Received amazing service and experience in this cozy Rockridge restaurant. The servers were very knowledgeable and if they didn't know, they were quick to find out for us. We asked so many questions but they were so patient with us! Much appreciated. You can move around and watch the chefs prepare in the open kitchen, too! Contrary to what I had believed for a long time, the price point is not as pricey as I thought considering Italian in Rockridge. So if you're like me and stayed away, so give them a try and fall in love with this neighborhood gem. read more

In my ideal life, I would come here every Saturday. It's just plain stupid I never came here before. A person who's thinking about coming here should know that the place somehow manages to be both refined and casual, that the service is positive and human and truly cheery, and that the food is fresh, delicious, creative, and comforting. I would mention the arancini and the delicious beet salad, which are probably enough for a good meal, but I have to say, as a person who usually makes a meal of antipasti, the entrees were really memorable - pork saltimbocca and swordfish. If you're chasing a perfect glass of wine they have many to choose from. Can't wait to visit this place again. read more

Last night we attended a private party at Enoteca Molinari and we were all really impressed - from appetizers to desserts, every single dish was absolutely delicious! The pastas and gnocchi were clearly made onsite. The service was fantastic, the wines were excellent, and the vibe was cozy and delightful. We had never eaten there before - but we will for sure be back. EM made it a wonderful evening. It's a smaller restaurant and it was so fun to have the whole place to ourselves for this special event. We can't wait to return! read more

Came here because the Italian place down the street had a long wait. Next door is a Mexican place and that was also full. This place seemed empty- only 2 other tables. We were sat quickly and by the time the appetizers came out, it all made sense. The cheese plate was so bare I was shocked. Then the gem salad came out and it was so sad looking I almost chortled when she placed it on the table. The broccolini pasta was super bitter -- way more bitter than it should be. Also for some reason the olive oil tastes rancid. They did offer free bread that I saw them cutting from what looked like a baguette bought from Safeway. We also got the pasta ragu. The pasta itself was aldente but the sauce did not have much depth of flavor. Really seemed like something I could make at home. Decor was bare. Lots of seating though. I would recommend this place if you're wanting a cozy quiet dining experience. read more

Enoteca Molinari - Insalata di lattuga $14 - Italian Near Me - Oakland, California

Came here for my birthday. We had an early reservation around the time they opened. The servers were very kind and attentive and helpful with our questions. We also brought our own wine and paid $25 corkage to enjoy it. We had several pastas and absolutely loved them. My husband had a pork dish and enjoyed it too. We definitely will come back - the space overall was a nice, clean, modern vibe. Sitting at the bar looks like it would be nice as well! read more

We were looking for a spot for dinner and noticed there were many tables available and decided to try and walk in. Once we were sat, we weren't even given a menu for over 5 minutes. We ended up being there for over 2 hours total even though we ordered quickly once given the menus. We were given some wine tastings before we ordered drinks which was nice but once we finished our first glass they never checked in if we wanted another drink. We had the arancini appetizer and a couple of pastas and the food was pretty good. The waitresses were sweet, but based off the overall service I would not recommend. read more

This restaurant has excellent food and a warm, friendly atmosphere.. I loved everything we ordered and appreciated the high quality and unpretentiousness of the place. read more

Wow!!!! Not sure where to start. From the moment we walked in to Enoteca Molinari I new we came to the right place . The aroma was unreal along with the decor and lighting. Warm atmosphere provided by the onyx or alabaster on pendants, complemented by top of the line recessed lighting. Not like most restaurants where yo can only look at your food or you get blinded. All the dishes we ordered blew our minds and taste buds.!!! Staff and service was on the same level!! We highly recommend this East Bay treasure to everyone. No need to buy a plane ticket to Italy when the food experience is a hop, skip and away! Thanks again Enoteca Molinari!! Sincerely Dan, Mai and Mack Minh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

This place is a hidden-in-plain-sight gem. A warm and friendly vibe. The food is excellent. The wine list is carefully curated; this is one of the few places where we make a point of ordering a bottle from their collection, and we have never been disappointed. read more

Excellent! Family owned, love this place! Amazing pastas and salads, and a great place to try Italian wines as well. Highly recommend!

