Il Girasole never disappoints! The food is absolutely delicious, and the service is truly amazing. Every time I visit, the entire experience exceeds my expectations. This is definitely not my first time dining here, and it certainly won't be my last! The staff is attentive, welcoming, and genuinely makes you feel special. It's the kind of restaurant you want to return to again and again. I will definitely keep coming back and bringing more friends and family to enjoy this wonderful place. Highly recommend Il Girasole! read more

Il Girasole - Roasted Eggplant Octopus Salad - Italian Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Overall I sadly have to give Il Girasole a 2.5/5 While the food overall was good for the most part, some dishes were good while some dishes were bland which led to us feeling that the inconsistency of the dishes led to not a great dining experience Additionally, there was an unfortunate instance where our waiter was clearing some dishes and a waiter behind them bumped them causing both dishes to be broken on the table and broken glass landing into one of my friends plate with food still remaining and it had to be cleared. Even with that happening, no comps were offered AT ALL and I even had to ask at the end for the dish that my friend could not eat to be cleared off the bill (which it was). This left an extremely sour taste in our mouth given the expectation of the establishment and the cost of the dinner (over $800) Lastly, a different friend of mine seated on the opposite side of the circular table was bumped multiple times on the head by passing staff with no apologies. I can't give this place a good recommendation either this experience. read more

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Best high-end restaurant I've been to in OC. Easily on par with fine dining I've had in LA, SF, or NYC. The tasting menu is the way to go--so many unexpected dishes, and you can tell how much thought goes into each one. Even something as simple as the butter fettuccine was memorable. The staff were wonderful, and it was a great place to celebrate a birthday without the cheesy cake routine. Would definitely go back. read more

Il Girasole - Italian Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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What an amazing and super accommodating evening to celebrate a birthday dinner! The staff was super helpful and called me to follow up on my upcoming reservation and the staff greeted us with such grandor. The place is dim and has a lot of banksy theme decor. Really cool. Fabriozo was amazing and made the evening smooth and just a lot of fun tonight. We had the savory coquette, the summer salad, the short ribs , the eggplant and octopus appetizers followed by the amazing entrees: bone marrow lasagna, the duck confit pappardella, and the duck breast. Ended the night with Pavlova and cannoli. What a feast! Will definitely return ! read more

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I came to Il Girasole in Costa Mesa for an event hosted in their semi-private space out on the back enclosed patio, and it was a solid four-star experience! We got a whole bunch of appetizers and entrees to share for the table, and the food was very good across the board. The drinks were also delicious, I tried two of their specialty options (one mocktail and one regular cocktail), and both were really tasty and well-crafted. The desserts were to die for. On top of that, parking was super easy, which is always a huge plus. My only complaint was that the service was a bit slow at times throughout the event. To be fair, they might have just been slammed that evening, but it was noticeable. Overall, it's a wonderful spot with great food, tasty drinks, and a perfect space for a group gathering! read more

Il Girasole - Italian Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Took a friend here for her birthday! The restaurant has had some social media hype - and it surely lived up to the great reviews! From the carpaccio to the salads to the seafood pastas - all were delicious. The poached pear dessert with house made ice cream was delicious. Fantastic service. Classy space. read more

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Il Girasole recently appeared in Orange Coast Magazine as best restaurant in 2026. I celebrated my birthday here at this upscale Italian restaurant and from start to finish everything was so impressive. To start with the restaurant has Banksy artwork throughout, dark wood flooring and blue velvet upholstered chairs as well as a large patio seating option. Spanish octopus ($36) - The octopus here is prepared sous vide and was super tender and tasted amazing. It's served with mashed chick peas, garlic aioli, Romanesco, pickled peppers, and crispy sesame rice chips. Lemon taglierni ($24) - The pasta is made in house and was so fresh and had such a fragrant and strong lemon flavor. Filetto ($78) - I was looking forward to trying this dish as it consisted of 6 oz of prime filet with cacio e pepe raviolo on top all served on top of some sautéed Spinach and wild mushrooms. The beef was so tender, juicy, and flavorful and was prepared medium rare. Such a beautiful dish and the pasta was outstanding as well. Lasagna ossobuco ($48) - This lasagna was made with braised veal shank, saffron bechamel, salmoriglio sauce and bone marrow. Like all the dishes that I tried here, it was visually stunning and great melt in your mouth meaty flavoring. Birthday canolis - complimentary canolis were served for my birthday and the shell was crispy with a wonderful ricotta cream filling. Pavlova ($16) - From the dessert menu my group shared this which is also offered with berries instead of passion fruit. It consists of meringue on the bottom layer, with a vanilla mascarpone on top, followed by a passion fruit compote. It had a wonderful balance of sweetness and tanginess. Complimentary lemon cookies are provided to diners at the end of the meal and they were nice and light. Overall I was so impressed with all the dishes here. They were visually stunning and tasted just as good. When the server brought out each dish he explained a little about it and the ingredients incorporated in it. He did a wonderful job and I could tell he was passionate about each dish here. This was definitely one of the best Italian restaurants I have been to. read more

