Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Polenta Restaurant

    5.0 (25 reviews)
    Closed • 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM

    Polenta Restaurant Reservations

    Polenta Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    Recommended Reviews - Polenta Restaurant

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Giulio made us feel like we were in his hometown in Friuli. He brought us all of his favorites from the menu, starting with paper thin prosciutto that melted in your mouth and delicious white wine. Everything he brought us blew our minds. People were lined up waiting g to get in to this cozy spot! We cannot wait to come back and bring our whole family!!

    Apple pie
    Jeff A.

    This is a gem of a small family run restaurant. The food is Michelin worthy exquisite. The food is north eastern Italian. The owner describes it as "having a lot of influences from many other cultures because we have been invaded by everybody". Indeed some dishes are decidedly not Italian like the potato salad that was served with the pork. The portions are small. It's kind of Tapas style Italian. We shared family style so we got a taste of everything. The flavors of some dishes like the carrots I don't even know how they did it. The pastas are all homemade and excellent. Highly recommended for Italian food you probably never have had.

    S G.

    Excellent quality regional Italian cuisine, nice wine list and the owner Gulio is very personable. So glad this opened in our 'hood!

    Frico and snap pea salad.

    See all

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Giulio D.

    Giulio D.

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Giulio D.

    Giulio D.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    3 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    21 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Giulio D.

    Giulio D.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Giulio D.

    Giulio D.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kyle T.
    68
    44
    54

    1 month ago

    Great new spot in the neighborhood. Everything was very tasty and we can't wait to go back! Menu is well curated and a solid wine list.

    Business owner information

    Photo of Giulio D.

    Giulio D.

    Thank you very much for the kind words!!!

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jeff A.
    37
    558
    1560

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Giulio D.

    Giulio D.

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1
    Photo of S G.
    0
    21
    21

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Giulio D.

    Giulio D.

    Thank you very much for the support from day 1! See you soon

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Excellent pastas, unique wine list (I appreciate the tasting opportunities), lovely and knowledgeable service. Great vibe.

    Business owner information

    Photo of Giulio D.

    Giulio D.

    Thank you very much, hope to see you back soon.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Denise H.
    261
    64
    7

    4 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Giulio D.

    Giulio D.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Giulio D.

    Giulio D.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Giulio D.

    Giulio D.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Giulio D.

    Giulio D.

    Thank you very much!!!!

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Giulio D.

    Giulio D.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Wonderful restaurant in a great spot! The food and wine were excellent and the service was great!!

    Business owner information

    Photo of Giulio D.

    Giulio D.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Food was absolutely delicious, can't go wrong with any of the dishes. So unique and different from other Italian restaurants

    Business owner information

    Photo of Giulio D.

    Giulio D.

    Thank you , can't wait to have you back!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Giulio D.

    Giulio D.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Giulio D.

    Giulio D.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Giulio D.

    Giulio D.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Superb pasta! Came to table fresh & hot. Intimate rest. Small enough. Parkg challenge.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Giulio D.

    Giulio D.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    A sweet little restaurant. Owner and staff very kind and genuine. Unique dishes beautifully prepared.

    Business owner information

    Photo of Giulio D.

    Giulio D.

    Thanks your kind words!!!!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Polenta Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Polenta Restaurant

    Review Highlights - Polenta Restaurant

    “Definitely try the Frico - it's tasty and the side snap pea salad is something I could eat everyday - and ask for recommendations on the wine.”

    Mentioned in 4 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Bottega - Parmigiana Di Melanzane

    Bottega

    4.3(1.8k reviews)
    1.6 mi•Mission
    •$$$
    Outdoor seating
    Locally owned & operated

    I'm a long time industry professional and I was very impressed by the food at this establishment,…read moreI'm still thinking about it. The wine list isn't great and the cocktails look ok. However, the space is open and very bright with a parklet outside. A little cheesy in a cut way. Service was on point as well.

