Came here for lunch today and was surprised to find the food stand outside a house. I'll admit I was a bit nervous at first ( a ton of social anxiety and no cash ) but seeing everyone's reviews on yelp gave me the nudge I needed to try it. Food stand owner was nice and he takes card! I got the fettuccini alfredo with chicken for $20. The price is a bit high for the food portion but I understand that inflation has made things more expensive, its a one man team and its a small business. Pasta/chicken tasted good but the pasta was a bit undercooked. Overall I was satisfied with my experience and food today and highly recommend yall come check it out
Rita K.
I was craving some delicious and hearty pasta without breaking my wallet, so I stumbled upon the place through Yelp. What a great find! Finally a place to grab affordable Italian food with generous portions. I'm so happy! At first I thought it was on the street like how the other taco trucks were operating, so I drove by the first time, couldn't find it and drove home. Called the # and John picked up, explaining he operates in his backyard and is open until 9pm! Awesome! I placed my order via phone for meatball penne pasta, chicken alfredo fettuccine, and 2 cannolis. I drove to his house again and went through his backyard, picked up my food, and had a nice chat with him. John was super friendly! There are signs outside his house pointing to his backyard so I'm not sure how I missed it the first time! LOL. It's on a street near the executive business Costco with tons of food vendors outside, mostly taco trucks and such. So seeing Italian food was a nice find! And my order was done so quickly, within 10 minutes or so. The meatball penne pasta hit the spot, came with soooo many meatballs and noodles. I loved the homemade sauce, so delicious. I had some leftovers for the next day, so John does pack tons for you! The chicken alfredo fettuccine was so yummy and creamy, it also came with tons of noodles and solid amount of chicken! We also had some as leftovers the next day. Each pasta dish came with pieces of buttery bread. Great way to soak the sauce with. The cannolis were outstanding, John says he makes it himself so I had high expectations - I bit into it and was left breathless. So good! I don't eat much cannolis, only had it a few times and didn't really thought much of it. Until I had this one here at Taste of Italy. Perfect way to end the meal. Total came out to about $37 for the whole meal excluding tip. Pasta dinner with dessert for two for $37 is a steal! I'm looking forward to coming back here to try their famous meatball sub and other items. I hope John succeeds and do so well, he'll be able to scale and expand his menu!
Sophia D.
Finally had the chance to stop by the Tik Tok viral Taste of Italy. Please come by and support the most caring and kind small business owner, John! We ordered the chicken parm dinner & 2 cannolis and both were delicious. He cooks everything for you on the spot and he has really great food handling procedures. It was a really hot day so I was worried about the food handling techniques so I watched him pretty carefully and there was no cross contamination, everything was stored in a ice filled cooler, and the stove/cooking area was extremely clean. He also changed gloves a few times in between handling the different dishes. The chicken was thin and was seasoned perfectly. I loved how generous he was with the sauce and cheese. The noodles were also a perfect al dente.The cannolis were delicious! I loved how they were filled on the spot, this kept them crispy and the cold cream was super refreshing on a hot day!
Lissette M.
Amazing Fettuccine Alfredo (with chicken)! And such quick service, will be coming back for sure!
D.wight L.
