Trattoria Contadina

We've loved this place for many years. It's a great location-you can watch the cable cars go by as you dine-just a block or so off Washington Square.
The food is rich and hearty, just what you hope for in a trattoria, and there is a credible wine list (we opt for the Italian wines here which are reasonably priced and work with the foods).
Service is always friendly and you are made to feel welcome.

Posted 07/28/08

Wife and I went to SF for our honeymoon. Concierge recommended this restaurant, and after eating here took every recommendation they had. Best lasagna i've ever had. Wife is wanting to go back for our 5 yr anniversary. Wine list took a good 5 minutes to make up my mind.

Pros: Location, food, wine

Cons: cons?? what cons?

Posted 01/20/08

Found this on citysearch and recommended by hotel. Glad we took the chance. Home-made gnocchi and Italian meatballs with/linguini were excellent. Service was friendly. Place was crowded and loud but right off the cable car. Will visit again next time we go to SF.

Pros: great food and value

Posted 09/26/07

This is a great out-of-the-way spot so it avoids tourists on the weekend who are often crowding the streets just a few blocks away. Every pasta dish I've had here is amazing, and the waitstaff is kind and accomodating. Be warned there isn't much of a bar however so if you have to wait you may have to do so outside.

Pros: Great food, authentic, fun atmosphere

Cons: Crowded, no bar

Posted 11/16/06

I have never been disappointed with the food here. All of the pasta dishes are outstanding and the sauce is always fresh. The gnocchi is delicious and the specials are always tasty. The place is a little crowded and can get a little warm but it's very cozy and conveniently located to North Beach for a fun night out.

Pros: Authentic Italian Food, cozy atmosphere

Cons: Parking, restaurant can be warm

Posted 10/27/06

I've been dining here for the past 3 years and it has never been anything but great! I've gone here with girlfriends, on dates, with coworkers - it is the perfect atmosphere for dining with all sorts of company. The stuffed peppers are amazing, but super rich with all the cheese and sauce. Bigger than normal portions, rich flavors, and attentive service make this a place you can really get your money's worth. One of my favorites!

Pros: Ambiance, Italian food

Cons: Usually crowded, no area to wait for a table

Posted 10/19/06

Just ate here for the first time - loved it. The salads were delish, I had the clam & mussel appetizer for my entree - so good. It had the perfect amount of garlic & spice (if you don't like a lot of spice ask them to go easy on the red pepper flakes - I personally loved it). Two people had the Fettucine w/clams & prawns - so perfect & lemony. Another had a rigatoni w/pancetta, mushrooms, capers & some other stuff. It was really good. Wine list had a good selection. Wish they had a full bar but apparently that is coming soon. Service was also good. We were first seated upstairs but it was hot & stuffy - asked to be moved downstairs and they moved us with no fuss. Great place - will definitely be back.

Pros: Food

Cons: Parking (North Beach - ugh)

Posted 07/29/06

I have NEVER been disappointed with a meal here, in the six or seven years I have patronized Trattoria. We have had countless birthday celebration dinners here, once up to 30 people in the upstairs room, and for good reason! One of the best carpaccio di Manzo I have had so far, the filet mignon is always fragrant. The Pepperoni arrostiti con formaggio is such a comfort food for me, even though I'm not Italian and cheese is usually the last thing on my ethinc background's culinary list! Sweet bell peppers draped with three different cheeses are roasted in the oven to release their aroma beautifully, topped with a lusciously spicy tomato cream sauce.

The Pollo al Limone has the most wonderful lemon-caper-butter sauce- I prefer them to serve it alongside pasta. Vitello Scallopine is tender, flavourful and the marsala sauce is a delicious marriage of mushrooms, wine and seasonings. The Fusilli Pavarotti is a long standing favorite of years and years of dining here: the sun-dried tomatoes, proscuitto, chicken an zucchini all blooming together in a delicately creamy sauce.

