Il Farro

Ohhhhh Mama D's, me and my fellas spent a weekend in newport and were addicted to mama's d. From…read morethe moment i stepped into mama's i felt the overwhelming charm of a freshly trimmed server by the name of Cam or (Flow-God). Ive never seen such a trim haircut. Not only did the food taste good but Cam served them with upmost grace, poise and dignity. Cam taught me how to start my Roth IRA along with giving me life altering advice (gone well). Additionally Nicki was a ray of moonshine, checking in more than i do for my private flights to Barbados, where i invited Cam to stay for Christmas. Come in here (mama d's) for a meal and you will leave with a new sense of self respect thanks to Cam and Mama d her dang self. CAM is a teacher and I wish i could personally study under him. Thank you Cam, Nicki and Mama D's P.S. theres not enough money on this planet to compensate Cam and Nicki enough. Gracias, Salud and Bienvanidos

Service great! Liked the ambiance. Restaurant was cute. Food was O.k. We had spaghetti which needed…read morejust a little more salt and Italian seasonings.

Front of house.

Chicken and sausage Capri

See all

Conplimentary dish.soooo good

The Old Spaghetti Factory

3.6(1.2k reviews)

0.1 mi

Sydney is an amazing server great humor Andy is a bright…read moresoul what a pleasure to talk to him.

We each here at OSF anytime we're in Newport. Jason our waiter was great. Wedding reception was…read morehappening upstairs and never bothered us at all.

Daughter! Is she giving I'm the heir to this restaurant?

Chicken Parmigiana

See all

Italian cream soda

Buona Forchetta

4.1(268 reviews)

0.1 mi

Our food was excellent and quickly brought out to us by our kind server Massimo. The overall…read moreservice of the establishment was phenomenal and it was beautifully lit inside and out.

We had such a great experience at Buona Forchetta! We started with the gluten-free focaccia bread…read moreand Burrata Caprese, both delicious. For dinner, I had the penne pesto with chicken, which was full of flavor and so good. Our friends ordered a gluten-free pasta dish and gluten-free pizza, and they absolutely loved both. The pizza had an especially great texture and the flavors were delicious--it's always nice to find a restaurant with such good gluten-free options! The service was quick, friendly, and efficient, making the whole experience even better. We all enjoyed our meals and will definitely be back!

See through kitchen

Old fashioned

See all

Cioppino with tagliatelle

Ospi Costa Mesa

3.9(605 reviews)

1.9 mi

Locally owned & operated

Women-owned & operated

Had an incredible time at Ospi! The service was extremely personal- my fiancé mentioned that we had…read morejust gotten engaged and our server Jackie surprised us with the most delicious gelato for dessert. Jackie was very helpful with recommendations! Excited to come back :)

Met a friend here for dinner after work on a Tuesday and had such a great experience. First win:…read morethere's plenty of parking in the lot behind the restaurant. We got there around 5:15 and it was already busy, and by the time we left the place was PACKED -- so clearly we weren't the only ones who knew what was up. Everyone was friendly from the moment we walked in, but our server really made the experience. She was super fun, asked us questions about what we liked, and then made recommendations based on our answers instead of just rattling off the most popular dishes. And she absolutely nailed it. We shared the crispy provolone, Caesar salad, and chicken parm, and everything was incredible. The food tasted so fresh, and the flavors were bold without being heavy or muddled -- "bold and clean" is probably the best way I can describe it. The portions were also generous. We split everything and still left with basically another whole meal to take home. We each had a cocktail, both refreshing and delicious, and obviously we had to finish with dessert. I had the mango gelato, which was fantastic. My friend had something chocolate that she loved, but I am not a chocolate person and therefore cannot be trusted to report on those matters. It was genuinely an excellent meal from beginning to end. But the icing on the cake for me? The follow-up survey asking for me to rater their life choices. That completely tickled me and somehow perfectly captured the personality of the place. Great food, great service, great energy. Vibes: immaculate. Will absolutely be back.

See all

Assorted options

Pasta Sisters

3.9(57 reviews)

2.1 mi

Family-owned & operated

Locally owned & operated

Have eaten at both the original Pico Blvd and Culver City location, and am so glad a new take out…read morelocation is so close to me now! I've ordered delivery and pick up, and both times the food has been ready within 20 minutes and been PIPING hot when I get it. The quality is just as good as the sit down restaurant in Culver City. This location does provide French bread rather than the focaccia the Culver City location provides, which I dearly miss, but other than that the menu does not feel limited at all. I've tried several signature sauces as well as a couple of the specials, and nothing has disappointed. Always a great experience eating at Pasta Sisters!

