We loved this small family style restaurant. The decor is simple and service warm and welcoming. So…read moremuch to choose from on the menu it can be overwhelming so just plan to come again. I was craving the eggplant parmigiana and was told the eggplants had been delivered to the owners home and therefore, was not available. Funny! So we settled on the shrimp and chicken dish - apparently a fan favorite- and chopped salad. Both delicious with ample portions for two to split. Interesting note - they offer cauliflower crust pizza- a must try next time. Enjoy!

I've been to Italy--including Sicily--more times than most people have left California, and my…read morepartner even holds an Italian birth certificate. With that context, we don't take Italian food lightly. That's exactly why Ippolito's Trattoria stands out. Nick, the owner, is there seven days a week. Whether he's running the kitchen like a true master or walking the dining room checking in with guests, his presence is constant. His wife is often by his side, and together they've built something that feels less like a restaurant and more like a family. The staff reflects that--welcoming, attentive, and genuinely warm. Now, the food. The chicken parmigiana is massive--easily two meals--and executed perfectly. The chicken is tender, well-seasoned, and balanced. We usually start with calamari or a shared salad, both consistently excellent. I'm especially particular about carbonara, and this is the only place in Sacramento that truly gets it right. No shortcuts. No cream. No smoked bacon. They respect the tradition--using proper ingredients like guanciale or pancetta and incorporating the egg the way it's meant to be. It's easily the best carbonara I've had in years. The arancini are another highlight. If you've ever made them at home, you know the effort involved--this is the real deal. Crispy outside, rich and flavorful inside, and absolutely authentic. The bread is baked fresh daily by Nick, and it shows. The pasta is artisan-quality, also made fresh, and sourced from a trusted local partner. Every detail reflects care and intention. Dessert is not an afterthought here. The tiramisu--made in-house--is flawless. And the cannoli? Outstanding. The shells have the perfect crunch, and the fillings are rich without being overpowering. Even the pizzelle cookies are done right. It's no surprise they've earned recognition, including: Best Italian Restaurant in Sacramento Best Restaurant Overall in Sacramento Beyond the food, Nick is active in the community and gives back, which only adds to the experience. We've enjoyed this place so much that we've chosen them to cater my 60th birthday for 20 very discerning Italian family members--many of whom we've already brought here, all with the same glowing reactions. If there's any criticism to address, it's usually from people saying the food isn't salty or herb-heavy enough. That misses the point. This is balanced, authentic cooking--where ingredients shine without being masked. I've been to Papa Gianni's in Cameron Park dozens of times over the years, and it's a great spot. But when it comes to the Sacramento region, Ippolito's Trattoria is my go-to, without question.

Came for midweek work lunch around noon, got sat quickly inside…read more Service was quick and restaurant was clean and not crowded. 5/5 Spaghetti carbonara! This dish is absolutely amazing! Crispy bacon and rich sauce. Generously seasoned with red pepper flakes, Parmesan and some salt. Added a side salad but it was moderately portioned and pretty lackluster. Passable next time. The garlic bread is also not my favorite but it comes with the pasta so that's a nice plus.

update: it has been 3 years since we dined here last. It…read morewas my son's birthday celebration and he wanted to go to paesanos. So we invited a few friends and came on a friday evening. Ambience: very comfortable, although very loud inside the dining room-background music along with many patrons conversing. But our wait staff was great. Friendly and engaging - but not over bearing. In fact, i gave this place an extra star just for the wait staff. Other than that, i would rate their entrees...as decent, but there is room for improvement to help raise the bar. Hence 3.5 stars overall Appetizers: 1) fried raviolis - not bad, filled with spinach and ricotta and arrived with marinara dipping sauce 2) fried calamari- too much coating which over powered the delicacy of the squid. Plus, it arrived cold. It came with two dipping sauces which helped. Entrees: 1) Two pies: Sicilian and soppresaata & hot honey: both pies were decent, arrived straight from the oven 2) farmers market salad: very fresh greens, tender pieces of chicken but was missing the fresh corn. 3) spaghetti w/meatballs: nice entree with a mild sauce, but meatballs tasted more filler than actual meat. And the garlic bread was cold 4) rigatoni aka vodka: very nice entree and our diner ordered it with gluten free pasta 5) spaghetti parmesano: entree looked great when it arrived- mild sauce w/al dente noodles but the chicken was over cooked and even dry with a layer of mozzarella that didn't help. And again arrived with cold garlic bread. Would i return? in a few years. but the service was good which made our evening. However i wish all the pasta entrees and calamari appetizer were as good as their pies. Again, little details with their appetizers, pasta, and salad dishes would have made our dining experience more enjoyable.

