What a great restaurant, went to hangout with a few co-workers. Must try Pappardelle Bruna (chanti brazed short ribs) read more

Brunos Italian Kitchen - Pappardelle Bruno - Italian Near Me - Brea, California

Thank you Jacob for always being such a gracious host. Your knowledge of food and entres make my night special. You always bring me extra vinegar. Also for the suggestion for the tequila coffee espresso martini . You always bring a brightness to my experience. The ambiance is great for after a movie and for family events. Cheers . read more

Brunos Italian Kitchen - Great service and wonderful staff - Italian Near Me - Brea, California

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Brunos is located in downtown Brea, there is a parking structure nearby that is a short walk away. The staff were friendly and attentive. The ambiance is relaxed, mood lighting but they also have a tv where we were able to keep up with a game. We had the bruschetta (fresh, 7/10), their complimentary bread/oil (8/10), the fettuccine al granchio e gamberi (very creamy and flavorful 8/10), the linguine alla vongole and a classic venetian spritz. It was a lovely experience, will likely return. read more

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Bruno's was amazing! From the service to the delicious food and sangria! I definitely recommend. I had the chicken parm and my hubby had the lasagna plus the meatballs as appetizers and all were so fresh and savory! I will for sure be coming back . read more

Inviting and cozy Italian restaurant with great food and service. Casual, not too loud and very family friendly. We came on a Tuesday at 7 and were seated right away. Tuesday has all day happy hour which is $2 off apps, $2 off beers, and $3 off cocktails, so definitely a great deal. We had the arancini, penne pesto, and friuli buck cocktail which came out to $40 with all the deals. The arancini were very surprising--super flavorful, very interesting spices in a light sauce. The pesto penne was also well balanced, and the red pepper was a nice added touch of heat. The complimentary bread was also fresh and I enjoyed the olive oil and balsamic vinegar even though I'm usually not a fan of balsamic. Will definitely be stopping by again! Note: Free parking is available in the parking garage across from the theater/improv center. read more

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This was our first time. We went to celebrate my fiancé birthday. The service was impeccable. Everyone was super friendly and professional. The food was amazing. From the appetizers to the drinks and the entrees were fantastic. The freshness in the ingredients. While it was pasta, it didnt give that bloated feeling. We were a party of 8 and tfied each other's dishes and they were all so good. I cant wait to go back amd tfy something different. The restaurant is beautiful and cozy. Thank you for the amazing service and memorable time. read more

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Fantastic! The food here is delicious and the service is incredible. The managers are constantly walking around checking in on the guests. Overall, great place for a date night or sharing a bottle of wine with the gals read more

Brunos Italian Kitchen - Above, rigatoni. Below, Fettuccine al Granchio e Gamberi - Italian Near Me - Brea, California

We went to celebrate a birthday and there was no wait when we got there. The service was amazing and server was very attentive. For the appetizer we got the salad and Fritto Misto to start. The salad was ok but it was nothing special but the fritto was amazing. For the entree I got a cioppino which was good but a little salty. read more

Brunos Italian Kitchen - Italian Near Me - Brea, California

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Restaurant is located in a nice section of brea with the interior feeling very inviting and cozy and the servers are easy to talk to. We did have to wait a bit because we did come during a busy time. This was my second time coming here and decided to get a few things to try out more than their entrees. We got the Caesar salad, Arancini meatballs, the Rigatoni Alfredo 2.0, and the lasagna special. The apps were a bit smaller portion than expected for the price, but what did stand out was the arancini though. Even for the price and only 4 meatballs, I would maybe consider getting it again. The entrees themselves were good. There wasn't anything too special with the lasagna in my opinion, but that may come from me not being that big of a lasagna fan in the first place, but the rigatoni alfredo was absolutely delicious. I love how they used shorter rigatoni, and everything from the sauce to the meat was pleasant to eat. The gelato at the end was also a nice sweet treat to end our meal. read more

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Was looking for a local Italian spot and came across this one! I like the decor, it has a rustic trendy and cozy feel to it. Started off right with the bread they brought out with an olive oil mix, the olive oil was delicious and was mixed in with a delicate blend of chimichurri and bread was very fresh and warm. We ordered the Orecchiette Alla Salsiccia and Lasagna so Forno and were pleased with both, I would order them again. I wish we came on a Monday, the have a special that includes a Caesar Salad, Lasagna, and Crispy Garlic Bread for $20 a person! Staff was really great and accommodating, the manager did an excellent job at double checking up on us (as well as our server who was awesome). read more

