Waiters were cooly cordial; not warm and sincere. A bit overpriced. Limited choice of plain salads. Not much to bring me back again.
(2)
Yoddha Y.
I recently went to this restaurant and I am glad that I had NOT read the reviews before hand. The place has a great ambiance, the wine list is great. The service was excellent. The food was very well presented. The fried Calamari with the horseradish sauce is outstanding. The Pasta with Sausage with sprinkled cheese and then baked was fabulous. The minestrone soup was one of the better ones I have tested. And the killer deserts, if I had my way, my choice... all the above. I think if you ask for suggestions from the staff, your experience improves a lot. I give two thumbs up.
(5)
Sparkely K.
This is a great place for a romantic dinner and it has never disappointed. Good food, warm service, and Laurel Ave is great for walking off dinner. :)
(4)
anne s.
This is the worst meal I've had in years. Balsamic vinegar sludge, tasteless olive oil, unremarkable bread, burnt oil-laden mussels grilled on a plate of oil, served so sizzling hot they were inedible, warm lettuce drenched in dressing, sliced beets served warm and limp (overcooked), salty entree (salmon). Go for the DJ and beer, eat somewhere else.
(1)
STEPHANIE L.
This is a place for any evening you'd want. Romantic? Try the outdoor heated patio or indoor intimate dining room. Casual fun? Try the bar side tables or step right to the bar. Our server, Kathy, was very friendly and attentive throughout the evening. She gave excellent recommendations of dishes to order. I especially enjoyed the White Orchid cocktail! Both the NY Steak and Striped bass were done well and in good portion. Hazelnut chocolate tart - what a creative way to blend 2 blissful ingredients! This Wednesday evening, a DJ began playing classic beats which drew the after dinner crowd in for a seemingly endless night of pleasure.
(5)
Mika D.
I love the ambiance but the food could do better. Had a full sized meal here last night with family for my mom's birthday and the dishes fell flat and short of the flavor, presentation and aroma. I found the plates of food to be eye appetizing but not on my tastebuds. I found some of the bites very bland! I ordered the carpaccio and was disappointed they didn't serve it with lemon wedges and capers. i've had better at il fornaio. plus piacere's carpaccio were not sliced thin!! ugh i had the pleasure of tasting RAW BEEF. I had a glass of sangiovese, too. drinking wine kinda helped! AHAHA I opted for the sea scallops which were raw in the middle (YUK) and plus it came with truffle oil mashed potatoes (which was so freakin' lumpy) and sauteed mushrooms (which i can cook the same at HOME!) i tried their baked alaska dessert (homemade strawberry ice cream with a meringue pocket). holy cow. TOO SWEET! plus the meringue wasn't as "crisp" -- it felt like eating soap and cake frosting at the same time. i had a cup of joe with it and the coffee was sour! i'm learning that maybe they're outstanding at keeping their surroundings clean but as far as the food goes, forget about it. i'm going to tosca next door! i was hoping this restaurant would be ideal for a rehearsal dinner but i guess not.
(2)
David M.
Mellow, non-pretentious atmosphere, good food, great wait staff and the best cocktails on the peninsula thanks to bar manager Iris. She takes her craft seriously, does her homework and makes delicious drinks with good ingredients. You won't find sweet and sour mix gunk behind this bar. For a nice dining experience in downtown San Carlos, this is the place.
(5)
Inigo M.
Classy and modern, but the food is a bit pricey and you don't get much (which is maybe good for a date).
(3)
Aimee Y.
Went to Piacere for a late dinner last Friday. A guitarist and vocalist provided live entertainment for the cozy bar, but we walked through and ate in the much larger dining room. We ordered a small order of truffle gnocchi as an appetizer- they were delicious. My short ribs were just OK but my friend's petit filet was executed well. Overall, the ambience, attentive service, and wine list are worth another visit this week.
(4)
Catherine W.
Beautiful restaurant, good food, reasonable prices. We had the margherita pizza and lamb sandwich. The pizza was very good, well-baked crust, simple ingredients. Service is attentive and polished. We were very pleasantly surprised.
(4)
Christine P.
Came here with a company dinner. We had the private room in the back. The service was great. Food was good, but I didn't think it was spectacular. The ambiance though was quite a kick. It didn't feel like San Carlos at all. With the DJ at the bar and loud music, it almost felt like a club in San Francisco.
(3)
Vicki G.
Came here because we are friends with the band. Food was o.k. but nothing special. Best thing I had was the warm spinach salad. Steaks were ok but not as good as I could have made at home. Same with lamb shank. But the cost was astonishing. 4 people had 2 salads, 4 entrees, 5 glasses of wine and a diet coke and it came to $240 with the tax and tip. Ordinary wine was $9 a glass. Totally not worth it. would not return
(2)
Jeff A.
Reserved a large party table for 14 was asked to leave a credit card for confirmation which is understandable but did not appreciate the warning "well if you want to confirm with us then we need some confirmation too with a credit card number and so if you don't show up I will charge your card $50 dollars" we showed. I gave the hostess my name and she welcomed me and led me to a table for 2? Cute, I informed her that I had a large party and she escorted me to a large room that was set up, after I sat down she came back and told me that I was in the wrong room and that my room was not set up yet and walked away..so I waited at the bar with my guests..8:30 and was not informed that the table was ready..we had to inquire! When we did the hostess just said yes and didn't bother to escort us to the room..It was like they forgot about us! The ambiance and band was great, the service, food and portions need work..too bad, such a nice place. Our party paid part cash and credit card we also tipped (we thought) until the server came back and told us we were $4 short! We gave the $4 with no argument but wow.. I also left behind one of my gifts from my birthday party and did not get a response until after inquiring for 2days after that it was not turned in or found in the private room we dined in....Birthday Blues
(1)
My Two Cents C.
I was trying to book the private dinning room with Robert, the Banquet Manager, and he was extremely rude and very unprofessional. I have never eaten here or seen what the place looks like inside, but if I'm treated that way on the phone, I can only imagine what it would be like to dine there.
(1)
Susan C.
In general, I would describe this place as overrated. The service was suboptimal, which would not cause me to rate so low if that was the only issue, but since that is not the case, it bears mentioning. The wine list was ok, but overpriced, and the glass I ordered was underfilled. The bread brought to our table consisted of a small piece of warm focaccia and a small piece of chilled baguette- yes, chilled. My husband and I shared two appetizers: the lamb bacon was very tasty -always a fan of fried fat- but it was plated with a pile of salted arugula; we also got the calamari, which had good texture and base flavor, but again, was oversalted. (noticing a pattern?) Then came the entrees, with no time in between to rest/digest as should be allowed, which is mildly irritating. My husband's pizza was oddly flavored- the cheese was bland, the sauce was more like a vodka sauce than a pizza sauce, and the whole thing was -again- oversalted. I ordered the angelhair with prawns, which in reality are just shrimp (another pet peeve is misrepresentation) and this dish, while not overly salty like the others, was overpowered by the chili flakes in the dish. All of this comes from a person who loves salty and spicy foods. So to sum up, I'd describe Piacere as overpriced, oversalted, and overall an ill advised choice.
(2)
Jennie L.
Tasty bread basket, great crab salad (which they kindly split for us in the kitchen) and nice atmosphere. However, incredibly slow service at lunch.
(3)
MJ J.
Excellent appetizers and wine list . . .
(4)
Karen D.
I've been going to Piacere's since it first opened ......it was a great place to sit out side and have lunch with a friend and not be rushed. Now? Save your money, go to Town across the street for dinner instead or go down the street to La Tosca on Laurel Street. I went for lunch , sat at the bar , told the lady bartender what I wanted to drink..3 times! finally she understood. She poured me a shot and a large coke. The coke was fine for $1.50, the shot of premium whiskey was $6.50, I could barely see the whiskey in my glass. It was more like 3 tablespoons. Lunch was not good, ravioli's with mushrooms, the pasta was tough and too much sauce in my small bowl..no bread was offered but maybe they are cutting back due to the recent remodel which I believe they could have done better. In fact if you want a nice lunch with reasonable prices and fun to boot! Go to the Van's on the Hill in Belmont!!
(2)
Wei L.
May have been an off night as we've been here before and everything was usually spot on. My first two orders for entrees were not available and the third choice ended up being a smaller than expected portion (fish -- the scallops my dining guests had were bigger). Lastly, ordered a capuccino as a apres diner drink and the cream used to make foam curdled. No check of quality prior to serving to me, followed by a minor apology and absolutely no remuniration on the bill (expected the capuccino at the very least). Although I live in the area, any future visits will be limited to a glass of wine and some bread. In fact, you can find me at Towne across the street.
(1)
nicole c.
I really want to like this restaurant, but they need to make their food live up to the prices. The location is perfect, the restaurant atmosphere is nice, but the service and food has just been "okay". I've eaten here a few times and it's just too overpriced for what you get. Tonight I got the $20 gnocchi and they were chewy and tasted like they had been frozen. It's not that the food is bad, but it's not good. If it was a cheap place, I wouldn't complain since I'd just write it off as "you get what you pay for". Unfortunately, here you don't get what you pay for.
(3)
John C.
Three of us went to Piacere on a Saturday night. It was a decent experience, but nothing special, and definitely not something I would recommend. First off, it's an Italian restaurant. I'm Italian. I expect bread with my meal. No bread ever came. We just assumed they didn't do that, but at the end of our meal we noticed waiters bringing bread to other tables before the meal. When we asked the waiter, he said it is available on request. That was a little unbelievable for an Italian "fine dinning" restaurant. There were a few other things we didn't like about the place. First, the service was so-so and actually chaotic at times. My wife the chef described it as there is a dance that restaurant staff learn, especially during busy times. This restaurant staff were all dancing to different beats. The feeling we got from the staff was not very inviting. The Bolognese was not creamy or very flavorful. The Parpadelle with wild Boar Ragu had good flavor but the pasta was overcooked. There were some positives. The ambiance was great and the live music was worth some disappointment in the food. Aside from what I already described, the food was generally good. The prices was pretty reasonable as well.
(2)
Tara P.
My husband and I had the worst dining experience of our lives at Piacere. It was last Valentine's Day and we had a 6:30pm reservation. We didn't get seated until almost 7:00pm and got seated outside...which was OK. Since it seemed as if the server was taking awhile to greet us at our table, we decided to time him. Took him 15 freakin' minutes to get to our table to just welcome us. The server proceeded to tell us that he just moved to San Carlos the week before because of his girlfriend. He said he moved here from Manhattan and used to work at Mario Batali's restaurant. In so many words, he said San Carlos sucked. Whatever, we don't care what he thinks. But, come one, we live here. Have some class. Anyway, we only saw our server one other time, when he took our food orders. We NEVER saw him again. At 9:30pm, I finally stormed in and asked for our dessert (menu was prix fix as it was Valentine's Day) to go. I complained that our server had abandoned us. I actually had to stand in line to complain. Additionally, the hostess said that "we overbooked the patio." No apologies or anything. Just an excuse. Just a few weeks ago, we decided to give Piacere another try. As another review states, the atmosphere is fantastic inside. But, the food is second rate. I have never had salty/fishy lobster raviolis before and most likely never will again. Doesn't the owner try the food?
(1)
Feena F.
This is a great restaurant! Their beverage/wine list is pretty extensive and the menu has some really good items. I got the Strawberry Sparkler and it was very refreshing. We had Blue Cheese pizza and corn dogs for the appetizer and both were pretty good. The Blue Cheese pizza has grapes and fennel so it's not your typical pizza but it was different in a good way. The corn dogs were mini dogs with a great dipping sauce. I had the Halibut for main course and it was delicious. For dessert we all shared a Chocolate Sampler which was good too: the chocolate mousse was phenomenal, the cake was dry and the third item, which was like a big chocolate "kiss" was good. Overall it was a great dinner with good service and ambience.
(4)
Bob J.
Had lunch here with a large group of people. I ordered the bass with hazelnuts , wax beans and rice for $19. They brought me a piece of catfish!! WTF? I didn't send it back because I didn't want to be eating when everyone else was finished. However, there was no catfish anywhere else on the menu so they were clearly trying to pass off a 20 cent piece of catfish as bass. Shame on you Piacere! Beyond that, the wax beans were, well, waxy and stringy. The vesuvian rice was just ok. The ambiance and service were good. No one in our group raved about their food. The food is definitely overpriced. Better lower your prices or find a chef soon.
(1)
Mike L.
I was there for brunch. All around good food, but my friend's egg and zuccini pancake left him a little hungry. It was a nice day and ther service was a little slow, but my good company killed the time.
(4)
joel a.
Not a large menu but great food. Probably wouldn't make my top 10 of all time but definitely a spot to check out a few times a year. Very reliable quality of food. We had a couple of the panninis today, the lamb with goat cheese and the pork loin. Both excellent.
(4)
katelyn p.
Went here on Thursday night. My friend and each had two delicious glasses of wine. I was not as familiar with their wine list because I am more of a California wine drinker and their wines are mostly from Europe. We split a mixed green salad, a pizza and the most amazing ricotta gnocchi ever! Every bit of our meal was delicious. It is a bit pricey, we paid about 60 bucks each for a split dinner with wine. I felt it was entirely worth it. The ambiance is nice but there was a threesome with a baby near us. The baby was of course acting like a baby. She was tossing cherrios around the restaurant and the mom get repeating "ta dah" for about 15 minutes in a high pitched squeal. Seriously mom was way more annoying than baby. I would chose a more family friendly restaurant for babies/toddlers. At the end of our meal we were surprised by a complimentary desert to share and desert wine! The wine had an almondy taste to it and it complimented the creaminess and richness of the cheesecake perfectly. I can't wait to go back.
(5)
ally o.
this place is cute! went there for lunch and had a panini with lamb & goat cheese. SO GOOD! came with potato salad. service was quick and my water was refilled often. bread served the meal was nice and warm. it was a gorgeous sunday afternoon so eating outside was a treat! it was also fun watching people walk their dogs and people who kept running into this pull down shade (right by the outside seating area) in front of the restaurant. LOL.
(5)
hary n.
i've been here several times, mostly b/c i'm a san carlos resident - mostly just ok - but most recent vist - service - ridiculously poor for the price of food. Nobody notices that water glasses are empty - you have to flag someone down. Have to wait ten minutes for a staff member to notice when you need something (pepper on your salad). The poor service makes the whole experience bad even though there were some standout items on the menu (truffle gnochi) I might be back just b/c of sheer laziness but would think 3 or four times.
(2)
KJ J.
After giving Piacere 3 tries I am done with it. The service is incredibly lacking in so many regards. The atmosphere is nice and the open air dining section in the front is enticing on pleasant days, but that is about as far as it goes. Every entree I have had is mediocre at best, not to mention they were never able to recall who ordered what dish. Instead of going on and on let's just say there are plenty of other wonderful dining options on Laurel St. in downtown San Carlos where you will have a much more pleasant experience.
(2)
David L.
Friendly, attentive service and tasty, creative Italian selections make this ristorante a nice stop while strolling Laurel Street. The desserts and wine list were paticularly appealing. It's worth the drive from San Francisco.
(5)
lisa m.
This is a great place to go with friends, family, or a date. The service and the food have always been divine and the atmosphere has a clean look to it but also cozy. The Jazz musician who plays on the weekend is wonderful and makes you want to get up and dance!
(4)
Leane M.
Ok... So, I just have to tell everyone the real scoop... I have been going here for years, let me explain...Initially, my friends and I started at the place across the street that shall remain unamed. After a few times across the street with not such great service (infact feeling as if we were not welcomed) we headed across to Piacere. So, here we are, we ask for a table outside so we can people watch. We were greeted warmly and given a great table and a wonderful server. We made this our home away from home...for the past 3 years now. We never feel pressured to hurry and eat/order/finish/leave...The staff is amazing and are always willing to take an extra step for you...hmm...an example? My mother, not a wine drinker at all, our waiter brought out several different tastes of wine for her in the hopes of finding the right wine for her to enjoy...each time with a smile on his face and not at all frustrated that she was near impossible to please!!! Ok - so here is the topper... last week one of my friends was on some weird diet that she couldn't eat anything with any fat in it for 4 days (weird, I know). Our server had the head chef come out so we could talk to her. She was awesome, came out and discussed serveral menu options for us. She created an amazing completely non-fat meal for the three of us...all I can say...That is why we keep coming back for more...personalized service at a fantastic upscale restaurant... Thank you everyone at Piacere :)
(5)
Ailene E.
The food is mediocre and expensive. Decor is nice, wait staff is good, the dessert is awesome! We had some kind of peach cobbler thing and the yummy tiramisu. I like the little front room, with the fireplace and a view of the street. Definitely a romantic spot for dessert and wine. I can't say much about the food.
(3)
Swarup B.
about a 3.5 star restaurant. decent italian food in a very nice setting. actually i would say the decor totally doesn't make it feel like an italian restaurant. my dish (seared duck risotto) was pretty nice but everyone had a very inconsistent experience with their dish. actually the restaurant felt inconsistent. very contemporary decor, "fancy" italian, and a live blues/jazz/hip-hop/r&b band... color me confused. in any case, the truffle chocolate cake and banana bread pudding were a good way to finish off the meal...
(3)
Louise O.
LOVE mussels, pasta very good. SErvice, well, that was a different story. Well, we made a reservation days in advance via opentable for 8PM and arrived on time. We were told the only table available was out in the end corner of the patio, which was freezing that night. I said, well, that's why I made a reservation and specified a quiet table, presumably indoors. We were eventually seated in 15 minutes. The server did not greet us for 10 minutes and when we first said we had some questions about the menu, he stopped us and said he'd be right back. He never checked in on us throughout the meal. Also, there was a lot of difficulty transferring the bar tab, with 2 failed attempts. It finally showed up on the final bill. We had the creme brulee which clearly had been bruleed hours prior. By now the place was cleared out, but the server was nowhere to be found. In the end, dissatified with overall experience. I don't know that I would go back.
(3)
J C.
I'm going with the consensus here insofar as Piacere is a BEAUTIFUL restaurant to dine in, but the food can't live up to the decor. I'll admit I was pretty surprised by how impressive the dining room is, especially for a restaurant on Laurel Ave. Not that you can't find an ambience-filled dining experience in the suburbs, but rarely would you find one with such modernist touches -- the high ceilings, paneled walls, grey tones and blocky furniture seem more conducive to a fine dining experience in San Francisco than San Carlos. Really, this place is only getting two stars because of the decor. Really, really, really too bad the food doesn't live up to its environment, or else Piacere would be an incredible find. Everything on the menu seems contemporary and interesting (we chose to eat here vs. the standard chops offerings across the street at Town), and props for supporting local produce and sustainable practices. I should have taken the hint from Mika and NOT gotten the scallops, but we all make mistakes. While my scallops were not raw (I like them rare anyway), they were drenched in some kind of lemony-creamy-buttery sauce, rather than letting the scallops speak for themselves. This would not be entirely horrible except who eats lemony-creamy-buttery anything with truffle mashed potatoes and mushrooms (incredibly plain mushrooms at that)??? Really, who thinks to mix lemon and mushrooms as flavors? This could have been a way better dish with the scallops just plainly seared, and maybe incorporate the lemony-creamy-buttery stuff into the mashed potatoes, rather than waste the truffle oil, and nix the mushrooms. Or truffle the scallops and find a more interesting mushroom mix to accompany. My mom's pappardelle with rabbit was way overcooked, pasta soft and rabbit dry and stringy. Nice to find rabbit on a menu out here, but why do it if you can't do it well? My dad's seafood shellfish pasta looked less than vibrant, and seemed to lean heavily on the fish side as opposed to the... well, shellfish side. We also started with a mushroom pizza that was less than stellar. Soggy crust, boring mushrooms, extraneous tomato sauce, yawn-worthy cheese combo -- definitely not up to the fine dining standard you would expect from the decor. Neither was the lagging service from our close-to-smarmy server. The pluses -- warm bread with an herb butter and impressive decor -- sadly do not a fine, or even good, or even reasonable trial dining experience make. Walk in to admire the dining room, ask for a menu to salivate over, then shed a small tear over the potential, the promise, the dream! that just isn't.
(2)
Kan L.
food+ambiance: four stars service: two stars waitstaff was nice, but service was slow and i don't know why. our waiter was super scattered and never brought back my leftovers. perhaps crazy under-staffing, but it wasn't very busy and the food took forever to come out. it also took forever for us to get our bill, which our waiter seemed very confused about because he repeatedly walked towards and away from us as if he simply could not figure out if it was the right check. on the upside, their bread is made in-house. one was ESPECIALLLY soft and delicious. i think it was an olive loaf? i'd go there just to buy a loaf of that bread from them.
(3)
Edward B.
Reserved the Private Room for an event and quite pricey including the food which I was'nt too fond of thus far. Ordered the Butter Lettuce Salad, Satsuma Mandarin Orange, Grilled Red Onion, Orange-Basil Vinaigrette which did'nt I could've done without. As a main course, I had the Steelhead, (Wild, WA), Fish w/ Pomegranate Glazed, Quinoa, Minted Cucumber Noodles, Ginger Broth - Nothing out of the ordinary but it was Juicy at least. Tried other plates such as the Chicken, Pan Seared,"Hen of the Woods" Mushroom, Crispy Gnocchi, Bloomsdale Spinach, Herb Jus and i'd probably recommend to most due to the quantity and taste including presentation of the meal. Lastly, the Short Rib, Meyer Natural, Boneless, Creamy Polenta, Roasted Root Vegetables, Pan Jus - A bit small neither filling - I would suggest a Steak House if your apetite craves similiar. The layout of the place and decor is great especially the patio seating along with the option of retail stores to shop at nearby. For the Price of the food, I have to admit it's a bit high - (and no I am not being cheap). Service was very slow considering it was a large party of us and knowing the bill would be high - $1200 and then the tip out of that would make me think - service should be a bit more attentive.
(3)
Terry P.
I went to this restaurant a couple of times, the food, wine and ambiance is great! However, twice I was overcharged for the drinks and food. Another friend had the same experience there. So people, watch and pay attention to your bill.
(3)
Kit E.
Came here for lunch, I thought the food was OK, not spectacular. I got the pasta with seafood and shellfish, they overcooked the shrimp and fish, but the scallop, clams and squid were good. Unfortunately the wine sauce it came with wasn't garlicky enough. We got their calamari fritti for an appetizer and that was tasty and not over battered.
(3)
Lucinda K.
Friend took me there 9/2010 for my birthday and we set in a small room near the street. The windows were open and bugs and flies were joining us for lunch. In fact, one bug was in my glass of water and when I pointed it out to the waiter, he didn't seem too happy. No apologies, no emotion. Very strange waiter. The food was nothing to rave about. We both had the lunch special, soup, salad, sausage sandwich. My friend had the Ceasar which had a few leaves of hard lettuce, dressing had flakes of cheese on top. Did not taste good. Then to top it all off, the San Carlos police came into the restaurant and told us to move our car since the Farmer's Market was about to start. We had 10 minutes to move the car otherwise it would be ticketed and towed. It was good that we were done but my friend was enjoying her latte. She had to gulp it down and we both took off. Another overrated restaurant and I am over it!
(1)
Anne J.
If you want to feel like you're spending a million dollars and are wanting that million dollar feel but you're between pay checks then this just may be your place. I just dined here for the fourth time since it's re-opening and I'll start out by saying like the others that the dining room is updated and got a snazzy look. The tables and chairs are more than comfortable and you do not have the feeling that you're being crowded in like at some other places. The service is on target and you never feel ignored. I will however agree that the food does not quite match the atmosphere, but it's certainly good enough to enjoy and still have a pleasant night out. The wine list is well thought out and includes bottles from all over the globe (USA, France, South America and South Africa).
(3)
Heather H.
I have been to Piacere 3 times now in the past month. Originally I found it after attempting a walk-in (no reservation) at Towne. Towne was full but Piacere had room (Piacere is much bigger). It was a lovely evening so we sat outside...and we've sat outside each time since!! After leaving SF for Belmont 6 months ago, we have finally found several nice local restaurants with the "city" and even European feel. Piacere is tops on my list so far. The serving staff is courteous and professional. The food is lovely (try the Mussels on an Iron Skillet App). Additionally, we brought our 5 month old with us each time and felt completely comfortable. I don't know how frequently the menu changes and we have had a couple less than stellar items (the cannoli left me longing) so I have left off one star: room for improvement. That being said, this is where I would go to have a nice bottle of wine and a leisurely meal almost every night if my wallet (and my waistline) would allow.
(4)
Michelle D.
Good service. Wine selection is great. I don't like some main dishes, but appetizers were good. (Karamari and shrimp w/bacon) etc. They have 3 outside small tables and 4-5 tables by window inside and more tables behind a bar. I felt a little bit too dark to enjoy dinner at a table behind a bar. Light were OK, but....hummm,,,somewhat I felt like I am inside a cave. Entry....pasta is good. I ate pasta 3 times here and all the time cooked al dente. Great. By the way, this restaurant should be a Italian restaurant, but I think it is more Americanized Italian restaurant. Anyway, their entry......especially pork chop...big no no. didn't taste too much plus the pork is so hard to eat. NY steak was kind a OK, but $40 is slightly over price. Actually I liked the most food there was their hamburger, more than fancy $30~40 entries. Hamburger and BBQ onion ring. perfect combination.oh! and they make special alcohol drink occasionally. creative, tasty and beautiful. You should try if they mention that. some good, some bad. Ending 3 stars.
(3)
Douglas L.
This is one of the ritzier places I've found in San Carlos. It's located amongst the enclave of interesting little restaurants on Laurel St. Very nicely decorated and appointed, Piacere's entryway opens into a large bar and the seating for the dining areas are behind it, and also to the sides. A little pricey, comparable in price and decor to Left Bank, but Left Bank stomps on Piacere in the salad department. Overall, I prefer La Tosca down the street, which seems cozier and has better atmosphere.
(3)
Janet G.
The hubs took me here for my birthday on a rainy Thursday night and by 9:00 pm we were one of only two tables left in the main dining area. You would think that would mean we would have received attentive and excellent service. But, you'd be wrong. Normally, waiting 20 minutes for the waiter to take our drink order would have had me seething, but we had had a bottle of bubbly back at the house and I was relatively relaxed. Once we finally did get a waiter he could only handle taking our order for one course at a time and was useless when it came to recommendations, or even information, about the menu. We started with a prawn appetizer--which was very good even though the northern bean mixture the prawns sat in was very dry. I had the mixed chicories salad, which was filled with yummy bites of golden beets, goat cheese, pancetta, and not so yummy old and bitter greens. The hubs had the ceasar, which he enjoyed. For entrees we had the scallops and the skirt steak. The scallops were perfectly done but coated in a heavy cream sauce and served with incredibly dense mashed potatoes. I am the kind of girl who eats every bite on her plate, but half way through I felt as though I had lead bricks in my stomach. The steak was good, just as steak anywhere is good. Each entree was served with a huge stack of sauteed mushrooms that were bitter and unappetizing. I appreciate the fine art of food presentation, and the presentation here left a lot to be desired. The highlight was the dessert--warm chocolate truffle cake, which was just delightful. Another perk was that the white wine was kept cold in the traditional ice bucket by the table--a trend that we had noticed seemed to be disappearing. Might be willing to give it another chance someday, but only after exhausting all other local options.
(2)
Trish P.
I recently went here over the holidays for lunch with my boss & co-workers. The decor is a little bit too dark and it seems a bit too cramped. I literally could touch the table next to ours. Food is okay but not enough variety for me.
(3)
rosanna m.
I have been going to Piacere occasionally for the past two years. I go with my girlfriends and with my adult daughters when they come visiting. The place is about comfort.It is not loud and irritating like the place across the street. The tables are big and spread out well. The seating is inviting and the walls are upholstered so it's quiet. I do admit there is no life in the decor. Without the servers and the customers, it could be any corporate boardroom. Grey and dull. However I am here to eat and schmooze with a nice cocktail from the bar. Maybe listen to some of the live music. I took off one star for the Martinis which are hit or miss. I think they they have different bartenders. Some who know and some who don't know how to properly mix and chill drinks. On occasion the servers screw up, too. I've actually ordered a bottle of wine for dinner and didn't see it until the dessert menus were dropped! But it's my trade off for their great attitude. I see them all as hard workers and kind servers. Even the chef came out once and she asked if one of my girlfriends (who had too much to drink) was OK. The whole staff was very helpful that night. The food is not authentic Italian or anything but I don't expect it to be. It's more like what you'll make at home (or hire if you can't cook) for a very special dinner event. It is very good overall and doesn't try to be something it is not. I always finish my plate and we always order soup to nuts. I like to try something new each time and I am never disappointed. I will continue to go back.
(4)
brian r.
We sat inside this restaurant and were the only ones in that section of the dining room as others had elected to eat outside in front of the restaurant. We ordered a few appetizers to have while we perused the menu. When I ordered the oysters on the half shell, the waiter said it would take 15-20 minutes. That seemed fine for a cheese souffle or some other time intensive app, but a ridiculous amount of time to pop a half dozen oysters. Nonetheless, we had alotted 1.5 hours for dinner before the movie and didn't want to push it, so I ordered the sausage-stuffed olives (wouldn't order again) and seared ahi. The tuna had arrived and was sliced in half with the grain so all the sinew of the apparently non sushi grade tuna tail section was exposed and made it difficult to cut or eat. The accompanying potato pancake was greasy. Then came the mache salad and the heirloom tomato salad. The mache (usually tender and buttery) was overgrown to almost spinach size and tossed with thinly sliced radishes and a champagne vinaigrette. That's it. Nothing special there, for sure. The "heirloom" tomato salad had a large pink, mealy tomato slice and two halves of another tomato way past its prime. Chiffonade of basil and balsamic vinegar. The middle of august I expected some nice tomatoes as I had just gone to the farmers' market on Laurel and seen some beauties only two days before and expected the restaurant could have obtained them as well. Main course was a NY steak that came out sliced up rare. It had no marbling and was tough and flavorless. The salmon dish had a small portion of fish. Decided not to stay for dessert as we were 0 for 4.
(1)
Victoria N.
doesnt have many selections on the menu... a bit pricey and not totally worth what your getting... very friendly staff and sidewalk seating make up for it... definitely worth trying... i would recommend lunch over dinner because the weather and outdoor seating makes this place...
(3)
Lexi P.
I wish I could give Piacere a better rating. We give this place another try once each year. Unfortunately it hasn't improved much. Some dishes are good while others are just sad. The interior is beautiful and it has the potential to be a great spot for locals in the area. They don't seem to take pride in the menu- it's a busy place because there aren't many options on Laurel Street. Higher standards would make this place so much better!
(3)
Richard R.
We love this place and come many weeks during the San Carlos farmers market. I've had many great meals here. But I'm told there's a new chef and tonight our calamari came accompanied by ... ketchup. Fail.
(4)
Jason G.
So the last time I was at Piacere I had what seemed like a mediocre experience and I closed my review with a comment that I probably won't be back. Well, that was 5 years ago, so I apparently wasn't kidding. We decided to try it again and see what has changed. To start, this is a really beautiful restaurant. It's decorated really well, and it is separated into several different rooms with different vibes. Their acoustics can be a little odd, though. We sat at a small table for two along the wall and were able to hear every word of the conversation of the table next to us in the middle, and I swear it seemed like a gentleman at another table was wearing a microphone because not only could I hear his content, I wanted to turn down his volume. Drinks: We had a pair of their drinks and they were both very good. They have a cucumber cocktail that was super refreshing, and the daily special apple mule was super flavorful. Food: Asparagus pizza - this made for a nice appetizer, although the pizza itself was a little bland. I'd go for a saltier topping next time. Nudi - outstanding truffle cream sauce, but the gnocchi were quite chewy. They reminded me of boba. It wasn't unpleasant, but that's not the pillowy texture you want from gnocchi. Rack of lamb - really good. Salty crust, good cook on the meat, and interesting, well-prepared accompaniments. So overall, this was a pretty good experience, and I think we'll be back again without such an obscene break.
(3)
Laura R.
Gorgeous restaurant in downtown San Carlos. Friendly staff that is always very accommodating. Love returning for the great food and the live music on the weekends. There mussels and rack of lamb are to die for. A definite must try if your looking for a place to have great food and fun!
(5)
Aman B.
Ate at Piacere last night for a business dinner. Service was excellent, staff was very friendly. Got the mixed green salad which was good, but a bit overrun with dressing (I am a healthy eating nut so take that point with a grain of salt, I should have ordered dressing on the side). I ordered the salmon with quinoa - food was excellent but too pricey for the portion so I have given the experience 3 stars. With proper portions for the price tag I would happily give it 4 stars. Tried the Mango Tango but it was too sweet for my taste (again, take with a grain of salt as I eat/drink next to no processed sugar) - this drink was made with agave so I thought it would be ok but. Went on a Tuesday night so no live music so was not loud at all.
(3)
Lynn F.
My daughter and I were here for Mothers Day. I could be at a Taco Bell with my daughter and have a great time, and of course we loved being together at Piacere. But I was disappointed in the food, service and pricing. The pre-fix brunch did not include a glass of champagne or mimosa, as you would expect. The meal began with a plate we shared with chunks of melon, some berries and a couple rolls. You had a choice of about 8 entrees. A few dishes - like my Crab Eggs Benedict - cost $10 more than the rest. I was expecting an outstanding Crab Eggs Benedict for that $48. Not so. There was nothing special about this dish - just your typical eggs, flavorless crab on an english muffin. After the "entree" came a dessert plate we shared with a cup of chocolate mousse and about five 1 x1" chunks of cake. Really? Our waitress was very nice and fairly attentive until she just disappeared. It must have been the end of her shift. She did not introduce us to the person who would be taking over for her and no one else checked in with us. We were given a bill before we were served desert. We were charged $38 for Nutella French Toast we ordered to take out. The take out box simply included the french toast - 2 pieces of bread with nutella - none of the other items that were served with our meal. We complained and the bill was corrected to $10. I so want to like Piacere but I was underwhelmed. Come on guys, you can do better. Woo me, make me want to come back here as opposed to the many other restaurants to choose from on Laurel Street.
(2)
Bill B.
Food was tasteless and expensive. I had the Pasta Forno. The pasta was under cooked and came with a large glob of melted cheese on top. This was suppose to contain chicken and sausage with olives. Plenty of olives but very little sausage (thinly sliced) and very little chicken. Would I return? Not for dinner!! Also I suspect that they water down the drinks. Positives .... A very good band!
(1)
David R.
On Saturday, 7/5/14, I took my Mom out to brunch at Piacere. I discovered this restaurant back in 2011 when my Mom, my best friend and I ate at the restaurant across the way called the Town. Three years later I finally found time to give Piacere a try. I should have known it wasn't going to be a good experience since we were the only people eating at the restaurant for brunch and it literally seemed like a ghost town inside of the restaurant. Atmosphere/Decor: Piacere has outdoor dining with plenty of seating. The overall design of the restaurant looks pretty nice. There is plenty of seating inside of the restaurant and private or group dining is available. The carpet seemed run down and outdated. The dining chairs needed some TLC as well. My Mom noticed some grease stains along with finger prints on one chair. When I went to use the restroom, I walked by the open kitchen and saw scraps of different foods on the floor near the wood burning oven. The kitchen looked dirty and poorly maintained. I even saw a pasta dish that was open, exposed, left out and unattended. Food: My Mom and I both ordered the Short Rib Hash which consisted of braised beef short rib, two fried eggs over medium, country potatoes, onions and cream fraiche. This dish sounds very good when you think about it but it's a different story when you actually eat it. The beef short rib tasted old! It had that old beef flavor. The short rib was definitely precooked a few days before. They give you a generous amount of short rib which is a good thing but not really because it tasted old as dirt. The eggs and potatoes were pretty decent. My Mom barely ate any of her Short Rib Hash due to the nasty old tasting short rib. Service: Our waiter wasn't great or the worst. Honestly, we really didn't even see him that much. One of the food runners brought out our food. Our waiter didn't even come by and ask us how the food was. He probably knew the short rib tasted like shit and new our answer was going to be, "The short rib tastes like old shit!" Our waiter miraculously appeared when he dropped off the check. My Mom said I should have brought up the shitty tasting short rib but I didn't. Oh well. Overall: Don't even waste your time at Piacere. If a restaurant can't serve good food during brunch, they most likely won't have good food for their dinner service! This was my first time back to San Carlos since 2011. My Mom and I were really looking forward to eating at Piacere but it was a huge let down. We came all the way from Union City. The next time I come back to San Carlos it definitely won't be for Piacere, it'll be for the Sandwich Spot!!!
(2)
David B.
An excellent gluten free choice for you. I was pleasantly surprised by their menu, which clearly marked out the gluten free items. I had the organic quinoa and squash. The dish was wonderful! The staff was friendly and helpful and the atmosphere was pleasing as well.
(4)
Analyst C.
We came here to celebrate mother's day and the place was so packed. The service was great at the beginning but we waited too long for the check. We had to flag the server to get the check. The food was too pricey but food was great. Delicious pastry and fruit and cookies after our meal.
(3)
Marissa P.
I agreed to let a new friend take me out to dinner if the Giants won the WS . . . and we all know how that went! GO GIANTS! We came on a Saturday night and a live band was playing, the bar was crowded and the vibe was chill. We had wanted to sit at the bar, but all of the bar chairs were taken. We ended up sitting in the front dining room where it wasn't as busy and was a lot quieter than the lounge area. For our entrees, I ordered the day boat scallops and he ordered the rib eye steak. Both were full of flavor and steak was cooked just right. Server was friendly and attentive and drinks weren't watered down. Not gonna lie, I did sneak a peak on Yelp before we got there and read some of the negative reviews. I expected the worst, but we ended up enjoying our dinner with no complaints. Also, I loved the location . . . I had never been to the downtown San Carlos area. There's a few spots that I wouldn't mind checking out later. This is a great spot. I'm sure you'll have a good time!
(4)
Bob F.
Pretty average. Not sure I will be rushing to go back. Came here on a Wed night with a Groupon. My wife ordered the Royal Organic Quinoa & Roasted Zucchini and I ordered the Mary's Organic Frenched Chicken Breast (sans mushrooms since I am not a lover of the fungus). My wife's oder was pretty bland and the quinoa/veggie ratio was off--not enough veggies. My chicken was good. Nice wine and waitstaff.
(3)
orhan t.
The best food in San Carlos . Always good service . Last night I had lamp chops .as usual it was excellent .. I will come again and again.
(4)
Elton C.
Fine ambience, but the food was meh. My family and I tried this place because of Groupon (otherwise, we would have been unlikely to discover this at an adjacent, small suburban city). I thought the decors were decent and adequate for my dining experience. However, my entree was disappointing. The appetizer calamari was ok, but that is difficult to disappoint. I thought that would be so for my ribeye too, but was I wrong. I tend to think of ribeye as succulent. The slice this place served, tho, was anything but... for a medium, it was really dry. I had never been as apathetic towards a slice of ribeye as I had been here.
(2)
Phong L.
Joanne she's great don't forget take care your her excellent customers services yeah buddy Thank you!
(5)
Lindy W.
Lunch menu of kale salad w/ avocado and margherita pizza. Salad was so salty and vinegar-y it was hard to eat more than a few bites of kale. The pizza was very yummy, though the tomatoes on top were more like decorations than part of the overall flavor. Atmosphere was gorgeous and service very attentive.
(3)
Stefanie N.
Sitting at Piacere and watching the scene at the bar was like being trapped in a bad Hunter Thompson acid trip. Obnoxious drunk people coupled with really bad dancing remind me of everything that's wrong with suburbia. Add in bad service, a crappy cappuccino and a lousy desert and voilà my husband and I feel soiled by the cultural black hole. Think I'll go to the city tomorrow night to recover!
(2)
Len S.
My wife and I had dinner with 5 friends on Wednesday 29 April at Piacere. I reserved a table and requested a quiet spot so old friends could have a conversation and catch up on life's events - Piacere complied with a quiet location that was perfect. As a starter I ordered the Spanish Sardines ($14) which were quite good, but I wish there were 3 rather than 2 sardines provided. The accompany chopped condiments of red onion and hardboiled egg, along with capers, were more than enough for two sardines. For my main dish I ordered the Margherita pizza ($15). While the serving size was more than enough, the flavor was not. I liked the thin crust, but that was the primary flavor - the tomato, basil and mozzarella where more like decorations than tasty treats. The service was certainly friendly, but I would say it was spotty. I assume it is a challenge for servers when there is a large group as to when to check in with the table so as not to interrupt the conversation. But we had to flag down a waiter and ask for water at least 3 times - don't blame that on the drought. I also ordered a second beer and needed to flag down another waiter to re-request the beer. The 15% gratuity automatically added to the bill was fine with everyone, but no one added anything on the "additional gratuity" line of the credit card receipts. Good location for meeting with friends, although parking in San Carlos is an undesirable challenge.
(3)
Angel G.
Food: 3.5 (ok) Service: 1/5 (bad) This review is for lunch Went for lunch at around 12:40pm.. Place was almost empty. Got seats outside Had "deconstructed lasagna" and a hamburger.. Just ok.. nothing memorable Shared dessert (bread pudding) The one thing we'll remember about this place was slooowww service.. Had to wait around 40 minutes for our dishes to come.. And then had to chase the waiter around for the dessert menu and eventually the check Almost a 1.5 hours lunch for something simple! Definitely won't be back
(2)
Julie P.
Delicious food and great service! We had the summer Prawn & Peach Salad and the Linguine & Clams. Ask for the table inside by the open window overlooking the patio:)
I love the baby spinach salad they serve here at lunch and brunch with goat cheese, hazelnuts, pears and grapefruit. It's been so great every time that I haven't tried anything else. My friend had the kale salad and said that was great. The service is usually great, although today my server seems harried. But whatever. It's a gorgeous day, And I'm sitting outside. What's to complain about. They serve good Italian bread with olive oil and vinegar.
(4)
Dave D.
My wife and I recently chose Piacere for Valentine's Day dinner. Like many restaurants on Laurel Avenue for the holiday, Piacere was festively decorated with an abundance of roses and balloons. They had a special fixed price menu for the occasion, which you could order all four courses for one price or choose their selections a la carte. We actually arrived early, so we started with a drink at the bar. They had a fun selection of cocktails created for the occasion as well. We each enjoyed a sparkling wine concoction. The bartender was friendly and very attentive. At the table, our waitress was also excellent. The amuse bouche for the evening was a delicious little puff pastry with goat cheese. We had the salad and soup next, which were both very good. My wife especially enjoyed the bacon-wrapped prawns that came with the caesar salad. I had the filet mignon for the main course and she had the pasta dish with the lobster tail. Both dishes were good but perhaps not amazing. We skipped dessert to save a bit on the bill, and returned to the bar for a nightcap instead. Our only complaint about the evening is perhaps something that comes up often at Piacere: the prices were a little steep. Of course, it is a holiday where anyone who goes out expects to pay more than usual for dinner, but it still seemed a bit excessive. Nevertheless, we enjoyed our dinner and will likely return again.
(4)
Shiela D.
My husband and I went here for lunch and used a Groupon deal. Service is not bad, food is not worth for its full price its good we had a Groupon deal. I ordered pasta with clams and it is so bland I have to add some salt and pepper. Not going back :( sorry.
(2)
Tootz Z.
It was a very delightful experience here at the Piacere Restaurant. Seared salmon w/quinoa and burger was tiptop perfect! I would add another star for the exceptional service from our waitress and manager. Thank you, Mete! You are awesome! What a way to start the new year! Definitely will come again! :)
(5)
Diane F.
So mediocre and not worth the prices. Service is neither rude nor engaged. For my entree, I ordered the deconstructed lasagna - it was so bland and boring. I couldn't eat it all. My fault for ordering as it's a simple dish, but it tasted like a frozen meal. The whole time as we sat outside, I kept looking across the street thinking "we should have gone to TOWN".
(2)
Amanda G.
**Review is for drinks only** We came here to see my friend's brother's band. We were able to get enough tables and chairs to accommodate our group in the lounge area. I was shocked that the specialty cocktails here are priced so high. I've been in much trendier places in the city that are cheaper (and MUCH better.) Even worse, the drinks aren't well made. If you go with a classic drink and not one on the menu, they are priced a little lower, but still not great drinks.Not well balanced, totally unimpressive. When the band is playing the lounge is very loud, but the inner area of the restaurant was quiet. Servers were fine, I probably wouldn't return , unless we were meeting up with friends to see the band play again.
(3)
Tanya W.
My family loves this place for many reasons: 1. Town is a shitshow & the food is not that great. Crowded & over-rated. I only go there when I want to day drink in a scene-y atmosphere. 2. I've eaten at Piacere many times & the food has always been fresh & flavorful. Their beet salad is sweet & has great dressing, their calamari is not over breaded & I love their gnocchi. They also never sigh or roll their eyes when I give them my "custom" gnocchi order: with marinara sauce, chicken & spinach - which I appreciate. ;) 3. & most importantly! We have an 11 month old, so eating out at a nice(r) place isn't always easy. The staff have always been attentive & gone out of their way to seat us promptly, take our order all at once & bring us our wine first/quickly - knowing our time is limited. This alone makes it worth coming back here for us! :) We choose this place time & time again over Town or other restaurants on Laurel for all these reasons.
(4)
Elizabeth S.
I've dined here a couple times, once with a large party and on another occasion with my bf. I will give them credit for the good food. The service has been decent but has never been consistent. Throughout the years, I've seen a high turn-over in wait staff and bartenders. I always wondered why but have my theories after last night. The only other reason we have come here regularly is for the live music. However, last night left a sour taste in our mouths. I can see why the turnover for the bar and serving is so high now. Both of us ordered a glass of wine which neither were cheap. My rose' was $12 for a glass, and my bf's was $14 for his pino noir. I get that we ordered the good stuff, but even if we had ordered the house for $10 I doubt that would have made a difference. What a RIP OFF. They don't even fill the wine glass beyond the descending curve leading to the stem. I see the owner has poured what he considers to be 5 oz. in this wine glass sitting in the corner for the bartenders to level their pour. Unfortunately, they can't do anything about it. That's okay. We can. No more Piacere' anymore. No one likes to be ripped off. If you want to portion control your wines, pour it in a honest carafe like TOWN across the street. At least people won't feel ripped off. I have to also mention the glasses are smaller than TOWN's too which makes it even worse. That's too bad for these bartenders. Who wants to order drinks only to get ripped off? Like TOWN, this place isn't cheap, but people will sit over there and drink a while. We're getting what we pay for there!!
(2)
Sayoko L.
Went last night with hubby and really enjoyed our dinner. Fried calamari was excellent with a light, crispy coating. His plate came piled high with an unusual rendition of rack of lamb, artichoke hearts and olives -- delicious -- leaving him so satisfied after the meal. The service was excellent also. We will go back again!
(4)
Marian I.
Best place for sunday Brunch platter and mimosas!!! Great food! great service, Good price! great location also!! The servers and bartenders always friendly and making sure you're taking care of!! Live music on thursdays and saturday nights make a chill out environment to have a good time with friends enjoying good drinks! :)
(5)
MARA M.
My favorite place in San Carlos! Ask for the fish but anything we have tried is excellent. We have become regulars. We love it! Mara
(5)
Rachelle Anne J.
They get two stars for their yummy drinks. My friend really wanted to try this place out so we came for lunch despite its mediocre Yelp reviews. Ordered calamari as an appetizer, it never came. When we reminded our server he apologized and claimed he thought we wanted it with our meal. Strike one. Recommended the skirt steak med rare, which is what we wanted anyways. Steak came out well done. Strike two. Requested mustard on the side of our corned beef sandwich and it came out dripping with the stuff. Strike three. Being a server myself I understand these things happen as they are not all his fault, but his monotone apology and lack of sincerity did nothing to improve our experience. Should've paid attention to Yelp.
(2)
Sara W.
Came here for Saturday brunch with a girl friend. Perhaps breakfast is better than dinner, because I had amazing food. The side of grilled asparagus with lemon was to die for. I also enjoyed my breakfast pizza, though the portion was too big for one person. We totally could have split our dishes! Will definitely be coming back from more brunching!
(4)
Buffy M.
3-stars for the food + 5-stars for our waiter / 2 = 4 star review The appetizers were great. Gnocchi is always good on my list. The food was good, not overly fantastic. The dessert was sadly stale. But our waiter was absolutely great!
(4)
Bonnie S.
I do not recommend eating here. If you are looking to have a nice dinner to chat with friends or family, this is NOT the place to eat or chat. My family and I arrived at 7:30pm for dinner, while at the same time the "band" was setting up in the bar which was almost in the dining room. The music was SO LOUD that I couldn't hear what my family was saying. The food was just OK, nothing to go back for. The buttermilk prawns tasted like they came from Long John Silver's fast food chain, and actually LJS's prawns were better. If you like a LOUD bar atmosphere and mediocre food, then this is the place for you. If you want good tasting food where you can enjoy the company of family and/or friends, stay away! I will never go back to this place again, never, ever, ever,ever, again!
(1)
Michael C.
If you're ever in San Carlos, Piacere Ristorante, is in an essential stop. Not only do they have some of the best dishes on the peninsula, they also provide credible musical entertainment including Vintage Noise, jazz and bossa nova duo! The staff is very friendly and the prices are reasonable.
(4)
Yuan W.
I really want to like this place, but after trying it twice (once for lunch with my friend, and once for dinner with a group of 7 people), I have decided that its 3-star rating is well deserved. Food is okay - nothing to rave about Service is below average - no smiles upon our check-in, nothing warm, and when I asked for milk refill for my 4-year old son, the guy looked confused then did come back with the milk and dropped it off opposite end of the table without a word The location is great and the sidewalk seating is nice, but for the price it charges, I'd rather go anywhere else but here...
(3)
Doc R.
Great ambiance with live music as well as enough seating for quiet and privacy on a busy Friday night. Raya Zion and the Groove Objective were awesome performers and our server was very accommodating as friends joined and left our table throughout the night. Fun. The food and wine were good too.
(4)
Chris C.
Went here for a Groupon deal. Food was OK, nothing memorable or spectacular. I question the cleanliness of this restaurant. To another Yelper's point, water glass had a small insect in the water. We brought it to their attention and they swapped it out. The following water glass, which wasn't a high pour, had a flea in it. I SWEAR. I had to look very close because it didn't look like a gnat like the first one. This one was hopping in the glass, so I took a piece of paper and covered the top so it couldn't get out and I could inspect further. It was a flea. I pointed this out to my husband, and I said, do you see what I'm seeing in here? At this point, we were like, wow, this is a joke. We brought it to the waiter's attention and showed it to him, and asked if there's a dog back in the kitchen or something. He said no, and appeared just as confused as we were. He joked that we brought it along with us. We were not pissed about it or anything, but we knew this was the first and last time coming to this restaurant (I couldn't help but feel itchy the rest of the evening). They didn't bother to comp anything...whatever. I'm sure they'll do just fine coz' the food itself ain't bad.
(1)
Tassie C.
Bland, oily pasta. Inattentive server. Really surprised - maybe all the regular staff are watching World Cup? The agnolotti with English peas and bacon was just flavorless - and so much oil that I had to drain each bite. Price: $19. Just not worth it. The pasta was really tender - that was really the only plus.
(2)
E. S.
Stay away from this place. Not only was the food bad it was also cold. Service was worse than the food. Management couldn't care less. Spend your money elsewhere.
(1)
Munna B.
This review is for service only. Food was good. I ordered the veggie melt for lunch with fries. According to the menu, it comes with fries or salad. The waitress got our order wrong and brought it out with a salad. I told her I ordered it with fries. She then brought a side of fries. At the end of the meal, I noticed on the check that I was charged $6 extra for fries. When I asked her about this, she flat out lied saying that the veggie melt comes with salad only. I then overheard her discussing about this with another waiter who said it comes with fries or salad. She then lied to him again saying that I had asked for both. I'm not sure why she would not admit that she made a mistake and make the correction on the check. If this was an extra, she could have told me about it before bringing them out to the table. I did not bother to follow up since I'm never going back again.
(1)
Arthur S.
Ordered the burger. Awful. Hard and dry bun with soggy fries. The best part was that it was $15. I recommend you go here for the live music.
(1)
Jessica L.
Love the mussels! Served on a hot iron skillet with butter and sea salt. Yum! The scallops are delicious too. Great presentation
(5)
Luke S.
I like the happy hour here , The steak sandwich is great and I really like the pulled chicken also. The service is really good an the people at the bar are a great crowd. I was surprised at how great the salad was too. THe outdoor seating is really great too for getting a great view at skirts walking by
(4)
Payal V.
I had walked by this restaurant many times and was looking forward to trying it for a date night. We finally went last Thursday. It was really happening and they had live music. There was seating outside, in the lounge, a small dining room at the front of the house, and a larger dining room behind the bar. We were seated in the small front dining room. The fireplace gave it a real intimate feel. The menu looked great. We ordered the butter lettuce salad and their signature mussels for appetizers. Our waiter was very nice to ask the kitchen to split the salad for us (we didn't ask). We loved both dishes. The salad was the perfect balance of pears, blue cheese and pecans. For main meals I ordered the salmon and my husband ordered the ribeye. Again, both meals were great. I have no complaints about the restaurant or service. There are still some items on the menu that I want to try so I'm looking forward to another visit to this restaurant.
(5)
Kelly C.
I was quite disappointed at Piacere (pea a chair ay- that's what the sign even said). We came here because my first choice was an hour wait so we thought to give it a shot. It looked decent on the outside..boy was I wrong. The service was the best part. The food..not so much. I ordered the kale salad and the menu says - Toasted Breadcrumbs, Balsamic Roasted Onion, Pine Nuts, Shaved Parmesan, Champagne Vinaigrette. It was so sour and topped with slices of cheese. I did not see that part in the description. Did they replace the shaved parmesan with slices of cheese? Either way, it was no good. We also ordered roasted beets which was TOO roasted to the point where it's black and crunchy. The best part was the mac and cheese which uses different types of cheese and was edible but I would not order it again. Wine of the Day - She did not mention the year but the cab was smooth and light. Pick another restaurant in San Carlos and pay for something better. Not this one!
(2)
Alexandra I.
We came for Mother's Day brunch and it was really lovely. The food was delicious and the fruit/pastry spread that was on the table while we waited for our entrees was nice. The service was also really great. Only complaint would be that there were some small flies buzzing around our food and we were not seated near the door.
(4)
Rory F.
I like this place; easy to talk, dine well and a little toe-tapping with a band playing in the background if you get the right night.. Sure the $$'s can add up if you do a round of cocktails & fine wine, but that's the area we're in...I saw they had expanded the place with some rooms for extra large groups.
(4)
Valerie C.
Bravo, I had the most delightful lunch ever! I must say, I was very impressed with the ambiance and the overall appearance of the food. It was all perfect. We had the prosciutto pizza and the Nudi pasta. They were amazing! The truffle sauce on the nudi was so tasty, I used it to dip my bread in( even the bread was exceptional). And the pizza wasn't too shabby either. The pizza portions are enormous! Enough to feed two. And I finished with homemade buttermilk gelato which was perfection. Not too sweet and very rich. It came with a biscotti too! Definitely coming back ! Well done !
(5)
Eduardo F.
It's a ok place. I did try the pork fat with bread something and it was ok. Nothing special. I also tried the steak and it was good. The portions for appetizers are small and too much powder. Service was good. My Arnold Palmer was mediocre.
(3)
Karla C.
Had a late lunch here with the family and was extremely disappointed. It was a spur of the moment decision that I regret. Had the flat iron steak and a pizza along with drinks. The pizza was mediocre, according to my husband. The steak tasted very strange and was served rare when I ordered medium. The total came to $80 with tip. I could have had two lunches at California Pizza Kitchen for that amount with money to spare - and had a better meal, which is pretty sad considering one is a chain and one is a local place where theoretically there should be more attention to detail. I'm surprised this restaurant survives on a street as busy as Laurel. Service wasn't great - slow and sped up with the prospect of the check and tip. While we were quickly seated and the environment was quite nice, overall the staff was not welcoming or warm. Will not be returning and definitely don't recommend.
(1)
Diane P.
We ate at Piacere for a graduation party with at least 100 people and I had low expectations due to the huge group but the food was incredible and I was so impressed with the waitstaff. I would return here in a heartbeat. It is not easy with a big group to have that quality of service or food. They served the food family style and it was exceptionally good.
(5)
Jeffrey S.
Went for Sunday brunch and was pleasantly surprised with the food. Really enjoyed the ambiance and the appetizers we had. The mussels on a skillet is definitely worth going for again and my kids loved the Italian doughnut. Bottomless mimosas are definitely a plus, and really liked my steak and eggs! Would come back to try what they have for dinner!
(4)
Arthur K.
nouvelle american cuisine good service good presentation group luncheon after event my food was a good salad followed by an excellent salmon presented well and prepared well. they had appetizers including stuffed jumbo shrimp which was truly excellent. well stocked bar well appointed restaurant nice tables comfortable chairs excellent food, excellent restaurant
(5)
M.R. W.
I used to love this place, especially on a Friday or Saturday night because of the live entertainment in the bar. We tend to eat/drink at the bar rather than book a table. In the past few months they have hired new bar staff and they aren't very good. Service is super slow, not very friendly and the drinks aren't as good. I have noticed on my last few visits that the bar isn't as busy and has a more somber vibe than it used to. . We stopped in last weekend to give Piacere another try (sitting at the almost empty bar), and it took so long for the bartender to take our drink order, we almost left. This and the fact that their menu prices are really over priced, we might have to find a new hangout. I really wish they would pay attention to their long time customers and address this situation
(2)
Raj K.
Friday night dinner. Great cucumber-vodka drink. Great filet mignon. Nice live music in the bar.
(4)
Sue J.
Please do not go here people!!! They have the worst service in town! They were not rude, but just really incompetent. We did not receive our bottle of wine til about 1/2 an hour after we ordered it. We did not get any utensils with our appetizers. Lastly, they never asked what we wanted to order for our dinner entrees, when clearly we have been done with our appetizers for a while! We finally had to flag someone down to take our order. For the price we paid at this place, we expected much better service.
(1)
V P.
The bacon & egg pizza was awesome. I had the salmon plate as well and it was equally as good. The service was excellent and my wife and I enjoyed the outdoor seating.
(5)
Rosangela B.
By far, this is one of my fav places to go on Friday night for a cocktail and have a great time. Saturday for lunch or Sunday for brunch. I have tried almost the entire menu and I never get disappointed. The owner always comes to our table just to make sure we are well served...i love the cocktails, the food, the music, the ambiance!! For a date, its really nice to seat outside and just enjoy everything, food, drink, desert, coffee afterwards...
(5)
Marguerite G.
Sunday - what can I say? I read the reviews and am convinced they were written by relatives. Food was not to be described; wine was one-quarter glass and tasted like Gallo. I could go on but why bother. Needless to say I will avoid this place and if asked, I will let the persons know what to do.,
(1)
Jesus S.
This place was horrible! My family and I were excited to try a new spot. The menu looked great and the waitress seemed nice. Everything started ok and we placed our order, after about 45 minutes and repeated requests for our food they finally began to come out. Well apparently well done steak to their cook means pink and bloody. We immediately sent them back. We also ordered a childs dish with brocoli and steak, which came out last and 10 minutes after the adults dishes. Shouldn't it be the other way around!?! The initially nice waitress became annoying and frustrating with her only response of, "oh sorry, I'm in training. " We all literally just walked out after the "manager" still had the nerve to bring out a $200 bill even though we didn't eat the food!
(1)
Cassandra E.
"Don't you wish your restaurant was hot like me?" That's what Piacere probably says all night, to itself. Its Town's biggest rival, but really they're not rivals. They compliment each other. The overflow from one or the other just goes across the street. They are equals. Cool, classy and comfortable. I've been coming and going here for brunch, dinner or cocktails over the years. The staff, food and ambiance is always on point (it's all about the details and they've got every single one covered.) Most of the patrons that I've met here are local San Carlos, Redwood City, or Belmont folks, so it's kind of "towny", but still (obviously) welcome to all. Piacere has live music some evenings...usually you can count on at least one weekend night. I have no idea the exact schedule, buy every time I've moseyed my booty over that way, my ears have been bombarded with a range of styles including jazz, rock, opera, soul and so on. Can't say that I would ever make an effort to follow the bands to their next show, but it's a nice touch they add, to liven the place up. Piacere is always a hot spot to stop, if I ever find myself in the City of Good Living. Especially if I'm looking for exquisite food or cocktails, live music, or an absolutely wonderful time. ;-) ;-) *Take note-- this place is all about the classy attire... ;-) Dress to impress if you make your way here...
(5)
Barbra C.
When I used to live in Belmont eons ago, this was one of our go-to places for dinner. I remember it having decent food. However, tonight I was very disappointed. We had pricey mediocre food with subpar service from our server. Our bill was $72 for an iced tea, sparkling water, soup of the day, Caesar Salad, Mussels appetizer, and pasta dish with prawns. Soup was 'aight, pasta was way overcooked and taste a bit sweet, but my friend said the mussels were good (however, had to send the mussels back because it was dry and not sizzling on the platter). I don't think I'll come back here if I'm ever in the San Carlos area again.
(3)
Randall F.
We had a wonderful birthday celebration at Piacere in one of their private rooms. The arrangements were super easy with Chelsea and the menu selections were just right for us. Choices of Hanger Steak, Short Rib Papardelle, Salmon. Murat served us and provided excellent service for our lunch. I highly recommend them.
(4)
Joe J.
My wife and I visited Piacere for a Happy Hour on a Saturday afternoon. It was not crowded and prices were VERY reasonable. $10 for an individual pizza (usually $16) and $3 or $4 draft beers. Appetizers were cheap as well. The windows were open and it was a nice day so it was very comfortable inside. Service was very nice, and very accommodating to our 3.5 year old niece who visited us during our Happy Hour.
(5)
Pele N.
Nothing on the menu excites me. Prices are high for the quality of food. Still a decent place to go to, but there are better choices downtown.
(3)
Martin C.
I'm always trying new places and there are so many in this area. My wife and I were pleasantly surprised. Service was prompt and friendly. Food was excellent, my wife had scallops and I had the rib eye. Both cooked perfectly. Cocktails were interesting and tasty. Good place, we'll be back.
(4)
Steven T.
Just awful. I would have rated Piacere 1-star, but my food wasn't too bad. I came here last month with a certificate from Restaurants.com - awesome, but there was the restriction that I can only redeem the $50 certificate if I spend at least $75; I was fine with spending a bit more since I wanted to have dinner pre-made that night and I got an extremely good deal for the certificate - but now I know why they needed my business. My friend and I ordered our meals and a few to-go items to reach the $75 minimum mark. My food was great, but unfortunately the egg on top of my friend's meal was hardly cooked and ruined the entire dish. OK, so we brushed that off and ordered a few salads and an order of calamari to-go. The waiter rudely asked if I'm sure that's what I wanted. "Well, yeah I do because I just told you," I thought to myself. He then lectured my friend and I for a minute on how bad of a choice it would be to take calamari to go (...rude). Anyways, I left what I felt was an extremely generous tip of 20% (the service was slow and the employees were rude), but I left happy from my meal...until I got home and found out they forgot one of my to-go items. I called the restaurant and ran back to the restaurant only to find out the server "misunderstood" me and thought I only wanted two of the three salads I ordered (WHAT?!?). What pissed me off about this was not only the fact that this "little misunderstanding" ruined my post-meal plans, but that the server had the balls to charge me for the third salad because he "only charged me for two of them" and kindly gave me a "free" dessert. It was a nice gesture, but I felt completely disrespected by him and the pathetic hostess who can care less about her job (she stands at the front door on her phone with her purse on the chair as if she's ready to go). It may sound mean, but I was so furious at the restaurant that I asked for my original receipt to take back the tip I charged to my credit card; and the waiter asked, "what did I do to deserve this?" For those who want a decent meal and horrific service, this is the place for you.
(2)
Javier D.
From Reading all the negative reviews here, I'm guessing the owner heard them, and made some very good improvements. I was visiting San Francisco for University scouting, our last night in San Carlos, decided to try this place out, I ordered the soup of the day, potato and leeks, it had good flavor, but very watery for my opinion. Their lemonade was very good, and for the main entree, I had the filet mignon, with mashed potatoes and Mac n cheese. Amazing!! Filet was cooked to my liking, the mashed potatoes, the spinach and the Mac and cheese were very flavorful and delicious!! Very impressed. My dad had the whole fish. He loved it as well. Overall, a good experience, very nice ambiance and decor. I'll give it a 5.
(5)
Marissa B.
Came here because Town (steakhouse across the street) couldn't seat us for an hour. Atmosphere was pleasant, but food was simply satisfactory. Had prawns to start- flavor was fine, but overcooked and overpriced. Redeeming grace: castelvetrano olives. For dinner, had the salmon and substituted the risotto for grilled broccolini. The dish was flavorful, no complaints, but nothing to write home about. Orentano Pinot Noir = bad choice. Moscow mule, not so great either. However the Punch drunk love drink was refreshing. Overall, nice atmosphere but subpar food and drink for the price.
(3)
Brandon L.
Absolutely expensive way-overpriced mediocre food. Waiters screwed up our orders multiple times. Got us the wrong items and then when we finally got the right items, it was the kids size instead of the adults. Don't know if I want to laugh or cry. To make matters worse, my kid didn't get a drink or dessert with his kid's meal. Absolute WTF. How the hell does a restaurant like this able to survive on Laurel Street??? Nothing special about the menu. Nothing special about the surroundings and decor. Chef came out one time and never said one word to the customers. There is something very wrong with this restaurant. Crappy food, crappy prices, crappy service. Can't believe we actually stopped by here for a meal. This restaurant needs to disappear from the face of the Earth. Laurel St in San Carlos deserves a lot better. Will never ever come here again and would never recommend anyone to come here. If you have absolutely no taste buds, willing to burn your wallet, and then get f-'ed up with horrible service, then come here multiple times to support this piece of shit restaurant.
(1)
Four Y.
