Literally all the pasta my family tried was delicious. The penne's wine sauces weren't bad- It was my first time trying and I think it's worth trying if you like these type of sauces. My top 2 pastas were the carbonara and the California. It's a pretty busy location, but it's so cute and warm - they also have an outdoor patio and a window to watch the pasta being made. Finding the actual location based on Google maps was a bit difficult, but once you see some signs with its name try to follow them! read more

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They had a lot of seating, but if you don't have a reservation it's hard to get a table without a wait. For a table of 2 we walked in and had 1 party wait in front of us, which still took 30ish min to be seated. The outdoor seating is beautiful with the lighting, but the indoors was quaint as well. The waiters are extremely nice and sociable, makes you feel like family. Great spot for a date night! 5/5 Complimentary focaccia was soft and fluffy. They had different ones, like rosemary, plain, and the pizza. The pizza one was easily the best, especially if it just came out of the oven. You can definitely ask for more and they are happy to bring you some! 4/5 Melanzane parmigiana was a nice eggplant parm in a smaller appetizer form. Don't let the size fool you, it's pretty filling. I would have wished for a bit more sauce and the eggplant a bit more seasoned, but it was definitely a great dish. There were parts where the batter was a bit soggy. 4/5 Cappellacci Verdi alla Zucca was a solid dish. The butter and sage sauce was simple and allows the pasta to shine, with the squash not being too strong. I think if it was stronger in flavor, it might have shined a bit more. 5/5 Spaghetti al Pesto Genovese is easily the best dish. The pesto flavor was strong and seasoned well. If you come here, this is the one to get! 4/5 Creme Brulee was nice, great exterior with the right sweetness. Felt a little too firm on the inside as I would have wanted it softer, but nothing out of this world. Overall a really solid Italian spot that feels like a neighborhood gem. The complimentary focaccia and the pesto spaghetti alone are worth the visit. I would recommend making a reservation to skip the wait, but the ambiance and warm service make it a perfect date night spot. Looking forward to coming back and trying more of their pasta offerings! read more

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One of the nicer restaurants in Mendocino. Food is just ok though. Liked that they have homemade pasta (and you can see them making it). Our pasta didn't come out al dente unfortunately, but the flavors were good. If you get steak, order it medium rare. I asked for medium and it came out practically well done. Prices are reasonable here. They have a beautiful outdoor area in the back, but it was booked up by the time we made our reservations. Will try to check out that section next time. read more

Our food was so delicious! I HIGHLY recommend this place for dinner. We had such a great night at Luna Trattoria, and a huge part of that was Alesso. From the moment we sat down, he struck that rare balance of being warm, attentive, and genuinely present without ever hovering. He had a deep knowledge of the menu and guided us with real care, helping us choose dishes that ended up being some of the best we've had in a long time. You can tell he takes pride in what he's doing! He read the table perfectly, checked in at the right moments, and made the whole experience feel relaxed and special at the same time. He elevated an already beautiful meal into something we'll be talking about for a while. read more

Came to this place after seeing many people on Tiktok gave high ratings. I booked the dinner a couple of months beforehand as the restaurant is small and they get very busy during dinner time. I enjoy the cozy and warm atmosphere. The customer service was good as well. However, the Cioppino with linguini was really bland. I had to add extra salt and pepper for some taste. The "seafood" had a few shrimps, mussels, and a few baby clams. The steak was really salty on the other hand. My husband had to scrape off all the sauces to make it less salty. Besides the cute atmosphere and customer service, I would not recommend people to go here for the food. It was overhyped on Tiktok. On another note, Mendocino is so small and there are not that many restaurants there for us to choose. If people are in the area, they should go to Fort Bragg for better food choices, in my opinion. read more

Luna Trattoria - Italian Near Me - Mendocino, California

Had a beautiful meal here after a long day, the restaurant is so nice! Really enjoyed the spinach and cheese ravioli, and the potatoes and asparagus with my husband's chicken parm was very well done. Loved the focaccia in the table bread. 10/10 read more

