Food was absolutely stellar. Highly recommend a visit.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Red Beet Risotto, Ravioli Carbonara, Fritto Misto
Michelle Hulbert
A friend recommended Ciccino and the experience was wonderful. Small, not too noisy, great staff and excellent food. There were four of us, so we did a shared plate meal with wine. Focaccia, scallop skewer, romaine fennel salad, tartare, ravioli carbonara, rib eye, and dessert. The two specials were also exceptional. The oyster ravioli was my favorite. The owner and chef also made it a point to visit each table giving an extra special touch to the service level. Call in advance for reservations as seating is limited. Excellent experience.
A new high quality addition to Nob Hill-Ciccino - Italian slang for "sweetheart " is the best new jneighborhood place to eat great Italian food in a cozy atmosphere with attentive service. We tried two starters, house made warm focaccia and the frito misto- both looked and tasted great.The pasta, Pappardelle Boar Ragout was ample, delicious and perfectly prepared, the Ravioli Carbonara, rich and flavorful and the secondi, Duck Breast, an exquisite preparation served with a marinated pear complement . Do not skip dessert! The Panna cotta and the Tiramisu Mousse were high standard desserts that left us ready for our evening concert. Make reservations as this has become a very popular destination.
Natalie Conte Anthony
Dining at Ciccino is truly an Italian experience. Chef Gian Marco, his wife Lynsey and the restaurant staff were absolutely wonderful. The ambiance was the perfect mix of intimate and cozy with a fun, cheerful vibe. The food was INCREDIBLE. The dishes are beautifully plated and equally delicious. The filet mignon tartare was mouthwatering. The ravioli carbonara and the red beet risotto are a must. I can’t wait to go back! And if you want a taste of Ciccino at home, order from Gian Marco’s homemade pasta company The Italian Homemade Company.
Perfect restaurant for a night out with friends or a couple's outing. Finally, a quiet place where you can have a conversation without loud music. Excellent food with a good selection of wines. And those ravioli carbonara ?!?!? I dream about them at night ? Along with the tartare della Rita and the scallop, shrimp and squid skewers! The cherry on top? The authentic Italian chef in the kitchen! Bravo ?
Perfect restaurant for a night out with friends or a couple's outing. Finally, a quiet place where you can have a conversation without loud music. Excellent food with a good selection of wines. And those ravioli carbonara ?!?!? I dream about them at night Along with the tartare della Rita and the scallop, shrimp and squid skewers! The cherry on top? The authentic Italian chef in the kitchen! Bravo
Pearl R.
This hole in a wall Italian restaurant in Nob Hill is amazing! The dishes are delicious, especially the pastas and the skewers. Also, the restaurant has a very nice vibe, really good for date nights or hangout with friends and family. The staff are really sweet but sometimes the staffs comes and ask about the food a little too often. But overall a great experience and worth the price paid!!! Also, always make reservations here! 10/10 - pasta dishes 9/10 - service
Mj C.
Ciccino is fantastic! A small Family owned restaurant with a warm, intimate feel to it. The menu is world class from the appetizers to the dessert. The focaccia bread was some of the best I've ever had. The shrimp and scallop skewers were incredibly tasteful. I had the duck which was complimented by a Fernet Branca flavored pear and a complement of endive. My wife's pasta was outstanding. The panna cotta and tiramisu were the perfect finish to an outstanding night. We'll be back very soon!
Rachel G.
Photos don't do this spot justice! We nearly missed our 7:00 pm reservation on a classic SF rainy day but were quickly seated in this warm but slightly upscale dinner spot. They were pretty busy but service was great off the bat, offering plenty of menu recommendations. We started off with a fresh focaccia, which might've been the best bread I've had in years. The starter only comes with two pieces (European portions they say) but the quality outshined the need for quantity as it was crispy on the outside but warm and fluffy on the inside, pairing perfectly with olive oil and balsamic. For the main course we tried the special - Gnocchi duck ragout - and the Ravioli Carbonara (per recommendation). While portions were smaller, the past itself was cooked perfectly. The carbonara had something of deep-fried crispy pancetta with a creamy but light orange-infused aerated sauce. Delicious, but I'm partial to a ragout, which was so tender and seasoned. The gnocchi itself was pillowy and soft with not much of a bite, which worked well for the dish. We ended the night with a velvety tiramisu - no complaints. The chef himself even brought it out to us! A true gem in the area and perfect for a date. Next time ordering a glass of wine for sure!
Rl R.
Food was flavorless and portions were very small for the price point. We sent our salad back. Service was not good either. The beet risotto had ok flavor but was served watery. An expensive miss for us.
WOW. You can tell that each dish is crafted to perfection. I don’t leave reviews often but holy cow, after dining here I had to. The staff is incredibly friendly, and everything from the focaccia, to the carbonara, to the specials were just worth every dollar.
