Poesia Osteria Italiana Reviews

A very nice Italian restaurant in a narrow house up a flight of steep stairs - easy to miss. The food was well prepared and well presented. Large portions. If anything, there were too many servers and by 8PM it was crowded and too noisy.

Great food for decent price. We indulged and got ourselves some amazing drinks. The food was fantastic and fresh. The calamari salad was something I've never tried before and it was heavenly! And the pasta dishes were out of this world! The chef is amazing and really knows her stuff.

A friend was visiting from Rochester, NY for the weekend. This is one of my favorites spots to take out of towners. It is nestled upstairs in a lovely row house deep in the Castro. Unlike most Castro restaurants, the food is creative and high quality. In addition to beautifully prepared Italian food, the atmosphere is perfect. Cool lighting, noise is under control and they play black and white Fellini movies on the wall. Waiters are all Italian and charming. This place never disappoints.

If your looking for something different with an authentic taste of Italy try Poesia! We started with a Chopin bruised martini make sure to get at least three olives since they are so buttery, the calamari is our of the world since it's not fried, for the second course I had the lamb which was amazing and my partner had the black ink squid, the service is awesome and atmosphere is great: good for a party of two or larger parties. Make sure to get reservations otherwise you may have to wait for least an hour. Bon Appetite!

We were wandering around the Castro district, and Poesia was recommended to us by a local shopkeeper. The place is small, and the staff is very energetic and friendly. We were seated and my dining companion ordered his standard cosmopolitan, which he declared to be a bit underwhelming. Our meals were ordered, a filet for him and Chicken lemon for myself When the arrived, they looked and tasted excellent. The filet was seared and sliced, and had the tenderness of a filet and the taste of a sirloin! My half chicken was seasoned well, and presented with potatoes and kale, and was also very well done We were pleased with the experience, and though the recommendation was well given

Nice weekend in the city topped with dinner at Poesia. Loved the atmosphere and most enjoyable food. Had the grilled calamari on a bed of greens as well as the lamb shank ragu over homemade pasta. Really appreciated the change this menu selection gave us from the usual Italian fare the restauants at home give us. We ended the evening with a stroll through the Castro.

The decor is a little bit Italian Kitsch but on a recent visit when looking for some comfort food after 3 weeks of travelling. The hostess who also served us was very friendly and attentive. Both my partner and I shared bruschetta. This isn't a traditional one with fresh tomatoes and basil but instead had a pesto. It was ok but I wouldn't order it again and much prefer a fresh tomato and basil combo. Fettuccine with lamb shank ragu was fantastic and exactly as comfort food should be with tasty simple flavour's. The portion size was moderate which after huge meals in the US was very welcome. We also shared a tiramisu which was disappointing. The biscuits hadn't been soaked long enough and the overall dish was very watery. Very good and reasonably priced wine list as well.

We had a fabulous dinner here on a Friday night. We made reservations through open table, and our table was ready when we arrived ten minutes early. Very cozy but bustling atmosphere. They have a small bar area where you can enjoy a cocktail or two before dinner. We had good service, everyone was attentive and friendly. Our appetizers were delish! Dinner was as well. I would definitely go here again. We took BART to the 16th and Mission stop, it was about a 20 minute walk to the restaurant.

After learning a while ago that there is a place in the Castro where one can find Calabrese-style Italian cuisine, I finally made it Poesia, Osteria Italiana. Why in the name of San Bruno did I wait so long! The fragrances, conviviality, warmth and - above all - the menu, instantly transported me back to many a live summer night in Soverato or Tropea. It was Saturday, and though I reserved a table, I happily chose to eat at the bar rather than wait. It was crowded and (joyfully) raucous, but everyone, even those waiting for tables, seemed to enjoying themselves. Much Italian was being spoken, which may account for some of the festa-like atmosphere. I was greeted by the very busy, but very in control Bartender, who quickly placed my Negroni and Olive Marinate antipasto before me. I forgot to get his name, but this gentleman was amazingly able to be cheerfully and professionally attentive to, well, a whole bunch of folks throughout the restaurant and at the bar, adding greatly to the experience. Mille grazie, in-named Bartender! The food. In addition to the olives, I had "Fileji Neri con Gamberoni e Calamari Saltati in Nduja Sausage" (smokey and spicy, a generous portion with a perfect balance of shrimp, calamari and pasta) and a side of "Broccoletti in Padella (perfectly sautéed and spicy with just the right amount of garlic and red pepper, in the Calabrese style). To keep the theme intact, I had a glass of Korone' a nice Sangiovese like red, also from Calabria. All the dishes I ate and gazed at as they went by, were loving, creative representations of the soul of Southern Italy. Oh, yes, I finished with a Tartufo di Pizzo - chocolate gelato goodness. I had a brief and lively chat with owner Francesco on my way out and in spite of being extraordinarily busy, he took the time to indulge me in a little conversation about his home and my favorite part of Italy. I don't know when I will be back to beautiful Calabria, but I do know I'll be retuning to Poesia in the near future.

Poesia broke the jinx that had spelled doom for many restaurants that tried to make the "walk-up-the-stairs" location work. Let's face it: asking people to walk up a steep flight of stairs is demanding a lot, when there are plenty of other restaurants on street level. How did they accomplish their success? Great food and personal service. The owner greets you like a long-lost cousin. The servers know their offerings. The kitchen knows its stuff and delivers, night after night. Start with the tomato soup, which is pure heaven especially when that fog rolls over Twin Peaks into the Castro. Then pick a pasta -- any pasta will do. Split it if you are with friends, because the "secondi" ae wonderful (whether fish, fowl, or meat). The Calabrian wines are favorites of ours. You won't be disappointed. And you can laugh out loud at the antics on "screen" as they project classic Italian B&W movies unto the wall. What a great idea (and one that has now been copied around the country).

Daughter made our reservation for three for 7:30. We arrived at 7:25 and were told we had been expected at 6:30. I heard the phone call, and she had clearly stated 7:30. Guy who seated us was clearly put out when it was THEIR error. He said we could be seated since they had an available table. Gee, thanks! We should have left then since all went downhill from there. Service was SLOW. We ordered an appetizer although I cannot remember which one since we never received it. When we FINALLY received our entrees, we were underwhelmed. Daughter got the gnocchi, and it was a very small portion. Husband's pork had a bone in it! Fortunately, my ravioli was delicious and it was an ample portion; therefore, I was able to share some of it with my ravenous daughter. When our bill FINALLY arrived, we had been charged for the phantom appetizer. Husband pointed that out, and after another lengthy wait, our corrected bill was delivered. All in all, we will not ever return. There are a plethora of fabulous restaurants in San Francisco. It would be beyond foolish to spend such an inordinate amount of both money and time in such a disappointing establishment.

After a recommendation from the hotel concierge we went to Poesia Osteria Italiana restaurant in San Francisco. We were treated to an outstanding night of great food, service and entertainment. Not only did the hostess seat us and tour us through the menu in meticulous detail, but she was just a lot of fun. Being of Italian origin I am very particular of the food in restaurants, however, Poesia did not disappoint. In fact the food was so good, we ate until we tried most of the pastas on the menu. Once the kitchen closed for the evening we were greated by chef, Guiseppe who further entertained us. It was a wonderful evening. Do not leave without complimenting the chef. I would without reservation recommend Poesia.

Always feel a bit special coming here, the welcome is warm and inviting, the service attentive, the food very tasty. It can get busy but the staff manages well, and the wines are great. Enjoy!

Really good food and super friendly staff. The inside is so beautiful and cozy we loved it. We even got introduce to the chef who cooked our food.

True Italian cuisine in the heart of Castro managed with care by the owner. The Chef from Modena revives Italian cuisine in his first courses, the exceptional agnolotti al Plin. Incredibly vast list of quality Italian wines. Absolutely worth trying.

That sums it up really. Authentic, Italian family style restaurant with great food and friendly very attentive service. Slightly hidden upstairs. Was just right for our last night in San Fran after a long day of "touristing".

We have now been here at least five times and each has been a special experience. We live their commitment to southern Italian (Calabrian) cuisine, and they do a fabulous job of staying true to cuisine. Tonight we had the grilled squid with with Ciro Bianco white wine. Spectacular. Everything after that just made the night even more memorable. Definitely someplace we will dine at again and again.

Always have 1 dinner here whilst in San Francisco ,never disappointing ,food is authentic and delicious Not a large space so it is probably a good idea to book as it is very popular with the locals Excellent pasta dishes and lovely friendly service

My family had dinner at Poesia last Saturday evening. The food was excellent. Service was great. Some of the family said their food was among the best they had ever tasted. Quite a compliment! The restaurant is small yet comfortable. Staff was very helpful and friendly. Highly recommend Poesia if you are in the City.

