This is truly one of Orange County's hidden gems. An amazing Italian restaurant with family roots that has a wonderful and cozy atmosphere, delicious food and top notch dining staff. The Minestrone soup made by the owner's mother is best in class...one of the greatest dishes served at any restaurant in Orange County (I very highly recommend!!). The cuisine from the kitchen is consistently delicious. What is equally as delighting is the friendly service staff. I just left there for my third time and have had three different servers and they have all been absolutely fantastic. Each time I leave this restaurant, I immediately think about when I'm going back. I suggest this place to anyone who wants to eat tasty food served by amazing people. read more

Date of visit: Sep 8, 2026 What a disappointing birthday dinner. I came here with high hopes of finding one of those hidden-gem, hole-in-the-wall Italian places, but unfortunately, it all ended up blowing up in my face. The biggest problem was simple: everything--from the soup to the main dishes--was way too salty. We were a party of six, and three of us ordered pasta with the garlic cream sauce: the Pescatore, Shrimp & Scallop, and Clam. The sauce wasn't thickened enough, so it was much too soupy for a pasta dish, and the taste of white wine was very prominent. The garlic cream sauce was salty too, although nowhere near as crazy salty as the Chicken Piccata, Tortellini Giovanni, and Minestrone. Chicken Piccata: Like everything else we tried, this dish was just way too salty. The lemon-butter sauce was completely overwhelmed by the capers, and eating it honestly felt like shoveling forkfuls of salt into my mouth. The only saving grace was the chicken itself, which was cooked well and had a nice golden-brown exterior. Tortellini Giovanni: Just okay. I've definitely had better. The cheese filling inside the tortellini wasn't particularly good, although the Italian sausage was pretty tasty. The more I ate, though, the saltier, heavier, and oilier the dish seemed to get. Overall, there was really nothing special about it. Minestrone: SO salty that I couldn't even finish it. I'm not sure if this is simply their recipe or if the soup had been refrigerated and reheated to the point where some of the water had evaporated, leaving the salt increasingly concentrated. It's too bad because the underlying flavor was actually there--it was just completely ruined by the amount of salt. Pizza: Just okay. The dough wasn't bad, and I actually liked that it had some chewiness to it. But for the price, I'd rather go somewhere else. I really wanted to love this place, especially since this was my birthday dinner. I wasn't expecting fancy or perfect--I was hoping for a charming little hole-in-the-wall with really good, comforting Italian food. Unfortunately, we left super disappointed. read more

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Some really good food, some not so good and a little pricey in my opinion. Must haves: Chicken Piccata and tiramisu! The chicken piccata was excellent. Lemon caper sauce over capellini with chicken is very flavorful. But the tiramisu was perfect! One of the best I ever had. The fried zucchini appetizer was soggy. They sliced it up like a pickle and should have cut it like stick. Avoid in my opinion. The calamari appetizer was good, but not great. The Creamy Arrabbiata was too spicy for me and I just didn't care for the sauce. I wouldn't get again. The chicken was diced up so small it was hard to find and the vegetables just didn't match the dish. I gave 4 stars for the 2 good dishes. read more

We've been regular customers here for quite a while, so this review is especially disappointing to write. We've always enjoyed the food and felt it was worth supporting a local restaurant. Unfortunately, this visit missed the mark. We ordered some of our usual favorites, but they just weren't up to the standard we've come to expect. My wife always orders the Spaghetti Aglio e Olio because it's a simple dish she enjoys, and it's never been spicy before. This time it had a noticeable kick, and since she can't tolerate spicy food, she wasn't able to enjoy her meal. I ordered the Pescatore with cream sauce, but instead of the rich, creamy sauce we're used to, it was thin and watery. We also ordered the calamari, which arrived soggy instead of crispy. We typically order takeout, and we live just a few minutes away, so the quality wasn't affected by a long drive home. We also make it a point to leave a generous tip because we appreciate the effort that goes into preparing and packaging our food, and we like supporting restaurants we enjoy. Spending around $80 on dinner only to have multiple dishes fall short was a real disappointment. The only silver lining was that I enjoy spicy food, so I was able to eat my wife's leftovers the next day. We're hoping this was just an off night because we've had many great meals here in the past. Based on this experience, though, I have to lower my rating to 2 stars. read more

