Search Your Favourite Restaurants.

Name: Sotto Mare
Address: 552 Green St, San Francisco, CA, 94133
Telephone: (415) 398-3181
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 4.26

Sotto Mare

552 Green St, San Francisco, CA, 94133

(415) 398-3181
Store is closed

Sotto Mare Menu

Appetizers

Oyster On Half Shell

Clam On Half Shell

Crecked Crab

Oyster Shooter

Clam Shooter

Smoked Salmon

Benita's Baccala
Salads

Crab Cocktail

Prawn Cocktail

Bay Shrimp Cocktail

Crab Louis

Prawn Louis

Bay Shrimp Louis

Combo Louis

Blue Cheese Wedge

House Salad
Fish And Shellfish

Grilled Sand Dabs

Grilled Rex Sole

Sea Scallop Saute

Prawn Saute

Prawn / Scallop Saute

Risotto
Pasta

Fettuccine Linguine Or Penne

Linguine With Manila Clams

Fettuccine With Bay Scallops

Fettuccine With Smoked Salmon

Linguine With Seafood
Main

Boston Clam Chowder

Mussel Steamers

Clam Steamers

Mussel / Clam Steamers - Combo

The Best Damn Crab Cioppino
To Take Home

Boston Clam Chowder

House Tomato Sauce

Healthy Meal suggestions for Sotto Mare

Appetizers

Oyster On Half Shell [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Clam On Half Shell [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crecked Crab [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Oyster Shooter [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Clam Shooter [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Smoked Salmon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Benita's Baccala [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Salads

Crab Cocktail [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Prawn Cocktail [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bay Shrimp Cocktail [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crab Louis [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Prawn Louis [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bay Shrimp Louis [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Combo Louis [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Blue Cheese Wedge [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

House Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Fish And Shellfish

Grilled Sand Dabs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Rex Sole [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sea Scallop Saute [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Prawn Saute [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Prawn / Scallop Saute [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Risotto [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Pasta

Fettuccine Linguine Or Penne [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Linguine With Manila Clams [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fettuccine With Bay Scallops [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fettuccine With Smoked Salmon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Linguine With Seafood [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Main

Boston Clam Chowder [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mussel Steamers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Clam Steamers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mussel / Clam Steamers - Combo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The Best Damn Crab Cioppino [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
To Take Home

Boston Clam Chowder [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

House Tomato Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

Write An Anonymous Review

Julian N.

Very very very delicious....lots of flavor and real simple. 2nd time here and will come back again and again for cioppino! Haven't had one this good. And 2 sandabs were perfect, added them to my cioppino and bam!!
(5)
Jimmy L.

Best restaurant in SF. Must get the cioppino and request a table upstairs. Awesome ambiance and food can't get any better.
(5)
Chowder K.

Clam chowder- will knock you socks off! Cioppino- Holy Cow! Da bomb! $41 but large portion for two. I am a cioppino oficionado. I take pride in my own home made ciopinno.... Until I took the first spoonful of this cioppino into my mouth. My hats off to the establishment. When you are willing to fight over the pot of cioppino with your loved one and face the consequences later, then you know how good it would be. Service- very attentive Ambiance- kinda place where while you are slurping spaghetti noodles the guy next table gets whackedby some Italian goomba. Very cozy and old school atmosphere!! Excellent choice
(5)
Sheila B.

Old restaurant known for cioppino and seafood dishes. We had fetticini with bay scallops because we were in a hurry, but wished we'd had time to linger.
(4)
Bodai P.

After walking to coit tower from union square, we ended up here. 2nd time at sotto mare and it does not disappoint. Seafood linguini was flavorful, steamed clam and mussels were good, but the broth was excellent. The risotto was good as well, but for my tastes i needed more flavor in the rice. The steamed clam/mussel broth fixed that! Excellent food. Only gripe is there can be long lines, and there is no refills on the soft drinks or tea. Recommended.
(4)
Nova C.

love this spot. transitional Italian food
(5)
Evelyn F.

Three words - cioppino, cioppino, cioppino! I visited San Fran for the first time and I had just seen Andrew Zimmern's Delicious Destinations episode including Sotto Mare. I dreamt about the cioppino every night, and it lived up to and exceeded my expectations. Forget the fact that it's a bargain for two. That's not even a factor when you consider the sauce, cooked for two days to bring out the natural flavors. The seafood was immensely tender and fresh.
(5)
Julia C.

Great food, great ambiance, friendly staff. A little loud and not fancy but worth the meal. The cioppino for two was amazing! Brought us back to Italy! What a gem. Check it out.
(4)
Frank L.

This place was amazing ! Order the all seafood linguine, it was heavenly ! The ambiance was cool, warm, cozy and very friendly. Our server was so cool and knew every dish on the menu. The owner was so involved in the business and made sure that she spoke with customer. The only drawback was its long wait times, if you don't have a reservation, expect to eat at 5pm or 10pm or wait for over 1 hr. Definitely worth the wait ! I can't wait to return and try the other menu items.
(5)
Jemusu L.

Because of the exceptionally good reviews, I came in this place with pretty high expectations. I ordered a fettuccine with smoked salmon and cippino. The pasta was just ok. Nothing special about it. And the seafood in the soup was very fresh and in generous portions ( $41 tho ). Overall a good Italian restaurant but not very impressed.
(4)
S D.

Got the linguine and clams. Very fresh clams. Pasta was ok. But the sauce was a heavy white cream paste, gummy and tasteless. I had to add a ton of salt and pepper to give it any flavor at all. Really disappointed, given all the rave reviews.
(3)
Joyce B.

It's looks like a former coffee bar with a long counter and small seating area. In other words, it's not fancy. We loved the food and look forward to going back. The service was great and so was the food. We had the pesto pasta and crab Louis, both of which I'd love to have again.
(4)
Sylvia L.

No-nonsense restaurant with generous proportions. Backstory: We went here after finding out we had accidentally cancelled a reservation at Atelier Crenn and after finding Tony's Pizza had a 1 hour wait. We were told there was a 20 minute wait and we went next door to the bar for drinks. 10 minutes later, the lobster that they gave us buzzed and we were granted entrance. Food: Special of the Night - Spinach Ravioli: Creamy, hearty, fresh. 4 stars Benita's Baccala: Chunky cod in a tomato gravy sauce. Spoon it on your bread and it's delicious. Oysters: Good and relatively inexpensive for what it was. Good deal. Smoked Salmon: LOVED it. I had gone on a cruise the week before, where the smoked salmon tasted stringy and "old". This tasted like sushi with more flavor. It helps that I had the previous comparison to fully enjoy the smoked salmon. Bread: Nice but I wasn't blown away. Seemed a bit standard. But it's free! Ambiance: We were served by this woman who seems like she is one of those wise diner veterans who could recite the menu backwards if she had to. Fast, great attention to all of the tables (she was serving many! the house was PACKED) and super professional. Maybe she's the owner or the owner's wife? Not sure, but she's awesome.
(4)
Connie Y.

We came on a nice Tuesday night as a party of 2 and there was a wait. But we were able to be seated outside when we finally got our table, which was perfect. We basically shared half the table with another party of 2 but who could complain? We just couldn't wait to eat the cioppino and drink some beer! We ordered the Cioppino, which came with a lot of different seafood including mussels, crab, clams, shrimp, and more! It even had some penne pasta on the bottom of the big pot although not a ton of it. The sauce was really what made it good. It was a tomato-y sauce. I put some of that on my bread since there was so much sauce and it was super good! This was all for $41... To feed two! The menu says it feeds two and it really does. I mean, we had gotten a half order of plain Alfredo pasta ($8) just because we figured the Cioppino be flavorful and some extra carbs might be nice. The Alfredo pasta was really plain though so it just put it in my sauce from the Cioppino to make it better. That was definitely a good use of my sauce! The waitresses here are really nice too. They check on us a lot and make sure we are okay. It really feels like the ladies care what our experience is like, which I love. Regarding the ambiance, it's not fancy place but it's a cute place to be. It's really casual. But the outdoor seating is just great to have. Will be back!
(4)
Jonathan T.

Called in at 11 am on a Friday post thanksgiving to make a reservation and they only had 1:30PM open so I took it. Walked in at 1:25 and was immediately seated. Presented with bread and butter. We ordered fresh oysters which were amazing and the fresh clams were not so good. We also ordered linguini with seafood which contained a lot of seafood with a decent sauce. However, the pasta was way over cooked and not al dente at all. Far from Italian pasta. If you've been to Italy, you know what I'm talking about. -1 star here. In addition, we ordered steamed clams which contained a lot of clams as you can see in the picture. However, the broth was so salty we couldn't even use it to dip the clams in. We asked them to remake it, to be less salty. When they brought back the new dish, it was completely unsalted which we didn't ask for. -1 star here. Final thing we ordered was the seafood risotto which had a good flavor but nothing too special. Pros: portion size is huge Cons: pasta is not al dente and remake of clams was tasteless without salt.
(3)
Kenny V.

Yum yumm! Sotto mare is quaint little joint, so expect a wait even on week nights. Fortunately we were seated quickly at the bar. Started off with Baccala (bunch of mashed up fish in olive oil) - delicious! We shared the seafood cioppino - also tasty! Good amount of crab claws and clams too. It was very busy (and noisy) that night, but service was still quick and attentive. The person next to me ordered the salmon fettuccine Alfredo which looked amazing. Certainly would like to come back to try that.
(4)
Joseph L.

Make a reservation and avoid the wait. I've heard horror stories about the reservation, but I didn't encounter any problems. Always a mystery when that happens. Obviously show up on time and don't be late. That being said, small cozy kitchen a la most North Beach restaurants and just the most amazing Italian seafood you'll find in the area. If you have to have one thing all you need is a cioppino. Nice portions and almost shareworthy, but oh so good I wouldn't ;) DEFINITELY come check out Sotto Mare.
(5)
Phil Y.

We made reservations at 7:00 PM. Absolutely no parking in the vicinity. At 6:55 PM, I popped in to tell the hostess that we were kind of here, outside looking for parking. 20 minutes later and after hiking a long way, we stepped into the restaurant promptly at 7:15 PM. We were immediately taken to the back of the restaurant, down a flight of stairs to the basement where I head some loud yelling. I thought for sure that the San Francisco branch of the mafia would be hanging out in the basement. Luckily for us, no mafia. Only 2 loud tables of party goers having fun and singing "Happy Birthday." We were quickly seated at our table. Our waitress was none other than my daughter's 4th grade math teacher! She was a dead ringer for her teacher, and my daughter was scared. She was on spring break and her teacher that is frustrating her with "Common Core" math was the last person she wanted to see. Luckily, for my daughter, the only thing in common was the looks. Our waitress was a little nicer than her 4th grade math teacher. She gave us our menus and water for us to drink. We ended up ordering their "Best Damn Crab Cioppino" and a Pink Pasta. As we were waiting, the math teacher brought out some bread for us, and bibs for us to wear. The "Best Damn Crab Cioppino" was advertised as "Enough for two" and "Best Cioppino" in the city. We eagerly awaited it. The Cioppino came out in a large metal bowl. The math teacher told us that it had an entire crab in it. It also had shrimp, mussels, clams, scallops and Penne Pasta. All of this was mixed together in a delicious red sauce or broth. The Cioppino lived up to its name. It was perfectly seasoned. Every last bit of seafood in it was eaten. There was not a drip of sauce or broth left. What wasn't covering my seafood or pasta was either soaked up with the bread, or ladled out of there with a spoon. The Pink Pasta was okay. We ordered a half order of the Pink Pasta for the daughter because they do not have fried calamari on the menu. She ate a 1/4 of the half order. Since her math teacher looked like our waitress, we asked the waitress how much 1/4 of a half is, but, we couldn't get her to gives us the answer. Needless to say, my daughter doesn't like red, white, pink, or blue pasta. She only likes Yellow macaroni pasta with American cheese. Overall, it was a great experience at Sotto Mare. The "Best Damn Crab Cioppino" was delicious. It almost fed three! Parking is available only if you are lucky. Get there early because you won't be there in time after looking for a parking space. No Mafia. Yes, the waitress did look like my daughter's math teacher.
(5)
Ortiz N.

I suggest you make reservations, everything on the menu was fresh ! If you sit @ the bar you can actually see them prepare the food ! Small place but worth the wait !
(5)
Stacy G.

I had great meal here! The cioppino was to die for! And it was a great serving for two. We even had enough to take the rest home! The crab salad was delicious as well with REAL crab! And also had a mimosa which hit the spot! If you are ever near north beach and want sea food this is the place to go! There is a bit of a wait bc it's a very small place but it's worth the wait and thank you to the staff who all were warm welcoming and friendly !
(4)
Keith P.

Me and the wife went around 6pm and they got inside to a seat quickly. Service was very good. We had the sole dish and scallops in linguine. Both were average but a little to light on the seasoning. Also had the west coast oysters on the half shell. Absolutely delicious. With a try but don't set expectations too high
(3)
Raquel Y.

Bomb. Highlights: - east side oysters were $2.50 each, but they were fresh! (4 stars) - Seafood linguine was so good, a bit heavy tho (4.5 stars) - Clam steamers were huge and good! (4 stars) - Watching how fast and skilled the cooks are, cooking 6 pans at a time!!! Wanna come back for cioppino and sand dabs! Also prepare to wait - at least 30 mins. But well worth it!
(4)
Jane H.

My standards are always higher for a place with a 30+ min wait. Unfortunately Sotto Mare didn't live up to my expectations. The food was pretty good, as Italian food usually is, but the ambiance and service left something to be desired. We were seated next to the door, which was open, causing a draft for the whole meal. We didn't get very much interaction from the waitstaff, maybe because where we were sitting, but that isn't really an excuse. People are bustling around you the whole meal and because the aisles are so narrow, there are quite a lot of traffic jams. Don't come here if you want a relaxed, comfortable meal.
(3)
Michael J.

I was in SF for a wedding and found this place on Yelp. It was a perfect combination of seafood and Italian in the "happening" part of the city. Verdict? Well...it's okay. We came here on a Thursday night and arrived at the restaurant at 7:20pm. There was already a line forming and I knew the wait was going to be a while. It took almost two hours to go from putting our name down on the wait list to when the food came to our table. We ordered the cioppino like everyone suggested. The portion was good. Perfect for two people as the menu suggested. While I'm no expert on cioppino nor have I tried any before this trip, I was rather underwhelmed by the experience. Perhaps it was the two hour wait. Perhaps it was the hype around the dish. Perhaps it may have even been the $40+ bill that came to us at the end. I'm sorry to say this but it just wasn't worth it. Not $41 dollars worth of food by any means. Don't get me wrong. There was a good amount of seafood and some penne to add to the mix. But after tips and tax, it's about $25 per person. For that amount, it would've been worthwhile to order the seafood linguine, which looked amazing. The food wasn't bad but it definitely wasn't worth the wait nor the money.
(3)
Maggi K.

I am usually extremely cautious when I go to a highly-raved joint with people (and in Sotto Mare's case - even the menu) saying that a particular item they serve is the "best" in town. I have not had many cioppinos in my time but I do believe it is one of those things that could be extremely easy to mess up due to the sensitive cooking times of seafood. On my recent visit here, I shared "The Best Damn Crab Cioppino in San Francisco" with my boyfriend. It was pricey at $41 BUT it definitely feeds 2 as noted so it's not too bad per person. The wait for it was long and painful since we were both starving. We may have waited over 30 minutes but finally, the cioppino came and I've gotta say - it was definitely worth the wait!! I don't have much to compare it to but it takes the title as the best in my belly.Our cioppino came served in a mini pot-like container with a lid and it really helped to keep our broth warm. They gave heaping portions of mussels, shrimp, and scallops! There were clams as well but the clams were an afterthought compared to the mussels. I'm usually not a crab fan either somehow they managed to make this crab so damn good. The broth/stew part was perfectly seasoned too. My only complaint (if I had to be nitpicky) was that the penne got soggy very quickly but since it was at the bottom of the pot, I am not surprised that it would turn out this way. I refilled my bowl a good 4-5 times (as did my boyfriend) and we were both full beyond belief by the end of the meal. Since we sat at the bar, I saw them bring out plenty of their other items and they all looked delicious but it would be pretty difficult to convince me NOT to get the cioppino the next time I come back.
(5)
Brian S.

Sand dips. Sand dips and more sand dips. Order them, ear them and let them melt in your mouth. Typical with good spots in SF, go early and bring your patience as there will be an hour wait. I like to sit at the bar (everywhere I go) and enjoy an ice cold beer with my meal. Oh yeah- order rhe sand dips here.
(4)
dutchy s.

First time I was here, I'd say this place was 4.5 out of 5. Was here with some tourist friends, and the wait staff was very patient with them asking questions, as they had never had crab before. We just ordered cracked crab, and they brought it on hot, on a plate, with garlic spaghetti, it was awesome. I could say some of the best crab I've ever had in my life. And I was born in SF. So there. Second time we went, we got there a bit later, I guess an hour before closing, and asked to be seated. The cheerful owner (I think he is the owner) told us to go next door for a beer, and check back in 30 for our seat. So we did. When we came back the owner was still cheerful and told us bon appetite, but our waitress was really rude, telling us how we're her last customer, and to hurry up. We were trying to be polite to her regardless, and when she brought us the crab, it was cold (which is fine), with no butter, no pasta like before -- so I asked her about the pasta, and she kind of snapped back saying, "You want a side of pasta now too?" and barked at the chefs, telling them if it was too late to sautÃ© some spaghetti in garlic butter for us, its ok, just let her know. Right in front of us. The crab just didn't taste that good the second time, for apparent reasons. At this point, I may try somewhere else, I may not, because that first crab there served in the garlic butter spaghetti would be my death row meal.
(3)
Brad B.

I've been here twice and both times ordered the same thing. Go ahead, take a wild guess. Yup, the cioppino! Seriously, I don't know a thing about this place. I can't tell you what it looks like, I don't remember a single staff member and as far as I'm concerned the menu has one item on it, the cioppino. Loaded with all the classic ingredients this bowl is intended to be shared amongst friends. Well, when I sit down at the table in Sotto Mare I have no friends. Only potential enemies who dare to try to snap a crab leg or clam from my bowl - don't cross me, kids! Order a cheap bottle of wine and save that bread until the end when all that is left is that tasty broth - best forty something bucks you'll spend in SF.
(5)
Eugene N.

This place is legit. There is a reason it has so many reviews yet maintain a high rating. Went to this place years back and realized I never reviewed it only after going again recently. We've tried the seafood risotto, seafood pasta, and cioppino. All were fantastic. This really is for the seafood lover. If you are not much into seafood, the amount given on each dish might overwhelm you. I've tried cioppino all over the place. At some highly regarded restaurants. This may be up there at the top of my list. In terms of price, quality, portions. It is enough for 2 people. And not 2 small people, but 2 average folks can really be satisfied. The seafood risotto was packed with seafood. Don't worry about them skimping--they don't. Same goes for the pasta. It's not a fancy restaurant. In fact it may be rather small for the popularity of the place. But everything works. It flows well with just the overall vibe of the North Beach/Telegraph Hill area. It's fun to sit at the bar watching the cooks do their thing since it's an open kitchen. If I had a complaint, it would be the staff is not as nice or attentive--or I've just had bad luck on the times I've came. They aren't bad, but you just know it could be better--thats how it was with my experiences. Overall, excellent food with good value. Definitely a place to continue to come back.
(5)
Tony F.

Yup. Real old school Italian. Nothing fancy or pretentious just great food done well. A friend and I were lucky enough to get to seats at the bar and had a front row seat to excellent chefs consistently knocking out great dishes. My friend got the Halibut which was like a steak and perfectly sauteed. I got the linguine with shrimp in marinara. INCREDIBLE. Everything about my dish was perfect. Pasta aldente', no water floating in bottom of the bowl, 8 giant shrimp and a bright simple and complex marinara sauce. Everything was piping hot and awesome. We both enjoyed a few ice cold Peroni's, some clam chowder to start and a nice crusty italian bread. I am 100% Italian, worked for a while in an Italian restaurant and love food but none of that matters. This is a place that just does it right. By the way the guy next to us got the Cioppino and was raving about it. Huge portions, nice people. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Grace L.

Sotto Mare. Where have you been all my life and why have I been settling at other restaurants? You are seriously better than the fancy Italian seafood restaurant I went to last night and well worth every dollar spent. First of all, red or white wine while you wait to be seated. For free. Come on, now. Whatever you do, order the crab cioppino with seafood. Not only is it the best cioppino you'll ever taste, but it's pretty much the best cioppino you'll ever taste. I'm sure there is a whole Dungeness crab cut into pieces in there and lots of mussels and clams to compliment it. Not to mention penne pasta, shrimp, and baby octopus. Oh my gosh, this is seriously so good. Did I also mention that this is the best cioppino ever? You also get unlimited bread. Score. The service is friendly and the wait was well worth it. I'm definitely coming back for you, you crab cioppino, you.
(5)
Diana C.

This place has that diner feel with their nautical decorations and cozy atmosphere. Came to get oysters and also ordered a clam chowder. Oysters were nice and fresh and weren't small like some other places I've been to. It was a first to see my oysters swimming in some water still but gosh, they were delicious. $1.50 for the west coast ones and $2.50 for east coast. I haven't tried east coast to see the dollar difference yet. Chowder was alright and they gave a bread basket when you first sit down. There's olive oil and vinegar for you to dip your bread in and also some butter. Mostly I would just come back to get oysters if I was ever in the area.
(4)
Mike Y.

Got the following and they were all fantastic: - east coast oysters on half shell (they ran out of west coast oysters) - clam on half shell - clam chowder bowl - cioppino (for two) - seafood linguine Service was good at a very very busy restaurant (and we ate at the tables outside because the wait is too long otherwise). both the seafood linguine and cioppino have tons of seafood in it. It has this fresh seafood taste to it. Awesome. I think that the food has good value and is well worth the price. Clam and oyster were both fresh. Chowder was excellent, but I remember better chowder from the East coast. Overall, the experience and food are both excellent. We will come back and we probably will recommend out of town friends to visit here also.
(5)
Fay A.

Fantastic service, fantastic food. The seafood linguini is easily the best seafood pasta we have ever had, and the cippini is absolutely addictive.
(5)
Rodney H.

Sotto Mare is located on one of my favorite streets in North Beach, Green St. I like how this spot has an old diner feel to it. I met up with a friend at here to treat her for her birthday. She wanted to try their Best Damn Crab Cioppino and so that's what I ordered for the both of us since the menu said it was enough for two. It was rather chilly that night, so before having the Best Damn Crab Cioppino, I was convinced by our waitress to start with their Boston Clam Chowder. Boston Clam Chowder -- bit.ly/1617OoJ It was good chowder. Not sure how it differentiates from any other clam chowders I've had at other spots but it was still pretty good regardless. "The Best Damn Crab Cioppino" -- bit.ly/17B3Un2 Yeah, this was good! Loaded with crab, mussels, and a whole lot of seafood. So much stuff going on that it was definitely enough for the both of us. Well I'm sold and it certainly deserves its title. I'd like to come back and try their other stuff like their sand dabs and seafood risotto and also go for another round of the Best Damn Cioppino, but all to myself!!
(5)
Janet T.

