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Terra Mia
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
163 reviews for Terra Mia
Review Highlights
"Gnocchi Gorgonzola: Exquisite."
(in 7 reviews)
"This dish i for all cream sauce lovers."
(in 9 reviews)
"I had the Tortellini alla Crema and my husband had what our..."
(in 3 reviews)
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163 reviews in English
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Review from Ashley B.
San Jose, CA
12/28/2011
I had my rehearsal dinner at Terra Mia the night before our wedding and the owner and the whole waitstaff were phenomenal, not to mention the food!! The back room is perfect for private parties, it's very cute and quaint, truly as the Italian feel. They worked with our budget to create exactly the menu we were looking for, and the wine was fantastic. They even let us hang in the room a while after dinner to enjoy additional wine and finish out the night. It was a great experience, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a nice dinner out, or to have their rehearsal dinner at.
I'm actually really shocked at the negative reviews. We had a great experience. Five solid stars. -
Review from Casey S.
1/23/2012 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
I enjoy Italian food, but I'm not an elitist when it comes to my noodles. Heck, I can't even pronounce half the stuff on the menu. As long as the food's good (and not from Olive Garden), I'm as happy as a clam that's been infused with red wine.
Terra Mia might make me a little confused with their menu, but the dishes served here know how to speak to my stomach. The real highlight though would have to be the sauces they make here. Is it any wonder my girlfriend and I both saved our bread to the very end of the meal? It's the ultimate dipping tool! -
Review from Lara W.
Discovery Bay, CA
1/3/2012
My husband and I went last night to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. This place has great food, and the ambiance is nice. Some of the pastas are homemade, and I recommend trying those! The tortellini was out of this world!
Unfortunately, they chose not to recognize our 10 year anniversary celebration, even though they were quick to recognize several birthdays. That was a bummer, but everything else was wonderful. -
Review from Priya B.
Fremont, CA
11/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Everyone is always saying how amazing Terra Mia is so I had to try it out for myself. I love Italian food so I figured I really couldn't go wrong. I enjoyed my experience at Terra Mia but really did not think it was as extravagant as everyone made it out to be.
Appetizer - **Polenta e Funghi** - I am a fan of polenta and mushrooms so this dish was amazing. Just the right amount of mushrooms and the cheese was melted perfectly. The polenta was the perfect texture. I highly recommend it.
Dinner - **Special - Salmon in a tomato sauce with potatoes and veggies** - The salmon was amazing. The flavors were really marinated into the salmon and the sides were cooked perfectly.
Skipped dessert but the rest was pretty good. I would definitely go back. -
Review from M K.
Goleta, CA
12/4/2011
Ate here with some friends on the recommendation of a longtime Livermore resident. I was incredibly disappointed. I don't recommend it and I won't be back.
The food:
I ordered the veal with mushrooms in a marsala sauce. The sauce was very delicious, the meat was good but the portion was very small, the vegetables were overdone, I was only given 1.5 fingerling-sized potatoes to go with the meal, and two of the three pieces of potato were burnt and therefore (partially) unedible. I was disappointed that the vegetables were poorly prepared and that I was still hungry afterwards.
The service:
We were greeted by the owner of the restaurant, but he was not at all cordial or welcoming. Odd for someone in a service-related business. However, it was consistent with the overall experience.
Our waiter was really rude, from start to finish. He was very arrogant, did not check up on us at any point during the meal, and at the end of it all, actually refused to charge our tabs separately. Oddly enough, he was willing to charge everyone the same amount, but not the amount we had neatly written down on the back of the receipt next to each cardholder's name. He was a total jerk about it, too, and seemed totally taken aback that we weren't ecstatic to do whatever he wanted us to do. I've rung up credit card bills before, and unless they have some kind of retarded system, typing in a few extra numbers should not be a big deal. I've never, ever had a waiter refuse to do this, regardless of the restaurant's size, prices, or level of activity. Even if the food had been decent and the owner had been friendly, I wouldn't go to a restaurant that employed servers like him.
Bottom line:
This place definitely has the potential to be really awesome, but sloppy preparation and poor service really ruined it for me. -
Review from xtina d.