I had a delicious meal at Poesia while on vacation in San Francisco. This is probably the best Italian in the Castro and well worth a visit. they have a happy hour menu from 5-6.30pm where cocktails are $6 with attached menu. I had a cocktail and an orange/fennel and black olive salad to start which was divine. for a main i had Typical Calabrese spiral shaped pasta with pork ribs sugo in roasted garlic tomato sauce. It was delicious!!!! I had great service from my the waiters. This is a lovely restaurant and really recommend this for a delicious Italian dinner in the Castro. Buon Appetito!!!

We booked on the basis of proximity and TA reviews, which has not always worked for us. This was an exception. Everything was excellent. The staff were welcoming and courteous. The cocktails were excellent and well priced. The menu was limited to five or six choices per section but each was a real variation. In short there was plenty of choice. The wine list was excellent and some of the Italian wines were rare and well priced. The food was nothing short of sensational. The bill was so reasonable that our budget stretched to the tip and the cab back. The best night out for many a year.

I liked Poesia and I would come back. They have some Southern Italian dishes that are solid. However, that being said my overall experience was average.

Very tiny intimate space; food was good but not superb. Overall, though, I would go again with the right group of people. Since someone else was paying the bill, I can't comment on how good a value it was.

4 of us had dinner here and have to say the food was amazing, simple food made with fresh ingredients and truly delicious We had the arronchhi balls stunning followed by chicken lemon thyme served on the best polenta I have tasted also the lamb rags with pasta was excellent Worth a visit

We went here for a family Valentine's Day dinner, and we all really enjoyed the food. Everyone was happy with their selection, the wait staff was very attentive, and we were able to have a nice, relaxing dinner. I would highly recommend eating here.

Very nice welcoming atmosphere. The service is professional and the people friendly. The food is excellent, authentic Italian food with a little American influence. I loved my pasta and all the dishes I have tried are excellent.

This time of year restaurants get large parties, and you come you expect a bit if rowdiness. But the party of 12 behind us were so drunk and loud we were close to leaving before we ordered as any conversation was impossible. Glad we did not, as the food was very good. We shared a variety of pastas, the squid ink ravioli won the prize. I had the rack of lamb, and they substituted cauliflower for the potatoes. One of the best cauliflower dishes I have had. My wife ordered an affagato for dessert, not on the menu, but they were cheerful about accommodating her. A small but nice list of grappa and ammaro rounded out the evening. The only negative, other than noise, is the solo bathroom, so be prepared to wait if your timing is bad.

I always visit this restaurant on every trip to San Francisco. Awesome room, service and food. Nothing more to say besides go there!

Delicious Italian food that is made from family recipes. Must have the Gnocchi. It is bites of heaven. They have a great wine list and show old Italian movies on the wall. In the heart of the Castro, makes for a great location after a few drinks.

One nice thing about walking the streets of the Castro is that getting to your restaurant includes the entertainment of the neighborhood. When you get to Poesia you'll find a small restaurant in a Victorian home that will make you feel like you've been invited to dinner at an old friend who enjoys playing vintage films on the dining room wall while you wait for your meal. What arrives at your plate will be well conceived and executed traditional Italian meals but with a distinctly modern northern California touch. There's an excellent list of wines and make sure to leave room for desert.

We went last night based on the reviews on TA, and were very happy with the food. We were seated promptly and also given the 'best seat in the house' (right at the front). The food was really REALLY good. The reason I scored down from a 5 though is because of the rather strange service. We weren't told about the specials (from waiter A), had our table completely cleared after our starter, and then given a dessert menu (by the runner), then given more bread (by waiter B). Thankfully, from that point order was restored...! Needless to say, it was all good fun, nice location and like I said... lovely food. I'd go back and also recommend it to people coming to SF.

Amazing local sustainable food that is a must try if you are looking to experience the true meaning of San Francisco style cuisine. Excellent Italian and amazing specials.

although I was surprised that they have been open for 7 years. One of those out of the way places just down from one of the busiest corners in the city. The hostess is Marney and she is a doll. The owner, Francesco is so Italian and looks good enough to eat. A simple, unpretentious menu of well crafted perfectly prepared food is what this establishment is all about. Don't be afraid to ask what they like. They won't steer you wrong. Realty lovely small plates paired with wines and smart cocktails. I love going for the happy hour but usually end up staying for dinner.

Nestled among the clubs and stores and madness of the Castro and up a flight of stairs you'll find Poesia, a cozy and intimate Italian osteria with top-notch cuisine, excellent house-made pastas and carefully-selected wines. The Castro isn't known for destination eateries, but Poesia is one of a growing list of restaurants that discerning diners should visit when in the area.

Great restaurant with authentic European taste and produce. Nice interior, but it's place for food, not to show off. Definitely will be back

Just half a block away from one of the highest-traffic intersections in the Castro, is this walk-up that is quiet and small and therefore very welcome and quite cozy. The drinks on the bar menu are fantastic, and the food is tasty (even if vegetarians might have to dig around a bit or cobble together a few small plates).

We had a party of 6. Service was excellent , food was really good. It's upper level so you can miss it. I would go back if given the opportunity.

Small bar and restaurant, but lovely inside. Food was amazing, including beef cheeks and polenta. Arancini were very good the pasta was also very good. We had a cocktail to start and the atmosphere was very relaxed and friendly

We were looking for Northern Italian and chose Poesia from reviews online. We had the tomato bread soup, with was delicious, and a lovely salad. One entree was a filet and ricotta ravioli. I thought it was too rich, and surprisingly heavy for a pasta dish. The filet was entirely wasted in this dish. Our other choice, a whole roasted bronzino, was well-seasoned but overcooked. Instead of being moist and flaky, it was dry. We won't be going back.

I have lived in the City for 25 years. A friend was visiting from Wash DC and we always like to try something new. I found this on one of the review sites and must say neither of us were disappointed. Service was very attentive, tables spread out enough so not to be sitting on your neighbors lap. Cannoli was superb. Would go back in a heart beat.

Found this restaurant on Tripadvisor. It was rated well and was a 6 minute subway ride from our hotel so decided to try it. Did not disappoint. Nice atmosphere in a small intimate and casual restaurant. Good unique cocktails and hearty and tasty pasta dishes at very reasonable prices. Would definitely go there again.

My friend and I were visiting from London and found this great resturant online and loved the food. The resturant is situated in the Castro district which is full of energy and stunning shops. Also great for going out if you are into dancing. The staff especially Alex (who I fell in love with) were attentive and accomodating. The resturanted closed, however it wasnt an issue that we kept on drinking at the bar. I would reccomend Poesia and would return again. Thanks to Alex for his hospitally.

Very good food that was fresh, creative, and tasty. Recommend the pastas and the fish. Desserts were excellent. Friendly and courteous service.

Myself and my sister came to this restaurant on recommendation from a local resident. We didn't make a reservation and came to dine relatively late. However the staff were very friendly and welcoming. The atmosphere was very relaxed and the food was delicious. We had a very nice evening. Thank you

We thoroughly enjoyed a fabulous meal at Poesia. Our grilled calamari were outstanding and it is served with a hearty arugula salad. The vegetarian pasta with smokey buffalo mozzarella was scrumptious. The half chicken was hearty and very nicely seasoned. It was a most generous portion. The polenta was also delicious. Our server was courteous and attentive and a real conversationalist. He helped to make the evening quite enjoyable. Our only disappointment was that the restaurant ran out of bread. But that is most forgivable since they had an extremely busy night and we were eating late in the evening. We would definitely return to this restaurant. One caution: The atmosphere is casual and can be noisy. We were seated right by the window and it wasn't a problem for us. You might ask for table 10.

We have lived in the Castro for years and recently enjoyed our first meal at this long time neighborhood establishment. It is a busy restaurant so I highly recommend making a booking. We were greeted warmly to a waiting table and every course we had was amazing. The servers were attentive yet unobtrusive.

When we are in San Francisco we always try to discover new and wonderful restaurants! And - this is one of them! The owner is clearly dedicated to every detail of his restaurant and presentation. We had a wonderful meal - mussels and pasta with duck. It was exceptional and we will always go back there. It is in the heart of the Castro on 18th but worth the trip from downtown!

