Impasto

Had an incredible lunch at Impasto in San Carlos! I tried the *Bufalino Panini* with prosciutto and mozzarella, and it was simply outstanding. The flavors were perfectly balanced, with the prosciutto offering just the right amount of saltiness, and the mozzarella was fresh and creamy. What really made it special was the homemade focaccia – light, airy, and perfectly crisp. You could really taste the authenticity and care in every bite. The atmosphere was cozy and welcoming, and the service was excellent. If you're looking for a true taste of Italy, Impasto is the place to go. Highly recommend!

Daniel Wandro

We went for my fathers birthday. Excellent food, service, and atmosphere. We enjoyed everything we got. Absolutely delicious pasta and ravioli. Only thing we didn't try was the pizzas, that will have to be next time!

Macchiato Lover

The host staff was nice and friendly, and she let us choose the table we wanted as it wasn’t too busy. The inside was very bright and elegantly decorated. You can see the kitchen with the chef making pizza through the glass window, and observe how clean and organized their kitchen is. We inquired about their ability to accommodate my kid’s peanut allergy, and the staff went to ask and came back to confirm with us that they don’t use peanuts in the kitchen. We really appreciate how proactive the staff are regarding the safety and food allergies. We ordered: Rigatoni bolognese ($18) from the kid’s menu. The rigatoni was al dente and nicely coated with the bolognese sauce. The quality of the sauce and the meat in it was top notched and the flavor was very well balanced unlike the overly salted sauce we usually get in the US. Terún pizza ($25): pizza topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and spicy salumi. This pizza reminds me of my favorite Diavola pizza I got in Naples (but minus the olives—wish they had put olives on it too). The dough was cooked just right. You know it’s a good Neapolitan pizza when you fold it into a u shape and it stays without the crust breaking or the tip disintegrating. Caprina salad ($21): The salad portion was huge. The price tag of $21 is very well justified by the portion and the quality of the ingredients. The lemon dressing was nice and refreshing. I think this place has become our favorite Neapolitana pizzeria in the Bay Area. The tricky thing about Neapolitan pizza is that it has to be thin crust and well-cooked without being charred or dried like cardboard. The thinness of the crust does not have much room for errors, and Impasto nailed that. The services were very attentive, with the staff checking on us regularly to see if we needed anything or if my kid was ok with the food. All in all, this place is a keeper and we will definitely come back to try more dishes on the menu.

Nadia Jahanafroozi

We had a wonderful experience at this Italian restaurant. The food was exceptionally fresh and flavorful. Jackson, our server, took great care of us, and the owner, Franko, personally welcomed us at our table and even offered dessert. Overall, one of the best Italian spots we’ve tried—highly recommended!

Sam

Impasto was a great experience and I would highly recommend and return. The design of the space is beautiful and the vibes are inviting. The good is great! The standout is the spaghetti! It was perfect! I definitely want to try more of the menu and other pizzas.

Ryan Norton

Michael, the owner was extremely welcoming and kind to myself and my sister. We mentioned how it is our first visit at this location, compared to us as regulars at the Palo Alto location. Food was OUTSTANDING as always, along with kind & attentive staff. Looking forward to visiting again. Thank you so much Michael & the whole team!

Kelly Scirpo

Burcak @ the bar is AMAZING! What a great environment & such a sweet place with the best personal touch.. Franco went out of his way to say hello & greet us. My new favorite place to dine!

Nadia Andreini

We recently had the pleasure of dining at Impasto, a new gem in our neighborhood that opened in early August. The restaurant is owned by four incredibly kind and welcoming Italians, and it truly shows in every aspect of the experience. The chef and his team are exceptional, delivering perfection in every dish—from pizza and pasta to meat and fish. The ambiance, service, and, of course, the food were all in true Italian style, making the evening delightful for my husband, our children, and me. We were already familiar with the owners' cuisine from their other restaurants, Terun and Italico in Palo Alto, which we know very well, but Impasto truly stands out. The interior design has been carefully crafted, making the place shine like a jewel. We couldn't have asked for a better evening, and we're looking forward to many more visits to this wonderful new addition to our community! Bravissimi!!!

Matt P

What an amazing experience! The food, service and atmosphere were absolutely perfect! I highly recommend trying one of the best new Italian restaurants in the Bay Area!

Matteo Sarica

Had an incredible lunch at Impasto in San Carlos! I tried the *Bufalino Panini* with prosciutto and mozzarella, and it was simply outstanding. The flavors were perfectly balanced, with the prosciutto offering just the right amount of saltiness, and the mozzarella was fresh and creamy. What really made it special was the homemade focaccia – light, airy, and perfectly crisp. You could really taste the authenticity and care in every bite. The atmosphere was cozy and welcoming, and the service was excellent. If you're looking for a true taste of Italy, Impasto is the place to go. Highly recommend!

