Oliver's Osteria is the best Italian food I have found in Orange County. If I close my eyes, I can pretend I am in Italy. The food is simply phenomenal. One of the specials I ordered last year was a pesto risotto with burrata. It has been months and I still think about this dish - it was creamy and flavorful. While this is my favorite dish I have ordered at Oliver's it is still par for the course. There is no wrong answer when ordering from the menu. The service is always excellent. I have never had a bad experience. Moreover, the other patrons of the restaurant have been consistently wonderful. Food, service, and ambiance are all 10/10. read more

Came here for Valentine's day and left pretty underwhelmed, sadly. We were seated outside in a tent in the parking lot which was a little disappointing. Ambiance plays a big role (in my opinion) to a restaurant and not getting to be seated inside or at least on a patio docked some points off for me. For a special occasion dinner, I don't want to be sitting in a parking lot tent. For the price point, I didn't really feel the restaurant quality (plating, service, ambiance) really reaches those expectations. I can tell their food is great, I think I wish I chose something different when ordering. I couldn't tell you exactly what we ordered since I think they launched a new menu just this week but I'll describe it the best I can. Espresso Martini -5/5 Great espresso martini! No notes. Burrata with pesto - 4/5 Light and refreshing appetizer. This wasn't my first choice for appetizer but my partner loves burrata so we got it. It would be really hard to mess this up so I have no notes. $20+ for one tomato was pretty shocking, though. Tagliolini with shrimp and mushrooms - 2/5 To be fair, I've never had tagliolini before so I don't have a reference point of how it should be and maybe it's just not my style. The pasta was thin and flat and very very soft. There was absolutely no bite to it whatsoever and felt like it might be over cooked (again, I'm not expert so maybe this is how it should be). Because of the texture and size it kind of was just one big soft clump on the plate. The shrimp and mushrooms were nice and I enjoyed the sauce but I really didn't like the pasta on this one. And I know plating have any affect of the food but this one seemed really sloppily thrown together and I was pretty sad when it was put on the table. Definitely wasn't pretty or exciting to look at. Pappardelle made w/ beets in quail ragu - 4/5 We really enjoyed this pasta! The pasta itself had a subtle sweetness to it from the beets which made it much more interesting than your typical pasta dough. It had a nice chew, which is what I was really missing in the other dish. The quail ragu was yummy, although we did find a bone but it was large enough to easily pick out and put to the side. Panna Cotta - 4.5/5 Thick and rich vanilla panna cotta with a tart berry compote. Very delicious! read more

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We hosted our company holiday dinner at Oliver Osteria, and it absolutely delivered. The table went family-style on antipasti--Carpaccio di Manzo, Polpette, Polpo alla Griglia, and Fritto Misto. All perfect for sharing and starting the night strong. For entrées, the crowd favorites were the Lasagna Classica, Filetto, and the Pork Tomahawk. I went with the pork tomahawk and wow which was rich, hearty, and full of flavor. The pork was perfectly cooked and paired with caramelized onions, a tangy mustard sauce, and creamy mashed potatoes that tied everything together. We wrapped up the night with desserts--Tiramisù, Profiteroles, Gelati e Sorbetti plus cappuccinos, which was the perfect way to end a long dinner. Shoutout to the servers they were incredibly patient, attentive, and helpful, especially considering we were a larger group. Everything ran smoothly, and we never felt rushed. Between the food, atmosphere, and service, it was an ideal spot for a holiday group dinner. Cozy, elevated, and absolutely worth a return visit. read more

