We pick this place out of all of the tourist traps that are along North Beach. All the other places were packed and we wanted to have a nice enjoyable dinner that did not feel like we were a bunch of seagulls trying to get at 1 piece of food. The service was great, the food even better. We will definitely come back here as we were treated super well and everything was delicious and served with class. A little bit more expensive than the other places but a full on strong menu that's worthy of picking from if you're into fish and not into touristy traps.

This place is too good to be true!!!! I think it is the best Italian seafood restaurant ever. My friend booked a reservation two weeks earlier and we got a nice seat on Saturday night. I highly recommend everything that we ordered- the seafood crab stew, the seafood risotto, and scallops. I also love their oysters, east coast is better than west coast. Their rose wine is tasty too. I highly recommend the risotto, which is the best risotto I’ve ever had so far in my life.

Worth the wait. The Crab Cioppino- was really chef’s kisses. The broth was outstanding and the sea food was incredibly fresh. Scallops-were delicious and the sauce was stellar. Lobster ravioli was good too. Will be back !

We arrived at Sotto Mare on a Saturday evening. The patio was crowded, the inside even more so. Luckily, we had reservations (highly recommended, btw) so we were able to be seated immediately. Our party was a bit larger so we were at a table in the basement. If you're not a fan of spaces that are a bit close, this may not be the place for you. Our waitress was very good and answered every question we had. I had some oysters for an appetizer and I ended up with the lobster ravioli, which were good. Overall, a good recommendation if you're in the mood for seafood with an Italian flare.

Loved it. The grilled Sand Dabs were SO GOOD! Do not miss the sand dabs! The scallops were also tender and fresh. The cioppino was pretty good, too. Loved the classic decor. Waitress was nice. The portions were good for two people. Definitely a worth a visit in SF and I can definitely see myself here regularly as a great neighborhood spot. Come before 6pm and you'll get yourself a seat!

I had a 10/10 experience at Sotto Mare. Their Cioppino was amazing and full of different kinds of seafood. If you're not starving a serving of it could be enough for three people. It is most definitely enough for two. I also got their seafood Linguine which was everything I wanted. The white sauce was nice and creamy and the seafood (especially the shrimps) tasted so fresh. I would definitely go back again!

This place had been on and off of my bookmarks for a while. One of my friends were visiting from SoCal and had a seafood craving, so we ended up eating here. Located near the intersection of Chinatown and Little Italy, you can bet parking would be a pain. We decided to have an early dinner here just to avoid the wait, got there at around 5, got seated in front of the kitchen almost immediately. It is a view to see 7 or 8 pans cooking different dishes all at once, of dover soles, scallops, loaves of bread carried away, platters of fresh oysters. The two of us shared their crab cioppino and we decided to try their crab diablo linguine. It was between the linguine or the crab Louie salad. Pasta won because carbs are great, but we did a half order, in case there was too much food. In the end, we have leftovers from both dishes. The pasta itself is just so perfect. Very garlicky, got a kick to it. Most importantly, the crab was soft enough yet not overcooked, heaven in my mouth! Holy!! I tried the cioppino next, super flavorful with the tangy tomato based broth and the sweetness from all the seafood. Seafood aplenty in that pho sized bowl. There were crab legs, cuttlefish, clams, mussels, penne, and lots of delicious thoughts. The soup was perfect when eaten with their house bread. The bread isnt anything mindblowing, but it worked well with the soup. They gave out bibs like you're about to peel a pound of shrimps at The Boiling Crab, I dropped my crab shells in my soup so many times, but my sweater was safe! Definitely not much of an utensils only spot maybe that's why hand sanitizer was readily available Some covid concerns for those who are more nervous: there wasn't any glass between the counter seats and the kitchen, the tables and counters were very close to one another. They do provide outside seating, but that's very limited.

This place is too good to be true!!!! I think it is the best Italian seafood restaurant ever. My friend booked a reservation two weeks earlier and we got a nice seat on Saturday night.

They don’t call it the best damn Crab Cioppino for no reason ! This place is guaranteed great dining and great service . Highly recommend everyone to stop by if they come across it. We had the Sautéed Scallops , Lobster Ravioli, Crab Cioppino, and smoked salmon fettuccini . ALL AMAZING . Great Selection or wines , Sweet White Dolce Wine really set the night.

I know this is one of the famous sea food restaurant in SF and luckily made a reservation. Their food was good! However, it was too packed than we thought, even it was tiny place. If someone expect dining with peaceful mood and cozy vibes, it may not good for you.

Really good cioppino, especially if you are a crab fan. Take them up on serving suggestion and get it for two so you don't miss out on their chowder or oysters either. Iconic setup with hand written orders and an old school slide wire into the kitchen. Pretty neat to see a no computer setup still running strong.

Unfortunately, my experience at Sotto Mare Restaurant was less than satisfactory. While the atmosphere of the restaurant was pleasant and the staff seemed friendly, the food left much to be desired. The menu featured a variety of seafood dishes, but the quality of the ingredients was disappointing. The seafood tasted bland and lacked freshness, which made it difficult to enjoy. The pasta dishes were also underwhelming and lacked flavor. Another issue was the long wait time for food. Despite the restaurant not being particularly busy, the food took an excessive amount of time to arrive at our table. This resulted in an overall lengthy and frustrating dining experience. In addition, the prices at Sotto Mare Restaurant were high for the quality of food and service received. The portions were small, and the prices did not match the quality of the ingredients or the dining experience. Overall, I would not recommend Sotto Mare Restaurant. While the staff was friendly and the atmosphere pleasant, the quality of the food and service did not meet expectations. The high prices and long wait time made for a disappointing dining experience.

