Tosca Café

Name: Tosca Café
Address: 242 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA, United States, 94133-4509
Telephone: (415) 986-9651
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.6

4.6

148 Reviews

$31 to $50

Italian

Make a booking

2 people

23 Nov 2024

7:00 pm

Booked 22 times today

Good for special occasions
Great for fine wines
Lively

A legendary hangout in North Beach since it opened in 1919, and even more so from the 1980's onward when Jeanette Etheredge took over Tosca. Locals including Willie Brown, Lars Ulrich and Francis Ford Coppola were regular fixtures, Hunter S Thompson wrote his column for the SF Examiner in the corner booth, Bono, Lauren Hutton, and Mikhail Baryshnikov played pool in the back room, singing Opera and drinking Tosca House Cappuccinos. When Restaurateur Anna Weinberg and Interior Designer Ken Fulk heard Tosca Cafe was closing they joined forces to save it. As the new owners and passionate fans of the original establishment their goal was to return Tosca to its rightful place as a San Francisco institution. As Mikey Rapin wrote in Bon Appétit magazine: “It’s the kind of joint Beats got bounced, Bono belted opera, and a bullet hole memoralizes the night an A-LIST actor disagreed with a rockstar's choice of music"

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Italian, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service, Cocktail Bar
Hours of Operation
Dinner Tue, Wed 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Thu–Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Bar Thu–Sat 5:00 pm–12:00 am
Phone number
(415) 986-9651
Website
https://www.toscacafe-sf.com/
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Private party facilities
We offer three distinctly unique private dining experiences at Tosca: Restaurant Buyout (up to 100 guests)Private Dining Room (18 guests)Chef's Lounge (8 guests) Please contact us for more information and to book your event. https://annaweinberghospitality.tripleseat.com/party_request/3262

Location
242 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133-4509
Area
North Beach
Cross Street
Broadway
Parking details
None
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Late Night, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wine

Popular dishes

Arugula SaladUSD 17.00
crispy capers, parmesan, rosé-balsamic vinaigrette
Chicory SaladUSD 18.00
lemon-anchovy dressing, parmesan
Burrata SaladUSD 21.00
crispy kale, pistachios, maple-mustard vinaigrette
Kaluga Caviar BitesUSD 28.00
waffles, crème fraîche, chives
House-Marinated OlivesUSD 10.00
citrus, rosemary, celery
House-Made FocacciaUSD 14.00
garlic, parmesan, local herb oil
Charcuterie PlateUSD 34.00
salametto, prosciutto, parmesan
Tosca Meatballs
pork, beef, spicy tomato sauce, basil, parmesan
- 5 PiecesUSD 24.00
Melanzana FrittaUSD 18.00
crispy eggplant, spicy tomato sauce, parmesan
AranciniUSD 19.00
parmesan, ricotta, tomato sauce

Pasta

Kale Pesto PappardelleUSD 28.00
toasted almonds, parmesan
Lumache Cacio e PepeUSD 27.00
black pepper, parmesan
Truffle GnocchiUSD 31.00
sauteed local mushrooms, parmesan
Spaghetti and MeatballsUSD 28.00
pork, beef, tomato sauce, basil, parmesan
Braised Short Rib RigatoniUSD 31.00
peas, parmesan

Entrées

Seared SalmonUSD 36.00
chimichurri, frisse, radish, green goddess
14oz C.A.B Grilled RibeyeUSD 62.00
sautéed wild mushrooms, chives, red wine jus
Tuscan Fried ChickenUSD 35.00
chicory salad, local herbs
Pork Chop SaltimboccaUSD 42.00
bone-in 360 Farms pork chop, polenta

Sides

Crispy PotatoesUSD 12.00
salsa verde
Sautéed AsparagusUSD 12.00
lemon, garlic, parmesan
Creamy PolentaUSD 12.00
parmesan

Sparkling Wines

Biancavigna, Spumante Rosa 'Cuvee 1932', Veneto, Italy NV
- GlassUSD 13.00
- BottleUSD 60.00
Murgo, Metodo Classico Brut, Sicily 2019
- GlassUSD 17.00
- BottleUSD 74.00
Piper-Hiedseick, "Cuvée 1785", Champagne, France
- GlassUSD 24.00
- BottleUSD 105.00

