Came here last month for an early Christmas celebration with 5 couples total. We were able to get lunch reservations and first off - the service was so warm and friendly. It really felt like coming to a beautiful family restaurant!! I'm so glad we got to try this place. EVERYONE who works there was warm and welcoming. There was 10 of us and we tend to like family style so we can try a bunch of different things - and given we were seated in a long table - we found it easier to order in a group of 4 and then my group of 6. It was perfect since the group of 4 wanted specific things that the rest of us weren't as hot on... So overall - both groups started with the Focaccia Puglese! MY OH MY! Note - the ONLY serve this at Impasto. Terun does NOT offer this (I tried when I went there a month later) so this is an absolute MUST. Even for some of us who are watching our carbs - devoured their little piece and we all debated if we should order another. Growing up in SF, I've had focaccia from North Beach in SF as we lived close by to the little corner shop so I have HIGH expectations of focaccia and I will say - this version is even better than what I remember growing up in SF from that little focaccia shop!! Light and fluffy on the inside, infused with tons of flavor on the outside with just the PERFECT textures! My mouth is watering just thinking about them! Next time we will not split one for 6 but I'd go for at least half!! LOL We also got the Eggplant Pulpette! This was recommended by my sister (who btw LOVES Impasto and would eat here daily if she could). This dish was a PERFECT BITE... the crunch on the outside - the tender flavorful eggplant in the center with that delicious creamy sauce. I can see this also being a MUST ORDER!! It's not overwhelming with the eggplant - it's just a perfect hint of the flavor with all the other complimentary textures and flavors!! We also got the Pulpo (Octopus) - Now this too is a must order if you like octopus. We are huge octopus fans - ate octopus every change we got in Mexico City as they had the most tender flavorful and I think this was on par with what we get in Mexico City!! And you can dip in their lemon-avocado sauce if you like spicy or their regular sauce but the key here is how TENDER they make their octopus. Was so easy to cut up for all to share and the bite was so tender and would practically melt in your mouth!! YUM!! For salads - we couldn't decide and decided to be healthy and got two. The Grilled Romaine and the Tuna Salad... Ok both were delicious but I will say the Tuna Salad was my absolute favorite and definitely something I would crave. They actually added a little bit of beets into the salad (as I had voted for beet salad but got outvoted) so I was a super happy camper!! And the tuna didn't have the "fishy" smell or taste - definitely a high quality... and combined with everything - with the crunchy chopped romaine lettuce and that lemon vinaigrette. YES - definitely my FAVORITE! I loved the grilled romaine as well - as the grill gave it that smokiness but it definitely came in 2nd to the Tuna Salad. Main courses - the Gnocchi which is made out of beets. I thought this was perfect as it didn't taste too heavy or rich which most gnocchi's are which is why I could never JUST have gnocchi as the only thing I eat. Definitely a shareable dish and super tasty - nice spin with the beets - made it less heavy. The one dish I was so so on was the Margherita Pizza. Don't get me wrong - the flavors were amazing and the outside pizza crust was delicious - a nice compliment but it's the center... it got all mushy and soft - definitely had to use a knife and fork - I assume it's because of the mozzerella they use but I'm not a huge fan of soft mushy pizza centers - so that would be a pass for me... Flavors all there just that texture... We also got the Rigatoni - I will say this was delicious as a typical Rigatoni would be. Wasn't unique or special but it did hit the mark in the right flavors and al dente of the pasta... The table of 4 had also ordered the Parmigiana Di Melanzane (Eggplant Parm) and they seemed to enjoy it tremendously. If I weren't so full on our side I would have asked for a bite. It looked small at first glance but I was told it was VERY filling!! The other main course they ordered was the Pollo ALLA Milanese. Milanese style is a thin pounded chicken breast, breaded and fried. They seemed to be very happy with this dish as it also came with salad and skinny fries! Overall - This is the place to come for delicious Italian food (especially for the Focaccia and Eggplant Polpette) as these are dishes you typically don't find in other Italian restaurants!! I can't wait to go back and try other dishes!! I'm hoping another pizza won't be as soggy in the middle - as the Pera sounds amazing... Till my next visit.... OH and of course the WONDERFUL and amazing friendly staff and service!!! read more

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I had dinner here with a larger party so I got to try a good variety of options. The pizzas definitely stood out as much better than the pastas. Serving size for the pastas also seemed much more limited. Of the pizzas I did try, there was no skimping out on the toppings, plenty of meats and cheeses. The staff were also incredibly helpful. Our waiter came around numerous times to refill waters and check in. The owner even stopped by to make sure we were having a good time. We were seated outside in January by our own choice and I've never seen a restaurant with so many space heaters. We actually requested they turn one down it got so warm. Impasto made for a fun and tasty night overall. read more

Impasto - SCHIACCIATA - Pizza Near Me - San Carlos, California

My pizza was crunchy in the middle. You'd think the fact that they advertise accreditation by Vera Pizza Napoletana (despite that accreditation not being listed on Vera's site...hmm...) would mean they can make a perfect pizza. I guess not. The restaurant is relatively small so be sure to make a reservation. They pack in tables so it felt cramped. Service felt rushed. For the price, my experience was a little disappointing. read more

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The pizza is amazing! Service was great and loved the ambiance. Would absolutely go back!

