Dined at Molo last night. What I saw shocked me. The busboy removed the dirty dishes from the table next to us on the patio and swiped a cleaning cloth on 1/4 of the surface to the table. He did NOT CLEAN the entire table. Once reset the hostess put menus on the table corner, they dropped on the floor, she picked them up, put them back on the table and left. She did not clean them off. The restaurant is unsanitary. My octopus was rubbery and my lasagna was overcooked and dry. Cannot recommend this restaurant. It's gone downhill since it's opening. read more

Hidden gem ! Very authentic Italian cuisine. We loved the ambiance, food and service. Definitely coming back . read more

Molo - Italian Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Love this place. Kinda feels like a secret spot. Friendly service and good vibes. Cioppino was nice. Cacio e pepe solid. Meatballs were terrific and garlic bread was huge and very robust. Little loud and crowded but cozy. We had 3 desserts, all good. Looking fwd to going back soon. read more

Molo - Cioppino - Italian Near Me - Newport Beach, California

I was so excited to try this restaurant with my family but to my surprise it wasn't all it was cracked up to be. I made reservations and I did arrive a tad early but was told I had to wait until it was closer to my reservation time while other people were seated just by walking up to the hostess. I ordered a glass of Chardonnay while we waited patiently and was brought a glass of red which come to find out at the end of our dinner I was charged for. Finally it was our turn to be seated! We started with some focaccia bread that was amazingly delicious. The Cacio e Pepe was on another level. The sausage pizza was also a great dish but the piece of resistance was the dessert a chocolate covered spumoni that made all the initial inconveniences disappear. The feng shui is off but the food was great. read more

Molo - Cacio e Pepe - Italian Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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YUMMY Pasta!!! service is pretty fast. the seafood pasta was so good, lots of seafood. the bolognese pasta was also SO good. Atmosphere is cute there's plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. read more

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Great experience. We used to come to this location for Sabatino's and were truly saddened by its closing but happy that a new restaurant has opened in the same location and features Sabatino's sausage. Patio was decorated very nicely, wait staff was very attentive and polite, food was great. I highly recommend and we will be back. read more

Love this place! It's in the place that was Sabatini's in the Lido Shipyard. Packed the night we went. Lots of outdoor seating. They had lamb chops off menu, and they were excellent. There is also a Napa Valley winery tasting room across the walkway. Nice place to hang out if you are waiting for a table. read more

Molo - Lamb chops. Off menu. - Italian Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Unexpectedly delicious. The Sabatinos sausage sampler was spectacular as was the simple bread service. Esther was our server & servers' can make or break the experience. She made it. Osso bucco with risotto was perfection as was the Caio e Pepe. read more

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An INCREDIBLE experience. From the moment we entered , we were greeted with smiling faces from the hostess to the service staff. We ordered the garlic cheese bread as an appetizer as well as the burrata over arugula. The beets were DELICIOUS! As my main course I had osso bucco, THE BEST I've EVER had... there's been A LOT. The owner came to our table and we had a great conversation, and I praised him on his staff, and the overall look of this location, My Family and I have been visiting this location as it was previously Sabatino's. Thanks for the HOSPITALITY!!! See you all soon. read more

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Horrible customer service specially the host and also the owner that walks around. I have 640 reservation and by 7:30 they did not seat us because my other party are not there yet. I will never go to this place and I will tell all my friends not to even come to this place. It's horrible service. ZERO RATE GOR ME read more

Went here for a valentines dinner! The ambiance was great and the service was awesome too! Their Garlic bread starter was very flavorful and had a strong aroma. The seafood pasta was probably my favorite! You can really taste the seafood ingredients in each bite and the red sauce did not mask the flavor. Bolognese was good too but nothing too memorable. Definitely recommend if you do not prefer seafood. I was able to make reservations a month ahead and the parking was not too bad either. It is located inside a neighborhood complex and the parking is limited to 2 hour so do note of that! read more

