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Albona Ristorante Istriano
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
545 Francisco St(between Mason St & Taylor St)
San Francisco, CA 94133
Neighborhood: North Beach/Telegraph Hill
(415) 441-1040
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
317 reviews for Albona Ristorante Istriano
Review Highlights
-
"so i got a Strudel con pasta fatta in casa." In 25 reviews -
"Pan-fried potato gnocchi." In 9 reviews -
"Oh, btw, free valet was awesome too." In 27 reviews
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316 reviews in English
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Review from Chelsea J.
Seattle, WA
5/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
Dinner at Albona was easily one of the best meals I've ever had the pleasure of enjoying.
Everything from start to finish was absolutely perfect including the ambiance, service, and of course the food.
The two of us had a Bloomspot deal which we paid $70 for a $120 4 course meal. The deal was a great buy and gave us the chance to try Albona out when we wouldn't have heard of them otherwise. The voucher included 2 appetizers, one pasta dish to share, 2 entrees, and 2 desserts.
The chef was extremely welcoming and gracious. He welcomed us as we arrived and came over and chatted us up for about 10 minutes as we were finishing up the meal. He seemed genuinely interested in us and how we enjoyed the meal.
Our server did an excellent job. He was attentive, knowledgeable, and very pleasant and friendly.
We had the scallops, gnocchi, and ravioli for to start. I had the veal shank and my cousin had the salmon special. Both entrees were exquisite. The veal shank melted in my mouth and was beautiful to look at. Served with warm risotto the dish was a large portion and as good as a piece of meat gets.
The scallops were very tender and delicious. The ravioli was definitely the best I've had- divine!
For dessert I had the tiramisu and it was amazing. So good. I could go on and on about how good Albona was. We had a bottle of Pinot Noir from Italy. The bottle was about $42 and was very tasty. Our server recommended it to us and was proud to serve us the wine. He even gave us each a free glass of the same wine once our bottle was gone!
The owner actually thanked us for buying the Bloomspot deal which I have never experienced before. As the other reviewer mentioned, many times owners and servers have a negative reaction to a deal but this was completely different. They are opening a second Albona in Bend which I look forward to trying.
Thank you for the perfect meal on our first night in San Francisco! It was a meal I will never forget.Listed in: Favorites, San Francisco Favorites
-
Review from Des D.
Corte Madera, CA
5/17/2012
I really wanted to like this place and things started well but we hit some major snags along the way.
Nice looking restaurant, with about 15-20 tables.
We parked outside the restaurant, thinking it had valet as the kerb was marked for loading. Came into the restaurant to check with the staff, it took about 5 minutes to get anyone's attention (a minor infraction) and this was with only one table in use. But they said no issue stay parked. Which was nice as i was ready to hunt down some parking while my family sat.
We were seated, TABLE #2, and it really took a while for the staff to get things together. Ordering wine took a while and we had to ask twice for one of the beers, (okay again a minor infraction). Wine list needs some work and could do with more wines within the $50-$100 range rather than at $50/$100.
Chef came out chatted about the specials and what he could create. That was nice.
We ordered appetizers and the chef also sent out a complimentary salad. Yet another nice jester.
3 of 4 entrees came. Now the snags get a tad above minor. My entrees came - wrong order - lamb chops and not the veal shank. We were questioned were we sure, we said we told our waitress twice and the wrong order had mustard which i don't eat. No acknowledgment or apology, but i will say that's a minor infraction. We saw her go back to her station look at the order she had written down and realise she had messed up. As the others ate i waited, about 10 minutes, before another waiter came by to say my meal was on its way. Yet another 10 minutes passed and my family were essentially done. I had to go to the kitchen to find our waiter and ask he cancel my order and just bring the bill. 10 more minutes passed before this new waiter said he was bringing out the meal and it would be free. Nice but we are done and ready to leave.
What i ate and my family ate was good. That said the service was worse than spotty from our waitress and the fact she dealt so badly with the order was inexcusable.
The bill came and the only thing that was comped was my meal which i didnt touch.
I cant recommend going back and may be this was a once in a life time issue. Given this bill was $220 for 3 meals and a mid-cost wine, 2 stars is more than they deserve -
Review from Robert G.
West Bloomfield Township, MI
5/13/2012
I was in San Fran with my dad for a little bonding before I got married. We went out diving to see great white sharks! After a long day and long shower, we were starving. We walked out of the hotel and I pulled out my handy dandy iPhone with the Yelp app.
I was like this place looks awesome, so we started walking. The place was packed, we said we were from out of town, and it wasn't like it was on our radar or anything, but they said "No no, please wait. We'll make room for you."
We had an incredible meal, amazing service, and the owner (or manager, or someone like that) even stopped by and chatted us up for 5/10 minutes, including the Italian/Croatian background of the place.
I can't wait to go back! -
Review from Connie C.
Berkeley, CA
5/21/2012
I'm really not sure why this restaurant is rated so high. Came in with a bloomspot deal for a 4-course meal for 2. I wouldn't say they treated us any differently in terms of service because we had a bloomspot but there were moments in the meal where I did feel slightly offended.
