Love this place. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, and the staff is genuinely warm and attentive from the moment you walk in. The food is consistently great. Well -prepared, flavorful, and satisfying without being overly fussy. Whether it's a casual dinner or a special night out, Chianti Novato hits the right balance of quality and comfort. It's one of those restaurants that feels like a neighborhood favorite for good reason. Highly recommend it if you're in the area and want a welcoming spot with excellent food. read more

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One of the worst experiences we have had at any restaurant, of which this was a local favorite over the years. We arrived at opening time to a empty restaurant and were met with a less than welcoming greeting by a young dark haired lady who kept telling us to wait several times while she kept busy checking her reservations on the computer for 5 minutes before she would let us sit down at one of the tiny bar tables we requested. Once we finally got ourselves seated we were never approached for a drink order for over 10 minutes, while several parties started coming in to be seated in the main dining room. After our patience was exhausted we got up to leave and said the reason why because of no service, but were met only with an ok and a rude laugh and no apology from the original lady as we left the restaurant. Myself, being a former fine dining professional I found this experience to be very uncomfortable and demeaning for my wife and I. Hopefully some constructive criticism will be of some use to remedy any future customer's experience. read more

What a disappointment... I ordered a Caesar salad with chicken to go. I got a pile of lettuce with croutons a small container of dressing that wasn't enough to cover one leave of lettuce, no fresh Parmesan. The dressing is very bland hardly any garlic. I will not be going back. read more

This is definitely one of my go to spots in Novato. I like the atmosphere and the food and service are reliably solid. I love their carbonara and salads. I was delighted when my friend took me here for my birthday. read more

Chianti Cucina - Cioppino - Italian Near Me - Novato, California

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A Novato favorite. The food is always good as is the service. Think casual hometown family Italian that you grew up with or spent time with friends. read more

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Had reservations for early dinner, and we were seated promptly in a booth style table. Our server was friendly and attentive, although couldn't answer some of our questions about items on the menu. Bread and butter available for an extra charge. Ordered the gamberi al limone, which was delicious! Six prawns in a lemon butter sauce, with mashed potatos and veggies. Also had the gnocchi with pesto, which was also quite good. Finished with the flourless chocolate cake and vanilla gelato, also quite good. The place stays busy and I suspect many customers are local regulars. I'd eat here again. read more

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Do not come here to expect authentic true Italian cooking. This is more like Italian American cuisine just cooked deliciously. And so aaaahhh ... Valentine's night for dinner. We scored a reservation for the two of us the night before for 5:00pm on Valentine's night which is when they open. We were seated immediately upon walking in and service was great. Just a lemonade for me while hubby enjoys a glass of their super Tuscan wine. We ordered our usual favorites, the Pollo Parmigiana for him, and the Pork Milanese for me. The Pork Milanese is my favorite entree which comes topped with a delicious garlic sauce, perfectly cooked mixed veggies, and my choice of their cheddar polenta. Consistently good food and appreciate the great service. read more

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Well- I would have taken a pic of my food but I was so hangry I couldn't. Got the Lasagna with Bolognese sauce. DELISH- almost ate the whole thing and I never finish my plate... This is a great dinner place, we come here often. Service is always good and so is the food quality. Ambiance can be loud at times but as long as people are having a good time and enjoying their meal with loved ones I don't mind the noise. read more

Service by the lady who was in her late 30s-40s with dark hair was atrocious!! The cioppino was extremely salty and full of calamari rings. The steak was decent, we also had fettuccine , which was also mediocre at best. Overall a 3.5. Sadly, not going to be our go to Italian place in town. read more

Chianti Cucina - Italian Near Me - Novato, California

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I have been meaning to try Chianti restaurant forever.......well I finally did and it was delicious I started with the apple feta salad, and had the traditional raviolis from their menu. Both were delicious and fresh. If I had to complain, it would be the server did not clear our small table very good and We were sharing a dessert and the bread basket, and our empty drink glasses were still on the Table in the way. The restaurant ambience was warm and friendly. Can't wait to go back. read more

