Barolo Cafe

A Hidden Gem in Tustin - A+++++++My partner has lived in Tustin for 25 years and somehow never dined here until last night--what a discovery! Tucked away in a strip mall, Barolo Italian Cafe is easy to miss at first glance, but once you step inside, you're transported to a cozy Italian restaurant offering a mix of fine dining and casual charm.As an Italian from Boston who has frequented the North End's renowned Italian eateries, I have high standards--and Barolo more than delivered. The outdoor seating was charming, with a few scattered tables (we were told an enclosed patio is in the works). Inside, the atmosphere is casual yet intimate, with tables set close together and the chef-owner's bustling kitchen in full view. Part of the experience includes hearing the chef call out orders to his team--an authentic touch that adds character.Now, onto the food: I absolutely loved my Veal Sorrento, paired with perfectly cooked fresh vegetables (you can opt for pasta as well). My partner's Rigatoni Bolognese was equally incredible, and every dish we saw being served looked outstanding. Bread and salad are included with the meal, and both were exceptional--fresh, flavorful, and a great start to the evening.The service was impeccable. Our server was attentive and friendly, but the rest of the team also made sure we were taken care of--someone else checked in on us, and another kept our water glasses full without us even asking. It's clear the staff works together seamlessly. My partner enjoyed a generous pour of wine for $12, which was well worth it.So how did we find this gem? A friend from Newport Beach recommended it, and instead of going to our usual Italian spot, we decided to give Barolo a try. We're so glad we did! This will definitely become a regular spot for us, and I can't wait to come back to explore more of the menu.

We moved to Tustin in 1991. Hubby doesn't remember that we've had dinner at Barolo in the past.A few weeks ago, we had a late Saturday night dinner. We were seated immediately at a nice table near the kitchen. The place is small with about 10 tables inside and several outdoor tables.Our dinners included a generous house salad and a full basket of homemade focaccia. Olive oil and balsamic vinegar are available on the table for dipping.Hubby's Linguine Vongole had a delicious white wine sauce. I was given a choice of options for the risotto. I selected seafood, and a huge, beautiful plate filled with clams, mussels, calamari, fish, and shrimp arrived. The white wine sauce for my dinner was more subtle. I enjoyed the leftovers for a couple of meals at home. Our dessert was a creamy tiramisu.Friendly wait staff with ample parking in the shopping center.The only disappointment is that they close between 2 and 5pm during the week.

Came here to celebrate a friend's birthday. I have heard so much about this place so I was excited to finally get the opportunity to try it out. We didn't have reservations as tables were supposed to be on a first come, first serve basis, so it was a surprise when we arrived and there was a reservations list. We got seated outside and as we were putting in our orders, I told our server that we were celebrating a birthday. He ignored me and walked away before I could finish the sentence which was incredibly awkward. Throughout the evening, our server came to drop off our food and take away our plates, we didn't get a check in outside of that. I noticed that they were very cordial with other tables so it gave us the impression that they have a preference for regulars.We ordered calamari to start, seafood pasta, and linguini vongole. The entrees came with a side salad and we were given complimentary bread. The bread was a foccacia so we expected it to be soft and fluffy. It was dry and a bit hard instead. Such a shame because their olive oil and balsamic vinegar for dipping was really good. The side salad had a nice, fresh tasting dressing, but it had a soggy texture.Calamari- This was decent. I would have liked a bit more crisp on the exterior but the inside was nice and chewy.Seafood pasta- It was loaded with fish and clams and the portions were huge which I appreciate. The pasta was perfectly cooked. However, it lacked flavor. I would have liked a bit more shrimp on mine since my friend who ordered the same item got several whereas I only had one piece.Linguini Vongole- I once more appreciate the generous serving and the copious amount of clams that came with the pasta. The sauce, however, was on the bland side and needed more flavor.I was really looking forward to dining here but I wasn't impressed with the food and the service was lackluster. It felt like you have to know someone to be welcomed. It didn't help that we were celebrating a special occasion.