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Reservations can be made via OpenTable and they have easy access+ restrooms. There are references to banksy's art on the walls, menu, bathrooms. Food and Drinks: 3/5 Menu is very small and the vegetarian options are even more limited. As a vegetarian, my partner had 2 appetizer and 2 entree option. I'm not sure if there are any vegan options. Even the complimentary amuse bouche is either meat centric or vegetarian (with egg). I couldn't find a pescatarian or chicken dish that interested me in the mains (all over 50$) so i settled for the octopus appetizer. Dishes were decent or strictly ok. They looked beautiful but taste was lacking the wow factor that makes it worth $30-50. Where the spring salad was subpar and octopus chewy n non palatable, the pasta was decent. We liked their flour less chocolate cake a lot and were kindly given canolis on the house as a bday dessert. Drinks were not good. We asked to replace one and the pirata rum old fashioned and champagne cocktail were also not worth the $20+ tag. Service: 5/5 Exceptional. We loved Michael and he was so accommodating and checked in on us multiple times. Overall -3.5/5 read more

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Great addition to the OC Mix! We tried the tasting menu for about $180 a person! It came with 8 courses! The presentation is definitely impeccable and the flavors were amazing! Definitely not your average Italian restaurant! I really enjoyed their starter dish which was a different take on the caprese appetizer. I loved the dry aged tuna in coconut sauce, this was probably the best tuna I have ever had, it was so melt in your mouth good and the coconut sauce was extremely flavorful. The pea risotto and the rockfish with the asparagus was also really good! The rockfish was covered with fingerling potatoes and the potatoes were super crispy and went well with the moist fish! The next dish was the duck. I am not a huge duck person, it was a little tough but the flavor was really good. However the duck confit wrapped in cabbage was super good! The lamb was pretty tender! I really enjoyed the mushroom and artichoke that came with it! I loved the deconstructed lemon cheesecake! Just get it! There was also a filler dessert that was a chocolate truffle, cream puff, and a blackberry tart. This was all underwhelming. I did took off a star (I would give this place 4.5 stars!) because the food kind of took a while to come out and it the whole dinner took about 2 hours. I really appreciated the complimentary glass of wine for the wait! We also sat at the bar and it was a little unorganized with a bunch of stuff at the end of the bar, not a big deal but an eyesore for a really nice restaurant. Overall this place is really good and I would return to try more dishes! read more

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Live in LA and spent the night in OC for an event. Decided to go to Il Girasole for lunch on the way back and what an amazing find. The quality of their food and the overall experience is on par with the best Italian restaurants in LA. Every dish we had was unique and special. Spanish Octopus, their version of Cesar Salad and homemade Mezzi Paccheri pasta with guanciale. Excellent responsive service. Courses came out at a comfortable pace. Pretty dining room. I would make it a point to come here any time we are in OC. read more

Il Girasole - Veni, Vidi, Vici - Italian Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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The food is delicious. The service is super. The noise level is just right. We definitely recommend this restaurant to everyone. This is our first time, & all of my friends complimented my selection. They love the food & the great service. read more

I chose this place for my birthday celebration and I am so happy I did! The servers were super friendly and welcoming, and everything we ordered was delicious and beautifully presented Our server took the time to explain each dish and gave us some great recommendations, which we really enjoyed. Throughout the meal, they also surprised us with so many little treats, including a homemade tart, lemon cake, and a cannoli with a birthday candle We really enjoyed the whole dinner experience. Highly recommend this place for any type of celebration or a nice date night! read more

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Parking was easy to find since it's part of OC mix. I went on a weekday during happy hour and there was no wait. I would say the restaurant does seem to be on the smaller side so reservations might be recommended for weekends just to ensure a table. I sat at the bar and had a great experience! The staff were all very nice and talkative which I loved! I ordered the shrimp carpaccio (not part of happy hour) and I paid extra to add caviar with that and oh my goodness it was so delicious!!! I ordered the positano spritz which was part of their happy hour and that was nice, refreshing and paired well with the carpaccio. The carpaccio had a bunch of different components to it but it all went together so well! I would recommend! They also brought out a lemon cookie at the end which was super nice of them! I definitely want to come back to try out the other dishes and drinks here! read more

