Great food Very friendly staff and fast service…read morePlace looks small from outside but has enough space for large groups Definitely recommend

Food was good, nothing super special but all tasty and cooked well. Our table of 8 ordered 3 of the…read moredaily specials (spaghetti di mare, long cod and short ribs) which were all fresh and enjoyed. Staples like the chicken Marsala and linguine vongole were good as well. Prices were also very reasonable which is much appreciated these days! Best part was the service - Roberto and the bussers were lovely and attentive. Good Italian food is hit or miss on the East Bay corridor so we are happy to find a place halfway for everyone coming from Berkeley and Cupertino to have a good meal together.

Pizza pizza, yes please! Slice, slice, yes please!…read more Was working nearby for the day and needed a quick lunch break. This was perfect! Located in a really cool marketplace but with it's own entrance and little corner space, there are 4 sets for 4+ seaters and some 2 seaters. I would have LOVED to sit outdoors but there was only 1 umbrella. Bummer! My pizza was delicious. And the extra bonus was that they had a small mixed greens salad to balance all the protein on my slice. What made this marketplace even better was the plentiful amounts of parking available for free in the back. It made me think of San Mateo. Love a little "Peninsula coolness" in the east bay. Good job, Castro Valley!

We first tried Slice House during CV Cruise Night and have already been back twice since, so that…read moresays a lot! My kids keep it classic with the pepperoni and cheese slices, while my husband and I have become fans of the Wiseguy and Motorhead. The slices are delicious, service is quick and friendly, and they have outdoor seating, which is a nice bonus for those late summer afternoons. Definitely becoming one of our go-to pizza spots, and we'll be back to try more of the menu!

An iconic old style Italian Market & Deli that's makes up some tasty sandwiches. Located on "the…read moreBoulevard" in Castro Valley, this long time deli is our go-to place when visiting my wife's home town. Thr inside is one big market containing whatever Italian food item you might possibly want. Only a couple of small table inside to eat at and none outside makes Luca's an order and take out place, but their sandwiches are definitely worth it!

If you're looking for comforting, generous portions of classic Italian staples right in Castro…read moreValley, Lucas is a solid local go-to. Lasagna: The highlight of the meal. It arrives rich, heavy, and properly layered with plenty of meat, ricotta, and melted cheese. The marinara sauce hits the right balance--savory with just enough acidity to cut through the richness. Total comfort food that easily leaves you with leftovers for the next day. Eggplant Parmesan: A very close second. The eggplant is sliced well and cooked until tender without getting soggy, which is always the real test for an eggplant parm. The breading holds up nicely under a heavy blanket of melted mozzarella and sauce.

We came in a bit late for dinner and even though we were the only ones left in there we didn't feel…read moreany pressure they were super polite and the pasta was absolutely delicious, we live within a few miles and will definitely be back! Thank you.

Complimentary focaccia bread and spread - delicious. Love the spread…read more Beef Carpaccio- it was alright. Pasta Bolognese- our friend loved it. Butternut squash ravioli with brown butter sage - our vegetarian friend loved it. Fruiti Di Mare - a brothy noodle dish, reminded me of Bouillabaisse. I like it but my husband prefers a thicker sauce. It contained mostly mollusks, squids and shrimps I didn't see any fishes at all. The shrimps and squids were overcooked, dried and tough. It's a no no for me. Desserts: Cheesecake- not bad Chocolate Lava cake - not bad Bread pudding with Rum and Raisin - too dense and no traces of rum or raisin whatsoever. Probably our least favorite Tiramisu- delicious!!! The sauce on top was outstanding. I would return just for this.

Best Italian spot in Hayward! I love this place their food is always hot n fresh and you'll always…read morereceive the best service. The style of the restaurant is open with lots of seating I personally love sitting closes to the window. All their pastas are incredible! The Bruschetta was super fresh and they include the perfect amount of balsamic vinegar on it! Keep note there's only street parking.

I had order food delivery. It was delivered ahead of schedule, hot and followed instructions. Kudos…read moreto the delivery person. The order consists of spaghetti and meatball and calamari fritte. The calamari was hot and crispy and especially nice when dipped in the tartar or cocktail sauce. Included with the food was a French bread and olive oil, balsamic vinegar and peppers. The spaghetti and meatball was a good value with a couple of sliced meatballs. The sauce was on the lighter side. Overall, the portion was appropriate and value was good.

