Great food, beautiful vibes. Great wine list! Wonderful service. Thank you! Loved walking around after dinner. Circle is awesome! read more

I sent a message to restaurant but they did not respond, so I'll try here. My friend wanted me to try centro, she likes the sausage pasta, so we went Friday 9/11/26. From my experience not a fan and have reason to return. She wanted bruschetta and when it arrived looking like an after thought I was worried. The dish had no flavor or balance, either tasted of raw garlic, balsamic vinegar or basil, no beautiful complimenting (and its the end of tomato season). The bread served with was ok, nice grill char and chewy texture. She ordered sausage pasta and I tried calzone. When plates arrived I wasn't sure server got orders correct. The plate set in front of me did not resemble a calzone at all, but a plain flatbread with nothing on top. I opened the flap to see a meager amount of ricotta and salumi inside, no mozzerella or parmesan to speak of. I tried a corner and it tasted like the bruschetta bread, there was no filling. When server came by I asked if it looked like a calzone and he said yes. I then opened the flap and asked again, stating calzones are filled and dough is pulled over crimped shut and baked. He asked if I wanted to have another one made and I asked if it would come out the same way. Then said no I don't want the same flat bread. I then tasted the "red sauce" on side. It tasted of warmed up plain tomato sauce/puree and nothing more. I asked server, when he returned and asked again if I wanted another calzone, what is in the "red sauce"? He stated, "onions, basil and oil." Funny, I tasted none of that. He took the plate away. I tasted the pasta, smelling first as I do, it had a faint smell of carbon. When I tasted it definitely tasted of charcoal and bland creamy tomato sauce. Carbon builds up when flames burn off fat in pan and leave a residue, that is what was tasted. The hostess was friendly, but did not engage while leading us to table and then set filthy, dirty menus down on top of B&B plates to cross-contaminate. Server either did not mention issue to manager, or manager did not care to touch table. I saw what looked like a manager, in a blue striped shirt with sleeves rolled up, come out to patio and back inside multiple times speaking to staff. Server took 50% off calzone, but should have been completely removed as it was horrible and not eaten. For price points the food and overall service is lacking greatly. There were multiple opportunities to not only impress but the turn a negative into a postive, none of it was accomplished. I am very curious about the amount of 4/5 star reviews, as that was not my experience at all. From the overall lack of flavor in food to mediocre service, and lack of response from management of my initial inquiry; I have no reason to ever return. I will also share my experience with others who inquire about centro. Really sad that was the experience with the prices being charged. I shared my feedback to let them know of the opportunities all around and would have been nice to receive more than a one sentence response from enrico pozzuoli (Joshua, Thanks for your detailed feedback. Sorry you had such a bad experience. Regards, Centro Orange) What a joke!! read more

I love spending time in Old Towne Orange and visit the area often, so I was excited to finally stop by Centro & Storico. It did not disappoint. We started with the bruschetta, which was fresh and flavorful, though the garlic was a little strong for my personal taste. The crispy potatoes with rosemary and breadcrumbs were a standout and an absolute must-try. The bucatini carbonara was rich, comforting, and full of flavor. Pro tip: add a little chili flake for an extra layer of flavor and a nice kick. The Neapolitan-style pizza was excellent, with a beautifully charred crust and quality ingredients. We finished with the tiramisu, which was light, creamy, and packed with espresso flavor. My only suggestion would be a few more ladyfinger layers for a bit more texture. I also love that they offer gelato, bakery items, and a coffee bar for those looking to grab something on the go. One of my favorite touches was seeing day-old pastries sold in bundles. As a pastry chef, I always appreciate businesses that make an effort to reduce food waste while still offering great products. Overall, great food, a welcoming atmosphere, and friendly service. I'll definitely be back and am already looking forward to trying the affogato next time. Highly recommend if you're visiting Old Towne Orange. read more