Had lunch today with husband and came due to good Yelp reviews. Despite the great service, it did not measure up to the 4.5*s on Yelp, not sure if we ordered the wrong things. We started with the bruschetta which was very good! Nice savory cherry tomatoes on toasted baguette. The complimentary focaccia bread was excellent. Salads were good. However the main dishes of Seafood Linguine Special and the Shrimp Pasta were terrible. Although generous portions, these dishes were severely lacking in flavor! It was worse than cafeteria food. We tried throwing in Parmesan cheese, no improvement. Added salt, but no impact on the flavor. It's like everything on the plate was boiled without any seasonings and then tossed in a watery sauce. We were shocked, and disappointed. We wanted to like it based on the Yelp reviews but found it very overrated for what we ordered. Needless to say we are not likely to come again, despite the good beginnings of the meal.

Amazing food and friendly service! I recommend you give this place a try. Don't be fooled that it's in a strip mall. Enjoy!

We love barolo cafe! It is such a hidden gem. Every time we've come here it's never disappointed! The food is amazing and very authentic and the service is excellent! It's also cozy inside and feels just like home. I will definitely be coming back to try more from their menu!

My family (group of 7 total) went this past Saturday evening for my mother's birthday. The place is small, and felt even more so with two other large groups, so definitely make a reservation as you may have to wait a while for a table otherwise. My family also reports they're usually packed every day of the week. There are a couple of small tables outside, but they face the parking lot so probably not the best ambience. Inside however, their kitchen is open so you can see all the action and they have hockey memorabilia on one wall and kitschy art on the other. It's definitely a mom and pop vibe, nothing fancy but cozy and homey.We got the shrimp scampi and lightly fried calamari to share as appetizers. These were pretty standard. The focaccia bread that came with all of our pastas was a highlight for sure. I got the pesto farfalle which I enjoyed, and tried a little of my BF's linguine bolognese. We both preferred the pesto farfalle. I liked that the portions were huge for the price (you get two meals out of one pasta dish) and they were very understanding of my niece's severe food allergies. Our server was also kind enough to provide a mango sorbet on the house since we were celebrating my mom's birthday. I don't know if they make their sorbet in-house, but that was probably the best mango sorbet we all had! Overall, my family and I will be back next time we are craving Italian. Thanks, Barolo!

The best Italian restaurant in Orange County. Authenticity at its finest! I need to thank Andrea, Giuseppi and Albi - family owners and servers for their warm hospitality. Without them, Barolo cafe won't be where it is at today. Everything is fresh, authentic, and flavorful. We brought our kids there and they were kind enough to cater the pasta to their needs and even split the meals evenly for the kids to share. I do recommend their pink sauce concoction pasta with chicken for the kids. My favorite dishes that I've tried so far were the Linguini Vongole (baby clams with white wine sauce), linguini cardinale, and their catch of the day fish dish that is just simply divine! Let's also be clear that they serve the freshest seafood dishes - cooked to perfection! If you like spicy, do ask for their imported, homemade chili that you can complement with your dish. Oh, and their complimentary bread as a starter is just perfect with the olive and vinaigrette! All the customers are happy and most of them know the owners. Maybe that's why the ambience is just so warm and inviting! Thank you again for everything!

Good solid Italian comfort food. Fettuccine bolognese: nothing to complain about. Large portion sizesFettuccine with shrimp and mushrooms. This sauce tasted better than the bolognese. Only issue was the shrimp was slightly fishy. Each meal comes with a house salad and bread. I thought the bread was delicious. Everyone there was super friendly and the service was great. No wait for a weekend early dinner.

Oh my goodness, what a gem! Great ambiance, good service, and fantastic food! The pasta I ordered was cooked to perfection. Every item we tried was delicious. This is our new goto Italian restaurant. The quality of the food was as good as any fine dining restaurant I've been to at a fraction of the price. Because it is a small place in a strip mall, there simply isn't room enough to create the full fine dining experience, but the food is just great. I highly recommend making a reservation as we did. There was quite a line outside, which is always a good sign. Happy dining!