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Aruffo's Italian Cuisine
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
142 reviews for Aruffo's Italian Cuisine
Review Highlights
"The pumpkin ravioli is rich and very good."
(in 12 reviews)
"We split a chocolate creme brulee and a cocolate mousse."
(in 7 reviews)
"The seafood bisque was delicious."
(in 12 reviews)
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142 reviews in English
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Review from Jade W.
1/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
Picked this place to bring my mom for her birthday dinner because of the good reviews and charming atmosphere. It didn't disappoint.
We started off with a bottle of wine and two types of pizza. Salsicca I didn't get to try because it had meat (not currently eating meat) but my family liked it. Verdura Rustico was pretty good but slightly oily. Still I liked the spinach and sundried tomatoes on it.
They also brought out a fresh baked boule of bread with some tomato on top and served with a red pepper paste on the side. The bread was delicious! Entrees come with salad or soup (seafood bisque) so I got a salad with cabernet vinegrette. Pretty standard salad of mixed greens, croutons and it had some macaroni pieces. For entree I got the vodka creme pomodoro. It was very good as far as vodka sauce goes and I do like that it has diced tomatoes and generous basil in it.
Everyone else seemed happy with their food. Portions are generous that many took home food. I had about half of my pasta untouched since the bread, pizza and salad really filled me up.Service was fairly decent but standard...not unpleasant but not personable.
Overall, I think it's a good place for Italian food in the University area. -
Review from Kevin D.
Upland, CA
Updated - 1/2/2012
I don't think the salmon is ordinary as Inigo stated. I think they are one of the few places that doesn't overcook it. Same with the veggies. We try to watch our portions so we do a dinner split. For $5.95 they split the meal for you and give you both your soup or salad. Since I hit them up for a loaf of their fabulous bread right off we end up barely able to finish all our food.
I really like this place. When me and my girl go there we always feel like we got something for our money. I shudder to give five stars. Maybe it's a four star place. But really since we go their so often, and haven't1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/30/2010
I eat here often. Make sure upon your arrival you get them to bring some of their wonderful bread… Read more »
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Review from Miko C.
12/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Aruffo's Italian Cuisine, located in the charming city of Claremont, is the place to go for an exceptional dining experience. Valerie & Tom Aruffo opened this gem in 1985, and have crafted Aruffo's into a sophisticated, successful restaurant known for an extensive menu of stellar dishes, including homemade Italian pastas, Angus steaks, fresh seafood, free-range poultry, and an array of heavenly desserts. The impressive drink menu features an extensive wine list, champagne & sparkling wine, cappuccino & espresso, cappuccino liqueurs, and various before and after drinks. The choices are practically endless.
One of many outstanding dishes is the Spinach Aglio E Olio. The various flavors fuse together to create a quite heavenly experience. Spaghetti pasta is tossed with fresh garlic and then sautéed golden brown with extra virgin olive oil, tomatoes, and a generous helping of fresh spinach. The complementary flavors of these wonderful ingredients come together to create a simple, yet refined dish. You will be grateful that the portion sizes at Aruffo's are so generous, since you won't be able to get enough of this marvelous dish after the first bite.
The desserts are prepared fresh daily and are fabulous. The Chocolate Ganache is incredibly rich and decadent. Your taste buds will not be the same after they are bathed in the velvety texture and flavors of this fine dessert.
Treat yourself and check out Aruffo's! -
Review from Marietta H.
West Covina, CA
2/5/2012
The place was packed and we were told 45 min. wait. We walked around looking for another place but then came back here and when we did they sat us right away since a large party had just left.
We were starving and had wine, awesome hot bread with pepper dipping sauce in front of us in less than 10 minuets even though the place was still really busy.
We are two back East Italians so the menu was very familiar. We asked Scott our server for suggestions and went with his recommendations.
Soup- Salmon bisque, 5 stars!
Dinner salad, great variety of crisp fresh greens 5 stars!
Pollo Ravioli, 5 stars, loved all the large pieces of fresh basil in the sauce
Bouillabaisse Di Mare, excellent 5 stars. Huge portion, Superior fish quality.
Did I mention the bread? OMG! Piping hot, awesome spices, crunchy crust and fabulous presentation!
Our service was fantastic! We don't care how much we pay for good Italian food, but if you're value conscious your like this place, it's reasonable and large portions. This was our first time here and we hope the next time is just as good. -
Review from Sandie B.
1/22/2012
Nice homey atmosphere; bread was fresh, flavorful, warm and fluffy; everything else was decent but nothing to rave about (Pollo Ravioli and Eggplant Parm). We might have been slightly happier if the prices were slightly lower.
