Bello By Sandro Nardone - Newport Beach

The service here is great! The food lacks far behind. First the courses are small. So small you leave hungry. Then if you have any food allergies forget it! They will not make your dish to your liking. They are like eat it this way or don’t eat it. I would not come back. The polpo looked like a disgusting piece of rotten octopus. The display was terrible.

This is a very nice Italian restaurant, upscale atmosphere, moderate priced menu. Unfortunately, the big elephant in the room that we have to address is how bad the CHEF is!Pasta Issue:The homemade pasta, which is supposed to be fresh, it looks like you are eating a cheap Nissin Lamen that you buy for less than $1. If you can't make pasta in house, then get something decent at any supermarket that would be better than what you are currently making.Menu Issue:THE LA NOSTRA BOLOGNESE The Bolognese sauce is awful. This is the most basic and traditional sauce to make in any italian restaurant. I think any Italian born who eat this would probably spit it out and ask for their money back.The RAGU DI GAMBERI very oily, zero flavor and lots of Black pepper. Again, another big miss.The Burrata Appetizer. This is wrong on every single level. The strawberry is old and mushy and the mint leaves does not give any enhancement to the overall flavor of the dish. Most of the time, a nice burrata dish comes with basil and heirloom tomatoes, making it almost like a caprese style of salad, leaving an option to add prawns to really bring the dish together.Also, please verify you don't serve old lime wedges to your customers. This is a lack of caring when you see your limes half yellow instead of green, and you know these lime wedges have been seating there for ages.Bottom line. For the price charged, the ultra small portion served and the lack of flavor and execution in the dishes purchased. I will definitely not come back and refuse to support a chef who is doing things wrong in a very nice and well designed restaurant.

We had an amazing dinner here. A group of six, crispy chicken, albacore, branzino, and of course pizza pasta. Found a great new

Excellent house-made pasta. Pricey but worth it. 7 day a week happy hour in the bar is the secret sauce for this strip mall gem.

Stop reading and just come.Parking lot is packed, and it’s in an unusual center but the Wagyu Ribeye, Truffle Pizza and Panna Cota have all something to have you amped up for. Not just seasoned well, has layers of flavor that just make your mouth water.Decor is beautiful, and the ambience is not loud, but enough to enjoy a special night without yelling.