Bello by Sandro Nardone

Everything from first walking in and being greeted and seated, to the waitstaff, cooks, ambiance, temperature of the dining room, noise level was perfect. Every menu item looked delicious as I watched food being brought out to different tables. Really wanted to try it all! I ended up getting lobster pasta which was so creamy and packed with lobster. The taste was not overwhelmingly seafood, as the pasta and sauce were just the right portions. Looking forward to returning and trying some pizza.

its been a year and a half since I have been here yet their food still tastes excellent! The calamari is the best appetizer you can get in my opinion. I loved the marinara sauce that came with it. I ordered some type of truffle pasta and they did not skip out on the truffle!! Biggest amount of truffle I have seen a restaurant give. My dad ordered a shrimp type of pasta and that was also delectable. For a dessert, we ordered the chocolate tart and it was so good!! This restaurant is on the pricer side yet still amazing!!

Bello is one of the best Italian restaurants in Orange County, even after losing their head Chef, Zach. Their new head chef, Drew, has picked up the mantle and keeps their seasonal options fresh and interesting. The hamachi crudo is what they’re known for and it is not only incredible but also unique EVERY WEEK. It’s really dangerous because it makes me want to come every single week so I don’t miss a variation of it. Their pastas are handmade and are all delicious, and their lasagna bianca is an absolute treasure. Parking is limited and dinner gets busy, so reservations are recommended, but lunch is more lowkey and is the secret best option. Most of the time you can just walk in and get a table for lunch.

My husband and I love trying out new restaurants. We especially enjoy trying out the meals of private chefs around Los Angeles. We are quite picky and fair when it comes to evaluating food. For Valentine's Day, we took a risk and decided to try out Bello for the first time. And we couldn't be happier. It was extraordinary. Now, I will share with you the things we tried. Before ordering, we were served 6 pieces of sourdough bread with amazing olive oil. Then for Antipasti, we ordered the Polpo. Fried Octopus. The portion size was larger than usual, almost too filling for 2 person. We ordered Tagliolini Al Tartufo and Costolette Agnello. The Tagliolini was enchanting. It got better with every bite. The truffle mushrooms on top added an amazing flavor. The Costolette Agnello was something else. Served with eggplant and a lightly sweet sauce on top. We normally don't like the smell of lamb, but the lamb chops were not smelly at all and were incredibly tender. Imagine the most beautiful lamb chop you can eat. For dessert, we chose tiramisu and got the panna cotta to go. The tiramisu was the perfect ending to the meal. It was simply amazing. We will definitely be coming back to this place regularly. Chef Sandro Nardone of Bello excites us incredibly! We are gonna closely follow him.

Wife and I went to the Chef's tasting while we were in the area on vacation. Everything was absolutely amazing, flavorful, delicious, fantastic, etc. If we lived closer, we'd probably go all the time. Chefs Zach and Drew were really great to chat with and watch work. They love what they do. It's very evident, and they work really well together. We loved that they aren't like some chefs that feel they are better than their customers, and should be envied. If you have a chance go to visit them. You will definitely not be disappointed. I wish I could give them a million stars. I apologize that I forget which dish is which, but honestly they were all beyond amazing.

Overall, I expected more from this place especially for the price point. The octopus was super disappointing. The sauce for the octopus and the vegetables were too salty. I asked our waiter if we could get a replacement for the vegetables since they were inedible. He took away our plate so quickly we didn’t get a chance to salvage the last bite of the octopus. What a waste! For the entrees, I got the Norcia, and my bf got this lobster pasta. Both of the dishes were delicious. The Norcia was packed with a strong mushroom flavor, and the noodles were cooked al dente. I love al dente, but my bf wasn’t a fan. The lobster pasta had good lobster pieces in it and had a strong lobster flavor.

My favorite Italian restaurant in Newport Beach. I enjoyed all the dishes that I ordered. The grilled octopus was so tender and cooked perfectly. Pasta are homemade and the food is prepared with the freshest ingredients. This is a quality authenic italian restaurant with a modern flare. Sandro the chef/owner is very friendly and caters to the customers needs. Waiter and staff were also attentive.

First time at this restaurant and I thoroughly enjoyed it! For great dishes reasonably priced (for an upscale restaurant) - I highly recommend stopping by a giving it a try yourself. The restaurant - it’s pretty, great vibes, great ambience. The service was on point, everyone was so friendly and so attentive. Even the owner came by our table and chatted with us, made us feel very welcomed! Very clean and a wonderful cozy atmosphere. The food - delicious! The hamachi crudo of the week was really good. So fresh and bright. The octopus appetizer was amazing, perfectly cooked with complimenting flavors and textures. The pastas were made to perfection. You can never go wrong with handmade pasta and deep flavors. Pizza wise, it’ll just depend on what your preferences are. For desserts, we tried the featured of the week mushroom semifreddo and it was not for us. Couldn’t get around the interesting earthy flavor in a ice cream type of dessert. But the panna cotta was on point! It was balanced with sweetness and tartness with the crumble and black sesame adding the right textures and essence. Love love loved the amarena cherries on it! Parking - it’s in a strip mall lot of sorts. Gotta love open free parking!

Una cena che bello! New year, another visit to bello. Last date here was 7 months ago, and probably 3 months ago when we brought the kids. It again managed to meet expectations and serve authentic quality and delicious food. This is the food you would hope your Italian nonna would make with heart and flavor but elevated for a restaurant atmosphere. Again we enjoyed the limon bello spritz which is served in an incredible large glass. Balanced and lemony. We of course had to have the pizza margarita which is perfect. The crust is chewy and airy and the tomato sauce is imported San marzano that taste so fresh. The lasagna Bianca with the spinach pasta is rich and creamy and decadent while maintaining that comfort you would expect. I admit after trying it last time I booked this reservation knowing I had to order it again. We ordered the special which Sandro should consider adding permanently to his menu: scallops wrapped in prosciutto over a saffron risotto with asparagus and made with fish broth instead of the usual beef or veggie for Milanese style. It was delicious! Only note would be for $54, I would have hoped for at least 4-5 scallops not the three it came with. Had to finish with the lovely hazelnut chocolate tart which is both smooth and creamy yet chewy with the crispy cereal crust.

