Stella Alpina Osteria
- Hours:
Tue-Thu 5:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
Fri-Sat 5:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
Sun 5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Full Bar
71 Reviews for Stella Alpina Osteria
One of Stella Alpina Osteria's Favorite Reviews
I cant believe I haven't written a review yet for this place !
Amazing gnocchi cooked with brown butter with sage...do it....it will make you want to go for a long walk the next day...but you deserve to splurge !
Been here a couple of times now and every time we have an enjoyable experience. The atmosphere is very inviting and makes me feel actually like I'm at home eating a family cooked rustic Italian meal.
I can always count on Stella Alpina Osteria for a great meal and great company !
We went here for to celebrate a birthday. The restaurant is located on the corner, across from the local library. Parking is street only. They have really cute decorations all over the place, even down to the bathroom lit by candles. The ambiance was so relaxing. This is a place where you can enjoy the whole evening and not feel like the table is being pulling from under you.
I didn't fancy the appetizer that much, it was super small, the bread could have been softer. But, as for the dishes, they were really good. Not much to complain there. They allow for you to bring your own wine bottles with a corkage of $20 each. Be prepared at the end for a dessert menu to come your way.
Cute and cozy place. Everything on the menu sounded amazing- it was hard to decide what to order. We ended up with the escargots, a pasta and the osso buco special. It was all good but nothing spectacular, given the price.
The daily soups and fresh bread are the best part of this restaurant. The service is also very nice. The chef is fantastic. Trust him and he will take very good care of you. He and his family have made this restaurant one of the best (and one of my favorites) in Burlingame.
The ambience and again the delicious soup should not be missed.
After eating hotel conference food for the past couple days, a nice meal was in order. As usual, I was tapped to plumb the depths of Yelp to find a nice Italian restaurant in an area we've never been before. As usual, Yelp didn't disappoint.
The food, the ambiance, the patio ... if only we could get this in D.C. I can't recall the last time I saw suits mixed with families and t-shirt clad students all in one restaurant, comfortably enjoying themselves without judgmental glances. Very welcoming atmosphere.
And the food... delicious. The white truffle gnocchi special that isn't on the menu but should be was fantastic. I had to check myself from asking for another bread basket so I could sop up the sauce. The osso bucco was fork tender and succulent as well. Eat here!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
One day when I'm in purgatory I'll have to pay for this review.
I live around the corner from this place and have been often let down. Most people I know love it and stand firm that it's the best Italian restaurant in Burlingame. I gotta tell you, I just don't see it this way.
Every single time I've gone I have been disappointed to the point where I start to regret eating there. I've tried the pastas, the mains, the apps, the desserts and salads and really nothing has been that spectacular.
I walk past the window and peek down and often notice the dining room being full of happy eaters. I am happy for them and wish them well, but I just can't in good faith award more than 2 1/2 stars.
Update:
Received a PM from the restaurant (which I appreciate) requesting feedback.
For me personally, it all came down to the food and the lack of creativity. Nothing on the menu really stood out. The service is perfectly fine and dining room pleasant. 2 1/2 stars isn't bad, I just believe there are better options within walking distance. I do appreciate you contacting me and will certainly give you another chance.
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (1)
Cool (3)
this is a friendly and comfortable place. i was able to try the fondue starter and a pasta dish. the food and service was average for this type of restaurant. while i had a pleasant time, i think the bill was a little high for the quality of food, but may be due just because of its location in burlingame.
My family enjoyed a nice dinner here except for the fact that:
1. Service was painfully slow
2. Our water glasses were empty for the majority of the meal
3. We had to summon for our bill three times, even though the restaurant was empty
4. The wine our waitress suggested was bad
5. Our waitress suggested the creme brulee as the best item on the dessert menu, got our hopes up after we ordered it and returned to let us know that there was none left
Otherwise, the gnocchi special and the short ribs were tasty. I had the lamb, which was okay, but my brother's mashed potatoes with truffles was very yummy.
