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: 4.7

4.7

152 Reviews

$31 to $50

Italian

Make a booking

2 people

28 Dec 2024

22:30

Booked 14 times today

Experiences are available.

Great for creative cocktails
Good for special occasions
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–Thu 17:00–22:00 Fri, Sat 17:00–23:00 Bar Thu–Sat 17:00–00:00
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, Private Room, Wine

Experiences

TOSCA NEW YEARS EVE 2024
US$171.65 per person
Prepaid
31 Dec 2024 only
Ring in the New Year with elegance and ease at Tosca Cafe! Join us for a festive evening featuring a decadent five-course meal served family-style, thoughtfully designed to bring everyone together around the table. We have taken care of every detail so you can fully immerse yourself in the joy of celebrating—a night of great food, great company, and unforgettable memories awaits. Let Tosca be your destination for a truly special start to the year!

Pesto TagliatelleUS$28.00
basil, lemon, pine nuts
Lumache Alla VodkaUS$27.00
calabrian chili cream, pecorino, fresh basil
Spicy Shrimp TrofieUS$34.00
white wine, tomato sauce, breadcrumbs
Pappardelle BologneseUS$29.00
beef, parmesan, basil, chili breadcrumbs
Bucatini Alla GriciaUS$32.00
guanciale, black pepper, parmesan, pecorino

Secondi

Eggplant ParmesanUS$28.00
marinara, mozzarella, shaved parmesan
Seared SalmonUS$36.00
spinach & cherry tomatoes
Chicken ParmesanUS$32.00
buffalo mozzarella, marinara sauce, basil
Pork SaltimboccaUS$40.00
prosciutto di parma, garlic, sage
14oz C.A.B Grilled RibeyeUS$59.00
sauteed mushrooms, red wine jus

Contorni

Wild Mushrooms
shallot, green onion
Sauteed Spinach
lemon, butter, chili flakes
Broccolini
garlic & shaved parmesan
Crispy PotatoesUS$12.00
salsa verde

House Cocktails

That's AmoreUS$16.00
gin, blackberry, lavender, lime, sparkling
Buona SeraUS$16.00
vodka, pomegranate cranberry, cynar, beet, lemon
Mambo ItalianoUS$16.00
tequila, amaro, citrus, basil, black walnut bitters
Tosca NegroniUS$16.00
gin, campari, sweet vermouth
The HustlerUS$16.00
rye, sweet vermouth, amaro, orange
ParadisoUS$16.00
mezcal, passion fruit, lime, mandarin, black sea salt
House CappuccinoUS$16.00
bourbon, cognac, chocolate, steamed milk
Coldest WinterUS$16.00
rye, sherry, pineapple, rosemary, lime

Beer

Peroni, ItalyUS$9.00
Ballast Point, Sculpin IPA, San Diego, CAUS$9.00

What 152 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

4.6Food
4.8Service
4.5Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

San Francisco
Great for fine wines

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Tosca Café offers a delightful dining experience with "amazing" food and "impeccable" service, perfect for special occasions. Guests love the "old world" charm and cozy ambiance, enhanced by live music. While some mention noise levels, the pasta dishes and attentive staff make it a must-visit San Francisco institution.

152 Reviews

J
Jen
San Francisco
27 reviews
3.0
27 reviews
Dined on 19 December 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 2
Way too loud. Love the old time feel. Good is ok.
Is this helpful?
E
Emily
VIP
San Francisco
9 reviews
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on 15 December 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Tosca remains one of my absolute favorites in San Francisco. The space, food, service all excellent. The night we went was Santa Con (ooops) + a huge private birthday party in the back room so it was bonkers, but the team did everything they could to keep it going! Will go back soon.
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R
Ronald
San Diego
18 reviews
4.0
18 reviews
Dined on 15 December 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
Great food and service - but the place is LOUD. If you hope to converse with your dinner companions we suggest you take a sign language course prior to your meal!
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S
Sean
San Francisco
13 reviews
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on 23 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
I've always love the food at Tosca, and have been coming here for over a decade. I was more impressed than usual last night with the service. We were a table of 9 people and felt like we were being taken care of by friends who anticipated what we needed. Can't wait to return.
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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.
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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
VIP
San Francisco
21 reviews
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!
Is this helpful?
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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FAQs

Tosca Café is rated 4.7 stars by 152 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking

2 people

28 Dec 2024

22:30

Booked 14 times today

Experiences are available.

242 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133-4509

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross Street
Broadway
Area
North Beach
Hours of Operation
Dinner Tue–Thu 17:00–22:00 Fri, Sat 17:00–23:00 Bar Thu–Sat 17:00–00:00
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, 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

TOSCA NEW YEARS EVE 2024

Antipasti

Charcuterie PlateUS$35.00

Calamari & Shrimp Fritto MistoUS$22.00

Tosca MeatballsUS$24.00

House Favorites

Housemade FocacciaUS$15.00

Marinated OlivesUS$10.00

Composed Caviar BitesUS$11.00

Insalata

BurrataUS$21.00

Chicory & EndiveUS$18.00

PanzanellaUS$22.00

Primi

Pesto TagliatelleUS$28.00

Lumache Alla VodkaUS$27.00

Spicy Shrimp TrofieUS$34.00

Pappardelle BologneseUS$29.00

Bucatini Alla GriciaUS$32.00

Secondi

Eggplant ParmesanUS$28.00

Seared SalmonUS$36.00

Chicken ParmesanUS$32.00

Pork SaltimboccaUS$40.00

14oz C.A.B Grilled RibeyeUS$59.00

Contorni

Wild Mushrooms

Sauteed Spinach

Broccolini

Crispy PotatoesUS$12.00

House Cocktails

That's AmoreUS$16.00

Buona SeraUS$16.00

Mambo ItalianoUS$16.00

Tosca NegroniUS$16.00

The HustlerUS$16.00

ParadisoUS$16.00

House CappuccinoUS$16.00

Coldest WinterUS$16.00

Beer

Peroni, ItalyUS$9.00

Ballast Point, Sculpin IPA, San Diego, CAUS$9.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is Tosca Café restaurant rated?

Is Tosca Café currently accepting bookings?

Make a booking

Dining areas

Additional information