Tried out Rigatoni's with my wife and our two kids last night. New to the area and wanting to…read moresupport local spots, we went in with an open mind after seeing the post about the Dublin location closing down after 27 years. We ordered the lasagna, chicken fettuccine Alfredo, and rigatoni bolognese, solid classic Italian comfort food. (The lasagna was my favorite of the three though my wife thought frozen lasagna from Grocery Outlet tastes better.) The self-serve bread bar was a nice touch and a hit with the kids. The dining room had a relaxed, low-key vibe, not too crowded for a Saturday, which meant no wait and plenty of room for our family. Food was fine; nothing that especially stood out, but nothing wrong with it either. Comparable entrees all run about $19, and with self-serve water and bread bar, service felt pretty hands-off; the woman checked-in with us just once during the whole meal. In contrast, we've also recently eaten at 88BaoBao, which is another counter-service type of restaurant but comparable entrees run about $11-$14. Despite being the "cheaper, no-frills" option, the young teen waiter/server/bus boy came by repeatedly to check in on us, refilled our water multiple times, and even noticed our daughter was cold and closed the door for us. My wife, who almost never tips extra, went back after the meal just to hand him an additional tip. That contrast made the value gap at Rigstoni's stand out more than it might have otherwise. The restaurant itself was pleasant enough and not too crowded, which was nice for our family, but at a higher price point with more hands-off service, it didn't feel like it justified a 20% tip the way a place doing more for us did. Still hoping Rigatoni's finds its footing, we like having good options nearby. ________ Non-Asian restaurants versus Asian restaurants in Castro Valley. *don't know who the owner at Rigatoni's is and the staff seems to be Latin. *I would assume 88BaoBao has Chinese owners and the outstanding service was from a Caucasian, maybe Hapa teenager with glasses working there.

Rigatoni's Restaurant is a fast-casual Italian eatery located in a very popular shopping center in…read moreCastro Valley. I feel like it's been a staple in downtown for many years, and give nostalgic memories for those that have lived in the area. Now with kiddos, we stopped by for a quick meal after a weekend event with a big group. We were able to grab seating right away and order at the register/grab our numbers. I miss a complimentary bread bar, and Rigatoni's has never failed with that :) Service is friendly and our meals came out accordingly. A few standout comforting dishes: the Rigatoni Bolognese, Broccoli & Chicken Rigatoni, Cheese Ravioli, House Made Lasagna, and the Fettuccine Alfredo to name a few. The lasagna comes with a rich meat sauce, but what I love about the rigatoni bolognese is that it comes in a cream sauce which is just so tasty. There's a little something for everyone on the menu here. They have a kiddo menu, sandos, salads and other starters, and combo meals for a smaller-sized entrée, a soda, and choice of starter soup or salad. They have soups and sauces to-go, and appears they do parties/catering. Rigatoni's will always have a special place in my heart ~ it's a pretty straight-forward establishment that does the trick. Parking can be found in the adjacent shopping center, pricing is fair.

Walked in on a Saturday night with no reservations around 6:30 and was seated right away for a…read moreparty of two. We ordered the brussel sprouts, Venetian aracini, summer special with swordfish, and rigatoni bolognese. The brussel sprouts were tossed and coated in parmesan cheese. The pieces were crispy without feeling heavy and paired nicely with the chili aioli. The aracinis were delectable. The filling was creamy, but the tomatoes provided freshness to the dish. The swordfish is plated on top of basil pesto risotto. Never had swordfish before, but this had my tastebuds dancing. The piece of fish was decently sized, marinated and moist, although the risotto can get a bit heavy. The pasta was cooked to al dente, and there were chunks of meat throughout the dish. Solid plate of pasta. Came out already topped with parmesan cheese. Some of their menu items are a part of a pre fixe menu for $55 thats offered in the afternoons Monday-Friday such as the salmon, short rib, and chicken piccata options. There is a bar area located deep in the restaurant. The servers were attentive and checked up on us and refilled our water several times.

I have been waiting years to visit Paradiso. From its previous location to the current one, it just…read morenever seemed to happen. But this birthday, it was absolutely meant to be! Not only did I find rock-star parking right in front, but we also had a reserved table by the window. It could not have been a more perfect birthday lunch. Parking is on the street, and spaces can be tight in that area. If you find one, snag it and be happy you did! Paradiso has a lovely menu, but I chose the $55 prix fixe lunch, which included an appetizer, entrée, and dessert. I ordered the mussels, chicken piccata, and tiramisu. The mussels were absolutely delicious. This was my first time having them in a red sauce, so I was trying to be careful because I did not want to get it all over my birthday outfit! The broth was rich, flavorful, and so good that I wished I had more bread for dipping. But I made it do what it do! The chicken piccata was also delicious, especially with all those capers. My only criticism was that the chicken breast had not been pounded thin enough. The center was very thick and reminded me more of a chicken breast prepared for a sandwich. I left that thicker portion, but the thinner, properly pounded part was amazing. I received a special birthday dessert, which I shared with my companion, so I took the tiramisu home along with my leftover chicken. Let me tell you, that tiramisu was absolutely delicious. I would return just to order it for takeout! Our table also shared the crab and avocado salad appetizer. It was beautifully presented and delicious, but at approximately $27, I did not feel it was worth the price. Then again, Paradiso is not necessarily where you go when you are overly concerned about the cost, so keep that in mind. I was also underwhelmed by the focaccia. Four pieces cost $4, and I did not think it was worth it. With a prix fixe meal, I feel the bread should have been included. One thing to be aware of is that ordering the prix fixe lunch results in a 20% automatic gratuity being added to the entire bill. This was not clearly explained beforehand. It was not a major issue, but it was important to know when it came time to determine whether an additional tip was expected. The service was excellent. Our server knew it was my birthday and was attentive, accommodating, and never made us feel rushed. Each course arrived only after we had finished the previous one, so we were able to relax and enjoy the experience. The ambience was curious. It was an open space and is very loud. Other conversations were easily overheard so probably not a good place to go if you want a quiet meal. Overall, I give Paradiso 4.5 out of 5 stars. I am so glad I finally had the opportunity to visit, and I would definitely return.

