Marcello Ristorante

This place is an absolute hidden gem! If you are craving seriously authentic, fresh Italian food- you really need to dine here. I had the wild caught blue crab cake, linguine with bolognese sauce and the nuova capri salad which was similar to caprese but elevated to a whole new level. Everything is delicious- but you’ll know that when you walk in and are instantly surrounded by heavenly aromas. The staff is absolutely incredible, so kind courteous and attentive. Paulo is so cheerful and knowledgeable, if he recommends anything- it’s worth trying! The owners are so sweet and taking painstaking care to ensure a wonderful experience. I have been a life long loyal customer to another Italian Restaurant in town, and I am happy to say Marcello’s Ristorante is officially my new favorite go to for an excellent meal!

5 stars! Marcello Ristorante in Thousand Oaks exceeded our expectations! We started with the Strozzapreti al parmigiano e gorgonzola (potato gnocchi, parmigano & gorgonzola) and Suppli (rice balls with peas & mozzarella) - both were delicious! For our mains, the chicken Marsala was cooked to perfection with a rich Marsala wine mushroom sauce, and the Salmone con tapenade e spinaci was flavorful and fresh. Great service and a cozy atmosphere. Highly recommend! 🍝

Hidden gem, hole in the wall Italian food. Best creme brulee for dessert. I am a sucker for their egg noodle pasta. We have tried so many different appetizers and main dishes and everything is always good. The seafood salad special is great.

Paolo and Jose were lovely. The food is delicious and the service was even better! Nice quiet night with my mom. She goes here frequently and it was my first time.

Best Italian restaurant in town. The food is authentic and very well cooked. The calamari looks like other typical Italian restaurants but don't let it fool you. The taste is exceptional. And it pairs well with the sauce too. My wife got a tagliata di manzo. The truffle oil on thinly sliced pieces of steak is a genius creation. I got a ossobuco which came with well flavored risotto and tendered veal. Overall, highly recommended place. The service can be a little slow but relax, take a sip of wine and dine like You're in Italy. Food will come out eventually.

Excellent food. Very high quality and balanced flavors. The sea bass was amazing. Calamari was very tender, it wasn’t overcooked and rubbery like most places around here.

Starting with the service, and hospitality… like I walked into a restaurante in Italia! Warm, friendly, fun. I had the steak, perfectly cooked how I asked…. Oh but I forgot about the pizza, the margarita pizza is top… a legit 9.5 because nothings a ten…What a delightful warm spot. Looking forward to bringing my family back

It is very good authentic Italian food. I’ve had a couple of meals here and they both tasted great. However, they don’t have a very large menu and there were only a few things on the menu that sounded good. It’s also one of the few places I go where none of the appetizers sound too appetizing. It’s not that I think the food will taste bad, it just doesn’t excite me and make me interested in ordering it. The staff is very attentive and helpful. It’s a great restaurant, I just wish they had more things in line with my tastes.

A group of longtime friends and I made it out to Marcello Ristorante for a long overdue dinner, and it genuinely exceeded every expectation! Because we were a large party, we ordered everything family-style and there wasn't a single dish that missed. A few standouts for me: Tortini di Crab, perfectly crisp with wild-caught blue crab and a chipotle aioli that I'm still thinking about. The Calamaretti Fritti, which was light, tender, and not overly breaded. One of the best calamari's I've had! The Costine Di Manzo Al Vino Rosso E Carote was a red wine braised short ribs which melted in your mouth. And lastly, their Branzino special. Wow! It was my first time trying branzino, and it was absolutely incredible. So flavorful and perfectly cooked. We ended the night with a mix of desserts, and the Panna Cotta was my personal favorite. It was silky, light, and delicious. Service was exceptional from start to finish. Our server, Stacey, gave us thoughtful recommendations and described each dish with care. And the owner, Edwin, was so hospitable and made sure everything was perfect. The combination of great food, warm hospitality, and a cozy atmosphere made the evening very memorable. Can't wait to come back!

