Here is another of the old Italian Restaurants in the city. We have been there a few times. 5 stars also for the no hassle valet parking. The food here is exquisite. I especially like the sand dabs when in season. They really know how to make them to perfection. The pasta dishes along with the wine selection are worth going back for anytime. Triple thumbs up here also read more

It once was a beach! Then along came a big landfill initiative that transformed this shoreline further outward. It's certainly great neighborhood worthy of your time to explore. What will you see? A diverse population and a home to some great restaurants, bars, cafes, and architecture. Please never change. read more

Oh how I enjoy strolling the streets of North Beach. Never will I grow tired of the sardine packed sidewalks, the endless circling of blocks for parking and the sweet aroma of pizza, freshly baked bread and lone musicans creating the soundtrack of North Beach. The beaming ambiance and soulful beatnik personas make North Beach what is is best for. read more

I grew up in NB, on Filbert, but moved at 9 but was back weekly to my great aunt's house or grandma's. I remember all the good times, the carnival Sts. p&p used to have in the Washington park, panelli's (my sister's went to school with them) the boy's club, etc. I still love to go back, and do, whenever I can. To this day, sometimes when walking thousands of miles away, i can smell something, no doubt some sort of bakery smell, that takes me back to 1972 on Columbus and Stockton with my dad on xmas day going to the 5 and dime to buy batteries for my new toy. The stores may change, there my be urine in the street (there always was, DUH!) but it is, and always will be, my home away from home. NB forever. Ya feel me?? read more

Way too many assholes, way too many tourists, way too many asshole tourists from stockton yelling at me while i'm trying to eat an Its-It in front of the Grant and Green Market. What's that, 209? You're so fucking wasted dood? What a revelation. You're slightly more tolerable than the "artists" who don't do art and the "poets" who haven't had anything published since high school hanging out in front of Trieste... day after day after day after day (nice socks with birks, fucko. did kerouac dress like a tool, too?) ... but only slightly. And that's only because I've seen a wild parrot shit on you, and not an artist/poet. Yet. That being said... there's nowhere with better nightlife, more bars and better food in a smaller area. I mean, 41 bars in less than a square mile?? really?? It's overrun with fuckheads for a reason -- it has all that, and nowhere else in town has a better publicity committee. read more

The best tortellini I have ever eaten! It's a must to share as an appetizer prior to any of their other spectacular meals!

I love North Beach so much it makes me wish I were Italian. Naia. Golden Boy. North Star. Tuk Tuk Thai. Those are some of the reasons why I love to go to North Beach, plus the atmosphere. Whether day or night, you will always find a chill crowd out to have a great time. I love that it is walking distance from my apt in Nob Hill, or a short bus trip on the 30 or 45 from work. read more

I was looking for some delicious Italian food in a cozy restaurant with servers who barely speak English. North Beach was close enough for me. The food was fantastic and the service was very good. I had the prosciutto and melon to start and the tagliatelle bolognese. They make their own cured meats in house, and it was delicious. The bolognese was the best I've had in a long time. It was the perfect sized portion, not too big, just enough to fill me up. The service was pretty good, at this point in my day I was pretty tired and it seemed we had to wait for the server a little too long a few times. That could just have been me being whiny though (it happens). If I'm ever in San Francisco again and in need of Italian food I'd stop by North Beach again. read more

Alive with crackling energy, any spot you enter is bound to have characters, good food and a welcoming mentality. It's hard to have a bad time in North Beach. Lat night, we went to Rogue Ale House. Got some damn good brew! Took a stroll with an infamous "marijuana cigarette" (reeefer). While our friend was trying to be discreet off an alley, a dude that lives in the park stopped by and declared he needed " A WHIFF OF THAT STIFF" He sniffed emphatically. Cajoling "You gotta exhale sometime man," he chatted for 5 minutes. Gems like, "Hey man, you look liked Dennis Leary. Yeah, like a comedian. A low-key comedian." At the end of the chat, we got a "Love you guys" and off he went. haha! All this, natch, took place 2 feet from where people were trying to enjoy their dinners. The Saloon is the best bar in town. You walk in and it's like they're glad to see ya. Pull up a stool or get out and dance. Golden Boy Pizza finished up the night for us. The iconic design just gives an energy that you don't find elsewhere. read more

The Best Italian in North Beach. Great service. Excellent wine list. Menu is large enough for the whole family.

