Panta Rei

Niccolo did an excellent job of letting us just relax and enjoy our dinner. The staff also did a great job of reccommending the best wine. we truly enjoyed our panta rei experience

This is without doubt one of the worst Italian meals I've ever had. It's clear that this place is meant to draw in tourist that don't know any better. What really stands out for this place is the food, and it is tasteless! Nothing seems homemade-the Caesar salad had a totally canned/jared dressing that was thick and piled on; a pesto pasta dish had absolutely no flavor at all (it was even a bit watery); a bolognese pasta tasted liked it came right from a can of 'Chef-Boy-R-Dee.' Beyond the poor food, the place is pretty dirty, from the stained menus to them wiping the tables down so that all the bread crumbs and other table scraps slip and stay stuck between the cracks of the adjoining tables. Forks are not replaced so prepare to mix and match your starter with your entree. And not once did a waiter come by a table (we watched 5 around us including ours) to check in and see if everything was OK. Most of the staff huddled at the bar area being social, texting rather than paying attentio... Read more

Had dinner on a Saturday night. The food was good. Very simple italian dishes and the ingredients tasted fresh. My wife and I had a really good meal, reasonably priced. This is not a romantic restaurant. House music playing in the background and the restaurant was very busy. In my opinion this would be a good group dinner place or dinner before a night on the town.

This restaurant has great Italian food. I really enjoy their raviolis and spaghetti and homemade spaghetti sauce, Servers are very friendly ...

The atmosphere was great but food was so so... it could have been better,The atmosphere was great but food was so so... it could have been better.

Panta Rei Cafe has some of the best italian food around. I went there and got a delicious filling meal for a great price compared to other ...

went there this year and had a good experience. my friend caught they eye of our server and we were well taken care of. we waited for our fo...

Panta Rei has the best representation, presentation, and quality that I have ever experienced. Hands down the best Itallian food and service. I recommend this restuarant to anyone who enjoys high quality food, wine, good music, and over the top service. The Tiramisu is the BEST!!

I can't say enough great things about this restaurant! Very crowded for Saturday dinner, and very lively. I noticed that some people gave negative reviews for that sort of atmosphere, I on the other hand, enjoyed it. Many of the service members are actually Italian, including the cute hostess. It was a little difficult to get in on Saturday night, but definitely worth the wait. Atmosphere was very much like a trendy Italian restaurant on Ostiense or near Ponte Milvio in Rome. The food was delicious and amazing! Haven't had such authentic Italian cuisine since I've been back. Even though they were bursting at the seams busy, the restaurant still allowed me a custom order for my favourite dish - Penne al arrabiata. It tasted just like a homespun trattoria in Rome! They have a good mix of "Americanized Italian" food, as well as some very surprising authentic choices like the Fettuccine Cinghiale (boar). I read a few of the negative reviews: Don't pay attention to them! The food and exp... Read more

If your looking for a good ladies night out location, this is one for you. I have been there a few times now, and every time, we are always seated promptly even though it may seemed packed from the outside. Once seated, the bruscetta is amazing, try it! All their pasta is homemade and you can definitely taste the difference. Try the salmon ravioli, it seems like a different mixture of flavors, but they end up being incredible! (that's my favorite dish) They have a good wine selection of moderately priced wines, which is nice, so you can enjoy the wine and not worry about breaking the bank. And lastly, the main reason why this is a great destination restaurant for ladies night out, the male servers are pretty nice to look at!

My friend and I discovered this restaurant about 2 years ago when we were parousing through San Francisco's North Beach area. The gnocci is to die for, the calzones are the size of your head, and just about anything will please even the pickiest eaters appetite.This restaurant has a great ambiance, and the food is outstanding. If you are looking for a romantic, delicious place to eat, I would deffinatley reccomend this restaurant.

