I LOVE THIS PLACE!! As always... excellent pasta! Lasagna Bolognese was delicious!! That béchamel sauce is incredible. Also had the Burrata Al Modo Puglia which was to die for!! Lastly, had the Fettuccine Alla 'Emiliana and I tell ya... that homemade pasta melted in my mouth... soo amazing!! Staff at first was a little non existent... they sat us and then ignored us while bringing bread and water to everyone around us ... but once Melissa came to greet us - all was good. She was very friendly and super helpful in choosing our meals and wine. And she just had great energy and a great sense of humor. It is a small place ... so be sure to make a reservation! Street parking only... make sure you check the meters! Would I go back? Yes read more

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Good food, very unfortunate service--enough so to warrant this review. We had a 7:15 reservation and arrived around 7 to see if maybe they could fit us in early, but that wasn't possible. No problem at all--not expected and no big deal. The hostess wasn't overly friendly, but everyone (including her) seemed to be very busy and filling multiple roles, so we chalked it up to that. We came back at our designated time and were told by the same hostess that our table was not ready--they were paying--and to expect another 15 minutes. This was communicated with zero kindness or apology and had more of a "that's too bad for you" vibe to it. We were told told to walk around the block. Really? At this point, I'd just categorize the hostess as rude and we honestly should have just gone somewhere else at that point because the service didn't get better. When we were seated (in their very nice and well-decorated inside tables) we were offered water and told bread would be coming, which was very welcome given that it was now 7:45. Our waiter disappeared at that point and about 10 minutes later the hostess appeared for us to order some wine. We also asked after the bread and finally got some. 10 minutes later a NEW waiter came and took our order. The food itself was very good but could not eclipse the rude, chaotic, and disorganized service. I am not an industry expert but it seemed like they need to employ some bussers. The current model looks to have everyone over-worked, dropping the ball, and--frankly--not that friendly. read more

The lasagna was amazing. Probably the best I've ever had. I loved the ambiance, felt like I was in a small, Italian restaurant. There was a small delay in getting our food, but they more than made up for it with the great service and delicious food. We'll definitely come eat here again. read more

I had high expectations that weren't met. Above average, but not exceptional. Service was good, although the single server was running a sprint between tables. The room is a tall box with bare walls, creating a louder environment than is necessary. Some sound dampening cloth wall hangings, or ceiling baffles would really help. (There is an outside patio with heaters). One of my expectations was a wide variety of pasta styles. As far as I could see on the menu, there was spaghetti, gnocchi, fettuccini, sheet (lasagna), and penne. Pretty basic. No specials offered. The Carbonara was creamy, loaded with pancetta and black pepper, but nothing else - no mushrooms or green peas. The Cacio de Pepe was a bit on the gummy side. It was ordered with "lite pepper" and the request was honored, but it should have had a bit more pasta water to thin out the cheese. Antipasti was a prosciutto and burrata, and was a generous serving. Reservations are accepted and given the small room, encouraged. read more

Best Italian dinner of the year. Both their Lamb Chops and Duck were above and beyond. Their green salad with mushrooms was also outstanding! The Pistachio Gelato was a perfect ending to the meal. Our server was friendly and added to the experience. We will be back soon! read more

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La Locanda has always been a restaurant I pass by and tell myself, "one day." Today was finally the day! I had the opportunity to try out La Laconda for a company dinner and ate really good food. The ambiance in the restaurant gave off warmth and peace which was really appreciated after a work day. Our waiter did a great job delivering our drinks, bread w/ olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and remembering our orders. He was consistently with checking in on how we were doing and would consistently clean our table when dishes were done being used. For food we got: - Escargot: 3.5/5 - The escargot was nice but I felt that it lacked a garlic + acidic taste. It was more so buttery. - Pasta Al Pistachio Pesto: 4/5 - The pesto was really good, loved loved the burrata addition. - L'Ossobuco Con Risotto Alla Milanese: 2.5/5 - Got a small bite from my colleague and it was first time trying it and it ended up not my favorite. - Tiramisu: 4/5 - I've tried multiple tiramisus in the area and liked this one! The whipped cream and cocoa powder balance was really nice. The raspberries were sour though. For drinks: - 2023 Nals Margied Sauvignon Blanc: 3.8/5 - 2023 Farina Soave Classico: 4.5/5 - This ended up being my favorite wine for the night as it was really light and airy. Very easy to drink and paired well with my meal! read more

