We had a reservation for dinner and we waited 45 minutes to get our table. Food was mediocre. The pasta was decent/good but the pizza was terrible. The wine was pretty bad too. Staff was cordial but not the level of service I would expect for that price range. I hadn't been there in years but definitely changed for the worse. Doubt I'll be back read more

This was not the best "Ideale" for us! We should've gone back to California Fish Market. It was the Friday night before Halloween and restaurant week to boot. So all the freaks and Eats were out that night. The service was slow, and the food was very salty. In the world of restaurant week, you have one chance to impress...ONE. Pardon another pun, but this place was not "Ideale." BB read more

It was one of the best Italian dining experiences for us for a long while. It's great to have such an amazing restaurant neighbor for our own business just a block away! The pasta here is to die for. We had the carbonara and their daily special of ricotta stuffed ravioli with beef ragu, and both are fantastic! The veal and prosciutto dish, a traditional Roman dish, was really delicious and a very unique experience, and the seated tuna special was cooked to perfection. The wine list full of classic Italian regions is a great deal and the bottle prices are really generous here. We found an amazing bottle of 2017 Valpolicella Reposado Superiore that was perfect for the beef ragu for the ravioli. They have a great selection of house made dessert here as well and we enjoyed all items. It's such a romantic perfect restaurant for an intimate dinner for 2 but as great for a group dinner with their large room. read more

Loud environment, slow service, under sauced gnocchi, bland food. We didn't bother staying for desert. Won't return.

One of the many Italian joints dotting North Beach. Kinda intimate compared to big places like Original Joe's. Seems like they make a lot of pasta in-house; their lasagna was sure nice. Pizza Pepperoni: Super thin and light crust, which I suppose is Roman-style. Makes eating an entire pie yourself very possible. I like that the edges got crispy, like a fancy cracker. The sauce and cheese were nice, getting more spotlight since there was less dough to distract from their shine. Only drawback is that thinner crust means it gets cooler faster, which can result in lukewarm (or even cold) pizza when ordering it for takeout or delivery. Lasagna Ideale: Thick, hearty and still piping hot after a walk home. Lots of pasta layers. Between the pasta the filling seemed kinda sparse. But there was tons of meat and cheese and sauce on the top and sides. I appreciated that it wasn't just one congealed square like some reheated lasagna can be It feels like the finished this to order, since there was a nice searing on some of the pasta. read more

Ideale - Lasagna Ideale - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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what a great meal. I think I left my phone, I'm desperate if someone can open the doors for me.

I've eaten here a number of times and come here whenever I'm in San Francisco. The food is top notch. Unlike most of the Italian spots a few block away on Columbus, Ideale clearly isn't catering to tourists. Rather, they are cooking for people who appreciate first-rate, authentic Italian food. The veal dish I ordered was outstanding though everything my wife and I have ordered is on that level. We also get the tiramisu every time we come - just insanely good. It's also worth noting that the owner and all the servers are Italian, which is a bonus in my book - they're also a fun bunch (if you've ever spent time in Italy, that won't surprise you.) Highly recommend this place. read more

Cute little Italian restaurant with authentic Italian food! One of the few places with authentic carbonara in the city. The staff was very friendly and spoke Italian as an extra plus! read more

Ideale - Spaghetti alla Carbonara - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

We had a blast eating at Ideale this past Friday night. The place was bustling with energy, the menu is fairly simple and has all of the classic Italian dishes that everyone tends to love. We ordered the grilled calimari, Cesar salad (they politely put anchovies on the side), spaghetti in a white wine sauce with clams and then last was mushroom linguini with sausage and truffle oil. They also brought us a ton of fresh bread with a light olive oil drip over it. Since it was our friends birthday and the entrees were so good, we decided to order dessert. We had the lightest and airiest tiramisu and my friend exclaimed, I'm in airy fluffy light layers of dessert heaven. We also ordered the Nutella crispy layer desert which was amazing. Last, we wanted coffee but asked anyway if they could make us espresso martinis and they said of course we can! The espresso martini was so good, we ordered a second round and they let us stay past close. An amazing night out in Little Italy. Ideale was lovely and it was nice to meet their Italian staff. read more

