Luisa's Restaurant Wine Bar Since 1959 Reviews

Old-fashioned restaurant. Little atmosphere. High prices compared to the quality. Fairly basic dishes. I have no idea why they are ranked 2 out of all the restaurants in SF!

Our Hotel receptionist recommended this place to us, we are so glad he did. We received excellent service and the food was so good.

What a hidden gem! Had a fantastic culinary, social and historical experience in this genuine Italian restaurant, in a party of 4, all dishes were great, just to the Italian standard, al dente pasta as expected. We had the pleasure of having the owner Luisa at the table next to us, her unique stories made our evening one of a kind!

We were greeted by Masimo who seemed to oversee our dining experience. We ate outdoors which was in their semi-enclosed “patio” on the sidewalk. It was fun! I had the Caprese Salad which was outstanding, and the Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli. The pasta tasted freshly made and the Vodka sauce was delicious. My husband ordered salmon and requested that it be prepared in accordance with his dietary restrictions. It came out not prepared correctly, but Masimo quickly had his meal remade, and it was ultimately delicious. We would definitely go back to Luisa’s.

I’m a bit surprised by the very high rating of this restaurant. Seems to be some grade inflation, even my score is generous. Pizza vongole was ok crust was a bit chewy and not at all thin. Baby spinach salad was excellent thanks to the walnuts and garganzola. Tiramisu was very dry and frozen in the middle. We of course mentioned this to Luisa who was holding down the fort. I think the waiter was a new hire, at least he seemed as such. A comfortable table nothing ground shaking nor innovative. Worth a visit.

Finally a good restaurant the pizzas are beautiful and not greasy and affordable prices thank you We come back 2 evenings in a row

We had the good fortune of getting a table next to the wonderful owner, Luisa, who greeted guests had extra sauces brought to our table, and generally injected her passion for entertaining into the experience. After starting with the most tender meatballs ever, my wife and high school daughter ordered delicious pappardelle with vodka sauce and lobster ravioli, while I won the night with gnocchi pesto made by Luisa herself. Luisa’s Merlot and Cabernet blend completed the food perfectly. We closed with three separate desserts, but the limoncello mascarpone cake and limoncello were the standouts. Highly recommend!

One of the best Italian meals I've had outside of Italy. A gem in North Beach. I ordered the Eggplant Parmesan...several thinly sliced layers of eggplant, sauced perfectly...it melted in my mouth. My friends also loved their food! We shared a bottle of very good white wine with Luisa's photo on the label. We met Luisa when we arrived and had an opportunity to chat briefly with her when we left. I can't wait to come back to San Francisco and enjoy another meal here!!

Nice Italian restaurant. We ate lasagne and pizza. The staff is very friendly. The atmosphere is great with the old pictures on the wall and the iconic songs by Engelbert, Dean Martin & Co being played. Luisa herself (over 90 years old) said goodbye to us. Very nice evening and something different than burgers.

Luisa’s is one of the authentic Italian restaurants in North Beach. Traditional dishes from southern and middle Italy are prepared. Why rate it highly? Quality ingredients. A good , but not overwhelming selection of entrees. Everything on the menu is attention grabbing. Luisa has adjusted the menus over the years. But the staple entrees are present due to popularity by regulars. “Nobody doesn’t know Luisa” is an appropriate description of Luisa’s longevity in a tough restaurant business market. The menu had been developed over the years by local Italian chefs and colleague Italian restauranteurs. Luisa is a tough cookie and an interesting personality who takes personal daily interest in the business. Lobster ravioli was delicious. Bruschetta, a super simple item was excellent due to quality ingredients. Lamb shank - a little bit too much beef bullion for my taste but still excellent because of two reasons: the lamb was a meat spin away from common mint balanced style. Tasty, it did not have the lamb game flavor commonly encountered. Rather, it tended more toward a very very tender beef. Great with an excellent red wine. The wine was well explained by Claudio our server who is from Venice. Luisa has a personal brand of red that is fantastic. She has a connection to a local vintner. The quality is there. Not over priced none sense that I can easily buy for a fraction of the price — this is California after all! Desert was amazing — no photo can describe the three different layers of confection and ice cream in one ball. A picture would not do it justice unless I intentionally sectioned it for this post. That would be weird. Great quality. I don’t know how they make it. Casual and genuine character with professional attention. The personal service by staff adds to the experience. A great place for couples. A great place for family or friends gathering. No too stuffy. Greatest focuses are upon food, wine and personal attention. Critique? I recall a previous location for Luisa’s on Union Street. It felt more cosy, more intimate for evening dining. The current location is more suited to daytime and nighttime. I think a mode change with lower lighting at night would be an improvement. This, despite nice candies already present,

The best authentic food and good service. We had entree, mains and dessert and it was all really good.

It was a perfect evening with a very good chef and very good service! We also got to know Luisa personally!!

Had an 8 pm reservation on Tuesday. No wait for us. Restaurant was nearly full. Waitress was very nice and all of the wait staff were efficient. We had delicious salads, Caesar and baby spinach ( soo good). We had chicken Parmigiano and gnocchi with gorgonzola sauce: molto rico! Lovely tiramisu and chocolate gelato for dessert. Lovely Luisa herself stopped by to visit. Just a wonderful dining experience!

Eating at Luisa’s restaurant is like walking into a family kitchen and sitting down for an authentic home-cooked meal! We were just visiting the area after returning from a cruise and decided to try it. We enjoyed wine and appetizers of bruschetta, meatballs, Caesar salad, and beef carpaccio. Our main courses were Pappardelle with vodka sauce and Clams linguine with red sauce. We topped the evening off with a cannoli and limoncello and mascarpone cake with creamy lattes. Luisa was there watching that we got the best possible service. You owe to yourself to try this place at least once, but you’ll probably return again and again.

The best Italian food we had since visiting Italy. We had garlic bread, beef carpaccio, lobster ravioli, crab ravioli in lemon wine sauce, qnocchi, tiramisu and cappuccino, all exceptional. Don't miss it!

We found this restaurant near the hotel for convenience. We were surprised by a good Italian pizza! Dear managers and we spoke on the phone with the owner, Mrs. Luisa, 93 years lucid! I wish I'd met her in person! Thank you for the evening!!!

Great restaurant. We ate very, very well there. The lobster ravioli with lemon and white wine sauce, a delight. The tiramisu is killer and the ristretto…. like in Italy 🇮🇹 ☕️ It was so good... Let's go back tomorrow evening 😃

I don't understand why this restaurant was rated so highly. An average pizza, a tiny portion of carbonara that wasn't really Italian and an atmosphere more like a canteen.