Il Girasole - Positano Spritz - Italian Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Had the most amazing dinner at Il Girasole for a business dinner and everything truly felt out of this world. We started with a few apps but the arancini and burrata both were absolute favorites and the perfect way to kick things off. I ordered the Filetto Cacio e Pepe and it was cooked perfectly, seriously so good I'm still thinking about it. The service was incredible too. I wish I could remember our waitress's name because she was such a doll and gave us the best recommendations all night. The vibe of the place is so cute and cozy and we may have gone a little overboard ordering every single dessert on the menu... but zero regrets because everything was delicious. The pear dessert was my personal favorite. Can't wait to come back next time I'm in LA/Anaheim area!!! read more

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The 4-Stars Goes To Overall Service!! My First Visit Was On February 8, 2026. The Restaurant Is In The Heart Of South Coast Collection (SOCO) And The OC Mix. I Believe The Restaurant Was Formerly 'The Tackle Box'. My Party & I Was Greeted From Beginning To End! Server Alberto Was Very Knowledgeable About The Menu & Attentive!! Pasta & Everything Was Made Fresh!! Was Offered Fresh Cannoli's For The Birthday Month! read more

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Really enjoyed it, great service, great food! can't say enough mid week service was amazing food exceptional read more

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Fun don't walk to this amazing spot! Honestly the best Italian food I've had in the longest time in one of the most beautiful settings. When you arrive, you are greeted warmly and given an option for inside or outside and we opted for inside which has a buzz and cool art work. Our server Fabricio was warm and welcoming and described the specials that sounded delicious. We shared several dishes including two salads and two pasta dishes. Each dish is a work of art that deserves its own frame. The flavors are fresh and rich and so wonderful. We were delighted with everything we chose. The owner visited our table and sent over after dinner limoncello along with some delicious lemon cookies All in all outstanding and can't wait to return read more

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Service was excellent at the bar during happy hour. However the food was below average. Pinsa was swimming in a pool of water and extremely unappetizing to eat The main problem is the inconsistent pricing on the menu and the bill. Tiramisu was $14 on the menu, but $16 on the bill I can't find an email on their website to contact, so here I am. I'm happy to update my review if someone from their team reaches out read more

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Located at SoCo in Costa Mesa is the perfect date night and girls' night destination. Surrounded by Banksy artwork and a love of Elvis above you, the food is a masterpiece. Full flavor, perfect portions, and pasta made in house - it's meant to leave a lasting impression. Quality service and strong drinks make it a refreshing summer destination. Sit indoors or outdoors, you'll get that coastal breeze that makes you want to stay longer and stay longer you should. Don't skip dessert or you'll regret it! And if you're lucky, say hello to Luca, whose impeccable service will make you want to order the whole menu. read more

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We chose Il Girasole for a celebration based on strong word-of-mouth recommendations, and while the ambiance and overall vibe were absolutely on point, the experience was mixed. Our server was the true highlight of the evening--warm, attentive, and spot-on with her suggestions. Unfortunately, most of the food arrived lukewarm at best, which took away from what could have been a standout night. We tasted broadly across the menu: the amuse-bouche was a pleasant surprise, the squid was easily the best bite of the evening, and the arancini was just okay. The Caesar salad lacked flavor entirely, and the pappardelle was a bit too al dente. The filet, however, was the clear star of the show. Three of us shared all the dishes and took very little home--not because we were blown away, but because the execution didn't quite match the price point. It's seemed as if they are trying to be something that they aren't or they simply just missed the mark. Get the basics down first, serve good tasting, hot food. For what we paid, there are other restaurants we'd be more inclined to try next time. Will I return? Nope. read more

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Il Girasole is a random hidden gem tucked in SOCO. My partner and I came in on a Tuesday with a friend and got seated in their heated outdoor patio. Super cozy, low-key vibe. Drinks were strong. Loved the lychee in the Positano cocktail. Food was solid. The octopus was soft and plump. Burrata with prosciutto and fig is a classic. The winter salad was a hit with my partner -- candied walnuts were toasted, not too sweet. Duck pappardelle was the star of the night for me. Rich, tender, and balanced. Duck breast was fine. Osso buco lasagna was surprisingly solid. For dessert, the flourless chocolate cake was decadent and addictive -- couldn't stop eating it. They also surprised me with birthday cannolis (pistachio and chocolate) and lemon cookies, which was a really kind touch. Even though we were the only party on the patio for a while, the staff was attentive and thoughtful the entire time. Never felt like an afterthought. read more