Delicious, classic Italian restaurant in downtown Sacramento. Lovely service. Overview: I would…read moreabsolutely come here again to eat. I recommend you do to. The Standouts: * Oh my goodness get that octopus dish back in my mouth. Wow, I can't describe adequately the unique texture they were able to get on it, with a crispy exterior and tender interior. There was a generous helping of garlic sauce which came with it and the potatoes that were on the side were also fantastic. Easily the best dish of the night. * The Ravioli was also delicious. It comes with a herby, earthy pesto on top and a delightful balance of cheese filling. * Lovely selection of Italian drinks including alcoholic and NA options * Interesting bruschetta flight - 4 pieces of toast each with a different type of topping. The onion Jam and pesto ones stood out to me. The Improvement Points: * The AC was not working very well when we were there. It got pretty toasty in the dining room given that it was a Sacramento summer day. I would love to see the AC back up and running next time. * The Carbonara, while nice, was not a standout in my opinion. They have a carbonara, they do it well enough, but nothing particularly special - light on the guanciale. * Location is certainly loud. Just the way the dining room is designed, no problem with the experience. Just be prepared to listen and speak up a little for dinner.

The theme of today's meal was unfortunately S A L T…read more The Octopus appetizer was the best part of the meal. The yukon gold potatoes were amazingly crispy with a nice bite to the skin. The inside was pillow-y soft, and when mixed with the salsa verde was full of flavor with a fabulous punch of garlic. The salsa verde could be put over a nice flank steak and it would absolutely kill. That said, the octopus was a bit *too* crispy. I felt I had to really chew to get it down, and I just wanted a nice snappy skin for some textural juxtaposition. For my entree, I got the Bolognese which was definitely full of salt. The pasta was wonderfully thin and bouncy, but I feel the chef may have had an off-day. My friend and I had to down like multiple cups of water with our meal which made it hard to enjoy. Plus, the garlic bread felt like biting into a brick. The inside was quite fluffy and soft, but the crust was simply too crispy. I almost felt like my teeth were going to give way. Honestly, I can't in good faith recommend this place to my friends, so neither would I recommend it to you. (aside from the pasta classes)

Came here for the first time on a Friday night, there was a 30 minute wait for the patio…read more They give you a number to hold while waiting for your table and there's no where really to sit and wait, so we walked around the block with my pup until our number was called, didn't want to go too far just in case they called out our number. It would be nice if they had it where they texted you when your table was about to be ready like some places do. It's a beautiful restaurant, really nice vibe. The service was great as well. Chandler was our server and she was very nice and knowledgeable of the menu. All the supporting staff was very attentive as well, one of them brought treats for my pup! They give complimentary bread to get you started which was really nice since a lot of restaurants don't offer that anymore. I ordered The Thinker (Espresso Martini) and made sure they added an irish cream to make it nice and creamy, it tasted really good. They leave the shaker that it was made in on the table as well so you get every last drop! The food was delicious! We started with the B&B appetizer (Brussels sprouts and bacon), it was very good! Then we ordered the special Milanese Saltimbocca and Spaghetti alla Bolognese (got it with penne instead of spaghetti). The Milanese was really tasty. The bolognese was good, just didn't really taste like a bolognese sauce, tasted more like a basic tomato sauce, wasn't as meaty as I was hoping, but still had good flavor and was even better the next day! We really enjoyed our experience and can't wait to be back to try more food and cocktails!

