We ordered the Gnocchi Tomato, Paccheri Vodka, and Wedge Salad, and everything was absolutely delicious! The Wedge Salad was fresh and crisp, with a flavorful dressing and plenty of rich, creamy blue cheese. It was the perfect start to the meal. The Gnocchi Tomato was absolutely wonderful. The gnocchi was tender and reminded me of my Nonnie's, which made it especially comforting and nostalgic. The tomato sauce was delicious--rich, flavorful, and perfectly complemented the gnocchi and prawns. The Paccheri Vodka was cooked perfectly, and the vodka sauce was creamy, flavorful, and delicious. Every bite was so satisfying. I also want to give a shout-out to Violet, who answered the phone when we placed our takeout order. She was incredibly friendly, helpful, and pleasant. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and clearly prepared with care. Five stars all around! We'll definitely be ordering again. read more

An oldie but always a goodie! We've going here for over a decade now, it's one of our favorite Italian spots in HMB! After a few hours of hiking out in the sun with ocean views, we like to stop by for lunch before we head home. This past Saturday, we were able grab a large table that accommodated our party of 8 ppl. We ordered a ton from drinks, yummy apps to pasta and pizza as our entrees. We were stuffed!! Stand out items: fried calamari, their focaccia bread the kids LOvED, beets salad and pizza with spicy sausage and my teenage son really enjoyed their pasta carbonara! We will be back again when we're in town! read more

Have been here twice since we moved to the area. I was plesantly surprised at the quality and tasty entrees. We had Eduardo as our server each time and really enjoyed his service. Restaurant also has a patio inthe back with space heater and fireplace. Nice, cosy and can be intimate at the correct table. We were presented with warm foccacia bread as soon as we had ordered. It came with an olive oil and balsamic dip. I thought the wait person poured too much of each such that the balsamic vinegar sank to the botton and you get mostly olive oil. They should have put dip in a shallower dish than a deep ramekin. The Foccacia itself was delcious and did not need any dipping sauce. Probably some butter would have been perfect! We ordered the Chicken Marsala and I asked for pasta instead of mashed potatoes. The chicken marsala was delicious. portions are generous as well. My husband ordered the cavatappi dish and he commented that it was delicious and ate it all - so it must have been - as he didn't share with me! My son had a special order of plain pasta with olive oil and a grilled chicken. Cooked to perfection. I believe that this will be one of our regular dining places in Half Moon Bay. Prices are reasonable, portions are generous and service personnel are all very friendly. Restaurant is nice and cozy. Love the patio area too. read more

It's Italia - Cavatappi pasta dish - Italian Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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The ambiance is rustic and charming with a lot of space. The service was good with our waiter being kind and welcoming. The pizza was so simple but yet so delicious. Creamy, savory and the crust was perfect. We also got the peach salad which was a great refreshing start. They also give complementary bread. We were bit in a hurry so couldn't try more items but the menu looked promising. read more

It's Italia - Italian Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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Really nice spot and ambiance inside is great! Very roomy patio area as well. Found it by accident just walking around as it's part of the half moon bay inn I believe. Service was good and a friendly (maybe Italian?) gentleman took care of us. Immediately saw a BLT on the menu and it sounded good so two orders of that! We also had the flower market pizza peach & Gorgonzola & prosciutto (very good but Gorgonzola overpowered it a bit) BLT was bomb! Bacon was so delicious. And the fries nice and crispy and fresh! Caesar salad was also good with fresh homemade cheese crisps! great place to stop and definitely will return to dine on the patio next time! read more

It's Italia - Flower Market - Italian Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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Finally tried this place and so glad we did! The food was delicious and the service was above and beyond. I'm so sorry I don't have our waiter's name but he was one of the nicest, thoughtful and helpful people I have ever met in a restaurant. For dinner I had the peaches and cream salad which was so yummy! My husband and I split it. Next time he can get his own-I'm not sharing! I then had the flower market pizza. Very rich and delicious. Wound up taking a lot of it home which is fine. Also had a glass of white wine which I think was Vermentino. Please excuse the spelling. Recommend by our wonderful waiter and was perfect. My hubby had the lasagna which was huge. He took down the whole thing. Wonderful experience, highly recommend and we will be back! read more