This restaurant is WAY WAY WAY too expensive for what it is. My husband and I went for our anniversary and we spent $200+ for dinner - and we only had 2 glasses of wine. Utterly ridiculous. There are about 20 restaurants in SF I would have rather gone to for that price.
We wanted a hearty, authentic Italian dinner, so we chose Stella based on the high average rating on Yelp. The food didn't disappoint. (Thanks, Yelp!) Not wholly spectacular, but over all, quite enjoyable.
APPETIZERS: 4 stars.
I personally enjoyed the appetizers more than our entrees. We had a plate of fresh carpaccio, the Stella salad (topped with strawberries and walnuts) and the famous gnocchi. The gnocchi was a little too soft, but the sauce was heavenly creamy and delicious!
MAIN: 3.5 stars.
For main, we had the pork (our waiter's first choice), the short ribs stew (today's special) and the rabbit. The rabbit was large and meaty, but too salty. Pork and beef were both average. Unfortunately, we found everything to be a bit too high in sodium...
SETTING & SERVICE: 3 stars.
Nice ambiance. Romantic, but casual setting. Pleasant service, but SLOW and not well paced... We had to ask THREE times to get some napkins.
SUM: We have yet to find a 5-star Italian restaurant on the Peninsula... Hopefully we'll find one soon. Recommendations, anyone??
People thought this was:
Useful (10)
Funny (5)
Cool (10)
Hands down one of the best place I have been in my 'hood'. The meal was perfect from the Martinis (probably helped) to the creme brulee (not their best dessert - we had 3 ) The meals are all unique - I had the special oso busca or something like that - it was like ox tail but better. The cannelloni that was had by the person to my right was very, very tasty and completely unlike the other meals - all the sauces were super and the tastes were incredible, the wine list was OK - as was the appetizers, oh you have to get the truffle gnocchi - appetizer. It is amazing.
This place is a good find tucked away on the ground floor of a two story building on the corner of Primrose and Chapin. The food is probably as close to home cooking as you can get here in the States for Italian food. Dishes are hearty and plentiful. The waitstaff is friendly and helpful. Decent wine list and also specialty cocktails. Great ambience.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Just had dinner, and it was a wonderful experience. Had a white truffle gnocchi for an appetizer that was out of this world. Then had the rabbit with a wonderful palenta base. Washed it down with a smooth Aglianico from Giannattasio V ineyard. The service was very attentive and knowledegable. I'd highly recommend this restaurant.
This is probably one of the better italian rests. I have tried in the Peninsula area. It is seriously one of the most quaint and homey rest. I have been in (felt transported back to Italy). Service was quick and friendly. Food was really impressive to say the least. We tried the Fondue, awesome. Tried the Oso Bucco and the Cannelloni all very very solid, esp the Oso Bucco, the veal literally fell off the bones and the savory juices were all cooked in the sauce. Definitely give this place a try if you are lookin for good italian in the peninsusa. I recommend making reservations as it is a small place.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
We'd been wanting to try this restaurant for awhile, and tonight finally enjoyed our first meal here. It was just as we expected.
The food was delicious. I had the fettucine w/crimini and shrimp special; the pasta was fresh, perfectly al dente. My husband had the beef stew and really enjoyed it. The Italian wine--red--we ordered was smooth yet had a great nose. These were all recommendations of the waiter, whose service was friendly, funny, and timely. Not only that, I noticed that we were never rushed. He took his time between serving us, but was available whenever we turned to look for him. To top it off, it was my friend's birthday, and although we mentioned it only once, he remembered and placed a candle on her dessert without our asking.
The atmosphere was just right. Unassuming, not slick or pretentious. It wasn't spacious, but most importantly, it wasn't crazy noisy. So many restaurants nowadays seem to think that a place has to be noisy in order to be "hip", and for me, that just ruins the enjoyment of a meal. If it's so noisy you have to yell to speak to dining companions across the table, and strain to hear what they're saying, where's the enjoyment in that? I would say the enjoyment is in the lack of stress, right?