The restaurant looks nice. We walked in and got the most snotty scowling look from the hostess. She was impolite and rude as she sat us. I said thank you when she tossed us menus and she said , "uh-huh" in a very unfriendly tone. We almost walked out but decided to give it a chance. It was early so we were one of the first dinner customers. We ordered from an unhappy looking waiter. As we waited for our food, other customers started coming in and the hostess offered them drinks and bread but ignored us. When the bill arrived they charged us for the wrong wine. We ordered a glass of Merlot and he charged us for Malbec, which was more expensive. The food was good but not good enough to have to take rude service. I think they are prejudice as all of their patrons were Caucasians and we were not. It's a shame there are still people like that and people like that doing business. Needless to say, we do not recommend this establishment to anyone nor will we return.
(1)
Rose C.
This restaurant has lost its luster. The food at one point was very good but unfortunately the owners attitude and control freak attitude made it very difficult to feel good about this restaurant. I'd like to see it succeed if perhaps a new owner came onboard let's hope for the best
(2)
Tom C.
First time in San Carlos and Piacere happened to be right were I stopped. Great atmosphere - nice patio area. I went with the scrambled eggs - wow, very very good - love the beans and tortilla strips and lots of avocado!! Definitely worth a try!
(4)
Diane B.
There are so many great places to eat in 4-5 block radius on Laurel St. in San Carlos! Between the ones you want to go back to for a second (third, fourth) visit, the ones that you've alway wanted to check out and the new ones, it's a tough choice. I took my friend G. here to celebrate her birthday. I've walked by so many times, I surprised it was my first visit. We both went for the very reasonably priced ($14) lunch combo, which includes a cup of soup (minestrone), little gem salad, and 1/2 sandwich. There are 3 or 4 approved sandwich choices. I picked the short rib sandwich. G. didn't notice that only certain selections were available and ordered the corned beef. Our waiter said no problem. The service was charming. It was nothing extraordinary, but well priced, tasted good, and they made us feel very comfortable. Yum, yum and thank you! 3 stars, but in a good way.
(3)
Christina C.
The Yelp Polize are on to me! If I don't write a review, damnit, I'm going to get my credit revoked. What better place to review than the place that had everything going for it except the food? On Sunday, I had just gotten off work at around 4pm. This weekend, I've clocked in over 20 hours. In addition to the regular weekday time. I was a little over-worked and under nourished. My Fiance took me for a hike at Pulgas Ridge with our little Wilson, and after about an hour hiking up and down and feeling the warm sun on my skin, I started to feel less zombie-like. I was in a good mood. And hungry. My stomach was gurgling for the first time in about 5 days. We walked around, and found this place. I wanted fried calamari, which this place had. It also had outdoor seating an accommodated dogs. I was in my finest fitness gear, sweaty and a little dusty. Wilson was being a bastard but he found a bully stick on the floor near the tables and we considered this a good sign. Something to occupy him while we ate. The service was very nice. The ambiance was also beautiful. It was warm. There were not too many people. No bugs. The bathroom was clean. I could just see the football game out of the corner of my eye. The food was ... Meh. The calamari was not bad, at least the first few pieces, the ones that had been sitting at the bottom of the fry basket as it went into the oil. As Gordon Ramsey would say: "disaster! Inconsistent! What were you thinking?" The ceasar salad had too much dressing and tasted too much like straight mayo. No tang. No garlic. At least the anchovies were reliable. Also a very small portion. My flat iron steak was pretty delicious in flavor although a bit sinewy in texture. I think Wilson enjoyed it a lot. Shhhh! Don't tell your Papa. And Don't Feed Dogs from the Table! The bloody mary was not quite there. Fiance said that the red wine he had tasted mediocre and the pour was very very cheap. It was less than the bulge of the glass. And the glass was not gigantic. Not in the least. It was more like a dieter's glass. And the pour was less than the bulgy part. If it were not for the fact that I had just had a horribly stressful 4 days and I felt like a troll, and this was the first time I'd been out side at this time in 4 days in the sun, it would have not been favorable. However, I felt the best that I've felt in days. Weeks even.
(3)
Tracy C.
This place always looks busy so I finally gave it a try. I came here for an early dinner on a Friday night. I sat in the outdoor eating area and it was really nice. The menu is pretty simple. They have a wide variety of food to choose from. I tried the steak, cream of mushroom soup, and the gnocchi. They were all good. I'd definitely like to come back to try one of their pizzas. Good service, good food, nice ambiance.. I'd come back again.
(3)
Jake H.
Came here for Mother's Day. This is a great Italian American restaurant. The service was great. The dinner was also great. The portions were a good size but not to large which I like. I also had an old fashioned which was made really well. For desert we tried the bread pudding and it was the best I had ever had. Give it a try it's great
One of the best places for food and music in San Carlos. Being a musician Its important that the places we play cater to their customers and Piacere does that very well. Thank you Tony.
(4)
Simon K.
Ate here again on Valentines day 2014. My wife persuaded me to give this place another try, since she's had good lunches there. Unfortunately, its still overpriced. The set menu for Valentines day was $75 a head without wine. Given the wine list was over $40 a bottle, the restaurant is putting themselves in the $100 a head price range for a nice meal with wine for two people. The food is okay Italian-American - there's nothing wrong with it, but it doesn't justify these prices. Similarly, the tables are squeezed so close together the waiters have trouble serving the plates. For $100 a head, I expect a memorable experience, and this restaurant still does not provide it.
(2)
M B.
I'd say four stars or higher is what this restaurant deserves. I went to a mixer by a sister marketing association of my company and I found Piacere to have really professional service, not to mention the food as well. Speaking of food, I should mention that while I'm trying to get off red meat, I had a meatball appetizer here and I have to be blunt, Piacere has the best meatballs I've ever tasted. I LITERALLY concentrated more on finishing this appetizer than mingling with others people at the networking event at Tuesday of last week and it was worth every bite. Some other reviews point out service is super slow, not very friendly but I got completely the opposite reaction. Service was good and overall, I'd recommend anyone going here if you want really good reviews.
(5)
Renee C.
We did the "Farmer's Market Callenge". We selected several items from the farmer's market just outside the door of the restaurant and presented our bounty to the chef. After asking about any allergies and culinary preferences, she proceeded to dazzle and delight us with dish after dish of beautifully prepared food - 9 dishes in all. She turned our blackberries into a "gastrique" for grilled pork chops, our fava beans and leeks into a bed for grilled salmon, and added our English peas to quinoa with bacon. One of the highlights was her transformation of corn on the cob into a polenta topped with pea greens. The grilled baby eggplants with heirloom tomato relish, and the salad of white nectarines, goat cheese and arugula were also delicious. A real "farm to table" experience perfect for those who follow a paleo diet or have other culinary preferences or restrictions.
(5)
Stephanie L.
We were all very pleased with our experience. First off, the bread and olive oil mixed with herbs and balsamic vinegar were super tasty. We completely demolished two baskets worth because it was so delicious. We had the mussels for appetizer, and then I had the nudi gnocchi. The latter was very creamy and strongly flavored with truffle, as promised. Although the portion on first glance looked small, it was actually very filling, and I just managed to polish off the last of the sauce with more of the bread. Would definitely recommend for a nice meal out.
(5)
Jim S.
Friday night dinner was great, band was awesome, service was good, we would def go back, shrimp app was great. Good times!!!
(4)
Joanie c.
OK. we tried AGAIN after almost 3 years. We haven't gone there since August 2010. But we tried - AGAIN! We arrived and asked for a table, the hostess said, there's nothing inside but we have some tables outside coming right up. That worked perfect for us as our friends were just being seated outside next to the table she was referring to, the table SHE herself pointed out. Perfect! We waited, and waited, and during our wait, I kept reminding the hostess about this empty table next to our friends. What's the status with seating us...next to our friends??? I asked three times over the course of about 30 minutes (while this table sat empty). Then, we look over and they've sat another party at that table. that had come in way after us. WHAT? Astounding. Their excuse was that they could squeeze 5 at that table. We were only two at that point (although we had others coming to meet us - who then we called and told not to bother to meet up with us). The table had sat empty for 30+ minutes. (we know because we hadn't eaten dinner yet! The hostess could not do her job as there was some man making all her decisions for her. I truly don't even know why they hire a hostess since she has no authority to seat people and defers all decisions to that man. Luckily, we didn't even get to order food, so we didn't waste any money or tastebuds on that aspect. (The bartender, Alexis, is a lovely girl and was very nice and empathic to our plight.) Bravo, Piacere. You are consistent.
(1)
Alexis J.
Across the street from the scene at Town, I think Piacere is the place to be! I've been here without a reservation on a Friday night, while a slightly cheesy cover band ranged from Johnny Cash to U2, and the sizzling shrimp appetizer made for a delicious sidewalk snack. This place has become a regular brunch spot, too. We get to sit outside in the shade, drink mimosas (or a blend with the poinsettia, which the waiters are kind enough to concoct if you ask nicely), and oh, my word, the breakfast. I stand by the breakfast pizza - eggs, bacon, fennel. I had to force myself to branch out last time, and I was so glad, because the eggs florentine are delicious. Polenta, spinach, and cheesy eggs make for a decadent start to the day. It doesn't hurt that we finish each time with a mix of jelly- and Nutella-filled donuts. The waitstaff is great, always friendly and patient with a group of chatty knitters on a Sunday morning - a definite win!
(5)
Javiera C.
1st time experience was this past New Years. They had a 4 course set menu for the occasion. A little bit on the expensive side, but all the food was delicious! I would definitely recommend going here on a romantic date.
(4)
Steven S.
Lebanese owner Tony. Congenial, good solid Italian Food. Osso Buco and roast chicken very good. Modest prices, modest wines. Very comfortable and friendly. Service is good.
(4)
Anna B.
Went there the other night with mom for dinner. We has the mussels, gnocchi and some yummy cherry bread budding. They muscles were very good, I loved the flavor. The gnocchi NUDI were to die for! I could eat a large plate every night! Can't wait to go back for some more! The service was outstanding! Our waitress was very sweet, knowledgable on the menu and very attentive! Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Michelle C.
Went here for lunch today with my 11 month old son and his nanny. What a treat to have lunch with my son during the busy work day right? And I broke my diet to have a burger. Ugh. The restaurant wasn't that busy, but it took them 45 minutes to bring our food to us and when they did, the sliders were inedible. They were cold, looked like rubber on the outside and were raw inside. The app we ordered was burned and very small. Will never eat here again. Please spare yourself the bad experience. The kitchen staff appear completely inept and the host (likely the owner) never bothered to drop by to apologize for the wait and horrible food.
(1)
Lauren H.
I came here with a large group for brunch on Sunday and we were all very happy. I loved that we were seated at a round table so we could all see and talk to each other. I got the chicken pot pie and instead of being thick and creamy, it had more of a chicken broth consistency which made me feel less guilty for eating it as I'm sure it was a bit healthier.
(4)
Buddy S.
The best time to go is when they have their Sunday Brunch and if you go right when they open, you can snag one of the tables along the sidewalk. Located right in the middle of Downtown San Carlos, it's the perfect location to meet friends and family. Try the Carmelized Onion Pizza - it's to die for. I only wish they would bring back their Apple Cider Sangria made with fresh apples.
(4)
C M.
Johnny at Piacere is an excellent bartender. He makes a mean Sazerac, and their watermelon-basil cocktail is amazing. We also really liked the blackberry-and-gin cocktail. Recommended!
(5)
Fancypants J.
This review is for Easter Brunch only. Advertised $35pp brunch with the following: "On the table for everyone to start: Fresh Melon, Berries, Walnut Coffeecake, Mini Blueberry-Ginger Muffins, Scones" When we arrived on time for our reservation our table was not set up (there were empty tables) and we had to wait. It took another 10 mins for someone to come by and ask what drinks we wanted. Since they were serving a set menu I assumed the items mentioned above would be on the table or placed there shortly after we were seated. Wrong. After another 10-15 minutes, our entree orders were taken and some time after that we received a plate on the table with the following: 3 stale half pieces of small brioche bread 3 tiny pieces of scone-looked like less than 1/2 a scone had been divided up for 3 people Unripe thin small slices of cantaloupe blueberries unripe half slices of strawberry about 4 pieces of pineapple (for 3 people to share-awesome) Our entrees came out a lot faster than anything else had. Very small portions. My mother in law & I both had the salmon. Husband had corned beef hash. His lacked flavor and needed salt and pepper. For dessert we were supposed to receive "For everyone to finish: Chocolate Marble Cheesecake, Strawberry Tartlets, Brown Sugar Shortbread, Cream Puffs, Pecan Bars" What we actually received: 3 tiny squares of lemon bar (less than 1 inch in diameter), 3 tiny squares of chocolate cheesecake, 3 small wedges of brownie cake and 3 small pieces of cake with a cream center. You would think reading words like SCONES and TARTLETS that you would at least be getting a mini version of a WHOLE pastry but these cheap bastards didn't even give us that. Brunch came to about $150 with tax and tip. This was for 3 set meals, 2 non alcoholic drinks and one soda. Never again.
(1)
Red R.
Mothers day brunch was just ok... And the service was sloppy! Not a hugh fan of reading reviews from holidays, so you can take or leave my comments.
(3)
Timothy D.
Went here for a business meeting. This place has a nice ambiance to it. Unfortunately the cost and taste of the food did not meet expectations. I ordered the Meyer burger for about $14. It was dry, had a burnt taste, and the patty was very small compared to the bun. If they had flattened it out then it would have fit perfectly for the bun that they had used. The burger came with some garlic fries that were good but slightly under cooked. Wouldn't go back here again as there are far better burger joints in this nice area.
(2)
Eric S.
Great food, the staff has always been friendly. This place is must go in your in San Carlos.
(5)
Chris W.
Consistently one of the best places to eat/drink in San Carlos. Always a favorite of mine when in town. The mussels are superb
(4)
Peter E.
We had a great Saturday night experience. Got us a tab,e even though we were quite late on our reservation. Had great service from beginning to end. - awesome mussels appetizer - wood fire grilled - bison tri tip - well seasoned, but I would have liked mine bitt more rare - whole fish - well done and filleted -good wine selection - we tried 5 different ones Our waitress compd us an extra glass due to a mistake they made.. Nice. Very good live music ion Sat nigh.3.
(4)
Kara F.
My husband and I have had several nice dinners at Piacere. I was very much looking forward to having dinner there on Valentine's day and made the reservation several weeks in advance on opentable. I received a call at noon ON Valentine's day, stating that the only menu available was the $75 prix fixe. Unfortunately, this was not advertised on open table. As the prix fixe menu (which I finally found buried on the website) did not look appealing, we cancelled our reservation. This left us on the afternoon of Valentines day with no dinner reservation and everywhere else on the peninsula already booked up. I was extremely disappointed.
(3)
Meg R.
My meal was fantastic! The beet salad and butternut squash ravioli are so so delicious! Having family members who have allergies, I really appreciated how the menu called out the GF, vegetarian and vegan items. That makes ordering so much easier. I didn't give it a 5 because I was not impressed with the selection of desserts. But this really is some of the best Italian food I have had on the Peninsula.
(4)
Donna K.
Ordered the beet salad, the Caesar salad with chicken and split a pizza. Everything was excellent. It was actually my first time drinking a Moscow Mule in an actual copper mug. I can taste the difference. Wish I lived closer, but it's worth the drive from San Jose.
(4)
Carrie C.
The only reason there is one star is for the music and decor. Food and service were awful. Yes, awful. Food was SO bad it was sent back and nothing was ordered in it's place. Utter Fail. But let's get down to the nitty gritty.....COUGARTOWN. I've never seen the show but I imagine this is what it must be like. Meat Market and Trollers for 35 and up (Some way up). The desperation and lack of any couth was like watching a train wreck over and over, I just couldn't look away.... I was ashamed to think these were my peers...I was ashamed to be seen there!
(1)
DD M.
Overpriced and under flavored. We only went here because Town was closed and i am actually astonished that they recommended this place - prob just cuz its across the street. 1) the muscles: covered in oil with a melted butter for dipping. 2) calamari : boring and oily 3) the baked brow was good, it was a pizza style Brie on flat bread. Tasty. 4) the pulled chicken sandwich. Just plain chicken it was moist but no flavor, no sauce just on bread with cheese lettuce and tomato. So boring. $85 including tip. Will never be back.
(2)
Nicole F.
Nice day to sit outside to bad the guy at the table next to us just stood up to smoke, smoke was going straight in our faces...not cool! Bottomless mimosas they mean oj first round 2nd round good n back to oj....what's up with that?? Don't offer bottomless then :p my BF only had water n no refill offered nor given...argh! I asked the same busser for a water refill 3 times before getting it...really!! WTF! The waiter "went upstairs" n asked his busser to watch his table...ut oh...the server must not tip his busser well because that guy showed us no attention. Horrible service...u could tell the server tried to make up for it but at that point we were bitter. Food was REALLY good a little pricey but worth it. Service not good and because of it unfortunately WON'T go back. Happy Birthday Mom...sorry bout your bday lunch! :(
(1)
Gita R.
It's an absolutely amazing place, the appetizer, food and dessert, all are wonderful. We went there for my friend's birthday and we enjoyed it a lot. We shared the kale salad, calamari and prawn for appetizer, steak, salmon and chicken for main course, all very well seasoned and perfectly cooked, for dessert we had the nectarine pie with another fruity dessert. OMG the nectarine pie is to die for! I diffidently go back to this restaurant, if you are looking for a great high quality food, I highly recommend this place.
(5)
Linda A.
Farmers market challenge was the bomb. Chef took okra, corn, artichokes, berries and made a fabulous meal for us. Can't wait to do it again.
(5)
Dan B.
I took the family to Piacere a few years ago, had a great meal, then promptly forgot to write it up. Thanks to Jennifer L's review, it went right back on my radar screen, and we made a return family visit with the mom-in-law in town. First of all, I'm amazed that Piacere is not labeled as kid-friendly on Yelp. Apparently the locals know better - We saw A LOT of families here, and their kids' menu was excellent. My daughter was as happy as a clam. The menu: Oh so many delicious choices! You know it's going to be a good meal when everything sounds great. Steaks; short ribs with gnocchi; wood-fired whole fish. I went with a classic: the filet mignon. The mom-in-law got a mini pizza, and my not-hungry wife got a salad and shared my filet and our calamari app. My carnivore daughter chose the kids steak and potatoes. It was ALL excellent, though my daughter's steak could have been better (she's spoiled by the good stuff) And I HAD to get the corn cakes, based again on Jennifer L's review. Dearlordtheseweregood (did I say that too fast?). Very unique, like sweet corn on the cob distilled into a savory pancakes. My critical error was announcing their deliciousness, after which the hoards (also known as my family) descended, so I got less than that I would have liked. The tomatoes on the side were perfection. I would like to give Piacere 5 stars, but the service was so spotty that I'll have to withhold one. Our waitress was excellent at first, recommending the perfect cocktail for me, the French 75 (sort of a dutch gin version of a G and T). But then she forgot my request for a wine list, mixed up our food orders, and brought our daughter ice cream even though we asked for no dessert please. (We treated her earlier). Still, I like the place. And despite the higher prices I want to put Piacere on our regular family rotation list. Maybe next time I'll get more corn cakes!
(4)
J G.
Making this review short and sweet. Booked a reservation here on valentines day. I completely understand the prix fixe menu on valentines day. However, the menu was substandard. I ordered the pasta. Two out of the four tortellini were not stuffed. The sauce was a buttery soup with little flavor. The appetizer had little flavor and by the time it hit the table you could tell it had been sitting under the heat lamp a little long. Anyway, we went a couple months before valentines day and the story was the same for the food. What made valentines worse was the pricing was astronomical. Enough said. There are plenty other restaurants in San Carlos.
(1)
Nadia N K.
Came here on a Sunday for brunch. Started off with a yummy mimosa and mussels. Mussels were perfectly done. The baked eggs were deee-lish, it came with a side of bacon salad. Not enough bacon in the salad, so we ordered a side of it. My beet salad & side of brussels sprouts were very nicely done. As for the service, the waiter we had was very nice, however it took quite a bit long to get our food & it wasn't busy in the restaurants. Overall, I'd go back again.
(4)
Brooke G.
I've been back to Piacere and feel the the service and food has greatly improved recently! Very happy with a baby shower that was hosted for me there. I'd go back again soon!
(4)
Thomas Y.
I have been to Piacere 3 times and last nite was my most recent visit. The first 2 times were WOW! Great! However, last nite was a bit disappointed!! The food was good but it took a long time for things arrive. That's still OK. The problem was my entree. I ordered chicken breast - Very tasty. But part of it, the wing area, was RAW!!! And I discovered it when I was almost done with the chicken - The time when I tried to tackle the wing! I asked for our server and what he was "Oh No. That's not good!" Of course, I was unhappy about this! He then asked what I would like to do and if I wanted another one!! No apologies!! What am I gonna say...another one please?? Or give this to me for free? I didn't want to make a scene out of this and was wondering if the restaurant will do anything about this. NOTHING!! AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED!! NO APOLOGIES. NO MENTION OF TAKING THIS OFF THE BILL!! Could have been a 5 star review...but come on guys! A classy restaurant charging 20 some dollar for chicken breast should take serving RAW chicken a serious matter!
(2)
Kevin H.
Came here for a business meeting because another restaurant was a longer wait. The restaurant seemed pretty empty and the host was extremely forward and excited to seat us. I started off with a lemonade (free refills), which was delicious--not too sweet, but just right. The bread that they served was fresh and soft. I got the Pasta Forno, which sounded great on the menu and in my head, however, that wasn't the case. I was pretty disappointed with the blandness of the sauce. For a dish as pricey as the Pasta Forno, I do not want some pasta in a soup. I was pretty disappointed with the food. The others had a steak salad, which was pretty good; and two pizzas (which didn't look that great) I would skip this place and go across the street...or down the street because there are so many places on this block.
(2)
Afshan L.
I had my birthday brunch there last Sunday;) 13 adults and 2 kids and 3 babies. Although we already made a reservation for the group we had to wait to get our table ready( note: we were one of the first guest that day so it wasn't a busy time) The food was very tasteful but I wish their brunch selection was better. It was very small specially their kids menu. Their service was good but at times they seemed a bit overwhelmed to take care of such a big group. I wouldn't go there again for the brunch but I still like the place for an romantic lunch or dinner date with my husband( btw: we have been there many times for lunch my husband and I and we loved the food, service and the ambiance!!! I guess they work better with only small group.
(3)
K D.
...this used to be one our favorite restaurants.. The last few times we went the food was sub-par. The "risotto" was bland over cooked rice with a few mushed peas. My scallops were full of sand and under cooked. The cucumber salad was hard to eat because the chunks were so big. The live music is way too loud- you can no longer talk to your dinner guests. They are trying to be something they are not. Piacere should go back to the quality food they had ten years ago.
(1)
Tiffany K.
For our department Holiday party, eleven of us came to dine at Piacere. Overall, Piacere is okay - everything here is both great and bad, so that leaves me at a middle point for my review. First off, the decor here is beautiful - gorgeous, modern, American dining room. They have a few separate rooms, which makes it nice for regular diners and private parties. The entire place is aesthetically great. The service can be good and bad, depending on who you're are dealing with. Hostesses were fine, nothing to complain about. The servers are kind of aloof and sometimes look like they're wandering around not knowing what they're doing or what to do. However, the owner/manager is very nice and vibrant, who came out to make a visit to our table. Now here's the deal with the food - some items are great, some are mediocre, and some were just downright bad. These are the dishes I got to try: Appetizers: - Prosciutto: Horrible - the Prosciutto here is thick, rubbery, and tasteless - Corn Dogs: This appetizer was good - gourmet version of the original - Mushrooms with Truffle Oil: The truffle oil was delicious, but mushrooms were okay Salad: - Hearts of Romaine: Bland and salad was drenched in dressing - my coworker also had the same issue with her same salad Entree: - Butternut Squash Ravioli - delicious; great tasting sauce, pasta and filling. Dessert: - Chocolate Cake w/Ice Cream & Raspberry Sauce: The cake was way too sweet and rich, also very hard - Bread Pudding: Pretty good - 7.5/10 for a bread pudding. Overall, everything here is on the opposite ends of the spectrum for me. Some things are good, some are bad. But what tips off the bad side even more is that the food here is very expensive - this place is your typical over-priced, very mediocre American fare.
(3)
Meghan V.
The food was acceptable but lackluster. The service...terrible, terrible terrible. We came with a party of 12 for dinner on Mother's Day. We arrived right at 5pm with four children in the party - by 7:30 we had not even given a dessert order. Some of our party had to leave because the younger children just couldn't sit there any longer. We had to ask for water - ask for bread so the kids had SOMETHING to snack on - even had to ask for children's menus. There was an air of annoyance every time we asked for something and the waiter would disappear for 15 minutes or so in between every stop at the table, even if just bringing one extra drink for someone. They appeared not to care much at all, maybe because of the guaranteed tip on the size of the party. We will definitely never be back and happy to tell others to steer clear.
(1)
Florio M.
oh no... no reservation available at Town!!! So we got one across the street at Piacere... I started the evening with a Vanilla Sidecar from the bar, which was a sophisticated delight (wow...i am sounding sooo posh) But the drink was good, despite the fact our bartender forgot it was just added to the menu....=*D Dinner was very good as well: the Veal, Hen, Lamb, and pizza were all received and finished by all... Best notes: the restaurant has a beautiful decor and the live band they had that night was off the hook... Another wonderful night with good friends... enough said...
(4)
Shannon B.
Piacere is one of my favorite places to go in downtown San Carlos. It's such a great atmosphere and lots to offer. We had my dad's birthday party there last year in one of the wine rooms, and set up a pre-selected menu for the occasion. There are many different options and the service is very pleasant in accomodating large groups for special events. They even have live entertainment on weekend nights!
(4)
Jennifer W.
I dined here last night with my boyfriend and his family, in celebration of his parent's wedding anniversary. Now, I am a bit ashamed to admit that I have dined here before, but did not write a review. The reason being that when we ate here a few months ago, we just were not that impressed. It was decent, but there was a lot left to be desired, and the place had great potential, so I decided not to write a review until I gave Piacere one more chance. Well, I am glad that I waited, because our dinner last night was great. We started out with drinks from the bar, and my boyfriend's sister and I had the passion fruit martinis. They were good, albeit a bit bitter, which normally signifies that the juice batch was starting to turn. Not too horrible, it was still good, but I am glad we had the drinks that day versus today or tomorrow. I had the oysters and spinach salad for an appetizer and both were excellent. The oysters were big and hearty and with 6 on the plate, were easy to share. The salad was perfect, with just the right amount of dressing and topping of onions. For the main course I had the veal piccata with polenta and asparagus and it really was perfectly done. Everyone else had no complaints about their food and we all ended up sharing and trying a bite of each other's dinners. We completed our night with desserts of profiteroles and cream puffs, and, again, were a perfect hit. Service was great and I just can't say enough good things about this restaurant. I really can not wait to go back again. Thank you Piacere for surprising us with a great meal on our return and for providing a memorable experience!
(5)
Clarence C.
I think Yelp should allow for 0 stars, because that is what I would give this place. Piacere in San Carlos was the WORST service in the history of mankind. Not only were they unapologetic for losing my reservation (that I had made 2 months in advance) and seating me outside in a makeshift tent that had a draft, but each course that I had was cold as well. The waiter asked the obligatory 'how was your meal' question at the end of the night. I explained that my filet mignon was charred and cold, and didn't like the location of our seats, he simply said 'I'm sorry for your inconvenience', dropped the check, and walked away. I had previously made these comments on CitySearch, but it seems that Piacere pays to have these type of comments removed. I hope Yelp does not fall prey to this type of 'advertiser' behavior as well. Piacere - the name should be piece o' crapiere.
(1)
Kate M.
A beautiful restaurant but the absolute worst service I have had the misfortune to have for a birthday dinner. The baked brie was a small brie pizza The steaks were laden with grisle. The waiter never returned to ask how everything tasted or if we needed anything, Fighting back the urge to whistle, I had to go find another server to ask him to find our server after sitting for ten minutes at an empty table waiting for a check or the opportunity to order dessert. After letting them know it was my birthday, we ordered the gelato which took far too long to arrive and was half melted when served at the table. No birthday recognition at our table, but for the table we passed on the way out there was a candle and a song. We will never return.
(1)
Kara H.
Gee, really wish I could make it three and half stars. We were there for dinner on Thurs. the same day there is a great farmers market right in front. Perhaps inspired by the market I gave the "heirloom" carrot salad a try. My first heirloom carrot experience! it turns out they are colored like the tomatoes. Yellow and red, it was lovely presentation and quite tasty. I had the fish with artichokes and really liked it. However, the BF didn't fare as well. He didn't like his salad too much, can't say I did either, it was weird take on Caesar. Then he didn't like his pasta too much either. It looks like I this time I was the one who ordered well! So come to think of it, three stars is probably just about right.
(3)
Adrian H.
Went there for weekend brunch. Very good service & food. Material very fresh & healthy. The bread is the most excellent. Hard to say what kind of cuisine is it though, more like a modern American type of place with a bit of everything, from pasta to pizza to burger & crepes. Definitely highly recommended & I prefer it over Town across the street.
(5)
Warren B.
I don't know what all the negative reviews are about, this place is great, in fact it is my favorite spots in San Carlos. We even had our wedding reception here. The best time to go is on Thursday farmers market. It has a great open bar in the front with optional outside seating. The back area is much more romantic and great for date night dinners. The service has always been really great and the people who work there are really cool. The ultimate test for any cool happy hour bar to me is, do they have blue cheese stuffed olives, and yep, this place does! Some of the dinner menu can be a little pricey but the food is fantastic. Highly recommend the Buffalo trip tip or the sliders. They also have live entertainment and some amazing local bands playing there on the weekend nights. it is a great fun vibe to go with friends or family alike.
(4)
Bradley W.
Nice decor especially the bar area. I love the happy hours specials and the bartender Noe. She can make the perfect cocktail to go with anything. Service is top notch and they have enough room to have large parties.
(4)
Jasmine V.
My Husband, and I decided to venture somewhere new for dinner....Piacere is where we ended up, and it was great overall. It happened to be a Thursday night so the streets were filled with Farmer's market aficionados which just added to the great vibe on Laurel Street. The hostess was sweet, and obliged when I asked her to seat us close to the large open windows spilling into the street action, as well as positioned perfectly to see & here the live music. Live music is always a plus! Our waitress (I think her name was Roxanne) was super sweet, funny and pleasant. We are big on service, and hers was fantastic! My Husband's Mojito was delicious and very fresh, my glass of wine was perfect and the food was tasty overall. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because my meal was a tad overcooked, and it wasn't in-expensive. All in all I would happily come back!
(4)
Jennifer L.
I had brunch here the other day and order the eggs Benedict. The hollandaise sauce was creamy and the greens it came with were delicious can't wait to try something else...I've also been there for dinner a couple of times and its always been great. The cocktails are very tasty and have a kick. Service could have been better but the food has always been tasty
(4)
Nilu r.
We had a really nice experience here, I am shocked by the some of the lackluster reviews! After being turned away from Town at 3 pm because their "kitchen was closed"...and yet we could see food being prepared...Anyway, that was lame on a Saturday afternoon...so we walked across the street, sat right away at a lovely table outside on the patio. We ordered some beer, 1 app and a burger to share. The goat cheese and frilled fig appetizer was fantastic! Smokey, complex, delicious. The burger was HUGE and while I had a small part of it, the rest completely satisfied my 6'4" hungry boyfriend. I must say the meat was cooked to perfection! it is so rare to get a true "medium" without it getting too cooked. This was one of the better burgers I have eaten. I loved the dog-friendly front patio, the service was good and attentive, the food was delicious and priced reasonably. I would definitely go back there.
(5)
Katrina O.
Beautiful place, i love the outdoor seating, but the service and food was subpar The Caprese salad had *no* basil. the shame! the lobster ravioli was decent but tiiiiiiny portions
(2)
Michelle C.
Piacere's is a phenomenal Italian restaurant offering both a romantic setting as well as a contemporary atmosphere for a gathering of friends. They have an extensive wine list and delectable cuisine.
(4)
Rob Y.
Great place to eat outdoor.
(4)
Pat G.
Good service, atmosphere..crisp, fresh salads, but both of our pasta dishes we just ok.. The pasta was a bit tough, like it wasn't cooked properly..will probably try it again, though.
(3)
Andrea M.
Do not waste your time on terrible service and overpriced, bland food. I made a reservation FIVE days in advance for 8pm on Friday, February 10th. For a Peninsula restaurant, that is a lot of advance notice and at the very least should guarantee a table ready upon arrival, if not one of the better tables in the place. We arrived at 8:05pm (I had kindly called the hostess at 7:45 to let her know we were running 5 minutes late, which she said was no problem at all since they were very busy) and checked in with the hostess, who told us to wait by the (extremely crowded) bar while our table was prepared. 15 minutes passes (while our party of 4 is standing in the very small space where waiters are constantly passing through with food and drinks) so we ask how much longer it will be. The hostess says that the people at our table still haven't left, and offers us the drink menu. Finally at 8:40 (!!!!) the unfriendly hostess takes us to the corner of the restaurant, right by the kitchen, to a table that is laughably small. It is obviously meant for only 2 people, because the chairs are backing into divider walls, and there is no space in between the two chairs on each side. We were literally crushed like sardines - there was absolutely no room. Wish I had taken a photo. I asked the hostess if this table was meant for 4 people and she snarkily replied "yeah, actually it is." I told her there was no way we would be comfortable here and they moved us to a different table (easily TWICE the size of our old one... aka a regular sized table for 4 people) 10 minute later. At this point it is almost 9pm, keep in mind our reservation was at 8. We sit at the new table for about 10 more minutes before a waiter comes by our table and asks (I kid you not) "has someone come by this table yet?" Uhhh... isn't that YOUR job to know which tables are in your section? I was flabbergasted at how dumb he sounded. We ordered a bottle of wine, a couple of appetizers to share, and a variety of entrees. The food itself was ok, nothing noteworthy or memorable though. I have eaten at many, many restaurants in the City that charge around the same prices and have much better quality food, not to mention service. Our apathetic waiter probably stopped by the table once after taking our order. We literally had to wave him down to ask for more icewater. After waiting close to an hour for a reserved table, and being seated at a table they clearly just jerry-rigged for a larger party due to an error in reservation management, you would expect the restauran'ts manager to AT LEAST come by and apologize, perhaps even comp an appetizer or dessert. Nothing. I will never come back here -- save your money and sanity and go to Town across the street.
(1)
hima s.
I have this theory that folks who live in the 'burbs have low standards because there are very few really good restaurants and they will therefore rave about anything that is marginally decent. Piacere clearly falls into this bucket. I went to Piacere a few weeks ago with some girlfriends and, while the ambiance was good (until the DJ started), our waiter knew nothing about wine and the food was ok, not delicious. I had been a few times before years ago with my husband and my reaction was much the same.
(2)
Lauren G.
_____UPDATE_______________________________________Â___ I believe the owner/manager/someone involved in the restaurant Piacere just messaged me this: "Piacere hasn't had the mentioned Rabbit Risotto on the menu for almost a year now. Also, we are having a new chef for more then 10 months now." All I have to say is: do I need reservations? Yes, I did wait a while to reviwe this place since trying it and to be real, I probably wouldn't have reviewed it at all had I not been having one of those especially slow work days. Either way, I'm going to swing back for a second round and, hopefully, be proven completely wrong about this eatery :) They automatically get one more star because they even give a fuck what a random person like me thinks, way to care gurl! __________________________________________________Â____ My parents live down in the BA and my boyfriend's business partner lives in San Carlos - so, we get around. I literally forgot to review this place because nothing about the meal was memorable, not trying to be a dick - honest. There are so many great places to eat in the BA and this is not one of them, although - I will give it to them, they make you want to believe the food is good. The menu blends Euro-cool terms well into a stylish environment that's simultaneously inside and outside, attempting to be a 'see and be seen' type of atmosphere. If I were one of those 'judge a book by its cover' type people, I would have been satisfied with this place. Alas, that is not the case. One major problem: the food we had was about as palatable as a cement wall and wall is more worth the calories. For lunch we ordered some type of rabbit risotto that tasted like it was coated in ketchup sauce. So much so that we couldn't even identify pieces of rabbit in it. Then there was the lamb sandwich. I'm a love of lamb, big tiempo. Well, not this lamb. It was really over-cooked and tasteless, I fed it to Ruben, whom later spat it out in the form of Ass Vomit. I think this restaurant should switch to monthly menus until they find their niche, maybe that would work better? I dunno, Town is right across the street and really good so there is plenty of incentive for this restaurant to step it up and work that shit - steal some of Town's constant crowd of patrons. Probably won't give this place a second try, lo siento.
(2)
Ryn o.
good food restrooms smell like piss. no excuse
(1)
Christine C.
I'm sorry but I need to give this place 2 stars. I want to like this place, I really would. The appetizers are good and lunch here was great once. However, the last time I went here we had some major issues. Food came out very slowly and was so BLAND. Two people in my party ordered some sort of crab angelhair pasta...boring. Absolutely zero flavor and the pasta was overcooked. We had to ask for pepper and salt to make it taste ok. Biggest issue, two others (including myself) also ordered the special of the night, their pot pie. Let's note that this pot pie wasn't even a pot pie, it was a unflavored stew with a pastry crust. Still not that terrible...BUT biggest issue: there were chicken pieces in my food! Full on pieces of bone and cartilage...GROSS. I mentioned this to our server and all she had to say was that it happens. Um excuse me, no. That should not happen when we pay over $25 for a plate of it. Chicken pieces aren't acceptable at any decent restaurant. She didn't even try to comp one of our terrible meals when we had spent plenty on appetizers, wine & full courses. Needless to say, I will never be returning here. It was definitely a mistake to not go somewhere on the street where food is exceptional.
(2)
Reese A.
This is a great place to go for a ton of reasons. Good cocktail, good food, good ambiance. There are a few people that work here, one I think is the owner, who don't know how to smile and she looks like she is just waiting for a moment to talk shit about half her costumers. That aside the brunch is great. the happy hour wonderful. Just recently I had the squash with black rice and I think it was one of the best veggie dishes I have ever had. It was filling and fresh but rich as well, with a balsamic reduction and a drizzle of pesto. YUM! I will be ordering that again! I understand why some people give this place a bad review but for me the times I have gone here and it is a total delight out weigh the times it is a bit of a let down. If you had a bad time at Piacere a time or two don't write it off because it does have the ability to wow you.
(4)
Bev L.
Awful Valentine's dinner tonight at my favorite place to eat. The lobster was like rubber and tough and the potatoes were dry and hard. We paid extra for crab on our salads and it was hard to find and the salad was watery. Price was adjusted for Valentines day to fixed menu of $82.pp- will never go back there again. Service was poor too.
(1)
Vicki B.
My friend and I had lunch here on Saturday and were very happy with the experience. I have a small dog and it was a beautiful day so we sat outside. I have been here before for lunch about 5 times but never dinner. I had the Hangar Steak salad which was very good with arugula and some fancy mushrooms. Personally I prefer portabello mushrooms. I am a little surprised at all the poor reviews - specially for the service. There was nothing exceptional about our server but he did the job and we had no complaints.
(4)
Keith R.
Piacere differentiates itself from other Italian restaurants in San Carlos by eschewing the homey, rustic Italian and going for a more fresh approach. When you get your food the freshness of the ingredients seem to scream off the plate. None of the food is overly complicated, but is full of flavor with bright olive oil, creamy cheese, and crisp bread. The menu is solid although not overly large. There won't be tons of choices for everyone, but there should be at least one thing for everyone. I recommend the salads, fish and anything with cheese. The one thing to be very aware of is that service is almost painfully slow, so be sure to get yourself a glass of wine to help the time go back.
(4)
Kim N.
I've giving this place a 3.5 stars. My friend and I both did the combo soup+salad & half sandwich for $13. The food was pretty good but nothing too special and the half sandwich was a bit on the small side. It looks a lot like the dinner menu is more exciting than the lunch one and the reviews from the various Yelpers seem to support that. The ambiance is very business/power feeling and the decor/service is upscalish too. I guess I should probably try a few more things, possibly dinner (which it seems more suited for) to get a really good feel for the place.
(3)
Perry W.
While being up downtown San Carlos for a second day with my brother-in-law we weren't sure where to have lunch. With my brother-in-law being type-1 diabetic it narrows the choices where we can eat. After walking down Laurel Street and studying several menus we decide to give Piacere a try. On the menu is states the definition of Piacere as "pleasure, to please, a source of delight or joy". Upon entering we were immediately seated at the covered outdoor seating area. Our waitress was quick with taking getting us menus and taking drink orders. After studying the menu for a few moments I decide to try the Crispy Striped Bass Sandwich while my brother-in-law orders the Lamb Sandwich. Even though we enjoyed the scenery and the ambiance of the downtown area, the wait for our food seemed a bit lengthy. Also, my water glass went empty before it was refilled, and the same with my brother-in-laws ice tea. When our food did arrive I was a bit disappointed in my Striped Bass sandwich. The amount of fish was very skimpy and didn't seem proportionate to the ciabatta bread it came on. My sandwich came with some Yukon Gold potato chips which seemed a bit anemic for the dish. The fish was topped with a tasty aioli and grilled onions. My brother-in-law's Lamb sandwich looked great and was confirmed to be full or flavor and juicy. His sandwich came with potato salad that also looked good. Overall, the service lacked a bit and the kitchen seemed a touch slow to get the food out. Each of our sandwiches were $12 which seemed in-line with other restaurants in the area. I would like to return and try some of the other dishes, and hopefully the service will be a bit more on the ball. I give Piacere Ristorante 3 Stars on my first trip there, though it has yet to fully live up to it's definition.
(3)
Z A.
Compared to our dining experience at Vivace Ristorante over in Belmont, Piacere is EXCEPTIONALLY better. Host and hostess are very friendly and down to earth. Waiters are very friendly and attentive. True, this neighborhood can get a little sleepy at night. But no matter what time of the day, the food is really REALLY good. The skirt steak rare is so delectable. Salmon is absolutely divine. For appetizers, the chanterelle mushrooms are exquisite. If you want to try a different wine, give the 2005 red wine from Cambiata Winery of Monterey, California, a chance. A nice bold tannat varietal that gives an interesting tanginess that complements anything savory or tangy, like the skirt steak rare and the chanterelle mushrooms. You can't go wrong with this restaurant. Would suggest taking one of the outdoor patio tables if you can. It can get noisy inside if there is a major sports event going on, as they have TV's over the bar area. They have very warm heat lamps in the patio area if it's cold. It is actually much more romantic outside anyway.
(4)
Jackeline D.
Great atmosphere and outstanding service. Romantic but yet family oriented. The food was out of this world... A must have experience! Brett Fairbanks is awesome to work with and very accommodating, he made our Christmas Party a Success. Thanks Brett!!!
(5)
Erin M.
One word: Inconsistent. Our first visit was filled with delicious cocktails, the most authentic foccacia I've tasted since Italy and simple yet flavorful appetizers and entrees. The service was a tad bit slow, but the food and atmosphere overshadowed any problems. Then, my parents come to visit and we realize we have the perfect spot to take them. We arrive with reservations on a Friday night and are seated quickly. From there, we had three different servers, entrees that came out with appetizers and everything just seemed off. Meats were on the tough side and the highlight was the pizza my dad ordered. I'll try again, but maybe just order drinks and appetizers at the bar. 'Cause the drinks are still *damn* good.
(3)
drew M.
My friend, wife and I ate there on 9/4. I ordered the salmon meal. Perfect size with the fresh corn cakes, delicious! The calamari was one of the best that I have ever had! Morak took care of us and the music was good too.
(4)
Carol L.
Piacere has become my go-to Italian place. From the complimentary olive oil dip, to flat bread sandwiches and homemade soups at lunch, to pasta and dinner entrees, everything is bursting with freshness. They use high quality ingredients and generous amounts of fresh herbs. The results are delicious food. The prices are very reasonable as well.
(4)
Alison N.
My cousin was in town and I had a gift certificate for this place, so I thought that would be the perfect opportunity. Sadly, I wouldn't go back unless I was given another GC or taken there. I ordered the seared sea bass as was recommended by our server. My cousin had the seared salmon. Note they were both "seared", however, the sea bass came out truly seared and the salmon was cooked all the way through. Honestly, I would've preferred if my fish was cooked a little more. It was a bit off-putting when you cut into a fish with a lovely crispy skin and the meat is still raw and stringy. Plus, it was salty. So was the salmon. I can't recall how many places I've been to where the chef thinks that mass amounts of salt will cover poor quality food. Good thing my cousin likes her food on the saltier side, otherwise I would've felt horrible about taking her there. The 3 stars are really for the furniture and upholstery. The table we had was right in front of the restaurant and looked out onto Laurel. The booth was really nice and cushy with super high backs. Loved it. Final verdict: go for drinks and apps, not so much for a meal.
(3)
David P.
Wife and I have been going here for years before it got its make over a year or two ago. Yes, its upscale but never found it especially pretentious -- at least compared with Town or its predecessor with its "food concepts" across the streets. Would it be oximoronic to say its cozy, `neighbor-upscale? Always found the service to be efficient with a warm touch. Good Italian menu with some creative touches. And the bar is always great -- even without dinner. The live jazz on the weekends is first rate. A trio may be very common in say Manhattan or Georgetown, DC but not in the 'burbs. Try a Negroni (sort of an Italian cosmo): you can quickly forget you are in the middle of suburbia.
(4)
Nancy B.
Friday night two girlfriends and I ate dinner at Piacere. Made 7:00pm reservations through their website. First let me tell you parking is a bear in this quaint little town. I must have gone around in circles 5 times. So I get there at 7:10pm. My two friends are sitting at the bar having a drink. They tell me the reservations are for 7:30pm which they were not. Hostess was very nice but couldn't accommodate us until 7:30pm. She had a pleasant way of say "you are out of luck lady". Anyway we got seated around 7:30 so it wasn't that bad. One friend ordered a fillet Mignon and the other ordered the pasta with prawns. I opted for the salmon. We all enjoyed our meal. We each had a glass of wine... actually I ordered a second. I had to catch up to my friends. The music started and one of my friends jumped up and walked into the bar area where the music was coming from. She is a dancer and wanted to be close to the music. They had a live 4 piece band entertaining the patrons. We quickly paid our bill and headed to the bar. The band was good. They played some good dancing music. Didn't want to leave but it was standing room only. This joint was jumping. Really fun night. Overall I have to rate Piacere at 4 stars. Food was good, entertainment great. Service good. screwing up my reservations - not so good.
(4)
Matt W.
I can surely say every time I come to Piacere I leave enlightened. Their food will change you! This goes beyond the friendly service and pristine atmosphere. Regardless of the day or night, anytime at Piacere will become a special one.
(4)
Liza T.
To ring in the new year, my boyfriend insisted we go out for dinner. I've been wanting to try Piacere for the last couple of months, so we went there. We were both impressed with the ambiance and the food. So glad we did try it because we both enjoyed our meals very much. If you like linguine and clams...this is the place to go. What I like most about it was that my pasta was not soaked in oil and the sauce to noodle ratio was perfect. My boyfriend had gnocci. It was fresh and the sauce was pretty tasty, so good it we dipped our fries in it (as our waiter suggested). Everyone seemed pretty friendly and our waiter was great. I'm giving 4 stars for now and looking forward to going back to try other dishes.
(4)
barb b.
Ate here for first time on Saturday night.food was really good..service good and live jazz was surprise and fantastic way to spend lovely evening in San Carlos
(5)
Anne-Marie C.
This place is great. I'd consider myself a regular, as well as my parents and I enjoy myself every time. The staff is real friendly and the food is incredible. I recommend the Prawns and Panceta! They have live music every Friday and Saturday night and it's usually Jazz or Funk of some sort. And dancing does occur in the later part of the evening. It's a great place to take a friend or date and sit outside and sip on some wine while listening to some old school jams...romance and soul is definitely in the air here.
(5)
MAP W.
Just had lunch there and took advantage of their outside seating on a warm and sunny day. Service was good and food came promptly. I enjoyed the grilled chicken salad. The dipping oil for the bread was yummy!
(4)
Theresa M.
Average experience overall. Cocktail WAS the bomb though. It was called "ecstasy". It was a *peachy* dream. I nursed it the whole evening. God knows I needed it. HA! Ambiance was glorious, but food was really underwhelming. Sorry to say. Watching Top Chef, I've heard Padma say, "It's missing acid". Well, I totally know what she means now. For instance, Chris' carpaccio was TOTALLY missing some sort of acidity. Looked so great, but taste was just blah. So sad. My squash blossom salad was REALLY missing acidity. The "vinaigrette" was more oily than anything else, and because of its excessive batteredness (word?), the squash blossom was in dire need of a squeeze of lemon. Sorry, that is unacceptable. I think a stuffed squash blossom should be more flaky than look like a f*cking Hot Dog on a Stick. That isn't OK. Music was really loud, but if I were in the right state of mind and celebrating an occasion where that music was appropriate, then I would've really enjoyed it. It was more of a nuisance when trying to catch up with folks. UPDATE: Our server was overly attentive in almost an insincere way. Checked up on us for the hell of it when completely unecessary.
(2)
Christina A.
Great atmosphere, excellent service. The savory dishes and sides are consistently good. It's also a great place to linger over appetizers and a good bottle of wine. A couple of petty criticisms: the crab and frisee salad is a little bland - have the waiter bring you some lemon wedges. And the drinking water smells of chlorine - order a drink. :) That said, I've been there over a dozen times, would gladly return, and highly recommend Piacere to all of my friends.
(4)
V L.
Ok since it's Sunday and Town shuts down until 5:00 we decided oh Piacere is across the street. We sit down order drinks, tried to order dinner? How do they run out of steak when dinner is just starting! Not to mention the people with there dogs out front all over tables and chairs. That was kind of gross. Yes we've had there food before and it's good nothing to really remember other then only getting 5 or 6 raviolis for dinner = what that's it:(. I do love there olive plate it's yummy.
(2)
Taj A.
Love Piacere, the staff, the food, all of it....wasn't a big fan until last summer and they must have changed the chef or something...the food is delish. Brunch needs some work, but overall a great go-to for yumminess and ambiance.
(4)
Alex B.
We went there for a girls night out. We were not disappointed. The food was good and the service was attentive. We were in this side room that was very cozy. We were able to look across the street and be thankful we were not at town. We loved the ambiance. I would have given it 5 stars but the portions were a bit small for the price. I don't want to end up with a doggy bag, but I do want a substantial meal for my money. I loved the cheese served along side the heirloom tomato salad. It went really well with the wine we drank.
(4)
Sally S.
Two weeks ago I gave myself THE most perfect party for 43 people (38 adults, 4 little children, and one infant) at Piacere. Chelsea Johnson was the private event planner. Chelsea was a delight to work with as well as being very accommodating ... my party was on her day off, but she came in while I set-up my flowers, favors, etc. and made sure everything was to my liking. The waithelp were outstanding both during cocktail time and during dinner. The food was was delicious as well as fabulous. My compliments to the chef. The chef was also very accommodating. She went out of her way in planning the menu selections with me and preparing the food. The entrees were all served the way each guest requested (rare, medium,etc. for the meat and fish choices). All entrees were hot when served ... and that doesn't happen a lot when serving so many people at the same time. The chef also helped me select great appetizers as well as a nice children's menu. Everyone at my party raved about Piacere to me ... the restaurant itself, the food, the service, etc.. Thank you to all concerned at Piacere for making my party just the way I had hoped it to be ... with no exceptions. I highly recommend this restaurant for a party as well as just a great place to eat.
(5)
Jen C.
Piacere comes so close to getting 5 stars in my book but for a few faults. If the manager did some tweaking, I could rave about it to all my friends. First off, this place has a cool vibe. There's outdoor seating for those who want the European cafe feel. Inside is chic minimalism. Very upscale and comfortable. The service is what needs tweaking here. For some reason, we had two waiters serving our table which might make you think "twice the service, twice the attention" but it was overkill. I don't think one was a trainee because they didn't come to our table at the same time so we were interrupted often. Then it went from feast to famine. After dessert, no one came to our table for a good 20 minutes while we tried to flag down a waiter to bring us our check. Weird. I'm not sure if it was a shift change or something but that needs work. Except for the dessert, I loved the food. Our risotto croquettes were delicious as well as our cocktails (Pink Flamingo and passionfruit martini). I got the parmesan-encrusted chicken on top of a bed of peas which was awesome! The first dish they brought out was undercooked (raw poultry is a bad idea) but they replaced it quickly with apologies so I don't dock points for that. The only downer was the dessert. Instead of being whipped light goodness, the chocolate mousse was so dense and rich that we left most of it on the plate. I would definitely return but this place could easily go from good to GREAT with a few changes.
(4)
Caryn L.
The restaurant is located in the downtown "strip" of San Carlos. I've only been there for lunch and was able to sit out on the patio. The decor was elegant and the staff attentive. I'm a big seafood fan and I had a plate of Iron Skillet Mussels with Sea Salt and Clarified Butter..to die for!! The best mussels I've ever had. If in the area, I would go back.
(4)
daisidilli d.
A nice evening out on a nice weather night. In short: This would be a five star review, but minus one star each for the slow service and the high prices. In detail: Ambiance: Absolutely wonderful. We sat on the "patio" (not the sidewalk tables, but not inside the big open windows) - great open feel, classy but not stuffy. Waitstaff was very friendly. Not a quiet restaurant, but relaxed, fun, and a good level for chatting with friends. Service: Our waiter was extremely friendly and answered all our questions. * Minus one star though for the obvious understaffing - ours appeared to be the only waiter for the entire bar/patio/sidewalk area (about 15 tables), which meant we were pretty neglected between his stops by our table. Wine menu: Fun, good traditional varieties but from lesser known places. Prices felt appropriate for the wine (my $8 glass of picpoul was the cheapest by-the-glass but definitely delicious). Short but great beer list. Very interesting cocktails (fyi martini-heavy). Food: 4 stars. Simple yet creative, high-quality ingredients that aren't lost in a mess of over-complication. My nectarine/almond salad was refreshing and tasty. Roasted fresh garbanzo beans were a fun take on edamame, though could have used a bit of seasoning. Hubby's halibut with shallots, asparagus and gnocchi was delicious - we would come back again just to order that, and it makes me want to try their other entrees. Prices: Minus one star. Food was very good, but it was overpriced enough that we noticed it was overpriced ($100 with tip for 2 people - one app, one salad, one entree, one dessert, one wine, one beer).
(3)
Angela H.
This was delicious! I had the Skirt Steak Sandwich and it was soooo yummy. Wish it was a little less rare, but I ate it any way. And all the horseradish sauce, of course! It's a super cute place, too, and there are so many other things I'd like to try: Butternut Squash Soup, Butter Lettuce Salad, Artichoke Ravioli, Asparagus Risotto, etc. Bread and service, both good. Matchboxes FTW!
(4)
Jeneal V.
The food is horrible. the pasta is tasteless. The waiters are not friendly AT ALL. The best thing about this restaurant is the band.
(1)
Mia D.
A friend and I shared a few appetizers, a pizza and a salad. Nothing stood out, and I was particularly disappointed by their Caesar salad which tasted very stale. I also felt rushed throughout the meal by servers.
(2)
Tram V.
Let me start out by saying that this place has an excellently long wine list, which is automatically qualified (& guaranteed) to be on my top-place list! Besides the wine list, the food is quite good! I especially love the seared scallop & seared salmon! And if you like steak, try their "Harris Ranch Natural Ribeye". Delicious! $ex/wine Pairing: A glass of Barolo or Barbera will assure to set a romantic mood for you & your significant other! ;-)
(4)
No O.
Pricey, underperformed, mediocre service, very average food, exceptionally expensive wines-you missed Piacere by 10 years
(2)
Dustin H.
My mom and my friend and myself ended up going here instead of Speederia b/c they were mean. I was really really surprised about how big this place is. From the windows, it doesnt look very impressive in size, but going inside, there is a bar, and a separate room on the side, then behind is a massive dining room and then another room on the far left. I really liked the decor and the modern-looking furniture, etc, etc. Like most others said, looks good. I nearly had a heartattack looking at all the prices. I go out to the city a lot, and I can think of at least 3 other places in "the City" with better prices. Anyhoo, we ordered the calamari, which was okay. I felt like the pieces could have been bigger. Then my mom ordered the Italian sausage pizza, my friend ordered some mushroom tortelloni, and then I ordered the skirt steak with fries. All of the food was pretty good. My steak was really big and they gave a lot of fries. My mom and my friend liked their dishes and we were all full. Minus star b/c I feel like the food could have been a little more "wow" and the prices could have been cheaper, considered in the area. I mean, who the hell goes to San Carlos (apparently we did...but just saying...)
(4)
Beverly A.
They have mussels to die for, the sangria was just ok, great ambience
(4)
Kristina S.
Good place, not super.
(3)
Silvina E.
Too pricey for the quality of food...nice location, great decor but our food was not memorable at all...will try other places before coming back.
(2)
Aspen M.
We went to Piacere for Mother's Day brunch. We live in San Carlos and had never been so I thought it would be a perfect time to give it a try. We eat at TOWN a lot and have always wanted to try Piacere. I was totally disappointed. The good: Servers are excellent - ours was especially warm and attentive. We had 2 small children with us and he seemed at ease with the added commotion at the table :) Atmosphere - beautiful decor. Although once you walk to the bathroom they seem to not care about it anymore. It needs a few coats of paint to touch up all the walls and ceilings. Bathroom wasn't very tidy either. The bad: WAY over priced for what it is. I don't mind paying for a good meal. I love The Village Pub (Woodside) and never bat an eye at the prices. Piacere is ridiculous. Today's pre-fixe meal was not remotely worth it. The first course was a shared plate of a little fruit (there were 3 adults and 2 children), a few slices of tiny tart, bread rolls and a breakfast like pastry. The second course each person could choose from a list. I had the crab salad. It was the size of an appetizer and it was so average. Way too much dressing and not much crab. I ate about 3 bites. My husband had poached eggs with salmon which he said was very good. My mom had chicken crepes and she only ate 1/2 of one (there were 3). Dessert was again a shared plate of basically samples. Nothing was outstanding or even worth another bite. Bland, bland, bland. We had a 1/2 bottle of champagne and that was it. Our bill was $160.00, with tip $186.00!!! I could think of much better places to spend that kind of money on much better food! We've tried it and now I know we don't need to go back. I was truly disappointed. $180 on food is a lot no matter what but if it resulted in a delicious, memorable meal it would have been worth it. This left me annoyed and disappointed. I will say our server was really great. Maybe they were off their mark for Mother's Day...
(3)
Kong Y.
My sister texts me over the phone and says, "Do you want to have lunch? Piacere?" Sound expensive and for lunch $8.00 - $18.00 I guess it wasn't so bad. Sure let's go - I said. When I picked up her, she said, "You're treating! Because I treated last time..." Blah, Blah, Blah, so I treated for lunch this time. The restaurant is located in San Carlos on Laurel Street. When we arrive, the place was nice from the outside and the inside was nice too. Very nice patio seating area perfectly shaded by the way. Today was nice but I wanted to dine inside, plus they had their sliding doors open so it was perfect. As we walked in we were greeted friend by a host and were seated immediately. Shortly, after browsing the lunch menu a few times we ended up getting Crispy Calamari with Aioli and Cocktail Sauce, Pizza with Salmon, and their vegetarian mushroom risotto. The bread and my AP (Arnold Palmer) shortly came out. The bread was delicious and my AP was one of the better APs I've ever drank. The Calamari was light and flaky nice but I've had better. The salmon pizza on the other hand was different, I was expecting it to be a little warm but it was served somewhat cold. The risotto was delicious - mushrooms were cooked perfectly and the fresh spinach onto was perfect as it slowly cooked its way over time on the dish. Another play was the huckleberries that offset the Parmesan flakes will so that it wasn't too salty. Very nice dish. I'd say a 3.5 star only because the restaurant is nice and it would look great for a business meeting eat out place because they have individual dining rooms. Also the AP and Mushroom Risotto was good.
(3)
Jamie B.
You really can't go wrong with Piacere. I think its lost a little business since Town opened up across the street. I've never had a bad meal there yet - the ingredients are fresh and the mix of tastes in each dish is very good. They have delicious, crunchy pizzas and an excellent lamb dish. They also have great live music on Thursday and Friday nights. I like to sit in the elevated room next to the fireplace and look out on the street just below. My favorite time to go there is on Sunday for a nice brunch outside when its warm and sunny. Dino, the manager there is very pleasant and welcoming - he is always making the rounds to all the tables to see how everyone is doing. Mi piace Piacere!
(4)
Karen O.
Went here on a Sunday around noon. The weather was perfect so we sat outside in the patio area.. Their menu consists of brunch type foods, as well as sandwich and even lighter fare.. We started off with some cocktails..I had a passion fruit martini which was good but a little on the sweet side for me. We also had the green tea vodka spritzer type drink which was very refreshing and had a little kick. I ordered the egg, leek and pancetta pizza with fontina cheese. Just your standard thin crust that was tasty but they could of been more generous with the ingredients. The funny part was the egg on it.. One egg which had been cracked and poured on one piece and cooked in the pizza oven..should of been distributed better and maybe more of it. My husband had two fried eggs on top of zucchini cakes which were tasty but could of been less grease. I've ate here before but mainly for dinner..I would come back again as it has a nice ambiance and the service is pretty good. Our waitress was running around like crazy but she managed to keep track of us when we needed her.
(3)
MoeSheri T.
Sat in the bar area this time where we had a reservation for full dinner. The food was great but the service was terrible. It took the waitress at least 15 min to take our initial drink order, and another 30 for the drinks to arrive. Since they had probably been sitting at the bar for at least 15 min they were already watered down by the time we received them. I've had this experience before in the bar area and it is not the fault of the waitstaff. Piacere continuously understaffs the bar area which leads to stressed out servers and unhappy customers. Also, the restrooms as I stated in my earlier review are disgusting at the end of the evening. Not good for a classy bar/restaurant on a Friday night. I wonder if Piacere management ever reads Yelp reviews?
(3)
Ashley C.
*Must go up a star* We came here for our 6 month anniversary dinner. From the outside it did not seem busy at all but walking into the restaurant it gets pretty deep and was definitely busy all around. I ordered the blue cheese salad appetizer and the boy had these rosemary pillow thingys, both very good. Dinner we had the seafood cioppino and the "prawn" pesto linguini. The cioppino was delicious and devoured, nothing left on the dish to clean. Although I was highly disappointed when the "prawn" linguini came out because there was absolutely no prawns on my pasta... but shrimp. We returned the plate and ordered some drinks and desert. A few minutes later our generous waiter came back with desert wine to apologize for the mistake on our pasta. Also when the bill came we noticed they took off the pasta, no charge at all. Now that's outstanding customer service. Thanks Piacere Ristorante for your excellent customer service, we will be returning!
(4)
Teresa S.
This is the 3rd time my husband and I have been to Piacere, and sadly, I don't think we'll be back. The waitress, Iris, was very difficult to understand and very surly . . . she had a short, curt answer for every question. When asked if one of the overpriced pasta dishes, Pasta Forno, was good, she replied, "Well, it's been on the menu for XX years!", but it turned out to be NOT good. For a supposedly Italian restaurant, I would say 95% of the menu items are American/continental fare, so they might want to consider changing their restaurant name to the english translation of Piacere, i.e. "pleased to meet you"? Although surly wait staff like Iris disproves this.
(2)
Bob R.
This is a review by a vegetarian. Piacere used to be my favorite local 'fancy' restaurant. But since the redesign it is just a nice looking place to take friends and family who are conservative about food. The menu is stagnant. The only main course I can get is the capellini and I HATE teeny-tiny noodles. Heck, what I really want is Chow-fun puttanesca: big noodles and a heavy sauce. Make me feel like I've eaten something. The salads are very good and the dessert is all upscale 6-English-words+2-foreign word things . Service works, parking is easy. It's just not my first choice anymore
(3)
Italophilia M.
The food was execellent!!! However, the service was slow. We were seated for 5-10 minutes before we got our menus. It was difficult to get our server's attention. Once we did, he was always gracious. There was a live band at the bar area, and it was a bit loud for normal conversaion even though were were in the separate dining area.
(4)
Oleg P.
I will give Piacere 3.5 stars. They have nice outdoor sitting and their brunch is pretty good. I have been to Piacere for lunch and dinner a few times. Although the service is always great, the food is just ok. Nothing really ever stands. Everything is pretty bland, underwhelming, especially for the price. Since I like the place and it is so close to my house, I would like to go to Piacere more often if the food improves some.
(3)
Natalie L.
Oh poor, Piacere. It's stays true to its Plan B status across the street from the popular steakhouse Town. The place is pretty nice to look at; better looking than the food. Most of the reviews that gave this place good ratings also mention having some cocktails. Maybe after a few cocktails I'd also like the food and give it a higher rating. But alas, I did not have a cocktail therefore it will not be getting high ratings. Most of the people I was with (big group) didn't hate their food but didn't love it. To speak for myself, the chicken panni I had was bland and the bread ripped the top of my mouth :( I don't like places that cause me injury when eating their food. Sad day for Piacere. With food like this you will remain San Carlosian's Plan B when Town is too crowded.
(2)
Nenette Y.
My girlfriends and I had a late lunch here today and we were able to get a table outside... service was friendly and relaxed... When did San Carlos get this hip? I LIKE.
(4)
Martin D.
Great restaurant in downtown San Carlos. Food is very good, al fresco dining is our favorite option. Highly recommended.
(4)
Jane D.
Warm and classy atmosphere - Excellent service, very friendly and attentive wait staff - Food and wine list are excellent, very happy we walked in here - Happy tummy :)
(5)
K.E. B.
Recent business lunch yielded better food than previous visits - a surprise to the upside - but the same amateur host/wait staff. Piacere is a great place for an outdoor glass of wine and perhaps an appetizer. It's an OK place for lunch or for a drink at the bar while you wait for your table at another local establishment. Decor is chic, evening jazz is fun, but the food is merely average and the service consistently below so. It's a shame to waste such a lovely interior and great outdoor space...
