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Antonello Ristorante
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 2 pm
Mon-Fri 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Sat 5 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot, Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
73 reviews for Antonello Ristorante
Review Highlights
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"If the cream puffs were OMG, the panna cotta was OMFG." In 5 reviews -
"The wine list is exceptional, as are the desserts." In 10 reviews -
"Their lamb chops are also very good." In 5 reviews
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73 reviews in English
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Review from Cesar R.
Badass lambchops.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
ummmm.....
that's all i got.
c'mon...I ate here like 6 months ago...
would you expect any less from my lazy yelping ass?
I didn't think so.
OK, OK....I also got the cream puffs....
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Only for nostalgia's sake....cuz that was my nickname in high school.
Cesar "cream puff" R.
Oh, gawdammit, I think I was being insulted. -
Review from Kath M.
Tustin, CA
5/14/2012
I do so enjoy Antonello which features exquisitely-prepared, authentic Italian dishes.
I have two favorites: the veal Saltimbocca a la Romana and the Rotelle di Pasta, a rolled pasta stuffed with prosciutto. The Saltimbocca is an unparalled blend of veal, a delicious brown sauce, enhanced by prosciutto and sage. Their Insalata Caprese is composed of the classic sliced tomatoes, water mozzarella cheese and basil. Very flavorful. -
Review from Jessica V.
Fountain Valley, CA
5/1/2012
Came here for a Valentine's dinner some years ago. I haven't been back ever since, but every time i drive passed it, i cannot help but think about the amazing veal ravioli that i had. The portion was small so it had me wanting more, what a tease!
We were a group of 10, five couples, so we were seated in a private room with a large dining table with comfy chairs. The ambience was romantic and relaxing. Had a great time at Antonello's and I cannot wait to return for the veal ravioli one day! -
Review from Chad K.
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
3/6/2012 5 photos
Saturday night my girlfriend and I met my parents for dinner at Antonello Ristorante. It's located across the street from South Coast Plaza. I've been coming here with my family since I was born, although I hadn't been there in years. The best way to describe it would be an old world fancy Italian restaurant where a lot of the waiters are from Italy.
To drink it was Makers Mark on the rocks for me, and the rest of the party went with red wine. We started out by sharing the Prosciutto. It's a good portion of Imported Italian Prosciutto served with Parmigiano Reggiano and Cerignola Olives. Italian Prosciutto is the best in my opinion and it was very good. Much less salty that Canadian or American Prosciutto. The cheese was also very good, not too over powering in the parmigiano flavor.
Next it was a Caesar Salad. The salad was good, nothing too special about it. I liked the crunchy homemade croutons, they were very good! The Caesar dressing was good, not too over powering like some restaurants are.
For my main course I went with one of their specials, the Ossobuco. This was EXCELLENT! The veal was so tender you didn't even need a knife. It was slow cooked in a light red sauce and served with pasta as a side. I can't say enough how tender this dish was. It melted in my mouth! The best part of course is the marrow in the center of the bone. Ask for a cocktail fork to get it out of the bone more easily. So good!
For desert it was the Crostata di Mele, which is fresh slices of Granny Smith apples and homemade vanilla custard baked in a pasta frolla shell served warm with vanilla gelato. This was an EXCELLENT dish. It was almost like an Italian take on apple pie. It had the perfect cinnamon and sugar ratio in the spiced apples. On top of the pastry there was a hard candy that was made out of sugar and was like an art piece on it. VERY GOOD!!!
We also shared the Grand Marnier Soufflé for dessert. This was a very good soufflé, but not the best I've ever had. It had a good Grand Marnier flavor to it, but it was nothing spectacular. The texture could have also been a little more flaky.
All in all this is a great restaurant and a good place to go if you want a fancy Italian meal. -
Review from Yuki M.
1/20/2012
Been here a handful of times and never could get a grasp of what this place is trying to be - casual, elegant, casually elegant, mobster joint, mom's kitchen, what?
I like the food but the service is a little out of place. The people at the front seem to have been picked from Olive Garden and Maggiano's and plopped into the dining room here. The wait staff seem to be somewhere between the kitchen and the bar but never entirely on the main dining room floor.
No, that wasn't an insult.
Antonello's is a good place to eat but what I can't get over is the sea of ambiguity presented by the people who work here. I'm never sure if I should be wearing a dress or a suit or a .45.
Bufala is fantastically fresh and clean.
Burrata was balanced in flavor and texture.
Octopus Sashimi was a bit heavy and I enjoyed the arugula more.
Cioppino is fresh and hearty, as are all their seafood dishes.
Spicy seafood risotto (requested) came out well and I asked for it "wet" and the chef did a great job.
