Came here for a weekday lunch date with my husband. We went all out and ordered 2 appetizers (crab cakes and calamari), 2 mains (veal piccata and black pepper fettuccine), AND dessert (creme brulee) along with a half bottle of pinot noir. All of this on a Monday. The dipping sauce for the bread was insane. Not your standard olive oil/balsamic vinegar dip! The pasta was delicious with a silky cream sauce. The veal piccata came with a mound of spinach which I loved as it's something I never get to have since the rest of the family is averse. I must've blacked out from a food coma because we literally ate all of it - no leftovers to take home. Unhinged, sure, but we had a delightful time on a dreary day! Wouldn't have changed a thing. read more

We had dinner with some good friends here over the winter break. It was a good thing we had a reservation since this placed was crazy packed and busy on the night we came. We were seated inside at a table along the wall. The inside is very intimate with dimmed lights, but the atmosphere was very lively with many tables having great conversation and laughter all around. If you are looking for a quiet spot, this probably is not your spot. Our waiter was very kind, efficient, and quick when taking our orders. He did not miss a beat on the drink orders and had everything to us in a jiffy. We ordered the following items: - Fried Calamari - Chicken Caesar Salad - Saffron Pappardelle - Penne with Chicken - Grilled Salmon - Marinated Terriyaki Skit Steak Everything was cooked and seasoned well. The wine and cocktail selection was extensive and the portions were enough to leave you not wanting dessert. Overall - it was a great experience and we will be back to try other items. read more

Date night! My bf and I have never been here before but looking forward to our next visit already! No reservations and we were seated immediately with an option of indoors and outdoors. We chose outdoors since there were space heaters and it seemed a bit loud in there with a holiday get together so it worked out perfectly! Food came out at a good pace with some bread and dipping sauce that was pretty tasty! Service was attentive. * Prime Rib Spring Rolls $16.00 - Hand rolled stuffed with roasted prime rib, caramelized onion, provolone cheese, with creamy horseradish and sriracha ketchup. * Crab Cakes $20.00 - Served over mix greens and sesame soy aioli. * Marinated Teriyaki Skirt Steak $46.00 - With garlic mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables topped with onion rings. * Seafood Linguini $32.00 - Pan seared prawns, scallops, mussels, rock shrimp., manila clams, fresh seasonal fish, and spicy marinara sauce. read more

See all

I ordered over $200 of food via DoorDash, and the chicken Parm had zero seasoning whatsoever. It tasted like it was smothered in ketchup. The truffle risotto was tasteless. I don't typically leave reviews, but after spending $200 here I truly regret my decision. read more

Spasso Ristorante - Horrific experience. - Italian Near Me - San Carlos, California

Located in downtown San Carlos, Spasso has an elegant vibe inside the restaurant but still a spot you can go to for a more casual dinner. The staff was very friendly and the food was brought out fairly quickly. We were served bread and a balsamic vinegar and olive oil dipping sauce with caramelized onions while we waited for our food to arrive. The dipping sauce for the bread was so amazing that we asked the server for extra bread and dipping sauce to take home and he gave an extra sauce to us. I would come back for this dipping sauce because it was that good. Items ordered: - Crab cakes ($22): Comes with 3 Dungeness crab cakes with sesame soy aioli and served with salad. Crab cakes were soft and pretty filling for a starter. The salad had a different dressing that contrasted the sesame soy aioli, but I didn't mind it too much. - Wild mushroom ravioli ($26): I loved how the dish came with a lot of mushroom and the garlic roasted cream sauce definitely elevated this dish. Would get this again! - Veal piccata ($36): The veal was tender and had great flavor. The capers added an extra taste that was pretty strong and a bit salty, so may be better to eat with a few capers if you don't prefer the strong flavor from the capers. The mash potatoes and spinach for the sides was delicious. read more

