Perbacco: Exquisite Italian Dining Experience in San Francisco

My absolute favorite Italian restaurant in the city (coming from an Italian American ;)) staff is truly kind and wants you to enjoy your meal. Gnocchi is amazing every time. Recommend the acme bread and arancini too. Thank you so much!

They prepared a very special and memorable dinner for my family. The staff’s attention is excellent, and it would be impossible not to highlight the outstanding service. On top of that, the food was exquisite. At first, we were hoping to find more options on the menu, but after taking Chef Tobias’s recommendations, I can trust that any of the dishes will be absolutely delicious. A truly great restaurant in every aspect.

My meal was well cooked (did not love the entree due to the heavy flavor of anise on the pork loin and bitter frisee salad, although it was helped by the sweet pears), but had delicious dessert (pistachio tronchetto) with a scrumptious amaro the cogenial bartender recommended. Both bartenders were attentive in service and friendly (which is very unusual these days, so props to both of them). I would definitely give this another try and order a different entree, The pork was deliciously cooked in terms of tenderness, but and not a flavor profile.I usually order and didn't knowingly order. It's an upscale neoghborhood restaurant with nice atmosphere so definitely worth a try for a solid and authentic Italian meal.

Exceptional food! Their hamachi Crudo starter is to die for. So is their perfectly acidic gem salad. The short rib pappardelle were perfectly al dente and juicy. The red wine from Etna certainly punched above its pay grade and would have it any time. I only wish they had tiramisu on the menu… Great for business dinners. OK for dates - a bit too stuffy. Wouldn’t come with a group of friends.

Perbacco has always been my favorite Italian restaurant in the city, and it never disappoints. From the service to the drinks to the food, everything is excellent. The only minor drawback is that the decor feels a bit dated. That said, the food is reasonably priced for the quality—delicious dishes with just the right portions. Antipasti: Vitello Tonnato ($19): Slow-roasted veal with capers and arugula. This was my favorite starter—beautifully presented, delicious, and a generous portion. Heirloom Tomato Salad ($19): Mozzarella, pressed watermelon, and cucumbers with mint, basil, tarragon, and champagne-lemon vinaigrette. Fresh and flavorful. Pasta: Pappardelle ($31): Wide pasta ribbons with slow-cooked short rib ragu and scallion horseradish crema. This is one of their signature dishes, and it's always outstanding—never disappoints. Secondi: Liberty Farm Duck Breast ($40): Generous portion of perfectly cooked duck breast. Absolutely delicious. Dessert: Panna Cotta - they make the most delicious Panna Cotta in the world ! They often changed the fruit/sauce that accompany the Panna cotta. This time I got The Figs Panna cotta. I highly recommend Perbacco if you're craving authentic Italian cuisine in the city. It's a reliable favorite that consistently delivers excellent food and service.

Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Atmosphere: 5/5 Noise Level: moderately loud Just about everything was perfect for this dinner. Our server Jamie was personable and efficient. The Italian 75 and Mamma Mia cocktails were great. The Acme bread and parmigiano butter were delicious. The butter was nice and soft, yay. The Little Gem Salad was great, delicate and not overly dressed. Our Tajarin and Agnolotti dishes were perfectly delicious, seasoned well. The fingerling potatoes were also great. Loved the duck fat making the potatoes very tasty. Roasted perfectly. The Butternut Squash Budino was great. Nice sweetness from the squash. The Brutti Ma Buoni was also very good. Very light. Can make a mess and shatter if you don’t cut it right! The atmosphere was lively, and also elegant. We had a great time here and would love to come back.

Very good experience at Perbacco. Good service from the staff. I felt the food could have been better. We ordered the roasted octopus for an appetizer and then halibut and risotto for the main course. The risotto was tasty, but the halibut was a little dry and the octopus was a bit tough. For dessert we ordered the flourless chocolate cake which was delicious.

Perbacco is a fantastic lunch spot in the Financial District if you’re craving classic, authentic Italian food. You can’t go wrong with the burrata plate. I don’t often finish a plate of pasta, but I enjoyed every last bite of the pesto pasta here. Of course, a meal isn’t complete without dessert, so the sorbetto was a perfect, refreshing finish.