I dined here on Wednesday prior to attending a concert at the historic Castro Theatre. The food was amazing including the scallops and pasta (all made here) We had the best waitress. She was attentive. This place is great for a fri de get together or a date. Highly recommended read more

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Food: * Bread - 5/5 soft bread I don't know if they make the bread in house but it was delicious! * Olive oil - 5/5 giving this its own item because the olive oil was that good. * Paccheri allo spades in puttanesca (swordfish pasta) - 3.5/5 there wasn't enough protein for me and the olives threw off my pallet while the sauce was spicy. * Salad - 5/5 recommend its crunchy and had oranges. * Lemon cake (there is a fancier name I just don't recall) - 5/5 a nice pallet cleanser at the end with the espresso martini chefs kiss. Drinks: * (Cadillac) Espresso martini - yummy portion size: well sized portions service: Staff is really sweet and attentive - our server matched our vibe too so really enjoyed that. Ambiance: great for any group. we had a party of 4 and sat near the bar in a corner space - tbh my fav spot in the restaurant. Parking: Street parking Payment: apple pay and card are both options. not sure about cash read more

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Had an absolutely amazing night here at Poesia, starting off with finding easy street parking downstairs. The immediate vibe we got walking in was artsy and cozy, and a bit of mysterious. Super good spot for meeting friends or a nice date! We came here with a toddler and service provided to us was amazing, not only did they have this nice toddler chair pulled out right away, they also provided option of kid pasta (pasta with butter and tomato sauce) which my toddler loved! We really liked the Sardine Alla Griglia appetizer: Monterey Bay fresh sardines, stuffed with breadcrumbs and Romano cheese over spicy broccolini - it was quite interesting and super flavorful. I have not had this dish anywhere else before so was a nice surprise! I also personally really liked the Agnolotti Al Plin: homage pinched pasta, veal-rabbit-pork filling, veal reduction - super rich in cheese flavors, and the pasta has this great chewy texture. The Paccheri Allo Spada in Puttanesca was also really good if you like spicy and tomato based sauce. Overall I was super impressed with the pasta texture, and the great flavors they provide here. Wasn't able to try the wines but I think they have really good selections cause I saw neighboring tables order by the bottles! Cocktail wise we had this old fashioned drink which was super tasty. My biggest satisfaction was the service provided despite us having a toddler join us for the meal. The staff were accommodating and did not give us weird looks when we asked for plastic utensils etc. I will be looking to come back and dine again! read more

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Wonderful to discover this cafe opened at One Post as I came up from Bart Montgomery station. Specialties space has been empty for years. Great chai latte and a croissant. We needed this. Delicious food and great atmosphere. I highly recommend! read more

Poesia - Large assortment of goodies. - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

It was a cool evening and we had made reservations in and we showed up on time and got seated promptly. What was interesting? Is that at the front of the house but they escorted us through the narrow Lively kitchen to the back patio area which has much more seating. They've arranged it so that every table is well heated, and I have to say the service in the delivery of the meals was prompt accurate, and a delight. Italian food that one might expect from authentic Italian restaurant . Also a good choice for those that are less initiated with actual Italian cuisine, but if you really wanna explore authentic dishes that are exceptional this is the place for you. It has nice artwork, unique surroundings and is central to the Castro area, which is always Incredible. our starter was a sardine dish and a sliced tenderloin with a tuna sauce, which was very rich, but very edible and rare to find out a menu. We chose on the gnocchi in the special, which was these pillows of pasta handmade with beef and pork and a very light sauce, which was so delicate In balance. We got such ample proportions. We really didn't have room for dessert, unfortunately but we did get some of each of the dishes to take home. The next day there were still these delicious morsels left for us and just was able to rekindle this memory of this lovely evening there. read more

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Absolutely delicious and service is incredible. Sat on outside patio and the ambiance was amazing. Walk through kitchen to the oasis. So authentic Italian read more

