Excellent service. Very good food, and very cozy and romantic atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dragor Cochrane
We paid some $100 for excruciating pain on my birthday. I explained my disease to the proprietor, and inquired as to whether he knew what gluten was. Could I safely eat in his restaurant? He expressed confidence he could make me food that was safe to eat. Rather than sleeping, I spent the night of my birthday in agonizing pain.Certainly I am responsible for my credulity, seduced as I was by a pleasant atmosphere and his delightful manner. But given my expressed medical condition, what he did really wasn't right, and I wish I had thought to ask for compensation.Vegetarian options: I think you could probably make it workDietary restrictions: DO NOT TRUST WHAT THEY SAY. AGONY MAY ENSUE.Parking: If I remember correctly it was metered and pretty hard to find. We felt lucky when we found a spot.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 1
J G
Overpriced for mediocre food. I'm not one to pick the Olive Garden, I prefer authentic Italian food but I would have preferred it over this place. First, the server (owner) was not friendly at all, hardly said a word and once he gave us our food he did not return at all. The powdered parmesan cheese he practically threw on our plates was not real cheese, it might have been KRAFT or some other brand but it was definitely not real cheese. I am shocked to see many people give this place 5 stars, I'm sure they're either paid, his friends, or they haven't had real authentic Italian food. If I could give 0 stars I would. Definitely not returning to this place. Don't be fooled by their website that makes the place and food look fancy and authentic, it's nowhere near that!!Garlic Bread 1/10Spaghetti w/meatballs 2/10Fettuccine Carbonara 3/10Customer service 1/10
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
Gregory Forster
Business was slow. We walked in with a party of 7. Host was not welcoming. Did his job, but didn't seem to care whether we were there or not. Portions, while food was good, should have been a bit larger considering the price. Chintzy with the bread/butter. I don't think that any of us will return.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 2
Bronze Martin
Small and quaint restaurant run by a family. The food and wine menu were flawless and the service was especially great. I highly recommend coming to this restaurant in balboa. You won't be disappointed.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spaghetti Bolognese
Serzh Baumtsveiger
We came for dinner for 5 people. The manager old guy was impolite in the very beginning, he didn't ask us about reservations, etc. After a few minutes he came back and said that they have another guest for our table. He asked us to leave in a rude way. Me and my family we were shocked by his behavior.DO NOT RECOMMENDED this horrible place!!!!!
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
Paul H
The authentic flavor of the food is wonderful. Very quaint little space on Balboa Island.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
ann ..
This place is overpriced and lousy. The salmon was dried out and I'm assuming it was frozen. It was not worth $30. The Bruschetta appetizer was a piece of French bread cut into four pieces with a little tomato and mozzarella.
C J.
Wonderful service with nice ambiance, soft Italian music was playing while we eating Caesar salad, Cozze E Vongole and Carbonara Pasta. Taste of the food was authentic!
Prachi G.
My bf had been wanting to try this Italian restaurant out for a while now. We have walked by it many times and it looks cute from the outside. We thought it would be a hidden gem. We were wrong. I was already a little apprehensive about eating here as the recent yelp reviews were not the best and the people walking out after they had eaten said it wasnt the best. We started off by asking our waiter for some bread and ordered the melon/prosciutto as an app. The prosciutto came out dry and the melon was cut in thick chunks. Definitely did not taste freshWe ordered pasta with red sauce and it tasted worse than canned sauce. I was really disappointed with the taste of the food because we thought it was going to taste fresh. I will not be coming back
Nice Italian restaurant. Adorable atmosphere. Chicken Marsala is fantastic. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Barbara L.
What a quaint and authentic Italian restaurant on Balboa Island! Greeted by the owner who is clearly passionate about serving up, In a word... YUM! Most delicious, perfectly cooked pasta with craveable homemade sauce, (owner suggested). My friend had the veal with onions mashed potatoes, carrots, and green vegetables. Beautiful presentation, delicious food! Trattoria looks and feels like you're actually in a small restaurant in Italy. It's an authentic experience with beyond five-star food! We loved it! Let's all support small businesses like Trattoria one eatery that truly deserves our business!
Jillian B.
If I could give this place zero stars I would! It was disgusting. We ordered salmon farfalle which was $24.00. I was irritated and appalled when the server brings out .20cents worth of bow tie pasta with about 2 table spoons damned canned salmon on it. I'm sorry but I don't eat canned salmon. Why bother? It's gross! It was canned and salty tasting from bite one. My husband asked how I liked the meal. As I'm gagging down my first biye I smile politely at him while gagging and trying not to throw up! His reaction to tasting the meal was the same. We also got a $10dollar side salad with it that contained wilted lettuce, two chunks of slimy cantaloupe and their house dressing. It was also gross. Needless to say we will not be back to this place ever.
Brandon Gauthier
OMG, this place is so great. It only has about 10 tables in the front with a nice Italian feel. The food is amazing, my son and I had the spaghetti boganese. My wife had the lobster ravioli and my daughter had the salmon pasta. All the dishes were so good. The meal is saved with bread and butter. The house wine was delicious as well.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Jessica
Most delicious food and amazing service. Will be coming here every time I’m on the island.
