Luna Trattoria

This Italian restaurant is one of our absolute favorites. We keep going back, and it truly never disappoints. The homemade pastas are outstanding, fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with so much care. The portions are very generous. The service is always excellent, the food is amazing, and the live music really sets the vibe. The guitarist is incredibly talented, with a beautiful voice and a great selection of songs that make the whole experience even more special. I highly recommend making a reservation before going, as it’s always super busy, and that alone says a lot about the quality of the food and service. A must-visit spot!

Really wanted to like this place. The ambience is solid, entrance interesting, and service was superb. The food was not great. The croquettes were super spicy, the polentas was as if came from a box (and we are in an Italian eatery) and the shrimps were dried and not well seasoned. The pasta was well done though. Yet the overall experience was not the best because of the mishaps with the rest of the food. The ravioli were awesome, which was something a local recommended and he was spot on. They had music in the yard and perhaps that would have made a difference for us, but instead we were taken to the second floor. Visit and have your own experience, but I think this was a one and done for me.

Great collection of wines and an amazing North Italian menu! We dined in on a Friday night and I would highly recommend making a reservation. There was live music in the outdoor patio. Our server helped us pick out local Pinot Noirs from Anderson Valley and it did not disappoint! We loved that they had a wide varierty of choices for appetizers. For my entree, I had their Oven Baked Cod from their specials menu. It was fantastic!

Calamari Fritti: 5/5, great taste but portion size on the smaller side (no points deducted!) Porchini Ravioli: 5/5, very unique flavor! Spaghetti Ragu: 3/5, serviceable, decently executed but nothing to write home about. It was also a bit too sweet for my personal taste. Overall 4/5. It's a good restaurant and I would go back again.

On a hungry night we went to try Lunas, but it was super busy and the wait was really long, so we got it to go. Man oh man, the food was out of this world. The spaghetti was a winner and the tiramisu was awesome. This is a must try in Mendocino, def make reservations.

Great spot, cute outdoor vibe with SALTY mediocre food. Excited to try as this spot highly recommended by SO MANY people (our bnb host, locals, neighboring spots). Came in without reservation, was third in line & started lining up 15 min before the restaurant opens. Able to get seated at the bar no problem. 5-star service by the servers but food fell short ..really short! Food would have been 4-star if not for being tooooo salty. Why so salty?? Everything was too salty, edible but way too salty. When asked if the dish is supposed to be this way, they said yes. We did not send anything back & just had our food ..first & last time. We were served with focaccia- not warm and rather dry. Tasted like it was made the day before and warmed up. I was told the Ragu was a pride & joy of the owner but unfortunately for me it lacked flavor, no depth and watery..almost taste just salty watery tomato sauce, with some minced beef & celery & carrot,. my dish tasted flat, too salty, watery and i dont know..i wouldnt call that pride & joy for sure! Ravioli was great but again..why so salty? Same with the side order of meatballs & croquette. Feedback for the host..would be great if the host can manage the line as people were cutting the lines & host didnt say anything, unpleasant and seem standoff-ish. Sadly can not recommend this place at all

My friends and I were enchanted by this place from the moment we saw the entrance. We were then transported to a fantastic European feeling garden. We did not have a reservation so we did have to return at 7:15 pm in hopes we would be first on the list for the 8 pm start for walk ins. We returned right at 7:15 because everything we heard about this place made us believe it was going to be more than worth our time. While we waited, we loved being able to look at the menu, read the various signs on the walls, and even watch a man hand make all the raviolis. Our waitress was friendly and knowledgeable, cracking jokes even between us and other tables. Each dish was unique and delicious in its own way. I would personally recommend the Pasta Sangiovese, even though it was not one of the handmade pasta dishes. It was hearty, flavorful, and not like any other on the menu. Whenever I'm back in Mendocino, I will be sure to make a reservation here, it is a can't miss spot!