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First time at Oliver's Osteria. We were a group of 6, had a reservation, was seated in the warmed tent dining room. The indoor dining room was reserved for a party but I hear it's less noisy than the tent. There's a big parking lot with other stores/brewery it's shared with, so it was busy for a Saturday night. We ended up parking on the street. All of the pastas were amazing. Truly. The gnocchi with pesto was delicious, the rigatoni cacio e pepe was also a hit, and my personal favorite.. the strozzapreti with sausage, mushroom, and truffle was a special on the menu and it was so good. We ate all of our food and there were no leftovers to be had. We also ordered the branzino al sale and that was pretty good, and the lamb was good. I think if you're coming here, though, I'd recommend any of their pasta dishes over the secondi dishes. They tasted very authentic and you didn't feel bloated afterward. Their margherita pizza was also really bomb! We shared a few bottles of wine. Service was great. Food was great. The tent is noisy. But other than that we'd come back for sure! read more

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I had a wonderful time dining at Oliver's. The food all tasted so fresh and delicious. From the salads to the pastas to the veal. The bar tender also had excellent recommendations on pairings. The restaurant is cozy and has a large outdoor heated tent (I do believe that will be gone at the end of the month). Overall great experience and will be back! read more

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I've always been a fan of this place! Have been here a few times for date night, and also to celebrate my sister's birthday. Service has always been extremely friendly and fun, and they really made the birthday celebration special. The pasta is some of the best in the area!! Very yummy. Interior could be nicer, as much of the seating is inside a tent in the parking lot, but the food is worth it. Right next to a brewery and close enough for dinner after Sawdust festival or a day at the beach. read more

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This was the priciest and most delicious Italian food I've ever had, earning a Bib Gourmand recommendation in 2021. Knowing my wallet would take a hit, I ordered the Three Courses Menu. After reviewing the menu, I decided the $130 Three Courses Menu was the best way to sample their signature dishes, as it was less expensive than ordering items individually. The first course was Carpaccio di Manzo con la Fonduta di Fontina. This dish combined the tenderness of raw beef, the richness of cheese sauce, and the fragrance of black truffle, making it a starter with complex layers and a delicate texture. The second course was Strozzapreti alla Norcina. I had never tried the handmade, egg-free specialty pasta Strozzapreti at any other Italian restaurant before. While I was eating, the server explained that, according to legend, a monk choked on this delicious pasta due to overeating, which is how it got its name, "Strangle the Priest." The pasta, roughly the size of my pinky finger, had a dense, soft, and springy texture with a subtle chewiness. Served with a creamy blend of sausage, porcini mushrooms, and black truffle, it was likely my favorite dish of the night. With some pride, the server explained that the quality of the cheese served with the pasta was excellent, unlike that of cheaper establishments. I barely used any, though, because I preferred to taste the dishes' natural flavors, and tried to avoid adding extra seasonings. The third course was Capesante. Two large scallops were braised to tender perfection and served with cream and black truffle. Ending the meal with this vegetable-based dish was a nice touch. The food became cold due to my extended photo-taking session, but the server kindly offered to take the spinach and scallops back to the kitchen for reheating--a thoughtful gesture reminiscent of the meticulous service at AnQi Bistro in South Coast Plaza. Having dined at so many restaurants, my experience told me that truly well-crafted dishes made with high-quality ingredients can stand the test of time--they remain delicious even after sitting out for too long. The free bread, which could be refilled endlessly, stood out from other places because it also came with tomatoes. Just as I always order fried chicken at Japanese restaurants, I always order Tiramisu at Italian restaurants. The dessert was an additional order and not included in the three-course menu. The Tiramisu cost $16--two or three dollars pricier than usual--but it stayed perfectly tasty even though I delayed eating it for over an hour while taking pictures. It was neither soggy nor overly sweet. Additionally, the Tiramisu did not have the traditional ladyfingers as its inner layer; instead, it was made with layered espresso-soaked cake. After adding a 20% tip, the total came to $186.52. Spending so much on a meal for one person felt crazy, but both the food and service were impeccable, making it a truly great experience. The owner also opened a branch in Quail Hill, Irvine, located north on Highway 133; I will definitely try it another day. 目前吃過最貴但也最美味，榮獲2021年必比登推薦的義大利菜 請翻成英文：今晚又要荷包大出血了，我點的是店家招牌三道菜套餐。 花了幾分鐘看過所有菜單，覺得點他們的三菜套餐最理想，可品嚐到此店招牌菜。雖要價130美金，但至少比分別單點便宜。 第一道黑松露起司生牛肉薄片。此菜結合了生牛肉的鮮嫩、起司醬的濃郁以及黑松露的芳香，是一道層次豐富且口感細膩的前菜。 第二道奶油香腸蘑菇松露麵。在別間義大利餐廳不曾吃過，手工製作的無蛋特殊麵條Strozzapreti。一邊食用，一邊侍者在旁說明，傳說某修士因貪吃這道美味義麵而被噎住，因此得名「掐死修士」。 麵條的長寬和體積接近我的小指。口感厚實軟彈兼少許韌度。配合柔滑的奶油/香腸/牛肝菌/黑松露食用。嗯，這該是今晚最讓我滿意的一道菜。 侍者帶著幾分自豪的說，本店提供配義麵吃的起司品質上乘，絕非坊間廉價餐廳可比。但我沒怎麼用它，因為我想品嚐餐品原味，盡量不放其他調料。 第三道黑松露奶油蘑菇菠菜干貝。兩顆大干貝燉煮的柔軟入味，蘸奶油和黑松露食用。以這道蔬食當結尾不錯。 拍照時間過長食物冷掉，侍者主動幫我把菠菜干貝回廚加熱這點不錯，像之前那家位於南海岸精品廣場的AnQi Bistro一樣細膩。 吃過這麼多家餐廳的經驗告訴我，真正手藝佳用料好的菜餚，都經得起考驗，即便擺放時間過長依舊美味。 可無限續吃的免費麵包，還提供番茄這點和其他家不同。 就像我日餐必點炸雞，我吃義餐必點提拉米蘇。甜點是我另外叫的，不包括在三道套餐內。 提拉米蘇16美金，比一般餐廳貴了兩三塊，但即便我忙於拍照拖超過一小時後仍是美味不變，不濕爛，不過於甜膩。 給了兩成小費後總計186.52美金。一個人吃到這麼貴真是瘋了，但餐食和服務皆無可挑剔，確實是不錯的體驗。 店老闆在133號公路往北的爾灣Quail Hill也開了家分店，改天我必定試試。 read more

