The restaurant was great! Â My family and I all met there for a holiday lunch and I was amazed by how good their food was. Â I ordered the Cesar Salad because they said it was their homemade recipe and it really was. Â From almost anywhere you sit you can see the kitchen and I watched them make my salad along with other fantastic food. Â Our waiter was quite nice and funny too. Â When I had my salad I was amazed it was real Caesar salad recipe because I can tell the difference between real or fake no matter how it was made. Â So I had a great meal and talked with my family. Â Luckily it wasn't that loud even with the train station right next to the restaurant. Â Over all I had a great time with great food, waiter and fantastic service and I hope I can come here again!
Review Source:We loved this Italian restaurant.  You can sit inside our outside in a nice courtyard area.  Service was very attentive and efficient.  Alonzo was so nice.  The bread brought to the table with the  tapenade was delicious.  We ordered
Melanzane alla Parmigiana  and the Spinach and ricotta ravioli.  The food was so enjoyable topped off with a nice glass of wine.  Next time I hope I have room for dessert because the desserts looked amazing.
This place probably deserves a 2.5, but I wanted to stand firm on my experience here. Ciao is located right next to the San Juan Capistrano train station, and thus is expected to be pretty loud, actually in fact it was quite the opposite. It was very quiet, not necessarily bad though.
This restaurant is huge. It's got a large bar area, as well as an outdoor patio, plus a very large dining room. I would think this place would be hectic if it was ever packed. When i went it was very quiet, and not busy at all, but that did not stop our server who was possibly the owner, judging by how friendly he was with some apparent regulars. He was quite attentive and joked around with us, but seemed to hover a bit, which made me anxious and felt rushed.
Not only is the size of this place huge, but so is their menu. I've seen enough Kitchen Nightmares to realize that there is no way that a restaurant can keep all the ingredients for a menu this size, fresh all the time. I was getting worried that this place was pretty in the front, but ugly in the back.
I ordered a pasta dish that has escaped my mind at the moment (it was that forgettable) and the table ordered a bottle of wine. The pasta I remember was bowtie and had chicken and a tomato sauce. It was decent, but was lacking any real... substance. It seemed like something that could be made in an assembly line in the kitchen. It was edible and not horrible, just not worth restaurant dishes and service.
Another member of my party ordered a garlic chicken pasta that was starred as the owner's favorite. It was definitely the best prepared dish, I guess they only stock fresh ingredients of the owner's dish.
The meal went by without much complaint, but not with any enthusiasm either. I agreed with my party, that we would have been better off, eating at home.
We recently moved into the OC area and were looking for a great Italian restaurant to go to and decided to try this out! I am so glad we did everything was absolutely amazing! Great food, service and amazing bread! We are so picky about Italian food and this is as close as true Italian food can get, as we have been to Italy many times! Great ambience outside and delicious food! Â The marinara sauce is the best I have had in years!! We will be back soon!!
Review Source:Went for happy hour, it was hoppin! We went before heading to a movie and sat at the bar. The server was great, super-attentive and friendly even though it was pretty busy. The waitress and bartender seemed to make a great team and we always had drinks right away.
We were given some sautéed edamame to start. That was a nice touch, but the edamames were already cooked before they were sautéed so they ended up kind of mushy. Ate a few and then passed.
We ordered calamari which was a huge portion of perfectly cooked squid . Great deal at happy hour at $5. We also got a bruschetta appetizer. The bread was really good, a little toasted, and the bruschetta had great flavor but it wasn't chopped up enough so it kept falling off the bread. The pizza was really good too- super thin crust and crispy!
All in all a great dinner for about $40 with two cocktails each. Will be back!
I should give this place 5 stars as an oasis in a desert ( I haven't tried the Dessert) of mediocre restaurants in the San Clemente to South Laguna Beach dead zone. Â But it's really only 4 (and perhaps 3 would suffice in a more competitive market).
But I'm so grateful to have an actual chef and genuine foodie in the neighborhood. Â Let's stick with 4.
My wife and I came here and tried a few things:
The best fried Calamari yet
A delicious bowtie pasta with chicken and vodka cream sauce
A decent Bolognese
Good, cheap cocktails and wines
The service was friendly, attentive, and professional.
