Chef Marco and his team did it again! With the time this place is getting always better and better!! Gret job Trullo team! It like be in Puglia, their pasta program is the best! My favorite... the hand made orecchiette read more

Fluffiest. Cheesecake. Ever. Delicioso! We'll definitely be back for more... great service, great coffee, great dessert, what's not to love? read more

Trattoria Trullo - Peach Basil Cheesecake - Italian Near Me - Aliso Viejo, California

I'm stunned that we have such an amazing restaurants in walking distance of our apartment. It allows us to enjoy the amazing selection of Italian wines without regard :D We are so blessed to live in place where we truly have everything we would want, all the creature comforts, and this place solidifies. So firstly, my husband and are usually sushi fanatics, and it's the one thing we choose most of the time when we eat out. I'm so glad we came here - the quality of this small and quaint restaurant blew me away. Everything is fresh, apparently imported from Italy, recipes are authentic, and it sure feels that way. The bread OMG. The house made pasta. Everything is just wonderful and complements each other. Nothing is oily or salty, and radiates high quality ingredients. We had the bruschetta, the zucchini blossoms, the rosemary foccacia, clam pasta, seafood pasta, and branzino. Everything was amazing, and the service was, too. And I need to mention again that their pastas are HAND made. And you can taste it. Perfect texture. Unfortunately, we couldn't try the coffees as the machines were off for the night (we came late and they couldn't be kinder as to accomodate us when we became the last people in the restaurant), but the tiramisu was absolutely delicious. Not soggy, not oversweet, just a perfect balance of flavour. The restaurant is small and gets busy, so please be patient with them. Make reservations if time is an issue. read more

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Food - Italian. Spaghetti, Bucatini, Lasagna, rigatoni, focaccia, antipasti, salad. All are good selection and a must try at least once. Service was good too. Just wish they would be a little more attentive during busy times but I digress. It was busy after all. Would I return? I think so. read more

Came here during lunch. Ample parking. Sitting outside was super pleasant. Loved their focaccia bread. The pistachio spread was okay. Got their little ear pasta, which is one of their notable dishes. It was good but I wouldnt order again. read more

Trattoria Trullo - Little ear pasta - Italian Near Me - Aliso Viejo, California

My family and I had such an incredible experience here for Mother's Day! Our server, Jesse, shared that their focaccia is a must, they hand-make their pastas and they have a mushroom risotto that's finished in a Parmigiano Reggiano Wheel. I was sold on everything Jesse suggested. For drinks, we shared a bottle of light, crisp Borgo Canedo Sauvignon Blanc, and an Italian style Pilsner called Webb's, which is brewed locally in Aliso Viejo. Focaccia Pugliese & Gluten Free Focaccia were both good! The GF version had more of a light biscuit texture but both had a soft interior with a crisp outer layer. The Basil-Ricotta Spread with pistachio went really well with them too. Insalata Lattuga - baby romaine, lemon, anchovy bread crumbs, Grana Padano cheese with creamy herb dressing - fresh, crunchy and well balanced Mandilli di Seta - very unique handkerchief shaped pasta with lemon cream and pesto drizzle Agnolotti - ricotta and garlic filled pasta with asparagus, spring onion and guanciale - complex flavor profile and textures! The Lasagna and Rigatoni alla Bolognese were classic and authentic. Their bolognese includes beef, pork and veal. Chef Marco came out with the Parmigiano Reggiano Wheel and prepared the Mushroom Risotto in it, mixing all the ingredients and scraping the cheese off the sides while he served it. It was rich, creamy and not too salty. I didn't know the wheel is nearly $1k! We tried all the desserts! Among the Affogato, Gelato, Panna Cotta, Tiramisu and Torta Pasticiotto, the Panna Cotta stood out the most with savory basil infused in the cream with crispy caramelized sugar and pine nuts and fresh strawberry puree. Second runner up was the Affogato for me. The restaurant has a clean, modern design. It's not too spacious inside, but the party of 10 of us sat comfortably in the covered patio area. Service was excellent. The food and drinks came out quickly and bussers were on top of picking up empty plates and refilling water. Aliso Viejo is lucky to have such a special Italian restaurant! read more

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Oh my gosh. This is an absolute gem! Italy is a special place for our family and this is the real deal. Authentic Italian food, top level of service, and an event - not just a meal. I don't even have to ask if the ingredients are fresh. The food has a farm to table feel, classic recipes - elevated, and tasty favor combinations. It transported me back to Italy, one bite at a time. When can we go back??? read more

