Thank you, II Gatto, for once again providing such wonderful service for me and my daughter. It wasn't our first time there and it definitely wouldn't be the last. Love the fact there's an authentic Italian restaurant so close to home. My daughter and I each ordered pasta. I got their Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken. Loved the creamy sauce! My favorite thing to order at II Gatto is actually their fried Calamari - it is SO good! Love their complimentary bread and butter, but hate the fact that by the time we finish our meal, we never have any more room left for dessert. The restaurant is huge, with an outside patio - it's pretty, especially when it's lit up with string lights. There's a huge parking in the back - definitely plenty of parking. My dining experience here is always a solid 9/10. Can't wait to come back! read more

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We thoroughly enjoyed the service and the food was delicious! Lasagna, short rib specialty with wide noodles, spaghetti with meat sauce. Looking forward to our next visit! Fast Forward: Family loves the service, menu and specials! We plan our family's special celebrations around Il Gatto. So happy we discovered such a delightful restaurant! K Popovec read more

BEST. PASTA. HANDS. DOWN. I have been LOOKING for a great Italian spot. So many places get the pasta sauce weird, bland, or watery. Or use Ragu/Prego. Not this place. TRUE tomato sauce. Grew up with Italian grandma so it has been nearly impossible for me to find good pasta even close to it. Then Il Gatto blew me away. Me and my husband ordered Short Rib Papardelle and Spaghetti Bolognese w/ Meatballs. The pappardelle had such a savory sauce that tasted like marsala and the shredded short ribs were so tender. The spaghetti bolognese was delicious! The pasta was al dente and the meat sauce chef's kiss. They also provided some complimentary warm French bread which me and my husband shamelessly devoured 2 baskets before our meal. Ambiance was gorgeous! Was nice and dimly lit with a nice warm fireplace. Very romantic date spot. Definitely a spot to take pictures. I adored the exterior of the restaurant as well!! They have outdoor seating with a small fountain and flowers by the entrance. It was beautiful. Service was..good..but not great. Now let me tell you why. Hostess and server were very kind. HOWEVER. It took our server 30 min to get our drinks. The restaurant only had 1 big party, a couple, and us. Was not packed at all. (I have personal experience with restaurant management so I completely understand how chaotic restauarants can get.) So here is my complaint.. our server came back 3 times to ask what we ordered even though I saw her write stuff down. Then she forgot our drinks at the bar and we saw them standing there. She grabbed them 30 minutes later explaining she has a big party but served us warm alcohol. At least offer to get us new ones for waiting 30 min and not the old ones you left sitting out. You know? Who likes warm champagne?! I still took a deep breath and tried to give her patience because she was an older server and was very kind. I just wish she didn't spend her whole shift coming back to us to explain why she's taking so long instead of taking that time she's talking to us, to grab what we ordered. When we try to flag her down for something she forgets, she's standing around talking to another server for a good 10 min. Just came off unprofessional and turned me off a bit..to complain to a couple trying to celebrate their anniversary. Will come back for the food and ambiance. I shall ask for a different server next time. (Sorry). read more

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No stars but I had to 1 to complete my review On sat 8.15.26 myself along with my brother and sister had dinner. We all left with food poisoning...Mine started immediately after I finished my meal (lobster ravioli) having to leave quickly. Then theirs followed. We did reach out and notify the restaurant and after phone calls with the manager and a waiting period to see if any other customers had the same problem, 2 of the meals were refunded. Although the manager did not feel the meal I ate was the cause, that it was from an earlier meal that I ate, i.e, breakfast or lunch - I disagree as I was fine the whole day- food poisoning is immediate which happened in my case. read more

Its said that the true test of a dish is when it shines through simplicity. This would be the name of IL Gatto if it wasn't so long. The Bruscetta is simply the best I've ever had, no joke. The gnocchi, though, wow. It made me feel like I've never had it before. I didn't think it was possible to make a tomato based sauce taste delicate, but they did. If you like Italian food you owe it to yourself to eat here. read more

Had a nice relaxing night last week at Il Gatto. Located at the former Cat & The Custard Cup in La Habra (Orange County). Il Gatto is known for their tasty Italian food. Last time I was in this very building, back when it was The Cat & The Custard Cup, it was in 2018. Great time!!! For dinner, all for myself.... I've ordered the following. App: House Made Meatballs Entree: Lasagna Dessert: Tiramisu Drink: This one is the interesting one..... Goose Hunting in Vermont, which I never did before, or even went to Vermont. LOL All the food item I ordered was delicious. Meatballs was amazing. Lasagna looks great, tasty, delightful, you name it. Tiramisu was heavenly good. Everything Italian in an Italian restaurant is a winning combination. The drink I ordered is highly recommended by me and some actual goose hunters. Pretty unique and tasty drink I've had. Service: Excellent service I've received from the bartender. I didn't get his name, but he did tell me that he was one of the former Cat employees. Added bonus: I actually got a chance to chit chat with some other customers near me who actually have knowledge of great Italian restaurants, especially in Italy. Great people. Overall: If you haven't been there yet.... go here for some tasty Italian food while I go visit Vermont for goose hunting. read more

