I've been dying to try this gem for a while. I'd pass by on my way to Dinosaurs across the street and always say, "one night." Well, in December, that night finally came and oh, what a night. There wasn't a single bad bite. We got so much!! We had the steak, followed by a stunning persimmon dish, a perfectly balanced salad, crispy broccoli, and the mushroom pasta with whipped cheese, meat, and bread. rich, comforting, and absolutely unforgettable. We ended the night with cannoli, which was truly chef's kiss. A place that lives up to the hype and then some. Very cute place and the best service ever I felt like we've known the waiter forever! She was great! read more

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Came here for date night with my husband and we were both blown away by the quality and deliciousness of the meal we had here at Ofena. We started off with the beet salad and warm focaccia with olive oil, garlic, and balsamic vinegar. The combination of hot bread with sweet, cool beets was a perfect contrast. The beets were perfectly cooked and came with crunchy, candied pecans over a light bed of whipped ricotta. I could not get enough, especially of the candied pecans. The focaccia was perfectly cooked and super light and fluffy. You can tell that the olive oil and balsamic vinegar are of the highest quality and the dip paired so well with the bread. For our mains, my husband got the rigatoni while I got the gnocchi carbonara (at the waiter's suggestion). Both of us were extremely happy with our choices. I'm used to getting gnocchi dishes that are super dense and doughy but in this dish, it was melting in your mouth. The infusion of the duck flavors really came through in the sauce and you had crispy meat sprinkled on top as well to give a contrasting texture to the rest of the dish. The rigatoni came with a couple of meatballs and sausages that you can tell are freshly made in house as they were tender and flavorful. The marinara sauce had a hint of sweetness with the tartness of the tomato sauce to balance it out. The pasta might have been a hair undercooked but it didn't make the dish any less delicious. For dessert, we ended with a chocolate tiramisu - a bed of moist, chocolate cake with a layer of coffee cream and cream on top, it was a delicious twist on the classic dish. We both agreed that we can't wait for our next visit back to Ofena! read more

Ofena - Beet salad - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

When Cherylynn calls this place a "unicorn of the city" I knew we had to try it out immediately! Ofena is located on a quiet but cute short walkable area of Lakeside Village where parking was surprisingly plentiful. (There's a outdoor pirate themed play area across the street which my kids enjoyed before dinner). [[HIGHLIGHT]]The inside is modern but sparse, with three cozy dining dining rooms with a lovely full bar in the center room.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service was wonderful and the manager warmly greeted us with champagne for having happened to be there on their 2 year anniversary. It's not often these days that I find everything on the menu intriguing but we definitely had trouble deciding on what to pick from. What I ended up loving the most were the "sides" which were main dishes in and of themselves in terms of how much flavor was packed into them! For example, the Gigante Beans were so delicious that we tried to replicate them at home the following week. I loved how colorful and tasty the Squash Cabonata side was. Also loved the Pea and Asparagus salad which was beautifully plated, well-textured dish-- I liked that they were small bite sized cuts of crispy asparagus, and sprinkled with some pea shoots. The Gnocchi Carbonara, Saffron Risotto dish, and the polenta side were all very tasty, but I think it was an error to order all three since they were all a bit creamy/heavy. Overall a wonderful spot for dinner! read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]A good date night spot.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] My bf and I came here for dinner this past Friday. We called a couple hours beforehand and was able to make a reservation for 7pm. We ordered several dishes to share: * Bone-in Beef Steak Tagliata 5/5: Medium rare was cooked perfectly. The steak was juicy and tender. The balsamic and butter added good flavor to the steak. * Gnocchi Carbonara 4/5: Really liked the gnocchi. It was soft and pillowy. I liked the cheese and filling. The duck confit was good but not my favorite. * Crispy Smashed Potatoes 3/5: Texture was great - crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Flavor was a little lacking. They tasted a little plain. * Grilled Broccolini 5/5: Buttery goodness. This was very yummy. I loved that there was still a crunch to it and not soft. * Jack's Favorite Panna Cotta 5/5: Soo goood! I would highly recommend trying this. Not overly sweet, and the mandarin added a nice, subtle tartness. read more