Brunos Italian Kitchen - Orecchiette alla Salsiccia - Italian Near Me - Brea, California

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Dinner and service were great. Definitely one of the best Italian places around the area. HOWEVER, I had the cioppino, and some of the seafood must've been bad. That night after dinner, I threw up everything and was on the toilet with the runs. Didn't feel better until a full day later. I've been there a few times and never had issues before. If I go again, I'm probably staying away from any of the seafood dishes. read more

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Brought my wife out for a date night with no expectations, and we completely fell in love with this place. First, I want to give a big shoutout to our server, Jake. He was incredible and made us feel genuinely welcomed from the moment we arrived. His attention to detail and level of service were some of the best I've ever experienced. Thank you for everything, Jake -- we'll definitely be back to see you soon! Now, back to the restaurant lol. The food was absolutely delicious, and my wife and I both agreed this is now one of our favorite spots. I have a serious sweet tooth -- the tiramisu was fantastic, but Jake's recommendation truly stole the show: the Budino al Caramello. It was unlike anything I've ever had before, and I'm so glad we tried it. Completely unforgettable! read more

Excellent service from everyone including hostess, waitress, kitchen staff, manager. Nice environment, good for party. The food is delicious and unique from other Italian restaurants I have tried before. Definitely coming back with families and friends. Thank you Ruth for celebrating my belated birthday and the Tiramisu! read more

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This place felt just like a warm family dinner. The entire Brea Downtown area has a cozy, welcoming energy, and this restaurant fits right in. I came here for Italian food and got exactly what I was hoping for. Everything was so delicious it was almost emotional. I ordered the spaghetti and it was unbelievably good. The pasta was cooked perfectly and the meatballs were seasoned so right and full of flavor. My friend got the lasagna and it was hearty and very tasty. We started with the bruschetta. It was fresh and refreshing, not anything too unexpected, but still a great way to begin the meal. Our server checked in on us regularly and the manager even came by to personally see how everything was going and have a quick chat. I would absolutely come back and without a doubt and you know I'll be ordering the spaghetti again. read more

Our waiter was the sweetest person ever:) He had great recommendations and checked in very frequently. All the food was up to par with the prices, and we were very pleased with everything. We were even given a tiramisu on the house for our first time visiting. The only thing is you have to wait even if you have a reservation. And an additional wait if you want to sit somewhere that's not the bar tops. read more

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The best lasagna that I have ever had!! The fresh, made at the restaurant noodles, melted in my mouth. I have never had a noodle like that. The cheese, sauce, and meat were fantastic too. The fresh mase lemonade was the perfect tartness and not too sweet. The raspberry ricotta cake was delicious. The caesar salad was very fresh. I found out that the bread comes in fresh every morning, noodles are made on site, nothing is ever frozen. Prices are great. Emmalee was a perfect server. She was very kind, attentive, and gave great recommendations. This was my first visit and I will definitely be going back. Amazing food, amazing staff, amazing prices! read more

Brunos Italian Kitchen - Raspberry ricotta cake and budino al caramello - Italian Near Me - Brea, California

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I've been meaning to write a review about my experience from over the weekend honestly I have passed by this restaurant so many times I'm finally on Saturday we decided to go and eat even though the place was busy we got in under 10 minutes of a wait and got sat inside with Ruth. She made us feel so special and really took care of us since we were celebrating my little brother's birthday. All of the things she suggested we got were great. I think my favorite were the carpaccio the Arancini as well as the blueberry Panna cotta my boyfriend and I keep talking about when we're going back next thanks again Ruth and all of the staff that helped us! read more

