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Came here for an end-of-year dinner with family. We arrived at 5:30 pm so things were still pretty slow, as it got later more people came in and almost all tables were occupied. The lights were pretty dimmed, good for the atmosphere but it was pretty hard to read the menu😅 There was a pianist playing live music and grandma absolutely LOVED it (all the songs played were songs from the 50’s and it matched grandma’s taste😂). For starters we got the Caesar salad and fried calamari. The calamari was a huge basket and the tartar sauce that came with it was a good addition. Salad was standard but the bread that came with the table was AMAZING (yeah we liked it more than the salad😅). For mains we got Fettuccine ai Tre Latti (Alfredo), Tagliatelle alla Bolognese, Risotto alla Milanese, and Coniglio ai Funghi con Polenta (yes, that’s rabbit🐰). I personally preferred the two pasta dishes over the rabbit and risotto. But also that huge basket of calamari made us already half full when the mains arrived😩. We were already very full after the appetizers and mains but still felt like we had to get some dessert (there’s always a second stomach for desserts😏). As someone that isn’t really a big fan of desserts I actually LOVED the cheesecake! Overall the experience was good and I would recommend this place to anyone who’s looking for a place with good vibes.
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While Fior d’Italia offered a classic Italian dining experience with a live piano performance, the service and the quality of the food were disappointing. Securing the attention of a server was a challenge, requiring us to flag down random staff members for basic requests like menus and water refills. The SF Restaurant Week menu was underwhelming. The bruschetta was okay, but the osso buco con risotto was particularly disappointing. The veal shank was tough and gamey, and the risotto was overcooked. The tiramisu, however, was a pleasant surprise, offering a sweet and creamy finish to the meal. While the live piano performance added a touch of elegance, it couldn’t compensate for the subpar service and food quality.
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I got Coniglio ai Funghi con Polenta - yet not many photos available for this dish on Google Review so it was a bit adventurous, it turned out to be really good IMO. The meat was tender, the polenta was creamy and mixed well with the sauce which didn't overpower the natural tastes of the main ingredients. Affogato was also really yummy, the sweetness and aroma of blending espresso with vanilla ice cream was just about right. Its ambiance is quite classy with a warm last century feel, not too much of a fan as a personal preference but I guess it fits well with the historical classy Italian vibe this restaurant tries to bring.
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First off, how we were greeted and welcomed was far more impressive than our table service was. Not that it was poor, just not as lively and as friendly. Ok… enough of that. The visit was certainly worth it. Fior d’Italia was recommended by a friend and certainly being able to claim we ate at the oldest active restaurant in the U.S. made it a must visit. We very much enjoyed our meal and visit.
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Absolutely outstanding restaurant. My grandmother visited Fior d'Italia in the mid 1940s after a transcontinental train ride from Boston to San Francisco when she graduated from college. Several of my family members have since visited Fior d'Italia, with my mom being the last one to visit a couple years ago. When I walked in, Lalo made me feel instantly at home. The food was delicious and the service was spectacular - I recommend their Fettuccine Alfredo! Overall, I was very impressed and I am looking forward to visiting again this summer.