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Food is perfect, my lobster raviolis were unbelievably delicious! But there is one thing - they don't have electronic checks and they do it by pen on "check" - also be ready that service charge is already included and it's unreadable sometimes as well. BUT it's still one of the best seafood restaurant of SF
I love Sotto Mare. We came 3ish years ago for the clams and 3 years later I'm still loving the clams! Whenever I'm in the area I will make the effort to eat here! The service is fast and efficient~ the shop is small so where they can sit us is where I will eat lol I think we ate 20 clams and 6 west coast 4 east coast oysters (to us east coast did taste better, they were bigger and sweeter)
Great customer service, great food, great vices! A very busy restaurant because it's that good! It can get a bit loud because it's tight inside the restaurant but they do have outdoor seating. 10/10 East Coast oysters. I tell my partner that the smaller the oyster the better the taste. The red sauce they provide with the oysters make it better. Beautiful taste without the sauce also! 7/10 Lobster Ravioli. They give you a huge plate with large raviolis. Cooked perfectly! The star flavor is obviously lobster but I wish there was something else that heighten the flavor. My partner did say that it was hard to distinguish between the pasta and the lobster. We came 30 min before closing (I know I'm sorry) but when we asked for a table, they were unsure but advised us to check in again at 8:50. We hung out at the bar next door -- and honestly the whole block was a vibe because everyone was out!
I had an absolutely wonderful lunch at Sotto Mare in North Beach. I started with a crisp glass of Pinot Grigio, followed by warm bread with beautiful virgin olive oil and a cup of rich, comforting clam chowder. My seafood linguine in a creamy sauce was outstanding--fresh, generous seafood, perfectly cooked pasta, and a sauce that was flavorful without being too heavy. Every part of the meal was excellent, from the quality of the food to the welcoming, classic San Francisco atmosphere. Five stars all around. Sotto Mare is a North Beach gem and a place I will gladly return to.
Finally made it to this institutional SF restaurant after over nine years living here. They don't take reservations, but you can arrive at the door and book one for later in the day. It's very busy so I recommend arriving early if you want to be sat right away. We wanted to sit outside because it was a beautiful day so we put our name down to come back in an hour and went to a nearby bar for drinks. - clam chowder - solid clam chowder and something nice to start with, but was maybe the weakest thing we ordered. Not necessary. - clam pasta - wonderfully cooked clams, but I did think the pasta itself could use a bit more salt - seafood risotto - assorted seafood, cooked with rice. Personally, I felt like it was a bit salty, but the seafood was very perfectly cooked. - cioppino - you're basically see this on every table. It serves two people. Loaded with seafood as well as some penne. Robust flavor with plenty of bread to enjoy the sauce with. Seafood was cooked exceptionally well. Crab was pre-cracked so it was easy to eat. Overall, a really solid experience. There's a reason so many people like it. I felt like they were both tourists and locals visiting. I personally don't think I need to go back, but I would definitely take someone who is visiting here.
Sotto Mare was the choice for dinner with two friends who had never been there before and really wanted to try it. We made a reservation, but when we arrived, there was a minor mix-up, so we had to wait a bit. To their credit, the staff acknowledged the mistake and did their best to seat us as quickly as possible. We chose to sit outside, which made the wait a little easier. By the time we were seated, we were definitely hungry, so we started with a bottle of white wine to relax a bit. Our server, a very friendly lady with a great sense of humor, recommended the Fiano from Orsi Family Vineyards in Sonoma, and it turned out to be an excellent choice. We skipped appetizers and went straight for the main event. The four of us shared the cioppino, sea scallop sauté, and linguine with seafood, which our server also recommended. All three dishes were flavorful, well prepared, and more than enough for the table. Between the good food, the wine, and joking around with our server throughout the evening, we ended up having a really enjoyable dinner and a great overall experience.
The food was incredibly flavourful, perfect portions and fresh ingredients which is obviously key in a seafood restaurant. The service was fast and friendly and we did not have to wait very long to be served which was nice. The restaurant is a long hall shape so it can be tight and intimate but that's SF so no surprise there. Decor was fun, very coastal and Italian. Definitely would go back to try their signature dishes next time as well!
It was worth the wait to sit outside because indoors was too hot, stuffy and cramp. Do make a reservation if you have a big group. Came here for the cioppino and will come back again. Just be ready for that acid reflux!
