The food at Valentino's is absolutely scrumptious and truly speaks for itself. The first time I visited, I was lucky enough to try the lasagna, which was rich, comforting, and clearly made with care. On my second visit, I ordered the spaghetti and meatballs--and it did not disappoint. The spaghetti was perfectly cooked, with a hearty, house-made sauce that tasted deeply authentic. The sauce had a beautiful balance of savory tomato flavor, herbs, and just the right amount of richness, as if it had been simmering all day. The meatballs were tender, well-seasoned, and full of flavor, not dry or overly dense, but exactly what you hope for in classic Italian comfort food. Every bite felt homemade and satisfying, the kind of meal that reminds you of a family kitchen rather than a restaurant. Valentino's proves that size isn't everything; the small space is remarkably warm and inviting. The relaxed, cozy atmosphere perfectly mirrors the menu, allowing for a meal that feels unhurried. With its genuine family-run charm, the restaurant feels wonderfully authentic and approachable. Beyond the food, the experience at Valentino's is what truly sets it apart. It's a father-and-daughter business, and their pride shows in everything they do. They are incredibly friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming, making you feel more like a guest in their home than just a customer. If you're looking for authentic Italian food made with heart and tradition in Fresno, Valentino's is a must-try. I'll absolutely be back again. read more

Valentino's - Angel hair pasta (vegan) - Italian Near Me - Fresno, California

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Can't go wrong with their staple, the lasagna. It's fantastic and has the right amount of spices. It's always hot and fresh and served with some delicious garlic bread. Definitely worth a try. read more

I love this place! My go to is the rigatoni ross (because it's saucy and spicy!), but everything is good here. Being that the place is run by only 2 people, the service is superb. First time trying the Alfredo today and it did not disappoint. I used to work down to so this was place for a treat. They play great music and even have outdoor seating. The portions are large enough for lunch and dinner. And the bread, it's crispy and airy. Love it. One of my favorite spots in downtown. read more

The service was amazing but the food was super spicey. This little hidden jem in downtown is in a really nice location. We tried the spaghetti and meatballs and a pasta plate. Overall not bad BUT wow on the spice. Both our orders were very spicey and it ruined the meal. When the spice kicked in, it kind of overtook the quality of the whole meal. read more

Valentino's - Hot spaghetti! - Italian Near Me - Fresno, California

Wow! Portion sizes here is off the chart!! Came here with colleges and every order could've fed 2-3 people really well. On top of that the food is delicious. I had the pesto tortellini. Stuffed with cheese, mixed with a creamy pesto sauce and mixed with bacon. There was so much to be desired and desired a second time because of the amount of leftover for later. Everyone that I was with loved their dish and all had to take it home for later. If you're in a mood for Italian, this is one of the good places and you certainly get your money's worth. read more

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Touted as downtown Fresno's premier Italian food, their top dish, the Lasagna Rossa, is made by hand daily and usually sells out before the close of business. This quaint restaurant in the Galleria meticulously prepares authentic, no-frills Italian dishes using just a few fresh, top-quality ingredients. Each dish tastes like it is home-cooked because it is. The owner and manager, Rafael (Rafa), and his daughter Gracie do everything at the restaurant, including all the cooking. So the food is traditionally prepared with family pride and their reputation rides on each dish. The Lasagna Rossa, $13, is a masterpiece of rich and zesty meat sauce, perfectly cooked and layered pasta, and generously topped with cream parmesan and mozzarella cheese. It is a comforting and flavorful dish, the meat, pasta, and sauces mix well. The guests who accompanied me all thoroughly enjoyed their dishes and look forward to returning. The dishes are top restaurant quality and home-made, prepared by the original hands that created the recipes, which are engrained in their culture, and culinary experiences, and time-tested through generations that meet the family stamp of approval. Rafa will bring all the dishes to your table and check to make sure each guest is enjoying their meal. Gracie is full of energy and will also engage the guests in conversation while preparing the dishes and her delectable baked goods. You have their undivided attention and we could not have felt more welcomed. The prices are extremely reasonable and the portions are generous. You are encouraged to call ahead with your orders, especially since dishes like the lasagna take time to prepare. You will not feel rushed here so do not be. Those on limited or tight lunch schedules should call ahead and order to-go. My 800th review had to be for a [new] favorite spot. Valentino's is a great choice for lunch in downtown Fresno, especially for group lunches and celebrations. They also do catering. Open Monday to Friday, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Closed on the weekend. There is free 2-hour parking in the Galleria parking lot adjacent to the restaurant on the north side. read more