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didn't see the interior but the outside seating was cute and the staff were very kind and attentive. espresso martini was on the sweeter side and i think the pistachio spread was a skip. the focaccia was absolutely heavenly though, definitely a must-order. i enjoyed the meatballs as well and the risotto was tasty (although i likely won't order it again). i didn't try the linguine but it looked delicious. i enjoyed the dessert, it was almost like a black forest cake but with a nutella like filling instead. this meal was very rich but tasty. overall, a wonderful time and would love to come back again. read more

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The food here is always delicious and savory. It's obvious the chef puts his heart and soul into every dish. On top of that the service and staff are amazing. If you are a true foodie you absolutely have to try this place. We can't wait to go back. read more

Tried this place for the first time and what a place! The food is fresh and authentic and the staff is so nice and literally waiting by to help with anything you may need. It's in the town center so perfect for a date night or dinner before a movie. It's small and cozy and decorated so well. I think they said the pasta is handmade in house and you can really tell by how delicious it is. Will definitely be back for another dinner and Hugo spritz! read more

Overpriced and small portions. For the meals we ate, we should have left less hungry.

This cute little Italian restaurant is situated in the happening foodie area in Aliso Viejo. I am super stoked about the gluten free rosemary focaccia and the hostess didn't know anything about it. It is so delicious and I cant stop eating it so I will award them 4 stars and will definitely give them 5 stars after dining in read more

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This is legit the best Italian food you will have in America. You have to try this place. I had the fettuccine shrimp special. Was so good. Facacha bread was fire! Great place will be coming back again. read more

Really good food! Came here last week to have a date night with my girlfriend and was very pleasantly surprised with the food! Kinda sucks they don't have a bar but I had the lavender lemonade and it was super good! don't sleep on the appetizer and the meatballs! We had there bread with olive oil and the pistachio spread on the side and it was amazing! I could stuff myself with just that! Really friendly service with good recommendations ! read more

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First time here and we enjoyed it! We had a reservation but came earlier. And it was an early dinner. Not a lot of people yet, so we got seated right away. It took a while before we got attended to, and was told by someone else who helped us temporarily that our waitress is either not there yet or not available yet. We got the Bucatini alle Vongole, which is good. We also got the Lasagna Classica and added steak. This we truly enjoyed! Very flavorful but nothing like your taste buds will get tired of easily. I downed my food with [G] Nero d'Avola, Vignet) 'Zabu'. I didn't see any California Cabernet, which I normally get, but this is good. Looks like most of their wine are from Italy, being an Italian restaurant. Place is not a traditional your Italian grandma's place. It's more modern and light. read more

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Excellent tiramisu for dessert. Love all the pasta dishes we had. Excellent service and very friendly and efficient. Busy ambiance even on a Wednesday evening. read more

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Best Italian food, intimate, quality service and an innovative menu. Great for every day and special occasions

What a find - tucked in a busy shopping plaza, we dared go without reservations - LOL - but they were gracious and found us a lovely table outside on the terrace. This is really a lovely spot and the food is amazing. We were told the owner is the chef and creates all of the food with love and passion...not to mention the freshly baked I highly recommend the FOCACCIA PUGLIESE with Basil Ricotta, Pistachio spread...delicious. Our entrees followed we enjoyed PAPPARDELLE - absolutely amazing beef shortrib tender and delicious with mushrooms and mascarpone. My sister and I shared two entrees- she ordered Orecchiette alle cime di rapa - tender pasta with this broccoli rabe sauce and sausage...so good. My neice enjoyed her Spaghetti al Pomodoro - it looked delicious, and she totally enjoyed it. This place is absolutely worth the visit. Can't wait to go back read more

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I had heard so much about this place and I was really looking forward to it. Unfortunately I don't think I'll be returning. We tried to have dinner there last night and were told it'd be a 45 minute wait. We put our name on the waitlist but ended up finding somewhere else to eat. We got a text less than 10 minutes later saying our table was ready. I wish the wait time provided was accurate and I would've waited. Today we tried again, this time we went in early in the day to avoid the crowd. The restaurant is nicely decorated. The service was OK. Sadly I was really not impressed with the food. The best thing we tried was the $10 Focaccia and the $5 ricotta pistachio spread. My husband had a pasta with sausage and broccoli rabe sauce. The pasta lacked flavor and we had to ask for cheese to make it better. I ordered the penne bolognese which was actually so salty that I didn't eat most of it. I was kind of shocked at how bad it was. Our bill was about $100 for 2 people and I left hungry. read more

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One of the best, if not the best, Italian spots you'll find. The food is amazing, super high-quality, and you really taste the difference. Service is great too; polite staff and very knowledgeable on all the menu items. Wine was great too. The place has indoor seating, in addition to a heated patio. Would recommend for a date night for sure. read more

