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March 2024 by Virna Villagomez
We love the food, the wine is great and reasonably priced, and we are treated like
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March 2024 by Jennifer Robertson
Never went wrong with anything we order. The pasta al forno is the best. The mushrooms and polenta with goat cheese ? amazing. Great size location, great atmosphere, nice staff..and again always whatever you order is the bomb. ???
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February 2024 by Craig Kennedy
After living in Italy for a couple years and traveling back frequently, I am extremely picky about Italian restaurants. This place completely surprised me. The food was amazing. You can tell the chef takes pride in the little details. I will make the trip back from Utah just to have the rosemary-lemon panna cotta again. Must try!!
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January 2024 by Elenex xenelE
Super clean, fresh, friendly. What an absolute
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January 2024 by Jane Owens
When you walk into this place, it almost gives you an old school saloon/dive bar vibe, but the food surprised us all! I got the rigatoni bolognese but you need to order a side or pomodoro sauce to add to it, if you like your bolognese more on the saucy side like I do. My friend got the Bucatini All Amatriciana and hers was by far the most tastiest of all the pasta dishes! You have to order a side of their peppers (there was a name I can't think of it though), it adds a little spice to each bite. My husband got the Pasta Al Forno, thats the image that has all the baked cheese on top, he loved his- ate it all. And my friend's bf got the Orecchiette Baresi (only because they were all out of their lamb meat balls that go with their Spaghetti Polpette). I liked all the pasta dishes, would recommend trying all of them. We also got the Funghi Pizza, which is small (comes with 4 slices), to start as an appetizer along with the marinated olives and their fried artichoke hearts. I would definitely come back here during the week when they have their happy hour!
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January 2024 by Rosemary Jones
Excellent food, family run. A step back in time. Happy hour from 4-6 daily. No charge for sharing. Big amounts, delicious! Reasonable prices. Worth returning. A real treasure!Parking: It's a corner restaurant in a small strip mall, w many parking spaces.
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January 2024 by Carri kranz
Get the parpadelle funghi... you're
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December 2023 by Zenaida Caro
Food price is reasonable. Food was good, everybody happy with what they got. Atmosphere was okay.
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November 2023 by Osman Trad
Great food and bars and very nice park to
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November 2023 by Baby K
I really wanted to like this place me and my mom came in the other day because of the reviews they were shortstaffed, but that wasn’t the issue I ordered the house salad just came with lettuce and two tomatoes Clams, which were very spicy, which overpowered the whole dish, and on top of that I ordered chicken piccata, and the chicken was rubbery, and the sauce was so over powering And there was a smell, I wasn’t going to write a review, but what really upset me is that the owner came up to me and started arguing about how her chicken is the best chicken and no one has ever sent it back and she told me just tell me you didn’t like it which I thought was weird why are you arguing with Customer trying to prove to me that your Chicken is the best well I’m sorry in this instance it wasn’t that good maybe the chef had an off day but the owners very condescending there’s way better Italian restaurants save your money and your time food is mediocre I would never come back here again
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October 2023 by Meighan F.
We loved this place. Great food! We had the bolognese. The bread is delicious. Our new favorite place
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October 2023 by Philip P
Great Italian food in a cozy warm setting with creamy pasta and fulfilling veal
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October 2023 by Jeff M.
Pappardelle Funghi is amazing - don't hesitate on this one. The truffle and mushroom taste lingers in your mouth for a while after you eat it. It is simply one of the best things you will eat. The pasta is cooked perfect but the subtle mushroom flavors are perfection. If you are not a fan of mushrooms then you may not enjoy it but then we can't be friends.However - if they have the black squid ink pasta, then you have to jump on it. It is amazing and it will sell out quick. It is slightly spicy but not in a way that is annoying if that makes sense. The pasta here is made to match with the great wines they offer. But in our case, we went with some cocktails - the espresso martini is one the best i've had, it is very smooth and takes the spice off the squid ink pasta. Can't taste the kahlua or vodka, its mixed in very well, so it just tastes like cold coffee - dangerous. The sidecar is exceptional. A slight twist is the brandy, makes is a different drink but it works great with the food, not as sweet as a normal sidecar, which was my preference.When you walk in this place, it feels like a mom-and-pop shop, which I love. The place is set up so you can enjoy quiet conversations and a meal. You can tell someone with experience working restaurants set this place up, efficiency without the clutter. We came with a group and had a great time. Our server Jaime was a delight, this guy was busting his tail to make sure we had a good time. His recommendations were spot on and his enthusiasm was contagious. Really had a great time at this place.
