Loading...
- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Pennini's Ristorante Italiano
Categories: Restaurants Pizza Restaurants Gluten-Free Pizza, Gluten-Free [Edit]
1375 Moraga WaySte D
Moraga, CA 94556
(925) 376-1515
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
Order your favorite pizza, pasta, salad, wings, subs, and more with Cable Car Pizza - Broadway located at 464 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94133. Cable… read more »
26 reviews for Pennini's Ristorante Italiano
Review Highlights
26 reviews in English
-
Review from Randolph T.
Moraga, CA
2/9/2012
A place for the family to go and enjoy an informal and kick back and watch a few moment of sports, whether St. Mary basketball or the World Series. The pizza is superior to Round table and Lamorinda pizza, although the latter now has seating and can serve you a slice if you are on the run.
The service is always great and the food is above average for the standards; we have been going there since the kids were young for the sporting event celebrations at the end of the season. I love the calzones but they take a while to make so be prepared. The standards of mushrooms and pepperoni work best for me with spinach added to the mix for fun!
There is a full bar if one is interested and the restaurant has the higher end Michael's attached to it, and you can sometimes manage to get the staff to see if you can crossover when it is a slow ntght.
The only issue I have is that their hours are bit odd, as they are not open for lunch and are closed on Sunday evenings, and I would think those are times you would want to capture the crowds. In any event, I think the locals enjoy the place, but with other alternatives now opening up in the adjacent towns, the owners will have to step up their game to compete as they now have real competition to deal with. -
Review from Gabriella T.
Walnut Creek, CA
1/17/2012
Love this place! The Moraga Vegetarian pizza is my absolute favorite. It is packed with veggies & even atrichoke hearts. So yummy!
Great location & always has the game on! -
Review from C E.
Berkeley, CA
12/8/2011
I've been here six times over the past month with friends and family so I am comfortable with my review.
The pizza is very good. Price is higher than average. The calzone and pastas are ok. Kitchen staff never acknowledges you even though you pass them on the way in. Never have we been directed to a table. You walk in and just have to find a table while trying to let someone know to bring you a menu. All times after we ate, it took forever to get the check and just as long to get it back. The last time I just put cash down since I did not want to wait another 10 minutes to get a credit receipt back to sign.
Pizza - 3.5 Stars
Other Entrees - 2 Stars
Service (Overall) - 1.5 Stars
The good thing is that it's better than fast food and is one of the only sit down places open late at night. -
Review from Gary C.
San Francisco, CA
4/7/2011
We like this place...and truthfully, have only tried their Calzones, salad and lava cake. Prefer another pizza place, but for Calzones, this is the place to go. Delivery service is great, as is their counter service.
Only have eaten inside the place once. Kind of crusty, loud, out-dated and full of loud soccer moms and kids running a muck. Prefer to bring this home.
Over-priced, otherwise would have been 4-star. -
Review from Diana N.
San Jose, CA
2/12/2011
It's a solid pizza and pasta restaurant, but there are better places. I've heard someone tell me "you can never go wrong with their pizza" and they're right. The personal sized pizza I had with Pesto sauce, sundried tomatoes, spinach, and sausage is amazing and I'll only come back for that. The pasta, however, was a bit pricey and just like what you can get at an Olive Garden. Great service though, but nothing special. There aren't very many restaurants in Moraga, so this would be a place to try if you're in town.
The pizza can get soggy (esp. if you get the cream sauce), so get it extra crispy! -
Review from Sam A.
Alamo, CA
1/25/2011 8 Check-ins Here
Very solid pizza/pasta joint
The pizza is top notch, although they serve it a little dry sauce wise. Me and my friends typically order it extra sauce, and well done, so the extra sauce doesn't kill cripyness
The pasta I have only had ones, but is pretty good. We mainly go here for Pizza and beer before a Saint Mary's game. -
Review from Blaire P.
Moraga, CA
4/30/2010
I got food poisoning after having their shrimp scampi last night. I never get food poisoning, so something is really off there. Ever since the new owner took over the quality has gone down hill.
The pizza is not bad, but you can get the same or better at Mountain Mike's. (Although, gluten free is a nice feature for those who need it.)
Thanks - but I will not be back, Just because they have a captive audience, that's no reason to slip on hygiene. Avoid the pasta dishes. -
Review from Katherine C.
San Francisco, CA
1/16/2008
Wait. Hold the phone. There is a bar in Moraga? What the...? Granted this bar is located inside a pizzeria, but wow. I was just there to pick up a pizza but seeing all those beers on tap got me excited. Now I can be a drunken mess somewhere in my own home town, yes! JK peeps, I am always a sensible drunk, except for that one time at Lime...(see review below).
