Diners' Choice: Italian restaurants in East Bay

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Italian cuisine in East Bay? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyses more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favourites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Luna Ristorante - Concord

4.9

4.9 (483)

$30 and under

Italian

Concord

About the restaurant

“I’m the owner and the chef, so I’m always here,” he says in his lyrical Mediterranean accent. “It’s nice to do business with locals.”

Jacifi describes his menu as a blend of new and old: “You get old-school tastes with a modern presentation.” The restaurant specializes in northern and southern Italian standards like saltimbocca, chicken cacciatore, and risotto. But the eighteen-year-old Luna takes these familiar dishes very seriously. Redoune, partner and co-chef Hafid Tadri, and co-chef Habib Jacifi don’t so much replicate the old standards as define them.

Take the fettuccini with Bolognese sauce. Many restaurants make a Bolognese; few do it well. Like the sly smile on the lips of Leonardo da Vinci’s famous lady, this brick red sauce reveals a depth of character beyond its simple appearance. Carrots, celery, and onions add a layer of sweetness, while bacon contributes a sultry, meaty backbone.

Top review

Joseph

Dined 4 days ago

Great little Italian restaurant. Food was excellent, wine selection was great. A definite “Be Back again” restaurant

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4.9

4.9 (1255)

$30 and under

Italian

Berkeley

About the restaurant

a destination
… is really just a place you are going along your way. When you enter Via del Corso, you may feel as if you are in any trattoria in Florence, Rome, or any other place in Italy. In the heart of North Berkeley, we bring you a place to relax, restore, dine and have drinks with family and friends. Leave the outside world outside for a moment. It is our pleasure to welcome you to Via del Corso.

Top review

Gloria

Dined 3 days ago

The kitchen hit three home runs last night - each item we ordered was spectacular. We had the crostone with tuna and beans (ordinary ingredients transformed), tagliolini al Granchio (crab and perfectly done pasta in a heavenly sauce), and the pork chop, which was (as always) incredibly delicious. We've had plenty of delicious meals at Via del Corso, but this one was a standout. Can hardly wait to return!

De La Torre's Trattoria

4.8

4.8 (1423)

$30 and under

Italian

Pleasanton

About the restaurant

De La Torre's is a quintessential Italian trattoria. Our recipe is not a secret- we prepare and serve delicious food using quality ingredients. The menu is distinctly Italian offering trattoria classics and our hallmark special menu which changes daily to accentuate the freshness of locally grown produce, naturally raised meats and freshly caught fish presented in numerous creative dishes.

The wine list showcases exceptional and unusual varietals from small producers and family wineries in Italy and in California.

The service is friendly, efficient and professional.

Simply put, we feature delectable food at a fair price, food people want to eat everyday.

Top review

Anthony

Dined 5 days ago

De La Torre's never fails to offer and serve a Wonderful Lunch or Dinner at an Excellent Value! Everything on the Menu is worth trying but the Daily Specials just put De La Torre's a cut above. Pleasanton is home to De La Torre's but it truly is the Local Gem of the Tri-Valley!

Marzano

4.8

4.8 (1048)

$30 and under

Italian

Oakland

About the restaurant

Just like the small family-owned trattorias of Italy, Marzano is simple, rustic, and generous in spirit. Executive Chef, Robert Holt, draws his inspiration from Southern-Italy, with an emphasis on wood-fired Neapolitan pizza.

Top review

Denise

Dined 6 days ago

We love the pizza and atmosphere at Marzanos. The food is good and the service is great

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Experience

25% OFF Bottles of Wine on Wednesday

Experience

Aperetivo O'Clock

Bellanico Restaurant and Wine Bar

4.8

4.8 (2067)

$30 and under

Italian

Oakland

About the restaurant

Bellanico Restaurant & Wine Bar saves some tables for walk-ins, please call Bellanico directly for large party reservations. Bellanico is a continuation of Chris Shepherd & Elizabeth Frumusa’s successful restaurant in San Francisco, Aperto in Potrero Hill. Bellanico is a neighborhood restaurant located in the Glenview district of Oakland. The name Bellanico is derived from their daughters’ nicknames, Bella & Nico. The Bellanico staff take great pride in food, service and wine. We serve rustic Italian cuisine that changes seasonally. We are dedicated to serving the best seasonal, local, sustainable and organic products that they can find. Bellanico features Pitman Farms Chicken, Prather Ranch Meat, Duroc Pork and only wild caught fish and seafood. It also features a wine bar offering Old World wines with an emphasis on Italian wines. There are more than 25 wines by the glass & 6 different flights of wine.

