Tried Pasta Pelican with my family and honestly it's one of those spots that feels like a hidden gem right on the water. The marina views alone make it worth it, especially around sunset. Food-wise, the pasta is solid, fresh, flavorful, and comes in generous portions. The seafood dishes really stand out too, especially anything with shrimp or scallops. Nothing super fancy, but definitely comforting and well done. Service was friendly and relaxed, which matches the whole vibe of the place. It's more of a chill, sit and enjoy your meal kind of restaurant rather than something upscale or rushed. Overall, great spot if you're looking for good Italian food with a view in Alameda. Would come back for the atmosphere alone. read more

We came here for a lovely Friday dinner, and enjoyed sitting upstairs with gorgeous sunset views of Jack London Square and Oakland. This spot is a gem on the waters at Jack London Square, and feels like it's in its own private little world. Perfect for romantic occasions, though we also saw what looked like large families gathering for special occasions, like a graduation. We got a burger and ravioli. Everything tasted fresh. I was surprised that there were not that many people here on a Friday night. For ladies wearing heels, just be careful when you cross the wooden bridge leading into the restaurant, and walking up and down the stairs to the bathroom. Great service, beautiful ambience, what a hidden gem! read more

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Very disappointing experience. My husband and I visited for Happy Hour last Sunday after confirming on both the restaurant's website and with the host that it was offered from 4-6 p.m. on weekends. After being seated, we were only given regular menus. When we asked about the Happy Hour menu, our server seemed completely unaware of it and had to repeatedly check with other employees. Another server even told us they "used to have" Happy Hour. Eventually we were told Happy Hour was available and consisted of "$2 off a drink," but there was no apology for the confusion or misinformation. The staff communication and customer service felt dismissive and unprofessional. We ended up leaving without ordering. The host apologized on our way out and sheepishly admitted staff had not been properly informed of recent changes with the Happy Hour structure. I also emailed management afterward of the situation and that additional staff training was needed regarding the current Happy Hour offerings and more importantly, employees should be reminded of the importance of professional, courteous customer service, including acknowledging mistakes and apologizing when incorrect information is provided to guests. I never received a response which is why I am posting this review. read more

I meant to post thisnyears ago, but now's as good a time as any, right? My coworker suggested this lovely place when our management team was looking for a place to host our Christmas/Holiday party. She ravad about the incredible food, the quick, friendly service and the enjoyable music (because she had apparently gone on days when they had love music playing). Our team decided to go together to.cjeck it out, and get some questions answered, and just like my coworker stated, the place did NOT disappoint! The food was delicious, service was fast and friendly, the view of the estuary was an incredible bonus ... and the only thing missing the day was live music - but they did have music playing. There was plenty of parking (though much of it was a walking distance away), and the scenery was beautiful and peaceful outside the building. We loved it soo much, we booked the restaurant the next day for our party. We reserved half of the top floor, and they let us set up our tables and decorations (within the guidelines of yheir establishment), even though they had some Christmas decorations already up. The food set up was all-you-can-eat, and they even offered to serve a cake we brought to our guests for us!! The customer service here is refreshing! Tho we didn't have a DJ for music, it worked out perfectly, because the other half of the upstairs turned out to be rented by another company of medical assistants and nurses who hired a DJ for their event. They allowed the DJ to include us in their music scene (after asking our permission first, which was awesome!). All in all, everyone had an incredible time! The employees raved about how beautifully the place was decorated and how great the food was. We booked another event the following year! I highly recomnend this place! read more

Went to a friend's 85th birthday party. They had reserved upstairs which had a beautiful view. it started with the elevator not working even though they told us they had a working elevator!!! so I had to get help walking my grandma up the stairs and the only bathroom was downstairs so that wasn't good having to help her up and down the stairs. They only had 2 people tending to 50 guests? I give the service a two star maybe no one came around to clean off the tables. I had to clear off the table of coffee cups so we can have room for lunch plates and again to have cake! So disappointing! As far as the food did not like it at all. The spaghetti and meatballs were dry ,the salmon was like mush and did not taste great nothing was special about the food. sorry The only thing they had going for them was a beautiful view. read more

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Dinner with friends recently, we sailed over to this waterfront restaurant and parked the boat. We had reservations at 8pm and were greeted walking in and seated within the same moment. The staff are all professional and gracious. We started with the Calamari Fritti and Spinach dip as appetizers for our table and they were both a good start. The Calamari is flash fried and light golden brown with a caesar dressing. The spinach was freshly chopped and saute'ed with a creamy rich cheese blend. They had a special holiday menu and I went for the Seared Scallops over Linguini pasta, with sun dried tomatoes in a fresh made pesto. It was very good and a nice presentation. My partner had the fresh Trout off the special menu and it was very good as well. Lemon basil butter seared with potatoes and vegetables. Apple Walnut pie Ala mode was on their dessert menu and I had to give it a go, also a solid choice for a nice sweet treat. 4 Stars a solid choice for a nuce waterfront meal 01187 read more

