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Trattoria Contadina
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
1800 Mason St(between Kent St & Union St)
San Francisco, CA 94133
Neighbourhood: North Beach/Telegraph Hill
(415) 982-5728
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
565 reviews for Trattoria Contadina
Review Highlights
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"The tomato cream sauce was so tasty." In 41 reviews -
"Came here to get off the beaten path on Columbus." In 21 reviews -
"on the wine list, try the amarone if you haven't had it." In 30 reviews
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565 reviews in English
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Review from Angela D.
Fairfield, CA
Another great Italian restaurant to add to my list! Great food!
I ordered the Carbanara off of the "specials" menu.....One of the best I've had! A friend ordered the Carlesimo which was really tasty too. I'll be ordering that next time I'm there. Also good off of the "specials" menu is the risotto..... yummy flavor! My husband ordered the Fruita di Mare, which was your average fresh seafood dish. We also tried the meatballs and carpaccio. Both were ok.... Nothing special about them.
The customer service was great. Our waiter was very friendly and knowledgeable. I appreciate his recommendations off of both the food and wine menus. The only thing I was not so pleased with was the lack of parking. But thanks to previous reviews, we had a heads up and allowed time to park.
Great place and I look forward to returning to try more things off of their menu. -
Review from Joolie T.
Houston, TX
5/22/2012
I had the carlesimo. It was pretty good, but I would want to try something else next time. The pasta was okay. I really liked the mushrooms and peas.
The tiramisu was awesome!
I sat at the bar. The bartender (Taylor??) was super friendly. The host was fun to talk to also. This place is cool. I'd come again and recommend it to others. I'm so full, but I wanted to eat everything in front of me so I did. I accidentally ate a lot of bread because I was so hungry and was afraid I wouldn't be able to finish my food. Somehow, I did. Probably because I was slowly eating it and not entirely paying attention since I was caught up in conversation with the bartender and the regular next to me. -
Review from Jackie M.
San Francisco, CA
Came here to celebrate mothers day and made a reservation day of on open table with no problem! We arrived a couple minutes early and the table was ready for my mom, sister and I immediately. Bread was given to temporarily satisfy our hunger. I love soft, freshly cut bread with olive oil and vinegar. Yum! Anyways, they have a very good sized menu and everything sounds and smells delicious. I got the Melazane - rigatoni with egg plant, olives, tomatoes, fresh parmesean. It was delicious! It was even a little spicy. I helped pick my sisters plate out, the Pavaratti - prosciutto, chicken, zucchini in a cream sauce. Also very delicious and light. The pastas come in half or full dishes which was a nice touch because I hate being defeated by large plates of food. My mom got the halibut which tasted wonderful! The whole experience was great especially because the restaurant is so loving and well taken care of. It's a family run restaurant with a bunch of family photos. Today we were taken care by the son Casey who pronounced all the dishes beautifully in what I think is Italian... Haha. I hope it was at least. Anyways, what's dinner without dessert? I got the cuore which was a chocolate ganache with a raspberry sorbet center. It was to die for! I definitely recommend getting dessert not only because it tastes great but there's a great selection and they're all $7!
I can't wait to come back again :) -
Review from Colette P.
San Francisco, CA
5/15/2012
Not really sure why this place gets top stars...but my experience was just okay. Came here for mothers day (since this restaurant is one of my mom's favorites in SF) . Was a bit late due to parking (tip: come early!!! valet around the corner gets pricey as hell!!). Originally got the salvatore, but didn't enjoy it and luckily my dad was willing to trade ..so I ate his dish which was called the Carlesimo. It was okay.....wasn't head over heels about it , but definetly better than the Salvatore that I had. We also ordered the bruschetta (bomb) and some meat platter dish..(salami, etc). The meat platter wasn't too good...it was sour and salty......(tasted straight up like green olives.). Also had some type of seafood pasta, which was okay. Overall I wouldn't say this place is the best italian place I've eaten because I've had better. Service was great, it was a packed house. The food....eh...not so much. Pricing is okay, not too expensive either.
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Review from Margaret R.
San Francisco, CA
3/1/2012
Gosh...my search for good Italian food continues in North Beach.
