Locanda Sorrento

From start to finish, the dining experience was fantastic. The appetizers arrived quickly and were perfectly portioned, so we enjoyed every bite without any waste. The service was excellent throughout the meal. We highly recommend the Brussels sprouts, bruschetta, and truffle fries to start, followed by the pasta and pizza. For dessert, the tiramisu and caramel panna cotta are absolute must-tries. Given the high quality of the food, the pricing felt very reasonable.

First time here and we loved it! From the cute decor and great atmosphere we were already living it as we walked in. The food was delicious. I had the lasagna which was delicious and my husband had the linguine with clams and shrimp. The service was great! We will definitely be back! Almost forgot to mention my expresso martini which was one of the best I had.

Enjoyed an early afternoon, Saturday lunch with family. Vibrant, bright atmosphere, nice, intimate seating, and a banquet room in the back. Enjoyed the singing birthday wishes, beautiful plates, generous portions, calamari, bruschetta, halibut special, salmon dishes, wine and limoncello drinks. Inviting more loved ones to meet me here!

So my sister asked me to take her 8 year old daughter on a fun uncle and niece lunch. As a good uncle should, I really wanted to introduce her to as authentic of an Italian restaurant as I could find in Silicon Valley. After doing my due diligence, I found an interesting prospect called Locanda Sorrento in Campbell. There are several other locations in Pleasanton, Danville, Lafayette and Brentwood. It turns out the founder Enzo Rosano is from Naples and his niece Annalise and her partner Rosa manage the Sorrento location. I made a reservation for two and let my sister know I had picked a place. The parking lot is quite small and tight. Only a handful of cars can park there when it's less busy. Otherwise you need to round the block in search of street parking. The exterior of the restaurant is bright blue and white with some nice touches such as the faux shutters and hanging flowers. As you enter, there is a large well-stocked bar that covers the entire width of the front half of the restaurant. There is also a dining area in the back half along with a larger private dining room for about 10 people. The inside of the restaurant feels lively and the staff is welcoming and friendly. My niece and I sat in the back dining area. With the initial bread, it was not your typical olive oil and dab of balsamic vinegar in a shallow plate. Locanda provided a tiny bowl of pesto, which was freshly blended with loads of garlic, grated cheese and basil. We couldn't get enough of it, it was addictive! We looked over the menu and ultimately decided to order the Gnocchi Sorrentina, a hearty dish with house made gnocchi in tomatoes, mozzarella, Parmesan and basil for my niece and I was curious enough to try the Trofie Al Pesto, slivers of pasta floating inside an ocean of glorious pesto. My niece enjoyed her gnocchi, although the portion size was too large for her. She gave it a valiant attempt, and ate as much as an 8 year old could. I was also struggling to finish my pesto pasta. It was quite delicious but consuming all of it was also a bit more than I could do. Large portion sizes is usually a plus for almost everyone but I try my best to finish a dish without taking it home. In subsequent trips, I found their Cacio e Pepe to be the highlight of their menu. The waiter rolls out a cart carrying a huge barrel of Parmesan Reggiano. They drop fresh pasta and sauce into the crater and excavate more cheese with a spoon. Then they get busy mixing and stirring the pasta, sauce and excavated cheese. By the time it gets plated and served, it is like a cheesetopia. One bite could whisk you away into Parmesan Elysium. The Fritto Misto aka fried calamari, Polpette meatballs and prosciutto with hearts of palm antipasti are all worth trying. I tried their Picanha cocktail and enjoyed the dark berry tartness and saltiness. They appear to have an extensive wine menu but I'm not really a wine person so I can't judge. My sister later told me that my niece really enjoyed the meal and experience. She also asked to have her next birthday dinner at Locanda Sorrento with our entire extended family. I was a proud uncle!

The atmosphere at Locanda Sorrento is bright, beautiful, and so relaxing. The staff are always kind, welcoming, and genuinely warm. It feels like visiting friends every time. And the food? Absolutely incredible. I’ve celebrated four of my friends birthdays here now and one of my own, and each time has been unforgettable. Truly one of my favorite places!