Filippos - Oakland

Quick summary: Lunch set is reasonable and very filling A few minutes walk from the Rockridge BART station Attentive staff We visited Rockridge in the late morning to have brunch, and after some early researching we decided to eat here. I liked the idea of a lunch special with a set of soup or a salad. The restaurant opens thirty minutes before noon. The interior of the restaurant is cozy and small. There are about eight or so tables and chairs, and mostly fit between two to four guests. After taking a seat, we ordered three of the lunch sets with different main dishes: a panini, a penne, and the ravioli. The time for the dish to arrive felt around fifteen minutes, but I think it was because I was growing hungry that time crept on slowly. I ordered the penne with the Italian sausage, and it was very delicious! The penne's pasta texture was perfect and al dente. It was a good chewiness since the sausage and sauce were softer textures. I really enjoyed the mushrooms that were in this dish. They were soft and also chewy, and each mushroom had flavor. The soup has a great fresh taste. It also has a mixture of various textures such as zucchini, beans, and carrots. I think the soup changes daily, since the lunch set doesn't specify what type of soup it will be. What I was most pleased of is that I was very full. Looks is deceiving in this case! I thoroughly enjoyed my lunch time here, and I would like to return here again the close future to try their other pasta dishes.

I hope this restaurant doesn't close : Their bread and herbed oil appetizer is the best I've ever had. I've tried to recreate the dipping oil at home and it never works! Theirs is amazing! The pasta is fresh and full of authentic flavor! I am Italian and highly approve of everything I've tried on the menu!!

I was really craving some awesome Italian last night so after reading reviews for what felt like an hour I decided to try Filippos. I ordered their lasagna which says on Grubhub it's layered with pasta and vegetables. There was not a single sheet of pasta anywhere in that overpriced lasagna. It was all just slimy vegetables with barely any cheese and cost $19!! I felt completely ripped off and barely picked at it! Ridiculous!! I could've made something 10 times as good at home for free!! I am thinking they must have other things that are good here because they do have good reviews on Grubhub!! I went back and looked again today and noticed that all their good reviews didn't have lasagna in them though... something to notice.. darn! What a waste! Word of advice to the owner, try actually putting pasta in the lasagna or at least warn people that it's changed now and there not any pasta anymore, now it's just a bunch of slimy vegetables!! People like to know these things!! Your menu on Grubhub says it's layers of pasta though so I really felt ripped off since that's all I was craving, pasta and cheese!!! Both of which I didn't get... if there was any cheese in that lasagna, it must've all slid off my piece and nobody bothered putting it back on...

Wow how have I never tried Filippos until now?! Sweet mom and pops shop. Is it the best Italian food ever? No but it's good enough! We sat out by the heaters and that kept us pretty warm. The shishito peppers were delicious! The burrata was just ok (not really fresh and creamy texture) but the bread was yummy and airy with the tomatoes. Could use a bit more basil but otherwise it was all so fresh! Caesar salad was solid! The creamy mushroom gnocchi was actually a bit too mushy for me but otherwise tasted decent! I actually ordered the side of Bolognese to mix in as well. Overall, great service, decent food, great atmosphere, would return!

So this was a treat. During covid I kept my fingers crossed for this gem to stay open, so happy it did and want people to treat there self to a delish meal and support this restaurant. They have outdoor seating due to covid and have the tables spaced out. The food was absolutely amazing and it was chilly out so the heaters above each table are so wonderful. Also the owner took extra steps to insure customers safety during covid and have packages salt and pepper packets and compostsable water cups and out table was cleaned and prepped when we were seated. Everything I have ordered from this place is delicious they even have delicious vegetarian dishes on the menu. Everything taste so authentic. I work not to far at times I'm so busy I'm thrilled they also have delivery through caviar if you don't feel comfortable (covid) going out yet then order a meal delivered you will be so happy you did.