MANGIA, MANGIA....... Yes when you come here, Definitely bring your appetite! This just might be my favorite Italian/Seafood restaurant in SF. But then I always seem to say that, until I discover yet another one. Arrived for our reservations at 6:00pm. Party of 5. We were celebrating one of the gals birthday in our group Sandy. We were seated promptly downstairs. Have to admit, it was much quieter which I liked. Immediately we were given bread & butter. But the bread was not warm and the butter was ice cold. Oh well. We each started off with a cocktail. I had a Moscow Mule (change it up a bit). Now onto the food....We each started with a bowl of Red Clam Chowder which was AMAZING. Had tiny pieces of clams, potatoes, LEEKS AND bacon. It was out of this world delicious! We then had Bay Shrimp Cocktail which might be the best I've ever had. The seafood at this place is sooooo fresh. For our main, I had the Bay Scallop Fettucini. The scallops were done perfectly & the noodles were just al-dente (which I'm picky about). The girls ordered Grilled Sand Dabs, and two shared the Crab Choppino, & one had what I had. Everyone LOVED their food. Generous portions. My cream sauce to the fettucini was out of this world! Service was right on. I think our waiter got a little annoyed with us as we were having a discussion about which wine to order with dinner & I guess we weren't fast enough to his liking. Lol. They do not serve dessert here but that's okay because after, we were headed to my house to enjoy strawberry shortcake & coffee or champagne. Once we got home to our dessert, we popped in a movie (some old classic called American Beauty) & the girls didn't leave till 1:30am. Great evening had by all!
(4)
Ivan T.

Such a long wait!!!! Don't go there if you're hungry, that's my advice. We have waited for half an hour for a table, than about an hour for the food itself.
(1)
Fidel Q.

Five star on the cioppino the texture was right on, bursting with flavors. The best I've ever had. Can't wait to go back.:);)
(5)
Emily W.

Not my favorite seafood joint. Clam chowder was the best part of my meal. Crab cioppino was too salty / saucy, and there was hardly any crab meat. Fettucine with bay scallops tasted pretty flavorless. Restaurant is pretty small with a very narrow aisle between the bar and tables.
(2)
Tiffany D.

Cioppino for the win! Fit for two, the big, mixed, piping hot, seafood bowl, was hearty and served as a comfort meal to a seafood lover's palate! If you are starving, their Seafood Risotto looked creamy-licious and undoubtedly worthy to order up! Get some raw oysters and oyster shooters as starters. The iced oysters, teases the palate while you await for their marvelous Cioppino! The hostess was very accommodating for 2 people with no reservations and going in during peak hours because she was initially going to seat us outside, where there was a crowd waiting to be seated, but we wanted to dine warmly inside - away from the people and bystanders. We were seated perfectly at the bar and in front of the kitchen stove area - so we can see the chefs cooking up the scrumptious meals. I loved the setting. The waitress looked a bit stressed. I don't blame her because she was the only waitress for this hole-in-the wall place. Suggestion - hire another helper. Unless, the reason why they didn't have another server was because the narrow space can only afford to fit one person or two people walking at one time while holding dishes with them. Then, that is understandable. Besides that, dine here with a small group of 2-4 people. You can rest assured that you'll have a good kick over seafood fulfillment with their Raw Oysters, Seafood Risotto and their infamous Cioppino!
(4)
Candice H.

Sotto Mare...where have you been all my life? Though you're not a fancy Italian seafood restaurant, you're by far better! We arrived on Tuesday evening with 6:30 p.m. reservations and checked in with the hostess who was friendly. My initial impression of the restaurant was, "this place is small". Little did I know, there was a downstairs for additional seating called "Under the Sea". "Under the Sea" has two separate dining rooms (also their banquet room) that can seat a party of 4 or more. As we walked passed the narrow walkway by the bar and tables that seat two along the wall, I noticed the bar seating had the best view to the open kitchen. We were immediately served bread upon being seated. I'm not sure if they make their bread in-house, but it was hard and cold. I would've preferred it to be served warm and soft. Also, the butter was ice cold so it was hard to spread. Fortunately, I was able to use the bread to sop up the sauce from the cioppino and juice from the clam steamers. We ordered: Clam Steamers ($19) - A generous portion of clams in a flavorful garlicky broth. Simple and very fresh! Boston Clam Chowder (Bowl w/ entree $6.50) - Not sure how it differentiates from any other clam chowder, but it was full of heartiness and robust flavors. It had a nice amount of clams, bite size potatoes, and bacon bits in a creamy flavorful stock. Risotto ($19) - It was good, but not the best I've had. Packed with large prawns, tiny shrimps, calamari, clams, mussels, and baby scallops. The risotto might have been undercooked too because part of it was hard. Seafood was definitely fresh and rich in variety! The Best Damn Crab Cioppino ($38) - Good for two people, but can probably feed more if you eat like a bird. The tomato based broth was well seasoned and the various seafood added a brininess, which enhanced the flavor. The seafood components consisted of crab, mussels, clams, tiny scallops, and calamari. If you dig to the bottom, you'll find a plethora of penne pasta swimming in the broth. Definitely worth the price for the amount of fresh seafood they give. Grilled Sand Dabs ($19) - This was my least favorite dish even though it's one of their popular items. The portion was generous since they give you about eight or nine sand dabs. Although fresh, it needed more seasoning to enhance the flavor . This was not a winner. Service was impeccable! Our waitress was friendly, attentive, and asked numerous times if we're okay on drinks. **NOTE** They do not serve dessert here. Instead, they provide you with a list of places nearby. Pros -great service -delicious food Cons -parking is difficult in North Beach -limited menu -no dessert
(4)
Bevin H.

I have never had a bad meal here. Very consistent and staff is very efficient and friendly. Shared a bowl of clam chowder with wife (plenty for the two of us). I had the Prawn/Scallop SautÃ¨ ~ combo and she had the sea bass special. As we tend to share our meals, I preferred by Prawn/Scallop over the sea bass, but both meals were excellent. You really can't go wrong with any of their "standard" menu items. My daughter shared THE "BEST DAMN CRAB CIOPPINO" with seafood with her boyfriend. Let's just say they didn't leave any in the bowl. They couldn't stop raving about the dish. Don't wait too long for the dessert menu (they don't serve desserts).
(5)
William L.

I wanted to love this place, I really did. I came here for the cioppino, no messing around. Arrive solo on a Saturday afternoon pretty early. Seated at the bar no problem and saw a bunch of tables inside open as well if any groups happened to come in. I ordered my cioppino and patiently waited. During this time, another older gentlemen was seated next to me. My order came up shortly thereafter and I dug in. I ignored the provided bread the entire time I was there. The cioppino was alright. Very heavy thick tomato overpowered everything inside that bowl. So much so that it was very difficult to taste the different types of seafood. I finished the entire thing after being warned I wouldn't be able to by three different waitresses. It was definitely a lot. So you're probably wondering why I mentioned the other gentlemen above...well, this guy had not even gotten a drink by the time I was done and leaving (it took me a bit!). The staff wasn't overly busy, and he was acknowledged by THREE different waitresses that they'd get right to him for a drink and his order. Eventually he got up and left without saying a word. I felt so terrible. They kept brushing by him shooting the breeze with customers and co-workers. This rubbed me the wrong way. If this was happening when the place was about 2/3 full, I can't imagine what it's like when it's packed.
(3)
Charles E.

Went there again today. Very good Louis combo salad. This time the server was great. Folks next to me had cioppino and were ecstatic. It gets pretty warm inside so go for an outside table.
(5)
Ashley C.

Sotto Mare is a quaint, cozy spot with excellent Italian seafood. The restaurant is fairly small. We arrived on a Thursday night and of course there was a wait. (Note: You can't make reservations unless you have 3 or more and it is not great for big groups.) It is definitely worth the wait. The host was very friendly and offered us each a complimentary glass of wine while we waited - a very nice touch. To start, we ordered a dozen oysters - trying their east and west coast oysters. All were good but the west coast oysters take the day any day of the week. They were fresh, meaty and had a nice brininess to them. We had to order the Cioppino and it was some of the best cioppino I've ever had. It is huge and is meant to serve 2. It is a tomato based broth that has a great seafood base and is served with some penne pasta that still has a nice bite to it. The Cioppino is overflowing with seafood - lots of crab, shrimp, mussels, calamari, clams and octopus. All of the seafood was fresh and perfectly cooked. It is seafood heaven! Now that I am thinking of the cioppino, my stomach is rumbling. It was amazing food, excellent service and reasonably priced. This is definitely making my San Francisco staple restaurant list.
(5)
Taylor W.

The food was so delicious! Had oysters, mussels, sand dabs, and the sea scallops. I would recommend this place to anyone who enjoys seafood. It was busy but be too log of a wait for 2. Staff was a little snappy.
(5)
Kevin S.

My goodness I had forgotten how good Italian food can be, instead of just carbs covered in sauces. To be honest, this review is only about their cioppino, which is the only thing that I tried because it serves two people. Oh, actually I had an oyster shooter too, but since that was the first and only one I've ever had there's not much I can say about it? Actually I enjoyed the shooter a lot; it was a good mix of salty and brine-y but refreshing and I wasn't grossed out by the oyster like some people I know have been. The cioppino, though OH MY GAHHHD. They call it the "Best Damn Crab Cioppino" and I've got to say, it is definitely worth 5 stars by itself. If it wasn't the best in my recent memory, it was definitely top 2. And it was definitely enough for 2 people to fill up. There was more seafood in that bowl than pasta in some other pasta-only dishes. And all of it was delicious - the clams, mussels, and squid were all bathed in just the right amount of sauce (but not drowning in more than can be soaked up by your bread) and the crab was precracked to ensure it was infused with all of the flavors already. Seriously, this was heaven. I'm definitely coming back here, but I'll have to force myself to try something else from their menu. If it's all as amazing as this was I'll be sure that I'll love any of their food. Although I did think their bread was very plain... like it was nothing special. It had no identity to itself other than being something to soak up pasta sauces... or is that the point?
(4)
B. L.

'Best Damn Cioppino' lives up to its name. Huge portions and delicious beyond words.
(5)
F B.

Came here specifically for the cioppino after many recommendations. Not much to say that isn't already said. Best I had so far. But let me know if there's any better around! Minus points for no outdoor heating and softer bread though. One puzzling thing was, why do people wait really long for indoor seating when there are outdoor seats available? They are already outside... waiting... :\
(5)
Joshua S.

This restaurant has the classic small San Francisco restaurant vibe to it, where the bar seating has the best view to the kitchen and allows direct interaction with the prep cooks and chef(s) that are preparing various orders. That being said, it is a small restaurant and the wait can become a bit long; so be sure to make reservations or to come at a time that is not "rush hour." I found the staff to be direct in letting you know what they can or cannot do, give realistic wait times, and occasionally offer some "San Franciscan banter" on current/loval events. I definitely appreciate this, as they leave little room for confusion. Their crab cioppino was very good. It is definitely large enough to feed two people. The tomato based sauce/broth was well seasoned and was enhanced by the various seafood that added a rich brininess, which reminded me of the sea. The seafood components which comprised of mussels, clams, calamari, and crab were all perfectly cooked. I would have liked to have had an additional spice component to really "wake things up," but it was still very good. The seafood linguini was good, as the linguini was cooked al dente. It had a cream sauce that was also enhanced by the seafood. The linguini seafood components varied from mussels, clams, calamari, shrimp, and bay scallops; and were all nicely cooked. Unfortunately, the cream sauce was a bit too heavy, which overpowered the delicate seafood. Definitely a good spot to come with a couple friends that like seafood. The cioppino is definitely a must order, as it is their signature entree. Due to the portion sizes, most entrees on the menu are definitely shareable.
(4)
Crystal C.

Who doesn't like to be served food from a grumpy, sharp-witted man? I could go either way, depending on how many glasses of wine I've had. On this occasion, I was in high spirits, meeting up with some old college lady friends for a nice dinner before making our way to Columbus CafÃ© for some extra lubrication. We shared the Best Damn Crab Cioppino which was very good, lots and lots of seafood, more than enough for four people. The broth was flavorful and rich, not as good as my mom's but when push comes to shove and you need some cioppino in your body, Sotto Mare will do the trick, especially if your mom and her cooking skills are not readily available. Lots of extra bread for dipping into the steaming stew. I also ordered a Clam Chowder to share with my friend, and we had two bottles of red wine. A very nice time overall, hope to be back soon.
(4)
Yin How L.

Expect to wait 20-45 minutes to be seated in the evening - but it's well worth the wait. Service and food are prompt; quality of food is superb. We ordered the "Best Damn Crab Cioppino", together with 2 glasses of wine. The portion is very generous, and definitely enough for party of 2. We came in with high expectation. And we were not disappointed. A must for SF visitor.
(5)
Gentry W.

Fantastic! Long wait, bit chaotic, but really fun and good food. I recommend the oysters, clam chowder and there penne seafood special.
(5)
Ammar T.

Went there after a friend of mine recommended the Seafood Cuppino.. WOW.. it was amazing. the service was excellent and staff were very friendly and got to meet the owners (Richie and Laura) there, they were awesome and treated me like a guest at their house.I can't wait to go back again.
(5)
Scott H.

Very nice people and a comfortable place in a good location. I sat near the door and heard person after person say the place had been highly recommended to them. The meal I had was pretty poor, though. I had 3 raw oysters, 3 clams, iced tea and a plate of sand dabs. With tax and tip it came to $40. At a nice place that is what I would expect to pay. But what I got was not worth anything near that amount. The sand dab dish was very generous but the fish had too much flour and tasted like it was cooked on a grill that wasn't clean. It came with some hunks of broccoli rabe that had burned garlic on it. Not pleasant. The raw shellfish plate was a loser. On the one hand it was very cheap, with the clams and oysters costing $1.50 each. The oysters were mediocre and the clams were just supermarket Manila clams, which are not very interesting to eat raw and they were not fresh. They opened them poorly and they put the shells on the plate sideways so there was no liquor in them. They were like little strings of dry clam. I love seafood and have eaten a lot of raw shellfish. I don't think there is anything more delicious than raw clams, full of clean tasting juice and tender meat. But that's not what I got.
(2)
J. D.

The clam chowder was really good. The linguini was just ok. The prawn cocktail was overpriced ($13 for 6) and the cioppino was tasty, EXCEPT that it came with a little SAND CRITTER! Our server probably could've done more than just replace the bowl with a new one (empty) but she didn't. All in all, it was a little bit of a letdown given the expectations built up by yelp reviews.
(3)
Todd J.

I don't know how I could give this less than five stars. The location is unique and inviting. You'll welcome and like you are in a place other than your house but equally relaxing. The service was fantastic. June our maybe have was helpful fun and did a great job choosing wine for me based on my description of what I liked and what I ate. The sand dabs and pasta were second to none. I'm going back, holy view it's good food.
(5)
Mina K.

This place is so good. SO GOOD. Boyfriend was craving some Italian fare so we came here on a weekday evening in order to satiate his stomach. Little did we know that we were in for a treat. After bracing ourselves for a crowd, we were lucky enough to have no wait whatsoever and were seated immediately. Score! Free bread was instantly bestowed upon us. At the table were olive oil and vinegar, and you can also ask for fresh garlic. Score again! We ordered the seafood cioppino, 4 oysters (east coast and west coast; in my humble opinion, west coast tasted better), the seafood cioppino, and half a plate of linguine in Alfredo sauce. We also ordered a glass of red wine (forgot which one). Everything was perfecto! The seafood cioppino - WOW. They do not skimp out on the seafood, and everything was so fresh. The soup broth was also very flavorful and had so much depth. The linguine - they cooked the pasta perfectly and did not smother it in sauce, which I was very grateful for. The oysters were also quite delicious. While service was not over the top since it's a small restaurant and fairly busy, it was friendly and not at all lacking. (I'm talking to you other reviewers, who for some reason expect to be waited on hand and foot...) The meal came out to be $40 a person, which I find very reasonable for such high quality food! This meal was definitely worth cancelling out my gym workout that I had so rigorously undertaken right before.
(5)
Aaron G.

Had dinner there the other night. The wait was worth it. The food was excellent and the service was superb. The ambiance was great, too. Their seafood was some of the best I've had.
(5)
Fred F.

5 stars across the board. We sat at the counter and feasted on the mussels and clam combo and then the awesome Cioppino. We couldn't eat it all so we shared with people on our left and right. Excellent service, lovely people.
(5)
Tiff C.

I had this place bookmarked for quite some time now and decided to finally try it out. I am so glad I did! I loved this place. Although it's tiny, we only had to wait 10-15 minutes. We traded a credit card for the lobster buzzer so they can notify you when a table is ready. We had a bowl or clam chowder which had big chunks of clams and was very tasty and creamy. Also ordered the bay scallop fettuccine which was also delicious and had plenty of scallops and a rich tasty garlic flavored sauce. Last but not least, we had the BEST DAMN CRAB CIOPPINO ! Soooooo good. We definitely didn't need the soup and pasta but don't regret any of it. So much different seafood in a delicious tomato base. I drank the broth like tomato soup. Yummm! The ladies in the front are nice and friendly and treat you like family. After we ate we needed a box to go and I felt like she was my mom worrying about the bag getting dirty and smelling like seafood in the car. The wait staff is also friendly and they are on top of their stuff. Never needed to ask for anything besides a box because they always had everything brought or noticed it was low. I'll definitely be back!
(4)
Sheila R.

Where do I start??? Since the change in ownership we weren't sure what to expect. (Two people from Jersey who were obsessed with this place) Well, have to say that it lost a star, but really so much more... The old Sotto Mare had attitude. ..you felt it the second that you walked in the place. From Gigi to the staff...and the ambiance of sitting at the bar watching the chefs...attitude. We'd sit there and watch the orders fly down the wire to the kitchen. We miss it all. Never did we see a table sit empty for even a minute before. This time, we watched 3-4 tables wait for patrons while a line of people waited outside. Never would've happened with Gigi. Kindly, we give 4 stars instead of 3 hoping that they can pick it up. The food seemed like the same recipes, but just lacked something. ..just couldn't put a finger on it until I asked old wait staff where the heavy chef was...until today we had never been there without him directing the kitchen. Turns out he was one of the owners...who knew! He will be missed too. Yes...back to the food. I don't generally eat clam chowder, but I must say that sotto mare had the best. It was definitely not the same on our return visit in april. Salt and pepper made it taste more like the old chowder. I love the fettuccine with salmon in a pink sauce. Boyfriend loves the spaghetti with marinara. Both resembled our former meals...just slightly not as good. Overall, if you are a new patron, I doubt that you would know the difference. For us, we miss the perfection and attitude. Now looking for a new favorite go to restaurant.
(4)
Phuong H.

I had to remove a star because our last trip to Sotto Mare did not meet our expectations. We ordered a dozen of the east coast oysters, the cioppino, and the mussel/clam steamers. We've ordered these items every time we come here so we all knew what to expect. My only complaint was that the mussel/clam steamers was overcooked. The mussels and clams were shriveled up and most they fell out of their shells, and were rubbery. I cook mussels and clams at home a lot (we love shellfish!) and was so disappointed by this dish. Other than that, the oysters were great and the cioppino was the same, except this time they served it in a bowl.
(4)
Evil J.

Food was great but was put in their basement dining area due to it being crowded. Feels like a dungeon. Oysters were awesome but who doesnt do good oysters in SF. Also the chioppino was awesome. Will I be back? Maybe.
(3)
Jessie A.

Really hidden and quiet place with great seafood. Their clam chowder was really good and their muscles were even better. Perfect place for a quick lunch and they have outside seating which was nice. The staff was friendly and the food came out quick.
(5)
Jack D.

In SanFran you must stop here. An old school seafood establishment. Simple and very good. Just good people who really enjoy their jobs. Atmosphere is wonderful and small.
(5)
Lee T.

Put on my bin and got down with the cioppino. Delicious and comforting. Just what I needed on a cold San Francisco night.
(5)
Tiffany D.

If you think that Italian food is only pizza and pasta, man are you missing out! Italians also have a lovely seafood palatte, and being nestled in the middle of little italy, Sotto Mare had a touch of San Francisco to their menu. Make a reservation - the lines are long because the food is good. They have a downstairs seating area as well, that's removed from the hustle and bustle. Get: -Clam chowder - delicious. perfect texture. lots of clams and a wonderful flavor -Grilled sand dabs - flat fish, light, buttery. So amazingly flavored, and served with a really nice green They don't serve coffee or dessert (because it's actually bad for you) but give you a list of recommendations for local spots. Live what you believe. I can respect that plenty. Will definitely be back!
(5)
Caroline L.

Best cioppino ever! My husband and I are big cioppino fans and have tried it in many different restaurants. Sotto Mare definitely has the best one! The size is also great for two people to share (two of us just shared one cioppino and that was more than enough for us). It's smart for them to add pasta in the soup - very tasty and more filling for sure! Service was great, too. The only three little complaints I had were 1) Bread was only OK. You would expect the bread to taste better in such an Italian restaurant, but however it's not the case. Given how delicious their cioppino is, though, it's not that important I guess. 2) It gets very smokey. If you can, sit in the back room, outside, or closer to the entrance. The kitchen is out in the open on the back side of the restaurant. If you sit there, it does get really smokey and stuffy. Your hair and clothes will smell, too. I recommend bringing some dry shampoo or hair perfume. :) 3) Not the best spot to bring your baby. Aside from the smoke, this place is pretty small. Not good for a stroll for sure. They also don't provide a high chair, only a booster seat. But, in terms of the food itself, I still highly recommend this restaurant.
(4)
Becky W.

Amazing amazing cioppino! I'm all about quality and quantity and Sotto Mare definitely has both! The cioppino was so flavorful and all the seafood was cooked perfectly (overcooked shrimp and mussels are the worst!). The mini pot was loaded with clams, mussels, calamari/squid, crab, and shrimp. There's also a fair amount of pasta hidden underneath. When they said that the food is enough for two, it is definitely enough for two. We shared a bottle of Pinot Grigio, 4 oyster shooters (two were complementary since it was my friend's birthday), and the cioppino. We were both so full that we can barely walk, and we still didn't finish the pastas. The service was impeccable. All the waitresses were amazingly nice and super attentive. Yes the wait is long (over an hour), but it is definitely worth the wait. I recommend coming earlier if you have party of 2 or less (reservations can only be made for 3+ people). The wait should be a lot shorter if you come before 6:30. I can't wait to be back!
(5)
Michelle Y.

Pretty bomb seafood. I had been waiting to try this place for ages per the recommendations from friends and yelp itself. Finally came here one day with my family and it is a good family-style retaurant. Of course we got the Cioppino, and it was delicious. The portions are actually perfect for one person so don't try to share a regular(small?) sized one. My only complaint concerns the extra order of noodles we got after finishing our cioppinos because we didn't feel filled yet. I think it costed like $7(or more) for an extra order of plain pasta -- something ridiculous. Anyway, if you have the finances I definitely recommend this place!
(4)
Natalie M.

Nnnnooootttttt really sure what all the fuss is about. What's with the rave reviews? Pros: Fun, sorta gritty, vintage (red/white plastic checkered tablecloth-style) atmosphere You get to wear a bib Mussel / clam steamers Cons: Rude service...like, really rude Longest wait - to sit, to get drinks, and to eat Apps and Mains came at the same time Taste of several dishes was only so-so
(2)
Jeremy M.

This was the best restaurant I was at in a while!!! Take the cioppino, it was amazing
(5)
Diane C.

We came here to show our Italian exchange student Little Italy and give her a chance at some Italian food. She loves seafood, so this was a great choice. There were 6 of us, so we made a reservation. So. Glad. We. Came. The Cioppino was amazing. It was full of so many fish/shellfish and so hearty and delicious. That, some bread, some wine...does life actually get better than this?
(5)
Henry L.

