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Nello Cucina
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11 am - 9 pm
Sun 11:30 am - 7 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
83 reviews for Nello Cucina
Review Highlights
"D had the Rotelle di Pasta in vodka tomator cream sauce."
(in 3 reviews)
"Nello Cucina is located on the first floor of Crystal Court."
(in 12 reviews)
"The bread basket was awesome with everything freshly made..."
(in 6 reviews)
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83 reviews in English
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Review from anna c.
Long Beach, CA
1/24/2012
we had dinner here on a tuesday night, the place had about 3 out of 15 tables occupied. I was with my mom and my 2 toddler kids.
we were seated promptly, asked for our drinks instantly. bread was served and wow it was the best bread i've had ever. love the green spread that came with it. we ordered spaghetti carbonara, swordfish special, and calamari. everything was perfect.
service was impeccable. the host was very amiable.
i would recommend this to anybody and will most certainly eat here again. -
Review from Lica N.
3.5 rounding up to 4 stars.
Came here for lunch after accompanying a friend to the Apple store where she had to kill her iPad http://www.yelp.com/bi...
So in order to contemplate on her next move on a new iPad and to satisfy our hunger we came here.
I don't come to crystal court often as I'm not much of a shopper but have always wanted to try this place out. It was pretty empty but they had a full staff and they were all very attentive and professional. They had a Yelp check in deal of 10% off Food Purchases yay!
We promptly got a warm basket of breads. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
They brought out a green pesto type of spread for the bread that I was not really a fan of. The breads actually tasted pretty good without any spread.
I ordered a Calamari http://www.yelp.com/bi... to share but forgot my friend doesn't eat seafood so I ended up with all of it. No problem! The baby squids were very lightly battered and fried to a crisp. They didn't have any seasoning on it, not even salt so I sprinkled a little. The marinara sauce that came with it was really tasty as I kept dunking those yummy bites in them.
I asked our waiter what their best pasta dish was and he indicated lasagna. Well I didn't want anything that heavy so I went with the Alla Checca
http://www.yelp.com/bi... which is angel hair pasta, fresh tomato filets, garlic, basil and I added shrimp. This was a great plate of pasta. Really good fresh tomato sauce and the angel hair pasta was cooked just right. It was not soggy as I was afraid it would be as it's easy to overcook really thin noodles. The shrimp was a good addition as I wanted to make sure I was getting some protein. The dish was hot and very tasty.
As I was the only one that ate the calamari I could not finish the pasta so I got it both boxed to go. I ended up giving it to a coworker when I got back to the office as I caught her leaving for lunch and said commented that it was really good and she devoured it and was wanting more.
I would definitely come back here to try some of their other dishes.
Eyes were Delighted
Nose smelt a great Aroma
Mouth was Happy Happy
Tummy was Satisfied -
Review from Nicole Q.
Long Beach, CA
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Service took forever. They did get slammed right after we arrived, but we waited a good amount of time just to get a "hello."
No offer of the soup of the day, we had to ask.
Took quite a while to get wine and even longer to get food. No offer of fresh crushed pepper on my salad, and my friend had to ask for cheese on her pasta, though the table next to us was offered cheese.
Food was OK, but for $13+ the Salmon salad thingy should have come with more salmon. It was also clearly not wild salmon, which might have explained the higher cost with lower quality.
Overall, I would not return. The butter/pesto stuff was disgusting. The service lacked. The food was mediocre. -
Review from atie p.
So you're tired after shopping.
Or hungry after your work out around the mall.
Or tired after seeing douchey people at douchey mall across the street.
You want something to eat at the mall, ya okay.
You want pasta, ya okay, why not eat here.
No, you WANT *spaghetti carbonara*, thats why you eat here!
Creamy, thick white sauce, smothered inside your mouth (and outside too).
Cheesy, with thick salty bits and pieces of bacon.
OH. MAH. GAH.
Calamari was perfectly battered, not too oily, crispy, light salt.
But it's fried calamari, kind of typical, ya? I guess you can skip this one.
I'm sure you can close your eyes and imagine what fried calamari tastes like.
On the other note, you may want to try their clam pasta with angel hair.
They give lots of clams, not 3-4pieces like some other sad places. The sauce is so light, clam juices. If you want to pretend like you're on a "diet", still eating pasta with somewhat light sauce, this is the dish for you. But if you're already eating pasta, I say go all out, skip this one and get the creamiest one.
