Best Italian Restaurants in Newport Beach

First time visitors to this restaurant but apparently original location is out in SD Parking would appear to be the parking structure with validation but for a limited time and street parking Reservation on open table or walk in Hostess stand is located outside the entrance with a small ramp leading to it Pretty white stone exterior Indoor and outdoor dining - unsure if dog friendly space but the outdoor space was well lit and heated Open kitchen to see enclosed by glass Variety of wines and house made drinks available Vegan vegetarian GF options House made pasta, appetizers, baked items, salads and desserts Ordered the Brussels sprouts and make your bucatini pasta with guanciale and house buona forchetta sauce Our server Omar was friendly efficient approachable and explain all the things - the food runner and busser was just as friendly and personable Food came out quick Pasta was fresh, hearty, good bite, size of dish easy to share, the house sauce had a peppery cream richness but not overpowering Brussels sprouts were a favorite with the glaze and crispness The puff pastry dessert was not overly sweet with vanilla custard and fresh fruit layered / easy to share and satisfy a sweet tooth without feeling guilty Will certainly return to try other things Good spot for group outing, celebration, date night, try something new, and catch up with pals Wonderful spot, indeed!

Undeniably the best steak and lamb I've ever eaten! The service is top notch. Love the atmosphere in here. It feels so homey and comfortable. If I could afford to eat here every night, I would.

One of our favorite CDM restaurants. Love the garlic bread! Love the spaghetti Marmonte, a house specialty. Always friendly, personable and attentive service. a neighborhood gem.

We had a great meal, accompanied by great service and lovely ambiance, at the Newport Beach location this evening. Highly recommend!

Excellent food, as always - we travel to Italy twice a year (mainly for the food ;-), and as on our first visit, this was up there on par with excellent food in Italy. The Arancini were perfect - I thought they were slightly too large to be perfect, but they were perfect... Rucola e carciofi salad wonderful and very Italian. Mom loved her risotto al mare (I don't think any seafood here can begin to compete with Italian, but that's more a source problem - her risotto & scampi were cooked perfectly al dente and creamy, I wasn't as enamored of the mussels - they just aren't the same here - no one's fault). My teeny assistant ate her entire bowl of cacao e pepé and three pieces of garlic bread, so that says it all. My gnocchi al gamberi was absolutely perfection. The shrimp were fine, but the gnocchi in pink sauce sublime. No room for dessert but mom took home the Nutella Bread pudding and said it was perfect. Service was generally good, the owner went out of his way to make sure we were comfortable, but there was a large party in the next room and they were spread a bit thin. And they were very sweet to let me speak my fractured Italian to them the whole time.