Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Monaco Italian Kitchen

    4.1 (123 reviews)

    Order Monaco Italian Kitchen Takeout or Delivery

    Monaco Italian Kitchen Photos

    MONACO ITALIAN KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Romantic
    Happy hour specials
    Dogs allowed

    You might also consider

    More like Monaco Italian Kitchen

    Recommended Reviews - Monaco Italian Kitchen

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Mimi P.

    Food was good ! Ordered the lamb bolognese and octopus. service was lacking, very disappointed. Might try again and hope for better service. We ordered a 100+ bottle of red wine and it came out ice refrigerated cold ! We had to warm it up with the napkins and our hands. Server just shrugged it off.

    Lisa K.

    This place is literally my favorite Italian place I've been to in Irvine. Every time I go here, I leave so happy because the food is fresh and tasty. Their happy hour is my absolute favorite. Delicious cocktails, a huge salad, and pizza with fresh ingredients. The Diavola Pizza was a bit spicier than I anticipated but easy fix by just picking off all the red chilis. Wasn't sure if I was going to like the Caesar salad but the dressing was light and the amount of cheese on top was excellent. The bartenders are super friendly here and I love the indoor/outdoor seating. The interior walls and decor are modern and calming as well. If you want to watch sports, there's some TVs at the bar area for you but no sound.

    Monaco Burger
    Sophia D.

    Cute place tucked next to other restaurants and kind of under a parking structure when you walk through the entrance. We are always greeted when walking in and have been regulars here on Mondays. Ellie is our girl that always helps us and has remembered our orders haha I have tried a few varieties of food items here but my go to will always be the burger. Everything else I have tried, I thought was okay. The burger is good and I enjoy what it comes with, see the picture. The garlic truffle fries are delicious and I like that they are thin and crispy. Like that there are two dipping sauce for the fries as I'm not a ketchup girl so the aioli is perfect. Overall food is decent and will recommend the burger!

    Hugo Spritz and Cannoli Old Fashioned
    Megan O.

    Wow Monaco is top tier! The inside is such a cool vibe. Beautiful, clean, and not loud. They also validate parking! Our waiter, Levi, was amazingggg. He was so sweet and helpful :) He answered all of our questions, made sure to continuously check-in with us, and made us feel so welcomed. I would absolutely come back based on the service alone! The food and drinks were so delicious. We ordered pizza, pasta, and drinks and were not disappointed. The food also came out quickly which was also very nice :) The only thing was that I ordered the cannoli old fashioned and it didn't taste any different than a regular old fashioned. But even then, the drinks were great and beautiful :)

    Caesar Salad
    Gina N.

    This place looks better in person. I don't think the photos do it justice. It also doesn't seem to get crowded so you'll be fine without a reservation. You can get your parking validated. The pasta is handmade here. The pasta has a little kick but it's not spicy. You can get an espresso martini here but if you want fresh espresso it will be an extra $8. I had a great time celebrating my birthday here. They didn't give me a free dessert but they brought a candle out with my tiramisu. The service was great. The server was very attentive and nice.

    Half Caesar Salad
    Howie C.

    Has potential but there were some puzzling misses here. Monaco has a great location with wall that opens up to become a dining patio facing the street. The problem on the night I went was that it was fully open on a December evening without heaters on in the restaurant. At 56 degrees outside and everyone inside with their puffy jackets on, that is not a preferable dining experience. Half Caesar Salad - I was appreciative that there was an option to get half Caesar for $9 instead of the full for $16 since it was only me dining. The romaine lettuce was fresh, the croutons light and airy. The dressing lacked zest and bite (more like a ranch with a touch of caesar flavor) and the diced pancetta chunks didn't work. The preserved ham was chunky and hard, like having cut beef jerky in your salad. It would have worked better without the pancetta or with thin sliced, grilled prosciutto pieces instead. Diavola Pizza - This was tasty as the san marzano tomato sauce, spicy calabrese and black olives worked well. The crust was okay. It was like a cross between NY and Neapolitan pizza, but the crust wasn't bubbly enough on the edges to be a fully neapolitan. This brought out with a pizza stand on a metal pizza pan... But I never received a plate. So I started on my first slice eating over the bar top counter hoping a plate would be brought out but that never happened. Then I tried eating it over the flat pizza pan, but it being on the stand made it too high to comfortably eat. I figured out a solution... After the pizza pan cooled, I took it off the rack and just had that as my plate flat on the table vs. suspended on the rack. The food here is okay, but given the issues mentioned above, it all makes for an awkward dining experience. This is the first time I've had pizza at a restaurant without a plate. Even providing a paper plate like at local pizza joints that T-ballers mob would have been acceptable. There was no one really around to ask for a plate, by the time I could've asked, the pizza would have been fully cold. My server and the seating host were both nice, no issues there, but overall Monaco needs to tighten up some operational things to make this an at least average experience for diners. They do validate for parking for two hours if you dine here.

