Barbara Pinseria & Cocktail Bar Reviews

Went in for a last dinner in SF to little Italy last night. Walked past this place and went in because it appeared to have a little more ambiance then the others. The smell of burning pizza dough as we were being seated and noisy large party behind us . Should’ve been warning signs. Husband wasn’t keen to get up and go so we stayed.Things just went downhill even more.I asked about one of the Ingredients in a pasta dish and with hesitation I was told ‘ oh that’s a kind of vegetable, but we don’t actually have it to add to the pasta’!!!! Order made we were then ignored. The large party who were getting louder were the focus of their attention. Food arrived consisting of a burnt cheese sausage pizza and rather uninspiring looking pasta. We had been promised chilli oil and flakes by the waitress who had taken the order, but that did not arrive. Eventually I got the attention of the busboy who seemed irritated by the request and simply slammed it down in front of us. No ground pepper was offered , (which would’ve been nice on a very tasteless dish)or any recognition of us was made after that . Dishes were both very very below par As said pizza was mostly burned Husband had to eat around it. My pasta had one mushroom if that sliced thinly and sausage that had a tangy after taste when I actually found any . Anyway , don’t do it ! You will pay $20-24 dollars for food that tasted like it would’ve cost them $2 to put together out of pasta sauce from Costco! Getting the bill was another experience . Trying to wave them down shout over at them, nothing worked.we finally got up and had to walk to the counter to pay. Turned out the hostess couldn’t take money and the only waitress had to go next door to get us our change ! Not a last night we wanted to remember!

Passed this place on a tour bus, noted the name, reviewed and and thought we’d give it a try. Booked a table which was required as was busy by the time we left. Friend service, authentic decor. Food was really nice. Can definitely recommend the pizza and the pasta with beef.

Perfect food, service and nice atmosphere. Best salmon fillet eaten there in recent years. Good wine selection and desserts. Charming location and contemporary music.

This was a new pizza experience with Pinsa style pizza. We were seated quickly in a cool alcove at the end of the restaurant. Kika took great care of us.

My wife and I spent our final night in San Francisco dining at Barbara. We are from Australia and looked at several Italian Restaurants in the vicinity before choosing Barbara. We each had the Linguine Bolognaise and a glass of Pinot Noir. Both the pasta and the wine was amazing. We highly recommend this place. Staff were also very nice.

Great food and good location. They offer Italian specialties that are ACTUALLY Italian, taste italian and look italian. The service was good too. A little too expensive.

Novo Italian style, at least for this for this part of the city that is very much steeped in traditional Italian cooking. Pizza here is termed Pinsa, said to be Roman style and reflects the ingredients and the way the dough is prepared. So you'll find it lighter and less chewy than Neapolitan or Sicilian. You'll also find other unique entrees, appetizers, and salads. If you're in a hurry there's pizza by the slice in the adjacent annex. This restaurant has an airy, less formal atmosphere than the neighboring standards and sits on one of the busiest corners in North Beach. I noticed that small groups of friends or family seem to choose this spot

We were visiting Little Italy in San Francisco and walking in the street I saw a great pizza on a table.. We decided to try this Italian restaurant. We waited a little bit for our order but there were a lot of people and we can uderstand a little bit of delay. By the way, we are italians and we think that is impossible to taste the same food when you are abroad as in Italy, as well as of all other world cuisines!! It is always good of course but it is never exactly the same, different water, climate and so on.. Well, we were totally wrong!!! We ordered prosciutto pinsa and meatballs.. meatballs were very great but pinsa...i think it was better than a lot of italian pizzerie..it was really an amazing pizza.. if i will have the chance to come back i will came in this restaurant. Besides, waiter was super fun and kind. We loved the time we spent there. Maybe 19$ for a pinsa is too expensive but hey...you are in San Francisco.. one of the most expensive city of USA.

Had a pretty interesting first time visit. Arrived 6/1 in the afternoon, seemed pretty slow and the prices were decent so stopped in. Great location, music playlist and the bright walls on the interior made for a great ambience. I ordered the pesto burrata pizza and the prosciutto. Food was lovely, no sauce but still pretty tasty. Even the drink menu looked nice, I loved the fun spritz options. However the main reason for my review is to report the terrible service we received. By the time we finished our meal, we had to flag down one waitress to get our check (we were the ONLY people at the restaurant at this point) after sitting clearly finished for quite a while. Then the other waitress, tall woman with interesting colored hair, to box our leftovers. The two waitresses who were working just stood behind the bar chatting and eating, giving us zero attention and it felt like we were bothering them. Neither of the two even said thank you or goodbye when we were walking out! The worst part is when I came home to open my leftovers, the waitress put my two pizza pieces facing each other! All the toppings fell off, the worst way to pack someone’s leftovers. SO disappointing. Hopefully the rest of the staff here is unlike these two ladies, would really hope they don’t serve all their guests like us.

