The best Italian restaurant around. Leah the friendliest and most amazing bartender. I love this place!!!

What a Suprise. Tucked away in a shopping center off the beaten path we found a gem. Mission Viejo, not known for its classy restaurants and this place has survived for some time. Don't know how we missed it. We had early reservations and am glad we did as when we left 2+ hours later the place was full. People were even seated on the patio on a night that was quite fidget. I'm sure the heated helped. We were greeted by the hostess and escorted to our table. They then made an extra effort to decorate the table in honor of my birthday. Birthday hat and all. The wait staff was attentive and very knowledgeable. Our server knew the menu items and was a big help in helping us make choices. Our drinks were made to perfection. The bartender was tasked with making a gin and tonic with something extra. What we got was a G&T with cucumber and it was outstanding. The food orders were also made more complicated by special requests. The kitchen staff came through like the pros they are. My Spaghetti Dello Scoglio came with an ample amount of seafood that was cooked just right. The daily special was prepared perfectly, as were the risotto dishes. We finished the evening off with the Tiramisu, which you need to leave room for. Overall, a great birthday experience here in my back yard. Who would have guessed.

Located in the East side of Mission Viejo, just off of Los Alisos near the 241, we have seen this place for awhile now but never had a chance to try it. This week was our first visit and it was a great experience. The service is top notch without being hoity toity... servers are on point with helpful service. You can sit inside or out on the patio and either choice is good. Before you make a meal decision, wait to hear the specials as they are well thought out and will likely make you reconsider whatever you planned to order. As others have said, the pasta is fresh made but I don't think it is made on site.. not sure to be honest. It's really good no matter what. Wine list is extensive so you will for sure be able to get a great glass or bottle.

I cannnnnnooootttt stop thinking about the butternut squash ravioli! My mouth is literally watering while thinking about it right now! We also got the risotto balls, I could eat about 10 of these easy!!! I absolutely love this restaurant my first time coming to it for my birthday. Everybody was so nice. Specially the owner Sal and our server Jorge R. We came on a Tuesday and 100% could see why it was so busy!!! The food, ambiance and staff are wonderful!!! I can't wait to return !!! People of you want real Italian look no further !!!!

Only commenting on behalf of the roasted half chicken plate. My god, I will never get any other dish on the menu after trying this one. Rich with flavor but not overwhelming, fantastic portion size, and feels like I had something decently good health-wise (at least compared to a plate full of pasta). Never knew this place even existed, but already set on making a trip back.

If you're looking for authentic Italian, here you go! The noodles are just so fresh, cooked perfectly al dente. I had the pappardelle bolognese and the meatball surprised me. Loved the noodles, but then got to that huge meatball and it was just so flavorful and juicy, wow. Wife had the fettuccine piccolino and she was loving every bite. I had to try it and the sauce was just so perfectly creamy, scallop was tender. Just a wonderful dish. We also had the calamari. It was so light, loved it. Just wish there was more calamari as it was mixed with fried snap peas and onions, which I wasn't expecting. We've had the pizza here too. The crust is perfectly done, probably my favorite part. Ingredients are fresh and well-balanced.

Last minute decision for dinner lead us here, and we were not disappointed. The staff were all so friendly and worked in unison to give us a wonderful dining experience. We were seated in a booth near the corner, where it was nice and quiet so we could have a conversation without interruption. It was one of those nights where we were both in the mood for great meal without all the "hoopla" and that's exactly what we got! My hubby thoroughly enjoyed his Minestrone soup and Pappardelle Bolognese. His favorites are in RI on Federal Hill, but he said this is a close second. I'm a sucker for Branzino or Chilean Seabass, so Branzino, per favore! I had a little room to spare after dinner, so they made me a special Affogato (not on the menu) with a surprise shot of Bailey's. I've never had it that way, but it was a nice change. We will definitely be back!

This was probably hands down one of the best Italian restaurants I have been to in OC. Came across after a friend recommended this place for lunch based on all the positive reviews on Yelp and sure enough it didn't disappoint a bit. Arrived shortly after they opened, and we were promptly seated and got served ice water and complimentary homemade bread and a basil butter garlic spread which was exceptionally good. We then started with a salad as an appetizer and my friend chose the lobster shrimp ravioli while I picked the breaded veal for lunch. The salad was very fresh and tasty, and I loved the thin sliced pears and the goat cheese which made this a perfect refreshing combination. My friend's ravioli was amazing, but nothing compared to my breaded veal dish. This dish I must admit was the closest thing to German/Austrian Wienerschnitzel I have tasted in a long time, and it was amazing. Even the red potatoes were very authentic and delicious and the only thing missing was some freshly chopped parsley. For dessert we had the raspberry ice cream with prosecco with was good but not great, imho. Verdict: A solid five stars for exceptional food, great service and reasonably priced food. I'll be back. Enjoy and Bon Appetit.