North Beach is one of the most famous neighborhoods of San Francisco. It's where you'll find some of the best Italian food that the West Coast has to offer!! Lots of great restaurants and cafes and some great scenery to be found here. It's very close to SF icons like the Transamerica Pyramid and Coit Tower, and right next door to Chinatown. The only downside is that I've never been able to find any parking anytime I'm in North Beach... read more

Molto bene. For my 200th, on this historic day, it's...NB. North Beach-once an actual beach along the coastline of San Francisco, now a thriving & walkable neighborhood with amazing Italian food & wares to old timers to beau-ti-ful weather, you rock & roll. My life long home base, you've gotten a serious face lift, darling. Many mom & pops have folded to more upscale & slightly pretentious places. Remember Rossi Market, Panelli's, The Golden Spike? Remember when there was available parking and only 1 local garage? Ah, the good ol' days. However, the heart of you is still here. The annual NB Fair brings out Italian flair with pizza tossing & chalk drawings. The Columbus Day parade now collides with the noisy Blue Angels. Mario's Bohemian Cigar Store, NB Pizza, Enrico's, Stella's Pastries & a whole bunch more are still part of the old school regalia. And some of the new school fits in-Naia Gelato, Rose Pistola & even more eclectic fares like the House & Brioche have changed NB to become more...worldly. Even Film in the Park shows at Washington Square occasionally during the foggy summers. Just a few steps outside my door, a world of favorites awaits. Thanks, NB. 50 million stars if I could. read more

I had a business dinner here last night. I ordered the polenta soup and veal cutlet parmigana. The polenta soup was just fucking-awesome..full of flavor and so tasty. The veal cutlet was good, nothing special, but very satisfying. Great place for Italian food and people watching. read more

Charming neighborhood. Not simply because it is "North" and has good connotations because of your North Face jacket or any such thing. Wide array of restaurants, places for coffee, it's an interesting walk and good for people watching as well. I mostly just strolled through and kept on going since it was too recent in time to eat again, and not late enough in the evening that it was what is colloquially referred to as "Beer O'Clock." read more

It's an amazing neighborhood filled with character and history. I love driving down Columbus with the Transamerica Pyramid in full view the whole way. Stop for an espresso or a pastry and people watch for the afternoon or do a little research and find a great restaurant to dine at while soaking up the local vibe. Sotto Mare? This is Little Italy-- San Francisco style. read more

North Beach - Saints Peter and Paul Church - Local Flavor Near Me - San Francisco, California

North Beach is one of the neighborhoods in San Francisco that I enjoy the most. I am not talking about the tourist main drag. I am talking about the shops located off the beaten path. Your mom and pop butcher store, bakery, pizza shop and friendly people. Of course you can go and have some food at the Stinkin' Rose, but if you are a tourist... do yourself a favor and just walk into one of the smaller no frills places located in the area and that is where you will find some good food. read more

North Beach..., it's like a small little community where people know each other and you can walk down the street and say hello to your neighbors. Where there aren't that many children but lots of dogs and puppies. A place where you can actually get to know the cops patrolling the beat and say "how's it going?" A neighborhood with a bar for anyone or any mood. The place I call home. Even though parking's a bitch, even though we get invaded every weekend by a bunch hoodlums who pee in our alleys,.... North Beach is the best place to live. Doggie Friendliness Meter: EXCELLENT read more

I live in the neighborhood, so i suppose i'm a little bias, but it's pretty great. Fun restaurants, great cafes, nice parks, convenient and very walkable. It's fun to explore. Tips: - The House restaurant - Tony's Pizza - Golden Boy Pizza - DeLise Cafe - Blue Sparrow Pilates - Lola - Vietnam Cafe - Tuk Tuk Cafe - Trader Joe's - Cafe Divine - Naia Gelato - Goorin Brother's - Washington Square Park - Coit Tower - City Lights Bookstore I'm glad i live here! read more

I love that in San Francisco you are in the thick of screaming grandmothers throwing pieces of bok choy at each other, and then you walk two blocks and you get Italian grandfathers having a loud argument about bocce while slurping from a tiny espresso cup. Welcome to North Beach. My favorite part of North Beach are the gorgeous trees that line certain streets - not sure what they are, but they add such a wonderful "neighborhood" feel. So many places to eat and drink, convenient to some of the more famous places like the Embarcadero, Fisherman's Wharf, etc. read more

North Beach is losing it's charm!!! Kaps Corner ... gone. Bocce's ... died a long slow death. Steps of Rome ... gone. Stinking Rose ... going down hill. Many of the old time bars are threatened. Victoria Pastry is still around but lost their original spot (by choice but still). This used to be my favorite neighborhood in all of the Bay Area. Accessible by BART. Centrally located so friends from all over (East Bay, SF, Peninsula) can easily meet. It still has some good low end options like Golden Boy Pizza and high end options like North Beach Restaurant. And bars like Specs and Vesuvios are kicking it "old school". A walk in the early evening up Columbus to Washington Square is a must do. But a lot the mid-tier restaurants, mentioned above, are waning. North Beach, unlike China Town, is not really a living neighborhood any more. Many of the 2nd and 3rd generation Italians don't live there nor go into the family business. Old North Beach is still there, but it's harder to find. read more

