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Aurora Ristorante
Categories: Restaurants Italian Restaurants Pizza Italian, Pizza [Edit]
300 Valley StSausalito, CA 94965
(415) 339-8930
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 12 pm - 10 pm
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- Yes
43 reviews for Aurora Ristorante
Review Highlights
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"...and fresh with tomatoes,basil,olive oil on warm toasts." In 4 reviews -
"The wine selection by the glass is varied and the staff are..." In 3 reviews -
"Bart was great about suggesting items we might enjoy for..." In 4 reviews
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43 reviews in English
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Review from LaShaune D.
Sacramento, CA
2/6/2012
My BF and I stopped here on our way out of Sausalito for an early dinner. We were promptly greeted, warm and friendly. Parking was easy and the place was virtually empty when we entered but had soon the dinner "rush" was upon - with 4 additional tables.
The menu was delectable but the choices we made were easy:
Spinach/pear salad - split without having to ask and no additional charge
Gnocchi with pesto - OMG so heavenly. The best I've had outside of New York City.
Lasagna made with beef and veal - did not stand a chance on my BF's plate
I couldn't decide on which glass of wine and instead of being pressured into one over the other, I was offered a sample of both. Decision made.
Finished dinner with tiramisu, cheesecake and coffee. Delicioso!
Watching the cyclists ride up the hill or fly down it made for amusing afternoon people watching (I know I could not make it up the hill). -
Review from troy m.
5/1/2012
I will start by saying that Aurora was EXACTLY what I was looking for. I wanted a slightly-off-the-main-downtown-area place to grab a sleepy weekend lunch in Sausalito. If you're in that boat, Aurora is the place for you.
Unfortunately, their food leaves much to be desired. The veal scaloppine was hearty, but brutally salty, the clam pasta boring, and the carpaccio was utterly bland underneath all of the dressing and cheese. I can't say that any of it was bad, but I found myself wishing that I was half a mile from my apartment at Lo Coco's eating way better food for the same amount of money. Well, that's not entirely fair, as Lo Coco's doesn't have nearly as gorgeous a view down the street as Aurora does.
If you need a less busy place to eat in Sausalito that is still close to things and has good parking, I highly recommend Aurora. However, when it comes to the menu, please leave your delusions of grandeur at home and bring your expectations of adequacy. -
Review from Pon K.
1/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
My BF and I stopped by for dinner on your bike ride from Union Square to Sausalito. Yes, it was a beautiful bike ride but I complaint all the way there about how cold it was lol. My poor boo had to listen to me complain for hours.
Aurora Ristorante is a beautiful restaurant. Small but open. I love the windows all around the restaurant and what a gorgeous view of the ocean. Great for date night :o).
We ordered:
Salmon with sage - the fish was good but too much sauce
Spaghetti - didn't specify whether is was white or red sauce. it was white and my bf wanted red. Too much sause
Milestone Soup - Yummy
Food was okay but made up for it with GREAT service. Our server was awesome and attentive.Listed in: You fancy, huh?
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Review from Marian W.
Palo Alto, CA
4/30/2012 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
The staff was great and very attentive. We got there later on a Friday night, but weren't rushed at all. Our food was hot and tasty, but nothing really mind blowing...it's Italian! Seems like a great neighborhood spot, though. Great spot for large groups and families. Would eat there again.
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Review from Kirsten O.
San Diego, CA
5/16/2012
This restaurant is wonderful! My husband and I stopped in on Mother's Day (not realizing it was Sunday...we were on our honeymoon) and they were able to get us a table right away, even though they were very busy. The food is amazing and the staff is friendly and offer attentive service. We ordered the prosciutto pizza and caprese salad, both were soooooo tasty! The atmosphere is great, very light and open. They have outdoor tables as well. I highly recommend this restaurant, you will not be disappointed!
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Review from Evan L.
Newport Beach, CA
3/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
Delicious with excellent service! Bicycled across the bridge and stopped here before checking out Sausalito. There's one other highly rated Italian restaurant down in Sausalito, but Aurora was the only one with gulton free pasta available. Recommendations from our waiter were excellent. Food was great. Could only have been better if it had a view.
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Review from Tiffany L.
