Came here to celebrate a friend's birthday and loved the cozy, intimate atmosphere. The table had a birthday note for her which was a nice touch. As for food, we had the warm focaccia with whipped ricotta and mortadella to start as well as the house greens. Both were good. We also shared 3 pastas (gnocchi carbonara, saffron risotto and chittara alle vongole) and the tuna puttanesca among the 4 of us. My favorite was the chittara alle vongole, but they all were solid dishes. We finished the night off with tiramisu, which was light and fluffy. I also had their Stemware at Dolores cocktail that was their spinoff of a martini. Loved it. Overall, we had an amazing night here catching up with great company and food. Thanks Ofena! read more

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Olena is exceptional.We discovered Ofena on a rainy Saturday in early March in the former Lakeside Cafe. My wife and I didn't realize that Lakeside Cafe had closed and were pleasantly surprised by this new culinary fund. We were welcomed by Josh who was extremely friendly, professional and helpful. We shared that we were at Stonestone Mall a few blocks trying to park unsuccessfully and headed to the nearby Lakeside neighborhood across 19th Avenue. Josh quickly took our order promptly. My wife inquired if he was the owner? He shared that he was relatively new in November 2023. Very impressive! We decided to share our selections the "Giacomo" a beautifully fried eggplant, grilled artichoke, marinated tomatoes, calabrian pepperonata, garlic aioli, arugula, sesame hoagie. It was perfect. Savory flavor and the hoagie made the sandwich rock! Our second selection was the Ricciardelli poached yellowfin tuna salad, iceberg lettuce, marinated tomatoes, red onion, oregano vinaigrette, sesame hoagie. It was simply delicious. We are looking forward to a future dinner! read more

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I celebrated my birthday here with a party of 18 and I'm so glad Ofena exceeded all my expectations! From what I could see online, it seemed like a pretty small space, but they actually have a room in the back that was able to comfortably seat my party. They had us at 2 tables, one table of 8 and one table of 10. Parking was easy to find on the street, so we all arrived and were seated around 6:15pm. Our server for the night is usually a bartender, but he did a great job with such a large party. My table ordered family style so we were able to try more items on the menu. We started with the focaccia, one with the garlic, balsamic, and olive oil and another with the whipped ricotta and mortadella. The focaccia was out of this world delicious, it was so light and fluffy with a sprinkling of salt on top. Both of the dips were really good as well, but I liked the ricotta and mortadella since it was a unique thing to see on a menu. For apps, we got the chilled artichokes, house greens, mushroom arancini, and the lamb skewers. I liked the artichokes and salad, everything tasted high quality and fresh. The lamb skewers were just okay, the meat was quite tough and chewy though the flavors were good. I didn't get to try the arancini but everyone that had it really liked it. For mains, we ordered the steak tagliata, 2 orders of the gnocchi carbonara, the seafood risotto, and the cannelloni for the vegetarian in our group. The steak was cooked perfectly, and topped with balsamic and flaky salt. The side of grilled broccolini was cooked nicely, with flavors of lemon and garlic coming through. The gnocchi were pillowy and not too thick, with a nice creamy sauce peppered with salty pockets of duck prosciutto. The seafood risotto was definitely my favorite main - it had such a depth in the seafood stock and the saffron risotto was cooked to creamy perfection and topped with snappy shrimp and calamari. The bite of the cannelloni I had was really good, pasta was cooked to perfection and the filling was creamy and flavorful topped with a bright tomato sauce. Off their drink menu, I highly recommend the Lost Boy and the C is for Cookie cocktails. The Lost Boy was a whiskey drink perfectly balanced with bitters, absinthe, prosecco, and a touch of tobacco. The C is for Cookie is Ofena's version of an espresso martini, and it was really good with the cookie butter whip. Our server also told us his salt and pepper martini was voted best in SF, so if you're a martini fan be sure to check this one out. The service was really good the entire night, attentive and thoughtful and I appreciated the team clearing plates and bringing out new cutlery after each course. The only strange thing was there was no comped dessert, even though they knew it was my birthday - if my group spends $1k at your restaurant, I would assume that a $10 dessert would be included for a celebration. There were no candles or anything on the dessert we did order, so that was the only thing that could have made the dinner perfect. The panna cotta was really delicious, some of the best I've ever had - with lemon curd, mandarin slices, and crunchy bits of meringue that added the best texture to the silky custard. Overall, it was a memorable dinner and I look forward to coming back again! read more

