Incredible food! So yummy and generous portions. My husband and I fought over the leftover cioppino. And the service is unsurpassed. Gisselle remembered how one of us liked the margarita and another of us had dairy issues. Thank you thank you! read more

Our first visit under the new ownership and our main impression is that with some small improvements in the ambience, this place could be SO much better! With overly bright lighting, the sterile atmosphere looks more like a house flip from HGTV than a classy, Italian joint. The fake flowers harmed more than they helped. The food was definitely solid and the staff very attentive. While we appreciated the bread and olives, the quality was on par with airplane cuisine. Calamari was hot, crispy, and non-rubbery but the marinara oddly watery. The spicy marinara on the seafood pasta was delicious and the carbonara was rich and generous in portion. On the whole, we enjoyed our meal and will definitely give it another try. We do want this restaurant to succeed! read more

Definitely old school Italian place with laminate tables and faux flowers. I'd liken it to a pizza joint and was disappointed having researched Italian places to dine. This is not a dining experience. Pros: got a reservation through online request with fast response, friendly server, food came out quickly and was hot. Meatballs were very good as was the wine. Olive oil was peppery. Cons: 70s music (and 40s swing) playing, blue/grey lighting, salad had wilted greens and too much dressing, mashed potatoes may have been from a box, parmesan cheese was not freshly grated or shaved. The bread that came when we sat down was cold and hard to chew. I found the pairing of spinach & ricotta ravioli with lemon turmeric sauce mystifying. I asked for marinara instead which our server said was no problem. The pasta and sauce was hot which was good on a cold rainy night. Nothing offensive or outstanding, just a meal. We like to support local businesses. If you need a quick bite, maybe pop in for a pizza? read more

Great spot right off the freeway in Orinda. Quaint and small restaurant. The food is good, service is friendly. Classic pizza/italian American style restaurant. Will definitely come back again! I will mention though, I went with my mom who uses a wheelchair and it was difficult to get her chair inside because the entrance wasn't originally designed for accessibility. I hope they can figure out a safer way for wheelchair users to enter their establishment. read more

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This place is a hidden gem! I ordered the clam linguine along with the cauliflower and everything was delicious. Along with this I ordered a glass of wine and the waitress was so kind and brought me a couple of similar wines to taste. I really enjoyed my experience here and will definitely come again! read more

Went here recently and was unimpressed, especially compared to how it used to be under prior ownership. In the past you'd sit down to delicious focaccia bread with generous sizing. Now you sit down to the thinnest baguette bread you've ever seen, guess they don't want you to fill up and are cutting costs? So then I order the bruschetta hoping for a better bread experience... and it's the same tiny baguette bread with vegetables that didn't seem particularly fresh. You barely get anything, it is shocking. We also ordered fried cauliflower declined the aioli be brought out specifically which isn't vegan, then when it was served it was brought anyway. So as a vegan it sucks wasting animal products (it'll be thrown away), that's why I asked it not be brought. No apology. Vegetable Calzone was just OK (no cheese) and expected sauce to be a lot more present... extremely dry and was mostly red peppers. And all the vegetables clearly were either cheap or had been sitting around for awhile, not high quality fresh ingredients. And the ambiance? There was Shark Tank playing!? And then a manager got on his phone on *speakerphone* and had a phone call. It was pretty empty and I understood why. This place fell off big time. read more

I tried this place after seeing the management under new ownership!! The pasta dishes were absolute perfection But what really impressed me was the service. Our server was attentive and knowledgeable, making excellent recommendations and ensuring our glasses were always full. If you're looking for an authentic Italian experience, look no further than La piazza .The food, service, and atmosphere all come together to create a truly unforgettable dining experience. Highly recommend!" *Would definitely return!* read more

TIANA IS THE BEST WAITER EVER THE QUEEN I LOVED THIS PRINCESS EVER i will be coming back because the food was great, give this girl a raise she was the absolute best ever. read more

Had a wonderful experience here! The food was delicious and came out quickly. The atmosphere was cozy and welcoming, perfect for a relaxing meal. The staff made us feel taken care of. Highly recommend this place! read more

Solid old school Italian with sincere Italian hospitality in a non fussy setting. Good value for your money.

It has been six months since we ate at La Piazza, but we have been frequenting the establishment for more than 30 years. We were surprised and very disappointed last night when we had dinner with our-of-town guests to find the quality of food and service had significantly changed from what we had experienced over the years. Calamari steak was half the size and sauce was watery and ciopino was more like spaghetti bolognese with mussels! We won't be back. read more

They frequently seemed to be under new ownership. We all like the dishes we got, the chicken piccata, the pizza, and the pasta. Service is friendly and the noise level is reasonable read more