I’m so happy I found this place! I didn’t have any expectations but this place blew my mind. The entrance feels like a secret entrance to a fairy tale garden as you walk in and the garden area for dining is so beautiful just like what you’d expect from the entrance. Food was out of this world as well. Especially the steak! I couldn’t believe how tender and flavorful the steak was. Gnocchi melted in the mouth as well. Been to many Michelin star restaurants in cities and this is one of the best restaurants I’ve been. Music was beautiful and really fit the vibe of the restaurant and service with Bonnie was very good as well. Cant wait to come back!

we started with the house bread, which was warm, crispy at the edges, and really good, a perfect way to begin the meal. the minestrone soupe was so comforting, rich, steaming, and full of flavor, with every spoonful feeling like a warm hug. for mains, the gnocchi with pesto was a standout, tender and coated in fragrant, fresh pesto, truly ultimate comfort food. the farfalle california was flavorful and satisfying, though the chicken was a little dry. prosecco added a nice sparkle, and dessert, both tiramisu and custard italiana, were smooth, rich, and a perfect sweet ending. our server was great, funny, thoughtful, and friendly, which made the evening even more enjoyable. we sat on the patio, with live music drifting through the air and twinkling lights overhead, creating a magical, cozy atmosphere that felt almost like italy. the combination of food, service, and ambiance made it a memorable night, and i would happily return for another evening like this.

If you've had real Italian food, I would not recommend eating here. The pasta is overcooked, and the sauces are not authentic. The Caesar salad was ice cold, with dressing clumped in and only partially mixed. Cheap, flavorless Parmesan. Great location, it could be charming, but unfortunately it's not. If you like incredibly random, kitschy décor -- cats, clowns, Venetian masks -- you might enjoy the ambiance. I'm not a fan of restaurants that use plastic Formica tables.

We love everything about Luna - the decor, ambiance, service, and most importantly, the FOOD! So sorry for the lack of pictures dear readers, but with the food so visually appealing and delicious- who has time for photos?! We shared two appetizers- egg plant parmigiana, and polenta with house made meatballs- yum! Pair this with handmade tortellini with squash and a local red from Husch and voila I've done it! Oh and deserts- yes! Save room if you dare. Enjoy!

Amazing!!! Came here for the first time ever on our coastal road trip. Loved the ambience and vibe here the food is so good and fresh and decent portion and size. Didn't really have to wait at all and the service was nice. My only gripe was that the food took a while to come out but I think it's because it's fresh so it's ok. Overall my mom and I had a great time and would dine here again if we ever come back to this area (we live about 4 hours south).

On a hungry night we went to try Lunas, but it was super busy and the wait was really long, so we got it to go. Man oh man, the food was out of this world. The spaghetti was a winner and the tiramisu was awesome. This is a must try in Mendocino, def make reservations.

Stopped by for a hearty Italian meal and this spot delivers. It's mostly an outdoor restaurant but there's some indoor seating as well. We sat inside because we didn't want to be cold but their patio is super cute. The service was quick and all the waitresses were super sweet. My husband got the ribeye and prawns. The steak was cooked perfectly. I had the cioppino which was amazing. Loaded with so much delicious seafood and the broth was phenomenal. I couldn't stop sipping on it desire how full I was.

We came here for a nice dinner during our weekend in Mendocino. I definitely recommend making a reservation, as it seemed like they were fully booked for the night. Our meal started off with a high quality bread bowl with focaccia. We tried the spinach ravioli as well as the chicken dishes. My pasta was cooked perfectly and I loved the rich, cheesy filling. The chicken was savory, had a great garlic flavor, and came with a nice serving of veggies. Overall, a little pricey in my opinion but a great option for a nice dinner in Mendocino!

