Molo

2nd time in 2 weeks and Love it! Just celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary. Food is incredible.

Everything about the place was spectacular. The food was amazing. The service was great. Martin was excellent. They accommodated us last minute which I appreciate. I will definitely be coming back. Thank you so much.

Lovely C. R.

✨🇮🇹 Five Stars – A Birthday to Remember at MOLO! 🇮🇹✨ My son took me here for my birthday and WOW… what an unforgettable night! 🥂🎉 From the moment we sat down, the vibe was just perfect — elegant chandeliers ✨, beautiful music 🎶, and such a warm, peaceful ambiance that made me feel so special. The bread 🥖 was fresh and heavenly, and paired with their HUGE authentic cheese board 🧀 where they slice the parmesan right in front of you! The flavor… oh my goodness 😍 each bite was perfection. I ordered the seafood pasta 🍝🦑🐙🦐 loaded with calamari, octopus, shrimp, and more — every bite was bursting with flavor, fresh and rich. My son had the penne vodka 🍝🔥 and it had the perfect little spicy kick. Portions were generous and authentic all the way. The service? Absolutely top-notch 👏💯. Giorgio was incredible — so kind, attentive, and made us feel right at home. And then came the surprise… for my birthday they brought out the most delicious Italian pudding with fresh berries 🍮🍓💖. Sweetest touch ever! Honestly, this is by far one of the best Italian restaurants in Newport Beach. Between the food, the service, the ambiance, and even the music — everything was chef’s kiss 👩‍🍳💋. Highly, highly recommend MOLO if you want authentic Italian, amazing vibes, and a night to remember. 🌟🍷🇮🇹

Luis Martinez

We took our daughter here for her birthday as she loves Italian food. The food was freshly prepared and executed perfectly. The electic atmosphere added to the charm. Our server was oustanding. Make sure get the pannacotti.

Frazay Akbar

Everything about the place was spectacular. The food was amazing. The service was great. Martin was excellent. They accommodated us last minute which I appreciate. I will definitely be coming back. Thank you so much.

Nathan Drury

I was recommended Molo by a good friend of mine. Upon arriving the atmosphere was great, my server Esther was quick to look after me and the food arrived quickly. I opted for Arancini, Salmon and the affogato to finish. I great location with fantastic quality food and wine. Would recommend to anyone.

Lori Kusterer-Farley

Authentic Italian food- felt like we were back in Italy ! The arancini was light and crisp and co cheesy. The calamari platter was just lightly fried with zucchini, broccolini and fennel. Our pastas were so fresh and light. The cacio de Pepe may have been the favorite, but the bolognese and orecchiette were so delicious! The desserts were very original and authentic. We enjoyed the “messy mouth”. The service was just ok. Felt a bit rushed. The atmosphere outside was lovely.

jerry Z

First time eating here since it was Sabatinos. All I can say is the food is good. The atmosphere is really nice and the service was great. The restaurant has a great charm to it and it feels like you’re eating authentic Italian food. Portions are not too big nor are they too small. Feels just right and the quality of food is very high. I got the chicken Parmesan and my wife got chicken piccata and we shared a salad. Total bill was $90 plus tax and tip. Definitely paying for the area and the ambience. It feels very private and high-end. It’s very quaint. Definitely recommend trying it out and I’m giving this place five stars.

Sanaz Estiri

Perfect Italian spot! 🍝🍷 The pasta was incredible, tiramisu dreamy, and the citrus grapefruit salad was a refreshing surprise. Authentic and delicious from start to finish! 🍊✨

Jimmy Crackcorn

The most amazing Italian food I had. The service is also top notch, please ask for Miguel he is the best service. Cacio & Pepe was the bomb (cheese wheel). Definitely recommend!!

Shelly Jacobs

This is our favorite restaurant in Newport!! Randy is the best server and always nails the recommendations. We love him! The food is unreal.

alya ghubash

Delightful lunch experience! Our server, Valentino, was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu and attentive throughout. Everything we ordered was delicious. Highly recommend for anyone seeking authentic Italian cuisine in OC!

Honestvisitreviews G.

Very good food except the burata we don’t recommend it. The restaurant and the Italian owner or manager at the door are very nice. The bread and pastas were really good too. Highly recommend the restaurant.

Millie Johnson

Molo was a great experience. Their staff was very kind and helpful. Our server was Leonardo and he gave us the best recommendations. The garlic bread and citrus salad are a must have!