My wife and I are fans of the original Pasta Sisters location in Culver City. Their handmade…read morepastas are delicious, and we were excited to try their location on the border of Costa Mesa and Newport Beach. The extraordinary thing about the Pasta Sisters is that they offer house made pastas, which guarantees a higher price point, but offers unparalleled texture. The spaghetti has a "bite" that you get from a true "al dente" pasta. Their cheese tortellini were incredibly rich and cheesy, but a touch salty. The drawback of this location is that it's a ghost kitchen. You order it online and the order will be ready for you when you come in to pick it up. The location does not have seating, and you eat it at your own convenience. If you live/work locally, then this can be definitely worth checking out. Because I live out of town, I have to enjoy it either in my car, after a long drive home, or at my wife's office; however, I want to enjoy these $20 pastas in a restaurant, with wine and good company. A ghost kitchen is very different than a restaurant experience. I hope they do choose to bring their restaurant to the OC one day.

Tagliatelle pesto with burrata

Spaghetti bottarga

See all

Pasta with tomato & ricotta

Romano Cucina

4.9(71 reviews)

0.6 mi

I am late to write this review but we have been coming to romano since it opened on the peninsula…read more They have die hard staff who have stayed since they opened and I love that when we dine here, we recognize the staff. Here are some of the dishes that we just can't get enough of. Our usual go to's are: sauteed mushrooms appetizer, pesto fettucine with shrimp and the chicken parmesan with rosa sauce. Please do not skip dessert. Their cheesecake is one of the best I've ever had (including NYC cheesecake). Each month they have a different flavor cheesecake and literally every flavor we have tried has been phenomenal. We even ordered a full pumpkin cheesecake for Thanksgiving ($90) and it was the star of the dinner. Our entire dinner party LOVED the cheesecake. Once we tell our daughter we are going to Romano for dinner, she will immediately say "If I eat my dinner, can I have cheesecake?" Romano is incredible italian food on the peninsula (psssst, it's 1000% better than Mama D's!)

Was in the area with my friend and chose to have an early dinner here. Definitely wasn't…read moredisappointed! The place has a very cozy and homey vibe with many pictures showcasing its beautiful Italian history. I ordered the chicken alfredo, and it was splendid. Pasta was al dente, the sauce was rich and creamy, there was nothing to complain about. We were also given complimentary bread and butter plus a salad. Our waitress was so nice, checking up on us if we needed anything throughout our time there. I'm so glad we stumbled upon this restaurant!

See all

Molo

4.1(395 reviews)

0.3 mi

We've dined in at Molo several times and it's always great. Date night and with the kids. Tonight I…read morewas feeling lazy and decided to Door Dash an order. The driver only dropped off two out of the four items we ordered so I called the restaurant. They asked me for the missing items and my address and said they would have it delivered. When my door bell rang it was Piero, the owner of the restaurant. Didn't expect to see him at the door but he was very nice and apologetic. We will definitely be visiting Molo more often! Thank you Piero!

A hidden gem!…read more Possibly the best Italian food I have had in California... better than some of the food I had in Italy! I have been here twice. Both experiences very positive. Most recently we came to celebrate my mom's birthday. We were a party of six with a baby. Everyone loved their meals. I had the wild boar pasta and it was out of this world! My husband had the filet mignon and it was cooked perfectly. We sat outside under the olive trees which was beautiful. The restaurant was busy with lots of large parties and an engagement party. Our server Miguel was outstanding and communicative, sharing that we should place our orders early since the kitchen is backed up. He was extremely professional and patient with our large group. Also, the parking is incredible. Parking on the peninsula has always been horrible, it was so refreshing to have parking so close to the restaurant that was free! I can't wait to go back!