Love. Italian food everywhere you turn. Sotto Mare has some of the best Italian seafood I've ever had. Visit Coit Tower with the amazing views of the city. Great wine. Bars, restaurants, GELATO?! ... so many places to visit, and so many foods that I was too full to try :( I neeeed to come back here the next time I'm in town. It could just be my favorite neighborhood in San Fran! read more

Great neighborhood! We somehow missed this part of town the last time we were in San Francisco. For us, we fit right in. Great Italian food, lots of interesting local shops (book stores, candy stores, etc) and of course Telegraph Hill and Coit Tower nearby. We found ourselves coming back to North Beach for just about everything - dining, shopping, tourism. I would LOVE to live in this neighborhood someday! read more

North Beach is the BEST neighborhood in this entire city. Your beautiful cafes, the international flavor, your delicious restaurants, the fact that the entire neighborhood shuts down during futbol games, best looking men in town. World Cup 2006!!! read more

I came for the prosciutto and melon.....again. And again. Old schooly charm overcomes the weaker pasta menu, but the pounded veal is great and the wine selection is great. Watch out for what they charge on the bottles since the up charge is pretty steep if you are familiar with the vintage. If not, relax and enjoy. Outside seating is not bad and the service is always right on. The frozen drink is a must no matter what the weather. read more

To me, North Beach is the Marina's 1/2 Italian cousin. Yeah, I know, San Francisco is one big tourist trap, and when I say tourist trap I mean huge source of revenue for the city and small businesses, but North Beach is a bit overbearing for me as a local. Pros: -Accessible -Lots of Italians/Italian restaurants -Washington Square Park (and all the people in it) -Sidewalk shows Cons: -Tourists that stop suddenly and stand in the middle of the sidewalk -Noise Overall, North Beach is a cool spot with decent pubs and a bustling nightlife. I'd go there with friends, but I wouldn't be planning an evening there on my own accord....well, unless we were going to E'Tutto Qua or Steps of Rome. I love those places (and the sweet Italian men who work there). read more

Phooey to all the nay sayers! Don't be haters. Tourists are critical and they keep any city alive - don't hate them, definitely don't hate the places they frequent. Aren't we all tourists to other places? North Beach is essentially Little Italy or Italian Town or whatever other states call them. We are SO LUCKY to have this gem in the heart of SF. It's so concentrated, so vibrant and just spilling with energy. There are so many restaurants, bars, and pubs - no, they are not all fantastic but name one place that has just 5 stars restaurants? There are some nice boutiques and unique shops. The bakeries and cafes are true gems. The locals are the heart and soul that keep it beating... read more

Pros: (+) Cute little neighborhood (+) Plenty of bars, boutiques, restaurants.... (+) Street fairs (+) TVs to watch the games Cons: (-) Parking is a nightmare (-) Our service was slow ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In the heart of San Francisco. The pizza here is okay. Definitely nothing compared to New York pizza back home but hey...it was good enough. We came here to watch the World Cup while chowing down on some slices. The service here was slow but it was ok given that we were busy watching the World Cup anyways. read more

I haven't spent a huge amount of time here, but it's a hip an diverse area for all kinds of reasons. My limited perception is that by day it's filled with tourists, and in the evening locals wining and dining. It's cool just to walk around, and there's contrast with the waterfront and hilly areas. read more

Order from the menu or not. We asked Nino for special orders and he delivered. The prosciutto room is amazing. The food is fabulous. The atmosphere is fantastic as is the service. Could not more highly recommend. read more

North Beach - From the Prosciutto room. - Local Flavor Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Love walking around here... all of the carbs and sweet goodies you cannot go wrong. I consider getting a cannoli a must. I love the smells and small cafes.... read more

One of the best neighborhoods in San Francisco!

Sooo many restaurants and bars that I want to eat and drink at. i love walking through this hood. I wish I lived or worked here. thanks for being so cool. read more

This is my favorite neighborhood ever. Ever! I *love* living here. If I could date North Beach, I would. Where to start? The food is amazing. The espresso can't be beat. The desserts are perfect as is the weather. I love the easy access to Trader Joe's. And the views.. from Telegraph Hill to Lombard. I look forward to my daily commute along The Embarcadero. And why nobody ever told me Italians were so nice and sooo good looking? I said goddamn! read more

Loved this neighborhood to death. I lived here for 16 years before my family and I got split up because of a shady landlord. This neighborhood has been so good to me. Great weather. lots of great restaurants and bakeries, fabulous cafes. transportation accessible, great festivals and people are genuinely very nice here. I never had a problem with my neighbors....well except that one time for Fourth of July that one year when we went up to the roof to watch the fireworks with my little bro and sis and our next door neighbor decided to go totally butt naked in the kitchen, he was this muscular Italian guy and it appears about what they say about guys with big muscles....they need to compensate for something. Needless to say my brother and I quickly cover our sister's eyes and quickly headed down one flight of stairs so we wouldn't see anymore of it. We couldn't look at him any more without snickering. How I miss you North Beach, I will return one day very soon. read more

