Came here for lunch. Service was great. They gave 2 kinds of complimentary bread which is nice. It's easy to make reservations online with open table. The pasta were tasty. Noodles tasted like homemade pasta which was chewy and delicious. Street parking. There is a public parking nearby. read more

This is a nice special occasion place to go - it's not overly fancy but somewhere nice when you want to do a little classier white tablecloth dinner. The restaurant is unsuspectingly large when you enter, you wouldn't think it was so spacious from the outside! You start with some soft warm bread, there's olive oil and balsamic on the table that you can pour yourself. For our appetizer we got zucchini and mozarella sticks-they were okay, nothing too special. For my main, I got fettuccine gamberetti-it had a nice amount of garlicky shrimp and a rich creamy sauce. Yummy! My husband had new york steak, which he enjoyed. It came with creamy polenta, that was also good! For dessert we had the raspberry chocolate cake, it was as rich as you expect lol. read more

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If you love Italian cuisine, Acqua e Farina is a must visit. Located in downtown Hayward, this charming restaurant offers excellent Italian food & drink. I was due for date night with my wife and we both love Italian so we decided to come here. I sure am glad that we did as we had an excellent time! We booked our reservation via Open Table. The host immediately seated us at a nice table in the corner and staff quickly brought over water and bread. I always enjoy having water and bread to get started on while we still decide on food choices. Acqua e Farina offers quite the selection of wine, beer and other alcoholic beverages. My wife went with a red wine and I chose the Italian draft beer. We loved our drinks and they are very generous with their sizes. For appetizers, we went with the bruschetta and the caprese salad and the clam chowder. Excellent choices that were very tasty and enough to share for 2-3 people. For main courses, my wife went with the lasagna that looked amazing. If you love cheese, they drape the lasagna with cheese that was to die for. I chose the margherita pizza and it was one of the best margherita pizza's I've ever had. The dough was fresh and fluffy. The cheese was fresh and the tomatoes were cooked perfectly. Although we didn't have any room for dessert, the dessert menu made me want to order everything. Next time, I'll make sure to save space! Overall, I had a great experience here. Our server was excellent and knowledgeable. The food was very good and the pricing was reasonable. 5/5 will be back! read more

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This is truly an underrated restaurant in the Bay Area. Every time I have come here the food is absolutely amazing. Service is excellent and the bread is delicious better than other restaurants. Parking is just across the street. Luckily we had a reservation but it was not too busy for an early Friday dinner. Unsure of what to get I ordered salmone and my partner got the fettuccine. Both were so delicious better than anywhere nearby! The dinning room is small but cute and quaint. I would come here whenever I have a chance. read more

Acqua e Farina - Italian Near Me - Hayward, California

Excellent food and service whenever we go. The steak was cooked perfectly and our pastas were delicious. Their homemade bread is also to die for along with their cream of asparagus! The drinks are made at the bar and straight to your table. Classic old school Italian aesthetics but very clean. read more

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This restaurant had been on my "Want to Try" list for years and we finally booked for Valentine's Day. I knew there would be specials available but had no doubt I'd order the Calamari Piccata since it's something I never make at home that isn't available in many restaurants. Acqua e Farina nailed it. Not only was the calamari itself incredibly delicate and flavorful, but the sides of creamy polenta and fresh vegetables were perfect as well. (How did they get their green beans so tender?!?}. If you love calamari steak, run to this restaurant; you won't be disappointed. We enjoyed the rest of the meal as well with some minor complaints on some items: -- the Crab cake appetizer was tasty but a little mushy with filler. -- the Fried Polenta appetizer with mushrooms and madeira sauce was slightly grainy but the sauce was delicious. We mopped it up with complementary bread. -- My husband opted for one of their Valentine's Day specials, a Seafood Carbonara pasta that he somewhat regretted. It was rich and creamy but lacked acidity and he didn't think the seafood was top quality. -- We had Panna Cotta and a Chocolate Torte cake for dessert. Both were good but not great. The cake was a tad dry. The panna cotta wasn't rubbery but the texture still wasn't quite right. Some other notes: -- Service was wonderful. Our server was energetic and cheerful, and all the staff seemed very coordinated and efficient. We waited on nothing, but I felt slightly rushed (normal for Valentine's Day). -- The restaurant is very attractive and larger inside than I thought. Tables are a bit small and close together. I was back-to-back with the table behind us. -- Parking is difficult. We had noted this in other reviews and purposely arrived early to find a spot. Despite the few complaints, it was a nice pick for Valentine's Day and I'll be coming back here for sure when my next calamari craving hits. read more