"Marcello's Ristorante" What a phenomenal discovery!!!! Finally after ten years in California and dining in exclusive and not so exclusive restaurants, waiting anxiously for the 'WoW!!!!' Factor!!! I can at last say I have found my ultimate dining haven here in Thousand Oaks. Loads of parking space and easy access to venue - what a wonderful beginning. Warmly greeted by our exceptional waiter Paolo who made us feel like old friends. The ambience was simply captivating with happy clientele . Simple Elegance at its finest. A very anxious husband waited with bated breath as he knows what a discerning critic I am when the food served is basic. But there was absolutely nothing to worry about here. Freshly baked bread, a true delight. My dish a Sole Fish served with sautéed Spinach with Cherry Tomatoes.... Sounds plain but when I took my first bite, I felt my Christmas had come all at once!! I finally got my very first 'WoW Factor!!' And the wine selection was truly exceptional too. I beaconed to the gentleman at the entrance and asked him who the owner of this restaurant was and he smiled and said 'You are looking at him. My name is Edwin. Yes, I complimented him as he had the best, efficient staff and my dream Chef's who wowed me all the way home. Indeed a great night was had by all and thank you Marcello's Ristorante for this truly wonderful dining experience. A definite must visit again!!!

Just go here. Genuinely just go here. The decor was lovely. The service was phenomenal. Our drinks were never left empty. They were attentive and polite. We felt so welcome. But the food???? Incredible. Really just phenomenal. My fiancé's chicken was so tender he could cut it with a spoon. Everything tastes fresh and cooked perfectly. My pasta was so good I fought myself to keep leftovers for today. The crème brulee was the best I've ever had. Not thin and watery but an actual true thick custard and perfectly crunchy top. We're dying to go again already. Finally have a new favorite spot on our rotation!

The website stated that complementary corkage fee Monday through Thursday, but when I went there on Tuesday, they charged me a corkage fee.

Hidden gem in Thousand Oaks! Incredible service, amazing food. Came here with a group of friends and we did family style and ordered a wide variety of appetizers and entrees. Each was better than the last. Excellent choices of wine to choose from as well. Will definitely be coming back!

Great hospitality and high quality ingredients! We tried Marcello for the first time last weekend. Overall, we enjoyed our experience but we felt there were some areas for improvement. Located in a strip mall on Hillcrest Drive, this restaurant is highly accessible and parking is ample on the front. Our host told us that this restaurant is nicely situated to view the fireworks on July 4th, which we planned to come back for the second time. The menu is simple and standard. We ordered the fried calamari as appetizer, and a shrimp pasta and meat pasta for entrees. The pasta was soft and tasted homemade, but the seasoning felt a little light. The calamari was flavorful but felt generic. Another aspect that also stood out is the lack of music or lighting to set the ambiance. While I liked the table setting, the ambiance felt a bit stark. With so many Italian restaurants in our neighborhood, I feel there needs to be some tweaking in the menu offerings, service, and ambiance for it to stand out. With the high prices and good quality ingredients, the restaurant has the potential to become top tier with some tweaking. Our meal came to about $100, which was reasonable for the quality and service. We will be on 7/4 to try other menu items.

I came here the other day and was blown away by how amazing the food was. The atmosphere was warm and invititing and the service was even better. Im not a wine drinker but whatever they recommended worked very well with the food. Everything we ordered was delicious, but the standout for me was the short ribs and branzino. Overall, an amazing experience and cant wait to go back. Highly recommend!

Our friend made reservations for us on Valentine's Day weekend and treated us to a delicious dinner. We started our meal with lobster bisque. Then, enjoyed heart-shaped raviolis and trout. Wait staff was attentive and efficient. They worked well together and were pleasant. The atmosphere and decor all added to the relaxing and wonderfully romantic setting. Thank you! We had a fabulous time!

Amazing service and even better food! I tried a number of dishes but my favorites were definitely the pizza, chicken piccata and the gnocchi. The steak and branzino were also very good. Can't go wrong with any of the desserts, they were all fantastic. Looking forward to coming back to try other items on the menu. Thank you for such a memorable experience!

Solid Italian American cuisine can be nearly a local Red Sauce place. The menu is designed with what you would expect. You have your classic Bolognese to Chicken Piccata, to Chicken Parmigiano. The lunch menu is more concise with limited entrees, but sandwiches adorn the experience. The dinner menu is far more extensive and inviting. The longer list of entrees includes different Risottos and Seafood, Veal, and Ossobuco. Pizzas are also available. The dishes are classics for Italian Americans, and Marcello does it very well. The most impressive item is their Fried Calamari. It is simple and executed with care. One of the best examples I have tasted.