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I was so excited to try this place! The service was absolutely wonderful. I wish I remembered the servers name because he was an absolute delight! The food was lovely not quite five stars, but I would return and give it another try! The lettuce and the Caesar salad was slightly wilted with some brown edges, but still edible. Leino was very good! Clean ingredients prepared very clean as well. Not a lot of heavy oil clean vegetables to accompany the dish. The pasta was good. My only note I prefer a little bit more of a traditional cat Pepe Rather than the but that's just my personal taste. I would certainly return. read more

Happy Hour was memorably good! We enjoyed every item we ordered such as Polpette Fritte, tenderloin meatballs on a bed of arrabbiata sauce; Insalata Caprese, fresh and clean; and Rigatoni Cacio e Pepe, a favorite pasta dish in light cream sauce. Not sure how I'd describe having a meal under a tent. It feels like the place is still in lockdown. Our server kind of scared me but he was authentic. read more

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Came here for valentines day (galentines) with a few girlfriends so I can only speak to the vibe of that night. The wine was on point, good delicious, and the staff was attentive. I'd love to go back on a regular night. read more

This restaurant is everything to Laguna Beach. Food, service,ambiance all ten stars! Unfortunately they had two kitchen fires around Valentine's Day. Everyone in town is worried that the city is dragging their feet. We want Oliver's back. read more