See all

Spasso Ristorante is such a charming spot with authentic vibes and pasta dishes that are beautifully portioned--dainty yet flavorful and satisfying. We started with the prime rib spring rolls, which were spot-on in texture and flavor--light enough to still enjoy the rest of the meal. For mains, I had the veal cannelloni, which was tender and superb, while the penne with chicken came highly recommended and did not disappoint--rich, balanced, and absolutely delicious. We finished with the bread pudding and chocolate lava cake. Both were good but didn't quite hit the same elevated level as the mains. My Spasso espresso martini was a bit too sweet for my taste, but the staff graciously swapped it for a glass of Justin wine, which was perfect. We left with happy bellies and leftovers to enjoy later. Spasso is definitely a must-visit for authentic Italian and warm, welcoming service. read more

See all

I wanted to give maybe a 3.7-ish...? Went here on Valentine's Day. Food was good. Service was good. The server took our order wrong and they were fast enough to give us the correct dish after like 5 mins. A bit disappointing was they changed their menu on Valentine's Day, which originally we wanted to order the seafood plates from their regular menu but they no longer serve it on Valentine's Day, which led to some disappointment). They mark up their menu prices (increase $2-$4 per item) on Valentine's Day's which makes sense to me. I am new to the area so I might try out some other Italian places in the area and see which one is my favorite.... read more

See all

Tucked away amidst the various shops in downtown San Carlos, exists a truly exquisite Italian restaurant worth the hassle of finding nearby parking ! Spasso's menu is minimal, but I've come to learn that it's better to be excellent at preparing a few dishes than decent at many. And I'll tell you what... the dishes here do NOT disappoint! From flavor to portion-size, to presentation and variety, this place has all your bases covered. While there does not appear to be any dress code for attendance, I will mention that the decor is definitely elegant so prepare yourself for an upscale dining experience. The service here was great. The entire wait staff was helpful and quick to bring you whatever your heart desires. Side note: come thirsty! The drinks here are phenomenal! Just be aware, the limoncello is small, but packs a wallop of a punch! read more

See all

My husband and I visited the restaurant during our short stay in San Carlos. The ambience is nice and so was the food. There was complimentary bread and balsamic olive oil with onions in it to start with. The balsamic was so good. Really liked the addition of onions in it. We ordered the mushroom bruschetta, pork chop and saffron pappardelle. The bruschetta was really good. I could taste the truffle oil in it. The only let down was the pappardelle. It tasted a bit bland. We ended our dinner with tiramisu which was really good and strong on the coffee. Overall a nice date it was! read more

See all

Visited this spot with my boyfriend for our first date and now our 1 year and they do not disappoint. the food is amazing, very full of flavor and portion sizing is perfect. we've tried their bruschetta, dungeness crab cakes, penne with chicken, oven baked chicken parmesan, and the grilled salmon. we've also tasted their wine - pinot grigio mezzacorona, reisling, and savignon blanc girard. the service is exceptionally fast and efficient. the staff would check in regularly to see how things were and promptly gave water refills when necessary (which i highly appreciate). the ambiance is nice for a formal/casual dinner. especially for our first date and one year, it was really special. i'd highly recommend this spot for special occasions or just a nice night out with friends or family. (: read more

See all

A place great for large groups and holiday dining . I had the mushroom ravioli which was elevated and sisters in a very light cream and white sauce . The sauce contained ample fresh mushrooms which made this quite the treat. read more

We like to come here for nicer celebration meals! The bread and olive oil dip is honestly the star of the show. It's complementary and warm and delicious. Meal wise everyone was happy with their choices. They accommodate allergies/make substitutions and my sister loves the teriyaki skirt steak. The veal piccata was very good. The pastas are pretty good but less stand out. I thought the veal cannelloni was a bit like a lasagna. The texture of the pappardelle was perfect. It gets busy so make a reservation! read more

See all

We had a wonderful dinner at Spasso's. Our server, Yaren was friendly & sweet, making sure we were taken care of. She even asked if we were celebrating anything special, just so she didn't miss it. Food was delicious, starting with the Bruscetta and the Buratta apps. We had several entrees, including the Sausage Rigatoni, Chicken wrapped in Pancetta, Chicken Parmesan, Veal Cannelloni For dessert I tried the Tiramisu and the Créme brûlée, both which we very tasty. The restaurant itself is cozy and comfortable with a full bar. A nice place for dinner or a special meal. read more