For those looking for good food in an unpretentious atmosphere, Stella Alpina is highly recommended.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Thanks to Yelp, a friend and I went here to celebrate the new year and the purchase of my new car. I drive past Burlingame every day on my way to work but never stopped by to check out the downtown area. I'm glad I did to find this gem. When we walked in, the hostess immediately noticed the beaming smile on my face from my new purchase and asked what we were celebrating. She was just as excited for me as I was and even told the waitstaff about it! The ambiance was quaint and cozy with beautiful dark wood everywhere. I started with the Insalata "Stella" which was delish. Then I had Gnocchi with Italian Sausage and Porcini Ragu. Just melts in your mouth! I will gladly go back to Burlingame to try more dishes on their menu!
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
This restaurant is unbelievably cute. What a wonderful, comfortable, home-y ambience. We tried the fondue (extremely tasty cheese - but recommend that you split this between 3-4 people unless you are SUPER hungry), then bf had the osso bucco (very yummy) and I had the cannelloni (good, but not as great as the osso bucco). The osso bucco isn't on the website's menu, but I think it's a special nearly every day. It was a pleasure to find this restaurant, especially in the Peninsula.
This place is great! I called to make a reservation for the 9th on the week of New Years and it was closed until the 4th or something, so I decided to write them an email. In the email, besides making a reservation on the date and time, I also requested a nice & quiet place where my hubby and I can sit side-by-side for a romantic anniversary dinner. I got a reply on the same day, and I was all set!
So last night, the 9th, hubby and I went there and had a great experience! We parked right in front of the restaurant--no parking charge, of course--and the maitre'd greeted me right when I walked in, congratulating us on our anniversary. We were really on time, so maybe that's why she knew who I was. She told us that our table was all set for us, and they did give us a nice corner where my hubby and I can sit side by side. The corner was also facing the big windows, so we didn't see anyone else in the restaurant. We only saw either the two of us, or the street outside. It was very nice.
The waiter, I think his name is Tony, was very nice too. He was friendly, made small chats when he saw fit, and left us alone quickly. Now I like that. We had:
Escargot and Carpaccio, they were both excellent!
Osso Bucco and the rabbit, and they were very good too!
When it was time for dessert, Tony (I'm just going to call him that even if his name is not Tony) brought me a complimentary tiramisu as our anniversary gift. I'm not a fan of tiramisu, but I confidently say that it was very good too.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
I love this place! I have been here a few times now and have always enjoyed my meal. The gnocchi appetizer is amazing and a must have. The waiters are attentive and very educated on the menu. I am one of those people that can never choose between two dishes, and the waiters have not steered me wrong yet. It is a little pricey so this is one of my special occasion restaurants. But it is well worth going to!!!
Believe the hype! Look at all the 4 & 5 star Yelp reviews. Bambi & me stumbled across Stella Alpina while walking around the Burlingame ave shops. Just the appearance of the place sold me. The menu posted at the door had all my favorite northern Italian delicacies.
We got opening time 1st seating - 5:30 pm. We were greeted like old family friends by the owners. When I started to speak my native Italian, the welcome and service level got even better!
Oh, the food was sublime. Salads are dressed just right, subtle & flavorful. Soups are elegant, brothy, refreshing, yet substantial. Entree mouth orgasm? : 2 words - "Osso Buco"
Desserts range from earthy to elegant. I loved my creme brulle.
The authentic food here is as close as you will get to Italy while in northern California. My Italian born mother ( who was a fantastic cook ) could do no better. - I think might have just expressed mortal sacrilege there - .
Go to Stella Alpina, be amazed!
This place has a LOVELY atmosphere, EXCEPTIONAL service, GOOD (but I wouldn't say great) food, and a nice wine list (try the $42 bottle of petite syrah if you like that varietal - like velvet! mmmh). We sat at the outdoor patio between two heat lamps, which was really quite nice, especially after all this rain!
