Finally tried this place and so glad we did! The food was delicious and the service was above and beyond. I'm so sorry I don't have our waiter's name but he was one of the nicest, thoughtful and helpful people I have ever met in a restaurant. For dinner I had the peaches and cream salad which was so yummy! My husband and I split it. Next time he can get his own-I'm not sharing! I then had the flower market pizza. Very rich and delicious. Wound up taking a lot of it home which is fine. Also had a glass of white wine which I think was Vermentino. Please excuse the spelling. Recommend by our wonderful waiter and was perfect. My hubby had the lasagna which was huge. He took down the whole thing. Wonderful experience, highly recommend and we will be back! read more

Walk in and smell the garlic and you know it's going to be amazing! The muscle and clams in broth were amazing ! I ordered garlic bread for dipping in the broth and I was in heaven. The meat ball appetizer was a preface consistency and not too dense, the sauce was full flavor perfection. I Highly recommend the bolognese and if you have a weirdo who doesn't want Italian, they graciously offer a hamburger which I'm told is pretty amazing according to our hamburger expert in our group. Their beef blend and seasoning in the burger takes it to another level. Lastly we ordered the Pizza. The crust was traditional and the cheese blend was so good everyone in our party had a taste or two! The service was great and our familia had a wonderful dining experience! read more

Came back and had another very good meal in the same casual, welcoming environment. Thanks to the staff for their attentiveness and service. This time I had the paccheri cooked with a beef and pork vodka sauce. Very rich and filling plus more of their complimentary warm, toasted bread! Another nice meal. Definitely enjoyed it. read more

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The staff welcomed us with open arms. Friendly greeting and we had a window seat so we can people watch. First time at this location. The food was delicious and tasty. Apparently they close between lunch and dinner. The staff did not rush us and told us to take our time. The restaurant is quiet and the dining experience is the right pace. Plenty of street parking. We lived this place. You got to give it a try. Oh the bread was delicious! read more

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Really beautiful restaurant with an outdoor patio with individual fireplaces. Service was excellent, but what was lacking was the food. My spaghetti carbonara just didn't have much flavor - it tasted to me like bland alfredo sauce. My wife had the chicken marsala and said it was sweet - not the flavor she was expecting, and she didn't like it very much. read more

As vegetarians, i was super impressed with the variety of the options and quality of food. This place is worth of long drive. They have an amazing service with beautiful ambiance. We ordered couple of appetisers and basil pesto pasta. Everything was amazing. We ended our dinner with delicious tiramisu dessert. read more

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It's Italia is our favorite spot in Half Moon Bay! My daughter and I have celebrated her birthday here and brought friends along because we know the experience is always top-tier. Service is always friendly. The pasta is simply perfect every time. I especially love the jumbo shrimp--they are massive, fresh, and seasoned to perfection. Between the high-quality food and the wonderful atmosphere, it's the perfect place for a celebration or a nice dinner out. Highly recommend! read more

Great experience from start to finish. The hostess and entire team were genuinely warm and attentive throughout the meal, which really set the tone. It is a family owned spot that clearly cares about quality and consistency. Everything felt thoughtful, fresh, and well executed. We had the steak and eggs, cooked perfectly and beautifully seasoned, and the Scavezzacollo pizza, which was an amazing combination of ingredients with just the right amount of heat. The Caesar salad stood out as well with crisp baby gem lettuce, classic anchovy dressing, Parmesan crisps, and sliced Asiago and Manchego. Located conveniently on Main Street and makes for a great start or end to a day in Half Moon Bay. Views of Main Street from the front, and a more intimate bar setting in the back. A great choice for dinner, weekend brunch, or a special occasion. Highly recommend. read more

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This restaurant is at Half Moon Bay in NoCal and I recommend it for a quick bite of good Italian food. I had the Caesar with grilled chicken and it was very filling. Atmosphere is very rustic and chic. Servers were very polite and promt. read more