I really wanted to REALLY like this place but, while some aspects were good, it wasn't amazing. The food was tasty but not knock your socks off. The crudo was my favorite - really liked all the flavors, especially the yuzu vinaigrette, and the crunch of the rice puffs. The Cesare salad was ok. I really liked the Amatriciana pasta and Margherita pizza was decent. The Raspberry Beret mocktail was SO GOOD but it was so very tiny and SO EXPENSIVE - maaaybe 4oz so at $12 for the drink, it's 3 per oz for a non-alcoholic beverage. Yowza!! Also, I think they had their grease trap emptied very recently and I could smell that distinct underlying odor the entire time we were at the restaurant. It was not super strong but I could def smell it. Also, personal preference, but I'm not a fan of the Euro electronic/techno that was loudly playing but I know in Europe, in cafes in the morning, that is the type of music they play. On the positive side, their service is AMAZINGLY prompt. Their wait staff is ON TOP of it!! Very impressive!

This was my first time at the restaurant and I was pleasantly surprised. It was not too busy which was nice. I don't like restaurants that are so loud that you can't hear yourself talk. The wait staff was very attentive and had great recommendations. We started with the grilled octopus and it was tender and flavorful. You get one tentacle served on a bed of greens with a nice tomato sauce with a tiny kick to it. Next, we had the bolognese pasta which apparently is the top seller in the restaurant. It is atypical in that it has a creamy sauce vs a tomato sauce. The pasta is hand made fresh in the mornings and cut by hand. The meat is also diced and not ground. The dish was so good that I could've eaten all of it but needed to save room for the pizza. The pizza looked wood fired and was a super thin crust topped with a sweet tomato sauce, nozzle and spicy salami. I would say the spice level was similar to a medium salsa and was very tasty. The crust was nice and chewy, not tough. The bathrooms were nice and clean. The parking lot was spacious. I loved my meal here today!

I don't give 5 stars often, but Bello definitely deserves it! Jared (our server) was wonderful! He was an incredible host and we're so grateful for the time that he took with us to explain the menu, make recommendations, and help us adjust according to the needs of our party. The food was INCREDIBLE! Everything was delicious!! The house made pasta is *chef's kiss* and the flour is imported from Italy so don't feel bad about indulging. The ingredients quality is LEGIT! Love the vibe. Probably the closest you'll come to feeling like you're in Italy from Newport Beach, CA. The decor is simply and elegant but still a place you can bring your kids too. There's seating inside and outside and a bar inside. Plenty of parking. Definitely recommend making a reservation. Great spot for a celebrating something, a date night, or a girls night.

I had exams the week before so I was really looking forward to a treat. Had to even study on my birthday. So, I had seen this on my Instagram a while back as "Michelin Star Pizza." I figured I would have to give it a try! I came for lunch mainly because it's cheaper. There are less menu options than for dinner but it had pizza which was what I was going to try anyway! The vibe for lunch is nice. Chairs are comfy. My server William was really friendly and attentive. Definitely made some great recommendations too. Food: The starter bread was super soft and yummy. The pomodoro pasta as the menu would lead you to believe is very tomato forward. So only get that if you want a lot of tomato and basil! But the star of the show was the pizza. I got the Margherita pizza and it was *chef's kiss*. I mean...the dough was lightweight and it was really authentic. Lots of awesome deserts to try. Had to get the tiramisu and my compliments to that as well. Fantastic. Awesome place! I liked it a lot.

Bello is an Italian restaurant in a strip mall, located south of the 73 freeway in newport beach. It has garnered some recognition from the michelin guide for its wood-fired pizzas and pastas. Ambiance is great for a date - it has nice decor, the bathroom is adorned with scented candles, and there's white tablecloths out. The tables overlook the open kitchen featuring a wood fired oven that they use for their pizzas. Along with my wife, we shared a pizza, pasta, and appetizer. We chose our appetizer off their menu of seasonal specials and it featured hokkaido scallops, topped with incredibly flavorful bread crumbs. They crumbs gave crispy texture and were a flavor bomb of various seasonings that nicely complemented the scallop. Easily our favorite bite of the night! The Margherita pizza was nice - you have a Neapolitan pizza cooked and blistered in a wood fired oven. It has that characteristic chewy texture and the simplicity and quality of the ingredients stand out. (Fun note: Chef Nardone just opened another restaurant in Costa Mesa featuring Romana-style pizzas and that's a great place to get a deep dish slice!) Our pasta was the Amatriciana, which was a rigatoni pasta with pomodoro, pecorino, and guanciale. Their pastas are very al dente, so you get the chew and bite of the thick pasta. The sauce is very rich from the rendered guanciale and its amalgamation to pomodoro and pecorino - it's reminiscent of a carbonara with pomodoro instead of egg yolks. It's rich and decadent, so choose this if that is what you are going for. To drink, I went with a honeycomb old fashioned. It was a nice drink and they gave an assertive pour of the bourbon. Would have liked a little more balance in the drink, but it definitely did the job for the evening! Overall, we really enjoyed our experience at Bello. We are lucky to have a few truly authentic Roman and Napoli style Italian places in southern california. Closer to me, I like La Parolaccia and L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele and in LA there's Mother Wolf; however, this definitely belongs in the conversation of establishments with authentic flavors and textures.

