I have been waiting years to visit Paradiso. From its previous location to the current one, it just…read morenever seemed to happen. But this birthday, it was absolutely meant to be! Not only did I find rock-star parking right in front, but we also had a reserved table by the window. It could not have been a more perfect birthday lunch. Parking is on the street, and spaces can be tight in that area. If you find one, snag it and be happy you did! Paradiso has a lovely menu, but I chose the $55 prix fixe lunch, which included an appetizer, entrée, and dessert. I ordered the mussels, chicken piccata, and tiramisu. The mussels were absolutely delicious. This was my first time having them in a red sauce, so I was trying to be careful because I did not want to get it all over my birthday outfit! The broth was rich, flavorful, and so good that I wished I had more bread for dipping. But I made it do what it do! The chicken piccata was also delicious, especially with all those capers. My only criticism was that the chicken breast had not been pounded thin enough. The center was very thick and reminded me more of a chicken breast prepared for a sandwich. I left that thicker portion, but the thinner, properly pounded part was amazing. I received a special birthday dessert, which I shared with my companion, so I took the tiramisu home along with my leftover chicken. Let me tell you, that tiramisu was absolutely delicious. I would return just to order it for takeout! Our table also shared the crab and avocado salad appetizer. It was beautifully presented and delicious, but at approximately $27, I did not feel it was worth the price. Then again, Paradiso is not necessarily where you go when you are overly concerned about the cost, so keep that in mind. I was also underwhelmed by the focaccia. Four pieces cost $4, and I did not think it was worth it. With a prix fixe meal, I feel the bread should have been included. One thing to be aware of is that ordering the prix fixe lunch results in a 20% automatic gratuity being added to the entire bill. This was not clearly explained beforehand. It was not a major issue, but it was important to know when it came time to determine whether an additional tip was expected. The service was excellent. Our server knew it was my birthday and was attentive, accommodating, and never made us feel rushed. Each course arrived only after we had finished the previous one, so we were able to relax and enjoy the experience. The ambience was curious. It was an open space and is very loud. Other conversations were easily overheard so probably not a good place to go if you want a quiet meal. Overall, I give Paradiso 4.5 out of 5 stars. I am so glad I finally had the opportunity to visit, and I would definitely return.

We've heard good things about Paradiso and finally got to try it ourselves. First impressions was…read morethis place was pretty big and busy on a Friday evening. We did get seated right away at a high top table, which we didn't mind too much but it was in an area a bit more secluded. We ordered an appetizer, two entrees, and a dessert and the bill did come out to be on par with a nicer restaurant. However, we didn't appreciate that the tip suggestions were based on the after tax total rather than the subtotal. * Focaccia - 3/5 as it was a bit dry and was plain even though the menu listed rosemary & herb. * Paradiso's Chicken Picatta with Linguini - 3.5/5 Pasta was a tad overcooked and kept breaking which made it hard to eat. Chicken was big and mostly juicy except for one thinner end that got a little dry. I did really like the lemony sauce. * Braised Short Ribs with Mash Potatoes - 4/5 Good portion short ribs, the sauce was great and meat was very tender. Only con was that some of the carrots were on the raw side. * Bananas Foster Bread Pudding with Vanilla Gelato 4/5 Good dessert, but pecans didn't taste candied and would have liked the bread pudding to be warmer than it was. We'd give it a 3.5 overall and would give it another try sometime. However for the price, we thought it fell a bit short of expectations.

First time here (came for brunch) and wow, what a meal! Everything we ordered was incredible…read more The grilled rockfish was cooked to perfection: juicy, tender, and topped with crispy garlic and capers. The grilled oysters were phenomenal! So fresh with the slightest hint of sweetness. The mushroom and yam fritters sitting on top of mint chutney completely blew me away. Such a unique and delicious combination! The oxtail with grits was another standout. A generous, hearty portion with such rich, deep flavors, absolutely delicious and very satisfying. For drinks, we had the Vietnamese iced coffee and the egg custard coffee, which wasn't overly sweet. The egg custard on top was light, fluffy, and delicious. 10/10 recommend! The service was great! Can't wait to come back and try the dinner menu.

I don't know what the hype is about …read more 1 you scan your food order - and then have to figure out how it works 2 inside or outside dining which is nice and the j side is nicely decorated and outdoor is one and airy- windy and cold today . Next time bring a jacket 3 there really isn't a server , just a person they " will be abound " . You order off the QR CODE and then run a tab- well- with some people today - that's what they accept. For all the Michelin notations I would suggest more customer interaction. 3 the food was ok- not great - not bad - I will say I did like the shoshito peppers and the bon mi sandwhich - it's a shame the rest of the evening menu was not available - for that's what I see mostly recommended on Yelp. The Vietnamese coffee was ok- There was nothing special about the place- nothing that really made me think- I will be back. Kinda fast foodish when you order at McDonalds On a screen.. and then figure it out .. it maybe ok for people today - but I won't harp on that - great for introverts - so I guess it's " ok" ... If I wanted to play on my phone I would have stayed at home .. Parking is thin on the street.. there is parking.. if it's busy then you will have to walk a bit. When we got there I was asked for a reservation - maybe it's standard - but it was at noon and there were only a few people seating and quieter a few tables outside - so next time ? Make a reservation ??? This place was suggested by a coworker he raved about it - about what ? I don't know ... try it for yourself- see what your opinion is - mine is a C ....