Castro Valley, CA
12/19/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Great place for a low key date night. The place is gorgeous and very spacious for a neighborhood restaurant. Everything we ordered was great. Loved that they had an awesome extensive wine list. Service was also very good...quick yet friendly and they didn't rush us. I would definitely come back. Like another reviewer mentioned, the prices are very fair as this same dinner probably would've cost us more in SF or Oakland.
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Review from Suzanne K.
Campbell, CA
1/19/2012
Terra Mia was the perfect place for our big birthday dinner. They have plenty of room to accommodate large groups and encouraged us to stay through present opening. The food was delicious. Every one in our party enjoyed their meal and wants to return. As others have said, portions are not large, but who needs leftovers. The sides (Swiss chard and polenta) were both done perfectly. Our waiter charmed everyone in our party.
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Review from Jon H.
CA
11/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is a trick. It's hidden in this strip mall in the boonies where you think there's no way Italian could possibly this awesome. But man alive everything is made fresh and the calimari was the third best I've ever had. And that's saying a lot. The pasta specials are the way to go. DO NOT FORGET TO ORDER THE VANILLA BEAN GELLATO. Trust me.
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Review from JENNIFER A.
Hayward, CA
10/12/2011
Met my peers for a power lunch here and this place is really cute. If you are not from Livermore, this place isn't located in the downtown area so you might have to mapquest it.
Server was very attentive and efficient. Ordered the Rib eye steak sandwich which came with a salad. Nice little lunch, reasonable prices for good Italian food. Will have to come back for dinner! -
Review from Michael C.
Oakland, CA
12/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Food was pretty good, and the place was nice looking.
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Review from Katherine F.
Dublin, CA
6/19/2011
When DD suggested this for Father's day I had to laugh...as a 32 year lab veteran, I had seen many Italian places come and go from this spot. But I knew she was a good judge, so I was game.
Bread was very generic...nothing special for sure. The service was attentive.
By far the best fresh pasta around...amazing!! I had the Cannelloni....and it just melted in my mouth. I was served with a creamy red sauce...which had a nice tangy flavor.
Sadly hubby had a penne, and it was odd...hot and cold, like it was heated from frozen....and not good at all.
I tasted the pizza and the ravioli...both were wonderful.
We had a great wine...so fruity. The Tiramisu was good too!!
I will call and see when they have cannoli...and be back for sure!!Listed in: DGDs Welcomed!!
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Review from Greg M.
San Jose, CA
10/9/2011 Seated via OpenTable
While staying in Livermore one August weekend, we tried several recommended restaurants in the area. Our experience at Terra Mia was by far the best. Wonderful ambiance, a very nice wine list, excellent service and some of the best Italian food I have had in a while.
I had the Gamberoni alla Diavola. The prawns were cooked to perfection and the sauce was so delicious, I did not leave a speck of it on my plate.
That experience would have cost twenty percent more in the San Jose area.
Molto bene!! -
Review from Anita L.
San Ramon, CA
Updated - 11/30/2011
Another warm and cozy dinner experience at Terra Mia. My husband and I were wiped out for the week...the thought of cooking and messing up my clean kitchen made me want to cry. (I work retail now, and had been through the Black Friday madness)
Off to Terra Mia we go, to be pampered and well fed. After lentil soup, insalata de la casa, veal and dessert/coffee we were warm and relaxed. Thank you to Antonio, always great service,friendly and professional. Grazie!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/3/2011
My husband and I both had the day off, and I did'nt feel like cooking. We had read good reviews for… Read more »
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Review from Tammy O.
Milpitas, CA
11/12/2011
Have used yelp for years to find the best spots, so I'm sad my first rating has to be a bad one. DO NOT come here for the private party "buffet." Our party of 40 had rehearsal dinner here and stingy is the only word that comes to mind. Ran out of food and they would not bring more. The kids could not have any of the buffet, even though their own meals were so late. Maybe they get off watching toddlers' sad hungry faces. They also could not have dessert, waiter said they'll be short three pieces! We asked for three bread plates for 6 at our table, waiter said no and gave us two plates! Really? How are you stingy with plates? Said "It's for sharing, why you want three?" Really?? Lasagna way over salted, salad was limp. It takes a lot of effort to mess up Caesar salad! What an absolutely ridiculous experience!
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Review from Jason F.