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Review from Heath C.
Pomona, CA
1/30/2012
This is practically the only Italian place I go to. I like getting the specials and the bread is awesome! So far, every time I've gone the food tasted fresh and the service was great. I definitely recommend this place for date night or for a gathering of family and friends.
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Review from Anna S.
10/28/2011
Went for my birthday this past week. The place looked a lot bigger and nicer from the inside. Great for large groups. On this Wed night, it was mostly couples and two large groups. We were pretty hungry so we ordered the soup and salad plus a pasta dish for myself and the fiance. Everything tasted great although I would've liked less oil in the pasta. I ordered the spinach pasta dish. My fiance ordered something that was mostly meat and mushrooms. We didn't realize it was like a meat lover's pasta. I think I filled myself up with salad, soup and bread so I only finished half of my pasta. I'll definitely have to go back again. They have an extensive menu. I would even just go back for coffee (great old-school coffee machine that we have to try one day just to see it work) and the bread. I also want to try the gelato which they state they make every day.
The bread was the highlight! It was already topped with tomato sauce so I didn't use the roasted red pepper sauce. I did dip it into my soup and the balsamic vinegar. I also notice the pace of when people bring dishes. It was good. I never noticed we weren't being served. Just enough time to enjoy each other's company and food. Great place I highly recommend. -
Review from Inigo M.
San Francisco, CA
11/19/2011
Ordinary salmon. Pleasant service.
Extraordinary house bread earns fourth star (light-crispy crust, the rest warm and tender). -
Review from Jeanie L.
Los Angeles, CA
11/18/2011
Service 4 stars
Food 3 stars
Came in at 6:30pm to this little Italian spot. The interior was nicely decorated, cozy and clean. Went ahead and ordered the the pesto pasta for about $16 and it came with a choice of soup or salad. My friend went ahead and ordered a red marinara sauce with a huge meatball haha, The waiter was very accommodating when my friend asked to have tons of vegetables in his spaghetti. Also ordered the calamari appetizer.
Food came out in about 15 minutes or so. The bread was nice and crispy on the outside and the inside was super soft. Came out toasty which was a plus. The tomato sauce that came with the bread was decent. The calamari came out really quickly as well. The outside was very crispy and the calamari was not too chewy, but the sauce on the side quickly made up for the blandness of the calamari.
Ordered the pesto pasta but it didn't come out as hot as I hoped. I think they let it sit out for a bit too long and I found the sides to be a bit cool and the inside just warm. Upon first bite I was hoping a punch of flavor from the pesto description I was reading from the menu, alas I was disappointed. The pesto was so bland. It had no taste. After taking a few more bites, the flavor never appeared.. I was so sad. I spent a lot on this dish and I didn't get any type of flavor. Completely bland and no seasoning at all. Never order the pesto dish..wasn't worth the price. Portions were big, and so I ended up splitting with a friend to save some money.
My friend ordered the seafood bisque and it tasted so good! I loved the way the chef balanced the flavors. And they had a few crab pieces in the soup, touche. Salad was mediocre, nothing special.
Overall, the food was far from spectacular. For the price I was paying, I was expecting stronger Italian sauces and seasoning and hot food. The pastas just didn't make the cut for me. I only have 4 stars because of their service. Ended up spending $15 on mediocre food..not planning on coming back. -
Review from Janet C.
San Diego, CA
10/22/2011
This place isn't fancy, but the food and service solid.
I had no problem making a reservation on Friday afternoon for 7pm that night. We were seated promptly. The place wasn't full but got packed around 8pm. All kinds of people-- old, young, couples, families (didn't see any children though).
House bread was warm and fluffy. Big round loaf cut into wedges, came with a light green dipping sauce (a creamy pesto?) which I guess changes nightly. I asked for the red (roasted red pepper?) which was a little more flavorful IMO.
Entrees come with soup of the day or salad. Seafood bisque wasn't bad. Tasted a little like a southwest chicken gumbo to me but... it wasn't bad. Generous plate of dark leafy rocket, shredded green and purple cabbage and carrots, in a slightly bitter-in-a-good way cabernet vinaigrette.
Bruschetta was OK. We got the one with the chopped tomatoes and cannelli beans. I liked the big fresh pieces of basil on top but it needed some more oomph. Also came with a big heaping pile of kalamata (?) olives and sun dried tomatoes, shaved parmesan, and marinated red and green bell pepper strips.
Crab ravioli was good. Four good sized raviolis stuffed with discernible pieces of crab-meat, in a not too heavy for a cream based vodka sauce. and light on the sodium too. Great for sopping up with the bread.
