Italian Colors

I came here for a memorial lunch and I really enjoyed it with just a few reservations. They do not have gluten-free pasta or pizza which should be in every place in my opinion. They did have a delicious salad and chicken. Other people enjoyed the pasta. The people who run the restaurant are very nice. The service is excellent. The atmosphere is nice with art on the walls. I would like to come back. The location is nice as well.

We've been to Italian colors a number of times now and every time it is absolutely perfect. The food is wonderful, the service is great and the atmosphere is fantastic. The live music from the guitarist is a wonderful touch. I'm so glad they're such a great restaurant for me to go to. I will always be going back to this place

Celebrated my daughter's college admission there with my family. Great food and great service! Definitely will come back.

Went here with my sister and brother in law on a Friday night. The food was splendid. We started with calamari and it was one of the best calamari I’ve had and it’s my go to at most restaurants. I had the fettuccine pasta with shrimp and it was delicious my brother in law had a taste and he wanted to order himself a plate. We had a mushroom pizza which was tasty and my sister had the lasagna which was also yummy. I had my first espresso martini and it was the perfect pairing for dessert!

I recently made a reservation for a large group. They were very responsive and they made the reservation very easy. Unfortunately half of our group couldn't attend due to family matters. I felt terrible, but the staff was very understanding and accommodating. Our server was wonderful, I wish I got his name. (The evening of 12/10/23) The cocktails are classics with an upscale twist, as well as an extensive wine list. The food is excellent. I recommend the calamari, ahi tuna salad, duck confit and tiramisu. This was my first time here and I plan to go back on a date night or with friends sometime soon!

I returned for the first time in a dozen years. The food was surprisingly good, and the service was surprisingly lousy. We sat for 10 or 15 minutes before being asked for a drink order, and only then because I had flagged down the host and asked her to find us a server. Then, I asked the server if we could have separate checks for the two couples, and he said "we don't do that here." That was okay with me, but at the end of the meal he showed up with separate checks and made a big deal about how he is a manager and so he can do it. I took it to be BS and just a ploy to get a big tip for his generosity in bending some fictitious rule.

Been coming here for over 15 years and literally every visit is exceptional! Outstanding service from every staff member, absolutely delicious food that is always consistent, and a warm and comfortable atmosphere! Kudos to the management for upholding and delivering such high standards over the years! This is my "go to" for every and all special occasions and I'm always so happy and full after a visit! Ps don't forget to include the pear salad with your meal, it is the most delightful and delicious way to start, I promise!

Delicious! They got us in last minute, on New Year's Eve. Our first time there. Their cocktails are worth the price. We had the prosciutto salad, the spaghetti and meatballs, and salmon w/ mushroom risotto. For desert, tiramisu.

Italian colors has easily become one of my go to spots over the years when it comes to places to go around theEast to get food that's good! Lately I found it convenient to order a pizza and a pair of salad and go pick it up and have it when I get home. The service is great. They take my order I can pay for it over the phone run up pick it up and come back home with everything nice and really enjoy it I have had an occasion to eat there as well and I have to say if you haven't tried their menu it is nice. I mean they absolutely delicious items. Although I don't have any pictures now, I'll soon post a few pictures very spacious restaurant and look forward to my pictures of the food.

Spaghettini: "a pasta thinner than spaghetti but thicker than vermicelli "(Merriam-Webster). Not at Italian Colors! Their house-made spaghettini is THICKER than spaghetti, like vermicelli or bucatini without the hole. Craving that thinner pasta, and unaware of IC's idiosyncracy, we ordered... House Made Spaghettini Broccoli, feta cheese, kalamata olives, bell peppers, garlic, e.v.o.o., crushed red pepper flakes 24... and were disappointed by diameter. Otherwise, it was a wonderful meal. The focaccia with olive oil dip remains the best around. Beet salad, pear salad, eggplant parmesan, tiramisu, and service (!) were all excellent. Live music was a nice touch. We recovered from our capellini craving and will return.

