A couple of years ago, I had the pleasure to visit La Traviata for the first time. My significant other went to school in San Francisco when he was in grad school and La Traviata was a restaurant that he and his family would visit when his folks were in town. I really loved the restaurant the first time I visited, and I was happy to have a chance to be back again on our recent visit to the City. La Traviata is a great, family-owned restaurant that offers wonderful food and top-notch service. John and Sylvia take great care of their customers. The restaurant is absolutely charming, with pictures of opera singers and celebrities on the walls. On our most recent visit (September 2026), we invited my aunt to join us. She lives in the East Bay, but had not been to the restaurant before, so we loved getting to introduce her to the establishment. We had delicious food, drinks, and a wonderful time catching up. The restaurant was not super busy, and we were allowed to stay for an extended period which was great. I did make sure to confirm with the restaurant that it was okay that we were staying a bit longer than usual. We had such a great time at La Traviata and it was the absolutely perfect location for us! I can't wait to be back again the next time we are visiting the City! read more

This is the place I tell travelers to visit during their SF stay. One thing that makes a place feel like a hidden gem - which this is - is a facade that doesn't reveal or reflect the interior. You'll sort of miss this place because there's probably another restaurant with a line. But squint your eyes and come inside to a warm, welcoming, and cozy spot which speaks of years of history and happy guests. See celebrities on the wall (a lot of classic Italian restaurants have this feature) who have enjoyed the food you're about to taste. The prices are really great for such a costly city. I love the tortellini in brodo. read more

Food was very good. Italian atmosphere. Good service. Seafood pasta was delicious. Highly Recommend read more

While I don't pretend to be a professional food critic, I am a great appreciator of exceptionally delicious food and last night when we dined at La Traviata, all my culinary senses lite up! From the moment we walked into their beautiful dining room with operatic music quietly creating a warm and welcoming ambience and with their walls decorated with framed photographs of opera singers as well as lovely paintings, we felt confident that we were about to embark on a wonderful culinary trip that would bring us back to our experiences dining in Italy. We were seduced by everything we ordered as well as the warm freshly baked sourdough bread that was brought to our table as we were looking over the menu. I had read a few reviews while traveling from our home in New York City and decided to order one of their specialty dishes: Salmone ala Wixel. This has to be the most delicious salmon I have ever eaten. John, the chef and owner, brought two plates to our table. One plate was a beautifully decorated with roasted carrots and Brussell sprouts and the other was the salmon, that was enveloped by darkened parchment paper that had to be cut with a knife! As the aromas of the seasoning filled our table my friends were captivated by John as he lifted the salmon on to my plate and spooned the roasted olives , capers and other delicious vegetables on top. I wish I had the words to describe how silky and delicious it tasted! You'll have to experience this for yourselves!! My wife ordered and loved her sea bass, and our friends ordered a chicken and pasta entree, I was lost in culinary heaven and only regret that we'll have to travel 3000 miles to dine here again. If you're fortunate to live in San Francisco you have to take advantage of this amazing restaurant! We shared a few deserts including their tiramisu which was devine! I spoke to John after we finished eating to thank him for one of the most memorable dining experiences I've had anywhere ( outside of Italy) , I didn't photograph our meals since I felt it would have been somehow sacrilegious given how joyous it was to be enraptured by our dining pleasures. read more