Mom got the seafood linguine with big pieces of fresh catch of the day (swordfish), giant succulent sweet shrimp, lots of calamari O's, and baby scallops cooked just right, in a light red sauce that had a nice little kick.
They don't skimp on the food. We had enough leftovers for lunch the next day. Will be back. Claremont village is cute. Parking lot in the back was full but found a spot on the street pretty quickly. -
Review from Oy C.
Ontario, CA
11/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Food poisoning after a few bites only.
Called in at 8:45pm to make sure they were opened. They said 10pm, arrived at 9:10pm and the waiter said he has to go to the back and asked if the kitchen is still open.
Sat down and saw the dirty plate and the utensils. Cleaned them and waited for the food. Bread was good. Pasta was not bad until i had a few bites and my stomach started to hurt all night. -
Review from Christina V.
Upland, CA
9/15/2011 3 photos
The food and atmosphere is why I'm giving Aruffo's 4 stars. I checked out this place about a year ago and I was impressed with the food, but the service was slow, but after a year of not eating here, my friends and I tried it out again...and I'm slightly disappointed to say that the service was slow again.
The bread is DELISH, but they don't seem to bring it out unless you ask them. My friend asked them for a second loaf and the server said he "forgot" but it came across more like he was reluctant to give us another one.
I picked the Vodka Cream Pasta which came with a choice of salad or seafood bisque. The seafood bisque was as delicious as I remembered it to be and the pasta was very good as well. But I'm not sure if I just hyped it up for myself since it's been a year since my last visit, but I feel like I probably could have made the pasta that I paid $16 for.
When it came down to the bill, the server kindly divided it for us, but it took a VERY LONG time for him to do it.
Pros:
1) Food is good
2) Atmosphere is quiet and nice
3) Located in Claremont Village (Super cute!)
Cons:
1) Stingy on the bread!
2) Super slow service
3) Kind of pricey -
Review from C V.
Los Angeles, CA
11/6/2011 1 photo
If you like a restaurant that is empty, come on a weekday.
The complimentary bread was superb and the only thing I liked besides the red wine. I ordered the Lasagne Al Spinaci ($16.95) which is "layers of rich egg noodles, fresh spinach, ricotta and mozzarella cheeses. In a light fresh spinach cream sauce with melted mozzarella cheese" as wonderful as that sounds, it was not the best and not worth the $$. It was just too plain. Maybe I should have ordered something else.
Sorry, but I really don't have an interest in coming here again. I have another Italian restaurant in the queue. -
Review from Megan F.
Claremont, CA
11/17/2011
My boyfriend and I went here last weekend for our anniversary. I'd never been, but he had gone before.
Service was initially slow, but it was homecoming and there were several huge groups, so I understood. Once we got our orders in, everything came out pretty quickly.
First out was bread, which was perfect and delicious. Crusty on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside... I am hungry just thinking about this bread. There was a small spoonful of marinara (or some red sauce) on the top, which I wasn't a huge fan on, but it also came out with a green sauce in oil that was pretty good.
Next out was soup, which came out right as we were finishing the bread. The soup of the day was a salmon bisque, which I loved. Good flavor, good texture, came out hot, yada yada yada.
Our entrees came out before we were even done with the soup, and the waiter brought over our wine (we had asked for it to be served with the entrees). The wine was nothing special, except for the generous portions. My boyfriend had pumpkin ravioli, which he loved. I thought it was very good, sweeter than I expected, with a really good nutty taste. It was definitely unique, I've never seen pumpkin ravioli anywhere else. I had the pesto pasta, which was fine. Very very boring. I was tired of it after just a few bites. Took it home and then didn't eat it. Yawn. I feel like I just chose a bad dish, since the pumpkin ravioli was good. Maybe I needed just to branch out a little more.... -
Review from Matthew T.
Los Angeles, CA
12/28/2011
THE BREAD WAS FREAKING AWESOME!!! ... and that's about it. If you are starving for pounds of mediocre Italian food, and for some reason are stuck in Claremont, CA... go here.
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Review from Fern R.
Upland, CA
10/3/2011
The Bread Is Good And the Service Is Slow. For What They Charge I'd Expect Service To Be Better!! The Waiter Disappeared On Us And We Had To Ask Another Waiter For Drinks. Took Even Longer.
The Food Is Delicious.
EXTREMELY SLOW SERVICE But Quick To Give Check.
All In All NOT Worth The Price For Lousy Service!!!
And Yes I've Been Here More Than Once, I Just Never Bothered To Check In. -
Review from Christina T.