You should come here, not just for the food, but for the segment of San Francisco history and charm too; look at all the autographed pictures on the wall (the Blue Angels dine there every year), enjoy the local charm of a cable car stopping outside the door. Just keep in mind the establishment is small, so you will leave the restaurant smelling like food.

Pros: Great food, fantastic service

Cons: leaves you smelling like the kitchen

Posted 06/12/06

Tratoria Contadina has incredible food and a great neighborhood atmosphere - away from all of the tourists. Their pastas are fantastic and their wine list is also very good. It is a small place but there is a larger room in the back that is ideal for private parties or larger groups.

Pros: food, walkability, away from tourists

Cons: parking, old school decor

Posted 06/05/06

My friends and I love coming here because it's good Italian food without all the fluff. It's not fine dining, but it's not a ma/pa restaurant either. The service is always wonderful and my favorite dish is the Frutti Di Mare!

Pros: food, service, prices

Cons: parking

Posted 04/25/06

The other people who wrote positive reviews of this place obviously know nothing about italian food. Overly sauced, giant plates of tired italian american slop is pretty much the standard here. For example we had the porcini ravioli, which was enormous and swimming in excessively rich cream sauce, absolutely no finesse. The food here- predictable, not seasonal, and mediocre ingredients, is everything good italian food isn't.

Pros: space

Cons: food

Posted 04/15/06

I always like going to this restaurant. I dont like the parking situation, or the crowds, or even how hard it is to get the right resevration, but I love the food, service, and value. There are so many good Italian rstaurants in the area, but they are always the first I think of. If you haven't been there, give it a shot. Good for dates. I like sitting upstairs.
PS: I don't work there, own the place, or get any special treatment there at all.

Posted 04/06/06

This place has a great neighborhood location, and friendly and professional service. Restaurant is small, tables a bit close together but has a nice balance of quaint, colorful, cozy, festive and elegant. Wine list is fairly priced and waiter was kind enough to recommend some less expensive ones without an attitude. The food is fresh and preparation is good although not noticeably unique. Pan-seared halibut had nice flavor but could've been cooked hotter and faster. Veal w/ prosciutto & mozzarella was pleasant with tomato and marsala although maybe a tad bland. Some say this place used to be awesome and lost something over the years. The prices are pretty reasonable and I really want to like this place so I may come back, at least for the good service.

Pros: Ambiance, Service, Good value

Posted 02/14/06

We loved this restaurant. The food was plentiful and fantastic. We got very personal service.

Posted 02/14/06

I have eaten here several times over the years. The food and atmosphere are always great. This time the service was a little non-attentative. But the food outweighs the service. Great chicken dishes and nice portions.

Pros: Food is Great, Atmosphere, location

Cons: service

Posted 02/08/06

Authentic Italian dishes, very good taste. Small restaurant so if you have a large party be prepared to sit in cramped conditions. Wine list was extensive tiramisu was delicious & is homemade. I highly recommend the Chicken Piccatta as well as the Veal Marsala. My BF got the Ravioli alla Salvatore said it was fantastic! presentation isn't ALL THAT but the taste makes up for that 10 times over. Service was proficient, attentive & friendly.

It was raining the night we came & our table was right near the door so it was quite cold had to leave my jacket on the entire time.

Pros: Food, Service, Wine Selection

Cons: tables near doors, small bar area, tight seating

Posted 01/02/06

The upstairs room is really hot but other than that, we had a great meal! Especially recommend the red-pepper ravioli and a bottle of the foppiano petite syrah. Waiters were a little over-bearing but we will definitely be back many times!

Pros: Great food, Extensive wine list

Cons: Hot upstairs, Noisy

Posted 09/19/05

This place used to be great. I don't know what happened. I swear they used to have some of the best sauces around, but I've gotten cold plates of bland sauce with overcooked pasta one too many times lately at TC and have given up. I brought someone there on a date and was embarrased when she got chicken that was overcooked on the outside and undercooked inside.

