Following a friend's lead, we are trying to head out to new spots or spots we haven't visited in a while. Rudolfo's Cafe in Pacific Grove just happens to be one we have not visited in quite some time. The last visit was just after Cafe Ariana was taken over by its new owner. We had become regulars at Cafe Ariana since moving here so the whole sale was somewhat sad to us. I also believe it just took some time for the new owner/chef to make the place his own. Rudolfo Ponce has done just that! The restaurant itself has been refreshed. New awning outside with fresh paint and decor inside makes this spot cozy and inviting. The live edge table in the center with the vase of fresh flowers is just a beautiful accent. Gone is the dessert refrigerator that used to sit in the front corner by the window, replaced with a table for dining. Those two window seats are a great place to dine and watch people stroll by. Bonus when the Lighthouse Jazz Band is performing next door on Friday and Saturday evenings. I had all intentions of splitting an appetizer with Marty and then enjoying the Apple Smoked Half Chicken with Baby Portobello Risotto. However, the appetizer we ordered, House Made Rosemary Focaccia with Burrata, Fig Jam and Kalamata Olives, turned out to be much more than we bargained on. We were served six generous slices of delicious focaccia, a large burrata ball, along with melon, figs, berries, fig jam and the olives for only $16. I find that price more than reasonable considering we pay $10 for the burrata ball alone at the grocery. We devoured this delicious platter. Our bottle of Brunello was a perfect accompaniment! It was interesting to me how well the sticky fig jam complimented everything on the platter to include the olive. Who doesn't love salty sweet combinations. Had there been some prosciutto on this platter, I would have been over the moon. The appetizer was so filling there was no way I was going to enjoy a huge meal of chicken and risotto. I suggested splitting one of their Doppio Zerro Pizzas and Marty happily complied. I will admit the last time we visited right after the new owner took over, we were sorely disappointed in the pizza. It was burnt and toppings were somewhat sparse. However, I was eager to retry as he was now using the Doppio Zerro flour and had rehashed the recipes again making them his own. We chose the Paesano with sausage, pepperoni, olives, mushrooms and caramelized onion. The crust, especially the outside edges were just delicious. The toppings were plentiful and fresh. I enjoyed all of the flavors in the pie. My one complaint, and I blame us for ordering a pizza with so many toppings, was that the middle of the pizza was somewhat soggy. Next time I might ask them to leave it in the oven just a bit longer to get that nice char (not burn) on the crust and choose an offering that did not have so many toppings that just add to the "soggy" factor. I would order their pizza again! I love that they have a build your own options and offer gluten free crust as well as pasta for those that can't tolerate gluten. We couldn't finish the pizza and ended up taking half home so no dessert for us. I will say the offerings in that case next to the register looked delicious as did the gelato. One of the cakes in particular caught my eye...a rich chocolate slice with a peanut butter drizzle. Next time! We will definitely return. Next time no appetizer and straight to the chicken and risotto. Maybe I'll even be able to splurge on one of the delicious desserts! Or perhaps we'll return for lunch and just share the Focaccia bread with Burrata. To be honest, that was more than enough for both of us. At any rate, a hearty congratulations to the chef and owner on changing things up and making this place his own! read more

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The restaurant is clean and staff was friendly. I stopped in on Friday afternoon around 3 and didn't have to wait for a table. While several menu choices caught my eye, I opted for the build your own pizza. It's very rare to see grilled eggplant as a topping choice so I got that with artichoke and tomatoes. I also asked for a side of Parmesan. The pizza was delicious and quite possibly the best crust I've had! It was fluffy yet crispy on the edges and thin on the bottom. There were plenty of toppings and melty cheese for the cheese pull. read more

Rudolfo's - Build your own pizza - Italian Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

The food is so good, we can taste the ingredients are fresh. Service is good, the crew always check on us. Definitely I will come back to try other dishes in the menu. Highly recommended! read more

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Melissa looks like she don't be needing to eat out. This place is awesome with unbelievable portions for the price.

Rudolfo prepares the most delicious Italian fare with large portions at a great price. We shared the huge Caesar salad, the handmade lemon ravioli, then the luscious meatball appetizer sitting in Rudolfo's recipe for the best marinara sauce with two large pieces of Italian bread with tasty olive oil and Sea or Kosher Salt.....we ordered the same bread to take home. Memorable!!!!! We will drive up from the Bay Area to Pacific Grove to enjoy his creations again and again during the year. Thank you Rudolfo!!! read more

Came here for a group dinner and was blown away by the hospitality! Such kind people and waiters. Loved the beautiful outdoor seating, and the food was great. Our table got a bunch of espresso martinis, the cheesy focaccia, and the Brussels sprouts. Highly recommend those. My boyfriend had the carbonara and thought the pasta was good! I got the pear arugula and loved it. read more

Rudolfo's - Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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Desserts are amazing amazing. Came for lunch and had bees knees pizza. Perfect amount of spice and honey. Salad good but nothing special. Want to come back for dinner and get pasta. read more

