Food: we usually only come here for dessert and drinks. But like always, 10/10 Service: always friendly 10/10 Ambiance: low enough music to maintain conversation great ambiance for get togethers, meetings, birthdays (25+) please be mature. I say that as a fellow customer. 10/10 read more

iTalico - Torta al Pistacchio (pan di sapgna)//(sponge cake). Wine: Moscato (Canelli). - Italian Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Started with Romaine and caprese salads, brussel sprouts and focaccia bread. All were good, especially romaine. Ordered 2 mocktails - watery, tasteless. Plain water was better. For mains - 1. Gnocchi was the highlight !! So light and airy! 2. Mushroom risotto was alright - the mushrooms didn't seem to be going well with the rice. Something was amiss. 3. Tricolore - good. No complaints. Dessert- 1. Lemon pannacotta - the best 2. Tiramisu - good but not the best I have had. But definitely light and airy again. 3. Semifreddo Al Tartufo (chocolate+hazelnut+zabaione)- perfect! This was my first time having this and it was so well balanced. The service was amazing, swift and smooth. All customizations were well taken care of. The ambiance is casual with multiple table sizes and option to reserve a semiprivate area for large groups. Revisit score - 9/10 Table reservations recommended read more

See all

Visited Italico as it topped list of Italian restaurants in Palo Alto area to celebrate a milestone. Reserved online via open table and later called to request time change as we might run late. Pretty packed on a weekday evening and lively ambiance. Ordered a bottle of Italian Cabernet which was pretty good recommendation from our server. Ordered appetizer calamari- okay compared to other places(bland side) but good portion size Ravioli pasta, margherita pizza and special entree pesce del Giorno- all items were fresh and tasty. Service was on spot and complimentary dessert was served to celebrate our occasion and in a small talk, server indicated he was getting married next day . Gave a huge tip for the warm n friendly service as well as for his upcoming big day! Few Italian places we have been normally serve some bread and house olive oil...this was noticeable for a hungry bunch Parking is plenty across public structure near by. read more

See all

The food here is top notch! My favorites were the fritelle and the polpo. I've never experienced eating octopus like this and I can't stop raving about it. Also, you must get the sea salt gelato. I wish I could just buy a gallon of it from them. Overall this is a great place for a fun date night, celebration, and everything in between! read more

See all

I don't know if it's just because we came with a big party for a business meal but I think the picture I took of my food is self explanatory. Pasta was kinda hard/undercooked, or maybe had just cooled down too much; beef was extremely tough and dry. Not sure what the hype is about. I literally can't cook and I haven't made pasta this bad. read more

iTalico - Italian Near Me - Palo Alto, California

My review is way over due. iTalico is one of my favorite restaurants in Palo Alto! The management team is super friendly and they treat their customers very well. Everytime we dine here, we see the management team talk to the customers like they are friends. Menu changes seasonally but some of my favorites are- Frittelle- fried pizza dough, it is so good with the burrata and prosciutto Cacio e Pepe - they make it right in front of your table. Super simple but so tasty Pizza- all very good, their dough is delicous Ambiance- It is very nice inside and they also have a private room which you can book for private/large parties read more

See all

Came by for dinner the other night and it was a decent experience. Made a reservation and our table was ready upon arrival. Dining is available in the dining room, at the bar, or outdoors on the patio. There appears to be a private room set up for parties too. iTalico used to be in the Michelin guide and the restaurant is somewhat misleading stating that they are a Michelin rated restaurant on the menu when they are no longer featured in the latest version...ethics? Started off with the fritelle fried pizza dough and it was the highlight of the evening with super light pizza dough, super tasty burrata along with some prosciutto. This was suggested by our waiter, whom was fantastic! For the mains, opted for the ribeye which was decent. Requested this medium rare and it turned out as such. It was also pre-cut which was a nice touch. The char on the steak was minimal...bummer. The marbling on the steak was also mediocre. The green beans were tasty though. The Paccheri Rustichella pasta was tasty and was served with some braised ribeye and vegetables. The side of shrimp were quite tasty and flavorful! Ended the meal with a trio of desserts, the tiramisu, the vanilla gelato, along with the pistacchio torte, all of which were excellent. The tiramisu had a ton of espresso making me wired for the rest of the evening! ;) There is a 3.5% employer surcharge making the meal at ~$120/head after tax and gratuity for dinner. read more

