Vegan
Pizza
Italian
Beer/Wine
Delivery
Take-out
A Matthew Kenney restaurant that specializes in plant-based versions of Italian classics such as lasagna, pasta, and pizza. Brunch on weekends. Est. 2020. Reported that not all drinks are vegan - please verify and let HappyCow know. Reported closed March 2024.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
-
300 Grove St, San Francisco, California, USA, 94102
-
Loading...
-
- Accepts credit cards
-
-
Last update on 17 Apr 2024 by Chrissyanne
Update business info -
Are you the owner?
Claim this business -
Added by mazinha on 04 Aug 2020
-
-
120 Reviews
First Review by mazinha
j31dl
Points +38
1st TIMER - Edit
Recommend it 100%! Had the spicy pizza and lasagna.
Read morePros: Amazing atmosphere, Wonderful staff, Excellent food
Cons: A bit costly
Guest
dataleek
Points +230
Divine date night - Edit
I’m impressed with Matthew Kenney’s vegan take on Italian food. I ordered the bolognese and it was absolutely perfect. My partner ordered the milanese and said it was exactly what he remembered (pre vegan). I’ve previously longed for an Italian restaurant for a (plant-based) date night with my partner…this exceeded my desires. Others around us were celebrating graduations, etc.. Baia’s ambience and food would be great for many occasions. We will be revisiting whenever we’re in the area and recommending to others.
Read morePros: Unique, Versatile setting, Affordable
Guest
Schnicbert
Points +1418
Expensive but tasty! - Edit
Pretty expensive but truly delicious. I had the mozzarella sticks and the tortellini. The tortellini dish contained like 6 tortellini so it was really small but very tasteful.
Read morePros: Only vegan, Authentic Italien dishes, Nice atmosphere
Cons: Small serving sizes, Expensive
Guest
Nattyy
Points +2471
Wish there was 6 stars 😍 - Edit
Expensive but worth every penny, portions are huge so do reflect the price and the food is just amazing. Real comfort Italian food which i have missed as i now normally just cook Italian food myself as most places that offer lasagne do a mushroom or real veggie packed one but Baia did the standard meat, white sauce, tomato which we love. Pizza was 😚 and the starters were to die for, inparticularly the Arancini 👌 great for vegans and none vegans, take your none vegan friends they wont be disappointed ! Probably wont tell they have not eaten meat.
Read moreGuest
ginaterrito
Points +417
Awesome vegan Italian - Edit
We tried the mozzarella sticks and aranchini. I thought both were pretty tasty. The size differences on some the entrees was very noticeable. My partner got the lasagna and it was huge, another person we came with got the ravioli and it was quite small with only 6-8 pieces. We all commented on it and felt bad honestly. I got the mafaldine which was pretty good. I thought the noodles were perfect and the size was just right. The lemon tart for dessert was really good. Probably my favorite thing from the whole dinner. Also, servers were all very nice and attentive!
Read morePros: All vegan, Many gluten free options
Cons: Very expensive , Major size difference on entrees
Guest
Matthewsalibi
Points +123
Fantastic sit-down Italian - Edit
I try to visit this place whenever I am in SF. Really classy decor, friendly service, phenomenal menu!
Read moreGuest
MPowell97
Points +44
Delicious - Edit
Went there for Mother’s Day. Loved the special dessert, strawberry shortcake. The artichoke tortellini, and they arancini were to die for. We also loved the mushroom risotto. My daughter did not particularly like the pizza because she’s not a thin crust fan. My non-vegan hubby also liked his rigatoni. All in all great place for the vegans to get pasta.
Read moreGuest
johnsonen117
Points +17
This place goes above and beyond for vegan Italian food! Must try in SF! - Edit
Vegan Italian Food and many options!
Read morePros: Vegan Italian food, Great atmosphere , Friendly staff
Guest
SaraIgl
Points +246
Gourmet Retreat with a West Coast Adventure - Edit
Upscale Mathew Kenney Restaurant with decadent pastas, desserts, cocktails, and wine line. Outdoor patio and menu less dining offer modern comforts.
