Excellent Italian spot from an established chain. Food and service are excellent. Definitely try to get reservations on peak hours. It's valet parking in the front, and it can be difficult to get parking nearby (but plenty of parking in the parking structure behind the gym). Food- 5 stars wild shrimp scampi- standard but delicious squid ink tonnarelli- perfectly cooked and bright. I would recommend sharing the pasta dishes, especially with contrasting heavy and bright dishes. the squid ink and braised short rib were excellent going back and forth between them braised short rib marsala- buttery, fatty, goodness. salted caramel budino- I couldn't get enough of the dessert. Well balanced and delicious Service- 5 stars Food came out quickly and the servers and bartenders were really attentive. Bottom Line Excellent Italian restaurant from an established chain. Great food and service and always consistent read more

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Service and ambience are amazing Food is scrumptious especially the grilled bread with great aromatic of cheese and olive oil, great combination The squid ink is very intense but delicious. The steak was grilled to perfection and tender Dishes are on a smaller portion but enough to share Definitely will go back read more

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Top-notch! Unsuspectingly AMAZING food (NOT chain-like-cookie-cutter-copied-italian) and service is stellar! Homemade pasta (daily) with incredible fresh ingredients. Glass wall into the kitchen, you can see everything going on behind the scenes. The staff seem to genuinely like being here and they have a great camaraderie with each other while providing excellent service. Low end plates around $12-16, regular dinners $23-up. Lovely simple but elegant ambiance. Only downside is if you're in the middle tables (2 and 4-tops) you're basically having conversations with your neighbors as tables are so close together. read more

Ate here for brunch since I was in the city Irvine. The area is nice and simple. No reservations, just walked right in for a party of 7. We had a child with us so they placed us in an area where there were plenty of kids. We ordered Wine, cocktails and appetizers as well as main entrees of salad and meat. Our food was delivered quickly. Drinks and food was delicous. No complaints. This place has plenty of parking. It was a nice clean restaurant. Not to plain but just right with the decor. This place had good vibes. The service was great. Had a great experience. Clean restaurant, good food and good service. Its hard to say something negative. read more

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Northern Italian food I guess you can say. Neopolitan pizzzas, lasagnas, squid ink to weekly, truffle breads, salads, bambolinni donut dessert, and a whole lot more! I ordered The Pig neopolitan pizza a ceasar salad. Twas good! Also ordered the bambollini pizza for desert. That was yummy! Service was good and speed in a busy night wasn't bad. Cleanliness was good. The place was rockin! TVs playing sports. Basketball at the time. Can't hear it of course as this place is pretty packed so noise level is a bit loud. Overall, this is a comeback kid! read more

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The food and service here is always excellent. The meatballs are just like my grandma used to make. Everything on the menu is delicious. We have never been disappointed. Just make sure to leave room for dessert. The Bombolini are delicious and fluffy and full of flavor. The view of the kitchen area is a big plus, being able to see how the food is prepared and the smells make you more hungry than you might think. Love this place. Too busy enjoying the food to take any pictures this time. Will have to return and try to remember to do that. read more

I enjoy dining here for both the food and the ambiance. You can't go wrong with their meatballs for starters. This time, I tried the calamari. It has a batter that is more tempura like. So if that is not your thing, pass on this one. For my main dish, the bolognese does not disappoint. The sauce is rich and the pasta is perfectly al dente. Service is top notch and they were very accommodating for my son's food allergies. Great place for evening with my family. read more

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Had another savory and amazing Italian dinner at North Italia. This is my go-to place to celebrate special occasions. The sea scallops were fresh and delicious (would pass on the calamari), plus the bolognese was outstanding and fresh. The ambiance was bright, festive and hip. Parking is a challenge in this shopping center so plan accordingly. read more

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I love the food at north Italia. It's great to order a bunch and share with the table. Drinks are well crafted and the desserts are also something you shouldn't skip on. The only thing is.. the servers can be a hit or miss. Sometimes you get one of those servers that make you feel so welcomed that they can bring out mediocre food but you still leave with a smile and give fat tip. But once in a while, you get a server that just wants you to hurry up and leave. I've had several experiences like that. Not a good feeling. Always make a reservation!! read more

