Beautiful view with patio seating (much more pleasant than noisy interior) but the food is not up to par. Wine ( pinot) bottle had been in a very cold refrigerator and even decanting did not get it to acceptable temp until about 30 minutes later. The tomatoes in the salads were cold, cold too! They must know that tomatoes never go inside a refrigerator. No, they don't know. The marinated mushrooms were good and - surprise - not cold. The pasta sauces (mostly tomato/cream) were bland, but the fish special was good. Pastas are not exceptional, and the server seemed rushed, skimping on the parmesan so I had to call him back. Dessert frozen sorbet again was iceberg cold, had to break up with a fork before I used spoon. read more

Simply Incredible! I decided to take the hour drive on a Sunday from LA to Newport just to try this spot, and OMG IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT! Just wow, started off with the lamb chops as an appetizer, squeeze the lemon and trust the process! Some of the best food I've had in SoCal! Shout out to the owner for making my experience so amazing! read more

Went in for a family dinner. This is my dad's favorite place for a parmigiana, both the chicken and veal. Most of the table got a parmigiana, with veggies or pasta. Veggies were cooked perfectly. Pasta sauce is so good. Mom got raviolis and the sauce was delicious. I got the ossobuco special and it was just ok. The sauce itself was very salty and the risotto it was served with, was hard. But everyone else loved their meals. The tiramisu is to die for! Same with the lemon cheesecake! Oh and the chocolate tart! The place was packed, not a single empty table in sight, yet we got seated right away. It was VERY LOUD. Impossible to carry a conversation even with the person in front of you, let alone someone a seat down. read more

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The outdoor space is amazing with gorgeous views, and the vibes are fantastic. Our server was super nice as well. Food is mediocre at best. Was excited to try the pignoli, but unfortunately it did not deliver. Just a mix of random flavors all in one dish that didn't really taste good. Prices are reasonable, but I wish food tasted more authentic. Might be back for a drink and views read more

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A nice spot right by the beach. Good for celebrations or when you are wanting a nicer meal. Pasta was great and so was the service!

At first glance, a warm and cozy restaurant with an inviting ambiance. Lots of tables with great conversations and staff smiling and setting the tone for an amazing evening. Marinated mushrooms as a light palate opener with bread served immediately is a great touch. Shrimp Scampi needs re-work. Pignoli pasta was zesty with chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, pesto, and pine nuts. Tiramisu was a success! A lovely evening with an amazing sunset and a full moon. Win-Win! read more

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When a restaurant is this crowded, it must be for a reason. We found this to be true of Modo Mio. Clearly a locals spot, and almost always busy. Great food, good drink, large outdoor dining option. A touch pricey but not out of line for Newport Beach! Will repeat read more

My family and I have been coming to Modo Mio for a few years now, and have always enjoyed the food and atmosphere. We have even brought our friends a few times, and their impression has been the same. The complimentary mushroom appetizer is the best! We have been served a few times by Blake, and he is such a great guy. I highly recommend Modo Mio for its food and the view. read more

Wow! If there's such a thing as a perfect meal my mom, wife and I had it here. We started off with cocktails. My wife and I split a Wall Oh-F (an Old-fashioned) and my mom had a Lavender Limondrop. Both cocktails were outstanding and generous. For an appetizer, we split a burrata with sliced tomatoes, arugula, red onions, and balsamic glaze. All the ingredients were first-rate, fresh and the burrata was creamy and rich. For the entrees, my mom ordered the Cartoccio, spaghetti pasta, large wild shrimp, mussels, clams, calamari, in a tomato broth. The ingredients were as fresh as can be and meshed together perfectly. It was also a really large portion. My wife ordered the orto, arborio rice simmered with lemon, carrots, zucchini, celery and asparagus. It was an amazing risotto dish with great ingredients and a perfect mixing of flavors. Also a big portion. I ordered the capellaci, "little hats", folded pasta sheets with ricotta and spinach and baked in a tomato cream sauce. Delicious! And a great size portion too. For dessert, we got tiramisu and cheesecake. Both were excellent. Our waitress was phenomenal: friendly, helpful, high energy. The restaurant decor was stylish and sedate in use of color and paintings. The ambiance was buzzy and electric: the way you would expect a great restaurant to make diners enthusiastic about their meals. Every table was full. Not a surprise given how great this restaurant is. read more

