Top Reviews

Kathy L. | San Francisco, CA
We had been to Terún before and had a great meal, but our recent one at Impasto was so delicious and memorable because of the amazing service and hospitality. Everyone was so happy we returned the next evening, but they were too busy already.

Our food came out quickly and our water glasses were never empty. My daughter said it was the best pasta she’s had, and we didn’t even order from the kids’ menu, though they asked for the Mickey Mouse-shaped cheese pizza for next time. When our youngest was getting too fussy for us to stay for dessert, the owner (need to learn his name next time!) brought delicious ice cream for the kids in a to-go cup, which was so thoughtful. The location is at the Caltrain station and is our new favorite spot for Italian!

Nancy C. | San Carlos, CA
Wow! We really enjoyed our dinner on a Friday night, celebrating a friend’s birthday.

The staff at Impasto were very friendly and even gave my friend a birthday card and free dessert! Now that’s great customer service!

Our waiter, Alfredo, was great! He gave us really good suggestions and made sure we were happy before, during, and after our meal.

We ordered two appetizers, salad, and pizza.

• Fava bean and broccoli rabe – 5 stars
• Grilled romaine – 5 stars
• Brussel sprout – 5 stars
• San Danielle pizza – 5 stars

What else can I say other than we will be back to try their other menu items!

Welcome to San Carlos, Impasto!

The only sad thing is we forgot to take our leftover pizza that they boxed for us. We were looking forward to having it the next day! Lol!

Deepti K. | San Mateo, CA
We went to Impasto for the opening today! It looks like it had a very successful opening! It took about 35 minutes for us to get a table. There were still people outside waiting for tables when we left at 9 pm!

The ambiance and service are great! What I was looking forward to was the gnocchi, which I had loved at Terún. The gnocchi here didn’t disappoint! Soft and delicious! We also got the spaghetti, which was great too. I like that the menu clearly indicates which dishes are vegetarian, so you don’t have to guess or ask the server! And they have plenty of vegetarian options, which is a big plus!

Steve M. | South San Francisco, CA
Just recently opened! Impasto is the third restaurant opened by the founders (Maico, Franco, Guiseppe, Kristjan) of Terún and Italico. The success of their restaurants comes from their experience, dedication, and passion for food combined with the well-known Italian spirit of warmth and hospitality. I promise you will get the best service and Italian food here! Only the freshest and highest quality ingredients—they source the best raw materials for their pasta, pizzas, and wines. Ambiance is perfect for date night or a social gathering! Service is exceptional! They treat you like family here, and I felt like I was back in Italy! Here’s what I ordered:

STARTERS

• Homemade focaccia bread – Must order and cooked to order focaccia bread with fresh herbs and homemade rosemary butter
• Frittura di calamari – Fresh, lightly battered calamari with lemon sauce and a side of fresh lemon

PIZZA

• San Daniele – Prosciutto San Daniele 24 month, cremini mushrooms, mozzarella, arugula, shaved Grana Padano, truffle oil
• Special pizza (Capito Cuor di Cereal) Fuchi – Fior di latte mozzarella, fresh figs, prosciutto crudo, and chestnut honey. Must order.

ENTREE

• Tagliata – 16oz certified Angus beef ribeye, French fries, and green beans

Trisha M. | Martinez, CA
SO GOOD. They were BUSY on a Friday night. I saw there were no reservations online, so I called, and luckily they made room for us! The interior is beautiful. Very chic and modern decor. Cute spot for dinner. FOOD WAS AMAZING. Pizza crust was thin but not too thin and tasty. Lots of good choices to pick from. It was hard to just choose one. We will for sure be back. Service was wonderful. They make you feel like family.

Anthony A. | Napa, CA
What a fantastic addition to San Carlos. My wife and I went the opening week and were absolutely blown away by the experience. The ambiance of the restaurant was top-notch – elegant and welcoming. We enjoyed our full meal at the bar with Samantha. She made us a couple of their specialty cocktails to start, which were balanced and delicious. The focaccia was perfect, followed by crispy calamari. The 5 flour pizza was divine. While the food was truly delicious, the star of the evening was the General Manager, Giovanni. Incredible hospitality and made our evening special. Cannot wait to come back again soon!

Megan T. | Redwood City, CA
Made a reservation for Friday night outside on the patio. We were seated right away, water brought right to the table. Service was prompt and friendly. We had a bottle of Pinot Noir—delicious, as well as the calamari appetizer with a light lemon sauce poured over the top, loved it. Branzino was cooked perfectly, and loved the homemade rigatoni with beef/pork ragu. Cannot wait to return and try their wood-fired pizzas and desserts.

