I had an AMAZING dinner at Mezzo Italiano! The restaurant itself has a very cozy, homey vibe. I loved the pink light fixtures. To start, my partner and I split a Caesar salad that had a delicious, lemony Caesar dressing. I ordered the Chicken Parmesan for my entree, and it was perfect. Seriously one of the best dinners I've ever had. I'm not usually a tomato lover, and I often find myself scraping excess sauce off of my Italian dishes. Here, I found myself scraping my plate trying to get more sauce on my chicken. It was incredible! My partner had the lasagna and let me take a few bites. It was also great!! Very flavorful. Victoria is the best! She is seating guests, waiting tables, and cooking the food. And doing it all flawlessly! Can't recommend this spot enough. read more

Mezzo Italiano - Caesar Salad - Italian Near Me - Cambria, California

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We stumbled upon this restaurant in Cambria. The first thing we noticed is that she has a sign saying she doesn't seat children under 10. I don't have kids so I thought it was hilarious and makes sense. Sometimes it's nice to go to a restaurant without seeing children running around and screaming. The ingredients she used are very fresh that's obvious when you're eating it. This is a small restaurant with I believe only two staff (including the owner) so don't expect your food to come out super quickly like a big restaurant. The lemony dressing on the salad was good and we loved the garlic bread! It takes a little while to come out so if you want another order make sure you order it back to back. I ordered the eggplant parm with butternut squash sauce . I enjoyed my meal. Unfortunately she was out of the chicken parmesan, which is what I really wanted, and so the only other meat options were meatballs. I wish she had more meat options. My husband got the ralilo(sp?) with a meatball and chose the white sauce. He didn't enjoy the sauce or meatball but did enjoy the texture of the pasta. The portion sizes were perfect and I know she uses fresh organic ingredients but the cost still seemed too high. Now the owner was very pleasant and attentive to us. We did notice that she was a little annoyed to one of the tables next to us and that was off putting but it was the end of the night. I think if you're vegetarian or gf you would enjoy this restaurant. Victoria is clearly a hard working woman and for that I will keep the 4 star rating but if I could I would overall rate the food a 3.5. All in all it was a interesting experience, definitely one to remember. read more

I'm so disappointed by this 4-star rated restaurant. Normally the 4-star restaurants are decent. First of all, there are many not fresh vegetables leaves in the salad. The corn soup is like canned food, at least tasting like . The chicken parm's source is ok but the chicken is dry, and portion of the dish like kid's meal. The dish's quality and quantity is not proportional to the price. The cost mark of it should be $$$. Normally in Italian restaurants, the bread always comes first or along with soup and salad. But we got soup and salad first and after we finished it the bread was still not coming. After we finished the bread, we had to wait for about 10 minutes. The waitress had to come to apologize. The only thing I appreciate is that the restaurant is dog friendly one. read more

Mezzo Italiano - The non-fresh leaves in the salad - Italian Near Me - Cambria, California

This is the place you come to meet the locals, eat beautiful food, have a wonderful chat with Victoria the owner and chef, and bring your pup for the tiny sweet patio (fresh water bowl already there). It's eclectic, comfortable, delicious (the food is truly fantastic) and definitely try the lemon cheesecake dessert... with crushed walnuts. As someone who is gluten free it was so nice to find such delicious food that could be made with gluten alternatives. We had a lovely evening and left feeling relaxed, happy, well fed and joyful to have met Victoria and friends! Our pup enjoyed it as much as we did :) read more