1 - Polpettine: linguini pasta with Rocky's homemade meatballs and a fresh tomato sauce. The sauce was delicious, but the meatballs were not good. The meatballs had some odd taste to it. If you want good meatballs, go to Tony's.
2 - Salvatore: chicken ravioli with sun-dried tomatoes, rosemary, garlic and a marscapone cheese sauce. I could barely taste the chicken in the ravioli, which had a strong doughy taste and texture.
The service is great here though. The waiter was very sweet. -
Review from Susie C.
Campbell, CA
4/30/2012
I agree with the taxi driver. "Best Italian food in town!"
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Review from JX S.
San Francisco, CA
5/18/2012
actually i think 3.5 stars is more appropriate.
its kind of hit and miss with this restaurant, as some of the dishes are really tasty, but not for the others.
overall good experience though, only when you know what you want to eat -
Review from Jennifer B.
Oakland, CA
5/1/2012
Searched for months to find a sweet spot with a tasty menu for my husband's 50th birthday. We wanted an intimate gathering for about 20 people. When it came down to scheduling and planning the menu, I realized that with the diet dilemmas of our group the fixed menu options weren't going to work for us. Vegans, celiac sufferers, finicky kids, diabetics, we were a chef's nightmare. Gina was amazing, she allowed me to create my own menu and when we arrived, everything was perfect, she even printed special menus with my husband's name and 50th birthday at the top. The service was great and the food was incredible. I'm so grateful.
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Review from Anthony M.
Chicago, IL
The last time I had dinner here it was with an amazing woman but it was a business dinner and we were in a large group. Little did I know that she would one day become my wife. So this place has a special moment in my heart when I look back on it.
I walked in early because I knew I was eating solo and this place is very small. I was able to grab a table with no reservation. There is always someone at the door to greet you too, which I love.
I was seated at my table with ex-Bear Ron Rivera...yes there was an autographed picture of him sitting right next to me and being from Chicago I felt like I was at home. He was not very talkative...I asked him if was picking the 49ers or the Saints and he just kind of hung around there and froze!
I was delivered some bread which I immediately dipped in some olive oil. I was very hungry and needed something solid. I also was feeling pasta and meatballs but did not want to be so basic. So I got a starter of meatballs and then a half order of Linguine and Clams.
I really enjoyed the meatballs and the best part is that I did not have to share them with anyone. I had the young lady grate fresh Parmesan cheese all over them. I also dipped my bread in the sauce and I was in heaven.
Next came my pasta with clams. The clams were good but I was a little letdown because 3 of the 11 clams were full of sand. I honestly do not know if that is normal or should I expect that in a restaurant. We cook with fresh clams at home and we make those suckers spit out ever last piece of sand before we throw them into there boiling death. So I do not know if I am being unreasonable but a mouth full of sand is not fun!
The pasta with all of the ingredients was very tasty. I also like that they offer half orders. I was able to get a nice half order and not feel like I have to eat the whole thing. It is so hard being Sicilian...we are taught to clean our plate. So the half order saves me all of those extra calories and carbs!
By the time I left almost every table was taken...so I am glad that I got here early and got my dinner before it was too late.
Hopefully next time I will have to have dinner with that amazing woman here again!!! -
Review from Amy F.
San Francisco, CA
4/18/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Excuse my language but this place is shit. First of all, how are only two of the pastas made from scratch? The gnocchi with bleu cheese was good but the compliments end there. Everything else was bland and not great italian food. To top it off, almost everyone in my party had stomach problems for the next 24 hours. The only thing we all shared (the gnocchi - i.e. the only thing we enjoyed) seems to have been not so good after all.
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Review from Naoko M.
1/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
It's like 3.5 stars but I couldn't get myself to round up...yet.
A girlfriend of mine and I came to Trattoria Contadina for dinner before heading out to a New Year's Eve party. Unfortunately, my friend was somehow 45 minute late for our reservation. I sat at their little bar and sipped a drink while I waited....and waited...
The hostess was super friendly and, despite being a very busy evening, they accommodated us as soon as my friend arrived. I was very thankful for their patience.
We started with an order of carpaccio, which was pretty good. The shavings of parmesan were pretty awesome.
