Italians taught San Franciscans how to enjoy life (it involves family, love, wine, and pasta). We should all be grateful the love and exuberance of the Italian family still echoes through San Francisco’s North Beach. The Italian lust for life, laughter, joy and a memorable meal warms you the moment you step into Sodini’s Green Valley Restaurant. Hell, the moment you round the corner at Grant and Green you hear owner Mark Sodini’s joyful, staccato “Ha ha ha! welcome!
Mark’s grandparents Delia and Michael moved to San Francisco’s Mission District from Lucca, Italy in the 1920’s and converted a garage into the Venetian Cafe (now the Front Porch Restaurant). Through the 1960s and ’70s, Mark’s parents Julio and Diana and the kids operated Cuneo’s Bakery across from today’s Sodini’s Green Valley (1992). In 1976, the family opened Golden Boy Pizza (coining, “A Slice Of Life!”), in 1980 Mara’s Bakery and L’Osteria in 1982.
From Lucca to North Beach and beyond, an Italian welcome and delicious food is in the Sodini blood. Mark’s brother owns Sodini’s At Bertolucci’s in South San Francisco and their sister owns The Point in Pacifica. Stepping into Sodini’s Green Valley Restaurant is to touch San Francisco’s glorious past and what is best in our city today!