Il Pollaio

I was introduced to this place through my fiancé and now its a regular dinner spot for us. It has a limited menu but so far everything we've tried has been great. The chicken is delicious and definitely what hooked me but I keep coming back for my favorite, the pork chops. They also have a special salsa for the chicken that is a must.

Its a small spot so it would be difficult for very large parties but its a great spot for a date night or a few friends. The service is great, and the food comes out quickly.

The sign at Il Pollaio is like a Cubist 1980s video game design. Obviously, the restaurant opened in 1982. Not so obvious, they never made the blunder many establishments do of remodeling for the sake of remodeling. Fashions ebb and flow; that which is cool is timeless. I think Ralph Lauren said that.

Michael Bauer, former SF Chronicle food critic said good things about this place. The staff at Il Pollaio wear t-shirts with Bauer's quote printed on them. I can't really remember the details of the encomiums, but it's not a bad article. You should read it. The Chronicle will allow you to look at a limited number of their pieces online. In the age of social media, the world has lost the professional dilettante. For all his faults, I wish Bauer would still do reviews. Perhaps he wasn't the most exploratory critic, or the best writer, but he's preferable to his successor, Soleil Ho. Not only is Soleil a hack, but a crusading hack, a hack on a mission.

Back to Il Pollaio... It was founded by a man from a Calabrian man. That is, a Calabrian by was of Argentina. With his chickens, he merged his two backgrounds. The chickens are spatchcocked and grilled (over gas). Cooking a splayed animal over fire represents the Argentine. Giving the bird a rub with garlic, herbs and spices before grilling represents the Italian.

It is honest, no frills cooking. The crispy skin is imbued with the flavor of the fire. The seasonings - olive oil, garlic, rosemary, thyme - add savory depth. Perfectly cooked, somehow, even the white meat is moist. The waiter gave me a plastic squeeze bottle filled with chunky, brick red sauce. It is the kind of sauce you find at Italian or Greek restaurants where the Mexican cooks have been given their freedom. That means more capsaicin. It is also the most affordable meal in North Beach. You can get a half chicken here for $16. In a neighborhood that sells spaghetti pomodoro for $23 a bowl, that is a bargain.

We read an old review in the San Francisco Chronicle (the local newspaper) written by a local food critic named Michael Bauer. Mr. Bauer said in this review: "The mothership of grilled chicken." After reading that, I knew I had to give this place a try.

The service here is great. Always friendly and cheery. We weren't too hungry so we split a chicken breast grilled sandwich. We asked for no pesto but extra mayo. They made the sandwich perfectly to order. The chicken was so juicy and flavorful!

Local unassuming family business with 12 tables. Incredible owner, food and ambiance.
Had the entire chicken , delicious steak fries, garden salad and homemade lentil soup ...delicious! A bottle of the tasty Malbec to top it off.
Grilled chicken seasoned and cooked well. Boneless ribeye seasoned and cooked perfectly with boiled potatoes on the side. Small staff and owner are so friendly and accommodating ... Look forward to returning !

This place is such a neighborhood gem. Amazing Argentinian style bbq, great prices and warm and lovely people. We are regulars who love this place.

My friends and I all have our usuals - lamb chops for me, ribeye for others. You can't find these prices for the quality of meat. And decent wine selection to go with everything too.

The minestrone soup is also great. Don't miss this spot!

Our absolute, long-standing, favorite for grilled chicken/ steak/pork chops/sausages, and the best steak french fries (wide planks). It's almost a weekly staple for us. Super easy to drop in for a wholesome and supremely delicious dinner plate of a grilled item with potatoes and salad, or take out for a group. The staff have been with the restaurant for many years, and provide consistent and upbeat service.

I was sad when I finished my plate of Lamb Chops because the deliciousness had come to an end. The quality of meat, flavor, tenderness, quantity and price are outstanding. A very comfortably casual place you could become a regular at. I plan to go back again and again.

It's a $15 plate. They only have two stores in San Francisco. It's very family oriented. Their staff (the lady) looks very authentic country American girl. Sincere and kind. Truly care for you. She asked me how it felt. That's good. Not just try to get your money and kick you out of the house.

We needed to grab something quick before going to Club Fugazi. It was the Saturday before Halloween and the scene was quite wild in the area. Luckily this spot was not busy. The service and food were solid. The menu is small...we had the full chicken, a Caprese salad, and an almond torte which were good.

Great spot in North Beach to get a quality chicken meal. I felt like the entire meal was clean and didn't include the normal heaviness from eating out at a restaurant. Half a chicken was more than enough for two people. I cut it up and added it to my side salad to make a personal chicken salad. The chicken was a tad dry but the homemade salsas compliment it well. Will definitely be back!