Read moreTraveled from Oregon on the Coast Starlight just to celebrate a compassionate Thanksgiving. Please bring Mathew Kenney to Eugene!
Pros: Signature Mathew Kenney Flavor and Flair, Tasting Menus
Guest
ChiVegDad
Points +51
Amazing food! - Edit
Went with a non vegan who LOVED the meatballs, garlic knots and caramelized onion pizza! Highly recommend.
Read moreGuest
AndrewWilliamson
Points +29
So tasty - Edit
All vegan and the food was so tasty. A must visit if in SF
Read moreGuest
JoshCable
Points +114
Tasty and massive portions - Edit
We had the mozzarella sticks, arancini, lasagne, and Milanese. Everything tasted great but neither of us could finish our entree. Would definitely recommend that you either share one appetiser or go straight to mains. Food is expensive but you get a lot for you money. Nice cocktails.
Read morePros: All vegan!, Tasty Italian food and cocktails, Big portions, and can take home left overs
Cons: Expensive , Food is quite rich, we couldn't finish
Guest
NikolasFredriksen
Points +65
Make better pasta at home - Edit
Some appetizers are pretty good but after a full dinner service costing hundreds of dollars I was disappointed at the astonishing lack of flavor that seemed to be present in all of the main dishes. Pasta tasted unsalted and lacked any sort of finesse that one would expect from a fine dining establishment. Very disappointed and would not recommend. Better off making your own pasta at home.
Read moreGuest
robfdilla
Points +539
Put It Off... - Edit
So I've been putting off going to BAIA since October of last year ('21) for my 4 years vegan anni. About 2 weeks ago, I finally stopped by. First things first, I found out on here it's one of Chef Matthew Kenney vegan chains that's here in San Francisco. I ate at his establishments, Double Zero and Sestina in Manhattan (both reviewed in my timeline). Second, it's fine dining. Probably the most (fine dining) in terms of ambiance I've been ate at. I wasn't THAT "underdressed" lol but low-key felt you need to clean up fresh to eat here. Lol So I ate in their patio outside they got setup. But to the food. 5 stars!! Ordered their garlic knots and impossible lasagna, paired with a Barbera D'Asti. Garlic knots got a lot of hype on here so I ordered it. I will say tho, the texture was a little tough/a little stale. Tasted pre-cooked the night before or early AM. Then fired up back in the oven with the garlic & oil to cook off. But the lasagna?! NO exaggeration...prob the BEST lasagna ate!! Both meat I ate in the past or vegan like the one I ate in Rome @ Rifugio. SMACK! The con? It's expensive as heck. This goes back to the "fine dining" experience I mentioned, so menu prices will be UP there. But the experience was overall 5 stars not only because of the food but my waitress, Erika, was thee BEST.
Read moreGuest
Sjjk12
Points +1089
Amazing food, service was pretty below par - Edit
For the price we paid for 4 people, and the fullness of the restaurant, the waiter we had was pretty terrible, to the point that manager(s?) kept taking our order and directing the food to our table. We didn’t have our first drinks and appetizer until about an hour into our reservation. I would go back if people wanted to go, I hope the experience was better for others. Food was amazing, no complaints, which is why I still gave it a 4/5.
Read morePros: Food, Decor
Cons: Extremely expensive
Guest
BaileighScott
Points +38
Top Notch - Edit
This place is top notch. I was so impressed by the presentation. The staff was so easily accessible and helpful. The pick up process was easy and smooth. The food was healing. I literally felt better after I ate the leftovers. I have nothing bad to say about this place. It is five stars all around. Even going to the bathroom is an experience. It was beyond clean.
Read morePros: Presentation, Healthfulness , Timely
Cons: Expensive Parking, Pricey, Distance from BART
Guest
Aniseed
Points +4913
Fantastic vegan Italian food!! - Edit
A great place for a date and definitely worth a stop if you visit SF!