When you think about carbonara, your mind is probably in some deep eggy juicy thick creamy sauce heaven. Well here, you get that. it's fullfilling -- thick, yummy, tasty, BACONY. The atmosphere isn't that bad either, dimmed lighting, homey feeling at the mall, good service, ice tea is being refilled constantly, and not so pricey, four stars? ya okay! -
Review from Molly H.
Long Beach, CA
12/17/2011
My husband and I finally had a night out without the 2 children to do some Christmas Shopping and dinner. We tried Nello for the first time. It was great! Not your "typical" Olive Garden/Macaroni Grill Italian Fare. It was authentic and fantastic.
We both ordered specials. He ordered the braised short rib with pasta with a glass of Cabarnet. He LOVED every bit and sip of it. I don't remember the name of my dish but it was just as good (I presume). I nearly licked the plate.
We sat close to the kitchen which we enjoyed. It's a little darker in there (more intimate). Plus, we got to see all the food leaving the kitchen. It all was plated very nicely.
There is a Patio/Terrace area under the escalator with a bar and then an exterior patio area as well. It was too cold and windy thus it was closed.
We will make it a tradition to stop here for dinner while Christmas shopping each year.
By the way, our waiter was supberb. Made great recommendations and I think he was just off the boat from italy, too.
Thumbs way up! -
Review from Hebron S.
Los Angeles, CA
12/8/2011
Easily the least authentic Italian pizza of those considered "top," in the OC or LA. For a Neapolitan pie the ingredients would have had to be fresh and of high quality but the tomato was bland, not of high quality, and the dough was also not up to par. Texture was lacking. Flavor was disappointing. Presentation was good.
I was very disappointed and thought perhaps I was at the wrong place. But looking at the photos on Yelp it appears I was, in fact, at the correct Nello Cucina.
It simply does not compare to places such as il dolce, in Costa Mesa, Vino e Pizza, in Rancho Santa Margarita, Bottega Louis, in downtown Los Angeles, or even Casa Bianca, in Eagle Rock, for that matter (even though these are different style pies).
The pizza seems to be a knock-off; it has all markings of an American pie, an average one, but presented to look like a Neapolitan style... I'd say that it has been my biggest disappointment thus far in SoCal, when it comes to pizza.
I am also willing to give it a second chance, but I doubt it will compare in any way to the others. -
Review from Carlo S.
Garden Grove, CA
1/1/2012
What an AMAZING place to hang out with friends and get a drink! amazing atmosphere and good food. Fun place at busy South Coast Plaza.
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Review from Jennifer L.
Irvine, CA
11/8/2011
So I've been here a total of 3 times and each time is better than the next. I'm not sure why but it just is. It could be the food, it could be because I went shopping either way I love this little hole in the wall. I love their beef carpaccio so much. The beef always tastes great and is sliced to the perfect thickness. Everything is so good and they don't skimp on anything. I got a seafood type of pasta with mussels and shrimp and stuff and there was so much seafood I was happy as a clam :) Also, the staff is sooo incredibly nice! There weren't very many people when I came but it doesn't really matter, fast friendly service is always a plus to me.
Definitely come here if you are ever shopping on the other side of south coast. You'll love it, promise! -
Review from Anita L.
9/30/2011
Came with a bunch of friends for lunch and shared everything we ordered. The bread basket was excellent and they give you some dip to accompany it with.
We started with calamari was really good, thoroughly enjoyed that. Bruschetta was also lovely and refreshing.
We ordered the Margherita pizza which was a big soggy but the flavors were good.
Two orders of Rotella -- rich, gooey pasta rolls stuffed with prosciutto, mozarella and bechamel and smothered in the orange hued vodka cream sauce -- which looks like the same sauce on everything else.
Eggplant parmagiana -- the eggplant tasted very greasy with the breadcrumbs soaking in a lot of the fat when it was fried. Didn't care for this much.
Sausage with polenta was my favorite. The sausage was delicious and the polenta was good too. I would totally order this again.
Service was very attentive and for a mall restaurant it was decent.
3.5 stars. -
Review from Admired Drunk V.
Anaheim, CA
12/31/2011
nice location, nice seating area but horrible service not to mention below par food....waiters are so unexperianced and running around like cocks with their heads chopped off....prices are WAY too over priced for what you get. Its a shame because it is located in a great spot and the decor is nice.....The only possitive thing I have to say is the gnocchi's are made very well. they melt in your mouth. Only problem with is the sauce sucks!
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Review from Jeena E.
Nello Cucina does a reasonable job of pumping out unobjectionable Italian fare in Crystal Court Plaza side of SCP.
