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Palio Overhead Creditkristenloken - Palio, San Francisco, CA

Palio

4.7
4.7
1500 Reviews
$31 to $50
Italian

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2 people
19:00
Booked 3 times today
  • Good for business meals
  • Good for groups
  • Good for special occasions
Voted "2018 Best Overall Restaurant" by SF Bay Guardian readers, Palio is a favorite of downtown denizens looking for the perfect spot to make a deal, travelers who appreciate Michelin rated comfortable dining, and anyone seeking an exceptional group dining or private party venue. A place where historic techniques blend with a contemporary approach, and Michelin rated "comfortable" service personally overseen daily by owner Martino Di Grande.

Palio’s menu (including gluten free and heart healthy options) is a veritable culinary tour of Italy; emphasizing the cooking of different regions as the seasons change. Palio's menu utilizes organic produce from small, local farms as well as sustainable agriculture and aquaculture. The Wine Spectator award winning list has always been exceptional, including a wide range of Italian varietals and California offerings. Full bar.

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Private dining

Private dining

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Additional information

  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Pizzeria, Cocktail Bar
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30–14:30 Dinner Mon–Fri 14:30–20:00 Sat 17:00–20:00
  • Phone number
    (415) 395-9800
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Mauricio Martinez
  • Catering
    Considered by many to be one of San Francisco’s best private dining venues, Palio is elegant and timeless, yet approachable and “green”. Palio offers 3 totally private party rooms and semi-private areas that can easily accommodate for groups of 20 to 300 for lunch, all day meetings, cocktail receptions, and dinner.
  • Private party facilities
    Since 1990, Palio has thrived as San Francisco’s favorite downtown Italian Restaurant by offering a seasonally changing menu, professional European service, a Wine Spectator recognized wine list and a premium full bar. Private Dining Options for groups of 8-250.
  • Private party contact
    Valeria DiGrande: (415) 395-9800
  • Area
    Financial District / Embarcadero
  • Cross Street
    Montgomery/Sacramento
  • Parking details
    Free street parking after 6PM on the South side of Sacramento St. and after 7PM on the north side of Sacramento St. Free street parking on Saturday evenings.
  • Public transit
    By bus on the #1 California Line Only one block from the California St. cable car stop at California and Kearny 5 level blocks (no hills) from Montgomery St. Bart and Muni Station
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeaway, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 1,500 people are saying

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
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseQuiet

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Palio in San Francisco's Financial District offers "exceptional service" and Italian cuisine that is a "gem" in the area. The ambiance is "elegant yet approachable," perfect for both business and special occasions. Standout dishes include wild boar ragu and Siciliana pizza, complemented by a "great bar" and "friendly staff."

1,501 Reviews
  1. Jim

    VIP

    San Francisco

    268 reviews

    5.0

    268 reviews

    Dined today

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    This is for the night of the Chinese New Year parade, so it was very quiet inside an Italian restaurant adjacent to Chinatown. The servers were very attentive. The food was delicious. The desserts looked fabulous, but we were too full. We enjoyed our drinks, thought the complimentary bread was tasty, and devoured our 2 entrees: steak with lobster ravioli and branzino. Would love a whole fish option, but still, delicious food in a nice, spacious room.

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  2. Stevens

    San Francisco

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on 23 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Exceptional service, consistent food quality, and value have remained consistent over many Bay Area generations of Bay Area food service operations. Emblematic of those restaurants that transcend faddish interests and short-term popularity.

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  3. OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 22 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I booked a business dinner for a group of 12 people. Palio took reservations for larger parties online, they were flexible when I needed to increase headcount, everything was set up beautifully when we arrived, food and service was top notch!! Well done! I will definitely dine with them again and highly recommend Palio!

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  4. Andy

    VIP

    San Francisco

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 21 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Best Italian food in the Financial District of San Francisco. Overseen and welcoming every visit by owner Martino DeGrande. Great place to take your wife, or mother, for a memorable meal.