Molo - Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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The food was good but service sucked. No one talked to us for 10 minutes. I finally found the bottled water and filled our glasses. Not once but twice. It was soooo hot inside. The windows are painted shut (I was told). No air conditioning. They finally gave us another waiter who did attend to us. Inside the noise level is SO loud. Hard to hear the people that your with. If the windows opened maybe the noise would be better. Certainly the air quality! It's really a shame because the food is worth going back. But we will NOT! We were too uncomfortable. In fact, we almost got up and left to go elsewhere. Too hot to eat hot food. read more

Our server was Guido. We had the best time here. The food was beyond excellent. We had pasta dishes with seafood. We had the dessert as well. Just thoroughly enjoyed the meal. No small part due to our server Guido. Professional, friendly, knowledgeable all rolled into one. Thanks Guido and Thank you Molo for a wonderful time. read more

i think this is my new favorite restaurant. i love the vibe inside and the people working are always great. the food is amazing, the wine is amazing, i just love it. read more

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The location, food, and ambience was all excellent. Cacio&pepe is a must here (cheese wheel). Miguel is a top notch servicer, please ask for him. Food is beyond expectation and atmosphere is great. read more

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The service is very rude and racist. We called to confirm if they accept walk-ins and we've been told that we gotta come in 40min for the walk-in. When we arrived we've been told we gotta wait for 20-30 min, after 40min of wait and multiple people taking the tables I reached the hostess again and been told that we need to wait another 30 minutes with no guarantee. Don't understand what was the point lying from the beginning and making us wait for an hour with no result. We left after an hour and honestly all that time we were very hungry. Also both persons at the front were very rude, when I asked question regarding the table the older mam replied: 'get the wine and relax'. That is very rude and appropriate. No apologies at all for lying and waiting. Disrespectful attitude. 1 start is a lot for that kind of service read more

Service was by far the worst I've ever experienced. It was my birthday and I was celebrating it as a party of 6. Upon checking in the hostess at the front was so dismissive I didn't feel welcome at all not a smile or hello. Upon being seated the server was no better sadly he was also dismissive and unenthusiastic. I didn't want to spend another minute there so we left before we could order. If you're reading this review there are far better places to spend your occasion at that will make you feel welcome. read more

Fabulous food, great wines and excellent service My husband got the pasta di fruit de mare and it was excellent. I got a fish dish and can't remember what but it was perfectly cooked and the sauce was perfect!! My husband's sauce was so good we ordered bread to sop up the last bits. I took my leftovers home and they gave me extra sauce, which I enjoyed with fresh baked bread the next day. Will definitely be going back. I love finding great new restaurants!!!! read more

Molo - Spaghetti di frutti di mare (sp?) - Italian Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Some of the best pasta we've had outside of Italy, UK and US. Cacio e pepe was off the charts. Bolognese was too. Nice wine selection but didn't need anything too special; the food spoke for itself. Service was efficient and friendly. It was quite busy and will likely always be, so don't expect to hurry in and out. Fun, laughter and smiles all around us. Parties of through 8. Not sure if there's a private dining room, but then, why would. The front patio is the place to be. Highly recommend Molo read more

we ordered the sizzling sausage platter, garlic bread, filet mignon, orecchiette salsiccia, &ravioli with 2 wines &sprite. plus a side of grilled chicken &bowl of water for my husky. I love this restaurant, it's fancy enough to bring my bougie madre and sitting outside makes it a little more casual so my niece will come too. the service is always amazing, this last time the server specifically asked about water for my husky because I had forgotten and let my madre get a taste of a wine he recommended (she loved it). this is our 5th time here &we'll continue to come back. read more