Ambiance and food were amazing. Staff were kind of rude and cold. Not bad enough to not go again, but definitely would have gotten a bigger tip if they would have not been colder than Elsa, so rude. read more

I remember this place as the Rusty Pelican from a million years ago. The view is still fantastic, looking right at Jack London Square. So it was great to try it as the Pasta Pelican. Wait staff are very nice - but I wish they were a tad more personable. That being said - drinks refilled for the guys without asking but I had to request a refill on my ice tea. Meatballs were ok but we didn't really enjoy them. Very lamb tasting - sauce was good though. I'd give these a 2 out of 5 (pass on them) The bread though - I mean warm, soft, and I would go back just to enjoy the bread haha A+++ They need to give more oil & vinegar though. I ordered the seared scallops special. Generous portion & I took half the pasta home. Scallops were good and overall flavor solid B The Thai Pasta was eaten so fast and given 5/5 stars. Pro Tip: Don't waste the sauce - use the bread to finish up the sauce. My friends gave this an A grade Not seen - Carbonara- made with peas & green onions so not traditional but was given 2 thumbs up. Solid B The trout looked great and was given an A for the trout but minus points for the eggplant & beet with the veggies haha Key lime pie - big slice and delicious. We all got the pie & we all loved the pie! A grade for the pie. Parking - easy Views - beautiful Food - will be back for more Staff - very professional Cost - Slightly above average but worth it. Great place for a date or gathering of friends. I don't know if I'd bring a young kid but middle school up I would think they'd love it. read more

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Hubby took me here on a dinner date. Very nice resturant on the water. Place was not packed just one large party and us. Apps were good. Food came out fairly quickly, very flavorful but salty. Service was helpful, welcoming and nice. Just nothing stuck out as different from other places. Walked around after the meal to check out the boats. Very nice scenery. read more

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We wanted to go somewhere different this year for our Xmas party and this place was picked. We made reservations late in the month and they were still able to get us in. Our party had 14 people in it so a little big. The place wasn't that busy so we sat down right away and waters we're brought to our table right away. Our waiter came a few minutes later and took our drink order and any appetizers. The drinks and the appetizers came out pretty quick. We ordered some calamari and meatballs. The calamari had a good crisp texture on it, a little salty though, and the aioli was pretty good. The meatballs had a little gamey in it, a little tenderness but could use some more tenderness to it, and the marinara sauce was very flavorful with just hint of spice in it. Everyone liked their drinks. Everyone ordered a caesar salad or the clam chowder soup. The salads were good, not to creamy or salty from the anchovies, and the soup was delicious with great texture to it, not white creamy more like a darker color white color to it, not a lot of clam taste to it which was good, and the perfect amount of clams and potatoes in it. Our entrees included- Pasta Pelican Cheese Burger - The burger and fries looked great. I was told the burger was cooked great (med rare), perfect bun to meat ratio, with good juicy flavor, and the fries were nice and hot. Fettuccine Con Sugo Caldo -The pasta was cooked perfect, the Italian sausage was very good with good flavor, and the sauce was very flavorful, a delicious dish. Pollo E Spinace -The pasta was cooked perfect, the veggies also cooked nicely, the chicken was tender, and the curry sauce was very different for a pasta dish but it was delicious. Ribeye Steak -I was told that the steaks were cooked great, they were tender, not overcooked, the mash potatoes and veggies that came with it were cooked perfect as well. Ravioli - I was told the pasta was cooked perfect and the sauce had a lit of flavor to it. Also, the dish was filling. Ahi Tuna Salad -I was told the tuna was cooked perfect and had some good seasoning to it. Desserts - Key Lime Pie - It was good lime flavor to it, the grinds were drizzled in it nicely, but the crust wasn't graham cracker crust so it took away from the true key lime pie. The crust was a regular pie crust which was just okay. The whipped cream was good. I was told that the Crème Brulée, Apple Walnut A La Mode, and the Tiramisu was really good. The service was excellent, all of our dishes came out together and in a timely manner, we didn't have to wait too long for anything, and the waiters was always asking if we needed anything. Didn't take photos of all the dishes. sorry. Plenty of seating inside and outside. read more

