46 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“

“Located not far from the Orinda library, easy parking. As you enter, you are greeted by yummy smells that instantly reminds you of pizza and pasta. Friendly greeting. I loved the private booths and the dining area overlooks a trail with a woodsy window views. Lighting is friendly on the eyes. Our server was Sasha, who was friendly, warm, engaging, and competent. We order the soup of the day, a spinach salad to share, a large pizza , and ravioli. The sauces are all made in house. The pizza crust was super tasty with a good crumb and chew . Plenty of leftovers. We ended preventing with the Nutella cheesecake. There were families and locals. Good music. Recommend for a casual evening out or for take out. Got the impression this was family owned and they hire local students, so bring the support!“

“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.“

“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 lamb chops were phenomenal!“

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

“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.“

“We had a relaxed and enjoyable meal. The owner is warm and friendly. Personable service. Food was great. Especially enjoyed the pasta tossed in Parmesan wheel. Everything was top notch. And laid back. Sitting inside was great. Sat and the bar and she told us about her product and process. Will also be nice to return in wam weather and take advantage of outdoor seating. Unpretentious comfortable restaurant with excellent food & quality of product & service.“

“They have a guest dock. Good food.“

“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 🥰“

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

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

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

“I had a company retirement party lunch. We shared a margarita pizza and salad for appetizer. The pizza was off the charts delicious. The sauce was amazing. We also shared the octopus. The octopus was the best octopus I have eaten in over 30 years. It was five plus stars!!!! However, my lunch entree of halibut chickpeas & zucchini completely missed the mark. The spices and pepper on the halibut destroyed the beautiful delicate fish. The chickpea zucchini and two other unrecognizable, hard bitter crunchy vegetables tasted awful. I was very disappointed at the $32 entree. The person who chose the hamburger said it was tasty but it was huge enough for two meals. The Panini people were so-so. Finally the pasta people absolutely loved their pasta. After tasting the gnocchi it was exceptional, the marinara sauce was off the charts delicious.“

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

“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.“

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

“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.“

“Lo Coco’s is a fantastic spot that brings authentic flavors and a warm, welcoming vibe all in one place. The food is rich, comforting, and made with care—every dish feels like a true taste of tradition. From start to finish, the quality and flavor really stand out.
The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, perfect for enjoying a relaxed meal with family or friends. The staff is friendly, attentive, and makes sure every guest feels right at home.“

“We walked in here not expecting anything! We came with an open mind and an empty stomach. Pleasantly surprised by the food, the calamari was crispy with a very delicious spiced batter no oil or grease. The Caesar salad with shrimp was awesome. They did a nice job of preparing and cleaning the shrimp and they grilled them exactly how you should, Cesar dressing needs a little anchovy and pepper. Grated Parmesan on top on request! The pizza was delicious although the way it was fired was a little strange. It could’ve been a little more crispy on the bottom, but the flavor was right and it was an honest bistro style pizza. Ice cream and coffee at the end was great - guys get a nespresso machine for an after dinner coffee shot! Overall it was a fun and honest Italian dinner with quality. I would definitely return and reccomend a visit. The website has some cool stories about the location and chef is doing a great job here.“

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

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

“Always a busy place. Love the outdoor seating options for great weather and intimate conversations. Absolutely love the Raviolis and the drinks are top notch. Amanda always provides A* customer service. She’s friendly, attentive, and you feel cared for. She goes above and beyond and definitely tries to always provide outstanding customer service. Highly recommend.“

“love the food and the family“

“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 sandwiches in downtown Berkeley with a lovely patio“

“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!“

“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 really like Pancoast. Wife is a newyorker and Pancoast’s pizza style is right up her alley. They have 4 tap beers and they’re some of the best in Norcal - nice to see somebody cares about great beer. I order to go, get a beer at the bar, and take home. They’re seemingly busy all the time so Pancoast has a following.

Parking sucks, they have to share with their neighboring businesses so plan to get a spot on the street.“

“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!“

“great food. good service.“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“Great ambiance, service, and cuisine!“

“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.“

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

“Friendly, professional and fine cuisine!“

“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.“

“Real Italian food, friendly people and clean and neat place. Plenty of room. service is very excellent. highly recommended place to check out!“