Piccolo Forno Reviews

After 15 days around America, only today we finally felt at home, thanks to Giuseppe's kindness and his welcoming restaurant we finally ate an amatriciana as if we were in Rome... or rather... maybe better! if you are in San Francisco and being nostalgic for Italian dishes... the little bakery is the ideal place to satisfy you. Highly recommended!

(Premise: I love tasting local food but in the US it is practically impossible) The place is nice even if the type of open kitchen I do not like. We ordered a plate of pasta with tomato sauce, a classic calzone and fettuccine alla Alfredo (which does not exist in Italy and we were curious). The dishes were averagely good with big portions (American) even if the workmanship is not exactly Italian. For those who really need to eat Italian is still a viable option. The bathroom is there but it is located near the kitchen and I do not like this thing (maybe in Italy it would not be granted but depends on US rules). The staff was friendly.

After a day in San Francisco we went by chance to this small Italian restaurant and it turned out to be a great choice. Fully Italian atmosphere that for our son who has been in the USA for 10 months was very nice. Very nice waiters, very good food and prices in line. Highly recommended

To find a real Italian restaurant in America is exstremy difficult as mostly everywhere in USA restaurants adapt italian cusine to local taste simply offering food that...is finally not Italian anymore.Piccolo Forno restaurant is very different: it is like a piece of Italy into the United States because all you can eat there is truly genuine ,tasty,deeply Italian. Also the friendly approch of the owner Giuseppe who welcomes you with his very friendly manners. I had a “ baccala’ alla livornese” , stewed monk fish,and It was deliceous.Tiramisu cake aas same as the one made my my mom at home. I am happy I had diner there,and I will come back now I know the food is really Italian not “ american-Italian”.

I have to give my best compliments to this restaurant, great food fantastic owners. Recommended for anyone who wants to eat Italian.

We stopped in on a bit of a whim without much research. So happy we did! We were a bit thrown by the decor, which gave the impression of fast dining, this was far from the case. Everyone working there was incredibly pleasant. You know you’re in good shape when everyone working at the restaurant is speaking Italian, as are most of the customers. We were slightly larger group, and between us tried wide variety from the menu. Every single dish was a hit. Great experience overall!

After 13 days of burritos, cedar salads and burgers we gave up and chose an Italian restaurant. Finally!!!... great pinsa, not to mention the amatriciana. Italian atmosphere.... Ci siamo tornati per due sere!!

Stopped in whilst walking through North beach, looking for a pizza place that does gluten free bases. Went inside and was immediately acknowledged and greeted by a waiter who advised that all pizza and pasta could be gluten free. Was them greeted by the owner who confirmed the same. We ordered a normal pizza and a gluten free pizza. Both were absolutely delicious. We were provided water but was never asked about any drink orders. We were there for lunch so this wasn't a problem and I didn't see any alcoholic options anyway. Prices were very good and I'd reiterate that the pizza was lovely! Would go back again :)

Amazing food and hospitality by the owner Josephe. We had to wait a while to get a table at this v popular place but it was well worth it.

For those looking for a place to eat Italian dishes unique in their taste. We loved the bucatini all’amatriciana and the penne piccolo forno. The pizza is great. Selected ingredients of purely Italian quality. We felt pampered. Very kind staff and very fast service.

Very nice food service is excellent prices are very good recommended you will find the very c hassan Madkour from egypt

Excellent Italian cuisine. Friendly and fast staff. All Italian dishes: Pizza and pasta also gluten-free. Good prices

2nd time visiting SF this year, and our fourth time in Picolo Forno. Excelente, fresh food, the Pinza Margarita, Pepperoni and Vegetables and the Pastas are amazing and great value. The Arugula and Greek salads are very refreshing, and best of all , the great service from the hard working owners!! Get the wine from Colt Liquor, and enjoy your lunch or dinner. Great for families or friends.

Fantastic dinner. Loved everything. My husband and son enjoyed the bread and oil and also had cesar salads and split a pepperoni pizza. I had 2 glasses of Montepulciano wine (yum) and a gluten free pizza. All of our food was delicious. Service was good, true Italian gentlement serving the guests. Highly recommend.

We had lunch for the first time here yesterday. It was a beautiful sunny day and so we appreciated the sidewalk seating options. The food was good. I'd rate it 4/5. If in the area, we'd return. But I'm not sure that we would make a special trip to this particular restaurant.

Delicious food & wine. We had Creamy burrata & prosciutto which was to die for & a simple lightly dressed Caesar salad with little anchovies which was perfect! Mushroom ravioli was best I’ve had & the pizza was crispy, flavoursome & had seasoned home made sausage - hubby didn’t want to share! Wonderful bottle of Sangiovese & homemade light tiramisu made it a perfect meal! Reasonable prices & friendly Italian/Sicilian service. Ticked all boxes & worth the evening walk! Memorable!!

TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE. Let me start by saying that I cannot comment on the dishes as my partner and I were forced to leave before they arrived. We sit full of anticipation and pride at finding an Italian culinary corner in San Francisco. We were waiting for the dishes when one of the managers tells us that there are 5 minutes left until the dishes arrive, and I smile and say that my partner is hungry (explicitly nice expression and without any form of controversy made while smiling) The manager takes it personally and tells me that if I want he will send the raw pizza to my table and begins a controversy over the fact that he doesn't understand why we Italians are used to waiting for hours in our country and there we complain. I pointed out to the gentleman that I wasn't complaining at all and that in fact we were relaxing and that I hadn't said anything before he clarified the timing. The tone becomes louder as the gentleman tells me in a threatening tone that I had to calm down (even if he was the agitated one) and concludes everything with a nice "What the FUCK DO YOU WANT". At that point we are forced to leave. Zero customer consideration, I felt almost attacked (never happened in my life). Experience not to be repeated. Shame.

