Diners' Choice: Italian restaurants in Peninsula

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

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

La Lanterna Ristorante

4.9

4.9 (1026)

$30 and under

Italian

San Mateo

About the restaurant

Open since 2001, La Lanterna is a family-owned business with Ramon Lopez as Executive Chef and Jennifer Villa-McGuffin service as manager. Prior to opening, Ramon and Jennifer were employed at various fine dining restaurants in the San Francisco Peninsula. With his own signature style, Chef Ramon has received numerous accolades and is honored to serve you at La Lanterna.

Top review

MichaelVIP

Dined 1 day ago

i say it all the just ..just a great place to dine

La Stanza Cucina Italiana

4.8

4.8 (611)

$30 and under

Italian

Menlo Park

About the restaurant

2020 We newly remodeled a warm and cozy Italian Sicilian restaurant we have two chefs owners in our kitchen preparing house made pasta and bread everyday please come and join us and taste our house made dishes. Angelo Cucco is from a small twon in Sicily and Miguel have ran a few kitchens in the peninsula come and let us make you feel a home

Top review

JeromeVIP

Dined on Jun 7, 2025

Best value in the Bay Area! The whole team takes good care of customers, always…

Delizie

4.9

4.9 (676)

$31 to $50

Italian

San Carlos

About the restaurant

"Delizie" meaning delicious, is an enthusiastic endeavor to preserve sacred family traditions & bring delight to peoples’ plates far beyond Italy's borders. Hailing from Calabria, the infamous "toe" of the Italian peninsula where the mountains meet a breathtaking coastline, owner Francesco Ruggiero brings to life the richness of this southern region's culinary heritage, introducing & reacquainting others with an irresistible array of savory flavors & vibrant aromas. Using a combination of carefully selected imports & fresh, locally grown ingredients, you can indulge to your heart's desire in a variety of homemade pastas & traditional dishes. To render the meal complete pair your food with an appealing wine from a list featuring Italian & Californian wines that best suit your palate. The restaurant itself maintains a cozy, relaxed, yet elegant feel that invites others to join in the ambience that comes to life when the simplest things are brought to the table: good food, wine & people.

Top review

Rino

Dined on Jun 1, 2025

Growing up in southern Italy and having eaten here multiple times, we appreciate its authenticity and not having the usual Olive Garden type Italian items on the menu. They go through great lengths importing and acquiring the right ingredients to make it taste authentic. Keep up the good work!

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Popular dish

Spaghetti alla Carbonara

Popular dish

Gnocchi di Mare

Cafe Figaro

4.8

4.8 (547)

$31 to $50

Italian

Burlingame

About the restaurant

Café Figaro is Burlingame’s go-to destination for authentic Italian cuisine and the best wine list in the Bay Area. Our cozy dining room blends tradition and modern elegance, featuring contemporary artwork, crisp linens, and classic tile ceilings with pendant lighting.

Enjoy favorites like Pollo Parmesan, Spaghetti Alla Bolognese, Spicy Rigatoni Alla Vodka, and Risotto al Frutti di Mare, all crafted with fresh, high-quality ingredients.

Our award-winning wine list, recognized by Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence 2023 and Star Wine List 2023, offers an exceptional selection to complement every dish. From bold reds to crisp whites, we have a wine for every taste.

Perfect for intimate dinners, banquets, and private events, Café Figaro delivers unforgettable dining experiences. Discover authentic flavors, impeccable service, and the finest wines at Café Figaro. Reserve your table today!

Top review

Sandra

Dined 4 days ago

The service and food was amazing and authentic and if you are in the neighborhood you must stop

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Popular dish

Rigatoni alla Vodka

Popular dish

Spaghetti alla Bolognese

Popular dish

Fettuccine Alfredo

Vaso Azzurro

4.9

4.9 (669)

$31 to $50

Italian

Mountain View

About the restaurant

We are known for our authentic and fresh Northern Italian fare made daily with only the finest ingredients. With a variety of satisfying and unique dishes, we have something for every type of taste preferences. Our "feel at home" staff and intimate atmosphere filled with upscale Mediterranean decor makes us a great place to take a date or the whole family.