In the Castro area up a flight of stairs. Outstanding service, sat at the bar and the bartender and a cople of waiters made us feel very comfortable like dining at somones home. Food was outstanding, calamari ( not battered, ) sardines and an outstanding risotto. Very good menu, also try the ribe..: )....this place has a lot of character..simple..but food very well done....highly recommend

Nice atmosphere in the Castro, waiter was lovely and food was ok, some dishes better than others. I recommend the mussels and the calamari.

Good atmosphere and very friendly service. All of us liked our dinner selections and drinks. It seemed as though the food took quite awhile, but we were in no rush, so it didn't matter. The lamb fettucini was excellent, and my son loved the squid ink risotto, although it turned his lips black! One problem for us was the stairs up to door, as my wife has limited mobility. But she was able to negotiate them and felt it was worth the climb.

When I was seated upstairs under portraits of Sacco and Vanzetti, I felt immediately at home and it just got better from there. Our Italian waiter was very hospitable and attentive. Food was prepared in a timely manner and every one of us enjoyed our meals. Even though we were full, we still couldn't resist dessert and espresso. The evening was relaxed; our waiter never rushed us and we all left very happy and full. A first class meal--definitely make a reservation!

Friendly staff, including by the owner. Traditional Italian cuisine, with good-sized portions and lots of flavor. My favorites: the grilled calamari salad, the tiramisu, and the whole branzino fish -- delicious! They also serve great cocktails and wine. Service can be a little slow when they're busy (we were there for two hours, from apps to dessert), so plan on going there when you're not in a hurry and enjoy!

Went to Poesia recently and found the food very innovative and tasty. The staff was also very warm and friendly. The atmosphere reminded me of eating in someone's private living room. The best part about visiting Poesia is the daily happy hour drink and appetizer specials from 5-7 PM. A true gem!

This little restaurant in the Castro has excellent authentic Italian - quality gourmet food made with care and understanding. My wife and I are food lovers who spend a lot of time in Italy; you can't go wrong here.

The place was very busy, you need to book if possible( but they will seat you asap) The food was great, lots of pasta dishes, pizza, but also steaks burgers, seafood and lots more. The staff were great and very helpful, and the price was quite reasonable for San Francisco ( the dearest city in America)

My out-of-state relatives discovered this gem soon after it opened and we have returned several times since then. The atmosphere is relaxed, the staff friendly and accommodating, and the food always a delight. Some of the pasta dishes can be made gluten-free. On this visit, I had Pipi Chini (a stuffed red bell pepper) which was actually on the Antipasti menu but was quite satisfying (with the warmed fresh bread & a shared appetizer of olives) as my main course. Cannoli are one of my favorite desserts and theirs is among the best ever ... wanted to save some appetite for that!

Tuscan, rustic farm-country Italian cooking in a very relaxed living room like atmosphere. I comfortably and confidently send good friends here who know their way around The Castro and who know good Italian cooking. They are always thrilled and send back their Thank You's. Poesia is in a Victorian home just off Castro Street and requires one to climb a half flight of stairs like just most of the other homes of this style in San Francisco. It is cozy, comfortable, packed, lively, and infectiously intimate. The close tables and warm atmosphere invite conversation that can easily stretch three or four tables. I have been to Posia several times now over the past year and each time the meal has been delicious, the service impeccable and the atmosphere more than comfortable. The crowd is mostly locals and the Host seems to know many guests by name as they arrive. He is equally attentive and generous with those of us who come from out of town and are not regulars. I was introduced to Poesia by a close friend from Montreal who is a full-fledged "Foodie" and a man whose career and life have allowed him to be a most sophisticated and experienced member of that club. For him, it is a regular stop when in SF and it has become that for me as well. In SF, there are a great many places for a wonderful Italian dinner and I have eaten and enjoyed time in several dozen. Poesia is my "go-to favorite" these days because there is no extra fuss or muss required on my part, no need to more than call and say I would like to come for dinner at such and such an hour and then show up on time, kick back and have a stupendously delicious meal with relaxed and welcoming service and walk back to my Inn very happy, relaxed and ready for sleep.

Made a reservation for dinner on the recommendation of my Italian teacher. I would have to say that this is the best restaurant meal I've had since moving to San Francisco. The house-made pastas are out of this world, special mention going to the ravioli with truffles and cream sauce. San Francisco restaurateurs take note: Service at Poesia is how it is meant to be done. Friendly, professional, the owner is front of house and takes a genuine interest in your experience. Finish up with vinsanto and biscotti. Great ambiance here; Poesia is on the second floor of an old house. Comfortable dining room with Italian movies projected onto one wall. We will be back as often as our waistlines and budget allow!

The chef is so creative and most importantly the creations are right on target. Delicious! The wine selection is wonderful especially one Red Wine we like a lot (William Gordon Winery). The staff especially (Alessandro) is great at what he does. It simply adds to the joy of the food.

A gem of an Italian restaurant with a great bar - and knowledgeable bar tenders. And creative cuisine. Located in the Castro but upstairs and noise is not a factor.

Went to this restaurant on the recommendation of friends in Australia who had been recently. The greeting was warm, friendly and enticing. The service was spot on and you feel very welcome. Had the tomato breaded soup and the squid ink pasta with seafood. Both dishes were excellent. I shouldn't have but had the tiramisu. I would have to say that this one of the best tiramisus I've had and a very generous serve. I too would recommend this Little Castro gem. It's not in the main drag but in fact down a side street but easy to find.

Francesco greets all his guests personally and he pays exquisite attention to detail. I have spent quite a bit of time in Italy, and (IMHO) this is definitely as close as it gets in San Francisco. The menu is styled on Calabrese cuisine, and is perfect for people like me who enjoy their food spicy. (Not to worry, there are plenty of non-spicy items for those folks who prefer a more mild taste experience.) The menu changes frequently, so there is always a reason to come back for another meal and see what Francesco has added to the mix. It was at Poesia that I first tried Pollo al Mattone, and it was, indeed, the best chicken I have ever had. Francesco also introduced me to Chocolate Salami for dessert. I am not a big chocolate eater, but one bite and I have been craving it ever since. (Francesco, please put the chocolate salami on the regular menu ;-) . Last week I had the baked orecchiette with n'duja sausage, and it was absolutely perfect. Whether I am on a date,out with visiting family and friends, or just stop by alone, I always gravitate directly to Poesia. It is my go-to restaurant for all occasions. For those not familiar with San Francisco, you can very easily take public transportation to the Castro MUNI stop. Poesia is just a block away on 18th street. And now I'm hungry again just thinking about the menu...

We have been there 4 times for dinner and Poesia never disappoints. No heavy tomato sauce here but excellently prepared Italian cuisine. Nice selection of Antipasti, salads, pasta and entrees. Don't miss Calamari alla Griglia, Insalata Finocchio or Zuppa del Giorno. Check out their Risotto del giorno, Gnocchi and all their pastas. The Branzino and Merluzzo were excellent. The menu does change so there are always some specials. Desserts are very good, too. They have an extensive wine list of Italian wine - some very reasonably priced. You don't have to go to North Beach for Italian cuisine

Poesia was recommended to us by other guests, and they were SO RIGHT! It's frankly kind-of a hidden gem. An upstairs location on a sidestreet, you could easily miss it. Not so many tables, so reservations are a good idea. We lucked into the two-top in the front bay window! Wine selection is awesome and the waiter was very knowledgable of the wine and the menu. They do have a full bar as well. The Ceasar Salad arrived with a HUGE Sardine. The duck and goat cheese Bruschetta was wonderful and those were just starters. The lamb shank ragu over Fettuccini was really good, however, DO NOT MISS OUT on the Rissotto with scallops, musssels with saffron! Oh my goodness! The service was super as well. Attentive with restraint. My only concern is that we don't live in SFO, so can't become regulars. no b-day after-dinner like marcia mentions, snif.

I’m very glad friends recommended this fantastic restaurant in The Castro. We had the Caprese con Burrata, Insalata di Spinici e Barbabietole, Bistecca ai Ferri and the Swordfish nightly special. ALL were AMAZING! The service was top of the line as we felt spoiled from start to finish. Couldn’t ask for a better start to our vacation.

I went to this charming restaurant in the heart of picturesque Castro with my family and other friends. We were welcomed with care by Italian owner and his staff, who pampered us and made us feel at home straight away. High quality and not "Americanized" Italian food, a wide choice of Italian cured meats and cheeses, absolutely worth trying are the agnolotti del plin, which have nothing to envy of those in the best Piedmontese restaurants. Really smart chef from Modena! Amazing list of Italian and Napa Valley wines. Excellent quality/price ratio, which is not at all a given in America. A restaurant that I absolutely recommend to anyone who wants to dine and drink well in San Francisco!

