Antonello Ristorante

Highly recommended Valet parking available for those OC types that can't bear to walk an extra 10 feet to the car. A meal here can be designed to take all evening. We had appetizers elsewhere before arriving for dinner, which I instantly regretted upon opening the menu. Great selection of appetizers, salads, pasta courses, and meat courses. Side dishes are big enough to share. I went with the osso buco special which came with risotto and green beans. Companions chose the swordfish special, and a veggie pasta dish with side of eggplant parm. I will be back for one of the seafood pasta dishes though. Big selection of CA wines, but only half a page or so from Italy. We split 2 desserts--tiramisu and a decadent chocolate cake ala mode. Both deliciously presented. Great service and beautiful interior as well. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Had an Amazing evening at Antonello's!!!! We sat at the bar with Jamie and Brett they did an excellent job serving us!  Drinks were never empty good conversation fun to talk to! !!  Both worked very well together and with servers!!!  We enjoyed the artichoke appetizer and both had a pasta dinner, we were supposed to share dessert, but..... I might have enjoyed it while the hubby chatted!!  The manager is a Rangers fan from NY so we will let that slide  all in all a fantastic place to go enjoy dinner drinks and good conversation!!!  Thanks for a great time Amy & D!!! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Top Italian Resturant in OC, love the ambience, food, live music!!!Antonio is a great entrepreneur with excellent skill in handling this service industry

Reviewed on Yelp

Pros:  Not too crowded, good ambiance to have conversation, meeting or romantic dinner. Fantastic bar-staff (look for Jamie). Cons: My past dining experiences here have been so great I haven't though of any yet. Stopped in for dinner on a Wednesday evening after work. I made a reservation for a table however we noticed there was live music and something interesting on the TV at the bar so we opted to dine at the bar instead.  We were promptly greeted by Jamie our bartender and another gentlemen who prepared a dinner placement for us at the bar. The ambiance is mellow enough to have a conversation yet there is usually live easy listening music being played from the bar so there isn't pure silence.We ordered our drinks (Hendricks Gimlet) and were provided with a warm bread basket, crunchy bread sticks and the option of olive oil or pesto butter. We also ordered the caprese as an appetizer and veal and prosciutto saltimbocca for the main and full size Grand Marnier Soufflé as well as made from scratch Italian sorbet for dessert. The execution of the entire meal was great. The portion sizing is spot on and the flavors of the saltimbocca along with side of pasta perfectly complimented each other. The soufflé was the highlight of the night. Although a bit crisp on the edges still a delight especially since its hard to find a restaurant that serves a decent soufflé on their regular menu in LA or OC. If anyone has soufflé recommendations please message me. I am a soufflé junkie. The staff are very warm, personable, and efficient. They consistently check in on you as a friend would to make sure you are ok and not a task to the check off on their list. While I normally don't mind the latter this just scores Antonello's extra points. It appeared that many of the diners came regularly and were on a first name basis with many of the staff. This was easy to understand at the end of the meal as we felt that we just left dinner at a family members home.  I have dined here previously with family, and as a solo diner. All times I have had a pleasant More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Fantastic food, impeccable service, and a staff that makes you feel like family. Music and voice will fill your dinner with great entertainment. Love this place.

Reviewed on Yelp

This is one of those restaurants that is always good and sometimes really good. I had the Veal Marsala and it was very satisfying. Very complimentary comments about their seafood dishes from my fellow diners.Also, the "Library" is a nice alternative to the formal dining room. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Wow what an amazing restaurant!!! The food is in a league if it's own!! It's soo good!! Our server Carlos was amazing!! Best service! ! This restaurant is great you can have a date night or a special event here. Seriously one of the best Italian restaurants I've ever been too!! I can't wait to go back!! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I came here last year with a bunch of friends and came back again last Thursday night and had a great time. The food as well as the drinks were consistently exceptional. Each course was addicting and certainly will make you come back again. The  service was "okay" for me, not rude,  but not so friendly either. Aside from the tasty selections, the ambiance was also remarkable- pretty relaxing and romantic. Plus, the Wine list is a must try! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Antonello Ristorante is a fantastic restaurant and one I continue to frequent, especially for dinners for my clients. I recently held a dinner at Antonello with over 25 guests and the entire event was exceptional from start to finish! ! Beginning with the "super excellent" customer service and planning efforts from the awesome, amazing manager, Vicenta...and the highly professional, friendly banquet service I received from the man in charge of making sure my guests' every need was taken care of, Juan. Moreover, special thanks to the full team - Carmen (the Director of the Restaurant), Bianca, Peter, and Girardo for all their help as well!!!Great restaurant in the heart of the OC!!!! Brian V More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I thoroughly enjoyed this gem in the South Coast plaza.  Service is great and you feel like family when you dine here.  A nice three course meal with fine wine in a relaxing and posh atmosphere is a nice way to spend the day here.

