50 Best Italian Restaurants near San Carlos

“Great customer service, good food and fine wine 🍷“

“Great food, drinks and service!“

“I ate at Pazzo on Wednesday and had a great experience. The restaurant is take out only. I ordered at the restaurant instead of on the phone. The staff were super friendly and helpful with recommendations. The order took about 20 minutes and we had a drink outside while waiting. I HIGHLY recommend the shrimp and grits. Over anything else on the menu! And I was told the gnocchi was amazing too iAnd of course the pizza is awesome!“

“Had a great experience here! The calamari was crispy and delicious, the pasta was full of flavor, and the dessert was the perfect way to finish the meal. Everything was fresh and beautifully presented. A special thank you to Mr. G
for his warm hospitality and attentive service. He made us feel truly welcome. I’ll definitely be back!“

“I got my food to go, and it was ready promptly, and the food was absolutely outstanding! I would recommend this place to anybody!“

“My family and I were searching for a great pizza spot near San Carlos and stumbled upon Impasto through Google Maps. I managed to snag a reservation just an hour beforehand, and I’m so glad I did because there were only two slots left. Shortly after we arrived, the place packed out—in the best way possible.

The interior is absolutely beautiful. My wife and I couldn't stop admiring the color palette and how well the entire design came together. Even the small details, like the flower vases on the tables, were incredibly thoughtful.

Our server, Jackson, was fantastic. He gave us great recommendations and, refreshingly, didn't make us feel uncomfortable when we decided to skip drinks that night—something that happens way too often at other places.

Every single thing we ordered was incredible, from the pizza and the roasted beet salad to the veal cannelloni special and tiramisu.

My only minor hurdle was the initial confusion with parking, but the hostess kindly cleared that up for us so we know exactly where to go on our next visit. We will definitely be back!“

“Excellent place to share Cheers with your friends and family. Salute!“

“In July of this year we celebrated our 60 th wedding anniversary by booking their side room.for a dinner party. Carlos , manager , was so helpful in planning menu and each guests could order thatvnite with everyone menu. We had choice of 2 salads, 5 entrees and 2 desserts. Our guests all raved about food and service. There was a table with appetizers for guests as they arrived and presented so nicely. Couldn’t have been happier and we were not charged for the room which several other places wanted to charge for just room. My daughter in law was able to go over that Saturday morning to decorate and put all flower arrangements in the tables. It looked amazing. Can’t say enough good things about the evening. Good service the best ‘“

“Good food and great customer service. Do recommend“

“Leonardo’s is OPEN for business, phone orders and pick up. Uber Eats option available this Friday March 20th. Please keep them in mind during this time, with everyone home from school and work enjoy a great deli sandwich, homemade soup or fine salads.“

“They are by far the $1 restaurant around. right on the mark“

“great service from the staff , good food , good ambience“

“Food was fantastic! Covid has hit all restaurants hard and La Stanza was new to Menlo Park opening in January 2020. The owner / chef has his Italian cuisine dialed. The cesar salad was dressed to perfection served on a chilled plate w/shavings of Parmigiano Reggiano.. Delish! My short rib ravioli special was exactly what I was hoping for. Hand made in house pasta baked to perfection. My wife had the sacchettto vegi pasta pocket stuffed w/vegis . The red sauce had tremendous flavor... and perfect to mop up with the bread. 🤪... This place is a must try!“

“Amazing service. Great food. Awesome staff! Can’t recommend it more highly.“

“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!“

“Warm and friendly spot. If the Rack of Lamb is offered… do not pass it up, it was a Culinary experience!“

“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!“

“Great food and place . Love it“

“Atmosphere was great and service was fantastic for our large group. Food was excellent.“

“A hidden gem of a family-run Italian restaurant—don’t be misled by the humble exterior. Inside, you’re welcomed with genuine hospitality and unforgettable food. My husband and I ordered the filet of sole and the white Provini veal scallopini—both were bursting with flavor and perfectly portioned. This isn’t a place for flashy plating—it’s all about honest, delicious Italian cooking made with care. The host greeted us with a warm smile and made us feel instantly at home. The retro, moody lighting adds a cozy, nostalgic touch. We’ll definitely be back! Tip: Make a reservation—this spot stays busy, and for good reason.“

“Cocktails and Wagyu - soooo good!“

“We love Vivace! It’s like a party and the food is good! We esp enjoy the orichette and the salmon w/couscous. Cocktails 👍“

“Came in for the first time and ordered two sandwiches. One, the Pastrami, the other roast beef, both with cheddar and everything on it. The habanero sauce is fire. The ravioli plates. All looked amazing. I gotta go back for some of that action. This might be my new favorite spot.“

“Most delicious desert ever!“

“Nice all the time“

“5 STARS! No BS corporate Olive Garden here! Calzone's my fave. Few Italian spots make'm nowadays. Bread's pillow soft. Mushrooms & tomatoes retain a lotta H2O. I've had some watery ones from other restaurants that spilled out when cut open in the past. Theirs is legit. Customize your own, but the 1 on the menu's fabulous as is. They make their own herb focaccia! Ordering mouthwatering meatballs a la carte is a must! Pastas, paninis, open face, salads, rotisserie chx, ribs, draft beer, wine, delivery, takeout, etc. Perfect place to take your loved ones/friends who'd appreciate the art & hard work the staff serves up so quickly!“

“Great people. First class bocce ball and facility“

“Chill atmosphere with classical Italian music at the perfect volume level for a nice dinner.

