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Aldo Los Altos
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
159 reviews for Aldo Los Altos
Review Highlights
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"Try the Rigatoni del Bosco, you won't be disappointed." In 11 reviews -
"Straccetti di Maiale - These were like pork tacos." In 5 reviews -
"Mango panna cotta is a little piece of heaven." In 6 reviews
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159 reviews in English
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Review from Michele G.
Los Altos, CA
2/9/2012
Aldo's is a surprisingly good find. I hadn't been there in years, and for consistently good fare, they are a go to in my book.
I tend to judge restaurants based on their simplest entrees, so the penne with red sauce and basil (Arrabbiata classica) which was not too spicy, had a slight bite to it that made it irresistible. My friend had Nonna's Polpetta which he described as an everything in it meatball over perfectly cooked a la dente spaghetti.
Service is on the spot in no time flat, smiles abundant and I've yet to see a waitperson who didn't look happy to work there. Overall, a clear winner. -
Review from Sophia Y.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 5/8/2012
I just had 2 very positive experiences here
We were looking for restaurant after the farmer's market on Thurs PMs. and we knew that this was far enough away that it wouldn't be crowded.
They have a VERY healthy children's menu. We got the salmon which came with broccoli. and plain pasta.
the bread cup - has very tasty fluffy phyllo dough thing. and comes with an interesting spinach pesto?
you can use http://restaurant.com gift certificates here during the day?
my penne arrabiata with chicken was yummy.
the TV kept my kid occupied somewhat
and free ice cream at the end for kids! wow.
Also, you can reserve the upper area if you want to have an event party for very reasonable prices!!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/23/2011
minus 1 star for fishy fish. wah! my foodie friend says if fish smells fishy, then not good. we got… Read more »
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Review from Matt V.
Sunnyvale, CA
1/28/2012
Well, my girlfriend loves this place, and would probably give it a perfect five-star review, but honestly I'm a bit more lukewarm about it.
The ambiance of the place is nice. Tables, booths, and chairs are placed throughout the restaurant, some tables seated higher than others, which has a nice dynamism to it. Hanging on the walls are framed posters featuring various components of Italian culture.
Service is quite friendly. We've made many trips out here, and I've always been pleased with the pleasant interactions I've had with servers. That said, it is a large restaurant, and the servers can disappear for quite some time, leaving your water glass or bread basket unfilled.
Prior to the entrees, they bring out a nice combination of bread dippers, and a parsley dipping sauce that's pretty good.
As for the entrees, despite my many trips out here, I've yet to find something I can fall in love with. I've sampled the steak, their pasta dishes, their chicken dishes, and nothing so far has done it for me. There's nothing wrong with their dishes, but there just isn't anything making that makes it brim with flavor, the way I'd like my Italian food to do.
Overall, I find Aldo passable, but nothing special. -
Review from Nhung T.
Oakland, CA
1/3/2012
Came here with my boss and coworker for lunch, great ambiance! I ordered the Capellini Granchio, basically it was angel hair pasta with crab meat. I substituted the angel hair pasta for some form of wheat pasta. The dish looked plain when it came out, looked like a glob of orange sauce. The dish was missing some greens or something to make it more lively. For me the dish was okay, the flavor was too one dimensional. I got tired of eating it after a few bites. The creme brule with coconut was way too much coconut, prefer the original one.
However, great service! -
Review from Tim J.
Sunnyvale, CA
4/8/2012
Nice place managed by classy people. Great service also. Let me explain...
We admit to handing them one of those annoying (to restaurant owners) Restaurant-dot-com coupons, for $25 off valid only IF you spend at least $45. Plus coupon states clearly that restaurant will add 18% tip based on bill total before the -$25
Now our mistake - we didn't realize we only ordered $43 of food
I think it might have even been the owner who served our table. Talk about classy: he doesn't even mention our bill total is BELOW the coupon requirement, and then he kindly doesn't add the 18% tip onto the bill, which he could have. What a gentleman.
Right there I decided he gets at least four stars on Yelp, and we gave him a 25% tip on the bill total (before the -$25 off)
Now about the food: good, OK, but not five stars. I had the Chioppino and it was three stars level. Too soupy; not enough yummy rich seafood flavor. My wife had the angel hair pasta with crab (Capellini something) which was solid four stars. We ordered a side of mushrooms that was also good.