Steaks are typically done properly though I will honestly say that I've had better next door at Morton's or in my home from Costco.
Osso Bucco was tender and the marrow was sweet and creamy.
Sea Bass was rich and very satisfying.
Chocolate souffle was decent.
Grand Marnier souffle was much better.
Coffee is not too light and not burned.
Tea selection is less than impressive. Served with broken tea pots (3 broken lids out of 4 pots.)
Service is friendly and timely but again, misplaced.
Atmosphere is dark and my eyes usually begin to strain after five minutes.
Seating against the booths along the walls is uncomfortable. I prefer the chairs.
More lighting in the tables placed in the middle of the room but less privacy (if that matters).
Bar area is small and almost welcomes riff raff.
Bathrooms are single and inefficient for a restaurant which can host large parties.
I like it here, but I'm never comfortable when I come. In all honesty, I have a better time at Nello's across the way.Listed in: South County, My Fart Smells Like Roses
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Review from Paula K.
Rohnert Park, CA
5/14/2012
My husband was a journeyman butcher and worked in the grocery business for decades so when he says the lamb chops were cooked perfectly and were some of best he ever had then you better believe it. Would have been all the better if the ceasar salad was more authentic but it and the bread with garlic/basil butter plus fabulous stuffed zucchini flowers were very tasty starts to the meal. My lobster stuffed ravioli were good but not spectacular, they were a bit bland. The house gave us a lovely little cheesecake with spun sugar crown as it was our anniversary- very nice touch. Service was fine as was the wine list, we had a tasty chianti . In all, Antonello's is a classic Italian place and we'll go back.
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Review from Christina K.
Washington, DC
1/3/2012
I came here for a lunch since my mom had been telling me SOO much about it. Let's just say that the place is a place to impress. The decor was rich (maybe a bit over the top), and the service was impeccable. However, the food was okaay. I mean, it was done well and carefully, but when you're paying those prices and you sit in that environment, I think you expect more.
We had the fried mozzarella (no joke, fried slab of mozz served with marinara), the bibb salad with apples and blue cheese, and I had the porcini mushroom linguine. The pasta was tasty, though it didn't rock my socks. Dunno if I would come back since it's a bit too stuffy of an atmosphere and the food wasn't out-of-this-world.
The service, however, was impeccable. I felt like royalty - the waiters are super attentive, gracious, and attend to your every need and whim. They are highly professional and give the restaurant some sort of old world charm. -
Review from Eileen M.
Orange County, CA
3/18/2012
I dined here last night, as I have maybe 6 or 8 times before. It's good, but there just seems to be something lacking. I'm never quite happy with the choices and the service and atmosphere is just kind of okay. The prosciutto appetizer is good to start with. Last night I had the cioppino, which was well balanced. One of the people in our group had the osso bucco which was also very good. I think the best dessert is the grand marnier souffle. But, somehow I just don't have a longing to go back any time soon. There are better italian restaurants within 5 miles.
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Review from Carlos G.
Montebello, CA
12/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
I came by here for a company Christmas party and I by all means was impressed from the second I stepped into the door. The hostess directed us to our room (The Wine Cellar) to be seated with the rest of our party. The decor was very christmassy, and very appropriate for hosting a Christmas party.
Many of the people at our table ordered the boneless short rib meat, but trying to be different I ordered the fish. I will be quite honest the fish was very satisfying, but I was so eyeing the short rib when every ones order came out. The service is really good here, and like other people have posted they treat you royally.
Next time I will order the short rib, it made me want to come back the following day to order it. -
Review from Paul A.
La Habra, CA
12/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is just too fancy for me- I will start with that
This restaurant has great ambience and serious service- like don't put your water glass down unless you want it refilled immediately kind of service.
Food was high quality and tasty- I would prefer something a little more working class, but fancy is okay sometimes.
I was here for a retirement party and I have been here three times under similar conditions- disclaimer. -
Review from Bonnie T.
Garden Grove, CA
2/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
We went here for valentine's day. It was nice! too ritzy for my taste, but it was a nice place for a once a year kind of place. the food was amazing. I thought we would have been sitting at the tables and wait for our food to arrive hours later since it was valentine's day, but we got our food very promptly! Best part, we had to change our reservations at the last minute, and they were very welcoming and didn't quickly shy us away. :)
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Review from Reagan S.
Dove Canyon, CA
1/2/2012
I came here with my family (4 of us) and my parents visiting from Hawaii for Christmas Eve dinner. Christmas Eve dinner has always been a family tradition, and since we moved to Orange County in late 2006, we've been to Mastro's Ocean Club (2), Capital Grille (1), and Antonello's (2). I thought I would get back to "basics" with our 2011 Christmas Eve dinner and was not disappointed.
