Bellanico Restaurant and Wine Bar

I visited this restaurant with my family for Father's Day lunch based on local Reddit recommendations, but unfortunately had a very disappointing experience with the service. The most concerning issue was that we were never provided water throughout our meal. Every other table had glass water bottles, but despite multiple servers bringing out our courses, no one noticed or addressed that our table was without this basic necessity. I had to specifically request water when our second course arrived, which should never happen at any restaurant. The service was consistently slow despite the restaurant being only partially full with several empty tables and adequate staff visible. It took 50 minutes from arrival to receive our first appetizer. We had to wave down servers for attention, as did other tables around us for both ordering and getting their checks. When our polenta arrived, no utensils were provided - spoons were quietly placed on our table well into the meal without any acknowledgment. The food quality was mediocre and didn't compensate for the service issues. This experience really fell far short of expectations. The restaurant may have potential, but significant improvements in service attentiveness and basic hospitality standards are needed. I hope this was an off day, but I can't recommend based on our visit.

Delicious food and great service. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. You would need reservation. We didn’t have reservation, but still they seated us at the bar table. The ambience is excellent. My favorite was the Butterbean and black rice risotto. Lots of tea options and they are delicious.

We had an outstanding dinner at Bellancio Restaurant and Wine BarWhat made our meal so remarkable? Every thing we ordered was very unique and delicious. We started with their “ Little Gems” Antipasti which consisted of “pickled butternut squash &red onion, gorgonzola, candied walnuts and dijon vinaigrette “! We also had a ravioli that was described as “ Casunzei Red beet & ricotta ravioli , butter sauce,poppy seeds and GRANA PADANO! These two dishes were unlike any I’ve ever had in an Italian or any restaurant! And both were absolutely exceptionally delicious! Maya was our server and she was wonderful too! And for dessert, we ordered an amazing selection of their favorite desserts that was perfect for the perfect for the four of us but selfishly, I would have loved to have it all for myself!

Some of the ingredients seemed odd, like Thai basil in an Italian gnocchi dish. Excellent service, not very good food for the prices. I wouldn’t return. It was pretty quiet for a Friday night, so I think it isn’t known for its food anymore.

We visited yesterday for dinner, and had a great four course menu. The food was fantastic, and service was very fast and friendly! Highly recommended!

I love this place. Like LOVE. The food I’ve gotten here has always been very flavorful, well cooked, and presented beautifully. They also have a good selection of wine as well if you want to drink wine. Their desserts are also delicious, I always order the doughnuts which come with a dark chocolate sauce and this white sauce. They used to have these fish cannolis that were heavenly but unfortunately, those aren’t on the menu anymore. Outdoor seating: yes Heat lamps: yes Nice owners and staff: yes Price: it’s on the pricier side Wine price: ~ $11-16 per glass

Bellanico was a nice sit-down restaurant with a great feel, ambiance, and experience. I stumbled upon this place on a recommendation and went with a few people. We noticed there was a prefix menu for the night.. so that was a good way to try many of their offerings! Our first dish we got was toast with cured salmon paste on it. The toast was crispy and had a nice texture to it. The paste was a good accompaniment and it was a nice dish to munch on. We then were able to try the wild boar and ricotta ravioli. I liked the ravioli though it was a pretty plain dish and did not think anything much of it. I was also able to get the Russet potato gnocchi with gargonzola cream and toasted almonds. This was my favorite dish here. The almonds provide a nice texture and the gnocchi was prepared well and tasted great. For dessert I got the goat cheese cheesecake. This was a nice tasting cheesecake and it was not overly sweet. It just had the right amount of minimal sweetness which I liked. I really like the interior of this restaurant and the service was very attentive and nice. I definitely would come back!

Visited at lunch time and was served right away. While sitting at the bar, you can see in the kitchen where your food is prepared. It's a clean space, employees seem genuinely happy to be working there and they're quite knowledgeable. Ordered the smoked trout pannini. Seasoned to perfection and oh so delicious. The negroni went along with it just fine.

Really nice italian food - with subtlety and innovation. Pleasant intimate atmosphere that lended itself to conversation and enjoying the delicious food and wines. Staff was attentive and nice, and full of recommendations. Among many quite tasty dishes the Risotto stood out with depths of flavor.