(2)
Lisa O.
I found the food here to be so-so. Way too overpriced for just "ok" food. The service I received was not the best either. Our waiter took forever to take our order and just seemed to ignore us the whole time we were here. I don't think I will be coming back.
(2)
jim f.
Don't waste your time or $. The beet salad consists of two beets, a little cheese and some green decoration. The artichoke ravioli consisted of little filling and mostly dough with a bland taste. The service was slow, no bread was offered and the music from the bar was deafening in our private room. The decor was very nice and this was the highlight of the evening.
(2)
Angela G.
Dino is back and so are we. The food is great. I especially love their soups, pastas and pizzas. They have a great wine list and other mixed drinks. Last time I was there they had music which was a nice addition. I like Piacere for both lunch and dinner.
(5)
Corey S.
SHORT & SWEET: I can't remember the last time my wife and I dined at a restaurant and EVERY SINGLE DISH we ordered was to die for. We started with a mixed selection of oysters that were incredibly fresh and well-chilled. The squash blossoms with Ricotta cheese followed, and wow what delectable little bomblets they are, exploding with rich flavors and a smooth texture. Then came the gem leaf salad served with some very unique flatbread; you'll have to try it to understand; finally the Orecchiette pasta with sundried tomoatoes and Ricotta was outstanding, as was the rolled egplant "smal bite" dish; very attentive service.
(5)
Ruth B.
Thank you, Piacere! I have to admit, our original plans were to eat outside at Town across the street. My kids love the ice cream sundae desserts there. But the day turned cold and windy, and eating outside no longer seemed smart. What is a group of 13, celebrating 2 birthdays (one of them mine), supposed to do? I stopped into Piacere in the afternoon, and asked if they could accommodate us that night. Not only did they find us a table, they rearranged things so we had a private room. Good for us, and for them, as we had 7 kids ages 8 and under in our party. The room was wonderful, we didn't have to constantly worry if our kids were disturbing other diners. The kids menu was great, they had a veggies and dip appetizer, pasta a couple of different ways, and the kids' meals came with gelato for dessert. We had appetizers of muscles, oysters, and calamari, and they were all very good. I had a wonderful dinner of roasted lamb with fava bean risotto and mint pesto. My husband had sweet green pea risotto which was also yummy. Thanks for a great birthday, Piacere! We are very glad that it turned cold and we ended up at your restaurant instead. We'll definitely be back!
(5)
Elad M.
Love the Calamri here, it's the best one I ever tasted , with the home made light coating. Sitting outside in the evening is nice ( the sunny side Laurel St.) and every dish we tasted was excellent. They have quality kids dished for $5 and the kids get a drink and home made ice cream all included. Hard to beat..
(5)
Arnold W.
P and I were here last night (Sat). I was just back from Cincinnati and she picked me up at SFO. We cruised Laurel St and chose Piacere for the ambience and posted menu. Seating was quick, everyone gracious. Not a big wine list but some good ones. We had a ricotta gnocci appy. Very good! Melt in your mouth, savory sauce, greens and olive tapenade. P had the scallops, the sole for me. The fish came with four small filets, very lightly breaded, small yukons, and a coarse mustard sauce. I thought the sauce might overpower but no, it was great. At first P complained that she had only 4 scallops. Pretty large I thought. I had half of one. Terrific. We shared a cheese and pear dessert with hazelnuts and a balsamic reduction. Very nice and superior to efforts I've enjoyed elsewhere. A little pricey but well worth it for a reunion evening. Next time we might go later to avoid the 730 rush and the woman with the claxon voice 2 tables away. After she left the room was quieter, and I was happy we came here rather than Town (looked very loud). As we left the front room was packed for the second set. We were happy.
(4)
jennifer k.
I used Piacere for a delivered box lunch meal at my office - everyone thought the food was superb! the delivery was on time, and the price was good for this quality of food! working with Brett Fairbanks, the Director of Catering, was a pleasure. definitely try them for a delivered lunch!!
(5)
Ms. C.
You can always count on having a good meal and service is equal. A tad pricey but worth it.
(4)
Kem K.
Came here for lunch at 11:40pm on a Sunday. There was no wait to get seated. We sat outside under the heaters, which was really nice. Nice and warm :) I got the grilled chicken salad (dressing on the side) and my hubby the scrambled eggs (whites only). Both dishes were great! So glad we came here. It's our second time and it tasted great on both occasions.
(4)
HoundOfThe C.
Excellent selections for vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free marked right on the menu! Great bar tenders and servers in this table clothed indoor/outdoor spot right downtown on Laurel St. Good anytime but the have live music and are right on the farmers market row in summer. Iron skillet muscles rock, Greta fish and meat selections with a good square meal - more sides available as needed!
(4)
Kurt G.
Our waiter did a beautiful job of making myself and six quest, very comfortable, for our Easter Sunday dinner. Food was very good. Wine selection was limited, but good. I will return next time I'm in the Bay Area.
(4)
M H.
I have tried this restaurant a number to times. At first, it was good. Now, it is disappointing. Bottom line, the quality of the wine and food has deteriorated - this last (and likely my last) visit I received the wrong dish and had to send it back and then found a shell in my food. I was thinking after highlighting this, along with the messed up order, something would have been said such as "sorry," etc. Nothing. With so many good options for food in San Carlos....won't be back.
(1)
Gabriele S.
A bit pricey, but beautiful decor, great wine list and attentive wait staff. I had lamb t-bone with spinach, my husband ate Cesar salad, and my daughter had mini burgers from the kids menu. The portion size was adequate.
(4)
Katherine B.
Very good food. Service was good as well. Used a groupon and it was a fantastic deal. Had the salmon and the corn pancake that came with it was fantastic. Salmon was cooked perfectly but that corn pancake was so good . The bread pudding was also excellent. Highly recommend.
(4)
Nutmeg Y.
I came here with the girls for a casual Sunday Brunch. Two words got our attention: Bottomless Mimosas. SOLD!!! We sat outside and shared the mussels and hands-down that dish made me forget how everything else tasted. I'm sure the rest of the food was decent, but the mussels are a must-have! Bottomless Mimosas plus unforgettable mussels = 5 stars. I would definitely come back. Inside the restaurant, I saw that there is a special table inside their wine cellar. Super cool. Next time, that's where we may be sitting :o)
(5)
Donna S.
Went for lunch with a Groupon, they are running them frequently. In previous visits I never like this place that much. Lunch is better for me, in terms of price and yummy sandwiches. The service is a little strange, two different servers, the one had an odd manner. The bread here is great. Warm, homemade, delicious. The caesar is solid, a little overdressed. The pulled chicken sandwich was great. The white bean soup was just eh. The brie sandwich was decent. I might come back at lunch with a Groupon.
(3)
Cheryl D.
Wow, amazing food and beyond excellent service. Went for brunch and the bottomless poinsettia/mimosa is the deal of the century. Erica was our server and she was so amazing. Accommodating, friendly and really couldn't be any better. Will be back every chance I get.
(5)
Carolyn F.
Overated! I was out with a few other gals.. two of them got dinner and appetizers the two of us just got appetizers. I got calamari which was very rubbery and the cocktail sauce was a spiced up ketchup. They could not make a lemon drop to save their lives. They tried three times each time sent back. Finally decided to go with a cocktail off their menu. Got the Punch Drunk Love which was delicious.. Its funny cause this place is kinda upscale and posh and they cant make a Lemon Drop but I can go to Outback Steakhouse and they make them spot on every single time.. humm maybe the bartender needs to get some lessons from Outback.. or go to Spasso down the street.. they make a delicious French Martini!!!
(2)
Mace M.
This is my go-to restaurant for the San Carlos area. I haven't sat at an actual table here for years - we always go straight for the bar, where the cocktails are amazing (and seasonal)! We usually pick up a few appetizers, and maybe a main to share, and always, always, at least one of the seasonal sides*. My mother and I have been there enough times that all the bartenders and a lot of the staff know us. Go. GO NOW. * I'm writing this in June. GO NOW! Eat the asparagus! It is grilled and you'll end up getting more than one order. I swear.
(5)
Alice T.
Beautiful restaurant in San Carlos. I did not get a chance to order any food, but I have to say they do make great cocktails and drinks. They have a lot of variety of liquor to choose from. The Bartenders who are also really nice girls also do take their time to make your cocktails. The staff are also very nice. I will be back to try the food the next time I am in town.
(4)
Nikita E.
I'm a fan of this place. I am. It's a great place to go out with your girlfriends, get some funky appetizers and a nice dessert. Piacere, your proscuitto and truffle honey pizza is the very demon that made me like proscuitto. Screw (thank) you. The service is friendly, and does a good job of taking care of you. Try the nudi, it's great. Cappucino is awesome too. Definitely a go in my mind.
(4)
Ivana G.
Terrible!!! I was walking by and this place looked great from the outside so I checked out the menu. They had a grilled salmon salad so I was in for that. I sat down ordered a drink and was going to order my meal. The waiter said they have an outdated menu so I order the smoked chicken salad. It was oily and gross. No flavor, chicken was sleazy, and it was a small portion for the price. Top top it all off the waiter was rude.
(1)
Leann A.
Overpriced just OK food. Walking downtown looking for a great place to eat we came upon this lovely looking Piacere. Great atmosphere with live music, comfy outdoor and open window seating and some classic white table seating inside. That being said, the food was nothing to write home about. Mediocre at best. I found myself salting everything. The whole fish was cooked to perfection back lacked any flavor. Salt and pepper saved me, but it did not merit the $36 price tag! I make better fish at home. The coca-cola ribs were dry when they should have been tender and falling off the bone. When we mentioned this to our waiter he said they were supposed to be dry. The Nudi (ricotta Gnocchi) was pretty good tasty with a nice truffle (??) sauce and olive aioli, albeit overly salty. The only good part was the side of amazing slaw and cheese drop corn bread that came with the ribs. Having that for breakfast. The wait staff was OK. Our waiter seemed annoyed we were taking too long by asking him questions about the food, asking us if we needed more time. ?? No, we needed our questions about the food answered to help us decide. When asked what the burrata was he says "cheese". Just cheese, no quick explanation of the kind of cheese. He never brought the lemon and the straw we asked for and our drinks took forever. I try to mark that off as a waiter having a bad day, but the guy was clearly not interested in taking any care of us other than redoing a martini that had been sitting on the bar too long. He seemed to forget my friends second glass of wine for a while too. Martinis were very week. Service, meh. Food, double meh. Ambiance? This is an amazing venue with separate microcosms of dining experience. Maybe it was a bad night for them? My friends thanked me for such an expensive dinner and I apologized for the mediocre food. I left feeling like I had ended up in an overpriced tourist restaurant you find in Europe where everything looks good, but isn't.
(2)
Christine M.
Service was mediocre. Food was forgettable (except remember finding piece of plastic in our appetizer) and overpriced. Don't waster your time or money here when there are so many other great restaurants in the Bay Area.
(1)
Athena S.
This is NOT for the food. 4 star bar. Why was I feeling 7/7s that night is still a mystery. Maybe I was trying to keep up with Daves bourbons in my own wimpy way. When we went, we were able to actually sit at the bar & sip said inebriants. I guess he picked a good day. Bartender was cool. It was a very simple watering hole. Love when places are not packed unless I feel like all that. The end
(4)
bonnie y.
I thought this place had potential, but boyyyy was i let down :( We went with a group of 7 for weekend brunch. The "baked eggs, ciabatta toast & applebacon wood salad" was a terrible choice on my part. its exactly what it sounds like, not one frill. two straight up plain eggs, two pieces of tiny, baguette sized ciabatta toast, and a mere handful of plain greens with a PINCH of bacon bits. uh WHAT? such a sad, boring meal. on top of that, i swear we had 2 different waiters, who we probably saw once each. Which is unacceptable since we ordered bottomless mimosas and didn't get frequent refills. Nobody else was impressed with their dishes. The bacon and egg pizza was mostly plain crust and not very appetizing looking. The steak & eggs was also TINY, both boys both wanted to get hamburgers after their meal. We all left fairly unsatisfied and sober. nice area, nice restaurant, but goodness it needs some serious help.
(1)
John C.
Food varies from tasty to...not so much. Our fried calamari was very greasy (cooking oil not hot enough) and we got 8 pieces of calamari for $12, not exactly generous. My iced tea was some sort of fake fruit tasting tea, yecch. Server was apologetic and said it was a frequent complaint (but apparently they're not willing to fix it). The penne in my Pasta Forno was a bit soft, sauce and meats were ok but the chicken bits were rubbery. Honestly in 15 minutes I could prepare it better at home. Serving was smallish and cost $20 for a dish with $3-4 of ingredients. Wife ordered the gnocchi, which was quite good - well cooked and served in a rich cheesy cream sauce. She enjoyed it. Interior dining rooms have decor that looks dated, and too dark. This and the food issues help explain why people were waiting an hour to eat across the street at Town, and yet Piacere was only half full. Their bright spot is the bar, which was lively, packed and 100+ decibels. As for decor the street-side tables looked like a much better choice than the inside rooms. Too pricey for so-so food, no plans to return as there are many better dinner choices in easy walking distance.
(2)
D Z.
Was walking around Downtown San Carlos looking for a place to have brunch, and randomly selected Piacere. The pancakes were fantastic, the poached eggs were phenomenal, and the florentine was good as well. Service was solid as well.
(4)
Sonia M.
Please!!! Get a new chef and new wait staff, esp your hostess! (unless you are able to get the stick out of her ass). This is prob the best venue in downtown San Carlos... They are on the sunny side of the street, have live music & have the best outdoor seating.... I think the owner is great and very accommodating, but I just can't take the 50/50 gamble that my food will be at least average -- Time for ome change.
(1)
Christine V.
This visit wasnt quite as great as the others. I mean, they usually make really good drinks but they must have put over a tablespoon of sugar at the bottom of my lemon drop (see pic) :| It's like, thanks, can I get a little vodka with my sugar maybe?? I love the flavor of the skirt steak but its very chewy and takes a while to get a bite down.
(3)
Megan L.
We came in with the $40 groupon worth $150 of food which was a lot! We got the calamari, kale salad, ribeye, and dessert. The calamari was alright a bit bland but I liked the crunch. The kale salad was great! The ribeye was perfectly cooked but bland and very very fatty. The dessert selection was generic. We had the chocolate mousse and the flan. The flan was too sweet but the mousse was good just flat tasting and not enough richness. We still had $30 left by the end of dinner so we order a pasta forno to go for my brother. When he ate it he found a WHOLE CHICKEN BONE! Already cleaned off of meat... Really?
(2)
Mai W.
This place looked cute from the outside and was recommended by a friend. We came here and was definitely not serviced well! We may be young but we still know our foods. I ordered the Salmon and my friend ordered the Bison. My salmon was alright but it was kind of weird with the corn-thing on top. It took forever for them to refill our waters. Over all: Expensive, alright food.
(3)
V b.
I was here yesterday for mothers day brunch and the menu was limited and i needed a gluten free menu, I asked our server if they could make 1 change to the dish i wanted and she said "sorry, we were told no changing or substituting on the menu" . I explained i have a severe gluten allergy and she advised me to pick something else.. but guess what... everything else on menu still had gluten.. i will not go here bc they cannot accommodate my allergies..
(2)
Chris M.
We came here for Easter Brunch and had the worst dining experience of my life. It took over 20 minutes for anyone to greet us, over an hour to get food. Once we were served, the food was delivered cold, and it took 10 minutes for the servers to check on us. When we called the manager over, all he tried to do was give us excuses that it was Easter and they were just too busy. The manager tried to make it up to us by giving us a cheap bottle of champagne, and trying to comp our desserts (which were already included in the Pre Fix menu). This is not the first time I've had this kind of service at this restaurant, and we will NEVER come back or recommend anyone to go here.
(1)
Fred M.
Servers not interested in service, particularly at the bar Stopped here after dinner at Town tonight which was very good to have dessert and experience more of San Carlos They say open until 11pm, restaurant still relatively full but told at bar the kitchen was closed for dessert----guess all those in restaurant were also out of luck !!! First impressions count with me, will not be back and suggest you think twice, other nice places around
(1)
Tiff W.
Came here for a meeting. Their "Buffet" is a joke. they had a tiny stack of burgers and they never refilled it. the salad was disgusting not to mention the place is noisy.
(2)
Lisa M.
The experience left a "bad taste" in my mouth! Had a reservation for four people on a Wednesday evening. Before we were seated, I advised the woman at the hostess stand, Iris, one of my friends wouldn't be making it. She immediately asked if we'd mind sitting at a (side) table in the bar area. I told her we didn't want to sit in the bar & wanted a regular table. We waited a bit & then were escorted by Iris to a small table in the back which was up against a curtain that separated the kitchen from the dinning area. I explained to her the table was too small (it was the same size as the one in the bar - for two people maybe) & asked to be seated at one of the nearby larger tables. Iris told us the other tables were already reserved for parties of four & we could NOT have one. When I reminded her I had made a reservation for four, she curtly replied "You are only three people now & cannot have one of those tables." We contemplated leaving & going to the restaurant (Town) across the street but it was full. So, we stayed. After watching a couple of the larger tables sit empty for over a half an hour, we asked to speak with the manager to complain about the treatment from Iris. Turns out, Iris was the manager. She barely heard us out & couldn't have cared less about our negative experience. Her attitude was the worst. She even rolled her eyes! The food was just ok - nothing special. The server was descent. San Carlos has many wonderful restaurants. THIS IS NOT ONE OF THEM!! Spend your money elsewhere!
(1)
R R.
Lunch combo: Romaine lettuce, tomato soup similar in taste to pizza sauce, and a tough cut of meat in the half sandwich.
(2)
Jenny K.
Very good food and such a beautiful interior. 2 stars because when I walked to the bathroom, I passed by the kitchen and I saw two employees eating food right in front of where food for customers is prepared. This is a health code violation. Employees must go outside of the kitchen to eat their own food; they are not allowed to eat right where they prepare others' food. Shame on you, Piacere.
(2)
Catherine R.
Today was a 4 star experience: attentive but not over-bearing service, quickly cleared and re-set table, he even pulled out the crumber! Good food is still good without good service but proper service enhances the enjoyment of the food. One thing Piacere always has is good food. The lamb riblettes were tenderly falling off the bone and the slaw was a delightful burst of flavor. The roasted beet salad's sweetness was balanced by the tang of the goat cheese. Actually, I'd say the same for the lamb riblette appetizer as well. Prosciutto pizza with fontina, arugala, and truffle honey was...just thinking about it makes my mouth water. The salty prosciutto and the slight sweetness of the honey...I think they've got a signature and they should stick to it. Not to mention, the crust was the essence of what pizza crust should be- soft on the inside, a little crisp on the outside. For dessert, the warm peach bread pudding with house-made almond ice cream. Hands down, this was the best bread pudding I've ever had. Call it a little piece of heaven! The bread was moist but not mushy. The top crusty bits were perfection. Raspberry sauce added a nice zing and the almond ice cream that topped it was subtle, fresh, and creamy. This place is a keeper.
(4)
grknbohonk g.
MOTHER'S DAY 2013,the Atmosphere is lively & I had a great time there 4 the Brunch with the fam! Special menu 4 Mother's Day not impressed @ all I ordered the Corn Beef with 2 sunny side up eggs very basic I had to pick from others plates to fill my appetite. I was impressed with the Flat Steak Special it was Juicy & good tasting, will I go back when Piacere has a set menu? No f$@*&#ing way! I'd like to try their regular menu but it appears to be over priced & mediocre food. I give it a 1.5 star 4 today I arrived early for our 10:30 reservation only to find an unorganized staff & manager. The owner's are trying to make it an American Fusion Restaurant " stick to the basics & keep Italian".... Piacere on the positive note has beautiful waitresses that work on Sunday's that 'll likely bring me back!!!!!
(2)
Danny K.
Nothing too special about Piacere. My GF and I ended up going to Piacere for lunch this past Sunday after attempting to eat at Towne. After Towne told us it would be about an hour wait we pulled out our phones and did a little "yelping-action." Nothing sounded too appealing so we looked across the street and saw Piacere. Average "American" food - I got a burger (forgot to ask for cheese) with some fry's on the side. Honestly, I can't say anything that negative or positive about Piacere - it's in Downtown Mtn View, it's clean, OK service, street parking and right across the street from Towne. Food isn't bad but not great so a three star sounds just about right.
(3)
Jacque G.
Love the house chips
(3)
Juliana C.
The only reason I came here was because the wait at The Town across the street was over an hour. Food was mediocre and portions were small. Not noteworthy!
(2)
Karyn K.
Pretty mediocre experience. Second time visiting. We didn't love it the first time, but I wanted to give them another try - don't we all deserve a second chance? So here's the rundown: Pros: it's a beautiful restaurant. We were seated in the room closest to the street...very cozy with a beautiful fireplace and nice view of the action outside. Cons: The menu is pretty generic. How many times do I need to see a beet salad with blue cheese on a salad menu? They don't even offer daily specials that would reflect local, in-season produce. I asked about this at the front on our way out and the hostess responded, "We don't really do that. We do have a soup of the day". The service was below-par. I could barely hear the waiter and had to ask him to speak up several times (and no, I'm not hard of hearing!). My husband and I both ordered the short rib, which sounded delicious. Fifteen minutes later the waiter comes back to say they're out of the short rib. Ok...that happens, we were disappointed but no big deal. The kicker is that when the table next to us sat down, he gave them menus and said nothing about the short rib shortage. One of their party proceeded to order the rib and then be disappointed. Wouldn't it have been wise to warn them of the shortage ahead of time? Seems like common sense and courtesy to me. Our server also had no clue how items were prepared, or at least he was unable to explain how they were prepared. I asked a few questions about the meal, and he seemed unsure about most of it. I ended up ordering: 1. salad w/poached pear The pear was delicious, but the salad needed some nuts, or something that would give it a little crunch. The dressing was a standard vinaigrette and the lettuce could have come from the Costco mixed lettuce bin for all I could tell. It was basically greens with a pear and a little cheese on top with a standard dressing. Nothing to write home about. 2. artichoke ravioli Though it tasted freshly made, there was no sauce on it at all, only a balsamic drizzle over the top. To be fair, the menu describes this ravioli as having "meyer lemon and butter", which is what it had on it, but since I've never been served completely dry ravioli, I assumed incorrectly that the lemon and butter would be in addition to some sort of sauce. Bottom line is that it lacked moisture and flavor. Hubby ordered 1. Caesar salad: He enjoyed this salad, and the presentation was really nice. He always gets a Caesar and said that this one was pretty good. 2. pork chop: It was moist and juicy (I tasted some!), though I thought a little on the salty side. Maybe that was to "balance" the completely bland beans underneath. Honestly, these beans tasted like they were blanched and put on the plate....no seasoning whatsoever. Recap: This restaurant is in a good location, and it is beautiful inside. It just lacks the finesse to which a restaurant in the Bay Area, in this price range, should be aspiring. Their menu needs a dose of creativity that includes seasonal, local, fresh ingredients. Their waitstaff needs to be trained on how the menu is prepared and how to communicate with customers. Competition is stiff and customer expectations are high. I hope they can pull it together.
(2)
victor c.
My wife and I have been there 2 times in the last 6 months for dinner and both times the food was tasteless and the service iffy. On both visits, my main course of meat seemed as though it was cooked unseasoned or marinated and then just before being served drenched in sauce which resulted in no imparted taste. This will be our last visit.
(1)
Kristine T.
Standing in the patio right now as I write this review. Terrible service. No one greeted us as we walked in & we had to grab an employees attention just to get some service. We specifically needed a bigger table in the patio because there will be 5-6 of us, so we asked a server AND a hostess about the bigger table. 10 minutes later the table still isn't cleaned off. The hostess is just standing there counting clouds. I'm sorry, but in my opinion if a restaurant is not busy the hostess shouldn't just stand there doing NOTHING. Mind you I am also a server, and in my restaurant I would not have waited for the busser to clean it up. Especially since it's not even busy here and clearly there isn't a wait. I would of cleaned it up myself or asked the hostess to do it. I wouldn't of let any of my customers wait there for 10 minutes for the table to be ready. I don't know whether it's policy for the hostess to do nothing but maybe they should also be trained to clean tables during a slow service. Cause I know in our restaurant that's how things are handled.
(1)
Olivia B.
I was very excited to try Piacere for my first time with a large group of my girls, but our experience will not have us returning anytime soon. We rented out the front room of the restaurant for our girls brunch and although the room was beautiful, we had requested a table in the front of the restaurant with a TV to ensure we could watch the football game. We were in luck, as our game didn't start until later, but if it had, their promise to us about having a television in view for our large group would have complicated things heavily. Many of us ordered bottomless mimosas and although the mimosa was good, we had to ask our servers multiple times for refills. We ended up only having two or three mimosas each, because the service was so poor and they weren't refilling our glasses when asked to do so. When our group goes out for a girls brunch and there are 12 of us ordering bottomless mimosas, we believe the bottomless mimosas should flow appropriately, especially if we're renting out a room for a few hours. A couple of us ordered the breakfast pizza, thinking it would be wonerful since they have a pizza oven- WRONG! The pizza was completely bland and practically bare of all the ingredients mentioned on the menu. We ended up putting red pepper flakes, salt and ordering a side of Arugula for the pizza, so we could eat. Needless to say, the managers should take a look at updating their breakfast pizza, as well as a few other dishes that are bland. Our group of girls loves to go out and celebrate and try new places, but we will not be returning to Piacere anytime soon!
(2)
Matt B.
First review here. Not very impressed. Ordered the (fried) calamari and it was not crispy, only ate about half of it. Oh yeah there was a fry leftover from the last batter so whatever whatevah.. We also got the prawns and they were for sure frozen, not good. For main course I ordered the baby back ribs. The ribs were good but the slaw and cornbread were very disappointing, and it's really hard to mess up slaw... Anyway, I'll probably wont come back again, if I'm gonna drop a hundo on dinner I'll go down the street to refuge. I should mention the service was good and the ambiance was decent. Good place to grab a drink if you wanna pay $13 for a mule.
(2)
Mia B.
I can't believe I am giving this place a 1 star but I have no choice! I went here a few years ago for a work thing w/15 girls and dinner was great and the service was great but I just went for lunch the other day with a friend and OMG! First of all, we chose to sit on the sidewalk outside. We waited a little longer than usual to get a drink order in but it wasn't too bad. Then the "lazy" young waiter took a while to come back so we could finally order our food. We ordered the Angus burgers and fries with the delicious looking homemade buns and to our surprise it was the worst burger we EVER had! Car's Jr. makes better burgers!!! The meat was so charred on the outside that that's all we tasted. There were no spices of any sort. PLAIN....BLAH! When you order a burger that comes with fries and w/no dressing on it your waiter should immediately ask if you want condiments.....well our "lazy" waiter DID NOT! He just walked away so I had to wait for our elusive waiter to come back so I could ask for my condiments. When he came back he saw my empty soda and never brought or asked to bring me a refill so I had to ask him when he brought my condiments. All the while he was making "joke" comments and sighing every time I asked him for something. Now I am NOT a difficult patron but come on!!! He came back with the condiments and said, sighing, "Ok, now is there ANYTHING else you need"? I told him my soda was empty and once again he laughed and sighed and literally "schlepped off", dragging his feet. Then I noticed that the tin that my ketchup was in had old hardened butter inside of it!!! GROSS!!!! So of course when he came back with my soda I showed him and he sighed off to get me another. Then we never saw him again until the end of our meal. When he saw we didn't eat our burgers he said, "Wow, you didn't even eat"! I told him they were horrible and he came back with an Ipad Mini so we can comment about the chef but told us to make sure to leave him a good review!!! I told him why would I since we barely saw him and he replied..........get this..............."Well, after having to come back 6 TIMES, I was scared"! WTH!!!??? OMG you are kidding me!!!! Then I had to hunt him down and walk inside to pay and waited FOREVER for my change!!! GO TO TOWN ACROSS THE STREET!!!! 700 TIMES BETTER! We will NEVER come back here again!!
(1)
Lee K.
As a family of four, we tried four different entrees that all sounded intriguing but turned out to be HUGE DISAPPOINTMENTS. One member said his lamb was tastless. My chicken entree was overcooked and tough. My beet salad was so so. Though we liked our server, he seemed to be taking care of everyone so we found ourselves waiting for a LONG time to get our entrees orders taken, to get our food, to order dessert, and to get the bill. Bland food + high prices + extremely long waits = you've got to be kidding me.
(1)
Katharine A.
I didn't have dinner here, but I sat at the bar with a group of friends and we had drinks and a lot of appetizers. The food was good and it was a good experience until the music started (I think around 9). Then it was too loud to concentrate on conversation or much else but the music. The bar area is small and the band was large and overpowered the space.
(3)
Jennifer L.
I'd eaten at Piacere with Mr. L several years ago pre Little L, and then kind of forgot about it. It was good, but there is so much competition in downtown San Carlos, between Spasso, Locanda Positano, Viva La Vita, Red Hot Chilli Pepper, Saffron, Town, and Rumi - it's hard to limit oneself. Last night our son announced he wanted to go somewhere new. The Yelper in me rejoiced. The three of us visited Piacere (which means "Pleasure, to please, a source of delight or joy") and enjoyed: * Sweet Gem Lettuce, Green Goddess Dressing $9 - Nice taste, but way over-dressed for me. I forgot to say "go light on the dressing." yelp.com/biz_photos/BjgP… * Hearts of Romaine, Garlic Croutons, Shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano, Caesar Dressing $9 - The salad was fresh, but was too heavily dressed for Mr. L as well. * Scottish Salmon, Fresh Corn Cakes, Basil $24 yelp.com/biz_photos/BjgP… - The salmon was respectable, but not mind-blowing. The corn cakes knocked my socks off. More about them later. * Pasta Forno - Chicken, Sausage, Olives, Tomato, Basil, Melted Fontina $22 yelp.com/biz_photos/BjgP… - The sauce could've used more kick. * Crispy Gnocchi $5 yelp.com/biz_photos/BjgP… - Never had gnocchi as a side dish before - cool! * Kids' spaghetti with butter (hold the sauce for picky kid, meatballs on side) $5 yelp.com/biz_photos/BjgP… * Kids' housemade chocolate ice cream with fresh oatmeal chocolate cookie (included in the kids' meal!) - YUM! yelp.com/biz_photos/BjgP… * Layercake, Primativo, Italy '08 1/2 carafe Red Wine $20 - Thumbs up from Mr. L. I am not a foodie. I am not a foodie. I keep telling myself that. And yet Piacere's fresh corn cakes rocked my world. I don't know if I've ever had corn cakes before. If I have, they never caught my notice. These perfectly seasoned corn cakes burst with freshness and flavor, They had whole sweet corn kernels that were beyond fresh. I couldn't help but marvel at them. I shared a bite with Mr. L and they totally stole the show. Tip: Order the Fresh Corn Cakes "on the side" for $5. Don't question, just do it. The other show-stealing dish for me, surprisingly, was included in my son's $5 kids' meal (incredible value!). His dessert was a housemade chocolate ice cream and cookie. It was ridiculously rich and fantastic. Way too good for a kid (not to sound ageist, but sheesh!). Move over kiddo, this is adult ice cream. Surprises and observations: * I didn't think this would be a kid-friendly restaurant, but I was surprised at how many children there were. The kids' menu was reasonable and great (our picky actually kid ate his pasta , which felt like a miracle!). * It's really big inside - and has nice ambiance. yelp.com/biz_photos/BjgP… * There was live music on the Saturday night we were there. yelp.com/biz_photos/BjgP… * There is sidewalk dining, which looks pleasant. It was a bit windy (and a car alarm went off), so we were glad to be inside. * Service was friendly, efficient, and accommodating. * The menu is vegetarian and vegan-friendly (has asterisks for which items are vegetarian and which are vegan - nice!). Holla to my veggie friends! * Gluten free available on request. I'd go back to sample new dishes, and definitely hit the fantastic corn cakes and ultra-decadent ice cream again. Oh yeah.
(4)
Sandy F.
Stopped for dessert and drinks. Interesting but disturbing observation. Since didn't see tip jar for jazz band, gave tip to them to our waiter. Saw him walk towards band and then he pocketed the money. Hope owner makes sure that band gets their tips. Fantastic musicians
(4)
Erica G.
Based on setting alone I'd say this place is very pleasant. Me and my friends sat outside and could still hear the live music from inside on a lovely summer night, so that was nice. Drinks. I got the mango margarita. It was beautifully presented. Personally I think it was a bit overpriced for the little amount of alcohol in it, but that wouldn't be a deal breaker. Food. I'm sorry, I just think the food is not good here. I've had some of the pasta before, which I truly think they opened a can of Chef Boyardee for one of those dishes, and been less than pleased. I had the hamburger on this visit, and while it was fine, it certainly wasn't worth the price. None of the menu items are worth the price in my opinion. Service. Sadly, I had the same issue with service that it seems many others have. It took about 15 minutes to even get menus, another 15 to order drinks, another 15 to get the drinks, and don't even get me started on how long it took to place our orders and be served. By the time the meal was done I was simply tired of sitting. I also don't think we should have had to ask for bread twice, which we did. All in all I think there are better places to go in San Carlos. I gave this place multiple chances and I'm done being disappointed. Far too expensive to chance it here anymore.
(2)
B B.
We had a private birthday party in the wine room. We worked with Chelsea who was great! We had a wonderful reception and dinner. Loved it!
(5)
Chris C.
Manager is a jerk, food is overpriced and not very good. Don't waste your time
(1)
Laura A.
Went during the San carlos art and wine faire and had a fantastic time! Awesome martini, great service, and was surprised by a fantastic vegan butternut squash quinoa dish (I'm not even vegetarian!) Also their olive oil and vinegar dip with their bread is amazing!! Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Jim M.
I'd say by and large Piacere is good. Not great, but good. I'm not sure why this is, but I've had the strange experience of being seated...but not served at Piacere more than once. This is actually my biggest pet peeve at any restaurant. I'm greeted by the hostess, seated with a menu and then nobody ever shows up. No bread, no water...it's like I'm invisible. This never happens at Town or Spasso or Positano or really ANY other restaurant in San Carlos. It's happened to me 3 times over the years at Piacere. I guess it must be me. When I get served the food is pretty good. If I don't get served I leave and go to Town or one of the other joints where I seem to be welcome. This happened again last week so it's fresh in my mind. I guess I attribute this to incredibly bad management. If you sell food to hungry people how hard is it to notice that they're there? Sitting at a table with a menu in front of them? At Piacere this seems to be a challenge.
(3)
Sheryl M.
In the past, Piacere was one of my favorite places to eat in San Carlos. In recent trips, I have noticed that the food and service have decreased in quality yet the prices seem to climb at an alarming rate. This was my first time back in a few months due to the fact during my last visit one of the server/bartenders was rude and unprofessional. He was yelling at the female bartender and he charged me for a wine I did not receive. Shrimp tacos-just okay but the verde salsa that came with it was pretty darn good. Buffalo tri-tip-a little tough but okay. The side was a bean medley in a pablano chili which was rather bland. French fries-good The prices are ridiculous now! I can go to next door to Town to get a $39.00 filet mignon and I would receive top notch, respectful service.
(3)
Kate W.
I'm the president of a nonprofit foundation. I just brought my extended board (22 people) to Piacere for our annual planning meeting. We were there from 10-4pm. It was the perfect place: * We had the back room to ourselves. * The AV including the projector and laptop hookups worked flawlessly. * Lunch was served quickly and unobtrusively. * Despite our large group, everything was cooked perfectly and the food was delivered at the appropriate temperature. * Drinks and snacks were brought out on a regular basis. The cookies were scrumptious and the warm coffee cake in the morning was nothing sort of divine. * Iris, the manager, took great care of us. And, best of all -- since I didn't use foundation funds to pay for the meeting -- it didn't put too big a dent in my checking account. I already love coming here with my husband and two small kids. But, now I'll never go anywhere else for a large group lunch meeting. Thank you Piacere for a wonderful day!
(5)
M L.
Been to this place twice and both times, I found the food good the service spotty. First time around, the server forgot my drink until mid-way through the meal, she wasn't around to flag her down to get it until mid-way through meal. Second time, we had a bunch of kids with us for brunch on a sunday mid-morning, they brought the kids food out pronto and then made the adults wait for our food, we waited so long the kids finished their food and then became antsy before we got ours ... the adults couldn't enjoy our food because the kids were so DONE having to sit and wait for us! Food was good; I really liked their baked brie appetizer, the chicken pot pie was interesting, and the pizza's were good. The macaroni for kids needs to have smaller pasta noodles for smaller kids (i.e., toddler) to maneuver them into their mouths, and the homemade lemonade made with sparkling water was tasty. One thing that keeps me from giving this place a lower score is that on weekends they serve kids for FREE!!
(3)
Nic P.
Asked for a medium well, got a medium rare.
(2)
Patrick H.
I was in here the other day for lunch. Maggie the bartender is great. My burger and fries were pretty good. I ordered it with blue cheese but there sure wasn't much on it this time around.
(3)
Brittany R.
I know these reviews are mainly suppose to be about mainly food, but I will say this...that this place has the BEST and I mean the BEST lemonade EVER!! We also had some pizza that was just off the chain!!! (Do they say off the chain anymore?) I am really liking this place and totally recommend it!!!
(5)
Chrisy E.
Since my past review I received a message from Iris, who has been an employee at Piacere for the past three years. Instead of any genuine apology, I received a message telling me to be "more careful of my words". This is my follow-up standing behind my first Yelp review even stronger. Yelp is to express true experiences and valuation of places you've been, seen, experienced, etc. and after posting my valid experience and dismay, I receive a threatening e-mail from an employee. Quality.
(1)
BosCal S.
I came here for a girls brunch a few months ago, it was a Sunday and we sat outside which was nice. The service was pretty slow that day but the food was good so I decided to go back for dinner for my husbands birthday. There were 15 of us and they gave us a seperate room (no extra charge) which was great for us (as we tend to get a little on the loud side!). The restaraunt was a lot bigger than I remember, and I LOVE THEIR KITCHEN! The smells from it alone make you want to try everything on the menu! They did offer a prix fix menu beforehand but I declined because they have such a nice variety of dishes I didn't want people to be limited to onlty a few. If you go you MUST have the mussels. We also enjoyed the oysters and calamari. The whole fried fish was the favorite of the table, I had the short ribs (which were so soft I didn't need a knife). All of the steaks looked delicious too. The best part of the night was when one of the ladies who worked there sang a beautful Italian birthday song to my husband - she was amazing!!! They also have us a round of dessert wine on the house! Their specialty drinks are so good too, I especially like the lemon tea drop and the cucumber drink (forget the names). The service was a bit slow at time but they were more than accomodating (even bringing out soy sauce - at an Italian restaraunt! - for one of the guests!) I will be back with a smaller group so we can enjoy the live music!
(4)
Jess B.
Great spot for Fri and Sat night cocktail hour. Its more classy then the dive bars and they have a dj spinning sometimes. I like places like this then dirty old bars on laurel street. They have food which ive had, its alright, the server was not the best.
(4)
Mike M.
When faced with a crisis situation (aka: Town being packed solid), run over to Piacere. It has a cool, young, modern vibe to it, with a nice patio to eat outside. Plus the bartenders and hostess make it an added bonus ;) Only drag is that when I went (on Tuesday with my date) it was full of middle age dudes which made it really hard to get a drink. So, we bounced to Cask, which was cool too. I would definitely come back to Piacere again for some drinks or dinner.
(4)
Joanna O.
Came for Sunday brunch with my family (table of 6) and we enjoyed ourselves. Food was delicious. Sat outside. Ordered 2 plates of freshly made donuts to accompany our breakfast dishes- a jelly donut plate and a Nutella donut plate. The Nutella was overflowing from the donut, which made it difficult to eat and unappetizing. The waiter noticed our difficulty and had a new order made with much less Nutella in the middle. They were perfect! Hot donuts with my perfectly cooked omelet plus a mimosa = Delicious!
(4)
Dan R.
I really want to like this place. It has a nice bar with good music on the weekends, but have always been disappointed when I have gone there for dinner. It was no different tonight. My wife and I arrived 15 minutes early. We were seated right away. It was a Wednesday so I guess I shouldn't be too surprised the restaurant was 3/4 empty, although their main competitor right across the street,Town, was packed. Our bus boy arrived quickly with water and our waiter took our drink order in a timely fashion. The menu looked more appealing that last time I was there over a year ago, so maybe they are making some changes for the better. The Duck Confit Quesadilla appetizer was not to my liking, but I can't necessarily blame them as that was the first time I have had Duck Confit in quesadilla form...and maybe I just don't like it. I ordered the cheeseburger & fries...not sure why. I guess I was in the mood and for $14 I was expecting something pretty good. I did not notice this right away, but the waiter didn't ask me how I wanted it cooked. Isn't that a standard question? I asked what comes on the burger and the waiter said just Lettuce and Tomato. Well it came with mayo as well Luckily the burger was cooked very nicely, and I like mayo, but this could have gone very wrong. They pretty much got lucky. What I couldn't believe was how small it was. Really, this little thing is $14? It didn't taste like a gourmet burger...just a very average cheeseburger. The fries were even worse..undercooked and bendy. French Fries should have a nice crunch to the exterior with a soft potato inside. So basically nothing I tasted tonight was very good. Very average at above average prices. Throughout the evening the waiter was very short with us and didn't really seem to care about us. He seemed to always walk away right as we were asking him a question and he never turned around to listen to us. This only got worse as the night went on. My wife had a glass of wine, we had an appetizer and a couple of entree's. He seemed mad at us because we didn't order enough or spend enough and his visits became shorter and shorter as the evening went on. As we were paying our bill, he hardly even talked to us. He never asked us once how our food was or if there was anything he could get us. All in all a pretty negative experience. I am sure I will go back in another year or two and try it again, hoping it will be better. I am not sure why. There are so many great places to eat in downtown San Carlos, no reason to go here.
(1)
Jess G.
Went here for lunch one day. The food was way overpriced. I got the lunch combo including a sandwich, soup of the day, and salad. The quality of food did not seem very good and the prices do not match this. Also, I think they had only two servers which made the service quite slow.
(1)
Mike N.
Went there 8/11/11 at 6 PM, thinking it was a fine Itallian restuarant - WRONG 1) The rear entrance was dirty and smelly 2) The Hostess had an attitude problem 3) The menu was a single sheet of paper, dirty and creased 4) Menu was inconsistant, Corn dogs as an appetizer? 5) Chicken was tough 6) Romano beans rubbery 7) Gnocchi rubbery 8) Salmon bland 9) $130 for dinner for three Beet salad was good How do they stay in business? Somebody is completely out of touch with reality there.
(1)
Reynolds P.
We had brunch here on Saturday, January 19, 2013. There were six of us plus a 3-year-old plus a 5-month old. Normally I'm not a fan of brunch, but the menu had lots of choices, and the 6 of us ordered widely divergent items. ALL were first rate. The quality and service were primo, and my wife and I are fortunate to go to many excellent restaurants in diff. parts of the USA. My French toast was superior to any that I've ever had, and the bacon the best I've ever tasted. Note: Piacere offers some homemade donuts - tiny ones about the size of a cheese puff. You can order them w/ jam filling or Nutella filling. These are served in a bowl: DO NOT PASS THESE SCRUMPTIOUS ITEMS UP. All in all, we could not have been more pleased, and we've dined at other restaurants on the same street. We will be back. P.S. One of my dtrs and sons-in-law live nearby and have been there other times ... they also spoke highly of the restaurant.
(5)
Rebecca w.
great brunch. great late night with live music. Good appetizers and drink list.
(4)
Jessica T.
Way overpriced for calamari, salad and chicken and cowboy steak. Their calamari, salad, hibiscus drink and crispy gnocchi we're the items I passed. Our chicken breast was dry and the cowboy steak was too salty for my taste! Food wasn't anything special, but the service was very attentive. 4 items for $50. Sigh...
(2)
Nicole M.
So I used to dine here ALL the time about 6 years ago. When I saw the bad reviews and heard that things might not be doing well, I knew I HAD to check Piacere out again and see if it was true. Well I can honestly say, people are crazy! Piacere is still amazing!!!! Came here a few months ago for some cocktails. They were so yummy and creative! Ok so they aren't cheap but they are soooo good! Came for dinner tonight and had the beat salad and nudi. The beat salad was so delicious! Everything was so fresh. The nudi is not your typical gnocchi. It is very creamy and soft because of the ricotta. The sauce it comes in has this sweet creamy taste to it. The plate was so delicious and a small serving was more than enough food for a little eater like me. My boyfriend had the ribs. Omg...this is definitely a mans dish. It was HUGE!!!! Like really huge!!! They came with cole slaw and a cheese covered corn bread. Now the corn bread isn't sweet like you might expect but it was very delicious and soft! And the ribs tasted fantastic! I'm so happy I came back after so many years despite the bad reviews. So happy to see that Piacere is still going strong. Oh also the band playing tonight (Friday night) is really cool!
(5)
Debbie M.
I ended up here for brunch today and what a disappointment. I had the Nudi which tasted like raw bisquick dough in a very bland sauce with I guess were truffles, a dash of oil and some parsley as garnish. For $18, I expected to have some flavor other than salty dough. Service was ok though when I asked for my check and told the. Waitress why I wanted it immediately (the guy next to me was on his cell fighting with his girlfriend/partner) she dropped it off pretty quickly and then disappeared so I got to spend another 5-10 min listening to this guy argue.
(1)
Stephen J.
The food was fairly tasty, but the service was ... well, beyond belief. I was there with a group of about 20 people from work. We ordered. We waited over an hour. One of our managers went up to ask, um, what was up with the food. They told her that there was "a computer problem" and only half of the food orders made it from the computer the server entered it into to the computers at the stations in the kitchen. When she asked did this mean half of our food was sitting there getting cold, they said no it was all being remade (ok, fine, sounds fair enough)... but they did not seem to be particularly concerned about this and seemed to think that the computer issue meant it wasn't their fault and thus not their problem. During this time, some people at one end up the table had their glasses refilled, but many of us sat there with empty glasses for over 20 minutes and we ran out of bread. Nobody seemed to care to check up on us at all. 20 more minutes passed and food began to arrive. All but one person (ironically, the one who'd made the reservation and had gone up to talk to them) got their food. The last plate arrived a *further* 10 minutes or so later. I would have expected that after they realized they'd screwed up in a big way they would have been extra-attentive. I would have expected a manager to come over and apologize profusely and keep checking in and making sure that servers were keeping us happy. Nope. They showed up once to refill glasses after it was pointed out to them that nobody had checked up on us in a long time, then proceeded to ignore us almost completely. At the end of the meal (actually, around the time the last plate showed up), a manager came over and told us there would be no charge. That really was the only possible way they could rectify such a completely awful service experience. ... but even as she was saying there would be no charge, she was pointing out that the computer issue was not their fault and did not sound in the least bit apologetic to my ears. It felt like we were meant to be wowed by their amazing generosity so they didn't have to care/try any further. Ignoring the fact that the server or manager or ... someone ought to have recognized that a problem existed far sooner (hey, why have these 20 people been sitting there waiting for food for an hour?) and even if we let them off the hook and blame the computer, it was still their responsibility and they should have owned that. No matter how much you comp your guests, treating them like they're unimportant is not going to make them happy.
(1)
Abhay K.
Great view, good outdoor seating reasonably good service though they stopped refilling the bottomless mimosas fairly quickly.
(3)
Eunice S.
Was really excited to try this restaurant. Had a $100 open table coupon - thought we were set. Thought we'd be in for an awesome meal by the menu - beet salad was great - brie and apple appetizer - fabulous (great crust by the way!). Dinner? Welllll that was another story - daughter and I split the chicken saltimbocca - way to salty. Friend had the lamb - wayyyy to salty. Crispy gnocchi - no taste. So all in all - while I was really looking forward to trying this restaurant - was disappointed with most of the food. Drinks on the other hand were really good! Won't be going back - dinner for 7 of us was over $350 - don't mind spending that if the food is over the top. Ah well - next???
(2)
John J.
Paging Gorden Ramsey. Someone needs to whup some ass at Piacere. Actually, scratch that. Let 'em fail. I have been taking my family to Piacere for years. The food has always been delicious, so I have been forgiving of the overly-high prices, poor service and slow kitchen. Tonight was the last straw. We'll never be back. It's a mellow Tuesday evening, the place is about 1/5 full. My wife and I, accompanied by our two daughters and my mother-in-law, decide to give them one more chance. 30 minutes after ordering, the bread basket remains empty and the servers are too busy watching the TV at the bar to check in with us or fill our bread basket and water glasses. 45 minutes after ordering, I flag down the manager and ask for an update on our order. He disappears, I assume to hide in shame under a rock. 50 minutes after ordering, I get our server to actually make an appearance, and refill our bread. Nobody offers me an apology or a reason for our missing food, except to say there is a party of 15 ahead of us. (Recall the restaurant is 1/5 full). Nobody offers me an apology for not even ensuring our bread and water stays replenished. 60 minutes after ordering, my wife, 10-month-old baby on her hip, tells the host that if the manager does not show his face, we are walking out on the $60 bottle of wine we've been sipping for an hour. The manager shows up, and tells my wife to her face that the delay is due to the single appetizer order we consumed 50 minutes prior. A 15 person party brought this place to it's knees, and the staff cared more for the TV than it's patrons. Zero accountability or ownership for screwing up our families evening. Game over.
(1)
Corinne P.
Pretentious menu. Don't waste your money. They ruin classics, Our pork chop was burned. Flavors don't blend and ingredients are not fresh. On saying that, I might consider returning. There are some other dishes I would like to try. Wine list is mediocre.
(1)
Erin B.
I came here for brunch today and ordered the smoked salmon, eggs and asparagus dish along with a peach sangria. Service was decent and food came quickly.
(4)
Gloria H.
This was the last place for the evening where my friend and I had the night cap - one of my signature drinks, campari with champagne. We took a seat at the bar and ordered it. The bartender asked if it was just a splash of campari and we confirmed. However, she poured over a quarter flute of campari then champagne, I know it will not be tasty as the campari bitter flavor will take over the drink and it did. We asked her to split one drink into two flutes then top with champagne, that did the trick and we got to enjoy our refreshing night cap. Outdoor seating is nice. They only charged $8 for the drink, very reasonable.
(3)
Nicole M.
We had dinner there for the first time tonight and had a great experience. We were seated and waited on right away. Our table ordered a caesar salad, heirloom cucumber salad, calamari, spring pea tortelloni, smoked salmon pizza, and prosciutto pizza. Each dish was very good and met our expectations.
(5)
Brabba B.
Can't vouch for anything else, but this was a fine spot for brunch: pleasant, with good food and reasonably fast service. The French toast was delicious, and the accompanying bacon was terrific. I'd definitely return.
(4)
Steve L.
My wife and I came here once a few months back for lunch, and very recently came here on a balmy Friday evening with the kids. Spur of the moment, decided to drive down to Laurel St. in San Carlos, and find a place to eat with the kids. Almost went to Broiler Express for something quick with the kids, but decided to come here. Didn't have any reservations, but they were able to seat us inside. A dark and upscale interior, yet very comfortable. For starters we ordered crispy calamari and roasted mussels. Wife and I split a Caesar salad. For entree, I had pasta with fresh peas and smoked trout, while my wife ordered the appetizer ahi tuna with a potato pancake. These were also done well. They also have a kids menu. For $5, the kid's menu comes with a drink, and choice of entree, and choice of dessert. Each of the kids ordered penne pasta with butter and cheese. Very good sized for a kid's entree, and they enjoyed it. For dessert, both wanted a chocolate sorbet. Stole a bite from the youngest....very chocolate-ty without being too sweet. Overall, very nice upscale, yet casual restaurant. Service was very friendly, and efficient. Enjoyable, will come back again.
(4)
Dima Y.
The place has good food, great desserts (the bread pudding is my favorite), they feature live music on Fridays (may be Sats as well), and is a busy place near the weekends. The bar however doesn't always produce good mixed drinks (we had to return at least a couple).
(4)
Keane H.
I met here with a friend for a nice lunch. We were seated by the polite hostess right away since it wasn't that busy. They have nice outdoor seating in the patio with overhead heaters that made us feel warmer, despite the breeze. A friendly waitress greeted us, and asked us what we would like to drink. I ordered a pomegranate drink which was pretty tasty, and my friend ordered a nice drink with cucumbers and mint in it. The waitress also offered us some bread, and we took her up on it. We looked at the average-sized menu and selected our entrees. The menu wasn't overwhelming or impressive, and I feel as though they could have had a few more interesting choices for all of the categories on the menu. I decided on a small ceasar salad, and a steak sandwich, which came with fries. My friend ordered a small ceasar salad, and a chicken sandwich, which also came with fries. My friend and I, thankfully, got wrapped up in conversation otherwise we would have REALLY noticed how slow the service is! We waited and waited...and waited until I asked the one of the other waiters to check on the order for us. He said that it would be out soon...yeah right. The staff was trying to keep us busy with drinks, but managed to forget the bread they offered. Finally, our meal came and it wasn't what I had imagined. Both sandwiches were tiny, with fatty meat :( The salads were a good size though. The whole meal came out to $50.88, which was kind of a lot considering the size and quality of the entree we were given. Would I come here again? Eehhh...maybe. Would it be more of a last resort? Yes. All in all, the food is so-so, food service needs to be quicker, but the staff is polite and tries to make your experience good!
(2)
Joanna R.
Food - Excellent - I love the skirt steak and the mussels! The pesto pizza is Mmm mmm too. The selection of drinks and wines - great. They have an italian white wine of the day which is fabulous for $5. Service - great. They also have live music on the weekend.
(4)
J D.
Sloppy, very sloppy. First the good: - It was our anniversary, so they reserved us a nice table. - Our waitress was friendly and nice. - At the end of our meal that gave us each a complimentary glass of sweet wine for our anniversary. Now for the bad: - The menus were crumpled, as if they were a week old. - The dishes was uninspiring. - They didn't have silverware on the table before both the appetizer and main courses were served. - I ordered a NY Steak Medium-Rare, and it arrived Medium-Well, a bit chewy and gristly. If you're going to charge $37 for a NY steak, it should be cooked correctly. - We were asked if we wanted dessert while our main course plates were still on the table. - Dessert menus were dropped on the table before the main plates were removed. Please, remove the plates. - The restrooms were dirty, even after the busboy exited one of them. You would think he would have cleaned it up a bit while he was in there. In short, the restaurant wasn't running smoothly, and the manager seemed more pre-occupied with schmoozing friends than actually running the restaurant. We won't be going back.
(2)
C Q.
It was ok, service a bit slow with our drinks.
(4)
Kelly M.
Dissapointed. The 2nd to last time we came here we just wanted drinks. The bar was full so we were seated at a hidden side table. Then we waited and waited and waited. Completely forgotten so we left. The last time we came here we sat at a table in front of the band and bar. The band was taking a break so it was somewhat calm (no drunk cougars dancing). The bartenders had a perfect view of us. Pretty sure you can guess what happened next....yep...we waited and waited and then we were out of there faster than a speeding bullet. Apparently the only way to be served a drink is if you're sitting at the bar. The only way I'd give Piacere a '3rd times a charm' chance would be if all other bars in the town were closed. Fat chance.
(2)
Manny F.
I called to ask if kids eat free on Sundays because it was advertised on eatoutwithyourkids.com and the lady who answered the phone was extremely rude. We were going to eat there REGAURDLESS if kids eat free or not but the service does not seem very customer friendly. I'm sure the food is great.
(1)
Jen P.
4 stars for the food but the service is shit so they get no love from me. Our group of 4 walked in on a Friday evening, the place was bustling but *not* packed. I was looking forward to a nice meal since the place looked promising. Basically all the food was great: - corn dog appetizers - delish! a must try - burger - beet salad - gem salad (? not sure what it's called, their website doesn't have their menus posted) - cheese pizza - artichoke ravioli Service was definitely off and not very friendly, from the hostess to the various servers we had. No one really smiled at us to make us feel welcome and the meal felt like a robotic transaction versus a nice experience. Will not be returning and will not be recommending to anyone.
(2)
Annette W.
I always go here for cocktails and appetizers. My girls pick some sides and apps and we order a couple of drinks and nibble away. It's a great place to go after work. I had also been here for lunch and ordered the Lunch Special (hidden away in the top corner of the lunch menu, above any of the section headings). The special is nice because you get a little of everything: Soup, Salad and Sandwich. But yesterday I decided to order the Hangar Steak Salad. I will warn you that the salad dressing leaves a little to be desired, but the STEAK! WOW! So good. I ordered it medium, and it was cooked just right. It came with 5 nice sized, thick slices of meat over a green salad (they will call it mixed greens, but really it's one type of frilly lettuce) with wild mushrooms and grilled (I think Maui) onions. I am not a huge onion fan, but they were a nice, sweet addition to the salad. I did leave behind some of the mushrooms, they were a nice accompaniment, but they were nothing special. Two of the people with me ordered the other Hangar Steak options: the sandwich and the entree. We decided the Salad was a better value than the entree (at least if you don't necessarily want the fries) and the sandwich was delicious except (at least for her) it was too much food and she left behind some of the bread. Definitely a place to try! Bonus star for purse hooks under the bar!
(4)
Brooke R.
PriceWaterhouseCoopers finished their 2009 audit of my company and to celebrate they took the finance team out to lunch. Piacere has two private rooms, we reserved one that fit the 20 of us. We had a long table covered in a white tablecloth next to a fireplace tucked into one of the walls. Even though it was the middle of the day they turned it on for us! Everyone in our group was making "mmm" sounds and smiling. The service is fast and professional, plates are taken away subtly and none of us even noticed when our drinks were refilled. Nicely done, service like this is hard to find. Of all the dishes that I have tried or sampled, my favorites are the fish. They just know how to cook fish here. It's light and not smothered in any kind of sauce.
(4)
Omar V.
Have not tried the food but the bar and the service at the bar was great. Stiff drinks and the place is also clean and neat. The music is also top notch. Would definitely come here again.
(5)
Alan S.
It's a nice place with good food and drinks. Only knock is that it feels overpriced. Flank steak salad and short rib sandwich are good. Probably bumps up to 4 for just happy hour and people watching.
(3)
Ashton T.
It's fairly rare that I take the step of not just avoiding a place myself but also warning people away from it. I was at the meal Stephen described, and I won't recap the details. I'll just say that even comping the meal won't cut it. As a side note, this is what it looks like when the staff of a restaurant decide that they need to send a message to someone further up the food chain. Memo to the owner: whatever you did to your staff, you may want to stop doing it. Don't go here. Go somewhere else. Anywhere else.
(1)
Terra S.
My husband and I ended up at this place after walking around on Laurel St. for a while, looking for something that looked tasty. Although not awful, I'm a bit disappointed that we didn't end up going to one of the other nice places we saw along the way. First, a word about the service, since many previous reviews seem to have many negative things about it. We actually had really attentive service the whole night. Were the workers overly friendly, cheerful, or warm? No. But they checked on us the perfect number of times. My water was always filled exactly when needed, and our food came promptly. That being said, they forgot to bring the appetizer we ordered (so sadly, no review of their baked brie dish that sounded wonderful), and they accidentally made me a whole order of my main dish rather than the half order I said I wanted (that, however, turned into somewhat of a plus, as our waitress said "oh look at that, they accidentally made you a whole order, I guess you get a big dish for a little price!"). That was nice, but I kind of wanted to sample a couple of things, which is why I wanted to order the appetizer and a half order of my pasta. Oh well. Upon checking out the size of my 'whole order' I think the half would have been too small anyway. On to the food. So upon first bite I was blown away. I ordered eggplant tortelloni, which was surrounded a pile of cooked spinach topped with light and fluffy goat cheese. The handmade pasta was cooked perfectly (and just slightly browned/crunchy on the outside, yum!). As I was taking that first bite I was hit with a lovely flavor/crunch of sea salt (must have been somewhere in or on the pasta). At first, I loved it. A few bites in? I was overwhelmed with saltiness. I could barely finish the dish and was actually trying to find each salt crystal and pick it off. I definitely think they overdid it. If they'd just kept a bit in there it would have been a nice hint of saltiness to really complement the flavor. But I'm fairly certain it was WAY overdone. Too bad, because this could have been a really awesome dish. Oh, I forgot to mention the bread. I love free bread with my meals. But I'm in the SF bay area, and as such, I expect to be served a bit of wonderful sourdough. Uggh, another french bread letdown. I know sourdough isn't everyone's cup of tea, so I won't hold this totally against them. It's just a personal preference. My husband really liked his chicken pizza though. And the hostess was super hot. So not everything was a letdown. Will we be back? Probably not. There are too many other promising looking places on and around Laurel St.
(3)
Miguel R.
This place was great. I was here with friends whom apparently frequent the restaurant enough that all the staff knows what they order. The service we got was stellar and although I doubt it is like this all the time, from what other reviews say, I could not be more pleased with my experience here. I ordered the double Filet Minion and OMG it was delicious!!! The mashed potatoes were fluffy and flavorful - and the desert was delicious!! Great friendly place - I will certainly come here again!
(5)
Natalie F.
Mediocre over priced food.
(2)
Kay A.
OK, this is our last time dining at this place. I've said that before, but this is the last, I promise. Recently, I had a Livingsocial coupon that, admittedly expired, but we were able to use it at face value, which was $40.00. The waiter came back twice to tell us it wasn't valid, and twice we had to explain it is still good for the money paid for it, not the 50% discount we would have gotten. He said the owner said "no." They eventually honored it, and then now we find out they charged us an additional $40 without our authorization. Amazing. It' s not that the food is bad here, it's not. The owner is a control freak, and at the end of January, he insisted on keeping the front door open, even when his customer's were uncomfortable -- the place just has that kind of vibe. Greedy, inconsiderate owner, and a huge employee turnover. Never again.
(2)
Dave K.
I'd give it 3.5 stars if I could. Solid food but not extraordinary. Piacere has lovely setting, with sliding front doors that open to create a nice indoor/outdoor feel with many tables outdoors. The decor is nice and modern. I had the fried calamari which was good, the heirloom tomato salad which was very good, and a the scallop risotto which was good. I was here with a group so the service was moderate; I'm hoping they would do better if you were just dining at a regular table.
(3)
LinLin L.
I did not eat here for dinner but stopped here for a cocktail, desert and live music. I had the bread pudding and it was a very small dish for $8. It was okay but nothing to write home about. The live music was great. They have outdoor tables available with heaters. It is positioned nicely so you can still see and hear the band as the band is set up near a window which can open up to the outside seating. I would go back again. Definitely a nice place to step out to and hear some nice music and socialize. I will have to try the food next time.
(4)
Rosquete B.
"Nice Happy Hour in San Carlos" Efficient food service Great house bread with tasty olive oil & basil Happy Hour discounts of wine, draft beer, & certain appetizers Delicious tomato pizza Nice Portobello mushroom burger w/fries "To die for" bread pudding dessert
(4)
Bryan Y.
Pretty upscale place, but the food is not worth the money. Except for some of their mixed drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic alike). Don't remember the alcoholic drinks, but for non-alcoholic all three are pretty good. Their watermelon crush was kind of sour but you get used to it. Tried the beef tri-tip. Extremely dry. Their fried kalamari on the other hand was really good. Salad was bitter, tasteless, and expensive.
(3)
Valerie F.
I can't say much--negative or positive. This place is a hit or miss. I definitely like coming here on a nice, sunny day and having a glass of champaign or a mimosa. Having a gluten intolerance the menu is very limited. I always end up ordering a salad.
(3)
teena y.
I've been here many times and the last time I was there the service wasn't so great (maybe just a one off), but the food is still good. I like to start off with the roasted beet salad - good mixture of the goat cheese and beets. The mussels is a great plate to share. For lunch, I like the meter natural hanger steak sandwich and the fries are good! They also have a special combo for $13 where you can get a salad or soup and half a sandwich. The chicken sandwich is the option I get. For dinner, the Nudi (gnocchi) is a bit too saucy and rich for me so I don't order that anymore. I usually just order their pizza or the pasta forno. Other than that, the food here is pretty good and consistent. The pomegranate martini doesn't taste as good as the one over at Town (across the street). I like the outdoor tables where you can people watch. There's also a heat lamp just in case you're cold.
(4)
M D.
I went here with a coupon and was really satisfied overall. We had the prosciutto, truffle oil, and arugula pizza, which made a really yummy appetizer. The cowboy rub on the buffalo tri tip was perfect. I'm not sure that I would go back and pay full price, because it was kind of pricey and it's not the type of food I usually eat. But, it was a decent Thursday night meal out. Update: After a pretty enjoyable night at this restaurant, I went back for take out and it was very disappointing. I ordered the same pizza and buffalo dishes and it was not a pleasing experience. I'm not sure I'll be back.
(3)
Jennifer T.
We used to love this place, but the last three times we have been there the food really just wasn't too good. We liked it so much before that we gave it three tries even. :( too bad...
(2)
Andrew W.
I went there looking for good food and music on the peninsula on a Saturday night. I found it here. The setting is lovely, the service is friendly and attentive and the food and drink selection is good. The crowd is pretty stylish. The food was great tasting. Two courses and some drinks cost $100 which was good value for money. It also had an ultra cool jazz band which sounded great although it was a bit loud at times making conversation difficult. They also looked a bit squishy (there was 5 of them). All in all, a good value-for-money night out.
(4)
Samantha C.
Been here many times and it's one of my faves in downtown San Carlos. Best place to sit is the bar/lounge area because the crowd is friendly and they sometimes have a live band playing. Best band I've seen (twice now) is with Anthony as the lead singer. Food is great as well. Must try: Roasted beets salad, Duck confit quesadilla, french fries, pepperoni pizza, beef skewers
(4)
Lisa C.
