Among the mediocre, touristic restaurants that line Columbus Avenue in North Beach, there is a genuinely good place that serves delicious, authentic northern Italian food: L'Osteria Del Forno. It is eccentric: It's tiny, it doesn't take reservations, it's cash only, and it specializes in dishes cooked in its oven (forno), so there are very few pastas on the menu. But the panini (we love the one stuffed with roasted pork), pizzas, and oven-roasted meats are sublime -- and inexpensive.
Price: $,$$
Payment Type: cash
Parking: Street
Reservations: Not Accepted
Attire: Casual
Extra Info: Parking: difficult. Muni: 15, 30, 41.