Berkeley, CA
3/1/2012
After a long day at tahoe, I was exhausted. We ordered the mussel pizza, seafood pasta, and the chicken marsala special. The pizza was average, it was interesting with the actual mussel shell on the pizza but I feel like it limit the amount of toppings. The chicken was really dry and a bit small for a main entree. The seafood pasta was probably the best dish. the pasta was al dente and there was plenty of seafood.
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Review from Sharon B.
9/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Found this place on my way back to the city. Service was quick and friendly. Beautiful seating, inside and out. Definitely a stop for lunch because it doesn't get much traffic like the main street does. If you choose a table with the street view, you can watch bikers struggling or racing on their way up the hill.
For tasty and yummy starters, the calamari is an excellent choice. You can't go wrong.
I thought the caprese salad was delectable; the tomatoes were fresh as was the mozzarella.
My two nephews who don't eat pasta ordered the New York steak and tore up their plates. That means it was hella good, as they are straight up carnivores.
For my entree, I ordered the Margherita pizza. It was good, but I gotta say that Amici's is better. The crust was thin, just as it should be, but it was almost, borderline, burned. The pizza itself, like I mentioned, could be better; I think the basil wasn't as zesty. -
Review from Lori P.
Forestville, CA
12/28/2011
My mom and I were coming home from the City and found this place to be open on Christmas Day. The place was packed, and the server told me that this was nothing "Its only lunch time" I can see why this place is packed.
First of all... lots of windows, cute little place, not super fancy, but pretty decent. Its off the beaten path. Would be a great place to eat on a warm day. Cute little front patio.
Generous wine pours :) nice wine list.
Mom had the special salmon. Fresh wild cut salmon. laid on a bed of lettuce, had a pineapple salsa over the top. was good! $20
I had the Cioppino. It. was. amazing! $23 So good. I usually try to get Cioppino if its available. This is probably the best yet.
I cant wait to bring my BF. I recommend! :) -
Review from Claribel j.
Mill Valley, CA
4/15/2012
this is a very mediocre restaurant. The pasta is not good -the tomato sauce sugary- the waiters try not to come around. But the location is great.
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Review from Deise R.
Santa Barbara, CA
1/20/2012
HORRIBLE!! We both became sick after eating pizza here!! No kidding! It is, however, quite charming inside.
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Review from Rosemary K.
San Jose, CA
2/12/2012
What a great place! We had a sweet sixteen party in the city and wanted a quick ferry trip to Sausalito for dinner. I found Aurora's online and called and was assured that they could accommodate our crowd and time limit. Though it was off the beaten track, it was worth the 10-minute walk from the ferry. The service was OUTSTANDING and everybody loved their food. Most of the girls got pasta and salads. The waiter made them feel completely comfortable to order just what they wanted even if it wasn't on the menu, so each got just the sauce she wanted. The staff was quick and thorough in the service. It's a warm and welcoming place and we are sure we will return.
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Review from T P.
Corona, CA
2/3/2012
We found this place on the Sausalito Chamber of Commerce page when we were trying to find an address to put in our GPS. We decided to make the walk from parking in Downtown up to the restaurant and were hoping it was worth it. It was a nice looking place and it was definitely worth it.
We ordered Bruschetta and the Aurora Salad for starters. The Bruschetta was amazing and the tomatoes tasted so fresh and hearty. The balsamic dressing in the Aurora Salad was absolutely delightful.
For our late lunch we ordered Penne Arrabiata (a slight twist on the Spaghetti Arrabiata) and Spinach Ravioli in a Sage-based sauce. Both entrees were superbly delicious and our plates were surprisingly wiped clean even though we had finished the appetizers. The dishes were that good!!
I generally don't review restaurants on Yelp or anywhere.. but the entire dining experience was unexpectedly amazing and delicious that I had to review. I would definitely go back some day when I'm visiting the area. :] -
Review from Dustin D.
Daly City, CA
1/30/2012
Great food, fantastic service. Really like this place.
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Review from Robin G.
Sausalito, CA
5/2/2011 ROTD 9/2/2011
I am running between a review of A-OK or Yay I'm a Fan.
Wonderful nice service. Very welcoming as you walk in the door and sit at the table. Bart was our waiter and he couldn't off been more helpful. Bart really went the extra mile when it came to pleasing us with what type of wine we might like to have.
Parking is horrible... worst than horrible.. however that is part of the fun of living in Sausalito, also part of the not so much fun.
