For my 2,500th review I share with you Barolo. Unfortunately, it is also a WhereTF have I been, bc Barolo has been in biz a long time. The biz associate who invited me said Barolo is where all the financing guys in OC hang out. It is located in a strip mall off Newport & 6th near Old Town Tustin. Barolo is a quaint place w/ indoor & outdoor seating. I believe the owner's name is Giuseppe, who hails fr Genoa. In any case, he was a super nice guy, and let my associate order off the menu. The host's colleague and I had Chilean sea bass in a lemon caper sauce. My biz associate had pasta w/ calamari in white sauce (not pictured). The sea bass was excellent, and it was a big portion. The fish was moist and paired well w/ the sauce. You can get entrees w/ a side of pasta also. I didn't pay, but most of the entrees I saw on the menu were approximately $20. The servers were super friendly and nice. You really feel at home here, similar to a trattoria in Italy. I golf w/ some business colleagues occasionally nearby. I will have to remember Barolo the next time I am in the area for an after golf dinner. read more

Barolo Cafe - Chilean sea bass w/ steamed vegetables (eccelente) - Italian Near Me - Tustin, California

After picking up a few things at Claro's market, I needed to find patio dining nearby so that my dog would be welcomed at dinner. This longstanding Italian place came up on Yelp. My husband, his uncle and I were lucky to get a table when we arrived around 6 as the restaurant was nearly full and they asked if we had reservations. The patio dining area is in the parking lot, but it's sectioned off nicely with some large blinds and the tablecloth covered tables make it feel like an extension of the restaurant. Upon sitting they gave us a basket of focaccia. I liked that the olive oil and balsamic dispenser was on the table and we didn't need to ask. Barolo's menu was not too overwhelming with just two pages and one being solely for wine/drinks. For food, I ordered the angel hair shrimp, my husband ordered the chicken piccata and his uncle got the meat ravioli. I liked that the meals came with a house salad and that the server brought over a bowl of Parmesan. I added a lot of Parmesan to my salad and entree. I liked the shrimp in my dish and my husband liked his chicken and the sauce, but found the red pasta bowl that came with it an odd choice. The pasta and sauce were fine, but the flavors didn't combine right with the plate of chicken. Overall the food was good, but nothing made us feel that we need to return right away, however I can see why this place is such a neighborhood staple. The service was great the entire time. I appreciate that they brought out water for our dog and it seemed that all the waiters were happy working there. read more

Barolo Cafe - Angel Hair Pasta with Shrimp - Italian Near Me - Tustin, California

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This little neighborhood gem offers fantastic pasta and wine. Food and service was excellent..family friendly neighborhood restaurant They get quite busy in the evening so make sure you either make an appointment or come early! read more

I tried Barolo for the first time last weekend to celebrate my wife's birthday and it was a great choice. The staff is friendly and very attentive, our server Marco is Italian and recommended us seafood linguini and a good bottle of cab. The pasta was tasty, and the portions are huge. I've never been to Italy but I fel like being there, the ambiance with frames, people and food very authentic. Also the tablecloth, the colors, everything feels authentic. Thanks to the owner, and to Marco for the amazing experience, we'll be back. Gonzalo read more

Barolo Cafe - Linguini w/ shrimps and mushrooms - Italian Near Me - Tustin, California

One of the best Italian meals I've had outside of Italy! I can't believe we haven't been here sooner. I've lived here my whole life. If I can give this place more than five stars I would! The service was excellent! The host was super friendly and our waiter and everyone was just great. It's a very quaint and charming little family restaurant. It's not a very big place so definitely make reservations! You can also see the chef himself (who is Italian) cooking your meals. I just can't say enough from everything that we ate tonight from the bread, to the salad to the main course to dessert was just 10 out of 10! And I have family that live in Luca Italy, and they would 100% approved this place! I've had my share of an Italian restaurant here in the states, but this is probably the favorite! I love that they have a gluten-free pasta option for me because I can't have gluten. It was delicious! They custom made a meal for my husband because he said he wanted to have sausage with meat sauce and rigatoni and they just made it for him. I love the house balsamic vinegar that they make because it was the best thing that I've ever had. I wanted to take a bottle of it home. It was so good on the house salad! And the dessert menu needs a moment for itself. It is two pages long and there are pictures! That was impressive. I got the dairy free coconut gelato and it was out of this world. My husband got the lemon dessert and he said it was delicious. We had one of the best dates we've had in a long time with the best food! We cannot wait to make this our regular place. Highly highly recommend! read more

