I'm heartbroken they closed. I know she is still gonna do pop ups and is gonna sell that amazing sun dried tomato dip. Thank god! I love this place, this was community, this was a second dining room for those who needed it. Chef Gino was always amazing but Laura was always the real star of the show for me. Her kindness and hospitality untouched. It is truly sad this location doesn't remain a permanent fixture of our community, for those who think modern day Christianity is performative and corrupt need only to have dined here, Laura served with Love, always to everyone. Your nonna is proud of you. Hebrew 13:2 You are the salt of the earth, thank you for giving me yours from the table, I will cherish it until I see you again. Love, the girls who loved your Sun dried tomato dip read more

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Back for likely our last visit as sadly they are closing at the end of the month. We will miss the excellent service and overall experience, the wonderful food and the local vibe. We will miss Gino and Laura. Best wishes for your future adventures. read more

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Came here on Valentine's Day because my partner wanted a chocolate cake. Coming in you see about 15 tables for party of two or four. I was welcomed by Laura the young lady with the heart necklace in the front. She greeted me very nicely despite my attire (black crewneck with jeans) at a fancy Italian restaurant. She told me multiple dessert options but was trying to get a chocolate cake. Luckily they have it and she directed me to that choice. Flourless chocolate cake- it is delicious! Paired with a vanilla gelato, fruit and chocolate syrup it goes together very well. The flourless chocolate cake is rich and slightly sweet. Definitely would recommend it. Overall I like the ambiance of this place. I was greeted nicely despite my attire being very casual. Customer service is great and would come back again so I could try their entrees. read more

Mazara Trattoria - Flourless chocolate cake - Italian Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

I've continued to be a fan of Mazara Trattoria over the years but noticed that I need to update my review as quite a few things have changed. Garlic knots and lobster bisque are no longer on the menu, and parking is not an issue. The food and cozy, family-run atmosphere remain the same. We always feel so welcomed here and have celebrated a few special occasions with their comforting Italian food. You really can't go wrong with anything that you order. If they offer the Short Rib Pappardelle as a daily special, definitely go for it. The pasta is fantastic and served with a huge piece of tender short rib on top. The Lasagna Casareccia, their homemade meat lasagna is another winner but my usual order is the Linguine Alla Pescatora. It's filled with yummy seafood and I love the spice to the sauce. read more

The food here is actually pretty good, not the best I've had but still good, my only negative was the cheese and sauce for the pizza was kinda off, but everything else I did order tasted good. Had that old Italian vibe inside the restaurant as well. read more

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Super authentic local Italian spot! The food was amazing, and the staff were really friendly--they made sure we were enjoying everything. It's a small place with limited seating. We went on a Friday night and it was fully booked, so if you're going with more than three people, it's probably best to make a reservation. read more

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Loved the vibes and the food. Can't wait to go back. I did try, but there was no parking :( I'll try again soon read more

Came here based on a suggestion of a friend Nice little place in a small center Red flag #1, no one in the restaurant when they opened #2 only open a few hours each day? Hmmm? Service was good Atmosphere was fine Food was average Prices were high Would I go again? No, I don't think so read more

The food, the service, the owner... top notch!!! The chef is amazing preparing home cooked recipes that are authentic Italian. My favorite Italian restaurant!!! read more

It took me way too long to finally try this place, but it was absolutely worth the wait. Mazara Trattoria is everything a true trattoria should be--charming, intimate, and full of character. The ambiance is warm and welcoming, and the food is honestly a steal for the quality and flavor you get. Chef Gino, formerly of Antonello's, has been back in the kitchen at Mazara for five years now, and it's clear he's still one of the best Italian chefs around. I'm beyond happy to see him doing what he does best again. No disrespect to Antonello's, but many of us were wondering where he'd gone, and Mazara Trattoria is the perfect spot for him to showcase his culinary talents once more. It's a refreshing change of pace from the usual spots--an unpretentious, neighborhood trattoria serving up delicious, freshly made Italian dishes in a cozy, down-to-earth setting. Definitely a place worth checking out if you're craving authentic Italian food. Note: They're only open for dinner, Tuesday through Saturday, so be sure to plan accordingly! read more

A little piece of Italy. Food taste very authentic, fresh tasting sauces , wine choice for Cab was yummy; and omg try that Gelato and Espresso dessert it's a perfect combination . We will be returning ! Excellent service and ambience. read more

This place is insanely good and the pizza is out of this world! The staff were friendly, polite, and personable.

