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Mon-Fri. 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Mon-Fri. 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
"Every time I walk into Amarco, I find a new wine from another corner of the world which you will never see at BevMo or other grocery stores.…" read more »
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Went there for Mother's day and I am very impressed!
Food was greeeeaaaaaat!!!!
Great service, very relaxed and a good dining experience!
Not too good for the wallet but it was worth it!!
I've been here before for drinks, but finally decided it was time to enjoy a meal. I came in with friends around 7:30 - service was great , they have a decent wine selection, and I had some STELLAR raviolis.
It's a relaxing/calming environment and i'll definitely be back.
Pretty Good.
When we come to San Carlos, we go to "Town" for dinner... I LOVE that place - somehow it can do no wrong. But, this time we decided it would be fun to try something else. We walked around, read menus, and found Spasso to have a HUGE selection of dishes for me and him....
We will come back... but first the downs....
Our favorite appetizer, at any restaurant, is fried calamari - we order it before we order drinks. It is usually how we measure a restaurant, and Spasso slipped up a bit here. Good calamari has a great combination of tentacles and body, not too rubbery, and yummy dipping sauce. Spasso filled their plate with cheaper selections of fried artichoke heart and fried green beans (both not on the menu), and not a whole lot of fried calamari. The plate was refreshing, and actually quite yummy.... but when you are paying for fish, and getting veggies, not so good.
I got the Wild Mushroom Risotto, he got the special - pan seared Chilean Sea Bass. He LOVED his (nearly licked the plate)... I will say that it was moist without being raw, and very tasty.... My risotto was VERY earthy and rich. However, the mushrooms were not washed, and there was a sandy grit in my mouth with every bite of mushroom. Eventually, I stopped eating the mushrooms.... but it tasted SO good!
The goods - They sat us quickly! We sat outside, and it was a beautiful night to have dinner. The drinks came quickly and were not watered down. We ordered a bottle of wine that was LOVELY. Their bread is fresh, dense, and full of air pockets - perfect for olive oil and balsamic vinegar (which is provided, plus herbs). The wait staff is attentive without being pushy. We got the Tiramisu topped it all off perfectly.
We will come back, cuz there are menu items that we want to have, but didn't order.... and plenty of selections for both me and him regardless of our mood.
Where to start? Another fabulous downtown San Carlos establisment. We started off with the Spasso Sampler, consisting of Calamari, Brushetta, Crab Cakes and Ahi Tuna. The calamari was delicious and came with some exceptionally great tasting dipping sauces. I split the warm cabbage salad- not as tasty as Town's, but I would definitely order this salad again. Who would ever think that warm cabbage would taste so great? For my entree, my mother and I split two dishes: The Marinated Skirt Steak and the Blackened Ahi Tuna. While the Tuna was fantastic and tasted unlike any Tuna I've tried before, I wasnt the biggest fan of the Skirt Steak; there was slightly too much teriyaki that make it overbearing to eat. I like to taste my meat- not just the sauce that is slathered over it.
Overall, the service was very friendly and accomodating. They sent over a few glasses of champagne for my mom's birthday (added bonus) and their wine list was very complete.
I will be coming back again- for the Ahi Tuna and Warm Cabbage Salad!
3.5 stars
Laurel St. in San Carlos continues to surprise me with good restaurants. Spasso was def a solid restaurant - good, not great, and def not bad for the price.
Enjoyed the following w/the fiance's fam:
The good: Black peper fettuccini (good noodles, rich sauce, very nice taste), seafood linguini (really good sauce; was not spicy as advertised), cheese fondue (def a good choice to share with 4-5 people...unless you can stomach a ton of rich cheese), glasses of wine (after pouring you a full glass, they give you an extra 1/3 glass or so...very much appreciated).
The ok: Veal cannelloni (the balsamic vinegar on top of marinara sauce saved this dish; the noodles were dry/hard from the oven...not my fav), penne w/chicken (nothing special), calamari (I have yet to find a "wow" calamari dish).
Not a bad place if you're craving Italian...however, I def would like to try other Italian places on Laurel St. before coming back.
After reading reviews of this Italian bar just down the street from my digs and having family in town who would really enjoy the Laurel Street atmosphere, I opted to take my visitors to Spasso for our Friday night dinner. By the end of the evening, we had to practically roll ourselves out of the restaurant, stuffed to the gills with food that was worth every calorie.
Service: With no reservations, we were please to be seated quickly at 8:30 on a Friday evening. The staff was pleasant, friendly, even chatty; from the busboy to the waiter and hostess, everyone made sure we were taken care of while remaining casual enough that we didn't feel rushed. We received recommendations and gratitude for our cheers as each course of the meal was delivered.
