Brunos Italian Kitchen

I went to a big group dinner and had the ciopino. This is a mixed seafood in a tomato broth. I have a lot of experience with this sophisticated dish. I’ve had it dozens of times. Bruno’s was absolutely awful. The mussels were old. Some clams didn’t open. The broth was more thick marinara sauce. The fish was spongy and overcooked. To maintain the spirit of our group celebration, I didn’t complain. However I did insist that they heat it up though. My first bowl was delivered with oven mits with a warning to be careful because it was hot. It was not even warm! The truth came out —the dish wasn’t prepared fresh. In seconds they replaced my bowl with a hot one. Ciopino is best with crusty bread. There wasn’t any. The table’s white wine was kept in a vessel, but it wasn’t chilled.

First of all, bread was really good. The sauce that comes with it tasted amazing. This area has nice view and atmosphere, it’s good for date night. However, it can be very loud so keep that in mind. I loved the sizing of the dishes, it was not too much not too small. I can say the sauces of the dishes are pretty strong, but I personally loved that. Definitely coming again!

I have been to Brunos on several occasions and the food and service is always excellent. The location in Brea is great with plenty of free and easy parking. The vibe in the area is fun and inviting. I recommend Brunos and will visit again soon.

We haven’t been here probably for more than 10 years. The taste had declined a bit, but the dishes were still decent. The fried combo-appetizer was pretty good, the broccolini was good as well. The salad was okay, but my favorite dish spicy sausage orecchiette was bit too watery and the sausage was on the tough side (more so than I remembered). The service was friendly and excellent as before. The location is close to the free parking structure.

This has become one of my favorite Italian restaurants. The food is amazing and everything about the restaurant was top notch.

Came here for mothers day. We had a reservation but apparently cannot choose between a regular table or a high top. We had a party of 5 adults and 1 small child. We asked if we could be moved to a regular table to reduce the risk of the child falling and they said no. There was a standard table with 8 seats right next to our high top that we also asked about, but was told that table we being held for another reservation. For starters we had the fritto misto which we all enjoyed, it had a good variety of items and was nice and crunchy. Also for the carpaccio which I did not particularly like. The meat was sliced super thin and put on a plate and topped with arugula and olive oil. The meat was so thin it just sticks to the plate and shreds into little bits when you try to eat it. The strength of flavor from the arugula and capers was very overpowering for this dish. For my main I got the branzino. The fish itself was good but a little on the salty side. The spinach was overcooked so it just turned in to a mushy blob, and it was extremely over salted, totally inedible. The potatos were bland and flavorless. For dessert I got the cheesecake which could have been good, but they added so many toppings that is really just masked the cheesecake itself. Less is definitely more in this situation. They have a good wine selection, we ordered a few bottles. Any happy hour specials they have do not apply in the main dining room, only in the bar. Parking is atrocious, you'll end up walking several blocks to get here. Halfway through our dinner they sat a group of 6 adults at the table with 8 chairs. So we they technically could have sat us there, since we had a table for 6 as well and since you apparently can't specify high top or regular during your reservation.... Overall I was really unimpressed and don't think I would return again.

Great place to get Italian!! Probably the best bruschetta I've had in a long time! Servers were awesome and attentive. We noticed the manager walking around and talking to the tables checking in. He's even seen helping the staff which I think contributes to a great environment. My only critiques: 1) the volume. Not much you can do about it, but lots of people talking so like other people suggested, probably not the best spot for an intimate date. 2) next to the host podium are two high top tables that I feel are way too close to the door. We didn't sit there, but I dreaded the idea that we would be. I think if these two were removed, it would create a better entry way and reduce the risk of a bad experience. Regardless, I would definitely come back for that pesto and bruschetta!

Love the place. My husband and I have been going here for many years. We love our server, he was awesome. It's very rare to have such an attentive and knowledgeable server. The food was delicious. Everything that I have tried was amazing, full of flavors 😋

we went to this restaurant to celebrate my sister's birthday, and our experience was exceptional. The food was amazing; from the delicious bread and oils to the flavorfulPappardelle Bruno, Bolognese pasta and impressive Cioppino with a variety of seafood, everything exceeded our expectations. The staff were incredibly kind and attentive throughout our meal. After dinner, my sister unfortunately had a health incident while she was waiting in the line to use the restroom. The manager promptly noticed her distress and immediately called 911. All the staff were incredibly helpful and supportive during this stressful situation. Thanks to their quick actions, my sister received the necessary medical attention and was safely taken to the ER. We are immensely grateful for the kindness and assistance shown by the restaurant staff--they truly acted like heroes when we needed them the most.