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*Molo by the Jetty Shore* In Italian Molo means Jetty, Pier or Wharf and this new Trattoria by the sea has the potential to become a fresh ocean breeze. Nestled on the backside of Canary Village, off the beaten path of Lido Peninsula. What was once Sabatino's, has rebranded, remodeled and blossumed nicely into an authentic Italian restaurant. Have dined and shared several family meals for over 20 years at Sabitino's, so when I found out we'd be having an early Xmas family dinner at Molo, I was simply excited. Like a professional athlete who takes the time watching game films and studying his next opponent, I researched and studied Molo prior to the first-pitch. As mentioned, this was an early Xmas dinner to celebrate a semi-family meal due to our scattered clans busy holiday schedules. My stepmom took the task of choosing. Molo was her 4th choice because the 3 others were unable to accommodate a small party of 5 on a Friday night with a week notice. Her final decision was based on a decent previous dining experience with Dad and also the close proximity being we could simply walk here. First off all, the service was fairly good & attentive, when we didn't need to track someone down. We had to wait longer than expected for every course. And it took forever for my stepmom to receive a decaf cappuccino following dinner. We had one waiter who's so Italian we could barely understand his English through a thick accent within the ultrasonic patio...and with each & everything we ordered he replied scripted: "excellent choice." And we also had one waitress, simply Alice, who was simply sweet. The tables outside on the patio are so cramped together their entire staff had to go around in circles between the 3 other tables surrounding to service our party of 5. Not what is expected at a fine dining Italian resto. Speaking of which, one of those tables next to us, had a very large service dog(?) that was drooling all over the floor...and desperately needed a bath. My entire family is dog lovers and have canines of their own, but they couldn't stand that foul oder too. The metal chairs on the patio are sooo uncomfortable and hard as a rock and we all couldn't wait to leave so it tarnished our 2 hour dining experience. I've dined at lots of loud restaurants, but Molo takes the GOLD Medal for the LOUDEST. Congrats team Italy :-) I'm not shouting ~~ pretending I'm still at Molo on the patio. Okay, enough with that and on to the food: BRUSCHELLA for the Table = "not what expected but still decent" Hail Caesar ~~ Dad: "The lettuce is cold & crisp...it's good but I've had better." My & Wifey's Octopus with Lentils = Outstanding & Fantastico and the best part of our meals. Her's & His Dueling Branzinos ~~ Wifey & I: "the fish is excellent...but the dish itself needs more flavor." My Branzino ~~ "The fish is excellent and the veggies too...but the dish itself lacks flavor and aches for a little sauce." And this is coming from a dude who eats generally clean food. Spaghetti Ai Frutti Di Mare -- Dad: "it's good but the pasta is a little undercooked." Penne Alla Vodka ~~ Stepmom: "It's good...I like it." Cacio & Pepe with Truffles ~~ Little Bro: "it's good...but doesn't need the Truffles." Stepmom enjoyed her House Wine so much she went for round 2...and little bro dug into his Moscow Mule duet. My Nutella Bread Pudding was okay, but disappointing because it's more like Custard and Crème Brûlée than Bread Pudding :-( and those who sampled agreed. I guess if I wanted bread pudding with actual bread, it'll cost extra like all their bread. Might come back again one day or night for the Octopus...if weren't forced to sit bumper to bumper within 3 tables...and a stinky dog. All & all it was a 3.75 Stars experience and we had hoped it was more. {{{No High-Fives}}} I'm not a tough critic ~~ just being honest. Happy Holidays...and please don't drink & drive. read more

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Came here for a holiday girls night! Loved how they decorated for the holiday in the restaurant. This was my first time and I absolutely loved it! We ordered the Beef Tartare which is by far one of the best beef tartare I've ever had. The Citrus Avocado salad was so yummy and I loved how the goat cheese perfectly blended well with the grapefruit. I ordered the Cacio e Pepe pasta which was amazing!! It was so rich and creamy, satisfied my craving. I did ask for sausage with my pasta which they never gave me, but it was fine and I still loved my pasta. Will definitely want to be a regular to this restaurant. read more

Molo - beef tartare and citrus avocado salad - Italian Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Just tried this for me and my bf's 6th anniversary and we loved it. Definitely coming back. Service was amazing and felt very elegant and homie. The food was 1000/10 and they cook very fast. Love the ambience as well. We had the most knowledgeable and friendly waiter I wish I got his name. I'm looking forward to coming back:) read more

