Flour + Water image

Flour + Water

Restaurant Italian restaurant Californian restaurant

Handcrafted Italian grub, including pasta & wood-fired pizza, served in a casual, rustic space. People often mention pasta, menu, great, good, time, service, wine, experience, dishes, tasting,


Address

2401 Harrison St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Website

www.flourandwater.com

Contact

(415) 826-7000

Price rating

$$$ $

Rating on Google Maps

4.50 (1.4K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Friday: 5 to 9:30 PM
  • Saturday: 5 to 9:30 PM
  • Sunday: 5 to 9:30 PM
  • Monday: 5 to 9:30 PM
  • Tuesday: 5 to 9:30 PM
  • Wednesday: 5 to 9:30 PM
  • Thursday: 5 to 9:30 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: pasta (41) menu (22) great (16) good (16) time (15) service (14) wine (14) experience (11) dishes (9) tasting (9)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 4/5 Lamarr E. 3 months ago on Google • 374 reviews New
    If you want delicious Italian, head over to flour and water. So many great dishes. We settled with the rice balls and a pizza that offered fresh seasonal tomatoes. Mind blowing!! Our experience was truly memorable, including our fun and enthusiastic waiter who was extremely knowledgeable about the menu. I would for head to flour and water again for dinner anytime.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Eugene C. 1 year ago on Google
    Pasta tasting menu. Wonderful service and food. Generous portions. Great vibe for casual date nights. We finally made it back to Flour+Water after their remodeling. The restaurant now looks more modern, yet still feels warm. Large windows let in the natural light, but the lighting was very dim after it gets dark. I can’t stop marveling at the mural, the anchovies (?) were very cute. The staff were cheerful and seemed to operate at an amazing energy level throughout the night. Several waiters brought us food and wine, and they were easy to strike up a short conversation with. We literally didn’t have to ask anything throughout the night, because the staffs were very attentive. My wife couldn’t drink too much, but would like some wine to pair with her food. The staff offered her half-pour and great suggestions. The two of us ordered the past tasting. Food was served in sharing portions. Even though the pasta was heavily featured, it never felt monotonous. The portions are enough even for the more voracious eaters. We did not have any leftovers. Every time when we had the tastings, there was always a dish or two that just amazed us. This time, it was the veal agnolotti Verdi for me. The little green dumplings could stand on their own, but the sauce and shaved horseradish took them to a new level. I still think about those green dumplings from time to time weeks after our meal. But everything else was also very good, whether it’s the subtle heat in the crab pasta or the deep umami in the mushroom broth. I highly recommend this gem of a restaurant. The pasta tasting menu is a great way for the chef to showcase different pasta shapes and flavors. I can’t wait to find an excuse to go back.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Wes I. 6 months ago on Google • 506 reviews
    Wow. Flour + Water was a mind blowing dining experience. The tasting menu on this night was an array of smaller pasta offerings that were so divine. Each plate was perhaps some of the best pasta I have ever tasted. Their pasta is hand crafted in house which explains a lot. The service here is very professional and timely. And the space is clean and humble. I was thoroughly impressed and it's no wonder this is a Michelin recognized outlet. 5 x 🍝🍝🍝🍝🍝
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Jimmy P. 9 months ago on Google
    An experience that started off pretty disappointing (mostly for the service), but concluded with some or the best food in memory. From our booking time to being seated with a glass of water was around 30minutes. We were welcomed to wait inside by the “wine bar’… of sorts, but this area is far too small for the amount of diners that were waiting and despite being handed a wine menu no one came to take orders the whole time we were standing there. The long wait gives you a pretty long time to decide what to order once you’re seated and despite being ready to do so we were basically told not yet, you should take a few more minutes to figure it out. At this point I could not fathom paying over $100 for the tasting menu. Starters were good, big portion sizes, most memorable just for the quality of the ricotta and honeycomb - both stunning. Mains featured perhaps the two best pastas I’ve ever had, along with a very enjoyable orange wine. Service at this point had significantly improved and the evening was finished off by a delectable dessert. Like the rest of the menu clever in flavour pairings and presentation. Appropriately portioned and rich enough to savour each bite. Would return, definitely recommend but I’d really hope for much better service.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Edison H. 1 year ago on Google
    We made a reservation for 9pm and was able to be seated on time. Service was good and everyone was very attentive. We didn’t opt for their tasting menu. We shared 3 different pastas: squid ink bucatini, porcini rigatoni, and the farfalle. Their fig gelato was interestingly delicious.. they add this 30 years aged balsamic vinegar. As for their pasta… they are definitely good, especially the texture, but the price was steep. Portion size could be better for some of the pasta we ordered. This place is popular though. It was pretty evident with the crowded restaurants, the people waiting outside, the tasting menu option, and even signed cookbooks! One thing I do want to point out is that the restaurant does additional 1% charge to contribute to Zero Foodprint on top of the SF health mandate. In my opinion, the 1% contribution shouldn’t come from the customers. Overall, this would be an one and done kind of place. Great for dates or special occasions, but there are a wide variety of options for pasta here in the city.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Omead P. 4 months ago on Google • 187 reviews
    This was one of the best experiences in the city. Everything was so amazing. Really loved the food as well as the ambiance. Our waiter was hella funny. They brought us an extra plate of pasta completely by accident but it was for free which was nice.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Charles M. 6 months ago on Google • 80 reviews