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Poesia 5 years ago was so amazing. What happened? Our server spoke zero english. Nobody to shadow with her to help. Our orders were all messed up and we sent food back which I RARELY DO! I informed the manager we had a show at 730 at about 640 pm only to receive our food at 720. No birthday acknowledgment for my husbands birthday. No refills on water and about 7 items including drinks that were sent back due to it being wrong. Way overcooked and Pasta way too Al Dente. We really sided with the waitress and wanted her to do well, she was trying! We see they just threw her in there. A very poor decision. Our meal for 4 was almost $500. I was ripped off. read more

My favorite neighborhood space. Elegant Italian comfort food and high end cocktails. As a regular I'm biased but all the staff have made me feel like family. There are so few places in the Castro where you can sit and have a craft cocktail and a bite at the bar. Not to mention a table for a special event to impress friends and family. If you're a visitor and want to see how the Castro community lives come here. read more

What a beautiful place. The food is excellent, and service is friendly and welcoming. This is a place that you will want to go back to again and again. We felt that the waitstaff had a hospitality that we don't see very often anymore. Food was presented beautifully and was delicious. The menu is varied, and each item was delicious. We also went with a group of people, and were able to share and try more menu items. This place is wonderful. read more

Poesia - Eggplant parmigiana and friends - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Great place! We sat in the back patio and had to walk through the kitchen to get there which I thought was cool and the chefs all greeted us and were friendly. The patio was very cute and decorated well. Both pastas were yummy and I really liked the texture of the pastas. We also got the olive oil tasting appetizer which was good, but I personally couldn't tase a difference between the three :0 that may just be me. Overall I enjoyed. read more

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Food was good but did not feel very hot when it came to our table. The service did not seem that attentive. Overall we really did enjoy our dinner but it was average in both flavor and service. read more

Absolutely delicious food!! I had the ravioli di ricotta di pecora and my husband had the pappardelle verdi al ragu della nonna. Honestly, the best Italian food I've had in quite a while. Our server was knowledgeable, charming, and attentive. The atmosphere was comfortable and friendly. We'd go back in a heartbeat! read more

Always good food and service. Miss the lamb shank on the previous menu though. Convenient location near Castro read more

As the holidays are near watch out for Poesia Restaurant, can not handle busy crowds. Horrible experience on Valentine's Day. My partner and I were there over 2 hours, never got our food, we paid for our cocktailsand left. Spoke with manager, didn't really care. Granted they were busy, but lousy PR in my opinion. It was late and not able to have a nice dinner with my heartbeat. Just be ware if they are busy. read more

Favorite was the agnolotti. The pasta sauce was well made but oversalted. The tagliatelle was also quite salty. The restaurant itself felt intimate, cozy, and private. Our waiter was great and would check up on on every now and then. read more

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Legit Italian food in a quirky fun atmosphere in the Castro. 4.5 stars Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere::4 Opentableable: no but resy Return worthiness: yes! Eve award: best agnolotti Highlights: - Agnolotti: rabbit veal pork in pockets with a thin yet super tasty gravy. So good it's hard to fo the description justice. 5 stars - Bolognese: fresh spinach pasta with unctuous meat sauce. Delectable. 4.75 stars - Scallops over squid in polenta: so well executed. Scallops cooked perfectly to stay delicate. 4.75 stars - Chicken Cacciatore: tender and super tasty. Surprise hit. Halved tiny potatoes were crispy with caramelized edges. 4.5 stars - Burrata with artichokes: hunk of cheese in the middle surrounded by soft artichokes. Kudos for a different pairing with this rich cheese. 4.25 stars - Vegetables (Giardino di verdure) pure and simple with nice variety prepared well to maintain the crispiness of the vegetables. 4.25 stars - Pork: covered in guanciale was great too. Same potatoes as the chicken. 4 stars - Halibut: thin chunky slice on top of greens was solid. 4 stars - Wine: nice selection and enjoyed our bottles the owner helped us pick out. - Service: very friendly and welcoming. Owner was full of energy and graciousness for us being there. Loved the you are like family vibe. - Happy hour til 6:30 everyday: we didn't get to partake but it's great it extends til weekends. - Atmosphere: bit kitchy with intentionally mismatched decor but in a I have a fun personality way. By our table behind the bar, there was a tiny version of A Christmas Story's leg lamp! Lowlights: - Tiramisu: mostly cream and not much else like the typical layered dessert with more flavors. 3 stars Loved this restaurant and will be back. read more