Inside Dining Room

Arancini

See all

Prosciutto and burrata

Massimos Pizza and Pasta

4.4(634 reviews)

1.8 mi

The folks here are super friendly! Very chatty. They make you feel like you're guests in their…read morehome. There are 8 big screen TVs in this small establishment! Great place to watch FIFA as they had 2 games on at the same time!! Thank you. I love that they have a build-your-own pasta menu which is what every Italian restaurant should have. You pick your pasta, your sauce (they had many!) and toppings like mushrooms, meatballs, or sausage. Lots of different combinations can be created! They also have cold and hot subs. I got a slice of pepperoni and mushroom. I enjoyed their pizza very much and the crispy thin crust was perfect. My son got the rigatoni with pink sauce (delish and was highly recommended) with meatballs. The rest of the party shared a large Massimo Special. The food didn't all come out at the same time. The pasta came out first, then a few minutes later, the slice. But the whole pizza took a while. I noticed there were a lot of pick up orders. So the pizza must be a neighborhood favorite. Well, they made a fan out of me! Next time I'm in SoCal, I'd stop by here again. I want to order that pink sauce again!

If you're always looking for new pizza places like I am, I usually keep it simple and order a slice…read morefirst. If that one slice is great, I'll come back for a whole pizza. If not, I'll move on to the next place. This place has been family owned for three generations, and the owner was really friendly, which got me excited to try it. I ordered a traditional pepperoni slice, and he even gave me a sample of their marinara sauce, which was a nice touch. The pizza itself was just average. The sauce, cheese, and pepperoni were all okay, but nothing really stood out. My biggest issue was the crust. It was really floppy and didn't have that light crunch on the bottom that I look for in a good New York style slice. When I picked it up, it just folded over. The marinara sample was decent too, but it also tasted pretty average. I always try to be fair with my reviews, and this definitely wasn't a bad slice. It just wasn't one that made me want to come back for more. Hopefully other pizzas on the menu are better, but based on this first impression, I'll probably keep searching for my next favorite pizza spot.

Rigatoni with Pink Sauce and meatballs

See all

The Red Room

We celebrated my wife Cheryl's birthday at Red Room Speakeasy Supper Lounge, and it was an…read moreabsolutely wonderful evening from start to finish! The host and owner, Domenico, was fantastic. He was warm, welcoming, and made us feel like special guests from the moment we arrived. You can tell he truly cares about his restaurant and the experience he creates for his guests. The service was excellent, the atmosphere was unique and intimate, and the food was outstanding. Everything came together perfectly for a memorable birthday celebration. Thank you to Domenico and the entire Red Room team for making Cheryl's birthday dinner so special. We'll definitely be back!

Appetizers and drinks were delicious, service was impeccable and very attentive. Ambiance was…read moreromantic. Will be back!

Top Shelf Bar

Dinner and live jazz

See all

Interior Red Room

Laventina's Big Cheese Pizza

4.2(1.2k reviews)

0.3 mi

Came here for a post Pilates cheat meal and I chose the right spot. I kept it simple with a cheese…read moreslice and it delivered!! Wonderful and fast customer service which is also a huge plus. Their cheese pizza stands out. Most places hold back, this one loads it up. Thick, gooey, and packed in every bite. If you love cheese, you'll be hooked after one slice.

I have tried the cheese and pepperoni pizzas. They are both great! This type of pizza reminds me of…read moreelementary school pizza, but high quality of course. If you're expecting New York style, this isn't it. The cheese is really good. I normally get upset stomach from low quality cheeses on pizza, but I have no problems with this one. I tend to crave this every week.

See more unrecommended reviews

$2.50 a slice!

Laventina's Big Cheese Pizza, taken 12/18/11

See all

Large with 5 toppings.

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

72 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Young J.

335

402

2231

3 years ago

il Farro Caffe Trattoria, conveniently situated within walking distance of Newport Beach at 111 21st Place, offers a delightful dining experience. I opted to order the Ravioli D'aragosta E Grandchio All Vodka priced at $32 an exquisite dish comprising homemade ravioli filled with lobster and crab, accompanied by shrimps in a delectable vodka sauce. The serving size was generous, and the balance of filling was just perfect, allowing the authentic taste of Italy to shine through in every bite. What sets il Farro apart is its commitment to catering to diverse dietary needs. The menu includes options for those preferring a spicy kick, gluten free alternatives, and even vegan choices. Notably, all dishes incorporate 100% farro, a non hybrid form of wheat cultivated organically without fertilizers, herbicides, or other chemical substances, emphasizing a commitment to quality ingredients. To round off the meal, I indulged in their Tiramisu, featuring large ladyfingers separated by velvety mascarpone cream and delicately dusted with cocoa powder. The dessert was a harmonious symphony of flavors, with each layer offering just the right amount of sweetness. At $11, it proved to be a fantastic deal for a dessert of such quality. To complement the culinary experience, il Farro boasts an impressive selection of DM Estate Vineyard wine, sourced directly from the boutique winery. This added a touch of sophistication to the meal. Lastly, the service at il Farro, particularly from Karen, was outstanding. She took the time to explain the menu in detail and provided excellent recommendations, enhancing the overall dining experience. The combination of exceptional food, a commitment to dietary inclusivity, and top notch service makes il Farro a standout dining destination in Newport Beach. read more

Oswaldo C.