    One of my favorite spots for pasta in the city. Everything we ordered was so good that I genuinely…read moredon't think you can go wrong with anything on the menu. We came for lunch on a Monday and ordered the Caesar salad, calamari, two pastas and the burrata salad, and every single dish was excellent. The pastas in particular were incredible, but even the appetizers and salads were thoughtfully prepared and full of flavor. It was one of those meals where everything just worked, and there wasn't a single dish that I wouldn't happily order again. The restaurant itself is also really cute, with a warm and lively atmosphere and charming interior decor. They have outdoor seating as well, which is a nice option when the weather is good. Dinner can get especially busy on Friday nights and weekends, but the energy is part of what makes this place fun. They stay open until midnight, so later in the evening it really starts to feel like a bit of a scene. I would highly recommend Bottega for both lunch and dinner. Great food, great atmosphere and a menu where you can order pretty much anything with confidence. Definitely a spot I'd come back to again and again.

    Photos
    Bottega - Insalata Di Arugula

    Insalata Di Arugula

    Bottega - Inside

    Inside

    Bottega - Inside

    See all

    Inside

    La Traviata - Cioppino

    La Traviata

    4.2(705 reviews)
    1.9 mi•Mission
    •$$

    A couple of years ago, I had the pleasure to visit La Traviata for the first time. My significant…read moreother went to school in San Francisco when he was in grad school and La Traviata was a restaurant that he and his family would visit when his folks were in town. I really loved the restaurant the first time I visited, and I was happy to have a chance to be back again on our recent visit to the City. La Traviata is a great, family-owned restaurant that offers wonderful food and top-notch service. John and Sylvia take great care of their customers. The restaurant is absolutely charming, with pictures of opera singers and celebrities on the walls. On our most recent visit (September 2026), we invited my aunt to join us. She lives in the East Bay, but had not been to the restaurant before, so we loved getting to introduce her to the establishment. We had delicious food, drinks, and a wonderful time catching up. The restaurant was not super busy, and we were allowed to stay for an extended period which was great. I did make sure to confirm with the restaurant that it was okay that we were staying a bit longer than usual. We had such a great time at La Traviata and it was the absolutely perfect location for us! I can't wait to be back again the next time we are visiting the City!

    Wow Gjon and staff are amazing , they really Go out of the…read moreway to make everything fresh and you can tell that is his passion , being a classically trained Italian chef the food was top tier and service was on point and we can't wait to come back again Thanks for the amazing hospitality

    Photos
    La Traviata - Dining room vibes at 6PM on a Wednesday

    Dining room vibes at 6PM on a Wednesday

    La Traviata - Tiramisu

    Tiramisu

    La Traviata - The tiramisu--don't miss it!

    See all

    The tiramisu--don't miss it!

    Itria

    Itria

    4.3(454 reviews)
    1.9 mi•Mission

    nice vibe ~ very date nighty…read more * scallop crudo: would order again... good citrus and come w chip garnish * halibut crudo: not as good as scallop but tasted like tomato bev which i liked * rosemary focaccia: nothing special... bread * melanzane a scapece: eggplant dish - actually really liked this cuz it was really crunchy and flavorful and i like eggplant * corn agnolotti: meh it was okay lol i like corn but i don't think this was super good or anything * mafaldine cacio e uova: i didn't even order this. it was my friend's order but it was scrummy and def better than ms corn agnolotti server was amazing tho she was super nice and knowledgeable and accommodating for allergies would go back for cacio e uova

    Really enjoyed our first experience at Itria! Great ambience - perfect for a date night or dinner…read morewith friends. We were seated right on time, and they made a nice gesture acknowledging the birthday in our party. We tried the tasting menu and thought the portions and value were solid. We enjoyed almost every dish, with the oysters being the only disappointment. The sauce used on the scallops was also a little sour, but not a major issue. One thing that could be improved was the pacing and explanation of the dishes. The food runners seemed rushed when describing each dish, and we often couldn't hear them clearly. Our biggest complaint, though, was how cold the restaurant was. The AC was blasting and made it pretty uncomfortable. Otherwise, we loved the food and can't wait to come back!