We went here for my wife's bosses birthday. I've heard of Bruno's from my maintenance director whose son used to wait tables here. He had nothing but great things to say and he told me the freshly baked bread with the oil and vinegar dip was delicious as was the "meat and cheese balls." Parking is either at the structure across the way or in the Ralph's parking lot behind. There's no valet on Birch Street, which is a pity because I can see this as additional city tax revenue... The place was packed on a Friday night. We were lucky to get outside seating for 14 right on the sidewalk. Service was impeccable and timely. We were checked on as much as at a 5 star restaurant. The physician with us ordered the appetizers and we simply enjoyed the variety: we had bruschetta (bruschetta di pomodori) , calamari (frito misto) , clams and mussels (cozze e vongole) , and yes, the meat and cheese balls (polpette and arancini). Everything was absolutely delicious and mildly filling. We had 3 plates of each and we could have easily made a dinner just from this. However, my wife's boss recommended the ciopinno, which I ordered with spaghetti. Here's a tip: order the spaghetti on the side and not in the ciopinno. The pasta, while delicious and definitely freshly made, just absorbed too much of the broth that it was almost like a frutti di mari pasta than a rich seafood soup. It was good, nonetheless, but I'll definitely order it separately next time. My wife's sea bass (branzino) had a nice crunch to the skin and was flakey and perfectly cooked. Her only quip was that it was a bit salty. The salmon (salmone) which her coworker got was devoured. She loved it. Likewise, the braised short ribs (paparadelle Bruno). The beef was cooked to perfection with a rich demiglace and hints of red wine. Finally, the scallops (capesante) was another delicious and perfectly cooked entree: not overly cooked or rubbery and not overly salty (unlike Hell's Kitchen (see my review on that...)). The cocktails were flavorful, if a bit on the strong side (that can be a pro or a con depending on your drunk tolerance) and generously poured. I would limit the drinks and focus on the food, but that's just me... For a crowded date night or gathering of friends and delicious Italian food, Bruno's is THE place in Brea. Call ahead, get a reservation and bring a good appetite and good company. Take your time, enjoy your food and conversation and take a leisurely walk around Downtown Brea. Your wife will love it. And we all know, happy wife, happy life...

I arrived right after they opened on a Saturday, and the server was very attentive, checking on us frequently. The Fritto Misto had a nice crunch and tasted very fresh. The sauce paired nicely with it. The Caesar salad was okay, but not something I'd order again. It wasn't particularly special. The Rigatoni Alfredo 2.0 was the star of the night. The pasta was perfectly cooked, the sauce was creamy with great flavors, and the mushrooms added a delicious touch. I'm not sure if I'll come back though, but maybe if I'm craving Italian.

Ordered the Bruschetta di Pomodori and the Calamari. Great service, good food, and nice decor.

This is a belated review, but we came here for my hubby's birthday dinner. I highly recommend making a dinner reservation here. 1) Rigatoni Alfredo 2.0: I love pastas with cream sauce, so this went well with their pancetta, roasted wild mushrooms, smoked mozzarella, with parmesan. Pasta is very filling and plentiful. Flavors were on point, highly recommend (5/5) 2) Pappardelle Bruno: If you love braised short ribs, then I highly recommend getting this one; the pasta is freshly made, and the short ribs is rich and flavorful, sauce is pretty good along with roasted mushrooms (5/5) 3) Spinaci: Can't go wrong with their spinach side dish; great for fiber and the garlic, olive oil and sea salt were mixed enough (5/5) Overall, food tasted great and we would totally come back here for their weekly deals. Service is friendly, credit cards are accepted, and there's parking in nearby structure

What a neighborhood gem. Fresh Italian fare, weekly and weekend specials with complimentary fresh bread as well as A+ service. Started with a chopped salad, with main entrees of fettuccine al granchio e gamberi and chicken marsala. The portions were great, with huge shrimp, crab and a nice slathering of cream sauce. The chicken Marsala came out piping hot with roasted potatoes and fresh green beans. Surprised we were able to save room for dessert but happy we did! The tiramisu was creamy and decadent while the panna cotta had a perfect texture with essence of vanilla bean and lime zest. Hannah, our waitress, and her team were very attentive and so friendly-- always checking up on us and making sure we didn't need anything else. Just a lovely evening all around.

This spot is a staple in Brea and definitely one of the first restaurants I recommend to friends and family when visiting! The short rib pappardelle is a must-try and my personal favorite because of the tender meat, perfect al dente noodles, and bold flavor. I've tried other pastas that my party has ordered, and they are all really good too! However, I do have one note about takeout: I ordered some pastas like the rigatoni alfredo, and it came out looking like a smaller portion compared to dining in. Either way, if you try this place, I would definitely recommend dining in to get the full experience.

I've only gone to Bruno's a few times and every time I have gone, I have been pleasantly surprised. I went with a small group of friends and everybody at the table enjoyed their food. I ordered the pappardelle pasta and it was delicious. I enjoyed it so much! I want to come back to eat it again. The service was really nice. The server was very attentive and checked on us frequently. She did a great job making sure that we were taken care of. I appreciate the service. I want to come back to try the daily specials. Each day seems to have a nice offering. Overall, it was a very nice visit with friends. I will be coming back.

Took advantage of their all-day Tuesday happy hour and got three appetizers to share as well as two entrees! I believe it was $2 off apps, beers and $3 off signature cocktails. Everything was delicious and we basically devoured everything. The scallops were on the salty side but the sides helped with the balance. My favorite still is the Caesar salad and the fritto misto!