    The team at Flour + Water is articulate, kind, knowledgeable, and just plain good people. The food is just as distinct. I very much enjoyed my time there for the second time this past Monday. The rabbit stuffed pasta was incredible. But man the ricotta and honeycomb appetizer was the highlight for me. It’s quite the dining experience. I will for sure be back. Gordon at the bar is the man. He really brought it with his service and attention to detail. Would rate 6 stars if possible.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Isabela O. 2 months ago on Google • 68 reviews New
    Visited on a Saturday 5pm (w reservation). Service was cordial and fast all the way. No rush for anything and good recommendations. Opted for a wine (great options, variety of prices), 2 appetizers and 2 pastas. The amberjack crudo is definitely not great looking, but had a nice citric mix of flavors. Highlight was definitely the beet with all textures and flavors. For the pastas, menu is quite lean.. personally I dont love “stuffed pasta” and that was a big portion of the options. The Veal was nice and ended up being a better option than the second pasta,the chestnut triangoli (no pics, kind of boring dish). Experience overall was great and I would come back to try other dishes - or even the course menu!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Madhavan K K. 1 year ago on Google
    The vegetarian options are limited but very good. The menu seems to be different from the online photos so they might be changing it up regularly. They had a fried appetizer that was great! The artichoke pizza was also really good and I liked the truffle oil pasta as well. Their chocolate dessert was good but a bit too salty sometimes. Overall I had great experience. This was sufficient food for 2. Definitely very pricey so expect to spend at least $50 per person even without drinks.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Kyna B. 3 months ago on Google New
    The food was fine, just good not great, but presented beautifully. The servers and staff were lovely. Truly my biggest complaint was the atmosphere - the music was loud and jarring, I couldn't hear a thing my date was saying and could barely understand what the wait staff were saying about the food. I wouldn't go back, nor be likely to recommend this place to anyone as the experience just did not match the price tag.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 DanielaLucia94 1 year ago on Google
    Fully lived up to my expectations. An excellent meal with so many great pasta choices it was hard not to order the whole menu. We did an appetizer and 3 pastas a la carte for 2 with dessert. We could have easily done a fourth pasta as well. Our only regret is not ordering the bread to dip in each of the glorious pasta sauces! Lovely service, would definitely come back.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Ben K. 1 year ago on Google
    I was really looking forward to this dinner. I had heard nothing but amazing things and good recommendations for flour + water. We were a little disappointed. Our service wasn’t the best. I didn’t feel like our server was trying to connect with us at the table and our interactions were very short. We ordered a glass of beer and a glass of wine when we ordered our food which we didn’t receive until after we had finished two of our food courses. The timing felt off. I felt bad as it did look like our server had a lot of tables for a small dining area and he could have used another server. The food was exceptional. We serve ricotta at the restaurant I work at but house cultured is something else. Food is art and fermentation is magic. This was truly an inspiring blend of flavours. Their use of seasonal fruits throughout the meal was astounding. The stone fruit popped up with the ricotta, the prosciutto, and our tortellini. I knew I wouldn’t be returning for quite some time and wanted to try a dessert. The budino was rich and smooth and complimented by the espresso whipped cream and flaky salt. All in all, we had a lacklustre service experience but the food was exceptional. Between 2 people, sharing a couple appetizers and a couple pastas was the perfect amount of food.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 TG 1 year ago on Google
    Had heard so much about this place and it was worth the hype. Amazing wine, pizza, pasta. A lot of us were vegetarians and they could modify some of the pasta for us. My favorite was english pea and ricotta doppio!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ajay 2 years ago on Google
    First time at Flour+Water, celebrating a pre-Valentines day dinner here. This restaurant comes highly rated and I myself, will now join that group of ravers 🤤. The menu was really well put together, they had a very mixed wine list (Domestic +European) - which I absolutely loved.. Some standouts we ordered: 1. Daily ricotta- I (we) never knew ricotta could taste this fresh. Took my first bite and was 🤯 till the last. If you have some leftover- goes great w the pastas too 2. Rye Pappardelle + Cocoa Rutabaga Casconcelli - 🤌🏽🤌🏽🤌🏽 3. Chocolate Budino - I mean the espresso cream on this is just…….. I actually struggle connecting words to even begin to describe this. A must get. Service was a little shaky- but it was the restaurants first night back.. so totally understand the jitters. Definitely would recommend for your upscale Italian dining cravings- and we will definitely be back!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Metinee D. 1 year ago on Google
    Flour + Water certainly lived up to the hype! The mushroom arancini is a must try - best arancini I’ve ever had - and we loved their variety of pastas and non-traditional sauces. The farfelle pasta especially stood out with the perfect al dente texture combined with the freshness of spring peas. We also don’t usually love beets, but their golden beets and mandarin dish was so refreshing and sweet! Great spot overall.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Marco P. 5 months ago on Google • 183 reviews
    Awesome Italian restaurant. On the expensive side (especially with the 6.5 % surcharge for clients to pay their waitress accordingly), but the food is amazing. The carbonara and duck pasta were both to die for. 8$ for a small piece of bread is a no for me though. Light red House wine was absolutely delicious. Beautiful spot for a date hehe