We met up here for lunch since its fairly central in the peninsula and it was such a beautiful day. We got a nice table outside and it was nice because it was half in the sun and half under and awning so we got a little sun but it never got too too hot. The service was only ok- it took the server a while to get to us to take our orders and hardly ever refilled our waters (which is one of my main factors when judging service since I drink so much). The food itself was pretty good- we shared an order of sliders and a wild mushroom pizza and we were both stuffed by the end. oh also- the dip with the bread in the beginning is AWESOME.
(3)
Heather M.
Service was terrible!!! Slow and did not pay attention to our need for refills on drinks. Waiter was snobbish and snearing. The table next to us ordered before us but didn't get their food until we were nearly done, and we thought our service was slow! Steak sandwich was okay, burgers not great. The bread was good. "French fries" were actually garlic fries and the waiter looked at us like WE were stupid when we asked for some without garlic. Will not be back.
(2)
Jenna M.
After a long and stressful work week, the bf and I decided to let off some steam by going out to dinner. We initially walked through Town which had over an hour wait, so we decided to walk across the street to Piacere. We have walked past the place before and seen the jazz band in action, so we popped in to see what the wait for a walk-in was. We stood in the entry way for about 10 minutes before the frazzled hostess even glanced in our direction. She quoted 10 minutes for a table, so we decided to grab a drink at the bar. We were seated about 15 minutes later (can't complain) and took a seat in the main dining room. The first thing we noticed was out of the entire room of tables, about 2 had food served. We knew it was going to be a long night when our serve approached us and it was the same girl serving all of the tables outside. Trying to make the best of it, we ordered the calamari and another drink and settled in for a nice evening. The food took a while to come out and our server kept apologizing for the delay, not only to us but to the tables around us. I ordered the pork chop and the bf got the short ribs. When our plates arrived and we took our first bites, we knew we made the right choice by eating here. The pork was amazingly tender and had a bourbon glaze, with mashed potatoes, brussle sprouts and caramelized apples. So good! The short ribs, while a small portion, melted in your mouth. We finished our plates feeling satisfied, but not overly gluttonous (which is a first for us). Overall, I had to give three stars because I think they should improve on having enough staff to take care of the dining room. Our server was great (don't know her name) and tried to make the best of the situation. Food was 4+ stars. We will definitely be back.
(3)
Chris C.
We were walking around downtown San Carlos last night around 8 looking for a place to grab dinner, and came across Piacere. We sat outside, very comfortable for a spring evening. The server was very attentive and friendly. Nice selection of cocktails too. We started with the calamari and baked brie. The lemon aioli for the calamari were definitely different than what you'd normally get, but that's a good thing. Nice flavors, but not too thick of a sauce. The caramelized onion and apples on the baked brie were done well too. For the main course we got the rock fish and hanger steak. The fish was cooked perfectly, but the hanger steak (ordered medium rare) was a little more well done than I would have liked. The flavor was great, however. The bread pudding with buttermilk ice cream was a great dessert. The ice cream was definitely the star! We also got the cheese plate which was a bit disappointing... just pieces of cheese on a plate with a few dried fruits and a handful of almonds. I definitely not the most experienced diner, but this is the first time I've been served a cheese plate without some sort of bread or cracker. So I asked for some bread, and they brought out garlic croutons that you normally put on a salad. Definitely overwhelming for the flavor of the cheese. Overall, good dinner and we'll be back.
(4)
Michelle H.
Came here last night for my boyfriend's company Xmas party. I read the bad reviews before I arrived so I prepared myself for the worst. Parking was a bit of a pain as we parked near Wells Fargo. I was impressed w/ the patio area. We were in the banquet room on the left side of the restaurant, which turned out to be a LONG rectangular room. There were about 36 attendees and dress code was business casual. Wine was served all night (the white wine was very sweet), and each couple got 2 - 4 drink tickets. My first drink was a pomegranate martini and it was excellent! However there was a little bug in it. My replacement glass came in what seemed to be a smaller glass (BOO) but was still very yummy & I never order martinis. I heard the lemon drop martini had real lemon juice in it & was quite tasty. So tasty that the gentleman next to me ordered 5 but tried to play it off because it was a girly drink, LOL. Fresh bread w/ balsamic vinaigrette was divine. It had some sauteed green onions in it. We had a choice of appetizers, calamari or Caesar salad. You had to cut up the romaine lettuce yourself but presentation and flavor was perfect. Entree choices were: 1. Steelhead Trout, (Wild) 2. Hanger Steak 3. Pork Chop I had the Steelhead Trout and I gobbled everything up! Even the very thin slices of lemon. At this point, I was very uncomfortable in my skirt. My stomach was starting to hurt because I was so stuffed but that didn't stop me from having dessert. I did sample the hanger steak which was still pretty red. My boyfriend gobbled his whole plate up too. Because I couldn't swallow anymore food w/out looking uncomfortable (everyone was asking why I wasn't talking. I was just trying to digest), I got to bring my desserts home. I had the pear cheesecake, and sometime of chocolate chip cake w/ gelato. Service was a bit slow, and maybe we had better service than most other reviews because it was a company party. Would I come back here for a special occasion? Hell yes and I would only recommend what I ordered.
(4)
Vivek P.
We had brunch this morning at Piacere. The setup works well since you can sit outside on the sidewalk and you've got the awning to keep you out of the sun on a hot day and heaters to keep you warm on cooler ones. I had the poached eggs with smoked salmon and spinach. The eggs were close to being 4 stars, but the dish was held back by the soggy potatoes. Piacere is basically the only place in town for a nice brunch. I wish they had a little more competition to keep them on their game since it could easily be great.
(3)
Zensident G.
Came in for a 5:30 dinner (i.e., early). The entrees were great. Three of us had the filet mignon and the steak was fantastic. However, for a restaurant that was pretty empty (as one would expect at 5:30), the service was very poor. We had to ask for water three times. From my perspective, the service is more of the "I'll ask if everything is ok and bask in the customer praise" rather than really top-notch service that ensures customers are having a great experience. I agree that the prices are pretty expensive for a third quartile restaurant. In a first-rate city, this restaurant would struggle, but in San Carlos it stands out due to mediocre competition and, crucially, low expectations of unsophisticated customers.
(2)
Tom S.
From the decor, employee behavior & food presentation it is obvious that Piacere tries valiantly to be a fine dining destination. I was impressed by the tall, luxurious & expensive flower arrangements that are displayed in key locations. Alas, the food did not send me to culinary heaven. I agree with many other Yelpers who report that the food is too salty here. Bambie & I were hungry when we arrived. We ordered 3 courses each. We tasted each others selections. I ate everything on my plate. I liked it well enough, did not love any of it. We brought a small vineyard $80 bottle of wine with us. I doubt that the wine was sold on the extensive Piacere wine menu, but the print on the menu is so small and the dining room lights are so dim that I could not read the damn thing. Servers were professional if a little aloof and hard to summon on occasion. Maybe they could not see us well enough in our dark little table location. This place is a NO return for me. Next time I'm in San Carlos, I'll try TOWN (across the street). Town was rockin' and the food looked great.
(3)
Ngan F.
Maybe we got there on a bad day? There weren't a whole lot of people there since it was mid-day, well after the lunch rush. It seemed like everything was done in slow motion, our food came in slow motion, the waiter moved in slow motion, we even ate in slow motion since it was just sorta ok-ish food. We ordered the prawns (aka regular sized shrimp) and the meyer steak salad, and the bowtie pasta. It was all alright, nothing too memorable. I had a lot of fun but it had little to do with the restaurant, food or service and everything to do with the company I kept, so maybe that says something? You might want to skip this and hit up an in&out for lunch.
High praise all around. We had a solid experience six months ago and decided to try Piacere again with friends for mid-week summer supper. Great fare (highlights: eggplant parmigiana, pizza-oven-roasted chicken, kale salad, gnocchi) and attentive service. Reasonable corkage. Overall an interesting menu, thoughtful wine list, and friendly service.
(4)
Pablo G.
Disappointing. Long on decor, short on food quality. Service was friendly but SLOW. Summary: mediocre food served in a flashy environment. You can go left, right or across on Laurel and get better on both fronts. We won't go back.
(2)
Jennifer F.
Wow, what a find! After spending an hour looking for a restaurant, and a parking space, in downtown Redwood City, we drove back up to San Carlos and stumbled upon Piacere. What luck! The atmosphere was wonderful - crowded and bustling at the bar, but more cozy at the tables in the back and side rooms. There were quite a few vegan and vegetarian options, clearly marked on the menu. The meal was delicious and so were the drinks. Unfortunately, this place is a little pricier than I can justify on a regular basis, and although our waiter was very friendly our table was clearly not at the top of his priority list. The dessert menu left something to be desired - chocolate addicts, be forewarned. But overall it was a great evening and we'll definitely be coming back here for special nights out!
(4)
Heavy D.
I took this lovely lady on a date to Piacere. Her name was Emma. Emma Total Bitchay. I think she was half Irish and half scum. I took her here because she felt like having Italian for dinner, and the place seem very mature and moody. Note to self: Don't take people to Italian joints when the individual considers canned pasta with a fat chef on as Italian food. I'm not Italian, but I grew up with a lot of ethnicity including African-Americans, Latinos, and a few Italians. Some of them are topnotch guidos a la "FBI shirts that read: Full Blooded Italian" to driving a last-gen mustang with the flag of Italy pinned in the rear of the car. So the bottom line is that I know how to cook Italian and not just pasta and sauce. Going back to Piacere... I find the food here a bit dense and the place offers way too much for some of the entrees and the proportions should be controlled. I also find the taste not too satisfying for the price I am paying. If anyone brought a lousy date, at least the food should be the highlight of your night. The crowd: It's like a Golden Girl's reunion show here. When elderly folks are drunk, it's much like when youngsters are drunk, but in a much more slower fashion and a bit more subtler way. But the corny bonanza remains the same. The service: Excellent. Friendly. And Helpful. If only the offered a way to hit the date in the head so I can make a run for it. Finally: Piacere is a sexy place for a drink. Can be romantic as well for dining. If you're coming here to pick-up anyone, you'll succeed here. If you don't mind swinging with the more mature ladies. Bring some metamucil and some joint juice... It's going to be a short night (Get it? Cuz she's old. Oh F you).
(3)
Wendy K.
I have eaten lunch here quite a few times and just had dinner with friends last week. Solid food, solid service and really nice ambience. The vegan options are limited but the food is prepared well. The mushroom burger is very good (but a wee bit small) and the french fries are out of this world! One of our favorites now!
(4)
C P.
OMG! $32.00 for Easter Brunch AND that doesn't include coffee (for which they charge $3.75/cup.....regular brewed cofffee, nothing fancy). The brunch, which had items like a crabcake salad (add $5.00) and baked eggs or scrambles eggs, pasta dishes.....all usually in the $12 - $20 range. There was a steak dish (add $5). But, since it was Easter, they hiked the prices (they included 2 bites of bread, a 1/2 cup of fruit for two people and four bites of dessert. I was shocked and very disappointed in this blatant rip-off. (Did I mention that you COULDN'T order off the regular brunch menu?). I've been a regular weekday lunch patron, but I'm certainly reconsidering that.
(1)
Joshua W.
After an inital, cold reception from not only the front desk/host AND our first server, our experience was turned around by our second server ASHELEY! She is why this place is getting the 3 stars I'm giving it. My friend wanted me to try it because of the "great happy" hour. We got there at 10mins until 6pm and was told by both the front desk and the server that happy hour was over!!! Really, I ordered 2 bottles of wine at the happy hour price of $20 each! Thats $40 right there and we had not even ordered food. I said really? Over....at 10mins till?! They grudingly obliged....and I don't care if I seemed cheap over this! Not only was our final bill $120 for HAPPY HOUR, but its the point of the matter! They first stuck us at a rotten table outside by the door in the wind. When we asked to be moved to a table under a heater the hostess rolled her eyes and then laughed out loud! Oh boy, where my 2 girlie girl friends pissed! We moved, got a GREAT server ASHELY who accomodated us with everything we needed! Thank you! My Portobella Burger was average, as were the ladies Ceaser Salads. Certainly not anything to put up with such attitude over! Not that attitude is acceptable. However I'm willing to overlook certain things if the food and drink are above par! Wine...good I'd get it again.
(3)
Robert B.
Horrible experience- expensive - glass wine for $11? Waiters stand by and watch u while we have to ask for service! Arrogant and not cool. There are so many great places on laurel in San Carlos that there is no reason the crappy service, shame on you, piacere!
(2)
Mo M.
Decent, not great. That about sums it up. Good not excellent. Nice decor, cafe style outside seating with heat lamps. Service is good not extraordinary. Menu and wine list is extensive but the food does not delight as it almost always should for a place that has an Italian name.
(3)
Mark L.
I couldn't believe it Slow, Slow, Slow! We ordered food and it took 45 minutes to bring it. Once they brought it my wife's was the wrong order and my $37 steak was tough and tasted real bad. So I returned it. So far myself and my wife are still waiting for our food the second time and it's been 40 minutes. To be continued! I'm pissed!!!!! Two words (Stay Away)
(1)
Christina P.
I have always had decent to good food at Piacere, and the service has been okay, but I get the impression that the wait staff sometimes forgets that they're on Laurel in a suburb, and aren't even the brightest shining star there. Food-wise, the meat quality is quite good, and in turn, the carpaccio and skirt steak have always been prepared to good standards. Caesar dressing could use a little more tweaking. The most recent time I dined here, I did see that their menu now indicates if a selection is vegan and vegetarian, so that's a thoughtful little touch!
(3)
Carliza M.
I've eaten here several times. Each time the food was excellent! I like the atmosphere, service and decor. I happen to be on the Board of the San Carlos Chamber of Commerce, and a local business owner myself. Piacere has always been very supportive of chamber events. Iris is wonderful to work with and attentive to our needs. I always look for her when I come in, and she always has a friendly welcoming smile on her face!
(5)
Suzanne K.
Piacere is a great neighborhood restaurant. I started going when "Town" (across the street) was too crowded but I have come to love Piacere on its own. Start with the Smokey Martini - a vodka martini with a blue cheese stuffed olive that uses Scotch instead of Vermouth - it is one of my favorite drinks on the Peninsula. Having drinks and appetizers in the bar is always nice - the pizza's are very good and the cheese plate is always interesting and well-explained by the waitstaff. I have had great steak and seafood here. When I have gone with my children (6 and 1) they have been welcome - often even given pizza dough to play with first. This is a happy neighborhood place where I have yet to have a bad meal after about 10 visits - love the consistency.
(4)
P M.
We used to like Piacere a lot, especially because of the Sunday-kids-eat-free brunches. But, over time, we find the quality of food has really gone down. We went for a dinner a little while ago and the scallops my husband got were just plain awful. We weren't sure even WHAT they were - yikes! The chef came out and apologized and they comp-ed his meal. But it turned us off, especially since it's not a cheap place to eat.
(3)
Smiley H.
Came here for lunch for the first time few weeks back and it was so good. I had their cinnamon swirl french toast and peach italian soda. So good. came back again for dinner this week and this time the food wasn't as great. I wanted their scallion fettuccine but they didn't have it? so i ordered this other chicken pasta. it wasn't as great. But overall i would come back. Their live band on friday night was actually descent.
(4)
H D.
I went here for my son's birthday and the food was great, but the waiter was just very unfriendly. We went there with a 4 year old and 7 year old, both were so well behaved, but he just ignored us and the service was bad. I'm sorry but if we don't go out a ton and spend $200 bucks for dinner, it's not okay to have crappy service. Location and actual restaurant is great, but I didn't think it was worth even going because of the waiter.
(2)
Thomas B.
It took us a few tries to love this place. But after they offered our 3 year old pizza dough and after she shaped it, they cooked it for her. That did it. We are now regulars. Pizza is awesome as is the wine selection and on a sunny day, outside, it's the best atmosphere in San Carlos
(4)
Mark M.
What a disappointment. I feel guilty for volunteering to organize a Mothers Day Brunch with my family, and choosing Piacere. In my reservations through open table and getting personal call from restaurant to confirm, nobody mentioned $32 price fixe menu (for scrambled eggs and sausages, really?). The corn beef hash with eggs arrived with no corn beef and two eggs so underdone that they were inedible. The other 8 adult orders were all terrible. Why bother? How can a restaurant so good for dinner be so bad for a special event. Lost several regular customers after this debacle!
(1)
Herm C.
Food was good. Not great, but good. Corn dogs stood out on the menu. Got them as a novelty, but they turned out to be good. Crust needs to be less doughy though. Prawns wrapped in bacon were yum. Then again, bacon makes everything yum. The Short Ribs were very tender, but the sauce was a bit overpowering; although I am the bland sort. Friend ordered the salmon and asked for it on the rare side, but it came cooked through. Not sure what to make of the corn/avocado side dish. It was just strange. Kind of a mess. Had one bite and said, "Um..no." My friend wanted to send it back saying, "They couldn't have intentionally made it taste like that, right?" It was Saturday night, but the restaurant wasn't very busy. The ambiance was a bit too mellow. There was a band playing outside, but it just didn't seem very lively. Lots of older folks. One table had what we thought was a guy introducing his girl to his parents. Service was good, friendly and prompt. They kept our No complaints on that front. Hostess was cute too. ;) Might not be a bad place if you just want a quiet dinner to reflect on your thoughts or have the "It's not you, it's me..." kinda talk. Enough privacy so that folks won't be listening in, but busy enough so there would be witnesses if she plunges that fork in your back. All in all, I thought the food was okay. Just nothing that stood out for me. Might be back for lunch or to grab a drink and an app, but prob not again for dinner.
(3)
Paul G.
As usual, it's easier to write a bad review than a good one. This is a bad one. My family went to Piacere last night and the service was HORRIBLE. We ordered our food then waited one full hour for our food. We asked our server where our food was three times - each time she said it was "coming right up." It wasn't. At one point, a different server came to our table, removed our appetizer dishes and said "well, at long last your food is coming!" But it wasn't. After 50 minutes, our server came by our table to tell us that they had a new computer system (I didn't believe her) and that our order had been lost. Of course, that begs the question about why she didn't discover that the three previous times we had asked her about our order or why the other server had come to tell us our food was coming. She said it would be right out. So one full hour of waiting and the restaurant wasn't particularly crowded. Our server offered to "comp" dessert and she also comped the Shirley Temple refill for my daughter. How splendid. Our food was just fair. We hadn't been to Piacere in about a year and their menu had changed so we all ordered new dishes. My angel hair pasta with crab was literally soaking in water. I guess with the rush, they didn't bother to drain the pasta from the water. My wife's penne pasta was pretty average. I'll pass on Piacere in the future. It's a shame, because it's a nice place and they used to have good food AND good service. Not last night. We'll continue going to Town across the street.
(1)
Kerri L.
Ok, this review is for the *nightlife*. I went here just to hang out with a friend and enjoy the live music (Thurs through Sat) and people watching. This gets particularly entertaining as you get close to closing time... Dude, get a room! I had never been here and really enjoyed the ambiance and how the restaurant opens out to the patio... My happy surprise: a pineapple mojito. YUM! I will definitely be back!
(4)
Lucy K.
Thank you, Piacere. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Yesterday, I had a "coffee date" with a man I just met. I went to Piacere beforehand, and asked if two of us could just have a coffee on one of their sidewalk tables before the dinner hour. The hostess said, "Of course! No problem." So I suggested Piacere to my new friend, along with two other restaurants. He chose Piacere, and we both showed up at 4 p.m. Got a great table on the sidewalk. Even better, the weather was perfect and the streets were closed for the San Carlos Farmer's Market. Great atmosphere. Long story short, what should have been a one-hr. date turned into four hrs. Both the waiter and the host were nothing but gracious when our stay spilled over into their dinner hours. They could have used our table with its prime location for far more lucrative dinner customers. Instead, they never said a word. They just strolled by occasionally to refill water and coffee. It was awesome. It would have been a great first date, with or without the assistance of Piacere. But thanks to your graciousness, it turned out to be a fantastic memory. Service like this is what a great restaurant is all about. With a little luck, we'll be back...
(5)
Silvie P.
The first word that pops into mind is SLOW. Ridiculously slow service so if you are in a rush or need to make a movie after dinner don't go here. We tried the calamari appetizer which was just ok (and by the way a very small potion) and the chicken livers, also just ok. For dinner we had the pizza with prosciutto, figs, arugula and truffle oil - and that was actually good. For dessert we tried the classic Tiramisu. That was also not good (and for being an Italian restaurant SHOULD be good). This place is totally not worth the money in my opinion.
(2)
melissa m.
Just had dinner here after strolling the farmer's market. They were not especially busy and we got seated right away. The waiter seemed bored with taking our order and was not able to answer questions about the menu. The bussers were standing around chatting which was unfortunate as we would have liked more water and bread. I had the beet salad...overdressed and wilting, served with toasted goat cheese rounds that were served COLD. I asked the waiter if they were supposed to be cold and his answer was "yes, they're fried". Huh?? Pasta dishes arrived, all over-sauced and really run of the mill. Had to ask the busser for parmesan cheese. Ate only half of my salad and entree, which did not raise any red flags for our waiter. We also had the asparagus which was fine and the toasted gnocchi which were nothing special, probably because they are served plain. When the bill arrived, we discovered that both of the adults in our party had been served/charged for the 'large' portion. We were never asked if we wanted the smaller or larger portions; had we been asked we would have ordered the smaller (which is what we thought we were getting). After paying and leaving a more than generous tip I asked to speak to the manager before we left to give feedback; he wasn't there. I then asked who was in charge and was told by the (very pleasant) hostess that nobody was really in charge at the moment but I could speak with the head waiter if I wished. I did not. Will not go back here. There are plenty of better restaurants in San Carlos, many of them not as expensive as Piacere. Next time we're going back to Spasso.
(1)
Kris I.
OH MY GOODNESS - You've got to be kidding right?!! Ok, so it took me awhile to decide whether or not to even waste my time with an update - but ultimately I decided it would not be a waste of time if I could help one person out by exposing this horrendous restaurant and their owner, Tony. Here goes - about a day after I posted my review here on Yelp, I received a phone call back in regards to the email i wrote them about my experience. My assumption is that at first, they planned to call me and remedy the situation once they saw my Yelp review. Yeah - not so much. The phone call, in a nut shell, was Tony - the owner, telling me that I was wrong, and what I wrote was incorrect, and that I had no right to say what I said... imagine my chin hitting the floor having someone talk to me in such a manner! Next, he tells me that he knows me - I assure him that I do not, nor have I ever met him. He tells me "No, I know you and I know your mother comes in here." Wait, WTF?!! Yes, I told him, my mother has been in there before, she is very tied in with the community and often frequents restaurants in the area, but she is not me and I am a grown woman - what in the world does my mother have to do with anything?!! At this point, I am so flabbergasted and disgusted with the way this man is speaking to me I finally ask him "why are you calling, what do you want from me? I had a horrible experience, gave you a chance to redeem yourself and yet you call me and tell me, the customer, that I am wrong?!!" He finally said, "well, I would like you to have your mother call me." Again, eyes wide open, chin at knees - I mutter "excuse me?" He responds with "your mother, would you have her call me?" I reply with "why in the world would I have my mother call you? My experience and review has nothing to do with her?!" His response "I would like to know what she thinks of the situation." I am now LIVID!!! "Are you joking me - absolutely not! That is completely inappropriate!" I sat there baffled - completely in shock and he hung up. This one, bad visit to the restaurant had now turned into the most offensive phone call I had ever received. Beyond his condescending attitude and him telling me that my feelings and experiences in his restaurant were wrong and false, his inquiry about my family member was beyond crossing the line - completely inappropriate and unprofessional! I'm sorry you don't like my review or like to face the fact that your restaurant was not up to par when I visited - but a convo with my "mommy" ain't gonna help you out. Utterly disgusted...
(1)
Christine M.
More like 3.5 stars. I love the atmosphere - both inside and out. It's particularly nice on Thursday nights during the summer, as you are front and center to the bustling Farmer's Market. Unfortunately, I wasn't as impressed with the food, but will probably return to see if a different dish is better. I had the salmon and it was drenched in so much oil that I had to wipe some away with a napkin. There was a pool of it at the bottom of my dish.
(3)
Kiran J.
This is a great restaurant. Great food, great wine list, great service. Ambiance: Lively, small and intimate Food: Great Drinks: Good Price: Reasonable - not too pricey & not too cheap Service: Excellent I go there once a few months. And no I don't know the owners :) Since the place is small, the tables are pretty close to each other and its like one big family dining experience. I love it.
(4)
starrynight c.
This place is decent as long as you know that the service will be horribly slow. I had the heirloom tomato salad and the summer short rib. The heirloom tomato salad stood out so much that I went searching for similar ingredients to replicate at home (whole foods will do it, it just ends up being the same cost, haha). The short ribs were decent, the gnocci was the highlight of that dish, though. They were pan fried (I think) and a bit crispy but not. Hard to explain, great texture, though. The bread and its sauce that you get (very slowly before your meal) is delicious, too! My bf got the lamb...it was so tender and melt in your mouth (I'd say he ordered his protein better than I do, but I wouldn't trade for the gnocci).
(3)
Raven K.
My boyfriend and I went to Piacere for brunch with high hopes and good moods and left two hours later extremely pissed off and hungry. The service was terrible. Wait staff is either completely inept, rude or both. Some don't even speak enough English to understand that when you point to the empty bread basket and say "more bread", they have to go get someone who speaks a little more English. A little, not much. I ordered Eggs Benedict off of the brunch menu and, according to the menu, it was your typical Eggs Benedict. When it arrived almost an hour later, it had about two pounds of spinach on it! If you are going to put an odd ingredient on an old classic, let someone know! When I told the waiter about it, he seemed confused as to what the problem was when I expressed my distaste. 30 minutes later I get my Eggs Benedict sans spinach, or "chard" as he tried to pawn it off as. It was still terrible. All I could taste was butter and salt, the ciabatta bread wasnt big enough to accomodate half of the meal and was incredibly soggy, and the potatoes were boiled in water and basically put on the plate. No seasoning or anything. My boyfriend got the Tomato and Mozzerella salad for $14. It came with three slices of tomato and a piece of mozzerella that was about the size of a donut hole. Needless to say, he was starving still. I ended up giving him my Eggs Benedict, which he ate but hated. And for him to not like food is extreme, because he eats everything. So we left two hours later. I was hungry and pissed and he was oversalted, hungry, pissed and $85 poorer. Thank God they at least had bottomless mimosas so I could entertain myself with a slight buzz through this ordeal.
(1)
Dante S.
Piacere, you have changed. The sparkling, cozy Ristorante that I fell in love with all those years ago is gone. No no, Piacere, you don't need to explain. Restaurants change, people change. We're not going in the same direction these days. No, you look fabulous, darling, really. That remodel, I just love what you've done with yourself. Is that new upholstery? It' lovely, really, you look amazing. It's just...I need more than superficial attraction in this relationship. I need more substance, do you understand? Sure I gaze at you longingly from the sidewalk outside of the laundromat. I know you've seen me giving you the eye. But I'll just walk on by, Piacere. Those days are behind us. It's just not the same. I'll always remember your Penne Gorgonzola fondly. And all the wonderful evenings outside under the heat lamps. But I look at your menu and I realize - I don't even know you anymore. Please stop calling, you're only embarrassing yourself.
(2)
Cianne M.
The front patio is a great place for brunch. Everything our table ordered was delicious. Calamari and heirloom tomatoes were decent. The poached eggs were recommended by our server and they were cooked perfectly - runny yolk, but no uncooked white. The frittata with prawns was tasty and the skirt steak was surprisingly good. Also, the Bellinis were refreshing. Service was very friendly and efficient. Would definitely come back again with the doggies.
(4)
Randy S.
I've eaten here many times now. When Town (the place across the street) used to be called A Tavola, I think Piacere was the better of the two. With the reincarnation as Town, the two are now on a par with one another. Except you can get a reservation at Piacere while Town is typically full. Prices seem better at Piacere also, although I haven't held the menus side by side. Very nice menu, very good food, strong wine list, variety of seating options (inside, outside, small room, party room, etc.). They don't have a kids menu, but just ask and they'll make a special plate for the kiddies. (Edit to fix: they do have a kids menu. And a nice one at that. I just had never seen it because my daughter knows what she wants - buttered pasta - she's so adventuresome!). The pizzas make a great dinner or app to share. Lamb and Chicken entrees are reliably delicious.
(5)
Gwyneth F.
We actually had originally planned to eat at Town across the street. Didn't have reservations and ended up at Piacere. Table for 6 please? So we weren't sure if they were happy that we showed up at first, but we were seated towards the back in a beautifully decorated room! Soon we were treated as honored guests. We enjoyed our food and the mimosas. Even my younger sons, 7 & 12 , ate the breakfast brunch. We were very pleased and will plan to go again
(5)
Kevin R.
Good food, great staff, cool decor, excllent wine selection, some of the best curbside tables for outdoor cafe dining. Obviously they cook Italian and Californian, but it turns out there hamburgers have some special spices in them that make them fantastic!
(4)
suz q.
Dinner: Very mediocre. Wasn't bad, just wasn't anything I'd remember. And it costs too much for mediocre food. On the other hand, outstanding for sitting outside on a beautiful day with girlfriends and having drinks and a snack.
(3)
Mick R.
Food there has always been inconsistent. Overpriced. Its fairly crowded and noisy. My parents came from Romania and it was embarrassing that a $300 meal here is worse than a $10 meal there. The ingredients are not 1st class - they used second tier or lower food supplier or something, I can cook better than this at home. Been there 4 times. The first time was fun, and it was a long time ago, 2001. Subsequent times have lead to increasing disappointment. I wont try again.
(3)
Suzy A.
There were 4 of us dining for lunch. We sat outside on a sunny afternoon, and had a delicious meal. Service was good as well. Love this place. Definitely will be back.
(4)
Marc P.
Great food! The dessert was good too, and I usually don't care much for desserts. The decor is nice. The two times I've been, there was a live R&B band... Definitely helps set the mood for good times.. Noe the bartender is the best!
(4)
Meredith K.
The Executive Chef came to do a catering tasting at my company the week before and since I was extremely impressed I thought I'd try the restaurant. They are very accommodating with food allergies and the chef seems to enjoy new challenges and switching things up. I can't remember what I tried - but everything from the finger foods, sandwiches, and desserts - rocked! I wanted to sit in their semi outdoor area w/ the heaters located above. It was perfect! Their cocktail menu had a good selection of drinks and the Cucumber Fizz was delicious - Tanqueray 10, St. Germain, Simple Syrup, Cucumber, Fresh Lemon Juice, Egg White I wanted to try a couple of dishes to share - so we went w/ the waiter's suggestions of Prawns, Pancetta Wrapped, Basil Oil, Polenta, Herb Salad from the lounge Menu, and the Nudi- Housemade Ricotta Gnocchi, Fresh Herbs, Creamy Truffle Sauce, Tartufata from the dinner menu. The prawns were freakin' good - jumbo prawns, fresh, just enough flavoring and not too salty from the pancetta. The polenta was made to perfection, but I wish it was a bigger serving. The nudi was good, and very rich. It had a different flavor then I expected - a little sour or maybe it's the combination of the truffle & ricotta - not sure. I loved that it was homemade. Their dessert menu looked tempting but I refrained. I joked that I wanted the Meyer Lemon Tartlett - the one thing they were out of, so the waiter came back with 2 glasses of plum wine! Absolutely unexpected - that tells you what type of restaurant this is - great food & service. p.s. The waiter highly recommended the calamari.
(4)
Areena M.
Once upon a time, Piacere used to be a great restaurant. A few years ago, they closed for several months to remodel/revamp the restaurant. It has never been the same. Since the reopening, I had one very terrible dinner experience and vowed never to got back. However, today I decided to try them for lunch (everyone deserves a second chance, especially after years go by). Lunch was fine, but not spectacular. Bread and dipping oil were good. Calamari was ok--cooked well, but lacked seasoning. Skirt steak was good, but I have had much better--again, a lack of seasoning. I do like the fact that the lunch menu had some lighter choices. Service was attentive enough. The atmosphere is very nice, though a little pretentious for San Carlos. Piacere is not bad, but I'm not sure the value is there. I don't mind spending money on a meal, but I expect the food to be worth the price (Vivace in Belmont delivers better value and comparable menu). I would consider lunch again, but probably won't ever go back for dinner.
(3)
Tisha B.
We usually sit outside, but tonight it was a too cold. We sat in the back dining room (which we didn't even know existed). This was really nice. A totally different atmosphere. The food was very good. Service was good until about 3/4th's of the way thru the meal. The restaurant had started to get busy now and we basically were abandoned by our waiter. Unfortunate. We've noticed this trend here before. So I'm subtracting just one star because we had trouble toward the end of the meal with wait service, but overall it was good food with good service.
(4)
Jennifer G.
As I was reviewing brunch/cocktail options today I was surprised at how difficult it is to find a place that serves eggs and alcohol till the middle of the afternoon on the peninsula. I mean, finding a brunch place in the city with full bar is a piece of cake. But San Mateo? Hmmm, your options are a bit more scarce. Yes, there are several great brunch/breakfast options on the peninsula, but if you have visions of bloody marys running through your head things are a tad more challenging. As I start to sort through the few options on Yelp, I came across Piacere, a place I've frequented over the years, but have never brunched at. It's perfect, 10 mins away, outdoor seating, brunch menu and FULL bar. Over the years I've had some really good meals at Piacere, it's a solid standby, the food is good, the place is nice, and it's never so full that they can't accommodate you. They also have a really great private room, and an alfresco/covered outdoor seating area. Even though I'd never had brunch there before I knew we couldn't go too wrong. Funny how something silly like a couple of bad drinks can mar an otherwise perfect brunch. While the brunch menu is a bit limited (only three egg dishes) everything that came out of the kitchen was good. I had the seared ahi tuna sandwich, on a perfectly toasted ciabatta roll with aioli and baby greens, and while the fish was a bit more underdone than I normally like - it was delicious. We also had the risotto balls as a starter, these were just average and I would probably skip these next time. Service was a bit slow, but we never had to ask for anything twice, bread was plentiful and they are quick to clear the plates, bring new ones, etc. Beautiful weather, good food, interesting conversation with great friends...what more could you ask for of a Sunday brunch experience, right? How about the thing I really needed from my brunch - A DECENT BLOODY MARY!!! For crissake, is it too much to ask that the people tending the bar actually learn how to make a proper drink? I understand the use of pre-made mixes, but there's no excuse for not understanding the ratio of mix to vodka to tobasco...lack of worcestershire and is that VERMOUTH I TASTE??? ugh and are those pieces of dried oregano floating around? unforgivable. So four stars for the food, minus one for the crappy drink. If you're interested in washing down your eggs with a mixed drinkdrink you might want to keep looking otherwise this is a pleasant brunch option on the peninsula and if you do want a cocktail stick to something that doesn't require a real bartender, like a mimosa.
(3)
Veny P.
We came in for a last minute dinner with my family. After being seated next to a very loud group, no one paid any attention to us for about 15 minutes. Finally when they showed up, no hello, welcome, nothing...just "do you want some drinks?" After waiting for 15 minutes to get our drink and see a waitress, no one again showed up, so we just left. Life is too short for bad service!!!! (although the menu looked good).
(1)
m f.
I came here last night on a date and had a really great evening. We found the restaurant by just walking around downtown San Carlos and heard some great live music so we gave it a try. It took us a while to get greeted but once we were the service was great. Our waitress was really friendly, upbeat and attentive. I had the Nudi which was ricotta filled gnocchi. I ordered the full size version and was kind of surprised by how small it was when the play came ( maybe about 9 pieces of gnocchi) but ended up barely finishing. The dish was so rich and delicious. I also tried the dragon fruit Mojito which was quite tasty and refreshing -- not overly sweet or minty. All in all i really enjoyed the food, service and atmosphere, i'll be back soon hopefully!
(4)
Yellowpug C.
I had dinner with my husband last weekend at Piacere. It was first time we visited this resturant. We ordered Halibit with grill eggplant and Seafood strew with gnocci. I have to say that we both enjoy the food and ambiance very much. I will give 5 stars to the taste, decro, and service. The price is pretty reasonable. Main entree ranges from $25-30 except steaks. Pizza and pasta is round $15. I definitely recommend this restaurant.
(5)
B W.
We had a bad experience at a Valentines dinner a few years back where our 7pm reservation turned out to be 4 hours of delays, bad service and mediocre food. We've stopped by the bar and enjoyed the live music on occasion. Yesterday OpenTable offered 50% off at Piacere, so I decided to give them another chance. The Brie appetizer and beet salad were excellent in presentation and quality. I ordered the Scallops and my wife ordered the petite filet mignon. My plate was well done and delicious, but my wife's filet arrived on an 8inch "salad plate", cold with a clump of cold spinach and parmesan cheese. What were they thinking serving cold food on a bread plate? Should we have ordered ala carte sides to get an adult sized plate? After we sent her filet back, requesting a hot meal, the table, including my empty plate and all utensils were cleared, so my wife ate her dinner 15 minutes after I was done. Attempting to make the most of a rare evening out, we ordered the pecan desert, which was great, but when the bill for $145.00 arrived (including 2 cocktails and 2 glasses of wine) I was amazed that there was no offer to make any effort to make up for the meal we sent back. Bottom Line: Appetizer, Salad and dessert were great. Main course fell way short. Service was slow and not customer centric.Even after saving $50 on the Open Table certificate, WE WILL NEVER GO BACK!
(1)
Linda H.
That's right yelp, "Eek! Methinks not" is the perfect way to describe this place. The food was at most "meh" and the service... what service? Although the staff was polite, they were inattentive, slow and absent minded. Maybe it's the weather or what ngan t. said, "Maybe we got there on a bad day?" The only thing that saved this lunch was the company. All in all, I don't remember pancetta wrapped shrimp being crunchy. Maybe it's a trend that will catch on? Meh, methinks not.
(1)
Kaia E.
My family and I ordered a private room (for only 7 people) to celebrate a birthday. The private room was free (tip minimum). The restaurant gave us a prix fix menu of our choice (some limits) that was very reasonably priced. They were extremely nice and easy to work with in preparation for the party. When we entered the room, there was a beautiful displayof fresh-cut flowers on the table and a menu on each plate with a special birthday message on it The food was excellent as was the service. When the dessert came, one of the staff sang an acappella "happy birthday" in Italian. She could have been a professional singer. The staff did not rush us out, we stayed over 3 hours. Excellent experience in every way.
(5)
Myra G.
I came here for lunch with my coworkers. The decor is relaxing. We sat inside in the area where it opened up to the sidewalk, very nice & refreshing. The food was fantastic. We had the mussel appetizer & bruschetta to start. The crab salad is very tasty, good enough to be an entree because it was filling. There sandwich menu is excellent. For the food, decor, & ambiance, I'd come again!
(4)
Karen N.
We went to Piacere and see what happened after the remodeling and wow we were impressed.the way they did this is amazing. we don't know any restaurant in the bay area which is nice , stylish and futuristic like Piacere. we went there this past Friday they had live music which was really nice . the food was outstanding like the service we had our waiter was Alex and he did a great job and the wine he recommended was really great.overall we will be back and tell our friends that they have to see the new Piacere. The only gripe we have was the parking was tough to find.
(4)
Angie H.
More like 3.5...but for the lack of half-stars I will round up. The decor was very nice, and had been recently re-done. This place smells fantastic from the outside, and sitting outside gives you a fabulous place to people watch. (My favorite past time). The service was great, and the accented waiter was attentive but not annoying. Everybody else's meal was fantastic, lasagne and skirt steak. I ordered gnocchi, which was WAY over done to the point of being inedible paste. The pre-dinner bread was VERY good, and I was glad there was a lot of it. As was the calamari, which enjoyed a very light breading and good texture.
(4)
Nicole Rynee B.
Well, I was extremely hesitant to check this place out after all the negative reviews I have read and heard from friends... None the less, I braved it and met up with a friend at Piacere for a drink and possible appetizers. I can honestly say that our experience was not as negative as those I had read or heard. In all fairness, we only chatted & dished over one drink, and what a potent and powerful martini it was (if you find yourself here one night, definitely try the Basil Martini w/ vodka), then after surveying the appetizer list decided to go across the street for some food. The service was fine, nothing stood out as offensive or overly positive. I will say that nothing on the menu grabbed me and I was not in the mood for a disappointing meal. I don't know that I'll be hitting this spot again, but I also can't say that I won't ... I was impressed with the decor of the place - it had a nice mellow vibe. The bar had a nice loungey feel, while the chairs were a bit uncomfortable. The dining areas seemed separated into a few separate 'enclaves' - interesting concept... How's that for an indecisive review - ; )
(3)
Jennifer S.
Run, don't walk AWAY from this restaurant! My friend and I sat at a table for over 20 minutes before I finally flagged down a waitress to ask her to find our server. Over 5 minutes later, she came back to our table and said that she guessed she was our waitress. She guessed??!! A restaurant that serves a la carte entrees for over $30 has waitresses just guessing whom they should serve?? I won't bore you with the entire recap... Awful service all around and the owners should be ashamed of themselves for the prices they charge for the less than mediocre food they serve. A word to the wise, see if you can get into Town across the street, where they really know how to cook a meal and treat their diners, or go to a burger joint somewhere in town and you'll be way ahead of the game!
(1)
Judy T.
The food was quite wonderful. We loved the starter-garbanzo beans in their pods -and the quote on their literature by Virginia Woolf has always been one of my favorites. The three stars is due to the truly unpleasant waiter we had.
(3)
Sara S.
My husband and I met a friend here for lunch and it was fantastic. My husband and I don't eat pasta, bread and all those other super tasty refined carbohydrates so we usually avoid Italian restaurants. Our friend recommended Piacere for their salads and they don't disappoint! I had the skirt steak and arugula salad which was delicious. All the ingredients were fresh and my medium rare steak was cooked perfectly. My husband loved his dungeness crab salad which I'm going to try next time. They have a great selection of salads and the food seemed really healthy. We sat indoors because we were having a working lunch but I'm looking forward to enjoying a glass of wine on their outdoor patio sometime. The interior is gorgeous and with their huge windows open, you practically feel like you're sitting outside! We met at about 2:30pm, so it wasn't busy and our food came fast; I've noticed that they tend to get really busy during peak times but I'm still looking forward to eating dinner here sometime soon.
(5)
Holly H.
I like this restaurant for lunch - soup/salad/sandwich combination plate is good value and nice. I have been there for an evening meal here 3 times and the food was good and wine list ok.
(3)
Sylvie K.
I was refunded for the appetizers.
(2)
Amanda K.
I planned a dinner party here for co-workers after a long meeting. They set us up in the private room right off the bar. Which was great cause we get very loud as a group. The meal was fantastic. I only wish my steak was cooked a bit longer but, it was still tender and tasty. We did get spoiled ... the owner came around and helped top our glasses off. The place was packed with other events (A wedding reception I think) and the staff was on top of everything in our room. You would never know we weren't the only gathering there - till you walked to the restroom that is. Will for sure visit again.
(5)
L T.
Went there with friends for the New Year's Eve prix fixe dinner at $84/person. Our server was not very articulate about the champagne list. The lamb strips were chewy. My salmon was a small portion and overcooked. My dinner companions ordered the buffalo tips. Good, but not spectacular. At one point, we asked the busboy for a knife for the buffalo tips. He took the knife that I had used for the salmon, put it next to my dinner companion's plate with the buffalo tips and quickly left. We were speechless. We asked another busboy for another (clean) knife. What kind of service is that?? One dinner companion and I had the beignets for dessert which were not cooked inside. We returned them both to our server. After waiting 15 min, another plate was brought out to my dinner companion while I ordered the flourless chocolate torte instead. Her second plate of beignets were still not cooked inside. My flourless chocolate torte tasted awful, not moist. We were told our two desserts would be deducted from our bill because of our wait. While the jazz band was excellent, we sat in the front room which didn't have much space for dancing. For the price that we paid, we expected better food and service. We definitely won't be back again.
(1)
Kristy D.
Fabulous! We held our Fiat America annual banquet here in January 2010 and the folks at Piacere did right by us. Piacere's event coordinator was super helpful with planning and worked with me to develop a custom menu for our group that was outstanding. We had our own room which was beautifully set and the service was superb. Guests had their choice of Potato Leek Soup or Hearts of Romaine salad. Entrees included Gnocchi with Gulf Prawns, Game Hen with Pancetta, Braised Boneless Spare Ribs or a Roasted Root Vegetable Risotto. For dessert, Cassis & Lemon Sorbet or Dried Cherry Bread Pudding. (I know of at least one club member who's gone back a few times just to get the bread pudding dessert again). A couple things to keep in mind, the side room was a bit cozy for our 42 guests and if you're there on a Saturday night, the band in the bar might be too loud for some. But overall, still a great experience!
(4)
Ernesto C.
Having tried this place based on the recommendations on Yelp I was pleasantly surprised. This is a great restaurant. It was a beautiful evening in San Carlos and we were offered an outside table which even had a patio heater above it. Nice for some "people watching" especially the cougars from Town across the street. :) The setting was beautiful, the waiter was attentive and knowledgeable, the food was excellent. I had the Hanger steak and the wife had rock fish which was not fishy at all and very much like a salmon. Our friends had the Fillet Mignon and a Chicken dish respectively. No complaints. Wine with dinner was good (a bit pricey-but what restaurant doesn't jack up the booze prices?) and the desert was a combination of decadence and orgasmic chocolate and banana. The Calimari for the appetizer was delish with 2 different dipping sauces. The only issue was I ordered a cappuchino after dinner and it was luke warm so i had it sent back to heat up. But besides this fluke occurrence, the night was perfect. Oh yeah, almost forgot they had a live band playing some soft jazz and easy listening to go along with the great conversation and good times with our friends. Will most certainly come back here and recommend to anyone looking for a great meal and nice ambiance.
(4)
Daniel J.
I went back for Happy Hour recently after not going for a few months. The wine selection is very good but the other items I had were disappointing. First, the lamb riblets were too fatty and were overpowered by the gravy that was served with it. Gravy not so good and no flavor in the lamb. Maybe I should have looked to see what these riblets actually looked like before I ordered because they look like the part I usually discard and make stock out of. The apple slaw that came with it was very good. Hearts of Romaine salad was disappointing only in the portion that they serve. I mean for $9 you should get a pretty decent sized salad. The house made Yukon gold chips that they have at the bar are very good and very Happy Hour friendly. I missed the prawns, pancetta and polenta dish that they used to have. Maybe next time it will show up again. Service was ok. Nothing to brag or complain about. Methinks next Monday I will investigate Town to see what they are all about.
(2)
Alan N.
We brought some friends here for dinner on Friday night. Although it was a chilly evening, we found that the heat lamps make the outdoor tables quite pleasant, so we asked to be seated outside. We were advised on an Italian white wine, which was quite good. Their wine selection is extensive, with both Italian and local wines on the list. Our server was very friendly and prompt. Between the four of us, we ordered a margherita pizza, ceasar salad, salmon, leg of lamb, and sirloin. It sounds like our friends enjoyed the lamb and salmon. The pizza was lacking in basil, and the tomatoes were nothing to rave about, but the cheese was really good. My steak was a very proper medium, but also lacked flavor. We may come back, but not frequently. Definitely a 3.5 star overall.
(3)
Donald P.
I love this place. I've tried many of the dishes and have always liked them. The atmosphere is great, and the staff attentive. We had a large group of eight for a family birthday dinner and everybody had a great time. I had the pasta Forno and the mixed greens salad. I also tried the calimari and salami pizza. All were excellent.
(5)
Maria P.
Mellow. Casual or formal take your pick. Mussels are tasty. Grilled prawn salad will not disappoint. Sangria, well you can't really go bad with sangria. The only reason I won't give this place 5 stars is because they haven't been consistent. I had dinner here two years ago and it was a disaster but I like giving places a second chance and their lunch was way better than their dinner. Highly recommend it for drinks on the weekends. They have a nice bar.
(4)
Ashley F.
I've been to Piacere twice with friends for drinks and appetizers. I really like the ambiance. The live jazz music on Friday and Saturday nights is the main draw for me. It's a chill place that would be nice for a date or if you want to relax and have drinks with friends locally. The place stays open pretty late for a San Carlos business.
(4)
Stephanie R.
We experienced the "chef challenge" last night and what a treat it was. The chef transformed at least 15 different items into a 3 course meal that was mouth watering and creative. I highly recommend this wonderful restaurant with its amazing Chef. Bravo
(5)
Steve C.
Two stars because the food is decent here...but the last few times I've been here the service has been terrible. It also appears that they don't pay attention to detail at this place - last time we were here our tablecloth was stained, and even the salt and pepper shakers looked like they hadn't been cleaned in months. The service was extremely slow and it...took...forever to get our food (and the place wasn't even busy). We had to request our check because our server was a distant memory. Again, food is decent (nothing special) but I probably won't be coming back.
(2)
Picabo L.
I use the services of caterers very often for business breakfasts and lunches. I used Piacere for a two-day meeting - breakfast and lunch. I will NEVER use Piacere again and here's why: 1. the breakfast and lunch orders were delivered from the trunk of a passenger car 2. the delivery person was dressed very non-professionally 3. the food/dishes/linen were not picked up from the lunch on the first day; although I did receive an email stating the person who would have picked up the dishes, etc., called in sick. 4. the second day's menu looked as if it was leftovers from the first day. 5. when I spoke with the manager he was less than accommodating. I gave him my concerns about the food, the service and that I had to bus the dishes. I asked for some sort of discount. He refused. 6. the delivery person called to say she was very sorry about what happened/ She said would be like to bring us a couple of lunches on the house. She never did!! Total price for the two days = $1900 Total price for never having to deal with Piacere + Priceless P.S. the other disappointing factor is my company had used Piacere as a caterer for six years. The food is not bad; but the catering service and manager - not so much!
(1)
Anna L.
Okay, when you see an item listed as "Dungeness Crab Sandwich, Crispy Pancetta, Lemon Beurre Blanc, Sweet Gem Lettuce, Piacere's Potato Roll, Homemade Potato Chips"... what would you expect to occupy most of the plate? Given that 5 out of the 6 are about the sandwich, I think it is rational to assume that the sandwich would occupy, say, at least half the plate. Alas, rationality does not reign supreme at Piacere because the sandwich was like a little runt, a David, next to the giant Goliath bowl of greasy potato chips that took up 3/4 of the plate. The crab, what little bit of it there was, tasted good, but it was such a stingy serving that it left me feeling unsatisfied. The potato chips were overly greasy, nearly burnt, and a total waste of space. This cost me $16?!?
(2)
Clyde L.
NO, NO, NO... This place is a complete zero. The food is terrible. WE had meatballs as an appetizer. They were tasteless and revolting. They were boiled and presented in their fat with a tasteless dip. The caesar salad was room temperature. The buffalo tri tip was tough, dry and tasteless as well. The beans with chili as an accompaniment were hard and undercooked. The prices were outrageous for very inferior food. The ambience is great but everything else is really sub par. We used a Groupon and now know why Piacere is promoting. There has to be very little repeat business because there food is so bad in a town of good restaurants.
(1)
Jason L.
I was worried about Piacere after reading all the negative reviews. However, we took a group of 22 people there on Monday night and the service was outstanding. They put us in a private room in the back and my only complaint would be that we didn't get to order off of the normal menu. But, I get it. That large of a group requires special attention and a fixed menu made it possible. The wine selection is very impressive and I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Mark L.
I've gone to this place many times over the past several years. I keep going and thinking that if I order something different, I might like it. I give up. The decor, atmosphere and design of the restaurant/bar are above reproach. The menu is fancy enough, but I think, too fancy. The portions are small and every ingredient is something exotic. A little too exotic. One, two or three unusual items in a dish of 8 ingredients can be great, but all 8 just feels like they are trying too hard and therefore miss the mark. Not to go too in-depth, but the menu selection is erratic. Straight from salmon (boring) to sablefish (tiny portion, skin on and BURRIED under cilantro)? Gnocchi is good, but 10 pieces drowned in sauce? Small, double-cut pork chop smeared with an over-powering glaze and bland mashed potatoes? ...and I had to saw the pieces off the chop!!! Sorry, I was in the biz over 20 years, the chef is trying too hard. There are a lot better restaurants on Laurel St. that can take you without a reservation and don't cost $90 for an app, two entries and two glasses of wine (before tip).
(1)
B R.
This is my first yelp review but I am a long time reader. This was one of the worst meals I ever had. Went for brunch a while back and finally getting around to a review. I had steak sandwich and the wife had pork sandwich. When I tasted my sandwich I almost spit it on the floor. I could not figure out what the taste was. I ate the fries that came with the meal and smelled my sandwich to figure out what was wrong. All I could figure is that they cooked the steak on the grill after cooking some salmon which was also on the brunch menu or it was just rotten meat. I am not one to complain to the servers but I did mention this to him after I paid the bill just figuring I would take my losses and never come back. The wife's sandwich was decent at best and the coleslaw that came with it tasted like cabbage out of a plastic bag tossed on a plate ...what a joke. Save your money I wasted mine
(1)
Alonz A.
I am in love with Piacere!!! The food is spectacular and tastes so fresh! I love everything about this place from the decor to the bar to the live music! I love to go when the band Tasche is playing. They are so good. I love their pancetta wrapped prawns served over polenta. My husband and I both had a fish entree, but I can't remeber what kind. Everything we had was cooked to perfection, and the dessert was fantastic! I kept ordering this cocktail drink that had passion fruit which was more potent than I thought, but they were sooooo good! All in all this is a place to go to when you have a little to splurge, and are looking for great food and a good time. Check it out!
(5)
Deborah D.
Expensive, nice date place or night out with the girls. Good service. Mother's Day annual brunch is awesome. Love the outdoor sidewalk patio- unique for SC.
(4)
Christina B.
Finally tried this place out and I already want to go back. Went here around lunchtime, it was a little busy but service was still good. We ordered the calamari, mixed green salad, prosciutto and arugula pizza with truffle honey, and baked Brie melted in the bread. Wow!! Great flavored and delicious. We could have passed on the calamari but the pizza was absolutely delicious and light. The fresh bread and olive oil mixture they give you to start was also fresh and tasty.
(4)
H T.
i was here w/ a large group on sat night for a work-related event, and it was happening. however, we were in the private dining area, so we had our own space. we were still able to hear the live music though, since we were right next to the bar. the food was fine, but the service took forever. we sat down around 730, but we probably didn't place our orders for an hour!! w/ a large group, we had 3-course set menus where we got to choose an item out of 2 choices. i had the salad, arctic char, and sour cherry bread pudding. it was all ok, but the arctic char was overcooked. the bread that comes along w/ the food was disappointing, but the oil/vinegar dip compensated for it. the drinks here are very good and there are a lot of choices of cocktails. my husband's chocolate cake/tiramisu thing was also a highlight.
(3)
P B.
The truth is this restaurant is just not that special. Over 5 years I have continued to come here in spite of less than stellar service and equally mediocre food. I always have to send something back. I ordered skirt steak and eggs - over easy/medium rare. How does a head chef serve over-easy eggs that are totally "fried" and medium rare steak that is blacken with charred exterior and nothing rare about it? That's could only be a rookie mistake -or more likely - not caring about the quality of your food or the experience of you customer. The second attempt resulted in properly cooked eggs, but a return of the same over cooked and now cold steak. It is always something here. I like the outside seating and the menu is nice, if prepared well. But the quality of the food and the serve outweigh that. Be prepared to be disappointed here.
(2)
Susan K.
Nice outdoor seating on a sunny day, but calamari, potatoes, French fries arrived ice cold. Not edible. White beans substituted for black on the Mexican egg dish. Barely an apology from the detached waitress. And nothing deducted from the $62 bill, so tip was adjusted accordingly. Left hungry. We want to like this place. But based on the crowds, would instead recommend The Town across the street. Next time!
(1)
Charissa F.
Went on a Friday night and listened to a really GREAT live band. They sang a really great variety of old classics. We ordered some champagne and stayed until almost closing enjoying the music and watching folks dance around the bar area. An older couple even joined in and cut a rug. So cute! On a previous occasion we came here and actually tried the food. I had the goat cheese and roasted beets salad. Nice bright flavors with a light dressing. My companion had the skirt steak and raved about it. The decor is also nice and modern. Everything is always clean, and the servers are attentive. Even though it is a bit expensive, I'd recommend it and do plan to go back.
(4)
Erica C.
Excellent food, great atmosphere, friendly staff and live music make this a great date spot!
(4)
Nicolette M.
My boyfriend had made reservations here for Valentine's Day 2011 because we had heard good things about this restaurant. He had made reservations 2-3 weeks in advance when the reservations were completely open in hopes of getting good seating. When we arrived, they seated us quickly but we were disappointed when they seated us in the front bar area when there were clearly a number of open tables in the more private/quiet side room areas. The next disappointment occurred shortly after when the server brought out our entrees. I had ordered the lamb and my boyfriend ordered the filet mignon. The server brought out what was clearly a prime rib along with the filet so I informed him that there must have been a mistake as I had ordered the lamb. He quickly took it away and said he would check with the kitchen. When the primary waitress came back out, the conversation went like this: Waitress: You guys didn't order the filet and the prime rib? Me: No, I ordered the lamb. I don't eat prime rib Waitress: Oh that was the lamb he brought out (keep in mind the server brought out a HUGE piece of red meat that filled almost the entire plate) Me: Oh, really?? Because it didn't look like lamb? It looked like prime rib. I told the server I ordered the lamb and he brought it back to the kitchen Waitress: He didn't know what he was bringing out; I'll go back and check with the kitchen When the waitress returned, she informed me that she was going to "have them make me a new one since the one they had brought out previously was cold now". The time frame from when the server initially brought out the "lamb" to when she came back to inform me they were making me "a new one" couldn't have been more than 5 minutes. My boyfriend and I were very skeptical because prime rib is pretty easy to identify and we both agreed that the first dish that was brought out was definitely not lamb. I actually felt bad for a moment because I thought I had wasted the meat and that maybe I just didn't know what t-bone lamb looked like. When the lamb finally came out, our suspicions were confirmed; it looked COMPLETELY different from the first dish. The Valentine's menu was a prix fixe menu of four courses. All of the dishes were decent but nothing to write home about. The only thing that was good was my boyfriend's filet which was actually very tender. The two stars are pretty generous and I give those primarily for the ambiance. The establishment itself is nice but the service we received was poor. They seemed very disorganized as there were between 10-15 people waiting on a table the entire time we were there and we overheard the hostess say that all people being seated had a reservation. The people sitting next to us had finished their food and were waiting for a check for at least 15 minutes while there were people crowded in the front waiting area and bar. A server came out with two entrees and went to give the dishes to them (when they clearly had empty dessert dishes on their table). Another thing that was strange to me was that they had live music which was not advertised on their website for that day (it notes when there is live music in their events section). The band was good and they played nice music but it was very loud; we had to scream at each other to hear anything after they began playing. This might have been exacerbated by the fact that we were sitting in the bar area. You would think that an establishment would let people know that sort of thing especially on a night when people typically want to enjoy each other's company and have a romantic evening (not a music blaring type of night).
(2)
J H.
Went with a friend last night to this place. Lived here my entire life and have never been blown away by this place and quite often avoid the place because of the prices in contrast to the mediocrity of the food. Last night was no different. We started out with the goat cheese bruschetta. I know every restaurant has to do something wild to keep up with the times and although innovative, not exactly what I had in mind. Part of any bruschetta has to be bread. This was served on a potato chip thick crostini covered with sprouts to give the appearance that there was a large amount of food on each. When I say each, I mean four. Four miniscule pieces of bread for $9.00. The bruschetta took an exceptionally long time to get to us as did the entrees. Which again, was mediocre at best. If i'm sitting at the bar of restaurant and boasts a $22.00 chicken pasta it better be something special. It wasn't. The sauce was soupy, the chicken seemed under cooked. The only thing that made it better was the complimentary bread I asked for that I believe is supposed to be given at the instant we sit down to eat in your fine establishment. And when it did come time for our entrees the folks who brought them kind of snapped at out bartender to ask where to drop them right behind us. Come on man!!! This is not a livestock auction, you have a fully functional POS system, just because we are sitting at the bar doesn't mean once some food is assigned to the bar that it could be anyone of 13 people sitting there. Assign the food to the right seat at the bar and you will have no mystery and no auctioning off of your delightful entree. I have worked in restaurants, I know a thing or 2 about it. Better organization is gonna be key here. I am done being a snob.
(1)
Dennis P.
Piacere in San Carlos, CA is *1*2*TRY. We came here after going to TOWN across the street and learning the kitchen was closed until dinner. Piacere was opened and we figured why not. We ate lunch here and didn't order much but a Hearts of Romaine Salad and Chicken Livers. We sat outside 'cause it was a nice sunny day. I have to say, the salad was delicious, you can't go wrong with huge pieces of romaine lettuce! The dressing hit the spot and their BREAD, OH the bread was super good. We asked the waiter what the bread was and he said they made it there, it was nice and warm and FRESH to DEAF! The hostess was really nice, her and the waiter kept taking turns in filling up our waters which was really good. After the salad we had the chicken livers, not bad for being liver I guess, the meal was definitely filling for a lunch. The atmosphere feels relaxed, they were setting up for a Jazz session as we were leaving, the outdoor patio is great to sit at. the food was good and the staff were on top of it all, that is why Piacere in San Carlos is *1*2*TRY! Song for Piacere: Ella Fitzegarld - Cotton Tail (1956 Version). *1*2*TRY- A New Kind of Taste.
(4)
Ron H.
had Easter brunch here last year and it was great, so we made reservations for this Easter as well. What a difference a year makes. had 7 people in our party and seating was done within 15 minutes of arrival, but once the order was placed it took 45 minutes to get served. Once we did, the food was luke warm. Don't know if it was an isolated incidence, but we were very disappointed. Very expensive for the choices we had. Not good.
(2)
Miao Yin K.
The 45 minutes for a table at Town is worth the wait. Stay there, DO NOT cross over to Piacere. Service sucks! I asked the server for a recommendation and asked what he thought about the seared scallop, he replied: "that's one of my favorite". So, seared scallop it is. Then, my friend asked him veal or seared scallop, he said: "why don't you go with veal since your friend ordered the scallop." Guess what, the VEAL sucked and the scallop was super salty. Two of my other friends ordered spaghetti & meatballs and the noodles were so damn hard. They should'vd send it back. So after few bites of the scallop, I suddenly got flashbacks. Now I remember why I never come to Piacere. The food sucks! In 2006, my friend and I went there for lunch and my friend had made a comment like, "did they spill salt in the dish?" I know better now. No matter how hungry I am, I will wait for my table at Town or walk over to Speederia for a slice of pizza. After the painful experience at Piacere, my friends and I walked over to Town for their yummilicious crab cakes and bread pudding. :)
(1)
Gary W.
My 4 friends and I went for the prix fixe dinner on New Years Eve. Our first surprise was when the menu they seated us was significantly different from that published on their website for that event. Then, a verbal change from Lobster Bisque to bean soup and duck to chicken! The big one was taking their highlighted crab off the menu completely! Now, about the actual food taste The filet mignon had too much sauce and it was over done, the orange chicken was sickly sweet. The service was ok except the server didn't know how to open a wine bottle. So, we called over the manager aka executive chef. She was immediately rude and kept saying "let me talk" instead of letting us give her feedback. As residents of San Carlos, we were regular customers. But tonight, they fell off the cliff - bad food and we were not treated well. Must be why the restaurant was much less crowded this year. Piacere just lost good dinner customers. The excellent bartenders are the only highlight and the reason for 1 star.
(1)
Arun P.
Quit while you're behind, better yet, I'll buy you out for a $1000.00, $1500 if you take the name with you. Service is terrible and incredibly slow. Even when empty, I could walk to Italy and back by the time wait staff actually does something. Now, let's get down to the food, I think I've had a better meal at McDonald's. I had one of their sandwiches, it was greasy, rubbery and tasted of char off the grill. I'm convinced their chef couldn't boil water to save his life. The food actually made me sick. The sad thing is their in a location where they need to be on their A game all the time, but unfortunately it's more like an F-.
(1)
Elena N.
I didn't eat here, but I came here for a drink after having dinner at Town. They were playing really good music, so I had to check it out. I actually wish I had come here instead Town across the street. The vibe in this place is really really cool and it looked like everyone was just here to have a good time. I definitely wanna check this place out for dinner sometime!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Fred H.
Waiters were cooly cordial; not warm and sincere. A bit overpriced. Limited choice of plain salads. Not much to bring me back again.
(2)Yoddha Y.
I recently went to this restaurant and I am glad that I had NOT read the reviews before hand. The place has a great ambiance, the wine list is great. The service was excellent. The food was very well presented. The fried Calamari with the horseradish sauce is outstanding. The Pasta with Sausage with sprinkled cheese and then baked was fabulous. The minestrone soup was one of the better ones I have tested. And the killer deserts, if I had my way, my choice... all the above. I think if you ask for suggestions from the staff, your experience improves a lot. I give two thumbs up.
(5)Sparkely K.
This is a great place for a romantic dinner and it has never disappointed. Good food, warm service, and Laurel Ave is great for walking off dinner. :)
(4)anne s.
This is the worst meal I've had in years. Balsamic vinegar sludge, tasteless olive oil, unremarkable bread, burnt oil-laden mussels grilled on a plate of oil, served so sizzling hot they were inedible, warm lettuce drenched in dressing, sliced beets served warm and limp (overcooked), salty entree (salmon). Go for the DJ and beer, eat somewhere else.
(1)STEPHANIE L.
This is a place for any evening you'd want. Romantic? Try the outdoor heated patio or indoor intimate dining room. Casual fun? Try the bar side tables or step right to the bar. Our server, Kathy, was very friendly and attentive throughout the evening. She gave excellent recommendations of dishes to order. I especially enjoyed the White Orchid cocktail! Both the NY Steak and Striped bass were done well and in good portion. Hazelnut chocolate tart - what a creative way to blend 2 blissful ingredients! This Wednesday evening, a DJ began playing classic beats which drew the after dinner crowd in for a seemingly endless night of pleasure.
(5)Mika D.
