North Beach Restaurant

This is a very good Italian restaurant & what fun it is. It's not for the casual uptight diner or for the "in-a-hurry" eater. Here you dine on good food with a group of good friends & enjoy both all evening! We surely did & plan on doing it again the next time we're in the city. The fare was an Italian food lovers best choices dream down to the sweetbreads & chicken livers entrees. Where else do you see these anymore? It's abit pricey, sad to say, but most things are now so we go out less huh?

Pros: good food & service, great choice menu,

Cons: noisy but fun, pricey

Posted 08/07/08

yumm..oh!....this place makes you feel warm all over...love the service ....love the wine and love the polenta!!!! every bit of this place just makes me smile!!!! it is the same place that i remenber going on a first date with my husband and now a favorite of my girls....truly north beach dining at it's best!!!!

Pros: memory maker!

Posted 04/16/08

We're locals who had fond memories of this restaurant from the late 80's, but it has gone totally downhill. We were seated 30 minutes late after booking in advance on Open Table on line. The waiter continually attempted to push us in the direction of more expensive entries and wine. The prices are outrageous. For a party of 5 with one bottle of moderately priced wine, an appetizer and main entry the bill was $390. We had to beg twice to get water brought to the table and it was obvious that the waiter had no concern for our well being whatsoever. Never again and you shouldn't go here either!

Pros: Food was good, Bar service was good, Negronis were great

Cons: Overpriced tourist trap, Terrible service

Posted 03/06/08

We enjoyed ourselves at this restaurant. The Sunday lunch crowd last week was casual; the wait staff was busy, but attentive overall. We were a party of 5 which included an active toddler, but were never made to feel inferior. We were seated at a corner table with one side as a booth and the host made the comment "Kids love sitting in the booth" and he was right. One member of our party hails from north of Venice, Italy and for him to complement the food -it had to be good. Only sugestion is go easier on the salt in the bolognese sauce. Enjoyable experience. Would return.

Pros: ambience, feeling of welcome

Cons: a bit pricy

Posted 02/16/08

I ordered the salmon steak and it was dry and not very extraordinary in taste and the green vegetables that they included with the meal was incredibly disgusting. My husband's steak was also very salty. We should have tried their actual Italian dishes but please avoid the salmon and the steak. Also, their tiramisu had a very strong taste and gave me some heartburn. After 2 bites, I just couldn't eat it anymore. Also, the presentation of it was bad as it seemed like it was just slabbed on the plate. The total meal was about $85 and my husband and I left feeling very unsatisfied and disappointed. The service also wasn't that great. We totally regret having gone there and wish we had rather eaten at a cheaper place like In and Out.

Pros: ambience

Cons: food was not very tasty, inattentive service, overpriced food

Posted 01/05/08

I would have to say that the food and the atmosphere were the two highlights of my meal at this place. I got the seafood risotto and it was incredible! Also, the atmosphere was comfortable, and lively without being too loud. One of the few complaints I have however is of the rude host, who obviously works by the mantra: the customer is always wrong. Also, I would have to say that the prices for the food were a little too high for what we got, despite how good it was. Despite these two things, overall, I would definitely go back, but only once in a while.

Pros: Great Food, Atmosphere, Wine List

Cons: Rude Host, Pricey

Posted 11/10/07

I had a bad experience in this restaurant several years ago, but since I live in the neighborhood decided to try it again. Bad idea. The food is terrible, and the prices are a rip off. For a basic dinner for 3, with a low-end bottle of wine, our bill was $190. Our waiter was apathetic, at best,to boot. Any good reviews of this restaurant are plants by the restaurant. Locals do not go near this place. Stay away!

Posted 05/13/07

My husband and I spent our anniversary in San Francisco and we were really looking forward to some excellent Italian dining. We began our journey in North Beach and were overwhelmed by all the Italian choices. We walked around for 20 minutes and made our final choice with this one. We were greeted well and seated quickly. Our waiter sounded Italian which made it authentic. But at times hard to understand. We began to make our dinner choice and a tasting of their famous wine came our way from the wine guy, it was horrible!!! I didnt want to be rude but that was the truth. We let him make another choice and that seemed to work fine. Our dinner was just ok. But we have tasted better at the Olive Garden. They seemed to be at our table every 2 mins with questions and such, Not much for romance, but we were hungry. The food was not worth $ amount, and the dessert was a disapointment, when I asked the waiter if the cheesecake was made by his chef he lied and said yes, And then I told him I owned a bakery, he then change his story and said that it was made by the chef at the factory that makes cheesecakes. I could tell when I tasted it that is was made a couple weeks ago. The presentation was lacking. The tiramisu was drenched in coffee, and was bland. Overall our dining experience was just ok. We will not return.

Pros: seated quickly, prompt attention to details,

Cons: overfriendly, lying waiter, loud noisy atmosphere

Posted 04/08/07

The mixture of food, wine and atmosphere makes this restaurant a must do in San Francisco. The location is centrally located in North Beach. I recommend using the valet parking. There are few tables downstairs that aren't great, so ask to be placed upstairs.