Everything was so good from the staff to the food and even the restroom! Will definitely be coming back!

I've been to the Palo Alto location of Terun many times over the years and have always had great experiences, so I was excited to check out the San Carlos location for the first time. We went last Friday to celebrate two family birthdays that had just passed and arrived just before the evening rush, and I was really hoping it would live up to the experiences I've had in Palo Alto. Unfortunately, our experience was disappointing, mostly due to the service from the gentleman who was hosting us. I didn't catch his name, but he was an older gentleman wearing glasses, with some gray on the sides of his hair. From the start, he came across as a bit rude and inflexible. At one point, someone in our group tried to order multiple pizzas for the table to share, but he wouldn't allow it and instead forced us to give our orders one by one going around the table. Things didn't improve once the food started coming out. Earlier he had taken away all of our small plates, and when the pizzas arrived we realized we had nothing to use to share them. We had to repeatedly ask him for small plates for the table, and each time we had to wait several minutes for him to return so we could ask again for more. It turned what should have been an easy, enjoyable meal into a frustrating process. When it came time to celebrate the birthdays with a quick song, he told us to wait for him to come back. That ended up taking another 15 minutes, which really slowed down the momentum of the celebration. To top it all off, we then had to wait an unusually long time just to get the check so we could pay and leave. Overall, I was not very happy with the experience, largely because of the host's attitude and lack of attentiveness. It felt unnecessarily difficult to do simple things like share food or celebrate a birthday. Given how many good experiences I've had at the Palo Alto location, this was disappointing, and I'll definitely be thinking twice about coming back to the San Carlos location. read more

Wonderful people/Staff & the food took me straight to Italy! Sso good! Has great Veggie/ vegan / Gluten free options too read more

Impasto had been on my list to try for awhile for three reasons. The focaccia, the fries, and the nutella pizza. Spoiler alert: we were too full for the nutella pizza. We made a reservation for 7:30 PM on a Sunday and since all the tables were still full, they gave us some prosecco at the bar for the few minutes we did have to wait. The service here is great! Very attentive and personable. The place had cleared out by the time we left. What we did order: Appetizers/Sides Focaccia pugliese - Besides one super doughy part, this focaccia was AMAZING. I could have just eaten this for my dinner. Apparently the focaccia is so popular that they ran out of the original one that evening. With the fresh tomatoes, you don't even need the butter. Cauliflower (fancy name but it's cauliflower) - this was really nicely cooked Fries - the fries were very thin and yummy but needed a little more salt Pizzas Margherita and Pera - Impasto has the same pizzas as Terun. Sadly, by personal taste only, their crust is good but never my super favorite. It is always a solid pizza, but I prefer just a little more chew/doughy. Again, personal preference. I was really satisfied with my focaccia though and very full. My friend also got a pasta that I didn't taste. Fancy Italian restaurants in the Bay Area are never cheap so just take note. Everything (including appetizers) somehow costs $20+ (besides my focaccia and fries). Overall, I would come back to try the nutella pizza and get the focaccia pugliese and some apps again! read more

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Food-awesome! Everything we ate from the appetizers to the amazing grilled romaine to the homemade pasta..so yummy!!! Service-amazing! Everyone is so friendly and helpful. We sat outside and it was beautiful!! I highly recommend!!! read more

Came by for dinner the other night and it was a tasty experience. Impasto is located right next to the San Carlos Caltrain station. Parking is available on the street. Impasto is the same ownership as Terun in Palo Alto. The restaurant is brand new inside and the dining room is high quality. Service throughout the evening was attentive and prompt by the staff. Our waiter did a pheneomenal job providing suggestions and checking up us throughout the evening. Started off with the eggplant croquettes, salmon croquettes, and the truffle fries as appetizers. The eggplant croquette was super cheesy and the salmon croquette was unique. The truffle fries were quite fragrant. The porchetta pizza was gigantic. The porchetta was flavorful and the wheat crust was quite tasty. Ended off the meal with the tiramisu which was quite light. ~$75/head after tax and grautuity for dinner. read more

