1 Star -- Deeply Disappointed I made a reservation 10 days in advance for a 5:00 PM dinner at Il Borgo on Fell Street. I even spoke directly with the owner to confirm the time because we had concert tickets afterward. We took an Uber across town, only to arrive and find the restaurant completely closed -- despite their posted hours clearly saying they open at 4:00 PM. It was 5:10 PM when we got there. No sign, no message, no courtesy call, nothing. This was incredibly unprofessional and left us scrambling. We ended up wandering around trying to salvage the evening and thankfully stumbled on a true gem, Doppio Zero, which completely saved the night. Il Borgo needs to seriously rethink how they handle reservations and communication. I won't be attempting a return. read more

What an unassuming gem, such a cute authentic Italian restaraunt. Clearly family owned. Dimly lit with wooden tables and benches, red checkered table cloths. Romantic for a date or casual enough for a friends or group setting. We were greeted in Italian and there were many phrases said in Italian throughout the service. It's cozy and warm inside, smells of delicious Italian food. Best bolgenese I ever head. Though it is a dish I don't eat often. It was a huge plate of homemade pasta and piles of ground meat in a sauce that was not overpowering at all. The meat and pasta were the star. The artichoke ravioli were delicious too, something I never had before. Tasted delicate. I felt so satisfied after the meal, and everyone we ate with liked their meal too. Got a glass of wine and it was filled to the brim. We were left to talk and even after paying the bill were not rushed out. I would definitely come here again! One of the best meals I have had in San Francisco. read more

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I called and ordered the fettuccine del borgo 15 minutes before closing and they were so friendly and so fast. The food was ready in 10 minutes and I really enjoyed it! I feel like this spot is super authentic and overlooked and I'll definitely be back. The fettuccine tasted homemade and had a good chewy texture. The homemade bread that came with was delicious. I would say skip the other mainstream restaurants on Hayes st and stop by here! Update I went back and ordered the fettuccine primavera and I loved that one as well! read more

Il Borgo - Fettuccine del Borgo - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This was a very cozy and cute little place. The server was an elder man who was very nice. The food was very authentic and delicious. We started with the bruschetta to share, always have to get that at an Italian restaurant. I got the artichoke ravioli and it was great. We also got regular ravioli with sausage inside, Spaghetti carbonara and a mushroom pizza. The only thing i would say is actually shareable is the pizza, everything is more personal size. I would recommend this place if you wanted something thats pretty authentic and fast. It wasn't too busy but it had quite a good amount of people, they seem to have a lot of regulars since they greeted each other by name. I would definitely come here again if im around. read more

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Had a good meal. Try and avoid the last seat in the back for two though, just to much activity for pleasant evening meal. Pizza was great, lasagna was mid. Ask about the items you don't understand, the tall white guy that seemed to be like manager or maybe owner loved to talk about the food and we ended up trying a pasta dish that he recommended and it was excellent. read more

The meal was fine. Wife's pasta was nice; my gnocchi was on the gummy side. Service was good - attentive without being overbearing. I was surprised the place was empty. It was a Tuesday and was a little later than normal dinner time, but I'd expect someone else to be there. read more

Food, awesome! Mitra's service, awesome! Setting, awesome! This place is a hidden gem. Don't sleep on it! I highly recommend the Arrabbiata! read more

I really wanted to like this place because it looked like such a cute little local place but sadly the food isn't great. Although it wasn't very expensive (at least for SF) I feel like it's still not worth it and I wouldn't recommend it; if you really want pasta without making yourself and without breaking the bank then honestly getting some Trader Joe's frozen pasta is a better bet. There is also a slight smell in the restaurant. The service was good and prompt however overall I still couldn't recommend; there are better places (albeit more expensive) so nearby. read more

I just had a really nice dinner here. The spaghetti was very delicious and very well cooked. The service was very friendly and the ambiance of the place was great for an Italian restaurant. I give them 5 stars. I recommend people try this place out . . I also recommend making a reservation for eating here Friday night or Saturday night. read more

Il Borgo - Spaghetti Pomodoro Fresco - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Fresh ingredients, friendly host, classic atmosphere. Parking was difficult. Prices were amazingly affordable

il Borgo was an unexpectedly amazing dining experience. If you're looking for authentic fresh Italian, this is the place. It's tiny with only about 8 tablespoons but the service was excellent and everything we ate was delicious. read more