I have been to many Italian restaurants in Orange County and its surrounding areas and found this to be the most authentic of the bunch. This Michelin Bib Gourmand Recognized restaurant lived up to its reputation for providing fine food and brought back wonderful memories of my time in Italy. My wife and I started with the Lightly Fried, Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms: delicate and fresh (she ate one before I could take a picture). The spaghetti with clams was cooked to perfection and the Branzino with spinach was exquisite. Dessert was creamy, flavorful and gratifying. Oh, and my Negroni? It was substantial, made with top notch ingredients and among the best I've ever had. read more

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I want to begin by saying that the staff here is very friendly and attentive. They checked on us several times to make sure everything was great. We started off by trying the yellowtail appetizer and the octopus, which were both delicious; I definitely recommend them. We then tried the chicken piccata, Tagliolini Mare e Monti, and Tonnarelli ai Crostacei. Which we loved all the flavorful. They were also nice enough to accommodate an allergy we had, and we still got to try everything. The only issue we had was the price point of mostly everything on the bill. For the portion you are getting, I would think it wouldn't be priced that high. $38 for chicken picatta is pretty outrageous. And the octopus was $28 for about 1 large piece cut up into small pieces. I don't mind spending money it just was disappointing to see and not filling. The dessert almost felt a joke because I ordered the cream caramel and it came out as what it seemed to be a small piece of store bought flan with caramel sauce and powdered sugar they charged $15 for. I understand this is laguna but definitely should be a little more reasonable with the prices. read more

Oliver's Osteria - Octopus - Italian Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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Omg!!! This has been our Italian favorite go to place for a while. Never had anything this bad!!! Went there on Sunday, 6/22/25, for dinner. Not only was service horrible, the food was awful. We tried asking for the manager of the evening and he was RUDE!! I guess everything trickles down from the top!!! 2 of us had food over $110, not that we didn't order much!! So disappointing. Typically the food and service are good but apparently this manager John something is causing a downfall for this place. There's no reason to post the food as they were awful. If you go, ask if Emilio is there, if Emilio is not there, turn around and go somewhere else. read more

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Made a reservation by phone for a birthday dinner, showed up on time, and got the classic "no table ready" experience. The best part, the restaurant was almost empty, so I guess the tables needed a break. While we waited, my wife went to the restroom and came back disgusted. Not "could use a quick tidy" disgusted. Fully disgusting. We finally sat down and were handed a bent paper menu that looked like it had survived a few decades of hard living. Then came water, complete with a fly. Nice touch. For a place charging $$$, and casually selling bottles of wine for $1,500, I expected the basics. Have the table ready when someone reserves it. Keep the bathroom clean. Make sure the water does not come with extra protein. Putting a white tablecloth on the table does not make it fine dining. It just makes it a white tablecloth next to a dirty restroom and a fly in the water. So glad we left. read more

Handmade strozzapreti with black truffle (1st photo) is out of this world and MUST TRY! 2nd photo - Rib eye steak with truffle sauce 3rd photo - Norcia (pizza) with black truffle read more

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My boyfriend and I found this place going back from the Sawdust Festival! I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of food. The pasta was freshly made, the truffle on the pasta was exceptional! Our bread and burrata was good, just wished it came out warm. Expect a wait on a weekend, the service was decent- there was only 2 servers in the entire restaurant so I would advise to order everything all at once if you don't want to wait. Ambience during the weekend is very loud, but super social and fun,so if you were looking for something quiet, this may not be the place for you! read more

Oliver's Osteria - Insalata Cesare Burrata - Italian Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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Well I have never been here before. Surpassed my expectations by a long shot. Interesting ambiance, outstanding food and service. Never felt rushed. Waiter when we asked questions about food was completely honest I look forward to returning in the near future. Thank you for a great dining experience. read more

The food is always so good here. This is the go to restaurant when you're going to see a play or pageants of the masters. (it's walking distance to both.) Parking can be a little bit tricky they do have parking however this particular night it was $30 to park . highly recommend you make a reservation. They have a very small indoor restaurant and a large tinted outdoor space. We always enjoy coming here they have all my favorite wines and in my opinion the very best meatballs. read more