I had the pleasure of visiting Luisa’s for the first time this evening. Sergio provided excellent service, and all of the food was delicious. I dined with 3 friends. We ordered a bottle of rosé, Caesar salad, pepperoni pizza, chicken Alfredo, manicotti, tiramisu, and truffle chocolate gelato and shared our meal family style. The pizza was especially good with the meltiest cheese and tasty dough. Tiramisu was AMAZING and I can’t wait to eat it again. The Italian rosé was light and refreshing. But the best part of the night was talking to miss Luisa herself! Fabulous night. You must go, and you must order the pizza and tiramisu!

Luisa’s was a fantastic experience. My wife and I are both Italian so we know what authentic Italian tastes like. But more importantly, we were treated like family, including by Luisa herself. If you want a special experience, go to Luisa’s. And our bartender Claudio - topped off the great experience

We were visiting from the UK. Dined here on the reviews from Trip Advisor. Absolutely didn’t disappoint. The pasta was so fresh and my husband stated that his bruschetta was the very best he’d ever tasted. Excellent service, from this lovely restaurant. Highly recommend.

I had the lamb shank pasta. It was phenomenal. The place does not look modern. It is definitely the best in the neighborhood. Coming from a local.

We went for my birthday ( at the mission district restaurant) it was amazing. We started with Burrata and meatballs (all was delicious) Pasta for all we are gluten free and it was very good. Luisa was there and said hello. Very sweet woman.

Lovely restaurant and food, great history with Luisa still looking over it at 94 years old! Lasagne in vodka sauce gorgeous and calzone spot on

Great experience! Dinner was amazing. The buratta mozzarella, chicken and gnocchi were delicious! My favorite was the house wine with the beautiful face of Luisa herself on the label. We were enjoying desert when Luisa walked into the restaurant! What a treat to be able to take a picture with her and tell her how much we enjoyed her restaurant and wine! I highly recommend Luisa’s !

We arrived on a Friday night without reservation and were seated in less than 20mins. The food and wine was wonderful and after being ignored at the door for some time, once we were seated the service became more welcoming and friendly… would definitely return but would be sure to book!

Amazing true style Italian food. When first walking in the ambiance screams small family restaurant but once you sit down and look at the history on the walls and taste their luisa’s private label Pinot noir AMAZING! I felt like i was in Italy. Highly recommend the house made gnocchi it was the best gnocchi it reminded me of homemade from my childhood. My husband got the grilled salmon and ate everything off his plate. The dessert? Delizioso! We got the tiramisu and I must say better than anything I’ve had and I’m from Las Vegas! If you are looking for quality, delicious, and amazing food make a reservation. I know this will now be a staple on my next bay trip. Luisa herself could be spotted in the dining room making rounds to her guest to this day maybe if your lucky you’ll see her during your visit.

Visited here during our San Fran trip based on the high TripAdvisor rating. Unpretentious restaurant and prices fair. Food was pretty good especially the Bruschetta starter, but not exceptional and maybe we were hoping for something more based on its high rating. The restaurant was relatively quiet with relatively little atmosphere. Service was prompt and attentive. Ended up having to book twice as for some reason the restaurant cancelled our original booking on Open Table.

Luisa’s is a classic old Itilian restaurant in San Francisco. Located on the far end of California Street. Food and ambiance great. The proprietor sits on a chair making sure everything runs well!

Friendly welcome, interesting off-the-menu proposition. Everything to have a good time. The sequel is less good. Waiting almost 50 minutes to receive our dishes while the customers who arrived after us were served quickly. In short, not a good evening and ordinary fish.

This place was recommended by our hotel and it did not disappoint. The service was excellent and the food was superb. I would strongly recommend this place to anyone looking for good, homemade Italian food.

Experience: This was officially our first time at Luisas, but we have walked by it many times before while visiting San Francisco . The most previous time was when they were closed so we had to make sure we ate here the next time we were in SF. Luisa was there while we dined in, It truly is the best Italian food in SF! While the restaurant has a fine dine feel, it also feels so comforting and has so many personal touches, from hand written letters from customers, to personal restaurant family photos throughout the years of being open. I called to make a reservation & they quickly answered the phone & accommodated our requests. When we walked in we were immediately greeted & seated at our table, following with water, wine tastings & recommendations. It was a delightful experience. The Wine: After multiple samples, Luisas private label Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Noir were all winners! Our server gave perfect wine pairing recommendations. The Food: We started with the Burrata appetizer, which was paired with arugula & cherry tomatoes, then we ordered the Handmade Gnocchi with Vodka sauce, The Grilled Salmon, Spaghetti Amatriciana, Crab and Shrimp Ravioli with the lemon wine & truffle oil and Meatballs all of which are 5 star worthy! The Gnocchi was perfectly cooked & not too chewy, while the vodka was not overpowering. The Salmon was juicy & served with perfectly cooked vegetables. The Crab and Shrimp Ravioli was rich & cooked nicely. The Spaghetti & Meatballs were eaten together & they were cooked fantastically & made for a perfect meal. The Marinara was not too acidic or overpowering and it was perfectly seasoned. We finished the meal with Tiramisu & the cannoli which were a great way to end the meal. The lady fingers were perfectly soaked & the cannoli shell was the perfect amount of crunchy yet chewy. Best Italian in San Francisco, hands down. Since 1959!

Lovely dinner with delicious food and a great pleasure to meet the owner and share conversation with others in the small restaurant. Well worth a visit and prices were reasonable for the quality and location. Those with complaints seem to be Americans looking for an Olive Garden and got lost!

From the minute we got there we were made to feel well come. Nothing was too much trouble. The food was fantastic. We all had a variety of food and it was 10/10. Would highly recommend Thank you

Not much from the outside, but walk inside and you're experiencing the real San Francisco. Warm people, fun interior, great food, and wine with the owner's picture one it-- really special!

Just want to start by saying the food was out of those world. The service however, was bottom of the barrel. Just as I was eating the last part of my starter the plate was whisked away, not before my knife and fork which were on the plate were placed back on the table. When I said I’d like a fresh knife and fork the old Italian waiter looked instantly angry. From this moment forward he never once looked to see if we were ok, or required anything else. The lady that served us next could not keep away and kept looking at our plates to see if they were finished. If you want to take your time and enjoy a nice relaxed meal this place isn’t for you.

Delicious food, the lasagna is highly recommended. Friendly service. Relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

Horrible. Just a terrible experience, lousy food, no attempt or effort to make it right, I don't know people rate this any better than a McDonald's. Heck, I would have preferred a big mac.

OMG the food was amazing 👏. Italian food is my #1 favorite. From my entry at the door I could smell the flavor and knew the food would be great. The restaurant staff was hustling & bustling to take orders, prepare, and serve. I ordered the Lasagna. When I received my order it was piping hot the way I like my food. The next time I have the taste for Italian I will eat here . I am from Los Angeles so I will have to drive up. The restaurant is superb

We found everything very delicious. Ms. Luisa is charming, chatting with all the clients. And make sure the service is excellent.