Mezzo Italiano - Lemon cheesecake - Italian Near Me - Cambria, California

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This place is such a special find! Imagine a one woman establishment where the priorities are organic, homemade, and authentic Italian cuisine! Victoria does an excellent job ensuring her customers are happy and her food is healthy and delicious. Hubby got the pasta with butternut sauce and vegetables plus the added Q-Ball (vegan meatball): overall he was happy and frankly just thrilled that someone caters to vegetarians and vegans!!! He said there could have been more sauce and that would have made it stellar! I got the chicken Parmesan with Marinara Sauce that was to DIE FOR! As an organic gardener I deeply appreciate her dedication to sourcing truly fresh and non toxic or processed foods. You could 1000% taste the difference - that sauce was screaming homemade! The vegan affogato was a mix of vanilla and chocolate and you could NOT taste the difference!!! It tasted like dairy! The strawberries were perfectly ripe and - of course - organic! We also really enjoyed the house red wine! We will definitely be back on our next visit to Cambria! Thank you, Victoria! read more

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We had a wonderful meal here. We started with the delicious Cesar salad and garlic bread that we had to order a second helping of. The eggplant parmesan and chicken parmesan with puttanesca sauce were amazing. Cooked to perfection like my friend from Napoli. Side of beautiful vegetables were perfectly cooked and seasoned. My daughter loved her meatball pasta and vegan gelato. The care Victoria takes with the ingredients in her menu is amazing. I also saw her explaining the vegan cheese she makes to a couple. The lady checked to make sure it was vegan because it was so good. Wine list is great. We received top notch service and attention to detail. We can't wait to come back every time we are here. Thank you. read more

This place is AMAZING! The Chicken Parmesan was the best I have ever had!! It was so juicy and tender with the perfect balance of sauce and cheese. The mixed lettuce salad was also delicious, so fresh and crisp. The raspberry balsamic vinaigrette was perfect, the owner said she makes it from scratch. My husband had a pasta dish with meatballs and my uncle had the lasagna, both also excellent. The cannoli with mint chip gelato was the perfect way to end the meal. All of the food was high quality and prepped perfectly. Highly recommended, you won't be disappointed! Looking forward to the next time we are up in Cambria so we can come back here to eat. Top notch service and food. Thank you! read more

We loved the meal. Four of us shared 4 dishes, and each was exquisite.. the owner had great recommendations, the wine was perfect with the food, and it was sooo delicious. Caesar salad, Eggplant Parmesan, lasagne, the meatballs were amazing, and the rollioli is so crave able!! A lovely meal, like the best home cook you can imagine. And prices were super reasonable. read more

OMG! Delish Italian! My hubby and I ordered the chicken parm with puttanesca sauce... TO DIE FOR. Also? The house red is delicious and easy to sip on, perfect for any dish with red sauce. Our wonderful server, Victoria, was amazing! Her personality absolutely made the experience, we were so thankful for her! I'd recommend coming here if you want some amazing Italian food and company! read more

The minute you walk in your transported back to a 1950 postmodern vibe... imagine the light shining through pink carnival glass and that is the ambience visual when you walk in has a quirky vibe, which is by design. This is a quaint small restaurant with 18 seats inside, so you really need to make a reservation. What impress me was the fact that every meal for the most part had a vegan option to it in the restaurant it's more than happy to accommodate. They even have a two bite policy. If your food is not right within two bites, let them know and they'll fix it how many restaurants offer that ? This is Italian food with the California twist as they like to call it. It's enjoyable food If you keep an open mind. The owner and head chef is Victoria and Scott was our server who was very friendly and helpful. if you're vegan and visiting Cambria and you're hungry... and, If you are looking for something different... come check out Mezzo Italiano. read more

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I went to Mezzo Italiano with my mom a few weeks back and it definitely left something to be desired. I work in the food service industry and the quantity of food we received was nowhere near the cost of any of the items, even with the price spike in the cost of tomatoes. The garlic bread was a ciabatta roll, sliced in half and then cut into thirds. There was no binder of any form in the meatballs so unfortunately, they fell apart as soon as you touched them with an eating utensil. Additionally, the portions were extremely small, the marinara sauce was lacking flavor, but the mushroom sauce was actually pretty good! Overall, I think the owner is biting off a little more than they can chew doing both the cooking and the food service. I know I'll probably get a negative response from the owner in regard to this review but what can you do! This is my honest feedback! read more

