iTalico — Restaurant in Palo Alto

This review is specifically for the private dining event we hosted at iTalico, and I can’t say enough good things about the experience.

From the start, the communication with the team (especially with Marcelino) was excellent—quick responses, clear details, and an overall sense that they truly cared about making our event special. We came in a week beforehand to sample and select wines and appetizers, which was extremely helpful, and they worked with us to customize the set menu and room setup exactly how we envisioned it for a milestone birthday celebration.

One of the standout aspects was how accommodating the staff was. They allowed us to arrive a few hours early to decorate, and they went above and beyond—even helping us take everything down at the end of the night, which we really appreciated because it was a lot! Every member of the staff and management (Antonio) was incredibly kind, helpful, and patient throughout the evening.

Our dedicated server was lovely—attentive and warm—making sure everyone was taken care of. Guests who wanted to take home their leftovers were easily able to do so because they serve excellent portions.

What really made the night extra special was that our party of 15 ppl had the private room for the entire evening. We came to set up at 3 pm and were one of the last groups to close it out. That kind of flexibility is rare and made the whole event feel unrushed and intimate.

The food? Outstanding. Every dish was delicious, and the wines were a hit across the board. As people who’ve worked and travel around Italy, we were genuinely impressed by the authenticity of the flavors—it brought us right back to the Tuscan countryside.

We’ve also dined in the main restaurant during regular service, and the vibe there is equally charming—casual yet elegant, with a warm, rustic Italian ambiance.

Huge kudos to the team at iTalico—you helped us create such a memorable evening. We’ll absolutely be back for more family gatherings, celebrations, and cozy...

I was visiting Palo Alto on a business trip and decided to get a weekend meal alone, so I asked for a reservation for one on Sunday night and they were gracious enough to accommodate me. My mood was for Italian food, so I searched for the nearest restaurant and found this place. The rating was high, but I was a little nervous about visiting the restaurant since it was my first time there.

As soon as I visited, I was glad I chose this restaurant.

The interior was very stylishly decorated, with wine displayed near the entrance and a bar counter in the middle of the restaurant. There was a private room at the back of the restaurant, which also seemed to have a wine cellar. There was also seating outside the restaurant, and I think there were quite a few seats.

I visited on a Sunday at 7 p.m. and the restaurant was completely packed. The restaurant was full of energy, the wait staff were all moving around busily, and a very delicious smell filled the restaurant from the kitchen. There was a large cheese on a table with casters, and the staff was going around to each table twirling the cheese around the pasta in it. Although they must have been very busy, all the staff were very friendly and made a good impression.

Since it was my first visit, I ordered three dishes for the time being, not knowing the portions. It was a bit much and I had a hard time finishing them, but I was very satisfied with the dishes.

I ordered calamari, small fish fritters, spinach salad and pasta. All were very good, but the most impressive dish was the warm spinach salad. The baked potatoes with crispy bacon and goat cheese were a new flavor and bite for me. The pasta was also very good, with a white wine base and shellfish. The pasta itself was Felicetti spaghetti, which was very chewy and went well with the shellfish.

I found from the reviews that the pizzas are also very popular, so next time I would like to try a variety of pizzas with a few friends. I would definitely visit this...

Food was OK, Service was not

Went for dinner on Saturday. The restaurant was busy but not at full capacity.

We were seated quickly and our server came to take our order. He offered to make some suggestions but admitted that he had not actually had most of the food on the menu. After that he realized that he did not in fact have the computer to take our order and left. Rough start, but not a big deal.

We ordered Bread, Wine, a Pizza & Salad, and Multiple Pasta dishes as well as some of the specials.

The food for our first course arrives within a few minutes but we do not have utensils or plates. We wait a few minutes for those to arrive. Halfway through the course our bread arrives, shortly followed by our wine. Salad was subpar but the Pizza was very good.

Our plates are cleared and then we wait for about 15 minutes before our next course arrives- again without plates. At this point we are also out of water (that will never get re-filled). Once the plate - they also do not have utensils. Another 5 minutes before we will receive those.

After we are done our food we decide to order dessert. We wait for about 20 minutes with no service before deciding to get up and get somebody so that we can get a menu. I find our server behind the bar and ask him to bring a menu when he has a chance. He asks what table I am at... Eventually, another busser brings us a menu and we order dessert and drinks. The dessert comes quickly (with utensils!) however, our drinks don't arrive until after we are done eating.

Overall, there was no one thing that was horrible, but the combination of service issues made the entire meal disjointed. Can...