She ordered the guglielmo (linguine with prawns, mushrooms, prosciutto, etc.) and I ordered the vongole (linguini with clams). I thought the vongole would have a bit more of a richer buttery white wine sauce, but it was actually very strong in the lemon/acid content. It wasn't bad, just not what I had expected. I think overall the dish could have used a little more seasoning. My friend said her dish was good.
For dessert, we ordered the chocolate cappuccino mousse cake, which was amazing. I have heard good things about this place so I would definitely come back to try another dish. The friendly staff and dessert really made this place. -
Review from Hari J.
Redwood City, CA
4/15/2012
Appetizers were good, though the meatballs were only room temp when served. My Fettuccine with Italian sausage was not very tasty with sausage tasting a bit gamey but my wife's Pesce Milanese was very good. I think there are far better Italian restaurants in North Beach and other neighborhoods in the city.
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Review from DayDay D.
San Francisco, CA
3/20/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Planned a dinner for 6 on a Saturday night, St. Patricks Day nonetheless.
Hostess called me about three hours before to confirm reservation. I liked how she gave me the friendly reminder about parking and how crazy it would probably be to get there.
Dave and I were well prepared and arrived well before our friends. We sat at the bar and enjoyed conversation and a Peroni will the bartender. He was in the middle of mixing a Fernet cocktail when I had asked him about it. With Dave being a big Fernet drinker we became very interested in other mixologies.
We sat down quickly when our party had arrived. Service was very attentive and pleasant.
More importantly, what we ordered:
To start, stuffed pepper (1 per order), awesome stuffed cheesy goodness with a tomato creamy sauce, the kind where you sop up all the bread in.
Pulled burrata with arugula and proscuitto, very fresh and tasty
I had the frutta di mare 1/2 order, super delicious
Dave had the fresh gnocchi, other orders were salmon risotto, chicken francese, and lamb.
Everyone loved the food!
Definitely will be back.... -
Review from Sarah P.
South San Francisco, CA
4/15/2012
The bell pepper app is to die for. Service is always great. Small tight seating with local appeal. Cheers
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Review from Kalah W.
San Francisco, CA
12/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Only reason I am giving a 4 rather than a 5 star is that I was freezing all through dinner. We sat near the door (ask for another table in towards the back you make reservations) . It was a colder winter night and I wore my coat all through dinner.
Beyond that, the food was so delish and the service was right on par. I ordered a seafood with spaghetti dish. That is my usual choice at an Italian restaurant, so I can be picky. Their dish was great - seafood was cooked properly and their sauce complemented it well. My boyfriend ordered a pasta & sausage dish, which he loved (he cleaned the entire large sized plate). Based off a Yelp review we ordered the Peppers appetizer and it did not fail to meet expectations. It's a relatively simple app. It's pepper sliced in half and laid on its side (you only get one half) and then filled with several cheeses. While it would be tough to match it's level of deliciousness, I'm inspired to recreate it at home.
I would recommend making reservations as the restaurant itself is pretty small. We saw a larger party go through a door, so I'm guessing there is a back room, but I never saw it.
Oh! And also watch out for the parking situation if your driving. We went super early with plans to walk the area for 20-30 min before dinner. That def didnt happen because we were circling for parking that long. In the end we ended up parking in a lot that was $10 for 2 hours. Next time we'll be skipping the search and will just parking in the lot right away.
Happy eating :) -
Review from Benjamin L.
Oakland, CA
12/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
One of the office assistants in my GF's office recommended this, and I was told this is the BEST home made italian food in the city. I came here with high expectations, and I really wanted to like it but it wasn't anything special on my list.
like always especially when trying a new restaurant we wanted to try everything. So between 4 people we had a lot of food.
Bruschetta x4 (fresh tomatoes and great crispy bread)
These stuffed Peppers (very cheesy, but i love cheese so it didn't bother me but it bothered peopel i was eating with)
Capreses (nothing special about this, small pieces of mozzarella, not enough basil)
Mussels (cracked mussels, semi-fresh
Carlesimo (supposedly their signature dish, i didn't think there was anything special)
Correnti (veal was dry, pasta was a bit flavorless)
Pesce Marsala (probably the best dish, i liked this dish the best)
the Lamb dish (Gamey, but when i eat at french restaurants not as gamey as this...)
and one more pasta dish with sausage a pesto sauce and shell pasta. (my pasta was a bit bland, i needed more parmigiano reggiano and some chili flakes, to boost the flavor
Tiramisu (dry)
All in all the most important part for my meal is the main course because that is where all the food is, and especially at an italian restaurant you need good pasta. This place only had alright pasta. Overall my experience warranted a 3 stars, i will be back in the future sometime, just don't know when. -
Review from Krystal G.