See all

I walked in with my son right when they opened and ordered the Diavola pizza along with the Mickey Mouse-shaped kids' pizza. I've had Diavola pizzas at other places before and have always been able to customize them a bit. This time, I found out I couldn't. I wanted to add pepperoni, but they don't offer it, and I also asked about adding feta or goat cheese. It felt like even asking for modifications was a bit of an inconvenience. That said, the pizza itself was good. The dough had great flavor and was one of the highlights of the meal. After my pizza arrived, my server offered a spicy olive oil to make it hotter. I appreciated the suggestion, but it didn't quite hit the spot for me. As soon as they opened, the restaurant got busy, which tells me it's a popular place. I was the second party seated, but I received my food after several guests who arrived a few minutes later. My server was cordial throughout the visit. One thing that stood out to me was that the manager or owner seemed to be making the rounds and interacting with many guests, but never once stopped by our table to say hello or welcome us. Maybe it was nothing, but I couldn't help wondering if I was being judged for showing up in a T-shirt and tennis shoes. Overall, if you're ever in town, you'll find good pizza here. Is it the best pizza I've had? No. But it's definitely a solid option and will satisfy the craving. read more

iTalico - Kids' olives and cheese mickey mouse-shaped pizza. - Italian Near Me - Palo Alto, California

See all

I really enjoyed iTalico! It gets super busy on Fri/Sat but they have delicious pizza and pasta. Sister restaurant to Terun. Service was prompt and knowledgeable. Food was generously proportioned and delicious. I don't eat out for Italian very often since I make a pretty decent pasta sauce at home but their pasta was soooo delicious it was well worth it. I'd recommend sharing since everything was good. The seasonal truffle pasta had tons of truffle and the pasta was cooked perfectly. The pizza... it was delicious but I could have used a touch more crustyness - maybe was taken out a hair too early? But the burrata was really good. The Porchetta was fork tender and delicious read more

See all

I went to Italico for a private event - I loved the vibe - easy parking, great wine and cheese. The zucchini lasagna was an excellent as was the service. Plenty of vegetarian options and good public parking nearby. read more

See all

Had a great time at iTalico! My family brought me here to celebrate my birthday and the servers here made my birthday dinner a cozy and fun one! Food was awesome: all the pastas we tried were nice and al dente, bread and calamari were delish as well. The real star of the show for me was the pizza! We ordered the pizza topped with prosciutto, parmesan, and truffle oil, and it was crispy, chewy, and cheesy in all the right ways!! Although we were a party of 7, all the food came out super quickly, and the servers were very warm and attentive. We were also seated in the back near the fireplace so it felt semi-private, allowing us to catch up and enjoy some family bonding time without being distracted by any foot traffic. Overall, I'd recommend this spot to anyone looking for delicious pizza and a cozy but elevated ambiance! read more

iTalico - Everything was so good! - Italian Near Me - Palo Alto, California

I came here with some friends for a birthday dinner and felt like this place was mediocre. I left feeling unsatisfied. Service was.... Okay. They were a bit slow in taking our orders. They would come by to switch our plates out and give us the food but not much else beyond that. I don't need a lot of service usually but maybe a checking in at least once to see if everything is okay would have been nice. I cannot recommend the pizzas here. We tried the Diavola pizza and the structural integrity of the pizza was awful. Everything kept sliding off the pizza and the crust was a bit wet. The flavors were actually ... not bad but I can't get over how awful this pizza was put together. I got the tricolore pizza and also can't recommend it. The ingredient list sounded interesting but then when it was presented it looked horrendous. For whatever reason ALL the toppings (arugula, tomatoes, and burrata) were clustered in the middle of the pizza. I've never EVER seen pizza presented like this before. I had to take a fork to spread everything out. I also felt like a pizza with tomato sauce should probably have regular cheese on it so that the toppings could stay on better. Maybe it's just the style of this pizza but it was a bit weird biting into the pizza with mostly tomato sauce at parts. Also parts of the pizza tasted bitter/burnt. I would not get this again. The meatball appetizer was okay. Nothing special. I tried the risotto and felt like it was... okay. I think it could have used a bit more salt or something in the rice. The dessert was decent. We tried the panna cotta, salted caramel gelato, and tiramisu. I felt like the tiramisu cake flavor was ok (very very strong espresso). The texture of the bottom cake was kind of funky? Perhaps too wet? I liked the panna cotta and gelato. Both had nice flavors. This place also charges 3.5% for employee health benefits on your receipt. Overall, I left feeling a bit disappointed by my experience and I'm not sure I'd be rushing back anytime soon. The cheese wheel does sounds interesting but it's only on Sunday and Wednesday. read more