But we'll be back because these are classy people who know how to run a restaurant. -
Review from Tuan B.
San Jose, CA
1/1/2012
We went here thinking it was like the same Aldo's in Los Gatos. Huge disappointment. Everything from the food to our waiter was sub-par compared to the other Aldo. Last night we asked Aldo himself (Los Gatos) if this location was owned by him... nope, no relation....
If you guys like this place, you should try the OG Aldo's in Los Gatos. Food's better, the wait staff is friendlier, and the place feels a lot cozier. -
Review from Vera S.
Mountain View, CA
11/25/2011
I come here a lot because it's close to where I work. It's a nice place right on Main Street, and the owner is always there and very friendly - he recognizes us at this point, and always comes over to greet us personally. I really appreciate that.
I usually get a salad or soup (the spinach salad is really good), and then 2 of the small plates that they have on the back of the menu - those are wonderful. My two favorites are the portabello mushroom and the gnoccho, which is this amazing puff pastry with a mushroomy-cheesy filling inside... SO good.
But tonight, I noticed that they had a grilled endive salad on the menu. Somehow I've missed this until tonight. I tired it, and I have to say that it was the BEST salad I have ever eaten. It had all of the usual yummy things, mixed greens, beets, goat cheese, a nice vinaigrette. But who knew that you could grill and endive, and that the result would be THIS good? Wow. I have to learn how to do that. And in the meantime, I have to come back here, a lot.
I have also had the Caramello, which is a pasta dish I haven't seen elsewhere. It's basically chicken rolled up in some pasta with a deliciously decadent cream sauce. Yum!
They also have a nice wine selection, and some good desserts. Service is usually good, but today we had a waitress who was not only friendly, but also very good at what she does. But mostly...they do good mushrooms, and now apparently an unbelievably fantastic salad. This is definitely one of my new favorite restaurants. -
Review from Amy M.
Los Altos, CA
4/27/2012
Aldo's is a terrific dinner option in Los Altos. Perhaps the best. Why? First, the owner is present and active and wants you there. Second, the servers are quite pleasant. We had GREAT service by Mel, who is a real delight - what a terrific personality. Also had a terrific woman who was our waitress another time. A number of the other employees greeted u as if they're happy ur there! Third, there are some very tasty dishes. The spinach lasagna was excellent. We also like the mozzarella, eggplant, tomato dish. This is our new favorite spot.
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Review from Mike L.
Milpitas, CA
12/5/2011
We came here after my girlfriend and I volunteered Salvation Army charity and that night was really cold! We were searching for a good restaurant around downtown and came across this place. Got there around 7pm and no waiting.
The first impression was the bread and breadsticks. We loved those!! We finished the 1st one pretty quick and refilled again (how embarrassing).
We ordered potato soup and I thought it was pretty good and my gf thought was ok. Maybe I was really cold and wanted something hot to warm me up. Their pasta dishes were above average and nothing tooooooo excited about but still delicious.
The server was pretty nice and attentive.
I would probably come back again if im in the area. -
Review from Stephanie L.
San Francisco, CA
8/16/2011
This place is great! I had the arrabbiata classica (I added sausage to mine) and it was fantastic. The perfect amount of spice to it -- I've been to other places where they make it so spicy you can't even eat it. But Aldo had a great balance to it.
My boyfriend ordered the pappardelle and it was sooo good. I wish I could have stolen some more off of his plate, but from what I remember, the cream sauce wasn't overwhelming, and I'm pretty sure he finished it all.
I'm definitely going to be coming back here and trying out the other dishes they have. -
Review from bonnie h.
Mountain View, CA
10/1/2011
My boyfriend and I came here on a Sunday afternoon around 2:30pm for lunch. We were 1 of the 3 other customers in the restaurant. We waited 15 minutes after being seated, and the chef came out and to take our order. wtf? Apparently, the chef was also the foodserver who was also the bartender.
