Wow! Across the board..... My main San Francisco eatery. Hands down. I have never had a bad meal here and it's been many visits over the years. The fresh made pasta, salads, pizza, arancini, cocktails, dessert, and staff are bombdiggity! Awesome ambiance and one of the most fun neighborhoods in town with innovative retail shops, great shoe stores, bars, and cafés. Live music from opera, to world class Jazz. And of course the prestigious SF Ballet around the corner. I guess it's fair to say quite the hip hood. Please beware that parking is always a challenge if you don't want to park in an expensive garage. If the King of the World said that I had to choose one Italian restaurant to eat at in the San Francisco Bay area this is it. Update: And the hits just keep on coming! Another excellent lunch!!!!! read more

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Made reservations for dinner a few weeks in advance and everything was lovely. Located on a busy street, the restaurant is about a 10 min walk away from bart and I'd definitely recommend that. The ambience gives cozy and warm, but bustling. There were a few tables with little kids so it is family friendly or good for a date night.  Arancini (5/5) - this was SO good and the best dish of the night LOL. I love these little rice balls and the sauce is tomato-tangy, cheesy, and everything your heart could desire.  Rigatoni (4/5) - the pasta was cooked really well al dente and the lamb was seasoned well. This dish was heavy tho, and felt like it could've used a little freshness.  Tagliatelle alla Bolognese (3/5) - for this one, the pasta felt soggy and the dish was soupy.  Pistachio gelato (5/5) - I love pistachio gelato and this restaurant did it really well.  It's my second time here, and I would definitely come back for the ambience, but none of the dishes stand out to me to come back for the food. It's for sure, worth a try. They also have a good selection of wines. read more

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Came here with a friend for a cocktail; I got a tequila drink with elderflower and liked it. We shared a pasta sampler that included gnocchi and lasagna as well as a lighter noodle which I think is pappardelle. We also got a fish carpaccio (no foto) which was pretty tasty. Overall, the restaurant was slightly above casual, good for grabbing a quick drink, and fairly busy when we got there at 6pm. As an Italian I would say the food veered toward authentic, or at least above average for an American take on Italian food. The drinks were pretty strong. One cocktail was enough. read more

a Mano - MEATBALLS - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Cute Little dinner before heading over to listen to some jazz! Started off with one of the cocktails. So delicious and refreshing. For my main I grabbed the Tuscan kale salad! Very yummy and I love a kale that has the anchovies intact. I had one do the most delicious vermouth on ice! So much so that I had to go and find a bottle of it for home. Service was ok but food and drink were great! read more

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Super cute restaurant that's a balance of feeling like a nicer meal but not too fancy! I recommend making a reservation if possible because it was busy on Saturday night! The service was great, super quick and very attentive. Our favorites were cauliflower, the tuna crudo, gem salad and bolognese. The cocktails felt okay and I ended up ordering off menu. It seems like they are seasonal! read more

a Mano - Gem salad - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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TLDR: Fantastic quality, overpriced beverages. I visited on Saturday night for my birthday, which I was able to secure a reservation for about 8 hours earlier. I was greeted enthusiastically by a server, but our waiter didn't know much about the wines, which wasn't helpful. I did appreciate that we didn't feel rushed to finish and leave. I loved the creative combination of fresh clams, white wine, crunchy salty breadcrumbs and earthy broccolini in the spaghetti. The pasta had great chew and wasn't too soft. My husband ordered the rigatoni and enjoyed the tender short rib sauce it came in. We also enjoyed the margherita pizza, which had a thin, crunchy base and bright yes sweet tomato sauce. I did get a glass of prosecco, which was probably about 100ml. It was a tiny glass and not worth it. Overall I will probably return but skip the wine. read more

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Been here before for brunch and decided to come for dinner too. We tried the pasta flight to get a bit of variety (it is single portion per person). I did really enjoy the pesto, but as a vegetarian I took home the chicken option for someone else to enjoy. The lasagne was interesting, crunchy in texture, which wasn't my favourite. It was quite busy and loud for a weekday. Overall I think I wouldn't go for the pasta flight again, it was just ok to me and the portions were not that big. read more