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No idea what all the hype is about. Every dish we got was bland or lacking in flavor and needed at least salt if not more. Service was fine. Nothing special about the ambiance, though lots of seating available. read more

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Another great I want good food but don't want to go out. All day in the yard. Or couch.. and door dash brings a favorite. Always packed well. Just missing the fresh grated cheese and bread dips. I will need a visit for those. read more

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I came here for a family dinner of 13, and the restaurant handled our group fairly well. The table was ready for our reservation time, we got a nice table in the corner and away for the little ones too. I only had a picture of my fettuccine gambaretti, but we also had the calamari and prosciutto as appetizers which we pretty good. Nothing standout about this Italian spot versus the others I've tried, but it didn't disappoint me and I would recommend it to someone looking for a nice spot in Hayward. read more

Acqua e Farina - Fettuccine Gambaretti - Italian Near Me - Hayward, California

What a hidden gem in downtown Hayward! I'm so glad my Yelp Elite status came in clutch! My team needed to head out for a corporate dinner, and a place hadn't been chosen, and so I was looking to see what was nearby, and this popped up. We came here twice. First time we came was such a hit with a smaller group, we came a second time with more people! A few of the menu items that stood out to me: Fish special with polenta: Fish was good, but I couldn't stand the taste of the polenta. I'm normally very good about finishing what's on my plate, but this I honestly just gave up because I couldn't stand another bite. Anyone who knows me knows that's incredibly out-of-character of me to not finish my food. Quite a few people didn't like the polenta either. New York steak (which is about 6oz) is a hit! Multiple people ordered this. I ordered mine rare, and it was delicious. The peach dessert is beautifully presented, with peach ice cream served in a carved-out peach. I had that the first time here. On the second time here, multiple of us wanted this dessert, so we were disappointed they were out. While the food is great, depending on what is your definition of "fancy" or a "nice night out," I feel that the environment is a bit underwhelming. It's kind of bare bones with dim lighting that feels somewhat more corporate than fine dining. Still a solid choice for an Italian restaurant in Hayward. read more

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I put in a large order so that I could feed the family. I had it delivered from DoorDash and it was well worth it. The food was fresh hot and quality products.. Everything was made fresh from scratch. A rare treat now days. I got side orders of chicken breast, fresh yummy and flavored well. Side orders of the fresh vegetables also delicious and flavored well.. some orders of creamy polenta- homemade bread, homemade minestrone soup, two salad, salads, and a dessert. Everything was excellent. Give this place a try you will be glad you did. Bon appétit read more

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Service was great. We were seated right away! The ambiance felt like we were in a local Italian spot. Ample of street parking. I preferred the linguini alla console and the pasta was cooked right! Corn chowder was so yummy, I'll be thinking about it. And the bread with olive oil and balsamic was really good. Definitely a gem and will be coming back here! read more

Acqua e Farina - Italian Near Me - Hayward, California

Lovely little Hayward gem tucked away in Downtown Hayward! We were looking for a quick date night option, and decided to finally stop in and visit Acqua e Farina after having lived here for the last decade. The restaurant is deceivingly spacious. You walk into a small entrance foyer which then opens up into a much larger space and a section that can be used as a private room for gatherings. Our server was on her A game; she clearly stated the day's specials and made sure she heard our orders clearly and accurately before leaving the table. We got the calamari, pesto fettucine, and a couple of cocktails each, and everything was so good! So glad to have finally made the time to come in and check this place out. read more

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This is close to a New York neighborhood restaurant. The gentleman that sat us was extremely courteous. He told us if we don't see something on the menu ask as long as they have the ingredients they'll make it. That's the kind of East Coast hospitality I miss. The appetizers were great, the chicken Parm and the veal saltimboca were perfect. Didn't save room for dessert, but will be back. Our waiter was awesome and so were the food runners. read more