"And there it was, mountains of duck. And not fatty duck either, but juicy tender breasts of duck." -Elaine Benes, Seinfeld da Scene: Gotta give some love to the neighborhood joints. The everyday spots get overlooked sometimes... consistently good, with little twists thrown in. Whenever in the Glenview, ya gotta stop in. Me and my girls, Friday night AND the college kiddo picks up the bill?! It's a WIN!! da Grub: pro tip - book 5:45 on weekdays and you can squeeze in a Happy Hour order before dinner. We did the fried Meatballs, salmon Cannoli, and duck liver Pate with some white wine and a Negroni. Strong offerings, you can do some damage if you do the whole hour. LOVED all 3... but the pate is exquisitely decadent. Dinner was 2 orders of Casoncelli stuffed with rabbit, Gnocchi Cipollini, and the Duck confi. all went well w/ a Tuscan red. Where the Casoncelli and Gnocchi bites were delicate & light, the Duck over the black risotto was hearty & rich plus you get both breast & thigh to enjoy. Dessert? Yes please! Not an after-thought here, prepared with as much effort as the mains. Chocolate Souffle Tangerine Panna Cotta, and the Olive Oil/Squash Torta were perfect endings. I rarely get espresso out since I pull a great shot @ home, but they can work the $2000 espresso machine too! I asked for a short espresso, and got a deep, almost syrupy shot and perfect crema... had to get a 2nd one! da Service: Thoughtful servers, attention to detail and precision execution. You can hear the orders being expedited, I fully expected to hear "Yes Chef!!" Dishes timed correctly, never felt rushed, elevated but not pretentious. On the way out the gent in the Chef Whites asked if everything was good and if the espresso was to my liking, apparently he likes his the same way. RUN, don't walk to join them for either a happy hour bite or a lingering dinner, you won't be disappointed!

Lovely Italian restaurant near my house. The inside is super cosy and the servers are top notch. They provided excellent service and were super attentive (or at least it felt that way since I just got back from France and got used to being ignored haha). I ordered the bruschetta, gem salad, gnocchi, and the cheesecake. The bruschetta was delicious, it had whole roasted garlic cloves on it. YUM! The cheesecake was also amazing - it has Laura Chenel goat cheese, which is my fave. The gem salad was slightly overdressed, but fine. Unfortunately the gnocchi dish needs a whole paragraph to itself. It was a huge swing and a miss for me. All of the components were cooked well but it was not a cohesive dish and was definitely missing something - a sauce? Crushed red pepper and some ricotta, maybe? Definitely would not recommend this one to anyone. Bummer! I might come back for a date night but will definitely be ordering something else :)

I want to love this long time local restaurant. Owners are lovely. One of my friends loves the place but the dishes are hit and miss in my opinion. I've been 3-4 times over the 2+ decades I've lived in the neighborhood. There may be one star item we order but then everything else not so much. For example had the liberty duck last time. The duck was amazing but everything else in the plate was meh. Everything is high quality and obvious care went into its preparation. But there just hasn't been enough to entice me to come back.

Bellini Spritz: strong af but sweet and yummy. Salmon Cannoli: mild yet balanced flavors. cannoli shell was a tad hard but not gravely. pretty yummy overall but not amazing Rabbit Casoncelli: rabbit is mild (good). lacks depth of flavor, sauce base is mainly oil. inoffensive dish but leaves me wanting more (of other food) to eat. Duck Confit: the duck was YUMMMM. Ordered medium rare and it was so tender and meaty and flavorful. the subtle flavor of the meat paired really well with the savory jus. Only thing I didn't like was the beans. They overpower the rest of the dish and there are a LOT of beans on this plate . Wish they would've opted for a more neutral potato or roasted vegetable Honey Pine Tart: reeeeally sweet. Wasn't tasting the wine so much but the poached pear was delicious. Sat in outdoor seating so can't say much for vibes. Service is good (: my waiter was friendly and attentive Overall for the amount I paid for my meal, it was not worth the price. The best food out of everything I ordered was the duck, but the plate was very unbalanced. Very mid for what I spent.