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Everything is wonderful , the only thing they say they are open all day , but is true . The coffee shop is open full day . But the dinner starts 5:00 pm thru should make it clear .. I am talking genome in Orange . read more

Came here for lunch and the place was busy. We were first seated at one of the patio tables in the sun. After about 10 minutes of working on our tan with no server coming by we asked to move inside. By then, the 2-top indoor table had been taken. There are two small tables off to the side marked "café tables," which felt odd. We were asked to wait there while they cleaned a dining-room table, which took a good 15 minutes. Once we were finally seated, I had to flag down the hostess to let her know we were ready to order. At that point, we'd been seated at three different tables and had been at the restaurant for over 30 minutes. We ordered the vegetarian lasagna and the carbonara. Both were disappointing. The vegetarian lasagna had good flavor, but it was served less than room temperature, and the eggplant was undercooked and still hard making it difficult to cut. I don't expect every restaurant to use guanciale for carbonara, but using bacon instead of pancetta? I know my carbonara my ex is Roman. On the positive side, the hostess was sweet and our server was nice. read more

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Centro is officially a new favorite! The outdoor patio is beautiful and the whole space has such a great vibe! The food feels elevated but still comforting. Everything is incredibly flavorful and authentic. The vodka ravioli was a standout, rich sauce, perfect pasta, amazing cheese. The Caesar salad was also excellent. Crisp lettuce, anchovies, and generous Parmesan done just right. The experience honestly feels like it deserves a full, intentional place setting. Cloth napkins would be such a nice finishing touch for a restaurant doing this level of cuisine so well. Great food, great service, and a spot I'm already excited to return to! read more

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Service was great. Food was so yummy. Ambiance was calm. Visited with my mother on a Thursday afternoon read more

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Okay so finally got to try this spot, and it's very similar to the Tustin location. Got the fried calamari came with lemon and a marinara sauce, very lightly fried and fresh. Then we got the pesto gnocchi (shareable portion) and the prosciutto pizza and added burrata with a side of olive oil and vinegar. My god everything was so fresh, authentic and delicious. I also had the French rose (really light colored with no hint of pink fyi) I guess the Italian rose is more pink colored. Lots of staff to help with anything, dining is minimal, on the week days they seat only the upstairs and patio area, weekends the basement is open. I recommend it, service was quick, food was great, and to give you a price point, 3 glasses of wine, 1 app, 1 shareable pasta, and 1 pizza came out to $150 excluding tip. read more

Centro - Prosciutto pizza and added burrata with side of olive oil and vinegar, highly recommend!! - Cafes Near Me - Orange, California

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I came to Centro on a whim while in the Orange Circle and here's my thoughts. The food is okay... we ordered a Caesars salad and a pizza. The Caesar salad is true to the flavor including sardines on the side but be aware that it runs a little more fishy than used to. Also, if you don't like sardines, be sure to ask for them to exclude them (seen in photos). The pizza is a thin crusted pizza. It was good and flavorful, but not great considering the cost. (Trying the pasta is next on the list, since I've been told that's the highlight of this place.) I also ordered a beer and loved the flavor. It was the Honey Cream and it was delicious - especially if you like a lighter, creamier beer. The ambiance of the restaurant is nice and we were seated quickly. The staff overall was nice, but our server didn't seem to be at the happiest of moods. For casual, social eating with drinks this could be a cool place, just be prepared to pay a little more than used to. If you are a foodie, I would recommend going elsewhere. read more

Centro - Cafes Near Me - Orange, California

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Homemade pastas are wonderful! And, the hummus appetizer is delicious. The lunch special is a great deal.

