It's Italia — Restaurant in Half Moon Bay

Really disappointed with them. Had a reservation for 12 on a quiet Sunday morning for my Wife’s birthday brunch, and we were the only people in the place when we got there. My 90 year old grandmother and one other person did not make it, so there ended up being only 10 of us. The food was good, the service was good, and they were even nice enough to cut the cake we brought and put it on the paper plates we brought. Then the bill comes. $24.00 for cake cutting fee. Are you kidding me?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! The bill was already $300.00. I asked the waiter about it, and he said the “computer” adds a $2.00 fee per person, and I pointed out that there were only 10 of us, so it should be $20.00. He said there was nothing he could do, because it is in the “computer.” I asked for the manager, and the waiter returned with great news, they were only going to charge me $20.00 for cutting the cake. This is above and beyond the automatic 18% gratuity they added on the ENTIRE bill, including the cake cutting fee. Finally, when I did talk to the manager, she said they always charge $2.00 per person to cut a cake, and even though it does not say it anywhere, it is automatic by the………what for it……….the “computer” and there is nothing she can do about it. When I pointed out that this is not a good way to run a restaurant, she shrugged and said “I don’t own it, I just work here.” That is great customer service right there. I filled out my credit card slip for $20.00 less than the bill, but they put it through at the full amount anyway. I hope they have a successful business serving computers, but people are not...

Let me first say that everyone at It's Italia deserves a raise, both front and back of house. Every interaction I have ever had with staff has been top-notch. Everyone has been extremely professional and helpful, even during the holidays, when volume and customer rudeness can be a challenge to even the best staff. Much respect and appreciation to them.

I love the interior design and the lighting. The wine barrels above the northernmost seating section are fantastic, and the horseshoe bar is comfortable. When the weather is warm, the interior courtyard seating is the place to be, and you should ask ahead for availability. When it's cold and rainy outside, the floor-to-ceiling windows in the main dining area let you enjoy the weather while warm and cozy inside.

Italia has a very solid wine list, to my moderately-knowledgeable palate. I want a good Chianti and literally any Barbera, and they usually have both.

Their brick-oven pizzas are a local favorite and I especially like the Tunitas (barbecue chicken, smoked gouda, mozzarella, red & green onions, hoisin sauce, cilantro) and the traditional Margarit.

The standard bread with vinegar and oil is exceptional by itself, and you should do yourself a favor and save some for scarpetta if you ordered something saucy for your entre.

I have enjoyed the cheese selection as an appetizer and generally do the Seafood Risotto or the Cowboy Cut Ribeye for an entre.

It's Italia is a great spot and I highly recommend it for...

Over the years we loved this place and had a tradition of making the long drive to savor dinner and spend the night in the charming adjacent hotel. We were so looking forward to another wonderful evening here. The food was great and the setting is beautiful. But, as can happen, poor service ruined a lovely experience. Our server took our order and was essentially done with us for the night. Their system uses food runners, and the kitchen is very efficient. Because of this, there was no one overseeing the flow of our meal. Splendid cocktails arrived well after the food did. The wonderful bottle of wine arrived only after my wife got up and tracked down our server—but by then we were halfway done with dinner, and the wine had no time to open up before we were finished. With every course we had to find a runner or a bus person to bring serving plates, utensils, pepper and fresh cheese, or to remove spent dishes. Our server seemed oblivious and unaware, and it made for a really disjointed and disappointing evening. It’s Italia has a policy of automatically adding an 18% gratuity, and perhaps that’s a disincentive for their service staff to provide service, but who knows. It will be a long time before we return, if ever. And that’s a shame—it was a lovely tradition. Ciao,...