San Jose, CA
4/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
I like to reserve 5 star ratings, but considering the rest of the Italian choices in my area, nothing in Pleasanton even comes close.
After we were seated, my Dad ordered a calamari fritti, and over his shoulder I could see a huge life-size poster of Girogio Locatelli, and thought oh hell yeah. I have Locatelli's amazing book "Made in Italy - Food and Stories" and its an amazing read, even if you don't cook from it. I figured if these guys are as passionate about Locatelli's work as I am, we are going to get along great.
Turns out the Owner is from Calabria, the same place my Dad is from, so after this was established, there wasnt a single exchange of English spoken between those two, and I was lost. I don't speak a lick of Italian so I was just like huh? But my Dad was like a little kid in a candy store so what the heck :) If nothing else, it added some ambience to the experience and gave me some motivation to learn the language, because it does sound awesome. Anyways...about the food.
STARTER:
The Calamari Fritti was ok. I'd give it a 4 star. They could have been a little more aggressive on the seasoning, and pulled it a little sooner, so it was a little tough and the breading and Marinara were just a little under seasoned for my taste. It was a decent starter, but just not 5 stars.
SALAD:
I also ordered a mixed green salad, and have to admit I'm partial to Champagne, Sherry, or Red Wine Vinegars. I'm just not a Balsamic person. I prefer the bite you get from one of the others, but the only vinegar in the house was Balsamic. It was a great salad though! Well dressed. Well seasoned. It had shavings of fennel on top, and tasted great. Its really not fair to knock it, because it tasted great, so please don't pay attention to such nit-pickings of mine.
ENTREE:
For an entree I was torn. My favorite meal ever is Cioppino, so the Zuppa de Pesce was really calling my name, but they had fresh fish delivered that morning, so I went with the Mahi-Mahi based on the waiter recommendation. He's like...you can getta da Zuppa de Pesce anytime, but today we hava da fresh fish :) So it was the Mah-Mahi special for me, and it was AMAZING. Best meal I'd had in months.
My Dad always being complicated, wanted to order off-menu and have the kitchen make an Arrabbiatta :/ Why does he do this to me? So embarrassing. Anyways after a quick trip to the kitchen, the waiter gave us the thumbs up, and I cant remember if he ordered it with Penne, or Rigatoni but I was impressed at the accomodation, and it tasted great.
CONCLUSION:
No room for dessert, and not much else to say, so if you live in the area, and want decent Italian food give Terra Mia a try. -
Review from Kelly C.
San Jose, CA
10/28/2011
I took my husband here for his birthday dinner after reading all the great reviews. I thought the ambiance was nice but the food was just ok. Nothing wrong with it, just nothing to get excited about. I don't have anything bad to say but will most likely not be back. My husband had the ravioli and I had salmon.
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Review from Robert F.
Livermore, CA
Updated - 11/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've lived in California for over 31 yrs now, and would have to say that Terra Mia (and it's sister restaurant Mezza Luna, in Half Moon Bay) is my day after day, go-to favorite place to eat! They serve true Italian cuisine, and while they can accommodate people in a hurry, they prefer to allow their guests to linger over their meals. I have several favorites on the menu (think pizza) make sure that you check the list of daily specials. I could not recommend this restaurant more highly!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/4/2006
Terra Mia Cucina Italiana is a real gem of a restaurant, and thoroughly authentic! From its… Read more »
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Review from John Z.
Dublin, CA
4/8/2011
Terra Mia is a diamond in the rough. Located in an aged shopping center along East Avenue in Livermore, unsuspecting passers by have no idea what a gem Terra Mia has become. The 4+ star experience starts just as you approach the tiled entryway and move towards the expansive doors. Inside you will be greeted by a relatively spacious yet cozy interior. Terra Mia's oversized fireplace helps to keep the expansive interior in visual proportion.
Terra Mia's food and wine selection is exquisite. The pizza is superb, traditional pasta dishes dreamy, and appetizers to drool over. Terra Mia's service is very attentive, friendly, and helpful.
Terra Mia's modest location allows them to keep their prices reasonable. I'd recommend that their prices are about 20-25% below comparable dishes in Danville because of Terra Mia's inexpensive space.
The only negative that I can find at Terra Mia is that they don't have fresh brewed iced tea. For shame. -
Review from Amy J.