Poesia - Scallops over squid in polenta: so well executed. Scallops cooked perfectly to stay delicate. 4.75 stars - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Cute little italian spot in the castro! I went on a wednesday evening and the place was pretty full. I admire the event coordination with Dining Out with Life. The server was sweet and patient. The Capesante en Saor, delicious!! 5/5 the flavors were amazing with the caramalized pickled onion as a garnish was top notch. The scallop was plump and tasty. We also got the Paccheau Con Pomodoro E Burrata which was a touch bland. Other than that, a cute spot for a date night! read more

Was grabbing dinner with some friends on a Friday night and this place had same day reservations available. We got seated right away and decided to order some drinks to start. Drinks were pretty good, but nothing really stood out as amazing. For food we ordered the crostini with brie and apples to start, the pappardelle, the fusilli, and the gnocchi. The food took really long to come out and the restaurant wasn't that crowded when we ordered. The pasta was good but not the best I've had in the city. For the price and wait time it seemed like it would be some amazing pasta but it was just okay. Good to try once but I don't think I'll be coming back. read more

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What an amazing place! I went with someone who is a regular and it really was a transcendent experience. The food, service and atmosphere are wonderful. It really feels as if you are in someone's living room - so comfortable and homey in the best possible way. Had a tasting menu of bruschetta, scallops over squid risotto cake, ravioli with sheep's ricotta and agnolotti with rabbit finished off with a walnut panettone. Everything was outstanding and the Ellis Island cocktail to start, Nebbiolo wine through dinner and an espresso martini to finish were exactly perfect with the meal. Delicious and welcoming. read more

Such a cute place with delicious food and great service. I absolutely love sitting at the bar as it's got such good energy. They have a gluten free pasta and most of the pasta dishes work. Also other things on the menu that are gluten free that I haven't tried because love the pasta so much! read more

One of my favorite cute Italian restaurants in SF! I love how cute and family friendly this place is. The waiter always helps with the menu and sometimes even the italian words that are harder to pronounce. The food is amazing and i love ordering the cheese platter as a starter. The ambiance is the best part for me. read more

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I've had really good luck getting a table at this place even on weekend nights. Table for one. The wine list is spectacularly quirky with all kinds of Italian delicacies. I've never had a bad dish here -- but I recently had a truly outstanding gnocchi dish in a prawn and lobster sauce that was so good I wanted another bowl of the sauce to enjoy. The prawns were cut into pieces about the size of ehe gnocchi so you never quite knew whether prawn or dumpling was in the form. So good. read more

Blindly agreed to this place because of restaurant week but after seeing the RW menu I decided against it and ordered a La carte. 4/5 - Crostini pate di fegatini - pretty good appetizer but maybe too much pate, but still good 3/5 - Burrata - wasn't anything great. Would've preferred with tomatoes instead 3/5 - I salads con mele - I liked the blue cheese on it 4/5 - Special fish : snapper - pretty good and over a bed of beans. Never had a thing like this before. 1/5 - I forget the actual name but it looked like beef stroganoff - too Al dente and not good 1/5 - Tiramisu - reminded me of vienetta and not impressed read more

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We had a little more private experience where we went through the kitchen, nods and mental fist bumps to the kitchen staff, and outside to another seating area Our server was kind of rushing us through our order which was a little off putting. We ordered the starters Burrata and Toast with pate, which were absolutely amazing. The pate was extremely rich and I had to take well spaced bites. No usual wolfing down of food could be done here. Burrata was soft and lovely The gnocchi though was super potato forward. It claimed it contained octopus but there were barely any pieces in there and they also tasted like potato. Potato potato potato. Honestly, hard to finish and not worth the price point at all Wont be back but if you are around, their starters are great! read more

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We went there for Christmas Eve diner with families. Great service and very family friendly vibes. The food is delicious but not the best in SF. read more

Food is great and the pasta was fresh. They play cute old Italian movies in the restaurant, which is nice and cozy. Staff was attentive. Check it out! read more