Pros: Wine, Food, Atmosphere

Cons: Parking

Posted 04/07/07

we happened along this restaurant by chance - and i wish that we had kept on going. this seemed to continue our tour of "restaurants that take advantage of tourists in san francisco.) good wine list or no, there is absolutely no reason to charge $20+ for pasta dishes. speaking of wine, we ordered a 2000 wine of a certain label- and the waiter brought us a 200 with a completely different label. i have seen other restaurants pull this b.s. before, so i was pretty peeved. the insalata caprese was decent (although i have never had it with red onion before) but my friend's cesar salad seemed wilted. the bread was stale, and the spaghetti carbonara was a rip off at, $5 per bite my friend had the osso bucco, which was the only thing really flavorful that evening. even the tiramisu, which they claim is homeade, was mediocre. sheesh - avoid this place unles you want to be considered a total suckah. total price for touristy mediocrity? $172

Pros: blech

Cons: waiters trying to switch wine on you and $20+ pasta dishes - rip off.

Posted 04/01/07

The seafood is fresh and the ingredients are very good quality. The wine list is huge. The house wine list is good and reasonably priced. The waiters are passionate about wine. But some of them seem to have missed their naptime. The desserts are fresh and worth ordering.

Pros: Fresh seafood

Cons: Moody waiters

Posted 03/12/07

My husband & I spent a long weekend in SF in January 2007, and we wound up having lunch here with two friends (one was a local). Lunch was just lovely, unhurried, delicious pasta dishes, loved the Chianti Classico by the glass. All four of us were very happy with our meals. The following night, my husband & I were wandering around the North Beach area searching for a good place for dinner. After not seeing anything that jumped out at us, we returned to the North Beach restaurant and they seated us promptly. (Since we didn't have a reservation, we got a table in the back by a service area, but it wasn't a problem.) We were equally pleased with our meals and wine. The service was impeccable. We both highly recommend dining here.

On a side note, I was impressed with all the signed Joan Miro prints!!!

Pros: Delicious Pasta

Posted 01/13/07

If you know anything about food, Italian or otherwise, you will be disappointed. Only one Italian wine on the wine by the glass list - a Chianti reserve, a great example of how behind this restaurant is in addressing the current tastes of it's patrons. We bought a $38 bottle of Barolo which retails at the importer's outlet in Los ANgeles for, I believe, about $15. The marinated calamari was fresh, a good sign, but the marinade lacked taste and was dull. The bread was fresh but dry. Considering the availability of all the boutique bread bakeries these days, there is no excuse for bad bread. The polenta soup? Lumpy polenta over a bland tomato sauce with a slice of melted mozzarella on top. The lasagna noodles were slimy, the meat dry, layered with more of the bland tomato sauce and smothered in way too much cheese. The linguini with wild mushrooms had a good mushroom taste, but the pasta itself was again heavy and slimey, probably from the addition of too much pasta water to the sauce. Unlike the lasagna, it was edible, but for the price, it should have been closer to perfection. The grated cheese was freshly grated in a bowl, but not from a piece over my plate by the waiter. I wondered what they were thinking. I'd be astounded if someone told me it was Parmigiano Reggiano. It's an OK environment, and although a bit loud, I did not find it too loud. I guess it's fun to be waited on by experienced older male Italian-American waiters in dark suits, but that did not overcome this restaurants shortcomings. This restaurant was probably in step with the times about 35 years ago. If you appreciate Italian / Italian-American cooking, this is not for you.

Pros: Location - nice part f town to stroll around in after dinner.

Cons: Fresh but sub-par food. Out of step with the times.

Posted 12/30/06

This restaurant was recommended to us by our hotel concierge, as well as several other locals we asked for an Italian recommendation. It was very nice with a sophisticated feel. Definitely noisy and crowded, but we had excellent service! We arrived on a Saturday night with no reservation and waited only about 20 minutes at the bar (bartender was not as friendly as the rest of the bunch-but oh well!) The only disappointment was that we were looking for an old style Italian restaurant with an old style feel-dark, red and quiet. This did not fit that whatsoever-but if that's not part of your requirement, I would definitely go!!

Posted 11/16/06

We love North Beach Restaurant. The wine list, service and food have been excellent every time we have dined there. The lasagna is definitely worth the wait. The menu states that it is made when ordered and may take up to 20 minutes but those minutes fly by when drinking a good glass of wine in this pleasant atmosphere. However, the real reason to eat at North Beach is the polenta soup. It is addictive! It is the ultimate comfort food! What more can I say?!

Pros: valet parking, great food, polenta soup

Cons: can be noisy

Posted 09/12/06

I thought this restaurant was excellent. Everything from the service to the food was top notch.

Had the petrale sole which was delightful. Very pleasant atmosphere and the service was great.

The menu is very broad. Everyone in our group seemed very pleased with their choices.

Everthing from escargot to veal to seafood. Everyone was ranting and raving about their dish.

Highly recommended restaurant for a group or a romantic interlude!