8/30/2011
I'm not a big Italian food fan so I was pleasantly surprised when we ate here. The atmosphere is really pleasant. The menu is plentiful and they are more than willing to substitute a sauce if you don't like or want the one that is offered on the menu. The terra mia pizza sounded quite tasty. If I return, I'll have to try that one instead. My friends got different pasta dishes, a margherita pizza and I got gnocci with pesto instead of the cheese sauce. My pesto was good but I wish it had something else...maybe a half gnocci, half salad dish? That would be awesome. The food is tasty and our server was quite helpful and knowledgeable. I'll stop here if I'm in the area and craving Italian.
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Review from Lena S.
Livermore, CA
8/8/2011
Place and decor is awesome. Food, wine choices, service was good.
Loved the fire place, added to the ambience. Romantic for my husband and I. Not only fancy tasty dishes but they make individual pizzas as well.
The bread before dinner is awesome.Parking is always full around the area since there are multiple small resturantes in the shopping center but well worth the hassle. -
Review from Jennifer F.
Pleasanton, CA
2/27/2011
Authentic food, straight from Italy; delicious, fresh and memorable. Even the servers are from Italia. They take their time: dinner is a slow event meant to be savored and experienced. They are friendly, professional and you can tell they take PRIDE in what they do. I was fortunate enough to eat during the last service of the night and watched the staff have a meal together at closing. This is truly a little touch of Italy imported from overseas.
Francesco, the owner, would kill me for Yelping about the place: he believes word-of-mouth is all you need to spread a good reputation. As he makes the sign of the cross and says "Oh Mama Mia, Yelp, what is this?," I just smile and know deep down that any business I can send his way, via whatever method, will be GREAT for everyone involved.
I began with a house salad: tender, lightly dressed greens with fennel shavings and a paper-thin fresh beet to garnish. I ate every bite and almost reached across to eat my date's portion. My Zuppa de Pesce was outstanding! Salmon, mussels, clams and calamari in a savory tomato broth. Francesco explains to me that it's just like Cioppino but that's the Tuscan name for it. And here I thought you couldn't get good Cioppino outside of San Francisco!
Not sure what to order: just ask. Everything I'm sure is superb, but the servers have NO problem making suggestions. Afterall: they eat there every night too! I'll definitely plan a birthday party here...truly a lovely experience. -
Review from Pat C.
Pleasanton, CA
7/21/2011
We were looking for BBQ of all things tonight. Not impressed with the BBQ place, but saw Terra Mia. It look inviting so we gave it shot.
What a treat! very nice atmosphere: kept telling my 16 year old son this is where you take a gal out for a nice dinner.
Service was was excellent and I liked that the waiter teased my son and husband (in a friendly manner).
Husband had Caesar salad with chicken: excellent
I had Salad with sea food: excellent, nice assortment of seafood-salmon, squid, shrimp and scallops.
Son had fettuccine Alfredo: large portion, with creamy sauce and chicken.
Not sure about the wine as we had non alcoholic drinks, but the wine list looks very good: many options.
Price was very reasonable.
A hidden gem -
Review from Michael A.
Livermore, CA
10/20/2011
Stumbled across this place looking for something to eat. What a surprise, This place is not run of the mill, ossobuco and veal piccata were excellent, but what put me in the stratosphere was coffee and tiramisu (lady fingers, espresso, brandy & mascapone cheese). The ambiance, yes you are in Livermore, this is early California wine country, how else could this be. Organic and local ingredients, just awesome.
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Review from Lisa N.
Livermore, CA
10/17/2011
All the food here is great and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Best Italian in Livermore.
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Review from Amanda B.
12/17/2010 8 photos
****************** REVIEW 343 ******************
3.5 STARS
Another lunch with customers in the Livermore Wine Country, this time we had lunch at Terra Mia, customer's choice.
I was surprised by how spacious this place is. All decorated in Holidays, we got seated by the warm fireplace, without RSVP, and the place was packed by Noon.
Our server Francesco, a cute Italian guy with a hot accent, made everything more pleasant just by the way he talked about what is on the menu!
