Chianti Reserve

We took my daughter here for her birthday tonight and this is our new favorite restaurant. The food was AMAZING, and the service was the best we have ever experienced. We will definitely be back!

Me and my family have been coming here for years. We love the owners and staff - everyone is extremely welcoming. Traditional Italian food with a great old school wine list.

What a great restaurant. We found it by chance, while driving through Pleasanton on a Sunday evening, and it was the only one opened past 8:30pm. The kids ordered the Carbonara and Chicken Parmigiana, my husband had the pasta Bolognese and I had the beet salad and the carpaccio. Everything was top notch! My daughter is pretty picky and she ate everything on her plate (which is very rare). Michelangelo, the owner and/or manager, was the cherry on top. Very nice and attentive, making sure everything was the way we liked. I highly recommend this gem of a restaurant!!

When they 'stuff' a pasta, they aren't joking! The special today was lobster ravioli, with enough lobster in each bite to balance out the house pesto sauce. Absolutely delightful. The ravioli and tortellini are hand-made. The carpaccio is well-seasoned and garnished to highlight the quality of the meat. I can't speak about busy dinner service, but if you come between 4 and 5, the staff is attentive and courteous and the kitchen is very fast. A few folks chat at the (smallish) bar, and the music is pleasant but not too loud. Also, the canolli are fresh.

Had lunch here mid week. Great service and delicious food. Had the vodka fettuccine with salmon. Yum!

Grandma has a very specific craving so we walked up and down Main Street with no luck. We stumbled into Chianti’s who said they could make us anything we wanted, on the menu or not. So we got chicken Alfredo fettuccine and tiramisu to go.

Such a fun vibe!! Only stopped for a glass of wine but can’t wait to be back for food

Had a birthday dinner there for my wife, a group of 6. The food was outstanding. The pasta special was literally the best pasta dish I can recall. The service was also amazing, with the owner, Michaelangelo, taking a personal interest in every guest table. Definitely going back and bringing some more folks to share the experience with

Great food and amazing service has an authentic Mediterranean feel. Read the reviews before deciding on this place to have lunch with family, and I was not disappointed.

We had two dishes for our late lunch. My daughter always order the Penne al Arrabbiata. And I always try something I never had before. It’s got a lot of varieties in the menu. This time I tried Insalata di Pesce. The salad has a very fresh taste, and the creamy sauce goes well with the medium cooked salmon. Our order was quickly delivered and served well. The pasta comes with generous portion. The sourdough bread is offered generously as a free dish.

Had a great experience here dining with a friend. The service was friendly and excellent. They gave my dog a bowl of water ❤️. I enjoyed my lamb shank. The meat was so tender it fell off the bone. The marrow was intact and delicious. We did start with cheese stuffed salmon and ended with a mascarpone cake and tiramisu. Perhaps the tortellini could use some color.

Took the Fam out for little ones sweet 16. If you're in downtown Pleasanton...you have to try. Every dish we tried was excellent down to the Minestrone soup and salads. The simple spaghetti and meatballs were amazing you could tell the meatballs were homemade. The chicken parm was amazing, not too thick and over battered. The side of veggies and Polenta was a change up from the typical pasta bed its usually served over. The Ravioli is handmade with the option of meat sauce or pesto. Great service and attentiveness. We will definitely be back to try more of the menu. I really wanted to try the Halibut special.

Fairly authentic Italian food. I got The spaghetti carbonara and it tastes great! The sauce is very rich and creamy, the spaghetti and Meatballs is classic but could use a little bit sugar for my taste. Everything tastes great, tho nothing special.

An Absolutely amazing taste of Italy here in Pleasanton. The wait staff and the owner will greet you like you’re family. The service is amazing and only topped by the food. I had the squid ink pasta and my wife had the halibut. Both dishes were delicious!! I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone seeking a truly authentic Italian meal

This is my favorite spot in Pleasanton for almost 20 years. Homemade food, warm and welcoming environment, delicious wine.

Delight of the soul!!! I'll come back here surely:) More than once! Authentic Mediterranean cuisine, a rich selection of wines, exquisite desserts and, of course, real Italian cordiality and hospitality. Molte grazie!

The Fettuccine alla Vodka had great tasting salmon and the spaghetti was very up scale taste but not as expensive as could have been. And I didn't even have a reservation with front row seats and warm family welcome also coffee was nicely made. I would come here a again!

