I was really disappointed with this place. First, we arrived at 6:30 and had made a reservation through Open Table (via Yelp) for 2. The host was super rude and kept saying he didn't have us in their system until 7:30. I gave him my name and showed him my email confirmation with the date/time. He still made an unnecessary scene and soured my experience there right off the bat. Luckily, there was a table for 2 available and we were seated after reservation-gate. It took a while for us to get water for the table and my glass was empty multiple times through the evening. The food was pretty disappointing too. Bruschetta was only good bite (and I'll give this place one star for that). The bread that came to the table was cold and pale/sad. The gnocchi and pesto sauce I had was flavorless and overcooked/mushy. I only ate about a fourth of it. I won't be back. Much better Italian food and service elsewhere in the City. read more

Me: whaddya think? Her: I like it Me: not 5 stars though Her: right, but not 3 stars either Me: 4 stars it is Her: yep, it's in the neighborhood. I feel comfortable there. That's important Me: yep. The pasta is good, and the service nice. Her: the pizza isn't as nice as that place in north beach Me: yeah, true, but the pasta was tasty. And tasted home made. Her: The tiramisu... Me: um, hello? You ok? Her: I was dreaming of that tiramisu. read more

Popped into this resto last night for a second visit. This place is great in that kitchy sort of Italian restaurant cliche way. I think this place may be more Italianish than many of its counter parts in North Beach. The waitress, perhaps Italian, perhaps not, spoke with an Italian accent and filtered our meal with plenty of Italian phrases, verbs and the like, including bonjourno, bon appetito, etc. it was great. The piped in music was moving along swimmingly with the Italian restaurant cliche, lulling me into visions of gondolas and the like while we scarfed down our yummy pizza and pasta. I will admit that the caprese salad, eh, the tomatoes were a little tough. Also, my pizza, the Quattro, while extremely yummy, was also very oily and the crust was not too crisp. We ate the whole thing, so no problem there, but just sayin... This place is great for a casual dinner with friends or on a date, as I happened to find myself. The atmosphere, though campy, is also certainly charming and I suspect I will be back in the near future. Don't expect high brow food, but if you're hungry, this is a great option. PS - Cash Only. PSS - As we left the waitress came by to take our wine glasses and noted that mine had a drop left, she asked if I wanted to finish it and I said sure, she told me it was good luck. I like that kind of genuineness. read more

Il Bargo is a cute, totally decent Italian restaurant nestled on a corner in Hayes Valley. We were looking for a casual dinner, so this worked out perfectly. The interior gives a lot to look at, with a faux awning and window box, balcony and working street lamps. There is even a little clothesline draped across one corner with some hipster garb. I half expected Tony from "Lady and the Tramp" to whip out his accordion and burst into a hymn-lengthened version of "Bella Notte." The food was....alright. I really enjoy tasting other people's meals (because I am a greedy eater) but there was nothing too inventive about the pasta sauce. Every dish had the same, ho-hum sauce with lack of flavor and freshness. The artichoke ravioli was quite delicious, but the fusili appeared packaged and standard. The service was fabulous (they have a staff of some really nice folks) and ambiance was terrific. Then we get the bill and hear the words of doom: "CASH ONLY." read more

ITALIAN LIKE MOM USED TO MAKE. I THINK. but i'm not italian, and that's the problem. my very limited scope of italian food leads me to believe that this place is incredibly authentic, but at that point the food wasn't served yet. things improved, thankfully. it's another one of those neighborhood diamonds in the rough, you fight for parking next to the projects [sometimes literally, it's like there's a homeless guy on every block demanding tip for "giving" you a space he found] and walk into a building directly across from the old Fell street offramp. you walk in and see that the decor is very olive-garden-ish. i'm quite sure that most reputable italian restaurants don't need to put fake frescoes of fields and harvests on the walls to assure you that, yes, you're eating at an italian restaurant and not at mcdonald's. but they do. which annoyed me. until the food came. the food was served very simply, with no strange garnishes or overly decorated glassware. it felt like... north beach. without the assholes. or the high prices. or the acceptance of credit cards. i had to look out at the busy intersection outside to realize that i'm at Fell & Laguna, not Vallejo & Columbus. no Banana Republicans or stripey shirts and blazers and miniskirts here. you're in hayes valley, biotch. but the food was incredibly good. and incredibly [well, kinda] cheap. the parmesan cheese is coarsely grated. the flavors are intense and the sauces are rich. the wine is... well... nonexistent for me because i'm not yet old and wise and cranky enough to note the traces of smoke and strawberries and crap that you get by sticking your nose into a bottle for a half hour. so don't test me. the clientele is the neighborhood, people who live in the better area behind civic center who just want something good to eat without getting fleeced at Paul K or Indigo or Sauce or Absinthe or Jardiniere. or suppenkuche [pronounced soup-en-KOO-ka, not soup'n'cootch, you ineloquent bastard]. [or patxi's, which is disgusting, but i'll get to that later] if you're from san francisco you'll love this restaurant. if you're not, you'll like it as well, but probably won't have the cojones to look for street parking in the neighborhood. good luck, but either way it'll take some effort. read more