A Perfect Oakland Celebration Every so often, you stumble upon a dining experience that reminds you why Oakland is so special--and this was one of those nights. From start to finish, the meal was flawless. This is an updated review- 8 years later since my earlier review is from 8 years ago and I don't know why I haven't reviewed since because I have been back but not a notable occasion. The calamari starter set the tone, crisp and tender. The Brussels sprouts, elevated with Parmesan, were an absolute standout. The pear salad was perfectly tossed, fresh and balanced. For mains, the pizza with mushrooms and fennel sausage delivered on every level, and the linguine vongole was a dream--light, flavorful, and brimming with clams. I brought my 21 year old Jordan Cabernet so I didn't order wine but they have a very good wine selection. Dessert was the ultimate ending: a ricotta cheesecake with a key lime twist, accompanied by pomegranate sauce and whipped cream--simply divine. The service was everything you'd hope for: top-notch, welcoming, and delightfully cheery. This is a family friendly place. There were folks of all family dynamics here tonight; the restaurant decor festive for the occasion. And plenty of parking that feels secure and safe. Special shoutout to our magnificent server, Conor, who made our visit feel extra special. This meal was a beautiful reminder of how extraordinary Oakland is and always will be, a city full of incredible food, community, and vibrance. A true celebration of everything Oakland has to offer.

I'm giving this restaurant 3 1/2 stars. The reason I'm giving you 3 1/2 stars is the food was delicious. The service was awesome. The staff was kind, nice & friendly. The staff people recommended various good items They were fast, prompt and courteous. The reason that I am posting this and giving it them 3 1/2 stars is the TO GO SERVICE CHARGE of $10.20. I wasn't unaware of this until just now. I can't believe you get charged a fee on a TO GO ORDER. On top I gave a tip (on a pick up and to go order) because of the friendliness of the staff.

Food is good but service was slow. Parking was a challenge because they have a Karate class also in the area

Delicious food, friendly, fast service, and cozy, welcoming space! The live music guitarist made it extra special! Our party was attending an evening event at the Chabot Space & Science Center...this place started our night off perfectly!

Love this neighborhood gem! Excellent service and super solid menu! I can never resist the chopped salad and smoked chicken fettuccini, and we also tried the hamachi starter today and it was phenomenal. Tonight's dessert special was cheesecake, and it was perfect. Can't recommend enough, and will be back soon!

This is the perfect place to dine with the family. The food is super delish and the service is fantastic. They are super accommodating for kids!! On Saturday nights, an awesome guitarist plays live music starting at 5:45. Everything is delicious. But their bolognese sauce is just TO DIE FOR. My 11 year old can eat an entire entree of it with spaghetti!! Give it a try and get addicted as well!!!

The best eggplant Parmesan ever! Family owned and employees have been there since it opened. Really great atmosphere and right here in the heart of Montclair

We've been coming to Italian Colors off and on for something like 20+ years and it never disappoints! One of our favorite go-to places for special events with family and friends. I love the ambience which is spacious, relaxed but upscale, excellent service, broad and modern menu, with often guitar musician playing, and large outdoor patio seating too. This time we stopped for drinks after a hike and enjoyed the calamari, fried perfectly, the beet salad and a delicious cauliflower manchego soup.

The restaurant is huge and the service is very attentive. It gets very hot inside and I was with my mom who doesn't do well in the heat and the host was lovely and moved us outside. There were giant termites swarming which was slightly problematic but it was still a lovely night. The salmon was 5/5! Cooked perfectly. I had really high expectations for the ravioli based on the reviews this restaurant had and I was kinda bummed on them. They were dry and didn't feel like they were cooked quite enough. But the sauce was delicious. I'd give it another shot!