Came here for dinner on a Friday night with a group of three other friends and left satisfied. I'd never been here before but two in the group were semi-regulars who recommended we give it a shot. Two of us got the gnocchi della casa, which came highly recommended. I loved it. The creamy tomato sauce was flavorful and the serving of pillowy gnocchi was generous. All of our plates were -- some people had to take part of their plates home that they couldn't finish. The linguini con vongole and penne al salsiccia got the thumbs up from my friends, too. We all shared the calamari appetizer which wasn't the best I've ever had but was good nonetheless. Not sure I'd order it again just because it wasn't a must-have dish. Unfortunately, I wasn't as keen on my dessert. While my friends really enjoyed their tiramisu and sorbetto al limone, I didn't love the torta di cioccolato. It was fine for the first few bites but then became pretty overwhelmingly sweet after that and I didn't want to finish it. Prices weren't terrible but aren't the cheapest; the gnocchi was $22 a plate while the penne was $24 and the linguini was $25. Calamari was $17 and the desserts ranged from between $10-12. Our server was very nice and attentive, despite the fact that they were pretty busy all night. It was also one of his first nights on the job, which I wouldn't have figured if he didn't mention it. Food came out quickly and everything was of good quality, even if I had mixed feelings on taste. Check this place out if you want to go somewhere for date night or a nice night out with friends. read more

Celebrated my hubby's birthday here - perfect for an intimate date night! Located in downtown Hayward, we were honestly surprised by how big the restaurant was when we walked in. The walls are covered in huge murals depicting Italian streets - super cute! We ordered the calamari fritti, and two of their daily specials - the frutti di mare (seafood pasta) and a veal ravioli with a porcini mushroom sauce. Their calamari is served with marinara and a spicy aioli. The batter on the calamari is kind of atypical, reminding me almost of onion ring batter? But still very delicious. We are usually wary of ordering calamari because of how rubbery it can be, but these were perfectly cooked! The veal ravioli was delicious, and very filling. The porcini mushroom sauce was creamy, slightly tomato-ey pairing well with the soft tender insides of the ravioli! The veal flavor wasn't super prominent, but lent a lightly meaty bite to the ravioli. The frutti di mare was excellent too. Ever since we went to Italy, we've been looking for a place that reminded us of the seafood pastas we ate there - this one hit the spot! The pasta was actually al dente, holding up well against the marinara sauce. We were also pleasantly surprised to find that all the shellfish in the dish was well cleaned - no gritty bits of sand. All the seafood tasted fresh - no fishy flavor, just the pure aroma of seafood! Our waiter was extremely attentive throughout our meal and also seemed quite knowledgeable about the menu. He also offered some white wines for us to try and made suggestions about which would pair well with our meals. I also saw that they have some Chianti wines that are sourced directly from Italy! Super cute spot for a date night! Will definitely be back to satisfy my craving for authentic Italian pasta! read more

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Hayward's gem. If you like lasagna, this one is a standout! It's so good that if for any reason, my husband and I want to order something else for our main courses, we have lasagna as an appetizer! It's totally not weird and it's halfway clever! Anyway, you'll def crave this lasagna after trying it. You've been warned! The mushroom appetizer was really good and we liked the fresh complimentary bread. They even serve an amazing polenta that comes as a side to most of their dishes. read more

Oh my gosh where to start. The service was phenomenal. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu and specials. Our order arrived quickly and the food was superb. The interior dining room reminded my friend of little Italy in New York. She and I both went with the specials. My was the fish with creamy polenta and fresh veggies. The polenta indeed was creamy and delish the fish had a caper butter lemony sauce that was excellent. Espresso Martini to start was also excellent. read more

