2,465 reviews
#42 of 2,667 Restaurants in San Francisco$$ - $$$, Italian, Seafood, Gluten Free Options+1 415-398-3181+ Add websiteImprove this listing
Hours
Sun
11:30 AM - 9:00 PM
Mon
11:30 AM - 9:00 PM
Tue
11:30 AM - 9:00 PM
Wed
11:30 AM - 9:00 PM
Thu
11:30 AM - 9:00 PM
Fri
11:30 AM - 10:00 PM
Sat
11:30 AM - 10:00 PM
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
Travelers' Choice 2023
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Food and ambience
Local cuisine, Italian, Seafood, Gluten Free Options
“... and planning to come back again for more pasta and other kinds of dishes.”
“We had mussels, scallops, prawns, lobster ravioli, halibut, and clam chowder.”
“... stew with generous portion of crab, mussels, clams, shrimp, and scallops.”
“We had the Cioppino and Seafod pasta In a delicious white sauce.”
Menu
Appetizers
Oysters on Half Shell
West Coast
$2.00
East Coast
$3.00
Clam on Half Shell
$1.50
Cold Cracked Dungeness Crab
Available in Whole, Half
Richie's Marinated Cold Cracked Dungeness Crab
Available in Whole, Half
Oyster Shooter
West Coast
$3.00
East Coast
$4.00
Clam Shooter
$2.50
Does this restaurant serve Romagna food?
Details
PRICE RANGE
$20.00 – $25.00
CUISINES
Italian, Seafood
Special Diets
Gluten Free Options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Late Night
FEATURES
Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service
Contribute
4.5
2,465 reviews
Excellent
1,705
Very good
523
Average
141
Poor
46
Terrible
50
Julieanne H
Sacramento581 contributions
Nov 2021 • friends
Super great deal on nicely prepared seafood. The sauce is kind of like creativity but are a solid for appealing to the masses. I can't stress how much I appreciate the care that goes into not over cooking the seafood or vegetables. This is also one of the best deals you can get around town. The sea scallops are huge perfectly prepared and you get a whole plate of them with vegetables for $24 unheard of in the city! Cioppino is insane Filled with seafood and a great bye! The oysters are kind of basic and the small ones are super small but the price is right for the larger ones for sure! Beer and wine are inexpensive. The staff hustles like nobody's business. I love coming here and am a regular.
Written November 18, 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.
Darin
Longmont8 contributions
Mar 2022 • family
What an amazing experience. We cannot compliment this place enough! The food, the atmosphere and especially the service were all incredible.
We read about Sotto Mare while planning a visit to SF from Colorado. We love Italian cuisine and seafood. We didn’t have a reservation and it seemed like it might be tough to get in, but we decided to hustle over after our Alcatraz tour for and early dinner. The owner met us at the door and was very friendly and sat us immediately. We flew in really early that day and had a huge day of walking around the city and Alcatraz Island, so by the time we sat down we were worn out and starving. The server was so accommodating and brought us bread right away. She also took her time to explain some of the options we were not as familiar with. When we were uncertain about which bottle of wine we wanted, she brought us a taster of each, both were delicious and a decent deal at $35/bottle.
The food was incredible. We started with oysters. Our oldest had the seafood risotto. Our two youngest had seafood pasta (mussels, shrimp, calamari, scallops, etc). My wife and I split the cioppino and it was heavenly and more than enough.
Being in SF everything is pricey, but I can honestly say that I thought that for what we got that this place was a value. The prices were more than fair for the quality of the meal.
I highly recommend this place whether out for a date or with your family. Make a reservation or go early because it deservedly popular!
Written March 23, 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.
msbene
Knoxville110 contributions
Jul 2021 • family
We had a delicious dinner here on July 3rd. We had eaten here years ago and had the cioppino, which was amazing. This time we were upstairs which was much more lively as you can watch the cooks. Every time they started a new dish and the garlic hit the pan, it was heaven. The seafood risotto, crab diavolo, and fettuccine with seafood were all delicious. My son said the clam chowder was the best he had ever eaten.
The owner and his wife were running the front of house and they were incredibly friendly and engaging. He stopped to talk to us several times and could not have been nicer.
There was a long wait for those just coming through the door, but we had made reservations and were seated right away.
We had a wonderful meal and would highly recommend this restaurant.
Written July 13, 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.
dsprich
Fort Collins5 contributions
Jan 2020 • family
The linguine with seafood was so disappointing. The pasta was grossly overcooked, the cream sauce was overwhelming and the quality of seafood was mediocre. We had dined at Anchor Oyster Bar the day before and it was soooooo much better. Please go there instead.
Written January 5, 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.
NitoSoume
Berlin54 contributions
Feb 2020 • none
The Crab saved this review from one star.
The trademark of lazy kitchens is to precook and re-heat pasta telling the server to lie and claim it is al dente. It was pudding. Absolutely disgusting and over priced for what it was.
The Crab Diavlo is their specialty, and the crab was nice, garlicky spice etc.
However the majority of the dish is linguine that was vile. The server could see I was not eating it and she steered clear.
I did ask and they refused to cook it to order and give me a true al dente.
This place is best avoided.
p.s. do NOT order the iced tea, it is that nasty mix that comes from a gun.
Written February 29, 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.
sfoshila
San Francisco42 contributions
Nov 2022 • friends
I came with a reservation but had to wait 50 minutes. Being understaffed, I waited 25 minutes longer for a wait person to take our order who then promptly brought the food. The crab salad was only crab snd lettuce but good. Not like our local Dungeness crab, however. The other two had scallops and they were presented with vegetables in the side and were quite good. I doubt I’ll ever return because the front of house person rudely told me she squeezed me in and I should be grateful. Well, I didn’t realize waiting for long was supposed to be understood. We have lots of great seafood restaurants throughout San Francisco and I’ll look elsewhere to take our grandson.
