50 Best Italian Restaurants near Ladera Ranch

“Best place for local Italian! Highly recommended...“

“Just ate here today for the first time and the pizza was amazing!! I ordered the bbq chicken and my friend got pepperoni. The crust was insanely delicious and crispy! Cheese to toppings ratio was on point! The mozzarella cheese sticks were also very good! And to top it all off, the customer service was 💯!! Highly recommend!!“

“Second visit to Limoncello and want to say the food is excellent in every way. Last night I had Arugula salad (very lemony dressing), the Risotto (outstanding) and chocolate gelato which was VERY chocolate. Topped with a nice wine. All Excellent. As for atmosphere, lots of large parties there last night celebrating Christmas and birthdays so was quite noisy, but 'tis the season. Highly recommend Limoncello. Food and service are excellent and above average. Menu is extensive with very different and interesting options. If they would have served a shot of Limoncello after dinner I would have thought I was dining in Italy.“

“Have usually gone here with two or three people. No matter what we have ordered it is always simply fabulous. The food is consistently very good, the service is outstanding. They have a nice wine selection as well. Highly recommended for very very good Italian food.“

“What a great place to eat, talk, and enjoy, food made fresh when ordered, the atmosphere reminded me of Sunday dinner, with family and friends. I would highly recommend this gem.“

“I’ve been dining here for several years and Jack’s never disappoints. The food is consistently excellent, the service is warm and attentive, and the wine list is thoughtfully curated with great options for every palate. The craft cocktails are always creative and perfectly executed, making each visit feel like a special occasion. I highly recommend Jack’s—if you haven’t been yet, do yourself a favor and check it out. You’ll be glad you did.“

“The place is non-descript and the sign has a the Tutto Famiglia in small letters the main sign reads Italian restaurant. That said the food was very good and service was great. We had a couple of appetizers. All the food came out hot. Portions were good so we ended up with some take home leftovers. The service worked like a team so things came out quick and we were always checked on.
It was a nice hidden gem“

“Had a great meal and wine with friends. We did have to ask for olive oil and vinegar after they brought us the wonderful rosemary bread, but hey, no biggie. Otherwise, service was great!!“

“they always change their menu. we drive down here from irvine to find out what we like ismt on the menu today its only on the menu on certain days we asked the server when is it on the menu and he didnt know. We won't be back. how hard is it to keep the menu the same? I can see lunch and dinner menus but changin the dinner menus all the time?“

“We tried the Chicken Marsala, Lobster Ravioli and Gnocchi in VodkaSauce along with the Piccolino dinner salad and Tiramisu. All was magnifico! 😘“

“This is our third great experience at Buona Forchetta in San Clemente. We suggested to our friends that we all meet at the restaurant to celebrate 3 birthdays. We had a pleasant evening here, food was so good, and our waitress was very good. She was also terrifically funny! We all enjoyed the evening.“

“This restaurant is a hidden gem. The food is incredible, the service is amazing, and we love the live piano music. There are so many restaurants in the area to choose from, but we find ourselves always choosing Luxe.“

“Excellent experience! Excellent food! Excellent service! Fantastic little owner owned/operated Northern Italian cuisine restaurant. We will return!“

“Absolutely amazing we like the Marguerite, Cheese and the PMS pepperoni mushroom and sausage Gluten-free the fabulous antipasto salad all so worth it. Just eat my leftovers 😍“

“pasta , lasagna very friendly polite and helpful waiter“

“Always have had a great experience here, and I have going here for over 40 years!!!“

“I had an amazing dining experience at Trattoria Trullo Cucina Italiana! The food was absolutely delicious — authentic flavors, beautifully presented, and full of that true Italian warmth. But the highlight of the evening was our wonderful waitress, Aurora. She was attentive, friendly, and made us feel completely at home. Her kindness and professionalism turned a great meal into a perfect one. Highly recommend this place — and if you’re lucky, ask for Aurora! 🍝🍷🇮🇹“

“Great food! Great service! Never disappoints!“

“Ciao Pasta offers a phenomenal dining experience that stands out for its delicious food and exceptional service. The atmosphere is welcoming and cozy, making it a perfect spot for casual meals or special occasions. Our waitress, Tatiana, was simply amazing. She was attentive, knowledgeable about the menu, and provided great recommendations that enhanced our meal. Her friendly demeanor made us feel valued and well taken care of throughout our visit. The pasta dishes were delightful, showcasing fresh ingredients and excellent flavors. Each plate was beautifully presented, and the portions were generous. Overall, Ciao Pasta is a fantastic choice for anyone seeking great Italian cuisine, and Tatiana's outstanding service truly elevated our experience. I highly recommend it!“

“Tasty, delicious food every time. They are consistent. I especially like their house salad with ranch dressing, free pizza bread, garlic bread, chicken parmigiana pasta with meat sauce. These are my faves here. I love their pizza too.“

“The restaurant also has complimentary bread 🥖 with olive oil.“

“What a fabulous place. Went there to celebrate mutual birthdays with my BFF. I loved everything about this restaurant. Our bartender was fabulous, our meal, Branzino.. delicious, eye appealing, beautiful presentation and enough to split We met the owner who spent ample time with us as we asked questions about his journey opening the location, his background and the concept/vision for the restaurant and we met the GM. I loved the ambiance, open and welcoming and they have a mercado with authentic product. Next time I'm going to the pizza bar with some more birthday girls!“

“Food was very good. We selected this restaurant because Douglas " The Crooner" Roeigers was singing The American Song Book that evening. He definitely EXCEEDED our expectations. He was fantasic !! Great time! Very friendly people !!“

“Great vibes and crew. Food has great variety (large or small portions) and service is quick and efficient. I bring friends and family days and nights when we want frssh Italian meals away from home.“

