The best Italian pizzerias and restaurants California

Tony Gemignani is a thirteen-time world pizza champion! As a result, you'll often have to wait almost half an hour to sample the wonders of this San Franciscan pizzaiolo. Let the hostess know that you'd like to eat at the bar, so the wait is shorter. Or take a slice of pizza to go at the dedicated counter on the street. The pizzas are delicious, and seem to come straight from Naples, both in inspiration and in the products used. Tony has also mastered the art of pastas and tiramisu.

A funny name for a café! Originally, this cigar store served just one type of sandwich. Demand was so great that the number and types multiplied. Nowadays, hot sandwiches are the most popular. The meatball sandwich is very famous here, to be enjoyed with a good glass of California red wine. We like the character of this place, which is a welcome change from standard addresses. The music also contributes to the warm atmosphere.

This lively little Italian restaurant, popular with locals, serves traditional dishes that are far better than most of North Beach's more touristy establishments. You can feel the love in the pots and the character in the food! It's a great atmosphere, with authentic decor and a family team who take great care of their customers. Try the chef's specialty, Polpettine Spaghetti, spaghetti with meatballs and flavors that border on perfection. A fine selection of wines from the Botte region are available to accompany your dish.

In the heart of Downtown, Maccheroni Republic is renowned for its delicious fresh pasta, made in-house every day. Ravioli with pumpkin, rigatoni with burrata, bigoli with angus and sausage ragout, linguine with seafood - scallops, shrimps and clams - agnolotti filled withosso bucco... More than fifteen recipes in all. Excellent value for money. Plus: the pretty little terrace. All in all, if we had to choose one Italian address in Los Angeles on this type of budget, it would be this one!

An institution of the Fisherman's Wharf district with its Italian colors. You can eat on the terrace near the wharf under the umbrellas or in a large room. It is crowded, but the service is efficient and attentive. The menu features fish from the nearby bays. The speciality of the house: the Cioppino which marries with talent tomatoes, fennel seeds, clams, fish, shrimps, crab... But the pizzas are delicious too. This family business has been in existence for over 20 years and has built a solid reputation.

One of the cheapest restaurants in Tiburon. Soups, salads, pastas and pizzas... Here you can try the Thai style pizza or the shrimp and pesto pizza. Beware, there is also the much disputed Hawaiian pineapple pizza, the source of endless debate within the pizza community. You can also create your own pizza. Regular movie screenings are held here, sometimes even in 3D. But you can also take your order and enjoy it on a bench facing the ocean.

Paesano's is considered one of the best Italian restaurants in California's capital, and it's easy to see why. This trendy downtown restaurant is divided into a large, high-ceilinged room and a terrace that is very pleasant in good weather. The service is impeccable. You can eat delicious wood-fired pizzas, classic pasta dishes and current specialties always inspired by Italy. The antipasti are also very tasty. Due to its success, the company has opened two other restaurants in Elk Grove and Davis.

A small, cozy brand that serves good pasta and pizza. Just next door, a grocery store makes it possible to buy all Italian products.

It is one of the few restaurants in the area, located at the entrance ofPoint Reyes Station.Popular with visitors and locals alike, this establishment specializes in pizzas: from the dough to the sauce, the emphasis is on homemade. Moreover, all the meats are guaranteed 100% natural and nitrate-free, while the ingredients come from local producers. Between the excellent value, the personalized service and the good atmosphere - with lounge music in the background - Cafe Reyes is a particularly nice address.

Hidden away from the beach of Ocean Beach, this wine-cellar restaurant is one of our heartbeat. They eat in the middle of local and international bottles, bottles that can be bought and consumed during their meal at the boutique price. The atmosphere is very warm with a few jazz notes. The menu, Italian inspired, is not with refined and rich dishes. You'll be advised in particular of the seafood risotto. It is also possible to take a seat around the long bar for a glass of wine, which is found at unbeatable prices during happy hour.

