- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
888 Ristorante Italiano
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 2 pm
Mon-Sat 5 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
87 reviews for 888 Ristorante Italiano
Review Highlights
-
"...and friendly and the chef/owner always comes out to greet..." In 7 reviews -
"For dinner I went with their Fettuccine con Salsiccia." In 3 reviews -
"Go for the Linguine Tutto Mare which has generous portions..." In 3 reviews
Loading...
87 reviews in English
-
Review from Maria G.
Redwood City, CA
3/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
YUMMMMO!
Finally convinced my dad to try this place. He is very selective when it comes to food (a bit of a food snob/diva), especially pasta. 888 passed the test with flying colors! He looooved it. My bf and mom did as well. I think I ate 2 loafs of bread even before the food arrived. Food was delicious and I loved that that Chef comes out to greet his patrons. You don't see that in restaurants anymore. Def will come back. -
Review from Aaron M.
Redwood City, CA
2/18/2012
i went two or 3 weeks ago with my girlfriend we spent really good time in this small rest. the service is 10/10 the chef/owner VITO welcome us looks that they spend a lot of time talking with their customers and explaining about his food really friendly staff i didn't have to wait for a waiter 'cause they were there all the time ...
food: good i love italian food 'cause is one of my specialties i just was a little unhappy for 2 things one was the rack of lamb the i ordered (medium well) it was 3 pieces but diferent sizes and diferent cook temperatures too one was rare the another one was good medium well and the last one was over cook and it was a little burned... the tiramisu was really strong it felt like i was drinking a straight shot of expresso i barely touch it..
i will be back soon to try other plates -
Review from John O.
San Carlos, CA
1/24/2012
This is an authentic Italian restaurant owned/managed by two outstanding hosts - Vito Bellantuono and Vincenzo Maddalena. From the moment you enter the door and are greeted with "bouna sera" and a big hug from Vito the experience just gets better.
This is the real deal... My wife is Italian, has lived in Rome and grown up and around the best Italian cooking. She can't get enough of 888 and regularly comments on how authentic and fresh the food is. Her current favorite dish is the Pansotti alla Salvia.
Always some nice specials... and in the summer when they have the stuffed baby zucchini fresh from the farmers market... so so tasty. Another incredible special they are now serving is the fresh marinated cracked crab, Sicilian style - unbelievable - the best crab I have ever had. Oh wait - did I tell you to order the Frutta di Bosco dessert... I am not a big dessert person - but I have to have this. So fresh and delicious. I am salivating as I write this.
The quality of the ingredients - always fresh, and the preparation of the meal is always top notch, food is brought to the table on time without ever feeling rushed.
We are regulars now and go weekly to dine. The ambiance is classy but not pretentious... not too loud. It is relatively small so I would make a reservation.
Vito - save us a table we will be down tonight ! -
Review from V b.
San Carlos, CA
The last i was here they accommodated my gluten allergy, they had gluten free pasta... love this place... a must try for everyone
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
8/30/2011
Honestly this place is a San Carlos Gem!!! The best Italian food I have ever had, very similar to… Read more »
-
-
Review from Carla S.
Redwood City, CA
4/8/2012
Had lunch yesterday to celebrate my birthday - great gnocchi with gorgonzola sauce, shared rex sole and veal marsala dishes with my friend - everything was delicious. Vince who runs the front of the house had a fabulous suggestion for wine - he knows that wine list!
When they first opened I ate dinner there, one of our dishes was overly salty - they took it back and made a whole new one. Very customer oriented. I had lunch a few months later - good bruschetta, calamari. Never had a bad meal here - my new favorite Italian restaurant on the peninsula. -
Review from Kenneth B.
Denver, CO
4/14/2012
Went there with a work colleague. Small space but really nice atmosphere. I had the seafood risotto, which was better than average.
Service was effusive. Greeted by the owner, which was nice.
I think it's a really solid, dependable restaurant. You'll always have a good meal there. -
Review from Tiffany W.