Luisa, herself, recommended the lasagna, cannaloni di carne...EXCELLENT! Wait staff speaking Italian made us tear up! A fantastic place everyone HAS TO experience! Wonderful meeting Luisa! Massimo consulting with Luisa in native Italian was a wonderful to be a part of! VISIT!!! An experience to enjoy! 💖

Such a gem! My parents took me to meet Luisa and enjoy the great food before thanksgiving. The meatballs, wine, lasagna were amazing. Dinner with love, thank you!

We ate at this small restaurant in the North Beach neighborhood. It's a charming little place. The food is fantastic, my wife loved her cheese manicotti and I loved my chicken parmigiano, we shared a delicious cannolo to cap the meal. Overall, a great experience Highly recommend.

We went to this wonderful restaurant to celebrate my wife's birthday 🎂 and had the best night out of our holiday, and will certainly remember the night for a long time. We had a table at the curbside, and the food was a masterpiece of Italian cuisine. Our waiter was very knowledgable and the perfect host. I will return the next time I am in San Francisco.

The Linguine with frozen clams of any Italian supermarket are 10 times better than those eaten here. The Italian pizza I can say has nothing. Not recommended for any Italian who wants to eat Italian. It's not a place that remembers Italy. Definitely.

Excellent dinner! Highly recommend for an authentic Italian meal. The best tiramisu I’ve EVER had! Great atmosphere.

Very charming place, good service. The food was very good. A place to visit if you are in the Italian district of San Francisco!

Luisa's is a hidden gem that I found in Little Italy last year. Established in 1959, the menu consists of family recipes made by Luisa herself. Among our favorites are the homemade gnocchi and the cannelloni di carne. Both are absolutely delicious. The staff is friendly, and the ambiance is warm and inviting. They have a nice selection of wine as well. I had the pleasure of meeting Luisa herself during my last visit. Her sweet charm made us feel like we were right at home at Grandma's house. I highly recommend this restaurant to anybody in the area looking.

This was our first visit to San Francisco and our first meal here. How lucky we were to find Luisa's! Our meal was wonderful, the service efficient and friendly and we met Luisa, who was a delight. She reminded me of a wonderful lady we look after, age 98. I would love to put the two of them together - what characters!

The food was outstanding. Service was excellent. We have a simple bowl of pasta which was delicious. Will definitely be back when San Francisco.

Went for dinner on a Sunday night while in San Francisco in holiday. Server wouldn’t accept UK driver’s licenses from my son as ID, said must be a passport, and generally behaved as if it was an inconvenience to have to be there. Food took ages to arrive, but when it did it was all really nice. Husband ordered ravioli but portion size was tiny. Also added an 18% gratuity to the bill then tried to add one automatically again when you pay via the QR code.

We cannot understand how it came to these massive over rated ratings. The restaurant has the Charme of a metro station. Just a little bit brighter which does not lead to a better rating. The food was ok. But just ok. The wine really bad. The service was not a service because it only was a kind of food transportation. I can only rate 2of5 and this only because of the ok-food.

Luisa’s is THE BEST restaurant I have ever been to. Luisa herself is always at this location and she is amazing, so nice, and loves talking to her customers. I cannot recommend any restaurant more than I can recommend Luisa’s! The food is wonderful and if you’re looking for great Italian food look no further!

I dined here with coworkers and we had a wonderful dining experience. The Pollo Piamomtese was divine. We met the owner who was a gem of a lady. Don’t hesitate to make a visit here because I am confident you will have a positive experience.

The food was absolutely amazing! We got the honor of meeting Luisa, and she is absolutely amazing. As is her staff. Absolutely my favorite Italian restaurant.

I can’t say enough about the wonderful meal our family had at Luisa’s! Upon entering, the restaurant exactly what you would picture as a traditional family owned Italian restaurant. Quaint place. Maybe with a dozen tables and a bar. The service was attentive but not overwhelming and was certainly efficient. The highlight was definitely the food. You just try the Bruschetta and Ceasar Salad. Both very authentic and fresh. My 23 year old loves her spaghetti and tomato sauce. The homemade tomato sauce was delicious. She ate every last bite. My wife had the crab and shrimp ravioli. Delicious! And I went with the house specialty Pollo Piamontese and all I can say is WOW. One of the tastiest dishes I have had in some time. The overall experience from our dinner was so enjoyable and authentic. and even 93 year old owner Luisa stopped by for a visit. Highly recommend!!

Wonderful home cooked traditional Italian meals. Great service and every dish including the desserts were superb. Well worth visiting.

The Eggplant Parmesan was excellent!! They accommodated group of six and we all loved our food. The Pollo Piamontese, and Lasagna was also delicious. A must try

My husband and I had dinner here when we were in San Francisco for our anniversary. The restaurant space is quite small but they have outside seating as well. But I recommend going anyway because the food is amazing! I had pasta puttanesca and hubby had the lobster ravioli. Both were delicious!

We were in town for a conference, and 27 of us made reservations for dinner on a Monday night at Louisa's. The restaurant is small and so we took up over half of the dining room. Getting orders taken was slow in part because they only had one waiter taking care of the group. Even though they had known for several weeks that it would be a large group, they seem to be somewhat unprepared. Because of the size of our group, food came out of the kitchen slowly, but that was to be expected and I certainly would not mark the restaurant down for that. Because it is a small restaurant took up much of it, the noise level was high, but again that was not unexpected. The food was outstanding, flavorful, delivered piping hot, exactly what you would expect from a Italian restaurant that scratch makes much of its pasta. Out of our 27 people, no one had one complaint about the food, which is amazing. Even though the service was somewhat slow, the server made sure that each order was delivered to the proper person, and any delays were reported in advance. Our server really seem to care that people got their food promptly when it came out of the kitchen and that they were enjoying it. I would like to get this restaurant a 4.5 is there were many positives especially when they were dealing with such a large group. I think if it were not for the fact that we had such a large group the restaurant would have been very close to a 5 rating.

This was our last night out of 10 in the San Francisco area. Our meal was incredible but what made it even more special was that we got to relax with the owner Luisa. The most beautiful, insightful lady you’ll ever meet. An inspiration to any lady starting her own business. In her mid 90’s still BEAUTIFUL, INDEPENDENT and INTERESTING. A true mentor for all us ladies 🥰. A special thank you to Andre our incredible, caring server who introduced us to her. Many blessings for his future 😘

Thank you Luisa for welcoming us to your amazing restaurant! The food is exceptional, best one we had in San Fran. The staff was wonderful and the dinner’s decor so personal and soulful.

Had a wonderful classic Italian food experience. Really enjoyed Lasagna and the Eggplant Parmigiana was just superb, combined with a delicious lemon mascarpone cake and the owners Sauvignon blanc just made our night fantastic. Very much recommended!

Great food. Pizza and tiramisu - perfect. Lovely glass of Pinot. Nice to meet Luisa herself! Unable to fault this place.