Appetizer:
We got the scallops and the squid. The scallops came in this strange broth that didn't go well with the scallops at all. The bf loves scallops and was highly disappointed with the dish. It was definitely cooked correctly but the sauce really killed it. On the other hand my squid was delicious and definitely the best part of the meal. However, this is where I felt slightly offended. Looking at the pictures other people have posted on yelp, it's clear that people were given 3 scallops and 3 pieces of squid but we were only given 2 pieces each. Really not that big of a deal especially considering we had to force ourselves to finish the scallops but I would have liked the full squid dish since it was so yummy...
Pasta:
We ordered the Strudel con pasta fatta in casa that everyone on yelp seemed to rave about and was not very impressed. The bf felt it tasted almost like a hot pocket but with better cheese. One thing that I did appreciate is that the they brought it to us in 2 separate plates since the bf and I were splitting it. However, the menu clearly said that it would be served with prosciutto but instead we were given what was obviously black forest ham. It even had the unmistakable black edges you see on black forest ham. As a result, it made the dish feel very cheap which was upsetting considering how good the cheese tasted.
Entree:
My lamb was a decent enough dish though very unmemorable. The bf got the veal which he said was tender but said he would definitely not pay $29 for it.
Dessert:
We shared the tiramisu and the panna cotta. Tiramisu was good but nothing WOW about it. Just good ol' tiramisu. Panna cotta was alright and I've definitely had better.
Service:
We didn't experience any of the amazing service that yelpers raved about. I wouldn't say they were rude but they definitely didn't go above and beyond. One thing that bothered me was at the beginning when we were handed our waters - I noticed that my glass had a small dead fly in it. When we mentioned this to the waitress she started questioning me when this happened because this had to have happened after they gave me the glass. (How am I supposed to know when it happened?) I was very surprised at this reaction especially since we had reassured her that it was alright but we would just like to have another glass.
Overall we were really disappointed especially since this was supposed to be our 5-year anniversary dinner. (we've both agreed to pretend it never happened and have our "real" 5-year anniversary dinner next weekend). I understand that the restaurant needs to make up the money that they lost from the bloomspot but how they skimped on little things like the quantity and quality really left a bad taste in our mouths. -
Review from Steven C.
5/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
We purchased a Bloomspot deal for a 4 course meal worth $120. Usually when I use these deals and i show up at the restaurant they are kinda like, "Ugh, they are using a coupon" and we seem to not get their top-notch service. At Albona that never happened and we were welcomed in right away. The main chef even said thank you for using Bloomspot!
We were greeted by the chef who was extremely friendly and very knowledgeable about the food. He was courteous, funny, and a joy to talk to.
We ordered:
Scallops and the filled squid for appetizer
Mussels / Shrimp Pasta to share
Lamb and Assortment of Seafood dish for entree
Everything we got was delicious! I would say the best thing we ate was the mussel pasta! I used the bread to wipe the plate clean. Having that Bloomspot deal totally made the trip worth it. Even without the coupon I would come back and eat here again because of the impeccable service and most of all, FOOD -
Review from Wopla F.
San Francisco, CA
5/20/2012
Make a reservation or prepare for a serious wait. Outside. Since there is ZERO space inside. Barely enough for the staff to get around, let alone have people lingering by the door.
The deep fried salmon rolls are really good. Also tried the pomegranate pork chop which is ok. But the real start entree was the cod. It simply melts in your mouth. I've never had anything like it before. Totally worth a trip or two back. -
Review from Steve L.
San Francisco, CA
5/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Synopsis: 3 stars for the food; bonus star for the friendly, attentive service.
Albona had been on my radar for many years, as I was curious about the twist Istrian cuisine would provide over classic Italian fare.
Based on the recommendations of other Yelpers, we tried the following dishes:
Chifeleti de mia nona con sugo de carne al cumin: pan-fried gnocchi in a brown sirloin sauce laced with cumin. This reminded us more of "big tator tots" rather than gnocchi, but was tasty! If you like tator tots, you should love this dish.
Strudel con pasta fatta in casa: fresh pasta roll filled with slices of prosciutto & Lappi cheese; baked in a casserole with toasted bread crumbs, béchamel, & tomato-cream sauce. Basically, an Istrian version of lasagne. We also enjoyed this dish - it's rich and tasty.
Stinco de videl a la Triestina: braised veal shank in a Burgundy wine and rosemary glaze served with soft polenta. It's hard to go wrong with braised meat, but the dish was not executed very well - at least on that night. The veal shank was slightly overcooked and under-seasoned, and the polenta tasted undercooked.
Sadly, we were too full for dessert. -
Review from Huitxilopshtly I.
San Francisco, CA
5/19/2012
I walk into different places on the bay area specially about Italian food . This restaurant has good food, and also service is pretty good. people give good references about taste and wine. the chef who's name is Samuel came out and offer us some nice appetizers. I CAN TELL THIS PLACE IS JUST DIFFERENT FROM WHAT I TRIED BEFORE. I ll recommend to everybody try it, you wont be disappoint it. thanks Tania for recommended food and desert!! great desert!! FIVE STARS
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Review from Brent T.
San Francisco, CA
4/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Unique food dishes that are wonderfully prepared. The restaurant has a cozy and romantic vibe it. Last night, the chef came out and introduced himself and told us that he would be personally cooking our food.