We waited 30 minutes for our lasagnas (yes, we were starvin' marvin' and had gone through 2 baskets of bread by now), and when our food finally arrived, we were disappointed. After waiting patiently for 30 minutes, I was expecting some homemade, hearty, mouth-watering, out of this world lasagna. Instead, it tasted like frozen Stouffers lasagna that was soggy, swimming in oil, and really small sized (4 bites and it was gone). For the $12.95 lasagna, I could think of a gazillion other restaurants in the area that offers better quality food and better, faster service. The only good thing about this place is that Baskin Robbins is located a couple stores down and you can fill up there....cuz' you sure won't at Aldos! -
Review from Dawn T.
Los Altos, CA
7/1/2011 4 Check-ins Here
I am a regular at Aldo in Los Altos as it's right down the street from my offices. I have never had a bad meal or service at Aldo. The staff is always friendly and appreciative that I come into the establishment. I mention this because so many places (most all in Santana Row) act as though they are doing you a favor by allowing you into their restaurant.
For entree selections, I usually have the Piadina d'Aldo salad which is not exactly on my eating "plan" because the salad (the healthy part) is wrapped in a Piadina bread crisp (not-so healthy part), but it's yummy! On a cold day, I love the Pappa al Pomodoro (Tuscan bread soup). Basically, you cannot go wrong with Aldo in Los Altos! -
Review from Clinton O.
Sunnyvale, CA
12/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Service was decent. Place looks good Food was tasteless. Cioppino was watery. Duck with Risotto looks good but bland.
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Review from Sina O.
San Francisco, CA
8/2/2011
One star for yet another restaurant in downtown Los Altos that thinks just because it has a prime location in this wealthy town that it can exploit it and serve subpar food at high prices with cheap tables and no ambiance.
Opa just opened at the location that was the business called Zitune (both Greek cuisine). Zitune ran a very similar game, mediocre food, high prices, nothing special, no innovation. I predicted they would go out of business and guess what, they did. Opa, a business that is successful enough to open a few different locations, and now here in Los Altos, is obviously different.
As more restaurants like Opa open, soon Aldo will go out of business as well.
Right not the only reason its staying in business is because their is a lack of selection. The people of Los Altos who love to go out and eat are being tortured! They drive into downtown and they see Aldo first and it always looks like a good idea and then they go and its like WTF did we just pay $40 a person for olive garden?
Staying in business because there's nothing else is pretty sad, but it will only last for so long, unless they change their "game". -
Review from Fred S.
Los Altos, CA
1/25/2012
Copy cat menu, but of course trendy with mediocre ingredients, and typical trendy artifacts to match. Nothing authentic, or really Italian about it.
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Review from Tracy Y.
Los Altos, CA
9/20/2011
The food was okay, but nothing spectacular.
We started with the grilled pear gorgonzola salad and the caprese salad. The pear salad was just okay, the pears were dry and the dressing was your basic basalmic vinegar mix. In the caprese salad, they added grilled eggplant, a nice touch.
For the entrees I had the pork medallions with mushrooms in a cream sauce. Not much of a discernable flavor, kind of bland. I was very underwhelmed. My husband had the pumpkin ravioli with pancetta. They may call it something else, but that is basically what it was. The ravioli was the best dish we had that night.. You were presented with 4 large pouches filled with pumpking, pancetta and basil.
I guess I was expecting more, based on the ratings. Ambiance was just ok, service was good, but the food was just okay. -
Review from Bryan H.
Ambiance: There is an upstairs and a downstairs. If you have a party with several children, you might request the upstairs area; it is large enough to seat several people, and it is far enough away that the children can be a little louder than otherwise. Should you sit downstairs, you are in full view of the kitchen, the wine racks, and a television that continuously broadcasts images of Italy and Europa.
Service: The business is family run, but it has additional employees that seem to have been there forever. Thus, the feeling of service is genuine; they WANT to be there, and they WANT for you to be happy.
Food: It doesn't get more authentic than this place. Aldo is perhaps the best Italian food that I have ever had. It also has a rather impressive dessert, coffee and wine menu.
Take a look at the pictures! This place is YUM! -
Review from Nital P.
Fremont, CA
3/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
So my wife and I were driving around Los Altos area looking a great Italian restaurant. Seeing good reviews of Aldo we decided to try it out. Great downtown location with friendly people. We were greeted by the owner at the door and were seated right away. The ambiance was great and the place had a great vibe. On to some constructive criticism...