What a gem near the Montclair village! We recently moved from the City to the east bay hills and we have been used to some great food in the Noe Valley area, almost being "snobbish" in a way. When we researched our new home we looked up all the restaurants we wanted to try and Italian Colors was one of them. The restaurant decor is a bit like 80's/90's Italian modern, but it's cozy and family friendly. There was live music playing up near the bar with two TV's playing the Warriors game. A little something for everyone! Food wise, it was really good! I ordered the Risi E Bisi soup and the Linguine Vongole. Both were outstanding! The soup was exceptional! The Vongole was really good too. My wife ordered the Beet salad and the Ahi and she loved both dishes. Service was very friendly and pleasant. Overall, top notch spot and will probably be one of our GO TO restaurants in the new hood!

Food is wonderful. Service is great , Couldn't have been happier with the whole meal. Thank you

We've been going here of decades. We've arranged NYE gatherings, we've joined friends, and taken new friends. Never disappointed. We're going there NYE 2024.

I love the food and ambiance at this place! Here is what we ordered: Octopus appetizer - this had some crispy bacon or pancetta mixed with grilled octopus and crispy potatoes. Amazing! The flavors really worked together well and a squeeze of lemon helped to balance it out. My only complaint was the portion size was pretty small. Penne Bolognese - wow you can really taste the deep full flavor of the sauce cooking for 6 hours. Reminded me of a homemade lasagne but in the form of a penne dish. This was incredibly flavorful and had that amazing umami like taste from the tomato/beef based sauce. Very meaty, fulfilling without being too heavy. Linguine Vongole - So incredibly good! Lots of large, meaty, fresh clams with perfectly cooked al dente linguine pasta in a clammy brothy sauce. Loved how they brought an extra bowl for shells and even a spoon so I could have some broth while I slurped some noodles and bit into the clams. The best linguine vongole I've had recently. The atmosphere here is really nice although it was a little chilly inside. There was a musician playing some jazz while we ate dinner. Will definitely be back!

I tried the green lasagna and although it was a small portion it was worth every penny. My girlfriend had the spaghetti and meatballs and I may have liked that a little bit more. Quite setting for a date or family dinner out.

Neighborhood place. Great Italian fare. My fave? The bacon avocado salad as an entree. Spectacular!

Family restaurant and incredible pizzas pastas and have a great wine selection. On the weekend they have live music and it's just a fun environment. Incredible service!

Food: mainly traditional but some a bit avant-garde. Very consistent. Uses fresh local ingredients when available. Service: very good; accommodating. Ambiance: warm, generally quiet with table conversation easily heard.

First time ordering from there have a lot of friends and family that have been there. The biggest turn off was the young woman at the front. She was very rude.. I came in and asked for my to go order -she didn't even acknowledge me came back with the food and bill. She informed me my gratuity was already added as if that was a problem - When she my card and slipped- she left it on the counter- no thank you nor did she ever even came back to get the slip.

Incredible! Authentic Italian food with unique seasonal dishes + great service. The lasagna scarves *chefs kiss* Cannot wait to be back!

The pastas are so delicious- I've never spent so much time savoring each bite My go to WOW spot when anyone mentions getting Italian Plus the staff are amazing

One of my family's favorite restaurants. Been coming back for over 25 years. Great value for the quality of the food that's prepared. Will continue to support

Ordered the calamari, rubbery. Ordered The tomato salad, it had a hair in it. Looked like it came from a beard. A glass of Chardonnay was $20. This used to be a great place. I won't be back.

Ok. Bear with me... I was wanting italian food one evening and my friend suggested i try italian colors. Calling it delicious is like saying Hawaiian weather is fine. This food made me so happy(it's a bad week). I had the antipasti salad with balsamic dressing. Balanced and delicious. Green sheet Lasagna,Different and not as heavy as normal Lasagna but still very filling! The lobster digiorno.. oh my goodness. Sweet lobster, perfect pasta and amazing sauce! Last but for a certainty not least the meatballs..oh my the meatballs. Juicy,tender flavourful perfection. With the side of sweet yet savory foccacia and sourdough. Finally , i mustered the strength to try the creme brulee...it was a to go order. How is creme brulee amazing to go, how? If you have the opportunity to eat here. DO IT. Or disservice yourself with a completely unfulfilled life.

