My boyfriend and I were visiting San Rafael for the weekend and we had a wonderful experience at…read moreHot Italian. I came on a Friday at around 5pm, it wasn't too busy. Our server, Heather, was absolutely amazing. She gave us her recommendations and was very kind throughout our time there. I have an allergy and she checked with the chef to ensure what we wanted to order did not have the allergen. The food was delicious, I wish we had one in South bay. They have their own house-made chili oil which was really good, just a bit too spicy for my tastes (as someone who doesn't eat too spicy things), but my boyfriend enjoyed it. We ordered the Stella Pinsa (Mozzarella, crescenza cheese, prosciutto parma, and seasonal mushrooms), Ghiretti Panino (Prosciutto Parma, Fiordi latte mozzarella, fresh tomato ,arugula, evo), and Stracciatella Gilato. The stella pinsa was my favorite, the panini was equally as good and the tomato and arugula added freshness. Heather informed us the pinsa is their dough that is proofed for 48(?) hours, so it tastes a bit like sourdough. We were also told that their gelato flavors rotate and they make it in house too! If i'm ever in San Rafael again, i'm definitely coming back!

We made a random turn into San Rafael and stumbled upon this place. Everyone is genuinely kind as…read moresoon as you step into the restaurant and through the entire service. Santos, our server, was wonderfully attentive, gave us just the right amount of time to decide but not too much. The kids absolutely loved him, he made us feel like we were at his house for dinner without over asserting himself as I have experienced a lot of servers do when trying (or trying to hard) to make you feel at home. The food came out promptly and extremely fresh. We had the Calzone Bartolmi, Spaghetti and Lasagna Pesto. All were amazing from texture to flavor. We were there about 5:30 so they had the back and front doors open and it was beyond pleasant with the breeze and soft light coming in the restaurant. We don't come to the city very often, but we will definitely make a point to stop or at the very least order pizza on the way through when we do come this way. Sorry no food pics cuz we ate it too fast put I'll post a pic of the tables

It's been a minute since we visited our neighborhood Italian favorite, La Toscana…read more It was a busy Thursday night, but luckily we made a reservation. Highly recommend a reservation. Juan S. was our server for the night. Very knowable about the menu and the dishes. We started with a classic Caesar salad that we shared. It was plenty enough for us. I ordered the Petrale Sole special and my husband had the Pollo Pomodoro with vodka tomato sauce. Both were excellent choices. The fish was fresh and perfectly cooked, as were the mixed veggies. My husband loved the pasta as well. For 2 entrees, 2 glasses of wine, 1 Caesar salad, 1 bruschetta and a cannoli for later, our bill was $152, before tip. Well worth it.

First I'd like to start off by saying, we made dinner reservations an hour and a half in advance…read morefor 8 pm on a Friday night and showed up to the restaurant at our reservation time, where we were forced to wait an extra 15 min because our table still wasn't ready-- which we would normally understand and be fine with, but we witnessed a walk-in customer come in and get seated before us. After we were finally seated and put in our order for drinks, appetizers and main dishes, we waited quite a long time to get our food served. Quality-- not sure if we ordered the wrong things or went in on an off night, but for some reason everything we ordered was underwhelming and lackluster, from the: -drinks (cucumber mojito and strawberry balsamic mocktails) -bruschetta was average -meatballs were sort of flavorless -spinach ravioli with pesto was bland -parpadelle was also bland and portion was oddly small Overall, the food and service was unsatisfactory for the price we paid for the bill. We were excited to come here to celebrate our anniversary and left the restaurant feeling super unfulfilled with our meals. Safe to say we won't be coming back to this establishment, nor will we be suggesting this restaurant to friends and family.

We came here for our anniversary and had such a great experience! The service was fast, our drinks…read morewere delicious, and the food was absolutely exquisite. It was our first time visiting, and we were really impressed by how prompt and attentive our server was throughout the meal. The desserts were definitely the highlight for me--the tiramisu was incredible, made in-house, and so good we had to take one to go! We'll definitely be back.

