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Tosca Café, San Francisco, CA

Tosca Café

4.7
4.7
151 Reviews
$31 to $50
Italian

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 13 times today
  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Hot spot

A legendary hangout in North Beach since it opened in 1919, and even more so from the 1980's onward when Jeanette Etheredge took over Tosca. Locals including Willie Brown, Lars Ulrich and Francis Ford Coppola were regular fixtures, Hunter S Thompson wrote his column for the SF Examiner in the corner booth, Bono, Lauren Hutton, and Mikhail Baryshnikov played pool in the back room, singing Opera and drinking Tosca House Cappuccinos. When Restaurateur Anna Weinberg and Interior Designer Ken Fulk heard Tosca Cafe was closing they joined forces to save it. As the new owners and passionate fans of the original establishment their goal was to return Tosca to its rightful place as a San Francisco institution. As Mikey Rapin wrote in Bon Appétit magazine: “It’s the kind of joint Beats got bounced, Bono belted opera, and a bullet hole memoralizes the night an A-LIST actor disagreed with a rockstar's choice of music"

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service, Cocktail Bar
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Tue, Wed 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Thu–Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Bar Thu–Sat 5:00 pm–12:00 am
  • Phone number
    (415) 986-9651
  • Website
    https://www.toscacafe-sf.com/
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Private party facilities
    We offer three distinctly unique private dining experiences at Tosca: Restaurant Buyout (up to 100 guests)Private Dining Room (18 guests)Chef's Lounge (8 guests) Please contact us for more information and to book your event. https://annaweinberghospitality.tripleseat.com/party_request/3262
  • Location
    242 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133-4509
  • Neighbourhood
    North Beach
  • Cross Street
    Broadway
  • Parking details
    None
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Late Night, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wine

Menu

Antipasti

  • Arugula SaladUS$17.00

    crispy capers, parmesan, rosé-balsamic vinaigrette

    • Chicory SaladUS$18.00

      lemon-anchovy dressing, parmesan

      • Burrata SaladUS$21.00

        crispy kale, pistachios, maple-mustard vinaigrette

        • Kaluga Caviar BitesUS$28.00

          waffles, crème fraîche, chives

          • House-Marinated OlivesUS$10.00

            citrus, rosemary, celery

            • House-Made FocacciaUS$14.00

              garlic, parmesan, local herb oil

              • Charcuterie PlateUS$34.00

                salametto, prosciutto, parmesan

                • Tosca Meatballs

                  pork, beef, spicy tomato sauce, basil, parmesan

                  • 5 PiecesUS$24.00

                • Melanzana FrittaUS$18.00

                  crispy eggplant, spicy tomato sauce, parmesan

                  • AranciniUS$19.00

                    parmesan, ricotta, tomato sauce

                    Pasta

                    • Kale Pesto PappardelleUS$28.00

                      toasted almonds, parmesan

                      • Lumache Cacio e PepeUS$27.00

                        black pepper, parmesan

                        • Truffle GnocchiUS$31.00

                          sauteed local mushrooms, parmesan

                          • Spaghetti and MeatballsUS$28.00

                            pork, beef, tomato sauce, basil, parmesan

                            • Braised Short Rib RigatoniUS$31.00

                              peas, parmesan

                              Entrées

                              • Seared SalmonUS$36.00

                                chimichurri, frisse, radish, green goddess

                                • 14oz C.A.B Grilled RibeyeUS$62.00

                                  sautéed wild mushrooms, chives, red wine jus

                                  • Tuscan Fried ChickenUS$35.00

                                    chicory salad, local herbs

                                    • Pork Chop SaltimboccaUS$42.00

                                      bone-in 360 Farms pork chop, polenta

                                      Sides

                                      • Crispy PotatoesUS$12.00

                                        salsa verde

                                        • Sautéed AsparagusUS$12.00

                                          lemon, garlic, parmesan

                                          • Creamy PolentaUS$12.00

                                            parmesan

                                            Sparkling Wines

                                            • Biancavigna, Spumante Rosa 'Cuvee 1932', Veneto, Italy NV

                                              • GlassUS$13.00
                                              • BottleUS$60.00

                                            • Murgo, Metodo Classico Brut, Sicily 2019

                                              • GlassUS$17.00
                                              • BottleUS$74.00

                                            • Piper-Hiedseick, "Cuvée 1785", Champagne, France

                                              • GlassUS$24.00
                                              • BottleUS$105.00

                                            Rosé Wines

                                            • Idlewild, "Flora and Fauna - The Flower", North Coast, California 2021

                                              • GlassUS$16.00
                                              • BottleUS$70.00

                                            White Wines

                                            • Pinot Grigio, Gail, "Doris", Sonoma Valley, California 2021

                                              • GlassUS$15.00
                                              • BottleUS$67.00

                                            • Sauvignon, Erste & Neue, Alto Adige, Italy 2020

                                              • GlassUS$14.00
                                              • BottleUS$63.00

                                            • Vermentino, Durin, Riviera Ligure di Ponente, Liguria, Italy 2021

                                              • GlassUS$13.00
                                              • BottleUS$60.00

                                            • Chardonnay, Sturm, Friuli, Italy 2021

                                              • GlassUS$17.00
                                              • BottleUS$74.00

                                            Red Wines

                                            • Pinot Noir, Anthill Farms, Sonoma Coast , California 2021

                                              • GlassUS$20.00
                                              • BottleUS$80.00

                                            • Sangiovese, Villa Sant'Anna, Chianti Colli Senesi, Tuscany, Italy 2019

                                              • GlassUS$15.00
                                              • BottleUS$67.00

                                            • Nebbiolo, De Forville, Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy 2019