We tried the roasted eggplant with Grilled eggplant, sliced tomato and
fresh mozzarella cheese layered with fresh basil, balsamic vinegar. It was refreshing and tasted great. For our meal we tried the Ravioli's stuffed with Ricotta. The pasta was definitely freshly made. We felt that the pasta was a bit under cooked. We ended up eating only the center filling area and left out edges, also could of increased the amount of tomato sauce.
For our dessert we had Tiramisu. We've tasted plenty of tiramisu's and I
have to say they nailed taste. The texture was just perfect -- had all the
ingredients. We felt that the liquor taste was just perfect. Not too much..
and not too little...just perfect. One suggestion would be to leave out the
drizzled chocolate and the raspberries-- at times its a bit over powering.
Just when things were good -- it went down hill for us as we were leaving. We payed our bill in full-- but left a small tip perhaps few dollars short of what was expected. We felt that it was adequate amount for the experience. We were confronted by our waitress requesting why we'd had tip $3 dollars short. It is exactly THAT. its a
TIP. I do merit the fact that they wanted to know if something was wrong. We explained kindly that the pasta was under cooked. Immediately, the waitress had removed herself from the situation and stated that "well I asked you if everything was ok?....and you said yes."
" i did a good job.." It felt as if they were begging for TIPS. Yes, we
could have requested another plate -- but we did not want to wait or
cause a scene. We also felt we were rushed out and could not enjoy
the food.
Sorry Aldo -- seems like a little work is needed on the customer service.
The situation at the end was simply not classy and was unnecessary.
Thanks,
-N -
Review from Catherine L.
Palo Alto, CA
Meh...
The complimentary bread was whatever. The parsley sauce was fresh but portion was too small for the amount of bread.
We ordered the grilled pear salad which was good. The pears were a little too charred for me but my friend like it. I ordered the Rigatoni del Bosco $13 and while it was filling I didn't feel the urge to keep eating after the first bite. Not a good sign. My friend got the ravioli. The meat was dry but the sauteed spinach on the side was good..
Our server was very busy.. MIA most of the time. We were seated on the second level so he forgot about us.. fast. My friend wanted to order a glass of wine and was able to sample two glasses. After he decided (took about a minute) it took our waiter about 10 minutes to come back and we had to flag him down. My friends glass of wine came about 1/2 way through our entrees..
Our waiter was fast to bring us the check when we told him we had finished and I noticed he stayed around for us to pay... if only he were so eager to help with our food.
Had this place bookmarked for some time and it was a flop :(. -
Review from Catherine Y.
Cupertino, CA
10/30/2011
Portion size is disappointingly small, but service is nice. Food is hit or miss depending on what you order. Watching the cooks whip up the meal is a real treat, but again a bit pricey for the amount of food you get, and a bit of a wait as well.
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Review from Amy K.
Burlingame, CA
2/28/2011
I've been to Aldo twice. The first time was a very pleasant experience. I enjoyed my rigatoni dish, the prices were reasonable, and I have no complaints about the atmosphere. My sister thought her caneloni were okay - a bit dry - and my grandma enjoyed the spaghetti and meatballs.
My second experience at Aldo was on Valentine's day this year. I ordered the lasagna, the broccoli side dish, and a glass of wine. The waitress allowed us to split a glass of wine without an extra charge which was nice. The broccoli was a little oily and over dressed. The bigger problem arose when the entrees arrived. First, and not as much of an issue, the ravioli dish was a very small portion. The larger problem surfaced when I was about a third of the way through my meal. I realized there was a large green BEETLE, about a 3/4 of an inch long, in my sauteed spinach! We let the waitress know and she asked if I was sure it was a beetle. Once she saw the plate she asked if I would like a new one. Umm....YES, I don't wasn't going to continue eating the dish with a beetle on the side.
I completely understand that these things happen. I don't believe the situation was dealt with properly. The waitress was apologetic, but we were not offered any discount on our total bill or a dessert or an apology from the manager. Considering the health issues associated with bugs in food and the inconvenience of having to wait for my second entree to arrive, I think we were owed a little bit more than a verbal apology. -
Review from schelly y.
Santa Clara, CA
1/30/2011
I had a http://restaurant.com coupon for this place and so we decided to give it a go. Service and ambiance are great. It is a pretty casual place and service was attentive and helpful. I was pleasantly surprised by the pretty reasonable prices too.