This place is phenomenal ! I mean, there's really nothing really to complain or groan about. In fact, all I did was moan in pleasure consistently throughout my thirsty Thursday dining experience. Wish I had heard about this Italian eatery earlier. The food is cooked perfectly and the ingredients are fresh and incredibly high quality. There is no disputing that. The whole staff was also very passionate, friendly and knowledgeable. Saluti bambino & Bambinas

Ode to Sandro- forgive my pompous mannerism and presumptuous name calling but I feel like I've not had a pomodoro until your pomodoro. The name of them game is how do we extract the most flavor a seed has to offer in its simplest form without compromising velvety integrity. This is not a place you come to get your back alley spaghetti and meatballs covered in melted kraft. Whatever, you know what I mean, the food here rocks! It's fresh, seasonal, creamy with no use of butter or cream. Beautiful not only in presentation but the way it embraces all your senses as that cheese just coats, overwhelms and rewrites everything you need to know about how real fresh cheese is supposed to behave. I have no confirmation but I'm pretty sure, nay, positive that their pastas are all made in house by hand. You don't even notice what you have in your mouth until you look down at the dish and finds true FLAVOR staring back at you. We came at a time before dinner rush began and was lucky enough to talk to the creator of such magnificent concentration. But reservation is recommended especially for dinner. The service was incredible, friendly and just at the perfect touch before overbearing. Everyone seems either very passionate or hard at work. There's no unnecessary laziness to the visible eye. We will definitely be back. Vegetarian friendly menu items**

Reservations recommended! It was packed on a Friday night, and for good reason! They have a new appetizer menu (Picture posted), and we tired the Hokkaido scallops and the octopus (Polpo different from the regular menu) I thought the octopus had very good texture, tender and not too hard and chewy, however I wasn't a big fan of the olive oil and smoked paprika drizzle, a little bitter, kind of reminds me of a parsley bitterness. But good octopus nonetheless! The scallops were amazing and definitely a must order! Perfectly breaded and the scallops just melts in your mouth! For our entrees we ordered the Branzino fish and the Narcio pasta, both were really good! The broth they pour over the Branzino just has so much flavor! The pasta also had truffle shavings! Super flavorful pasta sauce and the pork was delicious! Ended with some strawberry gelato and a complimentary birthday panna cotta. Both were super delicious and a great way to end the dinner. I definitely want to come back and try more dishes! After visiting Italy it's so hard finding authentic Italian restaurants that mirror the taste and freshness of Italian food in Italy, Bello definitely is there!

Service: 4 stars Food: 4 stars Ambiance: 4 stars Noise level: 0 stars Tapas: 0 stars Cocktails: 0 stars The host is super sweet, and the waiter is friendly. Some servers are extremely attentive and lively, while others seem to focus only on those who order bottles of wine. Some have a bit of a language barrier. Some appear friendly and attentive but are actually distracted, busy with other tasks instead of checking on customers. The manager is super focused on polishing glasses to make them shiny but left us waiting 20+ minutes for our dish with empty glass. If we hadn't flagged him down, they might've forgotten we were even there. Ultimately, the service experience seems to depend on your luck. The restaurant itself has a bit of an old-fashioned SoCal vibe, with lots of echo indoors. Outdoor seating is nice, but there are plenty of bugs and mosquitoes in the summertime. Most of the food tastes good, some dishes better than others. Although their pasta has great flavor and an al dente texture, they're extremely stingy with ingredients and toppings. Still, it's the best Italian in OC so far. The Good: ++ Focaccia: Sometimes served cold, but usually fluffy and tasty. Occasionally, the crust is a bit too hard, making it tough on the gums. +++ Frittura di Calamari: The calamari is a nice size, crispy and juicy. The Shishito pepper adds a lovely fragrance, and with the sauce, it's perfecto! However, there's not enough sauce to go around, especially since the calamari itself lacks salt. We ran out of sauce before finishing the calamari. +++ Dolce Diavola: The pizza is perfectly done, with a fluffy dough and flavorful toppings. But the chestnut honey is missing! There's a hint of honey on top, but it doesn't have the forest-like flavor of true chestnut honey. Like I mentioned before, they tend to be stingy with the small touches. +++ Ravioli al Granchio: Snow crab, mascarpone, Parmigiano, brown butter, lime, Thai basil green herb oil, and sesame seeds. This is, in my opinion, the best dish on the menu--absolutely delightful and full of flavor. However, the sesame seeds don't suit the dish; they're a bit boring and make the plating less appetizing. Also, the basil herb oil seems to be missing entirely, perhaps hidden under the ravioli. ++ Gemelli Pasta with Spicy Calabrian Chili: A bit too salty for my taste, but the pasta is perfectly cooked and the dish is overall flavorful. +++ Tiramisu: An original, delightful bite--so creamy and indulgent that I can practically hear Quando m'en vo playing in my head. The Bad: --+ Summer Salad: We got tired of it to the point that we stopped ordering it. There's not much to it--just tomatoes, small cubes of avocado, mozzarella nips, and olives. --- Tartufo Nero Pizza (Prosciutto, Di Stefano Burrata, Black Truffle): The pizza arrives cold, with a tiny portion of burrata--likely just half a burrata split into four pieces. The prosciutto is nice, not too salty, but there are only six paper-thin truffle slices on the entire pizza, approximately 1.18" x 0.7". This dish is completely flavorless and desperately needs the truffle to brighten it up. It's a disappointment--barely anything on it, and served cold? Not worth the money. ---Acqua Pazza (Branzino, Fish Stock, Baby Heirloom Tomatoes, Chopped Parsley, Lemon): This "award-winning" dish is uninspiring. I'm not sure what kind of award it won, but any Asian restaurant serving steamed fish or fish in broth could achieve the same texture, and likely with better flavor. The sauce is bland, and the fish lacks any memorable flavor. -- Panna Cotta: It's unexpectedly liquid, making it hard to scoop from the small plate. This was more like eating liquid vanilla custard with fruit. -- Norcia Rigatoni: The rigatoni is al dente but arrives in a pile with a beige hue, tasting just as uninteresting as it looks. The pork sausage, roasted porcini, and crimini mushrooms are all minced beyond recognition, and the truffle and parsley seem to have melted away into the dish. Skip their entire menu of tapas. It's an Italian restaurant, after all, not Spanish. I almost gave them a one-star review based solely on their tapas during my first visit. I thought to myself, "What the heck is that?" The tapas lack quality. The only edible one was the squash flower with cheese, but even that was drenched in oil. They only have one kind of Riesling available by the glass, and it's overly sweet. Skip the cocktails as well. --- Limoncello Spritz: Absolutely nasty. Indescribably gross. I took one sip and sent it back. --- Tango: Another cocktail that tastes like cough syrup. Overall, it's a cozy spot with great pasta in OC. For a restaurant to make me want to come back more than 3 times is quite a feat!

