From the moment we arrived, everyone made us feel welcome, comfortable, and truly cared for. It has been a long time since I have felt this while dining out. A special thank you to Chef Bilarddi Carteli. I cannot fully express how much tonight meant to me. All I had hoped for was a quiet table, and you went above and beyond to make that happen. Even as first-time guests, we were treated like family. The food was absolutely incredible--fresh, authentic, and full of the kind of flavor that reminded me of the Italian meals my mother and grandmother used to make. This was such a special experience, and you have earned a customer for life. Thank you again. read more

Going to Chianti reserve feels like you are going to your relatives trattoria . The vibe is full of warmth and the space is cozy . The friendly owner and staff reel you in with sweet stories that really make you feel like you belong here . The same goes for the food it's warm , filling and hearty . Specially love the lobster ravioli and chicken Marsala . read more

One of my family's favorite restaurants! The staff is SO KIND! And they remember us every time and treat us with so much respect. The food is to die for! So fresh and beyond tasty. The energy is so amazing. We get the same table every time and the ambiance is always so welcoming! read more

Chianti is my absolute favorite restaurant in Pleasanton and is always my first request when I come to visit my dad. The food is authentic Italian - so many of the pasta dishes are delicious and the veal is the most tender I have ever had. The owner Michael is so sweet and provides the best service. The restaurant is inviting and cozy. Thank you!! Highly recommend! read more

THIS restaurant should have a 5 star rating. I've been making my way through the restaurants down Main Street, and this has been the best yet. The complaints on Yelp about the high price and small portions are completely wrong. I thought their food was absolutely reasonably priced for the quality and expertise. Not to mention the great service. My husband and I had the carpaccio (BEAUTIFUL gorgeous amazing), the daily specials of a lobster ravioli and a thick pasta with creamy marinara. Then we had a cheesecake and the best espresso martini I've ever tasted. The staff is obviously very knowledgeable and passionate. 10000% recommend, but be careful, they will ruin Italian restaurants for you, nothing will compare unless you take a flight to Italy. read more

We had 2 pm reservations on Christmas Day. Five of us (four adults, one child) were seated at a table for four that was already crowded with glasses and small plates. On the table were five menus that combined were larger than the table. There were larger tables unoccupied the entire time we were there. We waited 15 minutes before anyone acknowledged us at the table, and that's only because my husband flagged someone down. I ordered a Diet Coke and was handed a ROOM TEMPERATURE, unopened can of coke and a glass. No ice. Not served, not poured, just handed to me. The appetizers were good, but halfway through we had to give them up (!) because the entrees came and there was zero room at the table to put them. There was zero pacing of the meal. The food was okay, nothing great (except for the bruschetta, which was really good). Definitely not worth $297 (before tip, yes we left a 10% tip, as it was Christmas, but even that wasn't deserved). The restaurant was not full. There was room to seat us appropriately. The dinner was rushed and disappointing. Just an FYI, the restaurant is NOT kid friendly in that there is no "Kids Menu" or any accommodations made (smaller glasses). Never again. And next year, I'll make dinner like I have for the last 30 years. read more

We met friends for lunch and decided to select a restaurant between San Jose and where we live. We chose Pleasanton and found the Chianti Reserve. Since we were at a restaurant named after a chianti, I started off with a glass of chianti classico. We did not need to ask for a highchair because they brought it to the table for us, and the highchair was brand new. It was so clean! We are visual people and like to see photos of our food. We looked on Yelp to find images of dishes that set our appetites ablaze. We found an image of squid ink noodles 7 months ago that was missing from the current menu. We were worried that it might be a seasonal entree. We showed our host the image, and he said that they had squid ink noodles but only on the dinner menu. He let two of us order the dish. LOVE! The best thing about our visit was that as our girlfriend left the table and walked out to the restroom, we asked our host to write up a fake tab and, when she sat down, to hand it just to her. When she returned, the host handed her a rather large bill, and she was confused. It was priceless and super funny! We are excited to try something new next time! read more

