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Firenze by Night Ristorante
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
1429 Stockton St(between Columbus Ave & Vallejo St)
San Francisco, CA 94133
Neighborhood: North Beach/Telegraph Hill
(415) 392-8585
- Hours:
Mon, Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
Tue-Sat 5 pm - 11 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
457 reviews for Firenze by Night Ristorante
Review Highlights
"The gnocchi is ABSOLUTELY THE BEST EVERRR."
(in 192 reviews)
"The rabbit sauce is uniquely delicious."
(in 29 reviews)
"Favorites: Cannelloni biagio and Ravioli della mamma."
(in 8 reviews)
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456 reviews in English
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Review from Laura P.
San Francisco, CA
12/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
The gnocchi were delicate pillows of savory deliciousness. My date had the wild boar rigatoni. He raves about it to this day.
For an appetizer we had the mussels and fresh mozzarella, both were delicious, but the mussels were the star, because the sauce they were put in was fantastic.
This is by far my favorite italian restaurant in the city. I even came here on my birthday.
Service has been top notch both times I've been here. The first time I went, I didn't have a reservation but we only had a 10 minute wait, and we sat at the bar and had a glass of wine while we waited. The second time, we did have a reservation and they sat us right away. -
Review from Maile N.
1/8/2012
Authentic, solid, tasty Italian food - I was so excited to see a Bloomspot special $40 credit for $20 as a friend highly recommended this place, and I've been waiting to try it! A friend of mine is moving away soon, so this was a perfect place for us to catch up before her departure (sad...).
I had:
* Mussels and clams in marinara sauce appetizer (Yum! This was a sizable appetizer, a full bowl of marinara, steamed mussels and clams - but I sure ate it up, mmm!)
* Gnocchi (award-winning, fluffy, hot, tasty and oh so yummmm! I would highly recommend this dish!!)
* Spumoni (good classic, loved it)
* Glass of Chianti (always a classic, went well with my dinner)
The service was a-ok (yes, loved the Italian accent), and it's a charming place on the border of Chinatown/North Beach, easy access by Muni 30 or 45. We had a lovely window table - aw, loved this dining experience!
Grazie - yum! I WILL be back!! -
Review from Jean Y.
1/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
* Pappardelle toscana (pappardelle with rabbit sauce): Extremely delicious. I recommend this!
* Marinated zucchini and eggplant: Also good.
* Peach sorbet in a frozen peach: A bit difficult to eat since the peach was rock hard, but I don't see how you can go wrong with peach sorbet.
The exterior is unassuming, and the decor is not exactly swanky. In fact, I found it reminiscent of Bucca di Beppo. However, the waiters are friendly, and the food is satisfying. -
Review from Evelyn C.
Manhattan, NY
12/27/2011
I ordered the linguini con vongole and my friend had the much-lauded gnocchi. The linguini was perfectly al dente with a light and delicate flavor that didn't overpower the clams. My friend enjoyed her gnocchi, but while I agree that they were light and fluffy I thought the sauce needed flavor.
Servers are attentive and friendly with delightful Italian accents, and the bartender is smoking hot. Just sayin', is all. -
Review from Edward A.
San Francisco, CA
2/8/2012
My favorit italian restaurant on earth!......ll' be back!!!
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Review from Michael L.
San Francisco, CA
When some friends suggested we go to Firenze by Night, I thought of Donatello, Leonardo, and Michelangelo. Not the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles but the sculptors/artists that were from Florence/Tuscany area. I was expecting to see a Statue of David or something. But instead when I walked into Firenze by Night Ristorante I saw a photo of Ted Lange from the Love Boat along with photos of a bunch of celebrities. I thought, "ooooh, nothing says authentic Italian food like Ted Lange in his white tuxedo.."
Looking at the menu, I really liked the unusual entree options they had. Rabbit and boar, along with normal stuff like veal, chicken, fish, etc. So we settled on:
Cozze e vongole marinara: a simple dish of Mussels and Clams with marinara. I liked this appetizer and would order it again if I came back.
Vitella con porcini: veal sautéed with porcini mushrooms in white wine. This was ok. The veal was tender and the flavor was nice. The baby cow didn't die in vain... I wasn't feeling the polenta. But the veal itself was fine.
Pappardelle al Cinghiale: this is a thick pasta with wild boar. I heard this is a native dish of Tuscany. It had a very light sauce, simple and good.
I thought the service was friendly and efficient, no complaints. I liked the ambience and feel of Firenze by Night. The noise level was low so it was easy to converse with my friends. Me personally, I'd lose the old celebrity photos, it kind of takes away from how nice this restaurant looks. The map of Italy in the front of the place is a nice touch though. All in all a decent spot for Italian food. And maybe a little taste of what food in Florence would be like, By Night of course. -
Review from Rebecca H.