Reviewed on Yelp

The service is always impeccable and the food is ridiculously delicious! The special of veal Milanese was incredible as was the egg drop soup.

Reviewed on Yelp

Working with Vicente for our holiday party in December was such a pleasure and our evening was nothing short of stellar service and amazing food. From start to finish, they took great care of us and I highly recommend having any function here whether personal or business! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Our favorite restaurant! Carlos is the best waiter and so accommodating. A wonderful birthday dinner with my my hubby and Carlos was over the top with great service and outstanding Spinach salad, veal and dessert.

Reviewed on Yelp

It has been a few years since we visited this jewel. We were served by Carlos our waiter and he delivered impeccable service. We ordered what is still our favorite spinacci salad, BOOM delicious! Followed by veal Marsala with Fresh delectable green beers and Cappellini pasta Alfredo, BOOM! Fantastic!Several glasses of a very delicious Cabernet and dessert...........BOOM...Grand Marnier Soufflé. The best... I highly recommend Carlos and Antonellos for a great dinner!!!Thanks Carlos! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Food is amazing Gino the Chef is on fire food better than ever! Ciro the Bartender is the Best! Now the new Vests the staff wears are Hideous Antonio what were you thinking

Reviewed on Yelp

Amazing lunch experience, not too crowded, able to accommodate larger groups, top notch service (even surprised us with an appetizer).  Food is delicious, price in line with quality of service, all around 5-star time.After ordering fresh bread it brought to the table. It's warm and fluffy, like good bread usually is.  There are also very thin bread sticks on the table (room temp) that are crunchy and can be used.  We were surprised with an appetizer of mozzarella balls, cut into quarters and with a green (possibly avocado) sauce inside.  The sauce was a muted flavor, but the mozzarella was clearly high quality and fresh.  Some colleagues did not eat there part, so I devoured it for them.  I selected the gnocchi as my entree, and was rewarded for my decision.  The pesto sauce that it came with was heavenly, minced well, robust basil flavor, the fontina cheese adding a bit of depth to the dish, and of course fresh grated parmesan cheese on top.  The gnocchi were pillows of fluffiness, strongly recommend this dish (although I'm sure their other pasta will be equally amazing).  We ended the meal with a dessert tray that consisted of a chocolate cake, some berries, and the egg-less cheesecake.  The last of which stole the show, it was incredibly creamy, low on cheese flavor, hands down the best cheesecake I have ever had and perhaps the only one I would willingly eat again.  The chocolate cake was a simple bittersweet chocolate cake, not fluffy and not dense, appealing to all palates. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

We came on the recommendation of a local for an early Saturday dinner prior to an art opening.  We have travelled in Italy and collect some Italian wine. ...Beautiful space, greeting smooth and cheerful, . friendly, helpful, prompt and especially numerous.The orchiete and the miniature ravioli were each perfectly al dente and uniquely flavorful.  We enjoyed glasses of house Chianti.  We were so pleased we took the waiter's suggestion and had a souffle with our coffee.This was the finest dining experience we have had outside of Italy.  Sorry it is 50 freeway miles away.  You are fortunate, Orange County. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Great food and service was awesome...we being vegetarian Juan (our server) was very helpful in recommending what to order and how he could customize any order in the menu for us. We loved the Risotto and Bruchetta very much and then towards the end gelato was great as well. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Carlos was amazing! My first time at Antonella  and A true first class experience! I would come back everyday. Carlos was super accommodating and professional. The food was amazing!