What we ordered:
Chifeleti de mia nona con sugo de carne al cumin
grandmother's specialty: pan-fried potato gnocchi in
a brown sirloin sauce laced with cumin- very tasty to start off the night
Calamai al forno con salsa marinara
squid stuffed with toasted bread crumbs, parsley, and garlic;
roasted in marinara sauce- this was the better of the two appetizers. I recommend this one.
Strudel con pasta fatta in casa
fresh pasta roll filled with slices of prosciutto & Lappi cheese; baked in a casserole with toasted bread crumbs, béchamel, & tomato-cream sauce- we were told that this is a unique dish. Delicious! I am glad this dish was recommended to us.
Capriolo a la Cacciatora con patate roste
Venison medallions with golden bell peppers coulis & Kalamata olives. This dish came out with asparagus spears instead of the bell peppers. Very good dish. Medium rare was recommended to us to ensure the meat wasn't tough.
Sorbetto de fragola- Strawberry sorbet
It's quality, not quantity here. -
Review from Jason G.
San Carlos, CA
5/11/2012
We were headed to Cobb's Comedy Club for a show, and our friends said they love this local Istrian (I had to look it up) restaurant, so we met them there for dinner.
Albona is a cozy local restaurant. It feels fancy yet warm and welcoming. The staff is very friendly and attentive.
The menu had a lot of items that looked interesting, but this is what we settled on:
Asparagus soup (of the day) - You know a soup is good when the bowl looks like it just came out of the cabinet when you're done eating. Smooth and flavorful.
Grandma's specialty pan-fried potato gnocchi in a brown sirloin sauce - The easy way to describe these is that they're fancy tater tots. Apologies to grandma, but this was just okay. Nothing wrong with it, but nothing that made me desire to order it again.
Caramelized pears with Fontina chesse and gastrique sauce - This was quite excellent. Every bit of it. I think my favorite was the fontina cheese.
Mushroom risotto - Prominent mushroom flavor was quite nice, but I like my risotto cooked a little more than this. A bit too crunchy for my taste (but it was my friend's dish, so it wasn't my place to comment on it to the wait staff.)
Strudel con pasta fatta in casa - fresh pasta roll filled with slices of prosciutto & Lappi cheese; baked in a casserole with toasted bread crumbs, béchamel, & tomato-cream sauce - My wife ordered this, and I was able to get a small bite before she scarfed the rest of it down. This had some nice flavors and was very rich. It might be a bit too rich for me to have eaten it myself, but the bite was very enjoyable.
Rack of Lamb - This was pretty amazing. A nice salty crust, and perfectly cooked meat. The potato, eggplant and pesto napoleon was a wonderful accompaniment.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable experience. We'll definitely look into another visit the next time we're in the area. -
Review from Shirin E.
San Francisco, CA
3/27/2012
I was really excited to check this place out based on the pictures, but they didn't have any of their fish dishes which were really what we were hoping to get :(
Every thing else was quite average I would say. I had the Strudel which was a small but rich dish. It was just ok! -
Review from Lorraine M.
Lancaster, PA
5/8/2012
Had a coupon deal for 4 course meal for 2. Dined on a Sunday evening, which I understand is one of their less busy nights, so the vibe was particularly intimate and romantic. I believe it was Sam who waited on us -- he was in a chef's coat and when I asked whether he was the owner he said he was the one who pays the bills. He was very gracious; thanked us for using the coupon deal. He gave us wine recommendations and everything we ordered was wonderful.: scallops and gnocchi for appetizers, mushroom risotto to share, veal shank and lamb chops as the entrees, tiramisu and biscotti (which we took along with us since we were so full) for dessert. Our server's passion for his restaurant and its food was obvious and infectious. Just a delightful dining experience.
-
Review from Rob T.
San Francisco, CA
4/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
One of the finest gems found in North Beach of San Francisco. If I could, this place gets more than five stars. The address is misleading by the way. If you ever map it, you get directed in an alley. The entrance is on the opposite side of the street. This restaurant is one of the finest restaurants I have ever eaten at. The space is small, and the establishment is always busy - according to our waiter - but quaint for that romantic evening (wink-wink). I digress, let me get back to the food... dinner was superb and I highly recommend anyone who adores Italian food to check this place out. Menu doesn't change very often (again, according to our waiter) but that's only because what the chef prepares becomes an instant favorite for their patrons, which make them come back all the time. Great wine selection, but don't be afraid to ask for your waiter's opinion on one. HAPPY EATING!
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Review from Eric B.
1/21/2012
Gayle and I braved a Friday Night rainstorm and an Occupy protest to come into the City and have Dinner at Albona with Ben P. and his lovely wife Amy. Both are moving to Miami next month, and this was a chance to talk about this exciting new chapter in their lives and to catch up since our last dinner together. I'm also hoping that after his move, Ben starts writing Yelp reviews again, regains his Elite Badge, and otherwise enhances the Magic City by his hard work and wicked smart personality. To get him started, Gayle and I presented him and Wifey a copy of Scarface (which includes a digital "F Bomb" counter).
Since we're from the Midwest, all 4 of us arrived early for our 7:30 PM dinner date. Some good neighbourhood parking Karma and a keen eye for locating Albona's understated exterior also helped. Gayle and I also learned quickly that Ben is a "regular" here, or as he joked, it's one of the few situations where his association with a restaurant is a good thing. The practical upshot was that we were well taken care during the evening, starting with a glass of Prosecco when we first sat down. That high level of service continued through 2 appetizers, a couple bottles of excellent red wine, the main courses, dessert, and being greeted and thanked by the Chef at the end. You would think that Ben and Amy were VIPs here, but I did make sure that we split the check even with all that charm, class, and wit that was flying around.