Ordered take out from this location, and was super impressed in how everything came out. Super nice…read morestaff. Cute decor. Phone ordered and was told it would be ready in about 10-15 minutes. We arrived and our food was ready, although they had a situation with their computers--causing a delay. The food was flavorful! Our favorites were their pasta. The calamari was a bit overcooked, but that's just being picky! We enjoyed our meal

The food was good, but I was disappointed that there was no bread provided as it's customary with…read moreItalian restaurants. Also saw the waitress taking shots while on the clock. That seemed a bit unprofessional since the restaurant had such a nice vibe.

Was looking for a lunch spot near the hospital I was looking for a lunch spot near the hospital,…read morewhere my mom is at, and this popped up in the search. So glad I came. The bartender, I'm probably gonna mess her name up, Ternera was the only one in the restaurant serving, but she did an amazing job. She made sure I was happy with everything. I forgot to post the appetizer I ordered, which was basically a focaccia bread with a Caprese salad on it. Very tasty, lots of balsamic on it. I also ordered a pizza. I had Italian sausage, red peppers, and lots of other goodness. Everything I saw that other people ordered looked really good, and they have a great selection at the bar.

Last night was our first time at Piatti. I am giving them 5 stars because Piatti really made it…read moreright and ensured I was taken care of after getting my dietary restrictions incorrect on my order. I asked for zero butter/oil/dressing on my SeaBass and my steamed veggie entree; unfortunately it came out incorrectly but my server Ashley and her manager made sure to correct this mistake and make it right! This truly showed the level of care Piatti has for their customers. Ashley made us feel well taken care of and made sure we had a wonderful dining experience at Piatti. We will absolutely be back to Piatti for the delicious food, fantastic drinks, and amazing dessert!

Made a reservation for 8 on a Sunday evening and we were seated promptly. Our waiter was very kind…read moreand knowledgeable of the menu and ingredients. We ordered the bread and carpaccio as appetizers and they were delicious. Our kids ordered fire cooked pizzas and they were so good. I'm not normally a crust eater but the crust paired with the in house made ranch was amazing. Food did take a bit to come out, maybe upwards of 30+ mins but it could be because we were a large party who ordered after an even bigger party. Needless to say all our meals were very well made and you can tell the ingredients are farm to fork. Ambiance was great, it was the perfect spot for date night in the evening. Next time I would like to sit outdoors to enjoy the dim lit lighting.

Fantastic dinner! Austin was an excellent server--friendly, attentive, and made the experience even…read morebetter. I had the prawn linguine, and it was outstanding. The fresh bread dipped into the sauce at the end was the best part! My husband's lobster ravioli was delicious, I had to steal one. The food, service, and atmosphere were all perfect. We'll definitely be back!

First time visiting this restaurant, and I have to thank my cousin for the recommendation--thanks,…read moreCousin! Everything was fantastic, from the food and service to the wonderful Italian atmosphere. We had a table reservation but decided to sit at the bar instead, and I'm so glad we did! The bartender was incredibly friendly, helpful and gave us some great recommendations (Fried Calamari, Steak Putanesca & Prawn Linguini), all of which were delicious. He made a killer espresso martini with tequila...yummy There were three of us, and we decided to order just two plates to share. There was more than enough food, and everything was absolutely fantastic. They was no rush and took our time I'm already looking forward to coming back and bringing some other friends so they can enjoy this place too!

Came in for the first time with friends who are regulars. Came in on a Saturday for 5:30…read morereservations. This restaurant is kinda small but we had reservations so we got a table right away. Our server was very attentive and even gave us a few tastes of the beers on tap so we could decided. There were specials so we ordered the Mary special bacon wrapped chicken with a white wine sauce served over mashed potatoes. It was delicious!! Also ordered a special beet salad with arugula, feta cheese almonds figs and a blueberry dressing - FABULOUS!! Also tried a bit of our friends red cabbage and spatzel - both were good. Also tried a couple of the Czech dark beers. They were great! Definitely want to come back and try more of the food items!! Parking can sometimes be an issue but today we were able to get a street spot just a few spaces from the front.

Went there on a Sunday because we were visiting the hospital one of the few places open for lunch…read more The service was 1st class the food was delicious oh then we had chocolate vanilla and chocolate covered ice cream absolutely delicious. I think it was a bindibom.