La Traviata - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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As a native San Franciscan, I had never heard of this restaurant until a recent TV show featured La Traviata. It looked like the perfect old school Italian my husband loves and misses since The Granada and Val's closed. We booked a 6pm resie on a Saturday night, which wasn't necessary as it was nearly empty with only one other table seated. By the time we left at 7:30, it was filling up. As parking can be difficult, we parked near Glen Park Bart and walked one block from 24th street station to the restaurant. Thought we'd see homeless or druggies, but the streets were empty. The restaurant interior is very quaint with pictures of celebrities and opera singers gracing the walls, white tablecloths, an interesting wood trellis ceiling and opera music playing. A red rose at every table and lovely chandeliers, real old school Italian as it's been around nearly 50 years. The lighting was a little bright except when they dimmed to sing happy birthday. Service was friendly with a basket of hot sourdough to start off. We both enjoyed a glass of red wine - the Sangiovese at $12 was smooth with a good pour. I started with the Gorgonzola and walnut salad which had a ton of cheese but the balsamic dressing was a little heavy ($15). Husband had minestrone soup which he said was hearty with lots of vegetables. I ordered the carbonara which tasted like freshly made pasta but not much pancetta ($22). Not sure if it was sitting a while but it had way too much creamy sauce and was a bit soggy. Husband had the veal fungi (mushrooms) and enjoyed it but said it was a little dry ($29). Served with a side of veggies. We finished with splitting the spumoni ice cream which was served in two huge portions dipped in chocolate, delish! Total meal with two glasses of wine each came to $160. We enjoyed the service (the owners and chef both came into the dining room at points) and non-pretentious atmosphere. We'll try it again, maybe get the lasagna and cioppino. read more

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Wow Gjon and staff are amazing , they really Go out of the way to make everything fresh and you can tell that is his passion , being a classically trained Italian chef the food was top tier and service was on point and we can't wait to come back again Thanks for the amazing hospitality read more

Everything over all was amazing! The welcoming, the bread the food was amazing & super yummy. This place is a Gem in the Mission! read more

Great food, nice atmosphere, friendly service Can't ask for much more than that, although parking can be a challenge read more

The food was amazing, We ordered the daily chef's special, The lasagna was really good and rich flavor, Also the salmon was delicious. My wife had a birthday and they surprised us with tiramisu which was amazing. High recommendation. read more

I really really wanted to love this place -- and it had a lot going for it. Being in business 50 years isn't nothing! I give the interior 5 stars - so very charming, especially at Christmas. A sparkling tree in the dining room, white tablecloths , red roses on the table and the walls covered with photos of opera singers. So charming. Service was good. But the food.... Not so good. My carbonara was sopping with cream -- way too much -- and the pancetta was tasteless and chewy. Very disappointing. I went to Italy again this year and I know what it is supposed to taste like. The mixed green salad was good. The bread everyone mentions is also good, served warm with butter. Husband said lasagne was pretty good. But the cream caramel was just awful. The worst I've ever had - the custard has a mealy gritty texture and it was clearly overcooked. We left it except for eating the sugary top and the waiter took it away without even asking if it was ok. Not good. But, having said all that, the place itself is charming so if you can figure out what to eat that's any good, you might like it. At least once. read more

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Great little place. Great food, unique interior and music, nice people. Totally recommended.

This restaurant is amazing--so delicious and totally worth it! I loved the atmosphere, the food was incredible (it tasted authentic), and I think the chef might be Italian... Everything was so tasty and the vibe was really cozy. The service was really good kind !! read more

La Traviata - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Food was delicious. Ordered an gnocchi entree that actually had a proper serving of food. Also enjoyed the chicken piccata, a fig & balsamic salad with goat cheese and a side of tortellini in a delicious cream sauce. read more

What a charming place. We recently dined at the restaurant for the first time to celebrate a milestone birthday and I am so glad we found this gem. Wish we had known it long time ago. From the minute we walked in, we felt transported to a warm and inviting neighborhood trattoria in Italy. The wall adorned with pictures of famous opera stars, the gorgeous stained glass panels, the mirrored wall, and fresh flowers on the table all added to the vibe. We loved the fresh baked bread. All the dishes we had were done to perfection and beautifully presented. My eggplant parmesan was the best I ever had with it being very flavorful yet not too heavy like many parmesan dishes. Finally the tiramisu and profiterole capped a perfect evening. Throughout the dinner the service was warm and attentive. We look forward to returning to this wonderful place. read more

Strongly recommend La Traviata. The veal was amazingly tender and juicy! This place is such a gem read more