I came here recently because a friend from Italy highly recommended their Napoli style pizza. I decided to try and had an exceptional dining experience and loved their Margherita pizza. The crust was slightly crunchy and light and chewy on the inside. The flavor was exceptional and I will definitely come back.

Good food and amazing service, our waiter was so friendly! Good place to go for birthdays, date nights, etc. Marinara pizza (no cheese): lactose-friendly option, crust is on the bready / doughy side with garlic sprinkled throughout. I personally prefer crispy thin crusts but this was still good Calamari: less crispy than I'm used to (more of a bready fried exterior) but it's hard to go wrong with calamari! Delicious marinara used as dipping sauce Complimentary focaccia: the star of the show -- crispy, buttery, and flaky

Wife and I came tonight for dinner and overall left wanting so much more from this place...everything was very average and didn't meet the hype unfortunately. Ambiance: This place touts that it's "Michelin recognized" and a "fine dining experience", but nothing about the restaurant truly matched that experience. We sat in the back room, and the chairs were wobbly, the tables were dirty/stained, and the furniture overall felt very cheap. The restaurant needs to have a more cohesive aesthetic because it felt like a hodgepodge of designs. Service: The bus-staff were incredibly friendly and attentive, but our waiter was VERY unpleasant. We never truly felt welcome, and felt like we were inconveniencing the waiter throughout the entire meal (ie asking for advice on which dessert to pick or which wine to pair with got such dismissive responses). Watching the other waiters serve tables near us in such a welcoming and friendly manner definitely made us feel even worse. Food: Here's how each dish played out: Summer Salad: There is no world where this was worth $26. The tomatoes were mushy and the dish was overdressed. A really poor representation of a summer salad. Dolce Diavola Pizza: We originally asked for them to add spicy salame to the Margherita Pizza but the waiter was adamant we ordered this without honey instead, so we asked if they could add basil to this and he made a huge deal about how they don't like doing changes (even though he was fine removing the honey from the pizza?). It was an OK pizza, quite doughy but the salame was good. Taglioni Al Tartufo: In absolutely no world is this pasta worth $55. When it arrived, the pasta was congealed and overcooked. The truffles were nice, but again, this dish was highway robbery. A real disappointment since we looked forward to trying it. Panna Cotta: This was nice, not super sweet and had a tart finish. A solid palette cleanser. Tiramisu: Solid way to finish the meal, probably one of the better dishes of the night. With the way this place tried to present itself, you'd think it would be able to stand up to LA spots like Felix or Bestia (especially with their LA prices), but it simply can't compete. The search continues for a fantastic Italian restaurant in the OC. See

Not recommended, service was salty at the bar , bar back was nice , bartender did not care about anything, first time and I'm not coming back, got 3 dishes, the pizza was good ( just okay ) also de octopus ( could have been better ) but men the Caesar salad was a disaster so "salty", send it back, I ask for a recommendation on another salad, heard the bartender chatting, it was not nice what I've heard, what a waste of energy, came from Anaheim to check this place, the mockails where the best thing tried here, but felt it annoyed the bartender too since they were not alcoholic beverages, skip you'll be just fine without coming here. Salty bartender :( what a shame Host is really nice, I called and she said come on in , you'll be just fine. Also the restroom smells so bad like a gas station on the road. Too sad, but at least now I know!!!!!!

Parking- plenty Reservation is a great idea even though they do take walk ins. Food selection was great. Dishes seemed very fresh and had great flavor. All of the staff was friendly and helpful.

Food here is pretty stellar. Had a couple cocktails and they're not bad, but nothing amazing. Came with a friend and we shared everything. Got the norcia pasta and a pizza. The pasta was good except the pasta was very slightly undercooked. A little too al dente. We both thought another minute of boiling would have been better. The pizza was really quite good. Stellar good. Would definitely come back just for the pizza. We ended with the tiramisu for dessert and it's some of the best tiramisu that I've ever had. We both agreed part of the reason was because of the coffee they used in it. Really shined and brought out a lot of flavor.

First of all, service was excellent the entire time! Veronica had great recommendations for wine and food pairings and was excited with us about our first time dining here. We specifically picked this place because we were looking for pasta with shaved truffle, and boy did I get what I was looking for! It really hit the spot; even though it seems like a plain pasta dish, it was rich, creamy, and absolutely delicious. We also had the bone marrow and scallops as appetizers, and a caesar salad (maybe a little too much olive oil) with our entrees. This is a nice restaurant with mostly adults, as far as I noticed, and makes for quite a nice date spot!

