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    Alessa

    3.6 (1.6k reviews)
    ModerateItalian, Bars
    Open • 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Alessa Takeout or Delivery

    Alessa Photos

    Business Info

    ALESSA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Romantic
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Alessa

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    Reviews With Photos

    Alla Carbonara
    Sergey H.

    The mojito was very bad, and the ham was also very bad. The mojito seemed to be made with unfiltered water, and the carbonara had way too much oil in it. I had a reservation, but I had to wait for 40 minutes. I will never go to this restaurant again.

    Meatballs
    Holland D.

    Food and ambiance were great. The gnocchi and meatballs were perfectly cooked and the sauce was delicious and savory. We also ordered the build your own charcuterie board. The meat and cheese were tasty but it was presented on a huge bed of romaine lettuce which seemed a bit odd to me. Service was quite slow as it seemed there were only two servers covering the fully booked restaurant. Will be back!

    Menu
    Tim T.

    03/2026 If you're ever in the Laguna Beach area and looking for Italian food for lunch or dinner, this is the place to stop. My wife and I came here last year (2025) for dinner and were blown away by how good the food was. Everything is made fresh, and they use their own homemade pasta in their dishes. So when we came back in 2026, we made sure to bring my mom--her first time on the West Coast--and planned a stop here before heading to Santa Monica. The restaurant is very nicely decorated, and they also have bags of their homemade pasta available for purchase. We sat inside this time due to construction outside. Our server was excellent. She took our drink orders--my wife and mom had tea, and I had an Old Fashioned, which was made very well. She also brought us an appetizer of deep-fried olives stuffed with cheese. I'm not usually an olive fan, but these were surprisingly good and didn't have a strong olive taste, also ask for a side of tomato sauce makes them even better! My wife wanted a fish dish with pasta and a lemon sauce that she had twice before on our last visit. Although they didn't have the exact same fish, the kitchen was able to prepare it with a different one, and it tasted just as good as she remembered. My mom ordered the meatball sub, and I had the Bolognese with homemade pappardelle pasta. The meat sauce was excellent. My mom said the meatballs were the best she's ever had--she barely touched the bread because she just wanted to enjoy the meatballs themselves. We also picked up some of their fresh pasta to take home. It's incredibly easy to prepare--just drop it in hot water for 2-3 minutes depending on how you like it, much quicker than store-bought pasta. We'll definitely keep stopping here whenever we're in the area. Give it a try--you won't be disappointed.

    Maitrayee D.

    We came here by accident .Loved the dishes. Ordered dishes to snd meatball huge sizes full of flavor . Then We ordered Calzone which was huge . loved mushroom pizza . Linguine with mussels and shrimp white wine sauce too good . White wine was good too .

    Grilled Chicken piccata
    Mohammad H.

    Great Italian spot in downtown Laguna with a giant menu with lots of options. The table started off with a Caesar salad, which wasn't anything crazy, but the calamari was delicious and fresh-tasting; the table loved it. I got to try the veal, which was tender and with a wonderful sauce. The spinach was ok; I would have rather gotten it with a different side. The rest of the table tried the Chioppino, which I loved, and I tried the linguine with clams, which was delicious and packed with clams. I would get that next time. One letdown was the tiramisu; it wasn't what I expected but still ok. Would definitely come back

    Maitake mushrooms (daily special, not on menu)
    Linda C.

    We needed a last minute dinner reservation for a group of 9 and options were pretty limited. Even though some of the recent reviews made us hesitate, we decided to give Alessa a try. Our experience was completely different from what we had read. Jesus, our waiter, was fantastic. Super attentive, quick, and made everything easy for our group. The food came out surprisingly fast for a table our size and everything was hot, flavorful, and generous in portion. No complaints there at all. Corkage is $25: we didn't bring a bottle this time, but we definitely will next time.

    Menu
    Kennedy K.

    Food was authentic and full of flavor. If you want something light and summery highly recommend the carpaccio. The meatballs are a MUST HAVE (not your average meatball). They seated us quickly and our waiter was attentive to all our needs. Loved how cozy the atmosphere was. Felt like I was in an Italian person home.

