Portofino Café's presence in North Beach dates back to 1937.  After a more than two-decade closure, it's returned to the neighborhood.

Frankie Balistreri has reopened the seafood-centric Italian restaurant, which was owned for 26 years by Balistreri's father, Gaetano, before it closed in the late '90s.

Balistreri, who was raised in North Beach, says he's been searching for years for a space to reopen Portofino. Previously located on Columbus Avenue, the restaurant has re-emerged at 1318 Grant Ave.

The Balistreris have a long history of running eateries in North Beach. In 2018, Frankie's brother Vincent and son Tommy opened Palermo Delicatessen II (658 Vallejo St.), a spinoff of Frankie's onetime Italian deli of the same name.

“It’s everybody’s dream to open their own restaurant,” Frankie said, noting the kindness of his new landlord, Mahmoud Khossoussi (of neighboring burger joint Mo's Grill).

The selection of seafood items includes New England or Manhattan Style clam chowder, fish and chips, oysters on the half shell and tuna tartare. At lunch, sandwich options include an oyster po'boy, lobster roll and housemade salmon burgers.

For dinner, Balistreri features rotating specials, depending on what he gets fresh from his fish purveyor.

Click here to see their menu:  https://www.zmenu.com/portofino-san-francisco-online-menu/