I went to visit the restaurant today after the Italian Heritage parade/festival with some friends. The staff was very attentive to our needs and the food was amazing. We shared some caprese salad, meatballs, and garlic bread as a group and I ordered lasgna for myself and my other friends ordered calzones and pesto gnocchi. Everyone enjoyed their meals and we also had the limoncello marcaspone cake,tiramisu, and cannoli. Hundred percent want to go again and want to plan another trip here when I am in the city again. Also got to meet the restaurant owner Luisa herself a spunky 93 year old lady who has been in the restaurant business for about 70 years. Highly recommend!

What a great restaurant with excellent food. The pizza was outstanding and the pasta was very good. Highly recommend this place.

Amazing food, music and service. I was there with family and we all agree that it was the best place we eated in our all trip.

Good traditional Italian food in a family atmosphere. Fast and efficient service. Correct quality-price ratio.

Pizza was good. The chicken Parmesan was only average. The chicken itself was just not that good. The weather was not friendly. The pricing was fine for what you received.

Came here for a meal with my wife having read the reviews. We ordered the bruschetta to start, then the 'meat lovers' pizza, and also the shrimp risotto. Bruschetta very tasty indeed. The risotto also very enjoyable with good rich flavour. Pizza not the best - I think mainly the base was the issue (didn't taste like it had gone into a super-hot pizza oven so was cooked longer maybe) although it the topping was slightly wet too. I do love great pizza but this was very passable. Only other thing was we felt the service was slightly pushy on the wine with a lot of upselling.

I ordered the penne puttenesca, my sister got the gnocchi and my mom got the lobster ravioli . Hands down one of the best Italian restaurants I have ever been too. All of them were amazing and the gnocchi was the best I have ever tasted. The texture was amazing and melted in my mouth. The staff were amazing, fast and accommodating. They got out food out fast and even the owner went to our table and gave us some recommendations! She was super sweet and fun to talk to. The vibe of the restaurant was awesome and I would love to come again. Could not recommend more. Amazing food!

Last night went to dinner with some friends. I didn’t plan to eat but just joined for company and wine. Quickly I changed my mind when the food was ordered and delivered. The food looked so appetizing I needed to try. My friends ordered Caesar salad, garlic bread, Alfredo, manicotti, pizza and tiramisu. We also had a lovely bottle of rose. The food was absolutely incredible! You can taste the pasta was homemade and cooked to perfection. The tiramisu! It was probably the best I’ve ever had! And the pizza! Dough was amazing and perfectly melted cheese. The atmosphere of the restaurant was also perfect. It was a cozy restaurant. Perfect for family and friends getting together for a delicious Italian meal! I can’t wait to come back! Sergio our server was so kind and attentive. Last night we also had the pleasure of meeting Luisa! She is absolutely lovely! We didn’t know but she told us she makes her own wine and it is on the menu! So we are already planning our next gathering and coming back to enjoy her wine and more good food! Highly recommend to visit! You will not be disappointed. True north beach Italian feel!

Living in Berkeley, we played tourists for an evening and headed over to North Beach. While Luisa's was filled with visitors from all over the world, it is anything but touristy! In fact, Luisa herself was sitting next to us and guided us through the menu. As an Italian-American, last night's dinner took me back to when I was a child and the previous generations would have us over for Sunday dinner. The garlic bread, gnocchi, linguine with clams, and pepperoni pizza were each amazing on their one - together, as we shared everything, it was a great family-style dinner. Clearly, everything is homemade from scratch and made with love. For its ambience and it's food, I can't recommend Luisa's highly enough!

Our experience here was wonderful! The bruschetta and the Caesar salad were the perfect appetizer. The service was amazing and all of the food came out super fast. For entrees, we got the gnocchi meat sauce, the pappardelle meat sauce, and clam pasta and all loved every bite! The staff was super welcoming and made the dinner a lovely experience. We also got the truffle and tiramisu for dessert, it was awesome! The perfect dinner for a date out in the city or with family or friends! We had a wonderful conversation with Louisa and you can tell how much the quality of the food and the restaurant mean to her. Would highly recommend!

Small, very personal old-school Italian restaurant. Not very large, but we had no problem walking in (late, on a weeknight). Location is great - kinda near North Beach (it may officially be in it), but just far enough (and off by itself) as to not be "in the scene." I can't say enough about the service; they were on it! (and made it look effortless). We had apps and Pasta, nothing too adventurous but all the food was perfect (I personally had lasagna). Great wine, great food, exceptional service. I can't think of anything lacking, and I will go back every time I am in San Francisco.

The atmosphere at Luisa's is warm and inviting. The walls are adorned with old photos and paintings, and the tables are set with white linens and fresh flowers. The service is attentive and friendly, and the staff is happy to make recommendations.

Our Gate I tour guide, Garrett, recommended this restaurant to us and we are so glad he did. We had one of their daily specials, a braised lamb shank with linguini, which was out of this world. Our server recommended a red wine to us that complemented the entree perfectly. The portions were so large we had no room for dessert. I would recommend Luisa's to anyone looking for authentic Italian in San Francisco.

Fantastic authentic Italian restaurant, one of the best pizzas outside of Italy. Great atmosphere (loved the music) and an enormous pleasure to meet Luisa herself.

The service was friendly and very fast. The food was of average quality, unfortunately no more.

I wanted to find a dinner spot that was cozy and had a homemade feel to it and this was the perfect spot! I walked here from my Fisherman's Wharf hotel which was a plus- although there is street parking! We made a reservation which was good because it got pretty busy. When we left all the tables inside and outside were full. My family and I shared a bottle of wine and each ordered our own entrees. The bread was divine! An added treat was, Luisa, the owner was there! She was just days away from celebrating her 93rd birthday and was greeting the guests and making sure everything was in order. The walls are adorned with pictures of her as a young woman so it was so nice to meet her in person. I would eat here again!

Squeezed us in despite no booking - delicious food and lovely service for a family of 5. No kids menu but the kids shared a pizza between 2 which was plenty. We also had the prawn linguini, cannelloni and the green salad - so good. Really appreciated the last minute booking.

We were recently referred to Luisa’s by Cristina at the Marriott Pulse. The food was excellent, the conversation with Luisa was amazing. She is completely involved in all daily activity by making everything from scratch and by hand. The recipes are authentic Italian and many generations in the making and it is evident in every bite. Appetizers were the 5 * Meatballs an Bruschetta were a marvelous start to the perfect meal. Beef Ravioli with vodka sauce is one of our favorites. Personally, my favorite is the Lasagna alla bolognese. We have had the opportunity to try many dishes. Linguine Prawns is a great dish. You can’t go wrong with either sauce (lemon wine or special tomato). The most recent dish we tried the Papardelle with meat sauce, another hit. If you are ever in San Fransisco this is a must visit!

We had dinner at Luisa’s on Saturday, August 19. We were visiting San Francisco as the first part of our trip to wine country. We made a reservation and they were able to seat us a tad bit early. We all ordered different entrées and shared. The best by far was the beef ravioli with vodka sauce. Well worth a visit when you are in SF.