Family and I tried this place after missing pasta from our trip to Italy. Let me just say this place hits the spot in terms of service, quality, and taste of their dishes. The fresh clam linguine was so balanced in flavor and not so heavy, and with my favorite being the shrimp fra diavolo having the right amount of spice and the cook on the noodles just right! The restaurant is very clean, have a very welcoming and passionate staff! Will definitely come back. read more

Alza Osteria - Fresh Clam Linguine - Pizza Near Me - Brea, California

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My son and I had dinner here for the first time tonight. We had to wait about 15-20min to be seated but I don't mind waiting for good food. The food was amazing. My son and I both ordered seafood pastas. He and I both ordered the clams with linguine. He got the parma rosa sauce will I got the traditional wine sauce. The meal also came with a soup or salad. Since it was a hot day, we both picked salad. One of our favorite parts of the meal was the bread. Not sure if it was on purposes but the bread basket came with both thin slices and thick slices. And don't forget the garlic infused butter. So yumm! As for parking, the restaurant is in a small strip center and only a few stores were open when we arrived so there was plenty of parking. read more

Alza Osteria - Fresh Clam Linguine with wine sauce - Pizza Near Me - Brea, California

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My family and I truly enjoyed this restaurant. The host and server were very attentive and kind and the food was even better. We ordered the bruschetta, sausage rolls, and garlic bread for appetizers. For the main course, we shared the bolognese and chicken piccata. Everything we ordered was cooked to perfection. We were glad to support a small business and we will be back. read more

After driving by this place for years, I finally stopped in to check it out. Alza Osteria is visible from the street but is easily overlooked because the shopping strip it's in is very unassuming. There's plenty of parking. The front door is right by the handicapped spots. Once inside, the restaurant has a very comfortable ambiance with study wooden chairs and tables. I didn't notice any outside seating. The server greeted us upon entering and we could choose where we wanted to sit. They have a great lunch menu with special pricing, but the dinner menu is more extensive. We decided to share a small strawberry pecan salad in addition to our entrees. I ordered a customized calzone (chicken, prosciutto, mushrooms, and spinach with Alfredo sauce) and my friend chose the chicken Parmesan sandwich. The salad was fantastic! All the toppings blended together beautifully and the cheese and vinaigrette were delish! My calzone was also amazing ~ excellent portion size with enough for leftovers, and the flavor combo was great! The Alfredo came on the side along with marinara for dipping. My friend's chicken Parmesan sandwich was a good size and the roll needed to be smooshed down a bit to get a bite. The one thing we both noticed, tho, was that the chicken in the salad and the sandwich was on the flat and dry (vs moist) side. Not sure if it was just overcooked or what, because the chicken in my calzone was fine. Overall, we enjoyed the food and the service. We saw some other items on the menu we want to try, so we will be back soon! read more

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Our waiter was Caleb very nice and attentive and great with suggestions for all my allergies. Lauren the chef was amazing helping with. Making my delicious Salmon Mediterranean with substitute linguine since I was allergic to mixed vegetables. She was sure to check and double check if I could eat certain spices or not. Thank you Lauren The restaurant is a nice cozy Italian restaurant that is family friendly. Thank you we will be back. read more

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Absolutely amazing. Very friendly team and the food was very fresh!!! Very quaint and comfortable restaurant!!

This restaurant is located in a shopping plaza at the corner of Birch Street and Kraemer Blvd in Brea. Parking was easy on a Monday evening. We did not need reservations and were seated promptly on arrival as it was pretty empty. The service was overall good. Our waiter checked in on us multiple times and was attentive. The complimentary bread and garlic butter was great, but the rest of the food was fine, honestly nothing special. Our pastas were on the oilier side and salty, but the portion sizes are huge. read more

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Such a nice little local spot. All the employees and owner is the best. The food is really good!! Been here many times and will be coming back again!! read more

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We have been coming here for years. Everything is fantastic, but lately this has been our #1 spot for pizza. The pizza is amazing!! The sauce is wonderful and the toppings are so fresh and flavorful. I especially love the meatball topping. We always get a salad with creamy Italian. I ask for extra dressing to dip my pizza. The service is always top notch and the ambiance is delightful. read more