Oliver's Osteria - Italian Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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We went for my birthday and it was a special experience. We got to sit inside (which is the nicer, quieter area) and our waiter was your quintessential Italian, friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. I also got a panna cotta on the house which is great for coconut lover like me. We also loved our pasta dishes and the aperol spritz. Great for a nice dinner with family. read more

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The ambiance is great, intimate and good decor. Great date night spot! Service was friendly and knowledgeable. Loved the food, I got the truffle pasta which was amazing. All for a fair price considering the location and kind of food! read more

Oliver's Osteria - Truffle pasta - Italian Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

First time dining at Oliver's. Food was good, but service was poor. The hostess and waiter never smiled or made you feel welcome. Waiter never came back to see how we were doing & we had to ask someone else for a dessert menu. There was one server toward the end that helped that was nice. There was a band playing at the brewery next door, so more on the noisy side but music was good. read more

What a beautiful restaurant, it's got fun and trendy artwork on the walls . The customer service was amazing, Emiliano took his time explaining the different dishes and wine . We all ordered pasta dishes except for my husband he got the scallops OMG his was delicious!! Everything was but the scallops were over the top ! Can't wait to come back ! read more

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Food was very authentic and delicious. Everyone at the restaurant was very friendly. Service was attentive without being intrusive. read more

The food is amazing. The best risotto I've ever had. Amazing like I was back in Milan.

A little confused on this one. This experience was a mixed bag. The restaurant being located inside a tent, should have been the first red flag. But we thought, this place has a Michelin star. It must be worth it.... Right? We sat inside the tent and it was warm. And the heaters were on. Why? Why you trying to cook your guests like lobsters?! Service was good. He was friendly and personable, and funny too. The food was not the best. The artichoke salad tasted like raw artichoke and lemon. Literally that's all it tased liked. The ricotta ravioli was such a disappointment. It was beyond what you would call "al dente." The noodles were crunchy and not cooked all the way. The ravioli barely had any filling. It was the worst ravioli I have ever had. And the sauce tasted like they used such a strong cheese (maybe Asagio?). It was overpowering. The carbonara was way too cheesy and the cheese was "pungent." The huge prawn was there for show. There was no meat in it. The sauce was bland. It lacked any kind of flavor or depth. The pork tomahawk was good. That was juicy and delicious with the mashed potatoes. The fried calamari, fried shrimp, fried artichokes, and fried zucchini's were all great. That is a really decent appetizer that our table shared. The black truffle scallops were a real hit. Those were rated highly. So, as you can see- it was mostly not good. There were a couple things that were decent, but not worth coming back. Especially to sit in a tent and sweat. No thanks. read more

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Food is awesome and Rudy was amazing, very attentive and nice! Made us feel welcome and wasn't rigid.

The pasta is so delicious, I highly recommend dinner with loved one at this restaurant. The service was exceptional! The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, had a great time! read more

Oliver's Osteria - Tagliolini Mare e Monti - Italian Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

This was our first visit to this location. We normally go to Oliver's Trattoria in Irvine. We have visited the Irvine location over a dozen times and it is one of our favorites. Unfortunately this was a Father's Day lunch with 10 family members - 3 fathers and 7 children. We spent over $600 and with a Michelin chef we expected a lot more. The service was excellent. We recognized several waiters from the Irvine location and Oliver's always has excellent service without fail. Three of our party ordered the Eggs Benedict from a special Father's Day menu. They said this was excellent. One of our Father's had a pizza and meatballs. I tasted both. The pizza was not good and yet the pizza at Oliver's Trattoria Irvine is always excellent. The meat balls were missing the flavor...almost tasteless. I ordered the Veal Scaloppini and was unpleasantly surprising...the veal was tasteless and the cheese topping was not good at all. This dish is normally with capers and olive oil and lemon butter but this had none of those and simply used a melted cheese over the veal with no other sauce. My wife had a "house salad" which was very skimpy and the dressing was tasteless. This salad does not appear on the regular menu but is a combination of many lettuces and garden vegetables. Another grandchild had the Pork Tomahawk. This was one of the most expensive items on the menu and was "OK but nothing special" - again these dishes preparation seemed to lack flavor even for his unsophisticated palate. Another item ordered was Tagliatelle Alla Bolognese and this seemed to be very enjoyable and disappeared quickly. We are yet to have a meal at Oliver's Trattoria in Irvine that we didn't like. We always have wine and always dessert but for father's day the group seemed to want to cut lunch short and so we left without ordering any of our traditional items. I think we'll be sticking to Oliver's Trattoria in the future. read more

