SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — A San Francisco pizza joint was named one of the best places to grab a slice in America, according to a list released by Trips to Discover.
Del Popolo has been offering wood-fired pizza since 2012, according to its website. It originally launched as a mobile restaurant but opened its brick-and-mortar location on Bush Street in Nob Hill in 2015, the restaurant stated.
Del Popolo was ranked on the list among three other restaurants in California, both in Los Angeles: Mulberry Street Pizza in Beverly Hills and Pizzeria Mozza in L.A.
With 980 reviews on Google Reviews, Del Popolo has 4.4 stars. Reviewers rave about the food, service and atmosphere of the place and recommend making reservations for dine-in.
“Hands down some of the best pizza I've ever had. Classic Neapolitan pizza with a soft chewy dough and crust. Tried the Asparagus pizza and loved the slight hint of pesto and lemon. Topped off with the Basque cheesecake which was truly sublime,” Sana shared on Google reviews.
“And i thought innovations with pizza are over. Surprise!! Del Popolo is no regular pizza,” said Kushal on Google reviews. “Mouthwatering flavours with perfect textures to the bite. I can't wait to go back and try the rest on the menu. I think my favourite pizza place in SF. Great interiors, warm and friendly service, Nice date spot too.”
A brief customer intro to the outside and inside of Rocco's Cafe San Francisco CA.
Rocco's Cafe South of Market 1131 Folsom St. (between 7th & 8th) San Francisco CA 94103 415-554-0522
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My mother passed away this past week (I'm predating this from June 18), and for some reason one of the things that came into my mind recently was a memory of a particular day long ago when my mom took me to eat at Rocco's back when it was located on Geneva and Mission in SF. She loved the sandwiches there. Coscarelli is actually of Calabrese origin. There's no longer a great enthusiasm for Italian food in San Francisco. Of course, the hipsters have their places, other communities prefer to stick with their own food, and it's just sort've hit and miss now... a few sporadic places for the most part... a few of the old legacies still. I can't vouch for Rocco's now, but I'll probably make my way there sometime in the next few weeks.
My friend Kenneth Sproul is a San Franciscan who worries that the city is losing its soul. He scours the town looking for old-school restaurants, which serve plain but honest meals with a splash of nostalgia sauce on the side.
Most people know about Sam’s, the Tadich Grill, the Swan Oyster Depot, Original Joe’s and the Hang Ah Tea Room. But Sproul has introduced me to places like the Gold Mirror, out on Taraval, the Seven Mile House, just over the county line near the Cow Palace, and the late, lamented Bonanza, which used to be next to a defunct bakery in an industrial district in the southern corner of the city. They all have a certain style, hard to define — the city as it used to be.
“I know another great place,” he said the other day. “It’s Rocco’s Cafe, on Folsom Street between Seventh and Eighth. It’s Italian. It’s South of Market before it became SoMa.”
Rocco’s is in the seam among two or three different versions of San Francisco. Eighth and Folsom is the eastern boundary of the Leather Belt, celebrated at the Folsom Street Fair, which describes itself as “an-only-in-San Francisco event, where 400,000 fetishists gather every year.” Seventh Street is another frontier: an emerging tech neighborhood where nerds are king. An industrial remnant of another time is still there, too.
If it sounds confusing, that’s because it is. “I’m old-school in the middle of a new city,” said Don Dial, the owner and head chef at Rocco’s. “I’m North Beach in South Beach.”
Dial has owned Rocco’s for 27 years now.
“I was a kid, 25 years old, when I started here,” he said. “I’d been in the business, and I wanted my own place.”
He looked all over until he found a broken-down joint on Folsom. “There were no customers, all the windows were broken, and the place was a wreck,” Dial recalled. “The owner wanted $125,000 for the business. I offered him 25 grand, and he threw me out. But I looked up his record with the health department, and it was awful. So I got it for $43,000.”
He named it after his grandfather, Rocco Coscarelli, who was born in Italy, came to California in 1920, worked as a waiter at the Fior d’Italia in North Beach, and eventually opened the first Rocco’s at Geneva Avenue and Mission Street.