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SEAFOOD PIZZA!!!! You need this in your life! If you love pizza, shrimp, scallops and pesto sauce, this is for you. You will love this pizza! The flavors come together nicely, and it is really delicious. I was pleasantly surprised about this seafood pizza. My husband was equally mind-blown by how good it is lol It was $32 for the large seafood pizza. Worth it! 10/10 Calamari 10/10 The calamari appetizer was divine. It was light and crispy. The calamari had tender pieces and was fried with a light batter. Sometimes calamari can have a heavy batter, and it doesn't really enhance the dish. I loved this version where the batter was thin. It was perfect calamari. 10/10 Creamy Arrabiata 10/10 My husband loved this dish! He kept raving about how good the pasta was. The mushrooms were a nice touch. The pasta was a bit spicy and my husband loved it. He ate half in restaurant and the leftovers the next day. Ravioli Florentine 7/10 This dish was alright. Not my favorite though. I wouldn't order it again. The ravioli didn't have much cheese inside. The sauce itself was lacking. I ate one ravioli and threw the rest away when I got home. It came with a side salad that had brown lettuce. The salad was not great. I wasn't a fan of brown lettuce in my salad. Service was good! 10/10 There was one server for the entire restaurant. Poor lady! She did a great job managing all of that though. Very sweet lady and made sure we had what we needed. The ambiance was crowded. It was a busy day, and the restaurant isn't very big. It's a small restaurant. We will be back for the seafood pizza! That was a showstopper/ highlight. read more

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I met a girlfriend here for lunch last week. I was looking for a restaurant halfway between us and, of course, I looked on yelp. I loved the atmosphere and décor. There were plenty of tables. We both ordered the Spaghetti Bolognese from their Lunch Menu. I asked if they could make it spicy, and the server told me they could. Unfortunately, I guess the chef forgot because there was no spice whatsoever. It's okay, because it was still delicious. We both added a salad, and we split Bruschetta. The Bruschetta was presented beautifully; however, we agreed that it tasted a bit too sweet. It must've been the balsamic. I would not order the Bruschetta again. We were served complimentary bread with garlic butter, and it was really good. Service was great, and they didn't mind that we sat at our table for over three hours. We enjoyed our lunch and will be meeting here again in the future. read more

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HAVE: 1/5 Fettuccini Alfredo 5/5 Calamari 4/5 Spaghetti bolognese 5/5 Personal Pepperoni Pizza 5/5 Complimentary bread TAKES: We came here due to their strong Yelp reviews and just like any other restaurants, they have their hits and misses. They started us off with their complimentary bread; honestly, it was one of the best breads I've had. Their calamari was perfect - crunchy, tender, and seasoned well. They have a unique take on their pepperoni pizza as the base is more "bready" than the usual crust. Their Fettuccini Alfredo was the only miss - it was dry and bland. I had to add seasoning just to give it some extra flavor. Service was slow at the start - we had to flag someone down to get their attention despite being the only customers at that time. We assumed that it might be due to a shift change. But when the male server took over the service - he was very helpful and efficient. The restaurant is small and a little outdated but clean, with plenty of parking as it is not located in a busy area. read more

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We celebrated a birthday tonight and learned about Alza Osteria from my son. We've heard great things about this place and we were so excited to dine here. We had reservations for 7:30 on a Saturday evening. Our party of 4 was seated promptly. Every table was filled inside and it was busy filled with chatter. A basket of bread was brought out promptly along with garlic butter. Our server, Angel was friendly and engaging. We ordered a couple different pastas and a pizza to share. Our meal started off with fried calamari with marinara sauce and an order of garlic twist I liked how the calamari was not covered with heavy batter. It was light and crispy but could've used a little bit more seasoning. Everyone enjoyed their pasta dishes. The one thing that we were not too thrilled about was the pizza. While the toppings were good and fresh, however, the dough was not anything out of this world. Instead, it reminded me of something that was frozen, unfortunately. We will just stick to the pasta from now on. We will return to try the other pasta entrees. Parking is plentiful. The restaurant was clean and all of the staff were friendly. Overall, we enjoyed our dining experience here and look forward to the next visit. read more