San Francisco, CA
12/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great food and great service!
Our dinner reservation for 11 was ready upon arrival. We were the ones who were a little late because of having a hard time with parking. I peered through the windows right before we walked in and wondered... where will we sit? Our server lead us toward the back of the restaurant and up a narrow staircase... onto this hidden loft-like area. How cozy! I loved how our tables didn't receive much foot traffic.
Food:
I ordered the Carlesimo, per our server's strong recommendation. Rigatoncelli pasta with pancetta, porcini mushrooms, peas, sun-dried tomatoes and a mildly spiced tomato cream sauce. I loved how the flavor of the sun-dried tomatoes, porcini mushrooms, and spiced cream sauce played with/against each other. Topped with freshly grated parmesan cheese, it was perfect.
Service:
Our servers were very patient with us. You could tell they loved working there. They actually fooled me, as I thought they were Italian based on the way they were pronouncing all the menu items. I have to say, also, that they were very patient with us, as our table of 11 definitely had a lot of questions to ask about what was on that menu.
To sum up:
I will wholeheartedly recommend this place to friends and will visit again. -
Review from Ron H.
Danville, CA
12/4/2011
It use to be my favorite place ( third generation ownership) when the parents ran it....I really want to say that the food was really good....I use to be able to say that....I had two others with me that agree with my rating...I'm bummed that I have to say that one of my favorite places wasn't that good today.....ahhhhhhhh.
Many years ago I would visit this vibrate restaurant and order the wonderful Pavarotti Fusilli....It was so good that I would try to reproduce this sensation at home. But those days have long gone....I ordered this today, and the pasta lacked taste, it was over sauced, and service was average at best. I been wanting to return here for years.....What happened to my place!!!! I think they may have lost me for another bunch of years....at least until this memory goes away....I want that good taste back...
..Cant recommend it. -
Review from D D.
San Francisco, CA
11/28/2011
Walked in with 3 adults and a 2 year old. Got lucky and was sat immediately. Food was fantastic. Had a butternut squash soup and risotto that was amazing. Everyone enjoyed the meal and the service was friendly and attentive. Great, neighborhood atmosphere.
Definitely going back if I'm in the area. -
Review from Megan S.
Park City, UT
3/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
Excellent beet salad! I liked that they had small sized dinner serving portions or full sized, got to try 2 different menu items that way without overeating or having to waste anything. I had the duck pasta, great flavor! We walked here from the Hilton where we were staying at in Fishermans Wharf.
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Review from Jeff D.
Berkeley, CA
1/19/2012 Seated via OpenTable
By far, Trattoria Contadina is my new favorite restaurant in SF. It's very small so a reservation is almost necessary if you're going to eat around peak dinner hours. We had a reservation for two at 7:30pm on a Monday but ended up waiting about 20 minutes until a table was ready. This wasn't an issue since we just ordered a bottle of wine and enjoyed some of that while talking near the bar prior to being seated.
After being seated our waitress apologized for the wait and told us that we would receive a free order of bruschetta (which was delicious btw) since it took a little while to be seated. The food came out about 20 minutes after we ordered and looked/smelled as good as we both hoped.
The. Food. Was. Amazing.
My date ordered the Carlesimo and I the Salvatore. It was one of the most flavorful dinners I've ever experienced and after we each took one bite we decided that we would be returning to Trattoria Contadina again. While both dishes were surprisingly delicious, I enjoyed the Salvatore the most.
This is a great spot for a date but don't tell too many people or else it will get too busy ! -
Review from Tony S.
Truckee, CA
Updated - 10/4/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Back again, September 2011.
Stellar. Simple. Satisfying. Satiating.
Thank you, again.3 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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10/4/2010
A fun, fun place - consistently! We go whenever we visit SF.
Reservations on-line, a must; if you… Read more »
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Review from Patrick D.