Costa Mesa Restaurant week continues and after reading a few reviews from the OC squad, we decided to try Nello Cucina. I didn't realize this was literally in the mall, which could be a good thing {Capital Grille, Z Tajas) or a bad thing (Rainforest Cafe). The decor was about what you would expect. The layout is kind of fun, the bar is situated in the middle of the hallway which makes for great people watching anywhere you sit.
I ordered the Prix Fixe and hubs went with a pizza since the restaurant seems to be anchored by the wood fired hearth oven. Here is how the food fared:
Our drinks (a heavily watered down Amaretto 7 and Moretti beer) arrived with a basket of ciabatta bread. The bread was soft and moist, but missing seasoning of some sort. A kiss of rosemary or olive would have made the bread less anemic in flavor. The pesto butter helped in that regard, but I a love when a bread can stand up on its own.
The Tomato Bruschetta appetizer was astounding. I could have had a plate full of this dish alone for dinner. Bright, fresh and ruby red tomatoes are conjoined with garlic and basil and then perched upon a toasted piece of bread. Parmigiano cheese is then sliced razor thin length wise and perched on top of the bruschetta mixture. The polarizing textures made for an incredible mouthfeel and the garlic screamed as an after note. Simply mouthwatering.
Next the Margherita pizza made its way to the table. The bouquet, appearance and plating of the pizza could all be summed up in one word: "meh". The crust was quite thick, which negates the wood fire aspect in my opinion. Even if you like a thick crust, the wood fire did not impart any smokiness to the pizza, they could have just baked it. The cheese looked like it came from a green can. The sauce wasn't bad, but quite forgettable. The fresh basil and oregano were the only real salvation here. This should have came in a cardboard box.
Next was my entrée, the Ravioli di Carne al Gorgonzola. Which is Italian for "beef ravioli in a gorgonzola sauce", this sounded interesting to me. The ravioli pasta itself was exquisite. Cooked to perfect al dente and 'OMG" delicate. The meat filling was largely undetectable in taste, but the texture was quite good. The sauce was a poor juxtaposition. A creamy white sauce is laced with gorgonzola and the result is too rich for the rest of the dish. I couldn't tell you what meat was in that ravioli had I not known. A simple pomodoro would have been a much better call in my opinion, the gorgonzola is too powerful a cheese for the other components.
Tiramisu was the dessert course and I don't recall much of it. I think I got one bite into it before we were literally thrown out so the kitchen could go home. I understand it was getting late, but they accepted the 8:45pm reservation, so this caused me great consternation.
Would I return to Nello? Well, with Antonello a block away, not for a meal. I think I would grab a spot at the bar and enjoy that wonderful Bruschetta with a Moretti beer and watch the denizens of South County amass revolving debt for an hour some time.Listed in: Lovely Libations, Closta Misery, The Rocky Balboa List
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Review from J C.
Santa Ana, CA
12/10/2011
I've come here on several occasions and each time it gets worse. Sadly, the servers are rude and the food is overpriced. Try other Italian restaurants if you want better food.I've tried their pesto,steak, chicken,etc and the food is ok not great as it claims to be.
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Review from Michael N.
Tustin, CA
6/28/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Pizza was outstanding - the exec chef came by and asked how our dinner was which is really cool - they were cool about
me customizing my own pie - flavor was killer! -
Review from sybril s.
I usually don't eat in restaurants in the mall, but I had no choice that one day when I was starving.
I looked at the menu and they had a pretty good variety of selection although they didn't have a whole lot of fish (my "seafood" diet, which had turned into a "see food" diet....). I was seated and had a glass of wine, the bread and the pesto thingie were great! Warm fluffy bread with flavorful spread. Since I was starving, I ordered the capaccio to start and the special of the day for entree. The capaccio was alright, not sure how they can get the beef that thin. I had to scrape the meat off the plate, I was hoping for a little more than the paper thin slices. The special was monk fish wrapped in bacon with crab meat and asparagus on top of barley. I've never had monk fish at all but I thought I'd try it. The fish had a really firm texture, although the flavor was good... it was very tough to cut and some pieces was rather raw in the center. The saffron sauce was great and I enjoyed the barley quite a bit.
I had to take the leftover home because I felt bad of leaving the raw parts there. The busboy boxed up the leftover for me and the paper bag was dripping wet from the sauce. I waved at him again to change the container (it was saucey) and I ended up having the same soaking wet paperbag inside a plastic bag!!! Sigh... I ended up just tossing the whole thing in the trash at the parking lot. -
Review from Bizzy B.
