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

A total gem. We loved the food and atmosphere. The staff is super friendly, and our food was spectacular! It was authentic, fresh, and delicious. We will definitely be coming back :) I recommend the fettuccine bolognese with the amazing fresh bread! read more

I ordered the pizza quattro stagioni, which is an absolute insult to the pizza food genre. As you see from the picture, the ingredients are all in their separate sections and the pizza IS NOT FULLY COOKED. I'm actually shocked that the chefs let this pizza leave the kitchen and thought "this is a pizza we should serve to a customer" have they never seen a pizza in their entire lives? I'm super disappointed in the quality, especially since I paid $20+ for this sad, depressing meal. Would not recommend spending your money here read more

Il Borgo - pizza quattro stagioni - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Amazing authentic Italian food. Great portions and the staff are wonderful and friendly. It's been a local establishment for decades ... definitely recommend supporting this restaurant. Love the great pastas & thin crust crispy pizzas. read more

Il Borgo - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

If you ever wanted to travel in a time machine and taste Italian America restaurant food from 1976, here's your chance. Was it edible? Yes. Was it particularly good in any way other than the was SpagettiOs might be to some? Not really. Ok, it wasn't as bad as SpagettiOs but really, it wasn't particularly good either. This is a full 360 experience, complete with an atmosphere and shticky service straight out of the 70s as well. Yup, there are Chianti bottles encrusted with decades of dripping multi-colored wax, plastic red and white checkered table cloths, a hideous Tuscan-sequel mural, and recognizable Italian phrases as questions tossed in here and there by your server for extra authenticity. Not my idea of a relaxing dinner experience exactly. Also, it doesn't look as if anyone has cleaned the place or even the tables since the 1970s. The interior really could use a serious steam cleaning... or perhaps just an efficient, accidental kitchen fire. And in case you somehow overlooked the grime, a filthy life sized, stuffed Mickey Mouse slumped over on a chair in the restroom acts as something of a "filth punctuation" on the whole experience. These guys could really use to get out and see the world. Watching a few contemporary YouTube cooking videos or three wouldn't hurt either. In a word, I'd just say, gross! And no, I would never step into a place like this on my own accord, were it not trying to be polite to a couple of old people who really wanted to go there. read more

My wife and I had our first date here many years ago. We keep coming back even though now we have a baby. This is a family restaurant with the best spaghetti bolognese in all the bay. I get it every time and my wife gets the lasagnetta vegatali. Authentic Italian food I have not found anywhere else. Gratzi milli! read more

Nothing to recommend here: the place is run down looking with a dusty old box of Panettone on a shelf in the dining room, the front door propped open by the bench seat next to it - tough luck if you're seated there and want to sit closer than 3 feet away from the table. The music was blasting, although turned down when I said it was so loud I was getting a headache from it (and was ready to leave at that point but unfortunately didn't.) We ordered salads and a pasta. The mixed green salad was so salty it was inedible, and was never checked on how we liked it, which lead to an argument with our waitress when she came to clear them who said, "no one ever complained about the salad" and a bunch of other comments that seemed to say the chef made the salad from a mix and/or was somehow not responsible for it. We cancelled our order for the pasta which created another disagreement when she tried to serve it to us anyway, after poor service and insulting treatment. It appeared to be rotini, not the fusilli we had ordered anyway. I want to warn anyone who reads the good reviews and thinks this is a good place, it's not even passable. We went out of our way to go there and were beyond disappointed by every aspect of the "meal." read more

The best! Ambience Food this is it. This is life and at its finest. You can get fancy all you want but the ambience and the food are AAA+. This is the most romantic place. My heart almost crying thinking about it writing in this. It's such a wonderful place. If you're not a San Francisco local reading this which I'm assuming because you're on yelp, please obey some rules of ethics if you go here: smile, keep your phone off, be kind, patient, and tip 20%+ read more