San Diego, CA
9/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
What a charming restaurant in downtown Clairmont! My boyfriend and I came across this place after ditching Viva Madrid (there was a 1.5 hour wait). Aruffo's was one of the few restaurants open at 9pm on a Monday night.
The atmosphere was very romantic - dim lights and candles. The walls were covered with shelves filled with wine bottles. As for the service, it was a bit slow even though there were only 3 tables occupied. I think we had a new waiter because he kept asking the other waiters some questions.
As for the food, my boyfriend ordered the seafood dish that came with a variety of seafood over pasta (bisque?) and I ordered the pumpkin ravioli. The seafood dish was amazing, not too heavy and the fish tasted very fresh. The pumpkin ravioli, especially the sauce, was a bit too sweet for my taste and I didn't finish it.
The prices are a bit high, so I'm not sure how often I would come to eat here. I'm definitely ordering that seafood dish again! -
Review from m s.
Claremont, CA
Updated - 7/28/2011
SAD to write this, how can you go from 5 stars to 1? How? Well by serving a vegetarian meat and not giving a shit that you did.
My husband and I ordered the same meal we always do, on a Monday night. It was dead. We spoke clearly. We emphasized ( as always) no meat please, we are vegetarian.
I begin eating, and my husband looks at me, and announces that we have meat in our dish! I understand mistakes happen, but for people who have spent years refusing to put meat into their bodies, and then having it forced upon them for no reason other than pure laziness is inexcusable to me.
They gave us a huge attitude, and a refund, but they money means nothing to me. You can't change the fact that you put meat in my dish.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/1/2011
Honestly, five stars. The only sort of negative thing I can say about this place is it tends to be… Read more »
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Review from Ted A.
8/28/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Lunch bad, waiter on phone most of the time and our meals arrived very slowly - we felt as though we were inconveniencing them. These kinds of things happen when management is not involved - the same is true here.
The food was ok, not great. The prices are high and the empty feeling makes you feel as though you are in a pretentious place. There are too many options to spend your money here. On a positive note, the kids really liked the pizza.
it looked like it was going to be a great place, but it didnt deliver. -
Review from Tanya M.
Glendale, CA
8/19/2011
I don't live in the IE but when I go out to visit with the family this is one of the spots we frequent. Aruffo's Italian isn't the end all be all of Italian dining but the food quality is consistent and the service is good. Four stars is a pretty accurate representation because the food is an above average reflection of the price point but dining here is not an earth shattering experience that would warrant a five star rating. It's fairly standard Italian-American fare with plenty of pasta choices and good grilled meats. The wine menu is large enough that it provides some good pairings and the espresso is a great after dinner pick me up. I always bring home leftovers that I eagerly look forward to scarfing down for lunch the following day.
The one appetizer that I would highly recommend is the roasted elephant garlic. It'll make your pee stink like garlic for two days but hot damn it's worth it! -
Review from Larry H.
Walnut, CA
1/21/2012
I think we got lucky this night.....We went in before the dinner rush and our server could not be better. He was attentive, friendly, knew the menu and prompt on everything. The bread is sooooo good. However, DO NOT get another basket as you will not be able to eat your meal.....LOL.....The eggplant parm., was to die for....perfect sauce......The Vodka Penne was very cheesy and tasty, I cannot rememeber what dish I had but it was pasta w/sausage and bell peppers. It was good. I feel if they used the sauce that was in the eggplant parm. in this dish it would have been a homerun. We all shared a nice bottle of red wine and the dark chocolate gelato. I would ask for more strawberrys as they were amazing. The restaurant gets busy around 530pm so I was glad we got there a bit early. I would highly reccomend this restaurant for a 'VERY' good itialian dinner. For three people with three dinners and dessert and a bottle of wine was $90. WIth the service, it was all good. Service will laways bring you back as long as the food is up to par ad Aruffo's has them both now.
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Review from Johnson W.
Claremont, CA
6/30/2011 3 photos
Service is VERY good here. Had to squeeze a dinner within 30 minutes or less in order to make it to the movie at Edwards La Verne. Server was more than accommodating. Also very friendly--knew when to speak and when to leave us alone. I am immensely satisfied with the service.
The complimentary bread appetizer was amazing. It was hot, fresh, and warm. Basically free garlic bread.
The main entrees were solid but uninspired/forgettable. I write this because alas, I cannot remember and I usually have a great memory when it comes to food.Listed in: Italian
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Review from Juju W.
Diamond Bar, CA
8/24/2011
I had a fancy dinner here and it was an amazing experience! They waiters were as nice as they could possibly be, and made all kinds of suggestions as to how we would like our food, altered or not... they were always correct!
