Presentation on Map Reviews Nearby

Acqua e Farina in Hayward

4.6 (199) 22622 Main St, Hayward, CA 94541, United States

Categories

Italian restaurant
American restaurant
Brunch restaurant
Family restaurant
Indian restaurant
Latin American restaurant

Location on the map

Hayward, Alameda County, California, US

Phone: +1 510-888-1568
Site: http://acqua-e-farina.com/contac...

Opening hours

Monday:Closed
Tuesday:12–8 PM
Wednesday:12–8 PM
Thursday:12–8 PM
Friday:12–9 PM
Saturday:12–9 PM
Sunday:3–8 PM

Edit info

Total reviews rating 4.6

199 Reviews for Acqua e Farina 2024:

Review №1

2023-07-09 03:37:18

Italian food was delicious, and the food portion per person is bigger than average. They dont have kids meals under 5 years old, though.

Review №2

2023-07-29 20:11:29

Absolutely delightful cuisine. The service was second-to-none. Could not recommend this venue more. Would give up my first born child for that calzone. Many thanks & best wishes.

Review №3

2023-05-22 04:43:34

Great restaurant with a full Menu. Classy and romantic vibe, good wines and pasta dishes. We finished with a yummy dessert. Excellent food and service. I would go back!

Review №4

2023-11-19 03:33:07

Came here today for the first time. I have a hard time finding any good places to eat. This place I googled and it received good reviews. The food to the service was great! We had homemade bread, appetizers and dinner. Our server, I believe his name is Daniel, was awesome! Everyone was very attentive and it was just all around great!

Review №5

2023-02-19 01:48:42

Was recommended by a good friend. Was a cute little spot, we usually dont do Valentines day here but we wanted to try something new. The atmosphere could of had more love put in but not sure if was set up that a special.way cause it was valentines day. Food was mediocre. We had a Cesaer salad, needed more dressing but easy fix right. The clam chowder had too much flour for me, so that was a no. We both ordered lasagna because of the prefix menu. I thought it was odd that there was no chicken pasta 😕 but to each their own. The noodle for the lasagna were housemate and you can taste it but the meat in the sauce was too salty for my likings. Overall I feel if given the option to order from their menu, their would be better option. Unfortunately this experience elwas expensive and enough tasted to not explore again .

Review №6

2022-09-30 04:19:40

Overall great service, spacious restaurant, and quite a lot of people especially for a Thursday early dinner time. I will say this a bit more expensive than what I’m used to paying for Italian, but I get it.Lamb special was our favorite dish. Perfectly cooked and charred.Pesto chicken pasta we asked to add Alfredo sauce to make it creamy. Didn’t disappoint!Scallop and shrimp pasta special with wine sauce. This was just OK. Don’t recommend.Arugula salad was a small portion but tasty.

Review №7

2023-12-09 17:13:43

We were seated promptly, received our drinks and bread, then waited 10 minutes for the waiter to show up, he finally did took out order, it took 15 minutes for me to get a salad, then our meal came 20 minutes after that, and we only a party of 2, and there was only 1 other table of 2 in the whole place! By the time we got our food it was just luke warm, I never send food back, as I dont know what they will do to it, we for the special, want told the price of that meal, it turned out to be $60 each! What the Hell ! Will never go back!

Review №8

2022-07-02 15:53:52

After spending 26 hours in the car over the last 2 days driving from Texas we were ready for a real meal. It was our 34th anniversary so we decided to eat here after reading the reviews. Staff was very friendly and accommodating for my group of 5. I had the Frutti di mare special and it was fabulous! I have so missed those flavors from when I lived in Italy! My wife had lasagne and she said it was excellent. We all had a very nice experience, thank you for a nice anniversary dinner amongst all the chaos of our travels!

Review №9

2023-12-09 22:45:21

A nice cozy restaurant with great service. Food was all very good. Love the shrimp scampi and lasagna. Chicken was very tender and flavorful.

Review №10

2023-08-04 00:16:29

The food was great. The place looks clean and the servers were very attentive. I didnt like that we park far from the restaurant and when we arrived we were told the waiting was about 20 minutes but when we ask if can sit at the bar while waiting they said yes, and the waiting is 50 minutes now. However the food is worth it. It is in downtown town Hayward. It seems a little romantic so if you trying to be romantic and impress your date that will be a place to go. Recommend 100%.

Review №11

2021-09-11 16:04:58

Roberto the server made the evening. From articulating the long list of specials to managing the details of the appetizer selections and to the key features we selected as our main courses. Nothing was missed!!! Wall murals give you a sense of being in A small Italian village. Don’t let the store front fool you - the restaurant is huge with great atmosphere. One of the best locationsI for dinner, that I have experienced in California. Our meals and service received was amazing!!!

Review №12

2023-07-27 00:05:01

Service was great but the food wasn’t. Very generic Italian food, and not the best ingredients. Pasta was over cooked and not Al dente. Chicken was dry. Veggies tasted frozen and then defrosted with minimal seasoning. Not very inspired if I’m being honest especially for the price. The cheesecake was delicious so I definitely recommend thad. I absolutely loved the service though and everyone was super attentive. Inside was nice but weird really dark lighting so it was hard to see my dish.

Review №13

2023-09-23 15:44:45

Fantastic food! The sole piccata was amazing. Vegetables were cooked perfectly al dente, the bread was wonderful, and service was very attentive and welcoming. The triple mousse dessert was to die for.The only issue is the poor acoustics in the cavernous dining room. With a somewhat busy lunch crowd, all patrons were seated in the same large room despite there being two other smaller rooms which werent being used. This lead to being almost entirely unable to hear each other speaking without nearly shouting, which of course most people were shouting to be heard over the din and that caused the noise to continually increase. This seems that it could be an easy fix by just adding acoustic ceiling tiles or more fabrics, or at the very least, spreading people out a bit more and using the other dining room.We will still return for the excellent food but wish that we could enjoy the atmosphere a bit more.

Review №14

2023-06-27 20:59:17

I had the most memorable dining experience at this Italian gem. The restaurant not only offers a cozy and romantic setting but also delivers outstanding food. The pasta dishes were cooked to perfection, with rich and flavorful sauces that made my taste buds dance. The service was impeccable, with the staff offering excellent recommendations and ensuring every need was met. If youre a lover of Italian cuisine, this restaurant is an absolute must-visit!

Review №15

2023-06-11 20:44:21

First visit here.Excellent Foods I love all of them.

Review №16

2023-08-03 14:09:40

From the moment you walk in they take care of you.from the appetizers to the dessert all the food was great. The server took care of us and was very attentive.

Review №17

2018-11-30 20:54:09

We went here on a recommendation, and we were very pleasantly surprised: the experience exceeded our expectations. The place is not inexpensive (almost 20.00 for Chicken Parm), but the food was DELICIOUS. We were seated in the upper room (elevated about 5 steps), but there are entry-level seats and wheelchair accessible bathrooms. There are great Italian city-street murals painted on the walls, and all of the staff was wonderful. Hayward isnt our area, but we will definitely go back!

Review №18

2023-01-31 23:22:28

The service was very poor. The shrimp scampy was Luke warm. Probably the chef put the plate up when it was hot. By the time the waiter picked up the plate and brought to the table wasnt hot. The waiter had bypassed our table as thou we werent even seated. The waiter didnt even stop by to make sure our food was ok or if we needed anything else. I had to get his attention so I could see the desert menu.Desert looked like hands were used to help cut out and put it into a Togo box. I asked for the bill and still wasnt asked how the food was. The waiter disappeared as if he didnt even care, so I and my guest got up and went to the bar area to pay for the meal. Your waiter staff needs to be trained a little better to represent your restaurant to the highest quality standards.