I've been wanting to try this place for a while now but have been too lazy to make a reservation so I'm glad my friend did! We were sat outside in the big white tent, which doesn't help with the ambiance, but at least it was nice and dry and toasty on a wet and cold-by-SoCal standards evening! Everyone was very attentive and the main man was seeing to us so we couldn't really ask for anything more. Plus, he had a sense of humor. For the food, we got the polpette meatballs and caprese al pesto with burrata and prosciutto for the table. I got the strozzapretti alla norcina with porcini, Italian sausage, and black truffle. Everything was tasty and surprisingly light. The tiramisu was very cutely plated and delicious. Now I'm wondering why I didn't give them a try sooner! read more

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Ignore the fake review written below by Milk PR Group they do the PR for Olivers Osteria and Trattoria. Olivers is going downhill fast! It seems as if the owner or owners think the clientele in laguna beach is disposable now that they have a larger restaurant in Irvine, the TLC that once made this place great is all but gone. I've eaten here with family and even clients several times and have always had good experiences, however since 2021 or so they expanded into the parking lot and the ambiance is just not the same as it once was. Rest assured I will never travel to Irvine albeit not far its just not the right vibe although the restaurant is beautiful. Erik is a great chef who works extrmely hard and deserves credit but his business sense seems to be amiss and it shows in the odd choices executed in the last 3-4 years. Heres to hoping something changes for the better soon! My family and I miss the charm this place once exuded. read more

The one of the most authentic Italian restaurants here in Orange County the food is amazing. The service is great. The ambience is also great. They have a location in Irvine as well and the patio is to die for food is also amazing. I've tried their food there as well. If you're looking for a great Italian food come and try this place. read more

Oliver's Osteria - Italian Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

The venue is nice, the food is good as is the staff. I really like the pizza. But the main dining room was far too noisy for us. Can't hear those at our table talking. And, since the server would not split the check for us and another couple who ate with us, we won't be back. read more

I'm a regular and enjoy the best pasta around at Oliver's Osteria. The only time I was disappointed was when there was a mix-up on reservations. They are a small business, so I will take their word that it was an honest mistake in that other diners didn't leave as expected. read more

