Pizzeria Delfina (Italian), San Francisco, CA

The Italian pizzeria has finally found a home in the city of San Francisco. For years, the Bay Area has had an apparent trepidation towards traditional pizzerias of styles other than Cali-thin. Now, with major hotspots opening up in San Jose and Delfina's rise in The City, the scene seems to be finally changing. And what better restaurant than this is there to spearhead this growing movement? Pizzeria Delfina, with it's local flare and Napoletanian ideals, has become an instant classic in just a few short years of operation. After my first meal there, it received near-perfect marks with it's broad, yet simplistically themed menu containing dish after dish prepared to perfection.

A Funghi Misti combined with a Meyer lemon Aioli was my first impression after a plate of various marinated olives (a perfect starter) was scarfed down in seconds. And what a flawless first choice this platter of fungi was. The Chanterelles, Oysters and King's were bursting with various flavors and textures, only further accented by the aioli and light breading. This initial salvo of delight was quickly reinforced by two distinctly different pizzas - a Salsiccia and a Parma Pie.

The first -  with it's ideal crust, bell peppers, onions, and house-prepared fennel sausage - has to go down in the books as my favorite sausage-based creation. The second, though, was what I crave all the more. Again, a prime crust and crushed tomato sauce awaited the consumer, but what separated it came on top. The beautiful combination of proscuitto and arugula overwhelmed me in every good way possible. Each element - the meat, the greens, the sauce, and the dough - melded together to give me the best pizza experience of my life, only rivaled by that of Pizza Bocca Lupo in San Jose.

But, of course, the sortie was not yet finished. One last course remained: dessert. I ordered the coppa gelato with two flavors, Tahitian Vanilla Bean and Tcho Chocolate. This housemade, traditional gelato hit home. What seemed as a finale for Delfina affirmed it was only a beginning; this dish, and every other, convinced me that many a return trip would be of utmost necessity. Pizzeria Delfina has stolen my heart, and I never want it back.

La Villa Delicatessen (Italian), San Jose, CA

Located in the heart of Willow Glen, there resides a small, confined Italian shop. This family owned fixture has been a part of Willow Glen's diverse food scene for years. Many a Willow Glen resident has gorged themselves on La Villa's succulent sandwiches. These are not the feared breadwich by any means. Delicious deli meats and artisanal sausages are piled on any type of bread from French to rye.


La Villa's charm doesn't end there, of course. After all, each post should be at least a few hundred words. This restaurant/market has a wide array of heated dishes, including Italian favorites such as Ravioli, Lasagna, and Herbed Chicken. Then, to round off the prepared goods, anyone can purchase a homemade dessert from their rotating cooler and displays. Everything is reasonably priced, adding to the diner's attraction.


I did mention the market part, though, as well. In addition to a crack service team and hundreds of traditional, gourmet meal options, there is a fully stocked market just a foot or two away from the service counter. Anything your Mediterranean heart desires can be found on their shelves. Olives, wines, cheeses, crackers, pastas, candies and sodas grace the walls. Then, there's a high class deli that rivals the best independent meat factories around, containing dried and aged carnivorous delights.


I bet you thought La Villa's attractions ended there. Well, you were sadly mistaken. Shark's fans, wake up. This market/restaurant/deli doubles as a showcase for memorabilia dating from the HP team's first days to present. Autographed pucks, photographs, jerseys - yeah, they've got it all. The windows are covered in sticks, posters, and signs for Bay Area teams from the Sharks to the Giants. Yeah, La Villa really does have it all.

Original Joe's (American/Italian), San Jose, CA

O.J.'s and The Hi-Life are two of San Jose's oldest and most famous restaurants. This restaurant in particular has been a symbol of the higher end of South Bay fare for generations. I've dined at this restaurant since I was a little kid, and my parents ate here long before that. Heck, even my grandparents have tried it out. This restaurant runs in the family! The steaks and cuts of meat, such as the Prime Rib, are perfectly done. The salads are killer too, and the ravioli is the star of the meal.

Speaking of the ravioli, I think the plate deserves some special attention. Each Italian dumpling is crafted out of the finest dough and stuffed with delicious ground beef. Then it is coated in a succulent and beautifully made tomato sauce and sold as a side or as an entree. At Joe's, you see it at every table. But, of course, the five star dining experience doesn't end there. The pluses of this restaurant go straight down to the beautiful decor and the top class waiting service. What more could you ask for?

Original Joe's is a fixture in the often skimpy and watered down San Jose restaurant scene. Here, the short list of star eateries is just that - short. But for fifty plus years, Joe's has been near the top of that coveted list, maintaining it's spot on the peak of the South Bay restaurant scene with tasteful decorations, stellar service staff and great food.