Top 5 Italian Restaurant in California

2945 E Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90803, United States

“I had very high expectations for this Long Beach Italian restaurant, based on reviews I've read and on the fact that the owners are from Rome, the city where I was born and raised. I mean, it's a good restaurant and the food is good, but if I compared it to any good restaurant in Rome, it would totally lose. We had suppli' (fried rice balls with a ragù sauce and mozzarella) as an antipasto, which is a staple of Roman street food, and that was the first disappointment. Like I said, I don't mean to say the food was bad, but it was on the bland side, when compared to what you can eat in any Roman "rosticceria" or restaurant. I can say the same about the Amatriciana pasta. The pasta itself was very good and well-cooked, but the sauce was nowhere near as savory as what you'd typically get in Rome. I suspect one of the reasons is that real guanciale and 100% pecorino cheese (what the original recipe calls for) make this dish a tad too pungent for people who aren't used to this flavor. The pizza was much better and pretty much on a par with an average pizza in Rome. But not with the best pizzerias in the city. Finally, the panna cotta dessert was OK, but nothing special. Consider that this isn't a cheap restaurant, and my reviews are always based on value for the money.”

324 W Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, United States

“First time eating at this magnificent italian restaurant. We were seated outside and had perfect evening weather. We were started with bread and olives! Olives may be a little salty but if paired with wine they are divine. We had the Arugula Salad and Calamari and the salad was very refreshing and light. Calamari was crispy and cooked to perfection. We ordered the Rigatoni and the the Roasted Chicken. The Roasted Chicken was so good; mouth watering and worth making the trip. The Rigatoni is full of flavor and hearty and holds the thick sauce great! We ended the night with the Phyllo Crisp; the berry sauce was sweet and tangy and I loved the strawberries inside the mousse. The service was great, my friends was rescued from getting locked inside the bathroom (user error- she didn't know how to open the door). Staff was polite and attentive. If you sit outside you get the fresh ocean air but you will hear any emergency vehicles passing by. The pricing is more than fair for the quality of service and food. I highly recommend and will return again whenever I'm in Santa Barbara!”

2731 Pacific Coast Hwy, Torrance, CA 90505, United States

“The hubby and I were hungry for Italian and were in the area of Gaetano’s. There was a wait for others but the bar had some seats open and also has a full menu so we sat there. Our waitress/bar tender was Stephanie, such a welcoming gal and enjoyed her company. The bread and olive oil seasoning they bring you was amazing, I ordered the lasagna and wow it was a huge serving, my husband ordered the chicken parmigiana. We loved the environment and food. Would definitely check this restaurant out again. Give it a try You won’t be disappointed 😉”

602 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401, United States

“Went on a date to celebrate getting a new job. We had the oxtail dumplings, ricotta gnocchi, eggplant, fried cauliflower, the venison loin, and the toffee pudding. The experience as a whole was fantastic. It truly felt like an artistic experience as much as a culinary one. The food was delicious and the menu is so carefully crafted for fall. The staff is top tier and are professionals without question. Definitely a life-enhancing experience and I will be back!”

2347 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94107, United States

“A nice quick bite located conveniently in the Dogpatch area around several gyms. Pizza was great, but a but pricey for what you get. They had a good sour on the menu if you're into beers. Forgot to mention they have a great craft beer selection.”

101 Plaza N, Los Altos, CA 94022, United States

”so good”

6011 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, CA 92115, United States

”Got the lunch special and added garlic knots. Didn't care for the Margarita Pizza. The sauce taste like hunts tomato sauce out the can. Left a strange taste in my mouth. The garlic knots were fine, the cesar salad was flavorless. Also, over priced $48.52 for two lunch specials and a side of knots. Wouldn't go back”

1610 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403, United States

”Thought the food was pretty good. Service was a little confused and it took like an hour for each course, which is not bad, just unexpected. Liked my lasagna and chopped salad. The tiramisu was awesome. Nice little spot on Montana.”