I cannot believe how horrible this place actually is! The short ribs were terrible. They're not your delicious braised in red wine short ribs. They had a rubbery texture and the vegetables that were served with them were overcooked. As were the noodles. I switched my dish to the Bolognese. $32 later The pasta was overcooked and probably from a box. The sauce was nothing special at all. I had the crabcake for my appetizer and it was extremely salty. My friend had the Scottish salmon and it was the most unattractive piece of fish I've ever seen. She said it was extremely fishy. She asked for some sauce on the side to douse it in and still could not do so. I'm a huge foodie and I'm happy to spend a lot more for a great meal. But this was literally one of the worst I've ever had and definitely not worth the price tag. Negative 5 stars is actually generous for this place. Do yourself a favor and go to Casa Nostra or Nonna. There are definitely better options for Italian food in the Conejo Valley. Honestly, Olive Garden would be much better than this.

I had a date night with my mom, who's very hard to please and complains about everything everywhere we go! I decided to give this spot a try, and with consideration to new ownership, I gave it a shot. It's rare to find a place where the food feels like a love letter...each dish is thoughtfully composed and unapologetically proud of its roots. The fried calamari was a perfect start. It was lightly crisped, paired with a house marinara (fresh AF). It wasn't just a dip and you know if you know. The caprese salad... served traditionally, so I had to put my twist of balsamic glaze on it. It was refreshing, balancing creamy mozzarella with sweet tomatoes and fragrant basil. Then came the lasagna, and honestly, I didn't expect it to move me the way it did. It was layers of pasta, meat sauce, meat, and cheese melted into each other like they'd been simmering in someone's family kitchen for hours. It was just good. The kind of good that makes you slow down and appreciate each bite. My mom got the special of the night. It was a white fish entrée, draped in a light lemon and olive sauce. The mashed potatoes were creamy, the green beans still snappy, and everything on that plate had a voice (I tried it all). This wasn't just a dinner. I was dying to hear my mom and her complaints, and to my utter disbelief, she had nothing but good feels. It felt like an experience crafted with care, not for attention, but for those who really know how to appreciate food made with heart. The ambiance was intimate, the service unobtrusively kind, and every plate told a story. If you're looking for something real and genuine, give Marcellos a try. Def recommended and will be back!

Just called to ask some questions and the owner was very kind and helped me through things as my event isn't for another week. I'm sooo looking forward in tasting the food!

Eat here. Try the cioppino, it'll be the best decision you make. I grew up with the cavalcade of Italian eateries in St. Louis, and since my first visit to California in 2008 -- when my then-girlfriend told me about this Italian place she'd been to that I just had to try -- we have been returning to Marcello. It's small, and everything is fast and fresh and hot.

Marcello was purchased in November 2024 and under the current new owner is serving both lunch (M-F) and dinner. I'm happy to report that it's still wonderful-- white linens, sparkling glassware, and fresh flowers, as well as a wide selection of Italian specialties and gracious service. We had lunch there yesterday, welcomed and served by the owner Edwin. We ordered chicken Toscano sandwiches and ricotta torte for dessert. Both were excellent. Two thumbs up for this T.O. gem!

Found this place on Yelp, took my wife out for date night. First time in a while we got a night to ourselves, and this spot delivered. Ambiance was PERFECT--dim lighting, good music, not loud. Perfect place to sit across from your wife and just talk like you used to ;) We split a pizza, the branzino, and the ossobuco. Every item was fire. Not "pretty good for LA" ... more like I actually care about each dish I put out. Honestly reminded us of Florence. The ossobuco was unreal. The branzino was crispy, clean, perfectly cooked. The pizza (my choice) was wood-fired and ridiculous. We'll definitely be back. Might even make this our regular spot--assuming we can get a table. Thank you to Edwin and staff for a truly special night.

From the moment we walked into Marcello Ristorante, we were welcomed with warm hospitality that set the tone for an incredible evening. The ambience was elegant yet inviting, making it the perfect spot for a special night out. The service was outstanding--our host, waiters, and even the owner made us feel truly valued. Their attentiveness and passion for great food and hospitality were evident throughout the night. And the food? Simply amazing! Every dish was crafted with care, full of flavor, and beautifully presented. From appetizers to dessert, each bite was perfection. All the apps were amazing, I wish I took pictures of the rest but was too hungry to wait! Marcello Ristorante is a gem, and we can't wait to return. Highly recommend!

