Barbacco Reviews

Great food. Try the butternut squash soup-different from the usual. The black cod special was outstanding. Excellent service.

Outstanding food and service. The menu reflects items only found in Italy, all made by the creative chef. When I am craving authentic Southern Italian cold meats and cheeses, with a glass of great wines, there is no other place for me.

We ate here on NYD the food and service weee good. The restaurant vibe is good, we ate gorgonzola and walnut pizza and steak. The cocktails were spot on too. In terms of price it is like every where in SF. Would recommend, more italian than american as based in North Beach

Delicious italian bistro food/bar. Seating is not super comfortable but the food and service more than makes up for it. We started with an excellent little gem lettuce salad. One order was enough for three people. We also split the buratta salad served with tomato and arugula and thinly sliced asparagus. We also ordered olives which were great. Dinner was the orchiette with kale pesto and fennel sausage and the halibut served with a citrus salad. Dessert was excellent gelato and the cannoli. We were surprised with a complementary dessert for a birthday celebration. We started out next door for drinks at sister restaurant Perbacco and finished at Barbacco with an excellent selection of wine by the glass. We were very pleased with our experience. This would be five stars if not for the relatively uncomfortable barstool seating even at the tables.

We dropped in at about 6pm and we were fortunate to get a table until 7.15pm without having a reservation - and this was Monday! The furnishings are modern against red brick and wood, clean lines and smart. People were filling the bar area within minutes of our arrival and there was soon a real buzz of an atmosphere. The food was very good, the service friendly and efficient. It was a nice touch that, in true Italian style, a dish of olive oil and balsamic vinegar was brought to the table with a basket of bread before the starters. Although we hadn't reserved, and it wasn't on the menu, they were happy to provide a plate of Italian cured meats as a starter dish for my partner - and it was huge! My seafood salad was of more modest proportions but absolutely delicious. My partner enjoyed the chicken thighs and I found the lasagne very tasty, though there were too many sheets of pasta in each layer for my personal taste. All washed down with a good chianti. A very enjoyable meal all in all.

We took an early afternoon break after a day of walking nearby neighborhoods. The cool Racer 5 IPA's paired nicely with a section of marinated olives and a tasty selection of bruschetta including Roasted Pepper, Marinated Brussels Sprouts, and Tuscan Chicken Liver. Convenient downtown location with friendly service and modern decor. Definitely disappointed we couldn't stay for dinner, a glass of wine and add more to our review.

I had an afternoon in the Financial District and visited Barbacco based on reviews. It was perfect, outstanding really. Yummy prosciutto and melon bruschetta followed by farrato, a mushroom risotto made with farro. All accompanied with a glass of Barbera, recommended intelligently by the server. I'll be back on my next visit...even though there are hundreds of places to try!

First dinner on this trip to San Francisco and attracted by TripAdvisor reviews and that it was just round the corner from our Hotel. We were a "Walk In" and waited around 5 minutes or so before being seated. Efficient and pleasant waiter and good combination of wines and meal choices. Seats a little too close to one's neighbours for my liking but guess this is normal in the Financial District. Would go back.

Arugala salad was just fair. Pass on the Lasagna, as you could likely make it better at home. Mine was overcooked and dry, and a small piece at that as well. Wine was ok. The plus is a neat narrow atmosphere and staff friendly. Gelato good also.

Barbacco is a more casual version of its sister restaurant next door (Perbacco) but offers the same high quality, interesting, Mediterranean food. From mushroom risotto to tubular pasta and lamb, our dishes were innovative and tasty. The staff was attentive but not hovering. The ambiance was pleasant. All in all, worth a visit even from outside the financial district.

We visited Barbacco after seeing the excellent reviews and we were not disappointed! When we arrived (6.30pm on a friday) the restaurant was already pretty full, however the hostess very kindly squeezed us in before a later booking. Our waiter was very friendly and suggested we had the bruschetta to share to start. It was absolutely fantastic- crunchy bread topped with a mound of soft mozerella and prosciutto. The mains were also very good. The salmon and the lamb pasta were stand outs. The polpette had a beautiful sauce but were a bit too big so i wouldn't rush to have them again. However, the stand out of the meal had to be the puddings. In particular the chocolate nemesis which was a gorgeous layer of chocolate ganache on what seemed to be a cheesecake base. The only negative was that the wine was extremely expensive. $15 for a glass seems slightly extortionate and was the same price as some of the mains that we ordered?! This meant that out bill was quite a bit higher than anticipated.

Intending to go to Tadich's, we found it closed for President's Day. We strolled a bit further and arrived at Barbacco,without a reservation. We were informed that we could have a table, as long as we could finish before 7:30, as the table was reserved for that time. We said that depended on the service, but we were willing to give it a try. To start off, we had a selection of their appetizers, including the roasted beets, roasted mushrooms, and roasted roots. All were well-prepared, delicious, and unlike the other dishes. For my main course, I had a pasta dish with a braised lamb ragu that was very well-seasoned and balanced. The restaurant has an excellent wine selection. We tasted a couple and had a very nice Barbera with our meal. Mid-way through the meal we were told that the reservation for our table had been canceled, so we need not rush. I appreciate being informed, so we could enjoy our meal in leisure.

Visited Barbacco for a business lunch and was extremely satisfied. The pasta and soups were splendid, the portions surprisingly liberal, and has a great lunchtime atmosphere. Good FiDi choice!

Really surprised by the ratings here and perhaps I had a bad experience but nothing went well here. The restaurant was dated and noisy. The service was fine but nothing special. However the food was terrible. I ordered 2 dishes and both were below average. So many better places in SF. Try Tadich Grill next door if you're in the area.

A lovely Upscale Italian restaurant near the financial district. It has a very intricate and interesting menu. Their rolled Quail was incredible. All their wines were delightful and the service was attentive but not obtrusive.

We have been to Perbacco numerous times, and eaten in many great restaurants around the city. We ordered a handful of appetizers to share, and nothing stood out. Each dish was consistently mundane. The lasagna had no flavor at all, and my wife's chittara pasta tasted like canned sauce. The meatballs were again, just average. The sausage pesto on the orecchiette was frankly inedible. Bitter and salty. Our side dishes came to the table 15 minutes after our mains. The waiter was more casual than professional. Not a big deal, but he asked questions and then frequently walked away before we could respond. We would not go back. There are many superior restaurants.

Terrible service. They said we would wait 20 minutes for a table ended up waiting for ONE hour! And they didn't even sit us on a table but at the bar!!

If I was rating solely on the food I'd give this venue 5 stars. The Lumache and Rigatoni were great and we brought ample leftovers home. The Lambrusco and Abbazia Pinot Noir were also excellent. But the seating gets 1 star - the tables are too close to each other and you can't help but hear EVERY SINGLE WORD uttered by your seat mates. I recommend you sit at the bar (never the most private spot in any restaurant) or get food to go if you have any expectation of any level of privacy in your dinner conversation.

Love it here...you get Perbacco food quality at reasonable prices, great service, and very nice wine selection. Love it....

We were headed to the Gateway Theatre and heard about this restaurant. It was great. The special soup that night was, indeed, special. Probably the best mushroom soup we have ever had anywhere. The citrus salad was equally different and delicious. I had the pork meatball dish as an entree and loved every bite. My husband had the rigatoni carbonara. It was very well prepared, but very rich. Not our favorite. Had to try the Brussel sprouts, and yes, we recommend them. We enjoyed Fort Point Red beer with the dinners. We shared carrot cake for dessert. It was excellent. Turned out to be a perfect dinner in very pleasant surroundings.

Had dinner here with some business associates. Great place, friendly, fast service and good food. Prices are quite reasonable too. Everyone had the steak but I took the special of the day, swordfish on lentil, which was surprisingly tasty. We also sampled a variety of side-dishes (squid, sprouts, etc.). I do recommend this place for business casual dinner.

A very busy and fun Italian spot located downtown S F. We went after a comedy show, got there late and sat at the bar, that was fun. Prices are very doable, fun menu, great service.

