Food was exactly what I wanted (fresh pasta with oregano red sauce). The service with Freddy was…read morealso timely and exceptional! Highly recommend.

we really enjoyed our dinner at romeo cucina! we sat in the outdoor patio which was a nice ambiance…read moreon a warm summer night, and our server was very attentive and friendly. we started off with the cesarina salad and the romeo salad-- the romeo salad was a hit, the caesar salad was different than what you'd expect for a caesar salad but still good! also, the bread and fresh pesto they brought us was amazing! for mains, we got the margerita pizza, rigatoni giulietta, and bolognese with meatballs. the rigatoni was beautiful & flavorful; no notes 10/10! the pizza was enjoyable as well, and the bolognese was great. the meatballs were a tad dry. overall, we really enjoyed our experience here and would definitely come back!

Service is top-notch. Very watchful of what the table needs. Nice inside but noisy because it is…read morealways crowded. As for the food, they have a huge choice of Italian stuff from the usual to the exotic, & all of it is very good, except I made the error of choosing a carpaccio of octopus + salmon. The slices were few & far between & so thin, they were tasteless, but everything else was excellent from the pizza to the cioppino to the meatballs & calamari, etc. Nice wine selection especially the Italian Vinos. Portion size is large & enough for at least 2 meals, except of course if you have 2 growing 20-year-old boys/men who would eat the plates if they were soft enough. All in all, Mother's day brunch was enjoyable. One addition is they are more expensive than Yelp would leave you to expect.

03/2026 If you're…read moreever in the Laguna Beach area and looking for Italian food for lunch or dinner, this is the place to stop. My wife and I came here last year (2025) for dinner and were blown away by how good the food was. Everything is made fresh, and they use their own homemade pasta in their dishes. So when we came back in 2026, we made sure to bring my mom--her first time on the West Coast--and planned a stop here before heading to Santa Monica. The restaurant is very nicely decorated, and they also have bags of their homemade pasta available for purchase. We sat inside this time due to construction outside. Our server was excellent. She took our drink orders--my wife and mom had tea, and I had an Old Fashioned, which was made very well. She also brought us an appetizer of deep-fried olives stuffed with cheese. I'm not usually an olive fan, but these were surprisingly good and didn't have a strong olive taste, also ask for a side of tomato sauce makes them even better! My wife wanted a fish dish with pasta and a lemon sauce that she had twice before on our last visit. Although they didn't have the exact same fish, the kitchen was able to prepare it with a different one, and it tasted just as good as she remembered. My mom ordered the meatball sub, and I had the Bolognese with homemade pappardelle pasta. The meat sauce was excellent. My mom said the meatballs were the best she's ever had--she barely touched the bread because she just wanted to enjoy the meatballs themselves. We also picked up some of their fresh pasta to take home. It's incredibly easy to prepare--just drop it in hot water for 2-3 minutes depending on how you like it, much quicker than store-bought pasta. We'll definitely keep stopping here whenever we're in the area. Give it a try--you won't be disappointed.

My husband and I chose Salerno's to celebrate our first Valentine's Day as a married couple based…read moreon the strong reviews. Unfortunately, our experience did not reflect those reviews at all. Despite having a reservation, our seating options were either directly on the curb, where traffic and exhaust were blowing toward the tables, or at an indoor table packed so tightly between others that it was difficult to even move without bumping into neighboring guests. More importantly, after placing our order, we waited 45 minutes with no food, no glass of wine, and no communication from staff. No one checked on us. No one acknowledged the delay. We were given no reassurance that our order had even been placed. Meanwhile, multiple parties seated after us were served their meals. We understand Valentine's Day is busy. We are patient people. But being left without service or communication for that length of time is unacceptable. We ultimately left without ever receiving our food. A simple acknowledgment or update would have changed the entire experience. Instead, we left disappointed and unfed on what should have been a meaningful evening. I hope management reevaluates how reservations and kitchen capacity are handled on high-volume nights so other couples don't have the same experience.

