classics like cacio e pepe and spicy Amatriciana, bold and modern updates on fresh and filled pastas, Neapolitan-style pizzas pulled out of blistering hot ovens, and garlicky fish and steak kissed by wood-fire grills. Here are 15 of the most seasoned Italian restaurants in San Francisco.

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Original Joe's

Where else can you get steak with a side of ravioli and creamed spinach? This Italian-American institution is filled with red booths, white tablecloths, and bustling waiters. The restaurant is more than 80 years old, and while the original location burned in 2007, it now has a prime spot on Washington Square Park in the heart of North Beach. The Westlake location has its own following among locals.

601 Union St, San Francisco, CA 94133

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Original Joe’s, Friday 6pm

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A16

Cozy at the end of Chestnut Street since 2004, A16 has earned a reputation for Southern Italian antipasti, salumi, pizza, and meat, intersecting with a deep wine list helmed by award-winning wine expert Shelley Lindgren. The space winds back past the open kitchen and gaping oven to a pretty green patio.

2355 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA 94123

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Pasta at A16

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Seven Hills

Seven Hills has been a jewel box in Russian Hill for nearly a decade, and the restaurant jumped a few blocks over into a bigger space in fall 2019, bringing all the fresh pasta along with it. The neighborhood would have revolted if the chef took the freshly extruded maccheroncelli and house ricotta off the menu. (Pro-tip: the original space is now home to sister restaurant Collina with a tight menu of Italian classics.)

1896 Hyde St, San Francisco, CA 94109

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Pasta at Seven Hills

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Cotogna

Just where North Beach starts to dip down into charming Jackson Square, Cotogna has a warm and welcoming open hearth and rustic wooden tables. It’s helmed by chef Michael Tusk, who’s also behind three-Michelin-starred Quince, though Cotogna is relatively more relaxed. The raviolo is an experience: a single large filled pasta, which, when cut with a fork, breaks into fresh ricotta and golden egg yolk. But you can’t go wrong with any of the fresh pasta, fish from the grill, or meat from the spit.

490 Pacific Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133

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Sorella

It’s name might mean “sister,” but don’t get it twisted: Sorella, the second spot from the team behind Michelin-praised Acquerello, is a star in its own right. Taking over a lively corner space on Polk, Sorella serves an approachable Italian menu of antipasti, pasta, meaty secondi — think lamb osso bucco and pork chop with big butter beans — but for the ultimate chill night out grab a stool at the bar for cocktails and cicchetti, or Venetian small snacks like crisp potato chips dusted with “cacio e pepe” seasoning and a single showstopping sausage stuffed chicken wing.

Open in Google Maps

1760 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109

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“Fancy lasagna” at Sorella

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Great Places in Spokane to Eat and Drink

Acquerello

More than 30 years in, Acquerello is a fine dining institution shining bright with two Michelin stars. Suzette Gresham and team serve luxurious tasting menus, ranging from a seasonal nine-course tasting menu for $275 (a nine-course tasting of vegetables is also available for $195) to a four-course prix-fixe for $165. Expect white tablecloths, purse stools, and other hallmarks of star-quality service.

1722 Sacramento Street NEAR VAN NESS &, Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109

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Octopus from Acquerello

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The Tailor's Son

While Corzetti, the coastal Italian restaurant near Union Square, might be the newest Italian spot from Back of the House restaurant group, this Fillmore Street spot remains the crown jewel. It’s a personal project for founder and owner Adriano Paganini, who grew up outside of Milan. Look for Northern Italian dishes such as risotto alla Milanese and fazzoletti al pesto served in a sleek space decorated with white tiles and black accents.

2049 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115

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Also featured in:

SPQR

SPQR took its name from the Roman empire, but the pasta is far from classic. It was originally an offshoot of A16, but wine director Shelley Lindgren stepped out in 2019, leaving chef-owner Matt Accarrino to run the show. Now, the strength of the prix-fixe menu lies just as much in the excellent secondi like king salmon and wagyu with foie gras sauce as in the expertly prepared pasta, including veal-filled pyramidi and buckwheat rapini with bacon and rapini.