The food and service was good. We started with the bruschetta and caprese salad. The bruschetta was good just wished we had maybe one more slice of bruschetta to make it even amount. The ambiance of the restaurant felt like an old Italian restaurant could use some life but didn't mind felt authentic. The pasta was homemade and tasted good along with the chicken Marsala tasted fresh and not too many ingredients were used. Everything was simple and fresh. Definitely feels like a little cute restaurant missed because of all the traffic on Hayes. But also prices were great. read more

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Great Pasta. Authentic Italian. Great service. Homemade pasta. La Dolce Vita. Hostess is an Sophia Loren beauty.

My kid took one bite of the pesto and said, "Wow, it's been years since I've had memorable pasta!" She loves the idea of pesto and is usually disappointed...but not this time! And she's right, it's great: bright, herby, fresh. On the menu, it's served with gnocchi but we swapped it for penne because kids taste I got the fettuccine bolognese which was forgettable next to the pesto but I'll def crave the noodles soon. read more

This is a neighborhood gem, and a great reasonably priced date spot. What's not to love? There are murals of "il borgo" (the neighborhood) on the walls and those classic red and white plastic tablecloths! This spot has been here since 1999. We had the vegetarian lasagna and the mushroom and sausage penne - all house made - and it was wonderful! The service was warm and lovely, and we would come back again for sure. Great for families too! read more

Great tasty pasta, cute Italian decor, and fast and friendly service. Nothing that really blew me away, and it's definitely on the pricier side, but definitely a solid option for some good pasta! read more

Il Borgo - a variety of pasta dishes on a table - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Support local! Love this neighborhood Italian spot. The food is amazing, especially the pasta. The owners are wonderful and have had the spot for decades, which you can tell by their service. This time I had the fettuccine primavera and it was lovely! read more

Il Borgo - Fettuccine Primavera - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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It might not be the best Italian restaurant in town but it is solid. Good portions of pasta and consistent quality. Appetizers and pizza also are in general good. Service has been great and i believe the owner/s work there most of the time. The restaurant seems to have past it's A days decor wise but perhaps that is part of the charm as i always see a few other tables when I am there. Keep up with the good work. Thank you. read more

I always wanted to try this place. It was very average and lack luster for me. The service and ambiance was good but at least I have tried it. Maybe other dishes are better. read more

I really wanted to like this place because the owner/server was very friendly, this spot has a homey mom and pop vibe, and prices are pretty good for this area. Unfortunately, the food here was not good at all. I ordered the fettuccine primavera, which should usually be a fairly light pasta dish. Even the menu description stated "in a light shallot and cream sauce". However, there was way too much salty sauce completely drenched all over the pasta. Meanwhile, there were so few scraps of prosciutto in the dish that I almost missed it completely. Also, while I appreciated that the fettuccine was clearly homemade, it was sadly too overcooked and mushy. The two others in my group both ordered the gnocchi a piacere with pesto sauce, and they also thought their pasta was overcooked as well. One of them couldn't even finish the pasta because it wasn't palatable. It's quite a shame that the fresh homemade pasta here was ruined because all the dishes I tried were overcooked and drenched in too much salty sauce. For a better pasta experience at a similar price point in Hayes Valley, I recommend heading over to The Italian Homemade instead. A Mano and Doppio Zero are also better options if you want a slightly nicer but still casual dining experience in the area. read more

Il Borgo - Fettuccine Primavera - overcooked and too much sauce (there was a pool of sauce at the bottom of this dish) - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Great gnocchi and pasta. Love the lasagnetta - mini rolled lasagnas that are a nice balance of flavors. Carbonara leftovers are great for breakfast the next morning, with a fried egg on top! read more

Authentic down home Italian. Reminded me of our trip to Italy. They brought out this warm homemade bread and it was delicious. Wine & pizza were great. Will be coming back read more

The restaurant felt very authentic with the ambiance, set up and service. The menu had a good variety of pastas, salads and pizzas at a very good price in SF. Portion sizes were quite large and the pasta was cooked to a good al dente. Really enjoyed the service as well! read more

Il Borgo - 6. Spaghetti Carbonara 10. Lobster Ravioli - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