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Fantastic food, service and ambiance. We enjoyed everything we had as they were of the highest quality and excellent flavors. Would definitely recommend and return as a regular. The restaurant is busy and noisy nights and weekends but worth it so recommendations are a must. read more

We've been to Modo Mio and have always enjoyed the food and service. That was one of the reasons my wife chose it to celebrate her birthday. But on this occasion, everything was truly amazing. I wish I got the name of the server as he was particularly great, but all of the staff was extraordinary. Thank you for making her birthday extra special. We can't wait to come back. read more

Cozy lighting and seating. Great food & dessert. Nice staff. That mushroom served with bread was something new to me which I like very much. read more

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Modoooo mutha effinnn mioooo. Haven't been in a couple months so naturally I've been jones'in for some rustic Italian. But don't worry, I've been here a ton at least a bakers dozen times. Food is delectable and location is crystal cove so you can't really beat that. Used to go with Kobe back in the day to practice my Italian. RIP mamba. This place is essentially a 4 or 4.5 overall but what puts them over the edge is that Jake Pappas used to work there and added a certain degree of credibility and rizz to the establishment that has since persisted. cibo eccellente! entrami nella pancia!!! read more

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The food is very good! Make sure you make reservation or you will not be able to get in and get a table. The place is very small and the outside tables are first come first serve. read more

Modo Mio Rustic Italian Kitchen - Side salad - Italian Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Last night at Modo Mio with friends was another amazing experience at one of my favorite local Italian restaurants. As always, the food was excellent and the service even better. It all started with the hostess, Amber, who was so welcoming and came by our table more than once to make sure we were taken care of. And then there's my favorite server, Aldo, who always exceeds our expectations. He is kind, knowledgeable, and truly takes his time to care not just for us, but for every table around him. So professional and so genuine. You can feel how everyone works together as a team. So many smiling faces bringing food to our table, all moving in beautiful harmony. It was also my friends' first time at Modo Mio, and they were so happy and impressed with everything--from the food to the service and the warm atmosphere. Thank you to the owners, Phil and Brett, for always making sure we have the very best experience. There are so many restaurants to choose from, but we always come back to places where it's not just about great food, but the entire experience. Cheers and merry, merry!! read more

Great service, great food!! Never have had a disappointment! Love the ice cream deserts! Look forward to returning!! read more

I really enjoyed my experience at this restaurant! Would definitely come back. This restaurant is located in a small shopping center (other stores include Banana Republic, Williams Sonoma, and Fetneh Blake Concept, as well as many other eateries). It is within walking distance of Crystal Cove State Park. There is a pretty big parking lot but parking can be tough to find in the evening. My party of two arrived around 6:30 PM on a Saturday and we were immediately seated. You can also make a reservation if you want to be safe. The ambiance is fancy but not too fancy, which I thought was perfect. Service was good. Our waiter was friendly and attentive and provided great recommendations. Food was served very quickly. We were started off with complimentary bread and mushrooms. Before we were able to finish that, our dishes started to come out. For an appetizer, we got an apple and candied walnut salad (I don't know the name because it was recommended by our waiter). The kitchen was able to serve the salad on two plates so that my friend and I could share the salad. The kitchen was very, very generous with the candied walnuts. Perhaps a little too generous as the walnuts made up almost half of the salad, but I appreciate that they didn't skimp on it. The capellini checa, which was also recommended by our waiter, was sooo good and well-flavored. I highly recommend it! We added shrimp for $9 and were given six good-sized shrimps. Portion size was goods I ended up bringing home about a third of my plate. In short, I would definitely come back here. read more