1 year ago

Il Farro on 21st Street in Newport Beach delivers an authentic Italian dining experience with a welcoming, laid-back vibe that fits perfectly with its coastal surroundings. One of the highlights of my visit was the Espresso Martini - made fresh and served in a chilled metal martini glass, topped with Italian espresso beans. It was smooth, balanced, and felt like a luxurious start to the evening. For dinner, I had the Pennette Piccanti - a penne pasta dish with sausage and peppers that brought just the right amount of spice and depth of flavor. It was hearty, comforting, and full of character. What really sets Il Farro apart, though, is the service. In my opinion, it's the true standout here. The staff is consistently attentive, warm, and genuinely cares about the experience they provide. It's clear they bring this level of care day in and day out, which makes a huge difference. Overall, I'd give Il Farro a solid 4.5 stars. Great food, excellent drinks, and truly top-notch service - definitely worth a visit whether you're a local or just passing through Newport Beach. read more

Stephanie C.

6 years ago

Ordered a dirty martini - came with no olive juice. Ordered bruschetta - so much garlic I could barely stomach it. Calamari is chewier than taffy. Risotto on my husbands plate was... well I'm not sure what it was but it wasn"t risotto. And finally I ordered the ricotta spinach whole wheat ravioli and got a completely different dish. It was made with poorly prepped lobster and shrimp - who ordered a seafood dish?! My husband said something at the end, not expecting anything because I ate half since I knew nothing that came out of that kitchen would be worth eating so why bother sending it back. The waiter basically shrugged it off, took the card and that was it. He took it off but no apologies, no acknowledgement from the FOH manager walking around. I'm totally okay that things aren't the norm and businesses are having to make adjustments, but this was ridiculous. Bad food and worse attitudes. Even if they seemed to care a tiny bit I would have just chalked the food up to an off night. What a waste of a night out. read more

Johnny S.

8 years ago

At first glance this place seems authentic and a fun place to eat near the beach right? WRONG. I don't even know what you would call there service due to the LACK OF. Despite what it says on the menu this restaurant is no seasoned place but ran like a del taco that's lacking staff, lags n takes forever on drink We were sat at our table in our reserved section with Cris, only to get yelled at by an angry man who told us to leaveget up so he could sit his own friends in our RESERVATION! ...we obviously just left, only to be sat at 21 oceanfront with excellent service. Never have I experienced this. Being removed from a table that we not only called ahead of time to reserve to avoid this exact thing. Place is dirty with flys in your food and angry Obnoxious beards shedding hair all over your food. NEVER GOING TO IL FARRO AGAIN read more

Luigi G.

Elite 17

411

757

11 years ago

Italian landmark in SoCal No doubts, "Il Farro" is a landmark for all Italian's food lovers in Orange County. Not only for the excellent food and service, but also for the overall experience. Since you step in Il Farro, you feel to be like in Italy, intimate and romantic environment. The very cordial waiters and the master chef Domenico welcome you in their typical Italian way, they can be very talkative and funny! Linguine del pescatore and Branzino are excellent, definitely my favorite. Extensive selection of wines and desserts. Location is superb, in front of Newport Pier by the beach. Great also for business lunch with your clients. I recommend to book a table in the front patio for the interesting view. 5 Stars!!!!! Luigius - Thor of Yelp Energy read more

Kayla L.

12 years ago

This place is amazing!! Their foods are great; large variety and very fresh. I LOVE THEIR FRIED CALAMARI. THEIR FRIED CALAMARI IS A MUST HAVE--. The ambience and outside seating is perfect for the summer. Great view of Newport pier. Actually no, BEAUTIFUL view of the Newport pier and also the ocean. Il Farro also has a gelato store very, very close by (20 seconds walking). Amazing desserts and sweets. I would give this place 929383747729199384874738/5 stars if I could. I breathe Il Farro now. Best Italian food I have had in years. YEARS!! Great job and keep up the great service and food :). Chao! read more

Quana T.