Molo - Fettuccine Pasta - Italian Near Me - Newport Beach, California

OMG the Osso Buco with Risotto was delicious at Molo! In spite of the $58 price, I am so glad that I ordered it and that it was the only item that I ordered because it was a generous portion. The veal was so tender that a knife was not needed, LOL; I highly recommend it! I am definitely returning to Molo and I am requesting Guido who is one of the best waiters I ever had the pleasure to serve me. read more

What a terrible experience. Everyone raves about this place and they have such a fantastic wine list, which I love. The last three times I've been I have been very clear that I have an extreme dairy allergy. The last two times the fixed my meal after I had to send it back because it was covered in cheese. This time- I made it clear and started eating and pulling out string of cheese. Sent it back and the chef said there was no cheese. The waitress agreed that there was cheese- you could see it- and sent it back again. She then told us that he won't cook anything for me because of cross contamination. What kind of restaurant can't accommodate for allergies? We left early and took our wine to go because I couldn't eat, and still got charged for a $30 pasta dish covered in cheese. I'm so disappointed in a restaurant I have continually put faith into. read more

We come to Newport every year for vacation, Molo is now a must-stop on every trip. The food was beyond incredible especially the pasta, prepared in a cheese wheel in front of our table. Every dish was rich, fresh, and full of flavor. What made the experience truly unforgettable wasn't just the food and desserts.... it was the chef. He reminded me so much of cooking in the kitchen with my Italian grandma. His warmth, passion, and presence brought a personal touch that made the entire evening feel like home. Hands down the best meal, best environment, and most meaningful dining experience we've ever had. Molo is something truly special. read more

Molo - Incredible - Italian Near Me - Newport Beach, California

I'm always hesitant to try new restaurants but Molo did not disappoint. The experience and location is one of a kind. I'll have to start with the wonderful atmosphere. Molo is nestled in a quiet, quaint neighborhood on Lido. It feels private and exclusive. The staff is accommodating. We came earlier than our reservation time and they were happy to move things around for us. Our server Esther was wonderful and provided great service and recommendations! We got the Cacio e Pepe with truffle, the branzino, and the Dover sole with caper sauce. Food was excellent we will definitely be going back! read more

Molo - Truffle cacio e pepe; Dover sole with caper sauce; branzino - Italian Near Me - Newport Beach, California

We kind of stumbled upon this restaurant when we were trying to impress our coworker who said she loves Italian food. On our table we ordered the garlic bread Frutti Di Mare Pasta Al Pesto Caprese Alla Molo Spaghetti and Meatballs Everything tasted really good. Two of us ordered the House Chianti. The bottle was freshly opened. I tend to be a stickler about wine, but went well with what we ordered. The dishes change frequently so it's not boring as I don't see what I ordered previously, however that's a good thing whatever is seasonal. Definitely looking to come back again possibly during the December holiday. read more

Great customer service, but food lacks favor. Very disappointed food was blah! Nothing to rave about. Expensive for food that is not good.

We dined here for our anniversary earlier this week and we were quite disappointed. The place itself is cute and has a pretty nice ambiance on the patio. Our waitress didn't seem to know much about the menu, so we mostly ordered from the "daily specials" menu. We started with the citrus avocado salad, which was really good and the best dish we had all night. We then had the wild boar pasta and the dover sole with lemon and caper sauce. Both these dishes were really bland. The pasta was a little too al dente and required a lot of fresh parmesan and some salt. The diver sole was overcooked and chewy. It also had no flavor. We honestly should have sent it back considering how expensive it was but we felt bad so my husband ate half his portion and I had a few bites. We had indicated that it was our anniversary when making the reservation and there was no acknowledgement of it of it by the waitress or any of the staff. We decided to skip dessert because we really weren't impressed by much of the meal. When the bill came, they charged $3 for my cup of hot water... which was really tacky. Honestly, the small order of bread that we ordered should have also just been included as a starter. It was strange that they would charge for such a small portion of bread. Our friends really like Molo so I don't know if it was an off night, but we were not impressed and most likely won't be going back. read more