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We had lunch today at Valentino's. I had the rigatoni with red sauce and my wife had the lasagna. This is treasure in downtown Fresno. Everything tasted fresh. The bruschetta was perfection! We ended our meal with the most delicious tiramisu! The best we've ever had! It's worth a drive to downtown. Larry Gittens read more

Couldn't wait to come back and this time I brought my family who absolutely loved their entrees!! Thank you so much for making amazing flavorful authentic Italian food!!! read more

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This place blows all other Italian eateries out of the water. It's located inside of a food hall tucked away, but worth the trip. The food is savory and flavorful. It's family owned and if you are lucky Chef Raf will usually start chatting. So far, I've tried the angel hair pasta, caprese salad, lasagna, and pesto tortellini. Everything was delicious, but be warned that the lasagna does come with a little kick to it. It's their number one seller, so I am glad I was able to try it before they sold out for the day. The restaurant had indoor and outdoor seating available. read more

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Friday noontime Fresno Convention Center. As soon as we parked the car at Doubletree by Hilton Convention Center Fresno, walked 8 minutes to Valentino's. Small restaurant with windows overlooking a courtyard. Wife ordered the $14 Lasagna Rossa. 13 minutes wait for them to cook the item. Precooked but a large size serving of beef lasagna in a rich tomato sauce. They are famous for this dish, and it was worth rushing for. My $18 Alla Tony came with chopped mushrooms, chicken in creamy alfredo sauce over rigatoni noodles. Huge serving, very filling, tasty. We would both go into food coma from the large servings , and barely able to waddle out of there. Turned out we were correct to rush into the restaurant, as wife got the last piece of lasagna for the day. read more

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I love it here! From the moment you walk in you instantly feel so welcomed. The owners are so personable and kind. The type of people you want to support and see do so well. It's so cute inside! And very clean. I love the way they have it set up and decorated, the floor is amazing. Indoor and outdoor seating available! And the food....delicious! So far I've only had the lasagna which was SO GOOD and I'm not even typically a lasagna lover. But theirs is to die for! Can't wait to be back to try something new. read more

Valentino's - Italian Near Me - Fresno, California

Came for a Yelp Elite event, so this review is a bit limited. It was a grab & go/takeout situation. Co-owner daughter was very nice. Was told IG has their most current menus & that DM'ing order is possible. Ambiance is very nice. They also have an outdoor patio area. Hidden gem location. Got the lasagna. Great sauce & plenty of it. I hate dry lasagna. Just wish there was more mozzarella. And fyi, I was raised in NY in an Italian family. So consider that! Also got dessert chocolate raviolis, but I haven't tried them yet. All in all, I'm really glad Yelp partnered w/them as I would've never known about them or gone there. Now, I think I will definitely go back to try more of their small menu. Give them a chance! read more

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Downtown Fresno? Strike 1. If you work downtown or are down there for business, then it is an option. But they are open only a limited number of hours. The food was average. Service was slow. I won't be back. read more

On a Monday midday visited this restaurant in the Fresno County Downtown area. Theres is plenty of street metered parking and parking lots nearby. The friendly staff greeted me as soon as I walked in. There is plenty of tables and seats inside and outside the restaurant. The atmosphere is very chill and welcoming. The food was also on point. This New Yorker Definitely stop by this restaurant when you are in the area. Food is so delicious and highly affordable. read more

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I come here for lunch whenever I crave lasagna or rigatoni. This is, by far, the best Italian restaurant in Fresno. Everything is made right in front of you, and the owners treat you like family. I love their energy and hospitality. I recommend calling ahead for takeout to ensure they have what you want. However, this is definitely a nice spot for a date as well. read more