Came here to celebrate my wife's birthday and after seeing all the great reviews about this restaurant, I decided this was the place! We came in with reservation already booked the temperature inside was a bit warm, we asked if we could relocate outside but we're told that all those seats were booked. No biggie. Our server came and gave us the menu and told us to stand the menu up when we were ready and he walked away. Ilwe had questions but couldn't get a hold of our server so, I stood the menu up and poof he arrived. I asked him some questions about wine parring and menu items and he just had an annoyed attitude and look towards us. He never checked on us and we received the most help and service from the employees who were busing the tables. I couldn't even tell you if the food we ordered (carbonara and steak with shrimp) we're good because of the service received. We couldn't order anymore drinks because our waiter never came back to check in on us. As we ate our meal we seen him be friendly to other people dining and helping them with wine selections. We finally got his attention for the bill and he was really speedy when it came to that. I have never felt so unwelcomed at a restaurant.

Tried somewhere new after visiting Mendocino a handful of times. Cozy indoor place with welcoming staff. Ordered some focaccia bread, Caesar salad, and the thin cut eggplant pasta to start. Salad was great but I thought the eggplant starter was a bit plain. Ordered the a ravioli and a special chicken parmigiana which has Italian ham, cheese and mushrooms on top. I was told the chicken dish was a favorite of the owner so I had to try it. Personally, it was just too much for me. Chocolate mousse was the star of the show.

Like a lot of places in Mendocino Luna Trattoria has a beautiful patio for outdoor dining. We came here for my Bday dinner even though we were still sort of full from lunch. I ordered the surf and turf 8oz flank steak with 3 grilled prawns and linguine $44. My wife had the acorn and butternut squash tortellini $26. My steak was exceptionally tender given the cut but could have used salt and pepper. The prawns were plump and delectable. The tortellini were flavorful. We got to select a free Bday dessert so I picked chocolate cheesecake which was decadently delicious. Lil Lucie ordered grilled chicken breast $6. When I was cutting Lucie's chicken breast I noticed about a 1/4 was undercooked and asked for it to be re-fired. They brought out a whole new chicken breast so Lucie was quite happy. Luna Trattoria's homemade pasta is perfect and this is a fantastic spot to enjoy a nice dinner.

If you want to eat here make sure to have a reservation before hand. Mendocino has no restaurants so there's always a wait. The food was decent, maybe the experience would have been different if we had dined in. The clam pasta could have been more garlic/salt flavor

This restaurant does not disappoint! From the beautiful walkway to the front door to a quaint dining experience. Such a gorgeous atmosphere. The wait staff were so friendly and made great suggestions for food and wine selections. This was our second time eating here and the food is outstanding!

Food is ok. We ordered spaghetti alle vongole, calamari, cannoli and lasagna to go. They were very busy and I don't understand bec food was just average to me. The hostess did her best to take care of the customers as there was a line to the check in area. I made reservations but never heard from them despite me following up. Turns out, they did make my reservations but I never got a confirmation. I will definitely not coma back here but head to Fort Bragg for a more tasty spaghetti alle vongole. BTW, don't bother ordering the salad. Looks like it was just mixed greens from the grocery store. The only reedemable part of the salad was the tasty vinaigrette dressing. Street parking.

We were able to walk in and snag seats at the bar without a reservation and it was so cozy. The service was great and the food even better. I had the homemade pasta with a bolognese and my husband had the pasta carbonara. We both had tasty glasses of wine the waitress helped us pick out. Will definitely be back!

Since dining options in Mendocino are somewhat limited, it's easy to see why Luna Trattoria has earned such high ratings for Italian cuisine in the area. For takeout, we ordered the spaghetti al pesto Genovese, penne al salmone, and fried calamari as an appetizer. The calamari lacked seasoning, and while it was my first time having spaghetti with pesto at a restaurant, I found it a bit plain--though I still finished it. The penne al salmone was the standout dish, thanks to its rich and creamy pink sauce. Because the restaurant was busy on a Friday night and only outdoor seating was available, we didn't get much of a feel for the ambiance. However, I did enjoy the charming walkway with string lights leading to the entrance. Service was efficient--our online order was ready on time, just as they had promised over the phone. I'd be interested in dining inside next time to explore more of the menu--just probably not the calamari.

