50 Best Italian Restaurants near Newport Coast

“Wow. The service was top notch and our waiter was awesome. Gave us great recommendations and enjoyed our date night dinner! The gnocchi was probably one of the best ive had, if not the best. The sauce is what made that dish. Would highly recommend that if youre vegetarian or just looking to try aome good gnocchi! Only thing I wish they had was some more options for the bread they offer. It comes with mushrooms but wish they had butter or something else basic if someone isnt into the mushrooms but the bread and mushrooms did pair really well together! Would highly recommend this place and I will be back!“

“Great restaurant with a small, family feel. The food is amazing, and honestly at a steal of a price; the food is half as expensive and more than twice as delicious as other restaurants I've been to. I had the quatrro formaggio because I noticed gorgonzola on the ingredients list, and I loved every single bite! It was so nice to have a dish that put the gorgonzola flavor front-and-center, and the cream sauce was somehow light while still being packed full of flavor.
My wife had the lasagna, and it's easy to see why it's a favorite here. It cem out with the sauce still bubbling, and once she could dig in she described it as lightly sweet, a welcome change from some overly-acidic dishes at some other places.
The service was also impeccable, the staff was very friendly and welcoming and we felt very well attended-to. We came in about an hour or so before closing so there weren't many other customers, and we got our food impressively quickly.
Another note, if you are staying at any of the nearby hotels (specifically the row of hotels on Lake Center Drive) then this restaurant is extremely close, easily walkable if you want. It would make a convenient, delicious, and good-valued addition to your vacation.“

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

“We had a wonderful celebratory birthday dinner last night. The meal was outstanding and our server was the perfect balance of attentiveness and good humor. I had one of the evening's specials: grilled sea bass in beurre blanc—crispy on the outside and tender and moist on the inside. It was accompanied by perfectly prepared brocollini and potatoes. I couldn't resist the taramisu—always my favorite end to the meal. It was a delight!“

“Excellent place to go with friends, before a show or to celebrate a special event. We've included this old time favorite in our current rotation of restaurants. Don't forget to order the bananas foster for a fun show at the end of your meal and you will need to make reservations!“

“I had such a wonderful experience at Trattoria Trullo! Everyone was incredibly kind, welcoming, and accommodating to my party, and they truly made us feel so well taken care of. The food has such a delicious, homey and comforting feel—the spaghetti was amazing, the focaccia bread was so good, and the Hugo Spritz was the perfect drink to go with everything. I highly recommend this place not only for the quality of the food, but also for the exceptional service and genuine kindness of the staff. They made our experience feel special, and I’ll definitely be coming back!“

“Five Stars for having Angel Hair Pasta on the menu! Meat sauce marinara or, Bollinese!
It's what they do often, that's good. However, the Chicken Marsala was off. :More training needed in the kitchen. The Lasagna was cold on the inside, and had a strange flavor about it that I'm not familiar with. And, it had Spinach in it. I thought that too was... different. Not particularly appealing, to me. Your pro tip is to; tell them how you like your pasta cooked. I like mine well done. Super soft and luxurious. Love that. Best of luck Renato's. Hope you're around for another 44 plus years!“

“We have been coming to Mona Lisa for 10 years. The quality is unmatched and the service is impeccable. We now live in Thousand Oaks and whenever we are in the area we make a point to stop at Mona Lisa. We always leave happy. Cannot recommend enough.“

“The food was so great! The waiter was so attentive. We had lots left over. And desert to go.“

“Great spot for tasty Italian. I have a very high bar - set by my Sicilian mother. Nary a place I've been to in CA has moved me. Giana's may have changed that. Ordered the shirt rib. The meat was more cooked than my liking, but it completely over delivered: the meat was excellent in taste and flavor, the pasta silky and beautifully cooked (I'm not an al dente loser), and the sauce was superlative. The portion was large and the price very reasonable. Drink pour could be bigger, but small glasses seems to be their shtick.
But, overall, an excellent experience. Will return.“

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

“Il Dolce never disappoints. Every single bite is delicious, and the team behind it is just as great as the food — warm, welcoming, and genuinely happy to see you. Fernanda has built something special on Harbor and 19th. Go hungry.“

“Quite honestly, it just doesn’t get any better than this… we LOVE this restaurant. Julia & Doug.“

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

“Simply over the top! That’s a wrap“

“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.“

“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!!“

“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 😍“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“This is the best place ever am obsessed with the food here!!“

