As someone who doesn't like pizza, I actually enjoyed pausa. The pizzas aren't your standard greasy…read morecardboard pies, but actually have good texture and tastes fresh. We ordered the primavera ($34) to split and it came topped with mozzarella, pesto, ricotta, english peas, fava beans, and spring onions. They also offer chili flakes or this amazing chili oil if you want a splash of heat. It seemed like most tables ordered the margherita, so will have to come by to give it a try.

Decided to come here because it was on the Bib Gourmand…read more Ambiance was very nice. Had the soccer FIFA game playing so we could watch. We had no reservations and sat at the communal table but with no wait. Excellent service, our waiter was so attentive. Always filling up our water. Food came out quite fast as well. The 2 best things were the pizza and the blue prawns. The rest of the food was good but nothing that blew my mind.

We were here to celebrate the life and times of my wife's cousin who passed recently. His wife…read morebought out the restaurant for the evening and let the chef make us an outstanding meal from anitpasti to dessert. It's a quaint restaurant with an awesome owner and staff. The food is very authentic and tasty.

Attended a private party here and didn't get picture until it was way way too late BUT the food…read morehere is awesome! It's been a long time since I've been so impressed with an Italian buffet ! We stared with a huge spread of anti pasta dishes - the rolled eggplant was amazing - the caprese salad was so fresh and amazing -pesto on toast was also a hit - the fresh mozzarella and prosciutto was amazing everything we had was excellent! The pasta course another hit - they make their own spinach ravioli and you can tell - I'm not usually a fan of ravioli but I had 3 beautiful plump raviolis - the marinara sauce yummy! Gnocchi my favorite- soft tender pillows with a beautiful cream sauce excellent! At this point I was FULL yet we still had the entree course - had a very small taste of the veal which would have been top on my list if I hadn't been so full - love the capers in this dish! Oh I had head about their Tiramisu! And guess what we had for dessert! Yes this is made in house too - very light yet full body flavored! Next time I'm going direct to dessert! I can't say enough positive things about the service here! These people are amazing - they were always clearing plates- offering refills of water or drinks- helping parents with children for food! If you're going to entertain a group this is the place! Yes parking can be intimidating as there is only street parking but at some point you will find a space. Great people with awesome food!

My absolute two favorite items on this menu are RADIATORI…read moreRUSTICA and TAGLIOLINI NERO DI SEPPIA. If you want something more creamy radiatori is great and if you want something more seafood red sauce then the tagliolini is the one. It usually doesn't have much of a wait so it's true to the name. The complimentary bread with their homemade sauce is also delicious and a nice pre-meal snack.

Very casual spot. Good service. The waiter offered to give me two samples of different wine, which…read moreI appreciated. The food quality... I was expecting better for their homemade pasta. I ordered the vongole , my go-to dish. The clams were good and decent portions, but the pasta was way too mushy and saturated with butter. The prices are reasonable. But I probably won't need to come back here.

One.Last.Time. Had…read moreto come back one last time to enjoy a favorite meal and say goodbye to Francesco and Manuela. My colleague pals and I would often come here after work to decompress and enjoy homemade Italian food. Their bruschetta is always good, as is their Polpette (meatballs in sauce). Tonight we had those fave appetizers along witb their Cioppino and the many layered lasagna. It was as delicious as always...the cioppino broth was rich and warming (perfect for dipping the crusty bread!) and the lasagna had meaty savory layers with a great cheese pull! I will miss coming here but so glad, we got to have one last good dinner here. Wishing Francesco and Manuela the best on their next adventure!

The worse not edible Fried Calamari was greasy. Eggplant…read moreParma drowning in a sea of bottled Marinara Sauce. Pasta Carbonara disgusting not pancetta, some cheap ham, cuddled egg, again not edible. Table top Bread come on a store baguette water soaked to bring it back to life. Can we be any cheaper. Disaster run ‍

I love this place! Went there for happy hour the Bruschetta plate was delicious and drinks were so…read moregood. The service is great and everyone was so friendly they treat their regulars well! I can't wait to go back :) Service: Fantastic super friendly and attentive Taste: delicious I was there for a while Ambience: it was lovely for a date or a get together or just to go solo and make a new friend Highlights: loved happy hour! Thanks for being great!

