Food: Excellent Service: Great Atmosphere: Excellent Had a wonderful lunch on the patio at Della Santina's. Food: I had the roasted duck and wild rice risotto with vegetables. It was beautifully plated in a rustic manner. The duck was perfectly cooked. I ordered it because of the wild rice risotto. It was fabulous. Don't expect a creamy risotto like an arborio rice risotto. This had so much flavor and a little chew to it as it was wild rice. I loved it. The vegetables, green beans and carrot--were vibrant and cooked just right. Everything was delicious. Service: From being greeted by the host and being attended to by my server, to the gentleman I assume is the owner who came to my table several times to ask how my meal was, the service was excellent. Attentive without hovering, and comfortably friendly and welcoming. Atmosphere: I sat on the patio under trellis with grapevines and clusters of big purple grapes overhead. The space felt intimate, but also open between tables. There were quite a few tables full, but it never felt loud or too busy. It was such a pretty, pleasant environment for a wonderful meal. I will definitely go back. read more

Momma always told me to start with a compliment. There are some excellent dishes on the menu: Gnocchi Della Nonna: pick your sauce but the answer is the light cream. Grandma would be proud. Penne Contadina: generous with sausage and an interesting red sauce. Pear? Delizia: Rum-infused sponge cake served with cream. Yes, please Other dishes are fine but not quite there Pesto linguini: wish it had more kick, maybe a little more garlic and some pine nuts. Enjoyed but not crave worthy. Prosciutto & melon: a special. Eh. Nothing stood out. Figs might have been the best item. The food gets a passing grade but the ambience and service drags it down. Perfunctory might be the word. Several Yelpers have commented the attitude comes from the top and that seemed to check out. read more

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Della Santina's was home to my favorite meal in California during a recent vacation. My mom and I were on a Sonoma/Napa all-day guided tour and we stopped for free time in Sonoma Plaza for lunch. When I asked our guide for a recommendation, he suggested making a reservation here. My mom and I, as well as another party of two from our tour, booked as such, while the rest went elsewhere. It was the day before my birthday, so I didn't notate a special occasion in my reservation. I guess OpenTable told them though?? I remain perplexed, but they were soooooo kind and stopped over to ask whose birthday it was. TBH, every last person who worked there was ridiculously friendly and made us feel like we were part of their family. The patio dining area was stellar too. They're known for their homemade gnocchi, so my mom and I both purchased variations. She had it with pomodoro, while I tried it with the white sauce. They were unlike gnocchis I've tried at other spots, and I mean that in a good way. I'm still so bummed I couldn't bring my leftovers with me, because every bite was truly delightful. I'd also be remiss to omit their homemade bread, which was wonderfully flaky and fresh. We didn't order dessert, but they did bring out a berry-themed birthday cake. It was like they knew that was my usual birthday order each year! It surpassed the meal/dessert I had on my actual birthday, and even the presentation was exceptional. I wish I lived closer to California so that I could easily return! Thank you for a top-tier birthday-eve memory!! read more

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Delicious house made pastas! The linguine with clams achieved the perfect blend of salty, briney, winey and clammy. Duck ragu in papardelle was delicious too but bite of the night was the clams linguine. read more

Della Santina's - Spinach linguine with clams - Italian Near Me - Sonoma, California

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Delicious, authentic Italian cuisine. A must go. Inviting old school vibe. Top notch service. We even received a table side visit from the owner. read more

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Loved the open-air outdoor garden seating area. Very cute and relaxing. Excellent, knowledgeable, efficient and friendly service. The food was very good, and I highly recommend any of the desserts. We tried several and enjoyed them all! read more

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After seeing so many glowing recommendations, we were honestly surprised by how underwhelming Della Santina was. The food was average at best and certainly didn't justify the prices. Nothing we ordered stood out, and we've had much better Italian food at many other restaurants, including on this same trip while we were in Portland. The restaurant appeared to be short-staffed, and the service reflected that. The staff wasn't particularly friendly or welcoming, which made the experience feel even less enjoyable. If you're seated indoors, be prepared for a very cramped dining room where the tables are packed closely together. The patio is a little more pleasant, but it's a fairly ordinary outdoor patio and nothing worth going out of your way for. Overall, we felt Della Santina is living on its reputation. It's overpriced for the portions, the food is unremarkable, and the overall dining experience didn't come close to matching the hype. We wouldn't return and would recommend trying one of the many other Italian restaurants in the area instead. read more