The dining room was well appointed, intimate, and was very conducive to the engaging and enjoyable 3 hour dinner conversation that ensued. Our lives intersect in various places (like St. Louis Park, MN) and it was fun to talk from various common frames of reference. The food was also fabulous, and when you combine that with the ambiance, the service, and the company, times like this make me wish I could throw in a 6th Star for Gestalt. -
Review from Jae C.
San Francisco, CA
4/5/2012
came here after buying a bloomspot coupon, 2 apps, 1 pasta, 2 entrees and 2 desserts for $69. best deal ever!
not only was the food spot on, the staff was very attentive and friendly.
i particularly enjoyed the gnocchi although it wasn't the traditional gnocchi i am used to but regardless it was delicious. the scallops and the panna cotta were also great!
this restaurant is nestled on a side street away from many of the other north beach area and really feels authentic and homey. had a great experience, definitely recommend it! -
Review from Kalynda G.
North Beach/Telegraph Hill, San Francisco, CA
3/18/2012
Highly recommend this restaurant if you would like an elegant yet friendly & relaxed environment to enjoy gourmet Italian food. We were warmly welcomed by all the staff and their service was impeccable. For food, I would recommend the pan-fried
gnocchi as an appetizer and ravioli stuffed with cheese, pine nuts, and golden raisins covered in a sage butter sauce for your entree. Yum! -
Review from ana m.
San Francisco, CA
3/14/2012
Loved everything about this place!
We had rugola salad with prosciutto and scallops for appetizers. Both are really good esp. scallops. Ravioli stuffed with three cheeses and braised rabbit as en entrees. Everything was delicius!
Also, their pana cotta is amazing!
The owner was extremly nice! -
Review from Hayne P.
2/12/2012
Late is better than never right? I'm so embarrassed, because this was from NYE dinner 2 years ago... Hah!
Anyways, the place was a little difficult to find, mostly because we didn't know what to expect. Outwardly, it didn't look like much. There were small windows, and closed doors, and it honestly looked like it was closed. It didn't really look like any of the restaurants we had ever been to.
The interior was also equally very small, and although at the time I was uncomfortable and I thought "oh, this restaurant must not be doing well" at the beginning of my meal, by the time I left, I was extremely glad that I had reserved the spot. The restaurant has *very* limited seating. I don't think it can seat 100 people, even. Maybe 40 people. By the time we left, the restaurant was almost at maximum capacity, and bustling.
We were greeted by the owner and another waiter, who took my coat to the coatroom, a first for me. We got seated in a very cozy corner (later, we found out that the people who were supposed to sit after us was supposed to be his MOTHER). The menu for the night was a 6 course prix fixe affair, so it took a lot of the guess work out of ordering. However, our waiter, being the owner, was super knowledgeable about EVERYTHING in the menu, and even told us that he's been eating the food since he was very small, so it really reinforced our faith in the food.
We started off with some Prosecco. When we went to draw out our IDs, expecting him to check, he said that he would humor us in looking at them, because, as we saw later throughout the night, the clientele is mostly older people. The Processo: delicious. We went to our amuse bouche: three fried gorgonzola balls. And, as soon as we got them, the owner RAN over to us, and said "EAT IN ONE BITE!" and explained to us that because the middle is liquified, if you bit into it, the innards would gush out and spill over our black shirts. I think he ran over because boyfriend was going to stick his fork in it. It was pretty good, and went well with the Prosecco, as he had said.
Our next course was a celeriac soup for him, and a salad for me. I guess I wasn't in the mood to really eat a salad; I ordered because I thought I needed to eat some vegetables. The soup was very good, though, and I thoroughly enjoyed the apples in my salad. I also found out that I'm not terribly fond of white truffle viniagrette.
The third course was a little disappointing, and Alex said that our waiter looked a little sad that I didn't finish mine. I would like to say: I don't like all seafood. I don't eat much seafood. When I eat sushi, I usually eat shrimp, eel, octopus, and salmon. That's it. With that said, I got a chilled crab cake, and he got scallops in a rose sauce. His was delicious, but I found out that night that I don't like scallops after all. I was... not impressed with my crab cake. It was too salty, and I had no idea what the clear gelatin surrounding it was. So, I was a little grossed out, and gave it to Alex to eat, who couldn't bring himself to finish it either.
At this time, we were getting full really fast. We notified Michael (the owner waiting on us), and he said that he would space us out slower.
Anyways, we went on to our palette cleanser, which was a mandarine sorbet. So delicious! The owner said that when he was little, he thought it was awesome that restaurants gave two desserts: one before your entree, and one after. I wish I had more.
By that time, we had finished our Prosecco, and got some California white wine, which was so delicious.
We both got filet mignons. Cooked very well. I don't even know what to say about it. The peppercorns didn't bother me. They were very mild and soft! My mouth is juicing up at the memory of the meat, though. That was the second time I had filet mignon, and so far, it's the best I ever had. It was cooked (by default) to medium rare, and the owner had told us that the furthest they want to go is medium, because that would've ruined the cut of meat.
