Personal favorite Italian spot in Walnut Creek. It's a great place for pizza and pasta, flavorful all around. The drinks were absolutely superb and definitely the unexpected highlight of the night. Service was great as well so definitely a place to check out if you're in the mood for Italian. If you're coming on a Friday and the weekends, highly recommend you to make a reservation as spots will fill up. The bar seating is open to walk-in and they do serve the full menu fwiw. read more

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The place gets an extra star for the service. Otherwise it would have been one star. Decided to try this place for the family Friday dinner. Two adults, two kids (total bill was ~$450). Observations: 1) The place is very small. They sit you outside in a very windy alley. The food gets cold within 5min or so. Heaters don't help that much. 2) When you make a reservation on OpenTable you choose "Standard seating" - it doesn't mean inside. Inside capacity is about 50 or so ppl with 10 or so by the bar. So capacity is very limited. 3) We ordered lemonade for kids. They serve it in short glasses filled with ice to the brim (despite our ask for "no ice"), effectively reducing the liquid volume. We paid $35 for lemonade. 4) Food is very uneventful, nothing was remarkable. Their gnocchi with meat resembled Chef Boyardee from back in college times. Not sure why this place felt so pretentious with really no substance to back it. With so many options around like Montecatini, Doppio Zero, Benvenuti, La Fontaine, etc, not sure how they are still in business. Definitely not recommended for families, and have a hard time figuring out what audience they cater to. read more

Frankly I don't get the hype about the food. On recommendation from staff (who were very friendly and for sure the highlight of the meal) I ordered the Carbonara and have to say it was one of the worst I've had. Totally lacking in flavor, it was the definition of bland. Wasn't lacking salt, but it was totally one note and that note was nothing. The black pepper was visible, but brought nothing to the table. Here's a chef tip for the kitchen, toast the peppercorns, then grind, it'll bring the pop of flavor the dish desperately needs. Guanciale was chewy, not properly rendered off. What a disappointment. Back of the house should thank the front for saving them from what would've been a more than justified one star review. read more

This was one of those slightly above casual but not quite fancy places I really wanted to like for a night out. To begin with, after being seated, it took a very long time for the server to take our orders. It wasn't a very big restaurant and my husband and I were clearly sitting there bored for about 10 minutes while our server just took her time refilling wine for the other tables before getting to us. Two other staff were just standing around chatting around the bar. One huge ick I got too was how the menus were somewhat wet with wine stains, and the server still placed them right on top of our plates. We ordered the octopus ($22) for an appetizer and it came with a huge strand of sweater lint. For my main course, I got the Carbonara ($27). It wasn't the traditional egg yolk based type, but the more Americanized cream based variation. I wasn't too impressed with the overall flavor and the protein seemed to be really lacking too. Not sure if it was the fattiness of the cream or the cross contamination of the octopus, but halfway through my main, I had to RUN to the bathroom with food poisoning. My absence was clearly noticed since the server asked my husband if I'd want a to-go box, but when I returned, she didn't even ask if everything was alright. We once again had to wait an extremely long time for her to return with dessert menus and the bill. Not the ideal date night at all. read more

Montesacro Walnut Creek - Italian Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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Mixed bag for me here. Bullet point summary of my experience here: 1. Octopus had sweater lint stuck on top :( 2. Never had pizza this way - was okay 3. Pasta wasn't traditional carbonara and it was pretty heavy on the sauce 4. Partner ended up having some stomach issues halfway through pasta 5. Service was a bit slow throughout read more

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The perfect dinner spot for a special occasion or to reconnect with friends. Would recommend reservation. I've never been disappointed with any visit here and the service always feels personal and exceeds expectations. The bread and the oil? Start there cause it's ridiculous. For an entree, there are no bad choices but any of the pastas and pizzas are, and will continue to be, my favorite - especially the carbonara. Have been recommending this to friends and family alike - and will continue doing so! read more

