Reviews

This place checks off all the boxes! Great value, quick service, and the food is truly delicious! No long wait on a weekend. Best of all, it is pet friendly and kid friendly. They have a covered patio set up with great heat lamps. I came on a rainy day and was still comfortable sitting outside. I ordered the garlic bread, meatballs, calzone, pollo piamontese, and tiramisu. Also, a very strong limoncello. All the dishes were very fresh, and tasted like it was made by an Italian noona. Well, it turns out that Chef Luisa is still in charge at the restaurant. She came and greeted us. She is 94, and you can tell that she is passionate about her food and her restaurant. Highly recommend!

Service was enjoyable and friendly Pasta was fresh and tasty Pizza was unbelievably good All at reasonable prices and served quite quickly without being rushed.

Good food makes a good restaurant, but it’s the details that separate a good restaurant from a great one. About details, Louisa’s knocks it out of the park. From the traditional Italian decorations on the walls to the spotless, clean, utensils and plates, my family and I felt the passion and care of the restaurant staff and Louisa. We arrived without a reservation, but the the waiter found us a nice table and treated us like VIPs. We asked about Louisa and he patiently told us her story. There were spacious and clean restrooms. Along with that, the food was just as good as their service. This great restaurant definitely deserves five stars.

Luisa is a treasure, and the food and service are excellent, as well. I have to return to try her chicken piamontese, but for now I can recommend the gnocchi and tiramisu!

Amazing! We’ve got an authentic carbonara and a delicious Luiza’s special. She was in the restaurant, amazing person.

The pepperoni pizza was absolutely perfect. My wife enjoyed the Prawns Risotto. Great atmosphere and please try one of Luisa's wines. Oh sooo good! we will be back.

Amazing place, amazing environment and amazing owner. Highly recommend the Pollo Piamontese, you will be in for a treat

Great food and wine, great service and the best part was meeting Luisa herself.

World class food in an unpretentious atmosphere. Food was absolutely delicious, service and wine was even better. Would recommend to anyone anywhere anytime.

We were on a trip for my girlfriends birthday, she was so excited to try this Italian restaurant near our hotel, but by the time we were ready they were closed, so she googled, and found Luisa’s restaurant. It was absolutely incredible, the food was amazing, the service was fantastic, and the place is beautiful. We were both thrilled the other place was closed because that was the best meal we had the entire trip ! Thank you mama Luisa and your restaurant team for the amazing experience.

Really awesome little Italian place. Everything was delicious, the Blood Orange Italian soda was great. Definitely my go-to spot whenever I visit the area again.

Legit Italian. Good pasta and gnocchi, tasty limoncello. Friendly server outside. Grazie.

Excellent food. Waiter was fantastic

Best tiramisu ever!!! Desserts are the best. Loved Luisa’s special champagne fettuccini and chicken. The Caesar and wine were also fabulous. Luisa is 93 now and visited our table. Some of the recipes are 6 generations old.

Luisa’s was a fantastic experience. My wife and I are both Italian so we know what authentic Italian tastes like. But more importantly, we were treated like family, including by Luisa herself. If you want a special experience, go to Luisa’s. And our bartender Claudio - topped off the great experience

Great little spot with authentic Italian food. I had the Chicken Alfredo Linguine and it was perfect. Serving sizes are not too big and not too small. Nice wine list as well :)

(Translated by Google) Great place! perfect tiramisu (Original) Great place! Perfect tiramisú

My family and I all ate at Luisa’s the other day when visiting San Francisco for the holiday. It was amazing food and amazing company. Probably the best Italian food we’ve had on the west coast. We even got to meet Luisa herself. (See picture with my wife and kids) She is such a sweet lady and loves to chat so if you ever come and eat alone, if Luisa is there, she’ll keep you company. My wife ordered the Penne Gorgonzola and I had the Cannelloni di Carne. Both were fantastic!!! The sauces were delicious and the noodles were perfectly cooked. The staff was true Italian and spoke with an accent so you knew you were in for some legit Italian food. They didn’t have a kids menu but were really easy going with tweaking the menu for our family. Our kids had the Spaghetti and meatballs. They ate every last ball and noodle. Lol 😂 Loved this place for the food, character and company. Definitely will come back when we visit again.

This was our first of many visits to come. We had the pleasure of meeting Luisa - 93 years young! We enjoyed wonderful authentic Italian cuisine from Gnocchi to Cannelloni di Carne. The perfect meal before heading to SHN for a Broadway musical. Thank You Luisa and staff!

