After 30 years of coming here, Pinocchio's still feels like stepping into old-school Burbank. Family-owned since the early '70s, this place has character you just can't recreate with red booths, quirky Pinocchio decor, huge portions, and that classic Italian comfort food that never disappoints. The Monte Carlo Deli, pastries and gelato next door is just as iconic, and the whole place feels frozen in the best possible way. You can tell generations of families, locals, and studio people have made memories here. It's not trendy -- it's authentic, welcoming, affordable, and full of history. Some places survive for decades. Places like Pinocchio's become part of the community. read more

Pinocchio Restaurant - Eggplant, Parmesan lasagna, Caesar salad, and garlic bread. The best eggplant ever, ever ever ever. - Italian Near Me - Burbank, California

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will finish editing this later, just important to leave the rating as soon as possible i think nostalgia is seriously carrying this place because i can't see a world where this is worth 3.6 stars. i see a few recent reviews down that the rating was higher so i guess the rating is going down, which is on track. do restaurant owners care about yelp though if the establishment is unclaimed? anyway, the food was bland, the pasta tasted like glue and had the same consistency. i'm not running to write this 1 star review because of the food, though. a lady in a pink hat took our order for the lobster special. she heard it wrong, made it wrong. my party ordered 5 of them and 2 were made as tortellini.. which they said was meat but i called it cheese because i couldn't find flavor in it (sorry to cheese, love cheese, but there are mild ones. compared to meat, anyway). she said she would remake the dishes. my kind friend asked her what we should do with our tortellinis (offering to give them back as they weren't what we ordered), but the lady said they couldn't take them back because we had transferred them to to-go containers. fair, i was expecting as much. she told us that we would be charged for the difference ($5 more per plate), this was fine with us as well ofc, it's a more expensive dish. read more

First off, the staff is extremely nice. Every server I've had has been friendly, patient, and genuinely welcoming. You can tell they work hard and try their best to make customers feel comfortable. The food is really good. The meatballs especially stand out, super flavorful, tender, and clearly made with care. It's the kind of dish you end up thinking about the next day. The pasta dishes are solid, and I also love that they have a small grocery section where you can buy Italian goods. It's actually pretty cool to grab imported pasta, sauces, or specialty items on your way out. That being said, one thing that's hard to ignore is the manager's behavior. I've been there multiple times and have seen him treat employees pretty poorly, which makes the atmosphere uncomfortable. I've even witnessed him get into arguments with customers. It kind of takes away from the otherwise warm, family-style vibe the restaurant could have. Overall, the food and the staff are great, but I really hope management improves the way things are handled because the place has a lot of potential. read more

A Burbank gem! They have a pink sauce that is fantastic. Their sandwiches are super good and an incredible value too.

My girls and I stopped by Pinocchio's the other day to pick up some meats and cheeses for our New Year's party, and we ended up staying for lunch, and I'm glad we did. I ordered the meat lasagna, one daughter got the ziti with meatballs, and the other went for the spaghetti and meatballs. They loved their dishes, and everything was spot on. The pasta was perfectly cooked, and the sauce had that awesome, full-of-flavor richness you only get from a place that really knows what it's doing. As good as the food was, the service might have been even better. Everyone we interacted with was friendly, helpful, and genuinely attentive. It's the kind of place where you feel taken care of from the moment you walk in. We always enjoy coming here, whether we're grabbing deli items or sitting down for a meal. Pinocchio's continues to be one of our favorite Burbank spots. read more

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The deliciousness in Burbank continues with the time honored tradition of Pinocchio Restaurant. Served cafeteria style, the prices are quite low but the quality is quite high. Salads, pasta, meats - whether you are having lunch or dinner, you always get a full tummy with their generous portions. A friendly staff who know what they are doing, they are adjacent to the Monte Carlo Deli which also serves Gelatto. Their sausage and Peter's is as good if not better as anywhere you would go to. Great pizza and they have specials all the time. Plenty of ample parking, go have a great meal in Burbank. It's worth it. read more

Pinocchio Restaurant - The menu - Italian Near Me - Burbank, California

This restaurant is more of a cafeteria style. Ordering starts with getting a tray, ordering the food, paying and finding a table. We ordered pasta with meatball, ravioli and lasagna. I enjoyed my pasta, it was very tasty and was fresh. If you're a pasta lover, I would recommend ordering it. For ambiance, I would say there is plenty of seating area and it's easy to find a table. There is an outdoor dining area too. Service is okay. No complaints about the customer service. For parking, this location has a private lot in the back. There is also street parking available. read more