7 years ago

If I could I wouldn't even give this place one star. RACIST. Me and my friend walked in this place and was greeted by no one. Then when the older gentleman who appeared to be the host came over to the door he disregarded us completely over a white older woman and her daughter. Plus the white couple in front of us. Even though me and my friend were there before them and they notified him of this he never even glanced in our direction or bothered to acknowledge our presence. I guess we had to be white or look of a lighter complexion than we did. Terrible. It's 2019 assholes. Racist!!!! read more

Jon B.

5 years ago

We celebrate a birthday on the 4th of July weekend. There were 8 of us. Our waiter Tony was amazing! Loved his New York accent and his sense of humor!! He was ontop of everything all night. We had 3 appetizers and 2 salads that we shared with the table. Then enjoyed our entrees followed by desserts and espresso. The price was much cheaper that I expected. Very reasonable for Newport Beach. It was a great night for us. Food was awesome and service was perfect. We will definitely be back. There are some nice tables outside you can enjoy the weather with. read more

Jon B.

5 years ago

Justin H.

10 years ago

Came and got lunch at Il Farro with the whole family. It's amazingly delicious and perfectly prepared food. I live in LA (no shortage of gourmet food) and only go to Newport to visit family but wish we had an Il Farro in Los Angeles. You can't go wrong with the salads, pizza or pasta... A nice little life hack would be to order the margarita pizza and the carppacio appetizer but then put the thin slices of filet on the margarita. It might sound strange but I assure you, it's like the best meat lovers pizza I've ever had. Thank you Farro for quality I can count on. read more

Mike H.

12 years ago

WOW! i can't tell you how good the food was! We ordered the calamari as an appetizer and it was just normal calamari. My wife likes it so we always get it. I ordered their Il Farro pasta (low carbs, low gluten, good for you, etc). I can't remember the name of the dish but it had a light sauce with sun dried tomatoes, basil, and chicken. It was AWESOME. My wife got the lasagna and it may have been the best lasagna I have ever tasted. This is a small restaurant so it is very comfortable, not super swanky but very homey feeling. Highly recommend! read more

Luca C.

3 years ago

I created a Yelp just for this restaurant, and I had such a good time I just had to. Il Farro in Newport Beach is a hidden gem that never fails to impress. From the moment you step in, you're greeted with a warm and welcoming ambiance the owner sat us himself. We came in on a busy day which thankfully wasn't a problem we only had to wait max 10 min. The food was amazing the Gnocchi Zucca was booooomb my GF had the Linguine clams, which was equally great. Service was good and definitely coming back read more

Robert S.

13 years ago

We went to this place yesterday, and I must say I was pleasantly surprised. I never had this much olive oil and bread in my life lol. It was just so good. We had the Groupon deal and it really worked out. The appetizers were yummy and the main dish was pretty good too. It's one of those places that I'll definitely take my wife again and it's really nice. The gentleman who served us was very polite and I appreciate the Pride he carried. He definitely cared about giving a good service. read more

Giancarlo M.

1 year ago

Came in on a Friday night the place was packed but still managed to squeeze in. Our server whom I forgot their name was really nice and charming. The ambience was loud but i get it, its busy night. The cocktails we ordered were a little flat but excusable. The food , my god , was another level of amazing. I know it's unconventional to order custom stuff off menu but they accommodate. Which was kinda cool Love these guys definitely coming back read more

Luis A.

8 years ago

We saw this restaurant in yelp and we decided to stop by ! We started with a carpaccio , it was very good ! If you are a carpaccio lover, it's a must ! Then we had a recommendation from our wonderful waiter named CHAD ( ask for him if you read this review ) and we went for lobster ravioli in vodka sauce and lasagna. Very good ! Over all very good food, very good service. You have to come if you come to Newport Beach CA read more

Lawrence D.

Elite 24

1106

375

817

12 years ago

Setting was fantastic. We sat outside in the warm afternoon sun looking down a quaint walkway to the ocean. Service was Phenomenal. Our server Jose was the BEST. He was friendly, caring and attentive. The food was really really Great too. Parking was ok since its off season but Ive been to Newport Beach in the summer and its crazy to find parking. Bring change for the meters. .25 per each 10 minutes. read more

Katie H.

