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L'Osteria del Forno Review

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L'Osteria del Forno

Address: 519 Columbus Ave., North Beach, San Francisco, CA, 94133 | Map It
Phone: 415/982-1124

Price range: $
Cuisine: Italian
Location: North Beach

Write a review | Avg. member rating: 4.2/5

Fodor's Review:

A staff chattering in Italian and seductive aromas drifting from the open kitchen make customers who pass through the door of this modest storefront, with its sunny yellow walls and friendly waitstaff, feel as if they've stumbled into a homey trattoria in Italy. The kitchen produces small plates of simply cooked vegetables, a few pastas, some daily specials, milk-braised pork, a roast of the day, creamy polenta, and thin-crust pizzas—including a memorable "white" pie topped with porcini mushrooms and mozzarella. At lunch try one of North Beach's best focaccia sandwiches.

Credit Cards: No credit cards
Closed: Closed Tues.

Member Reviews and Ratings

Reviewed by artlover from Seattle on 11/25/06
I was here a year ago and plan to go back next week, and am surprised at some of the negative reviews. Will have to rewrite this if it doesn't measure up to last time, but last time it was FANTASTIC.
I should clarity--the food was fantastic--the Fava bean soup, roast beef salad, green beans marinated in olive oil and vinegar were delicious and the tomato gnocchi was almost as good as my daughter's (and she's taken cooking classes in Siena).
We love Italian food and have been to Italy several times, and this place was super.
The service wasn't super, and we were there early, so we didn't have to wait, which I can see being a real turn off.
Like I said, plan to check it out again and will report back.
I guess the key is--go early.