Food was amazing. Service was excellent. Staff was so kind (Shout out to our server Jared). Atmosphere was welcoming, clean, and elegant. 10/10 would recommend!

I've had Bello by Sandro bookmarked since before it even opened and have been wanting to try it ever since the COVID days. The owner actually messaged me on LinkedIn four years ago, and I never had the chance to visit until tonight. The restaurant itself is gorgeous, with a sleek, modern vibe and an open kitchen concept that makes for an engaging dining experience. The food was, without a doubt, exceptional. My friend ordered the Bolognese, and I got the black truffle pasta--both were some of the best I've ever had. The texture of the pasta, in particular, was the best I've ever experienced. I have no idea how to describe it other than you can completely tell it was made in-house. You simply must try it for yourself to fully understand just how good it is. The scallop tapas plate was also fantastic, but the zucchini blossoms were disappointing. They lacked flavor and didn't look very appetizing, definitely not photogenic like the rest of our dishes. Unfortunately, the service didn't match the quality of the food. I made the reservation noting that it was my birthday and mentioned it again to our server at the start of the meal. He assured me that he would do something special for the occasion, but things quickly went downhill. While he was attentive at the beginning, once he started tending to larger parties, we seemed to be forgotten. We were the only table around us not ordering alcohol, and it definitely felt like we were getting less attention because of it. I also noticed that the owner was walking around, personally checking in on several tables throughout the night. However, despite walking by our table numerous times--we were seated right in front of the hostess stand where he spent a lot of time adjusting checks--he never stopped by to check on us. That added to the feeling of being overlooked during the entire meal. I went the entire night with only one glass of Sprite, as the server never came back to offer a refill or even check on us. When dessert came out, there was no birthday candle, no happy birthday greeting--just a plate set down with zero acknowledgment. I had to ask the hostess myself for a candle, which felt pretty disappointing after he had promised to do something. When he finally returned, he asked if it was my birthday, and I reminded him that I had told him at the beginning of the meal. His response left me feeling like he was annoyed to even be serving us, and that dampened the experience. He mentioned that he was the first server they ever hired, but honestly, it seemed like he didn't care much about our table for some reason. The food was a solid 10/10, but the service left a lot to be desired. As much as I enjoyed the meal, I'm hesitant to return unless we have a different server.

Reserved a table for Mother's Day lunch and we were seated immediately. They have a small, covered patio dining area in the parking lot. We were seated inside near the door that lead to the patio, and although we accepted the manager's offer to close the door due it being a colder, overcast day, it was shortly opened again, likely due to convenience for the servers who may not have known about the offer to close the doors. The doors remained open for the rest of our lunch service, and by the end, my parents were cold. Indoor decor was glam without being stuffy, a lot of marble, brass, velvet. Bread service. The olive oil is real olive oil and took me straight back to our Italy vacation. Fruity, floral, spicy, divine. Polpo. Texturally perfect, but definitely on the salty side. The rapini had an extremely bitter bite that was a little too harsh for me, personally. I paired it with the burrata. Burrata. It's burrata. I don't know if burrata can ever go wrong. I certainly have never experienced it. Bone marrow. Absolute banger. Rich and beefy, but in the best way. Even my mom who is not a red meat person said it was very good. As an Asian, I always leave the last bite for someone else, but I shamelessly ate it this time. Am I proud? No. Would I do it again? Yeah. Bigoli all'astice pasta. The lobster was flawless, sweet and soft. The sauce was light and refreshing, and the roe provided a lovely savory contrast. Tagliolini al tartufo. I mean just look at all that shaved truffle. The cream sauce was rich but not overbearing. La nostra bolognese. A dish I usually avoid, since the meat is usually tough, overpowering, or ultimately disappointing. Not here. Perfectly braised, savory bite sized morsels. Ricci de mare. Probably the best seafood pasta I've had on this side of the pond. It is made with shellfish stock, which makes SO much sense, you think you'd see it more. This dish is pure umami. Overall, a mostly pleasant dining experience for Mother's Day.

Great service and great food. I've been traveling is Hollywood for proper Italian food and was recommended Bello by a friend. The prices are reasonable and the food is great. I recommend the black truffle, bone marrow and branzino & of course pair with wine based on the sommelier's recrecommendations. I love the Little Door in Hollywood but this is a close second and local or OC.

Date nights, birthday celebrations, graduation, and Mother's and Father's Day.. Bello is always the place where my family and friends can have both delicious food and nice vibes. Highly recommended.

The norcia is a must for the mushroom lovers out there. Plenty of earthy notes you would expect - as odd it might seem this dish was delightful to hold up to the nose just to savor. The grain fed steak was just OK, mostly due to the amount of sinew in the steak. I would likely not order this one again. Good flavor profile and cook however. The snow crab ravioli was unique and was a table favorite. Very crab forward and a nice addition to the meal. Service was very nice. Thank you Fernando!

This place has a Michelin star for a reason! & it's the reason why I came back a week later! Everything was so delicious that I kept wanting to order more and more (but we did that). We ordered: Calamari 8/10 Burrata 9/10 Grass fed wagyu (not a steak person so n/a) Dolce diavola LITERALLY THE BEST 100/10 Norica 10/10 Bone marrow 10/10 DESSERTS: Panna cotta 7/10 was too tarty Tiramisu 7/10 Hazelnut tart 8/10 I would definitely come back for the pastas and pizzas and would pass for the desserts. Everyone that was working there was very, very nice! And it's a very cute restaurant ! Very good for date night.

I was super excited to try this restaurant, and we got all dressed up for our dinner out on the town. It's in a parking lot so there's no need to wear your fancy clothes. I ordered octopus and it was way too chewy so I sent it back. The best part of our meal was the hamachi crudo which had a delicious sauce. The black cod was perfect cooked but the sauce was not very attractive and I think it detracted from the dish. I was not crazy about the broccoli or cabbage underneath. Overall, I'd say 3.5 stars because of the parking lot vibe but I will give them four stars.