PARKING (5/5): 2 parking structures close by, you'll always find parking. It's free. FOOD (4/5): I like their food, but I question its freshness because of how excessively fast it comes out. I'm all for great service, but not even 5 minutes after we order appetizers or entrees it's on the table. Are they just making dishes ahead of time during peak hours and warming the plates to keep service quick? Who knows. This has happened multiple times I've come here. FAVORITES (in order) 1. Lasagna $21 2. Fritto Misto (fried calamari) $16 3. Arranchini (risotto balls) $10 4. Orechhietta alla Salsiccia $20 SERVICE (5/5): Like I said above, quickest food delivery service I've EVER seen. They do come to check on the table once in awhile, but it's the food delivery that's super quick. ANBIANCE (4/5): Great spot in the heart of downtown Brea. Always bustling! OVERALL (4/5): Great location. Great service. Great food. read more

Brunos Italian Kitchen - Fritto Misto (fried calamari) $16 and Caesar Salad $12 - Italian Near Me - Brea, California

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I've been to Bruno's many times! I love the food! The food selection is limited, especially the number of pasta dishes for an Italian place. The ambiance is nice, brick walls and high ceilings. However, the restaurant gets really really loud at night. I have to almost yell to talk to my boyfriend across the table. The tv's at the bar, close knit table seating and open space causes sound to travel. I'd keep hearing other people's conversations. The service was excellent. The appetizers arrived quickly. I ordered the arrancini risotto balls and my boyfriend ordered bruschetta di pomodori. The risotto balls were bite size, 4 balls for $10. The bruschetta was 2 slices of ciabatta for $11. There was too much pesto on the ciabatta. There needed to be more bread for the toppings, the toppings kept falling off. For the entree's I ordered the rigatoni alfredo 2.0 and my boyfriend ordered the orecchiette alla salsiccia. I loved the rigatoni alfredo, lots of mushrooms and flavor!! The rigatoni cost $22. My boyfriend liked the orecchiette alla salsiccia, really tasty marinara sauce. The orecciette alla salsiccia cost $20. read more

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First time here for a business dinner and I was impressed. Ambiance was good with a nice hip vibe. The service was very attentive and the food was very good. I had the flat iron steak that was seasoned and cooked perfectly. The appetizers were great-we shared the meatballs, bruschetta, and calamari mixed plate. I'd definitely come back. read more

So an Italian eating at an Italian restaurant. Which I usually avoid. But it was a special Evening so let's get into it. Bruno's is supposed to be a family restaurant with a history of papa Bruno and Nonna's recipes. Upon entering the atmosphere is nice. It's not too loud, we could hear our conversation without yelling over our neighbors. Bread basket is fresh and an Italian style homemade bread. Is it homemade, I don't know but it tastes it. So close enough. The young waiter Damian was a very nice waiter. He had a great attitude and was as attentive as he could be with a full restaurant. The calamari dish was def different, it also had some fried veggies, which was actually a great treat as two vegetarians were with us. The flavors were on point and perfectly fried. They did have a lemon aioli sauce which was different. So that would be a reorder. The chicken parmigiana was two smashed patties of chicken with a slice of cheese on it. Some sauce and a side of pasta. My son-in-law was not impressed. (My recommendation, get a whole chicken breast breaded and do it right with a nice amount of sauce and real dollops of mozzarella) Both vegetarians had salads. One a pescatarian had the salmon. Which she loved. The other was not impressed with her chopped salad, but she said it tasted fresh. So that's a plus. I had the bistekka steak filet with potatoes some grilled onions, and broccoli. The steak was fantastic. Perfectly cooked. The potatoes were tender but under spiced. (In my opinion, some smoked paprika goes a long way) Broccoli was bit on the tough side. But the taste was good. Drinks were good. Water flowed. The pudding was stupid delicious. Tiramisu is not traditional. Bummer. The gelato was tasty but not traditional. So my two cents. I would eat here again to try some other dishes. The atmosphere was super nice. The server was good. Prices were fair. What would I change? Passion for the food. More flavor. They can be great and knock it out of the park. I want to truly see nonnas pasta. Because my nonna pasta was from Napoli. And I still make the recipe 55 years later. It can be better. But I will return. Gotta believe. Ciao! read more

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ugh so so good! I came here once before and had to bring my parents this time because i couldn't stop raving about it. they give you unlimited bread that is so soft and seriously some of the best bread that I've had at a restaurant. All of the food is very well seasoned and amazing quality. Service and Taste is an A+. The only reason I took a star off is for the food portions and table placements. For an average of $25 a plate the portions could be a smidge bigger, they are definitely on the smaller side compared to other local Italian spots . Also, because it is a smaller interior the tables are pretty close together. My chair kept getting bumped and even moving a bit from the guy sitting directly behind me. It was pretty annoying that i could feel his every move. Other than that 10/10 will definitely be back again! read more