I love the ambiance but the food could do better. Had a full sized meal here last night with family for my mom's birthday and the dishes fell flat and short of the flavor, presentation and aroma. I found the plates of food to be eye appetizing but not on my tastebuds. I found some of the bites very bland! I ordered the carpaccio and was disappointed they didn't serve it with lemon wedges and capers. i've had better at il fornaio. plus piacere's carpaccio were not sliced thin!! ugh i had the pleasure of tasting RAW BEEF. I had a glass of sangiovese, too. drinking wine kinda helped! AHAHA I opted for the sea scallops which were raw in the middle (YUK) and plus it came with truffle oil mashed potatoes (which was so freakin' lumpy) and sauteed mushrooms (which i can cook the same at HOME!) i tried their baked alaska dessert (homemade strawberry ice cream with a meringue pocket). holy cow. TOO SWEET! plus the meringue wasn't as "crisp" -- it felt like eating soap and cake frosting at the same time. i had a cup of joe with it and the coffee was sour! i'm learning that maybe they're outstanding at keeping their surroundings clean but as far as the food goes, forget about it. i'm going to tosca next door! i was hoping this restaurant would be ideal for a rehearsal dinner but i guess not.
(2)David M.
Mellow, non-pretentious atmosphere, good food, great wait staff and the best cocktails on the peninsula thanks to bar manager Iris. She takes her craft seriously, does her homework and makes delicious drinks with good ingredients. You won't find sweet and sour mix gunk behind this bar. For a nice dining experience in downtown San Carlos, this is the place.
(5)Inigo M.
Classy and modern, but the food is a bit pricey and you don't get much (which is maybe good for a date).
(3)Aimee Y.
Went to Piacere for a late dinner last Friday. A guitarist and vocalist provided live entertainment for the cozy bar, but we walked through and ate in the much larger dining room. We ordered a small order of truffle gnocchi as an appetizer- they were delicious. My short ribs were just OK but my friend's petit filet was executed well. Overall, the ambience, attentive service, and wine list are worth another visit this week.
(4)Catherine W.
Beautiful restaurant, good food, reasonable prices. We had the margherita pizza and lamb sandwich. The pizza was very good, well-baked crust, simple ingredients. Service is attentive and polished. We were very pleasantly surprised.
(4)Christine P.
Came here with a company dinner. We had the private room in the back. The service was great. Food was good, but I didn't think it was spectacular. The ambiance though was quite a kick. It didn't feel like San Carlos at all. With the DJ at the bar and loud music, it almost felt like a club in San Francisco.
(3)Vicki G.
Came here because we are friends with the band. Food was o.k. but nothing special. Best thing I had was the warm spinach salad. Steaks were ok but not as good as I could have made at home. Same with lamb shank. But the cost was astonishing. 4 people had 2 salads, 4 entrees, 5 glasses of wine and a diet coke and it came to $240 with the tax and tip. Ordinary wine was $9 a glass. Totally not worth it. would not return
(2)Jeff A.
Reserved a large party table for 14 was asked to leave a credit card for confirmation which is understandable but did not appreciate the warning "well if you want to confirm with us then we need some confirmation too with a credit card number and so if you don't show up I will charge your card $50 dollars" we showed. I gave the hostess my name and she welcomed me and led me to a table for 2? Cute, I informed her that I had a large party and she escorted me to a large room that was set up, after I sat down she came back and told me that I was in the wrong room and that my room was not set up yet and walked away..so I waited at the bar with my guests..8:30 and was not informed that the table was ready..we had to inquire! When we did the hostess just said yes and didn't bother to escort us to the room..It was like they forgot about us! The ambiance and band was great, the service, food and portions need work..too bad, such a nice place. Our party paid part cash and credit card we also tipped (we thought) until the server came back and told us we were $4 short! We gave the $4 with no argument but wow.. I also left behind one of my gifts from my birthday party and did not get a response until after inquiring for 2days after that it was not turned in or found in the private room we dined in....Birthday Blues
(1)My Two Cents C.
I was trying to book the private dinning room with Robert, the Banquet Manager, and he was extremely rude and very unprofessional. I have never eaten here or seen what the place looks like inside, but if I'm treated that way on the phone, I can only imagine what it would be like to dine there.
(1)Susan C.
In general, I would describe this place as overrated. The service was suboptimal, which would not cause me to rate so low if that was the only issue, but since that is not the case, it bears mentioning. The wine list was ok, but overpriced, and the glass I ordered was underfilled. The bread brought to our table consisted of a small piece of warm focaccia and a small piece of chilled baguette- yes, chilled. My husband and I shared two appetizers: the lamb bacon was very tasty -always a fan of fried fat- but it was plated with a pile of salted arugula; we also got the calamari, which had good texture and base flavor, but again, was oversalted. (noticing a pattern?) Then came the entrees, with no time in between to rest/digest as should be allowed, which is mildly irritating. My husband's pizza was oddly flavored- the cheese was bland, the sauce was more like a vodka sauce than a pizza sauce, and the whole thing was -again- oversalted. I ordered the angelhair with prawns, which in reality are just shrimp (another pet peeve is misrepresentation) and this dish, while not overly salty like the others, was overpowered by the chili flakes in the dish. All of this comes from a person who loves salty and spicy foods. So to sum up, I'd describe Piacere as overpriced, oversalted, and overall an ill advised choice.
(2)Jennie L.
Tasty bread basket, great crab salad (which they kindly split for us in the kitchen) and nice atmosphere. However, incredibly slow service at lunch.
(3)MJ J.
Excellent appetizers and wine list . . .
(4)Karen D.
I've been going to Piacere's since it first opened ......it was a great place to sit out side and have lunch with a friend and not be rushed. Now? Save your money, go to Town across the street for dinner instead or go down the street to La Tosca on Laurel Street. I went for lunch , sat at the bar , told the lady bartender what I wanted to drink..3 times! finally she understood. She poured me a shot and a large coke. The coke was fine for $1.50, the shot of premium whiskey was $6.50, I could barely see the whiskey in my glass. It was more like 3 tablespoons. Lunch was not good, ravioli's with mushrooms, the pasta was tough and too much sauce in my small bowl..no bread was offered but maybe they are cutting back due to the recent remodel which I believe they could have done better. In fact if you want a nice lunch with reasonable prices and fun to boot! Go to the Van's on the Hill in Belmont!!
(2)Wei L.
May have been an off night as we've been here before and everything was usually spot on. My first two orders for entrees were not available and the third choice ended up being a smaller than expected portion (fish -- the scallops my dining guests had were bigger). Lastly, ordered a capuccino as a apres diner drink and the cream used to make foam curdled. No check of quality prior to serving to me, followed by a minor apology and absolutely no remuniration on the bill (expected the capuccino at the very least). Although I live in the area, any future visits will be limited to a glass of wine and some bread. In fact, you can find me at Towne across the street.
(1)nicole c.
I really want to like this restaurant, but they need to make their food live up to the prices. The location is perfect, the restaurant atmosphere is nice, but the service and food has just been "okay". I've eaten here a few times and it's just too overpriced for what you get. Tonight I got the $20 gnocchi and they were chewy and tasted like they had been frozen. It's not that the food is bad, but it's not good. If it was a cheap place, I wouldn't complain since I'd just write it off as "you get what you pay for". Unfortunately, here you don't get what you pay for.
(3)John C.
Three of us went to Piacere on a Saturday night. It was a decent experience, but nothing special, and definitely not something I would recommend. First off, it's an Italian restaurant. I'm Italian. I expect bread with my meal. No bread ever came. We just assumed they didn't do that, but at the end of our meal we noticed waiters bringing bread to other tables before the meal. When we asked the waiter, he said it is available on request. That was a little unbelievable for an Italian "fine dinning" restaurant. There were a few other things we didn't like about the place. First, the service was so-so and actually chaotic at times. My wife the chef described it as there is a dance that restaurant staff learn, especially during busy times. This restaurant staff were all dancing to different beats. The feeling we got from the staff was not very inviting. The Bolognese was not creamy or very flavorful. The Parpadelle with wild Boar Ragu had good flavor but the pasta was overcooked. There were some positives. The ambiance was great and the live music was worth some disappointment in the food. Aside from what I already described, the food was generally good. The prices was pretty reasonable as well.
(2)Tara P.
My husband and I had the worst dining experience of our lives at Piacere. It was last Valentine's Day and we had a 6:30pm reservation. We didn't get seated until almost 7:00pm and got seated outside...which was OK. Since it seemed as if the server was taking awhile to greet us at our table, we decided to time him. Took him 15 freakin' minutes to get to our table to just welcome us. The server proceeded to tell us that he just moved to San Carlos the week before because of his girlfriend. He said he moved here from Manhattan and used to work at Mario Batali's restaurant. In so many words, he said San Carlos sucked. Whatever, we don't care what he thinks. But, come one, we live here. Have some class. Anyway, we only saw our server one other time, when he took our food orders. We NEVER saw him again. At 9:30pm, I finally stormed in and asked for our dessert (menu was prix fix as it was Valentine's Day) to go. I complained that our server had abandoned us. I actually had to stand in line to complain. Additionally, the hostess said that "we overbooked the patio." No apologies or anything. Just an excuse. Just a few weeks ago, we decided to give Piacere another try. As another review states, the atmosphere is fantastic inside. But, the food is second rate. I have never had salty/fishy lobster raviolis before and most likely never will again. Doesn't the owner try the food?
(1)Feena F.
This is a great restaurant! Their beverage/wine list is pretty extensive and the menu has some really good items. I got the Strawberry Sparkler and it was very refreshing. We had Blue Cheese pizza and corn dogs for the appetizer and both were pretty good. The Blue Cheese pizza has grapes and fennel so it's not your typical pizza but it was different in a good way. The corn dogs were mini dogs with a great dipping sauce. I had the Halibut for main course and it was delicious. For dessert we all shared a Chocolate Sampler which was good too: the chocolate mousse was phenomenal, the cake was dry and the third item, which was like a big chocolate "kiss" was good. Overall it was a great dinner with good service and ambience.
(4)Bob J.
Had lunch here with a large group of people. I ordered the bass with hazelnuts , wax beans and rice for $19. They brought me a piece of catfish!! WTF? I didn't send it back because I didn't want to be eating when everyone else was finished. However, there was no catfish anywhere else on the menu so they were clearly trying to pass off a 20 cent piece of catfish as bass. Shame on you Piacere! Beyond that, the wax beans were, well, waxy and stringy. The vesuvian rice was just ok. The ambiance and service were good. No one in our group raved about their food. The food is definitely overpriced. Better lower your prices or find a chef soon.
(1)Mike L.
I was there for brunch. All around good food, but my friend's egg and zuccini pancake left him a little hungry. It was a nice day and ther service was a little slow, but my good company killed the time.
(4)joel a.
Not a large menu but great food. Probably wouldn't make my top 10 of all time but definitely a spot to check out a few times a year. Very reliable quality of food. We had a couple of the panninis today, the lamb with goat cheese and the pork loin. Both excellent.
(4)katelyn p.
Went here on Thursday night. My friend and each had two delicious glasses of wine. I was not as familiar with their wine list because I am more of a California wine drinker and their wines are mostly from Europe. We split a mixed green salad, a pizza and the most amazing ricotta gnocchi ever! Every bit of our meal was delicious. It is a bit pricey, we paid about 60 bucks each for a split dinner with wine. I felt it was entirely worth it. The ambiance is nice but there was a threesome with a baby near us. The baby was of course acting like a baby. She was tossing cherrios around the restaurant and the mom get repeating "ta dah" for about 15 minutes in a high pitched squeal. Seriously mom was way more annoying than baby. I would chose a more family friendly restaurant for babies/toddlers. At the end of our meal we were surprised by a complimentary desert to share and desert wine! The wine had an almondy taste to it and it complimented the creaminess and richness of the cheesecake perfectly. I can't wait to go back.
(5)ally o.
this place is cute! went there for lunch and had a panini with lamb & goat cheese. SO GOOD! came with potato salad. service was quick and my water was refilled often. bread served the meal was nice and warm. it was a gorgeous sunday afternoon so eating outside was a treat! it was also fun watching people walk their dogs and people who kept running into this pull down shade (right by the outside seating area) in front of the restaurant. LOL.
(5)hary n.
i've been here several times, mostly b/c i'm a san carlos resident - mostly just ok - but most recent vist - service - ridiculously poor for the price of food. Nobody notices that water glasses are empty - you have to flag someone down. Have to wait ten minutes for a staff member to notice when you need something (pepper on your salad). The poor service makes the whole experience bad even though there were some standout items on the menu (truffle gnochi) I might be back just b/c of sheer laziness but would think 3 or four times.
(2)KJ J.
After giving Piacere 3 tries I am done with it. The service is incredibly lacking in so many regards. The atmosphere is nice and the open air dining section in the front is enticing on pleasant days, but that is about as far as it goes. Every entree I have had is mediocre at best, not to mention they were never able to recall who ordered what dish. Instead of going on and on let's just say there are plenty of other wonderful dining options on Laurel St. in downtown San Carlos where you will have a much more pleasant experience.
(2)David L.
Friendly, attentive service and tasty, creative Italian selections make this ristorante a nice stop while strolling Laurel Street. The desserts and wine list were paticularly appealing. It's worth the drive from San Francisco.
(5)lisa m.
This is a great place to go with friends, family, or a date. The service and the food have always been divine and the atmosphere has a clean look to it but also cozy. The Jazz musician who plays on the weekend is wonderful and makes you want to get up and dance!
(4)Leane M.
Ok... So, I just have to tell everyone the real scoop... I have been going here for years, let me explain...Initially, my friends and I started at the place across the street that shall remain unamed. After a few times across the street with not such great service (infact feeling as if we were not welcomed) we headed across to Piacere. So, here we are, we ask for a table outside so we can people watch. We were greeted warmly and given a great table and a wonderful server. We made this our home away from home...for the past 3 years now. We never feel pressured to hurry and eat/order/finish/leave...The staff is amazing and are always willing to take an extra step for you...hmm...an example? My mother, not a wine drinker at all, our waiter brought out several different tastes of wine for her in the hopes of finding the right wine for her to enjoy...each time with a smile on his face and not at all frustrated that she was near impossible to please!!! Ok - so here is the topper... last week one of my friends was on some weird diet that she couldn't eat anything with any fat in it for 4 days (weird, I know). Our server had the head chef come out so we could talk to her. She was awesome, came out and discussed serveral menu options for us. She created an amazing completely non-fat meal for the three of us...all I can say...That is why we keep coming back for more...personalized service at a fantastic upscale restaurant... Thank you everyone at Piacere :)
(5)Ailene E.
The food is mediocre and expensive. Decor is nice, wait staff is good, the dessert is awesome! We had some kind of peach cobbler thing and the yummy tiramisu. I like the little front room, with the fireplace and a view of the street. Definitely a romantic spot for dessert and wine. I can't say much about the food.
(3)Swarup B.
about a 3.5 star restaurant. decent italian food in a very nice setting. actually i would say the decor totally doesn't make it feel like an italian restaurant. my dish (seared duck risotto) was pretty nice but everyone had a very inconsistent experience with their dish. actually the restaurant felt inconsistent. very contemporary decor, "fancy" italian, and a live blues/jazz/hip-hop/r&b band... color me confused. in any case, the truffle chocolate cake and banana bread pudding were a good way to finish off the meal...
(3)Louise O.
LOVE mussels, pasta very good. SErvice, well, that was a different story. Well, we made a reservation days in advance via opentable for 8PM and arrived on time. We were told the only table available was out in the end corner of the patio, which was freezing that night. I said, well, that's why I made a reservation and specified a quiet table, presumably indoors. We were eventually seated in 15 minutes. The server did not greet us for 10 minutes and when we first said we had some questions about the menu, he stopped us and said he'd be right back. He never checked in on us throughout the meal. Also, there was a lot of difficulty transferring the bar tab, with 2 failed attempts. It finally showed up on the final bill. We had the creme brulee which clearly had been bruleed hours prior. By now the place was cleared out, but the server was nowhere to be found. In the end, dissatified with overall experience. I don't know that I would go back.
(3)J C.
I'm going with the consensus here insofar as Piacere is a BEAUTIFUL restaurant to dine in, but the food can't live up to the decor. I'll admit I was pretty surprised by how impressive the dining room is, especially for a restaurant on Laurel Ave. Not that you can't find an ambience-filled dining experience in the suburbs, but rarely would you find one with such modernist touches -- the high ceilings, paneled walls, grey tones and blocky furniture seem more conducive to a fine dining experience in San Francisco than San Carlos. Really, this place is only getting two stars because of the decor. Really, really, really too bad the food doesn't live up to its environment, or else Piacere would be an incredible find. Everything on the menu seems contemporary and interesting (we chose to eat here vs. the standard chops offerings across the street at Town), and props for supporting local produce and sustainable practices. I should have taken the hint from Mika and NOT gotten the scallops, but we all make mistakes. While my scallops were not raw (I like them rare anyway), they were drenched in some kind of lemony-creamy-buttery sauce, rather than letting the scallops speak for themselves. This would not be entirely horrible except who eats lemony-creamy-buttery anything with truffle mashed potatoes and mushrooms (incredibly plain mushrooms at that)??? Really, who thinks to mix lemon and mushrooms as flavors? This could have been a way better dish with the scallops just plainly seared, and maybe incorporate the lemony-creamy-buttery stuff into the mashed potatoes, rather than waste the truffle oil, and nix the mushrooms. Or truffle the scallops and find a more interesting mushroom mix to accompany. My mom's pappardelle with rabbit was way overcooked, pasta soft and rabbit dry and stringy. Nice to find rabbit on a menu out here, but why do it if you can't do it well? My dad's seafood shellfish pasta looked less than vibrant, and seemed to lean heavily on the fish side as opposed to the... well, shellfish side. We also started with a mushroom pizza that was less than stellar. Soggy crust, boring mushrooms, extraneous tomato sauce, yawn-worthy cheese combo -- definitely not up to the fine dining standard you would expect from the decor. Neither was the lagging service from our close-to-smarmy server. The pluses -- warm bread with an herb butter and impressive decor -- sadly do not a fine, or even good, or even reasonable trial dining experience make. Walk in to admire the dining room, ask for a menu to salivate over, then shed a small tear over the potential, the promise, the dream! that just isn't.
(2)Kan L.
food+ambiance: four stars service: two stars waitstaff was nice, but service was slow and i don't know why. our waiter was super scattered and never brought back my leftovers. perhaps crazy under-staffing, but it wasn't very busy and the food took forever to come out. it also took forever for us to get our bill, which our waiter seemed very confused about because he repeatedly walked towards and away from us as if he simply could not figure out if it was the right check. on the upside, their bread is made in-house. one was ESPECIALLLY soft and delicious. i think it was an olive loaf? i'd go there just to buy a loaf of that bread from them.
(3)Edward B.
Reserved the Private Room for an event and quite pricey including the food which I was'nt too fond of thus far. Ordered the Butter Lettuce Salad, Satsuma Mandarin Orange, Grilled Red Onion, Orange-Basil Vinaigrette which did'nt I could've done without. As a main course, I had the Steelhead, (Wild, WA), Fish w/ Pomegranate Glazed, Quinoa, Minted Cucumber Noodles, Ginger Broth - Nothing out of the ordinary but it was Juicy at least. Tried other plates such as the Chicken, Pan Seared,"Hen of the Woods" Mushroom, Crispy Gnocchi, Bloomsdale Spinach, Herb Jus and i'd probably recommend to most due to the quantity and taste including presentation of the meal. Lastly, the Short Rib, Meyer Natural, Boneless, Creamy Polenta, Roasted Root Vegetables, Pan Jus - A bit small neither filling - I would suggest a Steak House if your apetite craves similiar. The layout of the place and decor is great especially the patio seating along with the option of retail stores to shop at nearby. For the Price of the food, I have to admit it's a bit high - (and no I am not being cheap). Service was very slow considering it was a large party of us and knowing the bill would be high - $1200 and then the tip out of that would make me think - service should be a bit more attentive.
(3)Terry P.
I went to this restaurant a couple of times, the food, wine and ambiance is great! However, twice I was overcharged for the drinks and food. Another friend had the same experience there. So people, watch and pay attention to your bill.
(3)Kit E.
Came here for lunch, I thought the food was OK, not spectacular. I got the pasta with seafood and shellfish, they overcooked the shrimp and fish, but the scallop, clams and squid were good. Unfortunately the wine sauce it came with wasn't garlicky enough. We got their calamari fritti for an appetizer and that was tasty and not over battered.
(3)Lucinda K.
Friend took me there 9/2010 for my birthday and we set in a small room near the street. The windows were open and bugs and flies were joining us for lunch. In fact, one bug was in my glass of water and when I pointed it out to the waiter, he didn't seem too happy. No apologies, no emotion. Very strange waiter. The food was nothing to rave about. We both had the lunch special, soup, salad, sausage sandwich. My friend had the Ceasar which had a few leaves of hard lettuce, dressing had flakes of cheese on top. Did not taste good. Then to top it all off, the San Carlos police came into the restaurant and told us to move our car since the Farmer's Market was about to start. We had 10 minutes to move the car otherwise it would be ticketed and towed. It was good that we were done but my friend was enjoying her latte. She had to gulp it down and we both took off. Another overrated restaurant and I am over it!
(1)Anne J.
If you want to feel like you're spending a million dollars and are wanting that million dollar feel but you're between pay checks then this just may be your place. I just dined here for the fourth time since it's re-opening and I'll start out by saying like the others that the dining room is updated and got a snazzy look. The tables and chairs are more than comfortable and you do not have the feeling that you're being crowded in like at some other places. The service is on target and you never feel ignored. I will however agree that the food does not quite match the atmosphere, but it's certainly good enough to enjoy and still have a pleasant night out. The wine list is well thought out and includes bottles from all over the globe (USA, France, South America and South Africa).
(3)Heather H.
I have been to Piacere 3 times now in the past month. Originally I found it after attempting a walk-in (no reservation) at Towne. Towne was full but Piacere had room (Piacere is much bigger). It was a lovely evening so we sat outside...and we've sat outside each time since!! After leaving SF for Belmont 6 months ago, we have finally found several nice local restaurants with the "city" and even European feel. Piacere is tops on my list so far. The serving staff is courteous and professional. The food is lovely (try the Mussels on an Iron Skillet App). Additionally, we brought our 5 month old with us each time and felt completely comfortable. I don't know how frequently the menu changes and we have had a couple less than stellar items (the cannoli left me longing) so I have left off one star: room for improvement. That being said, this is where I would go to have a nice bottle of wine and a leisurely meal almost every night if my wallet (and my waistline) would allow.
(4)Michelle D.
Good service. Wine selection is great. I don't like some main dishes, but appetizers were good. (Karamari and shrimp w/bacon) etc. They have 3 outside small tables and 4-5 tables by window inside and more tables behind a bar. I felt a little bit too dark to enjoy dinner at a table behind a bar. Light were OK, but....hummm,,,somewhat I felt like I am inside a cave. Entry....pasta is good. I ate pasta 3 times here and all the time cooked al dente. Great. By the way, this restaurant should be a Italian restaurant, but I think it is more Americanized Italian restaurant. Anyway, their entry......especially pork chop...big no no. didn't taste too much plus the pork is so hard to eat. NY steak was kind a OK, but $40 is slightly over price. Actually I liked the most food there was their hamburger, more than fancy $30~40 entries. Hamburger and BBQ onion ring. perfect combination.oh! and they make special alcohol drink occasionally. creative, tasty and beautiful. You should try if they mention that. some good, some bad. Ending 3 stars.
(3)Douglas L.
This is one of the ritzier places I've found in San Carlos. It's located amongst the enclave of interesting little restaurants on Laurel St. Very nicely decorated and appointed, Piacere's entryway opens into a large bar and the seating for the dining areas are behind it, and also to the sides. A little pricey, comparable in price and decor to Left Bank, but Left Bank stomps on Piacere in the salad department. Overall, I prefer La Tosca down the street, which seems cozier and has better atmosphere.
(3)Janet G.
The hubs took me here for my birthday on a rainy Thursday night and by 9:00 pm we were one of only two tables left in the main dining area. You would think that would mean we would have received attentive and excellent service. But, you'd be wrong. Normally, waiting 20 minutes for the waiter to take our drink order would have had me seething, but we had had a bottle of bubbly back at the house and I was relatively relaxed. Once we finally did get a waiter he could only handle taking our order for one course at a time and was useless when it came to recommendations, or even information, about the menu. We started with a prawn appetizer--which was very good even though the northern bean mixture the prawns sat in was very dry. I had the mixed chicories salad, which was filled with yummy bites of golden beets, goat cheese, pancetta, and not so yummy old and bitter greens. The hubs had the ceasar, which he enjoyed. For entrees we had the scallops and the skirt steak. The scallops were perfectly done but coated in a heavy cream sauce and served with incredibly dense mashed potatoes. I am the kind of girl who eats every bite on her plate, but half way through I felt as though I had lead bricks in my stomach. The steak was good, just as steak anywhere is good. Each entree was served with a huge stack of sauteed mushrooms that were bitter and unappetizing. I appreciate the fine art of food presentation, and the presentation here left a lot to be desired. The highlight was the dessert--warm chocolate truffle cake, which was just delightful. Another perk was that the white wine was kept cold in the traditional ice bucket by the table--a trend that we had noticed seemed to be disappearing. Might be willing to give it another chance someday, but only after exhausting all other local options.
(2)Trish P.
I recently went here over the holidays for lunch with my boss & co-workers. The decor is a little bit too dark and it seems a bit too cramped. I literally could touch the table next to ours. Food is okay but not enough variety for me.
(3)rosanna m.
I have been going to Piacere occasionally for the past two years. I go with my girlfriends and with my adult daughters when they come visiting. The place is about comfort.It is not loud and irritating like the place across the street. The tables are big and spread out well. The seating is inviting and the walls are upholstered so it's quiet. I do admit there is no life in the decor. Without the servers and the customers, it could be any corporate boardroom. Grey and dull. However I am here to eat and schmooze with a nice cocktail from the bar. Maybe listen to some of the live music. I took off one star for the Martinis which are hit or miss. I think they they have different bartenders. Some who know and some who don't know how to properly mix and chill drinks. On occasion the servers screw up, too. I've actually ordered a bottle of wine for dinner and didn't see it until the dessert menus were dropped! But it's my trade off for their great attitude. I see them all as hard workers and kind servers. Even the chef came out once and she asked if one of my girlfriends (who had too much to drink) was OK. The whole staff was very helpful that night. The food is not authentic Italian or anything but I don't expect it to be. It's more like what you'll make at home (or hire if you can't cook) for a very special dinner event. It is very good overall and doesn't try to be something it is not. I always finish my plate and we always order soup to nuts. I like to try something new each time and I am never disappointed. I will continue to go back.
(4)brian r.
We sat inside this restaurant and were the only ones in that section of the dining room as others had elected to eat outside in front of the restaurant. We ordered a few appetizers to have while we perused the menu. When I ordered the oysters on the half shell, the waiter said it would take 15-20 minutes. That seemed fine for a cheese souffle or some other time intensive app, but a ridiculous amount of time to pop a half dozen oysters. Nonetheless, we had alotted 1.5 hours for dinner before the movie and didn't want to push it, so I ordered the sausage-stuffed olives (wouldn't order again) and seared ahi. The tuna had arrived and was sliced in half with the grain so all the sinew of the apparently non sushi grade tuna tail section was exposed and made it difficult to cut or eat. The accompanying potato pancake was greasy. Then came the mache salad and the heirloom tomato salad. The mache (usually tender and buttery) was overgrown to almost spinach size and tossed with thinly sliced radishes and a champagne vinaigrette. That's it. Nothing special there, for sure. The "heirloom" tomato salad had a large pink, mealy tomato slice and two halves of another tomato way past its prime. Chiffonade of basil and balsamic vinegar. The middle of august I expected some nice tomatoes as I had just gone to the farmers' market on Laurel and seen some beauties only two days before and expected the restaurant could have obtained them as well. Main course was a NY steak that came out sliced up rare. It had no marbling and was tough and flavorless. The salmon dish had a small portion of fish. Decided not to stay for dessert as we were 0 for 4.
(1)Victoria N.
doesnt have many selections on the menu... a bit pricey and not totally worth what your getting... very friendly staff and sidewalk seating make up for it... definitely worth trying... i would recommend lunch over dinner because the weather and outdoor seating makes this place...
(3)Lexi P.
I wish I could give Piacere a better rating. We give this place another try once each year. Unfortunately it hasn't improved much. Some dishes are good while others are just sad. The interior is beautiful and it has the potential to be a great spot for locals in the area. They don't seem to take pride in the menu- it's a busy place because there aren't many options on Laurel Street. Higher standards would make this place so much better!
(3)Richard R.
We love this place and come many weeks during the San Carlos farmers market. I've had many great meals here. But I'm told there's a new chef and tonight our calamari came accompanied by ... ketchup. Fail.
(4)Jason G.
So the last time I was at Piacere I had what seemed like a mediocre experience and I closed my review with a comment that I probably won't be back. Well, that was 5 years ago, so I apparently wasn't kidding. We decided to try it again and see what has changed. To start, this is a really beautiful restaurant. It's decorated really well, and it is separated into several different rooms with different vibes. Their acoustics can be a little odd, though. We sat at a small table for two along the wall and were able to hear every word of the conversation of the table next to us in the middle, and I swear it seemed like a gentleman at another table was wearing a microphone because not only could I hear his content, I wanted to turn down his volume. Drinks: We had a pair of their drinks and they were both very good. They have a cucumber cocktail that was super refreshing, and the daily special apple mule was super flavorful. Food: Asparagus pizza - this made for a nice appetizer, although the pizza itself was a little bland. I'd go for a saltier topping next time. Nudi - outstanding truffle cream sauce, but the gnocchi were quite chewy. They reminded me of boba. It wasn't unpleasant, but that's not the pillowy texture you want from gnocchi. Rack of lamb - really good. Salty crust, good cook on the meat, and interesting, well-prepared accompaniments. So overall, this was a pretty good experience, and I think we'll be back again without such an obscene break.
(3)Laura R.
Gorgeous restaurant in downtown San Carlos. Friendly staff that is always very accommodating. Love returning for the great food and the live music on the weekends. There mussels and rack of lamb are to die for. A definite must try if your looking for a place to have great food and fun!
(5)Aman B.
Ate at Piacere last night for a business dinner. Service was excellent, staff was very friendly. Got the mixed green salad which was good, but a bit overrun with dressing (I am a healthy eating nut so take that point with a grain of salt, I should have ordered dressing on the side). I ordered the salmon with quinoa - food was excellent but too pricey for the portion so I have given the experience 3 stars. With proper portions for the price tag I would happily give it 4 stars. Tried the Mango Tango but it was too sweet for my taste (again, take with a grain of salt as I eat/drink next to no processed sugar) - this drink was made with agave so I thought it would be ok but. Went on a Tuesday night so no live music so was not loud at all.
(3)Lynn F.
My daughter and I were here for Mothers Day. I could be at a Taco Bell with my daughter and have a great time, and of course we loved being together at Piacere. But I was disappointed in the food, service and pricing. The pre-fix brunch did not include a glass of champagne or mimosa, as you would expect. The meal began with a plate we shared with chunks of melon, some berries and a couple rolls. You had a choice of about 8 entrees. A few dishes - like my Crab Eggs Benedict - cost $10 more than the rest. I was expecting an outstanding Crab Eggs Benedict for that $48. Not so. There was nothing special about this dish - just your typical eggs, flavorless crab on an english muffin. After the "entree" came a dessert plate we shared with a cup of chocolate mousse and about five 1 x1" chunks of cake. Really? Our waitress was very nice and fairly attentive until she just disappeared. It must have been the end of her shift. She did not introduce us to the person who would be taking over for her and no one else checked in with us. We were given a bill before we were served desert. We were charged $38 for Nutella French Toast we ordered to take out. The take out box simply included the french toast - 2 pieces of bread with nutella - none of the other items that were served with our meal. We complained and the bill was corrected to $10. I so want to like Piacere but I was underwhelmed. Come on guys, you can do better. Woo me, make me want to come back here as opposed to the many other restaurants to choose from on Laurel Street.
(2)Bill B.
Food was tasteless and expensive. I had the Pasta Forno. The pasta was under cooked and came with a large glob of melted cheese on top. This was suppose to contain chicken and sausage with olives. Plenty of olives but very little sausage (thinly sliced) and very little chicken. Would I return? Not for dinner!! Also I suspect that they water down the drinks. Positives .... A very good band!
(1)David R.
On Saturday, 7/5/14, I took my Mom out to brunch at Piacere. I discovered this restaurant back in 2011 when my Mom, my best friend and I ate at the restaurant across the way called the Town. Three years later I finally found time to give Piacere a try. I should have known it wasn't going to be a good experience since we were the only people eating at the restaurant for brunch and it literally seemed like a ghost town inside of the restaurant. Atmosphere/Decor: Piacere has outdoor dining with plenty of seating. The overall design of the restaurant looks pretty nice. There is plenty of seating inside of the restaurant and private or group dining is available. The carpet seemed run down and outdated. The dining chairs needed some TLC as well. My Mom noticed some grease stains along with finger prints on one chair. When I went to use the restroom, I walked by the open kitchen and saw scraps of different foods on the floor near the wood burning oven. The kitchen looked dirty and poorly maintained. I even saw a pasta dish that was open, exposed, left out and unattended. Food: My Mom and I both ordered the Short Rib Hash which consisted of braised beef short rib, two fried eggs over medium, country potatoes, onions and cream fraiche. This dish sounds very good when you think about it but it's a different story when you actually eat it. The beef short rib tasted old! It had that old beef flavor. The short rib was definitely precooked a few days before. They give you a generous amount of short rib which is a good thing but not really because it tasted old as dirt. The eggs and potatoes were pretty decent. My Mom barely ate any of her Short Rib Hash due to the nasty old tasting short rib. Service: Our waiter wasn't great or the worst. Honestly, we really didn't even see him that much. One of the food runners brought out our food. Our waiter didn't even come by and ask us how the food was. He probably knew the short rib tasted like shit and new our answer was going to be, "The short rib tastes like old shit!" Our waiter miraculously appeared when he dropped off the check. My Mom said I should have brought up the shitty tasting short rib but I didn't. Oh well. Overall: Don't even waste your time at Piacere. If a restaurant can't serve good food during brunch, they most likely won't have good food for their dinner service! This was my first time back to San Carlos since 2011. My Mom and I were really looking forward to eating at Piacere but it was a huge let down. We came all the way from Union City. The next time I come back to San Carlos it definitely won't be for Piacere, it'll be for the Sandwich Spot!!!
(2)David B.
An excellent gluten free choice for you. I was pleasantly surprised by their menu, which clearly marked out the gluten free items. I had the organic quinoa and squash. The dish was wonderful! The staff was friendly and helpful and the atmosphere was pleasing as well.
(4)Analyst C.
We came here to celebrate mother's day and the place was so packed. The service was great at the beginning but we waited too long for the check. We had to flag the server to get the check. The food was too pricey but food was great. Delicious pastry and fruit and cookies after our meal.
(3)Marissa P.
I agreed to let a new friend take me out to dinner if the Giants won the WS . . . and we all know how that went! GO GIANTS! We came on a Saturday night and a live band was playing, the bar was crowded and the vibe was chill. We had wanted to sit at the bar, but all of the bar chairs were taken. We ended up sitting in the front dining room where it wasn't as busy and was a lot quieter than the lounge area. For our entrees, I ordered the day boat scallops and he ordered the rib eye steak. Both were full of flavor and steak was cooked just right. Server was friendly and attentive and drinks weren't watered down. Not gonna lie, I did sneak a peak on Yelp before we got there and read some of the negative reviews. I expected the worst, but we ended up enjoying our dinner with no complaints. Also, I loved the location . . . I had never been to the downtown San Carlos area. There's a few spots that I wouldn't mind checking out later. This is a great spot. I'm sure you'll have a good time!
(4)Bob F.
Pretty average. Not sure I will be rushing to go back. Came here on a Wed night with a Groupon. My wife ordered the Royal Organic Quinoa & Roasted Zucchini and I ordered the Mary's Organic Frenched Chicken Breast (sans mushrooms since I am not a lover of the fungus). My wife's oder was pretty bland and the quinoa/veggie ratio was off--not enough veggies. My chicken was good. Nice wine and waitstaff.
(3)orhan t.
The best food in San Carlos . Always good service . Last night I had lamp chops .as usual it was excellent .. I will come again and again.
(4)Elton C.
Fine ambience, but the food was meh. My family and I tried this place because of Groupon (otherwise, we would have been unlikely to discover this at an adjacent, small suburban city). I thought the decors were decent and adequate for my dining experience. However, my entree was disappointing. The appetizer calamari was ok, but that is difficult to disappoint. I thought that would be so for my ribeye too, but was I wrong. I tend to think of ribeye as succulent. The slice this place served, tho, was anything but... for a medium, it was really dry. I had never been as apathetic towards a slice of ribeye as I had been here.
(2)Phong L.
Joanne she's great don't forget take care your her excellent customers services yeah buddy Thank you!
(5)Lindy W.
Lunch menu of kale salad w/ avocado and margherita pizza. Salad was so salty and vinegar-y it was hard to eat more than a few bites of kale. The pizza was very yummy, though the tomatoes on top were more like decorations than part of the overall flavor. Atmosphere was gorgeous and service very attentive.
(3)Stefanie N.
Sitting at Piacere and watching the scene at the bar was like being trapped in a bad Hunter Thompson acid trip. Obnoxious drunk people coupled with really bad dancing remind me of everything that's wrong with suburbia. Add in bad service, a crappy cappuccino and a lousy desert and voilà my husband and I feel soiled by the cultural black hole. Think I'll go to the city tomorrow night to recover!
(2)Len S.
My wife and I had dinner with 5 friends on Wednesday 29 April at Piacere. I reserved a table and requested a quiet spot so old friends could have a conversation and catch up on life's events - Piacere complied with a quiet location that was perfect. As a starter I ordered the Spanish Sardines ($14) which were quite good, but I wish there were 3 rather than 2 sardines provided. The accompany chopped condiments of red onion and hardboiled egg, along with capers, were more than enough for two sardines. For my main dish I ordered the Margherita pizza ($15). While the serving size was more than enough, the flavor was not. I liked the thin crust, but that was the primary flavor - the tomato, basil and mozzarella where more like decorations than tasty treats. The service was certainly friendly, but I would say it was spotty. I assume it is a challenge for servers when there is a large group as to when to check in with the table so as not to interrupt the conversation. But we had to flag down a waiter and ask for water at least 3 times - don't blame that on the drought. I also ordered a second beer and needed to flag down another waiter to re-request the beer. The 15% gratuity automatically added to the bill was fine with everyone, but no one added anything on the "additional gratuity" line of the credit card receipts. Good location for meeting with friends, although parking in San Carlos is an undesirable challenge.
(3)Angel G.
Food: 3.5 (ok) Service: 1/5 (bad) This review is for lunch Went for lunch at around 12:40pm.. Place was almost empty. Got seats outside Had "deconstructed lasagna" and a hamburger.. Just ok.. nothing memorable Shared dessert (bread pudding) The one thing we'll remember about this place was slooowww service.. Had to wait around 40 minutes for our dishes to come.. And then had to chase the waiter around for the dessert menu and eventually the check Almost a 1.5 hours lunch for something simple! Definitely won't be back
(2)Julie P.
Delicious food and great service! We had the summer Prawn & Peach Salad and the Linguine & Clams. Ask for the table inside by the open window overlooking the patio:)
(5)MikenMiMi V.
The worst experience ever, we started with two bloodied Mary's , the taste was only of horse radish and tomatoe juice. They gladly took them back and remade them, half way through my supposedly new drink I found a half eaten veggie stick at the bottom chewed pepper chino and a half eaten olive WTF. Now the food..... Started with the wood oven prawns one bite into the spoiled prawns and my Fiancé spit it out into a napkin , I have never seen her do anything of the sort before. I ordered the short rib hash it was a can of beat stew over old potatoes and a burnt egg on top.GROSS‼ ‼‼ We were compensated for the drinks and prawns and charged for beef stew. NEVER AGAIN. Right across the street is the TOWN .
(1)Candice M.
I love the baby spinach salad they serve here at lunch and brunch with goat cheese, hazelnuts, pears and grapefruit. It's been so great every time that I haven't tried anything else. My friend had the kale salad and said that was great. The service is usually great, although today my server seems harried. But whatever. It's a gorgeous day, And I'm sitting outside. What's to complain about. They serve good Italian bread with olive oil and vinegar.
(4)Dave D.
My wife and I recently chose Piacere for Valentine's Day dinner. Like many restaurants on Laurel Avenue for the holiday, Piacere was festively decorated with an abundance of roses and balloons. They had a special fixed price menu for the occasion, which you could order all four courses for one price or choose their selections a la carte. We actually arrived early, so we started with a drink at the bar. They had a fun selection of cocktails created for the occasion as well. We each enjoyed a sparkling wine concoction. The bartender was friendly and very attentive. At the table, our waitress was also excellent. The amuse bouche for the evening was a delicious little puff pastry with goat cheese. We had the salad and soup next, which were both very good. My wife especially enjoyed the bacon-wrapped prawns that came with the caesar salad. I had the filet mignon for the main course and she had the pasta dish with the lobster tail. Both dishes were good but perhaps not amazing. We skipped dessert to save a bit on the bill, and returned to the bar for a nightcap instead. Our only complaint about the evening is perhaps something that comes up often at Piacere: the prices were a little steep. Of course, it is a holiday where anyone who goes out expects to pay more than usual for dinner, but it still seemed a bit excessive. Nevertheless, we enjoyed our dinner and will likely return again.
(4)Shiela D.
My husband and I went here for lunch and used a Groupon deal. Service is not bad, food is not worth for its full price its good we had a Groupon deal. I ordered pasta with clams and it is so bland I have to add some salt and pepper. Not going back :( sorry.
(2)Tootz Z.
It was a very delightful experience here at the Piacere Restaurant. Seared salmon w/quinoa and burger was tiptop perfect! I would add another star for the exceptional service from our waitress and manager. Thank you, Mete! You are awesome! What a way to start the new year! Definitely will come again! :)
(5)Diane F.
So mediocre and not worth the prices. Service is neither rude nor engaged. For my entree, I ordered the deconstructed lasagna - it was so bland and boring. I couldn't eat it all. My fault for ordering as it's a simple dish, but it tasted like a frozen meal. The whole time as we sat outside, I kept looking across the street thinking "we should have gone to TOWN".
(2)Amanda G.
**Review is for drinks only** We came here to see my friend's brother's band. We were able to get enough tables and chairs to accommodate our group in the lounge area. I was shocked that the specialty cocktails here are priced so high. I've been in much trendier places in the city that are cheaper (and MUCH better.) Even worse, the drinks aren't well made. If you go with a classic drink and not one on the menu, they are priced a little lower, but still not great drinks.Not well balanced, totally unimpressive. When the band is playing the lounge is very loud, but the inner area of the restaurant was quiet. Servers were fine, I probably wouldn't return , unless we were meeting up with friends to see the band play again.
(3)Tanya W.
My family loves this place for many reasons: 1. Town is a shitshow & the food is not that great. Crowded & over-rated. I only go there when I want to day drink in a scene-y atmosphere. 2. I've eaten at Piacere many times & the food has always been fresh & flavorful. Their beet salad is sweet & has great dressing, their calamari is not over breaded & I love their gnocchi. They also never sigh or roll their eyes when I give them my "custom" gnocchi order: with marinara sauce, chicken & spinach - which I appreciate. ;) 3. & most importantly! We have an 11 month old, so eating out at a nice(r) place isn't always easy. The staff have always been attentive & gone out of their way to seat us promptly, take our order all at once & bring us our wine first/quickly - knowing our time is limited. This alone makes it worth coming back here for us! :) We choose this place time & time again over Town or other restaurants on Laurel for all these reasons.
(4)Elizabeth S.
I've dined here a couple times, once with a large party and on another occasion with my bf. I will give them credit for the good food. The service has been decent but has never been consistent. Throughout the years, I've seen a high turn-over in wait staff and bartenders. I always wondered why but have my theories after last night. The only other reason we have come here regularly is for the live music. However, last night left a sour taste in our mouths. I can see why the turnover for the bar and serving is so high now. Both of us ordered a glass of wine which neither were cheap. My rose' was $12 for a glass, and my bf's was $14 for his pino noir. I get that we ordered the good stuff, but even if we had ordered the house for $10 I doubt that would have made a difference. What a RIP OFF. They don't even fill the wine glass beyond the descending curve leading to the stem. I see the owner has poured what he considers to be 5 oz. in this wine glass sitting in the corner for the bartenders to level their pour. Unfortunately, they can't do anything about it. That's okay. We can. No more Piacere' anymore. No one likes to be ripped off. If you want to portion control your wines, pour it in a honest carafe like TOWN across the street. At least people won't feel ripped off. I have to also mention the glasses are smaller than TOWN's too which makes it even worse. That's too bad for these bartenders. Who wants to order drinks only to get ripped off? Like TOWN, this place isn't cheap, but people will sit over there and drink a while. We're getting what we pay for there!!
(2)Sayoko L.
Went last night with hubby and really enjoyed our dinner. Fried calamari was excellent with a light, crispy coating. His plate came piled high with an unusual rendition of rack of lamb, artichoke hearts and olives -- delicious -- leaving him so satisfied after the meal. The service was excellent also. We will go back again!
(4)Marian I.
Best place for sunday Brunch platter and mimosas!!! Great food! great service, Good price! great location also!! The servers and bartenders always friendly and making sure you're taking care of!! Live music on thursdays and saturday nights make a chill out environment to have a good time with friends enjoying good drinks! :)
(5)MARA M.
My favorite place in San Carlos! Ask for the fish but anything we have tried is excellent. We have become regulars. We love it! Mara
(5)Rachelle Anne J.
They get two stars for their yummy drinks. My friend really wanted to try this place out so we came for lunch despite its mediocre Yelp reviews. Ordered calamari as an appetizer, it never came. When we reminded our server he apologized and claimed he thought we wanted it with our meal. Strike one. Recommended the skirt steak med rare, which is what we wanted anyways. Steak came out well done. Strike two. Requested mustard on the side of our corned beef sandwich and it came out dripping with the stuff. Strike three. Being a server myself I understand these things happen as they are not all his fault, but his monotone apology and lack of sincerity did nothing to improve our experience. Should've paid attention to Yelp.
(2)Sara W.
Came here for Saturday brunch with a girl friend. Perhaps breakfast is better than dinner, because I had amazing food. The side of grilled asparagus with lemon was to die for. I also enjoyed my breakfast pizza, though the portion was too big for one person. We totally could have split our dishes! Will definitely be coming back from more brunching!
(4)Buffy M.
3-stars for the food + 5-stars for our waiter / 2 = 4 star review The appetizers were great. Gnocchi is always good on my list. The food was good, not overly fantastic. The dessert was sadly stale. But our waiter was absolutely great!
(4)Bonnie S.
I do not recommend eating here. If you are looking to have a nice dinner to chat with friends or family, this is NOT the place to eat or chat. My family and I arrived at 7:30pm for dinner, while at the same time the "band" was setting up in the bar which was almost in the dining room. The music was SO LOUD that I couldn't hear what my family was saying. The food was just OK, nothing to go back for. The buttermilk prawns tasted like they came from Long John Silver's fast food chain, and actually LJS's prawns were better. If you like a LOUD bar atmosphere and mediocre food, then this is the place for you. If you want good tasting food where you can enjoy the company of family and/or friends, stay away! I will never go back to this place again, never, ever, ever,ever, again!
(1)Michael C.
If you're ever in San Carlos, Piacere Ristorante, is in an essential stop. Not only do they have some of the best dishes on the peninsula, they also provide credible musical entertainment including Vintage Noise, jazz and bossa nova duo! The staff is very friendly and the prices are reasonable.
(4)Yuan W.
I really want to like this place, but after trying it twice (once for lunch with my friend, and once for dinner with a group of 7 people), I have decided that its 3-star rating is well deserved. Food is okay - nothing to rave about Service is below average - no smiles upon our check-in, nothing warm, and when I asked for milk refill for my 4-year old son, the guy looked confused then did come back with the milk and dropped it off opposite end of the table without a word The location is great and the sidewalk seating is nice, but for the price it charges, I'd rather go anywhere else but here...
(3)Doc R.
Great ambiance with live music as well as enough seating for quiet and privacy on a busy Friday night. Raya Zion and the Groove Objective were awesome performers and our server was very accommodating as friends joined and left our table throughout the night. Fun. The food and wine were good too.
(4)Chris C.
Went here for a Groupon deal. Food was OK, nothing memorable or spectacular. I question the cleanliness of this restaurant. To another Yelper's point, water glass had a small insect in the water. We brought it to their attention and they swapped it out. The following water glass, which wasn't a high pour, had a flea in it. I SWEAR. I had to look very close because it didn't look like a gnat like the first one. This one was hopping in the glass, so I took a piece of paper and covered the top so it couldn't get out and I could inspect further. It was a flea. I pointed this out to my husband, and I said, do you see what I'm seeing in here? At this point, we were like, wow, this is a joke. We brought it to the waiter's attention and showed it to him, and asked if there's a dog back in the kitchen or something. He said no, and appeared just as confused as we were. He joked that we brought it along with us. We were not pissed about it or anything, but we knew this was the first and last time coming to this restaurant (I couldn't help but feel itchy the rest of the evening). They didn't bother to comp anything...whatever. I'm sure they'll do just fine coz' the food itself ain't bad.
(1)Tassie C.
Bland, oily pasta. Inattentive server. Really surprised - maybe all the regular staff are watching World Cup? The agnolotti with English peas and bacon was just flavorless - and so much oil that I had to drain each bite. Price: $19. Just not worth it. The pasta was really tender - that was really the only plus.
(2)E. S.
Stay away from this place. Not only was the food bad it was also cold. Service was worse than the food. Management couldn't care less. Spend your money elsewhere.
(1)Munna B.
This review is for service only. Food was good. I ordered the veggie melt for lunch with fries. According to the menu, it comes with fries or salad. The waitress got our order wrong and brought it out with a salad. I told her I ordered it with fries. She then brought a side of fries. At the end of the meal, I noticed on the check that I was charged $6 extra for fries. When I asked her about this, she flat out lied saying that the veggie melt comes with salad only. I then overheard her discussing about this with another waiter who said it comes with fries or salad. She then lied to him again saying that I had asked for both. I'm not sure why she would not admit that she made a mistake and make the correction on the check. If this was an extra, she could have told me about it before bringing them out to the table. I did not bother to follow up since I'm never going back again.
(1)Arthur S.
Ordered the burger. Awful. Hard and dry bun with soggy fries. The best part was that it was $15. I recommend you go here for the live music.
(1)Jessica L.
Love the mussels! Served on a hot iron skillet with butter and sea salt. Yum! The scallops are delicious too. Great presentation
(5)Luke S.
I like the happy hour here , The steak sandwich is great and I really like the pulled chicken also. The service is really good an the people at the bar are a great crowd. I was surprised at how great the salad was too. THe outdoor seating is really great too for getting a great view at skirts walking by
(4)Payal V.
I had walked by this restaurant many times and was looking forward to trying it for a date night. We finally went last Thursday. It was really happening and they had live music. There was seating outside, in the lounge, a small dining room at the front of the house, and a larger dining room behind the bar. We were seated in the small front dining room. The fireplace gave it a real intimate feel. The menu looked great. We ordered the butter lettuce salad and their signature mussels for appetizers. Our waiter was very nice to ask the kitchen to split the salad for us (we didn't ask). We loved both dishes. The salad was the perfect balance of pears, blue cheese and pecans. For main meals I ordered the salmon and my husband ordered the ribeye. Again, both meals were great. I have no complaints about the restaurant or service. There are still some items on the menu that I want to try so I'm looking forward to another visit to this restaurant.
(5)Kelly C.
I was quite disappointed at Piacere (pea a chair ay- that's what the sign even said). We came here because my first choice was an hour wait so we thought to give it a shot. It looked decent on the outside..boy was I wrong. The service was the best part. The food..not so much. I ordered the kale salad and the menu says - Toasted Breadcrumbs, Balsamic Roasted Onion, Pine Nuts, Shaved Parmesan, Champagne Vinaigrette. It was so sour and topped with slices of cheese. I did not see that part in the description. Did they replace the shaved parmesan with slices of cheese? Either way, it was no good. We also ordered roasted beets which was TOO roasted to the point where it's black and crunchy. The best part was the mac and cheese which uses different types of cheese and was edible but I would not order it again. Wine of the Day - She did not mention the year but the cab was smooth and light. Pick another restaurant in San Carlos and pay for something better. Not this one!
(2)Alexandra I.
We came for Mother's Day brunch and it was really lovely. The food was delicious and the fruit/pastry spread that was on the table while we waited for our entrees was nice. The service was also really great. Only complaint would be that there were some small flies buzzing around our food and we were not seated near the door.
(4)Rory F.
I like this place; easy to talk, dine well and a little toe-tapping with a band playing in the background if you get the right night.. Sure the $$'s can add up if you do a round of cocktails & fine wine, but that's the area we're in...I saw they had expanded the place with some rooms for extra large groups.
(4)Valerie C.
Bravo, I had the most delightful lunch ever! I must say, I was very impressed with the ambiance and the overall appearance of the food. It was all perfect. We had the prosciutto pizza and the Nudi pasta. They were amazing! The truffle sauce on the nudi was so tasty, I used it to dip my bread in( even the bread was exceptional). And the pizza wasn't too shabby either. The pizza portions are enormous! Enough to feed two. And I finished with homemade buttermilk gelato which was perfection. Not too sweet and very rich. It came with a biscotti too! Definitely coming back ! Well done !
(5)Eduardo F.
It's a ok place. I did try the pork fat with bread something and it was ok. Nothing special. I also tried the steak and it was good. The portions for appetizers are small and too much powder. Service was good. My Arnold Palmer was mediocre.
(3)Karla C.
Had a late lunch here with the family and was extremely disappointed. It was a spur of the moment decision that I regret. Had the flat iron steak and a pizza along with drinks. The pizza was mediocre, according to my husband. The steak tasted very strange and was served rare when I ordered medium. The total came to $80 with tip. I could have had two lunches at California Pizza Kitchen for that amount with money to spare - and had a better meal, which is pretty sad considering one is a chain and one is a local place where theoretically there should be more attention to detail. I'm surprised this restaurant survives on a street as busy as Laurel. Service wasn't great - slow and sped up with the prospect of the check and tip. While we were quickly seated and the environment was quite nice, overall the staff was not welcoming or warm. Will not be returning and definitely don't recommend.
(1)Diane P.
We ate at Piacere for a graduation party with at least 100 people and I had low expectations due to the huge group but the food was incredible and I was so impressed with the waitstaff. I would return here in a heartbeat. It is not easy with a big group to have that quality of service or food. They served the food family style and it was exceptionally good.
(5)Jeffrey S.
Went for Sunday brunch and was pleasantly surprised with the food. Really enjoyed the ambiance and the appetizers we had. The mussels on a skillet is definitely worth going for again and my kids loved the Italian doughnut. Bottomless mimosas are definitely a plus, and really liked my steak and eggs! Would come back to try what they have for dinner!
(4)Arthur K.
nouvelle american cuisine good service good presentation group luncheon after event my food was a good salad followed by an excellent salmon presented well and prepared well. they had appetizers including stuffed jumbo shrimp which was truly excellent. well stocked bar well appointed restaurant nice tables comfortable chairs excellent food, excellent restaurant
(5)M.R. W.
I used to love this place, especially on a Friday or Saturday night because of the live entertainment in the bar. We tend to eat/drink at the bar rather than book a table. In the past few months they have hired new bar staff and they aren't very good. Service is super slow, not very friendly and the drinks aren't as good. I have noticed on my last few visits that the bar isn't as busy and has a more somber vibe than it used to. . We stopped in last weekend to give Piacere another try (sitting at the almost empty bar), and it took so long for the bartender to take our drink order, we almost left. This and the fact that their menu prices are really over priced, we might have to find a new hangout. I really wish they would pay attention to their long time customers and address this situation
(2)Raj K.
Friday night dinner. Great cucumber-vodka drink. Great filet mignon. Nice live music in the bar.
(4)Sue J.
Please do not go here people!!! They have the worst service in town! They were not rude, but just really incompetent. We did not receive our bottle of wine til about 1/2 an hour after we ordered it. We did not get any utensils with our appetizers. Lastly, they never asked what we wanted to order for our dinner entrees, when clearly we have been done with our appetizers for a while! We finally had to flag someone down to take our order. For the price we paid at this place, we expected much better service.
(1)V P.
The bacon & egg pizza was awesome. I had the salmon plate as well and it was equally as good. The service was excellent and my wife and I enjoyed the outdoor seating.
(5)Rosangela B.
By far, this is one of my fav places to go on Friday night for a cocktail and have a great time. Saturday for lunch or Sunday for brunch. I have tried almost the entire menu and I never get disappointed. The owner always comes to our table just to make sure we are well served...i love the cocktails, the food, the music, the ambiance!! For a date, its really nice to seat outside and just enjoy everything, food, drink, desert, coffee afterwards...
(5)Marguerite G.
Sunday - what can I say? I read the reviews and am convinced they were written by relatives. Food was not to be described; wine was one-quarter glass and tasted like Gallo. I could go on but why bother. Needless to say I will avoid this place and if asked, I will let the persons know what to do.,
(1)Jesus S.
This place was horrible! My family and I were excited to try a new spot. The menu looked great and the waitress seemed nice. Everything started ok and we placed our order, after about 45 minutes and repeated requests for our food they finally began to come out. Well apparently well done steak to their cook means pink and bloody. We immediately sent them back. We also ordered a childs dish with brocoli and steak, which came out last and 10 minutes after the adults dishes. Shouldn't it be the other way around!?! The initially nice waitress became annoying and frustrating with her only response of, "oh sorry, I'm in training. " We all literally just walked out after the "manager" still had the nerve to bring out a $200 bill even though we didn't eat the food!
(1)Cassandra E.
"Don't you wish your restaurant was hot like me?" That's what Piacere probably says all night, to itself. Its Town's biggest rival, but really they're not rivals. They compliment each other. The overflow from one or the other just goes across the street. They are equals. Cool, classy and comfortable. I've been coming and going here for brunch, dinner or cocktails over the years. The staff, food and ambiance is always on point (it's all about the details and they've got every single one covered.) Most of the patrons that I've met here are local San Carlos, Redwood City, or Belmont folks, so it's kind of "towny", but still (obviously) welcome to all. Piacere has live music some evenings...usually you can count on at least one weekend night. I have no idea the exact schedule, buy every time I've moseyed my booty over that way, my ears have been bombarded with a range of styles including jazz, rock, opera, soul and so on. Can't say that I would ever make an effort to follow the bands to their next show, but it's a nice touch they add, to liven the place up. Piacere is always a hot spot to stop, if I ever find myself in the City of Good Living. Especially if I'm looking for exquisite food or cocktails, live music, or an absolutely wonderful time. ;-) ;-) *Take note-- this place is all about the classy attire... ;-) Dress to impress if you make your way here...
(5)Barbra C.
When I used to live in Belmont eons ago, this was one of our go-to places for dinner. I remember it having decent food. However, tonight I was very disappointed. We had pricey mediocre food with subpar service from our server. Our bill was $72 for an iced tea, sparkling water, soup of the day, Caesar Salad, Mussels appetizer, and pasta dish with prawns. Soup was 'aight, pasta was way overcooked and taste a bit sweet, but my friend said the mussels were good (however, had to send the mussels back because it was dry and not sizzling on the platter). I don't think I'll come back here if I'm ever in the San Carlos area again.
(3)Randall F.
We had a wonderful birthday celebration at Piacere in one of their private rooms. The arrangements were super easy with Chelsea and the menu selections were just right for us. Choices of Hanger Steak, Short Rib Papardelle, Salmon. Murat served us and provided excellent service for our lunch. I highly recommend them.
(4)Joe J.
My wife and I visited Piacere for a Happy Hour on a Saturday afternoon. It was not crowded and prices were VERY reasonable. $10 for an individual pizza (usually $16) and $3 or $4 draft beers. Appetizers were cheap as well. The windows were open and it was a nice day so it was very comfortable inside. Service was very nice, and very accommodating to our 3.5 year old niece who visited us during our Happy Hour.
(5)Pele N.
Nothing on the menu excites me. Prices are high for the quality of food. Still a decent place to go to, but there are better choices downtown.
(3)Martin C.
I'm always trying new places and there are so many in this area. My wife and I were pleasantly surprised. Service was prompt and friendly. Food was excellent, my wife had scallops and I had the rib eye. Both cooked perfectly. Cocktails were interesting and tasty. Good place, we'll be back.
(4)Steven T.
Just awful. I would have rated Piacere 1-star, but my food wasn't too bad. I came here last month with a certificate from Restaurants.com - awesome, but there was the restriction that I can only redeem the $50 certificate if I spend at least $75; I was fine with spending a bit more since I wanted to have dinner pre-made that night and I got an extremely good deal for the certificate - but now I know why they needed my business. My friend and I ordered our meals and a few to-go items to reach the $75 minimum mark. My food was great, but unfortunately the egg on top of my friend's meal was hardly cooked and ruined the entire dish. OK, so we brushed that off and ordered a few salads and an order of calamari to-go. The waiter rudely asked if I'm sure that's what I wanted. "Well, yeah I do because I just told you," I thought to myself. He then lectured my friend and I for a minute on how bad of a choice it would be to take calamari to go (...rude). Anyways, I left what I felt was an extremely generous tip of 20% (the service was slow and the employees were rude), but I left happy from my meal...until I got home and found out they forgot one of my to-go items. I called the restaurant and ran back to the restaurant only to find out the server "misunderstood" me and thought I only wanted two of the three salads I ordered (WHAT?!?). What pissed me off about this was not only the fact that this "little misunderstanding" ruined my post-meal plans, but that the server had the balls to charge me for the third salad because he "only charged me for two of them" and kindly gave me a "free" dessert. It was a nice gesture, but I felt completely disrespected by him and the pathetic hostess who can care less about her job (she stands at the front door on her phone with her purse on the chair as if she's ready to go). It may sound mean, but I was so furious at the restaurant that I asked for my original receipt to take back the tip I charged to my credit card; and the waiter asked, "what did I do to deserve this?" For those who want a decent meal and horrific service, this is the place for you.
(2)Javier D.
From Reading all the negative reviews here, I'm guessing the owner heard them, and made some very good improvements. I was visiting San Francisco for University scouting, our last night in San Carlos, decided to try this place out, I ordered the soup of the day, potato and leeks, it had good flavor, but very watery for my opinion. Their lemonade was very good, and for the main entree, I had the filet mignon, with mashed potatoes and Mac n cheese. Amazing!! Filet was cooked to my liking, the mashed potatoes, the spinach and the Mac and cheese were very flavorful and delicious!! Very impressed. My dad had the whole fish. He loved it as well. Overall, a good experience, very nice ambiance and decor. I'll give it a 5.
(5)Marissa B.
Came here because Town (steakhouse across the street) couldn't seat us for an hour. Atmosphere was pleasant, but food was simply satisfactory. Had prawns to start- flavor was fine, but overcooked and overpriced. Redeeming grace: castelvetrano olives. For dinner, had the salmon and substituted the risotto for grilled broccolini. The dish was flavorful, no complaints, but nothing to write home about. Orentano Pinot Noir = bad choice. Moscow mule, not so great either. However the Punch drunk love drink was refreshing. Overall, nice atmosphere but subpar food and drink for the price.
(3)Brandon L.
Absolutely expensive way-overpriced mediocre food. Waiters screwed up our orders multiple times. Got us the wrong items and then when we finally got the right items, it was the kids size instead of the adults. Don't know if I want to laugh or cry. To make matters worse, my kid didn't get a drink or dessert with his kid's meal. Absolute WTF. How the hell does a restaurant like this able to survive on Laurel Street??? Nothing special about the menu. Nothing special about the surroundings and decor. Chef came out one time and never said one word to the customers. There is something very wrong with this restaurant. Crappy food, crappy prices, crappy service. Can't believe we actually stopped by here for a meal. This restaurant needs to disappear from the face of the Earth. Laurel St in San Carlos deserves a lot better. Will never ever come here again and would never recommend anyone to come here. If you have absolutely no taste buds, willing to burn your wallet, and then get f-'ed up with horrible service, then come here multiple times to support this piece of shit restaurant.
(1)Four Y.
The restaurant looks nice. We walked in and got the most snotty scowling look from the hostess. She was impolite and rude as she sat us. I said thank you when she tossed us menus and she said , "uh-huh" in a very unfriendly tone. We almost walked out but decided to give it a chance. It was early so we were one of the first dinner customers. We ordered from an unhappy looking waiter. As we waited for our food, other customers started coming in and the hostess offered them drinks and bread but ignored us. When the bill arrived they charged us for the wrong wine. We ordered a glass of Merlot and he charged us for Malbec, which was more expensive. The food was good but not good enough to have to take rude service. I think they are prejudice as all of their patrons were Caucasians and we were not. It's a shame there are still people like that and people like that doing business. Needless to say, we do not recommend this establishment to anyone nor will we return.
(1)Rose C.
This restaurant has lost its luster. The food at one point was very good but unfortunately the owners attitude and control freak attitude made it very difficult to feel good about this restaurant. I'd like to see it succeed if perhaps a new owner came onboard let's hope for the best
(2)Tom C.
First time in San Carlos and Piacere happened to be right were I stopped. Great atmosphere - nice patio area. I went with the scrambled eggs - wow, very very good - love the beans and tortilla strips and lots of avocado!! Definitely worth a try!
(4)Diane B.