After a long day of walking and taking in the sights, we were tired and hungry with no reservations on a Saturday evening. We arrived about 7 and were seated right away at the bar. Rather than feeling like we were in a holding pattern the bar seating was comfortable and the service was spot on, perfectly welcoming and attentive. We had two different pasta dishes which actually tasted very different rather than variations on a theme. They were both excellent, served piping hot and fresh. The wine list included a decent California section, which was unusual and welcome based on our experience of other San Francisco Italian eateries. I know, Italian wine with Italian food - but as we live in Europe we can have Italian anytime and Californian is a treat. This restaurant got the balance right with good options from around the world. The price was reasonable too, which was also unusual and welcome in a City that is definitely on the expensive side for just about everything. We left pleasantly satisfied with the ambiance, service, food, wine, and definitely the great value!

Swung by Barbacco after a movie at the Embarcadero Center. We didn’t have a reservation, so we were pleasantly surprised by how quickly we were able to get in on a Saturday night. Our server was super knowledgeable about the food and super accommodating with our dietary needs. Enjoyed the octopus, chicken and assorted small plates. Had a great time chatting with friends.

My wife, daughter, son-in-law, and I had dinner here on my wife's birthday. The food was good, some excellent, but I have had better Italian. The service was attentive and friendly without being intrusive. The restaurant is a bit noisy, but not enough to affect conversation at the table. All in all, it was a very nice experience, and I would return. Considering the cost of dining out in SF, I would say that this restaurant is reasonably priced.

Was recommended this place from friends and concierge, restaurant is small so they cram in those tables and turn them quick, but the food is amazing, was surprised the beet salad tapas was the only thing that was disappointing needed some lift, but pastas were solid, great gelato's after as well.

I love their brussels sprouts but pretty much everything is good. Good Italian food and a wonderful wine list. Perbacco is the sister restaurant one door over. This one is slightly cheaper and a bit easier to get into. This is more of a week day financial institution so it is closed on the weekends. Great for a nice dinner with friends or a work lunch.

We had an early dinner here on New Year's Eve. Really good food, good atmosphere and friendly service.

Have been here twice. I was quite impressed both times. Great wine list with lots of by-the-glass selections of tasty Italian red wines. Ask your server for a suggestion; both mine were quite knowledgable. The pasta was excellent and interesting. The duck was among the best I have had. Make a reservation. The restaurant was full both times I visited.

In a town with lots of Italian restaurants to choose from ,Barbacco stands out for its upscale yet casual setting and decor, common tables and interesting menu selections. Although many do it now, Barbacco was one of the first to present the extensive wine list on an iPad. Great for lunch or a casual dinner.

When traveling solo I prefer to eat at the restaurant bar if it is an available option. Seating at Barbacco overlooked the sous chef prep, to the back of the dining areas, a quiet space perfect for reading and eating. I was quickly seated and although it took a moment to place my order, my server Liz was attentive for the remainder of my stay. I ordered Burrata di Stefano (a mix of mozzarella, butternut squash, pesto, pomegranate and mixed nuts with crusty bread). Squid Ink Bucatini with a medley of shellfish followed by a dessert affogato with ginger ice cream. Quiet and pleasant dining experience; moderately expensive.

Stopped by after a late check in to hotel, made a reservation on OpenTable, the food was great as I have not had a pork ragu that good in quite a while. The beer was also great as they had dogfish on tap, great experience and reasonable prices

I've been stopping here anytime I'm in SF for the last 7-8 years. I've also dined at Perbacco, the sister restaurant next door, many times. Of the two Barbacco is less formal and the cuisine more Italian country or rustic than Perbacco. Both are great. I always sit at the bar and last Thursday night was no exception. Fortunately we were seated in front of the appetizer/desert station. Joel, the chef at that station, engaged us in conversation early and we spoke off and on through the meal. My friend is vegetarian and always has a great meal here. In fact, this time it was her suggestion. I had the spinach lasagna bolognese and she had a farro risotto with mushrooms. I am salivating while writing this The staff is friendly and the food is outstanding. Joel comped a small serving of beets with horseradish crema as an appetizer which was wonderful. At the end of the meal he then presented me with a comped dessert with Happy Birthday scrolled in perfect cursive. Our server was Claudia who performed spot on . We split an excellent mezzo of Barbera d'Alba. Hope to return asap.

This is the relaxed sister restaurant to Perbacco. Keep it easy with the orecchiette and the brussel sprouts and laugh it up with your friends. This is the perfect place to have a great glass of wine and yummy plate of food. My only gripe was that the server made himself so scarce that I wasn't able to order a second glass. Polite service, good Italian wine list and simple delicious food. Can't go wrong.

Barbacco has amazing Italian food at a reasonable price. The dishes are perfect to share or as meal. The pastas are homemade and absolutely incredible. The Paccheri is amazing. The brussel sprouts are delicious. The salads, particularly the kale salad, are very good. Don't miss the bruschetta!

Visiting SF and staying in a hotel nearby. Great food. Fresh ingredients. Very nice service. The atmosphere is busy and noisy. A little hard to carry on a conversation. Two people without alcohol $90. I would go again without hesitation.

Was with a picky group of guys, and everyone found something they loved on the menu, which was anything but run-of-the-mill. Great for unusual meats.

It's next door from " Michael Minna" restaurant when China considered as fancy place. "Barbacco"restaurant is a simpler more down to earth place but they haven't disappointed us . The meal was delicious . We ordered a few dishes such as grilled octopus , citrus arugula salad, grilled Brussels sprouts and iron skirt stake and all of it was perfectly prepared . Portion sizes were generous as well. All prices are under $20 (even the steak ) . Would recommend for a business or friends get together meal. But we had a very Good Friday night dinner.

The meatballs come 3 to an order ($16!-- a bargain), with an accompaniment of spaghetti marinara. The night we dined, the meatball varieties presented were pork, veal, and lamb-- we chose to try them all. Each was distinctly seasoned, each went perfectly with the pasta. Our appetizer was bruschetta, with a velvet lemon ricotta topped with asparagus, arugula, and shaved radish. Dessert was crispy cannoli, each end brimming with pistachios. Service was very attentive, and the ambiance lively.

I ordered the Lasagna Bolognes, which they make with spinach pasta, ragu Bolognese and besciamella sauce. The lasagna noodles were fine, the ragu a bit tasteless, but the real disappointment of the dish was the besciamella sauce. It was served on the side and was a congealed, unappetizing line of white fat just sitting there. Nevertheless, I tried it and found it cold and not particularly good. I called this to the staff's attention. She said she would tell the chef, but there was no attempt to make good on this disappointing entre. I also had the fried Brussels sprouts, which are prepared with capers, anchovy and red wine vinaigrette. This dish was very good. The sprouts were charred and very flavorable. It is due to that side that the rating assigned in this review is this high.

We had an awesome meal here. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Be prepared to share a table if you go with less than 6 people and it is busy. We felt it added to the fun and vibe of the place.

Didn't expect to need a reservation at 6.30pm, but in the heart of the financial district there were many early diners. Book ahead if you don't want to be disappointed. The service was excellent - the servers were very knowledgeable about all the ingredients in the dishes and were able to quickly advise what could be made vegetarian. The wine list was extensive, but mainly by the bottle. More choices by the glass would have improved the list. You won't find heavy cheese and tomato-laden pasta dishes here. The cuisine was light, fresh and tasty with lots of choice to suit everyone's taste. I was pleasantly surprised by the prices - 2 appetizers, 2 main courses and 2 glasses of wine for around $60. Bargain for this upscale restaurant.

