New restaurant located in downtown San Carlos! We started the night with grilled octopus drizzled with lemon-avocado sauce. It was soft and juicy! For our main courses, we had the spaghetti and rigatoni. Both were delicious! The spaghetti was on the tangy and sweet side. The rigatoni had a good amount of beef-pork ragu. Excellent choices for cozy Italian food! Lots of parking spots available where it says "Restricted." Staff was friendly and welcoming. Our server was knowledgeable of the menu and answered our questions. I would definitely come back to try the pizza next time! read more

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Came here on a Sunday afternoon for lunch with a couple friends and a couple pups. Service was friendly and they helped get a couple heating lamps to make sure we were warm sitting outside where the wind was blowing pretty hard. Food was decent, good cocktail and wine list, we enjoyed our time there. Total came to 45-50/person. Will return when in the area. read more

Impasto - Fam Style Calamari fritti - Pizza Near Me - San Carlos, California

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Absolutely delicious!! We can't stop coming here lol. My best friend and I love coming to this spot and relaxing with delicious food and wine. The pasta is so yummy I recommend ordering different pastas and doing family style to sample different dishes. We live the staff here and they really care about their customers. Thank you Impasto! read more

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This place was so good! I've been to Terun so was hoping for a similar experience and it was! Went with my dad recently and glad we made a reservation, it was a busy Saturday evening. Greeted immediately, met with smiles, and almost no wait for our table. It was such a nice day, the patio was great. Everyone was attentive, our server was so nice. The food was amazing. I got a spaghetti- because of the fresh burrata. The eggplant app and watermelon salad were so good. The regular focaccia bread was so good. Lasagna too. The pistachio dessert was so good. We were stuffed but wanted to try. And then had the limoncello and vecchio amaro del capo to finish- molte grazie read more

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Best pizza place on the peninsula--don't miss it! Go there for amazing pizza and wine. The pizzas are very thin, and the recipes are fantastic. Our favorite is the Pera (cheese and pear), but honestly, they all taste incredible. The Italian wine list is excellent--thoughtfully curated, truly authentic, and pairs perfectly with the pizza. Another highlight is the interior design at their San Carlos location: fresh, modern, and incredibly cozy. The team is knowledgeable and friendly, creating a welcoming experience. While waiting for our table, the sommelier graciously offered us Prosecco--a sparkling start to our meal! Overall, it's delicious and authentically Italian. I took one star off because the quality of the steak didn't meet our expectations. read more

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Great food and fantastic service. We had a 7:15pm reservation and waited a whopping 25 minutes for our table for 6 standing in a very crowded entry way. We were not happy, but the wonderful owner did more than enough to compensate us. He brought us glasses of Prosecco as we waited and when we were seated he sent over very nice appetizers on the house. We then had Jackson as our server who was absolutely fantastic. Service is amazing. Water and wine glasses were constantly filled, anything we requested was delivered within seconds. A wonderful experience. Food is delicious and the restaurant is beautiful, lots of good energy. I would definitely return! read more

Now this has become a go to restaurant for us in San Carlos. The cheesy cauliflower is always a hit with the kids, and love the charred romaine salad. Everything we have tried is tasty including the pizzas and pastas. I try to save room for the dessert pizza and most of the time I fail, but it's seriously so good. Can't wait to go back and try the cheese wheel pasta!! read more

Super cute, yummy food and drinks and great ambience! My favorite was the risotto and the octopus! read more

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The service was great! ALL of the food was amazing! The atmosphere was nice. I've already been back.

Bartenders made amazing drinks! Came a few days later for dinner with a friend and her mom, and the service was just as good and the food was delicious. read more

I was excited to try this highly-rated restaurant on Yelp, but my experience was far from what I had hoped for. First, there's no parking, so you have to park across the street on Laurel. Once you get inside, the place is packed with chairs, making it difficult to walk to your table or the bar. I opted for the bar, but the tables were so close that I could hear everyone's conversation and even grab their food. The drinks and pizza were disappointing. The taste was terrible, and the prices were exorbitant. To make matters worse, they add a 20% surcharge to the bill, so be cautious. On top of that, someone stole my umbrella at the front. Despite the negative experiences, the customer service was friendly and attentive. The service itself was good, but overall, I wouldn't recommend this restaurant. read more

Been here twice the first time we sat out side the food was excellent. Second time sat inside and what a mistake. The music was so loud we couldn't hear what our server said and the server couldn't hear what we said. Had to yell our order. I like loud music but maybe not with my meals. Food was good and consistent. Maybe next time I will come with earplugs lol! read more

SO GOOD. They were BUSY on a Friday night. I saw there were no reservations online so I called and luckily they made room for us! Interior is beautiful. Very chic and modern decor. Cute spot for dinner. FOOD WAS AMAZING. Pizza crust was thin but not too thin and tasty. Lots of good choices to pick from. It was hard to just choose one. We will for sure be back. Service was wonderful. They make you feel like family. read more

