12 Italian Restaurants to Try in Orange County (From Our Wedding Countdown Dates)

Last Updated on October 27, 2026 by Lauren Belzer Sanford

One of the best parts of our 17.5-month engagement was the “countdown dates” we started at the one-year mark before our destination wedding in Puglia.

If you’ve never heard of a countdown date, here’s the idea: a date with your fiancé on the same day of every month leading up to the wedding. Ours was June 11, 2025, so the countdown dates began on June 11, 2024, and we went out on the 11th of every month until the big day.

We leaned all the way into rule number one with a little twist. Since we were getting married in Italy, we decided to try a new Italian restaurant in Orange County for every date. We love Italian food, and each dinner made the wait to board the plane feel a little shorter.

The best Italian restaurants in Orange County, from twelve countdown dates before our wedding in Italy, are Trattoria Trullo in Aliso Viejo for real Pugliese cooking, Ospi in Costa Mesa for the trendy spot that lives up to the hype, Luciana’s in Dana Point for a candlelit date, Bello by Sandro Nardone in Newport Beach for modern Italian, and Ciao Pasta in San Juan Capistrano for a cozy trattoria near the Mission. Most lean South County, because that’s where we live.

A note on geography: we’re in South Orange County, so most of these are in Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, and Irvine, with a few farther north worth the drive.

Trattoria Trullo – Aliso Viejo

Best For: A true taste of Puglia, date nights with a story, and anyone dreaming of Southern Italy

Trattoria Trullo was the perfect way to start, one year out, because it specializes in Apulian cooking. I found it on my Instagram Explore page and I’m so glad we booked. Chef Marco brings family recipes from his hometown in Puglia to this little spot in Aliso Viejo, cooking with the best seasonal produce he can find. When our server asked what we were celebrating, she brought Chef Marco to our table, and he shared his favorite places in Puglia with us. (He even owns a rental there.)

What We Ordered: Focaccia Pugliese with rosemary and sea salt, the best focaccia of my life (get it with burrata) · Rigatoni alla Bolognese · Orecchiette alle cime di rapa, the classic Apulian pasta · Torta pasticciotto with amarena cherries

It was the best Tuesday night date, and we’ve been back several times since, because we had to bring our parents.

Angelina’s Pizzeria Napoletana – Irvine

Best For: Neapolitan pizza purists, a casual weeknight, and groups who like to share

Angelina’s had been just down the road from us for more than two years, and our countdown date was the first time we went in. I’m usually a pasta girl, but here I leaned into the wood-fired Neapolitan pizza, and it did not disappoint. The pies are big, so share if you have a small appetite like me.

What We Ordered: Caprese al pesto · Fettuccine Bolognese with dry ricotta · Burrata e tartufo pizza with prosciutto and summer truffle (truffle on pizza is another level entirely). Next time: the focaccia al rosmarino and the lemon risotto with shrimp and asparagus.

Molo Osteria – Newport Beach

Best For: A breezy coastal dinner with seasonal Italian cooking and great patio energy

Molo Osteria blends a modern feel with laid-back coastal style in the old Sabatino’s space in the Lido shipyard. Everything is made with fresh, seasonal ingredients, and the wine list is lovely. Our server told us the owners are from Puglia, and one of them came over to congratulate us. It was such a warm night.

What We Ordered: Citrus avocado salad · Spaghetti alle vongole · Trofie al pesto · Bombolone, the perfect light dessert. We’ve also had the pizza, delivered next door to the Lido Tasting Room, when our parents were in town. Next time: the focaccina, orecchiette with sausage, and rosemary risotto. It’s also on my list of the best restaurants in Newport Beach.

Casanova Ristorante – Dana Point

Best For: Old-school charm, red booths, and a cozy night that feels like stepping back in time

For our fourth countdown date, we found Casanova, an unassuming spot in a little Dana Point shopping plaza that blends Venetian warmth with Southern California ease. Red booths, soft lighting, and Sinatra and Dean Martin on the speakers. The menu is an homage to Northern Italy.

What We Ordered: Calamari fritti · Spaghetti Bolognese · A rigatoni special with scallops in a creamy pesto-style sauce · Tiramisu, of course

Luciana’s Ristorante – Dana Point

Best For: A candlelit date night, an excellent wine list, and handmade pasta

Luciana’s feels like a secret date-night find: candlelit tables, old-world charm, and the kind of room that makes you put your phone down and talk. The servers are wonderful at guiding you through the wine list, and the pappardelle is extraordinary. It was the perfect eight-month countdown date.

What We Ordered: Bruschetta · Linguine vongole · Pappardelle with lamb ragù and ricotta · Tiramisu, possibly the best I’ve ever had

Trenta Pizza and Cucina – Costa Mesa

Best For: Wood-fired pizza, casual dinners, and Sicilian-Italian cooking in a relaxed room

Trenta is a small Costa Mesa spot built on the owners’ passion for Sicilian-Italian food and imported ingredients. The wood-fired pizzas are the real thing, and the menu covers the classics (Margherita, burrata, homemade pasta) with a few creative surprises. We were in a pizza mood, so that’s all we ordered, but we’ll be back for more.

