Sotto Mare

Name: Sotto Mare
Address: 552 Green Street, San Francisco, CA 94133, San Francisco, CA, US
Telephone: (415) 398-3181
Price range: $

📍 North Beach 💰 $ 🍽️ Italian Seafood

The Verdict

"Order the cioppino and crab. "

What you need to know

Sotto Mare calls itself an oysteria but the cioppino is what most people are waiting for. This narrow North Beach spot serves some of the best seafood in San Francisco from one of the most cramped dining rooms in the city.

What to Order

Cioppino: A massive bowl with Dungeness crab, clams, mussels, shrimp, and fish in a tomato broth. Bring an appetite and ask for extra bread for soaking. The dish Italian fishermen invented on these blocks more than a century ago.
Crab Legs: Simply prepared with butter and garlic.
Oysters: Fresh from the raw bar. Ask what’s in that day.
Calamari: Fried tender inside, crisp outside.
Pasta with Seafood: A solid alternative if a full bowl of stew is too much.

The Space

A narrow space on Green Street with a counter wrapping around the open kitchen and a few tables crammed against the opposite wall. About thirty seats, almost always full. The counter seats are the better experience. You can watch the cooks work and chat with regulars.

Practical Info

Price: Cioppino around $35 to $40
Reservations: Parties of 3 or more only. Parties of 2 are walk-in. Waits run 45 to 60 minutes during peak.
Hours: Mon-Thu 11:30am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am-10pm, Sun 11:30am-9pm
Address: 552 Green Street

📍 Location: This restaurant is in North Beach. Explore the neighborhood →