I'm a Panta Rei regular, addicted to the Calzone. It seriously is the best I've ever had and I travel to New York on a regular basis. I've had a few other dishes on the menu, they were good but for me it's all about the Calzone. Great wine selection, great atmosphere and people watching. Outside seating with heater available (but it is on a busy street, right by the bus stop). Service can be great or lacking depending on who's servicing you. Seems like the waitresses have their act together while the waiters are too busy dancing, singing and goofing off to take their jobs seriously.

I'm really picky about Italian food, especially in tourist-y North Beach, but our boss chose Panta Rei for our monthly dinner/drinks night. Not only was the waitstaff attentive and VERY friendly, but the food was amazing. Every bottle of wine was perfectly paired with our meals and the tiramisu dessert was to die for. Praises also go to Ashley, who single-handedly bartended the entire restaurant with quick and efficient hands, good energy, and a smile. The night was definitely one to remember...despite going through about 5 bottles of wine among 10 people.

Went here for a casual company dinner with our boss and some coworkers. Had an amazing time in good company, which included our company staff and the entire staff at Panta Rei. Since we all got to share a taste of each other's dinners, I can honestly say that their menu is awesome. The music and ambience was great (yay for house music!), the wine was delicious, and the waitstaff were all so sweet and friendly. Service was quick and efficient but they don't rush you, even at their busiest. Also, best tiramisu I've ever had in my life! I definitely will be coming back here often.

After trying a number of other North Beach Italian joints, we finally landed at Panta Rei. Despite being in a far corner of the restaurant next to only one other table, the place was SO LOUD the two of us had to shout to hear each other. (And this was a weekday evening. I can only assume we would've been reduced to smiling and nodding on a Saturday night.) My boyfriend's pizza was great - second only to Tommaso's (and he pretty much orders pizza everywhere we go). My pasta was fine, but only that. Far better than typical Italian chains, but didn't stack up to what I've experienced elsewhere very nearby (e.g. L'Osteria del Forno, Trattoria Pinocchio, Cafe Delucchi). Same story with the tiramisu - decent, but not outstanding. Despite the pizza, we won't be returning here any time soon. That said, if you are looking for more of a bar-type atmosphere and don't care as much about quality, this place may be for you.

I happen to stumble onto this place while have a stroll around north beach. what a pleasant suprise! Not only was the food delicious but the service was great too. Giuseppe, our waiter was very delightful and attentive even though he was very busy. He was very charming to the ladies, but I never felt as if he paid more attention to them. The mussel and clam appetizer was great as well as the daily special of seared sea bass and prawns. The wine was very affordable and quite good as well. I would definately come back to Panta Rei.

Loud and very Euro, cute Italian waiters, good food...it reminded me of a Rome restaurant. I had the fetuccine and cinghiale (wild boar), it was delicious; they said they flew the meat in from Italy. Best of all, I was able to practice my Italian with the waiters; a (surprisingly) rare treat in North Beach.

For the second (and last ) time, I was disappointed at Panta Rei. In my mind, the most severe sin a restaurant can commit, is involuntary substitution for a menu item. That's exactly what the restaurant did to me. I ordered pasta with broccoli rab and sausage, but received soggy spinach in place of the broccoli rab. It was absolutely tasteless. I never would have ordered this dish had I been properly informed. The pasta came slightly overcooked, not properly al dente. Service was attentive, but lackluster, considering that I was not advised that soggy spinach would be substituted for the broccoli rab. The music was playing too loud to have a civil conversation with the person next to you. In this price range there are far better choices.

I've tried almost all the italian restaurants you can find on columbus and Panta Rei is by far the best. Waiters are good looking and friendly. Food is delicious. Great desserts. I love going for lunch but definitely great spot for late nights. This place does not take reservations so you may have to wait. It helps to be cute. And it is cash only but there is a Wells fargo atm directly across the street.

I am a local in the neighborhood and have been to Panta Rei numerous times. The best way to describe the food and service is inconsistent. I have some absolutely great meals along with some medicore ones as well.