(Translated by Google) Mrs. Luisa is a very smart woman, her restaurant has a long tradition and an Italian cuisine adapted to American tastes. The food is good, the staff is welcoming and she is fantastic ♥ ️ (Original) La Signora Luisa è una donna molto in gamba, il suo locale ha una lunga tradizione ed una cucina italiana adattata ai gusti americani. Si mangia bene, il personale è accogliente e lei è fantastica ♥️

Great pizza from a local lady that has been doing this since the 1940's. She came out and chatted with us, super sweet.

If you are looking for authentic Italian food that spans four generations, Luisa's is the place to go. Not only is the food absolutely amazing, the atmosphere and hospitable service is equally great. Luisa is a charming individual with a vivacious personality. You will immediately take to her as though you have known her all your life. She takes pride in her cooking, and you will too once you eat here. I encourage you to check it out whenever you can. God bless you Luisa. Thanks for an amazing experience!

Luisa Super friendly. Food and wine amazing!

Incredible food! Even better service. Highly recommend the lemon cake. Have been here twice now and highly recommend trying the gnocchi. Probably best to leave the pizza to another place though. Luisas wine selection is wonderful though! Trust the expert and get a glass from her selection.

Luisa’s is the absolute best experience. I grew up Italian and there’s nothing like my grandmothers recipes, but Luisa proved to be exceptional! Good food, good wine, great limoncello! I will be back :)

Luisa’s restaurant is my new favorite Italian restaurant in San Francisco and Bay Area. This amazing experience started with meatball and garlic bread for appetizer, which are to go for. Both are made from scratch in the restaurant by the beautiful Luisa, the meatball taste like a perfect homemade meal. The bread is so fresh, like if you just got it out of oven. Then we had Lasagna with vodka sauce and Lobster Revioli with wine lemon sauce. This is my favorite flavor and meal ever. I ended the meal with lemon cake. It is juicy and flavorful! Don’t forget to say hi to beautiful Luisa, she is the heart and soul of the restaurant!

Amazing food! I recommend the carbonara, lasagna, and the tiramisu!!

For a while, there seemed to be no stopping the number of small restaurants and bars popping up in this corner of the city. I love it because I can finally bar hop in my hood, and Little Star is one of my fave places to hang out. The food is great, and one of the owners waits on you while the other is in the kitchen working his magic. Neither of them are from New York or Chicago, but their pizzas have fooled many of my Chicago & New York friends.

The best restaurant in town ! Luisa is the best! Grazie mille

We met Luisa (91 years of age) at her restaurant tonight and she personally checked on us to make sure our food was good. The food was off the charts delicious! Amazing!

An incredible night with great friends and delicious food! Literally licking my fingers! Such an amazing dinner! Don’t pass by this place! 💛

dinner, magnificent .Luisa genuine and beautiful made sf memorable

Absolutely accommodating owner and chef!Luisa Outdoor dining · Cosy atmosphere · Classic cocktails · Late-night dining · Creative cuisine · Large wine list

Luisa is amazing, chef, owner, hostess. She is warm and hospitable, and her food is to die for. I had an incredible house salad and cannelloni, my wife the lobster ravioli, and my daughter the Gorgonzola penne. I cannot overstate how much each of us enjoyed our perfect meals. I want to go back often.

I’m in town on business and as I parked my Bird scooter Luisa says to me “I’m da best” w that Italian accent. Immediately I heard my grandmother. Being Sicilian myself I told her there was no way I couldn’t try her food. All I can say is I’m glad I did. I felt like Luisa was family and the Gnocci was to die for. I ordered 1 of each dessert to being back to the hotel w me, and I will be going back tomorrow for lunch. I gotta try the Eggplant Parmesan. Her restaurant is a must try.

Luisa’s is open later than a lot which is exactly the reason we dined here. It turned out to be a wonderful experience with some of the best dishes I have had since living back in Italy. I had the tutto mare and the bruschetta and both were quite incredible. We then got to finish our evening with chatting up Luisa or more like her talking about some of her amazing life experiences. I’d recommend this place to everyone, but be prepared to have a great time.

Great food and service. The chicken parmigiana and tiramisu were great! And Luisa, the owner, is so warm and entertainment that makes you come back and become a regular. Highly recommend for visitors or locals.

Best Chicken Parmesean I have ever had. Ms. Luisa is a Gem. I will be back for sure when we go to the city.

Amazing authentic Italian food. There were lots of options and good pricing for both food and wine

Excellent restaurant. Friendly service, delicious food. The owner stopped by the table to chat and was very friendly and fun to talk to. Highly recommend!