San Francisco, CA
3/5/2012 Seated via OpenTable
I can't speak to traditional Italian meals or authentic sauces or the right ingredients. I can say that Trattoria Contadina gets five stars in my book for its off the beaten path-location, solid atmosphere, attentive and polite service, and delicious food. Even on a busy Valentine's Day, the restaurant remained relaxed and romantic (alliteration is always the sign of a strong dining experience). Certainly one of my favorite Italian places in the City and definitely a spot I will revisit several times over.
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Review from Hillary B.
Pleasanton, CA
3/9/2012
This place has been around for a long time. I decided to go back when I was in town (it used to be my father's favorite restaurant about 15 years ago). I remember it being much better than it actually was the other night. The service was great, the food was just okay (heavy sauces overpowered the rest of the dishes), but the place is just so worn. The original linoleum floor and tiny dirty bathroom justifies that this place needs a little update! And parking is horrible. Staff is still incredibly friendly and brought back good memories. However, not sure I'll return. There are much better Italian restaurants in the city now.
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Review from Mark F.
San Francisco, CA
9/25/2011
Italian food in North Beach is ironically and unfortunately hit or miss. Most places are taking advantage of the foot traffic and the fact that you are unlikely to be a repeat customer. If you do find yourself looking for Italian in North Beach, take a step off of Columbus and come get some great food at Trattoria Contadina.
The bruschetta is fantastic. The pepperoni arrostiti (roasted sweet peppers in a cream sauce) is one of the best combinations of flavor available - you will find yourself asking for extra bread to soak up the residual sauce after the peppers are gone...
All of the pastas and secondi plates I've had are great. I am particularly fond of pasta carlesimo (with pancetta and a spicy, creamy tomato sauce) and the valdostana (basically a cheese and prosciutto stuffed chicken breast). Exactly what you'd expect in a amily run Italian trattoria.
The sign that says "we're not for sale" is amusing... -
Review from Tami G.
Stockton, CA
3/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
The carlisimo. don't worry about reading the menu... It was fantastic. We went here for a birthday party and everything was spectacular. The meatballs were delicious and the peppers were filled cheese, sauce, and smiles. Expensive, but that's what you pay for. Will definitely be returning.
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Review from Andrew W.
11/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have been craving Italian for over a month now and I thought the best place to indulge my craving was Trattoria Contadina. I picked this place because I had no idea how to pronounce the name, so the restaurant stuck out.
Parking was horrendous and when we finally found parking at the bottom of the hill five blocks away, I almost ran into a spider hanging from a tree. But I digress. Stepped into Trattoria Contadina and was told there was no table until 9:30pm. Luckily my gf and I were seated at the bar immediately, otherwise we would be famished by the time 9:30 rolled around.
I only wanted to try the Carlesimo but my hunger bested me. We ordered the regular size portion for the Carlesimo, Vongole, and Agnello. I thought I was going to love the Vongole because it has clams, lemon, and white wine sauce. But the Carlesimo's rigatoncelli with pancetta, mushrooms, peas, sun dried tomatoes in a creamy tomato sauce won me over. The lamb chops were also very good, cooked nicely and very flavorful. Definitely over-ordered but managed to finish almost everything.
What I recommend:
-- Carlesimo -
Review from Jen Y.
San Francisco, CA
11/19/2011
For a casual Italian meal that is simple and delicious, you cannot go wrong with Trattoria Contadina. I love this place.
The salads are great and the meatball starter is yum!
My favorite pasta entree is not on the menu (yep, they let you order off menu!). I love their tomato cream sauce and ask for it with rigatoni. Oy, it's good stuff!
Service is always friendly and accommodating. The restaurant has an intimate neighborhood feel and can get pretty busy, so I would suggest making a reservation (especially if you have a group of 4 or more). -
Review from Arturo F.
San Francisco, CA
9/11/2011
One random day, the wifey and I decided to dine here. This is what I've gathered:
1. Parking is a bitch. Take a taxi or better yet take the cable car. It'll drop you off right in front.
2. Make reservations. It's small, and they put the seats together pretty close. Italian hospitality.
3. DO order the Bruschetta, the Conchiglie, or the Risotto. Hell, their house meatballs are awesome too.
4. DO NOT order the gniocchi. The sauce came out a neon orange. Reminded me of a famous dish from Signore James Kraft. Turned me off. Then I ordered the Conchiglie with fennel sausage: AWESOME.