Small quaint Italian restaurant in Hayes valley. Very home style decor and cooking compared to other restaurants in the area. We picked this place as it was the one place in Hayes that took reservations and we were going to be coming on a Saturday night. Since we had a reservation we were seated quick, but the place has very limiting seating so would make a reservation for sure. The menu has a good variety and is fairly priced. The complimentary bread was great although slow to come out. However they basically have one person doing all hostesses/waitress duties and one guy who cooks and takes occasional orders and delivers food. Basically a very small operation so be generous with service expectations. Although I was impressed at the attentiveness given this. The food was fine but nothing amazing. Everyone agreed that they'd had better but not too much to complain about given the price. I got the salmon entree which was good fish, just plain and came with a few broccoli and potatoes. The Gorgonzola gnocchi was a potent Gorgonzola sauce so be sure you like the cheese before ordering because it's not as subtle as other places. The actual gnocchi though were really good and melt in your mouth! Overall and ok place to grab a bite but probably would pick a new place if ever back in the area. read more

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The bread is homemade, as is everything else and is delicious. I recommend the lasagna and the fettuccine bolognese. The fusili is also good. The owner is from Milan, so the food is not the typical southern Italian we so often see. read more

If you're looking for authentic Italian food, this is the place!! I've been to il borgo a few times with friends and had a pleasant experience every time. The gnocchi pesto is my favorite item on the menu. Do not let the "dated look" comments deter you from trying this place. There are plenty of aesthetically pleasing Italian restaurants in SF which serve less than mediocre food. If you're interested in having a no frills Italian dining experience - i highly recommend this place. I have also had great service all items I visited - the owner is very kind and warm. 100% recommend! read more

Lovely flavors in one of San Francisco's oldest privately owned restaurants. And yes this place is owned by an Italian man. The place projects a bistro / quick restaurant-stop vibe. Mostly locals come here. The building could use a revamp and the interior could use a remodel but the food is great despite the slow service. One will eat authentic Italians dishes. Don't look for low fat or gluten free. This is not the place for it. It's more like a place where an Italian grandma's secret recipes are being served. Will come back. read more

I must have driven by Il Borgo a million times over the years, always wondering about it, so I took the plunge and made it my 300th Yelp review - woot woot! I was a little apprehensive at first, reading Yelp review this place seems like it is bipolar, people either love it or hate it. The Italian lady is either warm and friendly or she is a raging lunatic, customer hating fury. I had an OK experience. Yes, service was slow and we needed to ask for things, but it was bearable. The pasta is al dente and the pizza pretty authentic, the food is indeed good, but I have had better in the price range. The wine is what I drink at home, so inexpensive and just fine for everyday meals, and the pours are generous. The place is not trendy looking and the ambiance is old style Italian American checkered table cloth type of thing. Which is fine, if I want fancy I know where to go. So, don't avoid this place because of the one and two star reviews, but I would not cross the sea to eat here. Would I come back? Sure, if I can park within one circle of the block I will. Ya feelin' me? read more

A taste of Italy in Hayes Valley! I stumbled across this place when visiting my BFF in Hayes Valley. It was a Wednesday evening and we were one of the few people in the restaurant. I've been absolutely obsessed with this place since and recently took my boyfriend for a visit! AMBIANCE (5/5) It really feels like you are in NYC's Little Italy. So cute and authentic. Fairly small and intimate - an ideal place to take a date!! FOOD/DRINKS (4.5/5) Pizza is awesome! Gnocchi is pretty good too, and I am obsessed with the bread + olive oil/vinegar. We ordered two glasses of the Merlot ($8/each) and the legit fit almost a bottle of wine into two cups ... woohoo! Gotta love a heavy handed pour ;) I have not had the chance to try the dessert yet. SERVICE (5/5) Everyone is so friendly! The first time I came there was a lady who was Italian, and gave us great insight as to what to order / drink pairings. Both times I visited the service was first-class and very attentive. Woohoo! Extra + is this place is not too pricy! Will definitely be back :) read more

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Great food and atmosphere! The waiters are really friendly. It is definitely a go to authentic Italian restaurant in San Francisco!

Lovely italian restaurant. If you lobe italy and italian food this is it. Beautiful and delicious. The owner is italian so he knows what's italian food. I love the vegetarian lasagnia.yum. I always get a fish to go as well for my tomorrow lunch at work. Prices are so reasonable. In Hayes Valley everything is expensive. So happy to have an old restaurant with good prices. I love the interior design and homy decor. I took my friends, they loved it too. Highly recommended. read more