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I saw this place being reviewed by a lot of tiktok foodies, so I really wanted to try. Overall this place was okay. The food wasn't bad but I don't think there was anything spectacular about it. We were told the dishes are meant to be family style, but I don't think so. Portions looked to be the normal amount for 1 person. Gnocchi Carbonara: I was excited for the duck and I love carbonara. I thought the dish lacked flavor and maybe needed some pepper or something. The duck pieces were not bad just tasted like duck jerky. The crispy duck skin kind of gets lost in the sauce. It's not crispy anymore and texture soft like the gnocchi and sauce. This was my least favorite dish. Pork Bistecca Fiorentina: this was pretty juicy and tender. I was pleasantly surprised. I like that you got a side (which my bf chose the polenta). They had various different options for sides and I think it helps get the person full. My bf was probably the most satisfied out of the group. Luckily he did not get a pasta dish like he originally was going to because he would be left hungry. The polenta was fine and had good truffle flavor. Foccacia: Decent portion but wish it had more flavor. The focaccia was a bit in the dry side with a little salt on it. Definitely need to spend an extra $3 for the garlic balsamic oil. I would not get this again. The last two dishes I only tried a bite of. I felt the Rigatoni Bolognese tasted exactly how you would imagine. Nothing amazing or unique compared to other places. I enjoyed the Vongole. Probably the best most flavorful pasta out of the 3 ordered. Parking was pretty easy since it was storming so not too many people out. I don't think I would come back to try the restaurant again. There was nothing that made me intrigued to come back. I really wanted to love the place but for the pricing, portion and average flavor... I don't think it's worth another visit. I fear I fell into the influencer trap because it was hyped up. read more

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Perfect place for a gluten-free girly to catch up with friends who are craving pasta! Their Saffron Risotto is GF and delicious. Service was very quick. Restaurant is bright and not too loud -- love that we could hear each other across the table. Plenty of parking on a Monday night. read more

Ofena - Their Saffron Risotto is gluten free! - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This is a must try and yes, it is Yummy Certified. ChatGPT Ofena is a new gem in the neighborhood! Located on Ocean Ave, between Junipero and 19th Avenue, Ofena brings a different dining experience compared to others on the strip. Overall experience was fantastic. We dropped in for dinner on a Saturday night and received a table within minutes. The bar/lounge area is fairly large if you need to wait for a table, and the cocktails looked and tasted fantastic. House focaccia: light, fluffy, and fresh. We ordered it with the garlic spread and it did not disappoint. One of my favorite dishes. Lamb Arrosticini: Two lamb skewers served with a pepper sauce. The lamb still had a slight gamey taste, but the pepper sauce neutralized most of it. It was good to try, but I don't think I would order this again. Just not my brand of lamb. Saffron Risotto: Must-try! This dish was impressive because everything about it was cooked perfectly. Seafood was cooked just right, and the risotto had a satisfying texture with the saffron tying everything together. Steak Tagliata: Cooked perfectly to medium and tender. This one was served with aged balsamic. I generally prefer a simple salt/pepper strip, so this one was a pleasantly surprising change of pace. Yellowtail Tuna: Cooked rare and was very tender. Squeezing the charred lemon brought the dish together. Panna Cotta: We ended the meal with panna cotta, which was silky and served with mandarin orange meringue. Would definitely order this again. 5/5 Ofena charges a standard 20% tip on all bills and felt like it wasn't enough with the level of service provided. The restaurant is fully staffed, which resulted in very attentive service. They even wiped the table after each course. This is a must-try, and yes, it is Yummy Certified. read more

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I've been noticing a lot of neighborhood restaurants opening up lately and I am here for it. Ofena is one of those places that makes you want to come back and be a regular patron. The place is spacious with some booths as well as long tables for large groups. We were seated at the window which gave us a nice view both inside and outside. Our server was very friendly, checking in on us regularly, leaving us to feel attended to but not hovered over. I loved the delicata squash appetizer and the spaghetti with the rich beef sugo. The pork steak was very juicy and tasty. Food came out quickly and was well paced out. Next time I will try to save room for dessert. If you are looking for a solid Cal-Italian spot with a seasonal menu, this is a great place to check out. Parking is fairly easy. I'm looking forward to my next visit here. read more