5. Wait staff was quick and responsive. People had their A-game that night.
6. THIS IS NOT A TOURIST TRAP. So all you idiots who say "I know italian, my family is italian" but really you're from New York "italian", save it and eat here. It's a good place. -
Review from Aditya M.
San Francisco, CA
10/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Really nice cozy restaurant in a somewhat hidden corner of north beach.. its not right on columbus, so I am guessing a lot fewer tourists show up here.
The food is really awesome.. awesome selection of vegetarian pastas and appetizers.. I especially love the cheese ravioli and gnocchi.
The desserts were pretty good too.. we tried their tiramisu and some kind of mousse pastry.. pretty good!
The waitstaff and the owner are super-nice. The place is small, full of people, but not too noisy.. great place for a conversation alongside some really good italian food! -
Review from C W.
Long Beach, CA
10/10/2011
Its a 3 star no way around it.
Very basic flavors, a little overcooked pasta, a little mushy ravoli. Wont be rushing back anytime soon but it wasnt an evening killer if you know what I mean. -
Review from Don D.
Alameda, CA
It's been awhile since I've walked out of a place that tasted this good and was completely stuffed! But I better be stuffed after I spent $53 by myself...
You start the adventure of Trattoria Contadina by riding your car up and down the steep streets trying to find parking. It was similar to a rollercoaster ride but with the annoyance of having to look for a place to stop and not just enjoying the drops. After 30+ minutes of doing that you start the next phase of trekking blocks and blocks to the restaurant. If you're coming here on a weekend you better make reservations otherwise you'll walk away pissed off that they can't accommodate you.
Now comes the good part: the food was great! I started off with an aperitif of Aperol Citrus and the Zuppa special which was a butternut squash soup. My main course was the Cacciucco special which was a seafood stew that had halibut, mussels, clams, in a rosemary tomato broth. The serving was so big that I couldn't finish it and I'm a fairly big eater. The meal was topped off with a latte that perked me right up.
Our party of 11 sat upstairs and that created a cozy and intimate setting that felt like we were at home. The place was fairly small but was a completely enjoyable experience. I'll be back... -
Review from Carly C.
Stockton, CA
3/14/2012
I come from traditional Italian cooking and so going to "Little Italy" to try their restaurants was very exciting for me. This place is clean, the atmosphere is is welcoming and the food is excellent. The brushetta is amazing and some of the best I've had. I had spinach ravioli's which were cooked perfectly and tiramisu for dessert which I give 4 out of 5 stars. Not the best I've had but good and same with their cannoli's. Definitely great, but not the best your going to have, but worth the buy. This is a wonderful resturant to go to while in the city.
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Review from Gil S.
9/25/2011
I'm ambivalent. It's a sweet, comfortable, cramped atmospheric neighborhood Italian restaurant loved by the locals in North Beach, the staff ranges from old hands to fresh out of grad school but they're all informal and friendly, and everyone leaves with a smile. Food is pretty decent and some is actually quite good. The homemade pasta tubes they call "Carlesimo" with pancetta, sundried tomatoes and all, which our waitress was cheerfully explaining to every table was "by far the most popular" was in fact very tasty and I would return just for that.
I just can't get past the fact that they seem to be cutting lots of corners with their food and preparation. The seafood in the frutte di mare was uneventful and the spaghetti seemed to have been twice-cooked instead of made to order - an old mass prep food technique. They're obviously not going for top tier dining, but as long as they've been in business and with the prices what they are, I think they can step up their game. The tiramisu too, it was pretty good and unusually sour in a good way, but not fabulous and the plating looked like a bomb went off in the flour pantry.
Nothing I can say will dissuade the die hard fans, the place is a mini-institution, and if you're a tourist or just want the real North Beach experience you could do worse. For sure the place has heart. -
Review from Miyuki I.
San Francisco, CA
9/9/2011
I've been living in North Beach for 3 years and this is one of the few places I frequent and will recommend to friends. Most of the Italian restaurants in North Beach are heavily catered towards tourists and can get away with mediocre food, since most diners are out of towners and won't be back again. Trattoria Contadina definitely stands out from the rest.