Montesacro Walnut Creek - Italian Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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We have been going to this restaurant for many years in the original location in San Francisco and at least 5 or 6 times in walnut creek, we went to a play at the Lesher theater and they partner with Montesacro for dining before the theater and provided 10% discount we enjoyed a wonderful burarrata with sliced peaches with balsamic glaze and gnocchi in a wonderful ragu meat sauce and brazzino fish, the restaurant was very busy and server was a bit swamped and wait times for ordering and getting our drink order ( only had one bartender) was slow regardless of the wait the food was fantastic... read more

Amazing dinner at the bar! I love this quaint little place. Service is always on point just like the drinks. The vesper was perfect! We enjoyed the special seasonal appetizer- stuffed squash blossoms- my absolute fav!! Stuffed with ricotta and fried in a light batter... sooo good! Ordered the kale salad and the margarita pinsa -added prosciutto. So yum! read more

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We usually come for the pinsas but ordered pastas tonight. The pastas were delicious but will go back for pinsa next time. Food, as always, gets 5 stars but the service is a 3 again. The staff is friendly but spread too thin for a very busy restaurant even with a very early reservation with grandparents. read more

Montesacro Walnut Creek - Italian Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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Our favorite Italian restaurant in the area, Montesacro's guanciale pinsa and cacio e pepe are unbeatable. The pasta is always perfectly al dente, the Aperol spritz is delightful, and the service is lovely. We love coming here for a casual date night. read more

My wife, her family and I went for Christmas eve dinner, it has become sort of a tradition for us. Due to the special occasion it was prix fix menu $100/person. Food was solid, I got gnocchi fritti for antipasto, tortellini for main, and panettone as dessert, accompanied by bubbles Ribolla Gialla (cheaper than franciacorta and honestly I like it better). My wife got the fennel salad, mushrooms risotto, and olive oil cake; honestly my choices were better Ambience tends to get noisy since the place is fairly small but service was solid. They also had some panettone/pandoro to buy on the side and still debating on the dubai chocolate one, so I'll use the $45 tag as an excuse to not indulge more read more

Montesacro Walnut Creek - Gnocchi Fritti - Italian Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Amazing food, ambiance and service every time! Have been going here for years. Best and most authentic Italian in Walnut Creek! The cocktails are top notch as well! read more

Friendly staff, clean space, extremely well made food. Authentic Roman style, Italian cuisine. Feel like you are missing out if you haven't been here. read more

Nice spot with a lively vibe and stellar service. Recently went to a surprised birthday party here and the server was SUPER accommodating to our celiac party member... she really went above and beyond and was just on point with everything. The food was solid. Frankly, Italian isn't my favorite cuisine so I don't think I can objectively give a perfect review, but I think everything tasted fresh and competent and I had no complaints at all. My only complaint (and it's a minor one, since partially our fault as we asked to have some people added to our reservation) - it was super tight seating. Hard to get in and out and we were definitely elbow to elbow. That said, I can certainly recommend this place. read more

Ordered pickup, got the Margherita pizza. This pizza was an easy reheat in the air fryer. I am a bit critical when it comes to pizza. Anybody can make a pizza at home, can anybody make a good pizza? No, it takes the portions and flavor, things I do not care about at home. This place had quality going for it. Not the best pizza I ever had, but the pizza was delicious without the greasiness of Pizza Hut or Dominoes for being in a similar price range, since it was $20. 4/5 read more

What a pleasant surprise, the food, the staff, the environment... All wonderful! We will definitely be coming back read more

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I previously reviewed Montesacro as a 3/5 and hadn't been back for a few years, but recently have gone back twice in the past few days and am absolutely editing my review to 5/5 stars. Here's why: the drinks are probably the best curated cocktails in town (love the Aero Mexico since I love an Aviation and the bourbon cocktail with the clarified milk is genius - it's the "garden" one), the food is so fresh and unique (love the pinsas), and the service is fabulous (Tristan at the bar is wonderful and Lupita is amazing as well, both so friendly along with many others here). The atmosphere is so cute and quaint - it feels like a little piece of New York in the Bay Area. I had seen Montesacro on Check Please and it inspired me to give it another shot. So glad I did! This will be one of my new staples in downtown Walnut Creek for a great drink and delicious meal. Love it! read more