Food was tasty and delicious, and the staff were attentive and courteous. I really enjoyed my pasta dish. The place is small but still good for our group of 6. I'll be back! read more

I love this place! The food is delicious. The staff is super friendly. They are attentive but don't hover, which I hate at other places. If you like the way people dine in Europe or Latin America, thus us your place. They don't rush you; they make you feel welcome and at home. Someone disliked that there's nog a lot of turnover. That's the best! The feeling you get is that you are dining at someone's dining room. You can relax, chat and enjoy the food and the ambiance. I come here all the time! read more

Overall, dining here was a disappointing experience as the service was extremely inattentive and slow. The food was pretty good, but it did not compensate for the lack of good service. The seemingly aloof owner was essentially running the whole place during a busy night with at least six tables occupied. He did not check on us regularly or apologize for the long delays in receiving our food (at least a 45-minute wait to receive fairly simple entrees after ordering them) or compensate our table in any way (e.g., complimentary bread, appetizers, or dessert). And I agree with another reviewer who commented on the lack of ambiance. It is pretty bare bones. There are several good Italian restaurants in the area, and based on our disappointing experience, I would prefer to go to another one before returning here. read more

Exceptional dining experience. Food was absolutely delicious and made fresh.Tagliatelle al Ragù with house-made pasta and 5-hour cooked ragu was out of this world! Enoteca Molinari boasts an exquisite italian wine-by-the-glass selection including less known delicious Nebbiolo and Barolo wines from the Piedmont region. Go if you can. This restaurant will transport you to Italy. Reasonable prices. Not to be missed. read more

Enoteca Molinari - Pork Saltimbocca - Italian Near Me - Oakland, California

I grabbed a late dinner here with a friend after a workday - we had a reservation, but were running a bit late. When we showed up, there were only two tables occupied - however, I wouldn't let that scare you away! We opted to share the burrata and veggies, the ragu, and beet ravioli, a special for the evening. The ravioli were definitely the star of the show! First, it was beautiful - but it came in a sage, butter sauce and it was just scrumptious. i really enjoyed the ragu as well - well cooked and seasoned, but simple and classic. Overall, I enjoyed our meal. The staff was attentive, without hovering, and the food arrived quickly - but we weren't rushed out when we finished eating. read more

the food was amazing and the fact that everything is handmade and all cooked by one chef is amazing! come in for some wine and enjoy a good chat while you wait for your entree. the tagliatelle was SO GOOD!!! and I got a glass of the white Timorasso, I'm obsessed. thank you to my server Kylie she was great! read more

This place is cute, comfy, and delicious. They have a delicious wine menu and the food is scrumptious. We got the arancini, the ragu, and a fish dish. The fish was cooked just right and tasted fresh. The ragu's umami went perfectly with the reds we have. The service was very friendly. I'd definitely recommend and come back. read more

Enoteca Molinari - Italian Near Me - Oakland, California

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I am so glad I ran into this cute little spot. Date night was definitely a success. We walked in and they were able to seat us right away. There were no Covid guidelines, I believe. It kinda felt normal pre-Covid times. We started off with some wine before we even figured out what we wanted to eat. Food: we started off with the calamari salad which was such a great choice because it was super light, and fresh. The olive oil on the calamari was a great addition. I usually feel guilty eating calami because I'm used to getting the deep fried one, but this was so light and it's a definite must when you order, you won't regret it. It had a nice zest flavor as well. The pasta was very flavorful! The ground beef ragu made the meal so worth the calories. I ordered a small portion which when I received it didn't look like much, but also I was very full and couldn't quite finish. It's definitely a meal where you just want to continue to eat... dreaming of the ragu now. Ha read more

Enoteca Molinari - Insalata di calamari - Italian Near Me - Oakland, California

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Another tremendous meal served by Joe the owner. So authentic and they do not miss a beat; thanks Joe for another outstanding dinner.

