The Most Flavorful Pasta Shops in San Francisco

Bottega

★★★★☆ 4.3 • $$

"We arrived on a Friday night at around 5pm and thankfully we skipped the dinner rush! Their aesthetic plates drew me in but I was a bit underwhelmed with the food.We tried their truffle risotto special which was on the milder side of truffle so I'd say it was about 3.5/5. The flavor was slightly bland imo and could've had a bit more salt. The calamari was decent but not the best I've had. It was also a 3.5/5 the calamari itself was very soft but the breading wasn't as crispy as I'd like it to be. I tried the pink vodka pasta with sausages and it was alright as well. The pasta was a bit too hard for my liking and the pink sauce needed a tad bit more flavor. The sausage was also kinda hard and I'd prefer a softer textured sausage. This dish was a 3.5/5. TLDR: I'd give this spot a 3.5/5. The atmosphere, environment, and service was great but the food fell a bit short for my liking."

Bella Trattoria

★★★★☆ 4.3 • $$

"Awesome pizza and pasta. The pasta was rich but not overwhelmingly heavy. Dessert was very delicious. Easy to find parking nearby."

Sapore Express

★★★★★ 4.5 (193) • $$

"HIDDEN GEM! Was gonna go to get Japanese ramen but it's so crowded. so I was just scrolling down the street and found Sapore Express. Sapore Express is an absolute gem in San Mateo! The pasta I ordered was bursting with flavor--perfectly al dente with a sauce that was rich, savory, and comforting. The arugula on top added a fresh, peppery touch that tied everything together beautifully.The attention to detail in every dish really stands out, and you can tell that the food is prepared with care and high-quality ingredients. It's rare to find such authentic Italian flavors in such a cozy and unassuming spot.If you're in San Mateo and craving delicious Italian food, Sapore Express is the place to go. I can't wait to return and try more of their menu. Highly recommended for anyone looking for amazing food in a relaxed, welcoming setting!"

Uni Pizzeria & Grill

★★★★★ 4.5 (54) • $

"- Reminds me of Costco combo pizza- flavors are great, lots of toppings- not thin not thick slices- the crust is bready- their wings are great- only ordered over the phone and had picked up- they also deliver depending on your location. So definitely call and ask!- inside a plaza with parking"

The Waterfront Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 3 • $$$

"Service was great. Raw oysters are fresh and yummy. Cioppino was good, all seafood were cook to perfection. Liquini and clams was ok. I had better. Halibut was the highlight. Fresh, tender and juicy. Dessert: Crème Brûlée was crème brûlée. Apple crisp was good. Someone at our table ordered brownie and said it was ok. Warm toffee cake was moist and yummy. I am not a fan toffee anything. I ordered it because I heard our waiter said coffee and my friend likes coffee. Turned out to be the best desert out of all three."

Pizza Due

★★★★★ 4.7 (86)

"It couldn't have gone smoother!I'm not a frequent user of delivery services and such as I live in a small town. We were staying at the Beck's Motel in the Castro district and decided to order a pizza thru Yelp. The pizza was delivered shortly after ordering and before the anticipated arrival time. It was hot and filled our bellies! Good job Pizza Due. You did us happy!"

Pasta Panino

★★★★★ 4.5 (120) • $$

"I love Pasta Panino! We have always been treated with the greatest degree of respect, courtesy, and care, and the food is always delicious.Garlic Bread: a classic; did not disappoint. Pro trip: if you are able to hold off from devouring it all (tough to do considering how good it is), save some as a dipping bread for the rest of the meal, to soak up the flavored oil from the ravioli or the dressing from the salad. Delicious. Calamari Fritto Misto: also great! A lightly crispy texture, with delicious tartar sauce.Roasted Beet Arugula Salad: the perfect balance of textures, with soft burrata cheese and sliced fennel. I do wish there was a hint more of the balsamic vinaigrette for extra flavor, but still delectable.Butternut Squash Ravioli: it tastes like Christmas. The hot sage-infused brown butter oil is perfect for dipping (garlic) bread into, and the spinach, peas, and white corn add incredible bursts of flavor and texture. Definitely a staple in our go-to order here.Cinnamon Bread Pudding: the perfect way to end the meal, a warm soft sweet treat topped with apples and whipped cream made in house. Yum."

