Restaurants, Seafood Restaurants
$, Family-Friendly Dining, Group Dining, Romantic Dining, Special Occasion Dining
Ristorante Marcello has been serving authentic Italian cuisines since 1978 in the Sunset District. Menu items from the Tuscany region emphasize seafood platters and notable meat entrees. Homemade pastas are prepared fresh daily. Ristorante Marcello offers an extensive wine list, including Californian and Italian wines.
Go here and you'll actually find Sanka in the menu. Sounds pretty funny by today's standards, but you have to understand that Marcello's marches to their own beat.
Come to think about it, my grandma used to drink instant coffee with her afternoon snack. She's about the age of the people who go to Marcellos, and I think this is because during war time, there just wasn't enough time to be brewing coffee and waiting for proper temperature and all that. That's my guess, at least.
Nevertheless, this place is a gem. You must see it and taste the truly fabulous food.
Last time my husband and I went there, we were told by the waiter "Here's the eggplant parmigiana, which isn't made with eggs, and the sweetbreads, which isn't sweet. Funny, isn't it?"
That's the style at Marcellos. You're family when you go here, and we wouldn't want it any other way.
Posted 10/23/09 | Report Abuse
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Always satisfied with the good food, although long waits on Friday night sometimes when you have no reservation. Parking isn't always easy too so I just order take out and it is always great.
They never scrimp just because it's for to go.
Posted 09/22/09 | Report Abuse
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Quiet and low key restaurant with Italian style food. The price is too high for the quality of food, but the ambiance is nice. The servers do not come around that often.
Posted 09/07/08 | Report Abuse
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They never scrimp just because it's for to go.
by NicoleG
Always satisfied with the good food, although long waits on Friday night sometimes when you have no reservation. Parking isn't always easy too so I just order take out and it is always great.
They never scrimp just because it's for to go.
Posted 09/10/09
Go for the Pasta
by allielivezey
Get the carbonara or matriciana--you can't go wrong. Their minestrone soup is also delicious. The portions might be large, but the upside is that you will have totally delectable leftovers for weeks. (The pasta is totally freezable--just thaw overnight and add some water when re-heating.) It's the best pasta outside of Italy I've EVER had.
Pros: Best Pasta in Town
Cons: Extremely large portions for ladies
Posted 04/01/09
You guys are great!
by rached
Ah yes, Marcellos! The old standby at Taraval street. Went here last weekend in the middle of the drenching rain. As usual, a warm greeting from Marcello himself. The waiters all know my boyfriend. It's like coming home to family. I can't say enough about this restaurant.
They one of the last ones brave enough to have chicken livers, or sauteed sweetbreads in the menu. Oh wait a stinking minute, I did I mention the Sanka? They have that on the menu too.
I think they definitely serve whatever pleases them, and good for them too! You go! The food is good. The salads are specially yummy. You guys are great!
Posted 02/23/09
Excellent local SF restaurant
by sfnaative
This is a hidden gem in the sunset. Great food, reasonable prices, great friendly staff. Try it you won't be disappointed
Posted 12/13/08
Mushroom friendly!
by vbigman
My wife found this local spot on citysearch and since I love italian food we decided to try it> The service was just fabulous, the waiter explained everything on the menu to us and did an excellent job of making us feel right at home. The menu has a mushroom on the back and it turns out the owner of the place goes up to the moutains occasionally to find the largest and most flavorful wild mushrooms around. We really enjoyed ourselves and think this place is something special. We highly recommend it!!
Posted 03/18/07
Great Old Place
by srksmith
On our visit to this restaurant we were pleasantly surprised. The place doesn't look like much from the outside, (or the inside) but we had a great dinner. The Veal Marcello and Chicken Dore was perfect. The house salad and dressing was delicious. The place is full of regulars who seem to know the waitstaff very well. The waitstaff was hilarious and very attentive. They really made us feel at home.
Pros: food, waitstaff
Cons: decor, lighting
Posted 04/22/06
surprise
by sangeld
My husband & I have been driving by this place for a couple years and were honestly weary of the dreary outdoor exterior. The other night we were craving italian and decided to give it a shot. We were pleasantly surprised to find a white table-clothed, tuxedo wait-staff, large rounded old-shool bar and loud italian opera restaurant awaiting us. The night was incredible - GREAT food, nice pinot grigio and friendly service. The minestrone was tasty as were our main courses. It is my favorite local place to eat!
Pros: sauces, wine, minestrone
Posted 11/24/02
Long Time Favorite
by Hermia
Marcello's has been a long time favorite of mine since I was in High school in SF. The chicken "ferri" is to die for and the house salad dressing is wonderful.
Pros: The food, The Service, The Food!
Cons: Closed Mondays
Posted 10/01/02