Luna Trattoria holds a special place in my heart since this is where I celebrated my anniversary. It was a plus that we could bring our pup with us to dinner too! I made a reservation through text which was super easy and came on a Thursday at 7 pm. We were seated outside and it was really cute. They even had a live singer there. Right when we sat the waiter brought out water for our dog. He was super knowledgeable and friendly too! For appetizers we ordered calamari fritti which was a great amount of crispy and chewiness. The marinara sauce was different from what we've had before and we really enjoyed it. You also get complimentary bread which was light and fluffy! You get two different types too. I believe one is just plain and the other is a cheese tomato one! For our pastas, my boyfriend ordered the spaghetti carbonara and I got the orecchioni with meat sauce. Oh my goodness, the pastas were so good. It was the best carbonara my boyfriend has had and it was the real deal. I really enjoyed my pasta too! It was the perfect amount of creaminess in the ravioli and the meat sauce was perfect. I'm always a red over a white sauce and I felt like with this dish a got a little of both. For dessert we shared a custard italiana with mixed berries. Something light and sweet! Overall, I highly recommend and would love to come here again! You can tell this is a loved restaurant as it was packed inside and outside on a weekday.

Amazing authentic Italian food. The pastas here immediately reminded us of the pastas we had in Italy last year. I highly recommend for anyone looking for charming and authentic Italian cuisine in the area. We made a reservation for patio dining. It was outdoors and well decorated with string lights. We were hoping to have live music but they didn't have it that night (Sunday). They had plenty of heat lamps so it wasn't cold. Service was very attentive and friendly. They give complimentary bread with focaccia and some kind of pizza bread which was so good that we asked for another bowl of bread and they happily obliged. Carbonara: absolutely amazing. It was so similar to the one we had in Rome. I highly recommend this. Perfect flavor with plenty of meat, rich but not overly creamy, gooey and saucey with al dente noodles. It's not common to find a place that does carbonara right but they sure do! Penne alla vodka: the perfect red sauce balance to the carbonara. Very saucy and served with al dente noodles. I loved the flavor. We wiped our plates clean of sauce with the bread they provided and left utterly stuffed.

Highly recommend making reservations, the restaurant is always full. We made a reservation for garden seating and the place was beautifully decorated with heaters beside every table. Calamari - absolutely love it, very light batter with fresh calamari and delicious cocktail sauce Portobello mushroom salad - mushrooms grilled to perfection, paired with miso based sauce, a refreshing salad Linguine alle vongole - my favorite dish, clams linguine in garlicky sauce, the dish is so simple yet tastes rich and fresh, must try Carbonara - the pasta is very creamy and rich, almost too heavy that I wish there was some acidity to balance the fat

Our reservation was supposedly for inside dining because we were worried that it was going to be too cold outside. After seeing how pretty the outdoor area was and that they had heaters, they were able to accommodate us and get a table outdoors. The servers were nice and prompt. The carbonara was better than a lot of other places I've tried. The mousse didn't have a strong chocolate flavor, so if you don't like very sweet desserts, you'd enjoy this one. Overall, we liked everything we ordered and it was a nice surprise to experience live music on a week night!

Our hosts at the Headlands Inn B&B highly recommended dining at Luna Trattoria, which was the perfect choice for our final night in Mendocino. Everything was "Buonissimo!" TIP: If possible, make reservations a few days in advance... or, if you're like us, grab a seat at the bar where walk-in's are welcome.