Written November 26, 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.
Carla P
London90 contributions
Aug 2019 • none
This is one of my favourite restaurants in San Francisco and I try to visit at least once on my business trips to the city.
There is always a bit of wait but it's definitely worth the time! The oysters are super fresh (go for the oysters from the West Coast as they taste more fresh!) .. the pasta is also pretty good!
Friendly and prompt service and if you sit at the bar, you might get to chat to people next to you with awesome stories to share. I hope to come back soon!
Written February 23, 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.
Gailyn63
772 contributions
Oct 2021 • none
We have been coming here for years for the cioppino, as well as the $1.50 oysters. It’s a North Beach institution, recently featured in the Wall Street Journal as having the best cioppino in San Francisco. Don’t make the mistake of thinking one person can eat this. Definitely a dish for two. Why stop there? Get yourself some fresh $1.50 oysters and, perhaps, a Dungeness crab. It’s pretty hectic and crowded, with reservations only for parties of 4 or more, but worth the wait. Sit at the counter if you can. Enjoy!
Written October 8, 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.
Beth M
Livingston50 contributions
Nov 2021 • couples
We celebrated the first night of our 50th anniversary trip at Sotto Made, drawn in by their rating and drooling for the ciopino. In the center of North Beach, it's a quintessential Italian eatery, tight, loud, welcoming, with an enticing aroma of bread, sauce and wine. We were seated immediately at the bar where we could watch the kitchen action. The menu had lots that would have been great but we were after the ciopino, a steaming tureen of perfectly seasoned flavor contains dungeness crab, mussels, clams, bay scallops, shrimp, calamari and penne pasta. It exceeded expectations and was surely among our top 5 lifetime meals. The warm bread was as it should be and helped to sop up the last drops of sauce. The Sotto Mare bibs saved our shirts. Service made the experience fun and a manager delivered complimentary flutes of prosceco for us to celebrate each other. For rich seafood and authentic Italian ambiance, this is the place.
Written December 1, 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.
Klaudia K
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • couples
The place is full of chaos, cramped and noisy. The service runs around without a hitch. They throw cutlery and shout at each other. The food has little to do with Italian cuisine - the pasta sauce was completely tasteless, no seasoning. At the end, the woman serving us ran after us shouting down the street and demanding a huge tip, even though neither she nor the food deserved a cent. She started insulting us and calling us names, taking out her frustration with her dissatisfaction with her salary. She refused to return the card, threatening to add the tip herself. We have never experienced such poor service before! Absurd!
Written August 20, 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.
Kyle
11 contributions
Nov 2023 • couples
Great service, fun atmosphere, and some of the best seafood EVER!
We sat at the bar overlooking part of the kitchen and were entertained watching the prep and cooking process. We ordered a dozen oysters (fresh, delicious, and very reasonably priced) and Benito’s Baccala (a fish spread made from dried and salted cod) and both were amazing. For main course we got the “Best Damn Crab Cioppino”, which serves two, and it was beyond delicious. We absolutely loved it and were stuffed after finishing off the seafood stew with generous portion of crab, mussels, clams, shrimp, and scallops. It really is enough for two without appetizers - but I still didn’t regret ordering the oysters and baccala. We LOVED Sotto Mare and can’t wait to return!
Written November 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.
JawAZ
9 contributions
May 2022 • none
Wow! What a BIG disappointment. Don't know why this place gets all these great reviews. We ate in a basement: a cramped, smelly, low-ceilinged, stuffy, old, basement. Is there a fire marshal in San Francisco? Seriously, how would you get out if there was a kitchen fire? I'm not a safety freak or a priss. I love kitsch. I love fun places with good food and history. I love old school Italian. This is none of that. The low ceilings made the noise level unbearable; we couldn't even have table conversation. Two of our five meals had to go back, they were that bad. The other three were just ok. If you feel you need to dine here definitely sit upstairs or outside and stay away from the halibut.
Written May 23, 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.
Figgysocks
Chelmsford103 contributions
Sep 2022 • couples
This restaurant gets extremely busy which is great as it adds to the bustling atmosphere. Portions are large especially the shrimp Louis salad and the cioppino is superb! We sat at the end of the bar where the chefs were cooking and it was great to see them at work and made it look so easy. Waitress service is also very tentative. Highly recommended if you love seafood.
Written September 29, 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.
Watsson
Annapolis467 contributions
Oct 2022 • couples
I can’t in all honesty say that Sotto Mare’s is the best cioppino in San Francisco because I haven’t had cioppino in any other San Francisco restaurant. But I have had similar dishes on the east coast, in France and in Italy, and can say without qualm that Sotto Mare’s ranks among the best. It’s loaded with seafood — snow crab instead of Dungeness but we didn’t think that mattered — crammed into a broth that is too die for. With a carafe of wine, tax and tip the meal amounted to $100 well-spent. If you’re just a couple either go early or be prepared to wait. Reservations for 3 or more only.
Written October 21, 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.
Laura M
45 contributions
Feb 2022 • couples
We visited on a busy Friday night after being tipped off about the restaurant the day before by a local bartender.
There was an hour wait for a table, which he had warned us about, so we put our names down and grabbed a drink nearby while we waited.
It was packed inside and we were seated at the counter - the perfect spot to watch the chefs at work! The food coming out looked fantastic and smelled incredible.
We were not disappointed. We had starters of smoked salmon and crab, and mains of lobster ravioli and salmon pasta. All absolutely delicious and generous portions.
Worth the wait - would return and would highly recommend for seafood lovers.
Written February 22, 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.
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