1. Romano Cucina

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Laguna Hills, CA

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Romano Cucina

4.5 (1.1k reviews)
ModerateItalian
Closed • 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM
Updated 3 weeks ago

Romano Cucina Photos

Business Info

ROMANO CUCINA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Happy hour specials
Good for kids

Recommended Reviews - Romano Cucina

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Reviews With Photos

Bread with Diavolo sauce
Michelle G.

Our favorite Italian hands down. Warm hospitality, excellent food, great value, impeccable staff and cutest decor inside. Old school Italian charm. Love! Get the eggplant parm every time.

Complementary bread and butter
Thomas L.

Went for dinner for three on a Wednesday evening. Seating was available immediately for seating indoors and outside. The free corkage fee seemed like a popular draw for Wednesdays. Bread with butter along with oil and vinegar were provided as we browsed the menu. Service was very friendly although on the slower side for both the food preparation as well as follow up service. Each of our entrees came with a large side salad to start which had a nice dressing. We got two pasta dishes and a pizza. I selected fettuccine noodles for the shrimp rosa. The pasta was well cooked, and the sauce was a good balance of spicy, acidic, and rich from the cream sauce. The shrimp weren't overcooked and the portion sizes were generous enough for us to have leftovers of all the dishes. The pizza is a thicker base similar to a new haven style pizza. The dough had a nice chew and generous portion of toppings. We ordered the tiramisu for dissert which wasn't too our taste. It was incredibly dense with an overpowering amount of alcohol in it. Presentation was great and the portion was generous, but we wouldn't get it again. Incredible value for all the items especially considering the nicer atmosphere and great service.

Dining room and bar area
John C.

This was truly a great find. Although there are many restaurants with similar names in SoCal , this is owned by a younger man. The ambience is intimate and casual and the food excellent. The staff was attentive, the portion generous and reasonably priced. All six of my family members enjoyed their own entrees. Do note that no reservation is accepted for parties with less than 6. There are truly very few places which have checked all the boxes,

Calamari Fritti
Shaza R.

Finding a quality comfort Italian food restaurant that makes you feel at home and is welcoming is such an important local eatery to have. The restaurant is lively with plenty of booths, a full bar, and lots of Italian and fun decor. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted by the sweet hostess who took our name and let us know what to expect for the wait. It was a Friday night, so the place was packed! Thankfully it didn't take long because it was the two of us. Our waiter was Reese and he was very nice and gave us some great suggestions. Everything came out fast and was hot. You can tell the restaurant has a great flow with how the staff works together and how they looked happy to be there! The food was incredible! Fresh bread, perfectly done calamari, a complimentary dinner salad, and a cheesy delicious entree. The eggplant Parmesan was some of the best I've ever had! The eggplant was perfectly tender and crispy from frying without being overdone. I asked for it spicy and it was delicious! Portion sizes surpassed my expectations so it's nice that we have leftovers (I can't wait!). We had to try a dessert since we were celebrating and the cannoli was incredible. I can't wait to come back and try other items on the menu! 5 star comfort Italian restaurant!

Cheese lasagna
Jeff B.

The have really good bread and each dinner comes with a salad. The chicken parmigiana was a big portion and you get a choice of 4 different noodles/sauces. The staff were amazing and see to your every need. Definitely recommend this place!!!!

house salad with chicken (front), Pasta Bolognese (back)
Mia G.

Romano cucinaaaaaaaaa my baeeeeeee I love youuuuu. My #1 salad on earth, literally my favorite salad ever. #1 fettuccine alfredo on earth. It is the best. Deadass. Service on 10, Ambience on 10. Best Italian restaurant fr. They need to be featured in the newspaper or something. Shout-out my #1, my goat, Romano Cucina.

Fettuccine Alfredo with chicken
Robert W.

Bro. Literally the best Alfredo in the entire world I swear to god. And the house salad. I hate salad but for some reason I can finish a large portion of their salad. This is lowkey one of my favourite restaurants ever and they honestly deserve like three Michelin stars or something because they have to be putting crack in their food Jesus Christ. Expect a wait time if going because of how popular it is! Service is always great, very family style. Got some cool mood lighting in the restaurant and very nice place for a date!

