Our Story
Tommaso's isn't just a restaurant.
Since 1935, Tommaso's has been one of North Beach's most cherished dining rooms, a cozy, wood-scented landmark built around an oak-burning brick oven and Neapolitan family recipes. The Cantalupo family lit the first fire; chef Tommy Chin kept it roaring and gave the restaurant its name; and for the last 51 years, the Crotti family carried the torch, making Tommaso's synonymous with hearty food, warm service, and constancy in a changing city.
In January 2025, longtime San Francisco restaurateur Maureen "Mo" Donegan became the fourth owner in our 90-year history. Mo brings nearly four decades of hospitality experience and a humble mission: "I'm just a steward. My job is to take care, as best I can, of a tradition, a craft, and a concern for customers and employees." Under her care, the dishes you crave remain: the blistered pies from the West Coast's first wood-fired brick oven, the northern Italian lasagna, and the Coo-Coo clams. Thoughtful updates have kept the room and menu vibrant: warmer lighting to showcase the original murals, an updated wine list with beloved family labels and smart new finds, and a few wood hearth-born additions, plus oven-made desserts that celebrate the fire craft at the center of it all.
Rooted in history. Ready for what's next. Celebrating 90 years in 2025. Walk-ins are welcome.