This was the best Italian meal I have had in Sacramento and probably the entire western States. Small intimate setting with very friendly staff (attentive without being intrusive). We had the signature Casio e pepe; for what reads as a simple 4 ingredient dish has a great depth of flavor. The strozzapretti con sugo di maiale is a hearty pasta dish with braised pork. read more

Very small and cozy restaurant. The service was great and we were a party of 5. We ordered the best salad and a couple of appetizers, 4 different main dishes that we shared and dessert. Loved the risotto. The owner was really nice and friendly. The server was super friendly and attentive. read more

Cacio - fregola, orecchiette, risotto - Italian Near Me - Sacramento, California

My boy friend and I have been coming to Cacio for a few years now and continue to be big fans of this restaurant. Everything is very tasty, from the appetizers to the entrees to the desserts!! My boy friend always orders their specials and I gravitate toward their pasta dishes. I don't think we've been disappointed with any of their dishes. The vibe is casual and the staff is very friendly and accommodating. Sit at the bar to get the full cacio experience! Try their bread and truffle butter, Linguine all'Amatriciana (when it's available) and any of their special desserts though you can't go wrong with their salted caramel gelato! read more

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An inconspicuous restaurant in a little strip mall area, but full of flavor and good vibes! We had a couple people recommend this spot to us and it did not disappoint. It made for a really great last date night before our first baby arrives. We ordered a couple appetizers, which blew me away, and their weekly pasta special which was so delicious. We loved it so much we made a reservation to take my parents for the next week. You can tell the owners put a lot of love into the food and the atmosphere of this tiny gem! read more

This is a small but cozy restaurant that served the best Italian food we've had in years. My wife and I both had the Fregola e Gamberi dinner and it was amazing. We also shared a strawberry pound cake dish for dessert that was also incredible. The service was great, and we are now looking forward to the next time we will be dining there. Highly recommended. read more

Nice locally owned with great homemade pastas. Always get great service there! Elegant to casual atmosphere. Has outdoor seating.

Delicious! There are only 10 tables available so it's best to make a reservation if possible. Their online reservation policy seems a bit strict ($25 charge pp if reservation is cancelled) but I just made mines over the phone. Service was pretty good and the food was delicious! My friend and I enjoyed the quality of the food and the generous portions. We ordered the Cacio e Pepe & Orecchiette con Salsiccia pastas. Both were yummy but our favorite was surprisingly the ciabatta bread and truffle butter. I don't think I've ever tasted such a delicious butter, it was so fresh and had a great umami profile. The restaurant itself is quiet and intimate but also has a nice casual vibe. I will definitely be back again. I'm excited to try other items from their seasonal menu. read more

Cacio - Italian Near Me - Sacramento, California

We just adore this place and the people who run it and work here. It really is like a family meal. I experiment when Jonathon experiments- I've never been let down. We return at least once a month and I've started doing business lunches here when I can. Bravo! read more

Very small and intimate location. Highly recommend reservations. Good wine selection, pork chop was flavorful and the service was excellent.

We had a wonderful dinner for our parents' 70th wedding anniversary last night at Cacio and it was just perfect. The food was simply amazing, the service was warm and inviting, and my parents felt like a King and Queen the entire night. Thank you Jonathan and Katie for helping us celebrate two very special people in our lives! read more

A great neighborhood restaurant with an intimate atmosphere. The food is always amazing with fresh ingredients. It's on the small side so reservations are a must. There's a small outdoor patio area which is lovely to sit on in the evening. read more

Had my first visit here and was blown away by the pasta. The service was great, I had a reservation and waited maybe two minutes before our table was ready. We started with the bread and truffle butter, super good truffle butter I love the fennel it complimented the truffle really well. I ordered the penne all vodka, so good!! I love the added bits of fresh mozzarella and the sauce was simple but delicious. If they sold their sausage I would be here once a week to buy it. I don't know if I could order anything else. I am tempted by the Cacio e Pepe, so maybe one day, I know I will be back time and time again. Wine selection was also really good, I appreciated all of the import selections. The atmosphere was chill and pretty casual. Can't wait for my next visit! read more