The quality of the service has also dropped. Waiters used to be attentive and friendly, and now they barely have a pulse ...

I'm sorry that this happened to my nice little Italian restaurant. I'm currently looking for a good replacement.

Pros: used to be good

Cons: not good anymore

Posted 07/14/05

The staff and manager make you feel welcomed there. The carppacio is to die for. Pastas as well as entrees are above average and the wine list is impressive and affordable.

Pros: Excellent service, Great food, Homy atmosphere

Cons: Proximity to parking, A littl cramped

Posted 06/11/05

Good italian, in a very cosy setting. Service was quick and efficient. We were there Sunday night and the restaurant was full - reservations recommended. Both our pasta dishes were very good - though not very creative, basic italian cooking, fresh ingredients. It's much better than most of the tourist-trap italian places on North Beach. There was one thing we were a bit disappointed about - the mozzarella di buffala salad was quite average, it was not the real mozzarella di buffala (or at least, not quite the quality you expect in a good restaurant). The dessert was excellent though, we had the homemade tiramisu. Overall, very nice experience if you're in the neighborhood. We'll go there again.

Posted 05/08/05

I have been going to this place for years and it just does not get any better. The service is great and the food even better. The pepper is the best starter and what a great spinach salad. I have never been disappointed. It's a great place for locals and it's a little bit away from all the touristy spots. The service is so great from the beautiful girl that works the door to the waiters that never miss a step. I take my guests here all the time and they always enjoy themselves.

Pros: great service, amazing food

Cons: none

Posted 04/04/05

My husband took me to Trattoria Contadina on my birthday. It is a wonderful little restaurant with fanastic food. The ambience was delightful, very romantic. The portions were large, the wine was great, the atmosphere was quaint, and the food was absolutely fantastic, and the servers were wonderful. Thank you Citysearch for making my birthday dinner a memorable one.

Posted 02/21/05

This has always been a favorite restaurant of mine, before this last visit. It was so different from before I even inquired to see if there had been a change of ownership. The waiter actually was not sure. The place was not packed, as I was accustomed to, but I thought that would be nice. The service was OK. The food was the same menu, but the kitchen seems to have forgotten how to cook. It was over condimented. Hopefully this was just a bad night. Not sure if I will risk going back.

Posted 12/16/04

Atmosphere was fantastic - very friendly and cozy (tables very close together) - this is definitely not the place to go if you want a quiet dinner for two since you usually end up chatting with your neighbour! Food was superb - homemade italian ... like you were in someone's Italian grandmother's home. Staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommended.

Pros: High quality food, Atmosphere, Good staff

Posted 12/05/04

This place is teeny tiny, but sooo worth the advance reservations. The wine and food is absolutely fabulous and although my boyfriend and I hardly repeat restaurants in the city, we are definitely coming back here!

Pros: good food, good wine

Posted 07/14/04

one of the hostesses was way too busy entertaining a vendor that she could not be bothered to seat us, hellooooo? she's in the service industry and couldn't even manage a smile. the waiter was just as professional, instead of saying "excuse me, can you please repeat that?" he said, "WHAT? CAN'T HEAR YOU!" forgot to bring the soup before the entree and didn't even apologize. the only saving grace was the busboy. the food was plentiful but lacked flavor, very dissapointing evening to say the least.

Cons: , staff

Posted 06/07/04

This was a great place to dine! The service was excellent, food was mouth watering and wine was delicious. Make reservations though. You may have to wait if you don't have reservations, but it was well worth our wait. It was just a wonderful place to dine in town. The bartender was wonderful and she gave us some good places to go while we are in town. This is a small place and the ambiance isn't there, but the aroma in the restaurant is just an appetizer before the meal! Go there and enjoy!!!