This was the first time my husband and I had gone out for Italian food after our honeymoon in Italy. Ideale seemed pretty legit, and we felt nostalgic walking into the restaurant. I believe we had reservations, but the place was relatively empty, so we didn't have to wait anyways. The pace of staff was leisurely, which I learned is very Italian. Great way to practice patience. My husband (part-Italian) excitedly ordered our wine and food in Italian. The waiter was quite pleased. Wine selection seemed limited but I've learned that all the options are fantastica. We ordered octopus to start while waiting for our food that took awhile. My pumpkin ravioli came out first, which I felt was a little undercooked, even for al dente. Unfortunately my husband must have mis-ordered in Italian (or it was a mistake of the waiter, who knows) because he received Eggplant Parmesan rather than Chicken Parmesan. Oops. It took just as long to prepare his replacement meal, so I tried eating slower. Kinda put a dent in our dinner date, but it was a relaxing experience in the end. I know North Beach has lots of other great Italian spots I'd like to try. Our time at Ideale wasn't ideal, but I'd give it another try if someone made the suggestion. Service was eccellente, and I appreciate everyone accommodating our requests and humoring my husband's broken Italian. Seems to get great reviews from other Yelpers! read more

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Great Italian spot in North Beach. Cute location right next to the park! Pasta was nicely cooked! Seasoned well and plenty of parm ;) read more

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Great pasta, appetizers and wine. Perfect Italian spot for a casual dinner with fresh food!

Don't go. They altered their menu for Valentine's Day which was a terrible idea. My boyfriend made this reservation after looking at the regular menu on yelp (cause it's not on their website) and seeing it had two of our favorite pasta dishes, he made a reservation. However they changed the menu for the holiday so we couldn't order either of what we wanted. Which was not mentioned on the website. The service terrible (took 45mins to even put in our order). The food was mediocre at best and not filling at all. I asked for one change in the pasta I ordered and that was no meat. Surprise, surprise there was in fact meat in my pasta. I had my boyfriend try it cause I wasn't sure and he confirmed that it was in fact meat. My boyfriend pasta also was made undercooked (not al dente) and was sweet??like really could've used some salt and pepper at the very least. We also asked for bread three times and never received any bread. The best part of this place was the water. Unbelievably disappointing for what should've been a special night. read more

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When you think of a wonderful neighborhood restaurant with the cozy, family feel- this place comes to mind. Service is wonderful and food is made fresh! We came here with some family friends (who have been coming here for years). The owner and chef are very friendly and service is great. The pasta is fresh and soft. We got the Pizza Margherita as an appetizer and it was super tasty and the crust was crunchy! I personally got the Fettuccine alla Norcina and it was creamy and delicious! For dessert we got Tiramisu and it was also soft and almost melted in your mouth. Our friends told us that some times if you come during the weekdays you can see the chef rolling out the dough to make pasta. Perfect place for a simple date night or a family meal!! read more

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Absolutely fantastic neighborhood Italian spot! Specials are always amazing and the sausage/mushroom pasta is the best I've ever eaten. Fresh homemade bread and wonderful service. Will be going back next trip to SF. read more

Ideale - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Authentic Italian cuisine, beautiful ambiance, great service and food! Loved the music, too!!! A North Beach favorite...glad to see it open for dining inside as well! It was a great way to celebrate our friend, Cole's birthday read more

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A bit too expensive - Carbonara + one glass of Montepluciano = 40 bucks... Staff is nice though and the ambiance is as it is in Rome read more

Food was extremely fresh and light. Nothing was heavy but we left satisfied. The staff was very kind... definitely come here if you want authentic Italian food. This place was recommended to us by a local and we are glad! My favorite dish was the gnocchi, but nothing disappointed. We ordered calamari (liked very much because not fried), gnocchi, fish of the day (halibut), and millefoglie for dessert. read more

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Service and food amazing! Great 1st night in SF with dinner here after a long traveling day. Would recommend. Added sausage to spaghetti and it was delicious with wine! Ambiance feels like read more

Staff was excellent! Friendly, attentive, and worked as a team with many taking care of us. Food was really lovely, ambience was nice, and we didn't feel rushed even though they had a full house with people waiting for a seat. Great experience! read more

Had a reservation but walk-ins were seated before us. Kind staff but extremely chaotic and slow service. Waited over an hour for a bland piece of fish and set of pastas (only served once prompted). Did not bother staying for dessert. Had to go across the street for additional food due to unfulfilling meal. read more

