Location: San Rafael
Top Restaurants in San Rafael
Top Things to do in San Rafael
Most Popular Italian food in San Rafael, California, United States
Discover Restaurants offering the best Italian food in San Rafael, California, United States. San Rafael (/ˌsæn rəˈfɛl/ SAN rə-FEL; Spanish pronunciation: [san rafaˈel] "Saint Raphael") is a city and the county seat of Marin County, California, United States. The city is located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2010 census the city's population is 57,713.
Things to do in San Rafael
10. San Rafael Joe's
Overall Ratings
4 based on 53 reviews
Reviewed By 134JenniferH
This place has been around for about 25 years and still draws a good crowd, though I don't know why. The food is fair and the service only a little better. I had the crab cakes which had very little crab. My husband had pasta and clams that had many more mushrooms than clams. On a positive note they have a popular bar, so go there if you want to drink.
9. Servino Ristorante Italiano
Overall Ratings
4 based on 225 reviews
Amazing terrace for the summer, with the best view of Tiburon! Inspired by the warm hospitality and the culinary delights of Southern Italy, this family-owned restaurant specializes in authentic Italian food made with fresh, organic, local ingredients. Lo
Reviewed By Passenger616304
Food was good and priced fairly. Service was excellent and we were there on a Sunday night in April. Location lends itself to going for a walk after your meal or perhaps some shopping prior. Lot's of other choices in the area as well if your winging it last minute and trying to find a spot. We were winging it and called ahead a few hours earlier when we knew we would be in the area during dinner time. I want to put in a bunch of descriptive words here but bottom line is we were from far away and yet felt very comfortable here, like we'd been here before. The staff are part of that but it is more and a combination of all the things people are normally looking for. Hi There - Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience and leave us a review. We are glad you enjoyed your experience and that our staff made you feel welcome and comfortable. We will share your kind words with the team. Looking forward to welcoming you again!
8. Gaspare's Pizzeria Ristorante
Overall Ratings
4 based on 53 reviews
Gaspare's Pizza House & Italian Restaurant in San Francisco first opened in 1985. Our second location Gaspare's Pizzeria Ristorante Bar in San Rafael opened in 2007. It is owned and operated by Daniel, Gaspare and Robin. Itâs the best pizza in the Bay Are
Reviewed By Les_Ismoore
We were seated promptly because of our reservation. Food was okay, wine was okay (the house chardonnay sucked - they gladly replaced it with a Sauvignon Blanc). Service was okay (place was crowed that night). Substitutions to the menu were allowed. Three entrees, three wines, no appetizer or dessert came to $125 (including tip).I don't like TV's in restaurants - it speaks poorly of a society that finds TV more important than companions. Yes, I know I'm a minority on this subject, but Iâll choose another place to enjoy my meal. Nobody was watching, but they refused to turn it off. Parking at peek hours is difficult, but should be okay at other times - it is free in lot and street.We'll come back ... in 5 or more years.
7. Mulberry Street Pizzeria
Overall Ratings
4 based on 71 reviews
Reviewed By swm4life
My husband and I usually go here before the movies at Smith Ranch. The restaurant is always crowded. The service is good and prompt. We usually get a caesar and pesto chicken pizza to share. Yummy. I have also had their soup, quinoa salad, and their pepperoni and mushroom pizza. All items I have tried had been tasty.
