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Al Castello Ristorante & Pizzeria
Categories: Restaurants Italian Restaurants Pizza Italian, Pizza [Edit]
3155 S Bascom AveCampbell, CA 95008
(408) 369-9820
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
A family owned and operated pizzeria that has been crafting excellent pizza in San Francisco for over 29 years. We have free delivery and offer in store… read more »
115 reviews for Al Castello Ristorante & Pizzeria
Review Highlights
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"The fresh made bread sticks are bomb." In 14 reviews -
"The pizza is great too, but I love the pasta more." In 42 reviews -
"...penne in a garlic white wine sauce with tomatoes and..." In 3 reviews
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115 reviews in English
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Review from Natassia C.
Danville, CA
4/18/2012
Driving up, you feel like you are about to eat dinner in a liquor store -- don't be hesitant because inside Al Castello is a quaint and lovely Italian restaurant with excellent food and service.
The ingredients were all obviously fresh. I had the veal ravioli and they were plump and flavorful and my boyfriend even noted the red sauce looked like "the perfect sauce." He has the tortellini in alfredo and it was light and creamy (not super heavy!)
I highly recommend this place and will def be back! -
Review from Cindy L.
3/24/2012
I am baffled as to why this restaurant received such high reviews as dinner tonight was a huge disappointment.
The breadsticks looked way better than they tasted (like plain, baked dough). The dinner salad looked extremely pathetic. Not only was the produce not fresh, but there was hardly anything on the plate. Total rip off. They should be embarrassed for even putting that on our table.
We also ordered the deep fried calamari. Decent sized serving with large pieces of fresh calamari, but the batter had absolutely no flavor at all. So boooring.
The three dishes we ordered were the meat lasagna, cannelloni, and manicotti. All three dishes were listed under the "Baked Dishes" section, but none of them were bubbly, cheesy, and fresh from the oven. All of our food was lukewarm, and the manicotti was just a bowl of noodles with barely any sauce or meat on it.
To top it all off, the host and server were not friendly and did not make us feel welcome at all. It was obvious that they do not care about their customers or the food they make. I will not be back. -
Review from Randy F.
3/16/2012 4 photos
A solid neighborhood Italian restaurant. Al Castello really reminds me of the nearby Luigi's Pasta and Pizza and indeed, they have a similar decor feel and that friendly local feel. Both also emphasize solid values with reasonably priced entrees and an affordable wine list.
The bread sticks arrived as soon as a server came to our table and they were good, although perhaps not as freshly baked as some other reviewers had.
The table has olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper but I think higher quality olive oil with ground up olives would make a huge difference in both flavor and authenticity.
We stuck with the pasta and both the pizza and pasta appeared to be solid portion sizes.
Pasta Bolognese - nicely cooked pasta with a hearty sauce with plenty of mushrooms and meat. The flavor was good but not otherwise spectacular.
Lasagna - a large chunk with gooey cheese and nice layers of meat filled pasta was filling. The portion was hot but I like it even more bubbling hot for that freshly made taste. Solid.
Overall, we had a good Italian meal at Al Castello. Prices are good (all entrees under $13.95) and portions are decent but I'd say the nearby Luigi's is even more generous in size.
Al Castello is a nice neighborhood find and a solid value. While there are places with more outstanding pasta, they are far and few between in the Bay Area.
Al Castello accepts credit cards including Amex. -
Review from Steve T.
San Francisco, CA
4/30/2012
Good lunch location, plenty of decent choices (nothing outstanding though, from what I've had). You get your normal expected sides, service is good, and food is speedy even during lunch hour. Don't think the place is distinct enough for dinner, but lunch is good enough to come back
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Review from George L.
Saratoga, CA
3/2/2012
I just returned from an early dinner here and it was quite nice. I had the Ravioli Ripiene di Carne and a taste of the Pollo alla Montanara. The ravioli had good texture and the flavors were rather subtle, but still flavorful. The tomato sauce balanced out the ravioli quite nicely. The only bad thing about the food was that it was a bit lukewarm for my liking and given that it was still early, with only one other table being served, I feel it should have been hotter. The pollo was also nice and well balanced.
The service was also attentive and courteous. That said, based upon the good service and the good quality of the food, I would definitely return here in the future. -
Review from Farah M.
San Jose, CA
5/4/2012
Great food, great place. Staff is always friendly.