The place is a bit dark in terms of lighting, but the special is a must-order. It tastes great and definitely makes up for the dim ambiance. Highly recommend trying it! The service is also excellent and everyone is friendly.

I was in Brea for business and met friends here for dinner and a Thursday night. Found out they have a special for Dinner Appetizer, Entree, and Dessert for $28. We all went for it, so I had the Ceasar Salad, Chippino, and Tiramisu. I can see why this place was packed on a Thursday. The bread is freshly made and the dipping oil/balsamic had some dried herbs that were very flavorful. 10/10 !!! The salad was good, but it could have used more dressing, the anchovies were a nice touch 9/10 The true star was the Chippino, WOW, lots of muscles, fish, and 3 huge shrimp. The nice touch was the waiter asked if I wanted pasta with it, but I declined. The broth was thicker than most, which I thought was excellent, I would order this again!!!! 10/10 The Tiarmisu was excellent rich, creamy, with LOTS of flavor, and not overly sweet. The perfect ending to this excellent meal. We sat outside, which was perfect, temp was just right, I will be back next month and will be back!!! I was bad for not taking photos

Came here for mothers day. We had a reservation but apparently cannot choose between a regular table or a high top. We had a party of 5 adults and 1 small child. We asked if we could be moved to a regular table to reduce the risk of the child falling and they said no. There was a standard table with 8 seats right next to our high top that we also asked about, but was told that table we being held for another reservation. For starters we had the fritto misto which we all enjoyed, it had a good variety of items and was nice and crunchy. Also for the carpaccio which I did not particularly like. The meat was sliced super thin and put on a plate and topped with arugula and olive oil. The meat was so thin it just sticks to the plate and shreds into little bits when you try to eat it. The strength of flavor from the arugula and capers was very overpowering for this dish. For my main I got the branzino. The fish itself was good but a little on the salty side. The spinach was overcooked so it just turned in to a mushy blob, and it was extremely over salted, totally inedible. The potatos were bland and flavorless. For dessert I got the cheesecake which could have been good, but they added so many toppings that is really just masked the cheesecake itself. Less is definitely more in this situation. They have a good wine selection, we ordered a few bottles. Any happy hour specials they have do not apply in the main dining room, only in the bar. Parking is atrocious, you'll end up walking several blocks to get here. Halfway through our dinner they sat a group of 6 adults at the table with 8 chairs. So we they technically could have sat us there, since we had a table for 6 as well and since you apparently can't specify high top or regular during your reservation.... Overall I was really unimpressed and don't think I would return again.

My first time here, although I've dined many times at their sister restaurant Cha Cha's - located right next door. We got together with a former coworker on a Saturday evening, and I made reservations via Open Table for 6:30 pm. Parking is conveniently located in the nearby parking structure. I checked our party in, and we were seated in a booth immediately. It just happened to be Dine Out OC week, so Bruno's was offering a three-course prefix meal, which included an appetizer, main course, and dessert for $40.00. My guest brought a bottle of wine, and the corking fee was $15.00. We all opted for the prefixed entrees and shared the appetizers of calamari & Shimp, meatballs, and salmon Crudo. We also were brought a basket of warm bread. The main entrees we selected were the swordfish, skirt steaks ($5.00 upcharge), and I chose the pork chop entree. All the meals included veggies, potatoes, and the portions were generous. For desserts, we selected included three flavor gelatos and pannacotta. We ended up ordering another bottle of house wine, and everybody was pleased with the quality, taste, and portion of each meal. Service by our female waitress was attentive and friendly even though the restaurant was at capacity, and even the manager stopped by to check in with us. I would definitely return here for another meal in the future.

Brunos Italian Kitchen has been open for quite a while now but I barely got a chance to finally check it out. I've been twice so far the past two months and I definitely want to go more often! Here's what I've tried so far: **Oaxacan Rabbits: I loved the smoky and spicy flavor profile along with the guava. Everything worked so well together. Whoever created that drink, I applaud you because it's one of the best cocktails I've ever had. (5/5) **Bruschetta di Pomodori: WOW. If you're thinking about the food being to filling to order an appetizer, don't go that route. This dish is so light and delicious that you'll regret not ordering it. Just order it for the table. (5/5) **Capesante: I've been here twice and have ordered this both times because it's so delicious. The scallops have been cooked and seasoned perfectly both times. The risotto has great flavor and everything else added on top are all extremely delicious! (5/5) My first visit was on a packed Sunday evening and my second was on a slower Monday evening. I've had two different servers both times and no matter the level of business, the service has been excellent! Everyone is so attentive and will stop by to ask how everything is going. One thing that really stood out for me is during both nights, I witnessed what seemed like the owner or manager doing the dirty work including clearing and wiping down tables. I love when people in management positions do everything and not just stand there looking important. This place is awesome and I 100% recommend it! I will definitely be back sooner than later!