  • 3/5 Neesh S. 3 months ago on Google • 166 reviews New
    We'd been looking forward to Flour and Water for a very long time and were very excited when we got a reservation a couple days in advance. However, all in all we were a bit let down. I'll start with the positives though. The wine was very good. The Sourdough, Ricotta and Arancini were all also delicious. However, we ordered two pastas, the Chestnut Triangoli and the Autumn Squash Caramelle and both were just, average? Flavors were very subtle but almost too subtle. The pasta itself was cooked well but for this price point, there's a lot of delicious pasta in SF. The vibe and service was also a bit off. The music was crazy loud and it wasn't ambient noise but rather, rock songs which I love but, not in this setting? The waitress seemed like we were inconveniencing her throughout the night which felt a bit odd. There are a lot of great reviews on here so it's probably worth a try, but I don't know if I myself would be back.

  • 4/5 Vanessa C. 6 months ago on Google • 105 reviews
    Very impressive 6-course tasting menu with so many unique flavors. Worth a try for that once-a-year special occasion splurge. Each of the 10 dishes was presented individually with its own grand entrance. Some dishes were definitely peculiar, like the cheese cream and tomato water pasta. Some were out of this world, like the halibut crudo and basil pork pasta. And some were just a little too out there, like the acorn-fed ham and the pasta chip that tasted like a shrimp chip. I would recommend this for the fellow adventurer looking for flavors that will be hard to find anywhere else. Has nothing to do with my rating but the area did seem a little sketchy. I arrived early as I knew parking would be scarce and ended up walking around to pass time. There were police cars around the corner and a lot of activity on the next street. The waitress later told us there was a shooting nearby.

  • 5/5 Crafti D. 1 year ago on Google
    One of the best experiences besides the exquisite handcrafted dishes is setting at the bar and allowing Gordon, the [best bartender], take you on a marvelous dinning journey. There's not one dish that can be mentioned. The pizzas are just a delightful, as the appetizers. As the pasta makes it's endless flavors.and spices your palette is screaming for more servings. Sitting at the bar and watching the fine orchestrated kitchen , making it look so effortless and seamless teamwork. And lastly the artistic signature desserts AMAZING! Our journey takes us to visit our daughter and husband, and the first dinner spot is Flower .& Water.

  • 5/5 Melanie 1 year ago on Google
    If you appreciate handmade, high quality pasta, treat yourself to dinner at Flour + Water. The restaurant is effortlessly beautiful and the vibe feels relaxed yet sophisticated. The staff (at least the few people I talked to) were kind, attentive, knowledgeable about the menu, and seemed to care a lot about customer experience. The food looked and smelled so good when it arrived I forgot to take pictures! Everything is made with exceptionally fresh ingredients and was surprisingly light. I expected to fill uncomfortably full like I usually do after loading up on pasta, but that didn’t happen here. The pasta, and everything for that matter, was certainly filling but light weight. Hopefully that makes sense. From the variety of starters, to pizza, pasta, and dessert everything my friends and I tried was memorably delicious. We lucked out and happened to go when the Italian white truffles were in season so we had the Tajarin. I’m going to dream about that for weeks it was so good! Most of the starters and desserts are gluten free but none of the pizzas are. Some of the pasta dishes can be made with gluten free pasta but it’s not listed on the menu. Just ask your server. The pasta sampling menu (where you get some of everything and it’s served family style) is not available in gluten free because not all of the dishes can be made gluten free.