Visited on a friend's recommendation. Easy to find, great for people watching. Getting a bad rap as a tourist destination, but do not despair. Let them order their pizzas and lasagnas, while you can start with fresh mozzarellla cheese flown straight from Italy and stuff yourself with the osso buco con pasta with your montepulciano.

Went on a Saturday afternoon. Easy to get a table either inside, or outside to watch the people. Wait staff were fair, only really rude one was right at the front door. Food was good, but nor great. By pasta had burned spots on the bottom. Price was average. Not a bad spot, not a great one.

After my dinner, I came onto this website to see what others thought of the place only to be astounded that it's rated 9.2. There's so much wrong with the place. To begin, the host was rather rude; he was attentive in getting the couple in front of us into the restaurant but when we asked him a question, he had an I-don't-care attitude. I've had better bread from Safeway in comparison to Panta Rei's bread. The calamari was not hot when it came out. It also was incredibly tough and the waiter responded that tough calamari was the way they normally cooked it. The sauce was also cold, which didn't help to make the dish more appetizing. The shrimp fetuccini was nothing to rave about; you can get better at Pasta Pomodoro without spending double digits. The waiter was inattentive and had an attitude from beginning to end. There are much better restaurants in North Beach so please don't waste your time and money in this place.

I've been a couple times now and can't wait to go again. The food is delicious and great prices too. This is a VERY North Beach place to go...so go for it! Just prepare for the wait at the door - but it's worth it!

chef boyardee food, olive garden atmosphere, meets just off the boat insulting italian waiters that hate waiting on americans, and smile why they say that to you in Italian, taking your order. No thanks prefer stouffers lasagna at the inlaws.

It is very touristy but I thought since those on here like it so much it couldn't be bad, plus thought it would be a fun place for us girls to go in North Beach - we were not impressed. The guy at the door was cute and flirty - nice start. Our waiter, though not cute was funny (even doing a shot w/us) but the food was mediocre at best. Pasta was drenched in sauce, pizza was good, ceasar salad was good but I swear they used Gerard's salad dressing, the misto salad was boring. The tables are so small & close together which made talking to our neighbors easy but there wasn't enough room on the tiny table for our food. The feel of the place seemed sorta "themed" if that makes sense. It didn't feel like a real warm, Italian restaurant, but what it is, an Italian restaurant catering to tourists. With all the great dining choices I definitely won't be going back there.

I often go to this place! I love the service (some Italian servers have attitude, but that's part of the experience). The food is delicious!... not the best you'll ever have, but very good. The ambience is great, exciting, and they serve late dinners. The location is the best, right in the middle of the action of the neighborhood. It's casual enough to go dressed in jeans, but on big nights, I'd recommend dressing appropriately for nightlife. Have fun!

THe first time I went there I was ushered in by two adorable flirtatious waiters. They were very entertaining and fun and the food was excellent including the pizza and panini. And if you look extra cute they just might give you free desert! Egor is an excellent waiter: very attentive, very friendly, and likes to treat us with a free tarimisu! Which was totally delicious! I highly recommend this place for a good time, especially for a girls night out!!!!! Great food and, as a girl, great service ;-)

Living in North Beach and being from Italy, I finally decided to check this place out although I always thought it had a bit too much tourist appeal. The food was no were close to what Italian food is supposed to taste. It might be ok for the average passing tourist but I was expecting better cuisine then that. I think the cuisine should be labeled Americanized Italian Fast Food. Anyway, it didn't help that the place was packed, very loud and the wait staff a bit on the arrogant side (which is pretty common for male Italian wait staff, so I am used to that) but also slow because they seemed to be understaffed on that particular night. Never again, thank you.

This is a good spot among a sea of copy-cat Italian eateries on Columbus avenue in North Beach. On a random Tuesday night, I was drawn in by the fact that there was actually a crowd inside, where most of the other restaurants were emtpy. It also helped that the hostess was one of the most beautiful women that I'd ever seen. She was happy to seat me, even though I was a single. There was hip music playing, albeit fairly loud - that lent to the lively scene. The server was frantic, but took fairly good care of me. The food was really quite good and not over-priced. I might have liked some more selection of wines by the glass, but heck, at least they had the Spainish soccer channel on on a TV in the corner.