Luna Trattoria is magical! The food is outstanding, the setting is gorgeous, especially on the patio, and especially as the early evening turns to dusk, and then dark, with all the beautiful patio lighting Luna has! To add to the magic, they have live music most evenings on the patio. Our server, Allesio, was excellent, offered great recommendations, and made the evening more fun with his hilarious sense of humor. Luna owner Massimo Melani checked on us several times during the evening, when he ventured out of the kitchen where he was part of the team creating food magic. I had the Gamberoni alla Griglia (Grilled Prawns served with Linguine pasta in a fresh chopped tomato sauce, garlic, parsley and olive oil) - and it was truly a work of art, and absolutely orgasmic! The prawns were grilled perfectly, and the pasta (I opted for the gluten-free fusilli) and sauce were over-the-moon delicious. (You can see I'm running out of superlative adjectives to describe Luna). Others at our table had: - Butternut Squash Tortellini (OMG - fantastic) - Lasagna (wow!! wow!!), and - Spaghetti al Pesto Genovese (Fresh basil, garlic, pecorino and parmesan cheese and extra virgin olive oil) - so freakin' great! We can't wait to go back to Luna Trattoria for another magical dinner & evening!!

I was very disappointed with the lasagna as I could not detect any protein in it BUT my husband's steak with mushrooms looked absolutely delicious and I wanted to steal his plate away. Thank goodness he's a generous man, and he pitied me and shared from his generous portion. The Semifreddo was very mediocre- more disappointing than good and the cannoli was just ok.

Luna Trattoria is nestled away off the Downtown Mendocino road. This is the go-to Italian food spot in town. We didn't have a reservation so we called ahead to see if they were busy. They said they had a seat at the bar open so we were delighted. Upon arrival, half the inside tables were empty and they still sat us at the bar. No one mans the bar so we were serviced by staff passing by. Thankfully, we only popped in for a small bite and weren't expecting much. We ordered the Penne Alla Vodka which was a good portion for two. The dish was good, not great. Overall, this spot gets the job done for a simple Italian craving fix but isn't anything to think about for days to come.

It's all about the linguini alla vongole! I had my heart set on this before we walked through the door. A generous amount of clams mixed with perfectly al dente linguini: this was a lighter pasta dish that hit the spot. I also loved the two types of complimentary foccacia: cheesy tomato and rosemary. Delish! We also got the house made tortellini fungi porcini which is a mushroom lover's dream. It was good, but nothing compared to that linguini alla vongole. Stuffed, we ordered the cannoli to go to enjoy later. OK as well. Make sure you call and make rezzies in advance! I called a few days before for a Saturday and was able to score a table for two at 5:30pm inside only. When we got there, the walk-in couple in front of us was turned away and there was a sign stating the next reservation was for Tuesday! A bit disappointed my fiance's 50th was not acknowledged even though I said something when making the reservation. 3.5 stars rounded up.

Luna trattoria was highly recommended to us by someone that used to lived in the area. We were celebrating a birthday. Beautiful atmosphere and wonderful service. We dine outside and got seated in a romantic corner setting. Beautiful garden. The entrance to the restaurant is a path with overgrown trees and vines. Service was amazing and so was the food. The server she was amazing and made us feel welcome and special. Authentic Italian food. Definitely coming back. I definitely recommend. Until next time. Chao!

This place is wonderful! I absolutely loved everything about Luna Trattoria. Food , Service , Live Music All of it was an incredible experience. Our server was the BEST ! Thank you Luna Trattoria for the best of everything to bring in my new journey around the sun

I'm not sure if this restaurant was simply overhyped, I ordered the wrong dish, or I just have an exceedingly high bar when it comes to Italian food, but Luna Trattoria fell short of the mark. While in town for a long holiday weekend, I made a reservation for dinner on a Saturday night. Once we arrived, we were seated upstairs. Our server could not have been more kind and attentive, she was phenomenal. Where others have felt that the service was lacking, that was not our experience. We started with the melazine appetizer - it was very thinly sliced eggplant that had been breaded and layered. It reminded me a lot of of eggplant lasagna or eggplant Parmesan. It was all right, but nothing noteworthy. For our entrees, we ordered the lasagna with meat sauce and the gnocchi with meat sauce. Again, neither dish really stood out or had that "wow" factor. I'm not sure if the high ratings are due to the fact that there is not a lot of competition in Italian restaurants nearby but I don't think I would go out of my way to come back here.