Review №19

2023-11-06 03:42:13

Overall, the food was great. The chocolate mousse was awesome.

Review №20

2020-08-27 18:36:31

(COVID times review) came across this place by mistake with a associate of mine. He told me he’d been here and the food was phenomenal.... he wasn’t just blowing smoke up my *** he was right. Services was pretty fast, waiter was on his game. The bread they start you with was sooo moist on the inside and a nice soft crunch on the out. It was paired with this type of vinaigrette. Nice and sweat. I ordered the fettuccine garbeietti and my colleague ordered the Lasagna Asada. I could tell his was good because it was practically gone before I finished spinning my fork with my first bite of the noodles. Lol. Mine was super creamy and tasty. Sun-dried tomatoes, and artichoke was soo good and fresh tasting. The shrimp in it was nice and juicy. Perfect size for the meal. And they didn’t skimp on them like unmentioned other Italian garden establishments 😏😏 lol. The food is respectively price. Nothin to hurt your pocket but the taste will make you think it would. It’s really that tasty. I’ll be back to give it the full what’s what one day soon. They’d better be prepared for my return lol 🤘🏾💯💪🏾

Review №21

2021-08-14 18:00:40

I love this place!!! I have brought in so many people here and they all love it. My personal favorite is fettuccine pesto. I will keep coming to try more items from the menu. I like the vibe inside the restaurant. Feels like little italy with all that art on the walls. Its a great dining experience.

Review №22

2023-01-16 05:59:56

Good for big groups but overall good is just ok and not worth the $20+ price point per pasta dish.Pasta is store bought (not in house made)bread was not fresh made either3 stars for being accommodating of a group and having a reasonable corking fee but not too much else to love about the place.if you have to come here, try the gnocchi ! probably the best thing our group got. with $25 dishes, appetizers, corking fees we spent around $50-60/person

Review №23

2023-11-16 05:26:00

So the last time we went to Aqua e farina for takeout. We’ve always had a good experience except this last time and I’m really pissed because they forgot to give me part of my order. I ordered polenta and I also ordered gnocchi when I got home I had a weird pork. Meal it was not what I ordered so I had to call the restaurant and tell them that they messed it up. So the next time that I come in, they’re supposed to fix it and give me my polenta that’s why I’m pissed.

Review №24

2022-02-17 05:22:55

Best Italian restaurant in the bay area and I will argue with anyone who disagrees. My Noni passed away during the pandemic. But even before then this was the only Italian restaurant she ever liked as much as she did and the food taste like she made it herself. The Risotto is fire, the Gnocchi is absolutely delicious. Seafood specials never disappoint. The specials in general are almost always enticing. The brucshetta and mozzarella caprese are just... argh, I wish I could afford to go here daily! It is higher in price but the qauilty of the food speaks for it. The service is always polite and the owner is very engaging to the regulars.

Review №25

2023-08-10 08:05:17

The food was delicious. The service is phenomenal. My only complaint is that the website pictures are not exactly an accurate representation of what is the reality. It is acceptable however I would prefer to see what I have expected. Still good though regardless of which.

Review №26

2022-12-07 18:22:54

Loved the ambience. Great service, surprisingly reasonably priced for such a nice place. Will come back to try more food. Apart from street parking, there is parking on the other side of road facing the restaurant entrace.

Review №27

2023-09-23 03:54:52

From entering the establishment, all the way through the check, I have nothing bad to say about this place. The service was stand out. Friendly and timely. The food was a flavorful explosion.

Review №28

2021-02-21 21:53:13

The pictures dont do this place justice. We had a great experience at Acqua E Farina. The food and customer service was the best. We got there 15 minutes before closing and they seated us anyway. The food was full of flavor and we didnt have to wait too long. Definitely recommend this place for any special dinners or special occasions. Looking forward to going back and trying their desserts. (Excuse the poor quality pictures).

Review №29

2023-11-03 04:14:35

Great food and wonderful atmosphere, the service is always good but when theyre busy you might end up waiting quite a while which is definitely understandable

Review №30

2021-09-19 19:37:17

An intimate setting and feels like youre in Italy. The food is delicious and the service is awesome. Great place to go on a date or with friends and family.

Review №31

2022-07-20 15:56:59

Highly recommend. The three of us enjoyed the Linguine Vongole, Bolognese ravioli, chicken parmesan and calamari appetizer. All dishes cooked to perfection and served by a very attentive and personable waiter. Reasonable prices considering quality and quantity.

Review №32

2023-08-06 01:10:18

Love everything about my experience. Definitely will be going back. Crab cakes were the best along with my homemade ravioli with meat sauce.

Review №33

2022-09-04 02:56:25

Second time we have been here and we loved it again! I had the salmon tonight and it was amazing!!!Weve been here several times now. The lasagna is the absolute best! And the pomegranate mojito is amazing!

Review №34

2023-12-02 15:00:20

If you love Italian food, this place is delicious. Good service too

Review №35

2023-05-06 18:50:25

I’ve been enjoying Acqua e Farina since they opened in 2013. It is my go to restaurant in Alameda for Italian food. I’ve got a solid wine list and delicious, authentic Italian cuisine. The atmosphere is understated and comfortable, clean and conducive to conversation. I can highly recommend this restaurant as a consistent winner.

Review №36

2022-06-12 05:59:57

First visit... great atmosphere & wonderful decor. Seated right away...server was very courteous & attentive. Food was served warm and nicely plated.....it was very delicious. I hope to go back soon.... I recommend it.

Review №37

2022-08-08 22:45:54

My ravioli was pretty good. Was with friends the other day and they were very accommodating one of them is vegetarian.

Review №38

2023-04-21 11:15:19

The flavour of the food was virtually none. The sauce was watery, and the veal was chewy; more akin to pork.

Review №39

2023-09-15 04:45:50

Good food. Good drink. All while listening to soothing Italian music. Easy parking. Support this local hidden gem!

Review №40

2023-06-03 02:16:43

This place is AMAZING. One of my top favorite restaurants. The food and service is always pleasant and great! I recommend all dishes and most definitely an espresso martini! HIGHLY recommend this place!

Review №41

2017-07-16 10:30:32

A great lunch was had by we 3 Chicks. (No not Chickens. But Im sure they cook theirs perfecto) Between the three of us we ordered and shared Eggplant Parmejan, Spinach Ravioli with Meat Sauce and The Gnocchi. Ive not been a big fan of Gnocchi, but because of Acqua EFarina Ive been converted. The consistency was perfection. The sauce was not overpowering just right. The Eggplant Parmejan one of the best I have ever tasted. I have had my fair chair so I can honestly say it was divine. Even my Ravioli was cooked throughly. It was not prepared from a bag that came out of the freezer. My rating: Yummyisous ! ! ! The Ambience and Service Extraordinary.

Review №42

2023-04-19 21:54:11

Worst italian food I ever had... am even counting little Caesars... very disappointed...

Review №43

2019-06-21 16:16:57

Looking for a place for lunch and visited based on reviews, found this friendly local Italian eatery, with great service. Our favorite was the lasagna and risotto

Review №44

2023-02-17 02:30:26

Maybe because of Valentines day crowd or maybe not but after spending nearly $200 bucks I was kinda disappointed with the food. We have dined here many times over the years plus held a Xmas party for 40 people and had great experiences. This time, eh, well try again with high expectations and hopefully have better dinners

Review №45

2023-11-19 03:08:36

The best birthday dinner that I have had in 34 years. Thank you so much to the staff here!

Review №46

2017-03-09 09:55:13

Everything I ordered was very good. Salad with mozzarella cheese, spinach ravioli, Mahi mahi finish special and limoncello ice cream. Service was great too. A little noisy but still great atmosphere.