Brought in a take-out order for my co-worker and I, as we both take turns in bringing stuff in for us to try. We're both adventurous so doing the same places week in and out ain't gonna cut it for us. I'd say this is pretty adventurous as it isn't a conventional brick and mortar. It is a mobile food stand on the side of road, kinda in a cross between an industrial and a residential road. A little hard to locate exactly as on a Saturday afternoon, there were other food stands on this side of the road, as I guess it's kind of thing out here in Hayward. But if you're no stranger to food trucks or make shift stands, then this shouldn't be a big deal. One man operation, appears to be someone who used to work in restaurants and just trying to do this on his own. I respect any walk of life where they are trying to earn a living/keep, no matter how or where. I respect that so much more than people sitting at a traffic light, expecting money to be just given to them. Very small menu which fits the operation. There are basically 3 items: meatballs, Italian Sausage and Chicken Parmesan. Any of those you can get either in sandwich form on a roll or over a generous serving of pasta in a take-out box. There may be 1-2 other things but this is the gist of the menu. Now I did find the name "Taste of Italy" to be quite amusing. I'd say closer to "Taste of Jersey" is much more apt, as this is straight up American Italian. I grew up and had ties to many, so this is actually quite familiar and comforting to me.Chicken Parmesan Sandwich ($12/3.5*) The chicken part was decent. Thin sliced chicken breast, lightly grilled/fried and topped with a bit of tomato sauce and a ton of melted provolone cheese. There's also some sauteed onions and peppers there too. The chicken is not the breaded type, just simple pounded thin chicken, that is actually not dry, which is to be commended. The tomato sauce is super basic as I could barely tell it was there. The cheese is a bit overdone for me, but most Americans love a ton of gooey cheese pull, which is why this is much more American than it is Italian. My only big knock really is the bread, as it is your basic grocery type of American roll, soft, squishy with no integrity. But I don't think you're gonna get any worthy bread from a food truck/stand, so just remember where you are at. Italian Sausage over Penne Pasta ($15/3.5*) Okay the Italian Sausage part is legit, probably the New York brand that is actually a Bay Area company. It is commonly found in most grocery stores out here from Costco to Safeway to Grocery Outlet. Here it is sliced up and appears to get another browning as some of the slices have a browned crust, which is a nice bonus. The tomato sauce again I could barely tell. It added more to moisten the dish than to flavor it IMO. Peppers and onions again and this time grated parm on top. I felt the over all pasta was bland or not having enough sauce or using a sauce with not enough umphh. But with the bites of the flavorful sausage and some Tabasco from work, this was easily a not bad reheated meal. So rounding up to a 4* cuz like I said, I just gotta give props to people who are willing to share something from within to earn an income. Respect the hustle.
Johnny N.
A rare place with so much value. 100% recommend to anyone that comes to Hayward/Norcal and want to grab a bite of some good authentic Italian food. Amazed by how great the food tasted.
TJ J.
Love the meatball sub. It is a must try. Also their yummy canoli completed my dinner.
Issa L.
Finally got to taste this tik tok viral italian spot! We ordered the fettuccine alfredo + chicken, also the big cannolis! the chicken was moist and well seasoned, the pasta saucy and delicious! the garlic bread was also really good! the cannolis were amazing!! definitely lived up to the expectations. John was very kind and he is the only one running the show, so be patient when ordering.
S M.
My bf and I drive pass by taste of Italy almost everyday and he always wanted to try. We were both off yesterday and finally got to stop by. Food was good, but portions are definitely on the smaller side for the price. We ordered 2 chicken fettuccine Alfredo, meatball sub, and 3 orders of cannolis. We didn't get to take a picture of the cannolis . The food gets cooked when you order, so you will need to wait a bit. We were able to use the Groupon $15 for $30 as well. Overall, this place is worth the try!
Derek Y.
Can't beat the prices! Good stuff from a neighborhood cook authentic Italian! Loved the cannolis too
Wife and I moved from NY to the Bay Area and have yet to find a solid Italian American joint until today. We had a chicken parm sub that was delicious and satisfying and cannolis with a filling John made himself which hit the spot. Will be returning!
MDCaregiving
delicious food, we had the chicken parm plate, delish !, and sausage and sweet peppers sandwich was an ole" school treat.
Dean Cherubs
I am humbly honored, as an East Coast Man, kidnapped by "friends, of the boot"...Have found home, at this Eatery.Come feast, at, The Taste of Italy.Had the Chicken Fettucine Alfredo.It half twisted my wrist, hefting.Sauce is savory, but light, and the chicken, singed nicely, drapes of olive oil, bleeding to the surface.I am now Avidly Hooked.A New York Italian, now proffers, Home Cooked Love.Bring the Family.Make it Happen.Delight.Feast.Billy Joel Approved !
Dean S.
Finally, A New York Italian brings hearty fare, from the Boot, to the East Bay.Cooked with love wnd Brooklyn roots, I now know where to go in Hayward.What a delight, to support a caring, small business owner, fresh in Cali !Uploaded a photo to Out the Snowflake whose only complaints are portions.I am a professional Tree Guy, so if my hearty appetite is satiated, then you will to.Lets' keep Authentic Italian flowing !Come savore The Taste of Italy.Sinatra would approve !