My favorite dish here is the pescatore (seafood pasta). It's a little pricey, but they give so much seafood!! And the sauce is delicious because they put clam juice in with the red sauce which helps elevate the flavors. You can pick whatever noodles you want, but I believe it comes with capellini (thin noodles) if you don't ask for a specific one. I usually get spaghetti. The restaurant can get a little loud inside, and it's pretty dark, but it helps set the mood/vibe. Never had a problem with service, always friendly enough. Only reason for 4 stars is because it's a little pricey for pasta, and the pasta doesn't taste fresh to me, like I don't think they make it fresh in the kitchen. But it still tastes good! read more

Chianti Cucina - Pescatore - Italian Near Me - Novato, California

We came to this restaurant to have a good evening. We had an extremely rude waitress named Irene. She was very unprofessional temperamental and confrontational and we were just trying to pay for our bill. She walked away from the table and said that she wasn't gonna help us anymore there was no reason for her behavior she wrecked our evening ,we had a very bad experience and we do not recommend this restaurant!!! read more

We have been meaning to stop in for years and are so disapponted it took us this long! What a wonderful experience. The entire staff, especially Gita, was so lovely to us. The food was unbelievable and delicious and the atmosphere makes you feel like you are at someone's home! I can't recommend this place enough. We will be back (again and again and again) very soon. 12 out 10 read more

My wife and I ate there for the first time last weekend. We had a Groupon for them. The wait staff were very helpful, friendly and knowledgeable about the menu and the wines and very patient. Great welcoming environment and the food was really good and generous portions. The tiramisu was one of the best I have tasted! read more

Julie was a perfect waitress, lovely food, and wine, and dessert. The best dish tonight was the special tomato & lobster bisque soup. We came one evening after Valentine's and everything was perfect! I love the cosy, romantic vibe. read more

What an amazing restaurant and experience. My wife and I went there for our anniversary and wanted something that was a little different than our usual family/kid-friendly style restaurant and heard great things about Chianti Cucina so we gave it a shot. I'm glad we did. Upon entering it has a cozy, old world and dare I say...somewhat romantic atmosphere(?). However, the floors are tile and it stays busy so it might be loud if you go in peak times. The service makes up for it in every metric though. Our server was very attentive, very knowledgeable regarding the food and wine menu and she was fast! I was actually surprised, I don't mind a dining experience that is a little slower paced when I'm on date night. The food is so flippin' good! I had a Ravioli special with short rib and a pomodoro sauce and the flavors were just spectacular! The quality of the dish was probably the finest pasta dish i've had in Novato. The freshness of the tomatoes in the sauce, the fresh herb medley on top with a slight sprinkling of parmesan really balanced out the heavier cheese/short rib ravioli base. The whole thing had a nice blend of flavors. I topped it off with a Napa wine. My wife chose an italian wine, I was not as daring lol. If we had more time and more space I would definitely try some dessert. Next time for sure! I can't wait to go back. read more

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The food is always fresh, delicious, and well presented. We had the chicken piccata and salmon piccata... our usual! What really makes Chianti Cucina so special are the waitresses. Very quick service but most importantly, they are very thoughtful and personable. On my birthday they presented me with their scrumptious limoncello tartufo with a candle in it! Lovely environment too. read more

The vongole linguini was very good; the sauce was light but flavorful, the clams were fresh, and the linguini was cooked to perfection. The fried calamari was crispy and well seasoned. The servers were wonderful; friendly, attentive, and helpful. The only unpleasant experience was that some of the bread plates and water glasses were not real clean read more

Chianti Cucina - Linguine Vongole - Italian Near Me - Novato, California

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We had a simple dinner here. No appetizer or dessert, just mains. We got a pizza and a pasta. The homemade ravioli was very good and nicely made. The red sauce was also solid without being too sweet or too savory. The pizza didn't live up to the menu's "thin crispy crust" tout. The sausage and mushroom made the slice sag and it was soggy at the end right when it hit our table. The staff was lovely and helped us out a few times throughout our short stay. Good stuff and recommended overall read more