Food was lovely. Fresh ingredients, and a bit of a spin on the the traditional flavors. Features lots of fresh and organic ingredients. * Chicken Soup -- Nice, home made taste. Organic chicken, fresh veggies. * Caesar Salad -- Very good. Fresh, crisp romaine, lemony dressing, grated Parmesan, perfect crostini. * Chicken Parmesan -- Nice hearty dish. Organic chicken, perfectly crisp exterior, tender juicy inside, melty cheese. Pasta with choice of sauces -- puttanesca recommended by our server Scott was excellent. Marinara base, good heat, capers for tang. Fresh mixed veggies on the side. * Rolioli -- Basically a giant ravioli filled with ricotta-pesto cheese. Choose your sauce. To be different with this dish, we tried the butternut squash sauce which was delightful. Buttery and creamy. Features a selection of organic Italian wines and beer. Smallish dining room, and a few outdoor pet friendly tables (but only one with a real heater). Scott our server was friendly and awesome with his recommendations. read more

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I've given this review a lot of thought. As an elite member, my goal is to provide constructive comments to the business owner and helpful facts to those choosing a place to enjoy a meal. I want small business owners to succeed. This is a cozy small dining room. Food is Italian with a California twist. No pizza here. This establishment has these notes on the menu: No children under 10 Minimum check $50 Two bite guarantee - if something is not good, notify server after two bites and they will fix it. This might be uncomfortable but the owner wants you to do so. Our meal - Bruschetta was outstanding - heirloom tomatoes heavenly. The veggies served with our pasta were amazing - clearly farm to table. We had lasagna & raviolio. The sauces were overly reduced, very salty. Victoria, the owner shared with the dining room that she was short handed, cooking and serving as well. For this reason, we did not bring up complaints because it was clear there were staffing challenges that evening. She is to be commended for her hard work. We will go back when we visit Cambria in the spring. The mushroom appetizer sounds wonderful. Ambiance was fine. Eclectic & kitschy. I am firm on one suggestion- we came to the restaurant after a day of wine tasting. Montepulciano house wine was good. This is Central coast wine country - please consider serving the wine in wine glasses! read more

Just got into Cambria after a long day of driving and decided to order take out from here. BIG MISTAKE. We ordered the lasagna which was bland as ever. And their rolioli which was not only bland but like a strange overcooked, hard rolled pasta thing? The thing was so hard it was almost inedible. We also got the garlic bread which was very small but okay. Our total for the three items was around $72 so I was expecting a generous portion. WRONG. There was barely any food!! And because the rolioli was hard and practically inedible, we had to get a second dinner. Waste of money. Don't recommend. read more

Mezzo Italiano - Lasagna (Small portions and bland) - Italian Near Me - Cambria, California

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Great meal. Everything we had was good, meatballs, eggplant parmesan, chicken parmesan and garlic bread. Small place but it wasn't crowded the night we were there. Small menu but enough choices. Good service. Recommend making a reservation. Four and a half stars. read more

We were very very excited to try Mezzo, as we had heard it was delicious. However, we didn't realize that children under 10 were not allowed (which is very understandable and we would have loved to come back as a couple alone). Upon arrival, an older woman greeted us with, "Um is that a baby? Yeah, no kids under 10." With a roll of the eyes and as if we were a burden to even come into the restaurant. There was nobody there except for one other table, and the entire strip had a wait time of about 1 hour which is why we had hoped we could come in. Overall, extremely disappointed in the professionalism and won't be coming back. read more

We had a lovely dinner at Mezzo on our last day visiting Cambria. From what we saw of it, Mezzo Italiano is a small restaurant that feels like you're eating in a family living room. (There might be more to the place but we didn't look around.) We were there really early for dinner service, so we were the only customers there until we were checking out. Obviously, we got great service! They offer online reservations which might be a good idea during busier hours. There were some yummy vegetarian/vegan items on the menu and everything we ordered was wonderful. read more