Came back and had another very good meal in the same casual, welcoming environment. Thanks to the staff for their attentiveness and service. This time I had the paccheri cooked with a beef and pork vodka sauce. Very rich and filling plus more of their complimentary warm, toasted bread! Another nice meal. Definitely enjoyed it. read more

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The staff welcomed us with open arms. Friendly greeting and we had a window seat so we can people watch. First time at this location. The food was delicious and tasty. Apparently they close between lunch and dinner. The staff did not rush us and told us to take our time. The restaurant is quiet and the dining experience is the right pace. Plenty of street parking. We lived this place. You got to give it a try. Oh the bread was delicious! read more

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We celebrated a friend's birthday yesterday at It's Italia. Our service was amazing, our food was delicious. The atmosphere was relaxing. read more

It's Italia - Spaghetti Meatball Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Great experience from start to finish. The hostess and entire team were genuinely warm and attentive throughout the meal, which really set the tone. It is a family owned spot that clearly cares about quality and consistency. Everything felt thoughtful, fresh, and well executed. We had the steak and eggs, cooked perfectly and beautifully seasoned, and the Scavezzacollo pizza, which was an amazing combination of ingredients with just the right amount of heat. The Caesar salad stood out as well with crisp baby gem lettuce, classic anchovy dressing, Parmesan crisps, and sliced Asiago and Manchego. Located conveniently on Main Street and makes for a great start or end to a day in Half Moon Bay. Views of Main Street from the front, and a more intimate bar setting in the back. A great choice for dinner, weekend brunch, or a special occasion. Highly recommend. read more

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It's Italia is our favorite spot in Half Moon Bay! My daughter and I have celebrated her birthday here and brought friends along because we know the experience is always top-tier. Service is always friendly. The pasta is simply perfect every time. I especially love the jumbo shrimp--they are massive, fresh, and seasoned to perfection. Between the high-quality food and the wonderful atmosphere, it's the perfect place for a celebration or a nice dinner out. Highly recommend! read more

Walk in and smell the garlic and you know it's going to be amazing! The muscle and clams in broth were amazing ! I ordered garlic bread for dipping in the broth and I was in heaven. The meat ball appetizer was a preface consistency and not too dense, the sauce was full flavor perfection. I Highly recommend the bolognese and if you have a weirdo who doesn't want Italian, they graciously offer a hamburger which I'm told is pretty amazing according to our hamburger expert in our group. Their beef blend and seasoning in the burger takes it to another level. Lastly we ordered the Pizza. The crust was traditional and the cheese blend was so good everyone in our party had a taste or two! The service was great and our familia had a wonderful dining experience! read more

As vegetarians, i was super impressed with the variety of the options and quality of food. This place is worth of long drive. They have an amazing service with beautiful ambiance. We ordered couple of appetisers and basil pesto pasta. Everything was amazing. We ended our dinner with delicious tiramisu dessert. read more

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Again I would have to say this is our favorite place to eat in HMB, @ 5:00 this place filled up on a Tuesday night. Eduardo was our server and was amazing. The food is so fresh and it's an easy menu to order from. We will be back again. read more

We have had two superb dinners here over the last several months, the most recent being last night. As chance would have it, both times we were lucky enough to have Amanda as our server, and in both occasions she struck the perfect balance of being present if we needed something but then gracefully sensing when we were caught up in our own discussion to be left alone. Among the three of us at dinner, there were two entrees ordered while one went with just a Caesar salad because she was too full from the terrific prawn appetizer. Along with that appetizer they served the most irresistible bread which simply had to be dipped in the butter prawn sauce, till it was sadly all gone. I had the fresh Halibut and it was delicious. Something I've never been quite able to nail at home because it's so easy to overcook and end up dry and ruined. My Daughter in law had the Special Paella which was a huge serving of tasty scallops, prawns, sausage, and rice all of which made a really delectable bowl full of seafood satisfaction. Something else, they have a nice list of specialty cocktails if that is of interest and some very high quality wines available for what I'd consider quite reasonable mark up prices. Overall a really nice dinner experience that we are anxious to repeat. read more