Dinner with my daughter.  Pasta and a side of chicken parmigiana to share.
Calvin C.

Service was attentive and great. Sat inside and the ambience was great as well. I really enjoyed the food. Would definitely come back.

Pasta Bolognese
Jus E.

Service was great! The ambiance was also nice typical Italian restaurant! I put 3 stars as the food wasn't as good as I was expecting... lots of people do talk about this place so I had to try it myself! The bruschetta bread was good but it was SUPER garlicky! The pasta bolognese was ok, they got my pasta order wrong as they have served me the gluten free pasta but I couldn't really say anything anymore as it took some time to arrive and of course VERY garlicky as well. The pasta bolognese came with a salad (not pictured) and it was very good very simple greens with vinaigrette and cucumbers. They do have a wonderful selection of Martinis! I got the Raspberry lemon drop which was Really good and I also tried their Espresso Martini and it was amazing! I will be coming back here for their happy hour because of the wonderful selection of Martinis but I don't think I will be here for the food. Highlight : it was too garlicky maybe they should used less garlic on their sauce... otherwise for people that loves garlic this is the place for you!

Some sort of plastic in the bread?

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Reviews are largely positive. People highlight the fresh, flavorful food, friendly, attentive service, and cozy Italian ambiance.

Read the full review summary in the app

1 month ago

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2 months ago

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4 months ago

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10 months ago

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2 months ago

Great service and delicious food. They were sensitive to my wife's gluten free allergies as well.

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5 months ago

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2 months ago

Fave italian spot. Pasta gianni is amazing! Wish it was a little bit bigger but the wait is worth it.

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2 months ago

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2 months ago

The food is great. The best part for me is that they have options for Gluten Free on the menu.

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5 months ago

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3 months ago

Food quality and quantity are both great! Sources are all homemade, very fresh. Waiter is very pleasant. Has good vibes too.

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

Thank you to the owner that clarified my original concern! Really good food here 100% would come back to give it another shot!

Business owner information

Photo of Jairo D.

Jairo D.

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Romano Cucina Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Romano Cucina

Do they take reservations?

Nope

Do you serve gluten-free pasta?

Yes, we serve gluten free pasta!

Are you now closed Mondays?

The website shows the restaurant closed on Mondays. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 5pm - 9:30pm. This is for the Laguna Hills location.

Is Romano Cucina still open?

Yes.

Does Romano Cucina have happy hour? If they do, what time?

Carla L, No, but they do have daily specials Monday-Thursday (see their website). The bar area is pretty cozy. Full menu served at the bar.

How is the Sausage and Peppers dish? I don't see too many reviews or photos on this. Did anyone have it and can comment?

It is amazing ! Really popular you should definitely try it !

Do you have a Corking Fee?

Yes, 10$ per bottle. Although on Wednesday we don’t have a corkage fee and all our wine is half price !

Dogs ok in outdoor area?

Yes, dogs are allowed on the patio

View All 17 Questions

Mangia Bene Cucina - Rigatoni Mangia Bene

Mangia Bene Cucina

3.9(952 reviews)
2.8 mi
•$$

We love the staff, food and ambiance at this restaurant. The quality of the food is excellent, and…read morethe wine is a very nice pour for the price. You feel welcomed and loved here.