Luisa’s is such a warm and friendly place! The food is absolutely incredible - perhaps even better than other places in Little Italy. The gnocchi is out of the world! The tiramisu is so good - the ambience is great :) I highly recommend going to Luisa’s. The staff and owner are very friendly - if you’re ever able to meet the owner, you’re super lucky! The owner is amazing. Also many other restaurants are cramped together during outdoor seating but Luisa’s is super open and safe for outdoor seating during COVID!

This restaurant is my preferred one. I go to plenty of restaurants but to this place I constantly return again and again. The crew is very chummy and the cooking they serve is so appetizing. I never decline to have a nice meal here. I recommend this place with pleasure.

At age 91, as of this writing, Mama Luisa is both sweet and brilliant! She is right here, greeting the guests, and making sure they have the best experience. The food is superb. The tiramisu is the best we've had anywhere. Mama Luisa has actually been running her restaurant since 1959! She'll sit with you and tell you how she came to the US at age 15. Whether you get a full dinner, or just an espresso, you will love this restaurant!

I love this place so much. Luisa is a gem and the food is fantastic. Don't miss out on her tiramisu!

Friendly owner, delicious food, good value, wonderful Italian neighborhood experience. My wife and I went with some friends, and we had a great meal. The gnocchi is very tasty and soft. The bread and butter are flavorful and fresh. I'm looking forward to trying other dishes. The place is casual, not too loud, and welcoming. The moment we walked in, Luisa came to sit with us. She's 90 years old, and she opened this restaurant because it's her passion. She begins cooking at 7am each day to prepare this great food, and her craftsmanship shows. Thank you!

We enjoyed a wonderful meal at Luisa's on Halloween and had the pleasure of meeting and getting to Luisa herself, the owner. The food was delicious, service was excellent. We will definitely come back the next time we visit San Francisco!

Luisa was awesome! She was so personable and shared with us the history behind her craft! The food was fantastic...I highly recommend her gnocchi with vodka sauce....so delicious! Thank you Louisa for making our experience memorable!

(Translated by Google) Really delicious, the best Italian food in town. (Original) Echt lecker, das beste italienische Essen der Stadt.

Luisa is an incredible Owner & Chef. The food is authentic & fresh - it’s as though you’re transported to Italy with every bite. I recommend wholeheartedly to anybody!

(Translated by Google) A good place to share with the family. (Original) Un buen lugar para compartir en familia.

Wow. I’ve lived in North Beach for a few years and have somehow missed this GEM! Stumbled upon it tonight and have to say it may be my new SF fave. The sour dough bread is incredible and you can’t go wrong with the pesto gnocchi. Hands down the best gnocchi I’ve ever had. 100% recommend this cozy haven - Luisa even came to our table and introduced herself! No photos to add, there was no food left

Great host and experience. Best Italian you’ll get in Little Italy. Luisa wakes up at 7 am and starts her 4th generation recipes before the cooks get there. This is the real deal.

This restaurant is an absolute delight. We had the honor of eating with Luisa herself on a quiet evening before closing, and she was an absolute delight. The food was excellent, the wine was flowing, and we stayed twice as long as we'd planned. Would highly recommend you make it out and see for yourself

My husband and I stumbled in there while in SF for the weekend. Louisa is an amazing 91 year old businesswoman who knows, hospitality, authentic Italian food and family! A must go restaurant!

(Translated by Google) Restaurant that does not pay the outside but what a find 😉 The owner has 93 years but still this is a figure of the neighborhood and the city full of stories telling more exciting each other. Welcome and great food .... especially the lasagna! To recommend (Original) Restaurant qui ne paie pas de mine de l’extérieur mais quelle trouvaille 😉 La propriétaire a 93 ans mais toujours présente est une figure du quartier et de la ville pleine d’histoires a raconter plus passionnantes les unes des autres. Bon accueil et plats succulents....les lasagnes tout particulièrement! A recommander

We were visiting San Francisco for the first time and we're walking by this cozy restaurant. We decided to go in and we're greeted by a man and Luisa herself. Luisa gave us a pleasant smile and chatted with us she told us about her restaurants history which she has been tending to for a long time, she is over 90 years of age and brings her own family's Italian recipes, everything we ate was superb and delicious! Her restaurant walls are covered in Luisa's history as she has been serving her delicious food. Would recommend this restaurant to anyone!

Best Italian restaurant I've been to so far in the US. Reminds me of places I've been in Italy. Spoke to a couple who've been going to this restaurant for 20 years....I could see why.

fantastic food. moved to the bay area from the east coast and missed the great italian cooking. Luisa greeted us and is a terrific host.

Amazing!!

Great food and company by the owner. I highly recommend going if in the area and getting some great authentic food!

