Delfina Restaurant Reviews

I had been wanting to dine here for a long time. Our dinner, being overall mediocre, was therefore a disappointment. The menu was tempting, but the dishes weren't very flavorful - and the Gnoccho Frito was a tasteless piece of puffy dough. We all enjoyed the atmosphere and decor, but that will not bring us back.

Delfina has been my favorite Italian restaurant in SF since it first opened in 1998. We moved to S Calif. In 2019 and Delfina closed during the pandemic years. I was very excited when an email announced it’s re-opening in Nov 2022. I was coming to visit and booked a table immediately to invite my good friends to taste one of the best Italian cuisine in town. We were five and that gave us a good sampling number, we ordered my favorites, Grilled Monterey Calamari, warm olives, deviled eggs, swordfish and a glorious grilled whole fish of the day. We had two pasta to share. The buttermilk penna cotta for a non-desert eater like me was a very nice way to finish the meal.. It was an excellent dinner with superb food, professional service and in a beautifully finished dining room. Congratulations to Annie and Craig Stoll, thank you for bringing Delfina back!

Invited by a work friend, I found the service to be outstanding and the quality of the bread and butter served to be amazing. However, I was not overly impressed with the menu selection or taste and quality of the main courses. The Insalata Di Campo was very good. However the pasta and meat entrees I found to be either rather bland or overwhelmed by a spice such as rosemary. The desserts were most excellent!

Went with a group of friends was a little disappointed that they wouldn't let us order a pizza from next store for appetizer. Also would not allow any substitutions on menu which I hate!! But ended up with gnochhi with duck with was amazing!! Their bread was very good. Grilled Calmari was ok nothing wonderful and buratto as well - not the best. Everyone who has pasta loved it. Chicken was also good.

The Best Meal We Had in San Francisco! A friend who lives in SF highly recommended dinner at Delfina and so we all met there mid-week. It was a wonderful dining experience! The restaurant has a very casual feel in the way staff interact with diners and so you feel you are among trusted friends. We started with several appetizers, including one that was salt cod spread of some sort, grilled calamari, and chicken liver crostini. These were accompanied by Delfina's version of an Aperol Spritz. Our entrees were - spaghetti pomodoro (which had a definite kick to it!), pappardelle with duck sugo, and leg of lamb with polenta. We had wine by the glass with our entrees. I was the only one to have dessert, which was the chocolate nib pavlova which was delicious! Espresso and cappuccino were also enjoyed. Cost per person with service fees, tax, and tip was about $130.

We entered here because it was the only place open in the area after 10PM. Everything was very good and we had an amazing dinner with wine and nice beer. Pasta is the best! And service was spectacular.

Always meets highest culinary standards with friendly service. Good place to take visitors who are not familiar with this neighborhood. Nearby bakery, market are a gourmet treat in Mission. Can walk to Mission Dolores to see SF history.

We went early on a Tuesday evening, which helped our cause--we got there when the restaurant opened, and it was full within about 30 minutes. First off, our server was fantastic. She was really friendly and had great suggestions on wine. She was patient with us when we decided to order a second bottle to serve as dessert, and she didn't rush us out even though it was crowded. We started off with the bread and succulent butter (if you're going to pay for bread, you may as well get succulent butter with it) and the predictably amazing smothered chard. She had the Wolfe Ranch Quail, which was a larger portion than we've seen for quail at other restaurants. I had the hanger steak and french fries--the steak was just enough to leave me wishing for more. The prices are not exorbitant, but they're not cheap.

We were staying in the locality and this restaurant came up as one of the best. And it didn't disappoint. Lovely bread from the nearby Tartine Bakery (only complaint - please let us have soft butter to spread on it, not hard). I ordered White Peach Bellini. Peach liqueur made in house. The best peach Bellini ever! Great chicory salad (please more pear) and spaghetti with tomato and chilli was delicious. Roasted chicken with olive oil mash was also declared real good. Don't go home without trying the little apple donuts - a real treat.

We had a lovely dinner. A nice idea is the wine flight which has three decent pours of wine to go with your courses. The heirloom tomatoes and warm ricotta were the highlights. Not too noisy and not crowded if you go when it opens.

Extremely friendly wait staff.Ordered one dish at a time no rush attitude was its your dinner order as you wish.Pasta with light tomato sauce was highlight of the night.

A fine dining restaurant, it is open daily from 5:30pm till 10pm. Advance booking is essential. One has to often wait for a few minutes for the table despite booking in advance. The wait staff is very knowledgeable and friendly, ready to offer suggestions to suit the taste of every guest. The menu selection was a little restricted and taste of the main courses was a little bland. The portions are a little small considering the tariff. The Insalata Di Campo was very good and the desserts were excellent. Expensive but recommended.

Le menu is great. I've tried the spaguetti with tomato and the tajarin with duck. Both was delicious! A good price!

We were recommended to Delfina by foodies, so we had high expectations. Unfortunately they were not realized. The food was mediocre at best and one of the dishes was sent back twice for being undercooked. The service was painfully slow as it took well over an hour before we saw our entrees. This one missed the mark.

After hearing about Delfina for a few years, I had the opportunity to go there with clients. Good thing we had reservations as the place filled up to capacity quickly with a line out the door. The service was excellent, the food was very good. The menu was limited, not a huge selection, but that is the ambiance of the of the place. We tried just about everything as we shared appetizers, mains, and deserts. Our server also recommended an Italian wine that was right on par with the type of wine I told him I was looking for. It was a very enjoyable dinner.

Walked past this place - it looked nice so we took a chance. We were well rewarded. Appears to have two areas - we sat in the more informal pizzeria, but there seemed to be a more formal restaurant next door. The room was 'cosy' - tables nestled closely together, we were on the bar directly overlooking the kitchen. Rather than being claustrophobic, it had that vibrant, energetic informal feel of a bustling neighbourhood restaurant. Service was friendly and slick - water and drinks provided quickly despite being busy. There is a small but varied wine list, and a few local beers in cans. We shared olives to start - served warm which was unusual to us. I felt that it gave them a slightly soggy, cloying feel, but my wife really enjoyed them. The pizzas were superb - the dough was the perfect spot between crisp, but not too thin and insubstantial. The ingredients were quality, fresh and well balanced - I had a calzone with a perfect volume of filling. The meal was not cheap - $50 with only a single drink each. What we did get was quality food with excellent service. Not sure I'd travel from another district, but certainly if staying in the Mission again I would consider eating here.

We were in the neighborhood and looked for a quick bite. We got a table without reservation and were immediately served by friendly personnel. Pizza was good, so recommenable to go there if you are looking for a good pizza.

Exceptional. Though multi course menu like Italian food, the servings are very large so ordering an appetizer, secondi etc each would be a lot of food. As a group of four, we shared two appetizers and had eveeryone had one course (pasta or meat) it was too alomost too much food (however delicious). Do order their fabulous homemade bread. Highlights- calamari over white beans appetizer, the ribs for two which were the most tender meat we've all ever had. Excellent selecstion of great italian wines, fun cocktails. Gently attentive but inobtrusvie server- super nice too. Loud so perhaps not best for a first date. Also a great neighbourhood to walk around- women who live in the area were out walking aone at night. No safety issues like some parts of SF.

It is so great when you are coeliac to go out and feel safe to eat pasta. All the food here is fantastic. You can't go wrong....

I am a long time customer of this restaurant. I first ate here when the owner was in the kitchen and his wife hosted. I have eaten here many times over the years and have always been wonderfully satisfied with the food and service. This came to an abrupt halt this past Saturday evening. I was seated solo at the bar and ordered the "Striped Bass..Artichoke and potato in oil". When the dish arrived, I could not believe the MISERLY PORTION. The fish was roughly 4" x 3" and less than 1" deep. Underneath lay about four small bites of puree. The price? $34.00 . When I told the waiter of my displeasure, he called over the hostess who apologized in a friendly manner. I understand that Bass is expensive, but we live in California. Surely the kitchen could add a more substantial amount of vegetables. I hope this MISERLY PORTION does not reflect the future of Delfina. This review expresses only the portion amount...not the taste of the food or the service.

Wonderful place to eat and great atmosphere! Our server new his stuff and was very helpful. Would recommend this place to everyone.

The curator esonsible for my British silver exhibition at SFO Museum personally treated me for dinner here. Goodness it was popular. We had to wait a few minutes for table, Very popular with the younger diner at 67 I did not feel out of place. The young waiter was very knowledgeable re wines and the fare, so we felt well-guided with his suggestions. The service, food and buzz it a very pleasant evening. Unreservedly recommended

It had been a while since we’d visited Delfina, but its consistent high quality, creative food, and level of service certainly has not diminished. The pasta, gnocchi, and fish entrees were tasty and well-prepared, and attractively served by knowledgeable staff. Worth a return or new exploration to see how one restaurant remains highly rated over decades.

