It's Italia opened in 1997 as a San Francisco style trattoria and pizzeria serving gourmet pizzas, house pastas, and creative salads, always with a California Italian flavor, and a wine list of 10-12 varietals.
Ten years later, our menu has expanded to include steak and seafood grilled specialties, artful antipasti, and a decadent array of housemade desserts from our pastry chef. Over 120 bottles line up on our wine list from Italy, California, France, Spain, Australia, and New Zealand.
As always, we have remained faithful to a local coastal California Italian cuisine, with its cosmopolitan nature, bringing produce and cheeses from local farms, meats and poultry from quality and organic growers, and seafood from a variety of waters.
Most importantly, we are a little local community restaurant that serves locals. Lots of locals! Our advertising is mostly word of mouth. Our energy is inviting, positive, and friendly, and when you come in, you are invited to be part of our family.
"Great food. We asked to be seated near the live music--don't think we could get much closer without being on stage! Nothing more romantic for a special date than great food and great music."
Dined on 5/18/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for outdoor dining, romantic
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"I had dined here once before and was impressed with the food and service. This visit was very underwhelming. Prices seem to have gone way up ($ 29.00) for shrimp linguini, and price does not include even a modest dinner salad, only the main course. The bread was good but the olive oil/balsamic dipping sauce was very bitter, maybe oil had gone bad. Servers were very polite and nice but noise level was very high and then add a musician playing the guitar and we could hardly communicate.
Just disappointed because we had brought some out of town guests here..."
Dined on 5/18/2013
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"The restaurant was very accommodating with our reservation. We were one hour late (I did call them twice to let them know) and we were sited right away when we got there."
Dined on 5/12/2013
Special Features: good for groups, great for brunch, great for lunch, great for outdoor dining, kid-friendly, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Nice place...But not a place I would seek out for Sunday brunch. We arrived when brunch begins, and they were out of the Lavender Lemonade. Food was OK, but not spectacular or special. Unable to have the Huevos Rancheros without jalapenos. Waiter was OK, but could be better. Could have offered an alternative drink instead of a blank look. Said the Huevos Rancheros was not spicy at all (but it was too spicy for me). After our food arrived, we didn't see him again until long after we'd finished our meals.
Beware of being seated at the booth adjacent to the giant table/1/2 booth. Little girls at that table nearly knocked our drinks over while climbing across the bench seat (not their fault, the back of their seat was connected to our table)."
Dined on 5/05/2013
Special Features: kid-friendly
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"The food and service is fabulous! The noise level is at times beyond annoying, and greatly impeads the joy of sharing the experience of the food. No ability to talk quietly and we were unfortunately seated next to a family with children that had yet to learn their inside voices as appropriate behavior in a social setting."
Dined on 04/28/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, notable wine list
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Have being going to It's Italia for 10 years. Was disappointed to find the most popular things on the menu were gone. No more Manchego Potatoes. No more Seafood Ravioli. No bread until your food is already coming out. The only good thing left is RUBIN the waiter. He tried so hard to make everything right for us. No more It's Italia for me. Very Disappointed."
Dined on 04/23/2013
2010
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Great food. The wine and pasta dishes were wonderful. We went back a second time to try the pizza and loved it. We were in town attending a conference. I would highly recommend the restaurant to those visiting Half Moon Bay."
Dined on 04/13/2013
2010
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, notable wine list
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"always very good great wine list our server was very attentive"
Dined on 04/06/2013
2008
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, good for groups, great for brunch, great for outdoor dining, late-night find, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, special occasion, great for lunch, hot spot
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"New chef since our last visit. Our calamari and chicken Marsala dinners were below our previous experience....the calamari soaked in butter, the Marsala a bit on the dry side. The mixed green salad was very bitter. All in all, a down night but, because we have usually found the dining excellent here, we will assume this was just an off night."
Dined on 04/03/2013
2010
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem, hot spot
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"We were celebrating, so we appreciated the noise and live music. The outdoor patio dining would have been more appropriate for a quieter meal. The food was perfect with the butter squash ravioli receiving the most praise for its sauce."