Over the TOP! Certainly one of my top ten Italian dinners. Service was excellent. Everything was made from scratch. Creative combinations made each dish special. Highly recommend!

On our last night in San Francisco before joining our cruise ship, my husband, two friends and I pondered where we should eat on a very wet Sunday evening. My friend did some research and came up with Louisa’s. This was an inspired choice as we all enjoyed our authentic Italian meals and probably the best garlic bread we have tasted! We would definitely recommend this restaurant.

We received really friendly service at this restaurant. Our meal was delicious, we chose cannelloni followed by Limoncello Masarpone Cake. The restaurant is small, but has outdoor space and a lively atmosphere. Would visit again.

Great restaurant, especially the dishes are really tasty and the ingredients are fresh. The pizza is like the Italian one. We had the margherita and the romana. The tiramisu is absolutely a must try.

Unpleasant surprise at the check: an 18% tip is...imposed and included directly in the check without possible change. First time I see this! Except that the food, wine and service were absolutely anything. The rating of 4.6 at this restaurant is overrated and exaggerated. Go your way.

We were very well received and served. The 3 dishes we tried were all delicious. Pizza meat lover, lamb shank and fafardelle and calzone sausages and mushrooms. The caprese and burrata starters were really delicious

90-something Luisa was at our table when we came eating a Caesar Salad. She stayed because of our 4 month old Grandson whom she held and entertained. What a special evening. Luisa recommended the Lasagna, which we loved, along with the Piamontese Chicken, Gnocchi and a Margherita pizza. The meatball appetizer is THE story of Italian American cuisine. Two big delicious meatballs swimming in a beautiful red sauce. Luisa confirmed that she made much smaller meatballs in Italy. Italians made them big with a lot of sauce in America because they could. Luisa told us the secret to fhe success of her 3 area resteraunts was 1) the food and 2) consistency. It shows. Come see her still gently directing the staff.

The ambience is simple, but definitely Italian. You should make a reservation here. The service was friendly and quick. The bruschetta was very good. The Amaticiana spaghetti and the cannelloni de carne were freshly prepared and tasty. The tiramisu was decent, but tasted unremarkable. Conclusion: the restaurant can be recommended.

The gnocchi vodka is a must try. Very good gnocchi with an amazing sauce. The bruschetta is very fresh and nice and the baby spinach salad was extremely yummy.

Amazing food! The service was incredible with very nice people. You can feel that the food is home made. We met the founder by chance while dining in the room. Very nice and cozy atmosphere

Burrata was ice cold…. This is not how you serve it…Tomatoes on the bruschetta were too cold… staff must be missing and plates are prepared in advance

Pack your stretchy pants because you're going to want to eat every last delightful bite! As an Italian American, I am constantly in pursuit of great food from my home country. This place is a gem! Save room for dessert because the limoncello marscapone cake is divine!!

The place is small but in a strategic position compared to our hotel. Mrs. Luisa keeps the strings of the place, supported by the nice and kind Italian waiters. The food is excellent, you can feel the true flavors of southern Italy...the meatballs, the fettuccine and the gnocchi with meat sauce are special. Congratulations and thanks for letting us come home for an evening 😘

We had lobster ravioli and Lasagne both of which were tasty. We felt the beer selection was limited (4 or 5 bottles, nothing on draft) and service was okay. Experience was spoiled a bit by the waiter questioning the amount we had tipped.

A restaurant in the middle of Little Italy that pays no mine and proves authentic. Various dishes and for different budgets (cannelloni or osso bucco). Canolli and Limoncello cake as desserts. The friendly staff, no one hurries you

The Burrata appetizer was excellent. They make their own bread and the olive oil is delicious. I had the seafood Toto Mare which was incredible. Great sauce, tons of garlic and a perfectly cooked pasta.

What a great find. After a busy afternoon sightseeing we stumbled across this restaurant and boy we were glad we did. Our waiter was attentive and knowledgeable, recommending items from the menu. Would thoroughly recommend

I was heading to Bimbo’s for a show. Stopped here since close to grab a glass of wine. Sat at a 3 seater bar, which had me front and center to the action. I watched an amazingly tight team execute with intent and heart each dish, pour of wine, pull of espresso. I knew I would leave show with enough time on my way back to my car to grab a pizza since they close at 11:00 pm. I grabbed my repeat seat and ordered the anchovy pizza. Added a side of grandmas meatballs. It did not disappoint. Delish. The menu is extensive and offers all the classic pasta and more dishes. Each employee added specialness to both my experiences. As a couple women employees left with happiness in their voices they said “see you in the morning!” This is a hidden gem. These are the people I want making and serving my food because food is love. The owner, Luisa, was sitting at a nearby table on my first drop in - she, in my opinion has created and continues to maintain a San Francisco North Beach restaurant, an iconic Italian story of nothing compares to the good old days! Do not bypass this place. Go and go often.

We went to this restaurant because it was recommended on TripAdvisor and we were disappointed. The service was ordinary and rather slow. The waiter recommended the seafood risotto which was bland and tasted mostly of garlic butter. The pizza was not so good either.

Great food! Exactly like in Italy! Perfect! Only remark would be the base pinot grigio wine which was w/o taste. Nice service

The unassuming front welcomes you in with familiar music and gentle conversation. The waiting staff were very friendly and everything we ordered finished off our plates - delicious! Would definitely recommend

Luisa’s was the best Italian food we’ve eaten. Each dish was delicious and flavorful. We recommend the Gnocchi and the Lasagna especially! Luisa was at the restaurant the night we were there, and my kids even got a photo with her. She’s the best, as she will tell you 😃. Highly recommend.

Great value for standard Italian fare in an unpretentious setting. Service was good and the food was above average (though not exceptional). The prices were very fair.

Due to the positive reviews we visited the restaurant and were bitterly disappointed. It started with the waiter having received us tersely. We had to wait about 1 hour for dinner. The pizzas we ordered were still warm, but not hot anymore. In the end, an extra 20% fee was charged, although this should only be done for a number of people from 5. After consulting the waiter, we received a corrected invoice. For the above reasons we cannot recommend this restaurant.

Had a great family meal in Luisa's tonight - for starters we had Garlic Bread, Spinach Salad and Bruschetta - all were fantastic. Main courses were 2 Pizzas, Gnocchi and Lasagna - again all were excellent. Would definitely go back again and would highly recommend.

The restaurant is very modest in terms of structure. However, the food and service are excellent. We ordered lasagna and ravioli Both homemade pasta. Everything harmonized very well with the suggested wine. Worth it

With a recommendation from Luisa, herself, we had the place almost all to ourselves on the heels of the the Italian Parade and a beautiful celebration. What a gem.

Let's make it clear right away that this restaurant CANNOT and must NOT be defined as Italian. The menu is completely Americanized as are the dishes. My pasta puttanesca was bathed in garlic, and what's more, it was served just a few minutes after ordering, so it was definitely pre-cooked. But aren't those who write "I feel at home" with spaghetti meatballs or pennette alla vodka ashamed??