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We have gone to the Pelican for years now. When we kept our boat at the Mariner Square Marina, it was every Friday night. For good food, we always take or recommend to friends. The owner has always treated us well. We took friends there for dinner tonight and as always, was amazing. I don't compliment servers much, but I will tonight. We had a young man who was amazing and very friendly and attentive. His name was Michael and I highly recommend asking for him if you dine there. read more

Great customer service & not to mention pasta carbonara was so delicious 10/10 nice over the ocean location read more

Pasta Pelican Restaurant - Pasta Carbanera was so delicious - Italian Near Me - Alameda, California

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WHEN: Sun @4pm My partner and I had plans of coming here for dinner, but when my sis and lil niblings came over to hang out, we decided to order take out from here instead! We placed and over on DoorDash the following for 3 adults and 2 kids: BREAD (Complimentary) I did not expect bread especially when it was a take out order. Oh and it was warm still by the time we got home! Gosh I appreciate complimentary bread to dip in the pasta sauce! CARBONARA - $20 +$3 CUP OF SOUP Prosciutto, onion, and bacon tossed with fettuccine in a creamy Parmesan sauce with a hint of garlic. Creamy indeed with the little chunks of bacon. Such a tasty and rich dish! BOLOGNESE - $20 +$3 CUP OF SOUP A hearty meat sauce topped with meatballs served over fettuccine. Okay, this dish was impressive. So good. You get both a meat sauce and large meatballs in this order. Sure it's on the greasier side but that's what that complimentary bread is more...soak it up! CUP OF SOUP - $3 Decided to add a cup of soup to my 2 pastas since it was only $3 in case the kids liked it. Had no idea what kind, but why not. It was really good whatever it was. It was like a potato chowder that was very thick and good for bread dipping! THAI SALAD - $24 With filet mignon, kale, avocado, mango, and housemade Thai dressing. Took a gamble on this since it's one: a salad, and 2, sounds pretty non-Italian, haha. But it was good! The dressing was like a sweet chili sauce that was sweet and savory. The filet mignon was tender and I didn't feel they were skimping on it. The mango was young (not ripe) and there were chuck of avocado. The only think I didn't care for was the fried noodles. Not sure how this would look if we had ordered in, but this take-out dish was massive! We ended up with so much leftover. Pelican Pasta serves both quality and quantity and I can't wait to dine-in! read more

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Date: 3/28/2025 Time 7:15 PM 60° Cool Date night at Pasta Pelican Restaurant was a memorable one. He surprised me because I was not expecting dinner on a Friday evening. It has been a long time since I have tried to dine here. I rather not dwell on a negative experience in the past. My date recommended the grilled salmon salad for dinner. The description of that salad consists of grilled salmon with sauteed Roma tomatoes, fresh mango chunks, avocado, capers and Kalamata olives with a bed of spring mix greens, romaine infused with a citrus dressing. Ambiance: Seats by the window facing the estuary and Oakland was especially intimate and serene. I couldn't ask for more when the mellow sunset set. Eats and beverages: Two grilled salmon salad, margarita on the rocks with no salt (him) and kahlua & cream (me). I decided to forego the Arnold Palmer. Mmm...kahlua & cream...so smooth and a warm feeling. My grilled salmon salad was on point. Kudos to my date for the recommendation. I love it and him for treating me to an absolutely delicious salad. Service was excellent. The waitstaff were very attentive, pleasant and helpful. Indeed it was a wonderful dining experience especially with my date. Return visit? Yes, most definitely. read more

Pasta Pelican Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Alameda, California

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Just love here, period. The personal touch The food The view The atmosphere Good enough for us to drive from Fremont and actually looked forward to our dinner. Be back soon ~ read more

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After our team's experience last year we had to come back; however, our itinerary did not permit us to go in. But I decided to reach out and see if they would be able to deliver to us and they did! I asked for every plate to be labeled, for each person to have a bottle of water and for every person to have utensils. They agreed with no hesitations but went above and beyond in their service and individually packed a bag with everyone's stuff and even added a little sweet treat to the mix. Every time our team comes to the bay we will be giving them business in one way or another. Cherry on top of that: food is DELICIOUS! read more

Good food, good service, and good ambiance!!! It sits a little over the water, so you can watch the sail boats go by. My wife and I found it by accident, and we decided only to go in for a drink, we ended up eating there. We have gone 4 times now, and every time was great!!! read more

We met family for dinner here last Saturday night. The manager treated us and was very friendly. We got our drinks right away and then we all ordered food. My husband had the muscles and shrimp pasta in marinara and he mopped up the sauce with yummy bread. I had the shrimp and mushroom pasta and my sister did as well. We both said it could have used more sauce but had tremendous flavor. The setting is perfect right on the water! read more