Sotto Mare is the king!! Can't find anything I don't love about this place. The Food: Started with the raw oysters. Not much you can say; they were pretty darn tasty. Hard to believe I was scared to try oysters just an year ago. Now I can eat plate after plate of their oysters. For my entree, I ordered the Grilled Rex Sole despite not knowing anything about what a Rex Sole is. I'm very picky about how fish should be cooked, so I tend to not get fish at restaurants. However, given the prestige of this restaurant, I decided to try their fish. Their Rex Sole is GOOD. Served whole, the meat was flaky, soft, fishy, and just delicious. If only I could have one more piece of fish. Just one more! Sigh. I also tried the Risotto with Seafood as well as their Cioppino. The Risotto had so much flavor and the texture of the rice was perfect. The Cioppino was equally as delicious as the broth had the perfect consistency and the seafood cooked brilliantly. No spoon, just give me the ladle! The Environment: Now, the food is just plain delicious. However, what will make Sotto Mare forever memorable to me is their environment. I was lucky to be sitting in the back of the restaurant in perfect view of their chefs working at the stoves. I honestly spent half of my dining experience mouth gaping wide open watching them cook and plate. There was so much energy, enthusiasm, and precision in everything they do. Despite the dishes being highly complicated, these chefs have perfection stored in muscle memory. Please, someone get me a chair and popcorn; this is a show worth watching!
(5)
RickyNshaena H.

Nothing to write home about. The menu is very limited, all seafood options and a bit overpriced. We only tried the cracked crab; which was good, but too much work to remove the shell from the small crab legs.
(3)
George P.

My friend living in North Beach brought us here. Cioppino was excellent and the Sand Dabs done perfectly. Seemed like everyone dining around us thought they had the best dish on the menu. All did look amazing. The owners came to each table to make sure everyone loved the food. Great place.
(5)
Isaac T.

The self-declared "Best damn cioppino" is no overstatement - get it. It says it's for two but if I'm really hungry I can eat the whole thing (not because it's small at all, it's actually huge, I just can't get enough delicious seafood). Oysters are huge and a great price at $1.50 each for west coasters. Definitely a top seafood destination.
(5)
Tina F.

My favorite Cioppino place in SF, heck ever! Food is always solid here, but get ready to wait! No reservations, small establishment + tons of hungry foodies (and yes, tourists). What I've had: * cioppino * risotto w/seafood * linguine w/seafood * cracked crab * east coast oysters on the half shell everything is fresh and scrumptious!! Things to know: * parking sucks (use public transportation, go uber!) * main plate portions are huge * place is small and cramped (leave your big purses at home ladies) * casual env * alcohol selection isn't huge, but reasonably priced * eat and get out, others are on waiting! * staff is always friendly and pleasant (unless you loiter after your meal) Happy eating!
(5)
Bee H.

Reservations: Yes, they take reservations (for groups of 3 or more)! I made the reservation about 10 days in advance and got the time I wanted for four people! There was a long line for those without reservations so please be sure to make one, or be ready to wait. Check-in: Reservation was for 7:30PM and got there around 7:23PM. They don't seat you until everyone in your party is there so be sure to be on time. Order: Cioppino, Risotto (seafood- chef's special), Linguine with Mussel Clams ,2 bottles of chardonnay - Cioppino: my first ever, unique bowl of seafood, pasta, and delicious sauce! Don't forget to dip the bread into the bowl - Risotto: made with fresh seafood. the flavor and seasoning was perfect - Linguine: the best pasta i've had in a while! everything was so fresh and the sauce was soft yet creamy. perfection. Service: Medium. It was easy to get someone's attention but no one was really attentive. Food came out about 35-40 minutes of ordering so order as soon as you can. Overall: definitely will come back again :)
(4)
Daniel B.

Had to come to the place that claims to have the best cioppino in SF. The place itself is in the heart of little Italy and its very small. It reminds me of a 50's diner actually. The cioppino itself was great and comes in a huge pot that definitely feeds two. It's a seafood party inside the soup with clams, mussels, fish,shrimp,and crab. There's also some penne pasta thrown into the mix. The waitress even ties a lobster bib on to you because its a messy affair when you start eating it. Overall, the taste was good, but I don't think it was worth the $42. It needed some more spice and just more flavor in general. But still, i love seafood in general so I was happy eating every last drop. Still a place worth going to at least once I say but its gonna be pricey.
(3)
Matthew L.

I was in the mood for more of San Francisco's fine seafood so I was compelled to come here by many positive reviews. The line of people out from on a Thursday evening, and the Carrera marble bar-top told me that this place was serious (the Tony Bennett picture as well). We were led through the seemingly small dining area down into the cellar to our table which made me at once feel like I was in a scene from Goodfellas and that I might see a rat. I was there for the "best damn crab cioppino" but the portion size and lack of someone willing to share it made me choose the linguini with seafood instead. The sauce was not described, but being from New Jersey I assumed a "red" or "white" sauce would be the option. I also assumed that white sauce means a non-cream, white wine based sauce. I was wrong on all accounts with disappointing results. The seafood was very fresh, flavorful and properly cooked as was the pasta. But the sauce. I just felt bad for that seafood, having to share the plate with that pale flavor assassin. I definitely take some of the blame here for making assumptions...lesson learned. The next time I'm on the West coast, I'll inquire about the contents of that white sauce.
(3)
Derwei C.

Came here for the cioppino, a really big portion size and definitely enough for two. Filled with seafood and a wonderful tomato seafood broth and some penne. Will make you wishing you had room for more! Other dishes I saw when there looked amazing. Risotto would be something on the list to try, you get a heaping bowl full! They don't skimp on portions here! This is a place that serves both quality and quantity.
(4)
Natalie P.

I tried this place twice just because I couldn't believe my experience compared to the amount of great reviews for this place. What is going on? My first time I tried the cioppino, of course. Our waitress was great with recommendations. She advised that we share the cioppino, which ended up being more than plenty. Flavor wise I wasn't impressed. The second time around I came in with a larger group I thought I would try something else. I ordered just the mussels and everyone else ordered a pasta dish. None of us left full or satisfied. The mussels were over cooked, and the flavor was extremely plain. In a group of 5, you would think one person would at least be happy with their order but it just didn't happen. A few of them were from out of town and felt like this place was more of a tourist spot, and not a local spot. I would agree 100%. Service the second time was a bit disappointing. The waitress seemed inexperienced and as if she was in a great hurry. We were also sat at the table downstairs, which surprised me because I didn't know they were that spacious. Being downstairs I felt like we were a bit neglected. It was difficult to call for a waitress and get our bill. I won't be coming back. I don't believe in third chances.
(1)
jocelyn n.

CIOPPINO = EVERYTHING!!!!**** totally enough for 2 for $42 which is reasonable for how great it taste and the amount of seafood you get! not stingy AT ALL, me likey. came here for lunch on a monday and we were seated right away. service was nice and the food came out pretty quickly can't wait to come back and get own so i don't have to share and try the scallops too :)
(5)
Jim W.

Love this place. Food was great the atmosphere very old school. Place was very friendly service was great. I had the sand dabs my wife had the scallops they were excellent. We sat at the bar just a cool place to have a meal everything about this place was right.
(5)
Terry Y.

Not to sound like a Cioppino snob, but it is my favorite dish... so I've traveled far and wide for it. The Cioppino here is not bad. But not "The Best Damn Cioppino!" I have ever had. Not by a long shot. The constancy is good, the saltiness varies (been here twice). It is not a consistent blend. However, that is not the reason I took down 1 star. I believe they are missing fish and herbal blends that really bring out the seafood. I don't think the stew is fish based, and missing fish fillets completely in the dish itself. On top of that, the herbs are also missing. That is their downfall in my books. The price is fair, considering the location. The freshness is decent. The crowd is pretty rough during dining hours. The establishment is not exactly accommodating. I would not wait over 30 minutes for the food. I would move on. Having said that, this is probably one of the better Cioppinos in SF. But if you want to experience really good Cioppino. You may want to consider driving a bit down south to Moss Landing. The clam chowder is just ok. Nothing to write home about. The only reason they didn't get a 3 star from me is due to its location. Compared the other restaurants around that area. This is one of the better ones in terms of price and quality of food.
(4)
Lisa A.

I came here for Valentine's Day on a double date, after waiting for months to try the cioppino I'd heard so much about. Well, it was amazing, and then some. There was SO much seafood, we couldn't believe it. It's a hearty two person meal, but it could easily be shared by 4 with a few appetizers to supplement it. Pretty much everything else could have been terrible and I would have still given this place 5 stars, but I will say there are some things that could have been better. For one, it was beyond hot inside...I was wearing a skirt and sleeveless top and I was sweating uncontrollably. Thank god I wasn't on a first date because it was not a great look. The other thing was that the servers tried to take our cioppino away before we were done. Uhh, what? There's not much else to say other than I cannot wait to indulge in that heavenly cioppino again.
(5)
Candice V.

I absolutely loved everything about this place!! We came on a Tuesday night around 7 and there was a short wait of 20 mins. (Not bad for how popular this restaurant is with locals and tourists) While we waited the owner gave us some wine on the house!! Talk about customer service!!! From that point I knew things were just gonna get better! We started with a half dozen of west coast oysters! Soooo fresh and delicious! My boyfriend is now a fan! =) Then we split "the best damn crab chioppino" with seafood and boy did they live up to that name! It was huge!!!! And they were generous with everything! (Crab, mussels, clams, shrimp, baby scallops and squid over a bed of penne pasta) We also got a half order of pesto fettuccine! Half order was enough because the penne pasta in the chioppino and side of bread you start soaking in the chioppino sauce gets filling! Hands down the best seafood I have had!! I can't stop thinking about the quality and freshness of the seafood! Tasteful and cooked to perfection! Finger licking good! I have found my new favorite seafood restaurant in the City!
(5)
Steve B.

Came in with sky-high expectations and Sotto Mare delivered. Unbelievable place and, most importantly, incredible food. Came here for my birthday with my girlfriend, after wanting to visit for quite some time. Being a Monday, we lucked out and only had to wait about 10 minutes for a table. We started off with some baccala; I've never had baccala before so I don't have a true gauge here but I thought it was very well done, just enough salt and worked in nicely to a savory spread on our sourdough bread. Next was the reason we came: the fabled cioppino--in short, it was amazing. We split it between the two of us and it lives up to the claim of San Francisco's best. The fish was cooked perfectly--tender and juicy--which can be difficult in a stew like cioppino. I was also happy to see that there tons of it in the stew, it was teeming with scallops, shrimp, mussels, clam, crab legs, etc. Let's also not forget about the element that bring it all together--the broth. Wow, it was unreal. One of the best, if not the best, broth I've ever had. The perfect consistency and spectacular flavor; spiced just right but not enough to overpower the fish. I took a picture of the dish but it does no justice for how truly delicious the meal is; it has to be experienced. The atmosphere was just the icing on the cake. Obviously a big old school, nautical feel with pictures and big fish effigies hanging from all corners of the walls. Normally that kind of thing feels kitschy or touristy but it's pulled off nicely here and makes you feel comfortable. It's a small place and the kitchen is right behind the counter so you can see, smell, and hear all the awesome stuff they have going on back there. Overall a very casual but very classy ambiance. Some great classic Motown music capped off one of the best dining experiences I've had here in San Francisco. A+ If you like seafood, it's a must.
(5)
Justin I.

The food is filling and fresh. Is the taste that amazing not really. Has a very home like feeling. The staff was very friendly. It would be nice to have the option of table vs counter presented by the hose. We got seating in front of the kitchen on the counter. I will try to this place 1 more time just to make sure i didn't miss anything Cioppino - very big will feed 2 half crab and linguine - the linguine was done perfect bottle of wine total cost with tip $114
(4)
Hsu L.

Came here with the wife, mother in law, brother and a friend on Sat night Jan 31st 2015. Called too late to make a reservation (I would NOT suggest doing this as Sotto Mare is super popular), but totally lucked out as a big group cancelled and we got seated outside. Food was AWESOME. Get everything, as it's all great. Knock yourself out.
(5)
Hyedol L.

tasted really great. But I saw a roach on the bar.....I told it to one of the cook.He just killed it with tissue. Crab was not fresh. Disappointed...
(1)
Sharon W.

Great location and fresh oysters! We came specifically for the oysters ($1.50 during happy hour) and really enjoyed them along with fresh crusty sourdough bread! The inside is really narrow (we sat at the bar) and there are only a few outside tables. Maybe it was the time of day, but the staff was hanging out behind the bar, and it just seemed hectic and loud. But A+ on the oysters
(3)
Jessie K.

MMMMmm the pasta here is delicious ! We ordered the pesto with prawns and the linguine with chef's choice (mussels, clams, shrimp, octopus) and both were so creamy and savory. I loved that the seafood was fresh and juicy. The pasta portions are huge so sharing is caring :p The clam chowder had a lot of clam in it which I also loved, but I wish the consistency was thicker. It still tastes great, especially with the complimentary bread. Careful though, the crust of that bread will cut up the roof of your mouth like no other .. I recommend you make reservations, otherwise be prepared for a wait. We came on a Friday night and this place was crackin!! The inside of the restaurant is really cramped so if you can, just wear layers and sit outside. Service was a little slow but they're extremely friendly and treat you like you're regulars. You know a place is good when you're excited to eat the leftovers as soon as you get home ... Hahah definitely had a great experience here.
(5)
Jeff G.

I hate to give only three stars to this lovely restaurant in North Beach, but the chioppino that they are famous for was seriously underwhelming. I must say I love chioppino and have ordered it all over the country and the Sotto Mare chioppino is more like pasta sauce served over penne pasta with some seafood. There was plenty of crab in the pot, but it tasted over cooked and a bit fishy....the clams were empty shells and the calamari chewy. The positives here are the wait staff which was great and so charming and attentive. Others at our table enjoyed their pasta dishes and the fresh sole. This is a lively restaurant with a fun family vibe
(3)
Sharon S.

Been living in North Beach for 45 years...Sotto Mare is on top of my list. Gigi's heart and soul can be found here. Great Italian dishes each time for both locals and tourists. Love the crab Dishes.... Yes all of them! The seafood pastas, fish and cioppino dishes are lovely too, ! Yum yum yum!
(5)
Christina T.

I cam here recently with two of my other old close high school friends looking for a fun and casual place to enjoy good food and catch up. My friend from SoCal wanted to try something "San Franciscan" and luckily E suggested Sotto Mare. I had definitely heard of the place many times before, but this was my first time actually going there. For a group of three, do what we did, and you will be left satisfied and happy! We ordered the Cioppino and the Smoked Salmon Fettucine with half red/half white sauce. Both dishes were superb and the perfect balance of fresh soup and hearty pasta. The complimentary bread that night was also Dutch Crunch! I rarely see that at restaurants. Yum. The restaurant is definitely crowded and service can be hectic, but as long as you don't go in with high expectations you shouldn't be too disappointed!
(5)
Liz J.

Well I am so glad it didn't close once it was sold. The new owners have kept the decor and the recipes. I did notice more seafood in the cioppino and the price was a little higher. It's still a bargain for all the seafood you are getting. Two or more people can eat from this dish. We ate cioppino till we were about to pop. Also ordered the baccala spread, carafe of house white, and the green salad. I was so happy they hadn't closed I will have to go back and try it again. I want to make sure that I didn't confuse blissful nostalgia with the same recipe the previous owners used. The green salads are simple and I eat it only to eat the thousand island dressing they serve with it! There is a new waitress on the boisterous side. I like her. It's a crowded spot once it gets going. Perhaps she will grow to like it.
(4)
Sadie L.

Excellent! Worth the wait. We had pesto, half crab and risotto. Seafood was fresh and the pasta was excellent. Would eat the pesto again any day.
(5)
Javier M.

The oysters and cioppino were both top notch. The oysters were fresh of course, and the west coast price of $1.50 each is reasonable considering the quality. The base of the cioppino was full of flavor, and although I had never had cioppino with pasta before the Italian take on one of my favorite dishes was well received. With the right company, I'm sure all lovers of seafood would enjoy an evening at Sotto Mare sharing a cioppino. My girlfriend and I sat at the bar which was a good opportunity to see many of the delicious meals that were also being served. Everything that came out of the kitchen looked great. I would like to come back for lunch for the clam chowder and halibut, which like everything looked very fresh. This is definitely a restaurant that could make the trip out to North Beach worth it
(5)
William S.

Went on a couples trip to SF and this was the first place we ate at for dinner. My girlfriend had already been to Sotto Mare before and spoke highly of the place (she tells everyone who's traveling to SF to eat at Sotto Mare). Service: We were there on a Thursday night (before Valentine's Day) and the place was busy. Luckily we made reservations (a month ahead of time). We arrived promptly at our scheduled reservation and they were still setting everything up. They comped us a free glass of wine which I thought was appropriate for our waiting experience. They seated us within 10mins of arrival. The waitress was good and got all of our orders right. Food: The CIOPPINO. It is THE. BEST. This is by far the best seafood I've ever had. The mixture of the crab legs, mussels, shrimp, scallops, callimari, tomato broth, noodles, was PERFECT. We ordered two bowls and finished both. Overall, this is the type of place you tell your friends about. When I'm in SF again, I'll definitely be going back.
(5)
H. D.

I am so disappointed in this restaurant that we were truly looking forward to. We went Thursday evening at 6:00 p.m. feeling relatively stress free having just found great parking in North Beach. When we got there, the hostess asked if we made reservations which we did not. She said there was nothing available. I told her I called and that someone told me reservations were not available for a party of 3. She then said we could sit at the counter. We wanted a table and I asked how long that wait would be. She then relented and said we could eat downstairs. We proceeded to the empty dungeon (you would think a restaurant that has been around that long would have a more appealing downstairs area to eat in). Our waitress and busboy were efficient. The three of us shared the seafood louie salad. It was good but there was not enough salad dressing to go around so requested more. My daughter and I shared the clams. There was nothing special about them. The sauce was ordinary, clams small...My husband had the cioppino. Half of it was filled with penne pasta. There was no punch to the sauce. The worst cioppino ever! When we left there were plenty of empty tables in the dungeon. To think that the hostess would have turned away because we did not have a reservation. We should probably have not walked in with her attitude for starters. We will not be back!
(1)
Scott S.

Ive been here several times and love the place. Service = very good! food = very good. The atmosphere is casual and friendly, and the waits can be Long. Party of 4 on a Thursday night led to an hour wait ( they don't take reservations), but we were seated in 45 mins. We had 1. Sand dabs, 2. Day boat scallops, and Cioppino for 2, and we all shared entrees. Calamari and chowder for appetizers, and a bottle of Chardonnay ( mine)! All the food was VERY GOOD, THE ONLY CRITIQUE, being that the Cioppino was a little lacking in shellfish - would have liked more Dungeness crab, but some was there, and portion was satisfactory, so this is a minor critique. Note: sand dabs are a very tasty and plentiful portion here, and a great value! Scallops plentiful and NOT over cooked! Yum! Only drawback is their wine list. It sucks! Bring your own and eat the corkage. Note: I'm a VERY CRITICAL reviewer, so 5 stars = perfection. This rates 4.5.
(4)
Siobhan S.

I was looking for great Italian in north beach and found it! There was a bit of a wait, but it was worth it. This place is such a small joint. They have a deal worked out with local bars so I could bring in my beer from the bar down the street once our table was ready. Everything sounds delicious on the menu. I ended up ordering oysters on the half shell, cup of clam chowder, and sautÃ©ed shrimp and scallops. The oysters were obviously very fresh and I enjoyed the attention to detail on the display. The clam chowder was flavorful and heavenly! The broth was tasty and light. Not like some of those heavy cream ones. Once again the seafood tastes so fresh. The sauce on the sautÃ©ed shrimp and scallops was devine! I had to get an extra basket of bread to soak it all up. I couldn't dream of allowing any of the sauce to go to waste! If you have the time and money, this is the place to go for Italian!
(5)
Iris G.

I was in heaven when I tried their seafood pasta. I ended up going two days in a row. If I ever return to San Francisco this will be one of my first stops!
(5)
Al L.

Having had cioppino several times in the past, it was a dish that never "wowed" me. Mike C. said that there was this place in North Beach with fabulous cioppino and was asking if we were interested in checking it out. After reading the reviews of my fellow Yelpers and how they raved about the "Best Damned Crab Cioppino", I was game to join Mike C. in a cioppino feast. First ones of our party to arrive for our 6:15 reservations, we waited in front with a small waiting line that was forming. Then at 6:15 with our party of six present, we checked in with the friendly hostess, and were then walked through the restaurant and down the stairs "Below the Seas" to a dining room in the lower level. After our group checked out the menu, we decided on of course, several bowls of cioppino, a mussel/clam steamers, seafood risotto and several bowl of clam chowder. Clam Chowder - the chowder had a nice consistency that had a nice amount of clams and potatoes. What gave it an extra boost in flavor was "bacon". One of best clam chowders that I've tasted. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/sottâ€¦ ) Mussel/Clam Steamers - a large bowl of mussels and clams in a tasty butter, garlic wine broth. The mussels and clams were perfectly cooked. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/sottâ€¦ ) Seafood Risotto - Perfectly cooked risotto with generous amounts of prawns, shrimp, calamari, bay scallops, mussels and clams that were perfectly cooked. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/sottâ€¦ ) The "Best Damn Crab" Cioppino - Finally, the dish that I came here for was brought to our table. Each bowl is so large that it is enough for two! Besides the Dungeness crab, each bowl of cioppino consisted of clams, mussels, shrimp and bay scallops. At the bottom of the bowl is penne pasta too! A very nice touch to this dish. The tomato broth was so flavorful that you can't help but sop it up with the endless baskets of sourdough bread. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/sottâ€¦ ) Being in North Beach, you have countless restaurants that have their version of cioppino. But now that I've tried it, I can truly say their claim of "Best Damn Crab" cioppino is much deserved. In fact, Sotto Mare does a great job in its seafood dishes, so fresh and tasty. Will be back and highly recommend.
(5)
Wes C.

There was a bit of a wait since it's a tiny restaurant, but not a big deal as there was plenty of places to walk around in Little Italy. Service was prompt and friendly. We ordered the Cioppino, pasta with scallops and pasta with clams. Everything was pretty tasty, but I was looking for bolder, and tangier flavors to balance the seafood out, but this was not the place to expect that. Overall, i would rate it 3.5 stars as it's a pretty outstanding seafood joint. Highly recommended for seafood lovers!
(3)
Elliott D.

The parking in North Beach made me temporarily suicidal, but I eventually found something only half a block away after 30 or so minutes. When I got to the place with baby in tow, the wife was venting about the rude hostess/owner lady, possibly the same obnoxious lady who answered the phone just hours earlier. I was ready at the drop of a hat to tell her off, but she was a bit nicer when she sat us, so I held my tongue. And I wanted to at least judge the food before I did so... I thought it was a bit audacious to call it "BEST DAMN CRAB CIOPPINO", and was ready to pounce if it was even slightly subpar, but oh my gosh, oh my gosh, it was so amazing. Probably the freshest seafood I've ever tasted, and a ton of it--huge crab legs, shrimp, mussels, calamari, clams, all stewing in this fantastic creamy tomato broth with a bit of Penne. It was really too much, and too delicious. We also got a raw clam, because I'd never seen them served raw. Let's put it this way--there's a reason that people eat raw oyster and not raw clam--raw clam tastes just like cooked clam. That rude owner lady couldn't get enough of our baby--she smooched him and hugged him over and over again and practically wouldn't let us out. She said we should keep coming back so she could watch him grow up. She even gave the wife her card and said to call her for reservations (even though I'd been rudely rejected when I tried to make a reservation on the phone earlier that afternoon). This woman's love for our baby, as well as her amazing cioppino, saved her from my wrath.
(5)
Michelle K.