We've dined at Perbacco and thought we try the "light" version right next door. Sure, it's smaller (still long from front to back) and the tables/booths are across from the bar and the TVs. Yes, it's "louder". However, it is exactly what one would expect and what we had read about. Our interest was the food and service. We were not disappointed in either of these. In fact, we quite enjoyed both the quality of the food and the service, to us just as professional as Perbacco but somewhat more casual. We started with some sparkling water (no Pellegrino available, but the Lurisia was just fine) and two glasses of wine (one red and one white). This time, our server correctly offered separate glasses for tasting and for our final selections. Our salads followed with my wife having the large pear and endive salad w/ gorgonzola cheese and toasted chestnuts. I had the Little Gem Salad, nicely accented with anchovies. Both were very fresh and delicious. This was followed by our entrees: Risotto alla Zucca (butternut squash/spinach) for me and a wonderfully prepared Chicken Al Mattone (chicken under the brick) with polenta. My wife was really impressed with how moist the meat was. We passed on the dessert though only because we were so full. We did not find the dinner tab that expensive but "reasonable" compared to other similar types of restaurants, particularly in San Francisco. So, if you are looking for an excellent meal in a casual, nice bar atmosphere (and with conversation going on around you), then this place is for you.

Friendly and attentive service. Atmosphere was comfortable and inviting. Family style entrees made it possible to enjoy several choices on the menu. Fresh, delicious and portions just right. The flourless chocolate cake for dessert was decadent! Definitely would return!

This is a popular sibling to the more formal and pricier Perbacco. The menu includes a range of small plates (including a terrific build-your-own antipasti course). Most dishes are unpretentious "peasant" fare, but all are carefully composed and well-presented. The lamb ragu was a standout, as were the thoughtfully selected wines. Very reasonable pricing. The staff seemed overwhelmed (or under-trained?) but personable. Definitely recommended!

Had the faro risotto, with butternut squash and truffle oil. It was excellent and very filling. My husband had the meatballs. I got a taste, and they were wonderful. The service was excellent. Tables are too close together. The noise level is extremely high. If there had been openings at the bar we would have taken those seats.

small casual restaurant with impeccable service. ordered brussel sprouts and olives for appetizers. delish my husband had the orcchiette and I had the tuscan stew both were delicious. a wonderful italian bottle of wine and gelato for dessert. was a wonderful meal. highly recommend.

I was looking forward to some good Italian food away from much the hyped North Beach restaurants in SF. The wine selection is excellent, varied, and reasonable for all tastes. I had the grilled octopus which was the best I had west of the Mississippi(sorry the Greek restaurants in the East Coast are the best in cooking grilled or charred octopus), and so were the roasted beets with horseradish sauce and the roasted cauliflower. However I was very disappointed that the Penne a La Norma that I ordered the pasta was undercooked, a total turn off. My wife's grilled sword fish, was fishy. I guess you shouldn't order fish on Mondays. The service was engaging and good.

Just back to my hotel after enjoying Barbaccos spicy sicilian meatballs, polenta and a Kale salad with apples. Beutifully paired with a full bodied glass of Italian wine. The service was good from start to end. Was welcomed by the girl at the door with a warm smile and got a sest almost immediately. Didn't have to wait too long between the courses, something that could otherwise be very annoying. All in all a pleasent experience

We were tourists and let the waiter know it. He recommended his favorites which we ordered. Everything was so fresh and flavorful. Each of he staff members were so friendly.

Went with two friends after work. The food and service was fantastic. Had a wonderful plate of meatballs and a few glasses of wine. It's very relaxed inside and a great place to sit and relax without feeling rushed. Definitely worth checking if you are Downtown.

We had a great dinner here, meat balls are awesome. Its a modern restaurant so is very busy. Sat at the bar which was fine and the service was very good. Its pretty pricey but that's SF normal

I reserved a table for 6 with my friends - most of us were Italian - as the menu looked really inspiring with some really interesting regional dishes that are hard to find outside Italy. Unfortunately the execution was not great ... we ordered Gnocco Fritto but that was nowhere as puffy as the original. The orecchiette were probably the most underwhelming dish, the sauce was not enough. The Tuscan stew was actually really nice and reasonably priced for the huge portion.

Made reservations here in a pinch. Found on trip advisor and what a find! We showed up 45 min early during the lunch rush. The restaurant was near full but the hostess went the extra mile to get our group seated immediately. Once seated the service was "spot-on" All food was outstanding and I even asked for a vegan option in which they recommended an off menu plate that was delicious. I will definitely visit again and would highly recommend you give them a try!

if you like Italian at all and are somewhat adventurous then this is a must go to place. It is kind of like Italian tapas with some unusual offerings along with the Italian classics (like their excellent lasagna). All the food is great, seating can be a little crowded but not uncomfortable.

Barbacco is dialect for By Bacchus, and this is an Italian restaurant with a fine wine list. We had two wines, both from the Alto Adige, of which the white was really excellent. Food is typically Italian, mainly pasta and meat,nicely presented; I had pollo al matone, crushed chicken. The restaurant is long and narrow, and the noise level is very tolerable. A good place for a quiet conversation.

The food and service was very good....but the tables were very close and there was not privacy to our conversation. And a bit noisy. Not a romantic place or conduce to talking....but the food was very good.

This is a real Italian restaurant and not the typical pizza restaurant. Enjoyed the food at the counter seating with a good glass of wine

Really good Italian place in downtown San Francisco. Has a more swanky location next door (Perbacco), but this little brother is just as good and more informal (many seats are at the bar). Original and uniformly excellent pasta and risotto plates.

This is an informal Italian restaurant near in the Financial District. It has a lively vibe and great food and wine. We had every one of the imaginative bruschettas and then an arugulla salad, with two glasses of good wine each. Reasonably priced, friendly and efficient service, and an interesting crowd. What more could you want?

Great location to meet up with friends. The Wine selection is good, menu is average. I enjoyed the Brussel sprouts, sun chokes and mushrooms.

I have been to Barbacco three times now. The first time I dined at the bar. The second time with a group of 20 in the private room upstairs. The last time was this Friday, two of us at a table. Each time I've had a really fine experience with Barbacco. The first thing I notice each time I've been to this restaurant is how warm and polite the staff are. Since I have noticed this three times not I believe it cannot be a fluke - the management must specifically hire people and/or train them in politeness and warmth. The restaurant staff can be extraordinarily busy, yet to a person they are polite and attentive - but not overly so. They are not obsequious, but rather genuinely attentive and warm. I prefer this type of dining atmosphere rather than a more formal and obsequious style. The food for lack of a better words is Italian meets California gourmet. On a past visit (the group) I had as a pasta dish a single large handmade ravioli (with Shitake filling) with a delicate truffle flavored sauce (delightful layers of flavor and texture) and lamb chop - delightfully grilled and spiced. Well done. On another visit I had the Orecchiette with cavolo nero (black kale) and fennel sausage. A wonderful combination. The restaurant's decor is modern and lighting is not to bright to be annoying and not to dark so that you cannot see your food. Where I sat last Friday toward the back by the kitchen is a great location, though it can get a little noisy. Many people would enjoy the energy. If you want a quieter more intimate experience I suggest the second floor. You may need to book that table early, though. Finally, for the sophistication of the food, the atmosphere, the staff and the location the prices are quite reasonable (although I believe that the menu on the website need the pricing updated). You can spend a lot more in SF than Barbacco and have a much worse experience. All in all, taking into consideration the staff, food, atmosphere and value this restaurant gets five stars. Enjoy!

Met some friends for an Italian meal. Food was great with lots of shared dishes. We enjoyed a number of vegetable sides even though they all had a similar smokey/anchovy garlic taste - enjoyed the Brussel sprouts. Enjoyed the stew as well as the Bolognese. I believe the menu changes frequently so... It was very loud, which made it fun, but also hard to catch-up with friends unless we shouted. So if you want fun, tasty, and like a boisterous atmosphere, this is your place. But if you want quiet romantic, no. I also noticed that they had counter seating which is great for business travelers or people who like to eat alone and not have to sit at an awkward table for 4 - I wish more places had such a setup.

This was my first time at Barbacco, I have eaten at their two sister restaurants, Perbacoo is two doors away and serves higher priced, slightly more formal food in a cleaner, more minimalist space. Barbacco is a really nice space, we sat at the bar, and ordered a main courser of pasta each, portion sizes are mid to large, but not at the crazy size some restaurants in the US decide you have to have. The pasta was very well cooked, seasoned beautifully and served on time, and with a smile. The wine list is good, easy to navigate with the usual favourites featuring. For a reasonable value, lively, relaxed venue serving quality cuisine, this is a very good choice in SF.