I've driven by this place a thousand times and finally decided to try it., So here's what I thought: If your looking for a romantic spot, with a no frills, reasonably priced, traditionally prepared Italian food then this is your place. *The ambiance romantic - 4 stars *The food a little above average 3 to 3.5 stars (except the garlic bread it was below average...it wasn't even real garlic, they used garlic salt and Parmesan, yuck.) My pesto gnocchi was creamy and good but very heavy, but it is italian i guess. My bf got the lobster rav and he said it was OK but that the sauce wasn't anything special, just a basic tomato sauce that could have come out of a jar. *The service average. It was a one man show here, our waiter who was probably the owner was waiting on everyone. He didn't offer much in the way of conversation and he left our used plates at our table way too long. Bottom line is I would come back for the atmosphere and gnocchi if I was in the neighborhood. Oh and keep in mind its a cash only establishment. read more

What a positively delightful experience. It was relaxing, romántico, and the food was awesome! Authentic Italian food. It doesn't get better than this. The atmosphere is casual, but you could certainly come here on a date. The walls are painted with a beautiful picture and soft colors that are warm and inviting. The waitress seems like a family member of the business, she was so polite and welcoming. I felt at ease right away. We got served warm bread and wine was served right out of the bottle from our table. When the food arrived, I could not get enough. I was so full but I wanted to keep eating. Really wonderful place to be at. I hope we can come back again soon. read more

Something very special about a family owned and run Italian restaurant. There is a funkiness to the decor, which delicately walks the line of hokey and authentic. You walk into a darkened dining room, with murals all on walls, lit by large candles, with music playing. The food I truly excellent and comes in very large portions. I would recommend the lasagnetta (of course), and was pleasantly surprised by how good and big their pizzas are. They also have a great tiramisu. I dock them one star because they are cash only. I have gone at least a half dozen times with my parents and in laws and when you drink wine too, you will need a lot of cash. That said they do have an ATM and very reasonable prices, so you won't drain you checking account by going there. This inconvenience though, is the only thing that keeps this from a 5 star place. That said, their prices are very low since it is cash only. I have only seen a few entrees over $20, none over $30. Great food, great ambiance, good for parties large and small, and excellent services. read more

This place is a little hit and miss. Had the best italian food of my life here three times, and some crappy spaghetti once. I've been to Italy, and this place is better. Try the pizza or the artichoke raviolis. And don't forget to bring cash, no cards. read more

If I had not been invited to eat at this restaurant with some friends I would have never set foot in the place. The point is of course that the looks of this place are deceiving, and the food is of a much higher quality than the decor would have you believe. The look of this place looks like an italian restaurant in the 70's that went overboard on trying to look authentic, with fake windows, balconies, and god save us fake laundry hanging out to dry, and I'm not talking mural here, i'm talking real string with real clothes hanging off of it. Luckily the food is excellent, the home made tortellini were fresh, perfectly cooked, and not drowned in sauce. The house chianti leaved a little to be desired but for the price it was ok. 6 of us ate, shared some appetizers, had a couple of bottles of wine and all got out of there for about $30 per head, not bad at all. read more

Oh Il Borgo, you still did not disappoint 3.5 years after my first experience. We arrived around 630 on a Tues night before my dreaded overnight flight back to the east coast and were greeted by the gorgeous Italian owner/server who sat us in a booth near the back. I ordered the handmade fettuccine with bolognese sauce and my bf had penne with mushrooms and sausage. Soooo yummy, yet he preferred mine and I preferred his. I was expecting the bolognese sauce to be a bit more tomato-y, but it was on the creamier side. Still very, very good though. The handmade pasta was so delicate and perfect, I wanted to take it home in bulk for my future pasta dinners! The waitress was so sweet, smiley and very attentive, always coming by to check on us and refill our water glasses. I'll definitely be back next time I'm in SF and craving good, authentic Italian pasta. read more