PROS
- Fresh pasta, made daily, always al dente (they have a couple pastas made fresh in-house and the rest are delivered each morning from a local pasta shop)
- Excellent sauces (very well balanced, tasty)
- Pasta orders available in half size or full size, depending on your appetite or for those who like variety (I've gone with friends and ordered a variety of different pastas for sharing)
- My favorites: For pasta, Carlesimo and Salvatore; For appetizers, you can't go wrong with the roasted stuffed peppers--they were grilled so the natural sweetness came out, with savory soft cheeses, and a very tasty spicy tomato sauce that complimented the combination quite nice
- Close to bars and gellato, if you want some after dinner activity
CONS
- Parking is a bit ridunkulous in this area
- Kind of small and need reservations
HIGHLIGHT
- Fresh pasta! It's amazing! -
Review from Tiffany L.
Jersey City, NJ
8/29/2011 2 photos
Pretty decent Italian restaurant, but I feel we get much better in San Diego to be honest. The place is very small, and while it's charming, it's also incredibly cramped. For our starters, we got stuffed peppers, meatballs and gnocchi. Gnocchi was good but could have been softer and more tender. Everything else was below average, especially the meatballs.
My entree was very good. Parmesan Crusted Halibut. It was a lighter dish than a heavy pasta but was very filling and enjoyable. Menu is fairly affordable and the service was good. -
Review from Kathy i.
Pacifica, CA
4/21/2012
What a lovely setting, just a block off Columbus on a quiet corner. Charming, family run Italian restaurant, with a great menu selection, wonderful owner and staff, fast service, excellent food, and inexpensive. The staff was kind enough to split our bill several ways, so everyone could get reimbursed. An new favorite place to eat.
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Review from Patricia Q.
San Francisco, CA
10/17/2011
My boyfriend and I had the antipasto and two glasses of pinot noir to start with. This was perhaps, the highlight of the meal. I can always go for some cured meats and cheeses with wine.
The main pasta dishes themselves were very heavy. After 4 bites, we were both done for the night. We went over to E Tutto Qua for dessert afterwards.
A bit of an unmemorable meal, if you can't tell from my review. -
Review from Patrick F.
Columbia, SC
4/17/2012
The quintessential San Francisco dining experience is truly to be found here at this restaurant. With reservations made the day before for our Monday night visit at six, we had our choice of seats and chose a table near the window. A trolly track ran right down the street outside, and so I was able to watch the sun slowly set while I ate, mild and pleasant city traffic going by and trollies ringing their way past. The parking was a walk, BUT we were lucky enough to eat with my Mother's step-sister who lives nearby, and showed us a small public parking garage maybe five blocks away that cost $9.00 for the evening. I would call in advance and ask the restaurant about it. The restaurant was small and rectangular, with a polished and formal air without being dressy- I had jeans on. The menu was just above "Outback steak" pricing, with main courses ranging from the middle teens to the high twenties. I chose an appetiser of warm olives- which I shared with my group- while we were given bread with olive oil, and I was quickly served my soup, one of the specials which was a pasta-vegetable medly in a wonderfully spiced soup with a light white stock. The pasta was perfectly al'dente- a more flawless al'dente I have never found, even in my trip to Milano, Italia- in contrast to soft and richly flavoured vegetables. I suspect they made the soup in advance, to allow the flavour to return to the vegetables- we all know soup and stews are best the next day, as the veggies regain their lost flavour. The olives retained their rich, fresh flavour- a mixture of Italian olives I remember tasting from a fresh market in Milano, including small dark olives, and medium greek and black, as well as some green. All were warm with oil and cooked minced garlic clinging to their plumped sides, and their flavour was a symphony of dark warm flavours witn stacatto bursts of expected olive tartness in just the right amount. The olives were around $4 and the soup $7. I took a risk and ordered a dish I have less experience with and, when served rare, have found a queer taste once that I did not like. I chose their most expensive Secondi- lamb, for $29. It came with roasted potatoes and brocollini, and I will upload its photo when possible. The brocollini was my first of this vegetable, though I know it, and it was masterful- crisp, and steamed just enough with a warm, garlic flavoured butter on it, it had elements of both brocolli and asparagus- the stem was crisp yet tender, while the flourettess not at all soggy! The potatoes were gently firm with just the right mixture of dryness and light moisture- gently flavoured, but not strikingly so. The lamb, I will admit, was difficult for