The food was fresh and the sauces tasted hand made and with the perfect touch of condiment.

Server was kind and attentive.“

“Great food and service. My wife said it was the best spaghetti she ever had.“

“This place has the best lasagna on the peninsula, hands down. The bolognese is by far the best lasagna I have ever eaten. It is layers and layers and layers of light, fresh pasta with the most flavorful sauce ever. And if you're in the mood for something with just the right kick, the italian sausage lasagna is fantastic! My daughter is a fan of the make your own pasta, where your choice of noodles, sause and protein gives you just what you want. They have a fabulous lobster ravioli and a fantastic porcini mushroom ravioli special that are favorites.

Meals start with some of the lightest bread ever made, and you cannot go wrong ending your meal with tiramisu. We will continue to go here often!“

“Wonder lunch and dinner restaurant in a very cozy neighborhood. Had their pan seared salmon along with an order of chicken & waffles.

Both were pretty solid with the salmon being their best out of the things today. The chicken was also quite nice, and the rest was just fine.

Pricing wise actually not that bad for the area so definitely worth a visit if around town.“

“A group of seven or so people had come before us so it took a little bit for us to get our food. The service was great and the food was delicious. The noise level was good for a conversation although a little loud because of the kids running around and screaming. All in all a great restaurant and delicious food!“

“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!“

“Stella is a sweet, comfortable restaurant with lovely employees and tasty food. The cheese bread was excellent, and the spicy pasta special was absolutely amazing and full of flavor.

Unfortunately, my pork loin was disappointing. It was served with white beans and sauce, and the beans were actually the best part of the dish. The pork itself lacked flavor and was somewhat tough. I hope they revisit this dish because, in my opinion, it does not represent the quality of the rest of their menu.

What truly made our experience worthwhile was our server, George. He was one of the most attentive and sincere servers anyone could ask for. In today’s world, excellent service can be difficult to find, but Stella clearly knows how to choose its employees. The entire staff was friendly and helpful, and it genuinely felt like a team effort to make sure we had a pleasant experience.

We understand how difficult it is to operate a restaurant today, and we appreciate what Stella is doing. We are repeat customers and look forward to returning—next time, I’ll just order a different entrée!“

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

“Had a wonderful dining experience at Bistro Elan. The food was flavorful and beautifully presented, and the atmosphere was cozy and inviting. The staff were attentive without being intrusive, making the meal feel relaxed and enjoyable. A great place for a casual dinner or a special occasion. Looking forward to visiting again.“

“Fiero Cafe is a great spot for a casual but satisfying meal. The pasta here is authentic and delicious — the bolognese especially stands out, rich and full of flavor. Portions are just right, and you can tell the ingredients are fresh. They also serve omelets, which make a nice lighter option if you’re not in the mood for pasta. Overall, a cozy place with tasty, well-made dishes that feel genuinely Italian.“

“I tried the breakfast sandwich and it's on focaccia bread! Its soooo good it changed my idea of a sandwich. The staff is so helpful and kind and really pushed to make me feel welcomed which was great since I was dizzy from a blood draw. Being there definitely felt like a nice break in the day.“

“Four of us sat at the bar. Terrific service. Music rather loud but less so as time went on. (Prefer not to have music loud so conversation is easy to hear ). The chopped salad and bread is always a must! Our friends loved everything! Our entrees, tops! My fav restaurant! We enjoyed a gift certificate for most of the meal from friends who know I love Che Fico!“

“Best pizza in the Bay Area!“

“Love the sandwiches here - The Hitman, The Pep Talk, and the Dirty Bird are my favorites, but there are plenty to choose from and you can always build your own. Great staff, always friendly and professional. Parking can be tricky, sometimes you can find a spot in the alley adjacent if nothing is available on the street. Worth it. I have literally driven a little out of the way to get a sandwich here.“

“I love supporting small businesses and this place is the Best! I love their Lavazza cappuccino and pastries especially the cannolis! Got to try the vegetariana sandwich today and it was the best vegetarian sandwich I’ve had! Super cute spot and very kind people!“

“We loved our 2 lasagnas, truffle & Bolognese. Easy to order online, 20% off 1st order, perfect portion (standard black plastic rectangle container). Order was ready on time. The Bolognese has diced faux meat instead of ground/crumbled that would have had better mouth feel, but was very good. The truffle had some red sauce which surprised me but was excellent! We will be back! Updated from previous review on 2022-09-26“

“Food was great. Service was excellent even the restaurant was packed at height of dinner. Great food!“

“Loved the food. Delicious and good portions. Loved the Appetizers“

“Great service, delicious food.“

“This is our family’s favorite destination for pizza. They have one of the best gluten free crusts for me and tasty traditional crusts for the rest of the family. It’s great because they have awesome seasonal specialties and designer pies, but you can also customize with your own toppings and it’s super easy to divide one pizza into two custom halves. We almost always order enough for leftovers. The debate in our house is whether leftovers are best reheated in air fryer or cold“

“So good i couldn’t even wait to take a picture of the full pizza! Look at the cheese. Very nice people work here, and I always have an experience, I’ve ordered on DoorDash and picked it up and it’s always the same great quality. I’ve recommended this spot to my mom and she loved it; and my mom is a picky lady when it comes to pizza. Definitely come here, they have more than just pizza“

“Mi fermo spesso da Cafe Borrone per un caffè e una brioche, ma non riesco a trovare il locale nell’app Coverflex: accettate i buoni pasto?“