Modo Mio Rustic Italian Kitchen

Arryan Emamian

Absolutely incredible experience! This Italian restaurant deserves every bit of its five stars. I had the gnocchi with shrimp, and it was perfectly cooked—light, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. The seafood was fresh and beautifully prepared, and the eggplant parm was flawless—crispy, tender, and packed with flavor. The ambiance was warm and inviting, and the service was top-notch. Can’t wait to come back and try more of their amazing dishes! Highly recommend!

Melia

How do you say amazing in Italian? The service, food, and menu here are outstanding. We ordered the Cappellacci (little hats), Lasagna Carne, Veal, meatloaf, Chicken Parmesan, and Valdostana and everyone was very satisfied. We took home leftovers because the portions were hearty. The complimentary fresh bread came with oil, balsamic vinegar, and seasoned mushrooms which were very good. Recommended for a fancy Italian night out!

Aileen Florian

Despite not having a reservation, they were able to accommodate us! We ordered the chicken parm, salmon alla vodka, and the capellini checca (angel hair pasta with tomatoes, goat cheese, etc.). Everyone finished their plate, personally I had the salmon vodka dish, probably one of the best pasta dishes I have ever had. The salmon chunks were juicy, fresh, and full of flavor! I didn't leave one drop of sauce on the plate. Would definitely return just for that.

Lahdan Rahmati

If you are looking for a fine dining experience without breaking the bank in one of the nicest parts of Newport Beach, then try this restaurant. Ambiance and Location: The ambiance is energetic, elevated and welcoming. Upon entrance, we were greeted by Marissa and George, who were both attentive and courteous. Marissa quickly located an available table by the window and wall art which was perfect. George seated us and warmly let us know to let the staff know if we needed anything. Our waiter John, was an excellent communicator with a wonderful disposition. John was an excellent guide during our dining experience. Finally, Enrique, who also assisted with service and took our photo, was warm and friendly - when he introduced himself as Enrique, and then added some slight movement in his body as he said "you know, like Enrique Iglesias", took the experience to a new level. We greatly enjoyed each and every interaction with John and Enrique during our dining experience. There was another gentleman who was attentive but I did not ask his name. Food: Food portions are generous at this restaurant. We started with the burrata, which was delicious. Then, for entrees, we ordered the special of the evening, grilled swordfish, which was a nice thick cut cooked to perfection, the penne pasta with marinara, and the Battuta with roasted potatoes and vegetables, which is an excellent go-to option. Even though we were completely satisfied, we could not leave without trying the tiramisu. It was the perfect way to end the meal, as it was fresh, made daily, and not on the super sweet side. Parking: Option to valet or self-park. This restaurant is in a shopping center with plenty of free parking, too. Overall, I had a fine dining experience, enjoyed delicious food at a reasonable price, and received excellent service. Therefore, I highly recommend this restaurant, and a special thank-you to John and Enrique for making our experience so enjoyable!

Jackie H

We had a great dining experience with delicious food and prompt, friendly service on a nice large patio. Our party also enjoyed the never empty bread basket and complimentary mushroom appetizer. They only have outdoor dining available but there are umbrellas, heaters and good lighting. Pro Tip - Free corkage for up to 2 bottles Monday thru Wednesday! And be sure to make a reservation!

abdulaziz alhamad

Italian cuisine. . Location is amazing. Staff so friendly. Food outstanding

Phil Guertin

The best restaurant by the sea! I have eaten at Modo Mio so may times with family and for business. The owners and staff are very friendly and the food is amazing. The must haves are: Scaloppine Limone, Cioppino, Short Rib Ragout and the Calamaretti as an appetizer.

Youjung Lee

Welcoming vibe, delicious food. I thought the price was actually quite reasonable for the quality. Definitely will come back. Reservation is necessary during weekends.

Jeff Edwards

Always a delightful meal at Moda Mia. 😃 A Caesar salad and a bowl of Penne Arrabiata with shrimp. Hard to beat!😃😃 Although the parking lot may have a lower rating than five star than that of Moto Mia. 🤔

This was a perfect supper spot when staying literally next door at the Marriott VC Newport Coast -plus they give Marriott guests a discount👍 They immediately greeted us with H2O, bread and marinated mushrooms, nice beginning. My partner had the lasagna (with meat -also have a vegetarian selection) which he said was excellent (large portion, he had the leftover for lunch the next day). I opted for ravioli and when I could not decide between ricotta or butternut -server said she could bring me a 1/2 order of each at no additional charge! Now that is much appreciated service in the day & age. Service was excellent throughout the meal. Highly recommend.

JM Drew

This was a perfect supper spot when staying literally next door at the Marriott VC Newport Coast -plus they give Marriott guests a discount👍 They immediately greeted us with H2O, bread and marinated mushrooms, nice beginning. My partner had the lasagna (with meat -also have a vegetarian selection) which he said was excellent (large portion, he had the leftover for lunch the next day). I opted for ravioli and when I could not decide between ricotta or butternut -server said she could bring me a 1/2 order of each at no additional charge! Now that is much appreciated service in the day & age. Service was excellent throughout the meal. Highly recommend.