What can I say about this delicious restaurant in North Beach first time ever trying it and the food was delicious. We started with octopus salad that was fresh and delicious with a lot of red pepper, peppers and yellow peppers and then we had fresh oysters that were so delicious The West Coast were more meaty. and the East Coast were a little bit more delicate we shared a risotto with fresh seafood that was out of this world highly recommend..
Came to Sotto Mare for a birthday celebration and here are my thoughts: FOOD: Cioppino (8/10): The broth was mildly bland and a bit more watery than we expected, especially considering all the hype. I wouldn't call it the best cioppino I've ever had, since I've definitely had better, but I did enjoy the seafood in the dish. The portion was very generous and could easily feed two people. Surprisingly, it tasted even better as leftovers the next day, after the flavors had more time to develop. I'd honestly recommend getting it to-go and eating it the next day if you can. You'll also avoid the 2-3 hour wait if you don't have a reservation. Scallop Sauté (10/10): DELICIOUS! The scallops were perfectly cooked, and the garlic sauce was rich, flavorful, and packed with flavor. I'd definitely come back just for this dish! East Coast oysters (9/10): definitely tasted sweeter than the West coast. West coast oysters (10/10): Had a creamier texture which I really liked, but both oysters were delicious with the cocktail sauce and Tabasco that came with it. SERVICE: Definitely make a reservation for groups of 3 or more to avoid a long wait. The staff could be a bit quicker with seating guests, but the service was good overall. AMBIANCE: The restaurant had a fun NY like vibes and was surrounded by lots of other food places that are worth trying. Guests can sit indoors or outside. We were seated indoors in front of the chefs which was a bit hot but still fun to watch them cook. Overall, Sotto Mare was a fun place to celebrate a birthday. I probably wouldn't return specifically for the cioppino, but I'd definitely come back to try some of their other seafood dishes.
We ordered the clam chowder, seafood risotto, pasta, and cioppino at Sotto Mare. The seafood seemed fresh and the flavors were good. One critique was the overcooked pasta.
One of my all time fav spots in the city! Was super lucky to get a reservation for 8 the evening of, and was seated in the basement area which is always super cozy. Food highlights: - West coast oysters - Seafood cioppino (meant to serve 2, absolute must-try!) - Sea scallop saute (might be my personal favorite but I am partial to scallops) - Linguine with white sauce and seafood - Bread on the house :)
My husband and I have been wanting to try their world famous ciopinno. We went on a Thursday around 2:30 and got seated right away! The restaurant is small but cozy. We ordered the ciopinno and house salad. We were given some lovely fresh bread and butter while we waited! Our house salad came out pretty quick and we were disappointed. The salad consisted of only shredded iceberg lettuce and 4 tomato quarters. The dressing was a thousand island one. It was a very simple salad and I was hoping for more variety. It certainly is not worth the $7. The ciopinno was the star of the show and arrive in a big bowl steaming hot! We loved all the seafood including oysters, clams, squid, crab, shrimp, and scallops! The tomato broth was so comforting and had a nice garlic flavor. I really enjoyed this dish and loved dipping my bread into the broth. Yum! All in all, Sotte Mare makes great ciopinno but their house salad is a miss for me next time!