Impasto - Pizza Near Me - San Carlos, California

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We received a lovely reply from the owner in regard to our complaint about our service animal. After reviewing the tapes, he did indeed see my dog was wearing the appropriate vest. Apologized that his staff did not see the vest and welcomed us and our dog to come again. We appreciate the apology and will try to come back! Like I said, the inside is just lovely and I want to try the food again on a happier note. read more

First time here and will be back again. Food was great. We had the Focaccia with rosemary butter which was so tasty. The Spaghetti had a delicious sauce-I wish it came with more Burrata on top though. The Fichi pizza stole the show and was amazing. We did not have reservations but got a seat outside. I'm glad they have heaters blasting because it gets chilly. I would recommend a reservation to get inside seating. The staff were friendly but felt a little inattentive at times or not noticing we were done with our food and ready for the check. They had live music the night we went which made for a great evening. Overall very happy with our experience and would come again. read more

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We went to Impasto for the opening today! It looks like it had a very successful opening! It took about 35 min for us to get a table. There were still people outside waiting for tables when we left at 9 pm! The ambience and service is great! What I was looking forward to was the gnocchi which I had loved at Terun. The gnocchi here didn't disappoint! Soft and delicious! We also got the spaghetti which was great too. I like that the menu clearly indicates what dishes are vegetarian so you don't have to guess or ask the server! And they have plenty of vegetarian options which is a big plus! read more

Impasto - Beetroot gnocchi - Pizza Near Me - San Carlos, California

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I highly recommend Impasto- the pizzas were phenomenal, the pastas also on point- it took me back to Italy. Great service and well delivered menu. Prices are also very reasonable considering the quality of the food and ambiance. read more

This is a new restaurant by the same team that runs Italico and Terun Pizza. The space is warm and inviting and the food & drinks are simply superb. Service is always good at all locations. Full bar. Rye flour pizza was outstanding but all dishes on the menu were really good. At a place like this you don't have to worry about what to order. Everything is delicious. I will be back! read more

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Wonderful staff, caring and attentive owners, and authentic and delicious food. It goes without saying that the pizza is delicious, but the menu is surprisingly varied for a pizzeria, with a lot of other options that are just as delightful plus a full bar. The ambiance makes for a lovely overall experience, with lots of nearby parking as an added bonus! read more

Impasto has great Italian food. We got the protein trio special: sausage, grilled chicken, and skirt steak with crispy smashed Yukon potatoes and salad. We also got the gnocchi and ravioli. The gnocchi are a hot pink color because it's made with beet juice and came in a Gorgonzola cream sauce. The ravioli was stuffed with spinach and cheese and came in a tomato sauce. The gnocchi was my favorite because it tasted great and I loved the color. I also tried the Focaccia Pugliese bread; the tomatoes on the warm bread tasted amazing with just the right amount of tartness that was balanced out with the creaminess of the Rosemary butter that it came with it. I also got the Limonata drink, which is a carbonated lemonade. It was very refreshing. I can't wait to go back. read more

Impasto - Trio special (top), Ravioli (left), Gnocchi (right) - Pizza Near Me - San Carlos, California

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We had a fantastic time here! We are from out of town and came with friends on our first night here. We started with calamari and Eggplant Polpette both were delicious! Our server was amazing and treated us to an experience I won't forget. Whenever we are back in town I can't wait to come back to visit to try more! read more

Impasto - FRITTURA DI CALAMARI and EGGPLANT POLPETTE - Pizza Near Me - San Carlos, California

Service: 5/5, busy but still attentive Octopus 4/5 - large portion, not crispy but taste good Clam and Mussel 5/5 - on the special menu, very good Tonno E Cipolla 3/5 - taste good, but the base is soggy probably because of the fish Fichi Calabria 4/5 - specialty pizza, taste good and interesting pizza The restaurant is very lively but you can still listen to your party talking. There is a small bar area to watch the sport games so it is a plus read more

Last minute plans brought us to this establishment for the first time on a Friday night. The atmosphere was very welcoming and friendly. I ordered the pulpo and branzino and everything was seasoned very well. Everything we ordered was very delicious and we will be coming back. Thank you for the hospitality and delicious food. read more

Understaffed and overpriced, a rough combination for this restaurant near the San Carlos train station. Cocktail was spot on. Appetizer (savory flan) was very, very mid for the price. Entrees were not very good either: The seabass was underseasoned , the sauce 2was limp, and the cooking process. really needed a harder sear. Lasagna was no better than Kirkland frozen. Service was unattentive. After a good start where the server kept coming back several times to see if we were ready to order (come on man, we've barely sat down), he proceeded to ghost us once our food arrived. Once we were done, it took 15 minutes for anyone to give us a check. And there is no check. He stands there reading what we ordered off a Payment Processing machine, so nearly impossible to verify accuracy. What a strange way to settle up! I'm afraid we won't be coming back here, considering the numerous dining choices in San Carlos and surrounding communities. I hope they do better in the future and wish them the best. read more

