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Osteria
3.4000/5 (18 reviews)

247 Hamilton Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 328-5700

Category: Italian


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18 Reviews
REVIEW #1 mike S.
Avg. Entree: $15-20
Rating: 		July 20, 2009
0 of 3 people found this review helpful
A reasonably priced, unexceptional italian restaurant. My friend tried to convert me (It's his favorite, my favorite italian restaurant is Palermos). I thought that the atmosphere was uninspirational and my food was so heavy with butter that I didn't feel like eatting again for an entire day.

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REVIEW #2 Lucinda H.
Avg. Entree: $10-15
Rating: 		February 11, 2005
1 of 3 people found this review helpful
This is simply good Italian. No more no less. Don't look for fancy stuff here in the heart of Palo Alto. It is refreshing to find a restaurant that is just focused on giving the attention to the food. I come here every so often even though I live across the bay. You can't miss here. And where else are you going to get freshly made pasta for these prices. I do wish they would use bigger shrimp with the spinach linguine though. I am not a fan of popcorn sized shrimp.

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REVIEW #3 Antar D.
Avg. Entree: $5-10
Rating: 		August 1, 2003
0 of 5 people found this review helpful
delicious food and very traditional enviornment. chicken parmesan was excellent as was everything else i ate there, well worth a visit.

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REVIEW #4 Carlin W.
Avg. Entree: $15-20
Rating: 		February 21, 2001
0 of 4 people found this review helpful
One of my favorites - haven't tried the pastas but the Veal Picatta is fabulous as is the Hazelnut flan. A must try...
cw

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REVIEW #5 Elaina K.
Avg. Entree: $10-15
Rating: 		January 31, 2000
1 of 3 people found this review helpful
This is a great restaurant. I had to plan a holiday lunch for the group I work with. I decided at the last minute to go to Osteria. They were able to accomodate us. The service was great. The food was wonderful.

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REVIEW #6 shoshana D.
Avg. Entree: $5-10
Rating: 		July 9, 1998
0 of 2 people found this review helpful
A reasonably priced, unexceptional italian restaurant. My friend tried to convert me (It's his favorite, my favorite italian restaurant is Palermos). I thought that the atmosphere was uninspirational and my food was so heavy with butter that I didn't feel like eatting again for an entire day.

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REVIEW #7
Avg. Entree: $10-15
Rating: 		April 19, 1998
0 of 3 people found this review helpful
This is one my favorite places to eat. I also love the food. The quality is some of the best around. But what I really like is the atmosphere. I like the little tables. My only complaint is don't come too early in the evening because they will rush you more than you like. It can be hard to get in but eat there enough and they'll work you in.

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REVIEW #8
Avg. Entree: $10-15
Rating: 		April 1, 1997
0 of 3 people found this review helpful
If you know what to order, the food is great!!! I highly recommend starting with the carpaccio, then getting the calamari, and finishing with the hazelnut flan. With this combonation you CANNOT go wrong. Friends also like the angel hair pasta alot. The food is great, and quite economical for the quality of food.

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REVIEW #9
Avg. Entree: $20-30
Rating: 		March 5, 1997
0 of 4 people found this review helpful
Unquestionably one of Palo Alto's most popular Italian restaurants, but I have never understood the charm although I have eaten here five or six times. The tables are too close together, the noise level is too high, and the service acceptable at best. The salads tend to be drenched in dressing (especially the caeser) and the pastas well over-sauced and gloppy. It's like somebody's idea of Italian food for people who don't know or really don't like)Italian food.

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REVIEW #10
Rating: 		January 18, 1997
1 of 4 people found this review helpful
Above-par Italian. Good not great food. Quite noisy. I prefer Il Fornaio (though Osteria has a cozier atmosphere).

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REVIEW #11 Robert H.
Avg. Entree: $10-15
Rating: 		October 14, 1996
0 of 5 people found this review helpful
A pleasant surprise. I thought it would be more expensive. However, it is quite reasonable for the quality and location. One of the few american restaurants that observed my table without being intrusive. They knew exactly when we were done. The tiera missu was excellent.

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REVIEW #12 David R.
Avg. Entree: $10-15
Rating: 		September 12, 1996
1 of 3 people found this review helpful
A reasonably good fancy-italian place. Selection is quite limited. I had a special ravioli-chicken dish. It was fine but wasn't too different from many other Italian places. For dessert I had the chocolate torte. It was a bit too sweet, if you can believe that. A friend had the flan and recommends it. I'd say this place is a little overpriced for what you get.

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REVIEW #13 harvey J.
Rating: 		August 29, 1996
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
The family favorite !!! The veal and pasta dishes are beautifully done. The only rap on the place is that they never change there specials...spinach salad, veal stuffed raviolli, grilled salmon & swordfish and lamb medallions. Don't pay the bill without trying the hazelnut flan !!!

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REVIEW #14 Tony C.
Avg. Entree: $10-15
Rating: 		March 31, 1996
0 of 3 people found this review helpful
The best pasta dishes outside of my Nonnie's kitchen. Try the gnocci and the green pasta dishes. Wine list is adequate and the atmosphere and staff are execellent!!!

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REVIEW #15 richard T.
Avg. Entree: $10-15
Rating: 		March 25, 1996
0 of 4 people found this review helpful
I was extremely disappointed in the quality. I had the spinach linguine with shrimp. Not bad but not great. I've had pre-packaged linguine that was better. My bet is that they were banking on the heavy use of garlic to hide the poor quality. Together with bad service I don't recommend dining here.

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REVIEW #16
Avg. Entree: $10-15
Rating: 		March 4, 1996
0 of 3 people found this review helpful
Great salad. Tender butter lettuce and good house dressing. Ravioli was delicious! Capellini with pomodora tomato sauce was perfect. Bustling atmosphere. A little noisy but fun. I highly suggest the tiramisu. The owner, Greg, is a congenial host.

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REVIEW #17
Rating: Unknown 		March 1, 1996
1 of 3 people found this review helpful
Overall pretty good food, and intimate setting. However, the service seems to be a little unfriendly. My guess is that it's because they're always so busy. Warning: on Friday and Saturday evenings, it's hard to get a table.

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REVIEW #18
Avg. Entree: $10-15
Rating: 		February 25, 1996
1 of 3 people found this review helpful
This is one of my favorite Italian restaurants. The appetizers are wonderful and the spinach linguine with shrimp is my favorite, but watchout if you don't love garlic!

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