Fremont, CA
12/3/2011
Yesterday the boss lady took a few of us here for lunch for my coworker's birthday.... Thanks boss!
When we were seated at our table, the first thing I thought was, what a cute restaurant. I liked the size - small and cozy, but not too small. The service here is also very friendly and attentive.
For lunch, we ordered the Calamari and Bruschetta appetizers, I had the Linguine with Clams, and also tried some of my boss' Pasta Norma. The food here is solid - great flavors, fresh ingredients, cooked right, and nice portions. When we finished dining, two of us ordered dessert and two of us didn't. Our server was nice and brought out an additional piece of Chocolate Cake on the house - which was amazing by the way. I'm not huge on chocolate, but the cake was sooo delicious, especially with the lining and layers of hazelnut.
Overall, great little restaurant. I would definitely recommend it to people who work or live in the area. Yesterday was even my first time on Laurel St! I work on the Peninsula now and am slowly getting more familiar with the area. -
Review from Kathryn B.
Mountain View, CA
10/30/2011
Nice ambience, excellent Italian food. My favorite dish so far is the Rigatoni Bolognese. The sauce is excellent - I love the creaminess! The gnocchi is also quite good, cooked to perfection.
The restaurant is a bit small - reservations might be a good idea. Every time I've been, there are reservation signs on many of the tables. -
Review from christy s.
Los Gatos, CA
2/15/2012
This place was fantastic! It is a very small place, and consequently a bit louder than I prefer, but the service was excellent. I loved that the owner came to check on us several times and was very welcoming. Their food was absolutely delicious. My husband had the fettucine con salciccia, and he ate it so fast I didn't even get to try it! Obviously he really enjoyed it. I had the rigatoni bolognese, which was excellent as well. I took some home b/c it was pretty rich, but it was delicious. Our friend had the linguine tutto mare, which was a huge portion with all sorts of seafood. She really enjoyed it. Overall, we were very pleasantly surprised and will be back. This is our new favorite Italian place in San Carlos!
-
Review from Mel D.
San Carlos, CA
F.A.B.U.L.O.U.S.
Order the gnocchi with the cheese sauce--so rich and delicious!!!!! Oh and the bruschetta, don't forget to order that too!
yum! yum! yum! -
Review from theresa b.
Daly City, CA
9/12/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I'm going to start this review with the very last thing that happened, before I go into the details of the dining experience itself. The owner actually accompanied us to the door, and thanked us for giving them a try.
He stopped me cold in my tracks. I said, "You *know* we haven't been here before?" and there was not a shred of doubt.
I am a *huge* fan of old world hospitality when it comes to Italian places. I think I've been to all of them on Laurel (no small feat), and while the food is decent at most, 888 edges them all out with that little extra personal touch.
The food was excellent - bressola appetizer, lobster ravioli smothered in a red cream sauce, salmon sicilian with kalamatas and caperberries. Note on the lobster ravioli sauce, go with a bigger white than the pinot grigio, or go up to a sangiovese/pinot noir. Huge, scrumptious flavor.
The service was impeccably paced, and our host most definitely greeted every guest, table by table. I was pleased with the pricing and selection both on the wine list.
Although the restaurant is arranged intimately, quiet conversation is a challenge. It's a bustling place with a bit of a sound challenge. Well worth more than a few return visits though, and unreserved recommendation. -
Review from Kirsten O.
Foster City, CA
8/24/2011
My awesome Dad and Mom#2 took me and the bf to this restaurant the other night for a celebratory dinner. Yay me - new job!
I had heard a bunch of great things about the place before, so was very excited to give it a try. Also - being treated to dinner makes me very happy.
We came on a Tuesday night and the restaurant was about 70% full. Good sign! They had a larger party in the middle and some other smaller tables of regular sized parties. Some people were also dining outside on the street (love the option to do that). I guess my fam is well known there, as they didn't even open the menu, and the lovely waiter was giving them the daily specials, suggesting what he thought they "personally" would like. It's always nice to be known at a restaurant and treated well.