Review №47

2017-12-08 02:08:04

Most of my party enjoyed their meals, hence the 4 stars, but I did not. Pastas were quite nicely made, prices were acceptable.

Review №48

2023-06-28 15:39:41

Very low key excellent Italian. So if you like Italian food you need to try this place I recommend the fettuccine with grilled chicken...

Review №49

2019-08-25 15:46:25

Oustanding real Italian restaurant, very good dishes and the service was excelent, i try the Funji with shrimp for apetizer and the Frutti di mare and everything was delicious.

Review №50

2023-05-24 00:09:27

Absolutely scrumptious food, excellent service, and lovely ambiance! I always recommend this place to my friends and family who want wonderful Italian fare. A must-try!

Review №51

2022-05-27 01:42:34

The food was good, the service is great, it felt like they were rushing us to get out, they came to our table many times to try and take our places, all those times we let them know we were still working on it, thats the only part I didnt like.

Review №52

2019-11-28 18:02:20

Family is forever. Ups and downs. Thick and thin. Wonderful home cooked meals and awkward, frustrating requests for the waitstaff. You take it all as part of the package. I appreciate the patience exercised by the server with my dear family members. They accommodated off the menu requests and gave a solid wine recommendation.

Review №53

2023-01-07 03:23:34

Having known of this place for a long time, I finally dined there on 01/04/23. First off, the noise level was NOT a problem as it often is when trying to have a nice dinner. All fellow diners were enjoying their dinners and conversation. There was a group function in a neighboring room but that in no way interfered with us enjoying our dinner.Cesar, our server, was fantastic. Knowledgeable about the specials and attentive to our needs. He was personable and welcoming. The service he provided was top notch. The food was also excellent; from the salads to the lasagna to the bread (two types served in a basket on the table). Our wine was excellent as well, a nice Pinot from the Anderson Valley.We had dessert waiting at home, so didnt order any there.I found the prices to be reasonable; so many restaurants have priced customers out of being able to patronize them, but this one seemed in line with the quality of the food (excellent) while still reflecting the current economic climate. We actually split the salad and lasagna so as to not overeat (all those holiday meals!) and it was a perfect size to do that.I would not hesitate to return to Acqua de Farina and hope to do so again in the very near future. We had a wonderful evening.

Review №54

2023-05-15 19:36:18

Great food we had the classics calamari steak, chicken parmigiana, gnocchi and tortellini .. wow it was a great find in Hayward. A new family favorite

Review №55

2020-02-07 04:25:48

Food was delicious! Service was subpar, I think it was just our server. The other servers seemed friendly and knowledgeable.

Review №56

2022-06-26 06:19:27

The quality of service and food at this price point definitely deserves 5 stars. Great recommendations, friendly and knowledgeable staff, and the food was great.My one critique would be better appetizers and a slightly larger portion, but all our entrees were excellent. Have only visited once but will definitely be back if we are in the area again!

Review №57

2022-06-22 21:07:38

I have dined at this restaurant for many years and it is always fantastic. The food is amazing. The pricing is amazing. The atmosphere is so warm. Its a great place to dine for a nice evening in town or for a place to get together with friends.Huge fan of the gnocchi! The sauce on it is delicious.

Review №58

2023-07-02 02:44:06

Varied menu and their specials are often amazing. Good wine list. Nice, relaxed dining experience. My wife and I usually share the polenta appetizer (tonight I had the seafood stuffed mushrooms as well). Im often torn between their fish special and several of their pasta dishes (I love their pesto with shrimp). The staff are always friendly and helpful.

Review №59

2023-04-01 02:42:11

Cute, little Italian restaurant in downtown Hayward.

Review №60

2022-05-04 06:32:10

The hostess in this place is very pleasant and quick to get you a table for an early dinner and it was a walk-in (no reservation).Serving is where they need to improve. Food came 1st even though they asked for the drinks 1st. Their old fashioned drink was on the sweet side. Serving portion is good size but then it was already cold by the time it arrived to our table.After telling our server that we are ready for our check, we waited patiently for him to bring it to us. He went on passed us half a dozen times before I decided to hand him my card since he forgot to bring the check to our table.I suggest you try the place may be youll have a better experience than we did.

Review №61

2022-06-06 21:10:02

Excellent Italian food!! Great atmosphere its a great dining experience while inside you feel like youre in another country you forget your in downtown Hayward. The service is very good 👍 my favorite dish so far is the lasagna with alfredo sauce rather than marinara sauce. The drinks are very good as well.

Review №62

2023-05-09 00:11:19

I love the saltimbocca. I get it every time And its always delicious. Staff was very friendly and you could tell they treated each other with respect too.

Review №63

2023-07-14 01:05:07

Been going here for years, always delicious, service is wonderful and the owners are great!!

Review №64

2021-09-15 04:48:31

Had the salmon with veggies, it was delicious 😋 and so was the creme Brule

Review №65

2017-09-24 19:59:24

Good service, good food and all at a reasonable price. I had the daily special and enjoyed every bite. finished with espresso and lemon gelato.

Review №66

2023-06-02 17:51:13

Great as always. Took my client thereI had the fish halibut special he had the clam chowder.

Review №67

2023-02-12 18:16:43

Overall excellent experience for my first time. Food was absolutely satisfying and comforting. Cocktails were superbly made. Wonderful Italian restaurant in Hay

Review №68

2023-01-26 05:01:09

The food was amazing! Im a vegetarian and I had plenty of options. However, the service was terrible. The neighbouring table was quite loud and the management did not do anything about it. The servers did not give us enough plates

Review №69

2023-04-22 21:40:55

We love Acqua e Farina. The food is exquisite and the charm of what was once the Green Shutter Hotel is perfectly at home in the Italian style.

Review №70

2021-06-29 23:58:21

Wonderful lunch. The staff is so kind and attentive. Large and delicious meals.

Review №71

2022-07-13 06:11:31

With a reservation for 7 pm and after explaining we were celebrating a special anniversary, we had horrible service. We had drinks right away, but ordered dinner around 7:30. We were not served until almost 9 pm. No one thought to offer us more bread or apologize for the lack of service. We finally asked for more bread.Very disappointed. Doubt we will go again—this had been a favorite choice of our group for years.

Review №72

2022-09-18 03:29:11

I made a special date reservation at this Italian restaurant. I very much enjoyed it from the guest service, ambience, and of course the delicious food. I recommend you try this gem and bring someone special. Thank you for a great experience, and definitely coming again.

Review №73

2023-10-04 22:15:20

Great tasting food..service was great and helpful 👍

Review №74

2017-06-21 21:28:27

The food and dessert was amazing. The service was spectacular.

Review №75

2021-05-17 18:48:38

A must visit placeEspecially if you like Italian in general

Review №76

2022-02-14 04:18:43

Every time we come here we are always pleased with the food and service. Most recently we got seated at the bar and really enjoyed the service from Jessica as well the conversation. We tried the lasagna and it was delicious and we always love the fettuccine gamberheti.Update: We still come here occasionally for special occasions and we are always so pleased. We now happily sit at the bar whenever Jessica is bartending. Shes absolutely delightful and gives impeccable service. We always enjoy the food and conversation!

Review №77

2021-12-25 18:45:37

I have heard good things about this place. The place was clean. Looks small from the outside actually pretty big inside.. My daughter birthday so I thought we give it a try. We ordered Sangria and tasted watered-down. So I ask food sever to bring us another drink. The customers behind us ordered a Sangria as well. They were not to happy with it. So switched it got a Lemon Drop. It wasnt to bad. My daughter ordered Fettuccine with shrimp and artichokes. She enjoy her we split arugula salad which consists of 3 bites. Very small do not recommend to share it. I had Chicken Parmesan. Wasnt to bad Ive had better the veggies were not over cooked but not really cooked at all they were cold had to use a knife to cut them. Bread was nice and warm. We split dessert Tiramusi that was good. Seem a little chilly inside as well. Service was great. All in all it was ok the portions could of been a little bigger!