The five stars is for the chocolate amaretto cake, which was beyond amazing - I meant to have "just a bite" of my partner's cake and ate half of it! The outdoor covered garden setting is beautiful and the staff are very warm and caring. My only quibble is the need for more vegetarian dishes. The minestrone isn't vegetarian, and the polenta and mushroom dish has a common allergen (mushrooms) and the veg salads aren't filling. I ended up with a burrata appetizer and bread, and while those were surely yummy I was hoping for healthier. read more

We come out to this area (from Northeast) annually last 25+ years, and always come by for a great meal at Della Santina's. This trip was no different, and we enjoyed Della's gnocchi perfection. You can choose from variety of sauces, and we've happily enjoyed them all. I also like their Caesar salad which is a light & citrusy relative to others elsewhere. Rob the owner is often there and is a wonderful host. read more

Della Santina's - Gnocchi bolognese & farther is Pomodoro! - Italian Near Me - Sonoma, California

While I'm not Italian, I have eaten enough in San Francisco and Petaluma over the years to know this place is unfortunately overpriced and possibly targeting tourists. First, the positives: + ambience - cute backyard patio area with heat lamps, a little fountain + the service staff were attentive with water refills, replacing dropped utensils - when we had a larger party attend during the 2025 holidays + very close to the main square - the ravioli uses a blend of ground chicken and pork (iirc), versus a more typical blend of pork and beef that would have added more flavor. I had one with mushroom sauce which was rich. - gnocchi - my friend had it and it was overcooked. Like soggy soft pasta and mashed potatoes inside. fail - same for the cannelloni - overcooked and a soggy mess. Maybe this was a one-time incident where the chef got distracted and the pasta stayed boiling a bit longer? But for the price that mistake shouldn't happen. - finally, there was communication confusion between some orderers and servers. Some guests wanted smaller portions of the salad. If I were them I'd have asked if they served ala carte portions. Instead they asked if the salad could come in a smaller size. The servers either didn't understand the question due to a language barrier or idk what but they said yes. What happened next? Guests got the full salads which was too big for them and they were charged full price - so for that, at least the servers could say, no we don't have ala carte versions of this. Saying yes makes it seem like they're pushing product. I won't go again as I think there's better quality and value Italian food elsewhere that can still be near the square. If you're from way out of town and don't live in a major metro area with authentic Italian food then be forewarned read more

Very cute place but the food & service was very mid & I ordered the Pesto Linguine tasted very bland & for the option not to have any protein in it for that price was wild. Probably wouldn't come back. read more

Della Santina's - Italian Near Me - Sonoma, California

My wife brought me here as a Valentine's Day surprise. This was our 1st time here. The restaurant is beautiful upon walking in. We are immediately seated at our reservation time. The food was delicious and the bottle of wine that we ordered was tasty. Our waiter was very attentive and a pleasure to meet. You can split the entrees if you ask, but they do charge a split plate fee. read more

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This might be the 1st review I've ever written but can't let this one go. Arrived at 4:45 and was seated unfriendly at a 2 top outside. My friend and I sat at the table and it was quite wobbly. They attempted to fix it 3 times and suggested we not move the table. OK whatever. We asked for another table, there were plenty available but they just kept fixing it. Thankfully the lovely gentleman next to us made it acceptable. There are so many other things that made this experience unpleasant but don't want to harp on it. I've been there 4 times now And WILL never return read more

The atmosphere of this northern Italian restaurant in the courtyard is especially lovely. The Service was sufficiently average. However, many in our group found their pasta to be overcooked and on the mushy side. That was true of the gnocchi, the cannelloni, and even my pappardelle was a bit soft. Though the ragu sauce on mine was quite tasty. But not a great showing, honestly for an Italian restaurant. read more

Della Santina's - Exterior sign marking the entrance. - Italian Near Me - Sonoma, California

Delicious Italian food in the heart of Sonoma. House wine paired perfectly with the mushroom ravioli special. Excellent service and beautiful patio. read more

Della Santina's - Mushroom ravioli special. - Italian Near Me - Sonoma, California

Our second visit here. The food is generally good. However, on this visit the salmon was way overdone and we had to send it back. The waiter was accommodating but we had very clearly specified how we wanted the salmon done so it was somewhat frustrating. The mushroom ravioli was excellent with fresh mushrooms that were sautéed perfectly. Service was great on our first visit. On this visit the waiter served other tables who had come in after us before us and was not very attentive so overall can't give the place a high recommendation. Might try it again; not sure? read more