1 year ago
Their bibs read Best Damn Cioppino in town! This is the whole truth and nothing but the truth! Our server Bobbi was friendly, funny and efficient! Be sure to ask for her! The servings are very generous! We ordered 2 bowls for 3 adults and still had a bowl to take home!!! The wedge salad with crab was delicious and we shared it! The clam chowder was hearty and just perfect! Make reservations or be ready to wait about 45 minutes on a Friday night, The entire staff works like a dream team! Trust me IT'S WORTH IT! read more
4 months ago
1 year ago
The Best Cioppino in San Francisco I've been eating at this restaurant since 2012, and the quality is always the same so good! I always order the Cioppino and Scallop Sautés. Two people can share these and feel really full. The staff are super friendly and nice. The place is small and cozy, with lots of photos on the walls. It feels like a cute little seafood place by the beach. If you're around North Beach, SF, don't miss this spot. It's really worth it! read more
This popular eatery is located in little Italy, North Beach. It is not only popular with the locals, but the visitors. Reservations are only accepted for larger groups. Going early is your best option for a shorter wait. After check in you will be given a restaurant pager notifying you when your table is ready. The cioppino is a popular dish loaded with seafood, but not my favorite. My usuals are the seafood risottos and the saute scallops. read more
4 months ago
Blown away by this place ... the cuisine is in my wheel house ... the best damn Cioppino I've had in a long time ... manga bene read more
I think this is probably the first time I've ever had cioppino, and I'm glad I chose this spot as my first! I loved the assortment of seafood in this dish as well as the really tasty broth. It's a big dish, so it's totally fine to share it! read more
4 months ago
1 year ago
My bf surprised me with a trip To San Fran this is one of his favorite restaurants in the world and the Cioppino is his favorite. I definitely enjoyed the flavors and never had a Cioppino with penne pasta in it but it was delicious read more
Food seems to taste better with your loved ones and whew, this review is long overdue. My gf and I came nice and early so there was no wait. All we got was the cioppino and bay scallop fettuccine which theoretically should have fed 3-4 people but oops, we finished it all. The cioppino is a tomato stew of nothing but seafood and phew, we cleaned house with it. Crab legs, mussels, shrimp, clams littered the trash bucket as we plowed through spoon after spoon. The tomato stew was amazing with the bread they provided. It was all amazing frankly. The bay scallop fettuccine was also amazing. Nice and creamy and bay scallops that tasted oh so fresh. Even now my mouth waters just thinking about them. So yeah, my gf and I definitely ate more than we expected but maybe that's what happens when you're hungry and eating amazing food up in Bay Area. read more
2 years ago
Came here with my dad during lunchtime on a weekday and the place was mostly empty. We were seated at the bar and got the following: cioppino (4/5) -- Broth very rich and full of depth with great tomato and seafood flavor, the basil was one of my favorite parts aside from the perfectly cooked octopus and mussels. The crab was good though when served, a lot of the shell cracked off into the broth so we had to eat slowly to make sure we didn't lose any teeth. The pasta they also serve it with was way overcooked, but the texture worked really well and soaked the broth up well cracked dungeness crab (5/5) -- fresh, sweet, succulent Good place to try out just for the reputation and especially their decor, would come back for someone who absolutely loves seafood. read more
2 years ago
Visited Sotto Mare for the famous cioppino and it didn't disappoint! For starters, every single table ordered cioppino when we went for Saturday. They hand out bibs for the dish so it was funny to see the restaurant full of customers in their bibs. The cioppino is $55 for two and it definitely is a large portion size! It comes with large shrimp, small shrimp, mussels, clams, squid, small scallops and crab as well as penne pasta. There's a side of bread that is great for dipping in the broth. We also ordered west coast oysters and clams on the half shell. The oysters were really large and I personally would've preferred smaller ones that are less fishy. I also thought the clams could've been removed from the shell better so they would be easier to eat. We sat at the bar and it was fun to see the chefs chuck oysters and sauté seafood. All in all, it was a great dining experience. The food came very fast, the waitress was nice and I'm glad I can check off cioppino from my S.F. bucket list! read more
6 months ago
Tried these popular Italian restaurant in sanfo and it didn't disappoint! Love all their food on the menu. The serving is good and efficient. The serving is enough for 2 people. You can taste the freshness of all the seafood ingredients on it. This is a must try when you go the bay. The price is also good. Will definitely recommend this to some our friends visiting. read more
We had the Cioppino for two and it was fabulous!! Very large portion, so let it be known! They give you a fun bib because you will be digging into the fresh seafood including crab, clams, and shrimp. We thought it was delicious. The service was very friendly and quick. Will definitely go back read more
