Attentive staff, tasty comfort food, decent drink menu! Don't miss the potato dessert!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cheryl Noon
Colossal disappointment visiting Ristorante Italiano. The only positives I have in this review are regarding the friendly service staff and the charming atmosphere. We arrived for an early dinner, and opted to sit on the patio. The service staff was very attentive. We had bread and beverages on our table within minutes of sitting down. The food, however was highly disappointing. We started with the fried calamari and artichoke hearts. We were very disappointed to see that the calamari was merely calamari steaks cut into pieces and fried, not rings or tentacles. The fried artichoke hearts were quite overdone and fell apart, crumbling in our hands as soon as we picked them up. For an entree, I ordered the Salmon Risotto and was quite disappointed. I didn’t eat a quarter of it. The salmon was salty and drenched in oil. The risotto underneath was a mix of al dente and over cooked mushy rice. It was like they had one batch leftover and mixed it with a new one. My bf ordered the New York Steak medium rare and received medium. The steak tasted fine even being over cooked. However, the white wine mushroom sauce was quite overpowering and he scraped as much off as he was able. We didn’t bother looking at the dessert menu. Our meal came with a hefty check for a lackluster experience. We will not be back.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Maia C
Worst Italian food I’ve ever had. Got the eggplant thing and it was disgusting. Got it refunded and got charged for the side soup I had eaten before even though it was complementary? The explanation was because I hadn’t eaten my entree which the soup came with but ate the soup, I had to pay for the soup. The garlic bread that came with the caprese was rock solid. My boyfriend got the seafood pasta and it was oily beyond belief. Food was almost inedible. DO NOT GO HERE!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 4
Natasha Cutter
This my favorite place to eat in Santa Cruz. The food is delicious, the service is very good, and the atmosphere is great. It always feels like a treat to eat here but it doesn't hurt the wallet. It's a wonderful place for date night, work parties, or a dinner with family. They have a large assortment of dishes to choose from and the prices vary. You can get a nice pasta plate, salmon, steak and so much more but there is definitely something for everyone including children. The outdoor seating is very beautiful and has a romantic feel to it. They also have a sun/atrium type room for dining and I love how you feel like your outside but with the comforts of staying inside the building.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Salmon Risotto
Eric Bellagio
We ordered champagne, which oddly arrived after we were finished with our appetizer. The staff was very pleasant and friendly. We ordered linguine and clams. But, unlike the delicate and light white wine and clam sauce we anticipated, we were met with a thick, creamy sauce that was more a mushroom Alfredo. I enjoyed it but my friend who hates mushrooms had a hard time. We might give this place another chance sometime and order something different.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Caesar Salad, Calamari
seth baron
Surprisingly good dinner with 5 in my party. Better than I remember from past experiences. I had Chicken Piccata that was very good, others had salmon, New York steak, scampi n pasta and canneloni. Everyone loved their dishes. I think Ristorsnte Italiano rivals any local Italian joint and is better than most. Oh and the pesto we got on the side was rich and plentiful.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Cannoli
Katy Lite
Love this place and the gal at the front who seated me also served me, she was wonderful!! Good basic Italian/American food but I wish they were open later:(
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Virginia Beaulieu
We have been to Ristorante Italiano twice this month. The ambience of the outdoor patio is relaxed, wait staff is welcoming and helpful, and the food!?My partner got the carbonara, and it was loaded with bacon and mushrooms. The sauce on the chicken piccata is amazing. We like the wine selections, and their key lime pie is sooo good-tart and tasty! This is now on our short list of go-to restaurants in Santa Cruz.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Angelica Alvarez
Got to enjoy a memorable dinner with my family for my daughters bday. The atmosphere was perfect I suggest dinning in the patio and if it's cold they will bring a heater right up to you.The service was spectacular our waitress was adorable . And the food was over the top phenomenal ? I haven't tasted food like this in a long time very tasteful and authentic . HIGHLY recommend
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cheesy Garlic Bread, Caesar Salad
à la R-mén
We visit Santa Cruz often. This is a new spot we tired and had a great experience and vibe. Unfortunately, I didn’t take any photos this time, but I recommend the appetizer patter, Caesar salad with salmon add-on. Also I like the Italian flavored soda.
If you want Italian food and good cannoli, come here.I had the 14oz NY Steak. It was cooked just the way I had requested, orders came out well timed, and I had a pleasant and delicious dinner.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
P Schwartz
Went on vacation to Santa Cruz and tried this place out. I had chicken parm, wife had salmon risotta, kids had pizza and spaghetti from the kids menu. Also had sauteed veggies on the side (carrots, broccoli, and zucchini). Portions were large and excellent. Customer service was great for carry-out. Would highly recommend if you are in the Santa Cruz area.
Breyette Wright
Perfect place for Italian! ?For what you get it’s worth the price.Though the only complaint is the appetizer of Brie, Garlic and Bread, which was $18 by itself.Otherwise the food tasted fresh, flavorful, delish and Aghh.Atmosphere was beautiful. We sat in the greenhouse seating area. Comfy and cozy.Overall I would go again.
