Best Restaurants for People Watching in North Beach

This was my second time at Mona Lisa Mare e Monti. It was just as good as before. The ambiance is terrific, food delicious and servers friendly and engaging. A great experience all around. The only challenge is parking in the neighborhood. I'd suggest public transit or a cab to save some stress. Either way, it's totally worth it! I look forward to the next time!

We tried this restaurant for SF restaurant week and we enjoyed it so much. The bruschetta and calamari were great to start and then we did the add in for the “live cook” inside the cheese wheel and were not disappointed at all. Tiramisu for dessert had a lot of espresso flavor and the drinks with dinner were fantastic. We will be back to eat from the standard menu for sure

Cassava is truly a gem in San Francisco, and my recent visit only reinforced why it’s such a beloved spot. The food was simply outstanding—every dish was beautifully prepared, flavorful, and clearly crafted with care. From the first bite to the last, it was a culinary experience that delighted all my senses. What made the evening even more special was the presence of the owner, who was not only visibly helping her staff but also warmly engaging with every table. She attended to our needs with such genuine care, answering questions about the menu and making us feel like treasured guests. It’s rare to see such dedication and passion, and it elevated the experience to something truly unforgettable. While it’s bittersweet to know Cassava is closing temporarily, I’m counting the days until it reopens. This restaurant is a treasure, and I can’t wait to return for more exceptional meals and the warm, welcoming atmosphere. Cassava, we’ll miss you and eagerly await your comeback! M & W

my girlfriend is here for work for one week and she was craving pasta. while getting ready i opened up the open table app and did a search for “italian restaurants” - tosca cafe was the first option so i chose a 7:15pm reservation. i jumped in my car and drove over to the city from oakland and picked my friend up in union square. we quickly found parking nearby and rocked up to tosca. not quite sure what to expect, we found this cozy dining room with candles on each table and an inviting service team. our waitress was sylvia and she was THE BEST! we started with calamari and caviar pillows. sylvia recommended the parpadelle bolognese and the bucatini and they were both a hit! the atmosphere is very cozy and old world. there was also live music playing. my friend and i thoroughly enjoyed our time at tosca cafe. thank you to the gentleman at the front desk for the nice table we really appreciated it.

The food and service is always good. The background music was a bit loud throughout dinner. The time when it was loud and should have been loud was when we celebrated a birthday which was really fun. In general the music could be brought down a touch