After making reservations, I was a bit concerned as I noticed that Antonello's has reduced the breadth of its menu. In that regard, I was not disappointed. Our table was able to order "off menu" including stracciatella soup and veal piccata, both of which were not on the standard menu. As with any outstanding restaurant, the waiter was helpful in that regard. While Antonello's has reduced the number of menu selections, the number of specials more than made up for that. On Christmas Eve, osso bucco, lamb chops, fillet of sole, and veal chop were entrees on the nightly special list. How can you beat that?
I ordered the veal chop, and it was excellent. My wife had the veal piccata, and it was wonderful as usual. The only disappointment was the timing of our dessert as the order for their chocolate soufflé was not given to the kitchen in a timely way so we had to wait 25 minutes after dinner was finished. I would have given 4 1/2 or 5 stars if this had been done in a timely manner. The food and the dining experience really were that good! -
Review from John S.
Yorba Linda, CA
2/11/2012
Went here with my wife for an early Valentine's day. We sat upstairs and had a great experience! We had the Prosciutto appetizer and it was amazing. I had Veal Saltimboca which was great and my wife had the gnocchi and that was great too, tasty yet light. The Veal had a great flavor as the prosciutto was cooked to perfection.
The setting is formal and perfect for a nice dinner. The help was excellent. -
Review from Moolinh H.
Westminster, CA
9/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Rib eye : yet another typical piece of meat
Ravioli: they're like super small ravioli
Black cod: good :)
Lobster pasta: it was okay. The pasta was cooked perfectly if you were a native Italian. For me it was too hard.
Asparagus : lovely, well cooked and seasoned
Creme brulee: I loooved it!!! I really recommend it.
Flan: very interesting recipe because it doesn't have egg in it. good also. -
Review from Marian B.
3/1/2011
I wrote up a long review for this place and it got totally erased! GAHH Dagnabbit! Boo!
Let me paraphrase it then:
- Always came here for business lunches
- Wouldn't pay out of my own tab for it
- I've had better Italian food for better prices
- Decor is old and hoity toity
- Some of the people are super snobby
- Food is standard and forgettableListed in: OOO la la! (Fine Dining in OC)
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Review from Jean C. M.
Los Angeles, CA
6/15/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I've been coming to Antonello Ristorante for years and each experience has been exceptional. It is the best Italian restaurant in Orange County, and generally recognized as one of the best restaurants here.
The service is impeccable and the food is authentic and delicious. They use high quality ingredients which always shine through in each dish. Favorites include the Cioppino and the sauteed shrimp. The wine list is exceptional, as are the desserts.
As a side note, if you smoke cigars - look into the dates for the next Cigar Dinner. They are some of the best Cigar Events in Southern California.
Highly Recommended! -
Review from Nick H.
Mission Viejo, CA
3/1/2011
My parents took my family to Antonello's over Valentine's Day weekend, and I quickly realized why it is their favorite restaurant. We made a reservation beforehand and were immediately seated. The restaurant is beautiful. All of the decor is Italy themed (obviously), but it all flows together well. The walls are painted with murals that make it look like you're dining in an Italian neighborhood. The service was absolutely perfect. Right when we sat down we had someone helping us, and they kept up the service the entire night. I ordered the swordfish with a house salad. I didn't enjoy the house salad very much, but the swordfish was delicious. After dinner, we each ordered a different dessert and shared. I enjoyed the tiramisu the most.
Though Antonello's can be expensive, it is well worth the money. The service, the food, the atmosphere all fuse together to make a great dining experience.
Oh and I almost forgot to mention, Lakers legend Ervin "Magic" Johnson decided to dine at Antonello's when we were there, and it was pretty cool to see him sitting across the room. -
Review from Kay D.
Updated - 2/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Italians make great waiters, and that is the best part of this place. Super friendly, warm, and inviting. They helped us navigate the extensive wine list and choose a great bottle of red and white within our price range. The atmosphere here is great. The food is pretty good, though nothing to rave about.
We came with a party of 7 people, and were waited on to perfection. For appetizers we had the burrata (prosciutto with burrata cheese - YES! DELISH!) and the frittura mista (a basket of fried calamari, shrimp, and zuccini - mediocre). For the entree I had the fettucini (with mushrooms, crab meat, and truffle oil). It was super bland, and I could have cared less about the truffle oil. There were about 3 tiny pieces of crab meat. This was my least favorite dish. I also had the pear salad, which was good.
I sampled the rotelle (lasagna-esque with lots of cheese, prosciutto, and vodka cream sauce), which was pretty good. There was a special that involved lobster and a spicy marinara sauce, and that was really good. The tagliolini (smoked salmon and such with a cream sauce) was also very tasty, but very much like something I could have whipped up at home with very little effort or money (aside from the smoked salmon itself).