Food: What we shared was absolutely amazing. Not a bland bit in the bunch. The three of us shared the Fried Calamari and Steamed Mussels appetizer dishes, ordered 2 arugula salads and a Mista salad, and split the Beef Carpaccio and the Chilean Sea Bass entree recommended from the specials. Spasso's chef managed that beautiful blend of soft and tender Sea Bass with a textured, almost crunchy skin that made all of us elicit muffled sounds of glee. The rice that came paired with the dish had a slight au gratin flavor, with small pieces of sweet pepper and more cream than I care to count calories for. The salads were amazing, among the best I've tasted in a while, and the seafood appetizers were flavorful and filling, with the most tender calamari I've ever had.
Wine: We chose two of the wine flights: A flight of San Carlos wines and the spicy reds. The pours were VERY generous, which we as winos certainly appreciated. I had mixed feelings over the San Carlos wines (appreciate the local theme but if it's not up to par, don't put it on the menu), but the spicy red flight was solid the whole way through.
Atmosphere: For a restaurant on Laurel Street, which offers little space between buildings, Spasso felt surprisingly roomy. The noise level was a medium, with chatter abounding but nothing so loud that we couldn't hear our own conversation. The stonework had that nice Tuscan feeling and the bathroom was pristine (hallelujah!) If it had been a bit warmer out, we'd have taken a table outside. The restaurant has done a nice job capturing the sidewalk cafe feeling.
Overall, I am happy as a clam with our dinner choice. I can't wait to go back!
The restaurant 'Gods' were on our side last night with this lil gem of a find. Going on 9'ish and had not had dinner yet, 'Spasso's' staff welcomed us in.
Black and white.. no in between. The ambiance is nice and comfortable. The background music adds to the relaxation. The wine (Zin) we were recommended was awesome with our meal. I had the rack of lamb/chops which came with polenta and asparagus. Perfectly done and not a fan of polenta but maybe never had it done right. It was great with the lamb. The roomster had the pork chop dish which think came with potatoes and veggies. Looked great but was so stuffed, did not have the gumption to try. He loved it though. Dessert .. ahhh dessert. We tried the apple/peach cobbler with vanilla bean ice cream. I'm no sweets expert, wish it had more peach but regardless was still damn good.
Bottle of Zin, dinner, dessert shared by two, super friendly staff and a couple other perks... a lil over the $100 marker. TOTALLY WORTH IT!
Spasso receives a solid 4 stars from me. Last weekend, I was part of a party of 7, and when I arrived, everyone was already seated at a table in the middle of the restaurant. Elegant atmosphere -- almost forgot that I was in San Carlos and not somewhere in Boston's North End.
Our server was friendly, always refilled our water, and explained the specials with enthusiasm.
While I salivated over the special rib eye steak with asparagus, mashed potatoes, in a red wine reduction, I just wasn't planning to spend $32 on my entrée. So I ended up ordering the grilled salmon (aioli on the side) over yukon gold potatoes and spinach. I definitely made the right choice, as the salmon was cooked perfectly with pieces flaking off when touched. The only thing I would change about it next time is that I would ask for less salt/seasoning on top, as it was a little saltier than I would normally like. (-1/2 a star)
Overall, I had a great time and enjoyable meal. I did realize that it was a bit loud to have a conversation at a comfortable level, which is the reason for the other 1/2 star deduction.
I'd definitely return, but next time, maybe I'll try to sit outside where it will be a little less loud.
I'm surprised I never put in a good word for this place. Don't know how we tripped across it, but this is a regular haunt for the wife and I (and now, Andrew). Mediterranean-style food in a great downtown area. The food is ridiculously good and the drinks are plenty potent and tasty. Check out the arugula salad and blackened pasta... they're my staples but the specials are on-point so often that we often get them. Had some great fried avocado last night ... who thinks this stuff up?
The owner is on-site almost every time we go, and the entire staff is friendly and, especially once they start to recognize you, welcoming and accommodating.
Do yourself a favor and go if you haven't been. If you have, then go back sometime soon.
Went here for the first time last night with family and friends and everyone was pleasantly surprised! I had high hopes for Spasso and they definitely delivered.
Reservations were made. When we showed up for dinner they were ready for us. Water and bread were immediately brought to the table. Overall the service was just outstanding, I was very impressed.