Love this place!!! We continue to return to Barbara because the food is so good and the location is so great for watching all of the North Beach action. The outside seats have heating lamps so you don’t need to freeze while enjoying your food. Started with the bottle of Falanghina and then we ordered the salad and the lentil soup for starters…all of which were excellent. We then ordered our favorite San Francisco pizza…this is so delicious and the Roman style is by far my favorite. Service has always been great in the past and they always make sure that we are well taken care of. There are so many places to choose from in North Beach but if you want Roman style pizza (pinsas), you must try this place!

Cute place in the characteristic little Italy. The pinsa is very good: light and crumbly with an excellent dressing. Good draft beer. The staff was very friendly. Recommended

I was with friends few days ago , we ate pesto burata pizza - it was a great choice ! Staff was friendly ! Prices are a bit higher but ok ! 9/10!!!

Barbara's pizza is called pinza, it is done Roman style, with a dough that is crusty outside and softer inside. We had a special one topped with gorgonzola cheese, pears and walnuts. We also enjoyed butternut squash ravioli and brussels chips. The wine list is excellent, you can select between mostly Italian and several local wines. The design is airy and pleasant. A fun place.

I went to Barbara the first time tonight. It is an authentic Roman restaurant with really great Roman style pizza and great pasta including cacio e pepe. It serves more traditional Roman style that blends in some local favorites. We tried the Gorgonzola, pear, walnut and mozzarella pizza and it was incredible. They also have really interesting cocktails as well as a good wine list. Save room for dessert because you will not want to miss those either. It was a Sunday night and it was packed.

Stopped in for a drink. Sat at the bar. Great atmosphere. The Irish bartender went out of his way to make us drinks he had never made before, and they were excellent !!!

Ordered a calamari appetizer with the Margarita Pizza. The two came out together in the calamari was cold. margherita pizza was crispy around the edges and basically a tomato cheese soup in the middle. Service was slow. Two stars not one because the cold calamari taste okay for cold calamari. The parts of the pizza that you did not have to eat with a spoon taste it okay too. I'm a local, and I've tried to hit all of the Italian restaurants in North Beach. So far this one is the bottom of the list.

Staying steps from North Beach I felt like at least one Italian meal was necessary, but it was late and restaurants were closing. Barbara wasn't too crowded and they were open late, so I stopped in. Very happy I did. Service was very good, the pasta was cooked perfectly and the sauce was very flavorful. The salad dressing was very light - it accentuated the flavor of the fennel and greens without overpowering it. I would definitely eat here again.

We had bruschetta to start with followed by Pizza Prosciutto and Pizza Burrata & Pesto. The bruschetta were very delicious and the pizze super fluffy and tasty! We can recommend this italian restaurant for sure. The wine was good too (housewine).

Visited here last minute after we planned to go to Chinatown but it was all closed for some reason! Barbara’s we’re very accommodating and shuffled people around to seat our party of 6 which we were grateful for. The place was packed inside and out with seemingly a mix of locals and tourists. The menu was small but plenty of tasty dishes to chose from. We ordered a mixture of pasta and pizzas to share between us and they were all lovely. Service was a little slow and there was a long wait for anything we asked for, this usually means things are freshly made so not a complaint. A mistake was also made with one of the pasta dishes being wrong but it was left on the table for free for us to try while they made the correct dish for my fussy eater dad! Only small issue was the Aperol spritz I ordered was in a tiny wine glass which was gone in 3 sips 😁

Inviting, friendly host and staff. Swift service without being rushed. Selection for veggie was good. Thoroughly recommend

I was looking for outdoor restaurants in San Francisco and found this great place in North Beach! They were great at social distancing and had nice tables outside along the sidewalk. On a nice warm day, this is a terrific place to have lunch and take in the sights from our table. We had a great server and was exceptionally attentive. For lunch we had: - Negroni cocktail ($13) - very good! - Bottle of Falanghina ($44) - cannot go wrong with a Falanghina on a nice day. - Very nice butter lettuce salad ($13) - Carpaccio Di Pulpo - paper thin sliced and super delicious ($18) - San Francisco pinsa - Amazingly delicious with beautiful crust ($18) I am a fan of Roman style pinsas and this place was great! Can't wait to return and try other pinsas on the menu as well as one of the pastas. Highly recommend!

