Party of 12 had great service, great food and drinks and great smiles. Our favorite restaurant.read more

Went for the Valentine's day prix and they were pretty busy, but we had a reservation. Seating in…read morethe main room, outside, or in the back room where it's quieter, but not as cute. Interior is interesting, it's like you're dining at someone's home? Street parking or there are lots nearby with the first hours or so free. Service was good  The Valentines prix consisted of an app, entree, and dessert, some of which are not on their regular menu!!  -bread and marinara (4/5): bread was great, thick slices and nice crust. Marinara was standard -potato-leek puree (4/5): came in a cute little cup to drink out of, good flavor -gamberoni (5/5): prawns were a good size and perfectly grilled. The sauce was a good addition -polette (4/5): meatballs were juicy and the pesto was flavorful and creamy. Interesting thing to have as an appetizer though -fettuccini carne (5/5): I always have an internal struggle about getting a red sauce or a cream sauce, so this was the perfect option as a creamy red sauce pasta. Serving size was good, and there was also plenty of meat and mushrooms, which I loved! Flavor was great! -lamp chop (4/5): good grilled flavor, but one was slightly too raw for our liking so we had to send it back to the kitchen to cook it some more. Our waitress was very understanding though! The mashed potatoes and veggies were also good. -tiramisu (3.5/5): good flavor, but there was wayyy more cream than ladyfinger, so the textural balance was off. And I love cream! -peanut butter chocolate brownie (4/5): really good but also pretty sweet. Loved how thick the whipped cream was, but didn't taste as much peanut butter as I would've liked Overall, I had a great experience for their valentines day prix menu. Food was great and I would definitely go back to try their pasta!

We made a reservation for a party of six at 6:30 PM on a Thursday night, arrived on time and were…read morewarmly greeted and seated immediately. We were promptly greeted by our server, Jess, who was "wonderful and lovely" as described by one member of our party. She gave us a quick review of off-menu specials and recommended we order before a party of 20 fully arrived. We didn't feel rushed and appreciated her looking out for us. The pace of our dinner moved along exactly as expected. Service (Jess, et al) is friendly, professional and timely. Members of the service staff moved in and out efficiently to refill water, remove plates and keep our table uncluttered. The dining room is busy and loud (or maybe we're old), so there was quite a bit of "what did you say" in our conversations, but it did not diminish the experience. The wine list provides a great selection to complement the menu without breaking the bank. Menu prices are in line with what we see these days - and the large portions make dining here a great value. Our table ordered Pollo Scallopini, Vitello (veal) Scallopini, Melanzane (eggplant) Parmigiana, and the off-menu special Salmon Piccata. Everything was excellent. The veal was a big hit with the table. Strongly recommend making a reservation. Looks like they do a good job with larger parties without impacting smaller tables and couples. This place is a mainstay in Walnut Creek for a reason.

I called to ensure they would be open on Easter Sunday, spoke to the owner, he was so nice. Upon…read moreentering we were warmly greeted and shown to a great table in the corner. The place is fairly small, but tables aren't too close together so you can have a conversation without hearing other people. Our server, Alex (female) was amazing! She was so warm and authentic, the service was exemplary. The wine list is extensive, with a comprehensive list of old world wines and some new world faves. They feature Pride Mtn. Merlot, one of the best local reds. The food was on point, my Dad had the shrimp scampi, he said it was excellent. I had the pork chop, so good. The chop was pounded thin and had a crispy texture to it (yum). It was covered in demi-glace and mushrooms, just delicious. Overall, great experience. Highly recommend.

We have been going to this restaurant for many years in the original location in San Francisco and…read moreat least 5 or 6 times in walnut creek, we went to a play at the Lesher theater and they partner with Montesacro for dining before the theater and provided 10% discount we enjoyed a wonderful burarrata with sliced peaches with balsamic glaze and gnocchi in a wonderful ragu meat sauce and brazzino fish, the restaurant was very busy and server was a bit swamped and wait times for ordering and getting our drink order ( only had one bartender) was slow regardless of the wait the food was fantastic...

