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    American Bites

    4.7 (125 reviews)
    ModerateBars
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    AMERICAN BITES ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Romantic
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - American Bites

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    Ed U.

    Gee, I wasn't even aware that Bocce Cafe closed as it struck me as one of those old school, Italian eateries that was part of the North Beach firmament. I kinda remember dining there because a lot of those ristorantes and trattorias melted together in my memory. That's probably why I didn't have strong feelings one way or the other as I entered this familiar out-of-the-way space on Green. I just knew from the mural shots of Satchmo, Marilyn, and Elvis on the outside wall that this wasn't going to be a gondola ride in Venice (photo: https://bit.ly/3gMFh0D). I walked the long decorated alley to find their back patio dining area pretty well occupied (photo: https://bit.ly/3gPzs2m). The interior of the restaurant was cavernous, but it wasn't being used due to COVID. All their customers were on the patio, including an older European woman conducting dance lessons for several people. Social distancing became a challenge for them since they covered the entire open area, but I was able to maintain my composure at the small table where I was seated. I decided to start with their $12 Caesar Salad (photo: https://bit.ly/3JzPWI3). It was a classic rendition with Spanish anchovies, parmigiana reggiano, Acme croutons, and fried capers. It was delicious and not overly creamy. I followed that up with the $16 Garlicky Prawns, a simply executed dish with six plump prawns bathing in garlic, parsley, and lemon juice and the Acme croutons made a welcome reappearance (photo: https://bit.ly/3HTp8T1). Satisfying fare indeed, and while a good portion of the menu was Italian, they also offered tacos, burgers, pork ribs,and French dip sandwiches. I guess they weren't kidding about serving American bites. FOOD - 4 stars...a strong Caesar and plump prawns AMBIANCE - 4 stars...tucked away in its own private space with a big patio, dancing not required SERVICE - 4 stars...very attentive TOTAL - 4 stars...broader American-style eats don't seem to compromise the Italian part of the menu RELATED - Exploring North Beach? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2X34Mji

    Marco
    Jenny L.

    I had an amazing time here, food was reasonably priced, staff was so warm and welcoming. The best part of the experience is having Marco the cat sit next to me the whole time. Of course if you're not into cats they will move it away. Marco is the friendliest cat ever! Btw it's located in an alley. It's like a hole in the wall. Ambience 5/5: Large, spacious, high ceiling, feels like being in a mini castle dining room. Warm lights, but not too dim. Even though it looks elegant it does give a comfy vibe since there's like a long bar table and the bar when you walk right in. Food 4/5: Big portion, I especially like the clam chowder, they pour the cream separately, the clams were meaty and fresh. It has its own twist, be sure to mix it. The bone marrow has three and the price is very reasonable. It was so delicious. Seafood pasta was good in portion size, no complains about taste. Chicken wings however I need to minus a star, mine came out warm... taste was good but the temperature missed it for me, and even those they give a lot and it's not dry it's very small flat wings. So theres room for improvement. Drinks 5/5: Me and my friend had the Chardonnay and the sauvignon blanc, it was delicious, smelled great, and it wasn't acidic or had a bad after taste. So great wine selection with a cheap price. Impressed Also our server made us one of the best espresso martini ever :) Service 5/5: Excellent service, everyone was very nice and considerate, Marco the cat gave me great service by sitting with me almost the entire time letting me pet him and hold his hand. Staff was friendly since the step we checked in. They carry a great hospitality vibe. Recommendation 5/5: I'm coming back for Marco and the espresso martinis and bone marrow. Great experience and this place opens late I recommend everyone to go check it out.

    House Special Fresh Clam Chowder Soup, AB's Signature Pasta & Garlicky Fries
    Anny L.

    Saw great reviews for American Bites on yelp and managed to snatch a reservation for prime time dinner on the weekend. The restaurant was a bit hidden and we were confused if we went to the right spot but thankfully the valet gave us directions. Inside the restaurant, it was red and dark. Definitely a very interesting vibe. They had a huge bar and another area for dining in. We ordered the clam chowder special, garlicky fries and their signature pasta. The clam chowder was more liquidity than I'm used to but a plus with the fresh clams! The pasta was just alright and the garlicky fries could be crispier. Overall, we had a good dining experience because of the great service but the food was underwhelming.

    Afshin A.

    A welcome new option! American Bites is a new restaurant and bar in the North Beach district of San Francisco. For those of you who are familiar with North Beach, it is located where Bocce Cafe was. American Bites was to open its doors before San Francisco went into the COVID shelter-in-place mode. The interior is very spacy, warm and welcoming. They also have a seating area in the back yard. The bar is long with plenty of seats. There are a number of TV screens around for those who care to watch sports. The crew is very welcoming and friendly and very eager to make your visit a pleasant one. The menu is mostly the familiar to those who frequent sports bars, except the quality is far superior to that of most sports bars. The burgers and fries are are the only items I have tried off their menu and they were superb. The owners are the same as, or affiliated with, the owners of Maykadeh, the restaurant adjacent to American Bites, so during our last visit we ordered a meal off Maykadeh menu! Their website is not fully developed yet, so you will not see the entire menu online. I should also mention that they do have Salsa dancing on Thursdays. I was told that there are a couple of other dance nights every week, but I do not recall the details. So good beer and drinks, good food and good music, what else one needs?!

    And Coco the cat greeted me so I offered her an orange rose.
    Yasaman Ataie A.

    I had the best burger at American Bites!!! It was served in fresh Acme bread with a big chunk of grilled onion. It was super delicious!!! I highly recommend everyone to try it. And coco the cat greeted me and gave her an orange rose.