Rosé Wines

Idlewild, "Flora and Fauna - The Flower", North Coast, California 2021
- GlassUSD 16.00
- BottleUSD 70.00

White Wines

Pinot Grigio, Gail, "Doris", Sonoma Valley, California 2021
- GlassUSD 15.00
- BottleUSD 67.00
Sauvignon, Erste & Neue, Alto Adige, Italy 2020
- GlassUSD 14.00
- BottleUSD 63.00
Vermentino, Durin, Riviera Ligure di Ponente, Liguria, Italy 2021
- GlassUSD 13.00
- BottleUSD 60.00
Chardonnay, Sturm, Friuli, Italy 2021
- GlassUSD 17.00
- BottleUSD 74.00

Red Wines

Pinot Noir, Anthill Farms, Sonoma Coast , California 2021
- GlassUSD 20.00
- BottleUSD 80.00
Sangiovese, Villa Sant'Anna, Chianti Colli Senesi, Tuscany, Italy 2019
- GlassUSD 15.00
- BottleUSD 67.00
Nebbiolo, De Forville, Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy 2019
- GlassUSD 22.00
- BottleUSD 92.00
Cabernet Sauvignon, Bold Cellars, Paso Robles, California 2021
- GlassUSD 16.00
- BottleUSD 70.00

Beer

Calicraft Kölsch, Walnut CreekUSD 8.00
Sculpin IPA, Ballast Point, San DiegoUSD 8.00

Cocktails

That's AmoreUSD 16.00
gin, blackberry, lavender, lime, sparkling
Summer WindUSD 16.00
vodka, watermelon, pomegranate, lillet rouge, lemon
Mambo ItalianoUSD 16.00
tequila, amaro, citrus, basil, black walnut bitters
Tosca NegroniUSD 16.00
gin, campari, sweet vermouth, lo-fi gentian amaro
The HustlerUSD 16.00
rye, sweet vermouth, amaro, orange
One for My BabyUSD 16.00
vodka, prosecco, mint, cucumber, elderflower
ParadisoUSD 16.00
mezcal, passion fruit, lime, mandarin, black sea salt
House CappuccinoUSD 16.00
bourbon, cognac, chocolate, steamed milk
Tea ThymeUSD 16.00
chamomile infused bourbon , amaro, thyme, lemon, honey

What 148 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6

4.6 based on recent ratings

4.5Food
4.7Service
4.6Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Tosca Café combines historic charm with delectable Italian offerings. Guests rave about "excellent service" and "amazing food," particularly the pasta and chicken parm. The ambiance is "genuinely remarkable," although it can be "very loud." Perfect for special occasions, Tosca continues to be a beloved San Francisco institution.

148 Reviews

m
melanie
San Francisco
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on 13 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
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.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 10 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This Italian restaurant is a true gem—perfect for a night out when you want to dress up and feel fabulous. The warm lighting, elegant decor, and soft Italian music create an upscale yet inviting atmosphere. The food is exceptional, each dish beautifully crafted. Service was attentive and knowledgeable, enhancing the overall experience. It’s lively, stylish, and absolutely worth a visit for any special night out.
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R
Robert
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 27 October 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Everything was great. But it was very loud which made hard to talk.
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C
Chria
Seattle
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 26 October 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great service. Wonderful lighting and atmosphere. Loved the focaccia and chicken parm! Excellent!
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S
S
San Francisco
21 reviews
vip
5.0
21 reviews
Dined on 26 October 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Had an absolutely terrific experience here with both the food and service. Special shoutout to one of our servers (Davis) and the entire waitstaff!
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C
Camala
San Francisco
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on 20 October 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Service was impeccable, food amazing. Really love this SF institution :-).
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J
Jenny
San Francisco
82 reviews
3.0
82 reviews
Dined on 19 October 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 2
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Unfortunately, most of the people in our 12-person party were not happy with their food. Four people had the beef and thought it was tough. The bolognese was not good, the lumache was not good & the marinara tasted liked jarred sauce. We were also sad that the chicken was no longer on the menu. I’m sorry to report this as we’ve had some wonderful meals at Tosca over the years.
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A
Adam
London
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 17 October 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We celebrated an anniversary here, the service was excellent, and the food outstanding. I would highly recommend. Thank you Tosca Cafe
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W
Wesley
San Diego
7 reviews
vip
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on 5 October 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Service was spectacular. Will always find a reason to go back!
Is this helpful?
C
Claudia
San Francisco
4 reviews
vip
2.0
4 reviews
Dined on 21 September 2024
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 3
We did not get the table we asked for although no one else had reserved it. The place is lovely but extremely noisy. Panzanella was tasty but soggy and small portion bucatini dish was too salty Wine pour was meager for the price- barely 5 oz. Overall was not a good experience and I doubt I'll be back, unfortunately, because it is a legacy restaurant in SF.
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FAQs