San Francisco, CA
12/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
You know what totally makes my day? Guys with dreamy accents.
At Firenze by Night, these waiters are all over that. They got that dreamboat Italian accent and the charm.
Roberto was amazing. A member of my party was over an hour late. He never even flinched and continued to treat us with terrific service, checking in with us to make sure we were ok, trading jokes left and right. When my friend arrived super late, he immediately started joking around with her. Best part was that we had ordered in advance and he made sure that her plate was kept warm the entire time, so that she had a warm hot meal.
Food ain't bad, but with waiters like Roberto, you get a magical experience and excellent service. -
Review from Linh V.
12/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
I came here for my birthday dinner a month ago. It took me this long to finally write a review because I simply did not have as grand a time as I had expected.
It was a rainy night and we were afraid that parking would be a doozy but the owner/manager of Firenze was so nice that he signaled to my friend to park at their loading zone. V.I.P. bitches!
We had a party of 12 and we were seated in the back along with 2 other big parties with only one server. So understandably, the server was having a hell of a time taking orders, bringing water, etc. We got snapped at a couple times for asking for balsamic vinegar for our bread. I'm sure he didn't mean it - he was probably just overwhelmed.
I was really looking forward to trying their food based on the great reviews. We started off with appetizers: carpaccio, 2 orders of bruschetta, mushroom something, and calamari. The servings were decent though not as big as I had anticipated. But they were good enough to get us looking forward to our entrees.
I ventured off Yelp recommendations and ordered the veal since I'm a big red meat eater (there's a joke that I must've been a T-Rex in my last life because I have a big head, short arms, and only eat meat). I should've know I'd chosen the wrong dish for me when the waiter didn't ask me how I wanted my meat cooked. When the dish came out, I realized my veal was not a thick cut slab of meat but rather thin slices of meat that only had taste because of the sauce. At least it was a big serving. :/
There's a reason why they're known for their gnocchi though. It was deeelicious! Soft, big, delicate, and fresh. I would totally go back for a plate of that on a cold day. The other pasta in rabbit sauce that they're known for is pretty good too though my friend didn't like it. I think it's because she was plagued with the thought of bunnies being slaughtered. They were nice enough to take back the dish and whip her up something else though.
The dinner turned out to be quite pricey. I mean I didn't have to pay, being the birthday girl and all but still. I don't think I'll be coming back unless it's for the gnocchi. -
Review from Stella L.
San Francisco, CA
12/23/2011
I decided to try this place due to its popularity on Yelp and was not disappointed.
Food - I've been here two times, and each time I've had their award-winning Pappardelle Toscana. It is EXCELLENT!! I'm not a pasta connoisseur but even I could tell that the noodles were hand-made and superbly fresh. This is the best pappardelle I've ever had, even in Italy if you can believe it.
Ambiance - Walls decorated with a hilltop scene overlooking Florence (I have that same shot on camera), friendly waitstaff, and prompt service. Is it an ultra-romantic place? No. But it's got good food, much better than those touristy places on Columbus.
Overall, I would definitely come back! -
Review from Narinka A.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 12/4/2011
I never thought I'd write such a low review for this place b/c this used to be my favorite restaurant in North Beach, and I'm sorry to say I'll never return.
The food is good, yet it doesn't mean you should treat your customers like they are a burden to you.
My guests and I still had a lovely time because we overlooked the following challenges for the sake of enjoying our evening. :)
***CONS***
1) I don't know how they expect a party of more than 10 people to finish appetizers, dinner, and desert within two hours. No one told me about the time constraint when I made the reservation in the first place, so they were RUSHING to get us out of here. And when I say rushing, I mean, throwing plates of desert on the table (this was the manager actually) and busboys were spilling water and ice on our meals because they were pouring water for us very quickly.
Did they think we didn't notice? I expected an apology along the lines of "We're sorry we're rushing to clear your table, yet this is the situation..."
2) We had a large group and spent close to $900 on the dinner, so you'd think they would have been more attentive and appreciative. Apparently not.
3) I got up to use the restroom and I could have sworn some waiter or busboy whistled at me. Pardon me, but am I at a construction site or an Italian restaurant?
4) Soon after we left, I realized they didn't serve one of the preordered appetizers, but they DID charge us for it. I guess they forgot to put it on the table.
5) Looking around, I could tell the waiters were rushing with other customers too. It wasn't as noticeable because most tables had a party of 2-6 people.
6) When we ordered tea, they brought 'warm' water and tea bags (I almost thought I was at a diner). They also forgot to bring tea for several guests until I pointed it out.
It saddens me to write this review because I loved this place. I really did. =/
***PROS***
- Good food
- AMAZING waiter, he really tried to make it a nice evening for us, yet I guess he was pressured by the manager and the staff to hurry up and get us the heck outta there.