The menu offers about 8 typical Italian appetizer dishes, 7 pasta dishes, and 10 entrées. The portion was very generous. We started out with the appetizers and was full! Pasta has to wait till the next time I return, in which my customer said that's what they are very good at.
- Calamari - this was not crispy at all, wonder was it the style? But my client & I barely touched it.
- Bruschetta Di Salmone - smoked salmon, green peppercorns, lemon and fresh dill - the best dish off all. This was generous 4 giant pieces, and was just delicious.
- Crab Cakes - was just OK, served with salad side which was nice.
- Cozze e Vongole Terra Mia - fresh mussels and clams baked with white wine and roasted red bell pepper - tasty broth, flavorful, but tiny clams & mussels.
Overall: 3.5 stars
For value: 4 stars
For Food: 3 stars
For Service: 4 stars
For ambiance: 4 stars
Location: near downtown - private lot.Listed in: Business Power Lunch Spots
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Review from Percy C.
Dublin, CA
2/16/2011
Went here for Valentine's Day with my wife. We made reservations online for 7pm. We showed up, and it was a zoo. But the hosting staff did the best they could and we were seated by 7:15pm. So no biggie. Other patrons were getting ansy and bent out of shape. ( shrugs )
The pre-set meal was well served - hit the right balance of not too sweet, savory, overcooked or under... just right. Wonderful wine list - although we tend toward desert wines anyway (Mascato?).
I don't have an advanced palette when it comes to food, but if you want something a bit better than an Olive Garden (chain) and little more formal than a pizza place, this is quite a neighborhood gem.
My only complaint? I wish it was closer to where I live. :) -
Review from Beatrice L.
Livermore, CA
6/20/2011
My family and I came here to celebrate Father's day. We had reservations for 8pm and were seated immediately upon our arrival.
FOOD: Tasty, well-cooked, quickly made. Everyone in my family really enjoyed their meal.
VALUE: reasonable prices for the quality of the cuisine.
AMBIENCE: nice decor, good for a casual meal or romantic date.
SERVICE: This was the weird part of our dining experience. Our server was Manuel. After being served water, he asked what cocktails or wine would we like . . not IF we wanted any. My family doesn't drink much so we all just stuck with ice water and I could see a look of disapproval on the server's face. I thought it was a bit odd, but oh well, no biggie.
Then after we finished hearing the specials and looking over the menu, he came back and said he recommended the antipasto appetizer. My husband said, "we actually are going to order the calamari appetizer and mussels appetizer." Manuel pursed his lips, tilted his head, and said, "uhhhh, hmmm, okay" as if he was contemplating our choice and deciding to let us order that but didn't really approve.
Then he left without taking our main course orders. He came back to give us appetizer plates and was about to walk away wen my mother-in-law told him we were ready to order our main dishes. He said that he was going to get us our appetizers first. My MIL asked him if he should take our order now since we knew what we wanted and he repeated that he was going to get us our appetizers first and then walked off. When my MIL was trying to make her seafood dish selection he tried to convince her that halibut was the same as seabass.
Overall, the service was quick and attentive and our food came quickly, our water glasses were kept full. But basically we felt like Manuel was pushy and opinionated which are not qualities you want in a waiter. -
Review from Shauna S.
San Jose, CA
4/5/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Truly amazing service. The menu was more than satisfying and our waiter was superb; attentive and knowledgeable. The deco and lighting was perfect. This is a great place for a group, as well.
Without a doubt, I will come back. -
Review from jennifer m.
Livermore, CA
9/23/2011
Hands down the best Italian place around!!
Have been here at least a couple times a month for about 3 years now and they have never disappointed. The staff at Terra Mia make you feel like family as soon as you walk in the door. I Have tried a number of different items form their menu and have loved everything. My favorite dish of the moment is the Tortellini but instead of the cream sauce I get the bolognese sauce and it is amazing (I'm getting hungry just thinking about it). I also love their Caprese salad, and too many others to list!!
Terra Mia's food is always fresh and their service is always great!! -
Review from Michele F.
Livermore, CA
12/8/2010
Quite simply, this is the best Italian restaurant in the Tri-Valley.
Specializing in Southern Italian cuisine, the restaurant produces some of the best sauces, pastas and fish entrees I have ever had.