Tosca Café is rated 4.6 stars by 148 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people

23 Nov 2024

7:00 pm

Booked 22 times today

242 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133-4509

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross Street
Broadway
Area
North Beach
Hours of Operation
Dinner Tue, Wed 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Thu–Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Bar Thu–Sat 5:00 pm–12:00 am
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Italian, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service, Cocktail Bar
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
None
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Late Night, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wine

Website
https://www.toscacafe-sf.com/
Phone number
(415) 986-9651
Private party facilities
We offer three distinctly unique private dining experiences at Tosca: Restaurant Buyout (up to 100 guests)Private Dining Room (18 guests)Chef's Lounge (8 guests) Please contact us for more information and to book your event. https://annaweinberghospitality.tripleseat.com/party_request/3262

Tosca Café

Make a booking

Dining areas

Additional information

Spaghetti and Meatballs

Tosca Meatballs

Truffle Gnocchi

Antipasti

Arugula SaladUSD 17.00

Chicory SaladUSD 18.00

Burrata SaladUSD 21.00

Kaluga Caviar BitesUSD 28.00

House-Marinated OlivesUSD 10.00

House-Made FocacciaUSD 14.00

Charcuterie PlateUSD 34.00

Tosca Meatballs

Melanzana FrittaUSD 18.00

AranciniUSD 19.00

Pasta

Kale Pesto PappardelleUSD 28.00

Lumache Cacio e PepeUSD 27.00

Truffle GnocchiUSD 31.00

Spaghetti and MeatballsUSD 28.00

Braised Short Rib RigatoniUSD 31.00

Entrées

Seared SalmonUSD 36.00

14oz C.A.B Grilled RibeyeUSD 62.00

Tuscan Fried ChickenUSD 35.00

Pork Chop SaltimboccaUSD 42.00

Sides

Crispy PotatoesUSD 12.00

Sautéed AsparagusUSD 12.00

Creamy PolentaUSD 12.00

Sparkling Wines

Biancavigna, Spumante Rosa 'Cuvee 1932', Veneto, Italy NV

Murgo, Metodo Classico Brut, Sicily 2019

Piper-Hiedseick, "Cuvée 1785", Champagne, France

Rosé Wines

Idlewild, "Flora and Fauna - The Flower", North Coast, California 2021

White Wines

Pinot Grigio, Gail, "Doris", Sonoma Valley, California 2021

Sauvignon, Erste & Neue, Alto Adige, Italy 2020

Vermentino, Durin, Riviera Ligure di Ponente, Liguria, Italy 2021

Chardonnay, Sturm, Friuli, Italy 2021

Red Wines

Pinot Noir, Anthill Farms, Sonoma Coast , California 2021

Sangiovese, Villa Sant'Anna, Chianti Colli Senesi, Tuscany, Italy 2019

Nebbiolo, De Forville, Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy 2019

Cabernet Sauvignon, Bold Cellars, Paso Robles, California 2021

Beer

Calicraft Kölsch, Walnut CreekUSD 8.00

Sculpin IPA, Ballast Point, San DiegoUSD 8.00

Cocktails

That's AmoreUSD 16.00

Summer WindUSD 16.00

Mambo ItalianoUSD 16.00

Tosca NegroniUSD 16.00

The HustlerUSD 16.00

One for My BabyUSD 16.00

ParadisoUSD 16.00

House CappuccinoUSD 16.00

Tea ThymeUSD 16.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Review summary

FAQs

How is Tosca Café restaurant rated?

Is Tosca Café currently accepting bookings?

Make a booking

Dining areas

Additional information