It had been years since I last came, prior to COVID. My friends and I planned on meeting for lunch and we wanted something away from California Ave., but close by. We remembered that Caffe Riace was around the corner and decided to have lunch here. It was a beautiful day and we decided to sit outside in the courtyard by the fountain. Not only was I in the company of great friends but this place felt like an oasis, truly an escape from the day to day since the ambiance was so relaxing and inviting. Their outdoor seating is really like being in the patio of a villa. Staff was also phenomenal and that added to the experience!!! I am just sorry I don't remember the name of our server but she said that she had worked here for over 15 years. She was friendly, offering suggestions based on the questions that we had all while having a smile on her face. Her longevity with the restaurant I hope is a testament on how great of a place this is for employees as well. The food was served beautifully and it tasted delicious. Plenty of options of both indoor and outdoor seating available They also have the capacity to host private events. For this lunch, we didn't make a reservation but they were able to accommodate us fairly quickly. I can imagine that in the evenings or on the weekends it gets busier. The street view of this restaurant, its a little hidden, but that's exactly what gives this place its aura and being able to escape. There is street signs that point you in the right direction and there is no other shops/restaurants in the area so Cafe Riace cant be missed. I am excited to come back and try other pastas :) P.S. Their desserts.......its a must! Don't forget to leave room or have it first lol read more

I hadn't been to Riace in years as last time it wasn't the greatest. Went today for a friends birthday and it was amazing. Our server was so nice. She's been there 19 years!!! She's very attentive and really made our lunch. Obviously it was a beautiful day so we dined in the courtyard. Always a pleasure with all the statues and art. Food. Everything we ordered was delicious. Arancine. A+ Beat salad was good. B+ Insalate Verdi with chicken. A+ Pasta Al Bolognese. A++ Ceppo Riace. A++ Cheesecake for dessert. A++ So glad I went back. Highly recommend read more

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The ambience was nice and the service was good. We ordered clam linguine, filet mignon, and spritz. The clam linguine was good. It was tasty and al dente. It could however use a bit more clam. The mignon was good. We ordered medium. It was soft in the middle and a bit tough on the outside. It came in a nice mushroom sauce with veggies (potatoes, carrots and broccoli). I also like the spritz. It was fruity and refreshing. read more

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My dad was raving about this restaurant and was excited to bring me here. He had only been here once, and brought me on the second time. The waitress Nancy recognized him immediately and was so warm and welcoming. She sat us in an area to accommodate my dad who needed to be out of the sun and in a quieter area of the plaza. We ordered three dishes - the lasagna, the ceppo riace, and the scallops (one of the specials of the day). Every one of them - so delicious. The scallops came with polenta, baby carrots, and a creamy garlic sauce. The lasagna was saucey and perfectly baked. The ceppo riace was loaded with sausage and mushrooms, and probably my favorite of the meal. Nancy checked on us several times and brought us an appetizer on the house too - the arancini. Something I want to point out are the portion sizes - this isn't a restaurant where you'll leave still feeling a little hungry. Each dish is a large, healthy serving that leaves you something to take home to enjoy at home. If you're looking for value for your meal (especially in the 2025 economy), Caffe Riace is definitely the place for you to eat. Would highly recommend anyone reading this review to give this place a try! read more

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We just recently discovered this place and went here for the first time last night. My first impression and overall take on the place is that it feels like a little oasis that is really cute. It's located about a full block from the California Ave (old town) Palo Alto downtown. So it really feels like a somewhat separate place with a lot of privacy. The entryway gives the sense that you are entering a restaurant out of the woods. We both reflected at we left that it felt like we were having dinner in the middle of Italy. The outdoor space, which is where we sat, affords a lot of privacy for your dining experience, between the background white noise of the water fountain and the spacious area with enough space between tables that it feels like you can have a private conversation; which we appreciated a lot. The indoor space was really cute and homey as well; we just didn't have a chance to explore it much this time around since we ate outside. Now for the food: it was really good! The complementary bread they brought us was warm, soft, and came with an olive-flavored spread. I got the seafood risotto. They were out of mussels last night, but compensated with more clams, which were delicious, as well as the shrimp, pasta, and tomato-based sauce. As someone who loves things with a bit of a kick, I recommend asking for some red crushed peppers to mix in if you order the seafood risotto. We also ordered the lasagna, which was very cheesy and delicious. Both of our dishes were a good size, filling, and flavorful. By the end of the dinner I was tempted by dessert but couldn't eat any more. As far as service, everyone was really kind and helpful, especially our server Nicholas, who I'd like to give a shout out to here for his excellent customer service. He mentioned the restaurant has been around for 27 years, but that they aren't getting as many customers recently because it's kind of off the beaten path and the general public isn't always aware they are there. So, that gave me one more reason I wanted to write a detailed review and give a shout out to this restaurant. If you are looking for a mid-priced dining experience in a cute, private outdoor space that may transparent you to Italy for the night, I would highly recommend checking out Caffe Riace for dinner sometime. Thanks again, Nicholas! Now we just gotta go to Italy sometime read more