Some of the dishes that were ordered at our table were:
Chicken wrapped in Pancetta
Gnocchi
Ravioli
Chicken Caesar Salad
Spaghetti Bolognese
Grilled Salmon
Chicken Penne
Fried Calamari
I had the pleasure of having the Chicken wrapped in Pancetta. I rarely can finish an entire plate at a restaurant but I didn't have any trouble with this one. The chicken was so deliciously tender and the drizzled red wine reduction sauce was divine. Slathered with grilled mushrooms, hugged in pancetta over mashed potatoes and veggies....is your mouth watering yet? I loved everything about this dish!
We were all so full that dessert wasn't even an option. Although I couldn't help but eye the Lavender and Orange Creme Brulee. Next time, next time.
The size of the restaurant is narrow and on the small side. You may need to compete with the table next to you in order to hear conversations at your table. Thankfully it wasn't like that the entire night, just a few noticeable moments.
I'd definitely come back to Spasso. Would love to sit outside and enjoy something from the lunch menu. Yet another winner on Laurel St.
Went here for lunch to give this place another chance. Must say the ambiance is MUCH better in the middle of the day. The lovely skylight lets just the right amount of light in, showcasing the nice design of this place. When i went for dinner it was just too dark and depressing.
Also, I like their lunch menu better. I had a portobello mushroom with mozzarella sandwich that was pretty good. The bread was amazing, but the whole thing was drenched in some creamy sauce that was overbearing. I'd ask for it without the sauce next time.
The olive oil and vinegar dip they serve here with bread prior to the meal is dangerous and oh-so good. Make a plan for how much bread you will let yourself eat before you come and stop when you hit that limit. Seriously.
The waitress (different one than who I had last time) still was fairly inattentive, given there were only about 3 more couples in the restaurant at the time. When my bf asked for more time to think over his order, he did not mean 10 minutes. Other than that, this meal was enjoyable, and the waitress was friendlier than the one we had last time. I'd go back, if only to try their other dishes and enjoy the rust-orange color scheme and fake windows looking out onto paintings of the Italian countryside.
My boyfriend and I decided to check out Spasso this weekend after reading the menu posted on their… Read more »
Since I felt like splurging for lunch one day, I decided to check this place out with the boss. Compared to the services I received in the San Carlos area I had no problems with Spasso. They were attentive and were really quick in taking our order, serving us, and bringing us our check in a timely manner--a rare thing I've experienced in San Carlos restaurants.
We chose tapas to get a good variety and here's what we had:
-Piquillo Pepper - it was OK, wasn't expecting it to be a cold dish. It was red peppers stuffed with cheese.
-Portobello mushroom on top of polenta - I loved this dish the best, it was yummy!
-Grilled chicken, prawn, & beef skewers - love the marinade that they used for the skewers.
-Cheese fondue with pita bread - what you would expect from a cheese fondue.
All this for less than $40 including tip. NOT BAD!
Been here several times and the ongoing stand out piece is the seared ahi tuna with wasabi mashed potatoes. not even sure if that's on the menu anymore... but when i find myself thinking about it, I drool.
First class dinner here. Not Italy, but good.
Service: Good. Attentive, but not intrusive.
Food was tasty and freshly prepared.
I had polenta in tomato sauce and carpacicio. Both nicely done. Husband had Eggplant Caprese and Chicken Bolangese. Wines by the glass were good, reasonably priced (for this area).
Decent dinnner out for around $80.00
Value for money: 3/5
Would I return: I would have said yes, until.... see my comments below for my second visit.
#2 Visit: Not so good.
Returned for a second meal. Lunch time. Not too busy. Service was still good, but the food was not nearly as good. So I've dropped Spasso down to 3 stars. For the price ($50 for lunch for two) I expect more. Disappointing.
My "hot" food was cold. Tasted like it was made yesterday, was greasy and disgusting. Not even edible. Hubby's was okay. For the prices here, they should be able to do better. Minus one start -- not sure we will come back.
I truly love a restaurant that respects it's customers, and Spasso is that kind of place.
We had a lovely lunch here last week. The fianc had a sando and I had the most delicious pasta with corn and chicken.
But what I really love is their OUTSTANDING SERVICE. I ordered a lemonade .... and within one sip, I realized it was generic and artificial straight from the soda machine. As the waiter brought our check, he remarked, "i noticed you did not drink the lemonade so I removed it from your bill."
