Best Authentic Restaurants in San Rafael

22 restaurants available nearby

A photo of Left Bank Larkspur restaurant

1. Left Bank Larkspur

4.5

Price: Moderate

• French • Larkspur

Booked 54 times today

Inspired by the birthplace of the original Parisian brasseries along the Left Bank of the Seine River, Left Bank Brasserie is an authentic Parisian-style brasserie by Chef Roland Passot. Left Bank pays homage to the joiede vivre that is synonymous with the Left Bank neighborhood in Paris. Guests are invited to step intoFrench culture, in a vibrant, social atmosphere that captures all the charm of traditional brasseriesand iconic alfresco dining of France. An all-day menu features authentic French cuisine utilizingseasonal, local and organic ingredients, and consists of iconic lighter fare such as oysters, tartare andprawns provençal, in addition to heartier classics like coq au vin and beef bourguignon. Inspired by theParisian-style Bar Américain, an extensive cocktail menu features classics of a bygone era, along with awide range of rotating taps, seasonal drafts and bottled beer, and an expertly-curated wine selection.

A photo of Valenti & Co. Ristorante restaurant

2. Valenti & Co. Ristorante

4.9

Exceptional(850)

Price: Expensive

• Italian • San Anselmo

Booked 13 times today

Welcome to Valenti & Co, Northern Italian Restaurant and Wine Bar in San Anselmo. Farm-fresh Italian Cuisine, thoughtfully sourced local ingredients and wines.

A photo of Il Fornaio - Corte Madera restaurant

3. Il Fornaio - Corte Madera

4.4

Awesome(3193)

Price: Expensive

• Italian • Corte Madera

Booked 44 times today

Il Fornaio means "the Baker" in Italian. This award-winning restaurant offers an authentic and unique Italian dining experience. Specialties include wood-fired rotisserie and grilled meats, poultry and game; housemade pastas; pizzas from an oak wood burning oven; fresh salads and housemade soups; a wide variety of desserts; and fresh baked bread made daily from scratch. Winner of the annual Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 2002.

4. Marché Restaurant

4.7

Exceptional(1684)

Price: Expensive

• Farm-to-table • Ross

Booked 18 times today

Marché is situated in the quaint town of Ross in the heart of beautiful Marin County. We are named for the farmer's markets of southern France where chefs and restauranteurs visit seeking inspiration and ingredients for the meals they will serve each day. We are a French/Italian inspired, California contemporary farm-to-fork restaurant and feature produce, meat and seafood from local purveyors to help us create our delicious seasonal dishes. We have a diverse wine and beer selection sourced from local and international small production wineries to accompany your meal. Dining is available inside the cozy dining room and on our charming open-air patio.Reservations are recommended. For parties of 7 or more people, please contact the restaurant by emailing info@marchemarin.com or by calling 415-925-9200. We look forward to seeing you!

A photo of La Toscana Ristorante restaurant

5. La Toscana Ristorante

4.7

Exceptional(1543)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • San Rafael

Booked 28 times today

We are centrally located off Hwy. 101 in San Rafael, across for the famous Frank Lloyd Wright Marin Civic Center. La Toscana is a family owned and operated Italian restaurant and bar located in Marin County. It was established in 1985 by Paolo Mori, his wife, Marilyn, and Michele Quilici. The owners all grew up in Lucca, Italy and immigrated to the U.S. in the late 1950s. They wanted to create an atmosphere that reminded them of home – a place where locals would gather to eat, meet friends and family and celebrate with food and wine as every Italian family does. Chef and co— owner Giovanni Racanello joined La Toscana in 1986. Paolo and Marilyn’s daughter, Laura Mori Riella, and youngest son, Michael Mori, joined the La Toscana team in 1992 and 2002, respectively. Paolo loved to make people feel welcome and, just like all the Moris, enjoyed his food and wine and loved to see others do the same. This is the proud tradition that La Toscana carries on.

A photo of Los Moles- San Rafael restaurant

6. Los Moles- San Rafael

4.2

Awesome(104)

Price: Moderate

• Mexican • San Rafael

Booked 3 times today

Now 2 locations to serve you! Whether you are looking to grab a quick bite for lunch, dinner, or taking the kids out to dinner, Los Moles is the location you’re looking for. Casual dining in the heart of Emeryville and San Rafael, fresh ingredients, organic meats, and traditional family recipes combine for an authentic Mexican experience. For 25 years now, Chef Saldana has been sharing the art of fine Mexican cuisine with the Bay Area. His cuisine is inspired by the rich, French-influenced dishes of Puebla and the fiery rusticity of Jalisco, and carries with it the legacy of family dinners, handmade with love by his parents Mama Luisa and Don Pedro.