Stopped by during lunch, relatively quiet. Sat out in the back patio area. Service was good, just really slow. Food was about average. Had a recommendation for a glass of wine and it was not good - couldn't even finish it. We ordered a When asked for the bill they gave me back someone else's tab and bill to sign. Definitely room for improvement with staff. read more

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We stopped here when just arriving in Sonoma and were looking for a place to grab a bite to eat for lunch. We were seated immediately in the outdoor area - the weather was perfect. The outdoor patio is adorned with trellised grape vines, cafe patio tables and chairs, brimming flower boxes, and a brick patio. It was a delightful environment. The service was quite good, and before we ordered, the owner came by to point out the rabbit dish on the daily special menu that was his mom's speciality. We were looking for a light meal, but if I had more of an appetite, I absolutely would have given it a try. I love personal touches like this in a dining experience. We got to snack on a bread basket while we waited for our entrees. I also enjoyed a refreshing glass of Prosecco. My partner ordered the Italian panini, with proscuitto, salami, coppa, and pancetta. He reports that the sandwich was very good and thought they the combination of meats was interesting. I opted for one of the specials of the day - sliced pork with a tonnato sauce on a bed of greens. It was flavorful and satisfying and just the right amount of food for me. Overall, we had a lovely dining experience here and would return again. read more

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I loved the outside seating at this restaurant. We came on a beautiful sunny day and the patio has the perfect amount of shading. Our server Diego was very friendly and knowledgeable of the menu as it was our first time. I was impressed by the quality of the ingredients, you can tell that the food was made fresh, especially the in house made pastas. The owner of the restaurant was super friendly and seemed to be very involved with helping out. I love that because it added to the home feeling of the ambience. read more

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This place holds a special place in our hearts. Probably the first Napa restaurant I've been to. So 15 years later we're back. We started with the charcuterie and focaccia. So hard not to just fill up on the bread. It's so delicious. Very tasty meats on the charcuterie. It was special. I got the duck ragu parpadelle. Such rich flavor in the ragu. Unfortunately it's kind of one note and the truffle oil is a little offensive. Perfect pasta though. The winner at the table though was the lasagna. That is a plate licker. Perfect red sauce and so many yummy layers of pasta and cheese. It's a work of art. We finished with the tiramisu which was the perfect ending. Really pretty back area which is outside. It's covered but from the right angles is really unnoticeable. The owner regaled us with some stories and was great company. Such a neat guy. Hard to imagine a Napa trip without this place. read more

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I rarely leave negative reviews, but this one earned it. During our visit this week, someone in our group found a piece of metal in their pasta. When we flagged it, the response wasn't "I'm so sorry"--it was, "that's the metal holding the pasta together." Two waiters came by to double down on the explanation, as if we were attending a TED Talk on industrial pasta engineering, not dinner. Still no apology. Meanwhile, the owner was making his rounds... just not to our table. We eventually had to get up and find him ourselves. When we asked if he was the owner (which he very clearly was), he responded with a smirk, "No, we all work for Gavin Newsom." Not exactly the level of seriousness you want when there's literal metal in your food. We explained the situation, and his response: "I don't know what you want me to do. I already asked the server to take off the meal." For context, the meal had already been covered by our company--we weren't asking for anything free. We were looking for basic accountability and, at minimum, an apology. Instead, he walked away mid-sentence and told us, "you clearly just wanted free food." We were a table of eight professionals at a work event--not exactly the "scam a free pasta" demographic. Mistakes happen. Metal in pasta is... hopefully rare. But the real issue here was the complete lack of ownership, professionalism, and basic hospitality. Would not recommend--unless you're in the mood for a tasting menu featuring metal and a side of bad manners. read more

Della Santina's - Wine cork - Italian Near Me - Sonoma, California

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Love love love Even let us bring the dog. Amazing service and food is wonderful. Will go back again and again. read more

I LOVED this restaurant from the beginning BUT we went the other day and was VERY DISAPPOINTED!! The food was marginal,very skimpy, the service was VERY bad! Had to search for the waitress everytime we wanted something. l'll think twice before l go back again! Stephanie Newhall read more

