Delfina

What you need to know

Craig and Anne Stoll opened Delfina on 18th Street in the Mission in 1998 and built it into one of San Francisco’s defining Italian restaurants. The cooking is Italian without theatrics: house-made pasta, seasonal vegetables, simply grilled meats, and a wine list that doesn’t waste anyone’s time. Reservations stay hard to get because the formula has worked for over twenty-five years.

The Food

Spaghetti with Plum Tomato & Olive Oil: The dish that built the reputation. Three ingredients, executed perfectly.
Roasted Chicken: Simple, seasonal, the bird Delfina built its identity around.
Grilled Calamari: Charred, dressed with white beans.
Buttermilk Panna Cotta: The signature dessert.

Pizzeria Delfina is the more casual sister restaurant a few doors down with wood-fired pizzas and shorter waits.

Practical Info

Price: Entrees $32 to $45
Reservations: Strongly recommended via Resy
Address: 3621 18th Street
Hours: Daily dinner. Confirm via delfinasf.com.