50 Best Italian Restaurants near Laguna Beach

“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!!“

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

“After one visit, this will be a staple when visiting Laguna. The pasta is so fresh and the dishes we had were packed with explosive flavors and a delight at every bite. Next time, we are bringing our foodie friends. This is a must experience restaurant!!“

“The best pizza I have had maybe in my life. Im from Connecticut, so Im spoiled with the famous New Haven pizzerias we have there, but this was just as good if not better. We ordered a prosciutto pizza and two Margherita “pizette” pizzas with sausage and pepperoni. Besides the fact that it was amazing, the crust was the surprise star. Cooked just right, just the right chewy-ness, and the pizza itself wasn’t greasy. When you’re really hungry, and you imagine how amazing a pizza would taste, this ends up tasting better than what you hoped for which is very hard to do. Seriously amazing pizza.

Vegetarian options: Great selection of non-meat pizza options.“

“Love Neapolitan! Great service. Terrific selection. Our pizza was so tasty - crust and light sauce Yum! The Caprese Buratta was fresh and creamy. Fabulous, decadent dessert options. Very nice wine and beer list. Will return. Definitely recommend.“

“Great food Great atmosphere“

“The food was excellent! I will definitely return.“

“Pizza was very authentic to my trip in Italy. Made me have a little bit of nostalgia which was touching 🥲 I got the Margarita pizza with crispy thinly sliced prosciutto. It was amazing. Staff is low-key and is very attentive in the way they know what to do and when. Thank you chefs and servers, really special experience.“

“Clean and fast with plenty of out door seating. By from some of the best pizza I’ve had. If we’re ever in Laguna again I’ll be sure to stop!“

“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.“

“Wonderful family owned place! The most authentic Italian restaurant outside of Italy. At Il Farro food is prepared with attention and real LOVE. Everything from the appetizers to dessert were perfect. Every dish is made with true italian fresh and natural ingredients and is made by traditional recipes. The talented chef M. makes pastas and pizzas daily and they taste amazing. Also the house wine is a good selection. I suggest you to have their own valuable wine. Il Farro has a great management and staff too. We loved interacting with customers and guys who work in, they became like family for us. The qualified employees are friendly helpful and the restaurant is always clean. They do have enough seats and limited outdoor seating, but get a reservation in advance to make sure you have a place.Hands off, this is the best place to gather with friends or family! It has our ❤️s. We loved it.“

“My fiance and I adore this place. We have become regulars , we dine here every weekend with our kiddos or our border collie, Arlow.
The staff is amazing, especially Sean! Everyone comes over to say hi to us and our puppy. The service is quick, food is delicious. Please please try Gianas!“

“So bummed we only now discovered this gem. Service was top shelf…….seriously outstanding. Food was really solid, the lasagna is the best around according to my wife. They also do the IG worthy pasta in the block of cheese. Not my best pics, but check them out.“

“A real family owned and operated gem. Vinny and his dad (the chef) are great. His side pasta w garlic and olive oil is amazing. I usually get the veal piccata and my wife the chicken marsala. Both are great. In general he makes the best sauces. The deserts are yummy too. Give them a try. You will be delighted.“

“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.“

“The food was amazing!!! Simply fantastic. Well done @mommaDa“

“La comida es buenísima, atención de calidad, ambiente hermoso!“

“Great food! Great service! Never disappoints!“

“Great service, authentic Italian food“

“I absolutely loved this place! They make you feel like you are at home. I called to see if I needed a reservation, the lady who answered was super sweet, she said to come in, no problem (it was about 90 min before closing on a Friday night, I didn’t want to be one of “those people”) I am just so in love with this place, everyone was so friendly and helpful (recommended my dinner) and omg the FOOD WAS AMAZING! I cannot even tell you my favorite but I can tell you I only have partial pictures because I HAD to eat it as it came ?

I found a new second home, this place will be a regular place of mine from now on, what a happy find!

Kid-friendliness: Made a special pizza for our 8 year old son=)“

“There was 8 of us who came here for a dinner with friends. Everything was absolutely delicious, and the service was amazing. The pasta was so good and fresh, the ribeye delicious, and the tiramisu was spectacular. Highly recommend this place !!“

“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.“

“WOW. A brand new restaurant that is amazing.

Outstanding food and service. As good as it gets.

Way, way better than expected. This place is great anywhere and out of this world for Orange County.

When we walked through the entrance to the outside seating the owner greeted us in an Italian accent and helped us out with wine as soon as we sat down.

Our caprese salad was excellent, featuring house made mozzarella.

I had the lobster pasta, my wife had the chicken parm, and my daughter had pizza. All was top notch.

Our server was outstanding and knew the menu and the wine very, very well.

I am not a dessert guy, but theirs was excellent.

This place was very, very kid friendly with 50% of the tables having a kid or two under 8 and plenty of food that appealed to my 6 year-old.