Review №78

2019-05-27 21:24:51

Unforgettable Experience! Great food, perfect service and romantic atmosphere!Don’t miss the Vitello Saltimbocca, it is amazing!

Review №79

2023-02-05 18:33:05

Fresh bread with olive oil,balsamic wonderful. the stuff Seafood mushrooms wow! Its all about the lemon sauce that is drenched with fresh bread going back for more 😋

Review №80

2023-04-14 16:19:28

Service was amazing. The wait staff is immensely professional. I did not like the stuff I had though. It was dry and looked reheated

Review №81

2022-01-26 00:23:31

Every person we encountered was kind and welcoming. Our food was very delicious and arrived fresh and plated well. The polenta was a delicious side to the chicken parm. Lasagna was so good. Calamari and chowder were heavenly! Will be back!

Review №82

2018-10-14 02:44:16

Great experience. I’m Italian and I loved to find authentic Italian food from Rome. Great quality.

Review №83

2023-01-10 23:30:59

Chicken Parmigiano was great, big portion. Clam Chowder was legit. Tequila shots were hefty, service was excellent.

Review №84

2022-03-25 01:07:22

I liked the food a lot, but the seating was mediocre. The restaurant showcases this cute room with Italian ambiance on the website, but even with a reservation (not during peak hours!) we were seated in a back room that was a bit dingy and had no ambiance at all. Unfortunately that took away from the experience, what a shame..

Review №85

2018-06-07 03:54:12

A rare gem, Italy hidden in Hayward. Excellent food, great bar, romantic place when not crowded. Love it every time.

Review №86

2019-11-09 22:35:40

Food quality and quantity vary. First time there the food was great and plentiful but sitting next to kitchen was so good. Second time the food was scarce for price and WAY too salty. Chicken parmigiana was like breaded paper. Appetite never got filled on second visit. Server was great though even while management didnt even attempt to make us happy.

Review №87

2020-02-15 17:26:53

We have found a new favorite Italian restaurant in downtown Hayward!! We were a walk-in on Valentines Day and they were able to seat us pretty quickly. I had a delicious Caesar salad, and then a beautiful gnocchi dish with a rich and perfect tomato cream sauce. My wife had the garden salad and the lobster ravioli and she loved it all. They were able to accommodate her food allergies which is always a plus for us. Definitely going back!!

Review №88

2019-12-04 23:29:00

Dont be put off by the exterior. Once you get inside it is lovely with several divided rooms decorated with beautiful murals painted on the walls.Full bar and good wine list. The food is delicious ! Especially the minestrone soup . Family owned and operated. Great service too.

Review №89

2019-10-22 20:47:12

Thats are so few good places to eat in Hayward and Castro Valley, that this was a real find! Food wand service were excellent. I had the salmon special, which I asked them to cook medium, and it was perfect. So many times my fish is ruined by overcooking and comes out dry, even if the fish is fresh. My husband had the veal and liked it af well. My arugula salad was nice. Fresh and not overdressed. Stuffed mushroom appetizer was yummy also. Only disappointment were the mussels and clam appetizer. The sauce was good and the clams were good, but the mussels had an off texture... perhaps they were frozen?

Review №90

2019-05-10 17:00:50

First and foremost, the food here is excellent. The ambience is great with a tall ceiling that greets the patron upon entering. There is a room for bigger parties. Perhaps because of that, the noise level inside the restaurant was quite acceptable. Service was good. The only problem is that because the restaurant is located in downtown Hayward, finding parking on the street is a hassle.

Review №91

2017-10-01 03:48:06

Really nice unexpected Italian restaurant in Hayward. By going here, we didnt have to wait since the place is huge. From the outside, the place looks really small. However, after passing the bar, the maitred leads us to another eating room. In fact, this restaurant has 1 private room as well as 4 partitioned eating areas. For the most part, the place is nicely decorated. However, the last room (closed to the restroom) seemed too bare. Our female server and water filler was really friendly, attentive and efficient. The portion size of the food was sufficient and tasty. Complimentary bread was yummy. The prices werent overly expensive. In fact, dessert is a bargain here. However, the food wasnt hot enough and needed some added punch... But, I would definitely go back again.

Review №92

2018-06-17 17:20:32

My first time there and the food was delicious. Everything tasted very fresh. I definitely recommend it.

Review №93

2019-05-06 05:36:17

Old World Italian dining at its finest. Service is impeccable, friendly, and high class! The food is the best Italian fare around. Every time I bring family and friends here; they are always impressed with the food, service, and the ambiance. Everything. Acqua E Farina is truly Haywards precious gem

Review №94

2023-05-03 00:52:21

Very good food. Pasta with duck sauce was delicious. Friendly staff and good prices.

Review №95

2021-06-06 05:13:56

Such a great dining experience from start to finish. First time we tried this place, it was prior to inside dining during the crazy pandemic. This room, we got to sit inside and enjoy the ambiance of the restaurant. Great food, great service, and delicious food. 10/10 would recommend.

Review №96

2022-09-11 04:14:47

Great atmosphere, and super quick to bring drinks appetizers and desert. its really comfy and the decor is really nice. The food is also nice. The prices might be a tiny bitty above average but nothing crazy and for the taste is is worth it!!!

Review №97

2021-07-16 20:21:27

Ive eaten here a few times and enjoyed it every time. Recently had the Funghi Ripieni (stuffed mushrooms) and the Gnocchi, they were both delicious!I love the room full of murals, its like a little escape to Italy. Overall, delicious food, charming atmosphere, and friendly staff.

Review №98

2022-05-27 16:29:58

We went there to have a graduation lunch. Dispite being short staffed due to illness, the staff was very friendly and took good care of us. The food was very tasty and we enjoyed it very much. I think this will become my go to place for special occasions.

Review №99

2018-08-16 04:26:11

Incredibly good food and professional service just friendly enough. We had the sand dabs special and the calamari steak. Salad is large enough to share. Chocolate raspberry torta for dessert. Perfect anniversary dinner. Reservations a must for busy times otherwise wait is 30 to 45 minutes. Parking in city lot across the street. Nice to walk around B Street afterward too. We asked for a table in the back as the front section can be noisy when theyre busy.

Review №100

2017-12-12 06:44:32

Classic old-school Italian restaurant. Everything we had was good. Service was unobtrusive and efficient. The specials were interesting, there were decent vegetarian options, and a nice wine list. AND - a choice of sparkling mineral waters. Nice touches.

Review №101

2020-10-22 20:34:18

The friendly atmosphere and awesome service the dishes are excellent fyi live music on the corner on Saturday nights...

Review №102

2019-02-14 20:26:16

If you dont care Pizza but just Italian food then this is a very good restaurant at Hayward downtown.The menu is limited, but overall the dishes quality is above average.Service is good too and we tip the waitress extra.18% gratuity will be added to the bill if Party of 6 or over, a common practice of American restaurants.Corkage is $15 per bottle.We had 9 persons and brought 2 bottles of red, the bill is $310+.

Review №103

2022-09-14 16:08:48

Service good. Food better! Conveniently up the street from us.

Review №104

2019-10-23 05:49:30

Five stars because it is the best restaurant in Hayward. We had a party of eight for lunch, no reservations, the owner called in another server to accommodate - nicely done. They then put us in a private room, score.The service was impeccable and attentive. They bused the plates, brought out new plates, filled waters - just some freaking awesome service.