I'm no simpleton (lol) but I don't understand the hype about this place... The wait staff were nice but the place has such bad acoustic that we couldn't hear anything and literally had to ask her to repeat what she said on the other side of the table. And it wasn't like the place was packed or that someone was being loud around us. Food wise, the focaccia was good but the fritto misto was so salty it was inedible. And while I knew the caviar pasta would be very salty, what I was not expecting is it to be so oily. The carbonara was visually stunning, but weak in flavor. The only item we liked was the risotto. The ingredients are clearly high quality but I think the flavors fell short.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Red Beet and Goat Cheese Risotto, Caprese Salad
Benjamin Pope
The best carbonara I’ve ever had. Tiramisu a highlight. You can’t go wrong!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Brandon Ghio
Wife’s birthday (always a tough act to follow Christmas) was a homerun this year, thanks to Gian Marco and Lynsey.Wine selection is delightful and expansive enough to cater wonderfully to the cuisine without providing chapter upon chapter of options.Gian Marco’s menu is lovingly prepared and you can tell he cares about each plate that’s coming out of the kitchen (so much so that the night we dined he was on the line after another chef called out with an emergency).Starters were fresh, well-balanced and entrees extremely comforting and presented beautifully.Ciccino is the kind of place you want to become a regular at if it’s not already in your neighborhood and stands out to me as one of best Italian restaurants I’ve eaten at in a long time. With the care, comfort, congeniality and great conversation to boot.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Julie N.
Made a reservation for a Saturday night after seeing this place make it on the SF Chronicle top 25 restaurant list. The place is small and quaint, and we were seated quickly. The service was efficient and prompt, and the food came out really quickly, but in a well paced way. The only down side is that they don't have a cocktail menu (just aperol spritz), but I usually order wine so it wasn't a huge issue for me. We started with the scallop skewer and the squid skewer, as well as the halibut carpaccio. The halibut was super fresh, but I found the skewers a little underwhelming for the price ($9-10/skewer, essentially one squid breaded and thinly sliced on a stick), and would honestly not order again personally. But the pastas were the real star, in particular, the ravioli carbonara - a cheesy, gooey, rich symphony of pasta, accented with delicious pieces of pancetta. The husband thought this was one of the best pasta dishes he has ever had, so do not miss out on it! We also had the night's special, which was gnocchi with duck ragout. This was okay, but really overshadowed by the ravioli. We finished our meal with a light Panna cotta with a berry compote- silky smooth, a perfect way to end the night. Overall, despite some underwhelming dishes, the ravioli carbonara was a real star, making this restaurant already worth the trip and price. I would highly recommend checking this place out, and don't forget to order the ravioli!
Food was absolutely stellar. Highly recommend a visit.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Red Beet Risotto, Ravioli Carbonara, Fritto Misto
A friend recommended Ciccino and the experience was wonderful. Small, not too noisy, great staff and excellent food. There were four of us, so we did a shared plate meal with wine. Focaccia, scallop skewer, romaine fennel salad, tartare, ravioli carbonara, rib eye, and dessert. The two specials were also exceptional. The oyster ravioli was my favorite. The owner and chef also made it a point to visit each table giving an extra special touch to the service level. Call in advance for reservations as seating is limited. Excellent experience.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tiramisu, Romaine Fennel Salad, Gnocchi, Ravioli Carbonara, Beef Tartare, Fritto Misto, Panna Cotta, Beef Carpaccio
A new high quality addition to Nob Hill-Ciccino - Italian slang for "sweetheart " is the best new jneighborhood place to eat great Italian food in a cozy atmosphere with attentive service. We tried two starters, house made warm focaccia and the frito misto- both looked and tasted great.The pasta, Pappardelle Boar Ragout was ample, delicious and perfectly prepared, the Ravioli Carbonara, rich and flavorful and the secondi, Duck Breast, an exquisite preparation served with a marinated pear complement . Do not skip dessert! The Panna cotta and the Tiramisu Mousse were high standard desserts that left us ready for our evening concert. Make reservations as this has become a very popular destination.
Dining at Ciccino is truly an Italian experience. Chef Gian Marco, his wife Lynsey and the restaurant staff were absolutely wonderful. The ambiance was the perfect mix of intimate and cozy with a fun, cheerful vibe. The food was INCREDIBLE. The dishes are beautifully plated and equally delicious. The filet mignon tartare was mouthwatering. The ravioli carbonara and the red beet risotto are a must. I can’t wait to go back! And if you want a taste of Ciccino at home, order from Gian Marco’s homemade pasta company The Italian Homemade Company.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Ravioli Carbonara, Beef Tartare, Caprese Salad
Perfect restaurant for a night out with friends or a couple's outing. Finally, a quiet place where you can have a conversation without loud music. Excellent food with a good selection of wines. And those ravioli carbonara ?!?!? I dream about them at night ? Along with the tartare della Rita and the scallop, shrimp and squid skewers! The cherry on top? The authentic Italian chef in the kitchen! Bravo ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Ravioli Carbonara, Beef Tartare
Perfect restaurant for a night out with friends or a couple's outing. Finally, a quiet place where you can have a conversation without loud music. Excellent food with a good selection of wines. And those ravioli carbonara ?!?!? I dream about them at night Along with the tartare della Rita and the scallop, shrimp and squid skewers! The cherry on top? The authentic Italian chef in the kitchen! Bravo
This hole in a wall Italian restaurant in Nob Hill is amazing! The dishes are delicious, especially the pastas and the skewers. Also, the restaurant has a very nice vibe, really good for date nights or hangout with friends and family. The staff are really sweet but sometimes the staffs comes and ask about the food a little too often. But overall a great experience and worth the price paid!!! Also, always make reservations here! 10/10 - pasta dishes 9/10 - service
Ciccino is fantastic! A small Family owned restaurant with a warm, intimate feel to it. The menu is world class from the appetizers to the dessert. The focaccia bread was some of the best I've ever had. The shrimp and scallop skewers were incredibly tasteful. I had the duck which was complimented by a Fernet Branca flavored pear and a complement of endive. My wife's pasta was outstanding. The panna cotta and tiramisu were the perfect finish to an outstanding night. We'll be back very soon!