So average. Terrible decor, staff nice enough, food ok, then big bill. Don't bother! $50 for a bottle of cheap wine - come on!

Delicious fresh pizza we visited on Sunday afternoon we really appreciated the service and quality.There was a small mistake what I have ordered there should be no meat in it as written in the menu somehow it had it.Waiter professionally recovered it and made the service best for us.Thank you guys

it's not Italian cuisine at all. crazy prices. intrusive waiter, talkative and not at all sympathetic. poor dishes, without flavor. I wouldn't even recommend it to my worst enemy. PS: fix the bathroom door that being locked inside for half an hour was not pleasant.

Visiting SF from New York and Luisa’s was recommended by a local. They have the best chicken parmesan I’ve eaten in my life. Everything was phenomenal, the Luisa’s Sauvignon blanc was probably the best wine to bless my taste buds. We were so impressed, we bought a bottle and will be checking a bag on the flight back just to bring home this sublime wine. Luisa herself was even dining at the table next to us, and signed our bottle!

Our food and experience at Luisa's were a delight. The 94 y.o. Luisa was there, helping us decide what to have. The gnocchi she made earlier that day was outstanding, as was the tiramisu she also made. A visiting opera singer customer busted out with a beautiful rendition of "O Sole Mio" with Luisa singing along. It was magical. She is a wonderful chef, the servers were top notch, and the whole experience was great. It felt like we were eating with family.

Great spot for Italian in North Beach! Lasagna and Gnocchi are fantastic. Best Tiramisu I ever had

Wife and I had their Lamb Shank on a bed of fettucine, garlic bread and bruschetta. Everything was excellent.

There are so many brilliant reviews of Luisa’s that my husband and I were very excited to try this independent restaurant. Wow were we disappointed!! Rushed service, no tablecloths, lack luster food which came out within minutes of ordering - no ‘cooking by Luisa herself’ then?! . I honestly don’t know why it has so many outstanding reviews … it was at best ‘ordinary’ Feel unable to recommend.

Delicious authentic Italian food. We liked our Italian waiter. We missed Luisa, who at 95 is still involved in the management of her 2 restaurants.

This could have been an excellent meal but it wasn’t even close. Our pasta was of cheap quality and was under cooked. The sauces had little taste and the risotto tasted like instant rice. Bread at the table was very crunchy so it was at least a day old. The biggest shock was when my server brought me a plate for my clam shells — lo and behold it was my dirty salad plate that had been removed by our busser 5 minutes earlier. No excuse. Dirty plate. Our salad was good but it was 6 forkfuls, we counted. Way over priced.

Amazing! The service was great and it is the best italian restaurant in San Francisco! I would recommend it! Aöso you can sit outside😃

My partner and I had a lovely authentic home cooked Italian meal here. We had the pleasure of the owner, Luisa herself, chatting to us with her mischievous humour and exceptional eye for detail- even more impressive for a lady her age. Clearly there’s something in the food that preserves and refines you over time. Would definitely recommend.

The food at this restaurant cannot be beaten! We enjoyed a lovely dinner here......after meeting Luisa. She's such a sweet lady! We started with their Garlic Bread....OMG good! I could have eaten this for the entire night. I really enjoyed my Cheese Manicotti with their "special tomato sauce" and my spouse's Lasagne Alla Bolognese with Vodka Sauce was also wonderful. Please save room for dessert! We shared their 5 Stars Homemade Tiramisu......terrific! We also took home a piece of their Limoncello Mascarpone Cake for a snack the next day.....truly delicious. Take the time to venture to the Little Italy section of SF for a dinner at Luisa's..... we definitely recommend this restaurant!

Excellent food and amazing service! We also met Luisa and she was lovely! We will definitely come back when we’re in town.

Not even. He (from Palermo) introduces himself... the margherita pizza comes out with the tomatoes cut on top.. 4 seasons with meatballs and chopped tomatoes on top. Coffee = dirty water

We have been going to Luisas restaurant for over 20 years. It was a great find back then and while walking around the area, we decided to pop in for a traditional espresso. We ended up having wine and food. The food is traditional and wholesome and the meat sauce on the Gnocchi is amazing. The service was spot on and the waiter was on point with clean glasses and utensils. It was a pleasure to have the owner herself, Luisa stop buy our table and welcome us with the same charm from many years ago. If your looking for traditional Italian food, I would highly recommend making this Italian restaurant one of your stops.

It’s good, reasonable, and lively like in Italy 😉. Visit twice in three weeks. Once upon arriving in San Francisco and once on the day of our departure after three weeks of trip to California. After three weeks of hamburgers and fried fish or chicken we were very happy to find this table 😉🍾🍾🍾

My husband and I went to Luisa's for the first time and very much enjoyed it. The food was classic Italian. I had the stuffed manicotti and it was cheesy and delicious! I want to go back for the gnocchi, which I imagine is outstanding. I also had a glass of Luisa's Pinot Noir, which was lovely. And best of of all, Luisa herself was there and I got to meet her in person! She cares about her customers and providing the best classic Italian food for them!

In SF to visit our son. Went to college here and have visited countless times for business and pleasure from homes in NY, FL and NC. Took our son to dinner here tonight. Dishes ordered: garlic bread; Lasagna (one with vodka sauce, one tomato sauce; chicken parmigiana; tiramisu; and Spumoni Bomba. Wines: Sauvignon Blanc ($14/glass) and Rosso Di Montalcino. This was a hugely disappointing dinner in just about every way. The “garlic bread” ($8) was a small serving, little garlic test. The Montalcino was pretty good, the Sauvignon blanc mediocre AT BEST. The lasagna was okay, certainly under-seasoned. My wife and I both agreed on that, and we had two different versions. Our son, 38, is a “Chicken Parm” Nut and said HIS version was better than that which he had tonight. The tiramisu was a disappointment, but (cymbals and drums please!) the spumoni was terrific-the sole good dish we had. Having written the above, I’m pondering going from 3 stars to two. The food was three, but our server (Claudio) was 1-2 stars. Horrible. Never smiled, never engaged, never informed, never cared. AND HE WASN’T EVEN THAT BUSY! I have been a reviewer on TripAdvisor for decades, reviewing restaurants and hotels throughout the world. You’d be hard-pressed to find many negative comments from me re servers. This guy was the worst. So that does it! 2 stars!!

Taking up the order by a willing but incompetent auxiliary. After several ambiguities finally the waiter came...During the recording of the bread from dessert “ran away” and came back after about 2 min.! The Grappa ordered was not a Grappa, but you still had to pay dearly, even though the bill said “port wine”. On the menu at the bottom of the second page was a 20% surcharge from 5 people or more. None of us (6 people) had paid attention to this and we were not advised of it either. I find that extremely unfair and brazen! Even more: the invoice said “gratuity”, which means tip - when asked, the waiter then came up with the statement “This is not a tip, but this 20% surcharge from 5 people. Again, we didn't want to pay for it, but the waiter insisted that this wasn't a tip! I wonder why the invoice does not declare this as a 20% surcharge and why it is not shown with the usual tax! The food was good.