We enjoyed dining at the bar here. Friendly bartenders if you want them to be, excellent food, convenient and easy.

We went to a business lunch, party of 8 at Barbacco. This is the smaller sized sister restaurant to Perbacco located right next door on the 200 block of California Street in the Financial District in San Francisco. We had a nice table near the front entrance of the restaurant. I started with the Butcher Salad at $13 and then went for the Polpette (pork meatballs) in sauce at $17 for my entree. Both dishes were excellent. Others in our party ordered the filet sole special and pasta dishes which also looked and smelled great. The service was good and it didn’t take long to be served after ordering. There was quite a line at the door by the time we finished so this place is quite popular and reservations are highly recommended.

The layout is good, the greeting acceptable, the seats are comfortable, the table minimal. The menu is excellent offering of Italian food. Wine list is honorable and the sommerlier is incredible, take her suggestion, including for end. She makes it. The staff are professional and well attuned. We we're 10, whatever anyone ordered we're excellent, the antipasti is a must, may be better than main!

This was my first time to Barbacco, located next door to Parbacco and the San Francisco institution- Tadich Grill. We arrived for an early dinner at 5:30 PM, but the tables were already filling. Reservations are recommended. This is an Italian restaurant, the choices include several varieties of pasta dishes and other entrees of meat and fish. The wine list was fresh, containing a surprising list of off-the-beaten-path reds. The dessert list was straightforward, and included my barometer for an Italian restaurant- panna cotta. Service was timely, friendly, and efficient. All in all, the food was very good, and the atmosphere lively. By the time we left, there was a line out the door.

Great place, modern urban atmosphere, and outstanding food. Absolutely loved their brussels sprouts! Everything our party of three ordered was excellent. You can't go wrong.

we had dinner here our first nite in San Francisco. we had a6:30 reservation and were seated at the bar( the website indicates that you might be seated there) which was fine. the food was good but we both thought the main dishes were salty. vegetable appy's seem to be be prepared in advance and were served very quickly and they were very good. we especially enjoyed the bruschetta. we were in and out in under an hour- but we wished that it was a little slowed down.

Excellent and friendly service. Food is very good and prices reasonable for this area. Good wine list too.

Both of us had the same dish, and we both LOVED it. The wine was good too. We did not have appetizers or dessert, so there is nothing more to say.

My wife and I had a nice dinner at Barbacco. We had the lasagne & the Oricetti with fennel sausage. It was delicious. Good wine selection too. A bit loud but it has kind of a group seating theme.

My husband and I were staying in the financial district in San Francisco. On our last night, we wanted to eat somewhere close to our hotel. Both Barbacco and its sister restaurant were recommended. We chose Barbacco and were lucky to get a reservation on a busy Saturday night. Once inside, we quickly got caught up in the energy of the restaurant. The guests appeared to be having a good time, and the servers were friendly and knowledgeable. Sitting at a bar area gave us an opportunity to watch salads and desserts being prepared. We ordered two salads to start. The roasted beet salad, with orange zest, was outstanding. The mozzarella di bufala was served with roasted eggplant. This was placed on a delicious bread. We decided to split the corn fusilli. Since this dish is gluten free, the server asked if there was any other food allergies. Once our meal arrived, we knew instantly that we made a mistake. We should have ordered one dish for each of us. The fusilli was served with pesto, pine nuts, and cherry tomatoes. Wow! What a flavor. Our dining experience was outstanding. We are so glad that we were able to get a table at Barbacco.

Take out our eat in...either way the food and wine is amazing! Although this restaurant is less formal than its next door neighbor Perbacco, the same quality and creativity is there. You can order online and have it ready to be picked up or sit at bistro style tables and enjoy your food there. Whichever you choose, you'll be very happy you chose Barbacco.

The 2 of us stumbled across this place whilst walking the downtown area one evening just after we arrived in San Francisco. We obviously arrived at peak time and it was busy. We did not have a booking of course. The atmosphere was great and the service attentive and delightful. But the food was quite exceptional. The roasted roots and the beef casserole were superb but roasted sprouts on the side would have impressed even the most cynical teenager. We have been traveling for 2 weeks now and this is by far the best meal we have had for some time. Totally recommend this place.

My meal was really great here but my girlfriend didn't enjoy hers, seems like a bit of a hit and miss place, some dishes are good some aren't, worth a gamble though if you're in the area !

The mushroom risotto was great, so were the Brussels sprouts and the cheese and the mushroom appetizer. The asparagus bruschetta was good. The service was prompt and polite. The Genovese soup was hard for me to eat, overpowering pesto flavor. The butterscotch and chocolate gelato felt like it had bread in it, texture was weird, I love sweets but it was not very satisfying at the end of a nice meal. Maybe I misunderstood what the dish was? The seating was crowded but it did not bother me, though it was a little loud. Since I don't eat meat, I will wait for the menu to change before I eat here again, since I had all the vegetarian options, almost, in one meal. I thought it was a very good meal, not so very expensive, limited for non meat eaters, but I would recommend for a slightly special dinner.

Sometimes you just have to treat yourself. I was in for the night got a phone call for my girlfriends to join them for dinner. I am so glad I went. I was very hungry and thirsty. I had wonderful cocktails, yummy appetizers, we shared wonderful wine and dinner! Our server could have smiled a little bit more, and he could have left our bottle on the table. I work in wine, plenty of tools to service the bottle and cool the bottle for enjoyment and consumption. Oh well.... However, The Hostess with the mostess made the difference! We'll be back, for the delicious brussel sprouts, risotto, and Lambrusco!

Apparently this place is well-liked by locals and tourists alike. We did not have reservations (2 of us) but they were able to accommodate us with no fuss. We arrived when they opened for dinner, and within 30 minutes they were pretty full. It is a small restaurant. They have a "sister" place next door that is fancier, although this was casual/nice. I ordered the Pappa al Pomodoro (tomato soup) which was excellent. I had a "hollow" spaghetti recommended by the waitress, and it was very good. My friend had the meatballs, which I tasted and thought a little bland. We did not have alcohol or dessert.

Was looking for an italian experience. Didn't found the usual flavor of italian cuisine, average food with lack of fresh spices and sauce. May be Perbacco is better.

This place is great. It is not pretentious, has great food, and is reasonably priced. They have lots of great food for sharing, along with not-too-expensive entrees. This is my favorite restaurant in the city! If you like Italian food, and are feeling a little adventurous, this is a great spot. They let you order half glasses of wine for half the price, which I love! Try the brussels sprouts and the dates, just trust me.

Perfect dinner for those who don't like a huge plate of food late at night. Beer and wine to accompany. Service was great. Lots of choice and you can eat as much as you like.

We had a great lunch here. The food was really flavoursome and the side of Brussels sprouts was truly fantastic. We sat at the bar and the bar staff chatted to us, they were so friendly. The best lunch in our stay, just a pity we didn't find it until our last day. Definitely recommend it.

A casually elegant dinner full of excellent cuisine. I recommend ordering plates to share so you can explore all parts of the menu. The pasta dishes are quite substantial, so pairing one with a fish or main dish is a great way to try two parts of the cuisine. My husband and I shared the Sole and Orichetti with a side of Brussel sprouts. Both were excellent! The Brussel sprouts were amazing! For dessert, we had the Chocolate Nemesis which was no nemesis at all! It was perfect! Great dinner!

We went there with friends that we haven't seen for a long time. The food was great, including veggie options, although I had the soup (ok, but not great) for a main dish, as the set of appetizers (5 for $20) was great and a lot. A bit crowded and hard to get into your table, plus the couple next to us was very loud which was really disturbing and hard to talk. But once they were gone, it was ok. We paid $200 for 4 people which was definitely reasonable.