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Came here for Saturday brunch. Started with the cauliflower. It was fresh, and the sauce had a nice saltiness to it. Got both the margherita and funghi pizzas. The margherita was fine but was a bit flat on flavor. The funghi had a rich, earthy mushroom flavor with a great amount of oil. Dessert was the Nutella sundae and it was genuinely one of the better desserts I've had in a while. Soft ice cream, sweet, and the mascarpone added the crunch. Didn't expect much and was pleasantly surprised. Outdoor seating was chill. Staff was attentive and friendly, kept the waters topped off. read more

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This little neighborhood cafe was bright and open. Our server was friendly and attentive. But the definite highlight is the food! Everything we ordered was very tasty and enjoyable. We can't wait to return. read more

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I tried to give a Mano another try after my last review and am done with it. We went for sf restaurant week and had booked a reservation specifically labeled as sf restaurant week but then we were told they weren't doing it. I saw another group have the same issue. We would have gone somewhere else that was doing a deal had we know. The service continues to not be good and you can get better Italian food elsewhere. read more

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Casual and relaxing vibes with tasty pizzas and refreshing drinks. Love the bright open air inside/outside feel of the place and the excellent service. read more

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Went here on Christmas Eve before the Gay Men's Chorus. Loved the lively vibe and festive spirit. Everything I had was just right for the evening. Citrus Marinated Castelvetrano Olives: I'm normally quite blasé when it comes to olives. However, these got my attention. The citrus peel tang did a great job complementing the olive bitterness. Surprisingly, I ended up being the person at the table who ate the most of these. Cauliflower: Nice marinated and browned. Way better than raw or stream cauliflower. Focaccia: Fluffy with slightly crispy edges. It was alright in the olive oil and vinegar, but amazing with the leftover marinara that came with the meatballs. Ricotta Meatballs: Pure comfort. Not fancy, but really hits the spot. Dense, meaty, nice sauce. Only issue is that the crostini was a bit too charred. Margherita Pizza w/ Prosciutto: Fresh dough, fresh sauce, fresh cheese. Hot out the oven. Way better than delivery. The prosciutto was thick and cooked slightly and added a hearty porky goodness. Tagliatelle: Was hoping this would have more red sauce. But what it lacked in tomato, it made up in delicious meat. Loved the fresh al dente pasta as a vehicle to enjoy this amazing sauce. Buttermilk Panna Cotta: The combination of rich milky panna cotta and citrusy marmalade was perfect. In a way, it's kinda like a bookended meal with citrus. read more

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A Mano is a super delicious Italian spot! we came for brunch on a Saturday, and everything was so flavorful and balanced. My favorite dishes were the cauliflower, the belfiore burrata salad, and the tagliatelle. The pistachio gelato was a good dessert to end off the meal. Also, a Mano is reasonably priced compared to other restaurants that serve similar things. read more

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From the service to the beautiful Italian food, a Mano has been knocking it out the park for years now. I finally ate here with a friend before a show! We decided to share the barata Salad with beets and a margarita pizza, accompanied by some nice small pours of Barbara wine to compliment our food. We also ordered pasta dish and shared everything making it plenty to share or eat separately. Ended the dinner with a tasty Cappuccino using Oakland's finest coffee bean, Mr. Espresso! This is a good spot to take a best friend, date night spot, classy dinner with SF and Italian vibes, and it's Hayes valley so you already know what to expect on the price. Ciao! read more

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Busy week night and it was packed. Glad we had a reservation. I did find that the tables were very small which made it really feel cramped. Appetizers were all delicious. I do wonder why they serve an order of three meatballs for two people. Never makes sense to me. Mushroom pizza was perfect. read more