Very cool spot on College! Wonderful wines and soon to be delicious food. Overall great experience

Working at a completely remote job, it was the first time meeting some of my coworkers. We booked a reservation here for a Friday evening. It was not crowded and we were able to get outdoor seating. In all there were probably about a dozen or so tables, so it was an intimate setting. This is a good place if you want to spend a few hours socializing and enjoying a meal. They had heaters at every table so it wasn't too cold and being outside made it feel like we were just hanging out on someone's porch. We spit a few appetizers and all ended up getting the ragu. Each dish was average. None of them really stood out. Enjoyable, but not memorable. I would have to say that the baked cauliflower was probably the most underwhelming dish of the night. It definitely looks better than it tastes. The croquettes and arugala salad were tasty a d enjoyable. The salad came with 4 small slices of bread with some very good olive oil. We all ordered the ragu which had a good ratio of meat to pasta, but the flavor was bland. The noodles ate house made, but didn't seem like much of a specialty. The meat was ground meat, so I'm not sure why 5 hour beef makes any difference and from my first bite it seemed like there was something missing. There were 3 options for dessert and we ordered all 3. My favorite was the panacotta. It had a perfect blend of flavors and textures and a perfect pallet cleanser. Overall we had a good evening, the servers and ambiance were great, but I probably wouldn't come here for the food. read more

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I have been going to Enoteca Molinari occasionally since they first opened. It is always a great experience with solid service and I love to try new menu items. Joe, the owner, is accessible and friendly and his story and that of his family is one of Oakland's rich Italian American history. I love the wine selection as it really complements the food and it has allowed me to learn more about Italian wine! read more

Here the other night. Place was not busy, but most tables were in use or had been used before I arrived. Not a place with high rate of turnover. (In contrast, I ate over 20 years ago at Richard's in New Orleans, and tables were turning over every hour. From where I sat, the table behind me turned over three times in several hours). Service was very uneven. Took a long time to get staff's attention. Food was okay. The vegetarian soup was my highlight, and next were the arancini. With regard to both dishes, they could have used a little bite or kick such as Calabrian peppers or even cayenne (table side so the patron can best determine heat). A number of dishes were prepared with San Marzano tomatoes, including the arancini, so some available (optional) heat would have complemented the dishes. The ambience was lacking. I felt as if I was sitting in an American breakfast diner with a bar, and not an Italian enoteca. Wine pours were five ounces. Heartily recommend the sparkling rose or the Montepulciano. Prices on the food $1-$2 too high, but the wines were reasonably priced at $14/glass. Good, but not great. -- workingman's gourmand. read more

Met longtime friends for a 6 pm reservation. This is in my favorite neighborhood in Oakland. I've eaten or drank at nearly every establishment. My optometrist and dentist are across the street. On the northern side of Hwy 24 I've been drinking and buying Cole (formerly Royal) coffee since 1988. My "hood" but first time at Enoteca. We had arancini, bursts, and a calamari salad- all spectacular. My thirsty self had a saison beer and we ordered wine by the glass, plus bottles of Pelegríno. Service was excellent. My swordfish was perfectly grilled with a rich butter sauce. My wife thought the gnocchi could be more seasoned, but she cleaned the bowl. What was missing was an Italian selection of good bread, vinegar, and olive oil. Missed it, but no bread did not detract from our meal. The seating and decor reminded me of simply furnished trattoria in the Dolomites and Milan. Folks were friendly and kind. My buddy beat me to the check. It's a game we play. Will return. , read more

This place was so delicious! I wasn't sure about it at first because it seemed empty. It filled up shortly after though! The food was delicious and fresh! The special was a zucchini ravioli in a lemon butter sauce. The pasta was so soft and fresh! I would definitely recommend! read more

Food was ok and pricey for what it is. Cauliflower was quite soft (almost as if cooked from frozen...) but the sauce was good. Gnocci was also super soft and slightly potatoey and did not have a bite at all! Sauce was heavy but tasty with the bacon. The orecchiette was slightly bitter and overly oiled with the meat being way too salty. Olive oil also bitter but very olive. The service was slow as well even though they were very friendly. Overall, only ok and likely won't be back. Good vibes though if you want something intimate. They have heated outdoors and a few indoor seating. read more

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Nice place. Excellent food, friendly staff. The ambience could use a lift with some interesting art or lighting. It's a bit drab now, as is the facade. The only thing identifying it from the outside is a circular sign above the front door that looks like a Roman coin but isn't legible from across the street. And, since the shades are all drawn during the day, it resembles a law firm or tax preparer's office more than it does a restaurant. read more