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One of the BEST RESTAURANTS in the City by far!!! My family has been coming to La Traviata for over a DECADE and each and every time is just as good as the last. Walking into the restaurant will take you into an authentic Italian experience. It's family owned and operated. You will instantly feel like family as well. The Salmon in parchment paper is a must try! You won't regret it! It's the perfect date night spot! The owners go out their way to provide top tier service and it really makes a difference. Cheers to many many more years of great food and memories! read more

Made a reservation via calling and came here for Valentines on a Sunday at around 5:30pm, right around when they opened for the day. It was quieter since we were one of the first guests, but the atmosphere/environment made for a great date and there was music playing in the background (intimate, cozy, private). Service was great; we were checked in on a good amount of times without too many interruptions. The complimentary bread was PHENOMENAL sooo soft with the slight crispy crust. Bruschetta was great; crunch toasted bread with olive oil and tomatoes. Gnocchi was coated with pink sauce and very soft / doughy texture. Carbonara was nice and savory with enough pancetta in each bite. Salmon was good / healthy but we enjoyed the other dishes more. read more

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This place was a destination restaurant for us in the 70s, when we were young and poor. Prices were affordable back then, even to 20-somethings. They used to have opera music playing very loudly on the PA and the walls were covered with photos of famous opera stars. Well, my husband and I ate there tonight and not much has changed, other than the prices are higher and the opera music is much softer. Our meal was delicious--husband had squid ink pasta with squid, and I had a pasta dish with tomato, mushrooms, and Italian sausage. The portions were just the right size The flavors were robust but not overpowering. The restaurant is still owned by the same family! We wanted to share a dessert; I wanted profiteroles but my husband wanted zabaglione. The server offered to bring us a half-order of zabaglione as well as the profiteroles and didn't charge us for the zabaglione. Great vibes, friendly service (obviously!) and such a delight to know that this place is still thriving after 40+ years! read more

We visited friends in SF who really wanted to try this place. Lovely atmosphere. Great service. Food- overall meh. The bruschetta of the day was mushroom pesto. Canned mushrooms!! They served baby carrots as a vegetable with all entrees. Baby carrots are aweful. The lasagna was ok- but lacked flavor. The salmon was good. The bread was good. The cannoli filling had a grainy texture The tiramisu was decent. We won't be going back- There are just too many amazing Italian restaurants in SF to waste calories here read more

Everything about this place is first class. The people are so attentive to your needs. We have been going there for over forty years. Never had a bad meal. The ambience is authentic. Classic Italian restaurant read more

The food here is absolutely delicious. Maybe the best true Italian restaurant I've been to. The staff is friendly and made my bday very special by singing to me in Italiano! Such a great experience and the food is very yummy! I've had the food a few times both by take out and in house and it's equally delicious. read more

Loved this place! Discovered it by accident on a Saturday night, complete hole in the wall, been here for 47 years apparently! Best carbonara I've had since being in Venice, Italy. The bruschetta was amazing and delicious, set on freshly baked bread. They also serve bread and butter and the bread was unbelievable: super hot and fresh with soft almost goeey inside and perfectly warm and toasted on the outside. The restaurant vibe is perfect, straight out of a movie. It has such a nostalgic feeling, with the music they play, the mood, the lighting, the interior layout of the tables and walls lined with framed pictures of people who've been there. The staff was so friendly, professional, and welcoming. Definitely going to be my new goto place in the Bay Area for fresh Italian pastas and to take family and friends for some amazing Italian food and a unique experience. Absolute must-try! read more

La Traviata - Carbonara - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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La Traviata has remained a high-quality, atmospheric, lovely restaurant over the years. I recently went there and enjoyed a minestrone soup that was world class, followed by a pasta with a mushroom sauce that was heavenly. Everything there is excellent, they make their own bread, and have quite beautiful music playing in the background. I highly recommend this restaurant for a lovely and romantic evening. Dave A. read more