The food at Della Santina's is outstanding!! I just got back from Italy a few months ago and have been trying to find a great Italian restaurant here. Well I found it -Della Santina's here in Sonoma on the Plaza. The handmade mushroom ravioli was so good I can't wait to go back for more! The porkchop was tasty and tender done perfectly. Ok did I mention the Ravioli??? Yum! Really reminded me of Italy. The service was excellent and I highly recommend Della Santina's in Sonoma. So happy I found my new Italian restaurant. read more

Coming all the way from Santa Rosa, I wanted to try this restaurant out with my grandparents to find another Italian spot we could frequent. First showing up to the restaurant, I thought my grandparents would dislike that we were placed in the back patio due to them being sensitive to any cold weather or drafts but we were amazed that it was enclosed in a tent that was kept warm with heaters. While our arrival in was a bit bumpy with warped and hill-like bumps with a wheelchair, we were seated quickly and efficiently. The ambiance was wonderful and the service was very quick. However, I probably wouldn't return to this place for anything food related since it did not impress in anyway. To start with, we ordered some drinks including their lemonade because their menu actually says "Freshly made". We were sorely disappointed when the waiter served us a bright neon-like yellow drink that tasted very much like crystal light or country time lemonade. We felt bamboozled but had my grandmother drink it anyhow to get her liquid levels up. We started with the polenta and the salume plate. Both were pretty standard and nothing to write home about. For entrees, we ordered two lasagnas, one veal scallopine, and the pork chop. Unfortunately, everything was bland and in need of seasonings and salt which we already don't consume a lot of at home since my parents have cholesterol and sodium issues so that was a surprise for us that we didn't expect ourselves having an issue with. When it came specifically to the veal, it was the toughest veal I've ever encountered and had to use the regular knife they gave me to saw through the little slices I had. The Pork chop was bland and dry. We thought dinner could be saved by dessert but left even more disappointed. I think they have one of the most flavorless tiramisus I've ever tasted and their strawberry shortcake was also very unimpressive. Overall, I think this place has potential with the wonderful ambiance, but foodwise, I'd probably try to just season everything a little more. read more

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Came here after a day of wineries. Ordered the tortellini and the ravioli special, and the Ceasar salad. The back patio is very cute and has pleasant atmosphere. Our server Luis was outstanding - friendly, timely, great energy and we loved him. The food however was not good. Very bland, no flavor, and completely overpriced. Our meal before tips was $89. The salad barely had dressing. The ravioli was scarce with very little meat filling and tasted like water. I would steer folks away. 1 star for the vibes, and 1 star for the service. If you want food you like, please listen to this and the other reviews and spend your money somewhere else. read more

The food was tasteless and not seasoned. Lasagna was not anything to brag about. My chicken dinner was tragic at $34.95. Waiter was upselling during ordering and not around much. Water was abundant!!!! Bread was dry. $35.00 for a corkage fee is outrageous. We are so disappointed. Never again. Sorry for tourist looking for a lovely meal. Local in Sonoma County. Born here... read more

I'll be honest. Food was good, not great and definitely not worth the prices and the service sucked! They were rude because we asked if we could be seated earlier than our reservation. They had lots of tables so was not an issue, but I then I overheard the guy who seated us make a very snide remark. The woman who was clearing our table came and swiped it off with a towel and every crumb literally right into my lap. She paid no attention and could have cared less. The food service was rushed and there was little pleasantry. The bread they brought to the table was so hard is was almost inedible. Swiping the crumbs into my lap that I couldn't let go un-noticed so I did point it out to her. They need to train the staff much better if a bill ( no wine) is coming in at $120 for 2! Will not be returning. read more

Nothing says "I just ran 13.1 miles" like carbing up! My friend and I went for the Enoteca wine tasting followed by an absolutely magical lunch. We sat outside on the veranda, and our server Luis suggested so many good dishes such as the minestrone soup, the cheesy tortellini, and delicious cake. The owner was even in the house that day and came up and said hello. I definitely recommend this for not only the food but also the vibe. read more

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This restaurant is a bit of a hidden gem. I go here whenever I am in Sonoma. It's a beautiful outdoor restaurant. I love their pasta, some is made fresh on site. They also have an excellent wine list. The service is excellent and we were very happy with our service. It was a pleasure being there on a sunny fall afternoon. I had family in town and I wanted them to experience this place. We all had the spaghetti with a simple margarita sauce. So delicious. The salads were a big portion and delicious. We shared a tiramisu for dessert. Very happy to share this experience and to be a guest here again! read more