See all

I was here for a quick lunch. The service was great, but the food not so. I had the warm cabbage salad which was gray in color and didn't look appetizing. A little green or a pop of other color would have been great. My friend had the e crab sandwich. It was pretty dry and a lot of carbs. The salad that came with the sandwich was good, lots of greens. I'm not impressed by the menu in general. The ambiance was quite dark, not what I would like for lunch. It was quite loud in there too, it was hard to have a conversation. read more

Ordered takeout and food was great. Online ordering process was confusing because it asked for my cc info but when we got to the restaurant, they said we weren't actually charged. Then why ask for the cc? read more

Italian is not rare on our hometown Main St: Laurel Street. I kept hearing how good the bolognese is, but since I so rarely order veal, I found myself usually ordering the piccata. However, last night I threw in the towel and ordered it. I'll say it quite lived up to its reputation - with flavor that pops but delivers in depth, especially paired with a copious dose of Parmesan, black pepper, and if you like, some chili flakes on top. With their freshly baked bread to sop up any remnants, I was a qualifier for the clean plate club. Obviously this place has been around a while for a reason. One of the many that makes San Carlos such a desirable food destination. read more

Had a good outdoor lunch on Easter. Spasso has nice ambiance both inside and outside. Appetizer: -prime rib rolls- it is similar like a fried Tex mex egg rolls with meat and cheese. It had a good flavor, nothing special. Food: -seafood pasta: very good. Plenty of seafood and the sauce is well flavored. I would order again. -skirt steak: it's excellent. The strip steaks were so tender and melt in your mouth. Highly recommend. The wines: had a good selection but not too many Italian wines by the glass for an Italian restaurant. Service was 4 star: fast and attentive, not exceptional. Overall experience: would recommend. read more

See all

So many great outdoor spots in downtown Redwood City. Inside at the bar / tables or outside you can't go wrong! Great sign that the restaurant was very busy on a Sunday night. We lucked into two seats at the bar. The bartender was in the middle of a conversation with 2 regulars but quickly got to us with setups and drinks. I strongly recommend the martini. Perfectly chilled. Great way to start a Sunday Date Night! Our order was very ordinary (bolognese and eggplant parm) but it was anything but. Perfect aldente pasta. Delicious rich bolognese. Cooked down to mouth watering goodness. The eggplant parm was tender and flavored. Incredible. Service was on point. 100% going back. read more

See all

I want to give this place 5 stars for the service, and am giving them 2 instead of 1 for being generally good and a safe place to eat, but I am not sure WHAT in the world occurred in the kitchen yesterday evening. It was a very quiet weekday evening at Spasso with maybe only two other parties at the entire restaurant. I usually order a chicken parmesan or the chicken bolognese, but decided to give the pancetta wrapped chicken a try! As soon as it came out and we began to dig into our food, I noticed how difficult it was to cut into the chicken... erm... ... because it was completely raw. There was no doubt about it as it wasn't even pink only in a thick section - it was served more like a rare steak would. I laughed and sent it back. But in all seriousness I hope they have a serious conversation with the cooks. Completely unacceptable. read more

Spasso Ristorante - Raw chicken hidden beneath that mushroom sauce - glad it was obvious! - Italian Near Me - San Carlos, California

Reserved a table for my family group to celebrate my grandmas birthday. This place was suggested by my aunt who looked up this restaurant and said it had good reviews. We all arrive and were seated right away and they served us drinks as we wait for the rest of the party. Only 2 things i will say about this place: one of the servers was very rude to my party and felt like he was rushing us out the restaurant and the quality of the food did not match the price on the menu. I ordered a safe option, chicken Parmesan. The sauce was not so bad they added chopped tomatoes which i liked but the chicken was so flat and mostly breading. The calamari they served came with fried cauliflower and asparagus which is not a good combination. The bread they served to us was not toasted it felt like they served it straight out the bag. To be honest i would have enjoyed Olive Garden over this restaurant, at least you get what you pay for read more

I love coming to Spasso on my breaks--it's become my go-to spot. I usually grab an espresso martini (so good) and a quick bite, but honestly I've worked my way through most of the menu and it's solid all around. The staff always make you feel like family, which makes the experience even better. You can post up at the bar for something casual or make it a sit-down night out--either way, it just works every time. read more

Spasso Ristorante - Tomato Mozzarella Arancini - Italian Near Me - San Carlos, California