We started off with their swiss chard and fava bean appetizer. I had no idea what to expect, but holy cow was it delicious. Warm and creamy, but so fresh and healthy tasting. Served with a few pieces of a fresh bread (somewhat foccacia like). We all loved it.
Next I had a caesar salad, but it was HUGE! I only finished about half of it as I knew I had a pasta dish coming next. It was perfect. Very crisp, fresh, and the salad dressing was not overdone. Shaved parm was perfection, and the few croutons were tasty.
For dinner I went with their Fettuccine con Salsiccia. Now THIS is Italian food. For those that don't know what is in this dish, it's sausage with red and yellow bell peppers, kalamata olives, in a tomato sauce. Delicious. The sausage they used was slightly spicy and very generous on the portions. Their veggies were just crisp enough and had just enough olives to create the perfect balance. The tomato sauce was fresh and tasting it alone was just heavenly. Yum Yum.
Yes, I went with dessert. I had to! Special occasion, right?!?!? I went with the simple vanilla bean gelato (I love me some gelato) and the bf got the hazelnut. We both shared and both were amazing. If I had to choose just one, I would go with the hazelnut. It was just too tasty!
Highly recommend this place. Great for a date, great for a dinner with a girlfriend, great for a family dinner. It is a bit on the pricey side, but in my opinion, very reasonable. I believe our bill was about $200 and 2/4 had a glass of wine w/ dinner. So, one app, salads for four, four dinners, 3 desserts, 2 glasses of wine. Not bad!!
Definitely try it out! Their service was impeccable, and loved the atmosphere. It's a bit hidden away and you may not normally notice this spot, but I would come here again when looking for a REAL Italian meal!!! -
Review from Alice M M.
San Carlos, CA
3/15/2012
Had an excellent lunch yesterday! very friendly staff, great service, and it is small enough that the noise level is low (unlike some other places I have tried downtown lately). I have been to Italy and this is very authentic food. A surprisingly varied menu. I ordered from their lunch menu, but was eying some of the entree options - saving them for my next visit. I will definitely come back. They had a wine list as well, but I stuck with hot tea on a rainy work day!
-
Review from Lori S.
Palo Alto, CA
2/21/2012
I went here with my husband for a Valentine's Day lunch. The restaurant is bright and sunny. We were immediately greeted and seated at a table next to the window. We ordered off of the dinner menu...I started with the delicious Barbabietole Veneziane salad. My husband had the Linguine Tutto Mare and he loved it. I had one of the specials...it was a salmon filet with a roasted tomato sauce. It was amazing! We had a great lunch. I highly recommend this restaurant and can't wait to go back.
-
Review from Chary P.
San Carlos, CA
7/16/2011
We've walked by and looked in before. Small, intimate, inviting menu selections. This time, we came to try them out. First impression - busy at 7:30pm Friday night! Loud and hard to hear each other. Our waiter did very well. He earned big points by having taken my flatware after appetizers and replaced them with fresh clean ones! Minor detail that some bistros overlook. He was attentive but stretched with other tables. Service was not compromised.
We had the Barbabietole Veneziane, a beet and tomato salad. Very tasty, great textures dizzled with 20-yr old balsamic dressing. For our main course, we had the Fettuccine con Salsiccia. I thought it was a good dish.. on the acidic side but palatable. Good size plate considering I split this with my husband. For dessert, we had the Affogato al Caffe, vanilla gelato soaked in espresso. Oh yeah! Heavenly!
Owner, if you're reading this, consider changing your wall and ceiling material to a sound-absorbing material. You have a wonderful restaurant but the experience is deteriorated by the loudness of people talking. The sound-absorbing walls and ceiling will bring much value to keeping your past customers coming back for more! It is because of the noise level that we will not come back. We had to run out for peace and quiet. Oh.. thank goodness no TV! That's a plus, too! Classy interior design - simple yet elegant. -
Review from Jessica M.