We were a group of 7 young ladies who came in on a Friday night to celebrate a birthday. The food was nice, tasted authentic, like made from scratch. The service on the other hand, was quite poor. We were seated 6:35. At first our waiter was nice, and answered all of our questions. However other than bread food did not arrive until an hour later. When we recieved our food, some of our orders were messed up. For example - two gnocchi orders came out as malfati pasta. Following that, two people in the group wanted to pay ahead and separately. The waiter took my friends card and held on to it for more than 30 minutes. At one point we saw him freaking out as if he lost her card. Which then led to us stressing out a little. In addition my friend who made the reservation, called the place more than 3 times to confirm and asked if they had Apple Pay each time. Each time they said "yes" every time. However, when we were ready to pay, the server said that he was unsure if they took Apple Pay and said that we could talk to the owner. We talked to the owner and he said "we are a very old establishment. we have never taken Apple Pay and none of the waiters would say that to you. you must have called the wrong restaurant". It's 2025. how do you not have apple pay? Also you are not that old. And even if you are you can get with the times.

This is my favorite local restaurant, mainly because I am partial to Italian food, but this is a great family-run restaurant. We most recently came here for brunch and made a reservation online but if you come on the weekend before noon you can get in without any trouble. We started with the squash blossoms, different from others I've had because they were filled with a butter bean puree but I didn't find myself missing the cheese filling. The little gems salad was great, with the grilled peaches and Gorgonzola pairing nicely without the cheese or the Dijon-based dressing being overpowering. I am a pasta lover so of course I got the spaghetti carbonara, made in the traditional style with an egg-based sauce instead of cream-based, crispy pancetta pieces, and a nice addition of arugula to brighten the dish and complement the flavors. A recent addition to their brunch menu was the chilaquiles verdes, the best kind in my wife's opinion, which she enjoyed. Service from everyone was great, as always. Good Prosecco-based cocktails for brunch plus a good wine selection. If you come here for one of their special prix fixe menus you may luck out and have the opportunity to enjoy their wine pairing with each of your courses. What else can I saw other than I wish we came here more often!

Always a pleasure dining here -- we sat on the patio and enjoyed their happy hour (highly recommend). Happy hour is every day between 5-6pm. It features appetizers (cicchetti) between $4-$6 and cocktails (aperitivi) and wine for $9.

This place is SO good. Great service, very classy. Good for something a little different. It's one of those places where the food looks artsy, but it was so good and filling. I got two appetizers, a wine and a dessert and stayed under 35$. I got the risotto and smoked salmon and was super full. Loved the food. The wine was really flavorful and loved the chocolate souffle.

Still love this place. It's always a solid neighborhood restaurant. It's a pleasant place to meet friends, or suitable for romantic dinner, or take your well behaved kids-- there is usually at least one family. Wait staff remain attentive with water and suggestions. The outdoor seating has expanded to a parklet. They have curtains that help block the slanting sun in the parklet The food is excellent. Why did I think they were 4 stars 9 years ago? I'm upping them to 5. They are consistently good, friendly, and they are right here!!

Pretty good! The portions need to be quite a bit bigger though. Not a lot of pasta in the dishes for the price. Main entrees were a bit slow to come out of the kitchen. Must have been a back up or somethin.

This is one of the best weekend brunches in the East Bay. Why isn't it crowded? Everything I've tried is outstanding. Personal favorite is the duck confit hash. My friend from Paris raved about the pork belly. I'm super picky about spaghetti carbonara but found theirs among the best I've had. The service is always great too. For what you're getting the prices are a steal too. If you're looking for a great brunch or weekend lunch, get to Bellanico. A neighborhood gem that is worth a drive. I see lines at places far inferior and don't understand it. Buck the trend and seek this unusually consistent and excellent option! Yes, I'm a fan, but I'm an extremely selective fan. This is a secret more should discover. One more thing- the outdoor seating is comfortable and varied and good for dogs, too. Plenty of heaters if you like that.

On a rainy Sunday evening, four of us had a very pleasant dining experience at this Italian restaurant in the Glenview District of Oakland, CA. Service was professional and efficient. The server recommended dishes that were exceptional in flavor and presentation. House made pasta and other specialties are worth ordering. The dining is relaxed and serene. Street parking only in metered spaces.

