Great brunch! It's not super busy whenever I've been there for brunch which is a huge plus. Dog friendly patio with gorgeous views of the redwood trees. Coming here is a great way to start your day! Plus the owner gives back so much and donates to Vivalon: Healthy Aging Campus in San Rafael. I love supporting a local business especially when they give back and show up to our locals in need of support read more

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Really sweet spot. Super nice staff/owners. We had reservations for brunch on Mother's Day. Place has an open kitchen. They all are working hard, making it look easy. They have great coffee/lattes. Excellent focaccia bread served with delicious olive oil. I put cracked pepper & salt in mine. Perfecto! My husband loved his grits, with veggies & perfectly poached eggs. He says, he will have it again next time. That's how much he enjoyed it! We shared the tortellini, to my daughter & I, this was the star. She had their bass, enjoyed it. I had their eggs Benedict. Next time I will have their beet (salad). Gelato was good, outsourced. Panecota was good but too small ;) We look forward to eating here again real soon. read more

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Service and atmosphere decent. The food needs work. The appetizer and salad menu are uninspiring. My main dish was the filet mignon. While the quality of the meat was good, the cooking methods were not. It was extremely bland. No seasoning. The sauce that came with it was bland too. Worst of all I ordered it cooked medium and it was served mostly well done. 85% of the inside was grey and dry. Only about 15% of the steak was not cooked well done. The 15% left was barely medium well. Just a slight hint of pink in one spot. Clearly the cook does not know what medium cook is. Overall decent but doesn't stand out. Definitely did not justify the prices. read more

Food is excellent!! I had the mascarpone & blueberry pancakes, and my husband had the eggs benedict and both were delicious served with amazing coffee too The service was fantastic and the restaurant had a very pleasant, relaxing ambiance. read more

Came here for brunch prior to dropping our daughter off at Camp Bothin. I had the breakfast sandwich without bacon. I generally don't like runny yolks, however it was perfect in this case as the bread soaked it up. The daughter had the open face salmon sandwich which she found satisfying and the husband had the salmon Benedict. No one was unhappy. We split the crème brûlée which was delicious, and on the house :) The waiter was solo, however tentative and friendly. The restaurant was cute and chic. read more

Brunch at La Gastronomia in Fairfax is a good choice, particularly if you like a really good hollandaise. The chef-owners bring their Italian roots to the table in a way that feels like you're eating in a European kitchen. The eggs Benedict with smoked salmon and spicy hollandaise is rich and buttery, the avocado omelette with spinach is fresh and the breakfast potatoes are properly done and nicely crisp. It's a calm, relaxed spot for brunch in a Marin town that retains some of its Nor-Cal hippie bonafides. We noticed they have homemade pasta on the brunch menu. Their pasta got a glowing Chronicle write up last year, so we plan to return for a pasta brunch. read more

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The BEST real Italian around. Honest. This is one of the most outstanding Italian restaurants--not only in the Bay Area, but truly from anywhere in the states. We met Elena, the head chief / owner / and chief proprietor last summer just before a vacation to Italy. Little did we know the quality of the food and nuance of the dishes would rival some of the best dining spots we visited in Rome, Florence and Venice. Their commitment to local ingredients and a seasonal menu--combined with Elena, and her families, keen commitments to authentic flavors and dishes--make the place a remarkable foodie option for Bay Area residents and visitors alike. It is well worth the drive to FairFax. Try the fried zucchini blossom.!! Brilliant. The branzino and pancetta homemade pasta are also real standouts. If you come with a crew make space for the: Burrata, anything pesto and mussels. And all the Desserts. Don't miss the chance to get to this spot. You won't regret it.!! read more

Pasta quality was outstanding. All homemade and cooked to perfection. The sauces were "good" not great, but extremely well made pasta. Lovely staff and a cute little restaurant. Will go back and try one of the meat dishes. read more

This place is truly special. Had brunch there today, it was fresh, plentiful and beyond delish. The room is stylish and bright. I would take out of towners there to show them Fairfax and the fab. food scene. We will return next weekend to try some of the dishes we didn't have today. read more

We went for brunch and everything was perfect. Food was fresh, tasty and well made. Highly recommend!