We had made a reservation and came in with a larger group for a birthday celebration around brunch time. The staff were quick to seat us in a large table closer to the bar area. Our server was very sweet and attentive. we ended up trying a multitude of items, including the Benedict, The Honey Bee Pizza, and lemon raspberry scones. The food came in large portions but there was no stand out item in terms of taste. They delivered a birthday dessert for my friend which was super sweet of them! Definitely a good spot for large groups. read more

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Had dinner here last night and unfortunately it was lack luster. The foccacia bread was lacking flavor and the olive oil and balsamic vinegar tasted rancid (possibly the olive oil was going bad). The little gems Caesar salad was good but little or no anchovy taste was present. I ordered the Halibut special and the fish was tasty however, the mashed potatoes were incredibly salty. I almost sent it back but didn't because the Halibut was fresh and was good. I do have a problem when servers are not using a serving tray. The busser was bringing water glasses to the table in open hands and not using a tray. The food runners were not using a serving tray. It's the cold and flu season and some staff were wiping there noses on their shirt sleeves. This is not creating a healthy restaurant environment. The restaurant was drafty and cold and we were sitting too close to the door and the hosts stand for seating customers. The tiramisu was very good but after getting home I had to drink a lot of water to flush out the salt from the mashed potatoes. Hoping the next visit to It's Italia, will be a better experience. read more

It's Italia - Sitting too close to the front of the restaurant. - Italian Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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Food was delicious! I had the halibut special with mashed potatoes and artichoke hearts. 3 of our 5 guests got the burger and loved it and the potatoes. We shared Brussels sprouts and calamari appetizers and desserts, all excellent! read more

It's Italia - Halibut speciall - Italian Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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Came back a second date and had an equally great experience. I had the pasta with vodka sauce and my partner had the chicken Marsala. Both were delicious. For an appetizer we had the wedge salad again and the mushrooms! read more

It's Italia - Pasta with vodka sauce - Italian Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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Came for lunch. It was really nice inside and they offered us fresh foccacia bread. The soup was delicious read more

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We were her over the Pumpkin Festival weekend and stopped by right after they opened. Although there were tables available, it was about an hour wait due to reservations so we ended up sitting at the bar. Ordered a couple Carajillo Cocktails; Giusti Farms Brussel Sprouts; 8z Char Grilled Filet Mignon; Slow Roasted Short Ribs; and the Pumpkin Brulee for dessert. The food was good but not great - brussel sprouts were really soft but the addition of pomegranate seeds were nice; the potato manchego was rich and more tasty than the filet; short ribs were tender but needed more flavor and sadly we couldn't taste any pumpkin in the brulee. Service is what you expect from sitting at the bar - wanted to like this place more but could have been better especially for the price paid. read more

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We showed up an hour early before opening. Online it says they open at 4 but a host saw us waiting and let us know that they open at 5pm on weekdays which was helpful so we went a couple restaurants down and found a wine bar. Once we made it back we were seated immediately and the ambiance was really nice. Christmas decorations are up and it felt cozy! They do have a tv by the bar which is nice if you're interested in sports! We ordered a bottle of wine and were offered some bread. The bread was soft and dense! Definitely one of my favorite breads and they're pretty big. Food was quick as well! We ordered the seafood risotto and the mushroom risotto! I really appreciated that our food came out together and they were hot! I was able to try both dishes and they were delicious! The portion sizing was also very nice! A great spot and great staff! New favorite restaurant :) read more

It's Italia - Seafood Risotto - Italian Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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It's Italia has a cozy and classy ambiance. It's a great place for formal dinners but also casual enough to come with friends. We were greeted promptly and the service was great. It also wasn't too busy for a weekend night. I ordered the flatbread-- not sure what separates it from pizza but it did not disappoint. Seeing the food that our table got, they don't skimp on the meat. Overall a pretty pleasant experience. read more