1911 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115

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Also featured in:

Pasta Supply Co

Chef Anthony Strong has not only installed a neighborhood pasta shop selling all shapes and styles of noodles and sauces to the Inner Richmond but he’s also opened the shop for dinner. It’s a simple menu, with about five rotating bowls of pasta available for under $25, using seasonal ingredients such as a recent sweet corn raviolini. Round your meal out with vegetable sides and starters — don’t skip an order of housemade bread. Plus, keep an eye out for a second location opening soon in the Mission.

236 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94118

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Pasta dishes from San Francisco restaurant and retail shop, Pasta Supply Co.

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Che Fico

There’s a lot going for this Divisidero Street restaurant: a stunning space that exudes warmth and energy with drying herbs dangling from the rafters, made-in-house salumi, fresh pasta, and a solid list of wine. So even though it may not be the most affordable Italian option in the city — the restaurant charges a somewhat controversial fee on top of tips — it’s a great spot for a night out in NoPa. For a more casual and less expensive option, try the downstairs sister restaurant Che Fico Alimentari.

838 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117

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Barberio Osteria

This neighborhood Italian restaurant comes from the team behind Altovino including chef Nick Kelly, wife and AltoVino wine director Calli Martinez, and business partner Saul Magana. As at the sister spot, they’re letting the menu rotate regions with the seasons so while winter might mean triangoli stuffed with squash, mascarpone, Parmigiano, and warm spices, summer should bring Southern Italian island food to the table. Don’t skip a glass of wine; the entire list comes from Italy save for a few bottles of French Champagne.

557 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Visit Website

A woman holds a plate of pasta.

Flour + Water

After a months-long renovation in 2022, San Francisco classic Flour + Water is back in action with a lightly refreshed menu bringing on more antipasti. The ever-favorite pasta tasting menu is still around, perfect for exploring the house-made pasta mastery of the legendary restaurant. It’s also the only way to get a taste of the restaurant's impeccable tortellini en brodo, should you need some motivation to commit.

2401 Harrison St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Visit Website

A table of plates with crudo, pasta, and wine at Flour + Water.

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Itria

Itria backed into its original plan and first launched with pizza delivery in May 2021, but finally opened for indoor dining in August 2021, debuting a fresh menu of pasta and crudo. Lots of restaurants throw one crudo on the menu, but chef Daniel Evers digs into the category with nearly half a dozen different varieties, as well as handmade pasta, in an array of extruded and filled shapes.

3266 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Visit Website

Pizza slices from Itria

La Ciccia

There was much hand-wringing among La Ciccia’s hordes of fans when longtime owners Massimiliano Conti and Lorella Degan decided to sell their beloved Noe Valley gem. Thankfully, the new owner, a regular and a neighborhood resident, knew to keep all the best parts of the restaurant in place, continuing to serve La Ciccia’s legendary bottarga-topped spaghetti and other seafood-centric Sardinian specialties. The wine list now skews a little more towards natural options, but otherwise, it’s still just as charming — and excellent — as ever.

291 30th St, San Francisco, CA 94131

Visit Website

Sea urchin pasta

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Gialina

Head to this cozy Glen Park restaurant for chef Sharon Ardiana’s menu of wood-fired pizza, antipasti, and pasta. It’s a family-friendly spot with pies that’ll appeal to more mature palates — think sumac-spiced lamb with spring onions and tahini yogurt — and ones that seem sure to be crowd-pleasers — think four cheese, the New York New York, and a hot honey pepperoni. Bonus points for the option to make any pizza gluten-free.