Dial’s family was all cooks, waiters, owners, restaurant people. His aunt owned the Monte Carlo in the Bayview, and his uncle ran the food operation at the Italian American Social Club just off Mission in the Excelsior.
“My father and mother met over a roast beef sandwich at the original Rocco’s,” Dial said. “We’re talking about 80 years of my family in the restaurant business.”
Dial is a big man, 53 years old. He has a bluff manner, and no one would say he’s shy. He cooks in the open kitchen most days. Like most Italian restaurants of this style, it’s a show — flames flaring up, steam from boiling water, the cook whirling from one task to another. Some customers like to sit at the counter and watch — a good idea because it’s only a 40-seat place and the tables fill up at busy times.
“We do all right,” Dial said, and he’s happy to tell you why. Hard work is the key.
“I had to do it all myself,” he said. “When I first started, I worked from 5 a.m. to 2 a.m. No kidding. At first, when things were slow, I went outside, in my chef coat, like a barker at a girlie show in North Beach. ‘Come on in,’ I said. ‘Spend 20 bucks. What have you got to lose?’”
It was dangerous on Folsom back then. “Underground sex clubs, meth labs,” Dial said. But the area turned around. The Giants ballpark did it, he thinks. Now this part of the city is SoMa, with “garden apartments” in formerly dank alleys selling for close to $800,000.
“They are building luxury condos across the street,” Dial said. “A million and a half bucks each.”
He shakes his head. “I don’t like what’s happening to this city,” he said. “It’s the tech capital of the world. People are coming here from all over. Pretty soon it will be a cross between New York and Hawaii.”
Though many of his customers are techies, Dial refuses to put in free Wi-Fi and scowls at laptops. “I think people should put down the computer and enjoy each other’s company,” he said.
So how’s the food? The portions are large, the dishes are hearty, the kind of meal your Aunt Josefina would like. But maybe not your foodie cousin Jennifer.
I had ravioli and meatballs for lunch the other day. My companion had minestrone soup and a side order of calamari. “How’s the lunch, honey?” the waitress asked. “Good,” he said. “Old school.”
Calabrese specialties, homemade pasta & an extensive list of Italian wines in a relaxed setting.
SAN FRANCISCO Paxti's Pizza Enjoy the best deep dish and thin crust pizza from Patxi's. Sociale Northern Italian eatery serving seasonal fare in an intimate setting accessed via a side alley. Luisa's Pizza and Pasta Narrow trattoria with white brick walls and streetside dining serving pizza and red sauce Italian eats. Arinell Pizza Slices and pies are the draw at this New York-style pizzeria. Haystack Pizza Casual, veteran spot serving traditional Italian dishes & pizza in family-size portions. Escape From New York Pizza The best pizza delivery in San Francisco. 6 SF locations. Goat Hill Pizza 3 SF locations Trattoria da Vittorio
Calabrian-inspired pizzas & handmade pastas star at this cozy eatery with brick and stone accents.
From 'Daly News' (Daly City, CA) 'Original Joe's of Westlake is now open After closing its doors two years ago, we are pleased to announce that the iconic local restaurant , which originally opened in 1956, has now reopened after extensive renovations. The owners of Original Joe's in San Francisco bought the Italian-American restaurant, a Henry Doelger-designed 10,000 square foot building, which is the centerpiece of the entire Westlake neighborhood on John Daly Boulevard. With the renovations, diners will now be able to see from room to room. The famous bar, to the left of the entrance, still has a fireplace and televisions, but also fewer tables and a new sight line to the main dining area. Similarly, the adjacent Cascade Room has been opened up with big windows letting in natural light. The main dining room still revolves around the counter and the charcoal grill, and the booths are outfitted in green leather. The menu will be similar to what it was before, with fresh pasta and ravioli prepared on site. The prices, however, will be more on par with Original Joe's in San Francisco's menu. For the latest updates, check out the restaurant's Facebook page at facebook.com/originaljoeswestlake.