My best friend cooks the best Italian and Sicilian food I've ever eaten, so when SHE suggests an Italian restaurant for us to visit, I go, no questions asked. She brought me to Montesacro to treat me to my birthday dinner, and I was very very happy with the food. The only downside to that bday visit was sitting inside, as the restaurant is much too loud for my comfort. However, we had a repeat visit recently and sat outside next to the cozy heaters and what a difference! So peaceful and relaxing. The food and the service here are incredible! On my bday visit, the beet salad was delicious, and the tripa dish my bestie ordered was great too. On our repeat visit, we enjoyed spritz cocktails with our pinsa and pasta, and everything was chef's kiss. read more

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Let me start out by saying that the food is truly great. I'm here to share an enlightening anecdote regarding the horrid service I experienced during my Friday night birthday dinner weeks ago. There were 5 of us at my dinner reservation. Our waiter came up to us once to check in about ordering drinks, but we weren't ready. My girls and I haven't been together in awhile so we were busy catching up, and when our waiter came back a second time, I asked if we could have another minute. He was standing behind me, so I didn't see his reaction, but my best friend, who happened to be sitting in his line of vision, stated he seemed irritated and slightly mocked what I said. We received all our food and drinks and we thought it was all delicious!! At the end of the night, they asked if we wanted to look at the desert menu, and I politely declined. I had a birthday cake that I brought myself so I placed it on the table. The table was already cleared, and the staff asked if we would like any plates and forks (instead of being forthcoming with bringing them). The staff asked if we would like them to cut the cake for us and I politely declined. In addition, when we initially brought the cake out, my best friend actually noticed someone from the staff saw that we brought out the cake, looked down at his watch and seemed completely irritated. Mind you, we were not the only party left in the restaurant dining there at this part of the night. By the very end, we felt uncomfortable being there so my girls and I left immediately after we paid. Since the night felt chaotic, we didn't review the receipt before we paid, so we happened to review it after we left and realized they charged us $45 FOR A CAKE FEE. We found it quite perplexing considering they didn't even touch the cake (specifically, the cake was only 4 inches). We were immensely disappointed by this experience this night. After the weekend was over, my best friends looked at their bank statements and realized they were charged more for the tip we originally gave him! After looking at everyone's receipts I was completely ASTONISHED to see that our capricious waiter charged us DOUBLE the amount of tip than what we each signed for!! When I called the manager, Lupita, later that week, I explained we were overcharged our tip and she was immediately apologetic. She mentioned that it was that waiter's (Alessandro) LAST night working. Lupita stated she would issue me, an each of my girls, the refund for the overcharged tip. I also stated that even though I understood that restaurants maintain their own cake fee policies, I did express how frustrating it was to be charged $45 for a cake that they did not touch. She then exclaimed that she would rescind the cake fee as well, which was nice to hear. She was honestly intentionally accommodating about the entire situation. At this point my girls and I were expecting a $17 refund each ($8 for the additional overcharged tip and $9 for the cake fee). Later that week, I got a bank notification stating my refund from Montesacro was only $8. I realized they didn't issue the refund for the cake fee, so I had to call once AGAIN to re-explain the situation with a different manager to issue the cake fee refund, which is where I felt inconvenienced once more. In conclusion, the food and drinks we had were good, but it was overshadowed by this entire experience in which I simply felt burdened. read more

