22 Best Italian Restaurants in Costa Mesa

“The pizza here is just something else! Their bbq chicken and pepperoni are just sooo good! The place is quite nice for any occasion even date night, the service is always good and the people are polite. Kinda sad you can’t put 2 flavors in one pizza but other than that I love this place! Will definitely be coming back!“

“The food is amazing I found this because I couldn't believe all the perfect reviews could be true but they were Amazing food great server fair prices Hard to believe this place has been there for over 16 years and we've never been there We're going back for sure!“

“This is my favorite restaurant! I loved it back when it was on Bristol, but I have been back to the new Red Hill location twice now and it is even more of a special dining experience. Massimo has come out to explain the history of the wine and food and the sources of his ingredients. He tells wonderful stories with a great sense of humor, and his daughter who helps serve is also very knowledgeable and delightful. I feel transported and hosted in a way I have never experienced in a restaurant. The food is amazing. The fresh handmade pasta melts in your mouth. We have eaten every dessert and they are all spectacular. Every wine and appetizer we have tried has been extraordinary. I couldn't recommend this place more.“

“Delicious Italian cuisine! Stylish interior of the Restaurant!“

“amazing food! fungi pasta was out of this world!“

“The food is fantastic, the staff is attentive and Thursday nights they have a comedy show that was hilarious. Definitely coming back!“

“Been going here for over 30 years 😲. Tortellini Pesto is my family’s favorite. If we go even close we make a point of eating here, or will order a large catering pan full to take home to Riverside county Mark and Julie have created a great and memorable place to eat“

“Really enjoyed a great breakfast here polite hostess and the food was absolutely delicious“

“Might just be the best restaurant in the area if not all of OC… Every dish we tried was sublime. From the Ratatouille to the Pistachio Soup (a delicious bisque) to Signature dish the Airline Chicken, we didn’t leave a morsel on our plates. Then there was this unique confection… Baclava Cheesecake!“

“Hit a little bump when I tried to confirm my reservation with Alex. The number of my guests went down by 2 and I wanted to let the restaurant know as a courtesy. I made the reservation on Open Table because friends recommended Filomena's as an amazing Italian restaurant. Alex did not see my reservation, I told him I made the reservation and I was reading from Open Table app, my exact reservation & #, which he told me "that means nothing to me". I was a bit taken a back, asked him if I could still come to the restaurant? He said, let me refresh the screen and then he found my reservation. Did we really have to go through all of that? When our party of 4 entered the restaurant/grocery store we were intrigued by the dessert cases, the fresh pasta, sauces etc. before getting seated. We were happy to find out that the grocery & bakery stayed open til closing of the restaurant. Hector greeted us in a happy manner and provided us with excellent service. He seemed to be the only waiter for the tables and Alex was cleaning tables for incoming reservations. My friends and I were admiring dishes coming out and desserts too. The bruschetta, cheesy garlic bread, meatballs with penne and spaghetti, pappardelle bolognese, chocolate chip cannoli, ricotta cheese cake were all so delicious! Hector was laughing and joking with us, he was very nice. We will be back! Thank you Hector and Alex for helping up celebrate Mel's birthday! It is all in the sauce and that Sunday sauce is amazing!!!“

“Fettuccine was delicious. Both regular and the gluten free. We got the sausage mushroom and cream and also the prosciutto lemon zest and arugula. One of the best gluten free pasta I've had. The outdoor patio is quiet. Meal was leisurely. Service was great. Recommendation highly.“

“Staff was super friendly, service was quick, and the food was great. fresh large portions. highly recommended putting it in your dining rotation.“

“I ordered a dozen empanadas, mixed. they were made fresh and they were made fast and they were all delicious. I will be back and I will definitely be recommending this place to friends and family.“

“This is my go to place 😁“

“Best Pizza in SoCal if you ask me.“

“Calamari, pizza and Spumoni were amazing!’“

“Fantastic place Great food and atmosphere“

“The tomato basil soup was delicious as always. The garlic truffle fries were outstanding with the garlic dipping sauce. The chicken parmesan sandwich was a little disappointing. Just a little bland. But the service was great and it's a great place to have lunch.“

“I can’t believe what I thought I was eating before was pizza! Such fresh ingredients, I felt I was eating direct from the garden. Even the plentiful cheese tasted super fresh. Make note that this excellent pie takes time to make. You can rush perfection. Be patient and have a beer on tap!“

“altl the food is awesome!“

“Absolutely love this place, come with an appetite though. We generally just have appetizers and salad for lunch and even splitting appetizers they are huge. We had a dessert last time after checking they were small, well they weren't. The food we've had us delicious, the service is really good and although a tight space it's not too noisy. A little spendy but it's worth it, and hey, you're at south coast plaza!“

“This was my first visit. I ordered the sausage and pepper sandwich. It was great. I will definitely be coming back.“