Came during Oakland Restaurant Week for their brunch tasting menu. Made a reservation, but it wasn't too busy on a Saturday morning. Staff was super friendly and attentive! Ordered most things, minus the Mulfatti. As always, everything was delicious. Terrine - you can't go wrong with goat cheese and beets! I will note that when it came out it, it was not what I expected it to look like, but it really didn't disappoint. Was soo good! Frittata- was super spongy, flavorful, and had lots of goat cheese. Again, can't go wrong! The spinach was a little salty, but combined with the frittata it was tolerable. Bomboloni- the sage custard was interesting, not my favorite, but mixed with the chocolate sauce, it was good. The doughnuts themselves were really good. Crispy on the outside, but still moist on the inside. Would have definitely appreciated more of a dipping sauce. While I didn't have the meat options, my friends thoughts: Bresaola - my friend described it as a fancy salami. Even the side salad was tasty. King salmon- was average, nothing to rave about, but a good deal. Goat cheese cheesecake- delicious!

My niece lives near by so they made early reservations at 5pm, when they open. For dinner . Small place on the corner and parking is limited. Cute place with a comfortable feel to it. I think there were 10 tables inside and a few outside. They have a time limit of 2hrs to eat so keep track! I had the Grilled Pork Chop that included grilled persimmons as well as eggplant and it was absolutely fabulous !!! Everyone had a dish they really enjoyed . For dessert we got the Dolcini Sampler which was a great way to end our dinner . Have to go back and try another item!!

(This is a combination of two reviews. One started in September 2023 and the second from May 29, 2024.) When someone asks ME to dinner, my first question: Do I have ten minutes to shower? My second: Where we going? Answers: Yes. Bellanico. Service was excellent. Timely but not obnoxiously over-present. On the second visit, Lisa took care of us. She made recommendations, was not pushy, and made us feel very comfortable. Started with a glass of rose Cremant, which proved to be the perfect way to open the palate. We enjoyed the broccoli fritters and fried green olives. We split two salads, the farro (with beets and a bitter green - arugula?) and the little gems (with Gorgonzola). At $14/each, they were good if not great values. With dinner of the casarecce (lamb with home-made pasta) and a side of kale sprouts (with sweet onions), I had a glass of the Montefalco. That deep, red wine complemented the lamb perfectly. I nibbled and sipped in slow motion as I did not want the experience to end. Music played in the background: noticeable but not so loud as to drown out conversation or to impede a great meal on a beautiful night in Oakland. Check it out. -- Workingman's gourmand.

The service over the food was the highlight for us. While the food was decent it really lacked seasoning. We went this past Saturday night, made a reservation and sat outside. It was hot AF so the outside seating was so nice. We got there right before HH was done so they allowed us to get some apps and drinks in last minute. We ordered the fried meatballs and broccoli fritters, both lacked salt. I know the level of salt is a personal preference but my cousin who never salts her food asked for salt. Then me and my Mom split the peach salad and bruschetta, which again required seasoning. The bruschetta that's weren't crisp, yet chared at the ends and undercooked in the middle so all the tomatoes and good stuff fell off because the bread disintegrated upon picking it up. Our server was impeccable and frankly the entire staff was top notch! The spaghetti was delicious, after we added salt, and the noodles were cooked to perfection. Overall, the apps fell short for us, including the little gem salad with the peaches. What peaches is all I'll say? The winners were the service, spaghetti and the dessert. Everything else was meh. We'll give this place one more try since we live up the street but if the second time proves to be mediocre, we'll keep going to Marazano instead.

Came here with a couple of friends the other night and we decided to share a few things! I brought a bottle of wine, which was a great deal with a $25 corkage fee. *Butternut squash fritters - these didn't really have much flavor *Meatballs - good and liked the sauce *Duck Liver pate - good *Beet and ricotta ravioli - these were delicious and would absolutely order again! *Gnocchi - did not enjoy this at all, the gnocchi didn't seem terribly fresh and lacked any sense of flavor *Bolognese - pretty good We also finished the meal with the dolcini sampler. The goat cheesecake was good, but the rest was ok at best. Overall, good and attentive service, and a nice neighborhood place. The food itself was hit or miss, but I would come back for certain things.

Amazing food and wine Consistent excellence thru the years Service is superb with a warm sense of comfort and hospitality that is so rare Love this restaurant!!

