Old school restaurant with nice waitstaff. It was easy to walk in at 6:30 on. Friday night, by 7pm it was full and people were waiting to get in. My friend and I ordered the lamb with the salad. The salad was a little cabbage slaw, lettuce, some cherry tomatoes and beans. No one asked what sort of dressing we wanted, and it came out with (a bottled?) Italian type dressing. The lamb came out with a boiled potato garnish. The lamb and seasoning reminded me of my mom's home cooking. I loved it. read more

Il Pollaio - Lamb with potato garnish - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Recently came for lunch with my friend. She lives in Noe Valley and never been in a Waymo before, so as a fun "experience", I did a RT from her house and got us to North Beach's Il Pollaio. As an experienced W rider, I have to admit that it wasn't the smoothest ride as we were unfortunately behind an ambulance at one point when we got near North Beach which required calling in to rider support for help, and she was overall annoyed by the scenic route Waymo took. In the end, she was gracious for the "new experience" but prefers to drive her own car next time. As for the restaurant itself, simple and earnest with great food. I had the half chicken with fries and my friend got the chicken sandwich. Both delicious. The chicken was delicious with some squeezed lemon juice. Perfecto! This place has been here for many years, so a bit nostalgic. Cash only. Located on Columbus and Union. read more

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The reviews for this place have been excellent for years, so we decided to stop by for a light lunch before a heavy dinner later. My husband and I split a half chicken with fries, and we asked for the chicken well done. Do not expect a Costco-sized bird here. These are smaller chickens, but they are well seasoned and flavorful. The fries came out exactly as requested, very crispy and satisfying. Overall, it was a good meal, and I am glad we had the chance to try it. read more

Il Pollaio - 1/2 chicken and fries lunch special $21 - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The dinner I had here at ll Pollaio was unbelievably delicious. The half rabbit with some potatoes was finger licking delicious. The service was very friendly. The ambiance of the place looked cute as well. I highly recommend this place for lunch or dinner. I give them 5 stars ! read more

Il Pollaio - Salad - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This restaurant has been around since 1984! Now, that's saying something to be in business for that long. They're doing something right! I've been meaning to try this spot for their grilled chicken, and finally got to try it. The waitstaff were welcoming, attentive, and accommodating. The place is cozy and intimate with some tables along side the windows for a street view of Columbus Avenue. ***OUR PICKS*** WHOLE CHICKEN ~ A small, but moist and tender chicken with crispy skin seasoned perfectly! Tasty chicken that's finger licking and bone sucking good!!! Loved this! 5/5 LARGE COMBO SALAD ~ Romaine, cabbage/slaw and bean salad. The slaw looked premade and not fresh looking with some leaves turning brown. But they gave us a few salad dressings, so that was nice. Nothing special, but as a starter, it did the job. 3.5/5 We didn't want to have a heavy lunch, so this fit the bill. The chicken was delicious, enjoyable and memorable that I would return again for the chicken! I've had chicken that's moist, but over brined or seasoned. Not the case for Il Pollaio's chicken. One of the best I've had! If you've never tried their chicken, you're missing out! read more

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Was a tasty experience. I ate there with three friends. Their grilled chicken was good, juicy and tasty. Grilled Zucchini were amazing and their sausage sandwich was excellent. served on a burger bun. Service was attentive, and prompt and it's a smaller place on Columbus with a kitchen behind a counter you can see and smell what is.being prepared. lively conversation echos. A true San Francisco classic. read more

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We wanted to get another spot nearby, but it was too crowded and the wait was too long so we settled on Il Pollaio. Their specialty is chicken but it looks like they have other Italian items. We came as a group of 3 and ordered the Italian sausage, whole chicken, and fries. It looks like they cook their chicken to order. I wasn't sure what to expect, but our whole group walked out pretty satisfied. The chicken was very flavorful and moist. The Italian sausage was just OK in my opinion. My other friends liked it. The fries were good, but be warned it comes with no salt. I used their salsa which was really good. I couldn't get enough of that stuff on the chicken and fries. The servers were chill and the space was clean. I'd come back! read more

