“This is my first time here and I have got to tell you it is now my favorite Italian restaurant. The food was impeccable, the service was excellent, and it was my son's birthday and all the servers came and embarrassed him as requested.Vegetarian options: The menu here is traditional Italian. So this is not for vegans. But if you're an oval lacto vegetarian or a pescatarian this place has got plenty for you. I had the stuffed eggplant and let me tell you it was to die for! Their vodka sauce is amazing!“
“From the moment I walked in to the door to the minute I left it was hands down one of the best meals I’ve had! Our waiter Fernando was so friendly and kind and attentive and not the fake friendly. He went above and beyond in all aspects and was so knowledgeable and took our likes and dislikes into account. Our bartender unfortunately I could not remember her name but she had long brown hair and medium height but her drinks were so good! Then Chef O I believe was his name was also incredibly kind and his food was unbelievable. Authentic Italian sauces and pasta and the seafood was perfect! My calamari wasn’t chewy! I can not recommend this place enough! If you want the great knowledgeable customer service, excellent AUTHENTIC Italian food this place has it all! I will be coming back for much more !!!!!“
“Tony helped me and was awesome, the pizza ? was absolutely ? delicious ?, I hadn't been there in a long time I've always liked it there but I forget how good it is and now I just want more to be honest it was wonderful they even gave me a little bag of garlic bread knots the place was clean and well kept everybody in there was working hard everything was well stocked it smelled a wonderful and I couldn't have asked for anything more I've worked at two different Pizza places in years past and I have appreciation and respect, they were on top of it and I look forward to going back thanks guys!!Parking: Nooo problemKid-friendliness: Absolutely ?“
“its been a year and a half since I have been here yet their food still tastes excellent! The calamari is the best appetizer you can get in my opinion. I loved the marinara sauce that came with it. I ordered some type of truffle pasta and they did not skip out on the truffle!! Biggest amount of truffle I have seen a restaurant give. My dad ordered a shrimp type of pasta and that was also delectable. For a dessert, we ordered the chocolate tart and it was so good!! This restaurant is on the pricer side yet still amazing!!“
“Fun Pizza Place for Kids and Tasty Pizza for EveryoneIf you're looking for a cool place to eat pizza with your family, check out this place! They've got a special area just for kids with fun games. While the kids play, adults can enjoy yummy pizza made fresh. Plus, they have other tasty food like salads, wings & Garlic Knots. It's a great spot for families to hang out together and have a good time!“
“Great Pizza, great location if you don’t mind eating outside this place with your friend or taking it to go after a night out on the beach or bar hopping!!Price is alright , but what I do like about this place is the consistency, been coming here for about 5 years now and I always get what I expect! Nothing more, nothing less.“
“We had no plans for an Italian lunch. Our mid-morning walk turned into delicious smells coming from Ciao Balboa.The food was sooooooo good. Right down to the buttery, garlic brine the shrimp were in. Our salads were beautiful. The bread was so good we paid extra to take a bunch home.The atmosphere was open and airy. Comfortable and cozy.Our server was super sweet. According at every turn.“
“Food was really good, but unfortunately the creme burlee was super cold and hard to eat due to the caramel being hard. Parking is a little hard to find but once inside, the ambience and food left the rest of it all behind. Would visit again“
“If this place was in Newport or Costa Mesa it would be fully booked. If you want some awesome Italian food, drive out here and give it a try. A shame it doesn’t get more traffic because it deserves it. The gnocchi and cannoli rivals anywhere in “
“Excellent experience. Our family has been going to this location for 25 years. We moved to another state and back recently and I can say this restaurant just keeps getting better. Some weekend nights they also have live solo music. You feel like you’re in Italy but actually right in the bay.“