The menu changes seasonally so practically nothing I had last time was on this menu which was kinda a bummer because I wanted to taste the same things. I ordered the clam and sausage spaghetti since they made such a bomb seafood dish last time. I also ordered a farro pea shoot salad and cauliflower fritters. The fritters were our favorite. The farro salad tasted flat, nothing jumped out flavor-wise. Then the spaghetti came and it was too salty! I returned it and they made a new one with less salt. It tasted more tolerable but I wouldn't recommend it. I expected to taste the sweetness of the clam which was absent. I took the leftovers home and plan to add spinach or parsley to balance out the salty flavors. My partner got the bolognese and that was very good. I guess I'll check the menu next time before I come!

Friendly service. Loved the farro salad. And the bruschetta- bean spread, kale, garlic on grilled bread.

We came here for dinner on a Friday night before we went to the Chabot Observatory. We were seated promptly and service was pretty attentive. The food quality wasn't great and taste was just okay. Nothing impressive at all and I am disappointed at what we got. The squash soup was too liquid and flavorless. My malfatti was soft/fluffy but lacking good flavors while the brown butter and sage were all burned badly. Four pieces of malfatti basically just grounded spinach in a ball shape, in super burn butter in all blacken pieces which sucks. The spaghetti bolognese was good and the kids liked it. The desserts were the worse part! The assorted cookies were like the ones out of a package, dry and bad, even my kids didn't like their cookies! I had the chocolate soufflé and what a disappointment! The tangerines tasted like those out of a packaged cup with syrups and huge chunks of cubed ginger which tasted badly! Overall the food taste and quality were not good though service was great.

Made accommodations for our dietary restrictions. Friendly helpful wait staff. Seems like a family owned/operated place.

A solid choice for weekend brunch. The duck confit is my favorite but the rest of their selections are great as well. Great service and lots of outdoor space if you want to bring your pup along, which my brunch mate often does.

I've eaten here a few times now when I visit my friend S.K. from Paris. Yesterday, I had the pleasure to dine with S.K. and George S. We all chose different dishes and enjoyed them all. The seared pork belly was fantastic, properly seared and deliciously confit. The sweet mostarda and earthy vegetables and fregola were a delightful pairing for the pork. The staff and chef were attentive and also respectful of our happy reunion. I was cold, my friends were not - and the staff fixed that too. Very highly recommend.

This was our second visit to Bellanico after how good the food tasted last time, but this time everything about the restaurant was extremely disappointing. We went for brunch, firstly there was a weird smell coming from the bathroom because of which we chose to change our table, ordered fried zucchini fritter, it was oozing oil. Next they made a primavera to order, I asked for it to be made with vegetables. The pasta was undercooked, not aldente, just undercooked, and for vegetables there were 4 pieces of broccoli in it. Paid for flavorless, oily food. I hope they get back to how they used to be.

Me and my family have been coming here for over 2 years . We have celebrated birthdays here! The menu changes with the seasons which is a plus in my book. The staff is always very helpful and friendly. I like that we are able to sit inside or outside on nice nights. If you haven't been here, I'd definitely come and give it a try, the new broccoli fritters are amazing! My favorite dish is the risotto, right now it's lemon risotto but I definitely have tried a lot of them here and my favorite is rainbow carrot.

Food is great but portion sizes are ridiculous. Don't go there if you are starving. Even my 9 years old complained about the amount of pasta she got. Prices are more on the higher side so they should have bigger portions. We seated outside but they had a heather so it was a plus for us. Will definitely come back on another occasion , probably when we are not that hungry !

A happy, friendly ambiance with knowledgeable servers. Excellent, tasty menu. We keep coming back! AND are recognized as frequent diners! Only downsides: no cocktails, and noisy traffic when sitting outside.

Been a FAV for a long time and it never lets us down. Every dish taste fresh, has good flavor combos. I prefer using their regular table bread to what they use in some of these dishes but it's not a problem. I returned to beet ravioli for main, which was awesome, as usual. Used to get it regularly but had not had it in ages - Loved it!! People are nice.

Sat outside on the patio. Brunch was fabulous- the Florentine with poached egg and breakfast potatoes- sooo good! Friendly service. Great for a sunny day brunch!

For an unassuming neighborhood Italian spot, this place was TOTALLY LEGIT! The food and service were both great. My favorite dish was the Tagliolini Pepati. We will return and I will 100% order it again!