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I went to this place for lunch last weekend and ate inside. The place looks classy and cozy at the same time. I got the seafood pasta and it was really good and full of flavor. I wanted to try something else too but I think they changed the menu and it's not available anymore. Kinda bummed but the food was still great overall. The service was also really good. Our server was great and helpful. Not sure if he was talking to us in Italian or English sometimes, but it made the whole experience feel even more authentic. read more

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My Wife and I had a really nice lunch at Caffe Riace. Our server, Nancy, was great--very friendly and attentive throughout the meal. We chose to sit inside, and it was a really cozy, warm spot with classic Italian decor that felt very inviting. The food was delicious. She brought out homemade bread with a chopped olive and oil mix that was a great start. For the main course, we had the Carrettiera with grilled prawns and the Linguini Vongole. Both were spot on. We ended with their Namesake Cheesecake, which was excellent. Drinks included a hot green tea and an Arnold Palmer. It's a solid, comfortable spot for a high-quality meal. We highly recommend Caffe Riace. read more

If you're looking for Sicilian food, you have to come to @caffe.riace. With lovely outdoor dining area with the beautiful fountain, we feel like we were transported to Sicily! This restaurant is absolutely gorgeous and the food, omg, they were undeniably delicious. Hands down to the one of the best pastas we have ever tried! We had: *Caprese *Arancine *Penne Norma *Carrettiera *Affogato *Pistachio cannoli I love their Arancine. It is hard to find a good and flavorful arancine in Bay Area. I'm so glad we bumped into this place and they make the best Arancine we ever tried. Second favorite was their Carrettiera. Simple dish yet flavored with wholesome ingredients that yields delicious pasta! I love the combination of red pepper and parsley and parmigiana. Truly chef's kiss read more

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Have been meaning to try this spot for years. I've passed by so many times and their big patio seating looks enticing for summer happy hours. Came here for a dinner with colleagues on a weekday evening. Made a reservation online but it was hardly necessary on a Wednesday night. Everyone enjoyed their generous servings of wine in goblet size glasses. The service was very friendly and helpful. They knew the menu well and made some recommendations for us. We enjoyed our three pastas and a salad to share. Will be back to eat outside on the patio when the weather warms up this spring/ summer. read more

I came here for lunch with a friend and the service was super friendly and kind. They were super accommodating of her little one. I ordered the pasta carretierra with some grilled salmon on top while my friend got the Sicilian salad. We also ordered some arancini for the little one. The bread that came on the side was absolutely delicious. My pasta was ok, but quite dry. The salmon was good and a generous portion of fish which I appreciated. But overall, with the addition of the salmon, this pretty plain, minimally sauced pasta was nearly $50 with tax. I just can't justify that price for what it was. read more

I hate pasta but you guys make the best Pesto Gnocchi I've ever tasted. The bread soaking up the pasta sauce is the rest part of the meal and everything always tastes so fresh. I have to eat here more. read more

Love this spot and last night was perfect weather for the beautiful patio. Our group had the Bolognese, the Tutto Mare, and the Scallops special - everyone enjoyed their entree and the portions were big enough that we each took half of our meal home. We always receive very friendly, attentive service at Caffe Riace. On previous visits we have also tried the lasagna, pesto gnocchi, Cannelloni, and the Antipasto Riace appetizer assortment - all delicious! Easy, close parking because it's set well away from the California avenue area. read more

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Our waitress was amazing as well as the food. Nancy was very attentive and has been working at the restaurant for 19 years. The pasta was really fresh made in house daily. The bread was really fresh and tasty. I will definitely take my family here. read more

Delicious food and great portion sizes for the price! Our waitress, Nancy, was so friendly and attentive. read more

Caffe Riace - Gnocchi al Pesto - Italian Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Nancy was amazing! She is incredibly kind, friendly, and very smart. She made us feel welcome from the moment we arrived and provided excellent service. Her positive attitude and attention to detail made our experience even better. Thank you, Nancy! We hope to see you again. read more