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I might update this to 5 stars depending on how my repeat visits go in the future, because honestly, it is pretty good for what it is. First off, I love the atmosphere here, feels like a classic casual east coast Italian joint - red table cloth and everything. I happened to be in the neighborhood by myself and just the smell of the red sauce got me in. Sat down and had a meal to myself without it feeling awkward, not something I can usually say of many other food spots. They also got a little patio, which is always a huge plus for me. There was a good amount of people in the line but it went pretty quick. It's type of a place where you get the food on a tray, pay for it, and get you a seat. Kind of like an Ikea restaurant or I guess a cafeteria. Now for the food - the best way I can describe it is like a very good cafeteria food. So, I wouldn't expect anything mind-blowing but it's definitely solid, will get you full, and you will most probably enjoy it in the process. Felt to me like a good Italian comfort food. Honestly, everything looked good on the display. I went with veal and pasta with meat sauce - I was expecting a piece of veal (which Italians make really well) but it turned out to be a patty, still enjoyed it. The prices... man I hope they keep it this way but the prices were super fair. The plate + draft Peroni came out to just under $20. And it came with complimentary bread on the side. And most of the items on the menu were priced similarly. Come on now, that's pretty good, especially compared to food prices nowadays where a simple sandwich is like $18 in most spots. I can't even remember the last time I have seen a pint of draft beer being under $5! Very pleased. And by the way, draft Peroni is pretty good. They had 2 other beers on tap, although I didn't ask what they were. I recommend checking this place out if you are in the area, I know that I'm coming back. read more

Pinocchio Restaurant - Veal Parmigiana with Pasta - Italian Near Me - Burbank, California

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I had high expectations but it didn't quite meet them. We entered through the deli and I was told the deli is more popular than the actual restaurant. There is a lot to choose from and you can def get your Italian fix here especially if you're planning to cook yourself. The restaurant was okay and so was the food. It was a little dirty including the bathrooms. The food didn't look that fresh but it was still looked good. I got the eggplant parmagiana and it didn't blow me away. In fact it was drenched in meat sauce, it was just too much. The garlic bread was pretty dry. My fiance got a sandwich and that tasted pretty fresh but he even said it was okay. We got the sandwich with antipasto salad and artichoke which were good. I asked for a cappuccino and it was served cold lol not very pleasant. It was okay of an experience. Don't think I have a reason to come back. read more

Pinocchio Restaurant - Entrance from the back - Italian Near Me - Burbank, California

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The front door of Pinocchio's is actually a time portal. Wine is labeled as Zinfandel, Merlot, Burgundy, White, Rose...poured from boxes for less than five bucks a glass. A great place to find Neil Diamond's 'Poor Man's Lady.' In a dark corner of the main dining room, a man wearing a spruce green polyester leisure suit, with a five button vest from Sears, feasted on slices of garlic toast, a side salad, and a pile of pasta in red sauce with oversized meatballs. It looked like he was halfway through a bottle of Chianti he purchased for his dinner. He shunned the cheap boxed wines. Tonight was special. Was that De Niro? He might not be eating there when you walk in, but the cafeteria set up moves the food through quickly. Pizza comes up after 2 PM. The cozy booths come in different sizes to accommodate all parties. Painting on the wall evoke simpler times when people believed in fairy tales or dreamed of exotic places. The food's good, served just like it was in the 1970s. It's not that gourmet fancy feast you get nowadays. But for a twenty dollar dinner it's hard to beat. Cheap restaurants have gone out of business but thankfully Pinocchio is sti stuck in the past. Plenty of parking in the rear. read more

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Went for an early dinner take out last week. Went to the food counter to place an order. An older couple was in line in front of us. A few more people showed up and lined up also. When the next free server came up and ask who was next the two women behind us immediately said they were next and the server ignored the older couple and us. The next server did the same u til the older couple spoke up. The following server asked who was next and they helped someone else again! One server noticed and apologized to us and gave us a free cannoli along with our order. The food is fine. Good but not great standard Italian fares. They should have a number system to handle it better. Or people can maybe not be rude. Not sure if we would return for food after the server experience. read more

Went in to get some desserts Store is very cute and full of lots of great foods and drinks Took a few minutes to order it was a bit busy Customer service is amazing! Dessert was delicious we got gelato and tiramisu. Delicious definitely will be back to eat at the restaurant Loved the vibe and all of the cool dolls read more

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This restaurant has been here for a very long time and the last time I've been here was over 13 years ago. My kids and I were in town doing some tourist things, I asked my kids what we should do for lunch and my son mentioned a great Italian place I used to take him near the Disney studio. Say no more, we drove straight to Burbank! As soon as we walked in, it felt very nostalgic. We ordered our food at the counter with some really great guys and customer service. Found the perfect booth for us and are up our delicious meal. We really enjoyed our time here. Wish we lived closer to frequent this place more, but as for now, we promised each other that we will make the drive out to Burbank and have some great food. read more

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Nephews wanted to eat here! An Italian restaurant offering pizzas, salad, sandwiches, gelato ice cream, pasta, as well as pastries. Nephews ordered the Meatball Sandwiches! I had the salted caramel gelato which is so rich and creamy frozen dessert! read more

Pinocchio Restaurant - Gelato's - Italian Near Me - Burbank, California

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I completely recommend the lasagna.It is amazing the servers are very helpful and it is very cool to eat there. It's cozy in warm inside.