What We Ordered: The Caserta (prosciutto, mushrooms, truffle oil) · The Reggio Calabria (Calabrese salame, sausage, ‘nduja). Coming with a group? Our server, Luna, told us about the 30-inch Trenta Trio, where you pick any three styles from the menu for one giant pizza.

Storico Spaghetteria – Tustin

Best For: Fresh handmade pasta in a charming Old Town, and a reason to explore a new neighborhood

Living in South County, we tend to stay in Dana Point, Irvine, and Laguna, so finding Storico Spaghetteria in Old Town Tustin was a fun change. It’s small and family-owned, with a café for coffee and gelato and a full bar, and the pasta is made fresh in-house. You can taste it. They pour their own Pozzuoli Family Wines from Paso Robles and beer from Tustin’s Archaic Craft Brewery; the red I wanted was sold out, so I had a lovely Barbera instead.

What We Ordered: Tomato bruschetta · Paccheri ragù bianco with sausage · Penne arrabbiata · Chocolate chip cannoli (they were out of pistachio)

Ospi – Costa Mesa

Best For: The trendy Italian spot that lives up to the hype

We were lucky to get into Ospi’s Costa Mesa location for our five-month countdown dinner. I didn’t realize they only release reservations two weeks out, so I emailed thinking their system was broken. I explained our countdown dates, and the manager kindly booked us a table, then sent over two glasses of prosecco when we sat down. Friends had raved about the Brentwood and Venice locations, and it lived up to every word.

What We Ordered: Kale insalate with almond dressing · Tagliatelle Bolognese, unbelievably good · The Pepe-roni pizza with cacio e pepe and pepperoni. Next time: the crispy provolone, the tonnarelli, and the ricotta gnudi. We’ll just have to go back.

Ciao Pasta Trattoria – San Juan Capistrano

Best For: A cozy trattoria near the Mission, with twinkle lights and Pugliese roots

Near the Mission, Ciao Pasta has all the trattoria charm you’d hope for: twinkle lights, rustic tables, and a sweet patio when the weather’s nice.

What We Ordered: Calamari fritti · Trofie with pesto and stracciatella · Brasato di manzo over homemade orecchiette, Chef Pasquale’s mother’s recipe from Puglia. It made us even more excited for the real thing. More nearby in the best restaurants in San Juan Capistrano.

Romeo Cucina – Laguna Beach

Best For: Feeling like a local at the neighborhood Italian in Laguna

Our tenth countdown dinner fell on a weeknight after an office day, so we stayed close to home and finally tried Romeo Cucina, a spot we’d driven past probably 800 times. It’s a true local’s place: Laguna regulars on a first-name basis with the bartenders, having a normal Tuesday night. We loved it. For more around town, here are the best restaurants in Laguna Beach.

What We Ordered: Calamaretti misti with arrabbiata · Tortelloni with braised rib eye and pesto · Spaghetti Costa degli Dei with clams, the Romeo family favorite

Modo Mio Rustic Italian Kitchen – Crystal Cove, Newport Beach

Best For: A relaxed, unfussy dinner at Crystal Cove with pasta and a good glass of wine

We almost forgot our eleventh countdown dinner and booked Modo Mio that morning. We’d been to the Crystal Cove Shopping Center countless times but never stopped in, and we’re so glad we did. The food, service, and room were all lovely. I’m a vongole girl, and eating it this close to the water makes it even better. Prosciutto and melon is rare on menus, so that was a treat.

What We Ordered: Prosciutto e melone · Tagliatelle Bolognese · Linguine vongole

Bello by Sandro Nardone – Newport Beach

Best For: Modern Italian with beautiful plating, an open kitchen, and a menu that surprises you

For our very last countdown dinner, we went to Bello by Sandro Nardone, chef Sandro Nardone’s contemporary take on Italian cooking. The room is sleek, with bold art and an open kitchen.

What We Ordered: Frittura di calamari with shishitos, the freshest we’ve ever had · Dolce diavola pizza with Calabrese salame and honey · Rigatoni amatriciana. For dessert, a Mother’s Day special of Spanish French toast with yuzu jam and miso gelato. Max was in heaven.

A Few More We Love

I know the list was supposed to be twelve, but a few Orange County Italian spots deserve a mention. They didn’t qualify for countdown dates only because we’d already been (some of them many times):

• Truly Pizza in Dana Point, a tried-and-true favorite
• Buona Forchetta in San Clemente and Newport Beach
• Bottega Angelina in Laguna Niguel
• Cucina Enoteca in Irvine and Newport Beach
• Oliver’s Trattoria in Irvine

Where to Stay for an OC Food Weekend

Visiting and want to eat your way through a few of these? Base yourself at Lido House (Booking.com · Expedia) near Molo and Bello in Newport, or Casa Loma Beach Hotel (Booking.com · Expedia) in Laguna, close to Romeo Cucina. More options in the best hotels in Newport Beach and the best boutique hotels in Laguna Beach.

Max and I had the most wonderful time eating our way through a year of Orange County Italian restaurants, and the countdown dates made the wait feel like part of the celebration. I hope this list points you to a new favorite, whether you’re local or visiting. For more around the county, start with things to do in Orange County and my favorite cafés in OC.

And if this has you dreaming of Italy, good. That means it worked. Start with what I learned planning a destination wedding in Italy, or let our Italian honeymoon itinerary do the convincing.