Cacio - Penne Alla Vodka + Sausage - Italian Near Me - Sacramento, California

First time here. We really liked it. Small place so a reservation is a must I would think. Everything we ordered was good. Their bread and butter to start was delish. We split everything so they brought us our own portions. If you're interested in a pasta dish, the pasta alla norcina was amazing. See pics if other stuff we ordered. Wish we had room to get dessert. Next time! We will definitely be back!! read more

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I was so excited and was ready to give Cacio 5 stars but soon lost confidence when I tried their main entrees. I came here with one of my friends knowing that this place has been on my list for a very long time. Plus, living in Elk Grove, I've always been wanting to explore different Italian restaurants and while strolling in the neighbor, this place seemed to check off a lot of boxes for me upfront: nice and cozy ambiance, cleanliness, and of course family friendly. But one of the other important boxes was unchecked and that was the food. My friend and I ordered the pepe pasta (it's on the top of their list) and their daily specials which was the wagyu with greens. Everything came out looking presentable but was almost non-edible. The chef must have really, REALLY went heavy handed with the sodium. I wish we would've said something but being hungry that we were and the amount of time we had waited for our food, we just ate it anyway and washed it down with the peach Bellini (amazing BTW!). Normally, I love a good amount of salt in my food but this was like abnormally salty which was quite disappointing. Despite the 3 star ratings, I would love to come back and give this place another chance to try other different dishes that other yelpers make it sound epic. Also, the staffs were accommodating and extremely nice. read more

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We've tried to go to Cacio a few times, but there often aren't any available reservations. With good reason - this is a little gem, tucked in a strip mall, and it's constantly booked solid by folks in the know. The space is cozy, with cute decor. And, unlike midtown, parking is readily available. But don't despair, because with persistence and flexibility, you can and should find a time that works with your schedule. We snuck in with a late reservation for lunch and really enjoyed our counter seat with a view of all the action. But you're here for insights about the food, so here's our review, based on today and past visits. We've never once been disappointed by our meals, from soups to salads to their delectable pasta choices. There's a nice variety to satisfy everyone, and the portions are generous so you won't mind sharing a bite or two with your table-mates. Be sure to save room for dessert - either a tasty gelato (any time of year for me!) or an affogato if you're hankering for some caffeine after your meal. So please find the time to enjoy the hospitality at this delightful spot. read more

This place deserves every 5 star review it gets. Every single thing about it is amazing. I had the beet salad and the the penny vodka pasta, both were amazing. My friend had the salmon special, also wonderful. The service was stellar and the ambience was adorable in this cute little strip mall restaurant. Reservations suggested. This place gets very busy. read more

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I've been wanting to try this restaurant for quite a while. This is a very cute, small restaurant. I ordered a vegetarian pasta dish. It was okay. My husband really enjoyed his food, I forgot what he ordered. We were celebrating his birthday, and I wanted to take him to a really nice place. I was disappointed because I thought their prices were too high for what they offered. It seemed every item was separately priced. I'd rather be charged a higher price that would include and bread, and a salad to go with the meal. All we got were bowls with the pasta in them. I will not go again. read more

Food, service, atmosphere this place had all of it! Usually a restaurant only has one or the other but Cacio checks all the boxes. My food was outstanding but what I loved the most was the genuine couple running the establishment. The wife was hosting and serving everyone while the husband was in the back cooking, Absolutely love it! To top it all off it was very affordable read more

My wife and I ate lunch at Cacio today and had a great experience. We sat outside with heaters (and blankets they provided) and the owner, Katie, served us. We ordered the bread with truffle butter and two pasta dishes. The food was fantastic, portions were large, service and food were quick, and prices reasonable. I imagine this place fills up very quickly at night! We would definitely come back. read more

