La Traviata has anchored a stretch of Mission Street for more than 50 years, and the room shows it: broken-in booths, white-clothed tables, and a small waiting area that doubles as overflow parking for strollers. The walls are covered in framed portraits — opera singers nodding to the restaurant's name, along with photos of regulars and recognizable faces who've passed through, including Santana and Keanu Reeves. The owner is known for telling the story behind any photo a guest points to.
The menu runs through old-school Italian staples like bruschetta and gnocchi in aurora sauce, the kind of cooking built for a neighborhood that keeps coming back rather than for turnover.
The menu runs through old-school Italian staples like bruschetta and gnocchi in aurora sauce, the kind of cooking built for a neighborhood that keeps coming back rather than for turnover.