Mission Viejo, CA
This by far is the best woodfired pizza in OC, but I can't say it's perfect. I always order the marguerite. The sauce is divine, they don't overload it with cheese, and the crust is tasty, but each time I've eaten there (4x), the crust is a bit undercooked, as if the chef gets nervous it's going to overcook. This place is great for the bf. The bar has a great tv, always playing sports. Romeo's in Laguna Niguel has a decent woodfired pizza too, but Nello Cucina ranks higher because of the right amount of tastier sauce.
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Review from Brian C.
4/11/2011
Nice italian restaurant close to our home in scp. All the pastas are good. We always sit outside near the escalator but I wouldn't sit on the tables directly next to the escalator as you're succumbing to whatever debris may fall from loads of customers chatting on down/up the escalators.
Yeah I'm a little ocd.
My wife has an older friend from work that works here so that is a plus. -
Review from Mr K.
West Hills, CA
Stopped by here while on a shopping trip with my daughter. It was mid-afternoon so I guess it was in the middle shift change. Service was a little slow.
I order an antipasto plate and my daughter had spaghetti and meatballs. Both were good and reasonably priced. My daughter also had a huge serving of spumoni for dessert. This was also very tasty. I had a nice glass of wine which the bartender recommended. It was very good, but also $20 a glass which he neglected to tell me. LOL. -
Review from Kevin M.
Encinitas, CA
Pretty great little Italian place located in South Coast Plaza. I came here the night before running a half marathon in order to get my carbo-load on, and I was not disappointed with the food one bit.
The place was super busy that night, yet I was still able to get a table within five minutes of being there (it helped that it was just me eating though!). The bread they serve you is super warm and fluffy, and the green spread (whatever it is) is awesome. I ordered a classic, spaghetti and meat sauce, which was also delicious. Some Italian places give you either too much or too little meat in their meat sauce, but this place's was just right (think Goldilocks). The flavor of the dish was exceptional, and you could tell the pasta was really fresh.
The entire staff was really helpful, as I had at least four different people help me throughout my meal. If one happened to walk by and notice I needed something, they would immediately help (refill water, get more bread, etc.). My server, J, was super friendly, even though he was extremely busy. He and the other wait staff were able to get my in and out of there in around 30 minutes, which was great.
The design of the place is really neat too, as part of it feels like an outdoor cafe under a garden canopy. The tables were a tad close together, most likely to accommodate the maximum number of people possible. Again, since it was just me dining it wasn't an issue, but I could see it being a little crammed if there were several people at a table. I really liked how the kitchen was kind of open so you could see the cooks working (and boy, were they working!).
I can't give it five stars yet, simply because I was in there to get a quick meal. Next time I'm there I intend to take more time and enjoy everything a bit more, which will probably encourage me to upgrade my rating. Definitely recommend this place though if you're in the area! -
Review from Bobby O.
Long Beach, CA
9/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great food and staff....a must if st south coast
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Review from Darlene J.
San Diego, CA
9/14/2011 2 Check-ins Here
The best! Make sure you ask for Miguel he is in the bar area. He has always made our dining experience the BEST. He is why we always stop at Nello's. Good food (Veal Lasagna & Oso Bucco the Pizza) no bad meals. Thanx Miguel you are a pleasure!! Excellent service!
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Review from Ivy N.
Costa Mesa, CA
This place is very romantic! It feels like you are eating in a garden.
They also give you complimentary focaccia bread that came with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. The bread was warm & fresh!
I ordered the QUATTRO STAGIONI (Prosciutto, Mozzarella, mushrooms, tomatoes, and substituted Olives for fresh basil) The basil made a big difference because it made the pizza tasted really refreshing. The pizza was thin crust which I absolutely loved! -
Review from Ahmed F.
Corona, CA
The Food was VERY good and the Service was even better...
The spread they give you with the bread is to die for.
I ordered the special that day, which was the Lamb Chops with some pasta, simply put the chops just fall off the bones and melt in your mouth.
Our Waiter was very friend and helpful. The place was kind of busy and never once did we have to call him over he was constantly coming by checking on us and bringing us refills.
For dessert we ordered four different plate, all were yummy, and all were recommended to us by our waiter..
Have to go there again soon. -
Review from Robert F.
Newport Beach, CA
Updated - 4/9/2011
Chef Pino returns!
Now that Exec. Chef Pino Domicolo is back at Nello Cucina, I can once again satisfy my palate with some of the best Italian food anywhere in the US. Yes, you heard me right.
We all know that NO restaurant has everything great, but this quaint mall restaurant comes close. Chef Pino the creator (from Sicily), has returned after over a months absence, and so have I. I was ecstatic to hear the news and have been back to Nello three times in the last 10 days.
