California, United States Food Guide: 10 Italian food Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in East Palo Alto

June 16, 2020 Renato Branum

Reviews on Italian food in East Palo Alto, California, United States. East Palo Alto (abbreviated E.P.A.) is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of East Palo Alto was 28,155. It is situated on the San Francisco Peninsula, roughly halfway between the cities of San Francisco and San Jose. To the north and east is the San Francisco Bay, to the west is the city of Menlo Park, and to the south the city of Palo Alto. Despite being called "East" Palo Alto, this is a misnomer, as the city is precisely due north of Palo Alto. While often incorrectly assumed to be part of the city of Palo Alto, East Palo Alto has always been a separate entity since its founding as an unincorporated community. It is also in San Mateo County, while Palo Alto is in Santa Clara County. The two cities are separated only by San Francisquito Creek and, largely, the Bayshore Freeway (the vast majority of East Palo Alto is northeast of the freeway, while all of the residential part of Palo Alto is southwest of the freeway). The revitalization projects in 2000, and high income high-tech professionals moving into new developments, including employees from Google and Facebook, have begun to eliminate the cultural and economic differences between the two cities. East Palo Alto and Palo Alto share both telephone area codes and postal ZIP codes.
Things to do in East Palo Alto

10. Carpaccio

1120 Crane St, Menlo Park, CA 94025-4314 Italian Lunch, Dinner Takeout, Reservations, Seating, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Table Service +1 650-322-1211 http://www.carpaccios.com/
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 147 reviews

Reviewed By 99limaromeo

Always consistently good, this place is an area institution not to be missed. Their Lasagna, served only Wednesdays and Fridays ranks with the best. They have a stellar wine list and a huge variety of dishes, all of them great. Highly recommended as a staple in anyone's restaurant collection.

9. Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant

643 Emerson St, Palo Alto, CA 94301-1610 Italian Lunch, Dinner Reservations, Seating, Highchairs Available, Serves Alcohol, Delivery, Takeout, Private Dining, Wheelchair Accessible, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service [email protected] +1 650-329-0665 https://locations.bucadibeppo.com/us/ca/palo-alto/643-emerson-st?store=0501&utm_source=yext&utm_campaign=local-listing&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=partner-listing
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

3 based on 107 reviews

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant

If you are looking for an Italian Restaurant in Palo Alto, CA then come to Buca. Our Italian Restaurant serves Authentic Family Style Italian Food. When you ask a Palo Alto, CA resident what their favorite Italian restaurant is, they're sure to say Buca d

Reviewed By Shelley F

I've taken students in my class here multiple times - at dinner it's probably necessary to have the private room or there's too much noise. Lunch is fairly quite in the main room. The family-style food is excellent for sharing and the large menu offers something for everything. Friendly service, quirky decor, relaxed and fun

8. Osteria

247 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301-2530 Italian Lunch, Dinner Takeout, Reservations, Seating, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Table Service +1 650-328-5700 http://www.osteriatoscanapaloalto.com
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 183 reviews

Osteria

Reviewed By m-amom1

Our friendly server set the tone for the evening with her conscientious recital of new specials and attentive but not obsequious care. I had the veal with the Osteria designation; it was an ample portion with garlicky al dente vegetables and polenta while my husband had a goodly portion of ribbon pasta with a meat sauce. Since we split a salad (with anchovies!) and there was a nice basket of warm bread, we were content.I'd suggest reservations as the place is cozy; the chairs make it a little difficult to thread among for wait staff. Note; in the clean but sole bathroom, charming black and white photos of a young Sophia Loren slurping spaghetti greet you. Parking can be difficult in the downtown area; the underground parking under City Hall is immediately adjacent, and usually has space.

7. La Strada Ristorante Italiano

335 University Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301-1716 Italian, Pizza Lunch, Dinner Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Table Service +1 650-324-8300 http://www.lastradapaloalto.com/
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 136 reviews

La Strada Ristorante Italiano

Reviewed By GiovanniB354

Food is decent, service is rushed, careless, ignoring customers. Asked for bread three times to three different waiters, all acknowledged, nobody brought anything. All things considered, quite pricey for a mediocre food and service. I think it’s all about bad management and non professional waiters.