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I've always been curious about this place whenever I pass by on my way to 7 Leaves, and I'm so glad I finally decided to give it a try. I walked in without a reservation and was seated almost immediately. I ordered the Ravioli alla Vodka, which came with complimentary focaccia bread served with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, along with a side salad. The olive oil and balsamic vinegar were delicious, and the balsamic vinaigrette on the salad was especially tasty. The focaccia bread was quite good as well, topped with roasted onions. The ravioli was cooked perfectly and very well seasoned, with a generous amount of ricotta filling. The light tomato cream sauce was rich and flavorful without being heavy. The portion was large enough that I even had leftovers to enjoy for lunch the next day. The ambiance was very cozy with a relaxing, welcoming vibe. read more

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This is a nice little Italian restaurant with friendly service. They have indoor and outdoor seating. I went with the pork chop special. The chop is covered with a mushroom sauce, and comes with a side pasta. You also get a salad and a basket of bread. The chop was delicious, I really loved the mushroom sauce. The side spaghetti was a large portion. I like using the bread to soak up everything from the plate. You will leave here with a happy tummy. read more

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Party of 3 went for lunch. Excellent service and food! Very flavorful. Will definitely go back soon.

Marco treated us to a wonderful experience and our first time at Barolo Café. We were the first ones in at 5 PM on Sunday. After being seated, we immediately offered the specials menu, which is a long list. The tender beef short rib is highly recommended. The seafood stew contains salmon, Seabass, and large shrimp all in an oversized bowl. This will be our meal for 2 more days. Not pictured is the wonderful cannoli that we took to go. We are fortunate to find this restaurant even though they've been around for 33 years. Definitely a return trip is needed. read more

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Lowkey Italian spot in Tustin. Same parking lot as Kean's Coffee and Gen KBBQ. It's a big parking lot, but it's almost always full. I was actually trying to eat at OkiDoki, but the wait was two hours on a Saturday. We walked across the parking lot to Barolo to get Italian instead. We were pleasantly surprised. I saw the olive oil/balsamic vinegar bottles on each table, and I was so amused. It's a great invention. Our server was chatty but mindful. The menu was extensive; it was hard to choose. I like that the pasta and main dishes are served with a salad, which tasted so good! They gave us a big basket of bread, which was super toasty and almost hard. It tasted so good, I was eating like 4-5 pieces before the main dishes came out. I got the veal sorrento. It was delicious. The pasta that came with it was also tasty. It was a big portion for $27.95. I wish I saved room for dessert because they had a pretty big dessert menu too. Indoor + outdoor seating available. Credit card/Apple Pay accepted. Bathroom is past the kitchen. No Wifi. read more

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Best Italian food in Orange County. The owner Giuseppe is also the executive chief and his food is memorizing! You won't find better Italian cuisine anywhere. read more

Food: Barolo absolutely hits the mark with their traditional Italian cuisine. My favorite staple is the Fettuccine Bolognese. The noodles are cooked to a perfect al dente every time and the sauce has a good balance between acidity, salty and savory. They provide a complimentary basket of bread which comes out warm, soft with a nice crust. Their bruschetta also wonderful if you like Tomato's. While not quite authentic Italian, the Calamari are lightly breaded, a good combination of crisp with a good bite in the center. I have also tried their various meat dishes such as the pork chop and their other pasta dishes which have been nothing short of stellar. The Spumoni is a nice sweet finish to end dinner. Service: They are always so nice and accommodating. Great wine recommendations and always so quick to address any issues you might have with the food. They never leave you hanging and make sure you have a great experience. Atmosphere: they have really updated their outdoor dining experience. During covid it was tables in a giant tent and they now have a fully built outdoor dining patio which accommodates larger parties. The inside provides a more intimate and personal, cozy atmosphere. Plenty of parking. Good place for business meetings or a date. I highly recommend this place! read more

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If you want classic, authentic, quality Italian food, then this is your place. Barolo is a GEM. We came here with about 8 other friends on 4th of July and it was packed. We were accommodated and there were so many gluten free and vegan/vegetarian options. As someone who is gluten-free and vegan (with an egg allergy) I was so excited that there were options for me to eat comfortably and with pleasure. The owners and staff are just wonderful. So friendly and warm (treat everyone like family) and the atmosphere is just lovely. There is patio seating as well but it was nice to watch the chefs cooking inside. Let the pictures of the food speak for themselves. Just delicious. One other thing to note is that your money goes FAR here. The portions are HUGE and just so generous especially for what you pay. Such a good deal. I left stuffed and comfortable. Honestly cannot wait to come back. I live in LA and would drive down just to come back here! read more

