La Lanterna Ristorante

4.4 ( 276 reviews )
$30–50
180 W 25th Ave, San Mateo, CA 94403, United States
+1 650-341-8877

La Lanterna Ristorante, nestled in San Mateo, is the embodiment of authentic Italian cuisine, as reflected in the glowing reviews from frequent patrons. With its impeccable service and delightful dishes, this restaurant has secured a loyal following among locals. Kevin Lu, a regular, praises the restaurant for its "great service" and "authentic" taste, emphasizing the impressive dessert selection. Similarly, Roger Nolan highlights the renowned cannelloni and Caesar salad, which are must-tries for any guest.

In addition to the food, the atmosphere at La Lanterna enhances the dining experience. Eve Halbert recounts her memorable meal with buttery-soft gnocchi enveloped in rich, flavorful truffle sauce, complemented by delicious bruschetta. The exquisite chocolate and vanilla crème brûlée served to her left a lasting impression. Kim Botta's experience hosting a private event for 60 guests further confirms the restaurant's versatility, with excellent service and delicious food.

Whether you enjoy a casual dinner or a special gathering, La Lanterna Ristorante promises a culinary journey filled with flavor and warmth. It's truly a gem for Italian food enthusiasts.

Amenities and More

  • Accessibility
    • Has wheelchair-accessible car park
    • Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
    • Has wheelchair-accessible seating
    • Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
  • Service options
    • Has outdoor seating
    • Offers delivery
    • Offers takeaway
    • Serves dine-in
  • Highlights
    • Serves great coffee
    • Serves great dessert
    • Has great wine list
  • Popular for
    • Popular for lunch
    • Popular for dinner
    • Good for solo dining
  • Offerings
    • Serves alcohol
    • Serves beer
    • Serves cocktails
    • Serves coffee
    • Serves comfort food
    • Serves food
    • Serves spirits
    • Serves wine
  • Dining options
    • Serves lunch
    • Serves dinner
    • Serves dessert
    • Has seating
  • Amenities
    • Has toilet
  • Atmosphere
    • Cosy
    • Romantic
    • Upmarket
  • Crowd
    • Good for groups
  • Planning
    • Dinner reservations recommended
    • Accepts reservations
  • Payments
    • Accepts credit cards
    • Accepts debit cards
    • Accepts NFC mobile payments
    • Credit cards
  • Children
    • High chairs available
    • Has kids' menu
  • Parking
    • Free of charge street parking
    • Free parking lot
    • Plenty of parking

Reviews For La Lanterna Ristorante

Kevin Lu
May 17,2025
The service is impeccable. The food tastes great to me. Very authentic Italian as I was told by friends. But I wouldn't know. The desert selection is pretty great. We work next door and pretty much eat here a few days a week. Still not tired of it.
Roger Nolan
May 13,2025
Highly recommended. I have dined there dozens of times. It is always a great experience. High grades for both food (try the cannelloni) and the very friendly service. The cannelloni and Caesar salad are so good, I have a hard time ordering anything else!
Eve Halbert
May 10,2025
Not only was the service and atmosphere spectacular, the food was out of this world. High quality service, delicious bread and appetizers, and bottomless water. The bruschetta was topped with fresh and crispy tomatoes. The gnocchi was buttery soft and the sauce danced in my mouth like your uncle at a family reunion. The silky, smooth exterior of these gnocchis could be punctured by even the dullest of teeth. The creamy smooth truffle sauce coated my tongue and was so flavorful that I used the fluffy white bread to soak up every last drop of that sweet, sweet sauce. To top it all off I finished with the chocolate and vanilla creme brulee. These delectable treats were covered in a crispy, crunchy top and as I broke in I was met with a divine concoction that gracefully slid down my throat like a child on a slip n slide. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who enjoys good food. Good eats!
Kim Botta
May 5,2025
Great experience for a private event of 60 guests. Food was delicious and service was impressive! I recommend highly!
Fulldistance Going
May 4,2025
Thank you Kathy! Our party of four had dinner here a couple of days ago. We were graciously seated outside - nice spot. The entire evening, our server Kathy, looked after us with much attention. Even though serving "outside seating" must be difficult during this tough virus times, Kathy made it look easy. Her charm and care added a special dimension to our evening. The entire meal - all dishes were tasty and delightful. The jewel in the crown was the bread pudding. Most Excellent. The risotto was perfect! The sauce with the polenta really added a whole new dimension of taste. We'll be back and hope that Kathy looks after us again.
Gerald Soo
Mar 26,2025
Good food, especially the appetizers (all of them), great service and great value.
Musho Pea
Mar 6,2025
Lovely ambience, great music, delicious food and superb dessert. Their steak risotto and frutti di mare (clams and prawns linguine) are DELICIOUS in a complex way! The lemon tart far exceeded expectations, the creme brulee is the richest I've had. Always leave this place happy!! Edit: no more steak risotto but the Sole and squid ink pasta are decent dinner eats. The sole was buttery and I like the lightly crisp outside, but could use more salt. The squid ink pasta is fragrant and tasty.
Anirban Nag
Mar 5,2025
Delicious Italian sausage penne and ravioli pasta, with free bread and olives and olive oil. The pasta was very well balanced.

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