Il Pollaio - Fries - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I got the chicken. The flavour was good but it was just very hard to eat and kind of dry. Our food took forever to come even our sides. Everyone got a free tableside of bread beaodes our table for some reason. The fries were good at least. Also the house sauce was very spicy but still good. Theres plenty of seating too for a saturday. read more

Il Pollaio - chicken - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

An old favorite in North Beach! Delicious lunch -- and a real bargain. Get the delicious, marinated and grilled chicken and a green salad to share and you won't be sorry. The French bread (and butter) is really exceptional. You might even want a glass of wine. Sit by the window and watch the world go by and pretend you're on vacation in Europe. Lots of regulars and friendly server. A regular spot on our rotation for good reason. read more

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The ingredients are super fresh from North Bay farms as a previous prep ‍ Chef. The meats are super juicy and perfect tenderness. The family business is super friendly and cozy ambiance. The service is quick and attentive! read more

Was walking by and saw Chicken take out. We walked into the restaurant and were happily greeted by Paula. She explained the menu and put zero pressure to eat with them. We decided to eat and Paula served us. She was awesome and gave us direction on the menu. We shared a whole chicken and a large salad. We only ate half the chicken but finished the other half this morning. A wonderful family owned restaurant and a breath of fresh air being this is in the heart of overpriced tourist traps. Not this one. A gem in the heart of little Italy. We are going back today. The pork chops look amazing and the mixed salad. Bring it on. read more

Il Pollaio - Whole roasted chicken with very crispy skin. - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Finally took a night to come by Il Pollaio and I may have found one of my new favorite restaurants in SF! I had the half chicken with combo salad (green salad, bean salad, and coleslaw) for $21, the portions are extremely generous and it was exactly what I needed. The chicken came fresh off of the grill with crispy, well seasoned skin and juicy meat. Didn't even remember to get a picture because I was too excited to dig in! We also ordered a liter of the house wine for $20 to split between 3 people, which was a great deal. It felt like I was eating dinner at a small town restaurant in the middle of Spain. The energy inside the restaurant was unmatched. If they didn't close at 9pm, we could've sat here eating chicken and drinking wine for hours I'll definitely be back to try the three sausage plate and potatoes as well! read more

Beloved neighborhood place for chicken! It's in our regular dinner rotation. Get extra salsa. But lately we've loved the sausage pesto sandwich with bell peppers. The mild has more flavor notes than the spicy which is just hot. No frills service. Great, cheap wines make dining in more fun;) read more

Il Pollaio - Sausage sandwich with bell peppers and salad - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Will come back over and over. Best staff -- they work so freaking hard please tip well and do such a good job. The food is GREAT. Thank you for reminding me why I love this city so much. read more

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Everything went well at this place , my favorite for 30 years or so. The people are very friendly . The food is delish, the chicken is juicy and crisp, everything is cooked the Italian way, good simple food done so well. I love the ambiance , people speaking Italian, and everyone is in a good mood. So RUN over there and ENJOY! Claire Blume read more

Still great chicken after all these years! I like the potatoes and "green and bean" salad. Soups rotate so always ask! read more

Il Pollaio - menu as of November 11th, 2012. - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

The sign at Il Pollaio is like a Cubist 1980s video game design. Obviously, the restaurant opened in 1982. Not so obvious, they never made the blunder many establishments do of remodeling for the sake of remodeling. Fashions ebb and flow; that which is cool is timeless. I think Ralph Lauren said that. Michael Bauer, former SF Chronicle food critic said good things about this place. The staff at Il Pollaio wear t-shirts with Bauer's quote printed on them. I can't really remember the details of the encomiums, but it's not a bad article. You should read it. The Chronicle will allow you to look at a limited number of their pieces online. In the age of social media, the world has lost the professional dilettante. For all his faults, I wish Bauer would still do reviews. Perhaps he wasn't the most exploratory critic, or the best writer, but he's preferable to his successor, Soleil Ho. Not only is Soleil a hack, but a crusading hack, a hack on a mission. Back to Il Pollaio... It was founded by a man from a Calabrian man. That is, a Calabrian by was of Argentina. With his chickens, he merged his two backgrounds. The chickens are spatchcocked and grilled (over gas). Cooking a splayed animal over fire represents the Argentine. Giving the bird a rub with garlic, herbs and spices before grilling represents the Italian. It is honest, no frills cooking. The crispy skin is imbued with the flavor of the fire. The seasonings - olive oil, garlic, rosemary, thyme - add savory depth. Perfectly cooked, somehow, even the white meat is moist. The waiter gave me a plastic squeeze bottle filled with chunky, brick red sauce. It is the kind of sauce you find at Italian or Greek restaurants where the Mexican cooks have been given their freedom. That means more capsaicin. It is also the most affordable meal in North Beach. You can get a half chicken here for $16. In a neighborhood that sells spaghetti pomodoro for $23 a bowl, that is a bargain. read more