What a beautiful place to have dinner. We came from my birthday in late August and ate inside, although outside is very pretty , and honestly it would be a hard choice whether to eat inside or outside. The staff is really cool and we are able to talk to the owner and he made some great suggestions. I would definitely come back and I definitely would recommend this place. My lasagna was really good. The sauce had a really good flavor. Be sure to make a reservation if you come on a popular night.

It was suggested that one could not, for love nor money, get a table without a reservation here. However, we were immediately as walk-ins shown to a lovely table in an absolutely enchanting garden. The service was excellent, the wine list is comprehensive and the food very good, although as a European, I found the portions somewhat over-sized. I can recommend the pasta dishes - they are cooked perfectly.

The carbonara was so delicious and noodles were perfect. We made reservations for indoor seating but they were able to accommodate us outdoors which was very nice of the staff. There was live music and the outdoor lighting was super cute!

Food is authentic! The service is right from Italy, an Italian flair, outstanding wait staff from the maître D to the young woman pouring the water . The ambience, the music of Italy everybody with smiles on their faces Thank you, Massimo ! The Tambornini's from Napa

Cozy quasi-hippie atmosphere (perfectly befitting Mendocino), slightly better than average service, and sadly, woefully mediocre (and under seasoned) Italian fare. This is based on only a single visit, but since we're only passing through it's doubtful we'd give Luna a second try.

It was a cold Wednesday night and it was crazy busy. The hostess offered us a seat on the back patio or a 20ish minute wait. We were starving and had bundled up so we took a chance on the back patio. It was like we stumbled upon a secret garden! It was beautifully lit, the heaters were actually heating, there was a live guitarist, and our very personable server bringing out wonderful food is what made this such a special dinner! Can't wait to eat here again.

Arrived at 8:05pm for one of their walk-in tables, and had about a 20-30 minute wait. Not too bad considering how popular the place is. Cozy table upstairs which was nice to have a place a bit quieter than the main dining area, and definitely warmer than sitting outside. Food was pretty good--nice portions that are filling, nothing crazy big. Nice pasta dishes, good but not life-changing.

Food (4/5): The food was pretty good; I had the penne alla vodka, Parmesan chicken (forgot the exact name of the dish since it was written in Italian) and the bruschetta classica to share. The penne alla vodka was pretty good. Italian isn't my favorite cuisine, and there wasn't anything standout to me. The complementary bread bowls are slightly elevated not being plain (there was a rosemary and pizza-esque flavors), but the prices for the food in general was quite high as well. Service (4.6/5): My servers were very sociable and attentive, filling my table's waters constantly. Ambiance (4.7/5): The interior is very nice. My table was next to the bead curtains where you could see the nice outside sunset and nature. The tables and restaurant were clean too. I would highly recommend reservations because walk-ins are only accepted after 8:15 PM the day my group went, and even then the place was quite busy.

Luna is an awesome choice if you looking for more traditional style Italian dishes. It can get quite busy so reservations would be recommended. On this trip we had the stuffed mushrooms, the fried calamari, steak & shrimp, and the linguine vongole. For dessert we had the berries with custard. Enjoyed everything here and enjoyed the banter with our Italian waiter. Calamari (4.5/5) - calamari was tender,batter wasn't too thick. Only real critique is that wish the portion was a bit bigger Stuffed mushrooms- (4/5) - these were tasty but not sure if I would order these again. Steak/shrimp (5/5) - Both the steak and shrimp were cooked well. The menu says the steak is 8 ounces but felt a bit smaller. The shrimp had a nice bite too it and tasted fresh. Fish comes with a substantial portion of linguine. Linguini vongole (4.5/5) - Didn't get to eat too much of this as my kids slipped this up. Nice broth with the noodles a good portion of clams Berries with custard (4/5) - This was better than I expected. Leaning more on the lite side with the fruit being a major component of the dish. I'm not the biggest fan of raspberry and blackberry but if you like that you would enjoy this more. The custard itself was really good.