Truly exceptional service: 6 out of 5 stars Every single staff member greeted my wife and I with warm smiles the minute we walked in. We were seated and received our drink orders promptly. They nailed check in timing perfectly. I never felt like I waited too long for service and I was never interrupted in the middle of a bite, but they somehow managed to check in to see if every dish was to our liking. Masterclass service. Next the food. My wife ordered off the special Easter menu and I ordered off their standard dinner menu. Every single dish was delicious, but my absolute favorite was the pasta dish recommended to me by our server. We've had pasta from some of the best places in Italy and New York. I would say this pasta was easily better than the pasta we had in NYC. The noodles were so bouncy and had such a wonderful texture. The sauce was perfection. It was creamy, yet not too rich and was well balanced with citrus and spice. Every bite became more addicting and I never experienced flavor fatigue. Dishes we ordered: Salmon Crudo Fritto Misto Mexican Seabass Fettuccine al Granchio e Gamberi Tiramisu Gelato Back to service. My wife unfortunately was served not fully cooked seabass, where it was raw in the middle. The server earnestly apologized and took the dish immediately to the back. Not too long after we were brought a new sea bass. Somehow the second one was raw in the middle again! The server was utterly shocked and she seemed more frustrated by the situation than us, which shows how much they value customer experience. We received a 3rd sea bass that was fully cooked fortunately. A gentleman greeted us who I believe is management. He deeply apologized and said he would write this off our bill and he insisted even though we told him it was not necessary. The incredible food and service make this restaurant an excellent place to celebrate any special occasion. You can expect top notch hospitality and have a great time here. We'll certainly be back.

The food is amazing! Located in downtown Fullerton, so parking could be a bit challenging. Will Definitely return again.

Wow.. just wow. Such an amazing dinner! 2 years ago I came here on a date and left thinking it was just ok...fast forward to OC restaurant week and I decided to give it a try again and my mind was blown. Located on Birch street in Downtown Brea.. is this little hidden gem. It's quaint inside with a tv at the bar if you want to see a game. Service and food was top notch. What I tried: Arancini - the sauce paired perfectly with these yummy bites. Just the right amount of cheese stuffed in them too. Grilled Pork Chop - originally I had my mind set on getting the Alfredo, but my server recommended the pork chop. One bite my mind was blown and so glad I decided to go with the rec. Pork chop was super juicy and the sauce paired perfectly. I subbed the polenta for roasted potatoes which were roasted to perfection. The dish also came with green beans that were a little too done for me.. I prefer them al dente.. but overall a solid dish. Panna cotta - perfect was to end dinner. The portion was larger than was expecting.. but the flavors just danced in my mouth. I should add the appetizer bread was really tasty as well. I saw all the weekly specials so I'll definitely be back!

I got the Pappardelle Bruno and the Budino al Caramello for dessert. The Pappardelle Bruno was good, pasta was springy and chewy and sauce went well with the pasta and short ribs. The short ribs were not as tender as I thought it would be, it was a bit tough and overcooked making it a little hard to chew. The Budino al Caramello was delicious. It had a dark chocolate ganache on top that went well with the sweet caramel pudding beneath, and also loved the roasted hazelnuts on top.

I saw the high ratings on Yelp so I wanted to try it and today I finally did. For me, it is an American version of Italian food. Overall, food is ok. It's not the true Italian food I was hoping for. It lacks flavor and seasoning for most of their dishes. We had the Fritto misto, meatballs, and pappardelle short rib to start. The batter in the fritto misto was plain and had no flavor, while the aioli dipping sauce tasted more like mayonnaise. Meatballs were not soft and also lacked flavor. What helped was the marinara sauce that it was in. The best dish was the homemade pappardelle short rib pasta. For entree, I got the cioppino, and it was pretty good but nothing great. Sauce was quite heavy to eat. There was a good amount of seafood in there. Unfortunately, seafood wasn't the freshest. The restaurant was actually a lot smaller than I had expected. They tried to add too many tables to accommodate for patrons, and that made for a very cramped eating experience. Many small high tables were placed randomly in walkways. Other larger tables were super close together. I couldn't pull out my chair to sit because it was hitting the chair behind me. As it got crowded, it was very uncomfortable to eat. Price is reasonable and portions were a good size. Our waitress was also nice and cordial. If you're looking for a family-style restaurant that serves Americanized version of Italian food, this is your place. But if you want authentic Italian food, skip it.

This is a great modern Italian restaurant to come to in downtown brea. Food is very fresh and full of flavor. This restaurant seems to have consistency in their quality of food and the staff are friendly. It's been awhile since I've been here but I really enjoyed the Pappardelle Bruno and Fettuccine al Granchio e Gamberi. Both were great plates and you can tell they are made with homemade pasta. We had some yellowtail appetizer but I don't remember the name of it. I think that was the highlight as I am a seafood lover.

