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Palio Overhead Creditkristenloken - Palio, San Francisco, CA

Palio

4.7
4.7
1497 Reviews
$31 to $50
Italian

Make a reservation

2 people
7:30 PM
  • Good for business meals
  • Good for groups
  • Good for special occasions
Voted "2018 Best Overall Restaurant" by SF Bay Guardian readers, Palio is a favorite of downtown denizens looking for the perfect spot to make a deal, travelers who appreciate Michelin rated comfortable dining, and anyone seeking an exceptional group dining or private party venue. A place where historic techniques blend with a contemporary approach, and Michelin rated "comfortable" service personally overseen daily by owner Martino Di Grande.

Palio’s menu (including gluten free and heart healthy options) is a veritable culinary tour of Italy; emphasizing the cooking of different regions as the seasons change. Palio's menu utilizes organic produce from small, local farms as well as sustainable agriculture and aquaculture. The Wine Spectator award winning list has always been exceptional, including a wide range of Italian varietals and California offerings. Full bar.

Order delivery or takeout

Private dining

Private dining

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Additional information

  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Pizzeria, Cocktail Bar
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30 am–2:30 pm Dinner Mon–Fri 2:30 pm–8:00 pm Sat 5:00 pm–8:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (415) 395-9800
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive chef
    Mauricio Martinez
  • Catering
    Considered by many to be one of San Francisco’s best private dining venues, Palio is elegant and timeless, yet approachable and “green”. Palio offers 3 totally private party rooms and semi-private areas that can easily accommodate for groups of 20 to 300 for lunch, all day meetings, cocktail receptions, and dinner.
  • Private party facilities
    Since 1990, Palio has thrived as San Francisco’s favorite downtown Italian Restaurant by offering a seasonally changing menu, professional European service, a Wine Spectator recognized wine list and a premium full bar. Private Dining Options for groups of 8-250.
  • Private party contact
    Valeria DiGrande: (415) 395-9800
  • Neighborhood
    Financial District / Embarcadero
  • Cross street
    Montgomery/Sacramento
  • Parking details
    Free street parking after 6PM on the South side of Sacramento St. and after 7PM on the north side of Sacramento St. Free street parking on Saturday evenings.
  • Public transit
    By bus on the #1 California Line Only one block from the California St. cable car stop at California and Kearny 5 level blocks (no hills) from Montgomery St. Bart and Muni Station
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 1,497 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.3Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Palio is a beloved San Francisco gem known for its "best pizza in town" and "incredibly delicious food." The ambiance is both elegant and welcoming, making it perfect for business meetings or romantic dinners. Guests rave about the "exceptional service" and "homemade pastas." A must-visit for Italian cuisine enthusiasts!

1,497 Reviews
  1. Stacey

    New York City

    21 reviews

    3.0

    21 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    The ambiance is very nice and the waitstaff is friendly. Biggest issue with waitstaff was that they forgot to bring our appetizer, also they couldn’t make any pizzas even though much of their menu is pizza. Disappointing. The food was tasty but $36 for a simple pasta dish was very costly. Not worth the price at all.

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  2. Leila

    Sydney

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Lovely restaurant with delicious Italian food. Daily specials keep the menu fresh and new. Service is impeccable. We were made to feel special and very well cared for. Highly recommended.

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  3. Debbie

    Central Coast

    38 reviews

    5.0

    38 reviews

    Dined on December 18, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I’ve been going to Palio for nearly 20 years and the food is consistently excellent. I have never, NEVER had a bad meal here. The service is attentive, warm, personable…you feel as if you are a valued guest every time you dine there. This is a place where you can actually have a dinner conversation without screaming at the top of your lungs. Wait staff have been there for years which makes Palio fee like a close knit family. Favorite dishes: Fritto misto (can’t go wrong!), branzino, spaghetti with Dungeness crab, any of the pizzas!

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  4. Leslie

    San Francisco

    37 reviews

    5.0

    37 reviews

    Dined on December 16, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Consistently great food, staff, service and specials.

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  5. Brian

    VIP

    Phoenix

    14 reviews

    5.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on December 5, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Palio is one of favorite go-to’s in San Francisco. The wild boar ragu is absolutely delicious as is the Tuscan salad. The owner/host is warm and engaged in making sure the culinary experience is amazing.

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  6. Gayle

    VIP

    San Francisco

    11 reviews

    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on November 13, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always a great experience at Palio. Great staff, food, service and ambiance. Wish I could walk to it from home so I could eat there every week.

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  7. Narek

    Los Angeles

    3 reviews

    2.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on October 31, 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    The food was mediocre and bland. Nothing really inspiring and the staff wasn't helpful with answering questions about the dishes. Service was okay, and it was quiet. Overall, it's a 2-3 star experience. Shame because I was looking forward to it too.

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  8. James

    San Francisco

    30 reviews

    5.0

    30 reviews

    Dined on October 23, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Palio has been around a long time and remains a decent lunch venue for business related meals. Portions are sized right and the quality of the is decent but not extraordinary.

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  9. Jessica

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 23, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    We had a group of 8 and enjoyed the food and experience. It was easy to talk which was nice.

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  10. nancy

    New York City

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on September 26, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Very attentive waiters, manager, bussing staff. Good pizza. Tender cinghiale bolognese

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FAQs

Palio offers delivery in partnership with Postmates. Palio also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (415) 395-9800.

Palio is rated 4.7 stars by 1497 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:30 PM

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Palio

640 Sacramento Street, San Francisco, CA 94111

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Montgomery/Sacramento
  • Neighborhood
    Financial District / Embarcadero
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30 am–2:30 pm Dinner Mon–Fri 2:30 pm–8:00 pm Sat 5:00 pm–8:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Pizzeria, Cocktail Bar
  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Free street parking after 6PM on the South side of Sacramento St. and after 7PM on the north side of Sacramento St. Free street parking on Saturday evenings.
  • Public transit
    By bus on the #1 California Line Only one block from the California St. cable car stop at California and Kearny 5 level blocks (no hills) from Montgomery St. Bart and Muni Station
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Mauricio Martinez
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (415) 395-9800
  • Catering
    Considered by many to be one of San Francisco’s best private dining venues, Palio is elegant and timeless, yet approachable and “green”. Palio offers 3 totally private party rooms and semi-private areas that can easily accommodate for groups of 20 to 300 for lunch, all day meetings, cocktail receptions, and dinner.
  • Private party facilities
    Since 1990, Palio has thrived as San Francisco’s favorite downtown Italian Restaurant by offering a seasonally changing menu, professional European service, a Wine Spectator recognized wine list and a premium full bar. Private Dining Options for groups of 8-250.
  • Private party contact
    Valeria DiGrande: (415) 395-9800
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