Wow is all I can say! From the food to the service all was superb. By no means cheap, the experience was worth the cost. Everything was delicious from the salad to the main course and the dessert was amazing. For a treat, special occasion this is the place for a culinary experience. The waiter was helpful, attentive and friendly. A little taste of Italy in San Francisco.

This is a small, friendly place with a good wine list and varied selection of food. We had the recommendations and both were great - a squid ink pasta and an anchovy pasta. We also had a delicious blue cheese and mushroom polenta side and a very reasonably priced Barbera. Lovely people and atmosphere, too.

I saw some positive reviews for this restaurant- always risky in the era of fakes on Google and everywhere else - and decided to try it while walking solo in the area. It's a small space but seemed quaint. Things started off strangely when the server brought water but never asked if I wanted another drink. I then got another server...maybe the first one got busy...who knows. My appetizer was a bit of a bland disappointment. But the entree was the real problem. I ordered the fileto on arugala salad...supposedly filet mignon...and requested "medium." After an extremely long delay, I was brought a filet well done...bordering on crispy on the edges. Outrageous. I am not certain if it was filet mignon but how could one tell when it's that overcooked? I guess that explained the delay. No check-backs from wait staff, either...not until time to give me the check. At least the bread was good... Service very shaky and inattentive, food preparation poor. Poesia is moderately priced but still this meant $45 for a very disappointing meal. With so many great Italian restaurants in San Francisco, I can't imagine returning to this place.

Dined at this restaurant and looked forward to the food reading the good reviews. We had the baby squid, pork tenderloin and pasta with lamb schank. The service was great and friendly, but unfortunately the food didn't live up to our expectations. The squid had a very strong stale fish odor like they were old or conserved and they were very overcooked and chewy so we didn't eat them. The pasta was fine, but nothing special and the tenderloin was a bit dry and had a balsamic reduction that didn't compliment it. Maybe they ran out of real glace? All in all a disappointment.

I picked this little restaurant in the Castro based on reviews from TripAdvisor and Urbanspoon- good choice! I chose Poesia somewhat last-minute, so I didn't have a reservation. However, I was greeted promptly at the door, and all the staff members were friendly from the start. Since I was in SF alone for a short weekend trip, I ate at the bar. The bartender was knowledgeable about the drinks and menu, and his recommendation for the potato and pepper side dish was delicious! I had the branzino in parchment, and the fish was flavorful and cooked perfectly. The cuisine is focused on the Calabria region of Italy, and I believe the menu changes frequently based on seasonal ingredients. The restaurant itself feels as if you're sitting in someone's dining room. It's cozy, and it would probably be a nice, quiet place for a romantic dinner.

This is a gem of a place in the middle of the Castro. I've gone there many times with friends and have been proud to introduce new folks to this restaurant. The service is wonderful: warm and attentive without being overbearing, the selection of dishes and wines the outstanding. If you come just for appetizers and a cocktail or glass of wine, or for a full dinner, you'll never go wrong. I can't say enough about it.

Speck and rucola starter good, followed by rather heavy solid pasta but with nice pull pork topping, excellent sea bass, and Tartuffle ice cream to die for! Topped off with authentic lemoncello and fennelcello. An authentic Italian experience which I would happily repeat. A charismatic cocktail creator entertained us on the side and was fun to watch!

Francesco and his staff create a magnificent experience. I suggest you start with the bruschetta or a selection of imported Italian cured meat and cheeses. Order the Spanish soft boiled octopus with olives fennel celery green beans and parsley lemon olive oil.I had the linguine with clam’s and a delicious zucchini purée with toasted breadcrumbs. The pasta is fresh and varied. They have main courses available with gluten-free pasta. I ended the evening with the head incredible cannoli. It’s the best restaurant in the Castro.

Words can describe my experience. I post on many platforms. A night out with friends, on a date, rekindling your romance, a business dinner, this is the place for you. From the delicious food to the amazing decors and service, this is absolute a POESIA. I wish I was a poet because I do not have the words to describe the experience. Everything was perfect. I felt like I was in wonderland. My first experience here was during lockdown and it blew my mind then. I am sorry I don't have them words but i hope my lack of them expresses enough.

Hot soup was cold. Crispy app was soggy like smashed banana. Fish was all bones and cartilage. Poor service and NO efforts to correct the issues. $130 loss.

My partner and I love this place for a nice romantic dinner. It's also the kind of place friends can come to catch up in a rekaxed atmosphere. The menu has some great innovative dishes along with much of the expected fine Italian fare. The wait staff is always helpful, warm, and inviting. Tonight the waitress recommended a special appetizer: eggplant ricotta cheesecake. Try it! It was savory, light, and creamy. She also recommended the ravioli. This could be a great shared appetizer. I had it as a small entree. It's original... The beets add a wonderful tanginess to the dish. My partner said his seabass gnocchi was the best gnocchi he's ever had.

We wanted something nice for my birthday dinner, and Poesia was the place. Located in an old house, the place has a warm authentic feel. Service was excellent and courteous. The food was really excellent. Beautifully presented flavorful, and authentic.

We have eaten here several times and the food and service has been consistently excellent. This time the five of us had a table in the corner behind the bar, which provided a sense of privacy. The menu changes seasonally, but the food has always been enjoyable.

So I have been to many “Authentic” Italian bistros, but there is definitely something about this place. Ambiance and staff are exceptional and the menu is not overly complicated. Simple limited items but very well executed. It’s hard to go to dinner, and worry about what your going to get. The flavors and presentation are out of this world and I am a very picky person when it comes to pasta and sauces. The lamb Ragu was perfectly braised lamb shank with just the right amount of tomato sauce. Flavors and spices are truly authentic. The place is quite small and is definitely a hot spot so make sure you do reservations. Desserts were traditional and nicely portioned.

Two of us had dinner on November 25. We arrived during happy hour and adult beverages were $6, I believe. My friend ordered the Fileji Di Renato pasta that has a sauce made with pork. He said that it was very good and would order it again. I had the fettuccine AL Ragu that has a lamb sauce. It also was very good. I had a glass of the house red wine, very nice. Make reservations in advance or arrive early. The restaurant quickly filled with families and several large groups. Service was friendly and professional. Highly recommended and we will return.

I had a couple of friends getting married in San Francisco in January. We were trying to find a restaurant where everyone could go after the ceremony. Although Poesia is not open for lunch, they agreed to open for a private party. From start to finish, it was more than we could have hoped for! Francesco d'Ippolito was so easy to work with and put together an amazing menu. You can tell he puts his heart and soul into his business. The craft cocktails were excellent and thank God we were not driving when we left :) It is a small restaurant with a quaint feel, but a great vibe. If you are looking for authentic italian cuisine in the Castro, definitely add this to your list.

We started with espresso martinis, they were amazing. I had the burrata and it was so good, then some Bruschetta which was really nice. My boyfriend had a pasta and he said it was good. Prices typical for SF.

We wanted to have some good Italian food for dinner, so we have decided to this restaurant according the reviews. Well... people who are saying this is a good Italian have never been to Italy I guess. The food is blend, salty... and most important overpriced. But I guess the price has to jusrify the “status” people dining there.

Amazing authentic Italian food in a quiet restaurant in the middle of Castro. Service is great without being too pushy. Very helpful and 'the great beauty' a personal cocktail favourite. Would defo recommend to a friend :-) Reasonably priced and good sized portions without being too much.

We found this restaurant by accident while on our way to another one. The menu looked good so we reserved a table for the next evening. The staff were very welcoming and we were given a lovely window table. There was a great ambiance. It was good to realise that we were amongst 'locals'. Although it was a busy restaurant we did not feel rushed. The menu was varied and, although 'Italian', featured dishes that weren't all pasta and pizza. My husband raved about his sea bass, but suggested to the waitress that the potatoes were a little underdone for his taste. I had a really good risotto - the 'chef's special'. Desserts were excellent. Francesco, the owner, was very friendly and happy to explain dishes. When he discovered that we were travelling to Sicily later in the year he was keen to give us the benefit of his local knowledge. It's a shame we don't live nearby as we would surely go again.

As close to fine dining as you can get in the Castro, this restaurant serves up good true-to-Italian style suppers. With just a little affectation, our server was efficient and pleasant. The wine list was a little bit pricey but it was somewhat expected given the table linens and casually elegant atmosphere. All in all a good experience.