It's Italia - Scavezzacollo Flatbread - Italian Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Ordered takeout the other day to try a new (to us) Italian spot in HMB then went in person for dinner last night! Ordered: Mushroom Risotto, 2 Caesar Salads. Roasted Brussels (no bacon) + Brick Oven Prawns w Feta and Calabrian Chilis -- i thought the prawns would be dry by the description but they were more like shrimp scampi style. still really good! Caesar salad was ok but needs a punchier dressing. I'm not a fan of huge gem lettuce pieces but had to try it. Risotto was decent/good but could be creamier/cheesier. The sprouts were terrible. Last night we sat on the outdoor patio which was really pretty. Ordered: calamari to split which had 2 incredible sauces + Petrale Sole special w/ mashed potatoes and veggies + Paella special + minestrone soup + beet salad + tomato bruschetta + truffled focaccia balls + a bottle of white wine and a Generous Spirit cocktail for me. Calamari and the Sole special were incredible, as was my cocktail! Didn't try anything else but it all looked nice. Portions were large. Service was amazing. The staff work efficiently in unison and they made sure to rearrange some things for us outside as the rain started coming down so we got to enjoy the rest of our meal out there. Great spot for a no frills dinner of some classic foods. Seems like specials are daily/nightly! read more

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We randomly had a late lunch here on our way into town before we checked into the hotel. Super cute inside, very friendly staff, and the menu looked pretty solid. It was very cold outside so my husband and I were both looking for something warm and comforting. The minestrone was exactly what I was hoping for - super flavorful, VERY hot, great flavor, fresh. The beet salad was gorgeous and I loved the sauce - it was honestly a nice little surprising dish. Spaghetti bolognese was solid - and again, came out nice and hot. Bread service was tasty and come on, bread is always a great treat. We ordered our drinks - a glass of Pinot Noir and a beer - but the server misunderstood and brought and opened the whole bottle of wine. Thankfully we were able to cancel the beer so we could share, and they let us take the rest of the bottle sealed with us to go to our hotel. Solid experience overall - and grateful we did not have to wait for a table! read more

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My husband and I heard about this place through Check, Please! My cousin came from Texas for a visit, so we made the drive to Half Moon Bay to give it a try. We were greeted by the friendly hostess and shown to a nice table. We arrived at opening so didn't have to worry about not having a reservation. We ordered cocktails, including a very tasty lavender cosmopolitan. Just a hint of lavender. We ordered focaccia bread; very soft and delicious. For dinner, I ordered the braised short ribs. They were served over polenta. Very tender and the sauce was so tasty. My husband ordered chicken Marsala, which he said was very good. I had a little taste and I agree! Good flavor and chicken was very tender. My cousin ordered one of the specials, paella. She said it was very good, however not the traditional paella she is used to which has a crispy rice base. This paella was served over risotto. She still enjoyed it!! Even though we were full, for dessert we ordered tiramisu and key lime pie. I loved the key lime pie. Good blend of tart and sweet. The tiramisu had great flavor as well. Our waitress was very nice and knowledgeable about the menu. The restaurant is very cozy and had bar seating as well. My husband spied outdoor seating too. We enjoyed our visit and will be recommending to others! read more

We met a friend for lunch at It's Italia. At 1:00 it wasn't busy so it was easy to talk. This is a family owned restaurant and the owner, who is also the chef, puts a lot of personal touches on the menu. There were three of us eating and we decided to start with a refreshing Prosecco. One friend ordered the prawn and avocado panini with a Caesar salad. It had tiger prawns, avocado, cilantro savoy chipotle slaw, and aioli. I had the La Contessa panini with green salad. It included sundried tomato, burrata, basil, pesto, arugula, and aioli on focaccia. It was delicious. Sis went for the roasted citrus salmon that had garbanzo beans, cucumber, valbrese feta, fresh dill, oregano, lemon, and evoo. Both of the other diners really enjoyed their choices. Prior to the meal we had a tasty hunk of bread with vinegar and oil dipping sauce. The waitress was very friendly and knew the menu so she made helpful suggestions. There were very large windows that provided plenty of light and an outdoor seating area. It is was a delicious place to join a friend for lunch. read more

It's Italia - Front - Italian Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Went for lunch and a meeting with a coworker, and it was such a great experience! Our waitress was fantastic--attentive, intuitive, and really understood the vibe of the table. She offered some great suggestions, and we're so glad we took them. We shared the cauliflower and shishito peppers to start--both were absolutely delicious. We also ordered the peach and cream salad (a huge hit with my coworker--she couldn't stop raving about it!), the beet salad, and the Honey Bee pizza. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The service was spot-on and the food didn't disappoint. Will definitely be back! read more

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Wonderful brunch and dinner options with quality cocktails. Great for friends and family.