iTalico - Tricolore pizza. All the toppings were clustered in the middle of the pizza, strangely. - Italian Near Me - Palo Alto, California

I attended a law networking event at this restaurant on a week night around 6pm. The place is in Palo Alto at the end of a street with lots of restaurants. Apple maps will take you to the the alley behind the restaurant which is a bit confusing but there is parking garage on the other side of the street of the restaurant. There is plenty of outside seating as well as a large room that you walk into the restaurant and a separate room to the left. The inside was closed off the private event but it was very busy outside with all the tables full. There is long bar on the right as you walk in with very attentive bartenders. We started with drinks and some appetizers - bread, sliced ham and a salad. The food was very tasty - the bread was chewy but not too much with the meat pairing very well with it and the salad was topped with potato chips, I had never seen that but I loved the crunch!. We networked for about an hour before dinner was served. Dinner was vegetarian pasta, gnocchi with bacon topping, calamari and a couple of other dishes. Every dish was delicious, with plenty of food served. It was hard to choose which dish was my favorite but the calamari was the spotlight - crisp without being oily. The bread was chewy and doughy and not over baked. I did not stay for the dessert but it sounded delicious. The best part of the whole night was the service, the staff were very involved and were walking around making sure everyone was taken care of. The bar was always busy but there were plenty of bartenders to help. I had a glass of champagne when I arrived and then chardonnay with dinner - both were outstanding. When someone asked if the gnocchi was vegetarian, within 5 minutes they had served a dish without the bacon topping. There was standing only in the main room but tables in the room to the left and as we sat down to dinner, someone was coming around constantly to remove plates, fill glasses etc. It was very pleasant evening with excellent food and drinks!! read more

See all

Came on a weekday night during the holidays with my bestie on the terun bike club :) There's a parking deck a short block away for easy parking. We made a reservation an hour before and were seated promptly. Service was excellent. Restaurant is a bit loud when it gets crowded but not too bad. We got the spritz to share, was super good and big! My favorite thing we tried was the frittelle - appetizer. Highly recommend if you love burrata and Proscuitto. For mains we both got the paccheri. I thought the beef was a little dry but was still very good. For dessert we shared the tiramisu. Overall I had a great time at this restaurant and would for sure come back. read more

See all

A classic Italian restaurant in the downtown of Palo Alto. Most of the tables are inside seating . We came here for a company sponsored dinner with a group of 15 . We got to seat outside under the sun shield canopy . The evening air was cool and good ventilation. It started with cheese and prosciutto and thin pizza dough bread as appetizers. We got to choose soft drinks or wines . Fried calamari , prawn and baked Brussels sprouts were great to have before the dinner . We got another salad to go with the main course. There were a list of main dishes to choose from : grilled rib eyes , salmon , Italians pasta , etc Most of us chose the steak and they were over cooked . Medium rare became a medium or almost well done . The quality of the steaks were supreme . That was a miss ! Grilled salmon and pasta were great dishes . We were too full to enjoy the tiramisu dessert . We asked for a to go box and took the desserts home . Great customers service. Lovely ambiance inside and outside . Would like to try other items on the menu next time . read more

