Good Italian restaurants (Sacramento, Riverside, Orange: school, to live, garden) - California (CA) - City-Data Forum

italian31 · 05-26-2010, 01:10 PM

I'm looking for a good italian restauran in sac. im not talking about a chain like olive garden or any of that crap. im talking about a nice sit down family place with good service. are there any like this in sac?

misc916 · 05-27-2010, 03:27 PM

I'm originally from NYC and grew up eating good Italian food and pizza...I'm always looking for a good Italian restaurant here in Sacramento similar to what I grew up with back home, but unfortunately have yet to really find one that I can rave about. For me the ones I go to are always just 'ok'. I did recently go to a place in Folsom called "Visconti’s " which was pretty good. You might want to check into that one. There's a place in Sacramento called "Espanol Italian Restaurant" which has been around for many years, but I've never been. I should try it , but have always heard mixed reviews. One place I can recommend is 'Dominick's Italian deli and pizzeria' in Folsom and Granite Bay. It's not a restaurant per se , but the owner is from New Jersey and his food is the real NY/NJ Italian style that I grew up with. There's also another real NY pizzeria called 'Giovanni's' in Sacramento. I hope some of this info helps in your quest.

italian31 · 05-27-2010, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by misc916

I'm originally from NYC and grew up eating good Italian food and pizza...I'm always looking for a good Italian restaurant here in Sacramento similar to what I grew up with back home, but unfortunately have yet to really find one that I can rave about. For me the ones I go to are always just 'ok'. I did recently go to a place in Folsom called "Visconti’s " which was pretty good. You might want to check into that one. There's a place in Sacramento called "Espanol Italian Restaurant" which has been around for many years, but I've never been. I should try it , but have always heard mixed reviews. One place I can recommend is 'Dominick's Italian deli and pizzeria' in Folsom and Granite Bay. It's not a restaurant per se , but the owner is from New Jersey and his food is the real NY/NJ Italian style that I grew up with. There's also another real NY pizzeria called 'Giovanni's' in Sacramento. I hope some of this info helps in your quest.

thanks for the input. there"s barely any italian culture outside of san fran area and LA area. im the same grew up italian in so cal, but can't seem to find anything decent here.

wburg · 05-27-2010, 08:20 PM

Looking for Italian culture in Sacramento? Try the Italian Cultural Society!

Sacramento Italian Cultural Society - About Us

And if you're looking for the history of Italians in Sacramento:

http://www.sachistoricalsociety.org/...-Summer991.pdf

One notable thing--unlike many other Italian American communities, Sacramento's Italian immigrants were mostly northern Italian, rather than southern Italian or Sicilian.

As to restaurants: personally I recommend Serritella's on Fair Oaks, or Espanol Restaurant on Folsom Boulevard. Both are kind of old-school family-style restaurants, with checkered tablecloths, glass grapes on the wall, and great minestrone. As to why there is an Italian restaurant called "Espanol," it's kind of a long story.

If you don't mind going into serious hock to dine, Biba on 28th and Capitol is very highly rated, named for its local food-maven operator, Biba Caggiano.

In the downtown/midtown area, there is Paesano's at 18th and Capitol, not totally authentic but tasty and not too expensive, Zelda's Pizza on 21st and N, and Pronto on 16th and O, which I am told serves an Italian beef comparable to those you'd find in Chicago.

I think there are a couple of places that still serve Merlino's Orange Freeze, although the original Merlino's is long gone--it's the closest thing you'll find to a Italian ice out here.

If you like your Italian a little more modern, try Hot Italian on 16th and Q (they sell Italian food, gelato, Italian fashions, and even Italian motor-scooters!) or Pizza Masullo on Riverside in Land Park.

And if you'd rather do it from scratch, pick up the goods at Italian Importing on 19th and J Street (also a great place for a sandwich) or at Corti Bros. on Folsom and 59th. The latter is owned by Darrell Corti, one of the most respected wine experts in the country.

Jasmine728 · 05-28-2010, 01:25 PM

wburg- nice post! Do you know anything about an Italian Restaurant in Auburn, CA? There is one downtown but I havent heard how it is. I'll try to find the name of it, cant remember as I just drive by once in awhile. Anyway, if you've heard of it or eaten there I'd love to know how it is.

Jasmine728 · 05-28-2010, 01:29 PM

I used to live near Zelda's... love their food! I have numerous friends in the Bay area that drive here just to go to Zelda's. Biba's and Paesano's are good... gonna have to try the others myself!

hydro · 05-28-2010, 01:43 PM

Visconti's in Folsom

Curmudgeon · 05-28-2010, 08:06 PM

For fabulous sandwiches, sides and a marvelous meat counter, don't overlook Sampinos at 16th and F!

wburg · 05-29-2010, 10:45 AM

egads, how could I forget Sampino's?

jasmine: Never been there, sorry. I haven't been to Auburn in maybe 12 years.

Curmudgeon · 05-29-2010, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wburg

egads, how could I forget Sampino's?

jasmine: Never been there, sorry. I haven't been to Auburn in maybe 12 years.

I dunno? I'm sure you remember the Earl of Sandwich just down the street. It changed hands in about 1995 when one of the sons from Sam's Market on O Street between 13th and 14th bought it along with two others. Unfortunately, it didn't last but Sam's probably still sells decent deli sandwiches at lunchtime.