- Pretty restaurant1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/30/2008
I love the mural they have in the main dining area, it's very cute (romantic too!) and really feels… Read more »
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Review from Shelley C.
Santa Clarita, CA
1/29/2012
My boyfriend and I went here when we were visiting San Fransisco for the weekend. We wanted to find somewhere with an authentic ambiance and wonderful food. We got both! We arrived just after 8:00 for an 8:30 reservation and arrived at a restaurant that was full to the gills with happy looking people and staff that was moving efficiently and swiftly around.
The owner, Sergio, was running more than anyone, seating people, and making sure everyone was happy with their meal. He seemed to know everyone and made you feel like family.
My boyfriend ordered the gnocchi, which Came as little pillows of yumminess . They were so light, and at the end of our meal there was not a one left on the plate. I ordered the papperadelli. To say that I thoroughly enjoyed the home-made pasta and the sauce, would be an understatement.
Make reservations here, as it there was still a wait when we left at 9:45. I will definitely be back the next time I'm back in San Fransisco. -
Review from Ann I.
Redwood City, CA
1/22/2012
I loved the food and the ambiance - Authentic! The famous gnocchi just melted in my mouth and the linguini special was "al dente" with fresh seafood (I'd never seen mussels do big). I will definitely go back to taste everything they have on the menu!
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Review from Maggie L.
Milpitas, CA
12/2/2011
I would give this place 4.5 stars based on the food I ordered, but my friend who dinned together with me would have to disagree (you can read about her experience elsewhere). We shared a calamari appetizer, which was superb. The calamari was soft and juicy, the white vignette was a perfect addition, and the veggie in there made it super healthy. Then I ordered the "award-winning" gnocchi, which was truly amazing. Each individual gnocchi was huge (the gnocchi I've had before are usually a little bigger than soy beans), but theirs are probably 3 times as big. However, the gnocchi was so soft, creamy and savory. The tomato cream sauce is a perfect combination!!
The environment was not as romantic as I expected (you know, Italian restaurant = super romantic??). The service was fast and thoughtful (they let me charge my IPhone, which I must say, was indeed life-savingly important!!)
The only drawback, in my opinion, is the fact that it is quite pricey. If I didn't get a Bloomingspot deal, I would have regretted spending that much money on the food. Each main dish is usually from $15 to $25, plus appetizer and dessert, you do the math. So if you are on a tight budget, you may want to reconsider.
P.S., the David statue was awesome XP, minus the covering :( (why cover it up, totally defeat the purpose of having it there) -
Review from De S.
San Jose, CA
11/20/2011
PROS:
- Beautiful and cozy restaurant setting
- Good olive oil
CONS:
- SANITATION: There was either a BUG or small COCKROACH in the water. The waiter didn't even apologize, he took the glass away and quietly came back to sneak the new glass of water on our table. Who knows what else is in our water this time?
Note that he used the same jar where the cockroach came from to serve other patrons before our tables ...
- ATTENTIVENESS:
- No water refill so I had to ask for water every time.
- Waiter did not clean up our appetizer plates when the main entrees came so I had to stack up my plates in the table corner.
- He forgot my order and even joked about it. It really wasn't funny after all.
- FOOD: The bread they brought out was cold and hard. The tube pasta with prawns and chickens was salty though it was more decent than other dishes that we ordered. My gf didn't finish her gnocchi for a reason. The "award winning" pasta with rabbit sauce did not live up to all the hypes on Yelp.
The whole dining experience was very disappointing. I felt mistreated and will never come back. -
Review from Denise C.
Campbell, CA
12/12/2011
After rave reviews we had to finally check the place out. We arrived at 7:00pm on a friday night and were seated promptly. We started with the stuffed mushrooms and the carpaccio. The mushrooms were actually tender little meatballs stuffed into a mushroom cap in a dark sauce. Not bad, but not that memorable either. I regret to say that our order of carpaccio was the worst carpaccio was the worst ever tasted. No flavor, completely tasteless. I had the prosciutto melon, which was quite good. the three others ordered the spinach and bacon and dressing salad that was simply that, a handful of spinach on a plate and drenched with warm bacon grease. The kitchen must have forgotten all of the other components that should have been in the dressing (no pinenuts or brandy) seriously it was just warm bacon grease. YUCK YUCK YUCK!
Moving on to entrees, my friend had the gnocchis with pesto. I have to agree with everyone else that they are the best gnocchis I have ever had. I had the pappardelle and rabbit sauce which was good however the pasta was overdone. Another friend had the cappellini pomodoro which he seemed to enjoy (he never shares). My bf unfortunately ordered the pasta special which was a salmon bow tie pasta in a champagne sauce. He did not enjoy it at all, it reminded us both of tuna noodle casserole with salmon instead. Ho Hum...
Our server was very attentive and theatrical to say the least!
Of my view point, if you go, just order the gnocchi and the rosemary focaccia bread, the rest is just A-OK. -
Review from Margaret R.