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Been to North Italia a few times! Always adore their menu options and ambience, it's perfect for any occasion. Had to go for OC Restaurant Week because they had an amazing deal and got to try a bunch of things. The Cacio e pepe Arancini was good i love the flavors and texture, but "crispy risotto" is mixed with regular risotto on the inside.. so it kinda just tastes like some pieces of risotto are stale/not cooked. The roasted salmon was also very promising with a flavor palette I adore - but in the end, I was not blown away and all the flavors were very very subtle. However, the salted caramel budino was actually one of the best desserts i've ever had. Incredibly rich and filling but wow!! I dream of it. I dined alone and service was very subpar, felt dismissive and rushed. read more

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This was the perfect place to have a surprise milestone birthday lunch for a family member. My sister-in-law planned and organized the event. This restaurant is pretty big and was super crowded on a Saturday afternoon even though So Cal was hit with high winds and lots of rain this particular weekend. This review is for a party size of about 20 people so we had a prix fixe menu. The place is trendy and welcoming. Service was attentive and efficient. Our set menu came with some apps for the tables to share (zucca chips and white truffle garlic bread. I opted for the seasonal vegetable salad. Dessert was salted caramel budino and tiramisu for the table. I I don't think North Italia is a restaurant I would've picked to dine at but I am so happy I got to experience it through this birthday event. I will definitely return again when in the area. read more

North Italia - Bologna - Pizza Near Me - Irvine, California

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Ricotta Cavatelli -Sooooooo heavy. The bottom of my bowl was just a soup full of oil/butter. Very hard to enjoy. I should have asked to have it be taken back. Everything else was good. From the cocktails that paired well with our appetizer muscles. And my husband's squid ink pasta, which he enjoyed. This place is one of the few spots this still offer full size complementary birthday desserts- thank you! read more

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Vibes: Trendy, modern, bright and open with lots of plants Crowd: Pretty full for a weekday lunchtime Menu: classic salad/pizza/pasta choices and more Value for price: 5/5. Expensive, but the flavors and presentation were well worth it Service: 5/5, very kind and speedy Parking: atrocious (Michelson shopping center, very chaotic) Came to North Italia on a work lunch- great, since it's a bit pricey for me to go on my own :) The restaurant is trendy and fresh-feeling; on a Tuesday lunchtime it was surprisingly busy with groups of families/friends. Very cute place for a work lunch or celebratory drinks/food. The indoor area Is brightly lit with lots of windows, and there is a lot of covered outdoor seating. We tried the following: - White truffle garlic bread: ICONIC, greasy, delicious. The best thing that I tried, super decadent and very truffle-y. - Calamari fritti: good ratio of squid to breading. Juicy, and came with a flavorful pairing of dipping sauces (marinara and thousand island-esque). Some grilled vegetables underneath. - Strozzapreti: decadent, creamy pasta with delicious pine nuts. A very rich dish but delicious, was great as leftovers too. read more

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We were seated on the patio so our dog could join us, and we really appreciated the accommodation. The patio heaters kept us warm and comfortable throughout the evening. The service was great--everyone was kind and attentive, and our food came out quickly. The calamari was lightly breaded and served with greens and sauces; overall, it was a solid dish with a generous portion. We also tried the fungi pizza and the hot honey prosciutto pizza. Both were delicious, and the crust had the perfect texture and thickness. The squid ink pasta was another highlight, with fresh-tasting seafood and great flavor. Our only critique was the scallops with risotto, which we found a bit salty. Additionally, my mom was observing a pescatarian diet for Friday during Lent and didn't realize there was bacon in her risotto since it wasn't noted on the ingredient list. Because of that--and because the butternut risotto was more pieces of squash rather than a purée--I probably wouldn't order that dish again. We ended the meal by sharing a complimentary birthday dessert (anything on the dessert menu aside from one option, which was very generous) to celebrate my mom. Overall, it's a very solid restaurant with reasonable prices. It made sense why it was crowded on a Friday night, and we were glad we made a reservation. read more

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I highly recommend this place to my friends and family. I discovered their Italian Salad with chicken. Everything is so good. Please bring back their crispy chicken dish with potatoes and gravy. Currently their chicken dish is a stewed chicken. I love the crispy skin and tenderness of the older version. A pork chop, lamb, or steak dish would be such an improvement. Thank you for so many great meals. read more

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Second time here, but this time for brunch. Went on a Saturday afternoon and got seated after our reservation time. We ordered the bistro steak & eggs and the breakfast sandwich, both of which were very flavorful and delicious. The downside is that our food took a long time to be brought to our table. Other than that, it was a great experience. When you visit, don't skip dessert. Order the banana coffee cake it was the best part of the meal! read more

