Delfina Restaurant

4.0
120 reviews
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id: 1616
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3621 18TH ST
San Francisco, CA 94110

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(415) 552-4055
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Best

Delfina Wine List Review Delfina has been a staple on the San Francisco restaurant scene for over a decade....

Worst

If you live in San Francisco, this is probably a place to see and be seen for the ""Beautiful People"", but it certainly isn't a good choice for top line, authentic Italian cuisin...

Delfina is consistently amazing 4/18/2006

Delfina is one of the most reliable businesses in San Francisco. We've never had a bad experience there, which is why it has become our most trusted restaurant for every special occasion. Care is always taken to select fresh, local ingredients. The preparations are always superb, whether it's homemade pasta or short ribs or grilled calamari. And MOST importantly, the wait staff are all sweethearts with a deep passion for the food that they serve. Make reservations far in advance, ask your server for suggestions, and enjoy! Pros: Awesome food, Exceptional service more
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Delightful 4/3/2006

My husband and I ate here for the first time recently and it was truly amazing. I made a reservation 2 weeks in advance and we were seated promptly and went on to enjoy excellent service and a delicious meal. Everything was amazing and worth every cent. Loved it and can't wait to go back. more
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Incredible! 4/2/2006

I lived in Naples, Italy and have eaten a lot of incredible Italian food. Delfina is truly exceptional, the best I've had in SF. They know what they are doing, which is not the case for many, many Italian restaurants. The food is amazing. The staff is great, enthusiastic and very helpful. In a world of spin and over hyped restaurants, this place deserves its reputation. The food and experience were so good that I was compelled to write this review, my first ever. Buon Appetito! Pros: Food, Food, Service Cons: Coffee more
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Best food in the Best city 3/23/2006

This is THE best authentic Italian restaurant in town. Not only the food is rated #10. Service and atomsphere are part of this pleasant treat. I am organizing a Yogi's night out....It's to be fun!!! Thank you! Rae more
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Lived up to the reputation 3/11/2006

I had heard a lot about Delfina before actually eating there and it was all that it was cracked up to be. The wait was about an hour, but that's why the 500 Club is a perfect pre-game. I had the ribs and they were delicious! The meat fell off the bone and was perfectly cooked! The servers were cool too. Pros: Ribs Cons: Wait, but worth it. more
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Over Rated 2/10/2006

Since my friend is allergic to garlic, she requested shallot instead of garlic for her meal but the request was denied. She was told that everything was made ahead therfore it was impossible to do so. We were very surprised. The chef/owner is not flexible. The place is over rated. Cons: Over rated, Non flexible, Bad PR more
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Best visit yet!!! 2/7/2006

My Husband I dined at Delfina on Sunday a few weeks ago and is was the best visit ever. We usaully make reservations, this time we weren't able to so, we decided to try our luck. It was our lucky night. We were seated up on the bar type seating. A young man served us, which was surprising, I thought only women worked there. I wish I could remember his name. He gave us the best service we have ever received at Delfina. My Husband and I have decided we are sitting there everytime we dine. That is if the lovely young man is working. Pros: Our server, food Cons: Little loud, crowded, very busy more
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Food just as good but service is slipping 1/27/2006

I haven't been to Delfina in about a year. I found the food to be just as great as ever. Everything was just as simple, fresh and flavorful as I remembered it. The service, however, was a little off. It seemed that our server was a little stretched thin. She seemed to be serving many tables at one time, and it was hard to get her attention when we needed something. All in all, it was good a experience but only because the food was so good. Pros: great food Cons: parking more
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Losing ground... 12/21/2005

I gave this place a stellar review over a year ago, however I feel it is no longer serving the quality it started out with. It's becoming more Californian and the pear tart we had was mediocre. We unfortunately also got a corked glass of wine. It's still one of the 4 best Italian restaurants in SF though. Pros: Freshness!, cooked right!, authentic! Cons: Loud interior, Long wait more
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Tremendous Food with a Neighborhood Feel 11/8/2005

Even after all of their positive press, Delfina continues to offer great service and a neighborhood feel. The food is still among the best in the city as well, with freshness and quality at the forefront. The total package. Pros: Service, Quality Cons: Can be loud at times more
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User review by suzep 10/23/2005

I'm over the moon for this restaurant ! It's worth the 70 mile drive from my home in Healdsburg.....I've loved their vibrant food for years.....and now, I can sit in the sun and relish their delightfully delicious pizzeria next door. Wow !!! The sun and the moon...Delfina. more
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Wow 9/30/2005

