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Tosca Café, San Francisco, CA

Tosca Café

4.8 (165)
$31 to $50
Italian
242 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133-4509

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2 people
19:00
Booked 21 times today

About this restaurant

  • Charming
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Romantic

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 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Bar Thu–Sat 5:00 pm–12:00 am
  • Phone number
  • 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

What 165 people are saying

Tosca Café reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseModerate

Diners' Choice Awards

  • San Francisco Bay Area

    Romantic

  • San Francisco

    Romantic

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Tosca Café is a nostalgic San Francisco gem offering a "don't miss" dining experience with "fantastic service" and "delicious food." Known for its inviting ambiance and thoughtful touches, like complimentary prosecco for anniversaries, it's a place with character. Highlights include creamy burrata and rich meatballs, ensuring a memorable visit.
165 Reviews
  1. Reginald

    Brisbane1 review

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    An institution that is standing the test of time. Cozy environment, warm/friendly service, and delicious food. Perfect for date nights or meeting friends for a drink at the welcoming bar. Highly recommended.

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  2. Connor

    San Francisco2 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on 18 April 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    There’s a kind of stubborn beauty to Tosca. The kind of place that clings to its soul through decades of reinvention, weathered by time and cigarette smoke, soaked in Sinatra and amaro. You walk in and it doesn’t ask you to like it—it dares you not to. Start with the burrata. Creamy, delicate, spread like contraband over a hunk of toast slicked with pesto. It’s not trying to change your life. It’s trying to remind you that simple things, when done right, can still matter. The meatballs? Jesus. If there’s a God, He’s Italian and these are proof. Rich, tender, full of that Sunday-gravy depth that makes you question why you ever settled for less. They arrive like an old friend who never forgot how to show up when it counts. Then there were the potatoes. Dressed up in a tuxedo of crème fraîche and caviar, like a guy trying too hard at a dive bar. Pretty, yes. But no soul. No grit. Just surface-level charm without the flavor to back it up. Still, Tosca doesn’t need to hit every note to be unforgettable. It’s not about perfection. It’s about presence. It’s about sitting in a red leather booth, listening to opera echo off the walls, and remembering that restaurants like this are rare. Sanctuaries for the broken, the romantic, and the hungry. And I’ll keep coming back—for the meatballs, for the burrata, and for the reminder that places with character still exist.

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  3. Peter VIP

    San Francisco9 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on 18 April 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Disappointing experience. Once a true gem, it has turned into just a higher end tourist joint. No more round booths, no subtle coolness, perfectly fine but uninspired cuisine. This will be my last visit here.

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  4. Matthew

    San Francisco1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 5 April 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our first time at Tosca Café was great but this second visit was even better. Our waiter and the entire staff that served us were excellent: all of them were polite, friendly, and attentive. We were very pleasantly surprised when prosecco was brought out and later dessert was covered because of our anniversary. I marked “Anniversary” on our OpenTable reservation but I didn’t expect the staff to do anything special for us. These thoughtful gestures give us yet another reason to come back to Tosca Café. The food is delicious but the ambiance and service make this place stand out.

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  5. OpenTable Diner VIP

    Orlando / Central Florida East1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 23 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fantastic service, great cocktails and food. Very fast.

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  6. Jonathan VIP

    Baltimore / Maryland4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 19 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A throwback to the way dining should be. Amazing service, delicious cuisine and a charming atmosphere. This is a “don’t miss” SF dining experience. 10 out of 10!

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  7. Douglas

    San Francisco209 reviews

    1.0

    Dined on 9 March 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 5
    I hate to give a negative review, but this seems to be the only way to provide feedback for a terrible experience. We showed up for the reservation on time, as did several other people. The restaurant was closed and there was no one to greet us. They later posted a note saying they had some water leak or something and had to close for the night. They never notified diners and have yet to follow up with any kind of apology. I’ve enjoyed this restaurant in the past (hence my review of the food) but that was the most unprofessional experience I have ever had at a restaurant.

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  8. Brandon

    San Francisco22 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 2 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We love Tosca! They have delicious food and great service.

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  9. Lee

    San Francisco4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 2 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It was a wonderful spot to spend my wedding anniversary. The vodka sauce and bolognese were delicious, as was the fresh pasta. The foccacia was the best I have had in a long time!

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  10. Morgan

    Los Angeles1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 15 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great service, location, and ambience. A little loud. Food was delicious with good portions but the Valentine’s Day limited menu was a bit pricey. Can’t speak to the regular menu prices/value

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FAQs

Tosca Café is rated 4.8 stars by 165 OpenTable diners.

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

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. San Francisco Bay Area
  4. San Francisco
  5. North Beach

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 21 times today
Google Map for Tosca Café

242 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133-4509

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Broadway
  • Area
    North Beach
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Bar Thu–Sat 5:00 pm–12:00 am
  • 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
  • Phone number
  • 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
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