This place has been on my list and did not disappoint! Everyday deals and on the weekends is a changing 3 course for $40. I recommend a reservation since its popular but staff is very friendly and sweet. They gave great recommendations for wine and mocktails (not on the menu). They give bread!! The burrata was great with the arugula, but my favorite app is the arancini! Amazing fried risoto, just wish it came in more than 4. All the pasta was amazing, with the alfredo being very garlicky. The linguine alla vongole had a TON of clams. def coming here again and hoping to try the 3 course toooo

SOOO GOOD I wouldn't say its anymore expensive then cheesecake either we had 3 meals and a appetizer 2 bottles of wine and our total was $175 portions are perfect our server John was super nice too they also have fresh bread to the table with oil and herbs sooo good 8.6/10 id go again the only thing I thought was annoying was the restaurant can seat 200 people but there's only 2 bathrooms

I came in with my family on Wednesday. They have a Wine Wednesday special where all the bottles of wine are 50% off, which is a really great deal. I highly recommend getting reservations for this day as it was 5:30 and already filling up. I ordered the Bruschetta and the fritto misto to start and both were so fresh and delicious. Then I ordered the Capesante (pan seared scallops with risotto). The scallops were cooked perfectly. If I have any feedback to give, the pancetta made the scallop dish a bit salty but otherwise it was really good. We paired it with a Chardonnay from Tuscany. I really appreciate that they have a decent selection of Italian wines covering all their bases in addition to a several domestic wines. Overall the pricing is all very fair, the service was great and the food was very good. I will be returning.

Nice and very busy restaurant! Price wise, the price is really good for how nice it is and the service. When we went they even had a 3-course meal for $35 with appetizer, entree, and dessert. Not on the $35 menu, we ordered off the normal menu. The food was 50/50 The steak tasted like BBQ sauce, and then pastas lacked flavor. Our cheese and meat board was also lacking distinguishing tastes. I'd love to come again and try other things off the menu. It might've just been our food. Overall the ambiance is busy upscale. Lots going on and lots of people dressed in nice clothes. Our waitress was also really nice. I'd recommend making a reservation ahead of time!!

First time at Bruno's in DT Brea and we had a wonderful experience. We were a party of 5 celebrating a birthday. Service: 5 stars. From the moment we walked in we were greeted by multiple people. We had reservations so we got seated right away. The host and server were both very friendly. The food: the bread and oil they bring to the table is delicious. We ordered arancini as well and they were amazing. I was the only one who did not get seafood, however my pesto pasta was delicious. I added chicken as a protein. The mascarpone was so good! We decided to share deserts, and my husband and I got the cheesecake. We didn't love it, but it was good, just a bit different in flavor, I think it was the amaretto. The vibe: slightly above casual. The atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming. You can get dressed up or dressed down and either way they'd welcome you in. I'm not a huge fan of Italian cuisine because most places have the same boring things on their menus, but I'd come back to Bruno's anytime, the options were creative and authentic.

My bf and I tried their fixed menu for restaurant week! The service was quite fast and we were able to sit at the bar while waiting for our table! Overall, I really liked their apps and drinks! Their entrees were good too, but the stars were the rice balls and meatballs!! The dessert was just ok to me (not my cup of tea).

I ordered the fried calamari as a starter and the Pappardelle Bruno as the main course. The people working at the restaurant were all really attentive and gave excellent service. Don't make the same mistake as me and finish all the bread before the food comes out. It was so delicious and I had so much of it I barely had room for the main course. The pappardelle was a little too salty for my taste but perfect for my boyfriend who likes his food salty. I'll be sure to get the lasagna next time since that will likely suit my flavor preference more. Overall a great experience for a semi casual lunch or dinner.

My wife chose to try Bruno tonight. We always go to Latin ChaCha next door. My wife said they are sister restaurants. First time tonight without reservation. We just got there at 4, opening time. My wife likes indoor dining area w ambiance but no luck! We sat at the patio near the street. Today is Wed promo day, 50% off pasta and wine bottle. We got Penne w chicken, my linguini bongoles, Italian red wine Merlot, dessert Gelato 3 flavors. The service was friendly, fast served. One thing, I had my linguini but felt still hungry. The linguini noodles were little tiny portion for adult. Are you kidding me??? I didn't order kid's meal. OMG!!! My wife liked her penne w chicken, well cooked w rich marinara sauce. I do like the italian bread but a little hard to chew for me. For the dessert, we got Gelato w 3 flavors, dark chocolate. Vanilla, and pistachio. We love Gelato but I give 3 stars for this Gelato. Finally I picked the best one for us was the red wine, italian Merlot. We got 50% off for the bottle. All the Yelp reviews have shown more than 4 and half stars at Bruno. I am wondering why. I give 4 stars except linguini bongoles. How come I don't feel I had linguini? I didn't claim for the small tiny portion tonight but they have to fix the portion. Either price is higher or not. Make the noodles enough as a regular portion and serve to the customer. My wife was not happy for the portion. She said we are not coming back. We just tried. Pros Quality, ambiance: 5 stars Cons Portion is way too small for the adult. We didn't make a reservation. The tables in the dining area were reserved. Really???