Our last dishes: coffee and dessert. We got a nougat-vanilla ice cream, and a chocolate cream torte. They were both very, very good. The coffee was something that I really needed by that point, because I took some Sudafed at the beginning of the meal to help with my cough and headache. I don't even know what was my favorite, but they both complimented each other and the coffee very nicely.
Thus, dinner ended. We got the bill, which came out to be $235 after tip. Overall, the meal was excellent, and the service was wonderful. I want to come back and eat here again, maybe on Valentine's Day.
I do recommend this place. It's on Francisco street between Taylor and Mason (I believe), and open from 5 to 11 PM. Free parking, too! Make sure you make a reservation! It's an overall fun restaurant to dine at, and a very friendly atmosphere. -
Review from Karl M.
Huntington Beach, CA
1/30/2012
I visited Albona to celebrate my 50th birthday. A group of us were in town that weekend for the Zinfandel festival (ZAP) which just happened to fall on the same day as my 50th. I wanted a nice place to celebrate that evening with some good friends. Albona looked like a very interesting choice as the cuisine is a cross between several different types of food which makes it quite unique. There is heavy influence from Italy which is why I assume it is listed here as Italian. But even the Italian-style dishes have there own unique twist to them. There also seems to be heavy influences from Austria/Germany (pork with sauerkraut, lamb stew and rabbit) as well as the Eastern Mediterranean (spices).
I made the reservation a couple of weeks prior to our arrival and the person on the phone was very helpful. He was very honest with me and told me that it would be difficult for them to seat us at peak time because of the small size of the restaurant. I had a group of ten people. We originally made a reservation for 8:00 P.M. I later called and changed it to 5:00 P.M. which actually worked out better for them.
We arrived about 5 minutes early and were warmly greeted as they were finishing preparing the dining room for the evening. We were asked to wait a few minutes while they completed setup. This was only a couple of minutes. I let them know that we had brought some special wines along to celebrate the evening. Once they overheard that it was my 50th birthday the waiter told me that he was going to waive the corkage charge for us that evening. I told him that wasn't necessary but he insisted. At the end of the meal I offered our waiter some of the wine and he toasted with us.
I had reviewed the menu online and had already decided what I was going to have. I started with the grilled sardine appetizer which was served with sweet onions, pine nuts and golden raisins (almost like a marmalade). These were delicious and just set the stage for a remarkably great meal. My entree selection was the pork tenderloin stuffed with sauerkraut and prosciutto with a side of baked apples and plums and some sauteed red cabbage. I finished with the apple strudel with cinnamon, pine nuts and golden raisins with a scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream. They also brought me a panna cotta dessert for my birthday which I shared with the table.
This was one of the best meals that I have ever eaten. Everyone in the party was very satisfied with their meals. The service was impeccable. The entire staff was very friendly and personable. You could tell that they loved what they were doing and that their hearts were in the preparation of the food. I don't think that I can possibly recommend this place high enough. When in San Francisco I will definitely be back. -
Review from Dmv V.
Miami, FL
3/11/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Great neighborhood restaurant, highly recommended especially if you're not in the mood for the flashy, hipster scene. Service was amazing. I had the veal Shank, it was fantastic! The pasta strudel was out of this world.
One warning... If you go there by cab, call for one to retrieve you when finished dining. Don't expect any to be driving by to pick you up. -
Review from Ellen W.
San Francisco, CA
4/21/2012 1 photo
I had my wedding reception for 20 guests here and we rented out the whole place for an entire Thursday night. When I called and left a message about wanting to have an wedding reception, the owner, Sam, called back and invited both me and my fiance for dinner on the house. He suggested a few simple course menus and we were able to pick from several appetizers to 4 different options of main course. They were very accommodating and friendly. My friend and her husband, who both get to be wined and dined by fabulous restaurants, totally raved about this place the next day. They were thoughtful to provide additional flowers to boost my center pieces we brought in. We were very pleased and feel like we spent our money wisely.
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Review from A D.
San Francisco, CA
3/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
I totally recommend this place. This is the second time coming and the quality was still as good as the first time. I came here with BF and roommate. We had a bloomspot deal, which is a 4-course meal for 2. My roommate ordered an extra appetizer and entree and we all shared. It was way more than enough food for all of us.
Here is the quick breakdown:
Appetizers: scallops (the best appetizer of the night...so good...), gnocchi (I wanted more!), and calamari (delicious and slightly spicy)
Pasta (BTW, pretty big portions): seafood risotto (decent) and seafood linguine (I enjoyed this more and there was a lot of seafood in it too)
Entree: rabbit (sweet and not tough) and rack of lamb (nice crust on the outside and tender meat)
Dessert: dark chocolate flan (super rich in a good way) and gelato (more subtle, but tastes just right). When you mixed these together though...AMAZING!
Anyways, the staff is super friendly and the place is nice and intimate. It is a little pricey, but not really considering the quality (and for some dishes the quantity too). Be warned that the place is a little cramped and quiet, so your neighbors can hear your conversation. -
Review from Hae Young L.
Marina/Cow Hollow, San Francisco, CA
1/21/2012
Five stars for being the best Italian restaurant in Fisherman's Wharf! Complimentary valet parking upon arrival with the gentlemen wearing a white coat. Intimate clean restaurant with white linens, flowers and freshly printed menus.