Julius Castle - now re-opened - completely remodeled Established 1922 Historical registered San Francisco registered landmark Italian-French Cuisine Breathtaking view of San Francisco Bay Call for reservations 415-392-2222 Dinner 7 days a week - seating from 5:00 to 9:30 PM Saturday and Sunday Brunch - seating from 10:00 to 3:00 PM 1541 Montgomery Street on Telegraph Hill .
Just a shot of Half Moon Bay; obviously that's not the place.
Half Moon Bay Joe's Restaurant I had lunch at this restaurant yesterday, for the first time in a long time. I think I can give some type of reasonable review based on yesterday, past experience, and getting a further idea from reviews. Half Moon Bay is a nice town to visit in general, a basically rural area of San Mateo County along the coast, easy to reach via 92 West. Half Moon Bay Joe's is located right along Highway 1 (2380 S. Cabrillo). It's a very clean and comfortable location just visually, parking-wise, and there's a lot of elbow room inside.. especially during non-breakfast/lunch/dinner hours. The large windows all along three sides provides a bright, cheerful atmosphere; as well as its sizable booths along the outer perimeter. It's open daily from 7 AM to 10 PM. It's an Italian restaurant with a number of seafood items. They have pretty much anything you would look for. I'm old enough to remember some local Italian restaurants where the founding family actually ran the day-to-day operations, and that's true with Joe's. There's perhaps some Catalan/Argentine connection to the family I think.
There's a sizable breakfast menu, and many pragmatic lunch and dinner dishes. It has a solid "4" rating, and deserves more like a 4.5. Some of those Yelp reviewers take themselves way too seriously, so 4 out of 5 is a very good rating. The prices are reasonable and they serve you a lot. I think it's great. You won't go away hungry. From past times I have visited there, the sauce was something that I specifically remember. I had a Calamari steak sandwich yesterday, which came with fries and a choice of salad or clam chowder. The sandwich was good, with two big halves served, each double-thick. I had New York-style cheesecake for dessert, and it was big and very tasty without being too rich. The person with me ordered a reuben sandwich, and thought it was great. The good-sized menu is on the link above. The meal came pretty fast too, and the staff was extremely friendly, polite, and helpful without overdoing it. I would really recommend it. .
Being keenly interested in Argentina, I took notice recently while driving down Ocean Avenue in San Francisco when I saw the sign "Caffe D'Melanio - Argentinean Italian Cuisine." I dined there this past week, and wanted to review it. A quick glance at yelp.com showed inconsistent reviews, but mostly very positive. The establishment is both a coffee shop and deli during the day, and a restaurant and bar in the evening. It was named after the Argentine-expatriate owner Melanio Duarte, who passed away a couple of years ago, and seemed to live a very interesting life. I don't know if there is any Italian heritage connection or not; a person doesn't have to be Italian to serve Italian food, and certainly it is a very prominent culture in Argentina. I noticed while quickly scanning the reviews, and from my own experience there, that's it's a difficult place to "review." It comes down to personal preference. I went on a weeknight at 5:30 PM, and we were the only ones there except for a person to two at the bar. It's a spacious place with a high ceiling, and well maintained, with a mixture of modern equipment and rustic art on the walls that reminded me of what I at least perceived to be South American. There was a type of monitor near one side playing oldies with the volume low at this time, with trivia, etc. I got the impression that they had been busy with coffee all day, and were making the transition to the restaurant part of the business. There was a bar near the entrance with big coffee blenders. They seem to cater to college students during the day, and there is a Wifi available.
I'm not familiar with "Italian-Argentinian cuisine," so I wasn't certain what items may have been Argentinian; but to me it looked like Italian and eclectic items (ex. Greek salad). Wine was available and they brought bread. I ordered the Chicken Pesto Ravioli and the other person ordered the salmon. My order was $11, but they have a nightly special which was about $6. I thought the homemade pomodoro sauce was very good, and the ravioli's were large and tasty. If you have a big appetite, then you probably should get an appetizer as well. It was pretty adequate food, although not a big menu.