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Mamma mia! Ofena is-a fantastico! From the very first bite, I felt like I got a power-up! The pasta? Woohoo! Fresh, handmade, and so tasty it's like-a finding a secret 1-Up mushroom. Every sauce is rich and flavorful, like-a treasure hiding in a mystery block. The staff treat you like-a family--smiling, warm, and making sure you always feel like the Super Star of the night. And don't forget the wine--smooth and perfect, it makes the whole meal feel like-a celebration. If you're-a looking for the ultimate Italian adventure, Ofena is-a the place! Five stars and a big "Let's-a gooo!" read more

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Tasty food and nice ambiance. We went here on a Saturday night around 7 and wasn't too busy - made a reservation ahead of time and was seated quickly. I ordered the Chitarra Aglio e Olio which was very delicious - nice balance of al denté pasta with a buttery, not too garlicky white sauce. My husband ordered the fried chicken, which was also tasty but a little too much peppers for our liking. We ended with their version of cherry ice cream sundae - a very generous serving that we didn't finish it all. Food was great, service was friendly and the place was a nice mix of casual but classy, where you could go on a date night or bring the littles. read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Great ambience, very chill and elegant.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Great service. Wine selection is pretty good: they have specials on Thursday. I didn't go deep into the food menu; I only ordered tuna carpaccio and beets salad. Both were terrific but the beets salad was my favorite: very unexpected and tasty combination of flavors. read more

Ofena - Menu - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The rigatoni was quite disappointing: the sausage was overly salty, the meatball was tough, and the sauce was merely average. To make matters worse, the pasta was slightly undercooked. The risotto had a similar issue, also being a bit undercooked. The steak was well-prepared, but at a steep price of $48. The yellowfin tuna was good, though it too was very pricey. The chocolate tiramisu was not what I expected; it tasted more like a chocolate cake with mascarpone on top. Unfortunately, the cannoli fell short of my expectations as well; I've had much better elsewhere. Given the high costs and mediocre food quality, I can't recommend this place, although I will say that the staff was friendly. Food - 2 stars, but adding an extra star for the staff. read more

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Food was absolute delish! I think my favorite highlight was the cannoli (big fan of pistachio) and vongole pasta ! Service was nice & attentive. Ambiance was warm and cozy ! A must try place in the area. Their warm focaccia is a must! We ordered it with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, a classic you can never go wrong with. So soft, drizzled with superb olive oil, don't eat too much or else you'll get too full quickly ! Would come back again :) read more

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I have been here multiple times but finally decided to place a review today since I have experienced their dinner and lunch menus. The food was excellent and service was attentive! I was greeted promptly at the front desk for my birthday reservation through OpenTable. It was quite clean, and the ambience was very relaxing since we were one of the few people eating there for lunch with reservation at 11 AM. overall, I highly recommend this place for lunch and for dinner and may take my family here again to experience it again. read more

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Ofena in San Francisco is a genuine culinary treasure. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The atmosphere is cozy and chic, and the service is warm and attentive, true Italian hospitality.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food is exquisite, with every plate beautifully presented. The Chitarra Alle Vongole (clam pasta with lemon and chili butter) was a showstopper, perfectly al dente and packed with flavor. We also loved the vibrant Beet & Citrus Salad with candied pecans and whipped ricotta and the savory, cheesy Boquerones Toast. Every dish demonstrates high-quality ingredients and expert execution. If you're looking for a top-tier Italian experience in SF, Ofena is a must-visit. read more

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What a little gem of a place. I've been looking for a go-to Italian spot nearby and I think this place is a solid contender. The restaurant is spacious with low lighting for the ambience. Super easy to get a reservation and parking is not too bad on Ocean. We came for my sister's birthday dinner and our table was set up with a cute little birthday banner when we arrived. Everything we ordered was on point. The focaccia was so fresh and soft, we had to order two plates. The gnocchi carbonara was rich with crispy duck pieces. We finished off sharing tiramisu (delicious of course) and the server gave my sister a complimentary glass of champagne. A lovely experience, I would 100% come back again. read more