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Had not been to this restaurant in a number of years. We went to the SLO Rep Theater, walked around after then came to this restaurant. Of course, made reservations. It was a good thing as it got pretty crowded. Dillon was our server, nice and friendly. Melissa kept our water glasses filled, removed plates and brought me another glass of Albariño, which was excellent. We were also brought bread, olive oil and balsamic, such a great combination. My husband and I shared a beets salad, wished there were nuts, such as pine or pecan. I had butternut squash ravioli and my husband had shrimp fra diavolo. Both were good. He had leftovers, I did not. We shared Pistachio Gelato, I wished the gelato that you could taste a pistachio flavor. The place was quiet, even though crowded. I have a couple of other Italian restaurants that I like better. read more

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I had wanted to try La Locanda, but kept missing it. The space is clean and modern looking, but not sparse or cold. There were 2 tables besides myself, so it was fairly quiet, but I could see how it might get noisier if it were full. The arugula salad was PERFECT. Peppery, lemony, and good salt from the cheese. I also had the pasta with the pistachio pesto and a WHOLE burrata on top! While I found the pasta to be SLIGHTLY overcooked for my taste, the sauce was WONDERFUL! Herbaceous, good seasoning, unctuous. It's also a generous serving. I had 2 glasses of the Primativo wine and it, too, was perfect. Service was friendly and prompt, and they serve slices of bread with a small carafe each of olive oil and a peachy balsamic for dipping. Recommended! read more

La Locanda - Pasta with Pistachio Pesto and Burrata - Italian Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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Pretty good meal but outstanding service. This place was situated right next to the hotel I stayed at so it was convenient to have dinner here. Super cute and quaint place. As I said, the service was outstanding. Very friendly server who was knowledgeable about the menu and made great suggestions. The pesto pasta was delicious and I enjoyed that more than the lasagna which was just ok. The tiramisu was very good as well and I would definitely order that again. read more

La Locanda - Lasagna - Italian Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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Delicious little find on Garden Street in SLO. Not bad prices. Excellent service. It's a smaller location, but it is quaint.

cozy. The location in the heart of SLO and simple, but spot on decor creates an inviting atmosphere that makes you feel like you've stepped into a little piece of Italy. The menu offers a fantastic variety, from classic dishes like spaghetti carbonara to unique specials that showcase seasonal ingredients. The homemade pastas truly stand out; you can taste the freshness in every bite. I highly recommend trying the ravioli. The wine selection is impressive, featuring both local and Italian options that perfectly complement the food. Don't skip dessert either; their tiramisu is the perfect ending to a wonderful meal. Overall, La Locanda is a gem in San Luis Obispo, perfect for a romantic dinner or a celebratory meal with friends. I can't wait to return! read more

La Locanda catered our wedding for us on their back patio! We had an amazing experience. The food was perfect, the service was wonderful, the owner Nicole was very easy to coordinate with. We highly recommend La Locanda for dinner or any special event! read more

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This may have been the best dinner I've had! It was true Italian, and truly amazing. The service was great, our server knew how to help up pick our dinner and drinks. Overall it was beautiful inside, the patio was cute! I will be back!! read more

La Locanda - Italian Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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Classic, hearty, and beautifully done Italian cuisine. We started the dinner with complimentary warm bread and olive oil/balsamic. As an appetizer, we enjoyed a simple yet refreshing arugula salad, with shaved parm and lemon-olive oil dressing (not pictured). We then each ordered a pasta dish. Good portion sizes, pasta was al dente, and sauces were both silky and creamy. The spaghetti alla limone was bright and creamy, with arugula for peppery flavor, and toasted almonds as a good crunch. The carbonara sauce was authentically rich, silky, and glossy, with plenty of crispy guanciale. The restaurant ambiance was romantic and clean. Servers were attentive and kind, and made sure we didn't have any questions about the menu. I would absolutely recommend this restaurant for anyone that's looking for a romantic and classic Italian spot! read more

La Locanda - Spaghetti alla limone (front) and spaghetti alla carbonara - Italian Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

My review for this place is mixed. The pastas we ordered were really good, 5 stars, Fettuccine Funghi and Linguine Pescatore. However, the Minestrone soup was bland and boring, 2 stars. Service was fine, a hostess and a server holding down the fort. Good thing it was not a very busy Saturday night. We didn't like the fact that we were first seated in the very back tight corner where people pass to from the restroom, so we asked to be moved which they did. Overall, we'd order the pastas again but would steer clear of the minestrone soup. Complimentary bread was good but served few and in small portions. read more