San Jose, CA
5/9/2011
Walked up and down...up and down.... down and up Laurel for just over an hour...Killing that terrible time between when the boy gets off work and places to eat start to open up.
No clue what we wanted... just kinda threw a stone (which translates to checking Yelp on my Blackberry) and ended up here.
The place was totally empty...but like I said...5pm...not many people are out to eat...but I had an interview that day and he just got off work there in San Carlos...so yeah... we made it work.
The server/host was super polite. His sweet demeanor made me very comfortable right away.
The bread.... left something to be desired. The bread was just bread. Nothing special. Almost too hard... but if they warmed that bread up... they could have a winner here!!
We split a caesar salad ...they gladly did that on two plates without even really having to ask for 2 plates.
After, we shared the ox tail ragu ...it was full of flavor... but still felt light.
I asked if they made their own pasta (tasted home made) and they do! That right there...is enough to keep this picky Italian eater happy.
So ....I am a fan... they improve the bread and BAM...they will be SUPER STARS in my book!! -
Review from L H.
San Mateo, CA
12/28/2011
Cozy restaurant in a great location. We got lucky and found parking right in front. The owner checked in on our table a few times to make sure everything was okay. Everything was delicious - the wine, appetizers, salad and our entrees. We had a large group so we ordered a variety of dishes and I must admit I sampled a few of my buddies' dishes. A few of the pastas are homemade and were very delicious!
The timing of the food, clearing of the dishes and bringing out the dessert - all of it was great. The prices were also really reasonable. -
Review from Alina B.
2/11/2011
I have been to this place on numerous occasions and it has NEVER failed me or my family. Great food, fabulous service, cozy...LOVE LOVE LOVE!
Rigatoni alla Bolognese is my favorite; the sole special with gorgonzola mashed potatoes is amazing, the lobster ravioli is to DIE for, etc..etc....etc...drool...drool...drool..... -
Review from Jeff W.
San Carlos, CA
2/4/2011
Ambiance deserves a round of applause. This place is quaint, and classy without being over the top. I really like how they keep the "overhead" of running a restaurant down by having a semi small space to dine, and never once did i feel that i wasn't being served quickly.
Chef greets everyone, which is a touch you don't find often now a days. And the food, was great.
Solid place to have a nice meal with someone special! -
Review from Lulu E.
San Mateo, CA
11/12/2011
After debating a few places on Laurel, I wanted to give this a try with hubby and some friends because of the great reviews. I was nervous about the sound issues, but am so happy that didn't hold us back.
This place is such a quaint, cozy little restaurant that we will defiintely go back to for quality italian food with that homey personal touch. the owner and chef greeted us at the door, and personally went to each table to check in and tell us the specials. Food was delicious. Service was good and not overbearing. It does get a little loud, but our table still conversed normally and had a great time. Love the decor as well. Another thing I noticed and liked was that a lot of the ingredients were local, farm-fresh or organic. Prices were on higher end, but expected for a nicer restaurant.
Funny side note is restroom is all the way in the back through the kitchen, but I liked that since it showed how clean and efficient the kitchen was! Nothing to hide! -
Review from Brandon C.
San Carlos, CA
1/8/2011
Good:
-- Service was prompt
-- Food was excellent
Not so great:
-- Wine list is very basic unless you're looking for the whole bottle. By the glass selection is very limited
-- Place is so small, it can get very noisy. Tables are right on top of each other, so you're elbow to elbow with other diners.
We hit this place at 5:30, and got seated right away. I decided on one of the specials, which was a delectable salmon dish prepared with olives and a delicious tomato sauce. Along with it were some of the best gorgonzola mashed potatoes I've tasted. When the waiter told us about the specials, he didn't tell us the prices, however. This dish was excellent, but it was $30.
My wife and daughter split a plate of pasta in a bolognese sauce. The sauce was creamy pink and very good. There is a $3.00 split charge. Before the pasta, my wife had a bowl of vegetable soup, which for $8.00, seemed kind of small. It ended up not being very tasty either.
For dessert all 3 of us shared a slice of 3-chocolate cake. Nice, but nothing that stands out.
