“I was so happy finally learn that Orinda has a good pizza place. I waited for it to open at 4pm, placed an order online and it was well worth waiting. I had the chicken pizza, took it back to my place of work and it was still hot and delicious.“
“We had a great dinner here for our first visit. Emma and staff were great. Food was legit. Price points are very fair. Will be back. One thing. I would love to see a tip line on the credit card receipt. I know there is a service charge included in the bill, but if I have a solid experience, and want to leave a little extra $$, I have that option.“
“This was a celebration of International Women's Day for a group of close neighbors, some of whom had not experienced Corso before. The hostess greeting was perfection, as was Vito, our server, Michael our expeditor, and the food was superb❣️ The perfect evening for gratitude to our Women!“
“We kind of ended up here on a fluke and with empty stomachs. We weren't into the experience just wanted the food. Our server, Toni, was accommodating about all of our reasonable ( and less reasonable) requests. We sat in a corner quite close to our neighbors but it wasn't too bad. The sound quality in their space makes it so you don't get bombarded but a lot of loud clanging. It's pretty upscale and the food is Michelin level amazing but also has a chill vibe.Goes without saying, we will certainly be back.Vegetarian options: The veggie options are just as amazing as the non. They are also good about accommodating veggie diets in any part of the menu.We got the peshe- Chilean Sea Bass which was so on point. As we are pescaterian“
“Dropped by with the whole family. I've been going here for years. The service and food has always been good.Can't go wrong here with the food and cocktails.Will be back again for sure.Parking: There was plenty of parking at south shore center“
“Important news flash: they do BRUNCH in addition to incredible dinners. I could write a whole post on how amazing and lovely this is as a date spot for dinner and how much I freaking love their salads and gluten free pizzas (possibly my favorite one in the bay), but this is about brunch.We had no idea they did brunch and when we looked at the menu for it online, it didn’t list any mains. But we went anyway and were blown away. I’m adding a pic of the actual brunch menu so you can see the real selection offered.Y’all, they have a BREAKFAST PIZZA and I promise it’s even better than you would imagine. Do you like breakfast? Do you like pizza? This is a heavenly chimera of two of life’s greatest joys.?? Don’t sleep on the brunch! But also the perfect date spot. Get yourself a restaurant that can do both, and support local.The owner was there during our visit and went out of his way to create an excellent experience. Also, the patio is very dog friendly ?Dietary restrictions: The best gluten free pizzas in the area“
“First time I had Lucia's pizza was at their pop up at the Grand Lake farmers market in oakland, and completely fell in love with the 4 cheese pizza! Decided to try the restaurant a couple of months ago and the didn't disappoint! Pizza was delicious and staff were super nice and friendly! Totally recommend them if you're looking to have a legit Italian pizza experience!“
“Great margherita pizza and cold beer. This restaurant has a large dinning area, outside patio and a good size bar.The pizza I ordered was great, good undercarriage, flavorful and still affordable.The bar has a good selection of beer and wine. I decided to pair my pizza with a craft pint and it didn’t disappoint.“
“So, to begin with. When you see the place from a street, it is not the first choice to swing by, yet when you peek through the window, you'll see an open kitchen with food being cooked nonstop, a hood sign.Inside the place seems a bit crowded, yet you could probably squeeze 8n at the bar if you ask nicely even if you don't have reservation :)And now the food, fantastic italian cusine - the pasta is appropriately aldente, tomato sauce is fantastic, the beef carpaccio blows you away.And in the end you feel guilty if you miss the dessert.I would definitely recommend making a reservation and arrive hungry.Parking in a garage nearby is plenty.“
“A pizza is not just a pizza at this restaurant. It's very different and very good. They call it a pinsa... cloud like pizza. Their description is accurate. It's crispy outside and soft inside... and delicious. We ordered 2 pinsas. One has the same name as the restaurant and was soooooo good, very tasty. We enjoyed both. Their octopus appetizer was one of the best I've ever eaten. Simple preparation that allowed the quality ingredients to shine. The octopus was fresh and tender... not chewy. My spouse loved the grilled exterior of the octopus. I was sorry we did not order 2 of them. Salome our server was wonderful. Her suggestions about the food and wine were spot on. Her only mistake was not suggesting that I order my own octopus appetizer... Still we hope she is our server when we return. Our next time will be for dinner in order to enjoy their full menu.“
“Despite major ongoing renovations, this trusty local spot delivered. “Best steak I've ever had” sez our teen diner. Food, folks, all great even though bar is temporarily upstairs and dining downstairs. Can't wait to return when all done.“
“Classic old school Italian Deli owned by the same family for many decades. Great friendly service. Delicious fresh custom made sandwiches. My favorites: the Italian beef. Also the mortadella with hot coppa on sourdough sliced w/red onions & giadineria Don't forget dessert. Order a cannoli.“