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October 2023 by Three Short
This place looks suspect sitting in a strip mall but it is absolutely worth your time. Great food, great service, great people.Kid-friendliness: Staff was super friendly and personable.
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September 2023 by Sarah M.
In my relentless quest for decent eats in OC, a task Herculean outside the vibrant Asian food scene, I was on a crusade. Oysters, the elusive treasures of the sea, were playing hard to get. With no oyster deals in sight, I took a detour down the clam and mussel avenue on Yelp. Lo and behold, Al Forno Caffe emerged like a culinary lighthouse.As I pulled into the parking lot, it was as congested as a Monday morning freeway. I sauntered inside, only to find a dining room as vacant as an alien abduction scene. I didn't want to be "that girl" occupying an entire table for one, so I moseyed on over to the bar. After all, I was here for appetizers - not to stage a solo dining takeover.With a whopping 12 years of experience in the food and beverage industry under my belt, I knew the golden rule: solo diners should never hog a whole table. So, bar it was! But enough about bar etiquette - on to the main course of this culinary tale.I set my sights on the Caesar salad, seduced by tantalizing online images that promised heaps of authentic dressing and cheese, potentially homemade. Reality, however, slapped me like a wet noodle. The dressing was clearly not living its best life in a bottle - tasteless, like a mime at a silent movie. I wished I'd asked for more pepper, but by then, it was too late. Two bites in, and the salad was donezo. I can't hold that against them though. 98% of restaurants will make you an authentic Cesar out of their fear for raw egg. Thank god they didn't attempt that considering the rest of this story. Enter the clams - the saviors of my taste buds. They weren't your typical Thai-style clams, but they did sport a cheeky chili kick. Combined with the garlic, butter, and wine dance in the broth, it was like a flavor fiesta in my mouth. I wolfed down the whole plate in what felt like a world record-breaking three minutes, max. That toasted bread? I loved it, but it was like bringing a toothpick to a food fight. I even plucked croutons from the Caesar salad remnants, but still, it wasn't enough. Eventually, I was spooning broth like it was liquid gold. Flawless.Now, let's talk service. Despite the ghost town vibe, our server was a lively one. He was as personable as your favorite sitcom character, cracking jokes faster than a peanut butter jar at a squirrel convention. And let's not forget his sales prowess - he convinced me to stay for an entree when all I wanted was a nibble. In the eyes of a manager or owner, he was the superstar server we all secretly aspire to be.Fast forward a few weeks, and I'm back for an encore - clam encore, that is. The place is still emptier than a library during a rave. I place my order and watch as another patron arrives, a tale of woe in tow. She had gifted a friend a card, only to find it was as empty as her social calendar. Embarrassing, indeed. They sorted her out financially, but I couldn't help but salute her for her patience.Then, my clams arrived, and it was like déjà vu - but not the good kind. A clam crunch, a fishy taste, and a glimpse at cracked clams. Clams, unlike oysters, aren't supposed to arrive wearing shells. When cooked, they should open up like a blossoming flower, unless they've decided to kick the bucket prematurely. My detective skills went into overdrive, and I concluded that these clams had met their maker before reaching my plate. I had a chat with my server, who investigated with the fervor of Sherlock Holmes. The manager even ventured into the kitchen. Their verdict? "Some clams arrive this way." Cue the suspenseful music.In silence, I mulled over the decision to serve these shell-shocked clams. With my immune issues and a history of ICU visits that rivals a Netflix binge, I couldn't risk a dance with food poisoning. I politely declined the offer of a replacement dish, opting instead for my check. I wanted to leave a tip, despite my reservations. But when I asked for change for my $20 bill, the manager's reaction was like I'd just asked for the secret sauce reci