Aldo Salad-Arugola, spring mix lettuces, crisp sausage, fresh herbs, shaved fennel, Parmiggiano Reggiano, balsamic vinaigrette. I did not think I would like a salad with sausage pieces floating around in it but it was great.I expected it to be heavy and overwhelming but it actually blended together really well. The salad comes out steamy with melted cheese on top.
Rigatoni del Bosco-Tube pasta, Italian sausage, mushrooms, and peas tomato cream sauce. YUM. The sauce was great and the pasta was cooked just right.
Cioppino-Aldo's fisherman's stew served with garlic bread. Great blend of crab, shrimp, calamari, and mussels. I kind of wish the broth was a bit thicker but it was still really good. Came with some yummy cheesy bread to wipe up all that broth too.
Looks like I found my new Italian spot! -
Review from Scott P.
1/9/2011
Very tasty pasta and good service... started out with the Caprese salad with roasted eggplant, mozzarela and tomato... a nice start that Blondie and I split. For dinner, I had a generous plate of gnocchi and duck with porcini ragout... What is it with me and Gnocchi? I think I am an expert on it and Aldo's gnocchi was excellent. I loved getting a little taste of duck with my pasta... so I was very happy with my choice of entrees. Blondie let me taste some of her Capellini Grachio... which had plenty of crab, but not enough make me give up gnocchi. For dessert, Blondie convinced me to split some tiramisu... which I actually liked!
My water glass was never empty and I will head back and try other entrees! -
Review from Betty N.
9/30/2010 1 Check-in Here
**ITALIAN FOOD GONE WRONG IN LOS ALTOS**
With so many rave reviews about this Italian restaurant from legit Yelpers, I thought it would be a guarantee pleasant carb experience.
Not so much . . FOR me, that is.
Ambiance was bistro-like and we were seated immediately on a Tuesday evening. It was not crowded; in fact downtown Los Altos was empty after 7PM.
Ordered the *homemade* potato dumplings with roast duck and ragu sauce ($14). Sounds wonderful, right? Well, unfortunately, it was not. It tasted like Chunky's Beef Stew mixed in with overcooked gnocchi.
Bad night, perhaps?
My date ordered the risotto special which included scallops ($17). When the dish came out, he noticed immediately the scallops were not fresh. Vastly disappointed.
And when our waiter offered us Parmesan cheese, we thought it would be FRESH. Guess what. It was grated store-bought. Lovely.
If you claim to be an Italian restaurant, I expect handmade pastas with FRESH ingredients.
In which case, I felt that Aldos did not deliver.
NOT RECOMMEND.Listed in: IN THE LOS ALTOS HOOD
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Review from Jeff N.
8/26/2011
Not a bad place, for a very affordable price! With the lack of quality Italian places in the South Bay, I was surprised to find this in Los Altos. While it was a few weeks ago since I went, I vividly remember everything (calamari, parpadelle, tiramisu, other desserts) being very solid, perfectly sized portions, and extremely delicious. This place is well worth the money.
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Review from Nicholas S.
Redondo Beach, CA
7/31/2011
Aldo Los Altos seems like the kind of place that would have regulars, and I mean that as a sincere compliment. The place was everything a neighborhood Italian restaurant should be-small enough to feel warm and inviting with great service and even better food. My party went home extremely satisfied and, perhaps best of all, our wallets weren't destroyed.
The food is fairly typical for a slightly upscale Italian restaurant. My party ordered a variety of dishes from the main dinner menus (pasta and secondi/entree) and happily there was no weak dish. Particular favorites were the lasagna and the salmon (I would kill to know how they make their sauce). The wine menu was good (BUT ONLY TWO CHIANTIS?!?!) and the tiramisu, which we shared as a table, was delicious. The only potential hiccup, the bill, passed without a hitch. The pastas ranged from 10-20 (with a huge amount between 14-17) and the entrees were slightly higher. Italian restaurants can grossly overcharge, but Aldos doesn't succombe to this line of thinking.
The nice, local Italian place is a fairly common restaurant theme and Aldos Los Altos could be its poster child. It doesn't necessarily do anything revolutionary, but what it does, it does extremely well. The people of Los Altos are lucky to have it. -
Review from Hutch C.