As someone that hasn't had much success at Italian restaurants on the west coast, this is the best Italian spot I've tried in California! We came by early for dinner the past holiday weekend and were luckily able to get bar seating without much of a wait. After putting our order in, we were quickly served complimentary bread. Once our food arrived, we were delighted with both dishes - spaghetti & meatballs and farfalle California. My fiancé and I both agree that the farfalle was our favorite but the spaghetti was still solid. At the bar, everyone was friendly - both employees and other patrons that were chatting with each other. Overall a great experience and would come by again if I'm in the area again!

The ambience was amazing. The outdoor space is so cozy and in the middle of a garden with lights. There was live music too. We had the perfect dinner date there. Food was also really good. My husband had the gnocchi pesto and it was melt-in-your-mouth good. I had ordered a mushroom ravioli which was very nice too.

This joins all the other positive reviews. Luna is an utterly charming place to share a meal. The outdoor patio is perfect, the wait staff is so nice and the food is solid. We enjoyed the spaghetti and meatballs and the pasta carbonara. We had fried calamari as a starter and split a Caesar salad. Solid Italian establishment in Mendocino.

Luna Trattoria is such a unique Italian restaurant with upscale food lacking pretentiousness. The ambiance and decor is eclectic in a warm and welcoming way. Service was excellent, our server Jessica was friendly and knowledgeable and we always had our water glasses topped off and unnecessary plates removed in a thoughtful and unobtrusive manner. Regarding our food: 5/5 Melanzabe Parmigiana: cheesy eggplant where the eggplant flavor was somehow so strong and not overpowered by the cheese. As an eggplant fan I would order this every time. 5/5: Funghi Ripieni: stuffed mushrooms where again, the flavor of the mushrooms was so strong, natural, and beautiful. 4/5:Orecchioni: delicious with such a pronounced sage and spinach flavor. Perfectly delicious but compared to other dishes, I wanted more complexity in flavors. 5/5: Tortelli al Funghi Porcini: incredible pasta and mushroom dish. 5/5: Bistecca della Luna: this was the star of our group dinner. The steak was perfectly cooked. The mushrooms were incredible. The asparagus was the best I've ever had. And the sauce is something I will dream about for years. 4/5 Tiramisu: very good but not extraordinary. I've had similar tiramisu many times (and always enjoy it!) 5/5 Custard Italiana with mixed berries: this is so simple and yet so insanely good. The cream was so light and fluffy and was a perfect end to our meal. Will never come to Mendocino without visiting Luna Trattoria, it was such a happy experience!

This place was like walking into a story book fairytale . You walk into a garden of whimsical lights that illuminate the garden . Super cute for a date night or a special celebration. When we went it was super misty . For some reason I thought they had prerecorded some frog noises next to the gazebo area . At the end of dinner I realized that they were in fact real frogs right behind the restaurant . Loved the sounds of nature . The ambiance was defintely nice . The service was amazing . Our waiter was super attentive and kept wiping our table since all the list made things wet . We really appreciate him and he made sure to turn on the heat lamp to keep us warm. We even brought our fur baby with us . The bread here was sooo good . The focccaia was on point and the olive oil and balsamic went nicely with it . I ordered my go to carbonara since the waiter said that was pretty popular . Omg it was cooked perfectly . It was super silky and the pancetta had the perfect saltiness. It was actually a lot of food but it was creamy & delicious I ended up eating everything off my plate . My fiance ordered a pesto dish with a steak . Although his food was decent , I would say mine was perfection. For dessert we had a tiramisu and affogato . I thought it was super sweet they put a candle since we were celebrating fiancés birthday that weekend . Overall , this place was super cute & romantic and had amazing Italian food . Can't wait to come back again . Had a wonderful experience .

Absolutely perfect dinner at Luna! This was our first time. Service was wonderful. I had the mushroom tortellini and my husband a penne pasta. The wine was a great price too. Next time we will make a reservation outside as there was live music.