Service- most of the servers are Italian (no fake accents going on there!) which adds an air of authenticity to the place. The service is very good for the most part. I have only had one or two slower than normal experiences. This is not a place for rapid dining. They expect you to enjoy your food and take your time.
Prices - $15-25 per plate - somewhat pricier than they used to be, but the portions are large and most of the pastas can be served in half portions which is great.
Food quality- unbelievable. From the veal piccata, which has a zesty garlic, lemon wine sauce, to the ziti al salmone, which has tender chunks of fresh salmon in a vodka cream sauce, the menu is varied, and even has a vegetarian dish or two. The fish is wild and not farmed, many pastas are made on site, and many desserts are made by the GM's wife and are fabulous. The best thing, in my opinion, about this place is the sauces. They tend to be light in texture but robust in flavor. Their pesto is not creamy, which I love, but can be creamed up for those of you who expect a pesto cream sauce.
Wine list- a mixture of local Livermore and imported Italian wines, it is a reasonable priced list with a varied selection. If you are looking for napa wines, this is not the place to go, nor will you see those prices, thankfully.
The bartenders really know what they are doing - they make great drinks and provide very good service. -
Review from Ron W.
Livermore, CA
11/30/2011
This was our first visit after getting glowing reviews from our daughter and son-in-law. The food was outstanding, the tortellini was the best I have ever had. My wife had a salmon pasta dish which was also excellent. Our waiter was very good, and very professional, much more so than we are used to seeing in a restaurant of this size. Overall, we would highly recommend, and will be going back again.
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Review from Aj S.
San Luis Obispo, CA
9/9/2011
Very good... especially as far as the selection in Livermore goes. Fettuccine bolognese is great! PS they do take out
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Review from Elvin K.
Dublin, CA
5/23/2011
Read all the great reviews on yelp and decided to give this a shot.
Arrival: Hostess said that we had to order right away since they're closing in ten minutes, which we all found strange and rude considering that we had already called them to reserve a table. I suspected that she had some other plans in store for her Friday night and wanted to get rid of us as soon as possible.
Ambiance: Nice. 1 star for getting that right.
Food: Sucked!
I ordered the Lasagna which lacked flavor & ingredients considerably. My wife's pasta was very bland - basically boiled pasta with a few kalamata olives and sun dried tomatoes. My friend's chicken alfredo had a gamey aftertaste, which made it almost inedible. His wife's ravioli barely had anything in it, which we thought was supposed to be stuffed.
We expressed our disappointment in the food to the waiter in a respectful manner. He slightly expressed his apologies but then quickly tried to link our disappointment with the excuse that we were most likely used to eating at Americanized Italian restaurants and that this one was special because they serve "authentic" Italian food.
Listen, I've eaten at all types of Italian restaurants, from the bay area, LA/OC, Chicago, NY/NJ, and all varieties of authenticity. Flavor is flavor, and my taste buds don't lie. The food was BAD, all 4 of us concurred. And instead expressing heartfelt regret, the waiter boasted about how the restaurant is the best italian spot in the east bay, which I could care less.
Service: Good until we got our food and expressed our disappointment. He didn't offer to give us a discount off our meal or attempt in giving us any incentive of coming back. Then he took forever in getting our check, even though the place was almost empty.
And just as I had expected, about 10 minutes after arriving, we saw the young lady that greeted us at the door walking around socializing with some guy in sweat pants, probably waiting to go back to his place to play twister.
Conclusion: We should've hit up Olive Garden, a true American establishment. -
Review from Chris K.
5/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
As other reviewers mention, you would never know this adorable restaurant is here in a sort of funky looking strip mall. Don't let the outer appearance fool you! Inside is warm and welcoming with a beautiful fireplace. They are kid-friendly, although tonight the mommies were getting out. The bar makes an awesome mojito (who knew?!). I had the "Rollino Giovanni" (rolled pasta, eggplant, smoked mozzerella & ham). They were very accomodating of my request to swap marinara for the tomato cream sauce. We also shared cannoli and tiramisu for dinner. Both were excellent. We had great service. I will definitely return!
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Review from Brian K.
Los Altos, CA
9/5/2011 2 photos
Very friendly service... Food was great, we had paste, seafood and the seafood soup and all were good... We had the sorbet for desert and it was GREAT!
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Review from Nick C.