Excellent food for a very affordable priced dinner. We have not frequented many Italian…read morerestaurants thinking that it's "just" pasta, but this was a very eye opening experience. Fresh ingredients and served piping hot as we can see the open kitchen from where we were seated. We look forward to returning again.

We hosted our company holiday dinner at Oliver Osteria, and it absolutely delivered. The table went…read morefamily-style on antipasti--Carpaccio di Manzo, Polpette, Polpo alla Griglia, and Fritto Misto. All perfect for sharing and starting the night strong. For entrées, the crowd favorites were the Lasagna Classica, Filetto, and the Pork Tomahawk. I went with the pork tomahawk and wow which was rich, hearty, and full of flavor. The pork was perfectly cooked and paired with caramelized onions, a tangy mustard sauce, and creamy mashed potatoes that tied everything together. We wrapped up the night with desserts--Tiramisù, Profiteroles, Gelati e Sorbetti plus cappuccinos, which was the perfect way to end a long dinner. Shoutout to the servers they were incredibly patient, attentive, and helpful, especially considering we were a larger group. Everything ran smoothly, and we never felt rushed. Between the food, atmosphere, and service, it was an ideal spot for a holiday group dinner. Cozy, elevated, and absolutely worth a return visit.

Came here for Valentine's day and left pretty underwhelmed, sadly. We were seated outside in a tent…read morein the parking lot which was a little disappointing. Ambiance plays a big role (in my opinion) to a restaurant and not getting to be seated inside or at least on a patio docked some points off for me. For a special occasion dinner, I don't want to be sitting in a parking lot tent. For the price point, I didn't really feel the restaurant quality (plating, service, ambiance) really reaches those expectations. I can tell their food is great, I think I wish I chose something different when ordering. I couldn't tell you exactly what we ordered since I think they launched a new menu just this week but I'll describe it the best I can. Espresso Martini -5/5 Great espresso martini! No notes. Burrata with pesto - 4/5 Light and refreshing appetizer. This wasn't my first choice for appetizer but my partner loves burrata so we got it. It would be really hard to mess this up so I have no notes. $20+ for one tomato was pretty shocking, though. Tagliolini with shrimp and mushrooms - 2/5 To be fair, I've never had tagliolini before so I don't have a reference point of how it should be and maybe it's just not my style. The pasta was thin and flat and very very soft. There was absolutely no bite to it whatsoever and felt like it might be over cooked (again, I'm not expert so maybe this is how it should be). Because of the texture and size it kind of was just one big soft clump on the plate. The shrimp and mushrooms were nice and I enjoyed the sauce but I really didn't like the pasta on this one. And I know plating have any affect of the food but this one seemed really sloppily thrown together and I was pretty sad when it was put on the table. Definitely wasn't pretty or exciting to look at. Pappardelle made w/ beets in quail ragu - 4/5 We really enjoyed this pasta! The pasta itself had a subtle sweetness to it from the beets which made it much more interesting than your typical pasta dough. It had a nice chew, which is what I was really missing in the other dish. The quail ragu was yummy, although we did find a bone but it was large enough to easily pick out and put to the side. Panna Cotta - 4.5/5 Thick and rich vanilla panna cotta with a tart berry compote. Very delicious!

Cute little bistro on the Forest avenue surrounded by lots of shopping and galleries. Unfortunately…read moreLaguna Beach is in the middle of removing tons of trees in the middle of the street so there is absolutely no view at this time. It is supposed to be finished early June. The food and service are both great. We started with the whipped ricotta with toast and honey and almonds and it was delicious we shared the salmon salad. It was definitely plenty for two. We were celebrating a birthday and they made sure to bring us a delicious ice cream sundae Would really like to return in the summer for an evening meal

Went for a date night last night and we enjoyed our dinner! We've been passing this place forever…read morebut hadn't had a chance to try it! Nice atmosphere, it feels slightly upscale but still relaxed. Good service! Food: I got the lamp chop salad- VERY good! The lamb was cooked *perfectly* and was very flavorful. It was pretty fatty, but I think that leant to the good flavor and juiciness. It wasn't a massive meal, but I was full after finishing it. My husband got the shrimp pasta and that was VERY good! He scraped his plate clean and raved about it. We split the artichoke appetizer- this I wouldn't get again. It was good in the beginning and the dipping sauce was yummy, but as you ate the artichoke the seasoning and butter/oil ran out and it became gradually less flavorful and more tough. Not to say it was bad, we've just had better. Ultimately the 4/5 is mostly for pricing, it isn't cheap, but given the location the price is pretty comparable to other restaurants in the area. We'll definitely go back!