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I was super excited a new restaurant was opening around my neighborhood! This used to be the old Lakeside Cafe and now it's newly renovated to be more elegant but also causal. Ofena is a great Italian spot by the owner of Ju-Ni and the Handroll Project. This place is pretty spacious and has been super busy since they opened. I recommend making reservations through Resy. I've been here a couple of times with my family and we think the service is great! They are friendly and also willing to answer any questions about the menu or drinks. APPETIZERS: -Warm Focaccia with Roasted garlic, olive oil, and aged balsamic ($8): Great starter! It came with around 6 pieces! I love the focaccia and spreading that roasted garlic on top! -Funghi Misti Arancini ($16): Came with 4 total Arancini balls! They are mushroom deep-fried risotto balls and they are a great starter as well! It is just the perfect bite! PASTAS: For all the pasta, our server warned us that the pasta dishes are of smaller size and I agree. -Gnocchi Carbonara ($29) came with duck prosciutto, pecorino, and salt-cured egg yolk grated. I've had this twice and one time it was perfect and the second time the gnocchi was a little grainy. -Saffron Risotto ($32) came with grilled shrimp & squid. I love the seafood that it came with but the risotto itself was slightly undercooked. The favorite was overall good! -Rigatoni alla Vongole ($28) came with clams in a butter lemon sauce. This is probably my favorite pasta dish. The clams were huge and I just enjoy a simple sauce. SECONDI ENTREES: All the Secondi entrees come with a choice of one side. The Secondi entrees are what I highly recommend. -Pork Bistecca Fiorentina ($34): The pork was perfectly cooked! It is definitely shareable. -Beef Steak Tagliata ($49): The steak was solid! You can't go wrong with a steak! -Today's Fish Picatta (MP): It was a seared yellowtail and it was my second favorite entree! It was seared and the middle was still slightly raw. -Fried Chicken Cotoletta ($29): Probably my favorite dish! The chicken cutlet was juicy and had a perfectly crispy outside SIDES: -Grilled Broccolini: Best side, you can't go wrong with a good broccolini with browned butter -Soft Polenta: It was pretty filling and I love a good truffle mascarpone -Crispy Smashed Potatoes: It came with a chili relish and it was my second favorite side -Romano Beans: It was in a red pomodoro sauce. I felt like it was slightly overcooked because I like my beans to have a slight crunch. DESSERTS: -Panna Cotta: The best dessert! It was silky and refreshing -Chocolate Tiramisu: Slightly disappointed because it felt like a twist on a tiramisu. It was more of a chocolate cake with espresso powder and cream. -Pumpkin Cannoli: It came with two cannolis and it was solid! Overall, I am definitely coming back for those entrees and appetizers! I do think the place is pretty pricey but I love to support a local spot. I've always had a great dining experience here and it's our go-to spot in the neighborhood. read more

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First of all, we wanted to try this place because they posted on their site that they have happy hour but didn't specify that's only in their bar and lounge area. Then we had the worst waitress in restaurant experience. Not only she had a very unhappy look on her face, she also had an attitude in her tone that we found very rude as if she didn't want us there or annoyed by something we didn't do. The food quality was ok, the best dish we had was the pork but everything else was overpriced for the portion they gave us. We were automatically charged a 20% service on top of 5% health fee because we had more than 6 people. It would totally be fine if we had great service. We definitely will not go again. read more

The service was 5 stars! They replaced our place after each course and were amazing for that. I cannot rave enough about the focaccia. This was incredible and a must try!! The anchovy + olive oil worked so well with it. The focaccia was crispy and divine. It was shockingly good! The gnocchi with duck was great I'd order this again! A bit salty but the gnocchi texture was perfect. The steak and the spaghetti and meatballs were standard , not anything to rave about! Was definitely expecting more from the steak which was not very tender. Broccolini was amazing and I could've skipped on the squash. Tiramisu was a great dessert to tie it over - don't sleep on this! Overall great new restaurant and cute ambiance for a dinner. read more

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We chose Ofena based on Yelp, which listed the restaurant as dog-friendly, and even called ahead to confirm. We were told dogs were welcome. Upon arrival, the host "checked with the manager" and informed us dogs were not allowed, even if they were in a stroller. We were turned away on the spot. It was disappointing to receive conflicting information after making the effort to confirm in advance. Clear and consistent communication goes a long way in creating a welcoming experience. Unfortunately, we didn't find that here. read more