This place is a class act! Great service and great food all the way!
i had no idea that downtown san carlos on a thurs night would be so happening. since the farmers market was going on around dinner time, there were a ton of people out enjoying the nice weather.
thank goodness my friend had the foresight to make a dinner reservation for 3 of us at 8 pm, b/c the place was packed when we got there. it took a while to get seated, b/c the hostess was also a waitress and going back and forth between the front door and the back of the restaurant. however, right when we were seated, we got bread and water. we started w/ the bruschetta and the piquillo peppers stuffed w/ goat cheese (which i didn't try). the bruschetta was nice and garlicky tho. for my entree, i had the seafood linguini which was pretty light on the linguini but heavy on the seafood.
there were many wines by the glass, which was a nice touch.
I've been here a few times now. It's a decent, sit-down, italian restaurant not too far from where I live. I've taken friends here when looking for something just normal. So it's a pretty decent place that I'll keep coming back to. There are a few restaurants right near Spasso that I'll walk by and there aren't that many people sitting inside - that's why I ever even set foot in this place. The other option near here is Town (for steak) yum. So it's well visited by others in San Carlos, too! I usually stick with the pasta, I've tried their risotto (a friend's dish) before, too, and that's decent. It's nothing to call home about, but nothing to hate on either. I've had some of the desserts here, again nothing to call home about, but decent. I'd order it again if I'm craving sweets...hehe.
The service was ok - even if there aren't that many people around. Nothing special again here, decent and friendly.
As those who know me know, I eat dinner with my mother on a very regular basis. Because we love food.
We try to hit new places often, which is easy in San Carlos, since this seems to be the new eating mecca. The problem: we usually eat on Mondays, and many places are closed. When we can't make up our mind where to go, we often end up at Spasso.
The cocktails are always fantastically made, the food has never misstepped. The pancetta wrapped chicken is my absolute favorite, though I try to explore the menu when we go. The specials are actually special, and delicious. There's a reason we keep coming back, and you should join us.
YUM-O. San Carlos, you are beginning to surprise me more and more. Not only do you have the best Indian restaurant on the peninsula, you also have a pretty good Italian restaurant!
Now folks, if you want to avoid the hustle and bustle of downtown Palo Alto and not have to spend 30 min. finding parking, then come to San Carlos and try Spasso's! Spasso's was surprisingly good. I came here with a bunch of girlfriends and luckily for us it was a slow day. We started off with the Fried Calamari (my fav. starter) and yes it's good. Not out of this world good but good. My girlfriends all loved their dishes from the mushroom risotto to the black pepper fettucine and MY personal fav - the SAFFRON PAPPARDELLE. I think Saffron with anything is good. The food is great, not out of this world but definitely worth returning too. Plus the service is good and the ambiance isn't so bad either. So next time you're thinking, "what should i have for dinner?"....remember Spasso's!
Nice decor and great wine, but just ok food. 2.75 stars
Cost to worth it ratio: 2.9 (just a tad high)
Highlights:
- Atmosphere: small restaurant with a small town Italian feel--the beige walls had windows with flowers painted on them and jutting out a bit.
- Bar: lengthy and inviting up front
- Wine: great selections by the glass with big names like Jordan and Rambaur, etc., however the most selections were in chardonnays and cabs, so if you like another variety, there isn't as much choice. Flights offered too.
- Menu: combination of tapas (I assume geared towards the bar crowd), salads, pastas, and entrees.
- Brownie dessert: hit the spot with its chocolatey goodness topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Made me feel like a kid again.
Midlight:
- Fish: special was petrale sole. The cut of fish was good and it was cooked well, but it was oh so bland--no flavor whatsoever even in the spaghetti. I tried to put extra cheese and pepper in it, but no luck.
Lowlights:
- Reservation management: I had a reservation, we checked in at that time and the hostess told me that she had to see how long it'd be. She came back with a nonchalant it'd be about 10 minutes which seemed a bit strange and reasoned that they sat people before and they didn't leave so there's nothing they can do. Seems like a common restaurant issue that should be under control. Irritation set in when it was a full 30 minutes of waiting before we were seated. To credit the restaurant, they did have a plate of calamari waiting for us when we sat down and people came by to check on us often and apologize for the wait which we appreciated.
- Beef tips: the worst dish by far. We were expecting succulent pieces of meat, only to be met by an unattractive plate of a few thin slices of overcooked meat that had no flavor but salt and a horrible aftertaste.
Not on the top of my list to come back to for dinner, but a spot where I spent a pleasant evening catching up with some girlfriends and may come back for wine--maybe paired with a brownie. ;-)
I've only been here once; however, I would gladly go back. The interior of the restaurant is nice and the staff is very pleasant. If there was one thing that stuck out in my mind it was the service. Our waiter was very polite, helpful, and did a good job of checking in with us. Our water glasses never went more than half empty because they constantly check and refill your glass as needed. This is such a small thing to notice, but one that I highly appreciated as I find it annoying when you have to ask for more water at a nice restaurant or have your glass sit empty for 10 minutes before someone takes notice.