    Photos
    Itria - Interior

    Interior

    Itria - Glazed Lamb Belly w/ date mostarda, warm panzanella ($45)

    Glazed Lamb Belly w/ date mostarda, warm panzanella ($45)

    Itria - Crochette Di Patate w/ roast pork belly, fermented radish, calabrian chili aioli (3 pc - $25)

    See all

    Crochette Di Patate w/ roast pork belly, fermented radish, calabrian chili aioli (3 pc - $25)

    Luisa's Restaurant

    Luisa's Restaurant

    4.7(185 reviews)
    1.6 mi•Mission

    My friend snagged a same-day reservation at Luisa's Restaurant for Saturday evening. This was…read moresurprisingly easy, considering we were a party of 6. The interior had simple decor and a swirl of little lights across ceiling. For drinks, we shared a bottle of Chianti, which was excellent. We also ordered a few appetizers for the table - Garlic Bread and Buratta. The Garlic Bread wasn't particularly memorable for me, but the Buratta was very tasty with the fresh pesto on top. I loved that most pasta dishes could be prepared with a choice of sauce, and ordered the Lobster Ravioli with Vodka Sauce. This was so tasty and surprisingly filling! My friends all enjoyed their dishes as well, including the Linguini Tuttomare, Penne Gorgonzola, and Chicken Parmigiana. Service was friendly and quick. Would happily return for more!

    Really solid Italian restaurant with surprisingly good gnocchi…read more Caesar salad: 3.5/5. To "anchovy" for my taste. Next time I will ask them to leave out the anchovies or pick a different salad. otherwise the salad was quite good. Spaghetti carbonara: 3.5/5. A solid version of this dish, but not exceptional. Great pasta, nice texture, but the meat could have stood out better. It sort of hid in the shadows. Gnocchi: 4.5/5. Since I make my own gnocchi this is a very high rating from me. Excellent texture and taste for this gnocchi and the vodka sauce complemented it really well. I would definitely have this again.

    Photos
    Luisa's Restaurant
    Luisa's Restaurant - Garlic Bread

    Garlic Bread

    Luisa's Restaurant - ORTOLANA PIZZA

    See all

    ORTOLANA PIZZA

    Emmy's Spaghetti Shack

    Emmy's Spaghetti Shack

    4.2(1k reviews)
    2.3 mi•Bernal Heights, Mission
    •$$
    Outdoor seating
    Large group friendly

    Emmy's Spaghetti Shack is an absolute local gem and a true San Francisco staple…read more From the moment you step inside, you're wrapped in a vibe that is completely unique, vibrant, and incredibly welcoming. The warm, quirky atmosphere sets the perfect backdrop for any occasion--it's just as ideal for a lively night out with friends or a date night as it is for a fun, stress-free family dinner with the kids. And the food and drinks? Pure, unadulterated comfort. Every dish feels like a giant, delicious hug, from their epic, perfectly crafted pasta plates to their hearty sides. Pair that with a fantastic, well-curated drink menu, and you have all the ingredients for an unforgettable meal. If you're looking for iconic SF charm, unbelievable comfort food, and a place where everyone feels like family, Emmy's Spaghetti Shack hits it out of the park every single time. Highly recommended!

    Tuesday dinner at 5:15pm in September 2026. Went in with no reservation, the hostess provided a…read morecouple options since tables do get booked. Weekday happy hour is from 5pm - 6pm, only on beers, shots, and a couple cocktails. Order 2 apps (garlic bread and wings) and 1 entree. If you get the garlic bread, please get it with cheese and sauce. The bread was a bit dry. Wings were pretty good, does have a spicy kick since it is with Calabrian chili oil. Wings were unevenly grilled/charred. The rigatoni bolo bianco pasta was delicious. AL DENTE and giant pasta. It's a tomato less bolognese, big chunks of meat. Couldn't taste the lemon, but the sauce was good. The restaurant is boisterous and eclectic. There's even a photo-booth in the back, so don't forget to take photos like I did. I'll definitely come back for the food and photos next time.

