Diners' Choice: Italian restaurants in East Bay

OpenTable

Updated April 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Italian cuisine in East Bay? 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!

Pizzaiolo - Oakland

4.6

4.6 (666)

$31 to $50

Italian

Oakland

About the restaurant

**Please note we are walk-ins only**

We at Pizzaiolo believe that the simple act of feeding people is at the core of what it is to be human. We focus on the ritual of taking life from the world around us and presenting it to you to sustain your own life.

When the day is done, the thinking that seems to matter most is that we are taking part in a web of human interaction. The food you eat at Pizzaiolo is 100% down-home human-made.

Top review

AustinVIP

Dined on Feb 15, 2025

One of our favorite restaurants in Oakland. Every time we go, Pizzaiolo always wows us with their food. They have a rotating seasonal menu, but if you are lucky enough to be there the same day they have their meatballs, you will not regret ordering them. So good! I always seek out less spirit forward drinks from their bar since they can be quite strong, but any server we have has been more than willing to help us out. And save room for desert - never disappointed!

Montecatini Restaurant - Walnut Creek

4.8

4.8 (777)

$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

Kevin

Dined 4 days ago

We had a great time as we always do !!! Angel was amazing. He is the guy behind the Bar. He always makes us feel like family. The food is second to the conversations we have, but that is amazing too. I always have the Lasagna and Lisa had the scallops for the first time and they were perfect !!! Until next time 😊

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Experience

Daily Happy Hour from Open - 6:30PM

Via del Corso

4.8

4.8 (1330)

$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

Mike

Dined 3 days ago

Overall experience was wonderful. The chef, severs and wait staff were great, and the food was amazing. Pork chop and asparagus and short rib ravioli dishes were so good. The dessert was a great way to end the meal.

Montesacro Walnut Creek

4.8

4.8 (516)

$31 to $50

Italian

Walnut Creek

About the restaurant

Located in the heart of Walnut Creek, Montesacro introduces Pinsa and pays homage to Roman culinary traditions.

Top review

Gail

Dined 6 days ago

I thought I would have to choose pasta or pizza, but 3 lamb chops with tiny potatoes and greens--a surprise entree which was excellent

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Pasta's Trattoria - Pleasanton

4.7

4.7 (829)

$31 to $50

Italian

Pleasanton

About the restaurant

Taste the difference in "Northern Italian" cuisine by sampling from our new exciting menu which includes famous pasta dishes, as well as great steaks, and fresh seafood. Pasta's Trattoria offers a full service bar with a fabulous variety of libations and a wide selection of regional wines to satisfy even the most sophisticated of connoisseurs. The restaurant provides a warm, friendly atmosphere, and an attentive wait staff that will cater to your every need.

Planning a rehearsal dinner, special event, or business meeting? Pasta's offers a semi private and/or private banquet room. Danielle our Director of Catering will work with you and your budget to plan and customize your special event.

Join our e-mail newsletter (found on our website) for special events and VIP discounts!

Top review

Kathleen

Dined on Apr 20, 2025

Everything was really fantastic. The food selection and quality and abundance was very impressive and the ambience was great and the service was even better than we expected despite how busy they are. We loved it and will be back.

Chianti Reserve

4.7

4.7 (690)

$30 and under

Italian

Pleasanton

About the restaurant

**** We will be offering take-out from 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM. ****

Reserve is proud to have been voted the Best Italian and Best Seafood in the East Bay by the Bay Area News Group.

Chianti Reserve prepares the finest authentic and homemade Italian cuisine in Pleasanton. We bring a little taste of Italy to downtown serving your favorite Italian meals. All of our pasta is homemade and prepared daily. Our chefs use only the freshest ingredients and extra virgin olive oil.

Our head chef, Bilarddi Carteli, was trained in Italy and along with our wait staff strives to ensure that you will always feel at home. The Chianti Reserve maître d’ is a wine expert and will help you pair your wine with your meal. Our management team is proud to provide the highest quality of meals and service, making Chianti Reserve your first and best choice.

Check out our menu and specials at http://www.chiantireserve.com.

Top review

Inderpreet

Dined 3 days ago

Great service, solid traditional Italian fare, and just an overall chill, cozy atmosphere.

La Finestra Ristorante

4.9

4.9 (474)

$30 and under

Italian

Moraga

About the restaurant

La Finestra Ristorante is Family Owned and Operated Sicilian, Italian Restaurant. La Finestra first opened it's doors to the community of Lamorinda on December 1999 in Lafayette, California, then moved to Moraga, California on October 2018.
La Finestra offers an authentic Sicilian dishes with seafoods, pastas, poultry and meat.
We Serve Lunch and Dinner daily, except on Mondays.
Come and join us for live Piano played by Bob Athayde and his friends. Full Bar, Indoor and Outdoor seating, Private Banquet Room .......

Top review

JeanVIP

Dined on Apr 12, 2025

The food is always great and the live pianist is outstanding. Parking is easy. It’s definitely a gem in Moraga.

De La Torre's Trattoria

4.7

4.7 (1453)

$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

KathyVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Charming local restaurant with excellent service, very good food, and comfortable atmosphere.

Bellanico Restaurant and Wine Bar

4.6

4.6 (2093)

$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

Barbara

Dined 4 days ago

Surprisingly quiet and cozy neighborhood gem! Our server, Jordan, was warm and helpful. The salad and patatas bravas were excellent. The swordfish had a somewhat overly smoky flavor, improved when I asked for a lemon wedge to squeeze on it. My husband enjoyed his bolognese.The focaccia bread pudding was overly dense, but the chocolate sauce and homemade whipped cream that it came with were delicious .

Bella Siena

4.7

4.7 (4351)

$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

SherylVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Another wonderful meal at Bella Sienna! A true asset for the city of Benicia!

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