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Went here to celebrate my birthday... the restaurant has very nice ambiance and the food presentation is beautiful. Our server was very friendly and explained the menu to us. Their fresh bread was very good and the seafood are very fresh! However, their portions were on the smaller side... my 17 year old son was still hungry after dinner ! Their prices are on the more expensive side also... fyi read more

Fantastic food, ambience, service, beautiful presentation!We have been there twice for dinner and every dish from salads, appetizers, main dish, dessert(s), and cocktails is more delightful than the prior choice. The attention from owner Antonio is notable . The restaurant is pricey, and noisy, but worth every penny for the entire experience. Highly recommended‼ read more

Wow... how does this place not have a Michelin star?? But honestly, thank goodness it doesn't--because that means I can still come here without the hype (or the prices) hehe. Food, presentation, service, even the art on the walls--everything delivered. The chef surprised us with some free bites (always the way to my heart), and our server was the sweetest. Came here to celebrate my husband's birthday and we felt so loved. The steak and ravioli? Incredible--some of the best steak I've had. Seafood pasta was okay, probably wouldn't order again. But the Caesar salad presentation was jaw-dropping. And yes, they even sent out a free cannoli for the birthday boy! Prices are decent for Costa Mesa, leaning "special occasion," but worth it. Parking was easy and pleasant. Will definitely be back for another celebration soon. Also... I heard about this spot from ChatGPT, so shoutout to the algorithm for finding me this gem read more

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Impeccable service. Polished, yet warm dining space. I happened upon this place while doing interior shipping in the center. Really tasty cheese ball. I got the wait staff-recommended Duck Papperdella. It was just as hearty and filling as I needed on this dreary Costa Mesa November day. The actual composition of the dish is less like traditional pappardelle noodles with sauce (hence the name) and more like: a cheese and meat foundation with a bed of pasta baked around. The mushrooms were tasty and I enjoyed the crispy skin. The place across the way has a popular duck dish too so I was very very torn, but glad I chose this one. The host stand was terrifically positioned to lure me in. I will get the seafood pasta next time. More to come, but this one feels like a place where you can't go wrong with what you try. read more

Il Girasole - Cheese ball topped with Romanesco - Italian Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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We came here for a Saturday night date night and was excited to try the place with the amazing reviews. I will say that it didn't start off to a great impression as we were left sitting there for 10 minutes without a server even stopping by and then probably another 10 minutes before we even got a glass of water. We ordered the crudo, taglierini neri di mare, pappardella, and the dry aged steak option to share between the two of us. The meal started with a mushroom tart amuse bouche which burst with flavors in the small single bite which got us excited for the dishes to come. The crudo came out first and definitely a 5 star in presentation and flavor. The mains came out next and I can see why the duck pappardella is a favorite there with it almost being too pretty to eat. The pasta was perfectly al dente and the duck complimented each bite without it overpowering the dish. I had been most excited about the taglierini but it ended up being my least favorite with the noodles a bit bland and overcooked. The steak though was another well executed dish with the topped peppercorn and rooted vegetables underneath the well seasoned steak. Overall we enjoyed most of the dishes and loved the lemon cookies served at the end of the meal. Hopefully service was just off tonight but enough of an issue for us that I probably wouldn't go out of my way to come back in again. read more

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Last night my wife and friends visited this establishment. We were blessed to have Sabrina P. as our server. She had great suggestions and we had a winderful night. So smart and kind. The drinks were great! (old fashion and fooling no one) The ceasar, tomato and summer salads were deliciius. My friend had the duck Pappardella and raved about it (i tasted it and it was just delicious, so many grest ingredients...truly explosion in mouth) I loved my Gnocchi. My wife loved the Filetto and the Talierini Sea Urchin will be the dish I order next time because my other friend loved it and it looked great. I'll just show you the desserts. We Will be back!! read more

Il Girasole - Italian Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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We had such an amazing experience here. The food was incredible--not just the flavors, but the presentation too. Everything that came out looked beautiful and thoughtfully put together. Our server, Luca, was absolutely fantastic--attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely made us feel taken care of the entire time. I have celiac, and they went above and beyond to accommodate me. They even made me a vegan risotto that I don't think was on the menu, which I really appreciated. It's not easy to find places that are both flexible and safe, and they handled it perfectly. We truly loved everything and will definitely be back. read more