Really beautiful restaurant with an outdoor patio with individual fireplaces. Service was excellent, but what was lacking was the food. My spaghetti carbonara just didn't have much flavor - it tasted to me like bland alfredo sauce. My wife had the chicken marsala and said it was sweet - not the flavor she was expecting, and she didn't like it very much. read more

I'm vegan and the only vegan dish on the menu is a salad--and salads don't cut it for me as I'm a big guy. Someone in my party asked the waiter about other vegans options and thankfully they made a ragú, which was really yummy. I wish they put it on the menu however, as normally I never ask a waiter about options not on the menu. I do wish it had included a polenta or something as it was not super filling, but it was tasty. read more

Had dinner here last night and unfortunately it was lack luster. The foccacia bread was lacking flavor and the olive oil and balsamic vinegar tasted rancid (possibly the olive oil was going bad). The little gems Caesar salad was good but little or no anchovy taste was present. I ordered the Halibut special and the fish was tasty however, the mashed potatoes were incredibly salty. I almost sent it back but didn't because the Halibut was fresh and was good. I do have a problem when servers are not using a serving tray. The busser was bringing water glasses to the table in open hands and not using a tray. The food runners were not using a serving tray. It's the cold and flu season and some staff were wiping there noses on their shirt sleeves. This is not creating a healthy restaurant environment. The restaurant was drafty and cold and we were sitting too close to the door and the hosts stand for seating customers. The tiramisu was very good but after getting home I had to drink a lot of water to flush out the salt from the mashed potatoes. Hoping the next visit to It's Italia, will be a better experience. read more

It's Italia - Sitting too close to the front of the restaurant. - Italian Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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We had made a reservation and came in with a larger group for a birthday celebration around brunch time. The staff were quick to seat us in a large table closer to the bar area. Our server was very sweet and attentive. we ended up trying a multitude of items, including the Benedict, The Honey Bee Pizza, and lemon raspberry scones. The food came in large portions but there was no stand out item in terms of taste. They delivered a birthday dessert for my friend which was super sweet of them! Definitely a good spot for large groups. read more

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Food was delicious! I had the halibut special with mashed potatoes and artichoke hearts. 3 of our 5 guests got the burger and loved it and the potatoes. We shared Brussels sprouts and calamari appetizers and desserts, all excellent! read more

It's Italia - Halibut speciall - Italian Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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Came back a second date and had an equally great experience. I had the pasta with vodka sauce and my partner had the chicken Marsala. Both were delicious. For an appetizer we had the wedge salad again and the mushrooms! read more

It's Italia - Pasta with vodka sauce - Italian Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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Came for lunch. It was really nice inside and they offered us fresh foccacia bread. The soup was delicious read more

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We went to It's Italia for our anniversary dinner last night and thoroughly enjoyed everything including food, service and ambiance. I had chicken Marsala and my hubby had Carbonara, both of which were delicious and served hot. We had wonderful waitresses and men that filled our water glasses and gave us drinks. We'll go back soon, I hope! read more

This restaurant is at Half Moon Bay in NoCal and I recommend it for a quick bite of good Italian food. I had the Caesar with grilled chicken and it was very filling. Atmosphere is very rustic and chic. Servers were very polite and promt. read more

We were her over the Pumpkin Festival weekend and stopped by right after they opened. Although there were tables available, it was about an hour wait due to reservations so we ended up sitting at the bar. Ordered a couple Carajillo Cocktails; Giusti Farms Brussel Sprouts; 8z Char Grilled Filet Mignon; Slow Roasted Short Ribs; and the Pumpkin Brulee for dessert. The food was good but not great - brussel sprouts were really soft but the addition of pomegranate seeds were nice; the potato manchego was rich and more tasty than the filet; short ribs were tender but needed more flavor and sadly we couldn't taste any pumpkin in the brulee. Service is what you expect from sitting at the bar - wanted to like this place more but could have been better especially for the price paid. read more