Service was a little slow at first but the food came out fairly quickly, everything was very good we will definitely return read more

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Great neighborhood restaurant with spot-on service and food. We went with a mix of kids, parents, and grandparents and there was something for everyone. It felt like we ordered half the menu, so I won't go over everything, but the highlights were the focaccia, beet salad, and saffron risotto. We also went on a Thursday and found out they have 50% off bottles of wine every Thursday, which was an unexpected plus. Food aside, the service was spot-on. They provided a water carafe for the table, but the staff were attentive and refilled the water (and wine) without needing to be asked. Another detail that I appreciated was changing the silverware between the appetizer and main course. We will be returning in the near future and look forward to another great meal at Ofena. read more

I appreciate a fine dining chef opening a restaurant in San Francisco, but the west side (and especially sleepy Lakeside Village) is not the place to do so. We went on a rainy Saturday night and the restaurant was half full, 1/3 families, 1/3 older folks and 1/3 foodie types. It's a strange layout with two seating areas flanking the bar (ask for a better seat if they to sit you by the kitchen). The interior is sleek and modern and they did a nice remodel. Parking is easy and Resy reservations were easy to make. No free bread at this place, so we opted for an upscale fried mozzarella instead of foccacia, which was cheesy goodness ($14). The marinara served with it was quite spicy. Next up was the "deconstructed" artichoke dish, which was bland with only one artichoke heart cut in half with greens and sliced red pepper ($18). It badly needed an aioli to dip and more artichoke. Definite miss and I would skip it. We both opted for pastas, knowing it would be fairly small. Husband had rigatoni with clams in a butter sauce, which was good but he counted 8 clams ($28). I had the gnocchi carbonara, which was quite good, with chunks of duck prosciutto on top ($29). They were pretty light yet filling so enough for a meal. We completed the meal with a panacotta ($11), served with lemon curd and mandarin orange slice, which was quite good. We each had two glasses of Failla Chardonnay ($18/each) which added up, but they had a decent pour. They add an automatic 20% gratuity and though they tell you, there is still an option for additional tips on the credit card checkout. Total bill was $228 for two people and we were still hungry upon leaving. Though the food was good, I don't think we will be back. If I pay $100+/head for small portions and two glasses of wine, I'm going downtown for fine dining in a nicer neighborhood. They need to read the room and adjust their menu and pricing to succeed. read more

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My husband mentioned that this restaurant opened, so we booked a reservation since we were going to the city. Restaurant sits on Ocean Avenue, illuminated with an orange neon sign. We got there a little early and got seated momentarily. We had a party of 4 so we shared a couple of dishes. Pane 1) Foccacia with Butter and Anchovies - we loved the foccacia so much we ordered another. The butter and anchovies was also good. Needs more anchovies. Antipasti 2) Yellowfin Tuna Crudo - Unfortunately I don't know if the fish and prosciutto worked in this dish. I like them both as separate entities in a dish I guess. It's sweet yet salty. Prime 3) Saffron Risotto - The squid in this dish was quite good but the risotto was a bit salty. Prime 4) Gnocchi Carbonara - Though it was good, this was also quite salty. I actually used some foccacia to eat part of my portion. Secondi 5) Pork Bistecca Fiorentina - My husband had mentioned this dish was highlighted in the recent article, so we ordered it. I will say no comment as I am not a fan of this cut of pork usually. It was good but wasn't special. My husband did say he liked this better than the steak. Secondi 6) Bone-in Beef Steak Tagliata - You can't really mess up a steak but my party wasn't feeling the balsamic on it. I liked this better than the pork though. Contorni (comes with Secondi) 7) Grilled Broccolini - I think I personally like broccolini and the char gave it nice flavor. Contorni 8) Heirloom Summer Squash Caponata - I actually loved this. This was actually one of the more flavorful dishes in my opinion .. Dessert 7) Tiramisu - Not quite a tiramisu but the essence of one on a chocolate cake. It was good but so decadent, so I'm glad it was shared. Service was great at the beginning, but as it got more busy it was harder to catch the servers attention. She was very nice though. I'm a bit sad that the best thing we ate was probably the focaccia. I know they're a newer restaurant so I may attempt to come back later in the future. Their fish of the day sounded enticing and I wish we had ordered that. Service: 3.5/5 - Ambiance: 4/5 - Food: 3/5 - Price: 3/5 read more