It's Italia! What a lovely space. Cozy and warm. We arrived around 5:30, greeted at the door by a lovely hostess -and were quickly seated at a table right next to the front door. We were promptly visited by a back server and given water and bread. Our waiter came by and read the specials to us. He was pleasant and efficient but seemed a bit distracted.... We ordered drinks - 2 signature cocktails: The Ozark Billy Goat - ($16 each) smokey maple old fashions served in a snifter -- very fun. It's Italia also offers many half bottles of wine, which was perfect for us. We ordered a half bottle of Chianti Superiore - Villa Claudia, Toscana $24 Daddy's Bacon Wedge Salad$16 Excellent! Crispy Iceberg with creamy blue dressing. Tons of sweet bacon and cherry tomatoes. Perfect!! Pear and Gorgonzola Pizza $24 was good flavor wise-- a little extra crisp would have been optimal, but it was still good. Seafood Risotto $29 We truly wanted to love it, we did not send it back, but honestly, it was bland (where's the seafood stock flavors?) and the rice was still a bit crunchy. The seafood was fresh and plentiful, (I do not prefer to have the tails on the shrimp in risotto) the shrimp were hard to cut in the dish- the tomato cream sauce was just kinda plain, it was served in a cold bowl. We were given no plate to put our shells and tails on. The crunchiness of the rice in a delicate creamy risotto was the biggest problem with the dish. But again, we understand that sometimes life ain't always perfect. My preference would be to not sit next to the hostess station as we heard every single bit of conversation that was going on up front. Also, we were just two people seated at a 4 top table directly across from the front door and the hostess area. Every time the door opens up you have no choice but to be involved in the meet, greet, and seating of each person who walks in. Very very distracting.... We didn't not have a reservation, but the restaurant did not fill up during our entire dinner -- there seemed to be plenty of other tables available that would have better suited an intimate table of two. The bar vibe was very fun, lively and festive- with what seemed to be lots of local folks. The bar seating was entirely filled up by the time we left. We used a $100 gift certificate to pay toward our bill. Our bill came to roughly $137 2 cocktails 1/2 bottle of wine 1 salad 1 pizza 1 main No dessert-- next time for sure! I think that having the waiter point out the amount we were discounted and then telling us that we need to tip on the original amount not the discounted receipt was kind of tacky. Especially as our server really didn't add much to our dining experience. We left a $40 dollar cash tip for the meal and service. My over all impression was pleasant. I could see and feel all that care that goes into making It's Italia a really lovely, warm space. I will definitely want to visit It's Italia again. I want to try the amazing looking lasagna that was being dropped at a table as I was leaving....it looked so good! I would prefer to give a 3.5 star rating, but that option is not available. read more

Ordered takeout from this place and really liked it. The interior is cute and inviting. The fried calamari was okay. I wish it had been a bit crispier to add more texture but it had a good, savory flavor with a nice hint of seasoning. The gnocchi with pesto sauce was really good. The gnocchi were soft and pillowy while the pesto sauce was fresh, vibrant, and full of basil and garlic flavor. The chicken parmesan was also very enjoyable. The chicken was tender and juicy, topped with plenty of melted cheese and a rich tomato sauce. Overall this was a solid meal and I would definitely order from here again. read more

I love the ambiance of this place but I've not had anything I would recommend. I recently just wanted a soup and I ordered the minestrone. The flavor was okay but the beans and pasta were undercooked. The vegetables were stringy and there was as no meat or meat flavor. Service was excellent. read more

I have been a loyal, consistent diner since It's Italia opened. I ordered a take-out burger. The hostess ignored me seating a couple. A wait staff got my order. The burger, as usual was delicious, what was not usual was the creamer potatoes and salad were not included. The fries were mediocre. I called the restaurant and was told the menu was changed about a month ago yet the menu online was not changed. I was sorely disappointed. Price still $28.00 with no creamers or salad. read more