Olesya Clark

This is my favorite spot in Pleasanton for almost 20 years. Homemade food, warm and welcoming environment, delicious wine.

Mike Fowler - eXp Realty

An Absolutely amazing taste of Italy here in Pleasanton. The wait staff and the owner will greet you like you’re family. The service is amazing and only topped by the food. I had the squid ink pasta and my wife had the halibut. Both dishes were delicious!! I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone seeking a truly authentic Italian meal

Anna Iakovleva

Delight of the soul!!! I'll come back here surely:) More than once! Authentic Mediterranean cuisine, a rich selection of wines, exquisite desserts and, of course, real Italian cordiality and hospitality. Molte grazie!

Art Lee

The Fettuccine alla Vodka had great tasting salmon and the spaghetti was very up scale taste but not as expensive as could have been. And I didn't even have a reservation with front row seats and warm family welcome also coffee was nicely made. I would come here a again!

Chin mei Lin

We had two dishes for our late lunch. My daughter always order the Penne al Arrabbiata. And I always try something I never had before. It’s got a lot of varieties in the menu. This time I tried Insalata di Pesce. The salad has a very fresh taste, and the creamy sauce goes well with the medium cooked salmon. Our order was quickly delivered and served well. The pasta comes with generous portion. The sourdough bread is offered generously as a free dish.

Cara H.

Had a great experience here dining with a friend. The service was friendly and excellent. They gave my dog a bowl of water ❤️. I enjoyed my lamb shank. The meat was so tender it fell off the bone. The marrow was intact and delicious. We did start with cheese stuffed salmon and ended with a mascarpone cake and tiramisu. Perhaps the tortellini could use some color.

Shawn Moe

Took the Fam out for little ones sweet 16. If you're in downtown Pleasanton...you have to try. Every dish we tried was excellent down to the Minestrone soup and salads. The simple spaghetti and meatballs were amazing you could tell the meatballs were homemade. The chicken parm was amazing, not too thick and over battered. The side of veggies and Polenta was a change up from the typical pasta bed its usually served over. The Ravioli is handmade with the option of meat sauce or pesto. Great service and attentiveness. We will definitely be back to try more of the menu. I really wanted to try the Halibut special.

Andrew

Fairly authentic Italian food. I got The spaghetti carbonara and it tastes great! The sauce is very rich and creamy, the spaghetti and Meatballs is classic but could use a little bit sugar for my taste. Everything tastes great, tho nothing special.

Other than the bread being not the best and my wife canoli being less than expected, THIS PLACE WAS AWESOME!!! I loved the whole ambiance, felt old and vintage. We watched an old 49ers game (that I knew the result of)on the TV. Our waiter was on his job, service was great, and the old scholl Italian dude at the bar was awesome. CAN'T WAIT TO GO BACK!!! GREAT LUNCH DATE WITH THE MRS. LOVED IT!!

Wonderful food but because we had it on Christmas day it was super packed. But the help was very very good and the food was excellent. It was a worthwhile experience! And a lovely Merry Christmas meal!!

Visiting for the first time with my daughter today. The staffs greeted us with warmth and friendly smile. I was recommended a dish that’s on the dinner menu. It was the best pasta I’ve ever had! The cream sauce was so creamy and has a bit of sweetness. The tase and texture made a perfect combination for the base. Generous amount of scallops and shrimps were served with the pasta. I simply loved it so much that for the first time ever, I finished a whole plate of pasta. We had a wonderful lunch experience. We also ordered tiramisu after meal and the moisture and aroma in it was amazing! Thank you so much for the awesome food and service!

Patty Glaser

Wonderful food but because we had it on Christmas day it was super packed. But the help was very very good and the food was excellent. It was a worthwhile experience! And a lovely Merry Christmas meal!!

J C

Visiting for the first time with my daughter today. The staffs greeted us with warmth and friendly smile. I was recommended a dish that’s on the dinner menu. It was the best pasta I’ve ever had! The cream sauce was so creamy and has a bit of sweetness. The tase and texture made a perfect combination for the base. Generous amount of scallops and shrimps were served with the pasta. I simply loved it so much that for the first time ever, I finished a whole plate of pasta. We had a wonderful lunch experience. We also ordered tiramisu after meal and the moisture and aroma in it was amazing! Thank you so much for the awesome food and service!