More on the food: My friend, when asked, confessed the meat was a *tad* overcooked, and our server promptly apologized and asked if we wanted a replacement dish (we did not). Later, a beautiful chocolate dessert was presented even though we hadn't even seen the dessert menu, "on the house," to make up for the dish that was still good, but just a bit overdone. Very nice gesture, indeed. My prawns were "good" but not exceptional by any means. However, the truffled mashed potatos and sauteed mushroom sides were scrumptious. And again, the atmosphere and service were very good, making for a long, leisurely, enjoyable dining experience.
Bottom Line: The food was good, not great. The price was disproportionate to the quality.
The food is pretty good... about 3.5 stars, really. But the price is OUTRAGEOUS! My wife and I ate there, each had one appetizer and one entree, we also ordered a half-order of the special at our waiter's insistent urging, and two glasses of wine. The total was $300, including $25 for a half-order of gnocchi and items around the median menu price. I understand why French Laundry is so pricey - it is phenomenal. But this place is a poor value.
Before you ask, yes we could have left before we ordered, upon seeing the prices. We decided to give them a chance to justify the prices with great food. They fell short.
Try La Collina in Milbrae - comparable quality, MUCH better value.
I haven't eaten Italian food since I was in the mother land (Italia) 3 months ago. There are a variety of reasons for this. The main being that I'm scared that no restaurant in the Bay Area can hold up to the Tuscan dishes my palate was so fortunate to taste on my trip.
I decided to break my Italian fast by going to Stella Alpina Osteria with my mom and brother. It was mom's birthday and she wanted Italian, so off we went. I'd eaten here several times before, but wasn't entirely impressed.
However, this time we squeezed ourselves up to the bar and ate with the company of their fabulously engaging bartender and had one of the better meals I've had in a long time.
Shocking but true, Burlingame actually has good food!
I consider the Caesar salad to be the benchmark of good Italian. If you can't make a Caesar you should quit while you're ahead.
Chef Matteo delivered with an excellent take on the traditional Caesar with Prosciutto and a creamy dressing.
For the main course I had his amazing Gnocchi with pork and mushroom ragu. Simply melted in my mouth.
We skipped dessert, but I'll definitely be back to try something, the sweets looked more than enticing.
Overall dining experience was 4-stars, service was 5-stars, and the food was 4-stars. I would recommend checking this place out if you live on the Peninsula. And if you don't, come join me here. I'll be the girl sitting at the bar, working on her 5th glass of vino, eating her face off...what else is new?!
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (1)
Cool (3)
A group of us came here for Nette' T's birthday and wow, what a great choice!
Everything from the warm, crackaliciously toasty bread to the attentive service was perfect.
I was able to taste:
- Mussels; ginormous! not drenched in sauce so you can really taste it. mmmh.
- Carpacchio; good, large serving...lots of greenies on top.
- Fondue; i think i wanted to dive into this delicious fondue. swim a few laps, crawl out and lick myself clean.
- Risotto Cakes; nice & crispy...the classy cousin of the tater tot.
- Oso Bucco; I'm ashamed to not have ever had this before & it was like buttahhhh baby.
My main entree was the special cheese risotto (pardon me but I don't remember what was in it). Good consistency - I don't like it too smooshy. Not as good as Aperto's, but still quite good. I was beyond stuffed by the time my entree came, but still cleaned my plate like a champ.
This place isn't cheap nor is it over-priced. Pasta dishes from from 15-20; entrees from 20-25. I think it's well worth a try. Oh and their corkage is only $18 - not bad considering their American wine list is pretty scant (although we had a good Italian red...which I can't remember, Perci?).
People thought this was:
Cool (2)
I used to like this place, but after having the worst dining experience ever in my lifetime, I can vow that I will never go back here nor recommend this place to anyone. So unfortunate - the Chef is nice and the food is decent overall, but their service? Are you kidding me? They need to go back to grade school and learn some proper manners.