During a weekend getaway to Half Moon Bay my wife decided to explore the many quaint shops in the downtown area. During her adventure she saw several eateries that she thought I would enjoy. She offered to treat me to lunch at It's Italia. She saw an omelette on their menu that appealed to her and she knew I had been craving steamed mussels and clams so off we went. The restaurant has a special occasion vibe. I would not hesitate to suggest it if you were looking for a place for a first date or a celebration with friends. The staff were friendly and attentive. We were presented with house made focaccia upon seating. On the side was olive oil and balsamic vinegar. My wife ordered the Herbed Ricotta Omelette and I ordered the Tequila Clams and Mussels. While I could go on and on about balanced flavors and perfect textures the first thing that comes to mind is WOW! Words cannot describe how pleased we were with our first time experience. We are looking forward to our next visit. read more

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I love this place. The food is always delicious, everyone is nice, the decor and ambience is lovely & it's clean. Can I mention the bathrooms are always clean as well? Fresh flowers everywhere and I like their paper towels if I'm being honest, thick napkin/cloth types...they really think about every detail. We've been there twice now and they never disappoint. We've been for dinner (I had a life-changing peach salad over the summer...genuinely, I went out and bought bee pollen for salads at home) and now we've been for brunch, which was also delicious! My husband is a chef so he is pretty particular about his steaks, he said it was perfectly cooked and the flavor was amazing. I had the huevos rancheros, which was also yummy. We tried the scones which I thought were fantastic (good flavor, crispy on the outside and crumbly, but not dry). We skipped dessert and had the crème brûlée French toast instead. Was very good, but I would say I would have preferred it if they torched sugar on top to make it a full crème brûlée crunchy like top as opposed to (I think) just burning it a bit so it had a burned flavor. Not sure if that was on purpose or not so I wouldn't try that one again, but minus the burned flavor the other parts of the French toast were delicious. Last time I tried the gnocchi and was very good fresh but not good later (as it got quite oily & separated). If you like fried calamari, they have the best we have found in the Bay Area so far. Whatever batter they are using is perfection (perfectly flavored and crispy), the calamari always tastes fresh & the breading perfectly crumbles in your mouth and it's never oily or overcooked. All in all this place is great and we plan to go back next week, even though we live an hour away lol read more

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It's always a great experience here! The food, drinks, and ambiance is top-notch! We ordered our favorite menu items! It's been our goto orders! Everything from the taste and presentation, is top-tier! I wish I took more pics of the dining area and the restaurant in general! I will on my next visit but it's definitely a beautiful setting! From the decor ambiance, it feels like your in Italy dining in an authentic Italian restaurant! read more

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Wife and I are enjoying some time in Half Moon Bay CA. This is one of our favorite places in CA, and we were lucky to stay here at the Ritz, due to work conference. So, expect a lot of reviews from nice restaurants just off or on Main Street. So we arrived early on Saturday, checked in before lunch, dropped off our bags in room, and headed here after wife checked Yelp and picked this one since we never been. It was nice and quiet for a Saturday the first week of January. We arrived around 12:30pm and were surprised it was a brunch menu. Isn't brunch typically for Sunday? Either way we didn't care since we were up since 3am to catch a 6am flight to San Fran, and were ready for a hearty lunch. You can see the menu and it is pretty eclectic. Wife was craving soup since we were recovering from the flu bug going around, and of course I wanted beef and pizza. She ordered the 25 year old Minestrone, which was one of the best she has had. Probably why the recipe hasn't changed for 25 years. Me, I had the burger which was out of this world. Something about the beef. Pomponio beef. Never heard of it but it was one of the best burgers I've had. The pizza wasn't anything special, but my wife loved it. Summer squash on pizza is just wrong in my opinion. We also had the muscles and beet salad which were both really good I recommend this place if you are in the area. Service was great, and food yummy tasty. read more

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Super cute neighborhood eatery with fresh ingredients. Service was so attentive. Staff is super sweet and kind. Ambiance is nice and cozy. Great for a romantic date or a fun girls night out. Love the seafood risotto and bolognese! read more

Best Italian food from cocktails to entrees to dessert! A must try if you're in Half Moon Bay read more

