Che Fico

The story

Che Fico San Francisco: Italian Taverna in Nopa With a Michelin Recommended Listing

Che Fico, at 838 Divisadero St. in San Francisco, is an Italian taverna that Michelin lists as Recommended for 2026. The kitchen works through a Californian lens, treating Northern California as if it were a region of Italy.

Cooking and the kitchen

David Nayfeld leads the kitchen as executive chef. The menu is rustic and market-driven, with handmade pasta, pizzas and antipasti. Housemade salumi and meat and fish dishes sit alongside them. Some plates draw on the Jewish-Roman tradition known as "Cucina Ebraica," which gives the Italian menu a distinct thread.

The room and the drinks

The restaurant occupies a building that was a stable after the 1906 fire and later an auto body shop. A full renovation followed, and the interior design by Jon de la Cruz and his firm DLC-ID gives the dining room its character. The wine list leans on Italian and Californian bottles, and the cocktails use amaros and seasonal ingredients. The wine program received a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2024.