Delicious semi fine dining Italian! Thanks to all the fellow yelpers who gave amazing reviews, this…read moreplace is a gem. Tried the special ravioli - lemon seafood, also got the lasagna and the calamari. All were really delicious, and the service was A+. Food: 4.5 Service: 5 Ambiance: 4.5 Value: 3.8 Marcels foodie score: 4.5

If you're looking for one of those hidden gem Italian spot, this is it. It's family-owned, the…read moreservice is genuinely attentive without ever feeling rushed, and they embrace a true course-style dining experience that makes every meal feel special. The atmosphere leans a little dressier, but we've gone both dressed up for date nights and casually. The menu evolves, which keeps us coming back, but the staples are consistently fantastic. The antipasto, burrata, and pillowy gnocchi are always favorites, and don't even think about skipping the bread basket--the fresh focaccia and breadsticks are reason enough to visit. This has become one of our regular date night spots whenever we're craving Italian. Cozy and welcoming.

Il Fornaio is a beautiful restaurant to dine at that has a nice high end feel. Pricing-wise, I'd…read moresay the food is mid-high in tier, but doesn't reach the cost of other such places - which is a great thing as Il Fornaio is a wonderful place to hold a special event or celebration. You'll definitely enjoy the elegant decor and picturesque dining room. As the name suggests, Il Fornaio is an Italian restaurant that serves pasta dishes, salads, soups, and other Italian fare. The food is well presented and and the quality is certainly there. It didn't disappoint, but I personally wasn't blown away by it either. It's just very solid you get what you pay for food. Usually that means you buy cheap food and you get cheap tasting stuff, but here you pay a good amount and you get pretty good food. We came on a pretty busy evening and service took a little longer than I expect that it typically would. But overall it wasn't bad... just very busy. I do think that Il Fornaio does get pretty busy regularly because it is a popular restaurant in Sacramento. Just keep that in mind on busy nights like weekends and special dates.

I wasn't expecting good Italian food in Sacramento, so when a colleague suggested this place for…read moredinner, I agreed. Im also not much an Italian food fan really. Crazy I say this as I was in a serious relationship once with an Italian lol. I know I sound like a miserable wretched human being, but its quite ubiquitous and a lot of it is not too hard to make. But I do like a good pizza and there are Italian dishes I like (ones I cannot make like Sardinian wild boar or squid ink pasta). First, this dining room is gorgeous, the bar space is really nice. Saw a handsome gent in a nice suit sitting at the bar, which was a nice accessory to an already elegant and dare I say sexy bar? I had a drink here and then our party moved to a table when everyone arrived. My colleague did us the favor and ordered some antipasti dishes for us and made good choices. The carpaccio was great (and I loved the grana padano cheese - one that I can have) and also enjoyed the tartara di tonno - which is seared ahi tuna. Both with copious amounts of arugula (my favorite). Great choices as I love raw anything that's well made. Since it was Tuesday, one of my colleagues ordered the pasta trio which is a special for Tuesdays. No idea if it was any good, but colleague cleaned the plate. My other colleague ordered the risotto (which looked great and I love risotto and can make it myself), large portion size and she had a good portion leftover for another meal. I had the branzino in crosta. The portion size for my dish was ridiculous. Fish was decent, but I have had better (in Italy fresh caught). Rooted veggies were probably my favorite (I'm a rabbit and love veggies) and the grilled polenta was so-so. My colleagues ordered panna cotta al limone and it was excellent. I am used to a denser consistency panna cotta and this one was lighter one but well made. I love limoncello or anything with lemons, so this was just lovely. There is only one kind of tiramisu (more pudding style) I like which is made by North Italia and the one here likely was the traditional tiramisu so I declined to get dessert. Overall, a very good choice for a business dinner. Food was good. I deducted one star because I am not much into chain restaurants and prefer to support mom and pop type places. I deducted another star because the service was so SLOW and while we ordered some sparkling for the table, some of us did not get still water and I recall not having much water to drink and its summer. Also, I think the New Yorker in me just doesnt have much patience, but it does seem the cadence here was a different speed I am used to. I'd definitely return to have a few cocktails at the bar, and come back for their HH specials too. This location is in a beautiful setting and I'd come back just to sit at the bar and quietly ogle which cutie might show up...