3340 C St, Sacramento, CA 95816, United States

”Hands down this place is amazing. I have put two people onto their amazing meatball subs. No lie they're too good to share, and so delicious you can't just eat half. Best meatball sub I have ever had in my life! Two times I've been back and they taste just as amazing as the first time!! I've always wanted to try a good meatball sub. I've tasted a few places and honestly it was never something that made me think I'll be back for that. But this place I come specially for these meatball subs. After trying everything else make sure to take on the meatball sub!! Best you'll ever have!!”

322 Birch St, Westwood, CA 96137, United States

”Delicious food and family-friendly atmosphere. We enjoyed three different types of pizza, salad bar (which was filled with fresh greens and multiple add- ons to choose from) and specialty sandwiches. Everyone said that they loved their food. They were very accommodating for my son's birthday party, and fun was had by all. The bathrooms were very clean (actually, the whole restaurant felt well taken care of). The kids enjoyed the arcade games as well. Buffalo Chips is always a stop for our family when we are visiting, and we can't wait to come back. Thank you!!”

1124 San Julian St, Los Angeles, CA 90015, United States

”The foods are tasty and the service is awesome. I like their chicken. The meat was cooked perfectly. Their pizza were amazing too. The lobster risotto has a very strong flavor of the green peas, which isn’t something I expected. The restaurant decoration is nice and bright.”

2411 E Washington Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91104, United States

”really good food. Has some good family meals. It is now take out only. Wish they would open the dining room again but still really good food. Get the Big D pizza.”

3588 Rosemead Blvd, Rosemead, CA 91770, United States

”I love the pastrami pizza, also went on Valentine’s Day for heart shaped pizza. The food here never disappoints. They serve beer here and I love the art work displayed in the restaurant from local artist that you can purchase. They also have vegan toppings and gluten free pizza crust”

550 Wave St, Monterey, CA 93940, United States

”Very nice to see a few dishes that aren't usually seen in other diners. Very good portions I could only finish half of my corned beef hash. I wish coffee refills could come quicker.”

117 4th St, Santa Rosa, CA 95401, United States

”Overall the food was really good, except I didn't particularly enjoy my pasta. The burrata was so fresh and delicious (I still prefer the burrata at loro di napoli), they probably have the best caesar salad I've had, and the steak was perfectly cooked. That being said, I don't think I'll come back here because everything seemed overpriced. The service was very very slow and made some mistakes that, while kinda comical, were disruptive to our experience.”

1706 S Coast Hwy, Oceanside, CA 92054, United States

”Friendly staff, quite a few out of the ordinary options for the pizza. Typical price if you don't order drinks, prices are pretty reasonable. The menu is diverse enough that everyone in your group should be able to find something that appeals. Restaurant is very loud inside or outside, if you have hearing problems in your party, I would definitely recommend either going on a week night when it's not super busy or getting your food to go. I had the privateer pie, which was delicious! Thin crust, the walnut pesto was yummy. Definitely large enough for two. The eggplant Parm was good, but by itself overwhelmed by the tomato flavor. I'd recommend a salad or side to go with it.”

291 30th St, San Francisco, CA 94131, United States

”I was referred to this place by a friend. It’s so hard to make a reservation, so we decided to walk in and lucky us, we got bar seating. The food is absolutely amazing with generous portion. I enjoyed the calamari the most with its tenderness, and olive oil aroma. Even though this place is known for seafood, it’s seared lamb definitely goes beyond expectation as well. Will come back!”

8700 Conn Creek Rd, Rutherford, CA 94573, United States

”I visited the winery for the second time last month and left disappointed. The garden is gorgeous, and all is impeccable. But they limit your tasting just to it, and to add to injury, you are rushed to allow the next reservation to be seated. Before, they had a tour of their sellers and the garage that kept an impressive car collection. Their wine is superb, but I would rather have spent my tasting money in buying it and skipping the tasting”

3870 17th St, San Francisco, CA 94114, United States

”Well paced, perfectly served, high quality Californian cuisine. Not to miss if you are in San Francisco”

211 N Harbor Blvd, Fullerton, CA 92832, United States

”This place has impeccable service and the food is phenomenal. Gluten free pasta with chicken is my favorite. The calamari is delicious!!! Only complaint is the smell from the restroom! I couldn't even enter since the sewer smell made me nauseous.”