For dessert we brought our own birthday cake for one of our party, and the restaurant let us keep it in their fridge and then they served it for us and added strawberries as garnish with chocolate shavings to make it pretty (all for a small fee, of course). Delightful!
I like coming here a lot because I have such a good time and the service and wine list are fantastic, but I don't believe the food warrants the exorbitant price tag (even though it's sometimes delicious). For the price I'm paying, I want my food to taste like Italian heaven...instead it inspires words like "decent" and "pretty good". I'm sad they no longer have a fresh homemade pasta section on their menu (though they did have homemade raviolis, which I should have ordered). I'm so torn!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/1/2009
This is a tasty Italian restaurant in the heart of where rich OC people like to dine. I came here… Read more »
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Review from Chris C.
Santa Ana, CA
4/6/2011
Recently came back from Italia a few months ago, and got excited to have good Italian food again back here in the states for my mom's birthday.
The ambiance of this restaurant is very old-school. It's an older crowd that runs here, and you kinda feel like sticking up your nose to match everyone else here.
The menu here is pretty authentic. Tons of primero dishes, antipastos, secondi dishes, and if you're not familiar, Italians like to share their dishes family-style! Order your dishes as if you'd like to share them with others because the plates are HUGE. I knew this, but it seemed like everyone wanted to get their own; unfortunately that led to a LOT of left-overs :)
My recommendation is to get primarily primero and antipasto dishes, you can get less secondi dishes since they're so much bigger/more expensive. The bill can run quite high here, so keep that in mind that this is not just a regular Italian place, but you'll need to run deep pockets to fit this bill!
Overall, the dishes were average; nothing to scream bloody horror about, and also nothing to rave about. I don't know if I'd return here since it's so expensive and less than memorable. If nothing else, it was a good reminder of Italy and some of the great foods we ate and I appreciate the authenticity. -
Review from Kyle F.
2/14/2011
Went here for valentines day on sunday and had a wonderful romantic evening. We where sat in a more quiet are of the restaurant which was great for talking and being able to hear as well. They had a v-day menu but it was a bit pricey for what you where getting (70 dollars to be exact) so we decided to to order off the menu.
The meal started out with these breadsticks that they serve which were so good I could have at them for dinner all night. I'm not a big wine person but my gf is so I decided to get a glass of wine and I ad NO clue what to get. Our waiter Dante really helped out a lot suggesting a great glass of wine for what I was ordering, and he nailed the selection it paired perfectly. I got the rack of lamb with an olive oil and bread crumb crust and it was pretty good, a tad fatty, but none the less it was very juicy and flavorful. My gf got the gnocchi and it was amazing, having never had it before i though it was really good...and she loved it too.
Dinner was about 80 dollars (but only because the rack of lamb was 40 alone), its pretty decently priced food in a great and low key environment, we will for sure be going here again for the food.Listed in: Date Night
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Review from Mike M.
Updated - 9/17/2011
Another amazing meal. What else is new. I tried the grilled seafood special with scallops, whole shrimp, swordfish, salmon and pasta in light garlic and wine sauce. Fabulous. Great service as always. Treated like kings.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/10/2010
My company treats us Managers to a nice dinner here about once a year. It is on par with the Ruth's… Read more »
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Review from Michelle F.
Corona, CA
3/3/2011
This place is definitely upscale and classey....and not my style.
I wont give it a negative review because I'm sure there are lots of people out there who would love this place.
But if you're anything like me, where you like to go out with a group of people and talk and laugh...this is probably not the place to go. My boyfriend and I went with another couple for Valentines day, and the whole dinner was almost awkward because we were afraid to talk too loud.
I ordered the gnocchi, which was just alright....The sauced looked and tatsted a little generic.
Mind you, my standards for Italian food are a little high because my grandma is a fresh of the boat italian chef by nature. She has the BEST sauces. So this wasn't impressive for me.
Between my boyfriend and I, we had two salads, and two entrees, with no drinks, appetizers or desserts and he paid around $70.
Overall, I wouldn't say this place is horrible, but its not my style and I wont go there again. -
Review from Victoria W.
Los Angeles, CA
2/12/2011
Antonello's had a great atmosphere and excellent service. It seemed like every worker in there was Italian (cause they were speaking the language to each other and could pronounce the names of the dishes).
Vegetarian review:
Minestrone soup was delicious! I would have been happy just having that.
I got the gnocchi and which wasn't that good to me. This was probably because I wasn't expecting these dumplings to be filled with so much cheese. The tomato sauce it came with was good and light.
BF's mom got the Magro (Ravioli filled with Ricotta Cheese, spinach and tomatoes) which she thought was just good.
Their bread basket had 2 types of bread and a cracker.
