Matty Easton

LET ME PREACH THE GOOD WORD OF NOB HILL CAFE: the Penne Bettola is the pasta of your DREAMS. Creamy sauce. Chewy mouthfeel. Slightly spicy zing. From literally the first bite, I was already talking about coming back to eat it again. TRY THE PENNE BETTOLA!!!! The service was friendly and made us feel like neighborhood locals. There were families and couples alike dining together and made for the perfect dinner sport before a quick walk to the Masonic for a show. We also loved the Caesar salad, though we’d skip the chicken parm next time — it was a bit greasy and didn’t spark joy. The Penne Bettola, though? Now THAT sparked joy 🤤 They don’t accept reservations, and we waited about 10 minutes for a table for two. Not bad at all. The seating outside had heat lamps, though we were lucky and got a cute table next to the open kitchen. We loved watching them cook! This restaurant feels like stepping into a truly San Franciscan establishment. Looking forward to eating there again soon.

+3

Fahad Emad

What a lovely little Italian restaurant. The place was full, but we were seated within 30 minutes. Soon I discovered why the place is highly rated. Freshly prepared food, great service and the 10/10 for flavor and taste Can’t wait to visit this place again

Debbie Bowman

A cosy Italian restaurant serving authentic dishes. Expect to wait (no reservations) but definitely worth it. A welcoming ambiance with a warmly lit interior and an outdoor seating area with a heater for the cooler weather. I had the Pollo Alla Parmigiana which was nicely presented and perfectly cooked. Highly recommend.

Shy hunter

Amazing service and food, it is a nice and quiet restaurant perfect for date night. Me and my husband just stumbled across this lovely restaurant and we will be coming back. I ordered the tortellini with sausage and my husband ordered the lasagna delicious. My server was nice and on top of it, he checked In frequently and her gave us great recommendations

Tim

Visiting from Sydney, Australia. This is the best Italian cuisine I have ever had the pleasure of eating 🇮🇹 We heard amazing things about Nob Hill Cafe so we waited patiently for a table whilst sipping on a cheeky (and delicious) Merlot. We were so excited when we were seated (and slightly hungry) so we may have over ordered... We started with a few appetizers, then moved onto pasta and finished on pizza! Everything on the menu looked incredible, it was so difficult to decide. Each bite was absolutely mouth watering. The service was impeccable and the pricing was spot on (great value). We cannot wait to visit again next time we are in San Francisco.

+3

Maya

I was very disappointed in the chicken parmigiana during a previous visit. It seemed like a leftover chicken breast covered in sauce and cheese atop boxed pasta. However, I enjoyed this pizza and the chocolate ganache. My companion enjoyed a Caesar salad with chicken.

David H

Found this adorable gem while looking for food near my stay at the Fairmont Hotel. I can see why the place filled up quickly after opening with a significant percentage of locals/regulars by the sound of things. The facility is small and simple (continuing with the post Covid outdoor eating hut) with quick friendly service. The vegetable soup and chicken park were authentic and quite tasty. Very much enjoyed the meal and am sure you will too. If I lived locally I would certainly visit frequently

+1

Darren Goacher

Overated, but maybe we just made poor menu choices. Food a bit bland, we had Lasagne and Chicken dishes. Busy, good atmosphere, service ok, but pricey for a relatively simple dish with no great flavor 😕 Glad we didn't spend more getting drinks.

R

Despite the OK service and the good location in Nob Hill, the food here is neither Italian nor acceptable. Very soupy lasagna that was cold inside and warm outside, clearly out of a microwave and not really appetising at all. The pizza was not horrible but not great either.

Visiting from London and popped in for an evening bite. From the outside the place looked great and I was lucky to get a spot by the window to soak up the atmosphere. I got the carrot soup, gnocchi and Tiramisu which was all just a bit flat really and devoid of flavour. Quite disappointing really as I thought this neighbourhood joint might go along the way of restoring my faith in US grub. Anyway I’m sure it’s a grand spot for a glass of wine.

Javokhir Abdurasulov

Absolutely terrible service before we even stepped inside. The host was rude, dismissive, and acted like guests were an inconvenience. We were told to wait outside “for the queue” with zero explanation, then completely ignored while trying to communicate. Messages were left unanswered, eye contact avoided, no effort to acknowledge us at all. This wasn’t busy-restaurant chaos — it was pure indifference. If this is how they treat people at the door, don’t expect hospitality inside.

paolo moreira

MY FRIEND KEPT TELLING ME ABOUT TUIS OKACE ABD DEFINITELY A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT I DID NOT LIKE THEIR FOOD OR THE SERVICE. THEY TAKE SO LONG FOR EVERYTHING. NOT COMING BACK

Ben Goacher

Lured here by the insane prices elsewhere for a plate of pasta, hopes were high when we were put on a wait list to get in. However those hopes were quashed when my Pollo Alla Riagianto came out and I started eating it. It's not that the food was inedible. I'm sure the ingredients were fresh and cooked thoroughly. However the food was so bland. The chicken was unseasoned. The tomato sauce had some herbs in it, but not enough, and not salt or pepper (there was no salt or pepper on my table either). It was most disappointing because it looked delicious, it just didnt have any flavour. Maybe my European taste buds aren't adjusted to bland white american food, as the Americans seem to have about how great this place is. But if I served that dish in my own home I would be embarrassed, let alone charging $35 a head (including tip).