48 Best Italian Restaurants near Orinda

“Deliciousness for value and warmth for atmosphere. The host is always welcoming and service accommodating. New favorite place for life. 🤓“

“This was our first time. Food was authentic Northern Italian. My family are from Le Marche’. The pizza & polla Parmagano was loved by our teenagers. And the Gnocchi was cooked to order per my request. Definitely adding this to my top 3 restaurants“

“Still kicking ass after all these years. Definitely one of the best pizzas around. Be warned, closing at 8:30 doesn't mean you can get food until 8:30, that's when they shut the door and go home. More like they want the last to-go order in by 8 and start shutting down the dining room at 7:30-7:45.“

“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!“

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

“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.“

“The lamb chops were phenomenal!“

“the margherita pizza is so delicious. i literally only order it everytime, to the point that they know my name with my order HAHA.
super authentic, delicious, and the staff are really friendly as well. I'm lucky to be able to go as often as I do, and i love the food here so much!!“

“Honestly the best tasting marinara and meatballs I’ve tasted outside of Italy.
Super selection of great European wines and very reasonably priced. On top of that, the owners of this cute little operation are the nicest people. What’s not to like ?“

“You gotta love an elevated neighborhood pasta place. Their staff has always been nice and helpful. their menu (although it changes pretty frequently) is always good. It's also nice to have a pasta place actually offer gluten free pasta that is as good as their other pasta!“

“Very tasty and carefully seasoned. All dishes were perfection“

“I celebrated my 23rd birthday here and they put little confetti on the table we reserved. It was a small gesture but it made me feel extra special :) It was a wonderful experience and the staff were so nice and welcoming. I highly recommend for anyone celebrating anything special!!“

“great food, ambiance and service and wine list.“

“We are new to the area/California from NY we were delighted to find pizza as amazing as home! Friendly owner and staff.“

“Wonderful staff, food is fresh and delicious. Consistent quality and warmth of environment. - Don Dikun“

“Our waiter was outstanding. Great personality, welcoming, and knowledgeable. He was attentive without being intrusive. The cocktails were amazing and the food was absolutely top notch. This is a place I will return to often and recommend to others“

“You have to go there from brunch!! The dishes are packed with flavor and love. Fresh wonderful oatmeal, cheese eggs on toast! Omg all so delicious and Donna is an amazing host.“

“What a beautiful place. Angela went above & beyond to squeeze in 3 of us to see a great band, Grooveline. The food was outstanding and the drinks had a punch. Our server Barbara was amazing. The place was packed & she was really running all night yet had a fun, pleasant attitude. Everyone danced all night. Such a great vibe. I would definitely go again. I'll follow your FB page for the band calendar. Thank you again Angela!!“

“We went to a baby shower last Saturday. We sat outside which was lovely. The service and food is ALWAYS so good! They do not skimp on their portions! We have been coming here since 1985. Thanks Tony, you know how to do it right!“

“We came in on a Sunday, just in time to catch the live piano music, and it absolutely set the tone for the evening. Rodney (aka “Uncle Rod”), who was standing in that night, was incredibly warm and engaging—so personable and happy to take requests. It felt like we were part of something cozy and communal, not just dining out.

I had the filet mignon special, served with pillowy raviolis and topped with sautéed mushrooms. Every bite was buttery, savory heaven. We brought our own bottle of Nottingham wine, which paired perfectly—thank you to the staff for being so gracious about it.

Between the welcoming service, amazing food, and live music, it made for the kind of night I wish I could bottle up and replay. Highly recommend for anyone craving something special without leaving town (or in my case living in Alamo it was off our beaten path and worth the drive)“

“Great ambiance, service, and cuisine!“

“Recently enjoyed a fabulous dinner at Postino's The food was wonderful, and the service excellent. It was a perfect al fresco dining experience“

“They have a guest dock. Good food.“

“great food. good service.“

“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!“

“The food is excellent and employees are friendly and professional. We had a very pleasant time.“

“Fabulous Food, Drinks and Ambiance! Love this place!!! Five Stars!!!“

“I'm from the East Coast. I grew up there. Pancoast not only delivers great NY style pizza, they also have the wonderful sociable vibe of the east coast where you feel like you're family when you go there. Such good peeps...Nick and Sophie and the whole bunch.“