Came here on a Friday evening after finding this place off yelp from doing a search on Italian places in my area. My son, a fervent vegetarian and teenager, after nearly half an hour of mulling over places told us he was staying home. No wait for party of 3 despite the small place it is. Service was friendly, as there are only like 2 people and a nice blonde lady who I am guessing is the owner. I ordered the linguine fantasia, bf got something with pesto and chicken, my friend in town ordered their lasagna. Everyone was quite happy with their order. Halfway through, the owner walked up to ask how we were enjoying our meal. I asked for gnocchi to go for my son. She said they'd wait until closer to the end of our meal to prepare his meal so that it's hot when I get it to him. Very sweet and thoughtful. My son said the food is good so we will definitely be back. read more

Mazara Trattoria - Linguini Fantasia - Italian Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

We usually order take out from here but last night we got to dine in to celebrate my husbands bday. The ambiance was quiet and restful, perfect for a date night w/o my baby lol. The owner is so sweet bc she came by to chat with us, made us feel at home, we even got a complimentary dessert and we all sang happy bday to my husband hahha the food is hands down the best Italian spot in HB. We always come back again and again for their noodles, it's made just right! The seafood pasta is my favorite and really reminds me of the one I had in Venice Italy. My husbands favorite is the one with handmade noodles w/ beef, mushrooms, etc. So delicious! Portion size is also generous and it makes the perfect leftover for lunch the next day. read more

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What an inconspicuous and unassuming outstanding Italian restaurant! My wife and I were in the neighborhood assisting my brother with a move when we elected to try and find a bite to eat. We saw the Mazara sign and thought we would give it a whirl because of the high Yelp ratings. You would never know by the strip mall exterior but boy were we oh so pleasantly surprised. The food served was no different than the Italian food we ate in Italy last year when we were there for 3 weeks celebrating our 42nd wedding anniversary. And it's no wonder because the chef at Mazara has worked at some of the best Italian restaurants in the Southern California area for the last 30 years and is the brother-in-law of the Mazara owner, with the whole family having deep Italian roots. Everything is scratch and homemade from the pasta to the pizza dough but they have other fair like the pork chops that are just outstanding. The only issue is that the owner tells me they are closing at the end of June after 15 yrs at that location, with the good news being they will be back in business in a different format soon thereafter. So I'm grabbing a hold of their Facebook page in order to track them down after they close on 6/27. I wish that wasn't the case since their location is so conveniently close to my brother's home but I will drive to wherever they are in the OC when they pop back up in whatever form. In the meantime we are going to frequent Mazara as often as we can until the 27th. I strongly suggest others do that as well! read more

Just got back from Florence and Rome and I can tell you this Short-Rib papardelle is just as amazing as in Italy. Everything at Mazara is authentic. Btw, the Cheesecake was so good, I didn't even take a picture because we ate it so fast; a must-have. read more

Mazara Trattoria - Short Rib Papardelle. - Italian Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

Went for an early dinner last night, but was very surprised and saddened to hear that Mazara Trattoria will be closing at the end of June. Their wonderful chef plans to retire, so the decision was foregone. The meal, of course, was excellent in every way; the service from Laura was personal and warm. The appetizer eggplant was sumptuous, the apple, arugula salad was fresh and tasty, and our entrees were perfect. The So Cal area will be less fun without Laura and her terrific restaurant. read more

I'm Italian. Outside of Mom's cooking, when people ask where to go for great Italian food, I tell them Mazara. It has such a cozy, intimate setting. Laura, the co-owner, is the warmest host you'll ever meet. Laura's brother, Gino, is co-owner and head chef. He's exceptional and consistent at his craft. This Valentine's Day, my partner had the Shrimp with Linguini. To dine with me, is to give me a taste ;) The pasta was perfectly al dente, and the sauce was big in flavor. I got the tenderloin medallions, perfectly cooked. The veggies were the perfect bite as well, and the potatoes delicious. We don't often get dessert when we eat out, but I had just seen our neighbor cut through the cheesecake with a fork. I could see the light consistency and had to try it. We shared that and loved it! I was pleasantly surprised to hear that Gino made that too. Dessert is it's own art and science apart from cooking, so I appreciate Gino's mastery in both. read more