Livermore, CA
7/20/2011
This is as Italian as it gets. Great food, served by a professionally skilled wait staff; with accents to boot. The food is traditional, authentic, and made to order. Thus, a meal takes about two hours from start to finish. Traditional Italians eat over long periods of time, discuss everything and anything as great food passes from the kitchen to the table. Food and conversation are to be cherished not rushed. If you want a great meal served by great people; go to Terra Mia.
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Review from Stephanie M.
Dublin, CA
Wow 'amazing service and yummy food'. I came here with family and my husband and we enjoyed what will be called a night to remember. It was 'fancy night' (we get all dressed up in our best) and have dinner somewhere.
When we first go there, I noticed the outside patio sitting area which great: earthy decor and candlelight all around. Inside is modest but in the little touches that you wouldn't give much thought to. Take for instance the fireplace, the seating, and table arrangements. All open, relaxed, modern but not in a stiff way, and simple. Our server was the epitome of an Italian server as were all the other servers. He made sure to ask my brother in law's girlfriend what she'd like to drink and myself, FIRST. He then proceeded to asking the men. He repeated this for dinner as well and I felt like a queen. It's not everyday where you go somewhere that treats the lady with utter respect. The server was Italian and traditional. I know now why I married my husband. Sigh, sighs...
Food: I liked choices of authentic Italian cuisine and the I ordered the pesto pasta with potato. So buttery and light. The pesto was so fresh and the pasta was cooked to perfection. My husband got the chicken with snap peas, potato, a white wine sauce and mushrooms. My daughter's food was brought out first when the appetizers came out and she was happy. (!!!) The dessert menu has some specials as well as a plethora of dessert wines, etc to choose from.
Romantic, considerate, lovely, delightful. Date night is a must here or even with family and friends.Listed in: TRY-Valley, Just my faves. Plain & Simple., Patio Please!
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Review from jessica c.
Castro Valley, CA
5/22/2011
I've been here once for a regular dinner and once for a family party. The first time the wait time for our meal was fairly long, but the food was worth the wait. The wait was much smaller for the family party, and the chocolate syrup-covered cream puffs they brought out... well luckily for everyone else after my first one I was able to resist the urge to take the plate, run to a corner and defend it like a feral racoon.
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Review from Erika G.
Updated - 1/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Had my birthday dinner here earlier this week. We were seated by the fireplace which was nice and cozy. Service was outstanding! Handsome Italian man that oozed the charm and politness - he was great! They all were because some else filled out water glasses every time and someone else cleared our plates as we finished each course. Nicely done Terra Mia!
They brought bread to our table- think it was foccacia and we ate that with the balamic & oil - YUM!
First course DH ordered the house salad - nice and simple mixed greens. I ordered the Minestrone - but it was unlike any Minestrone I was use to. It was almost like a vegetable soup. Clear broth, potatos, carrots and celery and something else. But it was good very light and had a great broth.
Main course I ordered Linguine Tutto Mare (fresh seafood pasta). It had musscles, clams, A LOT of calamarie, shrimp and some white fish. There was a great briney tomato sauce that was delicious and all the seafood was tender and cook well. I wanted to eat it all it was so good but it was also very filling! DH ordered the Ziti alla Calabrese (sausage and mushroom pasta) He said there was plenty of sausage to make a pasta dish and a sandwich. He also liked his meal very much - he was done eating before me and didn't offer to share so I am guessing it was really good.
We didn't order dessert because I had birthday cake waiting for me at home. But we had such a great meal here. Great authentic Italian food worth the wait - but if you order a first couse and talk and drink you wouldn't notice how long it takes. (Ours didnt take that long - even with 3 other tables orders being placed at the same time!)1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/5/2007
Decent Italian restaurant in Livermore, more on the authentic not Olive Garden style. Off the beaten… Read more »
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Review from Vy N.
Livermore, CA
12/14/2010 1 Check-in Here
Who would have thought such a nice place this would be in such a small strip mall.
We can here for a friend's birthday. Service was good and so was the food. I ordered the gnocchi and my husband for the rib-eye. Both were delicious.
My friends ordered their special, which was the rabbit. They only have that once in a while and my friends loved it. I didn't dare to try it though.
Make sure to make reservations during the weekends.