The specials of the evening were eloquently described in detail which that night were the soup and fish entrée. Both were excellent.
For the appetizer we shared the Calamari and Scallops. The Calamai al forno con salsa marinara is squid stuffed with toasted bread crumbs, parsley, and garlic; roasted in marinara sauce. The Capesante con salsa rosa is Day-boat Scallops sauteed, Butter, shallots & sparkling Dry Rose. Both cooked to perfect temperature and flavorful.
We were a party of six, and ordered almost every entree on the menu. Every dish was hearty and delicious.
I highly recommend dining here, esp if you have out of town guest staying in Fisherman's Wharf. -
Review from Val J.
ASTORIA, NY
2/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
I was looking for a special place in San Francisco to celebrate Valentine's Day which happens to be also my girlfriend birthday. After a long research on the internet I came across this place. Here is my review:
I love the comfortable ambiance, the staff is very polite and the chef sometimes comes out of the kitchen to make sure everything is fine. I love that they have a few wines from the north east of Italy like the italian Pinot Noir (or Pinot Nero) which is much lighter than the Californian version. Perfect pair with chicken or even seafood. Try the scallops appetizer and don't miss the Panna Cotta for dessert, so far the best I've ever had!! Yummy!
If I lived in SF I'd be a regular!! -
Review from Mercutio k.
San Francisco, CA
12/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Lovely and charming restaurant with excellent food and even better service. I am generally very hesitant about going to Italian restaurants, not because I don't enjoy the food - I love it actually. But most of the time, I feel like I could have recreated the dish at home with a better result. Albona is not traditional Italian fare. The food is Istrian, which after reading the back of the menu, is a penninsula region that borders Crotia and Italy.
BF and I shared a potato gnocchi with cumin, which was soft, fluffy, and uber delish. We split an order of the pea and saffron risotto, which was creamy, hearty, and extremely flavorful. For entrees, I went with the braised veal shank with polenta. The meat was falling-of-the-bone and extremely tender. Definitely recommended. BF had the lamb riblets, sausage, and vegetable stew which was also delicious. We didn't have room for dessert, but would be interested in finding out on a future visit.
The only slight annoyance I had was that because the restaurant is small, the tables were really close together and I ended up hearing our neighbor table's conversations; whether I wanted to or not. But that's hardly a criticism to hold against a faboulous meal. Price-wise, Albona is on the higher end. With a glass of wine, shared gnocchi and risotto, and two entrees, the total came to a bit over $100 for two.
Chef Hernandez was a warm, friendly, and gracious host. I would definitely return to Albona again. Free valet parking to boot; although we found ample parking on Bay Street one block over. -
Review from Ed U.
Leave it to my erudite friends Jonathan and Syd to find the hidden culinary jewels in this city. After all, they were the ones who introduced me to the charming La Ciccia in outer Noe Valley a few years back, and we went to another out-of-the-way Italian restaurant halfway between North Beach and Fisherman's Wharf called Albona. Whereas La Ciccia is purely Sardinian, Albona is decidedly Istrian. Istrian? Yeah, I didn't know where Istria was either until I looked at their website afterward. It's a town in Croatia south of Trieste, which is on Italy's eastern border next to Slovenia. Confused? Me too, but the food is not confusing. It's quite stellar as a matter of fact - primarily northern Italian dishes with a definite Eastern European accent and a slight Mediterranean twang.
It's a tiny place but not terribly difficult to make a reservation. Despite its stellar Yelp ratings, Albona keeps an awfully low profile in a city full of obsessive foodies. They offer free valet parking which they tell you when they confirm your reservation. After working a decade under the tutelage of founder Bruno Viscovi, chef Samuel Hernandez took over the kitchen three years ago. Now I have no idea if the quality of the dishes wavered in the transition, but judging from what we ordered, I have to believe Bruno would be quite pleased. We started by sharing a couple of their appetizers. First up was the $9 Chifeleti de Mia Nona con Sugo de Carne al Cumin (Pan-fried Potato Gnocchi in Brown Sirloin Sauce with Cumin - see photo). They bill it as "grandmother's specialty", and you could picture Bruno's grandma making the eight pillow-like gnocchi and sauteing them to a crispy brown.
Next was the $12 Calamai al Forno con Salsa Marinara (Squid Stuffed with Toasted Bread Crumbs, Parsley, and Garlic Roasted in Marinara Sauce - see photo), which was surprisingly tender and hearty at the same time. Probably the most exquisite dish of the evening was the risotto - the $18 Risoto Vegetariano con Zaferan (Risotto Peas and Saffron Threads) - so melt-in-your-mouth delicious with just the right consistency and freshness (see photo). We then shared a pasta that sounded too tempting not to try - the $19 Strudel con Pasta Fatta en Casa, which were fresh pasta rolls stuffed with baked prosciutto and lappi cheese baked with toasted bread crumbs in a bechamel and tomato-cream sauce as a casserole (see photo). It was a bit like manicotti but much silkier in texture with a nice savory flavor to contrast with the dairy.
