10 Best Italian Restaurants in 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.“

“I’ve spent quite a bit of time in Italy, and this is one of the few places where the pizza truly deserves to be called PIZZA!

The dough is perfect — light and airy with beautiful bubbles, and the balance between the crust and toppings is just right. It never gets soggy, and the crust isn’t too thick. What I especially love is that every pizza on the menu has its own distinct flavor and character. They don’t all taste like variations of the same thing.

I’ve tried pretty much every highly recommended pizza place in Orange County, including several featured in the Michelin Guide. But after trying them all, this pizzeria is still my favorite!“

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

“Absolutely fantastic experience at Piatti! The food was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. Every dish was packed with authentic Italian taste, and the atmosphere was warm and inviting. The staff were attentive, friendly, and made us feel truly welcome. From start to finish, everything exceeded expectations. Highly recommend Piatti for a delicious meal and outstanding service. Five stars all the way!“

“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.“

“We went for the first time yesterday before Pageant of the Masters. We were in a hurry for reasons out of our control, and they were great about getting our food out in time to enjoy on their front patio with a nice bottle of Italian red wine. They have umbrellas and heat lamps, but we didn't need them; the weather was perfect. I'm vegan so I ordered the Capellini al Pomodoro, but substituted it with the spicy sauce from the Rigatoni Arrabbiata. It was SO good. My husband had the Wild Mushroom Agnolotti, and that was also delicious. The other dish ordered was the Pesto Gnocchi, also so good! Every other place on Forest had at least an hour wait, but after all, it was a Saturday evening during the Festival of Arts. Thankfully someone recommended Salerno. We're definitely going back. Price spent reflects the wine. Next time, I'll try to make a reservation just in case!“

“Great food Great atmosphere“

“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!“

“Every first Friday in December, Laguna Beach celebrates Hospitality Night in the downtown LB village along Forest Avenue. We were there with thousands of others boisterously dancing & singing to music provided by talented local bands. We had reservations for our birthday party of twelve at 5:00. Kudos to Alessa for: Jolly smiling hostesses who assured us our table would be ready on time [even though the restaurant was full at 4:45 when we checked in] and it was! After being seated, the restaurant staff unknowingly put on an amazing synchronized service ballet at no extra charge. I was enthralled watching the bussers, food runners, servers, and managers deftly dance their way through the milling crowds on the sidewalk and around the tables tightly packed outside in the tented area without a single misstep/mishap. I gave an extra tip to the gentleman who served us for his incredible tray expertise carrying a dozen drinks and placing them gently in front of us [he remembered every order without asking] never spilling a drop! The "back of the house" wasn't visible to me, but I bet they're equally fantastic since they were probably crushed by the number of dishes to be prepared [and cleaned up afterwards]. The welcoming complementary [in-house baked] endless focaccia bread with a tasty parsley/basil pesto was a classy way to start our meal. Our orders weren't delayed and were served deliciously steaming hot. They even baked the scrumptious crispy prosciutto pizza to well done just as I ordered. Everyone in our party thoroughly enjoyed the appetizers and various pasta dishes which ended up being passed around the table for everyone to taste. Thank you Alessa for providing entertainment, eats, & drinks with skills and smiles.“