Came with a friend on a Tuesday night with no reservations around 6:15. We didn't have to wait and were seated right away. Maybe we got the wrong dishes because I was expecting deliciousness in our bellies but came away thinking it was pretty average. We both got a cup of the clam chowder but agreed that it tasted more like potato leek soup or cream of potato than clam chowder. We shared the risotto and the scallops and prawns. The risotto was a little dense and bland. The scallops and the prawns, however, were yummy! I wish we had eaten more of this and less of the other things but the portion of the scallops and prawns was pretty small! 4 scallops and 4 prawns. Hmmm, maybe it's just me? Anyway--the service was okay but for that kind of service, I would have expected amazing food. Perhaps it's because we didn't get the Cioppino which is what they're known for. Maybe next time... But with all the options in this city, who knows if I'll be coming back. Sad; I wanted to love this place!
(3)
Albert C.

Came here for lunch with my parents and were seated quickly. I love how everything is made super quick, hot and FRESH. Clam chowder was delicious as well as their linguine with seafood. CIOPPINO is a must!! Amazing service as I expected. Definitely would come back again and again and again.
(5)
Allan S.

Came here for Friday lunch so I didn't experience much of a wait. Great ambiance, outstanding inexpensive wines, fresh delicious reasonably-priced Italian seafood (loved the Cioppino) . Service could be more attentive, but they are friendly. Would definitely go back.
(4)
Phil T.

I would first like to thank the hostess who was able to squeeze in the 3 of us at a table for 4 on a Sat. nite 4/18 w/no reservations at around 5:45pm. We were told a reservation would arrive for same table by 7pm and in no way were we rushed in our experience. Shelley was our server and assisted my wife in her choice of smoked salmon w/risotto which my wife said was amazing. I shared the cioppino for 2 with our out-of-town guest and it was delish. The atmosphere is above average din, lots of items hanging on the wall, a long and narrow establishment makes for a cozy evening. There are a couple of tables outside, with tables and a counter inside. Wait staff friendly but always on the move as it was very busy. Reservations are recommended.
(4)
Sharon T.

Cioppino is orgasmic. But why is no one talking about the hot, blond-haired busboy with the Italian accent? Thanks to him, I never got dessert because I melted. The rave about this place is real. Came here around 8 p.m., before a crowd boom 30 minutes later. The 2 of us waited for a bit but it was not brutal, just a little awkward. To make the wait a little less tedious, the hostess was such a gentleman and offered the waiting guests some wine. Not great wine but at least it's much better than water. Got seated by the bar and we had a great view of the employees at work. Almost everyone is so hardworking and persistent; it really is a fast-paced environment and you haven't eaten at Sotto Mare unless you experience the banging of the dishes and the singing of wine glasses clinking. It is amazing how this place operates...it almost seems robotic. We got the crab ciopinno, which was all what we really needed for the night. I won't repeat every word in the dictionary people raved about this in rapture but I've never been so full from eating half (or maybe even less) of something in my life. Seriously, even if you come with an empty stomach, I think even 3 people would suffice. It has all the wonders of the bay--scallops, mussels, crab, shrimp--all the goodness! The cold bread wasn't that great but tastes better dipped with the tomato stew. The stew was very rich and I'm very sensitive to spices but I think it would've been dull without any pepper. My first time having ciopinno and I don't eat a whole lot of Italian food but this was a nice surprise--a very filling, nice surprise. Not a lot crabs but I don't think I could've taken anymore regardless. One thing I really suggest is to WEAR THE BIB because I thought I was flawless with food and wasn't going to get anything splattered on my clothes but those damn crabs, especially when you're opening them will splash on your clothes, so WEAR IT! The really strange thing is that it's listed as $32 on the menu but when we got our tab, it came out to $41. When asked about it, our waitress (had pinkish skin) pretty much had her nose up in the air and didn't seem to care in her dull tone. Other than her inattentive service, everyone else was very respectful and nice and made us feel very welcomed despite how busy they were. This is a real Italian place and I think they do a great job of preserving their heritage because everyone who works here is a true Italian, which gives this place more meaning.
(4)
Yong K.

Don't let the 3 stars make you think that this is a bad restaurant. Food = 5 but service = 2 Food: very tasty - started with the clam chowder: really good but wasn't as great as some of the reviews hyped it up to be. can't beat clam chowder from boston. - cioppino: TASTE was really good. if you like seafood, definitely get this. However, the only thing is that it's so expensive - risotto: very tasty. highly recommend - sand dabs: i did not even know such a fish existed, but delicious! love the way it was prepared and seasoned. Service: wow... i don't mind waiting for a long time if it's expected, but these people told us that we had a 25 minute wait, but then said 15 to 20 minutes more about 2 or 3 more times. we ended up sitting over an hour later. and that's just sitting the service was then pretty darn slow too. Our server was friendly, but very slow. Price: too expensive. While the food was really amazing, i don't think it was worth the amount we ended up paying. Overall, if you want some good italian seafood and don't mind long waits and expensive bills, try this place!
(3)
Kenny P.

My yelp friend begged me to go here after attending the Fog City event. Honestly I was full and didn't really expect to eat much of anything else that night. I suppose we were already in the city and this place seemed to have so many damn good reviews for having the best seafood cioppino in the city. Stumbled around for a bit after finding parking nearby then decided to see how long the wait was. The lady seemed to be a bit overwhelmed at the hostess podium.... which is why I didn't really want to eat there. Initially I didn't want to really wait that long for a table but ended up taking a seat at the bar next door while waiting since we couldn't come up with another place to eat at. Watched the giants game and had a beer while waiting for our buzzer to go off. Got seated in this tiny two table off in the thin isle in the middle section of the restaurant. Tons of travelers passing through and more and more people seemed to want to eat here as the night went on. Our table seemed tiny for two people and once the massive seafood came even smaller. I still don't understand how we both ate so much that night. After having plenty of small bites at the yelp event; this was just overkill. We both regretted it after we were done eating. Sickness and and an ill feeling overcame both of us on the way back. Honestly the food was decent, we just stuffed ourselves. When I say decent I mean just OK. Although I do believe the seafood to be overly salty. Not even sure if they add additional salt to the dish but it was too much I think. I'm not really big on seafood and don't like places like boiling crab... but its just something you have to try once. They need something else in it to balance the saltiness. Not just the bread on the side LOL. Anyhow it is not a 5 star place for me. If we didn't eat anything beforehand then this meal would have been THAT much better. I'll give them 3.5 stars for the food. I'm going to round down the review to 3 stars though. I really believe there are better tapas or small dish places in the city that are more fun to eat at... not to sure if they are around this area though. Luckily I felt fine the next day. It was proof that too much good food and alcohol is a bad thing!
(3)
Bryan D.

Go for the Cioppino. No complaints. Food, service, cleanliness, A+. I would definitely return when visiting San Francisco.
(5)
Merredith B.

Small, funky, comfy Italian seafood joint in North Beach. I followed other Yelp-ers to this little restaurant because of two words: heavenly cioppino. The cioppino did not disappoint, exactly? But one warning: amidst the prawns, dangerously jagged crab claws, and kalamari, it was stuffed with penne. Since cioppino is more tomato-based to begin with, the effect is just shy of -- "hey, it's a tureen of penne with tomato sauce, and we threw in our extra broken fish pieces." I say it's just shy of, because it's still delicious. But I wasn't expecting pasta -- so now you will be. The other mild surprise: the house salad features iceberg lettuce and tomatoes, with a house dressing of tartar sauce and ketchup, aka Thousand Island dressing. Now, I grew up on some variation of that salad (which dates me -- I am pre-Romaine!). But the mildly weird thing? The iceberg was shredded -- like, paper-shredder shredded, so in a way it would have been almost easier to eat with a spoon. I'm cool with kitsch, but that was just awkward. Otherwise, it's just fresh seafood, simply and well prepared. A simple but well-chosen wine list. Casual, fun, not too expensive. There are rolls of paper towels on the tables, but they feel practical instead of cartoony. Go for a great meal -- and if it's crowded, get a seat at the counter!
(4)
Sara K.

A must-go to for all seafood lovers!
(5)
Jim R.

I was really looking for a fantastic meal but was let down due to my expectations. I ordered the clam chowder which it was good but not excellent. It was thinner than what I prefer, However it did have a fair amount of clams. I also ordered oysters which were tasty. For some reason all around at various restaurants they are smaller than usual. Maybe they harvest them too early. I just prefer the larger ones. I ordered the seafood Risotto which was very good just not excellent in my opinion. I was really expecting to be blown away based upon the reviews but unfortunately I wasn't. The owner Rich was there talking with two frequent patrons next to me but never said anything to me even when I mentioned that I liked the shirt he was wearing as it was similar to mine. I just wasn't wow'ed by my experience unfortunately.
(4)
Paul C.

I had to have Cioppino while in San Francisco so I searched long and hard on the Internet for the best. My searches kept returning Sotto Mare, and partly because they craftily named theirs "The Best Damn Crab Cioppino." But I am very pleased to report that the cioppino lived up to the hype, but more on that in a moment. First, I loved the atmoshere. The modest restaurant is located on Green Street near Jasper in the heart of Little Italy. A narrow store front with only a couple of tables outside. Once inside, you recognized this family run gem is all about the food. The kitchen runs the length of the left side of the restaurant. A diner style bar separates the kitchen area and it is filled with customers enjoying their meals. A single row of four-top tables line the right side and all tables are occupied. It's loud, it's crowded, and the aroma of the cooking is fabulous. I had called ahead and learned that you can make reservations for parties of 3 or more. Our dinner was scheduled for a Monday at 7:30. We arrived a few minutes early and were promptly seated in the basement dining area. I loved walking through the restaurant and seeing the wonderful dishes that others customers were enjoying. So back to the Cioppino. My wife and I shared one and it was plenty for us. Fresh crab, shrimp, clams, mussels, and squid in the wonderful tomato-based broth. The broth was just right, fresh and flavorful. The Cioppino contained some ziti pasta, but not enough to take any space away from the seafood and broth. One observation that was a little odd was there were some nice sized shrimp and then there were some miniature ones. I mean really small, like millimeters (shrimpy shrimp). Also, by the time we finished, the broth was no longer steaming hot. We might eat too slow, but the aluminum bowl didn't help maintain the temperture. My tip is to eat and don't spend time talking and taking pictures. Daughter #1, Kristine, ordered the Fettuccine with Bay Scallops. She liked it but wasn't "wowed." Daughter #2, Jenny, had the Linguini with Seafood, and she thought it was very good. The seafood included clams, mussels, shrimp, and squid. Jenny tried the squid tentacles and decided she did not care for these. Both of these dishes were huge, and we were able to bring home their leftovers. In hindsight, if they could have agreed on a dish, they could have easily spit an entree and had plenty. This was an excellent experience. I had very high expectations and was looking forward to this early in the planning stages of our trip to San Francisco. Sotto Mare and "The Best Damn Crab Ciopinno" did not disappoint.
(5)
Diane Z.

Food is definitely 3 stars. The portions are big, but nothing is really seasoned well or cooked perfectly. The cioppino is fine, but again, the flavors are not there. The service was great though. We had the sweetest waitress and she deserves 5 stars for sure. She was patient and completely helpful and just plain nice. Loved her!
(3)
Rob M.

Busy and friendly north beach restaurant. The cioppino is fantastic and some great wines at reasonable prices. Recommend.
(5)
Felicia L.

The best damn cioppino. Wow. Wowowowow. My boyfriend and I ordered one best damn cioppino to share. We sat at the bar, which we loved because we got to stare at the food being cooked lol. The chefs were cooking up sanddabs, scallops, salmon... all these seafood dishes that had our mouth water. Then we saw our cioppino being cooked and we were getting so excited. Then we saw the bowl come to us. OMG! So much seafood... fish, shrimp, scallops, clams, mussels, crab. This was our first cioppino, but I'm pretty sure there is no other than can beat this. All the seafood was delicious. The tomato based sauce was light and complimented the seafood very well... also very good with the pasta the complimentary bread. My boyfriend and I were in total silence while eating this food. We did not speak a damn word to each other until we finished every damn bit of this best damn cioppino. The first word out of my boyfriend's mouth after finishing the dish? "Damn!!!!" For $40, this was a great deal considering the amount of food and the amount of deliciousness in this meal. We really were thinking about going there in the next night to try the scallops and the sanddabs (which we really should have done!!!) but there's always next time, right? We are already looking forward to it. Sotto Mare was one of few favorite spots we visited here in SF. It's definitely our first stop when we come back. Thanks!
(5)
Gina J.

We went early, around four and we sat right down. The server was very sweet and answered any questions I had. We had clam chowder and oysters. Their chowder was hands down the best I have ever eaten. It was thick and creamy with bacon in it. Everything is better with bacon, amiright. The oysters were fresh and so good! I thought the prices were pretty reasonable, which is an added bonus in my book! Would definitely go back there.
(5)
Dave C.

I dined here on two occasions. Fantastic food and equally accommodating in seating me. A very busy establishment, but you can see why. The risotto was superb!
(5)
Trish P.

Cioppino. The best I've had in SF so far. It was even slightly too salty the first time but I still thought it was by far, more delicious than anything else I've had. Good service. Always a crowd but I've never waited a long time for a table. Will continue my search for the very, very best.
(5)
Robin M.

This place offers great food, outstanding hospitality, decent prices, and a hilarious singalong close to closing time with all the upstairs patrons having fun. I will never forget that song! I was on a low-carb kick, and my son and I wanted to share the cioppino. The waitress offered to put the pasta on the side and offered him his choice of pasta. So very kind! The cioppino itself arrived in what seemed to be a never-ending pan of the freshest seafood ever. The sand dabs were magnificent and plentiful. The clam chowder contains the only meat on the entire menu (bacon as an accent). This was truly a night to remember.
(5)
Rongs L.

I love the food here. This is the only restaurant that I have rated at 5 stars. It is my go to place when I have friends visiting from out of town and want to try 'local food'. The Cioppino is out of the world! it comes in a huge pot, good for 2-3. The dish consist of a huge variety of seafood cooked in a delicious mild tomato based sauce. The seafood is very very fresh, including the crab legs. I highlighted the crab legs because most places that serve Cioppinos often use sub-par crab legs to cut cost. The Sea Scallop Saute dish is extremely delicious too. The scallops are drizzled with a savory buttery sauce which is addictive! If I am not in a restaurant, I would probably lick the plate clean. I have also tried the Grilled Sand Dabs and Clam Steamers in broth. Delicious too. For first timers, I would recommend the Cioppino and the Sea Scallop Saute dish. Party of 2 or more are seated on a first come first serve basis. Come before 6pm! If not the wait will be more than an hour. Parking around this area is horrendous too so do bake that into your plan. Reservations are taken for parties of 3 or more. There is actually a bigger seating area underground that are used to seat larger parties.
(5)
John C.

Customer service is par excellence at this Yelp hot spot. From the moment I walked in I was greeted, welcomed and made quite comfortable. Guests waiting for tables were offered a glass of house wine, a nice touch. My server was upbeat and tentative without being suffocating. Atmosphere is great and lively. A very small eatery, it's packed to the gills with customers and kitsch. Definitely the busiest spot on the street with a line out the door. No doubt a function of the very high Yelp reviews! Why not five stars? While I had a great experience, especially dining alone, I think it's the customer service that succeeds here. The food is good, but if I return it would he for the experience. The house salad was simply shredded lettuce, tomato wedges and Russian dressing. The seafood risotto was tasty and had plenty of seafood but the dish was clearly rushed as it did not have the creamy texture expected but rather a rice in broth texture. All in all I would recommend this place for atmosphere and "local joint" feel and of course customer service. Seeking strong culinary experience? You might keep searching.
(4)
Christine H.

One of my favorite restaurants to go to when I'm in town! Amazing food! I've had everything from the pastas to the risotto, absolutely everything is delicious!!!!! My friends and I always have left overs - so it might be a good idea to share, but we've never learned or remember to do that. The staff is super friendly. I travel to SF for work, so sometimes I'm getting dinner alone at the restaurant. Never have felt lonely there. The chefs are talkative when you sit at the bar, and the waitresses are fun and always make sure I'm doing good. If you have a party of 3 or more, I highly suggest making a reservation. They won't seat you until your whole party is there, so make sure everyone gets there roughly around the same time. If not, at least you can enjoy some complimentary house wine while you wait. :)
(4)
Sara P.

I ate here last night, and feel bad for making my family go. I read reviews on Trip Advisor that said their cioppino was great, and it was good (not earth shattering), but what they didn't mention was: **Eating there is stressful!!** 1) Noise. Kitchen and wait staff seemed accustomed to forcefully throwing items around in the food prep area and while setting tables. Overall, they seemed angry and not to be getting along. The result was a deafening din throughout our entire meal, with us occasionally flinching when things were smashed or otherwise really loud. 2) Reservations. I called ahead to ask about reservations, and was told I didn't need one, and to just come. Upon arrival, we were ignored for the first 15-20 minutes (both hostesses were avoiding eye contact, and the group ahead of us left bc they felt so ignored). When I addressed them directly, they were dismissive, declared that there were no tables available, and that there would be at 1.5 hour wait. I asked them about what they said on the phone, and they said they had no reservations available.. except that they were taking down names for reservations.. They changed their tune and said it would be close to 20 mins wait. (I should note, I really wanted to eat here bc of the cioppino reviews, and I was only in San Fran for a short time, or else we probably would have left at that point, but we stayed. ) Fast forward to 1 hour later, they called me up to claim my table, and I promptly waited another 15 minutes while the hostesses argued with each other over where to put us. Meanwhile, they gave away several tables to people who had arrived after us. By the time we were seated, we already felt a bit harried. 3) Service. Wait staff all seemed stressed out, and service seemed like an afterthought. We rarely saw our server, and the restaurant space is so small/tight that servers had a difficult time getting past. The result was that servers looked annoyed if anyone got up for any reason, and I nearly got rammed with trays of food several times while waiting, and after we were seated. One waitress was actually pushing in people's stools at the bar to help clear the path for servers, not in a polite "sorry, would you mind?" sort of way, but in a bustling "you're in the way!" manner, without even saying anything first. One woman, taken unawares, almost fell off her stool, and understandably gave the server a dirty look. The server seemed not to notice, and repeated the procedure with the woman's date, and several other customers. There is a sign on the wall that says "Welcome to the chaos" -- I think it is supposed to seem charming and ironic, but when the restaurant actually *is* chaotic, the sign is neither charming nor ironic. 4) Food quality. The atmosphere basically ruined our meal. The food was good, not great. In fact, we ordered oysters, and one of them was bad. The server didn't even ask why an oyster had been chewed and spit back into the shell. The pasta was average, and the soup was nothing special. It was definitely not worth it, and I wished we had walked away in the very beginning like that other group had.
(1)
Thomas D.

Very casual place--kind of took me by surprise. When we were led downstairs, it reminded me of going downstairs to my uncle's remolded basement when we were kids. The fans were on to help disperse the mustiness. I don't know how we wound up in the basement since we had a standing reservation. Next time I'll definitely request a table upstairs. I did not like eating down there..... Rolls of paper towels were placed on each table instead of linen napkins. Silverware was not replaced between courses. We were asked to keep our forks and spoons as the courses changed. The servers were all very sweet and quite helpful when describing certain dishes. We met the owner who is as down to earth as you could get. Great guy serving great food. I loved my linguine with seafood. It usually comes with a light cream and garlic sauce but they made mine with a rich tomato sauce. Clams, mussels, calamari, shrimp. scallops in a large bowl of linguine. I ate it all. I had this dish often as a kid growing up with a Sicilian mom. Brought back fond memories. Sotto Mare is unpretentious, very inviting and serves good food!
(4)
Richard D.

I have a running theory on places like this - pretty simple, have created a near mythological experience that gets propagated out and lures in a largely unsuspecting crowd who, for the life of me I don't get, turns back around and continues to propagate the myth...the myth of a 4.5 star experience. Came here after super long workout today and were actually trying to get back into Tony's Pizza but had a hour plus wait (at 3pm) - and Tony's IS WORTH IT - but we needed something to curb our appetites - walked around and our first three stops were closed, so settled here - big disappointment!! First off, waitress was very curt and, at first, borderline rude - she got better throughout in her defense, and we were "hangry", so will cut her slack. Place is small to begin with and they crowd them in - had only three things, but so mediocre that hard to imagine coming back. 1) Stale bread - this is just a simple thing to do, just pop that bread in a warming oven and serve (see Chapeau for how to do this) - so many restaurants fail at what can be the easiest way to win over your dinners - and this bread wasn't just bad, it was cold and stale!!! 2) Oysters - hard to mess up and these were pretty good actually - freshly ground horseradish was very good. 3) Clam chowder - meh at best - about right creamy consistency but lacked any flavor much less clammy taste. Understand that they "serve best Cioppino in the Bay" and did see some large bowls containing said "best" - can't really see returning to try though...very underwhelmed. As I started, too many restaurants that earn a "reputation" get lazy and convert to turn and burn service - this falls into that sad catagory - only upside is that it keeps a number of people away from really great places like Tony's just down the street!! :-)
(2)
Linda T.

Cioppino! Love the counter seats watching orders being flung through a zip line to the kitchen. Cioppino was $41 for 2 ppl. A big pot of tomato stewed with crab legs, mussels, clams, small scallops, shrimp, and octopus. Seafood tasted fresh and sweet. Service was meh. We only came for cioppino and if we are around the area, maybe we will stop by again. Otherwise, it was a good one time experience.
(3)
Alice C.

This seems to be a local favourite, and the restaurant has been here a while. We entertained some friends from the east coast here, for reasons unknown to me (since someone else made the booking), as I think Italian food is wayyyy better on the other coast. However, cioppino is through and through a San Franciscan invention, so that is also what I ended up ordering. We also got some linguine to share. The cioppino came in nice rustic containers, and the portion was good for two people, if you also order a side or an appetizer. While the seafood was decent, I found the broth a bit under-spiced, and it wasn't even close to being the best cioppino I have had in the city. With the number of people in line here, and the overly touristy and crowded atmosphere, I find it hard to believe that so many people swear on the food here. Maybe, just maybe, I have different expectations since I've had Italian food in other parts of the world.
(3)
Ken S.

Definitely a nice little hidden gem in the area. Found some parking about 2 blocks from the restaurant - that was most likely luck in San Francisco. For a first time, first restaurant experience in San Francisco, was very happy. Our party ordered a mountain of food, and ended up spending only about $40 a head. And the Cioppino was amazing. Like Ahnold would say, "I'll be back."
(4)
Jide F.

Five stars for the place that has turned me into an oyster convert! Before Sotto Mare I just wasn't a fan of those slimy devils but one dinner changed my silly ways. Our group of three was hungry so naturally we ordered as if we were a group of six. We dined on a dozen West coast oysters, linguine with Manila clams, cioppino, mussel steamers, a bowl of chowder and the sea scallop sautÃ©. The oysters were fresh and I didn't have the knee-jerk reaction of a reverse swallow as compared to my previous oyster attempts. Beyond tolerating them, I found myself genuinely declaring "these are really good!" to my two friends who were glad I finally got on the oyster train. The generously portioned cioppino lived up to the hype and we (let's be real, mostly myself) scraped every bit of it from the bowl. The scallops were dope as well as the linguine. Do make a reservation as this place gets crazy busy. Even with a reservation, you won't be seated until your entire party is present. Service was excellent and super thoughtful for passing out those bibs. Because you know, adults easily convert into toddlers with poor fine motor skills when provided with saucy seafood dishes and crustaceans to crack open.
(5)
Tanya B.

The only reason I'm giving this place 4 stars instead of f 5, is service. Service was nonexistent although we were the only table in the entire restaurant. That being said, food was outstanding and it really made up for it. We had the crab cocktail and the portion was a bit in to the small side but the Dungeness crab was so incredibly fresh and delicious. The cioppino was spectacular; hands down the best I ever had. Portion was so generous, the broth was to die for and the seafood so fresh and yummy we just couldn't get enough. I will definitely give it another try to see if service is better
(4)
Chrystal Z.