    Choose your own cheese board
    Katie K.

    I have so many mixed feelings about this place. We used to come here 10 years ago on an almost weekly cadence. We would sit at the bar and the food was really good. We just moved back to town, and we were excited to go back, but like many places, the little touches we loved have changed. I will start by saying the food is still pretty good. The menu is nice and big, but the presentation just falls flat. They have made sitting at the bar a little weird and uncomfortable. They added some items for decor on the end. Ostensibly to get more seating inside. But it makes it feel a bit awkward. We would sit there because we would always get good service. My biggest issue, and the reason for less stars is the service. We are very patient and since we like the place, even more so. But, we had to flag our server down for everything and even then it would take a long time to get attention. It just gets exhausting to have a conversation with friends while trying to keep flagging someone over and over. Our server was just too busy with too big of a section. We always have loved the cheese board. The selections are great, and the presentation used to be phenomenal. They would put little extras of peppers and fruit. Now it comes on a bed of lettuce. Nothing more. We also got some other dishes, and I forgot to get pics. I was probably too busy trying to flag our sever down. ;) The were all yummy, but the plates looked messy. The presentation wasn't great. The ambience is tight tables and can get noisy. But it feels cozy. I would give this place 3.75 stars if that was an option. We will be back. But, we will be longing for the days when they seemed to care a little bit more about the details.

    Arugula Salad
    Josefa F.

    Our server Nancy was amazing from start to finish, the way she took care of our table truly made our evening, the food was great too !

    Kobe V.

    If you're looking for one of the best meals in Laguna Beach, Alessa Laguna Beach should absolutely be on your list. This place nails that sweet spot between authentic Italian and a fresh California twist. Everything tastes incredibly high quality, from the fish and meats to the cheese and vegetables they use to build each dish. You can tell they actually care about what's going on the plate. I've been here four times now and tried a variety of pastas and pizzas, and it's been consistently great every single time. At this point, it's easily become my go-to spot in the area. On top of the food, the service is genuinely impressive. It's a smaller, more intimate dining space, which means you're taken care of quickly and attentively without feeling rushed. What really makes it stand out is how much value you get. The pricing is surprisingly reasonable for the quality, and they've got a great wine selection to go with your meal. There's also a bar with stools if you want something more casual, plus a TV if you're trying to catch a game. Right in the heart of Laguna Beach, it's honestly hard to compare this place to others nearby once you've experienced it.

    My lobster ravioli. Tiny but tasty.
    Dan S.

    Honestly I'm so conflicted about this place. First, I'll start with the good. The food was pretty tasty. I had lobster ravioli and my wife and daughter split a gnocchi. Both dishes were tasty but I will say my lobster ravioli was super tiny, with only 5 raviolis and a sole shrimp in the middle. The bread and pesto /olive oil they start you with was also pretty good, so they've got that going for them. Now the not so good. I'm not so sure they wanted our business. We showed up at the podium and had to wait for someone to greet us. When they did it was a waitress and not a hostess. She seemed unaware or maybe just had things on her mind, or maybe we were a burden, no smile or anything. After leaving and then coming back she brought us to an outside table. The waiter was nice but again things seemed odd. We had no menus and he didn't seem bothered by that. So we just looked on our phones, no big deal. It took a bit to order but we were in no rush so again, no big deal. I think he stopped by once towards the end of the meal and saw my empty water. He then asked if I wanted it filled. Not annoying but I just ate at a different place the night before where your water was always topped off. It's just an interesting contrast in service. Overall I'd say the food is good and the service is only fair. I'm hoping it was just a one-off and will try again later to see if it was just my unlucky day. Laguna Beach is full of great places to eat and this could be one if it gets tightened up a bit.

    Jimmy H.

    Love the environment, very cozy smaller restaurant. Food was and service was great. Love the free bread appetizer with Pesti, delicious.

    Dry pasta made by Chef Pirozzi

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    2 months ago

    Everything is always amazing. The meatballs are the best I've ever had. The pizza is better than truly or anything in the area.

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    Page 1 of 41

    Alessa Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Alessa

    Do they allow dogs in the outdoor promenade seating area?

    Yes. We saw several people with dogs, even one inside in a stroller.

