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Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in San Francisco

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OpenTable
Updated January 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems in San Francisco? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!


A photo of Caffe Macaroni restaurant
5.0
5 (714)
$30 and under
Italian
North Beach
About the restaurant
Chef & co-owner, Mario and his delightful wife, Stephanie, have a knack for making you feel as if they are cooking and serving just for you at this super-reasonable North Beach nook offering robust Southern Italian fare reminiscent of his native Naples; whether you’ve snagged an outdoor table or are in the small, casual interior, it delivers a pasta fix. The menu changes daily to ensure freshness.
Top review
azia
Dined 4 days ago
Incredible options on the menu. Everything tasted fabulous. Great vibe, wonderful service. Would highly recommend and will definitely go back.
A photo of Roti Indian Bistro - San Francisco restaurant
4.9
4.9 (1457)
$30 and under
Indian
Forest Hill / West Portal
About the restaurant
ROTI Indian Bistro marries casual, contemporary styling to classic Indian cuisine. The chefs take diners on a culinary tour of India, offering a taste of the North in the Tandoori meat dishes and hints of the South in the vegetarian curries. Fresh breads are available from the tandoor, a mesquite- fired clay oven unique to Indian cooking. Traditional freshly house roasted Indian spices to create a diverse fresh, menu. ROTI prides itself on the dining experience - at this popular new addition to the vibrant West Portal neighborhood, refined customer service from the attentive staff and fabulous food have established a higher standard of dining for the area.
Top review
anneVIP
Dined 5 days ago
Best Indian Food in SF - we love Roti. Great people, great service.
A photo of Blue Plate restaurant
4.9
4.9 (1529)
$31 to $50
Contemporary American
Bernal Heights
About the restaurant
The Blue Plate opened in 1999 as a casual spot where friends and neighbors can enjoy the best ingredients our seasons have to offer. Owners Cory Obenour and Jeff Trenam have created a space that feels like a home, with three distinct dining rooms each appointed with the work of local artists. In the back, a lush, night-fragrant garden offers an exotic retreat from the bustle of the city. The kitchen stays committed to using the highest quality local produce and meats in classic American and rustic Mediterranean dishes. Through a working friendship with Bay Area farmers, the Blue Plate is expanding the notion of "the blue plate special" to include dining that is casual, affordable, delicious and responsible.
Top review
Christa
Dined on Jan 12, 2025
We loved our dinner here! Great service, delicious food.
A photo of Piqueos restaurant
4.9
4.9 (1188)
$30 and under
Tapas / Small Plates
Bernal Heights
About the restaurant
RESTAURANT POLICIES :
*NO GUARANTEED ON TABLES LOCATION, Limited to availability.
Outdoor & Indoor seating choice on Open Table is a preference only.
*Tables will be assigned depending in reservation time and table availability.
*Due to Limited tables, every table has a time limit of 90 minutes.
*Punctually is important, we will patiently wait 10 minutes past reservation time, then table will be given away to waitlist.



Fusion Peruvian Cuisine. Artful ambiance. These are the ingredients that create this dynamic San Francisco restaurant, Piqueos. In our cuisine you will find an unmistakable touch of Peru. In every dish the distinct flavors of regional spices come through.

Top review
PidgeVIP
Dined 3 days ago
Great food and service. Great gluten free options and love the variety of food available for all diets. A wonderful neighborhood joint that’s worth the 20 minute trip from my house.
A photo of Uva Enoteca restaurant
4.9
4.9 (885)
$31 to $50
Italian
Haight
About the restaurant
The New Uva is an Italian restaurant and pizzeria. We focus on specialties from Puglia, a region in southern Italy ( the heel of the boot).

Immerse yourself in the rich culinary heritage of Puglia with our carefully crafted dishes like Orecchiette with Cime di Rape (broccoli rabe) and Eggplant Parmigiana (mamma recipe). In addition to our Pizza Pugliese and Puccia Pugliese.

Our Apulian dough is made of a selection of durum wheat from Altamura with a low glycemic index and soft wheat from live wheat germ rich in vitamins from Orta Nova (Gargano). Our dough is very light, thin, and very digestible.

Join us for an authentic culinary journey through Puglia, where each dish tells a story of tradition and taste.

We also feature an all Italian wine list showcasing small Italian producers.

We look forward to serving you.

