Vega has yet to disappoint! Tonight was a last-minute decision after a very long day--we just weren't up for cooking. The first place that came to mind was this wonderful spot. If you haven't been here yet, make a reservation--do whatever you can to experience it! The food, the ambiance, the owners, and the staff are all absolutely exceptional. Tonight we had Lil as our server, and she was truly divine--just like the food and the incredible owners. https://www.grottapalazzese.it/en/ read more

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Back again. Feeling something light and the Caesar Salad with Salmon fits the bill perfectly. Outside seating has been updated to include some new tables and track lighting. Doggy is happy as a clam considering Leo isn't around to give her treats. Sad to move from Bernal but hope to move back soon. Thanks for making my time here so lovely. read more

Vega - Ceasar Salad with grilled Salmon and white anchovies. - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

I just got into town. And of course I had to come to my favorite Italian restaurant Vega's. I ordered a Caesar salad, the gnocchi with a side of meatballs and sausage. Followed by a lovely glass of wine. I love this place. It's consistent it's clean everybody's kind. It's the best comfort food ever. Sincerely TJ. read more

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Cozy homey and friendly local Italian spot in Bernal! The calamari was fresh but not what you typically expect (fried). The fish of the day melted in our mouths and the broccoli pizza was unique and flavorful! The wine selection is extensive - service was a bit slow due to understaffing but otherwise great experience and ended the night with a pistachio cheesecake. read more

Vega - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Was planning the go duck yourself next door if weren't for the one hour wait time. So decide to come here base off a coin toss between this and the Thai restaurant down the street. I would say this spot is a gem, the restaurant interior is really intimate, service was great with the frequent water refills and friendly staff, and the food was delicious. We ordered the mushroom fettuccine and the papardelle plus the Monterey squid. Def recommend the mushroom fettuccine the sauce has strong truffle taste. read more

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We came by tues-01/27/26 Our waiter, she was very nice and welcoming, gave us time to order, and She asked how we wanted our eggs cooked, she gave us great service, and was on top of everything, although she had a busy time with multiple tables Food not so good this time. For the type of red this is I didn't see it appropriate to get served avocado with black parts in it. Our eggs were supposed to be over hard and they were runny, no problem but it wasn't our preference. For the BLT sandwich bread was very thick and way too hard for a sandwich unfortunately made it uncomfortable and painful to eat. Bacon was not freshly cooked to order since it was rough and not hot, Definitely do not recommend, roof of our mouth got hurt and it's just not what you want to bite on to. I don't know what happened this time, we were hungry and we were looking forward to our breakfast date and it failed . I know their food is good just seems like ball was dropped, I was disappointed but I had a great time sitting and talking with hubby although our food wasn't great this time around. read more

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Came here with my very picky Italian boyfriend and we both absolutely loved it. We ordered a pizza and the clam pasta, both were delicious. Our server Leo was so friendly, helpful, and on top of everything. Cozy spot, amazing service, fantastic food. read more

Intimate vibe. Nice servers. Different take on the calamari, not fried. Lamb chops were subpar - small portions and served rare. The lamb is served atop bed of cornbread, which was tasty, but the overall plating wasn't eye catching. My recommendation is to go for the pastas or pizza (see photos). The birthday dessert option was the pana cotta. We enjoyed our friend's birthday celebration here. 4 stars are owed as the customer service was top rank! read more

