LOVE this place!! My husband doesn't like pizza and even he loves it! First of all the dough is delicious. Then they put wonderful ingredients on it - the most delicious cheeses and meats. The ambience is great... I want their playlist!!! We come as a family with my loud kids pretty early, but I think it would be a cute date spot too. They have good drinks. Don't forget the gelato!!! Oh and service always welcoming and kind read more

I had a pleasant experience at Hot Italian in downtown San Rafael. My husband and I came in on a Friday night, and even though it started to get a little busy as the evening went on, we were seated right away, which was a nice. We ordered the Caesar salad and it was absolutely delicious, definitely something I would recommend with fresh cracked pepper YUM. We also tried an arugula based pizza, which was fresh, flavorful, and really well done. We enjoyed the meatballs as an app too. Overall, the food and service were both very good, and the atmosphere was chill without being overwhelming. We look forward to coming back again soon. read more

We were visiting family in the area, and decided to eat something before we headed back home. Saw the outside menu on a sign board, and realized it was Happy Hour. We decided to eat there since the Happy Hour Pinsa's were showing $10 on the outside menu board, it's the reason we went in, the price was right. When we sat down, I asked if we could also get a Happy Hour menu, which they gave us as well. After reading it, we read the Happy Hour pinsa's on the menu we were given at the table were marked $13. I asked the server when he came back and showed him the picture I took of the menu board outside and asked him why the menu board outside says $10, and the menu we were given says $13. He looked confused and I pointed to the big menu board outside and showed him the picture. He said no, it's $13 and asked another employee to look at the board outside. The other employee looked at it, nodded to the server and walked back inside. The server asked me, is this $13 ok? I told him, we came in the restaurant since the big menu board outside advertised that it was Happy Hour AND the price showed $10 each. We were ordering 2 different pinsa's. So an additional $6 is almost another pinsa price. I thought at the end he was going to give us the price that was advertised outside of the restaurant but the check came and was still charged $13 each for the pinsa's. At that point I realized that this restaurant does not have any type of customer service, and apparently they don't care that they are doing a bait and switch, as no employee as we were sitting there or as we were leaving, took the sign outside off. I know now, when we visit family in the area, we will not be going back to the restaurant. Just be aware of the signage and prices outside of the restaurant is different than the prices inside the restaurant, and they will not honor their own prices. read more

Very disappointed. Ordered a lasagna and a spaghetti. Lasagna was awful and the spaghetti had no taste and serving was sparse. The so called bread they served was hard tasteless pizza dough. The only positive was our waitress. read more

Date: Monday, August 25th, 2025 Party of: 2 Meal: Dinner Takeaway Time Ordered: around 8pm Time Pickup: around 8:30pm Ordered: thru their website via Toast *12" Classic round JOVANNOTTI ($26) *12" Classic round FIORI ($25) *PEPERONI SLICE SLICE ($7) *CAESAR SALAD ($15.50) - No croutons The hubby and I were headed home to SF and figured we'd take the opportunity to grab some takeout from San Rafael. I like trying new places, so we figured why not pick a spot in a city were never frequent. After looking around, we decided to try Hot Italian. I adore arugula on pizzas, so wanted to try the FIORI - Tomato sauce, mozzarella, mushrooms, arugula, prosciutto parma, and truffle oil. I enjoyed it. And the crust had a good chew. The hubs isn't the hugest fan of truffle on pizza, but he didn't mind it here. I was rather light. The JOVANNOTTI - Tomato sauce, mozzarella, spicy calabrese salami, prosciutto cotto, smoked mozzarella, and mushrooms was more his style. He's a simple pizza man. The pepperoni slices were huge. And we got two of them. Not sure if that was a mistake, but hey, could always use more pepperoni slices. Tho they were a little too bready for me. The CAESAR SALAD - Crisp romaine lettuce, house-made Caesar dressing, Parmigiano Reggiano, anchovies was good. I love anchovies so enjoyed this. Pickup was fast and easy. Our order was ready when we got here. And parking was fairly easy as well. We found a spot right out front. A nice spot to grab some pizza takeout if you don't want fast food type pizza. REVIEW #3846 read more