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I love this place! the gnocchi was so soft and delicious and for dessert i order bread pudding which was as usual, amazing. read more

Il Gatto - Italian Near Me - La Habra, California

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What a true hidden gem in La habra! This restaurant is truly one of those places that needs to be on everyone's radar because it's the perfect place for romantic dinners, girls night out, birthday parties and just because I don't want cook kinda nights. They serve delicious pastas and appetizers with well made cocktails with exceptional service. I enjoyed their beautiful charcuterie board with wine while listening to live piano playing in the background. Love the ambience and overall experience that's unforgettable. 10/10 recommend! read more

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What a WONDERFUL little gem of La Habra! We came here for the first time tonight as a surprise for my birthday. The area it's in is just so unassuming, it's as if someone took a little chunk of Italy and dropped it in this plaza. The outdoor area is adorable and has flowers a'bloomin'. Our server was attentive from start to finish. There was a piano man playing some lovely jazz tunes. We ordered prosecco and enjoyed while we waited for food. For apps, we got the calamari & bruschetta--both wonderful, especially the bruschetta! For entrees, I got the mushroom risotto with scallops. It was a *touch* on the salty side according to my husband, but it was perfect for me! My husband got the short rib pappardelle which was phenomenal. On par with Parkway Grill's short rib pasta in my opinion, which is a huge compliment! We also got the tiramisu for dessert and it was the perfect finish to a lovely night. I ended up getting the rest of my risotto to go... and then left it there! We don't live far, so I called to see if they might have saved it--not only did they save it, but they kept it warm in the oven for us. This is the type of service that is lacking in this day and age, but Il Gatto absolutely delivers. Can not wait to come back & try more food! read more

Il Gatto - Mushroom Risotto - Italian Near Me - La Habra, California

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A hidden gem! The food was delicious and our waitress was very welcoming and gave us great recommendations. I'm pretty sure we've found our new favorite Italian restaurant! read more

We keep coming back to Il Gatto for their outstanding Italian food, the beautiful restaurant, and the excellent service! It has become our go-to for family celebrations and when we have visitors from out of town. Il Gatto consistently delivers delicious meals that are cooked to perfection and outstanding service. Their seafood linguine and short rib pappardelle are amazing. Their pizzas are also top shelf. Thank you Il Gatto! read more

Love this restaurant, penne alla vodka is my favorite and the tiramisu is so light and perfect. Live piano music on Thursdays. Perfect date night spot read more

Il Gatto - Front door of restaurant - Italian Near Me - La Habra, California

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Il Gatto is a reboot of the custard cup. What really drew me in was the cat shaped charcuterie board. I know. I know. Service was a bit slow during our visit and it seemed they only had one server running the show. They had a live band playing which was a nice treat. The area we were situated was really tight though. We started with the charcuterie board which was not only a visual highlight but rang well with our taste buds as well. Their aperol spritz was delicious too. I ordered the lasagna and im so glad I did because it was heavenly. We also ordered a clam linguine, pizza and chicken parmigiana with bolognese. I believe my hubby was not impressed with the latter. Overall, it was a grand experience but I am not craving a comeback. Starter bread was nothing to write home about read more

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Celebrated my bf's birthday here! We had a reservation and for a Wednesday night it was a bit full. Our server checked on us plenty of times to give us water or ask if we needed anything. The food-- was sooo delicious and filling. My bf dessert was panna cotta which was absolutely amazing!! Would come back read more

Il Gatto - Complimentary dessert: panna cotta - Italian Near Me - La Habra, California

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Everything was absolutely delicious. Theresa was our server who was wonderful! She was sociable, sweet, and on top of it. The food was absolutely amazing. Everything we ate was delicious and the portions are large! Definitely will be back. read more

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Excellent service, food was delicious, nice atmosphere. The only thing was that the pasta was overcooked not al dente read more