Best lasagna I've ever had! La Traviata is a delightful old school Italian restaurant with the nicest owners and wonderful food. We have ordered takeout previously but recently we stopped by in person on a Saturday night. After a short wait we were seated and I loved looking at all the autographed photos and the stained glass inside the dining room. Fresh red roses on each table were a beautiful touch. We started with the fried mozzarella and the antipasto, and some of the fresh, hot-from-the-oven house made bread. Delicious. After that we were actually a little full so we shared the lasagna in order to save room for dessert. When I tell you this lasagna was the best I've ever had I'm not joking. I don't think they use ricotta because the texture is so incredibly creamy that it makes me wonder if it's made with something like a decadent mascarpone instead. Either way it was outstanding. We finished with the classic spumoni which was a beautiful presentation. Three layers of ice cream (chocolate pistachio and cherry I think) inside a chocolate bomb type shell. Lovely. A bottle of Flora Springs Trilogy went perfectly with our meal and we really enjoyed the friendly atmosphere. Great for a cozy date night or a larger gathering of family and friends. Service was personable and impeccable as well. Can't wait to go back ... until then I will be dreaming of that lasagna! read more

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Oh. My. God. What an amazing evening! I took my husband out for his birthday, and we went to La Traviata for dinner. The atmosphere was quiet and lovely, and the lighting was soft. The staff welcomed us and treated us like family, and the food was beyond incredible. I had the veal, and my husband had a chicken dish, and we enjoyed a wonderful tiramisu for desert, but when they found out it was his birthday, they treated us to an additional desert of creme puffs that was outstanding! They sang the birthday song, dimmed the lights for us, and made an already memorable evening into something unforgettable. Thank you so much to La Traviata for everything! We will be back--repeatedly! read more

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really cool interior that's tucked away on mission - would not have stopped by this place if not for yelp! they have great free bread - super soft and warm, with a delicious crust however, the meal was definitely lacking in comparison to other experiences i've had in sf with italian food. the carbonara was too creamy for my liking and didn't have the dimensions of flavor i was looking for. read more

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What a hidden gem. The food is absolutely incredible and authentic. It has a homecooked feel and the interior is stunning. Whenever people visit the city I always take them here. Delicious wine, gnocchi, and mains. Genuinely one of my favorite restaurants ever! The family that runs it is super sweet, definitely enhances the family vibe! read more

This place is like coming home - food is amazing every time we go there, staff is literally like a family. Wonderful, warm, inviting. Best lasagna in SF. Best salmon in SF. Try the Beverly Sills - all amazing. read more

I have frequented this restaurant for almost 30 years, and it has been on a rapid downward spiral the past couple of years, I once valued its dignified, classic service. Tonight I went there on my birthday because of my sweet memories of its past glory. I ordered dinner and a glass of wine on my birthday. An hour latter my meal arrived and I reminded my server that I ordered a glass of wine 62 minutes earlier. "Oh, gosh, I spaced!" she said. Forgivable, but not the entree of calamari with black squid sauce that was inedible. $129 after a 28% tip. My last trip to this place. read more

Ambiance: Get ready to step back into time (in a very good way). This place could have been here 40 years ago yet it's in great shape. Lovely decor and history on the walls.. Service: 5+ stars..Family owned and everyone pitches in. Super friendly and the Grandpa is in charge of all of the extras (parmesan, water, olive oil). He couldn't have been more charming. Food: Something for everyone. Our salad was great and shared by the family. Everyone liked their entrees and there were a ton to choose from. Prices: This was very reasonable place and the wine list was also very reasonable. read more

Had Friday night dinner there with reservations. Placed was packed. First time here and ran into old friend who comes every year! Italian food seemed different here than Bertolucci or Old North beach. Everyone looked like they ordered the pasta. I had veal algro(? Sp) And I liked it. Adequate portion,3 pcs, thicker than usual. Had tomato/ onion salad and octopus appetizer. Octopus was meaty and thick. Service was quick enough in collecting orders , but butter came out and no bread! Bread was delayed until after entree and several people after us received bread before us! Still though, didn't feel rushed after dessert-expect 1.5 hrs. Panda Cora was thick and good. Wanted to try something different other than tiramisu ( it looked good though!) read more