                                              • GlassUS$22.00
                                              • BottleUS$92.00

                                            • Cabernet Sauvignon, Bold Cellars, Paso Robles, California 2021

                                              • GlassUS$16.00
                                              • BottleUS$70.00

                                            Beer

                                            • Calicraft Kölsch, Walnut CreekUS$8.00

                                              • Sculpin IPA, Ballast Point, San DiegoUS$8.00

                                                Cocktails

                                                • That's AmoreUS$16.00

                                                  gin, blackberry, lavender, lime, sparkling

                                                  • Summer WindUS$16.00

                                                    vodka, watermelon, pomegranate, lillet rouge, lemon

                                                    • Mambo ItalianoUS$16.00

                                                      tequila, amaro, citrus, basil, black walnut bitters

                                                      • Tosca NegroniUS$16.00

                                                        gin, campari, sweet vermouth, lo-fi gentian amaro

                                                        • The HustlerUS$16.00

                                                          rye, sweet vermouth, amaro, orange

                                                          • One for My BabyUS$16.00

                                                            vodka, prosecco, mint, cucumber, elderflower

                                                            • ParadisoUS$16.00

                                                              mezcal, passion fruit, lime, mandarin, black sea salt

                                                              • House CappuccinoUS$16.00

                                                                bourbon, cognac, chocolate, steamed milk

                                                                • Tea ThymeUS$16.00

                                                                  chamomile infused bourbon , amaro, thyme, lemon, honey

                                                                  Last updated: May 19, 2023

                                                                  What 151 people are saying

                                                                  Overall ratings and reviews

                                                                  Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

                                                                  4.7
                                                                  4.7 based on recent ratings
                                                                  • 4.6Food
                                                                  • 4.7Service
                                                                  • 4.5Ambience
                                                                  • 4.2Value

                                                                  Noise • Moderate

                                                                  Loved For

                                                                  • San Francisco

                                                                    Great for fine wines

                                                                  Review summary

                                                                  AI-generated from verified diner reviews
                                                                  Tosca Café offers a delightful dining experience with "amazing" food and "impeccable" service, perfect for special occasions. Guests love the "old world" charm and cozy ambiance, enhanced by live music. While some mention noise levels, the pasta dishes and attentive staff make it a must-visit San Francisco institution.

                                                                  151 Reviews

                                                                  1. Emily

                                                                    VIP

                                                                    San Francisco

                                                                    9 reviews

                                                                    5.0

                                                                    9 reviews

                                                                    Dined 3 days ago

                                                                    1. Overall 5
                                                                    2. Food 5
                                                                    3. Service 4
                                                                    4. Ambience 4
                                                                    Tosca remains one of my absolute favorites in San Francisco. The space, food, service all excellent. The night we went was Santa Con (ooops) + a huge private birthday party in the back room so it was bonkers, but the team did everything they could to keep it going! Will go back soon.

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                                                                  2. Ronald

                                                                    San Diego

                                                                    17 reviews

                                                                    4.0

                                                                    17 reviews

                                                                    Dined 3 days ago

                                                                    1. Overall 4
                                                                    2. Food 5
                                                                    3. Service 5
                                                                    4. Ambience 3
                                                                    Great food and service - but the place is LOUD. If you hope to converse with your dinner companions we suggest you take a sign language course prior to your meal!

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                                                                  3. Sean

                                                                    San Francisco

                                                                    13 reviews

                                                                    5.0

                                                                    13 reviews

                                                                    Dined on November 23, 2024

                                                                    1. Overall 5
                                                                    2. Food 5
                                                                    3. Service 5
                                                                    4. Ambience 5
                                                                    I've always love the food at Tosca, and have been coming here for over a decade. I was more impressed than usual last night with the service. We were a table of 9 people and felt like we were being taken care of by friends who anticipated what we needed. Can't wait to return.