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If there's one cuisine I truly favor, it's Italian. And when I'm at home, Italian dishes are my go-to for cooking. While I'm not Italian myself, I do appreciate good Italian food and love the way simple ingredients come together to create something extraordinary. This was my third visit to Vega, and each experience has been delightful, from the wine to the insalata, piatti, and secondi piatti. On previous visits, I've enjoyed the pasta carbonara and the pappardelle al ragù di cinghiale. Tonight, however, it was all about the simplicity and elegance of cacio e pepe. The evening began with a glass of 2022 Scarpone Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, a beautifully full-bodied red with notes of red berries, a subtle sweetness, hints of tobacco, and light tannins on the finish. This paired wonderfully with the fresh bread and olive oil brought to the table. To start, I ordered the insalata Romana: a mix of arugula and radicchio topped with gorgonzola, toasted almonds, and a perfectly balanced balsamic vinaigrette. The gorgonzola was restrained, adding just the right amount of creaminess to complement the vinaigrette rather than overpower it. The highlight of the evening was, without a doubt, the cacio e pepe, or "cheese and pepper." With just three core ingredients--Pecorino Romano, freshly toasted black pepper, and pasta water--the dish delivered an explosion of flavor. The Pecorino provided a rich, savory backbone, the black pepper added a warm, spicy kick, and the pasta water brought everything together in a creamy, luscious sauce. We visited on a Wednesday around 5 PM without reservations. While the main dining room never fully filled up during our visit, there was a line of eager diners waiting to get in as we were leaving. The dining options include both indoor and outdoor seating, and the service was excellent--our server was attentive and accommodating. Vega continues to be a favorite of mine whenever I'm in Bernal Heights. Whether you're a fan of Italian cuisine or just looking for a consistently great dining experience, this spot is well worth a visit. read more

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This cute and cozy authentic Italian restaurant has always been one of my favorites. I used to celebrate many wedding anniversaries here - and later birthdays after my divorce. I hadn't been for a while. We came back last Saturday to celebrate my birthday and nothing had changed - which is a good thing. Why change when you get it perfectly right the first time. The food is still amazing and thankfully the menu also hasn't changed which for me is a big deal because all of their dishes are absolutely delicious. The service was incredible: I arrived 20 minutes early, and they already seated me, offered me a drink and served me water. There was always a server nearby, waiting to ask if we needed anything and tentatively looking at us and our drinks to see if we might need another round. My favorite meal on the menu is the Pasta Boscaloia and the pizza with Gorgonzola & pear. Their Pasta Carbonara is authentic - no cream! The homemade gnocchis were juicy and not dry. My friend's lamb chop and roasted polenta was devoured in no time. Make sure to order family-style so you can try more items on the menu. When my friend asked if it would be OK that we ate the mini cupcakes we brought, they took them from us and said they had to be served better. They came back with the cupcakes on a platter with birthday candles in them. We did not ask for the candles! Then the owner (?) as well as the servers and ultimately all guests in the entire restaurant were singing happy birthday to me. The servers constantly smiled and were incredibly friendly. It is the perfect Italian restaurant for any occasion: whether it's a birthday dinner with friends, a date night or just a night out with your teenage kid. They also were very accommodating when we ended up splitting the bill with five credit cards. No additional charge. Parking around the restaurant is usually not too bad. read more

A friend and I stopped here for some takeout food. We ordered a Margherita pizza and a mixed salad. We went back to the house, did some chores and then went to eat what we were thinking would a tasty lunch. When we opened the pizza box we looked at each other in disbelief. There was a poor scraggly pizza with 4 tiny wrinkled up basil leafs, with no mozzarella, no tomatoes, with sauce that looked like it had been scraped off. Our salad was not was not much better. Two tiny pieces of grapefruit slivers and three walnuts. What? Who was doing the cooking in the kitchen? Worst pizza we have ever had. The salad was not much better. Word to the wise... if you ever order out from here, open up your box to make sure that you get what you're asking for. Otherwise, you might get this see photos. We did get our money reimbursed when we called in about it, and the servers themselves were really nice and courteous. read more