3 years ago

This is my favorite Italian restaurant in all of Newport Beach. I feel like I'm vacationing in Italy when I'm here. My favorite food here is the complimentary farro bread and garlic olive oil. The best part it's FREE!I usually fill up on this while drinking some great super Tuscan wine. I really should save some more room for the entre, but I LOVE the bread! I highly recommend this place! read more

Lizzie L.

5 months ago

We had such a wonderful Mother's Day dinner at Il Farro yesterday! The food was incredible good, outstanding Pasta, the service was warm and attentive, and the desserts were absolutely delicious. A special thank you to Rose for making us feel so welcome and special throughout the evening. Everything from start to finish was fantastic, and we are already looking forward to coming back soon! read more

Domenic M.

3 years ago

We highly recommend il farro we had fresh hand made pasta pappardelle boscaiola, fresh seafood like cioppino or seafood soup, farro grain dishes Farrotto cacio pepe, Good cocktails a nice selection of them and Good wine by the glass also, good service and a nice ambiance Nice experience that's why they have been open for 31 years I guess Thank you thank you Giuliano read more

Anthony H.

536

212

103

11 years ago

This place is amazing has great food great service very authentic the owner is very accommodating personable and great knowledge of Italian food and wine!!! I definitely recommend this restaurant to anybody in Newport Beach or the surrounding area definitely a hidden gem I wish there were six stars on Yelp for this place read more

Il Farro - italian - Updated September 2026

Best of Newport Beach

Things to do in Newport Beach

People found Il Farro by searching for…

People who viewed Il Farro also viewed

The Original Mama D's Italian Kitchen

4.6

(485 reviews)

Finally made it to Mama D's in CDM, and it absolutely lived up to the hype…read more From the moment we walked in, the service was incredible. Everyone was so welcoming, attentive, and genuinely made us feel like family. Here's what we ordered: Calamari Half Margarita and Half Favorites Pizza Their famous homemade ravioli with meat Sausage and chicken Capri with their signature pink sauce Everything was delicious, but the standout for me was definitely the pink sauce. It was so good that my friends (who live far away) asked if they could take some home and the staff happily packed up a cup of just the sauce! They also start you off with warm, fresh bread served with garlic and olive oil. It was super garlicky in the best way. The pizza had an amazing crust with fresh toppings, and you could really taste that the ravioli was homemade. To end the meal, they bring out complimentary mini cookies. They were the perfect sweet bite... I just wish they were bigger! I'm so happy I finally got to try Mama D's, and I already can't wait to come back. It's also the perfect spot to grab lunch or dinner after spending the day at the beach since it's just a 12 min walk from Inspiration Point. Definitely worth the visit!

Great service and free bread. Beautiful outdoor seating. Parking can be difficult…read more The Classic with Creamy Pesto $19 + $3 6/10 Big portion, but pricey for no protein included. Pasta was a great texture, but the sauce was lacking in flavor. Bri's Capri with Pink Sauce and Sausage $22 + $3.5 + $7 9/10 Big portion and very tasty. The sausage is a must have with this pasta. The sauce is a balanced tomato and creamy flavor.

Foretti's

3.9

(742 reviews)

Good comforting Italian food served piping hot and fresh in a very generous portion. Our server…read moreRobert was very attentive despite having lots of guests in his section. It's a quaint little place right on PCH so there is street noise but not too loud.

We came on a Monday and was surprised to see how crowded it was. We had a reservation so we were…read moreseated pretty quickly. We sat on the patio at the entrance which was set up nicely and covered with open windows which was perfect and quaint. They brought out bread and a dip that I believe was pesto and olive oil the was really good. I ordered the linguine cacio e pepe and it was ok, my daughter ordered the meat ravioli which was delicious. I will definitely return to try more of the offered dishes.

Al Forno Caffe

4.5

(846 reviews)

Sincerely, this was the BEST Grubhub delivery I have ever had. A couple of changes for the item I…read moreordered were caught, and I had a phone call to confirm what I did/did not want. PERFECT! I will be going there directly one day, or simply order once again from Grubhub. The BEST Italian restaurant, in Orange County. Honestly, if you haven't been there before, I highly recommend Al Forno Caffe!

I'll be thinking about the gnocchi from Al Forno Caffe for a LONG TIME. It was a special last…read morenight, but I hope they bring variations of it back regularly (this special included wild boar sausage). This spot feels like a local, "if you know, you know" type of establishment- and more people need to try it! Kind service DELICIOUS food, and a quaint location (with LOTS of parking). We're going to make this a frequent spot for our family.