Amazing service. Nancy was such a delight. Super helpful and friendly. It was our first time and it was an incredible experience. Will definitely come back. read more

Amazing food and service! Nancy was or waitress and she was incredible! We sat outside in the cool breeze and ate delicious burrata, Bolognese, and gnocchi, with great wine. read more

We passed through this restaurant a few times, and always were attracted by its outdoor setting. We finally had a chance to go there for lunch today, and it was really a pleasantly surprise that the genuine Italian dishes were so delicious, and the price was very reasonable. The restaurant has many beautiful paintings and the settings were clean and comfortable. The outdoor area has many beautiful sculptures, make me feel like dining in Europe. The waitress was friendly and polite. We will dine there more often. I would highly recommend this restaurant to you. read more

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This romantic restaurant was one of the best eating experiences thus far. Nancy and the staff were so attentive and catering to our group, I'd be returning just for them. The food was also just as spectacular with great portion sizes and cooked to perfection. Definitely recommend their linguine Vongole and cheesecake (it's truly unlike any other cheesecake I've tried before)!! Our bachelorette group picked this restaurant for the beautiful ambiance and gorgeous outdoor seating, this place has it all!! read more

I used to live one block from here and always walked by but never went in. Finally got to try this place many years later and it was delicious! The bread the start you off with was so good. I wish it came with a balsamic and olive oil mixture. We couldn't decide which entrees to do family style so had the server pick for us. The gnocchi was one of my favorites and my mouth is watering just thinking about it. Salmon was perfectly cooked. Eggplant appetizer was also really good. We tried a lot on the menu and I don't think anything was bad. Service is a little slow, but this is a place that you want to come and enjoy your food and conversation. read more

We booked this spot for the location and the great vibe of the dining area. Everything started out fine, but once the main dishes came--especially the pasta--it was way too salty. My husband, who usually clears his plate, couldn't even keep eating. Such a waste of a lovely dining space. A little improvement or adjustment in the kitchen could make a huge difference. read more

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I and my wife went for a weekday anniversary lunch. It was easy to find street side parking on the neighboring street. There were enough empty tables available and we were promptly seated. The inside was quite quaint and charming. We ordered the Melenzane al'aceto as our appetizer with the Linguine Tutto Mare and Ceppe Riace as our main course of pasta. The eggplant item was a slight letdown for us mainlu because we weren't really expecting a sweet sauce on the eggplant, but that's how the dish is traditionally made, I suppose, so nothing against the food/restaurant. However, the pasta dishes were exquisite. All of the seafood chunks in the Linguine were succulent, fresh and delicious. The same goes for the sausages in the other pasta. The sauce and cheese were perfectly portioned and made a great pasta dish. Overall, this is a great place to try out Italian dishes. Last but not the least the owner made our anniversary special by providing complementary tiramisu and cheesecake slice - much appreciated. read more

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change in menu and down size and limitations of favorites but still ok but why mess with "Moms" original recipes other than$$$ Service still great Ambiance still great. read more

The only good thing I can say is that aesthetically it looks good Service was pretty much nonexistent for us. I had a dinner reservation for 5:45 pm. Got there on time and got seated fairly quickly. It didn't seem that busy as there were only 2-3 tables seated outside. It was 6:15 when we decided to leave. All we were ever served with was water. No one came and got our order. No bread for our table. Just one glass of water for those 30 minutes. I think the deciding factor that made us leave was seeing the next table next to us, got seated, got bread, got their water, got their orders taken, AND got their appetizers all while coming in after us. So I went up to the guy who seated us to ask him if we can have some bread for the table and also that we're ready to order, which I shouldn't have to do that as a customer but at that point I'm just wondering if they forgot about us or were purposely ignoring us. Then the waiter goes and asks me "did you get a server?" Like ???? I don't know man, you should know this, you're the one who seated us. Overall really disappointed with this restaurant and how they service people with dinner reservations. 30 minutes with only getting served one glass of water is pretty ridiculous, in my opinion, especially if you made a reservation. We ended up going to Italico 5 minutes down the road and got seated, got our wine, our appetizers, and our dinner within about 30 minutes read more

The lasagna here is heavenly! We ordered this after it was recommended by the owner and it was fully devoured despite its large size. I also really enjoyed the arancini appetizer. The calamari appetizer was okay, I'd rather eat more arancini or try another app next time. The service was great, we asked to make a pasta dish spicy and were brought a side of a family recipe spicy oil that my husband loved. There's also a beautiful fountain and patio dining area outside if the weather is nice enough. read more

