About Us

At the heart of any restaurant is its food and Florio offers a variety of bistro classics, a "greatest hits" of café food: everything from house made Paté to Steak Frites and Poulet Roti. Simple dishes such as Pasta Bolognese round out the comforting menu. We even make our own gelato and sorbetto in house.

Opened in December 1998 by Doug Biederbeck, Florio is a Mediterranean styled bistro featuring classic French and Italian specialties.

Designed by Brayton + Hughes Design, Florio is situated on the corner of Wilmot Alley and Fillmore Street (between Pine & Bush Street). The bistro is intimate and cozy; warm lighting, traditional but sophisticated colors and simple touches such as marble checkerboard floor and classic chairs help set the tone.

Of particular note, the restaurant facade seems at home in Paris, London or Milan yet is firmly planted in San Francisco's elegant Pacific Heights.

Doug "Bix" Biederbeck is the proprietor of Florio. His passion for a sense of place in every restaurant he has had a hand in developing, in what drives him to create memorable venues that serve inspired cuisine.

Florio is the culmination of Doug's vision to open a small cafe and bar where eating and drinking is not an event. In fact, Doug sought to establish a sort of anti-restaurant without the high concept and relentless planning it takes to get a table at a big, downtown restaurant.

He imagined a warm neighborhood place where people come and go before or after a movie or the theater; a place where diners could eat in an hour yet stay for several with friends. One featuring rustic food such as crispy roast chicken and good frites, a little (but not much) music playing on the stereo, a good bottle of wine and a decent smile from the server. This is Florio.

Doug is also the owner of the popular Bix Restaurant and Lounge in the Financial District as well as MarketBar located in the landmark Ferry Building.