50 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!“

“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.“

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

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

“The lamb chops were phenomenal!“

“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!“

“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.“

“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 ?“

“I had a takeout pizza from this restaurant last night first of all the customer service was absolutely excellent. The person that answered the phone had a really pleasant customer focused manner , nothing was too much trouble and he was so polite. The pizza was absolutely amazing , I hate anything that is too heavy and it was so light and lovely , the ingredients tasted extremely fresh , I would 100% recommend this place based upon my first experience and I will be back thanks so much 🥰“

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

“They have a guest dock. Good food.“

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

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

“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.“

“My family and I were celebrating my 69th birthday prior to attending the Lesher theater on Friday, December 12th. When I made the reservation, the only option was to sit outside. It was very chilly that night so we opted to eat at the bar instead. Lupita, the hostess, and staff went out of their way to put 2 tables together so we could eat indoors and all at one table.
In addition to the lovely staff, the food was delicious and the wait staff was very attentive. Many thanks to everyone for making my birthday dinner feel special.“

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

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

“We love going to La Finestra. The food, the service, and the ambiance are outstanding. A restaurant with white table cloths! It is truly a special, wonderful neighborhood restaurant. One of our favorites! Add to it beautiful, background piano music by Bob Athayde. Thank you for an outstanding experience all the way around.“

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

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

“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!“

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

“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!“

“Great cozy atmosphere inside, it definitely makes you feel like you’re dining at a neighborhood pasta shop - which you are!

My Tortelli Bolognese was fantastic, as was the accompanying bread.

Unfortunately, my dessert cannolo was served with mascarpone which had split and was grainy, which is the only reason I didn’t give 5 stars.

Will definitely be back for more pasta!“

“love the food and the family“

“Great sandwiches in downtown Berkeley with a lovely patio“

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

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

“great food. good service.“

“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!“

“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!“

“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.“

“Great ambiance, service, and cuisine!“

“The food was good basic Italian fare. The mixed drinks are well priced but the quality could be improved. The atmosphere was okay but would be better if made a bit cozier. It's a good start for a nice family run neighborhood restaurant and bar.“

“On January 2nd, I visited Gypsy’s Trattoria Italiana in Berkeley with a friend, and let me tell you, this place is a hidden gem.

I ordered Special #2: a huge plate of pasta in a rich, creamy pesto-style sauce with veggies, topped with tender, well-seasoned steak strips and served with hot, steamy garlic bread slathered in freshly made smashed garlic butter. It came out piping hot and smelled incredible. My friend had a different pasta dish and could only finish half—the portions are no joke. I definitely overate, in the best way.

The vibe is casual, the service is quick, and the staff are friendly and warm. For the price, the food honestly rivals what you’d get at some high-end Italian restaurants, which makes it an easy yes for me.

I highly recommend not only visiting Gypsy’s, but specifically ordering Special #2 if you see it. I’d love for them to cement this as a permanent menu item. It deserves a permanent spot! I’ll absolutely be back and plan to bring family from all over the world here when they visit Berkeley.“

“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 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 Hamburgers and garlic bread.“

“The restaurant feels almost like a hole in the wall. The atmosphere feels very authentic, and very peaceful. The staff are amazing, and have always been so polite to my family and I. I have seen staff members immediately go to hold the door open for those who use canes or wheelchairs. Over the times I’ve been there, I had many of their items, and all of them are great. My favorite item is the Gnocchi with Gorgonzola. Overall, this restaurant is absolutely an underrated gem, and I’d completely recommend it.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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!“

“Good food, friendly server.“

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

“Friendly, professional and fine cuisine!“