Caffe Riace - Italian Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Wonderful experience with such kind staff and ownership! Our friends and I had made a dinner reservation to celebrate our friend and bride to be. Nancy was so attentive and kind, and really made our dinner something special. Getting to enjoy such delicious food while enjoying the beautiful decor and ambiance tied our night in. We'll definitely be coming back! read more

Had my birthday dinner here a couple of weeks ago. We were sat indoors, which was perfect since it was a bit cold that evening. However, they do offer outdoor seating. Both options have beautiful pieces of art (statues and paintings). Service was outstanding! Our server would come by to check on us often, making sure everything was good or would ask if we needed anything else. Last but certainly not least, the food was delicious! Some of the best Italian food I've ever had. Amazing quality food at an affordable price! Couldn't have had a better birthday experience. read more

Caffe Riace - Pasta alla bolognese, gnocchi pesto, cannelloni, lasagna - Italian Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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Spectacular food, taste so amazing and the service by NANCY was unbeatable. Affordable prices.

Hidden gem in Palo Alto. The patio has a welcoming ambience, easy parking right across the street. Food was delicious. I had ordered a vegetarian pasta carratierra and my friend ordered chicken marsala. Nancy was kind and gracious and very generously got us an extra plate of polenta which I had really liked. Would definitely visit again in summer to enjoy the patio seating! read more

I wanted to make a reservation and found out the corkage fee is $45. That is unusually high comparing to other restaurants. I have eaten at Caffe Riace a few times before. The food is good but it is extremely quiet as there is no music. read more

My boyfriend and I came in this evening for a little date night and really enjoyed our meals. We ordered the eggplant antipasto dish and were not the biggest fans due to the texture. The flavors were on point but I couldn't get past the soft bite. We both ordered the nightly specials one being a braised veal dish and the other shrimp scampi. Our main dishes were extremely flavorful and cooked perfectly. Lastly we finished off the night with cannolis for dessert and loved the presentation and flavor. The service was great and decor was immersive. We really enjoyed ourselves and would love to visit again! read more

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We've always enjoyed Caffe Riace, as well as our friends. For many years this has been our go-to place for authentic food and good service. However lately, I've often wondered, why this restaurant is always empty or almost empty on weekends! Unfortunately, I found out the hard way when all that "goodness" was obliterated by a corkage fee that was unreasonable, excessive and hidden. I looked at the web site prior to going and the menu and there's no mention of a corkage fee. One would assume a usual $15 to $25 would be appropriate, but this place really sticks it to their patrons by charging $45! Due to this outrageous fee we will no longer be going there and will tell all our friends what a ridiculous way the owners show appreciation of their patrons! SHAME ON YOU! Guiseppi, You're delusional if you think a $45 corkage fee is standard in our area. Like I indicated, the norm for restaurants of your caliber is $15-$25 corkage and upper scale restaurants much better than Caffe Riace are still lower than what you're charging. I didn't afford you the courtesy of a personal call as I was floored at a $90 corkage. Let's make it clear, I'm not going to Costco buying wine for dinner. I'm a successful winemaker and enjoy my own vintages with my meals. If "alcohol sales" is your biggest source of income, perhaps a closer look at your menu is warranted. Enough said, good luck going forward! read more

Just arrived and already I want to give more then 5 stars for the customer service!!! Wow I feel special! Location itself is very beautiful they have the best outdoor eating I've ate at in a while! I was very impressed with the customer service very sweet and attentive walk to my table even ask where I would like to stay so awesome Parking on the street was easy Menu very easy to read. The associate Albino who assisted me gave me the best recommendation which I really appreciate it if it was my first time. So impressed read more

Caffe Riace - Beautiful outside eating area - Italian Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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Amazing service and food loved the ambiance as well would come again! Had dinner and was very good