Been going to Delfina since it opened more than 10 years ago. The quality of both the food and the service are excellent. From the simple Must-have spaghetti and other Primi to the fish, chicken or meat Secondi it's all carefully, consistently and deliciously done. Service is knowledgable and helpful. If you can manage to same room for dessert, they're special as well.

Enjoyed a Saturday night dinner at Delfina. From the fresh bread and olive oil to the Sole pasta everything was fresh and delicious. Cheese for dessert ensured a good ending to a very flavourful dinner.

We had reservations for dinner and were seated right away. We had peach bellinis and the guys had beers to start out. The bellinis were very refreshing and yummy! We ordered some bread and warm olives. The bread was outstanding - crunchy crust and soft inside, and the butter was other-worldly. The butter tasted like it was made that day. We ordered a salad to share, and the greens were salty (in a good way) and were sitting on a bed of tiny beans, which were incredible! The waitress said the beans were from Italy, and were called rice beans. Our table ordered some duck ragout, steak and fries, and Mary's chicken. We all tasted each other's dishes, and were all in gastronomical heaven with our entrees. We would highly recommend this place, and look forward to another visit when we return to the city! One down side - super noisy. It would be nice if the restaurant looked into getting some acoustic subway tiles to dampen the noise.

Some of the best Italian food I have eaten. Great service. Good wine selection and full bar. Wanted to go back again but no time!!! Only complaint is it is very noisy - so no first date getting to know each other! But next date - GO!!!

My cousins and I had spent the day taking a food tour in North Beach (Sidewalk Food Tours - also recommended for Italian cuisine fans) but still had room for dinner! Our meal at Delfina was just delightful. We sat outside, and even though it was chilly, the overhead heaters kept us perfectly warm. The cauliflower roasted with capers and other deliciousness was divine, as were the saffron arancini (fried rice balls). The stuffed baked shells were also good. We thought the pizza was a bit salty given that it involved both capers and anchovies, but the crust was awesome. Excellent service as well. A definite must-do in the Mission District!

As a party of five on a busy Saturday night, we were not expecting to get a table, but, we waited about 15 minutes and they seated us at a great table by the window. It's a cozy, crowded space as often the case in SF but that's not a detriment here. The service was adequate. We did wait for drinks but food service was prompt and attentive. The food was excellent, pasta cooked perfectly. Salt Cod Mantecato was very tasty, loved the Little Gem Salad. The house pasta although prepared with simple ingredients is delicious. Hay and Straw also very good as well as Swordfish. Three in our party were from France and enjoyed the Brussel Sprouts which were an unusual dish for them. We all felt the wine was overpriced and wished there had been a bigger selection. The waiter suggested a wine that was a special that evening, pricey and not really memorable. The food is definitely worth a return visit.

Delfina never fails to provide some of the best food in the city. Always fresh and creatively assembled without ever missing a beat on taste. I try to have at least one meal here every time I visit the city for over the past 15 years.

We enjoyed a very nice dinner with amazing food and very friendly and attentive service. From the bread and butter to start to the desert every course was really great! Fresh and good quality! We had a great time enjoying the atmosphere of young and fun people.

Such an excellent restaurant, food is just perfect. Great service despite a crowd and seated exactly on time. Not sure of waiters name but he was excellent.

Wonderfully presented, fresh, inventive food. The service was also very good. Due to traffic we arrived 15 minutes late, but they held our table. It's a "Go To" place for us in San Francisco.

While not an overwhelming menu, it was nevertheless difficult to choose among all the tantalizing offerings and multiple courses. My dining companion and I began our dining adventure by ordering a Cocchi Americano & soda from the Aperitivi section of the menu and a glass of chenin blanc from the wine list. At the same time, we made a selection from the Spuntini section of the menu - rustic Italian bread provided to Delfina by the acclaimed Tartine Bakery, which is literally located on the corner of the same block as Delfina, and comes with house cultured butter. We next set our attention on the Antipasti menu section ordering the grilled Monterey Bay calamari on warm white bean salad punctuated by fronds of frisee and sprinkled with black olives. The beans were neither tough nor mushy and provided an excellent compliment to the fresh and tender squid. Also from the Antipasti section we ordered LaQuercia prosciutto Americana wrapped around belle vida peaches. Few things are more luscious than paper thin Italian ham paired with ripe, seasonal fruit. From the Primi menu section, we ordered Delfina’s renowned and most popular pasta choice – spaghetti with plum tomatoes, garlic, extra virgin olive oil and pepperoncini. This meatless dish is blessed with the richness of summer tomato flavor and the highest quality ingredients. This is what true ”al dente” tastes like. Additionally, we could not pass up the gnocchi al ragu – delicate pillows of pasta with ground veal and pork in a red sauce. In an effort to save ourselves for dessert, we bypassed the heavier Secondi entrees of sea bass, roast chicken or hanger steak in favor of Delfini’s to-die-for panna cotta with apricots. All total, our dining adventure was $135.00 for two, plus tip. For an Italian inspired meal, Delfina is as authentic as any top of the list establishment in all of San Francisco.

Yes, a good dinner, but for the price, had higher expectations. Odd (maybe that's otherwise creative) and relatively small menu, which would be fine if I felt like there were lots of options to choose from, but there really was only one thing that sounded good, which all 3 of us had, the yellowtail, which was tasty albeit a bit oily and salty. Started with a shared pasta ragu, which was very good but, if it was, didn't taste like homemade pasta. Bread good, had warmed olives, nice. Good/expensive wine selection. Dessert, only one of us had (the torta, which was good), mostly because sounded more interesting than desirable, and, by that time, enough. Service good, pleasant. Yes, tables cramped and a bit loud, but not overly so and certainly within range of normative for trendy. It was a nice dinner, but somehow lacked the pizzazz we had imagined when we selected it after triangulating several review sources. So maybe we overestimated or they underwhelmed...

The pizza is good if you like thin crust pizza with minimal toppings. The tomato sauce is think but flavourful but made the bottom crust very soggy and difficult to eat. Mozzarella topped it off and gave a creaminess to the experience.

Drove up from San Jose with out of town friends. Have eaten here four or five times with most recent two years ago. I was surprised to get a reservation so easily day before going up. Also surprised to see empty tables throughout the evening. It is still a very noisy place and the tables are still small and very close. So that is acceptable since the food is so good. Wrong! Four different entrées and assorted appetizers and several desserts. Nothing very good or well prepared. That is my take and those we took with us. Next time will go next door to try the pizza. Not only was the food not so good but prices high for what is served. Do not recommend.

I will be coming back to the this restaurant overtime I go to San Fran. The pasta was amazing but really everything on the menu was great.

Delfina has some good recipes which they will tell you about with lavish description. Their signature spaghetti was very disappointing and uneventful. Overall portion size came nowhere close to justifying price tag. If you order the calamari, make sure you have your glasses so you can see the tiny pieces among the garnish and beans.

Very civilized night. Great little floor plan, not on top of your fellow guests, the service was on point, very attentive yet not in your face. The food was stylish, well presented, super delicious and buyer beware, the servings are deceptively filling. Its a great place for a special occasion or a Thursday-night-bite out.

Grilled Chicken Livers with pork belly. That was an appetizer! It was so good we ordered it thrice!! Attentive and personable server who talked my teenage son through his order. But, the food is the star here. Small menu, but everything is done well and with a great deal of purpose. I had the black cod and the lady next to us said she ordered the same thing because of the look on my face while I ate. Great atmosphere that lends itself to a long leisurely dinner. Just like being home for the holidays!

We had an amazing dinner but the service wasn't good at all they took just 15 minutes to ask us for drinks!! 👎🏻👎🏻

We had the citrus salad -- a bit pricey but delicious. The Neapolitan pizza was also rather good and tasty. They did seem to want to get us out of the restaurant though rather quickly -- check was sent to us though we had not requested.

We were fortunate to get a reservation . The vibes and atmosphere were very warm and inviting. The dishes we chose were all winners.Our waitress was very helpful and steered us in the right direction. We don't think you could make a mistake in choosing any of the pastas ,a fine wine and beverage list . Definitely recommend and would return on our next trip to San Francisco..