We loved our dinner here. The service was friendly and prompt and the food was all very good. However, the lasagna was excellent. They make all their pasta fresh. The lasagna was melt in your mouth with fresh pasta, béchamel, and a lovely meat sauce. We will be back when we visit San Francisco.

Italians from all over the world. If you want to eat really well, if you are in San Francisco you can only go, no ifs, or buts to the small bakery. Giuseppe will make you feel at home

Called at short notice to ask for a table and they were able to help us out, despite being busy. Service was excellent and the pizza was really really delicious - we had the capriosca and the margarita and spicy salami. We tried to come back the next night but it was closed on a Tuesday - so double check!

We went to eat at this purely Italian place. Excellent staff, excellent food and the owner, Mr. Giuseppe welcomed us with a smile and made us eat excellent ravioli. I really recommend it. Compliments.

Good food including gluten free pizza and pasta options. The service was quick, good, friendly and excellent experience overall for a dad with 2 hungry kids in tow. My daughter has celiac and the availability of multiple pasta options as well as a good gf pizza are extremely appreciated. Both kids were raving about their (gf and regular) pizza choices. Will be back!!

They are very rude, I just stay because my 10 years old son was begging for a pizza and he was too tired to continue walk for another place.

We chose Piccolo Forno after a series of bad food experiences both in LA and in San Francisco. The line outside was long and that boosted confidence that great food would be served! After some wait to get a table, we were served food that tasted as authentic as it could get. Despite different altitude, water, and ingredients, Piccolo Forno delivered tasteful food reminiscent of the quality you can get in Italy. Not only was the food amazing, but also we appreciated the friendliness of all the personnel. If you travel to San Francisco, stop at Piccolo Forno for a taste of homey cuisine! Thanks Piccolo Forno for making our trip memorable!

Amszing little Italian place. I came for some lunch after a long hike along the coast. Wonderful salads, great pizza and that „Affogato“ - I had to come back to get another one. For sure the best one I ever had in my life - and trust me, I had some :)

We stopped by Piccolo Forno after we left Alcatraz. It was quaint and the people were great! The food was terrific! I got the calzone which was delicious. My husband got the chicken alfredo. He said it was great. The workers were friendly. The atmosphere was very relaxed.

Outstanding food. We just got back from Florence Italy so our standards a pretty high. I would not say this was as good as the food there but it was darn close. Fabulous white pinsa, fresh burrata and prosciutto. Decent chianti. Very much enjoyed our meal.

Sorry to burst the bubble on this place. #27 in the entire city? Please. We went for dinner and the place is quite nice inside and very friendly and helpful staff. The food, however was just OK. The spaghetti and meatballs was very soupy and the meatballs had absolutely no flavor. The meat sauce was quite good. Other person has the vegetarian pizza which was fine. Nothing to write home about. In summary, not a bad place at all considering the fair pricing. But #27 in the city?

Best Cesare salad and cappuccino in N Beach. Had the Margherita w/ side of red sauce. Perfect, just like a Margherita in Napoli. Owners are brothers and extremely friendly and hospitable. I will return.

Consistently excellent! After many visits over more than a year, I have never been disappointed here. To say the food is good would be an understatement; it's special. I rarely look at the menu now; I go with their specials and a salad. Save room for dessert, and an espresso. In addition to the food, the environment is warm, welcoming, and very clean. The service has always been great, whether you are waited on by the owner or one of his friendly waiters. If you haven't tried it yet, do yourself a favor and go.

After several days of monotonous American food we arrived at Piccolo Forno, the owner is very affable and nice, we ate bucatini alla amatriciana simply space as well as tiramisu. Super recommended for those who want to eat authentic Italian in San Francisco.

I enjoyed the restaurant, service was nice. The person was easy to chat with and answered questions we had. The food was delicious. It took some time (about 15 mins) for food to get to us. I thought it wasn’t too long, gave me some time to chat with my cousin. The place was clean, it’s a cozy restaurant. I recommend the restaurant.

Place that makes you feel at home, really welcoming owner and amazing food. We stopped here after 15 days around America for the honeymoon. Recommendation to all

We have been to this place many times over the years. As their neighbor at Graffeo Coffee has told us: "It's just like being in Italy!" They do not only pizas, but pinse, which are a Roman-style pizza that's capsule shaped. Allegedly the dough in kneaded with only three fingers- who knows? It sure tastes good. They also do a beautiful veal saltimbocca, and often have a halibut special in red sauce with vegetables. It took me a while to tear myself away from the Carbonara, but I finally managed to try other dishes.

I loved this restaurant. Everything was delicious. I choose the mushroom ravioli and was perfect. Is a piece of Italy in San Francisco

Small restaurant that I just happened across. Best gnocchi I’ve had in years… the Pinsa (thinner pizza) was really delicious. $30bottle of red wine very drinkable, service good & owner lovely… great place to eat… best food we’d had in the US in a week

Perfect place for families. Great food, peaceful and excellent service. Everything good 👍Clean place.

From Owner to all waiters: one more helpful and nice than the other. The food then! We ordered a very good pizza margherita and some bucatini alla amatriciana space! Even in Rome we did not eat them so good and especially al dente! Fast service. Highly recommended!!

The service was quick, efficient and the pizza was good! Reasonable price for San Francisco, make sure you arrive early, we had dinner at 5pm and it was full already. The owners are Italian and they were kind of in a bad mood but this was funny as gives some authenticity to the place. Would come back again for sure!