My husband and I have been to Poesia many times. Francesco is a warm and welcoming host. One feels like part of his family - sitting in his kitchen, eating his delicious southern Italian food and watching the "foreign cinema" on the wall. He has mentioned several times that he calls his mother in Italy for advice on how to use a particular vegetable or herb. Poesia's menu changes, but here are some not-to-be missed items: grilled calamari, anything with cauliflower, stuffed pepper and the branzino (fish). And the pastas are delicious, too! Also, his basil-lemon-vodka cocktail is a wonderful way to start the evening. (Order the beignets to end the evening.) One can drop in, sit at the bar, have some appetizers and wine - which equates to a delicious meal without a mega bill at the end of the evening. But even if one sits in the dining room, the entrees are fairly priced. Thank you, Francesco!

Great food with friendly staff. Menu is small but has something for everyone. Pasta, meat, fish, were all excellent. Wine list is limited but pairs well with the food. Price is on the higher side but yet reasonable for similar Italian restaurants. Great classic films are shown on one of the interior's wall. Restaurant in the heart of the Castro district and easy to get to from most parts of the city.

A lovely experience. There were only two tables on the small terrace, with a small stairway leading up to it, gave us a chance to enjoy a sole musician with his cello to welcome us to this enchanting restaurant. Once inside there is a beautiful bar with a friendly barman. The walls are beautifully decorated and one wall features a screening of a classic old film - I had a chance of seeing my idol Burt Lancaster on screen. The table service is wonderful too. The dishes are well presented, and tasty. The choice of plates is great too - not the run of the mill menu. We were seven, and every one loved what they ordered. I am looking forward to going there again during next year's Jewish Film Festival.

My husband and I were walking about in The Castro looking for a place to eat. We were recommended to eat at Lark which is below Poesia Osteria Italiana but I wasn’t keen on the menu so we walked up the stairs and I’m glad we did! On arrival in the front door we were greeted by friendly staff and shown to a lovely table! They had Italian films playing on a big screen. The food and drinks are all very authentic Italian. We both had homemade pasta and it was to die for! I had pork ragu with twisted pasta. The husband had fettuccine with lamb and loved every bit of it. The bar is awesome and so was the service. If you like authentic Italian food this place is a must.

Great little restaurant in the Castro. Great home made pastas, very good wine list and make sure you save f=room for dessert as they too are excellent. I have also found the servers to be really nice folks that can give you a great steer depending upon what you are looking for. Make sure you get a reservation as it is quite crowded.

Love this place! We've been coming for years, and it never disappoints. This time we were coming from Union Square, and it was an easy, quick (15 min), and cheap ($4 rt) muni ride. I loved the ravioli. Also, pick one of the "sides" to accompany your meal. They're very large and can almost stand on their own... or as tapas. I liked the pepper/eggplant/potato dish. The stuffed bell pepper my partner got was huge and really good-- certainly could be an entree. Other thoughts: -the fresh bread is wonderful. -they were really nice about us calling in to say we'd be late. They're just really friendly here.

Really a nice place , perfect service and very good food and wine . I tryied the black rice , simple spectacular . Characteristics movies from 70 on the wall. Really Italian !

We ate in Poesia last month and I've waited to write this review until we thought about our experience. We've had many meals in other restaurants since and feel even more strongly about our meal at Poesia. One of us had the pasta with seafood and sausage for $23. A lot to pay for pasta, but seafood usually bumps up the price a bit. The meal was served in an elegant plate with a well in the center. The indentation in the center was slightly bigger than a can of tuna fish from the supermarket. In this well, they jammed pasta and the seafood and sausage. Needless to say, there was not much of anything that they could fit in that small space. I should have taken a picture but didn't think of it at the time. This didn't just feel like a rip off for the price, but also a needlessly small portion. How much more would it cost the restaurant to provide a larger portion of pasta? We have had at least three pasta dishes in three similarly or more upscale restaurants since that meal and have usually had twice the amount of food for less money. Never going back!

My go to restaurant in the Castro district. Small establishment with excellent service and consistent food! The martinis are always awesome especially since they use Castellano olives which provides a buttery flavors complimented with Chopin Vodka. The Calamari alla Griglia, monterey bay fresh calamari grilled with olive oil and lemon on arugola salad is a perfect starter and my all time favorite entree is Fettuccine al Ragú di Agnello made with Shredded lamb shank sugo served over fettuccine pasta in tomato sauce - excellent but you won’t be disappointed with the other selections at all. Plan to wait 20-30minutes but have a glass of wine or a cocktail at the bar.

The food was excellent and they offered gluten free pasta. As our dinner went on the noise volume increased to the point we really couldn't have a conversion any longer.

My friends and I went to Poesia before a movie. We were greeted warmly as we entered the restaurant and were shown to our table. The waitress was very nice and knowledgeable about the menu and specials. It all sounded marvelous! My friends had Insalata di Spinaci e Barbabietole and Insalata Mista con Mele e Noci salads and I had the soup to start. Their salads were presented in such a pretty way - the presentation is quite artistic! And, even better....it tasted amazing! I had the minestrone soup which was hearty and delicious on a cold evening. For our main course we ordered the special which was a very tasty ravioli dish. Once again, the plating was beautifully done and the portions were just right. You don't get too stuffed here - they serve just the right amount. I wish we had time for dessert, but didn't....a reason to go back! Can't wait to go back! A VERY enjoyable time.. I've already recommended several people go here and they loved it too!

Was a group of 4 business dinner and an opportunity to celebrate one of our partners birthday. Alex was our server and was most accommodating and served up an after dinner dessert equipped with a birthday candle. The pork and lamb dishes over pasta (with GF options available) were all well received by the group. Wine prices were very fair.

Poesia, the Italian word for poetry, is aptly named - because there's certainly a high level of artistry at work in their kitchen. It was our last night in San Francisco, and a Bay Area friend who knows Italian cuisine well took us to Poesia in The Castro for dinner. Coming from an Italian-American family with many excellent cooks, and having visited Italy five times so far and dined in some great places, I have pretty high expectations for any establishment that calls itself an Italian restaurant. From the plethora of appetizers we sampled to the main dishes and desserts, everything was deliciously prepared and beautifully presented. They've got a great wine list (we had two $35 bottles of a fruity, medium-bodied Calabrian red) but start out with one of their snappy signature cocktails - half price if you get there in time for happy hour. The appetizer standouts ($5-16) were the grilled polenta with mushrooms and gorgonzola cheese, the most tender grilled squid I've ever had, and the burrata (ultra-fresh, soft mozzarella cheese) and prosciutto, which melts in your mouth. For main dishes most of us went with one of the various pastas ($16-17) because they were fresh and made there - something I always get when I can and am rarely disappointed with. The gnocchi were soft, light, tiny pillows of toothsome pleasure in a simple but fresh tomato sauce. Fettucine came with a hearty lamb shank ragu, and a third pasta dish featured fresh sardines from Monterey, with a just-caught briny brightness. Everyone was exclaiming about how good their dish was so we ended up sharing all of them. Poesia also gets extra authenticity points for having sauteed dandelion greens as a side dish, an uncommon offering which I had barely seen on a plate since I was a child, when my grandmother and great-aunt used to forage for them in a field in our hometown. We also shared several desserts ($8 each), with the best being a classic tiramisu, a cannolo, and a wonderful hazelnut and chocolate gelato. Service was prompt, attentive, and lots of fun, with several staff newly-arrived from Italy whom two of us chatted in Italian with (though they spoke perfect English) as they made numerous trips back and forth to our table. The noise level in the room, a flight of stairs up from the street, was fairly high on a packed Friday night (make reservations) but tolerable. The silent projection on the wall of classic Italian movies was a little gimmicky, but I did note, that appropriately enough, the night's film was La Strada (The Road) by Fellini, which felt right at the end of our week-long road trip from LA to San Francisco. If you want to eat like you're in one of the better restaurants in Italy without leaving San Francisco, go to Poesia.

Booked a table here for my wife's birthday and were welcomed by a nice waiter when we showed up. Service, food and ambience was great. Not cheap but worth the money. The one small thing some of us complained about was the Tiramisu. Nothing wrong with the taste, but - served in a cup - it had very runny consistency and the biscuits were too crunchy for this dessert. Would definitely go back.

We had a truly delightful experience at Poesia. The space is charming and has loads of personality. The service was top notch - friendly, accommodating, and smooth. Excellent food! Everything was delicious but the agnolotti in a veal reduction was a stand out. Also great drinks and dessert. I loved the whole experience!

