The Oldest Italian Restaurant In America Is A West Coast Gem Renowned For Culinary Excellence

When you think of old-world dining, images of white tablecloths, mahogany tables, waiters in formal attire, and black and white photos of beloved family members lining the walls come to mind. Fior d'Italia, located in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco — a great city for food lovers to add to their bucket list – claims to be the oldest Italian restaurant in the United States, first opening its doors in 1886. However, because Fior d'Italia went through several buildings (due to fire and earthquake, for example) and then closed temporarily in 2012 before reopening under new ownership, this claim is often disputed by another Italian eatery, Ralph's Italian Restaurant in Philadelphia, which opened in 1900. Either way, it's safe to say that Fior d'Italia is one of the oldest Italian restaurants in the U.S., and one with a great reputation for culinary excellence. It can sometimes be hard to find the best restaurants while traveling in a new city, but if you find yourself in Northern California, be sure to visit this gem.

Fior d'Italia, which means "flower of Italy," remains a classic Italian restaurant, now housed on the ground floor of the San Remo Hotel. The menu features a fine selection of Northern Italian dishes that will tantalize your tastebuds with scrumptious veal, steak, seafood, chicken, pasta, and risotto. Start your meal with a hearty hot or cold appetizer, like their oysters on the half shell or prawns wrapped in pancetta. Dee-lish! Warm up with a bowl of their savory minestrone soup. Or choose something from the garden, such as a Caesar salad or salad and bruschetta combo.

Deciding on which entree to order at Fior d'Italia might be challenging because everything looks so good. Pastas are made fresh in their kitchen every day. Try their fettuccine Alfredo, which is rich and creamy. For a taste of something different, try their ravioli stuffed with pumpkin, amaretti, and mustard fruit. They even have a secret menu, featuring a Tri Colore pasta with tomato gnocchi, Alfredo tortellini, and pesto rigatoni. Carnivores will want to devour their Florentine porterhouse steak, grilled to perfection and big enough to be shared by two. Or try their broiled veal chop with a mushroom cream sauce. The vegetarians in your party will love their eggplant parmigiana. Finish your meal by indulging in a sweet dessert, like the ricotta cake with berry sauce, velvet chocolate mousse, tiramisu, or simple biscotti for something lighter. Their wine list is extraordinary, with house wines from Francis Ford Coppola, and other vintages from Napa Valley, Italy, France, and Spain. 

For a bit of old-world ambience, Fior d'Italia offers live music from the North Beach Rhythm Jazz Band on Sunday afternoons, and Mack Trout on piano on Thursday and Friday evenings. Midday is often the best time to dine in fancy restaurants when traveling, and at Fior, you can join their Happy Hour, Mondays through Fridays from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and enjoy cocktails like an Aperol spritz or an espresso martini. Accompany your beverages with a full selection of small plates, like the yummy bar meatballs or bruschetta to whet your appetite for more. Bon appétit!