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  5. Nancy

    New York City

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on 14 January 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Palio is a gem in San Francisco’s Financial District, offering an elegant take on classic Italian cuisine. From the moment you walk in, the ambiance sets the tone for a refined dining experience—chic decor and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. The menu is a thoughtful mix of traditional and modern Italian dishes. The Margherita pizza is perfectly crisp with a flavorful tomato base, while the wild boar ragu over pappardelle is rich and comforting. The Siciliana pizza, with its bold flavors, is another standout. Pair your meal with one of their impressive Italian wines or a creative cocktail from their full bar. Service is impeccable, with attentive staff who make excellent recommendations and ensure your dining experience is seamless. Whether you’re visiting for a business lunch or a special occasion, you’ll feel well taken care of. Palio is a must-visit for lovers of Italian cuisine and is particularly great for those seeking an upscale yet approachable dining experience.

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  6. Marianne

    VIP

    San Francisco

    7 reviews

    4.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on 26 December 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    We dined at Palio on Christmas Day. We had a lovely meal and the restaurant offered a very nice menu, mainly from their regular dinner menu. We had pasta with bolognese sauce (perfect for the cold evening, the pasta was fresh and the sauce was simmered to perfection), the NY Steak, slightly more cooked than my medium rare preference but the meat was top quality so didn't affect the taste. We also had the seafood stew, served with risotto, (very flavorful). We enjoyed our evening very much and appreciated that the owner, Martino, stopped by to check on us during the meal. It's hard to find a quality restaurant on such a holiday but Palio was just right for our party. I highly recommend this restaurant on any night. Their bar is great and the pizzas are perfect for sharing with friends and colleagues.

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  7. Stacey

    New York City

    21 reviews

    3.0

    21 reviews

    Dined on 22 December 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    The ambiance is very nice and the waitstaff is friendly. Biggest issue with waitstaff was that they forgot to bring our appetizer, also they couldn’t make any pizzas even though much of their menu is pizza. Disappointing. The food was tasty but $36 for a simple pasta dish was very costly. Not worth the price at all.

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  8. Leila

    Sydney

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 20 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Lovely restaurant with delicious Italian food. Daily specials keep the menu fresh and new. Service is impeccable. We were made to feel special and very well cared for. Highly recommended.

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  9. Debbie

    Central Coast

    38 reviews

    5.0

    38 reviews

    Dined on 18 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I’ve been going to Palio for nearly 20 years and the food is consistently excellent. I have never, NEVER had a bad meal here. The service is attentive, warm, personable…you feel as if you are a valued guest every time you dine there. This is a place where you can actually have a dinner conversation without screaming at the top of your lungs. Wait staff have been there for years which makes Palio fee like a close knit family. Favorite dishes: Fritto misto (can’t go wrong!), branzino, spaghetti with Dungeness crab, any of the pizzas!

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  10. Leslie

    San Francisco

    39 reviews

    5.0

    39 reviews

    Dined on 16 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Consistently great food, staff, service and specials.

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FAQs

Palio offers delivery in partnership with Postmates. Palio also offers takeaway which you can order by calling the restaurant at (415) 395-9800.

Palio is rated 4.7 stars by 1500 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 3 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Palio

640 Sacramento Street, San Francisco, CA 94111

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Montgomery/Sacramento
  • Area
    Financial District / Embarcadero
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30–14:30 Dinner Mon–Fri 14:30–20:00 Sat 17:00–20:00
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Pizzeria, Cocktail Bar
  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Free street parking after 6PM on the South side of Sacramento St. and after 7PM on the north side of Sacramento St. Free street parking on Saturday evenings.
  • Public transit
    By bus on the #1 California Line Only one block from the California St. cable car stop at California and Kearny 5 level blocks (no hills) from Montgomery St. Bart and Muni Station
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Mauricio Martinez
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeaway, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (415) 395-9800
  • Catering
    Considered by many to be one of San Francisco’s best private dining venues, Palio is elegant and timeless, yet approachable and “green”. Palio offers 3 totally private party rooms and semi-private areas that can easily accommodate for groups of 20 to 300 for lunch, all day meetings, cocktail receptions, and dinner.
  • Private party facilities
    Since 1990, Palio has thrived as San Francisco’s favorite downtown Italian Restaurant by offering a seasonally changing menu, professional European service, a Wine Spectator recognized wine list and a premium full bar. Private Dining Options for groups of 8-250.
  • Private party contact
    Valeria DiGrande: (415) 395-9800
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