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We showed up an hour early before opening. Online it says they open at 4 but a host saw us waiting and let us know that they open at 5pm on weekdays which was helpful so we went a couple restaurants down and found a wine bar. Once we made it back we were seated immediately and the ambiance was really nice. Christmas decorations are up and it felt cozy! They do have a tv by the bar which is nice if you're interested in sports! We ordered a bottle of wine and were offered some bread. The bread was soft and dense! Definitely one of my favorite breads and they're pretty big. Food was quick as well! We ordered the seafood risotto and the mushroom risotto! I really appreciated that our food came out together and they were hot! I was able to try both dishes and they were delicious! The portion sizing was also very nice! A great spot and great staff! New favorite restaurant :) read more

It's Italia - Seafood Risotto - Italian Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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It's Italia has a cozy and classy ambiance. It's a great place for formal dinners but also casual enough to come with friends. We were greeted promptly and the service was great. It also wasn't too busy for a weekend night. I ordered the flatbread-- not sure what separates it from pizza but it did not disappoint. Seeing the food that our table got, they don't skimp on the meat. Overall a pretty pleasant experience. read more

It's Italia - Scavezzacollo Flatbread - Italian Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Ordered takeout the other day to try a new (to us) Italian spot in HMB then went in person for dinner last night! Ordered: Mushroom Risotto, 2 Caesar Salads. Roasted Brussels (no bacon) + Brick Oven Prawns w Feta and Calabrian Chilis -- i thought the prawns would be dry by the description but they were more like shrimp scampi style. still really good! Caesar salad was ok but needs a punchier dressing. I'm not a fan of huge gem lettuce pieces but had to try it. Risotto was decent/good but could be creamier/cheesier. The sprouts were terrible. Last night we sat on the outdoor patio which was really pretty. Ordered: calamari to split which had 2 incredible sauces + Petrale Sole special w/ mashed potatoes and veggies + Paella special + minestrone soup + beet salad + tomato bruschetta + truffled focaccia balls + a bottle of white wine and a Generous Spirit cocktail for me. Calamari and the Sole special were incredible, as was my cocktail! Didn't try anything else but it all looked nice. Portions were large. Service was amazing. The staff work efficiently in unison and they made sure to rearrange some things for us outside as the rain started coming down so we got to enjoy the rest of our meal out there. Great spot for a no frills dinner of some classic foods. Seems like specials are daily/nightly! read more

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We randomly had a late lunch here on our way into town before we checked into the hotel. Super cute inside, very friendly staff, and the menu looked pretty solid. It was very cold outside so my husband and I were both looking for something warm and comforting. The minestrone was exactly what I was hoping for - super flavorful, VERY hot, great flavor, fresh. The beet salad was gorgeous and I loved the sauce - it was honestly a nice little surprising dish. Spaghetti bolognese was solid - and again, came out nice and hot. Bread service was tasty and come on, bread is always a great treat. We ordered our drinks - a glass of Pinot Noir and a beer - but the server misunderstood and brought and opened the whole bottle of wine. Thankfully we were able to cancel the beer so we could share, and they let us take the rest of the bottle sealed with us to go to our hotel. Solid experience overall - and grateful we did not have to wait for a table! read more

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We met a friend for lunch at It's Italia. At 1:00 it wasn't busy so it was easy to talk. This is a family owned restaurant and the owner, who is also the chef, puts a lot of personal touches on the menu. There were three of us eating and we decided to start with a refreshing Prosecco. One friend ordered the prawn and avocado panini with a Caesar salad. It had tiger prawns, avocado, cilantro savoy chipotle slaw, and aioli. I had the La Contessa panini with green salad. It included sundried tomato, burrata, basil, pesto, arugula, and aioli on focaccia. It was delicious. Sis went for the roasted citrus salmon that had garbanzo beans, cucumber, valbrese feta, fresh dill, oregano, lemon, and evoo. Both of the other diners really enjoyed their choices. Prior to the meal we had a tasty hunk of bread with vinegar and oil dipping sauce. The waitress was very friendly and knew the menu so she made helpful suggestions. There were very large windows that provided plenty of light and an outdoor seating area. It is was a delicious place to join a friend for lunch. read more

