Mama D's Italian Kitchen is one of those places that feels like home the minute you walk in. You…read moreinstantly feel welcomed into Mama D's house, and you can taste that love in the food. I went with the build-your-own pasta, penne with Mama D's original pink sauce and shrimp. Nothing fancy, just simple and delicious. And of course I had to have a Peroni with it, my favorite Italian beer. This is definitely one of my favorite Italian spots for any time of the day, but I especially love coming here during the winter. There's just something about the cozy, warm, family feeling that makes it even better.

Visited Mama D's on a Thursday night and it was a wonderful experience! The place was very lively,…read morebut right away we were greeted by a super friendly hostess and we only had to wait around 10 min for a table of 4. It felt like the perfect neighborhood Italian joint, not too prissy at all but comfortable and warm. Our server Caden was super friendly and attentive! He recommended the pink sauce which was absolutely delicious. We really enjoyed our food and the portions were very generous! I was also in heaven as a vegetarian, as most of the pastas are already vegetarian, and you can add protein for an extra charge. So there were so many options which was really exciting for me haha. The cherry on top of our amazing meal was when they brought out warm cookies for us with our check. It was such a nice touch that we appreciated :) Would definitely come back here!!

We had such a great experience at Buona Forchetta! We started with the gluten-free focaccia bread…read moreand Burrata Caprese, both delicious. For dinner, I had the penne pesto with chicken, which was full of flavor and so good. Our friends ordered a gluten-free pasta dish and gluten-free pizza, and they absolutely loved both. The pizza had an especially great texture and the flavors were delicious--it's always nice to find a restaurant with such good gluten-free options! The service was quick, friendly, and efficient, making the whole experience even better. We all enjoyed our meals and will definitely be back!

Really Good Food, With a Few Misses…read more We had a reservation and arrived right when they opened. Overall, we had a really good meal. The service was good--not amazing, but certainly nothing to complain about--and pretty much everything we ordered was very good. We started with the calamari and added the "five jumbo shrimp" for an extra $8. The calamari itself was excellent, especially with the red sauce that comes with it. The only disappointment was the shrimp. They were definitely not what I would consider jumbo--actually pretty small. We ran into the same issue later when I added five shrimp to my bucatini. The focaccia was a 10/10. Absolutely amazing. Easily one of the highlights of the meal. Both salads we ordered were huge and delicious. Great portions and really fresh. Now, the pizza. I'm a pizza snob, and this was very close to the pizza I've had in Italy. The dough was perfectly chewy with a really nice char underneath, and the toppings were excellent. My wife ordered the Martina, which had mozzarella, pepperoni, red onion, oregano, crushed red pepper, arugula and truffle oil. It was a lot going on in one bite, and honestly pretty difficult to pick up and eat, but that's part of the deal with Neapolitan pizza. All of those flavors came together really well. My dad had the lasagna, my two kids split a cheese pizza, and I ordered the bucatini and added porcini mushrooms. The porcini mushrooms were fantastic and really elevated the pasta. One other thing worth mentioning: two people at our table ordered the local blonde beer, and both beers came out with an excessive amount of foam. They were waiting around 10 minutes for their beers, and a lot of the beer was essentially going down the drain because of the foam. Hopefully that was just a one-off issue. Overall, we had a great meal and I would definitely come back. The food was the star of the show, especially the focaccia, salads and pizza. The shrimp situation was disappointing considering the "jumbo" description and extra charge, and there were a couple of service/beverage issues, but neither would keep me from returning.

We've dined in at Molo several times and it's always great. Date night and with the kids. Tonight I…read morewas feeling lazy and decided to Door Dash an order. The driver only dropped off two out of the four items we ordered so I called the restaurant. They asked me for the missing items and my address and said they would have it delivered. When my door bell rang it was Piero, the owner of the restaurant. Didn't expect to see him at the door but he was very nice and apologetic. We will definitely be visiting Molo more often! Thank you Piero!

My wife and I had dinner here last night as part of our anniversary celebration, and man... Molo…read morereally knocked it out of the park! We live super close by on the peninsula and have been wanting to try it for awhile, but for one reason or another always picked one of our favorite spots over giving them a shot. We will not only be going back regularly, but recommending it to friends & family! It really did remind us quite a bit of the coastal spots around Amalfi in Italy we went to on our honeymoon a couple years back. Everything was absolutely outstanding - the ambiance, the service (from Alex who was great), the cocktails & the food! HELPFUL INFO for first timers: Since I didn't see a drink menu beforehand on their website or in any reviews, most cocktails are $18 as of October 2026. The corkage fee was also $30, we brought our own wine to have with the meal itself after trying a few of their cocktails. Parking is free which was really nice, especially since most restaurants of this caliber in NPB do valet if you're wanting to park in their lot. What we ordered: Espresso martini, Lido Old Fashioned, Negroni - all fantastic cocktails. Beef tartare which was STELLAR and a MUST order IMO - the thinly shaved raspadura cheese they put on there is sooo . We shared some garlic bread - nice & soft on the inside, with a crunch on the outside. I got the Lasagna which was definitely fantastic, but my wife did out-order me with the Cacio y Pepe pasta which was truly next level. All pasta is fresh which is good news cause I can't stand anything else after my wife started making it fresh a few years back lol. All in all, an absolutely killer date night for about 200 bucks pre-tip. We'll be back very, very soon!