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A nice modern and cozy Italian eatery with a modest selection of different dishes. Staff is friendly and the interior is easy on the eyes. There's a waiting area and a bar as well. Came here on Valentine's day, and ordered a lot of food for two people. Warm Focaccia with Whipped Ricotta Thinly Sliced Mortadella - 5/5 Absolutely amazing bread! Warm, crispy, fluffy, great flavor on its own. Paired with a whipped ricotta, a neutral flavor cream, and a thin mortadella, it was one of the star dishes of the night. We enjoyed eating this and would love to just order some focaccia to go! Gnocci Carbonara - 4/5 Amazing gnocchi dish, gnocci was cooked just right, and had good amount of duck with it as well. The taste was super rich, creamy, and hearty, can definitely taste the nodes of duck fat in there. Only thing is that this dish is so rich that it's a bit too heavy. Nonetheless, amazing dish. Pork Bistecca Fiorentina - 4/5 Great pork steak dish. I really enjoyed how flavorful and tender this dish was. Salty and tangy, with a lot of herbs and lemon, a great dish to share. Some parts of the pork were a bit undercook and pink but I still ate it and was fine afterwards (I do have a strong stomach) but others may find it discerning. Soft Polenta truffle mascarpone - 5/5 I never knew I liked polenta this much until now. Super creamy, soft, slightly sweet polenta, like you're eating a super soft corn bread, The truffle mascarpone added a nice hint of truffle without it being overpowering. Crispy Smashed Potatoes - 1/5, I think they're okay, they were smashed crispy potatoes but weren't very crispy. Kind of bland in taste, probably the only thing I wouldn't order again, fried, smashed, topped with a bit of peppers but there wasn't any seasoning to it. Really enjoyed our dinner at Ofena. We would definitely come back and try out the other dishes in addition to more Focaccia! read more

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We visited Ofena over Memorial Day weekend. Reservations were easy and recommended! The restaurant serves Italian food but offers a brunch menu on the weekends. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The decor is modern and upscale.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We enjoyed their Caesar salad, pasta with seared ahi, omelette with roasted rosemary potatoes, bacon and eggs, and flatbread with pepperoni! Everything came out hot and delicious. read more

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Came back for dinner with a party of 6. We ordered a bit of everything! * focaccia was a tasty starter! Some places do give bread for free, but not here. Though, it was VERY tasty and I would order it again -- prefer the ricotta & mortadella to the olive oil * Caesar was a good size for sharing and very well made * Arancini was nicely crunchy on the outside -- not standout for me, but hard to go wrong with a dish like this Pastas: * Really loved the Rigatoni -- just meaty, smooth with the ricotta -- my fav dish and a crowd pleaser! * hubs enjoyed the garlicky clam pasta * gnocchi was nicely cheesy Mains * steak: tasty, not the most tender cut but satisfying and appropriate for this price range * fried chicken: a thick chicken cutlet!!! Satisfying Heads up that the kids pizza is really cheesy focaccia. My daughter ended up preferring the regular focaccia. Overall, wonderful food. Friendly, on point service that was attentive without being over bearing. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Wonderful spot for sharing good food with friends.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Very flavorful, delicious, beautiful presentation and friendly and attentive staff. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Very cozy, and perfect for datenight/small group.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Wonderful experience! We paid $400+tip for party of 4. (5 Alcoholic drinks included) read more

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I am in total agreement with the average 4.5 reviews here. Ofena is a cozy and inviting Italian restaurant with delicious brunch and attentive service. I came for weekend brunch. Fortunately, there was no line. I and enjoyed the omelette and potatoes. Portions were generous and the potatoes had a nice crisp. My girlfriends enjoyed their brunches as well. Parking isn't difficult. I would come back for dinner. read more