There are so many great places to eat in 4-5 block radius on Laurel St. in San Carlos! Between the ones you want to go back to for a second (third, fourth) visit, the ones that you've alway wanted to check out and the new ones, it's a tough choice. I took my friend G. here to celebrate her birthday. I've walked by so many times, I surprised it was my first visit. We both went for the very reasonably priced ($14) lunch combo, which includes a cup of soup (minestrone), little gem salad, and 1/2 sandwich. There are 3 or 4 approved sandwich choices. I picked the short rib sandwich. G. didn't notice that only certain selections were available and ordered the corned beef. Our waiter said no problem. The service was charming. It was nothing extraordinary, but well priced, tasted good, and they made us feel very comfortable. Yum, yum and thank you! 3 stars, but in a good way.
(3)Christina C.
The Yelp Polize are on to me! If I don't write a review, damnit, I'm going to get my credit revoked. What better place to review than the place that had everything going for it except the food? On Sunday, I had just gotten off work at around 4pm. This weekend, I've clocked in over 20 hours. In addition to the regular weekday time. I was a little over-worked and under nourished. My Fiance took me for a hike at Pulgas Ridge with our little Wilson, and after about an hour hiking up and down and feeling the warm sun on my skin, I started to feel less zombie-like. I was in a good mood. And hungry. My stomach was gurgling for the first time in about 5 days. We walked around, and found this place. I wanted fried calamari, which this place had. It also had outdoor seating an accommodated dogs. I was in my finest fitness gear, sweaty and a little dusty. Wilson was being a bastard but he found a bully stick on the floor near the tables and we considered this a good sign. Something to occupy him while we ate. The service was very nice. The ambiance was also beautiful. It was warm. There were not too many people. No bugs. The bathroom was clean. I could just see the football game out of the corner of my eye. The food was ... Meh. The calamari was not bad, at least the first few pieces, the ones that had been sitting at the bottom of the fry basket as it went into the oil. As Gordon Ramsey would say: "disaster! Inconsistent! What were you thinking?" The ceasar salad had too much dressing and tasted too much like straight mayo. No tang. No garlic. At least the anchovies were reliable. Also a very small portion. My flat iron steak was pretty delicious in flavor although a bit sinewy in texture. I think Wilson enjoyed it a lot. Shhhh! Don't tell your Papa. And Don't Feed Dogs from the Table! The bloody mary was not quite there. Fiance said that the red wine he had tasted mediocre and the pour was very very cheap. It was less than the bulge of the glass. And the glass was not gigantic. Not in the least. It was more like a dieter's glass. And the pour was less than the bulgy part. If it were not for the fact that I had just had a horribly stressful 4 days and I felt like a troll, and this was the first time I'd been out side at this time in 4 days in the sun, it would have not been favorable. However, I felt the best that I've felt in days. Weeks even.
(3)Tracy C.
This place always looks busy so I finally gave it a try. I came here for an early dinner on a Friday night. I sat in the outdoor eating area and it was really nice. The menu is pretty simple. They have a wide variety of food to choose from. I tried the steak, cream of mushroom soup, and the gnocchi. They were all good. I'd definitely like to come back to try one of their pizzas. Good service, good food, nice ambiance.. I'd come back again.
(3)Jake H.
Came here for Mother's Day. This is a great Italian American restaurant. The service was great. The dinner was also great. The portions were a good size but not to large which I like. I also had an old fashioned which was made really well. For desert we tried the bread pudding and it was the best I had ever had. Give it a try it's great
(5)Cherylynn N.
My life revolves around Yelp so much so that I schedule my work around Yelp. Hey, at least it's better than online shopping right? So when I heard we would be going to Piacere for dinner, I of course immediately jumped on Yelp. When I reached Piacere's Yelp page, I didn't know whether to cry or laugh at all the 1-2 STAR reviews complaining about the rude, borderline offensive service and mediocre, overpriced food. To make matters worse, only ONE of my Yelp friends (I rely on you guys dearly) reviewed Piacere two years ago. NO BUENO. Let's just say I expected the very worst; think Chef Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares "worst". Was Piacere as bad as some people made it out to be? Not really, but it isn't a place I would go out of my way for. On Thursday, 8.4.11, my former HR team and I came to Piacere for dinner at 7:30 PM. We had to wait about 10 minutes to be seated without reservations. F O O D *HEIRLOOM TOMATO SALAD w/ Di Stefano Burrata, Basil & EVOO ($12) - 3.5 STARS yelp.com/biz_photos/BjgP… The trio of red, green and yellow heirloom tomatoes were nicely ripen to a tangy sweetness. The burrata had a creamy milkiness, though the texture was a little on the gummy side. *CALAMARI w/ Lemon Aioli & Cocktail Sauce ($12) - 4 STARS yelp.com/biz_photos/BjgP… The tender calamari was lightly battered and fried to a crunchy savory deliciousness. Just about everything tastes good fried right? I preferred the lemon aioli over the cocktail sauce because the lemon aioli tasted homemade. It was a great accompaniment adding a creamy tang to the calamari. *SUMMER SHORT RIB, Meyer Natural Gnocchi & Porcini Jus ($26) - 2 STARS yelp.com/biz_photos/BjgP… As a recommendation from our waiter, this dish was rather disappointing and didn't seem cohesive. The short rib was tender but dry with a texture more like of a brisket. It was also very bland and it was the first time I ever had to reach for the salt shaker. The porcini jus lacked any depth of flavor and was an odd pairing especially with the gnocchi in the dish; it was like eating gnocchi soup topped with short rib. I think a demi-glaze should have been used instead so it could adhere to the meat and give it some substance. The gnocchi was definitely not fresh (straight from the freezer?) as it was too al-dente and gummy; some parts were also burnt. S E R V I C E Based on some of the reviews, I expected the very worse in terms of service so imagine my amazement when we weren't face with rude service. I guess we lucked out. Our waiter was very friendly and charming, though lacked attentiveness because the restaurant was full. The bus boy did a good job making sure out water glasses were always filled though. Our apps came out within 10 minutes of ordering, though it took much longer for our entrees (~35 minutes after finishing our apps). A M B I A N C E / D E C O R Simply classy with rich brown and bronze décor and furnishings with crisp white linens. The outdoor patio is perfect for those warm summer nights. Although it's stated that there's a live band on the weekends only, there was a live jazz band playing the night we went for dinner. Piacere's overall 3 Star rating is on point. With lackluster food, I can understand why some Yelpers would give them 1-2 Stars especially if they got a bad server. As for those who gave 5 Stars, I want to know what exactly they are smoking because I want some of that.
(3)Ray F.
One of the best places for food and music in San Carlos. Being a musician Its important that the places we play cater to their customers and Piacere does that very well. Thank you Tony.
(4)Simon K.
Ate here again on Valentines day 2014. My wife persuaded me to give this place another try, since she's had good lunches there. Unfortunately, its still overpriced. The set menu for Valentines day was $75 a head without wine. Given the wine list was over $40 a bottle, the restaurant is putting themselves in the $100 a head price range for a nice meal with wine for two people. The food is okay Italian-American - there's nothing wrong with it, but it doesn't justify these prices. Similarly, the tables are squeezed so close together the waiters have trouble serving the plates. For $100 a head, I expect a memorable experience, and this restaurant still does not provide it.
(2)M B.
I'd say four stars or higher is what this restaurant deserves. I went to a mixer by a sister marketing association of my company and I found Piacere to have really professional service, not to mention the food as well. Speaking of food, I should mention that while I'm trying to get off red meat, I had a meatball appetizer here and I have to be blunt, Piacere has the best meatballs I've ever tasted. I LITERALLY concentrated more on finishing this appetizer than mingling with others people at the networking event at Tuesday of last week and it was worth every bite. Some other reviews point out service is super slow, not very friendly but I got completely the opposite reaction. Service was good and overall, I'd recommend anyone going here if you want really good reviews.
(5)Renee C.
We did the "Farmer's Market Callenge". We selected several items from the farmer's market just outside the door of the restaurant and presented our bounty to the chef. After asking about any allergies and culinary preferences, she proceeded to dazzle and delight us with dish after dish of beautifully prepared food - 9 dishes in all. She turned our blackberries into a "gastrique" for grilled pork chops, our fava beans and leeks into a bed for grilled salmon, and added our English peas to quinoa with bacon. One of the highlights was her transformation of corn on the cob into a polenta topped with pea greens. The grilled baby eggplants with heirloom tomato relish, and the salad of white nectarines, goat cheese and arugula were also delicious. A real "farm to table" experience perfect for those who follow a paleo diet or have other culinary preferences or restrictions.
(5)Stephanie L.
We were all very pleased with our experience. First off, the bread and olive oil mixed with herbs and balsamic vinegar were super tasty. We completely demolished two baskets worth because it was so delicious. We had the mussels for appetizer, and then I had the nudi gnocchi. The latter was very creamy and strongly flavored with truffle, as promised. Although the portion on first glance looked small, it was actually very filling, and I just managed to polish off the last of the sauce with more of the bread. Would definitely recommend for a nice meal out.
(5)Jim S.
Friday night dinner was great, band was awesome, service was good, we would def go back, shrimp app was great. Good times!!!
(4)Joanie c.
OK. we tried AGAIN after almost 3 years. We haven't gone there since August 2010. But we tried - AGAIN! We arrived and asked for a table, the hostess said, there's nothing inside but we have some tables outside coming right up. That worked perfect for us as our friends were just being seated outside next to the table she was referring to, the table SHE herself pointed out. Perfect! We waited, and waited, and during our wait, I kept reminding the hostess about this empty table next to our friends. What's the status with seating us...next to our friends??? I asked three times over the course of about 30 minutes (while this table sat empty). Then, we look over and they've sat another party at that table. that had come in way after us. WHAT? Astounding. Their excuse was that they could squeeze 5 at that table. We were only two at that point (although we had others coming to meet us - who then we called and told not to bother to meet up with us). The table had sat empty for 30+ minutes. (we know because we hadn't eaten dinner yet! The hostess could not do her job as there was some man making all her decisions for her. I truly don't even know why they hire a hostess since she has no authority to seat people and defers all decisions to that man. Luckily, we didn't even get to order food, so we didn't waste any money or tastebuds on that aspect. (The bartender, Alexis, is a lovely girl and was very nice and empathic to our plight.) Bravo, Piacere. You are consistent.
(1)Alexis J.
Across the street from the scene at Town, I think Piacere is the place to be! I've been here without a reservation on a Friday night, while a slightly cheesy cover band ranged from Johnny Cash to U2, and the sizzling shrimp appetizer made for a delicious sidewalk snack. This place has become a regular brunch spot, too. We get to sit outside in the shade, drink mimosas (or a blend with the poinsettia, which the waiters are kind enough to concoct if you ask nicely), and oh, my word, the breakfast. I stand by the breakfast pizza - eggs, bacon, fennel. I had to force myself to branch out last time, and I was so glad, because the eggs florentine are delicious. Polenta, spinach, and cheesy eggs make for a decadent start to the day. It doesn't hurt that we finish each time with a mix of jelly- and Nutella-filled donuts. The waitstaff is great, always friendly and patient with a group of chatty knitters on a Sunday morning - a definite win!
(5)Javiera C.
1st time experience was this past New Years. They had a 4 course set menu for the occasion. A little bit on the expensive side, but all the food was delicious! I would definitely recommend going here on a romantic date.
(4)Steven S.
Lebanese owner Tony. Congenial, good solid Italian Food. Osso Buco and roast chicken very good. Modest prices, modest wines. Very comfortable and friendly. Service is good.
(4)Anna B.
Went there the other night with mom for dinner. We has the mussels, gnocchi and some yummy cherry bread budding. They muscles were very good, I loved the flavor. The gnocchi NUDI were to die for! I could eat a large plate every night! Can't wait to go back for some more! The service was outstanding! Our waitress was very sweet, knowledgable on the menu and very attentive! Can't wait to go back!
(5)Michelle C.
Went here for lunch today with my 11 month old son and his nanny. What a treat to have lunch with my son during the busy work day right? And I broke my diet to have a burger. Ugh. The restaurant wasn't that busy, but it took them 45 minutes to bring our food to us and when they did, the sliders were inedible. They were cold, looked like rubber on the outside and were raw inside. The app we ordered was burned and very small. Will never eat here again. Please spare yourself the bad experience. The kitchen staff appear completely inept and the host (likely the owner) never bothered to drop by to apologize for the wait and horrible food.
(1)Lauren H.
I came here with a large group for brunch on Sunday and we were all very happy. I loved that we were seated at a round table so we could all see and talk to each other. I got the chicken pot pie and instead of being thick and creamy, it had more of a chicken broth consistency which made me feel less guilty for eating it as I'm sure it was a bit healthier.
(4)Buddy S.
The best time to go is when they have their Sunday Brunch and if you go right when they open, you can snag one of the tables along the sidewalk. Located right in the middle of Downtown San Carlos, it's the perfect location to meet friends and family. Try the Carmelized Onion Pizza - it's to die for. I only wish they would bring back their Apple Cider Sangria made with fresh apples.
(4)C M.
Johnny at Piacere is an excellent bartender. He makes a mean Sazerac, and their watermelon-basil cocktail is amazing. We also really liked the blackberry-and-gin cocktail. Recommended!
(5)Fancypants J.
This review is for Easter Brunch only. Advertised $35pp brunch with the following: "On the table for everyone to start: Fresh Melon, Berries, Walnut Coffeecake, Mini Blueberry-Ginger Muffins, Scones" When we arrived on time for our reservation our table was not set up (there were empty tables) and we had to wait. It took another 10 mins for someone to come by and ask what drinks we wanted. Since they were serving a set menu I assumed the items mentioned above would be on the table or placed there shortly after we were seated. Wrong. After another 10-15 minutes, our entree orders were taken and some time after that we received a plate on the table with the following: 3 stale half pieces of small brioche bread 3 tiny pieces of scone-looked like less than 1/2 a scone had been divided up for 3 people Unripe thin small slices of cantaloupe blueberries unripe half slices of strawberry about 4 pieces of pineapple (for 3 people to share-awesome) Our entrees came out a lot faster than anything else had. Very small portions. My mother in law & I both had the salmon. Husband had corned beef hash. His lacked flavor and needed salt and pepper. For dessert we were supposed to receive "For everyone to finish: Chocolate Marble Cheesecake, Strawberry Tartlets, Brown Sugar Shortbread, Cream Puffs, Pecan Bars" What we actually received: 3 tiny squares of lemon bar (less than 1 inch in diameter), 3 tiny squares of chocolate cheesecake, 3 small wedges of brownie cake and 3 small pieces of cake with a cream center. You would think reading words like SCONES and TARTLETS that you would at least be getting a mini version of a WHOLE pastry but these cheap bastards didn't even give us that. Brunch came to about $150 with tax and tip. This was for 3 set meals, 2 non alcoholic drinks and one soda. Never again.
(1)Red R.
Mothers day brunch was just ok... And the service was sloppy! Not a hugh fan of reading reviews from holidays, so you can take or leave my comments.
(3)Timothy D.
Went here for a business meeting. This place has a nice ambiance to it. Unfortunately the cost and taste of the food did not meet expectations. I ordered the Meyer burger for about $14. It was dry, had a burnt taste, and the patty was very small compared to the bun. If they had flattened it out then it would have fit perfectly for the bun that they had used. The burger came with some garlic fries that were good but slightly under cooked. Wouldn't go back here again as there are far better burger joints in this nice area.
(2)Eric S.
Great food, the staff has always been friendly. This place is must go in your in San Carlos.
(5)Chris W.
Consistently one of the best places to eat/drink in San Carlos. Always a favorite of mine when in town. The mussels are superb
(4)Peter E.
We had a great Saturday night experience. Got us a tab,e even though we were quite late on our reservation. Had great service from beginning to end. - awesome mussels appetizer - wood fire grilled - bison tri tip - well seasoned, but I would have liked mine bitt more rare - whole fish - well done and filleted -good wine selection - we tried 5 different ones Our waitress compd us an extra glass due to a mistake they made.. Nice. Very good live music ion Sat nigh.3.
(4)Kara F.
My husband and I have had several nice dinners at Piacere. I was very much looking forward to having dinner there on Valentine's day and made the reservation several weeks in advance on opentable. I received a call at noon ON Valentine's day, stating that the only menu available was the $75 prix fixe. Unfortunately, this was not advertised on open table. As the prix fixe menu (which I finally found buried on the website) did not look appealing, we cancelled our reservation. This left us on the afternoon of Valentines day with no dinner reservation and everywhere else on the peninsula already booked up. I was extremely disappointed.
(3)Meg R.
My meal was fantastic! The beet salad and butternut squash ravioli are so so delicious! Having family members who have allergies, I really appreciated how the menu called out the GF, vegetarian and vegan items. That makes ordering so much easier. I didn't give it a 5 because I was not impressed with the selection of desserts. But this really is some of the best Italian food I have had on the Peninsula.
(4)Donna K.
Ordered the beet salad, the Caesar salad with chicken and split a pizza. Everything was excellent. It was actually my first time drinking a Moscow Mule in an actual copper mug. I can taste the difference. Wish I lived closer, but it's worth the drive from San Jose.
(4)Carrie C.
The only reason there is one star is for the music and decor. Food and service were awful. Yes, awful. Food was SO bad it was sent back and nothing was ordered in it's place. Utter Fail. But let's get down to the nitty gritty.....COUGARTOWN. I've never seen the show but I imagine this is what it must be like. Meat Market and Trollers for 35 and up (Some way up). The desperation and lack of any couth was like watching a train wreck over and over, I just couldn't look away.... I was ashamed to think these were my peers...I was ashamed to be seen there!
(1)DD M.
Overpriced and under flavored. We only went here because Town was closed and i am actually astonished that they recommended this place - prob just cuz its across the street. 1) the muscles: covered in oil with a melted butter for dipping. 2) calamari : boring and oily 3) the baked brow was good, it was a pizza style Brie on flat bread. Tasty. 4) the pulled chicken sandwich. Just plain chicken it was moist but no flavor, no sauce just on bread with cheese lettuce and tomato. So boring. $85 including tip. Will never be back.
(2)Nicole F.
Nice day to sit outside to bad the guy at the table next to us just stood up to smoke, smoke was going straight in our faces...not cool! Bottomless mimosas they mean oj first round 2nd round good n back to oj....what's up with that?? Don't offer bottomless then :p my BF only had water n no refill offered nor given...argh! I asked the same busser for a water refill 3 times before getting it...really!! WTF! The waiter "went upstairs" n asked his busser to watch his table...ut oh...the server must not tip his busser well because that guy showed us no attention. Horrible service...u could tell the server tried to make up for it but at that point we were bitter. Food was REALLY good a little pricey but worth it. Service not good and because of it unfortunately WON'T go back. Happy Birthday Mom...sorry bout your bday lunch! :(
(1)Gita R.
It's an absolutely amazing place, the appetizer, food and dessert, all are wonderful. We went there for my friend's birthday and we enjoyed it a lot. We shared the kale salad, calamari and prawn for appetizer, steak, salmon and chicken for main course, all very well seasoned and perfectly cooked, for dessert we had the nectarine pie with another fruity dessert. OMG the nectarine pie is to die for! I diffidently go back to this restaurant, if you are looking for a great high quality food, I highly recommend this place.
(5)Linda A.
Farmers market challenge was the bomb. Chef took okra, corn, artichokes, berries and made a fabulous meal for us. Can't wait to do it again.
(5)Dan B.
I took the family to Piacere a few years ago, had a great meal, then promptly forgot to write it up. Thanks to Jennifer L's review, it went right back on my radar screen, and we made a return family visit with the mom-in-law in town. First of all, I'm amazed that Piacere is not labeled as kid-friendly on Yelp. Apparently the locals know better - We saw A LOT of families here, and their kids' menu was excellent. My daughter was as happy as a clam. The menu: Oh so many delicious choices! You know it's going to be a good meal when everything sounds great. Steaks; short ribs with gnocchi; wood-fired whole fish. I went with a classic: the filet mignon. The mom-in-law got a mini pizza, and my not-hungry wife got a salad and shared my filet and our calamari app. My carnivore daughter chose the kids steak and potatoes. It was ALL excellent, though my daughter's steak could have been better (she's spoiled by the good stuff) And I HAD to get the corn cakes, based again on Jennifer L's review. Dearlordtheseweregood (did I say that too fast?). Very unique, like sweet corn on the cob distilled into a savory pancakes. My critical error was announcing their deliciousness, after which the hoards (also known as my family) descended, so I got less than that I would have liked. The tomatoes on the side were perfection. I would like to give Piacere 5 stars, but the service was so spotty that I'll have to withhold one. Our waitress was excellent at first, recommending the perfect cocktail for me, the French 75 (sort of a dutch gin version of a G and T). But then she forgot my request for a wine list, mixed up our food orders, and brought our daughter ice cream even though we asked for no dessert please. (We treated her earlier). Still, I like the place. And despite the higher prices I want to put Piacere on our regular family rotation list. Maybe next time I'll get more corn cakes!
(4)J G.
Making this review short and sweet. Booked a reservation here on valentines day. I completely understand the prix fixe menu on valentines day. However, the menu was substandard. I ordered the pasta. Two out of the four tortellini were not stuffed. The sauce was a buttery soup with little flavor. The appetizer had little flavor and by the time it hit the table you could tell it had been sitting under the heat lamp a little long. Anyway, we went a couple months before valentines day and the story was the same for the food. What made valentines worse was the pricing was astronomical. Enough said. There are plenty other restaurants in San Carlos.
(1)Nadia N K.
Came here on a Sunday for brunch. Started off with a yummy mimosa and mussels. Mussels were perfectly done. The baked eggs were deee-lish, it came with a side of bacon salad. Not enough bacon in the salad, so we ordered a side of it. My beet salad & side of brussels sprouts were very nicely done. As for the service, the waiter we had was very nice, however it took quite a bit long to get our food & it wasn't busy in the restaurants. Overall, I'd go back again.
(4)Brooke G.
I've been back to Piacere and feel the the service and food has greatly improved recently! Very happy with a baby shower that was hosted for me there. I'd go back again soon!
(4)Thomas Y.
I have been to Piacere 3 times and last nite was my most recent visit. The first 2 times were WOW! Great! However, last nite was a bit disappointed!! The food was good but it took a long time for things arrive. That's still OK. The problem was my entree. I ordered chicken breast - Very tasty. But part of it, the wing area, was RAW!!! And I discovered it when I was almost done with the chicken - The time when I tried to tackle the wing! I asked for our server and what he was "Oh No. That's not good!" Of course, I was unhappy about this! He then asked what I would like to do and if I wanted another one!! No apologies!! What am I gonna say...another one please?? Or give this to me for free? I didn't want to make a scene out of this and was wondering if the restaurant will do anything about this. NOTHING!! AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED!! NO APOLOGIES. NO MENTION OF TAKING THIS OFF THE BILL!! Could have been a 5 star review...but come on guys! A classy restaurant charging 20 some dollar for chicken breast should take serving RAW chicken a serious matter!
(2)Kevin H.
Came here for a business meeting because another restaurant was a longer wait. The restaurant seemed pretty empty and the host was extremely forward and excited to seat us. I started off with a lemonade (free refills), which was delicious--not too sweet, but just right. The bread that they served was fresh and soft. I got the Pasta Forno, which sounded great on the menu and in my head, however, that wasn't the case. I was pretty disappointed with the blandness of the sauce. For a dish as pricey as the Pasta Forno, I do not want some pasta in a soup. I was pretty disappointed with the food. The others had a steak salad, which was pretty good; and two pizzas (which didn't look that great) I would skip this place and go across the street...or down the street because there are so many places on this block.
(2)Afshan L.
I had my birthday brunch there last Sunday;) 13 adults and 2 kids and 3 babies. Although we already made a reservation for the group we had to wait to get our table ready( note: we were one of the first guest that day so it wasn't a busy time) The food was very tasteful but I wish their brunch selection was better. It was very small specially their kids menu. Their service was good but at times they seemed a bit overwhelmed to take care of such a big group. I wouldn't go there again for the brunch but I still like the place for an romantic lunch or dinner date with my husband( btw: we have been there many times for lunch my husband and I and we loved the food, service and the ambiance!!! I guess they work better with only small group.
(3)K D.
...this used to be one our favorite restaurants.. The last few times we went the food was sub-par. The "risotto" was bland over cooked rice with a few mushed peas. My scallops were full of sand and under cooked. The cucumber salad was hard to eat because the chunks were so big. The live music is way too loud- you can no longer talk to your dinner guests. They are trying to be something they are not. Piacere should go back to the quality food they had ten years ago.
(1)Tiffany K.
For our department Holiday party, eleven of us came to dine at Piacere. Overall, Piacere is okay - everything here is both great and bad, so that leaves me at a middle point for my review. First off, the decor here is beautiful - gorgeous, modern, American dining room. They have a few separate rooms, which makes it nice for regular diners and private parties. The entire place is aesthetically great. The service can be good and bad, depending on who you're are dealing with. Hostesses were fine, nothing to complain about. The servers are kind of aloof and sometimes look like they're wandering around not knowing what they're doing or what to do. However, the owner/manager is very nice and vibrant, who came out to make a visit to our table. Now here's the deal with the food - some items are great, some are mediocre, and some were just downright bad. These are the dishes I got to try: Appetizers: - Prosciutto: Horrible - the Prosciutto here is thick, rubbery, and tasteless - Corn Dogs: This appetizer was good - gourmet version of the original - Mushrooms with Truffle Oil: The truffle oil was delicious, but mushrooms were okay Salad: - Hearts of Romaine: Bland and salad was drenched in dressing - my coworker also had the same issue with her same salad Entree: - Butternut Squash Ravioli - delicious; great tasting sauce, pasta and filling. Dessert: - Chocolate Cake w/Ice Cream & Raspberry Sauce: The cake was way too sweet and rich, also very hard - Bread Pudding: Pretty good - 7.5/10 for a bread pudding. Overall, everything here is on the opposite ends of the spectrum for me. Some things are good, some are bad. But what tips off the bad side even more is that the food here is very expensive - this place is your typical over-priced, very mediocre American fare.
(3)Meghan V.
The food was acceptable but lackluster. The service...terrible, terrible terrible. We came with a party of 12 for dinner on Mother's Day. We arrived right at 5pm with four children in the party - by 7:30 we had not even given a dessert order. Some of our party had to leave because the younger children just couldn't sit there any longer. We had to ask for water - ask for bread so the kids had SOMETHING to snack on - even had to ask for children's menus. There was an air of annoyance every time we asked for something and the waiter would disappear for 15 minutes or so in between every stop at the table, even if just bringing one extra drink for someone. They appeared not to care much at all, maybe because of the guaranteed tip on the size of the party. We will definitely never be back and happy to tell others to steer clear.
(1)Florio M.
oh no... no reservation available at Town!!! So we got one across the street at Piacere... I started the evening with a Vanilla Sidecar from the bar, which was a sophisticated delight (wow...i am sounding sooo posh) But the drink was good, despite the fact our bartender forgot it was just added to the menu....=*D Dinner was very good as well: the Veal, Hen, Lamb, and pizza were all received and finished by all... Best notes: the restaurant has a beautiful decor and the live band they had that night was off the hook... Another wonderful night with good friends... enough said...
(4)Shannon B.
Piacere is one of my favorite places to go in downtown San Carlos. It's such a great atmosphere and lots to offer. We had my dad's birthday party there last year in one of the wine rooms, and set up a pre-selected menu for the occasion. There are many different options and the service is very pleasant in accomodating large groups for special events. They even have live entertainment on weekend nights!
(4)Jennifer W.
I dined here last night with my boyfriend and his family, in celebration of his parent's wedding anniversary. Now, I am a bit ashamed to admit that I have dined here before, but did not write a review. The reason being that when we ate here a few months ago, we just were not that impressed. It was decent, but there was a lot left to be desired, and the place had great potential, so I decided not to write a review until I gave Piacere one more chance. Well, I am glad that I waited, because our dinner last night was great. We started out with drinks from the bar, and my boyfriend's sister and I had the passion fruit martinis. They were good, albeit a bit bitter, which normally signifies that the juice batch was starting to turn. Not too horrible, it was still good, but I am glad we had the drinks that day versus today or tomorrow. I had the oysters and spinach salad for an appetizer and both were excellent. The oysters were big and hearty and with 6 on the plate, were easy to share. The salad was perfect, with just the right amount of dressing and topping of onions. For the main course I had the veal piccata with polenta and asparagus and it really was perfectly done. Everyone else had no complaints about their food and we all ended up sharing and trying a bite of each other's dinners. We completed our night with desserts of profiteroles and cream puffs, and, again, were a perfect hit. Service was great and I just can't say enough good things about this restaurant. I really can not wait to go back again. Thank you Piacere for surprising us with a great meal on our return and for providing a memorable experience!
(5)Clarence C.
I think Yelp should allow for 0 stars, because that is what I would give this place. Piacere in San Carlos was the WORST service in the history of mankind. Not only were they unapologetic for losing my reservation (that I had made 2 months in advance) and seating me outside in a makeshift tent that had a draft, but each course that I had was cold as well. The waiter asked the obligatory 'how was your meal' question at the end of the night. I explained that my filet mignon was charred and cold, and didn't like the location of our seats, he simply said 'I'm sorry for your inconvenience', dropped the check, and walked away. I had previously made these comments on CitySearch, but it seems that Piacere pays to have these type of comments removed. I hope Yelp does not fall prey to this type of 'advertiser' behavior as well. Piacere - the name should be piece o' crapiere.
(1)Kate M.
A beautiful restaurant but the absolute worst service I have had the misfortune to have for a birthday dinner. The baked brie was a small brie pizza The steaks were laden with grisle. The waiter never returned to ask how everything tasted or if we needed anything, Fighting back the urge to whistle, I had to go find another server to ask him to find our server after sitting for ten minutes at an empty table waiting for a check or the opportunity to order dessert. After letting them know it was my birthday, we ordered the gelato which took far too long to arrive and was half melted when served at the table. No birthday recognition at our table, but for the table we passed on the way out there was a candle and a song. We will never return.
(1)Kara H.
Gee, really wish I could make it three and half stars. We were there for dinner on Thurs. the same day there is a great farmers market right in front. Perhaps inspired by the market I gave the "heirloom" carrot salad a try. My first heirloom carrot experience! it turns out they are colored like the tomatoes. Yellow and red, it was lovely presentation and quite tasty. I had the fish with artichokes and really liked it. However, the BF didn't fare as well. He didn't like his salad too much, can't say I did either, it was weird take on Caesar. Then he didn't like his pasta too much either. It looks like I this time I was the one who ordered well! So come to think of it, three stars is probably just about right.
(3)Adrian H.
Went there for weekend brunch. Very good service & food. Material very fresh & healthy. The bread is the most excellent. Hard to say what kind of cuisine is it though, more like a modern American type of place with a bit of everything, from pasta to pizza to burger & crepes. Definitely highly recommended & I prefer it over Town across the street.
(5)Warren B.
I don't know what all the negative reviews are about, this place is great, in fact it is my favorite spots in San Carlos. We even had our wedding reception here. The best time to go is on Thursday farmers market. It has a great open bar in the front with optional outside seating. The back area is much more romantic and great for date night dinners. The service has always been really great and the people who work there are really cool. The ultimate test for any cool happy hour bar to me is, do they have blue cheese stuffed olives, and yep, this place does! Some of the dinner menu can be a little pricey but the food is fantastic. Highly recommend the Buffalo trip tip or the sliders. They also have live entertainment and some amazing local bands playing there on the weekend nights. it is a great fun vibe to go with friends or family alike.
(4)Bradley W.
Nice decor especially the bar area. I love the happy hours specials and the bartender Noe. She can make the perfect cocktail to go with anything. Service is top notch and they have enough room to have large parties.
(4)Jasmine V.
My Husband, and I decided to venture somewhere new for dinner....Piacere is where we ended up, and it was great overall. It happened to be a Thursday night so the streets were filled with Farmer's market aficionados which just added to the great vibe on Laurel Street. The hostess was sweet, and obliged when I asked her to seat us close to the large open windows spilling into the street action, as well as positioned perfectly to see & here the live music. Live music is always a plus! Our waitress (I think her name was Roxanne) was super sweet, funny and pleasant. We are big on service, and hers was fantastic! My Husband's Mojito was delicious and very fresh, my glass of wine was perfect and the food was tasty overall. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because my meal was a tad overcooked, and it wasn't in-expensive. All in all I would happily come back!
(4)Jennifer L.
I had brunch here the other day and order the eggs Benedict. The hollandaise sauce was creamy and the greens it came with were delicious can't wait to try something else...I've also been there for dinner a couple of times and its always been great. The cocktails are very tasty and have a kick. Service could have been better but the food has always been tasty
(4)Nilu r.
We had a really nice experience here, I am shocked by the some of the lackluster reviews! After being turned away from Town at 3 pm because their "kitchen was closed"...and yet we could see food being prepared...Anyway, that was lame on a Saturday afternoon...so we walked across the street, sat right away at a lovely table outside on the patio. We ordered some beer, 1 app and a burger to share. The goat cheese and frilled fig appetizer was fantastic! Smokey, complex, delicious. The burger was HUGE and while I had a small part of it, the rest completely satisfied my 6'4" hungry boyfriend. I must say the meat was cooked to perfection! it is so rare to get a true "medium" without it getting too cooked. This was one of the better burgers I have eaten. I loved the dog-friendly front patio, the service was good and attentive, the food was delicious and priced reasonably. I would definitely go back there.
(5)Katrina O.
Beautiful place, i love the outdoor seating, but the service and food was subpar The Caprese salad had *no* basil. the shame! the lobster ravioli was decent but tiiiiiiny portions
(2)Michelle C.
Piacere's is a phenomenal Italian restaurant offering both a romantic setting as well as a contemporary atmosphere for a gathering of friends. They have an extensive wine list and delectable cuisine.
(4)Rob Y.
Great place to eat outdoor.
(4)Pat G.
Good service, atmosphere..crisp, fresh salads, but both of our pasta dishes we just ok.. The pasta was a bit tough, like it wasn't cooked properly..will probably try it again, though.
(3)Andrea M.
Do not waste your time on terrible service and overpriced, bland food. I made a reservation FIVE days in advance for 8pm on Friday, February 10th. For a Peninsula restaurant, that is a lot of advance notice and at the very least should guarantee a table ready upon arrival, if not one of the better tables in the place. We arrived at 8:05pm (I had kindly called the hostess at 7:45 to let her know we were running 5 minutes late, which she said was no problem at all since they were very busy) and checked in with the hostess, who told us to wait by the (extremely crowded) bar while our table was prepared. 15 minutes passes (while our party of 4 is standing in the very small space where waiters are constantly passing through with food and drinks) so we ask how much longer it will be. The hostess says that the people at our table still haven't left, and offers us the drink menu. Finally at 8:40 (!!!!) the unfriendly hostess takes us to the corner of the restaurant, right by the kitchen, to a table that is laughably small. It is obviously meant for only 2 people, because the chairs are backing into divider walls, and there is no space in between the two chairs on each side. We were literally crushed like sardines - there was absolutely no room. Wish I had taken a photo. I asked the hostess if this table was meant for 4 people and she snarkily replied "yeah, actually it is." I told her there was no way we would be comfortable here and they moved us to a different table (easily TWICE the size of our old one... aka a regular sized table for 4 people) 10 minute later. At this point it is almost 9pm, keep in mind our reservation was at 8. We sit at the new table for about 10 more minutes before a waiter comes by our table and asks (I kid you not) "has someone come by this table yet?" Uhhh... isn't that YOUR job to know which tables are in your section? I was flabbergasted at how dumb he sounded. We ordered a bottle of wine, a couple of appetizers to share, and a variety of entrees. The food itself was ok, nothing noteworthy or memorable though. I have eaten at many, many restaurants in the City that charge around the same prices and have much better quality food, not to mention service. Our apathetic waiter probably stopped by the table once after taking our order. We literally had to wave him down to ask for more icewater. After waiting close to an hour for a reserved table, and being seated at a table they clearly just jerry-rigged for a larger party due to an error in reservation management, you would expect the restauran'ts manager to AT LEAST come by and apologize, perhaps even comp an appetizer or dessert. Nothing. I will never come back here -- save your money and sanity and go to Town across the street.
(1)hima s.
I have this theory that folks who live in the 'burbs have low standards because there are very few really good restaurants and they will therefore rave about anything that is marginally decent. Piacere clearly falls into this bucket. I went to Piacere a few weeks ago with some girlfriends and, while the ambiance was good (until the DJ started), our waiter knew nothing about wine and the food was ok, not delicious. I had been a few times before years ago with my husband and my reaction was much the same.
(2)Lauren G.
_____UPDATE_______________________________________Â___ I believe the owner/manager/someone involved in the restaurant Piacere just messaged me this: "Piacere hasn't had the mentioned Rabbit Risotto on the menu for almost a year now. Also, we are having a new chef for more then 10 months now." All I have to say is: do I need reservations? Yes, I did wait a while to reviwe this place since trying it and to be real, I probably wouldn't have reviewed it at all had I not been having one of those especially slow work days. Either way, I'm going to swing back for a second round and, hopefully, be proven completely wrong about this eatery :) They automatically get one more star because they even give a fuck what a random person like me thinks, way to care gurl! __________________________________________________Â____ My parents live down in the BA and my boyfriend's business partner lives in San Carlos - so, we get around. I literally forgot to review this place because nothing about the meal was memorable, not trying to be a dick - honest. There are so many great places to eat in the BA and this is not one of them, although - I will give it to them, they make you want to believe the food is good. The menu blends Euro-cool terms well into a stylish environment that's simultaneously inside and outside, attempting to be a 'see and be seen' type of atmosphere. If I were one of those 'judge a book by its cover' type people, I would have been satisfied with this place. Alas, that is not the case. One major problem: the food we had was about as palatable as a cement wall and wall is more worth the calories. For lunch we ordered some type of rabbit risotto that tasted like it was coated in ketchup sauce. So much so that we couldn't even identify pieces of rabbit in it. Then there was the lamb sandwich. I'm a love of lamb, big tiempo. Well, not this lamb. It was really over-cooked and tasteless, I fed it to Ruben, whom later spat it out in the form of Ass Vomit. I think this restaurant should switch to monthly menus until they find their niche, maybe that would work better? I dunno, Town is right across the street and really good so there is plenty of incentive for this restaurant to step it up and work that shit - steal some of Town's constant crowd of patrons. Probably won't give this place a second try, lo siento.
(2)Ryn o.
good food restrooms smell like piss. no excuse
(1)Christine C.
I'm sorry but I need to give this place 2 stars. I want to like this place, I really would. The appetizers are good and lunch here was great once. However, the last time I went here we had some major issues. Food came out very slowly and was so BLAND. Two people in my party ordered some sort of crab angelhair pasta...boring. Absolutely zero flavor and the pasta was overcooked. We had to ask for pepper and salt to make it taste ok. Biggest issue, two others (including myself) also ordered the special of the night, their pot pie. Let's note that this pot pie wasn't even a pot pie, it was a unflavored stew with a pastry crust. Still not that terrible...BUT biggest issue: there were chicken pieces in my food! Full on pieces of bone and cartilage...GROSS. I mentioned this to our server and all she had to say was that it happens. Um excuse me, no. That should not happen when we pay over $25 for a plate of it. Chicken pieces aren't acceptable at any decent restaurant. She didn't even try to comp one of our terrible meals when we had spent plenty on appetizers, wine & full courses. Needless to say, I will never be returning here. It was definitely a mistake to not go somewhere on the street where food is exceptional.
(2)Reese A.
This is a great place to go for a ton of reasons. Good cocktail, good food, good ambiance. There are a few people that work here, one I think is the owner, who don't know how to smile and she looks like she is just waiting for a moment to talk shit about half her costumers. That aside the brunch is great. the happy hour wonderful. Just recently I had the squash with black rice and I think it was one of the best veggie dishes I have ever had. It was filling and fresh but rich as well, with a balsamic reduction and a drizzle of pesto. YUM! I will be ordering that again! I understand why some people give this place a bad review but for me the times I have gone here and it is a total delight out weigh the times it is a bit of a let down. If you had a bad time at Piacere a time or two don't write it off because it does have the ability to wow you.
(4)Bev L.
Awful Valentine's dinner tonight at my favorite place to eat. The lobster was like rubber and tough and the potatoes were dry and hard. We paid extra for crab on our salads and it was hard to find and the salad was watery. Price was adjusted for Valentines day to fixed menu of $82.pp- will never go back there again. Service was poor too.
(1)Vicki B.
My friend and I had lunch here on Saturday and were very happy with the experience. I have a small dog and it was a beautiful day so we sat outside. I have been here before for lunch about 5 times but never dinner. I had the Hangar Steak salad which was very good with arugula and some fancy mushrooms. Personally I prefer portabello mushrooms. I am a little surprised at all the poor reviews - specially for the service. There was nothing exceptional about our server but he did the job and we had no complaints.
(4)Keith R.
Piacere differentiates itself from other Italian restaurants in San Carlos by eschewing the homey, rustic Italian and going for a more fresh approach. When you get your food the freshness of the ingredients seem to scream off the plate. None of the food is overly complicated, but is full of flavor with bright olive oil, creamy cheese, and crisp bread. The menu is solid although not overly large. There won't be tons of choices for everyone, but there should be at least one thing for everyone. I recommend the salads, fish and anything with cheese. The one thing to be very aware of is that service is almost painfully slow, so be sure to get yourself a glass of wine to help the time go back.
(4)Kim N.
I've giving this place a 3.5 stars. My friend and I both did the combo soup+salad & half sandwich for $13. The food was pretty good but nothing too special and the half sandwich was a bit on the small side. It looks a lot like the dinner menu is more exciting than the lunch one and the reviews from the various Yelpers seem to support that. The ambiance is very business/power feeling and the decor/service is upscalish too. I guess I should probably try a few more things, possibly dinner (which it seems more suited for) to get a really good feel for the place.
(3)Perry W.
While being up downtown San Carlos for a second day with my brother-in-law we weren't sure where to have lunch. With my brother-in-law being type-1 diabetic it narrows the choices where we can eat. After walking down Laurel Street and studying several menus we decide to give Piacere a try. On the menu is states the definition of Piacere as "pleasure, to please, a source of delight or joy". Upon entering we were immediately seated at the covered outdoor seating area. Our waitress was quick with taking getting us menus and taking drink orders. After studying the menu for a few moments I decide to try the Crispy Striped Bass Sandwich while my brother-in-law orders the Lamb Sandwich. Even though we enjoyed the scenery and the ambiance of the downtown area, the wait for our food seemed a bit lengthy. Also, my water glass went empty before it was refilled, and the same with my brother-in-laws ice tea. When our food did arrive I was a bit disappointed in my Striped Bass sandwich. The amount of fish was very skimpy and didn't seem proportionate to the ciabatta bread it came on. My sandwich came with some Yukon Gold potato chips which seemed a bit anemic for the dish. The fish was topped with a tasty aioli and grilled onions. My brother-in-law's Lamb sandwich looked great and was confirmed to be full or flavor and juicy. His sandwich came with potato salad that also looked good. Overall, the service lacked a bit and the kitchen seemed a touch slow to get the food out. Each of our sandwiches were $12 which seemed in-line with other restaurants in the area. I would like to return and try some of the other dishes, and hopefully the service will be a bit more on the ball. I give Piacere Ristorante 3 Stars on my first trip there, though it has yet to fully live up to it's definition.
(3)Z A.
Compared to our dining experience at Vivace Ristorante over in Belmont, Piacere is EXCEPTIONALLY better. Host and hostess are very friendly and down to earth. Waiters are very friendly and attentive. True, this neighborhood can get a little sleepy at night. But no matter what time of the day, the food is really REALLY good. The skirt steak rare is so delectable. Salmon is absolutely divine. For appetizers, the chanterelle mushrooms are exquisite. If you want to try a different wine, give the 2005 red wine from Cambiata Winery of Monterey, California, a chance. A nice bold tannat varietal that gives an interesting tanginess that complements anything savory or tangy, like the skirt steak rare and the chanterelle mushrooms. You can't go wrong with this restaurant. Would suggest taking one of the outdoor patio tables if you can. It can get noisy inside if there is a major sports event going on, as they have TV's over the bar area. They have very warm heat lamps in the patio area if it's cold. It is actually much more romantic outside anyway.
(4)Jackeline D.
Great atmosphere and outstanding service. Romantic but yet family oriented. The food was out of this world... A must have experience! Brett Fairbanks is awesome to work with and very accommodating, he made our Christmas Party a Success. Thanks Brett!!!
(5)Erin M.
One word: Inconsistent. Our first visit was filled with delicious cocktails, the most authentic foccacia I've tasted since Italy and simple yet flavorful appetizers and entrees. The service was a tad bit slow, but the food and atmosphere overshadowed any problems. Then, my parents come to visit and we realize we have the perfect spot to take them. We arrive with reservations on a Friday night and are seated quickly. From there, we had three different servers, entrees that came out with appetizers and everything just seemed off. Meats were on the tough side and the highlight was the pizza my dad ordered. I'll try again, but maybe just order drinks and appetizers at the bar. 'Cause the drinks are still *damn* good.
(3)drew M.
My friend, wife and I ate there on 9/4. I ordered the salmon meal. Perfect size with the fresh corn cakes, delicious! The calamari was one of the best that I have ever had! Morak took care of us and the music was good too.
(4)Carol L.
Piacere has become my go-to Italian place. From the complimentary olive oil dip, to flat bread sandwiches and homemade soups at lunch, to pasta and dinner entrees, everything is bursting with freshness. They use high quality ingredients and generous amounts of fresh herbs. The results are delicious food. The prices are very reasonable as well.
(4)Alison N.
My cousin was in town and I had a gift certificate for this place, so I thought that would be the perfect opportunity. Sadly, I wouldn't go back unless I was given another GC or taken there. I ordered the seared sea bass as was recommended by our server. My cousin had the seared salmon. Note they were both "seared", however, the sea bass came out truly seared and the salmon was cooked all the way through. Honestly, I would've preferred if my fish was cooked a little more. It was a bit off-putting when you cut into a fish with a lovely crispy skin and the meat is still raw and stringy. Plus, it was salty. So was the salmon. I can't recall how many places I've been to where the chef thinks that mass amounts of salt will cover poor quality food. Good thing my cousin likes her food on the saltier side, otherwise I would've felt horrible about taking her there. The 3 stars are really for the furniture and upholstery. The table we had was right in front of the restaurant and looked out onto Laurel. The booth was really nice and cushy with super high backs. Loved it. Final verdict: go for drinks and apps, not so much for a meal.
(3)David P.
Wife and I have been going here for years before it got its make over a year or two ago. Yes, its upscale but never found it especially pretentious -- at least compared with Town or its predecessor with its "food concepts" across the streets. Would it be oximoronic to say its cozy, `neighbor-upscale? Always found the service to be efficient with a warm touch. Good Italian menu with some creative touches. And the bar is always great -- even without dinner. The live jazz on the weekends is first rate. A trio may be very common in say Manhattan or Georgetown, DC but not in the 'burbs. Try a Negroni (sort of an Italian cosmo): you can quickly forget you are in the middle of suburbia.
(4)Nancy B.
Friday night two girlfriends and I ate dinner at Piacere. Made 7:00pm reservations through their website. First let me tell you parking is a bear in this quaint little town. I must have gone around in circles 5 times. So I get there at 7:10pm. My two friends are sitting at the bar having a drink. They tell me the reservations are for 7:30pm which they were not. Hostess was very nice but couldn't accommodate us until 7:30pm. She had a pleasant way of say "you are out of luck lady". Anyway we got seated around 7:30 so it wasn't that bad. One friend ordered a fillet Mignon and the other ordered the pasta with prawns. I opted for the salmon. We all enjoyed our meal. We each had a glass of wine... actually I ordered a second. I had to catch up to my friends. The music started and one of my friends jumped up and walked into the bar area where the music was coming from. She is a dancer and wanted to be close to the music. They had a live 4 piece band entertaining the patrons. We quickly paid our bill and headed to the bar. The band was good. They played some good dancing music. Didn't want to leave but it was standing room only. This joint was jumping. Really fun night. Overall I have to rate Piacere at 4 stars. Food was good, entertainment great. Service good. screwing up my reservations - not so good.
(4)Matt W.
I can surely say every time I come to Piacere I leave enlightened. Their food will change you! This goes beyond the friendly service and pristine atmosphere. Regardless of the day or night, anytime at Piacere will become a special one.
(4)Liza T.
To ring in the new year, my boyfriend insisted we go out for dinner. I've been wanting to try Piacere for the last couple of months, so we went there. We were both impressed with the ambiance and the food. So glad we did try it because we both enjoyed our meals very much. If you like linguine and clams...this is the place to go. What I like most about it was that my pasta was not soaked in oil and the sauce to noodle ratio was perfect. My boyfriend had gnocci. It was fresh and the sauce was pretty tasty, so good it we dipped our fries in it (as our waiter suggested). Everyone seemed pretty friendly and our waiter was great. I'm giving 4 stars for now and looking forward to going back to try other dishes.
(4)barb b.
Ate here for first time on Saturday night.food was really good..service good and live jazz was surprise and fantastic way to spend lovely evening in San Carlos
(5)Anne-Marie C.
This place is great. I'd consider myself a regular, as well as my parents and I enjoy myself every time. The staff is real friendly and the food is incredible. I recommend the Prawns and Panceta! They have live music every Friday and Saturday night and it's usually Jazz or Funk of some sort. And dancing does occur in the later part of the evening. It's a great place to take a friend or date and sit outside and sip on some wine while listening to some old school jams...romance and soul is definitely in the air here.
(5)MAP W.
Just had lunch there and took advantage of their outside seating on a warm and sunny day. Service was good and food came promptly. I enjoyed the grilled chicken salad. The dipping oil for the bread was yummy!
(4)Theresa M.
Average experience overall. Cocktail WAS the bomb though. It was called "ecstasy". It was a *peachy* dream. I nursed it the whole evening. God knows I needed it. HA! Ambiance was glorious, but food was really underwhelming. Sorry to say. Watching Top Chef, I've heard Padma say, "It's missing acid". Well, I totally know what she means now. For instance, Chris' carpaccio was TOTALLY missing some sort of acidity. Looked so great, but taste was just blah. So sad. My squash blossom salad was REALLY missing acidity. The "vinaigrette" was more oily than anything else, and because of its excessive batteredness (word?), the squash blossom was in dire need of a squeeze of lemon. Sorry, that is unacceptable. I think a stuffed squash blossom should be more flaky than look like a f*cking Hot Dog on a Stick. That isn't OK. Music was really loud, but if I were in the right state of mind and celebrating an occasion where that music was appropriate, then I would've really enjoyed it. It was more of a nuisance when trying to catch up with folks. UPDATE: Our server was overly attentive in almost an insincere way. Checked up on us for the hell of it when completely unecessary.
(2)Christina A.
Great atmosphere, excellent service. The savory dishes and sides are consistently good. It's also a great place to linger over appetizers and a good bottle of wine. A couple of petty criticisms: the crab and frisee salad is a little bland - have the waiter bring you some lemon wedges. And the drinking water smells of chlorine - order a drink. :) That said, I've been there over a dozen times, would gladly return, and highly recommend Piacere to all of my friends.
(4)V L.
Ok since it's Sunday and Town shuts down until 5:00 we decided oh Piacere is across the street. We sit down order drinks, tried to order dinner? How do they run out of steak when dinner is just starting! Not to mention the people with there dogs out front all over tables and chairs. That was kind of gross. Yes we've had there food before and it's good nothing to really remember other then only getting 5 or 6 raviolis for dinner = what that's it:(. I do love there olive plate it's yummy.
(2)Taj A.
Love Piacere, the staff, the food, all of it....wasn't a big fan until last summer and they must have changed the chef or something...the food is delish. Brunch needs some work, but overall a great go-to for yumminess and ambiance.
(4)Alex B.
We went there for a girls night out. We were not disappointed. The food was good and the service was attentive. We were in this side room that was very cozy. We were able to look across the street and be thankful we were not at town. We loved the ambiance. I would have given it 5 stars but the portions were a bit small for the price. I don't want to end up with a doggy bag, but I do want a substantial meal for my money. I loved the cheese served along side the heirloom tomato salad. It went really well with the wine we drank.
(4)Sally S.
Two weeks ago I gave myself THE most perfect party for 43 people (38 adults, 4 little children, and one infant) at Piacere. Chelsea Johnson was the private event planner. Chelsea was a delight to work with as well as being very accommodating ... my party was on her day off, but she came in while I set-up my flowers, favors, etc. and made sure everything was to my liking. The waithelp were outstanding both during cocktail time and during dinner. The food was was delicious as well as fabulous. My compliments to the chef. The chef was also very accommodating. She went out of her way in planning the menu selections with me and preparing the food. The entrees were all served the way each guest requested (rare, medium,etc. for the meat and fish choices). All entrees were hot when served ... and that doesn't happen a lot when serving so many people at the same time. The chef also helped me select great appetizers as well as a nice children's menu. Everyone at my party raved about Piacere to me ... the restaurant itself, the food, the service, etc.. Thank you to all concerned at Piacere for making my party just the way I had hoped it to be ... with no exceptions. I highly recommend this restaurant for a party as well as just a great place to eat.
(5)Jen C.
Piacere comes so close to getting 5 stars in my book but for a few faults. If the manager did some tweaking, I could rave about it to all my friends. First off, this place has a cool vibe. There's outdoor seating for those who want the European cafe feel. Inside is chic minimalism. Very upscale and comfortable. The service is what needs tweaking here. For some reason, we had two waiters serving our table which might make you think "twice the service, twice the attention" but it was overkill. I don't think one was a trainee because they didn't come to our table at the same time so we were interrupted often. Then it went from feast to famine. After dessert, no one came to our table for a good 20 minutes while we tried to flag down a waiter to bring us our check. Weird. I'm not sure if it was a shift change or something but that needs work. Except for the dessert, I loved the food. Our risotto croquettes were delicious as well as our cocktails (Pink Flamingo and passionfruit martini). I got the parmesan-encrusted chicken on top of a bed of peas which was awesome! The first dish they brought out was undercooked (raw poultry is a bad idea) but they replaced it quickly with apologies so I don't dock points for that. The only downer was the dessert. Instead of being whipped light goodness, the chocolate mousse was so dense and rich that we left most of it on the plate. I would definitely return but this place could easily go from good to GREAT with a few changes.
(4)Caryn L.
The restaurant is located in the downtown "strip" of San Carlos. I've only been there for lunch and was able to sit out on the patio. The decor was elegant and the staff attentive. I'm a big seafood fan and I had a plate of Iron Skillet Mussels with Sea Salt and Clarified Butter..to die for!! The best mussels I've ever had. If in the area, I would go back.
(4)daisidilli d.
A nice evening out on a nice weather night. In short: This would be a five star review, but minus one star each for the slow service and the high prices. In detail: Ambiance: Absolutely wonderful. We sat on the "patio" (not the sidewalk tables, but not inside the big open windows) - great open feel, classy but not stuffy. Waitstaff was very friendly. Not a quiet restaurant, but relaxed, fun, and a good level for chatting with friends. Service: Our waiter was extremely friendly and answered all our questions. * Minus one star though for the obvious understaffing - ours appeared to be the only waiter for the entire bar/patio/sidewalk area (about 15 tables), which meant we were pretty neglected between his stops by our table. Wine menu: Fun, good traditional varieties but from lesser known places. Prices felt appropriate for the wine (my $8 glass of picpoul was the cheapest by-the-glass but definitely delicious). Short but great beer list. Very interesting cocktails (fyi martini-heavy). Food: 4 stars. Simple yet creative, high-quality ingredients that aren't lost in a mess of over-complication. My nectarine/almond salad was refreshing and tasty. Roasted fresh garbanzo beans were a fun take on edamame, though could have used a bit of seasoning. Hubby's halibut with shallots, asparagus and gnocchi was delicious - we would come back again just to order that, and it makes me want to try their other entrees. Prices: Minus one star. Food was very good, but it was overpriced enough that we noticed it was overpriced ($100 with tip for 2 people - one app, one salad, one entree, one dessert, one wine, one beer).
(3)Angela H.
This was delicious! I had the Skirt Steak Sandwich and it was soooo yummy. Wish it was a little less rare, but I ate it any way. And all the horseradish sauce, of course! It's a super cute place, too, and there are so many other things I'd like to try: Butternut Squash Soup, Butter Lettuce Salad, Artichoke Ravioli, Asparagus Risotto, etc. Bread and service, both good. Matchboxes FTW!
(4)Jeneal V.
The food is horrible. the pasta is tasteless. The waiters are not friendly AT ALL. The best thing about this restaurant is the band.
(1)Mia D.
A friend and I shared a few appetizers, a pizza and a salad. Nothing stood out, and I was particularly disappointed by their Caesar salad which tasted very stale. I also felt rushed throughout the meal by servers.
(2)Tram V.
Let me start out by saying that this place has an excellently long wine list, which is automatically qualified (& guaranteed) to be on my top-place list! Besides the wine list, the food is quite good! I especially love the seared scallop & seared salmon! And if you like steak, try their "Harris Ranch Natural Ribeye". Delicious! $ex/wine Pairing: A glass of Barolo or Barbera will assure to set a romantic mood for you & your significant other! ;-)
(4)No O.
Pricey, underperformed, mediocre service, very average food, exceptionally expensive wines-you missed Piacere by 10 years
(2)Dustin H.
My mom and my friend and myself ended up going here instead of Speederia b/c they were mean. I was really really surprised about how big this place is. From the windows, it doesnt look very impressive in size, but going inside, there is a bar, and a separate room on the side, then behind is a massive dining room and then another room on the far left. I really liked the decor and the modern-looking furniture, etc, etc. Like most others said, looks good. I nearly had a heartattack looking at all the prices. I go out to the city a lot, and I can think of at least 3 other places in "the City" with better prices. Anyhoo, we ordered the calamari, which was okay. I felt like the pieces could have been bigger. Then my mom ordered the Italian sausage pizza, my friend ordered some mushroom tortelloni, and then I ordered the skirt steak with fries. All of the food was pretty good. My steak was really big and they gave a lot of fries. My mom and my friend liked their dishes and we were all full. Minus star b/c I feel like the food could have been a little more "wow" and the prices could have been cheaper, considered in the area. I mean, who the hell goes to San Carlos (apparently we did...but just saying...)
(4)Beverly A.
They have mussels to die for, the sangria was just ok, great ambience
(4)Kristina S.
Good place, not super.
(3)Silvina E.
Too pricey for the quality of food...nice location, great decor but our food was not memorable at all...will try other places before coming back.
(2)Aspen M.
We went to Piacere for Mother's Day brunch. We live in San Carlos and had never been so I thought it would be a perfect time to give it a try. We eat at TOWN a lot and have always wanted to try Piacere. I was totally disappointed. The good: Servers are excellent - ours was especially warm and attentive. We had 2 small children with us and he seemed at ease with the added commotion at the table :) Atmosphere - beautiful decor. Although once you walk to the bathroom they seem to not care about it anymore. It needs a few coats of paint to touch up all the walls and ceilings. Bathroom wasn't very tidy either. The bad: WAY over priced for what it is. I don't mind paying for a good meal. I love The Village Pub (Woodside) and never bat an eye at the prices. Piacere is ridiculous. Today's pre-fixe meal was not remotely worth it. The first course was a shared plate of a little fruit (there were 3 adults and 2 children), a few slices of tiny tart, bread rolls and a breakfast like pastry. The second course each person could choose from a list. I had the crab salad. It was the size of an appetizer and it was so average. Way too much dressing and not much crab. I ate about 3 bites. My husband had poached eggs with salmon which he said was very good. My mom had chicken crepes and she only ate 1/2 of one (there were 3). Dessert was again a shared plate of basically samples. Nothing was outstanding or even worth another bite. Bland, bland, bland. We had a 1/2 bottle of champagne and that was it. Our bill was $160.00, with tip $186.00!!! I could think of much better places to spend that kind of money on much better food! We've tried it and now I know we don't need to go back. I was truly disappointed. $180 on food is a lot no matter what but if it resulted in a delicious, memorable meal it would have been worth it. This left me annoyed and disappointed. I will say our server was really great. Maybe they were off their mark for Mother's Day...
(3)Kong Y.
My sister texts me over the phone and says, "Do you want to have lunch? Piacere?" Sound expensive and for lunch $8.00 - $18.00 I guess it wasn't so bad. Sure let's go - I said. When I picked up her, she said, "You're treating! Because I treated last time..." Blah, Blah, Blah, so I treated for lunch this time. The restaurant is located in San Carlos on Laurel Street. When we arrive, the place was nice from the outside and the inside was nice too. Very nice patio seating area perfectly shaded by the way. Today was nice but I wanted to dine inside, plus they had their sliding doors open so it was perfect. As we walked in we were greeted friend by a host and were seated immediately. Shortly, after browsing the lunch menu a few times we ended up getting Crispy Calamari with Aioli and Cocktail Sauce, Pizza with Salmon, and their vegetarian mushroom risotto. The bread and my AP (Arnold Palmer) shortly came out. The bread was delicious and my AP was one of the better APs I've ever drank. The Calamari was light and flaky nice but I've had better. The salmon pizza on the other hand was different, I was expecting it to be a little warm but it was served somewhat cold. The risotto was delicious - mushrooms were cooked perfectly and the fresh spinach onto was perfect as it slowly cooked its way over time on the dish. Another play was the huckleberries that offset the Parmesan flakes will so that it wasn't too salty. Very nice dish. I'd say a 3.5 star only because the restaurant is nice and it would look great for a business meeting eat out place because they have individual dining rooms. Also the AP and Mushroom Risotto was good.
(3)Jamie B.
You really can't go wrong with Piacere. I think its lost a little business since Town opened up across the street. I've never had a bad meal there yet - the ingredients are fresh and the mix of tastes in each dish is very good. They have delicious, crunchy pizzas and an excellent lamb dish. They also have great live music on Thursday and Friday nights. I like to sit in the elevated room next to the fireplace and look out on the street just below. My favorite time to go there is on Sunday for a nice brunch outside when its warm and sunny. Dino, the manager there is very pleasant and welcoming - he is always making the rounds to all the tables to see how everyone is doing. Mi piace Piacere!
(4)Karen O.
Went here on a Sunday around noon. The weather was perfect so we sat outside in the patio area.. Their menu consists of brunch type foods, as well as sandwich and even lighter fare.. We started off with some cocktails..I had a passion fruit martini which was good but a little on the sweet side for me. We also had the green tea vodka spritzer type drink which was very refreshing and had a little kick. I ordered the egg, leek and pancetta pizza with fontina cheese. Just your standard thin crust that was tasty but they could of been more generous with the ingredients. The funny part was the egg on it.. One egg which had been cracked and poured on one piece and cooked in the pizza oven..should of been distributed better and maybe more of it. My husband had two fried eggs on top of zucchini cakes which were tasty but could of been less grease. I've ate here before but mainly for dinner..I would come back again as it has a nice ambiance and the service is pretty good. Our waitress was running around like crazy but she managed to keep track of us when we needed her.
(3)MoeSheri T.
Sat in the bar area this time where we had a reservation for full dinner. The food was great but the service was terrible. It took the waitress at least 15 min to take our initial drink order, and another 30 for the drinks to arrive. Since they had probably been sitting at the bar for at least 15 min they were already watered down by the time we received them. I've had this experience before in the bar area and it is not the fault of the waitstaff. Piacere continuously understaffs the bar area which leads to stressed out servers and unhappy customers. Also, the restrooms as I stated in my earlier review are disgusting at the end of the evening. Not good for a classy bar/restaurant on a Friday night. I wonder if Piacere management ever reads Yelp reviews?
(3)Ashley C.
*Must go up a star* We came here for our 6 month anniversary dinner. From the outside it did not seem busy at all but walking into the restaurant it gets pretty deep and was definitely busy all around. I ordered the blue cheese salad appetizer and the boy had these rosemary pillow thingys, both very good. Dinner we had the seafood cioppino and the "prawn" pesto linguini. The cioppino was delicious and devoured, nothing left on the dish to clean. Although I was highly disappointed when the "prawn" linguini came out because there was absolutely no prawns on my pasta... but shrimp. We returned the plate and ordered some drinks and desert. A few minutes later our generous waiter came back with desert wine to apologize for the mistake on our pasta. Also when the bill came we noticed they took off the pasta, no charge at all. Now that's outstanding customer service. Thanks Piacere Ristorante for your excellent customer service, we will be returning!
(4)Teresa S.
This is the 3rd time my husband and I have been to Piacere, and sadly, I don't think we'll be back. The waitress, Iris, was very difficult to understand and very surly . . . she had a short, curt answer for every question. When asked if one of the overpriced pasta dishes, Pasta Forno, was good, she replied, "Well, it's been on the menu for XX years!", but it turned out to be NOT good. For a supposedly Italian restaurant, I would say 95% of the menu items are American/continental fare, so they might want to consider changing their restaurant name to the english translation of Piacere, i.e. "pleased to meet you"? Although surly wait staff like Iris disproves this.
(2)Bob R.
This is a review by a vegetarian. Piacere used to be my favorite local 'fancy' restaurant. But since the redesign it is just a nice looking place to take friends and family who are conservative about food. The menu is stagnant. The only main course I can get is the capellini and I HATE teeny-tiny noodles. Heck, what I really want is Chow-fun puttanesca: big noodles and a heavy sauce. Make me feel like I've eaten something. The salads are very good and the dessert is all upscale 6-English-words+2-foreign word things . Service works, parking is easy. It's just not my first choice anymore
(3)Italophilia M.
The food was execellent!!! However, the service was slow. We were seated for 5-10 minutes before we got our menus. It was difficult to get our server's attention. Once we did, he was always gracious. There was a live band at the bar area, and it was a bit loud for normal conversaion even though were were in the separate dining area.
(4)Oleg P.
I will give Piacere 3.5 stars. They have nice outdoor sitting and their brunch is pretty good. I have been to Piacere for lunch and dinner a few times. Although the service is always great, the food is just ok. Nothing really ever stands. Everything is pretty bland, underwhelming, especially for the price. Since I like the place and it is so close to my house, I would like to go to Piacere more often if the food improves some.
(3)Natalie L.
