Bill Lin

North Italia is the best Italian restaurant, period. Went to their El Segundo location last time in LA area, came visiting the Irvine one, everything still on point ☝️ For spaghetti, ordered Braised Short Ribs Lumache this time, not just good, this dish is a good mix of Eastern way of cooking the pork into Italian pasta, strongly recommend!!! Also, the Chicken Parmesan, definitely the best Chicken Parmesan I've ever had, the chicken was perfectly marinated with spices, hence it's not just tasty but also juicy. Last but not the least, the "Simple" salad was simple, but full of flavors, the goat cheese and pine seeds were the highlights.

+7

roostahktchn M

10/22/25: Stopped by for lunch. Too bad that they were out of Lasagna, Bolognese, and Tortellini around 12pm so we had to pick other dishes.... 1. Arancini: 3/5 - very good but salty. Light bread coating, very crispy, and very flavorful. Too bad it was salty. 2. Caesar salad: 4/5 - delicious. Loved the tang but well balanced with taste and flavors. 3. Strozzapreti: 3/5 - pretty good but not so unique or over the top. 4. Trottole chicken pesto: 3/5 - pretty good too and very pestoey if you like. We always enjoy dining here, the food and atmosphere 😀 ********* It had been a long time since our last dining here. It was great to be back with friends. The food was fantastic as I remembered although they are somewhat new now. Too bad that they no longer served the grilled artichokes. They were the best grilled artichokes that I have had at anywhere else. 1. Classico charcuterie: good variety selections to munch and mingle. 2. Prosciutto Bruschetta: light, refreshing. 3. Calamari Fritti: it was coated with a wet batter and fried, not thick so it was light and very crispy. The calamari was cooked perfectly without dry or rubbery. Very good! 4. Tuscan Kale: very fresh, crunchy, tender instead of chewy for typical kale, well balanced with sweet and citrusy, not so oily compared to other restaurants. 5. Lasagna Bianca: its a white lasagna, very tasty with delicious shortribs. The shortribs were packed with flavors but still shined with the meat flavor and super tender, yet not overpowered with herbs and not salty. I would prefer abit more lasagna layers to balance with the shortribs quantity. 6. Squid Ink Tonnarelli: my prejudice perception against squid ink pasta was leaving stains on your teeth for awhile and can be fishy. However, my friend gave me a taste so I was blown away how it was prepared and tasted. Delicious, well balanced of tastes and flavors, not fishy nor ink stains on my friend's teeth. Pasta was cooked perfectly, neither too al dente nor soft. I would order this myself next visit. 7. Roasted Salmon: it was my dish. The salmon was cooked abit more done than "medium" but was not totally dry. The fregola pasta was cooked perfectly. Presto was good but not "fresh" and robust like the fresh pesto from Genoa. My only complaint was the whole dish sat on a puddle of oil. I would scale back the pesto voo, not making it oily, instead drizzle the pesto essence around the plate. 8. Grilled Branzino: another friend gave me a sample. It was good and looked "healthy". Beautiful presentation. 9. Braised Short Rib Marsala: another amazing dish. The shortrib was a bit hunk, so tender and flavorful. The meat flavor shined thru, neither salty nor overpowered with herbs and red wine richness. Truffle risotto was delicious, not so interfering with the shortrib, creamy but not too al dente. The whole dish was a star. 10. Chicken Parmesan: another prejudice of mine but this dish blew me away. The chicken was cooked and seasoned perfectly, tender and juicy. The coating was crispy but didn't seem heavy. The cheeses topping was just right with tomato sauce. The tasty rigatoni with white sauce went so well with the chicken Parmesan. Very impressed. 11. Bombolini: was delicious, pillowy with robust Myer lemon cream, perfectly paired with Blueberry coulis. 12. Seasonal Butter Cake: another delicious cake with crunchy coconut flakes. Not too sweet and didn't appear like a sponge soaked with butter. 12. Hazelnut Torta: it was a well balanced "Nutella" torta, neither too sweet nor dense. Satisfying sweet tooth but not feeling with guilty pleasures. The service was pretty good overall. Simone was awesome. She and staff replaced whether wine glasses or small plates or silverware occasionally. Attentively. It was a great experience for all of us. Delicious food for bucks, and great vibes for a dineout. Definitely will be back when getting a chance but not waiting so long...

