Cesario’s @ San Francisco (2024)

Coming to this restaurant is like visiting an old friend. The taste is familiar and the people are friendly.

Cesario’s has been serving excellent, affordable Italian food at this quiet corner of Union Square since 1998. The space is small, which gives a nice cozy feeling because of the Italian decor, including interesting shaped and extra large wine bottles.

I came here with Princess before the pandemic, and was impressed by the quality Italian cuisine I got for the price. Fast forward to 2024, I came with Darling as we were staying in a nearby hotel.

Prosciutto di Parma & Melon Salad

mixed greens, parmesan, extra virgin olive oil, vinegar

You know prosciutto as dry-cured, thinly-sliced pork that tastes nicely salty. Prosciutto is the Italian word for ham. As the literal meaning of prosciutto di Parma (ham from Parma) implies, Parma ham is a type of prosciutto that comes from the Parma region. Surprising something so salty pairs so well with something sweet like these melons.

Steamed Clams & Mussels

Italian parsley, garlic, lemon, white wine

A very simple steamed clams and mussels with white wine, this dish only needs the freshest of these shellfish to be successful.

Minestrone

This favourite Italian soup is made with fresh seasonal vegetables, often with the addition of pasta or rice. This vegetarian minestrone soup is slightly acidic from the tomatoes, a little peppery from the olive oil, and herbal from the parsley, basil, rosemary, and bay leaf. The beans and pasta provide earthy base notes.

Soup of the Day – Butternut Squash

Although many consider pumpkins and squash to be the same, and use the names interchangeably, asides from the obvious difference in their shapes (pumpkins are round flattened balls, butternut squash have a longish neck and bulbous bottom), there are some other notable differences between them. In the kitchen the pumpkin is tougher, both skin and flesh. The butternut squash is also much softer and sweeter and can be easily mistaken for a sweet potato in both taste and texture. Having said all that, this soup was for Darling as I am not a fan of pumpkin nor squash.

Penne Bolognese

veal & beef sauce, mushrooms, scallions, marinara sauce

Bolognese sauce, known in Italian as ragù alla bolognese or ragù bolognese is a meat-based sauce in Italian cuisine, typical of the city of Bologna. I usually have it with spaghetti, but it works with penne too. This slow-cooked meat sauce is almost entirely composed of meat, with just a small amount of wine, stock, tomato, and dairy to bind it together. The portion was large enough for two of us to share.

Great neighbourhood gem. Good food and service. Cesario’s is totally underrated. The menu selection is great and the atmosphere is a nice hometown Italian feel. Cozy and not too busy.

Cesario’s Restaurant
601 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94102, United States
Tel : +1 415-441-9898 (Reservations)

Visited Dec 2024