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Grabbed dinner with friends after works and everything was super tasty and great portions. Loved the service and ambience in the store. My favorite is the steak! read more

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We went as a family and the pastas and salads were so fresh everyone was happy and chatty from the first bites. The portions were generous which to me is nice when you're eating family style. It's the type of fare where it doesn't sit heavy, but it's not light on flavor. I normally don't like marinara because it's often so acidic but I wish they would bottle Ofena's and sell it. It was that good. We actually sat at the bar which I might even do again when I come back with my mom. She's not a drinker but the bartender made us almost feel like we were being hosted by family. And my mom will just love it. It was the perfect balance of relaxed hospitality but also space. Actually that epitomized the experience for me, refined and relaxed hospitality with food you can come back to again and again, especially since the menu changes each week. read more

The Pranzo Speciale was perfect amount of food for lunch. It came with a half sandwich of your choice, a cup of soup, and a small house salad. The soup of the day was corn bisque and it was delicious - just the right amount of sweetness and creaminess. The salad was tasty and fancier than your run of the mill house salad. I ordered the strawberry Italian soda and paid an extra dollar to add cream. It was so yummy! For dessert we shared the chocolate tiramisu. The cake was moist and it wasn't too sweet. I'd definitely come here again. The staff was friendly and the restaurant felt spacious, clean and comfortable. read more

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Great food Great atmosphere Great service! We loved our experience. Love the location in a great neighborhood. read more

Reservations: easy on open table First impressions and decor: clean, spacious, fun framed posters of people eating pasta Food: no misses here! We savored every sip and bite from the blood orange non-alcoholic cocktail to the warm focaccia and classic Caesar for starters to the bone-in beef steak and fried chicken cotoletta for mains. Would recommend adding extra pasta to the rigatoni if sharing. We finished up with the chocolate tiramisu - done perfectly Service: attentive with frequent check-in's, tableware changes, water refills Next time: coming back for lunch! read more

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Nice renovated restaurant at ocean near 19th..I visited with a community group ..sandwich and tomato soup ..as well as an Italian soda..special pistachio cannoli ...19th and ocean ..lakeside ...super fun comped meal read more

Really lovely new Italian place! The ambience is nice and service was very friendly and food came out pretty quickly. The focaccia is so delicious, as were the other items we tried. Favorites were probably the clam pasta, the grilled peaches, and the flatbread/pizza. Prices are definitely reasonable for the amount and quality of food you get. Desserts and drinks were tasty as well. Particularly recommend the strawberry basil Italian soda with cream as a non-alcoholic option! read more

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I LOVE this place. The food and drinks are delicious. Highly recommend. Great addition to the neighborhood. Really great ambiance and atmosphere as well. read more

We ordered the saffron risotto, beef steak tagliata, gnocchi carbona, vongole, and several other items. The food were great! The beef was amazing, very juicy, moist, and you can taste the beef! I always love risotto and it was amazing with saffron. The gnocchi was a little too tender for our prefernce. We came early around 5:30 pm, so it was quiet and it was extra nice. read more

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Excellent food, very attractive interior. Good service. They still have the old sign, which is a bit confusing.

This was a surprise! Lakeview has some solid restaurants but this was way above par for the hood. Nice modern decor and spacious but cozy. Plenty of street parking too. Service was very nice and staff were very friendly and helpful. Gotta try the C is for cookie cocktail. Bit sweet but dam tasty. For starters, the focaccia was fresh and comes with olive oil and vinegar. Great tasting and light. The house green salad was very nice but slightly overdressed for my taste. The margherita flatbread was also solid. But my two faves were the gnocci carbonara and the bone-in beef steak tagliata. My mouth is still watering. Save some room for dessert too. The panna cotta is on point. read more

Ofena - C is for Cookie - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came to Ofena for Mother's Day and left disappointed. Pros: -Easy parking -Tiramisu! Easily the best thing on the menu and this is coming from a savory eater. Cons: -Extremely SLOW service. The dinner was almost 2 hours which should not be the case for such an establishment. The service did not apologize for how slow dishes were coming out and just tried to upsell us on ordering more drinks. -25% min gratuity? This was the lowest option on the Toast POS. Yes, you can press "Custom" but I had never seen the threshold so high on the pre-set amounts. BEWARE of this. -Check your bill. We got some coupons for a free glass of Prosecco and they charged us for it. The waiter was apologetic but check your bill to make sure everything is correct. -From my understanding nothing is house-made.... that was disappointing as there is nothing that differentiates this place. At least have a house-made pasta if you are serving pasta! -Small portions/high prices. A plain salad was $16! I researched this place after I dined here and saw lots of IG hype around it. Take social media with a grain of salt, they are probably being paid to promote the restaurant. read more