+11

Yu Fei

The pasta and pizza here is the only restaurant I will eat, very authentic flavor, every time I pass by there will not miss the restaurant, need to book in advance, recommended!

+2

Katy Vos

The food was delicious, the restaurant was so fun with the window to see the chefs cooking, but the stars of the show were the employees. We actually had 2 servers, Nick and Morgan, since one was in training still, and they made us feel so comfortable. You could really tell they knew the menu inside and out, and our waters were NEVER empty. The food came out really fast. They truly went above and beyond and made the experience feel special. It was my birthday and I’m so happy I got to spend it here. Thank you!

violintides

The inside is quite noisy due to the extra tall hall; but other than that echoing, it was amazing. The kitchen is open concept, with plexiglass windows, so it's super food safe, and excellently maintained and clean environment. The service was amazing and our waitress, Monica, was an absolute joy. I know how hard this job can be, so they must be well-compensated considering the prices. They are a bit on the expensive side, but it's handmade noodles and the food is SUPER fresh. The Bombolone is REQUIRED; you'll never eat another donut the same way again.

+5

Yash Patel

An amazing restaurant for amazing food. There were a decent amount of Vegetarian options and I always love the ambiance of this place. They have such cute table arrangement with the flower, it's simple but cute. The staff is helpful and always happy to provide suggestions or ideas on how to make a dish work with your dietary restrictions.

+1

Lynnann - Sid’s Mum

Five stars for atmosphere, service, being genuinely big dog friendly and your pizza; OMG, the pizza! Ironically, I'd stopped by on a recommendation of the meatballs. I was surprised that I didn't want to finish the first one; unpleasantly dry. That said, the completely shaded outdoor patio had close captioned TVs or gorgeous foliage. It masks the sound and sight line of urban development. Really well done. Also need to rave about their pizza! Great ratio, crust, char, flavor - it was really that great.

+3

Amin Salek

We had a very easy time finding parking and we were seated very quickly. We ordered the braised short rib risotto, chicken pesto pasta, and arugula salad. Everything came on time and quickly and the food was all warm. We also ordered the Calamari as appetizer and it was not very crispy. It was a bit chewey and mooshy.

Sina Shahhosseini

North Italia was such a great experience! The pesto pasta was packed with flavor, and the pine nuts added a nice crunch. The chicken and mushroom pasta was rich, comforting, and hit all the right notes. The braised short rib with roasted veggies was cooked perfectly and full of flavor. Everything tasted fresh and thoughtfully prepared. I’d definitely go back!

Olga Barry

White Truffle Garlic bread was the best! I ordered pesto pasta with shrimp instead of chicken. It was creamy and overall delicious. I like the atmosphere of this place. It is comfy seating and you can have a conversation with colleagues while your neighbors don’t hear you. It is a spacious place. They offer valet parking but you can park right next to the food court yourself.

+2

Haven't beenback in a while and now it's our favorite Italian restaurant thanks to our server Xavier!!!! He is EXCEPTIONAL and made our dining experience memorable!!!! We will be back often and will …

Haven't beenback in a while and now it's our favorite italian restaurant thanks to our server Xavier!!!! He is EXCEPTIONAL and made our dining experience memorable!!!! We will be back often and wil…

Haven't beenback in a while and now it's our favorite Italian restaurant thanks to our server Xavier!!!! He is EXCEPTIONAL and made our dining experience memorable!!!! We will be back often and wil…

I now work in the area and a colleague brought back some of their TRUFFLE cheese bread.\n\nTRUFFLE cheese bread:\n\n-- nice clear lighter use of oil to add flavor and moisture\n-- nice textur…

The food, service, and ambiance is so great! I loved the white truffle garlic bread is so good! Everything we had was delicious but that appetizer stood out the most to us!

parking is hard to find + long wait time (~30 minutes) + friendly service + gorgeous interior and ambience, very much like an open house with high ceilings and outdoor seating that embodies summer.…