    Has anyone had a recent experience? It seems like this restaurant is having challenges (service, pricing, food quality, etc..) as they re-open. Have the kinks been worked out or should we go elsewhere?

    We went last week, our 4th trip since visits in '15, '16 and '17. Possibly our best-tasting meal yet, and they were all great. Service was GREAT, and staff moved us & a few others inside (were seated outside) after some idiot was bragging to friends… 

    Do they take reservations?

    yes

    Free Parking close by?

    No unfortunately. All of Laguna in metered parking or private company lots.

    View All 5 Questions

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    The Saloon

    3.8(177 reviews)
    0.1 mi
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    Amazing bartender we had this past Saturday night my hubs and I came in to have an anniversary…read moredrink - the pino always hits I could have 100 but never more than 1-2!!! He was so nice !!! Started getting busy / and he was able to handle some of the out of town snobs. I love the bar go any time u can to see what I mean :)

    My guy and I went here after having dinner at a location nearby. I didn't feel like ending the…read morenight, so we decided to find a spot for drinks. We initially wanted to go to another place, but the line was too long and we didn't feel like waiting. We walked a few doors down and found this spot. When we ordered our drinks, I immediately noticed that the two bartenders looked agitated for whatever reason. It was as if they both didn't want to be there. No smiles, just angry faces, like they didn't want to be there. I read the other reviews and totally agree with the ones that mentioned the same thing. We still stayed for a while longer and ordered a few drinks. At one point, my guy and I were standing and talking at the bar, practically chest to chest, because it was a little crowded. This blonde guy who apparently was supposed to be a bouncer came right in between us to put away a glass at the bar. I thought it was rude and unusual of him to do that when there was actually room behind my guy or me for him to do that. Yeah, I won't be coming here again and don't recommend. Three are plenty of much better bars in Laguna Beach where the staff are friendly and the vibe is awesome.

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    The Sandpiper Lounge - Bar

    The Sandpiper Lounge

    3.7(262 reviews)
    0.7 mi
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    Last Sunday was my first and not my last! Brad the bartender is the absolute sweetest man ever!! Me…read moreand my girlfriend stood for 3hrs just having the best time ever. Great conversations along with getting offered tacos!! Best dive bar in Laguna by far Can't wait to come back!!

    Ackphft! Seriously?! I just read a pile of the one star reviews for the Sandpiper and felt I…read moreneeded to put in my two cents. First point is that many of the complaints are true. Yeah, some of the folks who work there or have worked there are, quite frankly, not exactly coothe. They might say stupid and offensive things. Yep. True. And yeah, the place is a dive, which is a positive. Smells like mold/mildew? I didn't experience that but could be. You've lived in your posh cliffside house too long to know what a place with character is like. The Sandpiper is both great and crap at the same time. The latter is part of what makes it great! The booze is of low to average quality. The music is variable. The scene...great! This is where the locals hang out and they are as varied and entertaining as one could want. (Dennis Rodman used to come in from time to time as well.) Brad is awesome. And Chuck. I haven't been to "The Dirty Bird" in quite a while as I moved out of Laguna and so it's a bit more of a hike to get there..does Chuck (the owner) still drop by frequently? He used to work behind the bar nightly. Fantastic guy. No, that's wrong. He's more than fantastic. The Sandpiper is a jewel of Laguna and I hope it's around long after I'm gone. (Dude who's pissed he was kicked out at 1:45am...you're seriously upset over that? Oh boy.)

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    The Deck On Laguna Beach - Smoked salmon board

    The Deck On Laguna Beach

    4.0(2.3k reviews)
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    The Deck is one of those places we have to come to every time we're in Laguna, which is usually at…read moreleast once a year :) And once again, it did not disappoint! Grilled Cheese - Seriously a MUST order. My picture doesn't even come close to doing it justice. So so good! Shrimp & Chorizo Tacos - We've loved these for years! They took them off the menu for a while and we're so glad they're back because they're sooo good. Burger - 10/10. Juicy, cooked perfectly, and really flavorful lots of fresh ingredients. Ceviche - A little on the small side, but super fresh and great flavor :) The location is right on the beach with ocean views and that makes everything better We had a group of 7 and our server was awesome. She was really sweet, kept checking in on us, and made everything easy even with a bigger group. If you're in Laguna and looking for a spot with good food, great views, and a chill vibe, The Deck is always a great choice. There's so many options and haven't had a bad dish here ever. I didn't order them this Time but we normally get the dozen oysters and they are delicious too