The service was very good and they were very accommodating to our party of 6. We were originally going to be 2 separate parties but they were gracious and accommodated us by putting us together at our request. Since the service was so friendly, I hate to report that the food was disappointing. Appetizers were good: Prosciutto w/pear Steak bruschetta Sadly all the pasta was mushy and overcooked. Very disappointed. Was expecting much better. The carbonara tasted very "porky" and sauce was a little "curdled" rather than being creamy. The special seafood pappardelle was underwhelming and sauce was a bit bland and acidic. I really wanted to like this small intimate restaurant but the food was not worth a second visit. read more

It's my neighborhood gem. As someone who loves to cook, knowing and getting an easy access to Ideale has been a real treat. This neighborhood spot perfectly captures the essence of Italian cuisine. And I am Italian... born and raised. The welcoming atmosphere and cozy setting make every visit enjoyable. The food? Absolutely outstanding! From the perfectly cooked pasta to other delicious main courses, every dish is made with fresh, high-quality ingredients. What truly sets Ideale apart is the sense of community it creates. Whether dining alone or with friends, you always feel at home. For a taste of authentic Italian cuisine without the effort of cooking, Ideale is my top choice. Highly recommended! read more

Outstanding food. Visiting from Chicago, loved it Prosciutto Wrapped PearsHomemade Pasta. read more

Roman Italian food!! Delicious cacio y Pepe! carbanara!! Great pizzas.., Great wine list. Service is knowledgeable and helpful.. If you want wonderful Italian food, go... read more

Amazing food and super unique dishes. Had the veal saltimboca, please excuse the bad spelling. Pasta was super good, desert was great. All was solid. Check it out. read more

We had a lovely dinner at Ideale this past weekend. We went there before seeing the new show at Club Fugazi (fabs btw). I had the fish special and broccolini. Both were top notch. My friends ordered a pizza. I scooped up a leftover slice at the end of the meal and, even after sitting there for a while and getting cold, it was still delish (and my standards are much higher now than when I was in college ;). read more

Enjoyed a wonderful time at Ideale - located in the heart of North Beach, but was not too busy on a Saturday evening. Cozy ambiance and service was friendly. Would recommend the Tiramisu! read more

Loveee! Went to Ideale for dinner with colleagues and the food was amazing. Ideale is traditional, authentic, and reminded me of my travels to Italy. Most def. will be back! read more

Great Italian food!!! I highly recommend for anyone looking for some fresh pasta with a little twist. The tortellini with veal and mushrooms was amazing. It had a light cream sauce with prosciutto and peas. The sauce was a major yes!!! I also got the zucchini julienne. Simply made, but it had some great flavor that went well with the pasta I ordered. Quickly made as well. I'll be back!!! read more

Ideale - Tortelloni Alla Paesana - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Amazing space Tradsontoal Italian spot Amazing waiter fabio and pallo they had amazing energy and recommendations. The food was fresh and amazing , so was the drinks read more

Ideale - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Food: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 4/5 Overall: A good option for food in North Beach. The extended review... Food: Prociutto e Pera - I mean...these are two of my favorite things! Meat and pear!!! The perfect combo of sweet and savory. You can't go wrong with that. I have no complaints about this except there wasn't more on the plates. Gnocchi - Yet another Italian favorite of mine! I always love the texture and taste of this pasta. And to add shrimp...YES PLEASE!!!!! Service: Friendly and attentive staff. Ambiance: Very casual. read more

Maybe I picked a bad night. Thoroughly Italian but not in a convivial way. Rushed, brusque ambivalent service. And we were there early. Party of 4. Weird everything came out one person at a time. Was clumsy. Everybody waited for the other before starting or toasting. Food fresh and authentic but not enough to transport your taste buds back to Italia. Porcini pasta w sausage asked for parmigiano still waiting. Kinda stressful vibes. Still ranking Milano Cafe and Montesacro best boutique Italian in city. read more

The food and wine was delicious. The service was fine, but slow. Other tables were being sat around us and receiving service, but a table of 2 with a girl with a birthday tierra on had to ask for service about 10-15 mins after we sat down. The veal saltimbocca and beet salad were tasty. The sauvignon blanc was okay. We had to rush out the door to make our show even though we showed up an hour and 45 mins before. Side note: I hope they didn't pay for any of the art on the walls. Overall, was not impressed with Ideale and would not choose it again for a birthday dinner. read more