I love finding little gems like this, tucked away in a small shopping area. Saw all the great reviews and decided to try it. So glad we did. It's small: 5-6 tables outside with heaters, 5-6 inside tables and about 10 counter spots. Great wine list: wide selection, reasonably priced. My wife had the shaved Brussels sprouts salad and couldn't stop raving about it. I had the mixed greens salad and loved it. But the real joy were the entrees. I had the Fettuchine al Ragu di Manzo e Pancetta. OMG! I always look for a bolonaise and this was along those lines but so much more. Delicious sauce with so much beef and pancetta! My wife had the special: fried chicken breast stuffed with Prosciutto and cheese. We shared a bottle of Montepulciano that was delicious and very reasonably priced. We loved sitting at the counter: talking with an owner and people to the left and right. You can bet that we will be back again and again. read more

Cacio - Great waiter! - Italian Near Me - Sacramento, California

I rarely give 5 stars, so kudos to Cacio for earning it. Came around 7:45 on a Friday during summer and it was packed. We opted to sit outside, despite it being almost 100 degrees out that day (it was also our only option lol, but I was fine with it). It's very intimate/cozy (aka small) inside and I don't like sitting that close to others, so another reason I enjoyed my meal outside. Anyways, the menu is pretty limited but had good options. I got the penne a la vodka and really liked it. It had the perfect amount of kick/spiciness (you can ask for less spice according to the menu) and overall flavor. I'm glad it came with the sausage because I was not about to add chicken for $8 (this was one of two pastas that came with a protein). My SO got the linguine with prawns. It's served in a butter sauce..it was very plain. Wish it had more flavor (other than the capers, which I'm not a fan of). Service was great! I'm hard to please when it comes to service and they exceeded my expectations. Usually when you sit outside, they tend to forget about you. Not the case here! They checked on us a few times (like the perfect amount where they're not bothering you, but you also don't feel neglected). we had better service here than at other restaurants that have servers handling less tables (it was predominantly one woman helping us, but a guy also helped us with the check). They were very nice and friendly. It was a bit expensive, so I wouldn't frequent here but I would definitely recommend them to friends & family! read more

Cacio - Penne a la vodka and linguine in the back - Italian Near Me - Sacramento, California

We celebrated my son and fiancee's engagement at Cacio today. This is their favorite restaurant when they first started dating and wanted the parents to see what they were raving about. The owners are amazing, welcoming and attentive to any requests. We started with appetizers that were not only appealing plated but so tasty - Shrimp Costino, Meat & Cheese Board and the Mac & Cheese. The entrees were so fresh and tasty. Sorbet and some wine topped off our event. This is definitely a 5 star rating. A neighborhood restaurant that is truly a gem! read more

We came here for my sister's 21st birthday! I'm so happy and excited to have a quality Italian place in the Pocket so close to home. We had made reservations for 4:45 (right after they open for dinner). Their covid protocol is great and each table inside even had a little air purifier, which I thought was cute. They have outside seating too, which is covered and has several heat lamps. Decor is super cute and homey, which I loved. It doesn't feel super uptight or snooty. They have hooks for you to hang up your coat too. Service here is warm, friendly, and top notch for efficiency. I loved the "happy birthday" on the menus- nice touch! My family usually orders a bunch of different things and then we all taste off of each other, so we got three dishes on the menu, and then the two specials of the day. The photos are pretty spot on- they are gorgeous! Everything was delicious and we didn't have room for dessert- except the birthday girl. The gelato is creamy and delicious, though we did find a hair at the bottom :( My sister and I both got Bellinis, I got the raspberry and she got peach. I thought the raspberry had a perfect amount of flavor but found the peach to be slightly lacking. The house made lemonade was amazing! Overall I am satisfied with the experience we had and would definitely come back for a special occasion and try their wine selection. read more