Vega - A limp piece of pizza - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Really wonderful, family friendly place with warm service and good food. We stopped in after a few drinks at Holy Water next door. The prices on the menu are very reasonable and the size of the portions is decent. They brought us complementary bread that was super warm with a soft crumb. We had: Soup of the day ($11). 4/5. This was a non-dairy asparagus soup. Tasted fresh and creamy, which probably came from potatoes. Loved soaking my bread in this soup. Caesar salad ($13) 5/5. Pretty typical Caesar. Romaine was nice and fresh, with sauce well distributed but not soggy. Margherita ($16) 5/5. I really liked the crust on this pizza. Kind of chewy but crispy on the bottom. They brought it with spicy olive oil, which was absolutely delightful. I think the basil sliced is better than whole leaves because you get it in every bite. Pistachio layer cake (5/5). Shockingly good! The cake is so soft but the pistachio bits add a nice crumbly texture. Loved the layer of fragrant pistachio. Service was great, with several people checking in on us. Also saw a bunch of families having dinners here. Feels like such a nice neighborhood spot! read more

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After the clocks spring forward and before they fall back again, Bernal Heights is a great escape from downtown San Francisco, especially on Sunday afternoons for a hike around the park to enjoy the spectacular views, ending with a late afternoon visit to Vega, a local gem of a restaurant/pizzeria on Cortland Avenue. I recently returned with a friend after the Spring Solstice, and we were happy to see and be warmly welcomed by the charming Lionel aka "Lion", who has been part of the Vega team for 18 years. We usually sit outside either on the sidewalk or in the covered outdoor seating area, to enjoy a glass of wine, or two, and an amazing arugula salad with delicious bread from a local bakery; on previous visits, I have also enjoyed great pizzas, and a slice of a chocoholic's dream chocolate dessert. The location, food, staff, and service make Vega special experience. read more

Stopped by for lunch while we were in Bernal Heights and enjoyed the vibe of this local restaurant. We had the margarita pizza and the special pizza that day which was meatball plus a Caesar salad. Pizza initially came out cold but our server graciously warmed them up. Tasty thin crust pizza we liked. Caesar salad didn't have much flavor and was more like cold lettuce. It needed something. Solid place for pizza and a beer, excellent service, and a nice local vibe. read more

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This is one of my favorite places to eat in SF. I am a native so I am a complete food snob, and this place never disappoints. The owner is such a sweet spirit. read more

Terrific Italian food and what an array of choices on the menus! This is going to be our go- to restaurant from now on. Service is extraordinary and the wine is out of this world! read more

We enjoyed the restaurant. Cozy intimate atmosphere. I think the outside ambiance could be improved- with cushions, planters and visible fire, but there are heat lamps! We opted for inside. There are so many specials that it's hard to remember them- I would have preferred a written sheet. There are lots of items with vegetables which I love, unfortunately many are paired with prosciutto or anchovies. I know it's Roman! Friendly and attentive service- we were seated and greeted right away and the bus person keeps the table very clean and water is plentiful. We shared 3 dishes plus bread, olives, and wine. The first two dishes arrived at the same time burrata with beets and Roma salad. Both were good portions and delicious. I especially enjoyed the salad. We had to ask twice for bread and olives which finally arrived when we were almost done with our starters. The vegetarian lasagna was of good size and delicious but unevenly heated, parts were not hot. We brought our own wine corkage was $35. No extra fees like so many restaurants charge. Bread was included and arrived warm with olive oil. An extra star for me would be to serve bread and olives before dinner with the wine, and then serve each dish separately - table sizes are small. We had plenty of food for two people and the owner and staff were attentive and friendly. Definitely will return to check out the wine and other food offerings. read more

Friendly atmosphere. Good wines and delicious pasta dishes. Very attentive. They now have a Parker very nice on a warm cool breeze evening.