Meat review:
BF had lobster soup, lamb chops and Frittura Mista (fried shrimp, calamari & baby zucchini).
BF's dad LOVED the calamari (which is his favorite appetizer at any restaurant). Soup was good (had large lobster chunks) and lamb chops which were tender and good but it had a mint sauce which he isn't a fan of.
BF's dad got Bistecca (prime rib eye) and he cleaned his plate but didn't say that was anything special (especially for $37)
Dessert!:
I ordered the Totino al Ciocolato (a warm flourless chocolate souffle cake served with vanilla gelato). I love all things chocolate and this warm rich cake really hit the spot. The gelato however, wasn't good.
BF had the Cannoli. Both him and I thought it was just okay.
Overall, I'd come back for their minestrone soup and more dessert (maybe their chocolate souffle next time). Total bill for 4 with no alcohol was $231 (not including tip). It was good food but I'm not sure it was worth that much money. -
Review from Jay C.
Ontario, CA
3/11/2011 1 photo
We came here for the OC Restaurant Week.
The food has 4 courses including appetizer and dessert. The food quality goes beyond the way they look... and I am not saying they don't look tasty.
Our waiter was also exceptional. He came and told us a few jokes and made us laugh. Although he was talking to the old couple next to our table for a bit too long when I wanted to ask him to change my lamb chop from medium rare to medium.
The restaurant week special was $40/person. It is a reasonable price for the food we enjoyed. I think the waiter also mentioned that on regular days they also have a 3 course special for $35/person.
I look forward to coming back here especially a long day shopping at South Coast nearby. -
Review from Nancy C.
Garden Grove, CA
2/19/2012
Wow! Had a fabulous meal. Lobster ravioli and the swordfish were to die for. We took the recommendation of the sommelier for the wine and it was spot on for both dishes. The meal was followed by a chocolate dessert and that was a perfect ending to the meal. The service was impeccable and we had a really good evening.
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Review from Paul L.
9/17/2007 ROTD 6/11/2008
UPDATE 10/07/2007 : I ate here again over the weeked. One of the courses was venison loin with a wine must and truffle sauce. OMG who knew Bambi's mom could taste so good?
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Do you ever walk by those stores in South Coast Plaza -- you know, the ones with extremely pricey stuff but look like they came straight from the set of Dynasty or Falcon's Crest -- and wonder to yourself, "Who the hell buys this stuff?" Well, if you cross the street and have dinner at Antonello Ristorante, you will find out. Because they will all be dining there too.
I'm not really knocking this place, because the food is actually very good. But the old-money clientele here is of, how should I say, an earlier generation than mine. In other words, this IS your father's Italian restaurant.
Zagat describes this place as a "landmark" with "classic" Italian fare. But before you read "old" and "boring" into that description, let me just remind you that there are some classics that should not be tinkered with. Take their porcini mushroom risotto, for example. I have had this dish twice now, and I can honestly say that it is probably one of the best mushroom risottos I have ever had. It's a classic dish that, in my mind, will never become boring.
Their lamb chops are also very good. So good that even the non-lamb eater in our midst enjoyed them. Was the dish new and inventive? No. But were they good enough to make us want to gnaw the meat right off the bones? Hell, yeah! Had she gone to Antonello, even Mary would have had a little lamb herself.
So dress yourself in your most conservative clothes, ask your father to borrow his Cadillac, and drive yourself over to Antonello. You will have a great time playing grown-up, and you may actually have a pretty good time doing it too.Listed in: The Best of Orange County
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Review from Noah C.
7/31/2007
We came here for my grandpa's 81st (!) birthday.
Here's my take on Antonello's - it's kind of like Marlon Brando. If you have ever seen Brando circa Streetcar Named Desire or On the Waterfront, you can almost picture what Antonello's used to be like. A great experience, with good food, charm and great service.
Fast forward 20 years, and you're left with Brando circa Island of Dr. Moreau. Bloated, overpriced, lacking.
My veal chop was completely mediocre. The chop itself was cooked a bit too much; it was tougher than it should have been, and the dryness was only sort of contained by how starchily thick the sauce coating it was. Theoretically, the sauce was supposed to be a Marsala sauce, but...well, communism also works in theory, too.
My plate of salumi was great, enough to make me bump this up to three stars (and I have to admit, my own fond childhood memories of coming to this place with my late father also colors my opinion). The prosciutto and braseola was delicious, and my carpaccio was also pretty good, if lacking in olive oil.
The appetizer sampler was average, with a very good ravioli, a sort of good shrimp scampi, a decidedly sub-par plate of mushrooms and an undersalted plate of calamari fritti.