    Espresso Martini
    Melodie K.

    If you're looking for the perfect espresso martini in SF, you've come to the right place! It wasn't too sweet and the vodka wasn't over-powering. Not only are the drinks delicious, but the staff is beyond friendly! The owners Mike and Ali were so kind and made sure I was happy with my order. My friends and I ended up grabbing a few more drinks here instead of going to another bar. 10/10 would recommend!

    Christine F.

    The entrance is interesting. We missed it at first but eventually found our way thanks to the valet guy. Walking in I noticed a huge, open floor plan. The physical space gives off former club vibes. They have many different sections to be seated in. The decor is nice, very red. The menu is kind of all over the place - tacos, burgers, seafood, pasta. I'm always suspicious of establishments that do a lot of different foods. Decided to eat Italian despite the name of the restaurant but more because we were in north beach to eat pasta. Ordered the chicken parm and was pleasantly surprised by how good it was. Very saucy. The staff crushed fresh black pepper and added fresh Parmesan cheese on top too. Loved the service. We were well taken care of. Granted, there weren't many people around to wait on. Overall, this was a solid experience that I have no complaints about.

    Pizza Crispy Prosciatto De Parma, Poached Pear
    Caitlyn C.

    My family and I came here on a Sunday to catch the 49ers and warriors game! We had made reservations by calling ahead, but there wasn't really a need since the restaurant was pretty empty. Despite not having many customers, the place had great food and vibes -- perfect chill place to watch the games. We started with the chips and guac and the clam chowder, which were both amazing. We also ordered their special pasta (a tad salty) , the prosciutto and pear pizza and the cioppino. I'm surprised this place isn't more popular -- maybe because it's a little hidden from main streets with its entrance in an alley. The service was great and they also have free salsa lessons on Wednesdays!

    Taco Bar with from bottom left: beef cheek, Chipotle chicken Alaskan cod
    Michael C.

    I was pleasantly surprised by American Bites. My friends and I were at the North Beach Festival and reached that point where we needed a place to: sit, drink, and eat. Most of the standard spots were completely packed because festival, but while walking down Green we saw a sign for American Bites. As I was the baby of the group, the others all mentioned how this spot used to be Bocce Cafe, which closed in 2015. For those unaware, you head up the small hill at the start of Green, and you'll see a sign pointing you down a walkway until you come to either the front restaurant or the back patio. The front restaurant is a huge space, with a large bar and plenty of seating. Meanwhile the back patio is where you want to be - covered but bright, a number of tables for groups of any size, and I think there was even an additional patio space. When we were sat, we were immediately given the menus which are a fascinating ensemble to say the least. At the top is the "Taco Bar" - a mix and match of three tacos. Then the appetizers, which is a mix of bar food (guac & chips, wings, ribs, fries, calamari, salads, and bread). There is Meat & Grill with burgers, beef sandwiches, a steak, and lamb lollipops. The entire back menu is Italian focused, including chef's specials, pastas, pizza, and seafood. As it was later in the afternoon, not quite dinner, we weren't starving, and so we wall settled on the Taco Bar. I went with the cod, beef cheek, and chipotle chicken. They were all tasty, and we absolutely inhaled them. What stole the show was the quac and chips. They gave us a HUGE portion of guac, such that we were putting it on our tacos and still had more than enough for the chips. Absolutely get those. While we enjoyed the food, space, and service, I will reserve the fifth star until I get a real meal here. I would come again, especially as there is so much left to try.

    Lamb Lollipops
    David B.

    Service was amazing. Sat at the bar the Manhattan was great. Had the Lamb Lollipops amazing.

    Fries Chicken Parmesan Beef Tongue Dip Sandwich Beef Dip Sandwich Ultimate Burger
    Emma F.

    Hidden gem in north beach. Amazing food and service, definitely the best burger I've ever had. The servers are kind and attentive. You walk through a small alley to get to the restaurant. Very prettily lit and decorated. We will be back no doubt!

    Farrah C.

    So excited to have tried this restaurant in North Beach which used to be Bocce Cafe and is one of SF's designated landmarks! The location is tucked away so there's a cute alleyway you have to walk through before arriving to their front doors. Once you're inside, there's a huge bar space, cute patio and rooms for events/functions. Love that they have TVs so I can watch sports there as well! They serve just about everything you can crave from pizza, sandwiches, burgers and tacos to seafood, pasta and veal. I highly recommend their SF Cioppino if you're into seafood - you won't be disappointed! Another personal fav was the Beef Tongue Dip Sandwich. The beef is soooo tender and sauce makes it so flavorful.

    Brussels sprouts with candied bacon
    Brendan P.

    Absolutely spectacular meal at what can best be described as an oasis of calm in North Beach. The food, menu, ambiance and service exceeded all of our expectations - which were high when my Dad told me he had one of the best Beef Dips in his entire life here. The prices are fair, and become more fair once you taste the food! The emphasis is clearly on quality rather than quantity. American Bites is a true gem in North Beach and worth going out of your way to experience. 10/10

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    2 years ago

    Great food and nice dining rooms You will enjoy the dining here.. The size and elegant dining with a huge bar is so inviting.

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    Great food and better service. Fantastic pasta and seafood. Great place to bring friends.

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    Ask the Community - American Bites

    Hi. Is there a salsa class happening on Thursday night? What is the cost per class ? Is drop in OK?

    You're more than welcome to join Thursday salsa nights for free!! There is always a professional salsa teacher on-site. Come join us!!

    View All 2 Questions

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