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OMG!! What a find. We were just looking for some lunch and found Valentino's. At the time we were there one person, Tony ( I think), owner was cooking. It is so different to watch your food being made. The food was phenomenal. Fresh ingredients and an excellent attention to detail. Plus special requests were encouraged. This place is special. Highly recommend!!!! read more

Excellent Italian, lunch only in a cute hole in the wall. I had the Angelhair Pomodoro, which came with a huge amount of perfect angel hair, plump cherry tomatoes, and flavor that couldn't stop. My companions split an order of lasagna which they quickly demolished. We all split an order of bruchetta before our lunch and, frankly I could have eaten it for lunch and been satisfied. Overall, service was fast, helpful and professional. I strongly recommend it. read more

Went there at 11 am on friday,about 8 people seated, the lady at the counter told me they were doing a catering order and it would be 25 to 30 minutes before are order would be ready. At least she for warned us ,will return again to try their food a word to them ,if you decide to take a catering order on a Friday just when u upen,have someone else in the kitchen to help out. read more

Nobody makes as delicious and satisfying a lasagna as Chef Raf and that's just one of the wonderful items on Valentino's menu. Authentic Italian food served with love by Raf and Gracie! Should have ten stars read more

Don't. Do. It. This restaurant "prides" themselves by saying they are not "fast food." Okay, fine, have your identity. But why on earth would you be located in a downtown area that serves an 8-5 work force that has set 30 minute / 1 hour lunches. You want to provide a slow service, go elsewhere in town. I was about the 20th person there for lunch and it took 40 minutes to receive our food. It took so long we had to ask them to pack it up to go. Now keep in mind, the menu is quite small compared to most restaurants; 5 main dishes. Maybe since everyone is ordering the same exact dishes, MAKE IT ALL AT ONCE instead of individually?! To add "in-salt" to injury, the food was horribly over salted. There are other spices beyond salt..... My insides feel like a slug that had salt poured on it. I shouldn't have ate it, but since I (regrettably) paid $19 including tip, I didn't want to waste my money. Bad choice. Never again. read more

I had been eager to try this place out and finally did! This hidden Italian restaurant gem is in downtown Fresno inside The Galleria. They're only open on weekdays which is why it took me awhile to go here. The owner is super friendly, the service is top notch. The recipes are made by the owner as he's also the cook. The place feels very homey and love the music that is being played. My friends and I were so indecisive on what to order and ended up ordering the pesto tortellini. The pasta has chopped up piece of bacon and garlic, served with some buttered bread. The portion is big and for the price, it's a steal. Before we got our entree, the owner brought us out caprese and bruschetta on the house. It was DELICIOUS. The bruschetta was so good, the crostini was perfect. Caprese was good too. I'll be back to try the rigatoni and lasagna. They also have specials of the week too! This place is a must TRY!!!! read more

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Yummy spot in the Galleria. Rafa and Gracie and super nice and the food was delicious. They have a daily special and classics like lasagna and spaghetti & meatballs. Worth a stop in for sure. read more

Valentino's - Caprese salad - Italian Near Me - Fresno, California

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OK, my bad, wanted to miss the lunch crush so went about 1. Yeah, I miss the rush, but also the lasagna. Boo-hoo. Walking in to that aroma, you know it was the real deal. I settled for the rigatoni and my friend had the angel hair pasta. The sauce was amazing, so much flavor. Definitely real tomatoes, not the canned ones. The owner, I hope his name is Valentino, but I forgot to ask was the delight chef, Weather, bus boy, what else he had a personality that made me know that he loved that I loved his food please support. read more

I'm not a big Italian food eater but let me tell you their lasagna is extremely good my wife took me there and they did not disappoint. No ricotta was a big + for me can't wait to take the fam some reviews said it was to spicy thought it could have a little more but other than that it was excellent can't wait to go back! read more