Orders chicken picatta with vegetables and fettuccine Alfredo with chicken. The Alfredo sauce was just perfect and tastes fresh, made the dish feel hine cooked. The chickn picatta was was very good, jus that the capers add too much of a salty taste, but besides that it was excellent. The service (even for takeout was excellent)

A really good place and nice people.

The food is EXCELLENT! Get the gnocchi and any ravioli. We met Luisa. She shared her food wisdom, as a true Italian. Definitely recommend eating here and will come back!! ❤️

Such a great place with an amazing owner, Luisa is a sweetheart and I couldn’t recommend the food more!

Warm shelter on a rainy night; Luisa’s offers classic Italian food that stands the test of time. The owner greeted us and immediately told us our own life’s story. More accurate than astrology, she is all-knowing and all-telling. Also the pizza crust is fire.

(Translated by Google) ♨️♨️ (Original) ♨️♨️

I was more than 11 days in San Francisco and the food of Luisas restaurant was the most delicious i ate...and everyday i ate in different restaurants but the taste of Luisas food was amazing. I definitely come back to that place👌

As a local, who lives in this neighborhood, Louisa’s restaurant wins the local-choice awards! Food is fantastic, people are super friendly, and seriously the prices are very reasonable. Come for the food, stay for the service and you will not regret it. You may even meet Louisa herself, doing her thing at 90 years old and rocking!

Wonderful place and attention. Food is amazing! Creative cuisine · Cosy atmosphere

Luisa is amazing!! She makes virtually everything from scratch every morning and you can definitely taste the love. The Pappardelle Bolognese is perfecto👍👍 Luisa and her staff make enjoying her family recipes a complete delight. The restaurant has quite a rich history as well. The next time you're in San Francisco I highly recommend Luisa's for a truly authentic experience. If you're up to it have a chat with the proprietor herself, as she's usually on the floor with her guests when she's not working in the kitchen. Did I mention she's a remarkable woman!! Thanks again Luisa, always a pleasure!

the main highlight was Luisa herself, such an amazing lady! all of the food that we ordered was so amazing we had such a good time. and the teramusu was beyond delicious

What can one say about Luisa's? Just... "WOW"!!! Luisa greets her customers with a "hello and what did you order?" If you don't know what to order she will suggest something for you and you will love it. The food was amazing, just the calzone (my husband ordered)was so incredible for those of you that are Italian food newbies. I ordered the Penne Putanesca, holy moly, it was the most authentic that I can ever remember from my years in Italy! If you are looking for great and authentic Italian, look no further than Luisa's! BTW... don't forget dessert. The lemoncello cake is so good and she makes her own lemoncello for it! Gratzie, Luisa!

Great food and decent prices for the area! This is definitely as Italian as it gets!

Absolutely amazing food and wine but Luisa is the star, highly recommend eating here!!!

Wonderful experience the host is a sweet lady everything was fresh and made us feel at home the food is the best Italian food I have ever had her recipes are from four generations past done

This place is amazing! The owner herself, Luisa, welcomes you to her restaurant! The food is just AMAZING! So authentic, fresh, and delicious! 4 generation recipes and boy are they good! Everything on the menu is delicious! Highly recommend this restaurant when in San Francisco!

Met Luisa, fabulous woman and fabulous food!! Great food

Excellent food and service! I had the lobster ravioli and it was fantastic. We met Luisa, who was a very kind lady.

Good food and confortable. All the chicken with pasta are delicious.

Wonderful dining experience

Amazing homemade Italian food!! Warm ambience. Friendly staff. Best Tiramisu!

Magnificent!

At age 91, as of this writing, Mama Luisa is both sweet and brilliant! She is right here, greeting the guests, and making sure they have the best experience. The food is superb. The tiramisu is the best we've had anywhere. Mama Luisa has actually been running her restaurant since 1959! She'll sit with you and tell you how she came to the US at age 15. Whether you get a full dinner, or just an espresso, you will love this restaurant!

I love this place. The food is delicious and Luisa is so friendly. I had the chicken Parmesan and hubs had the lamb papardelle and he said it was the most delicious thing he's eaten since he moved here. Can't wait to go back!

Where do I even begin? My friend and I came across this restaurant just walking down the street. We were immediately greeted by who we found out to be Luisa herself! She was hilarious and wise and one of my favorite parts about the experience. The food was amazing! I had the fettuccine con pollo with pesto and my friend had the lasagna by Luisa's recommendation. BEST PESTO IVE EVER HAD! I'm so glad we ate here and I'll be sure to come back with the whole family when I come back in town.

Amazing food! Tastes like it was made by the world's best Italian grandmother. The flavors were fantastic from start to end. All homemade from the bread to the pastas, sauces, pizza, and fantastic Italian desserts. We're definitely coming back!

