14 Best Italian Restaurants in San Luis Obispo

“We were immediately greeted and seated (we made reservations online in advance)... our waitress greeted us within a short period of time and took our cocktail order... I'm happy they offer my favorite wine, Austin Hope Cabernet by the glass... I've only known Ember to offer it!... My son ordered a Ni Rada? Martini that tasted how I imagine a household cleaner to taste, he reluctantly sucked it down... we didn't bother to complain but we wouldn't recommend it... he later ordered a Paper Plane Martini which he liked better... After reading other reviews, I see we didn't get the initial bread w/Ricotta offering, probably for the best since we've cut down on gluten and wanted to try a pasta dish... We started with a (not pictured) POLPETTE (large meatball) and it was moist, flavorful, & yummy... alongside PAPPARDELLE RAGU, I was hesitant about it due to not being a fan of lamb... however, it was cooked perfectly without any hint of the game flavor I dislike... my only complaint is there isn't a gluten-free pasta substitute option... It may not be Michelin standard... but it would be great to have some gluten-free Ancient Harvest pasta with any of those yummy ragu/pasta sauces available for the many people with gluten sensitivities... MARY'S 1/2 CHICKEN was flavorful and yummy with the silky mashed potatoes... and the melt-in-your-mouth OSSO BUCCO and tasty polenta did not disappoint!... The atmosphere is cozy with home-style elegance... From the initial welcoming greeting, the friendly & timely food service, the "in-tune" staff that directs you to the restroom without having to ask, the constant spotting of Nate's friendly smile as he ensures his operations are running smooth and the thanks for your patronage as you leave... our experience was pleasantly memorable... This was my 2nd visit to Nate's... the first time I had the pork chop which was flavorful, tender and simply superb... We will return!“

“I had the hot pastrami sooo good 👍“

“We were enticed by the email Cafe Roma sent out that they would have their Maria Rosa Canneloni on their menu as a special, so we made a 6 p.m. reservation on Saturday evening. Upon ordering, we were told that they had run out of dish which was very surprising, being that it was so early in the evening, and disappointing being that we arranged our schedule and drove into town just for this particular dish. Overall, we had good meals as alternatives and the service was great, but nonetheless felt very cheated and disappointed with a restaurant we have always enjoyed and frequented since the first day it opened.“

“When I Go through SLO.. Tiki hut., is a Treat Destination. Glen and Crystal.. are always Accommodating 💯💯 the Yaki Bowls are .,. 💯👍♥️❤️🙂 and the service is Like family. ♥️💯👍💗⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐“

“Great server, great food and atmosphere!“

“If you like wood-fired pizza this is the place, with a variety of excellent choices. They go out of their way to make you happy, and it's always an amazing food experience. You can taste their passion for making quality food in every order. Where American Gourmet meets Old World Italian style. This place makes me feel like I'm eating pizza in Napoli. I'm always skeptical about Lasagna, but my friend made me try it and honestly, it's not bad.“

“The place is a gem in downtown San Luis Obispo. Great food. Amazing service and phenomenal cuisine. I suggest the Escargot as a starter and the rest of the food options will not disappoint the lover of the fine dining experience. Highly recommend.“

“We love dining here!! They’re super dog friendly and we love our waiters. He’s Italian but not sure of his name but he’s really good. We had the Winter Salad-delicious!! Then the Campeste e Gamberi and it was soo good!! The bread and olive oil garlic tempenade was amazing!!“

“Still great! Nico and his staff do great things on a regular basis with food and people. I eat ther often and would recommend this restaurant to all! Special appetizers, incredible pasta dishes and amazing desserts. Dont miss the pizzas.“

“This olive garden is pretty standard Olive Garden. I suggest the chicken shrimp carbonara, chicken marsala, zuppa toscana soup, and dipping donuts. 👌 The waitress I had this day was loud and distant seeming, but she ended up visiting frequently and getting food to the table quickly. So it was a pretty good visit. 👍“

“Delicious cannoli’s , had pistachio and chocolate chip ones delicious !“

“Great service and great Pizza 🍕“

“Fantastic service , quality food !“

“Best crust I have had in years“