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I cannot say enough positive things about this place. My husband and I have been here a handful of times now and just adore the staff and we can't get enough of the food. I actually crave the truffle butter that comes with the ciabatta bread! I have tried their cacio e pepe and it is fantastic. I loved how fresh the pepper was, how hot my plate came, and how saucy my pasta was. That really is one of my biggest issues with Italian places- they never give enough sauce and it makes it dry, especially if you are taking any leftovers home. Not the case here- it will be just as great the next day. I have also tried the penne alla vodka and this dish steals the show for me each time I have had it. Again, plate comes extremely hot and saucy and the kick I get from the red chili flakes (I think my mouth is actually watering right now) keeps me eating more than I probably should. I think I read another review down below that said they could cry when eating their pasta and I share this sentiment wholeheartedly. My husband has gotten the bolognese and the orecchiette and enjoyed them both. I have tried both myself and the orecchiette is so good. There is something about the sausage they put in it that is salty but also a little spicy that just does it. We did try their chocolate ganache once and it was fantastic. I am a sucker for larger chunks of salt and chocolate and this was it. Cacio is totally worth snagging some reservations and I love being able to snag counter reservations day of. I am at the point that if I am spending the money to go out I want great food and consistency, regardless of the price, and both of those things will keep me coming back here time after time. read more

Jared and Katie amazing customer service. The food and atmosphere were amazing I will definitely come back again!!!

Magic. That's what this place is. Me and my friends recently went to this place on a whim. We were looking for some good Italian food after a day of wine tasting. What's interesting is the location. We actually thought we got lost at first because there was like a gym here and I think some froyo somewhere in the shopping center. But tucked almost on the end of center is Cacio. Truly a hidden gem. After we parked in giant parking lot, we made our way to the restaurant and first observed the heated lamps outside. There was hope for Anthony yet. Should the ladies want to eat outside, I wouldn't have to turn into Jack Frost. But I wasn't turning into nothing tonight because some seats opened about 5 mins after we got there. I was so happy just to get into a warm building that I didn't even notice the decor of the place. It was white all around but I really loved the simplicity yet homeyness of the inside was. There were still a good amount of portraits on the wall but there were also hints of wood here and there. It had this mid century modern feel to it which was pretty cool. Only reason I know about mid century modern because thats what my girlfriend likes and she has good taste. But what was I gonna get for food? I definitely was feeling something homey so I had to get a pasta and of course our waitress told us one of the specials was a Seafood Risotto. It was a done deal. I'm so glad I ordered it because I honestly felt that out of the group I went with, mine was the best meal out of all of them. The Risotto itself was cooked a little longer than most restaurants I order it at and im sooo glad it was. That's exactly how my girlfriend cooks it at home too. I feel like I get the whole al dente thing. You don't want your pasta too be too soggy but with my Risotto I really appreciate it when it's just a tiny softer than normal and this night it was and it was glorious. Clam bits were a good size and tasty. They had some kind of fresh herbs. I think it was rosemary or sage. Either way it was delicious. I honestly made me think of Clam Chowder. It was something that punches you flavor. The flavor was just was there to give your taste buds a nice warm hug on these cold holidays. This was legit one of the best Risotto's I've had at a restaurant in quite some time so we are definitely gonna have to find a way to come out to try more food at Cacio sometime! read more

Cacio - Seafood Risotto - Italian Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Uhm. Review update. I just received an insulting response from someone named Katie at Cacio. She suggested I was angry about arrival timing, a liar and should expect slow service when ordering a rare steak. We were video taped? Creepy. She failed to address my original comment; mainly overpriced food. Now I add that we waited over 30 minutes to be served. My food was a small cold portion. Again, Katie suggested that we should have expected to wait behind others who ordered ahead of us. We were the first early reservation time there! That slow service was an irritation. In spite of the slow service, the waiter got a good tip. I suggest that the business read "Five Ways to Deliver Excellent Customer Service at Your Restaurant" at www.restaurantengine.com. Management and Staff might pay close attention to: Chapter 1. Do it Right from the Start; and, Chapter 2. Don't Make Them Wait. Original review. I took my loved one to this restaurant for her birthday. She ordered the special flat iron steak rare with mashed potatoes at $28. I had the Torchio e Aragosta, pasta with Maine lobster in white sauce at $25. The pasta plate was small with tiny bits of lobster hidden in the presentation. Both meals tasted good. We did not partake of salad, offered at around $12. Add Chicken, another $8. Slow service. No bread offered. No dessert offered. Limited attention to our table. This place, in keeping with the massive increases in costs of doing business in California, was way way overpriced. Come on man. read more