I travel the world looking for the very best of ethnic food, and I will put many of these dishes up against any Italian food, at any price, in any restaurant. Try Pino's Cioppino, there is NO better. Let Chef Pino know I sent you and he will make it as tame or spicy as you like. Don't be afraid to include or exclude any fish types you prefer. He will accommodate your every wish. Have Pino put some pasta in the bowl too...no problem! It's world class. Bring your appetite because it's not one of those skimpy little portions.
Some of the other things that will not disappoint are:
1. Swordfish prepared Cajun Calabrese (when available)
2. Veal Milanese
3. Saute Filet of Sole with lemon caper sauce (when available)
4. Pino's "Osso Buco"
5. Pino's Lasagna
My wife swears by the arugula salad with shrimp. In the mood for soup? Chef Pino will make his famous strachetella with a bit of the home made fettuccine in it. It's not on the menu, but ask for it with some grated parmesan on top, WOW, it's another amazing world class item.
Give this place a try and be sure to ask for Chef Pino. After more than 50 cruises around the world, and many trips to Europe, and a childhood in and around New York, I find time and time again, that Chef Pino can hold his own with the best out there. You won't be disappointed as I usually am when I try new Italian restaurants. Even the pizza reminds me of Sorrento!
Try one of the above items your first time in. Tell your waiter you wish to say hello to Chef Pino. He's the master, and if you like authentic Italian, and you know the real deal when you taste it, you'll be thanking me all the way home.
Buon appetito!2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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3/19/2011
Chef Pino is gone? New Owner/manager...
When an owner allows a great chef to leave, so goes the great… Read more »
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Review from Lorraine K.
Lake Forest, CA
1/30/2011
Yes.. the spread they give you with the bread is amazing. I agree with that much. Also the staff was friendly. That's it.
The calamari and chicken marsala was bland. In fact the chicken taste like something I could buy at Costco at the refrigerated precooked section. It's considered good if I can microwave it when I need to gulp it down because I have a meeting in 15 minutes... but not when I'm out on Friday night. Really wanted to like this place! They have a cute little seating area decorated like an outdoor patio. -
Review from Jake M.
Orange County, CA
11/4/2010 1 Check-in Here
Stopped in here on a whim and was pleasantly surprised. I ordered my pasta al dente and it came out just like I wanted it. The calamari inmy linguine was great.
Price was as you'd expect for a somewhat upscale Italian restaurant. My issue with this place is that it's right next to a mall exit and there are no walls so it seems like there is a lot of walking traffic and it seems to capture the attentio of the staff. I fel like we were overlooked a little bit and that was when I learned something interesting. If you ever want better service at a restaurant just pull out your phone and go to yelp. A savvy waiter will notice. My waiter noticed and put his hand on my shoulder, refilled my drink and made sure everything else was ok. Lol.
All in all, I'd recommend this place - nit for the atmosphere but for the food. -
Review from Scott W.
Seattle, WA
8/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
A taste of home! I do miss Cali and the many good Italian restaurants. The same owners as Antonello's, the food has been at the very least good every time I've dined there. The service can vary, as it's inside a mall and it's probably hard to figure out when it will get busy. While I like good service, I like good food even more, and the food has always been good. My last visit here was just as good a the first time I went!
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Review from Evan G.
Portland, OR
11/12/2010
I come for the service, i leave for the food.
The mexican version of Uncle Guiseppe is worth the trip alone.
Hearing him list the daily specials is a wonderful experience every mall diner should have the opportunity to witness. -
Review from Steven N.
3/9/2010 1 Check-in Here
This is one of those places I would come back to due to awesome service. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and friendly. The way he spoke about the menu made me fully trust him. He spoke of the menu items as he were personally preparing it. After hearing the specials, I went with what he highly recommended. That was the pork chops.
Lets rewind back a little bit. Nello Cucina is located on the first floor of Crystal Court. I love Crystal Court because it is so much easier to find parking than the other side of South Coast Plaza. The restaurant is in two parts and can be easily confused as two different restaurants. The bar and some tables are on an island side and the rest of tables and kitchen are across on the other side.
They serve kick ass bread here. I have found that places that serve you nice warm and good tasting bread have really good food. They serve you three different types of bread and I found all three to be tasty. We decided to split a bottle of Chianti. I don't recall the Vineyard, but it was reasonably priced and to my liking.
We had a wobbly table and the staff here made sure that was fixed right away. They were in good spirits even when I was busting their chops while they were remedying the situation for us. It took two of them to accomplish the task, but they did fix it in a jiffy.
