Bruno’s Italian Kitchen

2 Reviews on “Bruno’s Italian Kitchen”

• ALove4Food

  Very average Does not wort…. Very average Does not worth to drive if you are not In Brea area

  March 13, 2015, 4:15 am

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• OCEater

  Freshness not found at others……… Personally, I put Italian restaurants in two categories- family style mom and pop restaurants, with checker table clothes, and their staple is pizza, with pasta dishes sprinkled in. Then there is your elegant high end and overly priced wanna be Italian, who impress with their decor, but still open up the bottle of Ragu for their sauce. I tend to stick with family establishments, since even though their food is more simple, they usually can’t go wrong with pizza, or spaghetti and meatballs- but the more delicate pasta dishes, forget about it. Bruno’s is a elegant (nice decor) restaurant at a family price, and well worth the money. The dishes are amazingly good- with freshly made pastas and home made sauce. The marinara tastes like fresh picked tomatoes- not sharp, overly acidity or heavily herbed, but the the taste of fresh tomato picked right from the garden with the texture and sweetness to match. Flavors you can’t get from a jar or can- it is just not possible. I am very picky when it comes to Italian, and maybe Italian food lovers would be insulted by my taste in food, but this place is special in my book. And reasonably priced- Lobster Risotto for under $19 and it was delicious, with chunks of lobster, asparagus and fresh cherry tomatoes mixed it- almost like velvety lobster bisque mixed in to Risotto. I love the Pappardelle Bruno, tender pieces of short rib meat, carefully cooked to the point of tender fall apart in your month deliciousness, mixed with wild mushrooms and a slight hint of tomatoes, with wide, flat freshly made noodles- this beefy dish is great for the guy diners, and also for those finicky non-Italian food guests. Almost an Italian version of Beef and noodles, very hardy, homey and filling. The simplest of eats- capellini with a light basil tomato mixture, incorporates the same fresh pasta and fresh tasting tomato sauce, slight garlic hints, and accompanied with cool mozzarella cheese balls, a simple yet delightful dish, transformed by the freshness of the ingredients. I cannot forget to mention the Arancini appetizer, deep fried (but not greasy) Risotto balls in a light marinara- balls of incredible cheesy and tomato flavor, almost makes you want them to be in a roll with sauce and melted mozzarella as your meal. If you want to save room for the main meal- the whole wheat bread service, with oil, balsamic vinegar and special seasoning is a great starter by itself- just don’t fill up on the bread. Bruno’s has (30)+ different kinds of wine- priced the same for all bottle varieties, takes the price point approach away from your choosing- and whether by the glass or bottle the price works out the same, and you have the same choices, your are not limited on the by the glass selections. No pizza here- just great, simple, fresh, flavorful sound pasta and ingredients that will turn your food experience upside down. The staff at Bruno’s are attentive and eager to help you and win you over as a customer. Can’t decide on a dish, asked them, or the owner Don, to help, they will not steer you wrong, and will help you to not settle on the same old Italian faire offered at most high end places. They have those, but they want you to experience their specialties and something different This place is just right for the atmosphere, food, and price. Bruno’s is busy after 7:00 PM, so arrive early to get seated faster, or make a reservation ahead of time.

  January 8, 2013, 9:35 pm

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