Wow. I was blown away by how good this place is. The food is incredible. They really ""get"" it regarding Italian food... simple is beautiful. Distinct and balanced flavors and texture... and not overly-constructed food. Service is relaxed and totally on top of it. This is a solid place. more
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Name Alone 9/5/2005

sadly delfina has become a restaurant that relies more on its name, and former reputation, than on solid cuisine. at delfina's price range, one should expect inventive food that tantalizes, excites, intriques, and engages your palate. we recently took our friends from nyc, expecting that delfina would represent california-nouveau-italian cuisine. our expectations were let down. at least they still have solid service. i'd rather delfina focus on its roots, instead of venturing into the realm of pizza. Pros: ambiance, service Cons: expensive, food, parking more
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For food lovers..really! 9/4/2005

I went to Delfina's last Saturday with my boyfriend. I had first visited the place in mid-July; taking my God mother there for her b-day. I thought the food was so delicious that I told my boyfriend we must go there as soon as we have the time. The second visit has sold me-- one of the best places to eat in this city, period! They have a nack for making simple plates incredibly tasty. i have had their two of their soups, three different appetizers, spaghetti, and their chicken, and have yet to try anything less then excellent. Pros: food, food, service Cons: parking, always booked more
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Friendly and fun restaurant for food lovers 8/1/2005

After several attempts I know how to get the best out of Delfina. Show up late. Just like any place in Italy, the staff is more relaxed and fun when they start drinking at the end of the day. Always order what the staff recommends; their recommendations are spot on. The food has not failed yet for me; it is spectacular. The wines they carry work well with the food. The staff is excellent. The location by Dolores Park and the mission is the best. Pros: Food, Staff, Location Cons: Too crowded more
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not impressed 6/30/2005

finally decided to make reservations at the over-hyped Delfina, the food was pretty good. The service was definitely lacking, very surprising, since it claims to have the best service, out table was never reset, wrong wine was unapologetically brought and left on our table. But i do understand that everyone has a bad night. Pros: food, decor Cons: service more
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Upscale Eats around Dolores Park 6/24/2005

Took parents for dinner, but made reservations a week in advance. They were able to seat us early. Started with a salad, and then we all shared the steak, lamb, and gnocci. Each dish was excellent, especially the lamb, which was not overly pungent. This is a great place for a nice dinner that leaves you satisfied but not overwhelmed. The service was outstanding: it seemed that after every drink of water my glass was refilled. I think it may be overhyped, but its still a great eatery. Pros: Sophisticated Food, Service Outstanding Cons: Can be loud, Fills up Quick more
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SO OVERRATED!!! 4/21/2005

I can't believe that hype behind this place...I guess this proves that SF just is not the place for Italian food. It's way overpriced and the food is mediocre at best. I just don't get it. The location sucks and the atmosphere is so-so. Stay away, there are much better alternatives, even the cheap places in North Beach are better than this place. Please. more
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Good Food But Horribly Packed 4/6/2005

Tried it for the first time after reading so much hype. Reservationist said they were booked 4-6 wks in advance for prime time dinner. I went 9.30 PM on Wednesday, found street parking. Restaurant was suffocatingly packed, even when we left at 11PM. Staff was very friendly, service was excellent. I used to live in NYC and there were many restaurants that occupy the niche that Delfina does (in terms of food quality, price, atmosphere, type of crowd), so there is never a wait to get in. I don't know why Delfina is so packed, perhaps SF simply does not offer enough restaurants that fill this particular niche. Not recommended for special occasion, too hectic, would ruin the mood. P.S. Loved waiter for suggesting ice water right off the bat instead of trying to force expensive water on us (my pet peeve). Pros: Decent food, Good service, Young crowd Cons: Solidly Booked, Overly crowded, Too noisy more
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Over-rated over-priced 4/4/2005

The only thing i like about delfina are the fries and the desserts. Everting else lacked flavor and seemed overpriced for what we got. Too much buzz about a placethat isn't all that good. more
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Menu for Delfina Restaurant


Editorial

  • The Scene
    Yellow walls, skillfully placed mirrors, squeezed-together tables and an outdoor patio add up to a warm and buzz-happy experience. The crowd is typical for the...

  • 8/31/2006 Provided by Citysearch
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