Annie Jalota

I came here for my first anniversary dinner with my partner, and it was lovely! My partner and I ordered the Modo Mio salad, capellini checca, cartoccio, and two glasses of wine recommended by the sommelier (Chianti and Barbera). They also offered a complimentary bread basket and mushrooms. Some people have complained about service in other reviews; I felt the service was perfect, not too fast or slow. Everything was delicious, and I appreciated the numerous clearly labeled options available for me as a vegetarian. We went on a Friday night so it was pretty loud inside, but they had spots available outside, and it was perfect. They have many heaters so it was very comfortable even without a jacket on. All in all, a successful anniversary dinner and I will happily come back for a future date night to try out more of the menu!

Modo Mío tucked away in Crystal Cove is one of those why don’t more people talk about this place kind of spots. From the moment we sat down, it felt intimate, effortless, and quietly special. We started with warm, fresh bread and wild mushrooms drizzled in olive oil—simple, earthy, and the perfect opener—followed by a raw filet mignon carpaccio that was delicate, clean, and beautifully balanced. For mains, the risotto pescatore was rich and comforting, with Arborio rice slowly simmered in marinara and layered with seafood, while the vongole angel hair in white wine sauce was bright, briny, and perfectly executed. Both dishes paired seamlessly with a house Chardonnay that tied everything together without overpowering the food. We ended the night with a classic tiramisu—light, creamy, and exactly how it should be. Thoughtful dishes, great pacing, and a setting that makes you want to linger. Truly a no-brainer. 🍷✨

6 of us had a very nice meal here. The audible level wasn't too loud, which made it possible to have a decent conversation. The meal started with bread and a plate of mushrooms. All the dishes were good, but I highly recommend the cioppino which was brimming with high quality fish.

Fine dining. I loved the ragoût! Delicious! Great starters and fantastic cocktails. It's pricey but if you love Italian cuisine, this place may be excellent for date night.

It’s super loud. A lot of people talking so loudly. No sound dampening at all. The meatloaf covered in mushrooms was not good. No flavor. The Milanese chicken was ok. Meat was juicy. The zupppa Gamberi was salty but very good with shrimp and clams. Update July 2024 The gratis mushroom appetizer is still horrible. No flavor. If only they add some sautéed garlic and salt but none of that horrible lemon juice which did not add but took away instead. The mushroom soup with chicken stock was flavorful but was way too salty. I told the waiter to try it but even towards the end of my meal, he still hadn’t. The meat lasagna was good. The pasta layers were soft as I like. The apple pie was the best thing. Not sweet at all with a great almond crust. Their gelato tasted more like ice-cream which is fine as long as you like ice-cream. The lentil soup was not good. Sapori’s lentil is way better. Over here, they put rosemary in it which made it taste weird. Chef, if you read this, please take that herb out. Or go taste, Sapori’s. Sapori makes the best chicken soup. Taste that as well. Still super loud. Don’t know what it is about Italian restaurants.

We went there on a night before thanksgiving. So it was not particularly busy. The service from the start to end was amazing. We had the Pignoli with the house pink sauce short rib Ragout. Pignoli is a very flavorful towards a marvelous sourness. It comes with chicken and over all a good choice. The short rib Ragout is a lot simpler taste but very light and both come in a very generous portions. I was happy with the food but I deserve 5 starts for a better taste and quality. Ambiance is not as fancy as I was expecting it given the location. Prices are reasonable

Bread and mushrooms didn't do anything for us..parking is tough, waitress was nice. Food was just OK.

Denise Fernandez

Modo Mío tucked away in Crystal Cove is one of those why don’t more people talk about this place kind of spots. From the moment we sat down, it felt intimate, effortless, and quietly special. We started with warm, fresh bread and wild mushrooms drizzled in olive oil—simple, earthy, and the perfect opener—followed by a raw filet mignon carpaccio that was delicate, clean, and beautifully balanced. For mains, the risotto pescatore was rich and comforting, with Arborio rice slowly simmered in marinara and layered with seafood, while the vongole angel hair in white wine sauce was bright, briny, and perfectly executed. Both dishes paired seamlessly with a house Chardonnay that tied everything together without overpowering the food. We ended the night with a classic tiramisu—light, creamy, and exactly how it should be. Thoughtful dishes, great pacing, and a setting that makes you want to linger. Truly a no-brainer. 🍷✨

Colin Goldstein

6 of us had a very nice meal here. The audible level wasn't too loud, which made it possible to have a decent conversation. The meal started with bread and a plate of mushrooms. All the dishes were good, but I highly recommend the cioppino which was brimming with high quality fish.

Chandrew Rajakumar

Fine dining. I loved the ragoût! Delicious! Great starters and fantastic cocktails. It's pricey but if you love Italian cuisine, this place may be excellent for date night.

