50 Best Italian Restaurants near Albany

“Been Shopping here for 33 years. Amy Smolens and I recently enjoyed their frozen spinach ravioli with my homemade meat sauce. Like to stock the freezer with John's homemade meatballs. Always have a variety of affordable Italian wines. I like the Sicilian Nero D'Avola reds when available. Our LOCAL Italian Albany Deli.“

“I love this pizza spot. Food, cocktails and atmosphere are all great.

The crust on their pizza really sets them apart. It is a corn meal crust and gives a great crunch.

I recommend coming here for date night or as a casual catch-up with friends. They also have a wonderful lunch and happy hour menu.“

“This place must have changed owners again. It was our go to spot for over 12 years, but then went downhill and was really bad for a while. Happy to report they are now better than ever! Best California style pizza in the Albany, El Cerrito, Kensington, North Berkelely, Richmond Annex area. Perfect thickness crust, with nice fluffy edges. Good zingy sauce with lots of flavor. Generous toppings, perfectly cooked. Arrived hot. Couldn’t be happier. Thanks you for reviving a neighborhood gem!“

“Food was very tasty and well prepared, staff attentive and responsive, ambience is perfect“

“Amazing service and food!!!!“

“Great leisurely lunch with girlfriends. Staff was friendly attentive. The butternut squash ravioli was to die for! Nice ambiance (we sat outside). Enjoyed!“

“Always creative, delicious & seasonal, the level of excellence at Sorella is worth more than they charge. Consistently superb, with wines that perfectly complement the food and inventive harmonious cocktails that add novel delicious tastes to your experience. Sorella is a neighborhood gem, a date night delight, and a regular place to feel pampered.“

“Lovely friendly Italian wine bar and delicious restaurant. Fresh innovative salads, pastas and main courses. Highly recommended.“

“Food is incredible and the service is second to none. Best place in the marina.“

“Excellent pasta! Freshly made! Great ingredients! The espresso and ice cream was amazing“

“My daughter took me and the hubby here for our Thanksgiving celebration since she couldn't come home (Sac) for actual Thanksgiving, we went to her. This was a night I won't soon forget! Having a nice meal with our daughter was a treat, the service was amazing and the food....OMG! Every bite of every dish I tasted was so so delicious! I can't get the butternut soup out of my head it was THAT good! We all ordered different food & shared bites with one another. This night was so enjoyable! Thank you, Sis & Thank you Mama Oakland!“

“Excellent food and service. My friends from NYC enjoyed their dinners as well. Will definitely be back!“

“(Make a reservation)
We arrived at Capo’s around 7:20 pm on a Saturday and were told we would have to wait 40 minutes for a table.
As hungry travelers, we said thank you and as we were about to leave, the hostess finds a nook and sat us down outside. I appreciate the fact that she did us that favor.
There were no patio heaters, so if sitting outside or walking in during busy hours, expect to dine outside in the cold with no heat (during winter).

(The Staff)
It was a very busy night, but the staff did a spectacular job in checking in on us.

(The Food)
The appetizers come in a reasonably sized portion, we ordered the garlic bread with mozzarella and was given a complimentary dish of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
My partner ordered the meat lasagne and I ordered the rigatoni alla vodka with smoked pancetta. The food was really good, it’s unlike anything I have ever had.
Take in mind that the dishes do serve up to 2 people, on busy nights it make take a bit to get your food, and regular pizzas take up to 20 minutes to bake, deep dish pizzas take up to 45 minutes to bake (but they look like they are worth the time!)

(Conclusion)
I would have loved to sit inside, the vibe is really nice. If you are looking for authentic Italian food with a nice atmosphere and friendly staff, book a reservation at Capo’s.“

“Truly incredible pasta. Doppio pasta dish is one of the most delightful plates of food I've been served in 20 years in the Bay Area. Artwork on a plate. Perfectly balanced. No notes. I feel like this place is getting slept on. Go yesterday!!!“

“Food was amazing! Great atmosphere and friendly attentive staff!“

“Only reason I'm saying four stars is that now they've added an automatic 20% gratuity on top of the 5% SF mandate. I get that you have to compensate for people who might never tip, but I always tip 20% anyway, but I hate the automatic-the service definitely doesn't feel the same, less personalized and more cookie cutter.“

“Excellent service and great food!“

“Awesome yummy food with a friendly atmosphere and Great Service“

“Great atmosphere and delicious food! Outdoor dining, too!“

“Amazing service and food!!!!“

“Excellent espresso coffee, friendly service and a lovely brunch menu. I look forward to returning sometime for dinner. The chef’s were prepping a range of fresh looking ingredients and the smells emanating from the kitchen were beautiful!“

“We had my wife's birthday there for a group of 15. The food was great, the service outstanding (Kira was our server and the rest of the staff was friendly, helpful and welcoming) and the general vibe was on! Highly recommend!“

“From the moment we walked in everyone was so kind and attentive. We had the beet salad: light but delicious and fresh,
Pappernelle Pasta with Oxtail was simply pneominail (melted.in my mouth), sausage pizza (very flavorful)
Worth the visit and loved chit chatting with Chantel!!“

“Very nice portions and very friendly! Enjoyed the people and the food!“

“Rose's Cafe is one of the best places in SF - Cow Hollow but a quieter end of Union St , it's a favorite for locals from The neighborhood. Fantastic home made pasta dishes, fresh salads, crispy thin crust wood fired pizzas and amazing Chocollate cake - YES !!! Love the ambience and staff are perfection. Already looking forward to going again...“

“The lamb chops were phenomenal!“

“Roast chicken is delicious!“

“The food was great, the service was excellent, I was very satisfied“

“We had the pasta tasting menu. A couple of items were absolutely awesome, but overall we found it a bit off balance. Some vegetables (I'm not a chef) or something to cut through the constant starch and fat profiles would have been better. We thought the vegetarian course was in some ways better than the other one. Worth stopping in for a fancy treat any time!“

“Went here with pizza lovers when the wait at Tony's was over an hour....