The atmosphere is really cozy and classy at the same time.
The food was also really good. Fantastic cream of potato soup with garlic, fried calamari with choices of dipping sauce and creamy, delicious shrimp scampi. What I loved most though, and can't stop thinking about, is that warm, fresh out of the oven garlic bread that is served before your meal. Didn't even expect it but the flavor really blew me away. Missing it now...
I wouldn't expect to come here all the time because it is more pricy but I'm so glad I could try it and will come again some day. -
Review from Crystal C.
West Covina, CA
6/6/2011
I have been here two times. The first time was for a friend's birthday dinner and then took my mother for dinner.
Reading the reviews, I decided to have the lobster bisque .... and everyone should have it. The salmon bisque is alright. I've had the chicken marsala which was delicious, but kind of a lot food. The calamari appetizer was good enough for a group. I have to mention the bread. It is DELICIOUS!!! It has the mos amazing flavor to it.
The size of the restaurant is kind of small and cramped especially in the evenings.
Overall, you can't be disappointed. The food and service are both exceptional. -
Review from Anthony H.
Diamond Bar, CA
7/29/2011
This looked and felt like a promising dining experience, but the food failed to deliver.
The setting, situated in old town Claremont, is very nice. As for the restaurant itself, the facade and inside are also nice. It has good service and a friendly wait staff
Unfortunately, the food itself was just okay, which was a big disappointment to me. There was a good selection but the taste and quality were lacking. -
Review from Tara M.
Claremont, CA
9/20/2011
I recently moved to Claremont with my boyfriend, and we both love Italian food. In our recent explorations we've passed Aruffo's a few times and it always smells good, we finally came in for dinner.
Prices were not bad for what we ordered, less than we would have paid at a big chain restaurant. We were seated promptly, the waiter was polite and the service was great.
They brought out a round loaf the size of a cantaloupe and a plate of green paste (pesto I'm pretty sure) for us to share, we thought it was great.
The boyfriend ordered the crab ravioli and a salad with Italian dressing. He usually doesn't take Italian on his salad, the dressing selection was limited, so he tried it. He raved over it, I've never seen him insist I try a bite of his side salad, because I absolutely must try the dressing.
I ordered the Saltimbocca and salmon bisque. The bisque was creamy, and well seasoned, I enjoyed it.
The main courses came out beautifully. The ravioli was great, the pasta was fresh, the sauce was rich and flavorful, Chris was a very very happy man. I could not have been happier with my dinner (granted it was more food than I expected), the flat iron steak, was cooked perfectly medium rare, it was tender, juicy, the smokey mozzarella and the bite of the prosciutto, it was one of the best steaks I'd ever had. The veggies were blanched, crisp and fresh. They also included a small bowl of linguine with marinara, the pasta was al dente, the sauce was flavorful with just a little bit of a bite and everything was fresh.
The waiter brought the dessert tray, I was done, but I did enjoy a mocha cappuccino while my boyfriend inhaled a desert called a Napoleon (puff pastry layered with Bavarian cream, served with little cup of fresh raspberries in sauce).
We loved our meal and look forward to many more :)Listed in: Hungry?
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Review from Jenny C.
Covina, CA
6/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here for father's day dinner. They have excellent soup of day, crab bisque. I ordered the lobster ravioli w/pink sauce. Very tasty and delicious.
There are so many choices. I definitely want to come back to try their other dishes. -
Review from Brian D.
Irvine, CA
10/31/2011
First I have to say that this place is great! I took my fiance here for her birthday based on review from Yelp and she loved everything about it. =) I personally love the Clairmont area and Village and this area is nothing like the areas surrounding it like montclair or pomona. It's a small quaint college town and it has a lot to offer. If you live around the area and never been there you should go! Anyway, back to Aruffo's! The service is good... we went when it was slow and busy and they were always attentive and on top of things. I love the bread there and you guys have to have the elephant bruschetta! Large full grilled garlic I believe that just melts in your mouth. The pastas were top notch and didn't remind me the olive garden which is a good thing. Overall I enjoyed it and the price was around the $12-17 range which is expected. Go and try it out. Its real good!
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Review from Kit W.
4/14/2011
It's been a while since I've been here but this was my favorite fancy restaurant in Claremont Village back when I was a college student (not so long ago I must say).
Aruffo's offers a soup or salad to go with your entree and let me tell you--the first spoonful of their signature seafood bisque was so amazing, it sent me through seven stages of foodie heaven. I am serious. It was so darn delicious I am positive I ignored the dinner conversation for a good ten minutes as I scarfed it down in barely ladylike fashion.