Review №105

2019-08-07 03:08:10

Agree with others, portions sizes perfect, great prices for high quality authentic Italian fare.My wife enjoyed a fresh arugula salad, while I sampled the pasta special of fettuccini with a colorful and palate pleasing blend of red, green peppers, shrimp, mushrooms, sun dried tomato, in a wine,garlic sauce. A lemon sorbet cleansed the palate as a light ending. Tempting though, were many delicious sounding desserts, all very reasonably priced. Our attentive server Daniel made the meal pleasant with his prompt,friendly but not intrusive service.Highly recommended .

Review №106

2019-05-23 04:53:45

This place is a gem! I was surprised how large it is because from the street it looks so tinny. The place has several rooms off the main, bar area. The food is delicious, reasonable and promptly served. They have a full bar and private room. I am in California visiting family several times a year--I will be visiting this place every time! Cant say enough about the quality of the meal and at such a great price. I especially loved the polenta appetizer, served with a Madeira sauce--my mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Review №107

2017-06-24 15:36:02

We had a really amazing meal for my dads birthday. Steaks were perfectly cooked, well seasoned and tender. Pasta dishes and fresh baked bread were excellent. Even dessert was really superb. From start to finish we had a great experience.

Review №108

2021-05-22 03:50:12

The food was fantastic! I had the TORTELLINI ALLA PANNA (Meat tortellini with prosciutto, mushrooms, and peas in a cream sauce.). It was a perfect serving size along with my small ceaser salad. I chose to indulge by ordering a Main Street Refresher - it truly is a refreshing cocktail. I highly recommend! I was one of a party of 13. The service was good, plates were delivered close together. I was delighted to find my food was hot. Typically when you have a large party the food will sometimes come in groups and lukewarm, but not here. Our group enjoyed the appetizers of calamari and bruschetta - both double orders were finished. The best part was that they had us in a room curtained from the other diners.

Review №109

2019-12-09 03:56:52

My daughter and myself celebrated her 30th birthday here this evening, and as usual the dinners were divine. We plan on coming back to this establishment 30 years from tonight, as it is so special to us. Our dinners have been stellar every time we have eaten here. Thanks for being an old time restaurant, civilized and delicious

Review №110

2015-11-21 22:24:50

One of my wifes and my favorite Italian restaurants in Hayward. They stay busy on weekends, so get a reservation. Weekdays are more relaxed. Food is pretty good, Id give in 7-7.5 out of 10. For the price, the flavor, service, consistency, and portions are right on.

Review №111

2022-09-15 06:40:11

Excellent service. Exquisitely delicious food. Great environment. Loved it! My 1st time there. Ill go again.

Review №112

2017-03-26 01:04:08

This place is a hidden gem in downtown Hayward. Located just south of B street on Main, the quiet storefront shows a bay window, a door and a set dining table, with nothing to suggest the cavernous interior. At least 4 dining areas and a small bar are offered here for family dining, and the food is quite good- fresh seafood, chicken and beef as well as the obvious pasta dishes are menu items, and I confess, one of the best Italian wine lists Ive seen in decades. Prices seem fair to high on some things, but the variety is enough for a return visit. Bottom line, no disappointment to be had, and if there were- I have a feeling they would do all they could to correct it.

Review №113

2018-05-03 04:09:50

Delicious food, great service, intimate atmosphere. Cant ask for anything more! Ordered the stuffed chicken special. Friend ordered the seafood fettuccine, and another friend ordered the pesto fettuccine. All delicious dishes. The fresh sliced bread was a great starter with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. And although they arent pictured, we also ordered the stiffed mushrooms, calamari, and caprese salad and they were delicious!!!

Review №114

2021-06-01 19:24:21

We were not disappointed. The food is indescribably delicious and the portions are immense! I started with the cream of cauliflower soup and my spouse had the minestrone soup. Both soups were wonderful. Then, I had the tortellini alla panna and my spouse had the fettucine pesto. Both were rich and savory. For dessert we shared the spumoni and the panna cotta. Wow! We were full before we ordered the desserts but we were glad we ordered them anyway. They were so, so delicious.

Review №115

2019-04-18 14:38:28

They have great food, large portions for a reasonable price. That combination is hard to find these days. I was with a large party and had one of the specials which was seafood w/fettucini, and it included mussels, clams, salmon, calamari rings and shrimp. The sauce was a tomato-based cream sauce and both the sauce and portions were generous. Theres two levels of the dining area, with five steps to the next level.

Review №116

2022-03-23 21:34:59

The food here is amazing 👏 my friend told me they dont have spaghetti and meatballs because theyre a real Italian place; whatever that means. The clam chowder was 9 out of 10.

Review №117

2020-07-09 15:53:08

Great take out service. The staff was attentive and friendly, service was quick and COVID safe. I had the carbonara, it was incredible. My wifes family has been coming here for years, and its great to know we can expect the same quality during the quarantine.

Review №118

2020-02-22 21:05:39

My step-mom selected this restaurant for hey birthday dinner. In attendance was my step-mom, dad, wife, and myself. The restaurant is average-sized, and (from what I was able to tell) has three dining rooms. Upon entry, you walk through the first dining room, which is also the bar. Upon arriving at the back of the first room, you find another dining room to your right (slightly longer than the first...it appears they took over the retail space next door, and converted it into a dining room), a third dining room behind the first, and the kitchen to your left. The ceiling lighting in the second dining room is color-coordinated to the Italian flag (green, white, red).The food is spectacular...honestly, among the best my family has had. From the appetizer (calamari), to our entrees, to our desserts, everything was outstanding. The calamari was like, very tender, not oily in the least...just perfect. Instead of covering each entree (all 4 were different), Ill just suffice it to say we were all extremely pleased...portion size was more than adequate, while quality & temperatures were about as perfect as they could get. Desserts were all excellent...my step-moms creme brulee was one of the best any of us (ok, my wife didnt sample it, but everyone else did) had ever had.The only down side...and, the reason I gave only a 4-star rating...was the service. While it wasnt bad, it certainly wasnt great. Even saying it was good would be an overstatement. The waitress wasnt exactly what Id call attentive...the gal refilling waters, coffee, etc, was FAR more attentive than our server. Even though this was on a Saturday night, our reservation was early enough that it wasnt overly busy. Id estimate her section was no more than 75% filled. The only items arriving in a timely manner were the desserts. I will state that we never felt rushed...but, when you wait 10-15 minutes for your soups & salads to arrive after your appetizer plates are taken away (which was at least 5 minutes after we actually finished the calamari), thats a bit long. Having worked in restaurants, i know this is unacceptable.Honestly, Id have no problem returning. The food is fantastic, and the ambiance is quite nice (almost forgot to mention, its fairly quiet). I just hope that, upon returning, we have a different (ie. better) server.

Review №119

2019-02-24 16:30:20

Everyone was very friendly from Emiliano to the nice young ladies that greeted and seated us. We had a party of 16. We were seated on time. Our server was fun, prompt, and got everyones dish correct the first time. The food was really really good. So fresh. Everybody truly enjoyed the food and the ambience. The restaurant was nice (loved the paintings on the walls) and was much bigger on the inside than it appears from the outside. We will definitely be back soon. Thank you AEF for an enjoyable family dinner!

Review №120

2019-02-08 04:24:37

We came here for a company lunch. There were 18 of us and I had made the reservation a few weeks before. We got there a bit early, but they did not mind (it was a Tuesday afternoon :)). They gave me the option of three different menus before hand, and they were a hit! The two appetizer dishes were great, the entrees and family style dish were great as well. Tiramisu was super delicious and throughout the lunch, the servers were attentive. Thank you Emiliano for a fantastic lunch!