I've walked by this place several times and finally tried it last night. It was deserted (my partner and I were the only patrons the entire time we were sitting there, which could be a pro or con I suppose depending on how you like your dining experience). The inside is cute and cozy! We got some focaccia for free (yay!) and ordered a bruschetta to start, which was really delicious - the tomatoes and garlic were super fresh and yummy. I got the pasta primavera and enjoyed it - I thought the noodles were cooked well and the sauce was tasty. My partner got the bolognese and felt slightly more bearishly - he felt that it was just okay. The staff was nice, and I think I'll be back if I'm looking for a quick and reliable dinner in the Hayes Valley area! read more

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The food was outstanding and the service was very fast. It was our first time dining at Il Borgo and we were very impressed. Highly recommended! read more

No one told me the real Little Italy is in Hayes??? Kidding, but stepping into this restaurant really does feel like you're stepping into Europe (all they need to do is cover up the windows for true immersion because the SF outside does clash a bit with the quaint Italian street aesthetic within). My partner noticed that the Yelp reviews for this restaurant were really divided, but that the 5 stars ratings were raving about its authenticity, so we were really excited. The waitstaff was friendly and humorous. They weren't super educated on vegetarianism (no hard feelings, most places aren't) so we went with originally vegetarian dishes (eggplant pasta and the vegetarian lasagna) instead of choosing a meat dish with substitutions. We got complimentary bread, lots of it. The food itself was prepared really fast, was presented really well, had huge portion sizes (I was F U L L), and it was so so tasty too! Chef's kiss. And it ended up being surprisingly affordable for a "fancy" dinner date! Wold recommend the dishes we got if you like cheese/cream (lasagna) or a bit of a pleasant kick (eggplant pasta). read more

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The place was empty. I had a reservation but the lady said sit anywhere. I asked if there was a house wine. She answered, " we have bottles and glasses. Is this your first time in a restaurant?" Food was very average and very hot. I suspect it was microwaved to get to that temperature. After each bite, the server asked if she could take our plate away. Bread arrived after the entree. We walked home through Hayes Valley and saw lots of restaurants overflowing and with waiting lists. I wish I was in a waiting list... read more

Il Borgo - Dirty bathroom - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Veal scalloping with mushrooms and Marsala sauce was tough and hard to chew and the sauce was way too sweet. I asked for pasta on the side instead of potatoes, thinking plain noodles but got spaghetti marinara and no vegetables. I was never told that the pasta would be spaghetti and that by substituting it for potatoes I wouldn't get the normally accompanying vegetables. When I explained to the waitress, her attitude was basically that it was my fault. I ended up having a side of meatless spaghetti for dinner, though at least that was good, but no protein. My sister gave me her carrots, which were at least good as were her green beans The restaurant was a bit shabby; worn out cushions on the wooden bench seat had very little padding. The vinegar cruet was very sticky, and I had to ask for Parmesan cheese - unusual for an Italian restaurant. My sister chose this restaurant because someone praised the chicken Parmesan, but she found it to be equally mediocre. I'm sad we paid for such a poor meal and didn't just walk out instead. Very disappointing for a birthday celebration in a city with so many good restaurants. We'll never return. read more

Truly revolting. We ordered a Napoli pizza and gluten free carbonara. Both awful. The carbonara was made with little piece of sausages and sat like a brick on the plate. I thought the pizza was acceptable but within ten minutes of leaving the restaurant I needed a bathroom immediately. I'm embarrassed that my Italian boss thought it was a good idea to take me here (I'm Italian). When we entered the place, it was empty and there was no music. I thought he reserved the whole place for our party, but I found out it was just empty... the waitress tried her best but it was unsalvageable. read more

I don't leave many reviews. This is THE place for classic, no frills, tasty Italian food. Small place run by an Italian couple. Comfort Italian at its best! Excellent pizza, fresh salad, tasty pasta and savory saltimbocca, all excellent. And they have dessert and espresso!! Great for a pre-show meal within 10 mins of the opera house. read more

Il Borgo - Indoor art - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is my favorite Italian Restaurant. The pastas taste for fresh and delicious. Everything I have tried is so tasty. The ambiance is very cute and nice. The staff are friendly and provide great service. Highly recommend! read more