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I had the linguine alle vongole, and it was absolutely amazing. It was lacking in salt though, so I doused the plate with as much parmigiano as I could. The complimentary bread is a quick focaccia with some onions for taste. It pairs pretty well with the EVOO/balsamic that they leave at every table. I would skip the calamari next time. It was fried quite nicely, but didn't come with lemon wedges that were desperately needed, and didn't seem to be salted at all before being plated. The server, who I think is part of the family business, was absolutely on top of everything. He caught a dish with the wrong noodle as part of a customer's request before it ever reached the table. We will definitely return for the amazing pasta, but maybe we'll get a more traditional appetizer next time instead of the calamari. read more

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Easily my newest favorite Italian restaurant around... Ordered take out and am excited to actually get to dine in next time. Great staff, adorable environment, and phenomenal food imo. I ordered the sea bass with pasta and Fettucine con scampi e funghi to share between me and my wife, needless to say we were so happy. Next time you are craving delicious pasta, this an absolute must try. I came on a Friday evening and they were pretty packed so just keep that I mind, small location serving mouth watering food. read more

A very good spot for Italian food in the Tustin area. They have both indoor and covered outdoor seating available. You can see partially into the kitchen which also adds to the experience. They have fairly good service and they always have specials on the menu. The items on the daily special menu usually stay about the same, but they are always very good. Everything that we ordered was full of flavor and was cooked perfectly. The portion sizes are fairly large and their dishes are great for sharing. It's not always listed on the daily special menu, but we their seafood pasta is one of the best options that they have. The fish is always cooked well and is never dry. It's also packed with an extremely generous amount of all different types of seafood. The calamari was light and crispy and the bruschetta was covered in bright and fresh tomatoes. The pork chop was cooked well and came with a side of either vegetables or pasta. The bolognese had a very hearty sauce and the pasta was cooked al dente. We finished our meal with a spumoni bomba and the dark chocolate shell complimented the ice cream really well. I've really enjoyed everything that I've tried from their menu and I always look forward to the leftovers that we bring home. read more

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So happy. Two for lunch. We had chopino to share and we still took some home. We only added an extra salad. Bread with oil and vinegar and a salad to start and tiramisu to finish with a cup of coffee. The service was impeccable with table cloths and glass. Nicely appointed. read more

Barolo Cafe - Just like italy. Warm and amazing food. - Italian Near Me - Tustin, California

Authentic Italian Gem in Tustin Barolo Cafe is a true hidden gem. Cozy, unpretentious, and genuinely authentic--this place feels like a little slice of Italy. The food is fresh, perfectly prepared, and full of classic Italian flavor, and the service is warm and welcoming. If you're craving real Italian cuisine in a relaxed neighborhood setting, this spot is a must. Five stars, no question. read more

Came here to celebrate a friend's birthday. I have heard so much about this place so I was excited to finally get the opportunity to try it out. We didn't have reservations as tables were supposed to be on a first come, first serve basis, so it was a surprise when we arrived and there was a reservations list. We got seated outside and as we were putting in our orders, I told our server that we were celebrating a birthday. He ignored me and walked away before I could finish the sentence which was incredibly awkward. Throughout the evening, our server came to drop off our food and take away our plates, we didn't get a check in outside of that. I noticed that they were very cordial with other tables so it gave us the impression that they have a preference for regulars. We ordered calamari to start, seafood pasta, and linguini vongole. The entrees came with a side salad and we were given complimentary bread. The bread was a foccacia so we expected it to be soft and fluffy. It was dry and a bit hard instead. Such a shame because their olive oil and balsamic vinegar for dipping was really good. The side salad had a nice, fresh tasting dressing, but it had a soggy texture. Calamari- This was decent. I would have liked a bit more crisp on the exterior but the inside was nice and chewy. Seafood pasta- It was loaded with fish and clams and the portions were huge which I appreciate. The pasta was perfectly cooked. However, it lacked flavor. I would have liked a bit more shrimp on mine since my friend who ordered the same item got several whereas I only had one piece. Linguini Vongole- I once more appreciate the generous serving and the copious amount of clams that came with the pasta. The sauce, however, was on the bland side and needed more flavor. I was really looking forward to dining here but I wasn't impressed with the food and the service was lackluster. It felt like you have to know someone to be welcomed. It didn't help that we were celebrating a special occasion. read more

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The seafood pasta I ordered is very delicious! The portion size is huge. A mom and pa restaurant with a very reasonable price. Will for sure come back. read more

Barolo Cafe - Italian Near Me - Tustin, California

Great food, great service. We enjoy Barolo as one of our local favorites. Highly recommend.