Review №121

2023-07-30 19:44:03

Amazing food!! Excellently priced.

Review №122

2022-02-20 04:18:16

Tasty food & bread. Everything tasted & appeared to be made from scratch. Great service. My daughter had been there before & brought me. I will return. We were the for lunch.

Review №123

2017-01-17 11:19:46

Acqua E Farina is in the Green Shutter building where Rue d Main used to be - in downtown Hayward. The food is authentic and the quality is fantastic. They offer a broad menu along with daily specials. Great appetizers, too. My wife had chicken pesto pasta, and I had the special - Seafood pasta. We loved both! Hearty portions...

Review №124

2018-10-19 22:04:46

The food was delicious, so the Tiramisu. We had reserved a table for 12 people in a separate area so I cant comment on the rest of the restaurant atmosphere. I didnt think the cappuccino was that great. However, the wine sauce with the fried polenta was fantastic.

Review №125

2022-08-22 13:18:55

We arrived around 6:50 PM on a Sunday. The wait was about 25 mins. The waiter was kind & familiar with the menu. Food was delicious!

Review №126

2018-01-24 09:43:01

Whenever we go to a Warriors game, we come here. The food here is delicious. Not fancy or gourmet but really yummy and fresh. My Ravioli with meat sauce came up out piping hot. The foccacia is outstanding. The other bread is super fresh.The layout is a little wonky and the lighting could be a little brighter...just a tad. Its a real find in downtown Hayward. I hope it becomes a cornerstone for a slow revival of the area.

Review №127

2023-10-23 15:22:10

Food is always amazing here❤️

Review №128

2017-06-12 19:23:40

Went here for a graduation party with 10 peple one hour before closing on a friday. They seated us in a private room which was very nice. Excellent service. The food isnt too expensive, most pasta items are in the $16-20 range. Parking was a little hard, but overall I was very pleased with the restaurant. Highly recommended, but probably need reservation during peak hours.

Review №129

2016-12-21 08:43:36

I enjoyed eating here once. The service and menu selections are excellent, although when they were busy the wait for the food can take a little long. Still, the staff was very friendly and attentive the whole time. The food was delicious!

Review №130

2019-12-10 04:48:40

Gosh what a let down. My partner and I ordered two specials. A cheese stuffed pork chop With cranberry sauce and a snapper piccata. The chop was very dry and lacked a solid cranberry flavor and the fish smelled like last weeks leftovers. We sent both entries back, paid for our bland soup and salad and promptly left. Maybe we should have stuck to the main menu. But I’m so disappointed that I’m not motivated to go back. The management also offered no apology.Ambiance was pedestrian.

Review №131

2019-01-21 05:12:20

We had my sisters birthday party there. It was a great time. Service for a large part of 30+ people was fantastic. Food was great, even after living in Italy for 3 yrs it was very memorable

Review №132

2019-11-21 05:16:03

The olives were too salty...not a good seasoning addition for anyones diet! The platter was not very fancy. But the atmosphere is nice, the ambiance is mimicking upper class dining and affordable pricing.

Review №133

2019-06-04 04:30:31

The servers were gracious and the food tasty. I was a.little disappointed with my salad, The lettuce needed an ice bath to perk it up. Also, the decaf coffee had a sharp, bitter flavor. My guest made the comment that it tasted like instant coffee.

Review №134

2023-03-25 01:07:12

I really enjoyed the food. Good service. I will visit again.Thank you guys for your service.

Review №135

2018-03-17 19:09:28

Ive been here twice several months apart; the first time was at lunch, and the food was bland, while the second (more recent) time was for dinner and the food and service was excellent! I dont know if theres been a staff change, or if theres always a different cook for dinner, but thats definitely when I would recommend going! Dont let the cheesy cartoon logo fool you; this is a classy white - tablecloth joint, and I felt underdressed arriving in a t-shirt. This is also the rare Italian place to accommodate gluten restrictions.

Review №136

2023-04-30 09:30:24

If you’re a person of color, would not recommend this place. That’s all I’ll say for now because I didn’t even get to test their food.

Review №137

2021-08-12 03:50:35

Really good food. Wine selection is decent and wait staff was good, but had a bit of a wait in the beginning. No reservations unless party of 10 or more is inconvenient, but understandable considering covid.

Review №138

2016-12-30 04:54:27

“Good food and service”Visited with group of 4 at lunchtime. Three had burgers and the 4th a Chicago hot dog. Burgers were good but question whether or not ⅓ lb. as stated on menu. All of us thought they were cooked too much. Hot dog considered good. Crisp delicious fries. Beer nice and cold. Worth a try but better burgers in area.

Review №139

2016-11-17 01:37:56

My girlfriend found this restaurant on yelp.She has a perfect track record of finding the best places to eat,visit and just enjoy.She out did herself tonight..From the above excellent food, attentive service in a calm atmosphere.A astounding find. . surprisingly great.

Review №140

2022-01-19 05:59:39

A cozy palace, typical Italian low lighting, ideal for a date, great staff, good food and cocktails, long list of wine ( am not a wine guy ). Locally owned, lets support, why not.

Review №141

2021-02-26 03:09:15

Favorite Italian restaurant. Pre-COVID it was a lovely place to eat in, great atmosphere. Food is delicious. The foccacia is amazing and we always ask for extra. I have tried many if the pasta dishes and they have all been excellent; the pesto fettuccine, the gnocchi, the ravioli.Family friendly but has a classy and upscale feel. Servers are very kind and professional.Post-COVID they do take out, including order ahead (we ordered 1 day ahead even) and looks like they have some limited out door seating too.

Review №142

2020-11-15 04:49:13

We got there before 3pm so we got not the nicest part of the restaurant. Venue is really irrelevant, feels like you are eating in a warehouse. Service was good, waiter super kind and helpful. Food is ok but not for that price, drinks and dessert were good.

Review №143

2018-05-09 05:26:21

I have dined in meal there and delivered. The food was delicious, full of thick calories. The presentation was nice for delivery. I would order again from there. The stuffed chicken dishes are too die for. The potato gnocchi wasnt on point. But, this place is a welcome change in Hayward.

Review №144

2019-11-11 03:09:52

Very good, fairly basic Italian. Have dined there 4 times with no major disappointments. Service was very good each time. Lots of tasty pasta dishes, most with marinara sauce. The fettucine gamberetti (shrimp fettucine) was excellent. The shrimp scampi was also excellent. The chicken piccata was not bad. Desserts are mostly ice cream based, plus tiramisu and a chocolate torte. Relatively inexpensive—$16-22 for most main dishes in Nov. 2019; the two steak dishes were over $30. Short, relatively inexpensive but good quality wine list. Interesting Italianesque village murals adorn the wall in the main room. Stands out in Hayward; in Oakland or Berkeley it would perhaps be above average but not remarkable.

Review №145

2020-01-02 07:17:53

Nice Italian food in Hayward! Quality food. The crispy fried calamari is so light and fresh. You can taste the freshness of the calamari. I love the fragrance of the olive oil and balsamic they serve with the bread. Love their tiramisu and the creme brulee. Italian food is a little more expensive than other cuisines, but always a nice treat to eat here. The interior is a bit dim, but i like the atmosphere since it takes me out of Hayward while Im eating.

Review №146

2021-07-27 14:58:39

Food was tasty. Service was equivocal. Food took a while. Got all the orders wrong . We were having a birthday and brought a small desert they wanted to charge $4a head to service it. We had a party of 20 people and spent nearly $700. No idea of customer service.

Review №147

2016-12-17 05:35:15

I really havent found a better Italian restaurant in all of Alameda county. The staff is wonderful, the food is always great, weve always had a great time. They even were able to accommodate a party of 13 late on a Friday arriving at different times and still maintained their excellent service. Cant recomend this place enough.