Reserved here for a party of 4 birthday dinner and it was absolutely excellent seafood with Italian style. We were seated below and it was comfortably out of the cold. Service was attentive and who doesn't love some bread appetizer! Best Crab Cioppono: terrific/5, full of shrimp, clam, octopus, mini shrimp, a little penne. I must say I loved the broth and finished it off for our group. Good flavor, balanced! Lobster ravioli: a treat. The sauce is so good as a creamy and hearty addition to the ravioli itself, which is filled with a tasty lobster filling! So glad to have Bay scallop fettucine: lovely light seafood flavor. The fettuccine was not al dente, but still enjoyable. Good to pair with a lighter white wine, but overpowered by our chardonnay. The wine was good though. Overall, a highlight of my time in SF and worth a visit if you don't oft have Italian seafood, the dishes were lovely. read more
I have actually left a 5 star review in the past and we have came here ALOT in the past, I am not sure what happened to that review. This review I should of put 2 stars because our crab cioppino barely had crab in it. It only had the regular amount of crab and I paid the extra for extra crab! There was A lot of past noodles and I they even brought pasta noodles on the side. Which I thought they were doing that because our waitress said we order extra crab so they would put the noodles on the side. No ours came with ALOT of noodles. Not the extra crab I paid for. No Mussels, no small while clams. Only some shrimp A lot of pasta, and I think it's calamari not sure but small piece of that too. We did not realize until we got home. We had leftovers (more of the sauce and pasta) I asked my partner when we ate there in the past didn't the cioppino come with mussels and clams. She sat there thinking and was like yeah you're right. So then I come here to look at pictures and low and behold it does come with it! Even the picture on the website shows this! So why was it left out of ours! Pretty disappointed because I paid extra for crab and we got alot of pasta. We use to come here a lot in the past. Why would you leave out the other stuff that comes in it and skimp out on everything else but add more pasta. My partner mentioned taking the rest of my family here to celebrate for my certification and have dinner here but now I'm like no because they left out the mussels and clams. I wish I remembered that there so I could of mentioned it! read more
10 months ago
Excellent service, the food was absolutely delicious, generous portions, fresh bread brought right away, busy, noisy, amazing smells, best choice to come here. read more
Ordered the Ciopinno for $55. Crab, muscles, clams, shrimp, pasta, everything was fresh and flavorful. Also ordered the shrimp and scallops. Very fresh as well. A bit pricey but not necessarily overpriced for the quality of the food. It's also North Beach. Service was good, food came out fast. Inside was super busy and kinda cramped but it's a small place. read more
We arrived at 6:50pm on a Friday and had to wait around 35 minutes until we got seated at the first available which was at the bar. The place was extremely crowded and pretty narrow, but once we got seated, we got served fast. The one thing I would say is I wish the bread was a bit better, it didn't have the fresh bread crunch I'd expect out of a nice place like this. All the seafood was amazing, the oyster was not fishy at all and was super smooth. The risotto, I wish had a bit more flavor, I ended up putting tabasco sauce on top. Lobster ravioli was delicious and the clam chowder is a must try it tasted very authentic and was nice and thick. Do note when you get a buzzer from them they want to hold a credit card in exchange. Definitely would love to try the cioppino which is their main item but it serves two so your party must be open to sharing (and you'll get the cute bib if you order that). This meal in total around $80. East Coast Oyster (5/5) Bowl Clam Chowder (5/5) Lobster Ravioli - pink sauce (5/5) Seafood Risotto - chef's choice (4/5) Bread (3/5) read more
10 months ago
literally amazing, the service is pretty okay but the food stands out ! the restaurant looks small on the outside but actually has a lot of seating. we went on a saturday at 12:30pm and were seated right away. we ordered two dishes the cioppino and the lobster ravioli, in addition to two west coast oysters. "the best damn cioppino" - 8.7/10 really does live up to its name. the broth is rich and there is a lot of it (i love having bread to dip into the broth) and the seafood is so fresh and perfectly cooked. the CRAB!! they have so many crab legs that were pre cracked and were so easy to get out of the shell. this was a great dish and i hope to be back soon. lobster ravioli - 8/10 was super delicious, there was plenty on the plate and it's definitely something to share. the vodka sauce is great and the filling in the ravioli was sweet with subtle umami. west coast oysters - 10/10 can't go wrong with oysters if they're as fresh as the ones here. super sweet and juicy. i like that they list the oysters they have that day in the front of the restaurant. pretty good price for oysters from someone from LA who is used to 3 oysters for $20. (the ones here are $2/oyster). i would definitely come back and honestly the bill wasn't insane for the amount of food that you get. we spent $99 for three people and we were all perfectly full after the meal. read more