Chianti Reserve - Squid ink pasta - Italian Near Me - Pleasanton, California

It's a sweet place on Main st with outdoor seating w heaters & inside. Service was very prompt & friendly. Food was just okay. Scallops were a bit tired & sliced thin, my pesto was called creamy but lobster raviolis with pesto were more creamy. Bread was sliced thin a bit dry & pesto oil served with bland. The plates were clean but looked stained, chairs were a bit rough. Dessert was good, cappuccino was not as good as Peets. Overall there was nothing besides service that makes me want to go back. read more

The food was just OK. Greatly overpriced for the quality and serving. Waited an inordinate amount of time for the waiter - and only came after I signaled him over. No need to revisit this place. read more

Had dinner here with a friend and was it amazing. The owner was nice and informative. We asked for a good wine and he recommended a nice Zinfandel. Appetizer we ordered Salmone Affumicato, wow perfectly paired with sliced pears. Dinner we ordered and shared Braised Lamb Shank with mixed veggies (carrot, asparagus & green beans) and polenta. Also ordered the Lobster Ravioli with pesto sauce. You are served warm bread with an oil mixture to dip. We rounded dinner off with crème brûlée, nice portion size. Plenty of parking in the rear. I will definitely be back when in town again. read more

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BEWARE whoever processes cc charges at this restaurant increased my tip amount! this is a new low when it comes to tipping practices. no calls to have a conversation with the owner were returned. unfortunately, my bank will not assist as it was too small an amount to file a dispute so they just credited me the overcharge - this is not what i wanted. i wanted a copy of the receipt they submitted for payment so i could prove the fraud as i have my copy. i will find a way to prove this. if i ever go again i will not use my debit or cc, cash only. dominico was my server - not sure if he received the extra money or the business kept it but i won't let it go. read more

Please believe all the bad reviews. Took my mother in law and wife here for mothers day. They doubled the prices. according to the pricing of their website menu. Food was mediocre at best. I felt robbed when I received the bill of $213 for 3 people. No alcohol was purchased just 2 iced teas. The minestrone cup of soup was $14. Way over priced for the quality. Do not patronize this place. You will thank me later. read more

Food was okay...it was cold when I got it. Sat near the kitchen and it REEKED of cigarettes. Food proportions were so small for the cost of it. Overall 2/10 experience. read more

Food was just okay. Service was almost too much. Had servers at our table all the time - too much. Tables are so close together, we felt packed in and my husband kept getting bumped when people tried to squeeze to get behind him and we were right in the main path so this was all the time. read more

I have been here so many times and the experience is always the same - elegant, friendly and delicious! It's never too busy creating a personable experience. Besides the AMAZING food and the reasonable prices, the place is gorgeous covered with paintings that create such a nice atmosphere for a dinner or lunch. The servers and hosts are always so welcoming and have the best recommendations. I always come back knowing the quality exceeds our expectations each time. read more

Chianti Reserve - Italian Near Me - Pleasanton, California

We were searching for a solidly good Italian restaurant nearby which wouldn't be too large or too busy. What a great find in trying Chianti Reserve! This restaurant has service as an elevated priority. The host quickly moved to open the door for us as we turned to walk in. We were seated promptly despite not have reservations and immediately received our delicious drinks. We enjoyed the other dining parties gathered together over good food nearby. Our food was wonderful and served by the maitre d (owner?) in the most warm manner. (We ordered salad & two entrees.) After dinner, this gentleman recommended a scotch he has sourced to my husband and it was terrific! GO! Enjoy! read more

We had a great experience at this gem of a place on Main Street. It was a great find and my family were greeted warmly by the manager and staff. Ample seating on the sidewalk and traditional seating inside surrounded by Italian-inspired frescos. Service was attentive and the food was delicious! We had the NY Steak, Italian Meatballs with Marinara and Spaghetti, and the Homemade Ravioli. Delightful food and flavors accompanied by genuinely attentive service. I mean an Italian guy happily hosting and sharing his food experience and cracking jokes at the table... Great meal. read more