Very good & attentive service provided by Andres for this past dinner! These are the types of experiences that make you want to come to back, the food & drinks being outstanding made it a plus. For sure will be coming back for the ambiance & the chicken piccata !

Good food, good ambience, good customer service. Highly recommend the brussel sprouts! Our party enjoyed our holiday dinner at this cozy restaurant. There is seating outside with warm heaters for Covid precautions. Parking lot can get a bit full at dinner time. Otherwise pretty decent food and decent restaurant!

So happy to have found this gem! A friend brought me here for dinner and service was exceptional. The portions and pricing were fair, but the quality of each plate was YUM. We definitely ordered two rounds of cocktails because they were that GOOD. We will definitely return and look forward to dining here again. Ambiance is calm, but classy casual, and very family friendly. You wouldn't be underdressed if you came in jeans. Italian Colors has a welcoming vibe too, thanks to their friendly staff.

Great little Italian restaurant up in Montclair. It's got all your Italian favorites but I could a whole pile of their crab cakes.

Excellent local restaurant to dine at. Food is delicious and service is incredible. The restaurant is located in the hills and a romantic place. 5 *

Great Oakland Italian restaurant. Good food and drinks, service is always great! A little pricey but worth it in both taste and quality!

Is there a change in chef and kitchen staff in Italian Colors? It has gone downhill! We used to love this restaurant for years. It used to be our go-to place for special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, and for inviting out-of-town friends . Unfortunately, the last couple times we ate there have been major disappointments! The pasta used to be served steamy hot, but the last couple times the pasta came out lukewarm, and the sauces seemed to be just ladled from a precooked batch and not freshly made. The flavors were lacking too! The waiters' service has also gone downhill. That's really too bad! It's a nice and convenient location for us, it's a shame that we won't go back again! Hope management will look into that.

These morons add 15% gratuity for to go orders. Not sure that's legal, in fact it isnt. How cool is that? Dinner and a lawsuit, yes please.

I've been coming to Italian Colors over the years and I have to give them a 5-Star Review! I had my Birthday celebration here recently with 10 friends out on the spacious, heated, and covered patio. Everything was wonderful! As I arrived a bit early for my reservation, the wait staff surprised me with their kind offer to decorate our table with the flowers and balloons and beads I had brought - no way! They suggested I join a friend at the bar and then proceeded to welcome each of my guests as they arrived - so classy. I have been singing their praises ever since. We all enjoyed the live jazz guitar music by Michael who was equally pleasant. Then came all the delicious food - each entree was a delight and large portions! I particularly love that they grilled my salmon to perfection and I didn't have to order my veggies separately on the side (word up to restaurants where they ask if you want a plate of the daily veggies for an additional $18, etc. etc. etc. Just please serve me my meal on one plate for one price). A Wonderful evening all around! Thanks to the great staff and to the grOwner/Chef, Alan Carlson

I had high hopes for this place, menu looked great but it was disappointing. Food was tasteless and service was really lacking.

We eat here weekly. Favorites: "green scarves" (simple lasagna. Usually have the eggplant parmigiana staff is great.

My job threw us a holiday party and Conner, the server did an outstanding job with our large party. He was fast, efficient, knowledgeable, hilarious and kind. He caught a mistake with a dish that my coworker was allergic to and corrected it right away before she caught it. I was impressed because that never happens. I will be back to see my favorite server, Conner :).

we really enjoy our visits to Italian Colors. the staff remember us and seating is in a beautiful setting. the menu features many delicious specialties and we have never been disappointed in the quality of the food our steaks tonight were just perfectly prepared and impeccable service from Tony was appreciated also server/hostess Laura visited our table and we enjoyed a delightful conversation about the history of this unique restaurant.......thanks!