Excellent roast chicken. Delicious Italian salad dressing. Friendly service. An excellent spot for a healthful meal.

I was introduced to this place through my fiancé and now its a regular dinner spot for us. It has a limited menu but so far everything we've tried has been great. The chicken is delicious and definitely what hooked me but I keep coming back for my favorite, the pork chops. They also have a special salsa for the chicken that is a must. Its a small spot so it would be difficult for very large parties but its a great spot for a date night or a few friends. The service is great, and the food comes out quickly. read more

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This place is such a neighborhood gem. Amazing Argentinian style bbq, great prices and warm and lovely people. We are regulars who love this place. My friends and I all have our usuals - lamb chops for me, ribeye for others. You can't find these prices for the quality of meat. And decent wine selection to go with everything too. The minestrone soup is also great. Don't miss this spot! read more

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We needed to grab something quick before going to Club Fugazi. It was the Saturday before Halloween and the scene was quite wild in the area. Luckily this spot was not busy. The service and food were solid. The menu is small...we had the full chicken, a Caprese salad, and an almond torte which were good. read more

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This feels like a throwback from an era before esoteric cocktails and pricey small portions. You get a lot of food for a reasonable price and it tastes good. Nothing fancy, just straightforward comfort. Whole Chicken: This is why you come here. The chicken is cooked fresh to order on a smoky grill, with the grillmaster attentively flipping it quite frequently. The result is a juicy chicken, no matter whether it's white meat or dark meat, with a wonderfully smoky flavoring. It's priced higher than rotisserie chicken from the grocery store, but much less expensive than overpriced chicken joints like Zuni. So it kinda finds the right balance of being an old school comforting restaurant meal. Italian Sausage: So this kinda feels like something you could make at home on a grill pan or outdoor grill. It tastes fine though, dense with lots of nice spices. This should never be your primary dish, but rather a nice meaty extra if you're getting chicken for your group and want more. And there is something magical about alternating bites of grilled chicken with bites of grilled sausage, kinda makes you feel like you're at an outdoor summer BBQ. Fries: Thick cut, with a crispy exterior and soft pasty interior. Quite hearty. Pairs very nicely with the grilled meats. read more

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Absolutely delicious food! I have enjoyed everything on the menu! Great staff and wonderful ambiance

We read an old review in the San Francisco Chronicle (the local newspaper) written by a local food critic named Michael Bauer. Mr. Bauer said in this review: "The mothership of grilled chicken." After reading that, I knew I had to give this place a try. The service here is great. Always friendly and cheery. We weren't too hungry so we split a chicken breast grilled sandwich. We asked for no pesto but extra mayo. They made the sandwich perfectly to order. The chicken was so juicy and flavorful! read more

The only place to get chicken in SF, hands down the best!!! Whole chicken and an order of steak fries, my family loves this place. The staff are super cool as well. read more

23 years and going strong! I first walked into Il Pollaio 23 years ago shortly after I had just moved to San Francisco. I enjoyed their food then and that has never stopped. The thing to have is the grilled chicken. They do chicken right! Order the half grilled chicken and salad special. It is still a great deal. If you do not care for grilled chicken, their lamb chops and burgers are very good too. Their salads are basic but good. My favorite is the Combination Salad that comes with beans. My favorite soup of theirs is the split pea soup, but the minestrone is not far behind! The staff is great! Over the years many great people have work there, but there are one or two who have been there a long time and they are great. read more

