Best Italian in San Francisco?

[drbillie]

Looking for suggestions for the best italian food in San Francisco. We'll be there in April . Some friends of ours said they had the best italian food of their lives in SF but can't remember the name of the place. Mildly irritating...But hoping someone on the board can help. They did say it was a very small place with maybe 5 tables. Thanks!

[jdinsf]

For classic Italian food served by wonderful Italians, I have to second Caffe Macaroni Sciue Scuie on Columbus... very small, although more than 5 tables, and just absolutely reminiscent of my grandma's cooking. Try the gnocchi or the lasagna or the polpette and definitley order the fried polenta and gorgonzola.

[conourd]

This fits the profile in North Beach; great place. Here's some info from SF Gate:

L'Osteria del Forno: There may be many choices for Italian food along Columbus Avenue in North Beach, but few do it as well as this sliver of a restaurant. The fresh-baked focaccia thin-crusted pizzas and milk-braised pork are divine. (-SF Chronicle) 519 Columbus Ave. (between Union and Green streets), [phone].

[calvarez]

L'Osteria del Forno, perhaps? I had a deeply mediocre experience there once, but many 'hounds have given it high praise. (I'd also put the Macaronis into the deeply mediocre category.)

Panta Rei and Perbacco get my vote for best SF Italian options, but neither of them are very small.

[uptown jimmy]

We had one of the best meals of our lives at the original Cafe Macaroni. it's been a few years.

But the ambience certainly had a pretty strong impact on our experience. Delightful little restaurant.

[himbeer]

Caffe Macaroni at 59 Columbus? Or Macaroni Sciuè Sciuè at 124 Columbus. Or Ristaurante Milano on Pacific? Or Trattoria Contadina at Union/Mason? Or Acquerello on Sacramento?

[walker]

Could it be Aperto on 18th Street, Potrero Hill?