    Willie L.

    Stopped by for lunch, since it was nearby the office. The restaurant was clean with simple decor. We have ordered several items to try out. The staff was attentive constantly checking if we needed anything. Beef tartare was tasty. Nicely spiced to spread over the bread. There was a hint of spiciness in the tartare. Chicken Cacio e Pepe had grilled chicken that wasn't too dry, but the over all noodles were a bit drier than I'd preferred. And Lamb Bolognese sauce was flavorful, but a few bites of the pasta was undercooked. Overall the flavor was good for a lunch service.

    @coffeeshopsofoc on insta  for more reviews
    Destinee M.

    Monaco in Irvine was such a solid dinner spot. We ordered a little bit of everything and every dish hit. The prosciutto pizza with honey was the standout for me. The sweet and savory combo worked perfectly and the crust was done just right. The pepperoni pizza had a slight kick to it which made it more interesting than your usual classic slice. We also started with the grilled octopus appetizer and it was tender and flavorful, not chewy at all. For an entrée, the chicken Alfredo came with thick noodles and a rich, creamy sauce that felt really comforting and filling. To finish off the meal we shared the tiramisu and it was light, balanced, and a great way to end the night. Overall, everything we tried was well executed and satisfying. Monaco is a great option if you're looking for Italian food in Irvine that feels elevated but still approachable. I'd definitely come back

    Christian G.

    Came here for Happy Hour Drinks and the whole restaurant was empty. There's plenty of seating like restaurant seating, bar seating, and outdoor patio seating. We opted for the patio and the booths were big and comfortable. Our bartender/waitress was nice and helpful. Only downside was I asked her for well drinks and she told me to choose which, we did but a lot of them were charged as specialty drinks, wish she would have told me they were specialty and not well drinks before I ordered.

    Napoleon pizza w Caesar Salad
    Tricia S.

    Enjoyed happy hour with a coworker on a Thursday afternoon. Espresso martini was fantastic to start the evening - sweet and flavorful! I didn't expect the napoleon pizza (can't remember the name but it had prosciutto, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, olives, and arugula) ... it came out looking like a sandwich, tasting like a pizza! I enjoyed the salty flavor of the prosciutto and all the fresh veggies. The Honey Cesar salad was a perfect pair with the "pizza". Great atmosphere where the outdoor seating was connected to the indoor, perfect evening! They validate parking up to 2 hours and there was lots of restaurant parking in the garage.

    Prosciutto Pizza
    Serapina C.

    Discovered that there was a new Italian spot in OC so I had to check it out and try their menu! First off, the inside is very nice, clean, and modern chic, and the entrance is right next to the parking lot and Goldfinch/Izakaya Osen. My friend and I got the prosciutto pizza and the canestri all-amatricana, which was like a tomato sauce pasta with bits of pork/pancetta (?). The pizza dough was nice and fluffy, and I like the prosciutto x honey x arugula combo - imo I think the pizza could use more honey as it wasn't as prominent and the prosciutto was overpowering the flavors because it was so salty. Similarly, the pasta itself was decent but was on the saltier side from the pork and I personally think it could greatly benefit from incorporating other seasonings/herbs to enhance the sauce as it is a simple tomato base, but that's more so my opinion as someone who's not a chef. Overall, I genuinely think adding less salt dishes can definitely improve them as otherwise it was a good meal and the service was super nice as well. Would love to check out their other pizzas/pastas though + their brunch menu as I'm sure there are other hidden gems to try out!

    Arancini
    Anh D.

    Love this place already. I came at the tail end of happy hour and got Arancini and Meatballs from the Antipasti menu. Both were superb, so flavorful and so juicy (the meatballs!). We also got Cacio e Pepe with a side of prawns (came on a nice bed of greens). I really appreciate how our server kept our waters full, staff such as busser and manager checking in, and being so detailed (eg. when serving dessert, the server put down a napkin folded in a triangular shape to show off the name of the restaurant). The restaurant itself is gorgeous and they have some TVs and complimentary valet parking (depending on hours) and/or validated parking.

