Sotto Mare

"The ocean theme is full throttle at Sotto Mare. The seafood institution is loaded with life-sized swordfish, model boats, and other maritime paraphernalia, just in case you needed a reminder that you’re about to eat a lot of things from the sea. Go for the gigantic cioppino—it’s big enough to fall into and loaded with crab legs, shrimp, mussels, and squid. It comes with the requisite plastic bib, which you should proudly wear while admiring the decor and taking down another round of free bread." - julia chen 1, lani conway, patrick wong

"There’s controlled chaos at Sotto Mare. The Italian seafood spot in the heart of North Beach is the rowdier, louder cousin of Scoma’s down on Fisherman’s Wharf. There are life-sized swordfish on the wall, orders flying across the kitchen on a clothesline, and as many tourists as there are locals tying on plastic bibs. You’ll need one, too, for the seemingly bottomless vats of cioppino and plates of good old-fashioned linguine with clams." - julia chen 1, patrick wong

"Boston clam chowder reigns supreme at this kitschy Italian North Beach restaurant. The chowder is more like a gravy, with a glossy finish and a disclaimer on the menu reading “Yes, there’s bacon in it!” There’s free endless bread here, which is great if you’re someone who likes a carb mop for your chowder. Sit at the bar with your steaming hot bowl and pass the time counting the number of fake sea creatures on the walls." - julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez

"Sotto Mare is sensory overload. Life-sized swordfish are mounted on the walls, ticket orders fly across the kitchen on a clothesline, and bowls of cioppino are so big you could fall in. On top of all this, the wicker baskets are stocked with so much free fluffy bread that they could function as a pillow (in case you need to nap after polishing off that cioppino). You get nine slices of the crusty-fresh good stuff. Yes, nine. Everyone, take notes." - julia chen 1, patrick wong

"Yes, Scoma’s on Fisherman’s Wharf is a tried-and-true seafood classic, but Sotto Mare ultimately feels more like a party we want to be invited to again and again. It's a little divey and rambunctious, what with the life-size swordfish on the wall and tickets flying across the restaurant on a clothesline while the cooks grill scallops and plate humongous portions of linguine with clams. You're legally obligated to order the cioppino and wear the plastic bib that comes with it." - julia chen 1, patrick wong, lani conway