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*3.5* Came for a casual Thursday lunch with a mentor with no knowledge of what the restaurant's vibe was, so we both were mildly taken aback when we stepped into what appeared to be a white tablecloth/preset glassware sort of establishment. Restaurant was pretty much empty around 12:30, so we were seated without issue. Decor was reminiscent of the restaurant equivalent of the back rooms and the smell of mildew or cleaning solution) was impossible to escape. Host and server were welcoming and attentive, and we were seated in a dining section separate from the main one. Our server rattled off the daily specials in a well practiced manner and we decided on fried mozzarella and zucchini sticks for our appetizer. Served with ranch and marinara sauce, they were definitely on the oilier side but not bad - typical fair fare. We ordered the penne alla salsiccia and the gnocchi della casa. The penne could've used a few more seconds to boil and the sauce leaned way into the sweeter side, even with the saltiness of the sausage, but I was able to enjoy it and had enough for leftovers. My dining partner had no complaints about the gnocchi, but by the end of our meal we acknowledged our mutual taste fatigue. These issues are pretty typical of quite a few homestyle Italian dining experiences, but what irked me particularly was the constant aerial assault of our food by a very persistent squadron of flies. An outdoor seating situation I would understand, but we were inside and I would've preferred conversation over bug hunting. This place seems to have a fairly lengthy history and community support, so I guess I just lack that time-tempered appreciation. read more

Acqua e Farina - Mozzarella and Zucchini Sticks - Italian Near Me - Hayward, California

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I really love this place. Great food, cute interior, and very kind staff. We got the Gnocchi della Casa and the Pollo alla Piccata, both of which were delicious. The polenta that comes with chicken is really delicious with a wonderful creamy texture. They also give free bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar provided, which is always a plus. Would highly recommend for a fun date night, the staff are super welcoming! read more

Acqua e Farina - Gnocchi della casa and free bread - Italian Near Me - Hayward, California

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Walking in, it felt homey like going to nonna's for Sunday dinner. We didn't have reservations but were seated right away. Service was good, very fast and attentive with our drinks and appetizers. We noticed one of our water glasses had a lip stick stain on it and our server was quick to apologized and get us a new one. The pomegranate margarita was refreshing and the Oaxaca smoke was smooth and not overly smoky considering mezcal can sometimes be too smoky if not balanced correctly. They do have a full bar in case one of their signature drinks doesn't tickle your fancy. The minestrone soup had good flavor, but was missing something. Couldn't put my finger on what it was missing, maybe some additional seasonings? The bruschetta was delicious and a healthy portion size for two! My chicken piccata had good flavor and cooked well, steamed veggies were delicious and seasoned to perfection. My only wish is that the portion size of the chicken was larger as it was only two small pieces. The veal was amazingly cooked and the polenta was the star of the meal. My partner licked his plate clean! The menu is huge, we'll be back to try their pasta and pizzas which I hear are just as good as everything else we tried. read more

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I just visited Acqua e Farina, and let me just say the experience was 10/10! The food was absolutely delicious, our server Aleny was so attentive and well versed on the menu and she made our dining experience so wonderful! We were celebrating our anniversary and she even got us a desert treat to finish our meal! We will definitely be back! read more

My family recently held a celebration of life for my Aunt. When I contacted the staff at Aqua e Farina, I was greatly impressed with the prompt service and care taken to accommodate our large 16-person party. The staff could not have been nicer, talking me through our banquet menu choices, providing a flexible time frame, and being 100% ready for our group when we arrived from the ceremony. We were provided a personalized menu, memorializing Auntie in a beautiful printed sheet for us to remember our time together. Everyone in our picky group raved about the food and the service, even my lactose-intolerant niece, whose food needs were happily accommodated. Thanks to all who made our celebration fun, kind, and memorable! read more

We ordered takeout for an office party, so I can't comment on the ambiance or service. I got the gnocchi pasta, which was incredibly soft and flavorful. The bread was a pleasant surprise--still fluffy and tender even after an hour. I'm definitely planning to go back to try the pizza and the eggplant dish next time! read more

Acqua e Farina - Gnocchi Pasta - Italian Near Me - Hayward, California

Intimate date night type restaurant in downtown Hayward. It's bigger than it looks from the outside, it's dim inside with Italian artwork and decor. Drinks were good we got a tequila mule and a raspberry mojito, strong enough but not too strong. The calamari was okay. I don't usually like calamari with the bigger O's. Linguini with clams was good! Had good flavor but there was a couple bits of sand in my clams but not so bad it wasn't edible. I think that means they were fresh! Chicken Marsala was good and so was the polenta! Our server was also very attentive and kind with an Italian accent that even more of the full effect at an Italian restaurant lol I would come back for another cute dinner night out. read more