Molo - Citrus Avocado Salad - Italian Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Fantastic experience Very classic Italian especially the calamari fritti Completely redesigned Tasteful & tasty Newport needs a restaurant of this caliber Can't wait to return read more

I went with my husband and my son and we had a really great time. The staff were friendly and attentive to our needs. The place is cared for down to the smallest details, and the owners are genuinely attentive to their customers. The food is high quality, you absolutely have to try the fettuccine alla bolognese: they're the best I've ever eaten. We'll definitely be coming back, 100%! read more

Despite just having spent 10 days in Italy, I still could not get enough of the food. When I expressed my craving one of our friends from Sicily, highly recommended we check out Molo to enjoy authentic Italian dishes here in Orange County. Our friend did not hear us wrong! We arrived Saturday and a rain storm and sat on the warm and cozy patio and truly enjoyed our visit! My favorite dish was the pesto while the octopus was another highlight! One thing I will say is that you cannot get good gluten-free pizza outside of Italy so wouldn't recommend that. Everything else was truly incredible. My parents adored the lasagna and found it not too rich, but incredibly flavorful. We will absolutely be back. read more

Great tucked away place for a delicious Italian meal. Got a little confused at first because you have to drive into a residential neighborhood and then turn into their parking lot. The two of us did a pizza and a pasta and it was the perfect amount of food. Attentive service, food was cooked quickly, and I kind of like dining when it's not super crowded (I think we arrived after 1:30pm). read more

Molo is a cute Italian restaurant in a private residence area of Newport Beach. The food was fresh and authentic Italian food, with all the pasta homemade. We got the garlic bread and burrata salad to start, which were both delicious! For our main dish, we had the chicken parmagiana, which was a huge serving, and the penne alla vodka. The penne was a bit on the spicy side but came with homemade sausage. Our waiter was excellent and told us a bit about the history of the restaurant. They just applied for their liquor license, so only beer and wine is available now. Would definitely go again! read more

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Title: Disappointing birthday -- poor service, just average food (2/5) We chose this restaurant for my birthday (12/12/25),and left disappointed. The food was average and nothing special. Service was poor: staff seemed disorganized, people were moving tables in front of guests, and at one point the owner tried to take our table because one person hadn't arrived yet. For a special occasion this felt rushed and inconsiderate. Wouldn't recommend for celebrations -- better options nearby. read more

We tried Molo because we loved the former incarnation of Italian eatery that was in the space for many years (Sabatino's), and Molo is carrying on the sausage platter we loved so much. We were not disappointed in the sausage platter, and there was a lot to love about the updated decor and menu. The service was great and the place was hopping on a holiday weekend. The only caveat I'll add is to be clear on the price of specials - our server sold one of us on a special with truffles, and the price was a little crazy. We caught it in time, and everything we ordered was delicious. read more

Traditional Italian food. The fillet mignon is to die for. Service is spectacular. Beautiful people. Location is perfect if you want to make the difference. read more

We sat in the parking lot, which is enclosed by curtains. It was so loud we couldn't hear each other talk. Our waiter brought two orders of garlic bread, even though we didn't actually order it. Randy also brought a 3rd Caesar salad which We didn't order.. they tried to get us to order a $250 fish and a $400 tomahawk steak. The pasta was mediocre. We literally waited about an hour after the first course for them to take our order for the second course. Very expensive for what you get. $500 bill for shared plates. Will not be back. read more

Molo - $250 fish and a $400 tomahawk steak. - Italian Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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The staff is so friendly and makes you feel like family. The garlic bread and cacio e pepe (made in a cheese wheel) were our favorite things we ate. We can't wait to come back with friends. They have a great dog friendly patio, our pup loved joining us. We also love that they still sell the Sabintos sausage (frozen to go)! read more

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