No exaggeration - I had the best cocktail of my life here. I ordered a strawberry lavender gimlet…read moreand oh my. It was such a layered drink. I'm usually a two drink gal but I only needed one this day because I enjoyed sipping on this so much. I went during the day so it was pretty empty but the vibe was still right. They played good music and the bartender was friendly. I'll definitely be back.

This is my favorite local bar! Not only do they make bomb drinks. They have a variety of craft…read morebeers, ales, IPAS my favorites have been the sours they have. I love sours and they're hard to find at local bars and if they don't have one I usually still find a bear I like! Very friendly service chill and inviting. I love that it's lowkey here and they have first come first serve seating booths.

Cordial Cellar + Lounge (located downstairs at the Castro Valley Marketplace) is a great spot for…read moregrabbing a drink, eating some light bites and listening to music. They also have various events. :: Trivia Tuesday :: Wednesday Wine Tasting :: Live Music Saturdays :: Friday & Saturday: Olive & Finn Boutique and pop-up events throughout the month ** 5 Star Review: Pop Up Brunch and Saturday Live Music *** I recently attended Eats by E Brunch last Sunday and returned this evening to catch up with a friend and listen to music. Place is spacious, lively, dimly lit with music playing at a level you can have a conversation. Table ordered a steak sandwich with salad, cheese sandwich with tomato soup and a five-spice pork ragu over polenta. We all enjoyed our dishes. Food is 3.5-4/5 stars and would like to see a bit more to keep it interesting but know their kitchen setup is limited. No wine with this visit. Dessert: Orange brownie was simple with orange zest and the Hawaiian bread pudding was different and flavorful. Good to see the place bustling and look forward to future rotating pop up events. Got a chance to talk to the owner, Stacey as I recognized her from the Eats by E event the week prior. My bad, didn't know she was the owner of Cordial Cellar & Lounge but all good as she was super welcoming, friendly and was very accommodating when asked if we could pay for our own dishes separately. At the end of the evening perused the Olive & Finn Boutique and quickly welcomed by Jackie who was explaining items like the handmade jewelry and some hand stitched clothing. Such cute items and will visit another time. Recommend Cordial Cellar & Lounge for a date night, special group outing or relax and listen to some music. The Ken Seideman Jazz Trio plays the month of February. Great jazz!

Owner was so chill, knew everyone. Easy to talk with, seemed genuinely interested in what was going…read moreon on with her guests. The food was amazing and the drink selection was fun and interesting.

Exceptional. I…read moreworked with Tami, the events manager for my Mom's birthday celebration. She was responsive, thorough, and very transparent. In a world of guessing and reading between lines...she was as direct as they come. Love that! The food was 10/10. Every guest praised the experience, and were so grateful to be in a cozy space with friends old and new. We had 28 guests in the Tuscan room and that's definitely a bit on the tight end of capacity. The cocktails were delicious, and our dedicated server was a delight. Customer service was top notch. I ordered the prawn chittara to go and it was 100/10...I hope they never take it off their menu. Its phenomenal. Can't wait to come back for dinner soon.

Food: One of the…read morebest breads I've had! The dipping sauce is amazing as well. The Caesar salad has just the right amount of creaminess and a nice, noticeable anchovy flavor. The Linguine & Clams is delicious, with just the right amount of sauce, it keeps the clam flavor nice and intense while still giving me plenty of sauce to dip my cannelloni in. Everything was flavorful and well-balanced. Service: Our server was great and friendly. However, the older gentleman who appeared to be the manager didn't smile or greet us, which made the overall welcome feel a little cold. I also got the impression that the staff was more attentive and friendly toward their regular or assigned guests. I wish the overall service felt a little warmer and more welcoming. It would definitely make us feel more comfortable coming back as regulars. Ambiance: The restaurant is well maintained for an older establishment and has a comfortable, classic feel. The food is very good, and we enjoyed our meal. I just wish the overall atmosphere felt a little more welcoming, we'd love to feel like valued guests and become regulars.