The warm, soft-on-the-inside, beautifully-crusted-and-seasoned-on the outside table bread goes phenomenally well with the bisque. By now, I am sure you got the idea that I would marry the bisque if I could. This would be true if it were consistently awesome but sadly, it's not. I've been back several times since my first visit to Aruffo's and the deliciousness of the bisque ranged from pretty good to hella good. This is what stops me from giving Aruffo's 5 stars.
Besides the must-try bisque (I hope you get to experience it in its top-notch form!), their crab ravioli is pretty divine. I've tried a couple of their shrimp pastas and it's a hit-or-miss like the bisque. On some days, the shrimp is cooked to perfection and on others, it's overcooked and grainy (noooo).
Their cocktails are pretty rockin' and service has always been great every time I've been. Aruffo's can be considered pricey but if you are in Claremont and in the occasion for a fancy meal, give Aruffo's a try! -
Review from Malisa C.
Upland, CA
6/23/2011
My absolute favorite Italian restaurant in Claremont!
Service is excellent- and all of the waiters are great with kids! They give little ones Wiki-Stiks to keep them occupied which is a plus!
Ask anyone who's been here about the bread- it's to DIE for! Fresh boules topped with a bit of tomato, garlic, and cheesy goodness! Don't miss out on the crab bisque or the lobster pasta dish...
If you're a garlic-head like me, do NOT under any circumstances leave without ordering the elephant garlic appetizer! It's a huge plate filled with giant garlic cloves so sweet and delicious when spread on that delicious bread- accompanied by fresh mozzerella, olives, basil, & green peppers- SOOOOO good! -
Review from Merav C.
Long Beach, CA
7/7/2011
My family came here for my little brother's birthday. We arrived close to 8:15 and took our time ordering. The waiter very gently and politely just made us aware that the kitchen closed at 8:30, so as long as we get our orders in by then we should be fine; we didn't feel rushed at all. Our waiter was knowledgeable and helpful. When I asked if the kitchen had crushed garlic for the bread, he told me they don't keep it on hand, but brought out an amazing bell pepper pesto paste instead. I don't know what they use the paste for, what dish, but it was delicious.
We ordered the Spinaci ravioli which was incredibly garlicky, but in the best way possible, just loaded with roasted garlic flavor. We also got the Granchio ravioli which had an amazingly delicious rosso sauce. Finally, there was a scampi pasta dish that had properly cooked shrimp and a very delicate sauce. The pasta was good, but I think the ravioli menu is definitely what you should order from. The dessert menu was extensive and we ended up just getting the gelato, which was creamy and delicious. I think the chocolate creme brulee or anything that resembles tiramisu is in my future -
Review from Lauren R.
Diamond Bar, CA
6/19/2011
I had never been here before today, however after reading so many positive reviews I suggested it for Fathers Day. Apparently I made the right choice because it was perfect. The 4 of us made reservations the day before but as it turns out it was not crowded at all which was nice. My family and I were greeted by a kind gentleman who sat us right away and we were given a friendly young waiter who gave us some great recommendations off of every section of the menu.
Appetizers are not necessary because the entree already comes with a soup or salad, plus however much bread you can consume! The bread was very delicious by the way. That alone will fill you up before you know it so watch out! The faint Italian music playing in the background gave it a refreshing balance and made the atmosphere that much more relaxing. I ordered the shrimp scampi pasta which was divine, I would definitely recommend it!
BE WARNED: Once you are stuffed silly they physically carry a tray of fresh pastries over to your table and tempt you! We wound up ordering the chocolate mousse which was very tasty and sweet.
ENJOY! -
Review from Tracie S.
Walnut, CA
6/5/2011
My brother recommended this place since it was a popular Italian restaurant while he attended college nearby. Since my friend decided on Italian for his bday dinner, we decided to try it out for dinner today.
YUM!!! so glad we came!
Parking: street only, but we found a parking space without a problem, there are also lots of other shops around, so it's a nice place to walk around before or after your meal
Ambiance: quiet, dim, relaxing atmosphere
Food: We ordered the calamari fritti as the appetizer and it was perfectly cooked with a lemon and garlic butter dipping sauce, super delicious. My friend, who isn't usually a big fan of seafood even said he really enjoyed it.
Most of the entrees already come with soup or salad included, all of us decided on the soup, which is the salmon and crab bisque. It was flavorful and good, but just a tad salty. We all agreed it would be the perfect soup to dip hot bread in. The complimentary bread was really good, pillowy soft on the inside with a crispy golden exterior, perfectly matched with the pesto and olive oil dipping sauce. Next time, we'll have to use it to dip with the soup.