Pasta Pelican Restaurant - Extra Dirty Martini - Italian Near Me - Alameda, California

One of my favorite Alameda restaurants! Food is spectacular, staff is friendly, ambiance amazing. Love watching all the activity on the estuary. read more

Pretty good pasta pretty hard crust bread yep Cool location on the water there was a boat blasting music across the water tho Anyways read more

Pasta Pelican Restaurant - Pelican in san diego - Italian Near Me - Alameda, California

Wonderful food and staff. Excellent ambiance on the water. Everything from pricey steaks to marvelous Italian delights. Drinks list is good. Needs to be more wheelchair accessible. read more

Pasta Pelican Restaurant - Waiting for dinner over bread and salad. - Italian Near Me - Alameda, California

Pasta Pelican is a delightful gem that seamlessly blends Italian cuisine with a fresh seafood twist. The restaurant also has breathtaking ocean views! The menu at Pasta Pelican has a wide variety of delicious options. The fettucine Gamberetti had perfectly cooked shrimp and pasta in a rich buttery sauce. The tilapia was equally impressive--light, flaky, and seasoned to perfection. The service at Pasta Pelican was excellent! The prices were also very reasonable for the quality of food and the stunning views! If you're in Alameda and craving a delightful mix of Italian and seafood, Pasta Pelican should be at the top of your list! read more

Pasta Pelican Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Alameda, California

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The last time I came here it was called the Rusty Pelican, so it has been years! Upon entering the restaurant I can tell that's it's definitely aged. I think the decor and facility could use a little updating. The service however was excellent. Our waiter came by several times to make sure everything was good. At the end of the meal he asked if we were celebrating anything. My daughter told him we were celebrating an early Mother's Day and he brought a small dessert for us on the house. Overall the food was good I just wished there were more pasta options on the menu that didn't have a cream sauce. read more

Just walked out because the waiter had me and my husband sitting for 30 minutes to take a Togo order while he bust tables in an empty restaurant. Then I went to speak to a manager which he told me was his brother so I just walked out. Do not trust them to handle my food at all. read more

Had lunch there with a group of friends and loved the experience. Service was so nice, food was delicious, restaurant is really nice in the water. I will be back with my husband. Zain and the other gentlemen were awesome! Very patient and attentive. read more

This place could be amazing but the service sucks. The food is extremely overpriced and tastes terrible. It's so disappointing because the location is phenomenal. read more

The food was excellent! I had the tortellini with crème brûlée for dessert. The bread was great as well! The staff is very friendly and attentive. There's not a bad seat in the house. They all look over the water. I had a great dinner. Will definitely be back! read more

Pasta Pelican Restaurant - View across the water - Italian Near Me - Alameda, California

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This review is actually giving 15 stars Five stars for the food. Which is always fabulous. Five stars for the weight staff. Wonderful, friendly, professional, helpful. Five stars for the ambience. Wonderful view of the estuary and water in a classic. Location. read more

This charming bayside restaurant has great views and great food. It's consistently good and I've been here several times over the years as my sister lives in Alameda. Good for special occasions or simply a nice dinner out. Appeals to kids (kid's menu!) to octogenarians and everyone in between with sufficient variety and interest in the seasonal menu. I've found through sad experience that places with great views often have so-so food, but this place is the real deal with authentic and delicious Northern Italian cuisine with an emphasis on fresh seafood and steaks. There's also a gourmet burger and enough variety for vegetarians also. Pasta Pelican is clearly family owned and operated and there's a lot of pride in the stellar service, presentation, quality of the food, and atmosphere. This time our group was seated on the second floor which had even better views. You can see Oakland's Jack London Square directly opposite in the photo. We always look forward to their home baked bread basket with the most delicious Italian bread served with balsamic, olive oil, and crushed garlic for dipping. Butter is available on request. They have a full bar with extensive cocktails and wine list. We went with water (can't go wrong!) and strangely enough our party each ordered the fettuccine Alfredo. It's not strange because it's the best fettuccine I've ever had. Pasta is the perfect Al dente texture. Caramelized roasted garlic, cream, crushed black pepper, and Parmesan cheese make this a heavenly dish, something I'd pick for my "last meal"! Our appetizer was fried calamari which was "the best"- perfectly fried, crispy/tender (not oily nor rubbery texture)...each bite just fabulous. Sorry for no pictures...we just started eating asap... I shared an ample Caesar salad that was perfection. Crispy lettuce, Parmesan, housemade croutons, and a delicious Caesar dressing. Pasta dishes can come with a house mixed green salad or soup for an extra $5. I've had both options in the past and highly recommend. We were too full to partake of dessert but their tiramisu and espresso drinks are stellar. The pricing is fair and reasonable-our party of four's total was $125. read more