See all

Came here on 5/17 for a birthday celebration. Table was ready by the time we reserved. Servers were attentive. We ordered the Frittura Mista and the Tuna Tartare. Both were good, but for a party of 7 there wasn't as much crostini bread. Also the Frittura Mista only came with 4 shrimp. A handful of calamari and sardines though. Nonetheless, they were a good starter. We then ordered 2 pizzas. They came with about 6 medium slices. The bottom of the pizza didn't hold so I had to be a true Italian and eat it with a knife and fork. Of the 2, the San Daniele was the better one. I ordered the Sangria Bianca. Didn't taste the alcohol but I guess that's what gets you. For our personal entrees, I got the risotto special which was seafood. Pretty good. Dessert time. We ordered 2 of the pistachio cakes for the birthday celebrants. For the table, we ordered the Bomboloni. Fried doughnuts with Nutella inside. I got the tartufo. Not the same as tartufo I've tried it Italy but still good. The place itself was decently sized. Parking at the nearby parking garage behind the building is free. Less than a 5 minute walk. Inside, there's 2 sides. The place was busy. They also have a bar but I didn't see anyone sit there. All in all, good food. It's pricey, but worth it. read more

See all

Excellent service and food! We were given complementary prosecco and an appetizer. We had such delicious food and recommendations from the staff. They were attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly. We will definitely be coming back and recommend to our friends/family. They even remembered us from a previous trip to the restaurant and asked us about our trip to Italy that we mentioned to them previously. The restaurant has a nice private room that seems to be good for birthdays, anniversaries, or corporate dinners. Sound can carry in the restaurant and can get a little loud. Highlight for me was the gnocchi - so flavorful and cooked to perfection!! read more

See all

Service was great, our server Stefani (?) helped us navigate the entire menu from drinks, apps, entrees and deserts. Here is what we had: drinks: Acqua di Tropea - $10 Pino Nero (red) - $16 Prosecco - $13 Vernaccia di San Geminiano (white) - $13 For starters: Polpette - $22 Fritelle - $23 Warm spinach salad - $19 The mains were next-level: Gnocchi - $26 Beef rib - $47 Dessert was non-negotiable: Bomboloni (Italian donuts with Nutella) - $14 Pistachio cake (slice) - $14 Authentic Italian flavors, cozy vibes, and plates that make you want to come back again (and again). If you're ever in Palo Alto, put Itálico at the top of your list. read more

See all

Made a reservation for 20 people for a Sunday dinner. The communication while making the reservation was good and it is one of the few places in Palo Alto who did not insist on a pre-fix meal/menu for large group reservations. They did ask for a $10 pp deposit which they refunded after the dinner. The food, drinks and service were all excellent. We got Brussels sprouts, Fagiolo Bietola, bread and Feiturra Mista for the small plates. All the dishes were good, but the side of bread was specially good. For the main course I had the special which was Cacio e Pepe (pictured) where they prepared the pasta at our table in a large vat of cheese. It was really good. Others had pizza, the ravioli and other dishes, and everyone seemed to have enjoyed their meals. For dessert we shared Tiramisu and it was also nice. The service with 20 people was really good and they hosted us in a private dining room. The server handled requests for the large group very well. read more

See all

6 family members including 2 kids came to celebrate a birthday. 6pm reservation on a Friday. Restaurant was not busy and food came quickly. everything was delicious including appetizers, entrees, and pizza order. we brought a bd cake which the restaurant was happy to server. read more

Always one of favorite places. Consistently fantastic. Antonio was attentive as always.

This place definitely lives up to the hype of the Michelin Bib Gourmand rating which highlights restaurants with delicious food at reasonable prices. I try to visit when I'm in town for work and have time to drive out to Palo Alto. My favorites are the Frittelle (fried pizza dough with prosciutto and burrata, though how can that be bad?!?), the gnocchi, and the caramel sea salt dessert. Seriously the best meal and such a great price (and honestly enough to split between 2 people! Don't hesitate to try this place out, but grab a reservation as it could get busy in the evenings! read more

We loved it and were treated very well for my father's 90th! They also accommodated the addition of a last-minute guest. Thank you so much. Look forward to returning. I had been here in the past for a private function organized by an event planner for event volunteers. My mom saw an ad for porchetta night, so we decided to check it out. Good times. It is a bit loud for the hearing-challenged, although we were seated in a somewhat quieter area to offset this issue. read more

Still my favorite Italian restaurant - friendliest team and incredible food! They have a lovely spritz to start with. We enjoyed the fritelle appetizer, which is delicious fried pizza dough topped with prosciutto and burrata. I personally order this one when I'm not ordering one of their amazing pizzas. And if I'm not getting a pizza, I'm getting the paccheri pasta. The pasta is always cooked al dente, the braised rib eye is very tender, and the sauce is so good you want to clean your bowl clean. And of course, after the entrees, we had their tiramisu. It's very espresso forward, which I appreciate as a coffee lover. I can't wait until my next visit! read more