10 months ago
The food was spectacular and it was fun to watch the chefs prepare right in front of you! The service was amazing , fast, courteous and exact. What more could you ask for well the music made it. Nice play list reminds me of Pacific Heights atmosphere as it has a good vibes going on. It's obvious everyone loves their jobs as you feel it. This restaurant is a SF gem tucked away on Green st. read more
5 STARS. Sotto Mare is easily one of the best places to have a true San Francisco meal because their specialty is one of the most famous dishes created in SF: cioppino! Come hungry to Sotto Mare because the portion sizes are humongous. They don't take reservations so be sure to arrive either before 5:30pm or after 7:30pm (to avoid the rush). Here's what to order: - The "Best Damn Crab Cioppino" (5 stars, $54.95): this dish is big enough for 2, maybe even 3 people. It's the best cioppino I've ever tried in my life. It's a huge bowl full of clams, mussels, squid, crab, in a tomato based broth that isn't too liquidy. It's delicious with the bread they serve! - West coast oysters (4 stars, $2/oyster): delicious west coast oysters are an amazing appetizer to share - Blue cheese wedge salad (4 stars, $10): huge salad to share as an appetizer as well The service is fast and friendly. The owners are the nicest people you'll ever meet. I used to live in San Francisco and this would be one of my go-to places on the weekends. Now I have to travel up there to go eat here, but it's a MUST try! read more
Solid food and service! Had an early dinner reservation and was told that the whole party had to show up before being seated. After 3/4 of the people were at the restaurant, the server ended up seating us anyway instead of waiting for the fourth person. We were seated outside in the wooden booths they have on the street (rather than in the tables set up on the sidewalk). I actually liked this option because it semi private (just a bit of street noise) and roomier than sitting on the inside (looked packed in there). I got the smoked salmon fettuccine which was REALLY tasty. The salmon tasted very fresh, and it was even good the next day as left overs. I would order it again. Server was very attentive and didn't feel like it was difficult to get service despite sitting outside. read more
Classic SF. They know what they're doing. Nice menu that is very focused and allows everyone to get in and out quickly, if need be. That's helpful if you are waiting for a table. Friday evening, 5pm, post-SF Sea Music Festival down at Aquatic Park. Outdoor seating full already, but 2 seats at the counter were fantastic. Hot tip: if you do like to watch the cooks, try to get seated allllll the way down at the end of the bar for a front-row show. Also, if it's warm in there, they have a fan at the far end so you'll feel a nice cool breeze the whole time. There's also a couple of tables back there where you'll also feel it. We were seated and brought water and a bread basket immediately. Everyone is super efficient and we quickly were offered/given drinks, and our order taken. The buzzy beehive went on around us everywhere and all the employees seemed to like working together...they better because it's tight quarters behind the counter and in the rest of the restaurant. We had west coast oysters, and I added on an oyster shooter. All were fresh and delicious. I guess we were in the mood for clams because hubby ordered clams with linguine and I ordered clam steamers in broth (knowing I'd be dipping that bread basket bread in there). They were the same price and hubby's had a TON of clams, and mine (with no noodles) had TWO TONS of clams. Point being there was more than enough food with both dishes. And the manila clams are just what you want....tiny and flavorful. And that was that. We definitely want to split the crab cioppino next time - the couple next to us had it and it looked fantastic. Friendly service, quick in and out (although you could linger if you want, I suspect) and good portions. Love, love, love and will be back. read more
Came here for my dads birthday and didnt disappoint. We made a reservation and that was the move to go for a Sunday night bc this place was crowded! We were seated downstairs at a long table and while it was cramped it definitely gave off the homey vibe. Food was delicious, service was amazing! This is not the place to drive to if you can help it- commute or take a ride share because parking is few and hard to find, especially on a weekend. Highly recommend and plan on going back someday! read more
9 months ago
Absolutely amazing! Such a small place but they will make as much room as possible for customers. We were there the day before Thanksgiving and the city was pretty much empty, but this place was still packed! We shared the Crab Cioppino and couldn't finish it. Definitely enough for 2-3 people. Delicious!!! read more
2 years ago