Wifey and I were very pleased with the food and when we inquired about wines, our amazing waiter Anthony got us a red sampler!

Two things: 1) no lactose free milk for those who can't have it. Should have one of the following....lactose free milk, oat milk, soy milk, or almond milk. 2) did not have non alcoholic beer.

Italian Denny's but at $$$ prices. Seems like a good place to bring your kids, but don't come here on a date.

It was great to discover that the Montclair staple is still going strong. it's situated in the back of a small shopping mall. However, it's surprisingly Cozy. Decor is from the early '00s but it wears it well. They have a sea of covered outdoor seating with heaters in these covid times. The food is well executed contemporary offerings. Pastas, Salad, Pizzas with some pretty good seafood. I always lean towards the seafood and it does not disappoint particularly the specials

**Open for takeout and outdoor dining (with fans and cover) during shelter in place** Classy and fun family-owned restaurant with a lot of options for delicious dishes and very friendly staff. Service & Safety Precautions: The service is fantastic here - very friendly staff that was helpful with food recommendations and good conversation. All of the staff wore masks and kept a distance after delivering the food to tables or taking orders. They also do a temperature check before entering the outdoor dining area of the restaurant. Food: We got quite a few dishes so that we could try as much as possible. My family really liked the Salsiccia pizza and wanted to order more if we weren't ordering other food. One of the staff members recommended the Pesce (grilled Alaskan halibut), which did not disappoint. The halibut say on top of an orzo salad and next to a bed of green beans. Although we didn't have more space to fit food, we had to try the desserts, which were also delicious. Tips: If any of the items from the photos are available when you visit, definitely try as many dishes as you can because they're all so good. If you have to choose, we recommend the pizza and the halibut. Definitely ask for the nightly special for desserts as they have fun surprises. Excited to come back here and try more dishes off the menu. Would order the calamari again to start, and then maybe the Green Scarves Lasagna.

I hadn't been to Italian Colors in a long long while. Reading the website it encouraged walk ins on weeknights. It was a warm Tuesday evening we arrived at 5:30 and asked to be seated at a tables outside and were told without a reservation that wasn't possible. How unfortunate! If only I'd made a reservation despite the website! This was for two special birthdays and I had raised the expectation of Al fresco dining. Our meal, taken at a comfy booth inside was delicious, just as I had remembered the food. Service was very attentive and friendly, Cocktails good too. When we left there were plenty of empty tables outside!!!! Irony!

Has really improved. Calamari was perfect. Bolognese sauce was tasty. All the food was delicious and generous servings. Great wines bybthe glass. Good coffee. Service was excellent. Live music is really nice. Nice ambience.

Service is always excellent here. Food is just so so. This time we tried the Bolognese sauce with pasta, and the short ribs. They were supposed to be two of the very best items to order. We thought they were just OK. I like more of a red sauce with my meat. The salad we ordered was excellent. I also really, really loved the focaccia bread. It tasted more like cake! We will be back again to try a few other items. Live music in the restaurant really added to the ambience.

The food is so delicious, it's the one restaurant I return to for special occasions. I've never had any concerns or complaints about service or affordability. Parking there is decent. I love to visit the Montclair district it's so pretty woodsy and peaceful.

Once Again another amazing expricence at this place. Food is always amazing but this time around I was a little worried due to my party being so big. They definitely prove to me that I don't need to have worries when I come here for a special occasion. Their service is so family oriented, thoughtful and amazing that I actually have not found many other places that match. I've said it once and I'll say it again if you haven't been here it's a Definite must try and if you have any special occasion I definitely recommend this place for anniversarys and birthdays. It's also a really nice space to come sit at the bar and enjoy time talking to the regulars. I should post every time that I come here But sometimes I forget !!!

Loved the food, the ambience, the service, really nice relaxed family restaurant. They've created a lovely little nook with greenery to shelter from the parking lot.