Had the best time here with my girlfriend and friends! Did a reservation so I can celebrate my gf's birthday and we all had such a good time! I had the braised short ribs pasta and it was very interesting as I never tasted anything like it before, but it was very flavorful. The service was very good as well as the server was very amicable to my party. At the end, they gave my gf free desert for her birthday! Food: 8.5/10 Service: 10/10 Ambiance: 10/10

If you're looking for a casual but classy Italian restaurant in north OC, look no further than Brunos in downtown Brea. We made reservations for dinner over the weekend and were able to get seated right away. They happened to have a special weekend menu of 3 courses for $30 so I decided to try that and ordered the Farmers Market Salad, Penne Primavera and the Tiramisu for dessert. We also decided to order the "Salumi e Formaggio" ($18) as an appetizer which is their version of a charcuterie board. The board came out relatively quickly but I was personally disappointed with it as it felt small and lacked cheese and salumi options. While the complimentary bread, charcuterie board, and first course of the Farmers Market Salad came out quickly, it took almost 45 minutes for our entrees to come out. The Penne Primavera was enjoyable but nothing memorable to rave about. My sweet tooth really enjoyed the tiramisu though. Service was friendly but a bit slow. Nevertheless, our party enjoyed our time at Bruno's and I'd come back next time I'm in the mood for Italian again.

Came here the week of Mother's Day 5/7 , and we got there about 20 min before closing and had the worse experience ever!!! The waitress was really rude and didn't smile at ALL! Maybe because she wanted to go home or something, but it was my first time and last. Heard many good things but unfortunately it wasn't that way for us.

Service was great! We went on Easter and had reservations. We were seated within few minutes of our reservation time. Food was overall good. The spaghetti and meatballs lacked flavor which I'd skip next time. The grotto miso is our favorite appetizer!!

This review is a few months overdue. Elderly mother and I ate here a few days before flying out to meet up with relatives for Mom's birthday. The ambiance was delightful, and the wait staff was friendly. The food was delicious! Appetizers and the main meal were very tasty. We were there on a Tuesday evening in October, and we enjoyed a lively vibe while it not being too crowded. Very casual but you would not feel out of place if you dressed up a little.

Wow. We have definitely found one of our favorite Italian restaurants in Bruno's. Located in downtown Brea, we stopped in before a show at the Improv, and instantly loved our meals at first bite. First, the restaurant has both indoors and outdoors seating. The outdoor seating is on the sidewalk or patio, and has heaters at each table. Inside there are a variety of tables and bar tops, and bar for seating. On a Friday evening around 8, we waited around 10 minutes for a table of 2. The service was great and the waitress was attentive to our needs, and quick to keep our meal going. The food was outstanding including the bread that was fresh. The oil/vinegar mixture with some spices and garlic was delicious!! The menu utilizes Italian titles so apologies for not capturing the names correctly but we loved the appetizer (calamari) and our two meals. Both were recommended by the waitress and cited as the most popular and for good reason! I am already craving the pasta again, and we hope to be back very soon!

Stopped by this gem with my son and nb everyone was so nice when we came in. Service was 10/10. Atmosphere 10/10. Kids menu 10/10. My food was delicious and threw out our meal everyone was attentive. Definitely will be back again

Quick service polite people food is great. Atmosphere is a little loud when busy but about what you'd expect. The rigatoni I had was good but it honestly felt like a kid size portion. My wife had the spicy sausage and with a little extra pepper she says it's great. So for my review 4 stars due to small portion size sorry

My little cousin, her friend & I were craving Italian food and were in the area. After a quick yelp search, we found Bruno's Italian Kitchen! At around 5PM on Friday, we were able to make a reservation for 7:45PM. We asked for patio seating because we had dogs with us, and we were so happy that they had a dog friendly patio! The patio was connected to the main restaurant, so even while dining on their patio you still feel like you're indoors. This was so nice because you get to experience both the indoor and outdoor ambiance. & let me tell you -- the ambiance here was just charming. They also had heaters outside, and my waiter was so accommodating and asked if we'd like the heat turned up. Since I dine with my dogs often, I've found that many restaurants have lackluster patios that don't allow you to get the full dining experience of the restaurant. Thankfully, Bruno's was an exception. As for the service, our host was very kind and seated us for our reservation promptly. Our waiter was so attentive & informative regarding the menu, and the pacing of each dish was perfect. Now onto the good stuff (food!): Free bread with vinegar sauce: 5/5 i usually don't review bread, but their (i think?) sourdough was just so good with that vinegar sauce that I almost got full off the bread alone. i LOVE free bread so this just made us all so happy. Bruschetta: 5/5 This was divine. It was some of the best bruschetta I've ever had at an Italian restaurant in California. I'd highly recommend you order this. It's certainly sharable for 4 people, as it's two bruschetta cut in half. Fettuccine al Granchio e Gamberi, substituted pink sauce: 3/5 This dish doesn't usually come with pink sauce, but the sauce it came with sounded more acidic and wasn't what I was feeling up to that night. Also, I'm a sucker for pink sauce. The sauce itself had a delectable flavor, and the noodles were cooked so well. The shrimps were large and juicy. There wasn't a lot of crab in the pasta but I didn't mind. My only complaint was that the sauce was too salty. One thing that I will note, is that our waiter had overheard me stating that it was salty, and asked if I wanted it fixed. I thought this was incredibly sweet of our waiter. While we were grateful for the offer, we had declined in the interest of saving time because we had an engagement to attend after dinner. I would still certainly order this again with the pink sauce but just ask to go easier on the sodium next time. Tiramisu: 5/5 This tasted exactly like the Tiramisu I had in Italy. One of the best Tiramisu I've had in a restaurant in America. I could eat 5 of these! Overall, Bruno's was a fantastic Italian restaurant. I came back from Italy only a few weeks ago so I wasn't expecting to be so impressed. Even though my main entree wasn't exactly to my preferences, Bruno's still deserves 5 stars for the overall experience and willingness to fix my meal. I'm so happy that I found a dog friendly, delicious Italian restaurant in OC, and I will definitely be returning!