    Photos
    Emmy's Spaghetti Shack - VIBE

    VIBE

    Emmy's Spaghetti Shack - Shrimp Scampi

    Shrimp Scampi

    Emmy's Spaghetti Shack

    See all

    Pasta Supply - Hot mess spaghetti & meatballs

    Pasta Supply

    4.4(91 reviews)
    1.6 mi•Mission

    TIME: came here around 7:30 on a saturday night, it was pretty packed and there was a queue to be…read moreseated, but if you are not dining in and are just looking to do to go or want to buy the stuff they offer to go then there is a separate line for that. PLACE: the place is pretty small, but there is a good amount of tables and chairs to sit at, great date night spot and i love the vibe of how everything is layered as well FOOD: SOUR CREAM + ONION BURRATA W HOUSE OLIVE OIL CIABATTA - probably one of the best burrata i had paired with ciabatta ever HOT MESS SPAGHETTI + MEATBALLS - super good, al dente, and the meatballs were perfectly seasoned + cooked FUSILLI ALLA VODKA - i got this baked with pesto and four cheese, i usually don't like red sauce but everything made it super good. CHOCOLATE PANNA COTTA - love me some chocolate and the panna cotta was just exquisite in itself OVERALL: amazing place, been wanting to check it out and i'm glad i did

    We had a wonderful experience as a party of 3; Amelia kindly greeted us at the door with menus, and…read morethe way it works is that you get a moment to decide on dishes while the hostess gets your table ready, and you order before walking through the beautiful naturally-lit, high-ceiling restaurant to sit. Amelia recommended one pasta dish per person in the party, to share family style (which ended up working well for us, since we also got three appetizers, and finished the meal with a small amount of yummy leftovers for tomorrow) so that's what we did, along with the starters... We got the "big juicy meatballs with tomato and pancetta," which were incredible; the bread was delicious and certainly is not just a side to the amazing (definitely juicy) herbed tender meatballs. I'd definitely get this again, along with the grilled zucchini with worm salt and mint, which was so flavorful and tasty. We also got the smokey romano beans with fire roasted tomato, which was also really good but just keep in mind the emphasis on the smokey flavor! It wasn't my cup of tea but that's for sure a personal thing. For pastas, I'd rank them in this order: 1. our favorite was today's lasagna du jour, which was mushroom! So delicious, with a crispy cheesy crust, soft tender interior, and an almost caramelized tomato sauce accompanying. 2. Reginette with pork sugo (meat sauce) and spicy turnip greens was next, which had wonderful flavor with the tomato-based sauce and pieces of pork but if you like it slightly softer texture it might not be for you (same with the fusilli; the go-to preparation is aldente!). 3. Fusilli alla vodka with tomato, calabrian chili, cream, basil, and added garlic butter shrimps; this one's sauce felt a little underwhelming and more watery than creamy, and I'm just now realizing that although the menu said four garlic butter shrimp (an extra $7), we only got three. I think I'd come back for the lasagna and/or to buy the pasta from their expansive stock, cook it a bit longer, and serve it covered in a decadent creamy sauce.

    Photos
    Pasta Supply - Store front

    Store front

    Pasta Supply - Sour Cream + Onion Burrata

    Sour Cream + Onion Burrata

    Pasta Supply - Inside restaurant and pasta collection

    See all

    Inside restaurant and pasta collection

    Delfina - pasta

    Delfina

    4.0(2.3k reviews)
    1.1 mi•Mission
    •$$$

    Delfina is always 5 stars. The ambiance and the friendly and knowledgeable servers are…read moreunparalleled. The pesto fazzoletti pasta was wonderful - the sauce wasn't too overpowering and the noodles were perfectly al dente. The beef cheek agnolottis were so fun and tender with a hearty sauce. But my goodness ... the porcini pizza was NOT it. When it originally came out, it smelled like I was in the Tenderloin and it was really hard to get over that. Once it cooled down, the smell tampered down but the taste was really "funky". We ate it, but the choices were: 1) eat terrible smelling pizza or 2) lukewarm and still not great tasting pizza. Sorry, but it wasn't a great end to our meal. :(