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I loved the duck liver mousse here. Would just come back for the duck liver mousse. 5 stars for just the duck liver mousse! Besides that, the mushroom pizza was really good too. We also ordered a few different pastas, all were decent, but the one with ribs was not very flavorful. Overall though still really good food for a decently reasonable price. So 5 stars! read more

a Mano - DUCK MOUSSE - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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A very enjoyable dinner experience. I visited on a Sunday night, and it was absolutely packed. Luckily, there is plenty of seating both inside and outside, so my party of two was seated immediately. The interior is chic and modern. I love that you can see into the kitchen - it's really fun to see dishes being made. There was a lively atmosphere, with plenty of chatter. The service was unremarkable. It was understandably slow since there were so many customers. I only tried one dish here, and it was stellar. It was so good that I am itching to come back and try more food! I ordered the tagliatelle alla bolognese. The pasta was absolutely divine. It tasted so incredibly fresh, with a rich, eggy taste to each noodle. It was also cooked so well, with a slight chew. The noodles really stole the show, but the sauce was also memorable. The meat sauce was rich and savory, coating every noodle and making each bite taste so flavorful. This seems like a special occasion restaurant due to the steep prices. I enjoyed my meal so much and can't wait to visit again! read more

a Mano - Tagliatelle alla Bolognese - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Love it here! The vibes emulate an old fashioned pizza place with rustic classy decor! The service was great (the both times I've been). The clear out any plates you need to almost immediately. I don't remember music playing but it might've played lightly mixed in with the conversations folks were having. It is pretty tight when it comes to seating but walking wise, it seemed fine 9/10 focaccia. Sooo yummy and fluffy! I wish they put the olive oil and balsamic vinegar on a flatter dish because I was mostly getting oil at the beginning and then the strong balsamic vinegar only at the end. Wish there more pieces! 4/10 cod. It was a bit salty and rubbery :( but the beans and sauce were delicious. 9/10 pumpkin rigatoni. Oh I wish there were more than I can count! The sweetness of the pumpkin paired so nicely with the umami of the butter sauce! 10/10 espresso martini. There was an espresso martini in Hawaii that has been on top of my list and no espresso martini could come near it. THIS espresso martini was almost exactly like my favorite one. The richness of the espresso was present without the alcohol taking over. Loved it so much. The foam was also nice and thick! 3/10 Nutella sundae. Flavor lacking honestly. Both the ice cream and the chocolate sauce. Still enjoyed it but wish I got a different dessert. read more

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Service was excellent, but we were very disappointed with the food. The dishes lacked seasoning, and the cauliflower and arancini balls were dried out and tasteless. The marinara sauce on the pasta was so thin it tasted more like watery tomato juice. We rarely leave negative reviews, so we're hoping we just visited on an off day because we'd like to give it another chance. read more

I just had a pretty amazing dinner here at this restaurant. I specifically chose this restaurant because it was a 8 minute walk from my apartment. The spaghetti was amazing and the clams were excellent. Dessert was perfect too. The service was very friendly and the ambiance of the restaurant was very cool! I can see myself coming back here someday! I give them 5 stars read more

a Mano - Ice cream - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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What a delightful spot to have lunch. Today is a ridiculously hot day in SF and a margherita pizza and salad were the perfect two things to share. Both were delicious . I love the thin crust on the pizza and the topping was really good . Salad was good too with gem lettuce, radicchio, apple, currents. We sat indoors with AC but there is also lots of outdoor seating . Service was friendly and excellent. a Mano is also great on a cold or rainy day to have a bowl of their delicious pasta. This place had been a longtime favorite of mine for before or after the symphony. read more

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Contemporary Italian right in the heart of Hayes Valley - great for people-watching, daytime light bites, and adult libations. It's a popular spot be it indoors or the outdoor tables or parklets. The latter for a better feel for the vibe of the neighborhood. Like the duck liver mouse with crostini to start. Rich and fatty counterpointed by a tart compote. Kale salads good for sharing as are the variety of pizzas. Ask for seasonal specials. The tagliatelle with bolognese is a satisfying classic but right-sized so you're not bogged down. Less Italian nonna mangia mangia feels and more cocktails, wine, and snack vibes - a Mano makes upmarket casual Italian a popular people-watching sport. read more

a Mano - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The energy of the restaurant was good, lots of people but not too loud to where you can't hear the person you're talking to. The gem lettuce salad was delicious! But the rest of our food (pasta and pizza) was mediocre. read more

