Sotto Mare

We very much enjoyed our shared crab cioppino dish. I was definitely enough for 2 people and absolutely delicious. Plenty of fresh bread and a bottle of wine made for an excellent meal. We sat at counter which was interesting as you had a view of everyone working very efficiently. Staff is very helpful and engaging. My wife very much enjoyed the meal and atmosphere at this establishment. Parking can be a challenge, but definitely worth a visit. Everything on menu looked delicious. Can be a Long wait line for a table. Inside and outdoors seating available.

Located in the heart of Little Italy, North Beach San Francisco. This is my favorite place for classic cioppino, fresh oysters and marinated Dungeness crab! They offer raw oysters either on the half shell or as shooters, west coast or east coast species with a spicy red sauce. Be sure to ask for their fresh horseradish. For starters, we also love their bay shrimp Louie salad, which is big enough to share with 2-3 people. I also recommend their marinaded, cold whole Dungeness crab, which comes in an olive oil, lemon garlic sauce. Be sure to order their marinaded”Best Damn Cioppino” , which is served in a large bowl: Dungeness crab, mussels, clams, squid, and scallops.

A lively North Beach restaurant with tradition and character. We got a table for two on a busy sunny Sunday noon with outdoor seating, very close to neighboring tables, but that's part of the atmosphere. The oyster plate was fresh and good; 12 oysters with minimal garnish (had to ask for extra lemon). The house cioppino was the standout: a generous, flavorful seafood stew that's clearly the dish to order here. Service was friendly, attentive, and efficient despite a full house. Good value for money. Recommended!

We came here to try the famous Cioppino, and it absolutely lived up to its reputation. The portion is very generous — officially for two people, but honestly perfect for sharing between three. The stew was incredibly flavorful: a rich, garlicky tomato broth packed with crab and seafood. Truly delicious and a must-try. We had the oysters as an appetizer. They were okay — fresh enough, but nothing special. Since there are so many great places in the city to eat amazing oysters, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend ordering them here. The service was friendly and attentive. We were seated downstairs in the cellar area, which is thematically decorated and actually quite charming. The restaurant was very busy upstairs, but still well-managed. Overall, highly recommended — especially for the Cioppino, which is absolutely worth coming here for.