Read morewe loved the vegan mozzarella sticks, Arancini, Mafaldine, Milanese and Chocolate Torta. Everything is tasty so order as much as you can 😋
Guest
Daniyells
Points +365
Best garlic knots I’ve ever had - Edit
The ravioli portion was too small, and the meatballs tasted like normal impossible meatballs, BUT THE GARLIC KNOTS WOW
Read morePros: Garlic knots
Guest
Queensnbeans
Points +1538
Perfect for a date night - Edit
It's rare to find a fully vegan italian restaurant. Everything was super super good -- inc. the wine. It's not cheap, but probably worth if you want to try yourself. If you sit upstairs, it's also really nice for a date night.
Read morePros: High-quality food, Many options
Cons: Not cheap
Guest
VeganRhyno
Points +222
Maybe the best risotto I've ever had - Edit
Came here on 1/24/22 for dinner and was glad I did. The staff was great, the drinks good and the food was superb. I had the market veggies (sun chokes, carrots, greens and mushrooms) which were seasoned perfectly, although I found a small rock in a sun choke. I had the risotto al funghi with the Malbec and thoroughly enjoyed the meal. Excellent atmosphere and service.
Read morePros: Delicious food , Great wine and drink menu
Guest
sandykaren
Points +372
Great vegan Italian food - Edit
I have been here many times and while it is not perfect, the worst I can say is that a couple of the dishes I tried were not fabulous. But, there are many dishes that are! First off, the garlic knots are a must try. I made the mistake of trying a new appetizer last time I was there (fried mozzarella which I found very bland). Stick with garlic knots and you won't be disappointed. In Spring, the ravioli is wonderful and the Winter menu had Milanese which the waiter said was impossible meat combined with mashed potatoes, coated and fried. It was so yummy and the portion was quite generous. My friend got the risotto and said it was very good as well. I've had the lasagna before, and I agree that it is not the best, but certainly better than any frozen lasagna I've tried. The restaurant itself is lovely and every time I've been the staff has been gracious and friendly.
Read morePros: 100% vegan, Great food, Beautiful restaurant
Cons: drinks are pricey and small
Guest
Tom8315
Points +232
My first Caesar salad in over ten years! - Edit
Totally vegan Italian food. Mozzarella sticks were divine! Caesar salad was delicious. I had not had either one since going vegan over 10 years ago! Sausage pizza was a little spicy but still fantastic. I had panna cotta (tart apple sauce accompanied it) and my friend had the chocolate torta (tasted like chocolate pie!). Had lemonade to drink. Ambience was amazing. Tables on second floor look over the bar. I don’t drink alcohol but if you do, the bar is super! #Veganuary
Read morePros: Plenty of vegan Italian options., Nice to eat Italian again!, Dessert was heavenly.
Cons: A little pricy but we knew that , Service was a little erratic but nice folks
Guest
epowers
Points +413
High quality vegan Italian - Edit
Excellent pasta dishes. I’ve had many vegan mozzarella sticks that are mediocre but these were really excellent - not just a pack of melted chao slices in breading!
Read morePros: High quality , Fine dining experience , Full vegan menu
Cons: Expensive
Guest
JKay
Points +130
Very impressive vegan Italian cuisine (4.5/5 Green Stars) - Edit
On a Saturday, two weeks before Christmas, San Francisco was busy. We called a few restaurants to find that there were no reservations available. Deciding to take our chances, we walked from Civic Center Bart towards Hayes Valley and came across BAIA, a new vegan restaurant in a beautiful red-brick building. Lucky us – brunch was still going and tables were available!
Read moreWe ended up sitting outside because the music inside was just too loud for two soft-spoken people. I was a little concerned that we’d be subjected to some meth-fueled street “entertainment” but it was pretty peaceful. Loved the tableware and the overall atmosphere of the place; service was straightforward and casual rather than snooty.