Manoela Bosschart

What a great restaurant. We found it by chance, while driving through Pleasanton on a Sunday evening, and it was the only one opened past 8:30pm. The kids ordered the Carbonara and Chicken Parmigiana, my husband had the pasta Bolognese and I had the beet salad and the carpaccio. Everything was top notch! My daughter is pretty picky and she ate everything on her plate (which is very rare). Michelangelo, the owner and/or manager, was the cherry on top. Very nice and attentive, making sure everything was the way we liked. I highly recommend this gem of a restaurant!!

Marquez L. Jones

Other than the bread being not the best and my wife canoli being less than expected, THIS PLACE WAS AWESOME!!! I loved the whole ambiance, felt old and vintage. We watched an old 49ers game (that I knew the result of)on the TV. Our waiter was on his job, service was great, and the old scholl Italian dude at the bar was awesome. CAN'T WAIT TO GO BACK!!! GREAT LUNCH DATE WITH THE MRS. LOVED IT!!

I learned of this place from my sister in law. She frequently dines here with her family of two kids and her husband. The restaurant is easy to find as it's located on main St. With plenty of parking available. The interior is clean and inviting. The Staff there are so nice and treat you like family. They are constantly tending to the customers and keep things simple. Im a vegetarian and so I was able to manipulate their menu to accommodate my requests. It was an easy adjustment. This is a bit on the pricey side and I'm sure there's plenty of other Italian restaurants that have great food at a more cost-effective price, but for the hospitality, location,staff friendliness and ambience..this place is worth the money spent. Check them out.

This is a nice restaurant in downtown Pleasanton. It is small but have outside seating. Staff is friendly all of whom speak with Italian accent, you be the judge if the accent is real or not. The food is good quality, tasty and well prepared. A bit on the small size but we are not volume eaters so it was just enough for my family. The only disappointment was their choice of hot black tea which was Lipton tea bags; I expected a more luxury brand.

I love this place. I love the owner. And I love all the workers. It’s a very very clean restaurant and the food is out of this world. I gave it four stars because unfortunately, the bread is mediocre. It’s a wannabe sourdough sliced bread. I hope they improve it.

We were here many years ago we had and it was not to our liking. Therefore, we never came back until now when some friends invited us to join them. I turned out to be very good. I had veal scallopini and my wife had ravioli but I can't remember what it was stuffed with. I did teach taste her cream sauce and it was outstanding. Service was good and prices were reasonable.

Small portions but delicious. Open late. Great little bar and quaint outdoor seating.

Chianti Ristorante in Pleasanton is a classic Italian restaurant that drew me in because it was one of the few restaurants I passed that were open on Superbowl Sunday. 😆 You can always get a few customers that way! I enjoyed the warm atmosphere created by the dark wood interior and pleasant staff. The complimentary bread was warm and soft and served with a delicious pesto-flavored olive oil dip. My aperol spritz was quite refreshing as well—I've only recently been drinking them, and they're a fun switch from darker spirits or a full, rich glass of red wine. Starting with a classic caesar salad felt required to me, and this one fit that bill just fine. I went for their fettucine with vodka cream sauce for my main, largely because I was intrigued by the use of both smoked and fresh salmon in it, and because creamy dill sauces call to me. It definitely was enough for two meals and tasty! Chianti Ristorante fulfills that classic Italian niche well.

I walked in here for dinner at around 6:45 pm and was lucky to find outdoor seating as by the time we left, the place was overflowing with guests. We ordered the Pasta Primavera, Ravioli alla Noce and Tortellini Alfredo con Gamberi. All dishes were awesome and very flavourful. The only issue I had was that the quantity for the money paid did not match. On an average, each dish costed $20. However, the quantity was less than what I expected at other Italian places with similar pricing. Nonetheless, we washed it down with a Limoncello with Mascarpone. It was equally good. Not worrying about the serving size, I will definitely be back for more.

Great Italian food to try out. It’s my 1stVisit and liked it. Good food options for veg and non-vegetarian. Missed to take pics of main course. Will recommend to try it out.

Delicious pasta, the white sauce with black pasta taste sooo great, the pasta with Vadlk sauce is average. Dessert Tiramisu is way too sweet for me.