Reviewed on Yelp

Excellent service and food. The grilled octupus was tasty and soft. Cesar salad was fresh. Music is always great and the Manila Clams were tasty.

Reviewed on Yelp

Went for B'day, I had Milanese Veal, my wife had veal piccata. We had Grand Marnier Souffle and chocolate flan for dessert. Excellent service. Highly recommend. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

It was just fine. I had a lot of good authentic Italian and I found the pasta lacking in taste.

Reviewed on Yelp

What can I say about Antonello's besides PERFECTION! Everything about this restaurant is amazing; the food, the service, the atmosphere. .. my partner Julian and I had the opportunity of dining here and trying their delicious entrees. We started off with an appetizer; jumbo shrimp, grilled mushrooms and ricotta spinach ravioli. The shrimp was huge and bursting with flavor. It was buttery and the texture was just perfect. The ravioli was my favorite part because I'm a carb fanatic. The flavor was amazing and the sauce added to the ravioli made it all the more delicious. The entrees we tried included osso bucco, sword fish, and the veil. The osso bucco was so tender you didn't even need a knife. And they give you a tiny fork for the bone marrow inside. It came with a side of saffron risotto and green beans. All my favorites! I love how they add the perfect amount of saffron to where you can taste it so well. The veil was served with potatoes and medium well. The meat was tender but a little chewy. We loved every bite... the sword fish took the cake for us. Julian who doesn't even like fish and me that I only like raw fish, loved the sword fish. The texture was just right. It melted in your mouth and had the right amount of spices to give it all the flavor it needed. Another amazing thing about this restaurant is the portions. Usually you go somewhere upscale and the prices are high and portions small. Not here; the portions are quite big and the prices match perfectly. Moving on to dessert. We tried the pistachio cake ( their signature dessert) and their raspberry cheesecake. The pistachio cake was light and fluffy and covered in ground pistachios. The frosting was a whipped cream frosting that added to the cakes light texture. The raspberry cheesecake was so different than any cheesecake I have tried, and I have tried plenty. The cheesecake is more like a cheese danish flavor and has a very creamy texture which paired perfectly with the sweet raspberry sauce. Probably the best cheesecake I have ever tried. If you are looking to eat somewhere nice and leave happy, Antonellos is the place to go! Such an amazing experience! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

The spread that is offered for the bread is based on ground nuts, not butter. Everything is good here, but it's that bread spread that I remember the most. The place is clean.

Reviewed on Yelp

Our firm had our annual Christmas party at Antonello on Friday, December 1st.     I planned the party with the assistance of the banquet manager, Vicenta.  She was absolutely a delight to work with...she answered my emails quickly and she assisted me with planning the perfect party menu.  Vicenta ensured that everything was in place prior to our scheduled party date and when I arrived at the restaurant a little early before our guests arrived,  she even checked with me one last time to ensure I had everything I needed.  We booked one of the private party rooms (The Cantina Room) for our party and it really helped to make the evening a huge success.  Being in a private room certainly made it  a lot easier to be able to have a conversation with each other.  Additionally, we played holiday games during the evening, so having a private room  made it more enjoyable to be able to participate and enjoy the festivities without worrying about disturbing the other dining guests. All of our employees & guests had so many nice things to say about the party/venue.   Everything was outstanding...the room, food, drinks, service, etc.    Our server, Rigo,  and his assistants did a wonderful job throughout the entire evening.  The flow of the food and the attentiveness to ensuring everyone had what they needed at all times (i.e., food, wine, cocktails and/or water) was perfect.  The pre-ordered appetizers and the pasta course were just the right quantity and they were so delicious. Additionally, all of our guests just loved the salads/soups/entrees/desserts  they chose off of the regular dinner menu.  Thank you Vicenta, Rigo and your entire staff for helping to make our Christmas party memorable and enjoyable.  We look forward to having a future Christmas party, or possibly another office event, at Antonello. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