Absolutely delicious! From the vibe to the service to the food. The staff was impeccable…read more We ordered red wine, cant recall which Italian one it was but it was a lighter red. 10/10 Cesar salad 10/10 no notes Ravioli gamberi e tartufo 10/10 cooked beautifully. Very decadent Acqua pazza 10/10 an absolute must order. Super light and flavorful. It is served with the broth on the side but it is intended to be totally poured over the fish. Would come back here just for this. Perfection. Will definitely return

I've now been to Bello three times, and this visit reminded me why I keep coming back. My first…read moretime was spectacular. We loved our server, and it was perfect. My second visit, also on Valentine's Day, was a different story. Our reservation was late at 8:30, and I get that it was Valentine's Day, but the servers were so inattentive that we were debating whether we'd even come back. It just didn't hit the expectations from the first time. I'm so glad that this third visit, which was a birthday celebration, brought that high standard of service right back. Everything we ordered was really good. We got the Dolce Diavola pizza, the pasta Norcia, and the Acqua Pazza with branzino, fish stock, baby heirloom tomatoes, chopped parsley, and lemon. Standouts: - Pasta Norcia: the truffle made it a definite favorite - Pizza: really good, thanks to that dough - Yuzu panna cotta: the highlight of the entire meal, and I would go again just for this dessert Not quite: - Crudo of the week: we can skip it. It sounded great on paper but didn't deliver on flavor. - Branzino: it's branzino. Cooked perfectly, just nothing crazy. A really well done branzino.

Booking Cucina for a full patio buyout was seamless from start to finish. Tiffany Tassano was a…read morepleasure to work with and made the entire planning process enjoyable and stress-free. Onsite, the team was exceptionally attentive, with plenty of servers available to ensure guests were well taken care of throughout the event. The food was absolutely delicious, and the staff was accommodating to dietary restrictions and food allergies. I highly recommend Cucina for your next event or private booking!

The entire restaurant has a very artistic atmosphere, from the wine display and wall art to the…read morelighting and greenery. Every detail is thoughtfully designed, making the space feel warm and inviting. Every corner is picture-perfect! I especially love the outdoor seating area, surrounded by fresh flowers and greenery. It's a great spot for dates or gatherings with friends. Everything we ordered was delicious, and none of the dishes disappointed! Baby Beet + Pickled Kohlrabi Sweet baby beets paired with pickled kohlrabi. Refreshing, light, and full of interesting textures. Margherita Pizza Classic Italian-style pizza with simple toppings and a thin, crispy crust. The kids absolutely loved it! Shrimp Puttanesca Linguine The shrimp were fresh and really large. The sauce was rich and flavorful, with a touch of olives and capers that made every bite even better. Wagyu Braised Short Rib The beef was incredibly tender and practically melted in my mouth. It was delicious with the cheese and definitely my favorite main dish of the day! Burnt Brussels Sprouts I originally thought this would just be a simple side dish, but the portion was surprisingly generous! The sprouts were perfectly charred on the outside and tender on the inside, with a wonderful aroma. They completely changed my impression of Brussels sprouts. Tiramisu Another generous portion! Rich and creamy, with a beautiful balance of coffee and cocoa flavors. Sweet but not overly sweet. Overall, the atmosphere, service, and food were all excellent. It's a lovely place for a date, a family meal, or a gathering with friends. I'd definitely come back!

My husband and I love this place. I LOVE the vibe of this restaurant. I've only ever been seated…read moreoutside, and I intend to never be seated indoors because their outdoor patio seating is beautiful. Very romantic feeling. Great for a date night. The food is excellent. Authentic, fresh, delicious. The service is 7/10. Which I don't entirely hold against them. It can get very crowded and busy. But sometimes you're left needing a drink refill for a while. We have been coming here for several years for our special occasions. Admittedly we have had one bad food experience. But it was Valentine's Day a couple years back, which is notoriously a bad day to eat out anyway. They have redeemed themselves since. I would just advise to not go on a holiday, for the demand of the crowd and limited staff may be why the quality in food dipped that evening. We were just here a month ago to celebrate a birthday, and I have just made a reservation for tomorrow night. Very much looking forward to it.