Of course, we needed to try one of their entrees, and we landed on their $29 Stufato di Agnello (Lamb with Vegetables Served in a Broth), where the lamb took the form of riblets, loin and sausage, all perfectly tender, mixed with root vegetables and zucchini squash and all of it in a broth infused with mustard, horseradish, lemon zest, and fresh thyme (see photo). It was the kind of comfort food you would expect to find on my dream farm in the Tuscan countryside if I happened to be an extraordinarily talented cook. We didn't want the meal to end, so we had to try one of their specialty desserts. We decided on the $8 Crema de Gelato, a frozen triple-cream vanilla gelato mousse with brandied cherries (see photo).
Decadent enough on its own, but Chef Hernandez was feeling generous and gave us the Strudel di Pomi as a bonus, a genuine apple strudel with cinnamon, pine nuts and golden raisins dusted with powdered sugar (see photo). Needless to say, we were sated and quite proud of our team approach in trying out a good sampling of their specialties. Albona has been around for 23 years, but amazingly, I never had the unique pleasure of a dining experience here before. It's probably because it sits on an otherwise residential street looking very nondescript. Now that I know it does exist, I will need to come back for more of Bruno's grandma's home-style dishes.
FOOD - 5 stars...home-style dishes mixing culinary delights from Italy, Austria, Croatia and other nearby countries that end in a vowel, impeccably presented
AMBIANCE - 4 stars...compact but low-key and comfortable on a less-than-busy Sunday evening
SERVICE - 5 stars...first-class with personal attention from Chef Hernandez
TOTAL - 5 stars...now I know where Albona is! -
Review from Greg N.
Sacramento, CA
1/19/2012
This is my favorite restaurant in San Francisco!!! Every time we go to Albona we are treated like royalty. The staff is friendly and helpful. The food is delicious. Every dish has a wonderful twist to it, that sends your taste buds on a roll coaster ride. I actually hesitate to write this review for fear that Albona will become to popular. The restaurant setting is quaint and charming.
And don't forget dessert!!! Panna Cotta is my favorite. -
Review from Kenneth D.
Benicia, CA
3/27/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Its ok, little small and service is a bit slow. Food is good though!
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Review from Mary S.
Woodland, CA
3/31/2012
This is a really good, friendly, sophisticated restaurant. Lots of seafood beautifully prepared with a little bit of a different flair was the highlight, but a braised rabbit dish and mushroom risotto were also absolutely fabulous. The service was perfect, the owner very welcoming and full of good advice, and there was enough light to see and they were playing Mozart in the BACKGROUND so that we could talk at the table. I am telling all my friends about this place and will come back myself next time I am in the city.
Try: Squid stuffed with fish
Sardines
"Strudel" with seafood
And whatever that small, intensely chocolate dessert was.
A real gem just off the tourist track in North Beach - trendy hipsters should come and learn what a real restaurant is like. -
Review from Nena G.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 12/27/2011
Three years later, I will frame my updated review with three questions: if your answer to all of them is 'never', you will have given this restaurant the highest numbers of stars. Here is why:
-How often do staff at a restaurant ask you for your coat the moment you enter?
-How often do you go to a restaurant and do not feel rushed by: 'can I take your plate away' while you are still chewing or, worse yet, your partner is still eating?
-How often does it happen that you are waiting to go to the bathroom and a waiter passing by asks you if they can help and open the door to a second bathromm to minimize your waiting?
I have seldom experienced these points elsewhere...
Foodwise, this is not the place where you'll get the usual ingredients in different shapes and forms (namely cheese, eggs, tomatoes and bread); neither is it for the strict vegetarian. Rather, it is for the worldly citizen who enjoys a res-tau-rant where soft music is a background addition to the main focus of the dining experience.
Prices are high; but valet partking is complimentary (again, a rarity).
Enjoy, San Francisco!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/30/2008
Authentic. Classy. Charming. Warm.
For a home-style hearty dish accompanied by a medium-full bodied… Read more »
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Review from corey p.
San Francisco, CA
2/15/2012
i came to this restaurant thinking that it would be delicious. i love italian food, i have been to the istrian peninsula before and loved it so, i thought it would be a shoe in. we walked in on valentines day( i know i know, busy night) right on time for the reservation, and we were greeted, and told to please wait while they reset our table. another couple arrived, and yet another. ten minutes passed and the host(?) sat the other couple, even though they had no reservation, before us, we waited an additional ten to fifteen minutes (total of half an hour, with a reservation).
once at our seats, we ordered the cream of mushroom soup ( because the soup in italy was my favorite), and it was bland and tasted of dried porcini mushrooms (all packagey, and cardboard tasting). when the mains came i had ordered the pork loin stuffed with sauerkraut, prunes, and prociutto, wich was sweet and savory which i except the sauce already had a skin on it.
after dinner we waited for the check (dessert was declined) for just a little too long.
this is a small place, i get it.
they were busy, i get it.
but i doubt i'll go back again.
and there was no valet. -
Review from Anita P.
Monett, MO
1/22/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Small intimate restaurant (seats 40). While technically in the North Beach area, it is actually closer to the Fishermans Wharf area.
We had no problem getting reservations at the last minute on a Monday evening but it was full the entire time we were there.
Menu was a little limited and not your typical Italian but good. Service was attentive and very friendly but sporadic as they only had 2 guys doing everything for all 40 diners. -
Review from Bert R.