Elayne P. | San Jose, CA
Impeccable food—fresh, homemade, and decadent. Excellent hospitality and service. A definite date night restaurant.

We tried the grilled octopus appetizer, the focaccia, a pizza, the branzino, and their chocolate pizza… every bite was delicious!

Andrew K. | Mountain View, CA
This Terún offshoot in San Carlos is delicious. Great outdoor seating for a special dinner. Highly recommend the fig pizza, burrata, and pastas. The cocktails were perfectly constructed; I especially enjoyed the Old Fashioned.

Julie W. | San Carlos, CA
Check out our new favorite Italian restaurant, IMPASTO! I took my husband begrudgingly to their grand opening last night, and we’ll definitely be back with friends and family 🙂 In fact, it felt like we were with family, as the staff were all welcoming and friendly. We feasted on refreshing cocktails, tender grilled octopus, a wood-fired pizza with a lovely Barolo, and ended with an out-of-this-world chocolate Nutella pizza and port… perfectly delizioso! Thank you, Maico Campilongo, and see you soon!

Cristina H. | Walnut Creek, CA
I’m going back for sure! This is such a wonderful spot to eat delicious (and authentic) Italian food. The ambiance is semi-elegant and spunky. Our server, Valerio, took really good care of us. Not to mention he was Italian, so it was fun to interact and speak in Italian with him. Brought back feelings of being in Italy for sure! It’s also kid-friendly, so that’s nice!

It’s a busy place (not surprised), so just make sure to make a reservation in advance to ensure you get in. Bravi bravi bravi!

Cathy | San Mateo, CA
I love everything about this restaurant, including the decor. We’ve been there twice since their opening, and the food was outstanding each time—not your “run of the mill” Italian restaurant. We’ve had their pizzas, branzino, and rigatoni. Maico, Franco, Giuseppe, and Mel’s warm hospitality is unique and memorable. All the servers have been great as well. Impasto is really going to give the other “very ordinary” Italian restaurants in San Carlos some serious competition.

Cathy | San Mateo, CA
I love everything about this restaurant, including the decor. We’ve been there twice since their opening, and the food was outstanding each time—not your “run of the mill” Italian restaurant. We’ve had their pizzas, branzino, and rigatoni. Maico, Franco, Giuseppe, and Mel’s warm hospitality is unique and memorable. All the servers have been great as well. Impasto is really going to give the other “very ordinary” Italian restaurants in San Carlos some serious competition.

Milena D. | West San Jose, San Jose, CA
Food – the fish of the day, Italian seabass branzino, was perfect. Vermentino di Sardegna wine: excellent. Desserts: panna cotta and crostata lemon curd, both with fresh berries, were delicious.
Service – polite and accommodating. My husband dropped his napkin, the waiter noticed it and replaced it immediately!
Ambiance – perfect newly created space. Decor, palette colors, comfortable seats, and lighting, together with an open kitchen, create such a nice vibe and atmosphere!
Highly recommended, you feel good, as we always felt good in Terún, in Palo Alto.

Antonella R. | San Francisco, CA
Me and my family had an amazing dinner night at Impasto. Every single dish we ordered was 5 stars! The restaurant is brand new and beautiful! Every single detail, like the lighting, the tables, the tableware, and the decor, was fantastic. The staff is like family—super friendly and professional. If you are looking for an authentic Italian restaurant, this is a gem! Best desserts, all the pizzas, fresh pastas with the best sauces, and the octopus is a must-order! I highly recommend this beautifully done Italian restaurant. Bravo!

Laura B. | Redwood City, CA
Impasto is an authentic Italian restaurant offering a wide variety of appetizers, pizzas, and entree selections—there is something delicious for everyone. As an Italian myself, I am pretty picky about eating thin pizzas with tasty dough and a variety of toppings. The pizzas also need not to weigh on my stomach. Impasto pizzas were to die for! The ambiance combines a pizzeria feeling with San Francisco’s classiness and a full bar with an array of drinks. The service was superb with excellent attention from several Italian-speaking personnel who make you feel right at home and share lots of laughs. Great place for kids too. My daughter loved it! We will definitely go again!

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About Mark and Viv

Mark Martinho and Viv Kelvin are the owners of Vabrato Real Estate

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