Best calzone I've had in years, excellent service. Luisa and the staff are great and we wish her all the best.

Looking for a trip to Italy? Looking for the country manor with handmade fresh ingredients and age-old recipes? Look to Luisa's for Italy in San Francisco. Amazing meatballs, awesome pizza, mouthwatering lasagna and decadent tiramisu and lemoncello cake. Cozy, warm, and welcoming with amazing staff and if your lucky a hug and some banter from the Luisa makes you feel like family. Absolutely wonderful experience!

From the moment you approach Luisa’s smell the wonderful aroma of Italian food and then Experience the flavors of the delicious food, and her own wine you feel like you’re in Italy. The meatball pizza and cannoli were excellent the lemoncello cake was divine We have travelled the world and are from Chicago where it’s known for its restaurants but to be in San Francisco having dinner and being transported to a small family restaurant in Italy was amazing. Everything n was so authentic we actually talked about experiences in Italy. Best of all Luisa was there to share a few moments of delightful conversation. Highly recommend this restaurant

Positives: Nice atmosphere/history and great waiter. Negatives: I ordered the shrimp and crab ravioli with lemon and truffle oil, couldn’t taste any truffle oil (think it was omitted) and very small portion (7 small ravioli for $22). Partner had Penne Putanesca; ok, simple, not much to write home about. Also had beef carpaccio starter which was nice but again small portion so not much bang for your buck. 2 small pasta dishes, carpaccio starter and 2 glasses of wine came to >$100. Be aware 15% gratuity is added automatically to the total but at the bottom of the bill there is a suggestion to leave a further 15-30% tip (of the total price including the previously automatically added gratuity). If I’d have had more than one wine I probably wouldn’t have noticed this and would have unwittingly double tipped. Slightly sour note to the end of the evening.

You have to come here! The food every single time is the best Italian dish I’ve had in sf. The gnocchi pesto is by far my favorite but the lasagna, ravioli, and the beef carpaccio are some of my other favorites. Add this place to your list of places to visit

Food was tasteless and service was terrible. We booked due to good reviews and we left really disappointed. The service was terrible, the guy serving seemed completely disinterested in serving. We were not asked for drinks orders at all and had to ask our selves after being seated for 30min. The menu showed beers but when ordered, firstly it didn’t come so after 15 more minutes I asked again to be told they only have a different one. The food looked good but had no flavour. All in all not impressed!!!!

We have just returned from having the most wonderful meal within a great setting. Food was amazing. Service was spot on. The portions are perfect. We had garlic bread and meatballs for starter to share with Lamb special and lasagna with Tomato sauce for main and we were both completely full and didn’t have room for pudding. Very good value for money!

We loved this little authentic Italian. The main server who I assumed owned the establishment was very passionate about his food. We had the bruschetta to start which was so fresh with tomatoes and basil. The tomato sauce in the lasagne I could have just had on its own it was so good. Husband had the calzone which again was fresh and full of ingredients.

Great service with amazing food, the wait staff are very attentive and clear quickly but do not rush you at all! Great to have Italian Rose in San Francisco- the Limincello mascarpone cake is to die for!! Ambience is great and feel very relaxed when dining

The food and service here were so good that we actually went here twice during the 5 days that we stayed in San Francisco. The first visit- we had the bruschetta as an appetizer, then my wife had the grilled salmon for her entree and I had the lobster ravioli. All dishes were delicious. For dessert, we had the tiramisu which was so light, fluffy, and sweet. The second visit— we had the garlic bread as an appetizer, my wife had the eggplant parmigiana and I had the grilled salmon. It was the best grilled salmon I’ve ever had. For dessert, we had the limoncello mascarpone cake along with some limoncello. Claudio was a great server and just. We were also fortunate enough to meet the real Luisa, who explained some of the photos in the restaurant. I highly recommend Luisa’s if you are anywhere nearby.

Well wasn't sure about this restaurant based on various reviews online. But my husband is a chef and his chef journal said this Italian restaurant was a must when in San Francisco. The food was amazing. From the Beef carpaccio io, Bruschetta to Luisa's specialty dish pollo piamontese was the best Italian chicken dish I've ever had. Our party also had the lasagna, chicken picatta, spaghetti with Luisa's meat sauce. It was all loved and consumed. We also enjoyed visiting with Luisa who is 92 and is truly an icon! She was so attentive to all her guests and gave us tips on what to order. Desserts yum! We had a traditional cannoli (super fresh) , frozen sorrentobio lemon italian ice, and tiramisu. Only negative upon entering there wasn't a pleasant scent. But once in the dining room it went away. Highly recommend.

A very good Italian food restaurant, the pizza is delicious and the service excellent. The prices are very good for the United States, it is not expensive at all.

Two very good dinners here, both pasta and pizza were great, casual and very pleasant atmosphere with friendly and attentive service. Reservations recommended.

If I could give Luisa’s a 10 out of 10, I would. This restaurant offers fabulous food that speaks for itself. It also has the nostalgia which is built on a story of the American dream that began in 1944. Order the Lasagna, or Pappadelle with Meat sauce, garlic bread and meatballs. Make sure to save room for Tiramisu or Lemon Marscapone cake and a Cappacino. Make sure to spend some time with Luisa herself. Grazie Luisa. Thank you for the love you put into your passion! See you again soon.

Carol our server was amazing she recommended all the correct items the food was excellent . We ordered branzino on a bed of garbanzo she suggested and it was really great . She recommended the croquettes ?cheese spinach and pancetta with tomato marmalade which were excellent . All of her recommendations were great. Carol always had a smile and great attitude / she is definely a key point Of My 5 star review . she is an asset to the restaurant . Great service is very important

If you're looking for the most perfect Italian gem, you've found it. Not only does the food exceed your expectations, but the decor and the atmosphere, makes you feel like you've arrived to your grandmothers kitchen in Italy. You may even get to meet the beautiful and famous Luisa! Which you need to take your time to meet her. She is so sweet, caring and incredibly funny at the young age of 92! We devoured our entire meal. The pepperoni pizza was top level (I heard if you ask for it extra crispy it even brings it up a notch). The manicotti and fettuccine Alfredo are to die for. You also CAN NOT skip out on dessert. When it says 5 star tiramisu, it really is 5 stars! Along with this restaurant. I can't wait to go back!

Totally charming experience and wonderful food. Luisa is on site and a delight to talk to. The pasta dishes are superb. Highly recommended.