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Stoped by for dinner, booked a reservation ahead of time and it seems to be their preferred method of dining. Still waited about 10 mins until they had our table ready. Parking was disastrous as expected, but they have a valet service upfront if you give up on the hunt for a spot. We sat out in the patio, they had heaters above and around the patio so it wasn't too cold! It was nice and clean! We started with a couple rounds of pre-dinner drinks: chianti, pinot, tequila pineapple, martini, etc. all the drinks were great! They didn't skimp and really took care of us. Grilled Bread - 4/5 Nicely toasted, came with a drizzling of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. I like to pair this with the italian meatballs just for a little extra flavor. Italian Meatballs - 4/5 Three large meatballs in sauce, well cooked and sauced. Can't go wrong.. again, pair it with the grilled bread Calamari Fritti - 3/5 This one lacked flavor or seasoning, more salt would have been nice here. I know there were sauces but this dish just wasn't for me. Chicken Parm - 4.5/5 It comes with parmesan rigatoni which was delicious, I just wished it had a little more sauce to it. Chicken was nice and crispy! Great amount of parmesan, sauce was good, chicken wasn't overcooked, and tasted great! Nice spot for lunch/dinner with a little class given then demographic and location. I've been here multiple times in the past, so I definitely recommend a visit! read more

North Italia - Chicken Parmesan 4.2/5, I wish the pasta was just a little more saucy - Pizza Near Me - Irvine, California

Started with the Star of the night - the truffle garlic bread. Heavenly ... Strozzapreti is a non tomato base pasta, but the noodles are made in house and cooked al dente. The desserts were amazing. Thank you for the experience! read more

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Galentine's lunch that turned into happy hour and we loved every minute of it! We started by sharing the calamari, chicken cobb salad, and the margherita pizza, which were all fresh and flavorful with a bottle of rosé. Of course we couldn't leave without trying a couple of cocktails so we followed up with espresso martinis and headed to the bar for dirty martinis. Service was friendly and attentive without being rushed, which made it easy to catch up with girlfriends. A great spot whether you're stopping in for lunch or staying through happy hour. read more

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North Italia is the in-betweener of Olive Garden and Giorgio Baldi, a Jay Cartwright, if you must say. It always takes care of you, from chicken parmesan to rigatoni, calamari, and so on. Their service is usually good, and their drinks are consistently good. A low corkage fee...you can't go wrong here. I'm a decade deep with multiple visits. The spot to bring someone who doesn't know Italian or casually bring someone who loves and knows Italian, you'll win either way. read more

North Italia - Pizza Near Me - Irvine, California

To my surprise, this restaurant felt very down to earth. Unlike many spots in Irvine that lean heavily into fancy décor, this one was much more simple and understated. From the outside, you might expect something more modern and polished, but once inside, it had a casual charm that worked in its own way. Maybe they were going for more of an old-school Italian feel. As for the food, it was very simple too. For example, if you order the arugula and avocado salad, that is pretty much exactly what you get -- no extra ingredients, not even tomato. Overall, everything tasted straightforward, and I was honestly expecting a little more than what was served. read more

My go-to Italian spot in Irvine and it never disappoints. Highly recommend to go with a reservation cause every time I've been I see a crowd of people waiting outside. Not sure how long the wait would be for walk-ins but if you can just get a reservation. It's pretty easy to get on here too, even on the weekends I feel. You can call or do it online. All the items I've tried are good, from salads to pizza, bread, and pasta! You really can't go wrong with any of the options. My favorite is probably the white truffle garlic bread & fried calamari for appetizers, fungi pizza and trotolle chicken pesto pasta. All are flavorful and not too salty and portions are pretty fair! My fiance and I usually end up having leftovers of the entree cause it's so much carbs. Service is good, servers are very nice and patient. The one downside I usually see is there is somewhat a lack of communication or just a forgotten order? A few times I've been here we've ended up waiting longer for some dishes an we end up having to ask our server about it. Not sure if it's just backed up or what but it's usually like 1 person's dish, or even an appetizer. But overall this is still a very good Italian restaurant. I do wish they had some seasonal dishes though! I feel like I've tried a good chunk of their menu already so every time I go back now I just get the same stuff. Would love to see new additions to the menu in the future. read more