Oh poor, Piacere. It's stays true to its Plan B status across the street from the popular steakhouse Town. The place is pretty nice to look at; better looking than the food. Most of the reviews that gave this place good ratings also mention having some cocktails. Maybe after a few cocktails I'd also like the food and give it a higher rating. But alas, I did not have a cocktail therefore it will not be getting high ratings. Most of the people I was with (big group) didn't hate their food but didn't love it. To speak for myself, the chicken panni I had was bland and the bread ripped the top of my mouth :( I don't like places that cause me injury when eating their food. Sad day for Piacere. With food like this you will remain San Carlosian's Plan B when Town is too crowded.
(2)Nenette Y.
My girlfriends and I had a late lunch here today and we were able to get a table outside... service was friendly and relaxed... When did San Carlos get this hip? I LIKE.
(4)Martin D.
Great restaurant in downtown San Carlos. Food is very good, al fresco dining is our favorite option. Highly recommended.
(4)Jane D.
Warm and classy atmosphere - Excellent service, very friendly and attentive wait staff - Food and wine list are excellent, very happy we walked in here - Happy tummy :)
(5)K.E. B.
Recent business lunch yielded better food than previous visits - a surprise to the upside - but the same amateur host/wait staff. Piacere is a great place for an outdoor glass of wine and perhaps an appetizer. It's an OK place for lunch or for a drink at the bar while you wait for your table at another local establishment. Decor is chic, evening jazz is fun, but the food is merely average and the service consistently below so. It's a shame to waste such a lovely interior and great outdoor space...
(2)Lisa O.
I found the food here to be so-so. Way too overpriced for just "ok" food. The service I received was not the best either. Our waiter took forever to take our order and just seemed to ignore us the whole time we were here. I don't think I will be coming back.
(2)jim f.
Don't waste your time or $. The beet salad consists of two beets, a little cheese and some green decoration. The artichoke ravioli consisted of little filling and mostly dough with a bland taste. The service was slow, no bread was offered and the music from the bar was deafening in our private room. The decor was very nice and this was the highlight of the evening.
(2)Angela G.
Dino is back and so are we. The food is great. I especially love their soups, pastas and pizzas. They have a great wine list and other mixed drinks. Last time I was there they had music which was a nice addition. I like Piacere for both lunch and dinner.
(5)Corey S.
SHORT & SWEET: I can't remember the last time my wife and I dined at a restaurant and EVERY SINGLE DISH we ordered was to die for. We started with a mixed selection of oysters that were incredibly fresh and well-chilled. The squash blossoms with Ricotta cheese followed, and wow what delectable little bomblets they are, exploding with rich flavors and a smooth texture. Then came the gem leaf salad served with some very unique flatbread; you'll have to try it to understand; finally the Orecchiette pasta with sundried tomoatoes and Ricotta was outstanding, as was the rolled egplant "smal bite" dish; very attentive service.
(5)Ruth B.
Thank you, Piacere! I have to admit, our original plans were to eat outside at Town across the street. My kids love the ice cream sundae desserts there. But the day turned cold and windy, and eating outside no longer seemed smart. What is a group of 13, celebrating 2 birthdays (one of them mine), supposed to do? I stopped into Piacere in the afternoon, and asked if they could accommodate us that night. Not only did they find us a table, they rearranged things so we had a private room. Good for us, and for them, as we had 7 kids ages 8 and under in our party. The room was wonderful, we didn't have to constantly worry if our kids were disturbing other diners. The kids menu was great, they had a veggies and dip appetizer, pasta a couple of different ways, and the kids' meals came with gelato for dessert. We had appetizers of muscles, oysters, and calamari, and they were all very good. I had a wonderful dinner of roasted lamb with fava bean risotto and mint pesto. My husband had sweet green pea risotto which was also yummy. Thanks for a great birthday, Piacere! We are very glad that it turned cold and we ended up at your restaurant instead. We'll definitely be back!
(5)Elad M.
Love the Calamri here, it's the best one I ever tasted , with the home made light coating. Sitting outside in the evening is nice ( the sunny side Laurel St.) and every dish we tasted was excellent. They have quality kids dished for $5 and the kids get a drink and home made ice cream all included. Hard to beat..
(5)Arnold W.
P and I were here last night (Sat). I was just back from Cincinnati and she picked me up at SFO. We cruised Laurel St and chose Piacere for the ambience and posted menu. Seating was quick, everyone gracious. Not a big wine list but some good ones. We had a ricotta gnocci appy. Very good! Melt in your mouth, savory sauce, greens and olive tapenade. P had the scallops, the sole for me. The fish came with four small filets, very lightly breaded, small yukons, and a coarse mustard sauce. I thought the sauce might overpower but no, it was great. At first P complained that she had only 4 scallops. Pretty large I thought. I had half of one. Terrific. We shared a cheese and pear dessert with hazelnuts and a balsamic reduction. Very nice and superior to efforts I've enjoyed elsewhere. A little pricey but well worth it for a reunion evening. Next time we might go later to avoid the 730 rush and the woman with the claxon voice 2 tables away. After she left the room was quieter, and I was happy we came here rather than Town (looked very loud). As we left the front room was packed for the second set. We were happy.
(4)jennifer k.
I used Piacere for a delivered box lunch meal at my office - everyone thought the food was superb! the delivery was on time, and the price was good for this quality of food! working with Brett Fairbanks, the Director of Catering, was a pleasure. definitely try them for a delivered lunch!!
(5)Ms. C.
You can always count on having a good meal and service is equal. A tad pricey but worth it.
(4)Kem K.
Came here for lunch at 11:40pm on a Sunday. There was no wait to get seated. We sat outside under the heaters, which was really nice. Nice and warm :) I got the grilled chicken salad (dressing on the side) and my hubby the scrambled eggs (whites only). Both dishes were great! So glad we came here. It's our second time and it tasted great on both occasions.
(4)HoundOfThe C.
Excellent selections for vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free marked right on the menu! Great bar tenders and servers in this table clothed indoor/outdoor spot right downtown on Laurel St. Good anytime but the have live music and are right on the farmers market row in summer. Iron skillet muscles rock, Greta fish and meat selections with a good square meal - more sides available as needed!
(4)Kurt G.
Our waiter did a beautiful job of making myself and six quest, very comfortable, for our Easter Sunday dinner. Food was very good. Wine selection was limited, but good. I will return next time I'm in the Bay Area.
(4)M H.
I have tried this restaurant a number to times. At first, it was good. Now, it is disappointing. Bottom line, the quality of the wine and food has deteriorated - this last (and likely my last) visit I received the wrong dish and had to send it back and then found a shell in my food. I was thinking after highlighting this, along with the messed up order, something would have been said such as "sorry," etc. Nothing. With so many good options for food in San Carlos....won't be back.
(1)Gabriele S.
A bit pricey, but beautiful decor, great wine list and attentive wait staff. I had lamb t-bone with spinach, my husband ate Cesar salad, and my daughter had mini burgers from the kids menu. The portion size was adequate.
(4)Katherine B.
Very good food. Service was good as well. Used a groupon and it was a fantastic deal. Had the salmon and the corn pancake that came with it was fantastic. Salmon was cooked perfectly but that corn pancake was so good . The bread pudding was also excellent. Highly recommend.
(4)Nutmeg Y.
I came here with the girls for a casual Sunday Brunch. Two words got our attention: Bottomless Mimosas. SOLD!!! We sat outside and shared the mussels and hands-down that dish made me forget how everything else tasted. I'm sure the rest of the food was decent, but the mussels are a must-have! Bottomless Mimosas plus unforgettable mussels = 5 stars. I would definitely come back. Inside the restaurant, I saw that there is a special table inside their wine cellar. Super cool. Next time, that's where we may be sitting :o)
(5)Donna S.
Went for lunch with a Groupon, they are running them frequently. In previous visits I never like this place that much. Lunch is better for me, in terms of price and yummy sandwiches. The service is a little strange, two different servers, the one had an odd manner. The bread here is great. Warm, homemade, delicious. The caesar is solid, a little overdressed. The pulled chicken sandwich was great. The white bean soup was just eh. The brie sandwich was decent. I might come back at lunch with a Groupon.
(3)Cheryl D.
Wow, amazing food and beyond excellent service. Went for brunch and the bottomless poinsettia/mimosa is the deal of the century. Erica was our server and she was so amazing. Accommodating, friendly and really couldn't be any better. Will be back every chance I get.
(5)Carolyn F.
Overated! I was out with a few other gals.. two of them got dinner and appetizers the two of us just got appetizers. I got calamari which was very rubbery and the cocktail sauce was a spiced up ketchup. They could not make a lemon drop to save their lives. They tried three times each time sent back. Finally decided to go with a cocktail off their menu. Got the Punch Drunk Love which was delicious.. Its funny cause this place is kinda upscale and posh and they cant make a Lemon Drop but I can go to Outback Steakhouse and they make them spot on every single time.. humm maybe the bartender needs to get some lessons from Outback.. or go to Spasso down the street.. they make a delicious French Martini!!!
(2)Mace M.
This is my go-to restaurant for the San Carlos area. I haven't sat at an actual table here for years - we always go straight for the bar, where the cocktails are amazing (and seasonal)! We usually pick up a few appetizers, and maybe a main to share, and always, always, at least one of the seasonal sides*. My mother and I have been there enough times that all the bartenders and a lot of the staff know us. Go. GO NOW. * I'm writing this in June. GO NOW! Eat the asparagus! It is grilled and you'll end up getting more than one order. I swear.
(5)Alice T.
Beautiful restaurant in San Carlos. I did not get a chance to order any food, but I have to say they do make great cocktails and drinks. They have a lot of variety of liquor to choose from. The Bartenders who are also really nice girls also do take their time to make your cocktails. The staff are also very nice. I will be back to try the food the next time I am in town.
(4)Nikita E.
I'm a fan of this place. I am. It's a great place to go out with your girlfriends, get some funky appetizers and a nice dessert. Piacere, your proscuitto and truffle honey pizza is the very demon that made me like proscuitto. Screw (thank) you. The service is friendly, and does a good job of taking care of you. Try the nudi, it's great. Cappucino is awesome too. Definitely a go in my mind.
(4)Ivana G.
Terrible!!! I was walking by and this place looked great from the outside so I checked out the menu. They had a grilled salmon salad so I was in for that. I sat down ordered a drink and was going to order my meal. The waiter said they have an outdated menu so I order the smoked chicken salad. It was oily and gross. No flavor, chicken was sleazy, and it was a small portion for the price. Top top it all off the waiter was rude.
(1)Leann A.
Overpriced just OK food. Walking downtown looking for a great place to eat we came upon this lovely looking Piacere. Great atmosphere with live music, comfy outdoor and open window seating and some classic white table seating inside. That being said, the food was nothing to write home about. Mediocre at best. I found myself salting everything. The whole fish was cooked to perfection back lacked any flavor. Salt and pepper saved me, but it did not merit the $36 price tag! I make better fish at home. The coca-cola ribs were dry when they should have been tender and falling off the bone. When we mentioned this to our waiter he said they were supposed to be dry. The Nudi (ricotta Gnocchi) was pretty good tasty with a nice truffle (??) sauce and olive aioli, albeit overly salty. The only good part was the side of amazing slaw and cheese drop corn bread that came with the ribs. Having that for breakfast. The wait staff was OK. Our waiter seemed annoyed we were taking too long by asking him questions about the food, asking us if we needed more time. ?? No, we needed our questions about the food answered to help us decide. When asked what the burrata was he says "cheese". Just cheese, no quick explanation of the kind of cheese. He never brought the lemon and the straw we asked for and our drinks took forever. I try to mark that off as a waiter having a bad day, but the guy was clearly not interested in taking any care of us other than redoing a martini that had been sitting on the bar too long. He seemed to forget my friends second glass of wine for a while too. Martinis were very week. Service, meh. Food, double meh. Ambiance? This is an amazing venue with separate microcosms of dining experience. Maybe it was a bad night for them? My friends thanked me for such an expensive dinner and I apologized for the mediocre food. I left feeling like I had ended up in an overpriced tourist restaurant you find in Europe where everything looks good, but isn't.
(2)Christine M.
Service was mediocre. Food was forgettable (except remember finding piece of plastic in our appetizer) and overpriced. Don't waster your time or money here when there are so many other great restaurants in the Bay Area.
(1)Athena S.
This is NOT for the food. 4 star bar. Why was I feeling 7/7s that night is still a mystery. Maybe I was trying to keep up with Daves bourbons in my own wimpy way. When we went, we were able to actually sit at the bar & sip said inebriants. I guess he picked a good day. Bartender was cool. It was a very simple watering hole. Love when places are not packed unless I feel like all that. The end
(4)bonnie y.
I thought this place had potential, but boyyyy was i let down :( We went with a group of 7 for weekend brunch. The "baked eggs, ciabatta toast & applebacon wood salad" was a terrible choice on my part. its exactly what it sounds like, not one frill. two straight up plain eggs, two pieces of tiny, baguette sized ciabatta toast, and a mere handful of plain greens with a PINCH of bacon bits. uh WHAT? such a sad, boring meal. on top of that, i swear we had 2 different waiters, who we probably saw once each. Which is unacceptable since we ordered bottomless mimosas and didn't get frequent refills. Nobody else was impressed with their dishes. The bacon and egg pizza was mostly plain crust and not very appetizing looking. The steak & eggs was also TINY, both boys both wanted to get hamburgers after their meal. We all left fairly unsatisfied and sober. nice area, nice restaurant, but goodness it needs some serious help.
(1)John C.
Food varies from tasty to...not so much. Our fried calamari was very greasy (cooking oil not hot enough) and we got 8 pieces of calamari for $12, not exactly generous. My iced tea was some sort of fake fruit tasting tea, yecch. Server was apologetic and said it was a frequent complaint (but apparently they're not willing to fix it). The penne in my Pasta Forno was a bit soft, sauce and meats were ok but the chicken bits were rubbery. Honestly in 15 minutes I could prepare it better at home. Serving was smallish and cost $20 for a dish with $3-4 of ingredients. Wife ordered the gnocchi, which was quite good - well cooked and served in a rich cheesy cream sauce. She enjoyed it. Interior dining rooms have decor that looks dated, and too dark. This and the food issues help explain why people were waiting an hour to eat across the street at Town, and yet Piacere was only half full. Their bright spot is the bar, which was lively, packed and 100+ decibels. As for decor the street-side tables looked like a much better choice than the inside rooms. Too pricey for so-so food, no plans to return as there are many better dinner choices in easy walking distance.
(2)D Z.
Was walking around Downtown San Carlos looking for a place to have brunch, and randomly selected Piacere. The pancakes were fantastic, the poached eggs were phenomenal, and the florentine was good as well. Service was solid as well.
(4)Sonia M.
Please!!! Get a new chef and new wait staff, esp your hostess! (unless you are able to get the stick out of her ass). This is prob the best venue in downtown San Carlos... They are on the sunny side of the street, have live music & have the best outdoor seating.... I think the owner is great and very accommodating, but I just can't take the 50/50 gamble that my food will be at least average -- Time for ome change.
(1)Christine V.
This visit wasnt quite as great as the others. I mean, they usually make really good drinks but they must have put over a tablespoon of sugar at the bottom of my lemon drop (see pic) :| It's like, thanks, can I get a little vodka with my sugar maybe?? I love the flavor of the skirt steak but its very chewy and takes a while to get a bite down.
(3)Megan L.
We came in with the $40 groupon worth $150 of food which was a lot! We got the calamari, kale salad, ribeye, and dessert. The calamari was alright a bit bland but I liked the crunch. The kale salad was great! The ribeye was perfectly cooked but bland and very very fatty. The dessert selection was generic. We had the chocolate mousse and the flan. The flan was too sweet but the mousse was good just flat tasting and not enough richness. We still had $30 left by the end of dinner so we order a pasta forno to go for my brother. When he ate it he found a WHOLE CHICKEN BONE! Already cleaned off of meat... Really?
(2)Mai W.
This place looked cute from the outside and was recommended by a friend. We came here and was definitely not serviced well! We may be young but we still know our foods. I ordered the Salmon and my friend ordered the Bison. My salmon was alright but it was kind of weird with the corn-thing on top. It took forever for them to refill our waters. Over all: Expensive, alright food.
(3)V b.
I was here yesterday for mothers day brunch and the menu was limited and i needed a gluten free menu, I asked our server if they could make 1 change to the dish i wanted and she said "sorry, we were told no changing or substituting on the menu" . I explained i have a severe gluten allergy and she advised me to pick something else.. but guess what... everything else on menu still had gluten.. i will not go here bc they cannot accommodate my allergies..
(2)Chris M.
We came here for Easter Brunch and had the worst dining experience of my life. It took over 20 minutes for anyone to greet us, over an hour to get food. Once we were served, the food was delivered cold, and it took 10 minutes for the servers to check on us. When we called the manager over, all he tried to do was give us excuses that it was Easter and they were just too busy. The manager tried to make it up to us by giving us a cheap bottle of champagne, and trying to comp our desserts (which were already included in the Pre Fix menu). This is not the first time I've had this kind of service at this restaurant, and we will NEVER come back or recommend anyone to go here.
(1)Fred M.
Servers not interested in service, particularly at the bar Stopped here after dinner at Town tonight which was very good to have dessert and experience more of San Carlos They say open until 11pm, restaurant still relatively full but told at bar the kitchen was closed for dessert----guess all those in restaurant were also out of luck !!! First impressions count with me, will not be back and suggest you think twice, other nice places around
(1)Tiff W.
Came here for a meeting. Their "Buffet" is a joke. they had a tiny stack of burgers and they never refilled it. the salad was disgusting not to mention the place is noisy.
(2)Lisa M.
The experience left a "bad taste" in my mouth! Had a reservation for four people on a Wednesday evening. Before we were seated, I advised the woman at the hostess stand, Iris, one of my friends wouldn't be making it. She immediately asked if we'd mind sitting at a (side) table in the bar area. I told her we didn't want to sit in the bar & wanted a regular table. We waited a bit & then were escorted by Iris to a small table in the back which was up against a curtain that separated the kitchen from the dinning area. I explained to her the table was too small (it was the same size as the one in the bar - for two people maybe) & asked to be seated at one of the nearby larger tables. Iris told us the other tables were already reserved for parties of four & we could NOT have one. When I reminded her I had made a reservation for four, she curtly replied "You are only three people now & cannot have one of those tables." We contemplated leaving & going to the restaurant (Town) across the street but it was full. So, we stayed. After watching a couple of the larger tables sit empty for over a half an hour, we asked to speak with the manager to complain about the treatment from Iris. Turns out, Iris was the manager. She barely heard us out & couldn't have cared less about our negative experience. Her attitude was the worst. She even rolled her eyes! The food was just ok - nothing special. The server was descent. San Carlos has many wonderful restaurants. THIS IS NOT ONE OF THEM!! Spend your money elsewhere!
(1)R R.
Lunch combo: Romaine lettuce, tomato soup similar in taste to pizza sauce, and a tough cut of meat in the half sandwich.
(2)Jenny K.
Very good food and such a beautiful interior. 2 stars because when I walked to the bathroom, I passed by the kitchen and I saw two employees eating food right in front of where food for customers is prepared. This is a health code violation. Employees must go outside of the kitchen to eat their own food; they are not allowed to eat right where they prepare others' food. Shame on you, Piacere.
(2)Catherine R.
Today was a 4 star experience: attentive but not over-bearing service, quickly cleared and re-set table, he even pulled out the crumber! Good food is still good without good service but proper service enhances the enjoyment of the food. One thing Piacere always has is good food. The lamb riblettes were tenderly falling off the bone and the slaw was a delightful burst of flavor. The roasted beet salad's sweetness was balanced by the tang of the goat cheese. Actually, I'd say the same for the lamb riblette appetizer as well. Prosciutto pizza with fontina, arugala, and truffle honey was...just thinking about it makes my mouth water. The salty prosciutto and the slight sweetness of the honey...I think they've got a signature and they should stick to it. Not to mention, the crust was the essence of what pizza crust should be- soft on the inside, a little crisp on the outside. For dessert, the warm peach bread pudding with house-made almond ice cream. Hands down, this was the best bread pudding I've ever had. Call it a little piece of heaven! The bread was moist but not mushy. The top crusty bits were perfection. Raspberry sauce added a nice zing and the almond ice cream that topped it was subtle, fresh, and creamy. This place is a keeper.
(4)grknbohonk g.
MOTHER'S DAY 2013,the Atmosphere is lively & I had a great time there 4 the Brunch with the fam! Special menu 4 Mother's Day not impressed @ all I ordered the Corn Beef with 2 sunny side up eggs very basic I had to pick from others plates to fill my appetite. I was impressed with the Flat Steak Special it was Juicy & good tasting, will I go back when Piacere has a set menu? No f$@*&#ing way! I'd like to try their regular menu but it appears to be over priced & mediocre food. I give it a 1.5 star 4 today I arrived early for our 10:30 reservation only to find an unorganized staff & manager. The owner's are trying to make it an American Fusion Restaurant " stick to the basics & keep Italian".... Piacere on the positive note has beautiful waitresses that work on Sunday's that 'll likely bring me back!!!!!
(2)Danny K.
Nothing too special about Piacere. My GF and I ended up going to Piacere for lunch this past Sunday after attempting to eat at Towne. After Towne told us it would be about an hour wait we pulled out our phones and did a little "yelping-action." Nothing sounded too appealing so we looked across the street and saw Piacere. Average "American" food - I got a burger (forgot to ask for cheese) with some fry's on the side. Honestly, I can't say anything that negative or positive about Piacere - it's in Downtown Mtn View, it's clean, OK service, street parking and right across the street from Towne. Food isn't bad but not great so a three star sounds just about right.
(3)Jacque G.
Love the house chips
(3)Juliana C.
The only reason I came here was because the wait at The Town across the street was over an hour. Food was mediocre and portions were small. Not noteworthy!
(2)Karyn K.
Pretty mediocre experience. Second time visiting. We didn't love it the first time, but I wanted to give them another try - don't we all deserve a second chance? So here's the rundown: Pros: it's a beautiful restaurant. We were seated in the room closest to the street...very cozy with a beautiful fireplace and nice view of the action outside. Cons: The menu is pretty generic. How many times do I need to see a beet salad with blue cheese on a salad menu? They don't even offer daily specials that would reflect local, in-season produce. I asked about this at the front on our way out and the hostess responded, "We don't really do that. We do have a soup of the day". The service was below-par. I could barely hear the waiter and had to ask him to speak up several times (and no, I'm not hard of hearing!). My husband and I both ordered the short rib, which sounded delicious. Fifteen minutes later the waiter comes back to say they're out of the short rib. Ok...that happens, we were disappointed but no big deal. The kicker is that when the table next to us sat down, he gave them menus and said nothing about the short rib shortage. One of their party proceeded to order the rib and then be disappointed. Wouldn't it have been wise to warn them of the shortage ahead of time? Seems like common sense and courtesy to me. Our server also had no clue how items were prepared, or at least he was unable to explain how they were prepared. I asked a few questions about the meal, and he seemed unsure about most of it. I ended up ordering: 1. salad w/poached pear The pear was delicious, but the salad needed some nuts, or something that would give it a little crunch. The dressing was a standard vinaigrette and the lettuce could have come from the Costco mixed lettuce bin for all I could tell. It was basically greens with a pear and a little cheese on top with a standard dressing. Nothing to write home about. 2. artichoke ravioli Though it tasted freshly made, there was no sauce on it at all, only a balsamic drizzle over the top. To be fair, the menu describes this ravioli as having "meyer lemon and butter", which is what it had on it, but since I've never been served completely dry ravioli, I assumed incorrectly that the lemon and butter would be in addition to some sort of sauce. Bottom line is that it lacked moisture and flavor. Hubby ordered 1. Caesar salad: He enjoyed this salad, and the presentation was really nice. He always gets a Caesar and said that this one was pretty good. 2. pork chop: It was moist and juicy (I tasted some!), though I thought a little on the salty side. Maybe that was to "balance" the completely bland beans underneath. Honestly, these beans tasted like they were blanched and put on the plate....no seasoning whatsoever. Recap: This restaurant is in a good location, and it is beautiful inside. It just lacks the finesse to which a restaurant in the Bay Area, in this price range, should be aspiring. Their menu needs a dose of creativity that includes seasonal, local, fresh ingredients. Their waitstaff needs to be trained on how the menu is prepared and how to communicate with customers. Competition is stiff and customer expectations are high. I hope they can pull it together.
(2)victor c.
My wife and I have been there 2 times in the last 6 months for dinner and both times the food was tasteless and the service iffy. On both visits, my main course of meat seemed as though it was cooked unseasoned or marinated and then just before being served drenched in sauce which resulted in no imparted taste. This will be our last visit.
(1)Kristine T.
Standing in the patio right now as I write this review. Terrible service. No one greeted us as we walked in & we had to grab an employees attention just to get some service. We specifically needed a bigger table in the patio because there will be 5-6 of us, so we asked a server AND a hostess about the bigger table. 10 minutes later the table still isn't cleaned off. The hostess is just standing there counting clouds. I'm sorry, but in my opinion if a restaurant is not busy the hostess shouldn't just stand there doing NOTHING. Mind you I am also a server, and in my restaurant I would not have waited for the busser to clean it up. Especially since it's not even busy here and clearly there isn't a wait. I would of cleaned it up myself or asked the hostess to do it. I wouldn't of let any of my customers wait there for 10 minutes for the table to be ready. I don't know whether it's policy for the hostess to do nothing but maybe they should also be trained to clean tables during a slow service. Cause I know in our restaurant that's how things are handled.
(1)Olivia B.
I was very excited to try Piacere for my first time with a large group of my girls, but our experience will not have us returning anytime soon. We rented out the front room of the restaurant for our girls brunch and although the room was beautiful, we had requested a table in the front of the restaurant with a TV to ensure we could watch the football game. We were in luck, as our game didn't start until later, but if it had, their promise to us about having a television in view for our large group would have complicated things heavily. Many of us ordered bottomless mimosas and although the mimosa was good, we had to ask our servers multiple times for refills. We ended up only having two or three mimosas each, because the service was so poor and they weren't refilling our glasses when asked to do so. When our group goes out for a girls brunch and there are 12 of us ordering bottomless mimosas, we believe the bottomless mimosas should flow appropriately, especially if we're renting out a room for a few hours. A couple of us ordered the breakfast pizza, thinking it would be wonerful since they have a pizza oven- WRONG! The pizza was completely bland and practically bare of all the ingredients mentioned on the menu. We ended up putting red pepper flakes, salt and ordering a side of Arugula for the pizza, so we could eat. Needless to say, the managers should take a look at updating their breakfast pizza, as well as a few other dishes that are bland. Our group of girls loves to go out and celebrate and try new places, but we will not be returning to Piacere anytime soon!
(2)Matt B.
First review here. Not very impressed. Ordered the (fried) calamari and it was not crispy, only ate about half of it. Oh yeah there was a fry leftover from the last batter so whatever whatevah.. We also got the prawns and they were for sure frozen, not good. For main course I ordered the baby back ribs. The ribs were good but the slaw and cornbread were very disappointing, and it's really hard to mess up slaw... Anyway, I'll probably wont come back again, if I'm gonna drop a hundo on dinner I'll go down the street to refuge. I should mention the service was good and the ambiance was decent. Good place to grab a drink if you wanna pay $13 for a mule.
(2)Mia B.
I can't believe I am giving this place a 1 star but I have no choice! I went here a few years ago for a work thing w/15 girls and dinner was great and the service was great but I just went for lunch the other day with a friend and OMG! First of all, we chose to sit on the sidewalk outside. We waited a little longer than usual to get a drink order in but it wasn't too bad. Then the "lazy" young waiter took a while to come back so we could finally order our food. We ordered the Angus burgers and fries with the delicious looking homemade buns and to our surprise it was the worst burger we EVER had! Car's Jr. makes better burgers!!! The meat was so charred on the outside that that's all we tasted. There were no spices of any sort. PLAIN....BLAH! When you order a burger that comes with fries and w/no dressing on it your waiter should immediately ask if you want condiments.....well our "lazy" waiter DID NOT! He just walked away so I had to wait for our elusive waiter to come back so I could ask for my condiments. When he came back he saw my empty soda and never brought or asked to bring me a refill so I had to ask him when he brought my condiments. All the while he was making "joke" comments and sighing every time I asked him for something. Now I am NOT a difficult patron but come on!!! He came back with the condiments and said, sighing, "Ok, now is there ANYTHING else you need"? I told him my soda was empty and once again he laughed and sighed and literally "schlepped off", dragging his feet. Then I noticed that the tin that my ketchup was in had old hardened butter inside of it!!! GROSS!!!! So of course when he came back with my soda I showed him and he sighed off to get me another. Then we never saw him again until the end of our meal. When he saw we didn't eat our burgers he said, "Wow, you didn't even eat"! I told him they were horrible and he came back with an Ipad Mini so we can comment about the chef but told us to make sure to leave him a good review!!! I told him why would I since we barely saw him and he replied..........get this..............."Well, after having to come back 6 TIMES, I was scared"! WTH!!!??? OMG you are kidding me!!!! Then I had to hunt him down and walk inside to pay and waited FOREVER for my change!!! GO TO TOWN ACROSS THE STREET!!!! 700 TIMES BETTER! We will NEVER come back here again!!
(1)Lee K.
As a family of four, we tried four different entrees that all sounded intriguing but turned out to be HUGE DISAPPOINTMENTS. One member said his lamb was tastless. My chicken entree was overcooked and tough. My beet salad was so so. Though we liked our server, he seemed to be taking care of everyone so we found ourselves waiting for a LONG time to get our entrees orders taken, to get our food, to order dessert, and to get the bill. Bland food + high prices + extremely long waits = you've got to be kidding me.
(1)Katharine A.
I didn't have dinner here, but I sat at the bar with a group of friends and we had drinks and a lot of appetizers. The food was good and it was a good experience until the music started (I think around 9). Then it was too loud to concentrate on conversation or much else but the music. The bar area is small and the band was large and overpowered the space.
(3)Jennifer L.
I'd eaten at Piacere with Mr. L several years ago pre Little L, and then kind of forgot about it. It was good, but there is so much competition in downtown San Carlos, between Spasso, Locanda Positano, Viva La Vita, Red Hot Chilli Pepper, Saffron, Town, and Rumi - it's hard to limit oneself. Last night our son announced he wanted to go somewhere new. The Yelper in me rejoiced. The three of us visited Piacere (which means "Pleasure, to please, a source of delight or joy") and enjoyed: * Sweet Gem Lettuce, Green Goddess Dressing $9 - Nice taste, but way over-dressed for me. I forgot to say "go light on the dressing." yelp.com/biz_photos/BjgP… * Hearts of Romaine, Garlic Croutons, Shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano, Caesar Dressing $9 - The salad was fresh, but was too heavily dressed for Mr. L as well. * Scottish Salmon, Fresh Corn Cakes, Basil $24 yelp.com/biz_photos/BjgP… - The salmon was respectable, but not mind-blowing. The corn cakes knocked my socks off. More about them later. * Pasta Forno - Chicken, Sausage, Olives, Tomato, Basil, Melted Fontina $22 yelp.com/biz_photos/BjgP… - The sauce could've used more kick. * Crispy Gnocchi $5 yelp.com/biz_photos/BjgP… - Never had gnocchi as a side dish before - cool! * Kids' spaghetti with butter (hold the sauce for picky kid, meatballs on side) $5 yelp.com/biz_photos/BjgP… * Kids' housemade chocolate ice cream with fresh oatmeal chocolate cookie (included in the kids' meal!) - YUM! yelp.com/biz_photos/BjgP… * Layercake, Primativo, Italy '08 1/2 carafe Red Wine $20 - Thumbs up from Mr. L. I am not a foodie. I am not a foodie. I keep telling myself that. And yet Piacere's fresh corn cakes rocked my world. I don't know if I've ever had corn cakes before. If I have, they never caught my notice. These perfectly seasoned corn cakes burst with freshness and flavor, They had whole sweet corn kernels that were beyond fresh. I couldn't help but marvel at them. I shared a bite with Mr. L and they totally stole the show. Tip: Order the Fresh Corn Cakes "on the side" for $5. Don't question, just do it. The other show-stealing dish for me, surprisingly, was included in my son's $5 kids' meal (incredible value!). His dessert was a housemade chocolate ice cream and cookie. It was ridiculously rich and fantastic. Way too good for a kid (not to sound ageist, but sheesh!). Move over kiddo, this is adult ice cream. Surprises and observations: * I didn't think this would be a kid-friendly restaurant, but I was surprised at how many children there were. The kids' menu was reasonable and great (our picky actually kid ate his pasta , which felt like a miracle!). * It's really big inside - and has nice ambiance. yelp.com/biz_photos/BjgP… * There was live music on the Saturday night we were there. yelp.com/biz_photos/BjgP… * There is sidewalk dining, which looks pleasant. It was a bit windy (and a car alarm went off), so we were glad to be inside. * Service was friendly, efficient, and accommodating. * The menu is vegetarian and vegan-friendly (has asterisks for which items are vegetarian and which are vegan - nice!). Holla to my veggie friends! * Gluten free available on request. I'd go back to sample new dishes, and definitely hit the fantastic corn cakes and ultra-decadent ice cream again. Oh yeah.
(4)Sandy F.
Stopped for dessert and drinks. Interesting but disturbing observation. Since didn't see tip jar for jazz band, gave tip to them to our waiter. Saw him walk towards band and then he pocketed the money. Hope owner makes sure that band gets their tips. Fantastic musicians
(4)Erica G.
Based on setting alone I'd say this place is very pleasant. Me and my friends sat outside and could still hear the live music from inside on a lovely summer night, so that was nice. Drinks. I got the mango margarita. It was beautifully presented. Personally I think it was a bit overpriced for the little amount of alcohol in it, but that wouldn't be a deal breaker. Food. I'm sorry, I just think the food is not good here. I've had some of the pasta before, which I truly think they opened a can of Chef Boyardee for one of those dishes, and been less than pleased. I had the hamburger on this visit, and while it was fine, it certainly wasn't worth the price. None of the menu items are worth the price in my opinion. Service. Sadly, I had the same issue with service that it seems many others have. It took about 15 minutes to even get menus, another 15 to order drinks, another 15 to get the drinks, and don't even get me started on how long it took to place our orders and be served. By the time the meal was done I was simply tired of sitting. I also don't think we should have had to ask for bread twice, which we did. All in all I think there are better places to go in San Carlos. I gave this place multiple chances and I'm done being disappointed. Far too expensive to chance it here anymore.
(2)B B.
We had a private birthday party in the wine room. We worked with Chelsea who was great! We had a wonderful reception and dinner. Loved it!
(5)Chris C.
Manager is a jerk, food is overpriced and not very good. Don't waste your time
(1)Laura A.
Went during the San carlos art and wine faire and had a fantastic time! Awesome martini, great service, and was surprised by a fantastic vegan butternut squash quinoa dish (I'm not even vegetarian!) Also their olive oil and vinegar dip with their bread is amazing!! Can't wait to go back!
(5)Jim M.
I'd say by and large Piacere is good. Not great, but good. I'm not sure why this is, but I've had the strange experience of being seated...but not served at Piacere more than once. This is actually my biggest pet peeve at any restaurant. I'm greeted by the hostess, seated with a menu and then nobody ever shows up. No bread, no water...it's like I'm invisible. This never happens at Town or Spasso or Positano or really ANY other restaurant in San Carlos. It's happened to me 3 times over the years at Piacere. I guess it must be me. When I get served the food is pretty good. If I don't get served I leave and go to Town or one of the other joints where I seem to be welcome. This happened again last week so it's fresh in my mind. I guess I attribute this to incredibly bad management. If you sell food to hungry people how hard is it to notice that they're there? Sitting at a table with a menu in front of them? At Piacere this seems to be a challenge.
(3)Sheryl M.
In the past, Piacere was one of my favorite places to eat in San Carlos. In recent trips, I have noticed that the food and service have decreased in quality yet the prices seem to climb at an alarming rate. This was my first time back in a few months due to the fact during my last visit one of the server/bartenders was rude and unprofessional. He was yelling at the female bartender and he charged me for a wine I did not receive. Shrimp tacos-just okay but the verde salsa that came with it was pretty darn good. Buffalo tri-tip-a little tough but okay. The side was a bean medley in a pablano chili which was rather bland. French fries-good The prices are ridiculous now! I can go to next door to Town to get a $39.00 filet mignon and I would receive top notch, respectful service.
(3)Kate W.
I'm the president of a nonprofit foundation. I just brought my extended board (22 people) to Piacere for our annual planning meeting. We were there from 10-4pm. It was the perfect place: * We had the back room to ourselves. * The AV including the projector and laptop hookups worked flawlessly. * Lunch was served quickly and unobtrusively. * Despite our large group, everything was cooked perfectly and the food was delivered at the appropriate temperature. * Drinks and snacks were brought out on a regular basis. The cookies were scrumptious and the warm coffee cake in the morning was nothing sort of divine. * Iris, the manager, took great care of us. And, best of all -- since I didn't use foundation funds to pay for the meeting -- it didn't put too big a dent in my checking account. I already love coming here with my husband and two small kids. But, now I'll never go anywhere else for a large group lunch meeting. Thank you Piacere for a wonderful day!
(5)M L.
Been to this place twice and both times, I found the food good the service spotty. First time around, the server forgot my drink until mid-way through the meal, she wasn't around to flag her down to get it until mid-way through meal. Second time, we had a bunch of kids with us for brunch on a sunday mid-morning, they brought the kids food out pronto and then made the adults wait for our food, we waited so long the kids finished their food and then became antsy before we got ours ... the adults couldn't enjoy our food because the kids were so DONE having to sit and wait for us! Food was good; I really liked their baked brie appetizer, the chicken pot pie was interesting, and the pizza's were good. The macaroni for kids needs to have smaller pasta noodles for smaller kids (i.e., toddler) to maneuver them into their mouths, and the homemade lemonade made with sparkling water was tasty. One thing that keeps me from giving this place a lower score is that on weekends they serve kids for FREE!!
(3)Nic P.
Asked for a medium well, got a medium rare.
(2)Patrick H.
I was in here the other day for lunch. Maggie the bartender is great. My burger and fries were pretty good. I ordered it with blue cheese but there sure wasn't much on it this time around.
(3)Brittany R.
I know these reviews are mainly suppose to be about mainly food, but I will say this...that this place has the BEST and I mean the BEST lemonade EVER!! We also had some pizza that was just off the chain!!! (Do they say off the chain anymore?) I am really liking this place and totally recommend it!!!
(5)Chrisy E.
Since my past review I received a message from Iris, who has been an employee at Piacere for the past three years. Instead of any genuine apology, I received a message telling me to be "more careful of my words". This is my follow-up standing behind my first Yelp review even stronger. Yelp is to express true experiences and valuation of places you've been, seen, experienced, etc. and after posting my valid experience and dismay, I receive a threatening e-mail from an employee. Quality.
(1)BosCal S.
I came here for a girls brunch a few months ago, it was a Sunday and we sat outside which was nice. The service was pretty slow that day but the food was good so I decided to go back for dinner for my husbands birthday. There were 15 of us and they gave us a seperate room (no extra charge) which was great for us (as we tend to get a little on the loud side!). The restaraunt was a lot bigger than I remember, and I LOVE THEIR KITCHEN! The smells from it alone make you want to try everything on the menu! They did offer a prix fix menu beforehand but I declined because they have such a nice variety of dishes I didn't want people to be limited to onlty a few. If you go you MUST have the mussels. We also enjoyed the oysters and calamari. The whole fried fish was the favorite of the table, I had the short ribs (which were so soft I didn't need a knife). All of the steaks looked delicious too. The best part of the night was when one of the ladies who worked there sang a beautful Italian birthday song to my husband - she was amazing!!! They also have us a round of dessert wine on the house! Their specialty drinks are so good too, I especially like the lemon tea drop and the cucumber drink (forget the names). The service was a bit slow at time but they were more than accomodating (even bringing out soy sauce - at an Italian restaraunt! - for one of the guests!) I will be back with a smaller group so we can enjoy the live music!
(4)Jess B.
Great spot for Fri and Sat night cocktail hour. Its more classy then the dive bars and they have a dj spinning sometimes. I like places like this then dirty old bars on laurel street. They have food which ive had, its alright, the server was not the best.
(4)Mike M.
When faced with a crisis situation (aka: Town being packed solid), run over to Piacere. It has a cool, young, modern vibe to it, with a nice patio to eat outside. Plus the bartenders and hostess make it an added bonus ;) Only drag is that when I went (on Tuesday with my date) it was full of middle age dudes which made it really hard to get a drink. So, we bounced to Cask, which was cool too. I would definitely come back to Piacere again for some drinks or dinner.
(4)Joanna O.
Came for Sunday brunch with my family (table of 6) and we enjoyed ourselves. Food was delicious. Sat outside. Ordered 2 plates of freshly made donuts to accompany our breakfast dishes- a jelly donut plate and a Nutella donut plate. The Nutella was overflowing from the donut, which made it difficult to eat and unappetizing. The waiter noticed our difficulty and had a new order made with much less Nutella in the middle. They were perfect! Hot donuts with my perfectly cooked omelet plus a mimosa = Delicious!
(4)Dan R.
I really want to like this place. It has a nice bar with good music on the weekends, but have always been disappointed when I have gone there for dinner. It was no different tonight. My wife and I arrived 15 minutes early. We were seated right away. It was a Wednesday so I guess I shouldn't be too surprised the restaurant was 3/4 empty, although their main competitor right across the street,Town, was packed. Our bus boy arrived quickly with water and our waiter took our drink order in a timely fashion. The menu looked more appealing that last time I was there over a year ago, so maybe they are making some changes for the better. The Duck Confit Quesadilla appetizer was not to my liking, but I can't necessarily blame them as that was the first time I have had Duck Confit in quesadilla form...and maybe I just don't like it. I ordered the cheeseburger & fries...not sure why. I guess I was in the mood and for $14 I was expecting something pretty good. I did not notice this right away, but the waiter didn't ask me how I wanted it cooked. Isn't that a standard question? I asked what comes on the burger and the waiter said just Lettuce and Tomato. Well it came with mayo as well Luckily the burger was cooked very nicely, and I like mayo, but this could have gone very wrong. They pretty much got lucky. What I couldn't believe was how small it was. Really, this little thing is $14? It didn't taste like a gourmet burger...just a very average cheeseburger. The fries were even worse..undercooked and bendy. French Fries should have a nice crunch to the exterior with a soft potato inside. So basically nothing I tasted tonight was very good. Very average at above average prices. Throughout the evening the waiter was very short with us and didn't really seem to care about us. He seemed to always walk away right as we were asking him a question and he never turned around to listen to us. This only got worse as the night went on. My wife had a glass of wine, we had an appetizer and a couple of entree's. He seemed mad at us because we didn't order enough or spend enough and his visits became shorter and shorter as the evening went on. As we were paying our bill, he hardly even talked to us. He never asked us once how our food was or if there was anything he could get us. All in all a pretty negative experience. I am sure I will go back in another year or two and try it again, hoping it will be better. I am not sure why. There are so many great places to eat in downtown San Carlos, no reason to go here.
(1)Jess G.
Went here for lunch one day. The food was way overpriced. I got the lunch combo including a sandwich, soup of the day, and salad. The quality of food did not seem very good and the prices do not match this. Also, I think they had only two servers which made the service quite slow.
(1)Mike N.
Went there 8/11/11 at 6 PM, thinking it was a fine Itallian restuarant - WRONG 1) The rear entrance was dirty and smelly 2) The Hostess had an attitude problem 3) The menu was a single sheet of paper, dirty and creased 4) Menu was inconsistant, Corn dogs as an appetizer? 5) Chicken was tough 6) Romano beans rubbery 7) Gnocchi rubbery 8) Salmon bland 9) $130 for dinner for three Beet salad was good How do they stay in business? Somebody is completely out of touch with reality there.
(1)Reynolds P.
We had brunch here on Saturday, January 19, 2013. There were six of us plus a 3-year-old plus a 5-month old. Normally I'm not a fan of brunch, but the menu had lots of choices, and the 6 of us ordered widely divergent items. ALL were first rate. The quality and service were primo, and my wife and I are fortunate to go to many excellent restaurants in diff. parts of the USA. My French toast was superior to any that I've ever had, and the bacon the best I've ever tasted. Note: Piacere offers some homemade donuts - tiny ones about the size of a cheese puff. You can order them w/ jam filling or Nutella filling. These are served in a bowl: DO NOT PASS THESE SCRUMPTIOUS ITEMS UP. All in all, we could not have been more pleased, and we've dined at other restaurants on the same street. We will be back. P.S. One of my dtrs and sons-in-law live nearby and have been there other times ... they also spoke highly of the restaurant.
(5)Rebecca w.
great brunch. great late night with live music. Good appetizers and drink list.
(4)Jessica T.
Way overpriced for calamari, salad and chicken and cowboy steak. Their calamari, salad, hibiscus drink and crispy gnocchi we're the items I passed. Our chicken breast was dry and the cowboy steak was too salty for my taste! Food wasn't anything special, but the service was very attentive. 4 items for $50. Sigh...
(2)Nicole M.
So I used to dine here ALL the time about 6 years ago. When I saw the bad reviews and heard that things might not be doing well, I knew I HAD to check Piacere out again and see if it was true. Well I can honestly say, people are crazy! Piacere is still amazing!!!! Came here a few months ago for some cocktails. They were so yummy and creative! Ok so they aren't cheap but they are soooo good! Came for dinner tonight and had the beat salad and nudi. The beat salad was so delicious! Everything was so fresh. The nudi is not your typical gnocchi. It is very creamy and soft because of the ricotta. The sauce it comes in has this sweet creamy taste to it. The plate was so delicious and a small serving was more than enough food for a little eater like me. My boyfriend had the ribs. Omg...this is definitely a mans dish. It was HUGE!!!! Like really huge!!! They came with cole slaw and a cheese covered corn bread. Now the corn bread isn't sweet like you might expect but it was very delicious and soft! And the ribs tasted fantastic! I'm so happy I came back after so many years despite the bad reviews. So happy to see that Piacere is still going strong. Oh also the band playing tonight (Friday night) is really cool!
(5)Debbie M.
I ended up here for brunch today and what a disappointment. I had the Nudi which tasted like raw bisquick dough in a very bland sauce with I guess were truffles, a dash of oil and some parsley as garnish. For $18, I expected to have some flavor other than salty dough. Service was ok though when I asked for my check and told the. Waitress why I wanted it immediately (the guy next to me was on his cell fighting with his girlfriend/partner) she dropped it off pretty quickly and then disappeared so I got to spend another 5-10 min listening to this guy argue.
(1)Stephen J.
The food was fairly tasty, but the service was ... well, beyond belief. I was there with a group of about 20 people from work. We ordered. We waited over an hour. One of our managers went up to ask, um, what was up with the food. They told her that there was "a computer problem" and only half of the food orders made it from the computer the server entered it into to the computers at the stations in the kitchen. When she asked did this mean half of our food was sitting there getting cold, they said no it was all being remade (ok, fine, sounds fair enough)... but they did not seem to be particularly concerned about this and seemed to think that the computer issue meant it wasn't their fault and thus not their problem. During this time, some people at one end up the table had their glasses refilled, but many of us sat there with empty glasses for over 20 minutes and we ran out of bread. Nobody seemed to care to check up on us at all. 20 more minutes passed and food began to arrive. All but one person (ironically, the one who'd made the reservation and had gone up to talk to them) got their food. The last plate arrived a *further* 10 minutes or so later. I would have expected that after they realized they'd screwed up in a big way they would have been extra-attentive. I would have expected a manager to come over and apologize profusely and keep checking in and making sure that servers were keeping us happy. Nope. They showed up once to refill glasses after it was pointed out to them that nobody had checked up on us in a long time, then proceeded to ignore us almost completely. At the end of the meal (actually, around the time the last plate showed up), a manager came over and told us there would be no charge. That really was the only possible way they could rectify such a completely awful service experience. ... but even as she was saying there would be no charge, she was pointing out that the computer issue was not their fault and did not sound in the least bit apologetic to my ears. It felt like we were meant to be wowed by their amazing generosity so they didn't have to care/try any further. Ignoring the fact that the server or manager or ... someone ought to have recognized that a problem existed far sooner (hey, why have these 20 people been sitting there waiting for food for an hour?) and even if we let them off the hook and blame the computer, it was still their responsibility and they should have owned that. No matter how much you comp your guests, treating them like they're unimportant is not going to make them happy.
(1)Abhay K.
Great view, good outdoor seating reasonably good service though they stopped refilling the bottomless mimosas fairly quickly.
(3)Eunice S.
Was really excited to try this restaurant. Had a $100 open table coupon - thought we were set. Thought we'd be in for an awesome meal by the menu - beet salad was great - brie and apple appetizer - fabulous (great crust by the way!). Dinner? Welllll that was another story - daughter and I split the chicken saltimbocca - way to salty. Friend had the lamb - wayyyy to salty. Crispy gnocchi - no taste. So all in all - while I was really looking forward to trying this restaurant - was disappointed with most of the food. Drinks on the other hand were really good! Won't be going back - dinner for 7 of us was over $350 - don't mind spending that if the food is over the top. Ah well - next???
(2)John J.
Paging Gorden Ramsey. Someone needs to whup some ass at Piacere. Actually, scratch that. Let 'em fail. I have been taking my family to Piacere for years. The food has always been delicious, so I have been forgiving of the overly-high prices, poor service and slow kitchen. Tonight was the last straw. We'll never be back. It's a mellow Tuesday evening, the place is about 1/5 full. My wife and I, accompanied by our two daughters and my mother-in-law, decide to give them one more chance. 30 minutes after ordering, the bread basket remains empty and the servers are too busy watching the TV at the bar to check in with us or fill our bread basket and water glasses. 45 minutes after ordering, I flag down the manager and ask for an update on our order. He disappears, I assume to hide in shame under a rock. 50 minutes after ordering, I get our server to actually make an appearance, and refill our bread. Nobody offers me an apology or a reason for our missing food, except to say there is a party of 15 ahead of us. (Recall the restaurant is 1/5 full). Nobody offers me an apology for not even ensuring our bread and water stays replenished. 60 minutes after ordering, my wife, 10-month-old baby on her hip, tells the host that if the manager does not show his face, we are walking out on the $60 bottle of wine we've been sipping for an hour. The manager shows up, and tells my wife to her face that the delay is due to the single appetizer order we consumed 50 minutes prior. A 15 person party brought this place to it's knees, and the staff cared more for the TV than it's patrons. Zero accountability or ownership for screwing up our families evening. Game over.
(1)Corinne P.
Pretentious menu. Don't waste your money. They ruin classics, Our pork chop was burned. Flavors don't blend and ingredients are not fresh. On saying that, I might consider returning. There are some other dishes I would like to try. Wine list is mediocre.
(1)Erin B.
I came here for brunch today and ordered the smoked salmon, eggs and asparagus dish along with a peach sangria. Service was decent and food came quickly.
(4)Gloria H.
This was the last place for the evening where my friend and I had the night cap - one of my signature drinks, campari with champagne. We took a seat at the bar and ordered it. The bartender asked if it was just a splash of campari and we confirmed. However, she poured over a quarter flute of campari then champagne, I know it will not be tasty as the campari bitter flavor will take over the drink and it did. We asked her to split one drink into two flutes then top with champagne, that did the trick and we got to enjoy our refreshing night cap. Outdoor seating is nice. They only charged $8 for the drink, very reasonable.
(3)Nicole M.
We had dinner there for the first time tonight and had a great experience. We were seated and waited on right away. Our table ordered a caesar salad, heirloom cucumber salad, calamari, spring pea tortelloni, smoked salmon pizza, and prosciutto pizza. Each dish was very good and met our expectations.
(5)Brabba B.
Can't vouch for anything else, but this was a fine spot for brunch: pleasant, with good food and reasonably fast service. The French toast was delicious, and the accompanying bacon was terrific. I'd definitely return.
(4)Steve L.
My wife and I came here once a few months back for lunch, and very recently came here on a balmy Friday evening with the kids. Spur of the moment, decided to drive down to Laurel St. in San Carlos, and find a place to eat with the kids. Almost went to Broiler Express for something quick with the kids, but decided to come here. Didn't have any reservations, but they were able to seat us inside. A dark and upscale interior, yet very comfortable. For starters we ordered crispy calamari and roasted mussels. Wife and I split a Caesar salad. For entree, I had pasta with fresh peas and smoked trout, while my wife ordered the appetizer ahi tuna with a potato pancake. These were also done well. They also have a kids menu. For $5, the kid's menu comes with a drink, and choice of entree, and choice of dessert. Each of the kids ordered penne pasta with butter and cheese. Very good sized for a kid's entree, and they enjoyed it. For dessert, both wanted a chocolate sorbet. Stole a bite from the youngest....very chocolate-ty without being too sweet. Overall, very nice upscale, yet casual restaurant. Service was very friendly, and efficient. Enjoyable, will come back again.
(4)Dima Y.
The place has good food, great desserts (the bread pudding is my favorite), they feature live music on Fridays (may be Sats as well), and is a busy place near the weekends. The bar however doesn't always produce good mixed drinks (we had to return at least a couple).
(4)Keane H.
I met here with a friend for a nice lunch. We were seated by the polite hostess right away since it wasn't that busy. They have nice outdoor seating in the patio with overhead heaters that made us feel warmer, despite the breeze. A friendly waitress greeted us, and asked us what we would like to drink. I ordered a pomegranate drink which was pretty tasty, and my friend ordered a nice drink with cucumbers and mint in it. The waitress also offered us some bread, and we took her up on it. We looked at the average-sized menu and selected our entrees. The menu wasn't overwhelming or impressive, and I feel as though they could have had a few more interesting choices for all of the categories on the menu. I decided on a small ceasar salad, and a steak sandwich, which came with fries. My friend ordered a small ceasar salad, and a chicken sandwich, which also came with fries. My friend and I, thankfully, got wrapped up in conversation otherwise we would have REALLY noticed how slow the service is! We waited and waited...and waited until I asked the one of the other waiters to check on the order for us. He said that it would be out soon...yeah right. The staff was trying to keep us busy with drinks, but managed to forget the bread they offered. Finally, our meal came and it wasn't what I had imagined. Both sandwiches were tiny, with fatty meat :( The salads were a good size though. The whole meal came out to $50.88, which was kind of a lot considering the size and quality of the entree we were given. Would I come here again? Eehhh...maybe. Would it be more of a last resort? Yes. All in all, the food is so-so, food service needs to be quicker, but the staff is polite and tries to make your experience good!
(2)Joanna R.
Food - Excellent - I love the skirt steak and the mussels! The pesto pizza is Mmm mmm too. The selection of drinks and wines - great. They have an italian white wine of the day which is fabulous for $5. Service - great. They also have live music on the weekend.
(4)J D.
Sloppy, very sloppy. First the good: - It was our anniversary, so they reserved us a nice table. - Our waitress was friendly and nice. - At the end of our meal that gave us each a complimentary glass of sweet wine for our anniversary. Now for the bad: - The menus were crumpled, as if they were a week old. - The dishes was uninspiring. - They didn't have silverware on the table before both the appetizer and main courses were served. - I ordered a NY Steak Medium-Rare, and it arrived Medium-Well, a bit chewy and gristly. If you're going to charge $37 for a NY steak, it should be cooked correctly. - We were asked if we wanted dessert while our main course plates were still on the table. - Dessert menus were dropped on the table before the main plates were removed. Please, remove the plates. - The restrooms were dirty, even after the busboy exited one of them. You would think he would have cleaned it up a bit while he was in there. In short, the restaurant wasn't running smoothly, and the manager seemed more pre-occupied with schmoozing friends than actually running the restaurant. We won't be going back.
(2)C Q.
It was ok, service a bit slow with our drinks.
(4)Kelly M.
Dissapointed. The 2nd to last time we came here we just wanted drinks. The bar was full so we were seated at a hidden side table. Then we waited and waited and waited. Completely forgotten so we left. The last time we came here we sat at a table in front of the band and bar. The band was taking a break so it was somewhat calm (no drunk cougars dancing). The bartenders had a perfect view of us. Pretty sure you can guess what happened next....yep...we waited and waited and then we were out of there faster than a speeding bullet. Apparently the only way to be served a drink is if you're sitting at the bar. The only way I'd give Piacere a '3rd times a charm' chance would be if all other bars in the town were closed. Fat chance.
(2)Manny F.
I called to ask if kids eat free on Sundays because it was advertised on eatoutwithyourkids.com and the lady who answered the phone was extremely rude. We were going to eat there REGAURDLESS if kids eat free or not but the service does not seem very customer friendly. I'm sure the food is great.
(1)Jen P.
4 stars for the food but the service is shit so they get no love from me. Our group of 4 walked in on a Friday evening, the place was bustling but *not* packed. I was looking forward to a nice meal since the place looked promising. Basically all the food was great: - corn dog appetizers - delish! a must try - burger - beet salad - gem salad (? not sure what it's called, their website doesn't have their menus posted) - cheese pizza - artichoke ravioli Service was definitely off and not very friendly, from the hostess to the various servers we had. No one really smiled at us to make us feel welcome and the meal felt like a robotic transaction versus a nice experience. Will not be returning and will not be recommending to anyone.
(2)Annette W.
I always go here for cocktails and appetizers. My girls pick some sides and apps and we order a couple of drinks and nibble away. It's a great place to go after work. I had also been here for lunch and ordered the Lunch Special (hidden away in the top corner of the lunch menu, above any of the section headings). The special is nice because you get a little of everything: Soup, Salad and Sandwich. But yesterday I decided to order the Hangar Steak Salad. I will warn you that the salad dressing leaves a little to be desired, but the STEAK! WOW! So good. I ordered it medium, and it was cooked just right. It came with 5 nice sized, thick slices of meat over a green salad (they will call it mixed greens, but really it's one type of frilly lettuce) with wild mushrooms and grilled (I think Maui) onions. I am not a huge onion fan, but they were a nice, sweet addition to the salad. I did leave behind some of the mushrooms, they were a nice accompaniment, but they were nothing special. Two of the people with me ordered the other Hangar Steak options: the sandwich and the entree. We decided the Salad was a better value than the entree (at least if you don't necessarily want the fries) and the sandwich was delicious except (at least for her) it was too much food and she left behind some of the bread. Definitely a place to try! Bonus star for purse hooks under the bar!
(4)Brooke R.
PriceWaterhouseCoopers finished their 2009 audit of my company and to celebrate they took the finance team out to lunch. Piacere has two private rooms, we reserved one that fit the 20 of us. We had a long table covered in a white tablecloth next to a fireplace tucked into one of the walls. Even though it was the middle of the day they turned it on for us! Everyone in our group was making "mmm" sounds and smiling. The service is fast and professional, plates are taken away subtly and none of us even noticed when our drinks were refilled. Nicely done, service like this is hard to find. Of all the dishes that I have tried or sampled, my favorites are the fish. They just know how to cook fish here. It's light and not smothered in any kind of sauce.
(4)Omar V.
Have not tried the food but the bar and the service at the bar was great. Stiff drinks and the place is also clean and neat. The music is also top notch. Would definitely come here again.
(5)Alan S.
It's a nice place with good food and drinks. Only knock is that it feels overpriced. Flank steak salad and short rib sandwich are good. Probably bumps up to 4 for just happy hour and people watching.
(3)Ashton T.
It's fairly rare that I take the step of not just avoiding a place myself but also warning people away from it. I was at the meal Stephen described, and I won't recap the details. I'll just say that even comping the meal won't cut it. As a side note, this is what it looks like when the staff of a restaurant decide that they need to send a message to someone further up the food chain. Memo to the owner: whatever you did to your staff, you may want to stop doing it. Don't go here. Go somewhere else. Anywhere else.
(1)Terra S.
My husband and I ended up at this place after walking around on Laurel St. for a while, looking for something that looked tasty. Although not awful, I'm a bit disappointed that we didn't end up going to one of the other nice places we saw along the way. First, a word about the service, since many previous reviews seem to have many negative things about it. We actually had really attentive service the whole night. Were the workers overly friendly, cheerful, or warm? No. But they checked on us the perfect number of times. My water was always filled exactly when needed, and our food came promptly. That being said, they forgot to bring the appetizer we ordered (so sadly, no review of their baked brie dish that sounded wonderful), and they accidentally made me a whole order of my main dish rather than the half order I said I wanted (that, however, turned into somewhat of a plus, as our waitress said "oh look at that, they accidentally made you a whole order, I guess you get a big dish for a little price!"). That was nice, but I kind of wanted to sample a couple of things, which is why I wanted to order the appetizer and a half order of my pasta. Oh well. Upon checking out the size of my 'whole order' I think the half would have been too small anyway. On to the food. So upon first bite I was blown away. I ordered eggplant tortelloni, which was surrounded a pile of cooked spinach topped with light and fluffy goat cheese. The handmade pasta was cooked perfectly (and just slightly browned/crunchy on the outside, yum!). As I was taking that first bite I was hit with a lovely flavor/crunch of sea salt (must have been somewhere in or on the pasta). At first, I loved it. A few bites in? I was overwhelmed with saltiness. I could barely finish the dish and was actually trying to find each salt crystal and pick it off. I definitely think they overdid it. If they'd just kept a bit in there it would have been a nice hint of saltiness to really complement the flavor. But I'm fairly certain it was WAY overdone. Too bad, because this could have been a really awesome dish. Oh, I forgot to mention the bread. I love free bread with my meals. But I'm in the SF bay area, and as such, I expect to be served a bit of wonderful sourdough. Uggh, another french bread letdown. I know sourdough isn't everyone's cup of tea, so I won't hold this totally against them. It's just a personal preference. My husband really liked his chicken pizza though. And the hostess was super hot. So not everything was a letdown. Will we be back? Probably not. There are too many other promising looking places on and around Laurel St.
(3)Miguel R.
This place was great. I was here with friends whom apparently frequent the restaurant enough that all the staff knows what they order. The service we got was stellar and although I doubt it is like this all the time, from what other reviews say, I could not be more pleased with my experience here. I ordered the double Filet Minion and OMG it was delicious!!! The mashed potatoes were fluffy and flavorful - and the desert was delicious!! Great friendly place - I will certainly come here again!
(5)Natalie F.
Mediocre over priced food.
(2)Kay A.
OK, this is our last time dining at this place. I've said that before, but this is the last, I promise. Recently, I had a Livingsocial coupon that, admittedly expired, but we were able to use it at face value, which was $40.00. The waiter came back twice to tell us it wasn't valid, and twice we had to explain it is still good for the money paid for it, not the 50% discount we would have gotten. He said the owner said "no." They eventually honored it, and then now we find out they charged us an additional $40 without our authorization. Amazing. It' s not that the food is bad here, it's not. The owner is a control freak, and at the end of January, he insisted on keeping the front door open, even when his customer's were uncomfortable -- the place just has that kind of vibe. Greedy, inconsiderate owner, and a huge employee turnover. Never again.
(2)Dave K.
I'd give it 3.5 stars if I could. Solid food but not extraordinary. Piacere has lovely setting, with sliding front doors that open to create a nice indoor/outdoor feel with many tables outdoors. The decor is nice and modern. I had the fried calamari which was good, the heirloom tomato salad which was very good, and a the scallop risotto which was good. I was here with a group so the service was moderate; I'm hoping they would do better if you were just dining at a regular table.
(3)LinLin L.
I did not eat here for dinner but stopped here for a cocktail, desert and live music. I had the bread pudding and it was a very small dish for $8. It was okay but nothing to write home about. The live music was great. They have outdoor tables available with heaters. It is positioned nicely so you can still see and hear the band as the band is set up near a window which can open up to the outside seating. I would go back again. Definitely a nice place to step out to and hear some nice music and socialize. I will have to try the food next time.
(4)Rosquete B.
"Nice Happy Hour in San Carlos" Efficient food service Great house bread with tasty olive oil & basil Happy Hour discounts of wine, draft beer, & certain appetizers Delicious tomato pizza Nice Portobello mushroom burger w/fries "To die for" bread pudding dessert
(4)Bryan Y.
Pretty upscale place, but the food is not worth the money. Except for some of their mixed drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic alike). Don't remember the alcoholic drinks, but for non-alcoholic all three are pretty good. Their watermelon crush was kind of sour but you get used to it. Tried the beef tri-tip. Extremely dry. Their fried kalamari on the other hand was really good. Salad was bitter, tasteless, and expensive.
(3)Valerie F.
I can't say much--negative or positive. This place is a hit or miss. I definitely like coming here on a nice, sunny day and having a glass of champaign or a mimosa. Having a gluten intolerance the menu is very limited. I always end up ordering a salad.
(3)teena y.
I've been here many times and the last time I was there the service wasn't so great (maybe just a one off), but the food is still good. I like to start off with the roasted beet salad - good mixture of the goat cheese and beets. The mussels is a great plate to share. For lunch, I like the meter natural hanger steak sandwich and the fries are good! They also have a special combo for $13 where you can get a salad or soup and half a sandwich. The chicken sandwich is the option I get. For dinner, the Nudi (gnocchi) is a bit too saucy and rich for me so I don't order that anymore. I usually just order their pizza or the pasta forno. Other than that, the food here is pretty good and consistent. The pomegranate martini doesn't taste as good as the one over at Town (across the street). I like the outdoor tables where you can people watch. There's also a heat lamp just in case you're cold.
(4)M D.
I went here with a coupon and was really satisfied overall. We had the prosciutto, truffle oil, and arugula pizza, which made a really yummy appetizer. The cowboy rub on the buffalo tri tip was perfect. I'm not sure that I would go back and pay full price, because it was kind of pricey and it's not the type of food I usually eat. But, it was a decent Thursday night meal out. Update: After a pretty enjoyable night at this restaurant, I went back for take out and it was very disappointing. I ordered the same pizza and buffalo dishes and it was not a pleasing experience. I'm not sure I'll be back.
(3)Jennifer T.