Pinocchio Restaurant is a true Burbank institution. It's one of those places that feels like it's always been there--and for good reason. My wife, our two kids, and I have been coming here for years, and it never disappoints. The pasta is consistently good, with plenty of vegetarian options alongside the classic meat dishes. This isn't full service--you order at the counter, wait a few minutes, and your food comes out. Easy and efficient. Every main comes with a generous serving of fresh, soft garlic bread (a highlight), and I usually upgrade to the pink sauce, which is totally worth it if you like a red-and-cream combo. We brought my in-laws for a little old-school Burbank experience, and they loved it. Eggplant parm, veggie lasagna, ravioli and spaghetti with pink sauce, Greek salad, pasta salad--everything was well prepared and satisfying. Finishing the meal with gelato next door at the attached Italian market is basically tradition for us and always a hit with the kids. A classic, no-frills Burbank staple that knows exactly what it is. Highly recommend. read more

This place is nostalgic! I used to come here all the time as a kid and when we moved away, I hadn't been back until the other day. Service kind of rushes you through the line so make sure you know what you want before lining up! We got the chicken pesto and sausage, pepper, and meat sauce sub. The chicken pesto was unfortunately very bland, it needed more flavor/salt/anything! The sub size was good, but it was still bland! As the side, I got the artichoke salad and it was extremely sour so I ended up not finishing it. The gelato was delicious, that was definitely the highlight! Some parking next to the restaurant, otherwise, there's street parking. read more

I've been coming for many years. As soon as you walk in, the smell of Italian food gets you! Everything is good.

Horrible customer service horrible good the pastrami was microwaved tasting and rubbery and the quality and quantity was horrible, will not recommend read more

Indeed 3.7. The place is cool, very a popular trattoria in Italy. I remembered a place I was in Torino. Many products from Italy. The service is fast, and they are nice and really busy. The food is very good. The Cannoli is awesome! On of the best I have had. Reasonable price. read more

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Ambiance and decor especially in the rear room is whimsical and if you like Disney and Pinocchio, adorable. The service is fast. But you may not be ready because they have so much to choose from. Spaghetti, lasagna, veal and eggplant Parmesan and so many sandwiches. We ordered spaghetti, veal, prosciutto sandwich and much more to go. They also have salads, pasta salad, which was delicious. Every was savory and filling. I had to save room for gelato. They also had so many flavors that I had to choose two. Salted caramel and mint chip. They were both delicious! I will definitely be back! I recommend this place! read more

The pizza was good but they got my order wrong twice. I ordered a pizza to eat there with green peppers and they put pepperoni on it instead. Then, I ordered the second pizza to go, and they put onions on it instead of black olives like I ordered it. I'm not sure if I want to go back. read more

Pinocchio Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Burbank, California

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The staff is not only handsome but so friendly . My son and I were craving lasagna, pizza and a meatball omgggggg yummy. The vibe and lighting perfect for a date. read more

Really good food and love the attached store with so many Italians staples. Service was fast at the restaurant and definitely can make 2 meals out of one order. They don't skimp. Had the pesto gnocchi and it was delicious. read more

Pinocchio's is a Burbank landmark. But frankly, the food is not that good and it's not i{nexpensive either. Pizza is decent but as person who was born into an Italian family, the food is passable Italian American fair. read more

Well this was unexpected. I bought a box of Italian jelly candy- the brand is Maria Cristina, made in Italy. Two flavors, round candy. The box was not sealed. Inside the box was individually wrapped candy of a totally different product. Ovals, four flavors, the brand on the wrapper is Sperlari. A completely different brand. No idea what the nutrition info is on the counterfeit candy, when the experiation date is, what the actual ingredients are, if they're also vegan, gluten free, etc. It's really hard to believe. These Sperlari candies are also not good, very artificial almost bitter flavor. read more

Pinocchio Restaurant - The candy brand I purchased and the totally different product that was put inside the box - Italian Near Me - Burbank, California

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Just moved back to the burbs last month & I've already gone a couple of times. I missed it a lot. Best veggie lasagna. Love their pasta sauce. The Greek salad is always delish. The deli is great as well. read more

I was pleasantly surprised by Pinocchio Restaurant. It's everything an Italian restaurant should be, the dining area is warm and cozy, the music is cool, the aroma of herbs and fresh cooking immediately hits your nose when you walk in and the store/deli off to the side was filled with many gourmet treasures. Our dinner was delicious and even though they were very busy, the staff was friendly and nice. I highly recommend Pinocchio to anyone who's looking for a traditional/vintage Italian restaurant experience. read more