Joined a friend for Sunday evening dinner, luckily had a reservation as there was a line-up waiting for seats for most of the evening. The warm and friendly room was packed full of happy people. Everything that we tried was a success: delicious octopus and white beans, a simple wedge salad, a superb house-made nettle pasta and another excellent fresh pasta stuffed with four kinds of meats in a brown butter sauce, the roast chicken, asparagus with poached egg, and the rabbit (the sauce was a bit sweet for my taste, but it was tasty and tender). Paired with good and reasonably priced wine. Ordered chocolate pudding for dessert mostly just for the chance to try it paired with a barolo chinato (yummy). Service was friendly, we had a great time.

as we could not find a reservation for a large group of 7, we decided to come back after dinner to try the place and the desserts. even late in the evening, the place was still packed. we tried the Panna cotta with fresh berries, excellent and very light (the portion is also small enough not to feel guilty) as well as the affogato with espresso and a couple of biscotti (very good). Prices a bit on the high side.

We have been loving Delfina for years and we keep coming back whenever we are in the Mission. The place is small and very popular so be ready to put your name on the list and wait outside. On this sunny Friday afternoon though we did not have to wait. We had the roasted Brussels sprouts and a Salsiccia with a glass of Nebbiolo. The service was friendly and efficient as usual and the food excellent and tasty. We certainly will be back again!

We heard the usual tricks as "we're preparing the table..." "the customers are paying..." and so on. No table after 25+ min of wait. Obvious lack of organization and a staff showing uneasiness but exceeded by an ordinary service. We waited the most of the time outside and we've never been invited to even PURCHASE a drink at the bar. Maybe a kind of shame... Basta !

My husband and I took our out-of-town friends to dinner at Delfina's this evening and everything was perfect. Our meals were all wonderful and our waiter was exceptional. Will definitely return.

Visited on a recommendation from a US food critic writeup and it was worth the effort. Booking was essential as the restaurant was packed. Street parking is not easy in the area but it is worth perservering. The menu is not large but enough for a reasonable choice. My wife had the salad "bits" starter which fresh with a great dressing and the chicken main which she said was really good. My pasta starter was excellent as was my pork main. I am always amazed at the size of portions in the US. My wife and I both struggled to finish even half our main courses, and having been brought up by parents who would not let me leave the table until I had cleared my plate, I am always embarrassed and guilty when I cannot finish my meal. As our dogs are back in France, there was no point in accepting the offered doggie bags. Wine list is extensive and the wine waitress was knowledgeable and her recommendation was perfect. Service is excellent, our young waiter was faultless. Recommended for Italian food lovers.

I wish I lived next door. Great enthusiastic staff--delicious simple food and a great wine list. We found a 1999 wine for about $64, unusual and a great buy. Everyone seemed happy to be there. I go whenever I visit SF.

While there are salads, a couple mains etc, pizza is why you should visit this small restaurant. Always a line up, it is a small place but highly popular. Lots of take out, a good sign of quality. We tried about 7 different pizzas, from a classic Marthe Rita, to a salsicca, to a clam pizza. They were all outstanding. Great dough, great taste. Fresh products like cherry tomatoes were delicious, as were the sauces. White or red pizza, you can’t go wrong in this place.

very good food, trendy young place! recommend it for sure its in Mission District needs reservation cool style great food!

I have heard such great things about this place for years our family was looking foward to going to dinner. I arrived early as husband was parking the car. They did sit me at our table, which I appreciated. I waited and waited and waited. I happily would have ordered a drink. The waiter brought the menus and walked away. I really would have ordered a drink. My husband and teenage kids arrived. The waitress finally took our drink orders and just as our mouths opened to order appetizers as we were starving the waitress left. The waitress was very nice, just not around much. We wanted to eat and drink alot, spend alot of money at their restaurant, but they did not give us the chance! Finally we ordered and in a bit drinks came. Eventually appetizers arrived and they were just ok. We love risotto at most restaurants. But, the risotto at Delfina was so watery and tasteless my daughter who will eat anything that is not nailed down only had a little of it. With mine, I dumped some salt in it to give it some flavor. My husband's spaghetti besides being very tiny, was also kind of watery sauce, and definitely under done, not just al dente, but hard. The chicken entree was fine, but what i might have cooked at home, same with the sea bass. I am just an average cook and their food tasted like mine, just ok. When I dine out I don't want food that's tastes at the level of what I cook at home. After my apperitif I wanted a glass of wine with the meal, but our waitress kept running away. Midway through dinner I ordered my glass of wine and got it just before the meal was over. Great to go with dessert I guess, wish I had it for my meal. They certainly don't try to upsell you here or get you to buy wine. Desserts were tiny and again, just ok. It was beyond noisy--one of the most noisy restaurants I have ever been to. There is a super noisy restaurant in Montreal we went to once with fabulous food, but my husband said he'd never go back because of the noise. Because the food was so good at the Montreal restaurant I will go back and just suck it up and deal with the noise. (You have to scream at each other to be heard). Defina was worse. The 4 of us had to shout at the top of our lungs to be heard. Even with the shouting it was so hard to hear half the time we just gave up. As a family you can kind of give up on talking, but if you were on a date here or some other occasion where you wanted to have a conversation--good luck! We were there on a Sunday night around 6:30pm The crowd was a youthful happy crowd, which was nice. The waiters/waitresses were super nice, just not attentive to when you are hungry or thirsty. I think they were working hard, maybe just too many tables per wait person. I would definitely not go there again.

This was my fifth visit to Delfina and I cannot wait to return. Every time We have been you feel like the restaurant opened just for us, read our minds about what we wanted, and then cooked it perfectly!! We both started with salads and I am always amazed how greens, tomatoes, bread crumbs and cheese can be magical when prepared with touch and finesse. We followed with two of their sugnature dishes: spaghetti with tomatoe sauce and the roasted chicken with olive oil mashed potatoes. I cannot tell you how satisfying and precise the flavors were on both plates. The buzz of the restaurant is also very cool and the age variety of the customers is a testimony to the quality of the cooking. Great meal and thank you Delfina!!

Our party of 8 ventured from Sacramento for a celebratory dinner at Delfina. There were hits and misses. The restaurant is small and cozy. Tables are clean stainless steel. Pros: Excellent customer service at the hostess stand and our server. Very accommodation, professional and knowledgeable. The bread from next door bakery Tartine was exceptional. The grilled calamari and white bean appetizer had nice balanced flavors. The warm olives were also good. We had 2 orders of the $100 grilled porterhouse steaks which were cooked perfectly. Cons: #1: Very little to no value for an ordinary dining establishment. #2: Inconsistent seasoning of all dishes. #3: Overpriced across the board. Wine list was price heavy. An order of bread comprised of 5-6 small slices at $4...suitable for 2-3 people. Spent $18 just on bread. #4: Lamb pastas at $23 were the size of an appetizer plate and so extremely salty, and non-existent lamb ragu. It was a thin sauce with a tablespoon of ground lamb. I am aware of the pleasure of simplistic italian pasta, but, this was plain and simple shortage of a key ingredient. Yet the Pasta Pomodoro was under seasoned. #5: High City and server changes. #6: Given a table suitable for 6 for 8. #7: Why do you put greens along with thin French fries? That added contributes to steam. Perhaps a dry herb would be better. The mashed potatoes were good. #8: The bathroom I visited was a mess and unkept with overfilled bins and paper scattered on the floor. Need better monitoring. Did I have a good time...yes. Would I go back...probably not. There are other places with as good if not better cuisine, value and dining experience. Some of us wishes we went their pizza restaurant next door, the pizzas looked good. Maybe next time.

We had a girls dinner here to celebrate a birthday. The waitress was very knowledgable and attentive. We had the insalata di campo which was very good. I also ordered the local rock cod pasta, also good. We did splurge and got three yummy desserts. The Orange Blossom Panna Cotta was amazing. They also have a Delfina Pizza next door which looked very good as well.

Had a fun, delicious dinner with friends at Delfina on our first night in San Francisco and the ambiance and food got us off on the right track for a great weekend . We had lots of salads (all fantastic )--the mushrooms, de campo, and the squid. Our main courses were pansotti,tagliatelle (special) and bass. Dark Chocolate Bonet dessert! All great! Highly recommend Delfina.

This was our first trip to San Francisco. We asked our friend where the locals go and this is where we ended up. :) It was a pleasure. The meatballs were literally the best I've ever tasted.

I met 2 co-workers for dinner and we received great recommendations for a very excellent Sangiovese.. We did not opt for and appetizers but the selections were very appealing. I chose the Swordfish and while thin, was perfectly prepared. The sautéed carrots were good if unremarkable. My companions had the pappardelle pasta and the spaghetti. Both were devoured and greatly enjoyed. The lava cake desert was ridiculously good sing I would recommend going there for that alone. Our server Jason was super friendly and helpful I could tell he very much enjoyed his job. I will be back!!