Came here on a Saturday night for their EDM night. At 10:30 the place is converted into a lounge…read morefor dancing and it gets poppin. I liked it a lot, especially the tech house, I think all of the DJs that come here do tech house only. The only thing I didn't like was the people who make their way into the audience but then they just stand there and don't dance. If you are going to push your way towards the front and disrupt everyone's flow and rhythm just to stand there and take up space, that's very annoying. Go stand in the back if you aren't going to dance.

Service 10 Ambiance…read more10 Beer Options 10 Food 1-2 (Fries best part) Long time customer. Laguna Beach native. Don't know if it was just an off day/night the food was underwhelming. The escargot a favorite of ours. Re-used shells ok whatever but at least put a bigger piece of meat in there. The shells were filled with oil and some greens but the meat of the "escargot " was a little bit bigger than a pea! The fresh bread was great. Salad Endive - ehh chunks of ham??? Couldn't parent it better or just cheap meat? Steak was very tough. I had to spit a part out bc of the sinew. Then the frozen garlic butter hockey puck!! How do you expect people to put this or use this when it's frozen solid? The meat isn't hot enough to melt it. Overall you need to do better. Won't be coming back anytime soon unfortunately!

I can't believe it took me this long to experience Nick's, especially as someone who's deeply…read morefamiliar with the Laguna dining scene. To put it simply: this is the kind of place Laguna has been missing. From the moment we walked in, the energy felt dialed-in in a way that immediately reminded me of a Hillstone experience -- polished but not pretentious, lively but still intimate. That balance is incredibly hard to execute, and Nix nails it. For context, I'm part owner of 230 Forest Avenue, so I don't say this lightly: Nix easily lands in my top five in Laguna Beach. We started with Aperol spritzes (perfectly balanced, not overly sweet), along with a couple of appetizers -- including a fried asparagus dish that was addictive in the best way. Crisp, flavorful, and gone way too quickly. For mains, I ordered the veggie burger, which was genuinely one of the best I've had -- hearty, well-seasoned, and thoughtfully constructed (not an afterthought, which vegetarian options so often are). My boyfriend had the noodle salad, which was fresh, vibrant, and layered with flavor. But beyond the food, what really stood out was the overall experience. The atmosphere feels intentional , great music, beautiful crowd, and a buzz that makes you want to linger. It's the kind of place where dinner effortlessly turns into drinks, and drinks turn into "should we just stay a little longer?" Laguna Beach doesn't have a ton of restaurants that hit this level across the board -- food, service, ambiance, and energy, but Nix absolutely does. We'll be back, and soon.

Can you say delicious x10?! The food here is dangerously good…read more We kicked things off with drinks, an old fashioned and a skinny margarita, both doing exactly what they needed to do! Then came the artichoke appetizer and the soup of the day... and honestly, I could've stopped there and been happy. But we powered through like professionals and went for a late lunch entrée, the Chilean sea bass- and WOW. Worth every bite. And shoutout to our server and the entire staff, total pros. Super polished, attentive, and clearly know what they're doing without being over the top. If you're looking for amazing food with a cool, laid-back vibe, Nick's is your spot. Just come hungry... and maybe wear stretchy pants.

Tango is one of those places I keep coming back to! I've been here for drinks, tapas, date nights,…read moreand even just hanging out with my girlfriends, and it's always a good time. Lately I've been really into their paella and cocktails both are consistently great. The beet salad is also so good and super fresh. It just feels like a hidden gem in Laguna. Everything about the place is solid. Definitely one of my go to spots for date nights!