The food was highly under seasoned and overpriced. Bowl of cavatappi pasta with marinara sauce for $18. I added a meatball for $6 which was the size of a quarter and overcooked. The service was fine. The restaurant is very small so you will definitely know the table next to you. . read more

Took 30 minutes for the food to come out. Chicken parm charge $6 extra for pasta and $11 for veggies that suppose to come with it because the portion is more for 2 years old. Recommend go to a fancier restaurant for the same price and better portion. So the lady waitress is the owner. Other reviews said she fight back to customers instead of take it for improvement and have weird vibe. She does have some kind of vibe that is off putting. Not every bad reviews are to hurt you intentionally but to open your eyes for growth. read more

Food ranked with the best vegan food we've ever had at a restaurant. The owner is very charming and friendly and the atmosphere has an eclectic charm and coziness that is really fun and inviting. read more

Who needs a traditional turkey dinner when you can have Italian perfection instead? We decided to ditch the stuffing and cranberry sauce this Thanksgiving and ordered takeout from Mezzo Italiano while visiting Cambria. Best. Decision. Ever. First up, the lasagna. It was so good, I'm 90% sure the chef sold their soul to perfect that homemade sauce. The side veggies? So fresh, they might've been plucked from a garden out back while I waited. Then there was the chicken parm. Juicy, crunchy, and still warm after takeout--basically the unicorn of chicken dishes. We paired it with marinara this time, but the puttanesca is already calling our name for round two. Oh, and the Caesar salad? Who knew lettuce could be this exciting? If salads could win awards, this one would have its own trophy case. Honestly, everything was spot-on. If this is what Italian takeout tastes like, I might just forget how to cook at home. Compliments to the chef for ruining Thanksgiving dinner forever--because now I'll only want theirs! read more

We enjoyed Mezzo for probably the fifth time this weekend. It changes a bit every time we go but we always have great meals there! My only comment is more Rollioli. It's so good and I could eat a portion 3x the size :). We also had the meatballs and chicken I enjoy the owners comments below they are hilarious! read more

I never write reviews. But, my husband and I were so enamored with this place, I had to say something. It feels like you walked into your favorite friend's house. My husband loved the lasagna and I loved the meatballs with creamy porcini sauce. We will be back. read more

Adorable restaurant. Service was excellent. Victoria went out of her way to make our party of eight feel welcome. The vegan mushroom soup was a 10/10! Spectacular! Flavor depth was complex. Also highly recommend the Caesar salad. The dressing was fresh and the remain thieves were crisp and don't forget the garlic bread. All of our pasta dishes were spot on, and I loved my meatballs. Overall, an excellent experience with a great vibe. read more

In addition to the cozy setting in a beautiful town, this restaurant had a truly unique and delicious menu. We enjoyed everything we tried, especially the mushroom starter and garlic bread! The vegan ice cream was extra special. We also appreciated the attentive and personable service. Can't wait to go back! read more

It was late when we arrived in Cambria, so I'm not even sure if outdoor dining was closed or not allowed. We walked in, smelled the wonderful aroma from the kitchen, and decided to order dinner here. The food was extraordinary! But, let me say first to get it out of the way that the Focaccia bread was more like pita bread. The lady who took our order made it sound so good, and it smelled so good in the restaurant that we agreed to add it with our order. What a bummer! However, it was nice and warm, so I still ate some of the bread. It was okay, it just wasn't what we expected. Damn it, my expectations were high since I walked into the restaurant and smelled the delicious aroma! The Beet Salad, which I freakin' accidentally deleted my pic of it, was amazingly tasty. I shouldn't be surprised since beets are naturally sweet. But with the feta and housemade vinaigrette, the salad aroused my palette. The breaded Eggplant Parmesan was still hot when we got to our hotel. It comforting and delightful at the same time with fontina and Parmesan as well the slightly sweet marinara sauce over the pasta. Overall we had an excellent meal on our first night in Cambria. Woo hoo! More food adventures coming up in this seaside village! read more

