Ohhhhh Mama D's, me and my fellas spent a weekend in newport and were addicted to mama's d. From…read morethe moment i stepped into mama's i felt the overwhelming charm of a freshly trimmed server by the name of Cam or (Flow-God). Ive never seen such a trim haircut. Not only did the food taste good but Cam served them with upmost grace, poise and dignity. Cam taught me how to start my Roth IRA along with giving me life altering advice (gone well). Additionally Nicki was a ray of moonshine, checking in more than i do for my private flights to Barbados, where i invited Cam to stay for Christmas. Come in here (mama d's) for a meal and you will leave with a new sense of self respect thanks to Cam and Mama d her dang self. CAM is a teacher and I wish i could personally study under him. Thank you Cam, Nicki and Mama D's P.S. theres not enough money on this planet to compensate Cam and Nicki enough. Gracias, Salud and Bienvanidos

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.

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!

A hidden gem!…read more Possibly the best Italian food I have had in California... better than some of the food I had in Italy! I have been here twice. Both experiences very positive. Most recently we came to celebrate my mom's birthday. We were a party of six with a baby. Everyone loved their meals. I had the wild boar pasta and it was out of this world! My husband had the filet mignon and it was cooked perfectly. We sat outside under the olive trees which was beautiful. The restaurant was busy with lots of large parties and an engagement party. Our server Miguel was outstanding and communicative, sharing that we should place our orders early since the kitchen is backed up. He was extremely professional and patient with our large group. Also, the parking is incredible. Parking on the peninsula has always been horrible, it was so refreshing to have parking so close to the restaurant that was free! I can't wait to go back!

I had Bello on my list to try for a while and I finally had a chance during a business dinner…read more We ordered the calamari and porchettina to start. The calamari was tender and the breading light and crispy. The porchettina was delicious. The pork was well seasoned and the crunchy skin provided a delightful texture change. The relish topping really balanced the richness of the pork with its tangy and sweet flavor. I ordered the norcia for my entree and it was also well done. The pasta was al dente which is critical for any pasta dish. The sauce was well seasoned, rich, and creamy. Overall, the food was delicious and the service was attentive and knowledgeable. I will definitely come back to try their pizzas which also looked great.

Really disappointing experience tonight. We waited about an hour after our appetizer before our…read moreentrees finally arrived, and the food was cold. We were never offered bread, and no one asked if I wanted another glass of wine, so I ended up eating my entire meal without anything to drink. My partner's beer was also flat. We ordered a super simple pomodoro and the sauce tasted like spaghetti-oh's, although, the pasta was cooked well. I do want to give credit to our server, Camryn. She was lovely, very apologetic, and clearly doing the best she could under the circumstances. She explained that they were very short-staffed tonight. The hostess was also incredibly sweet and welcoming. I completely understand that staffing issues happen, and I don't blame Camryn at all, but waiting an hour for cold food and having drinks and basic service overlooked made for a pretty disappointing dinner. Hopefully tonight was just an off night because the staff we interacted with were genuinely lovely. The patio was nice, and they allow dogs outside. Unfortunately, we're stopping for food on the way home.

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!

Tonight we went to Cucina Enoteca to celebrate a very special birthday with dear friends, and…read moreeverything was simply wonderful. From the beautiful welcome we received from the hostess to the food, wine, atmosphere, and service, everything was perfect. We decided to sit outside because I had my dog with me, and I didn't realize that happy hour was only available at the bar. Of course, that completely made sense. But when I explained the situation to our waitress, Halle, she kindly spoke with Luke, the Assistant General Manager/Sommelier, and he generously made an exception and allowed us to enjoy happy hour at our table because we had our dog with us. That small gesture meant so much. Not every restaurant would go out of its way to do something like that. I made sure to personally thank Luke for his kindness, and he even came by later to check on us and make sure everything was going well. That says a lot. And Halle was wonderful throughout the evening--so kind, attentive, and professional. And one more little detail that made me smile: thank you for bringing back the wish in the women's restroom! It's such a small, special touch, but I had missed it the last time we were there, so seeing it again tonight made me happy. There are so many wonderful places to choose from, especially here in Newport Beach and Corona del Mar, and I truly appreciate when a restaurant stands out not only for its food, but for its professionalism, kindness, and genuine hospitality. Cucina Enoteca, you were a WOW tonight. The food, the wine, the atmosphere, and especially the people who took care of us made our celebration even more special. We can't wait to come back. Thank you for a beautiful evening! Cheers!

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.

i celebrated my birthday here and it was such a sweet time!…read more came on a weekday evening and had a reservation but the place was pretty empty. parking is free at the pier after 6 too! the staff were all so nice and kind! i really felt welcomed and appreciated there. it feels cozy with mom&pop vibes. i really am rooting for their success besides the friendly service, the food was amazing! i got the fusilli which had a pink sauce + chicken and mushrooms. it was so good - i ate everything! the clams and mussels appetizer was also the best ive had. i rarely like mussels but these tasted delish. all my family members enjoyed their dishes! we've found a new favorite italian spot :)

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.

My girlfriends took me here to celebrate my engagement tonight as this was where my fiancee and I…read morehad our first date. So cute and they brought me flowers and a bottle of champagne to celebrate. The server congratulated me for the special occasion but never brought a dessert or anything celebratory for the special occasion. Everything was wonderful and delicious, but missing out on taking the opportunity to celebrate this special moment where my friends brought me to celebrate this special occasion where we came for our first date was such a missed moment by your establishment. What a disappointment.

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!