The only complaint we had was the happy hour Caprese:  3 small  slices of chunky tomato, with 3 tiny  pieces of fresh Moz is too small for $5 (given that $7 buys a pizza that would feed two hungry people)
Go there. Â Enjoy.
I have actually been to this place twice. Â The first was with my family in March of 2011. Â We stumbled into this place while driving from San Diego to LA and it was fantastic. Â We were tired and hungry and this restaurant delivered on everything so much so that when my wife and I went back to southern California last week we knew we just had to stop again. Â I ordered the Cioppino (it is called something else on the menu) and it was exactly as I remember it. Â Tons of seafood with a hearty broth that made my day. Â My wife had a past dish with a vodka sauce and she still claims it was the best meal she had while we were in California. Â High praise from her.
As others have said the staff was extremely attentive. Â While they had many tables they made us feel like we were the only people in the place. Â Also, the outdoor seating area is very nice. Â We were able to enjoy a glass of wine while taking in a perfect evening.
We stopped here for lunch after touring the San Juan Capistrano mission hoping it was not a tourist trap with poor food.  We were delighted to have a superb dining experience.  Lunch was so good we returned the next evening for dinner and were equally impressed.  The food was great and the staff, including the constantly attentive owner, only served to enhance the experience.  This is definitely a "locals" place  found just a few yards from the Mission.
I can certainly recommend Ciao Pasta Trattoria to all; locals and touritos alike.
My wife and I ate there today.  It is located adjacent to the SJ Capistrano mission.  Was offered both the lunch and dinner menus to choose from.  Kiko, our waiter was extremely attentive and recommended the Rotelle Di Pasta, a house specialty.  It was WONDERFUL!  Salads, both the house and cease were fresh, and the garlic bread was exceptional.  Pasta was fresh and cooked perfectly.  The home made tiramisu was the best we've ever had.  A 5 star experience for us.  thank you!  Norman and Becky from  Surprise, AZ,
Review Source:Great place for lunch while visiting the mission. Was expecting the usual touristy overpriced bland food. We were tired and hungry so settled on this since prices seemed a bit more reasonable than others in the area. We were very pleasantly surprised! I had the shrimp wrapped in prosciutto with greens. Great flavor and not too heavy. The delicious warm foccacia served before the meal with tasty olive oil tapenade goes well with it. My wife had the pasta with eggplant which she shared. Wow! Best tasting eggplant dish I've had in memory. Delicious complex smokey flavors atop perfect al dente wide pasta ribbons. Too bad they don't sell this roasted eggplant sauce by the jar!
Aside from the street noise this place is a gem. We'd definitely go back if in the area again.
Went for a quick happy hour and just had a few items but all were very good. Gotta get back now and try some dinner items... I've been in South OC for about 12 years and don't have a 'go to' Italian spot but thinking this could be the one!!
If dinner is as good as happy hour, this 4 star will go to a 5 for sure-
A TASTE of ITALY!
What a great little find in San Juan! Upon recommendation we stumbled into this little Italian Bistro with a great patio for a quick bite to eat. Boy what a great surprise this was as we relaxed and enjoyed the ride.
At an Italian restaurant I always try the Calamari to see if they prepare it properly. If they do then I know that the rest of the meal will be pretty good. Boom! It was cooked to perfection. Light and fresh with the tentacles included!
I tried a little Sausage and pasta dish prepared with leeks in a light cream sauce. Abodanza! Another amazing dish!
As we sat on the patio there we all kinds of different people there, from locals speaking Italian to vacationers with fanny packs. It was like being in Italy!
It's a must stop if you're in the area!
Visited on Easter Sunday for dinner as soon as my fiancee got back from overseas. He was jet-lagged and I pretty much had to drag him there, but I swear this place cured him immediately! Patio was warm and tranquil. We had the most attentive service (I think 3 people waited on us) and the food was exceptional! We inquired about the ingredients of the olive/oil dip for the bread - If they sold it by the bottle, I would probably buy a case! He raved about the sauce on the Ciao Pasta dish and my Chicken Marsala was uniquely amazing (love the little raisins). Can't wait to take out-of-towners to this little gem!