San Francisco, CA
11/23/2011
+ yummy cannelloni biagio, which is a crepe stuffed with chicken
+ good bread
+ nice atmosphere
+ decent prices
- waiter was kind of rude -
Review from Allegra G.
Houston, TX
12/21/2011
After reading the good reviews on Yelp and then getting two recommendations from some local industry people, I decided I wanted to dine at Firenze.
First - let me say - make a reservation. I didn't know I needed to do this and we went in on a Friday night for dinner for my birthday. Luckily we got there a little early and they were able to squeeze us in (went to another local place for drinks - their bar was packed) a little later. Which was fine, as we were in no rush and the owner(?) at the door was very sweet and accommodating.
So when we finally sat down, we were not disappointed. We started with the carpaccio, which was really good. My friend and boyfriend hadn't tried it before and both liked it. We also liked the mustard it was served with - I haven't tried it this way before and it was nice.
For dinner I had the veal saltimbocca - delicious! Also loved the creamy polenta served with it. My friend had the gnocci that they are famous for (never tried gnocci before) and loved it. His plate looked clean after dinner!
Dessert was the chocolate tartufo (I think that is the spelling!) - and it's ice creamy and really tasty!
The ambiance is nice - low lighting - a good place for a romantic evening and the service was really excellent. Next time I am in town, I will be back. -
Review from Lynnet S.
San Francisco, CA
1/20/2012
want a good authentic Italian meal? This is the place to go. I had the pappardelle which was delicious. Portions were great and the wait staff was great. They have a great wine list W/many different Italian wines. Just ask your waiter if you are not sure what to pick. They were a great help.
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Review from leah n.
San Francisco, CA
11/16/2011
I have a hard time giving such a poor rating because the food really was good, much more deserving of 4 or even 5 stars. I will stick to my rating because of our wait experience. We found that making a reservation means nothing. We waited for 45 minutes for a 9pm while a gentleman ran around, no reservation book in sight, taking other groups who had later "reservation" times and friends of his. It was apparent that he takes a lot of pride in taking care of the guests he recognizes, which just meant that we, unknown guests, were cast aside. Finally, I informed the gentleman that we were leaving, and we were given a table.
The rest of the experience would have been wonderful, our waiter was very kind, the food was quick and very delicious, but we were still just couldn't over our waiting experience.
I would still recommend trying it, hopefully your experience will be better! -
Review from Brenda C.
11/7/2011 1 photo
I don't understand .. how can I live in SF for my entire life and not given this place a try?! I've been deprived of the finer things in life.
Our Italian waiter was extremely friendly, attentive, and funny. Constantly kept our wine glass and water glass filled while cracking corny jokes at the same time!
The Calamari Vinagrette was perfectly sauteed. The gnocchi is ABSOLUTELY THE BEST EVERRR !! It melts in your mouth. The Risotto was perfectly cooked and spiced. The rabbit sauce pasta didn't awe me that much, but overall, I was extremely satisfied !
Plus, decent price for amazing Italian food.. where can you go wrong?! -
Review from Sara M.
11/18/2011
Looking for Italian food after typical dinner hours, we discovered Firenze and couldn't have been happier! I'll admit, I'm a sucker for a waiter who calls me "bella" (as long as I convince myself that he's not making a Twilight reference). We got very attentive service throughout the meal from the waiter as well as two other employees who brought out meals, refilled water, dispensed pepper and cheese, etc.
The food was superb. The table bread came with two varieties - a softer bread and a harder one, both excellent. Stracciatella soup was perfection - very rich chicken broth, not too salty, with creamy egg and fresh cheese. My tortellini was some of the best I've ever had, with a nice cream sauce, peas, and prosciutto. And though I really shouldn't have indulged... the spumoni was a great ending to a great meal.
I'd love to make this my regular Italian place - but sadly, I'm 2500 miles away. -
Review from Payal B.
San Francisco, CA
11/9/2011
I had a Bloomspot coupon- $40 of food for $20, so gave this place a try. Loved the beautiful mural on the wall! The service was great, the waiter very friendly. The interior was decent, but there are a few other places in North Beach whose ambiance i find more romantic.
We ordered:
Chardonnay
Tortellini alla romana - creamy and flavorful
Linguine with mussels and scallops in wine sauce - too dry for my taste.
Inspite of great service I would rate this place as average, I couldn't fancy this place as much as i had hoped i would. Just a one time try for me. -
Review from Jeff F.
Updated - 11/13/2011
Have recommended this place to a few people and have never received a complaint. They pull off the "cool, small Italian joint you love to go to" vibe really well. Service was perfectly Italian - attentive, dramatic and flirting with every woman like it was his job.
I still love the gnocchi (mandatory and recommended as a app, never an entree since it's a gut bomb), bruschetta is simple but good, buffalo mozzarella app is terrible, angel hair w/ tomato basil sauce was simply incredible and the veal porcino was average.