It's Italia - Front - Italian Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Food is pretty good and the service was excellent. The pasta is house-made. Price point is on the high side, but so is everything else in HMB. read more

Went for lunch and a meeting with a coworker, and it was such a great experience! Our waitress was fantastic--attentive, intuitive, and really understood the vibe of the table. She offered some great suggestions, and we're so glad we took them. We shared the cauliflower and shishito peppers to start--both were absolutely delicious. We also ordered the peach and cream salad (a huge hit with my coworker--she couldn't stop raving about it!), the beet salad, and the Honey Bee pizza. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The service was spot-on and the food didn't disappoint. Will definitely be back! read more

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It's Italia! What a lovely space. Cozy and warm. We arrived around 5:30, greeted at the door by a lovely hostess -and were quickly seated at a table right next to the front door. We were promptly visited by a back server and given water and bread. Our waiter came by and read the specials to us. He was pleasant and efficient but seemed a bit distracted.... We ordered drinks - 2 signature cocktails: The Ozark Billy Goat - ($16 each) smokey maple old fashions served in a snifter -- very fun. It's Italia also offers many half bottles of wine, which was perfect for us. We ordered a half bottle of Chianti Superiore - Villa Claudia, Toscana $24 Daddy's Bacon Wedge Salad$16 Excellent! Crispy Iceberg with creamy blue dressing. Tons of sweet bacon and cherry tomatoes. Perfect!! Pear and Gorgonzola Pizza $24 was good flavor wise-- a little extra crisp would have been optimal, but it was still good. Seafood Risotto $29 We truly wanted to love it, we did not send it back, but honestly, it was bland (where's the seafood stock flavors?) and the rice was still a bit crunchy. The seafood was fresh and plentiful, (I do not prefer to have the tails on the shrimp in risotto) the shrimp were hard to cut in the dish- the tomato cream sauce was just kinda plain, it was served in a cold bowl. We were given no plate to put our shells and tails on. The crunchiness of the rice in a delicate creamy risotto was the biggest problem with the dish. But again, we understand that sometimes life ain't always perfect. My preference would be to not sit next to the hostess station as we heard every single bit of conversation that was going on up front. Also, we were just two people seated at a 4 top table directly across from the front door and the hostess area. Every time the door opens up you have no choice but to be involved in the meet, greet, and seating of each person who walks in. Very very distracting.... We didn't not have a reservation, but the restaurant did not fill up during our entire dinner -- there seemed to be plenty of other tables available that would have better suited an intimate table of two. The bar vibe was very fun, lively and festive- with what seemed to be lots of local folks. The bar seating was entirely filled up by the time we left. We used a $100 gift certificate to pay toward our bill. Our bill came to roughly $137 2 cocktails 1/2 bottle of wine 1 salad 1 pizza 1 main No dessert-- next time for sure! I think that having the waiter point out the amount we were discounted and then telling us that we need to tip on the original amount not the discounted receipt was kind of tacky. Especially as our server really didn't add much to our dining experience. We left a $40 dollar cash tip for the meal and service. My over all impression was pleasant. I could see and feel all that care that goes into making It's Italia a really lovely, warm space. I will definitely want to visit It's Italia again. I want to try the amazing looking lasagna that was being dropped at a table as I was leaving....it looked so good! I would prefer to give a 3.5 star rating, but that option is not available. read more

Ordered takeout from this place and really liked it. The interior is cute and inviting. The fried calamari was okay. I wish it had been a bit crispier to add more texture but it had a good, savory flavor with a nice hint of seasoning. The gnocchi with pesto sauce was really good. The gnocchi were soft and pillowy while the pesto sauce was fresh, vibrant, and full of basil and garlic flavor. The chicken parmesan was also very enjoyable. The chicken was tender and juicy, topped with plenty of melted cheese and a rich tomato sauce. Overall this was a solid meal and I would definitely order from here again. read more

I always love coming here, but the reason for the 4 instead of five is that on a very recent trip, I ordered pommodoro, which was swimming in grease (why), and really pretty awful. My friend had salmon, which was good, but came on a bed of something yucky. Our waiter had something unidentified stringing from his uniform. . . . So one bad meal in a hundred great ones, but until they change the pasta pomodoro, sip that and get the Gnocchi, which is superb, one of the fabulous pizzas, and one of their great cocktails. Sit at the bar and avoid the unkept waiter! read more

Wonderful brunch and dinner options with quality cocktails. Great for friends and family.