Been coming here for years. It is BY FAR one of the most authentic family owned Italian restaurants around. The owner and the chef are an incredible team. If you haven't been here yet, you definitely have to check this place out. The pizza is sensational! read more

What can I say but it's always a treat to come here for dinner! Laura is always there to greet us and make us feel at home! Be sure to listen to the daily specials as they have a lot of yummy choices from their pork chop or fresh fish! Try a glass of wine too! I always order the spaghetti all vongole (clams). Usually have bruschetta as an appetizer and save room for dessert. They have homemade tiramisu or cheesecake. Other favorites are the limoncello cake and spumoni! Enjoy it with some Italian coffee! Love the ambiance and the staff are great!! I appreciate their aloha and care with each visit!! Go check them out!! read more

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To start this review I have to preface that I grew up in Italian fine dining. My mom worked and some of the best Italian restaurant in Orange County in the 80s and 90s. My wife and I consider ourselves legit Foodies because we both grew up in home kitchens where our parents and families cooked so well. I've learned that when you judge an Italian restaurant for the first time you judge it on the spaghetti with meatballs and their bread. Two Italian Staples that if they can't get this right, Run for the Hills. Needless to say I had the spaghetti with polpette and Bolognese sauce. From the minute we got there our hostess was pleasant and absolutely hospitable. Later my wife and I found out that she is the owner and this place has been here for at least 15 years. Maybe 13 but I don't remember. I can't remember the last time I had a spaghetti with meatballs and meat sauce that was so flavorful. We learned some of the pastas are rolled there on the spot. Definitely not what I was expecting from this quaint little hole in the wall. I can't tell you exactly what my wife had but it was a pasta with shrimp and some sort of cream vodka sauce that was absolutely amazing. If you get a chance, check this place out. It's on the corner of Beach and I think Talbert in the center where Matsu is. If you try it and you don't like it but you went there because of my review let me know. I'll send you and I'm sorry and I'll let you know about my next plate when I go back because I will be going back. Next time I try the pizza. The dough is made fresh, on site with fresh herbs that they grow. Until next time Mazara read more

Mazara Trattoria - Spaghetti in Bolognese with polpette (meatball) - Italian Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

This place is ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS and satisfying! Authentic Italian food. The Rigatoni Con Salsiccia was a delight. The rigatoni was cooked to perfection and the sauce was absolutely breathtaking. The cheesecake is homemade and was fluffy and melting in your mouth. One of the best cheesecake I've ever had. The service was incredible. Milena was so sweet and attentive. Laura the owner was very kind and greets every table and makes you feel so special. Highly recommend this beautiful restaurant. read more

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Sorry first and last time eating here. Food was mediocre service, I give a to nobody came to the table to see if we needed anything , nobody topped up water for us.Nobody offered us cheese, but so this was being offered to other tables.Not good for business, sorry.I do not recommend this place at all.I just thought food was very mediocre.More like olive garden taste. And the waitress seemed too busy to acknowledge us. Or when we ask for something, then we're not very accommodating.They were just put it on the table and left. Ambiance was so so not great read more

So my wife and I have dined here at least ten times. Most of the time it's been good. Tonight 4/10/26 it was a total FAIL! I ordered the Fettuccine bolognese and my wife ordered the Salmon special. When the entrees arrived my wife's was cold and raw on the inside. We got the server's attention, he saw it, apologized and took it back. My dish was good but by the time she got hers back, I was completely finished with mine. She got hers to go and because we were going out after dinner she tossed in the trash. The manager/owner was sitting at another table talking to other customers and was oblivious to what had transpired. I've never worked in a restaurant but I would think the server ought to give the manager/owner the "heads up" when they drop the ball on some customers. Long story short, I basically paid $82 for some fettuccine bolognese while my wife went without. Needless to say, this place is off of our regular rotation. read more

Wow! Walked in just after 5pm on a Saturday and the place was packed! Highly recommend making a reservation in advance if you don't want to wait for a table. The food was excellent, made with love and authenticity. I ordered the linguine fantasia which was absolutely amazing. My husband ordered their famous double pork chop and he could not have been happier with his choice. We will be back soon! read more