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Review from Jeff K.
Los Gatos, CA
3/25/2012
We went there for the first time the other night. The wait staff are very friendly and attentive. The breadsticks are addictive. The caprese was really very good. My wife's entree came with a basic salad which was just okay. Her entree was good...not great. I had calamari arrabiata- supposed to be a spicy tomato sauce. It was bland and did not contain the least bit of heat. We saw pizzas go by and they looked very good. We need to try it again. My other complaint, though, was the price of the entrees. This was not a cheap date. At 22 bucks an entree I expect a lot more value.
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Review from Joe J.
San Jose, CA
4/17/2012
After reading yelp reviews decided to try this place .BLEW me away the food was as close to a east coast Italian restaurant as you will find . Have been back twice since its all good go try it for yourself
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Review from Ben H L.
11/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
When I was attempting to find this place, I overshot the entrance as this was wedged in a super tiny strip mall on the corner of Bascom and Almaden. When I finally turned around, I managed to wedge my car into the very small parking lot in front of the restaurant.
My group got a seat near the front which gave us a prime view of the kitchen area and the dining room as a whole. The place was bigger inside than what it seemed from the outside! The dining room extended pretty far! Our server did a pretty good job doing our water refills and making sure we were doing OK. I got the caprese appetizer and the penne bolognese. The caprese was a very generous amount of food and tasted good but they cut the tomatoes in wedges and not flat as how I've eaten it in the past. My sauce for my penne was chock full of meaty goodness! Can't complain...it went very well with their bread too!
This place had a large dine-in crowd but I noticed lots of pick up orders as well throughout the time I was there. Lots of pizza and pasta orders were streaming out of there pretty often. It seems that this place has a very large local following!
Overall it was a tasty enjoyable meal and I will likely consider this place as an Italian restaurant of choice for this area. -
Review from Janette W.
San Jose, CA
2/12/2012
This is a nice affordable option for Italian food. I really liked the caprese appetizer, which came in huge portion! I had the chicken with spinach, sun dried tomatoes, and penne. It was also a large portion and was pretty tasty. The best part may have been when I had it the next day for lunch and the flavors have really set in! This place also gets extra points for the homemade bread!
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Review from Lester I.
Campbell, CA
8/12/2011
The service was great, the staff is friendly, the atmosphere is relaxed, the environment is comfortable, the prices are medium but reasonable, and the food is great.
We shared a salad, pizza and the tiramisu. The salad and pizza were delicious, made from fresh good quality ingredients, excellent! The tiramisu is totally, worth the required exercise, Mmmmm!!!!
The outside looks like a hole in the wall, once inside the giant mirror makes the place feel open and large, the décor is rustic Italian with tiles and plants, they did a great job in a small space.
I will be back for more pizza and to try the pasta! -
Review from Aaron S.
Los Gatos, CA
3/24/2012
Al Castello is a great inexpensive way to eat awesome Italian food. There breadsticks are to die for. I eat there all the time. The only thing it lacks is a good ambiance, but if you are looking for good Italian food at half the price then Al Castello is your spot. My wife and I go there at least once a month.
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Review from Caterina V.
San Jose, CA
7/29/2011
One of my favorite places to get Pizza, it comes thick (which I love) but I can also get it thin Neopalitan style the way I like! I highly recommend the fried calamari app, the veal piccata (veggies instead of pasta) or the tortellini with meat sauce!!! Yum!
I'm making myself hungry just thinking abt, I think I'll go there for lunch! -
Review from Meghan A.
Campbell, CA
8/8/2011
Hands down one of the best Italian places I have been to since moving to the Bay Area from upstate NY. I definitely consider myself an Italian food snob (coming from an area where pizzerias are on every corner), and Al Castello really impressed me. I had the chicken parm while my date had the veal parm. The chicken parm was a little on the luke-warm side which is why I took one star off, but the outside was crispy and delicious and the cheese and sauce combo was awesome. We also shared the grilled eggplant appetizer. This was delicious and had the perfect amount of tomato:eggplant:mozz ratio.
Best part of the meal? The sauce, hands down!! It is delicious and doesn't taste like it came out of a jar, like most other Italian places I have been to around here. The pasta also tasted great, and not like something I could make myself!
The atmosphere was wonderful, a friendly family restaurant complete with adorable tables.