Bart was great about suggesting items we might enjoy for dinner. Food was good... just not above average. This place can become a tourist trap on weekends, again that is the pros's and con's of living in Sausalito so it isn't their fault.
I would go back since it is very close to where I live... Different strokes for different folks... it didn't "WOW" me nor did it "Disappoint" me.
They only serve beer and wine just in case you care. -
Review from Evan B.
San Francisco, CA
5/30/2011
Terrible experience all around -- a cookie-cutter Italian restaurant with bland food and not-fresh ingredients.
Service:
We were greeted with a "I'm gonna need a minute." The dining room (though small -- less than 20 tables) was never full, but the waitstaff (and manager) were running around like crazy. Our waiter was slow to bring things out, distracted while taking our order, and more than a little condescending. I may be wearing bike shorts and a jersey, but I know what pappardelle is, grazie.
Food:
We shared four dishes: bruschetta, caprese salad, a special risotto and prosciutto de parma pizza. The bruschetta was nothing special -- store-bought bread, tomato, and olive oil. The mozzarella on the caprese (like the bread) was not freshly made, and it too was sub-par.
The main courses were where meh turned even worse. The risotto appeared to be (and tasted like) pre-cooked rice that was tossed with sauce in a pan for a few minutes. The pizza had bland crust and blah sauce; the parmesan was far too mild and the prosciutto had clearly been sitting around a bit too long.
This is a great space and I'm sure something good will go in here eventually. Unfortunately, Aurora is not it. -
Review from A. Y. S.
San Francisco, CA
5/30/2011
This was an extreme disappointment, especially after reading all these rave reviews. Slow service. The food was mediocre and overpriced. If you think this is good Italian food, you should just get some frozen pasta from Costco. instead.
Edit: Apparently, you aren't supposed to label people as a certain label on here, so I've taken out that label, but in case you're Asian American be prepared that a waiter here may ask where you're from and then when you tell him somewhere in America, he might pester you to ask where you're "really" from. -
Review from Amy P.
Travis, TX
1/17/2012
I was on my way back to San Jose from the Muir Woods and just breezed into Sausalito, looking for a little respite from being tired and hungry. Drove by the restaurant on the way into town and thought "this looks like a local kind of place'. Ended up coming back because it looked so charming, all lit up at night.
Parking is easy under the restaurant (esp. on a Sunday night).
Service was wonderful, but the best part was the FOOD. Had the soup special of the evening: a minestrone with cheese tortellini. Each veggie in the dish was distinct - not an amalgam - and the soup was delicately flavored yet hardy. Hmm, this is feeling gooood!
Ordered the special lasagna (they only had two order left) and was glad that I did. The flavors were nice, but it was the silky smooth texture of the noodles and the ricotta that sent this one over the top. Yumm!
I drove on back to San Jose with a happy tummy. :)
Not too expensive either, which was nice! This is a great restaurant for locals, as well as travelers like me. Great find! -
Review from stacy o.
San Francisco, CA
6/4/2011
The spaghetti with the Calabrian chilli is my favorite, it's delicious time and time again. I've had the petrale sole picatta and thought it was a little too saucy, but I'm not a fan of sauces. If you are, you'll like this dish.
The salad choices are a bit too limited -- they don't have any simple salads -- they're all too involved with too many things in them, so I don't get salad here, which is kind of lame. An arugula salad with a simple olive oil dressing would be ideal.
I've heard the pizza is outstanding, but I've yet to try. The side order of sauteed mushrooms is terrific. The wine selection by the glass is varied and the staff are all very friendly. Definitely worth a try.
The guy who wrote that if you think this is Italian food then buy your pizza at Costco clearly doesn't get it. -
Review from Silvia S.
San Francisco, CA
10/8/2011
Aurora Ristorante is a wonderful restaurant with authentic Italian food and flare. The menu has something for each taste. The dining area is so welcoming and friendly, and so is the staff.
A true little bit of Italian culture in Sausalito!
You will not be disappointed. -
Review from Chris L.
Moraga, CA
4/12/2011
Great food and wonderful service.
Truly italian food with a lot of European flair. So refreshing to go into a reaturant where the waiter never rushes you and does not constantly ask if everything is okay ... we were there for three hours having a wonderful time with friends over dinner.
Prices are very reasonable, too!
I highly recommend it ... food, service, atmosphere ... all there. -
Review from Rose J.
