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Amarena, San Francisco, CA

Amarena

4.7 (1271)
$31 to $50
Italian
2162 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94109

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 15 times today

About this restaurant

  • Neighborhood gem
  • Charming
  • Gluten-free-friendly
Welcome to Amarena, our beloved classic neighborhood Italian restaurant.
Proudly serving the Russian Hill Neighborhood for over 20 years, dishing out delicious Italian classics while providing loving service. We hope to see you soon!

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri 5:00 pm–9:30 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    PAOLO GALLI
  • Private party facilities
    The restaurant is available also for Private Parties (lunch time) everyday. Please contact us 7 days in advance for large parties. Thanks very much.
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Neighborhood
    Russian Hill
  • Cross street
    Green St.
  • Parking details
    Parking lots in the area: On Polk between Broadway and Vallejo and on Pacific and Polk Street.
  • Public transit
    45
  • Additional
    Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Entertainment, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, View, Wine

What 1,271 people are saying

Amarena reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Amarena is celebrated for its "amazing food" and "impeccable service," offering a true taste of Italy in San Francisco. Diners appreciate the "warm, intimate ambiance" and consistently "delicious" Italian dishes, including standout pasta and seafood options. While the space may be "a bit cramped," the overall experience makes it "one of my top spots."
1,271 Reviews
  1. Marcus

    Las Vegas3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 20, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Ein wirklich außerordentlich nettes Lokal zu einem für amerikanische Verhältnisse tollem Preis-Leistungs Verhältnis. Wenn jemand einen unkomplizierten Italiener im SF sucht, dann unbedingt ins Amarena. Wir waren so begeistert, dass wir morgen nochmals kommen. Service TOP. Küche wirklich sehr gut. Vielen Dank!!

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  2. Susan

    San Francisco Bay Area1 review

    5.0

    Dined on June 18, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    One of my favorite restaurants! Food is always consistent, delicious and surprising combinations that create unusual taste that leaving you wanting more. Their Caesar salad is the best. Service is very attentive while leaving diners to enjoy themselves. I always return to celebrate special occasions. We plan to return soon and further explore their homemade pasta.

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  3. OpenTable Diner

    Greater Boston4 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on June 17, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    Caesar salad and beef carpaccio app were very good. Osso Buco with polenta was just avg. Polenta was very lumpy and sauce was too thick. Dated interior. Servers were nice. Would not return.

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  4. David

    San Francisco Bay Area5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 11, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We sat outside with a heater and had a lovely lunch.

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  5. David VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area24 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on May 11, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Great everyday menu but house made pasta and trout special were amazing!

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  6. Michael VIP

    New York City56 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on April 29, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Tasty food at prices appropriate for the quality in San Francisco. Excellent service. Small restaurant. A bit cramped for space but not a deal breaker. The lasagna was good. The burrata caprese salad was very good.

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  7. susan e VIP

    Orange County15 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 27, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Stephan excellent food delicious owner is beyond wine and service top notch

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  8. Eileen

    San Francisco Bay Area8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 25, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The very definition of neighborhood gem, Amarena offers a consistently excellent Italian menu and a well-priced wine list to go with it. The warm, intimate ambience is perfect for taking friends from out of town, meeting neighbors for a glass of wine, or enjoying dinner for two. It's difficult to choose a favorite dish, but I recently had the wild boar pappardelle -- delicious! -- and have often had the seafood risotto, which is perfectly cooked and deeply flavored. At a recent dinner with friends, we started with small plates of arancini and frittura mista, which were light and crispy. There is a nice selection of secondi piatti, including an excellent grilled rack of lamb and osso bucco over polenta. I'm fortunate to live nearby but would certainly cross the city to dine at Amarena.

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  9. Brian

    San Francisco Bay Area2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 20, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We returned to Amarena after many years to find it has maintained the highest quality of delicious food all these years. A renewed favorite for sure!

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  10. Susan

    San Francisco Bay Area2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 18, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Another lovely dinner at Amarena Restaurant! I dine here semi-frequently by myself and bring friends here as well. I brought two friends here tonight. Fabulous food, friendly service! Everyone enjoyed their appetizers, entrées and desserts. Their lasagna is to die for!

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FAQs

Amarena offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (415) 447-0441.

Amarena is rated 4.7 stars by 1271 OpenTable diners.

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

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. San Francisco Bay Area
  4. San Francisco
  5. Russian Hill

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 15 times today
Google Map for Amarena

2162 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94109

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Green St.
  • Neighborhood
    Russian Hill
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri 5:00 pm–9:30 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Parking lots in the area: On Polk between Broadway and Vallejo and on Pacific and Polk Street.
  • Public transit
    45
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    PAOLO GALLI
  • Additional
    Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Entertainment, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, View, Wine
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Phone number
  • Private party facilities
    The restaurant is available also for Private Parties (lunch time) everyday. Please contact us 7 days in advance for large parties. Thanks very much.
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