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Over a year now visiting Impasto. Still great food and service. Great bar drinks and such a friendly staff. read more

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First of all,no bread. 2nd of all they could have grated parmesan cheese on pasto. There was a clump of cheese on pasta. For my birthday they gave me a card, no dessert. Pizzas look very popular. Maybe try a pizza next time. If it isn't good then we will not partake. read more

Felt really rush the whole time we ate... it's way too loud on the patio and tables are too close to one another. Make a reservation, it gets pretty packed. Parking was pretty easy to find near by. The Aperol spritz was good. My partner and I thought the bread was just ok. The Brussel sprouts were so soggy and oily. The lasagna was the better dish compared to the rigatoni. Overall, good was just ok. I think the pizza may be better. I definitely liked terun and Italico a lot more. read more

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Stopped by for dinner and they did an amazing job with the interior. Everything is beautiful including the massive bar! Service is very attentive as well, they really take care of you. Polpo - octopus had great texture and the sauce went well, this was thoroughly enjoyed Beet salad - loved the crunch from the hazelnuts, simple and effective salad. The only thing I didn't love is the pizza. It's personal preference, but I enjoy Neapolitan pizza with a bit more to the crust, with nice big bubbles and a bit more chew. Other than that, a beautiful restaurant, perfect for a date night! read more

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Had dinner at Impasto tonight and loved it! The place has such a nice, cozy vibe. Melissa was our server and she was awesome -- super friendly and just really made the night better. The grilled fish was perfect, super fresh with that nice smoky flavor, and the pasta was so good I could've easily eaten another order. Great food, great service, great atmosphere... I'm already planning my next visit. read more

Impasto - BRANZINO, RIGATONI - Pizza Near Me - San Carlos, California

What a beautiful restaurant! It has indoor and outdoor seating options. Reservations were easy to make on the website and highly recommended. It was BUSY! My girlfriends and I were so excited to try this place. We MiGhT have over-ordered a tiny bit, but enjoyed EVERYTHING. * cauliflower was my absolute fave * focaccia bread and butter were amazing (even yummy the next day and kid-approved * the spaghetti was yummy * prosciutto arugula pizza was a table fave * tuna tartar was tasty, but it didn't come with enough crostini (that's ok though- I ate it with the focaccia * margarita pizza- perfect * ribeye w/green beans and fries- killed it * calamari- very yummy The staff worked efficiently and provided excellent service. Can't wait to come back soon. Thank you!! P.S. We came out from all over the Bay Area and wasn't familiar with San Carlos. There's street parking, parking structures and a parking lot right next door.... Looked like it was parking for CalTrain riders, but read the fine print! It's restaurant parking :) Hope you enjoy!! read more

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incredible pizzas and pastas!!!!!! will have to go back solely for the food. parking was free in the lot (about a 2 min walk away). looks really nice inside too :) service was okay, we had to ask twice for water and same for boxes and the check. food was great though! read more

Impasto - MARGHERITA - Pizza Near Me - San Carlos, California

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My friend wanted to go here to celebrate her new job. I was hesitant because I do not like Terun in Palo Alto but Impasto blew me away! I liked it so much more and will definitely be back. The decor inside is so cute. The manager came by to check on our meal, which was super nice and personal. They gave my friend ice cream with our dessert for our celebration. The food was great! Her spaghetti sounded basic from the menu description but it was so good and fresh; I'll be ordering it next time. read more

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I had a craving for pasta and pizza so I was able to snag a same day reservation at Impasto! When my family arrived for our reservation, the hostess was very sweet and offered us an indoor table even though my reservation was for outside; we happily obliged! The restaurant itself was nicely decorated and you could see the large oven that they cook the pizzas in. My family tried the following: - Focaccia Pugliese - You can tell this was freshly made. It was crispy on the edges with a soft chew in the middle. It was served with house made rosemary butter, but it didn't even need it. It was so good on its own! - Roasted beet salad - This was a standard beet salad. Ingredients were fresh but nothing special. - San Daniele pizza - This was an excellent white pizza! It was served with arugula and prosciutto, mushrooms and shaved cheese. I highly recommend! - Terun pizza - This was a red pizza with spicy salame. The flavors were spot on, but the pizza was flaccid due to the tomato sauce. - Calamarata - This was a standout dish! The fresh pasta was shaped like calamari and was smothered in pesto sauce with octopus and potatoes. The portion was also pretty large. I would definitely order this again! I had been to Terun before so I knew I'd have a great meal here at Impasto! The food was solid and our server was very nice and friendly. He was also authentically Italian! We were stuffed with delicious carbs. Otherwise, I would've wanted to try the Nutella pizza for dessert! Next time... read more