    Spaghetti alle vongole x2 and Cacio e Pepe with chicken
    Stephanie S.

    This place needs to be more popular! I've been here 3x in one month LOL it's a fairly new restaurant in Irvine and I love the vibe. The restaurant is cozy and intimate . I've been here for happy hour and dinner, the drinks and food are so delicious. Drinks: Espresso martini White lotus Hugo spritz Il Dulce All their cocktails are absolutely amazing, but i would have to say the Hugo spritz is my favorite. It's refreshing and I love how they add yuzu to it. Food: Prosciutto pizza Focaccia Spaghetti alle vongole I would order everything again! The focaccia is baked to perfection, the rosemary and the garlic butter compliments the bread very well. The prosciutto pizza is my favorite. The honey drizzle on the pizza adds the perfect touch. I love the clam pasta - generous portions of clams and flavorful. If you're looking for a happy hour spot or dinner date, you have to try Monaco. They validate parking for 2 hours and service is very friendly. I can't wait to go back!

    See all

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of K C.
    129
    22
    1

    6 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mimi P.
    570
    836
    9349

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    6 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 2
    Love this 6
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Howie C.
    1153
    916
    6129

    8 months ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Tony M.

    Tony M.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Tony M.

    Tony M.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jessica W.
    2241
    1163
    13486

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 132
    Thanks 69
    Love this 131
    Oh no 8

    4 months ago

    The food was delicious. The service was so good. Ellie was amazing. It's such a chill vibe there. I'll definitely be back.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Miguel R.
    4
    145
    338

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dean R.
    1
    15
    12

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Tony M.

    Tony M.

    Thank you for the great review! Look forward to seeing you again soon!

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 4
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Tony M.

    Tony M.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Ryan T.
    886
    391
    12475

    1 year ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 1

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sokha B.
    0
    235
    652

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Monaco Italian Kitchen

    Do they have happy hour?

    Yes they do!!

    Do they have fries or roasted potatoes?

    They have crispy potatoes, not sure about fries. I didn't see any on the menu.

    What's the parking situation?

    They validate parking at the parking garage attached to the restaurant.

    Do u have private room for 30 guest?

    I did not see a private room inside, although there is an outside area that can accommodate quite a number of people

    View All 5 Questions

    You might also consider

    Cozy Pine

    Cozy Pine

    4.0
    (317 reviews)
    4.7 mi

    This place is located inside a gorgeous shopping center in Irvine…read more It's located inside, Bacchus Bar and Bistro. Which, was extremely crowded. They have tons of parking in this shopping center. They share it with TONS of other places. One of my BFFs saw this on an Instagram video and wanted to check it out. *They do take reservations When we came in we checked in with one of the waitresses. She said she would seat us in a minute. To be honest, she did forget about us. A waiter walked up to us and asked us what was going on (we were standing there for around 7 - 10 minutes) and we told him we had a reservation for the speakeasy. He immediately apologized and sat us. This camp themed speakeasy has a couple booths. It's on the smaller sides. Which, speakeasy's are usually small to begin with. I did not get the waitresses name, my friend and I were busy catching up. The waitress was nice, but not attentive. I will say service was a 2/5. However, the actual restaurant, cozy pine is located in, was packed because of the World Cup being on TV. So I definitely was not going to complain The food Our food order did come out extremely FAST. Faster than our drink orders. -the campfire guacamole -BBQ shoestring fries (had bbq seasoning all over them so it tasted like a BBQ potato chip) -Glamping plate (charcuterie board) -steak tacos (one without onion and cilantro -churro affogato Again, the food was VERY fast!! And to be honest it wasn't that bad. I'll say, speakeasy's usually shine in the drink department vs food. Drinks -Lycheed and Loaded Ketel One, lychee liqueur, lemon, elderflower. This was extremely delicious! If you don't like to taste your alcohol? Go with this. It was really refreshing. Hand this to me at a spa and I'd be the happiest gal in the world -Camp Anawanna $17 Graham cracker-infused bourbon, licor 43, chocolate, torched marshmallow (the waitress catches the marshmallow on fire at the table) This one was stronger and I didn't think it was overly sweet despite the ingredients I think they had a good selection, especially for a small speakeasy. I have been to better, so I don't think I'd return. Especially since the service was not that great. We still had a good time and recommend for every speakeasy lovers list.

