oChef » Il cilentano – San Francisco » Il cilentano – San Francisco – Reviews

Il cilentano - Reviews

579 Columbus Ave, 94133 San Francisco
All reviews at a glance
558

Reviews

69.9%

Satisfaction

154

negative

14

neutral

390

positive

What people say about Il cilentano

Visit Type
  • Regular Visit
Group Type
  • Family
Group Size
  • Small Group
Service Type
  • Dine-in
J H.
Review date: 11/01/2025
10
Still Amazing After Four Years!
My experience at Il Cilentano Pasta Bar was fantastic, just as it was four years ago. My daughter absolutely loved their gnocchi, describing it as perfectly soft and full of flavor. We also enjoyed the pizza, fresh bread, and appetizers, all of which were delicious. The restaurant has a wonderfully cozy and authentic Italian feel, complemented by friendly and welcoming staff. It remains one of our favorite spots in San Francisco for fresh, homemade pasta! 🇮🇹🍝
  • gnocchi10
  • pizza9
  • fresh bread9
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Andrew G.
Review date: 10/10/2025
9
Excellent Food, Service, and Atmosphere!
My experience at the restaurant was fantastic! The food was very good, and the restaurant itself is beautiful. Santo, the staff member, was a very nice guy, contributing to a great overall experience.
  • food9
  • restaurant9
  • Santo9
Visit Type
  • Quick Meal
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Wait Time
  • Immediate (0–5 min.)
Idan A.
Review date: 09/18/2025
1
Kicked out for not wanting Coke
My experience at the restaurant was extremely negative. I was kicked out by the manager and the waitress because I did not want a 200 ml Coke and returned it. The can was still closed.
  • manager1
  • waitress1
  • coke1
Price per Person
  • $41–$50
Visit Type
  • Food Exploration
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Meal Type
  • Dinner
Wait Time
  • Immediate (0–5 min.)
Noise Level
  • Moderate
Alison M. C.
Review date: 09/12/2025
9
Incredible Pasta, Worth Returning
My experience at this restaurant was centered around their incredible pasta dishes. I tried the truffle gnocchi, homemade sausage rigatoni, and mushroom agnolotti, all of which were fresh, light, and lovely. I was so impressed that I'd skip other courses next time and just order double the pasta. The owner was friendly and funny, and the bill came out exactly right. The pasta was so delicious that despite spending a lot, including a bottle of wine, I'm seriously considering going back tonight to try more of the menu.
  • pasta dishes10
  • truffle gnocchi9
  • homemade sausage rigatoni9
Visit Type
  • Tourist Experience
Group Size
  • Solo
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Amber
Review date: 09/10/2025
1
Severe Disrespect and Discrimination Experienced
I specifically took a taxi to this restaurant for a meal, but they served me tap water. I very patiently asked if I could have bottled water instead, and whether it was available for purchase. I asked twice. When the food was served, the man (referring to the staff) suddenly took my plate away from the table and loudly told me to get out of the restaurant. After I left, the man in the picture started giving me the middle finger, which I saw. I went back and asked why he did that. When I started recording, he became hesitant and his attitude improved significantly—probably because he was afraid I would post it online. I truly experienced severe disrespect and humiliation. As an Asian visiting the United States for the first time, I felt this was a clear case of racial discrimination.
  • bottled water5
  • tap water2
  • get out of the restaurant1
  • middle finger1
Price per Person
  • $51–$60
Visit Type
  • Food Exploration
Group Type
  • Friends
Group Size
  • Large Group
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Wait Time
  • Immediate (0–5 min.)
Ozkavosh A.
Review date: 08/29/2025
10
Best Italian Food Experience!
My experience at Il Cilentano was exceptional. I've tried numerous Italian restaurants, but none have matched the quality of this one. The gnocchi w/ salsiccia was absolutely delicious, perfectly seasoned, and well-served. The combination of the salsiccia's spiciness with the tomato sauce was outstanding. The Tiramisu was also spot on. Overall, a fantastic dining experience.
  • gnocchi w/ salsiccia10
  • Tiramisu9
  • food quality10
Price per Person
  • $21–$30
Visit Type
  • Food Exploration
Group Type
  • Friends
Group Size
  • Large Group
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Meal Type
  • Dinner
Wait Time
  • Immediate (0–5 min.)
Noise Level
  • Quiet
Giovanni C.
Review date: 08/23/2025
9
Excellent Italian Flavors with Heart
My experience at this restaurant was truly excellent, featuring authentic Italian cuisine. The owner, Santo, personally invests his heart and presence into the dining experience, which is highly commendable. Congratulations!
  • Italian cuisine9
  • owner10
Visit Type
  • Casual Outing
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Shubham R.
Review date: 08/22/2025
1
Terrible Owner, Rude Service
My experience at this restaurant was overwhelmingly negative due to the owner's terrible rudeness. We were asked to throw away our coffee when we simply inquired about why, which was an unacceptable interaction. The owner's behavior was so poor that it made me consider the comments about them being racist. The service was clearly a major issue, overshadowing any potential positives.
  • owner1
  • service1
Price per Person
  • $41–$50
Visit Type
  • Food Exploration
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Wait Time
  • Immediate (0–5 min.)
Lindsey N.
Review date: 08/20/2025
3
Underwhelming Experience with Flavorless Food
My experience at this restaurant was quite underwhelming, despite the overall positive impression shown on Google. The burrata and artichoke appetizer was disappointing as it seemed to come from a jar and was served with underripe tomatoes. I was surprised to find out that the bread, which was meant to be included, was an additional charge when it arrived with oil and vinegar. While the spaghetti allo scoglio pasta was cooked properly, it lacked significant flavor, and the seafood was overdone. The atmosphere was rated a 3, and service a 4, but the food received a low score of 2.
  • spaghetti allo scoglio pasta5
  • burrata and artichoke appetizer2
  • under ripe tomatoes2
  • bread with oil and vinegar3
Price per Person
  • $41–$50
Visit Type
  • Food Exploration
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Meal Type
  • Dinner
Wait Time
  • Immediate (0–5 min.)
Noise Level
  • Loud
Isabelle S.
Review date: 08/11/2025
9
Excellent Italian Food and Service
My experience at this restaurant was fantastic! The food was very good, truly authentic Italian cuisine prepared with love. We enjoyed both our main course and dessert, and both were excellent. The service was also very friendly, with the chef personally attending to us. I highly recommend this place.
  • food10
  • main course9
  • dessert9

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