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The food and service are excellent, everyone is very friendly! The ambiance is very pleasant! read more

New update: Thursday in April 2026 Pizza was COLD. The other appetizers we ordered before that were warm, though. Food tasted good, but I didn't expect cold pizza at these prices. Waitress was mostly unavailable and uncommunicative. She barely came to our table, and constantly rushed off without asking what we wanted. Was she even our waitperson? She never introduced herself, and looked displeased and put out the entire time. Is it just that hard to get good waitstaff nowadays? Outdoor patio was loud with a big group celebrating next to us. But they put our tables right on top of each other's even though no one else was out there. Then somehow the other table's heater got positioned next to the plastic wall and melted a giant hole in it. It just showed the lack of care and service on the patio. Not a pleasant experience when we were trying to show out of town guests a nice time. Very disappointing. I won't be going back anytime soon. read more

Our table wasn't ready so we had a couple drinks at the bar - they were excellent. We started with the roasted beet salad which was delicious and a very generous portion for a starter salad. We loved both pizzas - margherita and schiacciata. The ingredients are super fresh and the dough is amazing. Pizza is a bit more doughy than our preference but that's Neapolitan. They definitely need a bit more time to figure out the space as they just opened but excited to try it again! read more

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I had been looking forward to Impasto opening for a long time as I love their sister restaurants in Palo Alto. After sorting out a few growing pains, I think this restaurant will become a staple in our rotation. We made a reservation, which I highly recommend. The bar looked like it would be fun for walk-ins, but it has a limited number of seats. The place was packed on a Friday night. The inside of the restaurant is fairly small, so some of the tables are very close together. We were seated right away at our reservation time. The menu has a lot of options. We ended up ordering the focaccia, beet salad, lasagna, and Terun pizza. The focaccia was an incredible texture (almost like fried dough) and a decent portion for the price. I would definitely order that again! The beet salad was lovely (assuming you like beets). Portion was huge so I am excited to eat the leftovers. The lasagna was delicious. It looked like it had some prosciutto type of meat in it which was very unique. Only complaint would be that the middle of it was not warm, but the crispy edges were wonderful. Of course the Terun pizza was great and similar to what we have had at their sister restaurant. Good portion. Service felt a little awkward, likely due to the place still being new. Drinks took awhile to arrive and it took some time to order another drink mid-meal. I appreciated that some staff (maybe owners) were walking around checking on tables throughout, which helped fill the service gaps. Our main entrees seemed to take quite awhile to arrive, but we weren't in a big rush. In general, everyone seemed friendly and helpful but just a bit chaotic. Overall: Delicious food and wine with a few small issues that they should be able to work out over time. Glad to have one of their restaurants here in San Carlos! read more

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Most amazing customer service from the owner, Franco and staff! Food was fantastic and we will continue to visit this restaurant read more

Been here twice and both visits were amazing. The staff is awesome as is the food. They have pizzas and other entrees Owned by Italians too. read more

Came here with some friends on a Friday night and this spot was packed! Good thing we made a reservation! The portions here are pretty generous! We got two pizzas to share and then shared some pastas! The calamarata pasta is a must get! My fave the entire night read more

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The only authentic Italian restaurant/pizzeria in San Carlos Best pizza.best pasta, and a top wine cellar that combined with a superior service make Impasto a destination for food lovers read more

sunday father's day lunch at impasto...reservations made and arriving on time...busy, but promptly seated at arrival...lunch for 3 and wanting to share...taking a smokey pineapple for the drink...a $17 special cocktail...tasty and refreshing...browsing menu and deciding to share a 5 formaggi pizza...a 5 cheese pizza for $25...also sharing the rigatoni $26 and pollo milanese $32...the pizza arriving first with hot bubbling cheese....the first slice is always the best...hot with intense cheese flavors...rigatoni was very hearty with a thick meaty sauce...simply perfect and delicious...chicken milanese had a wonderful tangy sauce over the salad and fried chicken...golden brown and perfectly tender chicken...delicious salad and a mound of fries to fill...great lunch...attentive staff...worth the $131.23 total... read more

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Lively atmosphere, interesting decor, and a beautiful bar. The pizza's are large with a thin classic Italian crust. The rigatoni Ragu sauce was superb. Great Italian wine list. Excellent service from our waiter. All around good experience! read more