Simply great place to visit. True Italian cuisine 🍝 with good prices. The owner - Giuseppe - makes fantastic tiramisu. This is our family’s favorite restaurant for 7 years and it is never gonna change. Again, moderate prices make difference especially when you go with kids. Do recommend 👍

If you travel italy 🇮🇹 and you come to this restaurant it feels like being back in Rome, Venice or Milano. Excellent food and perfect service Italian style

Very good food, and spectacular service. Donato, a genius. To have a very good time and taste a delicious Italian food

We ate pizza there, this one was fine. Big and tasty, we didn't complain about that. We did get the impression that we had to leave after our dinner, there was a lot of people and the next one was already at the bar waiting for us to leave, we ourselves do not like this very much. Here they also include 18 percent service as standard in the final bill. For me, a service falls under choosing yourself. So we expected more from the other reviews.

Authentic Italian with non GMO ingredients, so delicious! Thoughtful well priced wine list. We opted for the penne arrabiata and the pinse diavola (finger stretched pizza). We had a primitivo ine that complemented our spicy meals perfectly. The salads looked delicious too, but there’s only so much room. Friendly service and over half the people were speaking Italian.

What a show !!! Pasta with anchovy sauce, spaghetti with clams, fish soup, pizza and sweet tiramisu Everything like in Capri!!! The owner Giuseppe originally from Caprese, very nice and professional person, clean place!! With open kitchen If you want to eat Italian in San Francisco don't waste time Piccolo Forno !!!!!!

I visited Piccolo Forno with a group of friends while touring San Francisco. The restaurant is small with limited seating available, but the food was absolutely worth the wait. I ordered the 3 cheese tortellini and it was delicious. The pasta is handmade in the kitchen and you can tell from the very first bite. Giovanni waited on us and made us feel welcome during our visit. Highly recommend! From what I gathered, they are available via Grubhub and other food deliveries as well!

This is a rustic, family run Italian where the emphasis is on good, tasty, top quality ingredients, cooked to perfection. Yes it’s noisy, seating is not the most comfortable, but the atmosphere is fabulous and the food exceeds expectations. And by USA city standards, it is value for money. Would not hesitate to recommend or revisit.

Small family style restaurant off the tourist path of the Pier. In the Italian section of the city. Very good authentic Italian food not overly priced. Friendly personable service. We had a Caesar salad and ordered a pinse (slightly different than pizza) with mozzarella and spicy salami to start. Several bread baskets with balsamic & olive oil included. We ordered mains of pepperoni pizza, spaghetti carbonara, spaghetti meatballs, lobster ravioli and ragu with gluten free pasta (which was actually not the usual gf penne most places serve but more like fettuccine.) All enjoyed. Generous portions some of which we took back with us. Desserts of panna cotta, tiramisu and lemon sorbet (served in a lemon). Latte and cappuccino. One note though is that my celiac wife did have stomach cramps later after eating so don’t know if there was some sort of cross contamination of flour or what not. Despite this we did come back for lunch next day where she tried the gf pizza which was good. We ordered another pinse with pepperoni, one ragu and one meatballs both with pappardelle noodles. And also one gnocchi with tomato and basil. Plus desserts. Look forward to visiting again.

A bit of a wait since my original order was wrong. Pasta was oily and not very spicy for an arrabbiata. My niece ordered a pinsa and was happy with it.

Came here twice in 4 days - calm and welcoming. Had both pasta and pizza, both were delicious. Good Chianti as well. Thoroughly recommend.

I really didn't like the service. they think you don't understand what they say and They make fun of you and others. very rude. and the restroom is so close to the kitchen.

The taste of food delicious, varied menu, reasonable price, good service. I definitely recommend it and plan to return on my next visit.

Excellent atmosphere, great staff, all very good. Busy, nice and clean. Would recvomend to all. Based in little italy.

We read the glowing reviews on TA and decided to give it a try. We arrived early (around 7 pm) and there were still several vacant tables. However, this did not last long. The restaurant began to fill, and there were people waiting by 7:45pm. We shared an arugula, prosciutto and burrata cheese salad which was delicious. My husband ordered the Amatriciana and I ordered the ravioli stuffed with crab meat. We felt like we were back in Italy. We also brought a bottle of wine which was uncorked free of charge. The tiramisu was terrific. We will return

After seeing the Diego Rivera exhibit at the SFMOMA, we headed north by trolley, exiting at Lombard Street to view the world's most crooked street. From there we walked 4-5 blocks (mostly downhill) to the restaurant. Because was went at an odd time (3 pm.), we were able to be seated outside. Everything was excellent: pizza to start, veal and thick-noodle pasta with pesto. Service was efficient and not rushed. Highly recommended . . . we were even too full for gelato! Only negative: they were already out of lasagna.

What a great surprise to see real Italian in this restaurant. Unfortunately, that’s the only positive point, the rest is just a big joke. The pizza is one of the worst I ever eaten, the bread is horrible. True Italian restaurant who don’t push it for the best. It’s just not good, grazie arriverderci.

Little find! Typical Italian restaurant, run by Italians, served by Italians and prepared by Italians. Try the buffalo mozzarella, you will not be disappointed! The only problem is that you will not want to eat the one from the grocery store after having tasted it!!! We took the lasagna, the carbonaras and the pizza proscuitto... Delicioso!!!

We initially went there because the final of the Champions League was coming up. But how delicious was this!! Very friendly service, made sure we had a good table and the food was delicious! Homemade pasta and delicious pizzas are definitely recommended!

We ate a selection of pizza & pasta and all were delicious. Good choice in the North Beach Italian District.

Excellent Italian “cibo” Great Italian restaurant in North Beach. Not a big ravioli fan, but the meat ravioli here is to die for. One of the best Italian restaurants in SF.

I ate here 3 years ago and the food was just as excellent. All four of us had the amiticiana. Reminds me of a trattoria in Rome. Reasonably priced for the quality and quantity. They now have a liquor license.

I rarely frequent Italian restaurants when I am abroad, as too many times I have found myself disappointed by the quality of the food. In this case, however, I found the exception. The welcome was friendly and the service was fast and attentive. The restaurant is managed by Italians (Sicily, Calabria, Abruzzo, Campania...) who have worked passionately in the catering sector for many years. We were a group and we were able to try pasta, ravioli and pizza. Everything excellent. Even the dessert options (we tried tiramisu and Sicilian cannoli) were very good. The place is very popular.