Bottega Louie is a vast space with white marble floors, white walls, and a high ceiling... And white. More than a restaurant, this establishment is an army of cooks who prepare the pizzas and delicious salads on the menu. It's one of Downtown's most fashionable places, as friendly and loud as it is chic. On weekends, the brunch offers a quieter atmosphere, especially since the pastries are to die for. In addition, a new branch has opened in the West Hollywood neighborhood.

Opened in the 1980s, Madeo Ristorante is a true Italian restaurant. The reputation of this elegant establishment is due in part to the unique family atmosphere that reigns in the kitchen and in the dining room. The cuisine is also a rich source of inspiration. The carpaccio, the gnocchi with pesto, and the fish soup are all prepared and served to perfection. The clientele is made up of agents, producers, actors and doctors working at the famous Cedars-Sinai Hospital, which is located nearby. A sure bet!

With its subdued lighting, an intimate, even romantic atmosphere reigns in this popular Silver Lake restaurant. Minestrone, bruschetta with burratta, pizzas, spaghetti al pomodoro, bolognese, puttanesca or guanciale ... Blair's prepares the great classics of Italian cuisine, as well as some more local specialties, such as the unmissable cheeseburger, roast chicken and grilled onglet. A beautiful address that combines modernity and elegance, without being snobbish.

The favourite address of local customers seduced by the huge pizzas and pasta just right.

This unusual restaurant, organized into different areas - pizzeria, osteria and bar - and featuring two large patios, smells of Italy. On the menu: a wide range of delicious pizzas, from Neapolitan classics - such as Margherita, Marinara and Puttanesca - to more original creations, such as Alexa, made with provola, fennel sausage and broccolini. You'll also find homemade pasta with your choice of sauce - pesto, bolognese, carbonara... An excellent address!

The homemade pizzas are absolutely gigantic... Which probably explains the prices, which would make the Italians howl. Nevertheless, the preparations are very good, made from quality ingredients. There's a choice of simple pizzas like the cheese, made with tomato sauce and cheese only, and more elaborate ones like the terra firma, made with the aforementioned ingredients, plus pepperoni, sausage, onions, mushrooms, black olives and peppers. Special mention goes to the delicious pastry.

Romantrattoria in the colors of La Botte, with a warm atmosphere. Chef Maurizio Bruschi serves a small but tasty selection of recipes taught by his grandmother. Everything here is homemade, from the bread to the fresh pasta, and it's all very well. Special mention goes to the octopus and, in a completely different genre, the tiramisus. There's also a good selection of Italian and Californian wines, mainly from the nearby Sonoma Valley. One of the best Italian restaurants in San Francisco, you can go there with your eyes closed.

A delightful setting reminiscent of English tearooms in downtown Pacific Groveert from breakfast to dinner. The menu is inspired by Italy, offering fresh salads, gourmet sandwiches (with a special mention for the eggplant sandwich) and great breakfasts at reasonable prices. As its name suggests, this Victorian building with its pleasantly colored facade is part of the landscape. The staff are very helpful and friendly.

Located off Route 66 at the northern entrance to town, this is a place that can't be missed for its fun exterior design, with a multi-colored cow on the roof and a white and red checkered water tower.

On the menu: pizzas, salads and burgers in a very successful setting, quite in the tones of the preview given on the street. In addition to the quality of its dishes and an excellent welcome, the Cross Eyed regularly organizes live music evenings with local bands or karaoke evenings. Good meal and good mood guaranteed.

Fior d'Italia was rebuilt in the Hotel San Remo after a devastating fire. A very old-school establishment established in 1886, it is, according to its owners, "the oldest Italian restaurant in America"! The menu, a traditional Italian version focusing on northern Italian specialties, offers a wide variety of antipasti, pasta, meat and fish dishes, served with great pomp and circumstance. The stars of the menu are the perfectly seasoned osso bucco, lasagne and clam pasta. The bill, however, is steep.