Wife and I are enjoying some time in Half Moon Bay CA. This is one of our favorite places in CA, and we were lucky to stay here at the Ritz, due to work conference. So, expect a lot of reviews from nice restaurants just off or on Main Street. So we arrived early on Saturday, checked in before lunch, dropped off our bags in room, and headed here after wife checked Yelp and picked this one since we never been. It was nice and quiet for a Saturday the first week of January. We arrived around 12:30pm and were surprised it was a brunch menu. Isn't brunch typically for Sunday? Either way we didn't care since we were up since 3am to catch a 6am flight to San Fran, and were ready for a hearty lunch. You can see the menu and it is pretty eclectic. Wife was craving soup since we were recovering from the flu bug going around, and of course I wanted beef and pizza. She ordered the 25 year old Minestrone, which was one of the best she has had. Probably why the recipe hasn't changed for 25 years. Me, I had the burger which was out of this world. Something about the beef. Pomponio beef. Never heard of it but it was one of the best burgers I've had. The pizza wasn't anything special, but my wife loved it. Summer squash on pizza is just wrong in my opinion. We also had the muscles and beet salad which were both really good I recommend this place if you are in the area. Service was great, and food yummy tasty. read more

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My husband and I heard about this place through Check, Please! My cousin came from Texas for a visit, so we made the drive to Half Moon Bay to give it a try. We were greeted by the friendly hostess and shown to a nice table. We arrived at opening so didn't have to worry about not having a reservation. We ordered cocktails, including a very tasty lavender cosmopolitan. Just a hint of lavender. We ordered focaccia bread; very soft and delicious. For dinner, I ordered the braised short ribs. They were served over polenta. Very tender and the sauce was so tasty. My husband ordered chicken Marsala, which he said was very good. I had a little taste and I agree! Good flavor and chicken was very tender. My cousin ordered one of the specials, paella. She said it was very good, however not the traditional paella she is used to which has a crispy rice base. This paella was served over risotto. She still enjoyed it!! Even though we were full, for dessert we ordered tiramisu and key lime pie. I loved the key lime pie. Good blend of tart and sweet. The tiramisu had great flavor as well. Our waitress was very nice and knowledgeable about the menu. The restaurant is very cozy and had bar seating as well. My husband spied outdoor seating too. We enjoyed our visit and will be recommending to others! read more

During a weekend getaway to Half Moon Bay my wife decided to explore the many quaint shops in the downtown area. During her adventure she saw several eateries that she thought I would enjoy. She offered to treat me to lunch at It's Italia. She saw an omelette on their menu that appealed to her and she knew I had been craving steamed mussels and clams so off we went. The restaurant has a special occasion vibe. I would not hesitate to suggest it if you were looking for a place for a first date or a celebration with friends. The staff were friendly and attentive. We were presented with house made focaccia upon seating. On the side was olive oil and balsamic vinegar. My wife ordered the Herbed Ricotta Omelette and I ordered the Tequila Clams and Mussels. While I could go on and on about balanced flavors and perfect textures the first thing that comes to mind is WOW! Words cannot describe how pleased we were with our first time experience. We are looking forward to our next visit. read more

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It's always a great experience here! The food, drinks, and ambiance is top-notch! We ordered our favorite menu items! It's been our goto orders! Everything from the taste and presentation, is top-tier! I wish I took more pics of the dining area and the restaurant in general! I will on my next visit but it's definitely a beautiful setting! From the decor ambiance, it feels like your in Italy dining in an authentic Italian restaurant! read more

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