Would it surprise you to know the oldest Italian restaurant in California is located in San Francisco? Fior d’Italia opened in 1886. The restaurant’s name means, “flower of Italy”. Over the decades, the restaurant has changed ownership and even briefly closed for about 6 months in 2012. Despite the brief changes and closing, customers keep coming back for the excellent food, atmosphere, and service.
Ristorante Fior d’Italia not only has the distinction of being the oldest Italian restaurant in California; it’s also the oldest Italian restaurant in the United States.
Pretty impressive considering all of the Italian restaurants on the east coast, which was developed much earlier than California. Fior d’Italia can attribute its success and longevity to several factors: its quality food, consistency, and location in San Francisco.
Fior d’Italia is not just a restaurant but part of San Francisco’s history. The original building where the restaurant was located burned down in 1893. The second location was destroyed in the earthquake and fire of 1906. Fior d’Italia has changed locations several times throughout the decades.
Today the restaurant is located on Mason Street, in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood, where you’ll find "Little Italy".
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There are many cuisines within Italy. Fior d’Italia’s menu has always skewed toward more Northern Italian cuisine, with dishes like veal scaloppine and rigatoncini San Remo.
They also serve other Italian classics like bucatini amantriciana, gnocchi alla Piemontese, and coniglio ai funghi con polenta. Customer favorites include the osso bucco and calamari.
They have a full bar and a cocktail menu with creative Italian-inspired drinks, as well as wine.
Fior d’Italia’s has an inviting, old-school elegance. In San Francisco’s incredible foodie scene, it’s refreshing to see something that hasn’t changed to fit trends.
They make classic Italian food well and have stuck with that formula.
If you want to enjoy a good Italian meal with live music, make a reservation for Sunday afternoon when the North Beach Rhythm Jazz Band performs from 1:30-4:30 p.m.
The restaurant is open Monday through Friday for dinner from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Daily Happy Hour is from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
If you have a reservation, remember to arrive early to find parking if you’re driving into the city. Otherwise, taking BART from outside of the city and walking to the restaurant is also a good way to get around and not worry about parking.
Fior d’Italia is a great place to celebrate something special, like a birthday, anniversary, or special occasion. Have you been to any restaurants or bars that are the oldest in your city, state, or the U.S.?
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