Family-Owned Italian Restaurants in South San Francisco

The San Francisco Bay Area has so many adventure opportunities, from hiking and biking the trails on Angel Island or the nearby redwoods to surfing at Pacifica, fishing from the pier or setting sail from Oyster Point Marina in South San Francisco. Food is fuel, and with so many activities in which to engage, you will need a lot of fuel. To get the energy you will need, load up on carbohydrates at one of South San Francisco's family-owned Italian restaurants.

Sodini's Bertolucci's

The Sodini family, which hails from Tuscany, has been operating Sodini's Bertolucci's in South San Francisco since 1928. This traditional Italian restaurant serves "simple, hearty and fresh food" to keep your motor running. Sodini's Bertolucci's is open every day except Monday. Lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dinner is served from 5 p.m. until closing. Prices are reasonable. Pol Bayamor plays piano in the lounge on Friday and Saturday evenings. Walk-ins are welcome, however, reservations are needed for parties of six or more. Casual dress is acceptable.

Sodini's Bertolucci's
421 Cypress Ave.
South San Francisco, CA 94080
(650) 588-1625
sodinisbertoluccis.com

Cecilia's Pizza and Italian Restaurant

Cecilia's, a favorite neighborhood dining establishment with a casual atmosphere, serves homemade Italian dishes such as chicken parmigiana and veal scaloppine. Cecilia's pizzas are made with homemade, hand-tossed dough with fresh specialty toppings such as artichoke hearts and prosciutto. The pizza Di Mare is a real San Francisco treat with clams, shrimp and garlic. Cecilia's also offers the vegetarian compagnola pizza. Prices are average. Cecilia's is close to the San Fransisco peninsula, Candlestick Park, the airport and hotels. Cecilia's is open Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 4 to 10 p.m. You can order online to have your meal delivered free of charge if you are staying in the South Fan Francisco area.

Cecilia's Pizza and Italian Restaurant
113 Grand Ave.
South San Francisco, CA 94080
(650) 873-6196
cecilias.com

Ristorante Buon Gusto

Carmelo Lacolino's family has been in the restaurant business for decades, starting with a family restaurant in Porto Empedocle in Sicily. In 1988, Carmelo and his business partner Vincenzo Vecchiola, a fellow Sicilian, opened Ristorante Buon Gusto in South San Francisco, featuring authentic Sicilian cuisine. Although the restaurant has a relaxed atmosphere, you may feel more comfortable sprucing up a bit before dining in at Ristorante Buon Gusto. The menu offers quite a variety such as homemade cannelloni, calamari steaks and risotto pescatore at prices that are about the same as Sodini's Bertolucci's and a little higher than Cecilia's. Lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Dinner is served from 5 to 10 p.m. every day.

Ristorante Buon Gusto
224 Grand Ave.
South San Francisco, CA 94080
(650) 742-0104
buongustorestaurant.com

Article Written By Kandra Sperling

Kandra Sperling is a freelance writer and photojournalist with more than 30 years' experience. She has worked as a community news editor, writer and photographer for the "Morning News of Northwest Arkansas." She has received three awards from the National Press Women's Association and numerous state awards. Sperling earned a bachelor's degree in English and journalism from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

Editor's Pick

5 Top North American Wildflower Hikes

Springtime brings a sense of new beginnings and new life as flowers begin to bloom and fill the air with their sweet and pleasant fragrance. Luckily we can see wildflowers all summer long, since spring hits at different times throughout North America. See flowering cactu...
More National Parks...
Popular Article

National Park Substitutes: Great Spots Without the Crowds

Coping with crowds at national parks can get tiresome, especially during the peak tourist season. If you want to escape from the herd, or just take a breather from the bustle of bigger attractions, the United States has plenty of less-visited but still worthwhile spots t...
More National Parks...
Featured Destination

Prevent Yourself from Getting Lost While Hiking

When you're hiking you're going to want to make sure you stay found. What I mean by that is that you've put an itinerary in the car, you know the area that you're hiking to, you know the route and the trail you plan on being on, you know what the trail markers are going ...
More Camping Basics...