“Great food and service. Was very impressed to see all workers wearing gloves and masks. Other restaurants need to follow your example. These are uncertain times and every precaution is necessary. I want to help support local businesses but if they don't protect both staff and workers, I won't be back. Kudos to you Guichos!❤“

“My husband and I had a wonderful evening at Tannins Restaurant. We kicked things off with the Shrimp Scampi and Cadillac Margarita—both were simply amazing! For our main course, we indulged in the surf and turf, which was delicious and perfectly cooked. We couldn’t resist finishing off the night with a delectable Tiramisu. I highly recommend this place for anyone looking for a great dining experience.“

“Mangia Bene is our favorite go to for pasta. Consistently delicious it's no wonder why it's been such a popular choice in Aliso Viejo for decades. The pasta is fresh and the service excellent Food comes out hot and quickly. Our only problem is the noise level. With sports on several televisions, ambient music and joyful conversations it is difficult to hear our companions Can't wait to return“

“Javier, the manager delivered the most amazing food last night for a thank you dinner for my Catechists. I highly recommend Alza Italian Kitchen. Every thing was superb…. Thank you!“

“Great food and prices. Especially the alcohol prices. your bill isn't half alcohol cost.“

“Although staffing can be sparse from time to time, everyone is friendly, eager to make the experience a pleasant one, and focused on providing a quality meal . A real treasure for those of us fortunate enough to live in Nellie Gail Ranch !“

“My family have been dining there regularly, since '77. Unfortunately we no longer live in the O.C,but anytime I'm in O.C, I pick up a couple pizzas ,a sandwich & a pint of the house dressing. It's a excellent restaurant & the people there are great.“

“DELICIOUS !!! food and wonderful people“

“Wonderful experience. Spectacular food. Amazing one time service. Friendly people. Boyfriend Joshua Ream took me here, the place is amazing. Their desserts are to die for.“

“fromTexas the best pizza i ever had😎“

“We had such a great experience at Cosmos thanks to our amazing waitress, Rosie. She was so friendly, thoughtful, and truly went above and beyond. As a young mom herself, she completely understood what it’s like dining out with a toddler, she just got it. She brought out our son’s food early, brought to-go boxes before we even asked (because with a toddler, you’re always on borrowed time!), and made us feel so comfortable and cared for. It’s rare to have someone anticipate your needs so naturally. We left saying, “That’s how customer service should always be.” Rosie was absolutely lovely and turned what could’ve been a stressful dinner into such an enjoyable one. We will be coming back more frequently.“

“A wonderful find. My wife and I had a wonderful dining experience at Sabatinos Italian Bistro this evening. Our server Frederico was professional and quite personable. We started our dinner with two glasses of wine and the bruchetta. The Talbot Chardonnay and the Dry Creek Cabernet were both excellent choices. My wife ordered the eggplant gnocchi, which she loved, and I had the sausage and pepper rigatoni. Both dishes were excellent. The service, food, and ambiance were quite authentic and enjoyable. We spoke with Frederico, who is the ultimate professional, and decided to order a side of meatballs to go as well. This was our first time at Sabatinos, and this restaurant is definitely worth a visit. Ask for Frederico as he is the ultimate professional. Highly Recommended.“

“The best Italian food in Orange County. Happy hour is great! Best Casanova’s martinis.“

“tienen buena comidas un ambiente limpio y agradable se los recomiendo“

“This place is gold. If you haven’t tried Olive Garden yet, you’re missing out! GO right now. Seriously!

Our waiter Josh was the best I’ve ever met in this industry. Not only was he positive and brought a friendly atmosphere, but he was also prompt and incredibly helpful while being respectful and polite. It made my day and my whole dining experience so pleasant.

I can’t stop smiling because this level of service is RARE! Like I said, gold!!!!

The food? ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL! I recommend the Lasagna, the Zupatoscana soup, and a sweet iced tea. There are so many tasty options, all for a very fair price.

The food will be better than what you’ll get at a 5-star luxury million dollar restaurant. It’s that good.

This is not a sponsored review. I just wanted to share my intensely brilliant and fantastic experience at this location!“

“Excelente la comida de primera calidad“

“First time here Saturday night. Our waiter was very attentive and brought us each an empanada on the house which was spectacular. We ordered calamari, Ajilo e Olio, and the steak special for the night - all the food was delicious! Atmosphere was perfect, there was a live harpist which offered great music for our date night. My husband and I will definitely be going back“

“Sooooo fabulous!! Been coming here since the 90’s!!!“

“Amazing restaurant so thankful that they opened up one here a few months ago. We've always been going to the same restaurant in La Jolla area. The service was top-notch. The food was excellent. The bread basket is phenomenal. Homemade pastas are out of this world.“

“Best food ever! Have never ever been disappointed. All the staff and the owners are truly good to all of the customers. Definitely one of our favorite places.“

“Im a NYer and finding good pizza on the west coast is a challenge, but aPizza makes east coast style pizza that is thin crusted, crispy and delicious. Great service by friendly staff.“

“Me gustó mucho el servicio atendieron rápido, personal amable y sirvieron muy rápido y sobre todo la comida muy rica thanks.“

“12/7/22. In town for a seminar and this restaurant was recommended. Excellent pizza and excellent price. I'll return Friday and grab lunch again on my way home to San Diego!“

“Wonderful food great service, and amazing vibe and the singer…omg I have no words how to express how much I love the singer in the pianist, I had a wonderful time“

“Their wine dinners are incredible!“

“Excellent food , wine and desert and great service. Can’t wait to go back.,we are from New York and we know what good Italian food is !! 🇮🇹“