E' Tutto Qua: "Great New Italian Ristorante in North Beach" San Francisco Restaurant Tip by giorgino

This is Italian food as you would eat if you could go to Rome today. They make all their pasta fresh on the premises and the pizza is that wonderful light and thin crusted kind you find in Rome. They do a good job with presenting beautiful plates of gourmet quality food, like perfectly grilled lamb chops and fresh fish. The prices are incredibly low for this level of food. Nothing on the menu over $20 and lots of dishes under $15. A nice wine list with something for all tastes. Wonderful Italian desserts and coffees. The staff is friendly and helpful. The atmosphere at dinner time is lively and bustling and fun! Lunch time is a bit less animated, but service is great and they always make you feel welcome. I am a local and I noticed all of the Italians who work in other restaurants come here to eat in their off time. Lots of the celebs who live in SF are seen slipping up to the balcony area. As this place just opened in June of 2007, it has not yet been discovered by all, so the waiting line is only on weekends at dinner, but these Italian boys do all they can to get you seated and eating as soon as possible. They do not serve huge portions like some of the more touristy places in the area, just the right amount of good quality food, well prepared with fresh ingredients. Emphasis is on being truly authentic Italian. If you want the old checkered tablecloth and too much garlic in massive portions of so so "Americanized Italian" food, this is not the place for you. They only opened 3 months ago and locals are already buzzing about it.

Favorite Dish: Start with the Carpaccio di Polpo ~ Chilled slices of octopus with olives, capers, onions & lemon dressing. Next Spaghetti Neri ~ Squid ink pasta with mixed seafood in a garlic, white wine sauce. They make this fresh pasta with perfect quality clams, mussels, calamari and shrimp. Don't miss the house made tiramisu for dessert with a perfect Italian cappuccino or espresso.

Address: 270 Columbus Ave, San Francisco California 94133
Comparison: less expensive than average
Directions: Corner of Broadway & Columbus Ave
Phone: (415) 989-1002
Price: US$21-30
Rating: 5
Theme: Italian