5 stars for their kindness 3 stars for their service 1 star for the food We arrived for our 730pm outdoor reservation and asked to be seated indoors if possible - it was unusually cold and windy this summer evening. We waited about 30 minutes, none of which was their fault. During this time they apologized profusely which was so kind since the original reservation was for outdoors. We expected there would be a wait. Unfortunately it goes a little downhill from there. The A/C was cranked up high and it felt colder inside than out. My 87yo grandma and 67yo mom were so cold, but we asked for hot water and tea right away so they could warm up. Our server, I felt so bad, was losing her voice. She might have had the entire dining room because the service was a little slow. Our food service was EQUALLY slow where we likely didn't receive our food until about 30+ minutes later. - Bread service was decent. Light and crispy on the outside, warm and fluffy on the inside. Served with a side of olive oil and sea salt. - Suppli (like arancini) were also decent. Our server added another piece so the entire table could each get one. Again, very kind of her! - Carbonara was pretty salty. It was just okay. - Putanesca was really good, per my mom. - Lamb Chops were ordered medium but came out medium rare. Had to request they cook it a little more. - Margherita pinsa was solid, per my 12yo son - Tiramisu was DELICIOUS! The best dish we had that night - Seasonal Melon sorbetto was deliciously refreshing. No artificial flavors, you can tell the freshness. My grandmother really enjoyed this. We didn't realize they closed at 9, and at 930 we were just diggin into our desserts. We felt bad but our server was patient and said we could stay as long as we liked. Servers and host were especially kind, which is why it's hard to give a lower review. But the service was slow and the food was just as slow and just okay. Not my favorite. We can at least say we came here and tried it, but would not likely return for dinner but would try them for breakfast/brunch. read more

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Ok first things first... the service was amazing!! From the moment we walked into the door we had the hostess, the bartenders and the waiters making sure we were welcomed. I got my sister and I reservations here for thanksgiving dinner and the only option was to be seated outside. But the hostess went above and beyond and found us a table inside to keep us from the cold. That right there won me over instantly. Now on to the food! Oh my lord was it wayyyy more food than we were able to eat. I didn't know I was going to have a Thanksgiving feast eating out. But let me just get down to the food here. The steak was juicy and perfectly cooked to medium. It melted in my mouth. And that was gone and finished. The fettuccine that my sister got was delicious. I'm not a huge mushroom person but it was good. And I love how thick the noodles were. The deviled eggs were top notch and the cheese crisp was a nice touch to it. I wasn't a huge fan of the red cabbage salad. Was a bit too bitter for my taste but as the first course it was perfect because I didn't realize how much food was coming next. My sister enjoyed the butternut squash soup. Said the burrata was the cherry on top. The mashed potatoes were mashed potatoes. Still good. We didn't eat much of the cauliflower gratin because well.. I have gout and can't really go crazy on that. But the one bite I did take was nice and cheesy. The bread was nice and warm and I wish I could take home 5 of those. We both aren't yam or squash girls but they were good and I think it's the brown butter that got us. Now to end the night... the pumpkin pie was just the perfect ending to the entire meal. Now I don't even like pumpkin pie. Or if I do eat it, I like it with tons of whipped cream. But this one... I don't know what they put in that crust but I can dip that in honey and eat it every day. It was a very swanky date night spot. Which was weird going there with my sister lol. And I'm pretty sure they thought we were on a date but whatever. Hahaha. Everything was amazing nonetheless and I'd definitely take an actual date her next time. read more

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This a date night staple for our household! My fiancée and I love coming in and sitting at the bar. Tristan always makes it a great experience and has a fantastic handle on craft cocktails. We especially enjoy the welcoming and fun atmosphere he creates as well as the staff entirely. You can't go wrong on any order here, the pinsa is delightful and airy leaving room for pasta or anything else! Truly never disappointed with our experiences here and we always look forward to coming back! read more

Montesacro Walnut Creek - Hanky Panky 11/10 - lighter than a boulevardier or manhattan, truly enjoyable! - Italian Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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Montesacro is an Italian inspired restaurant on Locust street. The place is clean and organized and the service is pretty efficient. The main server (Cheng) was just ok. She took the orders but overall wasn't the most friendly waitress. She never came back to ask about the food quality or refill the water. The other workers there were great. The food was just okay. The Suppli was flavorful and delicious but the Montesacro pizza was a bit disappointing. The potatoes and artichokes were kind of dried out and there wasn't enough (any??) sauce to mitigate that or add flavor. The tiny specks of lamb sausage were just insufficient to provide flavor or protein to a $25 pizza. They're trying to punch into a price point that their food quality doesn't match. read more