Definitely come here if you are looking for delicious Italian food and have been let down by Italian places in the Bay Area in the past! -
Review from Roy T.
San Jose, CA
5/15/2011
In our search to find good restaurants in our new neighborhood we saw all the great ratings and hoped to add an Italian restaurant to our new list.
From the outside the restaurant looked small but once you get inside you see that it's quite spacious. The parking can be tight if the other shops in this tiny strip mall are open. Though no problems on weekend evenings. At the time we arrived we were seated right away with the restaurant being about 70% full.
My wife ordered the day's special which was a seafood risotto and house salad. I went for the chicken piccata and a house salad. The salads were your typical iceberg style and a bit on the smaller size -- maybe because the plates were too large. They put too much dressing on my wife's salad so she didn't finish it. I thought mine was fine.
When the entrees arrived, they both looked and tasted good especially the risotto. The portion on the risotto was generous with lots of clams, mussels, scallops and shrimp but my chicken piccata with penne was a bit small. We finished our meal with generous piece of tiramisu.
Service was good and the food was tasty so we'll come back and give it another try. Perhaps I'll try the special next time. -
Review from Noel M.
1/27/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Is it 3 or 4 stars? Sometimes it's really difficult to decide.
I don't understand where all the hoopla about the bread sticks came from. They're fresh but that's about all they have going for them.
It seemed wise to order something flaunted as the special of the house, the Linguine al Castello, but I was lusting after my dinner companion's Calzone. It was uber cheesy, filled with quality, creamy mozzarella, ham and pepperoni. Plus, it was served with excellent marinara and I usually avoid marinara...if only all sauce tasted this flavorful.
Don't get me wrong, my pasta was good, I appreciate that they are generous with the red wine sauce. The attraction of the dish, the seafood, was a little weak, only two shrimp and a small handful of a clams and mussels mix.
Undoubtedly, this warrants further investigation though.Listed in: Nothing Like a Pizza Pie
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Review from Christie B.
San Jose, CA
1/26/2011
So I've been wanting to try this place for over a year now. After reading the reviews I had such high expectations. Unfortunately I was not impressed at all.
We walked in and were greeted by a very friendly man at the front door. There were two tables right in front near the windows that were empty and you would have thought they'd want to fill those first to make the restaurant look fuller from the street. But no, we were sat at the very back of the restaurant where the lighting was to bright and a table of at least 12 to 14 young students were having dinner.
I LOVE gnocchi so when I saw it on the menu I ordered a dish with pesto sauce to share as our appetizer. They were good but not as good as Belligo. I was here with my daughter and her boyfriend and the are both kinda picky eaters. Here's my thoughts on our food:
Bread sticks - just okay. They were soft and warm but nothing that I felt lived up to the Yelp reviews.
Gnocchi w/pesto - light and fresh but not as good as Belligo however I would order it again.
Involtini de Vitelo - Veal stuffed with cheese and prosciutto topped with mushroom tomato sauce. Small rolls of stuffed meat that were dry and flavorless. Served with penne pasta that was boring.
12' Pepperoni and pineapple pizza - light and fluffy crust with plenty of toppings. Cheese had no flavor at all. Kinda weird.
Ravioli Ripieni di Carne - Pasta filled with veal and spinach and topped with Meat Sauce. Good flavor, very filling but nothing that said "wow"!
The wait staff was great and I felt the prices were reasonable.Resturant itself was very cute but they could turn on some music. Kinda weird not having any on. -
Review from eurecurry S.
Santa Clara, CA
7/11/2011
This is the place to go if you're in the area and are hankering for some good old middle-of-the-road green/red patterned table clothes and laminated menus. Not too cheap and certainly not too pricy.
The interior was surprisingly quaint compared to the unassuming strip-mall-esque outside. Tiled work, plants, and arched door frames made it feel like I stepping into a completely different country.
I decided on the Pesto Alfredo and munched happily on house bread as we waited for the food to arrive. I always appreciate italian restaurants that have the foresight to offer bread along with a dish for olive oil and vinegar. Nice touch.
The food was excellent, with generous portions and the pesto was well laid out over every mouthful. Had I not been motorcycling that day, I could have enjoyed trying their wine selection.
Our waiter was prompt, but maybe a little disappointed that I was buttering him up with every exchange.
It was a quick in-and-out operation, not really sure if the ambiance is comfortable enough to relax and loooounge for a while. -
Review from Jessica M.
