Mona Lisa Cucina — Restaurant in Huntington Beach

I love Italian food. So when seeing the overall rating based on nearly 300 reviews to date, it was a no brainer.

First off, the ambiance is cozy. This is not a huge place, which is not a bad thing. Definitely a date night kind of joint - you can actually hear yourself in conversation. Open kitchen is surrounded by a bar and then tables - I think it can seat around 30 people easy if not more. I do enjoy the experience of seeing my food prepped just before it makes itself appear at my table.

Service is stellar - very attentive, hospitable and friendly. Our server (Martin) was very informative and was very knowledgeable of the menu. The Chef even came out of kitchen to greet diners.

The food.... Well, delicious. Started off with the Calamari fritti, which was light and crispy. The spicy marinara converted me as I generally pass on it when it comes to calamari, but not in this case. I had one of the Chef Francois' specials, which was Linguine with salmon and chicken, with a creamy Gorgonzola cheese sauce with red onion and walnuts. Pasta was cooked perfectly and I did not have to salt or pepper my food, as seasoning was on the money. No Parmesan as the chef did not allow it on the dish, and I can respect that.

The dessert: tiramisu which was creamy with a nice light sweetness and balance with the coffee and marsala. I was blown away to find out there was no mascarpone as is generally characteristic of a tiramisu. It was made with whipped cream, made in-house by the Chef. I was impressed because you could've fooled me 10 times out of 10 on this.

If you've read this far I think it safe to say I've convinced you. If not oh well, I've convinced...

This place is horrible ! I came in stood at the front for over 5 minutes the chef came out and greeted me . I was thinking it must be very busy in there @7:33 pm on a Thursday evening . When someone finally came to seat me, there were only two other tables seated in the restaurant. I sat down and 0ver 10 minutes went by With servers standing around doing NOTHING ! I was so uncomfortable. I finally got up to leave . The waitress then approached me letting me know That I was by myself and her other table was more important because it was a party of 4 (ok? ) . After leaving I called the restaurant the manager answered , he told me he sat me 1 minute before I left He told me I was lying . And He then hung up on me ! He would not even let me speak he was so rude . He was yelling over the phone why? I was not yelling at him that was even more awkward. I usually do not write reviews but this was a one of a kind experience, I hope no one else encounters . I completely understand when a restaurant is busy , but when servers are just standing around this is not a comfortable situation for a customer . What a shame times have changed ….. The lack of customer service and unprofessional service . What happened to the good old days when you were actually served and respected when you dine out, Dining out should being an amazing experience, the wait staff was extremely rude and unapproachable . The was no need for the way I was treated . I simply Walked out ! Good luck Fellow Patroons if the owner is not there...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Mona Lisa Cucina, and I must say, it was an outstanding experience. From the moment we walked in, the ambiance was warm and inviting, and the service was top-notch. I want to give a special shout-out to our waitress, Justine, who provided exceptional service throughout our meal.

Justine was incredibly attentive, making sure we had everything we needed and checking on us frequently without being intrusive. Her friendly demeanor and knowledge of the menu truly added to our dining experience.

Now, let's talk about the food. We started with the Bruschetta and Gambretti alla Caprese, and they were simply divine. The flavors were fresh and vibrant, and the seasoning was spot on.

For our main course, we indulged in the Rigatoni alla Vodka, Pollo Marsala, and Linguini Pescatore. Each dish was a masterpiece in itself. The pasta was perfectly cooked, and the sauces were rich and full of flavor.

Overall, our experience at Mona Lisa Cucina was exceptional. The generous portion sizes, combined with the outstanding service from Justine, made it a memorable dining experience. We left feeling satisfied and already planning our next visit.

If you're in the mood for authentic Italian cuisine, I highly recommend Mona...