This is the kind of old-fashioned Italian place that I thought existed only in mid-century romantic comedies probably starring Doris Day and Rock Hudson playing a bickering couple trying to rekindle the spark in their marriage by coming back to the place where he proposed. It has all the period-appropriate set decoration detail - the checkerboard tablecloths, the melted candles in aged Chianti bottles, the walls painted with Milanese cafe scenes. All they need now is a scruffy mutt and a cocker spaniel sharing a strand of spaghetti in the back alley. I wasn't even aware that Il Borgo existed until I convinced Jamie W. to bypass our regular Italian standby, Stelline, in favor of another similarly themed ristorante. We liked it for the no-frills choices on the menu. There are quite a few pasta dishes, several pizzas, some veal scallopini options - in other words, what you would expect a family-run neighborhood place to serve. We started with two very typical appetizers. The $7 Caprese was pretty standard - a quartet of Roma tomato slices with only a trio of Mozzarella slices with three basil leaves (see photo). Despite the perceived miscounting, it provided satisfaction. However, in making the inevitable comparison, I have to say it lies completely in the shadow of the much fresher-tasting Caprese at Stelline. What did stand out was the $7 Bruschetta, which was a generous mound of chopped tomatoes marinaded in olive oil and minced garlic, all of it atop a trio of oven-toasted bread slices (see photo). That was a genuinely delicious appetizer and not as wet as you expect since they were easy to pick up. Jamie and I both decided to order pasta dishes. He went with a classic $11.75 plate of Spaghetti Carbonara (see photo). It was an abundant portion that seamlessly mixed pieces of pancetta, garlic, Parmigiana-Reggiano cheese and eggs. There was nothing extraordinary about the execution, but it was hearty eating on a chilly Friday evening. Mine was better, the $12.75 Penne E Funghi Salsiccie, which mixed nicely al dente penne with plenty of sautéed mushrooms and chunks of Italian sausage that provided a nice kick of spice to the dish (see photo). We didn't have enough room in our bellies for any dessert which I am guessing would have included a spumoni and a tiramisu. Predictable? sure. Good eats? Uh-huh. FOOD - 4 stars...good, no-frills, no-fuss Italian food that satisfies the belly AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...an old-fashioned vibe that provides a nice contrast to all the surrounding hipster joints SERVICE - 4 stars...definitely a family operation and part of its charm TOTAL - 4 stars...not as fresh-tasting as Stelline but a worthy Italiano contender, paisan! read more

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For the longest time, I've wanted to try Il Borgo. Usually, when I'm coming off the Bay Bridge to go home, my route off Octavia leaves me stuck at a red light at Fell and Laguna. During those 30 seconds, as I wait for the light to turn green, I would sit and wonder if Il Borgo was any good. Just as I tell myself that I'm going to finally check them out though, the light changes, I go on my way, and I forget that Il Borgo even exists. That is, until I'm stuck at that light again. So when my friend recently suggested we go to Il Borgo for dinner, my immediate thought was "Where the hell is that?". When we arrived, it was nice that we were seated immediately, but it kinda sucked that our table was right next to the door. Since it was such a cold night, there was a bit of a chill whenever someone walked in or out. Skimming the menu, I was impressed to see they offered a good mix of dishes and at prices that are pretty reasonable compared to other Italian joints in SF. Since we wanted to share a couple of dishes, we ordered the Funghi e Salsice pizza (mushroom and sausage) and the Spaghetti Carbonara. Although the portions were pretty good for the price, our food left me conflicted. The pizza tasted pretty good, and I liked how they didn't skimp on the toppings, but man was it oily. Sure, there was sausage on it, but wow. Plus, since the crust was so thin, the slices were kinda limp and soggy with oil. As for the pasta, I really liked the pancetta (how can you not?), but I thought the sauce fell short. Maybe this is the was it's supposed to be made, but it reminded me more of an alfredo dish than the spaghetti carbonaras I've had in the past. The service was pretty good, especially since the waitress (the owner?) was the only one taking care of each table. It's a slight bummer that the place is CASH ONLY, but I think I saw an ATM towards the back (there are probably fees though). Despite the prices, I'm not sure I would come all the way back, but at least I don't have to sit at that light and wonder what Il Borgo is all about anymore. read more