Pros: Excellent Food & Wine

Cons: None

Posted 08/03/06

start with one of their many great wines. a large listing was a bit overwhelming, but the knowledgeable staff didn't steer us wrong. the menu is varied, unique but traditional and well worth a visit. if you have time after dinner, ask to see the prociutto room - they cure their own prociutto and it's to die for. would dine here again in a heartbeat

Posted 07/02/06

I love the North Beach Restaurant for its authentic Tuscan menu!
My favorites are eggplant parmigiana, veal parmigiana, petrale dore,
and homemade gnocchi! Their homemade desserts are to die for!

Pros: Authentic Tuscan food, Best Italian wines, Open late to 11:45PM

Cons: Crowded, Reservations needed

Posted 04/04/06

If enjoy authentic Italian food like cooked in Tuscany Italy with the freshest ingredients,
then you will love the North Beach Restaurant's mouthwatering menu! I vacation every year in Italy and know what great Italian cooking is all about such as al dente pasta and extra virgin olive oil! My favorites dishes are the fried calamari, linguine with fresh clams, eggplant parmigiana, prosciutto and melon, veal parmigiana, and sand dabs. Don't be fooled by any of the negative reviews at Citysearch.com about the North Beach Restaurant - the waiter's service is fantastico and so is the warm friendly Tuscan style hospitality!

Pros: Great wine list, Real Italian food, Great service

Cons: Always crowded, Pricey

Posted 03/28/06

I have been a loyal customer at the North Beach Restaurant for over 20-years because of its Tuscan culinary excellence, casual relaxed ambiance, superb wine list, and friendly attentive service! My San Francisco based company holds its business meetings in the restaurant's private Wine Cellar where we strategize the future while savoring its authentic Tuscan cuisine! -Happy San Francisco CEO-

Pros: Great food, Attentive service, Ideal large parties

Cons: Noisy, Not on Open.Table.com, Pricey

Posted 03/20/06

I went here twice, once for a company Christmas party, and once on a busy Saturday night without a reservation. On both occasions, I had excellent food. When we showed up without a reservation, the host did his best to get us a table as quickly as possible. The service was a bit rushed, but the food was delicious. This was one of the best meals I have ever had in San Francisco, and I look forward to going back the next time I'm in town. One complaint though, is that the portions were very small. If you are looking for a hearty meal that you can doggie bag and enjoy the next day too, you might want to look elsewhere.

Pros: Great Food, Excellent Host, Extensive Menu

Cons: Server was rushed, Small Portions

Posted 10/06/05

Unbelievably good food, attentive service. Appreciate small tables grouped together so as not to have to compete with large or loud groups.

Posted 01/24/05

My boyfriend and I went here for New Years Eve last year, and the food, service, wine, and ambiance were all top notch!! I was dreaming about the homemade ravioli for days afterwrds!! It was the perfect place to start off a wondeful night and I am definitely coming back again and again!

Pros: great food, great wine, valet

Posted 07/11/04

Nice selection of wines, both red and white. This is an old school place, with a spacious downstairs area. Friendly people, and good service as well.

Posted 02/23/04

The food was barely ok. The maitre d' was pleasant, but the waiter was horrible. We each ordered a spinach salad, and he told us there was bacon on it, which we each requested not be on it. We were presented with 2 plates of spinach. Nothing on it at all. Not even an offer of pepper. My companion's gnocchi was decent, but nothing great. My seafood risotto was far too hot, nearly burning my mouth. The waiter looked like he'd rather be anywhere but there, and was never around except to bring us our food when it came out.

Cons: Inattentive staff, Mediocre food

Posted 08/12/03

Good food. Bad service. Expensive meal. Great wine list if you have money to burn.

Pros: food

Cons: service

Posted 12/31/02

The waitstaff was friendly, helpful and attentive to our party of four. They were very gracious to two of our semi-invalid guests. There were at least three maitre d' holding doors open and seating us. The food - starting with Caesar salad (not table-made but interesting), polenta soup (tasty and unusual) and prosciutto and melon followed by petrale sole (excellent), roast pork (outstanding) and veal piccatta with warm zabiglione and creme caramel for desert - was as good as we've had in the bay area.

Pros: Food, Service, Valet Parking

Cons: Crowded

Posted 11/22/02

Althogh looking for a spot requires patence and luck. Just look forward for the main course. Its well worth the wait and the service is great. Dine if your in the mood for great itallian pasta dishes. I would definetly go there again.

Pros: Price, Portion, Food

Cons: Parking, Wait

Posted 10/18/02

I went with a large group of friends to North Beach Italian, and we shared dishes family-style. Each one was more delicious than the next...from the salads to the pasta and seafood. The atmosphere and location are prime, right in the heart of North Beach. A great option for a group of friends, espcially out-of-towners. Authentically Italian, authentically North Beach!

Pros: location, wine list

Posted 09/29/02

I love North Beach Restaurant for it's traditional Italian food. The waiters are excellent and the food is amazing!

Posted 09/29/02

Went on Saturday on a whim. Didn't have a reservation and waited about 45 minutes at the bar. The host wanted to be sure we were seated at a nice table. A glass of wine and great conversation helped to ease the hunger pains. Wine list is excellent!!! My entree wasn't as great. My fault though- I made a wrong selection choice.

Posted 07/14/02