Top review

Sudha

Dined on May 11, 2025

Very friendly and awesome Food - both vegan, vegetarians and omnivores were all equally happy

888 Ristorante Italiano

4.8

4.8 (643)

$30 and under

Italian

San Carlos

About the restaurant

If you’ve ever enjoyed the 888 dining experience, you know it’s not like your average Bay Area Italian restaurant. Conveniently located in the heart of downtown San Carlos, 888 Ristorante Italiano brings authentic flavors of Italy to Laurel Street. 888 was created from a passion for Italian cuisine that’s deep-rooted in the Maddalena family. Owner Vince Maddalena and Chef Raul learned their craft through growing up in the restaurant industry. Specifically, Maddalena’s, owned by Vince’s dad for over 30 years in Palo Alto. When Vince’s dad closed shop, Vince knew he wanted to continue sharing his passion for food with the public. And so 888 was born! When it comes to cooking, we never take shortcuts. Almost all of our menu is made in-house and we keep things fresh by changing our dishes as seasons come and go. Enjoy our intimate dining experience with a significant other, family and friends or just let us know if you have a large group and we would be happy to accommodate. Your host, Vincenzo Maddalena, would like to welcome you to his restaurant for a unique dining experience of authentic Italian cuisine. Buon Appetito!

Top review

PatriciaVIP

Dined on Jun 4, 2025

One of our favorite restaurants. Excellent food and service in a warm and welcoming environment. A gem!

Cafe Pro Bono

4.8

4.8 (1476)

$30 and under

Italian

Palo Alto

About the restaurant

Cafe Pro Bono stands as Palo Alto's premier destination for exquisite Italian cuisine. With a legacy spanning over 30 years, we take pride in offering a diverse array of authentic and reasonably priced Italian and European dishes, each crafted with a dedication to freshness that is evident in every bite.

Whether you seek a romantic evening or a casual dinner, our menu features a wide selection of traditional dishes at accesible prices. From beautifully presented appetizers to homemade pastas, daily fresh seafood, quality meats, and indulgent desserts, complemented by expertly crafted cocktails we strive to ensure every visit is a memorable culinary experience.

Consider our Private Event Room for your next rehearsal dinner, birthday celebration, baby shower, family gathering or business meeting. Our full bar offers a variety of cocktails, including alongside domestic and international wines.

We look forward to welcoming you soon to Cafe Pro Bono.

Buon Appetito!!!

Top review

RichardVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Another terrific dinner at Cafe Pro Bono—at least our 50th this year! The Lemon Brûlée dessert special was an absolute standout.

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La Fontaine Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (908)

$30 and under

Italian

Mountain View

About the restaurant

Spiced with the flavors of France and Italy, La Fontaine serves an array of pasta dishes, entrees (chicken, veal, or fish) and seafood specialties. Whether you're craving something creamy, tomato-based or succulent, there's a dish for everyone to enjoy.

Top review

JeanVIP

Dined on May 24, 2025

We are regular customers of LaFontaine and have never been disappointed--even when ordering dinner to take home. We usually order Beef Wellington, which is always perfectly cooked, and beautifully presented en croute and atop yummy mashed potatoes and green vegetables. This time I had the duck breast which was a culinary delight. Despite much increased prices over the past few years, it remains or favorite local restaurant for special occasions!

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4.9

4.9 (1271)

$30 and under

Italian

Belmont

About the restaurant

Divino Ristorante serves delicious, authentic regional Italian cuisine, in a casually elegant and comfortable setting. Since first opening its doors on Ralston Avenue in Belmont, it has enjoyed rave reviews for its beautifully prepared and presented Italian fare and excellent service. Conveniently located on Ralston Avenue near El Camino Real, you can enjoy the freshest pasta, salads, seafood, veal, chicken and lamb dishes attractively presented with the experience of dining in Italy. Allow our professional staff to assist you in choosing the perfect wine from any region of Italy to perfectly complement your meal. For your next dinner with friends or family, or for a romantic dinner for two, you can count on Divino.

Top review

KendallVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Great food; wonderful service! We really enjoyed our dinner.

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Original Joe's Westlake

4.8

4.8 (5207)

$30 and under

Italian

Daly City

About the restaurant

After a two-year closure, Original Joe's, San Francisco’s quintessential Italian-American dining destination, revitalized iconic Daly City institution Joe’s of Westlake, and reintroduced it into the community as Original Joe’s Westlake. An anchor of Daly City from 1956 to 2014, Original Joe’s Westlake underwent an extensive two-year renovation, complete with a front-to-back interior remodel, including the kitchen and all dining spaces, and an exterior and landscaping overhaul. Following the Original Joe’s tradition, Westlake continues to prepare unpretentious, old-school Italian-American fare in an open kitchen for all to see. The menu is carefully crafted to reflect a past-meets-present hybrid of what Joe’s of Westlake used to be and what Original Joe’s Westlake is today.

Top review

Patricia

Dined 4 days ago

Great service, enjoyed the veal piccata and raviolis!

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