The Sausage Factory — Restaurant in San Francisco

Come on, a restaurant in the Castro district of San Francisco with the name “The Sausage Factory” has got to get a few giggles from the chronically immature like me. I was passing through town on my way to Portland and decided to meet up with an ex boyfriend after 25+ years. We knew we wanted Castro district so our first choice was The Anchor Oyster Bar, but it was closed due to Covid 19 so then we went to Hamburger Mary’s which was also closed. I didn’t have Italian on my mind, but I’m glad we ended up at The Sausage Factory. The food was excellent and it has an antique charm that makes it truly unique. After telling some of my friends in the city about it they all sort of responded with”Oh that place. It hasn’t changed much in 40 years.” Well, guess what? If something’s good, why change it?

We started with mussels in a garlic sauce that were out of this world. Not exactly sure what was in the sauce to make it green, but I loved it so much I took a spoon to it after all the mussels and toasted garlic bread were gone. I was going to get the puttanesca, but I always get puttanesca at authentic Italian restaurants so I went with the chicken piccata. I was not disappointed. The lemon-caper sauce had just the right amount of tang and the chicken was so tender, there was no need to use a knife. My ex had the pasta primavera served with an alfredo sauce which looked awesome, but I didn’t try it. He said it was good, but couldn’t finish it because he was full. I, of course, never stop until it’s all gone if I think it’s good; full or not. Maybe that’s just another difference between him and me. Sigh.

Everything about it was delightful. The server and food runner were very upbeat, fun, and efficient, and the food was great. If you’re in the Castro and want good, authentic Italian cuisine, go to The...

Gorgeous little stand alone eatery in the Castro.

I was in San Francisco on business and I walked past and instantly loved the old charm look of the place, however it was extremely busy so decided to return before I flew home. Best decision I made.

I returned and was seated in the front section of the restaurant. The service was impeccable. Nothing was too much trouble for them. As I was sat on my own, they came over made sure I was ok, chatted and was genuinely interested in why I was in town.

The food was stunning and freshly cooked and the portion size was so large I ended up taking some of it back to my hotel.

The atmosphere of the restaurant was beautiful. I could feel the history of the castro seeping through the walls as I sat there, people watched and enjoyed my food.

I would definitely go back, there was so much on the menu I wanted to try but didn't get chance to.

It's a perfect place for a solo date or a catch up with...

The Sausage Factory was one of the first restaurants I ever ate at when I moved to San Francisco in the early 80s and it's just as enjoyable today as it was back then! Their Mama Salad is a particular favorite. There isn't anything especially surprising in it, but it's always fresh and it's huge! I mean HUGE! Even when I'm really hungry, I always end up taking half of it home. It's easily big enough to give 6 people a large side salad. I try to avoid carbs, but their pizzas are very tempting. I have tried several of them though Tony's is my personal favorite. The chicken Marsala is also a favorite menu item. The staff is attentive but never clingy. They make an effort to accommodate substitutions or special requests with cheer. The decor is fun and eclectic, making it feel like the local restaurant that it is. The Sausage Factory is one of my favorite spots for a cozy meal with family...