Excellent service. Very good food, and very cozy and romantic atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We paid some $100 for excruciating pain on my birthday. I explained my disease to the proprietor, and inquired as to whether he knew what gluten was. Could I safely eat in his restaurant? He expressed confidence he could make me food that was safe to eat. Rather than sleeping, I spent the night of my birthday in agonizing pain.Certainly I am responsible for my credulity, seduced as I was by a pleasant atmosphere and his delightful manner. But given my expressed medical condition, what he did really wasn't right, and I wish I had thought to ask for compensation.Vegetarian options: I think you could probably make it workDietary restrictions: DO NOT TRUST WHAT THEY SAY. AGONY MAY ENSUE.Parking: If I remember correctly it was metered and pretty hard to find. We felt lucky when we found a spot.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 1
Overpriced for mediocre food. I'm not one to pick the Olive Garden, I prefer authentic Italian food but I would have preferred it over this place. First, the server (owner) was not friendly at all, hardly said a word and once he gave us our food he did not return at all. The powdered parmesan cheese he practically threw on our plates was not real cheese, it might have been KRAFT or some other brand but it was definitely not real cheese. I am shocked to see many people give this place 5 stars, I'm sure they're either paid, his friends, or they haven't had real authentic Italian food. If I could give 0 stars I would. Definitely not returning to this place. Don't be fooled by their website that makes the place and food look fancy and authentic, it's nowhere near that!!Garlic Bread 1/10Spaghetti w/meatballs 2/10Fettuccine Carbonara 3/10Customer service 1/10
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
Business was slow. We walked in with a party of 7. Host was not welcoming. Did his job, but didn't seem to care whether we were there or not. Portions, while food was good, should have been a bit larger considering the price. Chintzy with the bread/butter. I don't think that any of us will return.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 2
Small and quaint restaurant run by a family. The food and wine menu were flawless and the service was especially great. I highly recommend coming to this restaurant in balboa. You won't be disappointed.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spaghetti Bolognese
We came for dinner for 5 people. The manager old guy was impolite in the very beginning, he didn't ask us about reservations, etc. After a few minutes he came back and said that they have another guest for our table. He asked us to leave in a rude way. Me and my family we were shocked by his behavior.DO NOT RECOMMENDED this horrible place!!!!!
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
The authentic flavor of the food is wonderful. Very quaint little space on Balboa Island.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
This place is overpriced and lousy. The salmon was dried out and I'm assuming it was frozen. It was not worth $30. The Bruschetta appetizer was a piece of French bread cut into four pieces with a little tomato and mozzarella.
Wonderful service with nice ambiance, soft Italian music was playing while we eating Caesar salad, Cozze E Vongole and Carbonara Pasta. Taste of the food was authentic!
My bf had been wanting to try this Italian restaurant out for a while now. We have walked by it many times and it looks cute from the outside. We thought it would be a hidden gem. We were wrong. I was already a little apprehensive about eating here as the recent yelp reviews were not the best and the people walking out after they had eaten said it wasnt the best. We started off by asking our waiter for some bread and ordered the melon/prosciutto as an app. The prosciutto came out dry and the melon was cut in thick chunks. Definitely did not taste freshWe ordered pasta with red sauce and it tasted worse than canned sauce. I was really disappointed with the taste of the food because we thought it was going to taste fresh. I will not be coming back
Restaurantji Recommends
Nice Italian restaurant. Adorable atmosphere. Chicken Marsala is fantastic. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
What a quaint and authentic Italian restaurant on Balboa Island! Greeted by the owner who is clearly passionate about serving up, In a word... YUM! Most delicious, perfectly cooked pasta with craveable homemade sauce, (owner suggested). My friend had the veal with onions mashed potatoes, carrots, and green vegetables. Beautiful presentation, delicious food! Trattoria looks and feels like you're actually in a small restaurant in Italy. It's an authentic experience with beyond five-star food! We loved it! Let's all support small businesses like Trattoria one eatery that truly deserves our business!
If I could give this place zero stars I would! It was disgusting. We ordered salmon farfalle which was $24.00. I was irritated and appalled when the server brings out .20cents worth of bow tie pasta with about 2 table spoons damned canned salmon on it. I'm sorry but I don't eat canned salmon. Why bother? It's gross! It was canned and salty tasting from bite one. My husband asked how I liked the meal. As I'm gagging down my first biye I smile politely at him while gagging and trying not to throw up! His reaction to tasting the meal was the same. We also got a $10dollar side salad with it that contained wilted lettuce, two chunks of slimy cantaloupe and their house dressing. It was also gross. Needless to say we will not be back to this place ever.
OMG, this place is so great. It only has about 10 tables in the front with a nice Italian feel. The food is amazing, my son and I had the spaghetti boganese. My wife had the lobster ravioli and my daughter had the salmon pasta. All the dishes were so good. The meal is saved with bread and butter. The house wine was delicious as well.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Most delicious food and amazing service. Will be coming here every time I’m on the island.