Absolutely amazing food! The short rib melted in your mouth! The deserts were exceptional! Service was very friendly

Fantastic food, great service and quiet atmosphere. Highly recommend this restaurant and will return.

Four of us dined Saturday evening and the food quality was excellent, but the service was below average. The restaurant was not sold out and our order took too long to be delivered from the kitchen. The waiter would disappear so it was difficult to get drinks refilled. We decided to try dessert, however, the waiter gave us the menu and did not return for the order so we got the checks and departed. There is simply too many other great Italian restaurants such as Casa Nostra, Noi Due Trattoria and Boccaccio's to accept poor service. There appeared to be only 1 waiter working on a Saturday night which explains the service issues. We will not return based upon our experience.

I had heard this spot had pretty good food, but was a little surprised just how good it actually was. I mean everything from the pizza (might be the best i've ever had), salad, steak and the beer, all great. Servers were on top of everything and very quick. The last surprise was the bill, I typically spend twice as much on fine dining and the food is half as good! Go here, you're welcome :)

Just tried this restaurant for the first time today and was so impressed and pleasantly surprised. Edwin was incredibly sweet and gracious and the ambiance is relaxing and lovely. The food was superb. They also have live music during the week. Looking forward to the next visit! You won't be disappointed! Service is outstanding.

My friend and I had a wonderful relaxing lunch here today. The service was great and our sandwiches with side salad or fries were super delicious. The experience is like an Italian vacation with Italian music and ambience. We're looking forward to going for dinner there soon. Another independently owned delicious restaurant that I truly hope makes it! Try it, you'll like it!

FABULOUS. Once again Marcello Ristorante came through with Flying Colours! Delicioso! Gnocci! Calamari! Chianti! Service! Ambience! and Delivery was Excellent, too Mile Gracias. Prego, Prego, Prego *****

We haven't been to this restaurant in years and I'm glad we decided to try it again. I had the Eggplant Parmesan & it was absolutely delectable! My husband had the Bolognese & his was equally delicious! We'll be putting this restaurant on our regular rotation ! (Also, we met the owner and he was so personable!)

Always delicious food, ambiance, & service Been going since Tilca used to work there and did the beautiful flower arrangements Order the risotto with mushrooms And the gnocchi

Sensational restaurant in a nondescript strip mall. Pasta with chicken livers does not sound that appealing but this is my default order at Marcellos. Three of us have tried to replicate it at home, it's so good. The last time there it was unavailable so it gave cover to try the amazing pasta with seafood. Everything is A++ and the service is impeccable. This is a must stop for me when I'm visiting the valley.

What amazing experience the food was exceptional and the staff and ambiance is fantastic. I highly recommend

Very disappointed. Had reservations, stood at the door for 15 mins, to be seated. Waited 20 mins. to take our order. Waited 25 mins. for our food. We ordered a $50.00 bottle of wine (had screw top rather than a cork) Don't waste for time or money.... Go to Olive Garden.

Went to dinner for a family dinner and loved it! The food and service were phenomenal. We ordered the Ox tail special and Branzino and both were mouthwatering! The sausage pasta was delish as well. Great wine list too! Perfect ambiance for family dinner or friends. There's outdoor dining too! We will definitely go back.

We highly recommend Marcello Ristorante. We were a party of four and had different entrees. We loved it all! Delicious food and great service! We highly recommend this restaurant!

Tried this place for first time and it was so good. All of us loved the taste and quality of the meals abs the service was exceptional. I will be returning soon.

Best kept secret in Thousand Oaks. The food is amazing, service is friendly and it's such a cute vibe!!! When you at ready to relax and enjoy a meal with friends this is the place!!!

Some of the best Italian food I've ever had! My husband and I enjoy going here for date night. The staff is always friendly and attentive, the ambience is clean, comfortable and welcoming and the food is, OMG, so delicious and filling! The salads and all pastas we've tried have been a big hit with us and we love that they have a great wine selection as well. We love bringing our friends and family here. Never disappoints. Highly recommend this gem.

Amazing!!! I would highly recommend this spot. Upon entering You're greeted with a firm handshake from Edwin the proprietor (Nice Guy) order anything, the appetizers incredible calamari fritti unbelievable. Entrées/dessert etc. etc.. The food is outstanding.

The food was phenomenal, our server Paolo was on it and there is nothing better than when the owner of the restaurant, Edwin, checks in on you. I highly recommend this restaurant!