I love this place! We've come here twice to celebrate bdays and both times have been great meals. It's really comfortable and wonderful service! Highly recommend! read more

This place is definitely underrated. Its a nice place. We ordered Risotto and Egglplant parmesean. Both tasted awesome. The ambiance is good - while they cannot have windows, but the art makes it like a window. Service was super prompt for lunch. It definitely deserves a 4+ rating. read more

Always such a treat to dine at one of my fav restaurants on Laurel St. The food, service and ambiance always 100%! I have had most of the entrees and apps on their menu over the years and there's nothing I would not recommend. I love the Warm Napa Cabbage Salad with grilled chicken breast added. Their grilled chicken is so juicy and flavorful grilled to perfection. The Mushroom Truffle Bruschetta is a decadent treat! Super creamy and shroomy all hot and slathered over the lightly grilled crostinis. Other entrees I recommend are definitely the salmon and all the pasta entrees. All are made just right. THE BREAD!!! Wow! Warm, soft, fresh sliced bread with oil tapenade for the table is insanely addictive! One of the best table breads! The service is always accommodating and so friendly. I love dining here! It's always such a treat. The warmly lit interior with murals on the walls is very inviting. If weather permits, the outside area is where I typically like to dine. Parking, you will need to drive around the area. There is a free parking garage off Walnut. There's no car access in front of the restaurant since COVID. All parking in the area is free M-Sat but timed during the day 2-3 hour parking spots, except Sundays. Cheers! read more

Spasso Ristorante - Mushroom Truffle Bruschetta is sooo good! - Italian Near Me - San Carlos, California

See all

Absolutely incredible food! Great service! Phenomenal dessert! Can't wait to go back!!!!!!!

I had dinner with some of my friends at Spasso's last Monday (11/17/25). When the bill came, we split it 4 ways and we included the tips. When I check my bank statement, it shows that the restaurant charged me for another $10.00 on the tips. I called the restaurant to clarify the charges and the waiter told me that I needed to talk to the Manager who was not available so I left a message and he never returned my call so I decided to dispute the $10.00 difference. I know it's not a big amount of money but the thought of adding another amount on my credit card without my authorization is not right. I just want the customers to be aware and check your bill. They probably can do this thing and not get caught! read more

Favorite Italian spot in the area. No pizzas only pastas but they do them so well. My favorites here are the Wild Mushroom Ravioli and Mushroom Bruschetta. We also ordered the clams and burrata for appetizers. Clams were fresh but burrata portion was small and overall was not my favorite. The mushroom bruschetta is my favorite appetizer and is pretty unique. It comes with 4 pieces but for our party of 6 they offered to add 2. The ravioli also came in 6, it was amazing however was lacking a pinch of salt for my taste. The dessert menu was provided at the end with lots of sweet treats including dessert drinks. We ended off with coffees to go. Parking is available nearby in the large San Carlos parking lot. For our team lunch on a Wednesday afternoon, we made a reservation ahead of time but there was make no wait. read more

See all

We ended up coming here again for Mother's Day. (My dog babies took me out for dinner ) It's just so comfortable sitting down here with dogs. Great vibes here. And enough space. I finally ordered the seafood linguini. It's rich and perfect. The Grilled Prawns Wrapped with Pancetta was very pretty and delicious. Highly recommend. And of course that magic sauce to go with bread. It was soooo good! Our service guy was very attentive appreciate that. Will come back again! read more

See all

The food at Spasso never disappoints. The quality of the meats and seafood is super. There are several other similar restaurants on this street in San Carlos, and I've tried them all this is hands down the best. My pasta was unbelievable, and the other ladies loved their meals. Can't remember our waitress/server she was so kind and helped us out with suggestions and just really was there when needed. She provided great service. The place is cozy and elegant. I would frequent more of o still lived on the peninsula. But when I do come over, this will be my go-to. read more

Place is a little cramped, but very warming. Service was awesome! We were here for a special occasion. Maybe we are amateurs, but we ordered tapas and they came, but our orders for the main course weren't taken so we told her. No big deal. Tapas were really good, but we ended up waiting just a bit for our main course, but when it did come it was delicious!!! read more

See all

My family and I love their food, service is great and friendly and fast. Their chicken parmigianno is our go to.