Dined on 03/16/2013
2013
Special Features: great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 16 for It's Italia
Overall rating
(Outstanding)5/5
OpenTable Diner
Food
(Outstanding)5/5
Service
(Outstanding)5/5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)5/5
Noise Level
Quiet
Special Features: fit for foodies, romantic
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Good food - especially the spareribs were a standout. I questioned our server about two wines and she offered to give me a tasting, but couldn't tell me anything about either wine except that they were Italian blends. In hind sight I should have asked her to bring the unopen bottles, so that I could see if I could tell more about the wines. The wine which we chose because we knew more about it was very good and very reasonably priced. Major point of dissatisfaction. We had the reservation for several weeks. We were given a small table. Two couples seated after us were seated at larger tables. THe restaurant was NOT crowded, so our seating was a disappointment."
Dined on 03/04/2013
2001
Special Features: neighborhood gem, notable wine list
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"We're confirmed admirers of It's Italia --- fresh Italian fare with an extensive panini, pizza and entree menu items. The restaurant's setting is elegant with a rustic atmosphere -- stone masonry walls, ironwork and large windows. One could imagine this restaurant in the middle of Tuscany. There's also the option of outdoor dining. The wait staff was attentive without being intrusive. All in all, this will be our monthly trip to Half Moon Bay."
Dined on 03/01/2013
2007
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for brunch, neighborhood gem, romantic, great for lunch
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"The interior of this space is very attractive, warm, charming, inviting. The beet salad was good but not anything extra special, as was the Caesar, pretty traditional fare. Two had pizzas, both of which were unusual and very good. I had the seafood raviolis, very good and I'd order it again. Our server was adequate and workmanlike. The front of the house staff is excellent. Definitely will go again."
Dined on 02/26/2013
2008
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem, romantic
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Wife and I have been customers since the 80's, when they were located in Stone Pine Center. Always go for dinner but this weekend tried their brunch. We'll definitely be returning another weekend day for a repeat! They offer traditional fare but some other menu items caught our eyes, so let's venture outside the box. A meal that begins with a perfectly mixed dry gin martini served up alraedy has a head start - Carol had the Dutch Baby -Italia's "german pancake", savory style with calabrese sausage, sweet roasted peppers, chives and parmesan. I opted for the Italian Style Street "Taco"-polenta tortilla, grilled tri tip, calabrian, poblano, and anaheim peppers, sweet onions, and avacado served with cumin sour cream on the side. Excellanti!!"
Dined on 02/23/2013
2006
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, good for groups, great for brunch, great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, great for lunch
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"The food was great, well priced, and service was wonderful. We brought a bottle of our own wine, and the corkage fee was only $16.50!! We will definitely be back!!"
Dined on 02/23/2013
2006
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Always great there, did a great job for Valentine's Day with their small tables for two etc etc."
Dined on 02/14/2013
2004
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for brunch, great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion, great for lunch
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Great food and entertainment! all four of us enjoyed our dinner very much. The hostess was so helpful with getting us seated even though we arrived early for our reservation and many others were waiting. We'll be back!"
Dined on 02/16/2013
2007
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, hot spot
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"We always enjoy coming here - the food is terrific, service excellent. This time we each ordered pizza, I had the smoked salmon pizza (comes with a crispy cracker type crust) and my husband ordered a vegetarian pizza with a thick crust -- both were excellent."
Dined on 02/17/2013
2004
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, good for groups, great for brunch, great for outdoor dining, kid-friendly, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion, great for lunch, hot spot
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"I have been here many times before and had great service. Even though it was a holiday weekend, we had terrible service. Took 20 minutes before we were greated at the table and the food took 50 min. I totally understand the long times from how busy they were but the waiter forgot a side I had ordered. I asked the food runner about it and he said he would check with our waiter. Nobody came back until we were finishing lunch. When he did, I asked him I was still missing my side and wanted it. He returned 20 min later and asked if we wanted dessert, we declined as we seemingly were not going to get my side. Upon check drop, he actually asked u to pay the other tables bill since he switched them and could not give us ours..."
Dined on 02/17/2013
2008
Special Features: great for brunch, neighborhood gem, great for lunch
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.