50 Best Italian Restaurants near San Pablo

“Very good food ...everything was really fresh“

“Went to dinner for my birthday! Had a delicious chicken a la parmigiana, a Peroni beer and for dessert, a slice of chocolate cake and some crème brûlée! 😋 Everything was so delicious! 👍🏼🥳“

“They used to have one of these in Hayward. My family was extremely low income growing up but when we had anything extra, we'd get nachos from this place. I drove nearly two hours when I found out a sister restaurant existed after the one in Hayward closed a few years ago. Everything was the same. The menu, the atmosphere, the smell, the food. It was a little pricey, but it is and ever will be the best super nachos I've ever had anywhere. The chips are extra fried so they never get soggy. The meat is tender. The cheese is real mozzarella not that nasty orange canned crap. If you live near here, please support this business, and just know you won't find better nachos anywhere. They also sell HUGE slices of pizza which are delicious. And you just don't find many pizza by the slice spots anymore. Thanks for coming to my Tedtalk.“

“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.“

“Great atmosphere and delicious food! Outdoor dining, too!“

“Honestly one of the best pizza crusts I've ever had. I had the focaccia spring special pizza - with squash blossoms and burrata. The Pear Basil Gimlet is one of the best mocktails I've ever had. The brussels are dark brown and crispy and melty. Plus - LOTS of gluten free options!

I rarely have a meal where every single part of it is delicious. This place is a treat, I'd highly recommend it.“

“The lamb chops were phenomenal!“

“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.“

“A wonderful first time experience at Luna Blu with my sisterfriend Betty on Wednesday, June 29th. Excellent, friendly service by Chrissie and she was kind enough to make suggestions since I am a Vegan. THANK YOU Chrissie. The owner took a moment to come to our table and we expressed our satisfaction and delight with her. Plan to visit again. Smiles from Baltimore.“

“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.“

“A Hidden Gem That Transported Me Straight to Italy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Where do I even begin? We came here to celebrate my birthday and left with a new favorite restaurant — the kind of place you want to keep a secret but simply have to tell everyone about.

From the moment we arrived, the ambiance was pure magic. Their patio seating is absolutely charming — the kind of setting that makes you slow down, breathe in, and just be. We even brought our dog Simba, and without a moment’s hesitation, the team welcomed him warmly and cooked him a chicken breast. That alone tells you everything about the kind of people running this place.

We started with house-made limoncello and an Aperol spritz — both perfect — and let the evening unfold. On our server Jennifer’s recommendation, we ordered the crostini, and what a call that was. Creamy stracciatella, roasted zucchini for brightness, and a satisfying crunch that made it borderline impossible to stop eating. Jennifer also brought us a side of Calabrian chiles (a thoughtful off-menu touch), and we ended up adding them to everything — the crostini, the pastas, even tucked into the focaccia. That heat and depth elevated every single bite.

Speaking of pasta — all of it is house-made, and you can taste it in every forkful. The ravioli and tagliatelle were silky, perfectly sauced, and genuinely transported me. For a fleeting moment, I forgot I wasn’t sitting in a little trattoria in the Italian countryside. The focaccia alongside it was pillowy and golden, and the olive oil that came with it was so exceptional it actually deserves a mention — which is saying something.

The owner came by our table to chat about the fresh ingredients and the origin of the Calabrian chiles, and it was one of those lovely, unhurried moments that reminded me why great restaurants are about so much more than food. He gave the whole evening a warm, personal feel that you just can’t manufacture.

Then came dessert — and if you think you’re full, you’re wrong. The strawberry dessert paired with house-made vanilla gelato was delicate, not overly sweet, and absolutely heavenly. The flourless chocolate cake was something else entirely — rich, deeply decadent, and so intensely chocolatey that I genuinely ran out of words mid-bite. And because we were celebrating, they surprised us with a panna cotta that was impossibly light and perfectly set. It was the most gracious, generous finish to an already flawless meal.