Updated - 7/25/2011
Probably a legit 4 star place, but we had a 5 star experience because of awesome customer service. I got there a few minutes before wife + 2 little dudes, and overwhelmed guy by ordering wine, apps, kids meals all @ once. Waiter was great. One year old spill something and busboy was right there. In and out with multiple courses in 40 minutes which was clearly the target. Great pastas too, we had penne vodka and rigatoni, both of which were excellent. they have everything, anti-pasta, small plates, salads etc.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/19/2011
When choosing Aldo for a bday dinner, i thought it would be a little more white table cloth, but… Read more »
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Review from Andrew S.
1/14/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Oh Aldo you've let me down. I came here for a team dinner and they placed us on their second floor loft area which is good for small parties. Not good, however, if you have a waiter that forgets about you for half the night, resulting in a 3 hour dinner.
We ordered the usual wine, appetizers, salad, main dish and dessert. They do have an assortment of wines which I'm sure any wine drinker will appreciate. I selected their Prosecco which was served at a disappointing room temperature. Last time I checked Prosecco was supposed to be served chilled. Not a good way to start off the night.
We ordered an assortment of appetizers ranging from calamari to bruschetta. Nothing really stood out about their appetizers...just plain ol' selections that you can find at any other Italian restaurant. In my opinion skip the appetizers and just eat the free bread sticks.
1 hour later it was time for the salad. I ordered an arugula salad on a bed on mixed greens. When I got the salad it was like an arugula scavenger hunt! Did I order the wrong salad? Where's the arugula? Oh, there's two arugula leaves. Definitely not what I expected from an "Arugula Salad." Might as well call it a mixed green salad. But I digress...
As if matters could not have gotten any worse...here comes the main course. I ordered the Gnocchi with shredded duck as I'm a big fan of the nice firm texture on the outside and soft bite on the inside. However, to my disappointment, it just turned out to be one soft mess. I could have made some mashed potatoes with the overcooked gnocchi--and not in a good way. A big mashy disappointment.
At hour 3 I was ready to give Aldo one last chance with their dessert and ordered their Limoncello Zuppetta. Ok, so they got something right. Good dessert which I ended up devouring--most likely because I didn't indulge in the appetizer, salad and main course.
Sorry Aldo...I expected more from you.Listed in: No Thanks!
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Review from Jocelyn T.
Hercules, CA
12/30/2010 1 Check-in Here
Came here for our company Holiday Luncheon for the second time this year and we usually occupy the second floor loft area.
This place is decent for Los Altos. I've eaten here probably 4 times now and the food is nothing spectacular but still exceptional. I've ordered a Sandwich, Risotto Dish and a Crab pasta dish. Again, not much of a wow factor in any of these entrees. I've also tried at least 70% of their appetizers and again no lasting impression with me.
Overall, not much to rave about. -
Review from Lanette F.
Palo Alto, CA
10/28/2011
I think this might be my new favorite place! Came for dinner and I ordered the spaghetti with a giant meatball on top with the spicy arrabbiata sauce. It was a tad on the too spicy side but was pretty tasty. The BF had the rigatoni with sausage and his dinner was also delicious. I really enjoyed the parsley spread/dip that was served with the bread. Finished off dinner with the mango panna cotta which was AMAZING. Cant wait to come back.
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Review from Karrot L.
Cupertino, CA
3/4/2011
Terrific, fresh, well seasoned pasta dishes. Pasta is made in-house.
Three of us ladies have a wonderful lunch today. Service is not quite as great as the food, but we still enjoyed the overall experience. -
Review from Jenna G.
Santa Clara, CA
8/19/2011
Great service and fresh food. Surprisingly large menu and wine list. They were re-paving the street out front, so it was easy to miss if you're not looking for it. I went with my boyfriend and his parents and everyone found dishes they loved. We were seated at the upper dining area, so we could see down into the open kitchen, which was cool. Definitely would come again.
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Review from Janet S.
Santa Clara, CA
9/10/2010
Aldo is a cute little Italian joint in downtown Los Altos. I love the loft seating - adorable!
The restaurant was nearly full when we got there but there we were seated right away. Our waiter was pleasant and attentive. He was very entertained by the looks on my mom's and my face once he started describing the "chocolate cube" for dessert!