6. Amici's East Coast Pizzeria
Overall Ratings
4 based on 47 reviews
A local upscale pizzeria chain, serving thin crust, East Coast-inspired pizzas. The menu includes chicken wings, salads, pastas, as well as gluten-free, vegetarian & vegan-friendly options. Dine-in ⢠Takeout ⢠Catering ⢠Delivery
Reviewed By Calichick2000
Being from the NY area, I have searched long and hard to find pizza that reminds me of home. This comes close. Local chain with other locations throughout the NorCal area. Dependable for pizza. No opinion on other items on the menu
5. Valenti & Co
Overall Ratings
4 based on 109 reviews
Farm-fresh authentic Northern Italian restaurant from chef Duilio Valenti and his family. Freshness is what it's all about here and chef Valenti makes extensive use of local and Italian products, and even grows several of his own herbs, vegetables and fru
Reviewed By casjf
I went here for a birthday dinner and really enjoyed myself. The waitstaff is very professional and the food is delicious. I'm really tired of high fat "comfort" food being the norm at many restaurants. The focus here is on high quality ingredients and emphasizing the flavors of those ingredients rather than smothering everything in cheese, cream or oil.My husband chose to make a dinner of appetizers and had the smoked trout, the anchovy salad, and a half order of the rabbit pappardelle. He thought they were all delicious. I especially liked the rabbit pappardelle since it was a chilly winter night. For my main I had the black spaghetti alla chitarra, with Maine diver scallops, San Marzano tomatoes, and chile pepper and enjoyed it thoroughly. Portions are generous so I had enough left over to take home for lunch the next day.It's tough to pick a wine that will go with both rabbit and scallops, but our waiter successfully paired a teroldego, a northern Italian varietal, with our meal. Interestingly, the wine came from a northern California winery called West of Temperance in Santa Rosa which specializes in Italian varietals. I enjoyed the wine so much I plan to visit the winery!I tried the Milanese style saffron panna cotta for dessert. It was a lovely texture but I wouldn't recommend it unless you also like flan. The 20 year tawny port we ordered to go with it was delicious and a good value for the price.Thank you so much for the review! We're glad we could be apart of your birthday celebration! You really hit the nail on the head when you said, "The focus here is on high-quality ingredients." Choosing fresh, local ingredients for our dishes makes them so much more delicious! Thanks again for stopping by!
4. Ristorante La Toscana
Overall Ratings
4 based on 148 reviews
Reviewed By davidfs66
Our realtor suggested we join them there as a kind of celebration, so we agreed. Shared a pasta carbonara, a caesar salad and some wine. The service I will say was excellent, a rarity in san rafael it seems, the atmosphere was also nice, elegant, stimulating, well decorated. But the food, meh. Especially when you look at the bill. We haven't been back.
3. Il Davide Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 248 reviews
Reviewed By Rbschoene
As much as we wander in San Rafael (as we live next door in Kentfield), we had hardly noticed Il Davide. Then one night we wandered in and encountered delightful folks there (wait staff and hostess), top-notch menu and served items from pasta, fish dishes, and salads. Bravo. A new discovery for us and one we will re-explore.
2. Cafe Arrivederci
Overall Ratings
4 based on 174 reviews
Reviewed By Mark H
This is NOT a trendy Italian restaurant for high tone foodies. This is a traditional Italian American restaurant with big flavors and loyal customers playing cards on a sunny afternoon. I enjoyed lunch with a friend. She had the special, sautéed chicken in a cream sauce with pasta and artichokes, more of an American version than Italian, that she really loved. I order the gnocchis in a "pink" sauce (also more American than Italian) and throughly enjoyed them. House made, the gnocchis were light and flavorful, much superior to the doughy, rubbery verities often found in neighborhood restaurants. Service was a tad on the slow side to start, we were forgotten on terrace until my friend retrieved the waiter, but then improved. The terrace, although off a busy street, proved to be a nice spot for al fresco dinning. Boun appetito!
1. Servino Ristorante Italiano
Overall Ratings
4 based on 225 reviews
Amazing terrace for the summer, with the best view of Tiburon! Inspired by the warm hospitality and the culinary delights of Southern Italy, this family-owned restaurant specializes in authentic Italian food made with fresh, organic, local ingredients. Lo
Reviewed By Passenger616304
Food was good and priced fairly. Service was excellent and we were there on a Sunday night in April. Location lends itself to going for a walk after your meal or perhaps some shopping prior. Lot's of other choices in the area as well if your winging it last minute and trying to find a spot. We were winging it and called ahead a few hours earlier when we knew we would be in the area during dinner time. I want to put in a bunch of descriptive words here but bottom line is we were from far away and yet felt very comfortable here, like we'd been here before. The staff are part of that but it is more and a combination of all the things people are normally looking for. Hi There - Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience and leave us a review. We are glad you enjoyed your experience and that our staff made you feel welcome and comfortable. We will share your kind words with the team. Looking forward to welcoming you again!