It's been a long time since my last visit to North Italia and the food is still absolutely delicious. I knew we needed to get the White Truffle Garlic bread and I surely was correct. Wow, that bread is absolutely to die for! I was really excited for all the mocktails and zero proof drinks they've added - even zero proof wines! I got 2 starters as my meal and it was more than enough food - I even had left overs. I got the burrata with butternut squash and apples, as well as the crispy eggplant Parmesan. The burrata was 'melt in your mouth delicious.' It could have almost been a desert because there was a sweetness about it. So delicious. The eggplant Parmesan was good, but since it had crispy in the name, I was expecting it to be much crispier than it was. But, still good. Our server was amazing and working hard on a very busy patio on a Sunday evening. I can't wait to come back and try their new coconut butter cake! read more

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A stylish modern Italian restaurant with a polished atmosphere, outstanding service, and genuinely excellent food. Prices are reasonable and the dining experience makes it worth it for a special night out read more

One of my favorite spots in LA AREA! I go to the one in Irvine and in Santa Monica and they're just excellent! Value Taste Service Esthetic Design Ambiance Style ..... it's ALL there! read more

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Just an update: my wife called the restaurant to report the incident that happened last time. She spoke with Angie, the "General Manager," and was told that they would either send a gift card or email her. However, nothing was ever sent, and instead, my wife was told to come to the restaurant to pick it up personally. So we went there to meet with her and collect it. Thank you, Angie, for the $50 gift card for my wife's bruises and injuries from that incident. We honestly felt very offended by the way this situation was handled and by the judgment shown by the manager. Please be careful with this restaurant. Due to their negligence and failure to place any wet floor signs, someone got injured -- and apparently, they think a $50 gift card is enough compensation for that. read more

North Italia - Pizza Near Me - Irvine, California

I always like the food at North Italia at Manhattan Beach. This is my first time to the Irvine location for lunch. But then we were not disappointed. The food are consistently good. We ordered the Italian Farm salad and the Italian Short Rib Dip sandwich. Both dishes were good. Service were excellent. The server was very attentive. We sat inside the restaurant, it was very comfortable to just hang out and have a long leisurely lunch. read more

North Italia - Italian Short Rib Dip - Pizza Near Me - Irvine, California

I absolutely love North Italia--I used to go all the time to their El Segundo location and the food has always been consistently delicious. This location, though, definitely has a more classy vibe compared to El Segundo. It's much bigger and super spacious, with tons of seating options. I also love that it's dog-friendly--you can bring your pup and sit outside on their patio, which is a huge plus The service was great. Our waiter was super friendly and very considerate, especially when it came to vegan options just in case anyone in our group were vegan . He took the time to explain ingredients in each dish and made sure everyone was comfortable with what they were ordering. Very informative and attentive--our table was well taken care of the entire time. Now let's talk about the food My go-to spicy vodka pasta did not disappoint--so flavorful, and the portion size was perfect without leaving you feeling overly stuffed. I also loved the soup of the day, which reminded me of a pasta-sauce-style soup and paired perfectly with the truffle garlic bread (so good). My husband ordered the lasagna--he wished the portion was a bit bigger, but still really enjoyed it. The meatball appetizer was another standout: super flavorful without being overly seasoned. Overall, such a great experience. Amazing food, great service, and a really nice atmosphere. I'll definitely be back to try more from the menu. Thank you, North Italia, for another wonderful dining experience! read more

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My husband and I recently dined at North Italia and started with the white truffle garlic bread and cacio e pepe arancini. Both appetizers were very flavorful and absolutely delicious For our entrées, we ordered the spicy rigatoni vodka and the ricotta cavatelli. Both dishes were well-executed and tasted very good. However, the portions felt quite small considering the price. The shrimp portion, in particular, was disappointing--only a few tiny pieces, which didn't feel worth what they charge. The atmosphere is lively, but unfortunately very noisy. It was difficult to have a conversation, so if you're planning a romantic date or hoping for a quiet dinner, this might not be the best choice. We would love to come back and try more dishes, as the food itself was enjoyable, but the loud ambiance really takes away from the overall experience. We might consider returning on a weekday, hoping it will be a bit quieter. read more

ordered the spicy rigatoni vodka pasta to-go and it took around 15 minutes. we came around 1 pm and it was very crowded. inside is very spacious, clean with nice interior. there's plenty of seating indoors and outdoors. parking can be crowded as well. the pasta was delicious. it was very flavorful and the meat was juicy. the texture was good but i wish it was a bit more chewy. some noodles were soft and some were more chewier than others. overall, it was very delicious but a bit on the pricier side. it was about $30 total in the end. would still come back again if ever in the area! read more