Marnie Lux

It’s super loud. A lot of people talking so loudly. No sound dampening at all. The meatloaf covered in mushrooms was not good. No flavor. The Milanese chicken was ok. Meat was juicy. The zupppa Gamberi was salty but very good with shrimp and clams. Update July 2024 The gratis mushroom appetizer is still horrible. No flavor. If only they add some sautéed garlic and salt but none of that horrible lemon juice which did not add but took away instead. The mushroom soup with chicken stock was flavorful but was way too salty. I told the waiter to try it but even towards the end of my meal, he still hadn’t. The meat lasagna was good. The pasta layers were soft as I like. The apple pie was the best thing. Not sweet at all with a great almond crust. Their gelato tasted more like ice-cream which is fine as long as you like ice-cream. The lentil soup was not good. Sapori’s lentil is way better. Over here, they put rosemary in it which made it taste weird. Chef, if you read this, please take that herb out. Or go taste, Sapori’s. Sapori makes the best chicken soup. Taste that as well. Still super loud. Don’t know what it is about Italian restaurants.

Ali Yavari

We went there on a night before thanksgiving. So it was not particularly busy. The service from the start to end was amazing. We had the Pignoli with the house pink sauce short rib Ragout. Pignoli is a very flavorful towards a marvelous sourness. It comes with chicken and over all a good choice. The short rib Ragout is a lot simpler taste but very light and both come in a very generous portions. I was happy with the food but I deserve 5 starts for a better taste and quality. Ambiance is not as fancy as I was expecting it given the location. Prices are reasonable

aceyorba

Bread and mushrooms didn't do anything for us..parking is tough, waitress was nice. Food was just OK.

We just bought a home in Newport Coast, so we have been making our way through all of the local restaurants. This one was one of the best! We’ve been twice now - the food is excellent (we love the bread with mushrooms!), and our servers have been efficient and friendly. We have received the same table twice so far - the worst in the restaurant, I think. It’s squashed too closely between other tables on either side. It wouldn’t be so bad, except that because the tables are too close, our first meal was actually ruined by the woman who was seated too close to me. She was absolutely doused in strong perfume, and it gave me an immediate headache. I don’t understand people who do this - clearly they aren’t aware how awful it is for anyone nearby. I digress…Modo Mio has a lively and friendly vibe -which, it turns out is surprisingly hard to find locally (yes, I’m looking at you Javier’s! 🤨 ) I’m hoping if we become regulars at Modo Mio, someday we might get a decent table.😉🤞

MV

We just bought a home in Newport Coast, so we have been making our way through all of the local restaurants. This one was one of the best! We’ve been twice now - the food is excellent (we love the bread with mushrooms!), and our servers have been efficient and friendly. We have received the same table twice so far - the worst in the restaurant, I think. It’s squashed too closely between other tables on either side. It wouldn’t be so bad, except that because the tables are too close, our first meal was actually ruined by the woman who was seated too close to me. She was absolutely doused in strong perfume, and it gave me an immediate headache. I don’t understand people who do this - clearly they aren’t aware how awful it is for anyone nearby. I digress…Modo Mio has a lively and friendly vibe -which, it turns out is surprisingly hard to find locally (yes, I’m looking at you Javier’s! 🤨 ) I’m hoping if we become regulars at Modo Mio, someday we might get a decent table.😉🤞

VERY Noisy! Had Battuta and the chicken was tender but the rosemary and oregano OVERPOWERED the taste of the chicken and lemon caper butter sauce. The side of penne bolognese was cold! Will probably not go back.

Marlon Dauner

VERY Noisy! Had Battuta and the chicken was tender but the rosemary and oregano OVERPOWERED the taste of the chicken and lemon caper butter sauce. The side of penne bolognese was cold! Will probably not go back.

I never write reviews but I have to for night I had hear. They started off with giving us visibly dirty utensils that still had some food on it. We didn’t mind too much but just kind of off putting since it’s suppose to be a nice resteraunt. They brought us out water to start which by the end of the glass we both saw visible black dirty sitting on the bottom of the glass. Our waiter was ok. While we were conversating he was waving at us trying to get our attention which I thought was a little rude. The food ended up taking almost an hour and the service was especially bad this night. However I can understand being a busy Saturday night and the line was out the door and around the corner. The desert was very good. I would go here almost for this. Would I come back here? Maybe on a week night with a better server but for the price there is much better options out there.

Wes Moylan

I never write reviews but I have to for night I had hear. They started off with giving us visibly dirty utensils that still had some food on it. We didn’t mind too much but just kind of off putting since it’s suppose to be a nice resteraunt. They brought us out water to start which by the end of the glass we both saw visible black dirty sitting on the bottom of the glass. Our waiter was ok. While we were conversating he was waving at us trying to get our attention which I thought was a little rude. The food ended up taking almost an hour and the service was especially bad this night. However I can understand being a busy Saturday night and the line was out the door and around the corner. The desert was very good. I would go here almost for this. Would I come back here? Maybe on a week night with a better server but for the price there is much better options out there.