As for the entrees, we ordered the Pettini Limoncello, which was fettuccine with sea scallops in a lemon, parsley and pinot grigio wine sauce, the bouillabaisse di mare, which was the linguine pasta with fish, scallops, shrimp and calamari in a garlic and spicy marinara with pinot griogio wine sauce, and the tortellini della mamma, which was spinach and egg tortellini with pecorino romano cheese with sweet peas and prosciutto and parmigiano cheese in a cream sauce. Everything was delicious and cooked to perfection. There were tons of seafood in the bouillabaisse di mare and the portions were very filling. We were already pretty much full off of the bread, soup, and calamari by the time the entrees arrived. The ptetini limoncello was creamy and lemony with a good portion of sea scallops.
We ended the meal with cappuccino and tiramisu.
Service: very attentive and friendly staff
Definitely recommend this place if you're craving authentic Italian. Prices are very reasonable for the quality and portions are good. All of us ended up taking most of our entrees home. Needless to say, my friend had an awesome dinner experience here and will definitely come back!! I've already picked out the next entree I want to try!! -
Review from Michael G.
Upland, CA
2/20/2011
Great Italian food!
I came here for my second anniversary during lunch hour. The place is cozy and the service is excellent. That being said, I would imagine that it can get really loud when it gets busy.
We had the Calamari for an appetizer which was served with a garlic lemon sauce. Great calamari, and I've had my fair share at other places. A salmon bisque came with my meal and also bread (which looked, smelled, AND tasted amazing I ordered the Stucca ravioli and my lady had the shrimp capallini. They must of gave her 10 huge shrimp with her order--it looked so good. My food tasted like ravioli had a baby with pumpkin pie and then bathed in awesome sauce--it really was something else.
One of my favorite Italian places that I have ever been to. Puts Olive Garden to shame. -
Review from Kristina R.
Claremont, CA
5/27/2011
** 3.5 STARS**
Yes, the bread really is THAT good. Trust me.
I went to Aruffo's for the first time last night with a group of 6. There aren't any booths or round tables, so conversation was a bit like a tennis match for me (I was sitting in the middle with my head constantly turning back and forth). When the bread came we all dove right in! Apparently none of my fellow dining mates are yelpers, so they weren't biased about the bread when they came in, but EVERYONE love it. It is worth ruining your dinner for.
The seafood bisque looked yummy, but I'm not a seafood fan so I got the salad (house raspberry vinaigrette dressing is really good). Everyone who got the soup at my table finished it so fast I couldn't even ask them if they liked it or not. I'm assuming they did.
I got the pomodoro capellini and it totally hit the spot. Yummy angel hair pasta with a light garlicy and a little bit spicy tomato sauce and fresh grated parmesan cheese on top. YUM! My dining mates got the spinach lasagna (looked very tasty), pesto pasta and pasta with meatballs and/or sausage. Everything looked great and everyone happily finished their meals. Except me... But not because it wasn't super delicious, only because I was already full -- I loaded up on too much bread!
Prices were a bit high, but it is Claremont and this place has the feel of a nice-r restaurant. I would go here again for a celebration or a nice date. I have a hard time giving Italian restaurants 5 stars because I like all of it and can't distinguish between good and really really good. I'm also docking an extra 0.5 stars because we asked for more bread (the gave us two loaves for the 6 of us) and they only brought one more out. Is there a bread shortage somewhere I'm not aware of? Come on -- give the people what they want!
Other than that, it's a nice place to try. I made reservations for our party at 7pm, but the place was hardly busy and could've taken us without a reservation no problem. -
Review from Hannah M.
Sierra Madre, CA
1/20/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. I love italian food, but I never thought I'd like it this much. The bread alone is worth going for. Just get a glass of water and the bread. I'm never going to be able to actually dine at Viva Madrid...because I'll be here instead.
We went for lunch around New Years and had an amazing meal. I had the Panini Milano (I think,) and I don't even like panini! It was a wonderful lightly breaded chicken breast with the arugula salad and a pesto. Super tasty. Couldn't eat much of it as I was too distracted by the bread. My date had some sort of linguini with procesutto and pesto, which was good, but we were too enamored with the bread. The second and third times I've gone I've just gotten the arugula salad, which is extremely filling but leaves enough room for the bread. Decent desserts, but unnecessary after the bread.
Did I mention the bread?
Super amazing, great service, and a (seemingly) great date spot. It can be loud during the dinner hour on Friday and Saturday. -
Review from Cesar M.
