This small restaurant often has a long wait on weekend nights. I have been here several times for a work meeting and it is quite noisy. The food is pretty good and the waiters are attentive so we... More

This small restaurant often has a long wait on weekend nights. I have been here several times for a work meeting and it is quite noisy. The food is pretty good and the waiters are attentive so we keep coming back.
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This is a non-chain authentic Italian restaurant. It is small and the staff is helpful. I thought the prices were a bit high for pasta and sauce, but a lot of my neighbors keep going back. Try... More

This is a non-chain authentic Italian restaurant. It is small and the staff is helpful. I thought the prices were a bit high for pasta and sauce, but a lot of my neighbors keep going back. Try them for catering, the portions are huge!
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I was craving Italian food last night and remembered this place my sister told me about. I was not sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. First of all, The garlic bread in itself was... More

I was craving Italian food last night and remembered this place my sister told me about. I was not sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. First of all, The garlic bread in itself was soo Delicious! I could have eaten this alone and be happy! but for our main course, I had ravioli with meatsauce and my girlfriend had angel hair pasta with marinara. It was without exaggerating, one of the BEST Italian meals I've ever had, and let me tell you, I've had quite a few. The service, was very pleasant, very busy, and the waiter was very nice for such a busy night. The place was really comfortable, like I was eating at my favorite aunt's house. One last thing, you MUST try their Tiramisu!! It's absolutely to "To Die For!! Actually, I can't wait to go back, i'm getting hungry just walking about it, but anyway, it has my thumbs up, but you can judge for yourself...Ciao Bella Gaviota!! Pros: DELICIOUS!! Cons: very busy,
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Small children are NOT welcome here. The owner/manager does not want small ones in his restaurant and I want to pass that along (as I wish someone had done for me). I ate here for the first time... More

Small children are NOT welcome here. The owner/manager does not want small ones in his restaurant and I want to pass that along (as I wish someone had done for me). I ate here for the first time today and will not be back. The food was fine, pretty standard-issue local Italian, nothing special but decent enough. The servers were also very nice and attentive. I will not bore everyone with tedious details of what happened, but I will say my 1 year old was not making any noise or bothering any other diners yet the manager made it clear she was not welcome, regardless. I found this suprising (flabbergasting, actually) that even on a Tuesday afternoon in a nearly-empty dining room the management would apparently prefer an empty seat to one with filled by a person accompanied by a small child. I consider myself a pretty sophisticated diner, not to mention a veteran of the food industry, and I certainly understand that some restaurants are better for adults only. Being a small place in a strip mall that offered high chairs, however, I did not think that was the case here. DO NOT eat here with a child under the age of 5, the owner does not want them there. Actually, the food's nothing special anyway so don't bother at all. Pros: Interesting monthly special wine Cons: Small children not welcome
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This is a small, family run place. They have a variety of food and all of which is incredible. Always a line to get in tells you they are popular because they are so good.

This is a small, family run place. They have a variety of food and all of which is incredible. Always a line to get in tells you they are popular because they are so good.
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Had a surprise birthday party for my brother. Reservations were made for 20 people at 5:00pm. Most of our party showed up by 5:30, but my brother and his fiancee arrived at 6:00. The hostess and... More

Had a surprise birthday party for my brother. Reservations were made for 20 people at 5:00pm. Most of our party showed up by 5:30, but my brother and his fiancee arrived at 6:00. The hostess and our server were not happy with that. When he took our orders, he was very impatient with the first-time guests that weren't sure what they wanted. I commented to my girlfriend about how both hostess & server were so "rushy." He snapped, "Maybe because we've been waiting for your party for an hour and half!" I retorted "I didn't know that the customers had to be accommodating to the restaurant. Maybe I should talk to the owner about your rude behavior." His response was ?Go ahead, you do that!" He avoided me during our dinner and purposely didn't clear my plates after taking everyone else's. I had to ask him to please take my plate and he just walked away ignoring me, then I literally just handed it to him as he walked away. This was so uncomfortable and I felt bad that there was this tension at my brother?s party. I decided to lighten up the air by apologizing and said that our party should have been on time for the reservation, he said "It's okay. Don't worry about it." Boy! I'm glad I made the waiter at the restaurant happy because what would my family and I do without this restaurant? That was sarcasm. But this is not: This was the RUDEST service I or my family has ever had. We?re never returning. I?ve told a lot of people I know (and those I don't, like here) about this lousy experience. On top of that, my Chicken Mangia Mangia (house specialty) was bland as a cardboard. The Mozzarella Capri antipasti was pretty good. But not good enough to return to this mom-n-pop (I mean in a bad way) dump. Spend your money and time at a place where they treat the customer well. Pros: price is reasonable Cons: bad service
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I love the food here - it's simple, delicious, and freshly made. It's almost always crowded, as the place is rather small, but it's always worth the wait. My favorite foods to order are the Ravioli... More