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An absolute authentic Italian gem tucked away in the Castro. From food to ambiance, this place doesn't miss a beat. Sporting a great happy hour menu, delectable pastas, and the best tiramisu I've ever had, this spot is perfect for a night out or to fulfill that comfort food craving. I'd recommend starting off with wine and fried calamari, of course the pomodoro and burrata pasta, and finishing with an espresso martini or pour of grappa, and the delicious tiramisu. There isn't a bad bite to be found on this menu, nor is there a bad seat in the house. read more

I went here for my belated birthday dinner with a friend and I hadn't been in awhile. I was impressed with the very attentive service and the food and ambiance was just lovely. It's like stepping into your fun auntie's living room and being served delicious Italian cuisine. read more

A friend recommended Poesia, so we tried it for dinner. The Italian selections on the menu were as expected, and we thoroughly enjoyed everything we ordered. It helped that our servers recommended her favorites. The pasta is gray, the sauces well done. Nothing was too rich or heavy, which is often a problem with restaurant pasta sauces. Presentation was also fantastic, and the atmosphere of the inside of the restaurant had spectacular lighting with an eclectic mixture of furnishings. I returned a few days later to meet a friend for coffee and found a very different but equally impressive experience. Italian pasties and desserts, plus yummy looking sandwiches and focaccia. Welcoming, casual vibe. It's a great place to sit and chat, offering indoors or out. We enjoyed the people watching and top notch lattes, will definitely go back. read more

Poesia - Could this be any prettier? Burrata crostini - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Delicious food, I loved my sun-dried tomato and rosemary quiche, the added greens and tomatoes were a perfect touch setting it apart .

Well my review is based on the private room downstairs of the restaurant so my experience will be different from those who ate upstairs in the main dinning room which looked cozy like someone's home. Downstairs private room felt like a garage with a long bar and a restroom that was not sound proof at all. So much for privacy when people can hear you flushing and opening the garbage can inside. It's good for a big group with nice decorations and furniture. I personally wouldn't come back. I didn't pay for this dinner, so I can give you my thoughts about this French restaurant. Yes quality food is there. The only three standout dishes that gave me the wow factor was the appetizer: Vitello Tonnato Sliced which is the pink roasted veal, salsa tonnata, crunchy celery, fried Sicilian capers $20 was thinning sliced and flavor was excellent, Main Course: Brasato $43 was a 4 hour braised, 6oz certified Piemontese flat iron beef, Italian organic Mulino Sobrino soft polenta, sauteed organic mushrooms was melt in your mouth goodness! Wow! Yummy in my tummy and I was disappointed I had to share this dish. For others in my dinner party of eight, not many touched the fish, but I thought it was tender and juicy. It didn't have a special sauce that gives a wow factor, but I still thought of it was good. It was called the Trancio di Pesce, the $38, the 6 oz grilled local wild seabass, organic butternut squash puree, sauteed escarole, pine nuts, raisins, Taggiasca olives, anchovy paste. Finally everyone in my party inhaled the Tortellini in Brodo, the $27 beef tenderloin-prosciutto di parma-mortadella-parmigiano filling, hen-beef stock was excellent dumplings. The other food was just ok and didn't stand out too much. Homemade toasted bread was nice and wished I had more. However, The butt end of the bread could have broken my teeth as I attempt to eat it. I gave up halfway. Too hard end piece. The rest of bread was good. The Extremely rich Crema Bruciata was $11 classic creme brulee with fresh berries, was too rich for me, I shouldn't have tried to eat the whole thing, because I was starting to feel a bit sick. It was more on the too creamy liquidly side for me but it did have an excellent crust on top. This was an educational seminar I attended so I didn't pay for this dinner. The service was really slow, main courses didn't even arrive till after the presentation was done. Normal restaurants would serve while the presentation was going on. This place just served 3 light appetizers and yummy eggnog and stopped service. I thought wow, is this all there is? I thought I was going to pass out due to hunger. I am sure the other people in my party felt the same way. Would I come back on my own for French food? I probably would say no. I am sure others would enjoy a romantic, classy, evening upstairs in main dinning rooms. I am more of a rack of lamb and steak person. read more