Formerly the cat and the custard cup, my vote for the best tavern/ steakhouse in north OC (IMO was better than summit house) from what I understand same operators are now running this place, now named the cat, minus the custard cup. Ok, on to the experience - Service, excellent, nice outdoor seating looking out to whittier blvd, not exactly Rome but it's nice nevertheless. Updated bar area and interior overall, it's brighter, modern. The Italian sparkling water branded umbrellas are a nice touch, warm, gas fire pits outside for a nice, high end touch. The goods - lasagne: very interesting, pre Columbus style, tomato-free w an almost, bechamel like gravy. I liked it. Cacio e pepe - well done but a bit underwhelming, just needed a touch of textured salt. The portions were large, as expected at an above $25 price point. The dessert menu was excellent, the entire dining experience was pleasant, we shall be back for round 2. 4.5 stars. read more

Il Gatto - The spread - Italian Near Me - La Habra, California

Wow, this place exceeded my expectations. I'm usually picky with Italian restaurants but this place was incredible. The seafood linguine was the best I've ever had. It was loaded with seafood and the sauce was rich and flavorful. Love this place! read more

Il Gatto - Seafood Linguini - Italian Near Me - La Habra, California

This continues to be one of my favorite places for an upscale happy hour. The food is fantastic as well as the bar area. I love the pizza and the salads. The green salad has anchovies, which I surpringly love. It adds a nice salty flavor. The meatballs are wonderful. The live music is fantastic. The bartenders are always friendly and I will continue to enjoy my date nights here. read more

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Definitely had been meaning to come back here since the cat and the custard cup transition...glad we did. Out of everything we tried there was one concern being with an app item. The calamari was very chewy as it is when not fresh or overcooked. This is the only reason it knocks off a star, otherwise we are looking forward to returning. read more

I eat next door at El Cholo quite often. I always see the cute black cat logo and the adorable patio. We finally decided to try it. The interior decor is rustic elegance. Wood beams on the ceiling and leather tufted stools make it moody cabin/ library feels. I am a fan of the style! The service was pretty good. It was friendly and easy going. They have really good happy hour deals on food and cocktails! The warm bread basket was yummy. We ordered 2 different salads, Margherita pizza, lasagne and spaghetti bolognese. Everything was a large serving size. We liked it all. The lasagne had a good bechamel. Definitely date night vibes. read more

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Came here with friends for a girls night, and it was the best experience. The atmosphere and ambiance is unmatched, I especially loved the fireplace and architecture of the restaurant. The service was phenomenal, our waiter checked on us often and didn't mind that I didn't know how to pronounce the dish I wanted to order. The bruschetta was amazing, and the pasta melted in my mouth. I can't wait to return to try other dishes! read more

For our second visit to Il Gatto, I decided to surprise my wife for her birthday. It was mid-week on a Thursday evening, but it was a bit crowded. Luckily, I had the forethought to book a reservation. We had to park in back, but there was plenty of parking with a short walk around the side of the restaurant to the entrance. It was a chilly evening, but we noticed an outdoor patio/sitting area with a fire pit that we mused must be crowded during the warmer months. When we entered, the jazz quartet was setting up. The last time we were here, which was much later in the evening, there was no live music. The whole vibe reminded me of restaurants I used to frequent on Union Street in SF. We were seated, thankfully, not near the restrooms. When I asked our server, Teresa, about the main dining room seating, she told me that they open it up during the weekends when there is more of a crowd. Teresa, by the way, was excellent! She was from Naples and she absolutely loves her job. My wife and I got to know her as she got to know us and I must say, we were enamored with her love of Italy, food and Il Gatto. This evening's fare consisted of bruschetta, pesto risotto with seared scallops, and an off menu chicken piccata. And of course, the panettone bread pudding. We also had, as Teresa had playfully coined, La Habra's finest (still water) and my customary Peroni beer. If you've read my other reviews, you know that we love caprese salad. However, wanting to sample more of the menu, we opted for the bruschetta. It's like a caprese salad but with burrata cheese instead of mozzarella, heirloom tomatoes, basil and balsamic vinegar over toasted Italian bread, like a crostini. The three pieces were absolutely delicious, with a distinct crunch when bitten and no sogginess. The burrata was so creamy and was perfectly complemented by the balsamic, the tomatoes and basil. Since our reservation was early (6:30pm) my wife asked Teresa if we could have something off menu: one of her fav's, chicken piccata. Teresa went to the head chef, Yessica, and was told since it wasn't that busy yet, that she could prepare it! (Mind you, don't expect off menu items if they're busy, we just lucked out...) If you haven't had this dish before, it's pounded and tenderized chicken breast, sauteed in a white wine reduction with lemon and capers. It was served with pasta primavera, but I thought, given the lightness of the dish, that pasta olio e aglio would have been a better pairing. Teresa, being from Naples, agreed, especially since Naples is known for this type of pasta. (I later found out from Paula, the GM that this type of pasta was featured in the summer). My previous review praised the risotto, as being creamy, but not mushy and not overly al dente. The pesto risotto with scallops was heavenly. The scallops, unlike the ones at Hell's Kitchen (read my review on that one...) were seared just right. They were tender and not rubbery. Where our first experience was a bit on the salty side, this time around, everything was seasoned perfectly. Our go-to dessert, the panettone bread pudding, was spot on. In fact, they brought it out with a candle and happy birthday written in chocolate sauce on the rim of the plate. I had to go to thank the chef and on the way, I pleasantly ran into Paula, the GM. I thanked her for the wonderful meal and praised Teresa for the wonderful service and engaging conversation. She told me she was a manager at the Cannery in NB and was promoted here recently. She then introduced me to Chef Yessica. I thought it was still chef Antonio (as my previous review noted the chef in the blue hat guiding his female sous chef). Boy, did I get that wrong. It turns out that Yessica was a chef at Louie's By the Bay and was promoted to head chef here. She specializes in traditional Italian recipes but brings a flair all her own. In fact, Teresa told us that she had gone to the kitchen and that Chef Yessica was experimenting with barramundi. I thought it appropriate given lent and those that abstain from meat on Fridays. She told me, it would be one of the specials on the Friday menu. The owners of El Cholo own all 4 restaurants, El Cholo, Louie's By the Bay, The Cannery and Il Gatto. I've been to both El Cholo and the Cannery years ago. However, the culinary team at Il Gatto is just amazing. From the service to the food to the ambiance, it's a welcome delight to La Habra and LA and OC in general. Andate e divertitevi! read more