I ordered the Chicken breast wrapped in pancetta, which is stuffed with mushrooms, spinach and mozzarella cheese and served over garlic mashed potatoes. The chicken was very moist and well flavored and I particularly liked the pancetta it was wrapped it. My only regret was that I didn't leave room for dessert.
If you're in the mood for some Italian and happen to be in the San Carlos area then definitely give this place a try.
OVERALL RATING:
Service: 3
Decor: 3
Food: 2
Dog-friendly: Can't remember
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Plus (+):
Nice, big bar.
Minus (-):
The food was average-to-boring...not inspired at all. This being said, I don't see why the Yelp score is so high. They also have a very tiny waiting area. It felt chaotic and it looked like it was taking a toll on the hostess' performance (poor girl).
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I agree with everything I read in Dwight C's 1-star comments...
HEADLINE: A nice find for a Sunday brunch!!!
The wife and I hit this place on a rainy afternoon yesterday. All of San Carlos was closed on Sunday, it seemed, but we were very happy that this little place was open.
Decor is very soothing, the immense skylights provided plenty of ambient lighting to warm up the place even on a dreary February afternoon. The old world charm of the distressed walls and wall sconces provided a warm refuge from the weather.
Service was attentive, not overpowering. A nice balance across the entire wait staff.
Our server surprised us right off the bat on two counts ... the first by saying the bar COULD make a Tom Collins for the wife; the second with his answer to my question, "Which would you recommend, your flight of Chards or just a glass of '07 Rombauer Chard?" Without hesitation, he said "The Rombauer". It was the right call.
BTW, as an aside, where do you find any place that serves Rombauer Chard BY THE GLASS? One star alone earned just for this factoid.
We proceeded to look at the menu which, for lunch, was just fine in terms of range of selection and items on the list.
We started with their Hummus and Pita ... warm toasted pita wedges with a nice portion of hummus ... not as good as the one they serve at One & Only in Palmilla, but then again, I've never found a better hummus starter anywhere else on earth.
The wife had the beef carparcio; she thought it was good, I thought it was just OK ... and, certainly, nowhere near as good as our favorite dish served at Osteria in Palo Alto.
I got the 'starter sampler' (it was just lunch) that included a nice crabcake on a bed of greens in a light sesame sauce, terrific fried calamari served with fried green beans and fried artichoke hearts, a feathery light spring roll that wasn't greasy at all ... almost seemed like phylo dough it was so light, and two pieces of bruschetta that actually made the plate ... wonderfully flavorful topping on warm toasted bread ... very good!
We were stuffed, this was plenty of food!!! I don't know about you, but the wife and I are definitely moving towards sampling 2-4 starters between us these days versus going for the big entrees ... it gives you an opportunity to try many different things on the menu without being rolled out to the parking lot in a wheelbarrow.
But let me tell you, we watched a couple of desserts whisk by that we were ready to trip the servers for ... sadly, we left without sampling them.
Prices were, I thought, all in all, reasonable but a little up there ... but shoot, two Tom Collins and two glasses of Rombauer can add up quickly ya' know ... but, in terms of rules to live by, "If the bar tab ain't half the bill, somebody hasn't done their job!" ;-))
Warm ambiance, balanced service, decent-to-good food, great wines for such a small, cozy little place ... I can't wait to try them for dinner with their expanded menu offerings.
Try them!
Working in San Carlos and the abundant choices in the daytime do get limited after 6 pm. We were planning on Tosca (next door) but judging from the tons of people seated, decided to come to Spasso.
For a vegetarian (not vegan) this place has a ton of options. Many appetizers to choose from, three great pastas and awesome desserts.
Great selection of wines available in bottles and half carafes and are reasonably priced. The server was attentive and while he seemed a little nervous, always refilled our glass and always offered more bread and was quick to come at every glance.
This place is really good for lunch too.
So I went back to Spasso to actually, you know, try their food. A girl cannot live on bread pudding alone, or so they keep telling me.
My meager little college student wallet gasped at the prospect of spending so much money on "luxury food," but what the hell, I was celebrating. I'm not sure exactly what I was celebrating, but don't tell my bank account that. I DESERVED this expensive and delicious food, goddamnit.
I'm very ADD when it comes to restaurants (as opposed to being OCD about everything else) so I really like to get as many tastes of a menu as I can without declaring bankruptcy. Spasso offers a wonderful little appetizer sampler called the Spasso Sampler (how inventive and unique a name!). And for only $17!
