North Italia — Restaurant in Irvine

It had been a long time since our last dining here. It was great to be back with friends. The food was fantastic as I remembered although they are somewhat new now. Too bad that they no longer served the grilled artichokes. They were the best grilled artichokes that I have had at anywhere else.

Classico charcuterie: good variety selections to munch and mingle. Prosciutto Bruschetta: light, refreshing. Calamari Fritti: it was coated with a wet batter and fried, not thick so it was light and very crispy. The calamari was cooked perfectly without dry or rubbery. Very good! Tuscan Kale: very fresh, crunchy, tender instead of chewy for typical kale, well balanced with sweet and citrusy, not so oily compared to other restaurants. Lasagna Bianca: its a white lasagna, very tasty with delicious shortribs. The shortribs were packed with flavors but still shined with the meat flavor and super tender, yet not overpowered with herbs and not salty. I would prefer abit more lasagna layers to balance with the shortribs quantity. Squid Ink Tonnarelli: my prejudice perception against squid ink pasta was leaving stains on your teeth for awhile and can be fishy. However, my friend gave me a taste so I was blown away how it was prepared and tasted. Delicious, well balanced of tastes and flavors, not fishy nor ink stains on my friend's teeth. Pasta was cooked perfectly, neither too al dente nor soft. I would order this myself next visit. Roasted Salmon: it was my dish. The salmon was cooked abit more done than "medium" but was not totally dry. The fregola pasta was cooked perfectly. Presto was good but not "fresh" and robust like the fresh pesto from Genoa. My only complaint was the whole dish sat on a puddle of oil. I would scale back the pesto voo, not making it oily, instead drizzle the pesto essence around the plate. Grilled Branzino: another friend gave me a sample. It was good and looked "healthy". Beautiful presentation. Braised Short Rib Marsala: another amazing dish. The shortrib was a bit hunk, so tender and flavorful. The meat flavor shined thru, neither salty nor overpowered with herbs and red wine richness. Truffle risotto was delicious, not so interfering with the shortrib, creamy but not too al dente. The whole dish was a star. Chicken Parmesan: another prejudice of mine but this dish blew me away. The chicken was cooked and seasoned perfectly, tender and juicy. The coating was crispy but didn't seem heavy. The cheeses topping was just right with tomato sauce. The tasty rigatoni with white sauce went so well with the chicken Parmesan. Very impressed. Bombolini: was delicious, pillowy with robust Myer lemon cream, perfectly paired with Blueberry coulis. Seasonal Butter Cake: another delicious cake with crunchy coconut flakes. Not too sweet and didn't appear like a sponge soaked with butter. Hazelnut Torta: it was a well balanced "Nutella" torta, neither too sweet nor dense. Satisfying sweet tooth but not feeling with guilty pleasures.

The service was pretty good overall. Simone was awesome. She and staff replaced whether wine glasses or small plates or silverware occasionally. Attentively.

It was a great experience for all of us. Delicious food for bucks, and great vibes for a dineout. Definitely will be back when getting a chance but not...

The truffle bread is the best appetizer for sure. Maybe I'd like the pieces of the bread to be longer but everything is just about perfect as is.

I'd never had pizza at any of these locations before and the mushroom pizza is one of the best vegetarian pizzas I've had. Definitely my favorite mushroom pizza. I like my crust a little more airy but the rest of the pizza was always devoured.

Went big on desserts and got the almond pie, tiramisu and budino. Pie and tiramisu both have the mascarpone and they don't skimp on it. Budino is just the classic salted budino and a great balance to the sweets. I'd say the tiramisu was the favorite with the budino a close second and the pie a close third. I'd suggest the budino with either of the other two because it is difficult to just keep eating all that sweetness or saltiness but they pair lovely together. The pie is a great dessert but was just overshadowed by the other two.

The rosemary chicken was solid, maybe a little dry right at the bone somehow. Maybe. Veggies that came with it were great and it was just a classic rosemary chicken. I think it may have been overshadowed by the pizza.

Not my favorite rosemary chicken nor my favorite vegetarian pizza but that pizza was close to being a favorite veg pizza. Budino was great even though admittedly it is difficult to mess that up. Might be the best tiramisu I've ever had. I'd say go for the pizza, budino and tiramisu at the least. The bread might be too much depending on your party but if for some reason you won't get dessert here or you just want the full experience then definitely start with the truffle bread appetizer.

For five star reviews I always pick out every tiny flaw or even just possible flaws. Despite all the imperfections we still had a five star experience. There is nothing more important than the taste of the food. I'd come back here just to give the bread, mushroom pizza and tiramisu another try. I'll definitely be back with a group that hasn't been here before.

Service was attentive.

Make a reservation for dinner at least one full day in advance during the week to get that prime dinner time otherwise the wait could be 45+ minutes.

Valet is $6, no validation available. Tickets from structure are validated and for a little bit of a walk you may be able to find free parking but the lot will surely be busy...

Fresh, Flavorful, and Perfect for a Relaxed Lunch

We stopped by North Italia in Irvine for lunch, and it was a really enjoyable meal—fresh flavors, a welcoming vibe, and great service that made for a laid-back afternoon.

The Pesto Pasta Is a Solid Choice

Their pesto pasta with chicken was a favorite at the table. I added pine nuts and fried capers, which gave it extra texture and flavor. The pesto was fresh and bright, and the chicken was tender. It’s a good pick if you’re in the mood for something simple yet satisfying.

Kid Portions Are Huge

The kids’ meals here are no joke—definitely large enough to share. We ordered the chicken tenders and fries, and both were crisp, golden, and well-seasoned. A great option if you have kids with bigger appetites.

Light & Healthy: Grilled Salmon and Veggies

I custom-ordered the grilled veggies and salmon, and it was exactly what I wanted. Light, fresh, but still packed with flavor. The salmon was cooked well, and the vegetables were a great complement.

Seasonal Salad and Vegetarian Pizza

The seasonal salad was a pleasant surprise—lightly sweet with apples and dates, yet still fresh and well-balanced with crisp veggies. We also tried the vegetarian pizza, which had a thin, crispy crust and plenty of fresh toppings.

A Sweet Touch

We were celebrating my daughter’s graduation, and they surprised us with a butter cake to go. It was a thoughtful gesture and a nice way to wrap up lunch.

Great Service and Vibe

Jayme took care of us, and as always, she was kind and attentive. The outdoor seating is warm and inviting, perfect for a leisurely lunch. I also appreciate that they offer options for people with dietary restrictions and provide nutritional info, which makes ordering easier if you’re being mindful.

Overall

North Italia in Irvine is a great spot for a relaxed, flavorful lunch with fresh ingredients and a comfortable atmosphere. We’ll...