Walnut Creek Has 15 Italian Restaurants Now. Here’s All of Them.

WALNUT CREEK, CALIFORNIA – They call it Walnut Creek. But it might as well be the East Bay branch of San Francisco’s Little Italy neighborhood.

Locals have noted with a bit of wonderment that Walnut Creek keeps adding new Italian restaurants. That’s not a problem, per se–people love Italian food. But it’s certainly a trend.

In fact, we counted them up, and the city will soon have 15 different Italian places. Here’s a quick look at the lineup.

1. Benvenuti Ristorante

An old school option that’s been there forever. People like the classic dining room and the fact that you get the full experience: cocktails, a slower meal, and dessert. (benvenutiwc.com)
Address: 1627 Broadway, Walnut Creek

2. Massimo Ristorante

Another popular, but with more of a date night or big celebration meal type of feel. The wine is a major feature here, too. It’s on Locust street so the location is great. (Massimo Ristorante)
Address: 1604 Locust St, Walnut Creek

3. Montecatini Ristorante

This is probably the most old-school option in the city. This spot has been around for decades. If you’re looking for the classic sort of fine dining atmosphere, check it out. Again, great for anniversaries and milestone dinners. (Montecatini Ristorante)
Address: 1528 Civic Dr, Walnut Creek

4. Melo’s Italian Table

This is a newer, livelier spot that’s more about group dining than big, white-tablecloth celebration meals. The dishes are meant to be shared. If you’re going out with a group of friends this is a good pick. (Melo’s Italian Table)
Address: 1360 Locust St, Walnut Creek

5. Montesacro (Pinseria Romana)

Montesaco is all about Roman-style pizzas with thin crusts and fresh ingredients–plus pastas and small plates that make it easy to build a meal for the table. It is especially good when you want to try a few things instead of committing to one entree. (Montesacro)
Address: 1686 Locust St, Walnut Creek

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6. Il Fornaio (Walnut Creek)

Another reliable stalwart for big celebration meals, and especially for business dinners. There’s a big menu so everyone can find what they want. (Il Fornaio)
Address: 1430 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Walnut Creek

7. Original Joe’s (Walnut Creek)

The excitement when Original Joes announced it was opening in Walnut Creek, in the former Stanford’s spot, was unlike anything I’ve seen. A fire that briefly closed the restaurant hasn’t dampened spirits at all, and it’s still very tough to get a reservation. Walk-ins are welcome though. (Original Joe’s)
Address: 1300 S. Main St, Walnut Creek

8. Tomatina

I love Tomatina for casual Italian fare, especially for takeout. If you’re hosting an event and want pizza that’s a bit fancier than Papa John’s (which I admit to also loving), Tomatina is a great bet. They also have giant family-style meals to go, complete with really tasty garlic rolls. (tomatina.com)
Address: 1325 N. Main St, Walnut Creek

9. Pasta Pizza Primavera

This is a classic that’s been there for years. Pizzas, pastas and other casual Italian items are the name of the game here. (Pasta Pizza Primavera)
Address: 2997 North Main St, Walnut Creek

10. Gusto Mio Focacceria & Pizzeria

We broke the story when this focaccia-centered downtown spot originally opened, and it’s since gotten attention from all over the Bay Area.
Address: 1441 Locust St, Walnut Creek (Gusto Mio Focacceria)

11. Pizzalina (Walnut Creek Pizzeria + Taproom)

Hand-stretched artisan pizza and rustic Italian fare in a taproom setting that works especially well for groups. (pizzalina)
Address: 2064 Treat Blvd, Suite B, Walnut Creek

12. Rocco’s Ristorante Pizzeria

Snazzy looking on the outside, delightfully chaotic and old-school on the inside. This is a popular spot for big families and for sports teams celebrating a victory or mourning a loss. Great food and very cheap. (roccospizzeria.com)
Address: 2909 Ygnacio Valley Rd, Walnut Creek

13. Slice House by Tony Gemignani

My favorite NY style pizza in the Bay Area, and a spot that gets national recognition for the quality of its slices. They’re huge–you can feed a large family with a single pizza, or grab it by the slice. Limited seating but great for a picnic. (locations.slicehouse.com)
Address: 1500 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Walnut Creek

14. Genova Delicatessen (S. California Blvd location)

An iconic Italian deli that locals treat like a lunch institution — sandwiches, deli goods, and the like. The S. California Blvd location remains open; the Treat Blvd location closed in November 2025, according to reporting.
Address: 1105 S California Blvd, Walnut Creek

15. North Italia (coming soon)

The big upcoming entry: North Italia now lists its Walnut Creek location as Opening 3/25 on its official page, with a downtown Locust Street address. Expect handmade pastas, pizzas, and a large bar program (North Italia)
Address: 1179 Locust St, Walnut Creek (North Italia)

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