Seeing that this dish made the most economic sense (being that I wanted to try it all, baby) I bravely ordered it as a meal.
When the plate got to me I was a little stunned. Really? This is what $17 gets me? Do you have any idea how long $17 would feed me at Jack in the Box? It looked basically like a tasting menu - and really, that's what it is.
The Spasso Sampler is made up of Spring Rolls (1), Bruschetta (2), Crab Cakes (2), Calamari (a little heap) and some mixed greens.
Even Alana's Cafe feeds you more than this, and for only 2/3's the cost.
Skeptical, I started munching. I was stoked to discover that Spasso does calamari with other tasty fried bits, like fried green beans and artichoke. The Spring Rolls, though tiny, were stuffed to bursting with real honest-to-Poseidon crab meat. The crab cakes were soft and moist on the inside and delicately breaded. The bruschetta was amazing - the perfect balance of tomato and cheese with no oily aftertaste.
I was in $17 a plate heaven. I actually didn't feel ripped-off in the slightest.
What I want to know is how Spasso can charge $17 for all this delicious seafood, when you could go next door to Kaigan and order $50+ worth of sushi and never see actual crab meat. No excuse for those sorts of shenanigans - we're practically coastal! It's not like it's hard to get crab meat around here.
Q. Why doesn't every place serve seafood and shellfish as fresh and delicious as Spasso?
A. Because being Spasso takes hard work. And killer staff. And a quick kitchen. And a lovely interior.
Oh, and bomb ass bread pudding.
I only come here for the bread pudding, I won't lie.
Fun fact? I'm only reviewing Spasso to add it…
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I had heard excellent reviews from friends. Tried it and was very un-impressed. Maybe it was the obnoxious waiter, the farmers market, or just a bad day, but the food was mediocre, prices very high, and service below average.
Actual name is The Cask ... one of these days, the "Edit Business Info" will accept my changes.
Latest is they hope to open mid-September subject to contractors and city inspections.
Here we go again with me being a total FTR whore. Don't worry, I will remove this review once it… Read more »
Why is Spasso tough to beat? Great food and attentive service makes you forget about the price. They are open for lunch (have a kebab or salad). The wine menu is decent and they have a few beers on tap (no cocktails). Dress is casual.
The Food:
Generous portions of well-prepared dishes that is served in what must be a pretty well-run kitchen. Our table ordered lamb, steak, halibut and chicken and each came out piping hot without looking like it had been sitting in the oven or under the warming lamps. The rack of lamb was PERFECT. I don't usually consider it a very forgiving dish and I like mine a little charred but pink on the inside.
The Service:
Impeccable. I had the lamb which usually comes with a cheesy risotto and I requested a side with no cheese instead. I wasn't 100% sure if they waiter had heard but as he was bringing someone else a glass of wine he stopped by to ask if roasted new potatoes would be ok as a sub (they were excellent as was the lamb). The waiters are friendly and prompt without seeming pushy. They let us linger over coffee and dessert while only one other couple was still in the restaraunt.
Cost:
$185 for 4 people seems like kind of a lot but the girls were drinking wine which is always pricey. Splitting the check two ways means your spending (with tip) about $120. You probably won't mind the food and service are so good.
Bottom Line:
You should go here.
I had a quick early dinner at Spasso one evening and liked the rustic style. This is not Italian fancy fine dining, but more rustic style with robust flavors that don't try to be delicate. As expected with rustic you have some great tomato flavors and some large portions. Spasso tries to go upscale but doesn't overreach. I stuck with the pastas and was happy with the experience loving a turkey bolognese that they had to the point I was scooping up the sauce on the plate.
So I've been getting more and more into italian food lately. It used to seem so heavy to me but now I just love all the love that goes in the food. My fam and I have gone to Spasso's twice in two weeks to celebrate special occasions.
Service: excellent, very attentive, extremely knowledge, and efficient.
Food: amazing, everything has so much flavor, always tastes fresh, and has been cooked perfectly. Their calamari appt. is delicious, breading is not too heavy and it comes with a few fried artichokes. Just had the polenta cubes last night there were so good, perfectly fried complimented with a nice marinara sauce. I've ordered the veal cannelloni and veal parmigiana and literally, on both occasions I was still thinking about how great these were the next day esp. the veal canelloni, the perfect balance of flavors without being too heavy. My bf had the chicken saltimboca that was a great portion, chick was moist and tender and was stuffed perfectly. update: just had their filet mignon which was cooked exactly to the med rare I ordered and had the most amazing sauce to bring the dish together, I couldn't stop eating.
wine: They have a HUGE wine list, with a interesting and exciting selection. The interior decor has a great open to feel to it and they also offer outdoor seating which I love. The desserts are pretty good, I wouldn't say they're my favorite of their offerings but definitely tasty.