We had an amazing dining experience here. I was with two friends so we shared the Brussels sprout Cesar salad and a bottle of wine. We also ordered individual entrees. The salad was a new way to eat the sprouts. It had great flavor and the croutons added a nice crunch. The special was a steak with a savory bread pudding. It was well cooked and extremely well seasoned. The orecchiette with sausage had a nice spice and was cooked perfectly al dente. I enjoyed my leftovers for lunch the next day. The penne was also very flavorful. Service was also great - shoutout to Jared! I'll absolutely be returning! read more

Brussels sprout ceasar salad and peaches and carbonara risotto, and Italian gelato for dessert (with black cherry gelato scoop)--amazing! Staff was also so attentive and friendly! So happy we got a chance to visit and we'll be back. Recommend to visit if you can :) place is a bit tiny so something to consider if have a big group. read more

Lovely, lovely. Very unassuming restaurant in a suburban area next to a poke chain and Subway. I would never have expected this amount of quality given its location. The space is tight with around 10 tables and some bar seating, and the menu is quite refined. The beer and wine list is extensive, and quite impressive. My boyfriend (who likes to think he is a beer expert himself) praised the local craft beers highly. Because of the space capacity limitations, I highly suggest you make a reservation as the website asks you to; or at least don't get peeved if you get seated at the bar or have rushed service for a walk-in. I made a same-day reservation and there were only early evening slots available. The latest I saw was 5:30 so we had a very early dinner. I tried Cacio's namesake, cacio e pepe. You can't go wrong with bucatini (thich hollow pasta), pecorino, and freshly cracked black pepper. While the menu is small, there are at least a handful of options to accommodate vegetarians and gluten-free diets. My boyfriend is vegetarian and he was shocked that there was a mushroom bolognese. He's never tried bolognese before. He loves tomato sauces (I'm not too keen) so he totaled it. We also couldn't resist getting the shareable sides, mac & cheese (we paid extra for roasted garlic but I didn't really taste it), and fingerling potatoes. The potatoes were scrumptious and super crispy! Amazing! The accompanying aioli really sealed the deal. We were too full for the ganache dessert but I'll have to come back to try it. I really wanted it but was already full on all the carbs (pasta, potatoes, and more pasta LOL). We did try the gelato and sorbet. They have a rotation of flavors; we opted for Salted Caramel (our classic favorite) and Coconut. The coconut was surprisingly my favorite. It was light and fresh as a sorbet, not too heavy or creamy as coconut can sometimes be. They were also kind enough to accommodate us by giving us one scoop of each (a split order, essentially) rather than two scoops of one flavor. Service was wonderful when they paid attention to us. It goes without saying that they might be frenzied if it gets too busy, as there were only 2 waitstaff in the whole restaurant. Our conversation with our waitress did get interrupted a few times so it was hard not to feel shafted, but everyone was warm and gave helpful recommendations. We also met the owner who curated the beer/wine list who was very nice and seemed to sincerely appreciate us as customers. Overall, I'm sold. The pasta reminds me of my dining experiences in Rome and Florence: hearty, simple, and flavorful. There isn't an abundance of menu options yet what they do produce, they do it well. The prices are also extremely reasonable for the ingredient and service quality--I can think of more than a few Italian restaurants of similar caliber in SF or even Midtown Sacramento that cost twice as much and thus are much less accessible or appealing. The location is a bit out of our way but we'd gladly make the trip again. The interior is unpretentious and the food is genuine, made with love. The environment is as cozy as the menu is delicious. read more