WOW. I cannot say enough good things about Sotto Mare. Its authenticity, warm service, and wonderfully sourced seafood brings me back to times when I was traveling (or eating) my way around the Italian Coast... My boyfriend and I started off with massive West Coast oysters. I forgot where these were from, but they were HUGE. Normally, I prefer smaller and juicier oysters, but these were fresh and a great way to open up our appetites. For our entree, we had the cioppino to share, and it was exactly like it was on the menu--the best damn crab cioppino! It came out piping hot, aromatic, and it was stuffed with all the best seafood goodies: squid, whole crab legs, mussels, clams, shrimp, and scallops. I've never had such a flavorful or loaded cioppino. They even had pasta mixed in, which I loved, as it really picked up the flavor of the stew and was a nice carb addition. Extremely filling for two people, and if you haven't hit your limit yet, just dip some of the bread in the amazing stew to soak up every last bit without having to lick your plate clean. It's a less embarrassing way to get your fill ;) Service is really nice and gives you that family-run, homey feeling. They don't hover over you, but are prompt with requests and getting what you want out to you. Will definitely be back; next time, I want to try one of their pastas or the risotto (if I can tear myself away from that AMAZING cioppino!)
(5)
Kevin Q.

Was recommended here by a friend, so my cousins and I decided to come and give this place a try. The restaurant is located in Little Italy of San Francisco. It's a very small place, and get very packed. The wait was about 45 minutes around 8pm on Saturday. There was an open table outside which we took, too bad it was a bit chilly. Since it was chilly, we all decided to order clam chowder. Thank god we did! The clam chowder was amazing! It wasn't too thick, too creamy, or too salty. And it had various chunks of seafood such as scallops and salmon! We also ordered raw oysters (west coast) and baccala for appetizers. We ordered 12 raw oysters... which was a mistake... it should have been 24 as the oysters were soooo good! The baccala was also very good. It was the first time I had it, so it was interesting. For those of you who don't know what that is, it's basically dried salty fish with tomato sauce. For entrees we had the risotto, smoked salmon fettuccine, sauteed scallops and sand dabs! The risotto portion was delicious and had a very generous portion and It came with various seafood such as clams and muscles.The Fettuccine pasta was probably one of the best fettuccine I ever had. It was very filling though as it is creamy. And it might be a bit too "fishy" for some people as the smoked salmon can be very over powering. The sauteed scallops were my favorite. The sauce was delicious, too bad scallops usually come in small portions. Lastly, the sand dabs were pretty good too! I was expecting a small fish, but instead it came with 10 small pieces! Overall, the food is very good, service was great, and great atmosphere. The only downside was that we ate outdoors and they had no heaters. Other than that I will definitely be coming here again!
(5)
George S.

Since it was cool outside, all seating was indoors. Essentially a long bar set up with small tables to one side. Most seemed to sit side by side. This place has a 'fine food diner' elegance (it's a stretch, but pretty much sums it up.) I started with an East Coast Oyster Shooter. Nice, but I've had better (see my review of Tokkuri-Teii in Hawaii). The waitress steered me away from the Linguine with Seafood and towards the Wild Prawn and Scallop SautÃ© Combo. Great advice! Nice big pieces of fresh fish in a chopped garlic rich sauce. A glass a Sauvignon Blanc with the meal. Basic but did the trick. I'll be back next year.
(4)
Lorrie M.

So happy I finally got to try this place. I have to say the seafood is phenomenal and the atmosphere is really quaint. I came here with a large party and didn't expect them to have such a large area downstairs to accommodate but was happy that we didn't have to wait too long for a table. The cioppino is bomb, it is every bit as good as the reviews say it is. Whether or not it may be worth the 45 min to 2 hour wait ... I am not sure. You should definitely try to come with a party so you can try other things. As with all classic Italian places, the dishes are large, it's not particularly expensive, and you want to try everything so you should come with others. I would say do not get the oysters, they weren't particularly fresh or good ... but aside from that everything else was deeeeelicious. Recommended!
(4)
Emily L.

Went in for dinner last Friday and could not have been more disappointed. This used to be one of my favorite places, but now I think there is a new owner and, boy, is he horrible. I'm guessing it was the big, fat guy yelling at all his employees like they were useless. Restaurant was definitely understaffed; the service reflected it. The food didn't make the experience any better. I ordered the cioppino and my boyfriend ordered the risotto. I think they may have gotten the seafood from the dumpster behind another restaurant, because it tasted repulsive and looked like it had been regurgitated. If I could give this place 0 stars, I most definitely would. It's so sad that such a great location and history is now tainted by what I believe to be new ownership.
(1)
L M.

This is one of my favorite places to eat in SF. Italian Family owned and operated. They only have seafood and no dessert. It is all good, but certain items are a must have... Clam Chowder to start, share some Sand Dabs and then go with Cioppino or Seafood Pasta for the Main Course. House wine is not bad and atmosphere is great...
(5)
Audrey N.

Delicious! A must try if you love seafood. I am not a huge seafood lover but their flavors combines the cioppino so well. And their risotto was cooked perfectly!
(5)
Tommy G.

Sotto Mare really lived up to the hype. The cioppino is fantastic and reasonably priced for two! Better than Lou's Village in San Jose. My family and I went here on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and they were really busy. The wait was only 15 minutes at most but a glass of wine while waiting made it all better. We sat down stairs "Under the Sea". The food and service were a perfect combination to a San Francisco experience! My suggestion is to go, not once but twice. I can't wait for my next meal here.
(5)
Tim R.

The service was somehow very polite, and awful. They left us sitting in the cold outside with a 9-month pregnant woman, and forgot about us, seating other people first. The hostess was very polite, noticed her mistake, and apologized. When we were seated, they took us to a downstairs area which was completely empty. It would have been nicer if we could have at least waited out of the cold. Two people in our group wanted to start their meal with coffee. Unfortunately, the hostess told us that they don't serve any hot drinks. Serious? Yes. The food was okay when we got it. Real bummer. We had high hopes. But they were friendly and apologetic the whole way through. 2 stars.
(2)
Brendan H.

Great Cioppino! For $41 you get Cioppino for two people. Awesome food! Looking forward to trying out the rest of the menu!
(5)
Carlet A.

Excellent food,casual atmosphere. Good place 5o bring out of town guests if they like seafood. I am coming back again for sure.
(5)
Inseong J.

Best damn Cioppino in the bay area. Cioppino is worth the long wait. Very casual atmosphere but the wait will be long and miserable. Best if you find a bar near by and wait. Music is loud so sometimes it's hard to hear what the other person is saying. It's still worth the visit.
(5)
Baltimore N.

Before I go into the spill I want to say this is hands down one of the best restaurants in San Francisco. My mom turned 50 and wanted to take her to a seafood restaurant with an excellent atmosphere and great food. Sotto Mare is that place. From the moment we walked into the door the restaurant was very supportive of my moms surprise birthday party. We had a cake delivered to the restaurant hours before arrival which they had no problem holding for us until we arrived. During the festivities the owner's husband came out and helped song happy birthday. The cioppino was out of this world and the wait staff was amazing. This restaurant should be on anyone's list looking for a great time and amazing seafood.
(5)
Chris S.

Wow! the best cioppino I've ever had.....and I eat a lot of cioppino everywhere. The service was also great from both the hostess and waitress. We also had the sand dab which was cooked perfectly but I would not recommend ordering it with the cioppino since it is a mild tasting fish and gets overpowered by the heavy hitting cioppino.
(5)
Angelique B.

Food is good. My guest had the scallops and shrimp sauteed in a butter sauce with vegetables. I had the linguine and seafood in a white sauce. Both were very good, the seafood fresh, and lots of seafood. The clam chowder was also good... portion size great and plenty of clams. The Bellini was great but how can you get this drink wrong. Dishes aren't "fancy", just fresh seafood sauteed perfectly. Service is outstanding and we liked the ambiance.
(4)
Mike L.

New Ownership - Overcooked Fish, Lackluster Execution, Rude Server This used to be one of my favorite restaurants in San Francisco. My family lives around the block, so we usually like to go to a neighborhood restaurant whenever I'm in town. We have probably been coming to Sottomare for at least five years, but we will not be eating there again. My sister and I ordered the Ciopinno. Immediately, you noticed that the new ownership made some protein changes in the dish. There were more bay shrimp than regular sized shrimp than there have been in the past. I've probably ordered this dish five or six times, and the first bite (even visually looking at it) was noticeably different. Although it used to be the best ciopinno I've ever had, I would rate the new ownership's ciopinno as a very average one. As to the other dishes, my family ordered the snapper special, the sand dabs, the scallop dish, etc. Every fish dish was hammered. Even the clam chowder was loose and bland. While I did enjoy the oysters, you really don't have to do much other than serve fresh oysters to do well there. Finally, the server was an obnoxious, loud woman. She apparently prides herself on being super direct and honest, but she is borderline flippant While I find some sarcasm to be playful, I just found the server obnoxious and offensive. I would have definitely tipped her in the 10% range for the poor service had we not had the auto-grat imposed. Anyway, my family agreed that this will be the last time we will be patronizing Sotto Mare. What a pity.
(3)
Victoria N.

We came here on a Friday for lunch and thankfully we didn't have to wait too long. The place is very small and narrow so we opted to sit at the bar. It was cool to sit at the bar because you can see the cooks cracking the crab, shucking the oysters, and cooking up a storm! Our stomach was growling as we watched. We ordered the recommended ciopinno and while we waited, we started off with the chowder. The chowder was amazing, full of flavors and delicious chunks of clams. Wish we had gotten another bowl! The cioppino was a little pricey and definitely enough to share nfor two. Try dipping your bread into the broth, yum! There was plenty of clams, mussels, shrimp, crab mixed throughout. The first half of the dish was good, but halfway through; the tomato broth becomes a bit too overwhelming, mainly because there's so much of it. There were some penne stirred into the mix which helped cut the tomato sauce a bit. Overall, the ciopinno was a good dish, but for next time, I think I want to try one of their seafood linguine dishes.
(4)
Jill S.

We happened upon a brief quiet time and got seated right away. The food was great! The staff were efficient, attentive, and friendly.
(5)
Steve T.

Rich and the team bang out amazing food in their neighborhood hot spot. We sampled 6 items from their menu and hit 100%. Awesome place, just call ahead or be prepared to hang out and wait for. Spot at the bar. SIT AT THE BAR!!
(5)
Thea S.

If you have a chance to eat here - GO! We took our family and ate curbside out front. The service was great and the food was UH.MA .ZING. Truly well made dishes that weren't overly complex but were well balanced and flavorful and the portions are huge. Our children loved the food as much as we did and no kids menu was involved :). The staff was accommodating and made us feel very welcome and at home. We have talked about when we can come back because we loved it so much! The Cioppino was the best we've ever and the smoked salmon alfredo was wonderful as well. Bread...drinks...all good!
(5)
Jessica L.

Got lucky and got seated right away for weekday dinner outside. This is a no bullsh*t kind of restaurant. They don't try to give you superb customer service, kiss your ass, etc etc. Very fast, efficient service. They let the food speak for itself. Ordered the Fettuccine with Seafood. Delicious. The sauce was white but it wasn't as thick and heavy as the alfredo sauce. Came with a hefty amount of seafood including little scallops, clams, mussels, squid, shrimp, prawns. The pasta was perfectly al dente. My friend ordered the Alfredo Fettucine with Prawns, it was pretty good too. FYI SHRIMP = small shrimps, PRAWNS = large juicy shrimps. My other friend got the Prawn Louis which is basically some large cold shrimps, on top of a bed of wilted iceberg lettuce. Wouldn't recommend this, it looked quite sad actually.
(5)
Joanne W.

FOUR WORDS: THE BEST DAMN CIOPPINO. I came here with a friend from Toronto (who was visiting). Fellow Yelper, Winny F., had recommended this place to me a while back, and I FINALLY got to go there. We went around 5:00 - 5:30 - a little bit earlier than the dinner crowd, but we were just oh-so-hungry. We were quickly seated at the bar. I went through the Yelp reviews, and saw that "The Best Damn Cioppino" was the thing to get here. How could we not get it? I had no idea what cioppino was before this -- but searching on trusty Wikipedia, it's a seafood from San Francisco. How could we pass? They give you these adorable bibs to wear, and we gorged. Needless to say, we finished it. I went home with a food baby. PROTIP: Come early. Or make reservations. I had such a difficult time walking out of the restaurant (not due to the food, but because there were so many people crowding in the front!)
(5)
Jeffrey J.

Nearly 3 years later and this place is just as good as it ever was. Taking the advice of my past self, I only got the Cioppino to share with my gf. We were stuffed with just that. I've never encountered an issue getting a seat here, but it might be the timing. This time, i went right when it opened during the weekend and was seated right away. My friend went at 3 PM on a weekend and was seated right away as well. Great food. Will be back next time I am in town!
(5)
Priya S.

I had very high expectations going into dinner at Sotto Mare - it's the popular neighborhood local seafood joint. It's simply got to be amazing. However, I was left quite disappointed with both the food and the service. My obsession with risottos obviously ensued the seafood risotto order but it was a bit dry and not cheesy enough for a risotto. Yes, it had a lot of seafood pieces (shrimp, scallops, mussels, etc) but the flavor somehow ended up feeling a bit like stale seafood with rice. And the infamous sand dabs felt a tad soggy and under cooked, certainly not what I was expecting from a SEAFOOD restaurant. We were seated at the bar as the restaurant is quite tiny and we didn't have a reservation. Perhaps it's because of this (although it's not a good excuse) that the service was extremely lagging and inattentive. We had to wait almost 30 minutes for the entrees to arrive and the waiter completely forgot our calamari appetizer. I'd recommend trying other seafood restaurants in the city before giving Sotto Mare a try - perhaps Pesce, Scoma's, Swan Oyster Depot or Hyde Street Seafood. Tip: Call ahead to make reservations as they are not on OpenTable.
(2)
Amanda C.

Food: 5 stars Hopping on the bandwagon here! I don't eat cioppino too often, but now I crave it every week. They generously stuff the bowl with as much seafood as they can! I don't normally like clams or oysters, but damn I just ate it all because it was that good. My dinner was interesting because I was also really tipsy. I took their offer of free wine while I waited and had too much on an empty stomach (which for me is one glass....) The best part was the crab!! Ask for crab crackers so it's easier to pick apart the crab legs. :) Service: 3 stars The lady up front who takes your name is a little rude... I heard her snap back at another customer. During my meal I felt like I had to wave people down to get more water/crab crackers/the check. Also, don't worry about getting your clothes dirty, they give you a bib! Would come back!
(4)
Jai M.

My wife and I found this gem while browsing yelp for some good places to eat. We ordered the oyster shooters and they were amazing. Lauren said, "they already had me at the clamato." The flavor was spot on. We split -- and I highly recommend -- the mussels steamer. That broth is magic! It's enough to fill one person but we wanted to try different items. A+ We also split the lobster ravioli. There were 6 large ravioli in a creamy tomato sauce. It was very good. A+ The ambience is very cool. I recommend sitting at the bar and watch them cook. The music is old school Frankie Valle style. We love this place.
(5)
Larry B.

Friends and I were staying in downtown SF and asked a hotel worker for "best casual" restaurant in SF. He said Sotto Mare. So we went. We were greeted immediately by Laura and her best friend and made to feel like we were the most important people in the entire restaurant! Seated almost immediately and had Tiffany for a waitress. She is warm, funny, and knows EVERYTHING on the menu, inside and out. She also made us feel like we were the ONLY table in the place, even though we were not. A few minutes later we met Richie (Laura's husband) the owner. Who greeted us, spoke with us and also walked us through "what not to miss" Sand Dabs, Chioppini (spelling?) and Clam Chowder. It was everything and more...! I love food, and I am high maintenance (my wife will attest) but when I find a gem w/ GREAT food and GREAT staff, I write about it....(and don't forget the west coast oysters!) Cannot wait to visit again.
(5)
Juliet Rachel C.

Wonderful Italian place known for the seafood & pastas in North Beach area. My friend and I came on a Friday night, so it was pretty busy! The wait would be about an hour, so we put our name down and decided to explore around the area. The mom/pop restaurant is rather small and confining, but we didn't mind since it was just the two of us any way. We were seated at the bar counter. Our server came over immediately to introduce the menu to us, take drink orders, and to bring us a complimentary basket of bread! She had such an exuberant personality...loved her! She recommended one of their most popular menu items: THE "BEST DAMN CRAB CIOPPINO" with seafood ($38.00), which states that it's enough for two people. My friend and I didn't hesitate to order that to share since we're both big seafood fans. I also ordered a side of fresh seasonal vegetables to get our fill of greens for the night. Wowwww, the Cioppino was beyond impressive. Huge bowl of a rich variety of amazing seafood!! They certainly didn't skimp on portions! Big, breakable shelled portions of crab legs & claws, mussels, clams, shrimp, calamari, scallops, & penne pasta. Beautifully seasoned and absolutely delicious!! The two of us couldn't even finish it all!! The environment is very fast paced and the noisiness can be overstimulating, so I wouldn't recommend this place if you want to have a quiet, romantic dinner!
(4)
Jeffrey L.

Very disappointed. Guests arrived from Seattle and were anxious to specifically dine here. We called the number and their recording stated to leave name, number, choice of dining date, and a return number. We followed their instructions specifically. We never received a call back after several attempts (I called once and SaaaSha called twice requesting an 8pm seating). Rude. If you're not going to be open on a Saturday or any day of the week please be courteous enough to announce that on your recording or place that detail on your home page. Highly rethinking patronizing this establishment.
(1)
Pauline T.

Came here on a Sunday at 3pm to grab lite bites while we waited for table at Tony's pizza. I'll preface this by saying service absolutely sucked. Waited 5 minutes at hostess stand while the hostess (looked like one of the owners, elder lady) took a call. Didn't look at us once or even take a quick sec to acknowledge us. When she finally got off the phone, didn't even give simple smile or hello, just had us follow her to our seats. 10-15 minutes after being sat, our waitress finally comes over and with no introduction, she curtly (borderline rudely) asks "do you want something to drink?" Well, I WAS thinking of getting a glass of wine but after that lovely intro, no thank you. We ordered a dozen oysters and a bowl of clam chowder to hold us over before our REAL meal at Tony's. First off, the bread our waitress served us was completely STALE, almost rock hard. The clam chowder was bland/tasteless... Progresso almost makes a better one than the one they served up here. Oysters are pretty hard to screw up and these were decent enough. However, one oyster got so completely botched from the shucking that there were tiny shell pieces all over it that left it completely inedible. Our waitress never once came to check in on us... Not to refill waters, not to check on our food, not even to drop off our check. When we had finished our food, I got the text from Tony's that our table was ready. I darted over so we didn't lose the table while the bf stayed at Sottos to pay. I told the Tony's hostess the bf was coming right down as Sottos was just around the corner. She couldn't seat me till both of us were there (understandable). I waited TWENTY FIVE minutes for him. You know why??? Because the SOTTO waitress took FOREVER to flag down. She then took FOREVER to bring the check. She then took FOREVER to process my bfs credit card. Incredible. I've spent many years as a waitress and I know how crazy it can get when it's busy. Service suffers, I get it. But with the attitude both the hostess and our waitress displayed, it wasn't just a matter of a busy service time. They had the attitude that because of their wild popularity, they don't need to provide you with even remotely decent service. I hear the cioppino is a must try here. However, I will not be coming back to try it after the saddest customer service experience here
(2)
seema s.

Sotto Mare is the first place my husband and I think of when we 1) want to treat out-of-towners to a great SF dinner, 2) have something to celebrate. 5*+ ambiance... warm, energetic, friendly, family run 5* cioppino. I've tried 4-5 cioppinos in SF, this is by far the best 5* service. Feels like you're eating at your Italian aunt's home My tips: * Eat at the bar if you can (always) * If you have a special wine / champagne for a celebration, bring it! They'll keep it chilled while you wait and won't nickel / dime you on corkage * Notice that their west coast oysters are a bargain compared to other SF restaurants * Have fun with the staff. They love interacting and it makes the overall experience more fun. :)
(5)
Colin M.

After searching on Yelp for the BEST crab in Frisco, I decided to steer clear of Fisherman's Wharf and check out Sotto Mare on the outskirts of Chinatown. Got there at about 11:30am on a Tuesday afternoon, and was greeted by an older lady with an Italian accent. She was very nice, and asked me if I wanted to sit at the bar. Why not? It was just me. I had deliberated quite a while on what I wanted to try before I got there, but for sure I wanted crab. I decided on a soup n' salad combo of clam chowder and the Crab Louis. While I waited, I was given a bread basket and I sipped on a Diet Coke. The walls festooned with photos, mounted fish and ephemera will keep you interested while you wait. The waitress behind the bar poured herself a beer while 60's tunes played on the piped in music. Down at the end of the restaurant, a couple of Asian tourists were tucking into a mighty spread of pasta and seafood. I am sure they each dropped a couple hundred bucks on lunch cause they ordered multiple entrees each. The older lady was down helping one guy put on a lobster bib. A couple a few stools away was drinking white wine and sharing a fish entree that looked pretty good. I was getting hungry. The waitress stuck a ladle into a big vat of chowder and filled up a small crockery bowl with soup. She place it in on a plate and then in front of me. I noticed some of the chowder had splashed down the outside of the crockery. Ah, it is just presentation. No big deal. Besides, the 'cup' of chowder was actually a good sized bowl of chowder. Seven dollars of chowder sat in front of me. I went in for my first taste...and it was good. Rich, creamy, with plenty of clams, potatoes, onions and just the right amount of bacon. Yeah, it was good chowder. Not out-of-this-world like some people had described it, but definitely good. To be perfectly honest, I've had chowder just as good at Skipper's fast food restaurants in Seattle. Made some of my own that was just as good. Hate to be a buzz kill, but it's true. But there was still the Crab Louis to contend with, and that was the main event. For this, the waitress came around from the other side of the bar and placed it in front of me. Nice touch. The Crab Louis was a simple affair of just three ingredients: shredded lettuce, salad dressing, and crab. I don't count the lemon wedge. A traditional Crab Louis has tomato wedges and hard cooked eggs as a garnish. Here, just lettuce and crab. I ordered the dressing on the side (probably comes on the side anyway). It's a good thing, cause my feeling is that the taste of the thousand-island like Louis dressing would pretty much defeat the purpose of the crab. There was probably a scant pound of fresh, and I do mean fresh crab meat piled onto the lettuce. The crab was in large , easily recognizable pieces of succulent leg meat. Each bite of crab meat tasted as fresh as fresh could be, no fishy-ness at all. With a squeeze of lemon and some salt and pepper, it was very good cold crab. The lettuce was merely a 'crab delivery system'. A large salad with lots of fresh crab, and a bowl of good clam chowder came to $31.00. I would go back again and probably try some of the pasta or other dishes. I didn't order the fabled Cioppino because it was $41 and was made for two people. So ultimately I was glad I tried Sotto Mare and I give it 3 stars for the good but not spectacular chowder and 4 stars for the salad, which was fresh but a somewhat pedestrian take on a Crab Louis.
(3)
Audrey L.

Just remember the cioppino was delizioso!! The sand dabs was also really really good. Well baked and crisp on the outside, while moist on the inside. Much better than Tadich Grill in my opinion, which was rather inconsistent and sloppily cooked. Definitely order those two dishes! We came here with a huge party; it must've been 10 or 12 people. They ended up separating us into two tables, which was unfortunate, because we couldn't all talk to each other. They should've told us that before we made the reservations, but I'm still glad we got to try the food here. The dishes were all very large portions (unsurprising for Italian). So stuffed afterward, we weren't even able to fit in dessert.
(4)
Jennifer N.