Overall I don't recommend it and won't go back. Nice staff, service was above average and they weren't very busy for a Saturday night, but everything moved along very slowly. Either they're operating on a shoestring or some folks are learning on the job. Food wasn't terrible, it was edible but I must stress my plate fell well below average. I ordered meatballs which were very basic, but what horrified me was how the pasta was overcooked! Waiter told me that their cook is Italian! I know in Italy they serve pasta al'dente as I do myself at home. This was more like pasta you get at a truck stop or Denny's. Cesar salad was good. Wine, If you're a wine drinker take your own bottle and pay for corkage fee, because the wine glass they serve is large but only a few drops of wine on the bottom. The ambiance is nice. read more

Hello again, its your friendly local reviewer in Pleasanton. If you are looking for the best Gnocchi in town then look no further. Chianti's friendly Italian service reminds me of the Amalfi coast. Definitely worth a visit. 〽K read more

Chianti Reserve - Dessert - Italian Near Me - Pleasanton, California

As always Michelangelo and Bilardi create a great family home town experience. Surprised me with a Special: my favorite osso bucco ! My wife Barbarella and I were treated as "family" by all the staff. Barbarella loved the veal. As you can see, cozy corner window, glass of wine. Great nite! read more

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This is the place for Italian food in Pleasanton. The food is delicious and the service is outstanding. Having dinner in this cozy spot feels like your dining at the home of a friend. read more

ordered the veal scallops in white wine sauce. There were only 3 small pieces of meat. Looked like cat food and the taste was vinegary. Limoncello mascarpone cake was also disappointing. I won't be returning. read more

My goodness, I was really hoping that this place would be at least half as good as our old standby in San Mateo, Bella Mangiata-- same owners. It was fantastic. No one left hungry or disappointed. The capriccio was dressed well-- not too much, not too little. I personally don't care for all the greens that get put on carpaccio these days, but other people enjoy them! Everyone enjoyed their meals. They have a fine selection of wines. The ambiance is a dressy casual. Very comfortable. The Servers were spot on with timing. And like their previous restaurant, the eggplant is fantastic. I will definitely make time to have at least one meal there whenever I am in California. read more

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Don't go here. Served cheap sourdough bread from Safeway. Food was not that great. Ice-cream has ice crystal in it. Staff is nice but not trained. Ambiance is ok. Only go if all restaurants are closed and you don't feel like eating ramen noodles. read more

As much as you would think I liked this place, honestly I wasn't impressed. For one, I ordered an Ice Tea. It took about 20 minutes of trying to flag them down to get it AND we were the only ones here. My mother wasn't too keen with the specials not having prices. When we got the bill, we found one of the specials was $50 each. Also, my mother's card was charged with an additional 18% automatically added. The card was charged without requiring a signature too which was a bit odd. Food was okay. Not sure how accessible it would be since you also would have to climb stairs to get to the bathroom. Overall, prices were a bit steep er than normal. read more

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Highly do not recommend this place. We came here for a date night and while the food wasn't bad, the service was upsetting. The menu items are reasonably priced between 20-30 for most items. So when the server told me the specials and I picked it I assumed it would be around that price. Nope!!!! It was $60. 3X almost everything else on the menu. I would expect my server to give me a heads up when ordering, but nope. Nice little surprise at the end. Won't ever return or recommend anyone else to trust this place read more

Had the carpaccio...one of the best I've had. Bartender made a great cocktail. Had a risotto dish for dinner. Was good...was a red sauce base. I ate almost all of it though. Had the tiramisu for dessert. BEST tiramisu I've ever had. I will be back!!! read more

2 stars for the nice and attentive wait staff. The place was small and decorated in an old traditional style. Empty when we were there. The food was not restaurant quality. It was something I could have made at home with a jar of sauce and spring salad mix from the grocery store. Actually my cooking would have been better. The bread should have been our first clue, thin cut sourdough slices with pesto and olive oil sauce?? Love to eat local, but I can't support this place. I'm sorry I won't be returning. read more

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Food was bland, overpriced, overcooked proteins, the pasta wasn't fresh and sauce tasted like metal. Definitely don't recommend.