Il Borgo - Funghi e Salsice pizza (mushroom and sausage) - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Decent Italian traditional dishes and no frills restaurant. There are murals painted on the wall, dim lights in the evening, Italian music, and delicious aroma. Service has been generally friendly, except on the last occasion the service was questionable. Our server wanted us to pay cash, when they clearly take Visa and Mastercard advertised on their storefront. She also made a comment about one of my friend's nationality, and he was a good sport and could have taken offense. The bread is very good, and it's easy to scarf down. Their pasta is cooked al dente. I enjoy the carbonara their though the pancetta quite has a bit of fat. The spaghetti and ravioli dishes are tasty. Their tiramisu is made in house and quite delicious. It is a little bizarre to find a random plush Mickey Mouse sitting in the corner of the restroom, facing the toliet. Not sure how the Disney theme fits with the traditional italian ambiance, but it certainly is a conversation piece. read more

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CASH ONLY. After Sebo we went to Il Borgo since it's nearby and B. wanted to eat more. We got: FREE bread - just ok, but good w/ olive oil & balsamic oil Antipasto misto $11.75 - mixed appetizer of artichoke hearts, olives, mozzarella & tomato. Just ok. Fettucine Del Borgo $13 - homemade pasta w/ sun dried tomatoes, chicken, & capers. B. loved it. I thought it was just ok. B. got a glass of Chianti $7 - he loved it. Subtotal $31.25 + $3 tax = $34.25 before tip. CASH ONLY. read more

My BF and I just moved to the neighbor and have been eager to try out the restaurants in Hayes Valley. We decided to go out to eat for the first time in a long time due to the pandemic and we chose Il Borgo. We were able to eat outside though there is seating available outside as well. We were greeted by a friendly Italian woman who sat us right away (mainly due to us having dinner earlier in the evening). We noticed it was just her and one chef in the back. We started off with the mushroom and sausage pizza which was delicious and came out as our appetizer. It was a decently sized pizza for only $14. We then order the fettuccine Bolognese and spaghetti carbonara, two dishes my BF frequently make at home. They were both hefty portions which look amazing to the two of our hungry bellies. My BF loved the carbonara while I favored the Bolognese, both 4/5 IMO. The pizza took it home for me, especially for the price. This place is warm and cozy and I am just thankful to have a quaint place like this open during the pandemic. We will be back! read more

Very reasonably priced Italian with solid basic quality food in a neighborhood where that can be hard to find these days. We enjoyed the caprese salad with fresh tomatoes and basil the most. The penne e funghi salsiccie was good and the artichoke ravioli was homemade with a night light and fluffy dough, though the filling was a little bland and hard to taste the artichoke. read more

I fear by giving it so many stars that it may gain to much hype and I won't get a table right away. I love it here!! The food is so delicious!! I have had many things on the menu but my favorite is the lasagna (meat). I have recommended many of my friends here and we all keep coming back. I love this place cause it's very to the point.. Plus, there's a surprise companion in the bathroom. read more

The atmosphere here feels like a small, old-school east coast Italian restaurant. Checkered tablecloths and all! The food is well-priced, freshly made, and it tastes delicious. The people who work here are always very nice, and the restaurant's location is perfect for the symphony. read more

Service was horrible. Owner seemed annoyed the whole time that she had to wait on us. Forgot to bring items ordered. Caesar salad was not in any way close to a Caesar salad. Just lettuce and some vinegar. Wine was cheap. No one in our party enjoyed the food. Run away from this place. read more

Unfortunately, the service here is horrible. The owner and woman are not friendly at ALL. We waited about 5 minutes standing in the front of the restaurant. They didn't smile at all to greet us or seat us. They seemed kind of annoyed that we arrived around dinner time when it was busy. The only person I liked there was the bus boy. He is from maui. He overheard our conversation about Hawaii and made some comments. He was so kind, and I honestly wish he was just our server. He did more than the actual server woman. I'm only giving a good review because this is a small business, and I want to get them the benefit of the doubt that they were having a bad day. I would also say the food was pretty quick and fairly good. The bread is fresh and free! So kudos to the kitchen staff! read more

I can't remember the last time I had such an appalling experience at a restaurant. My friend and I both ordered the carbonara - hers was regular, and mine was supposed to be gluten free. The gluten free version was penne, not spaghetti like the regular dish, and it was decently edible (albeit undercooked and over salted), until I found a piece of regular spaghetti mixed in. It took me about 10 minutes to catch the attention of the waiter, who snapped "so what do you want to do about it?!" I was speechless until my friend told her I literally couldn't eat it. She didn't offer to replace it or mention even a semblance of an apology. I left astounded and very hungry. read more

Il Borgo - Regular spaghetti found in "gluten free" carbonara (pushed to the side but came mixed in) - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

The most salty food i've ever had. I took about 3 bites and so did my mother in law. This place needs to taste their food.

