Da Flora-A Venetian Ostaria

05/27/09

We were asked to leave ...

by RHL at Citysearch

Our party of 6 arrived @ 5:30pm on May 23rd. We were greeted by the owner and treated with great respect for the majority of the evening. Our courses of food arrived quickly and the wine was a great addition recommended by the owner (3 bottles). The duck livers were the least favorite item ordered. At 8:10pm, the waitress (possibly pastry chef) came to our table and stated that the next party was here for our table and asked that we LEAVE! There were other open tables which could have been joined together as were the two we occupied. We had just dropped more than $100 per person in cash (as they prefer here). This was a first for all of us and it will be our last visit to Da Flora. Too bad since we had looked forward to this visit for a couple years. In the future, I will believe negative reviews a little more than the good ones. Da Flora's were about 50/50 and this should have told me to beware.

• Pros: Good food
• Cons: Being asked to leave

03/05/09

Best Italian Food in S.F.

by jeffreysnaturalpet at Citysearch

Da Flora is my favorite! I am a local in North Beach and eat there at least once a week. The Chef [Jen], is amazing in the kitchen. She puts her own touch of love in every dish that is served. The gnocchi is the signature dish at Da Flora which is out of this world. Mary Beth's Foccacia is wonderful and makes my mouth water! Pricing is a bit expensive, but portions are rather large. The wine menu is outstanding. I recommend letting Da Flora pick out the wine for you. She will never let you down. You will never be rushed out of there. The goal is to sit down and enjoy the ambiance. If you are looking for a place to eat & dash out really quickly, than this not the place to go! Cheers!

• Pros: great food, wine, & ambiance
• Cons: none

12/11/08

You get what YOU GIVE

by Matvy at Citysearch

I've been going to Da Flora for years. For a year or so I just walked by and looked. I won't bother with superlatives because everyone of them has been used to describe this wonderful place. Cookbook writers, TV restaurant critics and just people like me. It's my place for my birthday, where I take my family when they're in town and where I take my friends who love good food and wine and don't have preconceived notions of what a higher priced restaurant should be, who have no predjudices against different lifestyles and who are willing to embrace eccentricity. Without fail, if those guidelines are adhered to an all-round wonderful evening is had by all.

If you have a bad time at Da Flora it's because you copped an attitude. Noone, however, should fault the food. We all know it's good.

I find when I travel to another city, country or go to a restaurant outside MY usual comfort zone that if I arrive there with arms wide open to embrace all I can be offered I receive treatment in kind. I have been with friends, however, who have that chip on their shoulder that so many of us think is our privilege as citizens in this fine country and they all feel they're justified when noone extends a welcome or kowtows to them and their unfortunate attitude.

If you go to Da Flora with the same kind of respect that you expect when someone is in your well-loved space, you will have a lovely time and be happy for it.

It is expensive for MY budget but it's not expensive for what you get. I'm happy to eat at home and save my pennies to be able to go out to a good restaurant for an occasion.

So go to Da Flora and embrace all the eccentricity, wonderful wine and food. You won't regret it.

• Pros: Food, food, food, ambience, wine and Mary Beth's foccacia
• Cons: Parking if you can't walk.

07/11/08

Best Italian food and experience in SF

by DAllmansGhost at Citysearch

I created an account here just in order to respond to a negative review I saw for De Flora. The writer talked about rude service. My guess is that in fact whoever wrote it was either rude themselves or perhaps has an issue with assertive women. In any case I wanted to say that this is by far my favorite Italian restaurant in San Francisco and I've tried many. I come here as often as possible even though North Beach can be a real pain for traffic and parking. The food is fantastic and the service not only isn't rude its personal and warm. I've been to Italy a few times and Da Flora is the closest experience I've found to a nice Italian restaurant.

• Pros: Atmosphere, food
• Cons: Expensive

04/29/08

Best Italian!!!

by tulip6 at Citysearch

I must defend Da Flora. I am from Boston and happened upon this restaurant as a nice dinner out before a show. Sure, it's a little different, very small and the feel is vintage (which I love) and my husband and I have done nothing but rave about it since our visit.

We walked in without a reservation on a busy Friday night. We were dressed nicely and surmised the owner as Da Flora as the down to earth woman speaking individually to each table and none the less made the experience that much more memorable. We were surrounded by locals who were kind, made recomendations and raved, with good reason about the food & owner.

My husband is vegetarian and our server was able to make suggestions and substitutions on the menu to accomodate him.

We started off with an appetizer of gnocchi that was served with fresh baked bread....the best, freshest bread. The gnocchi was fresh & delicious and was followed by the roasted duck for myself and pasta with butternut squash for my husband. We continued with dessert and cappuciuno-all great.

It truly is refreshing that at Da Flora, you can enjoy your food and wine without feeling rushed.

OK, if you are looking for a chain or chain-like restaruant with robots for servers, no suggestions and rushed service-do not come here...but if you want a nice dinner out, at a one of a kind place where you can relax with your wine, have a great converstation with your dinner companion & know that the owner has based her wine and food menu on qualitiy please come here...it's one of a kind.

• Pros: Food, service, ambiance