Overall experience was meh. Glad we tried it but won't be going back. The most disappointing aspect was the customer service. We were definitely rushed to finish up and leave. This is a consequence to booking the first seating at 5:30. Gotta flip those tables! (Not that we wanted to linger, but we were a party of 8 in town for a family event and hadn't seen each other in some time. Our plates were swooped up as soon as the last bite was taken. One guest had to stop the removal of their plates as they were just taking a moment before finishing a last bite.) I had Cappellacci Verdi alla Zucca (green tortellini with squash with butter sage). My error in ordering this. Too bland of flavor for me.

We arrived in Mendocino on Thanksgiving Eve with no dinner plans. We decided to try Luna Trattoria as not many restaurants were open that evening. Thankfully we were able to sit at the bar which was very comfortable. The bartender provided great service with solid recommendations for both wine and dinner options. The Pepper Steak was a special and was cooked perfectly - the sauce was a bit heavy but overall it was very good. The Tortelli a Funghi Porcini was excellent. Very filling, we had no room for dessert. If you are in the mood for solid Italian in a low key, friendly place I recommend Luna Trattoria.

We went to Mendo for the week and were so glad we stopped here for dinner! We didn't have much time to research beforehand, but luckily Luna had a spot for my husband and me for full dining at the bar. - Mushroom pasta: Unique, delicious, and filling. - Vongole: My husband always chooses this dish, and it's usually subpar, but Luna did Vongole right. It was slightly on the sweeter side but overall tasted very good. - Caesar salad: First time ordering a Caesar salad in a long time, and it did not disappoint. Glad we got it in the larger size. - Pinot Noir glass: Large pour, which is always nice, especially when you're celebrating your birthday. Next time, I wish we could sit outside. The inside is very cozy and casual. We'll have to make a reservation beforehand for next time!

We used to love this restaurant and have been a couple of times before, but our recent visit was so disappointing that we won't be back. We made a reservation for two and brought our six-week-old. We planned our weekend around it. It was our mistake not to book for three -- we're new parents and still figuring out how to navigate dining out with a baby. At other restaurants, this hasn't been an issue, so we didn't realize it would be a problem here. I don't normally write reviews. That said, the way it was handled was unnecessarily rude. Instead of showing even a little understanding or flexibility, the hostess was dismissive and unaccommodating. For a restaurant we once recommended, this was such a letdown. Mendocino is full of places that combine great food with genuine hospitality -- sadly, this is not one of them apparently.

What I loved: -Beautiful walkway leading to the restaurant -They accommodated a last minute, same day 5pm reservation -Food was great - salad was fresh, bread was delicious, potato appetizer was soooo good, loved the mushroom pasta entree and chicken Parmesan, and tiramisu for dessert. -Service and food was fast What I wasn't fond of: -Server said they were expecting a large party at 7pm, and it was clear that we were being rushed through our dining. Our appetizers were boxed before we were done with them, bill was brought out with dessert, etc. When the dining is $125, I'd expect a better experience. -We weren't asked if we were there for a special occasion (it was my date's bday) unlike what other Yelpers mentioned. -Eccentric decor, but others may find it charming. What I recommend: -Based on other Yelpers - DO MAKE A RESERVATION by phone -Walk in times were advised to be after 8pm

What a special secret garden! This place is adorable! But more importantly, the food is delicious and the staff is top notch. I don't live locally but have gone here multiple times and the gluten free pasta is just amazing. What's better than eating pasta and sipping wine in a secret garden?

I'm not sure where all these glowing reviews are coming from because I was not impressed. In a few words, over-priced and underwhelming. Honestly, my ravioli tasted like something you could get at Costco and throw some Rao's sauce on it. Boring. I will say my partner's cioppino was good, according to him anyway. I thought the seafood tasted old and decidedly not fresh. They give you a basket of bread, but no soup or salad with your meal. If you want those, prepare to drop another $10-$16. For a pile of lettuce. Service was fine, the wait staff are nice and attentive. A corkage fee of $25 is a little absurd tho. Going back? Not anytime soon. Or ever.