50 Best Italian Restaurants near El Cerrito

“We had a relaxed and enjoyable meal. The owner is warm and friendly. Personable service. Food was great. Especially enjoyed the pasta tossed in Parmesan wheel. Everything was top notch. And laid back. Sitting inside was great. Sat and the bar and she told us about her product and process. Will also be nice to return in wam weather and take advantage of outdoor seating. Unpretentious comfortable restaurant with excellent food & quality of product & service.“

“One of my favorite local spots. Tonight had the seafood ravioli with shrimp…delicious! Our server was Dolly! She made me a good Manhattan and gave me sweet dessert for my birthday. Thanks Dolly for the wonderful service.“

“Amazing service and food!!!!“

“Sorella is one of our favorite restaurants in SF. We're moving out in March, so we had to come back to it one last time, and, as with all the other times we have been there, it did not disappoint. 5 star service 5 star food and drinks 5 star setting What more could you ask? Shoutout to Jocyln for bringing us an extra treat at the end of the night and for being a great waitress. :) Timo“

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

“We loved our long lunch at Zuni Cafe during a recent SF trip. We sat upstairs next to the window. The chicken & bread salad is amazing. The NA cocktails and NA wine are delicious, as were the alcoholic options. Service was lovely. Highly recommend if you have time to linger over a meal.“

“Excellent service and great food!“

“Amazing service and food!!!!“

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

“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.“

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

“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“

“The lamb chops were phenomenal!“

“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. ❤️❤️❤️“

“A quaint, maybe even unassuming, Italian restaurant, that has a top notch kitchen and service. The menu cycles, but I have never been disappointed. Pizzas are outstanding, be they breakfast or lunch, and the all of the baked goods have clearly been perfected. Don't miss this spot, especially if you're a coffee connoisseur.“

“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!“

“A wonderful experience from the friendly greeting to the waiter who recommended outstanding dishes to the wine selection and ambiance! My wife had linguini with clams and I had the wild boar with paparadelle! Amazing. We started with pai pai oysters which were buttery And delicious. We paired our meal with a bottle of Vermentino, a lovely crisp dry white with a slight fruity finish. For dessert we had the chef special a lively custard with strawberries. We were treated like we were special and never rushed! Overall an enjoyable dinner. I would highly recommend North Beach Restaurant for anyone visiting San Francisco!“

“The food was really good. The standouts were the Calamari Fritti, Caponatta, and the Cosacca. The Ruccola was the only dish that felt flat, but tasted fresh. Service was good and we luckily did not need a reservation. Would definitely return and it's recommended!“

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

“The owner and staff are amazing. They are actively walking around and making you feel welcome and like a regular. We showed up without a reservation and some regulars were happy to scoot over and make room at the bar. Food was great and we had a really great time.“

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

“Being a vegetarian, we had a fantastic experience at Che Fico.

Here’s what we ordered:

Mocktails
• Tiramanto – Excellent, not too sweet.
• Morso Di Vipera – Slightly on the tangy side, but still very enjoyable

Appetizer
• Focaccia – A must-try. Easily one of the best bread and mascarpone combinations I’ve had

Main Course
• Orecchiette Pasta – The only egg-free pasta option. Super tangy in flavor, and the portion felt tiny for the $36 price
• Margherita Pizza – Another must-try, especially with their chili bomba

Overall: Amazing food and a great spot for vegetarians. Highly recommended!“

“(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!“

“Awesome yummy food with a friendly atmosphere 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.“

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

“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.“

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

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

“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!“

“This place was one of the best highlights of our trip!! Real Italian food. The owners were real gentlemen. The way that they worked that restaurant was amazing. I was amazed by their food and service, both authentic. My friend and I had the best time. We would go again and again!“

“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.“

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

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

“Awesome food and outstanding service“

“Excellent Roman dishes prepared with care and authenticity. Not just pasta, but a thoughtfully crafted menu paired with a high-quality wine selection. The chef and the owner are amazing, and from the food to the service, everything felt genuinely Roman.“

“Beautiful locale, cozy and delicious food.“

“Great food. Great experience“

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

“We had the Cesar, meatballs and bread with pesto sauce and the butternut squash as a main. The food was absolutely delish, the atmosphere was perfect and the service was exceptional. Highly recommend and hopefully you get Stefano as your server, he’s wonderful!“

“Some of the best Italian food to be found anywhere in San Francisco...“

“The food was amazing, home cooking at its best! My whole family, including my picky eaters, loved the food!😋“

“We had the sweet potato gnocchi, focaccia, Italian wedding soup, and the short rib pappardelle. Best Italian I've had in the states!! The gnocchi was so soft and the sauce was divine. The focaccia was crunchy and salty and the outside and so soft on the inside. And the best was the short rib pappardelle - the flavor had layers and left a hint of orange which was so delightful!“

“Great vibe and service! Outdoor seating is cozy and clean, lovely place to stop by for the midday bites, drinks and some casual chitchat. Loved the burrata crostini, calamari and salami pizza. Would love to go again and try out their dinner and lunch menu some time.“

“Delicious food and excellent service! Highly recommend!“

“When I can’t sleep, I remember the time I had dinner here and I miss the taste of this place.“

“If you like dark places to enjoy your meal- go! If you like great service- go! If you’re into gnocchi that’s like mamas-go! From start to finish all and all a great meal at a great value. And a very generous bartender/server. Thank you!“

“Went to dinner for my birthday! Had a delicious chicken a la parmigiana, a Peroni beer and for dessert, a slice of chocolate cake and some crème brûlée! 😋 Everything was so delicious! 👍🏼🥳“