Pasadena, CA
1/3/2011
I came here to celebrate a friend's birthday on a Saturday night. I'm usually not liberal with my 5 star ratings but I feel this place deserves it, despite the fact that they ran out of two items that I wanted: the salmon bisque and some specialty martini (I forgot the exact name of it). Instead of the soup, I got a delicious salad with garlic dressing and opted for a regular martini. I was not disappointed by the substitutes. For the main course, I ordered the Ravioli Della Zucca: pumpkin ravioli served with a creamy sauce. I've never tasted anything quite like it before, not even in Italy.
Great atmosphere and amazing food in Claremont's Village. This is definitely one of the best Italian restaurants around. -
Review from Corey P.
All the hype is true, Aruffo's is a lovely higher end Italian restaurant that would be a great place to take a date. You can look at the pictures, the set up is very classy with lots of older couples having dinner. I did notice that the lights would randomly dim up and down throughout the meal. Electrical problem?
I came here with a group of 7 and a small but negligible gripe is that they don't have round tables, so it was a little hard at times to talk to people. We looked over the menu, everything is going to set you back between $14-$30 as expected. I ordered the Salsiccia E Funghi (for those who don't speak Italian, it's sausage and mushrooms over penne in a tomato sauce). I also added on the soup of the day which was a seafood bisque. Some things my friends ordered included a spinich and cheese tortellini, while another one ordered pumpkin ravioli which sounded very festive.
Before the food came out, they served us the famous and much talked about bread. It smelled amazing, freshly baked, with a hint of garlic and olive oil. The bread on the outside had a crispy firmness while the inside was soft like the clouds. It came with this red pesto, delicious! I had some with olive oil and red wine vinegar as well, simply fantastic. I don't know if it was complimentary or came with our meal, but I WANTED MORE. We only got 2 loaves for our entire table though. Try asking for more and see what they tell you.
The seafood bisque was warm, creamy, and had small bits of clams and maybe muscles in it? I enjoyed it. There was a very slight amount of noticeable acidity in it though, which I don't know if that's normal. My main dish came out and my friend described it as "cute". I got freshly grated cheese and pepper on it, smelled great. There was lots of sausage which tasted clean, meaty, and something about the herbs made it really good. The tomato sauce wasn't too sour, it was creamy due to the complimenting of the grated cheese. It made the dish very hearty. The pasta was firm which I love. Overall, I'm very happy with the dish. Everyone else seemed to be giving similar feedback minus one friend who ordered this chicken, cheese, and spinach crepe like dish. Maybe it wasn't manly enough for him.
They were kind enough to split the bill 7 ways, but it took a SUPER LONG TIME. My friend commented that we ate our food faster than it took them to finish checking us out. We came in about 8:30 and got out around 10:45. The bill set me back $21 with tip.
Coming from a guy who generally avoids Italian food because 1. I'm lactose intolerant (sexy, I know) and 2. It's overpriced, this was a good experience. I would recommend it for more of a formal date though than a friendly get together.Listed in: Baby, Let Me Take You Out
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Review from Sunny B.
Orange, CA
9/6/2010
I just tried this cute restaurant this last week with some friends. Great ambiance, perfect place to catch up with people, but the service was iffy. The waiter took awhile to place our order and at the end, he accidentally charged one of our friend's credit cards twice and it took a lil while to get it straightened out. But whatever...all I care about is the food quality.
We started with a bread that the waiter brought to our table. AMAZING!!! A hot, fluffy loaf of bread with tomato sauce on the top and an oil dipping sauce to go with it. Just that alone has me coming back for more. I also ordered the tortellini della mama for dinner. The cream sauce is rich and delicious. Mixed with the tortellini and prosciutto...it's heaven.
Great thing was were weren't rushed here. They have a big menu selection so I will have to go back and check out what else they offer. Definitely a cute looking place for date night. :) -
Review from Nicole P.
Claremont, CA
9/6/2010
I have been coming to Arrufo's for many years and finally feel that they have provided consistently good service and quality. I visited last night with my husband and in-laws and the service was excellent- a blond, thin young man was very attentive, always filling our water/drinks and asking how things were.
Being the creature of habit that I am, I always order Alfredo del mar. Its filled with shrimp, scallops and clams in a to die for sauce. Very tasty. My in laws had pasta and were equally as impressed. We also enjoyed two baskets of their complimentary bread, which blows any other complimentary bread out of the water.
As stuffed as we were, we ordered dessert: chocolate mousse, chocolate creme brulee and white chocolate lemon cake. All pretty stellar.
Arruffo's is great for family, dates, or eating with friends.