San Rafael, CA
4/9/2011
I wanted to go somewhere different with my husband and remembered this out of the way restaurant in Sausalito. As I walked in, it seemed different. Turns out it is. No longer Cacciucco, but now Aurora. I was immediately welcomed and given a nice table for two. As I waited for my husband, I enjoyed a glass of Zin and ordered the bruschetta. Wine and beer bar only, but a nice selection of Italian and California wines.
The bruschetta was delicious and fresh with tomatoes,basil,olive oil on warm toasts. I had the Aurora salad....very good with greens, raisins, and Gorgonzola cheese. My husband enjoyed the pasta tubes in a creamy sundried tomatoe sauce with chicken. I loved my veal scaloppini in a wine sauce and mushrooms. The accompanying potatoes and asparagus where done to perfection. Well after all the good food, I had to try a dessert. The chocolate torte with a scoop of vanilla ice cream...really good.
Everyone is welcomed at this hidden gem. Children had pizza and every age group was present. This restaurant is in one large room so T.V. and bar are within view (not a dark, romantic spot for lovers). I was glad to see the repeat of a S.F.Giants game as they won, Giants 5 Cardinals 4!!
Bon Apetito!! -
Review from Charmaine C.
San Bruno, CA
11/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Salmon dish had tons of flavor. Service was fast, very attentive and courteous. Beware of the thickly spread raw garlic on the garlic bread.
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Review from Kevin B.
Novato, CA
12/11/2011
Went there two weeks ago to try Aurora Sausalito as I love their Novato location. My friend and I had a great lunch, not too pricy, and service was excellent by Bart. So I decided to invite four more friends for our holiday dinner this past Sat. Our dining experience was better than expected. Great food, great staff (Bart again), and I owner Carlos even came by our table to make sure we were good. I asked for a special order of cappelloni with grilled chicken, my favorite, and it was awesome! One of our waiters english def needs some work as I could not understand a word he said although he was great and tried hard to communicate with us. Parking below restaurant in the VIP spots made it very easy to get in and out. Highly recommended.
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Review from Vicki B.
San Francisco, CA
3/23/2011
Had dinner here last night with the hubby. Wet Tuesday night -- we had a lovely evening. Delicious food and gracious service. We shared a antipasta plate with fried calamari, bruschetta and insalata caprese. My husband had veal and I had the bistecca forentino. Everything was excellent.
The space is lovely. I am looking forward to sitting outside on a warm summer evening. Will definitely return. -
Review from Patrizia M.
Sausalito, CA
7/8/2011
It was a very poor experience. The worst pizza I have ever had (I'm Italian). the service was ok but the manager/waiter was all over the places and kept shouting and swearing in Italian. The place is also dirty and very bad decorated. I live down the street but I will never go back there.
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Review from Bruce B.
San Francisco, CA
10/26/2011
Mediocre at best. Really slow service. Expensive but not worth it.
If you like dining with all the Blazing Saddles bicycle rental tourists, then this is your place. This place used to be a great "locals" type restaurant under a different owner. No more.
Tried this place three different times and will not return. Too many better alternatives like Angelinos, Bar Boce, and Poggio. -
Review from Ivana J.
7/6/2011
The pizza and pasta here are great. The pappardelle special especially had a great smoky flavor. The restaurant is a slight walk beyond the main part of town, but is worth the hike.
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Review from Eric B.
San Francisco, CA
8/7/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Under new management, Aurora is running much smoother. My wife and are locals who can walk to the Aurora within 10 minutes. In the past five years the restaurant has not measured up to what it does now. The service is both timely & knowledgable. The food is fresh and HOT. The atmosphere is quaint yet not uncomfortably quiet. As locals, we highly recommend Aurora for both locals and out of towner's.
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Review from Cobb S.
San Francisco, CA
1/4/2012
We recently moved to Sausalito (from San Francisco). Aurora's quality is at least as good as anything the city (mission, pac heights, downtown) at 1/2 the price and a lot less of the fuss. ........Extremely friendly wait staff who seem very genuine in their kindness.
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Review from Wolfgang S.
Sausalito, CA
5/24/2011
Aurora is as close as you can come to a genuine neighborhood ristorante in Italy. The food is good and hearty; traditional and tasty. The service is good to impeccable. Host Carlo is the padrone par excellence; exactly what you want in a place like this. I am glad to live just two blocks away allowing me to go there or pick up to-go food - too often...
