La Veranda Cafe

La Veranda Cafe

6201 Center St, Clayton, CA 94517, United States

+1 925-524-0011

Italian restaurant
(381)
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About This Place

Nestled in the heart of Clayton, CA, La Veranda Cafe stands as a beacon of authentic Italian dining, delighting locals and visitors alike with its warm ambiance and thoughtfully crafted menu. This charming restaurant invites you to savor the rich, comforting flavors of Italy against a backdrop that evokes both cozy indoor charm and refreshing outdoor dining options.

At La Veranda Cafe, every dish tells a story of passion and tradition. The menu is a celebration of classic Italian fare perfected with fresh, quality ingredients. Start your meal with the crisp, vibrant Bruschetta or the indulgently creamy Artichoke Soup, each bite bursting with layered textures and flavors. For pizza lovers, the Margherita Pizza—topped with fresh oregano, mozzarella, and a bright tomato sauce—is a sublime choice, while the Bruschetta Pizza offers a delightful twist with fresh tomato, basil, and garlic kissed by olive oil on a perfectly crisp crust.

Entrées at La Veranda Cafe unveil a symphony of coastal and countryside inspirations. The Pollo Piccata is a masterclass in balance, with tender chicken breast sautéed in a tangy wine-lemon-caper sauce that dances on the palate. Seafood aficionados will savor the Linguini Alla Vongole and the luxurious Prawns Scampi, where jumbo prawns are sautéed in butter, white wine, lemon, and garlic for a dish that feels both elegant and comforting. The house specialty Spaghetti Carbonara offers a creamy, smoky richness that envelops you in a nostalgic Italian embrace.

The thoughtfully curated sides and starters also shine bright: the Baked Asparagus Brie melds earthy freshness with luscious creaminess, while the Seafood Sampler delivers a taste of the ocean’s bounty with impeccable freshness. Don’t miss the fresh, warm Bread Basket and artisan Sourdough, perfect for savoring alongside a glass from their carefully selected red wine list, which complements the meal with velvety depth and complexity.

Beyond the food, La Veranda’s atmosphere is a large part of its charm. According to patrons like Kelly Adams, the indoor dining space exudes a cozy yet elegant ambiance, while the outdoor seating offers a lovely respite amongst Clayton’s inviting streetscape. The restaurant’s lively nightly happy hours bring together great food, a full cocktail menu, and generous portions—all at very reasonable prices, fostering a convivial spirit that keeps guests coming back.

Customers cherish La Veranda Cafe not only for its robust flavors and impeccable service but also for the genuine warmth exuded by Nick and his attentive staff. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, as Christine Jensen did with her wedding reception, or simply indulging in a family meal, the restaurant creates an atmosphere that feels like home away from home.

The spirit of Clayton itself—a town that clings lovingly to its historic small-town charm—is reflected in La Veranda’s approach: timeless, inviting, and filled with heart. For a meal that is as authentically Italian as it is lovingly prepared, La Veranda Cafe is a destination that promises satisfaction for your senses and warmth for your soul.

La Veranda Cafe
6201 Center St, Clayton, CA 94517
Phone: +1 925-524-0011

Service options
Outdoor seating Delivery Takeaway Dine-in
Highlights
Fast service Great cocktails Great dessert Great wine list Serves local specialty
Popular for
Lunch Dinner Solo dining
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park Wheelchair-accessible entrance Wheelchair-accessible seating Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Cocktails Coffee Comfort food Happy-hour drinks Happy-hour food Healthy options Small plates Spirits Vegetarian options Wine
Dining options
Breakfast Brunch Lunch Dinner Dessert Seating Table service
Amenities
Bar on site Toilet
Atmosphere
Casual Cosy Romantic Trendy Upmarket
Crowd
Family friendly Groups
Planning
Dinner reservations recommended Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Children
Good for kids High chairs
Parking
Free of charge street parking Free parking lot Parking