This restaurant is such a treasured gem...We absolutely love everything about Antonellos. One of our very favorites...the food, the services, the drinks, the staff. We have been going here for about 5 years and it has become our families special place. Small quaint dinners to large 70th party for my dad. We are just beyond thrilled each and every time. Each dish we have tried is amazing. Never disappoints. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

My wife and I had truly and epic experience here last week.  I've been wanting to try this place for years.  Many moons ago at a previous job my wife's company would have Christmas parties here.  My company doesn't even wish us employees Merry Christmas so I was always bummed.  In my mind I hyped this place up and had a fantasy what it would be like eating here.  On a unplanned whim I looked at my Open Table app to see if anything was open on Saturday.  Only 8:30pm.... darn... too late.  I checked again later and 7pm opened up!  Score!!  I booked and we had 30 minutes to get there so we rushed down.  All the hype I had in my head about this place ended up coming true.  Old school service with staff making sure you're having the perfect experience, high quality delicious food, and the part I was looking forward to the most.... flambé!  Our waiter Alfredo Diaz was a master at his trade and made my wife and I feel like A list celebrities.  He's been working here since the day they opened.My cousin always told me "You were born an old man" so I felt at home with the old school vibe.  It's a lot like Mr. Stox used to be when it was around.  They seat you and expect you to talk... order drinks... relax... then when you're ready ask for the menu.  No rushing here but not the atmosphere for everybody.  This place is expensive but I wanted the whole experience so we went all out.  While chilling out graze on french bread, focaccia, and breadsticks served along with their pesto spread.  Refills brought out without asking.Starter - Was a special of Burrata cheese sat on top of a pile of speck (prosciutto that's been smoked) and topped with marinated artichokes.  Seriously delicious.  If you see this on the specials menu get it.  Creamy burrata paired up with the speck perfectly.Both my wife and I ordered entrees off the nightly specials menu.  My wife had their house made corkscrew pasta served with giant scallops in one of the best pesto sauces I've ever tasted.  The $32 price tag I thought was fair given the size of the portion.  I took a few bites and was very envious.  Perfection in a bowl.I went with their New Zealand rack of lamb.  3 double cut chops were sat down in front of me.  Massive and cooked a perfect medium rare.  My only complaint was it was served in a bowl.  The razor sharp non serrated steak knife was hard to use when trying to cut on a concave surface.  I had to push the chops to the center to cut them.  That's the only complaint.  They were melt in your mouth tender with zero gaminess.  Served with a surprisingly spicy peppercorn sauce, crispy cubed up potatoes, and green beans.  I wish I had ordered a pasta dish but it was an outstanding dish.  They just need to serve on a plate.Since the bill was already getting high I figured "eff it, you only live once" and splurged on some flambe items.  First was the house made Spumoni ice cream.  Two thick slabs of vanilla, chocolate, pistachio, and Amarena cherries flambeed with Grand Marnier liqueur. I have to be honest... this was the only hiccup of the night.  They brought it out forgetting we ordered it flambe style(extra charge) so the waiter rushed out with a flaming ladle of Grand Marnier and just half assed poured it over.  Flavor wise though was great.Alfredo made up for the mistake with the next flambé course, the "Caffe Romano".  He really put on a show for this one.  Limoncello sugar rimmed glass which he then melted to the rim.  Next a generous amount of brandy was put in the glass and caught on fire which swirled around like a flaming tornado.  Next kahlua was added along with fresh hot coffee.  Finally a flaming waterfall of Galliano was poured in and topped with a heaping mound of whipped cream.  This is a must.  Get it.  Yea it's $12 but it had a lot of alcohol and a great show.After paying the bill the manager of the bar side came over and was telling us how they're creating a new casual menu for the bar and they currently had live music.  He asked to to walk over before we left.  Not sure why but he gave my wife and I each a free drink.  I had a cappuccino and my wife had a cordial of Sambuca.  We watched the plastic surgery stretched face cougars flirt with the keyboard player singing Italian songs and Neil Diamond cover tunes.  Was pretty fun.  If you eat in the bar it's tapas style foods for reasonable prices.Highly recommend this place for a spur of the moment romantic date night, birthday, or anniversary. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