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Hot Italian is HOT, HOT, HOT! From food that is delicious to grab and go that is unique, I am so happy that you settled down near my town. We decided to sit out on the back patio, which is a nice size and consists of a few picnic benches and smaller 2 tops. On your way to this destination, you pass by their spinning gelato machine and on the left you have grab and go options from pasta to pizza to Italian drinks and packaged items. Packaged items such as a seafood salad consisting of marinated mussels, octopus and squid. Now I know this isn't for everyone, but when I saw it I had to get one on my way out.. ps it was delicious! When we were seated at our table our waiter asked if we would like anything to drink and I asked him what he liked and he recommended the classic aperol spritz. Now I have tried this one time in my life and wasn't a huge fan, but I said what the heck let's try it again. I am so happy that I did. The drink was refreshing, well balanced and the hint of orange was delightful. We started with the burrata, tomato, basil and sorbet crouton salad. This dish was fresh, inventive and fun. Who would have thought to add little sorbet pieces to creamy burrito, fresh tomato and basil.. well the Chef at HOT Italian did, I am grateful. The flavors were beautiful and that surprise of the cold semi-sweet sorbet truly highlighted the fresh ingredients. It brings me great joy when a Chef pushes the envelope and it works. For our Main, we ordered the vegetarian pizza with artichoke hearts, olives and sun dried tomatoes and we asked for prosciutto de parma to be added. The pizza was light and you could taste every single ingredient. The sauce to cheese to toppings was perfectly balanced; instead of most where it is too top heavy. With the perfect construction, you truly allow the ingredients to shine and be tasted, Bravo! On our way out we decided to split a gelato. We ordered the salted carmel. It was light and the carmel shined. It's fair to say I shall be back to visit my oh so HOT Italian. read more

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I came here for Yelp Elite Event and had an amazing experience, so wanted to bring my partner here for Happy Hour. We went to Italy last year and appreciate that the brother & sister owners are from Italy and feature many Italian products. We got prosecco, bruschetta appetizer, veggie and materazzi (salami and olive) personal flatbread pizzas, and tiramisu & salted caramel gelato. The hot chili oil was delicious on all of the savory dishes. Service from our friendly waiter Santos was quick. We were seated in the back area which was a bit noisy next to a large party, and I might want to sit in the front next time with the music & happy sounds from the kitchen. read more

Hot Italian - Happy hour veggie and materazzi (salami and olives) with prosecco - Pizza Near Me - San Rafael, California

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Went once. Can't wait to go back! It was a whole vibe in there last Wed. I mixed up my dates and thought I was showing up for an event, when I realized my mistake I stayed for a Calzone and an Aperol spritz cocktail. The food and drink was delicious that alone would bring me back. This place had a whole amazing vibe though that would also make you want to come back even if the food wasn't The service was great, everyone seemed happy to be there. The owner was there meeting customers but also working alongside his team. Loved it. The other customers there were as happy to have found this place as me. Everyone was happy and raving about how glad they were to have found this new Italian spot. To top it off they had gelato. Many flavors including 2 vegan options! Seriously go check this place out. I drove 45 minutes to go here and plan to do it again soon! read more

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Very cool place as soon as you walk in. The gelato was is a cool spinning display case, got one scoop of tiramisu at their happy hour for 5$. Was super creamy and had a great subtle coffee taste. The spritz was also so good and refreshing. A very nice restaurant space with a great happy hour deal. read more

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Hot Italian has big round pizzas now! When we first went here, the big pizza oven hadn't arrived yet, so only the small oval pinsa romanas were available. They're good, but the larger pizzas are a revelation--after years of searching, I may have finally found my perfect pizza in California! And my whole family finally equally loves a local pizza. read more