Ofena - Brunch - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

I loved Ofena's cozy vibe and interior. Everything from start to finish was lovely regarding service, attention to detail, and the pacing of the dishes that came out. I highly recommend their warm focaccia bread (side up to you but I loved the whipped ricotta and mortadella side). It is so fluffy with the perfect taste and texture. Their arancini was also a hit and next time I would order the full appetizer size. Funnily enough we came here because everyone raved about the duck gnocchi. But I found the duck to be somewhat reminiscent of Chinese roasted duck, but drier and stringy. Sort of strange. And carbonara sauce paired with gnocchi is really heavy for me. Maybe if it was a thinner pasta like linguini I would've liked it more. The dinner set pasta (tomato cream cavatappi) was much better for me personally. I would definitely come here again for a special occasion or a nice lunch! read more

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Made reservations to celebrate a girlfriend's birthday. So appreciated that they hung a birthday sign and had a birthday card for her when we arrived. Our server, Francesca, was great. We wanted to try so many things and we were having such a hard time deciding. Francesca provided recommendations after listening to us, and we were so glad we went with her recommendations. Started with the Gnocchi Carbona - gnocchi were light and pillowy soft and that sauce was everything. Next were the Chicken Cotoletta and the Pork Bistecca - both so good and so flavorful. For dessert, we had to go with the Chocolate Tiramisu - not too sweet and a perfect ending to a great meal. We were quite full and satisfied. Service was attentive. We can't wait to return. read more

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Second time there and was a little disappointed at the portion size for their pasta for the prices they're charging. Went there last year but did not order the pasta and remembered we ordered the pork chop and it was good and so went back to give it another try since we were in the neighborhood. Pork chop was seasoned well & tastes good but is a la cart.. nothing comes with it for $36. Not even some potatoes or any greens. Gnocchi was too starchy and no texture and my son did not like it. $31 for a small size like an appetizer portion. Linguine pasta tastes not bad but $32 for a small appetizer portion. I would rather pay a few dollars extra if they make it bigger. Ordered a side broccoli, it was not bad. Not planning to go back. I would rather go to Elena or Original Joe's near by for the food you get with the same value, taste, portion and good quality and overall better experience. read more

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My partner and I decided to check out Ofena for dinner for our Friday date night. We got there around 5:30pm, and there was a good amount of people already there, but it also wasn't hard for us to get a table. It felt like a nice family-friendly, neighborly establishment, though prices seem a little high for a casual family dinner. Overall, service was attentive and friendly. Food came out at a good pace. Everything tasted good, but nothing was mind blowing. The focaccia was our favorite, while the carbonara gnocchi was a bit of a let down. Given that their bread was so good, I want to come back for lunch and try a sandwich! read more

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This restaurant is a cozy charming spot in a wonderful location not too far out of our way from the peninsula. Great selection of cocktails and wine. They do half off ALL bottles on Thursdays! That is reason enough to check this place out. For apps we got 2 orders of the focaccia. One with the ricotta and mortadella and one with the garlic, olive oil, and balsamic. Both were excellent. The bread is fantastic. Everything you want focaccia to be. The ricotta is beautifully whipped and slightly sweet. The oil, vinegar, and garlic mixture is terrific. Beautiful acidity with terrific flavors. We also ordered the Arancini and the Caesar salad. The arancini for me were good but left me with much to be desired. To be fair, I've had many versions of arancini so for me it's more a matter of preference. I like my risotto balls cheesy and on some variation of tomato sauce and these were mushroomy and served with an aioli. If you like that combination then you'll love these. Caesar salad was delicious. Dressed perfectly. I love that they serve it with boquerones. For dinner I ordered the pork bistecca with a side of crispy smashed potatoes. The pork was perfectly cooked. A beautiful cut of meat. I don't know if that's how they serve it all the time but mine was a T-bone. Served with a New York and a fillet. I've never had pork like that and the cut, cook, and flavor were excellent. The one thing that did throw me off a little was the amount of seeds in the gremolata. It had great flavor but there was way too much of the seeds on the actual plate. I got one bite with too much and it left an unpleasant gritty texture in my mouth. With that being said, easy to eat around it. Potatoes were wonderfully crispy with a tangy relish on top. For the desserts we ordered affogato, pistachio cannolis, and the tiramisu. The filling for the cannolis was absolutely delicious. The tiramisu here isn't your traditional tiramisu with espresso soaked lady fingers but it's good. If you're a chocolate cake person then definitely try this. For the kids menu they offer a decent selection of pastas, sides, and pizzas. The pizzas do come served on their thick focaccia bread so just know that it's not going to come served on traditional pizza crust. It does indeed say this on the menu but we still somehow overlooked it. Very tasty but not at all what we were expecting for our toddler. The service here was excellent. Francesca was a delight and our server was lovely. She was attentive and very helpful. The hostess also made it a point to be helpful and the busser working our table was on point. Fantastic service. The menu here is unique and exciting. While some of the food definitely doesn't follow traditional cues that's not a bad thing. I can't wait to come back and try the gnocchi carbonara, yellowtail carpaccio, beets with ricotta, and boquerones toast. This menu speaks to me. Great spot for date night, work lunch, or small group dinner. read more