Mazara Trattoria - Italian Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

Recommended by a friend. Won't take her recommendations anymore. Service is very slow and food is very mediocre. Had 1 course and 1 glass of wine and spent 2 hours in here and spent $80. Should've trusted our gut and left so many times. Dry bread that tastes like a sponge. Better be free. The homemade "tomato butter" just tastes like tomato paste. There's a light on the walkway outside that's on a timer that comes on right at 7 pm and shines in your eyes like you're in a cafeteria in school. Unless you're friends with the owner, expect to wait 15 minutes intermittently for someone to come by and see if you're still at your table. Every table was looking around for their sever. Gave an extra star and 20% tip because the busser and server were clearly trying to be on top of things but they didn't have enough support around them. They were kind. Boyfriend's ravioli was $22 and looked like an appetizer more than a meal. Stopping at In N out on the way home. Owning a restaurant is not for the faint of heart but SKIP this place- trust me! read more

Everything here is divine. Burrata and prosciutto is my favorite appetizer. I've had it elsewhere and nowhere compares to mazara. Rigatoni allá vodka is superb. Lobster ravioli is decadent. I have never ever had a bad meal here. It is dimly lit, romantic, and intimate. Always a great date night spot. Thank Laura and Gino! read more

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I came here for my birthday dinner with 15 of my friends and Lara and Conner were so incredible and went above and beyond to make me feel so special. If you're looking for real authentic Italian cuisine look no further! Their pasta is so fresh and delectable everyone in my party was raving about how amazing it was. I wanted a more intimate setting and Mazara is just that! Super cute and romantic. I cannot wait to come back and my friends are already making plans to return! Thank you Mazara family your hospitality is unmatched thank you for being so kind and making my big day extra memorable. read more

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We are runners and every year we run the Surf City Marathon Half Marathon. Needless to say, we need to carboload for the races and this is an excellent place to do that. I mean what's better than Italian food to carboload you!! We have been here for several years now and never been disappointed. The food is fantastic and quite an assortment of it! The service is impeccable. The atmosphere is awesome and you get that family place ambiance. Highly recommend this restaurant to anyone if you enjoy Italian food. We will be back again! read more

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The atmosphere was cozy. The food was delicious and the staff are friendly. Dessert is a must. This place is a gem, let's keep this a secret. read more

Mazara Trattoria... I had meant to try this restaurant for so long and kept forgetting about it! The funny thing is I have frequented almost all of the food places in this center and missed this one. I'm so glad I finally made it in to celebrate my early birthday and boy, did they make it memorable! Mazara Trattoria is located in the same center as my favorite acai joint, Blue Bowl as well as The Habit Burger and Matsu- on Beach and Talbert. Parking is usually pretty hard to come by due to Blue Bowl and Matsu customers but I was lucky I didn't run into any issues on a Tuesday night. The restaurant had a steady flow of customers as well even though it is small inside. We were serviced by Milena who was very pleasant and welcoming. She was attentive and filled our waters throughout the night, providing excellent service. We were served complimentary bread which was good. There were 2 types. One was focaccia and I'm not sure what the other one was. They came with a tomato sauce. Next, we ordered the FRITTURA MIXTA $16, which basically means "mixed fried things" in Italian. It was an assortment of calamari, fried shrimp, and fried zucchini. Everything was good, but the calamari didn't taste that fresh. We also had the LASAGNA $18 which was very good. The meat and cheese were well-seasoned and flavorful. Their LINGUINE ALLA PESCATORA $26 was perfection!! The pasta was cooked al dente. The problem with a lot of Italian restaurants is their pasta tends to be undercooked a lot of the time, but this place does it right! My favorite dish of the night. There was a variety of jumbo scallops, shrimp, clams, calamari, and mussels. The seafood was very fresh and were all cooked just right. The scallops were moist and the rest of the seafood was juicy. We finished off our meal with TIRAMISU $12 which was fresh and tasty. You could tell they used high quality ingredients. Our waitress also brought out a cup of complimentary spumoni for my birthday. It was delicious- a combination of chocolate, pistachio, and cherry... with little bits of cherry and pistachio. Laura, the owner also introduced herself and came to chat with us. The restaurant is family owned and the chef is also Italian. I will definitely be back to try their other dishes. I am happy to say Mazara Trattoria has been added to my top Italian places to eat in Orange County. The pricing here is cheap compared to other restaurants while not skimping on the quality of food. Happy eating, and support local businesses! read more