Review №148

2022-03-22 17:00:50

Great food, wine selection is nice not to mention great service. My girlfriend and I have been here a few times already and love it every time.

Review №149

2020-06-28 19:50:45

The staff was hustling to keep the tables and chairs sanitized following Covid restrictions. We had to wait, but knowing that the food is usually worth the wait, we didnt mind. We both had Veal Saltimbocca - excellent but sitting outside our food got chilled quickly.Everone around us seemed just as happy to be served their meals. We hope to be back.

Review №150

2018-03-10 03:30:26

Really delicious food. The polenta on the side is to die for, and the dinner bread is soft and warm. Prompt courteous service and good cocktails, all at a reasonable price in a clean and pretty space. Waiter was like a happy chihuahua, in a good way.

Review №151

2019-02-05 15:38:19

My boyfriend and myself stumbled upon this place by accident but thank god we did! We stayed in Nice for just two nights over the New Year and ate here on New Year’s Eve. We hadn’t booked anything and the restaurant was obviously full but the hostess was wonderful and said they would try to accommodate us. We waited a mere 10 minutes for them to fix us a place and were offered a glass of Prosecco while we waited. We ate very well, Caprese and Octopus salad for starters, risotto and pasta as a main, a bottle of red wine and of course finished it with Tiramisu! It was great value for money. The service was wonderful start to finish, very polite, friendly and all with a good sense of humour! The atmosphere for New Year was of course wonderful, everybody was dancing when it turned midnight, even the staff and every customer was given a glass of Prosecco on the house to celebrate! We finished the night full, satisfied and entertained. We highly recommend this restaurant for both service and food. Wonderful, memorable experience and great hosts! Grazie mille ...we shall return!

Review №152

2018-02-05 00:24:46

Me and wife were looking for someplace new and since Italian food on a Friday night sounded amazing we looked for a local spot and found Acqua E Farina. The decor is nice with a rustic feel although the carpet could use a cleaning. It is a smaller restaurant but has a good energy with just the right amount of background noise to keep any quite pauses from feeling awkward.Now on to the Food! The calamari was just okay. The Cesar salad was meh but the pasta, oh the pasta, was amazing. I had the Tortelini and my wife the Lasagna and both were fantastic, seriously Fantastic!Overall a great dining experience because we had a great time ate well and had a comfortable atmosphere to have a date with my wife.

Review №153

2023-11-26 16:23:15

Best Italian food and wine list in Hayward

Review №154

2019-03-27 04:16:39

My favorite Italian restaurant in Hayward. I usually get the clams in linguine, this time i ordered a seafood linguine special in cream sauce. Plenty of shrimp and mussels. The girlfriend got fettuccine in pesto, she also loved it. Her sister got boring fettuccine gamberetti, had artichokes, garlic, spinach, and they made it for her without sun-dried tomatoes. The stuffed mushroom appetizer was not molten hot like Olive Garden and the lemon sauce it came in was amazing. Bread is whatever but dipping in the lemon sauce was legit

Review №155

2017-01-08 19:37:31

Absolutely love this place! The food and service are amazing. This place is a delight that many of recommend. This is a great place to enjoy great Italian Cuisine. Awesome! Simple yet sophisticated. Professional and courteous staff. I would recommend to anyone.

Review №156

2021-09-14 05:26:31

Not bad. The food is a bit better than just ok. ...a bit better. The staff is nice but they make you wait and wait and wait. The strange thing is you get the impression they think the food and service are first rate. Oh well.

Review №157

2019-08-10 06:06:08

Our first visit. Friday evening and bustling efficiently. Casual dress. My Sicilian wife felt at home, the recipes authentic and the portions robust. Save room for dessert.

Review №158

2019-08-04 20:48:16

I dont understand what all the hype is about this place. Sure the ambience is cool, but nothing special. I dont like eating at very dimly lit restaurants, i wanna see what Im eating. Average Italian food. I tried this cocktail called strawberry fields, dont recommend. Italian margarita was nice though.

Review №159

2018-11-28 03:36:50

Cozy little Italian spot in downtown Hayward that has decent food and good service. Interior has a nostalgic feel of old Hayward and in my opinion very nice. Great for a dinner date or special occasion without having to go into the city.

Review №160

2016-12-24 01:33:38

Some of the best Italian food in Hayward hands down. Everything is fresh and well portioned. These guys really do Italian with pride and excellence. The Bartender Whitney is so bubbly and always a great resource for wine tasting and drink pairing. I always mention to friends about AcquaEFarina!!!!! #

Review №161

2018-11-03 04:49:51

Id eat here again but wouldnt go out of my way. I really liked the gnocchi but would skip the carpaccio. Its an impressive wine list, but the service is sluggish and a little inattentive (so perhaps one could argue its authentically Italian).

Review №162

2019-09-28 04:50:44

Cozy, elegant, classy and best of all....the food was so delicious. Walls are covered with painted murals of Italy. Great place for a romantic dinner or family dinner! Our first time here.

Review №163

2020-03-10 15:09:07

Delighted that Acqua E Farina lived up to my expectations. I have been looking for the best gnocchi in the Bay area. I found them here. This restaurant is a great gem in Hayward. Very much worth the effort to get Acqua EFarina. You will not be disappointed.

Review №164

2018-06-13 19:05:50

Had the lentil soup and meat lasagna. Lentil soup was good, big ol bowl for $5. The lasagna was bad. It was just a cheese brick essentially. Little to no flavor other than the too-thick layer of cheese on top. Sauce tasted like nothing. The decor is unpolished and old, and the restaurant smells faintly of a nursing home. Came here because the reviews are great, but I have to disagree.

Review №165

2017-12-15 02:47:24

1st time dining at this restaurant. The service was very good as was the food. 6 people who were extremely happy with their dinners. Not to mention the desserts. Definitely a return visit in our future.

Review №166

2019-01-10 23:39:55

Our favorite Italian restaurant in downtown Hayward. The fettucine gamberetti is amazing! The calamari is nice too! Definitely worth checking out if you have never been.

Review №167

2021-11-08 08:05:44

Best Italian food in Hayward! The staff is so nice and food never disappoints! We loved their food, trout and a pasta dish, plus their chicken parmigiana. Super delicious!!We will be back to try other dishes. This is a hidden gem!

Review №168

2018-06-28 01:50:48

Liked the food. The restaurant is clean, a little dated decor but a good spot to have dinner, drinks. Loved the high end tequila on the menu. Glad i stumbled across this place. Will be back..

Review №169

2018-12-24 21:05:26

The service was good but the food was horrendous. Had a private party with business owners and everyone food was either uncooked or dry. The salmon was interesting but their appetizers were very good and the wait staff was superb. 3 stars is for the wait staff but the food 1 star

Review №170

2020-02-13 02:32:09

Downtown Hayward has really evolved over the years. Downtown is very cool. It is very refreshing to have a restaurant like Acqua EFarina located here. The food is authentic Italian and its delicious. Once again, I wish downtown San Mateo had a place like this.

Review №171

2021-12-04 03:59:24

The pasta with seafood is very creamy and delicious. The linguini with pesto sauce is also creamy but the chicken in it is too dry. Not too crowded.

Review №172

2018-01-06 04:55:28

I think I went on an off night or something. They have a pretty good sized menu, and a large wine selection, but the food we got was not great.I ordered the chicken piccata, and it was very underwhelming. The mashed potatoes were almost ice cold and a very strange texture. The vegetables were undercooked. The chicken was luke warm, but the sauce was good. My boyfriend got the lasagna, which was smothered in so much bechamel sauce and cheese that you could hardly taste the pasta and meat.The people at the table next to us ordered a dry martini, and they bought it to them with ice cubes in it. ICE CUBES. IN A MARTINI.On a lighter note, the decor is very cute.