Came here for lunch today and was surprised to find the food stand outside a house. I'll admit I was a bit nervous at first ( a ton of social anxiety and no cash ) but seeing everyone's reviews on yelp gave me the nudge I needed to try it. Food stand owner was nice and he takes card! I got the fettuccini alfredo with chicken for $20. The price is a bit high for the food portion but I understand that inflation has made things more expensive, its a one man team and its a small business. Pasta/chicken tasted good but the pasta was a bit undercooked. Overall I was satisfied with my experience and food today and highly recommend yall come check it out
I was craving some delicious and hearty pasta without breaking my wallet, so I stumbled upon the place through Yelp. What a great find! Finally a place to grab affordable Italian food with generous portions. I'm so happy! At first I thought it was on the street like how the other taco trucks were operating, so I drove by the first time, couldn't find it and drove home. Called the # and John picked up, explaining he operates in his backyard and is open until 9pm! Awesome! I placed my order via phone for meatball penne pasta, chicken alfredo fettuccine, and 2 cannolis. I drove to his house again and went through his backyard, picked up my food, and had a nice chat with him. John was super friendly! There are signs outside his house pointing to his backyard so I'm not sure how I missed it the first time! LOL. It's on a street near the executive business Costco with tons of food vendors outside, mostly taco trucks and such. So seeing Italian food was a nice find! And my order was done so quickly, within 10 minutes or so. The meatball penne pasta hit the spot, came with soooo many meatballs and noodles. I loved the homemade sauce, so delicious. I had some leftovers for the next day, so John does pack tons for you! The chicken alfredo fettuccine was so yummy and creamy, it also came with tons of noodles and solid amount of chicken! We also had some as leftovers the next day. Each pasta dish came with pieces of buttery bread. Great way to soak the sauce with. The cannolis were outstanding, John says he makes it himself so I had high expectations - I bit into it and was left breathless. So good! I don't eat much cannolis, only had it a few times and didn't really thought much of it. Until I had this one here at Taste of Italy. Perfect way to end the meal. Total came out to about $37 for the whole meal excluding tip. Pasta dinner with dessert for two for $37 is a steal! I'm looking forward to coming back here to try their famous meatball sub and other items. I hope John succeeds and do so well, he'll be able to scale and expand his menu!
Finally had the chance to stop by the Tik Tok viral Taste of Italy. Please come by and support the most caring and kind small business owner, John! We ordered the chicken parm dinner & 2 cannolis and both were delicious. He cooks everything for you on the spot and he has really great food handling procedures. It was a really hot day so I was worried about the food handling techniques so I watched him pretty carefully and there was no cross contamination, everything was stored in a ice filled cooler, and the stove/cooking area was extremely clean. He also changed gloves a few times in between handling the different dishes. The chicken was thin and was seasoned perfectly. I loved how generous he was with the sauce and cheese. The noodles were also a perfect al dente.The cannolis were delicious! I loved how they were filled on the spot, this kept them crispy and the cold cream was super refreshing on a hot day!
Amazing Fettuccine Alfredo (with chicken)! And such quick service, will be coming back for sure!
