Che Fico
Michelin Plate · Star Wine List · Wine Spectator Award of Excellence
Our verdict
Che Fico is an Italian taverna at 838 Divisadero in San Francisco’s Nopa neighborhood: Italian cooking through a Northern California lens, and a wine list weighted toward Italy and California.
Pearl is the En Primeur Club membership app, where members save venues, book tables and use the concierge.
Divisadero After Dark: Arriving at Che Fico
Che Fico is an Italian taverna at 838 Divisadero, in San Francisco’s Nopa neighborhood, with Italian cooking through a Northern California lens and a room built for gathering: approachable food and drink, warm hospitality, and a convivial pace. If a reservation is gone, the bar is the usual fallback, with a cocktail list that leans on spirits, amaros, and seasonal ingredients.
It sits at $$$, more than a casual slice stop, less austere than tasting-menu rooms. Nearby restaurants worth pairing on a San Francisco itinerary include Cotogna, Flour + Water, Quince, Beretta, Fiorella, and Belotti Ristorante e Bottega.
The Booking Calculation
Reservations are available from the site navigation, and walk-ins are encouraged. Dining-room and bar waitlists are in person, not by phone, with a text when a seat opens. Large parties start above six, with private dining and full buyouts by inquiry. There is a 5% dine-in charge that is not a gratuity; it funds wages, benefits, and product.
Related rooms if you are stitching a wider trip: Le Bernardin in New York City, Emeril's in New Orleans, Providence in Los Angeles, Alinea in Chicago, and Single Thread Farm in Healdsburg.
The Wine Program as a Separate Argument
Jason Alexander is wine director. The beverage program focuses heavily on Italian and Californian wines. Corkage starts at $40 for the first 750ml bottle. Related rooms include The French Laundry in Napa, 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana in Hong Kong, and cenci in Kyoto.
What to Know Before You Go
David Nayfeld is executive chef and co-owner with Matt Brewer; Evan Allumbaugh is culinary director, and Mario Talavera is general manager. The rustic, market-driven menu runs handmade pasta, pizzas, antipasti, housemade salumi, meat, and fish, plus Jewish-Roman Cucina Ebraica. A wood-fired oven carries vegetables and whole fish as well as blistered pizzas, including pineapple with red onion and fermented chili. The restaurant is wheelchair accessible via elevator on the second floor, and dress is casual: come as you are comfortable. Flour is in the house (pizza, pasta, bread), so gluten-free guests should flag allergies when booking and again with the server.
For a broader San Francisco itinerary, our full San Francisco experiences guide sits alongside the reservation.
Frequently asked questions
Who runs the kitchen at Che Fico?
David Nayfeld is executive chef and co-owner, and Evan Allumbaugh is culinary director.
How do I get a table at Che Fico?
Use the reservations link in the site navigation, or walk in. Waitlists for the dining room and bar are in person only, with a text when a seat opens.
What should I eat at Che Fico?
Start with housemade salumi or mozzarella, then handmade pasta, wood-fired pizzas (including pineapple with red onion and fermented chili), antipasti, meat and fish, and Cucina Ebraica plates. Pair with an Italy-and-California wine list.
What cuisine category does Che Fico fall under?
Italian cooking through a Northern California lens, an Italian taverna menu of pasta, pizza, salumi, and market-driven plates.
Is Che Fico more mid-range or high-end?
Pricing is $$$. There is a 5% dine-in charge that is not a gratuity, and corkage starts at $40 for the first 750ml bottle.
How do I find Che Fico?
Che Fico is at 838 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117. Walk-ins are welcome; the waitlist is in person only.
A Tight Comparison
Related restaurants for itinerary context.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Che FicoThis venue (the venue you are viewing) | Modern Italian Taverna | $50–100 | Michelin Plate · Star Wine List |
| Lazy Bear | Modern American Tasting Menu | Not listed | 2 Michelin Stars · World's 50 Best #25 |
| Benu | Modern Asian Fusion Fine Dining | $150–200 | 3 Michelin Stars · World's 50 Best #33 |
| Atelier Crenn | Contemporary French Fine Dining | $300–500 | 3 Michelin Stars · World's 50 Best #44 |
| Quince | Modern French Fine Dining | $300–500 | 3 Michelin Stars · World's 50 Best #48 |
| Saison | Modern French-Italian | Not listed | Michelin Plate |
Recognition history
Dated appearances from independent guides and award organizations, with the underlying list record or original source where available.
Michelin Plate
Michelin · 2026 Michelin Plate
Star Wine List
Star Wine List
Opinionated About Dining Casual in North America Recommended
Opinionated About Dining
Wine Spectator Award of Excellence
Wine Spectator
Full recognition history (10 entries)
Michelin Plate
Michelin
Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in North America Ranked #292
Opinionated About Dining
Wine Spectator Award of Excellence
Wine Spectator
Michelin Plate
Michelin
Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in North America Ranked #329
Opinionated About Dining
Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in North America Recommended
Opinionated About Dining