San Jose, CA
3/15/2011
Italian...the holy grail ...as a girl who spent some of her most developmental years in Brooklyn...good Italian food is the thing I am always searching for (that and good chinese...but thats another rant)
Since coming to California...I feel like the search has been more difficult.
Yesterday I was given the choice....FISH or ITALIAN... I selected Italian...and the boy drove us to Al Castello ...
It had been a while since the boy had been here..but he had a fond memory of the bread and well, he rarely picks wrong....so I was happy to follow...
We arrived about 7pm...there were a few diners in there...the owner? manager? was at the bar watching TV. We were promptly seated. I saw some specials on the board when we walked in... but when we were seated..they were not mentioned. *shrug*
The waiter was nice enough...I get along with just about everyone I run into...I enjoy chatting with random people but there was something off about this encounter.. I can't really explain...but *shrug* (see a shrug theme in here??)
There are a few things I like to judge Italian places by ...one is chicken Marsala... so that is what I ordered. The boy ordered a baked pasta thing that sounded yummy.
I dont much feel like expanding on the details...but my Marsala was way too sweet... the chicken was cooked well...the pasta was undercooked...
The boy loved his food....said it was creamy and well cooked...that is my reason for giving it 2 stars.
But as we ate... he said it was not the same as he remembered...that even the bread was lacking.
So all in all...I am disappointed and still on my hunt...for the great Italian restaurant in the bay area. -
Review from Daniel H.
I came here with my friends in celebration of my graduation. First off, the parking lot was small so it might be hard to find parking. I think there were some in the back of the place. We had a reservation so we didn't have to worry about waiting. I noticed others were seated promptly so I guess the wait time here wasn't bad.
We received breadsticks to eat while we waited for our food. I ordered the Penne Bolognese ($12.95) and my friend who sat next to me ordered the Pollo alla Picatta ($16.00). I can't remember what everybody else ordered and the two pictures of the pizza that I'll upload will just be there to look at. lol I don't remember what those were. We also shared a bottle of Red Rock Merlot 2008 ($19.95 I think?) but only 4 of us.
I didn't pay attention as to how long our food took to come out but it was awhile since they probably cooked all of ours at once. Later, they all came out at the same time and we ate. My Penne Bolognese was pretty good and the portion seemed small. The meat was good and everything complemented each other. My friend's Pollo alla Picatta was an even smaller portion than mine. He finished it pretty quick.
The service was quick and friendly. I'll have to come back if I'm in the area. -
Review from Alex B.
San Carlos, CA
11/13/2011
I was really impressed with this place. There are little touches on Italian food that are often missed or over done. This place gets it right on the money!
My friend had this salad with mostly tomatoes. It looked so good yet very simple. I'm going to have that next time as a starter. We were a large group and what often happens is that somebody's pasta is either over done or under done. Every single pasta dish had pasta that was cooked to perfection. The sauces on the pasta were blended well and was not a big blob on top of a mound of white pasta. Every single strand of pasta was evenly sauced.
The staff was warm and friendly as was the cozy environment. It has a familiar family feel that instantly comforts you. Al Castello is going to be a regular spot for our family. Can't wait to try the pizzas! -
Review from Tim B.
San Jose, CA
12/3/2011
I had the chicken portofino and tried the chicken montanara and merlot. The portofino was excellent. Steaming hot, creamy and tasty. The bread was great. The house merlot was particularly amusing. :)
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Review from catie a.
San Jose, CA
8/20/2010
There are two things the South Bay is lacking- a great seafood place and a great Italian place. I had such high hopes after reading the reviews of so many self-proclaimed "picky about Italian food" people, but oh boy, these people are not picky enough!
I had the house salad which is just a basic iceberg type deal and I was fine with that. I chose the bleu cheese dressing. I could see with my eyeballs that there was dressing on the salad, but it was so watered down, there was only a teensy bit of a flavor. Like every fourth bite I got a hint of flavor.
We ordered the bruchetta for an appetizer. It's August, hot house tomatoes are a sin against everything holy AND Italian. And we're in a very bountiful area as far as gardens, farmer's markets and even grocery stores go. When I am buying better tomatoes at Safeway than I'm getting in this restaurant there's something very wrong.
My husband ordred some manner of tomato salad, again with the hothouse tomatoes. He takes his tomatoes so seriously, I think he may have shed a tear over these horrible tomatoes.
