Mona Lisa Mare e Monti

Everything on the menu is the best of flavor,quality and beyond value. I feel like I'm family every time I walk in. The wait staff is friendly and can always pick a great wine to go with your meal. The owner Maricio has a smile with a welcoming hand shake. I've yet to order a dish I didn't like. Thank you Mona Lisa!

ASHOUSTON

Stopped in here for dinner in December 2025 (right before New Years). It was recommended. I was visiting SFO and figured why not. The location is relatively easy to find or get to especially if using Uber (or Waymo). Reservations recommended, but walk-ins are possible as I did see a few who did. The restaurant is definitely all about the Italian cuisine and ambiance. Potraits and renditions of Mona Lisa drape the walls. Lots of themed Italian art pieces and decorations. The service was good. The waitstaff attentive and timely. The food was equally good however, it was 'expected'. I mean the options are regular dishes you find in just about any Italian restaurant. It was well made and cooked and very tasty. Almost homemade like. Will try it out again when in the area.

Tonia Hosana

⸻ I’m writing this review for Monalisa because of an experience that truly stood out. I had just arrived in San Francisco and went to dinner with a friend. By the time we got to the restaurant, it was already 10:45 PM. Since things close early, the kitchen was already closed. When we told the waiter that we had made a reservation through OpenTable and had come specifically to eat, he kindly explained that the kitchen was closed. However, seeing that we were clearly hungry and considering the late hour, he said he would check to see what he could do for us. To our surprise, the waiter, the owner, and everyone who welcomed us were incredibly kind and accommodating—even though the restaurant was already about to close. They prepared a lovely meal for us with burrata, different cured meats, and other cold options, just so we wouldn’t go hungry. They also made drinks for us and treated us with so much care and warmth. I had planned to come back the next day to try the full menu, but due to the rush of my trip, I wasn’t able to return. That’s still something I definitely want to do when I’m back in San Francisco. Even without having tried the full kitchen menu, I highly recommend this restaurant—especially because of the owner and the entire staff, whose names I sadly don’t remember, but who were simply amazing. For me, Monalisa gets a 10/10 just for the service alone. The food and drinks they prepared for us at the last minute were exceptional. This is a fully positive review, and I’m absolutely certain that when I return to San Francisco, Monalisa will be one of my first stops to finally experience the full menu.

S

Dined here on a Saturday evening for dinner and the place was chaos. Somehow got seated immediately though, and the service was great and attentive. We ordered a variety of dishes and everything was delicious! I especially loved their gnocchi and pizza. Dessert was great too. Interior was cozy and loved the decor. Definitely one of the better spots in this very competitive area!

Dorie S

Nice find, great Italian food. Service was slow but I think they were short on staff so don't blame them.

Frank Zepeda

Everything on the menu is the best of flavor,quality and beyond value. I feel like I'm family every time I walk in. The wait staff is friendly and can always pick a great wine to go with your meal. The owner Maricio has a smile with a welcoming hand shake. I've yet to order a dish I didn't like. Thank you Mona Lisa!

Y Sun

I discovered this restaurant while searching for good food in San Francisco, and the name caught my attention. After seeing so many great reviews, I decided to give it a try. We were seated immediately upon arrival, and the waiter’s recommendations of pasta and pizza were spot on. The mozzarella cheese on the Parma pizza was incredibly fresh and delicious, and the meat sauce on the pasta was flavorful and satisfying. Service was quick, and the food was excellent. Highly recommend!

KingRockabilly1

Absolutely amazing! The best Chicken Piccatta I've ever had. The butter/pepper buccatini was out of this world! Don't miss this place. It was so good.

Yassi Sadri

Amazing authentic Italian food. I will start by saying the service was absolutely perfect. The waiter didn’t let our glasses to be one sip empty, everyone was addressed as Bella with great attitude. I had the privilege to meet the owner and he is awesome. We tried fried calamari, burrata Fresca (which by the way gets imported every week from Italy), the crab arancini (out of this world delicious), and many other menu entree which were all amazing. Highly recommend this place.

Brian Lewis

One of the 3 great Mona Lisa restaurants at Columbus & Vallejo. Top food and wine lists. The owners and staff here make the whole experience, I love sitting at the bar here and watching how happy they make everyone. They have a table for about 20 here for large groups.

We had a fabulous experience at Mona Lisa. The service was fantastic, and our dinner was amazing. Lobster ravioli in a tomato cream sauce, pappardelle pasta with slow cooked wild boar, and pappardelle with Italian sausage and vodka cream sauce were all simply delicious. I had a Smokey old fashioned. Don’t even ask, just order it. But the absolute over-the-top, hands down five star rating comes because of delightful bartenders Jules and Bobbi. They create one of the best bar environments I’ve ever experienced. They are fun, hilarious, make a great drink, entertain a crowd, keep up with everyone and were a delight to banter with. We have a new favorite spot in North Beach. Can’t wait to return.