Review Source:My husband and I go to Ciao Pasta about once a week and eat in the bar. The bar menu is amazing and the price is even better. The staff Al, Reberta , and Angelia are so friendly and amazing at there job! We feel like its our home there. Thank you for making us alway feel like we are your best custmers when Im sure we all feel that way by your staff. Thank you!
Chris and Kristy
One of my favorite spots in south county.
The service is usually very good, professional, prompt and friendly.
The food is always fresh, exceptionally prepared and presented. There are nice variations on typical dishes and excellent executions of old-school classics.
Love the outdoor dining in the old downtown area of San Juan. Parking is easy, just park in back of the building. Love that the bar is separate from the patio and the main dining room, gives you a great place to enjoy a drink and a quite place to go have dinner after.
I actually had my rehearsal dinner there the night before my wedding. They customized a menu just for us including specialty cocktails. It was awesome.
My son (11) and I have been to Ciao Pasta twice. Â We love the place and the food! Â I have the pasta and my son has the pizza. Â The waiters are very responsive and their service is top notch. Â The owner is a sweetheart and really makes you feel welcome. Â I have had the Ciao Pasta and the Capellini Checcia. Â Both fabulous! Â Great place for children to enjoy an authentic Italian meal even if it is pizza! Â LOL! Â Parking is a breeze and a walk around the mission or the Los Ramos area makes for a perfect lunch date or evening dinner. Â Recommend highly! Support this local business and check it out!!
Review Source:My wife and I went here for our first time last night and found the reviews accurate. Great food and service. I think the owner ended up serving us himself (very italian). Â I got the Ciao pasta... Very good!! Â We walked by this restaurant a few months ago and I remember how fun the patio looked on a warmer night. Â Lots of charm. Â Cold last night so we ate inside and that was nice also.
Review Source:Excellent pasta. I came to this establishment about 14 years ago when it was a very small Italian restaurant and wondered why such good quality food couldn't bring more customers for the restaurant to afford a bigger building. 14 years later I return by chance to find Ciao pasta in an expanded establishment with a huge patio.
The food was surprisingly exactly the same, amazing. Toasty bread with a delicious olive oil, garlic, and olive creation for you to dip it into. Rich minestrone soup that draws on the flavors of the vegetables and stock itself without having to add too many seasonings. Fresh parmesan that is hand-grated table-side and excellent service.
My entree of choice was the same pasta dish I had there 14 years ago, the Ciao Pasta. It's a bow tie pasta with sun dried tomato's, mushrooms, garlic, and cheese. It was a dish that exploded with flavor. Fresh mushrooms, flavorful sun dried tomato's and pasta cooked to an al dente perfection, a great tribute to Southern Italy.
I recommend this location to anyone who wishes to sample the cuisine of Southern Italy, you'll enjoy the ambiance and the excellently prepared cuisine.
Bleh. This place gets two and a half stars for having really mediocre Italian food in the heart of Orange County. We were seated relatively quickly for not having a reservation on a Friday evening, but aside from that the dinner went downhill quickly thereafter. The caprese salad was sub-par, with dry mozzarella, not enough basil, and no seasoning. It was accompanied with a house salad with no dressing? My girlfriend's risotto was atrocious... Poorly seasoned with bitter raddichio. My dish (shrimp and scallop pasta) was a little better, but not enough to make this place three stars.
The live music reminded me of the threes company episode when jack let larry sing at his restaurant. Save your money and go elsewhere!
I came here tonight with my husband and mom to celebrate birthdays and we had such an amazing time!
Brandon was our waiter and apparently my mom knew him from previous dinners there with my dad. He remembered her even though its been about a year since she'd been there. Talk about an awesome memory!
Our food was AMAZING. I got the penne, pesto and chicken and it was DIVINE. Best I've had. And even though I just KEPT EATING, it was as if my bowl was automatically refilling itself. I can't believe how large the portion was.
My husband got the penne with sausage and meatballs and loved it. My mom got the rosemary and chicken ravioli and loved hers as well. The bread was fresh and the olive tempanade was really good (and I normally don't even like olives!) We got a lasagna to go for my dad and Brandon boxed everything up for us.
