San Francisco Restaurant Review: Fior d’Italia, America’s Oldest Italian Eatery

Looking for an authentic Italian restaurant in San Francisco? Fior d’Italia is a popular Italian eatery in the heart of North Beach in San Francisco, a.k.a. “Little Italy”. Located in a heritage structure with a history of more than 110 years, it serves classic Italian cuisine in elegant surroundings. There is live music two afternoons a week.

Fior d’Italia is reputedly the oldest Italian restaurant in the United States. It is also one of the most popular Italian eateries with old-time San Franciscans.

San Francisco’s Little Italy — a Short History

The first waves of Italian immigrants began settling in San Francisco in the late 19th century in a neighborhood known as North Beach.

Italian fishermen, bakers, and laborers built a thriving community, and soon cafés, trattorias, and social clubs lined the streets, shaping the area into the cultural heart of Italian San Francisco.

Since they brought their language, traditions, and food to the area, it quickly became known as “Little Italy”. As the second and third generations assimilated, they gradually lost their language and their culture. And many moved to the suburbs.

But the one thing that has endured is their food — the flavors of home, the family recipes, and the culinary traditions that live on in the  restaurants, pizzerias, and coffee houses of San Francisco’s Little Italy.

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History of Fior d’Italia

Italian immigrant Angelo Del Monte founded Fior d’Italia — Italian for “flower of Italy” — in 1886 in San Francisco’s Barbary Coast district.

It began in modest surroundings, operating beneath a bordello before moving to a more refined location.

The restaurant survived fires and the 1906 earthquake. Within a week of the tragedy, it reopened in a tent, serving minestrone to displaced residents.

Over the years, Fior d’Italia relocated six times. It moved into its current home  in the ground floor of the historic San Remo Hotel in 2005.

In 2012, financial troubles nearly forced its closure. Longtime Chef Gianfranco “Gianni” Audieri stepped in, buying the restaurant and keeping it afloat.

According to the San Francisco Legacy Business Registry, Fior d’Italia is the oldest Italian restaurant in the United States and the fifth oldest restaurant in San Francisco. It remains deeply tied to San Francisco’s Italian immigrant heritage.

“Fior d’Italia has been a culinary staple of North Beach throughout its history, hosting countless patrons of political and cultural significance such as Bank of America founder A.P. Giannini, former President Richard Nixon, singer Tony Bennett, singer Carlos Santana, actor Robin Williams, and numerous other well-known athletes, actors, singers, and politicians,” the San Francisco Legacy Business Registry says.

What is most important is that Fior d’Italia continues to play an important roll in the North Beach community and remains one of the most popular eateries among long-time residents of San Francisco.

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Fior d’Italia — the Menu

The cooking leans toward Northern Italian classics, with simple preparations built on fresh ingredients.

Pasta and risotto are the heart of the menu — lasagna Bolognese, trenette al pesto, and saffron risotto are staples. Meat dishes include osso buco and the show‑stopping bistecca alla Fiorentina, a porterhouse steak meant for sharing.

Seafood is equally strong, with daily specials alongside salmon and prawns. Desserts stay traditional, from tiramisu to panna cotta.

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Welcome to San Francisco!

After a long absence, I was returning to San Francisco and had booked a room at the San Remo Hotel, where I was going to spend three nights.

My plan was simple: meet an old friend who lived nearby, find a quiet coffee house, and catch up before deciding where to have dinner.  But as the taxi pulled up to the hotel, I heard Dixieland jazz spilling out onto the sidewalk from a restaurant on the ground floor.

“Welcome to San Francisco,” I thought. What a perfect homecoming!

After checking into the hotel, I went upstairs to my room to unpack.  After a few minutes, there was a knock on the door. It was my friend. We both decided we would rather have a glass of wine at the restaurant downstairs, the Fior d’Italia, and enjoy the music, rather than looking for a coffee house.  One glass led to another. And we finally decided to stay for dinner.

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For my first hand review of theSan Remo Hotel, see: San Remo Hotel>>.

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The Sour Dough French Bread 

Sour Dough French Bread — the first item to arrive on the table after we sat down was sour dough French bread, and it was every bit as good as I remembered.

There is something in the air or the water in San Francisco that gives the French bread baked there its special taste and texture.

It is said that if the exact same ingredients and method are used anywhere else, the bread won’t taste nearly as good.

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The Cold Antipasti 

Antipasti Freddi — we started with the Prosciutto con Trutta di Stagione, or Prosciutto with Seasonal Fruit (US$15), which turned out to be two of my favourite fruits — cantaloupe and seedless red grapes, as well as a scattering of green olives.

This was an excellent starter. The cantaloupe was perfectly ripe, and the prosciutto was pure bliss.

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The Hot Antipasti 

Antipasti Caldi – Gamberoni Cesta, or prawns wrapped in pancetta with garlic and olive oil (US$17), followed.

The prawns and pancetta doused with freshly squeezed lemon juice offered a perfect balance.

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The Salad 

Insalate – our salad was Insalata Lasttuga Romana, or hearts of Romain with gorgonzola cheese (US$16).

I’m not a big fan of romaine lettuce, but I’ll make an exception. The lettuce, cherry tomatoes, black and green olives, gornonzola cheese, and Italian oil and vinegar dressing were a flawless combination.

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The Lasagna 

Lasagna Bolognese al Forno – for our pasta, we ordered layered pasta with a ragu of meat sauce (US$17).

This was a simple and perfectly executed lasagna.

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The Meat Course 

Carni – we our main course we ordered Sella D’Agnello al Forno, or Roasted Rack of Lamb with Rosemary Essence (US$38).

The lamb was beautifully presented and mouthwateringly delicious.

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The Dessert 

Dolci – for dessert, we had the spumoni ice cream.

Haven’t had spumoni ice cream in years, and it brought bad fond memories.

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The Ambiance at Fior d’Italia

Fior d’Italia occupies the ground floor of the San Remo Hotel, a historic hostelry built following the Great Earthquake of 1906 to house workers that were employed to rebuild the devastated city.

With windows on two sides, the elegant dining room is bathed in sunlight all afternoon long.

There is a bar clad in dark would on the other side of the building.

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The Verdict

The surroundings were elegant, the service was friendly yet professional, and the food was outstanding. I’ll give Fior d’Italia two enthusiastic thumbs up!

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Personal Recollections

My arrival at the San Remo felt like an opening scene in San Francisco Beat — the streets alive with history, the atmosphere charged with stories, and the sense that I was stepping into a living drama where past and future collide.

The Dixieland Jazz emanating from inside the Fior d’Italia provided the perfect sound track, setting the mood for what I hoped would be a  trip down Memory Lane and the beginning of serendipitous and mysterious discoveries.

I marveled at the timing. It was almost as if that musical performance had been arranged specifically to coincide with my arrival. But of course it wasn’t. It was simply San Francisco’s unique way of welcoming a wandering one home.

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You Might Also Enjoy 

First-Hand Review of the San Remo Hotel>>

25 Best Things to Do in San Francisco (for First Time Visitors)>>

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Fior d’Italia — Location

Fior d’Italia – 2237 Mason Street, San Francisco, California. Tel: (415) 441-8774. Webpage • Facebook

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