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It's Italia never disappoints. We went for C's birthday and had a very nice time. For starters we had the fried calamari, and no one does it better than It's Italia. Crunchy and fresh; absolutely perfect. For our main dish, C had the short ribs and I had the halibut (a special of the day). Both were delicious. I loved that the asparagus served with the halibut were still crunchy and not overcooked. When I keep thinking of a restaurant meal for days after, you know it was a home run. This was one of those meals. The service is very friendly and attentive, but not overly so, just like we prefer. The ambiance is casual, with a mix of us locals and visitors. There was music playing softly in the background, but not intrusive at all. I wish more restaurants would take note. The location is great, right in the middle of the historic downtown. There's outside seating on a secluded patio. Definitely try it, if the Half Moon Bay fog cooperates. There's a reason we keep coming back, despite all the competition in town. Highly recommended. read more

My family and I enjoyed a wonderful Easter dinner at It's Italia! Our waitress, Suzanne, was cheerful, knowledgeable, and checked on us often. We were all impressed with her great service, but especially her extensive knowledge of the menu and specials, her recommendations, and her friendly demeanor! The other staff members also frequently came by to refill water glasses and remove empty plates! We started off with focaccia that was flavorful, homemade, and delicious (which I forgot to get a photo of), but highly recommend! For drinks, my mom got a gin fizz (note- they were SO nice to make this for us, but apparently this is actually a morning/brunch-only drink, and they usually won't make it after that time). I had the delicious and sweet Frida Kahlo, my brother's girlfriend had the Lavender Lemon Drop, and my brother had a cocktail as well, but I don't recall the name. All of our drinks were wonderful, and we were thankful that they accommodated my mom's drink request! For our entrees- my brother had the special of the day (halibut), his girlfriend had the vodka pasta, and my mom and I split the caprese and the scavezzacollo flatbread. We all loved every dish! The caprese was unique as the tomatoes were warm, which made them extra sweet. The halibut was flaky and flavorful with wonderful sides, the pasta was cooked perfectly, and the flatbread was just the right portion and perfectly spicy! We also shared the affogato and key lime pie for dessert, which were beautiful and delicious! The restaurant is beautiful inside, and I saw they have a back patio, but I have not gone out there yet. I'm sure on a nice day, that would be a great seating choice! Inside is wonderful as well and very comfortable. We love It's Italia and we will be back! Thank you Suzanne for a great experience! read more

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Absolutely WONDERFUL experience here and can't wait to come back to HMB to come here again! Our server Amanda was a delight! Very attentive and kind! The "feel" of the restaurant is cozy Italy with a modern flare with their gorgeous bar! The food was the star of the show! Everything we ordered was a hit! read more

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Blown away - It's Italia hit all the points: Great ambience Great service Great drinks Great food - appetizers and main course We had lunch here and did not regret our choice. Every dish we ordered was top notch. High point - the ability to modify a dish to suit the diet. They accepted the suggested change and proposed an even better adjustment and it was PERFECT! Wish I took photos of our cocktails! read more

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Unbelievable! Stopped by it's Italia for dinner Sunday 7:50 PM (they close at 8:30 , open tables everywhere ) We were turned away and told they aren't taking walkins. We have lived on the coast for 25 years and just finished our massage at cloud nine in half moon bay, which was awesome... Just wanted to grab a quick bite to eat and was so disappointed by the service there. Last time we were there it wasn't even that great, but we thought we'd give it one more try. Needless to say we will not be going back, so so so disappointing.. read more

The food and service were excellent. We popped in around 4:30 on a Saturday afternoon, and although there were no tables available due to reservations being full we got a lovely seat at the bar. We started off with the fried calamari and a roasted mushroom arugula salad with read more

I went in there about a week ago while visiting Main Street with my husband and was greeted promptly by a young hostess, despite it being extremely busy in the restaraunt (I think her name was Halley- props to her for handling such a busy night on her own!) The pizza was absolutely amazing and was authentically Italian- tasted just like the pizza I had on my trip to Italy. The ambiance set the perfect vibes and visiting It's Italia really made my trip the the coast special. read more