I wish I could say (for the sake of other readers) that I review objectively; that I enter every restaurant as a blank slate. However, the people I am with and the state I am in must have some effect on how I review. For clarification, by state I mean level of soberness. With that said, I loved IL Borgo. Yes, I may have had two or three glasses of wine before entering this establishment. Yes, I was with many great people and I don't see how I could not have enjoyed this place. But yes, I did love their artichoke ravioli. Great bread and wine selection too! I agree with Catrinel that the ma and pa way of running things is a huge part of the appeal. If I were like my parents and went to the same restaurant every Friday night, I could see IL Borgo as being that every Friday night type of place. The type of place where you walk in, the servers know you by name, your favorite glass of wine is brought to you immediately, and the owner comes out and chats with you. The only downside is the cash only part. But in light of all the pros of this place, this is only a minuscule con. read more

I've been here a few times and its been ok. Recently though it really disappointed us. The girlfriend, a vegetarian, ordered the lasagnetta with vegetables (and I clearly heard her order the vegetarian version) - NOT the version with prosciutto. A few bites after receiving it, she quickly realized it was stuffed with prosciutto. By the time we realized there was meat in it, and flagged down the waitress, most of us had eaten all of our food. Only full plate remaining was the gf's. OK fine, the waitress f'ed up. But we made it clear that we had ordered the veggie version - and that we did not want to wait for a new dish to be made and brought out and so on, the item was still on our bill at the end of the night. Great. So the waitress screws up and brings a strict vegetarian a meat dish. Then charges us for it when she realizes her mistake. They would not take it off the bill. Avoid this place. Food isn't worth it. It's not vegetarian-friendly. It sucks. A million other places to try besides this. Oh, and to top it off - cash only. Hah. What is this, '73?? read more

Very good, very authentic Italian food. Reminds me of when I was growing up and I pretended my grandmother was Italian and I pretended that she was cooking for me. I want to deduct a star for the hipster infestation, but I guess it's not their fault. read more

I rarely go to Italian restaurants when I eat out because I feel like Italian food comes pretty standard. Italian restaurants rarely wow me, and I make damn good pasta (if I do say so myself...and I do) that easily satisfies any pasta-cravings I may have. That said, Il Borgo blew me away. I had dinner here a few nights ago with a family member who lives in the city. We decided to have dinner in Hayes Valley because it is a middle point between our apartments and it is teeming with adorable places. She found Il Borgo on Yelp, but we were open to strolling around and finding something else if we felt like it. The delightful aromas of basil and garlic wafting out of Il Borgo sealed the deal, however. We both started salivating before even entering this delightful little restaurant and decided that we HAD to try it. I am so glad we did! We ordered the vegetable lasagnetta (with ricotta, veggies, and cheese), and the pizza margherita. The lasagnetta came out first, and all I can say is wow. It was amazing! It had the perfect blend of garlic and cheese and it melted in your mouth, which is a VERY difficult thing for pasta to do! The tomato-based sauce was savory and delicious, and I sopped up my bread in the sauce because I didn't want any of it to go to waste. By the time the pizza arrived, we were already full because we had stuffed ourselves on the VERY filling lasagnetta. But it smelled so good, we couldn't resist (story of my life). It, too, was delicious! I am usually a parmesan cheese-fiend (who are we kidding - I am an all-kinds-of-cheese-fiend), but it was not even necessary. The pizza could stand alone. In addition, the ambiance of the place is so adorable! I was transported back to the rustic little cafes in the squares and alleys of Venice. There are clothes lines traversing the walls and the golden faux-brick paint inside the Il Borgo gives it a warm, cozy atmosphere. It would be a great place to share some wine and pasta - Lady and the Tramp-style - with a date. Finally, the owner of the restaurant is a delightful Italian women. She was really nice and helpful and wanted to make sure that we had a great experience in her restaurant. Italian-born owner? It doesn't get more authentic than that, folks. The only down side to this place is that it is cash-only, which I am not too happy about in this day and age when everyone accepts credit cards. But as long as you know that going in, it's really not a big deal. They also have an ATM inside or nearby, and I think that the quality of the food and ambiance makes that oh-so-steep $2 bank fee worth it;) I really loved this place and would love to go back! read more