I was lucky enough to go to an Elite Yelp event at Valentino's and was not disappointed. It's downtown Fresno in the Galleria at Civic Center Square. We had the lasagna. It was yummy and a little arrabiata, which means spicy. The desserts are made by Grace. We enjoyed chocolate ravioli with icing drizzled on top. It was a tasty dessert without being too sweet. It's a small venue with fast service and on a nice day, you can eat outside on tables and you can take out. If you're downtown I suggest you try Valentino's! read more

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The lasagna here is amazing!! I've never tried a lasagna as good as this! The other pasta dishes are very good as well. I usually do take out for the food but the service here is great. The environment here is very welcoming. I totally recommend the lasagna. read more

Beautiful little restaurant tucked in the Galleria on Kern Street. The owner/chef is welcoming and friendly, so that it feels like you are dropping in on a friend for lunch. I ordered the tortellini with pesto sauce and was very impressed. Sauce was a mild cheesy creamy version of pesto and utterly delicious. Tortellini was cooked to perfection and tasted fresh and tender. It was a rich comfort food. The portion was generous enough that I had lunch the next day too. I will definitely be back, and maybe try the lasagna next read more

I had heard glowing reports about how great the food was at this restaurant. I went there today and placed an order to go. The lady behind the counter was handling the cash register, moving stuff on the counter, etc. Then she proceeded to prepare my order, never washing her hands or putting on food handling gloves. I was appalled with the lack of sanitary handling of the food, and it then really concerns me about how clean they are when prepping and cooking the food each day. I definitely will not return as very unsanitary read more

Loved it! I had the tortellini pesto and it was great. Customer service was amazing, the man who answered the phone was so sweet. Everyone needs to try Valentino's! read more

Went in to place an order was offered a menu only to be told. Oh yeah, we don't have any food anymore. 1:45 in the afternoon read more

The food was delicious service was wonderful, friendly people definitely recommend love the atmosphere they make there own pasta read more

Valentino's - Italian Near Me - Fresno, California

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A local hidden treasure, right in the heart of Fresno's Galleria! You don't find the combination excellent food and personalized service just anywhere these days.. Rafael and Grecia are two of a kind and with their personal touch make you feel right at home with their Italian classics. I have enjoyed lunch at their location and also ordered family style to go to take home later for dinner. Their lasagna is a must, I have had their caprese, Rigatoni, Pesto Tortellini, Chicken Marsala... every menu selection is just as delicious as the next! Delicious food, quick, and excellent service! What else can you ask for? read more

Loved the lasagne. Hands down great. Everything is prepped ahead of time so be aware that the lunch time food can run out.

Best pizza in Huntington Beach and probably California (especially the sauce). Dave Portnoy would love this place.

Very personable owner and easy to talk to. The lasagna was delicious and huge portions. Definitely will stop by if ever In the area again.

This is by far the best Italian restaurant in Fresno. This gem needs to be shared with everyone. The pesto is soooo good. They treat their customers like family. I would eat here every day if I could. Thank you for the delicious contribution to downtown! read more

The food was amazing! We especially enjoyed the lasagne and bruschetta. The owners are delightful!

I had the spaghetti with meatballs and it was very very good. The portion was more than enough for 2 people. The service was excellent and everyone was friendly. You can eat inside or outside in a nice patio. Open 10:00-4:00. read more

Valentino's - Italian Near Me - Fresno, California

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I stopped in for lunch with a business partner and was so glad I did. The spot is cozy, with indoor and outdoor seating. My business partner and I both had the lasagna which comes with 2 pieces of garlic toast. The lasagna was really good. The sauce was bright and flavorful and there was a perfect ratio of pasta, cheese, and sauce. The menu is limited but everyone around us was practically licking their plates clean so I can get on board with a small menu if every dish is a homerun. I will definitely put this place in my rotation for business meals. read more

Went here with colleagues for lunch. Had literally the best lasagna I have EVER had! Everyone loved what they had as well (lasagna, Caesar salad , rigatoni & bruschetta). I can't stop thinking about going again. Unfortunately, I live across town and they're only open M-F. read more