I ordered the Quadrotti and it was delicious. The flavor was spot on, but the presentation however, was not. Some sort of garnish or even a different colored plate would have kept the relatively plain ravioli in a lemon butter sauce from looking so blah. It was crazy delicious, don't get me wrong, but it was not aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.
We shared the tiramisu for desert - my favorite! Yum :)
Overall, it was a good experience and I would likely come back someday. Cute place to bring a date ;) but for now, my single self will have to stick to coming with my parents...wah-wah. -
Review from Angie H.
Los Altos, CA
5/20/2011
I have never experienced a restaurant where I felt Love and Hate simultaneously so consistently.
We LOVE the food.
We HATE the service. Here are some of the examples.
* My girl friend and I were standing by the door and quietly discussing about how much to tip when you order a take out. One of the waiter over heard our conversation and loudly snorted and gave us "the look". I guess apparently the tip was too low for the take out. I told the waiter that was not nice and he apologized.
* I ordered Bietole e Endivia salad because I love heart of palm. When the salad arrived, I looked for the palm, but no where to be found. So I asked the waitress and she goes to the kitchen and comes back and said "sorry, we ran out of the palm" I wish she would have told me when i ordered so I could have ordered something else. They charged full price for the incomplete salad.
* when my dinner arrived, the under-side of the dish was full of some other food stains. When asked about the dirty dishes, they wiped it off and gave it right back. I lost appetite immediately.
* The waiters and a waitress consistently provides below average service and unpleasant mannerism (except there is a guy who brings water and he is super nice and pleasant). It just takes away the happy feeling and leaving the restaurant with less happiness with a big fat bill.
* I don't like to order juice or soda for my kids during the dinner. That does not stop my kids from ordering one. The wait staff will just add on to the order despite that I said "no, just water please". Very annoying.
My kids likes the food there so we go despite the bad service. Maybe they have enough business that they don't need to be nice to customers. It's a shame that they have such a bad service staff when the cooks are so talented. -
Review from Connie C.
San Jose, CA
3/31/2008 3 photos
Don't let appearances deceive you. Girls who are thin are usually the ones who can eat the most!
I was very impressed by the portions at Aldo, but even more impressed by the lovely ladies of Yelp who managed to eat, and finish, these big portions. Tiffany T, who is one of the most adorable and petite girls I've ever met, got the most massive dish - a plate with a huge mound of fish and chips! Slender and sweet Irene S got the spinach lasagna and split an endive and beet salad with me. I only managed to eat half of my super yummy rigatoni del bosco (which I substituted with penne), and the leftovers were plenty for dinner tonight. Jessica's squash raviolis were the size of pot stickers. Nicole B's angel hair pasta with crab looked delicious. Lily R's huge Caesar salad with grilled chicken was the healthiest choice of all, but it could have also fed the entire table of 11.
We sat in the upstairs mezzanine area, which was perfect for our large group. Our server took good care of us - how could one not pay attention to a group of hotties - it seemed that our wine glasses were magically refilled every few minutes. It doesn't take much wine to get this group of girls a little tipsy.
I've got a newfound respect for this group of what most would assume are the girliest of girls who don't eat. Don't be fooled. They can eat like lumberjacks!Listed in: Gimme Lotsa Pasta!, Downtown Los Altos
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Review from Randy F.
After several years, Aldo continues to impress. We've made our way through most of the excellent menu, but last night, I finally was able to try the Angus ribeye steak. Having ate steaks at many establishments and cooked many more myself, I had always resisted this dish, figuring I could do just as great a job or why have steak at an Italian restaurant instead of a steakhouse?
Boy, was I wrong! The Bistecca ($23) is absolutely one of the best entrees I've ordered at Aldo's and will now have to rank among one of my favorite steaks. As a carnivore through and through, I was utterly surprised. The Angus ribeye was grilled medium rare to perfection and absolutely tender to cut, but the real star of the entree is the amazing sauce. The rosemary balsalmic was mixed with peppercorns and had a salty/sweet flavor that besides being delicious did not mask the great flavor of the steak. As a meat purist, I don't often like sauces on my steaks (I prefer salt and pepper), but one bite of Aldo's sauce and I wanted more.