Enter the REI parking lot sale. Filled with romance? Slalom through the space heaters in the parking lot patio and into the cozy little shoe box with a mini-bar and a few tables. Before you set your tush on a cushion a plate of still oven warm Focaccia appears along with the Italian riff on Salsa Fresca. Lovely. The Decor: Twist around in your chair and you'll see that the walls are adorned with enlarged photos of sexy wenches on benches eating oodles of sexy noodles. Other than the bella ripazza on the walls the decor is basic beach shack chic. (Say that 10 times as fast as you can, eat a cracker and then whistle). The Staff: Other than the kitchen which is the same size as what you'd find in modest motor home, there is Gio who works every table by himself like a borrowed mule. And if a borrowed mule can be charming, he certainly is. Brother Gio knows everything about the menu and how the kitchen does what it does. Before you formulate a question, he has already read the table and your order has been written down on the ticket, plus you''ll get a tutorial on the significance of using a reduction of stock in the Ragu instead of a roux with Cream. Don't know the benefit of pasta extruded through a bronze die versus house made fresh? (Better for sauce distribution and pasta cling). Well, don't interrupt Gio, he's on a roll and you're about to find out in great detail. The Bar: Full. Lot's of cocktails. Stick to the classics. (they're easy to make and harder to screw up). I had a Tiki Tiki which was a throbbing Day-Glo Green concoction of Rhum (sp), Orgeat, (Almond Syrup), Blue Curacao, Orange, Pineapple and Pomegranate. Not exactly Italian, but not bad either. It had that Ty-D-Bowl on the rocks look to it as if it escaped from a just turned 21 party at Trader Vic's. It probably should've been served in a ceramic coconut but no matter, it was exactly as advertised. Sweet and cold. Then I tried an Eric. No, it was not a Grinder adventure but another cocktail with Amaretto, Bourbon, Orange Peel, and Walnut Bitters. It was simple and pretty damn good. Or maybe just have some wine. Gio will abide and there is a nice selection to work with. Who's in the Casa? Almost no one at 5:00 PM except the two dudes (possibly a Grinder adventure), who'd been there since the night before. Eventually, the locals started to trickle in and order their "regular" libation. Then came the First Daters, followed by the "Fun Bus" from Leisure World up the street. Even as the dining room began to fill up it was surprisingly quiet. Quiet enough to hear your table neighbor's dinner conversation even if you're interested in it. The Food: Overall, it was a yeoman like effort. First out was the Fritto Misto which had been winking at me. Crunchy is America's favorite flavor. I thought it would pair well with my deep well Tiki Tiki cooler. But the dish was indeed a cooler on it's own. The few Calamari were joined by a few Shrimp and fewer Smelt plus one Zucchini Spear along with a mini-cup of Arrabbiatta Sauce. Not enough Sauce? No worries, the same sauce shows up ladled on/over the Eggplant Parmesan, the Lasagna and anything else requiring a red sauce which will, no doubt, just wind up on your shirt anyway. While the mound of fried things held the promise of cracking a crown when it arrived it was warm but the crunch had given way to merely a bendable coating. Order it again? Yes, but not here. The Eggplant Parm was more Parm and Mozz than Eggplant which flirted with being slightly stringy and chewy. Order it again? Yes, but not here. The Meatballs stuffed with Taleggio (the Prince of Italian cheeses) came buried in "that ubiquitous Red Sauce". The cheese was lost. It was kinda like mixing Don Julio 1942 into a Margarita. Order them Meatballs again? Yes, but not here. The Lasagna was the star of the show. One of the best versions anywhere. (So, it's true. Even a blind squirrel eventually finds an acorn). The pasta sheets were cooked perfectly and retained a lovely chew, the meaty filling was still juicy and troweled on and in between those wonderful pasta sheets with the love only a Nonna can bestow. Yes, the Red Sauce was familiar but this time it was layered with a stellar Besciamella Sauce. Would I order this again? Absolutely, and only here as Oliver's has set the Lasagna bar beyond reach by other Osterias. I'd return for this Lasagna version without urgin'. read more