FOOD: Their gnocchi they are famous for was not up to par this time even tho it was still pretty good. It's very rich, but good for a starter appetizer. If you go there, ask for their gnocchi with white truffles as an appetizer. (it's not on the menu) Unfortunately, nobody else at my table liked it.
Carpaccio was too chewy and it lacked flavor. I wouldn't get it again.
The waitress convinced me to get their "special" lamb shank, which I couldn't eat because it was incredibly salty and chewy. She said it's cooked for a really long time, so it's supposed to be really tender and soft. It was sooo far from that.
Someone else had the Filet Mignon and he thought it was good. Very flavorful and the sides it came with were good - I think it was polenta, but can't say for sure. I should've listened to my own instincts and gotten this instead.
The beef stew was good with Mascarpone polenta - not bad.
You know, their Fish of the Day.... every time I come here, their Fish of the Day is the Petra Sole with lemon butter and capers. Why is that? So much for calling it a Fish of the Day special. Might as well just put that thing on the menu. Nevertheless, it's good and flavorful - just a bit salty. I'd recommend this dish.
The Risotto of the day was risotto made with saffron and sausages? It was good, but nothing to go GAGA over. Skip it.
The ear-shaped pasta with ham and asparagus/mushroom - I didn't try this one, but he seemed to like it. Nothing special.
Dessert: Chocolate mousse was good, especially with the strawberry sauce. Creme Brulee - pretty standard.
CONCLUSION: The food was so-so for their $$$ price and if you've read this far, believe me, I spared you the details of this nightmarish dining experience because I will go on and on about how they were condescending and discriminating. It's so not worth walking away from a "nice" dinner that was ruined because of the rudest staff I have ever encountered at a restaurant. There are plenty of nice restaurants out in the Burlingame area and this is most definitely not one of them.
Sorry for this long post, but I just had to put my two cents in.
This is the best Italian restaurant in Burlingame.
Great service and DELICIOUS FOOOOOD! The mussels and tiramisu are EXCELLENT!
One of my buddies who is a chef told me that the best osso buco he has ever had was here, though I have yet to try it.
I have been trying to find the time to return, but I would definitely recommend it.
You need to get the white truffle gnocchi in brown butter. Amazing.
A little tight on the table space but generally good northern italian cuisine, warm lighting and helpful staff. Excellent bread, good wine list and happy dishes for vegetarians and non-vegs alike.
Came here for a belated Valentine's dinner with my mom and sister and it was amazing. We got the walnut gorgonzola salad, asparagus soup, gnocchi, roasted pork, fish, creme brulee, and tiramisu.
I just love the ambience. We don't have anything like it in my town. It's the perfect place to go for a date or a special occasion. I made a reservation the day of, and they only had two spots available for the rest of the night! The service was excellent.
As for the food, it was the openers and closers that really sealed the deal. I wasn't really feeling the not-quite-flavorful-enough pork, and i quickly tired of the truffle-oiled mashed potatoes. The fish was cooked to perfection. Gnocchi with cheese and truffle oil (which isn't on the menu) was yummy but really expensive. Definitely save room for dessert! I thoroughly enjoyed tapping the top of our creme brulee and devouring the oh-so-creamy tiramisu.
We had a great time. Fondue at a Italian restaurant is not something I would typical order, however it was excellent. It had black truffle in it and was served with potato, apple, broccoli and bread. The risotto was also truffle very good however you really need to like black truffle flavors. I had the gnocchi w. Gorgonzola cheese when as tender, rich and very good.
I would definitely good again.
We had a going away company luncheon here and it was a very pleasant experience. They did a wonderful job accommodating about 17 of us.
The food was delicious and the venue was very tasteful. The people were very personable and friendly. The Risotto Saltato con Porcini and the Filetto alla "Monferrina" was delicious! They also have a full bar which is ALWAYS a plus!
