Just as San Francisco's Chinatown may be the nation's best-known Chinese-American enclave, so North Beach is to the Italian-American community. However, until recently North Beach's culinary options were better left to the tourists. In the past year or two the neighborhood has undergone something of a renaissance, though many of the city's best Italian options are largely elsewhere.

Albona Ristorante Istriano
545 Francisco Street
(415) 441-1040
Dinner
Dining at Albona, Northern California's only Istrian restaurant, is anything but typical.

Cafe Jacqueline
1454 Grant Avenue
(415) 981-5565
Dinner
One of the city's most romantic restaurants, specializing only in souffles.

Moose's
1652 Stockton Street
(415) 989-7800
Lunch, dinner
Peer through the windows and behold the city's prime movers and shakers, many of whom consider Moose's their second office.

Zax
2330 Taylor Street
(415) 563-6266
Dinner
Those who frequent this well-hidden and relatively unknown spot hail it as one of San Francisco's better restaurants.

Cobalt Tavern
1707 Powell
(415) 982-8123
Lunch, dinner
Solid, occasionally great food in one of the neighborhood's most revered dining rooms.

Da Flora
701 Columbus Avenue
(415) 981-4664
Dinner
This unpretentious little eatery sits in a pretty corner storefront (formerly an Italian ice cream parlor).

Helmand
430 Broadway
(415) 362-0641
Dinner
An oasis of good taste on Broadway's garish topless strip, Helmand serves delicious renditions of Afghan dishes.

Jianna
1548 Stockton Street
(415) 398-0442
Dinner, weekend lunch
Unique American-style fare highlights fresh seafood and grilled meats in an elaborate, pseudo-nightclub setting.