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Food: my partner enjoyed his pizza more than I enjoyed my panini (the mixed greens salad on the side was fresh and crisp and perfectly dressed) so I will order pizza next time. The pasta at the table next to me looked very good as well. Wine: an excellent selection of wines by the glass. Service: friendly and attentive. Ambiance: clean and casual, well suited for a pre movie bite to eat. Will return to try a pizza and the gelato which I saw others enjoying. Street parking was available and there are garages nearby. read more

was in the area and decided to give this place a try. Parking can be a bit tricky to find, but it's definitely worth the effort especially if you visit during happy hour, when the deals are unbeatable. The customer service was excellent; my waiter checked in often to make sure I was enjoying everything. The food tasted fresh and came out quickly. Although the restaurant was a little busy, the staff still gave great attention to each table. Prices can be on the higher side outside of happy hour, but the food is delicious and worth it. read more

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I stopped by Hot Italian earlier this week for lunch after hearing good things from friends. I ordered the Cannavaro -- note: if you like modifying your pizza with delicious add-ons that would probably be considered disgusting and morally offensive in Italy (like pineapple), you can't do that here. They do it in real Italian style. :) The Cannavaro was good, and I look forward to trying some of the more interesting items on their menu in the future. The restaurant was clean and visually appealing. The customer service and the fact that they have a dog-friendly patio made me bump this review up from four stars to five. I didn't catch the name of the woman working the phone and register when I came in, but she was super friendly and personable and let me know about the patio and happy hour. They offer $10 pizzas during happy hour -- an amazing price point for Marin. Anyone local knows how quickly restaurants come and go in Downtown SR. I hope Hot Italian will be here for good. read more

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The food and service was amazing! Santos gave good recommendations on the food. I was told to come here for the pizza and gelato and it was fantastic. I will definitely come back to this place! read more

Hot Italian - Pistachio cake - Pizza Near Me - San Rafael, California

I went to the hot Italian really planning to enjoy it. The menu looks great and I love Italian foods and pizza. The execution was not yet there, at least the night we visited. Happy to try it again another time. Service was abysmal. Too few servers for the number of tables. And- there's a long walk from the kitchen to outside where most customers were. The server would drop off food or wine and never return to check for anything else needed. Our appetizer of what they called focaccia bread (which was actually baked pizza crust), the Caesar salad, and the margarita pizza all arrived at the same time. Odd- but perhaps they were just too busy for three separate trips to the table. The pizza was pretty good. I was a bit surprised it didn't have buffalo or fresh mozzarella. The Caesar was average, with the exception of the anchovy's which were a nice touch. The croutons tasted a bit stale as they weren't very crunchy. The focaccia bread was fine- though it was just plain pizza dough cooked. Not what I've had all around Italy called focaccia. Lastly, $14 for a glass of Italian Pinot Grigio when I know the whole bottle probably doesn't cost that was highway robbery. Both the back door and the front doors were open the whole time we were there, which created a huge blowing draft throughout the inside seating area. Not pleasant. Love the concept of the Italian bar or deli as a restaurant. The execution just wasn't yet there. read more

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So my husband and I read so many (but soooo many) posts about this place and we decided to go try ourselves. OMG! It's amazing! The restaurant is very pleasant, many tables, an outdoor siting for warmer days, you can see the pizza man working pretty much from anywhere you sit..The service is great, they come to the table frequently checking if we need something, making sure the food is good.. and the food.. what a delightful surprise. The pizzas, the calzone (loaded with cheese), the meatball sanduich (another bomb of flavor), the gelatos.. We plan on going there at least once a week until we have tried a bit of everything on the menu, because what we have tasted so far, deserves a 1000/10!! read more

Hot Italian - Calzone - Pizza Near Me - San Rafael, California

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Great Italian spot in Marin. The food is delicious, the interior is very inviting, and the staff are to notch. The owner is a very happy and friendly guy too. Go check them out if you're in downtown San Rafael. read more

