12 Best Italian Restaurants in Palo Alto

“Good food and great customer service. Do recommend“

“I had an amazing experience at Italico Restaurant! The food was fresh and flavorful, especially the truffle pasta and wood-fired pizza. The service was top-notch, and the atmosphere was cozy yet modern. I’ll definitely be back to enjoy more of their delicious dishes. Highly recommend!“

“A hidden gem nestled in Silicon Valley’s history.

Vina Enoteca is one of those rare restaurants where everything—from the food to the atmosphere—feels intentional and quietly extraordinary. Housed in the beautifully restored Stanford Barn, the space itself is stunning: high arched ceilings, warm brick walls, and an open kitchen where you can actually watch fresh pasta being made by hand.

The menu is classic Italian but elevated. We tried the spinach tagliatelle with ragù and the burrata with seasonal vegetables—every bite was rich with flavor and clearly made with fresh, high-quality ingredients. The wine list is equally impressive, with thoughtful regional pairings that feel more curated than trendy.

Service was warm but unintrusive. You can tell this team takes hospitality seriously without being overly formal.

Bonus points for the market inside the restaurant! We left with a bag full of fresh pasta, house-made sauces, and a bottle of wine we’d sampled during dinner. It’s rare to find a place that does dine-in and take-home this well.

Highly recommend for a date night, small group dinner, or even just grabbing a bottle and a pizza to go. Palo Alto is lucky to have this spot.“

“Fantastic service and Delicious food. Our server ( didn’t catch her name ) was awesome. I do remember she had a beautiful accent. I believe when asked she said she was originally from Kenya! Kudos to her for taking such good care of us! We live in San Joaquin Valley but we will definitely make the trip back for dinner!“

“Amazing Sicilian food, cozy patio and dining experience. Wait staff are welcoming❤️“

“In truth, I recommend Jessica --the front desk-- who makes sure that I receive extra marinara as well as extra sauce Anglaise... for takeout. Until, we talked, I stopped ordering from Terun on principle. I was a frequent client. Takeout customers must be honored for requests that are gladly honored when in the dining room. Takeout customers should be thanked for not causing dirty tablecloths and dishes -- and LOYALTY. Jessica reinstated that loyalty. I truly hope that the owners appreciate her. Without extra sauces the food is too dry. With it, delicious. The prices honor extra sauces and more!“

“Fantastic meal made with care and attention to detail. Fresh ingredients from the farmer's market. Desserts made in the restaurant (normally not done because restaurants otherwise lose money on desserts), even the ice cream. The restaurant is small so they can keep track of everyone and not run their kitchen as an assembly line. The customers are mostly regulars.“

“So glad I stumbled across this gem today! William (cashier) was extremely patient, accommodating, and helpful. We ordered a porchetta sandwich, side of fries, double espresso, burger, and scone. Everything we had was delicious - the porchetta was one of the best sandwiches I’ve had. There isn’t a dedicated kids menu from what I saw, but they provided a high chair and most kids survive off fries, so we were fine. Parking is in a private lot and an easy walk from LPCH or Stanford shopping center. The weather was perfect for their patio dining, and staff were prompt to bring our food and clear tables.“

“Deliciosos platillos y pizzas en horno de barro bon apetit 👌“

“I wish you would open another location outside downtown Palo Alto. Your food is fabulous but too hard for parking!“

“Love the pizza there, we ordered white pie and red pie. Both are great taste“

“No amount of "good" food can make up for blatant violations of the law. Just like rats in the kitchen are a health risk to all patrons, rats in service are just as bad. And you have rats! Denying a blind person access because of her guide dog is 100% horrible and inexcusable. And against the law. If I was the owner, I'd be tracking down the guest and profusely apologizing while firing the employees who broke the law. Humiliating a guest by denying them access is unconscionable. Shame on you! Until this situation is rectified and all employees properly trained on the Americans with Disabilities Act, NO ONE SHOULD PATRONIZE HOWIE'S Update: Owner contacted individuals involved to rectify the situation. Staff is being educated about service dig access and the ADA. He also is making a contribution to Canine Companions for Independence. Hopefully this will improve not only access for service dig teams, but elevate everyone's experience at Howie's.“