Modo Mio Rustic Italian Kitchen

4.1

(644 reviews)

My girlfriends took me here to celebrate my engagement tonight as this was where my fiancee and I…read morehad our first date. So cute and they brought me flowers and a bottle of champagne to celebrate. The server congratulated me for the special occasion but never brought a dessert or anything celebratory for the special occasion. Everything was wonderful and delicious, but missing out on taking the opportunity to celebrate this special moment where my friends brought me to celebrate this special occasion where we came for our first date was such a missed moment by your establishment. What a disappointment.

We were gifted a gift card to this restaurant that we had never been to before. Decided to give it…read morea try and invite a few friends. The service was great but the food was even better!! Everything we ordered from appetizers to desserts, tasted amazing! I don't eat pasta, but they offered a veggie option instead of pasta, which I appreciated. I ordered the veal chop, it was the best I have ever had! We all decided we wanted to come back! Such a fun and delicious Italian restaurant!

The Original Mama D's Italian Kitchen

4.6

(7.6k reviews)

Service great! Liked the ambiance. Restaurant was cute. Food was O.k. We had spaghetti which needed…read morejust a little more salt and Italian seasonings.

Trattoria

4.2

(258 reviews)

Everything here is great. The service is impeccable the food outstanding, and it's nice to be able…read moreto have a place you can count on that doesn't close before they stated hours Love the veal napolean. is to die for so good you can. cut with a fork. And wonderful To have a place that stays open when they say they're gonna be open

This was our first visit. We walk around the Island every day and always pass by this Trattoria…read morewondering what it would be like. It's an interesting block with Olive Oil and Beyond where you can taste the most amazing olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Almost a little Italy with Balsilic across the street and Ciao across the street. It's a real challenge to operate a restaurant when it's not packed every night. What do you do about spoilage - how many times to you throw out the meat, and seafood, and vegetables you don't use and how long can you keep them and not affect the taste? My read on the food is that it was not fresh...we have veal piccata and it was well-prepared but didn't taste very fresh, and prawns with pasta on the side...the garlic bread was soft (a choice) but not crispy but soft and somewhat mushy. The prawns were no fresh and had a strange texture. The service was excellent...we don't know his name but he was very kind and helpful. He knew how to service tables and was very skillful. We never saw the chef. We love the ambiance ... a very quiet and old world kind of place...tables and chairs...just an excellent venue with excellent service. it felt very comfortable and dampened noise from the street quite well. Now how to solve the problem? This place needs to be full every night. They need to be purchasing new product every morning. It's almost worth anything to fill the restaurant...off specials and coupons, make it almost impossible not to come. The more people come the more word of mouth. This place can't survive on hope. The chef needs to purchase the absolute best food product and then use it everyday. Otherwise the experience will not be sufficient to bring us back. Things need to change. We spent $112 with tip for a dinner for two. A glass of wine was $16 and a plate of garlic bread was $9. The check says the name is "Trattoria Mediterranean Cuisine".

Bello by Sandro Nardone

4.3

(805 reviews)

I had Bello on my list to try for a while and I finally had a chance during a business dinner…read more We ordered the calamari and porchettina to start. The calamari was tender and the breading light and crispy. The porchettina was delicious. The pork was well seasoned and the crunchy skin provided a delightful texture change. The relish topping really balanced the richness of the pork with its tangy and sweet flavor. I ordered the norcia for my entree and it was also well done. The pasta was al dente which is critical for any pasta dish. The sauce was well seasoned, rich, and creamy. Overall, the food was delicious and the service was attentive and knowledgeable. I will definitely come back to try their pizzas which also looked great.

Really disappointing experience tonight. We waited about an hour after our appetizer before our…read moreentrees finally arrived, and the food was cold. We were never offered bread, and no one asked if I wanted another glass of wine, so I ended up eating my entire meal without anything to drink. My partner's beer was also flat. We ordered a super simple pomodoro and the sauce tasted like spaghetti-oh's, although, the pasta was cooked well. I do want to give credit to our server, Camryn. She was lovely, very apologetic, and clearly doing the best she could under the circumstances. She explained that they were very short-staffed tonight. The hostess was also incredibly sweet and welcoming. I completely understand that staffing issues happen, and I don't blame Camryn at all, but waiting an hour for cold food and having drinks and basic service overlooked made for a pretty disappointing dinner. Hopefully tonight was just an off night because the staff we interacted with were genuinely lovely. The patio was nice, and they allow dogs outside. Unfortunately, we're stopping for food on the way home.

