47 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!“

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

“The lamb chops were phenomenal!“

“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!“

“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!!“

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

“Montecatini Restaurant is always a welcome evening for our family. We can always count on perfectly prepared meals every time whether it's a traditional pasta dish, seafood or house specialty item. Their service is friendly and efficient and our experiences there are consistently top-notch. We love to start with either the prawns wrapped in pancetta with pesto aioli appetizer or the bay shrimp on butter lettuce salad. The prawns are full of flavor and great to share, and the bay shrimp salad is a great portion, small meal-size with delicate balance of flavors. The carpaccio is also a favorite of our family, we order it with the arugula, red onion and dijon dressing. You cannot go wrong when ordering your favorite Italian entrees; we've literally never had even an average experience here! Pastas are perfectly cooked, well sauces and the portions are abundant. The Classics are authentic, delicious and the seafood entrees are always perfectly executed! They offer a full bar and a wonderful wine list! This restaurant gets my highest recommendation!“

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

“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.“

“Special restaurant in an unassuming strip mall in El Cerrito. Well worth the trip. Food was delicious. We’ve been three times, and last two we were served by Dolly’s husband, a truly hospitable and knowledgeable restaurateur. Dolly is the chef and equally delightful. The cheese wheel pasta is fantastic. I’ve tried a few other menu items, and have never been disappointed.“

“I went at 11:30am on a Wednesday. I ordered the pulpo twice and two glasses of a dry white wine recommended by my server, who is a delightful man with a charming accent. Though the restaurant was practically empty when I first walked in they had a relaxing vibe with a mostly pastel/white interior. I've had better pulpo, but not in walnut creek. If I wasn't able to go to oakland/San Francisco for octopus, I would come here.“

“They have a guest dock. Good food.“

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

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

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

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

“Great ambiance, service, and cuisine!“

“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)“

“I came here for happy hour and dinner. Decent selection on the HH menu which is from 3-5. We ordered the shrimp and fried ravioli which was $8 per appetizer. We considered ordering the Kobe sliders but opted for a $35 prime rib dinner which came with a loaded baked potato and sautéed veggies. I split this and 2 happy hour appetizers with my friend and it hit the spot! Just when I thought I didn’t have room for dessert I made room. The butter toffee cake was delicious and I highly recommend it!

It was slow on a Tuesday night. Service was friendly and attentive. Def worth a visit!“

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

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

“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 write this review as I am getting ready to leave Walnut Creek for San Diego. I made it a point to stop by PanCoast one last time. Why?

Best sandwiches man. Simply put. Get the italian.

Thanks for everything PanCoast. I mean it“

“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.“

“great food. good service.“

“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!“

“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!“

“love the food and the family“

“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.“

“Great Hamburgers and garlic bread.“

“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!“

“Great sandwiches in downtown Berkeley with a lovely patio“

“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!“

“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!“

“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.“

“Had a great meal, Chicken Parm was on point! Kid had Shrimp Pomodoro and loved it! The Peach hard lemonade was delicious!!“

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

“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.“

“Food was alright and not as good as usual. both Calzones seemed a bit burnt on the outside. And we had to wait quite sometime for the cashier to be done taking orders on the phone. Maybe the owner should hire more people to help out and dont have few people do multiple tasks all at once.“