Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in San Francisco

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!

Caffe Macaroni

5.0

5 (713)

$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

CamillaVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Always a great experience, we went with my 4mo old baby for the first time and they were so nice. We love it and come back every other month!

Roti Indian Bistro - San Francisco

4.9

4.9 (1455)

$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

ChrisVIP

Dined on Dec 29, 2024

Amazing food and service. Great food options and the staff is awesome

Blue Plate

4.9

4.9 (1527)

$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

Brooke

Dined 7 days ago

Consistently great place to take visitors for a solid meal, friendly service, great vibes.

Piqueos

4.9

4.9 (1187)

$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

Rita

Dined 2 days ago

We love this restaurant. Wonderful Peruvian cuisine at affordable prices.

Uva Enoteca

4.9

4.9 (884)

$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

PeterVIP

Dined on Dec 28, 2024

Uva Enoteca is a truly remarkable restaurant . . . they really know what they are doing with authentic Italian dishes. I've been several times and it is truly a great experience.

Nakama Sushi - San Francisco

4.9

4.9 (363)

$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 4 days ago

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.

Serafina SF

4.9

4.9 (445)

$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

SarahVIP

Dined on Jan 2, 2025

Best Eggplant Parmesan I’ve ever had!!! The Italian dishes seemed very authentic.

Presidio Kebab

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

Jackson Fillmore Trattoria

4.8

4.8 (1282)

$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

Lance

Dined on Dec 22, 2024

Always a quintessential S.F. experience… feels like home🙏

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Popular dish

Gnocchi Bava

Amarena

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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Popular dish

Ravioli di Zuccca

Popular dish

Pappardelle al Cinghiale

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