Sapori Ristorante

3.6

(379 reviews)

It was my husband birthday, so we have decided to try a new place!…read more The food was great , Sarah at the bar was very nice! The only thing that ruined our experience was having a dinner in a restaurant that was heaving their remolding done at the same time. Why not close instead ? We decide not having dessert or even mention about birthday!

I was planning my mother-in-law birthday celebration and wanted to take the family to explore…read moreBalboa Island during the holiday season. I was looking for a restaurant with a cozy atmosphere, close proximity and ample parking given the holidays were in full swing in late December. I found Sapori Ristorante in Newport Beach. It is an Italian restaurant with an intimate garden patio. Since its was late December night we opted to sit indoors but can totally see the patio as a great option in warmer weather. We were party of 8 and seated near the back of the restaurant which was a nice secluded area. We order appetizers for the table calamari (not pictured) and bruschetta. They were able to customize the number of bruschetta for the table and the calamari came out crispy and hot! My husband and I decided to share a couple of entrees to make our own little surf and turf. I ordered the Ravioli d'Aragosta and my husband got the Scaloppine Saltimbocca. They were so accommodating and even helped spilt our plates and portion it out for both of us ( they should totally add this as a combo in the future)! The ravioli was so delicious and flavorful, packed nicely and paired with well with the veal. The veal paired nicely with the saltiness from the prosciutto and white wine sauce with sage gave its distinctive earthy and savory flavor. The veal also came with veggies to become a well balanced meal. The service was quick and personable, hearing Dean Martin music in the background gave a wonderful and warm impression. They have a full dessert menu (with a fun plastic display the waiter brings to you to showcase). We opted out of dessert since we had plans on the island but otherwise would have picked a few options to enjoy. The island was a short walk away which allowed us to see the beautiful Christmas lights. If you are looking for approachable Italian food with multiple pasta, entree and dessert options at great pricing and none of the pretentiousness that can come from Newport, this is the place to visit and enjoy a warm cozy meal in a beautiful area. Small note: Originally I was also excited to try the pizza options but unfortunately that is not available in the main dining area and only their small cafe front. I think it's a miss opportunity but they may have their reasons.

Rusty Pelican

3.7

(2.5k reviews)

My new favorite place! I am new to the Southern California area, however my husband and I really…read moreenjoyed our meal. We tried this restaurant for our 12 anniversary, we got a reservation I asked for a table by a window; they had a great table ready for us it was romantic. Our server Jessica was very sweet! I enjoyed how Jessica checked on us but not too much she had the perfect balance of service. We had the garlic bread, so yummy. I had the special which was Mahi mahi for dinner and the crème brûlée for dessert. Both were delicious but I would literally go back just for that crème brûlée I don't drink so I asked about non alcoholic mocktails, I'm glad I asked because I didn't notice them on the menu... Jessica gave me some great options, I picked a berry mint sprits. I loved my drink it was nice and refreshing. My husband tasted it and tried to take it from me My husband had a glass of white wine I can't remember what it was but he enjoyed it. For dinner my husband had shrimp scampi and for dessert he had the mocha almond ice cream cake. He was obsessed with the chocolate sauce.. and devoured the dessert. I know we will be back! They made our 12th anniversary a very nice experience. One negative is you are required to use valet parking, which has a flat fee of $10. I would park somewhere else and walk in, the future. I didn't deduct a star for that; because it's not a huge deal and the service and food is more important to me.

This place sure is rusty…read more.. Imagine waiting 1 hour for slow service, up-charging without even saying it costs extra, and getting the borderline inedible food. The salad I got was snotted with a healthy portion of the WORST Italian dressing I've ever had and was $10 for some salad greens and pickled vegetables. The entree I chose was the seafood pasta. $32 for a flavorless soup of 4 shrimp, a few lumps of fish, and a couple measly scallops. Go figure the protein costs the most to them, that might be why they up-charged me just to add spinach. Our server was straight up disrespectful I could hear her laughing at us from the kitchen. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY HERE! Update: place gave me food poisoning too

Trenta Pizza & Cucina

4.6

(1.7k reviews)