Pizzeria Delfina-The Place Is Packed, for Good Reason

Probably since the day it opened, Craig and Anne Stoll's Delfina restaurant on 18th Street in San Francisco was a slam dunk. It brought fresh, regional Italian food to a city knee deep in quasi-Mediterranean dishes.

It’s been next to impossible to get in for several years. It’s also next to impossible to hear yourself think, once you do get in. But the food -- oh -- the food!

I can always eat the grilled calamari, the pastas, the nettle ravioli and the seafood. Heaven!

When they were able to take over an old antique store next door, Pizzeria Delfina was born. Since they don’t take reservations, it’s a tough ticket, especially on days when it’s too cold to sit outside, heat lamps or no.

On a recent Saturday, a group of us (five) ordered a slew of appetizers (priced between $7-10). We ordered a choice of salumi (cured meats), some chilled tripe (the best), the Monterey sardines escabeche-style and the hit of the day: delicate saffron rice balls, filled with mozzarella and fried. Exquisite.

We topped off our appetizer feast with one of their signature pizzas. This one with roasted onions, pork cheek, tomato and cheese ($16), washed down with a couple of bottles of Montepulciano. We were indeed happy campers.

Pizzeria Delfina
3611 18th Street
San Francisco
(415) 437-6800
and now
2406 California Street
San Francisco
(415) 440-1189