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Thought this would be a cute little place to get some good Italian food. The food was just ok...but definitely not worth the price. The steak was not cooked as we requested and they did not have any accompaniments to enhance the steak either. Ordered 2 steaks with different temperatures but the server didn't know which was which. Also, we had to ask the serv for everything at least 2 times. I hate going to dinner and having to chase my server for basics like water. I would pass on this place unless you like being ignored. read more

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As my teen beautifully said "my taste buds are dancing "- both types of ravioli they had on a menu were magical, dessert very full of flavor. The place is well lovely, and service is immaculate. read more

A shopping center full of restaurants and shopping, we seems like lots of parking that fills up fast, and it you bring you'll pass right by this wonderful Italian Restaurant. Luckily, we joined some friends here for dinner and it was a fantastic experience. The restaurant is open with lots of light (made it kinda warm inside and almost needed to wear sunglasses) coming in. Service was quick, friendly, and we were checked on frequently. I really enjoyed my food. Chicken Parm that filled with plate. Perfectly cooked and moisture chicken smothered in marinara sauce with potatoes and veggies. Very satisfying! read more

Modo Mio Rustic Italian Kitchen - Chicken Parm - Italian Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Not fair for a jersey guy to review an Italian restaurant in California but I'll give it a shot. The food is fair at best. It is what we would get from a pizza/restaurant in Jersey. Soup was not good tasted like dish water, my friend and I split a chicken parmigiana and even though the portions were a decent size it was not very tasty. I guess the only option someone has to get real good Italian food it to take a plane to Jersey then fly back. read more

I'm obsessed. Our waiter was awesome. Sometimes my family can be a little picky and inattentive but he was so patient. And that's the BIGGEST skill in the service industry. Shoot I totally forgot his name. He seemed to be in his 40s and wears sunglasses hanging from his shirt. I came Monday night 11/17. Find him with my clues and give him a raise. We sat at the table on the right side of the restaurant as you walk in. At a 6 top table. side note: my brother and I wanted to start off with a ceaser salad and split it and they gave it to us on two separate plates. Little things like that make the dining experience extra special!! read more

Had a great dinner here the other night with my girlfriend. Great food and outdoor ambiance with perfect summer weather. Love their outdoor patio. Started with their mushroom and bread app which is different than just bread and butter. I like mushrooms so this was a cool change. Had a tart taste to it. Started with the Shrimp Scampi app. Delicious and very fresh and hot shrimp. I got the Bolognese Pasta which is considered their best dish. And it was. Very delicious and flavorful. One of the best Bolognese pastas I've ever had. GF got the Pesto Chicken with Penne and pine nuts. It was so so. Not our favorite. Not pesto or creamy enough. Kind of bland and dry. If it wasn't for the sun dried tomatoes it would have been totally flavorless. Don't recommend this one. The Tiramisu was bomb. One of the best we've had. And we eat Tiramisu every time we go eat Italian. Highly recommend this dessert! Service was excellent. The bussers, runners and our server were very attentive to all the tables of the patio. Dine on the patio of the weather is nice. Very relaxing and chill atmosphere. Their wine list is very good. Plenty of good selection of cocktails and drinks. I had a glass of Chianti. Simple and light. read more

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I came here for my first anniversary dinner with my partner, and it was lovely! My partner and I ordered the Modo Mio salad, capellini checca, cartoccio, and two glasses of wine recommended by the sommelier (Chianti and Barbera). They also offered a complimentary bread basket and mushrooms. Some people have complained about service in other reviews; I felt the service was perfect, not too fast or slow. Everything was delicious, and I appreciated the numerous clearly labeled options available for me as a vegetarian. We went on a Friday night so it was pretty loud inside, but they had spots available outside, and it was perfect. They have many heaters so it was very comfortable even without a jacket on. All in all, a successful anniversary dinner and I will happily come back for a future date night to try out more of the menu! read more

Another very rare Italian restaurant that I absolutely LOVE in OC! Obviously the location is hard to beat with the beautiful views off of Newport Coast (bonus points for sitting outside). But the food is also incredible! I've loved every pasta dish and their complimentary mushroom starter is just so refreshing and great (and this is coming from a former mushroom hater/current mushroom tolerant). It's good enough for me to willingly as for more! The staff are so cool, and the wine selection is great too, I love stopping by here when I'm in town. read more