Il Girasole - Shrimp carpaccio and burrata - Italian Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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WOW what an absolute TREAT it was so celebrate our 2 year anniversary at il Girasole!! Definitely Michelin star worthy. The restaurant is beautiful and elegant featuring upscale modern Italian dining. Service was excellent throughout the night - very friendly and accommodating. Cocktails: Il Girasole cocktail was pretty and tasted great! 10/10 Positano (limoncello spritz) was light and refreshing 8/10. We started with the Arancini (fried Risotto and mozzarella balls) 10/10 the flavor was perfect each bite. Amuse-bouche was a nice little surprise to start you off and one of our favorites. Our entree's were on another level! The lasagna ossobucco was comforting and savory with each bite. It was a pretty big dish which I gladly took home. My husband ordered the Duck Papardelle, a masterpiece to look at and also one of the best pasta dishes he's had. Both earned 11/10. For dessert we ordered the Tiramisu and their take on an espresso martini which was incredibly delicious!! 10/10. They also brought over complimentary cannolis as an anniversary treat. We were delighted to meet the owner, Antonio towards the end of the night. You can tell he is very passionate about his craft and it shows throughout the menu and overall dining experience. We had the best time and were reminded of our time in Italy as we finished the night with tiramisu and limoncello shots. From start to finish, it was a pleasant experience and we can't wait to come back soon! Grazie!! read more

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Upon walking in we were greeted by Micheal who was waiting for us. We were seated at the round six top, which is a smack in the middle and has a lovely surrounding atmosphere. Chairs are very comfortable. I love the combination of all of the artwork on the walls, Banksy inspired and the lighting is very good. The overall energy is high and very inviting. We were promptly served still water. We brought our own bottle of of Dom champagne, had a toast, followed by wine and some cocktails. I ordered the Positano (as we are traveling there later in the summer), and it was very good. Sister and husband had the Aperol spritz and they also enjoyed them. I enjoyed the artichoke and fennel salad followed by especially prepared. Vegan risotto with veggies, a side of steamed spinach and potatoes. Flavor wasn't that outstanding, but the texture of the rice was very good. Everyone in my party seemed very happy with their food selection. For dessert we ordered a bunch of different things to try and it was delicious. Service was great. Vibe is good, I will definitely come back. Parking is super easy. It's nice to be an environment where everyone, including the team, seems to be very content and prideful in what they do. read more

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Got ignored by the waiter having a nice conversation. Last time, ill be there. Im sure yelp doesnt really post bad reveiews. People use to bad service I guess. Great marketing response. Was the servers birthday and you tried really hard. Customers fault. Seated at a table for when the restaurant was half empty. Glad you bent over. Probably good idea to let customers know which staff has a birthday or other event that day when they walk in. Don't recall asking anyone to be fired, just left but totally get it. read more

From the moment we walked in, this restaurant set the tone for an unforgettable evening. The ambience was absolutely beautiful--elegant without feeling stiff, with warm lighting, tasteful décor, and just the right balance of energy and intimacy. It felt like the kind of place where every detail had been thoughtfully considered. The atmosphere alone would be enough to recommend it, but it perfectly complemented the overall dining experience. Every dish was exquisitely prepared, with attention to detail in both presentation and flavor! This restaurant needs to be acknowledged with a Michelin star!!! read more

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Good food, but serving a $38 appetizer on a visibly chipped plate (photo attached) doesn't align with fine dining standards. The restaurant should pay attention to details like this though. For a fine dining restaurant, details like this do matter and slightly take away from the overall experience. read more

Il Girasole - Italian Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Came here on a whim for a nicer Italian dinner in Costa Mesa, and they didn't disappoint. Was able to get same night reservations at 8p about just an hour or so before; and only waited around 5 minutes for the table to get set up once we checked in. Aesthetic & Ambience : 8/10 outdoor patio is hit or miss since it's in a bit of a plaza it's interesting view. The indoor Dining area is nice and up upscale, definitely what you'd picture on the nicer side of Costa Mesa. The ambiance was anyone from dates to celebrations but the people and volume were at a decent volume. Service: 8.5/10 service was pretty good and timely, even making an accommodation to the gnocchi to add additional protein on the side. Il Girasole (drink): 8/10 pretty tasty overall, a little stout at first sip, but blends well with the lychee. Amuse-Bouche: 9/10 it was soft, yet crispy. Really had a nice cheesy and potato texture. Arancini: 6/10 I know it can be tricky with lemon not being overpowering or too citrus, but the taste of lemon was very light and the risotto inside came cold, as well as the mozzarella was still in cube form. Gnocchi: 9/10 honestly one of the better gnocchis I've had in SoCal. It was soft, creamy, and stuffed with garlic basil. It doesn't have a sauce, but the parmesan foam was a great substitute. Radiatori: 7.5/10 the pasta was a bit overcooked but the crispy Guanciale was amazing and I wish there was more of it within the dish. read more

