Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Polenta Restaurant

    5.0 (21 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    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

    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 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    12 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Giulio D.

    Giulio D.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    14 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Giulio D.

    Giulio D.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    11 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Giulio D.

    Giulio D.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    18 days 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 Jeff A.
    37
    554
    1556

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Giulio D.

    Giulio D.

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

    3 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
    Photo of Denise H.
    261
    64
    7

    2 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Giulio D.

    Giulio D.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Giulio D.

    Giulio D.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Giulio D.

    Giulio D.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 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

    28 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Giulio D.

    Giulio D.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 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

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Giulio D.

    Giulio D.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 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

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Giulio D.

    Giulio D.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 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

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Giulio D.

    Giulio D.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 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

    Itria

    Itria

    4.3
    (446 reviews)
    1.9 mi

    absolutely incredible meal I could not recommend more…read more i came here for the second time and tried their tasting menu for our anniversary and every single thing was a impeccable. they started us off with some complimentary champagne and even had a non alcoholic version! the appetizers were absolute stars. each bite was so thoughtfully curated and the flavors of each complimented each other so well. you know everything is competitively delicious because we thought we knew which ones were our favorite but our order completely changed upon our second bite. different flavors and combinations shine the more you savor each app. the pastas were so delicious and the amount they give you is perfect. the service was also incredible and the interior is both so cozy yet elevated, perfect for date night! we ended the meal with their panna cotta which had a wonderful contrast of creamy with a delicious crunchy topping! i again simply could not recommend itria more and i will absolutely be back to one of the best dinners in the city!

    Came here for dinner and really enjoyed the atmosphere. We were seated at the communal table, which…read moreended up being a fun place to people-watch. The standing area next to the bar was also a cute spot to wait while our table was getting ready. Food-wise, we tried the crudo tasting while the other crudos were fine, they didn't stand out nearly as much as the scallop. The corn and mushroom pasta was very tasty, especially the sauce. We also tried the pesto pasta, which also had excellent texture, but the sauce tasted a bit more charred than I would have liked. Overall, I thought the atmosphere and dining experience were stronger than any individual dish. The communal seating and lively dining area gave the restaurant a great energy. I can see why this place is popular, and the tasting menu is a fun way to try a variety.

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

    Thank you, Luisa, for your wonderful hospitality and for sharing your years of passion and…read morecraftsmanship with my friends and me. The experience began the moment we stepped into the restaurant in San Francisco, where she personally greeted and cared for her guests, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The Bruschetta was the perfect appetizer, a delicious, soft bread and fresh flavors of tomato, garlic and basil. For the entrée, I highly recommend Luisa's famous gnocchi with pesto sauce. Unlike the typical flour-heavy gnocchi, these potato-based dumplings were incredibly light, tender, and practically melted in your mouth while pairing beautifully with the savory pesto. To finish, the Cannoli Alla Siciliana provided the perfect balance of crunch and sweetness, with a hint of chocolate chips. Every dish shows the passion and tradition behind Luisa's cooking, making for a truly memorable dining experience and reflecting the diversity of San Francisco!

    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!

    Photos
    Luisa's Restaurant
    Garlic Bread
    Garlic Bread
    ORTOLANA PIZZA

    See all

    ORTOLANA PIZZA
    Emmy's Spaghetti Shack

    Emmy's Spaghetti Shack

    4.2
    (995 reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$
    Outdoor seating
    Large group friendly

    Okay, so firstly I apologize, I did not take any pictures of the food. I was so dang hungry that I…read moreimmediately dug in to the shrimp scampi toast and the chicken parm. Both were chef's kiss great, and the portions were just right for two hungry people. Our server, Atilla, became my best friend. He was super attentive, very honest, and had a great sense of humor. My friend and I sat outside in the patio (we got there at 6ish), it was a nice day and we were the first ones to sit in there. Him and I like to talk over each other so I can imagine that when the patio is full, convos are the rage. Inside is super vibey, very dark, and decorated with nostalgic pieces. The price point is very generous, considering the portions and quality of the food. This is also a late-night spot, so either way, come hungry. I ordered the basil sweet tea (deep breath), and it was so refreshing and tasty. My bonus kid texted me after I got home to ask me of any dinner spots I would recommend and I IMMEDIATELY sent him my recommendation of Emmy's Spaghetti Shack.

    Overall such a cute vibe! I didn't take a picture of my pasta but I got the fettuccine alfredo and…read moreit was the best I've had in a whileee we did order the garlic bread and it never came :( but the pasta filled me up so maybe it was a good thing. If you're going at night dress warm because the door stays open so the wind draft gets you! Drinks were okay but definitely a user issue because I should have known it was going to be strong lol

    Photos
    VIBE
    VIBE
    Shrimp Scampi
    Shrimp Scampi
    Emmy's Spaghetti Shack

    See all

    Arcana

    Arcana

    4.4
    (272 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    If you love plants you'll adore Arcana in San Francisco because it's a beautiful sanctuary of…read moreplants and cool vibes. Located in the legendary Mission District of San Francisco, this wine bar is a great spot to catch up with friends and enjoy small bites and yummy crafted cocktails. Their decor is very chic and I especially loved all of the hardware, glasses, tables, and benches. This place was styled by a great design artist. Even though the place was pretty packed and can be kind of noisy, I still felt very calm amongst all the healthy plants and loved the sophisticated 70s inspired glassware. Another great feature of this place is that you can buy most of the plants because they have some for sale so after a couple of cocktails, I was ready to redecorate my whole house with all the plants. I ordered a yummy Rose blend that was super crisp. Also enjoyed the Truffle Fungi! A delicious Shiitake and oyster mushrooms with parmesan and arugula on toasted bread. Their Spanish inspired potatoes were delicious with their dipping sauce. They have lots of gatherings there and DJ sets on the weekends. Lastly, a photographer would die to take pictures here. There is no bad shot as the design artist made sure every section of this cute wine bar was picture perfect. Loved all my photos and videos. I look forward to returning to this exquisite wine bar!

    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
    Downstairs
    Downstairs
    Arcana
    Arcana

    See all

    Polenta Restaurant - italian - Updated August 2026

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