North Italia - Spicy Rigatoni Vodka - Pizza Near Me - Irvine, California

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Beautiful breezy spot with open windows and relaxing vibes. The Smoked Salmon Avocado Toast was the best. The Strawberries & Cream French Toast sounded amazing, but it tasted a little plain in comparison. The Banana Coffee Cake was nice with crème fraîche. read more

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Ambience: Casual yet trendy, airy and modern Seating: Ample yet full on a weekday Food: Delicious. We ordered the garlic bread, garden salad, veggie pasta (my fav with dates, sweet potatoes, cauliflower and nuts) and Seafood pasta. Portion sizes were just enough. Expensive but worth it. Service was quick and pleasant. Would recommend it. read more

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It's okay for what it is, but it's never really impressed me. The happy hour is decent, and the food is fine ...it's not bad, just nothing memorable. it's very convenient for business settings. We end up here a lot because it's an easy, safe choice when you're trying to please a group. You can count on a solid salad, pizza and a drink, and you'll be perfectly satisfied. But beyond that, some of the other menu items just don't stand out and don't really do much for me. Service from the servers is always great, which I appreciate. The hosts on the other hand... read more

Beautiful interior design, and healthy yet tasty dishes. It's easy to make reservations ahead at this location, so you can almost avoid a long wait time if you plan ahead. Only improvement could be the amount of time it takes to prepare their dishes. read more

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As beautiful as this restaurant is, I was unfortunately very disappointed in the food. The squid ink tonnarelli was hard but not al dente just kind of hard and broke apart easily. It wast flavored good either and fell flat. The salmon and mussels was alright but again just not super flavorful or amazing. Mussels were dry. The best thing was the hot honey prosciutto pizza, but even that was pretty average. The crust was bready and thick and chewy:/ there are so many better Italian places nearby im not sure why this one is so loved. Parking is weird too and you have to park somewhat far if you don't want valet. All in all, it's a beautiful space and pretty for occasion dinners, but the food is not good:( read more

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Fast service and tasty food! Only downside: protein add-ons are a bit small for the price. read more

North Italia - Arugula & Avocado Salad with Grilled Chicken - Pizza Near Me - Irvine, California

Came here for lunch and had an excellent experience from start to finish. The service was fantastic--friendly, attentive, and fast without feeling rushed. The menu had a wide range of options, from appetizers to entrées, so there's something for everyone. We started with the calamari, which was lightly fried, tender, and perfectly seasoned. For my main dish, I ordered the Margherita pizza, and it was absolutely fantastic. The crust was thin and crispy, cooked just right, and the toppings were fresh and flavorful. The tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil balanced beautifully, making it one of the better Margherita pizzas I've had in a while. Overall, great food, great service, and a great lunch spot. I'd definitely come back and recommend it to others. See picture. read more

North Italia - Pizza Near Me - Irvine, California

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We had a reservation but they sat us outside on a chilly evening. There were heaters above but it was still pretty cold. The tables are extremely close together so we felt like we were eating with the other two parties on both sides of our table, ruined the ambiance. Pastas are delicious. The pizzas are usually soggy, so they're not our favorite. Save room for dessert because the tiramisu is really good! Overall a solid choice in the area for a chain restaurant read more

North Italia - Pizza Near Me - Irvine, California

Great service ,great ambiance we waited a long time for our food our pasta wasn't fully cooked we brought it to their attention and quickly they took care of it, and at the end was delicious!! Delicious bread too. read more

**Italian Meatballs** 9.48/10- made with creamy polenta, rustic marinara, and grana padano. These were absolutely amazing! The meatballs were incredibly flavorful and huge. The meat was so tender and juicy with perfect seasoning throughout. The rustic marinara was rich and tangy with great depth, and the creamy polenta was the perfect base - so smooth and buttery. The grana padano on top added this nice sharp, salty finish that tied everything together beautifully. **Spicy Rigatoni** 6.86/10- made with Italian sausage, crispy pancetta, shaved garlic, basil, and grana padano. The pasta itself was too chewy unfortunately - overcooked past al dente. It also wasn't spicy at all and had more of a sweet flavor which was surprising. I still liked the flavor of the sauce but it wasn't spicy like I was expecting. The Italian sausage was a bit hard and tough too. The pancetta added nice crispy texture and the garlic came through well, but I wish it had the heat to match the name. North Italia was having a lunch special for October where you could get an appetizer and pasta for $25 which was a great deal!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Instagram: @hungrytamale read more

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