The place gets an extra star for the service. Otherwise it would have been one star…read more Decided to try this place for the family Friday dinner. Two adults, two kids (total bill was ~$450). Observations: 1) The place is very small. They sit you outside in a very windy alley. The food gets cold within 5min or so. Heaters don't help that much. 2) When you make a reservation on OpenTable you choose "Standard seating" - it doesn't mean inside. Inside capacity is about 50 or so ppl with 10 or so by the bar. So capacity is very limited. 3) We ordered lemonade for kids. They serve it in short glasses filled with ice to the brim (despite our ask for "no ice"), effectively reducing the liquid volume. We paid $35 for lemonade. 4) Food is very uneventful, nothing was remarkable. Their gnocchi with meat resembled Chef Boyardee from back in college times. Not sure why this place felt so pretentious with really no substance to back it. With so many options around like Montecatini, Doppio Zero, Benvenuti, La Fontaine, etc, not sure how they are still in business. Definitely not recommended for families, and have a hard time figuring out what audience they cater to.

We thoroughly enjoyed a fabulous dinner at Massimo in downtown Walnut Creek last Thursday evening…read more On Thursdays, Massimo's features a delectable 32 oz. tomahawk steak for two. It includes two sides of your choice, two salads of your choice, and finally two desserts. Everything was scrumptious! The steak was a perfect medium rare and so flavorful. For sides, we chose the gnocchi carbonara and bacon-wrapped asparagus. We also got an extra side of their creamy mashed potatoes. We finished the meal with espresso martinis, tiramisu, and bread pudding. The Tomahawk Thursday dinner is $160 for the three-course meal for two.

From the moment you walk in the door, you can tell Massimo is a "regulars" type of place. Same…read morefaces, same stool, same drink, same food probably for the better part of the last decade. Food was nothing special, much better Italian in town, and while the staff was courteous enough (esp after the kitchen screwed up my order); though I did feel like more of an afterthought than a paying customer. The thing that really stuck with me though was the smell. Odor is more like it actually, sour, like the seafood had gone bad in the fridge or something. Very strange and vastly unpleasant.

We are familiar with the Il Fornaio in Carmel, where the food and service have always been…read moreexceptional, so we were excited to discover there was also a location in Walnut Creek. We chose Il Fornaio Walnut Creek to celebrate both my birthday and my daughter's birthday. We were pleasantly surprised by the spacious, elegant dining room. When making our reservation, we noted that we were celebrating two birthdays. As a party of 10, including a 5-month-old baby and a 3-year-old toddler, we were seated at a large family-style table in a quieter area of the restaurant. It felt like we had our own private celebration space. The kitchen did not disappoint. We ordered two Tomahawk steaks, which were expertly prepared and carved tableside by the chef. Every dish we ordered was delicious, and the affogato was one of the best I have ever had. Unfortunately, our waiter fell short of the restaurant's otherwise high standards. Despite ordering appetizers, salads, and drinks, our water glasses remained empty for extended periods. My husband eventually had to speak with the manager because neither the waiter nor his assistant seemed attentive. Since the restaurant was not busy on a Monday evening, this was disappointing. The manager was excellent and quickly addressed our concerns. When she asked about the birthday celebration, I explained that both my daughter and I were celebrating, yet only one candle was provided despite our mentioning this during the reservation and to our waiter. The manager immediately apologized for the oversight. Another issue arose when we requested the dessert menu. Our grand baby was becoming restless as it approached bedtime, so we wanted to order quickly. However, our waiter repeatedly told us to wait until he had completely cleared the table before bringing the desert menu. It was an unnecessary delay. Obviously, we could have already been reading through the dessert menu while he was clearing the table. Our waiter did not know about time Management. To make matters worse, the complimentary birthday ice cream was served to the wrong person, even though the waiter had been told multiple times who the birthday celebrants were. We also requested an extra candle for my daughter's tiramisu, but that request was ignored. We shared one birthday candle. Despite the service issues, I still consider this restaurant a very good for dining experience because of its outstanding food, attentive manager, talented chefs, and warm atmosphere. We spent over $800 on dinner and typically leave a 25% tip for excellent service. However, due to the lack of attentiveness by the waiter and waiter assistant, we gave only a 20% tip. (Honestly, the chef and the manager deserved the tip More than the waiter himself.) Please don't give this waiter a large party because, the service has a negative impact and leaves a sour taste. I would give this restaurant a 5 star, it only fell short because of this waiter. Il Fornaio Walnut Creek offers food and ambiance that rival much more expensive restaurants. With more attentive service and better attention to detail, the overall experience would be truly exceptional.

