Panta Rei

11/13/2007 Posted by ibsonia

Panta Rei has the best representation, presentation, and quality that I have ever experienced. Hands down the best Itallian food and service. I recommend this restuarant to anyone who enjoys high quality food, wine, good music, and over the top service. The Tiramisu is the BEST!!

Pros: A Place for Anyone to Enjoy!

Cons: I wish there was one in San Diego

09/30/2007 Posted by matthadoll

I can't say enough great things about this restaurant! Very crowded for Saturday dinner, and very lively. I noticed that some people gave negative reviews for that sort of atmosphere, I on the other hand, enjoyed it. Many of the service members are actually Italian, including the cute hostess. It was a little difficult to get in on Saturday night, but definitely worth the wait. Atmosphere was very much like a trendy Italian restaurant on Ostiense or near Ponte Milvio in Rome. The food was delicious and amazing! Haven't had such authentic Italian cuisine since I've been back. Even though they were bursting at the seams busy, the restaurant still allowed me a custom order for my favourite dish - Penne al arrabiata. It tasted just like a homespun trattoria in Rome! They have a good mix of "Americanized Italian" food, as well as some very surprising authentic choices like the Fettuccine Cinghiale (boar). I read a few of the negative reviews: Don't pay attention to them! The food and experience of this restaurant is fabulous and exactly like the newer hip restaurants in Italy! So many of the other places in No. Beach just staff their restaurants with Hispanic people and call themselves authentic Italian. So disappointing! The pasta is fresh al dente, that does NOT mean undercooked like soggy-melts-in-your-mouth-American pasta. The waiters will not dote on you and interrupt your meal every freaking five minutes to ask if you need another inch of water, if you'll absolutely die cause you don't have a lemon wedge perfectly perched on your glass, or give you cheesy grins and ask you (for the umpteenth time) if everything is alright. Uninterrupted meals are more valued in Italy than in the States, I suppose. Yes, that is olive oil drizzled on your bruschetta and pasta... Italians pour it on everything, deal with it. It's not grease, and your health will probably struggle more with margarine than olive oil.

Pros: Non-encroaching wait-staff, actual Italians in North Beach, delicious food

Cons: Difficult to park.

06/20/2007 Posted by josechan

If your looking for a good ladies night out location, this is one for you. I have been there a few times now, and every time, we are always seated promptly even though it may seemed packed from the outside. Once seated, the bruscetta is amazing, try it! All their pasta is homemade and you can definitely taste the difference. Try the salmon ravioli, it seems like a different mixture of flavors, but they end up being incredible! (that's my favorite dish) They have a good wine selection of moderately priced wines, which is nice, so you can enjoy the wine and not worry about breaking the bank. And lastly, the main reason why this is a great destination restaurant for ladies night out, the male servers are pretty nice to look at!

05/18/2007 Posted by liz41590

My friend and I discovered this restaurant about 2 years ago when we were parousing through San Francisco's North Beach area. The gnocci is to die for, the calzones are the size of your head, and just about anything will please even the pickiest eaters appetite.This restaurant has a great ambiance, and the food is outstanding. If you are looking for a romantic, delicious place to eat, I would deffinatley reccomend this restaurant.

Cons: Parking is a little hard to find on the street, but there is a parking garage up the street where you can usually find a spot.

05/11/2007 Posted by jwest282

I'm a Panta Rei regular, addicted to the Calzone. It seriously is the best I've ever had and I travel to New York on a regular basis. I've had a few other dishes on the menu, they were good but for me it's all about the Calzone. Great wine selection, great atmosphere and people watching. Outside seating with heater available (but it is on a busy street, right by the bus stop). Service can be great or lacking depending on who's servicing you. Seems like the waitresses have their act together while the waiters are too busy dancing, singing and goofing off to take their jobs seriously.

Pros: Great food, overall great restaurant

Cons: Waiters can be slackers

05/01/2007 Posted by angelayi326

Went here for a casual company dinner with our boss and some coworkers. Had an amazing time in good company, which included our company staff and the entire staff at Panta Rei. Since we all got to share a taste of each other's dinners, I can honestly say that their menu is awesome. The music and ambience was great (yay for house music!), the wine was delicious, and the waitstaff were all so sweet and friendly. Service was quick and efficient but they don't rush you, even at their busiest. Also, best tiramisu I've ever had in my life! I definitely will be coming back here often.

05/01/2007 Posted by divaliciousxo12

I'm really picky about Italian food, especially in tourist-y North Beach, but our boss chose Panta Rei for our monthly dinner/drinks night. Not only was the waitstaff attentive and VERY friendly, but the food was amazing. Every bottle of wine was perfectly paired with our meals and the tiramisu dessert was to die for. Praises also go to Ashley, who single-handedly bartended the entire restaurant with quick and efficient hands, good energy, and a smile. The night was definitely one to remember...despite going through about 5 bottles of wine among 10 people.

Pros: friendly & quick waitstaff, delicious food & wine, great music

Cons: none

04/06/2007 Posted by nblocal

After trying a number of other North Beach Italian joints, we finally landed at Panta Rei. Despite being in a far corner of the restaurant next to only one other table, the place was SO LOUD the two of us had to shout to hear each other. (And this was a weekday evening. I can only assume we would've been reduced to smiling and nodding on a Saturday night.) My boyfriend's pizza was great - second only to Tommaso's (and he pretty much orders pizza everywhere we go). My pasta was fine, but only that. Far better than typical Italian chains, but didn't stack up to what I've experienced elsewhere very nearby (e.g. L'Osteria del Forno, Trattoria Pinocchio, Cafe Delucchi). Same story with the tiramisu - decent, but not outstanding. Despite the pizza, we won't be returning here any time soon. That said, if you are looking for more of a bar-type atmosphere and don't care as much about quality, this place may be for you.

Pros: pizza

Cons: loud! average food otherwise.

03/05/2007 Posted by bombasaur

I happen to stumble onto this place while have a stroll around north beach. what a pleasant suprise! Not only was the food delicious but the service was great too. Giuseppe, our waiter was very delightful and attentive even though he was very busy. He was very charming to the ladies, but I never felt as if he paid more attention to them. The mussel and clam appetizer was great as well as the daily special of seared sea bass and prawns. The wine was very affordable and quite good as well. I would definately come back to Panta Rei.

Pros: Great service

Cons: Can get crowded

02/03/2007 Posted by vivawhipp

Loud and very Euro, cute Italian waiters, good food...it reminded me of a Rome restaurant. I had the fetuccine and cinghiale (wild boar), it was delicious; they said they flew the meat in from Italy. Best of all, I was able to practice my Italian with the waiters; a (surprisingly) rare treat in North Beach.

Pros: Cute Italian waiters, good food

Cons: Loud