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                                                                  4. melanie

                                                                    San Francisco

                                                                    8 reviews

                                                                    5.0

                                                                    8 reviews

                                                                    Dined on November 13, 2024

                                                                    1. Overall 5
                                                                    2. Food 5
                                                                    3. Service 5
                                                                    4. Ambience 5
                                                                    my girlfriend is here for work for one week and she was craving pasta. while getting ready i opened up the open table app and did a search for “italian restaurants” - tosca cafe was the first option so i chose a 7:15pm reservation. i jumped in my car and drove over to the city from oakland and picked my friend up in union square. we quickly found parking nearby and rocked up to tosca. not quite sure what to expect, we found this cozy dining room with candles on each table and an inviting service team. our waitress was sylvia and she was THE BEST! we started with calamari and caviar pillows. sylvia recommended the parpadelle bolognese and the bucatini and they were both a hit! the atmosphere is very cozy and old world. there was also live music playing. my friend and i thoroughly enjoyed our time at tosca cafe. thank you to the gentleman at the front desk for the nice table we really appreciated it.

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                                                                  5. OpenTable Diner

                                                                    Los Angeles

                                                                    1 review

                                                                    5.0

                                                                    1 review

                                                                    Dined on November 10, 2024

                                                                    1. Overall 5
                                                                    2. Food 5
                                                                    3. Service 5
                                                                    4. Ambience 5
                                                                    This Italian restaurant is a true gem—perfect for a night out when you want to dress up and feel fabulous. The warm lighting, elegant decor, and soft Italian music create an upscale yet inviting atmosphere. The food is exceptional, each dish beautifully crafted. Service was attentive and knowledgeable, enhancing the overall experience. It’s lively, stylish, and absolutely worth a visit for any special night out.

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                                                                  6. Robert

                                                                    San Francisco

                                                                    1 review

                                                                    5.0

                                                                    1 review

                                                                    Dined on October 27, 2024

                                                                    1. Overall 5
                                                                    2. Food 5
                                                                    3. Service 5
                                                                    4. Ambience 4
                                                                    Everything was great. But it was very loud which made hard to talk.

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                                                                  7. Chria

                                                                    Seattle

                                                                    1 review

                                                                    5.0

                                                                    1 review

                                                                    Dined on October 26, 2024

                                                                    1. Overall 5
                                                                    2. Food 5
                                                                    3. Service 5
                                                                    4. Ambience 5
                                                                    Great service. Wonderful lighting and atmosphere. Loved the focaccia and chicken parm! Excellent!

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                                                                  8. S

                                                                    VIP

                                                                    San Francisco

                                                                    21 reviews

                                                                    5.0

                                                                    21 reviews

                                                                    Dined on October 26, 2024

                                                                    1. Overall 5
                                                                    2. Food 5
                                                                    3. Service 5
                                                                    4. Ambience 4
                                                                    Had an absolutely terrific experience here with both the food and service. Special shoutout to one of our servers (Davis) and the entire waitstaff!

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                                                                  9. Camala

                                                                    San Francisco

                                                                    3 reviews

                                                                    5.0

                                                                    3 reviews

                                                                    Dined on October 20, 2024

                                                                    1. Overall 5
                                                                    2. Food 5
                                                                    3. Service 5
                                                                    4. Ambience 5
                                                                    Service was impeccable, food amazing. Really love this SF institution :-).

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                                                                  10. Jenny

                                                                    San Francisco

                                                                    83 reviews

                                                                    3.0

                                                                    83 reviews

                                                                    Dined on October 19, 2024

                                                                    1. Overall 3
                                                                    2. Food 2
                                                                    3. Service 5
                                                                    4. Ambience 4
                                                                    Unfortunately, most of the people in our 12-person party were not happy with their food. Four people had the beef and thought it was tough. The bolognese was not good, the lumache was not good & the marinara tasted liked jarred sauce. We were also sad that the chicken was no longer on the menu. I’m sorry to report this as we’ve had some wonderful meals at Tosca over the years.

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                                                                  FAQs

                                                                  Tosca Café is rated 4.7 stars by 151 OpenTable diners.

                                                                  Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

                                                                  Make a reservation

                                                                  2 people
                                                                  7:00 p.m.
                                                                  Booked 13 times today
                                                                  Google Map for Tosca Café

                                                                  242 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133-4509

                                                                  Dining areas

                                                                  Additional information

                                                                  • Cross Street
                                                                    Broadway
                                                                  • Neighbourhood
                                                                    North Beach
                                                                  • Hours of Operation
                                                                    Dinner Tue, Wed 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Thu–Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Bar Thu–Sat 5:00 pm–12:00 am
                                                                  • Price
                                                                    $31 to $50
                                                                  • Cuisines
                                                                    Italian, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service, Cocktail Bar
                                                                  • Dining style
                                                                    Casual Dining
                                                                  • Dress code
                                                                    Smart Casual
                                                                  • Parking details
                                                                    None
                                                                  • Payment Options
                                                                    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
                                                                  • Additional
                                                                    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Late Night, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wine
                                                                  • Website
                                                                    https://www.toscacafe-sf.com/
                                                                  • Phone number
                                                                    (415) 986-9651
                                                                  • Private party facilities
                                                                    We offer three distinctly unique private dining experiences at Tosca: Restaurant Buyout (up to 100 guests)Private Dining Room (18 guests)Chef's Lounge (8 guests) Please contact us for more information and to book your event. https://annaweinberghospitality.tripleseat.com/party_request/3262
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