Food quality, very good and truly Italian flavors. Welcoming, warm, respectful and fast service. Nice, clean place, I would only recommend improving the bathrooms

Disappointed for the following reasons: 1) waiter was cutting the ham for my Pizza one for me one for him straight into his mouth then one for me. Did not wash hands at all. 2) chefs were eating pizza in Kitchen while preparing pizza for customers. 3) waiter cleaned something in his mouth with his finger and then proceed to carry plates out to customers. It was meant to be a pleasant evening out but turned out to be one that I rather forget. When asked why I didn’t finish my pizza I was polite and just said I was just full. And it wasn’t quite too my liking. Which was greeted with I don’t know pizza so how could I comment. I have had the same pizza all over the world and this was the worst. There are other better places around so please don’t settle.

My friends and I stumbled on this restaurant when trying to find somewhere for dinner after 8:30pm on a Sunday night. We found this after originally trying a more casual place nearby when we saw this, which was more the vibe we were going for. The restaurant was laidback with a real trattoria feel. The waitstaff were friendly and accommodating. The food was very good. My friends both had salad starters which they said were good; the caesar was pretty big. I had the mushroom ravioli entree, which had a truffle cream sauce and it was excellent. Rich but not too heavy. My friends had a pizza and gnocchi which they said were good too but agreed I had the star dish. For dessert I had the tiramisu (which is my favorite dessert) and it was good but not outstanding. One of my friends had the canollo which I preferred. Overall, it was perfect for what we wanted after a long day - a relaxed dine in spot with good food.

Great Italian restaurant with authentic flavor. Ordered a variety of items from the menu and all were a hit. One pasta dish could have been warmer. Service is what we expect from an authentic place like this. Outdoor seating area made for a nice soirée.

Excellent Italian, with very nice staff and delicious food, as in Italy. It's a long wait until you get a table, but it's definitely worth it.

Absolutely the best in the city. Pizzas made fresh just for you. The daily specials and antipasta selection are fabulous...My wife can't make tiramisu like Guiseppe.. jim and sue

The food was excellent, as well as their wine selection. The servers were friendly. The bar area was inviting, and the natural lightning made the restaurant look very warm.

The priest of St Peter and Paul recommended us the place after mass. Great finding! Very nice, good italian good at an affordable price, right for families. Very kind people running the place. If you compare with the other highly-priced italian restaurants around, this is definitely the right choice if you are in the area.

Lovely traditional Italian restaurant, food was a really good price which is rare in SF. We ordered pizza pasta & salad all were delicious. They accommodated my daughter with a half portion of pasta.

Very friendly staff, quick service and tasty food. It seems to be where the Italians go, meatballs were delicious and wine good

No matter what every things good. But little waiting time for sitting and food is take little time but cover taste and service of waiting staff. It looks family operating,around 90 years old lady might be mother conducted every thing. She looks still 70 years old lady's health. Food was so good no complain. Pizza ans meat ball spaghetti was delicious. Long live mama.

During our stay in San Francisco we read some good reviews about this place which is in the Italian restaurant area and decided to try it. I have to say a great experience, we limited ourselves to the first and dessert. Fresh pasta is homemade as well as tiramisu, we ate bucatini alla amatriciana and pappardelle with ragu, delicious. But what we liked the most was the atmosphere and friendliness of the owners / waiters who seem to enjoy waiting tables or welcoming customers. If you are tired of hamburgers and chips this is the place for you.

Real Italian food! Everything here is deliciously Italian, the owner ensures speed, simple but genuine dishes with a completely Italian flavour. The Sorrentino gnocchi were really delicious as was the bresaola, oil, lemon, rocket and parmesan, which was really good. Recommended for a good lunch or dinner with an authentic Italian flavour

Puré delicioso!! The pizza was fresh and amazing. Their pasta with meatballs and bolognese sauce hit the spot. Highly recommended!!

Dropped into Piccolo after a long day travelling - family of 6 (5 adults and 1 child) pizza and drinks - Bill was $85.00 and the service was good, the waiter drop some of my son's pizza onto the table....a mistake but not an issue ..... He wiped it from the bill ... Nice gesture... Great place to drop in was really busy and he found and made the table for us..... Thanks we really enjoyed it.

We visited here when staying at Fisherman's wharf. We sat outside under the awning, drizzly but warm evening. We got there at 7.30 which was just before a queue formed. Really lovely pizzas and decent value for the area. Nice atmosphere. The service veered from quite slow at the start, to perfect to then very rushed as they wanted to seat their queue. That was probably why I knocked a dot off but I'd recommend anyway.

Delicious, fresh, authentic Italian food. Attention to detail and flavours was amazing. They don't take bookings so we had to wait about 15-20 minutes for a table but it was worth it. Lobster ravioli was superb. Very reasonably priced.

Excellent food and excellent service, I went with my son twice and we both loved what we ate, the ravioli are unbeatable and the dessert affogato is delicious.

First day in SF. Body thinks its (past) Dinner time; watch says it is late lunch time. Found Piccolo Forno via other reviews and were not disappointed. The gentleman who waited on us was lovely. A nice bottle of nere d'avola, bread and olive oil. Delicious arugula salad with bresaola was a good salad to share as a starter. We both enjoyed our macaroni. I don't typically get anything with red sauce out because why pay for what I make at home weekly? But I have a weak spot for pasta ala norma -- penne piccolo forno here. It did not disappoint. My husband also enjoyed his ravioli. We were too full and tired for dessert, but may make a trip back later in the week for affogato.

Having arrived in San Francisco after a few days in the US, daughters already in abstinence from the flavors of home, we try this place, run entirely by Italians of different origins. Very kind staff. Pizza and pasta very popular, overall we were satisfied.