Jessica Starkes
Love the lady that's been working for a long time there at the to go/desert bar. She's great! Great customer service and fast; she works hard. Tip her well.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Lee Olson
Birthday dinner. Seafood genovese and salmon with risotto. Happy hour has good prices
Attentive staff, tasty comfort food, decent drink menu! Don't miss the potato dessert!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Colossal disappointment visiting Ristorante Italiano. The only positives I have in this review are regarding the friendly service staff and the charming atmosphere. We arrived for an early dinner, and opted to sit on the patio. The service staff was very attentive. We had bread and beverages on our table within minutes of sitting down. The food, however was highly disappointing. We started with the fried calamari and artichoke hearts. We were very disappointed to see that the calamari was merely calamari steaks cut into pieces and fried, not rings or tentacles. The fried artichoke hearts were quite overdone and fell apart, crumbling in our hands as soon as we picked them up. For an entree, I ordered the Salmon Risotto and was quite disappointed. I didn’t eat a quarter of it. The salmon was salty and drenched in oil. The risotto underneath was a mix of al dente and over cooked mushy rice. It was like they had one batch leftover and mixed it with a new one. My bf ordered the New York Steak medium rare and received medium. The steak tasted fine even being over cooked. However, the white wine mushroom sauce was quite overpowering and he scraped as much off as he was able. We didn’t bother looking at the dessert menu. Our meal came with a hefty check for a lackluster experience. We will not be back.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Worst Italian food I’ve ever had. Got the eggplant thing and it was disgusting. Got it refunded and got charged for the side soup I had eaten before even though it was complementary? The explanation was because I hadn’t eaten my entree which the soup came with but ate the soup, I had to pay for the soup. The garlic bread that came with the caprese was rock solid. My boyfriend got the seafood pasta and it was oily beyond belief. Food was almost inedible. DO NOT GO HERE!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 4
This my favorite place to eat in Santa Cruz. The food is delicious, the service is very good, and the atmosphere is great. It always feels like a treat to eat here but it doesn't hurt the wallet. It's a wonderful place for date night, work parties, or a dinner with family. They have a large assortment of dishes to choose from and the prices vary. You can get a nice pasta plate, salmon, steak and so much more but there is definitely something for everyone including children. The outdoor seating is very beautiful and has a romantic feel to it. They also have a sun/atrium type room for dining and I love how you feel like your outside but with the comforts of staying inside the building.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Salmon Risotto
We ordered champagne, which oddly arrived after we were finished with our appetizer. The staff was very pleasant and friendly. We ordered linguine and clams. But, unlike the delicate and light white wine and clam sauce we anticipated, we were met with a thick, creamy sauce that was more a mushroom Alfredo. I enjoyed it but my friend who hates mushrooms had a hard time. We might give this place another chance sometime and order something different.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Caesar Salad, Calamari
Surprisingly good dinner with 5 in my party. Better than I remember from past experiences. I had Chicken Piccata that was very good, others had salmon, New York steak, scampi n pasta and canneloni. Everyone loved their dishes. I think Ristorsnte Italiano rivals any local Italian joint and is better than most. Oh and the pesto we got on the side was rich and plentiful.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Cannoli
Love this place and the gal at the front who seated me also served me, she was wonderful!! Good basic Italian/American food but I wish they were open later:(
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
We have been to Ristorante Italiano twice this month. The ambience of the outdoor patio is relaxed, wait staff is welcoming and helpful, and the food!?My partner got the carbonara, and it was loaded with bacon and mushrooms. The sauce on the chicken piccata is amazing. We like the wine selections, and their key lime pie is sooo good-tart and tasty! This is now on our short list of go-to restaurants in Santa Cruz.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Got to enjoy a memorable dinner with my family for my daughters bday. The atmosphere was perfect I suggest dinning in the patio and if it's cold they will bring a heater right up to you.The service was spectacular our waitress was adorable . And the food was over the top phenomenal ? I haven't tasted food like this in a long time very tasteful and authentic . HIGHLY recommend
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cheesy Garlic Bread, Caesar Salad
We visit Santa Cruz often. This is a new spot we tired and had a great experience and vibe. Unfortunately, I didn’t take any photos this time, but I recommend the appetizer patter, Caesar salad with salmon add-on. Also I like the Italian flavored soda.
Restaurantji Recommends
If you want Italian food and good cannoli, come here.I had the 14oz NY Steak. It was cooked just the way I had requested, orders came out well timed, and I had a pleasant and delicious dinner.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Went on vacation to Santa Cruz and tried this place out. I had chicken parm, wife had salmon risotta, kids had pizza and spaghetti from the kids menu. Also had sauteed veggies on the side (carrots, broccoli, and zucchini). Portions were large and excellent. Customer service was great for carry-out. Would highly recommend if you are in the Santa Cruz area.
Perfect place for Italian! ?For what you get it’s worth the price.Though the only complaint is the appetizer of Brie, Garlic and Bread, which was $18 by itself.Otherwise the food tasted fresh, flavorful, delish and Aghh.Atmosphere was beautiful. We sat in the greenhouse seating area. Comfy and cozy.Overall I would go again.
Love the lady that's been working for a long time there at the to go/desert bar. She's great! Great customer service and fast; she works hard. Tip her well.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Birthday dinner. Seafood genovese and salmon with risotto. Happy hour has good prices
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seafood Genovese, Salmon Risotto, Calamari