The food is always delicious! We ordered the calamari, risotto with prawns, pear and prosciutto pizza, and bread pudding. I would order everything again, so yummy! The service was great! All of the staff were friendly and the food was brought out quickly. We came in on a Tuesday night and they weren't very busy. The ambiance is very romantic. Very dim lighting with candles set on each table. Great place for a date night! read more

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Food was excellent. Service good. Very noisy. Large group of 7 and so they did the auto-tip of 20%. Salmon excellent, lasagne very good, same with special tuna. Gnocchi was good too. Calamari also very good sauces read more

The is a quant little Italian restaurant near downtown Novato, with convenient parking and friendly environment. The servers and customer service were excellent. I had the seafood cioppino and it was one of the better ones I've ever had. The sauce was amazing, and there was a ton of seafood in it. My girl had the alfredo with shrimp. She enjoyed it. I wish it had a little more sauce, but the taste overall was excellent. read more

Chianti Cucina - Fettuccine Alfredo - Italian Near Me - Novato, California

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Wow, you must be kidding--this place is, at best,t on par with Olive Garden. The flavors remind me of a mix of Guatemalan cuisine and some misguided interpretations of Italian food. I have a deep love for and extensive experience with all forms of Italian cuisine, as I am part Italian and visit Bologna regularly. Let me explain why. The cioppino dish, or sauce, featured in their picture costs over $30, yet it's made with the cheapest fish available: squid, two mussels, two clams, and some lower-quality cuts of salmon (and no crab). I wouldn't even serve that to a homeless person. At $35, they're running on an 80% profit margin. If you closed your eyes and tasted it, you'd think you were in South America enjoying a local dish. If you want to experience what real cioppino sauce tastes like, just go to Soto Mare in the city start there. and My wife ordered the clams with pasta, which was just dry, store-bought pasta. Why would anyone go out for that? You could easily buy a bag of Costco pasta and make it at home. The sauce tasted like it came straight out of a can, though I can't be sure. The service was kind, and the staff was mostly backfilling for anyone who needed assistance. Interestingly, the server even asked if they could put grated cheese and pepper on my fish before I tasted it. I had never encountered that before, as grated cheese is typically paired with pasta dishes, not fish. The ambiance had a very Restoration Hardware 2018 feel. It was as if someone who always wanted to be an interior designer but lacked the talent bought items off the website and threw them together. This matches the overall vibe of the place. Good luck! I would recommend that Chief go a three-week intensive at: https://www.bolognacookingclass.com/ I am not affiliated with any cooking school or restaurant; I just love food, having enjoyed it for 67 years! read more

My partner and I came back to Chianti Cucina again last night because we were craving Italian food. We got our favorites: -the shrimp risotto with spinach -seafood ciopinno Neither disappointed. The flavors were excellent and the service was good. We sat outside on the patio which was bright and quiet compared to the cozy but loud ambiance inside. read more

Chianti Cucina - Shrimp and spinach risotto (special) - Italian Near Me - Novato, California

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The most mid Italian food around. Paid 50 bucks for two pizzas and got tiny little tasteless pizzas. I would have rather bought two frozen pizzas. Would have been cheaper and better. read more

I had salmon with mashed potatoes and vegetables. It had a very nice sauce on it. It was delicious. Service was great. read more

Me and hubby enjoy dinner here about once every few weeks. Food is very comforting, plentiful and excellent service. We love the cheesy polenta, like it's addicting and can have just a whole plate of just that. Solid choice for a good hot dinner and a glass wine. read more

Everything was perfect. The bruschetta had just enough garlic and the tomatoes were so fresh! I had gnocchi with prawns, my boyfriend had a seafood dish and my extended family did the pasta and the chicken piccata. For dessert the bread pudding was fantastic! read more

Chianti Cucina - Bruschetta and seafood dish - Italian Near Me - Novato, California

