03/19/09

Buonissimo!!

by mangiona

I lived in Italy for many years and this is the only place I will go for Italian food. The pastas and breads are all homemade. The orecchiete (homemade ear pasta) are better than those that my Nonna made. The shaved fennel salad with gorgonzola and oranges is another of my favoties, as are the succulent lamb chops. Don't miss the Profiterol drizzled with Chocolate or the flaky Mille Foglie for dessert. It's the only place I'll bring my Italian friends to dine. Plus with all of the friendly Italians, you feel like you're in Rome!

• Pros: Truly Authentic Roman Food
• Cons: none

12/17/08

This place can make a Wednesday night memorable

by skp4444

Ideale is warm and filled with smiling people. It's no wonder they're smiling considering the fantastic, unique but comforting food and the kind people who work here. I love this restaurant.

• Pros: waitstaff, food, vibe

05/27/08

WATCH WHAT YOU DRINK

by sanfrandiner

i used to be a chef here. we throw all the unfinished wine from our patrons glasses into a big tub at the end of each night. then in the morning the kitchen staff would rebottle it in our house chianti bottles and resell it at 24 dollars a bottle. im not a bitter ex employee. in fact i loved working there. its just disgusting and illegal and just plain crazy. DONT ORDER THE HOUSE CHIANTI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

11/19/07

Coasting on Reputation

by teamuck

Ideale used to be my favorite Italian restaurant in the neighborhood. I live nearby and don't go out to eat often, but when I do Ideale is at the top of the list. I also liked to recommend this place to people looking for good, authentic Italian food in North Beach.

Based on my visit on Saturday, I won't be returning or sending anyone else to this restaurant. When I made a reservation for 9, I was told it was a busy night and I might need to wait a few minutes at the bar. We arrived at 9:10 and found a cluster of people waiting at the door, and no host in sight. After 5 minutes we had to seek someone out to find out the status of our table. Fortunately there were two spots at the bar, so we had a place to sit while we waiting 10 minutes for a drink and another 10 minutes to be seated, which at this point was 9:36.

One of the things that used to set Ideale apart was the high quality bread that they made on the premises. On this visit, we were presented with the same tasteless, mass-produced stuff that all the restaurants serve.

Wine by the glass was expensive and of poor quality. I don't mind spending a little more for a good glass of wine, but don't give me for a best option a $10 glass of chianti from an $8 bottle.

We both ordered the Mista salad to start; simple but tasty, until we both bit down on lemon seeds, souring the experience. Was this intentionally part of the salad? If so the kitchen should re-consider this choice.

Entrees were both very good; the steak was cooked blue as requested, which not every restaurant will do. My yellowtail was grilled to perfection, moist and ever so slightly underdone in the middle.

The service by the busser was excellent; warm and efficient. The waiter, on the other hand, seemed rushed and disinterested. By this time the restaurant was only half-full so I can only guess that we were interrupting a conversation with our troublesome desire to order (enlisting the help of the busser on two occasions).

• Pros: Entrees are still excellent
• Cons: Terrible service; too many loud birthday parties

09/14/07

Just like Italia

by toni50

"La mia classe di Italiano abbiamo cenato mercoldi scorso". Fantastico!! The food was delicious and the services was gracious and professional. The pizzas were made the way they are made in Italy - thin, fresh and with simple. Classics! The pasta was made fresh and the portions were just right. I felt as though I were in Rome!!! When our group arrived we sat down and a cushion on my chair broke AND I knocked over my water! What a disaster! The staff was so kind and patient. They cleaned up my mess with humor and patience and made me feel relaxed and happy. Grazie, tutti. Saro ritornare presto!

• Pros: Ambience and Service
• Cons: The dining room was full and the temperature got a bit too warm.

09/04/07

Good food, nice setting

by jkportland

My hotel recommended Ristorante Ideale, glad I listened to them. It is a great family style place. The service was excellent, everyone was very friendly. I was eating solo, but they gave me a nice table and everything was run like clockwork. It was obvious from watching others dining that they had a good local following, always a good sign! I'd go back there anytime, good food, and a relaxed setting

06/01/07

Horrible Experience

by meeks

This resturant came highly recommended for its cusine and service. I had made reservations and when we arrived our table was not ready. The staff was not at all accomodating to my party. When I asked for a table away from the door, we were told that there were no other tables available. We were seated at the table by the door and right behind us a two person party came in right after I was seated with no reservation and was given the table that I was told was not available. When, I asked management about this discrepency, It was completely ignored and I spoken over as I tried to describe the situation. It was completely dismissve and felt very discreminatory. As a person who has worked in the food industry for many years and as someone who dines out weekly, I was utterly disappointed by this experience. I will never return and I have made it a point to let everyone I know about this experience.

• Cons: Horrible Service

01/03/07

Hidden Gem

by sfnhoj

I have lived in the nieghborhood for years and regret not finding the place sooner. Now my all time favorite in the neighborhood. The pasta dishes are cooked to perfection. The other courses, though good are not as great. The menu will change depending on what is in season. Great deserts. The waiters are friendly despite some of the other reviews. It has a European atmosphere where you can dine for hours without feeling rushed

11/30/06

An unexpectedly authentic gem of an Italian trattoria in the heart of North Beach.

by Contributor

The Scene
Diners weary of the barkers on Columbus Avenue should consider a detour to quirky Grant Avenue instead. The restaurant has two brightly painted rooms, one with a small but full bar in the back and the other packed with couples and families next to walls with cheerful mosaics. The noise can escalate quickly and service can be erratic, but a festive spirit prevails.

The Food
The dishes here reflect the way Italians really eat. An appetizer of zucchini with truffle oil and Parmesan cheese is so delicious it's difficult to share, as are the scrumptious, smoky bundles of grilled calamari with arugula. Pastas are homemade and merit return visits, including some toothy orecchiette with pecorino and rapini, whose sole fault is the terrifying hunks of garlic. The sauce on the dry pork chop can't save it, but the accompanying roasted potatoes are flavorful and perfectly crispy.

11/13/06

Extremely Addictive

by baycritic

Ristorante Ideale is consistently outstanding! From the atmosphere, to the owners, to the bread, to the pastas, to the pizza, to the dessert, you can't miss there. For the past 10 years, I have been going to this restaurant weekly, and it has yet to let me down. A warm, friendly, extremely Italian experience greets me at the frot door every time. Maurizio Bruschi is a true genious, and his homemade breads and pastas are the best in the city, hands down. The prices are moderate, very affordable, and worth every penny! I recommend Ideale to everyone and anyone looking for a great place to go on any occasion. My only upset, is that it has become so popular (and with good reason), I cannot be selfish any longer...... If you are lucky enough to have eaten there, you know that words cannot explain the wonders of this restaurant!