We had a wonderful family experience at Delfina. The meal was much better than my previous outings here. We sampled four appetizers, and the salads were absolutely first rate. The pasta was perfectly al dente, and the risotto was well prepared and delicious. The Wolfe Ranch quail was the best quail preparation that I have had in the Bay Area and worth the visit. The wine list was a bit uneven. The sparkling wine selection was fantastic and fairly priced. the Italian red selections were uneven.

Had a quick dinner there. Staff is friendly. Pizza and pasta are good, but the wine was awful. Go for beer or any other drink.

I visited this restaurant in June 2015 with 2 friends. We were seated at a long bar, so we were right next to each other. I could see this being problematic for larger groups but we did just fine. Our food was good, and we finished every morsel (we had been starving after a long drive to SF from our camping experience up north). Our service was great. We had a bit of a time constraint because we had to get to the airport. I think this would be a great local neighborhood spot. Since I don't live in SF, I would probably not return because there are so many other places to try.

Superb staff, stunning food but you HAVE to leave room for the bread serving with it. It is only $4 but really adds to the meal. Dodgy enough area after 10 at night but for foodies this is a must.

Read about Delfina in a list of restaurants recommended by multi-awarded Philippine chef Margarita Fores. So glad we followed her recommendation, as well as the specific dishes recommended by our server. Their spaghetti with plum tomatoes, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, pepperoncini is one of the bestsellers and for good reason. Nice casual unintimidating vibe. Perfect last meal before we boarded our flight home.

Went here one night while visiting San Fran. I would highly recommend reservations as the wait list was lengthy and there is really no where inside to wait as the bar area is small. We had reservations and still had to wait 10-15 minutes. Aside from the crowd the food was delicious and service impeccable. I had the spaghetti which was very lightly covered in an olive oil and tomato sauce. I was very pleased as this reminded me of our trip to Italy a year ago! My husbands gnocchi was also very good. I would recommend Delfina, but again be sure to have reservations =)

The place is divided in a restaurant and a pizza section. We decided for the pizza section and were very happy. The pizza is thin and crispy. They serve them only in a few variations but with outstanding quality. I had a more vegetarian version without ham. It was very tasty; the tomato sauce is not too salty or spicy, the artichokes were delicious. We didn’t have dessert but the espresso afterwards was great. Marcello M. Switzerland

Always eaten at their pizzerias but not the main restaurant. So had high expectations and the food met every bit of it. Pastas was great (we tried 2 different ones). Unfortunately one of the appetizers we wanted was out (at 7:45 pm???). Service was also good. Good vibe and energy in the restaurant as well. Would come back every chance I get.

We were seated after a family, who were regulars but did not have a rez, and I believe they got our table as the hostess confirmed the table number with her companion hostess and was told that the table was already taken. We were put in a corner in the bar area. Our server seemed a little put out by waiting on us and the food was nothing special. In fact my husband got the steak special and it was gristly and fatty. I am a firm believer in not offering a less expensive steak- even if it is covered with a delicious sauce as this was- just to have a reasonably priced beef special. The restaurant perhaps is a good neighborhood spot but definitely not a destination.

I hadn't been to Delfina in maybe eight years or so (yes, there are that many good restaurants in San Francisco, that even the best get distant revisits!). I have to say that it was a very delicious meal. I had the Insalata di Campo: field greens, pancetta, walnuts, parmigiano, balsamic. Followed by the Hand-rolled Pici pasta in wild boar ragu (which is heaven on a plate). My husband had Louisiana Gulf Shrimp in Porchetta followed by Roasted Mary’s Organic Chicken with King Trumpet mushrooms and a side of olive oil mashed potatoes. I think I ate most of the mashed potatoes - which were wonderful. The only complaint I have with the restaurant is that the seating is tight. Getting up and down from a table, I continually saw people awkwardly squeeze this way or that, knocking things on other's tables, etc. With a tiny bit more space between tables, it would be perfect. That said, I'd highly recommend Delfina - but I obviously don't have to because it's reputation for great Italian is well known.

I don't think I have had a better meal than the one I had at Delfina. The dinner was an "experience" from start to finish. Excellent attentive service with politeness and great knowledge of what was being offered on the menu. The octopus is a must have but honestly, you cannot go wrong with any dish on their menu. Excellent wine selection and reasonable corkage fee. There is clearly no downside to going to this place other than the wait. But good things in life require patience.

We had 7:30 reservations but due to a super slow Uber driver were ten minutes late. Hostess said no problem, they were just waiting for some other diners to leave our table. They had paid their check but apparently weren't in any hurry to vacate. We waited nearly 35 frustrating minutes. Hostess was very apologetic but there really wasn't much she could do. As a side note, pretty rude of diners to linger at a table once they've paid their bill when the restaurant is packed and there are clearly people waiting for tables. Once we were finally seated, things improved vastly. Very friendly and attentive server, Manny, took our drink order. Waters arrived immediately. We split the Insalata di Campo which was delicious. Midway through our salad Manny brought us the Heirloom Tomato Salad as a "sorry you had to wait so long" offering. That salad topped the Insalata di Campo. So good and what a nice gesture. For entrees, we had the Linguine and Double Clams (soooo good...tons of clams) and the Chicken Agnolotti. The agnolotti were amazing. So light, not too doughy or heavy at all. For dessert we had a chocolate something...a really light mousse on some flaky pastry squares with chocolate sauce and caramel sauce and a chocolate nibs. Yummy. Everything we ate was delicious and the portions were perfect. We ate a lot of food and left full but not overly full. In addition, everyone was super nice....hostess, server, manager, bus staff. Restaurant had a nice ambience and wasn't too loud. We could actually carry on a conversation :-) Great restaurant, great food, great service.

Having been to San Francisco a number of times I like to explorer the inner city (Mission in this case) and more organic places. Get away from the tourists and get a feel for what the locals get to experience daily. This little restaurant is a true find, custom created Italian food at its finest and fairly priced at that. The service was wonderful and I'll go back most definitely.

2nd time we're been here and we wanted someplace dependable after we landed. The food did not disappoint. We were pleased with what we ordered, including the wine. Only negative being the choice of table; when we arrived there onyl had a small table and my wife asked for a corner table, which was going to be vacant in a matter of minutes since some patrons was leaving. But we were told 'NO' we couldn't have it. But when we asked a very nice waiter he totally accomodated us and moved us. Service fromt he wait staff was very good. Would return.

My absolute favorite italian in San Francisco! I love the casual atmosphere and excellent food, the gnocchi is to die for, as well as the grilled calamari appetizer! Can't wait to go back!

We had dinner with my partner at Delfina. I’m not exaggerating that this is one if the best restaurants of SF. Everything was perfect: the attention, the food, the ambiance. But the food is really unbeliavable. The anchovies and the mortadella were delicious. The soup is simply undescriptible. Then we tried the short rib stracotto which was amazing. The dessert delfina tissane was also delicious. 5/5

This was part of our great 5-day San Francisco restaurant tour: Delfina, The Progress, Belga, Old Bus Tavern and Hawker Fare. Not to be confused by its pizza-serving namesake next door, Delfina is a neighborhood restaurant, where "neighborhood" is code for friendly but professional service, warm but elegant atmosphere and great food without the pretension that is often accompanied by a high bill at the end of the meal. My daughter and I order from the selection of craft beers, while my spouse wanted a glass of wine. After sampling and rejecting the first recommendation, she was delighted by the second. We shared the insalato di campo, the grilled Monterey Bay calamari and wild ramp sformatino with Louisiana shrimp; all three were excellent. For my main, I ordered chicken agnolotti and my companions both had the crab risotto. The chicken was tender and very tasty and, I was told, the risotto rich. At the insistence of our server, we shared a dessert. I would highly recommend Delfina, whether or not you happen to be lucky enough to live in the neighborhood.

The restaurant needs advance booking as it is quite full. Our table was available when we reached. Since it was a birthday treat and the restaurant was informed, they served a surprise strawberry shorbet at the end with a candle to celebrate. I was quite touched by this gesture. The pistachio gelato was delicious. The spinach pizza was with freshly baked thin crust base. The 21 $ charged for this had a portion of 1$ for donation to the fire in San Francisco. The restaurant not only has good food but a good hearted management

Love this place. Great food, great wine selection. Big own tables that encourage people to chat- we had a lovely time. Will be back soon.