Now i know why i was able to snag a same day reservation at a reasonable hour. The food was very mediocre, but the price was $$. Our main server (youngish woman with dark hair) was a delight, but the server who brought out the food seemed to have a bit of an attitude. Looking at other reviews here, I see I'm not alone. We got 2 glasses of wine, 2 entrees and an appetizer. Total with tip = $111. (!!!) Ragu: Tasted very average; and noodles were not yet al dente (still hard) Eggplant gnocci: Eggplant itself was good, but the rest of the dish lacked any complex flavor whatsoever. Just pillows of dough, standard spaghetti sauce, and 1 basil leaf. Fried Balls: the sauce was good, fried-ness was decent, but nothing to write home about. Outdoor seating was pleasant read more

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Tagliatelle al ragu had thick, al dente pasta noodle with a typical meat sauce. Personally I prefer thinner pasta with my ragu sauce and a more heavily spiced sauce. I liked how well spaced the tables were. Not cramped and the doors were left open on this mild night. I would keep your jacket on you if you get easily chilly. Great place for a sit down meal if you're more cautious about covid read more

Make a reservation! Came here early with my bf for dinner at 5:30 and they were filled up with reservations at 6! We ordered the vegetable soup and the Orecchiette and Tagliatelle. The SOUP. It was the best soup I've ever had in a while despite me traditionally not being a huge fan of veg soup. The broth was savory and tomato-y but the veggie medley was so fresh with the best green beans giving it life. Highly recommend you check it out and sit at the bar to watch the process. The soup is why I'm even writing a review. The pastas were amazing too. Great bite, amazing flavor, and nice smaller portions TO GIVE YOU ROOM AFTER THAT BOMB SOUP. read more

Enoteca Molinari - Orecchiette con le cime di rapa - Italian Near Me - Oakland, California

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came here a few months back, my friend and I were ignored, the service was incredibly slow, and our dishes were both over salted. It felt as though our waiter was intentionally giving us inattentive service compared to the tables surrounding us, my friend and I are younger, but we both work in restaurants and felt as though we weren't taken seriously as valued guests. Had to practically flag him down for bread, and the check. disappointing. read more

The food is phenomenal. The owner is charming and more than approachable. The man knows his Italian wines. Just ask him for a recommendation. Very classy, romantic setting. Hands down the best Italian restaurant in the bay. There I said it read more

Food was so fresh and delicious. One of my new favorite Italian restaurants. I ordered the orecchiette with sausage and it's my new favorite dish. Highly recommend this spot! read more

Nope. Not coming back here again. And from the way that I was treated, they honestly probably wouldn't care anyways. But you know what? I'm still gonna tell the whole Yelp world about what it was like to dine here because well... they deserve a warning. It's one thing to receive bad service when the food is good. But when the service is bad AND the food ain't all that great?! Yeah, you're really trying me... The glowing Yelp reviews brought me here of course. That, and the fact that this spot is close to where I work and hang out. Before I could fully even inch my body into the place, I was bombarded by a lady who asked me if I made a reservation. I told her that I had not and her whole body language just changed in an instant. She seemed annoyed that I walked in. I noticed that she acted the same way when a couple walked in after me and also didn't have a reservation. The place is teeny weeny with maybe about a handful of tables max and a very small countertop area. Only two of the tables were taken and everything else was empty. She looked around the room as if the place was packed with people. She told me to hold on and she walked to the back room. When she came back out, she told me that I could have a seat at the counter. When I sat down, the two people behind the counter didn't even look my way. No greeting, no menu, no water, no nothing. I sat there for about 5 minutes and contemplated whether I should just get up and leave. But before I could decide, a lady came over and placed a menu in front of me. Still not a proper greeting, but it was better than nothing. I looked over the menu to see what options I had. After examining the wine menu, I and asked for a taste of their Sangiovese. It tasted fantastic so I decided to get a glass. I also ordered their Gnocchi with panchetta. My food didn't take long to arrive, and presentation wise, it was spot on. But unfortunately, that was all it had going for it. The sauce was rather bland and the portion was small for the price. The worst part was the dense consistency of the gnocchi. I'm used to gnocchi practically melting in my mouth. This gnocchi wasn't soft, but rather doughy and dense as if it hadn't been cooked long enough. It was very disappointing. What was also disappointing was the lack of service after I received my meal. Nobody came back over to see how I was doing or to ask me if I wanted another glass of wine. When I was done, I just kind of sat there for a while in hopes that someone would notice. I almost felt like I was being ignored. I finally had to flag down the lady to ask for my check. When she came back, she actually smiled and said thank you. It was the only real "service" that I had received all night and of course it came after I was given the bill. Needless to say, there are several other Italian restaurants on the same block with better food and service. Why come back here to be dissatisfied and ignored when there are so many other great places around?! read more

