L’Osteria Del Forno

L'Osteria Del Forno
519 Columbus Ave ( Union/Green), 982-1124
Closed Tues. Sun, Mon, Wed, Thurs, 11:30am-10pm, Fri-Sat to 10:30pm. No credit cards or checks, CASH ONLY.

This very small (28 seats) Italian restaurant in North Beach, was established in 1990 by two Italian women from Varese and Bologna. They are still packing them in every night with their eclectic Italian cooking and affordable prices. The menu ranges from divine pizzas, foccacio-bread sandwiches – claimed to be the best in the City – specialty salads, roasts etc. Prices are classically “affordable”.

Salads & Antipasti, served with their own-baked foccacio bread – baked tomatoes stuffed with bread crumbs, garlic, Italian parsley, olive oil $4, mixed salad of butter lettuce, eadicchio, red onions, olive oil $4.50, rustical salad of tuna, white beans, celery, oregano, olive oil, balsamic vinegar $5, tomato salad with French feta cheese, basil, olive oil, balsamic vinegar $5, air-cured beef thinly-sliced, porcini mushrooms, white truffle olive oil $7, smoked prosciutto, white beans, arugula, parmesan cheese $7.50, raw salmon filet thinly-sliced, sweet pepper, chives, olive oil, lemon juice $7.50.

Warm dishes, served with foccacio -- gorgonzola or gruyere cheese cooked over organic polenta $7, penne pasta baked in bolognese-bechamel sauce $9. skewered tiger prawns lightly breaded, parsley. garlic, served with mixed salad $9, skewered lamb marinated in ginger, rosemary, garlic, roast potatoes & mixed salad $11, roast of the day, with roast potatoes or mixed salad $10.

Soups (specialty). Minestrone vegetable soup with organic brown rice, white beans, potatoes, Swiss chard, sweet potatoes, onions, celery, carrots & parmesan rind (for flavor) $4.50, artichoke soup with potatoes & leeks $4.50, pasta & fagioli soup, with beans, potatoes onions, basil, prosciutto (for flavor) $4.50, fava bean soup, with potatoes, onions, bay leaf, dandelion (100% vegetarian) $4.50.

Daily specials. Roasted fennel & carrots, served with parmesan $4.50, roasted Belgian endive $4.50, cauliflower, served with saffron bechamel, & parmesan cheese $5.50, asparagus, roasted, served with hard-boiled egg & shaved parmesan cheese, olive oil, balsamic vinegar $6.50, gnocchi, served with organic tomatoes, basil sauce $8, ravioli filled with ricotta cheese & spinach, almond flavor (old Italian recipe) $12, Cornish hen roasted with white wine, herbs, pancetta (Italian sweet bacon), served with arugula salad $10, filet mignon, $14.

Foccacini (sandwiches in flat bread with rosemary & sea salt). tuna, celery, anchovies $5, mozzarella, tomatoes, olive oil $5.50, ham, imported Swiss cheese, olive paste, tomatoes $6, prosciutto, porcini mushrooms, mozzarella, $6.50, grilled Italian bacon, vegetable spread, tomatoes $6.50.

Pizza (thin crust). Slices, 12” (for 2), 17” (for 3). With mozzarella & tomato sauce $2.50/$10.00/14.00, . Italian dry salami, mozzarella, tomato sauce $3.00/11.00/15.00, with artichoke hearts, mozzarella, tomato paste 3.25/12.00/16.00, vegetarian with mushrooms, onions, zucchini, mozzarella, tomato sauce $3.75/ 13.00/17.00. Also, two kinds of pizza bianca (without tomato sauce) -- $3.75/3.00/17.00.

Desserts. All $4.00 – creme caramel, chocolate mousse, tiramisu, espresso ice cream with chocolate cookies.

Beer, wine. Domestic beer $2.50 bottle, imports $3.00. Wine, eight choices, all Italian, $18-21 bottle. Corkage $10.