The bill, for eleven people, came out to 1200 dollars. Overpriced for average food, if you ask me! The service was also just...ok. The waiter was charming and pleasant, but he fucked up a number of orders, and forgot that we ordered chocolate souffles for dessert.
As Marlon Brando said: "The horror...the horror..." -
Review from Lauren B.
6/18/2007
Went to another wine event had a line up of Robert Foley wines with a big group of friends.
Overall, good service and I actually really enjoyed the lamb (and for me that is rare, since I don't eat lamb)
Here was the menu:
Champagne Reception
Passed Appetizers
Flight 1 - Whites
Carpaccio of fresh Hawaiian center cut Swordfish drizzled with lemon an olive oil sprinkled with capers topped with baby arugula/mach
Flight 2 - 90s
Porcini Mushroom Risotto with fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano
Flight 3 - 2000s
Filet of beef tenderloin with a rosemary-brandy sauce over creamy polenta
Flight 4 - Petites
Grilled New Zealand baby lamb chops, served with a peppercorn sauce and sauteed spinach
Dessert
An arrangement of assorted cheese, candied walnuts, and white and dark chocolate -
Review from David E.
Aliso Viejo, CA
9/16/2011
The vibe here is upper crust Newport Beach/Corona Del Mar old money. The interior design is very traditional and not aesthetically pleasing to my eye. Regardless, this is one of the better Italian meals I've had in the OC over the past 4 years.
The orecchiette with sausage is super tasty and flavorful. The panna cotta was quite good albeit not as good as what I consumed recently in NYC.
The service is a tad stuffy but good. I think if you don't have that "waft of old money" on you it is likely you may feel a bit out of place or "may" not receive the same level of service. I will clarify that this is only the impression I got from perusing the room. I tend to observe a lot of the goings on when going fine dining. Regardless, this is clearly an above average Italian ristorante. -
Review from Kathleen H.
Newport Beach, CA
Updated - 2/28/2009
- We waited for about 5-7mintes before being seated for lunch.
- The host (manager) was friendlier than the wait staff who spoke to me impatiently and with a know it all attitude.
- Similar to my previous comment, I am not a fan of the atmosphere. My friends in their 40s and 50s enjoy this place and all the pretentious and snobby attitude it conveys, but my friends in their 20s and 30s find that they can spend $$$ elsewhere and I think I am in the latter camp. .
I came w/ an older group of friends as they wanted to try the OC restaurant week menu. So far, I've gone to about 6 restaurants for OCRW either lunch or dinner and have been relatively impressed with the quality of the food and the good value, but boy were we disappointed w/ the OCRW menu items at Antonello's.
We started our first course w/ garden salad, caesar salad, etc. and it wasn't anything spectacular, just plain. The salads at Pinot Provence and The Winery (@Tustin District) had more character and were more unique. Perhaps I should have ordered the minnestrone instead!
Then, our entrees arrived and all I was on my veal parmagiana (sp?) was a thin slice of barely visible meat drowning in wet red sauce and cheese baked on top which didn't look very appetizing. I hesitated to take a bite and when I finally did, I couldn't believe how chewy the veal was. Not only was it chewy but also tough to bite through despite how thin the meat was.
I ate some of my friend's chicken caccitore (sp?) also on the OCRW menu and it was dry and lacked flavor. I thought the breadding was sandpaper-like and was hurting the roof of my mouth. There was not a drizzle of sauce to give the dish aroma or in the words of Emeril, "kick it up a notch."
Finally, the desserts arrive and I thought, this will redeem for the not so satisfying meal, but oh no, the cannoli was mediocre and the panna cotta was disappointing. I love panna cotta and agreed to come here for lunch because Antonello was serving panna cotta as one of their desserts. I was really disappointed. The panna cotta was jello in consistency which isn't really what I expected.
Overall, I sure have had better food and I wasn't all that impressed. This is definitely NOT in the caliber of a top restaurant and certainly I don't feel like I am getting any value for my money.2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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8/5/2008
I gave them a two star last time and today, it's a slight improvement. Two of us came in for lunch.… Read more »
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Review from Eileen T.
Aliso Viejo, CA
1/19/2009 18 photos
I don't really venture down to Orange County too much. When I saw the 4 course for $40 event at South Coast Plaza resturants, I thought it would be a great opportunity to try a new restaurant in a new area. BF and I both liked the special menu at Antonello Ristorante. So we came here at our 7pm reservation on Saturday night.
The plaza looked empty. But the restaurant was quite busy. We waited for about 5 minutes for the hostess to seat us. She seated us on the upstairs dining room. It's smaller than the downstairs huge dining area, and it felt a lot more intimate. I felt in love with the decor immediately. Beautiful painted ceiling, dim lighting, rose on the table. Awww.... Romantic!