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We came here on a recommendation and we were so happy we did. We had a reservation but we were able to get in 30 minutes early. We started with the bruchetta which was wonderful and the ricotta was so fresh. My husband had the Eggplant parm with punttanesca sauce and said it was fried perfectly and it was the best Eggplant he'd ever had. I had the chicken parm with polenta and marinara. It was absolutely delicious. The polenta was baked perfectly and the chicken tasted like it was fresh (unfrozen) and you could tell it was organic. Both dishes came with fresh steamed veggies and let me tell you they WERE fresh and cooked so simply but cooked perfectly and full of flavor. This is a small resturant and decorated in an eclectic style including animal print ts which I love. Service was wonderful and prompt. We would highly recommend! read more

I normally won't leave reviews, but I am still really sad about the price we paid for the quality of food. So while the food was all edible, the portions were extremely small and it's what I would expect of myself if I made Italian food. We got a pizzette, two entrees, and some rolls and it cost us over $100. We went to a local Mexican spot the next day, same thing, plus two beers $53. Look I'm not saying don't eat here, people enjoy it, but if you're trying to get the best flavor for your buck, consider other options. Also, and I'm really sorry if I offend you, the rolls were terrible. I do not recommend. I'm not sure if they were gluten free or not (they weren't marked as such). And I didn't see a posting on the menu or near the entrance that they have a two bite rule (if they say they do, I'm sure we just overlooked it). We would have taken that up. I'm really sorry to leave this review, I'm not trying to be a dick, I just don't want someone to feel sad about blowing their dinner budget on this restaurant. read more

The best Chicken Parmigiana I've ever had, the Caesar salad was fresh and delicious, the chicken soup was homemade and amazing! The restaurant is run by the owner who is also the chef -- it's really a remarkable little restaurant, you don't go here for fast service -- you go here for the food, ambience, and very good wine as well, wonderful!!!! read more

Went in for dinner and left before being seated. Very strange smell in the restaurant and gave off a weird vibe to us. Just didn't have the same feel as most of Cambria. read more

Mezzo Italiano is one of the best restaurants in Cambria. The food, ambiance and service are out of this world. If you come expecting Olive Garden quality food then Mezzo is probably not in alignment with your expectations. They are organic & offer gluten free & vegan if that is your preference. My favorites are crimini mushroom appetizer, Caesar salad & eggplant parmigiana. Be sure to make a reservation so you don't miss an opportunity to experience this absolute gem on the Central Coast. read more

Mezzo Italiano - Wine tasting - Italian Near Me - Cambria, California

This tiny restaurant was pretty delicious! They had several vegetarian options which were great and the server was really nice. We shared the bruschetta and I had the chicken Parmesan. It was all delicious and freshly made. We shared the cannoli at the end of our meal. This little restaurant was great and I'd highly recommend it! It kind of gave me Twilight vibes read more

Mezzo Italiano - Chicken Parmesan with pasta and veggies. - Italian Near Me - Cambria, California

Our dinner was like sitting in someone's home and being treated to the best of Italian home cooking imaginable. From start to finish, Victoria made sure we understood what was on offer, explaining everything with a pleasant and welcoming demeanor. Then as each dish arrived, we smacked our lips with delight to taste such divinely prepared courses that felt like dining at a friend's home in Italy. By the end of our meal, we enthusiastically embraced Victoria as if a new friend and only regret that we live so far from Cambria that we can't make it back here every week. NOT TO BE MISSED. read more