me- I ordered it medium rare, and truly should have done medium. It was cooked perfectly to order, yet I found in addition to the expected dark "lamb taste" a hint of fishy flavour, something I had encountered before in rare lamb and must assume is par for the course. I stuck with it, but of my three to four chops I only ate perhaps two. The gentleman at the frint desk right beside me was quite attentive, and inquired after a time if it was too rare for me- I agreed but aceeded that my displeasure was likely my own error, not theirs. He insisted they take it back and heat it more, even if it meant me eating it later at home! Which I did- and it was perfect! A warm, thick sauce reminescent of Balsamic vinegar with soft red onions complemented a soft yet perfectly medium (and in one piece medium well, but still juicy!) lamb that was not at all tough or chewy, but meltingly soft. No hint of undesired flavours in the further cooked version. On recomendation from the others here at Yelp, I tried the capucino mousse cake for dessert, sharing with my party the one dessert. It was a truly high quality, but extremely rich, dessert that had the flavour of rich, fine dark chocolate and strong coffee. The texture was very thick and firm, and a tart raspberry sauce dribbled on the plate was a perfect compliment- I wish there had been more sauce! I might have enjoyed a more fruity dessert myself, or a balance to the richness, but this was a chocolate dessert I could tell was made from fine quality dark chocolate. The service was extremely attentive and observant without being intrusive, our glasses of water were always kept full. The gentleman at the desk personally checked with us at the end and gave me a recipe for a dish I had been unable to try- and being from SC, might never- making it clear they wanted me to enjoy their food even if I couldnt return to CA to do so. At under a hundred for three, that makes this a very good choice to have fine food, reasonable prices, and a true San Francisco experience. If I were to come to this city with family, I would definitely take them to this restaurant!
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Review from Jennifer F.
Santa Clara, CA
1/30/2012
This restaurant should have five stars but I'm giving it four stars for the experience. The parking experience, that is. I'd give it 4 1/2 stars if I could since parking is not their fault but since it directly affected our experience, I feel I have to address it. We had reservations at 7:30 and after circling the area numerous times, I called to let them know we would be late. They were not able to accommodate our tardiness and pushed our reservation back to 9:00. It left me with a not so great feeling but whatever. We ended up having to drive back to our hotel since there was no parking ANYWHERE (even the garages were full, we were willing to pay extra to make this reservation!). My husband and I had a few drinks at the hotel bar and then cabbed it back to make the 9:00 reservation.
As soon as we walked in, we completely understood why they couldn't seat us. I had no idea it was that small! People seemed to be crowded in as tightly as they could and I was immediately excited -- couldn't wait to taste the food that would cause people to cram into each other so! We were promptly seated and as the hostess took us back, I discovered she was taking us upstairs to an even tinier room where we were sat in the corner. The ambiance was so lively and animated that I didn't mind being in the corner one bit.
We quickly ordered a bottle of their house Sangiovese and celebrated that we had finally made it and were about to start our meal. I ordered a Caesar salad to start and my husband ordered a stuffed pepper. The Caesar salad was very good, I could definitely tell the dressing was made in house. It was not the best I've ever had but I would order again. My husband's pepper was stuffed with A LOT of cheese but he loved it and the tomato cream sauce was outstanding. For our main courses, we asked the waiter what pastas, if any, they made in house. He mentioned the raviolis, gnocchi and meatballs were all made fresh in the kitchen. So my husband ordered the gnocchi and I ordered the meat ravioli with tomato sauce. The gnocchi was very tasty but as with any gnocchi dish, became somewhat boring of the same taste & texture over and over again. He finished about half and I think if we come again we might order the small and split that dish. The meat ravioli with tomato sauce was the clear winner. The sauce was light and fresh and clearly had wine in it. I fell in love instantly. In my head, I quickly tried to figure out how to tweak my own tomato sauce recipe to mimic theirs, that's how good it was. The meat ravioli itself was prepared well and seemed to be cooked and seasoned perfectly. You could definitely tell it was fresh pasta. For dessert we were so stuffed that we ordered cups of coffee and were quite satisfied with that as well.
I will definitely come here again and know to plan ahead of time in terms of getting to this restaurant!!
