23 Best Italian Restaurants in Costa Mesa

“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.“

“I’ve been coming to Il Dolce as long as it’s been open. The family and staff are so warm. It’s like coming home.

Vegetarian options galore. I always say I’m not going to have dessert but I always cave because they’re all so delicious.

Pizza and pasta dishes are incredible.“

“Fresh homemade pasta. Lovely atmosphere and excellent service 😍“

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

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

“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“

“What a GEM of a restaurant located in a small strip center. Also includes an Italian market with fantastic prepared Italian meals ready to heat and eat. Our server could not have been more accommodating and attentive. Food was delicious and generous portions. Would highly recommend for families or date night.“

“We stopped by Lemon & Thyme on a whim after our daughter’s swim lesson, and I’m so glad we did. From the moment we walked in, our server, who I believe may have been the owner, was one of the most warm, vivacious people I’ve ever met. He greeted us with the biggest smile and gave us the kind of service that instantly makes you feel at home.

He made us feel so welcomed, like we were family. The level of thoughtfulness was above and beyond,he even brought out extra treats like french fries and ice cream for our toddler, which absolutely made her night. It’s rare to experience that kind of genuine hospitality.

And the food? Incredible. The spicy rigatoni was easily one of the best I’ve had in a very long time. I added shrimp to it and… chef’s kiss. It was rich, flavorful, perfectly spicy. honestly one of the best meals I’ve had since moving to SoCal. My husband ordered the salmon and that was just as delicious.

Between the amazing food and the unforgettable service, this place really left an impression. I already know I’ll be back, next time for a little bestie dinner date. This might officially be my new go to spot for rigatoni, and I can’t wait to come back and try more of the menu.“

“We were visiting a nearby restaurant but stopped here as the other one had crazy wait. This turned out to be a nice little surprise.

They are a bit disoriented with their management though. We struggled to find a table and service was highly lacking - it was chaotic to be precise. This place has a cute ambience and it can do better with efficient management.

However, once we got the table and were able to place our order, everything fell in place. The food was tasty , a lot better than I expected. The pinsas that we got were both very good. The Gnocchi pasta was also to the point.

They have nice dessert options as well , we got the gelato sampler(nice and cute) and the Tiramisu (OK).

Overall - A Good Experience !“

“This is my go to place 😁“

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

“absolutely delicious food!“

“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!“

“Best Pizza in SoCal if you ask me.“

“This is an amazing place to eat. The owner is very attentive and sweet. You can truly see she cares about her business and it's ingredients. She makes everything fresh including the mayo nothing is store bought. The sandwiches are appetizing and have a very unique flavor. Had the pleasure of meeting the owner and talking to her love her concept everything she stands for and listening to her journey on how this business came to be makes me so happy to support this business. Thank you so much“

“The service was exceptional and very quick. From the moment we sat down, our server Miguel was attentive and gave great suggestions. Our food came out quick and was quite delicious. Overall, a great experience and will come back again soon.“

“altl the food is awesome!“

“Fantastic place Great food and atmosphere“

“Great Pizzas for sure and lot of vegetarian options to select from. The toppings were genuinely overwhelming !!!

Their house made Cauliflower crust is a must try. It is not like other regular frozen hard base, it is really italian Style!!“

“This review is for my server Nuvia. I stopped by in the late afternoon with my Fiance. We were shopping and decided to try this spot for a relaxing drink. We decided on the espresso martini and were pleasantly surprised by how delicious of an alcoholic drink it was. It had a taste between a latte with a bold espresso aftertaste.

I definitely want to stop by for dinner to try the food sometime. We had a nice conversation with her during our time here and she has excellent customer service skills and making sure people have a great dining experience. Thank you for making our experience here an enjoyable one!“

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