The food was delicious and the portion size was perfect. The service is top notch. Everyone was helpful with the menu options. The atmosphere is low key and tastefully done. I highly recommend the restaurant. read more

Been here multiple times and always good. Friendly staff, nice design elements and food delish. Bring your dog and eat outside or enjoy eating inside at a beautiful table. If you want a true Italian experience, food and staff, enjoy dinner here. read more

The pacherri with guancale was excellent. Just a great mix of tomato and pork flavor with nice rich crunch bits. The seafood pasta left a little to be desired as the shrimp were overcooked. We also got the fava and pecorino appetizer which was really great. read more

We have eaten at La Gastronomia a number of times and again last evening. What a special treat! Outdoor and indoor seating, lovely ambiance, great personal service, and outstanding food. Authentic Italian cooking and menu-be sure to order the zucchini blossoms while they are in season. Great for a special occasion or just a wonderful night out. read more

This was excellent. This was heartwarming comfort. You will feel a lot warmer here on a cold day, and not just because of the heaters inside. I started off with their Polpo (steamed octopus with cubed potatoes and some greens), which was surprisingly chilled and simply delicious. Their pasta (I forgot the name sorry!) which was served with artichokes and a handful of greens was amazing. These two added to the already cozy vibe of the restaurant. I finished off with their tiramisu. Delicioso! I am so glad I came here. I heard a customer asking one of the staff about pinot noir and other wines so I will try that next time! read more

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Loved the beet salad and seafood past- the sauce was amazing! My husband had the ragu pasta and he loved it too. Wine pairing with our meal, complimented our dinner. read more

Legit Italian in the cuts of Marin. Been here for both their brunch and dinner and everything was on point. Beautiful interior to match the killer food. Parking can be a little hard during the weekend, but well worth it! read more

Delicious brunch for the three of us. Very reasonable price for everything. Service was very good and helpful. We were surprised there weren't more customers there which was helpful with faster service and not loud. Seats were comfortable too. read more

Excellent from start to finish A warm welcome when we arrived The service was perfect not rushed served with attention to every detail The choice of appetizers were amazing I'm a vegetarian and it was great to see a wide variety of seasonal dishes The portions were generous and the wine excellent We had 2 birthday guests . The restaurant served a magnificent dessert with candles in their honor Finishing off a very special evening Wishing La Gastronomia every success read more

A delicious and authentic Italian meal! The risotto had perfect texture with delicious tomatoes and snap peas. The percchia with guanciale and tomatoes was creamy, delicious and a spoonful of heaven. The lamb was prepared as ordered, melted in your mouth, and was accompanied by a delicious (berry?) reduction- out of this world. Even the coffee was authentic Italian style with crema. The cannoli seemed to be home made and laden with pistachios. Yum!!! And the zucchini blossom course was fabulous! The service was attentive but not pesty; the Italian wine list offered good options, my rose went beautifully with the risotto. What a hidden gem!! I'll be back again ;) read more

Quaint Italian restaurant in beautiful Fairfax. The food is delicious, love the handmade pasta. Service is excellent, feels like home

Not only was the food tasty but the customer service is top notch. I had booked a large party for a Monday night and some time after that their schedule changed and they were no longer going to be open Mondays. But they honored the reservation and prepared a delicious meal for my group. We'll be back! read more

This place is fantastic. Been twice with a party of six. Service and food spectacular!! We have such a good time. All our dishes, lamb, steak, pasta, risotto cooked perfectly. All the vegetables fresh and delish. Dessert - yummy!! This is our first and only choice when everyone is town!!! read more

Slipped in on a Thursday night with our two children and had an amazing meal. I went for some of the more unique and interesting dishes, but I bought the Bolognese as a back up, and everyone was intrigued and satisfied. Would come back again. Excellent attentive service too and just the oil and bread alone is like... worth the trip. read more