The wine selection is very limited. -
Review from Roger A.
Burlingame, CA
2/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is a great place to eat. It is upscale, but good.
Nice spot in San Carlos,
Food is a mix of Italian and Seafood.
Very great service and Fresh cooked food.
Price is above normal, but this is one of those great places. -
Review from Racquel R.
San Carlos, CA
9/23/2010
We finally thought to try this restaurant for dinner. It's a small and narrow restaurant on Laurel Street closer to Arroyo.
It was busy for a Wednesday night. The decor is simple, with the cream chair rail, Tuscan yellow walls, and chocolate brown ceiling. It's simple elegance with the white table cloths and simple small vase and candle.
Seating is snug. The owner, chef, and the waiter were all friendly and very helpful. Service was good and prompt.
We had the gnocchi and the special of the day, Florida snapper. The gnocchi with pesto, was perfectly cooked, pillowy and soft to the bite. Delicious! The snapper with tomatoes, capers and olives - had a little bit of salty, a little bit of the bitterness from the fresh capers. Only thing...two bones in the fish! Ouch! But otherwise, pretty good. Not great, but I would probably opt to try something else on the menu next time.
We had fruta di bosca for dessert. Different berries on a short pastry with creme filling. Light, crumbly and delicious!
With wine, 2 entrees, and dessert (no coffee) and tip, it came up to over $100. A splurge for a weeknight dinner, but pretty good. We'd probably go back. -
Review from Andrew P.
Redwood City, CA
11/18/2011
This is simply the best Italian food in San Carlos-perhaps the county.
I dine here often, the service, the food, the ambiance-Vinnie, Vito- cannot be beat.
I brought my cousin here who lives on the East Coast & said 888 ranks with some of the finest restaurants in Manhattan. -
Review from Bea B.
Palo Alto, CA
10/19/2010
What a gem! This tiny restaurant serves up big. The waiter's description of the menu had my husband and I wanting to order every single thing off the menu. Octopus you say? Why, I don't generally like it but hell yes I want that.
The pasta is bolognese (classic) was great, well-portioned with fantastic sauce and spices. The environment was cozy and had a great romantic feel. The hubby and I had a great date night - definitely worth trying out at least once! You'll find yourself coming back. -
Review from Enrico R.
Mountain View, CA
1/7/2012
I placed a reservation through e-mail the night before and Vito responded the morning after. I arrived shortly after 19:30. It was a Friday night and the place was really packed. Vito was courteous and held a table for the two of us so we were able to sit down in 5 to 10 minutes. I looked at the menu before I arrived at the restaurant. I saw many Italian places that I recognize from my native land. Although the spelling for a few of them is incorrect, several things are very mainstream like gnocchi or pasta with fish. I ordered impepata di cozze which I found good but the portion was small for me (personal taste or actual small plate ... you decide). Then I ordered vitello al Marsala. It was accompanied by mushrooms, mashed potatoes (made with gorgonzola) and some greens (probably three of them and one of them was very sour which I thought spoiled the plate a bit). The veal was really yummy. At the end I ordered a tiramisù which I found amazing. It tasted great although a little too sweet (I like sweets, don't get me wrong). The place is fairly small so a reservation is a must if you want to try this restaurant. The food is definitely above the average compared to most restaurants in the Silicon Valley that call themselves "Italian" without knowing what they are talking about. The only thing I didn't like about the restaurant is that, since it's fairly small, it seems almost overcrowded and people tend to get loud, so loud you'll have to ask your partner to repeat things (then you have actual clowns laughing loud and that's a different story). The experience was positive although I was hoping to see more fish on the menu. Most of it is pasta and Italian food is not just pasta. Vito and the boys did a good job so I'll give them 4 stars.
-
Review from V L.