I love the food here - it's simple, delicious, and freshly made. It's almost always crowded, as the place is rather small, but it's always worth the wait. My favorite foods to order are the Ravioli Cavaliere (mushroom, zucchini, and meat or cheese ravioli in a light cream sauce) and when available, the butternut squash ravioli. The garlic bread that comes before the meal is excellent, and the service is always very good (though I do feel bad that the constant crowds run the waitstaff ragged!). It isn't a quiet place to eat - the cozy seating arrangement means that you can hear everyone's conversations, but the flat-screen television on one wall has a constantly cycling series of Italian scenery DVDs, so the atmosphere remains despite the constant noise of other diners. Food is served promptly and always hot, and the prices are reasonable, running about $12 on average for an entree. I've been going there for years now and the quality has been consistent and well above average every time. Pros: Food, Service, Quality Cons: Parking, Noise,
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I have had better Italian Food. Some plates are too rich and others are too bland the rest are just average. The Chicken Marsala is their "specialty". Unimpressive flavor and presentation. It's... More

I have had better Italian Food. Some plates are too rich and others are too bland the rest are just average. The Chicken Marsala is their "specialty". Unimpressive flavor and presentation. It's much more flavorful at Cheesecake Factory. And Cheesecake Factory isn't known for their Italian food! The atmosphere and food presentation is nothing spectacular and neither is the service. College kids making part time income. Their wine selection is so-so and they don't have any Port Wine for after dinner. Doesn't have that family feel and they don't immediately make you feel like a friend of family. You're just a customer. Service is quick and not relaxed. Fairly large establishment that is fine for large groups. No reservations needed. This is the place long time Huntington Beach residents swear by until they find out about La Fontana. For my money, La Fontana on Beach Blvd. in Huntington Beach is 10 times better. Pros: They don't mess up your order Cons: Unimpressive food, presentation and atmosphere.
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I have recently discovered their Butternut Squash Ravioli and it is to die for! They use a butter sage sauce that is so decadent and the flavors are just scrumptious. I'd have to say the best... More

I have recently discovered their Butternut Squash Ravioli and it is to die for! They use a butter sage sauce that is so decadent and the flavors are just scrumptious. I'd have to say the best ravioli I've had in a long time. Highly recommend ordering this dish. Their salad with creamy italian dressing and garlic bread are also incredibly tasty. I love me some Mangia Mangia!
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Mangia Mangia is a true surprise. Located in a quiet, and not so upscale neighborhood, you would never expect such a great italian restaurant exist. The staff was friendly, and the pasta was just... More

Mangia Mangia is a true surprise. Located in a quiet, and not so upscale neighborhood, you would never expect such a great italian restaurant exist. The staff was friendly, and the pasta was just good. Many of their dishes are seafood base, so if you are a big meat eater, you may not get many choices here. I ordered the Scampi Cefali (sp) and my dining mate ordered the frutti di mare, both were really tasty. The cream sauce was creamy, but not too heavy, and the tomato sauce was tasty, but subtle enough not to mask the seafood taste. Simply well done. I also have to mention about the garlic bread, I had to ask for two basket full, and risk not eating my main course. Pros: Taste, relax scene Cons: Lack of Variety, pricey for location and decor
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