A must in North Beach, great food, great service, i love this place. AAA+++

A friend and I were recently in S.F. and really wanted some delicious, authentic Italtian food. We were on our way to another restaraunt when we were greeted by a gorgeous young Italian woman and decided to go in and try it. OMG...this place was exactly what we needed! It was soooo good, that we have vowed to drive down (from Sacramento) at least once every other month just to have it again!!! The fresh pasta and yummy appetizers are sure to please any Italian food lover! You will not be disappointed...and of course, the gorgeous waiting staff also helps =)

My favorite Italian spot in the city. The homemade pasta can't be beat - try the Fettucine All'anatra for an especially delicious dish. The newly remodeled bar means a Negroni is only a couple steps away and the fun, hot Italian staff will keep your whole dinner party entertained. Especially fun with a group of people. Don't forget to listen out for the Italian pop classics on the stereo. Bon appetito!

I went here on a recommendation from a friend and loved it! Whenever I have an out-of-town guest I always bring them here and everytime it is terrific! The service can be slow at times but I prefer when the waiter's not stalking you anyway...

Then you're in for a treat. My ravioli came swimming in so much grease, I thought they had inadvertently tipped a bottle into the dish. Half of the 20 or so ravioli were undercooked, with gummy, doughy pasta. My husband liked his fettucine, but for $16, a tablespoon of chanterelles over a cup of pasta was pretty measly. Service was atrocious from start to finish. When we walked in at 9:50 to inquire whether they were still serving dinner, the hostess/waitress asked of the cooks, who shrugged. She then walked away from us with menus. Eventually, we trailed after her. Our server attended to us as if we were flies she had to shoo away occasionally. Very distracted and totally uniterested. She removed the bread plates, leaving us to set our bread on the bare table. Never checked in on how we were doing. SO not worth it!!

I love this place! I was in the city one weekend over summer and just happened to eat here. I was so glad we did. It was the best dinner ever, I would recommend it to anyone who loves Italian food. The waiters were really friendly and made us feel comfortable. Even though I have only been there twice I can't stop talking about it. I try to go there everytime I am in the city with my friends. It's my new usual spot.

The service is great, and the food was good. The prices are also very reasonable compared to some of the other Italian joints. The daily s...

Fabio, a friend from Italy, revered this establishment as "authentic italian cuisine". Service is hospitable and warming, yet you can tell they're rushed. Mostly anytime of day, the place is sure to be swarming with locals and tourists. I, myself, am a local and have come back for more. This is in my top 2 picks of restaurants in North Beach. The interior is stylish, a bit cramped, but the window seats, people-watching, food and decor more than compensate this. All-in-all, I'd have to give Panta Rei kudos for having a stylish, and inexpensive eatery without skimping on quality and service. Nice job!

Don't waste your time wainting in line at the big name restaurants in North Beach. Panta Rei has a great corner location on columbus with a number of outdoor tables. The food is great whether it be pasta or something off the grill, especially the swordfish. Plus the bread that comes before dinner is spectacular. And the service is great!

We had a great dinner at Panta rei last night. The staff is young, hip and good-looking, all with italian accents. The food is delicious. The best Gnocchi I've found in northe beach. The Filet mignon had a fabulous gorgonzola cream sauce on it and was extremely tender. The even gave us a free dessert sampler with tiramisu, some other warm cake dish that was amazing and pretty good biscotti. I odered a martini that was kind of wierd tasting so I asked for another drink without ever pointing out that i didn't like the first one and I wasn't charged for the second one... nisce touch.