What can be said when you are lied to then refused service? Yesterday, I went inline to make reservations. You cannot do it online. I called at noon, was told by a young lady no reservations were needed. So, on a Friday night my adult daughter and I went at 5 pm to avoid possible crowds. The restuarant was 1/4 full and we approached the door. Was told by young man if we didn't have reservations the nearest time we could be seated was 8 pm. He apologized for the wrong advice I got but that was it. We left and went directly next door to a great Italian restaurant that we were very please with. As we sat in the restuarant next door I had a full view of Rudolfis patio. There were 4 open tables for the entirety in which we ordered, ate and enjoyed coffee. We left and took a walk. We walked past Rudolfos patio 20 mins later and those same tables were vacant still. Simple fact is we were given wrong information, met with a pretentious but polite young man and watched for 90 mins several tables go vacant. Good part was, we loved the next door restaurants food. read more

Delicious and great experience dining at Rodolfo's Cafe! We had Sandro Burger and Chicken Parmesan, and it was flavorful and authentic! Service was good, great welcoming vibes. Would highly recommend and will defiantly come back! read more

Great food great service wonderful atmosphere. Everything is fresh love the restaurant and the people.

I ordered the Cesar salad with chicken and a side of focaccia to go. Focaccia was warm and delicious the lettuce was very fresh and the chicken was cooked perfectly. read more

Super cute restaurant in Pacific Grove with excellent fresh food. The arugula salad, turkey sandwich and tri-tip sandwich were all delicious. The artichoke was ok- a little hard and not much meat. Excellent service. Definitely recommend. read more

We only went for dessert so I can't comment on the other food but the gelato and cake were fantastic! Our group got espresso bean, caramel sea salt, and rocky road gelato plus chocolate peanut butter cake and everyone loved it all. The place is super cute and the service was nice too. read more

Rudolfo's - Italian Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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The new fried chicken appetizer is amazing and so was the Spicy rigatoni definitely my new favorite spot ! read more

Rudolfo's - Italian Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

OMG, fresh, fine ingredients! The tastes we're on point! Definitely know what they are doing. Great staff, very friendly! You will leave satisfied. read more

I went here for my birthday and I was so excited. This was probably one of the most disappointing experiences I've ever had. I've worked in the service industry for years so I ALWAYS give benefit of the doubt. We sat down and one of the first things I noticed was how sticky the table was but I didn't really care because it happens and people are busy. The food came and I must say the portions are generous and looked beautiful. That was about it for the food. It was the most tasteless and bland thing me and my girlfriend have ever had. We are not picky eaters or above any kind of food. It just wasn't good and I tried to like it so bad. We always finish our food but couldn't do that here. I'm hoping it was just an off day but I can't even see myself giving it another shot to try again. read more

The pizzas are all excellent - crunchy and chewy crust! The spaghetti, meatballs and lasagna are all perfectly seasoned. And the gelato is delish! There is a reason there is always a line out the door. A must try! read more

Service friendly; Ambience okay; all pasta dishes cooked properly (al dente). One dish, however, although tasty enough, was served over-sauced to the point of creating a soup. The pizza was flavorless - no taste whatsoever. Gelato not great. read more

Best little restaurant in town! Shared fettuccine Alfredo my daughter got focaccia bread. We will definitely be coming back as a regular.

We ordered takeout valentines evening & chose several recommended items. It was extremely busy but the order took less than 30 mins to prepare for pickup. Everything was incredible but The Bees Knees pizza & Short rib ravioli was by far the most flavorful! I wish we would have had the opportunity to dine in before our trip ended but we look forward to returning for the full experience. read more

The food is excellent! The Italian options are great but the fried chicken appetizer doesn't explain that it is bone-in and the sauce is over the to spicy! We loved the Italian food but the atmosphere is like a cafeteria - loud and very casual for the price. There is only one restroom and it is dirty and needs upgrades and also can be a long wait. It has potential but needs upgrades to the esthetics for the expense that it is. read more

It's a lotta food... Had lasagna- very nice w/good sauce cheese meat ratio Onion rings nicely done - pretty much the whole onion Tortilla soup tonight, nice variation w/black beans Seems like they bake their own focaccia bread - nice light hand on the spice Had leg of lamb as a special item - delicious & delightful Prompt service Tiramisu is as it should be- light and creamy Indoor/outdoor seating available read more

Rudolfo's - Lasagna (about half) - Italian Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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We enjoyed our dinner at Rudolfo's. It is a comfortable, intimate restaurant. On a Thursday night, it was busy so a reservation is advised. The salad (an interesting onion dressing, lettuce with potato chips on top) we ordered was plenty to serve two. We chose the bucatini carbonara and short rib ravioli which were delicious. For dessert, the key lime pie was interesting and tasty (more of a cake texture). Service was attentive, and we will return. read more

I got the margarita pizza it was delicious! The service was great as always! Super easy to make a reservation. I brought my friend who's in town to run the Big Sur marathon! read more

Be more specific about what you sell. I was expecting a traditional Italian restaurant but it wasn't. Not enjoyable read more