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We were quickly seated. Server was super friendly. I asked for a beer recommendation and it was nice and crisp. Fresh bread arrived at the table with garlic butter. Nice touch. The bread was not heavy as typical bread seemed as if it was the flour but lighter than normal. We ordered brushetta. The topping was a fair amount but the balsamic was a bit too sweet for me. We ordered chicken piccata came with angel hair pasta and good amount of capers with a lemon wedge. The pasta and chicken complimented each other well. The sauce seemed a light lemon flavor the fresh squeezed elevated the flavor. Great dish to order. It also came with soup or salad I chose minestrone but not to my liking way too much tomato taste for My taste buds. We also had a pizza it was mozzarella and basil, tomatoes (Margarite) good pizza the crust was hand tossed. Nice place to enjoy a meal not too loud but it was Monday. read more

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We found this place during Covid and we just fell in love. Everything we've had we love everyone we bring ends up coming back on their own. This time we were party of six. We were celebrating my moms birthday. We were told an hour wait, but we were seated soon after. The food was great. I would just steer away from the minestrone soup. read more

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Ok usually my husband and I order some type of pasta, We decided we did not want leftovers. We shared a small Caesar salad, there was plenty. We also got a small everything pizza, 6 slices. Everything was sooo good. We drank a bottle of Vigneti Zabu Nero D' Aviola, 13% alcohol. Bread was brought to the table along with a bottle of water. Taylor was our server, she was so efficient even though extremely busy. All the tables were full, so glad I made a reservation. Only complaint, very noisy, this one kids had an extremely high voice. I know it's not his fault, but you could hear everything he said. Need to get a pizza to go sometime. read more

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We came here to celebrate my mom's birthday so we made a reservation in advance to ensure we got seats on a Friday night. We waited a bit before getting seated but it gave us time to peruse the menu. I don't really see a creamy pesto pasta option often, so I was immediately intrigued. I ordered it with shrimp and it came with about 6 of them, more or less. The sauce was delicious. It didn't feel too heavy from the cream nor did it feel too oily from the pesto. It was a good balance of both so I easily cleaned the plate. My family also enjoyed their meals. The only unfortunate part was that we received the bruschetta, which was alright, and then it took over 45 minutes for the entrees to come out. The waiter was nice about it and apologized twice during our wait. However, I found it odd that the tables in front were seated a good 20 minutes after us, but they received their food at the same time that we did. Overall, the food was great, the service was great, but the wait was a little off-putting considering we had a reservation and no one else seemed to have waited long but us. read more

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I always do take-out. Their pizza and pasta are delicious, perfect texture and well-sauced! Never dry. Sharing a picture of their 01'26 alcohol menu. read more

Alza Osteria - Pizza Near Me - Brea, California

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We ordered takeout on Sunday and it was pretty delicious. The portions were average and the flavors were pretty good. I'd give the lasagna 4/4 the spaghetti is the same. The minestrone soup was my favorite five out of five. I took a star off because the prices were very high! An order of lasagna and spaghetti was near $50!! The portions and the flavor definitely a value of $50 in my honest opinion. It should've been more like $35-$38 read more

I just love this place! Been there a few times now and customer service is always on point! They are super friendly and helpful with suggestions if asked. You can have any pasta, any sauce, any protein and if you have another special request, they will handle it. Food is always delicious and fresh. The inside is cute and the lighting is perfect at night. Great ambiance! read more

I've had take out pizza from Alza Osteria once but it's been a few years so we decided to come back and dine-in this time around. Visited around 5pm on a Sunday evening and only 2 other tables were occupied at the time. However, by 6pm the restaurant was completely occupied. It seems they do take reservations as we were asked if we had a reservation or walk-in upon entering. Complimentary bread and garlic butter spread provided - bread was slightly over toasted and a bit rough around the edges but the garlic butter was super tasty. Garlic Bread ($9): 8 pieces of Italian bread with garlic butter & romano cheese + a side of marinara sauce for dipping. Creamy Arrabiata Pasta ($22): We were recommended this pasta dish by our server which consists of thin penne pasta in a creamy & slightly spicy marinara with Italian sausage (or chicken if preferred). Not sure what type of cheese was in the sauce but it was a bit too strong for my preference, though it didn't list a cheese within the description. Overall, good but would probably try something else next time. Medium Barbecue Chicken Pizza ($24): 8 slices of pizza on regular crust layered with barbecue sauce, chicken, red onion, and cilantro. I love a bbq pizza and this hit the spot. Thoroughly enjoyed it and had leftovers for the next day which I popped in the oven and tasted just as delicious! Overall, good service by our server Caleb. All the employees working from servers to cooks were pretty young but provided great service. Would definitely come back to try other dishes. read more