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Cozy din This is a quaint little restaurant with cozy outdoor seatings. Plenty of heat lamps with cute lights. We tried the Tortelli al Funghi Porcini, which was delicious. Fresh pasta filled with the perfect ratio of savory mushrooms and cheese, topped with a smooth sauce. The Linguine alle Vongole would have been great too except it wasn't washed well and had sand in it...would avoid this one. We were celebrating a birthday and they threw in a complimentary tiramisu! read more

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We love everything about Luna - the decor, ambiance, service, and most importantly, the FOOD! So sorry for the lack of pictures dear readers, but with the food so visually appealing and delicious- who has time for photos?! We shared two appetizers- egg plant parmigiana, and polenta with house made meatballs- yum! Pair this with handmade tortellini with squash and a local red from Husch and voila I've done it! Oh and deserts- yes! Save room if you dare. Enjoy! read more

Luna Trattoria - Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Mendocino, California

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Stopped by for a hearty Italian meal and this spot delivers. It's mostly an outdoor restaurant but there's some indoor seating as well. We sat inside because we didn't want to be cold but their patio is super cute. The service was quick and all the waitresses were super sweet. My husband got the ribeye and prawns. The steak was cooked perfectly. I had the cioppino which was amazing. Loaded with so much delicious seafood and the broth was phenomenal. I couldn't stop sipping on it desire how full I was. read more

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Like a lot of places in Mendocino Luna Trattoria has a beautiful patio for outdoor dining. We came here for my Bday dinner even though we were still sort of full from lunch. I ordered the surf and turf 8oz flank steak with 3 grilled prawns and linguine $44. My wife had the acorn and butternut squash tortellini $26. My steak was exceptionally tender given the cut but could have used salt and pepper. The prawns were plump and delectable. The tortellini were flavorful. We got to select a free Bday dessert so I picked chocolate cheesecake which was decadently delicious. Lil Lucie ordered grilled chicken breast $6. When I was cutting Lucie's chicken breast I noticed about a 1/4 was undercooked and asked for it to be re-fired. They brought out a whole new chicken breast so Lucie was quite happy. Luna Trattoria's homemade pasta is perfect and this is a fantastic spot to enjoy a nice dinner. read more

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Amazing!!! Came here for the first time ever on our coastal road trip. Loved the ambience and vibe here the food is so good and fresh and decent portion and size. Didn't really have to wait at all and the service was nice. My only gripe was that the food took a while to come out but I think it's because it's fresh so it's ok. Overall my mom and I had a great time and would dine here again if we ever come back to this area (we live about 4 hours south). read more

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we started with the house bread, which was warm, crispy at the edges, and really good, a perfect way to begin the meal. the minestrone soupe was so comforting, rich, steaming, and full of flavor, with every spoonful feeling like a warm hug. for mains, the gnocchi with pesto was a standout, tender and coated in fragrant, fresh pesto, truly ultimate comfort food. the farfalle california was flavorful and satisfying, though the chicken was a little dry. prosecco added a nice sparkle, and dessert, both tiramisu and custard italiana, were smooth, rich, and a perfect sweet ending. our server was great, funny, thoughtful, and friendly, which made the evening even more enjoyable. we sat on the patio, with live music drifting through the air and twinkling lights overhead, creating a magical, cozy atmosphere that felt almost like italy. the combination of food, service, and ambiance made it a memorable night, and i would happily return for another evening like this. read more

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On a hungry night we went to try Lunas, but it was super busy and the wait was really long, so we got it to go. Man oh man, the food was out of this world. The spaghetti was a winner and the tiramisu was awesome. This is a must try in Mendocino, def make reservations. read more

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Our reservation was supposedly for inside dining because we were worried that it was going to be too cold outside. After seeing how pretty the outdoor area was and that they had heaters, they were able to accommodate us and get a table outdoors. The servers were nice and prompt. The carbonara was better than a lot of other places I've tried. The mousse didn't have a strong chocolate flavor, so if you don't like very sweet desserts, you'd enjoy this one. Overall, we liked everything we ordered and it was a nice surprise to experience live music on a week night! read more

