Serafina

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Roman Table on Nob Hill

Serafina sits at the top of Nob Hill on Jones Street, and the story behind it is as personal as the food. The name belongs to Maurizio's grandmother — a formidable cook who ran her own restaurant in Rome's Trastevere neighborhood, where Maurizio first started making pizzas at the age of fourteen. That foundation of care, precision, and pride is the thread running through everything on the plate today.

Together with partner Giuseppe and chef Umberto Cannarsa — who brings years of experience from Rome — Maurizio has built a space that is intimate, elegant, and unambiguously Italian. Gambero Rosso, the authoritative Italian food guide, has recognized Serafina with 2 Forks in its 2026 edition, naming it among the best Italian restaurants in the United States. That recognition feels earned rather than surprising once you understand how the kitchen operates.

Intention in Every Detail

Pasta and bread are made in house every single day. The fish comes from local fishermen, the vegetables follow the season, and the meats are sourced from carefully selected Italian producers. Nothing is rushed, nothing is taken for granted — phrases the team uses themselves, and ones that translate directly into what arrives at the table. The food is described as refined but never complicated: honest, balanced, and meant to be savored. Daily specials allow the kitchen to follow what's best at any given moment.

The wine list has been built with equal seriousness, drawing on highly regarded Italian producers and chosen to complement the food rather than simply accompany it. Wine pairing is very much part of the Serafina experience.

The Room and the Feeling

Serafina offers both indoor and outdoor seating, with the Nob Hill setting lending a quiet remove from the busier parts of the city. The atmosphere is romantic and intimate without being stiff — the kind of place where an evening can stretch naturally from an aperitivo to a last glass of wine. For those who prefer to eat at home, takeaway is available as well.

The Italian kitchen here is rooted in Rome, shaped by memory, and executed with the kind of daily discipline that guides like Gambero Rosso are built to find.