What do you do when you're in the mood for seafood but you want it in a comforting sort of way? By comforting, I mean not having to peel things, not having to dress up or know your wines. Sotto Mare! If you are in town, I would suggest coming to this tiny place to get your seafood comfort food fix. This place is small. Bar seating, narrow space small but the food here is fresh and flavorful. Upon entering, the first thing I noticed was the historical decor, quirky photos of the family who run the place, pots and pans hung up in oblivion making its mark as a serious foodie territory. The menu is simple and the people who work here are friendly and most likely friends of the family. I ordered the cioppino since it was an obvious popular item and an order of fresh oysters on the half shell. The oysters to start were fabulous. Fresh and sweet, it was really a treat to have it. The cioppino was hearty and full of flavor. It was the culmination of the tomato broth, tomato paste and the seafood broth (most likely clam juice) that set it off for me. Magical. The seafood was strategically placed to cover the entire bowl (perfect for 2 people!), and the bit of penne pasta was the perfect bite to accompany with your crab and prawn, and squid). Food's great, atmosphere is great. I couldn't ask for a better place to stop by while in SF.
(5)
Idalea R.

My husband has raved about Cioppino for as long as I can remember. I unfortunately have never been able to eat it because I have a fin fish allergy. I can eat shellfish, though. The co owner, A lovely lady with long blonde hair, said they could accommodate my allergy and they would make a special dish just for me. She talked to the chef who said instead of fish base, he would use clam broth. I was apprehensive because my allergy is quite serious. Not only did the chef tell me that he had used clam broth he, he showed me the can! Needless to say, I was very happy. The Cioppino was absolutely delicious it. It was loaded with shellfish, Shrimp, mussels ,clams ,crab, squid, and the broth was divine! We sopped up the broth with wonderful sourdough. My husband was so happy. He was dreaming of Cioppino ,and I was delighted with my first experience with this dish. I also want to comment on the outstanding clam chowder. It was the only clam chowder I've ever had that contained more clams than potatoes! The service was great, friendly, and attentive. Do not hesitate to try this restaurant out.
(5)
Mary T.

If Scoma's is high class, Sotto Mare is kind of working class. I don't say that as an insult, but more as a way of tempering your expectations. Where Scoma's has white table cloths, cloth napkins and a touch of stuffiness; Sotto Mare has paper towels for napkin, aprons and a friendly, casual environment. I popped in late on a rainy Tuesday evening for dinner. The main dining area is snug; a long counter lining the cooking area, a few tables along the wall, and some tables outside. They also have a dining room for larger parties, but I didn't see it. I was immediately smitten with Sotto Mare when the hostess offered me a glass of house wine while I waited. I was seated at the counter; if you're a solo diner or like making new friends this is the place to sit. The couple next to me have been coming back to Sotto Mare for years and had a few recommendations for me. However, this was one of those times where dining alone was also a hindrance, since I couldn't order all of the items that sounded so good. Cioppino and dabs, I'm looking at you. I went with the linguine with seafood, a steal at $17. To call it linguine *with* seafood felt like a misnomer; as it should be, the dish was heavy on the seafood and lighter on the pasta. Shrimp, prawns, scallops, calamari - it had it all. The only complaint I had about the dish was that the sauce was a little too rich. That said, I still cleaned my plate. Sotto Mare was a fantastic experience and such an excellent value for the price. From the moment I walked in and was greeted with a glass of house wine, to the moment I left; I felt like I was being welcomed into their home like a member of the family. The icing on the cake was seeing Tony Bennett head out as I was walking in; the staff was so nonchalant about it, that I didn't believe it was him until the person next to me asked.
(5)
Rohan D.

Fuck that other food get the Cioppino. You want spaghetti? Bring your own damn noodles and just mix it into the Cioppino. You don't like mussels? Give em to the table next to you and order the Cioppino. It says it's for two! I'm alone! Well too god damn bad. Order the Cioppino and take the rest home. But I'm wearing fancy clothes! GOOD THING YOU GET A BIB WHEN YOU ORDER THE CIOPPINO. Seriously, my friends ordered other things and they were underwhelmed. Order the Cioppino the sauce it comes is full of spices and the fact that the seafood soaks into it makes it even more delicious. Combined with the fact that you practically get half a crab, a few shrimps, some oysters, clams, and some squid in there you get a little bit of everything that makes Sotto Mare delicious. Only negative is I hate penne pasta, I prefer thinner noodles. Bread is kinda meh too. But beyond that, delicious.
(5)
Janell W.

Maybe we should've had the cioppino that everyone has raved about, but that's not usually the kind of dish I go for. We ordered the lobster ravioli from the special menu. It was a huge plate of them, and though I thought they were all right they didn't knock my socks off. If you want parmesan cheese, be sure to ask for it. They're not going to ask you if you'd like some! They don't take reservations for less than three people, so the hostess put our party of two on a waiting list and said it would be 45 min to 1 hour, almost as though she was trying to discourage us. She pointed to the list of names ahead of us and to the list of people with reservations and said they all would be seated before us. It was almost as though we were being chastised for not having a reservation, so I confirmed, "but you don't take reservations for two people, do you?" and she agreed that they don't. So we happily took our lobster pager and went to the bar next door (Columbus Cafe - a great place BTW) to wait. It was 1 1/4 hours before we were seated. It definitely was an experience to be there! We were seated at the counter and got to see everything! The hostess and servers had a certain attitude about them: the restaurant is quite well-rated, and the staff act like they know it. They had this "this is how we are" attitude; take it or leave it! I'm glad we went, but I don't know that we'll go again.
(3)
Electra K.

Tonight I went back to Sotto Mare for the third time over the past six years as I can't come to SF from SoCal without stopping here. It's small, charming, and you feel like you are part of their family when you eat here. On previous occasions, we have had the fresh oysters, sand dabs, and fettucini with scallops. Every dish is excellent and the portions are always generous. I however, always order the cioppino. My friend and I split one order which is enough for two big appetites. It's loaded with clams, crab, calamari, mussels, and scallops in a divine tomato sauce. Each time it's better than the last! Tonight, I came to the realization that if I only had one more meal on this great earth, this would be it.
(5)
Michael G.

It's hard to beat a Campari soda w/ brandy float at G + C with all the old N Beach guys (no techies in sight for once, thank GOD) around 6.30 take the plastic lobster with ya, then when it lites up you go next door to a round of fresh West Coast oysters + short carafe of bianco dell casa + beautiful Petrale sole at the marble bar at Gigi's with Miss Kitty. Had a Victoria P cannolo for dessert. FANTASTICO VI AMO TUTTI TANTO!!! This place gives all the latecomers a real last good taste of local N Beach
(5)
Kevin D.

This place is a good value but you will have to make some compromises. The first being that there is no place to park - until you realize that there is public parking in a garage at 700 Larkin. The second compromise is the limited beverage service. No hard liquor and limited beers and wines. Finally, the place is fun crowded and fun noisy. But, if that ain't your kind of fun, there's no avoiding either. All that said, the food is fresh, portions are correct and delicious. Unfortunately, the service was well below average and a bit frosty.
(3)
Marilyn W.

Mehhh. This is one of those highly rated restaurants on Yelp, that I was just not impressed with. Located in one of SF's highly touristy areas, Sotto Mare did not have that vibe to it. Even on a Wednesday, there was a bit of a wait for just two people. The hostess was lovely and was really considerate to make sure the customers are comfortable. Most of the larger tables were reserved, so my friend and I sat at the bar, in front of their open kitchen. We came here only to try the cioppino, since it's called the "Best Damn Crab Cioppino." We also ordered a bowl of clam chowder to share because we wanted to try one more thing on the menu. The chowder was really good. Nice and chunky with a lot of ingredients, but it was not too thick either. For a whopping $41, the cioppino had a ton of seafood in it. A great amount of crab that had a great amount of meat. Although a cioppino is all about the seafood, to me, it's about the sauce or broth. The broth at Sotto Mare's was super bland and did not have much flavor. It literally just tasted like cooked tomatoes. For the price, the amount of seafood is generous, but it just lacked the flavor I was looking for. I would love to come back to try one of their pasta dishes or the risotto because it did look delish when other people ordered it!
(3)
Jasmine P.

One of my favorite restaurants in the city. The Pesto Penne and Sand Dabs are delicious. Prices are very reasonable.
(5)
Christian W.

Tied for best Cioppino in town. Gigi is a great, hospitable host. I've taken most of my out of town guests here at least once. The sauteed sand dabs are my favorite alternative dish, but you have to get Cioppino. You just have to. Especially if you haven't had it before. Once you are a seasoned vet, you can debate about the seafood mix, the broth, and especially the pasta vs. rice vs. toast. I was initially not a fan of the pasta, but I've come around to it thanks to Gigi's warm reception and her waitress's sassy, almost acerbic banter.
(5)
Jan Y.

good cioppino, oysters, clams steamer and chowder. we had to sit downstairs b/c their front entrance was packed but it worked out- not as blaringly loud. saw them turn away a small party so was quite glad i'd made the ressies. bread is good. cocktails were ok- we got the peach bellini. no desserts they told us and we then climbed upstairs to exit when we saw a bunch of dessert menus! that was weird...
(3)
Lily C.

Everything we ordered- cioppino, sand dabs, seafood linguini &clams came out perfect! We came back 3x within a month. You have to be there to experience it. Sotto Mare is now our most favorite Italian restaurant!
(5)
Walter R.

The place is quite small and can become crowded very quickly, but is awesome nevertheless. We ordered the crab cioppino which is indeed damn good and enough for two (as claimed on the menu).
(5)
Ann L.

Not that this place needs another review.... Cioppinno is SO good. Staff are very nice and friendly.
(5)
Joyce M.

Super delicious affordable mom-pop place! Tip: Come early (at 5PM) if you don't have a reservation. You want to beat the crowd but be able to have some room to breathe. You can only make a reservation if you have 3+ people. Atmosphere: Tiny but quaint and homey. Not much to say about this Food: AMAZING. My boyfriend and I got the Chowder, Scallop Sautee, and Steamed Mussels.. All 3 are delicious. I liked how the Chowder had a lot of content rather than just liquid. It was tasty and went extremely well with the free bread. :) The Scallop Sautee was scrumptious and perfectly cooked. It came with 8 scallops in a buttery, garlicy, parsley-y sauce. It was tender and paired well with the bread as well. :) Last but not least, the steamed mussels were DIVINE. Each mussel was fresh and drenched in the broth. And of course... the broth paired perfectly with the bread. :) We decided to bring our own wine this time and there is a $10 cork fee, which isn't bad at all. I would definitely come back to try the Ciopinno. That is apparently the all-star of the restaurant. Until next time!
(5)
Melissa S.

While staying in SanFrancisco, I searched for a restaurant on Yelp, as usual. This restaurant was highly recommended and I couldn't agree more!!!! The hostess who took our call for reservations was warm and accommodating. (Reservations are highly recommended on the weekend). Sotto Mare is located in the heart of North Beach. The town was hopping and the restaurant seemed to be in the middle of the fun. The Cioppino was outstanding!! The crab was sweet and tender. The prices were reasonable considering the food was very fresh and it's located in the heart of North Beach. The Cioppino is $41 a plate, but it's recommended for two. We split it among three and no one went hungry. I brought the kids and we all had an excellent time and a great meal.
(5)
Erin B.

Have been here a few times and love the cioppino (there is plenty to share). The vibe of the place is great and the wait staff is attentive despite the place always being packed. The only drawback is actually getting in ... the wait for a table is long, especially on weekend nights.
(5)
Rebecca S.

Great neighbor seafood spot!! Scallops were to die for and such a large portion!! I'll be back my next trip to SF!!
(5)
Michael W.

Don't think about coming here for dinner without a reservation, They won't seat you. Instead, come for a late lunch-around 3. I came around this time and there was no wait. I had the oysters and it was fresh. My entrÃ©e - risotto with seafood was good, although it was a little dry for my taste but the seafood again was fresh. So I can't complain too much.
(4)
Sam L.

My family and I came to Sotto Mare on a friday night. Good thing we made a reservation cause even though we came in at 8pm it was still so packed! (make a reservation esp for big parties!! the place is small and crowded but does have additional dining rooms downstairs) We were seated in a small dining room downstairs with other large parties and it was definitely loud, kind of hard to hold conversation but it was fine for the family. Our server alerted us right away that she was also tending to a party of 19 and apologized in advance if her service was a little splotchy. I thought she still did great! and it was plus for the heads up! :) Now, on to the food, we ordered the cioppino (obviously!), the seafood risotto, the seafood linguini, the clam steamers and the prawn cocktail. The appetizers came out pretty quickly for how busy it was. The prawn cocktail was okay. nothing extraordinary but you can't really mess up a prawn cocktail (it was fresh though!) and the clam steamer was pretty good. lots of clams, but a little salty for my taste. (**side note: I was not a huge fan of their bread. It was warm or doughy enough. If you like hard and crusty then you'll like sotto mare's bread. I just thought it wasn't ideal if you're using that as a vehicle to sop up amazing sauces and soup.) Our entrees came out maybe 10 mins after we've finished our appetizers and everything was good. Didn't look like much for 5 people but everything was so filling! The pasta was a little heavy for my taste but they definitely don't skimp on the seafood. Same with the risotto. Cioppino was pretty good. I think I've had better though. Not sure how I felt about the penne in there. I felt like it doesn't really need it. Overall Sotto Marre is a good place to experience and try but be prepared for the splurge! (and wear loose jeans...or sweats. I won't judge. )
(3)
Nan L.

We brought our nephew and his new wife here from Texas and this was their first experience with SF seafood. I was thrilled with the smoky interior, the view of the chefs cooking and the super lively waitresses, as well as the SPEED at which we received our order and additional requests like extra bread, a second bottle of wine, etc. Our young couple enjoyed a $40 serving of SF cioppino and it was a huge amount easily serving three! They ate their way through it and then complained about the amount of shell in the soup. I'm guessing crab legs may have been precracked. No way to predict this reaction since thats the way of seafood. We had a chuckle. I enjoyed a "Steamer clams" order which was only salty if you didnt use bread for the broth. Clams were all perfectly fresh, perfectly tender - not even close to rubbery or dry - this is well made shellfish. No mistakes here! Delicious! My partner had the daily fish - sanddabs which was a huge portion, and veg which was brussel sprouts. Locals like us know that you get whatever the daily veg is - because it is seasonal. Sprouts were just cooked enough, gorgeous looking, but I think I would have quartered those bad boys rather than halved them to make them moister, if that is possible. They were as good as brussel sprouts can be I think. I got the sand dabs left over to go and had them the next day for breakfast and they were FANTASTIC. We got a pinot noir which was fairly good - I think the wines could be upgraded. We just came from Clos Pegase, so we were looking for some WINE. We got two bottles. Absolutely delicious. If I could change one thing it would be to go with a different bread - sourdough sliced if at all possible. However I know how thin restauiarant margins are - and I must say that the food was so good we will come back in a few weeks to enjoy more. Thank you for the delicious meal and effevescent service!
(4)
Amy C.

Why We Sadly Can't Return to Sotto Mare: 1) Due to memories of tasty clam chowder and cioppino with pasta we returned to Sotto Mare last night. 2) We were seated downstairs and then saw water pouring from the exit sign in the ceiling. (Turned out to be a burst pipe and of course not the restaurant's fault.) 3) After walking upstairs and seeing BOTH bathrooms blocked off, we realized the water was coming from the bathrooms. 4) Instead of IMMEDIATELY evacuating the downstairs area, they tried to shift us over to other tables. 5) Water started to drip out of 3 additional areas from the ceiling and the floor was very slippery. 6) Eventually, we were ushered out of the room. Instead of walking through the front (where other customers likely had no clue what was going on) we were hustled out the side door into an alley. 7) Unfortunately Sotto Mare's cioppino, can't wash out the bad taste of a poor handling of a slippery situation.
(1)
Jesse T.

Effin' Amazing! The Cioppino was one of the best things I've ever eaten! We started with the Clam Chowder and Oysters. Both were delicious and fresh. The Cioppino broth was wonderful and only made the seafood better. I would eat there weekly if I live in SF.
(5)
Chinthrilla M.

Hit the spot for seafood linguine (I think it was linguine, at least) with a white wine sauce. My mother loved it. Classic, simple and fresh ingredients and preparation. Prices are reasonable for the quality of seafood. I like the open kitchen that cranks out dishes pretty quickly.
(5)
Reed R.

Tried Scomas cioppino last night and Sotto Mare today. Boat we excellent but hands down Sotto Mare is the best. Damn good
(5)
R S.

Love this place! 1st time here & thoroughly enjoyed it. Seafood linguini abdominal salad were wonderful. Cool funky decor. Good service too. Highly recommend.
(5)
Jennifer P.

We went for the "best damn cioppino" and it did not disappoint! My husband and I are visiting San Francisco, and there are many restaurants that boast cioppino, but this place is on point! HUGE serving with yummy, yummy sea food and pasta. We ate until we couldn't eat another bite and there was still a scoop left in the silver bowl they bring you! Great value! We sat at the counter and it was very charming.
(4)
Mike C.

There's a reason why there's over 1000 reviews. Bookmarked for many years, this North Beach sleeper can be found where a number of landmark Italian restaurants reside or, in some cases, used to reside (New Pisa, Caffe Sport, Gino & Carlo's, Sodini's, etc.). My generous friend invited me to my restaurant of choice for dinner on a recent weeknight. After the closing of Caesar's and another friend's recommendation of Tadich, Cioppino was on my mind. Calling the restaurant, they explained that they do not accept reservations for two, so we arrived before 6 pm to beat the rush. There were only two tables for two near the entrance besides scattered seating on their counter. We chose the closest table since it was a relatively warm evening. Here's what we had: 1) Clam Chowder ( yelp.com/user_local_photâ€¦ ) - We both ordered a cup which was tasty and delicious. I used the complimentary bread to sop up the last drop. 2) Cioppino for two ( yelp.com/user_local_photâ€¦ ) - As touted, this did not disappoint. Comprised of Dungeness crab, mussels, clams, bay scallops, calamari, and prawns, this hearty bowl also included Penne or Rigatoni in a herb flavored tomato broth. This can be ordered spicy too. As stated on the menu, the Cioppino is definitely made for two as we barely finished ours. The only disappointment came from my final bite of crab. As I bit into it, a strong ammonia-like odor came overwhelmed my taste buds. Worried that this was a sign of a "bad" crab batch, I did not finish this piece. The vibe is old-time North Beach with a good mixture of locals (mostly couples or small groups) and tourists (families), reminding me of Swan Oyster on Polk Street. In reading last week's Chronicle, I learned that Tony Bennett dined here after he sang " I Left My Heart in SF" at the parade ceremony. Yes, I will be back to try some of their other pasta selections and, if a cioppino Jones pops up, you'll find me here.
(4)
Leticia M.

First time here and it was ok. I was expecting more. Married to an Italian, I've had my share of delicious food. I ordered the pasta with prawns and spicy tomato sauce, well the sauce was spicy, but the prawns in the pasta was really bay shrimp... Tiny shrimp, the kind they use for salads. Although they didn't charge us a corkage fee, which I thought was nice. I don't think I'll come back, but glad I checked it off the list.
(3)
Payal B.

Just the start of a long love affair with Sotto Mare. Its THE Seafood Heaven of SF!! Came for dinner at 8 pm on a Friday night without reservation. Being the peak dinner time, too many people crashed in at the same time. So they had to close taking in more people after us. Luckily we got in the waiting for about 45mins! While waiting in line, we were offered complimentary glass of wine, choice of red/white. Nice gesture. This definitely helped the wait seem not so long! Ambiance - Very casual Once seated, served with complimentary bread and butter. We ordered: 1. Cracked crab half, $14 - Fresh meat! 2. Smoked salmon fettuchini, $17 - In every bite could taste the smokey flavor of salmon in the sauce! Well balanced. 3. Seafood risotto, $21 - Seafood heaven! Rich in variety without skimping on seafood, and the risotto perfectly cooked. Tips: Make sure you have a reservation first. Next on my bucketlist is to try their most talked about "cioppino"!
(5)
Jeff L.

Went here for lunch (definitely less of a wait for lunch compared to dinner). The service is great--not too nosy while still being attentive. The atmosphere is casual, and the interior has some nice touches such as marble table tops and interesting decor. They did a nice job with their galley-like configuration consisting of a long bar and kitchen area with tables jammed up against the other wall of the long, narrow room. They were good to our toddler (we were surprised that it would be even close to a kid-friendly place)--they brought out a booster seat that straps to the chair, and the staff smiled and played with her briefly. The food is great. We had the sauteed shrimp and scallops, which were served with an excellent sauce and vegetables (spinach and golden beets). We also had the sand dabs, which were cooked very well. Good portions. The only thing we had that was a little disappointing was the clam chowder. To be fair, it's actually pretty good... briny, creamy, and with a fair amount of fresh clam meat. But we've had it better at other places (e.g. Old Port Lobster Shack in RWC). We would definitely come back--the cioppino and perhaps the seafood risotto or a pasta would be the next things for us to try. Pricing is a little high (about $21 per entree, other options we noticed on the menu like pasta were closer to $19), but it's a popular restaurant in a popular area of San Francisco, so it's not surprising. They would get that 5th star from me if it was a little cheaper (just a little bit expensive for what you get). But don't let that keep you from trying this place out.
(4)
Chris W.

Great tasting food but not sanitary I took my mother who was in from out of town because I love this place and wanted to take her. They sat us up at the kitchen/bar area so we could see the kitchen staff cooking away. Big mistake. My mom watched in horror as one of the big guys behind the counter cut up and handled raw fish then handled the cooked crab that was placed on her plate. He never washed his hands. Only wiped his hands off on a little towel and used that same towel to wipe down the countertop that he just cut raw fish on to cut up cooked food. I wasn't bothered by it. But my mom was totally grossed out and refused to eat her lobster salad. which put a downer on the night. If you're going to do gross stuff, please don't show us.
(3)
Gloria C.

Crab Louis was very good. Sweet, abundant crab and a fresh savory sauce on iceberg lettuce. There's enough for two to share. Then cioppino for two. Plenty of seafood in a rich tomatoey base. There were penne underneath, which we thought was strange--but then we hadn't ever had cioppino before. It was all very good. Service is brusque but efficient and once we got seated, we were taken care of quickly. However...it was frankly not worth a two-hour wait outside in 50 degree weather. It was a Saturday night, so I guess that explains something. I would try during the week or for lunch. There's lots of Italian restaurants nearby, but this was the only one where people were waiting.
(4)
Yohan N.

North Beach is filled with many restaurants and bars and stumbling upon a great choice can be hard. If you are reading this review, look no further and definitely come give this place a try. Most famously known for their Cioppino, this italian seafood restaurant does justice to the dish. Cioppino originated from San Fran right in North Beach. If you want authentic, high quality, tasty, and a bite of history, cioppino is definitely a must get dish. For my visit, the upstairs dining area along with the outside seating were full. When stepping in, I was immediately greeted and told there would be a 20 minute way. However, she mentioned there is actually seating downstairs. After agreeing to get seated right away, we were led to the downstairs area which had many tables empty so I wasn't sure why we were told of a 20 minute wait. Nonetheless, we were happy to not wait. Started out with the Half Crab appetizer. I was hoping for a true half but the appetizer plate came with just the lefts and claw. No body. It tasted fresh so i had no complaints On to the main dish. Cioppino ($41). Crab, clam, shrimp, mussels, scallop, squid, penne pasta underneath it all. The price may seem high but you soon forget about it after seeing the metal pot with the amount of seafood in it. They really don't skimp out on any ingredient. The stew was full of flavor, fresh seafood, a ton of every seafood. DEFINITELY worth $41 price tag. Service was prompt, friendly, and very helpful. Water refilled quickly, bread basket refilled quickly, and check in-s often. A rich in history for a rich in flavor restaurant. Definitely a must check out place. GO GO GO GO GO!!!!!
(5)
J C.

