50 Best Italian Restaurants near South San Francisco

“Our main reason for choosing this restaurant was location. We were meeting with a couple who just flew into SFO, and this made for great convenience for them and us. Little did we realize we were about to stumble across this amazing gem. As a party of 7, we all had the Tasting Menu. Several of us had the wine pairing as well. Every course was fantastic. Beet salad, ravioli with mushroom cream sauce, short rib, and tiramisu. Literally people in our party were licking their forks to get every last bit of the mushroom sauce from the ravioli. Service was warm, attentive, but not obtrusive. Every request was filled with professionalism and courtesy. Definitely recommend, and plan to return ourselves. One item to note: OpenTable's address link to maps takes you to San Bruno instead of South San Francisco. Thankfully we noticed ahead, but it could have been a disaster. Reported to OpenTable and Andiamo In Banca, so hopefully it will be changed,“

“Went there for date night. Between the food, the service and the atmosphere, we were both made to feel special. Thank you Buon Gusto!“

“The largest sandwich I’ve ever had at a deli, love the garlic spread. Excellent sandwich!“

“We got Esposto's name from the venue where we were hosting a large funeral reception. After contacting other catering companies, I was confident about going with Esposto's. Their quote was the lowest; Kate, in the office, was so responsive and helpful for someone who has never planned a large event on short notice; and I heard good reviews of their food. Planning was easy, service on the day of the event was seamless, and the food was delicious.“

“Speedy's is our go to for the occasional Pizza crave. Huge slices with high quality cheese make this place a I go back to every few weeks. We usually get the veggie pizza and we love it (which is rare for me to say). Service is good and fast...just order and wait in your car. The only detail they could work on is consistency of flavor. Usually its the the salt but thats an easy fix.“

“The nachos with carne asada and a michelada! That is a perfect meal.

Vegetarian options: There are vegetarian and seafood options.

Kid-friendliness: We come with our grandkids and the staff is welcoming to us.

Wheelchair accessibility: There are no steps and the restaurant is at ground level.“

“Amazing service and food!!!!“

“Food was very tasty and well prepared, staff attentive and responsive, ambience is perfect“

“everything about the restaurant, from the heated outdoor dining, people who work there, the food so deliciously great especially the one that prepares and cook it, THE CHEFS, amazingly incredible they are and not so pricey above all.“

“Great leisurely lunch with girlfriends. Staff was friendly attentive. The butternut squash ravioli was to die for! Nice ambiance (we sat outside). Enjoyed!“

“Amazing service and food!!!!“

“Excellent meal! The Zuni Café feels like a 'local joint' where folks come back again and again. My salad of heirloom tomatoes, roasted nectarines, gooseberries with goat cheese and dill was outstanding, as was my pasta with cherry tomatoes. My husband' had the always terrific and his salmon was perfectly cooked and delicious. The dessert of berry passion fruit sorbet with ginger cookies was amazing - so good!“

“Wonderful restaurant with terrific food and service. We share the seasonal salad and the stuffed calamari to start. Both were excellent. My wife had a wonderful pasta stuffed with pea puree and in a pea sauce. I had a stuffed pasta with cheese. Both were exceptional. The olive oil cake finished the night. Fine wine list with many affordable offerings. We had a bottle of Arnie's and it was just right. The service is very attentive from the reception to the goodby.“

“Lovely friendly Italian wine bar and delicious restaurant. Fresh innovative salads, pastas and main courses. Highly recommended.“

“Truly authentic Calabrese style Italian cuisine takes us back to Nonna’s kitchen“

“It has been many years since we were at La Ciccia.  it has always been one of our favorite restaurants. My wife and I chose to go here on our anniversary. We were very happy that the restaurant was bustling, the service was excellent, and the food was delicious and unique.“

“Ofena is exactly the kind of neighborhood spot you want — warm, welcoming, and delicious. We were treated so well (thank you!) and loved the focaccia, especially the mortadella. The gnocchi with duck prosciutto was rich and perfect, and the pork chop was cooked just right. The creamy polenta is a must — silky and comforting. Peas salad kept things bright, and the arancini were crispy and cheesy. Loved the martini with a focaccia garnish — such a fun touch. Service was thoughtful but relaxed, which made the night even better. Can’t wait to come back for more food and cocktails.“

“Food was amazing! Great atmosphere and friendly attentive staff!“

“From start to finish, the service was stellar. Everyone had warm smiles and welcomed us in. Food was incredible. We sat at the bar and witnessed all the food being prepared. We got the papperadelle and red snapper special. DELICIOUS! The team is hard working. Great local place to support.“