Now to my entree. The highly recommended special of the night. It was a single pork chop topped with a mushroom sauce and came with a side of pasta. The pork chop was thick, juicy and flavorful. It wasn't the best chop I have tasted but it was good. My only complaint about this entree was it was a single chop for $25. I can see paying $19 for a single chop and $25 for a couple of chops. Nevertheless, the chop was still good and that was the most important thing. Looking at their menu, the rest of the entree prices were in the $16 range, so that will make it a bit easier to want to come back. And all 4 of us received a 15% off card for our next meal. That for sure makes it easier to want to come back.Listed in: Costa Mesa aka Costa Mexico, Calling all Guidos
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Review from Jamie W.
5/3/2010
After many years of shopping at SCP we finally checked out this place a few weeks ago in need of a little shopping fuel. What is shopping fuel you may ask??? It can be described as an alcoholic beverage or elixir one partakes in order to make shopping at places like SCP more tolerable...
Because you see, as much as I can appreciate the finer things in life, I can't stand some of the uppity and snotty clientele that also seek out such luxury goods at places like South Coast Plaza.
OK, that might seem a little harsh but seriously people, it is what it is...
So, hubby and I stopped at the cute little bar they have set up by the "patio" area for some libations before doing a little hard core shopping. Now, since girl cannot exist on alcoholic beverages alone we also shared a plate of their lamb meatballs. Super good and the sauce is unbelievably good.
Since our first venture to Nello Cucina we have been back for a second time and were once again not disappointed.
Great service from our barman on both occasions, comfortable environment and stiffly made, but affordable beverages. Winner! -
Review from Chris D.
7/13/2009 ROTD 7/24/2009
This is such a wonderful restaurant. It's over in the tiny version of South Coast Plaza called "Crystal Court" off of Bear st. It's on the 1st floor and it split up into 2 parts. The restaurant is in a cozy corner nook with an open kitchen and across the way under the escalator is the bar with seating all around it.
My wife Donna and I eat here off and on for years and it's never disappointed. The service is always great and the food is delicious. Italian food is my least favorite cuisine, so the fact I'm giving this place 5 stars has to say something. They have unique items I've not seen at other Italian restaurants which is one of the great things about this place.
They bring out 3 types of bread to start and serve it with olive oil and vinegar. We ordered the "Antipasto Misto" which came with 4 types of meats, some oil cured olives, and chunks of Parmesan cheese. It was great tasting but a bit pricey for the size.
In the past I've ordered the wood fired pizzas which have amazing bubbly crust and excellent toppings. My favorite pizza has prosciutto, olives, tomatoes, mushrooms, and mozzarella. This time though I tried something new, the "Rotella". This had to be one of the best dishes I've ever had at an Italian restaurant, truly Food of the Gods. You can see the pic my wife took... it looks gross especially with my hairy arms framing it, but trust me, it's orgasmic. The menu description is "Baked sheets of pasta rolled with Prosciutto, mozzarella and béchamel, served with a vodka cream sauce". These sheets of pasta are made there from scratch and have almost a crepe like texture and packed with flavor. When it 1st came out it looked kind of small to me, but it was sooo RICH! I was stuffed when I finished it. Every single bite was heavenly and I even sopped up the sauce with the bread.
This place has allot of unique desserts too I haven't seen before. We tried the pistachio sponge cake which was good but I wouldn't order it again. Every bite was packed full of pistachios which didn't do much for me.
I love this place and have always had a great time here. Problem is it's tucked away in a deserted mini-mall so I always forget about this restaurant. Be warned, they go heavy on the sauce here which I love, but I know from reading peoples Italian restaurant reviews that's a negative for some folks.Listed in: ROTD!!!!
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Review from Jo E.
Huntington Beach, CA
3/14/2010
This was one of those rare occasions where my friends and I went for restaurant week and their special prix fixed menu, but all four of us totally diverted once the waiter turned on his charm and told us about the chef's specials.
The service here was excellent, from the point where I came by looking for my party a few minutes before everyone had arrived, and the servers asked us to please stay and eat- true Italian-style. Reminded me of Little Italy in Boston where they try to wrangle you in.
Once we were in seated, they thanked us for coming back, went into great detail about everything we asked, and even let me sample some wine before I had to commit to an entire glass (thankfully- since it wasn't to my liking).
I had the recommended pork chop, which was good, but not $25 good. More like $18-$19 good.
But they did give us coupons to come back, and I always love me some coupons. So I will be going back!
Great service to the end when two of the servers sang Happy Birthday to me in Italian. Not bad for mall-dining! -
Review from Brett C.
