Molinari Deli in San Francisco, California: Restaurant Review

Molinari Delicatessen is an old school Italian deli in San Francisco's North Beach, down Columbus towards the Financial District. It's a little piece left over of the old Italian flavor of the neighborhood, serving up mostly sandwiches these days, but also supplying a small selection of meats, cheeses, pastas and various groceries suited to preparing Italian meals.

The specialty sandwiches of the house are the North Beach Special, a combination of prosciutto with provolone cheese, sweet bell peppers and dried tomatoes, and the Renzo Special, a combination of salami and prosciutto with provolone. Just about any other meat option on the menu is good stuff though - pastrami, turkey, eggplant parmesan, chicken breast, ham and the garlic basil spread works well on any of the above for a unique zing. Sandwich prices generally run between $7.50 and $9.00, which may sound high, but these sandwiches are absolutely huge and are a meal unto themselves (two average appetites can split one.) The quality is also markedly above that of Quiznos, Subway and other cheapo sandwich options. The place is usually busy, however, due to the local popularity - it is definitely not a secret location! For newcomers, the process of ordering is to first take a ticket upon entry (in old-school deli style), then when your number is called you first select a roll from the selection at the counter, which is then used to prepare your sandwich. All sandwiches are made by default without any condiments, so be sure to specify if you want any mustard, mayo, lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, pepperoncini and soforth. Or you can just say "everything" for all of the above. Toasting the sandwich is also an option if you care for it. Other items on the menu worth checking out - provided you are on the way home and can throw them in the fridge - are the ravioli, tortellini, Italian sausage, cured salami, mortadella, olive oil, fine cheeses, and a limited selection of nice complimentary wines.

The place is best to check out either when heading back to the office or the hotel, or on the way to a picnic out in the park, because there's very little in the way of seating to eat in. There's also the problem of parking in North Beach, which is next to impossible. Find a way to get here if you like Italian food though, it is a must.

Molinari Deli
373 Columbus Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94133
# 415-421-2337