This fine-dining Italian gem has stood the test of time.My husband and I had our first date here back in 2006 and each year on our "Dating Anniversary" we try to come back and reminisce on how this one date has changed the course of lives. Okay, fine, maybe that's just me and I force him to make the damn reservation so I can eat well and dress up.Regardless, this place is a favorite. Everything from the location, easy parking, stellar service, excellent food and overall ambiance. Each time we arrive here we feel like we are returning to the home of a close friend for dinner.Superb meal today:- Caesars - Segerstrom Spaghetti, unparalleled - sausage and peppers- Papperdelle and Short ribOn one occasion my fiance at the time did not see his chicken parmesan on the menu and the waiter was so kind as to have the chef make the dish especially for him. I am a pasta, carb-life, kind of girl and I have yet to try a pasta dish I haven't enjoyed here. The servings have always been too much for me so I always get it to go and 2nd day Antonello's is pretty darn good.  Since I've been told dessert has a completely different compartment, we always have room for their creme brulee. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Came for Dinner to celebrate our anniversary. The food and experience was great!  The warm spinach salad is one to try. We opted to select our dishes from the Chefs list. I had the best dish, Scallops with a Pesto sauce. Highly recommend it. Our server Alfredo Diaz made the whole evening stress free. From being very attentive to having a table already reserve in the lounge, so we can finish off the night after dinner, with some entertainment. Great Night! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Cooking with Fiore was such a lovely and fun experience! I loved how down to earth they were and the food was just incredible--so easy to make at home too! We were here to celebrate a birthday and could not be more happy with our decision. The atmosphere, the food, the wine..everything was exquisite. Definitely recommend, and if you're not in town to catch a cooking class with Fiore then enjoy their dinner menu, anything on it is worth it! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

So happy we gave this place a try! Everything was tasty and service was great!

Reviewed on Yelp

One of our favorite Italian restaurants. Food and service is always 5 stars. This time around we had the seabass and the cowboy steak. ..both cooked to perfection.For dessert we had cannoli piemontesi (puff pastry, custard, pistachio and caramel) and crostat di fichi (dried figs, mixed nuts, apricot glaze) both were very good.  My favorite is the cannoli!!!  It goes great with a Baileys and Coffee! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Fabulous time celebrating our 40th here. Steve Ebol, Juan and staff are fabulous and the food is out of this world. I highly recommend the Antonello Restaurante for a romantic dinner of your special occasion.

Reviewed on Yelp

We had my friends 50th birthday here the staff , banquet captains, bar tender and servers were so attentive they were patient and had wonderful attitudes. The staff for Sheryls birthday deserve 5 stars eachThe room was modern and rustic we loved the warm colors and paintings.We showed a slide show of her trip to Italy and the food was a perfect match..excellent Italian food. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

We had a great dinner, Carlos was fantastic...One of our favorite Italian restaurants in OC..

Reviewed on Yelp

I was looking for a restaurant that was known for good food but quiet enough for us to visit.   We were having dinner with friends celebrating our birthdays.  We had a wonderful experience.  We started at the bar for a cocktail.  The bartender was friendly and was patient with me as I wanted to try something different.  After interviewing me on my tastes he concocted a yummy drink!  The wait stave was the best!  Checking on us just enough to make sure we were satisfied.  They were warm and friendly and a great help in making recommendations when asked.    The food was wonderful!  But most important we were able to have a wonderful evening with our friends.  We were able to talk without shouting over restaurant noise.  We had a great time and will definitely be back.  A shout out to Carlo- good job buddy! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Awesome food!! I think the lunch is a bit better then the dinner.  More to choose from.  Kind of lacking in the gluten free department. Wine list is ta die for!  Service is a delight! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Antonello is not your run-of-the-mill Italian place. The food is amazing, and the menu selections are varied and interesting. There were 6 of us, we each ordered something different, and everyone was very impressed with their food. The pork chop was a huge serving, the gnocchi was melt in your mouth perfection. We decided to try the porcini risotto (prepared in the cheese wheel) as a side to share for the table, and everyone LOVED it. It was rich and creamy with just the right amount of truffle. SO GOOD! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I had the most wonderful 70th Birthday Party at this restaurant. It was a pleasure to work with Vicente planing  the event and Paul did a wonderful job taking care of my guests.  I had 30 people, so it was a big job.All of my guests were so impressed with the food, that they want to go back and try different dishes. I personally loved the Osso Buco. It was delicious!All in all it was a wonderful experience.  I would use Antonello again for a special occasion . Thanks to everyone More...