Pros: Friendly staff and manager. Lovely outside seating on Main Street. Lots of good options on menu. Cons: Bread is served cold. Not a huge deal but a little thing that separates good restaurants. The portion sizes are below average for American standards-typical of European dishes. The veal and chicken parm dishes are served with small dollop of polenta. Odd / cheap choice instead of pasta. Overall decent place to eat but with other Italian options within walking distance, this place needs to raise its game. read more

Invited a friend to join me for lunch. We were disappointed with the food; was overpriced, bland, bread was dry, and small portions.

The food here was surprisingly excellent and had good portion sizing for the price. I had the seafood special of the day when I was there and it was outstanding. The only reason for 4 instead of 5 was the somewhat clunky service which included zero knowledge of the wine menu. Thankfully, I was allowed some tastes before choosing a bottle and I'm glad for that as I did not take the waiter's recommendation. The server was very nice, don't get me wrong, but perhaps was new and/or needed more training on wine. read more

On September 28, 2024 my friend was celebrating his bday. We were a party of 12. The service was great. The waiter was super friendly and fun. He would joke around with everyone. It was kind of small inside the restaurant but still comfortable. We were inside but they also have outdoor dining. My pasta dish was pretty good. I didn't notice anyone complain about their dish. I did think the entrees were plated nicely so they all had good presentation. I would have to come back again so that I could better evaluate the food. We were there close to closing but they were very friendly about it and did not try to rush us out. The best parts were definitely the service and hanging out with friends. read more

The food was delicious, I got the gnocchi and I would definitely get it again! We came here on a Monday and they weren't too busy but the service was kind of slow -- we didn't get our food for about 45 min to an hour which is normal if the restaurant was busy, but there were only two other tables there. I've gone to many Italian restaurants and I have never seen them serve regular sliced bread before; we also had the tiramisu for dessert, and it was good but not a traditional tiramisu. Overall a cute small Italian restaurant! read more

Chianti Reserve - Gnocchi ai Gamberi - Italian Near Me - Pleasanton, California

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I didn't love my clam linguini at all!! Just kidding! We also enjoyed the bruschetta & caprese salad!! We come here all the time!! read more

Chianti Reserve - My empty plate says it all! Thank you Michelangelo for another great celebration!! - Italian Near Me - Pleasanton, California

I love this place!! I really enjoy the quaint ambiance, friendly service and unique way they prepare their delicious plates! I always enjoy their specials and my husband can't get enough of the carbonara! read more

Had a great experience here dining with a friend. The service was friendly and excellent. They gave my dog a bowl of water . I enjoyed my lamb shank. The meat was so tender it fell off the bone. The marrow was intact and delicious. We did start with cheese stuffed salmon and ended with a mascarpone cake and tiramisu. Perhaps the tortellini could use some color. read more

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This place isn't terrible but the prices are not commensurate with the quality or portion sizes. I was disappointed upon noticing the cappuccino seemed to have no foam whatsoever and our bread for the table was soggy sourdough. I paid about $60 for a modest 1/4 glass of white wine (certainly no mega pints here), a teeny tiny seafood pasta, and a modest, somewhat dilapidated slice of tiramisu. The seafood pasta was very good and the tiramisu was delicious although as mentioned, the presentation wasn't great. The service was friendly. Overall, it's not that the food is bad, it's just not good enough to justify how expensive it is. read more

Service is very good. The food was excellent. All four of us loved our dinners. I had the calamari steak. It was so tender. Really enjoyed it and can't wait to come back. read more

The quality of the food has gone really worse. Only good thing is that the staff were nice. Tiramisu was fine but DO NOT ORDER their "Chocolate Mousse Cake", it is literally costco bought chocolate tuxedo cake heavily priced. Really disappointed with food quality. read more