Brunos Italian Kitchen - Italian Near Me - Brea, California

Fettuccine Alfredo was awesome whiskey selection awesome Service awesome it is a must try read more

Brunos Italian Kitchen - Family dinner night - Italian Near Me - Brea, California

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This review is hard to do because this is one of our fav restaurants. We went last night & as usual all the staff was kind, helpful & knowledgeable & everyone at my table enjoyed their meal except me. I ordered the chicken parm. my 1st time & was sadly the worst I've ever had. It was a thin breaded piece of chicken & very very dry. It was hard to cut and had 2 pieces of SLICED cheese on top they weren't completely melted so it just didn't look tasty from the start then I cut into it & it was not good I actually left hungry. I was in the mood for crispy, juicy & cheesy but got none of that :( read more

Been here a couples times, they have specials most days of the week! Great spot that is cozy, great service, food is solid. The bread and balsamic they had was THE BEST I ever had I think, just look at it! Dessert was disappointing, forgot which one it was but we were expecting something different and this wasn't really that. Parking typically is in the structure down the street, downtown Brea is a nice small cozy area. Waiter was friendly helped offer some suggestions on wine and other things. Reservations I think are recommended and easy to book. Would return, especially looking at different deals they have going on. read more

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My husband and I went here this past Sunday. He had the Bistecca 'Flat Iron' and loved it. I had the Pappardelle Bruno which was fantastic as well. Our server was wonderful, he made great recommendations and checked in with us numerous times throughout our visit. We've been here before and will definitely continue to come here. Amazing food and a great vibe. read more

I'm still trying to understand why people bring non-service dogs into indoor restaurants. I fully respect service animals, but otherwise this should be clearly communicated. If a restaurant allows pets inside, it should be stated on their website so guests can decide before dining. After we were seated, I noticed a couple with a small fluffy dog at the table next to us. I'm highly allergic and unfortunately didn't have my inhaler with me since I was going out to dinner. I spoke with the manager, Tim, who was extremely kind, understanding, and professional. He immediately rearranged the seating and moved them to another table. Thanks to his quick response, we were able to relax and truly enjoy both the dinner and the overall experience. Excellent service and great management made all the difference. read more

Just wanted to say how much I appreciated the great service at Bruno's. The employees were genuinely friendly and made us feel welcome from the moment we walked in. Everyone was attentive, helpful, and had such a positive attitude. It's clear the team works hard and takes pride in what they do. Experiences like this are the reason I enjoy coming back. Thank you, Alberto, for making our visit such a pleasant one! read more

Great atmosphere on a Saturday night. Arrived around 5pm, just before it got busy. Service was great. Took their time with us, making great appetizer and main course recommendations, even explaining the English translations of the dishes (before I could even ask). Food was great and plentiful. We already had plans for dessert later that evening, so as much as we would have liked to try theirs, we passed. Maybe next time. We will be back. read more

My hubby and I had a wonderful dinner at Bruno's prior to our show at the Improv. This was our first time here and we had an EXCEPTIONAL experience. We were served by Sofia who gave us such PHENOMENAL service. She was very attentive yet not overly and obnoxiously attentive. She kept our drinks full as well as our bread basket. I'm a bread girlie. Lol. The food was terrific. Very flavorful and it came out hot and fresh. We will DEFINITELY be back and I highly encourage others to give it a try. You won't be disappointed. read more

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Their pesto is the besto. Delicious pesto pasta. Bread with oil is great as well. Service has never been an issue here. There are only a handful of places I like in Brea this is one of them!! read more

First off, Bruno really care about the quality of their food and the customer service. The GM Tim went above and beyond to accommodate us with our baby. We have a stroller that takes up a lot of space and he set us up in a very comfy spot with lots of room, and a spot for me to change the baby in the bathroom. The food is delicious as always and customer service is always perfect! We definitely will keep coming back! read more

Brunos Italian Kitchen - Nightly special menu - Italian Near Me - Brea, California