They tend to get crowded, you get generally get seated right away but always good to call for a reservation if you're on the way. Cute bar area too ++ THE BEST THING: no corkage Sunday and Mondays !!!
Just so happy to find a Spanish place in my neighborhood area.
Ordered the "SAFFRON PAPPARDELLE" and it exceeded my expectation.
Their "Lavender and Orange Creme Brulee " was so special and tasteful!
Price was good and service was very attentive. It seemed to be run by family and friends.
It immediately became my favorite neighborhood place to go with friends.
To branch out, my wife and I decided to try Spasso instead of returning to La Tosca which is right next door. The menus look very similar but they're actually quite different.
We started with two appetizers; carpaccio and pancetta wrapped prawns. The prawns were excellent although they were a tiny bit burned, enough that you got a slight burned taste. Otherwise that was a solid dish. The carpaccio had a bit too much mustard and cheese on it. I prefer a more simple preparation with plain meat and the goodies in the middle of the plate.
For the next course we both had caesar salads. Their caesar here is better than most places, including La Tosca, even though they cut their lettuce. They do serve it with anchovies.
For my main course I tried their paella. Their version was a bit too homogeneous for me. The rice had invaded all of the shellfish. The peppers were very subtle and the sauce for the risotto was different than the pure Spanish (saffron) or the more American (see Mistral) preparations I am used to. If I come back I wouldn't get it again.
My wife enjoyed her veal picatta. She gave me a bite and actually I'd have to say that I prefer mine. I don't use any breading, not even flour when I make it and it tastes quite a bit fresher. She really enjoyed it.
Spasso's audio environment consists of "Elevator Music Presents: Greatest Hits" with classics like all instrumental versions of:
Love Me Tender
Saving All My Love
Mandy
Obviously this doesn't really fit with the nicer decor in the rest of the restaurant.
Spasso was ok but with La Tosca next door I don't expect I'll be coming back.
I eat here a lot. I love the food, service, and atmosphere! The staff is super friendly and the food is amazing! If you love good food and great service this is the place to go!
This place is nice in the spring and summer or anytime when you can sit outside and bring the dog! I love being able to go have a drink and some food and hanging out with the pup! Instead of leaving them at home!
Under the watchful eye of the owner from behind the bar this place runs nearly flawlessly. I go about once every few weeks and although the greeters usually muff the time to wait for tables or seat you at a previously reserved one the owner is usually right behind with a complimentary splash of wine to make things all better. A nice touch.
The martinis are perfect; the salads are crunchy, cool and fresh. If you aren't ordering the Ahi over garlic mashed potatoes as an entree then you, my dear yelper, are not enjoying one of the most satisfying dishes served on the mid-peninsula. The price on the menu is "AQ". Don't ask, even at the price point of $25 the night I was there it was a bargain.
Yummy! I've had dinner at Spasso's twice and had very good experiences both times. The first time was on a Friday night - the restaurant was packed. The crowd was very lively and the place was loud, but you could still hear the people at your table. Our food was great. The 3 of us had the saffron papperdelle, black fettuccine and chicken. No complaints! We were extremely stuffed, but still had to have dessert. So we shared the tiramisu and lavender creme brule. I was a bit skeptical on the lavender creme brule, but it was also delicious with just a hint of lavender taste. And the service was excellent! We had a later reservation and we ended up being the last table there. Our server seemed a bit annoyed (probably because she wanted to go home) but she was still gracious.
I came back with the bf on a Wed night; the restaurant was much quieter. Same excellent service & great food. Bf had the teriyaki skirt steak. Sounded kinda weird having teriyaki at an Italian restaurant, but it was yummy! I had the seafood linguine - it was ok. The sauce was a little spicy, which helped. We also shared the mussels appetizer and it came with a tomato bisque -- my first time having mussels without white wine sauce. It was quite tasty as well.
Definitely a tasty Italian restaurant. I haven't been that impressed with any of the Italian restaurants on University Ave (which is closer to where I live). So, I'm sure we'll be back to Spasso's soon.
I treated my bf to a 30th birthday dinner here. It's walking distance from his place, so that was nice.
First off, the service was friendly and attentive. We felt well taken care of.