Food and drink are amazing…read more I sat at the bar so service is great Ambience is chic and trending

"I think that was Amar Santana!," I said to my husband as we were walking out after a memorable…read moremeal. Now, I did not know who Amar Santana was before walking in, but I do now. And so should you. Destination-worthy cocktails. Seriously. We got the "Apricot Fizz" and the "My Love." I think the secret to a sublime cocktail is balance and these were Perfect. Fragrant, yummy and visually appealing. Would go back JUST to try all the others! Food: We started with the Beet Salad (my favorite dish of the evening) and the Sundried Tomato Focaccia. The beets were jewel-like, perfect texture, and atop of the luscious crema. The focaccia brought back the "Sundried Tomato" craze of the '80s in the best way. For mains we had the Moroccan Lamb Shank with Couscous and the Farro and Wild Mushroom Paella. My husband said the lamb was "fall off the bone" delicious, with a deep, dark depth. I loved the Paella. Farro was a nice change, it was perfectly cooked with the right "tooth" and layered with flavor. I especially enjoyed the pickled red onion on top. Yum! If I could suggest the tiniest "tweak," I think an acid component (citrus, vinegar etc), and a shower of fresh herbs would take this dish to the next level. I think more "pickly" red onions would do the trick too. Even so, that's just MY taste and does not take away from the dish at all. It was lusciously good! In addition to the cocktails, we had the Cab Blend to accompany our entrees. Nice pours by the sommelier who also made sure we were done with our glasses before whisking them away. We were too full for dessert but we do want to try the Beehive next time. Service: Exceptional. Our server, a young lady, was attentive, knew the menu, and checked in on us throughout the meal. Water glasses were refilled immediately. The best service is subtle in the best way and Broadway has this down pat. Overall, highly recommend Broadway for a memorable meal in Laguna, it's been here awhile for good reason. The ambiance is warm, inviting, cozy. And, thanks Mr. Santana for stopping by our table. We'll be back.

It takes a lot for me to leave a negative review for a restaurant but nothing pisses me off more…read morethan paying a lot of money for inedible food. First we started with the Focaccia that was both surprisingly dry and doughy at the same time and completely void of any flavor. Then we had the octopus which had some interesting flavors but was so chewy and the texture was so off putting that it made my stomach turn. The pork belly was soggy and the portion was laughable for the price. For our main we had the Beef Cheek Mole which was so fatty and tough that it made it impossible to eat. While I appreciate the ambiance and aesthetic of what appeared to be well executed plated dishes, the food was extremely unpleasant. Not only was I disappointed but was shocked that a restaurant of this caliber could put out food that was so blatantly disgusting.

We came on NYE. There was music happening at 9pm, but we…read morecame early and missed it. That was our fault. We were the only ones there. The experience was all over the map. The owner served us initially, and he was really friendly and funny. We ordered a bottle of wine, and some cocktails. We put in some salads and an appetizer, they were really really good. But after that, our server (the owner we were told) left, and another server introduced himself. The new server was inattentive. He sat chatting with the other servers at the bar, leaving empty glasses and empty plates on the table. We had to flag him to come back to fill water. Having been myself in the service industry for years, my biggest pet peeve is when servers sit and chat where you can see them, and when they do come, they don't do a sweep and take care of things on the table. We had to put our empty glasses and trash on a side table. It was weird. The bolognese had hardly any meat in it. It was mostly tomato and onion. I've been to Argentina. Meat is a staple. Also weird. We ordered dessert and after waiting for 5-10 minutes, the server came back and told us they were missing crucial ingredients to make it. The owner came back at the end and was really gracious, but all in all, I think the execution was lacking. The service was not great. The food was 3.5/5 I love to support small business, perhaps we will try again another night.

Karaoke Tuesday was a disaster! It's all about money…read more We spent $120 on drinks for 3 people. Plus Tips. We were on the Q. Until we're NOT. Because (they actually announced) someone paid more. Go ponder.