“Pizza lately has been amazing!!! The crust is so perfect and fluffy. I've been eating here from hella but took a break for a while. Started ordering again and it's better then before! Shout out to their friendly staff as well! Give it a try they got some other foods too!“
“We had a wonderful dinner last night. We tried everything from the snacks to the deserts. All pasta dishes were outstanding. The pork chop was excellent. And the dessert sampler is the way to go. Our service, from the owner, to the wine steward to the server were all great. Hope to return soon.“
“Dropped in during an unexpected encounter - I was drawn in from the sidewalk and wanted to know more. I liked the interior a lot - it was bright, clean, open, the walls were adorned with various photographs, from the tables, chairs, lighting fixtures, to the way the condiments were placed out on the tables, everything carried my eyes to wander and admire. I entered during a time when there was only one other person waiting for a to-go order. The guy who was working was nice - especially when I kept asking questions. All of the food looked great, well-stocked, and the display they had showing its name was well read. There was a lot I wanted to try, but I limited myself to two slices of their pizzas. - Capricciosa $7 (one of their most popular ones - mushrooms, olives, artichoke, mozzarella, and ham) - San Daniele $7.50 (this might be a seasonal one as its not listed on their website - had prosciutto and arugula) Checking in on the Yelp app, I received a free piece of their focaccia bread which he cut in two pieces for me. I would love to come back here for their aperitivo (happy hour) which is held from 4-6:30pm. I find that this place is great for a quick bite, grab n' go, and dining in for the cool atmosphere. There are a few two person tables which could be combined together for a larger group and a few bar tables along the wall which is good for two people, along with a few cute tables for outside dining which I'd love to see more of in the state of California. The food tasted amazing! Shared and eaten once I arrived home. I wish I had gotten more to try!“
“Overall a really nice, cozy, but dimly lit neighborhood restaurant. With uniquely organized small plate meals. They've stood the test of time. There is a lot of variation on seating; from a community table, to small 2 and 4 tops in the 2 window front, to a patio and then to a front covid style patio on the street front. Why a 4? Possibly the dim lighting, combined with the excess noise inside.“
“I found my new local favorite. The pizza here is exceptional. Sauce is tangy but not too sweet. The crust is thin and cooked perfectly. The toppings are fresh and flavorful. And the slices are fat. The deserts are good, tried Sicilian canoli for the first time and enjoy it. The best part about the pizza is that it Isn't greasy. And the bottom of the pizza doesn't get all soggy. I really enjoyed the food. Definitely coming back as it's now one of my top 5 pizza spots“
“Pretty good restaurant in Walnut Creek for some classic Italian dishes. The dining space is clean and gives more of an open family feeling to the place. They do also have a nice bar by the front that is kind of separated from the rest of the dining area. The drinks are a little hit or miss here, though. They do skimp on thr alcohol a little bit here, so make sure you order a more liquor-heavy drink or stick with their selection of wines. The food is great and really delicious. There was nothing that our table did not enjoy eating. They do have changing specials, and I highly recommend trying them. The desserts were also very good. Make sure to try their tiramisu since they do give a good portion of it. Overall a great place to take a date or the family.Dietary restrictions: They are able to serve gluten-free pasta upon request.Parking: There are plenty of parking garages if you want to spend money. Not that much free street parking around, though.Kid-friendliness: Good place to take kids for a nice meal with the family.“
“Seeking fantastic southern Italian foods? This is the place! My 1st time here.. they had newly opened on a Friday, I came in on Saturday back in the 80's... I've been returning ever since. The meatballs are Off the Hook! For sure You will find something you like! No disappointments here!“
“Delicious food, 5 stars. Service a bit slow, but mostly pleasantly slow - don't go if you're in a rush or not with people you love. Did take a long time for drinks. Also pretty loud and can be hard to hear, but lovely tables and ambiance. Overall great option, one of the best in the area“
“We've been to Wisegirl twice and had great food both times. We sit in their open "alcove" next to the actual restaurant, which works great for us -- with one exception. Both times, when our food came, we still had no table settings. We had to wait, and in one visit, had to ask twice. They need to bring table settings when they seat you or take your order.“
“Vegetarian options: I had the Mount Etna salad and it was one of the best salads I've ever had! Really colourful with interesting textures and flavours, and warm ingredients were welcome on a cold rainy day! There were lots of other vegetarian options that looked tempting too.“
“Great food, eventually, but we were too stressed out to enjoy it. Four top with reservations for 6 pm seated immediately, yet food didn't arrive for over an hour! The place was packed due to an event across the street at the arts center beginning at 7:30 pm that we had tickets for, so they either overbooked or were short staffed in the kitchen. We'll return, but make reservations for 5 pm next time, or go elsewhere...there are dozens of good options.“
