50 Best Italian Restaurants near Albany

“Yo, I just went to this place a couple weeks ago and their pizza is on point! We had like a pesto chicken pizza and that shit smacked!! there wasn’t a lot of people so I liked that it was chill. It’s a good place to do karaoke and bring some friends to just eat chill and vibe. Definitely my new favorite pizza spot.“

“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.“

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

“Amazing service and food!!!!“

“I honestly don’t even know where to begin. From start to finish, it was the most mind-blowing experience I’ve ever had.

We met this beautiful, joyful woman named Luka, who was so kind. She sat us down at the bar, where we enjoyed some lovely drinks. They also gave us happy hour oysters, which were, of course, delicious.

Then we were seated at our table, where we got to meet the whole team. Each person individually welcomed us and attended to all our needs. Even the head chef came out personally, greeted us, and offered us items from the menu as a gesture of kindness—which, honestly, I don’t feel we even deserved.

The food was absolutely amazing. Everything was so delicious, and the flavors never clashed. I truly don’t have a single bad word to say. I can’t wait for them to receive their first Michelin star—they all deserve it.

I will definitely be coming back. Thank you to all the wonderful people for the hard work they put in—not just in bringing the food out quickly, but in doing so with love and care.

Thank you again.“

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

“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!“

“Amazing service and food!!!!“

“Iconic SF bistro famous for wood-fired roast chicken. Fresh seasonal local ingredients, laid-back casual vibe. Copper bar and warm lighting make it great for casual dates or small group meals. Service steady, totally a classic Bay Area spot you shouldn’t skip.“

“Excellent service and great food!“

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

“Short wait on a Friday night for 7 of us. Really small place but the wait staff and owner very friendly and everyone was very happy with their meal. If I lived here I would go back.“

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

“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!“

“Great food!! Service was fantastic. Consistently good!“

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

“Very solid and unassuming Italian restaurants! The rigatoni with pink sauce reminds me of the pasta from Aquarello, which holds two Michelin stars, but is much more balanced in flavor. Their polpo is super tender, and I have to say that their panne cotta is probably the best one I’ve ever had! Perfect balance in sweetness and texture. Will definitely come back!“

“We had such a wonderful experience celebrating my mom’s birthday here! From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere felt warm, elegant, and perfect for a special occasion.

Every dish we ordered was absolutely delicious. The pasta was rich and flavorful, the steak was cooked perfectly and paired beautifully with the cheese and sauce, and the seafood dish was fresh and well-balanced. Even the sides like the vegetables and polenta were done so well. And the desserts — especially the tiramisu and cheesecake — were the perfect ending to the meal!

What really stood out was the presentation and attention to detail. Every plate looked beautiful and tasted just as good as it looked.

The service was also excellent — attentive, friendly, and made the whole experience feel relaxed and special without being rushed.

Overall, this was the perfect place for a family celebration. My mom had a great birthday, and we’ll definitely be coming back again. Highly recommend!“

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

“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. ❤️❤️❤️“

“It was our first time and the service was amazing. Our dinner was more than excellent, the grilled pork chops with sweet potato puree best ever tasted. Great selection in red wine and great atmosphere! Owners were there and were very welcoming and down to earth! 100% recommended“

“We’re visiting from out of town, and I came here with a friend who drove in from San Jose to spend the day with. We went on a Saturday for brunch, and we got the breakfast pizza to share with a side of bacon and roasted potatoes. The pizza and bacon were delicious, but the potatoes I would pass. I think they were over cooked and bland.

Also got a cafe au lait, and it was served in bowl! Super cute.“

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

“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!“

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

“The lamb chops were phenomenal!“

“a little skeptical coming after hearing mixed reviews but flour and water surprised me in the best way possible.

service was top tier with our server providing detailed recommendations. loved the complimentary sparkling water that was specifically mentioned.

all of the filled pastas were top tier!

carrot agnolotti: reminiscent of a cozy fall, had great spices and flavors. perfectly cooked pasta.

rainbow scarpinocc: the famous signature dish was tasty but honestly expected a little more. would still recommend though

porcini gnochetti sardi: highly recommend. creamy, rich, al dente pasta

budino: don’t typically like chocolate but wasn’t too sweet and decadent.“

“The food is absolutely stunning. Everything is fresh and the flavors mix amazingly“

“A delightful evening dinner for my wife and I cozy atmosphere and just the perfect family run Italian restaurant in North Beach.We both had delicious meals with wine.Paired perfectly and the service is outstanding.Definitely , a hidden gem in north beach“

“Great team of real Pros! Husband Chef, Wife Wine Steward & Saul, my friend, Front of House…Outstanding!“

“Honestly one of the best pizza crusts I've ever had. I had the focaccia spring special pizza - with squash blossoms and burrata. The Pear Basil Gimlet is one of the best mocktails I've ever had. The brussels are dark brown and crispy and melty. Plus - LOTS of gluten free options!