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Poesia is such a hidden gem! You'll never know how charming this restaurant is until you walk in. The ambiance is amazing! Dim, Cozy, Charming, Romantic vibes with a beautiful RED wine bar and old classic Italian movies playing on the wall. Everything we ordered was fresh and delicious, especially the duck! My favorite! The duck was cooked perfectly. The Agnolotti al plin was so addictive! Little pieces of deliciousness, while the tiramisu was so light and creamy. Yum!! Don't forget their delicious drinks, we ordered the Red Desert and the Campesino! So refreshing and good. If I didn't have to drive, I would have ordered another Campesino- I really love it! Awesome Service, delicious food and amazing decor and ambiance! Definitely worth the experience. Perfect for date night, girl's night out or simply a relaxing meal. read more

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Always looking for another great pasta restaurant in SF. What I love most about Poesia is the ambiance - a charming restaurant nestled in an old victorian house while classic Italian movies play on the wall. To start we shared the bruschetta and the burrata. The tomatoes on the bruschetta were amazing - so fresh and juicy. The burrata was good but a small portion. Their pastas are made fresh so we knew we had to try a couple. We got the Agnolotti al Plin and the Cavatelli al Pomodoro e Burrata. The agnolotti was a favorite but again a little small on the portion size. The cavatelli was so fresh and the tomatoes were delicious. Poesia is a great option for your next date night! read more

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My wife and I had breakfast and coffee (Illy) here last weekend and enjoyed every minute. I had an Americano with a vanilla custard croissant. My wife had a latte with a prosciutto and Brie croissant. We look forward to coming back here. The coffee was amazing and my vanilla custard croissant was delicious! read more

My wife has been here before and raves about the agnolotti al plin, so we decided to pick up an order along with the insalata mista, the agnello alla scottadito, and the spuma di cioccolato Insalata mista - Very good, maybe a little heavy on the dressing Agnolotti al plin - Very tasty. The pasta was great and I loved the sauce. I can understand why my wife likes it so much Agnello alla Scottadito - Lamb was done perfectly, and the mushrooms and potatoes both tasted very good. Guessing that was a lot of melted lamb fat on the bottom - which added to the mushrooms and potatoes Spuma di cioccolato - tasted great, but a ridiculously small amount - the equivalent of 2 semi-heaping tablespoons of mousse atop a smear of mascarpone. This is why I can't give 5 stars read more

Great ambience, food, and staff!! All food I ordered was amazing. Been here a few times, and will definitely be back soon!

Nice cafe in the Castro. Good coffee, fresh and tasty pastry. Nice staff. Haven't tried their lunch or dinner items yet but definitely will return. read more

Poesia - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Consistently fun place to take a group for dinner. Good food and nice ambience in the heart of the Castro.

I chanced upon this cute little Italian restaurant in San Francisco. The waiter had an Italian accent, which was encouraging. There was a black and white movie playing on the wall, unsure whether it was American. The decor was definitely of Italian origin from the floor to the bar. I came during happy hour, and ordered the house red wine, which was tasty. The waiter asked me if I wanted to order more wine before happy hour was over, which was thoughtful. The bread, although good, did not come automatically with butter or oil and vinegar, which I thought unusual for an Italian restaurant. I ordered the popular pasta dish according to my waiter, "pappardelle verdi al raga della nonna". It is meat and pork with spinach flat noodles. The sauce was zesty and thick, and the spinach pasta was al dente and tasted homemade. I topped it off with affogato, which is vanilla gelato and espresso. It was good, but not the best I've had. All in all, pretty good Italian hideaway in San Francisco. read more

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The restaurant is a little hole in the wall. I would've missed it walking past, especially since most of the tables were out back in their outdoor patio. The atmosphere was so cute how they transformed the space to make it feel as if i was in a colder version of Italy. The wall paper, patio lights, and bronze statues with the heat lamps made the restaurant feel like I was in another country. Not to mention, the food was sooo good. We got the veal & rabbit pasta dish and the butternut squash pasta. Both were delicious and I was not disappointed with either choices. The restaurant is on the pricer range ($25/dish) but it's so good and worth every penny. read more

Poesia - Agnolotti al Plin (veal and rabbit pasta) - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California