50 Best Italian Restaurants near Fairfax

“I arrived around 630pm on Thursday and it is quite busy in that area of Fairfax where lots of other restaurants are. I had a hard time finding parking, I circled around about 3 times and couldn’t even find a parking lot spot or spot I can walk to. I eventually found street parking that was somewhat in a red area but everyone said it was fine.

They have both indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor seating is forward facing just like in Europe to enjoy and people watch. There were mainly 2 people serving but they were super nice and friendly. We were given a pre-fixed menu to choose from for $30z

I opted for the tomatoes, basil, and garlic crostini. For my pasta I for the braised beef ragu (mezzemaniche bolognese), and for dessert I got the chocolate hazelnut gelato which tasted like Nutella. I got a glass of red wine that paired well with the pasta I got which I asked them to recommend the glass for me. Other people in my table got the carbonara which had pretty big pieces of pork and pork fat if you’re really into that, and others got the vegetarian friendly spaghettis. The pastas were definitely heavy and filling. Almost everyone was able to take the rest home for leftovers.

Can’t wait to come back here in the future! Such an authentic Italian dining experience in the North Bay!“

“THE WINE…just order the wine and everything will be ok in the world again! Great blends from Napa Valley , as good as any expensive vineyard , the owner blends and creates them for years, STRONG WINE, UNBELIEVABLE TASTE! The food is amazing, I’m a New Yorker and loved it ! The gluten free pasta was done to perfection! Wished I lived closer…we would be there every week! The ambiance and staff were inviting , and the owner is a vibe unto himself! Our waiter was from NYC too and he gave us a sheet of poems to take with us! Overall, great experience! ✌️❤️🌈 @thehappiesthippie !“

“Great place to have a delicious dinner, friendly staff and amazing food.“

“The food and wine are fantastic!“

“A wonderful first time experience at Luna Blu with my sisterfriend Betty on Wednesday, June 29th. Excellent, friendly service by Chrissie and she was kind enough to make suggestions since I am a Vegan. THANK YOU Chrissie. The owner took a moment to come to our table and we expressed our satisfaction and delight with her. Plan to visit again. Smiles from Baltimore.“

“Situated on Ark Row, Servino Trattoria is run by Natale Servino, who I would venture to call a proper, old-school restaurateur. He clearly runs a tight ship, but the restaurant still has plenty of soul and personality, which I think is a difficult balance to get right. There’s structure, but it doesn’t feel sterile. The care is there.

Servino gives you a few different ways to experience the place. You can sit outside and keep things casual, grab a seat in the Enoteca bar, or eat in the main dining room, which is very nice and gives you a view into a seriously impressive kitchen.

The quality of the ingredients is obvious. They source local California and San Francisco-caught fish, high-quality meats and produce, and some of the best olive oil I’ve ever had. I’m still trying to figure out exactly what olive oil they use because I genuinely cannot seem to find anything quite like it.

Jennifer was our waitress and an absolute sweetheart. A Bay Area local who gave us great recommendations for both food and drinks and made the whole evening better. The service had that perfect blend of professionalism and freedom that, in my opinion, gives a restaurant soul. You’re taken care of, but nobody is hovering over you.

It’s been a little while since this particular dinner, but I still remember most of it. We started with the Santa Cruz-caught bluefin tuna carpaccio 🫰🏼 and the Crostini con Cucuzza with stracciatella and summer squash, which was absolutely delicious. The crostini in particular was out of this world for being relatively simple.

I had a vermouth cocktail that was excellent as well. When I go back, I’ll try something else.

The standout for me was the house-made squid-ink pasta with uni. They absolutely loaded it with uni, which Natale graciously explained how they’re able to do. There’s a running joke among my friends about being a “uni pasta hog” because most uni pasta gives you like four beautiful pieces of uni and suddenly sharing becomes a moral dilemma.

Not here.

Natale explained that they’re able to source some of the less visually perfect pieces rather than paying a premium exclusively for pristine whole uni tongues. Same ingredient, same flavor, much better economics, and they can actually load the pasta with it. I loved that. It made it possible to share without feeling like you’re either skimping or hogging all the best bites.

We finished with a seasonal fruit crostata, which was also delicious.

Servino felt like a restaurant run by people who genuinely care about the ingredients, the kitchen and the experience. It’s polished without losing its personality. Natale runs a tight ship, Jennifer made us feel at home, the kitchen clearly knows what it’s doing, and the ingredients speak for themselves.