This was my first visit to Barbacco. My spouse and I received a gift card for this restaurant from friends; this plus the fact that they were participating in SF Restaurant Week made this visit a no-brainer. I'll start with the cons (which were far outweighed by the pros). When we got there the hostess tried to seat us at the counter, which we refused. We were then offered a table, which we accepted. The seating is ultra-close, but you get used to that after a few minutes as long as the folks on both sides aren't obnoxious. The feel is crowded but that's the result of Barbacco being so popular. I ordered the prix fixe and thought it was fantastic. First of all, the three course dinner menu consisted of appetizer, pasta, and main rather than appetizer, main, and dessert. The fist course was a bruschetta with a paste of winter squash, some micro greens, and balsamic. So far, so good. Next came a large bowl of orecchiette with kale and sausage. The portion was huge and the flavor was absolutely delicious. The main course was a thick, crisp-skinned, mild-favored slab of sea bass with Castelvetrano olives and a poached potato. The fish was moist and flaky - truly the best sea bass (that was not the quite different Chilean) I've ever tasted. My spouse had the "seared chicken," which was actually a whole Cornish hen, juicy and flavorful. There was so much food that, if we had bth ordered the three courses, we' would never have been able to finish it all. Overall, we were positively impressed with Barbacco and look forward to our next visit. I heartily recommend taking advantage of their Restaurant Week menu.

Barbacco is great food and better service. The wine list is amazing and I have never had a bad experience. They also impressed me when the hostess remembered us the second time and welcomed us back. We have now become regulars at Barbacco and every time the staff has been helpful, knowledgeable, and very friendly. If you are unsure about which wine you want, they will pour you a splash so you are not committed to getting something you are unsure of. The food is amazing. The kitchen staff does a great job sending out great food consistently and efficiently. Brussel sprouts are the best. They make all the charcuterie and gelato in house. Must have lasgna and meatballs. Also I always sit at the bar. It feels like you get to know the wait staff better and when you make friends with the staff, it translate into more enjoyable experience.

With a modern decor and great food, I can understand that this has become a favorite lunch place for many young San Franciscans. At least the day I was there, at lunch, the noise level was a tad on the high side.

I went to Barbacco with a friend and was seated at the bar for lunch. There was enough space to have our own plates plus the four dishes we had ordered to share. The restaurant was clean, food fresh & delicious and atmosphere fun & casual. We loved every dish we had: strawberry & fennel salad, chicken thighs, lasagna and brussel sprouts. We had the first three in mind, and when we asked if we missed anything that we should absolutely have, our waiter recommended the brussel sprouts. We are so happy we took his reco; it was addictive! The food was prepared quite quickly (the resto was 80% full when we showed up for a lunch at noon on Monday) so this place would work well for a short meal as well as a long one. Great find in financial district!

We went to this Italian trattoria for dinner on my birthday, based on a recommendation from our hotel, and had a delightful experience. The staff were exceptionally upbeat and friendly, and we had a knowledgeable, attentive waiter, who was totally customer-focused. We enjoyed the food tremendously, including a surprise complimentary dessert at the end of our meal. The casual design includes a long, narrow room with a dining bar and stools on one side and tables on the other. At the rear of the room, a full wall mirror gives the impression of a much larger area. During our stay, a big-screen TV televised a football game from its wall location above the bar. Though we had made a 7:30 p.m. reservation, the greeter saw no vacant tables and was going to seat us at the bar. Luckily, a table opened just before that happened. Menu offerings included small and big plates with various regions of Italy represented. We opted to share a pear and endive salad; risotto with butternut squash and truffle oil; meatballs; and a side of roasted butternut squash. All proved to be excellent, but the wonderful pork meatballs with raisins, pine nuts and tomato sugo truly stood out. A subtle heat that did not overpower followed every bite. We chose Prosecco to drink and it went well with this meal. As we ate, more and more customers came into the restaurant until no seating was left. Each time diners vacated a table, others moved over from the stools to claim the space. This was a noisy, lively place, but we had no difficulty in hearing each other and carrying on a conversation at a normal volume. When we asked for the bill in preparation for leaving, our server asked us not to go, explaining that a special dessert was on its way to us from the kitchen. It turned out to be a big dish of perhaps the best panna cotta that I've ever eaten. "Happy Birthday" was inscribed in chocolate on the presentation plate. What a perfect conclusion to a very special evening.

They are having trouble with their food and their staffing. The food was unacceptable. The o too was rubbery and the almonds were too spicy. The pasta was congealed. Will not go back again.

We found ourselves in the financial district at the height of the lunch hour with no reservations. We were seated at the bar without a wait, and were immediately attended to by the bartender. We asked to share 3 dishes and to have them delivered as courses which was done exactly as we wished. Burrata with asparagus was divine. Tuna confit, a bit dry, but quite nice prepared in a nicoise style with radicchio. Meatballs - be still my heart! Tender, flavorful, nestled in a pool of amazing sauce. I also ordered the negroni which is made with a "fermented gin" (wine based as they don't serve spirits). It was a nice touch with the lunch although a bit sweet for me. I was content to sit at the bar with my dining companion at my side. Otherwise conversation would have been difficult across a table in this high energy dining space. In fact, I will ask for a bar seat if dining there again as a couple.

With all the great resto's in San Francisco it speaks volumes that I returned to this place twice after my first happenstance visit. Cool ambience, reliable kitchen, friendly service...works for me.

I went to Barbacco while on a trip to San Francisco with my mom, and we love fresh pasta. We were both thoroughly impressed with our dishes and they were very accommodating to our dietary restrictions. I would definitely recommend Barbacco to friends and consider going back, if I come back to San Francisco.

Buzzing restaurant. Food good quality and well cooked. Wine card fine. Staff good. Tables bit cramped.

Food was kind of meh - steak was to rare (seared vs medium rare) and greasy. Kale salad was nothing to write home about. On the same day I had a much better meal (steak and salad) at Tender Greens - King St location at 1/2 the price.

Busy enough evening, but not mobbed. First night in SF. Waited for server to approach. Waited for server to bring wine after apps had arrived. Waited 30+ minutes for dinner. Mediocre - could've made it at home. Waited for server to check back to see if i wanted to order more wine (and unfortunately by that time had been finished eating entrée). Waited for server to smile and be hospitable (never happened). Check arrived quickly. We exited quickly. Never again.

The service was friendly. The noise level was low. The food was excellent. We had the liver appetizer, fish dinner and butterscotch paneccotta. All dishes were great. We also had one of their pasta entrees. And enjoyed that as well. The wine sending was good and doubt was about $50 per person. Nice place for dinner. If go there again when back in San Francisco.

This restaurant (specifically the "rustic" ragu) gave me severe food poisoning the night before my 10 hour flight home. Needless to say, I'm not impressed. Also, be warned that these guys put Chilli into their dishes without mentioning it on their menu, which is something I find very unprofessional. It's a shame, because the food did taste great otherwise.

I love this busy, crowded, casual eatery. I am in SF nearly every year and often eating alone at least one night. Barbacco has a great bar where I can sit and be totally entertained people watching and eating their fresh, delicious dishes. I love their brussel sprouts. I have had wonderful fish, clams, pork and beef sitting at that bar paired with some great wines. The servers are friendly and very professional.

We had a very nice meal here! Nice atmosphere, friendly staff and great food. Prices quality was good. Please note the location was not 100% accurate (its the other side of the street, i reported this to tripadvisor)

When wanting great Italian food in a casual atmosphere, you can't go wrong with Barbacco. As other reviewers have mentioned this isn't your typical Italian fare. Yes, there are pasta dishes, but they're not heavy in red sauce. I had the orchiette pasta with fennel sausage and kale, really yummy, a very nice portion. My husband had the fish special. I am not a big fish eater, but this was a very mild tasting fish and the prep was just right, sautéed with a slight crust. Now for the brussels sprouts, cooked in duck fat, they are amazing. Besides fish, I am also not a b. sprouts eater, in fact I have never met a b. sprouts preparation that I have liked, that is until now. They use the smaller, and sweeter sprouts, cook them crispy, with a very distinctive taste- the duck fat. If you've ever had pomme frites in France, you'll know the taste immediately. Anyway, a very easy way to get your veggies in. The restaurant is small; we had a reservation and were seated at the counter. At first a little disconcerting, but we enjoyed watch the prep cook put the antipasti together and talk to a few of our fellow dinners. It is a little cramped, but the meal more than made up for it. All in all a very enjoyable experience, we'll be back.