Great food Very friendly staff and fast service…read morePlace looks small from outside but has enough space for large groups Definitely recommend

Food was good, nothing super special but all tasty and cooked well. Our table of 8 ordered 3 of the…read moredaily specials (spaghetti di mare, long cod and short ribs) which were all fresh and enjoyed. Staples like the chicken Marsala and linguine vongole were good as well. Prices were also very reasonable which is much appreciated these days! Best part was the service - Roberto and the bussers were lovely and attentive. Good Italian food is hit or miss on the East Bay corridor so we are happy to find a place halfway for everyone coming from Berkeley and Cupertino to have a good meal together.

Great Slice Selection!…read more I've noticed them popping up all over the Bay Area with even more locations opening, so I finally had to give them a try for the first time. Looking at photos online beforehand, I expected the space to be a bit larger, but it's actually on the cozier side inside. It wasn't packed, but definitely wasn't empty either--there was a steady stream of takeout and DoorDash orders flying out the door. We originally planned on ordering a whole pie to share, but once we saw their slice case, we completely changed our minds. Their pizza by the slice variety is extensive, so ordering a few different slices to sample was definitely the way to go! Everything was fantastic, and it's a great spot to try a little bit of everything.

I used to go to The Slice House when I was living in Southern California, so this time I decided to…read moreorder from this location through DoorDash. We ordered two 12-inch medium pizzas--the Pepperoni and the Burrata Queen--along with the Detroit Hot Honey, and cheese garlic bread. Everything arrived fresh and warm, and it was just as delicious as I remembered from my SoCal days. I'm so happy I found this location, and I'll definitely be ordering from here again!

Holy smokes! As someone who has lived in SL for most of my life, I was surprised to hear of this…read moreplace from my partner. He really wanted to try this place and it is such a hidden gem. The super burrito was a miss. However, the TORTA was quite scrumptious and the bread was crispy and fluffy. The meats were fresh, hot and flavorfol. It packed a lot of bite into each morsel and it was also my first time trying a torta! Too delicious and I am so glad my partner found this place

Cute homey vibe , my boyfriend and I came yesterday afternoon,I like mom papa restaurants like this…read moreone !the Young Lady serving us was very nice and polite the Food was good authentic and very Fulfilling!!! We left stuffed!!! We went to a Movie after lol but should have went home to take a Nap lol and the prices were very reasonable!! We will be back , they make Italian food as well we want to try the Pasta next time Yummm

This is a true hidden jewel sitting right here in Hayward. We ended up coming here for an…read moreafter-party dinner with our new in-laws, and the experience was top-notch. I have held several of my company Christmas Dinner parties here....excellent. If you are looking for nice dinner...or need an event venue, then can provide the entire restaurant for a party etc. Check them out. The owner/manager, Fide, is an absolute charm. She went above and beyond, ensuring there were flowers on the table and even bringing out a special tray of desserts to celebrate. As for the food, it was excellent--clean, hot, and authentic. We had the Chicken Parmesan, a fantastic Seafood Pasta, and the Eggplant, along with Bruschetta and Calamari for appetizers. The service is incredibly friendly and the prices are very fair. If you love quality Italian food, do not miss this gem."

Best Italian spot in Hayward! I love this place their food is always hot n fresh and you'll always…read morereceive the best service. The style of the restaurant is open with lots of seating I personally love sitting closes to the window. All their pastas are incredible! The Bruschetta was super fresh and they include the perfect amount of balsamic vinegar on it! Keep note there's only street parking.

Absolutely wonderful experience here for a last-minute birthday dinner…read more We didn't have a reservation for a Saturday night, but did not have to wait around 5:45pm for a party of 2. There is plenty of seating inside, by the bar, and outside in a heated patio. I ordered the spaghetti del Trabocco, as I love seafood and pasta, but have food intolerance to onion and garlic, which has always been challenging for me when going to Italian restaurants. However, the waiter informed me that this dish has no onions or garlic at all! I have never yet encountered a pasta dish with no garlic/onion and was beyond exhilarated that I would be able to order this dish. My husband got the lasagna, and we both ordered drinks. The drinks came out within a few minutes, along with yummy bread, vinegar and olive oil. The entrees took about 10 minutes to come out but they were well worth the wait. The scallops in the spaghetti were so soft, the shrimp were large, and the pasta was cooked to perfection. One of the clams was slightly salty but it did not ruin the dish. My husband enjoyed his lasagna as well, noting it was fulfilling. The best part of the night, was when I asked for a tiramisu to celebrate my birthday. Having tiramisu cake on my birthday holds personal sentimental value to me. Apparently, when the cook isn't busy, he'll come out and sing Happy Birthday to you! The cook was busy when my cake came out about 10 minutes after we finished our main dishes, but the waiter came to sing instead and he was wonderful, topping off the night to say the cake was complimentary. I was almost brought to tears by the gesture. The tiramisu was delicious, devoured too quick, even my husband approved, and I have been thinking of it ever since. I am so appreciative of how they made my birthday dinner a wonderful experience, the service, and the delicious food. Would definitely recommend and come again.

