2 Best Restaurants in San Francisco, California

From the idyllic hazelnut budino to the pappardelle with short rib ragù, this longtime power dining favorite's menu is a delectable paean to northern Italy. With a long marble bar and open kitchen, this brick-lined, ultra polished space oozes big-city charm, attracting business types and Italian food aficionados alike to the FiDi well after evening rush hour ends. Next door is its equally excellent, slightly more casual sibling, Barbacco.

The COVID-19 pandemic's outdoor dining requirement led San Franciscans to discover the city's premier patios—like the one at this Presidio Heights stalwart. Whether you're dining on that patio or in the elegant dining room, Italian and seasonal Californian cooking mingle together on the menu. Each night's selections mix staple dishes—game hen cooked under a brick, pici (a long, thick pasta) Bolognese—and new creations like Dungeness crab with tarragon oil and dragon fruit. The wine list showcases several excellent choices from across California and Italy, but the real strength comes from its collection of northern Italian bottles.