Food is a solid 5. Service is more like 2. I would definitely go again, but I would be hesitant about who I would take here - if I need to take someone out and make sure that they have a good dining experience, I would think twice before bringing them here. I went three times, and out of the three two times have been sub-par service. I understand you're busy, but do we really have to wait until the end of the meal to get that second glass of ice tea we ordered right after the appetizers? Additionally, the last time we went (party of 4) we called in as we were parking and asked what the wait time was. The lady on the phone told us no wait, and that we should just come in. So we park, get into the restaurant about 10 minutes later and she tells us "sorry it got busy and now we have no tables - the wait is 30 minutes." Ummm.. okay. You wouldn't let us hold a table when we're 10 minutes away, and now we have to wait 30 minutes because you told us it would be okay? Not cool. Then, after about 45 minutes of waiting, I go to ask her how our table is coming along, and find out that a party that came after us has been seated! The hostess realizes whats going on and hurriedly changes the three table seating to a four table seating... which was fine until I realized that I would be smacked by everyone walking by the narrow corridor since they forced a chair into a place that would usually be empty. Goodness gracious. Our server was also not great - she came to check up on us... never. We had to flag her down every single time, and I saw that she would be super attentive to others (maybe people she knows from elsewhere?) but we were somehow always invisible or just out of sight. To be honest I would come back here because the food is good, but they should really do something about their service or my thoughts on coming back will be going downhill really quickly.
(3)
Philip Y.

Had high expectations, met all of it. We ordered the bacala and the ciopanni, I think they are right about it being the best damn ciopanni.
(5)
Bryan H.

Cioppino was super legit just like everyone else has said in these reviews. Full of dungeness crab, mussels, squid, and penne goodness. Nothing better if youre a seafood junkie like me. Use the bread to soak it all up. Good amount to split between two.
(5)
Courtney Y.

If you are a seafood lover this is a must go to! The line was long and there was quite a wait. I would recommend making reservations before coming here. I was starving so I was pacing while saying I'm hungry over and over again. The hostess overheard me which was a bit embarrassing but she was nice about it. I think every one was staring at her like a piece of meat considering the line was out the door. I ordered oysters for an appetizer which were delicious. I then ordered crab cioppino which I am pretty picky with cioppino. My Grandmother used to make crab cioppino every Christmas and she passed her recipe down to me. Now I make it every Christmas and so far no restaurant has even come close to my crab cioppino. This restaurant's cioppino is still not as good as mine but it is pretty darn close! Just for that I would say this is a definite go back to again!
(5)
Amanda C.

On a Wednesday night, I came with a party of 4 including me. It was packed, so we wrote our names down for a 30 minutes wait. Luckily enough it was exactly 30 minutes wait. While waiting, we were able to walk around to the corner of the block and still be within the range for the buzzer to alert us our table is ready. The buzzer thing we get to hold onto is shaped like a lobster, which is cute, but they do hold onto your credit card while you have their lobster buzzer. Got sat inside near the back, which was nice because it was cold out, so being in the back of the restaurant felt pretty warm and cozy. The waitress at first seemed to be out of it, and she wasn't very friendly. We ordered 2 dozen oysters among 4 people for $1.50 each, which was delicious! We had the West Coast oysters which were cheaper than the East Coast, even though we read that it tasted better. But, the West Coast oysters were pretty bomb too. Each pair ordered a Seafood pasta -- my boyfriend and I had the Alfredo fettuccine with seafood, while my other two friends had a mixed sauce and linguine. I honestly liked my Alfredo sauce better so I liked our order of seafood pasta better than the other sauce my friends chose. The scallops that came in the seafood part of the pasta was so delicious to bite into. Soft, but not soft enough to break right away when you bite into it. It was still a firm texture which I liked a lot! We finished everything, even the basket of bread. Definitely filling to share an order of pasta for two along with an order of oysters! Each table also comes with a bottle of balsamic vinegar and olive oil for you to eat with for their complimentary bread while waiting for your orders to come! Will definitely be back for oysters or their seafood pasta OR BOTH! Service was a bit slow and unfriendly, where I docked a point, BUT they were attentive on filling up our glasses of water. Otherwise, I recommend to come!
(4)
AKA A.

Let's just get to the Point, this restaurants Service, Food and Feel just worked for me.... I am Amazed by the Freshness and Beauty of their food. Oysters on a half shell Fantastic! Halibut Amazing! Muscles and Clam Linguine w/white sauce Just Wow! Clam Chowder was the Best I have ever had! Crab and Shrimp cocktails a Freshness was to die for! Ok Now I'm done... Now you go try it for yourself ...
(5)
Maya S.

Sotto Mare's cioppino is really something to rave about. It's flavorful and loaded with LOTS of perfectly cooked fresh seafood and penne pasta. I really enjoyed the crab and prawns, and every time I went back to ladle the cioppino out of that silver bowl, I swear, I was finding more and more seafood. Trust, you will need to ask for extra bread throughout your meal to sop up the tasty broth. I shared the cioppino with a friend and we were thoroughly stuffed at the end of our meal. We kicked off dinner with some oyster shooters which I just loved. We also ordered a half carafe of the house white which was a bit disappointing. It wasn't very smooth but I guess I didn't notice as much once we started eating the cioppino. I love the ambiance inside of the restaurant which combines the feel of an oyster bar with a simple sit-down restaurant. There is also seating right out front. Service was friendly but it seemed like our waitress forgot about us toward the end of our meal. We came on a Friday night right after getting off of work and were seated right away at the bar. To no surprise, there was a crowd waiting to be seated by the time we left.
(4)
Nikki N.

We missed it during our last trip to SF due to a large group. My friend raved so much about their cioppino so we gotta check it out. We ordered their "Best Damn Cioppino" with linguine and sand dabs specials. The cioppino was large enough for 2 of us and the flavor was spot on. It's so flavorful and the seafood were so great! We also enjoyed the Pan-fried sand dabs fillets, it's quite interesting and tasty even though it's a bit bland after having the cioppino itself. The restaurant is located within Little Italy and definitely small. The service is a bit slow, we had to go call the waitress when we're ready to order. Maybe it's due to the fact that we sat outside in the far left corner so they forgot about us? Other than that, we enjoyed the food overall and will definitely come back again.
(4)
Mercedes G.

The food at Sotto Mare was spectacular. I had the seafood risotto and it was perfectly cooked. The service was okay. The waitress didn't offer us desert and seemed to be in a hurry to get rid of us. It's okay, we ended up in a great Italian pastry shop nearby and had the best pastries and coffee ever.
(4)
Shaelyn B.

I'm in love. Make a reservation and order the cioppino and you'll be happy. The fettuccini was a good option for those in our group who aren't a fan of seafood- but that was the only option. But really, after eating here, everyone will love seafood.
(5)
Kristina M.

Honestly it is hard to not gain 30 lbs while visiting San Fran. There are so many great restaurants. This one was recommended by a local. It is very casual and busy. No dessert, no frills but such great food. We had a seafood pasta and the Cioppino. They were truly some of the best Italian seafood dishes we have had. I do not do reviews very often but felt compelled to do one on this place. Owners are both there seating people. They are so sweet and truly vested in their customers. LOVE LOVE LOVE. I don't know how anyone could be dissapointed.
(5)
Kailin L.

Wow. Rarely do dishes surpass expectations when the're as hyped as the cioppino from Sotto Mare. But this cioppino is indescribably good. The crab in particular was very well done and very easy to eat since it was pre cracked. The menu says its enough for two but you could honestly feed 3-4 people with the amount they give you. In order to appreciate how good this cioppino is you just have to go and try it.
(5)
Rich T.

Wow. These yelp reviews are right on. The ambiance is really nice but what is just terrific. Six stars really! Is the crab cioppino. Run. Don't walk to try it. It is a huge portion but they do such a great job on the spicy and flavorful sauce as well as the well done crab. The calamari is well done and the pasta is really nicely done. U can feel the tradition in the place. The chowder was good and the clam linguini is good. But it's to is about the cioppino :-)
(5)
Melissa W.

One of my coworkers mentioned Sotto Mare was one of her favorite Italian restaurants in the city and an absolute must when in San Francisco. I had some last minute out of town guests and thought it would be the perfect opportunity to try it out, so I called to make a reservation and hoped they could squeeze us in. Initially the restaurant told us they were booked solid for the night but would be able to accommodate our party as soon as the restaurant opened. Luckily, an early meal wasn't a problem for us, and we showed up at 5pm just before the rush. We started off with half dozen each of the east coast and west coast oysters and quickly ordered an additional round - they were so fresh and absolutely delicious! Next we ordered two rounds of the seafood risotto, lobster ravioli and the lemon caper butter sole, and I highly recommend all three. The risotto dish was piled high with seafood, and I was pleasantly surprised at the variety. The lobster ravioli was rich and creamy, and there wasn't a bite of sole leftover. We had a great experience at Sotto Mare, and you will too. This cozy restaurant is the perfect start to a wonderful Saturday evening.
(5)
Brian M.

Great place
(5)
Jenny B.

A fantastic find, located in the quaint North Beach section of SF. With marine decor and collectibles reflecting the diversity of this SF neighborhood , the atmosphere is warming and welcoming. The seafood is untouchable, surprisingly fresh and accompanied by pared down sauces which bring the quality of the ingredients to the forefront. Try the scallops and prawns as well as their notorious crab cioppino.
(5)
Ira P.

I can now agree with many other reviewers that they have the best cioppino! I'm not even a fan of shellfish but my husband and I finished the whole thing! The serving was just enough for two to share. It was a 20min wait because we didn't have reservations on a Friday night around 6pm so it wasn't that bad. The place was crowded but it felt so home-y and the owners serve you as well!
(5)
Latifa S.

La vita e pesce???? Si! Seafood , fish, shellfish fuel my blood. And Italian is my favorite cuisine. Combine the two = explosive! None of my SF trips have ever completed without a North beach trip. You know, where all the little Italian places are? And they all speak the language like they are all back in Italia! Veneiza, Firanze, Roma, Pulgia etc etc. I found this place in the spring of 2012 after eating right next door! They had burrata (my obsession) . But walking past Sotto Mare changed my mind. Instead of having lunch next door as planned, I tried their cheese , had some wine and came right back to here. Oh you amazing smelling restaurant you! First thing you notice is the chalk board with fish dishes written across. We waited a bit of our sunny outside table and got seated by the owner Gigi herself. She's one fiesty italian lady! We laughed at one of her mumurs ( she was making fun of someone but I heard it and we both laughed). That was it. We became friends! :) Back to food- Sotto Mare litereally translate to under the sea. I love all things that end with Mare. Frutti di mare anyone? And as the name says, their specialty is seafood. Grilled San Dabs - Gigi recommended and this was wow! I've been back for a few too many times after my initial visit and I still get this dish. It's grilled fish with lemons. Simple? Yes! Tasty? Definitely!! Oysters- yumm Scallops sautee- delish! Pasta frutti di mare? Linguine with seafood. You can have it with olive oil or tomato sauce. I've always gone with the tomato sauce since it was so tasty. The best DAMN crab cioppino?????? Yes!! Yes and yes!! This is what you will come back here for. If you hate any and everything, try this. You will LOVE this. This can make the grumpiest grump in the world smile. ( well, as long as they like seafood) This is something you'll have to share. It is huge. 2013 visits to SF all included that cioppino and sand dabs. I can still taste it on my breath. Yummmm. Definitely worth a returning trip. Definitely. I have yet to come here for dinner but I'm pretty sure it will be crazy busy. The inside looks like some cooky korky place but it's still cute. Maybe next time I'll sit by the counter so I can check out all the actions. In the mean time, I'll be dreaming about my bottle of pinot grigio. grilled sand dabs and best damn crab cioppino meal over here in Seattle!
(5)
Robin M.

Terrific. Great vibe. Great food and service
(5)
Adam J.

Came here on a Friday night around 8:30pm and got sat down by 9pm. When you put your name down, they ask if you want complimentary wine or if you wish to walk around they also give you these cool lobsters buzzers. Too bad you can't keep them! Food: Bread (typical), clam chowder was so so. Things were looking so good until the seafood started rolling in. Got myself tons of oysters and I was feasting. $1.50 a piece. Main Dish: seafood crab cioppino = super tasty, fresh crab, clams, mussels, and pasta too. I was definitely full and satisfied my cravings !
(5)
Mary C.

Despite being a weekday, this cozy diner-like restaurant was packed! Luckily we had a reservation so wait times were minimal. Make sure to plan ahead if you want to try this place out! The menu is straight forward, streamlined with only a few options. Makes ordering easy! Seeing as it was a light lunch, we ordered two items, and a Clam/Mussel Steamer, and the Cioppino. Mussel/Clam Steamers ($19) - A generous portion cooked mussels and clams. Simple and tasty. The Best Damn Crab Cioppino ($38)-"enough for two" Let me start by saying that I had no idea what a Cioppino when I walked into the restaurant. But I mean when something is labelled as the "BEST DAMN" anything on the menu, you kinda have to order it. If you are clueless about this San Francisco specialty as I was, in short its a mix both of seafood and pasta goodness. Think a west coast version of a bouillabaisse. It says it's enough for two, but really it's enough for 3! Delicious and highly recommended!
(4)
Stephanie Y.

This place is rather small and parking is hard to find, we lucked out and got parking right out front but good luck to the rest of you! Customer service was terrible. There were plenty of workers but the only one to stop by the table after our order was taken was the young Hispanic man that brought us our food. The women were too busy talking to each other. The food was 5 stars! I got penne with pomodoro sauce and my brother and mom shared the cioppino. The pomodoro sauce had a little bit of spice to it, which I loved. The bread and butter were also really good. The cioppino is quite big ($41) and filled both my mom and brother. My mom was kind of disappointed that half of it was penne pasta noodles though. Overall, if the women paid attention to the customers as much as they do to each other they would have gotten 5 stars, but the lack of customer service really killed it.
(3)
Chantal P.

Hands down, up, and everywhere; Best Cioppino! I am a seafoodoholic and Sotto Mare hits the crustacean spot. Their seafood is fresh to death. Order the 'pink sauce' (off then menu), when choosing your pasta sauce. It's a combination of red/white love and goes great with any pasta. Another tip: go for the wine bottle! Why pay for more refilling glasses when you can get more bang for your buck ordering a whole bottle. $$$ :) Cheers to the happy spenders!
(5)
mike d.

Awesome place. Had the chowder, sand dabs and some oysters. Everything was excellent and real at priced for the amount of food they serve. The bread is the best too!
(5)
George B.

I've had the pleasure of trying almost everything on the menu. From start to finish this family owned Italian Seafood Restaurant is top notch. Fresh is key!!! Many locals come into the restaurant just to purchase fresh fish. If you're going to dine here, I recommend their Oysters on half shells along with some Baccala for starters. If it's your first time here, you need to indulge and order their "Best Damn Crab Cioppino" and yes, it will be the best damn crab Cioppino you've tasted in a long time. Another one of my favorites is their Grilled Sand Dabs. Fillets of fish with some fresh vegetables cooked to perfection. One thing to keep in mind is that every dish is family style, but if you love food like myself, you'll probably need to order your own dish. If you're still not sure what to order... Look around you and see what everyone else is enjoying and devouring. I'm positive you will not be disappointed with your meal. - Buon Appetito
(5)
Michelle B.

Delicious!!! Had: - Cioppino (super good. Filled to the brim with crab, shrimps, clams, mussels, small scallops. Totally worth it. The tomato broth was not sour at all and just sweet and salty enough. The other cioppinos I've had in the past have been waaaay too salty but the one here definitely let's the seafood shine.) - Grilled sand dabs (Very clean, delicate dish.) - Clam linguine with garlic and olive oil (their olive oil is very good, not overpowering but definitely flavorful. The clams were very sweet and burst with flavor.) And service was friendly too!
(5)
Elizabeth B.

Restaurants with self-proclaimed "best _____" are usually overrated, but Sotto Mare's "best damn crab cioppino" simply stays true to its word. How much do I love this dish? The most recent time I came here with just one other person, I forgot that my friend was allergic to shellfish, so I ended up ordering the whole thing to myself! I had leftovers for lunch and dinner the next day, but totally worth it. At $41, this hearty cioppino is packed with pre-cracked crab, shrimp, scallops, mussels, clams, squid and penne noodles. Just a tip - save the bread they serve you at the beginning until the cioppino comes out, so you can dip it in the stew...amazing. The restaurant itself is small, long and narrow, and is always busy. They only take reservations for parties of 3 or more, but luckily, both of the times I've been with just one other person, we didn't have to wait. The service is always friendly and attentive, despite how busy it is! Another thing to note - they offer a limited menu (no dessert), but the cioppino is seriously the only thing you need to order here.
(5)
Griffin F.

Delicious delicious delicious. That is the only word to describe the food. The clam chowder is probably one of the best chowders I have had in a long time. The portions of their entrees are huge, and you'll definitely leave full and with leftovers. The wait can get really long so call ahead to beat the line.
(5)
Molly J.

I've lived in San Francisco for 3 years and had one of the best meals of my SF life at Sotto Mare. The wait was an hour+ and totally worth it. We ordered the Cioppino and it was heaven! The menu says that it's enough for 2 but really it could easily feed 4. It was packed with incredibly fresh seafood including a TON of Dungeness Crab. Our waitress, Shelly, was fantastic - really funny and dead honest about everything. She had us laughing the whole time. The owner even let us bring in vodka sodas from the bar next door because they don't serve hard alcohol. Great, friendly restaurant and amazing food! Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Laura L.

Meh. Linguini and clams has 3 main ingredients, clams, linguini and garlic and the garlic was clearly burnt and the clams were so overcooked they'd mostly fallen out of the shell. I would have sent the dish back had I not already waited an hour for it. The cioppino was huge, with large pieces of crab, and was in fact delicious but was served to us without any of the utensils you need to get crab out of its shell. The whole restaurant was visibly full of smoke (poor garlic) and left your eyes burning, but no one propped opened the door to air it out!
(3)
Madeleine Q.

I was really surprised to read on their menu that because they want to encourage healthy lifestyle for their customers, they do not offer dessert items on their menu any longer. Thankfully there are some good options around the area. While I thoroughly enjoyed the food we ordered, they actually forgot one of the main dishes we ordered and took us an extra 45 minute wait time in between our meals. The waitstaff only realized the mistake after we inquired about the rest of our dinner. She kindly apologized and explained how busy things are in the kitchen. We understood the circumstance and did not make a big deal out of it. This is a great place for big parties, tourists, casual dates and family dining. I liked their Cioppino but I have had better ones in SF and elsewhere, which explains my 4-star rating. I would definitely go back for more cioppino, steamers, and their specialty pasta dishes!
(4)
Anna N.

This place used to be one of my favorite spots in North Beach, I came here with a group of friends on a Tuesday evening and wow, this place has become a tourist trap, so sad to see it turn into this, the wait is long (of course), the food, IMHO, has gone down in quality, I used to come here for the fresh oyster (now pre-shucked) and the Louis crab/combo salad. The oysters were not so fresh and the combo Louis salad was a bit smelly, like old seafood, I'm still hoping I don't get sick. And then, because is so busy we were sat downstairs in an uber-hot room with no ventilation at all and only one server that was running around between at least 10 tables, only one server! so of course, attention to our table was completely lacking; sometimes when we go out to eat we go for the food, some other times we go for the service, last night we did not get good service, and the food was not as good. As a local supporter of local businesses I feel sad I cannot come back to this place that used to be a gem in crazy North Beach.
(2)
Barbara B.

If you want great seafood and a turn-of-the-century dining vibe go to North Beach and eat at Sotto Mare! This place is small; counter seating and a few tables inside and several on the sidewalk under their entry canopy. It is a hectic, lively, (noisy - plan on keeping your heads together and saying, "What?" often) and full of interesting memorabilia to browse while you await your meal. And what a meal it will be. Our table of four indulged in clam chowder, sautÃ©ed shrimp with vegetables (the sauce was light and tasty - the veggies adequate,) and the CIOPINO (caps for emphasis - this stuff is the BEST! It had a lot of everything you love and expect from this dish.) Those of us enjoying that fish stew were adorned with tastefully draped bibs to keep their clothing in as good a condition as they were in when they entered. The only downside for our evening was that there was quite a wait for our food to be served. To be fair there was a large banquet party in their banquet room and it put extra strain on the cooking and service staff who work very diligently to make sure things are prepared and served at lightening speed even when such crowded conditions make it more difficult. Do give them a try; and if you are going to see Beach Blanket Babylon, it's a great place to eat before the show. Just be sure to allow time for lingering over your food and for possible service delays.
(5)
Kera N.

I can't get this place off of my mind!!! Seriously...where's 6 stars when you need it? I can't say ENOUGH about this place! My husband and I recently visited San Francisco. We were only in town for 2 days, so it was a MUST that we visited only the BEST resturants this city had to offer. We were impressed with all of our breakfast, lunch and dinner choices while in town...but Sotto Mare...OMG BLEW US BOTH AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!! We arrived on Saturday night at 8:00 and expected nothing short of what we got (which was a 2 hour wait). We sat at a nice intimate bar acrossed the street and had a glass of wine. We noticed while there that the majority of people there were waiting for their tables acrossed the street at Sotto Mare. It's a nice little set-up between the 2 businesses . I enjoyed the wine selection. Now back to HEAVEN... Once we were finally seated, we looked over the menu. I had my mind set on the Cioppino. After I realized it was for 2 people (my husband didn't want it), I decided to go with the seafood linguine...with crab meat added. I HAVE NEVER TASTED ANYTHING SO GOOD IN MY LIFE!!!!!! This dish was HEAVEN in my mouth! FRESH seafood, AMAZING tasting alfredo sauce, PERFECTLY cooked noodles. OMG...I dream of this pasta. My husband had the smoked salmon...which he raved about on and on. I took a little bite of it, and OMG...MORE HEAVEN!!! I can't believe how AMAZING the food here is!!!! It's a small, casual, crowded, loud dining experience, but the service was great. I was a little overdressed for the occasion, but none the less...I would return here over and over again. I will NEVER visit this city again without going to Sotto Mare. Hey, I might take a trip back just to go here! (And I'm coming from Philadelphia). Here we are...a whole month later and I think about this pasta all the time. My husband thinks I'm crazy. It's more of an obsession. 6 STARS SOTTO MARE!!!!!!!
(5)
Ringo M.

Growing up with homecooked Chinese Steamed Fish, I'm not easily impressed with seafood served in restaurants. But Sotto Mare thoroughly impressed my family and me so much that we went back several times. There were many highlights, but here are the ESPN Foodcenter's Top 3 At NUMBER THREE, The Wait Device: Without a reservation, the wait at Sotto could take very long. But to cheer you up, they give you this wait device in the shape of a Lobster. It's so cool. At NUMBER TWO, The Seafood Risotto: I usually don't like my seafood drowned in sauce/cream because I think that overwhelms the seafood taste. But their Risotto packs that seafood taste right in the sauce, so you get the creaminess and the taste at the same time. Score! At NUMBER THREE, Sitting Upstairs: Getting seats with Sotto is tough, but you score big time if you get to sit upstairs. Midway through our meal upstairs, when my hands were occupied with a crab leg and a beer, the restaurant started jamming to oldies. They played that '...bye, bye, Miss American Pie...' song and many of the servers and customers started singing along. It was nice and loud and everyone had their grin on. The scene was kinda like 99bottles during a bus ride, but with good food and pretty lights. It was an amazing experience, especially for my Dad cause oldie music really takes him back. Great place to go for all occasions. Get oyster shooters to toast a new promotion or get cioppino if you wanna get your hands dirty for a birthday. Just remember to make reservations!
(5)
Ansel T.