Amazing! Some of the best food I've had in a while! I was in town for a work conference and came here for dinner one night. Had a generous happy hour special the night I was there and also a dinner special for a main dish salad and dessert for $25. I ended up getting a Caesar salad, Cioppino, and tiramisu. They also give you bread with oil and vinegar as an appetizer. Definitely save some of the bread to sop up all the delicious goodness of the pasta sauce, or in my case, the tomato stew. I walked out of there, so full of delicious food for under $40. I sat at the bar, and, although the bartender was very busy, he was attentive to each of the guests. Definitely make a reservation in advance as they were on a lengthy wait for anybody not sitting at the bar. The area this restaurant was in was great for walking around to different shops and there was free parking around the corner. I wish we had a Bruno's in Denver!

great food and it was next door to the Improv. Excellent service as well. Will go back there and bring friends so they can experience the food themselves

Bruno's was a great and authentic Italian experience. Their pasta was delicious, the service was great and the overall vibe is really nice. The dim lighting makes for an intimate dining experience. I came on a Wednesday which is the day they have an amazing wine and pasta deal. I ordered the Bruschetta di Pomodori which is braised beef pasta, a really good and popular choice. They also serve a nice warm bread with a balsamic/garlic dip before your meal. Great spot will definitely return

Amazing service and delicious food. The vibe here is classy and great for nice family nights out. We had an amazing time celebration Father's Day at Brunos. The staff here go above and beyond to make you feel taken care of. I tried a lot of items, and they were all delicious.

Brunos has a very classy feel to it and the food has some very nice presentations. Our host was amazing, and we did enjoy the place, but the food missed some key notes for us. Vibe was very nice and classy, with more wood and tan colors throughout and a dark ambiance. There was not too much of a wait, and parking was simple and free for the parking structure. The service was amazing, and our host was on point in suggestions , conversation, and in getting our food it a good time. The food was pretty delicious, I got the papperdelle bruno and the short ribs was delicious and savory , the pasta was delicious, I added some red pepper for a bit of spice and it was pretty good. My partner got the Panne al pesto, and it looked delicious but really did not have a good flavor to it. I tried it, and it was not all that great... so it fell short there. We also got the meatballs that were tender, and the sauce was not too bad. The Arancini also did not have much flavor packed into it. So maybe the seasonings were just falling short .. we did enjoy the antipasto salad!! And drinks, but overall, it fell short for us. When we are in the area, we would definitely give it another shot. I definitely feel like bruno has a lot to offer, but it just was not hitting the musical notes Italian food usually has.

Second time dining at Bruno's and it did not disappoint. Made a reservation for 4:45, but arrive 10 min early and they sat us right away. The hostess staff was very welcoming. Our server Hanah greeted us immediately and asked us if we were celebrating anything special tonight. She gave us recommendations and suggestions since there were so many great things on the menu. We ordered their version of calamari, which had calamari, shrimp and some fried veggies. Super tasty, only watch out for the fried lemon slices. I bit into one, and man, super sour. We also ordered a side cesar salad and the burrata salad. Served with a side of arugula salad, there were so many flavors. Love it! We decided to share the seafood pasta (can't remember what it is called). It is just the right amount for sharing a meal. My daughter ordered the fettuccine Alfredo, it actually has mushrooms and pancetta which add smore flavor. My son ordered the kids spaghetti which he enjoyed. Lastly, although our go to dessert is creme brûlée, which they don't have. We ordered their pudding, and it is the best pudding I have ever had. I'm not a pudding fan, but this almost had a crème brûlée vibe. It was amazing! This cute older man, went around the tables asking to see if we were enjoying our dinner. I imagine it was the owner, Bruno. Will will definitely be coming back.

Bruno's is a nice restaurant in downtown Brea when you're craving Italian food. Tried the Pappardelle Bruno which was very good. The dish had a healthy beef portion and the fat noodles went perfectly with it. On the other hand, didn't really like the Fettuccine al Granchio e Gamberi. Sounded good on paper but the flavor just wasn't all that. Of course, it's all personal preference, so definitely give it a go if sounds like something up your alley. They did add a lot of big fresh shrimp which was awesome. The hostesses and servers were all very nice and accommodating. You can't go wrong with indoor seating, but another good option is a table in their small patio area. This way you can be closer to the downtown setting. They have a $30 weekend special that includes a 3 course meal. It's a really good deal. I think they swap out one of the main dishes every week or so to keep things interesting and encourage regulars.