I wasn't that impressed with the pizza, I mean it was good but not the best I've had. I tried the mushroom and sausage and the Pesto Lucca (pesto sauce, pancetta, sausage, olives, pinenuts). I definitely liked the Pesto Lucca better. Pizza crust is my favorite and always an important factor for me in judging a good pizza. The crust here was too soft and doughy, it would have been better had it been a more crunchy and crispy. (For really good pizza and crust go to Georgio's--review to come)
While waiting for my pizza I was looking over the menu when one word caught my eye: STROMBOLIE. Ever since Kevin L. and I watched an episode of "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives" on the Food Network we have been obsessed with strombolie--actually we haven't talked about it since that night, but it looked really good on the show and all the memories came rushing back when I saw it on the menu. I told Kevin L. about said strombolie and although he is usually insane about food, he was strangely subdued. I still plan on taking him here though, and making him pay (don't tell him I said that).
Pizza in Moraga is fairly limited, that being said I think Pennini's is my favorite place. I will be going back for a beer, or 5 and a strombolie. I hope it's as good as that place on the Food Network.Listed in: Moraga...not Boraga
-
Review from Joe L.
Danville, CA
8/22/2008 1 photo
Gluten-free pizza. 'Nuff said.
OK I'll say some more. Peninni's began serving a gluten-free pizza option yesterday. My pizza orders this evening were numbers three and four. The reason I give five stars is this: The guys have nailed it with regards to serving up a gluten-free pizza in a laid back and casual atmosphere.
I ordered two pizzas just for the heck of it, and stuck to the basics: Pepperoni. My two boys and I (they are 4 and 7) dusted everything. Gone. Zip. Destroyed. Game over man! One, two, three, up with the skirt, and it's gone! I am the only celiac in the family, but the boys could have cared less. They ate more pizza than you could shake a stick at.
The things were delicious. Real pizza on a thin crust, nice and traditional-like. But the best part was that the guy that cooked it, Greg (I asked if I could print his name here), came out and described in detail the steps he took to ensure that this pizza was indeed as free as possible of any potential gluten contamination.
Since I like to work as a human guinea pig, I can attest to the quality of their process. It is two hours later, and I am happily here sitting on my recumbent bike machine at home doing at least an hour's penance for the debauchery that just ensued - grease, cheese, oil, and processed meats are the stuff of pizza made the way god intended. If there were even a tiny bit of contamination with wheat, I'd be sick by now. But I'm great!
In summary: Great gluten-free pizza, totally laid-back atmosphere, awesome friendly staff, family loved everything else they tried on the menu, and I'm stuffed.
See you guys again real soon. -
Review from Terry Y.
San Francisco, CA
9/11/2010
I like this place and use them exclusively for my Pizza delivery. The service in phone ordering has always been a tremendously positive experience; excellent service, I even get asked if I would like to order what I ordered last time. These guys are really trying to get to know me! Their keeping a record of what I get and offer me my favorites. Nice concept!
It does seem a bit pricy to me.
I have eaten in the restaurant once and enjoyed their fantastic meat lasagne. A friend enjoyed a seafood linguine, or linguine and clams and was a little disappointed.
The atmosphere was a bit like a sports bar and a pizzaria, which is ok,, but it almost feels as if something is off, but overall a great place. The staff are friendly and appear to be as kind to each other as they are with their guests.
That was cool to experience the sense of friendship among the staff. The night I dined in the guys in the kitchen were singing songs together and working together and seemed to enjoy and care about their work. Nice touch!
I like Pennini's...
I'm a little confussed, there is a sister restaurant literally doors away and you both have almost identical menus??? -
Review from Catelyn T.
Livermore, CA
2/2/2011
This pizza's ingredients are very fresh. After I had this pizza I don't think I can go back to the chain restaurants' pizza. I now know what real, fresh ingredients taste like on a pizza. The staff was also super friendly and helpful. I absolutely recommend this restaurant for take out, delivery, or dine in.
-
Review from Jesse M.
San Jose, CA
3/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Not memorable. Looks like it might be a good local spot.
-
Review from Brento C.
San Ramon, CA
9/7/2008
Zero stars. 0. Nada. None.
Absolutely horrible. Forced to go here on occasion for a post-season sports event...their pizza is tasteless - as in have 1 bite and don't bother with the rest tasteless. On rare occasion it's tasteless and mealy - as it spit it into a napkin mealy. When in your life have you actually NOT eaten pizza beyond a single bite?
One wonders whether it requires a genuine, deliberate and concerted effort to make pizza, calzones and everything else with no taste whatsoever (at best).
Try something other than pizza? Sure, go ahead...it won't be AS bad. It'll still suck, though. How about a salad with hair? How about a salad with bugs? The manager will generously credit you $5 off your tab, even though the hairy or buggy salad (depending) were $7.
This place has no redeeming value whatsoever. Except for the fact that there are two exits to get the hell out. -
Review from Jamie M.
Moraga, CA
7/19/2010
Just moved to Moraga and am very pleased to have a place like this in such a small town.