A small but lively restaurant in the Mission District, well worth the trip. Depending on how you approach this area, the neighboring blocks can look a bit hairy, but don't let that dissuade you from trying Delfinas. There are actually two restaurants side by side, one is a pizzeria, the other a sit-down dining. The staff was friendly and helpful with suggestions, knowledgable of the food and wines. The chef/owner trained at Da Delfina in Tuscany, and has brought these concepts to be recreated here. He regularly sends his chefs for additional training as well. Our dishes included a light tortellini that had a slight essence of lemon with a light tomato cream sauce, unlike any I have ever had before. We also enjoyed salmon with a light béchamel sauce seasoned perfectly to complement but not overwhelm the totally fresh fish. Perfectly al dente spaghetti comes with an "out of the garden" marinara that can best be described as "Refreshing". A large wine selection is available including domestic, however the Director of Wines had just returned from Italy and was offering a generous flight of three wines that were distinct and paired well with the dishes we were having at a very reasonable price. Deserts are just as creative with our favorite being chocolate on chocolate, with chocolate flour less cake. Really amazing. However, there is a bonus for eating here in that Bi-Rite ice cream is just up the street. Choices, choices! There is great Italian in The City, but I think Delfina has become our new favorite fave.

I've been going to Delfina since their soft opening, and it is still awesome. Great apps, best pastas in SF, and always great desserts. I only wish it had a full bar, but that's what Locanda is for! I have what I call the "Delfina Dining Unit", basically what it would cost for my wife and I to go out and have a great meal with wine at Delfina I've had multiple meals at twice the price or more that weren't half as good as Delfina

Delfina’s is the perfect neighborhood restaurant with outdoor seating but so many waiting,l there’s always someone you know. That camaraderie is important to the success of the restaurant; it’s not just incredibly good Italian food, it’s a neighbor. The prices are fair, the food is delicious and generously portioned and your neighbors are here! What’s not to like?’

Enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Delfina with my wife and 25-year old daughter. It is a very comfortable and friendly restaurant. Wait staff are very welcoming and engaging. The kitchen is visible from dining room allowing customers to watch the chefs at their best. The chefs clearly take pride in the tasty and attractive dishes they prepare. Be sure to order the Tartine bread. The Tartine (bakery is three doors away) sourdough and house-cultured butter are the area's best. The Corn Sformatino is a very tasty starter. This corn and shrimp appetizer are not to be missed. It literally melts in your mouth. Be sure to share. We also shared a side of spaghetti. The pasta is not locally made, but you could have fooled us. Genuine Italian spaghetti noodles tossed in a mild, but flavorful marinara. For my entree, I had the quail and warm bread salad. The quail was cooked perfectly - tender and most meat with outstanding flavor. The warm bread salad paired well with the quail. A combination of arugula and marinated jumbo croutons, the salad was a perfect complement to the meat. My reasons for holding back on the 5 stars are that the wine list is limited (I recommend you bring your own bottle) and the restaurant is a bit pricey. Nevertheless, I highly recommend Delfina and will be back to enjoy the food, the staff and the restaurant's good vibes.

A couple of years ago the tenor changed at Delfina, the focus shifted from customer service to bottom line. Amongst other things, they started charging for bread and butter. That's fine. However, tonight, we took a dear friend to Delfina who politely requested just a bit more butter to go with the last piece of bread since we'd used the butter provided. They wouldn't provide it unless we wanted to order and pay for more butter! We weren't asking for more bread or a full pat of butter and we'd ordered a multi course meal. Penny wise, pound foolish. This policy is absurd in a service oriented industry, felt downright greedy. The best restaurants often provide regular customers with extra tastes or treats, instead Delfina embarrasses its customers who reflect disbelief at the concept of being charged more for a bit of butter and puts waitstaff in a humiliating position of having to explain. Meals at Delfina are expensive, soon they will charge for salt and pepper. I grew up in SF and have patronized Delfina regularly over the years. So disappointed in what they have become. Given the plethora of excellent restaurants in SF I will not go back.

The pizza here is sooooooooo freaking good! Oh my god that crust is just melt in your mouth. Really really have enjoyed all my visits. It's casual and fun but can get really packed. The Mission has blown up so tons of restaurants can be a bear to get into, but this place is super tasty. When I'm staying in the Mission, this becomes and easy repeat offender.

Our server was lovely. Our table cramped, not in a cool European way, but in a "let's squeeze as many bodies in" kind of way. Not conducive to conversations. Or romance. The food was not good. The bread with prosciutto, seasoned nuts, meh. Brussel sprouts meh. Pasta with braised pork shoulder too salty. Roasted chicken and mashed potatoes? The star, but maybe 3 stars. We wanted pastas, not a solid roasted chicken. I could cry when I think about ALL of the other places I would have loved to try while in town. The panna cotta? Best part was the pineapple. The bottom line? This city has rare & special, gastronomic wonder filled restaurants. Delfina is none of those things.

This was my first time to SF and I found Delfina on one of those Thrillist lists. I always trust those lists with a little scepticism, however, this place did not disappoint. The bread and butter along with a salad was a perfect appetizer for my wife and I while we enjoyed a glass of wine. The meals were very well prepared, and you can tell every ingredient was fresh! While we didn't order dessert, we were very pleased with the meal, the level of service, and the dinner as a whole!

Glad we made a reservation to try Delfina while visiting SF! All the food was delicious and the service was great!

One of my favorites in a city with tons of choices. I brought my daughter here for her 18th birthday. Food is as delicious as ever, great ingredients, wine list ( she has to wait a couple years before she can appreciate it), a fun and lively atmosphere, great service and you don't have to take out a loan to eat here! Love. Love. Love

I was having dinner with some friends on Saturday night and left hungry. Tiny portions, pasta dishes at $ 30 without content and without substance. The restaurant claims to be Italian food but the dishes have no Italian soul, they do not breathe any traditional flavours. It is another place of fashion, with young people, little gastronomic and pretentious culture.

We went there on the spur of the moment and so were seated at the bar because everything else was full. Loved it! A bright cheery restaurant full of people - families celebrating, friends meeting, and people just relaxing. All were taken care of by a well-trained and very helpful serving staff. Our server was knowledgeable and helped us with our wine order. The food is lovely and we went away veeeeery happy! Greatly recommended. Good idea to call first to reserve a table.

The spicy cauliflower was amazing! I wish I could recreate it at home. I also enjoyed the ensalata tricolore. I had a blackened cod dish for my main course and it was just ok. I wish I had ordered the salad and a pasta dish instead. Our server was nice and attentive. It seemed like we were seated very close to the people around us. My travel companion could barely shimmy out of the booth side of the table when we were leaving.

This is a great informal restaurant, somewhere between a bistro and a tratorria. The dishes are overall qutie good, well seasoned and somewhat different from the average Italian restaurant, so it gets points for innovation. With some firends we had grilled squid which were cooked just right, tender but with a slight crunch and nicely charred. I had tripe florentine which was excellentlly seasoned; a rich dish. A friend had grilled swordfish which was good if not exciting. The risi e bisi (rice and peas), another dish not seen in most places was a nice vegetarian choice. The bread from Tartine was excellent (not a surprise) but there is a charge for it which might bother some but I personally think that's ok. The wine list is mostly Italian and quite varied. The wait staff is friendy and attentive. The atmosphere is informal, a bit noisy but not so noisy as to make conversation impossible; the tables are closely spaced. In summary a very good restaurant with some tasty dishes you don't see everywhere.

We really enjoyed the pizza although the crust wasn't as good as some others. The staff were friendly and it has a nice atmosphere. It's also quite popular (even during the mid-afternoon).

