Bottega Angelina

A New Italian Stunner Shakes Up South Orange County’s Dining Scene | Eater LA

"Set in Laguna Niguel’s Ocean Ranch Village, I found the newly overhauled 10,000-square-foot space (3,000 of which is outdoors) by owners Shokoufeh and Filippo Fusco to be a stunner: walls were opened up to showcase ocean views and the main dining room is drenched in gold-tinted, blue-tinged opulence within a tan-and-taupe palette. Designed with Kelly Architects and Shawmut Design and Construction, the property offers about 350 seats, including an on-site café and marketplace for retail items, coffee, takeaway goods, and pastries. The menu is still being finalized for the formal opening, but I expect a full sweep of Italian options—pizzas (some finished with truffle), pastas, simple starters like prosciutto and pickled figs, and plenty of desserts and cocktails—under culinary leadership from Aaron Zimmer and executive chef Filippo Piccini (Tuscany, Michelin-level experience), with Rebekah Eastman on pastry and Vittorio Homberger running the room and wines. Bottega Angelina opens November 3 at 32441 Golden Lantern in Laguna Niguel, with dinner service to start and all-day hours posted on Instagram in the coming weeks." - Farley Elliott