Great pizza, little more than one serving. Flour and other ingredients imported from Italia. Great arugula salad and be split between 2 inor of3 people. read more

If u want authentic Italian prepared with home made fresh pasta---this place is it!!!! In fact the food is similar to what you would get in Italy except Bigger portions. My carbonara was authentic-- eggs , pancetta, fresh pasta and grated pecorino. Thats it, authentic and unlike other places that add cream and butter. 10/10 taste. The pizzas are awesome. I finally found my fav Italian restaurant!! Ambiance is so cute! Kudos!!!! read more

Centro - Carbonara!!! Just like Italy. Big portion and made simply with fresh pasta, pancetta and cheese!!! Best carbonara i have had! - Cafes Near Me - Orange, California

My bf took me here for their lunch special and we enjoyed it. He got the vegetarian pizza and I got the pesto pasta. Both came with the house side with our choice of dressing. We arrived at 11:15am but they said we'd have to wait for our server at 11:30am. 15 mins isn't a big deal but if you mind the wait, don't arrive earlier than that. read more

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First time visit to the recently opened Orange location (other location in Tustin was wonderful). We ordered the lunch special...which consisted of a half pizza (five to choose from) and a salad. We ordered two different combos to try and both tasted very good (very reasonable prices given portion size and taste). Service was very attentive and friendly and we really loved the ambiance (outdoor and indoor seating as well as a basement for what looks to be private parties and overflow for busy evenings). Give this location a try...hoping it is a keeper for Orange or a very long time! read more

Now, keep in mind, this was for a single lunch, by myself, but man was that sandwich good. The bread was baked on site (I assume and it was airy and not overly heavy, but solid enough to hold up. The whole thing was huge, I could have taken half home, but I was a piggy. he turkey was good and the cheese (I assume it was the cheese) added some saltiness which was ty. I paired it with a beer, so all in all, an excellent lunch. read more

Our first time here on Saturday 1/17. Wait was 30 mins and it went by fast. We didn't expect much from an eatery but our expectations exceeded. We got the calamari and it was delicious and lightly breaded. Then we got the Carbonara and it was so good. It was light and al dente and the guancile on top gave it a nice balance. The service was fast and our waitress was so nice. (I forgot her name, she was delightful) . We give this place an 8/10. read more

Let me start off by saying that the Tustin location is literally one of my favorite restaurants of all time. So I was so happy when a closer location opened up, but this was more disappointing than a 6 foot tall, muscular man who ends up being the size of my pinky. Service: Abysmal. Our server came to check on us a total of two times and we had to ask three separate people for forks, and any time we needed something we had to flag someone else down because she was nowhere to be found. Almost every single person here looked miserable, but to be honest if I had to be around this food, I would probably be miserable as well Food: I wish I could rate this lower than one star. Our Caesar salad had nothing but wilted, brown lettuce. It was so bad, that they had to take it back. Everything was extremely bland, and I literally was starting to think I had Covid because of how flavorless everything was. That is-- until I got to one specific pasta dish that was so salty, I couldn't even eat it. We also ordered a pork chop dish that took over 20 minutes to come out from the time everyone else got their pasta dishes. I find that completely unacceptable to have one person sitting there waiting for their food while everyone else is eating. Tried to give our server feedback on how displeased we were with everything and she still had the audacity to ask if we wanted to get dessert. I would rather take trigonometry again, than spend another dollar here. TLDR; this is the worst restaurant in the Orange Circle read more

I usually go to the Tustin location but I love the Orange circle and wanted to check out there new place out and see if it comparable to one another. The location was very nice and aesthetic. I came during early dinner and was able to be sat right away. The waiter that helped us out was very informative and friendly. He asked if we had been to the Tustin location and gave us some of he's favorite dishes. Ended up ordering a carbonara, funghi, and a ravioli. All the dishes were super tasty and great overall. My favorite was the carbonara but I also liked how all the dishes went well with one another. I was extremely full after this meal and all the orders were ordered in half size even though you could do a full if wanted. I would highly recommend this place and also recommend taking a stroll around the circle to not feel super full and sleepy. I love how they kept the vibe of the building while trying to make it cute and modern. Bring your family and try a couple dishes out. read more