“Excellent pizza, cute atmosphere, and good service. The Neopolitan pizza (i.e., The Benchmark) was excellent as was the caesar salad. Been here twice — the first time the pizza crust was a bit hard, so I wish they would make it fluffier Italian-style, but the second time it was more on-point. Would go again!“
“Can't go wrong with Happy Hours here! Ordered two personal pizzas - deep-dish and thin crust. The blue cheese flavor was kinda lacking, but it's happy hour price so not the end of the world here. Well cocktails are $7 so that's a steal too!Saw a vault on the way to the restroom.. what's that about?“
“Just found this little gem! I live so close to this place and can’t believe I haven’t seen it before. Everything was excellent! I was surprised to find the americano (cocktail) which was amazing! And the pasta so good!!Can’t wait to be back!“
“The service is excellent. I had a ribeye and added grilled zucchini with that. Very good and tender as I had it well done.Others in my party loved the portobello mushroom appetizers.Plenty of parking in the back. Right near freeway for easy access.“
“Having being raised in Italy, it's difficult to find places that not only have the quality, but the feel that connects you to your past. This place fits the bill! Food quality excellent! Atmosphere authentic. Whenever I drive through ( because I'm from out of town), I gladly go out of my way to get a small taste of an authentic Italian flavor. I can't really think of abother place with that real feel.“
“Had a Detroit combo and the Frank's buffalo hot wings. Wings were crispy but will not try again. Pizza is the best I have ever had, worth the atrocious wait time. Will do it again as a special treat, our Detroit Pizza and wings fed 4 people.“
“The best pasta in the bay area made there right in front of you. Atmosphere is only 4 stars just because seating is limited to 6 seats. You can also buy pastas and sauces to go.Wheelchair accessibility: There is a counter that is wheelchair accessible.“
“We had a lovely, quiet dinner. I started with an appetizer special, calamari in a yummy lemon/butter sauce, followed by the ravioli and prawns. My husband enjoyed the mushroom soup followed by the veal. We shared a tiramisu and a couple of espressos. The piano man, Bob, played a couple of requested songs. Delightful. Our server Nemo, was very professional and didn't rush us. We are the ultimate slow eaters!“
“What a find! So delicious. So many choices. I had a wonderful tasting and large calamari steak with the best polenta I've ever had, with Al dente vegetables to round out my dinner. Wife had shells with chicken and broccoli, sun dried tomatoes and a creamy garlic and chicken sauce. Grand daughter had a huge linguine and frutti de Mari. After incredible fresh & zinging minestrone soup and spinach with pears salad. Everything says we will return to try more of their marvelous menu items. And so affordable with many choices less than $20!!!“
“Friday night was busy. We had a reservation for 8:30 however it took a while for the previous party to leave. The food was amazing. Loved the Brussels sprouts and the fennel salad. The pizzas were perfect - even though we were thinking broccoli pizza may not be to everyone's liking, we all enjoyed it. The pear bourbon and pecan dessert also hit its mark.“
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“We did take out of a pie - large - and haven’t eaten it yet. Very soon! We took a chance with the online number guess and lost. Our consolation price was a free large salad - Yay. Because the place is so new the manager didn’t know about the salad offer but as soon as he read my offer on my phone he had staff make up a beautiful salad for us to take home. Nice customer service.“
“When visiting this fine Italian restaurant, be sure to order the Sunday gravy. It's basically every type of meat poured over by a delicious Italian red sauce, and then placed on top of a pile of spaghetti. The drinks were also prepared very well. The line is long so call ahead and make a reservation.“
“Gypsy's Trattoria Italiana at UC Berkeley is a total win! Always hit them up for their lasagna or Godfather pasta - never disappoints. Fresh, fast, and oh-so-good. Bummed they stopped Uber Eats to my area, but still worth the trip. Also, check out the pool hall across the street. Solid gold!“
“Pizza and sports bar with some nice Italian dishes. The chef is a wizard with mushrooms. I had the raviolini, mushroom ravioli in a cream sauce with sundried tomatoes. My companion had chicken Marsala and I grabbed his mushrooms. (He doesn't like them so more for me!) The place is popular. Lots of booth and table seating as well as the bar, all full.“
“Updated April 2024Food is excellent and some very creative dishes based on Italian classics. Although the menu may seem small there were more than enough options that appealed to myself and my wife. Menu could maybe use some regional focus as it seems to be broadly Italian but dishes were hard to pinpoint their exact origin.Great wine and beverage options as well.The space was very inviting and much bigger than the first time we dined here due to an expansion pre pandemic.“
“My gals know I'm normally a Square Pie Guys girl but had to have some pizza on my "cheat day" after my walk around Lake Merrill. I was licking my chops!!!! So yummy and DELISH, if you eat here prepared to have your socks knocked off. Now I know where to get pizza pies for my nieces and nephews for Tim's birthday extravaganza. LOVE IT!“
“Had a rare "kid free" date night here. Food was great. I had the pistachio crusted lamb. Brilliant. Wife had the pomodoro with shrimp. We both loved it. Cocktails were great. They had a nice two piece band playing that didn't overwhelm the room but simply enhanced the vibe. Service was impeccable. We will return for another date night for sure!“