I love living in North Beach. It has some of the best cafes, restaurants and bars in the city! The overall vibe is very Euro, local and laid back. Anyone who has ever lived in Europe will appreciate the highly sophisticated yet imperfect character similar to a small Euro metropolis. Italian men crowd about Cafe Trieste, cat calling while managing their family business. Local boutiques carry unique designs and bakeries smell like fresh bread if you get to them early in the morning. The store facades seem to overlap in a clumsy but deliberate manner down Grant street. The residents are fairly international, and range from graduated sorority girls to professionals, to young international families. As far as the notion that North Beach is "scary"...ummm...you need to get out more. Yes, the Broadway strip joints are not my favorite part of the area, but hell...they cheapen the rent. If your idea of scary is North Beach, try visiting a country who's GDP is under 500. Overall, I'd say North Beach offers one of the best living experiences in the city. Great crowd, great businesses, great location...the one downfall is that parking is horrendously difficult. read more

I have made it a point to give out very few 5 stars because that's the highest compliment I can give here. And it's hard to give out a 5 star rating. But when it comes to my old neighborhood, I can't help but cave in. It deserves more than just 5 stars. Much more... The North Beach vibe is very laid back. You walk around the neighborhood and you can get a feeling of at ease, like time is slowing down just in that part of the City. Slow enough where people seem to mellow out more than others. I miss that...The Sunset is nice but not the same as my North Beach. The ease of life there. How easy it is to find great food and people. Nightlife and the risque scene all meld into one. Just becareful where you go... And the weather...How can you beat the weather? Never too hot like in some parts and the fog that rolls in isn't all that thick. Once in a while it's hot and maybe thick on the fog but the weather is just right most of the time. Man, I wish I could move back... read more

Love this place! Mel the Maitre D is wonderful. Makes you feel at home. Always gives samples of the House Sangiovese, mmmmm. Samy G the bartender is absolutely amazing. Such a handsome man too! Eye candy is always a good thing :) Definitely a tourist spot but if you want to impress a date with an old school authentic Italian vibe, this is definitely the spot. My favorites are the Lasagna (hand made) and anything with Veal. The white sauce is absolutely decadent but worth every caloric bite. Samy makes me a really good cocktail with champaigne and chambord. Dee-lish! Definitely will come back again and again like I already do read more

North Beach is one of my favorite, if not my absolute favorite SF neighborhood. I hope to live there someday. Much of the city is steeped in history, with new neighborhoods cropping up all the time. But North Beach still captures something special. You know when you've entered it and when you have left, it is unlike any other part of the city and at times can feel like its own little world, separate from the rest of SF. It's quaint and welcoming, the perfectly charming sort of neighborhood to stroll through on a sunny day. There are lots of cute boutiques and funky shops alike as well Italian cafes and restaurants. It's filled with all sorts of people. You'll see the same old drunken guys sitting on fold out chairs outside of a liquor store, the same platinum blonde new-mommies, the same homeless people, the same elderly doing tai chi at the crack of dawn, the same young people enjoying their Italian food, the same Italian hosts trying to lure you into their restaurant with "Bella, bella, bella..." At night, North Beach really comes alive. Sure, on Broadway there are some sleezy strip clubs and what not, but North Beach is a really fun place to go for drinks, dancing, dinner, whatever. What I love is that North Beach is so many things at once, comprised of so many different types of people it is impossible to stereotype. You can be a lively bar-hopper or a family playing with the dogs at the park. Something about the charm of North Beach has me completely enamored. I love this neighborhood so much. read more

As long as I avoid coming here on Sunday or Monday, I can obtain: 1. liguria bakery foccacia 2. coppa & prosciutto di parma from Molinari's 3. pastries & espresso from Mara's 4. crab salad from Palermo Delicatessen 5. amaretti & half-chocolate heart cookies from Victoria Bakery 6. a good meal and bottle of wine from Osteria del Forno And that makes me a happy girl. read more

I was so looking forward to dining here. I'd heard so many great things. Alas, that was not the case in terms of fare. Although the decor is quite old school (I felt as if I had stepped into a vintage movie set, circa 1960) I thought the food must be great, given what I had heard. Not so. So very predictable, what you would expect from a very old restaurant... Pretty bland, simply seasoned food. Which in itself is not bad, but given the prices... Not appropriate. A good friend dines there when her parents are in town. They love that place and it certainly has a following. It's just not where I would choose to go given there are so many other great restaurants in SF for the same or less money. read more