North Beach is inarguably the best place in the city for traditional family Italian, but sometimes we just don't feel like dealing with the parking, the crowds or the prices. On those nights, we walk over to Café Riggio, a moderately priced neighborhood Italian nestled between 5th and 6th Avenues on Geary's burgeoning "restaurant row."

A relaxed, convivial and unpretentious restaurant, Café Riggio is an excellent place to take your mom, your friend's visiting dad, or your snooty boss who insists, "there isn't any good Italian anymore." The dining room is casual, the service is friendly, and you can almost always get a table -- although things tend to get noisy and crowded during peak hours. The pleasant service is consistent no matter what the hour, and the cheerful wait staff will always recommend something extremely tasty if asked.

- Excerpt from Honest Italian Food in the Richmond, Café Riggio keeping it real
by Tamar Love