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1st time ever going to Hot Italian. Found them on Yelp and decided to try. Our server Santos was absolutely amazing. He kept checking in with us and was very knowledgeable about all the food. He offered recommendations that did not disappoint. Restaurant was very modern and clean. For starters we ordered the Focaccia Toscana. It came with some delicious olive oil for dipping. The bread was absolutely amazing and was fresh and crispy. Didn't even last us 5 minutes. For dinner we ordered the Materazzi & Fiori pizza. The pizza was just perfect. Chripy, not overpowering, and all the perfect servings and ingredients. Since we like spicy food Santos recommended their spicy oil. We drizzled the oil on top and it was so delicious. The oil tasted like it was oil infused with jalapeños. Since I was celebrating my birthday, I treated myself to their Mojito Veloce and Aperol Spritz. Both very yummy, bubbly and refreshing. For dessert my kiddos had the chocolate gelato and Gianduja (hazelnut chocolate) gelato. I decided to be bold and had the salted caramel and pineapple jalapeño gelato. Absolutely amazing. Their waffle cones were so fresh and crispy. Lastly we were surprised with a lovely dessert. Wish I would've got the name. It was absolutely amazing. It was cake/cheesecake like but also crunchy. Shared it with the kiddos. I'm not one for chocolate it this was incredible and not too rich. Just perfect. Reminded me of my favorite candy (Ferrero Rocher). The cooking staff & out waiter (Santos) were all so incredibly nice and made us feel so special. They didn't even know it was my birthday but they gave me and my family a beautiful and welcoming experience. I would definitely recommend this restaurant. read more

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Delightful pizza, salad, wine, salami, gelato!!! Service was very helpful and attentive. Loved the indoor/outdoor vibe. Check it out!!! read more

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Excited to see Hot Italian in San Rafael! I've been to Passione Emporio in Berkeley for their luscious tiramisu and pizzas - it's been awhile but if it's still the same that's a delicious outing. So when I found this online I rushed over to check out their lunch specials. Similar fun vibe here - music is upbeat and unique. I ordered a Mengoni focaccia panino - porchetta, broccoli rabe and provolone and a Murino pizza - pears, gorgonzola and honey. The lunch special includes a salad and soda for the regular price of the panino for dinner - $18. They have gluten free crust for their 12" pizzas - cornmeal or rice - at no extra cost. Pizza was a wonderful combo. The panino was underwhelming in flavor though the ingredients were quality. Too much bread for very little porchetta. Arugula salad was very lightly dressed with a few radish pieces. I got to try their spicy olive oil which helped and was quite good. Just down the street from Sol Food so they have good competition, exposure and could catch the spillover along with visitors from the Smart train. Espresso drinks, gelato, desserts, Italian sodas, wines and beers. I'll be back to check it out as they mature. Dominic was the staff member up front and very welcoming. read more

We came for happy hour last week and had a great time! The outdoor patio is cute and has plenty of sun and shade options. We got there around 430 and when we left at 6 they were completely packed! Prices were great and food was delicious. Our favorites were the pizza and carpaccio. They have a huge selection of food and alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks. We will be back! Fun to have them in our neighborhood read more

Hot Italian - Happy hour pizza - Pizza Near Me - San Rafael, California

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I ordered a gluten free crust (rice) and the Basso style pizza with no pesto or cheese. Absolutely delicious. The flavor as well as the crust was the closest thing I've had to Northern Italian pizza in 30 years. They even make their own gluten free dough, and I swear, its perfect. Also, the we ordered the Basso as it normally comes and I'm told that it was delicous. It looked gorgeous. We split the salad with the arugula, roasted squash, walnuts and cranberries with balsamic dressing and it's a very nice starter for probably any pizza. It would be nice during or on top, too. Service was delightful. Friendly and efficient. Chairs were comfortable and the restaurant was clean and airy, with good lighting. I'll be back for all of it. Oh, I ordered a double espresso at the end and it tasted like a very rich, dark chocolate. read more