“Every time we go to Che Fico, our experience seems to get even better. Food and service is fantastic (even brand new employees!). Highly recommend the heirloom tomato appetizer, focaccia, and any of the pasta dishes (freshly made daily). We also love the ambience with the live plants and decor. Thank you, Che Fico, for always providing for a great time!“

“It was our first time and the service was amazing. Our dinner was more than excellent, the grilled pork chops with sweet potato puree best ever tasted. Great selection in red wine and great atmosphere! Owners were there and were very welcoming and down to earth! 100% recommended“

“Awesome yummy food with a friendly atmosphere and Great Service“

“Had a luncheon @ Perbacco with my 9 coworkers and Manager to say “goodbye & farewell” to a retiring coworker and “welcome” to a new coworker. Started with a round of hors d'oeuvre’s. The thin sliced veal with a sauce and capers was delicious! The fried shrimp, veggies and olives/anchovies…also with a sauce was awesome as well. For my main, I had CRESTE DI GALLO - semolina pasta - wild mushroom ragu - spinach - ricotta salata. Our waiter was the best! I saved one of the sugar cookies from my deserts…Burnt Carmel Gelato. Mentioned it to our waiter and as we were leaving, I heard “Sir! Sir!” He brought me one of their meringue cookies to also share with my partner! I thought that was just awesome! Top notch food and customer service. We’ll be back!“

“My favorite thing here is the linguine with mussels. I never order anything else, so I can't really comment on the rest of the menu. My husband had the burger, which he thought was fine, and the couple behind us had the skirt steak which he wished he'd ordered. Wine and beer list is great.“

“The food is absolutely stunning. Everything is fresh and the flavors mix amazingly“

“I’m here for business from Canada. Was taken here for supper by a coworker. The quaintest little restaurant, the owner and his wife are just awesome. The food is gorgeous! And his limoncello is the best I’ve ever had. Will be going back before I head home. ❤️❤️❤️“

“My husband and I enjoyed our dinner very much! He had the Paparadele and I had the beet salad and pizza. They were both delicious! We definitely will be going back!🍷“

“GREAT SERVICE! They made me feel like family! The owner Carlos is such a nice and friendly man and the bar tender Gio was the sweetest gal! Everyone was so kind! And the food!!! 🤤🤤🤤 So good!! Like…memorable! Highly recommended! The desserts were just as good! ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“From the moment we walked in everyone was so kind and attentive. We had the beet salad: light but delicious and fresh,
Pappernelle Pasta with Oxtail was simply pneominail (melted.in my mouth), sausage pizza (very flavorful)
Worth the visit and loved chit chatting with Chantel!!“

“Excellent espresso coffee, friendly service and a lovely brunch menu. I look forward to returning sometime for dinner. The chef’s were prepping a range of fresh looking ingredients and the smells emanating from the kitchen were beautiful!“

“Non-American pizza and pasta with very reasonable pricing;

Since we just waked over from the farmers market at the ferry building we ordered margarita and calamari as a light lunch for 3. The pizza dough was perfectly light and puffy with a thin crispy crust + hint of firewood and paired perfectly with the freshness of the tomato basil and mozzarella. The calamari was slightly tough in texture but the dish in general was still excellent. Really loved the vegetables since they carried so much flavor and umami from the olive oil and calamari!

We were seated outdoors and the server very kindly rearranged the tables so we’d be in the shade (tysmm!) the people indoors were watching football and it was so cheerful to see them cheering (and singing) after Real Madrid scored a goal;

Loved the atmosphere loved the food and it’s a place we’d definitely come back to visit again!“

“Finally went here! Was a solid 4/5. We were walk ins, which is great that we could get seated - but the communal table felt really tight. Not very romantic. Vibe was a little sterile, and we felt rushed at the end (got our check as soon as we ordered coffee and half way through dessert). The pizza was decent but a very chewy crust. Pasta was delicious - a corn flavor. Could come again but not a must!“

“Great food!! Service was fantastic. Consistently good!“

“Excellent food every time we have been… will be back. Everything is great on their menu. 🥰 Tonight we had guest from Montreal, celebrated Mother’s Day and our 23rd Wedding Anniversary! We couldn’t be happier to eat at Vespucci. Manuela and Francesco feel like my southern Italian family. Warm, welcoming, good food and wine and genuine conversation. Love them.“

“Fantastic red sauce, great eggplant parmesan special, good selection of wines at reasonable prices. A great addition to the neighborhood.“

“Superb 4 star in my book.“

“(Make a reservation)
We arrived at Capo’s around 7:20 pm on a Saturday and were told we would have to wait 40 minutes for a table.
As hungry travelers, we said thank you and as we were about to leave, the hostess finds a nook and sat us down outside. I appreciate the fact that she did us that favor.
There were no patio heaters, so if sitting outside or walking in during busy hours, expect to dine outside in the cold with no heat (during winter).

