Altovino

Hidden gem in Union Square. We had the Cavatelli and Raviolli. Cavatelli was out of the world for us. The taste was very different that what usual. The ingredients were incredibly fresh and the dishes were well made. To add to that the staff was accommodating and gave us great inputs. To top it the panaa cotta desert was perfect. Must recommended place for Italian night out if you are in the area or even otherwise

I had an excellent dinner experience at Alto Vino sf. The food and service were excellent. Every bite my son in law had came out with a loud Mmmmm! Chef Nick Kelly, his lovely wife Calli, and the whole staff made it warm and welcoming. Delicious food, service and ambiance. Too bad I live more than 70 miles away.

Lots of dishes posted on Google map or Yelp are no longer available. For example, the lamb chop is not on the menu as of May 28, 2023. Except the pasta and appetizers, you basically have only three main dishes to choose. See menu below for more information. Highly recommend the Halibut. It is so tender and the way to cook is so special. The Insalatina salad is great too. The Spaghetti is too salty although.

The restaurant is quite small but it has a good atmosphere, good service. We ordered a starter with mushroom which was really good, then we shared the papardelle pasta and finally the fish but it was tasteless and we didn’t like it. Overall I think it is expensive for what we had, and we didn’t have any dessert or alcohol.

Definitely a gem. Hidden in a quiet block, low light, low volume, the environment was very pleasant. Honestly everything was fantastic, but I would give the crown to Pappardelle—the pasta was cooked just right to remain chewiness and the sauce was tangy (in a good way) with a strong note of tomato which I just loved too much. We ordered quite a few and nothing let us down, from appetizers to dessert. I’d come back for more :)

I wish I lived in North Beach so this could be my neighborhood pasta spot! We really loved AltoVino, everything we tried was executed to perfection and the portions were great as well. Pasta dishes were amazing, loved that there were both traditional and more modern options. The ambience was really cozy and romantic as well! Will definitely be back here for another date night soon!!

We came here for my moms birthday and I think this is one of the best birthday dinners we have had within my family in terms of service and speed. The service was so personable and lovely, the food was fresh, and the ambiance was great. I would highly recommend coming here for special occasions. One thing I would say is that I do wish it was just a tad bit brighter in there, it was hard to see what we were eating at some points.

I feel like eating out is now my full-time job. I mean, if you include documenting restaurant experiences, plus creating content and reviewing, dining out does take up the majority of my fun-employed days. I’ve been blessed to have a great network of friends to fuel this newfound “job.” Job is in quotes because I haven’t figured out how to sustainably make money out of this. I digress. My last week was a blur of food, but AltoVino stood out for their incredibly satisfying and comforting Californian spin on Italian classics. Located in Nob Hill, AltoVino is owned by the husband and wife team of Chef Nick Kelly and Sommelier Calli Martinez. The cozy neighborhood spot features a modern menu of fresh pasta, highly local meats and produce, and antipasti. The wine selection is thoughtfully curated as well, with imported Italian wines. I was in carb heaven from the start with the appetizers - prosciutto and fig with gnocco fritto, and mushroom mousse with grilled Acme bread. It took great self restraint to save space for the mains. The fresh caramelle pasta was a highlight with local K&J figs, goat cheese, and balsamic vinegar. I loved the texture contrast and chew of the candy wrapper pasta shape. I also inhaled the tender roasted black cod, presented table-side in the salt shell, and featuring late summer squash and cherry tomatoes Service was lovely, and the ambience was perfect for both a relaxing evening with friends or a romantic date. AltoVino manages to accomplish that cozy neighborhood feel, while being a spot worth traveling across town for.