Crivello's Ristorante has been sitting there in that parking lot for years, handsome bar, inviting patio, one of those places you keep meaning to try and somehow never do. Wednesday night, dead quiet. Most of San Juan was a few blocks away at the concert, leaving us with the rare luxury of a peaceful patio and a little breathing room. We found a beautiful bottle of Italian wine, listened carefully to the specials like civilized adults pretending not to already know what we wanted, and split a Caesar to start, solid, classic, no nonsense. Then came the real business. Sylvia went with shrimp and angel hair. The shrimp? Perfectly cooked. That elusive sweet spot so many kitchens miss by a mile. Not rubbery, not underdone. Just right. I went for the Osso Buco, boldly promised to rival my grandmother's. Dangerous claim. But they backed it up. Deep, rich, slow-cooked soul food, the kind of dish that tastes like somebody's been standing over it all day, caring. They even brought the marrow spoon, which tells you everything you need to know about intent. Food? Five stars. Wine? Five stars. If I'd tweak anything, it's the details. The waiter and bartender were both in oversized black T-shirts with the logo. Functional, sure, but swap those for black collared shirts and the room instantly feels more polished. The patio could use a little love too. Nothing dramatic. Just tighten it up. Because in this business, especially now, the margins between good and unforgettable are razor thin. Crivello's already has the hard part nailed. A little sharper presentation, and they're dangerous. read more

Crivello's Italian Bistro - Shrimp and angel hair pasta - Italian Near Me - San Juan Capistrano, California

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First time at the restaurant and I guess they were having a bad day with flavor. Had the spaghetti bolognese, and other dish was carbonara. Both pasta dishes fell way short of good, not sure if I'll return. If you can't make a bolognese sauce flavorful not sure about the rest. Sauce tasted like a glass of wine. Had high hopes, once again disappointed with an Italian restaurant. read more

This restaurant was a great find. I'd passed it many times, but decided to give a try recently. Though located in a busy shopping center, it has a very nice vibe, cozy atmosphere and great food. The staff is friendly and very attentive. Will definitely recommend and plan to return often. read more

This place was amazing. Found it on Google under Italian restaurants and was pleasantly surprised. Food was great. Service excellent. Definitely get thru chocolate cake! read more

The service was excellent as well as the food. Especially delicious, the calamari steak and the lobster ravioli. The bread served with the meal was very fresh and crisp around the edges. read more

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We had a quick stop to charge and needed some dinner. Found this darling place. Ambience was intimate, Italian music playing, service was quick, friendly and on point. The food was delicious. Bread service good, ordered garlic bread as well - yum. They had a red clam chowder as the soup of the day, it was so flavorful and took me back to a little osteria in Tuscany. Our girls split a spaghetti and meatball, they devoured it. And we split a special of Ossobuco. The meat was so tasty the meat just fell off the bone. Will definitely come back! read more

Crivello's Italian Bistro - Ossobocco - Italian Near Me - San Juan Capistrano, California

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Great local Italian spot to grab a bite on a date or with friends. We started with a couple bottles of wine ($25 corkage) and enjoyed some of their bread with olive oil and balsamic. Next we had some Caesar salads - pretty good but small. Then we had a selection of dishes. The Risotto with chicken and mushrooms was amazing, The Rigatoni with ricotta and spinach with delicious. The gnocchi was ok. Service was terrific and so nice. Overall great experience. read more

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Cute little bistro with outdoor seating for lunch was delicious. The waitress was super nice . They had risotto which is hard to come by. It was soo delicious and the calamari was crispy and also very yummy. I just wish they had an aioli option also besides the marinera sauce. They also have this delicious complimentary bread with olive oil. The server was so sweet and brought us more. My son had the pasta with sausage and peppers which was also really good. Hoping to make it back some day . read more

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My family loves your restaurant has a a great location wonderful atmosphere and always one of the meals we could hope for

Stopped by for a casual meal and overall had a pretty good experience. The atmosphere felt cozy and inviting, with soft music that added to the mood without being distracting. Service was friendly and fairly quick, though at times it felt a bit less attentive than expected. The food itself was flavorful and satisfying, especially the pasta, which was cooked well and nicely seasoned. Bread on the side was a nice touch. There were a couple of small details that could be improved, but nothing that ruined the visit. It's a solid spot I'd likely return to when in the area. read more

Omg the food here is amazing The service was wonderful. I was there celebrating a birthday with some of my Italian friends and everything was perfect. Even the bread that they bring in the beginning they press and it's perfect for dipping. We got the eggplant Parmesan. I got chicken marsala. Their pesto sauce is fantastic and gnocchi delish. the desserts were also amazing. Tiramisu, cheesecake, chocolate, cake, crème brûlée. This is going to be our go to Italian Restaurant from now on. read more

Crivello's Italian Bistro - Deserts - Italian Near Me - San Juan Capistrano, California

Loved this place for years and years. It deserves all 5 stars with its amazing food & great staff. Authentic & absolutely delicious!! read more