One of my favorite things about Orinda is being able to walk from home to a restaurant like La Piazza. The food is tasty and quite generous portions, (I've never eaten here and not needed a to-go box at the end). I will say that my preferred style of Italian food is not as heavy as what is typically served here, I acknowledge that there are a lot of different styles of Italian cuisine out there, and room enough for personal taste, (I loved most of the items on their menu, although I recall feeling less than excited by their pesto pasta, as I prefer a lighter, brighter, greener sauce. And their pesto is more like a lightly basil-y Alfredo by comparison). I loved my risotto, pizza, pasta with shellfish, the ravioli, and the gnocchi. The ambiance is romantic and cozy. And the service is terrific. We've had the same server several times and she is personable and kind. Most recently we ordered the Special Arugula Salad, to share, and each had an entree: the Mushroom Gnocchi and Special Louisiana Risotto. Everything was delicious. We've had some great wines here too. We recommend La Piazza for dinner, especially date night. I bet that if this restaurant were in San Francisco it would be packed, and we'd probably not be able to get a table without a reservation, but here in Orinda, we can just walk over to La Piazza and have a lovely dinner out. read more

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The food may be the best in Orinda and Lafayette. We enjoyed pasta as well as steak and calamari. Everything was delicious.

We had the pea risotto which was so light but had a big flavor. I wish I could have ordered another one it was so good. I had the spinach & ricotta and my sister had the garlic and broccoli pasta. All very tasty. The service was prompt and pleasant. Really glad we picked this restaurant. read more

Loved the service and the vibe of the restaurant! Had amazing food as well! Would highly recommend.

So happy with the service, staff and food. I enjoyed this evening. Their Italian salad has a delightful dressing to wake up your taste buds. Definitely a worthwhile experience. Highly recommend you give it a try. read more

Food was tasty and came out fresh. The service was attentive and friendly, and the staff checked in just the right amount without being pushy. The atmosphere is casual and comfortable, a nice spot to relax and enjoy a meal. Overall a solid experience! read more

New owners, significant upgrade in pizza, excellent soups and steaks. Recently priced and nice atmosphere

I went to this (Awesome) Italian Restaurant tonight. Mike and his staff are very very nice and the food was amazing. My friend and i sat outside. We will definitely be going back very soon.....If you have not been there you are missing out. Zoe' Girl and Her Friend Mr. Bill...... read more

Ordered 3 orders of the gnocchi and it came severely undercooked, completely inedible. I called the restaurant to complain and was met with a rude employee who yelled at me over the phone saying "well what do you want me to do? what do you want me to do??" instead of actually assisting me. Very disappointed. read more

La Piazza - This gnocchi was not cooked at all. - Italian Near Me - Orinda, California

new ownership has really improved what's going on over here!! Pasta, pizza, fish and steaks.... so much better!! the wine list is incredible as well!! really excited to see these guys in the neighborhood read more

I was early to my appointment and wanted to stop to grab some food since I haven't eaten all day and have been craving pizza, just my luck this cute little restaurant was open. I lucked out and came when it wasn't busy right before dinner time and was able to get my order to go in about ten minutes. The gentleman that took my order also offered me some water while I waited which was very appreciated. I ordered the Prosciutto Crudo, who knew pear on a pizza would be so tasty! I will definitely be coming back here to try more from their menu. Next time I will have to dine in since the vibe was so relaxing. read more

La Piazza - Prosciutto Crudo - Italian Near Me - Orinda, California

We very much enjoyed our dinner here last night. We've been a couple times and this time was on par with previous experiences. Our server was attentive and kind and our meals were delicious. The wine was excellent and the pours were generous! It was just what we needed on Friday night after a long week. read more

Good food! We got the cioppino and eggplant Parmesan. Really good flavors. I don't know what people are complaining about had good prompt service. The tiramisu is a must! read more

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Good and consistently so. Pasta and lasagna dishes are great. Chicken parmesan is excellent.

This use to be my favorite place. Best Cesar salad and you couldn't go wrong with any pasta dish or their specials. Unfortunately. Due to several new ownerships - the-food is mediocre at best. Tasteless & not enjoyable. It's too bad because it's a cute place & it needs to go back to serving great Italian meals! read more

The four of us stopped in to La Piazza for dinner and we were quite happy. The shrimp with bacon on skewers appetizer was served with a spicy red sauce. It had just come out of the broiler and was excellent. The caesar salad was quite good with just a hint of anchovy in the dressing. The pizza was very good, and it was good to see it go in the oven and come right out and to the table. My penne pasta with sausage was smooth and rich, with sausage to give it focus. The best dish of all was the salmon in paper, baked quickly in the oven with fennel and other spices. It was done perfectly. The service was just fine from a friendly and practiced server, who gets credit for recommending the salmon. The night before, we were in Cotogna in North Beach. Cotogna is a better restaurant, admittedly, but then the prices are almost three times as much. Overall, La Piazza is friendly, warm, unpretentious, and well worth a visit. read more

I was so happy finally learn that Orinda has a good pizza place. I waited for it to open at 4pm, placed an order online and it was well worth waiting. I had the chicken pizza, took it back to my place of work and it was still hot and delicious. read more

Have been dining here with family over several ownership changes. The menu has been consistent and consistently good. Not particularly difficult to get a reservation, but you do need to call the restaurant. Worth a look if you're in the general vicinity, say taking in a movie at the Orinda Theater. read more