It had been several years since we've been back to Delfina, one of our most favorite restaurants for many years. The reason? We live in South Dakota, and only get to the Bay Area every few years. We had a 5:30pm (i.e., first) reservation this Thursday evening, and they were gracious when alerted that we may be several minutes delayed. Our party of 4 arrived at 5:36 and we were promptly seated. The menu is manageable, perhaps slightly shorter than in the past. However, the first eye-opener is the appearance of non-Italian wines on the Wines by the Glass list. We'd only seen Italian wines on either the glass or full wine list in the past. Our female server was competent, if overall indifferent. Our servers in the past have been enthusiastic, extremely helpful, and courteous in the extreme; not tonight. However, a Cocchi Americano and Soda was a nice aperitiva. However, was stunned that they had no Aperol, because had first asked for a simple Aperol Spritzer, a standby in Italian restaurants. They couldn't make a Shirley Temple for our daughter, and in fact they are not a full bar at all. They can simply make the short order of cocktails on their menu and nothing else. My times have changed! Perhaps they've changed ownership since last we visited. They have certainly expanded the dining space into the next-door secondhand store, which was nice. Again, however, we sort of missed the extremely close, linen-topped tables of old. For a tab nearing $300, the food was spotty. The iconic spaghetti, raved even recently by many diners, was judged merely decent by several. The gnocchi with ragu said to feature beef, pork and veal, was in fact orange in color, with the barest flavor of meats possible. At this point we were fortunate that the bread was very good, and several in our party were happy to consume this. For mains, we ordered the roasted chicken and grilled hangar steak. These meats were cooked really well, especially the chicken, and we would order them again. The hangar steak was a perfect medium, but quite cool when it arrived. The herb-flavored french fries accompanying the steak were very good. We ordered one dessert, Cantucci, not knowing what it was. I had also indicated that we were celebrating one in our party's birthday. It turns out the Cantucci was basically a single type of biscotti, which in this case was adorned by a tiny single candle. The dessert we'd already ordered was simply adorned with a single tiny candle. We were promptly presented with the sizable ticket, and we left with no thanks for departing greetings. We get that this has been a famous restaurant for many years. We've had a handful of excellent meals, and have even posted former glowing reviews. However, taken as a whole, the bloom has obviously come off the rose, and we will now be in search of a new favorite Italian restaurant in San Francisco.

Had dinner here our first night in SF and were not disappointed. Our waiter was helpful and friendly, he was able to give us good information as we navigated both the wine and the dinner menu. Originally I was excited to try the Sunday Supper but then I feared it might just be a bit too much food so we both ordered the spaghetti along with a salad for me and the Tartine bread to share. The pasta was cooked perfectly and the sauce was wonderful. I would definitely come back and the next time, we will just go for it and order the big old Sunday Supper.

We loved everything about this place. The decor was beautiful, yet casual. The waiter Manny was great. He was extremely helpful and efficient. The food...amazing. A very kind taxi driver picked us up to go home even on his way home and basically off duty.

We ate a Delfina our first night in SF and it was great. Our waiter was knowledgeable and friendly but also gave us our space. The evening was well paced. Atmosphere is great. We were seated at the window and were worried about the draft as it was rather cold outside but we were fine. Even though it seems very cramped we did not feel like anyone was on top of us. Highlights were the Tartine bread and Spaghetti (it was some of the best spaghetti I've had). My fish was cooked perfectly, a rare occurrence even in the best places. But honestly everything was delicious. Great spot for friends. Would make a good date spot too if you were local.

great spot for italian. fresh pastas, great sauces, good ambiance. Great date night spot and plenty of variety.

My family has been going to Delfina for birthdays and special occasions forever. Every meal is not only delicious but beautifully served by a terrific, professional, friendly wait staff. Even though we tend to save it for special times, the prices aren't insane. It's very reasonable for the quality of the food and experience. Though it's very popular, they have also been very accommodating if we want to go at the last minute. You can always sit at the bar if you want to walk in. A don't miss SF experience.

Horrible service, uninspired food, small portions, and difficulty getting the check right - there's nothing to praise here. My wife and I, and another couple had a 5:30 reservation, and we arrived early. I guess they do this by 'seatings' rather than reservation times. We were seated half way back in the restaurant (Farina's space). So the waiter starts at the front of the restaurant and works his way down each table, taking orders, and it took him 1/2 hour to get to the four of us. Other staff members are standing around, chatting disinterestedly. So we ordered drinks and warm olives. The drinks came 'staggered' - and after another 1/2 hour we asked about the warm olives. The server was ice cold "oh I'll check on that" and 15 minutes, later 8 cold olives appear. (that's about $1 an olive). The guest sommelier came, and we ordered a $120 bottle of wine, and we asked that she send over our server so we could order food. Ten minutes later, the dgaf server took our order, and mentioned that food comes when it comes. Two entrees came together. One came 10 minutes later. One never arrived. The topping for the pizza arrived after we finished the pizza. By the way, the pizza is very skimpy - it's all dough, with about 1 tablespoon of sausage, 10 thin slices of red onion, and a few small pieces of red bell pepper. Nothing special at all. So after 2 hours we tried to get the check. But they hadn't charged us for the wine. So we politely asked - and with no apologies or thanks, she takes the credit card again - and another 1/2 hour goes by as we watch them fumble trying to figure out how to add a bottle of wine to the bill. Here's the bottom line - dinner for 4, but only 3 entrees, (no apology for the forgotten entree) is $230. Add the $120 bottle of wine and tax, and they want a 20% tip on a $360 bill - that's another $72 - for surly service. The pork is way oversalted. The pizza is skimpy. The staff really doesn't care. Nothing at all to recommend here.

A worldly wine selection of average pricing, but by the glass selections and wine service put this over the top. Expectations soared with the halibut crudo(just a little too spicy hot), a party in the mouth that worked well with a recommended Italian wine of good acid. We were not overwhelmed with the squash blossom risotto(salty, monotone), but its a delicate dish. A 3 oz. salmon fillet(salty) with leeks was nicely presented, but did not soar for the price.

We have eaten at Delfina several times. The food varies from very good to excellent. I generally find their pastas to be excellent; last night that was true about one dish, the other pasta was "just" very good. Laid-back staff is very competent but you need to ask questions about menu items to be sure what you think you are ordering is what actually shows up when the plates arrive. All said, continues to be one of my favorite San Francisco restaurants.

We recently enjoyed a meal at this establishment. The staff were very accommodating and knowledgeable regarding the wines that they had to offer on tap. The waiter provided us with the specials of the day, which we decided to accept. We were not disappointed. Who would have thought octopus and warm cannellini beans would have worked - it did. The food and wines that are on offer certainly complimented each other. Will definitely go back.

Amazing value for such great food. Fabulous waiting staff. Great quality food. Cool casual decor, feels very warm and inviting.

This was hands down our favorite meal in San Francisco. Our reservation wasn't until 9:30 pm on a Saturday, so make sure you book early, but it was so worth the wait! Get the bread (worth the $4) while you wait. We ordered the spaghetti and gnocchi ragu. This pasta literally melted in your mouth! Everyone thinks spaghetti is boring, but you cannot come here and NOT try this! It's got a little spice to it, which was a welcome surprise. The sauce is just amazing. The gnocchi was so delicious and the ragu was on point. Overall, amazing experience!

Delfina was impeccable. My husband and I tried each of the dishes from the three courses our waiter recommended. The calamari was authentically unique and outstanding--a standout from your typical fried clamari. The simple 5 ingredient spaghetti was out of this world. The obviously handmade pasta had the perfect bite to it. The main course was the chicken with mashed potatoes, which was very creamy and rich. We were both completely satisfied and very full after splitting these wonderfully authentic Italian dishes. We did manage to find room for the tiny gelee lemon bar at the end--a treat from the chef.

Food was good, across the small menu. The issue is choice- no pizza in Italian dinner? no other kids menu options (eventually went for plain spaghetti), no juice (yes, even teenagers are expecting lemonade). Parking is a challenge, the table small for the party and the price is high. I guess we wont come back although the good food and nice service, too many other options out there.

Amazing simple italian food executed incredibly. Their famous Spaghetti are just as described, unbelievable. We ordered two dinner packages that had ravioli with ragu and a meet platter with sausages, ribs and some kind of stake. Tricolor salad was amazing with pancetta inside had a really food touch to the flavor. Tartine bread and butter amazing. Great food and great time!

We were recommended Delfina by our driver who took us to Napa for the day. Great way to finish. Place was absolutely packed good sign! Waited for our table at the bar with a Blood orange Bellini. At the table started with soup of the day which was a traditional bean and vegetable, seared asparagus, warm olives and warm bread. Had for main tagliatelle with wild nettle and pine nuts delicious! My partner tajini of Ragu duck which was spaghetti with Ragu again delicious. Service delightful and attentive. Well worth a try.

Love love love this bistro. Authentic Italian good with a server who can give you the history of the plate as much as he can discuss the preparation and ingredients. We tasted the gnoccha as a starter---salty flash fried bread---think of a cross of a saltine married to phyllo dough---amazing. The bread for the table is divine. Only wine and beer served as libations. Our antipasti was crab and grapefruit salad which was a larger portion than expected and a tasty insalade di campo--both worth ordering. Our primi was the lamb sausage pasta which was had a lovely red gravy but the lamb flavor did not shine through. The rock crab pasta would be my choice. Save room to dessert and pressed coffee--definitely worth it. The ice cream with espresso may be my all-time fav. The molten chocolate cake with the bay leaf gelato was delightful as well. In all, a culinary adventure...only 4 stars as the whole dinner was so slow...and I was ravenous! The dinner's pace was "Italian" where it is a night out with friends more than just a meal.

