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Hours
Sun
5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Mon
5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Tue
5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Wed
5:00 p.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Thu
5:00 p.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Fri
5:00 p.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Sat
5:00 p.m. - 10:30 a.m.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
4.5
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Details
Someone from this business manages this listing.
Learn More
PRICE RANGE
$21.00 – $43.00
CUISINES
Italian
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Gluten free options
meals, features
Does this restaurant offer highchairs for toddlers?
Details
About
Poesia "Po-eh-see-ah" means "Poetry" and whole lot more in Italian. Poesia reflects the light of romance and magnifies it to become that essential nature of love that makes every moment in life an adventure. Poesia's full bar attracts a crowd for hand-crafted specialty cocktails combining local fruits and innovative liquors. The extensive wine list is actively curated by our own Sommelier for flavor and seasonal value. When you are ready to select from the evening's menu you'll be choosing from dishes prepared based on a special stash of favorite family recipes from Francesco's own Mama. Each traditional recipe is enlivened with the freshest pick from California's daily market. All pastas are hand-made each day and sauces are gently simmered for hours and hours to prepare a plate worthy of your enjoyment. As we silently play the classic movies on the wall from Italy's "dolce vita" "sweet life" we are delighted to look around us and hear so many call Poesia their own sweet and special place for an evening's vacation. When was the last time you took a deep breath of Poesia and had a great night out? We hope to welcome you soon!
PRICE RANGE
$21.00 – $43.00
CUISINES
Italian
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Gluten free options
Meals
Dinner, After-hours
FEATURES
Reservations, Seating, Street Parking, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, American Express, Mastercard, Visa, Discover, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service
Contribute
4.5
207 reviews
Excellent
134
Very good
48
Average
15
Poor
6
Terrible
4
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silvietta
Milan15 contributions
Aug 2023 • friends
I went to this charming restaurant in the heart of picturesque Castro with my family and other friends. We were welcomed with care by
Italian owner and his staff, who pampered us and made us feel at home straight away.
High quality and not "Americanized" Italian food, a wide choice of Italian cured meats and cheeses, absolutely worth trying are the agnolotti del plin, which have nothing to envy of those in the best Piedmontese restaurants. Really smart chef from Modena!
Amazing list of Italian and Napa Valley wines.
Excellent quality/price ratio, which is not at all a given in America.
A restaurant that I absolutely recommend to anyone who wants to dine and drink well in San Francisco!

Written August 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
giuseppe s
Abbiategrasso6 contributions
Aug 2023 • family
True Italian cuisine in the heart of Castro managed with care by the owner. The Chef from Modena revives Italian cuisine in his first courses, the exceptional agnolotti al Plin. Incredibly vast list of quality Italian wines. Absolutely worth trying.

Written August 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SullySF58
San Francisco22 contributions
Sep 2020 • friends
Francesco and his staff create a magnificent experience. I suggest you start with the bruschetta or a selection of imported Italian cured meat and cheeses. Order the Spanish soft boiled octopus with olives fennel celery green beans and parsley lemon olive oil.I had the linguine with clam’s and a delicious zucchini purée with toasted breadcrumbs. The pasta is fresh and varied. They have main courses available with gluten-free pasta. I ended the evening with the head incredible cannoli. It’s the best restaurant in the Castro.
Written September 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cgourmande
2 contributions
Oct 2024 • couples
The patio is quite charming, but to get there you are walked through the kitchen which is not. I don’t know if this could fly with the sanitation services but that’s another story. The pasta was good. But the reason I’m writing is that they ripped us off or tried to with the wine. My first glass was a white wine which was quite good. My friend had a red wine - supposedly from Calabre. But it was an awful mix of some old bottle dwellers that they served from the kitchen (not directly from a bottle). But even worse - my next glass - a red wine from Sicily tasted water… and looked like it was half and half - for 17 USD… I complained and was told that their Sicilian wine was their lightest / clearest. They did however give me a glass of another Calabre which was served from the bottle and tasted like wine… but anyway beware of their intentions and prefer a bottle..,
Written October 4, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rex C
London53 contributions
Jul 2024 • family
Small bar and restaurant, but lovely inside. Food was amazing, including beef cheeks and polenta. Arancini were very good the pasta was also very good. We had a cocktail to start and the atmosphere was very relaxed and friendly
Written July 23, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kevin v
Arlington26 contributions
Oct 2022 • none
Wonderful find in the Castro District. Visiting SF for the first time and happened upon Poesia and added a high-point to the trip.
Great food, best I've had to date. Wine and of course the dessert were a great compliment! Nice touch with the Federico Fellini film projecting on the back wall made for a pleasant evening.
Will return to this restaurant for sure.