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If you're in Walnut Creek and haven't yet made your way to Montesacro, run--don't walk. Their breakfast pastries, available Saturday and Sunday from 8 to 11 a.m., are nothing short of heavenly. From the moment you walk in, the aroma of fresh-baked goods hits you like a warm hug. Flaky, buttery, and perfectly golden, their cornetti (Italy's answer to the croissant) strike that magical balance between delicate and indulgent. The almond cornetto is a standout--sweet, rich, and layered with just the right amount of crunch. What sets Montesacro apart is the authenticity. These pastries don't taste like a trendy nod to Italian baking--they are Italian baking, done right. Pair your pastry with a cappuccino, and for a moment, you might just forget you're in downtown Walnut Creek and not a Roman piazza. Whether you're grabbing a quick bite or lingering over a lazy weekend latte, Montesacro delivers quality that feels both artisanal and effortless. Bottom line? Run, don't walk--but make sure you get there between 8 and 11 a.m. on the weekend, or you'll miss out on something truly special. read more

Montesacro Walnut Creek - Italian Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

We love coming to Montesacro for dinner -- the pasta, pizza, and drinks are always amazing! The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming every single time. We recently discovered they also used to do a morning brunch with pastries and coffee -- the pistachio croissants were absolutely delicious croissants It's a shame they were discontinued due to low interest, but we'll definitely keep coming back for dinner. One of our favorite spots in town! And the service is awesome too! read more

Montesacro Walnut Creek - Pistachio croissants - Italian Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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Excellent all around. We snatched an outdoor seating reservation earlier during the day though I wish we could have sat inside since it was so cold. Our lovely server wrangled her magic and got the obstinate outdoor heating going for us We shared an appetizer, one pizza and one pasta dish and two cocktails The pistachio (not listed on menu) cocktail was like a creamy espresso martini with hints of pistachio flavor The chocolate coffee old fashioned was addicting, came with a giant block of clear ice, super tasty Pizza dough was airy thin and springy Maranella had the right touch of creaminess from the buffalo mozzarella, fragrant and crunchy broccolini and delightfully spicy but not overwhelming sausage Cacio e Pepe beautifully done perfect Al dente pasta. Umami cheesy sauce. Simple ingredient yet complex flavors bursting with every bite Our wonderful server was cognizant enough to caution us to consume this course first otherwise the melted Parmesan cheese would be gummy and clumpy once cooled The Supplí Telefono (spelling?) appetizer was well seasoned . Each dish came with 3 balls of golden fried tomato forward rice mixture stuffed with cheese. Chef's kiss. read more

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Omg this place is a hidden gem! I've lived here for seven years and I've never been here. I do not know why and I've walked by here several times. Let me tell you it was amazing and everything super fresh and delicious the service was excellent! I sat at the bar and had the pleasure of speaking with Lukas. He was a great bartender! I ordered the margarita pizza along with the arugula salad and the flourless chocolate cake it was honestly the best Italian food I've had. It beats every restaurant in Walnut Creek in my opinion and that's saying a lot, I'm a big foodie and I'm pregnant.I will be back soon! read more

Montesacro Walnut Creek - Margarita pizza and arugula salad - Italian Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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The food was pricey for sure but also incredible. I was blown away by how good it was, and the portion sizing was really perfect. It was fancy but not too fancy. Great food for Lafayette for sure read more

Best Roman-style pizza! Many other things, too. All amazing. And GF The SF location parking is a challenge, but worth it 100% Check it out!!! read more

What a delight for a HH and the bar in Montesacro. , pizzetta, and aperol hit the spot for a quick stint. A little far from DT, but close to Target! Would love to try the cacio and carbonara next time. read more

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We have eaten at Montesacro several times, including Thanksgiving last year, and the food is always excellent and the service attentive. I have particularly enjoyed their fish entrees and desserts. read more

Everything from the ambiance to the service to the quality of the food was fantastic here! Our server took the time to explain the Roman dining concept to us and make menu suggestions based on our preferences. Everything we ordered was delicious, especially the croquettes! And if you like your cacio e pepe nice and al dente then this is the place for you. I do wish the cacio e pepe were a bit saucier, but the flavors made up for it! I'll definitely be back soon! read more