Been coming here for ~23 years. It used to be 5 stars food & 5 stars ambience. For the last 10 years it's been 2 or 3 stars food and 5 stars ambience. I see the owner responding on Yelp which is great but the responses seem to indicate total denial so I would gladly take a non-response in exchange for truly taking an honest look at this place. It's not that the recipes are bad; it's more that sometimes things seem strange tasting - like an ingredient is old, or meat can be impossibly tough and/or odd tasting. First of all, this place is special to my wife and I which means we will overlook a lot of things because we want this to be a place that we go back to; but I don't think I'll get her to go back anymore as we've been PO'd at this place enough times over a course of ~10 years that we can't see anything changing. We went from regulars to having a series of bad experiences (with the food) and just not wanting to go. After a few years, we tried it again recently but her dish was un-edible and some elements of the entire meal were off. Her comment during our last visit was, "maybe in another 3 years". In the early 00's the food was fresh, I brought co-workers for lunch, friends for dinner - even my Sicilian mother - this is the only place I've ever taken my mother outside of NY. My wife and I had some great dinners there and it was typically busy. We thought it had changed ownership some years ago because it went downhill so badly but when I asked the waiter a couple of months ago he went on and on about how it's all the same and they are busy and doing great. ...Really? What we started to experience: There is rarely more than 2 other parties while we are there. Food quality is up and down and we've had some bad meals - and some good ones but we just can't trust it at this point. One day, no one showed up for work except the cook who was very embarrassed and tried to help us but it was a disaster (and it was on a special day - her birthday or our anniversary or something like that and we ended up at a burger place all dressed up that night). After our last meal where we had spotty food quality, we started thinking of those places where they do such little business that you start to imagine an episode of Restaurant Impossible or Kitchen Nightmares back there. Sitting at this place is pure joy though. It's a wonderful place to be. But if it turned into a Chipotle we'd enjoy it more, unfortunately. read more

The free bread and the salads were excellent. They were out of one of the wines and one of the dessert. My wife asked to substitute shrimp for clams in the pasta and uncharge was $6 per shrimp, right per shrimp. She opted for the standard, vongole, which was fine. The main courses were all good, but a bit too oily. Still we had a great time. read more

All in all I would say Caffe Riace was pretty good. Requested the Outdoor dining area and it seems like that was the only area they were seating guests. The indoor dining area looked like it only had a handful of tables. Went on a Friday night and was not too crowded at 7ish. About half full which was kind of surprising. It picked up and more tables got filled. The outdoor dining area is the highlight of the whole restaurant. They have statues of Gods? or God like figures around. With a fountain in the middle. There are tables around the fountain for parties of 2 to sit. Its a cool vibe to sit next to the fountain, but a little loud with the water. Our table was this big round outdoor table for a group of 4. It felt like an outdoor patio table you would have in your backyard. Menu is somewhat small. Had like 5 wines to choose from and only one Red unless you wanted to pop a bottle. I guess they rotate their menu, because pictures we saw on Yelp that looked good they did not have on the menu. I ordered the Gigli Riace I think, never heard of it before. Ordered it because it had Riace in it :) It was alright though! If you think of a good tasty hamburger helper pasta noodle with marinara sauce. spiral big noodles. The only thing that was ehh was the wine selection and the lack of waiters. Seems like they had 2 waiters for like 25-30 tables maybe. Split between one waiter on one side. Trying to ask for water and anything else was tough. We got water when we were finished with our food. Did not get checked on if we needed anything else. Its hard though to cater to everyone, so it is understandable for the most part. Would recommend for the outdoor vibes. Night time when it is dark is great! If you are here for the food. Might not blow you away, but its good enough. read more

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Best home cooked style Italian food from Sisley. Family owned and run. I watched them build this place then came on opening nite. The foods amazing as well as the family! Craig read more

Dang- someone answered the phone when I tried to make a reservation and said they're not sure when they'll reopen. She said the family runs three other restaurants and they are focusing on those right now. My fingers are crossed that they decide to reopen because this is a very special place! They offer wonderful service and food and their excellent cozy, outdoor dining location can't be beat. read more

Caffe Riace - Wonderful outdoor seating. Take a good look to notice the sense of humor the sculptor has! - Italian Near Me - Palo Alto, California

This is a reply to the posting from the owner. I can prove every word of what I wrote. I had 3 other people at the table who can vouch for what I wrote. Every word of it is true. You may not agree with me about what happened, but how would you know. You never paid any attention to what was going on at our table. You were busy socializing. I can prove that he spilled the sauce on my friends pants and shirt, I can prove that the champagne came in a wine glass, i can also prove that you said that the "waiter" helped you in the office and that he was not a waiter. I can corroborate every word of what I wrote, because there were 3 other people who heard the same thing I did. You may not agree with what I wrote, and I am sorry about your friend. I still think the paying guests should have been served first, especially since I made a point of calling the day before to express how important is was that this lunch would be wonderful. I was really embarrassed and upset by this whole experience and Obviously will not be coming back. read more