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On June 14 th 2026 was our 21 st anniversary, we had a wonderful time there , invited two of my sons and two of our friends along too. Everything was so good and so was the service. The waiter was so kind and friendly, he offered to take several photos to make the occasion even more memorable. We will be going back again soon for sure. read more

If I could give zero stars for the food I would. Our meal came out looking good but don't be deceived by the looks it had zero flavor and was very bland (like retirement home bland). I have had the pleasure of dining in some of the top Italian restaurants around the world. Maybe my taste buds are too high. For the price tag, I would have expected better flavor. This is no where close to authentic Italian simplicity but full of flavor. The service was okay so no complaints there. This review is based solely on food quality and taste. Side note however the bread oil/vinegar was on point! On a nice evening the patio is where to sit. I'm now thinking we should have just ordered dessert, it gets the best reviews. read more

Crivello's Italian Bistro - Italian Near Me - San Juan Capistrano, California

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We have dined at this special "diamond in the rough" restaurant a number of times over the past two years, and we always enjoy the experience. We will continue to dine at Crivello's. read more

All good in every way. Food was great. Service is great. Will definitely be back. Thanks for everything

Stopped by because I wanted a coffee but not from a typical business. saw this Italian spot decided to get an espresso! Adolfo was helping me out he's amazing! So after I sat down to have my espresso the pasta started calling my name lol I really like the location and the feeling of the place even though it's in a busy shopping center it's very laid-back. The music selection is also really good with old-school jazz Sinatra Louis Armstrong etc. this is a cute little date spot I think! read more

Crivello's Italian Bistro - Italian Near Me - San Juan Capistrano, California

Excellent service and a great menu - really good wines and the service was great- very clean and the staff again was fantastic read more

Crivello's Italian Bistro - Veal Marsala Side angle hair bread and glass of Chianti - Italian Near Me - San Juan Capistrano, California

First of all, this is my favorite Italian restaurant. Their Caesar salad is cravable! My favorite thing to order is the beef ravioli with marinara sauce. Omg its divine. Plus I love sitting outside with a glass of wine. All in all I love this restaurant! read more

Absolutely amazing spot! If you want solid Italian with good ingredients this is your spot. Having recently been in Italy, it was a nice surprise to enjoy their pasta which was superb. Support a local small business and eat here. We will be back, thank you! read more

4-1/2 stars Everything about our dinner here was really nice - the food, service, and classic songs of the 40's and 50's (Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, etc). Our dinner started with warm, fresh, baked bread. Hmmm. For entrees, we really liked the chicken parmesan with linguine al dente and the fruitti di mari. Although not on the menu, we requested mixed vegetables that turned out perfectly. read more

I am so glad to know this place. It's a real gem. We came in on Sunday looking for an Italian restaurant in the area and it did not disappoint. Matter of fact, my mom and step-dad were both impressed with both the food and the service. Adolfo was accomodating and attentive. The wine, the caesar salad, the bread, the linguini and clams, perfecto! read more

Crivello's Italian Bistro - Linguine w Clams Red Sauce :) - Italian Near Me - San Juan Capistrano, California

UNIQUELY EXCEPTIONAL!! I just regret that we did not discover Crivello's years ago. The salads were crisp and tasty, the service from Juan was exemplary, and the ambience cozy, inviting and intimate. We had the Cioppino which was seasoned with Saffron and was incredible! Their Pot Roast special was just as amazing. Look forward to friendly service, a wide selection of wine options and an unforgettable dining experience. Crivello's now tops our list and rivals the Harbor Grill - which has unfortunately closed. Be back soon. read more

Really nice rack of lamb! Super tender. Surprised how well it went with the wine pairing the server recommended. Great place! read more

Crivello's Italian Bistro - Italian Near Me - San Juan Capistrano, California

I've been temped to enter this local hidden gem for years and never did until yesterday with my wife, after a long day of moving we decided to try it out and I am SO GLAD we did... Kelly our server was so welcoming, informed, attentive I just can't say enough about her.. the food was AMAZING!! I had the meat lasagna with the house salad, both were incredible, the warm bread served with oil & vinegar top notch... my wife had the blackened sword fish salad, she loved it.. We will be bringing our daughters in next time and making this a regular in our rotation - keep up the great work and sorry it took me so long to join the fam - read more

Wish I could give this a negative 3 stars! I decided to go back to today after many months. I was hoping Sebastian, would implement food handling rules after my conversation with him regarding how grossed out I was. Prep personal prepared a salad w his hands, no tongs, no gloves, absolutely gross. Apparently things haven't changed, I won't be back after this happened again today. The individual who was preparing my order used ungloved hands to layer the chicken then the cheese, really! The server was so rude when I placed my order but I thought, she must be busy or having a bad day. No, it wasn't that at all, simply a bad attitude and only one other table. I an truly sorry to see this, I'll never go back read more

Had lunch here today and it was amazing! Service was excellent but slow but only because the waitress was the only one working. She was a star! The Angel hair eggplant was really good. Simple but flavorful. The eggplant is grilled and mixed in as smaller pieces along with cherry tomatoes and read more