Mayuresh Dani

I walked in here for dinner at around 6:45 pm and was lucky to find outdoor seating as by the time we left, the place was overflowing with guests. We ordered the Pasta Primavera, Ravioli alla Noce and Tortellini Alfredo con Gamberi. All dishes were awesome and very flavourful. The only issue I had was that the quantity for the money paid did not match. On an average, each dish costed $20. However, the quantity was less than what I expected at other Italian places with similar pricing. Nonetheless, we washed it down with a Limoncello with Mascarpone. It was equally good. Not worrying about the serving size, I will definitely be back for more.

Salem Explorer

Great Italian food to try out. It’s my 1stVisit and liked it. Good food options for veg and non-vegetarian. Missed to take pics of main course. Will recommend to try it out.

Chunjiao Xiao

Delicious pasta, the white sauce with black pasta taste sooo great, the pasta with Vadlk sauce is average. Dessert Tiramisu is way too sweet for me.

Becca Gomez Farrell

Chianti Ristorante in Pleasanton is a classic Italian restaurant that drew me in because it was one of the few restaurants I passed that were open on Superbowl Sunday. 😆 You can always get a few customers that way! I enjoyed the warm atmosphere created by the dark wood interior and pleasant staff. The complimentary bread was warm and soft and served with a delicious pesto-flavored olive oil dip. My aperol spritz was quite refreshing as well—I've only recently been drinking them, and they're a fun switch from darker spirits or a full, rich glass of red wine. Starting with a classic caesar salad felt required to me, and this one fit that bill just fine. I went for their fettucine with vodka cream sauce for my main, largely because I was intrigued by the use of both smoked and fresh salmon in it, and because creamy dill sauces call to me. It definitely was enough for two meals and tasty! Chianti Ristorante fulfills that classic Italian niche well.

It wasn’t crowded here so it’s easy to get a seat. Service was alright but just a tad slow as we had to wait a little for ordering and checkout. Portions were decent, I think you would be pretty full with just the one meal. I had the pork chop and while flavor and sauce was good the meat was a tad dry. If it weren’t for the sauce, I’d have a hard time eating it. Bathroom doesn’t look accessible as you have to walk up some steps.

Dav.d H

It wasn’t crowded here so it’s easy to get a seat. Service was alright but just a tad slow as we had to wait a little for ordering and checkout. Portions were decent, I think you would be pretty full with just the one meal. I had the pork chop and while flavor and sauce was good the meat was a tad dry. If it weren’t for the sauce, I’d have a hard time eating it. Bathroom doesn’t look accessible as you have to walk up some steps.

This has been one of my favorite restaurants to go to in downtown Pleasanton, so it hurts my heart to give it such a critical review. The owner and the servers are sweet and give wonderful service, but the price that they now ask for their food is insane! We went to celebrate my sister's birthday and I was astonished to see they ask $25 for their pasta and $50 for a tiny sea bass. On top of that, they charged $9 for side soup and $12 for side salad that should be included in with the already expensive meal. We were not told this would be extra when we ordered. Then on top of that they add 20% gratuity if you are with a party larger than 5. As if they aren't already making enough money on their overpriced food! But where it went wrong was they charged the gratuity including the wine we had. The wine should not be included in the amount you tip on. Especially if it's already an expensive bottle. What used to be a cute place, now has turned into a high class expense my family and I no longer can enjoy for a cute event such as a birthday.

I love Italian food, but this restaurants version of Chicken parmesan was an embarrassing attempt at a classic meal. It took a lot of effort to cut through the thin and tough chicken cutlet. Chewing was more of a battle. Honestly, the high price made it even more disappointing.

Overall I don't recommend it and won't go back. Nice staff, service was above average and they weren't very busy for a Saturday night, but everything moved along very slowly. Either they're operating on a shoestring or some folks are learning on the job. Food wasn't terrible, it was edible but I must stress my plate fell well below average. I ordered meatballs which were very basic, but what horrified me was how the pasta was overcooked! Waiter told me that their cook is Italian! I know in Italy they serve pasta al'dente as I do myself at home. This was more like pasta you get at a truck stop or Denny's. Cesar salad was good. Wine, If you're a wine drinker take your own bottle and pay for corkage fee, because the wine glass they serve is large but only a few drops of wine on the bottom. The ambiance is nice.

Visited this restaurant based on the reviews and the satisfaction of having Italian food, I wasn’t impressed nor satisfied. The food portion was relatively small compared to other Italian restaurants and the food itself was not as good as I would’ve expected it to be. Didn’t liked it. The atmosphere was nice. Space is a little tight. Service is quick but nothing above average. The prices per dish range between $45-55 per plate, which to me, wasn’t worth it.