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I'm giving this place 5 only because the food was pretty good. Our waitress little wacky didn't really know what was going on. We had to ask for bread and butter. everyone loved their food. I'm gonna say my lobster raviolis were a little overpriced. Got like six lobster ravioli and some tomato sauce then I'm going to say it was not up to par. I don't really think it's a romantic spot. The ambience is pretty much family. read more

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Went back for a second time to celebrate my son's birthday. Sat in the inside garden area which we loved at a round table which was wonderful. Everyone loved their food and the service was great. Will definitely be coming back. read more

I just left this place and wow haven't had bad service like this in a while. Service was slow because our waiter was also a bartender apparently, we didn't get our bread and butter until 45 min later after we sat down, my coffee took 25 min to come out after I ordered it, waiter hardly checked on us. Then the food came out and was terrible, my pizza tasted like a digionio pizza and my wife's chicken parmigana was soggy and cold. The waiter didn't even ask if our daughter wanted the ice cream after her spaghetti. I only ate two slices of the pizza and the waiter didn't even ask to take it off the bill, if somebody doesn't like their food you do not charge them for it. This place is horrible, even vinnys is far better than this, stick to brea or fullerton for your Italian spot. read more

I have been wanting to bring the family to a fancy Italian restaurant for a while now. My girls are only 6 and 8 so I did not feel they would appreciate the authentic flavors. To my surprise, they also noticed the difference in quality. We reserved for a Friday night at 6pm. It's located in a small plaza with another big Mexican resultant. Thank goodness for back lot parking. There is a small side walkway that brings you back around to the front of the store for entering. We were seated promptly and server Teresa helped us. We originally preferred the tap water and it tasted terrible. We ended up just buying soft drinks due to the nasty taste. Teresa was courteous and provided us with an intro to the specials. We got the fettecinni Alfredo. Lasagna. Bruschetta and flat iron steak. Start bread dipped in balsamic vinegar and olive oil was amazing. We ordered another bread basket and was happy Teresa was transparent about the additional charge of $3.50. Our bruschetta was a little delayed but so worth the wait. Very nice approach without using red tomatoes. All the entrees were amazing. We have been to Italy but we did not like the food there. This has got to be one of the very good Italian places in the area. My girls could taste the difference and did not need any convincing on partaking in dinner here. My 8 year old asked for more pasta after the plate was finished. I had to gently tell her it's not all you can eat LOL We ended our meal with a spumoni ice cream and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. I loved the vibe. Service and food for this place. The damage was hefty but well worth the experience. Highly recommended read more

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Perfect date night spot for intimate, low lighting and shareable plates. The large corner stone fireplace crackling while you bite into a fresh slice of bread drizzled with olive oil and vinaigrette? Class. The drinks-we ordered two cocktails which took over 20 mins to arrive at our table. Our waitress was very kind and perfectly attentive, I'll assume this is not the norm, because all else was great. read more