We ordered seafood risotto and cioppino. Amazing food, particularly the risotto. The portion is very generous. Even the risotto can feed two. The big daddy ipa draft is great too.
(5)
Herb H.

We've been on a two week tour of Northern California, which always includes a lot of Pacific seafood, most notably the delightful stew known as cioppino. After a three-hour walking tour of North Beach and Chinatown, we found our way to Sotto Mare and decided to wait a few minutes for a table rather than immediate seating at the lengthy counter. the restaurant is cozy, active and noisy... Hard work is going on. My wife and I split a Crab Cioppino for lunch and seriously filled out bowls FOUR times each. The serving pot was brimming with perfectly steamed and stewed Crab, Mussels, Clams, shrimp, calamari and scallops. The broth was not too bold and complemented the natural tastes of the high grade seafood that went into it. (Perfect for sopping up with hat sourdough, btw.). Some penne in the broth helped "soupify" the dish. But the takeaway was that this dish achieved a perfect balance of flavor, textures and ingredients. First cioppino I've had that was able to do that. .I truly didn't walk away thinking there was too much or not enough of anything. The experience was enhanced by our server, a bright young lady from North Texas who kept it real for a couple of hungry travelers. Next time, I'll try something else ... Maybe!
(5)
Jennifer M.

There's a reason this restaurant constantly have long lines and packed seating. This place is amazing! They offer reservations for parties or 3+ but for 2 people and under it's a first come first serve basis. Come early! They stop serving dinner at 9:30 and if you're not seated yet, you're SOL. They will take names but waiting is at your own risk. Just because your name is on the list doesn't mean you're guaranteed to be seated. My boyfriend and I arrived at around 5:30. They give you a lobster that vibrates and lights up when it's your turn to be seated. When we arrived they said the wait is around 45 minutes to 1 hour, but that wait time depends on how fast or slow people eat. When we came there were a lot of big parties seated so they ordered multiple dishes, sat and talked after dinner, and it being such a small restaurant, we ended up waiting for 2 hours before we were actually seated. I'm not mentioning all this to complain, it's just so others will know what to expect when they get there. We have been warned by friends who have recommended this restaurant and that's why we came early. But when we were leaving we heard others complain about being on the list and not being seated before they were closing. Getting all that explanation out of the way, their cioppino is made for 2 people and comes in this big silver cauldron. My boyfriend and I ordered one to share. We are both big eaters and was worried it wouldn't be enough food! But by the time we finished the cioppino, it ended up being a perfect amount that filled us up, but there was no left overs like other people mention. The cioppino had a variety of perfectly cooked and tender seafood such as shrimp, baby clams, oysters, and crab. The crab was pre cracked so it was really easy to eat without the need of extra utensils. This place had THE best cioppino I have ever had and would definitely recommend this place. I would come back again next time I'm in town, even if it means I have to wait another 2 hours.
(5)
Stephanie G.

I was expecting a long wait for dinner on a Friday night with my bf, but it wasn't too bad! We only waited about 15-20 mins, and they offered us free wine while waiting. (All restaurants should catch on to this). It started getting a more crowded after we came in though, and the first part of the restaurant is a little narrow, so it was a bit annoying to wait inside, but it was really cold outside, as usual. Anyway, we were seated downstairs, which I didn't even know existed. It's a lot quieter down there and I felt like I was missing out on all the action from upstairs, but it was ok; we came to eat! So my bf and I ordered the clam chowder with bacon. It was more on the soupy than creamy side, but was still so good! We also ordered the seafood risotto ($19). I LOVE risotto and this one was amazing! It came with plenty of mussels, clams, and shrimp; they don't skimp you on the seafood! Last but not least, we ordered the cioppino. It's $38, but can feed 2 and it's so worth it! SO MUCH CRAB and the sauce was delicious. There's also mussels, clams, shrimp and scallops in there. I think it was the best cioppino I've ever had so far. Hungry just thinking about it. Oh one last thing: they don't serve desserts here. Instead they give you a list of places you can visit nearby, but there are plenty of places to find sweets around North Beach!
(4)
Mary L.

Been wanting to try this place for awhile and boy they did not disappoint. Ordered clam chowder, clam steamers, cioppino, linguini with seafood, and the special of the day fish. Everything was delicious. Can't wait to go back.
(4)
Todd A.

Wow that was an impressive meal. We got the ciopinno for two and that was unbelievable. Packed with dungeoness crab scallops clams mussels calamari with a great red sauce over penne pasta. House red was good and a great value. Server got it right and left us alone to embellish in our food.
(5)
Ashley R.

Showed up and got yelled at by the hostess for standing near the front door which by the way is right by the hostess stand. She was extremely bitchy. Bad energy, so we got an Uber and left!
(1)
Jordan S.

Uh-Mazing dinner. We called only a couple hours ahead to make a reservation, the hostess wasn't the nicest but maybe she was overwhelmed because they were super busy. They sat us downstairs, some reviewers complained about this, but I loved it down there. It was much quieter and less busy! Our waitress was great and very knowledgable. To start, we got the mussels in garlic sauce for the table and they were cooked perfectly. I got the seafood linguini with the garlic/red sauce. The seafood was so fresh and it came out piping hot. You will definitely need more bread for all the extra sauce you have. I mean their seafood is pretty much perfection, next time I must try the cioppino!!
(4)
Amanda B.

Hands down, one of my favorite meals in SF. If you come while it's busy, wine while you wait. It's tiny, so expect to if you come at peak times. The cioppino is to die for. I took my family here, and my father, a foodie, was silent the whole time he was eating--didn't want to interrupt the taste for anything. To be fair, I haven't had anything besides the cioppino, and I don't think I will. It's just that good. Cioppino: tomato-based "broth" with calamari, mussels, scallops, crab, and shrimp, with a handful of penne noodles. Please don't order one just for yourself--share it with at least one other person. The last time we went, we arrived at 3:30 on a Saturday afternoon. No wait, and we sat outside. The good: cioppino. The bad: not a gripe, but they have a limited menu, so be aware. That's it. Just go.
(5)
Zoran L.

I'm feeling let down with the food at Sotto Mare. We left thinking "Meh, was ok". Nothing was bad, but nothing was great. The oysters were ok. We tried both east and west coast. I can't remember what was what. I totally forgot we had the oysters until my wife reminded me of the horseradish. The horseradish was good. Oysters...were oysters. Some were east coast, some west :/ Cioppino was...well...not "The Best Damn Crab Cioppino", wasn't the best in the Bay, SF, or the neighborhood. I'm not going to order a fish stew from a place that isn't known to have fresh seafood. So I'm not comparing this dish to "those places". I'm comparing it the restaurants that deliver fresh seafood and know what to do with it. And with that said... this stew came in last...dead last. Flavor was lacking and there was pasta, not just pasta...but too much pasta. That really irked me. I understand people serving the stew OVER pasta, but not adding pasta to the stew. This is a total filler. Seriously...wtf...for $40+ fill it with fresh seafood and give me bread on the side. Adding pasta to the stew is total BS. The risotto was the best dish in front of us. It was loaded with seafood and cooked perfectly. I did have to add a touch of salt to the dish, but that's my palate. This isn't the best risotto out there, but it is good. The service was great. We didn't have to wait too long for the food, and the waitstaff took excellent care of us. We may be back to try some of the seafood specials, but will not go out of my way. Only if I'm hungry, walking by, and there's no line...maybe then.
(3)
Dave D.

Highly recommend this restaurant. Starts with the (new) owners meeting you at the door and talking to you about you and the menu. Great food (basically seafood) and plenty of it. Reasonably priced considering the venue. I will be back.
(5)
Victor W.

Best Italian seafood restaurant in SF. The cioppino is amazing here but my favorite is the seafood linguini with red sauce. It's all very healthy portions of fresh seafood. Expect a long wait if you don't have a reservation. The hosts tend to be abrupt since the place is always packed and they need to get people in and out. However, once you're seated, they are super nice and attentive.
(5)
CDR JAY C. O.

We also love Castagnola's and The Franciscan, in Fisherman's Wharf, but Sotto Mare always tops our list...!!! From their website: ( sottomaresf.com/Sotto_Maâ€¦ ) "Located at 552 Green Street, in the heart of North Beach, Sotto Mare provides an authentic Italian North Beach experience. We are proud to serve you the freshest fish and shellfish in town. Oysters and clams on the half shell, Boston style Clam Chowder, Baccala, Crab Cioppino, Louis salads, Seafood Pastas and Seafood Risotto are just a few of the items we offer. We feature a selection of fresh fish daily. Both our restaurant and banquet room are available, seven days a week, for private parties. And, for the convenience of those who like to cook, we also sell our fresh fish retail." This is one of their selling points... B/C they sell their fish retail, they always have the freshest product... As far as menu items their Chowder and Cioppino are the best in the city... The next table over, told us, "The Cioppino at Sotto Mare is billed as "enough for two", but seriously this tureen of sinfully delicious seafood could easily feed three...."
(5)
Wei H.

We arrived around 12:30 on Monday for lunch and got seated in front of the kitchen, so we can see how they cook the damn good cioppino. The ingredients include mussel, clam, dungeness crab, squid, shrimp, butter, cream, stock, garlic, the secret tomato sauce, etc.. The cioppino is brilliant, loads of fresh seafood and full of flavours. Just can't get enough of it.
(5)
Sheila S.

I will nerver ever recommend my clients and friends to Sotto Mare again. I send many of my clients and customers to Sotto Mare before. Today my friends from Hawaii and I were discriminated with racism action from Sotto Mare staffs. By two staff females one middle age lady and one young girl. I couldn't believe it I was so embarrassed front of my Hawaii friends. My friends from Maui Hawaii they are sweet and wonderful Aloha ladies. I first went in to Sotto Mare and my friends followed me in. Then the older female front desk staff pushed my friends and gave stink eyes. Then she said ,"" Will if u move I can do my job" then she looked at me and said "u and who else?" My friends were right front of her face so I said 4 people please. Then she took us all the way back near the restroom table. Soon as we sat down she said," u guys have 1.5 hrs to eat" then she walked away. My friends didn't wanted to set near the restroom so we asked male staff can we move little up the front please he said sure no one is here but u guys now and we sat closer to the front. Then the same female staff came said, " Why u guys moved - now u guys have 1 hour to eat not 1.5 hours. We were speechless. I told the staff u are rude then another young female came and said if u don't like it u don't have to eat our food. So we walked out but shocking was what they said as we walked out. They said, " People like Them have no manners and class". Woah you kidding me it's like back in those days telling blk people ride the bus in the back only and eat in the bathroom. What century are they from??!!!???
(1)
Colleen L.

The wait is long, so prepare to wait unless you are a party greater than 2 or 3? Then you can make reservations. My boyfriend and I came here last night because I was craving cioppino and they have a cioppino for two served in a huge silver cauldron that resembles the Stanley cup. We waited about 2 hours, but we took their pager to notify us and we walked around little Italy and perused the shops. The time passed by rather quickly. We checked back in a little early and the maÃ®tre d comped us both glasses of wine. He was really friendly and definitely kept updating our waiting time. We were seated at the bar in front of the wash crew and they were extremely charming! They were all in sync singing their favorite songs. Fast forward, we receive our dish and boy did it meet all our expectations! It was packed with all sorts of perfectly cooked seafood. It had squid, shrimp, baby scallops, oysters, clams and the most succulent crab!!! The tomato broth was amazing and a perfect balance of sweet and tart. Definitely will be my go to place for cioppino again! There was enough to fill both our bellies and enough for lunch for one the next day, which I gladly lapped up!!
(5)
M C.

This place was awesome. Cioppino + Branzino at our table was amazing. The atmosphere was perfecto. The dress was casual and relaxed. Awesome all around!
(5)
Soheil Y.

Loved their Smoked Salmon Fettuccine! So good!
(5)
Gavin P.

As is desired of all fine Italian restaurants, this place makes you feel comfortable as with family, and also like you are in an exotic foreign retreat. I loved the plastered wall with family photos, vintage posters, knick knacks, and other nautical keep sakes. The food was superb. I wanted to have a custom meal and they were happy to provide! I asked for the mixed shellfish with penn pasta and an olive oil sauce. It was great! Plus, I asked them which wine would go well with my custom meal, and they know exactly. Very intelligent staff. I also enjoyed the open kitchen so I could see the chefs at work and watch as they enjoyed their profession. This is definitely a great place to go for anyone. I saw families, dates, single people, children, all looking for a relaxing afternoon.
(5)
David Z.

With a good friend of mine, we use once a week to go somewhere in the city and try different cuisine, today was in North Beach the restaurant Sotto Mare. To start our lunch, my friend ordered half dozen of Oyster, and I ask for the Prawns cocktail. A waitress bring to us some bread and butter, the bread was good, I ordered a Italian wine which was desperately past age with a taste that let your palate dry like if you just swallow a piece of mud. This wine was surely stored in a heat zone and that make the wine turn into a very bad vinegar. My friend told me that the oyster are ok. My prawns cocktail was a disaster! The cocktail sauce made with ketchup and hot Mexican sauce!!! The prawns was frozen! In all my live I never had a Prawns cocktail so bad! I couldn't eat more after only one bite. My friend taste the Prawns cocktail, and I can tell that he's face emotion was not enjoying the bite. We decide to not proceed with our lunch at this place, and better request the bill, and go to another place to have a descent food. The waitress come, we ask for the bill, she ask us if something going wrong. I told her that the Prawns cocktail it is not good, the frozen Prawns and the cheap cocktail sauce make this appetizer a real disaster. She look at me and she told me " We are the best place and the best food in town" Really? LUCKY I'M! I can't imagine the others restaurant so... I told her. She was very mad that I don't like the food . Well I'm very sorry Sotto Mare but your food it is not good, the wine was past age, and your service suck! I can't believe such arrogance. I see that other people here love the food at this place, and I only can say that everyone got different taste., but for me, this place it is not good at all, the service should be improve, and I will not recommend this place to anyone. In the other hand, the location it's nice, and that's why I give 2 stars rating, for the location, and because my friend told me that the Oyster wasn't that bad.
(2)
Summer N.

On our latest girls' trip, we ended our vacation at Sotto Mare, which turned out to be the Best Meal of our Lives. We ordered the west coast oysters and the prawn cocktail to start with and they were absolutely delicious. But we stopped talking once the cioppino arrived and we were strapped into our bibs. Loaded with mussels, calamari, clams, crab, scallops and penne noodles, we stuffed ourselves silly, soaking the sauce with their house bread until the bowl was completely clean. The server came by to take the bowl away, and my friend let out a little cry and glanced in the bowl to see if any stray sauce was leftover. The waitress said, "honey, there's nothing left!" Everything was fantastic; can't wait to go again!
(5)
Kiersten A.

Super friendly owners. Great food and lively atmosphere. This place is super popular so make a reservation if you can.
(5)
Zoe B.

I don't give 5 star ratings that often. But this place is THAT good. Came here with my mom and sister for the first time. We were making a day out of me trying on wedding dresses in SF, and I made us a reservation here for lunch. Got sat right away and poured ourselves some water from the table caraffe. My sister and I got a glass of prosecco each, so thumbs up for having that! I got a west coast oyster and a clam on the half shell. Both were very good and fresh. Then we shared... - House Salad: be warned, this is just iceberg lettuce and tomatoes, sliced. With a side of russian dressing, but it was tasty. - Clam Chowder: very good, I could taste the bacon in it, but it wasn't overwhelming. - Linguine with Seafood: sooooo yummy. it had an assortment of shrimp, bay scallops, mussels, clams, and squid all in a light creamy white wine sauce. - Clam Steamers: in a white wine/garlic sauce. they clams were fresh with NO SAND! and the broth is perfect to dunk the bread in. We didn't order a lot, and we were glad we shared because we were stuffed. Portions are generous, as is the waitstaff. I will definitely be back to this North Beach institution!
(5)
Jason B.

Damn straight. Try to keep the yelp profanity to a minimum, this is a classy joint after all. But sometimes you need to reinforce menu statements such as: "BEST DAMN CRAB CIOPPINO" Includes a promise the $38 dish is enough for two. This is inaccurate. There was enough for four. Which is surprising considering how damn good it is. Overwhelming amount of seafood. Just rich enough broth. Slices of bread meant for great things like soaking up every last drop. So good. Damn good. Surprised we had room for a $17 tomato sauce based linguine with (trend alert) an overwhelming amount of seafood. Absolutely (another trend alert) outstanding. There is a chance our collective enthusiasm was skewed by being buzzed. That's what happens when wine is free while you wait. We left full, fully impressed and with a still full wallet. Staff running after us to deliver my forgotten credit card was icing on the five star cake. Damn straight five stars.
(5)
Marlon T.

I finally got to check this place out the other day after wanting to for months. The experience is unforgettable so I highly recommend checking it out if you have the time. It can get very busy so I recommend coming during off hours or making a reservation. Before I say more, I just want to say that this place is similar to Swan Oyster Depot but I think Sotto Mare is a lot better hands down and don't recommend ever going to Swan Oyster Depot. Read my review about them for more insight. Anyway, the food here will blow your mind and you will get super full because the portions are very generous. We ordered these and our stomachs were 100% satisfied: 1) the "best damn crab cioppino" with seafood 2) grilled sand dabs ~ fillets 3) boston clam chowder These 3 dishes can make 3 people full or 2 people too full. These items are what you need to have a good Sotto Mare experience. Maybe get some oysters too if you have more than 1 stomach. The service was great and it was fun to watch the chefs go to work. This is one of the best restaurants in North Beach and any seafood lover should check it out. The oceanic atmosphere and smell/sight of fresh fish make sitting at the bar a better experience. Your clothes might smell a little fishy after eating here, but it's not too bad like at a Korean BBQ joint with poor ventilation.
(4)
Cindy Y.

I am just a fan of open kitchens, where you can see the cook take pictures of the dish he just created (really happened!). Sotto Mare had a great menu. Would definitely recommend for a lively dinner where it's a bit cramped and hot but where the food will come out delicious and fresh.
(4)
Nathalie Y.

Omg i love this place. It is not a big restaurant, but it has a really nice comfortable seatings. I love the corppino. The ingredients are fresh and sufficient. The food is well priced. I really wanna go there one more time! I haven't tried their wines. I should probably do next time. This is a must in SF! Highly recommend! My friends and I tried all the chef's choice on the menu. They are all tasty. Corppino is still my favorite. They only let you in when all parties are there. Because it's so popular! Haha get all your friends there on time and enjoy your wonderful dinner.
(5)
Rita L.

No complaints about our experience here. The bf and I walked over from Pier 33 after our Alcatraz adventure, and we were pretty much famished. We were promptly seated outside and overall service was good. We ordered the cioppino, and it was exactly what we were craving, a huge tub of hot seafood and some pasta underneath. The broth was very flavorful, not just salty, and I loved the variety of seafood. The one star dinged is from the hotel entrance that was exactly behind our table. Random people kept walking through.
(4)
Paige C.

This place not only gets five stars, but it goes down on my list of "best meals ever." Not surprisingly, we went with the what they are known for: The Seafood Cippino: a huge bowl of tomato-brothy, seafood goodness, served with a few slices of Italian bread to sop up the sauce. (Okay, actually it was more like a whole loaf, but whatever.) My husband, who self admittedly is a carnivore and doesn't think a meal is a meal without red meat, gorged himself on this meal in a way that may have scarred me for life. We were seated at the counter overlooking the kitchen and we thoroughly enjoyed watching the chefs' bustle. It was amazing the awesome-ness that came out of such a small kitchen with limited ingredients. While this isn't "fine dining" it's GOOD dining, and sometimes that's even better. P.S. Don't be scared of the bib. Wear it. If you don't get messy eating this meal, then you aren't doing it right.
(5)
Joy W.

Service was a little hostile. I had asked for the Sourdough bread to be reheated as cold pre-dinner bread is never a pleasant feeling. But food was not bad. Started off with steamed mussels. They were good, but steamed mussels are an easy crowd pleaser, so I was not thoroughly impressed, though they were pleasant to pick at with the house chardonnay on our outdoor seating. Next came our 2 dozen west coast oysters on the half shell and steamed crab. Crab was good--served cold and delicious with salt and some lemon juice, though I did not enjoy the presentation, crushed and dumped over a layer of green lettuce--soggy. Oysters were good too; not the flat type. They were small and sweet, fantastic with the horseradish. We finished off with Risotto--I liked. Slightly bland, but shrimp is good touch. Must have some parmesan with, although I was disappointed to find that they had no freshly shaved/ground parmesan--green plastic bottle kraft parmesan was provided in a tin bowl, which wasn't fooling anybody, really. Overall a pleasant experience as the weather in SF that day was beautiful and I had some fantastic company. Not sure whether I would return before taking a look at Fog House first, unless I come back just for some Cioppino (i had gone to sotto mare and did not order their famous Ciopinno...sad) but this is a nice place to sit down for some chill seafood in a cute neighborhood.
(3)
Cecilia D.

SCALLOPS ....... Butter , lemony. I love this place, so do my sisters. The oyster shooters, iceberg wedge, crab... I've eaten everything off the menu. Northbeach is awesome and I'm so lucky I can walk here. I actually like eating at the bar and sip a Bellini while watching the cooks, they work so fricken hard and have that kitchen running on a tight ship. Everything is organized and seasoned with perfection . Check this place out Fo Sho!!!
(5)
Jasmine T.

Excellent and so cosy! The seafood was really good and so much more locals than the touristy part at fishermans wharf. We shared a crab and the seafood risotto and they were excellent! The staff is friendly and the service is good. Can strongly recommend it! We didn't have a reservation and waited 30 min for a table but it was ok.
(5)

Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.

Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.

Address : 552 Green St
San Francisco, CA, 94133
Phone (415) 398-3181
Website https://www.sottomaresf.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

Claim Restaurant

Italian Cuisine

The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.

Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.

If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.

WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES

Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online

Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.

Search Your Favourite Restaurants.

Sotto Mare

552 Green St, San Francisco, CA, 94133

Sotto Mare Menu

Appetizers

Salads

Fish And Shellfish

Pasta

Main

To Take Home

Healthy Meal suggestions for Sotto Mare

Appetizers

Salads

Fish And Shellfish

Pasta

Main

To Take Home

Julian N.

Jimmy L.

Chowder K.

Sheila B.

Bodai P.

Nova C.

Evelyn F.

Julia C.

Frank L.

Jemusu L.

S D.

Joyce B.

Sylvia L.

Connie Y.

Jonathan T.

Kenny V.

Joseph L.

Phil Y.

Ortiz N.

Stacy G.

Keith P.

Raquel Y.

Jane H.

Michael J.

Maggi K.

Brian S.

dutchy s.

Brad B.

Eugene N.

Tony F.

Grace L.

Diana C.

Mike Y.

Fay A.

Rodney H.

Janet T.

Ivan T.

Fidel Q.

Emily W.

Tiffany D.

Candice H.

Bevin H.

William L.

Charles E.

Ashley C.

Taylor W.

Kevin S.

B. L.

F B.

Joshua S.

Crystal C.

Yin How L.

Gentry W.

Ammar T.

Scott H.

J. D.

Todd J.

Mina K.

Aaron G.

Fred F.

Tiff C.

Sheila R.

Phuong H.