San Carlos, CA
2/11/2012
You just can't go wrong with this place! It's small and very cozy. The service is absolutely amazing each visit. My favorite appetizer is the bruschetta and calamari. I'm in love with the rigatoni bolganese it's the best I've ever had. They have a wonderful dessert menu we just love the affogato caffe (vanilla gelato soaked with espresso) =heaven. We are so lucky to have this truly authentic food here in the city of good eating:) enjoy!!
-
Review from Roy N.
6/11/2010
Had a truly delightful business lunch here yesterday with the owner of Domenico Wines. Attentive service and good portions of authentic (real) Italian food.
Loved the easy parking and the fact that they had put some tables outside. Sitting outdoors in perfect June weather while eating rigatoni bolognese and drinking some awesome wine, this was a most memorable lunch experience.
Truly a great place...I will be back. -
Review from Jim C.
Redwood City, CA
3/31/2009
Very nice and homey place for Italian on Laurel St with about 10-12 tables. Feels like your going over to someone's house for dinner.
Bread with EVOO and basalmic vinegar - 5 stars - loved their really fresh bread - crusty on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. And delicious with the oil olive and vinegar. We almost ate two loaves of this stuff.
Fried calamari - 4.25 stars - was very tasty and not too much batter, not too little. Decently salted and seasoned. And liked the piping hot marinara dipping sauce.
Linguine con vongole - 4 stars - simple and tasty flavor. Came with ~10 large sized fresh clams. Those who want a lot of zing may not like it as the flavor of the sauce is more subtle - we enjoyed the dish's simplicity.
Angel hair/cappelini in tomato sauce - 3.25 stars - was in the mood for something basic - came in a nice sized portion covered in a sauce with fresh diced tomatoes and fresh basil (nice touch). However, the flavor was a bit too sour, the dish was too ordinary, and it just didn't impress.
Service - 5 stars. Didn't have any service problems that others mentioned. Our waiter was super nice, the bread/water person was very attentive, the chef even came out to say hello and ask us how the food was, and the owner opened the door for us to leave.
Bottom line: Food was a bit inconsistent, but loved the terrific service and cozy feel. Overall very positive experience and I'll be back. Much prefer a smaller homey setting like this than the bigger Italian restaurants down the street. -
Review from M. D.
San Mateo, CA
2/4/2012
Dined at this restaurant the other night and my experience was awful! I ordered the Veal Marsala and the sauce was like water while the mushrooms were like rubber. I scraped the sauce and mushrooms off and ate some of the veal. The vegetables were Swiss chard and broccoli. They were tough and flavorless. I ate the mashed potatoes ( hard to screw that up). My dinner consisted mainly of french bread and mashed potatoes for $25.00 a plate. The owner/chef came out of the kitchen to eat dessert and sat and stared at our table of 5 women for 20 minutes. Don't you have sometining better to do like cook a decent meal? The topper was when the owner left for the night and we got our bill. The waiter tried over charge us by $50.00!!! Fortunately, we caught the error. There are plenty of good restaurants on Laurel Ave.--pass on this one.
-
Review from kim n.
9/10/2008
From the ashes of Tere's Tauqueria comes a new Italian restaurant in the ever evolving Laurel St landscape. The owners took about 2 months to transform the spot into a very nice 32 seater. Crown mouldling in the ceiling, dark toned paint, and simple appointments throughout.
The menu has a nice array of appetizers, salads, pastas and entrees. We opted to start with the bruschetta and then the linguine vongole and lobster ravioli. The bread with olive/oil vinegar to start were very good, with the oil being a rich extra virgin. The bruschetta, made with the same bread had fresh tomatoes, basil and garlic with more of the rich oil. Good start. The ravioli came with a tomato cream sauce and quite tasty. The linguine was perfectly cooked with a slightly spicy tomato based sauce. The weakness in the dish were the clams themselves as they weren't as fresh as I'd hoped.
The wait staff was very friendly and attentive, with the manager and chef both coming out and talking to us for a bit. We had to catch the train back home so we didn't stick around for dessert but the table behind us raved about the gorgonzola gnocchi and the tiramisu. Definitely worth a return trip to experience a lengthy meal. -
Review from Vivek P.
