13 Best Italian Restaurants in Berkeley

“This was a celebration of International Women's Day for a group of close neighbors, some of whom had not experienced Corso before. The hostess greeting was perfection, as was Vito, our server, Michael our expeditor, and the food was superb❣️ The perfect evening for gratitude to our Women!“

“Important news flash: they do BRUNCH in addition to incredible dinners. I could write a whole post on how amazing and lovely this is as a date spot for dinner and how much I freaking love their salads and gluten free pizzas (possibly my favorite one in the bay), but this is about brunch.We had no idea they did brunch and when we looked at the menu for it online, it didn’t list any mains. But we went anyway and were blown away. I’m adding a pic of the actual brunch menu so you can see the real selection offered.Y’all, they have a BREAKFAST PIZZA and I promise it’s even better than you would imagine. Do you like breakfast? Do you like pizza? This is a heavenly chimera of two of life’s greatest joys.?? Don’t sleep on the brunch! But also the perfect date spot. Get yourself a restaurant that can do both, and support local.The owner was there during our visit and went out of his way to create an excellent experience. Also, the patio is very dog friendly ?Dietary restrictions: The best gluten free pizzas in the area“

“First time I had Lucia's pizza was at their pop up at the Grand Lake farmers market in oakland, and completely fell in love with the 4 cheese pizza! Decided to try the restaurant a couple of months ago and the didn't disappoint! Pizza was delicious and staff were super nice and friendly! Totally recommend them if you're looking to have a legit Italian pizza experience!“

“Dropped in during an unexpected encounter - I was drawn in from the sidewalk and wanted to know more. I liked the interior a lot - it was bright, clean, open, the walls were adorned with various photographs, from the tables, chairs, lighting fixtures, to the way the condiments were placed out on the tables, everything carried my eyes to wander and admire. I entered during a time when there was only one other person waiting for a to-go order. The guy who was working was nice - especially when I kept asking questions. All of the food looked great, well-stocked, and the display they had showing its name was well read. There was a lot I wanted to try, but I limited myself to two slices of their pizzas. - Capricciosa $7 (one of their most popular ones - mushrooms, olives, artichoke, mozzarella, and ham) - San Daniele $7.50 (this might be a seasonal one as its not listed on their website - had prosciutto and arugula) Checking in on the Yelp app, I received a free piece of their focaccia bread which he cut in two pieces for me. I would love to come back here for their aperitivo (happy hour) which is held from 4-6:30pm. I find that this place is great for a quick bite, grab n' go, and dining in for the cool atmosphere. There are a few two person tables which could be combined together for a larger group and a few bar tables along the wall which is good for two people, along with a few cute tables for outside dining which I'd love to see more of in the state of California. The food tasted amazing! Shared and eaten once I arrived home. I wish I had gotten more to try!“

“Seeking fantastic southern Italian foods? This is the place! My 1st time here.. they had newly opened on a Friday, I came in on Saturday back in the 80's... I've been returning ever since. The meatballs are Off the Hook! For sure You will find something you like! No disappointments here!“

“We did take out of a pie - large - and haven’t eaten it yet. Very soon! We took a chance with the online number guess and lost. Our consolation price was a free large salad - Yay. Because the place is so new the manager didn’t know about the salad offer but as soon as he read my offer on my phone he had staff make up a beautiful salad for us to take home. Nice customer service.“

“Vegetarian options: I had the Mount Etna salad and it was one of the best salads I've ever had! Really colourful with interesting textures and flavours, and warm ingredients were welcome on a cold rainy day! There were lots of other vegetarian options that looked tempting too.“

“We highly recommend Donato and Co, an excellent restaurant with a healthy organic and local menu, handmade pasta, delicious appetizers. They source area vegetables and meat/fish. CA and Italian wines plus interesting cocktails are on the menu. Their desserts are also amazing. The servers are very well trained, professional and smiling! K provided excellent service to our large group. Thank you Donato for contributing to our gathering of friends and providing a fine Italian meal.“