I had dinner with two colleagues on a Thursday evening. We didn't make a reservation but we were treated wonderfully by the hosts during our wait, which was shorter than expected. We ordered 3 apps and 3 mains-- all were delicious. Our server was great and really helpful with recommendations. The atmosphere is lively and the communal seating works nicely without being awkward.

We had dinner tonight at Barbacco. This was without doubt the best meal we've had in San Francisco. The service is impeccable, with every attention paid to detail. A awesome job done by all.

We arrived hungry at Barbacco at 16:45 but had to sit at the bar table because they wouldn’t serve dinner until 17:00. The menu had limited options but everything we has was phenomenal. The cauliflower soup was incredible, the strawberry salad was lovely and the risotto perfectly summed up the night. The service was great, the waiter were friendly. A bit on the pricier side, but the overall experience was super.

Expensive for an everyday lunch - if someone didn't take me there I may not have gone on my own. Glad I went though. The food was fantastic. The hearts of romaine salad had such a great anchovy dressing. The heirloom tomato salad would have been perfect if not for the watermelon which had no business in the salad. The lasagne bolognese was so yummy - small portion but absolutely delicious. The paccheri (pork ragu pasta) was a pleasant surprise and the highlight of the lunch. Great atmosphere, clean and hip Service slow for lunch service in the financial district.

Came for a birthday dinner - good Italian food. Had the meatballs and my husband had a rigatoni dish. Couldn't finish it but they were really good.

Had dinner last week. Reservations are a must for dinner - it gets crowded. We had reservations and yet had to wait for over 30mts. Space is very crowded and inspite of the reservation, they squeezed us - pretty pathetic into a table for 4 - we were 5. Well - we could hear each other - that might have been the silver lining. Drink choices are decent. The waiter was not knowledgeable and could not answer most of the normal questions "size of the portion - Will the portion be enough" kinda questions. Prices are ok for a downtown San Francisco restaurant. Service was ok as well. Lots of choices for vegetarians as well. Speed of service is slow. Overall good but certainly not great experience.

Four of us arrived around 1:00 on Wednesday, the restaurant was very crowded and noisy, we had a short wait for lunch. The service was good, however, with a busy restaurant we had to ask for bread and butter and water more than once before they were brought to us.

After hearing such great things about this restaurant, I was expecting a delicious, tasty, memorable meal. Unfortunately it didn't live up to those expectations. The food was nice but nothing special. Prices were on the high side, the restaurant was very loud and 2 or our dishes turned up very late. I'm glad I've been but for me, it's not a restaurant to rush back to.

Stopped in for a business dinner due to the inviting atmosphere and ambiance. The staff was very friendly and helpful during our short wait to ensure we were comfortable and had a beverage to enjoy. The place just felt comfortable and warm. Broad selection of Italian and seafood classics and everything our group had was very good. Will definitely return in the future when we are in the area.

We had dinner last weekend at Barbacco for a festive occasion. I've had lunch there several times and my group of 5 chose it based largely on my recommendations. The food was good, but the service was surprisingly poor. They completely forgot to bring us our appetizers - which we cancelled once the entrees were delivered to the table. They never brought me the second napkin I requested, when my first one fell on the floor. And they brought us another table's bill at the end of our meal. I'd be willing to cut them some slack if they were crowded, or had too few servers, or even if they seemed embarrassed about the errors -- but none of those seemed to be the case.

The salad was big enough to share, I didn't - so good. The halibut was seared, yet cooked thru and delicately flakey. The was served on top of fresh green baby peas, and fresh sliced asparagus with a very lite but flavorful white wine sauce w/butter. We also had a side of Brussel sprouts flakes - no grease at all. I had these several years ago and was hoping they were still on the menu. YUM! The service was just about perfect, not too fast, not too slow. Good wine recommendations. Very accommodating as our travel companions usually share a meal and this was done in the kitchen, not tableside. Definitely one of the eating highlights of our trip!

Even if you have a confirmed reservation for a table from OpenTable, they will first try to seat you at the bar. They seem to have a complex algorithm to decide who gets a table and who gets to sit at the bar. I recommend requesting that you will for the table. It does come through in a few minutes. The food is good - the soup of the day (Butternut squash with nuts) was exceptional! I also liked the Orchiette pasta with Fennel sausage. I recommend it.

Stopped here mid afternoon to check off the spicy meatballs from the 7x7 great eats list of top 100 items to eat in San Fran and wasn't disappointed. We also got a few of the bruschettas (asparagus and lardo) and personally think they should also be on the list. Service was great, too, they made a mistake with the wine and ended up not charging us for 2 glasses!

I admit, Barbacco and its sister restaurant Perbacco are one of my go-to places when I want reliability and quality. I hosted a group of a dozen there, and preparing the event, and attending, were both a delight. The restaurant and people are warm, welcoming, and professional; service is attentive but not obtrusive; the menu is not huge, but that means everything is carefully prepared and well served. They have a good wine list; focus of the food and wine is roughly but not exclusively northern italian. Overall, strongly recommended.

Same standard of the food as Parbacco but lower prices. Very good service and the pasta dishes were excellent

Good mix of excellent food, attentive but not overbearing service, relaxed atmosphere and reasonably-priced offerings. Far betterr than some ofthe other "name" Italian places in SF.

I can no longer characterize Barbacco as a poor relation to its sister restaurant, Perbacco, located just doors away on California Street in the financial district of San Francisco. In fact, Barbacco is less fussy, quieter and the service at the front desk is friendlier, more prompt and helpful than Perbacco. The host, for example, readily offered to store my suitcase without a prompt from me. The restaurant features primarily small plates, although entrees also are available. Lots of vegetable appetizers with a killer brussels sprouts side. Choose also from soup, varieties of pasta, fish and meat dishes. There is a good selection of wines by the glass and bottle. The wait service is friendly, well-informed and responsive. The restaurant is only a couple blocks walk from BART's Embarcadero station, and there are plenty of cabs parked at the same distance near the Hyatt Regency. I look forward to my next meal at Barbacco.

I went to Barbacco by chance, while walking down the street. It was a nice surprise. The place was full, so I had to wait a little. The meal was delicious and the service, attentive. There were good wine options and the food portions were big. I would consider sharing the dishes in a future visit. Barbacco deserves a visit if you are looking for a casual italian trattoria in Downtown San Francisco. Try the Spaghetti with Mussels.

Met a colleague for lunch here. Friendly and attentive staff; good food, and not too nose-bleedingly expensive (a plus in this neighborhood). Only fly in the ointment: The noise is off the charts. It was difficult for the two of us to converse.

Located in downtown San Francisco, Barbacco provides a high-energy, sophisticated take on Italian food. The fun is in ordering a variety of antipasti to share and an entrée to please individual taste. Service was excellent.

Gregarious and friendly staff. Plates always served well. Just order your favorite thing. I love the squid and octopus, and they have lots of choices. The pasta is great too. The warm beet salad was also a hit. If you are downtown SF this is a great choice any time. Solid wine and beer menu.

Completely different atmosphere from Perbacco, the fine dining restaurant next door, which is also very good. Sit at the bar at Barbacco, and you will get perfect service, at least we did (dinner on a weeknight). Much more casual than Perbacco, with food more like modern Americanized Italian tapas. Americanized because, for example, everyone's favorite tapa there is the deep fried Brussel Sprouts. They are terrific, guaranteed, but unlike anything I've ever seen in Italy. All the dishes were excellent but my favorite was the spinach pasta with Bolognese sauce. That was genuinely Italian and genuinely excellent. Definitely a primo place. No TV at the bar is a plus.