Came across this gem in Little Italy from a You Tuber. Took my family here for some Cioppino and I am so glad we did. Sotto Mare was a casual restaurant. They have seating on the sidewalk outside, bar service and more seating downstairs. Casual setting and the friendly servers. Here is what we ordered... 2 dozen oysters- East Coast vs West Coast 10/10 Clam shooter 8/10 Cioppino- DELICIOUS 10/10 Lobster Ravioli- Yummy and Rich 10/10 Roasted Garlic Crab with Linguini 9/10 Sourdough to soak up all the yummy sauce 10/10 Highlight was the Cioppino! So fresh and flavorful with the perfect consistency. Came with a little Penne. It was a perfect and complete Dish. We ordered 2 of them. Shares between 3 adults and kids and it was more than enough. We also got to take some home and it was even tastier the next day! Recommended!!!!! read more
2 years ago
Date of Visit: 7/30/2024 Sotto Mare is one of the most popular Italian restaurants in San Francisco. Located in the heart of North Beach, Sotto Mare was opened back in 2007 by Gigi Fiorucci, which served the freshest fish and shellfish. With a huge selection of oysters and clams on the half shell, crab cioppino, clam chowder, and seafood pastas and seafood risotto. We arrived at around 7:40pm on a Tuesday evening, and there was still a half an hour wait for the table inside. Breads were complimentary with butter. Elysian Space Dust IPA $8 Husband got the IPA draft beer. This one is a little bitter but went well with seafood. Raymond R Collection Chardonnay $12 I got the Raymond Chardonnay from St. Helena. A little too citrusy. West Coast oysters $2 each Clam on half shell $1.5 each We got 6 oysters from the West Coast and 1 clam. Oysters were fresh but the taste was more on the softer side. I prefer something chewy and fresh. The "Best Damn Crab Cioppino" $54.95 This is the most popular dish that almost every table ordered! A bowl with the whole crab legs, mussels, clams, scallops, tomato, squid and penne! Super fresh and delicious! Linguine with Manila Clams $27.95 We also got the linguine with clams, infused with white cream sauce. read more
11 months ago
Food is consistently amazing, Service is good a little slow but I can understand they can only serve so many people, servers have great attitude and always smillin Ambiance is awesome One of our go to spot in the city read more
9 months ago
Super fun and lively spot to try out San Francisco seafood! On a Friday afternoon, me and a friend got seated at the counter and so we could watch chefs work which is really exciting! The service was fast and efficient even though the place was sort of busy and packed. We went there specifically on a word of mouth suggestion to try Sorto Mare and we were not disappointed. Unlimited bread and butter to start off our lunch experience. My friend ordered Linguine with Seafood which includes a medley of different types of seafood. His dish was huge! While I ordered a Fettuccine with Smoked Salmon. That was big enough to share as well. I'm totally happy with checking out this North Beach Italian restaurant and planning to come back again for more pasta and other kinds of dishes. read more
3 months ago
Seafood diet: I see food and eat it. Wow. What a wave of seafood! The portions are huge and generous. I've heard of this place and was excited to try it. I met my spouse and his friend here for dinner, so the walk over to North Beach really worked up an appetite for me. We came on a very busy evening as it was a holiday evening, so crowds were definitely out but we were seated fairly quick. The restaurant appears small but they have a downstairs area with more seating. This place has a very diner atmosphere with fun seaside and old ship decorations! Once seated, we got free bread, butter and there is olive oil and balsamic vinegar with additional condiments on the table. We ordered the octopus salad, risotto with seafood (chef's choice!) and the "best damn crab cioppino". The octopus salad was good, it was light and I appreciated that it did not have that much dressing on it. The risotto (super soft and chewy) with seafood was amazing and delicious. The cioppino was delicious and they def are generous with the seafood (crab, mussels, shrimp, clam, etc.) The best part was dipping the bread in the cioppino! The portions are huge and I was stuffed! Glad to finally try this place and cross it off my places to try in SF list. read more
1 year ago
Small of course, but charming! We waited 30 minutes. The west coast oysters were so good. Tasted creamy. read more
3.5 My brother and law and his fiance raved about this place, so we went during our trip. My BIL made a reservation for 9 PM. We went across the street for some wine while we waited for our buzzer to go off. At about 9:10, we walked over and checked the status. We did not get seated for another 20 minutes. We were seated in the basement right next to the service station and it was STIFLING hot in there. Almost unbearable. We were informed that the kitchen was closing soon. And we needed to get our orders in. The decor was cute, but hard to focus on when I was so stinking hot. BIL got the risotto, his fiancé got the lobster ravioli, and my husband and I shared the cioppino. Our table was out of olive oil when we sat so we got some more. The bread was pretty good. They kept it flowing which was nice. I'd say that the server was nice, but not super knowledgeable. I haven't read cioppino before so I didn't know what to expect, but I was happy with it. The two of us could not finish it. I think I'd like to go back and try something else. read more