Fraser Street

Food was very good. The Cauliflower is to die for. Focaccia and pizza (5 cheese) also excellent. The outside tables are good. It was busy and the waitstaff was struggling to keep up, but overall an excellent dinner.

Dazhi C.

We were here for a birthday party event. Lots of fun. Parking is tricky though - try Caltrain lot.

Rachel Barnes

Beautiful for a quick outdoor lunch. I’m sure it’s amazing for dinner. I had to grab a quick to go to hop on a train but next time I will be back for a proper meal! Gio made the whole process fast but also warm and welcoming! Tiramisu was phenomenal :)

Fabrizio Porcu

I've been to Impasto twice already; the service and food are exceptional.

The team from Terun and iTalico have produced yet another fantastic Italian restaurant featuring wonderful decor, great service, and most importantly delicious food. This is a slam dunk and rest assured I will be dining there frequently. ❤️

I ordered last min for my Valentine’s Day party for 80 people this year, they were able to delivered! the food was amazing and many of my guests asked for the restaurant name.I highly recommend the restaurant. .

Amy Jewell

We celebrated my parents' 50th anniversary dinner here and it was lovely! Working with Giovanni on the phone to secure my large party was a breeze and the actual event was smooth, relaxed and delicious. My table loved every dish they ordered - pizza, pasta and salad alike. The dining room is beautiful and open and while we had a table for 18 people, the room didn't feel overwhelmed by our presence. They have gluten sensitive offerings- a GF pizza, risotto of the day and many of their pasta dishes can be made with substitute GF pasta. And to end, my mom said the tiramisu was the best she's ever had! Highly recommended! Thanks for making our special event just perfect!

Came here for dinner on a weekend night - we were lucky to be able to walk in as it got crowded really quickly after. Read about it in a local magazine - it’s known for its wood fired pizza which we tried and liked. Also had the seafood risotto which was very good. Next to Caltrain station, free parking nearby and Caltrain parking further down the road. Vibrant with good service.

The Frittelle was amazing, light and tasty. Overall ingredients are high quality but execution could be improved. For example the pomodoro spaghetti had great flavors but was too el dente. The terun pizza was delicious but there are better neopolitan style pizzas around. Atmosphere was great

Paulynn Yu

The Frittelle was amazing, light and tasty. Overall ingredients are high quality but execution could be improved. For example the pomodoro spaghetti had great flavors but was too el dente. The terun pizza was delicious but there are better neopolitan style pizzas around. Atmosphere was great

4 and 1/2 It was a birthday dinner for a large group. Pizzas and pastas were very good except ragu. Steak was under seasoned. Calamari sauce was great. No cake cutting fee. Slow service I will come back for pasta and calamari sauce

Nice ambience, came in late service was quick. My seafood risotto was yummy, just a few hiccups rice had a few bullets(al dente), found a mussel bread and bit a clam shell. Staff was unconcerned, no apologies or accommodations.

Melba Padaong

Nice ambience, came in late service was quick. My seafood risotto was yummy, just a few hiccups rice had a few bullets(al dente), found a mussel bread and bit a clam shell. Staff was unconcerned, no apologies or accommodations.

Impasto is not ready yet. It is like a teenager with massive potential to be great, but has rough edges and also needs to chart a path to realize its destiny. It is a fabulous addition to the Peninsula but as of a month into its opening, it simply isn't "great". I won't pamper this review with great atmosphere, great and friendly service, breezy and crisp outdoor seating, etc. Afterall, we're in San Carlos. The fact that it is right next to a train station may have been trouble with diesel trains but now Caltrain is fully electric. All good. The issue is with the food. The ingredients are top notch. The recipe is good and whoever is cooking, is really trying hard to follow. But the lack of maturity shows. Many dishes lean on the bland side - and I can absolutely tell that this wasn't the intention rather timidness or even a mistake. The dough is good as well as the burrata. So whatever combination you put out is a winner. But again, the salt. Everywhere it's just about 30% missing. Focaccia bread is slightly bland. French fries absolutely came out saltless. Carpaccio was saved by parmasean but the meat wasn't "rare" enough. Seafood risotto was hearty but also lacked character. The gnocchi was rich and was perhaps the only dish that wasn't bland. However, something about the blend of sauce and texture made one quickly get bored with it. I cannot simply see one person scraping the entire dish of gnocchis. Now the unforgivable part is the margherita pizza. Don't get me wrong - dough was great and so were the cheese. The problem was with the watery and bland tomato sauce. You do not want your Neapolitan margherita to drip of tomato juice and water. You just can't. Amateurish mistake I'd say. It is absolutely clear that Impasto comes from the right roots and is destined to be great. It's just not ready yet. It needs to get it together. Grow up a bit. And not get overwhelmed when all tables are filled with those that are coming in with anticipation. Not too late. Just tighten it up and cook with confidence.