Top review

Beatriz

Dined on Dec 14, 2024

Very good Italian comfort food; good service, we always end up satisfied, happy and thinking about coming back

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Popular dish

Fried Squash Blossoms

Montecatini Restaurant - Walnut Creek

4.8

4.8 (713)

$30 and under

Italian

Walnut Creek

About the restaurant

Montecatini is a stable for Walnut Creek as it opened October 17, 1989, the day of the Loma Prieta earthquake in California. Since then, Montecatini Ristorante has become a place for "regulars" to enjoy a true Italian dining experience. We are a loud and bustling environment where many have come to say we're like family. All our dishes are meticulously prepared with the finest and freshest ingredients. Our pastas and entrees are served piping hot from our kitchen to your table.

Montecatini has been awarded "Best of East Bay" for Best Italian Restaurant in the East Bay Area by Diablo Magazine for several years. As of January 2022 our chef, Ermes Paulin, has passed ownership down to two of Montecatini's long-time employees, Terrance and Taylor George. They plan to keep Montecatini thriving on its "old school" vibe while enhancing the cocktail and wine program. So come in and experience Montecatini for yourself and see what a true hidden gem we are!

Top review

Courtney

Dined on Dec 12, 2024

Montecatini is our favorite restaurant. The staff always make us feel like family and provide the best dining experience everytime.

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Experience

Daily Happy Hour from Open - 6:30PM

Passione Emporio

4.8

4.8 (190)

$31 to $50

Italian

Berkeley

About the restaurant

What does Emporio mean? It’s market where you can get a variety of things you need. Today in small villages in Italy, the Emporio is the center of life. Villagers visit the Emporio daily to socialize, share local happenings, and get their local fresh goods, cheese, pasta, sandwiches, and bread.

Passione is bringing a little piece of Italian small village life to you, here in Berkley. Our mission at Passione Emporio is to create a neighborhood restaurant that has the same feel of community and quality as old village Emporios. We source only the best local ingredients and craft them with traditional Italian recipes to make delicious food, with vegan options, along with an authentic array of Italian and locally sourced food and wine.

Our rotating wine bar offers a selection of Italian, Californian and European wines and beers with Prosecco at the center of the list to accompany Italian salami and cheese plates during happy hour.

Top review

Katty

Dined 7 days ago

People were very kind, they did terrific recommendations, and the food was exquisite!

Massimo's - Fremont

4.8

4.8 (1807)

$31 to $50

Italian

Fremont

About the restaurant

Massimo's has been a Fremont destination and landmark since opening in 1976. The name Massimo's is not only the middle name of our late founder but also means “great”. The food, service and atmosphere is the passion of owner Bill Rinetti Jr. We strive to create a cuisine that is fresh, seasonal and prepared with great care and also include some of our classical preparations including our Caesar Salad which is made in the dining room. The fare is American with bits of Italian influences. We have been featured on KQED "Check Please Bay Area".

Be sure to save room for one of Massimo's Flaming Desserts that have become one of our signature preparations.

Top review

StaceyVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Fantastic meal. Great drinks. Server was exceptional. Made for a wonderful evening with my family.

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Experience

Live Music with Latin Guitarist "Rolando Morales"

Fiore

4.8

4.8 (1163)

$30 and under

Italian

Concord

About the restaurant

Fiore restaurant brings new life to the world of fine Italian cuisine. Opened on June 9th 2008 Fiore has risen to great success due to its savory cuisine and friendly service. Nestled on the outskirts of Concord Fiore caters to a sophisticated palate.

The warm atmosphere is inviting, with the aroma of the cuisine intoxicating and the decor enchanting. Whether the guests dine in the front to gaze out the large pristine windows or in the romantic red room that resembles a night in Paris you are sure to have the dinning experience of a lifetime.

Top review

RobVIP

Dined on Dec 8, 2024

We have been dining at Fiore since it opened roughly 15 years ago. We love it! Hafid is the most gracious host, and makes everyone who comes to his restaurant feel welcome. The food is consistently good. We have tried almost everything on the menu and have enjoyed it all. I am particular to the lamb shank, as well as the short rib. Many entrees come with roasted veggies and potatoes to round them out. The restaurant itself is unassuming, but intimate and comfortable. Plenty of sound dampening so even when it's packed, and it often is, it's still easy to have a conversation. We have brought many friends and relatives and many have returned on their own because they enjoyed it. There's even a nice outdoor area for warm summer evenings. The menu is Mediterranean with himts of Moroccan influences. You will seldom find this quality of cuisine for the price. Portion sizes will fill you up, but try to save room for dessert, they are excellent. Tucked away in the Lucky's shopping center, there's always plenty of parking. A family restaurant for everyone! Bon appétit!

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Popular dish

Tiramisu

Bella Siena

4.8

4.8 (4202)

$31 to $50

Italian

Benicia

About the restaurant

With gorgeous views of the Bay, Bella Siena offers a variety of unique and creative dishes drawn from
classic Italian and innovative Californian cuisine. The seasonally influenced menu
features fresh salads, savory pastas, hearty meat/seafood entrees and inventive daily specials.

Top review

Phyllis

Dined 3 days ago

As always. Delightful! Full of holiday ambience! Best food around!

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