Everyone seems to think that North Beach is the logical choice for good Italian food and it seems like a good idea, until you actually try to find it. I lived there (Grant/Green) and tried all kinds of places and couldn't find anything much better than Olive Garden. It's awful, and I'll take any suggestions for something that isn't tourist-fare. I somehow ended up at Il Borgo, which is kind of a strange place right on Fell and Laguna, yet it is wonderful. The Pesto Gnocci is the best I've had in SF. Some previous reviewers mentioned that the service was bad, maybe I've been lucky but the service has always been pretty good on my visits - the men a little more gruff than the woman, but never to the point where I remembered anything bad about it. There are no reservations taken, so you have to kind of wait around in the middle of the (tiny) restaurant, which is kind of a drag, and the wait can be a while due to the small number of tables and most people take a good amount of time to eat and socialize. Best to go during the week and you can probably sit right down. Besides everything on the menu I've tried being simple and good, the wine list is mostly affordable ( under $30) bottles of wine, which is nice. As others mentioned, it is cash only, which I always forget when I walk in there but the prices are reasonable and I always seem to squeak by with whatever I have in my pocket. $75 for three people with a bottle of wine is a pretty good deal in this city. read more

At first I was skeptical of our old man waiter. I'll tell you why. At first it seemed as if he didn't want us there BUT after we ordered a bottle of wine he came up to the table and sang us the opening verse of "THRILLER", you know, that Michael Jackson song. I WAS SOLD! The Prosciutto Lasagnetta is probably one of my favorite dishes in the city! It's unbelievable. That's probably not saying much because I'll eat anything but honestly give it a shot. read more

Lackluster Italian without any kind of pleasant vibe. A tired Italian restaurant with tired kitschy decor, a tired staff and a tired menu. The lasagnette was good, as many people said, although a little over salted to my taste. The service was adequate. The salad was okay but not great. The bread was dry and tasteless, definitely a sad thing in an Italian restaurant. The wine tasted distinctly watery, making me suspect it was either low in quality, or slightly watered down. Once upon a time, I'm sure this was a charming place. Today, it massively needs a refresh in every way. zzz. People, this is San Francisco, a foodist's paradise! You can do waaaaay better! read more

La Ultima ! Basically, the best, most authentic Italian restaurant in the city. Puts to shame most of the N. Beach eateries....so if you can give up the N. Beach n'hood charm for something a little more mellow, just go here. Family run...mom, dad, and son work the kitchen and tables most nights...occasionally, crazy uncle gets pressed into action as well (you'll KNOW him when you see him, trust me...) Great for a romantic dinner for two as well as larger groups at the bench/booth tables. this corner has come up since the offramp was (thankfully, finally) demolished...although, I gotta say, as I started coming here the first week it opened....there WAS something kinda thrilling about sitting at the window while 101 N traffic, headlights and all, came hurtling directly at your table at 50 mph...ah, the good ol' days. Great menu, awesome homemade pastas and pizzas...wonderful fish, too. Kitchen is also very good at doing special orders/requests. Often a complimentary grappa afterwards....nice. Only downside/criticism: menu has not changed in years and years...amici, you could add in some new specials every now and then, si ? Go, indulge, be gluttonous...stumble home...... read more

One word: Homemadepasta! Went there the other night. The service was perfect, its a cute little place and the food was amazing. Their pasta was really the best I have had ever. Cash only tho. Just go read more

I've gone here twice and coincidentally with a group of four each time. This place is quaintly nestled in the heart of Hayes Valley and its romantic setting is great for a first date. The decor is cozy and has a rustic feel to it. The walls are painted with murals reminiscent of Italia. The hostess/waitress was very sweet and greeted us with Italian phrases. The place seemed as if it was operated by the whole family. Although, I don't know for sure... it seemed that way. The second time around I ordered the Fettuccine Del Borgo which consisted of homemade pasta with prosciutto, peas and capers. I asked our waitress if it was possible to add mushrooms to the dish. Her reply: "We can add anything for you here". Now, that's what I'm talkin' about! Accommodation!!! The dish was great; a creamy sauce with flat thick sliced fettuccine. However... the dish contained too many peas. It seemed as if they put a whole can of peas in the dish. The pea to fettuccine ratio was pretty high. Despite the delta... I'd go there again. Moderately priced, great customer service, warm/romantic atmosphere and yummy food! read more

