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Nob Hill Cafe

4.0 (1.7k reviews)
Closed • 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM

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NOB HILL CAFE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Outdoor seating
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Nob Hill Cafe

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Bettola baked eggs and linguine with prawns
Kevin E.

This place was a staple for my wife and I when I was working in the City. It was an easy, delicious, classic date night spot. It was also a regular haunt for the famous Brown Twins (Vivian and Marian) who were generally there a couple of nights a week! Today we took a long overdue trip into the City for a late lunch. It was quiet but still delicious! I got the linguine with prawns and my wife had the baked eggs. We also had the mixed green salad to start and everything was A+! Love the service -- everyone is treated like family. Good value, great food, exceptional service, classic San Francisco! We've been away too long and will definitely be back again soon.

Penne Bettola with some wine
Ryan R.

I ate here recently before heading to a show at **The Masonic**. Even though it was busy, the wait wasn't long. We did have to sit outside, but the server was incredibly accommodating--they actually added an extra table for us just so we could be seated and eat sooner. I can't say much about the ambiance since we were outdoors, and I personally would have preferred eating inside to avoid the cold and wind. I did take a quick look at the interior, though, and the atmosphere looked warm and inviting. I ordered the **Penne Bettola**, and my friend had the **Bolognese**. We paired our meals with wine and some bread, and everything was delicious. I would definitely come back the next time I'm in the neighborhood!

Penne Bettola
Aishwarya I.

Intimate and homey, Nob Hill Cafe is a beloved neighborhood Italian eatery. The service is warm and inviting, as is the ambience. On a rainy evening its lights and warmth beckon. Serving classic Italian fare, the menu favors simplicity and execution. I had the Betolla sauce with gnocchi instead of penne. This was a 5/5 flavor bomb of a dish. The tangy heat and Parmesan in the sauce was delicious. Gnocchi was super soft. Spiced Carrot Soup special- 5/5. It has star anise, pepper and other spices making it very warm and flavorful. The sweetness of the carrot was minimal and balanced.

We ate too fast to take pics, so for your pleasure - here is the psychedelic polar bear, blurred to perfection.
Brooks W.

The service at Nob Hill Cafe was outstanding-but the food? Spectacular. The kind of spectacular that makes you briefly consider loosening your moral code. And the vibe? Absolutely dialed. Chill, cozy, and warm in that effortless way- old-school jazz humming in the background, low and soulful, like the restaurant was gently telling you to relax, stay awhile, and maybe order one more thing. It felt welcoming without trying too hard, the kind of place where time slows down just enough to enjoy yourself. Yes, we were absolute pigs. Zero shame. Our kids (4 and 6) loved their pasta so much we ordered a second round for them, which honestly set the tone for the night. My wife and I demolished the roasted carrots and burrata appetizer, followed by the mezzaluna eggplant parm (still dreaming about it), then tore through a simple but perfectly dialed salad. From there we dove headfirst into the pesto tortellini- so fresh it actually made me blush. And just when we should've stopped... we absolutely did not. We ordered more food, because joy. The gnocchi- yes, it took about 20 minutes, and yes, it was 100% worth it- was pillowy, soft, and so fresh I briefly considered taking it back to our hotel and stuffing it into my pillow for emotional support. Dessert? Of course. Two panna cottas and the chocolate ganache. Oink oink. The staff deserves a standing ovation. Incredibly accommodating, genuinely warm, and unbelievably patient with our kids (who, as parents know, can be... let's say energetic in restaurants). Friendly enough that we half-joked about sending everyone Christmas cards next year- and honestly, not really joking. My wife and I agreed on the walk back: if we lived in San Francisco, this would be our biweekly spot. Easy. And because everything disappeared before I could photograph the magic, please enjoy the attached blurry photo of my son's clay masterpiece: the psychedelic polar bear. You're welcome. Five stars. Full hearts. Very full stomachs.

Jessie H.

The diner started off flat with a mediocre burrata & roasted carrot appetizer. The cheese was not moist or fresh or something it was a bit cold and firmer than most burrata I have had in the past with way less flavor. The entire dish needed salt. The rest of the meal was delicious & the mains really redeemed this place! The pizza and vodka penne pasta both had some amazing flavor with plenty of sauce! One of the better Vodka sauces I had in a long long time! Unfortunately the Ambiance was not great but it was cozy ( very cold outside) with some nice touches for the holiday season. I would say the service was not good but also not horrible. The server was short with us and never offered water refills or asked us how our meal tasted. He did offer pepper and parm but was not very friendly. Unfortunately forgot to take pics of the mains. I will not return this spot or recommend.

Natalie R.