Came for a late lunch. Ordered the black truffle pasta, margherita pizza, calamari, a couple aperol spritz and finished with the tiramisu. The black truffle pasta was divine. The best I've had in OC and comparable if not better than French laundry's amazing truffle pasta. It's almost 'eggy' and extremely flavorful. (The owner also owns a truffle business so you know the quality of the truffles are excellent). The margherita pizza was really good. The dough was soft and chewy with a slight crisp and the mozzarella was fresh and thick. The calamari was ok. I prefer to have more fritter on my calamari. First time having an aperol spritz and I thought it complemented the food well. Finally the tiramisu was also the best I've had. Soft, flavorful, and slightly sweeter than other tiramisu which made it even better. The service was good as there weren't many people on a weekday late lunch. Decor reminded me of Versace with dark marble and gold accents. The chef/owner came out and greeted us and was super friendly. Great guy. I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant. I'll definitely be coming back for that amazing truffle pasta and tiramisu!

Great service and phenomenal food. Jared was a tremendous help. Ambiance is great for a formal dinner or if you'd like to have a casual get together.

We found this place thanks to chase dining. We were out in Newport for some shopping and wanted some Italian food. It was not busy for a Sunday afternoon and a reservation didn't seem to be needed but would we heard this place does get busy for dinner. Jared was our server and he was so genuine and personable. We were able to pick where we wanted to be seated and we picked a nice quiet corner. We started the meal off with some focaccia bread accompanied with olive oil and balsamic. We ordered the Diavola pizza to start. The acidity of the sauce in combination with the flavor of the dough was perfect. The pizza is neopolitan style and the crust was burnt the way it is SUPPOSED to be. We would have even enjoyed a couple more burnt parts if it was up to us. Next we had two pasta dishes. We ordered the Amatriciana and the Nostra Bolognese. The Amatriciana was tomato based and the sauce was so flavorful and fresh and dynamic. The Nostra Bolognese was more simple in the sauce but flavored more by the meat. Both pastas were cooked perfectly al dente. The pasta portions may look small to some people but the density of the noodles and the richness of the sauce should fill a person up. We finished the meal with a Panna Cotta which was light and perfectly sweet. The cherry reduction sauce was rich and added a great balance. We can't wait to return here due to the hospitality first and foremost. A place can have the most delicious food but it's finding the balance with an atmosphere that doesn't feel stuffy but you still feel welcome. This restaurant truly has a gem in Jared and I hope they acknowledge and reward him for the thoughtfulness he puts into each of his guests experiences. Great staff and great food.

The food is good, but the portions are very small. The price for cocktails and wine are ridiculously expensive !! We been there 3 times in the past 45 days. We'll probably not go back.

This place is incredible. Mr. Sandro stopped by all the tables. Lovely inside. We are vegetarians and it definitely delivered. Fabulous tomato sauce on pasta, wonderful bread and oil from Italy. Servers were polite, knowledgeable, and efficient. Absolutely a place to go.

Unbelievable first experience today. Wow! I don't even know where to begin. That food was beyond delicious. We had the calamari and Caesar salad to start. Super fresh salad and the peppers in the calamari were crisp and just so tasty. We ordered the lasagna, ravioli and Bolognese. Lasagna was super flavorful but mushy in texture in case you're sensitive to that. Ravioli was very Al dente, loaded with shrimp and the sauce was endlessly flavorful. Bolognese was very meaty! Drinks were phenomenal. We ate 5 plates of bread. All in all 10/10 experience. Service was impeccable. I can't believe I have never been here and it's my own backyard. Super elegant and ideal for a date night! Will definitely be back.

Came here for our anniversary dinner. The vibes are great for a night out. They gave us some bread and olive oil right away. The bread was hard, so it wasn't super good. To drink, I got the mambo italiano ($18), and it was solid. Quite sweet. For appetizers, we got the bone marrow ($19), octopus ($29), and insalata di zucca ($19). The bone marrow was delicious especially the pasta that comes with it! The octopus was super disappointing. The octopus itself wasn't the most tender, and the dish was overall really salty, particularly the vegetables and the sauce for the octopus. I asked our waiter if we could get a replacement for the vegetables since they were inedible. He took away our plate so quickly we didn't get a chance to salvage the last bite of the octopus. What a waste! The salad was solid For the entrees, I got the Norcia ($43), and my bf got this lobster pasta ($48). Both of the dishes were delicious. The Norcia was packed with a strong mushroom flavor, and the noodles were cooked al dente. I love al dente, but my bf wasn't a fan. The lobster pasta had good lobster pieces in it and had a strong lobster flavor. Service was solid. Our waiter was friendly, but we had to remind him about getting refills of our water, and he cleared our octopus dish without asking us if we wanted the rest of the octopus. Overall, the pasta here is superb, but the octopus appetizer was extremely disappointing. This place is also on the pricey side

A Delightful Italian Feast at Bello by Sandro Nardone My recent visit to Bello by Sandro Nardone was nothing short of exceptional, a true testament to the art of Italian cuisine. The menu, brimming with a variety of tantalizing options, made the selection a delightful challenge. My choice of lasagna was a revelation, each layer exuding the rich, comforting essence of Italy. Similarly impressive was the Margherita pizza - a classic dish that Bello elevates to new heights. Its flavors were a harmonious blend of fresh, quality ingredients, epitomizing the essence of Italian cooking. But the surprises didn't end there. The calamari was a crispy delight, and the fried pizza was an awe-inspiring culinary spectacle, both in size and taste. Initially, I had reservations about the portion sizes, but to my pleasant surprise, they were generously sized, ensuring a satisfying meal. What truly set Bello apart, though, was the extraordinary level of service. The staff was not only swift in their service but also exceptionally friendly, making the dining experience feel personal and welcoming. This, coupled with the restaurant's high-end, classy atmosphere, created an ambience that was both elegant and comfortable. In terms of value, the food costs at Bello are perfectly aligned with the quality provided. It's a rare find where the price truly reflects the exceptional quality of the food and the overall dining experience. In conclusion, Bello by Sandro Nardone is a must-visit for anyone seeking an authentic and high-quality Italian dining experience. The exquisite food, coupled with the top-notch service and elegant atmosphere, makes for an unforgettable culinary journey. Highly recommended!