Hidden gem alert! Homey Italian cuisine. Ambiance was cozy, minimal, yet warm and inviting. Perfect for date night or intimate gatherings. Our waitress (I believe Amy) was attentive and meticulous. We had interesting requests and she accommodated without any judgment. Well-trained staff who kept it professional-- everyone from the bartender, hostess, to the kitchen staff. Food was delicious! Authentic Italian food that doesn't leave you feeling bloated or overwhelmed. The flavor profiles were PERFECTLY BALANCED. For carb lovers, the fresh focaccia bread with garlic basil balsamic vinegar is just *chef's kiss*. Peach salad didn't have greens but we were so happy with the elements that somehow paired extremely well together. The steak was succulent and cooked to perfection--a slightly charred rosemary scent hit my senses before the dish was even delivered. Words can't even explain the type of simple yet meticulous execution of each dish. Lastly, we wrapped up with the Tiramisu-- not the traditional kind. It was made with decadent chocolate cake/soufflé. I look forward coming back and trying their seasonal menu and other items. 10/10 would recommend! read more

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we went for my birthday and the table had a Happy Birthday and a card, which was thoughtful. they don't give anything extra for birthdays besides those that i mentioned. it was kinda frustrating because we waited exactly 1 hour for our main food to come out. they served the beets immediately but that was it and we were very hungry. and we were just a party of 2, so it's not like we ordered for a huge group. service - the waiter seemed friendly but there was an odd encounter in which he just checked my ID and then proceeded to ask whose birthday it is. maybe he was just tired that day lol. food- we ordered steak, pork, volgole, beans, beet salad, rosé. steak - they recommend medium rare. it was cooked well but seems like it's sitting on a cup of butter. it was very very milky butter tasting. pork - a bit on the dryer side. the flavors were prevalent but it felt like the seasoning was random. vongole - very buttery but probably one of the better dishes. beans - they're the big beans and it has a kick of spice. i like spicy, so this was one of the better ones too. beet salad - they ricotta cheese didn't do anything for me. the beets were huge chunks like 1.5inches wide. it just tasted like i was eating peeled beets. not much flavor. overall, the food wasn't bad but i had higher expectations. especially since it was my special day and we don't usually go out to eat at "fancy" places. i don't think i would recommend this place to any of my friends. raised in the city, im all for supporting local businesses but i have to be honest with my review. i hope they take in some of feedback. read more

First time there and won't be the last. Great addition to Lakeside Village. We went for lunch, will try dinner next. Food was great, drinks were very creative and the service was very good. Highly recommend this place. read more