They catered our wedding for about 100 people and we couldn't have asked for better service! The…read morefood and pasta was made ON SITE and they provided all the service, plates and needs we could have asked for to make one happy bride/ groom. Everyone was well fed, with options for all dietary needs. We went back for a nice dine in experience and everything was delicious. I'd recommend the red wine Halibut, butternut squash or the chicken parm. Well done to this restaurant for making authentic Italian, great services and great cost. Blessings, Mr. And Mrs Santos We love you!

We accidentally watched Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals here and had a great time. We sat near a few…read moreTV's and our server changed the TV closest to our table to the game. The restaurant was lively, there was a party celebrating and the bar top filled quickly as the game progressed. The food was good. I ordered chicken wings as an appetizer and beef ravioli with meat sauce as my entree. I would order the chicken wings again but Tre a different entree. Overall it was a good experience.

Tonight's dinner was wonderful at Gaspare's. My husband had steak and mashed potatoes (happy…read morecamper). I had chicken saltimbucca with mashed potatoes, and broccoli (all cooked perfectly) in the yummiest sauce. I also had a virgin mojito which was deliciously refreshing. We shared the most scrumptious tiramsu. We sat at the bar and enjoyed our conversation with Casey the bar tender, and another shout out to Heather (one of our favs). We had a very enjoyable Father's Day dinner. Ambiance is always cozy with a splash of the Mediterranean.

Walt from Walt's Adventures adventuring in Fairfax, California at the Sorella Caffe…read more This restaurant appears small but it will deceive you. The eatery has inside and outside dining with the inner dining smaller than the outside area. The extended dining area has both heat and covers available. Street parking is available so be warned but the this task is worth your effort. We chose to dine outside for the inner area was at capacity... a good sign. The customer service was outstanding beyond measure. We never saw our cups empty and at the end of our meal when we were selecting desserts, they packaged our leftovers. This gesture had never been performed in all of my experiences... bravo. The food was not simply made and put on our dishes but was created with the upmost heart. Our meals were outstanding and the desserts... the literally best we ever had to consume. If you want a great Family Italian meal, then go to Fairfax, California and seek out the Sorella Caffe. A master chef and a team of professionals await you.

When going, please know that Fairfax means parking is a challenge and Sorella is doubling down on…read morethat! Also, it's in the heart of traffic craziness. It offers outside seating. indoor dining, and take out. Everyone has to enter through the same narrow entrance and jam up by the cash register. Take out, which should be the least labor intensive meal for them, is treated as the bane of their existence. Those waiting for pickup have to jump out of the way of wait staff. When I presented my credit card to pay for the sack of food, the woman who was running the register told me I made a mistake when I had done nothing. She presented the wrong screen and I paid the bill and tried to add a tip. She gave me a look! She reset the screen and asked me to do it again "correctly". I still added the tip but I was not satisfied with anything. I'll go back because the food is good. But, not on Fridays, even if very early. And always with a person to watch the car when I double park, like so many others do. It's a testament to how delicious the food is that I and hoards of others put up with the front desk staff to get great takeout.

I didn't know what to expect driving up to this spot, which is tucked next to an older motel near…read morethe freeway. Entering through the back, I passed a fully stocked bar and chose a table in the adjoining dining room. It is spacious and comfortably arranged--no sitting elbow-to-elbow with strangers here! The service is exceptionally warm and accommodating. I arrived at 5:30 p.m. for their Wednesday prime rib special, but they were already sold out due to online pre-orders. Luckily, they offered me an end cut. It was the most tender prime rib I've ever tasted--melt-in-your-mouth, soft, full of flavor and absolutely amazing. The clam chowder was just as spectacular. It was rich, creamy, and loaded with large clams and thick bacon instead of being padded out with cheap potato filler. I left full and highly impressed. Even the leftovers I ate for lunch the next day were just as delicious 18 hours later. I will definitely be back. What a great gem hidden in San Rafael!

We agree with all the other 5 star reviews. Food is a great value. Happy Hour, both food and…read moredrinks is likely the best in Marin. Keep in mind, it's not fancy décor or pretentious in any manner. Just a solid neighborhood Café that is attached to a motel. Pro Tip: The Prime Rib on Wednesday always runs out. It is wise to reserve your Wednesday table on Monday or Tuesday and indicate that you want the prime rib and indicate how many people in your party want it a portion reserved. That way, they will hold it for you. If you can't show, cancel so that they know to release your Prime Rib for others. Robbie at the bar and bar tables is solid.