I love the high quality food and fresh seafood at Barolo Cafe. My lunch special seabass were grilled to perfection and the salad and pasta were the perfect complements to our lunch. The staff were friendly and attentive. The ambiance was of a cute mom and pop Italian restaurant with outdoor seatings and indoor too. Highly recommended! read more

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We moved to Tustin in 1991. Hubby doesn't remember that we've had dinner at Barolo in the past. A few weeks ago, we had a late Saturday night dinner. We were seated immediately at a nice table near the kitchen. The place is small with about 10 tables inside and several outdoor tables. Our dinners included a generous house salad and a full basket of homemade focaccia. Olive oil and balsamic vinegar are available on the table for dipping. Hubby's Linguine Vongole had a delicious white wine sauce. I was given a choice of options for the risotto. I selected seafood, and a huge, beautiful plate filled with clams, mussels, calamari, fish, and shrimp arrived. The white wine sauce for my dinner was more subtle. I enjoyed the leftovers for a couple of meals at home. Our dessert was a creamy tiramisu. Friendly wait staff with ample parking in the shopping center. The only disappointment is that they close between 2 and 5pm during the week. read more

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So so good! Loved the Caesar salad and bolognese sauce. My daughter is the pickiest of eaters and devoured her meal. We will definitely be back again. read more

From the moment we walked in, we were greeted warmly and seated quickly. The atmosphere was cozy with just the right amount of buzz -- perfect for a casual dinner or a date night. The tortellini bartaluchi was flavorful and rich without being too heavy. You could tell the pasta was fresh, and the sauce had a great balance of creaminess and spice. The lasagna was good too hearty, comforting, and full of flavor, with layers of tender pasta, well-seasoned meat, and just the right amount of cheese. It had that homemade feel that's hard to come by. Service was attentive, and the staff made us feel well taken care of without being overbearing. read more

Food here was excellent ! Local family owned restaurant that is putting out some amaaaazing food and decent size portions. Everything is very fresh and the staff is so sweet. Cannot wait to go back !!! read more

Great food, great service even on Christmas Eve with no reservations. Going back when my husband's daughter comes to town.

This place is so GOOD! I love that it's a smaller restaurant, it feels cozy and personal. My boyfriend and I came for valentines dinner and it was busy but our waiter and I believe the owner (who is hilarious) kept coming by to check on us. Service was great. Bread and salads were served before entrees. I got a creamy chicken pesto pasta and my bf got short ribs. Both amazing but the short ribs stole to show. Tender and flavorful. For dessert, we ordered gelato with Amaretto cherries and tiramisu A+. I've been in this parking lot many times and never noticed this restaurant but now it's on my radar. It's a must! read more

Had lunch today with husband and came due to good Yelp reviews. Despite the great service, it did not measure up to the 4.5*s on Yelp, not sure if we ordered the wrong things. We started with the bruschetta which was very good! Nice savory cherry tomatoes on toasted baguette. The complimentary focaccia bread was excellent. Salads were good. However the main dishes of Seafood Linguine Special and the Shrimp Pasta were terrible. Although generous portions, these dishes were severely lacking in flavor! It was worse than cafeteria food. We tried throwing in Parmesan cheese, no improvement. Added salt, but no impact on the flavor. It's like everything on the plate was boiled without any seasonings and then tossed in a watery sauce. We were shocked, and disappointed. We wanted to like it based on the Yelp reviews but found it very overrated for what we ordered. Needless to say we are not likely to come again, despite the good beginnings of the meal. read more

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Italian heritage this is a real spot. Been coming here for over a decade the tortellini is just hands down the best. How was the service? There is no service you feel like family. read more

Barolo Cafe is a true hidden gem in Tustin. The food is excellent, the service is warm and attentive, and the overall experience feels authentic. As an Italian and someone who loves to cook, I'm very particular about dining out for Italian cuisine--and Barolo absolutely delivers. Highly recommend. read more

Service was amazing and so was the food. Don't know whether I like the food more or Giuseppe more. Restaurant is small but homey and there's an outdoor patio area as well. Loved the oil/vinegar bottles! Would come back read more

Cozy restaurant with a little outdoor dining section, so I'd recommend making a reservation beforehand as seats fill up fast. Service is great here; the servers are attentive, friendly, and check on you frequently. You get complimentary bread and a simple salad to go with your meal, which is a nice touch. We ordered the shrimp to start and it was cooked perfectly and doused in this delicious sauce. I used the bread to soak up the sauce because I couldn't get enough, so much so that I was tempted to ask for a straw so I could drink it! I ordered the beef short rib pasta and my friend ordered what I believe was a Cioppino style dish (both dishes we ordered were specials). The food was phenomenal! Big portions that come out freshly prepared to order. My short rib was tender, flavorful, and the pasta was cooked to perfection. The sauce had just the right texture, not too thick but also not soupy. I really enjoyed the food here and would definitely recommend you go check them out to scratch that Italian itch if you have a craving! read more

