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L'Osteria del Forno

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L'Osteria del Forno Review

Pass through the door of this modest storefront and you'll feel as if you've stumbled into a homey trattoria in Italy, with the staff chattering in Italian and seductive aromas drifting from the open kitchen through the sunny yellow dining room. Each day the kitchen produces small plates of simply cooked vegetables (grilled peppers, roasted potatoes with yams and carrots), a few baked pastas, a daily special or two, lamb skewers, a roast of the day, creamy polenta, and thin-crust pizzas—including a memorable "white" pie topped with porcini mushrooms and mozzarella. (All the hot dishes come out of an oven—no stove here, so don't come expecting a large selection of pastas.) Wine drinkers will find a good match for any dish they order on the all-Italian list, which showcases gems from limited-production vineyards. At lunch try one of North Beach's best focaccia sandwiches. The space is petite, so don't come with a large group, and there can often be a wait for a table.

    Restaurant Details

  • No credit cards.
  • Closed Tues.
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Fodorite Reviews

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    Tasted Like the Real Thing to me

    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.

    by artlover, 11/25/06

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