Very disappointing experience I only ate here because all other restaurants nearby were already closed after 9 p.m. The waiters were very friendly and attentive, and I ordered the homemade meatballs with pasta. Unfortunately, shortly after eating, I felt extremely unwell and had to vomit in the restaurant’s restroom. When I informed the staff, the manager reacted dismissively, suggesting that I must have eaten something bad before coming in, and that the food couldn’t be the cause since other guests had ordered it that day. I found this attitude quite unacceptable — a little responsibility or empathy would have gone a long way. Unfortunately, this experience completely ruined my evening. I will definitely not be returning.🤮

Price was ridiculously high and the food quality was poor.. Felt ripped off when we left. They charged $14 for a small cup of minestrone soup that was bland and watery and $14 for lettuce and croutons that was a joke.

Peter T'Souvas

Price was ridiculously high and the food quality was poor.. Felt ripped off when we left. They charged $14 for a small cup of minestrone soup that was bland and watery and $14 for lettuce and croutons that was a joke.

Ethi Maki

Very disappointing experience I only ate here because all other restaurants nearby were already closed after 9 p.m. The waiters were very friendly and attentive, and I ordered the homemade meatballs with pasta. Unfortunately, shortly after eating, I felt extremely unwell and had to vomit in the restaurant’s restroom. When I informed the staff, the manager reacted dismissively, suggesting that I must have eaten something bad before coming in, and that the food couldn’t be the cause since other guests had ordered it that day. I found this attitude quite unacceptable — a little responsibility or empathy would have gone a long way. Unfortunately, this experience completely ruined my evening. I will definitely not be returning.🤮

Made an advance reservation for Christmas Eve, and reviewed the menu on the restaurant website at that time. When we arrived, the menu was essentially identical....but with prices 20%-30% higher than listed on the website. Nowhere was it stated on the menu or the website that there would be a Christmas Eve surcharge, so to speak. When I asked the manager about the discrepancy, he stated that it was a “special holiday menu”. I asked what was special about the menu, other than the inflated prices....I was told nothing. I certainly felt misled, as I never would have made the reservation knowing about the inflated prices. Now, I don't mind paying a premium price if there is really something “special” about the menu, but that was not the case at all. It became more disappointing when the food arrived. The entrees were extremely small portions and of mediocre quality. In addition, our table was near the door, which for some reason was propped open on a cold night. My wife never took off her coat because it was so chilly. We couldn't wait to leave. Terrible experience on Christmas Eve, I felt misled and ripped off....never again.

First time and last time at this restaurant. This was the worst ltalin food l have ever had for the price they charge. The bread was regular slice bread cut in half and served cold. The Halibut was very chewy. When l told the server he attempted to defended it and said he will talk with the chef. He claimed his ltalian style icecream has pistachios, it did not. The place was not crowded for Friday night that could be others had the same experience. Do not fall for their fancy web site.

I ordered DoorDash from this place for my birthday dinner. The dasher dropped off my food and it was either tampered with or packaged wrong. I tried to call the dasher and their number didn’t exist. I called the restaurant, told them my situation, and they made me my order again. I drove there and they wanted me to pay for the meal I had already paid for. I showed them pictures of what it looked liked and they didn’t care. He told me to refund it though DoorDash and DoorDash only gave me TEN DOLLARS. I called them again and told them, they didn’t care once again. I understand it’s not their issue completely, but it totally ruined my night. I wish they would have mentioned payment before I drove over there when I obviously didn’t want to SINCE I DOORDASHED. Not happy.

Went for valentine diner with my wife, it was busy, extra tables squeezed in. Food was tasty but OMG the price for what you got was shocking, not sure if this is normal but this is my $45.00 veal dish, three tiny pieces of veal, small portion of polenta and little veg. To be honest four bites and it was gone. My wife had chicken breast but what was served was part of a full chicken breast cut up. It’s a shame as the food tasted great

Graham Hindley

Went for valentine diner with my wife, it was busy, extra tables squeezed in. Food was tasty but OMG the price for what you got was shocking, not sure if this is normal but this is my $45.00 veal dish, three tiny pieces of veal, small portion of polenta and little veg. To be honest four bites and it was gone. My wife had chicken breast but what was served was part of a full chicken breast cut up. It’s a shame as the food tasted great