Visited tonight alone. I ordered the butternut squash ravioli and a cannoli. The ravioli were very good, and the cannoli was excellent. Prices were reasonable. Service was very good. A great place to try!

We walked in off street and were lucky to sit straight down as I’ve been told it gets pretty busy. We order a margarita pizza and the Penne Arrabbiata, the Penne was delicious and the pizza was definitely in the top 2 pizzas I’ve ever had. The service was fast and waiter excellent. Great start to our first night in San Francisco, highly recommended.

Decided to have a day in the city before going to our play and uber took us to North Beach. It was a Sunday so some places were closed but we ended up at PIccolo. Had to wait about 15 min for table so can imagine how crowded it would be on a Fri/Sat night. The place is casual and quaint. My hubby had the traditional spaghetti and meatballs which he loved and I ventured for their special which was butter nut squash ravioli's. Spaghetti was good size portion and mine was just right. Loved their cappuccino's but would probably pass on the pane cotta again (too runny and not custardy at all). Also, FYI they DO NOT serve wine or beer but allow you to bring in a bottle with no corkage fee which is a nice option. Will go back again but prepared with a nice bottle of vino to enjoy the great meal.

I cannot be say enough nice things about piccolo forno. They as stated in other reviews are gracious and accommodating. We ordered the burrata arugula and prosciutto salad. The flavors were light minimal dressing delicious. I had the amitriciana. This hardly found in american italian restaurant. When they do it tastes nothing like it is found in Rome. This was a ringer for Roman amitriciana. It had large chunks of guanciale in a light tomato sauce the buccatini was perfectly al dente. My wife had the crab meat ravioli which was very delicate. The restaurant has no liquor license but is byob. For dessert we shared a tirimisu. We would have gone back again but they're closing fir a few days. The prices are very reasonable for such good food Highly recommend it

What a wonderful experience. The owner, who initially, very correctly, had advised us against eating there, for any contamination (my daughter is celiac), since it was not a peak time he personally committed himself, from preparation to cooking, and cooked an excellent pasta amatriciana gluten free. For me a fantastic seafood soup and the lowest price in San Francisco, 50 bucks in two. Too bad we could not return because of the end of the holiday!

Stopped in for dinner after a day of sightseeing and shopping. Fantastic service and the best pizza I've had in years!!!

After reading a recommendation in a publication and a friend who thought highly of the place. We decided to attend, on arrival at the place there was a waiting line around 30 min. so we decided to wait. From the moment we were assigned the table the treatment of the staff was great, they were warm and the attention very personalized and almost immediate. We order a pizza with only mushrooms, and a pasta for each member of the family. With experience of a previous trip to Italy, I dare to comment that the flavors were very similar and pleasant. Finally we were spoiled with a tiramisu dessert, also delicious. I recommend the place not only for the tasty food, but also for the warmth and good treatment towards the diner. If you go to San Francisco, definitely recommended for its good Italian taste.

The pizza was huge very good was able to have a vegan one if desired I got no cheese it was a thicker crust, very good Husband had chicken Parmesan, which he loved Traditional Italian servers with limited English, pleasant enough I gave this a four star because the kitchen was visible and a very tight space with food flying around

Excellent and quick service, delicious dishes. Real authentic food. Dress casually if you wish. Had dinner on Sunday evening with family.

The food was amazing and the portions were huge. I ordered a colzone and I could barely get through half of it. My mom got the ravioli and she too ate only half because of the large portions. Tiramisu for desert. Everything was delicious.

After a long day walking in San Francisco, we decided to have a pizza and after looking at the reviews on Tripadvisor we decided to go to Piccolo Forno. The atmosphere was very nice and the staff very welcoming, we shared some bruschettas and we had pizzas. Everything was very nice and the pizza’s were the closest thing to Italian piazza I had in the states ( I am from Italy). The owner Giuseppe was super friendly and helpful.

Decided to try this place last minute and so glad we did. This place has the best Italian type pizza I have had outside of Italy. Highly recommend.

Authentic restaurant and super good. Service is at the top and is very attentive with its Francophone customers. If you go through SF, go ahead, you won't be disappointed. "The mama"

Walked up from the pier for a late lunch (straight off a boat tour) based on reviews on TripAdvisor - took us 10 minutes and we were not disappointed. The staff were welcoming, the food superb - the four cheese ravioli (dish of the day) melted in the mouth and the pizza was apparently one of the best ever, and as a teenager with not a large selection of foods prepared to eat she is something of an expert! Would we return - you bet and perhaps before the holiday ends! Would we recommend - you bet!

This restaurant is defiantly authentic Italian. They don’t take reservations so line up early! The line down the sidewalk tells you it’s good. My husband had a pizza which was great. I had chicken parm and it was good, but not phenomenal. Service was excellent.

Family vacation and was checking reviews, this restaurant was highly rated so decided to visit. We enjoyed it so much we came back the next night, which was our last night in town. In a city that is known for great food, this is one of the best. The handmade ravioli with portobello mushroom was fantastic. The service was fast, very friendly and helpful. The owner was friendly and great to talk to. Can not recommend this restaurant any higher!

Called in on spec having been down to Fisherman’s Wharf. I had fettuccine and chicken and my wife had the fish special of halibut with vegetables which was cooked to perfection Great value for a lunch stop if down near the wharf

Nice little Italian Restaurant in Little Italy. The food was excellent as was the service. Not a place to be missed. Authentic Italian food.

Truly recommended stop for this corner of Italian cuisine Dishes prepared according to the best tradition with quality raw materials. During our stay in San Francisco we went for dinner several times and were never disappointed, all in a comfortable environment and with very friendly staff. Congratulations to Giuseppe and all his staff. Excellent value for money.