I was very pleasantly surprised by this restaurant. The food was very good, and the wait staff were all very friendly. We had a fairly large group, yet we were seated promtly and we received our food pretty quickly after we ordered. It was a little loud inside, but it was a great place for people watching. Try the ciopinno, and have the tiramisu for dessert - both were great!! I would definitely go back to Panta Rei.

We try to make it here every time we come into the city. The food is very good and so is the service. The gnocci with wild boar bolognese is awesome. Also, try the pizzas.

I wouldn't have tried Panta Rei but I found a coupon online for it. Overall, I was very happy. The servers were great; friendly, attentive and easy on the eyes. The wine was reasonably priced, and the food was pretty good. Skip the calamari, it was not crispy and didn't have much flavor. Definitely try the pasta with prociutto, mozzarella, olives and lots of other yummy things!

I have been to here numerous times, and each time is absolutely wonderful. If you are feeling fun and flirtatious then this is the place to go! My girlfriends an I come here when we want to be adored by the delightful staff... Also when we want to eat some of the best mussels in North Beach. All around, the food is delicious, the service is wonderful, and the atmosphere makes me feel as if I am back in Europe. My only wish is that they had a full bar.... and their wine list could use a bit of sprucing up. But overall, Panta Rei is one of my favorite restaurants in the area. I highly reccommend it!

A great place for girls night out - mostly because of the incredibly handsome and charming Italian men manning the door, bar and tables. Wow... and the food is just as fabulous too. The sea bass with cherry tomatoes is very fresh and filling with a side of red potatoes and spinach. Tiramisu here is super moist and just dreamy. The wine list is pretty good and reasonable too. A hit in my book for a fun and casual night out in North Beach without seeming too touristy.

Just having moved to San Francisco we are checking out the neighborhoods and wanted to get some great Italian. We looked at a number of menus and initially chose Panta Rei because of price and they sat us right away (on a Saturday night around 7pm). WONDERFUL food. We each ordered a pasta dish and were elated to find fresh, homemade pasta with light sauces. Wine list offered many affordable options and our server, Christian, helped us choose a great wine. He even offered to help us find a realtor when he found out we were new to town! Though an initial mix-up with my order, they made up for it with complementary tiramisu for two. I would recommend this place to anyone and WILL be returning.

The Scene A cajoling employee beckons at the entrance in standard North Beach fashion. Handsome servers, dressed in slim black shirts and faded blue jeans, jet around the red-and-brown triangular space, barely keeping up with the influx of tourists. It's not the most exacting style of service, but it's fitting for the easygoing surroundings. The Food By and large, the Italian menu is a notch above most other nearby spots. Tomato bruschetta arrives with slices of squeaky mozzarella and flecks of oregano, and briny clams and mussels flaunt their stuff in a pool of olive oil-slicked tomato broth. Black olive, orange and mixed green salad is simple and carefully dressed. Gummy cream sauce does little for green-on-green spinach tortelloni, and caveman era-sized lamb shank looms over a pile of vegetables drenched in butter. By-the-book lasagna saves the day with its mild layers of pasta and bechamel.

Really good, fresh Italian food - not terribly inventive, but very well prepared. Great wine list, small markup. Usually no wait. UPDATED: Came back on a Saturday night. The service was awful and the disco music was so loud that it was literally physically uncomfortable, not to mention impossible to chat with my date. I won't be back.

I loved the location of the restaurant, it is in the center of the North Beach District. The atmosphere is lively but intimate enough to have a great conversation. I thought the food was great, might have been cooked a little too much in oil, but was flavorful. With so many Italian restaurants to choose from in North Beach, I enjoyed my decision to eat at Panta Rei.

Don't believe the editorial staff, as usual. I recently visited in January and ended up eating here twice. Being italian, I am very picky about italian food and can say this is some of the best. The mussels were great and the pasta (we tried different types each night) right up there with grandma's. Our waiters were attentive (easy on the eyes too), but not overly, and took care of us both inside and out, as we moved outside enjoying both the crowd and the music. Next visit I will return. By the way - they do take credit cards.