After dining nearby, I came upon this non-discreet restaurant that was full. I took a glance at the menu and then the reviews on Yelp, I had it down on my "to try' list. Recently our group of four tried to dine at a popular pizza place on a Saturday evening, but there was a two-hour wait time for a table. I suggested Ideale and we decided to check it out. It's an authentic Italian restaurant that is off the main Columbus Ave drag that's tucked away on Grant Ave. We walked in and were welcomed and seated next to the bar. The restaurant is actually large since there is an adjoining second dining room. Each room had a cozy atmosphere. The menu consisted of antipasti, contorni, pizza, pasta and secondi and we were trying to pick out dishes as we would be dining family style. What we noticed was that their pastas and breads were house made with organic ingredients. We were served a bowl of Focaccia drizzled with olive oil. So delicious that we got a second bowl during the course of our dinner. Polpo alla Griglia - a tasty appetizer of grilled Spanish octopus tossed with asparagus, potatoes and tomatoes. Insalate Cesare - romaine leafs with anchovies and capers topped with fresh shaved mozzarella and crotons. Simple but delicious Pepperoni pizza - tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and pepperoni. The crust was thin and crispy as ordered. Pappardelle all' Agnello - delicious wide ribbons of thin pasta in a tomato lamb ragu. So tasty. Tortellini alla Paesana - a nice portion of veal stuffed tortellinis topped with slices of prosciutto in a light mushroom cream reduction. Wow, this was clearly our favorite dish. Contorni - Side of Roasted Potatoes. Nicely seasoned potatoes roasted with rosemary. A little pricey for the portion size. Millefoglie for dessert - called "1,000 Layers", this was a light flaky puff pastry layered with custard and chocolate. Never had this dessert and we cleaned the plate. We agreed that the food was delicious here. Authentic food and staff, that provided friendly accommodating service. A North Beach gem off the beaten path. read more

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TL;DR - lackluster food for a high price, and decent service. Would be wary of the positive reviews. I feel very misled by all the positive reviews on here. Came here for a celebratory dinner, on a Wednesday evening, and only two other tables were occupied. The service was the only redeeming quality at this place, as the food was barely palatable. We ordered the bruschetta, a Margherita pizza, and the fettuccine (vegetarian - subbed the sausage for mushrooms). The bruschetta was soaked in oil and was so soggy that the toppings fell right off, the Margherita pizza was not much better than any regular cheese pizza, and they forgot to sub the sausage for mushrooms in the fettuccine. When we asked for the fettuccine to be re-made, it seemed to be done in a rush and some of the mushrooms were definitely raw. I'm not sure what was happening in the kitchen, but with the restaurant being mostly empty, I expected much better quality of food for $80. I wouldn't come here again, nor recommend this place. I want to give them the benefit of the doubt, but it's hard to at $40 per person, especially as we both left feeling stomach sick at the end. read more

About 1/3 of my beef dish was not eatable. I mentioned it to the waiter who said he could see it was full of nerves. There was no offer of substitution or compensation. Wow! read more

So authentic and delicious! My entire family raved about how delicious the food was. And Mauricio, the owner, was the best server!

Hands down the best Italian food I've had in San Francisco. And I've had a lot of it! My friend from Milan recommended Ideale and I'm so glad I got around to coming here even though it's across the city from me. The atmosphere is open and somewhat loud, so it's not elegant, but feels welcoming and the servers and host are accommodating and full of hospitality. We sat inside and ordered the prosciutto and pera: WOW! The flavors were astonishing and the mascarpone really shines. I'm ordering this again for sure. We got a glass of Sangiovese too which was pleasant but not memorable necessarily. Healthy pour though! The mains we ordered were pastas and both were phenomenal. Pretty sure you can't go wrong with this menu. We skipped the dessert since we were in a rush but I was impressed all around and very pleased with the bill which came out to an even 100 with the tip. Good date night for two. Warning: parking around here is absolutely atrocious. Do yourself a favor and take an Uber or plan to look for 15 minutes a few blocks away as there's really nothing in the vicinity. We'll be back ASAP! read more

Really nice authentic italiian. Live in the area and have not been here before last week. Sorry now we did t frequent. It's often. Great food! read more