See all

This review is specifically for the private dining event we hosted at iTalico, and I can't say enough good things about the experience. From the start, the communication with the team (especially with Marcelino) was excellent--quick responses, clear details, and an overall sense that they truly cared about making our event special. We came in a week beforehand to sample and select wines and appetizers, which was extremely helpful, and they worked with us to customize the set menu and room setup exactly how we envisioned it for a milestone birthday celebration. One of the standout aspects was how accommodating the staff was. They allowed us to arrive a few hours early to decorate, and they went above and beyond--even helping us take everything down at the end of the night, which we really appreciated because it was a lot! Every member of the staff and management (Antonio) was incredibly kind, helpful, and patient throughout the evening. Our dedicated server was lovely--attentive and warm--making sure everyone was taken care of. Guests who wanted to take home their leftovers were easily able to do so because they serve excellent portions. What really made the night extra special was that our party of 15 ppl had the private room for the entire evening. We came to set up at 3 pm and were one of the last groups to close it out. That kind of flexibility is rare and made the whole event feel unrushed and intimate. The food? Outstanding. Every dish was delicious, and the wines were a hit across the board. As people who've worked and travel around Italy, we were genuinely impressed by the authenticity of the flavors--it brought us right back to the Tuscan countryside. We've also dined in the main restaurant during regular service, and the vibe there is equally charming--casual yet elegant, with a warm, rustic Italian ambiance. Huge kudos to the team at iTalico--you helped us create such a memorable evening. We'll absolutely be back for more family gatherings, celebrations, and cozy date nights. read more

See all

Came here for a group celebration. Located on California Ave, which is blocked off for pedestrians only. Parking is easy with several lots and one multistory structure. We tried pretty much all of their pastas and most of their appetizers. I would say that the food was okay, not amazing but not bad. Price is reasonable for the area. read more

We went to Italico on a Friday night, and the place was packed--a good sign! Luckily, we got seated in a small room off to the side, which made the experience much more enjoyable. Otherwise, it would've been too loud for a proper dinner conversation. I started with a limoncello spritz--super refreshing and light. For appetizers, we had the grilled octopus and mixed seafood fritters. I usually prefer octopus over squid, but their calamari fritters were the clear winner--crispy, flavorful, and honestly some of the best I've ever had. For mains: * I had the burrata tomato sauce pizza. The generous amount of burrata was melty, rich, and just perfect. * My friend got the prosciutto white pizza, which was a little too salty for my taste, though the crust was spot-on. * My boyfriend went big with the ribeye steak--massive portion, beautifully cooked, but he could only finish about a third! We were way too full for dessert, though I really wish I had saved room for their tiramisu. Definitely a spot I'd revisit--great food, buzzy atmosphere, and a few standout dishes I'm still thinking about! read more

See all

Honestly it was okay. The salumi was good and the thin bread and focaccia were good. Calamari fritti was average. The green salad had an incongruously sweet vinaigrette and my steak was quite fatty. Service was friendly. The space is extremely loud!! read more

iTalico - Italian Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Amazing service Kevin was wonderful really worried about me because I got too much hot sauce. He was so caring and so responsible and so amazing and gave me such immediate care. The salmon was so good and their salad was amazing and it just was a pleasant pleasant event and I would definitely go there and I would give them five stars. They were amazing personable, friendly, and so so great ambience.I'm So happy as my day was also very, very pleasant and happy and so very pleasantly surprised read more