Great food. Authentically Italian. Fresh Fresh Fresh. Everything is tasty. Coffee superb as well as deserts

By far my favorite place to dine in Marin. Excellent food. Impeccable service with a feeling of hospitality like being in a friend's home. The menu is always changing with the seasons. Every dish made with care and served with love. read more

La Gastronomia - Rack of lamb - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Fairfax, California

We've never been to Fairfax before and decided to meet some friends for an early dinner and some wine. I had no idea Fairfax was so out of the way to get to, especially during the Friday commute through San Rafael - plan ahead and make sure you leave plenty of time to get out there. Parking is a bit of a pain - you can look for street parking, but mind the signs as some streets require permits and they're quite aggressive with enforcement. You're best bet is to park in one of the lots and walk (less than 10 mins). The restaurant is small and tables are fairly close together. The atmosphere is loud and vibrant. If you're looking for a quiet, intimate setting for a date, this might not be the best option, but for getting together with friends to unwind from the week, enjoy some great food, and drink some wine, this restaurant is absolutely perfect. I really loved the energy and the vibe. The food was also good, though some dishes were better than others. Two of us ordered the porchetta while the other two ordered two different pastas and overwhelmingly, everyone favored the porchetta. The taglierini alle vongole was a bit bland and didn't seem like the pasta finished cooking in the clam/wine cooking liquid. The porchetta was delicious - there were crunchy bits, soft tender bits - and it was wonderfully seasoned. My only complaint is that some parts of the porchetta were extremely dry - I suppose the downside of cooking it, and reheating to order? The accompaniments for he porchetta were delicious. I had a look at their wine list and there are some great options and as you'd expect, there were a lot of Italian wines. We opted to bring our own and the corkage fee was very reasonable. Overall, it was really solid and a great place to hang out with friends on a Friday night. read more

Beautiful food and fabulous service. The fungi pasta was superb. My husband's steak was delicious. The burrata appetizer was delicious as well. Mmm crème brûlée. Reasonable corkage fee as well. read more

If I could give 100 stars, I would. The food is simply excellent. If you have been to Italy and enjoy the more rustic styled cuisine, this is the place. The food is exquisite. The Tuscan owner/chef knows what she's doing. There is simply nothing to avoid on the menu. I'll be coming back every time I'm town! read more

Wonderful! Superb! 4 of us enjoyed a perfectly prepared and beautifully presented multicourse dinner Italian style. We enjoyed farmers market fresh green salads. Pasta con funghi, risotto con asparagi, scallops, and the very best lamb. Tiny restaurant is chic and cozy at the same time (you forget it's funky Fairfax)! Family owners and servers are charming and delightfully Italian. Buonissimo read more

Enjoyed a delicious meal here recently. We had the burrata, the crispy polenta crostini, rigatoni with spicy sausage and the pappardelle with veal ragú. Everything was fantastic. The polenta crostini are a non-negotiable. The service was excellent, and everyone is very welcoming and friendly. Very relaxed, laid back atmosphere. read more

We ABSOLUTELY love the restaurant La Gastronomia.This is a family owned business by a wonderful local Italian family here in Marin. The food is authentic Italian made with only the best ingredients. I love how there is always something new on the menu. Oh and the desserts are superb. We dine here at least 2-3 times per month. This is definitely a restaurant for grownups or well behaved children. The prices are a little higher but the food, ambiance, and service are impeccable and therefore worth it. read more

The dinner was "fine," but the 3% surcharge tacked onto the end of the bill left a bad taste in our mouths. Service was "fine," though the two parties that arrived after us got their order taken first. When it was time to order, the plate we desired was "86'd" - they could have told us that when we were given the menus or when we asked about specials (none). Prices are about industry average. The check suggests the tip (which galls me): 18%, 20%, or 25%! They must think they give extraordinary service. Free street parking. Outdoor dining available. At least they didn't charge for bread or water. There's better Italian dining elsewhere, but if you are in Fairfax, this will do. read more