    Ambiance is great. Feels like you're in a cabin in the woods. Service is prompt and friendly. Food…read moreis solid. Shrimp tacos hit and were absolutely packed with shrimp. Cocktails were tasty and followed the theme well. Will be bringing friends next time for sure!

    Photos
    Inside speakeasy
    Inside speakeasy
    Speakeasy interior
    Speakeasy interior
    S'mores Desert

    See all

    S'mores Desert
    YNK

    YNK

    4.4
    (194 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    This is a cute little speakeasy inside the Irvine Marriott off to the right side of the bar in the…read morelobby. You have to SLIDE the door, not pull it, so I didnt think it was open. Someone from the inside opened it for us as my friend said, you have to pull :) Our server was amazing, she was so friendly and fun. The drinks were delicious!!! I ordered the Philly Cheesesteak Eggrolls and they were good, but they were definitely not Philly cheesesteak material. The doors make it so its not fully dark in here, but it does have a nice ambiance. All staff was very friendly and we had a nice time.

    Did not know there was a speakeasy in the hotel. But IYKYK. Its around the corner of their main…read morerestaurant, Floe Restaurant. When you go thru the sliding doors it immediately transports you to a different time and place. Its very dark. Sleek. And modern. Yet simple. I love the big screen tvs with areal views of New York. It just made it feel like we were in a high rise building or a blimp with a birds eye view of many of New Yorks beautiful landmarks. The couches were extremely comfortable too. Great cushion. You just sink into them. Its a small area but great utilization of the space, making it seem large and spacious. The chairs too were really comfortable to sit in. We spent 3 hours in there and it flew by so quickly. The ambiance and feel here was just truly top notch. Our waitress was Brandy, or is it Brandi? She was super cool. She was a one person crew. Basically getting orders, making drinks, cleaning tables, and checking in on us. And she did it with great charisma, attitude and personality. Super knowledgeable about the menu. Made great drinks quickly. And was just super personable. Great job from her!! Her attitude and demeanor really matched the top tier aura they were going for here. They have a great selection of drinks. From more alcohol forward drinks to light and fruity drinks to refreshing drinks. I really did enjoy their drink selections. We had a total of about 6 drinks and they were all really good! We got there: 1. Fox's wedding- light, seeet and refreshing. I love the origami piece that Brandy put on it as well. Looked so beauitful. 2. Guava chiffon pancake- it was tropical, light but also had a coconut feel to it. It was really good. 3. The Monroe- this was light but tart, but not too tart. Silky with fruit forward notes. 4. Miso honey butter corn- rarely is a savory cocktail good. But this one was pretty good. The butter fat washed burbon was super intriguing. But it works well 5. When pigs fly- came with a paper airplane on top!! Haha. Love the playfulness. But the drink was so complex yet smooth. It was really good. For the bourbon drinkers, this one is for you! 6. Smoked Old Fashion- presentation is amazing. Comes in a big glass case that has cherry wood smoke inside. When you open it, you get that intense smell of burning cherry wood. Drink is smokey but in a very good way. Tasted amazing. A true classic done right. Their food menu is very encompassing and thorough as well. From full on burgers, to flat breads, to appetizers and small bites, to salads. They have a little of everything!! We ordered the following: 1. Pub nachos- this was an extremely large plate of loaded nachos. Super crunchy and fresh. I loved the generous amount of Chipotle chicken on top. The pepper jack queso sauce and jalapeño crema was a really good sauce. It just binded everything together. The beans and the fresh jalapeño just really all worked together. It was super good. Kept you grazing and munching away, but never becoming too full (more room for their drinks!!). 2. Figgy piggy flat bread- it was ok. Sweet caramel onions and fig jam, paired with some pungent cheeses. I thought it was pretty good. 3. Shrimp street tacos- 1 order comes with 2 tacos. They were good sizes. I love their tacos. So flaverful. Everything works together. Just tasted amazing!! Overall everything about this place is 5 stars. The ambiance, the decor, the exclusivity. The service. The drinks and the food. As i said 3 hours went by so fast!! Definitely a must try when in the area. And when you stay at the Marriott, its just a simple walk back to your room. And we left feeling happy and amazing. Thank you very much Brandy!!

    Photos
    YNK
    YNK
    New Prohibition Menu

    See all

    New Prohibition Menu

    Monaco Italian Kitchen - cocktailbars - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...