There’s soul in the place. That’s what I appreciate most. I attached the few photos I took. The food was too good to spend my time taking photos.“

“Wonderful food and service. Highly recommend!“

“Such a DELICIOUS feast. Every bite of our 3 appetizers and 5 main pastas were sooo good! And the owner who happened to be our waiter was a super charming Italian man who was so accommodating and welcoming. I highly recommend this Larkspur spot.“

“marvelous! Everything was superb. The brussel sprout salad was delicious. the main courses fantastic. I had the clams they were delicate and perfectly cooked. service was super friendly. prices are very reasonable. I would frequent this place if I lived here. you should go!!“

“Awesome Food and kind staff!“

“We had the most delicious pastas and wine! The service was fantastic as well. We highly recommend TKT for your next night out!! Even our toddler was impressed!“

“Everything on the menu is delicious & the staff is the BEST Our favorite“

“Delicious food! Very unassuming, we were so happy we stopped in, food and service were top notch 🍝“

“"5/5 stars! Picco is hands down the best Italian spot in town! The pasta dishes are cooked to perfection, and the pizzas are crispy and flavorful. The service is top-notch, with friendly and attentive staff. Cozy atmosphere and great prices. Highly recommend the Devinci pizza and Brownie for dessert. We'll be back!"“

“I love Fratma! The best Neapolitan-style pizza around — super authentic and absolutely delicious. The atmosphere is informal yet welcoming, and the service is always quick and friendly.

A big shoutout to the Italian busser, who is always incredibly attentive, quick to refill your water, and keeps the table clean throughout the meal. It’s those little touches that make the experience even better.

Definitely one of my favorite spots in San Rafael!“

“Food was really good and the wait staff was very friendly and helpful. Cute place. Good idea for decorations“

“Love take out. The best minestrone and garlic bread. Yummy. Try it.“

“Great Food!!! Great Service!“

“pistachio crusted salmon was excellent. service was spot on. wine was excellent.“

“Best Italian food in town“

“A “5 ⭐️” Seafood Favorite: Picturesque SF atmosphere, friendly service, unbeatable cuisine. Simply the Best!“

“Came in after a long day at work and the pizza hit the spot. It was so good and the customer service was excellent. 10/10 coming back ASAP!! 🍕🤍“

“the ambience and great cuppachino“

“This place is a long time Novato staple. My last visit started off with a friendly greeting from the hostess who led us to our seats. We decided to order glasses of wine versus a bottle for pairing with our dishes. The evening started with a delicious burrata with crostini. I enjoyed the chicken parm with pasta on the side. This is one of my favorite Italian dishes and this one performed above expectations. The chicken was tender and pounded thin while not being over breaded. Thanks, Chianti, for a delicious evening.“

“Great dinning experience Must try“

“I went to San Anselmo with my wife and daughter last week during the Argentina (was rooting for Messi) match. The town looked fantastic once on my way back from Olema and so went back there to have lunch. We thought the place would be nice during the summer days and on 3rd July. But we were kind of disappointed at the beginning, as stayed longer after lunch while watching the game on TV (slightly grumpy bar guy was reluctant to turn the tv sound on, but later he demanded for a pretty please and volume was on - he must have had a long day - anyway he was nice afterwards). Then we saw people were showing up after 3pm and later (the town blocks the roads for live music and kids activities, food etc) - by the time the game was ending the restaurant was full of people with locals mostly. I loved their food and dessert too. Next time will try wine (it seems that is good stuff there). Overall a great experience…“

“Good Food and great service. We had a group of 12 and service was great. Saturday afternoon is a great time to visit. Off the Main Street so not too crazy. Laid back service, but efficient. Waiters Always attentive with the Bread and Water.

Food Good. Calamari Appetizer was really good. Delivered hot and just right.Not over or under battered. They disappeared fast!! Would order those again. Had the Chicken Marsala with scalloped potato and veggies. Delivered hot and fairly quick.

And the waiter was on with the fresh cracked pepper. He must of known people appreciate those little special attentions.

A few had the Lasagne Dish and said it was delicious and Hot. My Wife had the Carbonara. Could have been a little creamier but still had a good flavor. No Alcohol this time, but I did notice their Mimosa offerings for Brunch. Maybe next time.

All in all… I’d go back for sure. Pretty laid back, relaxed atmosphere. Definitely not like the old Marin Joe’s which I do miss.“

“Delicious food and wonderful ambiance. Loved by locals and tourists!“

“Fabulous quality and service addition to the culinary offerings in the quaint town of Ross.
We have visited several times both for dine in and take out and all orders have been met with warm customer service and applause from the entire family for their menu items.

My most recent visit raised to the top of my favorite menu items: veggie tacos- out of this world! Perhaps the best tacos of any kind I’ve ever had…
I love that they don’t use lard to cook their beans, it really shows their commitment to quality.

The lentejas (lentil soup) was perfectly flavored, hearty and just all around delicious.