Opening Hours

  • Monday
    10:00 AM - 09:00 PM
  • Tuesday
    10:00 AM - 09:00 PM
  • Wednesday
    10:00 AM - 09:00 PM
  • Thursday
    10:00 AM - 09:00 PM
  • Friday
    10:00 AM - 09:00 PM
  • Saturday
    10:00 AM - 09:00 PM
  • Sunday
    10:00 AM - 09:00 PM

Map & Directions

Visitor Reviews

  • Kelly Adams
    1 month ago

    Nick and his staff are awesome; great ambiance indoors and lovely outside dining options. Love their nightly happy hours with excellent food and full cocktail menu at a very reasonable price-- and quite ample servings of both. We love it! --Kelly & Bill & Amal and David

  • Patrick Page
    1 month ago

    We went to La Veranda on Sunday, June 15 2025 for a father’s day brunch. First a word about Clayton CA. This is an older town in the east bay, next to Concord and Walnut Creek. This is a town that hung on tenaciously to its small town charm and looks very much the way it did fifty years ago. They still have some wooden sidewalks, a saloon or two, a lovely tree shaded park where they hold small summer concerts. It has a small central downtown and feels very much like the old fashioned small town that it is. People are friendly and relaxed; traffic has been cleverly engineered out. This restaurant with its wooden entry steps fits right in. It has a veranda with outdoor tables along the side of the restaurant as well as a casual covered patio for outdoor dining. Upon entering we could see a big square dining room to our right and to our left was the other smaller rectangular dining room. We were greeted promptly and cordially and taken to our table in the room to our left. It was filled with black tables and chairs, the wall were tan and the ceiling tiles were a pleasant burnt red. The restaurant is surrounded by trees and bushes so the view from the many windows made us feel as though we were in an arboretum. The table was neatly set with two forks; a butter knife and side plate per seat as well as perfectly folded white linen pyramid napkin folds. Very quickly an attendant arrived to get us waters, coffee or tea. Shortly after that, our waiter Yousef appeared and took our orders. We had some substitutions and he took it all in stride. We ordered three eggs benedicts and food appeared in a very short time. The eggs were perfectly poached with firm whites and a hint of white vinegar and the yolks were perfectly runny. The muffins underneath were lightly toasted and easy to cut with a butter knife. I have been making fresh hollandaise for years in restaurants and at home and I am always suspicious of canned or powdered some restaurants resort to but this was definitely fresh and the real deal. The sauce was topped with a dusting of paprika and presentation was perfect. Yousef was an efficient and quick waiter, very professional. As is always a challenge my wife takes on we eventually got a big smile out of him. Overall I got the impression this was a tightly run restaurant that had taken pains to see to all the important touches. It was bright, sunny, and clean and the staff was friendly and attentive. I would not hesitate to go back for dinner and plan to.

  • Anne Langendorf
    1 month ago

    Every single meal and exchange I’ve had at La Veranda restaurant has been absolutely delicious and fresh with attentive service. My family and I enjoyed our Thanksgiving meal here this year then a leisurely walk along the towns many trails, a guest had even galloped with his horse to the restaurant. Gotta love Clayton Valley’s downtown.

  • Christine Jensen
    2 month ago

    La Veranda is our home away from home. We had our wedding reception there and while we live in Florida, we crave our favorite La Veranda and eat there literally every day whenever we can!

  • moe martines
    3 month ago

    I came down for the celebration of life for my good buddy Skip Burns. After driving 3.5 hours, the atmosphere, service and especially the food was more than welcome. Next time I come to the Bay I will make a point of stopping in to grab some grub.

  • S B
    3 month ago

    Quaint little restaurant with a nice vibe. Second time here, good food both times. Nice wine list. Gets very busy on weekends. A little outdoor seating available on porch. Waiter was friendly, but not very attentive. Lots of customers and regulars to tend to it appeared. Good place for date night or getting together with friends. Nice ambiance.

  • Christina Castellon
    3 month ago

    Waiter was new but he did fantastic and if he didn't know the answer to our questions he asked someone for help. 3 different pizza for 3 different people. We ended all sharing to try something new and as always food was amazing, drinks were great. If you haven't tried this place...... you need to.

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