La Locanda - Minestrone soup - Italian Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Our dinner was to celebrate graduation. The service was excellent, our water was never even low, the food was delicious. We'll go back again. read more

Went back for my birthday dinner While they did not remember the reservation that noted as such the service was good. The food was very tasty and my only recommendation is was the pasta was a bit overdone and a tad salty Ambiance and ability to talk was appreciated read more

This will be a very short review. Service, ambiance and food are all 5 star. We ordered the arugula salads, the salmon, and an off menu spaghetti with olive oil and garlic. Every single dish was out of this world delicious! Our waiter was fabulous. We dined outside with our pup and it was just lovely. Eat here!!! read more

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The only good thing about this place was the butternut squash ravioli, and it only came with 6 ravioli..... for 26 dollars??? It took them over an hour from when we were sat to get our food. I'm pretty understanding as it was a Saturday night and pretty full, but I feel like over an hour for two pasta dishes and some soup is crazy. We each got a soup, one veal tortellini and one cheese ravioli. Both were extremely salty, I think it was the broth, so I just ate the cheese ravioli out of mine. And even that wasn't great. I got the spaghetti carbonara, and while it was a good serving size of pasta, the pancetta (or whatever meat) was overcooked and tasted like burnt bacon. It had almost a smoky taste? Not a fan. I'm glad other people seem to really like this place, but it was a miss for us. read more

La Locanda - Ravioli di Zucca - Italian Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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We arrived before the dinner rush so we got a table without reservations. Our waiter was very helpful and friendly. We ordered the eggplant appetizer and the Cesar salad for starters. We both ordered the ravioli with braised meat. The sauce was delicious so we used our bread to sop it up like real Italians. It was just a tad salty. We had still water ($9) and iced tea and my friend got a coffee after the meal. read more

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Had a fun date night here. We got the linguine and fettuccini which was some of the best I've had. The wine was also great and they were really on top of everything. Favorite restaurant from my visit to California so far. read more

This Italian restaurant truly stands out for its commitment to freshness and quality. From the very first bite, you can taste that everything is made from scratch--nothing feels processed or rushed. The pasta is perfectly prepared, the sauces are rich without being overwhelming, and every ingredient tastes incredibly fresh and thoughtfully sourced. And then there's the tiramisu... absolutely out of this world. Light, perfectly balanced, and not overly sweet--it's the kind of dessert you think about long after you leave. What I appreciated most is that even after enjoying a full meal, I didn't leave feeling heavy or weighed down. That's rare, and it really speaks to the quality of the ingredients and the care in preparation. This is the kind of place you go to when you want a truly satisfying meal that still feels clean and elevated. Definitely a spot I'll keep coming back to. read more

My friend and I came with our dog and ate outside in their gorgeous patio. We had the spaghetti a limone and the pistachio pesto. Both were DIVINE. The service was excellent. Make sure to make a reservation on the weekends especially because the wait is uber long (as expected since the food is SO good). Also, the food was so good we couldn't wait and forgot to take any pictures before we dug in. 12/10 experience read more

Great restaurant and great staff. Would recommend and would like to return on my next trip to SLO. Enjoy.

One of my favorite italian restaurants in slo!! Such a small and cute place downtown, with an even better patio in the back. The pastas are always perfectly cooked and flavorful. My favorite dish (not pictured) is the lasagna, but the you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The cold burrata on the pesto would be such a great dish on a hot summer day! read more

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Great food, service and wine This is family owned and operated The husband is the chef and it is one of our favorite restaurants Wine selection is particularly good for Italian wines and reasonably priced A SLO gem read more

Very good food - tried a couple different pasta dishes, staff were friendly and helpful. Will go back when we're in town.

Starting with the good: Service was very good and friendly. The atmosphere was nice, especially after the music volume was lowered to a level that was tolerable. The wine list was really good - it is nice to have some Italian/French offerings in an area that tends to only have local wines. The wines compliment the food very well. The not so good: The food is mediocre at best. If you are a foodie like we are, and actually know either how to cook yourself or have traveled extensively enough to know what really fine cuisine is, you will *not* be impressed by this restaurant. If, on the other hand, you think Olive Garden constitutes haute cuisine, you might think this is really good food. The arugula salad was fresh enough but the dressing was unbalanced in the extreme. It was like tasting nothing but raw lemon juice. Very sour. The lasagna bolognese was not even as good as the frozen lasagna we buy at the grocery. The butternut squash ravoli was not bad, but a bit too sweet. It was not a bad experience but the food is not compelling enough for us to return. read more