Cozy Italian restaurant with great food/drink and friendly staff! Didn't get a chance to photograph the rest of the food since we dug right in read more

La Traviata - Bruschetta - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

The food was wonderful, as it had been for many years at this restaurant. The opera vibe and old-style Italian food creates a nice ambiance. They got several large parties all at once (our table had 12). So, service was a bit slow and not as attentive as in the past. It is still a great place to celebrate a birthday or just to have a quiet dinner. read more

Wonderful staff, still grateful that they got me a small seat for Christmas Eve last year despite a lack of reservation. Delicious food, the Piedmont wine goes amazingly with the squid ink pasta with the bits of calamari in it. Even the bread and butter are good, whew! Like, really, REALLY good. Actually insane. I would avoid posting a review but I have no reason to gatekeep a place that deserves business in these trying times, just treat them well and come dressed like you have class and sense! This is a very nice establishment, a family friendly (ideally for those college aged and up, I don't ever see kids here, but still very romantic) place to go. A romantic setting. Although I do note that some stares from staff are had, usually a smile and a wave from me show me that it's out of curiousity or admiration, not out of hostility. (And I do have some pretty big rings on that I forget about.) read more

Caesar salad limp pld lettuce. Clams not fresh w tepid pasta cannot shell stale. Just awful. Wouldn't even give it another chance. Don't go there. ​ read more

Was honestly just fine. The environment was nice for a date, and the staff were polite and fairly hands off. However, the food just didn't really do much for me. I feel that there are other italian restaurants that may give more. The tiramisu was far from my favorite, and the gnocchi was fair. Nothing really wrong with this restaurant, and I think it's a fair option still. Just not necessarily my favorite. read more

La Traviata - Gnocchi, Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Hands down THEE BEST Italian I've had in the City! During the shutdown I'd order takeout from here, bike to pick it up and it was always worth the trek. Food always arrived home HOT, HOT! Quality ingredients, well-sized portions, reasonably priced and top notch customer care. Repeat favorites have been the Putanesca, gnocchi, tortellini and the Pasta di Mare. NEVER DISAPPOINTED! Never have I ever dined in but I've got reservations for a romantic surprise dinner so my partner & I can finally indulge in the low-light, smooth, classic Italian restaurant digs of this longtime Mission neighborhood gem! Oh, small tip: please consider giving the tip in cash! As noted by some folks I spoke with during pick ups, tipping on the card brings processing fees and third party payments that negatively impact the small-businesses struggling to recover from the pandemic. Wishing these folks much success going forward! read more

Saucy and delicious Highly recommend. Would come again. Pretty affordable. If you aren't careful, you might miss this restaurant. It's on Mission, and kinda hidden. The inside is nice and clean. P.S. the free bread is so soft, warm, and crunchy read more

La Traviata - Carbonara and a 2015 red wine (I forgot the name )... - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

I'm amazed it's taken me so long to find this absolute gem tucked away on Mission. All I can say is I wish I had found this place sooner! Immediately upon walking in, you realize this place is legit. A comfortable waiting room leads into a lovely old school Italian restaurant, complete with white table clothes, roses and old photos covering every inch of the walls. The service is perfect, very friendly, felt almost like family. That said, the food was the best part! Incredibly delicious, perfectly cooked, heartwarmingly rich pasta, freshly baked warm bread, plenty of parmesan, and incredible desserts to finish. I cannot wait to come back! read more

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Loved this place! Ambience was perfect for date night. We had a dinner night with my fiance and it was absolutely lovely. The food was good 4/5, not enough seasons personally for me. The service was great, very attentive and friendly. read more

La Traviata - Lasagna and Chicken Sec - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California