Review №173

2019-12-09 03:45:14

Its nice, clean,small, food ok. Very small portions, to expensive for what you get. I dont want to say negative because wasnt bad. Im not a huge water. But was still hungry when I left. My self wont go back.

Review №174

2020-03-02 16:02:34

This is a hidden gem. Food was very delicious, service was wonderful. And I love that even though this restaurant is in Hayward they didnt slack on the fresh ground black pepper, ground over my food to my liking and freshly grated parmesan cheese.

Review №175

2018-04-04 17:26:10

Weve eaten here a couple of times, once with a large group. The servers were friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating, if a bit on the slower side. The food was plentiful, good and reasonably priced.

Review №176

2019-06-24 04:19:28

Excellent Italian food and service. I had the grilled fish with capers, delicious! Romantic setting. Friendly staff & Free parking available across the street.

Review №177

2022-11-07 03:57:41

Wonderful food and drinks and service again. I highly recommend Louis M. Very kind to my Grumpa (:

Review №178

2019-04-22 13:25:50

Italian food wasnt too bad oh, it was acceptable but not great. But the biggest problem is extremely high noise level. We were only a party of four but we had to be super loud, even shouting, to be able to converse. Thats not a great way to have a nice dinner.

Review №179

2019-05-29 17:26:48

Haywards hidden secret. A friend took us here and it was great. A beautiful blend of flavors and the inside decor is great as well. Definitely an Italian treat to visit often.

Review №180

2017-02-12 17:32:55

Friendly and prompt service, great food, fair prices. Had seafood pasta and a clam chowder and liked it. Calamari appetizier was nice and big. Only cons were decorations, white walls.

Review №181

2020-01-19 17:05:32

Food was great, service was grea. It was busy yesterday we had quite a wait 40 mins but other than that. I would totally go again. I got the Chicken rossoto had mushrooms, chicken and rice and other ingredients that made the food that much better.

Review №182

2014-11-12 18:14:14

One of the two the best restaurants in downtown Hayward. Reasonably priced, the food and dessert was enjoyed by everyone at the table. Service good too. Knocked them down by one point for the atmosphere

Review №183

2015-06-30 04:23:32

My experience at Italian restaurants are usually bad...but then again most of my experiences have been at chains...and mostly Olive Garden. The food Ive had here was very good, some of the best italian Ive had in my life. For those reading, dont read too much into it, I am by no means an Italian food connoisseur. We tried their Lasagna, Fettucine Gambetti, and their Tortellini, and it was all amazing! Service was very nice, relatively quick, and was always available. I think we got a rather energetic one though..

Review №184

2017-06-15 01:16:53

I was raised back East where Italian food is like Mexican Food in California-its everywhere! So to find a satisfying Italian restaurant in Northern Cali has taken me many years! happy to say this place does the job!!

Review №185

2019-09-15 20:30:00

Ive come here at least 7 times the past year, always pleased with everything that Ive ordered. And well, when I say pleased and everything, I do say that fully-knowing what Im saying to you, the reader.The food, the drink, the dessert, the service, the price point --- these are nothing short of stellar, all things considered. My only tiny, tiny complaint is that the spacing between some tables seems a little awkward. But hey, Ill gladly come back another 7 times.Also, Im a stickler when it comes to tiramisu. This place delivers quality tiramisu in spades. Let that be known.

Review №186

2014-08-23 03:13:02

August 22nd 2014 today i went to Aqua E Farina to eat some Italian food I ordered Angel Hair pasta with Salcicca and red sauce with iceberg salad. My wife had a new york steak with a Salad as well.The service was great very friendly and kind. The food was wonderful fresh and flavorful, nice menu and a selection of wines. This is now 1 of my favorite Italian Restaurants.

Review №187

2018-03-12 12:38:15

Setting was beautiful and the food is delicious~

Review №188

2017-03-17 05:05:05

This restaurant is a hole in the hall of hayward where you can get delicious home made Italian food! The house bread you can get plain white bread or this amazing focaccia bread! Olive oil is already on the table & balsamic provided on request, its great!-House bread (Focaccia) 5/5Amazing but they only serve it while they got it. If its late and they ran out youll just get the plain bread.-Calamari 3/5Its good but nothing special. It tastes like every other calamari Ive tried. Its served with a cocktail sauce and a delicious chipotle sauce, I liked the chipotle sauce over the calamari.-Lasagna 3/5Im not a huge fan or lasagna but my boyfriend absolutely loves the lasagna. He claims you can really taste the amazing wine sauce inside.-Gnocchi 4/5Its made fresh & huge! They melt in your mouth with every bite. The original red sauce is good but for a 5/5 get the vodka cream sauce instead! Amazing! The only down fall is after a few bites it can get tiring.*******My favorite!*******I request for this every time (Not on the menu)-Fettuccine with mushroom & sausage with the cream vodka sauce! 10/5!!!Another yelper requested it on yelp & it sounded really appealing and I was blown away! It was amazing. The sauce is extremely creamy & the sausage is sliced thinly so every bite is perfect & not overpowering. Every person in my party took a bite and said it was the best!-Creme brûlée 4/5Its good but nothing special.Overall, I gave this place 5 stars for their vodka Cream sauce. Also because if you see any photos on their yelp page you wanna try & its not on the menu you can request it & if they have all the ingredients theyll make it for you. Great service!

Review №189

2022-08-05 03:38:37

Wonderful dinner. We did take out and it was as amazing as dine in! Lasagne and Calimari Picatta ! Cheers!

Review №190

2018-02-15 03:04:27

Came here for Valentine 2018. Was very disappointed with the special menu they provided, it wasnt even mentioned online. Couldnt order off normal menu.Just about everything was seafood.The lobster tail pasta was not worth the $25.00.

Review №191

2017-08-08 11:53:01

Excellent food and atmosphere. Ive been here many times, and Ive tried a variety of food here. Each time Ive left impressed. The Italian food at this restaurant is some of the best in the bay area.

Review №192

2016-05-11 03:32:14

Cozy and classy Italian place that delivers a great experience every time. The food is very traditional and delicious with different specials every day. After having been here multiple times, I always recommend it to people in the area.

Review №193

2017-10-18 01:22:42

Staying in Hayward while escaping the smoke from the Northern California fires. This was by far the best place we ate. Great service, tasty food, family friendly and reasonably priced.

Review №194

2022-03-20 22:47:08

It was a lovely sit-down Italian lunch with polite, helpful waiters and host.The limoncello gelato at the end was particularly tasty.

Review №195

2018-10-24 18:41:01

Gem tucked away in downtown Hayward. Beautiful murals inside and much larger space than it appears from the entrance. Had a great shrimp pasta dish and an Italian soda. Good place for a date.

Review №196

2015-01-06 17:45:41

Nicer place than I thought it would be! looked like a small place from the outside but once inside its quite roomy. everyone in my party enjoyed their food. prices averaged about $16 per main course.. so be prepared. worth it though... we will be back!

Review №197

2021-04-28 01:23:13

Best food, best service. Always satisfied walking out the door. Hayward us very lucky to have such a great Italian restaurant.

Review №198

2019-09-03 14:05:15

If you dont care Pizza but just Italian food then this is a very good restaurant at Hayward downtown.The menu is limited, but overall the dishes quality is above average. This is actually great service.

Review №199

2022-01-23 05:31:29

Service and food were excellent!!! I had seafood pasta! Delicious, full of fish, shrimp, Calamari, and mussels!!! Yummmmmy