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Had the lavanda latte and it was great! It was hard to find the spot since it is new but it is walking distance and will be back! read more

Centro - Cafes Near Me - Orange, California

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Unfortunately, my experience here, and previously at their Tustin location, has been disappointing at best. The service has consistently felt inattentive, prices are high and the overall atmosphere comes across as more focused on image than on the customer experience. It's frustrating because our local community has many restaurants that truly care about hospitality, food quality, and the people who support them. When you compare that with places like Pizza Irene, where service, stellar food and community connection are clearly a priority, the difference is noticeable. I hope the owners take feedback like this seriously and focus more on service and consistency vs. their elitist, inauthentic image. Yelpers, go for authenticy vs. the latest disingenuine "shiny object" in our community. read more

I have been waiting for this place to open for a while now and was very happy to try it at lunch today. The atmosphere was fantastic and the menu was such that I want to come back for more. Fantastic place to hit on a warm day. read more

Centro - They are open! - Cafes Near Me - Orange, California

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Amazing coffee & sexy baristas, what more can you ask for? Favorite neighborhood coffee shop! read more

Centro - Graham Cracker Latte - Cafes Near Me - Orange, California

High expectation, we traveled to Tustin to eat at the Centro there and always loved it. This new location in Orange did not disappoint! Beautifully built out and decor is detailed and gorgeously appointed. Best wood fired pizza and pastas authentic and so delicious. The basement is equally beautiful and outdoor patio is so cozy. Overall 5+, so enjoyed our meal and great attentive servers. Definitely a repeat for us.! read more

Since opening in Orange we have gone twice. We had originally gone to Tustin location (yummy & beautiful) and were so excited it opened in our circle! And it did not disappoint. We tried pasta's, the sandwiches (which were so authentic), and the pizza might be the best I've tried! They have mastered their dough! Each time we've had a wonderful waitress! So friendly. Centro makes me feel like I'm in Italy. read more

Centro - Sandwiches & Panini's on another level! - Cafes Near Me - Orange, California

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Daniella was delightful server and got us all the anchovies chili oils and cheese to accompany our delicious pizza w spice salame

Oh we got there was a Friday evening. It was a little crowded and it was about a 45 minute wait but I went by fast we had pizza it was delicious and then we had coffee afterwards. Absolutely go back again. read more

We tried the new location in Orange and love it. This place has the amazing pizza and pasta just like the one in Tustin.

Some of the best pizza I have ever had. The crust is amazing. The salame is my personal favorite, it's a tiny bit spicy. Honestly I prefer the lunch size portion that comes with the salad. read more

Centro - Salame Pizza - amazing! - Cafes Near Me - Orange, California

Went to the central in Orange two weeks ago with girlfriends. All the food was delicious. And the service staff was very attentive. Will definitely definitely go back back. read more

Finallyyyy! A spot in the circle that serves authentic Italian food worth having. I'm admittedly very picky about Italian food and had no notes on this dinner! Bruschetta, salad and rigatoni pasta were all excellent. Service was a bit off but I went within a week or so of them opening. Overall, thrilled Centro is here. read more

Heard great things about Centro Tustin and was walking by the Orange Circle, and saw that this location had opened up! My wife and I tried it last weekend, and some coworkers and I went there today. Great experience and great food! Wonderful, pasta, pizza, and tiramisu! Oh, and you have to try the pistachio latte! read more

Great Food! Service Great! Ambiance Great! We had pizza and salad and everything was really good! read more