Place was great. Went with the wife and 2 year old. They had no problem with the child during the dinner rush. FOod was really good. Eat the Ribollita, never had one like they serve it at Delfina. Dinner was a bit rushed, and you sit really close to everyone which is a touch annoying, but worth going to.

My wife found Delfina prior to our trip, and I'm very glad that we made reservations and decided to eat dinner there. This feels like a true gem nestled into the middle of the Mission neighborhood. As a tourist, eating here made me feel like a local. In fact, the waitress was surprised that we weren't from the area because they don't get a lot of tourists. All of the food is delicious, homemade, and authentically Italian. We enjoyed a nice bottle of wine, shared an appetizer, two entrees, and dessert all for a reasonable price. Service was fantastic, and the place had a cozy feel to it. I highly recommend Delfina if you want a true SF dining experience.

Delfina has been a popular spot for years. Food is always fresh and delicious. Our wait staff was knowledgeable and provided us good recommendation. Make sure to make reservation way in advance!

Went here with friends. Just off Dolores park. Make reservations. We were seated immediately. Efficient staff. Good reads. The padron peppers and the grilled squash covered in mint leaves were delicious. I had the guinea hen tagliatelle which was quite good. The simple spaghetti with cherry tomatoes and basil was perfect with pasta cooked al dente. Shared a delicious panna cotta as dessert. Great place, nice experience.

I had a great lunch at Delfina during a recent trip to San Francisco. The service was superb, and despite having other locations, Delfina Fillmore had the feel I love of being a neighborhood hangout with thoughtful staff members who know their diners. My pizza was excellent--the Margherita with added arugula. The entire experience was so pleasant I made a point of going back one more time before leaving town. The Fillmore neighborhood is pleasant and easy to get around in. Highly recommended for a casual, friendly meal.

This restaurant is very popular and busy, be sure to make a reservation. It is in the Mission District so you may have to park a few blocks away and walk. We ate here a few years ago and it was excellent. It is still excellent and maybe better than before. The restaurant is loud and energetic. Casual attire is acceptable. The bread they serve is from Tartine Bakery. After you taste the fantastic butter, ask where they get it. The menu is mostly Italian but if you want to avoid carbs, there are other great options. Every plate of food we had was great. The deserts are complex and interesting. My favorite is the simple, sublime panna cotta. We ate here twice in one week and got the same fabulous waiter, who was very friendly, he had an extensive knowledge of the menu and wine to pair with the food. I can't wait to go back.

We ate here twice. It was just down the street from where we were staying. Always busy, yet somehow they always had a seat ready for us. The waitstaff is knowledgeable and friendly without being intrusive. Beer and wine only, but both lists are excellent. And the food is GREAT. Especially for the price. Portions large enough to satisfy and small enough to keep prices under control. on our second visit, we happened to notice the Beard Award randomly tacked up on the announcement board.

Feeling rather smug after escaping subzero weather in Chicago, the thought of spending New Year's Eve at a favorite Italian restaurant in San Francisco was uplifting. We ordered a bottle of red wine and appetizers to share. A tariff for bread and butter was unusual but it was fresh and crunchy so worth the price. We were off to a great start -- until the mains were served. The spaghetti was so salty two in our party sent it back. Then we waited and waited...but the mains never arrived. The check came and the wine had been marked up, not the published price. We described the service issues, the unusual lack of food quality and the unexpected up charge for the wine to the manager. He offered to comp the $9 Brussels sprouts. After rejecting the bill three times, we finally made a fair settlement and received a gift certificate for our next visit. Happy 2018!

This restaurant was recommended to us by the woman who was cleaning our room who said it was one of the best Italian restaurants in the area. She was right! We arrived at 5:00 PM, but Delfina does not open until 5:30. Their sister restaurant (a pizzeria next door) allowed us to sit and have a glass of wine while we waited. As we sat there, many people passed by and we heard them say "they don't open til 5:30", so we quickly called their phone number to make reservations. Thankfully we did because they had one table left. Delfina has great food in a nice atmosphere. We would definitely recommend this place!

Loved it. Great location excellent atmosphere. Staff messed up our reservation but after a short drink at the bar they worked it out and added a complimentary appetizer. Food was off the hook!!! Everything looked good. Had Pappardelle, calamari, chard, and the warm olives. Simply perfect.

Fabulous meal, fabulous service, easy environment. I had the tiny prosciutto ravioli - agnolotti? And my partner had the mushroom gnocchi. Both light and delicious. Don't skip the Tartine bread!

Great crust, amazing tomato sauce nnad subtle flavors. I do not remember the last time it felt this good to have a pizza. It's a definit gran SLAM and if you pass by, STOP!

An incredible fare of pasta made our late night dinner awesome. The desserts were also amazing, especially the panna cotta.

Went here for an evening meal during the week. Venue and service excellent. Salad to start was really good. Pasta dishes were the highlight. We had spaghetti and pasta parcels along with the mashed potato (strongly recommend!) We were sharing so they divided our portions which was great. Would send anyone here.

We booked in for dinner on the night we arrived into the city so were a little jet lagged and tired when we turned up. The staff were attentive, friendly and keen to help with recommendations. The menu was varied but not overly complicated or pretentious (As some restaurants in SF can be). Our meal was excellent and very reasonable for the price (As we would later learn dining elsewhere).

This is a very busy restaurant requiring an advance reservation no matter the day of the week. Food was very good and timed perfectly. Server could have been a little more attentative but overall still enjoyed the overall experience.

We have been to Delfina 4 or 5 times over the last few years . . . and every time we go . . . we say . . . why don’t we come here more often. Born & raised in an Italian family, it’s hard to be content with Italian-American restaurants. Although, this is the real deal . . . with all of the classics (and more) done perfectly. They offer incredible service with servers that know the menu, as if they just prepared it themselves in the kitchen . . . and know the wine list, as if they were a representative from the winery . . . while being fun & upbeat at the same time. They offer half orders of pasta and half glasses of wine too, so that you may sample a variety and not have commit to a full order . . . or a full glass !!! There is a reason why it’s challenging to get a reservation here . . . book it now for a week or two out . . . you won’t be disappointed. NOTE: Delfina Restaurant is located next door to Delfina Pizzeria (not in the same building).

The pizza is very good. The pizza is very thin crust - Napoli style - you may need to eat it with a knife and fork as difficult to hold without it collapsing. But it tastes great. When we were there, the place was packed inside and out. Clearly very popular. After eating, turn right as you leave the restaurant and at the end of the block you can get a very unique dessert from Tartine.

Really good Italian food. Pasta, meet balls, side dishes, tricolore salad. Straight to the point with falvors. Service could be a bit better, faster and more attentive but the food is excellent!

The food and service in Delfina's was great - really fresh pasta with a delicious sauce (I had the herring and chilli), and the panna cotta was to die for! I'd actually meant to go into the pizzeria next door, but went into Delfinas by mistake - I was glad I did. Up until that point the food I'd eaten in San Francisco was pretty mediocre, but my meal there changed that. I was sitting on the counter in the middle of the restaurant, so didn't feel out of place eating alone, and the atmosphere was nice - buzzy, without being too loud. Lovely!

We loved the tricolore salad, agnolotti, spaghetti, and chicken... and asked for the recipes!!! Does not serve booze, only beer and wine. Lovely place.

My spouse and I ate here on a one of our city walks. We were able to get seated without reservation as we got there right when the restaurant opened. Our server was excellent, recommending food and wine and very attentive. I was impressed with her knowledge of the wines. She was sweet and fun. We ordered the quail. It was very rich and delicious. I am not any kind of "foodie" but I do enjoy a meal out with a nice glass of wine. Delfina's was a perfect evening. Thank you! (love the bread!)

There were 10 of us and they were able to accommodate us. We each ordered something different and passed them around. Everything was delightful

Lovely food with great service. There was something there for everyone. I had the spaghetti as it is well known and that recognition is well deserved, absolutely gorgeous. For main I had Mary’s chicken, the flavours of the jus and skin were amazing!!!

We really enjoyed our dinner here. The service was good, atmosphere warm and inviting modern. The menu is not long, but offers good options. We decided to go with a few smaller dishes; tagliatelle, artichokes, great breads, a pork skewer special. All were well prepared and very tasty. Good choices on the wine and beer menu. We had a hazelnut torte for dessert, it was perfect, not too sweet with berries on top. Would definitely go back and recommend to others.