Long Beach, CA
1/13/2009
An Italian restaurant that wants to be more upscale than it probably is in the middle of a mall? That was my first impression. My last impression was that I probably should have ordered something different.
Nello Cucina is apparently a favorite for my cousin and her friend, who partake every visit to South Coast Plaza. I can see the charm of the restaurant, but I wasn't overly impressed.
First, my negs.
I ordered the clams in the white wine sauce, but I was disappointed. The entree was bland, and simply a hassle to eat. Everyone else's meal looked more appealing than mine. The service was a bit slow. It was a busy day, so it's understandable, but slow all the same. The meal was a bit pricey. Seating area was very crowded.
The pros.
The bruschetta was excellent, as were the provided breads. The atmosphere, even with the outdoor seating jutting out in to the mall, was surprisingly pleasant. The open view in to the cooking area was also a nice touch.
All in all though, I wasn't impressed. I will most likely revisit if I ever go to South Coast Plaza in the same company. Expect a better review if I have a better meal. -
Review from Jemi A.
Tustin, CA
9/12/2010
I REALLY like Nello Cucina.
Yes, it's inside the mall, under the elevator at Crystal Court.
No, it's not the most romantic place to take a date.
BUT, for excellent Italian food that doesn't reek of bastardized Olive Garden commercialism, Nello Cucina is my recommendation. Hubby and I will come here when we crave good Italian, but don't want to get dressed up for a stuffy dinner. We'll come here, even if we don't have any shopping we need to do!
The bread - very soft. The pesto spread (?) is a nice touch.
The fried calamari - very tender; quite good!
The Fusilli con Salsiccia - The pasta is PERFECTLY cooked (al dente)!!! Comes with tasty sausage and very good tomato pasta sauce with thin slices of garlic. EXCELLENT!
The Cotoletta alla Milanese - The beef was a little dry, but hubby liked it because it was breaded and fried. It was good for what it's supposed to be.
LOVE Nello Cucina. Definitely one of our "go to" places for unpretentious Italian. -
Review from Mitchell F.
Hawthorne, CA
3/9/2007
If you've been to the Crystal Court side then you probably noticed this place because it's the one that has an indoor patio area. The food is rather pretty good. The calamari was very good and the Paglia E Fieno alla Michelangelo that I ordered was excellent. They're service is also really good and friendly. Definitely a worthy restaurant.
To bad I wasn't paying attention to Yuki's review saying that it was in the Crystal Court. A wannabe baller I first ended up at Antonello's and taking one look at the crowd there I realized i was in the wrong spot. -
Review from G C.
Sunnyvale, CA
2/27/2007
Back in my college years living in soCal my roomies and I would splurge here like we had jobs. We'd always do a full meal - appetizer, entree and a dessert (one each!) Seriously starving students shouldn't be eating at places like this but the money burnt here was well worth it. I can still recall all the yummy food. The specials are really special and it always ends up being delicious.
Tiramisu and creme brulee are a great finish to the meal. YUM!
A trip here is long overdue. -
Review from King D.
Trabuco, CA
2/12/2009
Was just here for happy hour (Mon - Fri, 4-7 pm) and it was pretty good.
Drinks were $5.00 each and appetizers were $4.00, we had :
Grilled Italian Sausauge
Margarita Cheese Pizza
Gorgonzola Cheese Fries
Spicy Calamari
Veal Sandwich thingy
Everything was pretty good, and the drinks were pretty stiff.
If I'm in the area during happy hour, Ill definitely be stopping by again. -
Review from Elisabeth H.
Berkeley, CA
9/3/2007
This place actually reminds me of being in Italy. The servers are real servers. They know their job is not about them but about you, the customer.
I happened to come here with my mom and sister-in-law, and everyone - from the host to the server to the busser (who all happened to be men) treated us like princessas. When they call you "bella" or "signorina" it is neither smarmy, sleazy or sycophant-ish. It is respectful and done with the awareness that you come to pay your good money at their restaurant not just for the food - 'cause you could have cooked something halfway decent at home - but to be catered to as well.
And the food was very solidly prepared, fresh, tasty Northern Italian food. Traditional in its preparation - our beef carpaccio looked and tasted like the standard dish you get served anywhere in Venice. my Tonno (tuna) salad was quite tasty, but a little overdressed (although I admit I think anything more than a few drops of olive oil is overdressed).
My sister in law really enjoyed the sauce on her salmon al diavola. She expressed a desire to pick up her plate and lick it, though she's too classy for that. Let's just say it's a good thing I didn't order that dish!