I really wanted to love this place but was disappointed. The server was nice. The restaurant is quite small so you may want to get a reservation. They have a back patio. Now the food was where I was disappointed. I got the lasagna but the nutmeg in it was overpowering. I didn't like it very much. For the price, I expected more. This is a very very expensive restaurant and the food is not worth it in my opinion. There are better places around in slo. read more

La Locanda - Italian Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Stopped in on an early Sun evening. Was seated immediately with no reservation. Charming small restaurant on Garden Ave. The food was excellent. I had the Caprese Salad and the Osso Bucco with Saffron Risotto. The next time I return, I will order the same thing! They also have a decent wine list and over many wines by the glass. read more

La Locanda - Osso Bucco with Saffron Risotto - Italian Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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The best food on SLO. Our favorite place. You feel like you are in Italy and wonderful wine selection.

Best Italian food and overall dinner with family that I have ever had Nicole (owner) was amazing and service was fantastic as well. We order a bottle of 2020 DONNA LAURA BRAMOSIA CHIANTI CLASSICO BURRATA AL MODO PUGLIA Creamy mozzarella AGNOLOTTI ALLA PIEMONTESE Ravioli stuffed with beef in a demi-glace sauce LASAGNA BOLOGNESE Beef bolognese sauce and bechamel FETTUCCINE FUNGHI E CREMA Fresh fettuccine with pancetta and mushrooms in a truffle cream sauce L'OSSOBUCO CON RISOTTO ALLA MILANESE Braised veal shank with saffron risotto FETTUCCINE FUNGHI E CREMA Fresh fettuccine with pancetta and mushrooms in a truffle cream sauce Everything is quality and I would highly recommend trying this family run restaurant anytime you are in SLO Totally worth the $$$$ read more

La Locanda - Outside entrance - Italian Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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Was perusing Yelp for a dinner spot and their menu was intriguing. Made a reservation easily. Arrived and was greeted warmly. It's a cozy romantic dining room. Our waiter was helpful when trying to decide what to order as there were many items I was interested in. Husband ordered a ceasar salad and the linguine pescatore. I was trying to decide between gnocchi or the lemon spaghetti. Our waiter suggested the spaghetti dish since it had just the "right amount of lemon flavor." Bread was warm and served with mini bottles of olive oil and balsamic. Cute! We were both very happy with our meals, but unfortunately I was very sick later that evening. I'm thinking the cream sauce was the culprit and most likely the dairy was expired or bad. Even though that was the result, I'd still go back but avoid any dairy items. read more

La Locanda - Lemon spaghetti - Italian Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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visiting from out of area are this was the perfect dinner. The staff was all very attentive to detail and making us feel welcome and ensured we were taken care of. The food was 10/10 delicious and each dish we ordered was well worth it. Overall I feel cost is fair and worth the meal, experience, and vibe. It was a little slice of fine dining vibes with a hole in the wall atmosphere. Thank you so much for taking care of us. read more

La Locanda - Italian Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

My favorite Italian place in SLO by far, they have such amazing and fresh past every-time. The bread is freshly baked and always warm and so so soft and the restaurant is so cute and cozy! I love the seafood pasta, it's perfectly salty and lemony and the bolognese is also amazing. I would make a reservation because it's pretty small. Highly recommend read more

La Locanda - Bolognese - Italian Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Food and service were great. Cost was commensurate with quality of the food and service. I had lasagna and my husband had the pasta primavera. We brought our wine - corkage fee is $22. We finished our meal with the chocolate mousse which was intensely chocolate and very smooth. We are local so we'll be back. We went mid-week at 5:30 and the place was nearly empty but by 6:30 several groups walked in. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Amazing food and great service would strongly recommend. The ambiance is great all they are missing is a liquor license.

Food, service, ambiance all terrific. I would go there more often but they do not open until 5PM. I am in a wheel chair and want to be home before sunset. Waiter is Italian and excellent. My favorite in SLO. read more

Food is amazing! We enjoyed sharing a variety items family style. Service was excellent. Enjoy the flavors in every dish!

I mean, where should I begin? This is the BEST Italian restaurant I've ever been to, and I eat this cuisine often. My daughters and I are so lucky to have found this gem. The owner, Nicole, is soooo friendly and kind. Her husband makes all the pasta from scratch. My goodness EVERYTHING we ordered was DELICIOUS!! We kept saying, come on!! come on!! We came to town for two days and will be going back tonight to dine there because we don't want to go home without eating there again!! Nicole, this is Janet btw read more

La Locanda - The best lasagna EVER. Melts in your mouth. - Italian Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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