Adolfo our server was wonderful!! The food is delicious, the pasta is made in house and so is the sauce. The deserts are also made in houseWe loved this gem! read more

Crivello's Italian Bistro - homemade cheesecake - Italian Near Me - San Juan Capistrano, California

Excellent. We decided to stop here on a whim and we are so glad. Everything was delicious. We had Lasagna and chicken Marsala. Both were delicious. Cooked to perfection. Tender chicken. Flavors were bright and lingered with subtle, pleasing changes. Sauces were spot on. Our server Adolfo was so engaging and kind and helpful. The atmosphere was small and cozy. Felt like true Italian. Not fancy, but lovely. Only wish they had cocktails. Beer and wine only. We finished off with their homemade desserts. They have so many options it was hard to choose. We settled on tiramisu and key lime pie! Both were top notch. So creamy and flavorful and nice large portions. We had to take them home to finish. Overall fabulous dinner. We will be back. I can't wait to try more from the menu and eventually all the desserts. read more

Crivello's Italian Bistro - Key lime pie Half eaten sorry, but sooo good! - Italian Near Me - San Juan Capistrano, California

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All was so delicious, the service perfectly done, a really Good place to go for Italian food read more

Crivello's Italian Bistro - Bruschetta so delicious - Italian Near Me - San Juan Capistrano, California

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"I had an amazing dining experience at this Italian restaurant. The food was absolutely delicious! The blackened salmon panini was to die for. Highly recommend this place to anyone looking for great Italian cuisine!" Cheers read more

Always a great dining experience at Crivello's. Staff and food are amazing, and the wine selection does not fail. Great local spot which we support frequently!! read more

I visited family and we decided to go to Crivello's. We love Italian food so it was perfect. The waiters were so nice and were not rude at all. Our waiter gave us kind recommendations and told us all of the specials today. Now that service deserves a solid 5 stars. First came bread sticks which were literally amazing. Dip it in the oil and oh my god it's literally the gateway to Italian heaven. I got the chicken angel hair. It was really delicious. Each bite was so succulent and addictive. The chicken, noodles, and tomatoes paired quite well with one another. Definitely recommend. The Chilean sea bass that my parents got with asparagus was absolutely worth the price. It was so soft, buttery, and it melted in your mouth. My parents couldn't stop eating it. My little brother, who is very picky because he is still a little kid, said he liked his kids spaghetti. I love how the dishes don't make you too overly full. The portions are literally perfect. The restaurant was so calming and it made me feel like I was eating in Italy. It was very clean and the decorations were stunning and just lit up the room. The music was pleasant to the ears and I can see myself coming back again with my family. I also love how they have an option of indoor seating and outdoor seating. I 10/10 recommend this place. Crivello's really deserves a long, 5 star review. Everything about this place fills me with joy. Traditional Italians would love the food here. Excellent restaurant! I will definitely be here soon for another amazing Italian dish. read more

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I have been here multiple times and also picked up food to go. Always delicious, the sauce is delicious, I know they make their own in house. Yummy grilled bread also! Service is top notch! read more

First time here, and WOW, the food is delicious!! I have a feeling that everything on the menu is fantastic. I appreciate the free bread (a lot of restaurants make you ask or even charge these days). Some improvements to be made: 1. Some artwork on the walls. This spot is so cute. I love the chairs on the patio and I think there's so much potential with just a few small touches. 2. The flies. I really don't understand the flies out front and the few inside. Maybe they know how good the food is too?? Maybe a couple small fly traps would be beneficial. Either way, I'll still be back regardless, but just wanted to add my two cents, whatever it's worth. Last thing to add, our server was very kind and competent. She was alone and managing a few large parties, and yet we barely had to wait and she was very attentive. Thank you for great food and wonderful service! read more

Christie was amazing! Catered for our family event and she made it super easy. She was very fair and took care of our needs. Will be back!

Lasagne's $20 good Calamari swimming in sauce awful Waitress does not like her job or maybe it was us Gave her $100 bill for $72 charge she asked if I needed change really I hate to give a bad review but if they do read there reviews pretty sure the waitress could care less read more

It was my first time eating here, the specials - escargot and garlic artichoke - caught my eye. My server Adolfo was amazing and so attentive! It was an amazing day to sit on the patio, the ambiance was calm and welcoming. Everything tasted amazing, I also tried the oso bucco ravioli, it was rich and buttery! I definitely will be coming back! read more

Great and friendly service, delicious food and authentic, very cool ambiance. You must try this place next time you are in Mission Viejo.

Quaint Italian restaurant with limited indoor, bar seating. Outdoor patio seating available with heaters. I personally tried one of the specials:. Lobster Ravioli in blush sauce with shrimp. The dish was good but the ravioli was overwhelmed by the sauce...likely too much sauce. If eating indoors be prepared for a loud atmosphere if the seating is full. Service was good. Server was attentive and friendly and we didn't need to wait for the food. If bringing wine be prepared for a $25 corkage fee. I would try this place again as the prices were typical of Italian and they had a diverse menu. I'd like to try some of their other dishes. read more