Parking can be a pain but worth it.
This is my favorite Italian restaurant of all time! My husband I came here for a date on a rainy January night. It was SOO cozy! We were able to talk to each other and enjoy the warm ambience. I had the butter lettuce salad with walnuts- amazing! Hubby had the gorgonzola gnocchi-fabulous! We shared the petrale sole, which was also very good, though not quite as tasty as the first two.
Go here tonight--romance and homemade gnocchi await!
A small yet mighty Italian spot with great food.
That's what this quaint restaurant is in a nutshell. But I have sooo much more to talk about.
With a suggestion from my friends, we all went to enjoy what Stella has to offer. From the outside, (at least at night) it looks as if the place is huge but once we were greeted by the host, I saw about ten tables and a banquet room in the back reserved for parties. The interior has a soft inviting cozy feeling, great for dates. Looking around, I could see a few folks enjoying one.
I ordered the Caesar with shaved parmesan,crispy pancetta and housemade croutons and Costolette di Agnello Dijonnaise - Colorado rack of lamb coated with dijon and housemade bread crumbs, served with carmelized red onions, roasted cherry tomatoes and potatoes gallette.
Since I was with a veteran who simply stated, " I almost ALWAYS get the lamb, its the best thing on the menu." Well, with that suggestion, who could refuse?
The ladies ordered the Insalata "Stella" A bed of butter lettuce, strawberries, walnuts, gorgonzola, red onion & apricot-citrus vinaigrette and another Caesar. For entree they order the Spezzatino al Barolo-
Beef stewed "Piemontese Style", marinated and cooked in the famous red wine and hearty vegetables, traditionally served over soft Mascarpone polenta and Filetto alla "Monferrina"-Grilled Filet Mignon, topped with melted Toma cheese, served with truffled mashed potatoes and roasted wild mushrooms.
The lamb was superbly "sucking the meat off the bone" good. I enjoyed the caesar because it had everything I could ask for on it. The beef stew was very flavorful and an interesting combo when its served over polenta.
On to dessert.
Getting that "kinda full" feeling we all shared two desserts. The Tiramisu and Fresh Strawberries cooked in a red wine sauce. I don't know what it is, but when you can't seem to find anything left in that serving glass with your spoon, you know it was freakin' great. The Tiramisu was marscapone smooth, not too strong with expresso and just easy on the palette. As for the berries, they were ok, but no too exciting.
All in all, a great place to take a date or friends to enjoy some solid Northern Italian cuisine.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Visited Stella Alpina for a company party, treated to a great 5-course meal and drinks.
There were a lot of good dishes- risotto cakes, Caesar salad, penne with marinara, creamy torellini with prosciutto. They also have a full bar and wine list, but short on beer options.
Some hohum and notsogood dishes were the stale coldcut and olive plate, a weird creamy fish dish, and fatty steak chunks. But overall, good waitstaff and plentiful dishes of food.
My future mother-in-law picked this place for a belated b-day dinner for my fiance and I.
The restaurant itself is nice, and I like Burlingame. (Parking was also easy, which is always a plus!) Although, as another person mentioned it does have a bit of a strip mall feel.
We shared the polenta cake appetizer.Some of the people at the table are not big fans of polenta, but they loved the sauce it came with
I liked the polenta cakes as well, if not better than the sauce.
For my entree i had the fish special. It was sole, in a lemon caper butter sauce. It's not an inventive dish, but it was pretty good.
I did get a mouthful of bones during my meal. Someone else warned of this, and agree with them that there shouldn't be bones in it. It's annoying, and distracts one from the dish if they're worried about swallowing bones.
It came with two small roasted potatoes, a sprig of broccoli, and some very tasty zucchini.
It was cooked well, and had pretty good flavor.
There are a few other appetizers I'd try on another visit (like the escargot.)
I'll come back if the family wants to, but we probably won't rush out here on our own. For no other reason than, it's so close to the city, why not just go to the city?
