Delizie Ristorante — Restaurant in Mission Viejo

This was our first visit to Delizie, but won’t be our last. Ambience gives you neighborhood Italian spot vibes. Low lighting, bustle of servers attending to patrons, sounds of forks on plates and convos. We were seated in a little back room (no reservation). We started out with calamarie - my hubs preferred the marinara dip, but I loved the lemon aioli. Mains- we ordered the special- lamb shank over mushroom risotto - this was made to absolute perfection 🤌🏼. 18 hour slow cook makes it ultra tender, yet still on the bone atop delicious risotto- also not runny or dry, but creamy and delicious. The sauce over the lamb was rich and velvety. This is a hearty dish without leaving you feeling regretful. Okay, on to my dish… I went with server, Raul’s recommendation of the chicken picata. (I’ll share that I rarely order chicken when dining out, since that’s what I can make at home). The chicken picata didn’t disappoint. It was pounded to tender perfection, moist and flavorful (for breast). This is a lemon forward dish, which I love. Capers and a demi glaze to dress the chicken and roasted veggies as the side. Solid dish, but we will be back to explore more mains/specials. Desert- warm banana bread with chocolate gelato - interesting for a desert, but moist, delicious and chocolate gelato was a dark, rich treat. I had the pumpkin cheesecake. It wasn’t super pumpkin-y, but ate like a fall cheesecake- flavors of pumpkin pie spice. Both good Fall 🍁 deserts. They make all their deserts in house (except cookie and gelato), and it shows care and craft. I’d be remissed if I didn’t share that the service was perfection, maybe even better than the meal. Raul was what every owner should endeavor to hire- he knew and shared over six specials in detail, from every ingredient to how each dish is prepared. He was attentive and knowledgeable, focusing on our experience, and answered questions while making recommendations. Also, the support staff were on it with water refills, and food served quickly (not sure how they did that). Exceptional experience that demonstrated care and team work. Thank you. We’re excited for our next visit! PS- loved that red blend from Mexico 🍷...

2/6/2024 Had a terrific lunch at Delizie Ristorante Bar in Mission Viejo. Raul was our amazing server and is so professional, kind, and attentive. We started with drinks, bread, and the minestrone soup, which were fantastic. The day was wet and rainy as we enjoyed the warmth and ambiance of the restaurant. Raul took our entree order, and my wife ordered the salmon with veggies and roasted potatoes, and I had the eggplant with a side of meatballs and Italian sausage. The food was very good, as was the customer service. We finished with spumoni and coffee. So good! Highly recommended

Previous visit Had a wonderful evening at Delizie Ristorante. Raul was our server as was simply amazing, and Eric "Goku" was assisting with the delivery of the appetizers, entrees, and dessert. Both of these men have excellent customer service skills, and the chef specials and overall dining experience were superb. The soup and salad were perfect, as were the wine choices.

The salmon entree and shrimp and scallops linguine entree were presented well and tasted that much better. Raul was very attentive, personable, and very professional. Eric "Goku" was working hard all night and provided stellar service besides being very respectful and professional. The vibe was very positive, and the hostesses were professional, friendly, and accommodating. Highly...

I stumbled upon this delightful Italian restaurant while visiting the area, and I’m so glad I did! It can be a challenge to find a truly great Italian spot in the Valley or I.E., but this place exceeded my expectations. From the moment I walked in, the service was outstanding. The maître d, manager, head waiter (all in one)—was attentive and engaging, checking in on us throughout our meal. It felt more like a warm, family-run establishment than a typical restaurant, with staff and regular patrons sharing hugs and laughter. The complimentary salsa served with the bread was an interesting twist—I appreciated the cucumber base, but being a traditionalist, I usually prefer simply good olive oil and balsamic vinegar. At first, I thought it was pesto, but it had a unique flavor that prompted us to inquire about its ingredients. While the food was delicious, I did feel that the portions could have been a bit larger for the price, and the salsa accompaniment with the calamari didn’t quite hit the mark for me. However, the true star of the meal was the sauce—it was absolutely fantastic, with no complaints whatsoever. Overall, I had a lovely experience with great service, a warm ambiance, and delicious food. I would definitely recommend giving this place a try if...