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I can definitely see Ofena being the biggest new Italian restauraunt in San Francisco because this place was incredible on my first visit here. The service, ambiance, and food were all perfect. This restauraunt can get pretty busy and it was a 20-25 minute wait for my table as a walk in so I definitely recommend booking a reservation. All the staff working there are very friendly and welcoming which is a huge plus. Their dinner menu is also very unique, but also not overwhelming to look at. Our waitress gave us recommendations and was very patient and answered any questions about the menu. For appetizers we ordered the Brown Butter Roasted Persimmon ($16), Vitello Tonnato ($18), and Warm Focaccia with Roasted Garlic, Olive Oil, and Balsamic ($8 total). Their appetizers and focaccia bread are all a 10/10. The portions aren't massive, but they're more quality over quantity. The focaccia is so good even by itself, but the roasted garlic that you can mash with the balsamic vinegar and olive oil was filled with so much flavor. The roasted garlic really adds to it and is worth the extra $3. The Brown Butter Roasted Persimmon was so unique and I honestly never thought about having it in a salad. It came with maitake, parsley-pecan pesto, pepato, arugula and all those ingredients really made this one of the best salad dishes I've had. The Vitello Tonnato had veal and chickory & parsley salad, crispy capers, meyer lemon. It had a really nice tangy citrus flavor and it was delicious as well. For the entrees I had to get the Bone-in Beef Steak Tagliata ($49) after seeing so many photos posted of it and we also got the Saffron Risotto ($32). The Beef Steak was so tender and cooked a perfect medium rare. The balsamic reduction takes a lot of effort to make and they made it perfectly for this steak and this was one of the best steaks I've had at a restauraunt. It also comes with a side and we chose the creamy polenta and it was soooo good. It came with truffle and the truffle flavor is powerful, but compliments the smooth creaminess of the polenta. It was also delicious and I would highly recommend this side. The Saffron Risotto was good and came with poached shrimp & squid, fennel agrodolce, calabrian chili. The seafood was incredibly fresh and cooked perfectly. The risotto itself I personally felt was more sour than I would like, but overall I still enjoyed the dish and how good the shrimp and squid was. For dessert was the Tiramisu ($11) and A Couple Cannoli ($11). I notice the cannoli changes as they stated that the menu has some changes seasonally. During my visit the cannoli had pumpkin mascarpone, spiced pepitas, candied hazelnuts, brown butter snow. Very unique flavors and if you love pumpkin spice flavors like a Starbucks fanatic that runs for a Pumpkin spice latte when it's fall season then this is a great dessert choice. The tiramisu is also strong on the rum which might not be for everyone, but I enjoyed it. Ofena also recently started serving lunch from 11am-2pm where they have sandwiches, greens, and their soups of the day. I will definitely be coming back to Ofena in the future and it was a 11/10 experience. read more

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Memorable food, great service! My friend and I lucked out and visited Ofena during restaurant week. We did the tasting menu. Stellar dishes. I was surprised by the panna cotta, usually not my go to dessert but this one was so refreshing and delicious. Friendly staff. read more

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Waiter was super nice, didn't have to ask for anything. Everything was decorated well and had a nice vibe. Food was DELICIOUS read more

Ofena - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I was so looking forward to trying out the risotto and pastas after looking on yelp and came here for lunch. So imagine my disappointment, when I discovered they only serve sandwiches for lunch!!! Not a single pasta dish was on the lunch menu but nonetheless since we were there, we ordered the sandwiches. Sandwiches were priced at $16 each and came with some pickled relish to compliment the sandwich. The sandwiches were good but much preferred pasta and risotto. Our bill included 5% mandate and 20% service charge. Seems we were the only table during lunch on Saturday, probably due the rain but the service was good. Easy parking today. Will have to return again for dinner. read more

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I drive by here every day on my way to work and I never noticed there was a little gem of an Italian restaurant. I came here on a weekend night and was informed that they were fully booked out but they had seating at the bar. Sat down at the bar and we were promptly greeted and serviced. I got the limoncello cocktail (I forgot what it was called and their menu online hasn't been updated) and the rigatoni pasta. The pasta was probably one of the best pasta I have had in the city. It was super flavorful, not overwhelming, and good amount of clams. My only complaint is that the portion is on the smaller side because I finished the whole plate...which is very uncommon for me. The cocktail was delicious and strong. The service here was great. Very attentive and quick. No complaints. I almost hate that I love this place because it's a little on the pricey side but I highly recommend Ofena and will be back! read more

Ofena - Rigatoni - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

The food is good, the staff is pleasant. The ambiance is descent, not pretentious, this a good place to unwind after a crazy week. The drinks are very good! Street parking is available and it can be a challenge. read more

Holy cannoli! Came here twice in a week because it's that good. First time we dined in and had table service for three of us. The staff immediately greeted us with recommendations of the menu for food and drink. We started off with some cocktails- the Stemware at Dolores Martini, and a new addition which was basically a white Negroni. They were delish. For starters we ordered the focaccia bread and the fried mozzarella Carozza with a house made marinara. Both were an amazing way to start a meal. We shared the Bolognese and Gnocchi Carbonara with duck. Both packed with flavor. The Bologense tasted like I was at someone's house in Italy. We ended with the pistachio cannolis. The mascarpone was so soft and it wasn't too sweet. A perfect balance. It was so good I didn't even have time to take a picture. The second time we came we sat at the bar. It was a cool vibe to chat with the bartenders and watch the warriors game. The.l bar program should not be overlooked. We ordered the Lost Boy and the C is for Cookie. Both were delicious. I've never had a Manhattan with anise and Prosecco, but it worked. We again got the focaccia, this time with whipped ricotta and mortadella. It was amazing. We also used the bread to dip in the leftover sauce of the chilled artichoke. We shared the fried chicken and polenta as our entree. The polenta might be the best I ever had. The chicken was awesome, too. Perfectly crispy and juicy, and smothered with Calabrian chilis. Great flavor, not too spicy. We ended with that tiramisu, and once again might be the best I've had. The cake was moist and had the perfect balance of sweetness. I'll be back until I go through the whole menu. I'm looking forward to seeing this place evolves a great addition to the neighborhood! read more