Solid Italian restaurant. My family and I really enjoyed the mushroom ravioli, pesto gnocchi, and chicken bolognese

The service was over the top! The food was great and the ambiance was very nice. Will definitely go back again.

Really did not want to go here since did not have good experience last time and there are so many better options - but since it was a take it or leave it invitation with a larger party, I go. Overall, the food is lower than what I recall last time. The price is much higher. The service was ok, except that larger gentleman serving us really need to take a shower. Taste: 2- very salty and too much butter to hide the taste Presentation: 4 - generally nice Portions: 3 - reasonable portions Quality: 3 - seemed ok Service: 4 - they came around and asked and brought the food in reasonable time, except that server really could use a shower Atmosphere: 3 - ok Parking: 1 - very difficult to a park Wine: 2 - they had an ok selection but the prices were very high Value: 2 -very expensive for what you got. Overall: 2 The food was generally very salty. It was quite expensive. I ordered a Caesar salad and it was maybe less than 10 small pieces of lettuce - see picture. Hope I do not go back here. read more

Spasso Ristorante - very expensive Caesar Salad - I think $15 - Italian Near Me - San Carlos, California

Authentic Italian pasta lovers can delight in this unassuming restaurant near the beach- a fun discovery south of downtown and the pier. Dishes are prepared fresh like you might find them in the old country-- bucatini with pancetta with just the right chewiness, penne alla puttanesca with tasty anchovies, a nicely restrained lasagna di carne. I tried a unique and very satisfying carpaccio type appetizer called curoi di carciofi with thinly sliced filet mignon and arugula. And a fabulous tiramisu was a great way to end the meal. The Italian wines were reasonably priced, the service good, and everyone in my party loved their food. We'll worth visiting. read more

See all

Very good, not great, not home cooked level, but very edible and service was good. Would try again.

Julian was our awesome waiter tonight. This is our second time to visit and we will definitely return when we are back in the area. The service and restaurant are super good. The support staff are great. I was there with my wife, daughter, son-in-law and Grandson. All our meals were so good! My grandson Jeremy loves their spaghetti and bread. Spasso is a must go to for Italian food! read more

See all

Order: * Black Pepper Fettuccini * Sausage Rigatoni Pros: * Lively atmosphere with full bar counter seating and two televisions. * Food came out promptly. * The complimentary bread was surprisingly good, thin crusty exterior, warm soft and slightly chewy interior. And the accompanying balsamic dip had what I think were minced caramelized onions, which added some sweetness to balance the balsamic. * Pepper flavor in the fettuccini was enough to remind you what you ordered without overpowering. * The sauce and flavor of the rigatoni dish was very flavorful, almost bold. * Each dish was good enough that I was looking forward to eating the leftovers. Cons: * Even though I knew the dish came with baby shrimp and baby scallops, I would have preferred full sized that have more flavor, allow them to be cooked a bit less and I could cut in to bite sized. * I was expecting the sausage to be ground/homemade style, but it was sliced, smoked sausage. Still tasty, but it felt like a shortcut. * Price is a smidge high for what was served. Comments: * This feels like a neighborhood spot that's great for locals. I wouldn't expect you to have any revelations, but I don't think you'll be disappointed either. read more

Solid option for a pleasant Italian dining experience, but nothing particularly out of the ordinary. We met up with family here, so it was a good restaurant to accommodate our group. Outdoor seating was nice with heat lamps and service was super friendly. Things we ordered: - Mushroom Bruschetta - Fried Calamari - Veal Picatta - Wild Mushroom Risotto - Black Pepper Fettucine - Seafood Linguine - Mushroom Ravioli - Tiramisu - Orange Creme Brulee The calamari is a good sized portion for a group as an appetizer. The bruschetta came with 4 pieces. All the entrees were so-so - I probably liked the mushroom risotto the most. The desserts were good - tiramisu not overly sweet and I particularly liked the citrus flavor of the creme brulee. read more

See all

Food was amazing. Service was perfect. And the ambiance was relaxing. The pesto gnocchi is a must have, and the crab cakes were amazing. The garnish on top of crab cakes was perfect. read more