I am a challenging customer because I have been the food service profession for decades. I can look…read moreat an item and tell you if it came from SYSCO, US Foods, Restaurant Depot, or some other popular source...and my familiarity can adversely impact my dining experiences. I tend to be hypercritical of both the front & back of a restaurant (kitchen staff & servers) and this skepticism is magnified when I feel the need to be catered to. Yes...I'm that guy. I have returned to Mangia Bene every time I need to impress someone or simply feel the need for great food and service that makes me feel catered to...even spoiled. They do not disappoint and Reggie manages the establishment with a watchful eye and hires very well. You can tell his staff enjoys working here and they value the patron. It's a tightly run ship decorated with crystal, linen and amazing food that stuns the eye and pleases the taste buds. The bartenders are above average as well. They can make anything and everything and you can have it your way! A slightly dirty martini with enough olives you can call it a low-cal salad? No problem. We have never been served a bad drink here. Martinis come to you with ice crystals floating...not melted like "some places" who do not know better. After a particularly brutal day, my wife & I needed a date night. We chose Mangia Bene and tried some new dishes. The appetizers were fabulous and generous...so much so we went straight to dessert afterwards because that was all we had room for. But we still ordered entrees to take home cuz great Italian food for breakfast is a wonderful thing! (New Yorkers are smiling as they read this). If you are a tough customer...if you scrutinize things like the crystal stemware, the house wine selections, expect the perfect port wine served in a proper snifter, holding a quality steak knife and other fine touches that mean something, if you know when your server is providing the ideal level of service (not stopping to check on you too often or disappearing for too long) and seek a dining experience in elegant and comfortable surroundings, then do yourself a favor and go visit Mangia Bene on a day when you need to be treated right...or have a client you need to delight. Go ahead...book your table with absolute confidence. I have been dining here for decades and never once had a negative experience. Of course, unlike the 1-star review people I am not using DoorDash or complaining about the restaurant being packed because it is so popular. There's an excellent reason for this. At Mangia Bene...they set the customer service bar so high...other restauranteurs need to charter a plane just to see it.

Photos
Mangia Bene Cucina - MANGIA BENE CUCINA, Laguna Niguel, California!  Always Fantastic & Friendly Service at their Bar!  (1/2/2026 Visit)

MANGIA BENE CUCINA, Laguna Niguel, California! Always Fantastic & Friendly Service at their Bar! (1/2/2026 Visit)

Mangia Bene Cucina - Capellini Pugliese

Capellini Pugliese

Mangia Bene Cucina - Pasta -- Shrimp rigatoni

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Pasta -- Shrimp rigatoni

Villa Roma - Ham & Cheese $1.50 Special (10/24/23). @VillaRomaRest #LagunaHills #OrangeCounty #ArgentinianFood #ItalianFood #FoodPorn

Villa Roma

3.9(833 reviews)
0.3 mi
•$$

Stellar Service and Exquisite Food!…read more I came into Villa Roma for dinner around 6:00 PM, absolutely famished. I was thrilled to be seated right away and given the choice of where to sit. My waitress was a beautiful, bilingual, and incredibly friendly woman named Berenice. She was extremely knowledgeable about the menu and clearly has a wonderful rapport with the regulars and locals. Taking her recommendation, I ordered the Entraña steak dinner plate (cooked medium) with a side of crunchy garlic fries, along with empanadas and fried calamari to start. The pacing of the meal was fantastic. The empanadas were brought out immediately, followed closely by the calamari. The flavors were so exquisite that I completely cleared both appetizer plates while enjoying my water! My main entrée arrived very shortly after. Because I enjoyed the starters so much, I was too full to finish it, but I tasted the steak and a few fries. The steak was perfectly soft and absolutely delicious! I packed the rest to-go, and ended up ordering two extra meat empanadas and a Coke Zero (partly because I needed to break a $20 bill so I could leave a cash tip!). In total, everything came out to $93.72, including the tip. I don't treat myself to a meal out like this even once every three months, but I am so glad I came. The entire staff works seamlessly together to make sure all customers are attended to super fast. I am officially a huge fan and will absolutely be back--especially for their half-price empanada Tuesdays and buy-one-get-one-free pizza Wednesdays. I cannot recommend this place enough!

Stopped in this week for a quick lunch. This place was my go-to while living in the area a few…read moreyears ago. I ordered some empanadas to start and the choripan with a side of ensalada rusa. Empanadas: Spinach empanada, the filling was to wet, too milkiy spinach not trimmed enough, and it tasted worse since it was fried. Had they controlled the picadillo prep, it wouldn't be milky. Chicken empanada- This did not taste as our traditonal empanadas, way too many spices and it was spicy, we do not do spicy, we do flavor. Chicken tasted sandy. Choripan: Poor meat quality, too chewy and grainy, I felt like I was eating sand. Bread overdone. Rusa: Bland. Overpriced for what you get and for the quality of the food. Keep it authentic, don't re-invent the wheel. I give it 2 stars for still having some great products at the market, free parking and pleasant service, but my goodness, your prices are too high compared to other Argentina establishments.