Amici italiani buonissimo! If you are looking for authentic home cooked Italian fare... this place is for you!! Casual but delicious!

Excellent litle unformal italian place with delicious pasta. Service was fast and friendly. Went there twice in a week.

We ordered a spaghetti Carbonara, lasagna and a cesar salad. The cesar salad was lettuce with cheese, the anchovy was just not there (and you would expect something more from a 9 dollar cesar salad). The carbonara did not have eggs, a basic ingredient of carbonara. Both the lasagna and the carbonara had very little taste, it was just not good. Service was okay.

Best meal we shared in our week long trip to San Fran! The pizza and pinsa were both divine! Highly recommend to start your meal with their Caesar salad. Tons of flavour!

Visited this restaurant whilst visiting SF based on reviews and was very disappointed. Food was very average and the wine wasn’t great. Asked for a Lasagne but told me they had ran out (surely you could just make a fresh one)? Seemed as though the food was just precooked and not cooked to order. Service & restaurant itself were good however.

Went here for a birthday dinner with a group of 14. The service was excellent and I have never had better Italian food. Our entire party raved about their delicious meals. We had margarita pinse, arugula salad, penne arrabbiata, gnocchi, lobster ravioli, and pesto pasta to name a few of the fresh and flavorful dishes we enjoyed. Every dish exceeded expectations. Piccolo Forno is our new go-to restaurant whenever we visit San Francisco. HIGHLY recommend!

The best Italian dishes I have ever had and the lasagna is to die for! Everything is delicious! I highly recommend !

The food was very god but the service was rude in fact we thought we had upset them some how it was as though we owd them for coming to there cafe .

When in North Beach I normally stop at Tony’s if I’m craving a pizza but I was impressed with Piccolo from the minute I walked in and was warmly greeted by the staff. The freshness of the ingredients were part of every bite which is savored until the end. I recommend the ham as a topping; you will not be disappointed. Definitely an authentic and truly savory experience.

My wife and I stopped here for a late dinner after a long day of sightseeing. The pizza was fantastic and the atmosphere was cozy and comfortable. My wife had the gluten free pizza and was impressed by the taste and texture. (Gluten free pizza can be hit or miss at the best of times). I had a simple pepperoni pizza and was delighted by the taste. We would definitely return. They do not have a liquor licence but I did see a table with a bottle of red ( a corkage fee would apply). The prices were quite reasonable for SF which was a welcome surprise. Worth a visit in my opinion.

Such an exceptional restaurant! Wow. The fettuccine is the best I have tasted - creamy and delicious!! The Chicken Piccata is wonderful, also eating a standard of excellence. Friendly warm service. How can it can any better than this?

Authentic Italian Restaurant which is clearly very popular judging by the line of people waiting for a table. The food was very good. Their pizzas so fresh and tasty. Two things stopped me from awarding 5 stars. Firstly our food didn’t arrive at the same time. It’s impolite to eat whilst your fellow diners are waiting. It was a good 5 minutes by which time my food was going cold. Secondly we were charged for wine we didn’t order. Other than that the staff are very friendly and I would return.

This was easily the best GF pasta and pizza I have ever had, so good you wouldn’t think it was GF. Lovely little restaurant with friendly staff and very well priced menu. Highly recommend.

Finally pizzaaaa....or rather pinsa with staff all made in Italy.....including the lookalike of the legendary Tommy Lee Jones....what can I say about this place...top ingredients in true Italian style.... normal prices keeping in mind that we are in San Francisco which is the most expensive city in California....not to be missed

Food okay but not overwhelming. Dining outside possible - terrace nice. Italian waiter very curious. When we asked him how long he had been in the US, he replied very arrogantly: “This question is too personal...”

Stopped there for a quick dinner and were very pleasantly surprised to find an authentic Italian pizza that was tasteful and all fresh, so were salads and the can’t miss tiramisu for desert. Loved it!

We were quite disappointed to find they didn't have a liquor license. What is Italian food without a glass of red wine? Anyway, the food is GREAT if you don't mine being left high and dry. Also, you can go across the street afterwards for coffee and a nice dessert at the pastry shop across the road.

Small Italian restaurant with a friendly welcome, the boss is Italian settled in the USA for 25 years, the pizzas are delicious, we ate out, the neighborhood is charming!

Recommended and passing on this gift. Everything was authentic and reminded us of our time in Italy. We had the pizza and mushroom ravioli, butternut squash ravioli, and gnocchi and a wonderful bottle of wine. Service was fantastic. Fausto... probably spelled it wrong but he is family of the place and a nice guy Please don't pass this place by. You won't be disappointed.

We stopped off here for dinner today — we knew they did not take reservations so we made sure to come earlier. They were busy but fortunately we were seated fairly quickly. The service was good, but the food came out a little slow. This was understandable as they only had two chefs in the kitchen. Let me just say the food was absolutely worth the wait!! The chefs were working like mad so it’s really amazing that they were under such a load yet were able to consistently bring out fantastic dishes. Note that we were a larger table (6) so it does take a little longer as they brought our dishes out almost all at the same time. Would not hesitate to go again! So far, my favourite Italian restaurant I’ve eaten at!

While exploring San Francisco we came across this little gem! The food was great and the service matched. For a moment we felt we were in Italy. We would definitely recommend this great little restaurant.

In this area of Italian restaurants, the Piccolo Forno stands out as a typical country Italian restaurant. Good appetizers, good main dishes. Bring your own wine.

Amazing service and food! Prices were very reasonable! A happy, busy little piece of Italy! Actual Nona in the kitchen.

Food was ok, if a little overpriced for the quality on offer. if you can get over the lack of cleanliness of the venue, plates etc. Table water came out in a bottle with all sorts stuck to it and it tasted a little odd, even for faucet water. If you get offered a place in the external shelter, kindly decline as it’s filthy and cramped

I have eaten in over 100 restaurants in Italy. Most were great. Piccolo Forno is as authentic as you can get. They are as good if not better than many in Italy. The pasta and clams are as good as you can get!! Giuseppe and staff are very gracious, hard working and very great hosts. I highly recommend and can’t wait to go back.