Great food and ambiance and great service great selection of Italian pasta and pizza would recommend to friends and family

though it might appear to be a place to see and be seen, this is one of the better places to eat I have experienced. Huge kitchen, terrific service from Oleg, lots of managers working in the kitchen…

though it might appear to be a place to see and be seen, this is one of the better places to eat I have experienced. Huge kitchen, terrific service from Oleg, lots of managers working in the kitch…

All - round perfection! From beginning to end an A+ great attention, service, presentation and flavor! We all (family members) ordered different dishes…All terrific! Can’t wait to go back! Th…

All - round perfection! From beginning to end an A+ great attention, service, presentation and flavor! We all (family members) ordered different dishes…All terrific! Can’t wait to go back! Th…

Great atmosphere, service was fantastic. Food was too good. Everything we tried was great. They also have a great happy hour.

the wait was long even though we had a reservation. While waiting we found the bar seats surprisingly comfortable and ended up staying there. Highly recommend the funghi pizza. FYI there is a very …

the wait was long even though we had a reservation. While waiting we found the bar seats surprisingly comfortable and ended up staying there. Highly recommend the funghi pizza. FYI there is a ver…

We have revisited North Italia in Irvine several times in the last year and it is really a treat. I order the pasta every time and it does not get old. They have a good wine list so you cannot go wrong . If you dont have time to get over to Northern Italia for dinner just head over here and save yourself the time. You will enjoy yourself, eat great Italian food and have a good time.

Jenna L

We didn’t want to wait for the table so we decided to sit by the bar. Beef carpaccio was one of my favorite, the beef was very soft and not chewy at all. Seafood squid ink pasta was delicious!! It was a little spicy kick and the pasta was cooked perfectly. Would definitely come back here again!

North Italia is the in-betweener of Olive Garden and Giorgio Baldi, a Jay Cartwright, if you must say. \n\nIt always takes care of you, from chicken parmesan to rigatoni, calamari, and so on. \n\nThe…

North Italia is the in-betweener of Olive Garden and Giorgio Baldi, a Jay Cartwright, if you must say. \n\nIt always takes care of you, from chicken parmesan to rigatoni, calamari, and so on. \…

I had a fantastic experience at this local restaurant! The food was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The staff was friendly and attentive, making us feel welcome from the moment we arri…

I had a fantastic experience at this local restaurant! The food was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The staff was friendly and attentive, making us feel welcome from the moment we arri…

Called at 515 to make an appt at 6. They said I had to call at least 2 hours before to make a reservation. They said they had many tables and to walk in. We arrived at 6. It was packed. We put our …

Good food and services. Crowded parking. Someone has to go valet. Ok price in this area. No much meat dishes

Good food and services. Crowded parking. Someone has to go valet. Ok price in this area. No much meat dishes

A delicious spot to enjoy good quality pizza. I highly recommend getting a reservation. There's both indior and outdoor seating options for both the regular tables and the bar area. I recommend get…

A delicious spot to enjoy good quality pizza. I highly recommend getting a reservation. There's both indior and outdoor seating options for both the regular tables and the bar area. I recommend get…

Was staying at a nearby hotel for business and ate here for both lunch and dinner. Both times it was very busy. service was friendly but slower that what I am used to at home. Food was good and …

Was staying at a nearby hotel for business and ate here for both lunch and dinner. Both times it was very busy. Service was friendly but slower that what I am used to at home. food was good and …

Food was fine, don't expect a classic Italian restaurant. My pizza was good, but a little bit too greasy. We had to wait for 40 minutes outside in the cold because our table wasn't ready.

Food was fine, don't expect a classic Italian restaurant. My Pizza was good, but a little bit too greasy. We had to wait for 40 minutes outside in the cold because our table wasn't ready.