The service was good, as was the food.Although, i like the other Italian place we usually go with the family. (DiVino in Belmont!)
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
I don't know how I could have missed this but I dined at Stella Alpina Osteria for the first time tonight. The cute restaurant is a perfect place for a date; you could even dine outdoors.
Italian restaurants tend to have a very limited number of vegetarian-friendly dishes; at Stella Aplina, I have 4 main pasta dishes to choose from. We settled on the Gnocchi di patate (with Walnut & Gorgonzola) and the Linguine alla Ligure (which is made with fresh basil pesto, string beans, finely-shaved potatoes and parmigiano reggiano).
WOW, definitely the best Gnocchi I have *ever* had. The pesto linguine is very flavorful and not at all heavy. I'm completely blown away by the food here. I gave Stella Alpina Osteria 5++ stars.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
If this is the best Italian food in Burlingame then the restaurant scene in Burlingame is in a sad state of affairs. This place was highly recommended to me. The restaurant is competent but not much more. The service was rushed. Too much "drizzle" and "infusions" . Nothing here seemed exceptional. An average wine list with a poor selection of Italian Wines. If you are this close to San Francisco drive the extra few miles and eat something exciting. I cook better myself but if you want safe and conservative you might find this place pleasant.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
3.5 but not 4. Place is cute, chef/owner has a big italian menu that covers a lot of ground but I just didn't think the place was up great, especially for the price. Not to be a geographic snob but if I was looking at just Burlingame, maybe this place would get 4 stars but since I'm including SF I can't. Oso Bucco was fork tender but dry at parts, only one pasta is homemade (though my orichette in cream sauce w/ panchetta was good, not homemade pasta), sole special was so so and the chocolate mouse had the slight taste of having been sitting in the 'fridge. You know that taste, right? Service was GREAT but definitely not a place I'd come down to from SF.
The service here is great. But, when I took the first bite of the special I ordered (filet of sole in a lemon sauce with capers), I got a mouthful of fish bones. I'd understand that if it came on a full fish, but this was a breaded filet, so I see no reason I should've been watching out for bones in this fish dish. Once I got past that, the food was good. But it really put a crimp in my enjoyment of the food, because I was constantly afraid that every bite would carry crispy cartilage.
Other than that, the food we ordered was pretty decent. I just don't see any reason to go to a strip-mall-type restaurant that feels like you're eating in a strip mall... especially when there are a ton of good restaurants in Burlingame. We probably won't be going back here, given the wide range of good food nearby.
We decided to try out this little restaurant on Friday night, we arrived around 7pm and the place was packed! My roommate didn't want to sit outside in the patio, although the patio is the best part about this restaurant, we sat at the bar. I like to sit at the bar because I can order drinks quickly. The drinks were strong, I had three mixed drinks and I was pretty buzzed. Then the bartender was so nice, she offered a sample champagne with cranberry juice or some sort for me to taste, it was delicious! I forgot the name of it because i was pretty tipsy.
The food was good, but the portion was small, two of us finished the whole thing along with the appetizer and a desert. The desert was nothing special, and somehow they poured a generous amount of red wine on the gelato, the whole thing tasted liquorish.
The ambiance of the place is nice, a little on the noisy side, therefore you have to raise your voice when you want to talk. The whole experience was good, i definitely will come back.
We ordered antipasti "for the authentic experience" and the server recommended the gnocchi special which was absolutely yummy. really good sauce.
main course - i ordered the salmon special. i'm not sure if the salmon was suppose to be undercooked but for my personal taste it was too raw in the middle. if you're going to order any kind of fish and you're like me make sure you request fully cooked. my friends ordered some pasta and they were all good but one stands out. it came with the rabbit dish and it's some kind of a pesto linguini but i forget the name.
server - cute italian guy with thick accent. very flamboyant.
People Who Viewed This Also Viewed...
-
-
-
-
- <
