Ristorante Ideale, San Francisco

The tiles of this trendy eatery are Tuscan red. The food, too, hails from Northern Italy. Equally popular with locals and tourists looking to soak up North Beach ambiance, the menu at Ristorante Ideale is not large, but there is not a bad choice on it. The pasta is made in-house and is always cooked to a highly appealing al dente. Try the fettuccine with lobster in a light cream sauce with a hint of tomato for an example of how terrific simple, expert preparation can be. From the racks of wine lining the walls is a good selection of choices on the wine list. The desserts include the now-classic tiramisu as well as gelato in flavors that change daily. Visit website for more information.