Osteria Toscana

The pasta was okay. Maybe it was because I have high expectations before coming so I was a bit disappointed. There are not much protein in the pasta. And I still felt very hungry after eating a plate of pasta, two pieces of sourdough bread. (We even ordered a second plate of sourdough bread and it cost $4) and I drank a lot of water to feel less hungry. The server didn’t fill up my water after I finished it. I waited for 20 mins and then asked him to fill it up. FYI They charge you for a living wage fee of 5% before tax.

Such an amazing place to eat pasta and catch up with friends. I was in San Francisco for a quick visit. I'm glad I said I was craving Italian because we ended up here! The service was amazing, everything was taken care of at the speed of light and with a smile. The bread you're served at the beginning of the meal is simply wonderful, I would go back just for that beautiful crunchy gold-looking bread. The food was really delicious, I had the mezza Luna which was good but the best thing was the pasta bolognesa with tons sauce and flavor. For dessert we had the nocciola flan and affogato, probably the biggest affogato I've ever had. Not only that but it's served with the softest most delicious vanilla ice cream. I have to say, I think the affogato was the highlight of my evening. If your looking for good Italian food in the area, this is your spot!

We came for Mother’s Day and were seated promptly. As a starter, they offered us sourdough bread, which was very crunchy and paired with an exquisite olive oil, such a nice touch. For the main dishes, we had the spinach ravioli, which tasted good, but wasn’t my favorite. I ordered the lasagna, and it had great flavor, really enjoyed it. Kyle, our server, was very sweet and funny, and made the experience even better.

We had a small birthday celebration at Osteria and it did not disappoint. The Insalata Osteria and Casear salads were outstanding and the Ravioli perfect. We also had the Grilled Salmon. The atmosphere is very authentic and friendly. I gave 4 stars given the service was a bit slow on a slow night.

We came here on a packed evening, and even though the restaurant was completely full, the service was attentive and thoughtful the entire time. The staff made us feel genuinely cared for and even split our shared pasta onto separate plates without us asking (see photo!). The food was delicious across the board. The squid ink pasta had deep, rich flavors without being fishy at all. I had a Malbec that paired beautifully with the meal, and it was just as good as the food. We finished with tiramisu, which was light, creamy, and sweet. All the servers were warm and friendly, and the atmosphere was buzzing with regulars, families, and tech folks in town for an event. It was lively and loud in a fun, energetic way that made the whole experience feel joyful. Highly recommend.

Good combination of traditional and a bit more adventuresome options. Desserts made in house. I had a delicious autumn salad and very tasty pasta dish with sun dried tomatoes. It was easy to have a conversation and the waitress was very observant and attentive without being in the way. Wonderful food and atmosphere. I was concerned about parking, but there was a lot conveniently just across the street, and a passenger loading zone right in front for anyone who can’t walk far.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An Unforgettable 35th Wedding Anniversary at Osteria Palo Alto We celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary this evening at Osteria Palo Alto, and they truly made it an unforgettable experience from start to finish. The food, wine, and desserts were absolutely amazing, but what made the evening extra special was the outstanding service. Violet was simply exceptional—friendly, attentive, and incredibly knowledgeable. Every recommendation she made was spot-on. We honestly could not have asked for a better person to guide us through such a meaningful evening. Her service was truly number one. The entire staff made us feel so welcomed and cared for—it felt genuinely special to be there. And can we talk about the food? The bread basket was the BEST, hands down. And the lava cake… OMG, absolutely delicious! I could honestly go on all night about how wonderful the food, service, and atmosphere were. Osteria Palo Alto has officially become my new favorite Italian restaurant, and we cannot wait to come back. Thank you to Violet and everyone at Osteria Palo Alto for making our anniversary so memorable. It meant more to us than you know. ????????