HORRIBLE SERVICE. They told me and my three kids (5, 7, and 15) that they were booked with reservations and only had outside seats. We were visiting and hungry so agreed to sit outside. The couple seated outside next to us asked to move inside and were allowed, but I said nothing. I saw the restaurant was still empty when our food came and asked to move inside or to put the heat lamp on that I saw, but both requests were denied. It had gotten VERY COLD OUTSIDE. The last straw was another group (of adults) came with no reservations and they were immediately sat inside. I went inside and asked the manager why we were being treated differently; they eventually settled on the excuse that they didn't want to put a time frame on our meal. I asked for the check and left. By the way, no one checked on us the entire time, and it took a long time for the food to be served. HORRIBLE SERVICE, hope you spend your money at some place that believes everyone has worth and dignity, no here. EDIT after response from owner. Thank you for the response. As all can now read, this was the negative tone I was met with when I brought the situation to their attention. How am I suppose to know your policy? All I see are groups being seated while we sit outside, and they are both without reservations like us, and an empty restaurant (as seen in the pic). As someone who works in a service industry, listening (& empathy), acknowledgment, and an apology go a long way. Thank you also for verifying our experience at your establishment. WE WILL NOT BE BACK. read more

Rudolfo's - Pic of "restaurant full of reservations" when we left. - Italian Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

This is what food was meant to be DELICIOUS! What a treat....there pizza and main dishes are prepared to perfection. Service is fast and very personable. Don't get me going on the desserts...again perfection. Unfortunately I have to travel from Marin county...well worth it. read more

Visiting from out of town and went to Rudolfo's for some take out. The place was slammed with a family reunion and was apologetic before I could order about how long my order would take. Before I knew it, they gave me more than I ordered and everyone was fantastic. For takeout, I couldn't expect better service. Next time I hope to stay and enjoy the restaurants charm. read more

Rudolfo's - Fig pie, smoked pancetta and mushroom pie and Brussels sprouts with smoke pancetta. - Italian Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

This place was a amazing find! Hearty flavorful food, warm staff, great ambiance. Not too fancy but nice! Low key nice. We had the Caesar salad and the soup and the brussel sprouts and a pizza and ice cream and some beers and wine and it was all just wonderful. read more

Rude service. Almost suspect the only serve a certain ethnic clientele. I was not welcome.

Definitely recommend Rudolfo's. Yummy pizzas you can get to go as well. Nice outdoor seating when the weather is nice.

4.75 Cute decor, casual, with delicious food! Service was also amazing! Definitely recommend read more

The food was excellent (with great flavor & large portions) and they had live music on a Tuesday! The staff was very kind & attentive and adjusted well to a large group of 14 on very short notice with an excellent outdoor table with heaters. Highly recommend the brussel sprouts, anything with risotto and the arugula pear salad was delicious! Save some room for the gelato as it is perfect! 10 out of 10! read more

Rudolfo's - Italian Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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Such a fun atmosphere at Rudolfo's cafe! Went in for dinner on a girls trip and our waiter, Cesar, was so sweet! The Caesar salad was so fresh & crisp!! The spicy rigatoni was amazing too. Ended the night with some of their desserts, they have tons of options like cheesecakes, cookies, and ice cream. Definitely a fun place to grab some food with good friends :) read more

the food is INCREDIBLE. Best in Pacific Grove. I would come back here again just to eat here

Me and my husband like coming here once and a while but the last 2 times we've came and both gotten sick , the first time was the chicken sandwiches on Sundays and the last time we were there this past Saturday they brought me the wrong plate, the pasta was not soft as if they made it in a hurry I told the waiter which was really polite about it but came back and tasted the same I didn't want complain again so we just ate it but it did not sit well with us. I've always loved coming here but don't think we will be coming back due to those incidents. read more

Incredible! Happened upon this inviting spot for lunch on a Tuesday and enjoyed ourselves so much, we canceled pre-made birthday celebration reservations for Friday and came back here instead. So glad we did! Outstanding, friendly, professional service...great homey vibe, and the food! Oh the food! We tried numerous dishes. All beyond expectation! Tender house-made pastas, crisp pizzas, divine Brussels sprouts & perfectly cooked artichoke. Onion rings were incredible. And the slice (a slab actually!) of cake was decadent. Cannot recommend this fabulous restaurant enough! Chef Rudy was so cordial and hospitable. Definitely a neighborhood gem! We will be back again. & again! read more

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Amazing pizza, pasta, soup, & ice cream. Never disappointed and I try something new every time and always surprised. Small restaurant but quality family environment. read more

Awesome could not have been better. Staff were so attentive going out of their way to the point they made me a desert that wasn't even on the menu the night we had dinner there!! Onion rings fire, meat balls try to find a better one! Beer was cold and prices great for the service and quality of the food! Would definitely recommend this restaurant!!! read more

Rudolfo's - Italian Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

I returned last week for dinner since I loved Rudolfo's so much the first time. The focaccia was light and appetizing and I ordered the rigatoni at my server's recommendation. This was a bad call. While the pasta was cooked al dente to my liking, the sauce was so overwhelmingly salty it was almost inedible! I'm hoping it happened to be an off day and is not definitive of the restaurant itself. read more

Rudolfo's - Focaccia - Italian Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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