Then came the entrees. I had the capellini dela Nicola and my husband had the seafood deal in a red sauce. Mine was meant to be n an Alfredo sauce. Again, just using my eyeballs I could see that there was a white sauce on this pasta. A flavorless white sauce, the consistancy of water. The spinach and shrimp were very delicious, the rest of it was so bland. My husband's dish was better, but the marinara sauce. Oi! Barilla in the jar is better.
The iced tea is not fresh brewed and it tastes awful. The service was nice. The breadsticks were good, except I wiped off the dill because I don't like it. Maybe the pizza is better?
It would be so rad if I could get good Italian somewhere other than my kitchen in the South Bay. -
Review from Tara O.
Aptos, CA
10/29/2011
Great hole in the wall ...good food , good wine , good price
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Review from Shayy W.
Campbell, CA
12/5/2010
Eat here if you love meat lasagna and cal zones! O man.. So yummy! once in a while i get a craving for lasagna and since im too lazy to make it, i always order it here. It's not too expensive, (one lasagna for 2, $17) and takes about 10 minutes to be prepared.
also, whatever you order comes with a free order of homemade bread sticks. YUM!! such a wonderful treat :) I love family oriented small businesses and this is definitely one of them! -
Review from Brett W.
Huntington Beach, CA
12/21/2011
Meh. I've come here a few times, ordered a few different basic chicken and veggie pasta dishes. While I enjoyed the atmosphere, I have found that no matter what I order, the food is always heavy and either bland or excessively seasoned. I get excited about Italian food, but when dining at Al Castello I consistently find myself thinking, 'Why do I keep coming back here?' The bread sticks are just so-so, and after many tries I've realized this place a no-go.
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Review from Amanda G.
9/22/2008 2 Check-ins Here
We've passed this place numerous times, and always wondered about it.
After checking out their reviews, we decided to give them a try last Fri.
The place is bigger than it looks from the front, and parking was easy.
We were seated right away, and given some fantastic bread!!! We probably ate too much of it, but it was so good!
We decided to share two things: a small thin crust pizza, and turkey tortellini.
They have ricotta as one of their toppings, which i LOVE!
Both were really good! Service was a little slow, but other than that, it was fine.
Their wine by the glass is really reasonable,as are the prices of everything here:)
I loved the casual, comfortable atmosphere. This place is a great neighborhood find!
I have a feeling this will become one of our regular places. I can't wait to go back and try more:)Listed in: My 'hood, Campbell, Italian Eats, My Favorite Go-to South Bay…
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Review from Monica L.
9/29/2009 1 Check-in Here
I came here on Friday night with my friends Amanda G and Melanie A and really really was pleasantly surprised with our wonderful dinner date!
Like most of the Yelpers mentioned this place doesn't look like much from the outside but it's quite cute inside! There is a larger dining around in the back and in the middle is the kitchen area.
They serve every table with breadsticks which are awesome! I had read that they were good....but not this good! These are delicious and I ate quite a few!
The menu had many choices that I was tempted to try which is always a good sign! I tried their Melanzane alla parmigiana. This is slices of breaded eggplant topped with marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese and a side of pasta. The dish was okay but what made it was the sauce...the sauce is incredible and tastes just like my Mom's homemade marinara sauce. Unfortunately I didn't taste or see any eggplant. It was basically looked and tasted like breaded something topped with yummy sauce and cheese. It also was served with a side of pasta which was okay. I think I would have preferred to have more of the eggplant dish then a random side of noodles. There was so much food though that I took a little less then half of it home and for the $12 price tag, I thought it was worth it.
This place takes reservations and there is more parking in the back.
I would definitely come back and looking forward to taking my husband here who I know will love the food here. -
Review from Melanie A.
Santa Clara, CA
12/1/2008
I never would have noticed this restaurant if it hadn't been for Amanda G. We went here recently and was very happy with the yummy food and the yummy prices too.
I ordered the lasagna vegetariana and was so happy that there was a vegetarian item on the menu that consisted of more than just pasta and cheese. The lasagna was filled with roasted vegetables, which made it sorta healthy for Italian food, and the marinara sauce was rich and delicious.
My husband ordered penne in cream sauce and it was too rich for either of us. I would definitely stick with the marinara sauce.