We really enjoyed the live band at the bar and the music from the mission across the street. The patio was bustling because it was such a beautiful night out and we can't wait to come back!
One of my favorite Italian restaurants in all of Southern California (SD, IE, OC & LA).
If this is your first time, I suggest ordering the Ciao Pasta. Â It's bowtie pasta (farfalle) served with diced, grilled chicken, parmesan cheese and mushrooms in a tomato cream sauce. Â The sauce is mild and works well with the bite of the fresh parmesan.
If you're thinking appetizers, then look no further than the Caprese; thick-sliced mozzarella atop tomato slices and drizzled with olive oil. Â I would suggest making an impromptu vinaigrette from the olive oil and balsamic vinegar on your table--just don't forget to add some black pepper.
And for dessert, my favorite is the Flute Limoncello. Â It's lemon gelato and frozen limoncello served in a chilled champagne flute. Â It's a great palate cleanser.
However, if this isn't your first time, then I suggest the following:
Appetizers...
-Eggplant Parm
-Ravioli Fritti
Pasta...
-Penne Salsiccia
-Penne Norcina
-Lasagna
-Rotelle di Pasta (my favorite)
Entrees...
-Veal Piccata
-Cioppino
-Shrimp Scampi
It's almost like home...
Getting my hand stamped for re-entry at the Mission, we trekked over here for lunch. And if you haven't been here, the building is to the right, or North of Pedro's Tacos. Â I was tempted by the aroma from Pedros, but we opted for a nicer relaxing meal.
There was no real indication of wear to enter so we choose to sit outside in the shade at one of their many outdoor dining. Â The chairs were comfy and the table was cozy. Â The only thing was a thin film of dust on the white paper table covering, probably a combination from the trees and the street.
The food was pretty good, considering I thought it might be just okay since it might get a lot of tourists visiting the mission. Â But no, it was actually pretty decent (I know cuz my wife is an Italian food connoisseur). Â We ordered basic pasta dishes with chicken with red tomato and white alfredo sauces, both which were good. Â The sauces weren't overly rich and still had lots of great flavor. Â The chicken was tender and tasty as well. Â Mother-in-law ordered their Margarita Pizza, which turned out to be huge. Â It was a thin crust pizza that was about 12-13". Â That was one of the better margarita pizzas that I have had and to me, said volumes on this places authenticity on Italian cooking.
The lunch prices were very reasonable ($11.00-15.00) for a nice relaxing atmosphere. Â No kids, no rush service; just good waiters and great food. Â It's not one of the first Italian places I'd think of to drive 20 minutes to eat at, but it sure is up there.
Ciao Pasta!
[ATMOSPHERE] Â Cute and traditional feeling.
[FOOD] I had the 'Ravioli di Pollo.' It was the best ravioli that I've had-- stuffed with cheese, chicken and (i think) spiniach. Â For dessert I had the Creme Brulee-- not the best, but it was still good.
[BEVERAGE] My lemonade tasted disgusting, but my replacement iced tea tasted fine. Â I had a mocha after dinner before dessert that could have been a little bit sweeter.
[SERVICE] Â It took about 20 minutes for my server to even ask for my drinks and I never caught his name--my food came immediately after my salad which made me feel like he was trying to turn his tables to make more tips. He was the only downside to my experience.
[PRICE] Â My meal for two cost $50.
I get the feeling some of the negative reviewers were expecting the over-sauced, over-salted, over-creamed garbage you get at olive garden or buca dibepo. ciao pasta's dishes are far more authentic with lovely, subtle flavors. nothing is too oily or creamy. even typically rich dishes like fettuccine are light and delicious. you can actually finish your entrée without feeling like your heart is about to stop.
I've been eating here since it was called cinema cafe an located where the old drive in used to be. in all my years eating there - 15 or more, and of all the dozens of friends and family who've eaten there the only bad dish I've had was the calamari which was like so many poor calamari rubbery.
other than great food, a nice wine/beer/cocktail list the ambiance is perfect inside and out.
trust me for a quick lunch, romantic dinner or group party you cannot go wrong at ciao pasta.