a Mano - SALSICCIA PIZZA (added egg) - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Food is five stars here: fresh pasta !!! with delicious just right sauce (not overwhelming, not too salt), delicious salad with real anchovies, always have good cocktails, grilled cauliflower. The interior is nice, so was the parklet (in Covid times). There's also a window for take outs, and bar where one can get a drink while waiting. The reason why it is not 5 stars because the tables without cloths look kind of old. Staff is friendly, but not always attentive, service is good but just not 5 stars yet. Nice people for sure. Their pasta should be six stars. Very popular in Hayes Valley. Usually has a wait but walk in actually possible. Did it a few times on week days. It's popular among locals. Impossible to park, like all restaurants in sf, uber / Lyft / Waymo here or walk here. Winter is cozy, summer is refreshing. A wonderful spot. Highly recommend their pasta. read more

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This place was packed on a Wednesday night so I'm glad I was able to book a table for 2 that same morning! Seated promptly but right at a pillar so the ambiance of the restaurant is a bit limited and it's not really a great spot tbh- you can get cramped there. despite being hidden by the pillar I did feel very seen by the staff and the service was great! We came for sf restaurant week and had: * butternut squash soup - yummy! Not as thick as I expected but paired great with the olive oil on top. * farro insalata - standard salad, it was fine but not outstanding * carnaroli risotto - felt a little over cheesed tbh, the parmigiana overwhelmed the entire dish * braised chicken leg cacciatora - chicken was very tender and fell right off the bone and tomatos were very juicy but the dish overall felt a little salty. * pear sorbet - incredible!!! The texture of this was like ice cream and it tasted so fresh Overall I could see this being a nice spot to go out to dinner for but didn't love my table nor the food a ton. I'll likely come again and try different dishes. read more

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Outside seating with heaters was nice, good vibes to catch up with friends. Came during restaurant week menu and ordered the items that aren't normally on the standard menu. - radicchio salad: good, basic vinaigrette with farro, goat cheese and dried cranberries which i enjoyed that they were more hydrated - chicken cacciatore: thigh part of chicken was a little dry, otherwise flavor was not bad, enjoyed the olives and tomato base - olive oil cake: the cake itself was quite dry and dense, the creme on top saved the whole thing read more

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Recently celebrated one of my coworker friend's retirement at this restaurant. We came here for lunch. She had never been here before and was very impressed by the food. As usual, I love their pesto pasta and the panna cotta dessert. She loved the pizza. I think this is a great place for celebrations, business lunches and or dates. Located on Hayes between Octavia and Gough. Across the street from Patricia's Green. read more

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I recently visited a Mano for the first time in a couple months, and noticed some minor changes I am not a big fan of. First, the focaccia used to come with an olive tapenade (more of a spreadable paste) and now it comes with an evoo/vinegar dipping sauce, HUGE downgrade in my opinion. Second, the bucatini no longer comes with pancetta, which I thought added the perfect touch to the dish. I did try the squash ravioli this time around, and thought it was amazing. Hoping my favorites come back, but definitely happy to try new things. read more

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I came here for dinner on a weekday and it was one of the only places on the street which was open late so very convenient. Menu is pretty big, I got the cannelloni. It was okay, the texture was interesting so not sure if I'd get it again. The crispy potatoes were not that crispy and too thick in my opinion. There's lots of seating and the service was nice and fast too. I think I'd come back and try something else next time. read more

a Mano - CANNELLONI - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Went to a Mano for a date night. It was a cute experience and we loved our server. We ordered the bread as an appetizer, it was okay the olive oil to balsamic vinegar ratio wasn't ideal cause of the dish it was served in. We got the margarita pizza with meat and arugula per the recommendation of our server and we loved it. We also got the bolognese and it was just okay. I really liked a Mano's chili oil and would recommend having it with the pizza. The drinks were also solid. Overall, very good experience! I'd go again but would stick to the drinks and pizza. read more

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Came in on a Saturday evening at 5pm without any reservations. Thankfully they were able to accommodate our party of 4 with a table outside. Heard great things about the pasta and pizza here and I'd give it a solid 8/10 overall. The servers were all attentive and very friendly. We ordered some tequila shots since we were celebrating the bfs birthday and they were massive shots (10/10). Ended with some dessert. The pistachio gelato and chocolate budino with crema were both delicious. I'd definitely come back! read more