Get here.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/30/2009
second time and I'll come back a few more - incredible atmosphere - preference is to sit at the bar… Read more »
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Review from ELINOR H.
San Francisco, CA
10/20/2011
FIRENZE BY NIGHT is STILL GOING STRONG! DELIZIOSO SABORS
Years ago I found FIRENZE BY NIGHT and was impressed then.
FAST FORWARD....... The food is still delicious and very pleasing.
It has been a longtime since I ate a really full meal in any restaurant, let alone an Italian Ristorante. I started with a cocktail that was properly and well made,, Johnny Walker Red, shaken and served up with a twist and lemon! Excellente!
I started with the Spinaci Salad, it was sublime with real pancetta and perfectly and lightly dressed . The portion size was perfect, not overwhelming, just the right size with really fresh spinach, very crunchy pancetta and pine nuts.
The evening's pasta specialty was linguini with seafood a white wine sauce. I had a half portion (I am thrilled they do splits). It truly was well balanced with the flavors of wine, lemon and garlic. It was a pleasure to eat, I only wish that they had put in some prawns or lobster. If I had had the full portion,I probably would have eaten it all!
Swordfish, Yuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuum, Swordfish is my favorite entree fish. I was skeptical about how good it could be as it was the size of the oval plate and thinly cut. It was simple seasoned with olive oil, S&P and ALMOST PERFECTLY COOKED (i would have enjoyed it less cooked). With fresh lemon squeezes it was subtly elegant. The only thing is that the broccoli was terribly over cooked..... rather a let down.
THE FINISH LINE................... WOW, YES, A DESSERT
Seldom do I eat a dessert, when I do, it is normally one that is shared.
There before me was their rendition of a chocolate tartufo. I was expecting one like Tres Scalini in Roma ~ Nope. It was their version,
it was really good, very light in texture, creamy, with a scattering of hazel nuts and drizzles of chocolate. If no one were near me, I might have LICKED THE PLATE CLEAN.
All in allit was a STELLAR DINNER. I met some people who poured me a glass of their wine and another group of women. One was a woman of a Very Certain Age with her two, very adult daughters. They were very interesting and nice Texans.
ONE THORN IN MY SIDE:
R O B E R T..........THE WAITER. HE WAS VERY DISCRIMINATORY
He served the the Wine Sharers comp Limoncello and a Tiramisu. Another table he comped apperitivos also. I was a woman alone, on a Wednesday night and his service was hardly ingratiating and it was insulting to watch him comp other guests. The Wine Wine Sharers
each had A DISH.........
I dine out on my own because I am a food professional. Plus. a lot of friends don't eat out because of the economy. I like restaurants that
TREAT WOMEN ALONE WELL.
ALL THE R O B E R T W A I T E R S of THE WORLD
CAN TAKE A NON-STOP TRIP TO HADES
I'd go back, but NOT for ROBERT -
Review from La S.
San Jose, CA
Updated - 1/11/2012
We went there last month for the first time for our wedding anniversary, it was so perfect, that we are coming back with a huge party to celebrate my birthday. The gnocci is super velvety, its everything and more... The swordfish was perfectly cooked... Escargot was even amazing! So craving the Firenze! It just doesnt get any better than this!
Update: we went back for my birthday! A large group of 20! And now there are more Firenze Fans. Lord how I crave their food! Soooooo AMAZING! Love it! Cant wait until I get back to the city... Thank you for such a fabulous meal, consistantly! Kudos!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/19/2011
We went there last month for the first time for our wedding anniversary, it was so perfect, that we… Read more »
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Review from Annalise F.
San Francisco, CA
11/2/2011
Favorite Italian restaurant in San Francisco? WITHOUT QUESTION!
I've wanted to try Firenze by Night since some girls mentioned it on the Dirty 30 bus ride back to the Marina. I logged it on my "places to try list" and hadn't given it much thought since....BUT
a) I spent 12 days in Italy over the summer and have really been missing the entire experience- especially the cuisine AND
b) Bloomspot had a coupon- $40 of food for $20 SO
Naturally, the boyfriend and I decided to give it a shot on Friday night!
Upon entering Firenze, I immediately felt like I was back in Florence..Well ok, not entirely. Firenze is on the brinks of China town, so it's more like eating Italian food in China...but the mural on the wall of Florence certainly added to the ambiance, as did the twinkling lights and the wait-staff saying "Prego" "Bueno Serra" etc... I loved it! Our server was friendly and attentive, and the ambiance is "nice" without being stuffy. Environmentally speaking, there's nothing about this place I don't like.
We ordered:
Peju Sauv Blanc (Love, love, love Peju!)
