Poesia - Reviews

Poesia is such a hidden gem! My experience was wonderful, thanks to the great food, cozy atmosphere, and kind staff. My partner and I go often. It's a great date spot, and great for parties of 2-4!

My experience at this restaurant was a mixed bag. While the service was friendly, the happy hour food was quite disappointing. The mini pizzas were bite-sized and not served hot, and the meatballs were tough, overcooked, and tasted like they had been sitting out for hours. However, the entree pastas were really good.

My experience at this restaurant was disappointing. I found that there is no good food in the Castro, and I feel that way every time I see anyone in this place. I suspect it's on purpose so no one eats anything to maintain their figure. However, if you are actually looking to eat Italian food, I would suggest you go elsewhere.

My experience at this restaurant was like an old school beautiful trip to Italy without needing a passport. The food was excellent, and our server was really on it. The background music was spot on, contributing to a fantastic atmosphere.

My experience involved a pleasant walk through the kitchen to a back patio. The food was generally good, though a couple of the seafood dishes leaned a bit too fishy. My standout favorite was the Vitello Tonnato, a surprisingly great combination of thinly sliced veal over tuna salad, especially with fresh bread. However, I was underwhelmed by their “signature” Agnolotti pasta dish; the sauce was excessively rich and greasy. The decor, featuring plastic sheets printed with an old Italian house and ripped window holes 🤣, was certainly a sight. Overall, I'd consider returning to try other menu items, but I'd likely skip the seafood.

My partner and I had an absolutely amazing experience visiting this restaurant in SF. We were both so impressed. He had the eggplant and I had the sea bass, and we shared the tiramisu for dinner. The service was also perfect.

Something has gone seriously south here in the last 6 months. I wanted to have a great return visit to Poesía — the last time I went it was solid — but this time was a big let down. We made a reservation, and even though there were several empty tables when we arrived, we weren’t seated until well after the arrival time. They botched the sequencing of the meal. One of us ordered soup as a main, after the server specifically indicated they could do a bowl as opposed to a cup. This was not the case. They brought her a cup of soup and didn’t bring anyone else’s food. They also didn’t serve bread with the soup, which is pretty standard. They realized they flubbed and then re-served her with our mains, but they literally didn’t bring her a spoon. The waiter didn’t check in, so we had to flag him down. We also had to flag down someone to refill our water carafe. I ordered the special, and it was pretty under seasoned. The cafe is great, but I can’t recommend upstairs anymore based on this last experience.

Our recent visit to SF from Sydney, Australia, was a treat, and this restaurant was a highlight. Recommended by an Uber driver, it truly felt like we were holidaying in Italy! The atmosphere was rated a perfect 5, and the service also received a 5-star rating. The food was equally impressive, earning a 5-star rating. While we were somewhat hesitant about vegetarian options, the overall experience was fantastic.

My Italian coworker recommended this place, setting high expectations for our anniversary dinner. Unfortunately, those expectations were not met. Despite reserving ahead and specifically requesting patio seating for our anniversary, we were initially seated indoors. Thankfully, the staff were willing to move us to the patio. We were presented with the happy hour menu, but our waiter didn't arrive until just three minutes before happy hour ended. We intended to order house wines from the happy hour menu, but when asked for a choice between red or white, we asked for a recommendation. Believing the recommended wines were part of happy hour, as we had specified wanting house wines, we ordered. However, the check revealed the wines were not at the happy hour price. Upon inquiry, another waiter explained there was only one type of house wine, and our selection was not included in happy hour. This lack of clarification from the initial waiter was quite annoying, leading to a lower tip than usual. Regarding the food, we ordered: 1) Pepata di Cozze alla ‘Nduja: The only redeeming part of this appetizer was the ‘nduja sausage, but there was a minuscule amount (0. 5-1 tablespoon). The mussels and broth were bland. 2) Paccheri al Pomodoro e Burrata: The pasta was too hard for our liking, and the sauce was bland. The burrata, however, was fresh. 3) Filetto di Maiale: This entree somewhat salvaged the meal. It was good, though not outstanding, and tasted better than the other dishes. The pork tenderloin was a bit dry.

I was introduced to this lovely spot when I met some friends here for dinner. The entire experience was terrific. The pastas are made by hand, and the sauce is like your nonna made when you were little. The desserts strike the right balance of flavors and notes, with none being too sweet. The staff are all very friendly and very welcoming, and our camariere was so nice when speaking to me in Italian (I'm still learning, so I speak slowly). Grazie, Poesia for a memorable and very delicious meal - I can't wait to return!