When walking back from Chinatown we saw this restaurant and decided to try it the next night. We had to queue outside until a table was available, but it was worth the wait. Good Italian food matched with decent reasonably priced wines.

This place was one of the best highlights of our trip!! Real Italian food. The owners were real gentlemen. The way that they worked that restaurant was amazing. I was amazed by their food and service, both authentic. My friend and I had the best time. We would go again and again!

We were in San Francisco overnight and wanted some good Italian and boy, did we find it! Reminded us of being in Italy. Food was delicious and the service, friendly and thoughtful! We will definitely return when in San Francisco. Walking distance from Fisherman's Wharf area.

Small place with great food. Serves only appetizers, pizza and pasta, but the taste and quality of what they serve is great. No alcohol for sale, but you can being your own wine and beer (plenty of shops nearby). Popular and doesn’t take bookings, so be prepared to wait for a table. It’s worth it!

Very good quality of pizza and other dishes. Very nice service and fast service. We would like to come back if we can. Highly recommended.

Excellent restaurant typical Italian Owner Italian good pasta good pizza speak Italian coffee is espresso real!

Having arrived in San Francisco for the start of our California traveling honeymoon, we decide to have dinner with something known as pizza😁. The choice falls on Piccolo Forno because the photos of the pizzas are very inspiring and in fact we didn't make a wrong choice...excellent pizza!! We enjoyed it so much that we decided to return for our last evening this time without the carbonara and amatriciana pasta: well what can I say... the pasta was also excellent!! Furthermore, Giuseppe and his very nice and friendly staff and then... served by "Tommy Lee Jones" 🤣🤣 If you are passing through San Francisco, a must stop!!

Authentic, home cooked food, great pizza, deserts and coffees. Super friendly, laidback atmosphere. Outstanding service. Grazie!

Don't want to wait for seating at Tony's for pizza? Piccolo Forno, a quintessential hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant, is just across Washington Square park, and is great! Wonderful antipastos, and many choices of thin-crust (pizza) or house specialty thick crust (pinza). We had the Prosciutto Crudo, and it was excellent. Great wine selection to match any meal. Service was absolutely friendly without being annoying. We will definitely revisit when we return to SF. Get there early as seating (indoor and out) is somewhat limited. Just a short walk from Fisherman's wharf area.

Ate out on the patio, on a gorgeous late summer day. Their bread is yummy, and served with oil and balsamic in the same bowl: genius! I had the house made lobster ravioli ( the pasta reminded me of my Turin-born Italian Grandmother’s pasta, not sweet like commercial products), and my husband had their pizza (the dough was hand pulled 70 times, making it melt in your mouth). Located in San Francisco’s Little Italy, there are plenty of quality choices. So glad we chose Piccolo Forno.

After ten days in America with the whole family we needed to eat Italian and the choice "Small oven" was the right one; hearty and delicious dishes. Highly recommended pinsa, spaghetti with meatballs and linguine with pesto. Italian staff welcoming and nice. We were there two nights in a row.

The pizzas are very average nothing excellent yet we had followed the advice of trip advisor. In addition, hygiene is somewhat doubtful... go to the toilet you will understand Gluten-free option... but again hey: there is dough for the rest it is far from safe.

Hard to understand how these reviewer’s say this is the best Italian food they’ve ever had anywhere, including Italy. My goodness, this is a very good, small family run, Italian place that is well priced for San Francisco. Good, solid food all around and a solid four stars but these reviews are way over the top, so don’t expect the greatest Italian food you’ve ever had. Still, highly recommend this place.

Ordered 2 pizzas, and a Pasta plate, the server forgot the second 2nd pizza and the pasta order, 20 minutes wnet by and brought out 1st pizza, then came 2 nd pizza and finally the pasta, our order came with 15 minute intervals from each plate, order 3 plates, one pizza came, waited 10 minutes for the second, waited an extra 10 minutes for Fetuccini al Pesto. Stay away from the Pesto, its pure garlic, no pesto, left the whole plate, and servers didnt brother to ask why. Pizza is very good, Prosciutto And Arugula Pizza is excelent.

My husband and I stumbled upon Piccolo Forno on a Saturday afternoon while walking in North Beach. We ordered the spaghetti carbonara and bucatini amatriciana and were delighted by the fresh ingredients and authentic flavors of the Amalfi Coast. The restaurant is family owned and the service from the two brothers was top notch. We would highly recommend, and intend to go again.

Best food in town period .worth the wait ,excellent service and very friendly people ,good atmosphere.

What a small nice place to eat , the staff are friendly, the location is great there’s only a small area of seating but the food was excellent, you have to take your own alcohol but that’s not a problem

We stayed at the small restaurant due to the online reviews. It was worth it! Since we were there in the afternoon, we were lucky even without a reservation. The staff is very friendly! The pizza and noodles we had were both delicious. Can we definitely recommend! What is exciting is that from the dining room you have a completely unobstructed view into the open kitchen, from where the food is freshly prepared.

We came for some food before a trip and had 2 pizzas. We had a white pizza and normal pizza to share. Really enjoyed the pizzas, good portion size, good price and good service. Worth a stop if you want some good pizza!