Just recently opened! Impasto is the third restaurant opened by the founders (Maico, Franco, Guiseppe, Kristjan) of Terùn and Italico. The success of their restaurants comes from their experience, dedication and passion for food combined with the well-known Italian spirit of warmth and hospitality. I promise you will get the best service and Italian food here! Only the freshest and highest quality ingredients they source the best raw materials for their pasta, pizzas, and wines. Ambiance is perfect spot for date night or social gathering! Service is exceptional! They treat you like family here and I felt like I was back in Italy! Here's what I ordered. STARTERS HOMEMADE FOCACCIA BREAD-Must order and cooked to order focaccia bread with fresh herbs and homemade rosemary butter FRITTURA DI CALAMARI- fresh, lightly battered calamari with lemon sauce and side of fresh lemon. -PIZZA SAN DANIELE- prosciutto san Daniele 24 month, cremini mushrooms, mozzarella, arugula, shaved grana Padano, truffle oil -SPECIAL PIZZA (CAPITO CUOR DI CEREAL) FUCHI- FIOR dI latte mozzarella, fresh figs, prosciutto crudo and chestnut honey. MUST ORDER. TAGLIATA- 16oz certified angus beef ribeye, French fries and green beans read more

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There's a new showstopper in town and has won the hearts of San Carlans! Talking about Franco and Giovanni's magnificent idea about opening another Impasto in San Carlos! A plus plus plus for the food, drinks, service, ambience and all the elements needed to create one of the best new restaurants! Easily accessible by train (adjacent), by car (41 parking spaces in back and side that many don't know about), bus (bus stops right ouside), Uber or a lyft drop off, and even via plane (fly into San Carlos Airport). The food is succulently delish mama Mia! The pasta is perfectly aldante, pizza ridiculously their own creative trademark,, appetizers exactly that...sets your palate for more, and desserts a guilty pleasure. The wine list ahhh love love love my Italian wine which Franco graciously poured me another! In many places if you're scoring high on food and drinks, pretty much a great place to go but wait! The SERVICE is outstanding and sets them apart from elsewhere. No really! From the hostess to the servers to all that work there epitomizes excellence and I mean excellence in customer service. All must have graduated with honors in hospitality. Employees very gracious, smiling, happy to be there, all working together elevating teamwork like you entered Disneyland. And ambience is warm and cozy (even outside with heatlamps), bar area with nonobnoxious music piping throughout and windows to the kitchen so you can see the beautiful creations that'll adorn your table. Greatest place as Walt Disney would say! read more

The service was very good. The Fogaccia was great! The Pizza was just OK... and NOT HOT--warm. We did not say anything because we were so hungry. The grilled romaine was good. BUT--and this is what will keep me from coming back, the PLACE WAS LOUD. It was a packed Saturday night and I had to practically shout across the table to speak with our friends. Way Loud. Again, the service was good. But the other combination was, well, a non starter. I'm sure I may be an outlier, because the place was so busy. If you were looking for a nice quiet dinner, that is not the place. read more

The food was excellent! I was looking forward to Cacio e Pepe and it delivered. Yum! Unfortunately, it was sooooo noisy my two friends and I could not hear one another. read more

I love Terun, so I came to check out Impasto. It's got a relatively similar menu and their pizza is amazing, but the price point has gotten a bit high, making it more of a special occasion place for me than somewhere I can dine on any old night. The outdoor patio space is great. The wine list could definitely stand to be beefed up a bit - I couldn't find anything that was up my alley. Overall, a good place to dine out. read more

Great food ! The food was on par with Terun which is one of my go-tos. The eggplant polpette are a must-try. The pizza was also solid. I don't see myself coming back here because the tables are pushed so close together that it feels like you are dining with strangers and I prefer a little more privacy. There is no easy parking nearby, I recommend parking on old country road and cutting through the Caltrain station to get to the restaurant. read more