2842 Diamond St (at Kern St), San Francisco, CA 94131

Visit Website

Pizza at Gialina

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Original Joe's

601 Union St, San Francisco, CA 94133

Where else can you get steak with a side of ravioli and creamed spinach? This Italian-American institution is filled with red booths, white tablecloths, and bustling waiters. The restaurant is more than 80 years old, and while the original location burned in 2007, it now has a prime spot on Washington Square Park in the heart of North Beach. The Westlake location has its own following among locals.

601 Union St, San Francisco, CA 94133

Visit Website

Original Joe’s, Friday 6pm

A16

2355 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA 94123

Cozy at the end of Chestnut Street since 2004, A16 has earned a reputation for Southern Italian antipasti, salumi, pizza, and meat, intersecting with a deep wine list helmed by award-winning wine expert Shelley Lindgren. The space winds back past the open kitchen and gaping oven to a pretty green patio.

2355 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA 94123

Visit Website

Pasta at A16

Seven Hills

1896 Hyde St, San Francisco, CA 94109

Seven Hills has been a jewel box in Russian Hill for nearly a decade, and the restaurant jumped a few blocks over into a bigger space in fall 2019, bringing all the fresh pasta along with it. The neighborhood would have revolted if the chef took the freshly extruded maccheroncelli and house ricotta off the menu. (Pro-tip: the original space is now home to sister restaurant Collina with a tight menu of Italian classics.)

1896 Hyde St, San Francisco, CA 94109

Visit Website

Pasta at Seven Hills

Cotogna

490 Pacific Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133

Just where North Beach starts to dip down into charming Jackson Square, Cotogna has a warm and welcoming open hearth and rustic wooden tables. It’s helmed by chef Michael Tusk, who’s also behind three-Michelin-starred Quince, though Cotogna is relatively more relaxed. The raviolo is an experience: a single large filled pasta, which, when cut with a fork, breaks into fresh ricotta and golden egg yolk. But you can’t go wrong with any of the fresh pasta, fish from the grill, or meat from the spit.

490 Pacific Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133

Visit Website

Sorella

1760 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109

It’s name might mean “sister,” but don’t get it twisted: Sorella, the second spot from the team behind Michelin-praised Acquerello, is a star in its own right. Taking over a lively corner space on Polk, Sorella serves an approachable Italian menu of antipasti, pasta, meaty secondi — think lamb osso bucco and pork chop with big butter beans — but for the ultimate chill night out grab a stool at the bar for cocktails and cicchetti, or Venetian small snacks like crisp potato chips dusted with “cacio e pepe” seasoning and a single showstopping sausage stuffed chicken wing.

Open in Google Maps

1760 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109

Visit Website

“Fancy lasagna” at Sorella

Acquerello

1722 Sacramento Street NEAR VAN NESS &, Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109

More than 30 years in, Acquerello is a fine dining institution shining bright with two Michelin stars. Suzette Gresham and team serve luxurious tasting menus, ranging from a seasonal nine-course tasting menu for $275 (a nine-course tasting of vegetables is also available for $195) to a four-course prix-fixe for $165. Expect white tablecloths, purse stools, and other hallmarks of star-quality service.

1722 Sacramento Street NEAR VAN NESS &, Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109

Visit Website

Octopus from Acquerello

The Tailor's Son

2049 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115

While Corzetti, the coastal Italian restaurant near Union Square, might be the newest Italian spot from Back of the House restaurant group, this Fillmore Street spot remains the crown jewel. It’s a personal project for founder and owner Adriano Paganini, who grew up outside of Milan. Look for Northern Italian dishes such as risotto alla Milanese and fazzoletti al pesto served in a sleek space decorated with white tiles and black accents.

2049 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115

Visit Website

SPQR

1911 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115

SPQR took its name from the Roman empire, but the pasta is far from classic. It was originally an offshoot of A16, but wine director Shelley Lindgren stepped out in 2019, leaving chef-owner Matt Accarrino to run the show. Now, the strength of the prix-fixe menu lies just as much in the excellent secondi like king salmon and wagyu with foie gras sauce as in the expertly prepared pasta, including veal-filled pyramidi and buckwheat rapini with bacon and rapini.