I'm a regular customer there. I eat there almost every week. I always order the spaghetti meat balls. So delicious!!! Great customer service. Strongly recommended!!! Thanks again!!! Can't wait to come back for more. read more

Monte Carlo combination sandwich is outstanding! The amount of flavor and meat makes this a filling diner. We get the greek salad and olives to make this an outstanding combo. read more

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Ive been here more than once and have never been disappointed. Love the food, and the vibe. And getting some gelato after our dinner is always a must! read more

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Can't go wrong with this quick service place. Been here for decades and I love the Rosemary chicken over a bed of spaghetti with meat sauce and a glass of red wine. A perfect affordable restaurant with old school vibes. Also don't miss the gelato and the market after! read more

I would have given 3.5 stars if I could. This restaurant is a bit challenging to rate as I don't feel we would plan to go there for the food in particular. To me, it's more of a casual place with a weekend/European market feel and a convenient stop when you are already in the area. I stopped there for a quick lunch as I was checking out the vintage stores on Magnolia Blvd. My order of Marinara pasta & Meatballs was decent, nothing spectacular but I also did not have high expectations. Good portion size however. There are plenty of seating areas as well as an outdoor patio. Restrooms were clean. Likely not going back for the lunch food but might return for the ice cream (have not tried it yet) as well as the cute little market offering some products I sometimes miss from Europe. read more

Pinocchio Restaurant - Marinara pasta & meatballs - Italian Near Me - Burbank, California

Always a go to for fast hot Italian . Usually take out but in store dining great. Clean, reasonable , good grub. I like meatball sub Togo. Lots of sides to choose from. It is a hot lunch counter you order from. On the other side is a full scale Italian deli, bakery case too and a wide selection of imported groceries. I love this old timey Burbank gem. It's a bit like having your nonna running a lunch counter out of her house and selling staples out of her pantry. It isn't haute cuisine it is downhome grub. Love it read more

I really think it's in the name. Pinocchio. The reason I say that is because I'm from New York and I know authentic Italian flavors. This restaurant is good but I just wanted to be a little better. A little more authentic in their flavor. The deli is amazing the choices are amazing. And again the food is good but , not great .not authentic. go For the Ambiance and the family feel and the good service. But don't expect Nonna's flavors. The chicken parm is way too thick. it's a chunk of chicken. bairly breaded sogy. no crunch .The pasta is supposed to be Al Dente but it's really very rubbery. No drainage of the pasta before adding the meat sauce now I have runny water sauce on my plate. It's almost like it's missing the garlic. I've lived in this neighborhood for 30 years I went 28 years ago was disappointed. Tried it again after that many years later still disappointed. Went back to give them another chance to only be disappointed again in the flavor. Again what's the story of Pinocchio? what was the little boy? BUT Please go try for yourself I'm very picky when it comes to my Italian foods. And for the best pizza blk crust pop up pizza is very New York authentic . even more than my reviews in my Yelp of other New York spots in Cali read more

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Every dish is great here and very recently priced. The gelato is a really good way to top off your meal get there early for dinner or you will be waiting in line read more

I believe this is the jernt that's right across the street from what used to be my go-to Eyetalian jernt, the great and much-missed Tony's Bella Vista. In any case, I've always wanted to try it and so I finally did. I had the penne in pink sauce with meat balls via Grub hub with some garlic bread. It all arrived nice and hot and everything was excellent. The pink sauce was just the way I like it, the penne was perfectly cooked, and the meatballs complemented everything. Garlic bread was fine, too. I'll be back. read more

Here stops are pulled. All of them. From a wall of corks, to requisite rolling hills murals of the old country, four dining rooms with red checkered table cloths, outdoor seating, homemade #RedSauce plates for under $10, with a glass of highly potable pinot noir for $3.75 #bargainhunter Where over the stereo speakers you'll hear Lou Rawls (or Lou adjacent) and orders are placed cafeteria style at a central island of boisterous old school efficiency. Unpretentious. Legit. Pinocchio's is All that. Run don't walk. read more

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I love this restaurant! What a lovely place. And if you are gluten free like I am, you will be happy to know that they have gluten free pizza and pasta. The pizza is the best gluten free pizza I have ever had. I also like their salads - tuna salad, potato salad, and a chopped Greek salad with delicious dressing. They have parking next to the building. A menu that includes all kinds of delicious Italian dishes. And the prices are reasonable. I can't wait to go back for more of that pizza! read more

Great place, food is fast and fresh. Staff was attentive. Recommend trying their Gelato after your meal. They have a ton of flavors, wanted to try them all! read more