Lupa Trattoria

GREAT ITALIAN FOOD without N. Beach prices, parking or wait times. We take out of town guests here including the Italian ones. Everyone loves it. It has a wonderful neighborhood atmosphere. Most of the staff are Italian or speak it fluently. This isn't the Americanized red sauce stuff. (I do not think I've ever eaten anything here with a red sauce.) The wine list is simple yet it has many wonderful wines of Italy with a knowledgeable staff. I've learned the owner / chef had a restaurant in Rome before coming to America and many of the wait staff are Italian students. The staff works well together. The fish specials are wonderful but don?t expect to see salmon in 2008 because it is not available wild and they do not serve farmed. (Yah!) Although we live in the East Bay, we have become regulars. Were a little biased but for good reason. Buon appetito! PS: The bread is really fresh and gooood... more

Coming from Italy and now living here, this is one of my favorite places! I just wish I found it sooner when I moved here 9 months ago. Service is impeccable, I always go a little early so that the waiter isn't swamped and can actually hang out and talk a little. Every suggestion he's made has been wonderful even though I mostly try the specials each time I go. Lupa and La Ciccia are by far the best little authentic italian restaurants in the city!! Pros: Not too many people know about this place yet Cons: Stomach never big enough to eat everything I want here! more

For people who don't live in the neighborhood, (I suppose) it is rare that they'd travel all the way to Noe... more

For people who don't live in the neighborhood, (I suppose) it is rare that they'd travel all the way to Noe for pasta. So it says a lot when I dro... more

sloppy service (literally sloshing wine across the floor) and not waiting for us to answer the question ""how is everything"" before the waiter was stumbling off again. while it's true that the service can ruin an otherwise good meal, the food was terrible and after barely eating any, it gave me a terribly belly-ache. this was my second bad experience at what should be an otherwise quaint neighborhood restaurant. it's no wonder being seated quickly is so easy, nobody ever returns and i regret my attempt. just say ""no"". Pros: this could and should be a cute little neighborhood place but falls significantly short Cons: bad food, bad service, bad stomach-ache more

The best Lasagne I had ever had! It's amazing and tastes wonderful! I love the fennel salad that was a great appetizer! It is so authentic and the chef is a really great with desserts try the profiteroles! Pros: Lasgne, antipasto more

We've been a fan since this chef was located on Nob Hill and the room was called La Luna Rosa.\r \r Yes, the food is fantastico! The appetizer selections are all wonderful. The pork and pollenta dish is extraordinary, as are the wide array of homemade pastas. The scalloppini melts in your mouth. And, of course, the deserts are real guilty pleasures!\r \r Lupa, though, has more than just good food. It has a quality that is difficult to describe - an authentic, welcoming, friendly environment that almost makes you feel like you are eating at the home of a favorite uncle. The owner takes the time to greet his guests, shake their hand and have a chat. The wait staff warmly engages diners, without being intrusive, and the overall service is very good.\r \r Lupa's atmosphere is up-to-date and comfortable, without being overdone, and it seems to draw a diverse clientele who are ""in the know"" about good San Francisco dining. ""Cross table conversations"" are not uncommon.\r \r In short, this is a great restaurant that is exactly what people are referring to when they say San Francisco has so many fine, hidden neighborhood dining experiences. We've been back many times, as a couple or with a group, and will hopefully return many times more. more

A note to Citysearch: This posting should be deleted as it is duplicative -- it is also listed as Lupa Trattoria on your website, and there are several reviews for this restaurant there. But just in case people miss that link, I'l paste in my review here: I have to disagree with some of the comments in the editorial review on Lupa. I live a few blocks from Lupa and eat there several times a month and every meal I've had here has been excellent. I love exploring San Franciso's restaurants, but I never tire of Lupa, and I can't go more than two weeks without eating here. The meal will start with their amazing homemade bread. It's divine. All of their pastas are excellent & homemade -- I've had several versions of their ravioli-- all fantastic. I've had most of their meat dishes and they were all delicious as well. Lupa has a reasonable and great selection of wines. The owner is very friendly & most of the wait-staff is wonderful (there's one surly one, but what can you do?). This is your quintissential neighborhood restaurant -- friendly (not formal) service, warm and comfortable dining room, and you can almost always get a table. They will definitely accomodate large groups -- I called at 7 on a Saturday night and they set up a table for eight within half a hour. The only thing I can't figure out about Lupa is why there isn't a line out the door every night . . . Pros: Delicious food, wine, bread Cons: parking? more