Ciao

Top review
Jerome
Dined 3 days ago
My second time enjoying Antonio’s creative culinary expertise. His passion for the flavors of Puglia shine with every dish. Tonight I started with the Bufala Caponata which is out of this world delicious. The most praiseworthy pasta on the menu is his mother’s own Orecchiette recipe. The staff are very welcoming, and the ambiance is perfect for a casual evening out in the lower Haight.
A photo of Serafina SF restaurant
4.9
4.9 (447)
$31 to $50
Italian
Downtown / Union Square
About the restaurant
Serafina is a little gem of a restaurant, perched on top of Nob Hill, with views overlooking the city and Bay Bridge. Serafina was owner Maurizio Bruschi’s grandmother, and the name of her eponymous restaurant in the heart of Trastevere (Rome), where Maurizio first began making pizza at the age of 14. The executive chef is Umberto Cannarsa, a successful chef from Rome, who left his own restaurant in Rome to work with Maurizio again. The menu offers everything, including vegetarian options, but specializes in innovative Italian fish dishes, including fresh calamari, stuffed with olives, escarole, anchovies, drizzled with a potato leek sauce, as well as homemade pastas and dolci. The space is warm and elegant, where neighbors and friends can come together.
Top review
Bob
Dined 2 days ago
A gem of a little San Francisco trattoria. Huge menu for such a small restaurant, great specials, and unique dishes. Authentic Italian.
A photo of Presidio Kebab restaurant
4.9
4.9 (59)
$30 and under
Turkish
Pacific Heights
About the restaurant
Turkish food inspired by our chef from Istanbul. Fresh dishes made daily prepared in house!
Top review
Alfonso
Dined on Dec 25, 2024
Excellent dishes and service. I ordered the lamb shank, and it was absolutely fall-off-the-bone fantastic. I’ve been to Presidio Kebab several times, and it keeps getting better. Excellent quality food, plated in food magazine fashion, with flavors that burst in my mouth. My family and I will be going back for New Year’s Day 2025. /s/ Alfonso Faustino
A photo of Jackson Fillmore Trattoria restaurant
4.8
4.8 (1284)
$31 to $50
Italian
Pacific Heights
About the restaurant
Jackson Fillmore Trattoria is a local favorite for a casual, neighborhood meal. Jack has been cooking up great Roman and Southern Italian food at Jackson Fillmore since 1985. We have a small dining room to accomodate reservations for parties of 3 or more and a dining counter for parties of 2 or those who just drop by. Our wine list is primarily Italian, representing all of the great regions in Italy. Our Bombolotti Sugo de Carne, Carpaccio di Zucchini and Tiramisu are legendary. Check out our website to view samples of the menu and wine list, or for more information about us.
Top review
Paul
Dined 2 days ago
Jackson Fillmore is incredible, from Jack the owner to the staff like Waldo. You feel right at home the moment you walk in the door. Then there is the food, you can not go wrong with a single item on the menu. Everything is so well done and incredibly tasty. Then you add the incredible wine list they have at prices you can’t beat anywhere. Truly can not get enough of this place.
A photo of Nakama Sushi - San Francisco restaurant
4.8
4.8 (365)
$30 and under
Sushi
Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness
About the restaurant
Nakama means friends/buddies and Nakama Sushi is the result of 2 friends coming together to bring to San Francisans an affordable omakase style menu featuring the highest quality fresh fish. Nakama Sushi also offer an excellent A la carte which is great for the pre-performance. In a city full of expensive dining options, Nakama is proud to offer you an excellent value. Nakama Sushi offer fine selections of beer, wine and sake. Bring your friends, family to Nakama Sushi for a memorable meal.
Top review
AlexVIP
Dined on Jan 11, 2025
Best sushi I’ve had in SF! We got the nigiri and sashimi chefs selection and it was phenomenal. Great spot for dinner if you have a show nearby at the Orpheum or SF Jazz.
A photo of Amarena restaurant
4.7
4.7 (1255)
$31 to $50
Italian
Russian Hill
About the restaurant
Welcome to Amarena, our beloved classic neighborhood Italian restaurant.
Proudly serving the Russian Hill Neighborhood for over 20 years, dishing out delicious Italian classics while providing loving service. We hope to see you soon!

Top review
TimLVIP
Dined on Dec 25, 2024
My favorite Italian restaurant in SF. Always delicious, gracious service, reasonable prices, and love, love the charming European ambiance- feels like you are transported straight to Italy.
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