Gialina is my favorite pizza in SF. It is thin-crust, Italian-style perfection. The restaurant is cozy; the staff, friendly and attentive. Diners often eye dishes at the next table, interact and make mutual recommendations. There is usually a wait, so if you’re an off-hours eater like me, it’s best to arrive when they first open to score a table.

The menu which changes daily, features a pizzas with fresh local and interesting ingredients. Wild nettles, dandelion greens, egg, figs, heirloom tomatoes, speck? Yes, please!

They also have great sharable salads and small plates to start off with. I love the seasonal farro salad with butternut squash sometimes featured in autumn. The menu also features a daily roast meat option, but I can never seem to pull my heart away from the pizza.

The wine list features a selection of reasonably priced Italian wines. The staff is very knowledgeable and makes great recommendations. If you’re having trouble deciding, they’ve been known to offer a sample or two to assist in your selection.

There are many tasty desert selections. My favorite is the affogoto: two little scoops of ice cream and a double espresso poured on top. It’s the perfect jolt of caffeine and sugar. They also feature a handful of nightly ice cream selections from Bi-Rite Creamery. No line waiting required.