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The food created by chef Gino is amazing! The service by the warm and caring staff made the evening even more enjoyable.No other restaurant has captured that special neighborhood feeling as Mazaras. read more

The owner Laura is awesome, the chef Gino is amazing. I once went to where he previously was a chef & his food is delish & authentic. I had the short Rib with Parpadelli & it was wonderful. It's family owned & Laura, the owner, couldn't have been nicer. Wish it were open for lunch but dinners will have to do. I was married into an Italian family where my mother-in-law was an excellent cook, but Gino gets my vote now. read more

I ordered the chicken marsala and my partner ordered the seafood linguine. I must say they were both just perfect...everything about it. Tasted fresh and delicious. I'm definitely going back. read more

Food was 4 stars. Female owner's service was 3 stars. We came by for dinner tonight. Had called them in advance to let them know we'd come by in 10 minutes and a staff member told us the wait will be 20-25 minutes. We arrived and ended up waiting 25-30 minutes for a table. When we first arrived, there was only a table of 2 left and so a customer who arrived after us got to sit there before us. Then finally a large party of 6 and table of 4 left place. The female owner comes by and tells me that I need to keep waiting because she needs the tables for a large party of 8 and a party of 2 (who happen to be her friends). I was so peeved that she would try to offer the newly opened up table for 4 and give it to a party of 2 (her friends who arrived after us) even though we had waited 25+ minutes already? Who does that kind of thing? It ruined my mood and I'm glad her staff ended up telling her that we had been waiting a long time for our table and it's not right for her to give our table away to a party of 2 when it's obviously a table for 4. I'm rolling my eyes just thinking about how ridiculous this owner lady is. We also asked for a high chair and they brought us a booster seat. Uh, what??? We ordered: 1) linguine Alla pescatora - good 2) margherita pizza - decent 3) veal & mushroom - decent The only reason we were full upon leaving is due to their bread. Portion sizes are just ok, and flavors are fine. Don't think we'll be back again if we have to see that owner lady. read more

WOW!!!! Out of this world!!! GREAT FOOD AND SERVICE. Daughter went there once before and knew my wife and I would like it. Well, WE DID. Will be back for sure. Owner is super nice and I got to chat with her before I left. If you like Italian food this place is a MUST!!!! read more

A local fav that's located within walking distance from me!! You can tell as soon you walk in that you're going to be taken care of here. The intimate dining setting and the incredible food and service make for an overall amazing experience. My fiancé and I shared the caprese appetizer, a pizza, and a pasta dish, and our stomachs were soooo content. We genuinely loved everything we consumed and could tell by all the patrons that this restaurant is loved and frequented by locals. Can't wait to come back! read more

Mazara Trattoria - Italian Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

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I've passed by this restaurant many times while driving down beach or getting blue bowl in the same plaza so I decided to give it a try and it was absolutely fantastic. Mazara Trattoria is a small, quaint, homey, and authentic restaurant on Beach & Talbert serving authentic Italian cuisine ranging from antipasti to pizzas. Everything is freshly made in house and the service is amazing as well with the owner checking up on us after we finished our meal. The restaurant is small with limited seating and there's plenty of parking in the plaza, which does get crowded at times. I ordered the Rigatoni con Salsiccia which was perfectly cooked and the sauce was well balanced and delicious! The dishes range from around $15-25. There's also complimentary bread with sun-dried tomato spread, which was delicious of course. I also tried the caprese tomato antipasti which was great as well, with the balsamic vinegarette pairing perfectly with the dish. Come here and support your local family run business! read more

Mazara Trattoria - Rigatoni con Salsiccia Fettuccine Al Funghi Pesto - Italian Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

If I could give it higher than a five I would the food the service and ambience is perfect. I ordered the rigatoni with sausage and spinach incredible sauce and flavor. My buddy ordered the seafood pasta, and the seafood was so fresh and the prawns and shrimp the clams, but the linguine sauce was cooked perfect. Forgot to add the minestrone soup all I can say was incredible. read more

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I am a lover of eggplant Parmesan and this restaurant did not disappoint. It was my Italian friend's birthday so we decided to give Mazara a try. The food was delicious. My friend loved his pasta, the caprese appetizer was good and the tiramisu was amazing. I highly recommend this family owned restaurant. Truly authentic and if you speak Italian, the owner is fluent. read more