Great italian seafood spot. Got to have reservations to avoid waiting time. My smoked salmon & pasta plate was real good. The seafood soup was a lot for 1 person. The lobster ravioli was just right to fill 1 up, so yummy 😋 Service staff were friendly & helpful.

Went there for the second time. Both experiences are wonderful. Their seafood dishes are top notch. Fresh and well prepared. Today, we tried the main courses of scallops and Spanish octopus. Both are very tender and flavorful. The cioppino is full of various fresh seafood, with a mildly spiced tomato-based soup. It's a heart-warming dish as usual. We ordered fresh oysters, and you can tell they are fresh and sweet. We are totally satisfied after the meal.

I'm Seafood Lovers & I recommend here. The place you must visit if you come to San Francisco. I waited line 10. Minutes for get inside and waited again after ordered about 15-20 minutes Busy restaurant and lot of customers inside. Enjoy Fresh Seafood Tasty Soup ,Big Bowl,Fresh Crabs. I really would like to give 7 Stars for Cioppino.

I have visited this place couple of times! It is always busy, it is busy on weekdays too. I would recommend this place if you love Italian food! And if you are visiting SF, this place should be in your list to visit. The atmosphere is very busy! The food is great no matter what you pick, they have nice ravioli and pasta. Also the best ciapino for two people, it is seafood in tomato soup. I like their pasta a lot!

This place is packed, even at 3PM. We sat inside at the bar facing the open kitchen. I think they might need better ventilation because it was a bit hot. The food was delicious! We ordered the scallops, the lobster ravioli, cioppino, and the steamed clams. All the dishes were good and I would recommend them.

Did not eat much except oysters and clam chowder. The oysters out of the west Coast were the best and fresh. I would like to come back and try other dishes next time. As I was really full eating at other places throughout the day. Good place to go.

Cool spot in Little Italy. Seafood was fresh. Outdoor seating is great and intimate. Busy and lively in the heart of little Italy/North Beach. Oysters were solid but limited selection only east or west coast. Salmon with garlic was tasty. The pastas were great, and the crab was pretty good.

Had to wait a bit to get a table, well worth the wait though. I was here to try the hyped cioppino and I can glad confirm that its not just hype. This is the real deal. Served piping hot, with fresh bread and butter on the side, this dish was more than enough for 2 people to share. Wonderfully rich broth with fresh seafood, seasoned and prepared to perfection. Great vibe and service too, even with a full restaurant and people outside waiting for a seat.

Absolutely 5 out of 5! The restaurant is very welcoming. There is a good atmosphere inside where the staff is attentive and happy to help with anything. I can’t emphasize enough on how wonderful Fabiana was with us from the welcome to check out! She took care of us like it was her own home and gave us great food recommendations. Food is delicious, fragrant, fresh and prepared with care. We’ve enjoyed mouthwatering oysters, hearty clam chowder and a selection of delicious seafood 🦞. I would say a must visit when in SF ❤️ Definitely coming again next time!

I heard this place is known very well to Korean guests. I was so surprised that ~80% of the guests were Korean. That, along with that cold-blue fresh breeze of the sea was the top-2 most distinctive memory about this place. I was born in a harbor city, so I know what makes or breaks "Fresh Ocean" smell. This place waved that fresh ocean breeze at the tip of my nose. I loved it. Food was good, crab legs were full. I recommend visiting this place for anyone who loves seafood.

Absolutely love this place! A must-visit whenever I'm in town from the East Coast. My husband got the clam chowder as a starter and it was the best either of us have had. The seafood risotto was incredible. Definitely skip the tourist traps on the wharf and head over here for authentic Italian food!

I've been coming here for nine years. Best cioppino in SF, full stop. Also recommend the oysters and clams as an appetizer. The staff is incredibly welcoming and create a wonderful energy in here all the time; we had a couple of excited diners at the bar telling us they wouldn't believe how good the food was.

A fantastic place for seafood. We did not have a reservation, but only waited about 25 minutes. It was worth the wait. Make a reservation if you can though. We split Lobster Ravioli and “The Best Damn Crab Cioppino” It was definitely enough for two people. So good. The have beer and wine, no other spirits. I would highly recommend!

I've been there few times with my friends, it's always busy. And I am not surprised since they have the best Cioppino in town! Don't forget to try oysters they are super delicious and always fresh. Also they have espresso coffee and Italian deserts, which is the best way to finish your meal. Staff is very friendly and welcoming, small advice your tables are kinda unstable. Highly recommend to go there whenever you are in North Beach.

I enjoyed eating here. It’s an old school, iconic place with a focus on sea food. The star of the show is the Cioppino but I couldn’t get it because it’s a two person meal and no one else at my table wanted it. I ended up getting the linguine with clams. Very good with lots of clams. Lots of sauce to mop up with the fresh French bread. The other people at my table got the clam chowder and the halibut and they liked their dishes as well. Good service.