So I have held off doing a review for a long time because I was conflicted and just recently sort…read moreof figured out why. We have popped in here a lot over the years. Drinks and appetizers are great at the bar. Bartenders are nice. I think I had a cioppino or sea food stew once that was also really good. All the food coming out of the kitchen looks great. But here's the rub I finally figured out after talking about this place with my partner multiple times. There is tension in the air, a lot of it. Walking in you can feel it. Not sure where it's coming from since the owner, Gino I think, seems like a pretty nice and chill guy and interactions with him are always good and I see him interact with the staff in a positive way. So why the tension? Where is that coming from? Regardless, I don't need that tension and anxiety on my resume or in my tequila. For some reason I really wanted this place to be sort of a nice hang out and place to always go. Just hasn't panned out that way. We'll still go back at times and test the waters. Just not going to be one of our regular haunts. People seem to love it more than I currently do so there must be something there. Rounding up to 4.

Complimentary focaccia bread and spread - delicious. Love the spread…read more Beef Carpaccio- it was alright. Pasta Bolognese- our friend loved it. Butternut squash ravioli with brown butter sage - our vegetarian friend loved it. Fruiti Di Mare - a brothy noodle dish, reminded me of Bouillabaisse. I like it but my husband prefers a thicker sauce. It contained mostly mollusks, squids and shrimps I didn't see any fishes at all. The shrimps and squids were overcooked, dried and tough. It's a no no for me. Desserts: Cheesecake- not bad Chocolate Lava cake - not bad Bread pudding with Rum and Raisin - too dense and no traces of rum or raisin whatsoever. Probably our least favorite Tiramisu- delicious!!! The sauce on top was outstanding. I would return just for this.

Came here at around 6pm on Sunday no reservations and got seated right away with a party of 5. The…read morecomplementary bread was fresh and delicious my kids enjoyed it. The crab cakes were ok. Didn't really hit the spot for me. I didn't taste any crab but it wasn't bad. My kids really enjoyed the calamari. Sauces were very good as well. Everyone enjoyed their food, it came out quick and fresh . Dessert was my favorite by far. The cannoli was so fresh and creamy. Nice way to end the day for sure. $230 later we had enough left overs for tomorrow. Tip was automatically included with a party of 5. Portions are big and kid approved. Service was good and friendly. Recommend trying this place if you're in the area. Plenty of parking in downtown Hayward. Location is on a one way street, pretty easy to find. I've been driving by this place for years and it didn't disappoint.

An iconic old style Italian Market & Deli that's makes up some tasty sandwiches. Located on "the…read moreBoulevard" in Castro Valley, this long time deli is our go-to place when visiting my wife's home town. Thr inside is one big market containing whatever Italian food item you might possibly want. Only a couple of small table inside to eat at and none outside makes Luca's an order and take out place, but their sandwiches are definitely worth it!

If you're looking for comforting, generous portions of classic Italian staples right in Castro…read moreValley, Lucas is a solid local go-to. Lasagna: The highlight of the meal. It arrives rich, heavy, and properly layered with plenty of meat, ricotta, and melted cheese. The marinara sauce hits the right balance--savory with just enough acidity to cut through the richness. Total comfort food that easily leaves you with leftovers for the next day. Eggplant Parmesan: A very close second. The eggplant is sliced well and cooked until tender without getting soggy, which is always the real test for an eggplant parm. The breading holds up nicely under a heavy blanket of melted mozzarella and sauce.

Came just for dessert this time as it never disappoints. Croissant bread pudding and crème brûlée…read morewere spectacular!!! It's hard to choose between the two so we needed both. Hands down the best crème brûlée anywhere!!! So creamy. The presentation on the bread pudding is the most beautiful I've seen and the flavors were amazing. I'll be back!

Went here for a bday brunch and it was alright. I think the appetizers were better than the…read moreentrees. The crab dip was fire! We ordered a small sampler app and everything on the board was delicious. You can probably order this for your meal and be satisfied. I ordered the cajun pasta and added shrimp, suggested by our waiter. It was tasty, but not outstanding. They also had a brunch menu which wasn't given to everyone on the table so half the table missed it. It's a classic place and it gets busy. It's not hella fancy, but it is pricey. Nicely located by the water and with plenty of parking. Cocktails were served in random cups, it seems, that didn't really match the cocktail.