6. Vesta

2022 Broadway St, Redwood City, CA 94063-1802 Italian, Pizza Lunch, Dinner, Late Night Takeout, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Table Service 650-362-5052 http://www.vestarwc.com
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 224 reviews

Vesta

This urbane and upscale pizza and Italian small-plates place is something the Peninsula has been waiting for. I'm usually a traditionalist when it comes to pizza toppings, but even their more unusual versions--sausage with honey!--work like a charm and ar

Reviewed By schmutaki

Had high expectations for this popular, upscale pizza place. Was very noisy and crowded mid week. Interesting pizzas with peaches and cherries. Wish the crust was crispy and they turned on the air conditioning on a hot day. Seems like California pizza places under cook their crusts. Good stop after visiting Stanford.

5. Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant

643 Emerson St, Palo Alto, CA 94301-1610 Italian Lunch, Dinner Reservations, Seating, Highchairs Available, Serves Alcohol, Delivery, Takeout, Private Dining, Wheelchair Accessible, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service [email protected] +1 650-329-0665 https://locations.bucadibeppo.com/us/ca/palo-alto/643-emerson-st?store=0501&utm_source=yext&utm_campaign=local-listing&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=partner-listing
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

3 based on 107 reviews

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant

If you are looking for an Italian Restaurant in Palo Alto, CA then come to Buca. Our Italian Restaurant serves Authentic Family Style Italian Food. When you ask a Palo Alto, CA resident what their favorite Italian restaurant is, they're sure to say Buca d

Reviewed By Shelley F

I've taken students in my class here multiple times - at dinner it's probably necessary to have the private room or there's too much noise. Lunch is fairly quite in the main room. The family-style food is excellent for sharing and the large menu offers something for everything. Friendly service, quirky decor, relaxed and fun

4. Pizzeria Delfina

651 Emerson St, Palo Alto, CA 94301-1610 Pizza, Italian Lunch, Dinner Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Table Service, Takeout, Full Bar [email protected] +1 650-353-2208 http://pizzeriadelfina.com/
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 95 reviews

Pizzeria Delfina

Reviewed By MihirMeghani

We came on a Saturday night without reservations & luckily got seated within 5 minutes. We sat outside with the overhead heaters. Service was really good. Our server Nick V. was very familiar with what was vegetarian & eggless. We had a napoletana & margherita with mushrooms, along with a grapefruit soda, coke & chocolate pot de creme. The food was excellent. I reserve a 5 start to pizza places if they sustain this on repeat visits, or if they match the quality & taste of the former SF based Una Pizza Napoletana. Having said that, this was the best napoletan pizza places we've been to in a long time. Parking was on the street.

3. Terun

448 S California Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306-1605 Italian, Pizza Lunch, Dinner Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Takeout, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Table Service, Highchairs Available [email protected] +1 650-600-8310 http://www.terunpizza.com
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 355 reviews

Terun

Reviewed By ADolores

We took our son and his family to dinner at Terun. I started with the beet salad which was delicious...creamy goat cheese, red and golden beets, greens, and a light dressing. I ordered the ravioli which was filled with spinach and had a dollop of burrata cheese on the plate. Great meal but I could have used more than seven ravioli.

2. Il Fornaio

520 Cowper St, Palo Alto, CA 94301-1823 Italian Lunch, Dinner, Late Night, Drinks Reservations, Seating, Parking Available, Valet Parking, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Free Wifi, Table Service, Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Private Dining +1 650-853-3888 http://www.ilfornaio.com
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 295 reviews

Il Fornaio

Reviewed By amarcopolo

Sunday lunch at Il Fornaio was excellent. The food was very good and the service was very attentive.

10 Things to Do in East Palo Alto That You Shouldn't Miss

1. Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant

643 Emerson St, Palo Alto, CA 94301-1610 Italian Lunch, Dinner Reservations, Seating, Highchairs Available, Serves Alcohol, Delivery, Takeout, Private Dining, Wheelchair Accessible, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service [email protected] +1 650-329-0665 https://locations.bucadibeppo.com/us/ca/palo-alto/643-emerson-st?store=0501&utm_source=yext&utm_campaign=local-listing&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=partner-listing
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

3 based on 107 reviews

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant

If you are looking for an Italian Restaurant in Palo Alto, CA then come to Buca. Our Italian Restaurant serves Authentic Family Style Italian Food. When you ask a Palo Alto, CA resident what their favorite Italian restaurant is, they're sure to say Buca d

Reviewed By Shelley F

I've taken students in my class here multiple times - at dinner it's probably necessary to have the private room or there's too much noise. Lunch is fairly quite in the main room. The family-style food is excellent for sharing and the large menu offers something for everything. Friendly service, quirky decor, relaxed and fun

Where to Eat in East Palo Alto: The Best Restaurants and Bars

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