Excellent Italian food, great service at fair pricing. This place is a find and a gem. Most of those giving bad ratings do so as a hobby and should be ignored. read more

I live right around the corner from Il Borgo, and it is my favorite Italian spot. Very reasonably priced, cozy environment, with delicious food. It is one of my favorite date spots because the atmosphere is a bit quieter and off the beaten path. The staff is always so friendly and works to get you seated and fed quickly! I also love that they provide bread before the meal - something you don't see as much nowadays! I'll be back again and again! read more

Wonderful cosy Italian restaurant.... Ordered bolognese and the pesto gnocchi... everything tasted fresh and flavorful... much better than local spot a-Mano, bigger portions and less than half the price read more

What a delightful restaurant! I am a native of San Francisco, and had never tried Il Borgo, but saw that it was on Open Table. I had the artichoke ravioli, which was tender and perfectly cooked. My companion had gnocchi, and she is Genovese descent and knows good gnocchi. The salads were crisp and generous, the bread was delicious, and the tiramisu was the best I have had. Service was wonderful by a beautiful blonde server from Italia. I give this restaurant two thumbs up and will definitely be back. Prices were reasonable, and the atmosphere was charming. read more

The old lady is obviously jaded and the hospitality aspect long forgotten. We were one of three tables on a Friday night at 7pm if that tells you anything. I also don't think the menu has changed at all since I was last there in 2006. In such a powerhouse culinary city, you would think they would be more pressed to impress read more

Stopped in this week for the first time and will be back! Low key friendly service. The bread was awesome as were all our choices. Surprisingly low prices for SF. We will be back. Tiramisu was one of the best I have ever had. read more

Best real Italian food tastes is like done and cooked by my Nona ! They are accessible for people with wheelchairs and parking is not an issue. Their pizza is the best in Hayes Valley. read more

Home cooked Italian dinner in the middle of busy San Francisco. This place is lovely, great food and atmosphere.

We really enjoyed this place. Great atmosphere and food at reasonable prices. The carbonara was excellent, as was the lasagnetta. Only odd thing was that - at least on the night we were there - they were only taking cash. (Yelp listing says they take credit cards and there was no sign to the contrary.) My husband had to walk several blocks to find an ATM. Fortunately, we had time before the show we were attending. Will happily go back to this lovely spot, but will be prepared in case this is a permanent policy. read more

This was probably the worst dining experience of my life. The waiter is epically rude, ignored us for a long time after we sat down, threw a fit because we were not ordering fast enough, brought the wrong order, did not want to take a credit card, asked if we have cash many times.. brought the wrong check as well. Was also throwing silverware and wine bottles (!) around the kitchen. I would not walk into this place again even with a gun to my head. Shameful! read more

Good pizza, good lasagna and good salad. The bread was fresh out and crunchy. Nice little lowkey spot in SF.

It was.... okay. When one thinks of Hayes Valley and its trendiness, Il Borgo unfortunately would not come to mind. Il Borgo is dated much like its decor and interior. Don't get me wrong, I tried to like this place and having just moved down the street, I was excited to try the Italian spot as it gave the vibe of a rustic date night. Plus, their prices were reasonable. It was a Wednesday night and we were the only ones at the place start to end with the ocassional take out service. They served bread to start which was great and then we got the Bruschetta, Funghi Sausage (excuse my lack of italian) pizza and a Salmon entree. The bruschetta was delicious and I liked my pizza, although a little underseasoned for me. The toppings on the pizza were unfortunately sparse. I only looked at the images of other customers a few minutes ago and was surprised at how little i got. The salmon was half decent but giving them the benefit of the doubt, we should have tried the pasta, which looks like what they are famous for. The lady was friendly and spoke broken English. Enough to get along, have a few laughs and have our food on the way. If you're expecting something new, hip and full of flavor, I don't think Il Borgo is the place for you. One thing I notice about food in America, regardless of cuisine, is that it is all flavorful. Il Borgo reminds me of a nice homecooked meal that hits the spot jusssst right.... but also on a verge of completely missing it. read more