This restaurant is a gem — a real one. The kind that makes every other Italian restaurant feel like it’s trying too hard. I’m already planning my next celebration here.“

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

“Been to Hotel Mac many many times and never ever been disappointed. The menu often varies with excellence across the board. Just celebrated my 70th birthday there. Wonderful evening in a great atmosphere.“

“This Family owned pizza and pasta joint is well worth pulling of of the 80 for!!
The brothers who run it are two of the nicest guys I ever met in a long time.. excellent pizza, very clean establishment and definitely the type of place you would want to return to..“

“Wonderful and friendly staff, great food!“

“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.“

“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.“

“This place was insane. I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to find this. The best focaccia I’ve ever had and the fettuccini pasta was out of this world. The past was light, delicate and cooked to perfection. You can tell the bread and pizza were made with high quality ingredients. I’m so happy this is nearby. Must try.“

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

“Delicious food and wonderful ambiance. Loved by locals and tourists!“

“the ambience and great cuppachino“

“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!“

“Stopped there for lunch and it was delicious. Lasagna and Cioppino was delicious 😁“

“Great sandwiches in downtown Berkeley with a lovely patio“

“great food. good service.“

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

“Great Hamburgers and garlic bread.“

“Great dinning experience Must try“

“Classic student friendly pricing, this is the spot for Italian food. Lunch special is the way to go , the portion sizing is on point, easily sharable. Godfather’s favorite is what I ordered and it was bomb. The side salad is a nice touches. I would def return here and try more of the menu. The calzone’s and pizza looks great as well. Paying with cash is the pro move to avoid surcharge.“

“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.“

“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!“

“Very delicious👍👍👍“

“A “5 ⭐️” Seafood Favorite: Picturesque SF atmosphere, friendly service, unbeatable cuisine. Simply the Best!“

“There's some slight confusion because ordering from "Slice of Hollywood" from Eat24, you get pizza from Pizza Nation, but that's no big deal. The food is GOOD. Best wings I've ever had delivered, and the pizza is really good as well. plenty of toppings, and so far I've only had great experiences with them. Great combo price deals too!“

“food was excellent..service was great...if u want excellent authentic Italian food...this is the place for you ..“

“Delicious food - really Italian style Will go back & recommend to fam & friends“

“Pizza was fantastic as well as the custom garlic bread pizza. Food is almost as good as the staffs friendliness and customer service.“

“The food and service are really good im a local and me and my family come here a lot whenever we arw hungry. I love the nacho fries because they make them with nacho cheese instead of shredded cheddar. Also ive had breakfast burritos at multiple places in the area and the ones here blow any of those out of the water, the regular burritos are good too. All the food taste fresh and cooked with care not assembled quick and sloppy, the whole menu is solid and i plan to keep coming in the future.“

“I had a great experience at Navarro’s Italian Deli. I ordered a meat pizza and it was absolutely delicious. The staff shared that they make their dough and sauce in-house using fresh ingredients, and you can really taste the difference. Everything was flavorful, high quality and made with care.

The restaurant is small, but it’s very clean, well organized and has a welcoming feel. The staff were friendly, polite and attentive, which made the visit even better.

Overall, Navarro’s Italian Deli is a hidden gem on 23rd St. If you’re looking for authentic, fresh and great-tasting Italian food, I highly recommend stopping by!“

“Great dining experience and great service“

“Wonderful food and friendly service; indoor/outdoor dining“

“This was my first time dining there. Definitely not my last. First class atmosphere, Customer Service and food. I see other items on the menu I want to try. And the best part is the locale. I only live 2.5 miles away from a top notch dining venue on the water. Fantastic!!“

“Yo, I just went to this place a couple weeks ago and their pizza is on point! We had like a pesto chicken pizza and that shit smacked!! there wasn’t a lot of people so I liked that it was chill. It’s a good place to do karaoke and bring some friends to just eat chill and vibe. Definitely my new favorite pizza spot.“

“The restaurant is lovely, it feels like a small small trataria Italy. The service was perfect, very conscious of the customer's needs. The burrata salad was delicious as was the pizza. The pizzas are cooked, as one would expect in a wood fired stove and are absolutely the best in every way. I want to go back and go through the menu and eat every thing.“

“North Beach Pizza has the best GF pizza in the bay area. It's even better than my homemade GF pizza, and you can't beat the service. North Beach Pizza is great for family dinners with gluten free pizza and salads.“

“Always enjoy our time!! The best food ever!!!!“

“Great food and wonderful service“

“My daughter and I love the Fried Sage Pizza and the Strozzapreti Bolognese and my twin grandsons love the Pepperoni Piza.“

“Great food and service! Special atmosphere“