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Food! Service! Ambiance! Nice vibe, you can watch the chef cook if you sit at the bar...

SIMPLY STRAIGHTFORWARD With all the trend and fad of elaborate dishes in different cuisines what I love about Italian cuisine is its straightforwardness. Two days after Valentine's Day I came here Saturday night for Valentine's dinner. Some people use the word "small" too often. This restaurant isn't small but tiny as this place appears to only have 10 seats. The size of the restaurant was my first impression. My second impression was the menu as it doesn't have a lot of items - one page double-sided. I like there weren't a lot of items to think about. For dinner there were four items ordered. The first item was a small salad that included beets with burrata cheese. The texture was similar to caprese salad with the burrata cheese substituting as the mozzarella and the beets acting as the tomato. The dish was tasty but nothing spectacular. The second item was the arancini. Several years ago I travelled to Italy by myself on a budget. When I was running low on cash I would go to 7-11-like stores throughout Italy to buy arancini as they were inexpensive and filling. The arancini at Enoteca Molinari brought back great memories. I'll admit these arancini at Enoteca Molinari were better than I had in Italy. The arancini I bought in Italy at the convenient stores were cold. These arancini at Enoteca Molinari were freshly made to order - they were piping hot as the cheese melted inside the arancini. The combination of the corn, cheese, rice inside along with the breaded, crispy crust on the outside made this dish delightful. I'm glad that I didn't order pasta as the arancini acted as a pasta-like dish. The third item I had was the saltimbocca alla romana, which is the pork tenderloin with prosciutto, broccolini, and roasted potatoes. Nothing fancy but this dish reminded me of simple Italian dishes. The grilled pork tenderloin and broccolini was flavorful. Even though the pork tenderloin was caramelized the meat inside was still moist. The pork and roasted potatoes made this dish hearty. The saltimbocca alla romana was one of the best pork dishes I had in a restaurant in quite some time. For dessert I ordered the salted caramel pudding. The contrasting texture of the silky pudding and crunchy pecans made this dessert delicious - a fitting way to end a filling dinner. I mentioned the arancini reminded me of my trip in Italy. Having the saltimbocca alla romana in addition also brought back other memories - my dining experience at Enoteca Molinari rekindled my memories of eating meals at osterias in Italy. That was not only because of the simplicity of the meals but also the tiny number of seats available. I did not think about that until after dinner. If you don't want the elaborate fuss of highly decorated meals and just want a straightforward delicious meal in a setting similar to family-run osterias in Italy I recommend Enoteca Molinari. read more

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Really delish! Felt like we were eating in an Italian chef's home. Somehow both well prepared and down to earth. We had the Arancini, cauliflower, beet salad, orchietta with broccoli raab, gnocchi with zucchini, almond cake, budino, great bottle of rose. The staff were attentive yet not hovering. The owner made a great wine recommendation and made us feel at home. Definitely coming back! read more

The food was excellent-Hugh quality made with care. The service was top notch. The server's recommendations were on pointe. Peaceful atmosphere. Overall enjoyable experience. read more

The reviews were so good but we did not have a great dining experience. Ordered the Pesce al pomodoro-Overcooked, dry and flavorless. Ordered the pasta special of the day-Overcooked pasta and also flavorless. The service also left something to be desired. The waiter seemed more interested in chatting it up with the regulars and completely neglected us for things like utensils and water. At one point, we had finished our wine and had to flag the waiter down as he rushed off to pick up an order. Also, I noticed the crowd to be a bit older, so I am not sure if they are not seasoning the food to suit the older crowd but what a disappointment coming from a full Italian staff. read more

Great food and service. Small authentic Italian restaurant on College Avenue. A neighborhood gem.