Trattoria Trullo - Red win, bar menu - Italian Near Me - Aliso Viejo, California

Service is top notch. The food even better. I've been here at least a dozen times and can't tell you how often I think about this place. Such a great time. I wish there was one closer to my house!! read more

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My husband and I came here on date night on a Tuesday. The man at the front which I was later told was the owner (and chef) was so sweet to us as soon as we arrived. He let us choose our table. The restaurant was clean, dim, quiet, and mellow. Perfect date spot. Perfect mom and dad's night out. We were notified by our very kind waitress that the menu is seasonal and changes often (which in my opinion is a pretty cool concept) We started with the fiori de zucca (Three Crispy Zucchini Blossoms Stuffed with ricotta and basil) This one was OH MY WORDDD YUMMY! Everything on the menu sounded soooo good it made it difficult to pick just one entree! I ordered the Agnolotti del Plin and my husband chose the branzino. The Agnolotti del Plin is a (as described on menu) Pillow Shaped Pasta, Faith Farms' Corn Pureé Filling, Dungeness Crab, and a Brown Butter-Chive Sauce. The pasta was perfectly Al dente. The corn purée tasted delicious, but was a bit overpowering canceling out all the other flavors. I would've liked to taste more of the dungeness crab which I felt was just a few scarce shreds lost in between a bunch of corn kernels, for the price of $40. The branzino was very delicious. It had a perfectly crisp skin and citrus flavors. The tomatoes tasted marinated in the sauce and were very tasty also! Compliments to the chef! We will keep this place in mind for date night. We enjoyed our evening! read more

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Arrived at 530 on a Friday evening with no reservation and there was no wait for indoor or outdoor seating. Our waitress was friendly and provided some drink recommendations and gave us the specials. The outdoor seating was a little loud, but that could just be from a couple large parties that were there while we were eating dinner. Based on Yelp reviews, we started with the focaccia and greatly enjoyed it. We got the Bucatini alle Vongole which was good, but not amazing. The pasta was well cooked and the bites with some Calabrian chilis or tomatoes were flavorful. We got The gnocchi special which had a standout sauce. Our third dish was the rigatoni alla bolognese. The pasta was perfectly cooked and the sauce was well seasoned. The top dish of our table was a half chicken special with a piccata sauce. The chicken was juicy and both the dark and white meat were both executed perfectly. The piccata sauce was thicker and richer than most, but well balanced with the lemon and capers. It was a generous portion, but we ate every bite of it. The meal was on the pricier side, but probably the best Italian we've had in south OC. read more

Trattoria Trullo - Bucatini alle Vongole - Italian Near Me - Aliso Viejo, California

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Similar to some other reviews on here, I was extremely underwhelmed with Trattoria Trullo. I was super excited to come here with my husband for my 30th birthday lunch and had also seen them on Instagram but there was no celebration, no comp'd, not even a happy birthday even though we wrote it in the reservation notes. We arrived on a Sunday afternoon 1:30ish and it was just us and another table - amazing, so private and quiet. We have two small kids at home so we were looking forward to a nice quiet meal with good quality food. My friend had also come with her husband for her birthday and enjoyed the Bucatini so I think our expectations were too high. We ordered: -Focaccia Pugliese ($10) - their staple. Nice and moist inside, crispy on the outside. Portion was good but nothing special -Burrata ($10) - cheese was very fresh, but served very plainly -Trullo Spritz ($15) - your typical aperol spritz -Lobster Ravioli ($34) - ravioli pasta was firm, al dente; however the sauce atop tasted as if it came from a can. I guess I'm used to having lobster ravioli with cream sauce but the lobster was not flavorful, the pasta was handmade and good but the sauce really ruined the dish. It really really made me sad -Bucatini alle Vongole ($34) - Liked the texture and firmness of the pasta but the vongole was too salty and very flat, as if the wine was not cooked off all the way. No dynamic flavors, served lukewarm not hot. Apparently they weren't expecting the crowd they received. Near the end of our meal most of the tables were full and I believe it was just the 1 waitress and busboy. The waitress also said the chef had sent the other cook home so they were very stressed. No one was available to take our picture at the end (we were awkwardly hovering for 5 mins before we decided to just leave and not bother them). They weren't stressed when they cooked our food because it wasn't busy when we were served so this is just their food. Either 1) I don't appreciate Puglian Italian food or 2) I just ordered all the wrong things. There was this gem salad that sounded great (one of the specials that will be added to the menu soon) and I heard the lasagna is good but I'm too scared to be disappointed again. We also drive in from Irvine so I don't think I'm willing to risk driving out there only to be disappointed. read more