  • 2/5 Jeremy Y. 1 year ago on Google
    Was very excited to visit Flour + Water while in town staying with friends. Came away extremely disappointed for the price. It was a high energy Thursday night, with the restaurant already full and with a fun energy when we arrived for our reservation. We chose to do the tasting menu plus wine pairings for our meal. While service started off strong, things took a turn when we realized we had missed 2 rounds of our wine pairings. We had to remind the staff of our missed items, which impacted the flow and timing of the pairings. The food itself was okay overall, with an over reliance on butter. Butter is great, but not when it nearly ruins a dish. Similarly, the wines we did receive while solid were nothing of note to our tastes. Finally, the olive oil cake dessert was wildly off balance, with the largest proportional amount of olive oil I've seen in a dish. Overall, the meal was inconsistent in the service, food, and wine and trended towards okay at best. For the high price, I would not return and I would not recommend friends to visit.

  • 5/5 Pasha G. 1 year ago on Google
    Overall, a very positive experience. We had pasta sampling menu. You cannot just do it yourself; the whole table has to do it. I am not sure why though. Only a few dishes were family style, others were individual. But whatever. I will definitely come back to try a la carte menu.

  • 5/5 Harmeet S. 1 year ago on Google
    High-energy, bustling and pretty much a large dinner party. Couple that with great pasta and friendly service…you’re bound to have a good time. We loved every dish we got and the redesigned interior looked really good too. If you can nab a reservation, don’t miss out on this experience.

  • 4/5 Faye 2 years ago on Google
    The melon salad is amazing!!! I can have ten of them!!! all of the pasta are great to try! The service is friendly, if you don't know what to eat, then ask them and follow the direction.

  • 5/5 Utsav L. 1 year ago on Google
    The ricotta appetizer was super great and their triple asparagus pizza was so tasty. Above all I have to recommend their desert, check out the picture. Would recommend making reservations before hand. Also they had a variety of vegetarian options.

  • 5/5 Alan 1 year ago on Google
    An excellent Italian restaurant. In contemporary Italian fashion, each dish creates striking and creative combinations from only a couple of ingredients. They were all executed perfectly. The Taleggio scarpinocc is excellent; the only constant on the changing menu. It’s fairly basic but the ingredients each possess a storied depth: 10 years aged balsamic complements aged taleggio perfectly. Each bite is a pocket of of cheesey satisfaction. The veal agnolotti has a filling that is fine and juicy. The sauce has a tangy sour taste, which is refreshing and a fun change from the initial creaminess. The celery root was enjoyable. The smoked duck ravioli has a soft and lightly smoky flavor. The pomegranate mustarda is brilliant as contrast with the richer umami from the duck. Dessert brought the meal to the next level. The parmigiana Reggiano ice cream had a thicker mouthfeel while leaving hints of aged umami in the sweet ice cream. The 25 year aged balsamic was funky and different, a lovely addition. The chocolate budino was stellar. It’s a study in two soft yet different textures: a thicker espresso whipped cream with a rich chocolate pudding. That’s it, but it felt like so much more. The sea salt adds some occasional fun texture.

  • 5/5 Mehrnoosh K. 4 months ago on Google
    Favorites: Squid ink pasta, chicories & Semifereddo. It is an amazing dining experience. Foods are absolutely delicious here. The staff are nice and the service is perfect. If you love dessert, try Semifreddo. It was one of the best desserts that I had.

  • 5/5 Adams_coffee 1 year ago on Google
    Probably one of the best pasta dishes I’ve ever had. I don’t remember what was the exact dish but I’ll definitely return to have it again (pasta with turmeric, pesto and other things as well). Highly recommended!


Call (415) 826-7000 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Parking
    • ✓️ Free street parking
    • ✓️ Paid street parking
  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Hard liquor
    • ✓️ Comfort food
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Organic dishes
    • ✓️ Late-night food
    • ✓️ Vegetarian options
  • Popular for
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Solo dining
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible restroom
    • ✗ Wheelchair accessible parking lot
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✗ Takeout

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