La Ciccia Restaurant

We are so lucky to have this gem of a restaurant in our little neighborhood of Noe Valley. The food is fabulous, distinctive, while still not straying too far from its roots. The owners are delightful and make their guests feel very at home. The atmosphere is simple and lively (primarily because the place is always packed!!) Have been there several times and have not been disappointed.

Not your parents' Italian eatery, unless they travel a LOT! This is the most interesting small, neighborhoody Italian restaurant we've discovered in many years. Boston, San Francisco, Chicago, Philiadelphia, New York Italian have nothing on this: unusual seafood choices, interesting combinations of meats, nicely selected vegetable dishes, it's terrific. Tomato sauces? Fuggedaboudit! LaCiccia is not really about red tomato sauces (though I suppose they have some). It's everything else! Simple, elegant, small. Not the biggest place, not the biggest wine list, not the biggest selection of dishes. But each is authentic and wholesome. Waitstaff? We've found them outstanding in each of our visits.

The food is quite unique and delicious. Not at all your typical Italian food. Sometimes the dishes need a bit more salt, like the pasta with mushrooms, but overall the flavors are fresh and tasty. Nice simple green salad and delicious, light saffron cheesecake for dessert. Great service. The one detraction is the interior wall color. It has bothered me every time I've gone there. The most recent time, I polled the members of my group about it with an open-ended question, and no one liked it. It just doesn't feel warm and inviting. Overall, a place definitely worth going to.

One of the best restaurant experiences i have had in SF. The dishes were authentic, this is not Tuscan cuisine so keep an open mind and learn a little bit about a really underrated culinary region. the pizza was good, and the homemade prosciutto was amazing. the entrees were equally excellent. The dishes have very unique flavors, juniper with the wild boar stew, what a great idea. very well thought out wine list with great depth and breadth. very highly recommended. well priced for the quality as well.

FANTASTIC. I haven't had better Italian food in San Francisco. I haven't had better Italian food in some parts of Italy. The food, the wine, the staff, and the owners were all exceptional and very authentic. I had a fresh pasta in olive oil and porcini, with fresh black truffle (a lot of it!) shaved over the top. The salad, the dessers, I only regret not coming with a bigger appetite. After reading the a couple of the less-positive reviews, I have to wonder if they found their groove over the last few months. I'm looking forward to my next visit.