We were looking for an Italian restaurant within walking distance of our hotel that was reasonably priced and we ran across Nob Hill Cafe. This is a smaller, family run Italian restaurant and even on a Tuesday night it was packed but we were still able to be seated within about 5 minutes. The inside was quaint with the mood set by our server who lit the candle at our table upon being seated. Other patrons included everyone from families to couples and it was clearly a popular choice any day of the week by locals. We started with a bottle of wine (Italian of course!) but it's worth noting that the wine list wasn't up to date so ask what is available if you have your eye on something specific from the wine list. I opted for the lasagna al forno and my dining partner chose the pollo alla parmigiana. My lasagna was hands down the best lasagna I've had in my life- I could've happily eaten an entire second serving it was so good! I had a bit of the chicken parm and wasn't as much of a fan but I'm not a chicken parm fan by default. I was a little surprised the chicken wasn't breaded though. Being offered a topping from the big bowl of freshly grated parmigiana cheese was a great addition to our entrees too. I very much enjoyed our meal at Nob Hill Cafe and wish I could find a place with lasagna this good at home but when I'm in the SF area, l'll definitely make a point of eating here again!

Insalata Cesare Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Focaccia
Julia B.

Came here to eat dinner before an event at The Masonic; it's perfect walking distance. I ordered the Caesar Salad and Pesto Gnocchi, and my friend ordered the Focaccia and Gnocchi Bolognese. Everything tasted fresh, especially the caesar salad dressing. This meal was delicious, satisfying, and filling. Our server was on point, he checked in on us and made sure our courses were ready in a timely manner. The only downside for me was that they don't serve cocktails, just wine and beer. Nonetheless, I had a wonderful experience and I will definitely be back

Pesto Tortellini Romana
Lizzie S.

Updating my review from 4 to 5 stars. This is a small family-owned establishment. It's not large but whenever I go, it's packed. They have cute outdoor parklet. Service is always wonderful and friendly. Tonight, I saw a man sneak their/our server 2 20s as a tip. He and his wife really enjoyed the tiramisu (and I also enjoy it!) Nob Hill Cafe can do no wrong. I've been here with girl friends for girls' nights, post-run carb loading, for date nights, pre-shows/concerts, post-yoga, and more. It's homey, cozy, warm, and not pretentious. I love love love the spaghetti alla carbonara. It's creamy and delicious and I love the pancetta. My partner loves their lasagna but sometimes gets pizza. I've also enjoyed their tortellini and penne. A Pilates class friend told me to come for brunch and they kill it at brunch as well. They have yummy salads and their house made focaccia is moist and flavorful. I keep coming back because I love the atmosphere and the people and of course the food! It's reasonably-priced and lovely.

Seasonal peach and burrata salad. 10/10 June 2026
Kimberly J.

Always a delight but we got to our favorite pasta spot late so they were out of the focaccia. They suggested the burrata and peach salad and it was delicious. We always get the tortellini pasta with white sauce and sausage because you can't order it on DoorDash. Everyone is always friendly and it's never too loud.

Bianca Marie A.

Such a cute little restaurant! The service was absolutely lovely. Our sever was extremely kind and very attentive. As for the food, the free bread was some of the best bread I've ever had. Extremely soft and the flavors were perfectly balanced. Pasta was also super delicious! My dish had just the perfect amount of spice and the sausage I added was a great touch. Would 100% come back here!

Gnocchi Bolognese
Danny N.

We tried Nob Hill Cafe for the first time November 12, 2025 for dinner service We walked from venue at the Masonic. Cozy place with indoor and outdoor seating. We got a nice table inside. Drinks and starters were good. We also enjoyed our main dishes. Service was good too.

Penne Bettola and Tortellini
Sophie B.

Overall pretty underwhelming experience We got the Penne Bettola and the Tortellini w the romana sauce and they were pretty bland and mid (felt like smth you could make at home with supermarket ingredients) , and a little more to saltier side The server ( an older man) was pretty unwelcoming , I would maybe even say kinda rude , when we first enter he seemed annoyed by our presence and when my bf ask for the check he didn't even reply just made a gesture similar to ignoring him and then came back w the check

Focaccia

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19 days ago

Awesome! Great Italian food. Great people. Fun area. Go and get it! I recommend it.

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2 months ago

Food delicious and service efficient once seated. Wait list wasn't very useful, just show up and get on list instead.

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1 month ago

Great tasting food served by very efficient, friendly and attentive staff in a cozy location.

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7 months ago

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2 months ago

Lovely ambience, fantastic service. We love the carpaccio. Gluten free options are great. A real gem.

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Ask the Community - Nob Hill Cafe

Is the restaurant open? Their voicemail keeps saying they are opening in late April.. thank you!

Yes it is open!! 5-9 on weekdays and 5-10 on weekends!

Are there gluten free options?

I'm pretty sure all of the food is made fresh to order (you can see them making fresh pasta!) so I'm certain they're able to accommodate to gluten free. They serve seafood and meat specials without any gluten containing ingredients, as well as… 

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