The Resy Guide to Italian Restaurants, For Every Occasion

~Weeknight Staples~

Sure, its older sister restaurant down the street, Flour + Water, still hits hard after all these years with its wonderful pasta tasting menu (see below), but for more of a casual weeknight plate of pasta with a crudo or two, Penny Roma is just what the doctor ordered. Maybe you’re feeling meaty? They’ve got a hearth where they’re firing up crispy skinned trout, pork chops, ribeyes, and more.

AltoVino is one of those idyllic Italian spots: A cozy space, perched up on Nob Hill and run by a wife-and-husband team of Calli Martinez and Nick Kelly — she’s the somm, he’s the chef. You’re sure to explore some new wines you’ll fall in love with, all while getting some delicious twists on pasta.

The great thing about Mattina is that you get the same quality and caliber of fare from Matthew Accrarrino that he’s putting out at his nearby SPQR, but it’s served in a more casual café setting all day, everyday. Whether you’re looking for duck-filled ravioli with roasted grapes and balsamic brown butter or comforting white polenta and prosciutto or big beef bistecca, you’re in good hands here.

For those ultra charred, slightly sour, beautifully blistered and leopard-spotted wood-fired pies (and an unmatched vibe of course), head to Del Popolo. A pizza per person is the unwritten (but highly recommended) rule here, as is a few of their creative, produce-driven small plates to start.

Bonus: Want more pizza picks? Right this way.

~New(ish) Spots to Try~

From the same duo that brought you the charming AltoVino (the aforementioned Nick Kelly and Calli Martinez) bring you their new stunner on Valencia, where the focus on regionality changes with the seasons. During the winter time, it’s all about the north, where you’ll find rich risotto options and rib-sticking ragus, while spring and summer, the focus will change to the south, where the sea reigns supreme.

Chef Gian Marco Cosmi gets micro-regional, taking San Franciscans on a journey to the coast of Emilia-Romagna, where he grew up. There’s a lot of seafood scattered throughout the menu, be it in the form of grilled seafood skewers or sardine pasta featuring spaghetti extruded in house. Consider the chef’s tasting menu and let Cosmi curate your entire experience.

Carlo Splendorini’s aperitivo and cicchetti spot feels like a secret in the middle of the concrete jungle that is Financial District. It is a hidden oasis where creative cocktails like White Truffle Negronis and Prosciutto-and-Melon Spritzes help you down small savory snacks and crudo, all served with a glamorous and fabulous flashy vibe.

Ofena is your new favorite neighborhood charmer. At the helm of the kitchen is Tim Humphrey, who spent time at the Restaurant at Meadowood. Here, he’s creating a comforting yet inventive menu featuring deliciousness like fried mozzarella carozza with a spicy marinara sauce, gnocchi carbonara with duck prosciutto, and big fried chicken cotoletta.

From Chez Panisse alum Zoti Ali Turap comes The Rustic on Church Street in The Castro. He’s overseeing the wine menu, alongside a Cal-Ital menu of small snacks, handmade pastas, meaty mains, and what we may be most excited about: wood-fired pizzas. The mortadella with burrata and pistachios is particularly compelling.

~Three Spots Where You Can Splurge~

There aren’t many places in the country where you can opt for a pasta tasting menu, but here, it’ll help you understand why the pasta made at Flour + Water is nationally acclaimed. You’ll get an exploration of a variety of regional Italian styles comprised of the best seasonal ingredients the Bay Area has to offer.

Packed tables, a soaring ceiling, and an always-bustling room are just some of the hallmarks of this Fillmore staple. Chef Matthew Accarrino and his seasonally changing set menus are the rest. Go many times to ensure tasting all the antipasti, pastas (they change often, but hope for the rabbit lasagna), and delightful desserts.

Chef-owner Michele Belotti was born-and-raised in Bergamo and worked in Michelin-starred kitchens before coming to California. At his Belotti Ristorante, you wouldn’t necessarily know this, but now that you do, it all makes so much sense: there’s an effortlessness in vibe and authenticity that thing you can’t put your finger on — but can definitely feel. Just wait until you taste the pasta; these are some of the best in The Bay.