Best Italian Restaurant

1. Fratellino’s by Cesar Lomeli

600 S. Brea Blvd., Brea; 714-255-9100; fratellinos.com

These are tough times for restaurants, but through it all Fratellino’s not only soldiers on but maintains high quality and wild popularity for its cuisine, both in the restaurant and for takeout.

For the 12th straight year, Cesar Lomeli’s restaurant has placed among the top 3 in the Best of Orange County.

“It looks like people still love Fratellino’s,” Lomeli said. “They don’t get tired of us. They feel they have a good restaurant and they don’t want to lose us.”

This year on Mother’s Day, lines were out the door.

When the pandemic struck, Lomeli was able to quickly shift to a takeout menu that continues to thrive. While many restaurants have either cut staff, service or their menus, Fratellino’s remains resolute on maintaining a full menu and full staffing. The restaurant is also a popular caterer for large events.

“We still have a good product and the service to stay on top,” Lomeli said.

Walk into the family restaurant and an Old World Italian atmosphere is evident down to the mural of an Italian lake that surrounds the dining area.

The menu consists of Italian staples in generous portions: lasagnas, eggplant or veal parmigiana, shrimp scampi, chicken cacciatore, plus pizza, sandwiches and salads

Lunch specials are available seven days a week.

PAUL BERSEBACH, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Fratellino’s by Cesar Lomeli in Brea was voted best Italian restaurant in the OC Register’s 2022 Best of Orange County contest. Shown is Fratellino’s Deluxe Pizza with assorted side dishes.

— Greg Mellen

2. Roma D’Italia

611 El Camino Real, Tustin; 714-544-0273; romaditalia.com

Roma D’Italia has been an Old Town dining destination for more than 60 years and bills itself as Tustin’s original family-owned Italian restaurant. The Dominic Corea family founded the restaurant, and the recipes of Nina Corea remain a staple.

The menu features an abbondanza of choices, including 15 signature pastas, 14 seafood dishes as well as chicken, eggplant, hot sandwiches and a variety of pizzas.

All meals are accompanied by the restaurant’s homemade Italian bread.

Exterior neon lighting notwithstanding, the dining area is casual and Old World-y, down to the checkerboard tablecloths. Outdoor dining on the patio is also available and has become popular.

A family tradition, second and third generations of the Corea family have continuously operated the restaurant.

There is a generous lunch menu. Check out the homemade specialty breads with pepperoni, sausage or spinach and glazed with garlic butter, topped with Romano cheese.

If you want to go authentically old school and Old World, this is your place. According to the restaurant’s literature, it is famous for its unique sausage. The family has been making its own sausage since the company started in Sicily in 1864. Part of the secret, they say, is a special imported Sicilian goat cheese.

Given that, a natural choice would be the World Famous Sizzling Sausage Platter, served with sautéed bell peppers, onions and a marinara sauce on the side.

If you want to go a little less sausage-specific, the links can be found in a half-dozen other dishes as well as as a side dish. There is also a homemade turkey sausage.

The restaurant is also open for breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch. Sabatino’s also runs a pizza and deli in Newport for “gourmet takeout,” and has outdoor seating and catering

3. Sabatino’s Lido Shipyard Sausage Company

251 Shipyard Way, Cabin D, Newport Beach; 949-723-0621 sabatinoschicagosausage.com