Let's put it things way, we come from Europe and are used to high quality Italian cuisine. We're decided to try an Italian restaurant in san fransisco and chose this one because of the location. Bl were had great appetizer but were disappointed by the lack of taste of the pasta. But again that might be because of our European standards. The staff is really professional and efficient and the place is really friendly. I would anyway recommend it, but no for Italian people.

At 11:45, this place instantly went from sleepy to buzzing with a line out the door of downtown business people. The decor is modern chic as is the food. The yummy Bruschette includes a choice of three such as creamy Tuscan chicken liver pate, roasted hen of woods mushrooms and spicy broccoli rabe. The balance of proscuitto, roasted squash and black pepper sage cream in the gluten-free Corn Fusilli was heavenly.

I came here for dinner with a few colleagues for a business dinner. I had the Saffron Spaghetti and the chocolate cake for dessert. It was delicious and I would definitely return on my next trip back to San Francisco.

Had dinner reservations for 5 for an early Saturday dinner. Reservations are important as the place fills up very quickly. When making your reservation you will be required to provide a credit card and be aware that if you cancel within 24 hrs you will pay $25.00. Everything we ordered was delicious and each serving size was ample. 2 addition notes: they have valet parking, which is good as parking is nearly non existent. And they serve only beer and wine.

I loved Barbacco when we ate here two years ago and I consider it to be even better now. This casual Italian restaurant stood only a few blocks from our hotel in the Financial District so it was most convenient for a dinner one night, though this is one of the few places in San Francisco, where I would go out of my way to visit. We made a reservation for 7 p.m., hoping for a table but all had been taken in the narrow, relatively small restaurant.Two stools waited for us at the bar and my initial disappointment turned to pleasure with the location and ambiance here. Our stools were at the end so other customers sat at only one side of us. Hooks under the counter gave me a place to hang my purse, and a ledge above the counter offered space for water and our wine glasses. The bartender/waiter proved to be charming, attentive, helpful with menu questions and an absolute pleasure to interact with. We considered the food to be beautifully presented and perfectly prepared. Everything was delicious. My husband and I shared a tasty pear salad, followed by meatballs with pine nuts for me and Peccheri pasta for him. We had only positive comments as we proceeded with dinner. And, oh those desserts! He had two homemade Biscotti and I had an incredible salted-caramel panna cotta. The dinner, which included two glasses of wine, cost $85 without tax and tip. I considered this good value for the high-quality food and impeccable service.

At a business lunch, we shared the Orecchiette (very good) and the Paccheri All' Ameritriciana (which has a unique smokey tomato flavor). We started with the roasted eggplant (also very good) and the fried brussels sprouts, which was better than any roasted or fried brussels sprouts I have had any where (and I try them everywhere they are on a menu!) The staff were professional, knowledgeable and managed a busy Friday downtown lunch crowd well.

My husband and I have eaten at Barbacco's big sister, Perbacco, a number of times and always found the food to be excellent. Last week, during a trip to SF between the holidays, we decided to try Barbacco, since we were in the mood for something a bit more casual. We sat at the bar, which we always enjoy for the view it provides of what's going on sort of "behind the scenes". The bar is a comfy spot to perch, low, rather than high, which is nice for a short person like me. We started with glasses of wine, an order of olives, and a small plate of charcuterie. Just like at Perbacoo, delicious! For my entree I ordered the lasagne, which was good, but nothing special, and a side of brussels sprouts. The latter were heavily doused with balsamic. I like vinegar, but it completely obscured the taste of the sprouts. My husband ordered the ahi appetizer and "a small bite" is too generous a term for the portion he received. The flavor was excellent, though. All in all, while we enjoyed some elements of our dining experience, but if I had to choose, I'd go with Perbacco. On the other hand, lots of other people really like Barbacco, so maybe it was just what we ordered.

We enjoyed a beautiful evening at this restaurant. Out of everything I tried I would recommend the fettuccine. Also, the meatball dish was excellent with a little spice. The Brussel sprouts are surprising with the acidic kick that is added. Also, they have beautiful cheese board options. The wines are very unique with some very "strange" grapes, but something different. Great place to eat and excellent service.

A gentleman was making the rounds amongst the diners, unobtrusively checking on their dining experience in his restaurant. We could only rave to him; it was our fourth visit and each time he delivered with the food, preparation, and service. We didn't mention another pleasing feature - the price is right!. Definitely a value here.

Visited for dinner, booked in advance for 10 PM and arrived on time. Our waiter Carlos was fine however it appeared the the manager was directing him to hurry us up to the extent our mains were brought out whilst we were still eating our starters and the dessert menu whilst eating our dinner, why take the booking if you want to close. The food was fine but the experience very disappointing.

From all the hype and the difficulty getting a res, I expected better. I travel a lot, and frankly, many run-of-the-mill European restaurants are better. The three of us shared and ordered 3 veggie appetizers ($14)(beets, carrots, cauliflower). They were not delivered together. We shared an octopus and a squid dish (about (~$12 each), and they were the best of the evening-tender and fresh; although, I suspect some folks may have wanted the seafood cooked a bit more. Then, we had gnocchi with ricotta ($14) and salumi ($11). I didn't like the salumi at all; it tasted like potted meat, but the restaurant, apparently, is famous for it. Go figure. I could pass on the gnocchi as well; it tasted rather bland and the texture was too soft for me. We had one of the sheep milk cheeses and sorbet for dessert: nothing spectacular. I like grocery store Manchecos better. The place was incredibly noisy and the tables were jam packed making leaving the table difficult (and I'm not overweight). The wine list was small but eclectic and the staff did a nice job of picking a good sauvignon blanc and a Sancerre. The bill was a reasonable $150. BL:A decent meal, but I wouldn't go back.

We went here for a Saturday dinner. Very good service and presentation. Good access and Valet parking in a nice area. A little confusing as there is a similar restaurant name 2 doors down. Good beet salad and the soup was excellent. Fair prices and nice wine/beer selection. Modern atmosphere.

Hip and lively place. Has bar area for an easier sitting. Generous portions and decent prices. Loved the beef stew, bruschetta and chocolate dessert. Would return again

This small restaurant has tables that are barely separated. I guess they sometimes seat people with strangers which I do not care for. I think they should have better table spacing. We started with the marinated radishes, and shared the roasted pear salad, which is enough for two. We had the Corn Fusilli Pasta and the Chicken Breast entrees. We had the panna cotta and chocolate cake for dessert. The chocolate cake was the best. All of it was delicious. I thought the Italian wine list was outrageously expensive.

We stumbled upon this restaurant, and it's a great little find! Excellent, authentic Italian food, with a nice, varied menu. The service was outstanding, helpful and friendly. Would definitely go back!

Really good Italian food and a nice relaxing setting. Highly recommend a reservation or you will have a long wait or not get in. We got there early and by the time we ordered every table was filled up. The food is casual but delicious and prices are incredibly reasonable. Our group was very into the "spicy meatballs" but I would also say the grilled veggies were amazing (brussel sprouts and cauliflower). Very good meal.

When you walk in there is a long counter to the left and table seating on the opposite side. Narrow and comfortable setting & seating. Lively buzz, feel good ambiance. Great menu, big variety of tasty choices. We started out with the roasted octopus accompanied by chick pea purée and poached cauliflower. The octopus was so tender and it was a good amount as we were sharing. The duck pate was so delish we practically licked the bowl it’s served in! My husband enjoyed the beef bolognese, and I had the chicken under a brick which was the most tender chicken I probably ever had. Good size servings & really good prices for the quality of the menu items. Barbacco is located in the financial district. Hopping place after work through the week, or more mellow on a Saturday. If you are coming from out of town, try this hip little San Francisco restaurant. If you’re local go because the food is fantastic & service is great. Also good choices of different wine varietals. Suggest making a reservation & sit at the counter.