Came in for dinner Great wine list, lots of new, carefully…read morecurated wines to try. Really appreciate that Raviolo wasnt as good as I remembered it to be, likely because it seemed to be a bit too al dente Fries also weren't as how I remembered them to be, they came hot and crunchy, but some were almost dry with no fluffy potato interior Swordfish special was teriffic, peas, onions and friends were properly dressed 10/10pts Carbona pasta gad great texture, but may have been oversalted a little. Service super nice

We came here since they use resy and we could use our Amex credit. I made a reservation same day…read moreand they ended up calling us to tell us our table was ready in advance if we want to come in earlier which was nice. We ordered some seafood like scallops and calamari and some noodles. The food was so good and the portions were deceivingly large which was a pleasant surprise. The ambience was nice too, lots of string lights which was beautiful and people around us seemed to be celebrating. The service was great, our server constantly checked in on us which was great. Overall a very pleasant experience

Three of us had dinner here last night. Wow, this place is definitely worth the high ratings on…read moregoogle and yelp. Between the 3 of us, we order 4 apps, 2 entrees and 2 desserts - corn soup, meatballs, radicchio salad, panzanella salad, risotto, rigoticini, pistachio gelato and panna cotta. We ate every single bite of every dish (including the complimentary focaccia with delicious olive oil). Service was welcoming and friendly, and the owners (wife is front of the house, husband is chef) are so hospitable and cordial. We are definitely returning!

First it feels cozy and elegant at the same time. The kitchen is visible from the dining room. Chef…read moreDuilio is masterful at creating delicious dishes. I have gone three times recently and every time there is what feels like a special occasion to try an amazing special or dessert. Do not skip dessert. These are worth it in every way. Our servers were both excellent and attentive in the right way. My favorite dish is the pappardelle. I had the sea bass the last time which is my favorite dish. This is one of my favorite places to eat. Highly recommend.

The food was great The ambiance was delightful…read more The service was excellent and full of oersona

I hadn't been here in years so was pleased to have the chance to dine there today. First, we were…read moregreeted by the owner, who noted my father using a walker and seated us close to the door (and also the fireplace which was nice since it was a rainy day). No sooner did we sit down then we were served water, warm bread, and butter. Nice. The waiter was very attentive, told us about the crab benedict special (dad ordered it), and we ordered drinks and perused the menu. Just by the way the coffee they serve here is really delicious, full-bodied as I like it and of course bottomless. I ordered the open-faced steak sandwich, my wife ordered a salad (no judgement, but WTF?). I was kind of surprised when the waiter asked me how I liked my roast beef cooked - it was a sandwich after all - but I was to be pleasantly surprised when it arrived. It looked like a slab of perfectly cooked prime rib served on a slice of bread, with mashed potatoes, veggies, au jus, and horseradish on the side. Amazing. Perfection on a plate. Dad's benedict was just as impressive, and my wife's salad... it was great, but really honey? A salad HERE? Anyway, I am really looking forward to coming back here to try some of the other indulgences on the menu. Truly a five-star experience.

Wow, wow, wow, there certainly is a new Vin in town! Same…read morecozy, modern vibe with new flavors that hit it out of the park. The menu highlights sharing is caring with a la carte options or a full table participation tasting menu adventure. We decided to do our own selection, sharing every dish along the way. Every plate was outstanding from fresh oysters with a refreshing mignonette to the best pasta I have had in Marin. The pasta was textbook - light, perfect chew and pinched to perfection. The earthiness of the mushrooms countered with the sweetness from the fruit was absolutely divine. The snap pea salad was splendid, the tartness of the yogurt dressing with the freshness of the snap pea was a match made in heaven. The chicken schnitzel with lemon, herb salad and the perfect crunch was a fun modern take on the classic. So happy this establishment has renewed itself and has hit every ball out of the park. Until next time!

I honestly think the tasting menu here remains the best meal I have had in Marin in my life…read more After 8 years in SF I've come back to Marin and there are lots of great places to eat but rarely do I find the consistency of quality and creativity that I found in the city. Vin is very very good. Pricing feels pretty reasonable, especially for a tasting menu. I recommend the lamb wonton and celery salad. Service was solid and the space is gorgeous.