Stefano Bertera

Dinner in this Italian restaurant I have to say really Thank you because they find me a table also without reservation and the restaurant was super busy. I can say that is one of the best Italian Restaurant in all USA tha I've tried, for sure one of the best in Orange County. Good food good choices Nice people and service is good . The Spaghetti alle vongole was very good, a little bit of Spice pepper and Bottarga and will be awesome! The only downside is that is pretty expensive... But I can understand is always superbusy

Visited Molo’s yesterday for a pre- Valentines lunch and the experience was absolutely amazing. They were very accommodating to my family of 7. The server was very nice and his customer service was exceptional! The food was delcious! The Cacio & Pepe is a dish I regularly order with my significant other at various restaurants and I would say this is one of the best ones we have tried. I would definitely visit the place again.

We had a reservation for 13 on Saturday, October 25th at 8:00 PM to celebrate a 60th birthday and had a wonderful evening at Molo. Although we waited about 30 minutes to be seated, the team quickly made it right — the manager graciously sent over some wine, which was a lovely gesture. Once we were settled on the patio, the experience was excellent. Our server Valentino was outstanding — professional, attentive, and spot-on with his recommendations. The citrus avocado salad and calamari were fresh and delicious, and the Orecchiette and Penne Vodka were flavorful and perfectly cooked. The patio ambiance was warm and inviting, ideal for our celebration. Overall, Molo delivered a memorable dining experience — great food, great service, and great atmosphere. Highly recommend for any special occasion in Newport Beach!

Michelle Neils

We had a reservation for 13 on Saturday, October 25th at 8:00 PM to celebrate a 60th birthday and had a wonderful evening at Molo. Although we waited about 30 minutes to be seated, the team quickly made it right — the manager graciously sent over some wine, which was a lovely gesture. Once we were settled on the patio, the experience was excellent. Our server Valentino was outstanding — professional, attentive, and spot-on with his recommendations. The citrus avocado salad and calamari were fresh and delicious, and the Orecchiette and Penne Vodka were flavorful and perfectly cooked. The patio ambiance was warm and inviting, ideal for our celebration. Overall, Molo delivered a memorable dining experience — great food, great service, and great atmosphere. Highly recommend for any special occasion in Newport Beach!

I would definitely return to Molo. We were seated in the first hall which seemed to not get much attention from our servers and they also forgot a few appetizers as well as mains so our group of 8 ate staggered. The chicken parm came out about 20 minutes after everyone else. With that being said the food was excellent and the outdoor patio is the place to be. I will return and make sure I eat outside. Some highlights were the meatballs and citrus salad and I had the shrimp gnocchi which was excellent. Sancerre wine was also top match.

We came here a birthday celebration. The atmosphere of the place was great, inviting. Our servers were friendly and attentive. The standout dish was the branzino fish dish of the day! It was an impressive big fish that serves at least 4 people. However, the execution was average. Other dishes we tried were a little above average but no dish really standout. The bread in particular were very meh. It was also on the expensive side. We would come back for the ambience.

Delightful Italian restaurant—a little off the beaten path—but definitely worth the extra two minutes of travel and searching to find. Molo offers indoor dining as well as outdoor dining on a large and bright patio with its own walkway. Service was attentive, friendly, and helpful. Fennel, arugula, and fava bean salad was light and refreshing—have had this twice. My friend had mushroom risotto and thought it was the best. I had a pasta ragu; the pasta and sauce was yummy although the meat seemed overcooked and lacked moisture. Mushroom pizza (without cheese) was yummy—good sauce and nice crust. Green beans side dish also good. Roasted potatoes were disappointing—skinless, cold, and mushy like Italian tater tots—they weren’t bad, just very mushy. Definitely look forward to returning here and trying other dishes.

Let go directly to the points: 1. Ceasar salad: 3/5 - was good and typical but nothing special overall. 2. Focaccina: 3/5 - like naan or Turkish flat bread or just flat bread, good but not special. 3. Garlic bread:3/5 - just typical garlic bread. 4. Fried calamari:5/5 - super good, the coating is so light like tempura, the calamari is cooked perfectly, tender. 5. Pizza Alla Salsiccia: 3/5 - good but not great, similar to Neapolitan-style but not so puffy and crispy for American liking. Flavors are abit bland other than when biting on sausage. 6. Linguine all Aragosta:4/5 - was very good, nice balanced of tomato brightness, taste, and flavors. 7. Brazino Isolana:3/5- good but not great. It is $250 for the fish. Fresh but needs some salt. I would add some more flavors to balance the fishiness with citrusy and some herbal (lemon or capers or dill or fennel etc...) 8. Spaghetti Vongole:3/5 - good but not great. Needs abit more garlic, some crushed pepper, and white wines to give abit citrusy for the amount of Spaghetti. 9. Tortellini: 3/5-good but not knocking my socks off. 10. Panna cotta with mixed berry sauce: 3/5 - ok. The texture is not set or abit firm like real pana cotta, it is spongy with tapioca pearls. The berry sauce is not tart and sweet to balance the amount of pana cotta mouse. 11. Banana and chocolate tart:3/5 - good but can get tired after a few of bites... 12. Sporcamuss:3/5- good but not so great. I would serve with lemon cream or custard and drizzle with berry sauce or compote. Service was good. The staff changed our plates but forgot serveware so I had to ask. It was a good experience but didn't live up to my expectations. Very expensive for what you pay for.

