Benissimo Ristorante and Bar

I was disappointed this time. The short ribs were mediocre and the pasta was ok but needed flavor. We had to wait a long time before we saw our server. We had to wait an inordinate amount of time for our food and check as well. They were busy but not THAT busy. We will try again because we’ve loved this restaurant and the charming owner for years.

all okay everytime all the time, owner is always present, wait staff all long-timers

Quality Italian food from a long-standing family-owned business. Our server has been there over 15 years. It's that kind of place. Everything is excellent, great wine selection, a small and cozy spot perfect for date night or family celebrations.

We usually love Benissimo but their Valentine's Day Pris Fixe menu was unexpected and sub-par to their normal standard. We booked on Open Table and did not see the special menu. We were not the only patrons to be surprised by it. We were looking forward to some good pasta and were very disappointed to be served what felt like buffet food. We most likely will go to Benissimo again but not on a holiday.

Go here all the time but the other night the service was so slow we almost just walked out. Not sure why, but it was ugly. Once the food did arrive, it was as good as always.

This is a great neighborhood restaurant, good food and a pleasant atmosphere.

Authentic Italian cuisine

Service was fine but the take-home orders were mixed up. Very disappointed to get the wrong ‘doggie bag.’ However, dinner was good, good value. One of our go-to spots.

I was very disappointed this last time. I met friends for dinner and none of us liked our food except for one of us who ordered fried chicken. The eggplant parmesan was very bland as was the petrale sole special and the pesto fettuccini, according to my friends. I’m wondering if they have a new chef, as I have always liked the food in the past.

This was our first time at Benissimo. The food and service were superb. We will definitely return.

We have been to this restaurant many times and it is consistently good. Anna, our waitress was friendly and efficient, attentive, but not overly so. The food is good and the prices are reasonable for these times. I highly recommend this neighborhood gem! We will be back soon!

NIce people and good service but pretty uninteresting and bland food.

Our family of three made 7:30 new years eve reservations....and were seated at a severely drafty table in the corner. We immediately asked for a new table....but they made us sit at the bar waiting for a half-hour. The bartender and the host/owner were not remotely cheerful or particularly pleasant. We bought ourselves drinks at the bar and waited. It was new years eve, 8pm, and there was not an ounce of cheer shown to us. Our server was delightful and the food was fine....but the stiff attitude was not appreciated and there is no real reason for me to return there. Fortunately the rest of our new years eve celebration was happy and upbeat

Always a winner. Really enjoy the experience every time. Food is excellent

We live in Napa Valley but it’s always worth the trek to our favorite Italian spot in Corte Madera. The owner and staff are warm and inviting too!

Benissimo has always been an excellent value in dinning. It represents a complete dinning experience in that it offers a balanced menu with a complementary wine menu, Relaxed dinning , properly timed service.
It is well worth the drive to get there. A perfect spot for a small friendly group or a romantic evening. Mid week or week end excellent service never rushed.

Love this place for casual date night. Can’t beat good food and wine.

Had some bad mussels on their risotto.
So maybe make sure the seafood is fresh.

Other than that, service, wine, and atmosphere are excellent.

Always a great and consistent experience at Benissimo. The perfect neighborhood restaurant where you’re always recognized with a smile. Cheers to another 30 years!

Love this place. Have been many times and never disappinted.

Benissimo is one of our favorite local restaurants. Food is well prepared at a reasonable price. Service is consistently excellent.
A great place to enjoy a meal.

Great food, great staff, great dining experience!

very good, as usual xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

We had a horrible experience here on Valentines Day a couple years ago and decided to give them another chance. Benissimo used to be a great neighborhood place but that’s no longer the case. It took 25 minutes for us to get service and forever to order and get food. Our meal was below average and when we talked to the manager, he argued with us. So unprofessional and classless. Sadly, we will never return. Don’t waste your money. There are many other Italian restaurants in Marin where they serve good food and actually care about their customers.

Benissima never fails to please. Wonderful food, great menu and delightful servers. Wonderful place for date night.

We feel well cared for when we eat there. The calamari was excellent, as was the prawn salad we each had for dinner.

We bring friends to Benissimos whenever we can...it is always reliable and enjoyable and super tasty. The staff dressed up and decorated for Halloween, it always surpasses our expectations.

Go once a month. Always have their excellent eggplant parmagiano. Wife had the short ribs. Nicely
presented, very meaty. Great shrimp salad and best affogato ($8) in Marin.

We've been eating at benissimos for many years. Always a great place to bring visiting friends. If you are looking for quality Italian food and a friendly neighborhood ambience in Marin, this is the place.

As always, a great meal!! Highly recommended. Enjoy!!

Great food, great service. Hadn’t been in a while and can’t remembee why we hadn’t! We’ll be back!

Haven't been to Benissimo's in a number of years and was very pleased with their remodel. The place looks fantastic; the bar is beautiful and busy; and there's more light and modern furnishings that please the eye.
The food was as good as I remembered and we were early enough to enjoy the early dinner (before 6 pm)
for $27. Choice of salad; choice of pasta; choice of entree; and choice of dessert or coffee. It was the perfect meal on a weekday evening. We'll be back more often!

We have been dining at this restaurant for a number of years. It is consistently good in terms of food, service & value & it is one of our “go-to” restaurants with friends.

Benissimos is a wonderful restaurant...the food is great, we love the garlic olive oil with bread to start the meal and it only gets better from there.

Bad experience it took an hour to get served and they did nothing about it, most places would have offered a free app or a glass of wine, but they did nothing, horrible service and management

Hi, always have a nice meal and great service here. My daughter always gets the gnocchi.

Not sure why but didn't get any Open Table points for this????????

JM

Excellent and authentic Italian food with a pleasant atmosphere and friendly efficient staff. It's been here thirty years for good reasons ! -- you know you'll get a good meal and atmosphere.

The food at Benissimo Ristorante, in my experience, is always very good. I have ordered different dishes at different times and have always been satisfied. Prices are reasonable considering the large serving of food received.
Staff and owner are very friendly and welcoming. It is a wonderful neighborhood restaurant which I highly recommend.

We were looking for a quiet place to take our 94 year old mother, who is in a wheelchair. We went early and the restaurant was nice and quiet. We had the early bird special which was tasty and priced well. We will be back!

The last couple of times in we weren’t waited on and didn’t get any drinks until 35 minutes after we were seated. My meal and two others in our party of five were served meals that were not hot. I know they can get back to what it once was. I’ve been coming to Benissimo for about 40 years.

We always love the delicious food and ambience...servets are great as well. A neighborhood gem!