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We came here for a nice dinner during our weekend in Mendocino. I definitely recommend making a reservation, as it seemed like they were fully booked for the night. Our meal started off with a high quality bread bowl with focaccia. We tried the spinach ravioli as well as the chicken dishes. My pasta was cooked perfectly and I loved the rich, cheesy filling. The chicken was savory, had a great garlic flavor, and came with a nice serving of veggies. Overall, a little pricey in my opinion but a great option for a nice dinner in Mendocino! read more

Luna Trattoria - Spinach ravioli and bolognese - Italian Near Me - Mendocino, California

Magical atmosphere & outdoor garden dining!! Ian & EACH person on our service team made us feel welcome & special! Absolutely dazzled us with warmth, care, attention for my mom for her bday dinner. Exceptional selection of fantastic dishes, passionately described by the owner. AND guitar & violin music!! read more

Luna Trattoria - Italian Near Me - Mendocino, California

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Came here without a reservation on Friday night and got lucky with a table at 5pm. They very quickly got full and busy and were understandably a bit slow to get to our table after being seated. We ordered the crochettes appetizer, steak with shrimp linguini and the tortellini. All dishes were really great and flavorful. Especially the linguini. That was the standout dish for us! Someone in another review mentioned not authentic Italian and I will say this is very much leaning more towards American Italian style and flavor. Which for me is ok. I enjoy both styles. I also ordered a glass of sauv blanc from PennyRoyal and really enjoyed it. On our way home, we realized the winery is in Boonsville as we we're passing it by and made a u-turn to go back and buy a bottle (plus more ) The ambiance is very kitschy inside but cute. The patio looked really nice but a bit too cold for us to sit there. Maybe next time during a summer day! read more

Everything about this visit was incredible - the ambiance, the wine selection, the food...and the dessert! But Ean was the icing on the cake. He helped accommodate my dairy restrictions, and was SO FUNNY. Our kids can't stop talking about this dinner and he has been named "the best server of our whole trip." No matter why you're going, it's a hit. But ask for Ean, and tip him in gold. read more

Tried somewhere new after visiting Mendocino a handful of times. Cozy indoor place with welcoming staff. Ordered some focaccia bread, Caesar salad, and the thin cut eggplant pasta to start. Salad was great but I thought the eggplant starter was a bit plain. Ordered the a ravioli and a special chicken parmigiana which has Italian ham, cheese and mushrooms on top. I was told the chicken dish was a favorite of the owner so I had to try it. Personally, it was just too much for me. Chocolate mousse was the star of the show. read more

This restaurant does not disappoint! From the beautiful walkway to the front door to a quaint dining experience. Such a gorgeous atmosphere. The wait staff were so friendly and made great suggestions for food and wine selections. This was our second time eating here and the food is outstanding! read more

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Uneven food quality, prices that are high for what's on offer and pushy, weird server. This place only gets positive reviews because there are no other Italian restaurants in the area. TBH it is quite mediocre. Avoid it - there are better places to eat in Mendocino. This is our second visit to Luna Trattoria. We made a reservation because there were eight of us. We had a special needs young adult in our group, and they suggested the upstairs seating which was quieter and worked very well. We ordered the appetizers Bruschetta Classica (good), Caprese Salad (mediocre), Polenta with mushrooms (very good), and the stuffed mushrooms Funghi Ripieni (just OK bordering mediocre). The bread they gave wasn't very good - actually rather bad. Even Olive Garden makes better bread. Couple people also got the Minestrone soup which was really bland and meh. It had potatoes and broccoli in it, and people weren't fans of the soup. There was no salt and pepper on the table, we had to ask for it. They just keep some powdered Parmesan on the table which looked pretty stale. Most people in our group were vegetarian. We got these entrees - spaghetti pomodoro but we requested to substitute penne for spaghetti for our special needs young adult, they were really nice and got that entree very quickly. The penne pasta was a hit. Not so much the lasagna vegetariana which was pretty bland. The fresh pasta dishes Capellaci verdi alla zucca, Tortelli Funghi Porcini, Gnocchi and Orecchioni were all very good. The Fettuccini Alfredo with Chicken was the standout dish. We were pretty full but we shared one creme brulee (Crema Romagnola) which the highlight of the meal. The check was $315 with tax. I gave a tip of $25 which I think was generous for the quality of the meal and the service. Our server actually had the gall to come back and said to me "We are graded based on the tip. Since you tipped below a certain percentage, it would be considered an F. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't a reflection on my service" She was trying to shame me into paying her a bigger tip in front of my guests, which felt very cringey to me. I told her it wasn't a reflection on her service. For this interaction alone I would give this restaurant one star or actually, zero stars! But given the hard work the chefs put in, I am giving three stars. This restaurant used to be better. read more