Pros: Excellent food, Good service, Helpful staff

Cons: Get reservations

Posted 01/01/04

I have been here twice now and both times have had less than friendly service. The waiters are a bit cold and give off the impression that they are being lowered to serve you. I would just like the courtesy of being asked if I am finished with my plate before taking it away. Other than this attitude issue, the food has always been excellent and the place just smells incredible as you walk in the door. Please provide your wait staff with a lesson on customer service to make this place a 10!

Pros: Excellent food, Consistently good

Cons: Rude Service

Posted 10/30/03

I had high expectations going in, based on what friends had told me, and was not disappointed. The food is excellent. The bruchetta and stuffed pepper appetizers are great. The entrees are equally good. I have tasted at least 10 dishes and have been impressed with all of them - with gnocchi, rigatoni, and tortollini the tops.

I enjoy the atmosphere, which is lively in this crowded and loud space. It is pretty small so be prepared to wait even with reservations. This place is better with every visit, which I don't often say. The service was great on my last 2 visits. I would not recommend a party larger than 6 or 7. I will continue to go back to this North Beach gem.

Posted 10/05/03

Everything about this place was great! We had a good-size group (11) meet for a surprise party and everything turned out wonderful- good food, friendly service and excellent prices for the quality (and amount) of food! They even noted that we were going out to a concert that night and made sure we were done on time - I would definently recommend this to anyone looking for a tasty and fun North Beach restaurant. Plus, those who drove in had no compliants about parking and we thought it was great being right on the cable car line. We will be back!

Pros: Excellent food, friendly service , fun atmosphere

Posted 10/04/03

This was my first time at the Trattoria Contadina, and with the exception of the obnoxious, rude, arrogant people from Glaceu Water, "Smart Water", We had a great time! The FOOD WAS TOP NOTCH and plentiful to say the least! Our waiter, Doniel was a great help, and a very personable fellow. Even though he had to deal with the obnoxious people from Glaceu, he kept his calm and was very proffesional. At one point I almost got up to complain to the manager about how rude the table was not only to the waiter but to the rest of the restaraunt, with their profain conversations, and their petty attempt at trying to have class.
Overall The Trattoria Contadina is my #01 pick for dining in North Beach.
P.s. I will never drink Glaceu water again after last night.

Pros: GREAT SERVICE, EXCELLENT FOOD, GREAT WINE LIST

Posted 08/18/03

We were greeted at the door by name, the service impeccable, the food absolutely delicious! Relatively inexpensive, but an incredible S.F. experience. We were in town for a week and dined here 2x rather than explore-it was the best!!!

Pros: Food, Value, Service

Cons: none

Posted 07/13/03

Whenever we crave Italian in SF, it's got to be Trattoria Contadina. The food is delicious, with something unique to choose from on the specials menu each time. There is some hesitance to recommend this restaurant only because I want to keep it all to myself! Plus, we've met some of our best friends at the next table.

Pros: Ravioli Correnti, reliable waiters

Posted 06/11/03

This may not be the most obvious or spontaneous choice (just as well, since reservations are strongly recommended!) for most people visiting NB, since it's set away from the Broadway-Columbus bustle, but it well worth going out of the way for!
The 'Pepperoni Arrostiti con Formaggio' (Roasted peppers stuffed with cheese in a tomato cream sauce), and the red bell pepper ravioli (forgot the name, sorry) were outstanding!
Service was very attentive, and the venue itself is charming and cozy.
Parking can be a pain - a word of advice, head north, not south, of the restaurant for better street parking.

Pros: great food, attentive service

Cons: parking

Posted 05/06/03

The pasta was flavorful and the portions were generous. The menu is extensive and full of non-pasta and vegetarian dishes. The prices were reasonable and the service was decent. The cons were that parking is IMPOSSIBLE to find and that even if you want to park in a garage ($15) they're full. If you go on a weekend leave ample time to find parking. Also, the place is packed and good luck if you want to use the bathroom. There's only one for both sexes (nasty). Bottom line, just go for the food but don't expect much else.