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We arrived in Sonoma from north Redwoods early evening just an hour from closing time. Not sure we would get a seating, not not only did we get a seating, but a personal welcome and long visit with owner Joe Santina. My wife is from same region of Italy as Mr. Santina and she said the lasagna was the best she's ever had (next to her Mom's). Tagliatelle with bolognese was hearty, simple, not overdone like too many are doing today, and it was outstanding. What a welcome abbondanza! Our server has a long history in the area as winery farmer, etc and he was so helpful in wine pairings and local information. We are grateful for the time Joe spent with us. He is a genuine inspiration that shines bright with all of the beautiful hospitality and recipes of a trattoria in Luca, Italy. Best Italian in Sonoma and Napa by far. read more

Della Santina's - Italian Near Me - Sonoma, California

Wow. This was one of the most overpriced and underwhelming dining experiences I've had in years. As a recent Sonoma transplant, I made the mistake of not checking with locals first. I've since learned that this restaurant has long been viewed as a tourist trap. Save your money and dine elsewhere. Sadly, Sonoma still seems to be lacking a standout Italian restaurant. read more

Lovely spot w flowers, vines and indoor & outdoor seating. Our waiter was experienced, as he took our order and clearly said they would space out the apps and entrées. So we ordered the salmon, medium rare, and mushroom ravioli... hoping they wouldn't come out simultaneously. We had one glass of wine to go w the apps and said we'd order a bottle for dinner. Suddenly the entrées were plunked down on the table before we'd even ordered our dinner wine or finished our apps. We said: "ok," and quickly picked a bottle. It was my salmon that made it clear why they brought out our entrées so fast... it was so well done that the kitchen figured they better serve it to somebody fast. It was dry and cooked through. Medium rare?? I brought it to the unhappy waiter's attention and he ordered me a new salmon. I give the food 2 stars because the risotto was fantastic. And yes, we tipped the waiter generously as this was obviously not his fault. read more

Transport me to Italy! This is a charming restaurant with a patio where you feel like you are in Italy. The pasta was perfect! We shared three dishes between 4 of us. We loved their olive oil and balsamic for the house made bread. Yes, we will return. read more

NO DOGS. We all agreed it was good pasta. The menu is quite overwhelming. There are just so many drink options and the menus are in the table. The waitress was attentive but we waited a long time, over 20. The place was cute but the bathroom is a journey away - through their kitchen into a dirty single stall. read more

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Worst service I've ever had in the last 20 years of dining. Shared my feedback with the manager and he got confrontational. Would never go back and highly recommend going somewhere else if you want an enjoyable meal in Sonoma. read more

My fiance and I went to dinner at Della Santina's for our anniversary dinner and were not impressed. I ordered Pellegrino water and they gave me tap water. I ordered Sprite and they gave me Coke. They gave us the wrong check and we felt rushed the entire time. They did not acknowledge our anniversary even though I noted it in our reservation. It took a long time for drink refills. The food itself was fine and the ambiance was enjoyable, we sat on the patio. However, the service needs some work. We expect better service in Sonoma, it's expensive for a reason. We will not be back. read more

The bread was terrible. It was a shame to waste good olive oil on tasteless bread. With all the great bread we have in Northern California it's a pity not to take advantage of it. The pasta was way overcooked. I can't believe any Italian restaurant would serve mushy pasta. The sauce was average at best. The best thing about this restaurant is the interior. It really is a beautiful restaurant. If the food was any good I would highly recommend it. read more

I don't normally leave reviews, and I don't think I've ever left a bad review but THIS PLACE IS A SCAM! Do not go here. We had a very large party of 22 people. Nowhere in our communication with the staff did they tell us that we needed to pay $85 minimum per person. The amount is not a problem. The problem is if we had known that this was the case we would have ordered more to cover the charges, but no one said a WORD. When the bill showed up, there were two surprise charges (two tables) of $400+ each table to get us to the minimum. So we ordered $1,205 worth of food and drink and paid over $2,700. Like WTF IS HAPPENING! I've got receipts, check them. Also, food was mediocre but mostly bland. I don't know how this place has 3.9 stars. Go somewhere else. I would have given it 0 stars if I could. read more

Della Santina's - Receipts - Italian Near Me - Sonoma, California

Ordered rabbit and fish. Both were really good. The rabbit was cooked to perfection and the gravy on top of it was good too. Will definitely go again. read more

Della Santina's - Fish - Italian Near Me - Sonoma, California

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