A photo of Flores - Corte Madera restaurant

7. Flores - Corte Madera

4.4

Awesome(1015)

Price: Expensive

• Mexican • Corte Madera

Booked 25 times today

From the Gulf to the Pacific, we bring the heart and soul of Mexico to your table through our favorite family recipes. Flores serves up traditional Mexican cuisine in a relaxed and vibrant setting that transports you to the beachside resorts of Mexico. Our bar features more than 50 rare and small-batch tequilas and mezcals, which we serve in handcrafted margaritas and creative cocktails.Our patio is not covered therefore we will not be able to honor outdoor reservations in case of rain. To make a reservation or place an order, please visit our website at floressf.com, or find us on Toast, Uber Eats and Doordash for delivery. 4% surcharge will be added to all guest checks for employee benefit, including health insurance, commuter benefit, sick days, and minimum wage ordinance.

8. Piazza D'Angelo

4.7

Exceptional(2083)

Price: Expensive

• Italian • Mill Valley

Booked 34 times today

Piazza D’Angelo is a family run Italian trattoria located in the heart of downtown Mill Valley. With a bustling bar scene and a natural light-soaked dining room, Piazza D'Angelo evokes a Southern Italian dining experience with a unique sense of home comfort. Enjoy a variety of fresh pastas, wood-fired pizzas, antipasti, as well as fresh fish, prime meats and our signature tiramisu.We offer two patios for al fresco dining, a wood-burning pizza oven, a full service bar, and private dining spaces for your social or business gathering.Named after the restaurant's location right on the piazza of downtown Mill Valley, Piazza D'Angelo is an ode to Southern Italian trattorias - family owned, rustic neighborhood restaurants that serve fresh, unassuming, locally-sourced delicious food.Grazie!

9. Marinitas

4.2

Awesome(846)

Price: Moderate

• Mexican • San Anselmo

Booked 2 times today

Marinitas features a menu inspired by dishes found throughout Mexico and Latin America using local and seasonal products. Through the collaboration of Heidi Krahling and Frank Villa, Marinitas delivers Latin focused lusciousness that is an exciting blend of the new and the familiar. The wine list mainly draws from the expansive selections of the best wine makers from Argentina and Chile. Cocktails focus on the silver and gold liquors of Central and South America. The bar is dedicated to classic cocktail preparations including citrus juice squeezed to order, house made sweet and sour made from unrefined cane sugars, along with the highest quality mixers. Beers include a full Mexican selection from light Lagers to dark regional Latin micro-brewed Ales.

10. Cafe Villa

4.2

Awesome(11)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • San Rafael

Booked 2 times today

Cafe Villa is a family-owned restaurant serving fresh, homestyle, Italian food.We're located on the same property as the Villa Inn at 1602 Lincoln Avenue in San Rafael.Come by and check us out - we look forward to seeing you!

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

S
SuzanneVIP
San Francisco Bay Area •81 reviews
5.0
Dined today
Left Bank is our Go To restaurant. Located perfectly one town away from ours, great staff and bar, THE place to be before or after a Lark Theater performance and, most important, an excellent and satisfying menu. Keep on keeping on, L B!!
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Left Bank LarkspurPrice: Moderate• French• Larkspur
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4.5
E
EvaVIP
San Francisco Bay Area •12 reviews
5.0
Dined 6 days ago
The chicken marsala was really declicious. So glad they are not using veal anymore! I didn't have the Tiramisu this time cuz of my newsyears intention to cut back on sugar, but I go to this restaurant a lot and the Tiramisu here is to die for.
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La Toscana RistorantePrice: Moderate• Italian• San Rafael
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4.7
S
SusanVIP
San Francisco Bay Area •60 reviews
5.0
Dined on Jan 2, 2025
We came here for an early dinner. The place was nice and quiet as it was between lunch and dinner (our favorite time to dine). Our waiter, Stephen, was excellent. The food was very good as was the wine. We will be back soon.
More info
Il Fornaio - Corte MaderaPrice: Expensive• Italian• Corte Madera
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4.4
ST
STC007
San Francisco Bay Area •4 reviews
5.0
Dined on Dec 30, 2024
The food is always the best of the best. The gnocchi I call pillows of heaven so light, fluffy, and delicious. There are usually standards and some seasonal specialties. Right now the chef Duhlio is making an ink squid fettuccine with prawns and a Calabrian chile sauce. It’s spicy but not too much with a delicious tangy sauce over perfectly cooked sauce, it’s quite incredible. There is nothing on the menu that isn’t cooked to perfection. Personally I think it’s one of the best Italian restaurants in the Bay Area.
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Valenti & Co. RistorantePrice: Expensive• Italian• San Anselmo
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4.9
M
MarieVIP
San Francisco Bay Area •5 reviews
4.0
Dined on Dec 15, 2024
Charming neighborhood restaurant in Ross. Dan Baker’s food is absolutely outstanding, top notch! Love the patio during good weather…it’s the best one in Marin County!
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Marché RestaurantPrice: Expensive• Farm-to-table• Ross
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4.7

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San Rafael

Best Authentic Restaurants in San Rafael

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22 restaurants available nearby

1. Left Bank Larkspur

2. Valenti & Co. Ristorante

3. Il Fornaio - Corte Madera

4. Marché Restaurant

5. La Toscana Ristorante

6. Los Moles- San Rafael

7. Flores - Corte Madera

8. Piazza D'Angelo

9. Marinitas

10. Cafe Villa

See what locals rave about

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