1911 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115

Visit Website

Pasta Supply Co

236 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94118

Chef Anthony Strong has not only installed a neighborhood pasta shop selling all shapes and styles of noodles and sauces to the Inner Richmond but he’s also opened the shop for dinner. It’s a simple menu, with about five rotating bowls of pasta available for under $25, using seasonal ingredients such as a recent sweet corn raviolini. Round your meal out with vegetable sides and starters — don’t skip an order of housemade bread. Plus, keep an eye out for a second location opening soon in the Mission.

236 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94118

Visit Website

Pasta dishes from San Francisco restaurant and retail shop, Pasta Supply Co.

Che Fico

838 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117

There’s a lot going for this Divisidero Street restaurant: a stunning space that exudes warmth and energy with drying herbs dangling from the rafters, made-in-house salumi, fresh pasta, and a solid list of wine. So even though it may not be the most affordable Italian option in the city — the restaurant charges a somewhat controversial fee on top of tips — it’s a great spot for a night out in NoPa. For a more casual and less expensive option, try the downstairs sister restaurant Che Fico Alimentari.

838 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117

Visit Website

Barberio Osteria

557 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110

This neighborhood Italian restaurant comes from the team behind Altovino including chef Nick Kelly, wife and AltoVino wine director Calli Martinez, and business partner Saul Magana. As at the sister spot, they’re letting the menu rotate regions with the seasons so while winter might mean triangoli stuffed with squash, mascarpone, Parmigiano, and warm spices, summer should bring Southern Italian island food to the table. Don’t skip a glass of wine; the entire list comes from Italy save for a few bottles of French Champagne.

557 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Visit Website

A woman holds a plate of pasta.

Flour + Water

2401 Harrison St, San Francisco, CA 94110

After a months-long renovation in 2022, San Francisco classic Flour + Water is back in action with a lightly refreshed menu bringing on more antipasti. The ever-favorite pasta tasting menu is still around, perfect for exploring the house-made pasta mastery of the legendary restaurant. It’s also the only way to get a taste of the restaurant's impeccable tortellini en brodo, should you need some motivation to commit.

2401 Harrison St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Visit Website

A table of plates with crudo, pasta, and wine at Flour + Water.

Itria

3266 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Itria backed into its original plan and first launched with pizza delivery in May 2021, but finally opened for indoor dining in August 2021, debuting a fresh menu of pasta and crudo. Lots of restaurants throw one crudo on the menu, but chef Daniel Evers digs into the category with nearly half a dozen different varieties, as well as handmade pasta, in an array of extruded and filled shapes.

3266 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Visit Website

Pizza slices from Itria

La Ciccia

291 30th St, San Francisco, CA 94131

There was much hand-wringing among La Ciccia’s hordes of fans when longtime owners Massimiliano Conti and Lorella Degan decided to sell their beloved Noe Valley gem. Thankfully, the new owner, a regular and a neighborhood resident, knew to keep all the best parts of the restaurant in place, continuing to serve La Ciccia’s legendary bottarga-topped spaghetti and other seafood-centric Sardinian specialties. The wine list now skews a little more towards natural options, but otherwise, it’s still just as charming — and excellent — as ever.

291 30th St, San Francisco, CA 94131

Visit Website

Sea urchin pasta

Gialina

2842 Diamond St (at Kern St), San Francisco, CA 94131

Head to this cozy Glen Park restaurant for chef Sharon Ardiana’s menu of wood-fired pizza, antipasti, and pasta. It’s a family-friendly spot with pies that’ll appeal to more mature palates — think sumac-spiced lamb with spring onions and tahini yogurt — and ones that seem sure to be crowd-pleasers — think four cheese, the New York New York, and a hot honey pepperoni. Bonus points for the option to make any pizza gluten-free.

2842 Diamond St (at Kern St), San Francisco, CA 94131

Visit Website

Pizza at Gialina

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