Restaurant didn't open until 5:30pm, so stood in line outside for about 20 minutes as we were meeting someone that recommended this restaurant. I ordered the steak and fries. I thought that the food was good. I'm not from this area, was just visiting so not sure I would go out of my way to come back if in the area again, but thought it was good, no complaints.

We really enjoyed the restaurant, celebrating a birthday. The service was attentive, especially given how busy it was (Saturday night). They even brought us a special shrimp appetizer from the chef and a birthday candle. We also loved the food -- the gnocchi appetizer was fun: fried and topped with pancetta slices. The calamari was perfection, the beet and citrus salad was unusually flavorful. We had paparadelle with duck ragout and hanger steak and fries. Both were delicious. The lemon ricotta cheesecake and the chocolate cake with almond ice cream were worth every calorie. Why only four stars, you may ask? It is the parking and the difficulty to navigate the neighborhood. Given all the funky neighborhood tattooed, grungy people, we felt a little old, stuffy and out of place -- Awkward for us -- But, the restaurant is worth braving the 'hood. (And, you can see some really cool graffiti!)

A vibrant Italian restaurant, same owner to the next door of tartine. Good food good dessert, good service. See you some day again.

My goodness- Delfina has left me speechless. It came highly recommended upon my visit to San Fransisco and it took every part of me not to go back for lunch the next day. The service was great and the atmosphere was better. Make a reservation or arrive on the earlier side in order to not wait too long. Gem Salad, Spiced Carrots, Pici with Boar Ragu, Double Clam Linguini- all some of the dishes we ate. If you have room for all of them I'd suggest the exact menu I chose. Be sure to save room for dessert- it was the best I'be had in a very long time. Molly was our server and she was very sweet and attentive without hovering. Can't wait to go back. In the mean time I'll be dreaming of that Pici.

I have always loved Delfina. Even though I am now a paleo diner, there is always something delicious here. The bread and pasta are of course a delight. Good service, a cute bar, fun servers, what else can you ask for ?This is charming local gem.

Delfina is often busy but we could not pass up a chance to visit. When the main restaurant side is packed, check out the pizzaria side! The pizzas are light and fresh and along with the nice wine selection, make for a wonderful evening meal. The service is brisk but friendly. Popular with locals as well as visitors- check it out.

Can’t go wrong with Delfina. The wine selections are superb, the service is top notch and meal is always delicious. You shouldn’t miss the Tartine bread to start and for dinner the Mint Tagliatelle or the Gnocchi Ragu.

From the pasta to the salmon to the hanger steak and pomme frites, everything was incredible. I didn't try the deserts, but my kids and wife were very impressed. So far, one of the best meals we've had in San Francisco. The food is high quality, and you get that satisfied feeling that you just ate something really really good the rest of the night.

Think of some of the best Italian food you've had. Turn it up to 11. There you have it. Great simple dishes perfectly executed and very potent wine list.

Wow. What a great place. All of our appetizers were outstanding from Ricotta with fig and tomato and olive to a sweet corn smorfatino that was so light it could float away to excellent grilled calamari. The Mary's Roast Chicken was crispy and generous half chicken with a separate plate of olive mashed potatoes included that could feed four! Mint tagliatelle was superb. Pappardelle with a duck Sufi had delicious large chunks of duck. Dessert were equally excelkent

Delfina is extremely popular for their great food and excellent atmosphere so, if you don't book in advance you might not get in. Great Italian food, excellent drink options and a friendly helpful staff make for a reliably comfortable and enjoyable dinner experience.

While visiting San Fran my husband and I met my son's best friend and ex-college roommate in his neighborhood, Mission, for dinner. We invited a few friends along to make up the table. We ordered family style and shared our apps and dishes. Everything was cooked to perfection and delicious. The staff were friendly and helpful. I would highly recommend Delfina for a meal anytime.

This place is increasingly famous, and great for fresh pasta. Their sister place next door does pizza. Found this place nice, and warm hearty food. Only thing is that the tables are so close together, the waiters kept knocking me

Delfina never lets you down. Personalised service and the rare perfect Bellini with white peaches is the perfect start to a great culinary extravaganza. Their home made pastas are delicious and artisanal desserts not to be missed.Filled with vivacious people it's a super dining experience.

The mushroom pizza was amazing. My daughter is a veg so she choose the meal. I was hesitant but it could not have been any better. They also have meat pizza's but the pizza and pistachio and beet salad was to die for…...

Simple but delicious Italian cuisine! It is quite expensive but it worth it. Cozy and very charming place.

Tried this place as it was very close to our sons new apartment and were pleasantly surprised. We only could get the early (5:30) reservation but was worth it. The pasta was fresh and the rabbit ragu was wonderful as was the roasted chicken. Great neighborhood restaurant.

I'd been wanting to come here for some time and finally was able to score a reservation during my visit. It was excellent. Loved the vibe (though a little loud for my 62 year old aunt). Everything about the place was great. Everybody who worked there was genuinely nice - from the woman who seated us to our waiter to bus boys. Our waiter was excellent - attentive but unobtrusive. Exactly the way a waiter should be. Food was excellent. I had the calimari and white bean salad to start. Divine. Then I had this home made pasta dish that was like a carbonara but better. Finally the ice cream. And we split the bread. My companions loved their meals as well. Great large wine list at many price points. I'm not familiar with Italian wines, and the waiter did a good job of finding us a well-priced wine that paired well with our dishes. Would recommend this place in San Francisco.

Lovely restaurant with an excellent menu. Originating from a group famous for their pizza we thought we might be a little overdressed. It turns out most diners were dressed even more formally than us. They get their bread from a famous bakery just down the road so don't miss ordering. Everything we had was delicious but the parking was the worst I've experienced in SF. Use Uber.

we made a reservation for Delfina, prior to our trip to San Francisco, based on the rec of a friend. My 14-year-old son and I are adventurous eaters and this menu did not disappoint. We started with the gnocco and then I had the blood orange salad. We split the duck and added mashed potatoes. So delicious!

I may not be in the mood for a plate of squid ink pasta. But co-owners Craig and Annie Stoll of Delfina's Italian restaurant in San Francisco offer so many appealing dishes that a visitor from Chicago can't get enough of the good stuff. Located at 3621 18th Street in the city's Mission neighborhood, between Guerrero and Delores, two blocks east of Mission Delores Park, Delfina opened in 1998 and has been a James Beard award-winning trattoria ever since, a true San Francisco classic. Open from 5:30 to 10 Monday through Saturday and 5 to 9 on Sunday, it also features a full bar with its impressive decor. I started with warm Castelvetraneo olives and grilled Monterey Bay calamari with rice beans, taggiasca olives and parsley oil. For my entree, I chose spaghetti pomodoro. For dessert, I opted for panna cotta. This is what authentic Italian cooking is all about

While visiting SFO heard about this restaurant while on a walking tour. Returned for dinner of Spaghetti and Roast Chicken. Both were superb! The spaghetti sauce was some of the best we've ever had! The skin of the chicken was crispy and the meat was juicy and tender. Try the bread from a bread maker around the corner, also excellent!

Very good dinner, service was ok. Altough our waitress was friendly the rest of the staff was ok but could have been a bit more friendly.

If you looking to eat pizza this is amazing place. Everything on the menu is good and special included the drinks

Love this small authentic Italian. The food is simple and very tasty, the server was very kind and informative on the options for the evening. We felt special which is what everybody wants to feel when they are eating somewhere. Prices are reasonable for the area but not budget. However the taste and service are impeccable. I would highly recommend.

We make Delfina our top priority on every trip to SFO. Beg to differ with recent negative reviews here. We find the food and wine superb and on every occasion the service has been impeccable. We had Manny looking after us and he was personable, helpful and attentive. My wife had a citrus salad to begin that she described as perfect in its simplicity and flavours. I had the grilled calamari that was superb. May never eat the bread coated crap ever again. Sorry if others have had off nites but D never disappoints. Just wished we lived closer to go more often.

This is a very trendy, popular restaurant. Had to make reservations weeks in advance & our table was right by the bar, and very crowded venue. Portions are tiny, but large $'s.

I really love italian food and have been in Italy several times. When in SF I was really in a mood for italian food and it was a great surprise. All the dishes were amazing, fresh and very tasty. I would highly recommend this place for real italian and quality food.

We had reservations at Delfina, my first time there. We arrived at 5:30 and by 6:00 there were no more tables, the quality obviously was reflected. The pasta was super, great salad, and really really good wine. The waiter was super knowledgeable, friendly, professional, and prompt. A fantastic dinner, for my first night in San Francisco. Check it out!