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You can’t throw a rock in this city without hitting an Italian restaurant and North Beach is the epicenter of places that prey on unsuspecting tourists looking for the authentic gabagool.
Like all major cities with a “little Italy” equivalent, SF’s North Beach can either be a treasure trove or a major disappointment depending on where you look. Lucky for you I already did the dirty work so you can skip to the highlights. Dig in:
🍝 Piccolo Forno / piccolo-forno-sf.com
Pizza prosciutto crudo // image credit: Piccolo Forno
Piccolo Forno is everything that other restaurants in North Beach aren’t, but should aspire to be. You won’t find the typical guido gimmicks here, just excellent food, warm and friendly service, and the perfect atmosphere for a mid-afternoon nosh or casual dinner with friends.
I wouldn’t recommend an Italian restaurant unless I was sure my extremely discerning Italian family would be happy there. So grab a couple pizzas (or pinsas, since there is a difference), a few pastas, and a bottle of wine or two and enjoy the impending freezing summer months.
Order This ⬇️
Burrata
Bucatini amatriciana
Linguine al pesto
Pinsa funghi & salsiccia
Pizza prosciutto crudo
Eat Here 🔗 Reservations: N/A | Delivery & Takeout | Map
🥖 Molinari Delicatessen / themolinarideli.com
The deli case // image credit: me
There’s a beautiful feeling of coming home when you walk into a real-deal Italian deli (at least for me) and suddenly you’re surrounded by salamis hanging from the ceiling, cans of tomatoes and olive oil stacked high, and cheese everywhere.
Molinari has been around since 1896 and not much has changed in there except the prices. Even if you’re not there for a sandwich (which would be a mistake), it’s hard to walk out without the fixings for dinner or a charcuterie board.
Order This ⬇️
You really can’t go wrong
May as well pick up some homemade ravioli while you’re here
☕️ Stella Pastry / facebook.com/stellapastry
The pastry case // image credit: me
Lest the Italians be forgotten in the cacophony of SF’s many French, Chinese, and American bakeries, Stella is the only trusted source in the city for classic Italian pastries that others are all too happy to muck up for a quick buck.
The bakery is best known for Sacripantina (Genovese liqueur-soaked sponge cake) but that shouldn’t stop you from ordering one of anything and everything that looks good then laying comatose in nearby Washington Square.
Order This ⬇️
Cannoli
Sfogliatelle
Sacripantina
Cookies by the pound
Eat Here 🔗 Reservations: N/A | Delivery & Takeout: N/A | Map
🇮🇹 Bonus Round
So much dough, so little time
Tony’s Pizza: the best NY-style pizza in the city that’s soon going nationwide
Golden Boy Pizza: order the clam slice and thank me later
Gelato Classico: what would a meal in North Beach be without dessert
ps: if you’re sitting there, grateful for the recommendations but unsure of what it feels like to grow up in an Italian family, here’s a taste