The service here is very good. They are friendly and efficient, without rushing you. We were sat by the door and it was a bit cold so the hostess offered to turn up the heat, which was nice. I love the outdoor space. The inside is nice as well, but a tad loud. I am not sure why the music has to be so loud ‍ The food is very, very good. We love Terun and so it's nice to have this place closer to us. The fried dough appetizer was amaaaaazing. That prosciutto on there was just wow! We also tried the cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. Since they were baked dishes, the veggies are soft, which I don't usually love, but these were so flavorful! We tried the San Danielle, the Calabrian, and the pear with Gorgonzola pizzas. My favorite is still the San Danielle but some people liked the pear one a lot. The salmon risotto was also very good. My favorite dessert was the affogato because both the gelato and the espresso was truly amazing. The cheesecake was ok, not great. The tiramisu was very good and the desserts were all very generously portioned. It is quite expensive but very, very good for an occasion! read more

Amazing food service and atmosphere. Good job everyone. I'll be back soon for sure. That pasta pomodoro it's perfect read more

Beautiful space right next to San Carlos Caltrain station. The staff are wonderful, wide range of drink options, great tasty food. Highly recommended. read more

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We enjoyed our lunch here overall! Appetizers: Foccacia bread to start was FANTASTIC. Comes out super hot with a great rosemary butter. Also really enjoyed the crispy eggplant polpette bites. Brussel sprouts were a good veggie appetizer for us and was surprisingly a really decent portion. Mains: Red beet gnocchi was cooked well - soft and pillowy. Can't really taste the beet flavor though. The rib eye steak was also done nicely if you want a meat option. We asked for a medium cook and was really happy they did not over cook it as many places do. The steak comes with a side of french fries and green beans. French fries were perfect - reminded me of McD's but even better! Pizzas: We tried both the porchetta and the Capricciosa and I quite liked the toppings. My main issue is that I wish the crust was just a BIT more sturdier. It's pretty flimsy and soggy just like Terun (makes sense, same owners) and it's just not my personal favorite style of crust. As for the Capricciosa, not sure if intentional but the toppings were not equally distributed over the pizza - the prosciutto was only scattered on 2-3 slices, the mushrooms on a quarter of the slices, the artichokes on another quarter of the slices and the olives on half of the pizza. Would come back again and I did like most of the dishes we had! read more

Pollo milanese - dry. Calamari - tough, and out-of-a-box flavor. Pizza Capricciosa - overly salty. Hendrick's gin martinis - scant. Service - good. Bill - higher than local competition. read more

This restaurant is beautiful, I loved the decor & lighting. My friend made reservations online for us to sit indoors but unfortunately we were not able to be seated right away. A server came over & offered to sit us outside, we were both hesitant due to the cold weather but after he showed us the table & plenty of heated lamps, we decided it would be fine. We started off the night with some calamari & it was just the right amount of crispy, the lemon sauce that came with it was to die for, so delicious, I could've had that on its own lol I opted for the daily special, risotto with salmon & it was flavorful & satisfying. This restaurant was worth the try, I like that you can see into the kitchen when you walk into the restaurant, I eyed the wood fire oven & I'm sure I'll be back to try the pizza. read more

Impasto - Calamari - Pizza Near Me - San Carlos, California

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Restaurants love to say they treat their guests like family, that is absolutely true at Impasto. What a perfect meal, from our first bite to our last. read more

Impasto is hands down my favorite restaurant . If I could give it more stars I would ! The minute you walk in the door Melissa greets you with a smile and makes you feel like family . The food is cooked to perfection . We especially love the frittelle , the pesto gnocchi, Rigatoni Al Ragu, the Branzino and all the pizzas. The ambiance is top tier and the service is outstanding . What truly makes this place special is the family that owns it . You can truly feel the love and care they put into Impasto. We feel so lucky to have this little gem in our community . Highly recommend read more

We asked our friends out to dinner tonight and she suggested we come to Impasto. It's such a cozy, lovely restaurant. The staff are attentive and friendly, and the food delicious. It's great for kids and family group life ours but also great for couples or girls night out. Lovely dinner. Looking forward to coming back. read more

We cannot say enough about this restaurant!One of the best Italian dining experiences we've had. The food was exceptional, the cocktails were outstanding, and the service was awesome from start to finish.Pizzas were delicious and the grilled octopus was perfect! They even gave us complementary limoncello and gelato for dessert that was to die for!Beautiful ambiance that made for a wonderful memory celebrating our son's graduation weekend! read more

We were excited to try this place but unfortunately the food was just ok. We have pretty high standards for pizza and there are so many good options nearby so the pie here kinda fell flat, plus it's pretty pricey. We couldn't help but compare to other places like Vesta, Del Popolo, or Speederia which are far superior in our opinion. The plus is that they have a nice ambiance inside, but if we have an itch for pizza we'll be going elsewhere. read more