Came to this place before SF Jazz cause it's conveniently located near the venue. The gnocchi and home made bread were really delicious and the price was fair. Unfortunately I ordered two dishes that disappointed me: one was the lobster ravioli that the filling was not very fresh/tasty to me - shredded lobster was a little dry in the filling and sauce too acidic. The second quattro stagione pizza is weirdly set where you can only taste one ingredient per slice of the pizza - really not explained well on the menu. Service was friendly and i like the atmosphere overall. read more

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Excellent trattoria style Italian food, felt just like being back in Italy! Very comfortable and intimate dining setting with friendly attentive service! We had gnocchi with pesto which was really a stand out, the pesto sauce was so good! read more

The food was terrible and the service worse. I ordered veal piccata and spaghetti with garlic and oil. I received spaghetti with tomato sauce and a very small portion of the veal N m e read more

I saw this quaint restaurant on Fell Street. It's got a menu of Italian classics and it's easy on the palate in the United States. I had some bruschetta with tomato and had 4 pieces and fresh bread. With the events here, it's a nice that it was open and serving and had my dish outside at the table. It was quiet and I brought some home. Here's to restaurants. read more

Il Borgo - a plate of tomatoes and bread - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Best Milanese food I have ever had. Wow! Sad thing is Sergio has run this place the same for 25 years and he's going to hang up his apron soon. Order the il borgo salad(raddicio) then lasegnetta, and rack of lamb with a glass of Montepulcianno d'abruzzo. A hidden neighborhood gem in San Francisco. Don't miss it. read more

Been here a couple times and loved both experiences. Very comfy atmosphere and friendly service. They're a little slow, but the food completely makes up for it. The artichoke ravioli is my personal favorite as I don't see it on as many menus in SF. read more

I have been a loyal customer for a long time at this place. but there is one thing bothers me whenever I came to eat, the Italian lady (owner) who always give a handwritten receipt at the end and pressure me to pay her in cash. i once went with my friends to eat and she did the same thing to my friend who was paying at the time. i went back today to grab my dinner and the lady gave me that stupid handwriting receipt again, although i was not happy about it, i just put my credit card wait for her to charge it. but she saw the credit card on the table and said "i told you we don't accept credit card less than $30" with an angry tone. i was disappointed and ask her if she can show me any written sign that aware customers about that and she replied "i told you before "i don't even remember discussing this with her before. i tried to make her calm down but she started to get irritated as if i did something bad or refuse to pay. i was a bit embarrassed by her act and tone at the time. at some point, i wanted to call authorities but i couldn't do it because ... i don't want something bad to happen to her or business. i tried to explain my self and teach her a lesson as much as possible while i was at the restaurant. i was not intended to argue with anybody, i was just wanted to have my dinner go home and sleep. she just ruins :( i would never come back to this restaurant again. if you are curious enough to read this ma'am:- you are wrong do not present a handwritten receipt for the customer, please !!!! you are wrong do not present a handwritten receipt for customer please !!!! you are wrong do not present a handwritten receipt for customer please !!!! you are wrong do not present a handwritten receipt for customer please !!!! you are wrong do not present a handwritten receipt for customer please !!!! you are wrong do not present a handwritten receipt for customer please !!!! you are wrong do not present a handwritten receipt for customer please !!!! you are wrong do not present a handwritten receipt for customer please !!!! you are wrong do not present a handwritten receipt for customer please !!!! you are wrong do not present a handwritten receipt for customer please !!!! you are wrong do not present a handwritten receipt for customer please !!!! you are wrong do not present a handwritten receipt for customer please !!!! you are wrong do not present a handwritten receipt for customer please !!!! you are wrong do not present a handwritten receipt for customer please !!!! you are wrong do not present a handwritten receipt for customer please !!!! you are wrong do not present a handwritten receipt for customer please !!!! you are wrong do not present a handwritten receipt for customer please !!!! read more

Il Borgo - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Probably should update their hours of operation. I was recommended this place from a friend and we were looking forward to eating at your restaurant. We walked in at 9pm on line and on yelp, hours are til 10. We were told they were closed. Chef/ kitchen staff seemed upset that we walked in. read more

This establishment had the audacity to tell us they couldn't service pizza because "it's too busy and every restaurant is closed because of the New Years". We decided to get pasta after learning this. Minutes after, we were served our pasta. But.... noticed there were ants crawling over our plate and table during our time there. This is not a joke nor had we ever witnessed an infestation like this before. Be careful when you go here. 1 star deserving! read more