I know it was a lengthy construction and opening for them, I hope the community really shows them the love, they won’t be disappointed!“

“Stopped there for lunch and it was delicious. Lasagna and Cioppino was delicious 😁“

“Italian Delite Submarine Sandwiches Thank you for supporting the Lucky Run this past Sunday to benefit Novato High School's Safe & Sober Grad Night. We appreciate you! Safe and Sober Grad of Novato“

“The restaurant is lovely, it feels like a small small trataria Italy. The service was perfect, very conscious of the customer's needs. The burrata salad was delicious as was the pizza. The pizzas are cooked, as one would expect in a wood fired stove and are absolutely the best in every way. I want to go back and go through the menu and eat every thing.“

“#AmazingRestaurant #PiazzaDAngelo 🥰“

“First time here, just moved back to the area. It’s Wednesday sun is shining and they have great beers! Service has been amazing, saw some negative reviews and not sure if I got lucky because of the timing.
Not very busy, a couple of TV’s for sports, honestly for me love this atmosphere. Oh and big plus they are dog friendly. You will enjoy your time here if you are not in a rush or trying to be too “Marin”“

“Great services, friendly“

“Very comfortable, family oriented restaurant with great food and service“

“Stefano's is our favorite work night pizza place! Thursday us pizza night at our house, and we stop by for quick slices and salad. The food is always delicious and the staff are friendly and helpful. It's also fun to listen to Brazilian Portuguese being spoken. All I can say is "Obregado!"“

“Great good and service, feels like being in Rome!“

“Excellent overall. Olivier is a authentic restaurant owner and leader ensuring high standards all around - he keeps his team happy and engaged so they give exceptional service and quality. We are so grateful and have enjoyed our experience every time we've dined. The outside seating on the patio is lovely and a rare find. We highly recommend for any occasion with any company. My husband is from France and he agrees with this testimonial.“

“Not rating atmosphere since small take place, although front patio has couple tables with small view of SF Bay. This is our favorite Friday night pizza ! Call and order ahead and pick it up 30 min later on busy night. Always ready, always good. Great gluten free pizza, plain cheese and Hawaiian regulars are great!“

“This place was excellent! A little hole in the wall right off of the 101. Me and my husband were driving home late from SF and wanted to grab a bite to eat on the way home. This place is open until 130 in the morning, so makes a great late night option. The crust is made of sourdough and is the perfect amount of crispy and chewy. The sauce was tangy and rich and the toppings tasted fresh. Overall 10/10. The atmosphere wasn't anything to write home about but the food and the guy making the pizzas were excellent and made the hole in the wall vibe. Will go again the next time I'm driving out of the city late at night.“

“The pizza was good — not amazing, but solid — and the ranch dressing was incredible. We popped in because The Village had a 45-minute wait and got seated right away, which was a win. Lots of TVs, so we could watch both the MLB playoffs and college football, and our server was genuinely great — friendly and helpful. That said, it definitely leans more toward an adult vibe. Even though there’s an arcade, the prices are a bit steep ($17 for a kid’s spaghetti and one meatball). And the playlist? Let’s just say it was giving “bow chicka bow wow late-night R&B” energy — not exactly the soundtrack I expected for family pizza night at 6:30 p.m on a Saturday. We’ll probably go back, but next time, maybe earlier in the day when hopefully it’s more family-friendly.“

“Best kept secret of Southern Marin! Family owned and so many Brazilian treats to try! Everything new thing I try just blows me away and you will always leave happy and feel like family!“

“Red boy has long been our favorite pizza place around Southern Marin. The sausage they use is particularly good. Unfortunately, lately who's ever making the crust is not evening it out properly. The crust under the fillings is way too thin and most of the bread has been pushed out to the rim which is now way too fat. Hopefully it's just a temporary problem with a new pizza maker learning the craft, but we did not enjoy eating big gobs of bread the last two times.“

“We are from out of state traveling from the San Jose Airport to Ukiah, CA. We are in CA traffic with no rest stops. I googled bathroom and my app sent me to this restaurant. The hostess graciously let me use their ladies room. I am grateful!!! The restroom (and bathroom) were immaculate, the setting on the water beautiful and the aroma tantalizing. If you are in the area give this restaurant a try!“

“Lockdown YUM- Thank you! 😷😋“

“My wife and I and our kid were on a road trip to Santa Rosa going for the first time and we needed a quick place to stop for lunch. We found this pizza place and it worked out Perfectly! It was a nice sit-down fast enough experience and the pizza was surprisingly tasty yummy full of flavor and cooked crispy fresh and the pasta was yummy rich flavor as well! They had good garlic bread well. Plus a nice kid's menu with crayons and a coloring page for our child. The prices were reasonable and the service was prompt and professional. We had never eaten at a Red Boy franchise before and I would like to try it again. I am really Thankful it was convenient and good for my Family!
Highly Recommended!“

“Great ambiance , lively and friendly !“

“Amazing dinner. Excellent service from Kate!“