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If you want to eat here make sure to have a reservation before hand. Mendocino has no restaurants so there's always a wait. The food was decent, maybe the experience would have been different if we had dined in. The clam pasta could have been more garlic/salt flavor read more

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Food is ok. We ordered spaghetti alle vongole, calamari, cannoli and lasagna to go. They were very busy and I don't understand bec food was just average to me. The hostess did her best to take care of the customers as there was a line to the check in area. I made reservations but never heard from them despite me following up. Turns out, they did make my reservations but I never got a confirmation. I will definitely not coma back here but head to Fort Bragg for a more tasty spaghetti alle vongole. BTW, don't bother ordering the salad. Looks like it was just mixed greens from the grocery store. The only reedemable part of the salad was the tasty vinaigrette dressing. Street parking. read more

Luna Trattoria - Italian Near Me - Mendocino, California

Came here to celebrate my wife's birthday and after seeing all the great reviews about this restaurant, I decided this was the place! We came in with reservation already booked the temperature inside was a bit warm, we asked if we could relocate outside but we're told that all those seats were booked. No biggie. Our server came and gave us the menu and told us to stand the menu up when we were ready and he walked away. Ilwe had questions but couldn't get a hold of our server so, I stood the menu up and poof he arrived. I asked him some questions about wine parring and menu items and he just had an annoyed attitude and look towards us. He never checked on us and we received the most help and service from the employees who were busing the tables. I couldn't even tell you if the food we ordered (carbonara and steak with shrimp) we're good because of the service received. We couldn't order anymore drinks because our waiter never came back to check in on us. As we ate our meal we seen him be friendly to other people dining and helping them with wine selections. We finally got his attention for the bill and he was really speedy when it came to that. I have never felt so unwelcomed at a restaurant. read more

Luna Trattoria - Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Mendocino, California

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The atmosphere was beautiful. You eat in a lovely garden with nice lighting and live music. It doesn't get much better. The food and service were also really good. We had Calamari Fritti as an appetizer. It was tender, crispy, well seasoned and served with a really tasty cocktail sauce. For our entree, we both ordered Linguine alle Vongole. Lots of baby clams in a rich garlicky sauce. Delicious! We had to try dessert too. We ordered Semifreddo alla Zabaione and Crema Romagnola. We enjoyed both with Americana coffees. We would love to go here again. read more

Since dining options in Mendocino are somewhat limited, it's easy to see why Luna Trattoria has earned such high ratings for Italian cuisine in the area. For takeout, we ordered the spaghetti al pesto Genovese, penne al salmone, and fried calamari as an appetizer. The calamari lacked seasoning, and while it was my first time having spaghetti with pesto at a restaurant, I found it a bit plain--though I still finished it. The penne al salmone was the standout dish, thanks to its rich and creamy pink sauce. Because the restaurant was busy on a Friday night and only outdoor seating was available, we didn't get much of a feel for the ambiance. However, I did enjoy the charming walkway with string lights leading to the entrance. Service was efficient--our online order was ready on time, just as they had promised over the phone. I'd be interested in dining inside next time to explore more of the menu--just probably not the calamari. read more