Wow was i pleasantly surprised. We ordered takeout after a long day of traveling. We just couldn't fathom how we were going to make dinner at home and I thought well this restaurant has new ownership let's give it a shot. We ordered the rigatoni, the Mediterranean pizza and the carpaccio. I was really impressed. I find it very hard for takeout pasta and pizza to be able to last for 15 to 20 minutes it takes from getting made to consumption. The flavors were outstanding. If you find yourself in Orinda give this place a shot read more

Delicious woodfired pizza and delicate fresh greens in light dressing, very good. I ordered the special which was bbq chicken w green onions and corn. Sauce was tasty. Nice ambiance w inside and outdoor seating. read more

Stopped in last Saturday night after visiting the Tilden Merry-Go-Round and had a meal. Such a cute place and everyone super nice. The pizzas are delicious and come right out of the wood burning oven you can see from your table. If you like dry white wine, try the Orvieto. So good we had 2 bottles! We had a few pizzas, the bruschetta, the crostini di salmon and cesar salad. All were fabulous. What a great place to hit before or after a movie in downtown Orinda....check it out! read more

I really love this place. It's a calm and warm setting, the open kitchen is interesting and cool to see, and the food is always so good. My favorites are the Penne Al Arrabiata, and any pizza really, but the Prosciutto Crudo and the Mediterranean are on the top of my list. Definitely try this lovely place directly across from Orinda Theatre. read more

I came here for the first time on a Saturday night, a little later in the evening (around 8pm). A friend and I were hoping to grab a quick bite before seeing a movie at the square, and thankfully this place was mostly empty. We walked in and asked for the menu and were greeted by whom we surmise to be the owner - a really friendly and warm middle aged man who assured us we'd still make our movie in time and that the turnaround time for our pizza would be quick. The ambience was a plus as well: warm, homey, welcoming! We were quickly seated by a young woman who got us menus, water, and complimentary bread and butter almost immediately (with different types and all uniquely textured and flavored! Yum!). Her kindness and cordiality added to the overall quality of service we received from her. Our pizza came quickly and was delicious! Such soft and tender dough, flavorful and fresh ingredients. It struck an even balance between being light and filling. Overall, with such great service and catering to our needs, and high quality food, this place definitely gets my stamp of approval and 5 stars. I'll definitely be coming again and look forward to trying a wider sampling of their offerings. read more

La Piazza - Risotto Al Pesto - Italian Near Me - Orinda, California

My wife and I went here for date night and loved it! They have outdoor seating located right across the big "Orinda" theatre sign which was cool. The pizza and pasta were amazing, the service was top notch, and the owner was very friendly. If you're reading this review and plan to visit, make sure you order the bread pudding for desert-delicious! read more

La Piazza - Bread pudding - Italian Near Me - Orinda, California

First time coming here since the new ownership! We ordered quite a few items as seen in the photos and everything we had was great! They had large portions and we loved the location of the restaurant itself. Had the chance to also try the bread pudding and flan which was a nice way to end the night. Owners were also very nice and welcoming! Overall had a great experience! read more

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This is my favorite restaurant in town. I order something different every time and have never walked away disappointed. The pollo a tequila pizza, the chicken or veil piccata, and the carbonara are favorites! My partner always gets the Mediterranean pizza. Everything is so yummy. read more

After standing for 10 minutes and making eye contact with the owner, he finally approached me and asked what my order name was. (Picked up for my sister) I politely said my name and said "there has to be a better way to do this" He responded by putting his hand in my face and saying "FUCK YOU" There's cameras in the restaurant and PLENTY of witnesses. This is absolutely disgusting. I am a business owner, as are my parents for 40+ years. I think it's fair to state that there should be a better system in place, when the owner is standing around, seeing people obviously waiting , watching the food line for 10 minutes. I've been a lamorinda resident for 30 years and can't wait to tell every person I know about the despicable owner who puts his hands in peoples faces and says profanities once they point out that his system is inefficient. read more

My wife and I decided to treat ourselves to an early (5 pm) patio dinner on a warm July day. We had our well-behaved dog with us, and the restaurant was very accommodating, providing him with a large bowl of water. That said, the rest of the meal was unpleasant. The server brought bread & butter to the table, but no napkins or silverware, despite our asking twice. When her salad arrived, we pointed out that she really did need utensils and finally received received them. I ordered linguine and clams as a first course and sole as a main, while my wife ordered lasagna. Hers was was acceptable, but nothing special. My linguine and the sole were delivered at the same time, rather than one before the other. There wasn't even room on the small patio table for both, so the host removed the sole and left the linguine & clams. The clams had apparently been chopped into small pieces, instead of being served whole in their shells. I finished that and there was a long wait until we could flag down the server to get my main course, which arrived cold. Rather than go through the whole process of sending it back and a longer wait, I decided to accept it as-is. The restaurant had few other customers at this early hour, so there was no good excuse for the service we received. It seems like La Piazza would like to position itself as classy, trattoria-style Italian restaurant, but the food doesn't live up to that and the waitstaff and management don't really seem to care. Especially given the prices on the menu and wine list, we expected better. read more