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Revised due to increased consistency issues. Caesar salads are rarely fresh anymore. Lettuce looks and tastes several days old most of the time. Even the main dishes lately have taken a hit. You can get a good steak one night, and then a mediocre one on the next visit. The chefs are also not understanding what medium done means. Medium does not mean raw to medium rare, but on some instances our steaks have come out bright red middle with blood all over the plate. Service and atmosphere remain decent. This was our favorite restaurant when they were at their peak 8-10 years ago. But many years of decline has made them less relevant. Sadly there are now much better alternatives. read more

Adequate This restaurant is "okay" but there are better Italian restaurants in Marin - we're not returning. While I do appreciate the free off-street parking and them dropping the additional 5% surcharge, we found nothing exceptional. The service, the appetizers, the entrée, desserts, and ambiance were at best "okay." Prices are standard fare, except for the overpriced wine. The chianti wine was awful! The first glass was sent back for the pricier glass which was negligibly better, both had a hint of gasoline. They are very bold to charge $16 for what merits somewhere in the category of industrial cleaner. No, we accepted the second glass without comment, nor were we asked about it. If you can't find another Italian restaurant, I'd suggest driving 15 minutes south to San Rafael for 1) Café Villa, 2) Il Davide, 3) Café Arrivederci, 4) San Rafael Joe's, etc. read more

Excellent service by Renee and Maggie and excellent food! We shared a Caesar, delicious! Carbonara fantastic and so fresh! Calamari dore', so tender! Great wine list. read more

Chianti Cucina - Chocolate Torte - Italian Near Me - Novato, California

Five star! So delicious and tasty. Even the salad and bread. As an East coast Italian, this food is like being back there. It's not a lot too look at but who cares when the food is this good. It's regularly been one of my fovorite places And I drive all the way from Sebastopol to Novato. Service is EXCELLENT too. Ambiance is OK...but who cares. The food is delicious. read more

We had dinner here 5/17/25. Ordered antipasti and received the dishes promptly. Then it was downhill from there. Another couple who arrived 15 mins after us received their entrees before us. As we sat and waited for 45 mins the waitress then came over and asked if we wanted dessert. I told her we never even received our entrees but she walked away without even acknowledging my complaint. Never once did she refill our water carafe nor asked if we wanted more bread. Horrible dining experience and we will never patronize this restaurant again. Maybe the waitress had a bad night but when you pay good money to dine out you expect a minimum level of service. I would not recommend. read more

Always a go to when in Novato! Attentive service. Cozy atmosphere. Authentic Italian cuisine.

In love with Italian food! And the desserts, my God, are delicious! I highly recommend it! The service is excellent and a romantic atmosphere with candles I love it read more

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We stumbled upon this place on a whim while shopping at Vintage Oaks, and it instantly won us over--we've been coming back ever since! The warm, homey atmosphere makes you feel right at ease, and the staff is always incredibly friendly and welcoming. But the real star? The food. Every single dish we've tried has been nothing short of amazing, consistently top-notch. I can't recommend this place enough--oh, and we got Duke tonight! read more

Celebrated two birthdays last night at a table of six plus a high chair. Although the restaurant was quite crowded on a Saturday night, the service was excellent. The delicious food was served promptly, and the staff was kind, attentive and courteous. I was surprised at the level of service as I am not accustomed to such at Marin restaurants. We all enjoyed our meals in the most cozy and welcoming atmosphere. The waiter gladly served the cake we brought with the candles. Whoever is managing this place is doing a great job!!! They deserve all the wonderful reviews. Thanks for enjoyable night out! read more

So sad Cioppino filled with inedible rubbery calamari One prawn Several small bits of scallop and fish 36 bucks Will not be returning read more

Food was decent. Not authentic Italian. Service was great. No waiting to get seated. Staff very nice

Incredible food and ambiance! This cozy little gem of a restaurant deserves a stop! Food is delicious freshly made and staff is vey accommodating professional and friendly! Irene was just incredible! Thank you guys I'll be back for sure! read more

Chianti Cucina - Italian Near Me - Novato, California