Best Italian food in San Francisco!!!!! This restaurant has many options for a variety of diets. They have many vegetable dishes and seafood dishes if you are not a big meat eater. Very chic restaurant with a lot of history behind it. I recommend getting the Chicken Alfredo dish if you are skeptical on what to eat there. A+ food, hospitality, and service at this restaurant. I will likely be eating here again soon.

Luisa's was very delicious. Defiantly recommend! I had the chicken parmigiana with pasta. Luis is a very sweet lady.

She is very kind. One of the best pizza I have ever tried. I hope people can come here and enjoy the food and the lady that takes to you. She was very nice and beautiful.

So, if you are lucky enough to come here and Luisa is here, ask her to share her story! She has been cooking since 1956, although now the name says 1959... and it shows. I had the spaghetti carbonara and the Pollo Piedmontese and it was so very delicious and one of the best carbonara I have had. This place has character - which is driven by 90 year old Luisa.

Amazing, stunning find in North Beach. Opened and run by 90 year old Luisa herself. Luisa makes her amazing pasta and dishes and unbelievable Tiramisu herself and then hangs out at night making sure everything goes smoothly - and even more so, like any Italian grandmother, making sure her customers truly enjoy her passionate work. Super rare to find a gem like this in any city outside of Italy.

Great simple fresh food. Gnocchi is light and tasty. The pesto is delicious. The pizza is great and we had the meatball and the Margherita pizza which were terrific. Good beer selection as well. They Tomato and Mozz appetizer was very good as was the Brushetta. It is very authentic to Southern Italian style food. Looking forward to returning. The staff was friendly as well.

To all YELP FOLLOWER I like to suggest a new place in the heart of. North Beach LUISA WINE BAR AND RESTAURANT THE OWNER HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS SINCE 1959 She specialize on authentic italian home made style Food .some of her specialty are. Home made. Gnocchi Meat ball home made. Pasta sea food dishes lasagna And many other interesting dishes She brought her knowledge from the experience she had and the creative passion that she feels Try it you will like you feel like you are in. ITALY

An emboldened 90 years old, with hair as dark as night, Louisa slipped into a chair adjacent to my table and reached out for my hand, asking for my name. This was the most memorable dining experience I have ever been a part of. Luisa sat down and told us about her 60 years of cooking experience, as well as her story of moving to the US from Italy. My friend and I felt like we were being swept far away from the city and into a bistro in the heart of Italy. With a knowing smile, she told me the secret to a perfect Vodka sauce, and told me how she makes gnocchi that literally melts in your mouth, followed by a tenacious wink from eyes that have spanned nine decades. Upon dining I was met with the most incredible meatballs and red sauce I have ever had-- those melted in my mouth as well, complimented by some of the softest, flavorful freshly baked bread I've ever enjoyed. I tried the chicken Parmesan as well as the gnocchi with vodka sauce-- both were the best of each I've ever tasted. We sipped from a bottle of merlot from glasses she got from the back as they were "much nicer," and she brought us tiramisu at the end compliments of the house. Louisa gave me a warm hug at the end of our meal, as well as her phone number for the next time I return to the city so that she can make a "special meal, just for me." Somehow four hours had slipped by and the experience was like meeting a long lost grandmother you didn't know you needed, followed by the best Italian food you didn't know was possible. The menu prices were more than reasonable-- in fact, it felt like we were almost doing the restaurant a disservice by paying the advertised price-- it was THAT good. I am not one to write ample yelp reviews, but I would 100% recommend any of Louisa's restaurants. You may learn one of her grandmother's recipes, or an incredible story about her immigration to the U.S, or a tidbit of wisdom to carry with you for a lifetime.

Homey food in relaxed environment. I had only Insalada Siciliana to save space for a desert. It was simple, fresh and the dressing very tasty. But the star was my husbands Spinach and Cheese Ravioli. Perfectly al dente and the pesto sauce was finger licking. At last we had tiramisu, which was heaven. I’m so tired of sweet American deserts and finally had something well balanced and rich in all flavor. I will be back to try other dishes.

Mamá Luisa is the owner of Luisa Restorante. The food was fabulous and of course Mama Luisa took the time to sit and talk to all her customers. She made use feel very welcomed. I had the Pappardelle Boloqnese and my wife had the Lasagna. It was excellent. Enjoy

I've been going to Luisa's since 2001 in the Marina. I was so excited to see her reopen in North Beach! The bruschetta is authentic and delicious. So is the papparadelle bolognese and the pasta with vodka sauce. Also, a MUST have is the polpitine (meatballs!) YUM!