The place is actually great value, considering the quality of the food and decent-sized portions. Everything on the plate was well-made. I loved the salad and exquisitely-roasted potatoes even more than my scramble. Actually my only issue with the food was that something on the pizza was over-salted (the peppers, I think) while the scramble could have done with more seasoning, in my opinion. This was easily fixed: some pizza toppings were added to the scramble The pizza crust was scrumptious and, despite the salt, it was one of the best vegan pizzas that I’ve ever had.
I look forward to going back and try more things.
I thought that Part II of my review (the ethical evaluation) would be a breeze. Surprisingly, there’s very little info to be found online, either from BAIA or the websites connected with owner, Matthew Kenney. Here’s what I have:
I’m giving BAIA 4.5 Green Stars for social and environmental impact, for these reasons:
• Owner Matthew Kenney has a mission to create vegan restaurants around the world that feature high-end, minimally-processed food made from mostly fresh veggies. We need this.
• I appreciate that the prices are not sky-high. It’s probably considerably cheaper than the average Italian restaurant in SF. I think this is important too, when people perceive ethical lifestyles to be pricey.
• All the food is vegan. Adopting a plant-based diet is the top thing you can do to mitigate deforestation & climate change and to end animal cruelty and the insidious negative impact that the meat industry has on society.
• Drinks are well-chosen – local and/or sustainable, in general.
• There’s a lack of information on ingredient sourcing. I found some statements on Kenney’s “plant-mad
Pros: Chefs know what they are doing, All vegan menu
Cons: Noisy indoors, Would prefer Beyond Meat instead of Impossible
Guest
(H)evan
Points +88
New vegan hotspot wows on all points! - Edit
From the warm welcome at the door to the accommodating friendly service at the table, to the beautifully presented and delicious-on-the-palate plates of food, this place is firing on all cylinders.
Read moreNoticing the main meat substitute they use here is Impossible beef, it struck me that I first tried the Impossible Burger at this location when it was formerly Jardiniere restaurant, and they were one of the first restaurants to carry Impossible Beef exclusively when it came out. It's an interesting connection for me, but I wonder if there is any connection between the two establishments…
Anyway, when you're ready to crawl out of your pandemic cave and get back out in the world of social people, this is a really enchanting place with a fun vibe to come enjoy some plant-based culinary creations of a very high caliber. Enjoy!
Pros: 100% plant based, very high quality food, Very cool, fun vibe with super friendly staff, A little something for everyone
Cons: A little chilly inside on the morning we went
Guest
BeverlyLengquist
Points +33
A gem next to the Opera House - Edit
I was so excited when I walked up and saw that Baia is located where Jardinare use to be. This is a beautiful setting, magnificent chandelier in the center and just all around fabulous.
Read moreThe menu is Italian ( vegan) with all the dishes being almost family style. Very good sized dishes. The fresh made pasta is delicious and we tried about 6 different entrees. The Tiramisu is divine! So grateful to have an upscale vegan restaurant in this location. Now when you go to the ballet or opera you can enjoy a beautiful meal along with it. Thank you Baia💚💚🌱
Pros: Location and ambiance, Vegan Italian!!!!! 😍, Excellent food
Cons: Can’t think of a thing.
Guest
DavidKWinslow
Points +178
Thanksgiving 2021 - Edit
From Nicole, our hostess, to John, our server, the entire staff was attentive and accommodating. Besides the people that make the whole experience outstanding, the food was simply the best. I will recommend this place every chance I get.
Read morePros: Quality of food is superb , Atmosphere is amazing , Staff was outstanding
Cons: Absolutely no cons!
Guest
For Members
Why was my review removed? Guidelines for writing a review View our privacy policyFor Business Owners
Claim this business See inaccurate information? Submit an update here Link to this page from your site See an unfair review? View full terms & conditionsThis page has been viewed 19374 times.