Fantastic. We hit Poesia before an event at the Castro Theater and could not have been more pleasantly surprised. The restaurant is on the second floor in a converted flat. The food and the atmosphere were fantastic. We were greeted by Matt with a big smile and a "buona sera". We were shown to our table overlooking the rainy street below. An old Italian film was projected on the opposite wall. Romance was in the air for sure. The cocktails were both unique and comforting, a hard balance to strike. We started with some wonderful polpette of eggplant followed with a beautifully presented fresh salad with fennel and orange. We shared pasta entrees of pork ragu genovese and tortellini en brodo. The ragu was savory and warm, perfect for a rainy night. Our server Pietro recommended the torellini as "just like my grandmother's". I don't know about his nonna, but it definitely brought me back to my own childhood in my nonna's kitchen with a rich beef broth and nutmeg laced delicate tortellini... delicioso!!! We're ready to return, sit at the bar and continue down both the cocktail and food menus.

Had a very nice meal and great service at this place. the menu is small but interesting and has 3 homemade pasta dishes. we started with the special asparagus wrapped in speck with buttata which was outstanding. also had the grilled calamari which were perfectly cooked large pieces with a nice small salad. we had t the fettucine with lamb which was just ok . we also had the sea bass in parchment paper which was just slightly overcooked and suprisingly didn't come with anything but the fish. we also had the squid ink ravoli which was very good. wish we had time for desert as the list looked great. pasta's were very reasonably priced and a decent size portion. i just wish they had more pasta's to choose from. corkage was $20. place is cozy and a good spot in the castro. leave extra time for parking. will try different entree's next time as i'm not sure we had the best that they had to offer.

My wife and I were celebrating our 30th anniversary and looking for a nice place to relax after seeing the sites of SF. We were walking down the street and noticed the sandwich board sign announcing the entrees for the evening. While contemplating what to eat, two people were leaving the restaurant and saying what a great dinner they had. They highly recommended it. We decided to go in based on their word without checking reviews on Trip Advisor or Yelp. So glad we did. When we entered, the owner greeted us and we were seated immediately at a nice table that offered us privacy to talk. Francisco was great and took a genuine interest in us. We had a wonderful dinner experience and I must say, the squid ink pasta dish was probably the best pasta dish I've ever had. If I ever return to SF, I wouldn't hesitate to return here. Highly recommend this restaurant for great italian food.

Dined here with three friends the other night. Really excellent quality food coupled with great service. Extensive wine list with good price range. Lovely ambience and not too noisy so you can have a conversation over dinner.

We went for an early dinner on a weeknight and ordered a half dozen of the $5 appetizers and asked for a pasta with butter for our picky teenage son. He wasn't crazy about the pasta and left most of it. When the bill came, they had charged $18 for the pasta--the full entree price of the fancy dishes. All the hot dishes also came at once, so we had to choose which ones would taste best on a spectrum of lukewarm to cold. They clearly must not want us back.

First time to San Fran & visited this restaurant with a local resident. Food is not your ordinary Italian fare but it was fabulous. Duck crostini was nummy. Pork & red sauce with flat tube pasta was very good. Service was excellent. $67 for 3 with no alcohol.

Normally I am not a fan of Yelp since some of the reviewers seem to have it in for the restaurants. This time, they were correct. The service, though performed by nice people with good intentions, deteriorated over our stay from good to ok to having to ask other personnel to assist us when our server went MIA when we wanted to order coffee and dessert. Service is a very weak point at this place. The food was not up to what we have come to expect from a San Francisco Italian restaurant. Nothing was bad but neither was anything better than average. With so many options in the City, we will not be returning

What a wonderful find! This small Italian Osteria -- specializes in Tuscan cuisine-- is found in the Castro District and it was perfect for people like myself, celiac, in need of a safe place to have a nice dinner! The staff is very friendly --they treat you like family! Food was just delicious and beautifully presented. Our wonderful host was a young man from Italy that made us feel so welcomed. He made us laugh with his never-ending jokes. It was dinner and a show! Looking forward to visiting again on our nest trip to San Francisco.

This tiny restaurant (one shared restroom and there was a line all night near our table) has excellent service and fresh and innovative cocktails and food. I made less successful choices than others in my large party (the bread soup tasted too much like yesterday's pizza and the pasta with sausages and squid looked too much like a risotto (a tiny pelletlike pasta), just not what I like. I should have asked about the shape of the unfamiliar pasta name. The 6 other diners were delighted. And all of us felt the service was A+. Up a flight of stairs and tiny, tiny but a very special venue for dining.

Our server was very well versed on the items on the menu.....and his recommendation on the daily specials were spot on. We ordered a starter, a salad, a pasta dish ,the sole, and tiramisu.......dishes that which we shared. The portions were generous and the ambience was very nice.

A good place for pasta - not as good for appetizers and desserts. Of 5 pasta dishes we tried, all were good to very good - perfectly cooked and well seasoned. The best were probably the lamb ragu fettucini, and the oriecchetti al forno. However, the salads were uninspired and the stuffed grilled sardines were cold, tasteless and overpriced ($10 for 2 limpid sardines). Desserts were good but precious - $10 for 2 marble-sized dollops of excellent molten chocolate. We'd return for the pasta and the atmosphere, but skip the rest!

I love how they use herbs and vegetables! Not too spicy, very creative. Lovely place for families too.

I eat there at least twice a month. Francesco, the owner, and Alex, the maître d, are fantastic. You must have the spinach salad with prosciutto, the beet salad with goat cheese, and the fettucine with lamb shank ragu. This is the perfect meal. OK, the perfect meals adds 1 or 2 negronis with top shelf gin (doubled). I bring family and clients here frequently and they all love it and want to return.

From the beginning to end one of the best meals in the city. Branzino in Paper , incredible, Lamb Ragu superb, Beet salad to die for. Nice small selection wine list from Calabria & Southern Italy. Francesco & crew are like our family who give us the best.

We chose this based on a very effusive TA review and were not disappointed. Beautiful food from a small but perfectly formed menu and great wine list. Fabulous service, including wine matching advice. We stayed late, last diners to leave, and no pressure to do so. A great last night meal in San Francisco.

My former colleague was in town on business and I wanted to take him out. Our visit confirmed that Poesia is my very favorite restaurant in SF. Quirky location and setting, wonderful homemade pastas, great selection of wines...order a bottle, watch whatever Italian movie is being projected onto the back wall, and relax!

Right in the heart of Castro you will find this little restaurant which comes with great Italian food and friendly service people. It feels like this restaurant is run by family members and thus makes it very warm and welcome. Food was great, however some dishes were "Americanized" (not spicy enough and more al dente than needs to be). Else great find!

Went to Poesia the 17th of May with a couple of friends. Went there because we wanted something to eat in the Castro area. And not too pricy. For starter we had a nice rucola salat. Then I had a pasta with lamb for 19,-- well prepared. Fact is that the waitress wasn't in a good mood. We weren't interested anymore in a desert. So we left earlier than we thought. Suggestion: if the waittress had helped us better we would have eaten and drinking much longer. Btw the place is reachable by stairs. So for disabled this place is a bit difficult to get in. Toilet / bathroom facilities are ok.

The place was a little tight, but sitting by the window watching people (scantily dressed) walking around outside was quite a treat. The food was quite good and the home-made pasta excellent. The tiramisu was absolutely delicious, however, it could have sat a little longer. Service was prompt and friendly and chatting with the chef a treat. I will be back.

8 of us gathered to celebrate my 60th birthday on a Sunday evening. Best dinner and celebration ever. Food, wine, dessets and complimentary after dinner drinks will make this one to remember for a long time. Francesco as owner and maitre di is gracious, welcoming, and a perfect host.

We had dinner at this wonderful Italian restaurant. The food was deliciously authentic. Great pasta dishes. The atmosphere was very nice. The staff was friendly. The wine list was extensive. Would definitely recommend. You won't be disappointed.

Very enjoyable, busy atmosphere but still intimate. Excellent eggplant parm, cauliflower side recommended, nice wine, good service, reasonable prices

On our first night in San Francisco where we hadn’t been in a few years, I knew we wanted to eat in the Castro. What a great find Poesia is. We liked their back garden, and the service couldn’t have been better. We shared the burrata, among the beat I’ve had, and the nectarine salad (clever combination). We had for entrees the bolognese (very good) and the frutti de mare which was delicious. Excellent meal. Highly tecommended

This restaurant serves real, authentic, traditional Italian food (I'm from Italy). I've been there more than once and it's as if I was eating at a restaurant in Italy. Everything is delicious. The service is very good, the staff is friendly (maybe because I can speak Italian with them). Just once, on a Saturday night, it was very busy, my date and I had to wait almost 20 minutes to be seated and the service wasn't up to my expectations. I still definitely recommend it though.