“Great sandwiches in downtown Berkeley with a lovely patio“

“Great wine, love the squid, love the pastas and desserts!“

“We loved Lo Coco’s. I think that if you like a doughy crust with a good crunch, this is the place for you. The toppings aren’t just american normal toppings, but seem to be seriously sicilian inspired. We got the half weekly special and half combination pizza! I have never liked artichokes more. And the PASTA??? The clam linguine I have had at many restaurants and I think this sauce is my #1 clam linguine of all time. Lemony, creamy, garlic and clam. I’m usually a salad hater, but the salad was light, flavorful, and just enough.“

“Had our pastor and wife appreciation luncheon there. Food was great. Servers were great. Had to thank cook myself.“

“Great Hamburgers and garlic bread.“

“I was introduced to this restaurant by my other “foodie” friend Maria Vargas. I have been there about 4 times now. I appreciate the fresh pasta, the fresh veggies and the excellent service. Will be back again soon.“

“Excellent food, and the patio dining offered perfect weather. Plenty of excellent wines available to accompany the meal. And the staff- wonderful as always“

“I'm from Italy (have lived in Philadelphia for 20 years), and I was in Alameda in 2015 for a friend's wedding. I happened upon this place, and what a joy! Not only is the owner (who ended up at our table, where we had a lovely conversation) Livornese (I'm from Tirrenia, a province of Pisa), but the food was incredible, AND he knew a number of people that I knew! It's been five years, and I really want to go back some day. BOIA! CHE GIOIA!“

“We were driving through the area and hadn’t heard anything about the food here but saw it online and decided to stop. It’s a tiny place and not what I was expecting. The service was very kind, with smiles and courtesy. The food was AMAZING and honestly, I didn’t expect it to be that good. I was pleasantly surprised! They know how to make good food! We tried their pasta, calzones and cannolis. Everything was delicious! We couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Thank you! I just wish you did business in my neighborhood in Utah! You would definitely become a personal favorite!“

“This restaurant is no doubt one of the most attractive place in the region. Anytime I visit this place I am so glad. They always keep their high standard service and the highest level of food they offer. You definitely will enjoy this this restaurant. Highly recommended.“

“My wife and I dropped in for dinner last night and were greatly impressed. The calamari fritti appetizer was perfect. I had the spaghetti de Mare and my wife had the Eggplant Parmigiana. Both entrees were wonderful. The prices are reasonable. The Pinot Grigio was very good, but I hope, that with time, they will be able to expand their vine list.Chef Roberto is a treasure. We left with smiles and will be back.....soon!“

“Good food, friendly server.“

“So good tried a classic & a square pizza Recommendation from our Genna server. Definitely be back soon.“

“We made our first visit to Ristorante Due Rose last evening (6/2/2023)--what a amazing dinner we had! I had the Linguine Tutto Mare (thin flat pasta with clams, squid, prawns, scallops and fish, seasoned with tomatoes, crushed red pepper, garlic and white wine.). I think the best Italian dish I have ever had (and I have been to Italy). The pasta was cooked to perfection--none of the flavorless stuff you might find elsewhere, and the sauce was out of this world. My husband had the Grigliata di Mare (Grilled scallops, prawns, calamari, parsley, lemon sauce, roasted potatoes and arugula salad) and also raved about it. Great service and reasonable prices. 💞We will definitely be back!“

“love the food and the family“

“Took my friend here for a Mother’s Day lunch. She was feeling blue because her kids didn’t show up. Panini’s was the closest and most convenient since I had to go back to work. I hoped it wouldn’t disappoint and it didn’t. She had a turkey avocado and she said it was just right. The service was spot on&she cheered up a bit. Thanks for that Panini crew.“

“Good pizza !!! Also affiliated with Haddon Hill Cafe. Nice local businesses“

“So so yummy and worth all the hype! This place made me miss home in the best way ever. Their Godfather dish is off the charts. The crisped pancetta and goldenly crisped chicken was everything and more! The pure roasted garlic is so smooth and delectable when spread on the bread. I will say, it's a very humble establishment. The service is quick, the workers are respectable in many ways, and it's simple. It's a place for food without all the extreme over the top stuff you see at restaurants today, while also still bringing you what feels like a piece of home at restaurant level.

Ambiance was chill, many tables inside the restaurant and they definitely do fill up fast!“