Go Tell Your Mamma, Italian Homemade Company, North Beach, SF

Veritas nunquam perit.

And this is the truth: that among those who love to eat out and choose Italian pasta as their choice of nourishment for an hour or so, will attest to the fact and the truth, that the best homemade-tasting pasta in the city can be found at The Italian Homemade Pasta in North Beach, and at a very reasonable price at that. This unassuming spot serves their pasta in the tradition of their native region of Marche and Romagna.

This tiny place sits on Columbus Avenue, sandwiched between Joe Di Maggio Playground in the north and the Washington Square Park in the south. Plenty of tourists pass through it from Fisherman's Wharf to the Financial District to see the TransAmerica Pyramid. Anyone could easily overlook it, what with the preponderance of Italian restaurants in the neighborhood. But, anyone in the know could easily make this cute little establishment a real destination for lunch or dinner.

My family regularly order the meat lasagna, which would come in a large portion, piping hot, oozing with ground beef and tomato sauce deliciousness, entrenched with the softest, most gooey cheese imaginable! The last time we went there, we saw two chefs making the pasta by hand, the semolina dough looking like a perfect sheet of yellowish libretto coming out of the pasta maker.

Another family favorite is gnocchi with pesto sauce. These soft, velvety pillows of cottony yet chewy bite-sized pieces seem to coexist harmoniously with the green basil-walnut tandem of rich, thick saucy preparation. Vegetarians would also find this site a great spot to taste what Italian mamma mias have been rustling up for their bambini. Meat or no meat aside, their ravioli is also something to be ecstatic about since the sauce, bolognese or pesto, is definitely satisfying and memorable at best..

However, this is not your white tablecloth, bring your Sophia-Loren-type date spot to dine. No, Marcello, if your inamorata wants an elegant and sophisticated venue, this is not the location for her. I would say, this is more of a Garibaldian scenario for diners who would not bat an eyelash to eat off paper plates, which is de rigeur, here, although real silverware, not plastic, was in use the last time we were there.

Incidentally, if you feel like replicating their staggeringly incredible pasta, they do sell bottled sauces, fresh and dried pasta and many other Italian grocery items at the same place. They have also opened many different locations in San Francisco, namely, on Union Street, Hayes Valley, Cow Hollow and one in Berkeley. Their website lists one in Los Angeles as well.

The service can be spotty at this place, however. My son complained about the rude treatment he got from one lady who brushed his request off, but previously, the young servers were normally attentive and polite.

If you want to feed your brood, or if you want to bring your friends to have a real Italian pasta that is rich with deliciously thick sauce of your dreams, then this is the place for you. Ciao, bella!