Marki Pierre

We visited for the first time after seeing an ad for a $25 entrée and small plate deal, which seemed like a great offer given their usual prices. After reserving a table through the ad, we chose to sit at the bar upon arrival and learned the special was lunch only, something not stated in the ad, which even allowed dinner reservations. Management graciously honored the deal, and the bartenders were wonderful. The restaurant can get quite loud but has a beautiful ambiance. The meatballs were excellent, and my husband said the Caesar salad was the best he’s ever had. The bolognese had an oddly sweet flavor, and we didn’t love the sausage in the vodka rigatoni. Unfortunately, several items we wanted to try (like the Zuca chips, espresso martini, and tortelloni) were unavailable that evening. Due to the high pricing, sold-out menu items, and the mix-up with the ad, we’ll likely skip returning, but it’s a nice spot that’s worth trying at least once.

Walid Saleh

The bread with cheese was amazing, the pizza was good, the rest was ok. We unfortunately had one of your orders being very much delayed that it come everyone had almost finished their plates ( sharing). They did apologieze and tried to make it right to be honest but it affected the experience nonetheless.

+1

waitress wasnt nice to us. the noise inside during weekend times is crazy. nothing special about the food, it was just OK.

I ordered takeout last night. I ordered the lasagna and the grilled bread. Lasagna tasted good, but the portion was really small. There were just three layers of noodles and not enough meat and sau…

The service and food was just pretty good. Nothing spectacular, but Sid probably go again. The atmosphere isn't to my liking. Very crowded and too loud. Even the parking is difficult to deal with w…

Honestly, I thought the pasta was just OK. Overcooked and very expensive for pasta. I got takeout for my family and got the pesto pasta with chicken, the meatballs and spaghetti and the vodka pasta. …

Honestly, I thought the pasta was just OK. Overcooked and very expensive for pasta. I got takeout for my family and got the pesto pasta with chicken, the meatballs and spaghetti and the vodka…

Honestly, I thought the pasta was just OK. Overcooked and very expensive for pasta. I got takeout for my family and got the pesto pasta with chicken, the meatballs and spaghetti and the vodka pasta…

Honestly, I thought the pasta was just OK. Overcooked and very expensive for pasta. I got takeout for my family and got the pesto pasta with chicken, the meatballs and spaghetti and the vodka …

Diana Nguyen

Unfortunately, our experience at North Italia was quite disappointing. The four pastas we ordered were all overcooked, particularly the pesto pasta. The mussels were also overdone and shriveled. On top of that, two dishes we had been looking forward to (the pork Milanese and the squid ink pasta) had run out! Despite having a reservation, we waited a long time to be seated…While I did enjoy the cocktails, the food quality fell short. Service was also very slow, though to be fair, there was only one server covering the entire outdoor patio. Overall, the drinks were nice, but the food and service did not meet expectations.

This was one of the most disappointing restaurant experiences I've had, especially considering it was for an important business lunch.\n\nLast Friday, my wife invited her business partner to North It…

Too expensive for the portion you get. I suggest alternatives for better prices and for more amount of food.

I had a terrible experience today , first they didn't seat us on time with a reservation , second I got seated 2 ft from another couple ( I had to request to be moved) , third they made me scan a Q…

I have been eating here for the last 7-8 years but this place has gotten so bad in terms of food quality, service and prices have went insanely high \n\nThe people in the front/ hostesses & hosts h…

Had a reservation and waited 30 minutes. Ran out of at least five menu items. Italian restaurant ran out of pizza dough. Server overworked. Water glass empty for twenty minutes. Arrogant response t…

This was a poor experience. Ordered several items off the menu to be told after several minutes the pizza dough was not rising, the second choice for a member of our party was not available. The part…

This was a poor experience. Ordered several items off the menu to be told after several minutes the pizza dough was not rising, the second choice for a member of our party was not available. The pa…

They increased the price and severely reduced the quality. My pizza dough was undercooked, and part of it was burnt; the bottom of the crust had black ashes on it. They used to have very good pizzas, but apparently that’s no longer the case. I’m disappointed.

I chose this place for my birthday dinner celebration and You know what!! skip this place! it’s a nice restaurant but wow the food was so dry! lacked flavor, not warm, no sauce i had to ask for some tomatoe sauce or garlic or something so i could finish it and not waist it but it was so bad. just a waist of money! i do not recommend it at all.