Berkeley, CA
7/31/2009 1 photo
888 Ristorante brings a little Italy to San Carlos with it's gregarious chef/owner, homey atmosphere and authentic flavors.
I had their gnocchi, a dish I normally avoid, but I thought I'd give it a try based on a recommendation from our friendly server. I think it may be the best gnocchi I've ever had. It was really delicate and melted in my mouth unlike the chewy, bubblegum-like gnocchi that I've come to expect from most places.
Taking a look at some of the other entrees coming out of the kitchen, I'd also recommend it to people who like shellfish. I might have to try that next time I go back.Listed in: San Carlos Favorites
-
Review from Chris C.
Redwood City, CA
Italian food with first class service. You can tell Chef Vito takes an inordinate amount of care in preparing the food. He is mindful of the portions as well as the seasoning. I had the lamb with Chinese vegetables and mashed potatoes. The dish was perfectly balanced and NOT salty. In fact, the saltiest item was the mashed potatoes followed by the lamb and the veggies didn't seem to contain much of any salt at all on purpose, and to my liking! We had our meal outside, enjoying the summer weather. The menu changes depending on what's freshly available. Having a great meal with family and enjoying the fresh air was blissful.
-
Review from Connie B.
Santa Clara, CA
1/30/2012
I was introduced to 888 Ristorante Italiano today by some friends and I am still swooning from the just off the boat petrale sole which was sublime. In fact, I can't think of a better meal in literally years. Vince Maddalena and his staff were solicitous, warm, and treated us like queens. I immediately sent out the word to friends who live near San Carlos to get themselves to this fabulous find post-haste! I can't wait to return and will look for any and all excuses to make the trek back from the South Bay. It was a wonderful experience.
-
Review from Bob H.
Belmont, CA
11/14/2008
I had really high hopes walking through the front door when the owner in his dress whites came up and shook my hand and welcomed me. That was the best part of the experience. We were shoved in a corner and immediately noted that the noise level in the restaurant was deafening. It was odd because at that hour the place was only half full. Holding a conversation was exhausting as we tried to talk over the din.
Our waiter was a flake. He took our drink order. My girlfriend drinks red wine and I drink white so we each ordered a half bottle of each varietal. The waiter slowed to 25 to take the first bottle order then immediately fled not sticking around for the second bottle. When we finally flagged him down he seemed annoyed. No cracked pepper was offered for the Caesar salads even though there was a grinder that other waiters were using.
By the time our dinners showed up the place was full and very loud now. We actually gave up trying to hear each other from across the table and laughed at the loud volume of talkers throughout the restaurant. My girlfriend had a prawn dish that was very good. I had a seafood pasta dish that was poor. The minute our entrees showed up the owner showed up to the table again and, realizing that we had just been served, said he would come back later to see how the meal was. He never returned.
My sister had been to 888 the week after they opened and reported that the owner really made a big deal about the diners, serving them wine and genuinely sharing his passion for food. I'm not sure what's changed in the last month but I would think long and hard before I returned. The experience was not all that. -
Review from Dave K.
4/9/2009
Had lunch here the other day. Very nice, a bit too uncrowded which always makes me nervous. Maybe that's just the economy.
Since we didn't have starters and went to straight the main course -- and since we then each ordered the same thing -- I can't say I've experienced much of the menu. I can say the fettuccine in tomato sauce with meatballs (Fettuccine con Polpetti) was wonderful, if not a bit difficult to eat. Both of us ended up with sauce on our shirts, but hey, maybe that's just us.
The font/layout of the menu reminds me a lot of the menu at some other Italian restaurant, so I wonder if this is part of a small chain.
Overall, a nice place, I'd eat there again. Now I have two good Italian options for lunch in San Carlos: La Tosca and 888. -
Review from Vivian L.
5/11/2009
I've been here a few times now and would have to say this place is pretty solid for authentic Italian cuisine. The space is very cozy and comfy. It's like you are eating in your friend's living room.