I rarely have a meal where every single part of it is delicious. This place is a treat, I'd highly recommend it.“

“The best Italian I’ve ever had. Great service great drinks as well.“

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

“(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.“

“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!“

“The Rustic is the best restaurant in San Francisco that you haven’t yet heard of. Whether you learn of it from this review or from your friends who won’t stop talking about it, you will hear about it eventually. The only question is if you will get in and try it before it’s crowded every day.

Between the staff, the ambiance, and the food, you can’t look anywhere without seeing the care and love being put into what they are building here. If you can’t see it, I’m sorry, but you’re either blind or just not looking hard enough.

Do yourself a favor and try the Porcini Ravioli. Their best dish in my opinion. Though, that is not to say the rest of their food is anything less than some of the best Italian food I’ve ever had. The fried chicken is also to die for, both of which I got tonight.

They also are happy to accommodate family style dining, which was great when I was here one Wednesday with my family. By tomorrow night (Sunday) I’ll have been here three days this week, and I have absolutely no regrets about that decision. Every moment I spend here gives me the peace I’ve been looking for in this city.

If my review can’t convince you it’s worth it to try a good thing, then nothing will.“

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

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

“Great food and great service“

“Perfect Italian authentic restaurant when enjoying North Beach neighborhood for my friends birthday! I got us tickets to dear San Francisco, which is a wonderful show at Club Fugazi just 3 blocks away from this great restaurant! Paolo took wonderful care of us. His wine, suggestions and appetizer and entrée tips were the best! The pasta is homemade and very delicious and special. We tried the gnocchi with pesto, as well as a delicious braised meat, red sauce over fresh linguine. We also enjoyed the grilled (not fried) octopus. The tiramisu for dessert was perfect! I’ve been here before, and I will go back again and again for the service and authentic delicious Italian cuisine.“

“The Tonnarelli al Nero di Seppia con Polpo was simply exceptional—easily one of the best pasta dishes I've had in San Francisco. The squid ink tonnarelli was perfectly cooked, with a wonderful texture and depth of flavor, while the octopus was tender, fresh, and expertly prepared.

Every bite reflected authentic Italian craftsmanship and a commitment to high-quality ingredients. The balance of flavors was outstanding, allowing the seafood to shine while complementing the richness of the pasta.

Beyond the incredible food, the service was warm, attentive, and professional. From start to finish, the entire dining experience was memorable.

If you're looking for outstanding Italian cuisine in San Francisco, the Tonnarelli al Nero di Seppia con Polpo is an absolute must-order. I'll definitely be back.“

“Great atmosphere, impeccable service, friendly & welcoming staff. Most of all, great food. This is our second time and it didn’t disappoint. We’re visiting from SoCal in Orange County. Thank you!“

“I loved that the menu happened to be all vegetarian when we went. The fact that they have a seasonal rotating menu will also definitely keep us coming back. The mushroom bolognese sauce was so rich and filled with umami. I didn’t take a picture of the saffron poached pears as I took it home to eat but I really enjoyed it - the flavors were very reminiscent of the Indian dessert Srikhand. There’s limited seating so it felt a little loud and crowded inside but I did enjoy the open kitchen concept.“

“Exceptionally helpful & friendly staff cooking superb food in a very chill environment. A must visit in the city.“

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

“Awesome food and outstanding service“

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

“Great atmosphere, very friendly servers and of course Delicious Italian pizza😋“

“Delicious food, great drinks and amazing service.“

“While visiting San Francisco for work, I had the pleasure of dining at Cafe Tiramisu, and it quickly became a highlight of my trip! From the moment I walked in, the staff was incredibly welcoming – Giuseppe and Christian went above and beyond to make me feel right at home. Christian, my server, recommended the lobster escargot, and I have to say, it’s one of the best dishes I’ve ever had! The Spaghetti Nero with house-made pasta and local seafood was equally outstanding. This family-owned restaurant prides itself on creating as much as possible in-house, and it truly shows in the quality and freshness of the food. As the name would suggest, the tiramisu was also top notch. The ambiance is warm and inviting, with both cozy indoor and charming outdoor seating. Whether you're looking for an intimate meal or a great spot to relax after a long day, Cafe Tiramisu is a must-visit. You won’t be disappointed! I will absolutely return anytime I’m in San Francisco.“