Being a "politicophobe," I didn't care for the political statement(s) on the wall though. Then I had remembered when I scanned the article above, that the founder was a political activist who had fled to Brazil, then fled there apparently. Personally, I can't see a dime's worth of difference between far-right dictatorships and far-left dictatorships in Latin America. Anyway, what's the rule-of-thumb with strangers? "No religion and no politics." If this establishment was closer to places that I frequent more often, I would be more interested. I would like to go back to try their coffee. Basically, I liked it and its casual atmosphere. It looks like what you would think a cafe would appear like in Buenos Aires. It is like a little touch of the cone of South America. .
1001 Minnesota St. (at 22nd Street)
San Francisco
Tel. (415) 824-4224 Map | www.piccinocafe.com
Before Piccino opened, few people, other than the area's
residents, knew the Dogpatch neighborhood. Last year, owners Sher Rogat
and Margherita Stewart Sagan moved the restaurant into much larger
quarters in an old Victorian. They also lured MAC clothing into an
adjoining space, developed a wine bar-shop called Dig, and opened
Piccino coffee bar. The restaurant has become a destination for the
Cal-Ital food produced by Rachel Sillcocks. Pizza, with a thin, golden
and crisp crust, is at the heart of the menu, but Sillcocks creates some
exceptional appetizers, salads, soups and a single large plate a night.
Thanks to Piccino, Dogpatch is now on the culinary map.
Specialties: Pizza with mushrooms, stracchino and shaved
garlic; pork and beef meatballs; pan-seared black cod with purple
cauliflower.
Hours
Open continuously for lunch and dinner 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Friday-Sunday;lunch 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, dinner 5-10 p.m.
Tuesday-Thursday. Closed Monday.
Cuisines
Italian
Pizza
Features
Beer and wine
Corkage ($15)
Credit Cards: Accepted
Disabled Access
Parking: Street (Difficult during the day, easy at night.)
Opening the wildly popular Cotogna next door allowed Michael
and Lindsay Tusk to further refine their elegant flagship restaurant.
Pasta is always a standout, with combinations such as cappellacci filled
with quail and served with flowering rapini, pine nuts and golden
raisins. Other dishes are equally astounding. Lindsay Lindsay Tusk has
reconfigured the elegant dining room, a warehouse-size space made
intimate with dark wood and given sparkle with glittery chandeliers, by
removing 15 seats; she also redecorated the lounge to make it more
comfortable. While there's only a fixed-price menu in the restaurant,
there are a la carte offerings in the lounge, including a Parmesan
cheese tasting.
Specialties: Menu changes nightly.
Hours
Dinner 5-10 p.m. nightly.
Cuisines
California
Italian
Features
Corkage ($25)
Credit Cards: Accepted
Disabled Access
Full Bar
Bar Bites
Seating (65 (plus 10 at the bar, 16 in the lounge)
As a hotel restaurant, Sante walks the line between elegant
and casual, weighing the demands of Sonoma Mission Inn guests and those
who come just to dine. Andrew Cain has done that masterfully with his
upscale take on some familiar favorites such as his "grown up macaroni
and cheese"; it mixes orecchiette with lobster, black truffles and Val
d'Aosta fontina. The restaurant overlooks the swimming pool and has a
casual spa-like air, but the tables are set for luxury. The restaurant
features a three- or four-course menu, plus a chef's tasting menu; a la
carte pricing is available on request. The impressive wine list, like
the food, is locally sourced.
Specialties: Seasonal cheese selections (up to 30);
seasonal offerings such as lamb with braised shoulder, and cannelloni
with artichokes, carrots and white bean puree.
Hours
Dinner 6-9:30 p.m. nightly.
Cuisines
California
French
Features
Corkage ($25)
Credit Cards: Accepted
Disabled Access
Full Bar
High Chairs
Live music
Parking: Valet (Free at dinner)
Seating (120 (plus 20 on patio in the summer)
Reservations: Accepted
Overall
Price
Noise
Food
Service
Ambience
Zuni Cafe
1658 Market St. (near Franklin)
San Francisco
Tel. (415) 552-2522 Map | www.zunicafe.com
Even after more than 30 years in business, this restaurant is
the place to send people who want to be surrounded by the San Francisco
ethos. The food has the clean but soulful notes one expects, attracting
a wide range of diners including politicians, artists, celebrities,
business executives and a good number of tourists. They all seem to
casually mingle over oysters, Caesar salad and the wood-fired chicken
prepared by Judy Rodgers and her crew. Insider's tip: Try the margarita.