One time for lunch, I ordered the fish special. I can't recall where it was from, maybe the East Coast or Adriatic but it came de-boned, with a blue cheese mash maybe, and with various olives and tomatoes. My friend and I both got this and we polished off our plates, it was SO GOOD!
More recently, I went for dinner and had the Rigatoni alla Bolognese. It came in this cute hexagonal shaped white dish and the serving size was pretty large, I took half home for a snackie later. :-) You can tell the pasta is made fresh and all their ingredients are fresh, too!
I like their salumi plate appetizer they have as a special sometimes, the only thing I don't love is the crostini bread. They did make it less hard since the first time I went there but my poor roof of my mouth was still cut up for a week afterwards. I will stick with the fresh bread in the bread basket next time.
The desserts are also good so if you aren't too stuffed, get one to share.
I can't wait to go back! The wait staff were all attentive, informative, and friendly and the chef/owner always comes out to greet each table to ask how your food is. Great neighborhood gem. -
Review from melissa h.
CA
4/29/2009
First off, I generally HATE going out to eat at Italian restaurants because it's horrific and my mother can make better.
888 by far is not one of these experiences, the food is very fresh, soooo tasty, the service amazing, and the chef/owner himself greets you. It's comfortable and delicious - great for a date and great for the fam. My parents of all people told me about this place and ever since I have been sold on going here any and all times we go out to dinner on the peninsula. Everything is wonderful and such a great experience. -
Review from Lynne T.
San Carlos, CA
3/27/2011
This was our fourth visit to 888 since the opening. They are very warm and welcoming here. However, the food is average, so just 3 stars We felt that on our previous three visits too, but decided to give it another try. My husband had the tortellini stuffed with veal which was slightly overbooked and the sauce a bit sweet and salty. I had the orechiette with broccoli rabe. Both the pasta and the broccoli were over cooked. Not much flavor and something I could have easily whipped up at home and done a much better job. Also, the wines by the glass are lacking -- pretty small pours and not much to choose from. Also, this place is pretty noisy as it is a tight restaurant with the tables being very close to each other. On a positive note we enjoyed the Caesar salad and beef carpaccio.
-
Review from Dana F.
San Mateo, CA
7/16/2011
I only Yelp places that really catch my eye (good or bad), and 888 is one of the lucky ones! ;-)
We were a group of seven 30-somethings strolling the streets of San Carlos on a foggy Friday evening looking for a nice place to celebrate two of our birthdays. The only catch was we had forgotten to make reservations! At 7:30, all the nice places on Laurel Street were full for hours, but thankfully we stumbled upon 888 Ristorante Italiano, and they took us in pronto! What a lovely place... simple yet elegant, with modern Italian decor. Since my husband is second-generation Italian, he has brought me to every Italian restaurant on the Peninsula, and 888 definitely ranks up there with the best!
The wait-staff was attentive, yet never intrusive. Whenever water glasses were low, they were re-filled seamlessly and with a smile. We ordered eclecticly -- some getting just appetizers, some entrees -- and it all arrived quickly and at the same time! Thankfully avoiding the awkward "can we dig in yet?" pause.
Several ordered the special (a pasta dish), and it was met with great acclaim. I only ordered two appetizers: brushcetta & insalata sarda -- both were *perfect* in portion size and flavor. Even the tiny tomatoes had been halved without being squished . Attention to detail!
We ordered various desserts as well, and each was artfully presented and hit the spot. My tiramisu was truly sinful. And the pinot noir that I was still sipping had been the perfect accompaniment for the entire meal.
We closed the place down at almost 11pm, and never felt rushed -- in fact, the head chef (Vito) visited us a few time to encourage us to stay and enjoy ourselves. As we finally made our departure, he shook each of our hands. When I asked him which town in Italy he hailed from, what a wonderful surprise to find out it was just a bit north of my mother-in-law's hometown! He was ebullant about that connection and asked me to bring my husband back so they could meet. I think we'll have to celebrate our anniversary there in 2 weeks! :-)