Great Italian restaurant!!! We're having a great time and what's more, the service is top notch!! The waitresses are super friendly The quantities are generous and the price is not too excessive… it’s a change from other restaurants! We went there twice and had a great time.

Nice atmosphere and good pasta! Great stop for lunch. Safe bet amongst many Italian choices in the area.

Attended this evening,on speck, initially told that we could have a table outside which we declined. We were then offered a table inside stating that we would need to vacate before 7pm. Orders were taken promptly however 3 meals came out. 1 meal was not very warm. It was noted that Parmesan cheese was already added to our meals. (Although it was noted that Parmesan was added at customer request at other tables) We spoke to a member of staff to inform one of the meals was not very warm to be informed it had just been plated - we then stated again that it was not warm. It was taken back. After several minutes a member staff came back to us to say- the meal had been taken to be re-warmed and this and the other meal outstanding would be brought out together!!! Both meals did come out together, but then the other meal was not the warmest. The lasagna was bland without much taste. However due to the length of time waiting for 2 of the party meals we did not complain again, but we chose not to leave a tip. We did feel that the meal was poor and the service was poor.

Very nice place with good service and delicious food and vine. The boss and the staff are very friendly. The atmosphere is like in Italy. Best place 🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹👌👌👌 Best regards from fam. Boll - Denmark

Very good food, a 100% Italian flavor, worth trying when visiting San Francisco, whether Pasta or Pizza, it is excellent

Nice shop with character in Little Italy, very good food (we had gnocchi and the dish of the day: a grilled salmon fillet that was really sensationally good, if it's offered: take it!); nice, attentive service; the shop is generally a bit livelier and louder - that's definitely a matter of taste. I think it's great 😊👍🏼

We had a very nice lunch in this cocktail bar. The waitresses were very helpful and very friendly. Overall it was very good.

12 Sept 25, I attended this venue with my wife who enjoyed her pasta meal, however I had ordered a Lasagna which when served was warm on the top not cold on the bottom I returned the plate stating the problem, no apology I waited and waited my wife had almost finished her meal before my meal was served, this time is was just ok but felt like I was eating a cheap supermarket lasagna left overs that had been warmed through it was just OK lacked flavour No body asked of me meal was satisfactory I did eat it as I was hungry when I asked for the cheque it was only then I was asked if my meal was satisfactory When I said it was just ok and barely warm there was no apology Before the bill arrived a male server could be the manger arrived with plate and two deserts cakes as an apology Whilst this gesture was made in good faith I replied no thank you (we are not cake eaters) and were never asked if we had any allergy, this server seemed upset and stated its free, I explained I didn’t eat cake and I had already asked for the bill Again no apology My bill was presented in full for our two meals and two drinks Which I duly paid This was very a disappointing experience with poor service a lack of attention to customer satisfaction It’s a shame as my wife enjoyed her meal, also going out for a meal as a couple should be a shared experience not one eating before the other I work in the hospitality industry and believe me this was well below satisfactory culinary experience

Every time we’ve walked past this place, it’s been PACKED — so when we stumbled by on a Tuesday night and saw it had tables, we jumped at the opportunity to try it. So glad we did!!! The food is as warm and charming as the atmosphere. It has a strong 1960’s vibe, with lots of orange hues. We had the bruschetta, which came out promptly, and then washed it down with healthy portions of pasta. The carbonara was perfectly al dente and the tagliatelle bolognese was hearty. We wanted to try the desserts as well, but we were so full from the appetizer and entree that we had no room left! The service was warm — our waiter’s thick Italian accent really sold the fantasy of Little Italy — and even for a casual Tuesday night, the place was nearly full by the time we left. Reservations are well worth it; it’s easy to see (and taste) why it is always busy at Barbara’s.

Wandered past this place with friends and decided to give it a go. Our meals were all amazing! And very large portions which I appreciate. No room for desert at all. Music was at a good level. My friend had plenty of gluten free options. Voted the best meal of our trip.