Great service, every dish was excellent, classic ambiance. A beautiful high quality restaurant with a great menu. read more

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Before watching the the taped 49ers vs Packers nail biter last nite, Deb & I used our teeth for other fare here...we shared a citrus, totsoi & ricotta salad which she loved (except for the cheese, not her bag, & I liked). She devoured her entree... a roast chicken. I wanted to try the porchetta & asked about its pairing with cheese fondue (which puzzled me) I decided to sub spuds & chard with shitake mushrooms instead, feeling that the fondue would mask the porchetta ... Both entrees were loaded with the sides which had (to me) a sloppy look but quite abundant. I left half the my plate & boxed it. I wasn't thrilled by the pork... a bit too dry & I didn't pick up any fennel flavor in the meat which is part of the classic taste profile along with garlic & rosemary (the crispy pork skin was the best part) So my entree was a "3". I wouldn't order it again but would try some of their other offerings admittedly I'm a big fan of Fradelizios (fried calamari & NY Steak!) a homier & more affordable Italian joint read more

One of our favorite spots in Fairfax. Super friendly and attentive service, yummy Italian wine selection, and most dishes were exceptional. Only complaint is that the tri-color salad was a bit bland. We'll be back! read more

Amazing food. Best Italian food in Marin. Highly recommend. A+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The best dinner experience I've had in a long time. You sit down and can tell immediately that every detail from tableware to ambiance has been taken into careful consideration by someone who loves to play host and feed people. One thing that immediately made got me excited to be there was the fact that the water brought to table was chilled - really simple nice touch on a warm summer day in Fairfax. When we realized we were being served by the owner Elena we asked her to bring us whatever she felt like serving and that was the right call. What followed was truly amazing and we will be back with friends. Fairfax is on fire! read more

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Christmas dining at La Gastronomia was superb. We split the excellent Papardelli ai Funghi as an appetizer, and the porcini and other mushrooms were perfectly cooked. One rack of lamb (perfectly med-rare) and one superb scallop special later, we were entirely sated, enjoyed our bottle of wine, and enjoyed seeing other diners' choices as they were served. I can't wait to go back and have their seafood risotto, which was generous and absolutely gorgeous, and the branzino. Two thumbs up for the great service and wonderful food; we'll be back. read more

Visited this restaurant a couple blocks from my home in Fairfax recently for dinner. We started off with the Tagliere Toscano, a sort of appetizer plate with coppa, mortadella, Taleggio cheese and olives. It was nicely displayed but the small tables in the restaurant require a constant maneuvering of dishes to fit different courses into the space in front of you. We each had iced tea, which is served in small glasses and never, not a single time during the meal, was it refilled (nor was the water). We each had a summer salad - a forgettable melange of butter lettuce and summer vegetables with fresh ricotta. I then had Gemelli w/bolognese and the other had Capesante - scallops with Israeli couscous. My main was one note - a ponderous concoction of a well cooked pasta and a heavy bolognese sauce. Adequate - but nothing to write home about. The Capesante was delicious with scallops cooked perfectly but an under seasoned sauce. Service was adequate during our time here but what was strange was that the owner, Elena, spent nearly 3/4 of the meal standing at a table in the back with her back to the rest of the restaurant, talking to two guests. She laughed and she leaned and she shuttled food to this table, all the time with her back to everyone else. I consider it poor form for an owner to ignore her own restaurant and its guests and staff by lavishing attention on two guests to the exclusion of everyone else, but clearly - these two were important to her. This restaurant has work to do in providing a warm and welcoming space to all of its guests and not just those who the owner has a relationship with. Its food also needs work in becoming multifactorial and not one-note. It's good - but it's not great and there's room here for it to become much better. I'll give it some time before the next visit to see if the service and cuisine have improved but I think the framework exists here for something much better than what they're providing now. read more

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