(The Staff)
It was a very busy night, but the staff did a spectacular job in checking in on us.

(The Food)
The appetizers come in a reasonably sized portion, we ordered the garlic bread with mozzarella and was given a complimentary dish of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
My partner ordered the meat lasagne and I ordered the rigatoni alla vodka with smoked pancetta. The food was really good, it’s unlike anything I have ever had.
Take in mind that the dishes do serve up to 2 people, on busy nights it make take a bit to get your food, and regular pizzas take up to 20 minutes to bake, deep dish pizzas take up to 45 minutes to bake (but they look like they are worth the time!)

(Conclusion)
I would have loved to sit inside, the vibe is really nice. If you are looking for authentic Italian food with a nice atmosphere and friendly staff, book a reservation at Capo’s.“

“My wife and I went here for a Italian supper and wow was it good! Only good things to say about this place, and the best service we have had In years. We were very impressed!“

“Great atmosphere, impeccable service, friendly & welcoming staff. Most of all, great food. This is our second time and it didn’t disappoint. We’re visiting from SoCal in Orange County. Thank you!“

“Great fun!!! Hosts and servers were super nice!!! Cocktails: YUM!!!“

“Delicious food, great drinks and amazing service.“

“While visiting San Francisco for work, I had the pleasure of dining at Cafe Tiramisu, and it quickly became a highlight of my trip! From the moment I walked in, the staff was incredibly welcoming – Giuseppe and Christian went above and beyond to make me feel right at home. Christian, my server, recommended the lobster escargot, and I have to say, it’s one of the best dishes I’ve ever had! The Spaghetti Nero with house-made pasta and local seafood was equally outstanding. This family-owned restaurant prides itself on creating as much as possible in-house, and it truly shows in the quality and freshness of the food. As the name would suggest, the tiramisu was also top notch. The ambiance is warm and inviting, with both cozy indoor and charming outdoor seating. Whether you're looking for an intimate meal or a great spot to relax after a long day, Cafe Tiramisu is a must-visit. You won’t be disappointed! I will absolutely return anytime I’m in San Francisco.“

“The best pasta and sauces in San Francisco. Authentic Italian cuisine! Highly recommend. Father and son team are amazingly warm hosts!“

“Beautiful locale, cozy and delicious food.“

“There need to be more people working here.. it is quite popular but there is not enough staff. And not all of the waitstaff is friendly. One person in particular is a bit gruff. Overall I can recommend it with a few notes. it was a busy place. Every table was full. The food was good, although each piece of the rack of lamb seemed to be cooked to a different temperature. It was tasty though. But our large party had to wait a long time for drinks, a long time to give our order, a long time for our first course, a long time for dessert. We were sitting with dirty plates in front of us for quite a while. I will say that we had a large party (10), but if a restaurant can’t handle a large party then they shouldn’t take the reservation.“

“The food was amazing, home cooking at its best! My whole family, including my picky eaters, loved the food!😋“

“My SweetHeart and I chose Cafe Fiore for our anniversary dinner. We were delighted with every dish! I am a vegetarian, my girlfriend a very picky omnivore. The music was pleasant, the vibe low key. The waiter was attentive without being intrusive. We were able to fully relax, and enjoy the remarkable and beautifully presented food. Shhhh! Don't tell anyone else about this wonderful place!“

“It's great to see specialty shops like these. Pasta is what they focus on and specialize in. The restaurant part of the store let's us taste their pasta properly and perfectly made. It's also a reference on how the pasta is prepared. Try it, like it, but it and make it at home! Awesome pasta and variety.“

“Exceeded expectations. Extensive menu. Highly recommended!“

“We feel so lucky to have had Trattoria da Vittorio cater our wedding! The food was absolutely phenomenal—our guests are still raving about the fiochetti pasta and the sausage ragù. Vittorio himself was a joy to work with: warm, accommodating, and incredibly generous throughout the entire process.

He welcomed us into his amazing restaurant for a tasting that felt more like a celebratory dinner than a formal event (we’ll definitely be back), and went out of his way to accommodate our guests with dietary restrictions. He even surprised us by offering to make custom shirts in our wedding colors—such a fun and personal touch that truly went above and beyond.

On top of all that, the pricing was very competitive and the entire experience felt more joyful and authentic than anything we saw from other caterers. We couldn’t recommend them more highly—thank you, Vittorio!“