I ate dinner here. The location is really out of the way, which I like, at the San Carlos Train Stop. A little away from the hustle of Laurel Street. The food was quite interesting and see my take on the different items below. I ordered the Specialty Pizza which came with big peppers on it and a specialty doe- tasted somewhat like buckwheat. It is a new refined pizza. I really like the old San Remos (closed now) which used to be across the street, or the existing Toto in San Bruno (the Belmont one is just ok). I am also somewhat impartial to glamorous places like Vespa on Broadway. I like the deep dish one, but unfortunately Paxi's closed. Blue line is just ok. Pazzo is also just ok. I do like Chicago Pizza in south PA but it is too long a drive. Not sure if I have reviews for all of them. I tasted two of their pizzas and three of their pastas. Tried to put a table in the review but that is too advance for Yelp at this point. Only simple text. Restaurant, Calabria Pizza, Spaghetti, Penne, Ravioli Taste 4 , 3, 2, 3 Quality 5, 3, 3, 4 Quantity 4, 4, 3, 4 Aroma 5, 3, 3, 3 Presentation 5, 2, 2, 4 Appetizer 3 Service 5 Parking 5 Atmosphere 4 Selection 4 Alcohol 3 Dessert 4 Value 4 The Maître d' was particularly nice and I think it was the owner who was also very attentive, making the service a 5. We were lucky and had parking right there in the train station- which in San Carlos and Redwood City is an issue these days. All in all a somewhat expensive but reasonable experience. The place was packed so I guess it does appeal to the masses. I would give their pizza a 4.5 and the pasta(s) a 3. The penne was very andante (under cooked) so mediocre taste. The desserts where also relatively good, but again a bit expensive. At $32 for a medium size pizza is pricey for me. I would recommend the place since the exotic tastes were well thought out. I liked the pepper and cheese combination (dairy reduced the effects of spices). Did not like the wine selection since they were all Italians. Would have liked at least one red and white from Napa. Had the Calamari appetizer which was also just ok. Not sure about the sauce. All in all, somewhat pricey but good. I really liked the fact the the owner was there trying to make everything work. read more

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Had a meal here last night with friends...greatly enjoyed the patio dining under the stars and heat lamp. The waitstaff was attentive and friendly. Lots of Pizza choices as well as specials daily. We enjoyed a combination of pasta, pizza, salads. All dishes were tasty. The restaurant was busy and lively! read more

The pizza margarita was legit. I always order it to decide whether I'm going to go back and get any other pizza in the future. It passed. Very nice vibe as well. Professional service. read more

Amazing service --on par with world class fine dining !!! Favorites included pulpo and beet salad and soup!!!

We came here for lunch on a Friday. Reservations is a must because they are open until 2:00 . We ordered calamari; ciabatta bread : fried eggplant -- delicious . We ordered branzino and carbonara pizza. The branzino was delicious! I would come back for this! Tiramisu for our birthday ! Yummy! Service was great! read more

We ordered catering from Impasto by Terun for a party and were very impressed. Everything was thoughtfully packed, fresh, and clearly made with high-quality ingredients. The food was delicious and a big hit with our guests. Highly recommend for catering or special events! read more

Food was tasty and service was fine but they crammed the tables in too much, so my chair was constantly being hit by waiters and customers alike. I found that to be uncomfortable. Also our table was crowded with plates for the whole meal. Toward the end I asked for a to-go box for the appetizer and they placed the box on a table near the entrance for me to grab on the way out 'so the table wouldn't be crowded.' Strange system. Someone could pick up the wrong leftover box. read more

Ducked into Impasto during a break in the rain and felt like I had been greeted by old friends. Staff was warm and attentive. Lighting was stylish and slightly under lit which created an intimate vibe. We shared the beet salad, San Daniele pizza and panna cotta which was fresh and savory. This pizzeria has it all and is a welcome addition to the neighborhood. read more

Outstanding food, amazing service, friendly local vibe. Definitely one of our favorite restaurants in the area. I highly recommend!! If you go try the Cannella Paper Plane cocktail and the Rigatoni!! read more

Impasto - Wine and Cocktail Menu - Pizza Near Me - San Carlos, California

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I've always liked Terun in Palo Alto, and their restaurant group just opened Impasto in San Carlos near Caltrain (across from the main downtown area). A friend of mine has celiac disease, and I had read Impasto had GF pizza and pasta options, so we decided to check it out. It's not a huge space, so if you can plan ahead, reserve first on Tock (indoor and outdoor available). The menu is pretty similar to Terun in Palo Alto. Drinks: - Calabrian margarita: good kick - pretty spicy - Italian old fashioned: smooth, spirit driven Food: - Fava bean and broccoli rabe: my go to vegetable dish from the Palo Alto location. Served warm and slightly cheesy - Caprese: a fresh mozzarella ball over tomatoes with zucchini noodles - Fichi pizza: this fell into the specialty pizzas category with a special flour for the dough. While I liked the fig and prosciutto, I definitely prefer the traditional dough crust - Nduja pizza: with zucchini - this is my usual pizza at Terun. My friend got the GF version of this and seemed to like it Food came at a good pace, but we had multiple dishes brought to our table that weren't ours. That said, they just opened, and all the staff were so gracious, so service was overall wonderful. I didn't expect it to be so crowded on a random Thursday night at 6pm - they were completely full! I'm glad I made a reservation on Tock (indoor and outdoor available). Update: parking is at Caltrain near the restaurant in the spots marked "restricted" - signage to change soon per the Impasto team! read more