Visited Sotto Mare for the famous cioppino and it didn't disappoint! For starters, every single table ordered cioppino when we went for Saturday. They hand out bibs for the dish so it was funny to see the restaurant full of customers in their bibs. The cioppino is $55 for two and it definitely is a large portion size! It comes with large shrimp, small shrimp, mussels, clams, squid, small scallops and crab as well as penne pasta. There's a side of bread that is great for dipping in the broth. We also ordered west coast oysters and clams on the half shell. The oysters were really large and I personally would've preferred smaller ones that are less fishy. I also thought the clams could've been removed from the shell better so they would be easier to eat. We sat at the bar and it was fun to see the chefs chuck oysters and sauté seafood. All in all, it was a great dining experience. The food came very fast, the waitress was nice and I'm glad I can check off cioppino from my S.F. bucket list!

***SEAFOOD ONLY*** I'm still going to give this a place a 5 Stars review, after getting through the headache of trying make a reservation on the phone, being put on hold for 30 minutes and still didn't talked to anyone. Luckily, I was in the City anyways, so I went by there and made the reservation in person. They only take reservations for 3 or more. If you are going to go, go early. They open at 11:30AM, We got there at 11:00 and there was already a line waiting. OH YES!!!! If you are wondering the food is ABSOLUTELY worth it!!!! Everything we had was great, fresh, and tasty. Can't go wrong with this place. Very reasonable prices, I was surprised because this is in the heart of the tourist area. 3 Couples, $150 per with tips!! We each had an entree, one bowl of their Cioppino, a couple of appetizers and drinks. Also surprised that their entree are good size portions. Appetizers, we had fresh oysters and prawns cocktails, both were fresh. Entrees: (2) Halibut with Lemon Caper Butter Sauce, fish grilled perfectly. The sauce went great with the fish and the spinach good. Linguine with Manila Clams and white cream sauce was very good and came with LOTS of clams. Wild Caught Prawns with with Lemon Caper Butter Sauce and Spinach was great, prawns grill to a perfect crisp. Linguine with Seafood and white cream sauce was very good and came with lots of clams, mussels, shrimps and calamaris. Risotto with Seafood came with lots of clams, mussels, shrimps, scallops, and calamaris. Cioppino with lots of seafood!!! Enough to shared with the group!!! All of the entrees were made perfectly!!! It is a must stop if you like Italian Seafood.

Went back today and enjoyed lunch, got there right at opening and the whole restaurant was packed by noon. Opens at 11:30am. This time, we only ordered the cioppino for the two of us and we still had some leftovers to take home! I'd say the big bowl of cioppino can actually be shared amongst four people for a light-moderate size dinner. 1 1/2 cup (1 bowl) of cioppino for 4. The cioppino has a good amount of sauce. There's plenty of crab legs (6-8?) and various seafood, but also a good amount of sauce/soup liquid. Enjoy the sourdough bread and butter to dip in the sauce, yum-o. The portion size of the other dishes are also large! Plan to share and under order! Service is still absolutely wonderful!

Sotto Mare in North Beach is my go-to spot for bringing friends who are visiting. During our recent visit, I made a reservation for a party of six, and we enjoyed a seafood feast. Oysters and Clams: Fresh and briny, the perfect start to our meal. Clam Chowder: Creamy, hearty, and loaded with tender clams, it's a must-try. Best Damn Crab Cioppino: Rich, hearty, and packed with crab, it lives up to its name. Grilled Sand Dabs: Delicately grilled to perfection, a delightful dish. Risotto with Seafood: Creamy and flavorful, loaded with fresh seafood. Linguine with Manila Clams: Perfectly cooked pasta with tender clams in a savory sauce. Sotto Mare consistently delivers exceptional seafood dishes, making it a must-visit for anyone in the city. Just be aware that parking can be difficult, so plan accordingly!

Solid food and service! Had an early dinner reservation and was told that the whole party had to show up before being seated. After 3/4 of the people were at the restaurant, the server ended up seating us anyway instead of waiting for the fourth person. We were seated outside in the wooden booths they have on the street (rather than in the tables set up on the sidewalk). I actually liked this option because it semi private (just a bit of street noise) and roomier than sitting on the inside (looked packed in there). I got the smoked salmon fettuccine which was REALLY tasty. The salmon tasted very fresh, and it was even good the next day as left overs. I would order it again. Server was very attentive and didn't feel like it was difficult to get service despite sitting outside.

Sotto Mare is an absolute gem in the heart of San Francisco. From the moment you walk in, the personal touch in their service is evident. The staff goes above and beyond to make you feel like part of their family, providing an experience that is both warm and welcoming. Ambiance is on point ! The cioppino is nothing short of amazing, a true testament to authentic San Francisco cuisine. The rich, flavorful broth is packed with fresh seafood, making every bite a delight. And don't even get me started on the scallops--they are to die for! Perfectly seared and tender, they melt in your mouth and leave you craving more. Sotto Mare offers an unforgettable dining experience that combines exceptional service with mouthwatering dishes. It's a must-visit for anyone looking to enjoy the best of what San Francisco has to offer.

Sotto Mare has always been on my bucket list since I've made my little Bookmark list for SF. Located in Little Italy, it's on a charming street with a decent night life. We were waiting outside during a Warriors game back in February and it was so fun to watch a good game with the Bay Area locals being a Warriors fan myself. The wait can be long, and we did make a reservation pretty last minute, but we didn't mind waiting since we were already there. I devoured my pasta. It was the perfect consistency. Sometimes white sauces can be too creamy or too watery, but this was perfect. I think about this dish a lot. The clam serving was very generous as well. The crab cioppino was delicious and you definitely could share between 2-3 people! Hands down would recommend Sotto Marre. If you don't mind sitting outside, the outdoor seating is perfectly fine! We were in SF in February and it was a little chilly, but when you're sitting and eating, it was totally fine.