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Great service, lots of seating on a Sunday afternoon before closing. Would order again: - Caesar salad: comes with anchovies, great dressing, buttery crunchy croutons - Soft Polenta with Truffle Mascapone: savory, warm, seasoned well. Needs more parsley! This was on their dinner menu but they were able to make it for lunch! Wouldn't order again: - Fungi Misti Arancini: 4 fried balls for $15? No thanks. Ordered some items to go and the waiter hand wrote what was in each box! What a special touch. They are also very toddler friendly. They had a special kids menu and crayons to color. Would definitely be back to try other things! read more

Ofena - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Amazingly delicious food and a pretty large selection. The portions are hella perfect too! I loved everything we ordered. Service was ok they were timely for-sure! I thought the decor was good, pretty modern and sleek but still welcoming. I think it's a must try! read more

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Delicious food. Tasted very homestyle,fresh and made with care. Ambience was fresh, clean and simple. Not overly ostentatious. Service was attentive, friendly amd helpful. A couple of patrons were celebrating birthdays. We went on a day when they had 50% off their bottles of wine. We had a nice experience. read more

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Ofena is a sleeper of a weekend Brunch spot. Most people don't know that it is even open for brunch it seems. The parking is easy and the ambiance during the day is great. First we ordered Giuseppe's Breakfast with scrambled eggs, sausage, and opted for polenta. The polenta was really creamy and cheesy. The sausage also was cooked to perfection. The Giacomo eggplant sandwich was very healthy tasting in a good way. The sesame Rize Up bread was a delicious pairing. It was super saucy and was paired well with pickled veggies on the side. We also added the rosemary crispy potatoes as well as a cup of their soup of the day. The soup was a mushroom based one and was super delicious. The portions were huge and the items did not go over $20 an item from what we ordered. The service was great with the staff checking up and letting us know our dishes would be coming up shortly. They even provided an extra plate without us asking knowing we would be sharing the meal. I cannot recommend this place enough for how clean the place is, how friendly the staff is, and especially how good the food is for the price. read more

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Came here for lunch with the kids and everyone enjoyed their food. We ordered the following: Funghu arancini -5/5 very crispy on the outside and had mushrooms inside. Everything on the plate was good Warm foccaccia with anchovy butter- 4/5 definitely interesting since I've never had it with anchovy butter. The foccaccia was good. Chitarra alle vongole - 5/5 yum! Flatbread - 4/5 pretty good margarita flatbread with arugula. Service was ok, you need to flag them down to get stuff, but they do get what you asked for. I've already made a reservation to come back again! read more