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Villa Roma - WIne

WIne

Villa Roma - Mixto;  blood sausage, regular Argentinian sausage, sweetbread, short ribs, skirt steak, flank steak.

Mixto; blood sausage, regular Argentinian sausage, sweetbread, short ribs, skirt steak, flank steak.

Villa Roma - Quilmes Lager Beer 11.5floz Poured (10/24/23). @VillaRomaRest #LagunaHills #OrangeCounty #ArgentinianFood #ItalianFood #BeerPorn

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Quilmes Lager Beer 11.5floz Poured (10/24/23). @VillaRomaRest #LagunaHills #OrangeCounty #ArgentinianFood #ItalianFood #BeerPorn

Delizie Ristorante Bar - Pappardelle al Ragu di Cinghiale. Wide ribbon pasta with a rich, hearty wild boar sauce. Subtle raisin sweetness and a touch of lemon zest.

Delizie Ristorante Bar

4.3(833 reviews)
1.0 mi
•$$

Decided it was time to return and experience their dinner menu! Snagged last-minute reservations…read morethrough OpenTable and thank goodness we did... the place was packed when we arrived! THE FOOD. - Bread & Pesto Dipping Sauce (Complimentary). The bread had a soft, spongy texture with a subtle hint of herbs, serving as an absorption base for the earthy and rich pesto sauce. - Caesar Salad. Crisp, chopped romaine hearts tossed in a garlic-forward Caesar dressing and sprinkled with shaved parmigiana. A couple of large toasted croutons top this salad for added crunch. Get it if you're into Caesar salads! - Cavalfiore Fritto. I hesitated on ordering this because it's fried cauliflower and need I say more? But, it actually turned out to be really tender and flavorful. The aioli and marinara dipping sauces were bonus complements to this already delicious appetizer. - Pappardelle al Ragu di Cinghiale. Wide ribbon pasta with a rich, hearty wild boar sauce. The combination of subtle raisin sweetness and a touch of lemon zest made every bite dynamic. Very tasty dish. - Pollo a Piacere. Chicken cutlet enveloped with a deeply savory, semi-sweet Marsala glaze. Herbaceous roasted potatoes and vegetables round out this classic main course. And I probably didn't need as much cheese on top but I can't rely on myself to say "stop" once the grater gets going. THE DRINKS. - Black Manhattan. A complex flavor profile where oaky notes of bourbon are mixed in with the bittersweet, herbal depth of the Amaro Averna. - Moscow Mule. Refreshing and crisp drink driven by a sharp, spicy ginger flavor that was balanced by the acidity of fresh lime juice. THE VERDICT. Dinner menu checks out! Service was on point and we're looking forward to coming back and trying other dishes.

Haven't been here in here for a while. It is still as good as remember. The service is great as…read morewell on our way to was attentive and friendly. Food came out quickly and accurately.

Photos
Delizie Ristorante Bar - We came late around 9pm. I'm sure this place is packed during dinner service.

We came late around 9pm. I'm sure this place is packed during dinner service.

Delizie Ristorante Bar - Black Manhattan. A complex flavor profile where oaky notes of bourbon are mixed in with the bittersweet, herbal depth of the Amaro Averna.

Black Manhattan. A complex flavor profile where oaky notes of bourbon are mixed in with the bittersweet, herbal depth of the Amaro Averna.

Delizie Ristorante Bar - Moscow Mule. Refreshing and crisp drink driven by a sharp, spicy ginger flavor that was balanced by the acidity of fresh lime juice.

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Moscow Mule. Refreshing and crisp drink driven by a sharp, spicy ginger flavor that was balanced by the acidity of fresh lime juice.

CUCINA Enoteca - bucatini amatriciana

CUCINA Enoteca

4.0(3.3k reviews)
5.6 mi
•$$$

what a beautiful venue and delicious food. but I'll mostly return because of the incredibly…read morefriendly and fun staff. Bartender was attentive, made a delicious lavender ginger gin beverage. And Becah and other wait sgaff were wonderful!!