The food was delicious. The service was very good. Ambiance was good except for the music. We loved our pasta! Thank you for a lovely dinner!!

First off, I love Marcello's and have been a fan since I moved to the area 10 years ago. I noticed a sign announcing new ownership when walking in tonight and was hoping one of the longtime employees was the new owner, but that was not the case. We had out of town relatives visiting and they were excited to try the place that we had talked up and claimed had the best Italian food in Ventura county. The food was delicious, but unfortunately it took a long time to arrive-over an hour from the time we ordered. The table near us ordered a few minutes before our table and had already finished and we were still waiting for our food-even for our young daughter's simple penne with butter. The new owner was there but he never came over to introduce himself or tell us anything about the obvious situation that was happening in the kitchen. This is not the first time we've experienced this sort of delay at Marcello's, but the food was always exceptional and the service impeccable, so we were willing to wait. Unfortunately, tonight was disappointing. The food was not up to par and the service was rushed and lacking. It would have been nice to have met the new owner and had a chance to talk about what was happening, and something was definitely happening, because another table behind us was loudly complaining about the abnormally long wait for the food and the poor server was dashing about the dining room trying his best to keep things together. Bottom line, not a great experience, especially with a new owner present who seemingly chose to ignore the fact that his kitchen was woefully behind and his service staff was obviously struggling. A smile and a good attitude goes a long way with me when I'm in this sort of situation, but it didn't happen, and I shouldn't have ask for it. I hope that tonight was just an off night and not a sign of things to come. On a positive note, the desserts were delicious ( as usual ) and served in a timely manner.

The food and service is amazing. The short rib is a must. You need to order a pizza to start.

Always exceptional food and service at Marcellos. We shared the mussels, tomatoes & cannelini bean starter, a Caesar salad and the Oxtail with Papardelle Pasta.

Have been there twice in two weeks...Food is fantastic and so is the service. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a cute neighborhood restaurant

I had not been here in a long time and I was pleased to see that the food was as good as ever as well as the service was amazing. The new owner Edwin came over to our table and was very kind and patient with our questions. He was happy to share what he has done and what he plans on doing. A great date spot or great place to hold a party, since they have a back section to accommodate. This will definitely become my go to Italian restaurant.

Mi piace questo ristorante! Amazing place! First time, and will be coming back soon! So classy!

Best Italian restaurant in town. The food is authentic and very well cooked. The calamari looks like other typical Italian restaurants but don't let it fool you. The taste is exceptional. And it pairs well with the sauce too. My wife got a tagliata di manzo. The truffle oil on thinly sliced pieces of steak is a genius creation. I got a ossobuco which came with well flavored risotto and tendered veal. Overall, highly recommended place. The service can be a little slow but relax, take a sip of wine and dine like You're in Italy. Food will come out eventually.

This is my favorite Italian restaurant. As soon as we moved to TO from the LA area, we found this hidden gem. The service and food is amazing. My husband and I dine in and order takeout here often and whenever we have family in town we bring them in as well!

I've been here a couple of times. Both the food and service were great. Guessing they do not serve a lot of beer but a local option would be nice. They do have some nice wine choices.

Went for New Years eve. Got there at 6:30. We were there for almost 30min before we even got bread. It seemed like it was yesterday's bread. The service was very slow. The pear salad was good. I ordered the squash ravioli, and it was difficult to find any filling in it at all. It was basically just pasta and cheese. The food was all just ok. Nothing great. I will write another review when I get the feedback from the other 8 people. Again, I know it was New Years eve, but we were there for 2 and half hours.

Marcello Ristorante is one of the best Restaurants in Thousand Oaks /Southern California. Marcello continues to create fabulous meals, from appetizers to desserts with a lovely wine selection. The ambience is beautiful just like we found in places in Italy. It is relaxing, yet you know you are receiving the finest meal without pretension. The staff is extremely welcoming and the service has great attention to detail from start to finish. We recommend Marcello Ristorante any day of the week and suggest going often to enjoy the many specialities that are offered throughout the week. Bon appétit.

This is a hidden gem in Thousand Oaks! The food is amazing! We had a bruschetta appetizer that was delicious. I ordered the salmon dinner and my girlfriend ordered the lamb ragu and we both loved our dinners. Our server Paolo was very attentive. The manager Edwin came around to check on us during our meal. This place is a 10 out of 10!