Loud but beautiful setting. The service was so-so (and no one asked how our food was until after we’d paid and were leaving). Speaking of paying, I despise it when restaurants use the Toast payment device, shoving it into your face with only tip percentages showing on the screen and no ability to verify that the list of items and the amount look correct…a perfect way of hiding the 3% fee that discretely tack on (I thought that the new California law was supposed to get rid of hidden fees!). The real letdown (besides the odd lasagna with ham stuffed inside) were the pizzas. Watery, bland pizzas that were depressingly tasteless. What a waste of good ingredients when the kitchen isn’t able to make a pleasing pizza.

Hans Goertz

Loud but beautiful setting. The service was so-so (and no one asked how our food was until after we’d paid and were leaving). Speaking of paying, I despise it when restaurants use the Toast payment device, shoving it into your face with only tip percentages showing on the screen and no ability to verify that the list of items and the amount look correct…a perfect way of hiding the 3% fee that discretely tack on (I thought that the new California law was supposed to get rid of hidden fees!). The real letdown (besides the odd lasagna with ham stuffed inside) were the pizzas. Watery, bland pizzas that were depressingly tasteless. What a waste of good ingredients when the kitchen isn’t able to make a pleasing pizza.

Wook Chung

Impasto is not ready yet. It is like a teenager with massive potential to be great, but has rough edges and also needs to chart a path to realize its destiny. It is a fabulous addition to the Peninsula but as of a month into its opening, it simply isn't "great". I won't pamper this review with great atmosphere, great and friendly service, breezy and crisp outdoor seating, etc. Afterall, we're in San Carlos. The fact that it is right next to a train station may have been trouble with diesel trains but now Caltrain is fully electric. All good. The issue is with the food. The ingredients are top notch. The recipe is good and whoever is cooking, is really trying hard to follow. But the lack of maturity shows. Many dishes lean on the bland side - and I can absolutely tell that this wasn't the intention rather timidness or even a mistake. The dough is good as well as the burrata. So whatever combination you put out is a winner. But again, the salt. Everywhere it's just about 30% missing. Focaccia bread is slightly bland. French fries absolutely came out saltless. Carpaccio was saved by parmasean but the meat wasn't "rare" enough. Seafood risotto was hearty but also lacked character. The gnocchi was rich and was perhaps the only dish that wasn't bland. However, something about the blend of sauce and texture made one quickly get bored with it. I cannot simply see one person scraping the entire dish of gnocchis. Now the unforgivable part is the margherita pizza. Don't get me wrong - dough was great and so were the cheese. The problem was with the watery and bland tomato sauce. You do not want your Neapolitan margherita to drip of tomato juice and water. You just can't. Amateurish mistake I'd say. It is absolutely clear that Impasto comes from the right roots and is destined to be great. It's just not ready yet. It needs to get it together. Grow up a bit. And not get overwhelmed when all tables are filled with those that are coming in with anticipation. Not too late. Just tighten it up and cook with confidence.

Worst service ever… we booked an outdoor seat and came w/ our 5-month-old son. The waiter insisted that we had to sit in one of the tables next to the street under the sun b/c “it would not be easy to move the stroller” when we leave, despite that we said we could park the stroller on the side where it’s not blocking anyone. We ended up having to hold the baby during the entire dinner. Until we left there was no one else in the restaurant at all lol

Grace Geng

Worst service ever… we booked an outdoor seat and came w/ our 5-month-old son. The waiter insisted that we had to sit in one of the tables next to the street under the sun b/c “it would not be easy to move the stroller” when we leave, despite that we said we could park the stroller on the side where it’s not blocking anyone. We ended up having to hold the baby during the entire dinner. Until we left there was no one else in the restaurant at all lol

Kritika B

Although the service and ambience is great, the quality of the ingredients used in the food is bad. We ordered the roasted beetroot salad, the hazelnuts were definitely old and tasted bad. We had to send the item back. And right after dinner, my digestive system also started complaining- not doing very well today. Don’t think I’d be returning to this restaurant