We skipped dessert (having mowed on the entire basket of focaccia), but had coffee. Now this is critical: the COFFEE was EXCELLENT!. Just strong enough - hot and fresh at 2 p.m. on a Saturday, a time when many restaurants say "eh, no one else is going to want coffee, so don't bother making another pot..."
though I'm not a huge fan of the mall atmosphere or basically sitting in the foyer at the base of the escalator, Nello Cucina is definitely worth visiting again for its own sake, not just because I might happen to be buying headphones at the Apple store or returning a scarf at the Gap.Listed in: Stuck in a Happy Rut
-
Review from Wendy C.
Costa Mesa, CA
12/31/2009
Review #50! (I think! XD)
Minus 1 star for the terrible service!
I think they were trying to get us to order past happy hour, but whatevs...I don't play that game. (We got there about 30min before the end of happy hour, and they kept stalling to take our order.)
Had the calamari, it was pretty good...great for $4! I also had the Pizza Margherita...also pretty good for $4. And lastly, what made the meal really great: Linguine al Pesto...with fresh pesto sauce and chicken!
That was more than $4, of course, but at least I can say that at the end of the meal...we got what we paid for...and it was delicious! :) -
Review from Katheryn S.
Irvine, CA
6/26/2011
We have been regulars at Nello for several years. We often dine here twice a month and each time, we bring family and our bill is around $300.00 with tip.
Pino is arguably one of the best Italian chefs in OC. The staff has always been accommodating and we've had excellent service.
However - Nello recently hired Franco Vessia as their maitre d/manager and he has managed to turn the restaurant into an unappealing, unfriendly, unkempt place to dine.
Each table previously had a tablecloth. Something you like when you're spending $300.00. Franco, in creating ways to make a larger profit, has removed the cloths - only to expose stained, marred, unappetizing table tops - the likes you would not find at even a Taco Bell because their standards are higher. We've voiced our dislike multiple times. It's actually embarrassing to look at. It makes you feel like the loyalty you show and the money you spend are not appreciated.
Further, the women's restroom now has an OPEN trash can doubling as a feminine hygiene receptacle. Try looking at that and then returning to your plate of pasta. Sorry everyone - but that's the reaction I had too. Gag. The toilet paper has gone from a large roll, to smaller rolls and I've had to ask for paper EVERY time I've been there in the last 4-5 months. It's a one stall bathroom. Not hard to take care of.
Having said all of that, I must repeat that the food is excellent and the wait staff is wonderful.
The reason we will never return? Franco Vessia. His ego and arrogance knows no bounds. We requested a tablecloth be put on our table - the tables OUTSIDE have cloths - because we were celebrating a birthday. We were assured we would be accommodated. When we arrived - no cloth. When we questioned it, we were told that they would have to ask Franco. Franco approached the table and (I kid you not) said: What's up? We explained that we did not want to look at the water stained and scratched laminate top. We were told that he couldn't put a cloth because everyone else would then want one. Everyone else?? There were 4 of us and one other couple in a restaurant that seats conservatively 100+ people. Then we were told to "wait until we make a profit". What? That's not our problem. Try having an appealing place for customers to eat and they might stay. After a 3-4 minute argument, Franco turned and told the staff to get the cloth and walked off.
Approximately 2 hours later, my husband approached Franco on his way to the restroom and said thank you for the tablecloth and put his hand out to shake. Franco squeezed my husbands hand and said - I didn't want to embarrass you in front of your friends, but that'll never happen again. The conversation rapidly descended into a verbal spat. We paid our check, cancelled our order, said goodbye to the chef and left. We will never return.
Nello - you lost your best customers over a tablecloth and a narcissist. We wish Pino all the best and hope that Franco enjoys pandering to an empty restaurant. Franco your own restaurants didn't fail because of the economy. They failed because you believe that you are the most important thing in the restaurant, not the paying customers. Good luck with that. -
Review from John J.
Ladera Ranch, CA
3/6/2011
My wife and I have been searching for authentic Italian food in Orange County for the past 10 years. We were spoiled in Tokyo by two Italian brothers who opened up a small place and basically served their family recipes. We stopped by Nello Cucina for lunch today and were very pleasantly surprised. The service was excellent! Attentive, menu explained, drinks filled, used plates replaced with new ones several times throughout the meal. The bread basket was very good and the spread was amazing. A mix of garlic, basil, anchovy and other herbs/spices. We started with carpaccio; tasty slices of cured beef tenderloin, shaved parmiggiano cheese and capers. Excellent! I ordered carbonara and my wife got linguine with clams. Both were amazing with the pasta cooked to perfection. We plan to make this a regular Sunday visit.