Il Gatto - Pizza Mare with Pesto - Italian Near Me - La Habra, California

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We had a party of 16. Service was fantastic and the food was delicious. We all had a great time in a great atmosphere. Drinks were on point and they let us hang out until they turned out the lights. We will definitely be back. Thank you for an amazing evening! read more

So good! Cant believe I've missed this place after driving past it for so many years. Our plates were delicious! Sometimes they make carbonara if they have ingredients They also have jazz on Thursdays nights!! Perfect date night spot! Parking is a bit tough! read more

Food is awesome, service is one of the best. Marshal is one the reasons we visit this restaurant

It is our first time here. It was really good. The service was great. The ambiance was amazing; I loved the live music ( especially playing Charlie Brown Christmas music). I had the spaghetti bolognese with an extra meatball and it was very delicious. He had the flat iron steak and ate it all. I had his vegetable. The Caesar salad was good for him w the anchovies. I had the bruschetta which I loved. No room for dessert, next time. read more

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Great evening, I drove all the way up here from Irvine, and it was well worth it. I have friends who live up in La Habra Heights, and said, we love this restaurant and regularly frequent here. There were 5 of us, and we were not disappointed, especially with our female server, who is directly from Italy, and spoke to one of my friends from Puglia, in Italian. The food was delicious, and we had the best table in the restaurant, right in the window box. It was a great Italian atmosphere, and we all had a blast! read more

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First let me start with the Caprese salad, the tomato's were over ripe and mushy, I ordered the ciao Peppe which was nothing like that plate is, I was served noodles with this watery white sauce that had no flavor, supper bland. PLEASE don't advertise food you don't k ow how to make. You're better off serving your pizza. read more

IL Gatto never disappoints. Friendly staff and delicious food. Nice atmosphere. Great place all the way around.

Came here on a friend's recommendation and it did not disappoint! The atmosphere is lovely, and everything from the appetizers to the pizza and pasta was delicious. The pasta and bruschetta, in particular, were some of the best I've had in a long time. The portions are very generous for the price, making it a perfect spot for large groups. Great service and a solid 5-star experience all around! read more

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We decided to try Il Gatto for takeout, and I was pleasantly surprised by how everything was packaged. You can tell they take pride in their presentation, even for to-go orders. Each dish arrived looking as good as it probably would've in the restaurant. From the sturdy containers to the neatly arranged toppings, it definitely had a great takeout experience. We ordered a little bit of everything to get a feel for the menu: the shrimp pizza was the great; flavorful, perfectly cooked shrimp, and a crisp yet chewy crust. The calamari was good and crunchy. The ravioli was rich and comforting, and the caprese had fresh ingredients. All in all, Il Gatto delivered a great takeout experience. It's not the cheapest Italian spot around, but the attention to quality and detail makes it feel like a special treat. I'd love to go back and dine in sometime. read more

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Such an amazing hidden gem in La habra! Honestly the best Italian food in the area. Food quality and the menu are fantastic. Portions are a good size. Daniel, our waiter, was great. We visited on Thursday night so they had a jazz band which was a really nice touch. The restaurant looks cute on the inside and the decor really adds to the homey ambience. Perfect for date nights, intimate celebrations, or just a night out! Will definitely return, 10/10! You also get complimentary bread and it's delicious! Can't wait to go back and work my way through the menu. read more

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Dined here while visiting family in La Habra. Last time here it was the Cat in the Custard Cup. We shared 3 items from the Happy Hour bites menu and I enjoyed two, very well mixed, Negronis. Service was great and they had a very good trio playing music in the bar. read more

Stellar food, lovely ambiance--but front-of-house experience missed the mark The food here is hands down 10/10--absolutely worth the drive. We ordered the calamari, short rib pappardelle, and spaghetti Bolognese, and every single dish was perfectly dialed in. Rich, flavorful, and deeply satisfying. You can tell the kitchen doesn't miss. The ambiance adds to the experience: live music, a baby grand piano, and an overall cozy yet elevated vibe. Definitely a spot I'd recommend to friends. Our server was warm, attentive, and quick--they truly made us feel taken care of. The only reason I'm docking one star is the way things were handled at the host stand. We had a 6:30 reservation and arrived 30 minutes early, but despite the restaurant being half-empty, we were told we wouldn't be seated until closer to our reserved time. Since we were starving, we asked to be seated at a high-top, which the host eventually allowed--but the interaction felt unnecessarily rigid and lacking warmth. We had even noted in our reservation that it was a special celebration, so we expected a bit more of a welcome or at least a touch of acknowledgment. Still, the food and service at the table were exceptional--just hoping the front-of-house experience catches up to the rest of the magic. read more

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