Great food, Great waiters, you can hear the italian roll of their tongue as you eat the amazing food. It's always a shock when you walk out of the resturant because you feel like you should be walking out onto the street of Italy. mmmm Pros: Food, Service Cons: parking more

I am also surprised by the average review of Lupa - it is the most authentic Roman food in California (I lived in Rome for 2 years so I should know). Perhaps the reviewer is used to Americanized Italian food. Anyways, I had the ravioli last week and it was very flavorful and cooked perfectly. service was great and I found all of the Italian bantering very charming. I get to SF every few months and try and get to Lupa each trip. Pros: fresh handmade pasta, roman style, salads Cons: parking not very easy more

The editorial profile is completely wrong.\r The food is exellent and the service efficent.\r I don't think that there is a place more autenthic of Lupa. more

I've been here a number of times -- including several visits with large groups -- and the staff has always been SUPERB. They are attentive, friendly, and have made great wine recommendations to some of my fussier wine-drinking companions. The food is delicious -- I remember a particularly tasty ravioli. Also, the atmosphere is laid back and friendly and I can always get a table. It's not obnoxiously packed with people. Pros: Great food, value, service more

We went there after the wonderful write up on the chronicle and we coludn't agree more.The food was eccellent and so was the frendly service. we will be back for sure. Ciao more

The restaurant is hit and miss. Some pasta dishes like the papardelle with lamb are amazing. Rich, robust, perfectly al dente. But then others are oversauced. In the 4 visits i've been to the restaurant, the service always seemed harried and in the weeds.. even on a monday night. The interior is ordinary. Nothing spectacular on the wine list. I'd rate this as average. Pros: fireplace, affordable Cons: spotty service, parking more

The service was excellent, a nice place to eat and a great value. My mother in law comes in from San Mateo just to eat there. They make her anything she wants and treats everyone like family. Pros: Quality, Food, service more

What a welcome addition to the Noe Valley/Castro/Mission area - an authentic Roman-style restaurant that has a relaxed atmosphere and is affordable. Service has been friendly and the quality of food has been consistently top notch. This has been one of the closest things I have found in the Bay Area to the trattorias in Rome. Not stuffy, not nouvelle, just a real taste of Rome. (I can even practice my Italian with the waiters). It has become a weekly regular for my family. My favorite dishes that I have tried: Bucatini All' Amatraciana, Insalata di Finnochi, Cioppino. For desert the Tiramisu or the white chocolate and lemon tart - unbelievably light, even if you have over indulged in the home made bread. Pros: affordable, fresh ingredients, relaxed atmosphere more

We have become regulars at Lupa and are always impressed by the high quality and freshness of ingredients as well as authenticity of the dishes. Service is always very friendly and helpful. Nice casual charm and decent prices for the value! Pros: Awesome food, Great service, Nicely casual more

The veal was excellent. The wait staff was prompt and knowledgeable, if a little rough around the edges. If you're lucky, you can sit by the fire near the front door. more

I've eaten at Lupa a few times now and everytime I go there, I've come out feeling happy, full, and satisfied. Not only is the service prompt and friendly, the food is classically great! The gnocchi is to die for and so are their desserts (especially their panna cotta)! I highly recommend this intimate neighborhood Italian gem to all who want a great meal with friendly service and reasonable prices!! Pros: Great Food, Great Service, Affordable more

What can I say? We had a great experience all around. Service? Attentive! Hospitality? Warm! Food? Excellent! There were four of us, so we had a little of everything - actually a lot. Tortelloni and gnocchi were great. Lasagna was the best I've had. Entrees were all cooked to perfection. Desserts were very good. Pros: food, ambiance, service more