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We were a large party and they gave us a set menu to choose from and sat us by the covered patio. The atmosphere feels warm, cozy, and authentically Italian. The food is excellent. Everything tasted fresh and thoughtfully prepared, from the handmade pastas to the perfectly cooked proteins. The sauces are rich without being heavy, and you can really tell they care about quality ingredients. The staff is friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming without being overbearing. They sales-talked us to try the tiramisu which they said was specially made for us. Not a big fan of it in general so I don't really know if it's good or average. I specially love their dish wares with the green spots. read more

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I found this place to be extremely underwhelming. I definitely got "influenced" by the influencers and the food was not reflective of "how popular or good" it supposedly is. I came here on Sunday night and it was actually quite dead which was surprisingly. And after dining here I understand why. The risotto was WAY too salty and the rice was undercooked, no one at our table could finish it and I was so disappointed. Risotto is one of my all time favorite dishes and to mess that up when it's supposed to be one of their trademark table side experience was a let down. It's also quite expensive and I never mind the cost of anything as long as it's made properly but this was a huge let down. The pastas were also pretty underwhelming, we got the squid ink pasta, and orecchiette. The sauce on the orecchiette was unique and different but not enough to get me to come back. I forgot to take a picture but we also got the mussels for an appetizer as well and the focaccia and that dish were the only items we liked. Overall there are so many good Italian restaurants in OC this is not one I would recommend or come back to unfortunately. read more

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I came here to celebrate my birthday with a few girlfriends. It was my first time here and I was excited to try this place since I heard from a lot of good things about it. The restaurant is a bit small and not much decor but it is cozy. Reservations are highly recommended especially for weekends since it doesn't have that many seats. We started with the Foccacia bread which was home made and was crispy on the outside and warm and soft on the inside. It's a good shareable dish. The ecology center salad was very fresh tasting, we especially loved the fresh strawberries and the dressing was light and refreshing for the summer. We ordered the cheese wheel mushroom risotto which was a show in itself as they mixed it table side for us. It was a bit pricey for the portion size and while it was quite tasty and flavorful I thought it wasn't worth the price for having no protein. We ended the night with the chocolate tart and the tiramisu which I thought was good. They gave me a small macaron as a birthday treat. One thing that was disappointing was the service was a bit lacking. We had to ask for water refills several times and we weren't given proper amount of utensils and had to ask for it. We were one of the last parties remaining in the restaurant but there was probably 20 minutes t when we were unattended and couldn't find someone to give us water refills. I think it was worth a try but it is on the pricey side without the service to back it up. read more

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Our appetizers, salad and entrees were all so delicious! Service was very attentive.too! Highly recommend!

This has got to be the best fresh gluten free pasta and bread in California. The bread was fluffy and had a nice crumb texture and the pasta was perfection. They make one gluten free shape, a rigatoni, but it was perfectly cooked. The sauces were flavorful and the cheesecake was a pleasant surprise to end the meal with a sweet treat. Our server was very knowledgeable and was able to explain the gluten free shape, and how they make it in house. read more

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Amazing food! The focaccia is a must. We haven't had anything we didn't like. Their salads are so unique. The pastas are cooked to perfection. Service is prompt and friendly. They always have great recommendations and specials. We've been here multiple times and will keep coming back for sure. read more

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We ate dinner here tonight and everything from Start to finish was excellent. The focaccia, to the squash blossoms, the burrata and peach salad to the rigatoni. The branzino was excellent and we even had a bottle of white wine from Puglia that was delicious. Our server, Allison K, was just lovely. She made our experience so enjoyable. It's so nice to discover a new local restaurant that really gets it right. Bravo Trattoria Trulo read more

Once again never disappointed! This place is still one of my favorites in Aliso Viejo. Fabulous service, relaxing ambience, and amazing food. Highly recommend sitting on the patio with a glass of wine. read more

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This is my second visit to Trattoria Trullo. It has become my favorite Italian restaurant. Our server Alyson was amazing. Her pasta recommendation was on point! I've never had such a great tasting pasta. If you are ever the area, please stop by you will not regret it. read more

Randomly chose this spot and so happy I did! Can at the perfect time because as the night got later, it definitely got busy. I love that inside they keep the tables fairly distributed apart so that way you feel like you are having an intimate dinner instead of dinner with the table next to you. Our server was incredible! (Unfortunately I forgot his name ). We had the focaccia and wow! Best I've ever had. It was so fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside. We didn't add anything on to it but honestly it didn't need any cheese or anything. Was delicious with and without the olive oil/balsamic dip. I got the orecchiette and so incredibly flavored and balanced through the whole dish. The portion size was perfect as well. My fiancé got the chef special with much had a puttanesca sauce with squid ink pasta and mussels. He really enjoyed it and cleared his plate just as easily as I did. We definitely will be back for sure since everything on the menu looks so very tantalizing! read more