CA
3/18/2012
I just can't get there on this place. We clearly were there on an off day - perhaps the chef had a stand-in or whatever, but the food was mediocre at best and the ambiance and service were certainly nothing special either.
The mushrooms in our soup hadn't been cleaned well enough, hence there was a thin layer of fine sand in the bottom of the bowl. The scallops were fantastic as a mid-course. But the main courses ranged from my wife's pork loin (good but definitely not fantastic) to my ravioli with a meat sauce that had definitely been under a heat lamp way too long. -
Review from Christine S.
San Francisco, CA
3/15/2012
The restaurant is a small neighborhood affair with white table cloths and friendly staff. The wine was wonderful, the carmelized pears with cheese appetizer was unique and very good, and my rabbit was okay. The rabbit sauce was too heavy with a strong vinegar taste. The meat was not tender and the plate could have used some more vegetables. My husband enjoyed his veal shank and polenta. I can't say that this is exceptional cuisine, but it is good and the restaurant was lively and I enjoyed myself.
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Review from Jeff D.
San Francisco, CA
10/24/2011
Excellent! We had a great dinner and a very enjoyable time here. The owner Samuel was a great host and gave us the best service of any restaurant that I've ever been to. The restaurant is warm and inviting, small but not cramped or loud. Very intimate but good for a small group of friends or a romantic date night.
I had some friend from NYC in town and wanted to to take them to a unique spot. I'm from a Sicilian family and grew up in New York and usually don't go out for Italian food but Albona is not your run of the mill North Beach restaurant. The Croat/ Slovenian influence makes it a one of a kind dining experience.
We started out with the stuffed squid, gnocchi, prosciutto with truffle oil over rocket, a large salad and a nice bottle of Croatian white wine. All were excellent.
For entrees I had the the stuffed pork loin which was a nice hardy meal best for cool SF nights and my buddies both had the linguine with seafood. They both thought it was great.
For dessert: We had the tiramasu and a chocolate parfait. Excellent.
Samuel joined us at the end of the meal and opened up some of the Croatian red wines for us to try. They were unique and I would highly recommend them for something different.
The bill came and many things that were ordered he did not charge us for, including no corkage fee for a bottle that we brought.
Get off the beaten path and check out Albona for a great dinning experience. -
Review from doreen d.
2/15/2012
Food was good. Service was great. I had mushroom soup as a starter and the flavor and consistency were wonderful. Dinner was Pork Loin stuffed with pork loin stuffed with sauerkraut, prosciutto, apples, and plums and served with a fantastic red cabbage sauté. Great local restaurant. I would make this a regular spot if I lived close by. Very welcoming environment.
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Review from Alice T.
Manhattan, NY
Great service, great environment, great food! Located on a quiet street sits this really small 8 table restaurant. This restaurant reminds me of the small NY restaurants I'm use to. I made reservations for 7 for my cousin's bachelorette dinner. They were able to accommodate us. I was able to taste everything everyone ordered.
The things we ordered:
Stinco de videl a la Triestina - Braised Veal Shank, was really tasty. The meat falls off the bone.
Involtin de porco con capuzi garbi e prosuto - Pork Loin with Proscuitto, sauerkraut, red cabbage was not dry and pairings are good together.
Catch of the day - Salmon in Lemon sauce, cooked really well and really tasty. The bread goes well with the sauce as well.
Penne a la "arrabbiata" - Really good pasta and you can taste the garlic and tomato sauce.
Arugula with granny smith apples, mushrooms & prosciutto in a white truffle vinaigrette - Perfectly seasoned.
Sauerkraut soup - Really yummy.
We stayed to chit chat until the restaurant closed and they didn't rush us out or anything. We felt bad so we left on our own. -
Review from Theresa B.
Colton, CA
2/23/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Food is good and not the typical fare you get at most Italian restaurants. Service was Excellent. There was a particularly loud table while we were there which definitely put a damper on the whole meal. Without anyone complaining, the owner came by the other tables and apologized. He even comped our dessert, which was completely unnecessary, but definitely ensured that we will return next time we're in the Bay area.
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Review from Jeremy B.
San Francisco, CA
3/9/2012
Wow! very surprised. The interior is not much to look at but the food is amazing! I have Italian family that cook well so I find it is seldom that an Italian restaurant catches my attention. This cuisine is more accurately Croatian-Italian. Beautifully done, kind, humble waitstaff, seafood, antipasti, pasta, seafood, sardines, all perfection. Definitely a must try for an excellent dinner. Alas! there is good Italian in North Beach.
BTW- the waiter was amazing, he poured us wines off of the glass menu and treated us like gold, it was definitely worth taking a trip again and would recommend. -
Review from Ron P.
Pacifica, CA
8/21/2011
This is an excellent place just a few blocks away from all the touristy North Beach/Columbus Ave crowd. They even have complimentay valet parking, but we found a spot to park without a hassle.
The sardines were amazing and quite substantial. The carmelized onions on them was fantastic. It was so much that I only ordered the eggplant appetizer. My partner had the pork loins with sauwercraut inside. Amazing! She had way too much, so I had some of her portions.
The waiter and service was impeccable. And the Italian wine list was good. We had Abruzzo red by the glass and it tasted like a good pinot noir to me.
They had rabbit on the menu which I will try next time!
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