I wish I could say this place were better but it's just not great food. The place looks nice inside, service is friendly, online ordering is good, well done on that part. Location in downtown San Rafael is a little tricky, it has gotten a bit sketchy to be honest (not their fault). I've tried their margherita pizza, honestly I've had better frozen pizza. Tried the vegetarian calzone, the dough was nice but inside it was just globs of heavy cheese and some spinach, it's like they threw in some string cheeses and called it a day. A veggie calzone should come with more veggies, and not a disgusting amount of cheese. Tried the panuzzo fassona meatballs, it was just ok, I wasn't a fan of their sauce or seasoning. Tried their gelato, not surprisingly, it also was not great. Was icy, a sign of it not being stored right. The prices are pretty standard nowadays, but still too expensive for not great food. It doesn't feel like they have an experienced chef making these dishes - it feels like someone got an easy-bake oven and is having fun with it. Also I have to say their branding is off-putting. It's dark. Black. Looks like a biker gang - not a nice Italian restaurant. So yeah, I hate to rip a new-ish business here, but I would pass on this place. read more

We had a great experience at Hot Italian! We were a party of six, ordered a bunch of appetizers, pizza, pinsa and Italian wine: everything was delicious. The pinsa was so tasty and unique, I completely recommend. We also had a vegetarian lasagna with funghi (mushrooms) and it was tasty. For dessert, the chef created a platter with a selection of their desserts: cannoli, tiramisu and a pistachio based pie, all delicious. We had a great experience and we can't wait to go back! read more

Hot Italian - Out of the this world dessert platter!! - Pizza Near Me - San Rafael, California

Pizza here is hot and very special. The place is small but well thought out with outdoor space in the rear. When you enter there is a large round ice cream maker. It features about 10 different flavors of gelato. There are different kinds of wines in the refrigerated section as well as salamis. The menu also includes various delicious salads. read more

Every time I fly to the Bay Area I always need to stop by and have this amazing pizza. I had it when they first opened they never since I have been hooked. Amazing quality, taste and service. Love this place read more

Came for happy hour and was able to sit in the back patio area. Definitely nice spot for a date night or a place to hang out. Got the Cannavaro, Belluci, Bruschetta and all were really good!. Also ended dinner with some home made gelato. Service was good. Indoor and outdoor space is cute. I'd definitely come back again! read more

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Just got home and figured I better write this now before I forget. We just spent the day in San Rafael with another couple. We had 30 minutes before we caught the SMART back to Santa Rosa. We were walking by, asking ourselves if we wanted to grab a quick bite and drink before we started home. We stepped inside, not knowing that it could happen. We talked to the manager, told him our time limitations and asked if we could get a quick bite. He said it could happen. We ordered two of the small'ish rectangle pizzas and three beers and a prosecco. Get got our beers pronto and then came our pizzas. The beer was pretty dang good (couldn't tell you what it was) and our margherita pizza was amazing. Our friend who ordered the prosecco thought it was outstanding. We didn't know what it was, so the manager brought out the bottle to show us. I wish we would have taken a photo. Hats off...you made it happen. We couldn't finish the pizzas, but got a box so we could enjoy it for the ride home. Highly recommend Hot Italian. Excellent service. Dining room looked immaculate. I wish we had more time to thoroughly enjoy the meal and service, but we couldn't miss our train. read more

I just went in for a small bite on my own. I was there during happy hour and it was perfect for me. I had an Italian Soda and a Pinsa. The food was good and the ambiance nice. I gave 4 stars for the service. read more

