Restaurants in Little Italy, San Francisco

San Francisco's Little Italy neighborhood is a food lover's restaurant destination. If looking for Italian classics or perhaps a new twist, you are sure to find it there. Many Italians chose the North Beach location when immigrating in the 1800s as a way to continue their livelihood as fisherman. Today, their heritage is still evident in the many cafes and restaurants of Little Italy.

E Tutto Qua

Everything is as fresh as can be at this Little Italy spot. E Tutto Qua makes homemade pastas every morning, receives their meats and seafood daily and bakes bread every two hours, so your loaf is always fresh and just out of the oven. The owners travel to Italy often to discover new recipes and make them their own. E Tutto Qua opens daily at 5:00 p.m. for dinner only. The menu features hand-tossed Roman-style pizzas, as well as salads, pastas and entrees. Try the Maiale Al Barolo, a juicy pork tenderloin braised in Barolo red wine with pancetta.

270 Columbus Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 989-1002
etuttoqua.com

Mangrosa

For something a little different in Little Italy, head straight to Mangarosa. Literally everything sizzles here--the warm, sultry interior, the music, and the Brazilian Steak Pichaud grilled table-side. Mangarosa melds the classic dishes of Italy with rustic, spicy Brazilian cuisine. The menu travels from handmade gnocchi with mild mushrooms to L'Pastise de Carne, Queijo e Frango, pastries stuffed with meat, cheese and chicken. Arrive on a Thursday evening when live Samba dancers turn the whole place up a notch.

1548 Stockton St.
San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 956-3211
mangarosasf.com

The Stinking Rose

You'll smell it before you get there. The Stinking Rose is a garlic lover's dream. Italian-born chef Andrea Froncillo masterfully executes garlic-laced modern California and Italian cuisine using more than 3,000 pounds of the fragrant bulb per month. Start off with the Bagna Calda, a cast iron pot filled with oven-roasted garlic in olive oil, perfect for smearing across fresh bread. This Little Italy staple celebrates garlic not only as food, but also as decor. The world's largest garlic braid runs through the establishment, past dolls and sculptures of garlic. Believe it or not, there are items available for those in your group who are not a fan, but make sure you bring mints for later. The Stinking Rose is open daily from 11:30 a.m. until 10:00 p.m.

325 Columbus Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 781-7673
thestinkingrose.com

Resources

North Beach Information

Article Written By Anne Marie Bailey

Based in Southern California, Anne Marie Bailey has been a freelance writer since 2008. She has been published in "EAT Magazine" and is a regular contributor to Trails.com and eHow. Bailey holds a Bachelor of Arts in cultural anthropology from the University of Colorado.

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