I lived in NYC for 10 years and haven't had pizza that actually TASTED this good since I left the city. The crust, sauce & cheese have clearly been well thought out.
Oh, and awesome beer selection.
The chick who compared this to Mountain Mike's has clearly never, actually, tasted a pizza... -
Review from Dan B.
Moraga, CA
10/6/2011
Great staff, great pizza, and a full bar! Definitely a neighborhood spot. Great for young families, and once that rush dies down around 9 it's a cool place to grab a bite and a beer.
-
Review from Paul M.
Bay Area
6/5/2009
Meh. This place kind of sucks. Not even going to bother to write out a thoughtful review.
Service? Shit. Food? Meh. Not bad, but not notable. Decor? Meh. Not terrible, but lame. Atmosphere is also kind of lame. Usually is very noisy, hard to have a conversation.
The only good thing about it is it's location. I suppose if you want some pizza and are too lazy to drive out of town (Pizza Antica is great but much more upmarket) it's your choice. -
Review from David R.
Berkeley, CA
4/2/2011
Good pizza and they have gluten-free but overpriced......
-
Review from Chad B.
Moraga, CA
4/7/2010
Eaten pizza and salad here several times.
Great for families and sporting events on TV.
Great beer on Tap also.
The pizza is perfect for what you pay. The addons may be a bit overpriced though.
Great friendly service here! Matt in particular has great energy and seems like a great guy. -
Review from Daniel D.
Moraga, CA
1/22/2010
I am glad that a place like Pennini's exists so close to where I live. This is the most happening place in Moraga, even if that isn't saying much. It is the only bar in Moraga, and they feature a large projection TV for watching sports.
That said, there is more to a restaurant than bars and TVs. The food is actually good here, although it is not top-of-the-line. The pizza is decent, but the crust is pretty weak and soaks through too easily. The pasta dishes are the highlight of the menu for me. The chicken linguine alfredo is fantastic, but you better bring ample appetite for it. The linguine alle vongole is another well done dish, but to be honest I doubt you can go wrong with any of their pastas.
The atmosphere here is festive, which I find enjoyable since I expect it to be that way. Anyone who goes to Pennini's expecting a romantic candlelight dinner experience will be sorely disappointed, so do your homework before taking your honey out! Michael's next door is more suited for that kind of meal.
The service here is nothing special most of the time, but sometimes they hire high quality waitresses. At any rate, it doesn't end up making much difference. I am too busy watching football and eating to care!
If you want a fun Italian dining experience, you like watching sports, and you live in Moraga, I would highly recommend paying Pennini's a visit! -
Review from Senor M.
4/4/2011
The three of us came here for lunch, starved after spending an hour at the nursery in the same mall, choosing and buying trees, flowers and shrubs for me to plant. My daughter ordered the teriyaki sandwich, the beloved the veggie sandwich and yours truly, the fish and chips. Why no pizza you ask? We eat pizza all the time and keep going back to Skipolinis, so why switch now? The food was average. The wait time was awful. 40 minutes to get our food. I could almost undertand the wait for the fish and chips, not the usual order for this place, but the sandwich's? C'mon, take the chicken out of the freezer, slap it on the grill, put sauce on it and serve. The veggie? chop up some vegies stick it between the bun and serve. Oh and the server? Annoying as hell with the "my friends comments" I don't want to be your friend, I just want my food! I'm not saying I'll never come back, but this place won't be my first choice.
-
Review from Ann B.
Woodland, WA
5/10/2007
Good for lunch - seems overpriced for dinner. Really laid back staff. I got a sausage and pepper sandwich ($8). It was substantial, with really good bread. The accompanying salad was tasty too. Nothing too special, but I may go back for the meatball sandwich.
-
Review from Marc M.
Walnut Creek, CA
1/10/2009 1 Check-in Here
Decent place to come here for pizza and beer. The food isn't bad but not great. The service is ok. Their calzones are pretty darn good; you can custom order your calzone. Don't expect prompt catered service, for this place get really crowded and sometimes take awhile (30-45min) to get your food on a Friday and Saturday night. They have one kitchen supporting Pennini's and their sister restaurant right around the corner (Michael's).
-
Review from JJ L.
Danville, CA
5/17/2008
ok pizza but $40? come on! (thats just the pizza btw- not drinks- or salads) - out of 3 visits 2 of the times the order was completely wrong.
so-so at pretty high prices -
Review from Smithy S.
Pleasanton, CA
1/27/2011
Pretty good food, fun atmosphere. :) I like it. A very community-oriented place.
-
Review from Morgan P.
San Ramon, CA
10/9/2010
Delicious, enough said
-
Review from Chad H.
Oakland, CA
3/15/2008
Pick up was quick and easy. Pizza was pretty tasty, nothing amazing but I will get pizza from there again.