Bella’s kitchen

★★★★☆ 3.5 (30)

"Food was so good! Came here one night on Valentine's because everything was packed and needed a reservation. I didn't realize this place was here and so glad I found it. We wanted to sample a bit of the menu so we got a few things like gnocchi, tortellini, cheesy bread, clam chowder and cannelloni. I couldn't get enough of the sauces and even ordered another cheesy bread to sop it up! Seems like this place has a lot of to-go orders so there's plenty of space to stop in for a bite! The staff is very friendly and made us feel welcome.Needless to say I've been ordering from here regularly since! The chowder is perfect for those cold South SF nights. The Rosemarino was pretty delicious as well!"

chicos pizza

★★★★★ 4.5 (28)

"The pizza by the slice variety are a good deal and great size for the location and they heat it up in the oven. Not overly salty and a bit sweet on the sauce so a good change of pace"

Giovanni Italian Specialties

★★★★☆ 4.3 (39) • $$

"A Taste of TraditionIf you are visiting North Beach, San Francisco, you should make a quick stop at Giovanni Italian Specialties and try one of their cannolis with a cup of coffee. Their cannolis are made with a crispy shell, creamy ricotta filling, and chocolate chips or pistachio toppings. They are a popular choice among customers and often sell out quickly. By the way, they may have more than chocolate or pistachio topping choices, but I get the pistachio every time! It is delicious.While you are waiting for the cannoli and the coffee, walk around the little store and check out the goods. You might even find a few things you want to add to your shopping list!Giovanni Italian Specialties is in the heart of North Beach, San Francisco. If I remember correctly, they opened their doors in late 2017. It is one of our favorite stops during our weekend walks around the neighborhood. The store is named after the owner's son, Giovanni, and reminds visitors of a 1950's general store. The owner, Tony Gemignani, is famous for his pizza and wanted to bring his love for pasta to the neighborhood where his restaurant business began.The store has a rich history connected to the owner's family, who were involved in the provisions business. Giovanni's offers a variety of Italian staples, both domestic and imported. They make homemade focaccia, Piadina sandwiches (I did not know what it was until I tried it here!), panzerotti (fried calzones), pizzelle cookies, and fresh pasta and ravioli. You can also find fine Italian and California wines, liqueurs, and craft beers.You will enjoy a Cappuccino or espresso made with Graffeo-roasted coffee beans, which have been roasted only a few blocks away in North Beach since 1935. Giovanni's has outdoor seating with views of Washington Square Park and Saints Peter & Paul Church. If you want to try making their award-winning recipes at home, the store also sells professional pizza tools, bakeware, and cookbooks by the owner and other local authors.If you get to try the coffee and the cannoli, let me know what you think! :-)"

Capri Lasagneria

★★★★★ 4.7 (245) • $$

"Service was great. Food was yummy. We actually didn't get lasagne , got build your own pasta instead. It was very good as you can customize it and add only ingredients you like to it! I got the gnocchi with spinach and mushrooms with red sauce. The portions are quite big, too. And free bread!They have a kids menu, and kids cups! That was a pleasant surprise. Came on a weekend right when it opened so was able to get a table. It's pretty small inside so I imagine it gets pretty busy."

Collina

★★★★★ 4.6 (72)

"This restaurant was a pleasant surprise. There's always a long wait for reservations, but it's worth the wait! This food was one of the best Italian meals I've had in the city. The truffle pasta was mind blowing, however a slightly too oily for my taste. The gnocchi was the star of the show, perfect sauce and mushrooms. Our friend enjoyed his lasagna, saying he's never eaten one like it. The Brussel sprouts and potatoes were perfectly seasoned and a great dish to share among the table. The ambiance is so cute and small, definitely gives a cozy vibe with the dark lighting. It's perfect for a small, intimate dinner and feeling like you're in a mom and pop Italian restaurant, but with a slightly elegant flare."

Norcina

★★★★☆ 4.3 (350) • $$$

"Norcina in San Francisco is such a cute spot! The atmosphere is warm and inviting, perfect for a casual meal. I had their pizza, and it was absolutely delicious--crispy, flavorful, and cooked to perfection in a wood-fired oven. The staff was friendly, and the service was great too. Definitely a place I'll be coming back to for more tasty pizza and a cozy vibe!"

Roma Antica

★★★★★ 4.5 • $$

"Super cute parklet and dog-friendly! Great customer service too! The pups got a complimentary meatball and a bowl of water! I love that they have a blanket on all of the chairs and heated lamps. You get free focaccia bread too! Make sure to check in on Yelp for a complimentary tiramisu! I'm not usually a big fan of Italian food, but this made me enjoy it so much! Everything we ordered was not overly oily, cheesy, or dry!ORDER:Margherita Pizza - added some Italian sausage! So tasty, I love that you can taste it's from a traditional oven. It is nice and chewy, not too cheesy and tastes very fresh.Boscaiola Pasta - was nice and juicy! We got it with the pink sauce (a mixture of tomato + cream), I liked that it wasn't cheesy or too tomatoey! Pasta could be a little softer/thinner, Italian sausage was so GOOD! Focaccia bread - great flavor, not too oily or dry! Best bread I've had at an Italian restaurant!Tiramisu - Just the right amount of cake, not too sweet or overpowering! Mostly cream, a little hint of hazelnut towards the bottom which finished it off well!Cocktails: really solid! La Passione - couldn't taste that much vodka, it felt more like a refreshing juice to me, but that's probably because I'm so used to drinking vodka, but still a great drink! Sweet Heart - can taste the alcohol more than the La Passione, not overly sweet, refreshing! The little heart stick was cute!Overall, would come back again! :)"