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Ordered the half chicken daily special salad, green salad with blue cheese. I asked if the Italian was homemade and the server said no Served with crusty bread and butter Chicken was good, rosemary, maybe garlic and lemon Salad was fresh, tomatoes, cucumber, radish and Roman lettuce Blue cheese dressing was standard Ice tea, standard Total $19 Try lamb next time read more

It's a $15 plate. They only have two stores in San Francisco. It's very family oriented. Their staff (the lady) looks very authentic country American girl. Sincere and kind. Truly care for you. She asked me how it felt. That's good. Not just try to get your money and kick you out of the house. read more

Il Pollaio - Sausage plate with fries and grilled bell pepper - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

This restaurant serves charbroiled grilled chicken in North Beach. I got cole slaw with it but u put the dressing(blue cheese) on the cole slaw.. That's how they serve it and it was different but whatevs. I got the half chicken and it was pretty good with breast and drumstick. Grilled and like mediterranean chicken from Turkey Syria or this time it's Italian. Had a Coca cola with it too read more

Il Pollaio - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Best value in San Francisco. No frills with all the flavor. This will ever be my go to spot before an event in the area or while walking around North Beach. read more

I'm very picky when it comes to my chicken, whether its baked, roasted, grilled, fried, sautéed...you get it. I was still a little skeptical but my friend insisted, so I followed her lead. I will say, there are no flippen regrets! The grilled chicken was cooked to perfection! Tender juicy and finger licking. Ingredients: Salt, Pepper & olive oil! That's it nada mas! We also ordered a side of onions, again amazing. Look at the fresh cáprese salad! I'm drooling! read more

Il Pollaio - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Great food. Hearty, well done. Not expensive for the neighborhood. Nice people. Great grilled meat.

My visit to San Francisco is not complete if I don't visit Il Pollaio! I get a hug and warm greetings from owner Paula and her lovely staff! This is a local favorite...warm and welcoming just like home! I always have a hard time deciding what to have...their delicious chicken or spicy Italian sausages...luckily I went with a friend and we agreed to order both and share (very generous portions!). The special comes with a fresh salad...my choice always the green and bean with blue cheese dressing! Then another tough choice...their amazing french fries or boiled potatoes??? Today the boiled potatoes with parsley and butter...Paula sends us a lovely glass of a new rose to try...crisp and a perfect wine for our lunch choices! You can see why this is a favorite! Until my next visit... read more

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It was closing about 1/2 hour when we walked in. They were already cleaning up. We asked if we can still sit to eat and they said yes but with not so nice looks from all the staff. Apparently they wanted to go home and didn't want any more customers. It's fine, I understand but they should have just said we're closed and saved their nasty looks. We would have said ok another time. So I'll have to think about this a while before I decide to try them. Bad looks not cool. read more

Fantastic chicken!! Deliciously crispy steak fries!! Fresh, cold and crisp salad!! Buonissimo!

One of my favorite restaurants in SF. Fair pricing given the quality and portions. The chicken is amazing. I love the bean salad and they always cook their fries perfect. Definitely a casual spot and great for takeout. read more

had never heard of this place, but saw it out of the corner of my eye on columbus one day and decided to try it. chicken was fantastic, ate a whole chicken in one sitting. great place for a meal any time. read more

Local unassuming family business with 12 tables. Incredible owner, food and ambiance. Had the entire chicken , delicious steak fries, garden salad and homemade lentil soup ...delicious! A bottle of the tasty Malbec to top it off. Grilled chicken seasoned and cooked well. Boneless ribeye seasoned and cooked perfectly with boiled potatoes on the side. Small staff and owner are so friendly and accommodating ... Look forward to returning ! read more

Consistent freshly grill chicken with mixed salad a healthy balanced and tasty meal. Simplicity reigns here. Cosy

Place is bomb! Highly recommend the Hamburger, grilled chicken and the minestrone soup (Available Friday & Saturday). Great value. 10/10 neighborhood spot. Come check it out! read more