Thanks Poesia
Thank you
Written December 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HubbellGardiner
New York City380 contributions
Aug 2021 • couples
On our first night in San Francisco where we hadn’t been in a few years, I knew we wanted to eat in the Castro. What a great find Poesia is. We liked their back garden, and the service couldn’t have been better. We shared the burrata, among the beat I’ve had, and the nectarine salad (clever combination). We had for entrees the bolognese (very good) and the frutti de mare which was delicious. Excellent meal. Highly tecommended
Written August 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KnickerbockerJones
San Francisco335 contributions
May 2023 • couples
Words can describe my experience. I post on many platforms. A night out with friends, on a date, rekindling your romance, a business dinner, this is the place for you. From the delicious food to the amazing decors and service, this is absolute a POESIA. I wish I was a poet because I do not have the words to describe the experience. Everything was perfect. I felt like I was in wonderland. My first experience here was during lockdown and it blew my mind then. I am sorry I don't have them words but i hope my lack of them expresses enough.
Written May 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
septaleon
Abington147 contributions
Jul 2024 • friends
Over priced . $29.00 for Pasta Bolognese. And bread isn’t complimentary it’s $10.00. Then to add insult they charge a 5% employee surcharge benefits fee. Isn’t that part of running a restaurant? At $29.00 for a pasta dish surely they should be able to afford to pay their employees a decent salary. Sadly California was supposed to ban these ridiculous surcharges but the politicians gave into the lobbyists from the restaurant industry.
Written July 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Эдуард Ф
2 contributions
Jul 2023 • business
Great restaurant with authentic European taste and produce. Nice interior, but it's place for food, not to show off. Definitely will be back
Written August 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tyson C
San Juan Capistrano604 contributions
Sep 2022 • none
We started with espresso martinis, they were amazing. I had the burrata and it was so good, then some Bruschetta which was really nice. My boyfriend had a pasta and he said it was good. Prices typical for SF.
Written January 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wendell W
San Diego42 contributions
Jul 2021 • none
In San Francisco for a Landmark Birthday (the fact of which was included in the comments section of the reservation), we had heard that Poesia has a lovely, warm,homey atmosphere and really good food. The website itself says the chef is cooking from his own mother's Italian recipes.
This is the only time - ever - a restaurant ignored (or simply didn't read) a birthday advisory and do something sweet or considerate (or at least provide a good table).
The atmosphere was almost painfully noisy, not warm and homey. And the service was, at best, haphazard (bordering on rude - heaven forbid in the Castro older gay men should be treated at least politely).
And the food was just so-so. Not bad, but after having eaten such food in Italy, at my Italian in-laws homes and in good restaurants in NYC, somewhat disappointing. Of particular note: if you are going to serve a pasta "frutti di mare" 95% of it should not be squid, and there should be more than one bite of fish swimming in the sauce. Covering tough pasta. Deserts were also lackluster, and not accompanied (as in many years prior in other restaurants) with a candle in the canoli or some similar nod to the occasion.
Wine list was limited and also not particularly interesting (and only available by the glass). If I might suggest a Verdicchio from The Marche to round out the limited white wine choices the list would be a bit more interesting.
Not awful. Not wonderful. And not for a special occasion.
Written July 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jose Arturo Ibarra
San Francisco17 contributions
Dec 2019 • none
Poesia has been authentic Italian food from the first day we have been there. We have been here 5 times in 2019 and have enjoyed it each time. The staff is excellent and always attentive to customers.
Written February 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hogan603
Westborough46 contributions
Oct 2019 • couples
I’m very glad friends recommended this fantastic restaurant in The Castro. We had the Caprese con Burrata, Insalata di Spinici e Barbabietole, Bistecca ai Ferri and the Swordfish nightly special. ALL were AMAZING! The service was top of the line as we felt spoiled from start to finish. Couldn’t ask for a better start to our vacation.
Written October 27, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
justinchoy01
San Francisco6 contributions
Sep 2019 • none
This restaurant is my go to dinner place almost every night when I’m back home. The service is impeccable, cozy decor, makes me feel just like home!
The food is authentic and amazing with daily specials, I never get tired of it! I had multiple events at the restaurant and both the owner Francesco and the Chef, also has the same name Francesco, always make the events memorable with great wine selections to pair with the great food creation! They are very friendly and engaging with the customers and constantly seek to do better in all aspects!
A must try if you are in San Francisco!
Written October 10, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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A flourishing commercial area that acts as San Francisco's LGBT community center and cultural heart, the Castro is a neighbourhood welcome to everyone. As one of the first predominantly LGBT neighbourhoods in the United States and currently its largest, it remains one of the epicenters of activism in the nation. Grand theatres and glitzy shops now compete with bars and fashionable eateries for attention, drawing visitors from around the world to the bright rainbow flag acting as its beacon.
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