Ceasar Salad (Good, but pretty standard as far as Ceasar's go)
Ribolitta (sp? Vegetable soup- this was delicious! I liked it more than the order I got in Florence. Apparently, this soup is a Florentine special.)
Penne Pasta with Shrimp and Chicken- (this was delicious! the right amount of sauce, shrimp, chicken, and oh so flavorful!)
Linguine with seafood special (I didn't have this but the boyfriend insures me it's his favorite pasta dish- EVER to date)
We will absolutely be back to Firenze! I'd like to take my mom and sister so we can all be nostalgic about our trip. -
Review from Robert S.
10/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Cute place to have dinner, with pretty good food to boot.
My date and I ordered the gnocchi and a special, which was a chicken cutlet wrapped around some ground veal.
Everything was quite tasty. The portion was a bit small for what I expected from an Italian place, but not a huge issue. The service was nice, recommending dishes and wine, and checking up on us. The space was interesting too, and the bar seemed like a cool place to hang out.
I'd recommend it to others! -
Review from Julia G.
San Francisco, CA
10/23/2011
This is a cozy place with really great food!
The staff is super friendly.
You should try their gnocchi....SO GREAT!
Overall...cozy,tasty,friendly! I would love to eat there again. -
Review from Jeev S.
Sunnyvale, CA
9/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Solid place and a must visit for everyone. We live in the south bay and discovered this place using the yelp app. I love the fact that this place is open late during the weekday nights.
The food combined with the humor of the owner/Chef made me a fan. They made us feel really special and we will definitely go back to try more stuff. -
Review from Cassie C.
Alameda, CA
9/19/2011
Five stars for the following reasons:
1) Delicious food. I mean, true story, I am salivating just thinking of those soft little gnocchis. Other highlights were the bruschetta and homemade limoncello
2) Ambiance. Warm lighting, good acoustics, spacious enough (for SF) yet intimate
3) Service. Attentive but not overbearing. *Special love for the bartender who was comical, flattering and imparted a smile -
Review from Peter H.
Riverside, CA
12/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Good food. The service was great. Not five stars because I didn't think the food was exquisite, but definitely a solid Italian restaurant to visit.
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Review from Miguel V.
9/1/2011
It was date night with the wifey. We were going to see a show down the street and I needed to find a good place for a delicious, but still romantic dinner. I read all the review exclaiming the authenticity here and decided to give it a try. I have refrained from eating West Coast Italian because I am very loyal to my East Coast pseudo-Italian-American roots. If you want authentic, they got it. But all in all, it really doesn't matter because the food is fantastic regardless. We had a reservation on a Friday night, so we just had to wait 5 minutes or so for the host to notice us. We were seated promptly by an extremely friendly and helpful American waiter (I point that out to say that we did not have an Italian speaking waiter as others have mentioned, but that did not detract from experience nonetheless).
I immediately trusted our waiter for some odd reason. Maybe he just looked like he ate well, but I felt that I could take his opinion with confidence. He recommended the Italian sausage stuffed mushrooms over the mussels to start, which was an excellent pick. He recommended the Syrah, which was another hit. My wife couldn't decide between the gnocchi and the tortellini alla romana, so he suggested doing a split plate of both (still for $16!). I was trying to decide between the saltimbocca alla romana or the braised lamb special and he recommended the special for the hungry patron. Honestly, he was right on all counts.
The stuffed mushrooms were actually not greasy and came in the amazing savory and flavorful jus. The sausage was great. I am by no means a gnocchi connoisseur, but they were very soft and I believe I saw them aptly described as pillowy elsewhere. The tortellini were of course delicious and the sauce, to die for! However, the ginormous braised lamb shank was clearly the star of the show (even at $26). It was, as described, falling off the bone and so flavorful with a sort of mushroomy gravy. the polenta that came with it was very good also, although I did not get to eat much of it.
What really set this place apart for me other than the food was the ambiance. It felts very homey from the moment we walked in. I felt like I was in a family-owned Italian restaurant, not some tourist trap with white table clothes and blue glasses. It felt very sincere. We did not have any complaints about the noise and carried on a casual conversation without any problems. All in all, this is a great place for a nice night out. Won't be back too regularly for financial reasons, but hey, gotta go out on dates sometimes. -
Review from Daniel C.
Buena Park, CA
11/20/2011
I would give this place a 0 if it was an option. Tony's pizza nearby was too long of a wait so I wandered over to Firenze based on the good yelp reviews. That was a really bad mistake. Despite many good yelp reviews, I had a extremely bad experience. The dining experience was so bad that I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone.
