Molinari Delicatessen

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An absolute San Francisco institution! You can’t say you’ve truly experienced North Beach without a stop at Molinari Delicatessen. Stepping inside this legendary shop on Columbus Ave feels like being transported straight to a classic Italian deli in New York or Naples. The Food: The sandwiches are massive and use the highest quality meats and cheeses. The North Beach Special is a masterpiece, but you really can't go wrong with the Renzo Special or the Luciano Special. The Bread: It’s all about the crunch! Grab your own bread from the bin at the back before heading to the counter—the Dutch Crunch and sourdough are iconic. The Goods: Beyond sandwiches, it’s a foodie paradise stocked with imported olive oils, house-made pastas, and a deli case full of incredible cured meats. The Vib

Authentic Italian delicacy Deli! Amazing sandwiches with a wide selection of deli meats and ham as well as cheese and pickled vegetables and salads. Very neatly organized and friendly service. Would definitely stop by again to grab a bite when exploring the neighborhood.

Vising SF and had to try the sandwich. I waited for 30-40 minutes. Good thing that I got to chat with a nice woman behind me so the wait felt quick. I got the Lucca Special. It was really delicious. For the price of $16.25, it is a huge sandwich and totally worth it. Highly recommend!

I bought 2 sandwiches a turkey basil sandwich with fresh mozzarella roasted bell pepper and sun dried tomatoes. The 2nd was a chicken cutlet with provolone cheese on a Ciabatta bread. Both sandwiches were delicious

Molinari Delicatessen is one of those places that defines North Beach. It’s been around forever, it’s usually busy, and it feels like it hasn’t tried to reinvent itself just to keep up with trends, and that’s a good thing. I’ve stopped here many times over the years to grab a sandwich to go, and it has always delivered. The atmosphere is classic old-school Italian deli, the staff keeps things moving, and even when there’s a line out the door, it goes faster than you’d expect. Let’s be honest, though, the reason people come here is for the sandwiches. My top picks are the Molinari Special Italian Combo, the Luciano Special, and the Grilled Focaccia Special, in that order. If you’re getting the Italian Combo, do yourself a favor and ask for it on gutted, toasted hard sourdough. And unless y