Our polite and friendly waiter brought a basket of bread after we ordered. Three different types of bread were served. Warm sourdough, flat bread and bread stick. We used the balsamic vinegar and olive oil on the table to dip the bread in.
We both ordered the 4 course for $40 special. BF also had wine pairing for an extra $20. Each course had two different choices. We opted for one selection each. The waiter knew we wanted to share so everything was served in the center of the table.
Bruschetta al Pomodoro: Slices of crunchy Italian bread, topped with diced tomato, garlic, basil, chopped green onion, extra virgin olive oil and shaved Parmigiano cheese. We didn't know what was the seasoning they used, but BF mentioned this was the best bruschetta he's ever had.
Mozzarella in Carrozza: The second appetizer was Italian Bufala Mozzarella cheese lightly fried, served with fresh marinara sauce. The mozzarella cheese was really fresh. I like their marinara sauce a lot. Both appetizer dishes were great.
Penne all' Arrabbiata: Second course was pasta. This dish was penne pasta sauteed with extra virgin olive oil, garlic, basil and spicy tomato sauce. We love the spicy and tangy tomato sauce.
Ravioletti di Mamma Pina: Homemade miniature ravioli with veal bolognese sauce. This pasta dish was rich and hearty. Very "homemade" style and very good. Again, love the sauce. This restaurant really did a great job making all their sauces.
Grasato di Manzo: Moving on to main course. The meat dish was a slowly braised boneless short rib with assorted vegetables, red wine, new potato and mushroom. The short rib was very tender and flavorful. Love the braised mushroom. Spinach was great with the sauce as well.
Sogliola alla Milanese: The seafood dish was grilled fillet of sole coated with bread crumbs, parsley, Parmesan cheese and Italian seasonings served with seasoned vegetables and fresh lemon. Another great dish. The seasoned crust of the fish fillet was delicious.
Profiteroles: Small cream puffs filled with a delicate mocha custard cream served with warm chocolate sauce. My god! The cream puffs were so yummy.
Panna Cotta: Vanilla egg-less flan "Italian style" served with caramel sauce and seasoned berries. If the cream puffs were OMG, the panna cotta was OMFG. The panna cotta was so good that I felt like screaming out "Oh yes oh yes" while eating it.
What a great find! We had a beautiful dinner at Antonello Ristorante. Wonderful service, superb food, nice decor, everything a great restaurant needs. We will definately come back here again, and again. -
Review from Christina P.
Orange County, CA
10/28/2010
I really didn't want to believe the poor ratings, really. But I do have to agree, this place is medicore over-priced Italian food. I also should've checked out the photos before coming. I was way underdressed with my Tom's.
I got the Capricciosa salad to start. Hearts of palm in any salad is a favorite of mine. I was dissapointed they were smaller than normal and lacked the bite I'm typically used to. The salad was a complete miss. For my entree I ordered the Rigatoni extra hot. The dish was nothing out of the ordinary and it could've used more heat.
The best part of the meal was the "special garlic bread" that is served only to the VIPs, which we are not, but knew a VIP that made a call for us (yeah, we're a big deal). They gave us 3 different sorbets: lemon, mango, and raspberry, on the house and sad to say, it was not the icing on the cake.
I'm a bit sad I wasted my carb intake on this place! :( -
Review from Louise O.
San Francisco, CA
2/25/2008
The service was super slow. It took the waiter 10 minutes just to give me a menu. Waited 20 minutes to get the check after my meal.
I had the linguini pescatore...just okay, it could have used more flavor. The scallops in the dish were overdone. The caesar salad was nice, but a little overpriced.
The wine list by the glass was uninspiring. Would not go back to this place, although the decor is charming. -
Review from tom m.
Irvine, CA
9/26/2011
one of the most wonderful places around! Forget these high price Fancy places - this place blows them out
the ambience, the style and the service were top notch.
the fish was excellent - sole
the medallians were also great and I had the veal
nicely tucked away where not too busy. I would recommend a special event here, birthday party, anniversary, etc. -
Review from Iris R.
Beverly Hills, CA
2/25/2010
Antonello's is located in a nice and convenient area. Perfect place to dine after an exhausting day of shopping since it's very close to South Coast Plaza. The decor of the place is upscale and has a nice ambiance.
I ate here with a party of six people to celebrate a birthday and the service was average, our waiter was quick and fast. The bill was around $420 for 6 people which was reasonable. The owner also stopped by our table and even gave us two free pasta sauce in a jar, which was unexpected but a nice gesture.
This place would have gotten a five star but unfortunately their food wasn't all that spectacular. They were presented nicely but tasted average. All together, I left the restaurant satisfied and impressed. -
Review from Mark C.