The service was also friendly and fast, and even on a Saturday night, we got a table pretty quickly.
I would definitely come back here and get the vegetarian lasagna. My husband's plan is to order a salad and then fill up on the delicious warm breadsticks that come free with every meal. Not a bad plan. -
Review from Kim P.
San Jose, CA
10/24/2010
This place was disappointing especially after all the good reviews I read. People were raving about the breadsticks, but I thought that they were nothing special and a little bland.
I got the eggplant parmesan which was pretty good I must admit especially since I've had some that's been pretty bad before, but it was pretty typical fare. The bf got a seafood pasta dish which he said was bland. That's pretty bad considering he almost never says anything is bland. So both of our meals + the breadsticks equals an only ok meal.
Used an entertainment coupon so didn't feel too bad about the lackluster meal, but probably won't be coming back here anytime soon. -
Review from Manish P.
San Jose, CA
8/27/2008
We didn't know what to expect, prior to entering this restaurant. Looked like a standard plain restaurant in a strip mall
Its actually quite nice from the inside, and quite large as well
We were seated after a short wait, and were served warm garlic twisted bread. Nice!
We went for the Pasta Primavera and the Vegetarian Lasagna.
The pasta was just OK. The veggies were fresh, but the sauce was a bit too watery for our tastes.
The Lasagna, oh my! It was the best one I've ever eaten. Seriously. Fully loaded with tons of roasted veggies (Eggplant being the best, roasted onion comes in second), great sauce and pasta sheets.
Service wise, it was just OK. The server disappeared after serving us food, and only showed up with the cheque. We were hoping for freshly ground pepper, or checking in on the meal.
Prices were quite reasonable too.
I would've given it 5 stars, but had to cut one due to the Pasta, and the service there. Its still 4 stars, because we came here for the food, not the service :) -
Review from Arleenies G.
San Jose, CA
12/1/2010
I've been wanting to come here for a while. I finally had the opportunity a few weeks ago and let me tell you, the customer service was excellent!!!! The lady at the register was helping out a customer and looked up right at me when I walked in and said she'll be with me in a few. I really liked how she acknowledge my bf and I.
The place is small but has a nice small bar at the front which gives it a nice ambiance.
I ordered a clam linguine which was to die for. My bf ordered lasagna which seem very small portioned but was ok.
I didn't give it 5 stars becuase the restrooms were a lil on the dirty side. -
Review from Berg W.
San Jose, CA
10/11/2008
I really wanted to love Al Castello's. I mean, in SJ, you have to realize that good restaurants may reside in random stripmalls. From my experience, apparently not in the stripmall on the SW corner of the Camden and Bascom intersection.
I was getting a little work done at the Quality Tune-Up center, and I decided to take the walk of shame to eat at the less-than-stellar food choices in the area. Since KFC/A&W is completely out of the question, ventured to the "Ristorante" I had passed dozens of times on my way to and from the Camden Hwy 17 entrance.
They fancy themselves a Ristorante & Pizzeria, so I decided to check out their large menu. The host sounded Italian, so I gave it a shot, hoping that I could get something vaguely traditional. I was assured that they could make thin-crust pizza for me, in the traditional style.
I will give them credit for their old-world-feeling interior. This is in stark contrast, however, to their cheesy plastic sign, which tells you everything you need to know about this place.
At noon, there were many tables seated, enjoying the plethora of dishes that they offer. Bringing me to my first pet-pieve, a gigantic menu. Why? Find a few things and do them perfect. Don't do a crappy job on a million things and think you are doing a service.
Apparently, I'm in the minority in this thinking, as thousands of San Jose-ers eat at PFChangs, Cheescake Factory, and other please-all slop-sligers on a daily basis. Who is to say Al Costello's is any worse? Not me.
My pizza arrived and it was not thin...it was like the Pizza you get at Rock Bottom Brewery, which is 10 notches below the pizza I make myself at home. Poor quality...under-seasoned crust. Nowhere near anything resembling Italian pizza.
I'd have to say that I'm afraid to let them make pasta for me from what I saw...I'm pretty picky.
The service was very friendly, prompt, and attentive, for which I give them a lot of credit.
In the area, with it's varied menu, it's not a bad place to get a quick lunch on a weekday. For me though, it falls short from an Italian experience, because I probably make better Italian food than they do, and I'm Icelandic/English.
