Figaro Ristorante, the cozy North Beach Italian restaurant, is a treasure not only for lovers of authentic Italian cuisine, but also for the history-minded. Of course, the name Figaro itself comes from the 1785 Mozart opera THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO. Mozart composed his much-loved opera to be a satire that pokes fun at the hypocrisies and foibles of both royalty and politicians alike. It was the first opera to enter the political arena and, as art often reflects true history, the French Revolution followed a few years later.

Figaro’s Assisi patio garden in back of the restaurant is named after San Francisco’s own patron saint, St. Francis of Assisi. A large mural shows the town of Assisi, Italy, where St. Francis, the great founder of the Franciscan order of monks, was born. The covered and well-heated Assisi Garden is available for private party reservations. Coincidentally, the national shrine of St. Francis is located next door to Figaro restaurant at the corner of Columbus and Grant Street. Considering its European roots, it is not surprising that Figaro is located in North Beach, considered by many to be the most European neighborhood in all of the United States.

Figaro brims with local history as well. In the early 1920’s, Figaro was first a bakery named Nebbia, “fog”, in Italian. In fact, the frescoed ceiling depicting Botticelli-like angels with loaves of bread and intricate chocolate cakes, commissioned by the owners of Nebbia in 1927, can still be admired today at Figaro.

We hope this little dash of Figaro’s history will heighten the pleasure of your meal. Our goal remains constant – to provide you with authentic old-world Italian cuisine without making your bank balance a thing of the past.