Food was excellent! Service was good, a little slow but still very nice. It was a bit busy while we were there. Overall great neighborhood spot and bit of a hidden gem in Bernal Heights. read more

Vega - Rigatoni, paccheri, spaghetti with clams and carbonara - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Was in town and needed a dog friendly restaurant. This place has a nicely covered outside seating area. We arrived during brunch. I ended up ordering a bacon and egg with onion pizza ,it also comes with cheese. My wife got the salmon sandwich. While waiting for the food,we noticed how many people walked by with dogs. Probably why this place is so dog friendly. The food arrived fairly quickly. My pizza had a great crispy crust, without being burnt.I was shocked at how tasty a breakfast pizza turned out to be. The sandwich was great,the bread tasted homemade,it really made a difference. It was nice to find a great neighbor restaurant, that wasn't overly crowded. read more

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I ate there on 3/23. Order a pork roast, which was 75% fat. When I informed the waiter of the issue, he brought a piece 1/4 the size of the original piece of pork, which was 50% fat. My partner ordered cannolini that was a beast average. This is the second time I've ventured into this restaurant. The first time I ordered halibut, which came back as total "mush". While other might fancy this restaurant foods and high prices, I find there food very poor and certainly not worth the SS. read more

Wish I had loved it. It's too dark and much too noisy, even when it's only 1/3 full. Food is okay.

Vega is a neighborhood gem. The food is always delicious and the staff is attentive and friendly. The place is dim and cozy which makes it a perfect place to have intimate conversations with friends and family. read more

Great food and service! Easy to make reservations too. We went with our 6 year old and 2 year old and two seniors and it was very comfortable. read more

Enjoyed a delightful dinner with family here last week...a busy full Bernal heights restaurant on the charming Cortland Ave. Authentic Italian Food prepared with love and soul. Ample menu featuring top notch tasty pizzas, pastas handmade and a variety of sauces to temp any patron. Entrees are that of a menu one would find In Italy. The Caccio e Pepe was delish, the house salad was large enough to share with three people. The pizzas by far won the hearts of the table. They are still talking about how good it was. The service was spot one, glasses filled, check ins! One could not ask for any better service at a sweet neighborhood spot. We will return. read more

I had been coming here for the last 9 years and even after moving to SoCal would dine here every time I visited SF. This last time I noticed a HUGE difference. It's definitely not the same consistent quality and taste that I'm accustomed to. Even the bread they now serve is a dry wheat bread. The swordfish was paper thin, the pappardelle sauce was thick and overly tangy...not good! In addition, it used to be tough to just walk in and get a table. It was almost empty the evening we went. Hope it was just a bad night. read more

This Italian classics place is the center of gravity on Cortland, with a big warm friendly outdoor dining parklet. Get the lobster ravioli special or the lasagna special if they have it - but all the pastas are great. And so are the desserts. read more

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Vega is a solid Italian experience. And it's in the best neighborhood in all of San Francisco.

I have been coming to this restaurant since I 1st moved to SF 2019 and it is now our favorite place to go in SF on a date night! Everything there is great, but I want to start with what I think makes this place one of the top spots in SF! I go here to see familiar and always smiling faces after a long day at work, after a flight or when I want to taste food like the one my Nonna used to cook! TY Vega for being so kind and making this place homey! Now the food.. Antipasto: I always get the Carciofini Ripieni and it comes with an amazing salad to start things going, their minestrone and octopus is great too! Primi Piatti: My favorite dishes are the Gnocchi Alla Boscaiola, the Carbonara, Fettuccine Al Ragu Di Cinghiale, and the Capellini Al Granchio.. although.. they always have an amazing special dish for us to try! Specials: If I had a wand, I would add the involtinis to the menu ohhhh woooow.. I had to order it a second time to take home! Its so hard to find involtinis not made with tomato sauce! I also love that they usually have a mushroom pasta dish in this menu and most days I go for it! Wine: I just let them recommend one and I have never been disappointed (yet) :) Dessert: Yes.. their tiramisu, and all deserts are great but.. we were surprised by their sorbetto! You can tell it was made with fresh berries and it was nice and light! Overall: You can tell that this restaurant cares about their people and the food, real Florentine authenticity, with a family dinner atmosphere! Their bread is from a local business nearby and their olive oil selection is always perfect! Looking forward to coming again and again! read more