Love this place! It is the epitome of an authentic yet quaint neighborhood Italian place. I've been here many times (I used to live a couple blocks away), and I always felt like I had stumbled upon something great coming inside. From the hand made pasta, to the Italian waitress and cooks, I always want to come back. It's better than most places in North Beach, and without the annoying paizanos telling you how beautiful you are just to get you to eat at their restaurant...don't get me wrong, a little sweet haggling always does the ego good, but doesn't necessarily make the food taste better. Minus one star because I thought once that I saw a cook smoking and cooking at the same time in the kitchen before they opened...I could have seen this wrong as I was walking and just glanced in...but I mean, oh well...que sera sera :-) Also, cash only, but they have an ATM machine on site...how convenient... read more

This review is long overdue. We love this place and take out of town guests whenever they come into the city and craving comfort food. My husband, daughter and I get lasagnetta every time! The outside of the restaurant isn't much to look at, but the woman that runs it is always welcoming. Great neighborhood spot for Italian food on a typical SF night. The kids love it! read more

After being in the jungles of Costa Rica for roughly three weeks, I wanted three things: 1. Find out who won the Home Run Derby, 2. Get my hands on an iPhone, and 3. Have some good italian food. I still need to find someone with an iPhone. My girlfriend and I decided to try Il Borgo out, seeing that they would be open after the All Star Game ended. I had seen this place many times (especially when the Fell Street freeway exit used to dump you right in front), but never had gone in. Parking can be a pain, which is about usual for this neighborhood, but we found parking right across the street. The place was near empty when we arrived, so we sat immediately and looked over the menu. I ordered the lobster ravioli while she ordered the artichoke ravioli. Both were very delicious, even though I was jealous of the insane amount of garlic that came with her dish. The ravioli looks handmade, which made it extra delicious for me. We also ordered a bottle of wine and a caprese salad that came with an obscene amount of fresh ground pepper (which to me, is a good thing). The waitress, who may or may not have been the owner, was very nice and was very good about recommending the wine. The food was quick, as in the second we were done with the caprese our ravioli arrived. When we were done we sat and finished our wine and it was nice. There was some drum and bass playing, which I found a little odd, but I didn't really notice it after a while. Unfortunately, they are a cash only business. Having to double-check at the door that you have enough cash is a little annoying, but I'd say the food is worth it. Not sure why they do this, though. Also, even though the website says they close at 11:30 Monday - Saturday, we left around 10:30ish and they were closing. So I'm not sure about the time thing. Just remember to bring cash, for real. read more

Hands down one of the BEST & authentic Italian restaurants in SF (and thats saying a lot since there are so many amazing restaurants in SF). What to order: The lasagnetta and a glass of red wine! I have take a lot of people to this location and everyone walking out thinking the same thing - AMAZING food. The host/owner is very friendly and helpful. Now that we are regulars offers always takes such good care of us. read more

Super cute Italian joint, really great date spot. It's pretty small inside, which adds to the charm of the restaurant. But goodness, it was so hot inside. We started with a pizza that was divided into 3 toppings: 1/2 of the pizza had procuitto, 1/4 had artichoke, and 1/4 had mushrooms. Very thin, hot, and a great way to start a meal if you're hungry. For my main course, I had the lobster ravioli. Great choice- filling yet not too heavy. The lobster was seasoned nicely inside the pasta. One great thing about Il Borgo- no corkage fee! So BYOB! read more

Great food! Its small, quaint, subtle, and I think deliberately so. Suppenkuche next door is a tiny bit larget but they pull off the "scene" better. If that is what you are looking for then the intimate setting of Il Borgo may not be for you. However, great service, wine, bruschetta (which is bad almost everywhere) is amazing, carpaccio, veal piccata, pasta. Its wonderful. read more

I'm so lucky to have this in my neighborhood. When I moved here I was glad to have a nice little Italian restaurant on the corner but when I went there I was surprised at just how great it really is. You walk in and the first thing you notice is the decor. Between the wooden tables, the candlelight, and the little details on the shelves around the restaurant, it sets you at ease and makes you feel like you're in a little villa in Italy and not on Fell St. The hostess there is delightful. She greets you right away with a big smile and makes you feel at home. You can't go wrong no matter what you order. Everything on the menu is home-made, even the bread. I've had almost everything on the menu now and from the appetizers to the pasta to the chicken to the variety of artisan pizzas I can tell you that it's all good. If you still have room for dessert after this the tiramisu is out of this world. Even the house chianti is better than at most other restaurants. This place has ruined us for all other Italian restaurants, and very happily so. Every now and then my girlfriend and I will go to another Italian restaurant when we're in another part of the city and every time we always end up saying "nope, not as good as il Borgo". We're not alone in this, either. We have numerous family and friends that say they "MUST visit il Borgo" when visiting. It's just a start-to-finish great dining experience that makes it the go-to place for all special occasions for us and we will keep going back for many years to come. read more

