Barolo Cafe, A Hidden Little Italy In Tustin

I remember during my travel to Italy last Spring, Allen and I saw so many charming neighborhood restaurants as we strolled the streets during our free time. Unlike The U. S. where restaurants are often situated in a ‘commercial’ area, restaurants lined up the streets everywhere in Italy much like Asian countries. When I stepped into Barolo Cafe, it took me back in time. The aroma of the Italian cuisine and the atmosphere was all too familiar and comforting.

Barolo Cafe is a hidden gem among the very many shops and restaurants in a strip mall on the corner of Newport Avenue and East Main Street in Tustin. The exterior may look unassuming, the interior decor is quite charming with paintings and wall murals. The open kitchen allows the guest to see all the actions taken place in preparation of the food. Executive Chef and Owner of Barolo Cafe, Chef Giuseppe, is originally from Salerno, Italy. His culinary experiences span from France to Switzerland and world wide around cruise ships. His specialties include Osso Buco, Cioppin, Homemade Ravioli, Veal Chop, Risotto among many others.

Food isn’t the only thing that customers raved about. The service is also what keeps the patrons coming back. Despite a fairly busy night, our server was attentive throughout and made sure we had everything we needed.

Every table is served a Homemade Bread. Warmly toasted, they were light and fluffy.
Next we got a plate of Prosciutto, Burrata Cheese and Tomoto. It was just the right amount of fat for me so we really enjoyed it. The House Salad was light and refreshing. The one thing I’ve noticed in Italy was how ‘light’ the cuisine was. Simple dressing or sauce gave plenty of flavor. Sometimes less is more.
Our main entree was a Trio of Braised Short Rib, Chicken Ravioli and Opah Piccata. This is not on the regular menu but if you asks nicely, Chef Giuseppe just might make it for you, too. The Short Rib was moist and tender packed with tons of flavor. Chicken Ravioli is a classic dish. The pasta shells were nice and al dante. My favorite was the Opah Piccata (Lemon Caper Sauce). The fish was delicate and cooked beautifully in the lemon caper sauce. I most definitely will order this again.

There were so many other dishes on the menu to try – Linguine Vongole (pasta with baby clams, white or red sauce) and Farfalle con Scampi Fra Diavolo (pasta with shrimp, garlic, olive oil and spicy tomato sauce), both looked amazing.

Our host, Stacey, would not let us finish dinner without trying the flagship Italian dessert – Tiramisu, served with fresh berries, it was lightly and delicious. I am not actually a huge fan of Tiramisu but I actually like this one. 

I ate so much gelato in Italy, sometimes twice a day. This Mango Gelato covered in White Chocolate was a perfect ending to a fabulous meal.

Barolo Cafe has been open since 1982. Thirty-three years later, it’s still going strong. Chef Giusepe’s passion comes through in every dish he creates. 80% of the customers are regular and that’s no surprise. If you have not tried it, make it a new year resolution to visit Barolo Cafe soon.

Barolo Cafe
13771 Newport Ave., Ste 9
Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 734-8882