The biggest issue with this restaurant was the slowness of the service. We had an anniversary…read morereservation for 6 PM, and planned to catch a movie at 8:40 PM at a movie theater maybe 10 minutes away. Long story short - we were late to the movie. Our waiter left us sitting for very long periods of time between courses, and we actually had to flag down another server to get the check. For my part, I expected better than the food I received. My husband and I split the chopped Italian salad, which we both agreed was rather flavorless and definitely underdressed. I ended up pouring some of the oil and balsamic vinegar from the bread dipping plate into the salad, which made it a little better. I ordered the Tuesday Trio which was a sampling of three supposedly popular pasta dishes. The Tagliatelle with Ragu was OK but a little dry. The corkscrew pasta with sun-dried tomatoes and pesto cream sauce was actually quite good, but my biggest disappointment was their rigatoni à la vodka, which is one of my favorite dishes. This restaurant's version was heavily flavored with smoky bacon, which, in my opinion really drowned out the lightness of a creamy vodka sauce. It was also pretty salty - I couldn't really eat it. However, my husband's Pollo de Toscana was delicious. Overall, I was unimpressed. I know there are better Italian places out there. Probably won't be back.

If you're looking for a truly memorable meal, La Fontaine in Walnut Creek is an absolute gem. We…read morecelebrated my birthday this evening with an excellent meal. The menu is expressed with fresh ingredients, vibrant flavors, and dishes that feel both rustic and refined. Every plate is thoughtfully prepared and bursting with flavor. The presentation is elegant without being fussy, and each bite feels authentic and comforting. The service is equally wonderful: attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely welcoming. It's the kind of place where you want to linger over a glass of wine, savor every course, and plan your return before you've even finished dessert. A delightful dining experience that truly celebrates the spirit and flavors of Provence. Highly recommended!

Food flavor was great! The service was okay. The restaurant ambiance is nice but very dark…read more Definitely worth visiting.

If you're craving pasta, pizza, anything Italian under the sun, come here!!…read more The foods hella bussin bussin. We got the carne pizza, garlic bread, and spicy shell pasta with chicken. & don't forget the wine' We got a recommendation from Jake (our server) and it was really really good' 11/10 come again & if you're reading this, give Jake a raise pronto!!

Tomatina of Walnut Creek was unfortunately a disappointment…read more My spouse and I came to Walnut Creek with plans to grab dinner. We originally planned to grab boba and eat at a different restaurant but when we parked the smell in the air called us to Tomatina instead. We originally came in and the older gentleman said they couldn't seat us right away and to come back in 20 minutes. We didn't mind and took a walk around the block and was seated right away when we returned and he brought us menus. A waiter came and was friendly, making sure he got the order correct. It seemed like he may have been in training. We decided to each get a lemonade, share the meatball appetizer, I ordered the pasta trio and my husband ordered the chicken parmesan. The meal started out nice with the drinks immediately coming out and the appetizer shortly after. The drinks were good, however they were out of pint glasses and came in a collins glass instead. The waiter mentioned the lack of pints and the smaller glass calling it fancy but didn't reference if we'd get a discount or a refill due to the smaller portion as a result of the glass switch. The meatballs were tender and had a good flavor. The sauce was nice and the bread was serviceable. After we finished our appetizer, there was a lack in service for at least 15 minutes. They did not clear the dirty dishes, offer water, or provide any type of check in. While we waited, my spouse had noticed a pasta entree (and a salad) was put up and was placed on top of a pizza box. He didnt think much of it until we started to realize we had been waiting longer than felt appropriate and noticed it was 3 different colors, like you'd expect for a pasta trio like I had ordered. Eventually the pasta was removed and we gave the benefit of the doubt that it wasn't my food that had been sitting out for at at least 10 minutes and they were just slow. A few minutes later, a waitress brought our entrees and they finally cleared the appetizer plates. I took my first bite and my food was cold. Not it cooled down but was still kinda warm, any food that was exposed to air was physically cold to the touch. My husband tried to flag the waitress down that delivered the food and her and another worker were talking and looking at their register with no awareness of the rest of the room. Given the service thus far, I just got up with the food and walked it over. I explained it was cold to the point where I said she could touch it (I proceeded to touch a noodle) and it's obviously too cold to be served. She apologized and said she talk the the cook/chef. My spouse watched as she went with my cold plate to the open kitchen and it was clear that she explained I said it was cold but they were not planning on remaking it and just reheating it. A trio of pastas with 3 different sauces would not be reheated in a pan so the assumption is there would be a microwave involved. My spouse got up and approached the cook and waitress that reheating the pasta was unacceptable because if we wanted reheated pasta, we could get something from a freezer section grocery store. At this point the waitress seemed shocked that we'd say anything about them choosing to just reheat the food. After a few more remarks they finally said that they'd remake my food. But that'd mean I had to wait while my spouse ate or my husband would wait and then their food was cold when we eat together. At this point, the service was so bad and they made it fell like we were inconveniencing them by wanting at least warm food, my spouse said we just wanted to settle up and leave. Again it took them a minute to process that we didn't want to stay there anymore and eventually said we could just leave. We left and have no plans on returning. I would consider trying a different location since it's a chain, but I will not be back to the Walnut Creek location. I give Tomatina a very generous 2 stars for the service at the very start of the night and the flavor of the meatballs.