Modo Mio Rustic Italian Kitchen - Italian Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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I always feel light and fulfilled leaving modo! I tend to modify my orders but, the Parmesan chicken, penne pasta, and the garlic sautéed veggies are my go to! Service is great. Everyone's extremely friendly. Ambiance is cute and romantic! Love coming here. read more

Modo Mio Rustic Italian Kitchen - Penne pasta, kutlet chicken, and side veggies - Italian Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Part of the Crystal Cove Promenade Modo Mio Rustic Italian Kitchen has gained popularity amongst locals for health-conscious Northern Italian cuisine made without the use of Butter or Cream, owner Gian Franco Bertolino having unfortunately failed the same concept in Pacific Palisades. Attended for a post-engagement dinner with fifteen guests, a lingering party delaying entry for several minutes, it was at a long table in the window that the party was seated to complimentary Bread and Mushrooms presented by an affable staff. Crowded but inviting, the sort of place it seems Real Housewives might dine at lunch, Appetizers and Entrees tread fairly basic terrain though prices seem quite fair for things like jumbo Shrimp Scampi or Lasagna featuring Housemade Pasta and convincing Bolognese Sauce. Less impressed by Short Rib Ragout, a lack of complexity despite tender Beef and the reported us of Burgundy Wine, better bites come from Penne with Chicken and Broccoli in Tomato-tinged Pesto plus Saturday-only Osso Bucco over creamy Risotto. Not offered a Dessert menu, the attendees of honor instead given three sweets on a platter that was passed around, none were particularly impressive though the Ricotta Cheesecake did match well to the remaining sips of a modernized Bees Knees. read more

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The service, food, and indoor seating were all fabulous! We had reservations for six on Friday evening. We were immediately seated and served water, bread, tasty mushrooms. We split two salads among us - spinach and Modo Mio; followed with shortrib ragout, bolognese, cioppino, and lasagna. Everything was seasoned and delicious. We will be back for more. read more

We just came back here 2 weeks ago for dinner. Foods is always good; however, service isn't as good as the previous time. We had to wait for 1 hour 18 minutes to get our food! We sat there and watched people that came after us ordered, got their foods, and finished their meals, and we still didn't receive ours. And there were only 4 of us. Waiter never came to let us know what happened nor apologized for the delay. He didn't even check on us while we were dining. So disappointed. I had the bouillabaisse (seafood stew) and that still the best in OC, in my opinion. They definitely did not skimp on the seafood. Hubby had the veal scalloppine. He loved it. Our guests had the lamb chops and chicken parmesan. They both liked their foods. Foods: 4-star. Bouillabaisse was good but my side dish, veggies & potatoes were not. Veggies were overcooked & potatoes were burnt and dry. Therefore, 4-star. Service: 2-star this last visit. Service: 5-star at previous visit. We should have requested the same server from the previous time. We saw her in the dining room. :( We will definitely request that particular server in the future. read more

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Phenomenal dinner and service. Tonight's appetizer special was out of this world good: smoked mozzarella, wrapped in Romain lettuce, then grilled and served over a bed of chopped tomatoes. If I knew how good this was I'd order it as my entree, too bad it's not a regular menu item. It was oh so delicious! For entree we ordered lamb chops with a side of pappardelle with alfredo pasta, and a lasagna. They were both really really good. The lamb was cooked to perfection. read more

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Service is outstanding. The food was great. I had the veal Parmesan and it took up the whole plate. It was the most tender piece of veal I have ever had at a restaurant. No kidding. The sauce is very tasty as well. If you are able, sit outside. Very impressed that they have Frank and Family wine on the menu. This is a real treat. read more