Had a bad personal experience here, seems like they overbooked the restaurant and couldn't handle the volume. I will say that the focaccia was very good, but the waiter dropped and shattered a bottle of olive oil next to me and it felt like a portent for the rest of the meal. I generally eat alone, but it seemed that they either don't have many solo diners or just assumed that I was waiting for someone because I wasn't served for a hot minute after sitting down (despite making a reservation for one person). Drink was fine, nothing to write home about (just a whiskey cocktail, honestly tasted mostly like the honey flavored jack daniels with citrus expressed over top) I got the bone marrow as an appetizer and had high hopes, but it was so incredibly oily because they paired it with a pasta with a very fat heavy sauce; there was supposedly balsamic vinegar in it but you could barely taste it through all the oil. I'm also not one to typically harp about service, but this was some of the most bizarre service I've ever received--the waiter consistently seemed to forget how far into my meal I was and he asked if "that would be all" after my appetizer and I had to ask for a menu to order an entree. The waiter was kind enough that when I was choosing between two mains, he offered to bring one out and if it wasn't to my liking then he'd take it back and bring the other one. This whole time the table next to me was acting crass and generally without much consideration for the diners around them (this was the first time at a nice restaurant that I saw a person stand up and take cutlery from another table instead of just asking the waiter) and that compounded with the extensive wait time and the awkward service made me just ask for the check without getting my main. Maybe I'd come back, but after the fiasco that was my last visit I don't think I will. Take your chances with your visit, and hope they have enough staff to serve everyone on time.

Great service and food! The owner saw the men at our table inhale their pastas and brought us a free pizza. We loved the fresh pasta and it was really tasty. Would go back if we were in the area!

very authentic italian food in newport that didn't disappoint. they had a lot of classic dishes as well as small bites. everything was so flavorful, staff were very attentive and helpful. would love to come back to try more!

I have wanted to try this spot for a very long time, but the hour+ drive from my home has kept us waiting. Had a meeting in the area and dropped in for dinner and to celebrate our anniversary. Our food and drinks were excellent! They described their newest dishes, and they sounded so good, we had to try them. A hamachi crudo to start was great. A little on the salty side, but beautiful and tasty just the same. Bone Marrow Gemelli was delicious. Trout was pretty amazing! The sauce was nutso good! The real star of the evening was the lasagna. I've never had a lasagna that was so light and almost melted each bite. It's really great! Drinks were excellent. The Ravello is a perfect cocktail but should really be reserved for post meal as a dessert. Oro and Cosa Nostra were outstanding, too! Burnt Honeycomb Old Fashioned was very good, but I'd lean toward the other two. Service was good. It was not extremely warm and definitely not refined, but it was efficient. They set silverware for the entrees before we finished the apps, and would leave dirty plates and glasses sitting there even though there was sufficient staff. The level simply didn't match the cuisine and prices. Ambiance is good, but sitting outside, you get a full-on view of a gas station. It was a charming evening, so whatever. Finally, and most disappointing, they completely ignored the anniversary. While we didn't expect anything, since they asked when we made the reservation, we figured we'd AT LEAST get a mention from Host or the waiter, but nothing. Just don't ask us if it's a special occasion if you don't acknowledge it. So, all-in-all, it's great food, and I'd return, but I wouldn't rush back. And, if you're celebrating something, I would consider somewhere else.

Food is descent but small in portion and overpriced in my opinion. Service is slow and bit messy: waiter promised another serving of bread but never brought it; it took 2 or 3 different waiter/waitress 2 to 3 rounds to prepare all utensils (1 plate 1 fork and 2 knives) for us and many of us still ended with 1 less fork or no plate. Waited forever to get the card back with the check. The furnishings are okay, but a little mismatch considering the prices of their dishes. And not enough legroom for seats against the wall.

Came here hoping to experience delicious Italian food. Since I was told this was a Michelin star restaurant. The experience did not feel Michelin at all. Our server was simple. He didn't go over the menu or suggest any items. I overheard another server and he was very descriptive with the menu items, he also suggested things, and explained how things were prepared. So I was already disappointed. We ordered the eggplant parm for an appetizer. It was nothing like an eggplant parm. They were 3 fried croquettes stuffed with eggplant, no tomato dipping sauce. I don't even think there was any sauce at all. We also ordered the summer salad. It was described as tomatoes, avocados, olives, and mozzarella cheese. What we got was a bowl of giant tomato chunks, a few pieces of mozzarella cheese, few avocado pieces, and salty olives. I wouldn't order this again. My sister liked it, she loves tomatoes. My sister wanted to try the zucchini blossoms. Those were good. For my main dish I wanted to try a classic spaghetti pomodoro. I was really looking forward to this dish. I did not like it. The tomato sauce was way too sweet for my liking and I didn't get that fresh pomodoro taste. The pasta was cooked well. I had to ask for Parmesan cheese. Instead of having Parmesan cheese freshly grated I was given some cheese in a small container. My sister ordered the bolognese, which she enjoyed. My BIL ordered the prosciutto pizza. I tried a piece of his pizza w/o the prosciutto and the pizza did taste good. If you go here I recommend ordering the pizza. One thing I noticed was that the owner was there. He was greeting his guests. He did not come over to our table once. Not to say hi, or to see how things were going. If you are the owner of a restaurant and you are on the floor you should greet all your guests. I would say if you are looking for traditional or classic Italian food do not go here. Maybe it was just the things I ordered but I was very disappointed and will not be returning.