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This may be the strangest review I've had to make. The ambience, food, and service all had ups and downs. But overall, Michelin guide restaurants are going to get judged with strict scrutiny...also, price for what u get. So, we had reservations at 430pm because I'm old. They open at 430, but there were people at a table drinking etc...when we arrived at 418pm...we were told "we open at 430" and waited 12 minutes outside. At 430...we were seated, outside under a tent, on a pretty hot day. The group of two after us, were brought inside to to a table...wtf?! I figured the tent was maybe...idk, renovation inside? We would not have opted for the tent. The manager and server were both chill and on point. No issues there. The foccacia and tomato mix was, eh...but nothing to complain about. The special, was a chicken, inside cappolletti with a sage/parm sauce. I love sage used in italian...the sauce was amazing, th3 pasta was al dente...but the chicken seemed like an afterthought and the dish, an entrée, was literally like a handful of them on a plate...but tasted amazing!! The second entrée we ordered, the bolognese, came out like idk...12 minutes after the other entrée...this may be a weird complaint but it was an even weirder experience. Anyway, as the creator of the best bolognese in the world (I'll crush u flay!!), this bolognese was pretty pedestrian. The pasta, again, was perfect!! But there was no cheese element or spice element in the bolognese making it very one note...and...I fear...they may have used sugar. U DONT USE SUGAR IN BOLOGNESE!! Also, bolognese is not a meat sauce, meat sauce is a meat sauce...bolognese sits and lets the meat absorb the flavor of the sauce. It is not a gravy with some meat. That being said...the food was probably a 3.5...but the weird environment...being seated in a huge empty tent instead of the restaurant and all that dropped things significantly. Oh!! Dessert. Affogato...one of my favorite but simplest desserts. Essentially it's a small scoop of ice cream, that u pour a shot if espresso over. But we got like 2 scoops of ice cream on top of espresso. This may sound better to people who just live ice cream. But for real, there is a reason u pour the espresso on top, it creates the flavorscape...yeah I said flavorscape...idk if it is a word. Long story short...I'd like to give this place another chance. But for a highly rated, Michelin guide restaurant...you can't fool a Jersey Italian. read more

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Decent Italian food at a fair price. Ambiance was nothing to rave about. Not sure if it was a feature for the weather but a large drafty tent in a parking lot just does not have a romantic feel at all. Service was adequate. Decent wine selection. The food was good quality. Decently made. Above average for OC, but not the best I've had. Would give it another shot, worth checking out if you are in the area. read more

Came here for the second time and the food was just as amazing as we remembered. While the prices went up, it was to be expected, but with the quality of food they serve it really doesn't matter. I don't eat pasta so often going to an Italian restaurant is not really an option, but they have a good number of non pasta options. If you have a chance, grab a reservation and give this place a try! read more

Oliver's Osteria - Sea bass special - Italian Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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Chef Erik di Marchi is a world-class restauranteur (though I suppose the Italian equivalent of this word is more appropriate!). This is a Michelin-rated experience in a global tourist destination, so plan accordingly and reserve ahead of time. Parking is available, and there is additional city-run paid parking that is free after 7 p.m.. The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor spaces, but I personally have only dined in the outdoor space because it is so fresh and pleasant. Soft Christmas lights drape from the awning, and in the Springtime the hanging vines fill the air with the delicate scent of fresh blossoms. It is not cold outside, but I recommend bringing a light jacket in case you are particularly sensitive. The waiters are professional, prompt, and polite. Chef Erik himself often walks through to check in with his guests. He is the epitome of class. The menu is the perfect length: ten antipasti options, eleven paste options, and seven secondi options. It fits one page and covers a wide range of dietary needs and preferences. The pricing is surprisingly inexpensive in comparison to the quality and quantity of each dish: the same pricing as Olive Garden (as loath as I am to compare the two). The ingredients are treated with the culinary care and love they deserve. From the strawberries and spearmint topping the luscious pana cotta con fichi to the clams in the spaghetti allo scoglio, it is clear that each ingredient is masterfully procured and prepared. Thank you for many wonderful nights at your restaurant, Erik, and may we enjoy many, many more! read more

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Went here after wine tasting since it was right next door. It had a Michelin star posted in the front so I expected the food to be to die for. Let's start with the ambiance, felt like I was in Italy. All the waiters and waitresses spoke Italian, even yelling at each other sometimes lol. If you don't like that sorta thing you'll I took a couple stars away because the food was just ok. The salmon was over cooked and a bit salty. The risotto was super sour. They put way too much lemon. Not sure if I'll return as there are way too many Michelin star restaurants that live up to their award! read more

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