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I drive past this place all the time and been so hesitant to come to this place because the Italian food in Hayward always has been mediocre and pricey however.. I regret not coming in here sooner! Gabriela was such a sweet and kind waitress who showed genuine care and attentiveness and knew the whole menu! My brother and I both got specials she recommended and both were fantastic! My chicken breast was a little small but very flavorful, would get it again if they have it! My whole family loved each dish and the appetizer I didint get a chance to take a picture of was inhaled in a matter of seconds was the seafood stuffed mushrooms. Shoutout to Gabriela she made the experience even better! We will be back read more

Acqua e Farina - Italian Near Me - Hayward, California

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Came here as a result of having tried their some of their pastas several times at work. Food: I tried the most popular dish on the menu : Fettuccine gamberetti which great but was overshadowed by my having to constantly fan away fruit flys at my table. I killed one and the other was too tiny to kill. I addressed this with the waitress who said they have had the pest control folks come on a weekly basis and they still couldn't figure out why they could not curb the fruit fly infestation. Yuck!!!!! I ordered another pasta, with pesto, and asked for shrimp instead of chicken. They still had chicken. We asked to return it which they replied with a "let me ask my manager." It was way more complicated than it had to be. They did end up removing it from our receipt but was made to feel as if I, the customer, was inconveniencing them. Anyway they offered a halfhearted apology and griped about why I couldn't tell them earlier to remake the food. The bread was hard and old and so hard to chew. The ambiance was dull and lackluster. The service was ok but inattentive at its best. Overall, the whole experience was disappointing and I do not recommend this establishment. Go eat somewhere without a fruit fly problem. read more

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I have lived in Hayward for a while and I am so disappointed I have never heard of this place! I placed an order for delivery and it was absolutely delicious!!!! The calamari was cooked to perfection and it's coupled with a spicy aioli sauce that just compliments the dish and makes it pop! I have had Alfredo pasta from all over and this is hands down one of the best I have tasted. The shrimp were a good size, pasta wasn't too soggy, but the star is the sauce that just hits different from others I have tasted (bottle it up and make millions)!!! If the food was this delicious after delivery, I can't wait to try it fresh from the restaurant!!! read more

Acqua e Farina - Half order of Shrimp Alfredo ~ shrimp were nice sizes, pasta was cooked well, but the Alfredo sauce is the star attraction!!! - Italian Near Me - Hayward, California

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A spacious restaurant; good for large groups. The front desk lady is friendly and helped me over the phone a few times as I needed to make adjustments to my reservation. The service from our server was acceptable but lacked warmth. Given the automatic 20% gratuity included for our party, we noticed a lack of the usual attentiveness and effort you'd expect. Overall the food was fine for the price and the menu provides variety of options. I had their Seafood Linguine from their Specials which was 60% pricier than their regular menu but wasn't as special. The tea selection/quality can definitely use some improvement in my opinion. Free street parking was available within a block on a Saturday. read more

Acqua e Farina - Linguini Tutto Mare - Italian Near Me - Hayward, California

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The food was fantastic, the tase superb and wonderfully seasoned. The service was friendly, accommodating and knowledgable. The atmosphere was beautiful with great lighting and classy decor, nothing overdone or trashy cliché. We had a most memorable and delightful evening with excellent food and service We will definitely visit again. read more

I've eaten here plenty of times with my mom, it's one of her favorite places. The staff has always been great but this specific waitress tonight is what made me want to write a review. I forget her name but she was very bubbly and kind and made a lasting impression. She was just so genuine and sweet and I loved her energy. Pretty young brunette with a short braid ponytail. Whoever you are I love you lol. Also the FOOD WAS AMAZING AS ALWAYS. The hostess was so sweet too and made sure we got the area my mom wanted to sit in. read more

Acqua e Farina - Chicken Marsala - Italian Near Me - Hayward, California

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Decided to try Acqua e Farina again after a few years, seeing as we are generally loyal to its Italian competitor down the street. The interior is ok, tough space to make elegant. For our appetizer, I had been eying the seafood stuffed mushrooms on the menu for many months, so we ordered that. It was a never again. The seafood filling was really more like a matzoh ball. It had no seafood flavor or texture, and was very bready. Mushrooms and sauce were good. We ordered the chicken Marsala, and the whole fish was a hit. Better than our loyal competitor down the street. The sauce was brighter, and the polenta was to die for. The mushrooms were overcharged on the bill by $3, so check your check. Thanks to the Marsala sauce, we will be back. read more