Pros: Price, Portions, Taste

Cons: Crowded & Noisy, Parking, One Bathroom

Posted 04/05/03

After spending time in Italy, I was pleased to find an authentic Italian restaurant here in San Francisco. The food is creative and delicious, without the over-sized plates of soupy pasta that you find in many Italian restaurants. The service was friendly and efficient and the atmosphere was romantic and cozy. The tomato cream sauce with the vegetable ravioli is heavenly. I cannot wait to dine there again soon!

Pros: Delicious, Authentic, Cozy

Posted 01/17/03

Trattoria Contadina is way better than the tourist trap restaurants on Columbus. The service is warm and everyone wants to make you feel like family. The pasta selection is huge and prices reasonable ($12-17).

Posted 01/08/03

If you're visiting North Beach and want to go where locals actually eat Italian, this is the place...also popular with SF Giants baseball players. Food is very good though not perfect every time (got almost cold ravioli once).

Posted 01/04/03

Some of the tastiest beef carpacio I've ever had. Still talking about the food nearly 6 years later. Don't miss Contadina.

Pros: Delicious, Carpaccio, Fresh

Cons: Weekend Crowds

Posted 12/10/02

Having travelled through Italy for a year, this place was less than average for Italian food. Extremely crowded and loud.

Cons: Crowded

Posted 09/12/02

The food and ambiance here is excellent. Try the gnocchi and the ceasar salad. The service is friendly and they are very accommodating with getting you a table as fast as possible. It's also very affordable for the quality of food that you get.

Posted 08/27/02

I love this place, I wish I lived in the neighborhood so that I could come here all the time. The food, service, and the great feel I have when am there is the best. This place has become my center when I come to the city. I never tire of there bolognese, and the stuffed peppers. WOW...

Pros: Service, Great Food, Cable Car Accessible

Cons: Bad Parking, Tables to close, Noisy

Posted 08/25/02

The food here is excellent- I have not ordered something that I didn't crave later. The service, also excellent, really make you feel special. However, if you are even a bit claustrophobic, you might want to stay away. But, if you like quaint San Francisco restaurants, and love a big plate of gnocchi- this place is perfect!

Posted 08/19/02

i finally tried the resturant that all my friends have been raving about...
it exceeded all expectations...
my vegan girlfriend loved
the red bell pepper appetizer, and she even tried my veal marsala, she said it smelled that good!
thank you Trattoria Contadina, i don't have to be vegitarian sensitive anymore...

Posted 08/09/02

This is my favorite Italian Restaurant in the City and Bay Area! It is Warm; Friendly; Inviting; a Wonderful little Bistro style restaurant that has the Charm and Ambience of what it would like to be dining in Italy. This Family owned restaurant is a long time favorite of locals and; visitors a like. Ask any Concierge; and they will tell You that this a Favorite Spot to recommend to Out of Towners.

Cons: New Bathroom, No Parking

Posted 08/06/02

This trattoria was recommended by friends. We dined there for my birthday 2 years ago and it was wonderful. We have returned several times since then, making the 100+ mile trip because we love it so much. After spending an evening there, we felt like long lost family and every time we have been back since, we are greeted with hugs and a warm welcome. We love the food and the feeling we get when we are there. Have the warm apertif made with Italian liquore and you'll leave feeling like mom just tucked you into bed! The only problem with this place is that we don't want to try any new Italian restaurants!

Pros: Consistent, Food variety, great wait staff

Cons: Cramped tables, Terrible parking

Posted 07/31/02

I love this restaurant. The food is excellent and the service is good too. Make sure you make reservations on the weekends. We have taken several out of town guests out for dinner at Trattoria and it is always a big hit!

Posted 07/27/02

The best food in San Fran. We had such a great experience, we tried to get reservations the next night as well. Highly recommended.

Posted 07/19/02