    Order the burger and it came with potato chips and ketchup. No fries because no fryers for them…read more Air fryer would have been a good solution for these guys. No more ciopino so we ordered the ahi poke. Was good. This place is set to close September 7, 2026 to make room for the new hotel setup. So sad to see this place close down as the location and vibe was so nice! Food was ok. Not the best, but okay. And they had a bar too! Byeeee if we don't meet again and thank you!

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    The Deck On Laguna Beach - El Vocho shot with Milagro Tequila

    El Vocho shot with Milagro Tequila

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    237 Ocean Avenue - My favorite patio!!!Patio+Palomas+Empanadas=Heaven!

    237 Ocean Avenue

    4.5(75 reviews)
    0.0 mi

    We came on NYE. There was music happening at 9pm, but we…read morecame early and missed it. That was our fault. We were the only ones there. The experience was all over the map. The owner served us initially, and he was really friendly and funny. We ordered a bottle of wine, and some cocktails. We put in some salads and an appetizer, they were really really good. But after that, our server (the owner we were told) left, and another server introduced himself. The new server was inattentive. He sat chatting with the other servers at the bar, leaving empty glasses and empty plates on the table. We had to flag him to come back to fill water. Having been myself in the service industry for years, my biggest pet peeve is when servers sit and chat where you can see them, and when they do come, they don't do a sweep and take care of things on the table. We had to put our empty glasses and trash on a side table. It was weird. The bolognese had hardly any meat in it. It was mostly tomato and onion. I've been to Argentina. Meat is a staple. Also weird. We ordered dessert and after waiting for 5-10 minutes, the server came back and told us they were missing crucial ingredients to make it. The owner came back at the end and was really gracious, but all in all, I think the execution was lacking. The service was not great. The food was 3.5/5 I love to support small business, perhaps we will try again another night.

    First beer release from 237 Ocean. I'm a beer guy so love that they're making their own beer now…read moresince I remember coming here when it was a brewery. It's definitely been upgraded with higher end furnishings and a farm-to-table menu. The servers and staff are always friendly and welcoming and do their best at getting to you when it's busy. We love the various types of seating with some family-style seating as well as outdoor couches and chairs to watch the people go by.

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    Italian Wine Importer Ciro Cirello sharing his favorite Italian wines paired with chef Leo's 4 course meal at our Bartoletti Wine Dinner

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    The Cliff Restaurant - Surfin Cowboy

    The Cliff Restaurant

    3.8(4.4k reviews)
    0.2 mi
    •$$

    Celebrated a large number anniversary a couple of weeks ago, and sunsets were a big deal to us…read more They were so accommodating, making sure we had a great sunset view. The food was terrific. The service couldn't be better. Highly recommend. A quick stop by the Wyland Gallery before hand and the overlook between the two was also great.

    We decided to try The Cliff Restaurant & Bar while spending the day in Laguna Beach, and we're so…read moreglad we did! We stopped in for lunch and had such a great experience from start to finish. My husband ordered the Surfin' Cowboy with fries and pepper jack cheese, while my son and I shared the mahi-mahi fish tacos with sweet potato fries. I also had a cup of the clam chowder, and everything was excellent! The food was fresh, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. My husband also enjoyed a Laguna IPA. Of course, the views are what really make this place special. The restaurant sits right above the Pacific Ocean, and the views were absolutely spectacular. It was the perfect setting for a relaxing lunch while enjoying the beauty of Laguna Beach. Our server, Peter, was also wonderful. He was welcoming, very nice, and informative with suggesting menu items and he made us feel right at home. Great food, beautiful views, and excellent service...what more could you ask for! We would definitely come back the next time we're in Laguna Beach!

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    Lemon drop, martini and Modelo from the patio

    Alessa - italian - Updated September 2026

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