Mission Viejo, CA
8/29/2009
I recently visited Antonello's for lunch with a customer. It is without a doubt the perfect spot for a business lunch; and also a great place to go when work is paying.
Sadly, the place was hurting for business. I would have to guess that the economy is keeping people from spending money on extravagant meals.
The food was excellent. Hard to pass up on a special, so I had the Halibut. It was moist and flaky and served with a side of steamed vegetables which to my surprise were not overly soaked in butter.
This is one of your nicer Italian restaurants around and I wouldn't hesitate returning for a special occasion with friends or family. -
Review from Jeffrey W.
Pasadena, CA
4/11/2010
If not for their homemade pasta I would say this place is just 1 star. The seafood linguine they recommended had cold undercooked scallops and over cooked rock shrimp.
Service is great and the dessert is pretty decent, but pair that with the pricing and what is available in the surrounding area, Antonello's leaves much to be desired. -
Review from Stacey C.
4/2/2010
3.5 stars. I felt like ITALIAN so we chose this place for the location and for the 1,000 points I would receive from Open Table.
I haven't been to this place in about 8 years or so. We were there early for dinner at 6pm, it was a bit empty and felt a little bleak. Felt like I was back in the 80's or something is a really fancy uptight restaurant. We were seated in a booth that was in a really DARK area. (They probably need to re-decorate this place...time for RENOVATION~~~)
The food~ I ordered Rigatoni and my BF ordered the Osso Buco. He devoured his meal with a big SMILE on his face. My craving as satisfied with a made to order pasta dish...b/c I wanted tomato sauce. I think I was being a bit spoiled that night. The app of caprese salad was AMAZING with the huge piece of cheese. YUM!
ANYwho ~ the service was awesome. They filled our cups with water and bread when needed & asked. We tried 2 different red wines~ They have waiters and busers attending to your every need.
It's not a casual place ~ but we were having a casual night.
The waiter asked: "Are you here for a special occasion?"
I quickly quipped: "Nope! Just felt like Italian."
He probably thought I was either Funny or Snobby. I dunno, either way, we had a very full and delicious meal~ went home full & happy. Couldn't do anything else afterwards except for veg infront of the TV and sleep. HAHA. -
Review from Chew E.
San Clemente, CA
4/30/2011
I've eaten at Antonello a number of times over the years, but it had been awhile before my most recent visit. I have to say the place makes me laugh every time I go. The faux old world decor, tuxedoed waitstaff and such is over the top. The service is very attentive and personal, and they are genuinely happy to have you there. The crowd is mostly older and well heeled, and seems to be weighted toward business types and those attending the various theaters in the area.
This is a restaurant that would have rated five stars about 25 years ago, but the restaurant world has simply passed them by. The food is good, but not great. If they are to pull it off with this concept and at this price point then the food needs to be better than it is; there are simply too many good Italian restaurants out there against which they can be judged. On this occasion I went old school and had the bufala mozzarella salad, lamb chops, and panna cotta. Each was enjoyable, none were memorable.
I imagine that those who rate Antonello highest are those who like a heavy dose of tradition and familiarity in their dining experiences. I would be happy to return on someone else's dime; if I'm paying I'm headed elsewhere. -
Review from Tyler S.
5/2/2011 1 photo
I give Antonello Ristorante 5 stars not only because the food and service is first class, but because I fear if I do not I will wake up with a horse's head in my bed. Okay, maybe it's not that extreme, but Antonello Ristorante is definitely the kind of place I would eat every day if I was a mobster. The ultra-authentic Italian fare they serve here is so simple and fresh it epitomizes the notion that truly good, fresh food stands on it's own.
A fresh piece of fish only needs some fresh sprigs of herb, clarified butter and a light squeeze of lemon. Quality lamb chops only need a sprinkle of a few herbs and a light sear. The lack of over-preparation here tells me that the meat and seafood I am eating has not been sitting in the chef's freezer since last weekend's dinner service. The dining experience here is exactly that-- an experience. After our drinks came, the server brought a lovely plate of parmigiano reggiano, proscuitto, olives and Italian breads to wet the appetite. Next, a plate of sauteed mushrooms, a salad of fresh arugula with a light drizzle of vinegarette, and a toasty piece of bread with fresh bruschetta were served. My entree, the lamb chops dinner special, was out of this world. The lamb had no gaminess, and was a perfect medium. It was seared perfectly on the outside, and was juicy and tender inside. The dish had the perfect proportion of protein, starch, and vegetable with blanched green beans and thickly cut potato wedges drizzled in olive oil on the side. Some of my family members ordered seafood/pasta dishes which I also sampled and enjoyed tremendously. Delizioso!
I highly recommend Antonello Ristorante to anyone who loves fresh, delicious food and quality service!
