Lo Coco's Berkeley

Another dish you simply must try is the Fettuccine Campagnola. The homemade pasta is cooked flawlessly and tossed in a rich, savory light cream sauce that is absolutely heavenly. It embodies comfort food at its best and always leaves me fully satisfied. For something lighter, the Tomato, Fresh Mozzarella, and Basil Salad makes for a refreshing option. The quality of the ingredients is always top-notch, and the flavors harmonize beautifully. Lo Coco's also features a range of delectable appetizers, including the Homemade Sicilian Style Meatballs. These meatballs are incredibly tender and bursting with flavor, making them a fantastic start to any meal. If you’re looking to experience true Sicilian cuisine, don't miss the Eggplant Parmigiana. The eggplant is cooked to perfection and layered with rich tomato sauce and gooey mozzarella cheese, creating a hearty dish that never disappoints. No visit to Lo Coco's is complete without treating yourself to a traditional Sicilian dessert, and the Cannoli is a highlight. The crispy shell filled with sweet ricotta makes for the perfect finale to a wonderful meal. What truly sets Lo Coco's apart is not just the amazing food, but the outstanding service. The staff is always warm and attentive, ensuring that each visit is a personal and memorable experience. I feel incredibly fortunate to have such a gem nearby, and I wholeheartedly recommend Lo Coco's for an authentic taste of Italy right in our neighborhood.

I recommend arriving early since the restaurant opens at 4 PM. It's best to get there before 5 PM unless you're prepared to wait in a compact waiting area that reminded me of an elevator in the Empire State Building. We kicked off our dinner by sharing Focaccia Bread (photo: [hidden link]) and the $18 sautéed seasonal vegetables, which were fresh from the farmers' market—broccolini, cauliflower, mushrooms, romanesco, and cherry tomatoes (photo: [hidden link]). It was a lovely, healthy start leading into our individual pasta dishes. Jamie opted for the restaurant's signature dish, the $17 Tagliatelle al Sugo, accompanied by a couple of their large meatballs (photo: [hidden link]). The pasta was simple and fresh, very thin, and topped with a rich tomato sauce. It was light but satisfying thanks to the moist meatballs. I chose the more decadent $27 Pappardelle Bolognese (photo: [hidden link]), which is renowned for its eight-hour-stewed beef and pork shoulder ragu that envelops the noodles. The pappardelle was wonderfully velvety and provided an indulgent, meaty experience. You might think we'd be completely full at this point, but we couldn't resist splitting a $13 slice of Tiramisu—a delightful handmade dessert that was surprisingly light (photo: [hidden link]). When we left, the crowd was overflowing out the door, reinforcing the need to arrive early. Overall, I’d rate the experience as follows: FOOD: 4 stars—authentic homestyle cooking with generous portions AMBIANCE: 3.5 stars—always crowded SERVICE: 4 stars—our server was attentive TOTAL: 4 stars—I'll definitely need to return more frequently, but I’ll remember to come early! If you're exploring Berkeley, check out this collection of places I’ve visited and reviewed: [hidden link].

We ordered the ravioli with pesto and a traditional pasta dish featuring red sauce and a meatball. Both were outstanding! I especially adored the meatball—it had a melt-in-your-mouth texture that was so good we forgot to snap a photo. The ravioli was fantastic too, with one of the best pesto sauces I've ever tasted. We wanted to try a cannoli, but sadly, they had run out. We'll definitely make sure to arrive a bit earlier next time!

Delectable desserts. We didn't order food because we had eaten elsewhere. Hazelnut gelato and cannoli were amazing!

Amazing spot tucked away on Shattuck! We came here not expecting much but I was blown away by the freshness and quality of the food. The complimentary bread was to die for, so fluffy and hot. As a fellow baker, I really appreciated the bread and it set the bar high for the rest of the meal. The pizza and pesto gnocchi pasta were both outstanding, with generous portions perfect for sharing. The service was excellent, accompanied by fantastic recommendations. Despite the small size of the restaurant, our experience was very relaxed, and securing a table on a Saturday night was easy.