We were in town for 3 days and had lots to see and do. I had saved this in Trip Advisor as a possibility if we were in the area. Well, we were. We stopped in for lunch and it was fairly busy, but not too bad. We sat at a table near the window and were greeted promptly. We ordered a 2 slices of cheese pizza for the 6 year old and the adults ordered the Pizza Capri ( Prosciutto, cheese, and and mushroom), Caprese Salad. The pizza is thin crust, which I love. It was absolutely divine. The service was prompt and attentive. We enjoyed our experience that day and were so happy to have tried it. We cancelled our reservations on the following night so that we could return her for dinner. We brought a bottle of wine as there is no corkage fee and they don't sell alcohol. The pasta special was cheese ravioli we ordered that for the kiddo. We ordered the caprese salad again and the Pizza Capri again. We had such a great time. It felt like a family dinner.

We arrived at an opportune time as the restaurant filled quickly. The four of us all ordered something different and we all loved our dish. A bottle of Chianti and it made for a great dinner. Quick and friendly service. Highly recommend.

We went in search of comfort food and found it at Piccolo Forno. We wandered up Columbus Avenue not sure where we wanted to eat. Piccolo's didn't look like much from the outside, but it delivered where it counts, the food. We had the lasagna and ravioli with mushrooms. Both were hot dishes of home-made deliciousness. They don't serve alcohol but will point you towards the liquor store a few doors away if you want beer or wine.

If I’d walked past this place without reading any recommendations I probably wouldn’t have gone in. Appearances can be deceptive however, and the pizza and pasta were delicious.

This restaurant is by far the best Italian restaurant I have ever been to, including Italy! The food is to die for, not too heavy and the servings just right! We decided to share 4 pasta dishes and they were all so delicious and we didn't feel bloated after our meal and we even topped it off with the profiteroles at the end. The service was fantastic and fast and you take your own wine. Don't be fooled by this small little restaurant! This was by far THE BEST RESTAURANT IN SAN FRANCISCO! One you don't want to miss!

Quite possibly, no I take that back DEFINITELY the worst restaurant of any ethnicity I have ever had the misfortune of eating at. If you are desperate and haven’t eaten for days still do not go to this restaurant even if it was free. I can’t think that this restaurant gets any repeat business. Most likely just taking advantage of the unsuspecting tourists. Look you have no reason to believe my opinion but if you decide to eat at Piccolo Forno in San Francisco just remember that I told you so.

Went there twice spontaneously, always got a seat and the pinsa was divine. Pasta with seafood was also very tasty, nice wine selection.

Lovely small family restaurant in the North Beach area, excellent menu for pasta, pinse and pizza. Fresh ingredients, tasty, absolutely excellent. Great service and good value for money

As I live in the area, I have eaten lunches and dinners here since they opened. The owner, Giuseppe, does some of the cooking and does much of the table service. He is delightful. The antipasti (choose at the counter), pizzas, and pastas are especially good. The daily special is always a winner. The desserts are the best in North Beach. This is a trattoria in the best Italian tradition. The BYOB policy helps make Piccolo Forno an outstanding value as well as a culinary delight.

We went one evening by chance, without even knowing that a Little Italy existed in San Francisco. The next evening we were there again! Excellent pinsa, really tasty linguine with clams, real extra virgin olive oil and express but very fast cooking. The fish of the day was also fantastic. Super friendly staff, we felt at home! An unmissable stop

After 10 days in the USA we decided to try, at the suggestion of an Italian Tour Guide, this Italian restaurant in San Francesco. Staff almost all Italian and very kind, food of absolute quality. Excellent first seems to be in Italy.

Real Italian restaurant run by Italians. All very good and generous portions. The coffee isn't bad either. In addition to the first courses they also make pizza and it didn't look bad at all. There are both indoor and outdoor tables in a kind of street veranda

We stopped by this restaurant as a last meal before heading to the airport on our final vacation day. It is very small but the food is simply amazing. When I think of this restaurant it makes me miss SF a little more.

Cozy place, for those nostalgic for the beautiful country you can feel the typical convivial and friendly Italian atmosphere. Got a pizza and a tong. Very good tongs, even pizza. The dough is reminiscent of the Roman pizza (crunchy and fine) but with the high "cornice" edge of the typical Neapolitan pizza. A hybrid that has its why. Quality ingredients with true flavors that remind us of home. Highly recommended, to try if you miss eating well Italian at SF.

Having visited Italy last year I confirm that we believed in it! It was amazing! Exceptional dishes and homemade. The staff is very friendly. I recommend ++++

Excellent Italian following reco de Trip Advisor I confirm And besides being very good they are very nice Strongly recommended

We arrived in San Francisco after a ten hour flight and a train journey of over an hour from the airport. We were tired, and we really fancied a simple pizza. This place popped up on Trip Advisor as the closest to our hotel. Well, what a treat. Our waiter was friendly and helpful, and sounded like an actual Italian - always a good start at an Italian restaurant. We decided to share our meals, and picked a delicious ham pizza and a butternut squash ravioli from the specials board. Both tasted as fresh as could be, and were very, very tasty. While we were choosing, we were given a basket of fresh bread with some olive oil and balsamic vinegar to dip it in - again, very tasty and welcome. The restaurant isn't licensed, but there's an off-licence next door, and if you buy wine there the waiters will open it for you with no corkage fee. It's a little pricy but I guess not when compared to normal restaurant wine prices. The wine was very good, anyway. So eat here if you can. It's great value for money.

Great food, comfortable atmosphere, exceptional service. We arrived late afternoon, around 3:30 or 4 pm, so it wasn't busy. The staff were efficient, friendly and enjoyed having us. We were never rushed. The food was delicious. I felt welcomed to the restaurant and to San Francisco

the place is a small restaurant on Columbus Avenue, in the center of Little Italy. We had a wonderful dinner (pizza, calzone and carbonara) and were welcomed with kindness and professionalism. Many thanks to Giuseppe, Salvatore and Donato who are the gem of this place! We can't wait to return to San Francisco to eat at Piccolo Forno again. If you miss Italy at the beginning or end of your trip, this is the place for you!

Friendly and authentic. This was the perfect pit stop after walking all day. We ordered about one item from every section of their menu.