Got lucky with a belly hungry for pizza last time in Newport and it will now be a staple for my…read morewife and I every time we come to OC. Best authentic Italian food outside of Italy that we've found so far!

I am late to write this review but we have been coming to romano since it opened on the peninsula…read more They have die hard staff who have stayed since they opened and I love that when we dine here, we recognize the staff. Here are some of the dishes that we just can't get enough of. Our usual go to's are: sauteed mushrooms appetizer, pesto fettucine with shrimp and the chicken parmesan with rosa sauce. Please do not skip dessert. Their cheesecake is one of the best I've ever had (including NYC cheesecake). Each month they have a different flavor cheesecake and literally every flavor we have tried has been phenomenal. We even ordered a full pumpkin cheesecake for Thanksgiving ($90) and it was the star of the dinner. Our entire dinner party LOVED the cheesecake. Once we tell our daughter we are going to Romano for dinner, she will immediately say "If I eat my dinner, can I have cheesecake?" Romano is incredible italian food on the peninsula (psssst, it's 1000% better than Mama D's!)

Was in the area with my friend and chose to have an early dinner here. Definitely wasn't…read moredisappointed! The place has a very cozy and homey vibe with many pictures showcasing its beautiful Italian history. I ordered the chicken alfredo, and it was splendid. Pasta was al dente, the sauce was rich and creamy, there was nothing to complain about. We were also given complimentary bread and butter plus a salad. Our waitress was so nice, checking up on us if we needed anything throughout our time there. I'm so glad we stumbled upon this restaurant!

It was a lovely experience, and I know that Franco is a wonderful chef, and Donatella a…read moremagnificent hostess. I brought 6 of my friends for dinner, and the fish dishes were great, but unfortunately the lasagna and cannelloni was over salted on all three pasta dishes. Because of the kindness and great wines and old world charm and ambiance of the restaurant I would definitely return, and just try a chicken or fish dish next time.

This restaurant is located on PCH across from the beach. Metered parking on PCH is available (free…read moreafter 6 pm) and there's also a valet for $10, but the lot is small. If you're sensitive to noise this may not be the place for you. It's a small restaurant and it's hard to hear the person next to you speaking. They offer an outdoor patio which doesn't seem bad on a nice summer night. My friend Bonnie treated us to dinner. She ordered the garlic and focaccia bread as starters. Portions are generous for one, but not quite enough for sharing unless you add a side. We each had our own entree and only 1 person had a glass of wine. With tip dinner for 4 was $280.

Il Farro has always been my go to date night location. I used to come here while in college with my…read moreboyfriend who is now my husband! It feels great to come back and feel the nostalgia of what Il farro was. Of course they have had some renovations since 2011 but to our surprise they still have my husband's favorite dish! The carne misto is still a huge hit, perfectly prepared, spiral pasta, steak, chicken and sausage *chef's kiss* My menu favorite has always been the fusilli. The pink sauce is heavenly. The staff is so friendly, accommodating and Rose is amazing. Shayla was our server and she was so sweet and on top of everything. This little spot is still kicking and the food is still comforting and filling. We tried their new honey bread with their pesto dip and WOW! The bread soaked in the pesto dip was AMAZING. Highly recommend.

Unfortunately this restaurant failed on a number of different fronts, which was a disappointment…read moregiven my wife and I came here for a date night based on the positive reviews. Service was mediocre, with a bunch of untrained high school/college age student servers who don't know how to smile, make someone feel welcome, or even thank them for coming when they drop off the bill. Restaurant iself is a nice cozy corner spot in downtown Newport, which recreates the Italian vibe well with beautiful pictures of Italian coastline. However, that's where the authenticity stops. My wife's salmon was dry, and had a really bad smell, as though it were frozen for a long time then cooked. My fettucine alfredo had no flavor, I think it had no butter, and really no taste. It's a very hard dish to get wrong, yet somehow they did. No herbs, no seasoning, nothing. Just a completely tasteless, flavorless heap of cream with undercooked pasta. Wine was also super cheap and gave me a headache immediately. The distinct vibe I get is this is a place that might have been good at one point, but has been forced to cut costs across the board, particularly in the cooking, serving and managing departments.

The food is delicious. The service is great. The price is good for the value. The bar is small and…read morefills up with locals. It is in a large mall which dominates the parking by other tenants like Javier's.

We were gifted a gift card to this restaurant that we had never been to before. Decided to give it…read morea try and invite a few friends. The service was great but the food was even better!! Everything we ordered from appetizers to desserts, tasted amazing! I don't eat pasta, but they offered a veggie option instead of pasta, which I appreciated. I ordered the veal chop, it was the best I have ever had! We all decided we wanted to come back! Such a fun and delicious Italian restaurant!