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Luna Trattoria holds a special place in my heart since this is where I celebrated my anniversary. It was a plus that we could bring our pup with us to dinner too! I made a reservation through text which was super easy and came on a Thursday at 7 pm. We were seated outside and it was really cute. They even had a live singer there. Right when we sat the waiter brought out water for our dog. He was super knowledgeable and friendly too! For appetizers we ordered calamari fritti which was a great amount of crispy and chewiness. The marinara sauce was different from what we've had before and we really enjoyed it. You also get complimentary bread which was light and fluffy! You get two different types too. I believe one is just plain and the other is a cheese tomato one! For our pastas, my boyfriend ordered the spaghetti carbonara and I got the orecchioni with meat sauce. Oh my goodness, the pastas were so good. It was the best carbonara my boyfriend has had and it was the real deal. I really enjoyed my pasta too! It was the perfect amount of creaminess in the ravioli and the meat sauce was perfect. I'm always a red over a white sauce and I felt like with this dish a got a little of both. For dessert we shared a custard italiana with mixed berries. Something light and sweet! Overall, I highly recommend and would love to come here again! You can tell this is a loved restaurant as it was packed inside and outside on a weekday. read more

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Amazing authentic Italian food. The pastas here immediately reminded us of the pastas we had in Italy last year. I highly recommend for anyone looking for charming and authentic Italian cuisine in the area. We made a reservation for patio dining. It was outdoors and well decorated with string lights. We were hoping to have live music but they didn't have it that night (Sunday). They had plenty of heat lamps so it wasn't cold. Service was very attentive and friendly. They give complimentary bread with focaccia and some kind of pizza bread which was so good that we asked for another bowl of bread and they happily obliged. Carbonara: absolutely amazing. It was so similar to the one we had in Rome. I highly recommend this. Perfect flavor with plenty of meat, rich but not overly creamy, gooey and saucey with al dente noodles. It's not common to find a place that does carbonara right but they sure do! Penne alla vodka: the perfect red sauce balance to the carbonara. Very saucy and served with al dente noodles. I loved the flavor. We wiped our plates clean of sauce with the bread they provided and left utterly stuffed. read more

Luna Trattoria - Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Mendocino, California

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Great service and great food. Everything we ordered was delicious. Service was friendly and the food arrived quickly. Don't skip dessert. They were delicious! The ambiance was charming ( we sat outside) and the young lady singing was wonderful. read more

Highly recommend making reservations, the restaurant is always full. We made a reservation for garden seating and the place was beautifully decorated with heaters beside every table. Calamari - absolutely love it, very light batter with fresh calamari and delicious cocktail sauce Portobello mushroom salad - mushrooms grilled to perfection, paired with miso based sauce, a refreshing salad Linguine alle vongole - my favorite dish, clams linguine in garlicky sauce, the dish is so simple yet tastes rich and fresh, must try Carbonara - the pasta is very creamy and rich, almost too heavy that I wish there was some acidity to balance the fat read more

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Our hosts at the Headlands Inn B&B highly recommended dining at Luna Trattoria, which was the perfect choice for our final night in Mendocino. Everything was "Buonissimo!" TIP: If possible, make reservations a few days in advance... or, if you're like us, grab a seat at the bar where walk-in's are welcome. read more

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Luna Trattoria is magical! The food is outstanding, the setting is gorgeous, especially on the patio, and especially as the early evening turns to dusk, and then dark, with all the beautiful patio lighting Luna has! To add to the magic, they have live music most evenings on the patio. Our server, Allesio, was excellent, offered great recommendations, and made the evening more fun with his hilarious sense of humor. Luna owner Massimo Melani checked on us several times during the evening, when he ventured out of the kitchen where he was part of the team creating food magic. I had the Gamberoni alla Griglia (Grilled Prawns served with Linguine pasta in a fresh chopped tomato sauce, garlic, parsley and olive oil) - and it was truly a work of art, and absolutely orgasmic! The prawns were grilled perfectly, and the pasta (I opted for the gluten-free fusilli) and sauce were over-the-moon delicious. (You can see I'm running out of superlative adjectives to describe Luna). Others at our table had: - Butternut Squash Tortellini (OMG - fantastic) - Lasagna (wow!! wow!!), and - Spaghetti al Pesto Genovese (Fresh basil, garlic, pecorino and parmesan cheese and extra virgin olive oil) - so freakin' great! We can't wait to go back to Luna Trattoria for another magical dinner & evening!! read more