Everytime I am in the area I try to stop by for a quick bite to eat. Great atmosphere, everything is freshly made. My favorite item was the polenta & the shrimp fritters. They have amazing squash blossoms when in season. Great great service. I never had a bad time with a rude server or host. The cooks are cooking right in front of you. And a must try is the GOAT CHEESECAKE! 10/10 would recommend

Excellent food. Neighborhood hang out. Great wine! Great daily menu. They usually have dessert or savory Pana Cotta.

Came here tonight for another lovely meal. The seven year old requested we update my review. My husband and I have been coming here since we first met over 11 years ago. We have been bringing our child since she was a baby and it's been lovely every time. We have never had bad service nor a bad meal here. Review by the seven year old "Food was great. I had the limonata and the kids pasta with butter. We had the dessert sampler for dessert. It was super yummy, however we had a hard time finishing it because it was so big."

Amazing place for any event. Or just for a cozy delicious dinner out. Service is always spot on.

Homemade pasta was amazing with the Bolognese sauce. Service was congenial and almost family ambience.

I've been here a few times, mostly for dinner and once for brunch. I love Bellanico. It really can check many different boxes, depending on what you're in the mood for... For example, it can be a spot for a nice dinner out, especially when sitting indoors, or it can be a more casual night out, especially at the bar or on the patio. If you're in the mood for traditional Italian dishes, they have some of those. And they also have some lesser known dishes you can try if you're feeling adventurous, like the malfatti and casunzei. I also like the desserts, especially the panna cotta. I've always had good service here. I do recommend reservations, especially for Friday and Saturday nights. It's a small, family restaurant, and it can get busy. Or avoid that and come on a week night.

Good food and good wine. A small place with quaint atmosphere. not particularly lively but good for an intimate dinner or connecting with friends. Service was very friendly.

A terrific neighborhood restaurant. Attentive staff, wonderful food, good wine list. Great for families or dates. Easy parking. Dont miss the swiss chard malfatti! And we love the tagliarini oepati.

My favorite neighborhood spot! Husband & Wife Owners are the absolute most gracious people. Place named after their two Daughters. The food is seasonal yet so consistent - I remember Owners from their posh restaurant in San Francisco (where I'm from). Join their MONTHLY WINE CLUB with three bottles of the finest from Italy

Was there a change in operations, ownership, or the kitchen? Quality has noticeably changed. I have to say, the pork belly doesn't look like pork belly? Perhaps pork chop in disguise.

Enjoyed a special Mother's Day menu brunch today. The food and service was outstanding.

Totally frustrated about not being able to visit our favorite previously busy restaurants and NOT BEING ABLE TO ADD YELP REVIEWS!!!, I made a birthday request for takeout 'pick up' from a favorite restaurant, Bellanico in Glenview! They knocked it out of the ballpark and the food was FABULOUS. I was like a kid in a candy store relishing each and every cherished bite! So, cooking every day at home for weeks on end is OK, and we've done so creatively pulling out every cookbook in sight, but the indulgence of a restaurant meal professionally done was most appreciated. The Bellanico website is updated for the pandemic and quite clear and user friendly, including easy access to current menus, times of operation, etc. Calling in to order was simple and did so just a couple of hours before pickup, and it was indeed ready on time. I was told the person taking the phone order was gracious; very nice and friendly. We got a couple of appetizers, including the fried green olives which are so delicious. Sorry we didn't get 2 orders of those! Yum. Also got the cauliflower fritters and Mondegili meatballs, always a taste treat. Dungeness crab cakes (SO delicious and full.of flavor), rosemary flat bread and bruschetta followed next. I got the grilled Bavette Steak and it was perfectly cooked, succulent and just wonderful. It came with a side frisee salad, Amarosa purple potatoes, grilled green beans and tasty spicy pickled cherry peppers. All the flavors worked together well and it was heavenly. We also got a pork chop, always a favorite at Bellanico and it didn't disappoint. We shared some of the entree protein and the pieces of chop I had were spot on perfect. They also wrapped a couple of packages of their delicious bread. So going all out since this outing was such a current guilty pleasure we also got sides of grilled escarole and roast potatoes with summer squash. Does this all sound very piggy so far? You bet! Not to outdo ourselves, har har, we got two orders of gnocchi for later! That comes with corn, favas, peas and sprouts with a kale pesto! For dessert I had the olive oil and squash torta with carmel sauce and a whiskey pecan gelato! Super good!! And really ended the meal nicely. To top it off we got a bottle of hearty red wine we hadn't tried before, Kleos Aglianico Luigi Maffini from the Campania region of Italy. It turned out to be a perfect compliment to the food and was reasonably priced too. Bellanico is known for their wine list and very selective so you almost can't go.wrong. Bringing home fine quality restaurant food not served directly there is always a bit of a dilemma...will it be as good schlepping it for a time period away from the preparation? Well it worked perfectly well and didn't suffer the brief trip. Bellanico had it all well packaged and professionally placed and it was a pleasure opening each box to plate the courses. So sitting at the backyard dining table on the patio on a beautiful summer day at a relaxed pace made the Bellanico meal an ideal birthday treat! Thank you to the chef and staff who made it special. Regardless of a special occasion or not... go to Bellanico. It's well worth it. And I suspect we'll return again soon too, just for a delicious meal.