Excellent food and service. Great atmosphere for two. One of our favorites, we'll come back many times !!! read more

Service was excellent and the food was delicious. Our server was very thorough from going over the specials, water refills, drinks etc. this place looks small but once on the inside it's pretty big. An area inside is big enough to hold events. The bar is small but cute. We ordered 6 well drinks and it was $100 just for the bar tab. It was weird tho because we kept ordering the same drink and the glasses appeared to get smaller with each round. Overall the experience was good, food was great and I will definitely be back. read more

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My favorite Italian restaurant in the Bay. Straight to the point when it comes to quick service, amazing specials, and delicious food. Never had a single bad experience or item on the menu and always leave with smile on my face! read more

I always try to find an excuse to come here for a special occasion. Great authentic Italian food with friendly and fast service.

I feel like I discovered a hidden gem in Hayward. This place was great. The restaurant was clean, our waiter was really good, and our entrees (the fettuccine gamberetti and risotto con salsiccia) were fantastic. The only minor critique was the fried zucchini appetizer. Don't get me wrong, the zucchini was ok but it felt subpar compared to the entrees. Overall, this place was really good and I'll definitely be back. read more

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Delicious pasta! Great flavors and portion. They do half order for kids upon request. Homemade lentil soup was also very good comfort soup! Lamb chop was the only item that I did not enjoy, my husband ordered this and he barely eaten it. It was too gravy-ish so if thats what you prefer, then it is for you. Excellent service and the dining area is surrounded by beautiful painted walls of Italy. read more

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I was somewhat disappointed in this restaurant, as I had heard good things about it. I came here with a group and we ordered multiple things to try. Out of the appetizers, I liked the polenta fritters the most. It was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and the marsala sauce that came with it was divine. I wanted to mop up that sauce with lots of bread. The crab cakes came in two tiny pieces that barely had any crab in them and the fried calamari tasted very greasy (1 star off). The salad that came with the crab cakes was topped with canned mandarin oranges. This was the first time that I have seen canned fruit used in a restaurant salad. My entree, veal saltimbocca, was the least favorite item of the evening. The veal was underseasoned, overcooked, and the marsala sauce was nothing like the marsala sauce used in the polenta fritters appetizer. The garlic broccoli was pretty good though. My friends ordered a pasta, a risotto, a halibut special, but no one raved about their food (1 star off). I was surprised that dried pasta was used for the pasta entrees at this Italian restaurant. For dessert, we ordered chocolate mousse, chocolate cake, and panna cotta. All were pre-made; none were fresh. The chocolate mousse was the white-milk-dark chocolate kind that you find at many French bakeries. I liked the desserts better than my entree, but they were nothing special. The cocktails were served in small, skinny glasses, half of which was ice. They were still around $16 each (1 star off). The restaurant was spacious, but felt cold (in ambiance, not temperature). We were seated in an adjacent room. The tables were spaced out and the walls were white. It felt like an overfill room. We still got attentive service, but the ambiance was off. One of our friends got an alert that someone tried to open her car door while it was parked outside the restaurant, so that probably did not help matters. Overall, I felt like I was at a cafeteria serving Italian food, but paying fancy restaurant prices. read more

Acqua e Farina is one of our favorite restaurants & we eat there or order take out from them frequently. We have never had bad service or a bad meal & we've been dining tbere since they opened. I have had many items on the menu but once I discovered their linguine & clams, I was hooked. That's all I order now & I eat every last morsel! It's the best! Last night we took my husband's brother & his wife there for the first time. I requested the room with the murals when I made the reso & they were able to accommodate us. Bro & Sis loved it!!! They loved the ambiance, the art & especially the food. We had such a lovely server. I really hope I got her name right. Athenny (I hope that's close) was perfect. She was thorough, efficient, polite & she has the sweetest personality. I hope her manager sees this review!! read more