Piazza Pellegrini — Restaurant in San Francisco

I had finally gone to this place a couple of years ago with a friend, on a whim, because we were in the area, and didn't even have it on my radar before that. It has become a go-to place, now. I've brought my family here, and friends. It has always been a lovely experience. The staff are always friendly and accommodating, and the food is delicious, without prices being too outrageous. I've most recently gone there with a friend for lunch.

We both ordered off of the Special Lunch Menu, where the dishes are all $14.95, so you get a little deal on your favorites! I got the Tortellini alla Panna - cheese tortellini with prosciutto and peas in a cream sauce. Delicious! The cream sauce is not too heavy and cumbersome, and it has just the right amount of prosciutto so that it is not overly salty. My friend had the Fusilli with Sausage and Mushrooms - homemade fusilli, spicy sausage and mushrooms in Aurora sauce (a light tomato garlic cream sauce), which was tasty, but not all too spicy. I haven't tried a lot of things, but I have been very happy with the pasta dishes that I have tried.

Being North Beach, there are a ton of Italian restaurants, but this one has been consistently good in both food and service, so it has become a part of my local food repertoire. It has nice ambience, and usually is busy. But, I have not had any problem getting a table, and if there is a wait, it is usually reasonable. The only complaint that I might have is that, today, their OpenTable seemed to be conveniently not working when I tried to make a reservation, nor did they answer their phone. So, I was unable to make a reservation. But, again, we were easily able to get a table, so it was not a big deal, although, it was an off time. I would be concerned if it were...

I've always wanted to come here after continuously walking by this place. Finally made it here with my partner on a Sunday afternoon. We dined outside with the heaters and people watched as we ate and drank the house red wine.

Service was excellent and the food wasn't impressive but it wasn't terrible either. Portions are also on the bigger side compared to other Italian places in the area. Overall, I give this place a 3.5 rating.

Fritto Misto di Pesce (Fried Calamari and Shrimp): Good! Each piece continued to stay crispy. Plate was served with cocktail sauce and a horseradish sauce. Fettuccine all´ Amatriciana: Sautéed onions, pancetta, and meatballs in marinara sauce. The pasta was thin with a nice chew to them. I couldn't really taste the onions and pancetta though. Meatballs were a little dry on the inside and not hot at all. Gnocchi Alla Gorgonzola: Creamy white sausage gravy dish. The first few bites were fine, but then it just got saltier and saltier. It was a pretty heavy dish too. House red wine: Meh. It was on the lighter side and easy to drink but nothing special.

While I did have a good experience overall, I don't think I'd be in a rush to come back. The menu looks great though and maybe one day I'll return to...

Over the years, Cafe Pellegrini has been a decent spot for me, but this recent visit was a letdown. We chose to sit outside since the weather was lovely, and their patio is pretty nice – enclosed, with different seating choices, and a TV for sports fans, which makes it good for both groups and couples.

I ordered a Peroni, and my partner got a non-alcoholic drink. It was odd that my beer came in a small plastic cup, while her drink was served in a big wine glass. She picked the pizza, which had a lot of Burrata cheese and arugula on it. I don't remember the exact name.

The plastic cup for my beer was a minor issue, but the really loud 80s music was a problem. I like 80s music, it's nostalgic, but it was so loud that we couldn't talk without yelling. Then, when I tried the pizza, it was incredibly salty. I could actually feel the salt crystals, like way too much salt had been put on it.

We didn't want to complain and tried to enjoy the afternoon, but then the bill came, and it was over $50.

I'm not sure if I'll go back anytime soon. This visit was definitely not a...