Classic, small-plate (tapas) style and has been in the same, beautiful location for over 20+ years!…read more Enjoyed the empanadas... It's over a 100 degrees and this blueberry house-infused vodka cocktail, was the perfect refreshing elixir! Cheers!

My recent visit to Va de Vi was part of an assignment for a Check, Please! Bay Area segment...which…read moreis why this review is a tad more detailed than my regular reviews. We tried a wide variety of dishes, and overall, there were some standout plates along with a few that fell short. *Grilled Korean Beef Skewers with Kimchi Fried Rice: The tender grilled beef skewers were glazed in a rich Korean gochujang sauce and served over kimchi fried rice bursting with bold, savory flavors. The kimchi added tanginess and varied textures that complemented the smoky beef beautifully. A very satisfying combination. *Lechon: The crispy pork belly came with rice cakes, pickled onions, and a sweet chili-soy glaze. The pork had a perfectly crisp exterior with a tender, slightly fatty interior. Its richness paired well with the rice and sweet soy glaze, while the pickled onions provided just the right amount of acidity to cut through the richness and balance the dish. *Paella: The saffron-infused rice was cooked in seafood stock with chorizo, PEI mussels, shrimp, white wine, romesco, and peas. The mussels were plump and juicy, while the shrimp had a satisfying snap and were well-marinated. The chorizo added a salty, smoky depth, and the rice was deeply infused with rich seafood flavor. One of the more memorable dishes of the meal. *Quesabirria Tacos: Organic corn tortillas were generously filled with tender braised beef, Oaxaca cheese, onions, and cilantro, accompanied by a savory consommé for dipping. The tacos were packed with flavorful meat, and dipping them into the well-seasoned broth elevated every bite. These were especially enjoyable with a big glass of Cabernet. *Pommes Frites: Unfortunately, the fries were fairly mediocre. The Kennebec potatoes tossed with olive oil, garlic, and parsley lacked the crispness and seasoning I'd expect from classic pommes frites. *Dessert Tasting for Two: The tasting included a mini soufflé, blondie, huckleberry bread pudding, and French apple pie. The chocolate soufflé was intensely chocolatey but unusually dense, more reminiscent of a flourless lava cake than a traditional airy soufflé. The blondie had a crunchy texture and tasted somewhat like lightly sweetened cornbread. The huckleberry bread pudding was moist and flavorful, although I would have preferred it served warmer. The French apple pie was sweet with a pleasantly crunchy texture. Wine We had the Bella Union by Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon, which paired particularly well with the richer dishes--especially the quesabirria tacos. Overall, the Korean beef skewers, lechon, paella, and quesabirria tacos were the highlights for me. There were a few weaker dishes, but the stronger plates made the meal an enjoyable experience.