Food was exceptional ! Pizza, gnocchi, beet salad with avocado, etc. (see photos) Piano music with Italian singing read more

iTalico - Cuchito Valdes from Cuba - Italian Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Very Italian upscale restaurant with good choice of pasta and pizza. Food was delicious! Pasta is homemade, very good quality. Good wine options. The prices are above average. Service was friendly. The only frustrating moment was when I shared that I have a birthday and was reassured that I would get something special, but didn't get anything. For the restraint at this level I would expect it to be more upscale. The parking is available next to the walking street. read more

iTalico - Italian Near Me - Palo Alto, California

See all

Getting to the restaurant: there is a large parking garage with free parking just down the street. We arrived at around 8 on a Friday and there were quite a few spaces open still. The entire restaurant strip becomes pedestrian only on the weekend nights, it seems. When we arrived, it was a bit confusing to know who was waiting in line for the host to seat as there were food delivery drivers taking up space in the already close-quarters host area. But we were quickly seated and all was well. I wouldn't call this restaurant an intimate setting but it wasn't that loud, either. They did have a TV on showing football which is a bit strange for upscale Italian place but that could just be because it was the weekend of the Super Bowl. They had a great selection of Italian wines and beers of which I had an Italian lager. One thing I would like to note is they allowed us to stagger the drinks we ordered which was nice. We got the Fritelle which was great and I got a calzone. Massive proportions for a calzone which meant I could take it home and eat it for lunch the next day! Finally, for dessert, the bomboloni. Honestly, one serving of the bomboloni was enough for the two of us! All in all, we enjoyed our time and will be back in the future. read more

See all

Rib eye: asked for Medium rare, but some parts of the steak was medium well and took a second to chew and swallow. Fries were well seasoned, but almost too salty at one point. Vegetables were okay. Brussel sprouts: absolutely loved it with the cheese on top. Calamari: it was okay. Nothing fancy but I appreciated how it wasn't oily. Prosciutto e burrata: my absolute fav. I would order a couple of more dishes if I could. read more

iTalico - BEEF RIB - Italian Near Me - Palo Alto, California

See all

Honestly one of the best Italian food in the Bay Area I've had. I was taken aback by the amount of flavors. The pasta is absolutely tasty, I promise you won't be disappointed! The service was decent, it did take a while for us to get serviced but when we did get it, they were quick about it. Ambiance was nice, relatively dark but it was cozy. We enjoyed it! read more

See all

I had a great time dining at iTalico for a friend's birthday. The variety of food on the menu was perfect. I enjoyed the calamari for appetizer. We ordered gnocchi and rigatoni for pasta, but gnocchi was the true star. Each piece was perfect and pillowy. I'd go back just for this dish. The beef rib was also delicious. All the pizzas I had were perfectly cooked, so much that I ate the crust! I'd try the margherita if you're on the fence on choices. Our server was nice, but drinks came out in weird timing. I ordered the same wine as a friend at the same time, but hers came out 5-10 minutes before mine. Once mine came out it was also less in volume. It was strange. My other friend had ordered another round of beer but had to ask the server again for it 5-10 minutes later as no one came out. Either way I would give this place a try, especially if you're looking for a nice Italian restaurant! read more

iTalico - BEEF RIB - Italian Near Me - Palo Alto, California

See all

Place has come a long way. Nice staff, good food, Edwin from Guatemala was our waiter, my 73rd birthday party, good time had by all

Had a work dinner last week and was in the mood for pasta so checked out Italico. I take appreciated that they were able to squeeze a larger group (6 people) in on short notice and the service (and food) was very quick. We were seated on the heated patio which was very cute. The pizzas were the stand outs- especially the margherita! I tried a pasta special which was risotto, butternut squash and sausage. It was good but could have used a little bit more seasoning. Would definitely come back for drinks and pizza! read more

See all

Nice & attentive service we tried pizza, pasta, calamari, and brussels sprouts and everyone loved them. Good wine selection two and a nice private room we could check out for our seats.. read more

I've been to this place a few times, and the other times have been good. Yeah, it's a bit on the lively side for atmosphere and noise, but the food is good! My family and I went last night (Monday night), and it was packed and super loud. Like, could-not-hear-across-the-table loud. The service team was running around, but service was not what I was expecting. It took a bit to get drink orders and an app in. The app came and was gone before the drinks were even on the table, and then we were completely forgotten about for 20 mins (no bread, wine is all gone) before someone remembered we were sitting there. We were upset, to say the least, cause by then it was almost 8pm. They got our order in, and it came out crazy fast, which was impressive, but by then I just wanted to leave. They comped a glass of wine and their bread, which was nice, but for how noisy, busy, and lack of care in their service was for a Monday, it wasn't a great place to end the last weekend with family. read more