Food and service is inconsistent. Staff is very green and have not gotten their rhythm and it shows badly. I have been a customer of centro in Tustin for years. I have never had a bad meal or service there. This review reflects on the two times I have been here since it opened last week. The food: the first time i Came here, I ordered the mushroom pizza , bread appetizer and salad. The food was amazing and was just as good as the Tustin location. no complaints and i recommended to all my friends and family. i came back a week after. ordered the same meal without the salad. the pizza was a bit burned , had very little marinara and was drowned in pepper. i was sadly disappointed. the kitchen staff is still green and has not learned the menu well enough to be consistent with the dishes. so prepare yourself because your dish will either be great or a big letdown. do not be afraid to send it back. its the best way for them to learn and get better. lastly, bring the food together at the same time. this is something that is very annoying,. half the party gets their food and the other half gets theirs half an hour later. looks bad for the restaurant. service: dinner service starts at 5pm. they have a cafe, so the door will be open. here lies the problem. they do not have a waiting list. it is first come first serve. so if you arrive at 5 they don't take your name down and a line will start forming. they will get a little overwhelmed and you will not get seated first. i saw it first hand. people that arrived early started getting upset. they need to fix this. once you are seated you get your water and menus and all is good. the waitress or waiter take a while to get to you but are very nice and attentive once they start taking your order. you'll get your appetizers, drinks and dinner in a regular manner for the most part. here is the problem i found. lack of communication. they will have someone bring your food to the table and that's ok, its standard. the issue is if you need another drink or something else, they tell you that they'll tell your waitress but they do not communicate with the waitress at all. so by the time your server returns you are done with the meal or it is cold. they need to work on their communication and timing and they will be amazing and flawless. the reason i give them 3 stars is because centro is an amazing brand and once the orange location gets their rhythm and fixes some of the issues i listed, they are going to be booming with 5 star reviews. for the meantime i will be going back to tustin and will come back in 6 months to see how they are doing. hopefully by then, they have all their issues resolved. read more

What a delightful spot! The coffee was rich and flavorful, the Italian dishes were fresh and authentic, and the gelato was incredibly creamy. The cozy atmosphere and friendly service made the entire experience enjoyable. I'll definitely be coming back. read more

Food was amazing ambience very nice and welcoming. The staff were so sweet. I highly recommend it. It tasted very authentic. Love that it's a family run business and they're all Italians. Their other restaurant Tustin is highly rated. read more

My family was looking forward to trying Centro mostly because we heard great things about the pizza. (We're originally from Brooklyn, so IYKYK). Sadly, we left mostly disappointed. The pizza did not arrive at our table hot and the crust was gummy, wet and undercooked. Maybe the pizza oven was not at temperature? Not sure, but also not my job to figure out. We ordered a margarita and capricciosa and the flavors were good, so I think there's potential if they can figure out how to serve them hot. The good: the arugula-limón salad was fresh and delicious, the atmosphere is cozy and we had a friendly server who achieved the perfect balance of attention and space. With so many other choices in OC, it's unlikely we'll return here, but we may try another location. read more

Ragu & vodka pastas dishes were bland with no flavor. Olive pasta with anchovy was very SALTY, no anchovy taste just salt, & pasta was soaked in a pool of oil. We had to cancel the pork chop because the group had finished eating. The service was subpar and inadequate. Had to flag her down for extra napkins and utensils. $4 for four small pieces of bread, 1/2 pasta portion was the size of a tea cup plate. It was an unpleasant dining experience. We were disappointed. read more

I would tell you how great the food is, how attentive the staff is and how often we have gone back but then you may go and make my wait longer. But honesty, the pizza if just fantastic and the a gelato, pretty great meal and very well priced read more

Yay!!!!!!! SO happy Centro finally opened on the Circle!! We have been going to Centro and Storico in Tustin for a while and was thrilled to find out they were coming to Orange. The best part is that the new Centro is a combination of the two so now I can get pizza AND their incredible homemade pasta in one place!!!!! Win WIN! It's honestly like eating in Italy - highly recommend! read more

Hosted party of 20 for lunch at two front tables. Savored each moment. Food and ambiance was fabulous. Entrees and desserts were loved by our whole party, that can't wait to go back. Workers are kind and friendly, Special thanks to Alessandro that greeted us in front and whole team that helped to accommodate us. Highly recommend this cool place for food, people and ambiance. read more