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The family got together at Alza Osteria's for dinner and it did not disappoint. We ordered our usual calzone (always good) and tortellini Alfredo - very good, and the chicken picatta. The chicken was a little dry but the pasta and sauce made up for it. Their minestrone soup was only average. I wouldn't order it again. Service was excellent Overall we had a great time with good food. We'll be back! read more

Alza Osteria - Menu - Pizza Near Me - Brea, California

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This place was actually our last-minute, second choice after our first restaurant plan fell through, but I guess everything happens for a reason because we already can't wait to come back! We literally searched for the nearest Italian spot with good reviews and picked this one at random. The first impression wasn't exactly impressive (nothing flashy about the location or the interior), but as they say, never judge a book by its cover. This turned out to be one of the best pasta spots I've ever been to. Our server was kind and attentive, and every pasta dish we ordered was packed with bold flavors. What amazed us most was that even though each dish was rich and flavorful, none of them felt too heavy. We kept trying each other's plate and couldn't stop raving about all of them. The very next day we were all messaging each other about how good the leftovers were for lunch and how we already can't wait to return to try more pasta from their menu. Definitely a hidden gem!! read more

Not only the pasta, their chicken is AMAZING. I ordered the creamy penne arrabiata. Delicious sauce not too spicy. The penne was cooked al dente to perfection. I can't stress this enough, the chicken was cooked sous vide then pan grilled. Incredibly moist and juicy. I have never had chicken pasta like this. It was like Anton in ratatouille Highly recommend. read more

Alza Osteria - Creamy Arrabiata - Pizza Near Me - Brea, California

My local favorite for Italian food. Always great food, great service and nice relaxing ambience. I've always ordered for delivery for my family for past 20years. Always delicious! read more

Cute restaurant in a small shopping center in Brea across from the Birch Hills Golf Course. We ordered take out this time but will try eating in soon! Lots of parking and greeted by a friendly staff. They were very attentive to keep us posted on our order as they were a bit busy. We ordered the calamari, garlic twists, chicken piccata, butter penne pasta and fettuccini alfredo for the kids. All the food was packaged nicely and was still warm when we made it home. Good portions too. The garlic twists are absolutely yummy and the side of marinara is delicious! I couldn't stop snacking on them! Calamari was fried and seasoned nicely. Chicken Piccata was very tasty. Pasta as expected. Definitely a go to when you want a quick Italian meal. read more

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They catered my father's 80th birthday party and everyone raved about the food! The lasagna and the spaghetti w/meatballs was fantastic. We came to dine in a couple of weeks later and the food did not disappoint. The tortellini and the cream of mushroom soup- delicious!!! The ambiance was also nice. I loved the 90's music playing. Beats the same old boring instrumental music you usually hear in an Italian restaurant. Would definitely come back! read more

We recently visited Alza Osteria for a Friday date night. It's locates in a small shopping center with a mix of stores and restaurants. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with genuinely friendly service, which made a great first impression. The restaurant is on the smaller side and there was a good Friday night crowd. We started with the complimentary bread and calamari--both were excellent. With pasta entrées, you get a choice of soup or salad, which is a nice touch. We tried the creamy arrabbiata, which had a pleasant kick but was a bit on the salty side, and the chicken piccata, though the angel hair pasta was slightly overcooked for our taste. For dessert, we shared the Nutella cheesecake, but it didn't quite deliver the Nutella flavor we were hoping for. While there were a few minor flaws, overall it was a good experience, and we'd return to try more dishes. read more

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Alza Osteria is decent food and good ambiance. Its portions are generous as gentle music echoes. I arrived on a weekday (11:30AM). Alza Osteria had a couple groups dining. My family and I were immediately seated. We ordered a couple dishes, but I will focus on the Shrimp and Scallops Pasta with Parma Rosa Sauce ($25.50) and Calamari ($16.00). I was also asked to choose between soup or salad for my dish, and I was charged ($3.00 extra). The meal includes bread and herb butter. The bread was hot and crunchy. The soup of the day (potato leek soup) is warm, mushy, and peppery. I waited 23 minutes for the main entrees. The calamari was exemplary. The thick calamari were lightly breaded and generously portioned. The dish is salty, but it's satisfying. The Shrimp and Scallops Pasta with Parma Rosa sauce tasted bright and zesty. It's a memorable sour, cheesy flavor. It's an acquired taste. The pasta is filled with fresh shrimps and mini scallops. Service is friendly and helpful. Alza Osteria is clean and welcoming. Overall, it's an adequate experience. read more