We were looking for a restaurant with quality foods, was kid-friendly, and had easy parking. All of these boxes were easily checked - we were very happy with our meal here! PARKING Very easy, tons of metered spots right outside, and at dinner time (after 6pm) it's free. RESERVATIONS Made online about a week in advance for a group of 7. FAMILY-FRIENDLY? A resounding yes! It's not just the bare minimum of having kids menus, crayons, and plastic cups with lids for the drinks. It's that every person on staff just seemed to know how to treat parents, and kids, and serve our group. When my kids went up to the host table and saw the hard candy, they knew that the kids needed mom's permission before taking any. Our server, when clearing out the table, knew not to take the kids' menus that my kids had colored on. Everyone was all smiles and very sweet to the kids in our group, who ranged from 1.5 to 6. Plus, they take orders through a handheld device, so by the time our entire table had ordered, the kids' food had come out. They also pre-split the kids' pasta for us, per our request (as opposed to bringing us the full dish and a share bowl). They did the same with a lemonade we ordered. THE COST $283.75 total including tax/tip for dinner for 4 adults, 1 toddler, 2 young kids. DRINKS * Bunny Hat $16.00 - 4 stars. Lovely refreshing and light cocktail. * Lost Boy $16.00 - 3.5 stars. A bit refreshing with sweet and tangy citrus. My partner was hoping for more flavor from the tobacco bitters, though. KIDS' MENU * Kid's Pasta $11.00 - 4 stars. Very legit Rigatoni, cooked perfectly, lovely sauce. BREAD/SIDES * House Foccacia $9.00 - 4 stars. Very soft & flavorful. * Grilled Broccolini $9.00 - 4 stars. Perfectly charred, great with lemon squeezed on top. * Gigante Beans $9.00 - 2.5 stars. The beans had a good soft texture, but that was the only good thing about this dish. This lacked flavor and the other veggies were overcooked. * Mixed Squash Caponata $9.00 - 3 stars. A bit of a boring dish, lacking interesting texture (mostly mushy veggies) or flavors. PIZZA * La Bene $18.00 - 4 stars. A surprisingly well balanced pizza! I dont usually like white sauce pizzas but this worked really well. PASTA * Rigatoni $31.00 - 4 stars. Pasta was soft but firm; sauce was flavorful; meatballs were a bit dry; globs of ricotta were a nice touch. * Gnocchi Carbona $33.00 - 4.5 stars. Very tasty, and the crispy duck was amazing. * Swiss Chard-Caramalized Red Onion Lasagna $27.00 - 3.5 stars. Not bad for a lasagna, not a major standout either. read more

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Very friendly. Delicious food. A bit loud and drafty when we were there on a Saturday evening. read more

Ofena - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

3.5 stars. Ofena is a charming neighborhood eatery with amazing service. The hostess was personable & our waiter, attentive & approachable. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Our first five minutes in the restaurant had me mentally planning my next visit; that's how much I wanted to love Ofena's modern take on Italian cuisine.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] However, their lunch menu left something to be desired. Items I tried: --Warm Focaccia ($9): served with choice of dipping options. We chose butter & anchovies. Unnecessary with the number of other carby dishes we ordered, plus the brick of focaccia was not especially flavorful or soft. -- Mozzarella in Carozza ($15): fried cheese sandwich served with spicy marinara. My group was not sold on the texture of the breadcrumb coating. -- Giacomo sandwich ($17): a vegetable medley of fried eggplant, grilled artichokes, marinated tomatoes, arugula, & Calabrian pepperonata on a sesame roll spread with garlic aioli. One of our favorite items, however, we kept feeling we'd missed out on better dishes only served at dinner. -- Jack's Panna Cotta ($12:): served in a cup that's loosely reminiscent of certain Beauty & the Beast teacup. Topped with vanilla meringue pieces & citrus elements of mandarin segments & lemon curd. Nice flavoring given how light & airy it was. -- Chocolate Tiramisu ($12): presented in a unique way; not layered like a traditional tiramisu, & not nearly as moist. Would try something different next time. For my personal taste, there were a few snags in execution that I hope won't be a pattern with the mains & sides I anticipate trying on their dinner menu. Am I a fool to come back a second time or should I follow the dating rule to believe someone (or in this case, someplace) when they show you who they are? I have faith in Ofena, I can fix her. read more

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Cute neighborhood place, easy parking for the location. Portions are a bit small but can still be shared. The flavor profiles of all we ordered were excellent. The risotto did remind me more of a paella nonetheless delicious, comes with squid and shrimp which very tender ( not chewy at all ). This is a new place in the neighborhood of lakeside. Deff give it a try. read more