Look, I'll be honest, if you're coming here for seamless, polished service, you might be…read moredisappointed. We went on a slow night and still dealt with a total "slow turnaround" and some classic operational gaffes. They couldn't find the bottle of wine we actually wanted and then spent way too much time trying to sell us on a different bottle we had zero interest in. It was a bit of a circus just to get the basics situated. But then the food arrived, and that's where the magic happened. I've seen reviews complaining about a "lack of flavor," but that was not our experience at all. We started with the beet salad--the honey-lemon notes were nice, though nothing to write home about. But once the mains hit, everything changed. The Carpaccio was spot on, the Ribeye (prepared perfectly to medium) was delicious, and the Branzino special was fantastic. And the Rigatoni Rustica? Believe the hype. It's a classic for a reason. Bottom line: The service is definitely sloppy, but I wouldn't dismiss this place because of it. The food is genuinely good Italian and the prices are reasonable for Burlingame. My advice? Skip the salads, ignore the service "monkey dance," and go straight for the classics. I'd definitely go back just for the steak and the Rigatoni alone. Highly recommended if you actually care about what's on your plate. An A++ local find.

Evelyn was outstanding as was the food. Such a great place…read morewe have been several times. Always good fu. and service.

The pizza is great, but we're regulars because of the bartenders. They're so friendly and always…read moretake great care of us

Our valentine's day extravaganza ended with a bang at this Italian spot. It's nice and cozy a bit…read moreaway from downtown Burlingame and it is THE PERFECT date spot. We had reservations and were seated right away. They seemed t be super busy and served us right away. They did take a while with the water and bread refills. We ended our meal with Tiramisu and it was delicious. The coffee taste stood out. We were trying to take a selfie and the hostess offered to take one for us. Such a happy restaurant with happy employees!

A nice neighborhood restaurant that has a classy ambiance yet comfortably casual. They have a small…read morebar area and a couple of bar seating available. A good selection of wine but is still waiting on their liquor license to serve beer and other cocktail drinks. Service was a bit slow. Though the place was not packed, it took a bit for our food to be served. It helped that the bread came out quickly. The dip for the bread was very good. That was really enjoyable. The heirloom burrata starter was a missed. Although good portion, it was bland and poorly seasoned. Our entrees however, were delicious! We had the Octopus Spaghetti and the Linguine Vongole. Each dish had very distinct flavors and tastefully pleasing! We ended the meal with the tiramisu. It was simple, light and homely.

Met up with friends from SoCal for dinner at Il Fornaio on a beautiful Friday night…read more Solid four-star Italian. The food at Il Fornaio is the main draw -- fresh ingredients, well-seasoned dishes, and portions that leave you satisfied without feeling stuffed. The bread alone is worth the trip. Our server was excellent -- warm, attentive, and made the whole experience feel effortless. Not quite five stars, but the kitchen and the staff clearly know what they're doing. A reliable spot for a quality Italian meal. Will definitely return!

We were in the mood for Italian and had heard good things about Il Fornaio. The menu certainly…read morelooked good, but sadly, the actual taste just didn't match up. My friend's beet salad was basically a pile of arugula with a small addition of tiny beets. My fusilli pesto with chicken was similar - loads of pasta with a handful of sun-dried tomatoes and some cubes of dry chicken. The servers were all fantastic and friendly, the atmosphere is quite beautiful, but the food itself leaves much to be desired.

The food here is meh at best, and the overall experience feels underwhelming. The atmosphere is…read moredated and could really use a refresh. Pros: Portion sizes are generous, so you won't leave hungry. Cons: The flavors are quite bland and the overall food quality feels on the lower side. Overall, nothing stood out enough to justify a return visit. Unfortunately, I wouldn't come back.

Dining here occasionally over the past 9 years has been a roller coaster. Our first experience was…read moremediocre and kept us away for a couple years. Then in 2020, we had a series of excellent meals and great service. This year, our two experiences have been mediocre though the service continues to be strong. On top of mediocre food, the prices have really soared. So, sadly, we are going to throw in the towel.

amazing decor and the food was excellent! absolutely loved it!!!!!!!! everyone was so nice! I felt…read morelike I was eating in Italy

Great service, great food, great atmosphere! Highly recommend checking this new restaurant out.read more