To start, I had the warm cabbage salad which had BACON in it. How can you go wrong? I really enjoyed it. My boy had the arugula salad - I enjoyed the pear I stole from his plate!
I had the ahi tuna with basil mashed potatoes (both were really tasty) and my bf had the veal parmigiana, which surprised me because he's generally not adventurous with meat. I wouldn't choose veal in a restaurant, and I'm usually the adventurous one! Therefore, I don't know how good it was by comparison, but I liked the taste of it I had.
We finished it off with tiramisu and peach cobbler, both of which were excellent.
Final verdict - I prefer the atmosphere of Divino in Belmont to this place, and I think the food is slightly better for the same price. But to someone of slightly different tastes, this place would probably be #1 over Divino.
I am only reviewing this restaurant for lunch, I have not been here for dinner. The food is wonderful, and the service is always great. My favorite dish is the stuffed chicken breast...absolutely delicious. Sometimes my friend and I will just share a few of the tapas, most are enough for two people (females) if you get three or four of them--the eggplant mozarella stack with balsamic vinegar is divine. Once, I asked the waiter if they could add sliced tomatoes to it, and he was very accomodating and did not get ruffled about it (nor did he charge for the addition).
Fun place to sit outside on a nice day, and if you choose to sit inside, the ambiance is very lovely. The dining room was not loud during lunch, the day we sat inside, however it was already past 2pm.
I hope they stay on Laurel Street for a long time!
I came here on a Friday night with a coupla friends, wanting to take a break from Town across the street and was very pleasantly surprised.
The crabcakes, I remember mentioning, were probably the best I've EVER had...Even better than the ones I've made at home from scratch ( I might so humbly add..haha). Full of crab and very flavorful, but not in an overdone way. The dumpling appetizer was also very flavorful.
And, believe it or not, the veal piccata that I ordered was perfect. Probably the best I've ever had, as well. Seriously, I wouldn't lie about that. My friend ordered the prawns on pappardelle. Now the prawns were perfectly cooked, but the pappardelle looked to me to be a little thick and also undercooked. I sampled some of it and it was actually cooked al dente and wasn't too chewy, though it was slightly chewy. Don't know why it looked underdone.
The one thing I am looking forward to is going here on a Sunday or Monday night since they do not charge corkage fees on these nights.
Spasso's would also be a perfect location for a large group for dinner ( I mean large enough to close the restaurant down and have to yourself) since the atmosphere is very cozy, the food is delicious and the prices are pretty reasonable.
I will be baaack!
YUM YUM YUM! I found this place because it's close to one of my others faves: TOWN.
Just about everything I've put in my mouth from this place made me ooh and ah. They give you bread with a mixture of olives, olive oil, and parsley or some green leaf) I don't know the real name of it, but it's yum.
I've tried:
SPRING ROLLS. stuffed with fresh dungeness crab meat and bay shrimp. 9.5 GREAT! comes with 2 sauces that are yum if you mix them
PENNE WITH CHICKEN. sauteed with sundried tomatoes, sweet corn chipotle basil sauce. 12.5 GREAT!
BLACK PEPPER FETTUCCINI. fresh homemade pasta, sauteed rock shrimp, bay scallops, sundried tomatoes, peas and light roasted garlic cream sauce. 14.5 Good
CAPPELLINI. angel hair pasta with fresh tomatoes, basil, garlic and olive oil. 9.5 GREAT! the 1st thing ever I've tried....why i fell in love with the place. it was that freakin good.
SPASSO SAMPLER. calamari, bruschetta, pan seared ahi tuna, crab cake. 15 GREAT, most things are fried tho'
All items are very yummy. The items with corn and peas: the veggies taste so fresh! Seems like an odd mix to add corn but it really makes the texture and taste scrumptious!
Service was great as well...
We have friends who have kids and they try to take as many "date nights" as possible which tend to be on Monday nights. We try to join them as often as possible because it is always a great time!
We picked Spasso one evening a few months ago and it was wonderful. We ordered some of their appetizers- I was fine with the bread, but the others all enjoyed the appetizers that we had ordered. I am, as you probably already know from previous reviews, a steak gal. So I did have my steak and it was very good. We shared a few desserts - tiramisu, ice cream sundae and creme brulee.
All in all, a good evening with friends, very good food and great service. It was a monday night- so not super busy, but enough people on a monday night to know that this place has a following.
San Carlos, CA
Category: Italian
San Carlos, CA
Category: Italian
San Carlos, CA
Category: Wine Bars
San Carlos, CA
Category: American (New)
San Carlos, CA
Category: Italian
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