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4.5 STARS Ofena is a unicorn in the city.... Solid Cal-Italian food with a full bar without having to trek deep into the city to The Mission, Nob Hill/Russian Hill, or the FiDi....with plenty of FREE parking! So ladies, you can put on your stilettos and not have to schlep up hills like a baby giraffe on roller skates or roll your ankle into a pothole. Back to the review, I wouldn't expect anything less from the team behind Michelin-star, jū-ni. The executive chef has Michelin cred having worked at The Restaurant at Meadowood and Martini House (now Goose & Gander). Ofena is open for takeout and indoor dining only. M E N U Cal-Italian Fare. Different lunch and dinner menus. Full bar. 5% SF mandate. 22% default tip on POS. D R I N K S * Stemware at Dolores: Four Pillars Olive Leaf Gin w/ olive brine, vinegar oil, salt & vinegar focaccia chip ($16) // 5 stars: https://tinyurl.com/mufks5hd --Requested no olive brine Alcohol forward, very smooth and easy to drink. The focaccia chip was plain tho. Friends were happy with their cocktails and mocktails. F O O D * Warm Focaccia w/ roasted garlic, olive oil, aged balsamic ($9) // 4 stars: https://tinyurl.com/532s34f9 Lots of rave reviews for the focaccia. It was fine because it was served warm (3 stars). Their take on focaccia has a crisp exterior, more bread-like, lacking a springy chew with large distinct bubbles. The dip tho! It took it to the next level with its savory, sweet, garlicky, tangy deliciousness. * Fried Mozzarella Carozza w/ spicy marinara ($15) // 4.5 stars: https://tinyurl.com/yvheuwmd What was lacking in cheese pulls made up in flavor and texture. The deep-fried mozzarella sandwich was golden brown, rich, and crunchy. A dip into the not spicy, "spicy" marinara sauce gave a nice fresh tang. * Funghi Misti Arancini w/ bay leaf aioli, radish, parsley, ricotta salata ($17) // 4.5 stars: https://tinyurl.com/mu7saa7x Great flavors and textures - the crunchy balls were filled with creamy ricotta and earthy mushrooms, balanced by the slightly minty aioli and freshness of the radish + parsley. * Pork Bistecca Fiorentina w/ fennel seed gremolata, charred lemon ($36) // 4 stars: https://tinyurl.com/5dw5kjxv --Default: Medium, the rarest available --Includes choice of side (see below) While the pork chop was overdone for my preference (verging on well-done for most pieces) it was tender, moist, and flavorful with the fennel seed gremolata packing a zesty + citrusy herbaceous punch. If they nailed the medium temp, Nopa watch out! * Gnocchi Carbonara w/ duck prosciutto, egg yolk bottarga, pecorino, crispy duck skin ($33) // 4 stars: https://tinyurl.com/57hhj8me My friend's order - soft, pillowy gnocchi with a meaty richness from the carbonara, egg yolk bottargo, and duo of duck. It's quite rich so def more of a pasta to share. * Yellowfin Tuna w/ brown butter, garlic, capers, shallots, meyer lemon, parsley ($44) // 4 stars --Default: Rare --Includes choice of side (see below) My friend's order - I tried a piece and the tuna was perfectly rare with a nice sear drizzled with a rich, fragrant butter sauce. * Side: Soft Polenta w/ truffle mascarpone // 5 stars Deliciously rich and creamy with a kiss of earthy cheesiness. When I return, I'm getting a side for myself. No sharing. * Side: Grilled Broccolini w/ browned butter, garlic, charred lemon // 4 stars Crisp with a nice smoky flavor from the grill and flavorful kick from the garlic and charred lemon juice. * Chocolate Tiramisu w/ chocolate cake, coffee cream, rum mousse, vanilla mascarpone, cookie & cocoa crumble ($12) // 3.5 stars: https://tinyurl.com/4sedy4we A modern spin on tiramisu, it was more cake than tiramisu. Moist but didn't have that rich chocolately flavor. While it wasn't bad, we agreed, we prefer a traditional tiramisu. * Jack's Fav Panna Cotta w/ mandarin, lemon curd, vanilla meringue, mt beasor farm sugar cane syrup ($12) // 4 stars: https://tinyurl.com/muw5yuua Silky smooth, jiggly custard-like panna cotta with a citrusy brightness and nice crunch from the meringues. Solid, not too sweet dessert. S E R V I C E Awesome hospitality - staff is welcoming, warm, and attentive. Our server, Mathew was very knowledgeable of the menu. When I asked to the leave olive brine out of the cocktail, he warned it may change the flavor profile and offered to swap it out if I end up not liking it. Regardless, I would have kept it but that's going above and beyond. Despite being super busy, he packed our leftovers and labeled each container. A M B I A N C E Nice transformation from the former Lakeside Cafe, modern and upscale yet casual. There's two dining areas and a bar area in the center with a TV for watching the game. Overall, we were surprised at how solid Ofena was...for a sleepy neighborhood. If you're looking for solid Cal-Italian Fare without the fuss of the parking situation like the popular hot spots in the city, give Ofena a try! read more