Let's start the review on food. We started with mushroom with italian meatball and clams and mussel in marinara sauce. The mushroom with italian meatball was excellent and probably one of the better ones I have had. The clams and mussels came with great reviews but was very disappointing. The flavor was bland and the mussels were not fresh. Moving on to the main entrees, we ordered the pasta with rabbit sauce and gnocchi with tomato cream sauce. Both the rabbit sauce and the tomato cream sauce were good. However, the pasta and gnocchi were overcooked and had no texture. Good Italian restaurant usually serves pasta al dente and it was close to mush. Minus 2 stars
The dining experience is also made up by the service experience. As a rule of thumb, good service is judged by the waiter's attention to need. If the patron asks for something, please do not make them ask multiple times. One of the gals in the party asked for balsamic vinegar to go along with olive oil for dipping. This may not be the Italian way of life but please don't make weird faces and have her ask again and again. When the waiter came by to fill out the water, a baby cockroach was poured out from the water jar. F=ING DISGUSTING!!! I pointed out to the waiter and he said oh a bug must feel off from the tree. Last time I checked this was indoors seating and there were no tree. I was disappointed to how the waiter handled the situation. There was NO apology and the issue was not addressed. Life goes on. When the main entree was served, one of the dish was missing. When we asked about the salad, the waiter said there is no more salad. Really? Sounds like the waiter forgot to put int the order. No apologies and gave a bad cover up for his mistake. As soon as we finished the food, I wanted to leave. Had to ask the check on several occasions and the waiter finally came after 20 minutes. Minus 3 stars.
My overall experience was so bad that I would not come back again. A waiter in high school would have been better compared to the one I had. -
Review from Heather D.
Fremont, CA
1/21/2012
My sugar daddy Albie took us and his beautiful daughter plus 9 others for her 30th birthday dinner. Perfect place. Sat in the back room. Service was outstanding. Food fabulously. Gnocchi is world renown, must order at least 2 to 3 dishes. Bruschetta is the best I have every eaten. Thank you Paolo!
-
Review from Jasara T.
Fremont, CA
10/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
As good as this place is its a shame it took me two visits to get to a review! Shame on me!
Came back to get my Italian fix since there aren't any worth trying close to where I live. Plus, I love the City!
Despite the place being busy, there were two tables left so we got seated right away. I started my night with a Caddy Margarita and an appetizer of Prosciutto e Melone. Love this appetizer and make it at home but food always seems to taste better when someone else makes it! ;)
Last time I came, I had the gnocchi and I can say it lived up to the hype! This time, all temptation to reorder set aside, I decided on the special of chicken breast stuffed with veal and porcini mushrooms in a light tomato sauce and fresh peas, steamed veggies and potato slices on the side and a glass of Syrah.
Heavenly.
The chicken breast practically melted in my mouth, the veal and porcini mushrooms along with the sauce was nothing short of savory rustic flavors bursting in my mouth (oralgasm ?! I'd say so! ) Needless to say I finished the plate. Normally, I have a left over of some sort!
Our waiter who's name I forget, was good but not as good as the first waiter we had previously. He had a thick Italian accent and everything was "Buon Appetito!"
Dessert was a given. I swear, as a baker, hands down this place makes THEE BEST Tiramisu. If only words could explain....
So if you have and Italian craving to satisfy or just cant decide which Italian restaurant to try in North Beach, this is your answer!
Gnocchi and Tiramisu are musts on the first visit. Guaranteed you will not be disappointed! -
Review from Cath M.
We stumbled upon this wonderful restaurant by complete accident. It was a blessing in disguise that most of the places the sis wanted to eat was either closed down and or uber packed.
We walked in... and it was packed. The patrons were mostly half tourist and half locals... but it reminded of the mobsters like feeling on TV.
Roberto was our server... he was very charming and friendly. He was prompt and continuously checked with us.
Sis and I shared the following:
- Lumache alla rustica (Snails with garlic, shallots, butter and white wine) = delicious! From previous experience, it's uber garlicky. But this time... it was just the right amount of flavor without tasting too snail like (if that made sense?)
- Prosciutto e melone (Italian ham with melon) = my favorite appetizer! The prosciutto was generous and the melon was sweet and it was really the perfect combination. Sis and I devoured it.
- Gnocchi firenze (Potato dumplings in a light tomato cream sauce) = I ordered this b/c it had the "award winning" next to it and rightfully so! It was the biggest portion of gnocchi I've seen in any restaurants. First bite... creamy and definitely not doughy. The sauce was light and it didn't overpower the main star. I ate half and took home the rest... and it was still good the next day!
- Sis ordered the Linguine con vongole (Linguini with fresh clams) and since I was so busy eating my gnocchi... I forgot to taste her food but she loved every bite of it. It definitely satisfied her craving for pasta.
- Dessert: we shared the tiramisu that tasted like Stella's and the chocolate raspberry. We of course didn't finish both of it so we ended up taking it home.
Liquor: I think this place will always be special to me because my sis decided to order my first ever Dom Perignon just for the two of us. And believe me, we finished it. Wow, Dom makes my Le Reve seem like it's Bud Light!?