“Eating here was such a wonderful experience, it truly felt like spending a few hours in Italy. The staff felt like family, they were very personable and knew the food quite well. Guido and Randy served us and did a wonderful job. The food was also phenomenal—appetizers, entrees, and desserts.“

“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.“

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

“We ate dinner here for the first time tonight. The food was delicious and we'll definitely be back. We had spaghetti and meatballs, and seafood linguine. 😋“

“fromTexas the best pizza i ever had😎“

“Very good environment and food!“

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

“Nice place for happy hour margaritas and appetizers. They give you free garlic bread and the happy hours specials were good. Friendly staff that always kept my water glass full. There’s sports on the TVs and lots of pastas and pizzas on the menu. Parking is your typical strip mall kind of thing.“

“The food & service were great“

“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“

“Es buena presentación y rica“

“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!“

“Great service, authentic Italian food“

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

“Had a great V day dinner...all the food here is SO good! We had garlic bread, Caesar with anchovies, sausage/onion pizza and the special strawberry ice cream dessert. All excellent. Service was great overall and Grace did a great job for us! Thanks and we will be back.“

“Awesome food really good scampi and salads“

“Came across this restaurant somehow. So I have decided to give it a try. It’s a small, cozy restaurant. Surprisingly food was good, and the restaurant very generous with the bottomless mimosa on a Sunday brunch. The champagne pour into the glass till it’s almost full. Leave only a little bit room to add the juice of your choice which was pineapple, guava, orange juice I forgot 1 more with just $19.99. It’s so cheap compare to other restaurants that offer bottomless mimosa starting at least $22 and up. Our server Gustavo was very nice, very attentive. There’s some parking in front and there are some in the back. I was there at 12pm so I found it ok. Not difficult at all. Not sure about dinner time. They do offer dinner menu as well on a Sunday brunch if you are interested you can ask for both menu to decide. For us, we ordered everything on dinner menu. lol.“

“Solid dishes at fair prices from this Italian mom and pop in Lake Forest. Is this the fanciest Italian place with a full bar and bougie vibes? No. Is it a family restaurant with generous portions and high quality flavors? Yes. This is particularly reflected in your price at this no frills establishment. The free bread was hot and fluffy, the appetizers nicely fried, and each entree or lunch portion was heaping. I loved my fettuccine Alfredo with anchovies. The sauce was, chef's kiss. Would love to come back!“

“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!“

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

“I love this place!! You have to try their lasagna and calzones! Those were definitely my favorite. And if you have kids, get them the pizza. You can't go wrong.

I've tried almost the entire menu, and can say with all confidence, you will love it all!!

The owners are great people as well and very down to earth.“

“There’s no way you could give this less than 5 stars. ✨ I ordered the lamb, the spaghetti bolognese, and a salad.. I’m SHOCKED at the spaghetti. It’s incredible and it’s unlike any spaghetti I’ve had. Ever. I’m so heartbroken because I finished the lamb—and not can’t have any of the spaghetti because I’m full.. I’ll have to wait until tomorrow. I’m in LOVE THOUGH. What makes this more interesting is that when I ordered over the phone and the person taking my order sounded intrigued.. excited; thrilled maybe—they KNEW I was in for the ride of my life.“

“I absolutely love Piadina. The food is consistently excellent and the quality of the ingredients is outstanding. My parents live abroad, and every time they visit, this is one of their favorite places to eat — it’s honestly one of the healthiest and highest-quality options we can find.

I was also very happy to see that you recently added a premium, high-quality steak to the menu. It’s a great addition and fits perfectly with the quality standards of the restaurant.

The only challenge I’ve encountered is with online ordering. At the moment, the steak option is not available online (only brisket appears), and the platform mainly offers “add-ons” but doesn’t allow for easy substitutions or removals. There’s also no option to request no dressing, which makes it harder to customize orders.

Because I truly love this place and order from here often, I’d love to see some improvements in the online menu — more flexibility with substitutions, removals, and full access to the in-store menu items. I believe this would make ordering even more efficient and enjoyable for customers.

Thank you for the amazing food and for maintaining such high standards. I’ll definitely keep coming back!“

“Very good food! Particularly liked the prosciutto wrapped scallops on a bed of arugula drizzled with balsamic reduction! 😃“

“Great food, great service, and great entertainment, especially the sax and guitar duo (Dave Rivera and Saxophone ONE)!“

“Excellent food and service. The owner was very attentive to us Omg the desert was out of this world“

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

“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.“