Tasty food, super charming staff, great patio with comfortable (don't let the look of them fool you) chairs and ample #s of umbrellas to shield the sun.
As an Italian who grew up on my grandma's home cookin, I am pretty hard to please when it comes to Italian food. Â I grew up making Italian dinners alongside her and my dad and take pleasure in wowing friends since high school with my Italian cooking prowess. Â Fast forward to the present - I am married to a lovely fellow who likes to eat the Italian food that I slave over but doesn't really love to dine out Italian - I mean he likes it but given the choice will go for new American / steakhouse / Japanese any day.
Thus, from time to time I crave Italian that I don't have to cook.
Visiting my in laws in CA, we hit up Ciao Pasta for lunch. Â Great experience! Â
Staff was so attentive and sweet. Â I loved everything we ordered. Â A particular standout: Â The white wine sauce that in most Italian restaurants can be bland and overly buttery was SUPER! Â I enjoyed this sauce over my chicken breast stuffed with goat cheese and asparagus - YUM.
Husband's penne with sausage and red sauce was yum-o - could have used a little more zest in the sauce but still better than average.
My mother in law's manicotti were served just the way I like them (came to the table bubbling hot with a crispy-ish edge to the pasta shell, filling was on the dry as opposed to the creamy side - closer to the filling of lasagna as opposed to ravioli, but that's how I like it).
Father in law's meatball "panini" was good but was not a panini - it was a sub served on a roll. Â Meatballs were well seasoned and not dry at all.
Instead of the side of "house pasta" that came with my dish, I asked for my linguini to be served with vodka sauce. Â I was craving it and their version of this pink sauce did not disappoint my cravings. Â I do wish they had served it on a separate dish though so as not to have it mingle with the YUMMY (see above) white wine sauce that was the focus of my dish.
In retrospect, the side of "house pasta" (linguine alla oglio - aka garlic and olive oil) would have been a better accompaniement to my meal but a craving is a craving and when I am not the chef, I succomb to them.
Ciao Pasta is an unpretentious but lovely spot to try in San Clemete - There are tons of menu options from the traditional to the unexpected - at prices ranging from very affordable to pricey. Â Wine selections were standard and not overpriced. Â A good meal can be had on most any budget here.
Okay I went here for a work event and granted that a bigger party will lower the quality of food. Â There isn't much I can remember about the food because it just wasn't that memorable. Â The dining ambiance was fine, although I think my co-worker was massively freaked out by a spider or something.
One thing I do remember is the difference in dish sizes from one person to the next, even when it's the SAME entree! Boo! Two people sitting near me ordered the same Sausage and Pasta dish, but one just seemed half empty as if it was a leftover plate that needs to be boxed. Â We all made fun of the pathetic meager amount. Â Luckily the person who got it was a small eater, but that's not the point! Give her the food gosh darn it! If they skimped on my dish there would be hell to pay!
Don't mess with me and my grub! O=9
I wanted to like this place, really I did. Â After walking around the Mission we wanted some lunch and I decided on this place because the decor was cute from the outside.
The chicken ravioli was HARD. Â The pizza overly greasy. Â The only thing good about it was the chocolate mousse dessert - my coffee creamer container had Rust in it. Â I think that is a health hazard!!! Â Usually I love the experience of trying new restaurants but this one was a waste of my time an a huge disappointment.
I was in an Italian mood tonight, and after walking up and down Camino Capistrano in my quest for a good plate of carpaccio, I came across Ciao Pasta.  My initial thought was that the name sounded too commercial and they were probably not going to be authentic tasting.  But it was actually really good.  The restaurant set up can be a little deceptive.  You have to walk through the courtyard to get to the dining area.  But once your in, it's very quaint looking inside.  I think it's meant to look like a charming little Italian piatza  but it still looks like it was probably a Mexican themed restaurant at one time.  But who cares!  The food was good!
I had my carpaccio and a yummy shrimp and scallop pasta dish. Â It was simple and tasty with a lemon caper white wine sauce over their homemade pasta. Â Finished off with a nice glass of wine and it was the perfect end to a very long day.
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