“We wanted a good restaurant close to the Berkeley Playhouse, which had an excellent rendition of Rent, and we were not disappointed with Donato&Co. One of the best things about this restaurant is the wine list – you can get any glass, carafe, or bottle of wine. This is a rarity, especially in the bay area, and it gives you a full spectrum of choices to enjoy. Food was excellent, Including a fantastic black truffle appetizer over a flan like cheese and toasted Parmesan. Pastas were fresh and delicious. Great server who provided excellent recommendations. Highly recommended! “
“This restaurant is so cute and while we were there, the regulars were coming through after work. The staff is extremely friendly and so accommodating. I forgot to take a pic of the complimentary bread and dip and clam chowder soup (soup of the day). It was so good and perfect with our meal. We've been coming here more often and really enjoy the service and the dishes we've ordered. My husband loves the carbonara with fusilli noodles. I've ordered the linguini pesto and the cheese tortellini. Those are my go to. For dessert, I highly recommend the tiramisu and the tartufo.“
“A Birthday Celebration to RememberI recently celebrated my girlfriend's birthday at Passione Emporio, and the experience was nothing short of spectacular. From the moment we walked in, it was evident that this restaurant knows how to make special occasions truly memorable.The food was simply amazing, and the service exceeded our expectations. Our server was not only attentive but also took the time to explain each dish with great detail, enhancing our overall dining experience. We opted for the trilogia and the pork belly, and both dishes were nothing short of perfection. The flavors were rich, and the presentation was impeccable.The dessert menu offered a tempting array of options, and we decided to indulge in the tiramisu and profiteroles. Each bite was a delight, showcasing the skill and expertise of the kitchen. It's evident that Passione Emporio takes pride in offering a diverse and delectable selection of desserts.To complement our meal, we explored the extensive wine list. The variety was impressive, and what stood out was the honest pricing. Passione Emporio offers a wide range of wines that cater to different preferences without breaking the bank.Overall, our evening at Passione Emporio was a delightful celebration. The combination of fantastic food, attentive service, and a well-curated wine list made it an experience we won't soon forget. If you're looking for a place to celebrate a special occasion or simply enjoy an exquisite meal, Passione Emporio is the perfect choice. Five stars without a doubt!“
“We come here every year for my cousin's bday so he can order plain fettuccine Alfredo lol. But honestly pasta pelican is actually quite good and has a wide selection of tasty pastas for a reasonable price. The service is also great and let you have as much house baked bread as you want and it's not difficult to get a reservation, even with a large party as the restaurant is pretty large inside. The interior design of the restaurant could and a little face lift--it's giving old ship. And maybe that's on purpose for the theme but regardless I don't go there for the ambiance but go there to enjoy delicious food.“
“I tried pizza from here for the third time today, and This is the best pizza I have ever had. I think they have a different kind of pizza sauce or cheese which makes the pizza that delicious. First, two time it was cheese pizza only, and it tested great! I ordered their special pizzas for my daughter's birthday party, no any complaints at all, it was delivered on time and the food was fresh and yummy! My favorite pizza place from now.“
“You know who the more seasoned servers are- I know you have to learn along the way but they call it shadowing for a reason. If you want to work, get great tips, pay attention, have integrity, and huddle. Get off your damn phone, refill drinks, cold plates come with the salad and always provide a pizza server with a hot pizza. Ask if the customer wants pepper or Parmesan cheese on their salad/pizza. Besides that the food is always amazing every single item. The seasoned servers know who they are and I always ask to sit in their section!“
“I had first tried Little Star pizza during one of my lectures at CAL. I took the left overs to my husband and we both agreed that this is the best deep dish pizza in the Bay Area. We decided to dine in recently and felt a bit off that we had gotten seated in a distance while other customers were seated closely near the bar. Although the food is great, my husband, who has worked in restaurants before, can agree that for the time we dined in (which was slow) we had alright customer service.“
“I attended a work function here. The room was quite nice. Very clean. Our bartender/waitress "Liz" was awesome! So friendly and helpful. The cocktails were tasty and so was the food. It was a plated dinner with hors d'oeuvres. My NY steak was perfect! Huge portion and tender. My family and I will be back for a regular sit-down dinner.Wheelchair accessibility: There are two entrances. One in front and a larger lot in the rear of the restaurant. Both are wheelchair accessible.“
“This is my all time favorite restaurant. I've been coming to the Casa since I was 21 years old, im 70ish now. Food is always great, never a bad one. Try to get there at lease once a week. The hostess are so wonderful, call you by name. All around the best!“