Again, my idea of the good sparkling in Le Reve has now been ruined. Oiy! Sis said she'll get Cristal next so I can figure out what's better... she of course likes Cristal but I wouldn't know...
Anyway, good food... good portion... and good prices. We'll definitely be back! -
Review from Tushar T.
San Francisco, CA
10/23/2011
Pros:
-Service was good and friendly
-showed up 15 mins late to my reservation at 9pm on a Friday, and was still seated in a reasonable amount of time...mind you, the restaurant was packed
-the "Funghi ripieni con salsiccia" appetizer was good (mushrooms with sausage)
-the 'gnocchi' entree was good - supposedly the best in SF...wish they had tabasco sauce to give it more kick!
Cons:
-crowded, tight aisles
-seat was not that comfortable, though I had a pretty date to look at so it didn't matter -
Review from Simon L.
San Francisco, CA
10/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
"Oh please don't stop talking, his accent is so sexy"
Parking was a pain in the ass but what do you expect on a Saturday night at a neighborhood like this. But as my friend was driving around trying to find a parking space, we got a magnificent view of the city.
When we entered the restaurant, they happily greeted and seated us promptly. Initially I thought the place would be moderately decorated but the ambiance was actually really nice and romantic. My friend couldn't stop spazzing over our waiter's accent. She wanted him to continue talking LOL! Our waiter was really nice and funny. He was also very patient and took his time explaining things to us.
I ended up getting the Penne Mare E Monti and substituted the light tomato sauce with pesto sauce and ohhhhh myyyy goddddd! It was orgasmic! It was sooooo good! Just thinking about it makes me... JIOI$UY#@*$&#@@#H$I@$#$!!!!!! .... Anyways. I think my friend ordered the fettuccine "Buon Gustaio" and had it with cream sauce instead whatever that sauce the dish was suppose to come with. My friend really enjoyed it! She said it was really good and I had to agree after trying it myself.
Definitely will come back here again! -
Review from Rachael B.
Boulder, CO
8/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
On my first ever visit to San Francisco, I came to Firenze by Night and had a really memorable experience. Good food, great service, fun atmosphere. Me and Hot Mike were trying to figure out where to go for date night and decided to give it a 2nd go around here.
For the most part, it was a fantastic evening. We were seated without much of a wait, the staff was really friendly and animated, lots of ciao bella's and italian which made me feel right at home. We had a corner table which was fine because we didn't want to be in the middle of the fray. Ordered a plate of antipasti, stracciatella, insalata di spinachi, gnocchi and a veal dish...oh and tiramisu.
For me the star was the stracciatella soup which was light and perfectly seasoned. The gnocchi were great as well but the problem came when the chef plated both the gnocchi and veal on one plate (we were sharing the two dishes so we each got a plate). They were separated by a very sad pile of over cooked vegetables (the usual suspects, broccoli, cauliflower and carrots) and the plate wasn't hot which gave us about 5 minutes to eat everything before it started getting cold. The veal was completely forgettable and that sucks because veal isn't cheap. Really disappointing actually :/
Tiramisu was great and I'm glad we ended on that instead of the veal. All around, Firenze by Night was A-OK. We had a fabulous time because it was cozy enough where we could easily hear one another, our waiter was really nice and we were the last customers to leave after closing (meaning we were having such a good time we didn't notice). The food was okay. I know there are better places to have a great italian meal in SF and I intend to find them the next time around. -
Review from Amy B.
Saint Louis, MO
9/29/2011
OHHHHH MYYYYYYYYYYY Gnocchi!!!!!
Our hotel recommended we try Firenze by Night for dinner, and I'm so glad we went with it! Everything about this place deserves 5 stars.
The service was impeccable!! They were able to accommodate any request we made within seconds! Every time we ordered a new drink from the bar it was there in about 5 seconds. I felt like we were being taken care of by the entire staff rather than just one waiter, but our waiter (Michele) was so awesome!
We asked Michele if we could start with the Gnocchi as an appetizer to share because we had read so many awesome reviews about it on yelp. He said that was an excellent idea and it seemed like it was at our table in minutes! It was in separate portions and it was the perfect amount!
I've never had gnocchi that I've thought was good enough to order again, but I could eat this gnocchi every single day for the rest of my life! It was so rich and creamy! Definitely recommend this dish for absolutely anyone even if you aren't a fan of pasta! And as we did, you could get it as an appetizer instead of your meal.
Next I explained to Michele that the Ravioli della mamma looked so good to me but that I'm not really a fan of meat sauce. He said he would have them make it for me however I would like! Wow!! So I asked for the Ravioli della mamma with a cream sauce. It was the perfect dish. I enjoyed every single bite.
I believe he changed the two dishes my friends ordered according to their taste as well.
We also had lots and lots of bread and wine which made the experience even more enjoyable. I can say this is hands down the best Italian dinner I've ever had!
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