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What types of Italian cuisine are available in San Francisco?
- San Francisco has hundreds of Italian restaurants serving food ranging from Northern Italian and Sardinian cuisines to Cal-Ital food, Italian pastry shops, and high-end contemporary Italian restaurants.
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What are some must-visit Italian restaurants in San Francisco?
- The list includes several hip and upcoming restaurants like Acquerello as well as time-tested local favorites such as Perbacco.
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Are there Italian restaurants in San Francisco for special occasions?
- High-end restaurants that are perfect for special occasions appear on the list beside casual pizzerias, proving that San Francisco has something to offer anyone who is looking for a taste of Italy in the Golden City.
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Acquerello, Russian Hill
Acquerello has been awarded two Michelin stars and is an extremely high-end gastronomic destination. The restaurant is purely decadent and serves such delights as a nearly $400 truffle tasting menu. For a more affordable, but still luxurious, option, choose the regular three-course meal. For the full experience, you can add an additional course, or even two for a full 5 courses. They have a fantastic wine list to accompany dinner. Acquerello is the perfect splurge for a romantic evening out or a special occasion meal. What’s more, the space was built inside a retired chapel, which gives it a special ambiance.
1722 Sacramento Street, San Francisco, CA 94109, Phone: 415-567-5432
Cotogna
Cotogna is a bustling rustic-modern eatery with authentic wood-fired pizzas, home-made pastas, and other Italian classics. The restaurant was created to compliment Chef Michael Tusk’s fine-dining restaurant located next door. However, the atmosphere at Cotogna is significantly more relaxed than its adjoining big brother. The menu changes daily with a variety of specials, although the restaurant specializes in spit-roasted and grilled meats and fish as well as pizzas cooked in the wood-fire oven and delicious house-made pastas. The bar is open all day and serves wines and specialty cocktails as well as bottled and draft beers.
490 Pacific Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94133, Phone: 415-775-8508
Tommaso’s Ristorante Italiano
Tommaso’s Ristorante Italiano has been serving up their famous thin-crust pizzas cooked in their original wood-burning oven for more than 80 years. The family-run establishment has been passed through several generations of an Italian immigrant family. The menu includes a small selection of appetizers, including their specialty – baked fresh Coo-Coo clams. They also serve salads, pastas, and some oven-baked entrees. However, the wood-fired pizza is certainly the star of the show. The pizza comes in two sizes and are all topped with mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce. There is a wide selection of topping choices ranging from a simple cheese pizza to the heavy-loaded Super Deluxe.
1042 Kearny Street, San Francisco, CA 94133, Phone: 415-398-9696
Fino Ristorante & Bar, Union Square
Fino Ristorante is located adjacent to the lobby of The Andrews Hotel on the ground floor. The restaurant sources the freshest California ingredients to make their creative Italian dishes. The menu is designed for a wide variety of palates and includes daily specials and many vegetarian options. The dining room has high ceilings and elegant arched windows as well as an inviting fireplace and a gorgeous mahogany bar. Diners can watch their food being prepared in the open kitchen. The restaurant is open each day for dinner and is the perfect end to your day of shopping or a pre-theater dinner.
The Andrews Hotel, 624 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94109, Phone: 415-928-2080
Firenze By Night, North Beach
Firenze By Night is a dinner-only restaurant that serves delicious continental Italian cuisine. They specialize in traditional Italian pasta, fish, and meat dishes with a modern touch. They are careful to include only the freshest ingredients and do not use any artificial ingredients or preservatives. Firenze is well known for its award-winning gnocchi, which is served in a light tomato cream sauce. The pappardelle Toscana is another favorite dish, consisting of large noodles served in rabbit sauce. Chef Sergio Giusti has won several local and national awards for his skill in the kitchen. The restaurant features a full bar and extensive wine list.
1429 Stockton Street, San Francisco, CA 94133, Phone: 415-392-8485
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