The service - astounding. The staff was very attentive and gave a detailed run down of the menu, specials and popular dishes. I was pleasantly pleased as a first timer how knowledgeable they were. Oh and our waiter was super friendly and hit all the angles when it came to whipping out our phone for pictures :) Food - overall, 9/10. There were some dishes that were losses in flavor but the main bulk of the menu had major hits. The weekly special was a green vegetarian pasta dish...I thought we'd give it a shot since the dish wouldnt be on the menu past that day. sadly, it was the worst tasting dish we ordered... it lacked flavor, spice and anything nice. The side of potatoes (patatas) wasn't anything special either; just salted crisp fingerling potatoes :( the panna cotta dessert was lackluster as well and the hazelnut dessert was too dense with no wow-factor. My recommendations are: Polpo - fried octopus with a wonderful crisp but soft chewy meat and their sauces for this app was 100/10. the black truffle pizza. dough was baked to perfection - crispy around the edges but still a good chew. Top it with salty prosciutto, soft mild burrata, and truffle? Cmon. The wagyu - there's only one way to eat this dish and it's medium rare. It was melt-in-your-mouth perfection with enough fat and salt to coat your palette. I dreamt about this dish afterwards Norcia - a must if u love mushrooms

I absolutely loved stepping into this restaurant. It made me feel like I was transported to a big city. The hustle, bustle, chatter and modern decor is not OC at all. The food on the other hand is interesting to review! There were some big hits and big misses. The crudo, squash blossoms and tiramisu were divine. The cheesecake was an utter fail. How is that even cheesecake? It looks like a muffin with a thin layer of cheesecake within. The lasagna was too oily and the pasta wasn't flavorful. Not once did the waiter ask how our food, drinks or dessert were.. I wonder if it because the menu quality is all over the place. I'll probably visit again for the ambiance and specific menu offerings.

Everything here is FABULOUS. The service, the wine list, but most especially the food. There 3 of us, we all had an appetizer and an entree. Split one dessert. I have no words for how delicious every bite was.

Took my best friend here for her birthday and we were not disappointed. The food was amazing, super fresh, and the service was impeccable. They were so friendly and helpful. The specials sounded amazing. The honey old fashioned was one of the best old fashions we've had. We will definitely be back and trying more dishes.

Wow, this was one of the best Italian restaurants I've tried in OC. The restaurant is so beautiful. Fantastic service, the staff is very attentive. The pizza was mind blowing, especially the pizza dough. The panna cotta dessert was delicious. We even got a visit from Chef Sandro Nardone himself! Parking is very easy in a large plaza. Reservation recommended.

Excellent all around. Ambience is elegant but not too fancy. The servers were all very attentive and worked as a team. We personally loved Jared because he was so welcoming even remembered me from last time I visited. Now let's talk food. The food was absolutely delectable and probably is my favorite itialian restaurant in OC. The flavors are amazing and every plate was an experience. We had the prosciutto pizza which was fire sauce. The norcia pasta which was surprisingly orgasmic and really good. The Amatricana was the closest I have had to the flavor in Italy since I visited. The shrimp ravioli was good but not great. The bone marrow was magic in my mouth and the pornchetta was very robust and perfectly cooked. It was paired with perfect spices and peppers. Overall, I give this place a 93% out of 100%

My boyfriend made reservations here for my birthday. The ambiance of the restaurant is nice and sophisticated. The interior design is beautiful! When we walked in, the smell reminded me of a new store.. Service was decent - nothing amazing, nothing bad. My boyfriend said that if the customer service was superb it definitely would've elevated the fine dining experience, but because that was lacking it seemed more like a regular restaurant with the fine dining looks. The bread served in the beginning was nice. Drinks were good! We tried the Tango, Oro, and Black Manhattan (not pictured). Food was ok. The crudo of the week was salmon which was tasty. There was plastic wrap left on the dish, which made me think they pre-made and unwrapped when ordered, as opposed to making it once ordered. The polpo wasn't my jam- it was cooked, a little rubbery, and mushy. The porchettina was good- it had an Asian flair to it and was well seasoned. The prosciutto pizza was good- it was cut into four pieces (which we discovered after lifting pieces of the thrown on prosciutto). I was looking forward to the norcia pasta, it was good but wasn't what I was expecting (based on the reviews and photos). The panna cotta was a great way to end the meal... although it was pretty sweet and left me making a "this is too sweet" face after every bite. Overall, it was a nice restaurant to try. At the end of our meal, my boyfriend and I both agreed that it isn't a place we'd absolutely have to try again... but it's a nice lil place and just because it wasn't our ideal choice- doesn't mean it can't be yours!

Simply the best Italian food in OC. A proper Italian restaurant. No wonder Sandro has a Michelin star rating. From The food to the service it's a hidden gem. Just like Napoli ! Simply the best !

The food here is really good. The service by our waiter was amazing. He was so attentive. This is our second time here. This is a nice place for as casual or as special as you want to make it. No matter if you just order a gourmet pizza or some fancy entrée, everything is really good. We cannot wait to go back.

Excellent food, excellent service! The waiter was very helpful with suggestions to. Our table of four celebrated a birthday. A complimentary birthday dessert arrived...delicious! I only wish the indoor dining was quieter. It was very loud. If that issue could be remedied, it would have be a perfect dining experience.