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Ofena would be competitive in the heart of North Beach so it's nice to have it just a few blocks from Stonestown. Went for a Wednesday night dinner with a friend. The vibe was casual but elegant - upscale decor combined with friendly and efficient staff. Nice selection of appetizers and, unusually, really interesting vegetable sides - camponata, green beens, broccolini, etc. They offered many traditional Italian dishes -gnocchi, risotto, pasta, lasagne, etc. What was notable was that each one had a slightly unusual twist. I ordered lasagna and my friend ordered the pork. We shared a side of camponata. The camponata was unusual and unusually good. The first thing I noticed about the lasagna was the extremely high quality of the cheese melted on top. Underneath were layers of mushrooms, spinach and noodles that all melded together into one incredible dish. My friend had a huge portion of roast porked and let out a contented sigh at the end. We had cannoli for desert. Crunchy obviously house made shells with a pistachio/ricotta filling. Really good. Overall high quality food, great atmosphere, friendly staff and the parking is easy. I will definitely be back. read more

Ofena is a hidden gem in the Sunset District of SF. Had the Swiss Chard lasagna. Excellent. A different twist on lasagna. The Expresso Martini was very tasty. Soft polenta Romano Beans Squash Componata Gigante Beans and Chocolate Tiramisu and Cannoli were all fantastic. Would recommend this place. Excellent would go back again. Service was very attentive and Ambiance very low key. read more

3.5 Stars, I want to give it 4 stars and will return to check it out and hopefully will update my review. I recommend this place as it is a fantastic addition to this area that was lacking a nice Italian restaurant option. It's really the only "nice" restaurant in the neighborhood, so glad we have an option nearby. The decor was nice, and it's a very large space in the former Lakeside Cafe space. The bar area separates the two dining areas and the large windows let in natural light though the lighting could be improved (either add lighting for each table or something similar). Service was OK. Not bad but felt odd. Our server explained the "shared plates" concept and answered our questions about some of the offerings. It felt awkward and didn't help me get a sense of what was on the menu. The whole interaction felt a little smug and weird. Another server brought us a lunch menu after he heard me asking if the same dishes from dinner were offered at lunch. I thought this was spot on attentiveness. The food: Antipasti- the chilled artichokes-disappointing. More appropriate as part of a antipasti dish but not stand alone. It was cachectic and flavors were ok. I was anxious about how the rest of our meal would be after trying this. We shared the Chitarra alle Vongole- clams with Meyer lemon, butter, chile and parsley. Seasoned well- almost too salty but I thought it was delicious . But this is not something you could share. Portion was too small and for $32 I expect more. Delfina's pricey pasta portions are larger and have a similar price point-and shareable. Reconsider the portion size, and/or reduce the price especially if you are promoting a shared concept. Fried Chicken Cotoletta: I'm not vegan but eat mostly plant based foods. This was a quarter sized chicken (not sure what kind of bird this is but it was smallish) It was juicy and crispy and well seasoned. The pepporonata that accompanied it was ok. A bit bitter and didn't enhance the flavor-but the chicken was cooked perfectly and definitely made up for the size of the pasta and the sad antipasti dish. The secondi comes with a side of your choice and we picked the grilled broccolini- it was a great pairing and generously portioned. The tiramisu and affogato nothing to write home about. Tiramisu too sweet and overpowered any other flavor that may have been in it. Affogato : the ice cream was a frozen ball and the espresso had no crema on top and when poured over the cold Ice cream, it became instantly cold. At the end of the meal, my husband and I both decided we would come back and try other items for dinner and also try the lunch. The food was good and despite some of the hiccups, I could tell by looking around a to the tables that people were enjoying themselves and their dishes looked tasty. Lastly the drinks were great. A whisky sour type cocktail was delicious and the Prosecco was poured with love. read more

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