Osteria or Lavanda

Can't decide between the two for dinner in Palo Alto. In the mood for Italian but don't want to spend more than I have to. Thanks!

Both good choices. Lavanda is pricier. I prefer the food at Osteria ( particularly their Calamari steak) , but the tables are so close together you have little privacy. So if it's an intimate nite out, you might do better elsewhere.

Both of them are good food but neither one are italian. To know where is italian food ask if the chef is italian but most important of all is how long is he/she has been working in us.
Plus if your dish is dranched in sauce (especially cream which you almost never find in italian cooking) you know you are eating americanized version of italian food.