We used to love this place, but the last three times we have been there the food really just wasn't too good. We liked it so much before that we gave it three tries even. :( too bad...
(2)Andrew W.
I went there looking for good food and music on the peninsula on a Saturday night. I found it here. The setting is lovely, the service is friendly and attentive and the food and drink selection is good. The crowd is pretty stylish. The food was great tasting. Two courses and some drinks cost $100 which was good value for money. It also had an ultra cool jazz band which sounded great although it was a bit loud at times making conversation difficult. They also looked a bit squishy (there was 5 of them). All in all, a good value-for-money night out.
(4)Samantha C.
Been here many times and it's one of my faves in downtown San Carlos. Best place to sit is the bar/lounge area because the crowd is friendly and they sometimes have a live band playing. Best band I've seen (twice now) is with Anthony as the lead singer. Food is great as well. Must try: Roasted beets salad, Duck confit quesadilla, french fries, pepperoni pizza, beef skewers
(4)Lisa C.
We met up here for lunch since its fairly central in the peninsula and it was such a beautiful day. We got a nice table outside and it was nice because it was half in the sun and half under and awning so we got a little sun but it never got too too hot. The service was only ok- it took the server a while to get to us to take our orders and hardly ever refilled our waters (which is one of my main factors when judging service since I drink so much). The food itself was pretty good- we shared an order of sliders and a wild mushroom pizza and we were both stuffed by the end. oh also- the dip with the bread in the beginning is AWESOME.
(3)Heather M.
Service was terrible!!! Slow and did not pay attention to our need for refills on drinks. Waiter was snobbish and snearing. The table next to us ordered before us but didn't get their food until we were nearly done, and we thought our service was slow! Steak sandwich was okay, burgers not great. The bread was good. "French fries" were actually garlic fries and the waiter looked at us like WE were stupid when we asked for some without garlic. Will not be back.
(2)Jenna M.
After a long and stressful work week, the bf and I decided to let off some steam by going out to dinner. We initially walked through Town which had over an hour wait, so we decided to walk across the street to Piacere. We have walked past the place before and seen the jazz band in action, so we popped in to see what the wait for a walk-in was. We stood in the entry way for about 10 minutes before the frazzled hostess even glanced in our direction. She quoted 10 minutes for a table, so we decided to grab a drink at the bar. We were seated about 15 minutes later (can't complain) and took a seat in the main dining room. The first thing we noticed was out of the entire room of tables, about 2 had food served. We knew it was going to be a long night when our serve approached us and it was the same girl serving all of the tables outside. Trying to make the best of it, we ordered the calamari and another drink and settled in for a nice evening. The food took a while to come out and our server kept apologizing for the delay, not only to us but to the tables around us. I ordered the pork chop and the bf got the short ribs. When our plates arrived and we took our first bites, we knew we made the right choice by eating here. The pork was amazingly tender and had a bourbon glaze, with mashed potatoes, brussle sprouts and caramelized apples. So good! The short ribs, while a small portion, melted in your mouth. We finished our plates feeling satisfied, but not overly gluttonous (which is a first for us). Overall, I had to give three stars because I think they should improve on having enough staff to take care of the dining room. Our server was great (don't know her name) and tried to make the best of the situation. Food was 4+ stars. We will definitely be back.
(3)Chris C.
We were walking around downtown San Carlos last night around 8 looking for a place to grab dinner, and came across Piacere. We sat outside, very comfortable for a spring evening. The server was very attentive and friendly. Nice selection of cocktails too. We started with the calamari and baked brie. The lemon aioli for the calamari were definitely different than what you'd normally get, but that's a good thing. Nice flavors, but not too thick of a sauce. The caramelized onion and apples on the baked brie were done well too. For the main course we got the rock fish and hanger steak. The fish was cooked perfectly, but the hanger steak (ordered medium rare) was a little more well done than I would have liked. The flavor was great, however. The bread pudding with buttermilk ice cream was a great dessert. The ice cream was definitely the star! We also got the cheese plate which was a bit disappointing... just pieces of cheese on a plate with a few dried fruits and a handful of almonds. I definitely not the most experienced diner, but this is the first time I've been served a cheese plate without some sort of bread or cracker. So I asked for some bread, and they brought out garlic croutons that you normally put on a salad. Definitely overwhelming for the flavor of the cheese. Overall, good dinner and we'll be back.
(4)Michelle H.
Came here last night for my boyfriend's company Xmas party. I read the bad reviews before I arrived so I prepared myself for the worst. Parking was a bit of a pain as we parked near Wells Fargo. I was impressed w/ the patio area. We were in the banquet room on the left side of the restaurant, which turned out to be a LONG rectangular room. There were about 36 attendees and dress code was business casual. Wine was served all night (the white wine was very sweet), and each couple got 2 - 4 drink tickets. My first drink was a pomegranate martini and it was excellent! However there was a little bug in it. My replacement glass came in what seemed to be a smaller glass (BOO) but was still very yummy & I never order martinis. I heard the lemon drop martini had real lemon juice in it & was quite tasty. So tasty that the gentleman next to me ordered 5 but tried to play it off because it was a girly drink, LOL. Fresh bread w/ balsamic vinaigrette was divine. It had some sauteed green onions in it. We had a choice of appetizers, calamari or Caesar salad. You had to cut up the romaine lettuce yourself but presentation and flavor was perfect. Entree choices were: 1. Steelhead Trout, (Wild) 2. Hanger Steak 3. Pork Chop I had the Steelhead Trout and I gobbled everything up! Even the very thin slices of lemon. At this point, I was very uncomfortable in my skirt. My stomach was starting to hurt because I was so stuffed but that didn't stop me from having dessert. I did sample the hanger steak which was still pretty red. My boyfriend gobbled his whole plate up too. Because I couldn't swallow anymore food w/out looking uncomfortable (everyone was asking why I wasn't talking. I was just trying to digest), I got to bring my desserts home. I had the pear cheesecake, and sometime of chocolate chip cake w/ gelato. Service was a bit slow, and maybe we had better service than most other reviews because it was a company party. Would I come back here for a special occasion? Hell yes and I would only recommend what I ordered.
(4)Vivek P.
We had brunch this morning at Piacere. The setup works well since you can sit outside on the sidewalk and you've got the awning to keep you out of the sun on a hot day and heaters to keep you warm on cooler ones. I had the poached eggs with smoked salmon and spinach. The eggs were close to being 4 stars, but the dish was held back by the soggy potatoes. Piacere is basically the only place in town for a nice brunch. I wish they had a little more competition to keep them on their game since it could easily be great.
(3)Zensident G.
Came in for a 5:30 dinner (i.e., early). The entrees were great. Three of us had the filet mignon and the steak was fantastic. However, for a restaurant that was pretty empty (as one would expect at 5:30), the service was very poor. We had to ask for water three times. From my perspective, the service is more of the "I'll ask if everything is ok and bask in the customer praise" rather than really top-notch service that ensures customers are having a great experience. I agree that the prices are pretty expensive for a third quartile restaurant. In a first-rate city, this restaurant would struggle, but in San Carlos it stands out due to mediocre competition and, crucially, low expectations of unsophisticated customers.
(2)Tom S.
From the decor, employee behavior & food presentation it is obvious that Piacere tries valiantly to be a fine dining destination. I was impressed by the tall, luxurious & expensive flower arrangements that are displayed in key locations. Alas, the food did not send me to culinary heaven. I agree with many other Yelpers who report that the food is too salty here. Bambie & I were hungry when we arrived. We ordered 3 courses each. We tasted each others selections. I ate everything on my plate. I liked it well enough, did not love any of it. We brought a small vineyard $80 bottle of wine with us. I doubt that the wine was sold on the extensive Piacere wine menu, but the print on the menu is so small and the dining room lights are so dim that I could not read the damn thing. Servers were professional if a little aloof and hard to summon on occasion. Maybe they could not see us well enough in our dark little table location. This place is a NO return for me. Next time I'm in San Carlos, I'll try TOWN (across the street). Town was rockin' and the food looked great.
(3)Ngan F.
Maybe we got there on a bad day? There weren't a whole lot of people there since it was mid-day, well after the lunch rush. It seemed like everything was done in slow motion, our food came in slow motion, the waiter moved in slow motion, we even ate in slow motion since it was just sorta ok-ish food. We ordered the prawns (aka regular sized shrimp) and the meyer steak salad, and the bowtie pasta. It was all alright, nothing too memorable. I had a lot of fun but it had little to do with the restaurant, food or service and everything to do with the company I kept, so maybe that says something? You might want to skip this and hit up an in&out for lunch.
(2)Jeannie C.
It's a beautiful evening for outdoor dining. We walked down the street and came across Piacere Ristorante. Street dining and open windows to partial outdoor dining. The décor was cozy with earth tone walls. Midway toward the back to the right is a full bar with Jazz/Pop live music playing. Behind the bar is a large dining room with a private wine room to the left. We were seated by the lounge area, a perfect distance away from the loud music. We were greeted by a hostess who didn't seem to be happy to be there. Service was also definitely off. It's not your warm greeting, how's everything or could I get you anything else type of service. We order the sliders; mini burgers, Hearts of Romaine with shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano with Caesar Dressing, Fettucine with clams in a light white clam sauce. Salad was fresh and delicious, mini burgers were a little well done and the fettuccine with clams was fresh however the pasta was not soft, squishy or velvety. Maybe it was an off day. But overall it was a great evening with good food and company. We'll definitely be back here for a special nights out.
(4)Blair S.
High praise all around. We had a solid experience six months ago and decided to try Piacere again with friends for mid-week summer supper. Great fare (highlights: eggplant parmigiana, pizza-oven-roasted chicken, kale salad, gnocchi) and attentive service. Reasonable corkage. Overall an interesting menu, thoughtful wine list, and friendly service.
(4)Pablo G.
Disappointing. Long on decor, short on food quality. Service was friendly but SLOW. Summary: mediocre food served in a flashy environment. You can go left, right or across on Laurel and get better on both fronts. We won't go back.
(2)Jennifer F.
Wow, what a find! After spending an hour looking for a restaurant, and a parking space, in downtown Redwood City, we drove back up to San Carlos and stumbled upon Piacere. What luck! The atmosphere was wonderful - crowded and bustling at the bar, but more cozy at the tables in the back and side rooms. There were quite a few vegan and vegetarian options, clearly marked on the menu. The meal was delicious and so were the drinks. Unfortunately, this place is a little pricier than I can justify on a regular basis, and although our waiter was very friendly our table was clearly not at the top of his priority list. The dessert menu left something to be desired - chocolate addicts, be forewarned. But overall it was a great evening and we'll definitely be coming back here for special nights out!
(4)Heavy D.
I took this lovely lady on a date to Piacere. Her name was Emma. Emma Total Bitchay. I think she was half Irish and half scum. I took her here because she felt like having Italian for dinner, and the place seem very mature and moody. Note to self: Don't take people to Italian joints when the individual considers canned pasta with a fat chef on as Italian food. I'm not Italian, but I grew up with a lot of ethnicity including African-Americans, Latinos, and a few Italians. Some of them are topnotch guidos a la "FBI shirts that read: Full Blooded Italian" to driving a last-gen mustang with the flag of Italy pinned in the rear of the car. So the bottom line is that I know how to cook Italian and not just pasta and sauce. Going back to Piacere... I find the food here a bit dense and the place offers way too much for some of the entrees and the proportions should be controlled. I also find the taste not too satisfying for the price I am paying. If anyone brought a lousy date, at least the food should be the highlight of your night. The crowd: It's like a Golden Girl's reunion show here. When elderly folks are drunk, it's much like when youngsters are drunk, but in a much more slower fashion and a bit more subtler way. But the corny bonanza remains the same. The service: Excellent. Friendly. And Helpful. If only the offered a way to hit the date in the head so I can make a run for it. Finally: Piacere is a sexy place for a drink. Can be romantic as well for dining. If you're coming here to pick-up anyone, you'll succeed here. If you don't mind swinging with the more mature ladies. Bring some metamucil and some joint juice... It's going to be a short night (Get it? Cuz she's old. Oh F you).
(3)Wendy K.
I have eaten lunch here quite a few times and just had dinner with friends last week. Solid food, solid service and really nice ambience. The vegan options are limited but the food is prepared well. The mushroom burger is very good (but a wee bit small) and the french fries are out of this world! One of our favorites now!
(4)C P.
OMG! $32.00 for Easter Brunch AND that doesn't include coffee (for which they charge $3.75/cup.....regular brewed cofffee, nothing fancy). The brunch, which had items like a crabcake salad (add $5.00) and baked eggs or scrambles eggs, pasta dishes.....all usually in the $12 - $20 range. There was a steak dish (add $5). But, since it was Easter, they hiked the prices (they included 2 bites of bread, a 1/2 cup of fruit for two people and four bites of dessert. I was shocked and very disappointed in this blatant rip-off. (Did I mention that you COULDN'T order off the regular brunch menu?). I've been a regular weekday lunch patron, but I'm certainly reconsidering that.
(1)Joshua W.
After an inital, cold reception from not only the front desk/host AND our first server, our experience was turned around by our second server ASHELEY! She is why this place is getting the 3 stars I'm giving it. My friend wanted me to try it because of the "great happy" hour. We got there at 10mins until 6pm and was told by both the front desk and the server that happy hour was over!!! Really, I ordered 2 bottles of wine at the happy hour price of $20 each! Thats $40 right there and we had not even ordered food. I said really? Over....at 10mins till?! They grudingly obliged....and I don't care if I seemed cheap over this! Not only was our final bill $120 for HAPPY HOUR, but its the point of the matter! They first stuck us at a rotten table outside by the door in the wind. When we asked to be moved to a table under a heater the hostess rolled her eyes and then laughed out loud! Oh boy, where my 2 girlie girl friends pissed! We moved, got a GREAT server ASHELY who accomodated us with everything we needed! Thank you! My Portobella Burger was average, as were the ladies Ceaser Salads. Certainly not anything to put up with such attitude over! Not that attitude is acceptable. However I'm willing to overlook certain things if the food and drink are above par! Wine...good I'd get it again.
(3)Robert B.
Horrible experience- expensive - glass wine for $11? Waiters stand by and watch u while we have to ask for service! Arrogant and not cool. There are so many great places on laurel in San Carlos that there is no reason the crappy service, shame on you, piacere!
(2)Mo M.
Decent, not great. That about sums it up. Good not excellent. Nice decor, cafe style outside seating with heat lamps. Service is good not extraordinary. Menu and wine list is extensive but the food does not delight as it almost always should for a place that has an Italian name.
(3)Mark L.
I couldn't believe it Slow, Slow, Slow! We ordered food and it took 45 minutes to bring it. Once they brought it my wife's was the wrong order and my $37 steak was tough and tasted real bad. So I returned it. So far myself and my wife are still waiting for our food the second time and it's been 40 minutes. To be continued! I'm pissed!!!!! Two words (Stay Away)
(1)Christina P.
I have always had decent to good food at Piacere, and the service has been okay, but I get the impression that the wait staff sometimes forgets that they're on Laurel in a suburb, and aren't even the brightest shining star there. Food-wise, the meat quality is quite good, and in turn, the carpaccio and skirt steak have always been prepared to good standards. Caesar dressing could use a little more tweaking. The most recent time I dined here, I did see that their menu now indicates if a selection is vegan and vegetarian, so that's a thoughtful little touch!
(3)Carliza M.
I've eaten here several times. Each time the food was excellent! I like the atmosphere, service and decor. I happen to be on the Board of the San Carlos Chamber of Commerce, and a local business owner myself. Piacere has always been very supportive of chamber events. Iris is wonderful to work with and attentive to our needs. I always look for her when I come in, and she always has a friendly welcoming smile on her face!
(5)Suzanne K.
Piacere is a great neighborhood restaurant. I started going when "Town" (across the street) was too crowded but I have come to love Piacere on its own. Start with the Smokey Martini - a vodka martini with a blue cheese stuffed olive that uses Scotch instead of Vermouth - it is one of my favorite drinks on the Peninsula. Having drinks and appetizers in the bar is always nice - the pizza's are very good and the cheese plate is always interesting and well-explained by the waitstaff. I have had great steak and seafood here. When I have gone with my children (6 and 1) they have been welcome - often even given pizza dough to play with first. This is a happy neighborhood place where I have yet to have a bad meal after about 10 visits - love the consistency.
(4)P M.
We used to like Piacere a lot, especially because of the Sunday-kids-eat-free brunches. But, over time, we find the quality of food has really gone down. We went for a dinner a little while ago and the scallops my husband got were just plain awful. We weren't sure even WHAT they were - yikes! The chef came out and apologized and they comp-ed his meal. But it turned us off, especially since it's not a cheap place to eat.
(3)Smiley H.
Came here for lunch for the first time few weeks back and it was so good. I had their cinnamon swirl french toast and peach italian soda. So good. came back again for dinner this week and this time the food wasn't as great. I wanted their scallion fettuccine but they didn't have it? so i ordered this other chicken pasta. it wasn't as great. But overall i would come back. Their live band on friday night was actually descent.
(4)H D.
I went here for my son's birthday and the food was great, but the waiter was just very unfriendly. We went there with a 4 year old and 7 year old, both were so well behaved, but he just ignored us and the service was bad. I'm sorry but if we don't go out a ton and spend $200 bucks for dinner, it's not okay to have crappy service. Location and actual restaurant is great, but I didn't think it was worth even going because of the waiter.
(2)Thomas B.
It took us a few tries to love this place. But after they offered our 3 year old pizza dough and after she shaped it, they cooked it for her. That did it. We are now regulars. Pizza is awesome as is the wine selection and on a sunny day, outside, it's the best atmosphere in San Carlos
(4)Mark M.
What a disappointment. I feel guilty for volunteering to organize a Mothers Day Brunch with my family, and choosing Piacere. In my reservations through open table and getting personal call from restaurant to confirm, nobody mentioned $32 price fixe menu (for scrambled eggs and sausages, really?). The corn beef hash with eggs arrived with no corn beef and two eggs so underdone that they were inedible. The other 8 adult orders were all terrible. Why bother? How can a restaurant so good for dinner be so bad for a special event. Lost several regular customers after this debacle!
(1)Herm C.
Food was good. Not great, but good. Corn dogs stood out on the menu. Got them as a novelty, but they turned out to be good. Crust needs to be less doughy though. Prawns wrapped in bacon were yum. Then again, bacon makes everything yum. The Short Ribs were very tender, but the sauce was a bit overpowering; although I am the bland sort. Friend ordered the salmon and asked for it on the rare side, but it came cooked through. Not sure what to make of the corn/avocado side dish. It was just strange. Kind of a mess. Had one bite and said, "Um..no." My friend wanted to send it back saying, "They couldn't have intentionally made it taste like that, right?" It was Saturday night, but the restaurant wasn't very busy. The ambiance was a bit too mellow. There was a band playing outside, but it just didn't seem very lively. Lots of older folks. One table had what we thought was a guy introducing his girl to his parents. Service was good, friendly and prompt. They kept our No complaints on that front. Hostess was cute too. ;) Might not be a bad place if you just want a quiet dinner to reflect on your thoughts or have the "It's not you, it's me..." kinda talk. Enough privacy so that folks won't be listening in, but busy enough so there would be witnesses if she plunges that fork in your back. All in all, I thought the food was okay. Just nothing that stood out for me. Might be back for lunch or to grab a drink and an app, but prob not again for dinner.
(3)Paul G.
As usual, it's easier to write a bad review than a good one. This is a bad one. My family went to Piacere last night and the service was HORRIBLE. We ordered our food then waited one full hour for our food. We asked our server where our food was three times - each time she said it was "coming right up." It wasn't. At one point, a different server came to our table, removed our appetizer dishes and said "well, at long last your food is coming!" But it wasn't. After 50 minutes, our server came by our table to tell us that they had a new computer system (I didn't believe her) and that our order had been lost. Of course, that begs the question about why she didn't discover that the three previous times we had asked her about our order or why the other server had come to tell us our food was coming. She said it would be right out. So one full hour of waiting and the restaurant wasn't particularly crowded. Our server offered to "comp" dessert and she also comped the Shirley Temple refill for my daughter. How splendid. Our food was just fair. We hadn't been to Piacere in about a year and their menu had changed so we all ordered new dishes. My angel hair pasta with crab was literally soaking in water. I guess with the rush, they didn't bother to drain the pasta from the water. My wife's penne pasta was pretty average. I'll pass on Piacere in the future. It's a shame, because it's a nice place and they used to have good food AND good service. Not last night. We'll continue going to Town across the street.
(1)Kerri L.
Ok, this review is for the *nightlife*. I went here just to hang out with a friend and enjoy the live music (Thurs through Sat) and people watching. This gets particularly entertaining as you get close to closing time... Dude, get a room! I had never been here and really enjoyed the ambiance and how the restaurant opens out to the patio... My happy surprise: a pineapple mojito. YUM! I will definitely be back!
(4)Lucy K.
Thank you, Piacere. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Yesterday, I had a "coffee date" with a man I just met. I went to Piacere beforehand, and asked if two of us could just have a coffee on one of their sidewalk tables before the dinner hour. The hostess said, "Of course! No problem." So I suggested Piacere to my new friend, along with two other restaurants. He chose Piacere, and we both showed up at 4 p.m. Got a great table on the sidewalk. Even better, the weather was perfect and the streets were closed for the San Carlos Farmer's Market. Great atmosphere. Long story short, what should have been a one-hr. date turned into four hrs. Both the waiter and the host were nothing but gracious when our stay spilled over into their dinner hours. They could have used our table with its prime location for far more lucrative dinner customers. Instead, they never said a word. They just strolled by occasionally to refill water and coffee. It was awesome. It would have been a great first date, with or without the assistance of Piacere. But thanks to your graciousness, it turned out to be a fantastic memory. Service like this is what a great restaurant is all about. With a little luck, we'll be back...
(5)Silvie P.
The first word that pops into mind is SLOW. Ridiculously slow service so if you are in a rush or need to make a movie after dinner don't go here. We tried the calamari appetizer which was just ok (and by the way a very small potion) and the chicken livers, also just ok. For dinner we had the pizza with prosciutto, figs, arugula and truffle oil - and that was actually good. For dessert we tried the classic Tiramisu. That was also not good (and for being an Italian restaurant SHOULD be good). This place is totally not worth the money in my opinion.
(2)melissa m.
Just had dinner here after strolling the farmer's market. They were not especially busy and we got seated right away. The waiter seemed bored with taking our order and was not able to answer questions about the menu. The bussers were standing around chatting which was unfortunate as we would have liked more water and bread. I had the beet salad...overdressed and wilting, served with toasted goat cheese rounds that were served COLD. I asked the waiter if they were supposed to be cold and his answer was "yes, they're fried". Huh?? Pasta dishes arrived, all over-sauced and really run of the mill. Had to ask the busser for parmesan cheese. Ate only half of my salad and entree, which did not raise any red flags for our waiter. We also had the asparagus which was fine and the toasted gnocchi which were nothing special, probably because they are served plain. When the bill arrived, we discovered that both of the adults in our party had been served/charged for the 'large' portion. We were never asked if we wanted the smaller or larger portions; had we been asked we would have ordered the smaller (which is what we thought we were getting). After paying and leaving a more than generous tip I asked to speak to the manager before we left to give feedback; he wasn't there. I then asked who was in charge and was told by the (very pleasant) hostess that nobody was really in charge at the moment but I could speak with the head waiter if I wished. I did not. Will not go back here. There are plenty of better restaurants in San Carlos, many of them not as expensive as Piacere. Next time we're going back to Spasso.
(1)Kris I.
OH MY GOODNESS - You've got to be kidding right?!! Ok, so it took me awhile to decide whether or not to even waste my time with an update - but ultimately I decided it would not be a waste of time if I could help one person out by exposing this horrendous restaurant and their owner, Tony. Here goes - about a day after I posted my review here on Yelp, I received a phone call back in regards to the email i wrote them about my experience. My assumption is that at first, they planned to call me and remedy the situation once they saw my Yelp review. Yeah - not so much. The phone call, in a nut shell, was Tony - the owner, telling me that I was wrong, and what I wrote was incorrect, and that I had no right to say what I said... imagine my chin hitting the floor having someone talk to me in such a manner! Next, he tells me that he knows me - I assure him that I do not, nor have I ever met him. He tells me "No, I know you and I know your mother comes in here." Wait, WTF?!! Yes, I told him, my mother has been in there before, she is very tied in with the community and often frequents restaurants in the area, but she is not me and I am a grown woman - what in the world does my mother have to do with anything?!! At this point, I am so flabbergasted and disgusted with the way this man is speaking to me I finally ask him "why are you calling, what do you want from me? I had a horrible experience, gave you a chance to redeem yourself and yet you call me and tell me, the customer, that I am wrong?!!" He finally said, "well, I would like you to have your mother call me." Again, eyes wide open, chin at knees - I mutter "excuse me?" He responds with "your mother, would you have her call me?" I reply with "why in the world would I have my mother call you? My experience and review has nothing to do with her?!" His response "I would like to know what she thinks of the situation." I am now LIVID!!! "Are you joking me - absolutely not! That is completely inappropriate!" I sat there baffled - completely in shock and he hung up. This one, bad visit to the restaurant had now turned into the most offensive phone call I had ever received. Beyond his condescending attitude and him telling me that my feelings and experiences in his restaurant were wrong and false, his inquiry about my family member was beyond crossing the line - completely inappropriate and unprofessional! I'm sorry you don't like my review or like to face the fact that your restaurant was not up to par when I visited - but a convo with my "mommy" ain't gonna help you out. Utterly disgusted...
(1)Christine M.
More like 3.5 stars. I love the atmosphere - both inside and out. It's particularly nice on Thursday nights during the summer, as you are front and center to the bustling Farmer's Market. Unfortunately, I wasn't as impressed with the food, but will probably return to see if a different dish is better. I had the salmon and it was drenched in so much oil that I had to wipe some away with a napkin. There was a pool of it at the bottom of my dish.
(3)Kiran J.
This is a great restaurant. Great food, great wine list, great service. Ambiance: Lively, small and intimate Food: Great Drinks: Good Price: Reasonable - not too pricey & not too cheap Service: Excellent I go there once a few months. And no I don't know the owners :) Since the place is small, the tables are pretty close to each other and its like one big family dining experience. I love it.
(4)starrynight c.
This place is decent as long as you know that the service will be horribly slow. I had the heirloom tomato salad and the summer short rib. The heirloom tomato salad stood out so much that I went searching for similar ingredients to replicate at home (whole foods will do it, it just ends up being the same cost, haha). The short ribs were decent, the gnocci was the highlight of that dish, though. They were pan fried (I think) and a bit crispy but not. Hard to explain, great texture, though. The bread and its sauce that you get (very slowly before your meal) is delicious, too! My bf got the lamb...it was so tender and melt in your mouth (I'd say he ordered his protein better than I do, but I wouldn't trade for the gnocci).
(3)Raven K.
My boyfriend and I went to Piacere for brunch with high hopes and good moods and left two hours later extremely pissed off and hungry. The service was terrible. Wait staff is either completely inept, rude or both. Some don't even speak enough English to understand that when you point to the empty bread basket and say "more bread", they have to go get someone who speaks a little more English. A little, not much. I ordered Eggs Benedict off of the brunch menu and, according to the menu, it was your typical Eggs Benedict. When it arrived almost an hour later, it had about two pounds of spinach on it! If you are going to put an odd ingredient on an old classic, let someone know! When I told the waiter about it, he seemed confused as to what the problem was when I expressed my distaste. 30 minutes later I get my Eggs Benedict sans spinach, or "chard" as he tried to pawn it off as. It was still terrible. All I could taste was butter and salt, the ciabatta bread wasnt big enough to accomodate half of the meal and was incredibly soggy, and the potatoes were boiled in water and basically put on the plate. No seasoning or anything. My boyfriend got the Tomato and Mozzerella salad for $14. It came with three slices of tomato and a piece of mozzerella that was about the size of a donut hole. Needless to say, he was starving still. I ended up giving him my Eggs Benedict, which he ate but hated. And for him to not like food is extreme, because he eats everything. So we left two hours later. I was hungry and pissed and he was oversalted, hungry, pissed and $85 poorer. Thank God they at least had bottomless mimosas so I could entertain myself with a slight buzz through this ordeal.
(1)Dante S.
Piacere, you have changed. The sparkling, cozy Ristorante that I fell in love with all those years ago is gone. No no, Piacere, you don't need to explain. Restaurants change, people change. We're not going in the same direction these days. No, you look fabulous, darling, really. That remodel, I just love what you've done with yourself. Is that new upholstery? It' lovely, really, you look amazing. It's just...I need more than superficial attraction in this relationship. I need more substance, do you understand? Sure I gaze at you longingly from the sidewalk outside of the laundromat. I know you've seen me giving you the eye. But I'll just walk on by, Piacere. Those days are behind us. It's just not the same. I'll always remember your Penne Gorgonzola fondly. And all the wonderful evenings outside under the heat lamps. But I look at your menu and I realize - I don't even know you anymore. Please stop calling, you're only embarrassing yourself.
(2)Cianne M.
The front patio is a great place for brunch. Everything our table ordered was delicious. Calamari and heirloom tomatoes were decent. The poached eggs were recommended by our server and they were cooked perfectly - runny yolk, but no uncooked white. The frittata with prawns was tasty and the skirt steak was surprisingly good. Also, the Bellinis were refreshing. Service was very friendly and efficient. Would definitely come back again with the doggies.
(4)Randy S.
I've eaten here many times now. When Town (the place across the street) used to be called A Tavola, I think Piacere was the better of the two. With the reincarnation as Town, the two are now on a par with one another. Except you can get a reservation at Piacere while Town is typically full. Prices seem better at Piacere also, although I haven't held the menus side by side. Very nice menu, very good food, strong wine list, variety of seating options (inside, outside, small room, party room, etc.). They don't have a kids menu, but just ask and they'll make a special plate for the kiddies. (Edit to fix: they do have a kids menu. And a nice one at that. I just had never seen it because my daughter knows what she wants - buttered pasta - she's so adventuresome!). The pizzas make a great dinner or app to share. Lamb and Chicken entrees are reliably delicious.
(5)Gwyneth F.
We actually had originally planned to eat at Town across the street. Didn't have reservations and ended up at Piacere. Table for 6 please? So we weren't sure if they were happy that we showed up at first, but we were seated towards the back in a beautifully decorated room! Soon we were treated as honored guests. We enjoyed our food and the mimosas. Even my younger sons, 7 & 12 , ate the breakfast brunch. We were very pleased and will plan to go again
(5)Kevin R.
Good food, great staff, cool decor, excllent wine selection, some of the best curbside tables for outdoor cafe dining. Obviously they cook Italian and Californian, but it turns out there hamburgers have some special spices in them that make them fantastic!
(4)suz q.
Dinner: Very mediocre. Wasn't bad, just wasn't anything I'd remember. And it costs too much for mediocre food. On the other hand, outstanding for sitting outside on a beautiful day with girlfriends and having drinks and a snack.
(3)Mick R.
Food there has always been inconsistent. Overpriced. Its fairly crowded and noisy. My parents came from Romania and it was embarrassing that a $300 meal here is worse than a $10 meal there. The ingredients are not 1st class - they used second tier or lower food supplier or something, I can cook better than this at home. Been there 4 times. The first time was fun, and it was a long time ago, 2001. Subsequent times have lead to increasing disappointment. I wont try again.
(3)Suzy A.
There were 4 of us dining for lunch. We sat outside on a sunny afternoon, and had a delicious meal. Service was good as well. Love this place. Definitely will be back.
(4)Marc P.
Great food! The dessert was good too, and I usually don't care much for desserts. The decor is nice. The two times I've been, there was a live R&B band... Definitely helps set the mood for good times.. Noe the bartender is the best!
(4)Meredith K.
The Executive Chef came to do a catering tasting at my company the week before and since I was extremely impressed I thought I'd try the restaurant. They are very accommodating with food allergies and the chef seems to enjoy new challenges and switching things up. I can't remember what I tried - but everything from the finger foods, sandwiches, and desserts - rocked! I wanted to sit in their semi outdoor area w/ the heaters located above. It was perfect! Their cocktail menu had a good selection of drinks and the Cucumber Fizz was delicious - Tanqueray 10, St. Germain, Simple Syrup, Cucumber, Fresh Lemon Juice, Egg White I wanted to try a couple of dishes to share - so we went w/ the waiter's suggestions of Prawns, Pancetta Wrapped, Basil Oil, Polenta, Herb Salad from the lounge Menu, and the Nudi- Housemade Ricotta Gnocchi, Fresh Herbs, Creamy Truffle Sauce, Tartufata from the dinner menu. The prawns were freakin' good - jumbo prawns, fresh, just enough flavoring and not too salty from the pancetta. The polenta was made to perfection, but I wish it was a bigger serving. The nudi was good, and very rich. It had a different flavor then I expected - a little sour or maybe it's the combination of the truffle & ricotta - not sure. I loved that it was homemade. Their dessert menu looked tempting but I refrained. I joked that I wanted the Meyer Lemon Tartlett - the one thing they were out of, so the waiter came back with 2 glasses of plum wine! Absolutely unexpected - that tells you what type of restaurant this is - great food & service. p.s. The waiter highly recommended the calamari.
(4)Areena M.
Once upon a time, Piacere used to be a great restaurant. A few years ago, they closed for several months to remodel/revamp the restaurant. It has never been the same. Since the reopening, I had one very terrible dinner experience and vowed never to got back. However, today I decided to try them for lunch (everyone deserves a second chance, especially after years go by). Lunch was fine, but not spectacular. Bread and dipping oil were good. Calamari was ok--cooked well, but lacked seasoning. Skirt steak was good, but I have had much better--again, a lack of seasoning. I do like the fact that the lunch menu had some lighter choices. Service was attentive enough. The atmosphere is very nice, though a little pretentious for San Carlos. Piacere is not bad, but I'm not sure the value is there. I don't mind spending money on a meal, but I expect the food to be worth the price (Vivace in Belmont delivers better value and comparable menu). I would consider lunch again, but probably won't ever go back for dinner.
(3)Tisha B.
We usually sit outside, but tonight it was a too cold. We sat in the back dining room (which we didn't even know existed). This was really nice. A totally different atmosphere. The food was very good. Service was good until about 3/4th's of the way thru the meal. The restaurant had started to get busy now and we basically were abandoned by our waiter. Unfortunate. We've noticed this trend here before. So I'm subtracting just one star because we had trouble toward the end of the meal with wait service, but overall it was good food with good service.
(4)Jennifer G.
As I was reviewing brunch/cocktail options today I was surprised at how difficult it is to find a place that serves eggs and alcohol till the middle of the afternoon on the peninsula. I mean, finding a brunch place in the city with full bar is a piece of cake. But San Mateo? Hmmm, your options are a bit more scarce. Yes, there are several great brunch/breakfast options on the peninsula, but if you have visions of bloody marys running through your head things are a tad more challenging. As I start to sort through the few options on Yelp, I came across Piacere, a place I've frequented over the years, but have never brunched at. It's perfect, 10 mins away, outdoor seating, brunch menu and FULL bar. Over the years I've had some really good meals at Piacere, it's a solid standby, the food is good, the place is nice, and it's never so full that they can't accommodate you. They also have a really great private room, and an alfresco/covered outdoor seating area. Even though I'd never had brunch there before I knew we couldn't go too wrong. Funny how something silly like a couple of bad drinks can mar an otherwise perfect brunch. While the brunch menu is a bit limited (only three egg dishes) everything that came out of the kitchen was good. I had the seared ahi tuna sandwich, on a perfectly toasted ciabatta roll with aioli and baby greens, and while the fish was a bit more underdone than I normally like - it was delicious. We also had the risotto balls as a starter, these were just average and I would probably skip these next time. Service was a bit slow, but we never had to ask for anything twice, bread was plentiful and they are quick to clear the plates, bring new ones, etc. Beautiful weather, good food, interesting conversation with great friends...what more could you ask for of a Sunday brunch experience, right? How about the thing I really needed from my brunch - A DECENT BLOODY MARY!!! For crissake, is it too much to ask that the people tending the bar actually learn how to make a proper drink? I understand the use of pre-made mixes, but there's no excuse for not understanding the ratio of mix to vodka to tobasco...lack of worcestershire and is that VERMOUTH I TASTE??? ugh and are those pieces of dried oregano floating around? unforgivable. So four stars for the food, minus one for the crappy drink. If you're interested in washing down your eggs with a mixed drinkdrink you might want to keep looking otherwise this is a pleasant brunch option on the peninsula and if you do want a cocktail stick to something that doesn't require a real bartender, like a mimosa.
(3)Veny P.
We came in for a last minute dinner with my family. After being seated next to a very loud group, no one paid any attention to us for about 15 minutes. Finally when they showed up, no hello, welcome, nothing...just "do you want some drinks?" After waiting for 15 minutes to get our drink and see a waitress, no one again showed up, so we just left. Life is too short for bad service!!!! (although the menu looked good).
(1)m f.
I came here last night on a date and had a really great evening. We found the restaurant by just walking around downtown San Carlos and heard some great live music so we gave it a try. It took us a while to get greeted but once we were the service was great. Our waitress was really friendly, upbeat and attentive. I had the Nudi which was ricotta filled gnocchi. I ordered the full size version and was kind of surprised by how small it was when the play came ( maybe about 9 pieces of gnocchi) but ended up barely finishing. The dish was so rich and delicious. I also tried the dragon fruit Mojito which was quite tasty and refreshing -- not overly sweet or minty. All in all i really enjoyed the food, service and atmosphere, i'll be back soon hopefully!
(4)Yellowpug C.
I had dinner with my husband last weekend at Piacere. It was first time we visited this resturant. We ordered Halibit with grill eggplant and Seafood strew with gnocci. I have to say that we both enjoy the food and ambiance very much. I will give 5 stars to the taste, decro, and service. The price is pretty reasonable. Main entree ranges from $25-30 except steaks. Pizza and pasta is round $15. I definitely recommend this restaurant.
(5)B W.
We had a bad experience at a Valentines dinner a few years back where our 7pm reservation turned out to be 4 hours of delays, bad service and mediocre food. We've stopped by the bar and enjoyed the live music on occasion. Yesterday OpenTable offered 50% off at Piacere, so I decided to give them another chance. The Brie appetizer and beet salad were excellent in presentation and quality. I ordered the Scallops and my wife ordered the petite filet mignon. My plate was well done and delicious, but my wife's filet arrived on an 8inch "salad plate", cold with a clump of cold spinach and parmesan cheese. What were they thinking serving cold food on a bread plate? Should we have ordered ala carte sides to get an adult sized plate? After we sent her filet back, requesting a hot meal, the table, including my empty plate and all utensils were cleared, so my wife ate her dinner 15 minutes after I was done. Attempting to make the most of a rare evening out, we ordered the pecan desert, which was great, but when the bill for $145.00 arrived (including 2 cocktails and 2 glasses of wine) I was amazed that there was no offer to make any effort to make up for the meal we sent back. Bottom Line: Appetizer, Salad and dessert were great. Main course fell way short. Service was slow and not customer centric.Even after saving $50 on the Open Table certificate, WE WILL NEVER GO BACK!
(1)Linda H.
That's right yelp, "Eek! Methinks not" is the perfect way to describe this place. The food was at most "meh" and the service... what service? Although the staff was polite, they were inattentive, slow and absent minded. Maybe it's the weather or what ngan t. said, "Maybe we got there on a bad day?" The only thing that saved this lunch was the company. All in all, I don't remember pancetta wrapped shrimp being crunchy. Maybe it's a trend that will catch on? Meh, methinks not.
(1)Kaia E.
My family and I ordered a private room (for only 7 people) to celebrate a birthday. The private room was free (tip minimum). The restaurant gave us a prix fix menu of our choice (some limits) that was very reasonably priced. They were extremely nice and easy to work with in preparation for the party. When we entered the room, there was a beautiful displayof fresh-cut flowers on the table and a menu on each plate with a special birthday message on it The food was excellent as was the service. When the dessert came, one of the staff sang an acappella "happy birthday" in Italian. She could have been a professional singer. The staff did not rush us out, we stayed over 3 hours. Excellent experience in every way.
(5)Myra G.
I came here for lunch with my coworkers. The decor is relaxing. We sat inside in the area where it opened up to the sidewalk, very nice & refreshing. The food was fantastic. We had the mussel appetizer & bruschetta to start. The crab salad is very tasty, good enough to be an entree because it was filling. There sandwich menu is excellent. For the food, decor, & ambiance, I'd come again!
(4)Karen N.
We went to Piacere and see what happened after the remodeling and wow we were impressed.the way they did this is amazing. we don't know any restaurant in the bay area which is nice , stylish and futuristic like Piacere. we went there this past Friday they had live music which was really nice . the food was outstanding like the service we had our waiter was Alex and he did a great job and the wine he recommended was really great.overall we will be back and tell our friends that they have to see the new Piacere. The only gripe we have was the parking was tough to find.
(4)Angie H.
More like 3.5...but for the lack of half-stars I will round up. The decor was very nice, and had been recently re-done. This place smells fantastic from the outside, and sitting outside gives you a fabulous place to people watch. (My favorite past time). The service was great, and the accented waiter was attentive but not annoying. Everybody else's meal was fantastic, lasagne and skirt steak. I ordered gnocchi, which was WAY over done to the point of being inedible paste. The pre-dinner bread was VERY good, and I was glad there was a lot of it. As was the calamari, which enjoyed a very light breading and good texture.
(4)Nicole Rynee B.
Well, I was extremely hesitant to check this place out after all the negative reviews I have read and heard from friends... None the less, I braved it and met up with a friend at Piacere for a drink and possible appetizers. I can honestly say that our experience was not as negative as those I had read or heard. In all fairness, we only chatted & dished over one drink, and what a potent and powerful martini it was (if you find yourself here one night, definitely try the Basil Martini w/ vodka), then after surveying the appetizer list decided to go across the street for some food. The service was fine, nothing stood out as offensive or overly positive. I will say that nothing on the menu grabbed me and I was not in the mood for a disappointing meal. I don't know that I'll be hitting this spot again, but I also can't say that I won't ... I was impressed with the decor of the place - it had a nice mellow vibe. The bar had a nice loungey feel, while the chairs were a bit uncomfortable. The dining areas seemed separated into a few separate 'enclaves' - interesting concept... How's that for an indecisive review - ; )
(3)Jennifer S.
Run, don't walk AWAY from this restaurant! My friend and I sat at a table for over 20 minutes before I finally flagged down a waitress to ask her to find our server. Over 5 minutes later, she came back to our table and said that she guessed she was our waitress. She guessed??!! A restaurant that serves a la carte entrees for over $30 has waitresses just guessing whom they should serve?? I won't bore you with the entire recap... Awful service all around and the owners should be ashamed of themselves for the prices they charge for the less than mediocre food they serve. A word to the wise, see if you can get into Town across the street, where they really know how to cook a meal and treat their diners, or go to a burger joint somewhere in town and you'll be way ahead of the game!
(1)Judy T.
The food was quite wonderful. We loved the starter-garbanzo beans in their pods -and the quote on their literature by Virginia Woolf has always been one of my favorites. The three stars is due to the truly unpleasant waiter we had.
(3)Sara S.
My husband and I met a friend here for lunch and it was fantastic. My husband and I don't eat pasta, bread and all those other super tasty refined carbohydrates so we usually avoid Italian restaurants. Our friend recommended Piacere for their salads and they don't disappoint! I had the skirt steak and arugula salad which was delicious. All the ingredients were fresh and my medium rare steak was cooked perfectly. My husband loved his dungeness crab salad which I'm going to try next time. They have a great selection of salads and the food seemed really healthy. We sat indoors because we were having a working lunch but I'm looking forward to enjoying a glass of wine on their outdoor patio sometime. The interior is gorgeous and with their huge windows open, you practically feel like you're sitting outside! We met at about 2:30pm, so it wasn't busy and our food came fast; I've noticed that they tend to get really busy during peak times but I'm still looking forward to eating dinner here sometime soon.
(5)Holly H.
I like this restaurant for lunch - soup/salad/sandwich combination plate is good value and nice. I have been there for an evening meal here 3 times and the food was good and wine list ok.
(3)Sylvie K.
I was refunded for the appetizers.
(2)Amanda K.
I planned a dinner party here for co-workers after a long meeting. They set us up in the private room right off the bar. Which was great cause we get very loud as a group. The meal was fantastic. I only wish my steak was cooked a bit longer but, it was still tender and tasty. We did get spoiled ... the owner came around and helped top our glasses off. The place was packed with other events (A wedding reception I think) and the staff was on top of everything in our room. You would never know we weren't the only gathering there - till you walked to the restroom that is. Will for sure visit again.
(5)L T.
Went there with friends for the New Year's Eve prix fixe dinner at $84/person. Our server was not very articulate about the champagne list. The lamb strips were chewy. My salmon was a small portion and overcooked. My dinner companions ordered the buffalo tips. Good, but not spectacular. At one point, we asked the busboy for a knife for the buffalo tips. He took the knife that I had used for the salmon, put it next to my dinner companion's plate with the buffalo tips and quickly left. We were speechless. We asked another busboy for another (clean) knife. What kind of service is that?? One dinner companion and I had the beignets for dessert which were not cooked inside. We returned them both to our server. After waiting 15 min, another plate was brought out to my dinner companion while I ordered the flourless chocolate torte instead. Her second plate of beignets were still not cooked inside. My flourless chocolate torte tasted awful, not moist. We were told our two desserts would be deducted from our bill because of our wait. While the jazz band was excellent, we sat in the front room which didn't have much space for dancing. For the price that we paid, we expected better food and service. We definitely won't be back again.
(1)Kristy D.
Fabulous! We held our Fiat America annual banquet here in January 2010 and the folks at Piacere did right by us. Piacere's event coordinator was super helpful with planning and worked with me to develop a custom menu for our group that was outstanding. We had our own room which was beautifully set and the service was superb. Guests had their choice of Potato Leek Soup or Hearts of Romaine salad. Entrees included Gnocchi with Gulf Prawns, Game Hen with Pancetta, Braised Boneless Spare Ribs or a Roasted Root Vegetable Risotto. For dessert, Cassis & Lemon Sorbet or Dried Cherry Bread Pudding. (I know of at least one club member who's gone back a few times just to get the bread pudding dessert again). A couple things to keep in mind, the side room was a bit cozy for our 42 guests and if you're there on a Saturday night, the band in the bar might be too loud for some. But overall, still a great experience!
(4)Ernesto C.
Having tried this place based on the recommendations on Yelp I was pleasantly surprised. This is a great restaurant. It was a beautiful evening in San Carlos and we were offered an outside table which even had a patio heater above it. Nice for some "people watching" especially the cougars from Town across the street. :) The setting was beautiful, the waiter was attentive and knowledgeable, the food was excellent. I had the Hanger steak and the wife had rock fish which was not fishy at all and very much like a salmon. Our friends had the Fillet Mignon and a Chicken dish respectively. No complaints. Wine with dinner was good (a bit pricey-but what restaurant doesn't jack up the booze prices?) and the desert was a combination of decadence and orgasmic chocolate and banana. The Calimari for the appetizer was delish with 2 different dipping sauces. The only issue was I ordered a cappuchino after dinner and it was luke warm so i had it sent back to heat up. But besides this fluke occurrence, the night was perfect. Oh yeah, almost forgot they had a live band playing some soft jazz and easy listening to go along with the great conversation and good times with our friends. Will most certainly come back here and recommend to anyone looking for a great meal and nice ambiance.
(4)Daniel J.
I went back for Happy Hour recently after not going for a few months. The wine selection is very good but the other items I had were disappointing. First, the lamb riblets were too fatty and were overpowered by the gravy that was served with it. Gravy not so good and no flavor in the lamb. Maybe I should have looked to see what these riblets actually looked like before I ordered because they look like the part I usually discard and make stock out of. The apple slaw that came with it was very good. Hearts of Romaine salad was disappointing only in the portion that they serve. I mean for $9 you should get a pretty decent sized salad. The house made Yukon gold chips that they have at the bar are very good and very Happy Hour friendly. I missed the prawns, pancetta and polenta dish that they used to have. Maybe next time it will show up again. Service was ok. Nothing to brag or complain about. Methinks next Monday I will investigate Town to see what they are all about.
(2)Alan N.
We brought some friends here for dinner on Friday night. Although it was a chilly evening, we found that the heat lamps make the outdoor tables quite pleasant, so we asked to be seated outside. We were advised on an Italian white wine, which was quite good. Their wine selection is extensive, with both Italian and local wines on the list. Our server was very friendly and prompt. Between the four of us, we ordered a margherita pizza, ceasar salad, salmon, leg of lamb, and sirloin. It sounds like our friends enjoyed the lamb and salmon. The pizza was lacking in basil, and the tomatoes were nothing to rave about, but the cheese was really good. My steak was a very proper medium, but also lacked flavor. We may come back, but not frequently. Definitely a 3.5 star overall.
(3)Donald P.
I love this place. I've tried many of the dishes and have always liked them. The atmosphere is great, and the staff attentive. We had a large group of eight for a family birthday dinner and everybody had a great time. I had the pasta Forno and the mixed greens salad. I also tried the calimari and salami pizza. All were excellent.
(5)Maria P.
Mellow. Casual or formal take your pick. Mussels are tasty. Grilled prawn salad will not disappoint. Sangria, well you can't really go bad with sangria. The only reason I won't give this place 5 stars is because they haven't been consistent. I had dinner here two years ago and it was a disaster but I like giving places a second chance and their lunch was way better than their dinner. Highly recommend it for drinks on the weekends. They have a nice bar.
(4)Ashley F.
I've been to Piacere twice with friends for drinks and appetizers. I really like the ambiance. The live jazz music on Friday and Saturday nights is the main draw for me. It's a chill place that would be nice for a date or if you want to relax and have drinks with friends locally. The place stays open pretty late for a San Carlos business.
(4)Stephanie R.
We experienced the "chef challenge" last night and what a treat it was. The chef transformed at least 15 different items into a 3 course meal that was mouth watering and creative. I highly recommend this wonderful restaurant with its amazing Chef. Bravo
(5)Steve C.
Two stars because the food is decent here...but the last few times I've been here the service has been terrible. It also appears that they don't pay attention to detail at this place - last time we were here our tablecloth was stained, and even the salt and pepper shakers looked like they hadn't been cleaned in months. The service was extremely slow and it...took...forever to get our food (and the place wasn't even busy). We had to request our check because our server was a distant memory. Again, food is decent (nothing special) but I probably won't be coming back.
(2)Picabo L.
I use the services of caterers very often for business breakfasts and lunches. I used Piacere for a two-day meeting - breakfast and lunch. I will NEVER use Piacere again and here's why: 1. the breakfast and lunch orders were delivered from the trunk of a passenger car 2. the delivery person was dressed very non-professionally 3. the food/dishes/linen were not picked up from the lunch on the first day; although I did receive an email stating the person who would have picked up the dishes, etc., called in sick. 4. the second day's menu looked as if it was leftovers from the first day. 5. when I spoke with the manager he was less than accommodating. I gave him my concerns about the food, the service and that I had to bus the dishes. I asked for some sort of discount. He refused. 6. the delivery person called to say she was very sorry about what happened/ She said would be like to bring us a couple of lunches on the house. She never did!! Total price for the two days = $1900 Total price for never having to deal with Piacere + Priceless P.S. the other disappointing factor is my company had used Piacere as a caterer for six years. The food is not bad; but the catering service and manager - not so much!
(1)Anna L.
Okay, when you see an item listed as "Dungeness Crab Sandwich, Crispy Pancetta, Lemon Beurre Blanc, Sweet Gem Lettuce, Piacere's Potato Roll, Homemade Potato Chips"... what would you expect to occupy most of the plate? Given that 5 out of the 6 are about the sandwich, I think it is rational to assume that the sandwich would occupy, say, at least half the plate. Alas, rationality does not reign supreme at Piacere because the sandwich was like a little runt, a David, next to the giant Goliath bowl of greasy potato chips that took up 3/4 of the plate. The crab, what little bit of it there was, tasted good, but it was such a stingy serving that it left me feeling unsatisfied. The potato chips were overly greasy, nearly burnt, and a total waste of space. This cost me $16?!?
(2)Clyde L.
NO, NO, NO... This place is a complete zero. The food is terrible. WE had meatballs as an appetizer. They were tasteless and revolting. They were boiled and presented in their fat with a tasteless dip. The caesar salad was room temperature. The buffalo tri tip was tough, dry and tasteless as well. The beans with chili as an accompaniment were hard and undercooked. The prices were outrageous for very inferior food. The ambience is great but everything else is really sub par. We used a Groupon and now know why Piacere is promoting. There has to be very little repeat business because there food is so bad in a town of good restaurants.
(1)Jason L.
I was worried about Piacere after reading all the negative reviews. However, we took a group of 22 people there on Monday night and the service was outstanding. They put us in a private room in the back and my only complaint would be that we didn't get to order off of the normal menu. But, I get it. That large of a group requires special attention and a fixed menu made it possible. The wine selection is very impressive and I'll definitely be back.
(4)Mark L.
I've gone to this place many times over the past several years. I keep going and thinking that if I order something different, I might like it. I give up. The decor, atmosphere and design of the restaurant/bar are above reproach. The menu is fancy enough, but I think, too fancy. The portions are small and every ingredient is something exotic. A little too exotic. One, two or three unusual items in a dish of 8 ingredients can be great, but all 8 just feels like they are trying too hard and therefore miss the mark. Not to go too in-depth, but the menu selection is erratic. Straight from salmon (boring) to sablefish (tiny portion, skin on and BURRIED under cilantro)? Gnocchi is good, but 10 pieces drowned in sauce? Small, double-cut pork chop smeared with an over-powering glaze and bland mashed potatoes? ...and I had to saw the pieces off the chop!!! Sorry, I was in the biz over 20 years, the chef is trying too hard. There are a lot better restaurants on Laurel St. that can take you without a reservation and don't cost $90 for an app, two entries and two glasses of wine (before tip).
(1)B R.
This is my first yelp review but I am a long time reader. This was one of the worst meals I ever had. Went for brunch a while back and finally getting around to a review. I had steak sandwich and the wife had pork sandwich. When I tasted my sandwich I almost spit it on the floor. I could not figure out what the taste was. I ate the fries that came with the meal and smelled my sandwich to figure out what was wrong. All I could figure is that they cooked the steak on the grill after cooking some salmon which was also on the brunch menu or it was just rotten meat. I am not one to complain to the servers but I did mention this to him after I paid the bill just figuring I would take my losses and never come back. The wife's sandwich was decent at best and the coleslaw that came with it tasted like cabbage out of a plastic bag tossed on a plate ...what a joke. Save your money I wasted mine
(1)Alonz A.
I am in love with Piacere!!! The food is spectacular and tastes so fresh! I love everything about this place from the decor to the bar to the live music! I love to go when the band Tasche is playing. They are so good. I love their pancetta wrapped prawns served over polenta. My husband and I both had a fish entree, but I can't remeber what kind. Everything we had was cooked to perfection, and the dessert was fantastic! I kept ordering this cocktail drink that had passion fruit which was more potent than I thought, but they were sooooo good! All in all this is a place to go to when you have a little to splurge, and are looking for great food and a good time. Check it out!
(5)Deborah D.
Expensive, nice date place or night out with the girls. Good service. Mother's Day annual brunch is awesome. Love the outdoor sidewalk patio- unique for SC.
(4)Christina B.
Finally tried this place out and I already want to go back. Went here around lunchtime, it was a little busy but service was still good. We ordered the calamari, mixed green salad, prosciutto and arugula pizza with truffle honey, and baked Brie melted in the bread. Wow!! Great flavored and delicious. We could have passed on the calamari but the pizza was absolutely delicious and light. The fresh bread and olive oil mixture they give you to start was also fresh and tasty.
(4)H T.
i was here w/ a large group on sat night for a work-related event, and it was happening. however, we were in the private dining area, so we had our own space. we were still able to hear the live music though, since we were right next to the bar. the food was fine, but the service took forever. we sat down around 730, but we probably didn't place our orders for an hour!! w/ a large group, we had 3-course set menus where we got to choose an item out of 2 choices. i had the salad, arctic char, and sour cherry bread pudding. it was all ok, but the arctic char was overcooked. the bread that comes along w/ the food was disappointing, but the oil/vinegar dip compensated for it. the drinks here are very good and there are a lot of choices of cocktails. my husband's chocolate cake/tiramisu thing was also a highlight.
(3)P B.
The truth is this restaurant is just not that special. Over 5 years I have continued to come here in spite of less than stellar service and equally mediocre food. I always have to send something back. I ordered skirt steak and eggs - over easy/medium rare. How does a head chef serve over-easy eggs that are totally "fried" and medium rare steak that is blacken with charred exterior and nothing rare about it? That's could only be a rookie mistake -or more likely - not caring about the quality of your food or the experience of you customer. The second attempt resulted in properly cooked eggs, but a return of the same over cooked and now cold steak. It is always something here. I like the outside seating and the menu is nice, if prepared well. But the quality of the food and the serve outweigh that. Be prepared to be disappointed here.
(2)Susan K.
Nice outdoor seating on a sunny day, but calamari, potatoes, French fries arrived ice cold. Not edible. White beans substituted for black on the Mexican egg dish. Barely an apology from the detached waitress. And nothing deducted from the $62 bill, so tip was adjusted accordingly. Left hungry. We want to like this place. But based on the crowds, would instead recommend The Town across the street. Next time!
(1)Charissa F.
Went on a Friday night and listened to a really GREAT live band. They sang a really great variety of old classics. We ordered some champagne and stayed until almost closing enjoying the music and watching folks dance around the bar area. An older couple even joined in and cut a rug. So cute! On a previous occasion we came here and actually tried the food. I had the goat cheese and roasted beets salad. Nice bright flavors with a light dressing. My companion had the skirt steak and raved about it. The decor is also nice and modern. Everything is always clean, and the servers are attentive. Even though it is a bit expensive, I'd recommend it and do plan to go back.
(4)Erica C.
Excellent food, great atmosphere, friendly staff and live music make this a great date spot!
(4)Nicolette M.
My boyfriend had made reservations here for Valentine's Day 2011 because we had heard good things about this restaurant. He had made reservations 2-3 weeks in advance when the reservations were completely open in hopes of getting good seating. When we arrived, they seated us quickly but we were disappointed when they seated us in the front bar area when there were clearly a number of open tables in the more private/quiet side room areas. The next disappointment occurred shortly after when the server brought out our entrees. I had ordered the lamb and my boyfriend ordered the filet mignon. The server brought out what was clearly a prime rib along with the filet so I informed him that there must have been a mistake as I had ordered the lamb. He quickly took it away and said he would check with the kitchen. When the primary waitress came back out, the conversation went like this: Waitress: You guys didn't order the filet and the prime rib? Me: No, I ordered the lamb. I don't eat prime rib Waitress: Oh that was the lamb he brought out (keep in mind the server brought out a HUGE piece of red meat that filled almost the entire plate) Me: Oh, really?? Because it didn't look like lamb? It looked like prime rib. I told the server I ordered the lamb and he brought it back to the kitchen Waitress: He didn't know what he was bringing out; I'll go back and check with the kitchen When the waitress returned, she informed me that she was going to "have them make me a new one since the one they had brought out previously was cold now". The time frame from when the server initially brought out the "lamb" to when she came back to inform me they were making me "a new one" couldn't have been more than 5 minutes. My boyfriend and I were very skeptical because prime rib is pretty easy to identify and we both agreed that the first dish that was brought out was definitely not lamb. I actually felt bad for a moment because I thought I had wasted the meat and that maybe I just didn't know what t-bone lamb looked like. When the lamb finally came out, our suspicions were confirmed; it looked COMPLETELY different from the first dish. The Valentine's menu was a prix fixe menu of four courses. All of the dishes were decent but nothing to write home about. The only thing that was good was my boyfriend's filet which was actually very tender. The two stars are pretty generous and I give those primarily for the ambiance. The establishment itself is nice but the service we received was poor. They seemed very disorganized as there were between 10-15 people waiting on a table the entire time we were there and we overheard the hostess say that all people being seated had a reservation. The people sitting next to us had finished their food and were waiting for a check for at least 15 minutes while there were people crowded in the front waiting area and bar. A server came out with two entrees and went to give the dishes to them (when they clearly had empty dessert dishes on their table). Another thing that was strange to me was that they had live music which was not advertised on their website for that day (it notes when there is live music in their events section). The band was good and they played nice music but it was very loud; we had to scream at each other to hear anything after they began playing. This might have been exacerbated by the fact that we were sitting in the bar area. You would think that an establishment would let people know that sort of thing especially on a night when people typically want to enjoy each other's company and have a romantic evening (not a music blaring type of night).
(2)J H.
Went with a friend last night to this place. Lived here my entire life and have never been blown away by this place and quite often avoid the place because of the prices in contrast to the mediocrity of the food. Last night was no different. We started out with the goat cheese bruschetta. I know every restaurant has to do something wild to keep up with the times and although innovative, not exactly what I had in mind. Part of any bruschetta has to be bread. This was served on a potato chip thick crostini covered with sprouts to give the appearance that there was a large amount of food on each. When I say each, I mean four. Four miniscule pieces of bread for $9.00. The bruschetta took an exceptionally long time to get to us as did the entrees. Which again, was mediocre at best. If i'm sitting at the bar of restaurant and boasts a $22.00 chicken pasta it better be something special. It wasn't. The sauce was soupy, the chicken seemed under cooked. The only thing that made it better was the complimentary bread I asked for that I believe is supposed to be given at the instant we sit down to eat in your fine establishment. And when it did come time for our entrees the folks who brought them kind of snapped at out bartender to ask where to drop them right behind us. Come on man!!! This is not a livestock auction, you have a fully functional POS system, just because we are sitting at the bar doesn't mean once some food is assigned to the bar that it could be anyone of 13 people sitting there. Assign the food to the right seat at the bar and you will have no mystery and no auctioning off of your delightful entree. I have worked in restaurants, I know a thing or 2 about it. Better organization is gonna be key here. I am done being a snob.
(1)Dennis P.
Piacere in San Carlos, CA is *1*2*TRY. We came here after going to TOWN across the street and learning the kitchen was closed until dinner. Piacere was opened and we figured why not. We ate lunch here and didn't order much but a Hearts of Romaine Salad and Chicken Livers. We sat outside 'cause it was a nice sunny day. I have to say, the salad was delicious, you can't go wrong with huge pieces of romaine lettuce! The dressing hit the spot and their BREAD, OH the bread was super good. We asked the waiter what the bread was and he said they made it there, it was nice and warm and FRESH to DEAF! The hostess was really nice, her and the waiter kept taking turns in filling up our waters which was really good. After the salad we had the chicken livers, not bad for being liver I guess, the meal was definitely filling for a lunch. The atmosphere feels relaxed, they were setting up for a Jazz session as we were leaving, the outdoor patio is great to sit at. the food was good and the staff were on top of it all, that is why Piacere in San Carlos is *1*2*TRY! Song for Piacere: Ella Fitzegarld - Cotton Tail (1956 Version). *1*2*TRY- A New Kind of Taste.
(4)Ron H.
had Easter brunch here last year and it was great, so we made reservations for this Easter as well. What a difference a year makes. had 7 people in our party and seating was done within 15 minutes of arrival, but once the order was placed it took 45 minutes to get served. Once we did, the food was luke warm. Don't know if it was an isolated incidence, but we were very disappointed. Very expensive for the choices we had. Not good.
(2)Miao Yin K.
The 45 minutes for a table at Town is worth the wait. Stay there, DO NOT cross over to Piacere. Service sucks! I asked the server for a recommendation and asked what he thought about the seared scallop, he replied: "that's one of my favorite". So, seared scallop it is. Then, my friend asked him veal or seared scallop, he said: "why don't you go with veal since your friend ordered the scallop." Guess what, the VEAL sucked and the scallop was super salty. Two of my other friends ordered spaghetti & meatballs and the noodles were so damn hard. They should'vd send it back. So after few bites of the scallop, I suddenly got flashbacks. Now I remember why I never come to Piacere. The food sucks! In 2006, my friend and I went there for lunch and my friend had made a comment like, "did they spill salt in the dish?" I know better now. No matter how hungry I am, I will wait for my table at Town or walk over to Speederia for a slice of pizza. After the painful experience at Piacere, my friends and I walked over to Town for their yummilicious crab cakes and bread pudding. :)
(1)Gary W.
My 4 friends and I went for the prix fixe dinner on New Years Eve. Our first surprise was when the menu they seated us was significantly different from that published on their website for that event. Then, a verbal change from Lobster Bisque to bean soup and duck to chicken! The big one was taking their highlighted crab off the menu completely! Now, about the actual food taste The filet mignon had too much sauce and it was over done, the orange chicken was sickly sweet. The service was ok except the server didn't know how to open a wine bottle. So, we called over the manager aka executive chef. She was immediately rude and kept saying "let me talk" instead of letting us give her feedback. As residents of San Carlos, we were regular customers. But tonight, they fell off the cliff - bad food and we were not treated well. Must be why the restaurant was much less crowded this year. Piacere just lost good dinner customers. The excellent bartenders are the only highlight and the reason for 1 star.
(1)Arun P.
Quit while you're behind, better yet, I'll buy you out for a $1000.00, $1500 if you take the name with you. Service is terrible and incredibly slow. Even when empty, I could walk to Italy and back by the time wait staff actually does something. Now, let's get down to the food, I think I've had a better meal at McDonald's. I had one of their sandwiches, it was greasy, rubbery and tasted of char off the grill. I'm convinced their chef couldn't boil water to save his life. The food actually made me sick. The sad thing is their in a location where they need to be on their A game all the time, but unfortunately it's more like an F-.
(1)Elena N.
I didn't eat here, but I came here for a drink after having dinner at Town. They were playing really good music, so I had to check it out. I actually wish I had come here instead Town across the street. The vibe in this place is really really cool and it looked like everyone was just here to have a good time. I definitely wanna check this place out for dinner sometime!
(4)