LOVED the food here. You can tell the pasta was fresh, cooked perfectly al dente and the flavors were just genuine. The restaurant is SMALL and i don't think they honor their reservation system on open table. We were on time and there were no spots left which was a little disappointing. Luckily a table was leaving shortly so we didn't have to wait for too long. There are only about 2 waiters for the restaurant so during peak hours it gets a little hectic inside. Prices were reasonable for the entrees and the wine as well. The indoor is rustic with a taste of Italy and they have a single bathroom. Its a great place to get together with friends for a good and hearty meal! I definitely would recommend and would go back. It's in Hayes Valley so there are lots of bars around the area as well for a pre dinner or post dinner drink! read more

Feeling like you need a little love and comfort? Hit up Il Borgo for some outstanding homemade pasta, from-scratch tiramisu, and service with a warm smile and plenty of "gratzi"'s from Mitra, your adopted Italian momma for the night. Dishes are overflowing with fresh flavors and it's evident that very little, if anything, comes premade. Simple, flavorful, home cooking in a warm, welcoming neighborhood spot. read more

I like this place, I really do. The "ma & pa" way of running it is what keeps me coming back. I've had several nice dining experiences with friends where we all walked away full and happy. My roommate LOVES the lasagnetta and having tried it myself I can totally see why! I like to order the 4 seasons pizza as I sometimes need to fulfill my need for a wood burning oven pizza. The layout of this 4 ingredient pizza (artichokes, olives, prosciutto and mushrooms) is quite interesting. The toppings are not scattered evenly across the surface of the pizza but rather are divided in 4 parts meaning 2 slices are just mushroom, 2 with olives etc etc... At first I was confused by this and thought what if I kindly ask for my toppings to be evenly put on the pizza...I've opted out and figure I won't mess with the chef. Please note that Il Borgo is cash only, but there is an ATM inside of it if you do forget the green stuff. read more

A few hard core Italians took me to this little joint. They have been going there for authentic homemade Italian fare for years. We walk in and were welcomed with open arms. The people are warm, charming, and Italian is their first language. The setting is stereotype Italian ristorante in the US in the 80's kind of feel, with murals of Italian villas on the walls. My friend ordered in Italian for our party of 11 (good for groups, and while I'm at it, good for kids too). Their homemade pizzas and pasta were fantastic and super-comfy wumfy. But THE thing, I mean really the THING... oh my goodness - THE THING to call out is the plate of heaven called the LASAGNETTA. They're coils of homemade noodles cut cross-wise like little jelly roll cakes. The velvety sauce with the perfect pasta texture is sinfully addictive. We washed down all the carby goodness with the best tiramisu I've ever consumed, and I don't usually like tiramisu. The lady fingers were not oversoaked and it had a marscapone-espresso-cocoa balance. With yummy pizzas, lasagnetta, gnocchi, and way too much tiramisu in our bellies, we left to the sounds of "Ciao Bella!" and "Buono Sera!" read more

The first thing that struck me when I first went to this place is that there's a charming pretend line of laundry strung from the ceiling at the back, reminding you that you're not just at an Italian restaurant, you're at home when you're at this Italian restaurant. Everything else about this experience concurs. Il Borgo is much better than what you can get in North Beach. A family from Northern Italy makes all of the pasta and sauces fresh daily. There are many choices. Gorgonzola, marinara, pesto, alfredo, and on. Their best is the Aurora sauce--tomato with a touch of cream. Favorites are the massive meaty (or meatless, if you like) cheesy lasagnetta, the lobster ravioli, the artichoke ravioli, any of their wood-fired pizzas, their homemade bread served with every meal, and the Il Borgo salad. Formaggio? Buon appetito! Prego! Oh, and the tiramisu! Ohhhhhhh. Sergio and his son are the chefs, and Mitra, the mother, manages the house and serves meals on weeknights. They're oh so friendly and genuine. They haven't taken down our Christmas postcard for four years. Cash only--ATM at the back. Come hungry or ask for a to-go box. The portions are large, and like the good mother she is, Mitra won't let you leave anything on your plate. read more