    4.5/5 Delfina was…read morevery good! The service was standout. My boyfriend and I sat at the bar and our bartender was very attentive without being overbearing and very knowledgeable--he gave thorough, detailed descriptions and recommendations on the wine list and the food menu (beyond what I would've expected). He even replaced my water and apologized after realizing he poured it to the brim, which really wasn't an issue but I appreciated his correction anyway. We ordered the side of wood grilled corn to start, I ordered the malfadine al limone pasta and my boyfriend ordered the spaghetti pomodoro. The wood grilled corn had a nice char to it and we enjoyed the accompanying sauce and cheese on top; however, based on the menu description I was expecting a little more of a Calabrian chili flavor / kick. The pomodoro was good but nothing to write home about, and the malfadine was a bit of a surprise / the highlight! I enjoyed the curly pasta texture and loved the lightness of the sauce paired with the salt flavor and complexity of the salmon roe on top. We love a good dessert but nothing caught our eye on the menu this time, as we don't prefer the soft, creamy desserts like panna cotta (as opposed to something more tangible like a cannoli). Lastly, we also had the following glasses of wine: Verdecchio, Verdeca, Montepulciano, and the Carignan Blend. As someone that loves crisp white wines with high acidity and minerality, I loved the Verdecchio. The Verdeca was refreshing but too light and not fruit forward enough for my preference. We both liked the Carignan, as we like deeper berry flavors, and the Montepulciano was OK (didn't love but didn't dislike). Would definitely love to come back and try some of the other wine varieties and menu options!

    Photos
    Delfina - Inside

    Inside

    Delfina - Mushroom pizza

    Mushroom pizza

    Delfina - Panna cotta

    See all

    Panna cotta

    Arcana - View from the bathroom and more plants for sale

    Arcana

    4.4(278 reviews)
    1.6 mi•Mission
    •$$

    I bought out Arcana for a night and it was a hit! The plants and decor are lush. It feels like…read moreyou've left San Francisco and entered a jungle. I love the wood tables and the steps that lead you to a private room upstairs. The space is amazing and attendees loved it. They have a photo booth too. Staff are wonderful! Thank you, Naz and Ife! Amazing bartenders. They were so friendly, attentive, and personable. Many attendees said they came to the event particularly because they love Arcana. It's conveniently located near BART and multiple bus lines and some Lyft bike docks. I cannot recommend Arcana enough! It's great for date night, girls' night, corporate meetups, and more. It's welcoming and inclusive and the food and drinks are delicious and strong. Will be back!

    Clearly says 9:30pm for the cover/ticket charge. I am uploading this at 9:19pm, but the whole…read moreinteraction started maybe 10 minutes prior. Charging the $10 event fee on discretion before the posted event start time seems... shady? illegal? My two friends got in a few minutes before with no cover. I was dealing with a bike lock while they went in. We were not there for the event but rather as volunteers from the weekly cleanup refuse crew in the Mission. You get perks as a thank-you for doing your part in making the City a cleaner place. We had just had a lovely time at another participating business (Beehive) and planned on Arcana being our final stop. Thankfully I was able to use the restroom without a fee, with my gear held up outside by the security team. While waiting in the restroom line, I told a staff member about all this, and the worker seemingly went up to the front to find out what's going on. The line took a few minutes, my friends also bumped into me, and I told them I'd likely wait for them outside the business post-restroom while they finished their wine. Already reported to the Mayor's Office. Maybe I'll add BBB. Should be honest and equitable! Four out of 200+ reviews by me have been one star, so I rarely share negativity. It's all rather unfortunate as other visits here went off without an issue. I warned a group of four about all this while I waited out front, and after talking to the front door folks, they left and thanked me for the advice. Please be careful if you visit here. . . .

    Photos
    Arcana - Downstairs

    Downstairs

    Arcana
    Arcana

    See all

    Polenta Restaurant - italian - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...