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If you've had real Italian food, I would not recommend eating here. The pasta is overcooked, and the sauces are not authentic. The Caesar salad was ice cold, with dressing clumped in and only partially mixed. Cheap, flavorless Parmesan. Great location, it could be charming, but unfortunately it's not. If you like incredibly random, kitschy décor -- cats, clowns, Venetian masks -- you might enjoy the ambiance. I'm not a fan of restaurants that use plastic Formica tables. read more

Outstanding food and outstanding service. I ate the insalata mista, lasagna bolognese and semifreddo and they were all super delicious. The lasagna noodles and bolognese sauce were handmade and it melted in my mouth. The inside atmosphere was cozy with great decorations everywhere. I highly recommend you check this place out. read more

What I loved: -Beautiful walkway leading to the restaurant -They accommodated a last minute, same day 5pm reservation -Food was great - salad was fresh, bread was delicious, potato appetizer was soooo good, loved the mushroom pasta entree and chicken Parmesan, and tiramisu for dessert. -Service and food was fast What I wasn't fond of: -Server said they were expecting a large party at 7pm, and it was clear that we were being rushed through our dining. Our appetizers were boxed before we were done with them, bill was brought out with dessert, etc. When the dining is $125, I'd expect a better experience. -We weren't asked if we were there for a special occasion (it was my date's bday) unlike what other Yelpers mentioned. -Eccentric decor, but others may find it charming. What I recommend: -Based on other Yelpers - DO MAKE A RESERVATION by phone -Walk in times were advised to be after 8pm read more

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Luna trattoria was highly recommended to us by someone that used to lived in the area. We were celebrating a birthday. Beautiful atmosphere and wonderful service. We dine outside and got seated in a romantic corner setting. Beautiful garden. The entrance to the restaurant is a path with overgrown trees and vines. Service was amazing and so was the food. The server she was amazing and made us feel welcome and special. Authentic Italian food. Definitely coming back. I definitely recommend. Until next time. Chao! read more

Food was amazing, sitting was a little crowded but worth it. Service was great, it's a real busy restaurant, so take that in consideration and try to book ahead will work better and have availability. Thankfully the waitresses had to wait a few but sat us at the bar. It was our honeymoon so I'm reallly glad we got in without reservations. Bad on our part. But food was amazing. The bread and oils was very good. Restaurant atmosphere was nice, somewhat intimate, lots of cool lights little light running down the windows and in general railings etc. I'll try to get a pic was very nice and well worth it. I hope this has been helpful, if you in the area it's a must dine in. Oh and there is no dress code it's pretty much casual or semi dressy. read more

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Luna Trattoria is nestled away off the Downtown Mendocino road. This is the go-to Italian food spot in town. We didn't have a reservation so we called ahead to see if they were busy. They said they had a seat at the bar open so we were delighted. Upon arrival, half the inside tables were empty and they still sat us at the bar. No one mans the bar so we were serviced by staff passing by. Thankfully, we only popped in for a small bite and weren't expecting much. We ordered the Penne Alla Vodka which was a good portion for two. The dish was good, not great. Overall, this spot gets the job done for a simple Italian craving fix but isn't anything to think about for days to come. read more

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It's all about the linguini alla vongole! I had my heart set on this before we walked through the door. A generous amount of clams mixed with perfectly al dente linguini: this was a lighter pasta dish that hit the spot. I also loved the two types of complimentary foccacia: cheesy tomato and rosemary. Delish! We also got the house made tortellini fungi porcini which is a mushroom lover's dream. It was good, but nothing compared to that linguini alla vongole. Stuffed, we ordered the cannoli to go to enjoy later. OK as well. Make sure you call and make rezzies in advance! I called a few days before for a Saturday and was able to score a table for two at 5:30pm inside only. When we got there, the walk-in couple in front of us was turned away and there was a sign stating the next reservation was for Tuesday! A bit disappointed my fiance's 50th was not acknowledged even though I said something when making the reservation. 3.5 stars rounded up. read more

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This place is wonderful! I absolutely loved everything about Luna Trattoria. Food , Service , Live Music All of it was an incredible experience. Our server was the BEST ! Thank you Luna Trattoria for the best of everything to bring in my new journey around the sun read more

Luna Trattoria - Linguine and clams - Italian Near Me - Mendocino, California

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