We started with the cured meats and a cheese plate and we were NOT disappointed. The cheese plate here is more thoughtful than many other restaurants in SF (looking at you, Absinthe). Our main dishes of pasta were outstanding and not of a ridiculous portion size. The wine selection was well matched for the food and our waiter let us sample two before we made our selection, which we really appreciated. We also ordered brussel sprouts that were delicious. The final bill was very reasonable and we will be coming back!

Must try Roasted Octopus, roasted pepper bruschette, Lasagne, desert is good. Good collection of wine and wine on tap also available . Service is good and prompt

Such a great place to stop in with friends or dates! The staff is always welcoming and friendly, the manager Mark in particular was wonderful to talk to. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, service prompt, and the food is to die for. Can't recommend their Bolognese highly enough, and the wine selection is spectacular!

dined solo here recently, the service was fast and the pasta was very very good. the place was very busy.

I sat at the bar here one late night. I was impressed with the menu. The food was quite reasonable and prices were very good for the area. I will come back on a future trip.

We dined here on the spur of the moment, 8pm on a Saturday night. The restaurant was crowded but not too noisy. The food was very good and waitstaff attentive. We would definitely return.

The hotel suggested this restaurant when I asked for a place to get vegetarian food within walking distance. Barbacco is an Italian restaurant with a good wine list, expansive beers on tap and very good food. I sat at the "bar" which was conducive to talking with other restaurant patrons. Ordered a beer on tap, the farro risotto and brussel sprouts. OMG - the brussel sprouts were to die for and the risotto was yummy. The servings were larger than expected and more than enough for one person and quite reasonably priced. This was definitely a gem of a restaurant.

My wife and I were adrift on the financial district, searching for dinner after 8 PM, when many eateries there close. Not wanting to spend a fortune but wanting something special (we're on vacation, after all), Barbacco's menu at the entrance showed promise. Because we had been out and about with a daypack, there was some concern that we'd be out of place walking in to this nice of a place. Opening the door, right in front of us was a customer with a daypack! A busy place, we were able to be seated at the bar, and Luis took good care of us. Pasta with eggplant, toasted pear salad, a lovely side of beans, a dessert of cheese, and a double espresso (only$3!) made this meal so memorable. But why is this a one-time visit? Even if we lived in this beautiful city, it would be rare for us to return. We typically support restaurants that offer a variety of vegetarian choices. Here's hoping that Barbacco adds a few more tasty items so we CAN return the next time we're in town.

I visited Barbacco for lunch. I was with 3-4 others. The opening statement is interesting: they dont serve you water unless you ask for it, citing a drought in CA. With all due respect, this is just pandering to the green-for-green's sake crowd. We waste a lot more water bathing in it than drinking it. I wonder, do they also not wash dishes unless you ask for clean dishes? Does the cook not shower unless you insist on it? Other than that, the food was garden-variety american. Nothing particularly special. I ordered a salad with a variety of greens and, salumi, pork belly, mortadella, and mozzarella. It was OK, nothing to write home about. My friends ordered sandwiches, and salads. At least half of them didnt finish their food, and declined the to-go box. Nice decor, nice wait staff. I am sure there are people out there who love it. It didnt do it for me. I am going to their sister restaurant Perbacco for dinner later. Stay tuned for that review.

I had lunch here with my coworkers. We all enjoyed our food and desserts here. I want to take my husband here but they are closed on Sundays. I haven't had any good Italian in a long while. The ambient was good. It was a pleasant surprise to dineat hete.

We were sctually advised to go to Tadich Grill but there was already a long line so we walked up the street and this place looked interesting. Busy but we were told we could sit on a communal table or at the counter so chose counter and glad we did as great fun watching the chef at work. A real artist! Food and service great. Fabulous soup very welcome on cold wet night. Tuscan beef stew and pork ragu delicious. Lovely wines. Would definitely return.

My husband and I were in San Francisco for the first time and were staying at the Omni. We wanted close restaurants that we could walk to. We chose Barbacco for one and we were so glad we did! The food was wonderful and the service was fantastic. My husband had the lamb shank and I had the lasagne. Lasagne can be tricky. Some are good , some not so much, but this was wonderful! Our server, Jose, was great! My husband dropped his napkin and before he could even pick it up, our server had a clean one for him. He didn't hover, but was just there when you needed him. I wish we lived closer so we could eat here again!

On a scale of 1-5(5 being the best) Barbacco rates a 6 in every category for my wife and I. We often travel to SF and after having enjoyed several dinners at the big brother (Perbacco) next door, we have wanted to try Barbacco since it opened -- it was well worth the wait. Our server, Harold, was one of the best we have ever had (we are both seniors) and knew everything about each dish and also nailed the wine. My wife deemed the Gnocco the finest she has ever eaten and I highly recommend the chef’s selection of salumi. The atmosphere and friendliness’ of the entire staff made this dinner something very special – it doesn’t get much better.

Had the spicy pork meatballs and the parpadella pasta both of which were great. The atmosphere is very nice and the service top notch. The wines by the glass are perfect and the prices are quite reasonable for a big city. We had a great time and will be back.

If you are looking for an amazing meal at a great little spot in the Financial District, this is it. You could visit the mothership, Perbacco, but if you want a casual atmosphere, this is the place to go. I love the fact that they sell Bruschette by the piece, so that as a single diner I could order as many as I wanted. I had the asparagas bruschette, which was fresh, flavorful and tasty. For dinner, I had the Chitarra, which was handmade pasta, sicillian meatballs (they snapped!), swiss chard, currents, pine nuts and an amazing spicy red sauce. It was so good I wanted to eat the whole bowl, but I was stuffed. Truly one of the most memorable, flavorful meals I've had in a long time.

My friend rated it as awesome to a really fair price! Everythine else was good as well. Check it out.

Polly and I last visited Barbacco 18 months ago and made a bee line for the restaurant as soon as we landed in San Fran. We were surprised to note that the menu hadn't changed. It's a great menu with some outstanding dishes but not to change in 18 months? We ordered a selection of starters, duck bruschetta,olives and asparagus. For mains we both went for spicy meatballs. The quality of the food is outstanding. Seriously, we ate dinner in 6 relatively top end restaurants in San Fran and this for us is probably the best. The ambiance of Berbacco is tough to beat. Can't wait until we return in 18 months again!!

Very good wine by the glass, the portions were reasonable, and the sauteed squid dish was perfectly done. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable.

Informal dinner with some colleagues. Food was great and they happily adjusted some dishes for some members of the party. It is a noisy place - so not good for a quiet dinner.

It’s not the first time at this place. However, everything we love about this place.,they serve perfectly grilled octopus and super tender skirt stake . Also they have huge variety of pastas and creative appetizers and salads at the reasonable cost . Friendly and attentive service . Good value fir your money .

I came in for a business trip and wanted to meet a friend for dinner so made a reservation through the online site. Was kind of annoyed that we didn't get a table, since we were just seated very closely at the bar and it was right next to where the kitchen/bar staff walked so we were trying to stay as small as possible. We ordered the burrata and some eggplant dish as appetizers and they were ok. Then I ordered the risotto with butternut squash and it was actually not that great. Extremely runny with too much liquid (see photo) so I ended up just picking off the squash pieces and eating it. When the waiter came, he didn't comment on whether I enjoyed the food even though the plate was pretty full still. My friend ordered the fettuccine and I tried some of hers which was ok. She also didn't eat very much of hers. We ordered 2 glasses of red wine, and it was $38 which was kind of pricey, so the meal ended up being a lot more than I thought it would be.

This is a great restaurant. The food is terrific and the prices are very reasonable. This is a popular restaurant so make a reservation or arrive early. I recommend the spicy meatballs but I think you would be happy with anything on the menu. I would have given the restaurant a perfect rating but it is a really noisy restaurant and can be difficult to have a conversation.

Wandered away from the office for what I hoped was a quick meal. After a long wait, wandered into Barbacco, where I needed to wait for dinner. The hostess was nice as she could see I was agitated. Was able to get sat at the bar pretty quickly and had fair service..but the room was very loud. The burrata appetizer was very good. Was not crazy about the pasta, but oh, the meatballs were SO good. I would return.