“I stopped in for a bite to eat between my shifts today....I'm so glad I did! this was the best lasagna I have ever tasted! just don't tell my mom, lol. the staff was pleasant and the food was piping hot and the lasagna actually had meat inside and not just a meat sauce. the cheese, the noodle shells, and the seasoning l was authentic and perfect to taste. Please go here and ask for the lasagna lunch special. I ate inside and the atmosphere was so relaxing and peaceful.“
“What a warm, wonderful, Delicious night! The menu was full and food delicious! Soup and salad are worth the extra, served table side in a big pot and salad tossed. Wonderful cozy atmosphere, perfect to put you in the holiday spirit ?Parking: Small but adequate parking lot“
“Food was Amazing!!! We ordered the Angel hair Pasta with tiger shrimp and the salmon with lemon caper sauce. Everything was so so yummy!!I do recommend the orange capers salad and the Raspberry mule. Service was superb!!Definitely recommend this restaurant!!!“
“valentine's/bday dinner. we chose the 3 course set menu. The appetizer of shrimp cocktail was fresh and delicious as was the lobster ravioli. However the main course of chilean sea bass was average. We probably should have done ala carte. The ambience and service were very good! As was the hostess and greeting. I would go back.“
“What a quaint and authentic Italian restaurant on Balboa Island! Greeted by the owner who is clearly passionate about serving up, In a word... YUM! Most delicious, perfectly cooked pasta with craveable homemade sauce, (owner suggested). My friend had the veal with onions mashed potatoes, carrots, and green vegetables. Beautiful presentation, delicious food! Trattoria looks and feels like you're actually in a small restaurant in Italy. It's an authentic experience with beyond five-star food! We loved it! Let's all support small businesses like Trattoria one eatery that truly deserves our business!“
“Gina's pizza is a culinary delight, especially if you want pizza! The Bianca pizza with added pepperonis was a perfect blend of flavors, and the Parmesan fries were a crispy, cheesy delight. Five stars for an unforgettable dining experience!“
“I got a little nervous at first, because we had to wait a bit for our reservation, and they seemed understaffed. Our server was very personable. Really everything we had was great. The kids liked making their own pizza. The grown-up pizza was some of the best that I have had outside of Europe. I suspect we will be back!“
“As usual the cocktails and food at Sapori are excellent. We shared a Cesar salad which was wonderful; just the right amount of dressing. I ordered Oso Bucco with risotto and my husband ordered Lasagne, both meals were excellent. The service was very good, given it was Valentine's Day and dinner hour.“
“Our luncheon dining experience yesterday afternoon was highly enjoyable. We were greeted warmly when we arrived and despite a reservation for outdoor seating, we were invited to sit anywhere we preferred. The Waiter/Serving Staff were extraordinary and knowledgeable. They invited our questions and helped us gauge dishes to sample that would be delicious yet wholeheartedly unique to our pallets to ensure our visit would be memorable. The food was lovely to say the very least and the ambience was filled with laughter and genuine togetherness. We will return in the future to this amazing culinary experience that is a feast for the senses. Thank you Nancy Silverton and The Chef's Table. If we hadn't been inspired by your story, I'm afraid we never would have found your truly dynamic and scrumptious gem of a restaurant. Hugs with sincere gratitude, The Family Gutierrez“
“The salad looked and tasted like bagged salad from Ralphs Supermarket. They only had spaghetti noodles and no.other choices. The meat marinara was ok nothing great just average for a Dennys. We tried to order hot toddy and the bartender didnt know what to.make, we got whiskey and rum in 2 drinks with some kind of tea with lemon, the lemon was good at least. Mizithra spaghetti wasnt bad just needed a little something to stand out, basically took noodles and clumped cheese over it.“
“The food is amazing. Very authentic pizza and the homemade pastas are unique and flavorful. The only downside on the menu is dessert. There is a hazelnut chocolate torte that tastes waxy, the panna cotta is good but not great and they add a lot of unnecessary toppings like black sesame seeds, and finally the gelato was icy, not creamy. I won't stop coming here because of the dessert but just be forewarned. If it's your birthday just hope they have tiramisu which is often the dessert of the day and quite good. Also, I don't understand the need for club music. It takes away from the ambiance. We always opt to sit outside where we can hear one another and they are more than accommodating.“