The ribeye was paired with hearty deep fried wedge fries and a nice side of garlic and spinach. Definitely a very filling meal and very reasonably priced too.
I still need to make my way to Murracci's, but I'll go out on a limb and declare Aldo's the best restaurant in Los Altos. It was packed on a Friday night, but our wait was reasonable and the food absolutely satisfying.
Thanks for a great meal Aldo!Listed in: My ROTD
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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5/4/2009
Aldo continues to be a favorite (and regular) restaurant of ours. Originally a find through Yelp… Read more »
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Review from Mabel Y.
San Jose, CA
5/4/2009
Aldo Los Altos is my go-to Italian restaurant. My favorite appetizer is the pear with gorgonzola and pancetta. A bit of sweet from the pear paired with a bit of savory from the pancetta drizzled with melted gorgonzola cheese and topped with a dash of blue cheese. It was a match made in heaven.
For the entree I had the Osso Bucco and it was one of the better Osso Bucco I have had. The best part was when the flavorful meat just slid off the bone. The Cioppino was not too bad either and the seafood was succulent.
I kind of wish they use a little less blue cheese in their dishes. I love blue cheese but blue cheese is too pungent. I wish they would try other cheese like St. George, it's a really delicious cheese. -
Review from Daisy T.
8/27/2009 1 photo
Another great AUTHENTIC Italian find! =)
The layout of the restaurant is great. There's even a second floor seating area that over looks the bottom level! This place is lowly lit for a slightly romantic setting.
There are lots of yummy sounding goodies on the menu. When I come back I definitely want to try their gnocchi with ROAST DUCK in a ragu sauce. =) I didn't get it on this trip because I'm a sucker for prosciutto. =P I went for their pappardelle in a light cream sauce with prosciutto, porcini mushrooms and peas. The pasta was fresh and the cream sauce wasn't too creamy! But it still had good flavor! And it was JUST the right portion size.
I washed my pasta down with a peach bellini. Sweet and bubbly! Just the way it should be! =) But if you're a water person, you're going to have to ask for it! The restaurant is trying to be more green and not wasting as much water by automatically bringing it to the table. There's a little sign at each table explaining the water situation.
Also, the prices are totally reasonable! Always a plus! Especially with it being located in Downtown Los Altos!
I'll definitely be coming back very soon. =) -
Review from Veronica B.
Campbell, CA
11/30/2009
"When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie... "
I'm not a big fan of Italian because of lackluster experiences at Macaroni Grill and Olive Garden (bleh) but Aldo's really did rekindle my romance with pasta.
First off, I sipped on a glass of Chianti while noshin' on their basket of breadsticks, crackers and sourdough. My spring salad and his potato leek soup were yummy starters to our entrees.
I ordered the Caramella which is a perfect portion of pasta filled with chicken marscapone, mushrooms and other creamy goodness. The pasta was served with a small portion of either cooked spinach or broccoli rab? I can't really tell the difference, but the greens provided a nice break from all the creaminess going on. The BF had a tender breast of chicken stuffed with pancetta and with a side of gnocchi gorganzola. SUPER decadent and sexy...
Already paranoid about our waistlines we politely said 'no' to the dessert menu but vow to return again to try!
BTW: Service was excellent. The atmosphere is the perfect ratio of casual meets semi-formal and my only complaint is that they charge for soda refills. -
Review from Cynthia C.
Alameda, CA
7/25/2007
Humble interior, generous portions & reasonable prices.
Wandered in on a Sunday evening & there were actually other clients dining.
Mini-plasma tv set in the wall rolling Italian architecture & landscaping.
Diner style booth seating available.
FOOD
Insalate Mista $6
Balsalmic vinaigrette was good and there was heaping amount of salad.
Caesar $7
Nothing special, but no complaints either. Bonus: shaved parmesan.
Lamb Shank $19
Braised nicely with fragrant porcini mushrooms & polenta. I thought the gorgonzola chunks were oddly placed, but I just disposed of them. Their presence did not disturb the entree.
Aldo Burger $13
Grilled Angus chuck burger on a toasted ciabiatta w/thickly sliced roasted potatoes. The boy gave it a thumbs up. I think normal FRIED fries would have been a better side-the potatoes were super heavy.
A nice local place to wind down from a weekend.