Was looking forward to try this Italian place during our visit. We had a 6:45 pm reservation and were able to get seated a few minutes earlier. Our table was a bit tight for our party of four so asked if we can be moved to the empty booth across the way and was told we can't because it is a table for a party of five. Less than five minutes later, they sat a party of four at that table! What the heck??? We ordered the bruschetta appetizer to share and it never came. Our server came by twice to inform us that our food was coming soon. When we inquired about the appetizer, she also said it was coming. It was obvious that they forgot about the appetizer! It would've been ok if she just told us that they forgot about the appetizer and gave us the option to cancel. Instead, it was quickly bought out and a couple of minutes later our entrées came out as well. We didn't even have time to enjoy the bruschetta as we scrambled to make room on the table for our entrées. Not surprisingly, our food was cold! This place opens from 4:00pm -10:00pm. By 7:30 pm, they ran out of dessert spoons! So we got big serving spoons instead to eat our dessert with. We had the tiramisu and panna cotta. We had better Tiramisu. The panna cotta was seriously a huge disappointment! It was bad and the supposedly berry sauce was literally some pinkish tasteless liquid. Their amaretto sour was watered down as well! If it wasn't for their salmon and cioppino dishes that were really good, the ratings would've been lower! Unfortunately, our dining experience wasn't as what we hoped for. This place will definitely not be a repeat place next time we're in town.

Great food . Delicious pasta and appetizers. Very fresh. Server really nice. Price average. Cozy and beautiful place. Very crowded all the time. Recommend reservation.

Great ambiance and great service! Good came really quickly. About 15 minutes max after we ordered. The table came with house bread with a balsamic vinegar/oil/chili flakes combo which was delicious!! The food was overall really good! The short rib on the papperdelle was so tender it almost melted in your mouth! The pasta itself could have used more sauce though Not pictured: tried the pesto and highly recommend. However, protein was missing so wish it had chicken. Highly recommend going on Wednesdays as their pastas are half off! (Excludes take out orders)

Great service, fun atmosphere. Really good dishes. The scallops were so tender and tasty. Loved the bruschetta.

I've eaten here a couple of times and the pasta never disappoints. Fresh, flavorful, and the noodles are cooked to al dente. The customer service is amiable and fast-paced. Ambience is trendy and casual but also upscale simultaneously. The Orecchiette alla Salsiccia delish is so yummy and their other red sauce pastas are wonderful choices, too. On Wednesdays, they have a 50% off all wine bottles deal which is awesome for sharing a bottle with a friend or couple of bottles with a group dining out. Recommended Italian spot!

We had such high hopes for Bruno's! Every time we walk past this place it's busy, often times with a wait out the door on weeknights and weekends! It was underwhelming for us and the food was nothing exceptional. We stopped in on a Thursday, to our surprise they were offering a great deal! $25 for the Italian chopped salad, Chicken Parmesan entree, and tiramisu for dessert. This sounded like a great deal so we ordered it. While we waited I took in the vibe of the restaurant. There is a bar with bar seating and high top tables, as well as standard seating throughout the rest of the restaurant, with optional patio seating outside if you'd like to dine al fresco. Our server was very nice and attentive, though he was also the bartender which slowed our service down a bit more than if there was a dedicated bar tender and a dedicated server, but he was doing a great job at both. We were given complementary bread served with olive oil and vinegar. The olive oil and vinegar was delicious, and the bread was fresh, warm, and fluffy. We were very pleased! We tried the meatball appetizer, it was three meatballs served in the sauce. They were decent, but not full of flavor like you would hope. I did appreciate that they were served with fresh herbs on top of the sauce. The Italian chopped salad was delicious. The dressing was great, and the Italian peppers that were chopped up throughout the salad were a great addition, though I wasn't sure if there were bits of bacon in the salad or maybe salami, but the flavor was overwhelming when you did get a forkful. This leads me to the chicken parm, the star of the show... but the most disappointing. Firstly, I was anticipating spaghetti on the side this is just typically what I am used to when you make or order chicken parm, instead of spaghetti that you can twirl your fork in and pair with a piece of delicious chicken, it was served with a side of penne. The chicken parm was more like a cutlet with cheese on top, it was sitting on a thin layer of marinara sauce - we needed to request extra sauce for both plates. The chicken was thin and had a really compressed texture, it wasn't great quality and the lack of sauce and breading didn't hide that. On a brother note the chicken parm was served with delicious broccolini that was a generous portion and perfectly steamed with great buttery flavor. We haven't tried the tiramisu, we opted to take it home as we had a lot of food at dinner, but it looks delicious. (Update: the tiramisu was very tasty and a large portion!) Overall I was anticipating great quality that you can taste, however Bruno's didn't sell me on it. We may return to try a few other dishes. Stop in for yourself and see what you think! They offer reservations through open table as well as happy hour and weeknight specials.