The restaurant is wonderful we went to dinner with my mother-in-law on her birthday we were very well attended and Luiza was there super attentive and giving us a lot of tips, without a doubt the best pasta restaurant in SAN Francisco

Absolutely amazing! We expected it to be good because of the reviews, but were floored with the experience. The food and wine were all over the top. Our entrees were lobster ravioli and gnocchi with Gorgonzola. No room for dessert after these incredible entrees. Don’t miss this restaurant in San Francisco’s Little Italy.

I've lived in SF for 30 years, and somehow didn't know about Luisa's. Four of us ate there a couple weeks ago, and had a great meal. I'm a vegetarian and had the eggplant parmesan - the best I've ever had. The others are meat eaters and all of them really enjoyed their meal. We got a bottle of red wine - with Luisa's own label - and were quite pleased (and surprised() that it was so good! Just didn't expect it. Luisa's is definitely in the style of an old North Beach San Francisco restaurant; the decor, the photos of the owner on the walls (when she was a model!), and if you're lucky, the owner Luisa will be sitting in the restaurant to say hello to her customers. She's a wonderful asset to that place. I highly recommend Luisa's for a genuine SF experience that has delicious food and a great feel to it.

We ate here today (Tuesday 13 Aug) and have to say we had a fab experience. The waiters were attentive enough, engaging and chatty, as well as explaining the menu and certain dishes we asked about, as well as the wine! The food arrived in good time and was very tasty, a bruschetta with fresh tomatoes and two pasta dishes - both cooked to perfection and very tasty. Overall an excellent visit and would not have an issue in recommending a visit here.

Eating at Luisa's is if you are in Italy. The food is very good, fresh and home made. The very nice Lady Luisa is still in the restaurant.

Want to feel like you’re in Italy? Come here! Incredible experience and even better food. You can tell the food comes from old family recipes—wow. My family was visiting from Colorado and absolutely loved it!

Was after a San Fran Italian experience after walking down from Lombard st and we weren’t disappointed! Great service, amazing garlic and lemon wine sauce on lobster ravioli plus and Italian Rose - we felt spoilt ! Would highly recommend for a leisurely lunch.

Been three weeks in the US and this is the best food I have eaten. Okay, I am fan of Italian food but this was very good! Dishes: gnocchi with meat sauce + Gelato with strawberrie, pistachio and chocolate ice. My GF had Luiza Special Chicken Parmezanio with pasta. Same story: best dish in long period! 10/10 ! Dont forget to visit this place when ur in SF

Off the beaten path of the tourist Pier area. In the Italian section of the city where the locals go. Authentic Italian food. Started with Caesar salad and bruschetta. One of the better bruschettas we have had. Caesar salad okay. Mains were amatriciana with gluten free pasta, chicken parm, cannelloni carne and lobster ravioli in lemon wine sauce. All very good. Tomato sauce very tasty and not overpowering. Desserts of homemade tiramisu (3) and lemon sorbet with latte and cappuccino. Even a visit with Luisa. Highly recommend. Reasonable prices. Good portions. Wish we had time to go back.

I found this place on TripAdvisor, I noticed it almost had 5 stars so I thought we would give it a try. We were not disappointed!!! I had the linguine and prawns! It was delicious!!! My daughter had spaghetti with meatballs! The meatballs and sauce were so good! My husband had spaghetti with sausage! Also very good! We will be back! It’s very small so make reservations!!!

Luisa’s was our best meal in San Francisco when we came for a girls trip! The food was phenomenal the atmosphere was cozy and wonderful! The best part was eating dinner with Luisa herself! The 93 year old restaurant owner and chef was a delight to get to speak with asking us several times if we needed more sauce for our meals! This is truly a restaurant where you come as strangers and leave as friends! I can’t say enough wonderful things! Go and see for yourself and ask for Luisa!

One star because two stars is just too nice. Really, really disappointed in this place considering the basically good reviews. The wife had their "5 star on Yelp" meatballs with pasta (extra cost) which was not anywhere near 5 stars, and which came with an insipid tomato sauce. I had the following dish, which I have copied exactly from their menu: "CANNELLONI DI CARNE... Tube pasta filled with beef and italian sausage, parmesan reggiano sauteed spinach and mushrooms, served with vodka or special tomato sauce" You can read that and imagine what you think it is, because it certainly was not what I expected. The cannelloni was not well seasoned, quite bland, and it had zero spinach or mushrooms that I could find. I asked the server "where is the spinach" and he said that it was in the cannelloni. I said that I expected sautéed spinach on the side, and he said no, no, we don't do that. There were a few little flakes of green that I assumed were basil, but I suppose that could have been the spinach. There was no offer to make it right, to replace it or take it off the bill. Our meals were so bad, we did not finish either of them, and the indigestion that followed ruined the rest of our evening. There are far too many better alternatives in this city, avoid this place.

This unpretentious authentic Italian restaurant offers quality dishes at an affordable price. Even the wine list, despite being short, has some excellent wine, almost all in the $30-40 range per bottle. Offering a variety of antipasti, traditional pizza, pasta and carne dishes, we thoroughly enjoyed the Baby Spinach Salad, a special dish of Gnocchi Al Porcini, and the Cheese & Spinach Ravioli with pesto sauce - so plenty of options for vegetarian and meat eaters alike. Just a short stroll from Washington Square and the heart of North Beach, this restaurant avoids a lot of the tourist chaos and has a more locals feel. We even met Luisa who still comes in to enjoy her food, though she leaves the kitchen to the next generation.

We were on a short trip to San Fran from Sydney and stumbled upon Luisa’s in little Italy. Hands down the best Italian pastas I have had, the lobster ravioli with vodka sauce was incredible, I wanted to lick the plate clean. Highly recommend the classics like Spaghetti and Canelloni too. It’s humble little place with a whole lot of heart from the kitchen

We visited Luisa's for dinner prior to a show at Bimbo's, just up the block. Luisa was sitting at the door making sure that the staff were attentive to the patrons as only an Italian matriarch can do. Everything we had was great. This included the house made garlic bread, the succulent carpaccio and Parma pizza. This was enough for two of us and we left quite happy. We would definitely visit Luisa's again if in the area.

Very friendly staff, Luisa was in the restaurant and made conversation with us which was nice. The meatballs were great to start. Both the chicken parm and the lasagne were excellent. Would definitely return!

Family friendly & incredible food that is also affordable in comparison to other comparable restaurants. We didn’t realize her daughter’s restaurant was Paisanos in pacifica. When Luisa said it was her daughter we said…that makes complete sense! We had been going to Luisa’s and Paisanos for years before we moved away from the Bay Area. It’s funny that we had no idea that they were family. Tonight We enjoyed the gnocchi (my husband said it is THE BEST), manicotti (so amazing with the vodka sauce), and vodka sauce spaghetti (7 year old daughter who is a very picky eater loved it) were amazing. To end, we had the tiramisu and lemon cake- incredible. The best tiramisu we’ve had yet. We also absolutely loved the woodwork Pinot noir with our dishes. You cannot miss this spot!