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Our family really enjoyed our first time here. Located on a great little street with a parking structure and alot of other great restaurants and cafes next door. Seated quickly on a busy Friday night even without a reservation. Not a huge menu which we preferred (usually means they do all of it well instead of just some of it). We had Ceaser and chopped salads, pesto, linguine with clams, and a red sauce pasta. All great. Very reasonably priced although the portions are not huge. It was a clean modern setting, open kitchen, bustling with a bar area - overall an atmosphere that hits just in the center of being romantic and quiet versus crowded and noisy. Services was very friendly and attentive but not overdone. Will definitely be back. read more

The place had a good vibe and the service was good. We were seated pretty fast with no reservation. The food was delicious. read more

Brunos Italian Kitchen - Cheese board and Arancini - Italian Near Me - Brea, California

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All scratchmade everything. And that's about all you need to know that I'm giving it yet another HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. If you want Italian and you live even remotely close to here - stop what you're doing right now and GO to here. Amazing staff - very attentive, warm, pleasant Atmosphere - inviting, intimate Food - off the charts, period. read more

First time to Brunos Italian Kitchen. My husband and I were on a much needed date. Perhaps it was our timing (Thursday at 5:45), or the holiday season, but all we thought was, "it's okay". We didn't have a reservation for two, but there were several non-reserved tables inside. It took 10-15 minutes to seat us. Food was okay. We ordered arancini, which was tasty with a marinara sauce. Unfortunately, the waitress only took our drink and appetizer order. Then we sat for 15 minutes after finishing our appetizer for her to come back and get our entree order. The entree took quite a while, and it would have been better to order it at the beginning of our dining. I'm not sure if this is normal for this restaurant since it was our first time here. My husband ordered the filet and I has linguini with clams. Husband said steak was okay. There were some type of glazed baby onions with it that he particularly did not like because they were extremely sweet. The linguini with clams was okay. The addition of cherry tomatoes is odd and their acidity took away from the lemon garlic flavor that is the classic taste. Also, there were about 15 strands of pasta in my whole dish. I would have requested more bread to sop up the sauce, but our waitress was nowhere to be found. We both left hungry! Glad I finally tried this place. The food was in no way bad, but it won't be on a go to list for me. read more

First time visitors Indoor outdoor dining Parking by the structure Reservations and walk in Strong happy hour specials in the lounge with flat screen Very classy upscale casual date night celebration type of spot Background music yes but not so loud you had to shout at your party but added to the ambiance Hostess both friendly upbeat and personable Hannah - server - amazing - was overseeing at least 5 tables and more with various party sizes but had great energy made great conversation and recommendations Think the manager was even food running as well which is always pleasant to see and checked in on the tables to ensure everyone was satisfied There are daily and weekend specials. Today was the seafood cioppino choice between Cobb or Cesar salad and tiramisu or panne cotta dessert Order the special and pappardelle Bruno Both dishes fresh, tasty, not over powering, flavors didn't not over shadows, pasta was cooked perfectly and did not get soggy. The seafood was fresh and flavorful and something about the tomatoes that burst with its juices and goodness. The mushroom in the pappardelle were meaty and hearty and the meat was tender and probably fell off the bone. Very much a spot will return to try more and experience their happy hour as the environment seem lively and upbeat. Also it would appear they might be a dog friendly establishment so double win! Service was wonderful and vibrant. Highly recommended! read more

Brunos Italian Kitchen - Pappardelle Bruno - Italian Near Me - Brea, California

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Food: We ordered the 4 things our friendly server, Alberto, recommended and those were the meatballs, fritto misto, papardelle, and fettuccine. Yes, the pastas tasted fresh/homemade but all 4 dishes tasted underwhelming. Lack of seasoning and just mid that we only had a few bites of the pastas and left. Felt like we wasted $$. read more

Just a Fantastic place for Delicious Food and truly nice people! Jim, the manager, is great people! Its the people that make the difference. Great food is also key! read more

The lasagna here is really good. We love to come on Lasagna Mondays since it is such a steal of a deal. The Thursday Cioppino and the weekend specials are also really good. For the weekend special, I definitely recommend the pork chop if it is available that week. As for desserts their budino and tiramisu are to die for. The servers here are really kind and attentive. We have had only two servers the many times we come and the servers always remember us. The ambiance on certain nights is a lot better when you are able to sit in their open patio area. read more