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Food was delicious and reasonable prices. Service was good and attentive. The tables was too close to each other. Plenty of meter parking spaces. Automatic tip included 20% plus SF healthy 5%. read more

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The pasta and steak here was really yummy it's a causal group and date spot and service was great as well. read more

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I might be particularly biased since everything on the menu sounded tempting, but [[HIGHLIGHT]]from the interior to the food, it was a cool modern take on Italian.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Got the gnocchi carbonara which was super rich and yolky. The duck confit on top was a tad dry and gamey, probably a matter of preference, but the dish overall was umami forward! I really enjoyed their take on tiramisu (get if you love chocolate cake)! The textures were so good - light, not-too-sweet filling with cocoa crumbs I loved. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Of all the Italian spots in SF, I think this one feels unique and would make for a nicer dinner.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Ofena - Chocolate Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Finally had a chance to try this place since it took over the old Lakeside Cafe. We ordered the mortadella sandwich, meatballs with rigatoni, and chicken Caesar. Everything was tasty, though a bit on the salty side. The service was very good--friendly and attentive throughout. A solid first visit overall! read more

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Came here to celebrate a friend's birthday and loved the cozy, intimate atmosphere. The table had a birthday note for her which was a nice touch. As for food, we had the warm focaccia with whipped ricotta and mortadella to start as well as the house greens. Both were good. We also shared 3 pastas (gnocchi carbonara, saffron risotto and chittara alle vongole) and the tuna puttanesca among the 4 of us. My favorite was the chittara alle vongole, but they all were solid dishes. We finished the night off with tiramisu, which was light and fluffy. I also had their Stemware at Dolores cocktail that was their spinoff of a martini. Loved it. Overall, we had an amazing night here catching up with great company and food. Thanks Ofena! read more

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First of all, we wanted to try this place because they posted on their site that they have happy hour but didn't specify that's only in their bar and lounge area. Then we had the worst waitress in restaurant experience. Not only she had a very unhappy look on her face, she also had an attitude in her tone that we found very rude as if she didn't want us there or annoyed by something we didn't do. The food quality was ok, the best dish we had was the pork but everything else was overpriced for the portion they gave us. We were automatically charged a 20% service on top of 5% health fee because we had more than 6 people. It would totally be fine if we had great service. We definitely will not go again. read more

Visited for restaurant week and can't wait to return and work our way through the rest of the menu! Tables nicely spaced, restaurant clean and bright and staff was so friendly and welcoming, especially Rachel and Matt ! Portion size was perfect and seemed commensurate with the pricing. The tomato sauce was legit the pasta fresh and meat was excellent quality in the meatballs and sausage. read more

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We chose Ofena based on Yelp, which listed the restaurant as dog-friendly, and even called ahead to confirm. We were told dogs were welcome. Upon arrival, the host "checked with the manager" and informed us dogs were not allowed, even if they were in a stroller. We were turned away on the spot. It was disappointing to receive conflicting information after making the effort to confirm in advance. Clear and consistent communication goes a long way in creating a welcoming experience. Unfortunately, we didn't find that here. read more