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This spot is rlly cute and great ambiance. Service was good. I think the food was average. The duck liver mousse was the best! read more

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My trip here started out like it was gonna be a good day. Walking around Hayes valley looking at shops and encountering this restaurant where the pizza drew us in. Start of the meal was going pretty well. They took our order and our food came fairly quick mainly cause the restaurant was kinda slow. However service kind of took a dip when we started getting ready to pay. I won't knock them too much because of it I was just more thrown off because l was full and ready to go home. I do recommend this place because all the food and the drinks were super delicious and it's the perfect restaurant to people watch with outdoor seating or if you wanna sit inside you can observe through the windows read more

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Location is great as it's walking distance from SF Symphony. Outside seating was great with the heaters above our table on a chilly night. We ordered the spaghetti, a rotini, ravioli and 2 pizzas. Pastas were a solid 4; pizzas just so/so at 3. We had also ordered the kale salad which could have used more anchovies and more Parmesan. Maybe my expectation was too much, but no one came with fresh pepper mill, nor extra Parmesan to grate tableside. Also, they do not put any bread on the table to sop up sauce. Maybe I expect too much... read more

Came in on a Wednesday night as a group of 3 and were seated right away. Seating is either family style/communal or just very close together got four top tables. The restaurant itself has great overall ambiance. The food underwhelmed me. Foccacia was alright to start. Burrata did not taste as fresh as it should. And for mains: DO NOT GET THE ROCK COD. I have never EVER been so put off by a dish in my life. The fish comes absolutely drenched in oil and is sitting a top a bed of oil. The salsiccia pizza is good and the bucatini diavolo is fine. read more

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a Mano is a really nice spot... Food is excellent Meatballs are amazing, seafood pasta is generous, and the cauliflower with lemony garlic sauce is to die for. Outdoor seating is super nice in warmer months. Service is always good, staff are friendly, and the chefs really know their stuff. Fridays to Sundays can be packed because of SF Jazz and the Opera, so better to come during the week. Lunch or dinner, it's definitely a solid choice! Highly recommend. read more

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Maybe it's because I don't really value Italian food, but I've lived in the neighborhood for many years and have only been here three times, and that's mostly because my friends wanted to go rather than me actively choosing it. Each time I've been, the food was fine and the flavors were solid, but I can't help feeling like the portions are a bit small for what you end up paying, which makes it feel expensive compared to other options in the area. The service has been okay and the atmosphere is pleasant enough but it doesn't wow me in any particular way. I often leave wishing I had gone somewhere else that offered a better balance of value and satisfaction. Overall, it's decent if you're in the mood for Italian and don't mind paying a bit more, but I don't see myself seeking it out on my own or making it a regular stop despite being a local. read more

Been to a Mano several times and ultimately it's fine. Doesn't blow me away but it's decent and good if you're in the area already. The service is friendly which is a plus. The food is just a bit average. Our carpaccio also wasn't the freshest last time we ate here. read more

Nice date spot! Went on a Wednesday around 7pm and got a table for two outside immediately. Would recommend reservation if you want to eat inside. Focaccia - pretty good! Thought it was a standard focaccia. Brentwood corn ravioli - so summery! I really enjoyed the sweetness of the corn. Cannelloni - the star for me was the ricotta inside. The crunch of the cannelloni combined with the softness of the cheese was lovely. Service was really sweet! Our waitress was so nice and made sure we were good throughout the dinner. Overall, it is a bit on the pricier side for the amount of food you get - but still very delicious! read more

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The pizza with roasted brussels sprouts, shallot, pancetta, stracciatella was delicious. Such a well layered flavorful pizza with thoughtful and hearty . I matched this with a Gem lettuce, radichio, apples, balsamic, ricotta salata. On a lovely winter lunch day with sun coming in it was the perfect meal . I tried the pistachio gelato which was absolute perfection. The service was attentive and the setting is a nice elegant casual restaurant of casual to well dressed diners and a popular meeting place . read more

a Mano - Pizza with roasted brussels sprouts, shallot, pancetta, stracciatella - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California