Kings West Coast Pizzeria

★★★★☆ 4.3 (137) • $$

"Food is amazing!My first time trying a Nutella Pizza, it's great!The Bay Special has a combination of toppings that is really good!Staff is very friendly & smiling.Restaurant is very clean and organized.I definitely recommend you try this place.I definitely will come back."

Pasta Supply

★★★★☆ 4.4 (42)

"Service here was friendly and helpful. My wife and I enjoyed the meatballs, the white bean dip, and the cannelloni. Everything was very tasty, our favorites were the meatballs and the warm ciabatta drizzled with olive oil that came with the white bean dip appetizer!"

Delizie Cucina & Vino

★★★★☆ 4.4 (653) • $$

"What an amazing experience we had for dinner tonight! Service was incredible, the house made pastas were made to perfection (we tried the pappardelle, rigatoni, and risotto), and the ambiance was warm and inviting. This is a place you come back to over and over again. Definitely a little gem of San Carlos."

Flour & Water Pasta Shop

★★★★☆ 4 (94) • $$

"I wish I had a picture of the Calabrian fried chicken sandwich and chopped salad but I don't have a picture because it was a crazy sf heat wave kind of day. The sandwich was perfectly, saucy, crunchy and flavorful and the bread was the perfect vessel and stayed crunchy to the last bite, but not chip your tooth crunchy. The salad was also delicious but maybe not as exciting and as flavorful as the sandwich. It could have one more thing? Is it missing tomatoes, some kind of crunchy crouton? Maybe one more pickled thing? Either way, I'd still order both again as they're high quality in ingredients and preparation. This was a dangerous discovery as it's close to my house and I will be going back very soon!"

Golden State Pizzeria

★★★★☆ 3.6 (136) • $$

"Under new management ;)Too hungry for just simply getting a pizza. And too dam tired to walk or wait on blaze pizza to begin with.The pesto chicken pasta and fettuccine Alfredo portions are now filled to the brim, unlike the past ownerships.The dough for the pizza and the whole process is run by one singular person, made fresh daily as well Who happens to be the owner himself.Please don't use doordash delivery on this place, the prices might not be accurate + they charge the shop 30% I think too..Come on in , in person and see the whole process and pick up the food while it's hot.. not when it's sitting in some person's car when it's halfway cold cause the driver took too long .Support local shops!"

Aldo's Pizza

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (197) • $$

"A friendly neighborhood pizza joint! It's not the best pizza ever, but no major complaints here. We mainly do take out. Their thin crust has garnered a variety of opinions. My dad said it was "surprisingly good" while my SO hates it. They have a weekly deal for two Medium pizzas with 2 toppings, but I don't think we ever got it since we like a million toppings on ours :)P.S. their Taste of India pizza has nothing to do with Indian flavors lol Why did they pick this name? Maybe I will ask one day."

New York Pizza - San Mateo

★★★★☆ 3.7 (335) • $$

"This review is long overdue, as I have been coming here for years! This pizza is delicious and I love the New York thinness of this pizza! The ambiance, service and location are great. Go help support a local business like this one!!"

The Pasta Market

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (306) • $$

"9/7/2023The Pasta Market4546 El Camino RealLos Altos, CA 94022We went there for a weekday lunch. It is located at the corner of the mall at ECR and San Antonio Avenue with parking around the shops. You order and pay at the counter at the RHS and seat yourself in the dining area on the LHS, where your food is brought to you. The ambiance was spartan diner but with real table cloths.We ordered the Fried Calamari, Meat Lasagna and I had the Linguine with Clams. The calamari was a little chewy with a crisp breading and topped with sauteed seasoned minced garlic. I've been searching for a place that features garlic calamari and this is the only place that has it. The flavor is excellent. Wifey was pleased with her Lasagna. My Linguine was more like a soup, it was served in a bowl topped with a generous helping of in shell clams and al dente pasta in a broth, not a sauce. There was even additional clam meat in the broth. It was different and very good.Service was fast and efficient. Portions were above average and an exceptional value. Definitely repeatable."