Excellent restaurant. I tried the calamari appetizer, the large appetizer that comes in a tower, the seafood pasta and Leonardo pasta. Everything was delicious. Service was also very good. We ate inside of the restaurant and it was beautifully lit. I had great ambience. You can make your reservation on OpenTable. We get there early at 6 PM and at that time there were many tables available, but by 7 o’clock it was full.

Great experience. We came in really late, only 30 minutes or so to close. I could tell they were ready to go. Despite this they gave amazing service and wonderful food. One of the best filet mignon I've had ever. Definitely recommend!

Kaleen Deatherage

We had a fabulous experience at Mona Lisa. The service was fantastic, and our dinner was amazing. Lobster ravioli in a tomato cream sauce, pappardelle pasta with slow cooked wild boar, and pappardelle with Italian sausage and vodka cream sauce were all simply delicious. I had a Smokey old fashioned. Don’t even ask, just order it. But the absolute over-the-top, hands down five star rating comes because of delightful bartenders Jules and Bobbi. They create one of the best bar environments I’ve ever experienced. They are fun, hilarious, make a great drink, entertain a crowd, keep up with everyone and were a delight to banter with. We have a new favorite spot in North Beach. Can’t wait to return.

Alishah Novin

Mona Lisa's food was delicious. Authentic Italian with options you don't typically find in many Italian restaurants. Pasta was cooked perfectly, and accompanied with an amazing sauce. They were super accommodating to our large out-of-town group that needed a late dinner and while there were wide range of dietary restrictions, everyone had a good range of options. Loved the vibe - fancy without feeling stuffy.

Came here for dinner and it wasn’t too crowded — we got seated right away. The tables are a bit close together and seating feels slightly tight, but nothing uncomfortable. The place was clean overall. We ordered two pastas, a pizza, and two glasses of wine and were definitely full by the end. The pasta sauce is house-made and actually really good — you can tell some care went into it. We didn’t order an expensive wine, so the red wine was pretty standard. Overall a solid spot. Would come back again and would recommend it to friends.

Complimentary --------------- Bread is excellent but needs butter. Because I don't like the Olive paste or the oil and vinegar. Waiting for food and service is a long time. So this is great for a conversation place. But if you're by yourself, it's not good unless there's nobody in the restaurant. 64° or less outside, bring a jacket As it's cold inside EXCELENT Chianti wine- smooth Zuppa E Insalata ----------------- Insalata Alla Cesare-Caesar Salad. Homemade Pasta Con Carne --------------------------- Spaghetti Polpette- meatballs are perfect GOOD Sparkling water is Pellegrino. Zuppa E Insalata ----------------- Insalata Della Casa- ask for no olives. They put too many in unless you're an olive fan

They’ve moved locations and unfortunately the interior is no longer as charming as it used to me. Good was fine, the pesto pasta had more olive oil than needed, but I heard chicken parm was delicious. Great cappuccino and desserts. Oranger tiramisu is an interesting twist. Overall still a great spot but I do think their previous location is was more charming

Miu Takeshi

Came here for dinner and it wasn’t too crowded — we got seated right away. The tables are a bit close together and seating feels slightly tight, but nothing uncomfortable. The place was clean overall. We ordered two pastas, a pizza, and two glasses of wine and were definitely full by the end. The pasta sauce is house-made and actually really good — you can tell some care went into it. We didn’t order an expensive wine, so the red wine was pretty standard. Overall a solid spot. Would come back again and would recommend it to friends.

Lisa Alkova

They’ve moved locations and unfortunately the interior is no longer as charming as it used to me. Good was fine, the pesto pasta had more olive oil than needed, but I heard chicken parm was delicious. Great cappuccino and desserts. Oranger tiramisu is an interesting twist. Overall still a great spot but I do think their previous location is was more charming

Melinda Chan

We celebrated our first Valentine’s Day dinner here. Our tables were between two couples with very different outcomes for the evening. One was celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary and was sitting at their usual regular table every year while the other just met for a first date. The bill came, the girl dropped her portions and simply walked out and left the guy sitting there trying to figure out the rest. It was rather an interesting evening and we were hoping to return to this wonderful gem of a place again.

To be honest, it’s somehow a soulless pizza. Everything seems to be in place—the flavors are there, the dough was right, the cheese and toppings were all good—but it still felt a bit tasteless and plain. That said, the pizza was fresh, nicely baked, and clearly made with quality ingredients. If you do go, try the Diavola and the Margherita—those were probably the best among what we ordered. I’d recommend it if you’re nearby. Overall, an okay spot with decent pizza, even if it didn’t leave much of an impression.