Photos don't do this spot justice! We nearly missed our 7:00 pm reservation on a classic SF rainy day but were quickly seated in this warm but slightly upscale dinner spot. They were pretty busy but service was great off the bat, offering plenty of menu recommendations. We started off with a fresh focaccia, which might've been the best bread I've had in years. The starter only comes with two pieces (European portions they say) but the quality outshined the need for quantity as it was crispy on the outside but warm and fluffy on the inside, pairing perfectly with olive oil and balsamic. For the main course we tried the special - Gnocchi duck ragout - and the Ravioli Carbonara (per recommendation). While portions were smaller, the past itself was cooked perfectly. The carbonara had something of deep-fried crispy pancetta with a creamy but light orange-infused aerated sauce. Delicious, but I'm partial to a ragout, which was so tender and seasoned. The gnocchi itself was pillowy and soft with not much of a bite, which worked well for the dish. We ended the night with a velvety tiramisu - no complaints. The chef himself even brought it out to us! A true gem in the area and perfect for a date. Next time ordering a glass of wine for sure!
Food was flavorless and portions were very small for the price point. We sent our salad back. Service was not good either. The beet risotto had ok flavor but was served watery. An expensive miss for us.
Restaurantji Recommends
WOW. You can tell that each dish is crafted to perfection. I don’t leave reviews often but holy cow, after dining here I had to. The staff is incredibly friendly, and everything from the focaccia, to the carbonara, to the specials were just worth every dollar.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pappardelle, Tiramisu, Ravioli Carbonara
I'm no simpleton (lol) but I don't understand the hype about this place... The wait staff were nice but the place has such bad acoustic that we couldn't hear anything and literally had to ask her to repeat what she said on the other side of the table. And it wasn't like the place was packed or that someone was being loud around us. Food wise, the focaccia was good but the fritto misto was so salty it was inedible. And while I knew the caviar pasta would be very salty, what I was not expecting is it to be so oily. The carbonara was visually stunning, but weak in flavor. The only item we liked was the risotto. The ingredients are clearly high quality but I think the flavors fell short.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Red Beet and Goat Cheese Risotto, Caprese Salad
The best carbonara I’ve ever had. Tiramisu a highlight. You can’t go wrong!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wife’s birthday (always a tough act to follow Christmas) was a homerun this year, thanks to Gian Marco and Lynsey.Wine selection is delightful and expansive enough to cater wonderfully to the cuisine without providing chapter upon chapter of options.Gian Marco’s menu is lovingly prepared and you can tell he cares about each plate that’s coming out of the kitchen (so much so that the night we dined he was on the line after another chef called out with an emergency).Starters were fresh, well-balanced and entrees extremely comforting and presented beautifully.Ciccino is the kind of place you want to become a regular at if it’s not already in your neighborhood and stands out to me as one of best Italian restaurants I’ve eaten at in a long time. With the care, comfort, congeniality and great conversation to boot.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Made a reservation for a Saturday night after seeing this place make it on the SF Chronicle top 25 restaurant list. The place is small and quaint, and we were seated quickly. The service was efficient and prompt, and the food came out really quickly, but in a well paced way. The only down side is that they don't have a cocktail menu (just aperol spritz), but I usually order wine so it wasn't a huge issue for me. We started with the scallop skewer and the squid skewer, as well as the halibut carpaccio. The halibut was super fresh, but I found the skewers a little underwhelming for the price ($9-10/skewer, essentially one squid breaded and thinly sliced on a stick), and would honestly not order again personally. But the pastas were the real star, in particular, the ravioli carbonara - a cheesy, gooey, rich symphony of pasta, accented with delicious pieces of pancetta. The husband thought this was one of the best pasta dishes he has ever had, so do not miss out on it! We also had the night's special, which was gnocchi with duck ragout. This was okay, but really overshadowed by the ravioli. We finished our meal with a light Panna cotta with a berry compote- silky smooth, a perfect way to end the night. Overall, despite some underwhelming dishes, the ravioli carbonara was a real star, making this restaurant already worth the trip and price. I would highly recommend checking this place out, and don't forget to order the ravioli!