Vega - Braciole / Involtino - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Small, dimly lit, Italian restaurant. Good for date night. The food was really good. The portion sizes are pretty small though, I left still hungry. The capellini and lasagna were great. They were sadly out of the crab but replaced it with shrimp. Pistachio cake for dessert was good as well. Service was slow, it was 7:30 on a Friday night but still took forever for our server to greet us, bring our food, bring the check, etc. I'll be back to try the crab capellini, hopefully they have it next time. read more

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Absolutely delicious! Went there last night with a friend. Fast service and amazing food. I love that they use local bread from Bernal Bakery as a starter. We got a salad with citrus dressing and candied nuts to start. Then split the steak with broccolini and potatoes as well as the rigatoni with meatballs. Finished with the panna cotta! Everything was 12/10!!!! read more

We ordered two things and both were sub par. A pizza and a seasonal veggie lasagna. They both lacked depth of flavor & seasoning. Disappointed because over the years I heard great things about this neighborhood eatery. I was expecting more. Service was pretty good and I did like the open sir feel in there it was bustling on this Fri night. Food was a let down and I would not recommend. read more

Fantastic vegan pizza, wonderful wine, excellent service, and warm ambience! Love Vega

This Italian spot is an adorable neighborhood gem. The service is lovely. The outdoor patio is covered on the sides and has heat lamps. There are ample options for those with dietary restrictions. But... the food didn't meet the expectations we had going in. I got the orecchiette and my husband got the vegetarian pizza with vegan cheese. We also got sides of mushrooms and sautéed spinach. The pasta and mushrooms were terribly under-seasoned. I had to add a LOT of salt. The pizza crust could have used a few more minutes in the oven. The best thing we ate was the complimentary bread, which was warmed and crusty. We really enjoyed our time here, but the meal simply wasn't worth it. read more

My family and I love Vega. The owners come to the tables and check on guests; Peter (one of the best servers in the world) always provides top-notch service and friendly banter. The ambiance inside is warm and intimate, with low lighting. Outside, you feel the hustle and bustle of the neighborhood energy while being kept warm under the many heat lamps to keep the SF chill off. Service is good, food is good, and the specials are delicious. We love coming here. It feels like a warm hug when we come to eat, play a game at the table, and enjoy a nicely paced meal and wine. read more

Had dinner with a group of 7 at Vega, a small but great place for a group! The staff was wonderful, ensuring everyone could get drinks and the food continuing to come out when ready. We order Pizza Margherita, gnocchi, and calamari for appetizers. The pizza was delicious and a must try. Personally, I ordered carbonara with chicken. I'm someone who loves carbonara so personally, this one wasn't for me - lacked the favor. Everyone enjoyed their meals, and I was able to take a piece of the White lasagna and would definitely recommend. read more

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I came here to order food for takeout but decided to stay and dine outside with my dog last minute because I enjoyed the ambiance. They were very accommodating. It was cozy next to the heaters despite the cold weather and overall the service was great. My dog was given lots of attention and treats. Last but not least, I ordered the squid ink pasta and it was delicious! It came with a side of bread and olive oil. I'd definitely come back again with my partner and friends! read more

Vega - Pasta Squid Ink - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

The waiters and waitress is very nice and the food is very good and the restaurant is very nice

I've enjoyed dinner at Vega many times, often bringing a friend or family member to spread the joy. The food is wonderful (my favorite tiramisu in the city) and the service is outstanding (Peter knows the BEST wine/food combos). Romantic low light ambiance. A dependable restaurant for a lovely experience. read more

I went to Vega tonight and was very disappointed. The lighting in the restaurant was so bad we couldn't read the menu or see the pepper when the waitress came to enhance the boring cesar salad my friend and I split the salad and had to split it ourselves on our butter dish then we also split the Entree and we had to ask for dishes so we could split the serving ourselves and were brought salad plates. I know it's not a five star dining experience but you can elevate it so easily the waitress was sweet but no restaurant experience. It needs help everything mediocre Cindy read more