A clean white modern well lit dining space. We had dinner on a Saturday night around 6pm. We found a table easily and service was fast. We ordered a spinach pear salad without cranberries and fennel Sausage pizza extra crispy. Great crust, terrific salad. We got pistachio gelato from their round-a-bout to take away. Gelato was A+ and very reminiscent of Italia. Great selection of drinks too, could see a stay-cation on the outside back patio with Olives and an Aperol spritz in the late afternoon. read more

Hot Italian - Gelato round-a-about, it turns! - Pizza Near Me - San Rafael, California

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This is just a review of the "house made gelato". Stopped by because we heard it was good and not sure what we received but it was pretty bad. The gelato tasted of ice crystals so maybe they had their freezer turned up too high. Quite a disappointment as the small cup cost over $10 with tip. Would like to try the pizza but this was not a great first impression!. also the lighting is a bit harsh which may be due to the fact that the whole place is stark white but it gives off a somewhat cold atmosphere but maybe that's what they're going after. read more

Nice ambience and service but unfortunately the food was just not that good. Eggplant parm didn't resemble the dish (over salted. Not breaded) gnocchi was also watery, not sautéed and sub par, pizza was decent. Our dishes all came out at different times (and by so long in between that we didn't even all eat at the same time.) I only added a third star because they comped some ice cream probably in recognition of these issues. But with all of the other good Italian places around we probably won't eat here again unfortunately. read more

Great pizzas, service was top notch. We ordered take out but decided to stay anyways and eat, the server was Santos G and man this guy needs a raise. Went put of his way to promote the great food this place has. Definitely will come back because good food without great service becomes mediocre. Thank you Santos for doing such an excellent job!! Appreciate you letting us eat our pizza even though you were closing soon. Highly recommended! read more

I was very pleasantly surprised by this place, especially after being disappointed with another pizza place that opened in San Rafael recently. I've only gotten delivery so far and even that has been pretty fantastic. I went in once and talked to the staff. Immediately people came up and asked me what I had ordered in the past and made some recommendations. Overall, the vibe was really great, and the food was damn good. I will definitely be back! read more

Food is very fresh you can taste it. Need to try the pizza looks amazing the sandwich I had had cheese and it made me wish I chose the pizza ! Service is also fantastic Daniel is great and made things super easy. read more

Hot Italian - Gelato - Pizza Near Me - San Rafael, California

Beautiful place, service and food! Highly recommended! The atmosphere is cozy, the staff is genuinely friendly, and everything we tried was fresh and delicious. Definitely a spot we'll be coming back to read more

Hot Italian - Lasagna - Pizza Near Me - San Rafael, California

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Amazing Italian place! The pizzas are delicious! Had the JOVANOTTI pizza and the mushroom lasagna. Both were exceptional! The pizza dough had the perfect amount of "chew" and the lasagna was "light" even though lasagna is known for being "heavy". Alex our waiter was super attentive and suggested the chili oil, which was delicious on both the pizza and lasagna. A true gem for San Rafael! read more

Not only does this place have the best Gelato and many Vegan options, but the service is great. We have been fortunate to been helped by Santos the past couple of times. Always a pleasure when an establishment has friendly service. read more

Great Pizza and wine. Super service. A great addition to San Rafael dining. Can't wait to try the mushroom lasagna. Don't miss the Gelato wheel by the front door. read more

Hot Italian - Pizza Giardino - Pizza Near Me - San Rafael, California

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I've come here 2 times in the last week- food and service has been absolutely phenomenal. The servers are very accommodating and friendly as well as knowledgeable on dietary restrictions such as veganism. Just finished up my birthday dinner-the people i was dining with as well as my food was amazing! The vegan coconut gelato was delightful- usually I'd skip on coconut stuff but I'm glad I didn't skip on this. Also, if you like spicy definitely try their chili oil, it's bomb and adds the perfect spice to the perfect pizza! Will definitely be coming back!! read more

Hot Italian - Giardino Pizza with vegan cheese, sausage and pepperoni - Pizza Near Me - San Rafael, California