They ran out of bread 1 hour into opening. This is an italian restaurant... How do you run out of bread? Service was fine but not great. Food was just ok.

Food & Service were great and the seating was comfortable --some might not like the tightness of the tables but it is a place meant to be cozy that some may not appreciate but was fine by my birthday lunch party for 6. Have come here a few times and the food never disappoints!! (I personally give it a five star rating as I heavily overweight food and atmosphere).

Gem of a local restaurant and wine bar! 12 of us ordering just about everything! I'll just comment on the mains, Swordfish sushi grade! Duck breast and leg cooked to perfection! Mussels so tasty! Pork chops were amazing The Rabbit was cooked and presented perfectly! The braised lamb pasta dish memorable even the child's spaghetti was Perfection! The dessert choices were chocolate soufflé, and a huge sampler plate of goat Cheese cheesecake! Homemade donuts, brownie cookies Ala mode

I came to Bellanico as part of Oakland Restaurant week. I was really excited to try this place as their prefix menu for restaurant week looked so delicious! However, it just went from good to terrible as the dinner progressed. My friend and I arrived at 5:30 for our reservation and we were seated promptly! The setting is homey, but very tight (literally)! It's even difficult to walk to our tables because the aisle space is so narrow! We had complimentary bread with olive oil as starters; however, I wish the bread was warmed. It seemed to be a little stale; likely due to sitting out for a period of time! For appetizers, I got the Crudo di Hamachi. It was the best part of my meal!! I loved the freshness of the hamachi and the nice pairing with citrus glaze! It was a nice, light and delicious! Great start to my meal. Then, it started to go downhill for me. For my main course, I got the dungeness crab risotto. My risotto was too salty with too much cheese, which overpowered the crab. I also didn't feel that the marscapone added much to the dish. The dish was a little too heavy and wasn't satisfying. For dessert, I got the white and dark chocolate panna cotta. While it doesn't seem like a standard panna cotta, I thought the flavor was okay. However, the chocolate salami was hard as a rock. It was so difficult to bite! Out of the three courses, I only enjoyed my appetizer. But the worse part about my dining experience was the time between each course. I felt like I was waiting forever between dishes - - a little too long! It took ~20 minutes for for the main dish to come out AFTER I finished my appetizer! Then, it took over 30 minutes to bring my dessert after finishing the main course! I think the timing needs to be worked out better. Overall, perhaps, it was too crowded due to restaurant week and it was hard to make sure the food was timed correctly. In addition, the menu just didn't meet my expectation. The staff was nice when they were around, but they also didn't really check in because the aisles were extremely narrow! I wouldn't recommend restaurant week, but I'd consider trying their standard menu if you're ever craving Italian food!

I don't know what was worse, the food or our waitress and her disgusting attitude. Went with my friends a couple nights ago and the waitress acted like we were a burden the whole time. Being impatient and making fun of us with her coworker and what not. Still ended up tipping her hopefully it would get rid of that awful dye job she had in her hair, I'd be miserable too if it looked like someone tried to dye my hair with blue Kool aid. The food on the other hand was also unpleasant, it was cold and overly mushy. Wouldn't dare to go back to that place again for "friendly service" or "quality Italian cuisine"