“My experience at Passione Caffè in their gorgeous two-story, well-decorated café at 91 Shattuck Square was simply marvelous. The staff was friendly, quick, and accommodating and the food, drinks, and desserts were delicious! I highly recommend Passione Caffè to those looking for a quick and yummy lunch (or breakfast/brunch everyday), to snack and study, or for an authentic Italian coffee. Don’t miss out on the great happy hour/aperativo deals between 4-7PM! It almost goes without mentioning, but Passione Caffè is absolutely true to its slogan: “A corner of Italy in Berkeley.” From the food and drink to the atmosphere and the service, this is the only truly Italian café I have found in Berkeley! And that comes from over a year of experience living and traveling in Italy! Besides the beautiful architecture and interior design of Passione Caffè—not to mention its convenient location next to Downtown Berkeley BART—I would like to point out some highlights on the menu. The pastas are all made with homemade, organic noodles and made-to-order sauces. The pasta dishes are so fresh and authentic! The spaghetti with meatballs, their only Americanized dish, is to die for! The pizzas also are also made with home-made dough and gluten-free options are offered. Try one with fresh prosciutto, mozzarella, and arugula! The fresh panini with Italian meats and cheeses round out the lunch menu. It is possible to have a filling lunch for $7-15, which is definitely reasonably priced by Berkeley standards! A serious final highlight was the artisanal gelato, made in-house by the Italian co-owner, Eleanora Cercatore. There are 12 flavors, weekly made with gluten-free options, that are displayed on a beautiful rotating wheel. The gelato is spectacularly tasty—I cannot recommend it highly enough! For your time, money, and fine Italian bites and drinks, I cannot recommend a Berkeley café more highly than Passione Caffè! Please pay them a visit soon—you won’t be disappointed!“

“4.5 stars - Delicious pasta made to order and open till midnight! Unfortunately, they don't have public bathrooms and you will not find one at any other nearby establishments. Bring cash to save yourself $1 per plate. Each pasta is served in a plastic container, which can be seen as wasteful. I loved Gypsy's Chicken pasta which is made with creamy white sauce (alfredo maybe?). The chicken can be a little dry, but it is well seasoned. It will still taste good because there is enough sauce to go with it. I will definitely return to this restaurant when im in the area!“

“A long overdue review as I came here in May for BRW to go. We got 4 BRW prix fixe menu for $40 each for us and my parents and added a lamb shank from their regular menu as well. The mushroom soup was light and flavorful with every sip due to the porcini broth. Since I rarely fry things myself, anytime I see arancini available, I almost always get them and these definitely did not disappoint. Three of us got the crab raviolis which just like the soup was delicious from the first bite to the last. The porchetta was good but personally I preferred those crab raviolis instead. Since my dad loves lamb shanks, we had to order one to try and it was dad approved. For dessert, it was 50/50 chocolate torte and blood orange panna cotta. For chocolate lovers, that torte is decadent and satisfying. For non-chocolate lovers, that panna cotta was a great alternate, but again for me, chocolate was the way to go.“

“I love the atmosphere here and the owner and staff are so nice! Food and wine excellent! Fabulous brick oven pizza! Their tiramisu is perfection! *I just wish they would upgrade their bread and serve a garlic/spice infused olive oil. That is the only thing lacking and keeps me from coming more often and regularly.Parking: Free after 6 pm and sundays“

“Pasta is my jam, and how exciting is it when you stumble upon spots that specialize in everything you're craving (especially when it's pasta on a cold and rainy day). The Italian Homemade Company was the perfect casual spot to tuck into with our umbrellas. We were looking for warmth and we found it quickly here - the menu was filled with homemade pasta sauces and pasta styles to choose from. My husband went with the meat lasagna & I chose the tagliatelle, both with a bolognese/bechamel creme sauce topped with parm that was worth coming back for! There are also fresh salads, flatbreads, homemade desserts, charcuterie and daily pasta specials. I would love to come back and try more of an array of sauces & pasta shapes - eyeing the ravioli, tortellini and rigatoni with sauces including the pesto, brown butter & sage, and the meatballs. With friendly counter service and dishes that won't break the weekly allowance, Italian Homemade has something special for the busy patron or families that want to sit and stay awhile. Mangia!“