My wife and I generally enjoyed the food served at Poesia. It was fresh and creative. However, because I have very high standards, I could not rate it "very good". Because similar food can be had in many other Italian restaurants, I rated it "average". It is actually above average, though. For appetizers, we enjoyed the mushroom on grilled polenta and the puff pastry filled with cheese and sauce (although the filling was rather thin). My wife enjoyed the grilled calamari over arugula salad. The calamari were tender and the arugula fresh. I enjoyed the eggplant parmigiana. Unfortunately, the bread which was served was very dry. Each plate took quite a while to arrive because it is clear that the food is prepared to order and not cooked in advance. This is a plus. The desserts were terrific. Poesia is worth a try.

Highly memorable first night experience in San Francisco. Great atmosphere. We had a lovely server from Sardinia with a beautiful accent, which only added to the ambiance. The wine and food were both delicious. The mussels and the shredded lamb shank pasta were both delicious. A great experience!

No trip to San Francisco is complete without a visit to the outstanding Italian restaurant, Poesia, located in the Castro district. The minute you walk in, you are family. The food is divine, the wine list superb, service is great and it is all at the leisurely pace of la dolce vita. When I am in SF, I make a point to go there -- the owner, Francesco, is usually there and sets the tone for the relaxed yet elegant atmosphere.

This place is hidden upstairs in a neighbourhood with tough parking but don't let that put you off. The food is succulent and so incredibly fresh. They also did a great job of dealing with dietary restrictions without making the food bland.

The place is friendly but the atmosphere is a little bit noisy. The place was pretty packed on a Friday evening, but we had a reservation. We started with a Salumi misti, which was good. Then we had different types of pasta: very good, but rather small. Wine was very good and service excellent. Check pretty high but absolutely not outrageous.

Wonderful find in the Castro District. Visiting SF for the first time and happened upon Poesia and added a high-point to the trip. Great food, best I've had to date. Wine and of course the dessert were a great compliment! Nice touch with the Federico Fellini film projecting on the back wall made for a pleasant evening. Will return to this restaurant for sure. Thanks Poesia Thank you

Great food! Fantastic atmosphere and very friendly and serviceminded hostess. Really want to recommened it! Best food on our trip.

Six of us have an informal club that tries out restaurants every month or so. At Poesia, a few of us arrived early during Happy Hour and tried the house red wine (nice) and a couple of inexpensive, delicious apetizers. Then for the main dishes, the same several mains appealed to all of us so we ordered six and shared. My favorites were the ragu of lamb shank over pasta and also the squid ink pasta which I did not expect to like so much. Loved them all. Our side, a cauliflower al forno, was excellent. Normally I would have been too full for dessert but sharing 3 among six of us was just right. They had a coconut panna cotta which was the best, but the dark bittersweet spuma di cioccolata was also amazing and a hazelnut chocolate gelato was also one of the best I have had (since Laghi closed). I plan to return.

This is an awesome restaurant which caters for the Coeliac well. Located in trendy Castro, 20 mins from CBD, Poesia is a short tram or cab ride from city centre. Food was excellent as was the service. the wine list was limited to some fairly sweet US quaffs sadly. Be sure to book, very trendy.

On the second floor of what used to be an Edwardian building - easy to miss if you did not know it was there. High quality, but not overly fussy Italian dishes. Substantial wine list. Very friendly and helpful wait staff. We brought some expensive wine, so the $20 corkage fee was reasonable for us. We had to eat early that day, so happened to be there during "happy hour", when drinks were $6-8. Reservations recommended.

My Mom's family was from Naples and I love Italian food. Whether you prefer Northern Italian fare, or more earthy Southern style you can find it here. I eat Italian all over the US and in San Francisco. This is in between Farina and tourist places in Italian section of the city. It is cramped. Parking is terrible. But well worth visit. Great pasta and meat dishes.

This restaurant is my go to dinner place almost every night when I’m back home. The service is impeccable, cozy decor, makes me feel just like home! The food is authentic and amazing with daily specials, I never get tired of it! I had multiple events at the restaurant and both the owner Francesco and the Chef, also has the same name Francesco, always make the events memorable with great wine selections to pair with the great food creation! They are very friendly and engaging with the customers and constantly seek to do better in all aspects! A must try if you are in San Francisco!

What's most important? The Food. Very pleased on this point - tasty, nicely presented and reasonably priced. We had booked in advance on Open Table for a weekend night and were running late - Poesia was very accommodating and that was appreciated. In fact, throughout the visit the full staff was polite and friendly. The downside? Well, the service delivery was a bit spotty with super short or super long intervals. As if the staff had too much on their plate. An after-dinner drink was ordered, added to the bill, but never delivered. Yes, they quickly apologized and removed the charge. Guess this was just an 'off' night. Would we go back? Sure. Like I said - the food was quite good!

A very nice restaurant with excellent service and dishes. We were there and they had some special dishes that were very tasty and the staff had always an excellent recommendations of wine or drinks to match our choice of dishes. Absolutely worth a visit or two.

A great place to go with a colleague, a friend, or on a date. The staff are super friendly, the food is delicious, they have a full bar, and they have an amazing wine list!

This place was so great we went twice and were only in San Fran for 4 nights. Staff and food were top notch and the atmosphere was very welcoming. Thanks for making my 40th so great. We were visiting from Toronto, LA, NYC.

My wife, daughter and i went to Poesia and were amazed at the great meal, terrific service and great ambiance. I make great risotto and this is the first time mine has been bested! The seafood that came with it was perfectly prepared. The desserts were delicious: an incredibly rich chocolate mousse with sea salt and olive oil(it worked!) and a poached pear with custard. The staff were attentive but not fawning. Desite having recently opened another restaurant nearby, the owner was there and came by our table several times. The crowd was mixed: families, couples on dates, and large groups of friends. I would recommend this restaurant o anyone!

We have never experienced Italian as magnificent as this quaint little restaurant in the Castro section of San Francisco. The service was 5 star, the menu was 5 star and the food was "to live for"!!!!!!!!! From the fresh bread, butter and olive oil mixture for dipping...through dessert...this place is the best. Touring the Pacific coast highway, we chose to stop for 2 night in San Francisco and while walking around, ran across this intriguing second floor restaurant. It didn't look like much from the exterior but from the moment we walked in it was a culinary experience that our taste buds will never forget. White linen...candle adorned tables tops, beautiful artwork lining the walls, quaint tables for 2 by the windows overlooking the street below, vintage films projected on the rear wall (without sound of course), a full bar, great wine selections, amazing menu and incredible food. We started our dinner with caprese salad with heirloom tomatoes and fresh basil (ridiculously good), then sea bass oven baked on parchment...stuffed with lemons and roasted cherry tomatoes (time stopped...sigh) and homemade large raviolis stuffed with ricotta, parm, basil and sun dried tomatoes (I wanted to literally and audibly moan...but refrained) and then topped it off with spumoni mousse and tiramasu. Pictures included. MAKE THIS A MUST WHETHER VISITING OR LOCALS. Enough to make me move to San Fran. Thank you for this amazing night of glutinous indulgence...we have NO guilt. ;)

Friendly welcome but in a very noisy room due to large tables. Efficient service Very good dishes well cooked and well served from starter to dessert. The Italian wines were very good Nice evening!

In San Francisco for a Landmark Birthday (the fact of which was included in the comments section of the reservation), we had heard that Poesia has a lovely, warm,homey atmosphere and really good food. The website itself says the chef is cooking from his own mother's Italian recipes. This is the only time - ever - a restaurant ignored (or simply didn't read) a birthday advisory and do something sweet or considerate (or at least provide a good table). The atmosphere was almost painfully noisy, not warm and homey. And the service was, at best, haphazard (bordering on rude - heaven forbid in the Castro older gay men should be treated at least politely). And the food was just so-so. Not bad, but after having eaten such food in Italy, at my Italian in-laws homes and in good restaurants in NYC, somewhat disappointing. Of particular note: if you are going to serve a pasta "frutti di mare" 95% of it should not be squid, and there should be more than one bite of fish swimming in the sauce. Covering tough pasta. Deserts were also lackluster, and not accompanied (as in many years prior in other restaurants) with a candle in the canoli or some similar nod to the occasion. Wine list was limited and also not particularly interesting (and only available by the glass). If I might suggest a Verdicchio from The Marche to round out the limited white wine choices the list would be a bit more interesting. Not awful. Not wonderful. And not for a special occasion.