Trattoria Trullo - Orecchiette and squid ink puttanesca - Italian Near Me - Aliso Viejo, California

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Very nice restaurant in town center near Opah. Authentic home made delicious high quality food made on the premises. No cans or frozen food. The lemon pasta was heavenly! Light and delicious with a subtle hint of lemon. Lovely attentive service,,,, was wonderful and so appreciated. Compliments to the chef and staff! read more

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New fave Italian place! Love the food, atmosphere & service! Had the Focaccia, Insalata Lattuga & Mandilli Di Seta...all soooo delicious! read more

Trattoria Trullo - Mandilli De Seta - Italian Near Me - Aliso Viejo, California

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My husband and I dropped in on a Friday night around 7 pm to celebrate my birthday and were seated without an existing reservation. Trullo was packed and we had one of the 2-tops on the outside patio. We had heard good things from our neighbors since Trullo opened under Chef Marco's direction. Chef Marco hails from Puglia which is the southern part of Italy known for its coastline, extra virgin olive oil, and focaccia. They make the pastas in-house using locally sourced ingredients and high-quality imported ingredients when available. The menu changes seasonally. We ordered the focaccia ($10) with the basil ricotta pistachio spread ($5), house special Bucatini all'Amatriciana made with guanciale ($30), and the bombette ($22). I also had the Hugo spritz ($15). We happened to order the last bucatini order which we received as a split plate. Let me just tell you that it was perfectly al dente and superb. I have not had pasta like this in years outside of Italy. YEARS! It was perfectly savory and did not need any additional seasoning. Our focaccia arrived shortly after our pasta and we immediately tried it with the ricotta spread which made a flavor bomb inside our mouths. The flaky sea salt really put it over the top. So good! Finally, the bombette with is a regional dish in Puglia arrived. Bombette is cheese-stuffed pork rolls and it is accompanied with a bright citrusy arugula and tomato salad. This was a dish I had not had before and it was good but not my favorite of the evening. My husband enjoyed it immensely more than I did. There is a unique sense of joy that comes over me when I really enjoy a meal. This was one of those times. At the end, our server Alesandro, brought out a small chocolate hazelnut spread filled amaretti cookie with a candle. It was the perfect end to an extraordinary meal. Even my husband was impressed and we ran into some neighbors who were also dining at Trullo. We had great service and an even better meal. I can't believe this little neighborhood gem is in Aliso Viejo! If you have not been here yet and really want an authentic Italian meal (not to be confused with Italian-American), check out Trattoria Trullo because it is that good. I give this place 5 enthusiastic stars! read more

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Trattoria Trullo Is a Must in Aliso Viejo Had an incredible dinner here last night with a party of six -- service was flawless and the food was next‑level. We kicked things off with the Focaccia Pugliese (that basil ricotta + pistachio spread is unreal) and the Imported Apulian Burrata, which was as creamy and fresh as it gets. For mains, the kitchen absolutely delivered: - Lasagna Classica -- rich, balanced, and perfectly baked - Rigatoni alla Bolognese -- so good we ordered it twice - Mandilli de Seta al Limone e Basilico -- bright, silky, and beautifully executed Wine pairing was spot‑on, pacing was perfect, and every dish came out hot and seasoned with confidence. One of the best Italian meals in OC -- Trattoria Trullo is the real deal. "Cucina che sfiora la perfezione." read more

As an Italian food lover, I'm always a bit picky when it comes to Italian restaurants -- and Trullo absolutely delivered. The lasagna was outstanding, rich, comforting, and clearly made with care and tradition in mind. Every bite tasted authentic and perfectly balanced. And the homemade bread... truly out of this world. Warm, fresh, and impossible to stop eating -- the kind of bread that instantly sets the tone for a great meal. Trullo is a fantastic addition to Aliso Viejo, bringing genuine Italian flavors and a welcoming atmosphere to the area. I'll definitely be back and highly recommend it to anyone looking for real Italian cuisine done right. Note, finally a restaurant that serves a traditional Hugo Spritz done right. Now I feel like I'm back in Italy. read more

Trattoria Trullo - Italian Near Me - Aliso Viejo, California

An unassuming Italian spot with some hits and some misses, but has great service so worth a visit if you order the right items. I recommend the focaccia and pistachio spread, little gem salad, meatballs and tiramisu. I would skip the bolognese. read more

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