Diners' Choice: Italian restaurants in Peninsula
OpenTable
Updated April 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!
About the restaurant
Please consider:*Kitchen closes at 8:30pm, we place last order at 8:15pm and we don’t accept any reservation after 8:00pm
*Being a small restaurant, it is crucial for us to know in advance if the number of guests in your party changes, or you want to change the time, or you are planning to not come at all. Please avoid to just not show up, but kindly call to inform us, it will be much appreciated. If we don’t hear from you, we will re-assign the table after 15 minutes. If you need to increase the number of guests on a reservation made through Open Table, please call the restaurant.
*We don’t take groups larger than 10 people on Fridays and Saturdays.
*About birthday celebrations : we don’t have a free dessert policy, if you order one from our dessert chart, we will bring it to the table with the candle. You can also bring your own cake, our cutting fee is $3 per person.
*Corkage fee is $25 per bottle.
*We don't longer offer outdoor seating, only indoor dining and take out.
Top review
M
MichaelVIP
Dined on Apr 20, 2025
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
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WynneVIP
Dined 4 days ago
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
K
kathy
Dined 7 days ago
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
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Brent
Dined on Apr 22, 2025
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
R
RichardVIP
Dined 2 days ago
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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
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Brian
Dined 2 days ago
About the restaurant
Inspired by classic Northern Italian cooking with California influences, Rocca Ristorante features delicious veal, chicken, seafood and house made pastas – the signature Osso Bucco is not to be missed! The breathtaking décor boasts a spectacular Florentine copper & bronze high ceiling, whimsical murals and an elaborate Venetian-style balcony, all set in an enchanting Tuscan inspired setting. Wine connoisseurs will be impressed with the extensive collection of Italian and domestic selections. With our winning combination of warm and impeccable service, simple yet creative dishes and a passion for detail, Rocca Ristorante is the perfect place for your next dining experience.Top review
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LindaVIP
Dined 2 days ago
About the restaurant
A taste of Tuscany and local treasure that is simply delicious. For over three decades, Luceti's has served Italian cuisine created by world class chef and awarded San Franciscan, Roger Bertola. Founder of the legendary Doro's, Ruggero's and master chef of Fior and the Iron Horse. Mr. Bertola was also the personal chef to generals Eisenhower and Paton. Today, Luceti's owners carry on the same tradition and cuisine that was started by Dr. Ron Luceti in 1984. Luceti's is a great place for private parties and business meetings. Top review
A
ARLEENE
Dined on Apr 22, 2025
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
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LauraVIP
Dined 1 day ago
About the restaurant
Translated from the Italian language, Vivace means "lively", which is exactly the ambiance at Vivace - Belmont where culinary creations join with excellent wines to celebrate the cuisine of Northern Italy. Highly regarded as one of the best restaurants on the Peninsula, Vivace Ristorante is located in the charming city of Belmont. The warm interior is designed as to permit the viewing of the talented chefs as they prepare an array of Italian dishes with emphasis in the regions of Piemonte and Toscana. With its exceptional cuisine, elegant ambiance, high level of service, and extensive wine list (2003-2019 Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence), Vivace creates a wonderful dining experience in which the gastronomia of Northern Italy is celebrated everyday!Top review
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SamVIP
Dined 5 days ago
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