The most un-assuming (bordering on camoflauged) italian cafe which I walked by for almost an entire year before finally venturing a try on a monday night when everything else seemed to be closed. My expectations were low . . . but wow, did they ever get exceeded. The food is outstanding and nothing on the menu is over $20. This place appears to be the real deal . . . it is family run (I'm pretty sure they are all from southern italy) and they make their own pasta. The veal saltimbocca will melt your soul. Once upon a time you never had to worry about getting a table which is still the case on week-nights but friday or saturday nights are now pretty brutal. This is a great place to bring a date (on a weeknight). read more

GET THE LASAGNETTA! GET THE LASAGNETTA! GET THE LASAGNETTA! Ok, now that I made my point, we had four dishes for four people. To start, we could have been given four pieces of simple bruschetta but we were awkwardly served 3 pieces. The lasagnetta was probably the best spiral of saucy, cheese infested noodle I've ever thrown down the hatch. If you are one for ambiance, notice that the bathroom lock is like a dungeon hatch. From this beautiful family run restaurant, we also had two mushroom and sausage dishes (Funghi e Salsice) in the penne and pizza formats. I must say, don't be afraid to order the pizza because it will blow away any simple pasta dish. The rigatoni was alright but if you're ordering this before the lasagnetta then you're crazy. Did I mention to get the lasagnetta? read more

MMMMMMMMMMMMM. Oh my god, I love this place. It's quaint, cute, kitschy, and the food is out of this world. You walk in and if you're lucky, you get a table. I've tried a few times to go there and decided not to wait cause all the tables were full. No reservations allowed. That makes me like a place even more. So last night Paul and I go there and have dinner, we walk in and the charming italian waitress tells us to sit anywhere and then brings over this delicious homemade bread. We order a salad, the dressing is so garlicky it's like heaven on a plate. Paul ordered some pasta dish and I ordered some chicken dish, and they were both so sublimely good, I can't even remember what they were, but we both finished them. And for a place with no reservations, they don't rush you out. Enjoy the food, enjoy the ambiance and feel like maybe you've stepped into a little piece of italy, cause this is not one of those modern, slick, stylized italian restaurants that ends with INA like in the mission. This is some damn good, home made italian food. Thank you Il Borgo, thank you! read more

It has taken me awhile to find the time to write this, but I am still incredibly stoked about my experience at Il Borgo. The restaurant definitely has a "family style" vibe about it. For my birthday I thought I was going to have maybe 8 or so people out for dinner. 8 turned into 30+. The owner and staff was unbelievably accommodating. They rearranged all of their furniture to fit us in, allowed us to bring in our own magnums of wine and champagne at a VERY reasonable corkage rate, and the food was amazing. They make everything from scratch and after you order it. The quality of the food is some of the best I've had in this city. They also have cute details like red and white checkered table cloths, those candles that drip down on empty wine jugs, and adorable murals inside. The staff was as nice as you could ask for and even took the time to check in on my birthday experience and comment on what a great vibe the group had. I have a great group of friends, but they didn't all know each other. Il Borgo provided a warm family style setting that encouraged them all to mingle. I think I'm going to have a lot of my "special occasions" there. I'd recommend it to anyone. Also, this would be a great first date spot for anyone who's looking. read more

Decorated in goofy Italian kitsch with street scenes painted on the walls and stuff (you know, the classic "you're indoors, but it looks like you're outdoors" theme). Chianti bottles sporting years dripped candlewax adorn the tables. And the food.. so so so good. I *heart* the freshly made pastas. I mean, I know fresh pasta tastes better than that dried stuff, but at Il Borgo you really are given good evidence of that fact. The carbonara is awesome, and the lasagna is also one of my favorites.. Ok.. updated since I've been back a few more times.. Il Borgo continues to delight.. sooo tasty!! read more

Sitting on the corner Fell in Hayes Valley is a little Italian restuarant but they are way better than chef boy ah di. Now you are talking Italian food. Ordered the Gnocci dish with tomato and basil, perfect . With a radiccio salad too boot with pine nut, olive oil and gorzogola cheese, I was all set. The tomatoes were not over bearing and the gnocci was to die for. This went perfect with the glass of chianti. Definetley come back..... read more

Consistently tasty and authentic. Who knew Hayes Valley could do Italian? My recommendations: Raddicchio salad (a la Borgo) Saltimbocca read more