IG: eatgosee A random walk-in turned out to be one of the highlight meals of my stay in San Francisco. To be clear, this is not fine dining and it’s not the best of each dish I’ve ever had but there’s a charm about Barbara Pinseria which made for an enjoyable early dinner. It’s vibrant bright decor punches from across the street through its vast stretching windows evoking a sophisticated, modernised American diner feel with monochrome, tall wooden bar stools (low seating tables available) and bright reds. It’s a fun place to eat or diligently drink you’re way through its cocktail menu. A clear Italian theme runs through the menu so we opted for Aperol Spritz which arrived with its signature bright colour and light fresh taste that struck that Goldilocks balance of being neither too sweet nor dry. The burrata dish is restrained and kudos for the simplicity to serve this milky cheesy dish simply with crunchy toast and marinated plum tomatoes and a light pour of olive oil. It’s a strong starter and should be a compulsory order. The roasted brussel sprouts with balsamic and lemon zest is enjoyable and could also double as a side dish to be shared in a group. The kitchen could be more liberal with the lemon zest here as the bitter green vegetable Brussels sprouts and sweet balsamic run the show. The gorgonzola, pear, honey and walnut pizza might be divisive among people however from me this is a very classic and perfect dish that celebrates the creamy and subtle blue cheese flavour of the Gorgonzola period nicely with sweeter elements such as the pair and honey. My only issue this stage? I think the base and the pizza could’ve been cooked a little bit longer. This is not because it was raw or soft is just because I think that additional crunch and caramelisation of the pair would have taken this from being a good dish to a great dish. There is really my mind no substitute for a crunchy pizza where is this is feeling a little bit more like a flatbread. Barbara is a reliable venue for couples, small families and groups of people getting together over drinks to catch up. You could easily bring a group of six here and have a good time. When I come back here again? Absolutely! The service here is attentive and friendly without being smothering. The food is handpicking some of the more esoteric but signature Italian food items (with some exceptions on the menu) and I will come back here again simply just to make my way through an Aperol spritz or two (or three).

For our last night in San Francisco, we wanted to experience an Italian meal in Little Italy, unfortunately we chose this restaurant. Aside from the food, which was in our opinion distinctly below average (pasta cold, bland) Pizza (burnt), we had really poor customer service and despite trying to get some assistance so we could settle our check, we were ignored until we went to leave…Clearly those that work here don’t enjoy their job or simply don’t care about their clientele when they have you sat down…

One of the joys of San Francisco. A place that proved to be a guarantee, out of three nights in San Francisco we ate twice. Excellently run by Italian staff, really kind and considerate. They use quality products and the result is felt and seen. After days of junk food, a dinner in this restaurant is really like an oasis in the desert and I still thank you for the excellent carbonara. If you are Italian (or even if you are not) I wholeheartedly Recommendation a visit to this superplace!

Barbara Pinseria and Cocktail Bar opened about 8 months ago. Headed by the popular Il Casaro team; which has their fingers in other popular restaurants, the hopes were high. Unfortunately, the hopes were too high. The appetizers are somewhat bland and the salads lose interest after a few bites. The pastas are skimpily dressed to the point of embarrassment. But it’s all about the pinsas, right? Yes, indeed, and they almost get it right. The dough isn’t exactly what the Romans would use and the proofing is a tad shy of what it should be. In the end the pinsas are somewhat fluffy but more filling than they should be and very uneven. The toppings are OK but not all that convincing. The San Francisco version, of all things, is the best one. The place screams of average except for the noise. If you want to be deafened, and the servers definitely are at this point, this is the place for you. The lack of any soft surface combined with the shape of the dining area brings the clamor to a head, especially at the back of the restaurant; which should be the quietest place. Nothing average in this regard. I recommend you opt for one of the six outside tables most of which can be converted to a two-top. While they are under heat lamps, the night’s wind may make it unbearable. So, it’s your choice, the thunderous inside or the trembling outside. The wine list is average and the prices are reasonable for what you get. Service is very good. Expect to pay 100 USD for a three course meal (secondi excluded) with an aperitif and two glasses of wine, tax and tip included; a bit high for an average outing. While Barbara’s gives you a barely credible pinsa experience; why bother when you can get the real thing at the restaurant that brought pinsas to SF almost four years earlier, Montesacro.

I lunch in Barbara, we were late for our departure and we ask for something quick and chose a pizza with prosciutto parnasiano y arrucula and was the best pizza that we ate in San Francisco. The stuff was very friendly and it’s not over price. I highly recommend this spot.

The food was excellent, the service was not. First we order a sprite and it came with dirty ice. When asking for a replacement, the annoyed waiter examined the glass with forensic eyes before bringing a CLEAN glass with CLEAN ice and a new can. Then, they burnt something in the kitchen TWICE (our table was the closest) so they had to open the windows and we were cold with burning eyes. We were expecting more people to our party and when they arrived they refused to add another table, they only added two more chairs and we had to crunch around our table. They refused to split the check arguing the “machine could not do it” (really…?), but I guess the machine could add the 20% gratuity (to cover their bases I think…) to the total. And then, one of the Italian managers (owner?) asked us to leave because they had our table “reserved”. Yes, he actually said “you need to go”. Extremely RUDE. Definitely not coming back. Non conoscono l'ospitalità e il buon servizio.