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Unassuming location however the food and service was 10/10. We had the special appetizer of the day - the salad with local EVOO and smoked peaches - so. good. Converted my carnivore husband for a minute there. The special pork chops were also a hit with him. "Very fresh" he managed between bites. I had the orecchiette with sausage and it was well seasoned and yummy, but a tad dry. So i ate a lot of hubby's food. Heh. The chocolate ganache dessert was the star of the night though. A generous swipe of heavenly dark bliss. The same EVOO i was talking about earlier. Maldon. And grilled bread. I just about licked the plate it was so good. We sat at the counter because we didn't have reservations at peak dinner time but it was a delicious and fun evening out. Highly recommend. read more

First time and everything was sooo delicious!!! Very small intimate and cute Italian restaurant! The owners / staff are so friendly, and took the extra time to explain the menu. I'm definitely going to come back and try the rest of the menu!!! Remember to make RSVP early they are really busy . read more

Cacio - Italian Near Me - Sacramento, California

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The quality of the cuisine, the caliber of the service, and the general atmosphere were all satisfactory.

This gem is tucked away in a small strip mall, but definitely worth a visit to try their incredible FRESH pasta made in-house. The owners also do the cooking and serving. There are only a few tables inside and a few more outside, so plan ahead. I had a delicious trumpet shaped pasta (campanelle?) with lemon cream sauce and crab. I can't wait to go back and try more dishes. read more

From the moment you are greeted and sat the team treats you with exceptional courtesy and respect. The food and beer/wine list is very comprehensive and obviously well thought-out and varied. The staff is very friendly and happy to make pairing recommendations and do a great job of timing the arrival of appetizers, soups and main courses. Fine dining in a more friendly intimate neighborhood setting--kudos for that! Katie the owner is very attentive and made sure our table was regularly checked on to ensure we had everything we needed to enjoy our dining experience. We will definitely be back and encourage others to support this excellent family owned establishment--a true Pocket area gem! read more

The food is reality amazing and I totally forgot to take pictures. The restaurant is ran by just 4 people so it may take a while for the food to arrive but it's worth the wait. The place itself is cozy and has the homely feel to it. Customers really like wine here. We had - Chocolate Ganache (highly recommend) - Orecchiette - Risotto con Porcini It may seem bit pricy for the portion but the food is heavy. You'll be full by the end of it. read more

HAVE AGAIN: The meatballs were the best I've had in a restaurant. Close to those my Italian mother used to make. Really, really good. Have these every time! The black cod with crispy polenta was very good - very tender fish. Excellent service. Cacio reminded me somewhat of a wonderful Italian restaurant in the Upper East Side in Manhattan. NOT HAVE AGAIN: The Housemade Chocolate Ganache with grilled bread, virgin olive oil, sea salt, chocolate ganache was good, but only for one time. Better to have the ganache separate. The Torchio con Maiz e Pancetta torchio pasta (small torch), smoked pancetta, yellow corn, baby spinach, butter was tasty and good, but was not the expected party in my mouth. I might have been if the corn was freshly off the cob (it is August harvest time, after all). Best part was the pancetta. read more

Great ambiance here. Very friendly owners and waitresses. We haven't been back since Covid and decided to come here for our special occasion. Some dishes were very delish but some just so so. (Pork chop was a little dry.) I do look forward to returning and trying other dishes! read more

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Consistently great food with a neighborhood feel. Rotating wine selection and great service.

Amazing tiny little family restaurant. You really need reservations because there are so few tables, but there are often times available. The patio has heaters if it's cold. The food was some of the best Italian I've ever had. I highly recommend the bread and truffle butter, it was delicious. We had Bellinis, bread and truffle butter, risotto, Orechiette con Salsiccia, and gelato and everything was fantastic. Our waitress and the chef are the owners and treat you like a regular even on your first visit. Highly recommend! read more

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