The interior has a rustic but dramatic loft-like feel so unique, it
couldn't be duplicated anywhere else.
Specialties: Oysters; Caesar salad; polenta with
mascarpone; house-cured anchovies; house-ground hamburger; wood
oven-roasted whole chicken; espresso granita.
Hours
Tues-Sat 11:30 a.m.-midnight; Brunch Sun 11:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m., dinner Sun 5-11p.m.
4395 Piedmont Ave. (at Pleasant Valley Road)
Oakland
Tel. (510) 601-0305 Map | www.dopoadesso.com
It seems just about every restaurant these days offers
house-made salumi, but no place does it better than this compact Oakland
restaurant. Owner Jon Smulewitz was inspired by the aperitivo bars in
Bologna and has recreated that feel in an industrial-looking space near
his other Italian gem, Dopo. Chad Arnold creates up to 40 kinds of cured
meats on a menu that includes pates, antipasti, oysters, cheese,
dessert and exceptional cocktails. Every meat is distinctive -- you can
taste the fennel, garlic and red wine in the Abruzzo,; the vanilla and
anise in the Felino. Early in the evening and late at night, look for
free platters of salumi to go with cocktails and wine.
Specialties: Any of the house-made salumi; pates such as duck liver mousse in a jar; 18-month-old prosciutto; any cocktail.
Hours
Dinner 5 p.m.-midnight Monday-Wednesday, until 1 a.m. Friday-Saturday.
Cuisines
Italian
Features
Beer and wine
Credit Cards: Accepted
Open Late
Seating (50)
Bar Bites
Reservations: No
Overall
Price
Noise
Food
Service
Ambience
Flour + Water
2401 Harrison St. (at 20th Street)
San Francisco
Tel. (415) 826-7000 Map | www.flourandwater.com
Even after nearly three years, getting a seat at this small
Italian restaurant hasn't gotten any easier. While half the restaurant
is open for walk-ins, if you don't get at the door well before the 5:30
p.m. opening, you're in for a long wait. However, people don't seem to
mind once they fork into Thomas McNaughton's pasta with smoked duck and
fresh horseradish or his classic take on the Piedmontese agnolotti dal
plin. He also offers great pizza, a couple of main courses and some of
the best Italian-inspired desserts in the city. The casual interior has a
soulful quality, with stained-glass accents from the still-missed Myth,
rustic ceiling beams and handsome walnut tables.
Specialties: Pasta tasting menu, featuring five pastas,
appetizer and dessert ($60); chocolate budino tart with espresso caramel
cream.
Hours
Dinner 5:30 p.m.-midnight nightly.
Cuisines
Italian
Pizza
Features
Beer and wine
Credit Cards: Accepted
Open Late (until midnight Thursday-Saturday)
Parking: Street (Fairly easy)
Seating (40 (plus 19 in the lounge))
Reservations: Accepted
Overall
Price
Noise
Food
Service
Ambience
Pesce
2227 Polk St. (near Vallejo)
San Francisco
Tel. (415) 928-8025 Map | www.pescesf.com
Venetian-inspired seafood is what sets this Polk Street
restaurant apart from other Italian places. Chef-owner Ruggero Gadaldi,
who also owns Beretta and Delarosa, offers a unique take on cicchetti,
small plates such as grilled sardines, tuna conserva with a three-bean
salad, or an Italian take on cioppino. The few larger plates include
whole roast fish, and spaghetti with lobster, saffron, tomato and brandy
cream sauce. You'll also find a few meat dishes, including milk-braised
pork with gnocchi. The comfortable interior features a zinc bar, teak
shelving, mahogany paneling and hexagonal floor tiles.
Specialties: Warm octopus salad with potatoes; crab
tower; fennel and arugula salad; squid ink risotto; pappardelle with
duck; sgroppino (a dessert drink).
Hours
Dinner 5-9:30 p.m. Sun.-Thurs., until 11 p.m. Fri.-Sat.
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