Within reason, I could care less about price, but this place is an absolute steal compared to other OC restaurants.

I cannot think of any other restaurant in Orange County that I would rather eat at.

Well done Molo.

Parking: Unlimited parking.“

“I stumbled upon this delightful Italian restaurant while visiting the area, and I’m so glad I did! It can be a challenge to find a truly great Italian spot in the Valley or I.E., but this place exceeded my expectations. From the moment I walked in, the service was outstanding. The maître d, manager, head waiter (all in one)—was attentive and engaging, checking in on us throughout our meal. It felt more like a warm, family-run establishment than a typical restaurant, with staff and regular patrons sharing hugs and laughter.
The complimentary salsa served with the bread was an interesting twist—I appreciated the cucumber base, but being a traditionalist, I usually prefer simply good olive oil and balsamic vinegar. At first, I thought it was pesto, but it had a unique flavor that prompted us to inquire about its ingredients.
While the food was delicious, I did feel that the portions could have been a bit larger for the price, and the salsa accompaniment with the calamari didn’t quite hit the mark for me. However, the true star of the meal was the sauce—it was absolutely fantastic, with no complaints whatsoever.
Overall, I had a lovely experience with great service, a warm ambiance, and delicious food. I would definitely recommend giving this place a try if you’re in town!“

“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 😍“

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

“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.“

“The Diavolo thin crust pizza with sausage & salami was very good. Spicy & well done which is my preference. The small salad with freshly made with greens, tomatoes, & blue cheese. A small dish of olive oil with spices & fresh bread was also provided. Service was attentive. The outside area is a nice ambiance. Very close to the train station & a variety of other restaurants, & a gelato shop.“

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

“The food & service were great“

“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.“

“We had a great time celebrating my daughter's birthday! The food was great and the service was exceptional. We got our own little room (party of 8). And we only had to wait 10-15min as a walk in. The team of 2-3 people checked on our party at least 10 times and they were wonderful every time we requested something else. Keep up the good service!

Kid-friendliness: Perfect for families!“

“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.“

“My family and I went to Bricco on Valentine's day and had the best experience. We did not make reservations because we are having construction done at our home and we did not know if the workers were going to leave in time for us to go out to dinner. When we arrived at Bricco they were booked with reservations (as expected on Vday), but they were so kind and brought out a beautiful folding table and chairs on the side and made us feel so welcome. I cannot thank you enough for your kindness and hospitality that day. The entire staff was amazing and the food was absolutely delicious. Bricco is our favorite Italian restaurant in Orange County! The homemade dessert was also delicious and the portions are generous. Great food and great people!“

“Celebrated our anniversary at Buona Forchetta Newport last night. The food was delicious and the staff were lovely and went out of their way to make it a special evening. The artichoke starter was so good! We ordered our mains from the specials list, both were fantastic. We can’t wait to go back and try the pizza!“

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

“I had the spinach Ravioli, was really good. Went around 5 and wasn't busy. Close to my job. Had a well variety of choices.“

“DELICIOUS !!! food and wonderful people“

“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“

“fromTexas the best pizza i ever had😎“

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

“Karaoke ? night worth Peggie Perkins was a hoot. Not only is she a fun KJ, she's one heck of a singer in her own right. Is come in just to hear her sing!

Dietary restrictions: I'm Celiac and they were knowledgeable and courteous about helping navigate the menu.

Kid-friendliness: This is definitely a family place.

Wheelchair accessibility: From what I could tell it's very WC accessible.“

“Excellent restaurant and bar, with a wine room and a good selection of various wines. They have a surf andturf special on Tuesdays consisting of steak and lobster tail that is very reasonably priced and quite tasty. The service is excellent.“

“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.“

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

“For Mother's Day, we had a party of 15 - which the restaurant easily accommodated. Our table was ready on time. The food was good, the scenery was great. The service was, however, lacking. The sun was out, so we asked the waiter if he could help move an umbrella for my 18 month old son and wife (she was on the opposite side of the table from me). He ignored us despite having been asked twice, by my count. The third time he pawned it off on a co-worker, who helped immediately. Finally the checks came - we asked for separate checks, which was no problem. Everyone paid and we were on our way. Later, my wife discovered that she had been charged for the whole table ($400) on top of the separate bill that she already paid. I was charged an additional $80, and my sister was charged an additional $20. My wife had to call the restaurant from work in order to straighten it out. So if you go in a group, be careful of how you're billed. Aside from that, it was a great meal with family. We would go back if there were no further issues.“

“My wife & I had dinner here. I had the small pizza & she had the eggplant parmesan. Both was very good. The bread was amazing. I love the decor & atmosphere...Italian vibe. Great customer service and the prices were very reasonable. I would definitely recommend this family owned place since 1976. ??“

“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“