Pasta Pelican Restaurant - View from our table, Mother's Day 5/12/24 - Italian Near Me - Alameda, California

Came here on a Saturday for my brother in laws birthday lunch, it wasn't busy at all. The service was really good, waiter (i forgot his name SORRY!) was really attentive and helpful. The restaurant sits at the boat dock so you get a great water view. Staters: - Calamari fritti ($17) 5/5 - crispy, fresh and delicious - Deep fried shrimp ($18) 4/5 - crispy and sauce is good - Meatball ($14) 5/5 - juicy flavorful and saucy! Food: - FETTUCCINE DI VENETO ($28) - mussels were huge and seafood was fresh. Father in law said flavor was great - SALMON PICATTA ($23) - salmon was fresh and birthday boy said it was good. - POLLO CON CARCIOFI ($20) - chicken was moist and flavor was good. Mother in law enjoyed this dish. - CARBONARA ($19) - wife said one of the best she has tried. - TORTELLINI CON POLLO ($22) - I got this dish myself, it was so good from flavor to portion i highly recommend this. ALL our pasta was cooked perfectly. I say give this place a try read more

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Came here with my five daughters to celebrate my birthday and it was amazing. The food was delicious, the restaraunt is beautiful with waterviews, and the service is outstanding. Ive been here before and it was a nice time which is why I was confident to go for my birthday and they certainly delivered a most enjoyable expieriance. Ask about their kids menu very resonably priced! read more

Pasta Pelican Restaurant - Salmon Picata - Italian Near Me - Alameda, California

I have to make more excuses to get out to Alameda! I LOVE the @pastapelican Lovely atmosphere and only a $36 Bill. You get all the views you'd get from Jack London too. True value and great service. The curry pasta is my go to every time. Free parking too; $5 per hour on the other side. Some time if there are chartered cruises gets a little harder to get close parking but still worth a walk. Last time I went; we arrived by sailboat. read more

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Food was good, the wait staff was excellent, and I would come back just for the service.

3.5/5 Stars: First time here we were in the Alameda area and craving pasta so my girlfriend and I decided to try this place out. We started with the calamari and it wasn't bad at all, it was definitely more on the crunchy and crispy side and the calamari itself tasted good. However, the sauce wasn't tarter and it was caesar salad dressing which was really interesting and did not go well with the calamari. We got complimentary bread shortly after and it was hot and fresh which tasted really good we had to get another basket. Now I ordered fettuccine alfredo and asked for chicken and at first glance it did not look appealing to be honest. The chicken didn't look fresh, it was slimey and seemed to be cooked days before, and the smell of the alfredo and sauce smelled like it came out of a can like I've smelt that smell before from somewhere. It tasted okay and the size is not that big so I was able to finish it pretty quickly. For the bolognese pasta, the meatballs were pretty salty and overall just okay as well. In the end, the restaurant has a pretty nice view of the bay but the pasta needs work. read more

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One of my friend saw these gem place that has an overlooking view at the bay in Alameda. Good place to have a romantic date, or a family gathering. Employees are sublime and very hospitable, they even offered some free home baked bread with dippings. We ordered fried calamari for appetizers, and for my entree I ordered fettuccine with marinara sauce and meatballs (you pay extra $4 for the meatballs) and a mint over ice drink. It's so good!! My friend ordered chicken fettuccine with Alfredo sauce (pay extra $4 also for the chicken) and a virgin mango margarita (non alcoholic). I have a blast! Surely, this is one of the place that you will truly try! read more

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Cute spot , pasta was good . Needs some AC forsure lol . But my partner and I enjoyed our time there . Will definitely come again read more

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Celebrated a friend's birthday here. We each enjoyed our pastas and they were tasty. Luckily the pastas were not salty like all the other reviews. The service was good. Wait staff could have been more pleasant and smile . We haven't been here in a few years and glad it was worth another visit. They gave a slice of cake but it wasn't that good. Beautiful views when it's sunny and you can see the estuary. Price was reasonable for what we ate. read more

I've DoorDashed from here before and finally had the opportunity to have a date night there. The food is amazing, the service was impeccable, and the ambiance was romantic! I highly recommend Pasta Pelican! It was a great first date; one I'll never forget (both the date and the restaurant)!! read more

Excellent service! Excellent food at a very reasonable price! Beautiful view of the estuary and Jack London Square! Love this place!

We went there when it was rusty pelican and I proposed to my wife 48 years ago . Since then we left alameda and the we came back for my HS reunion ( Encinal ) it was catered on the second deck and I was surprise the food was good . read more