Reviewed on Yelp

One of our favorite date night spots! Has a real old school Italian restaurant feel. The food is delicious and service is incredible. Everything is absolutely delicious! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

We had such a lovely time for my cousin's 11th anniversary. The dinner was sumptuous and the dessert was to die for. Carlos our waiter was charming and just the best.  5 stars!

Reviewed on Yelp

It was my first time here for my wife's birthday. The service started out amazing. Carlos, our waiter, was attentive/came by often, offered suggestions and took good care of us throughout dinner. As for the food, the black truffle risotto was excellent and came with several shavings of truffle from France. The spaghetti pescatore was also delicious. There was a good-sized lobster, some giant scallops, clams, mussels and shrimp. We topped dinner off with chocolate flan, which was also good. Definitely recommend Carlos and this restaurant for its overall service, food and ambiance! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Excellent service with friendly and helpful servers. Great food with large portions. And expensive price, but it's worth it.

Reviewed on Yelp

Visiting South Coast Plaza and of course I was shopping. I realized my blood surgery blunged.  Food became my biggest concern.  We stop at Antonello's and I couldn't wait.  Is this a good idea?The owner was at the front hostess desk.  He reminds me  how my grandfather was.  Making sure everything is moving and customers were taken care of.  I told Him I'm starving and needed to eat something 5 hours ago.  I feel so bad I do not remember his name.   He sat us and sent over are server Monica.  She was my angel.  She ran to get me a Sprite and bread for the table.  Now I can relax and calmly look at the menu. Monica actually suggested we put something in immediately. Great idea!  We proceeded to order minestrone soup & house garlic bread.  I tried the soup and it was a bit bitter. The broth was so fresh that The tomatoes had not been cooked down enough for me. It was missing vegetables and was ok for me. My friend liked it  and was happy to eat it all.  The garlic bread was interesting and different from most restaurants. They made it with focaccia bread.  Very light and yummy with a bit of crunch on the bottom. They had a nice oil & garlic  spread  top with large slices of mozzarella.  Unique and the best garlic bread my friend has ever had.  The mozzarella slices were to thick for me. We ordered are main dishes.  My friend ordered a large chicken breast with prosciutto, cheese and garlic & wines sauce.  It was served with mash potatoes and green beans.  The chicken breast was cooked just right.  Half the restaurants can not cook chicken breast all the way through and not dry out the meat  We both loved it.  My choice was the dinner special which was seafood pasta dish.  Great choice but maybe not.  I asked for vodka sauce instead of the marinara sauce.  The presentation of the meal was gorgeous.  Pasta in the middle tossed with a good amount of calamari & sole. The seafood surrounded the pasta with muscles and two petite lobsters.  Everything was wonderful but my vodka sauce was a bit bland and the pasta was a little bit to Al Dente. It's a true sign of a real Italian restaurant but I forgot to ask. My bad.   Of course I took it home.   The dish itself was wonderful loaded with seafood. When I come back I'll try a new dish.  It's a must try.  We would like to thank our server Monica for taking such good care of us.  I'd hire her!! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Ernesto is the best. THIS GOSH DARN RESTAURANT IS THE BEST. I'm gluten-free, so I don't usually get a wide variety of options in certain restaurants. Antonello's has the best menu I have ever seen! My son is very picky and doesn't usually eat much at some fancy restaurants. When we go to Antonello's, my son is stuffed to the brim! My entire family loves this restaurant and we always will.  We also want to say how much we appreciate Jennifer!  She always makes sure we are seated promptly and welcomes us with her wonderful smike More...

Reviewed on Yelp