We were seated immediately. The dining room has a few smaller tables for 2 and 4 and one bigger high table.

We got 3 pizzas to share. They are 6-8 slices depending on the cut. Crust is good and thin and chewy but the toppings lacked some oomph. Not enough sauce, egg plant was a little off.... The star was the broccoli rabe.“

“One of the best tasting pizza I’ve tasted I highly recommend this place.“

“Consistent, delicious, and beautiful experience. My neighborhood gem! Had my best friend from Arizona up for weekend, who was looking forward to returning to what he considers one of the best restaurants in SF, as do I....we sat at the Counter which is great as you really get to see the culinary team creating the dishes. It's so easy to write so positively about Che Fico . Given the challenges facing the restaurant business in San Francisco, even the spirit of the room defies that. The staff from arrival to departure is super friendly and attentive, and reliably cares about what they are doing: the evening runs like a well oiled machine, and we were graced with our server Brian who is just great at who he is and what he does. The food is just beautiful: to look at, and to eat. We had a spectacular Cicoria Cesare, a robust take on a Caesar salad with chicories and anchovies galore, a cold carrot dish with citrus buttermilk and pistachios, and perhaps my current favorite Carne Cruda, which is a raw sirloin with aioli and black truffle and Parmesan that you stuff into delicious small rolls. Simple and spectacular...finished with delicious seasonal asparagus and a delicate gnocchi with an asparagus pesto....Eat at Che Fico now and forever, Amen!“

“Best Gnocchi in the world!“

“Fantastic red sauce, great eggplant parmesan special, good selection of wines at reasonable prices. A great addition to the neighborhood.“

“Excellent espresso coffee, friendly service and a lovely brunch menu. I look forward to returning sometime for dinner. The chef’s were prepping a range of fresh looking ingredients and the smells emanating from the kitchen were beautiful!“

“The best pasta and sauces in San Francisco. Authentic Italian cuisine! Highly recommend. Father and son team are amazingly warm hosts!“

“Fresh, delicious. Some of the best brown butter & sage sauce I’ve had in a while.“

“My wife and I went here for a Italian supper and wow was it good! Only good things to say about this place, and the best service we have had In years. We were very impressed!“

“Had a luncheon @ Perbacco with my 9 coworkers and Manager to say “goodbye & farewell” to a retiring coworker and “welcome” to a new coworker. Started with a round of hors d'oeuvre’s. The thin sliced veal with a sauce and capers was delicious! The fried shrimp, veggies and olives/anchovies…also with a sauce was awesome as well. For my main, I had CRESTE DI GALLO - semolina pasta - wild mushroom ragu - spinach - ricotta salata. Our waiter was the best! I saved one of the sugar cookies from my deserts…Burnt Carmel Gelato. Mentioned it to our waiter and as we were leaving, I heard “Sir! Sir!” He brought me one of their meringue cookies to also share with my partner! I thought that was just awesome! Top notch food and customer service. We’ll be back!“

“I had an amazing birthday dinner at Bocconcino Restaurant! The food and service was wonderful. The staff and management were personable and friendly! Such a wonderful way to bring in the coming year! We will be back! Thank you!

Dietary restrictions: We had a gluten-free member of our party, and the kitchen and staff made sure there were options for that person, as well.“

“I’m here for business from Canada. Was taken here for supper by a coworker. The quaintest little restaurant, the owner and his wife are just awesome. The food is gorgeous! And his limoncello is the best I’ve ever had. Will be going back before I head home. ❤️❤️❤️“

“Great fun!!! Hosts and servers were super nice!!! Cocktails: YUM!!!“

“Serafina is an excellent neighborhood restaurant with a focused, yet varied menu offering both classic Italian dishes as well as imaginative riffs which keeps the food interesting and guests coming back. The kitchen's execution is consistent and sharp with all dishes that we had very enjoyable. The host / owners take considerable pride in their restaurant and that shows in their hospitality as they make you feel welcomed. The restaurant has an inviting / cozy atmosphere, but is small, so has limited seating. It attracts a mix of neighborhood regulars as well as out-of-town visitors because they deliver a delicious meal in a friendly setting at a substantial value.“

“Truly authentic Calabrese style Italian cuisine takes us back to Nonna’s kitchen“

“Great food and great service“

“Been to Hotel Mac many many times and never ever been disappointed. The menu often varies with excellence across the board. Just celebrated my 70th birthday there. Wonderful evening in a great atmosphere.“

“Great Service and food. The waiter was amazing and recommended great wine and food“

“Delicious food and excellent service! Highly recommend!“

“Tomasso’s pizza is among the best I’ve ever had. Been coming here for 30 years.“

“Amazing food!!! Fantastic find in the heart of the city!!! Can’t wait to return!!“