What a nice experience we had! I drove my family last night from Paso Robles (I, myself, drove in from Los Angeles that same afternoon) to see the Cambria Christmas lights everyone was raving about. Unfortunately, it was taken down. I didn't want to feel like we drove all that way for nothing so we drove past a few open eateries and we came across this one that my mom wanted to try. Upon walking in, we were greeted and told that we had just made the cutoff time for eating indoors. Their indoor can only seat about 12 in a small space (adds to the charm), so we sat at some funky cool-looking bar table. We ordered the lasagna with a meatball on the side, a pepperoni "pizzette" (small pizza) and we're told it takes 20-30 minutes to arrive, which we don't mind as we know making food from scratch and/or good preparation takes time. The server was very kind to us and once she brought the food out, we were delighted to see how good it looked. We were impressed with the quality and my mom noted how delicious the marinara was. We also ordered the lemon honey cheesecake which sounded like an interesting idea, but after a while weren't a fan of the after-taste. We were asked how it was, but we weren't sure what it lacked or what we would change so we said "everything was great", lol. All in all, it was a nice experience. The wait times allow for a nice chat with the family, and the service made us feel welcomed, even near closing. read more

Mezzo Italiano - Lasagna w/ a side of meatball. - Italian Near Me - Cambria, California

Strange customer service. My husband, young daughter and I came in tonight very early. There was one party in the restaurant with many open tables. The owner (or a waitress?) took one look at us and said she couldn't seat us tonight due to all the reservations. It was curt, without apology and lacking explanation. When we were leaving, we saw a sign that said the restaurant isn't suitable for young children. While I can't comment on the food, we felt very unwelcome and were so happy to find another warm, welcoming Italian restaurant down the road! read more

This restaurant, delivered caring, attentive service with lots of helpful menu advice. The food tasted fresh, healthy, well thought through, and delicious. We finished every bite! read more

Every dish we ordered was delicious, and every ingredient is perfect. The server was very friendly and forthcoming, and after we ate the cook came out to tell us about her food and restaurant. It's very cosy for a small party. read more

A cute and quaint little restaurant! I sat at the bar and absolutely loved the vibe of this place, the bar top is gorgeous and hand crafted by the owner Victoria. The vibe of the restaurant is very intimate, very homey feeling. It only seats 18 so it's small but I really enjoy this type of atmosphere. This is my second time here and both times I thought the food was fabulous, very clearly fresh ingredients. I will certainly be back on my next visit! read more

Mezzo Italiano - Beautiful bar top and cozy lighting - Italian Near Me - Cambria, California

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We stumbled upon this place after a long day. We were welcomed kindly and the service was fantastic. The ambiance was fabulous, intimate, and had very personalized aesthetic which I deeply appreciated. The decor and music was so cute and brought a wonderful feeling. The garlic bread was heavenly! I ordered the 7 layer lasagna and it was delicious. My boyfriend ordered the chicken parm and it was breathtaking. We also enjoyed the lemon blueberry cheesecake and the vanilla gelato, both were very tasty! The house white was perfect for my taste! This place is great for a date night and we were so lucky to have gotten seated with no reservation. Highly recommend making a reservation so you don't miss out! Victoria, the owner, came to our table to check in with us and was very pleasant. We would love to come back here! read more

Mezzo Italiano - Beautiful bar area3 - Italian Near Me - Cambria, California

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Headed to Cambria for the weekend and decided to try this place. My wife and I were amused by the interaction between Mark and Victoria on Yelp....so we had to try the Caesar Salad. We also got the pizza with meatballs and salami, another one with pesto and their homemade lemon cookie and vanilla gelato ice cream sandwich. With respect to the salad, it was incredible! We actually prefer the lemon flavor over the typical anchovy standard Caesar. My wife and I shared it, but after her second helping, I finished it. She NEVER has a third bite of something, but tonight liked the salad so much that she was planning on it. Oops. My bad. Back in the doghouse I go. Both of the pizzas were very good. As a picky Italian, I rarely like the red sauce over the one I make, but this was very good as were the homemade meatballs. We finished this great meal off with homemade vanilla gelato sandwiched by two fresh, homemade lemon cookies. It was the perfect mix of sweet and sour. Of course after the "salad incident", I watched my wife (like a dog watching his master eat hoping for the last crumb), until she did give me the second half of this great dessert. All in all, Mezzo will be on our "must eat" list the time we head to Cambria again. read more

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