Best Restaurants for Special Occasions in North Beach

The house made ravioli was the best ever. The veal was good as well.

First-time visit to China Live, and we were not disappointed! Attentive, helpful service (Raffi was super-helpful with navigating the menu), lots of choices, and quick service. We got the XLB, sea bass, and crispy noodles with chicken, and really, I can't think of a single negative thing to say about any of them. Dessert was the wonderful mandarin brownie with lychee ice cream. All in all, a wonderful meal and a great time out for my bride and I.

Cassava is truly a gem in San Francisco, and my recent visit only reinforced why it’s such a beloved spot. The food was simply outstanding—every dish was beautifully prepared, flavorful, and clearly crafted with care. From the first bite to the last, it was a culinary experience that delighted all my senses. What made the evening even more special was the presence of the owner, who was not only visibly helping her staff but also warmly engaging with every table. She attended to our needs with such genuine care, answering questions about the menu and making us feel like treasured guests. It’s rare to see such dedication and passion, and it elevated the experience to something truly unforgettable. While it’s bittersweet to know Cassava is closing temporarily, I’m counting the days until it reopens. This restaurant is a treasure, and I can’t wait to return for more exceptional meals and the warm, welcoming atmosphere. Cassava, we’ll miss you and eagerly await your comeback! M & W

my girlfriend is here for work for one week and she was craving pasta. while getting ready i opened up the open table app and did a search for “italian restaurants” - tosca cafe was the first option so i chose a 7:15pm reservation. i jumped in my car and drove over to the city from oakland and picked my friend up in union square. we quickly found parking nearby and rocked up to tosca. not quite sure what to expect, we found this cozy dining room with candles on each table and an inviting service team. our waitress was sylvia and she was THE BEST! we started with calamari and caviar pillows. sylvia recommended the parpadelle bolognese and the bucatini and they were both a hit! the atmosphere is very cozy and old world. there was also live music playing. my friend and i thoroughly enjoyed our time at tosca cafe. thank you to the gentleman at the front desk for the nice table we really appreciated it.

Wow. We had a wonderful time at the Red Window. We had been anticipating going for a few months. We had booked a table to celebrate 2 belated birthdays in August for October. Little did we know that they changed their hours of opening for October. I called and reconfirmed the date and time with them and they said they would open for us as planned. We were treated like queens. We had a lovely server name Melanie. She served us our fantastic rojo sangria and let us know all the popular tapas and entrees as well as her favorites. One of the birthday girls is a food and wine blogger so she picked Melanie brain on the drinks and food being served. We ordered food we could all share. Caesar salad, Arugula Salad,Buffalo chicken wings,and Chili Braised Lamb pasta. Everything was delicious and very filling. They comp us 4 glasses of champagne to celebrate our 2 ladies birthday. What a memorable day. Melanie from Lucca made it so special for us too. The ambiance of the Red Window is colorful and festive and the lively music they played gave it a party atmosphere. We will all go back again. Thanks to the owner for honoring our reservations. You made us very happy!!