Brought in a take-out order for my co-worker and I, as we both take turns in bringing stuff in for us to try. We're both adventurous so doing the same places week in and out ain't gonna cut it for us. I'd say this is pretty adventurous as it isn't a conventional brick and mortar. It is a mobile food stand on the side of road, kinda in a cross between an industrial and a residential road. A little hard to locate exactly as on a Saturday afternoon, there were other food stands on this side of the road, as I guess it's kind of thing out here in Hayward. But if you're no stranger to food trucks or make shift stands, then this shouldn't be a big deal. One man operation, appears to be someone who used to work in restaurants and just trying to do this on his own. I respect any walk of life where they are trying to earn a living/keep, no matter how or where. I respect that so much more than people sitting at a traffic light, expecting money to be just given to them. Very small menu which fits the operation. There are basically 3 items: meatballs, Italian Sausage and Chicken Parmesan. Any of those you can get either in sandwich form on a roll or over a generous serving of pasta in a take-out box. There may be 1-2 other things but this is the gist of the menu. Now I did find the name "Taste of Italy" to be quite amusing. I'd say closer to "Taste of Jersey" is much more apt, as this is straight up American Italian. I grew up and had ties to many, so this is actually quite familiar and comforting to me.Chicken Parmesan Sandwich ($12/3.5*) The chicken part was decent. Thin sliced chicken breast, lightly grilled/fried and topped with a bit of tomato sauce and a ton of melted provolone cheese. There's also some sauteed onions and peppers there too. The chicken is not the breaded type, just simple pounded thin chicken, that is actually not dry, which is to be commended. The tomato sauce is super basic as I could barely tell it was there. The cheese is a bit overdone for me, but most Americans love a ton of gooey cheese pull, which is why this is much more American than it is Italian. My only big knock really is the bread, as it is your basic grocery type of American roll, soft, squishy with no integrity. But I don't think you're gonna get any worthy bread from a food truck/stand, so just remember where you are at. Italian Sausage over Penne Pasta ($15/3.5*) Okay the Italian Sausage part is legit, probably the New York brand that is actually a Bay Area company. It is commonly found in most grocery stores out here from Costco to Safeway to Grocery Outlet. Here it is sliced up and appears to get another browning as some of the slices have a browned crust, which is a nice bonus. The tomato sauce again I could barely tell. It added more to moisten the dish than to flavor it IMO. Peppers and onions again and this time grated parm on top. I felt the over all pasta was bland or not having enough sauce or using a sauce with not enough umphh. But with the bites of the flavorful sausage and some Tabasco from work, this was easily a not bad reheated meal. So rounding up to a 4* cuz like I said, I just gotta give props to people who are willing to share something from within to earn an income. Respect the hustle.
A rare place with so much value. 100% recommend to anyone that comes to Hayward/Norcal and want to grab a bite of some good authentic Italian food. Amazed by how great the food tasted.
Love the meatball sub. It is a must try. Also their yummy canoli completed my dinner.
Finally got to taste this tik tok viral italian spot! We ordered the fettuccine alfredo + chicken, also the big cannolis! the chicken was moist and well seasoned, the pasta saucy and delicious! the garlic bread was also really good! the cannolis were amazing!! definitely lived up to the expectations. John was very kind and he is the only one running the show, so be patient when ordering.
My bf and I drive pass by taste of Italy almost everyday and he always wanted to try. We were both off yesterday and finally got to stop by. Food was good, but portions are definitely on the smaller side for the price. We ordered 2 chicken fettuccine Alfredo, meatball sub, and 3 orders of cannolis. We didn't get to take a picture of the cannolis . The food gets cooked when you order, so you will need to wait a bit. We were able to use the Groupon $15 for $30 as well. Overall, this place is worth the try!
Can't beat the prices! Good stuff from a neighborhood cook authentic Italian! Loved the cannolis too
Restaurantji Recommends
Wife and I moved from NY to the Bay Area and have yet to find a solid Italian American joint until today. We had a chicken parm sub that was delicious and satisfying and cannolis with a filling John made himself which hit the spot. Will be returning!
delicious food, we had the chicken parm plate, delish !, and sausage and sweet peppers sandwich was an ole" school treat.
I am humbly honored, as an East Coast Man, kidnapped by "friends, of the boot"...Have found home, at this Eatery.Come feast, at, The Taste of Italy.Had the Chicken Fettucine Alfredo.It half twisted my wrist, hefting.Sauce is savory, but light, and the chicken, singed nicely, drapes of olive oil, bleeding to the surface.I am now Avidly Hooked.A New York Italian, now proffers, Home Cooked Love.Bring the Family.Make it Happen.Delight.Feast.Billy Joel Approved !
Finally, A New York Italian brings hearty fare, from the Boot, to the East Bay.Cooked with love wnd Brooklyn roots, I now know where to go in Hayward.What a delight, to support a caring, small business owner, fresh in Cali !Uploaded a photo to Out the Snowflake whose only complaints are portions.I am a professional Tree Guy, so if my hearty appetite is satiated, then you will to.Lets' keep Authentic Italian flowing !Come savore The Taste of Italy.Sinatra would approve !