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Solid Italian spot with easy parking (always a win). We started with the scallops crudo and pulpo. The pulpo was excellent, tender, flavorful, and well-prepared. The crudo was nicely dressed, though I wouldn't have minded it being a little simpler to let the scallops shine more. For mains, I had the scallops and asparagus risotto. The scallops were top quality, and the dish was overall delicious, though I would've liked a bit more asparagus. The risotto leaned al dente. My friend had the taglierini, which was very well made and came with a generous amount of seafood. Dessert was tiramisu, which had that perfect "Asian amount of sweet"....light, airy, not cloying, and a perfect whipped texture. Drinks: cocktails were excellent. I had the Antibiotico, which reminded me of a fruity-but-not-sweet old fashioned. My friend's Fooling No One was balanced and well done. We also tried a Pinot Noir, but it didn't stand out (can't remember the label). Overall, high quality food and drinks. Great vibe inside with very comfortable chairs. read more

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FOOD WAS AMAZING!! Parking was easy to find and it was located in a plaza. We ordered 5 dishes and we got the mushroom pantries for free. Service was amazing and our server was amazing. The lights are dimmed giving it a romantic feeling. Everything tasted really good but the grilled octopus and the Korea pear with ice cream dessert really stood out to me. Definitely coming back here again to try their other food. read more

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Made dinner reservations to try out the new restaurant and it did not disappoint. From their drinks to the food, everything is top notch. Service is fast and our server is from Italy and very knowledgeable. U didn't catch his name. Ambiance is great for date night as well as get together with family and friends. read more

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Came back for HH/dinner with my hubs and a friend last night to try the Mussels & Clams, Duck Pappardella and Lasagna Ossobucco while my friend ordered Culatello, Burrata & Figs. Every dish was outstanding and the presentation was impressive! The crispy skin on my duck was perfect. read more

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Our group came here to celebrate a friend's birthday. We had a very large group of 14 and our server was very accommodating. We were able to all sit together out in the patio. We all ordered a couple of drinks and had our own entrees. I got the Parpadella Ripiena, which was pasta stuffed with ricotta cheese and duck confit. The pasta was a little tough, but the duck and cheese inside was very tender. My fiance got the risotto, which came with seared scallops and asparagus. The presentation on the risotto was amazing! The scallops were cooked really well, but the risotto was a little undercooked. Service was a little slow, but our server was very nice. She even brought out complimentary canollis and cookies for our group at the end to celebrate our friend's birthday! read more

Il Girasole - Risotto - Italian Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Il Girasole is, without question, one of the most special dining experiences in Orange County right now. Both Chef/Owner Antonio Bevacqua and Chef Ralph Estrada are incredible. They've curated unforgettable experiences for me, my friends, and even my clients, from intimate dinners for two to larger groups of 10-12. It's rare to find a place that delivers so consistently across different group sizes and occasions. The menu is always fresh and evolving, and the quality, flavor, and presentation are truly next level. You genuinely cannot go wrong here. A few personal favorites (random order): * Spanish Octopus, perfectly cooked with layered texture and flavor * Radiatori with roasted tomato, crispy guanciale, pecorino fondue, basil, and aged balsamic, rich and incredibly satisfying * Gnocchi al Pesto, light, rich, and beautifully balanced * Mussels & Clams, vibrant and deeply satisfying * Culatello, Burrata & Figs, a perfect balance of savory and sweet * Caviar Bumps, a fun and elevated touch And don't skip dessert. The Pavlova is a must, and the Tiramisu is always a group favorite. Chef Antonio brings a beautiful blend of Tuscan roots and California seasonality, while Chef Ralph's precision and ingredient-driven approach elevate every dish. Together, it's a perfect balance of authenticity and innovation. Beyond the food, the hospitality stands out just as much. The team is gracious, attentive, and genuinely welcoming every single time. You feel taken care of without it ever feeling overdone. This place is a gem. Part of me wants to keep it that way... but they absolutely deserve the success that's coming. read more

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