Montesacro Walnut Creek - Cacio e Pepe, Margherita Pinsa, Tomato & Basil Risotto Croquettes - Italian Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Two of us made reservations for lunch. Requested a quiet table. Unfortunately we were seated next to a loud party. The server was over friendly and loud. Sorry, not what we needed. We ordered a pork sandwich and an eggplant pinsa (San Lorenzo). The sandwich came with a tiny salad, and the pinsa was very large. I requested a box to go from the runner for the pinsa and she ignored me. Had to wait till our server came out to ask again. The food was ok. Not memorable! When the bill came, the choice for tip was 18, 22 and 25%! Seriously?! $71.xx for a pork sandwich and a veg flatbread and an Arnold Palmer for two people. For lunch?! Will not return. read more

100/10!!! Food is soo good! You can tell that the pasta is homemade. I'm still dreaming about the texture of the noodles. Highly recommend read more

Montesacro Walnut Creek - Italian Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

First time dining Food was delicious and pistachio dessert, outstanding I recommended restaurant to everybody read more

Food was edible but pricy. Typical Walnut Creek experience. I ordered a glads of red wine: the open bottle had begun to turn. It had been sitting open too long. Not fresh, not spicy. Ended up ordering an overpriced undergood Negroni. This place: One and Done. read more

WOW! This place was amazing. Their pri fixe menu is $110 but you are served many top notch dishes and/or bites! I have never been here before and I came with a large party. I wasn't expecting the food to be so upscale and gourmet. I'm a foodie so I loved it. The buttery cracker was crispy and cream was smooth. The saltiness of the caviar made for a great bite. The oysters had tiny diced cucumbers that gave this a crunch (unless you slurp it). I added a dash of salt and this oyster was really good. The carpaccio was very flavorful. The egg stuffed ravioli was great. It's laid in a bed of soft melted butter. Every time you cut and slide a bite off it's got that buttery flavor from the bottom. The surprise inside as a cooked egg yolk. There is cooked sage on top. This was actually very good. The flavor of the short ribs was amazing the mashed potatoes and great spot on. My only feedback there would be the short ribs were a little bit dry, and that was the general consensus of the table so not just me. The poached pair was good. I love the caramel sauce and the whip whipped cream with pistachio dust. Honestly, the poached pea didn't really have a lot of flavor and it was pretty big. I didn't see many people that actually finish the pear. I think a poached peach would be fantastic. Just a thought. I would love to go back and try their Italian options. If you haven't checked this place out, you really need to go. read more

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What a find! I had heard about Montesacro on Check Please (PBS) and decided w needed to investigate. Their Pinsas (Roman style pizza,) are incredible, and the artichoke appetizer was heavenly. Great wine list and attentive service just added to the pleasure. We had reserved an outdoor table weeks in advance, but the night we went it was pouring rain. They graciously accommodated us on a busy Saturday night, which was so appreciated. This is not your typical Italian dinner, as it is Roman style cuisine, and it is outstanding. A definite must try! read more

Great date night place... Amazing: great ambience, plenty of parking nearby, Enzo our server was very friendly, suppli Al telefono (cheesy rice balls), carbonara with guanciale. Good: brussel sprouts, soppresatta pinsa, pistachio espresso martini, Italian Chardonnay, tiramisu. Fair: gnocchi with meat sauce (very light). read more

It was my first time at Montesacro Walnut Creek and came in for lunch with a friend. We made a reservation but it wasn't overly busy on a Saturday around 1pm. Service was friendly and efficient, the Roman style pizza unique, salad was delicious and dessert did not disappoint. Their coffee was perfect alongside our desserts. The ambiance was relaxing and we ended up being the last table to leave around 3:30 after enjoying our meal and chatting for a couple of hours. I will definitely check out their other locations. Pros: Delicious and unique pizzas, salads and desserts Cons: N/A read more

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