Angelina's Pizzeria Napoletana — Restaurant in Irvine

1/10/2025 We stopped for an early dinner at Angelina's in Irvine. The ambiance was pleasant and the background music alive and motivational. Marcelo was our outstanding server and bartender. We started with a glass of Barolo Vino 🍷 and the polpette al sugo (meatbals)l and focaccia bread appetizer which was delicious. Next we decided to try the melanzane alla parmigiana (eggplant) appetizer which was also fantastic. Marcelo was attentive and quite professional. We then ordered entrees with my wife having the penne al pomodoro e basilico with meatballs and I had the fettuccine bolognese. The food, service and ambiance was excellent. Highly recommended.

Prior visit Where do I start? This restaurant is simply amazing and brings the authentic taste of italy to your plate. We tried Angelina's for the very first time and were awestruck at the authentic presentation and taste of the dishes we ordered. We started our meal with the eggplant appetizer which is simply the best we have ever had. I make eggplant at home just as grandma spagnola did in Sicily and this is just as good if not better and served hot with a delicious sauce that makes your mouth water in anticipation. I started off with a fine Chardonnay from Italy and finished with a Sangiovese and my wife had the Moscow mule and a Chardonnay to compliment her meal. My wife had the mother's day pasta shrimp dish which was utterly delicious and I had the lobster ravioli which I must say is second to none. We had the pleasure of meeting the proprietor, Philipo and he shared his love for his grandmother's cooking, Angelina was her middle name and spoke of the love and passion that he and his wife, Shokufeh have for the italian cuisine and his grandmother's recipes. Everything you see in the restaurant is imported from italy as is much of the food and the menu surely has something for everyone. The bruschetta is moist and lovely in taste and texture as well. We finished the evening with a few after dinner drinks to soothe the palette and aid in digestion and I had to try the Tiramisu and an Americano with Jamesons. The entire evening was a delight. Scott our bartender and server is exquisite with professionalism, experience and a very pleasant demeanor and we also met Antonio and also Anthony both cheerful and enthusiastic restaurant professionals whom exude quality customer service. We highly recommend this fine establishment to anyone in search of Italy's fine dining without boarding a plane. The owners pride themselves on the freshest ingredients and top quality bar none. We now have a new italian favorite right here in our backyard. The true taste of excellence.....Cheers and...

Angelina’s Pizzeria Napoletana in Irvine is one of those rare gems that surprises you — in the best way — every time. Even on a random weeknight, it’s packed, and for good reason. The vibe is electric, the outdoor seating is adorable (complete with heat lamps), and the menu is refreshingly different from your typical Italian spot.

Let’s talk food. I’m usually not drawn to Italian unless there’s a Caesar salad, and this one completely delivered — perfectly dressed with a generous amount of anchovies and topped with one of the best grilled salmon fillets I’ve ever had. Flaky, flavorful, and done just right.

We started with their pillowy focaccia, which is a must, and then made our way through a spread that had something for everyone. The girls shared a pink sauce pasta with a side of steak (gone in minutes) and a simple butter pasta that hit the spot. My husband built his own pizza — no sausage, but added mushrooms, black truffle, and burrata — and it was outstanding. The crust is ultra-thin, just like in Italy, and when paired with their house chili oil, it’s game over.

If you’re craving classic pesto or a creamy white sauce, this isn’t your spot — but if you’re up for fresh, chef-driven Italian with a twist, Angelina’s is where you want to be.

And the cocktails? While there’s no formal cocktail program, they have some of the best bartenders around. These are the kinds of people who know their spirits, craft with intention, and surprise you with every pour. They’re the ones who introduced me to Monkey 47 and serve one of the best Last Words (yes, with Green Chartreuse!) I’ve ever had.

Then there’s Luca, our incredible server from Tuscany. His warmth and honesty made the night even better. I’m super picky, and he didn’t just recommend dishes — he described exactly what to expect and made sure everything was spot-on. His care elevated the whole experience.

We ended the night on a high note with their cheesecake — rich yet light, with a graham cracker crust and a hint of lemon zest that brought the perfect brightness to each bite.

Angelina’s has officially won us over. Great food, thoughtful service, standout cocktails, and a vibe that keeps pulling you back. We’ll definitely...

It’s Sunday 18th of May, 4 pm, we were party of 8 from the same family hoping to have good time at Angelina's Pizzeria Napoletana, Irvine center drive, as the internet bloggers makes us dreaming of this extraordinary experience.

BUT… all began with bad welcoming from the reception who had issues because we are 8 persons, while the place was almost empty! But this lady from the reception came and apologized for not being welcoming us at the beginning. OK.. not encouraging start.

Now, it’s time with the worst experience with the waiter Eduardo (he said that it’s his name), when my brother in law asked the waiter for some items in the happy hour menu. He replied with a smile that the happy hour menu is applicable only for patio and bar not the main restaurant; while the menu was the general menu for the restaurant! They can simply provide a separate small paper (menu) about this special happy hour special offer!

My brother in law told him that he will have the chosen item at the patio, we were surprised tha the waiter sarcastically smiled and says that he can’t do that! He was really rude albeit the drawn smile on his face. My brother in law told the family that he will not order anything from the place because of this treatment! And because the rest of us was hungry, we decided to order minimal order like pizza and pasta.

Because of this waiter’s act, we decided not yo have a drink, order minimal food, not to have dessert.

While leaving, my brother in law told the lady at the reception about this incident, she said we are sorry… that’s it!!!

We too… we are sorry, we will not come again to Angelina's Pizzeria Napoletana.

By the way, the food was ok,...