Everything is great about MM! The pressed tablecloths and napkins, the terrific and freshly printed wine and spirits list, and the bright clean inviting atmosphere. The cocktails are generous and expertly crafted. The food is wonderful, generous and very fairly priced, and the service is always friendly, professional and competent. The desserts are delicious. I can't think of anything I'd want different. This is a superb Italian restaurant. Just thinking about my favorite, vongole...spaghetti and clams, makes my mouth water. Don't think twice. This is a terrific spot! read more

We sat inside the venue which had a long bar area and several tables and our table was comfortable with space. We had 4 in our party. The atmosphere was very nice and homey. I would like to add though that the inside area was loud so be prepared to speak up during a conversation if you are with friends. The restaurant had outdoor seating with ample heaters -- even above each table so on a cool night with no breeze you'll be cozy. As for the food, I tried one of the specials: Oso Buco served on a layer of saffron infused risotto. The beef was juicy and tasty and the rice was a compliment --- very delicious and the fat content was enough for flavor but minimal enough so the meat was not fatty --- very good! My wife tried the Eggplant Parmigiana with a side of penne in pink sauce. She liked the dish, but had better parmigiana at other Italian restaurants. We would definitely try this restaurant again... in fact we'll be staying in the Crystal Cove Cottages in June and will be with friends so we'll be back soon! read more

The food was amazing, the atmosphere was great, and our server Blake went above and beyond for us. We were on my sister's bachelorette and I asked if he could write the word bride on the plate of whatever dessert we ordered. Blake said he's got it and brought out 6 special drinks for us to toast, his 3 favorite desserts for us to have and even an extra cheesecake cause my sister said it was her favorite. And did this all free of charge. I highly recommend this restaurant, this made my sister's night and it felt so personable. Thank you to Blake and Modo Mio for making it so special!! read more

Modo Mio has not failed us in over a decade; their consistent quality of food and service, and innovation, guarantee that we visit at least twice every time we're in the area. Their minestrone is easily the best I've had anywhere on the West Coast; their lasagna verdura defies belief - how can a vegetarian meal be THAT tasty? - and their veal in any form is just fantastic. And the drinks? A few years ago they even carried Octomore - I couldn't believe my eyes. A must-visit whenever you're in the area. read more

There's something timeless about a place that knows exactly who it is, and Modo Mio wears that confidence with grace. From the moment I walked in, the aroma of garlic, fresh herbs, and slow-simmered sauces wrapped around me like a warm Italian hug. The pasta? House-made perfection. The veal marsala? Melt-in-your-mouth magic. But the best surprise? Their bar team knows their tequila--especially AsomBroso. They stirred up a gorgeous cocktail that balanced our reposado with hints of citrus and herbs, pairing beautifully with the bold, rustic flavors of the food. Modo Mio doesn't just serve Italian--it serves hospitality, heart, and a dining experience you'll crave again the next day. A must-visit on the coast. -Rick read more

We brought our out of town guests to what use to be one of our favorite Italian restaurants. We made reservations to be seated specifically outside. When we arrived, they said it's going to be a long wait if we want outdoor seating. Advice to the restaurant, honor what you say otherwise you only turn off your regular patrons and they will go elsewhere. Since we were there already, we sat inside. The restaurant inside is SO LOUD (in a bad way). I can see why everyone wants to sit outside. Food, service and ambiance are all important for a wonderful dining experience. read more

Modo Mio Rustic Italian Kitchen - This is your seating policy. I specified "Outdoor Patio" on my rsvp but it wasn't honored. - Italian Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Early evening dinner on the patio. First time visit. The overall ambiance was perfect and the food was so fresh and tasty. I had the short ribs with pasta. Cooked to perfection. To top it off the best service. I checked out the indoor dining area as well and it was very charming. If you're in the Newport area check Modo Mio out. Great Italian food. You won't be disappointed!! read more

Food was fine Potion size was decent Service was ok Atmosphere was pleasant (no dress code) Nothing really tasted super incredible or blew me away. The free bread with complementary mushrooms was a nice touch. I wouldn't not go back but I'm not dreaming of my next dinner here either. Just an ok experience. read more

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The food was excellent. The portions were generous. The service was friendly, patient, pleasant, informative about the food. Ambience was a little loud. read more