Over priced . $29.00 for Pasta Bolognese. And bread isn’t complimentary it’s $10.00. Then to add insult they charge a 5% employee surcharge benefits fee. Isn’t that part of running a restaurant? At $29.00 for a pasta dish surely they should be able to afford to pay their employees a decent salary. Sadly California was supposed to ban these ridiculous surcharges but the politicians gave into the lobbyists from the restaurant industry.

We stumbled across this charming restaurant just off the Castro. Great food and ambience. It was a nice change to eat somewhere that wasn't all stark surfaces and ultra modern.

I live in San Francisco for a few long years while I also have an Italian passport with an Italian taste for food (and men).This restaurant brings me back to the seaside and crux of Italy. The fresh pasta, the arancini, the savory scent of the sea by means of fresh seafood and the home made particulars. The service along with authentic food certainly transports me back to my days of "la dolce vita". The food is not only impeccable, it carries one back to the old country and makes you wish you never woke up again. Thank you Francesco for the beautiful times at your cozy restaurant come home. Try it at least once - fresh pasta, fresh sauce, amazing service, black and white cinema and if you're lucky maybe an operatic voice will serenade you. A must!

I came here spontaneously with 3 friends because it is located in immediate proximity to bars and clubs in the Castro we wanted to visit. They didn't have a table available immediately, but offered us to wait at the bar which didn't take long as a party was about to leave. They have an extensive menu for drinks and cocktails as well as wines. The restaurant features a comfortable and nice atmosphere and only has a few tables. The staff was all very friendly and outgoing and looked well after us. The menu is not large, but should offer everyone something to their taste - they could add some more meatless options, though, IMHO. Additionally, they have a couple of daily specials available. Food was good - the ravioli were not outstanding and could use some refinement, I think. Compared to the gnocchi with walnuts and gorgonzola they were rather flat - the gnocchi were delicious! Our bill was 136$ for 2 cocktails, 2 soft drinks, 4 main courses, 1 starter and 1 espresso - without tips.

This restaurant is in an older house, now converted to a restaurant. They show (silently) old Italian movies (ah, a young Marcello Mastroiani!). Anyway, the food is Calabrian (as is the owner, Francesco). All of it is wonderful and they have a nice list of California and Italian wines, but I enjoy the Calabrian wine that Francesco recommends. Be sure to have the burrata appetizer and the baked cauliflower side dish - so yummy! All the entrees are excellent but I love their eggplant parm. The menu does change so it isn't always on there. They also have an excellent homemade tartufo on the dessert menu - heavenly! The restaurant is on 18th, just off Castro, so it is a lively neighborhood but as it is on the second floor, there is not too much street noise.

Good Italian food. The place is charming and cozy but it is under staffed so service is slow. Not the place to go if you have an engagement latter, but the service is adequate if you are in no hurry. Think the service as similar as the one you'll get in Italy. On the other hand, the food was prepared with care and it was excellent. All the dishes we tried were delightful.

Wanted to try the remodeled Poesia with friends. Arrived a little late, but were seated immediately and had a very friendly waitress. Atmosphere is pleasant and reflects fresh paint, but not much else appeared renovated in the interior. The silent film projected on the back wall (reminiscent of Foreign Cinema) was more interrupting than entertaining here. Our entrees were tasty (friends had the nightly special - pasta with beef/pork bolognese sauce - and I had the seafood risotto), but the wait was way too long - approaching 30 minutes. Luckily we hadn't seen each other in a while and conversation easily filled the time. But, under normal circumstances the wait would have been much too long. Will give Poesia the benefit of the doubt and try once more with hopes of quicker service and a better rating.

A corner of Italy, after days of cheeseburgers, a return to Italian cuisine not at all contaminated. Very good. Highly Recommendation.

This is a really cosy place which incredibly good food and a great wine selection. The staff were very friendly and helpful. It mainly has Italian favourties with a twist, definitely one to add to try.

We are rarely steered wrong with TA reviews and we follow them religiously. This one is a keeper. Small restaurant, upstairs on a busy street in the Castro District. Very lively neighborhood. Lots of dining and drinking establishments. The aroma was wonderful as we went up the steps. Food was excellent. Try the eggplant Parmesan or the Pollo a la Griglia. Excellent choices. Neighboring tables had calamari and sea bass and kudos were heard from them. Desserts include tiramisu (enough for two to share!) and affogato. Also both delicious. This isn't the easiest place to find. (Call Uber, they can find it.) but well worth it. This is worth a trip.

Poesia Osteria Italian is by all means one of the best italian restaurant i have been so far around the world. The dishes are excellent and the atmosphere is cozy and romantic. Two thumbs up! Paolo

My partner and I chose this restaurant on the last night of our visit to San Francisco. We had some of the best Italian cusine we have ever had. We had never had tomatoe bread soup and it was delicious. The eggplant pargimana was outstanding...the best I have ever tasted. Even though they were extremely busy the service was excellant. If you are in the area you really should try this restaurant!

We were seated at a round table, (for 6) at the back of the room, a great choice. Our party ordered 5 different secondi, two different antipasti, and two different desserts. All were complimented on and enjoyed. (Along with much sharing). The table location at the end of the bar was somewhat secluded from other diners and good for conversation. The service was great from the friendly and attentive staff.

Had a meal at the bar. Friendly yet laid back serving. Good pasta! Decent prices. Pasta ~17 and good wine for 11.

Late (after 10pm) we stumbled up the stairs to Poesia. It was SantaCon too. But we were welcomed and made to feel at home. Even when we were the last diners and the staff were relaxing at the end of a long day, we never felt rushed. We ate the special , a ricotta gnocchi with zucchini that was lightly dressed with a Gorgonzola cream sauce. Fantastic. And a lamb ragu that was the essence of homemade Italian cooking. For dessert we ate an incredible pudding like tiramisu and panna cotta that was perfection. The wine suggested for us hit the spot. And of course espresso. The most relaxing and delicious dinner anyone could desire. All at the tail end of the restaurant day. Not one step amiss. And when we went to leave, the best surprise was the extraordinary tab: about 2/3 of a similar dinner in New York or Boston.

Poesia has been authentic Italian food from the first day we have been there. We have been here 5 times in 2019 and have enjoyed it each time. The staff is excellent and always attentive to customers.

My husband and I were in SF for a couple days. Before we got there I researched online for a decent Italian restaurant and narrowed it down to Poesia and made a reservation. Glad I did because it was lovely! Parking in SF is obscene so it took my husband about 20 minutes to find a place to park so I sat at the table sipping water wondering if he just gave up and went back to the hotel without me. So now the meal begins. The service was great from the moment I walked in alone and remained so, even though the restaurant steadily filled up to capacity. My husband started with the carpaccio antipasti; I had the roasted duck bruschetta. Oh. My. God. I can't tell you which was better. We then ordered the meals....we were both very happy to see a few choices of either half or full orders. So we both got half orders--I got the lamb shank ragu over fettucini, and my husband ordered the farfalle pasta with fresh sardines. I dislike sardines so didn't really care for his, though I can tell it was good anyway. Plus he said it was good. Mine was simple and delicious and though Italian, reminded me of the "menus of the day" at various little cafes off the beaten track in Spain. I'll assume they do the same thing in Italy. I would've loved to have tried dessert but we had a groupon for a dessert somewhere else in the city we needed to use before we went home. :( I also like the vibe of the place and would love to eat here again when or if in SF again.

If you want Italian poetry don’t miss this lovely restaurant. The Italian owner looked a bit tired but she remained very open and sympathetic. The waitress didn’t stop putting parmigiana cheese on my dish and I adored it. A place full of atmosphere, Italian films on the walls, mostly locals who know why they return, very friendly staff and real good food. What more do you want? It’s Italian, so you select yourself between the more expensive dishes or the cheaper ones. We had great value for what we chose. And off course it is in Castro, in the middle of one of the liveliest areas in SF. Not far from the Mission also.

The patio is quite charming, but to get there you are walked through the kitchen which is not. I don’t know if this could fly with the sanitation services but that’s another story. The pasta was good. But the reason I’m writing is that they ripped us off or tried to with the wine. My first glass was a white wine which was quite good. My friend had a red wine - supposedly from Calabre. But it was an awful mix of some old bottle dwellers that they served from the kitchen (not directly from a bottle). But even worse - my next glass - a red wine from Sicily tasted water… and looked like it was half and half - for 17 USD… I complained and was told that their Sicilian wine was their lightest / clearest. They did however give me a glass of another Calabre which was served from the bottle and tasted like wine… but anyway beware of their intentions and prefer a bottle..,