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Review from Portia S.
Sausalito, CA
1/1/2012
As a local I have to say this ristorante goes out of their way to accommodate. They made our New Year's celebration so perfect. The food was very yummy for our take out to spend with family and prepared just to our liking. The staff is always such a joy to interact with. Thanks Bart and crew for making Sausalito dining a lovely experience.
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Review from Isabel M. O.
San Francisco, CA
5/30/2011
Came here about a month ago with friends, post workout. The staff was really accommodating - they quickly set us up (there were 12 of us!) outside...I thought it was impressive as we were a large group and they were so friendly and accommodating.
I had the pizza with mussels and it was really tasty! The view was nice, food was reasonably priced. It's too bad I don't actually live in Marin, otherwise, I'd stop by more often - but it's a great neighborhood Italian restaurant. -
Review from Trang T.
Hercules, CA
7/22/2011
a newbie to life in sausalito... at least the work life... i discovered this place when a friend came to visit and was craving pizza. we yelped it and found that it was literally two doors up the block. convenience sure makes us lazy but aurora is definitely a winner. i rave about it to coworkers and people who share the building all the time so figured i should share the wealth to you yelpers. absolutely EVERYTHING we tried was delicious. i'm sure hunger was not the deciding factor.
from the free bread to start to the ending chocolate dessert... i was so full i should have popped! we shared the bruschetta appetizer, a pear salad, and a margherita pizza. i know... major food coma by the end! haha which reminds me... we stayed there for hours and service was excellent. so polite and welcoming. just good all around. i'm one to appreciate waiters who aren't overbearing but know to not ignore customers. our waiter checked our water glasses frequently but did so quietly. loved that!
definitely check it out if you're reading this. it's worth it. like the men's warehouse guy would say... i guarantee it! =) -
Review from Jill M.
Sausalito, CA
4/20/2011
I am very critical of food. Especially Ceasar salad, but this was the best that I have ever had, cold, crisp, lightly dressed. Then we got spaghetti all a piscatory, a dish of their mix of fresh seafood, with olive oil and fresh tomatoes! FABULOUS! Chef Carlo Scantena was attentive as soon as we arrived.
Decor light yellow with teal accents, and best of all beautiful and spotless bathrooms. Reasonably priced and delicious. -
Review from Sidney T.
Sausalito, CA
2/12/2012
one the best experiences I've had period. the staff was not only knowledgeable; they were the epitome of the perfect hosts/servers...attentive, sweet, authentic and just plain old professional! i felt like i was dining @ someones grandma's villa in positano. the ambiance was warm and completely lacked any kind of pretense...transformed kitsch to a whole new level. the food was simply divine!!! sadly i don't think this review will do justice to this fabulous neighborhood gem. thanks so much aurora...we will be back often & soon!!!
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Review from davey j.
Sausalito, CA
8/7/2011
methinks we first visited because we didn't want to wait in line somewhere else on friday nite. as always i tried the soup first (and if i don't like it i'll probably never return). now, i always order the soup here. the fish is fresh. the specials are spot on. my wife always gets the aurora special pasta and it is sooooo goooood.... the new owner of this local is the real italian deal.
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Review from Michelle G.
Benicia, CA
5/27/2011
Not only was the food wonderful but the staff was SO nice!! They even made sure my 1 year old son had a great experience! Will be returning for sure!
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Review from Carolyn F.
Sausalito, CA
5/30/2011
Having a meal here is like dining in Italy. From the warm welcome when you enter, the outstanding food, terrific service, I can happily recommend this place to anyone who likes Italian food. The pasta reminded me so much of dishes I had enjoyed in Rome & Florence! The sevice is wonderful, with knowlegeable and gracious severs. Eveyone at my table love their dishes from appetizers through pastas and entrees. However, please save a little room for desert because their tiramisu is incredibly delicious. This place has lovely ambiance. You will be extremely happy that you chose Aurora's.
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Review from David O.
San Francisco, CA
5/28/2011
Found this place on Yelp and decided to give it a shot since it had such great reviews. It didn't disappoint! Amazing atmosphere, incredible service and excellent food! Greeted by friendly owners when you enter and leave - truly first class service at great prices. Highly recommend when visiting Sausalito.