Great friendly and attentive service, the location is very unique. The appetizers we had were delicious. The pasta dishes were very average at best.

I have to change my review sadly. I enjoyed the first time I came so I brought my parents for my mom’s birthday. I had an early Reservation thinking I would get the patio seating and I guess they had a private event. We were stuck in the back corner of the restaurant and could barely hear each others. One dish pasta was too hard and the other wasn’t flavored right. Just a bummer All around this time except the bread and dessert. The food was amazing! Sitting in the patio area was great.

Keith Thai

We came here a birthday celebration. The atmosphere of the place was great, inviting. Our servers were friendly and attentive. The standout dish was the branzino fish dish of the day! It was an impressive big fish that serves at least 4 people. However, the execution was average. Other dishes we tried were a little above average but no dish really standout. The bread in particular were very meh. It was also on the expensive side. We would come back for the ambience.

roostahktchn M

Let go directly to the points: 1. Ceasar salad: 3/5 - was good and typical but nothing special overall. 2. Focaccina: 3/5 - like naan or Turkish flat bread or just flat bread, good but not special. 3. Garlic bread:3/5 - just typical garlic bread. 4. Fried calamari:5/5 - super good, the coating is so light like tempura, the calamari is cooked perfectly, tender. 5. Pizza Alla Salsiccia: 3/5 - good but not great, similar to Neapolitan-style but not so puffy and crispy for American liking. Flavors are abit bland other than when biting on sausage. 6. Linguine all Aragosta:4/5 - was very good, nice balanced of tomato brightness, taste, and flavors. 7. Brazino Isolana:3/5- good but not great. It is $250 for the fish. Fresh but needs some salt. I would add some more flavors to balance the fishiness with citrusy and some herbal (lemon or capers or dill or fennel etc...) 8. Spaghetti Vongole:3/5 - good but not great. Needs abit more garlic, some crushed pepper, and white wines to give abit citrusy for the amount of Spaghetti. 9. Tortellini: 3/5-good but not knocking my socks off. 10. Panna cotta with mixed berry sauce: 3/5 - ok. The texture is not set or abit firm like real pana cotta, it is spongy with tapioca pearls. The berry sauce is not tart and sweet to balance the amount of pana cotta mouse. 11. Banana and chocolate tart:3/5 - good but can get tired after a few of bites... 12. Sporcamuss:3/5- good but not so great. I would serve with lemon cream or custard and drizzle with berry sauce or compote. Service was good. The staff changed our plates but forgot serveware so I had to ask. It was a good experience but didn't live up to my expectations. Very expensive for what you pay for.

M A S

Delightful Italian restaurant—a little off the beaten path—but definitely worth the extra two minutes of travel and searching to find. Molo offers indoor dining as well as outdoor dining on a large and bright patio with its own walkway. Service was attentive, friendly, and helpful. Fennel, arugula, and fava bean salad was light and refreshing—have had this twice. My friend had mushroom risotto and thought it was the best. I had a pasta ragu; the pasta and sauce was yummy although the meat seemed overcooked and lacked moisture. Mushroom pizza (without cheese) was yummy—good sauce and nice crust. Green beans side dish also good. Roasted potatoes were disappointing—skinless, cold, and mushy like Italian tater tots—they weren’t bad, just very mushy. Definitely look forward to returning here and trying other dishes.

Alex Aydin

Great friendly and attentive service, the location is very unique. The appetizers we had were delicious. The pasta dishes were very average at best.

A D

I have to change my review sadly. I enjoyed the first time I came so I brought my parents for my mom’s birthday. I had an early Reservation thinking I would get the patio seating and I guess they had a private event. We were stuck in the back corner of the restaurant and could barely hear each others. One dish pasta was too hard and the other wasn’t flavored right. Just a bummer All around this time except the bread and dessert. The food was amazing! Sitting in the patio area was great.

Aaron Gale

I would definitely return to Molo. We were seated in the first hall which seemed to not get much attention from our servers and they also forgot a few appetizers as well as mains so our group of 8 ate staggered. The chicken parm came out about 20 minutes after everyone else. With that being said the food was excellent and the outdoor patio is the place to be. I will return and make sure I eat outside. Some highlights were the meatballs and citrus salad and I had the shrimp gnocchi which was excellent. Sancerre wine was also top match.