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This was our first visit. We walked in without a reservation and were told there would be a 30-45 minute wait. Our server, Bianca, was very polite and recommended some pizza and pasta options. Since my parents love seafood, we ordered calamari as an appetizer, along with a Caesar salad, shrimp fra diavolo pasta, creamy arrabbiata pasta, and the seafood pizza. The calamari came with a red sauce and was very crispy--we really enjoyed it. The Caesar salad was good but nothing extraordinary. I recommend not ordering a separate salad if you get pasta, as the pasta dishes already come with a free side of salad or soup. Since we had already ordered the salad, we opted for the soup, which came with an additional $3 charge. We didn't mind the extra cost, and the soup was great, but next time, I'd choose the free salad on the side instead of ordering another one separately. The shrimp fra diavolo was my favorite dish, as I love spicy food. It wasn't too spicy but had a nice kick. I love pasta, but sometimes the cream or cheese can be overwhelming. However, this dish had a perfect balance of cheesiness with a hint of spice. The creamy arrabbiata was also great. We ordered it with chicken, and while I sometimes find chicken in pasta dishes to be tough, the chicken here was tender and flavorful. However, the pasta itself wasn't particularly special, so I'd like to try a different one next time. The seafood pizza was very cheesy and had a variety of seafood toppings. I've never seen seafood pizza on a menu before, and since I'm not a huge seafood fan, I wasn't sure if I would like it. However, I ordered it because my parents love seafood, and to my surprise, it was actually pretty good. The only downside was that once we placed our orders, the main dishes took a while to come out. We waited about 30-45 minutes, but I believe that's because they cook everything from scratch. Despite the wait, I'll definitely be returning! read more

Alza Osteria - Creamy Arrabiata (left), Shrimp Fra Diavolo (right) - Pizza Near Me - Brea, California

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I come here regularly and it is always fantastic. The lunch portions are great and I'm obsessed with the garlic butter they give with the table bread. Quick, friendly, and always good vibes. Great restaurant. read more

Excellent from start to finish Kyle was very professional loved him Food so delicious read more

The restaurant was clean and inviting, but I think they have an issue finding servers as the service was slow even though they only had 4 or 5 tables. They did get busier with people waiting 5-10 minutes just to get seated. The food was just okay. I have a sea food pasta dish had way too mush lemon; it overpowered the dish. My wife had a different pasta dish and said it was too salty. I don't think we will be back. read more

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This is a charming mom-and-pop-style restaurant, perfect for a romantic dinner in the Brea area. They offer both lunch and dinner menus. I ordered the fresh clam linguine with white wine from the dinner menu. While I expected it to be saltier, the dish leaned more toward a sour flavor. Next time, I might try pairing it with red wine instead, as the white wine didn't quite complement the linguine for me. This dish was priced at around $28. My partner ordered the shrimp and scallop pasta, which he found to be overly salty and heavy with the cream sauce. The service, however, was outstanding--the server checked on us frequently to ensure everything was okay. Personally, I loved the calamari and the minestrone soup that came with my pasta. The soup was incredibly flavorful, with a noticeable herbal mint taste that I really enjoyed. Their complimentary bread and garlic-infused spread were also delightful--a perfect start to the meal! read more

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Always love it when I am able to enjoy a gem. We were short on time before an appointment and hadn't eaten yet. What a pleasant surprise to walk in and find great tasting Italian cuisine. Both of our dishes were flavorful, served quickly, and reasonably priced. We hope to visit again soon and spend a little more time as we were treated really well. read more

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Went here for a night out seeking Italian food. Warm, calm atmosphere with solid service upon entry. Ordered the pizza, Alfredo, and a penne with vodka like sauce. Overall great food but the pasta could have had more flavor to it based on our preference. Would recommend overall read more

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