***SEAFOOD ONLY RESTAURANT*** I'm still going to give this a place a 5 Stars review, after getting through the headache of trying make a reservation on the phone, being put on hold for 30 minutes and still didn't talked to anyone. Luckily, I was in the City anyways, so I went by there and made the reservation in person. They only take reservations for 3 or more. If you are going to go, go early. They open at 11:30AM, We got there at 11:00 and there was already a line waiting. OH YES!!!! If you are wondering the food is ABSOLUTELY worth it!!!! Everything we had was great, fresh, and tasty. Can't go wrong with this place. Very reasonable prices, I was surprised because this is in the heart of the tourist area. 3 Couples, $150 per with tips!! We each had an entree, one bowl of their Cioppino, a couple of appetizers and drinks. Also surprised that their entree are good size portions. Appetizers, we had fresh oysters and prawns cocktails, both were fresh. Entrees: (2) Halibut with Lemon Caper Butter Sauce, fish grilled perfectly. The sauce went great with the fish and the spinach good. Linguine with Manila Clams and white cream sauce was very good and came with LOTS of clams. Wild Caught Prawns with with Lemon Caper Butter Sauce and Spinach was great, prawns grill to a perfect crisp. Linguine with Seafood and white cream sauce was very good and came with lots of clams, mussels, shrimps and calamaris. Risotto with Seafood came with lots of clams, mussels, shrimps, scallops, and calamaris. Cioppino with lots of seafood!!! Enough to shared with the group!!! All of the entrees were made perfectly!!! It is a must stop if you like Italian Seafood. read more
2 years ago
The hostness was sweet and the waitress was friendly--staff members were on their A-Game! This was a busy place at 1 in the afternoon. We sat at the bar. Ordered an appetizer, and the best damn crab cioppino! Both food items were delectable. If I could I would have eaten that cioppino on my own! read more
1 year ago
There is a reason why they don't need to make reservations and people wait in line versus going somewhere else. We decided to split two entrees and it was amazing! The salmon was perfectly seared, with a crisp skin and tender, flaky interior that melted in every bite. Paired with buttery scallops, delicately caramelized on the outside, the dish delivered a flawless balance of richness and freshness. The ambiance and attentive service elevated the experience, making it a meal to remember. read more
More info about Sotto Mare
552 Green St
San Francisco, CA 94133
North Beach/Telegraph Hill
Directions
(415) 398-3181
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http://www.sottomaresf.com/
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How to do the reservation?
You have to call them for rezzies. Leave a vmail and they'll return your call.
How would reservations work for a party of 2? Should I arrive early to put my name down, call ahead, or just walk in?
Hi Albert, Thank you for inquiry. Parties of 2 are on a first come, first serve basis. Depending on…
Is there bar seating?
Yes they were kind enough to seat my friends and I at the bar.
Is there valet parking for lunch on Saturday?
Parking is not easy. I'd take Uber or Lyft. No valet. Saturdays in North Beach are incredibly busy.
How to book a reservation?
Call them but they only take reservations for parties of 4 or more.
My husband is allergic to garlic, is he able to order the ccioppino without garlic? What about the clam chowder?
Hi, Yes there is garlic in cioppino, it’s in the tomato sauce. We can make the cioppino without it.…
Can we make a reservation specifically to sit outside for dinner? Also, is it likely to be chilly in the evening at the end of July?
You can request but it depends on your timing. Higher likelihood for an outside table if you get an early seating. SF weather is unpredictable especially summer months so bring or wear a warm jacket.
Can i call ahead and put my name down?
Yes - you are able to call ahead and put your name down for a reservation. As a note, Sotto Mare only reserves tables for parties of 3 or more. If it’s only 1-2 people, they will not reserve a table.
Open Friday, Nov 24th? And can deliver on specific time?
Yes we will be open on Friday, 11/24/23. Yes we can deliver on specific time.
Will they be open for 4th of July?
In observance of Independence Day, Sotto Mare will be closed on July 4th!
We plan to have dinner outside in July. Will we freeze? Are there outdoor heaters that will keep us warm?
We had dinner outside in May, yes it is cold. Bring a jacket
What is the average waiting time to order?
Depending on what you order, the average wait time is about 5-20 minutes.
How far ahead in time should I call to reserve a table for 3 for a sat?
2 day's
One review said the cioppino comes with penne. is that true? also do they make cioppino for one?
Yes! There's penne pasta under all the seafood. As for the smaller portion, I'm not sure...I only remember seeing the big bowl for 2-3 people.
1st time visiting SF in Feb - how likely we will be to get a table on a Friday night for 2 while celebrating a BDay. Would like set plans but understand their will be await. Are Fridays extremely busy?
I would definitely go very early. It's a very small restaurant with not much seating.
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
478 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
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Sotto Mare - seafood - Updated August 2026
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