Nothing changes for me that NY has the best Italian pound for pound in the US. That said, there are…read moregood Italian places in California and this is one of them. First and foremost, it's in Irvine Spectrum which is a HOT MESS getting in and out on a weekend. So just prep for a lot of time to find parking and walking here. But once you get here, the roomy restaurant is eclectic and ultimately a fun place to have dinner as a group. Not great for dates because it's so loud but perfect if you want to have a group dinner. The service is great, with frequent check ins and when our server realized she had given us the wrong dish, she fixed it and gave the other dish on the house with no hesitation. I like that you can order some dishes family style as it brings that Italian family restaurant vibe. We got a pepperoni pizza, the soppressata pizza, the rigatoni bolognese, the bucatini amatriciana, and the whole fish to share amongst 6 of us. I didn't love the pepperoni pizza with the sweet/savory combo but some people love that. I much preferred the soppressata pizza which had tangy, spicy, and meaty flavors all combined with creamy cheese and a just sturdy enough crust. I didn't love the whole fish as the flavor lacked a little but it was a nice break from all the carbs. The bucatini amatriciana is classic in its flavors and a crowd favorite. Perfectly al dente pasta and hearty meaty flavors. The rigatoni was different in terms of contrast in flavors with the brightness and tartness of the lemon contrasting the creaminess of the ricotta. If the pasta had been cooked just a minute longer. All in all, other than the location, it was a fun meal and that's all you can ask for.

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CUCINA Enoteca - Cucina Enoteca interior

Cucina Enoteca interior

CUCINA Enoteca - Roasted Garlic Rosemary Focaccia

Roasted Garlic Rosemary Focaccia

CUCINA Enoteca - Short Rib Mafaldine

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Short Rib Mafaldine

Peppino's Pizzeria - Penne Pasta. A classic. Marinara sauce was flavorful & well-balanced, with a touch of acidity from the tomatoes & a hint of herbs.

Peppino's Pizzeria

4.2(500 reviews)
2.5 mi
•$$

We used to go to the Peppino's on Niguel Rd. when the kids were little. We picked up a Too Good to…read moreGo bag a couple of days ago from the Aliso location and...it was an awesome reunion. The food was fantastic. Nice salad with dressing on the side, spaghetti with marinara sauce, bread and MEATBALLS. I'm not a huge spaghetti fan...it was delicious. The salad was fresh. The bread seemed home made but I don't need to be talked into liking bread. So let's talk about the meatball. BEST meatball I've EVER had. PERIOD. And I'm highly qualified to judge. I just called the kitchen manager to thank him for such exquisite attention to the art of meatballs. He was a super nice guy so any time you have a compliment, he's THE guy. Their pizza is excellent. Their service is so friendly, the location is so convenient. We need to keep these nice family businesses in town. Okay? They are the best!

We were visiting my son the other day, and he picked up dinner for us. He ordered Spaghetti with…read moretwo meatballs, Meat Lasagna, a kid's portion of Fettuccini Alfredo, an Assorted Bread Platter (which came with Pepperoni Bread, Sausage Roll, and Spinach Roll), and a Side Salad with Cream Italian dressing. I tasted everything except for the Sausage Roll and the Pepperoni Bread. My toddler granddaughter went crazy over the Fettuccini Alfredo! She kept wanting more, more, more! I have to say, it was really good. I enjoyed everything except the Spinach Roll, which was really salty. I really loved the salad dressing! I hope to eat here again the next time I'm in the area.

Photos
Peppino's Pizzeria - Kitchen

Kitchen

Peppino's Pizzeria - Garlic Bread. Also soft and chewy, infused with garlic flavor and sprinkled with Italian herbs -- a great side for the pasta.

Garlic Bread. Also soft and chewy, infused with garlic flavor and sprinkled with Italian herbs -- a great side for the pasta.

Peppino's Pizzeria - Sausage. Juicy and savory, with a rich, slightly fatty texture and mildly spiced. Goes with the pasta.

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Sausage. Juicy and savory, with a rich, slightly fatty texture and mildly spiced. Goes with the pasta.

Romano Cucina - italian - Updated October 2026

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