Service was italian friendly, but order what you like because the recommendations was not satisfying. Lobster was only half not full like the picture over crab toranelli(better order the original menu's seafood toranelli) but the meat less than half (pictured) , unlike what's pictured in reviews. Dessert was not enticing. Almost ordered Tiramisu, but the waiter insisted so tried pictureless Lava Cake that was said the best, too heavy chocolate tasted cheap. Dessert charged more than stated in menu, probably because I asked raspberry instead of vanilla Gelato. Was just a spoon on top the not-edible lava cake. Great outdoor seating like the next door's original Parisian street Cafe style. Indoor was too simple compared to the original classic MonaLisa but way more quiet and spacious seating. $70 for this 2 course before tips Indoor noise, it depends.. expect regular Italian restaurant when Italian tables are around. But it was Tuesday early dinner so super quiet I got to have the half round booth just for myself but next to 3 Italian old women's

Ani Rafyan

To be honest, it’s somehow a soulless pizza. Everything seems to be in place—the flavors are there, the dough was right, the cheese and toppings were all good—but it still felt a bit tasteless and plain. That said, the pizza was fresh, nicely baked, and clearly made with quality ingredients. If you do go, try the Diavola and the Margherita—those were probably the best among what we ordered. I’d recommend it if you’re nearby. Overall, an okay spot with decent pizza, even if it didn’t leave much of an impression.

I visited Mona Lisa yesterday for dinner and unfortunately had a very disappointing experience. The service was terrible, the young man serving the water was extremely brusque and didn’t interact with customers at all. When we arrived, our server was actually sitting down instead of greeting us, which felt unprofessional. The food was also poor quality: everything was overly breaded and far too salty. We ordered two glasses of white wine, but the wine was spoiled it literally tasted like vinegar. On top of that, no one ever came to check on us or offered any recommendations throughout the meal. To make matters worse, parking is very difficult in the area, and we had to pay $20 just to park for one hour. Overall, this was a really disappointing experience and I would not recommend this place.

Maria Paula Castro Gomez

I visited Mona Lisa yesterday for dinner and unfortunately had a very disappointing experience. The service was terrible, the young man serving the water was extremely brusque and didn’t interact with customers at all. When we arrived, our server was actually sitting down instead of greeting us, which felt unprofessional. The food was also poor quality: everything was overly breaded and far too salty. We ordered two glasses of white wine, but the wine was spoiled it literally tasted like vinegar. On top of that, no one ever came to check on us or offered any recommendations throughout the meal. To make matters worse, parking is very difficult in the area, and we had to pay $20 just to park for one hour. Overall, this was a really disappointing experience and I would not recommend this place.

golriz nobari

We came here for dinner with family and left pretty disappointed. The atmosphere wasn’t anything special, the food was very ordinary, and while the service was okay, it didn’t justify the price at all. We ordered two pasta dishes, one pizza, and a salad, and somehow the bill came out to $220 after an automatic 20% gratuity was added. For food and ambiance at this level, that price is simply unreasonable. Unfortunately, it’s not worth the cost and I wouldn’t come back.

Lasharra Robinson

Used to love this restaurant before they moved to the new location across the street. Staff was very friendly at first but once we were seated things took a drastic turn. We ordered drinks and appetizers which came out pretty fast but then our server only came to check on us maybe 2-3 times only when serving food the entire time we were there. Then at the end of dinner we noticed that they offered to pack other tables around us food up but did not ask us. WAYYYYY to expensive to be treated like we were at olive garden.

Ana Travel

I had an extremely negative experience at this restaurant, and I genuinely regret wasting both my time and money on what is clearly a tourist trap. The cheese ravioli and lobster ravioli were shockingly bad—indistinguishable from Trader Joe’s frozen ravioli, and they tasted like they had been cooked the day before. The arugula salad had absolutely no flavor, and the bruschetta was mediocre at best. The only thing remotely enjoyable was the wine, and that’s only because it wasn’t made by the restaurant. To make matters worse, our table was placed directly next to a door that was constantly opening, blasting us with cold winter air and making the entire meal uncomfortable. What truly sealed the experience, however, was the behavior of an older gentleman stationed by the door. He was blatantly rude, walking around pointing his finger at guests—including us—and muttering to the wait staff. His attitude alone was enough to ruin the atmosphere. Overall, this restaurant was a complete disappointment. I would strongly advise others to avoid it.

Talia Silva

We used to love this restaurant, but things have really changed. We received our pizza with a bug in it. Looked like a small cockroach. Our server was unapologetic, said it must have been from the dining area (as if that makes it ok) and quickly walked away to get a new pizza. We didn't seem to have a choice in the matter. As we sat there waiting a cockroach climbed up the wall next to us. Our new pizza arrived but we were grossed out and wanted to leave. The server then offered free dessert to make up for our unexpected guests. 🪳 When I declined and requested the bill, he said he had already put in the dessert order and walked away. We were stuck. The next surprise came when we got the bill. We were charged full price when most of the food hadn't been eaten. Poor service to say the least, but this server really doubled down when he should have been mortified. *I've heard they are closing and will be merging with the other Mona Lisa across the street. You have been warned.