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great food! I never tried more than pizzas from chain restaurants. My first exposure to great italian pastas! Its above my price range but totally worth a try read more

The food was fantastic. Easily the best bread basket I have ever had. It was soft and fluffy, and it paired perfectly with the pasta sauces. The ambiance is undefeated. There's no loud music, which made it available for great conversation throughout the meal. We felt extremely welcomed. read more

5 = food 5 = service 5 = ambience We had a large party so it was a wonderful evening. The focaccia bread is so buttery. I like the bottles that hold the olive oil and balsamic vinegar. So fun. We started off with their two styles of calamari. They were both delish but I always prefer the fried calamari. I had their Chilean Sea Bass which was one of their many specials for the evening. It was cooked with a white wine sauce. I ordered it with veggies. With the first bite of the fish, my mouth was in its happy place The portions are HUGE! No joke. Everybody took leftovers home. They have a large menu selection especially with the abundance of specials for the night. The service was great and they were attentive in filling our glasses and asking if we needed anything. We ordered the cannoli. I wouldn't order it again. The shell wasn't fresh and crunchy. It was nice to have the permanent tent. Plenty of parking for a weekend dinner. This establishment has been here for a long time and has great catering too. read more

Barolo Cafe - Chilean Sea Bass - Italian Near Me - Tustin, California

Nice little real Italian food restaurant. Moderately priced despite excellent quality food. You can even sit at the counter and see it prepared if there is space . . I did once . This is the second time I ate on the patio . I ordered fussilli rustica . There was a nice little salad and bread and the meal was great . Will definitely return . read more

Great little hole in the wall gem. Spotted it with a line out the door on the weekend and felt I needed to come try it out! Sonia was our waitress and she was so nice to connect with and guide us toward customer favorites. We went with the pesto chicken bow tie pasta, lamb chops which were very good, short ribs special and the seafood pasta special. Highly recommend getting the calamari frittata to start, lamb chops and short ribs, tiramisu for dessert. Everything is made In house and service was great!! I'll be back! read more

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Okay, we, my hubby and myself, are definitely foodies. We have lived in our home for almost 31 years, just about 5 minutes from this restaurant, and for some reason we have never tried it until last week. We decided on Italian, and had been talking about trying Barolo Cafe, so we went for a late lunch/early dinner, 4pm. We were the first ones there and sat inside at the front window. The server came over, an artsy young kid, not super friendly, but fine. The owner, I could tell by the voice and words, I couldn't see him because my back was to him, but he was yelling orders and demands, very loud, deep voice. I have owned restaurants/ bakeries for years, so I enjoy the back story of the place, almost more than the food itself. The owner was yelling "Sell the fish!!" So we asked the kid, Alessandro, to tell us about the fish since the owner/chef really wants it sold. He was quite embarrassed and said, "Oh, don't let him pressure you. Order whatever you'd like. He's always like this!" My hubby and I had talked about who he may be. I knew he was the kid's father. I could just tell, even without seeing him. My husband asked if he was related to him. He said yes, my father. I said I knew that. I told him I owned restaurants in the past and my daughter worked for me too. He asked if I was on her all the time. I told him of course, that's just the way it is. Lol. Anyway, we ordered one of the calamari appetizers. It was yummy. The bread was too toasted for my taste. It was foccacia and very crusty, but good flavor. I ordered the Linguine with Clams, good, but not a lot of flavor. I had to use quite a bit of parmesan. My husband ordered the Chilean seabass. It was delicious. They both came with a plate of lettuce, great dressing, and his came with pasta in marinara sauce, which we took home. I also took most of my pasta home and ate it later. I got full with the appetizer and salad. My husband ordered a Lemon cello sorbet, which really was the star of the meal, so flavorful and refreshing!! We had a wonderful time, good food, interesting back story, which we pieced together. In the end we got used to the owners voice, the team of servers were all very good, even Alessandro and I don't remember her name, a server. She was an extremely tall, very thin gorgeous, black young lady, looked like a runway model. She had a beautiful smile and used it, which changed the ambience of the room for the better. Also, within about 25 minutes of arriving, the place was packed, inside and out, almost all regulars with standing reservations. So I definitely recommend a reservation when you go. And please go. You will be glad you did!! read more

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This is the best Italian restaurant I can find in town. Compare the quality of the food it's the price is super cheap..because we sit off side of the room, it was a little of noise. read more