I don't want to completely doo-doo on this establishment, because I could understand the people who would like this. I am an Italian food snob (because I lived in Italy), so it's hard for me to be that positive.
For Americanized-Italian food, this is a way better option than Olive Garden, Maggiano's, or Macaroni Grill, who in my opinion have exactly the same worth: none.Listed in: Pizza I Heart
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Review from M C.
San Jose, CA
10/16/2008
The chicken marsala is pretty good, but it's a little pricey for lunch at $11.95. The cost has gone up a tick from what they've posted on their website. The meal comes with a soup or salad and a nice bread basket.
At lunchtime during the week, it was not too busy, so service was attentive. The most surprising thing is just how nice it looks inside. As other reviews have mentioned, it looks a lot better inside than out. It's darker towards the back and could use some more ambient lighting. The building is located on the corner of Bascom and Camden. -
Review from A W.
San Jose, CA
9/1/2011
I went here tonight and got the chicken parm. It came with fettucine and of course the famous breadsticks. The bread was good...I don't know if it's the best ever, but it was soft with some sort of buttery spread on top that was good.
The portion size of my meal was pretty big. I was only able to finish my fettucine and the bread with a couple bites of the chicken parm. When I eventually ate the chicken, it was pretty good. It was really tender and retained its moisture, even after it was in the fridge for several hours. All in all, not a bad little Italian joint. -
Review from Tim Y.
If i could just sit there and eat baskets and baskets of their freshly baked, buttered breadsticks sprinkled with dill I would!!
I've been here twice...once dine in and the last time was togo. Both times I had a seafood pasta in white sauce. The seafood was fresh and plentiful. Both times the food was well-made and tasty...not too oily/greasy either. (that comes from the tasty breadsticks!). The service was friendly and they didn't seem to mind me asking for more breadsticks.
After reading the Yelp reviews...I might have to try their pizza next time...
FYI - the entertainment BOGO coupon is only good for dine-in and not valid on specials.
Did I mention how good the breadsticks were? :) -
Review from Bridget C.
San Francisco, CA
7/5/2009
Al Castello is pretty tasty.
Their bread sticks are some of the best I've had. I was going to just give three stars but then I remembered the bread sticks and gave another one.
I love the angel hair pasta with garlic and olive oil. It's simple, but it's delicious. Pizza is good too.
I've only been here a few times but I'm not really sure why. It's way better than the other italian option close by which would be Pasta Pomodoro. -
Review from Cheri M.
12/29/2007
This place is just a little hole in the wall. I live right up the street but I swear every time I drive by this place it isnt open or at least not during the day. I went there last night around 7pm it was open :) we got seated right away. I got spaghetti con salsa something ragu basically spaghetti with meat sauce. My boyfriend got the spaghetti carbonara with pancetta. They give you free bread at the beginning of your meal which was really good. The serving were big, I didn't even finish half of my spaghetti and it was delicious. My boyfriend loved his spaghetti carbonara also a very big portion. The service was OK, a little slow but I didn't expect too much.
If you're looking for some italian food then come here its really good. -
Review from Rob G.
San Jose, CA
9/6/2009
Second time here.
This time around, we decided to have a nice sit-down meal for my sister's visit last night with us. We picked this place our of boredom w/ Buca and other Italian chains.
Bradsticks: amazing! flullfy, tasty, yummy... the best
Pasta: very good
Service: great. I was able to make a reservation and they had the table ready for party of 7. Everyone is very customer focused
Place: location is not the most glamorous, but once inside, it feels pretty cozy, and very accessible for families
I thought it was funny how the personnel worked really hard to serve us well while not missing the Mexico-Costa Rica world cup qualifying game.
The owner was eating with his family (wife and parents), and I stopped by to say hi. His kids and my son go to the same school. Nice honest family.
Summary: highly recommended for a lay back delicious home-made Italian meal -
Review from Justin S.
Santa Clara, CA
11/15/2010
I've been coming here for about 4 years, and Al Castello has yet to disappoint.
Three words - Breadsticks. Breadsticks. Breadsticks.
I could eat a entire meal of just breadsticks. You can smell them as soon as you open the door. Sop them up with some olive oil and vinegar and kick back a Peroni. Life could be worse.
After you've stuffed yourself on an endless supply of them, give the ricotta raviolis or meat lasagna a try. You'll leave feeling full with a light bill.
