The ambiance is classy yet welcoming and everyone here is dressed casual. Started out with the Peach Bellini cocktail. So good, light and refreshing. I read some reviews that mentioned the Pasta Alla Vodka so I tired that and was really happy with my order. The noodles were stuffed and the pancetta was crisp, the sauce was flavorful, and I was happy. I thought it was better than their signature dish, the Pasta Brio, which was mildly spicy. The server was attentive. The only thing I didn't really like were the inflated prices. I felt like the dishes me and the bf got cost more than they should have.(about $18 for a plate of pasta for one). Pasta is usually filling and hard to finish but we ate everything without a problem. But then again, it was good quality, moderate portions, but good, so idk maybe I'm just being cheap. Not used to having room for a dessert and drink after a pasta dish I suppose. But yeah other than that pretty good.
(4)
Teleia T.
Amazing! Great service and fantastic food. Everything we got was amazing. Highly recommend the risotto. Very nice atmosphere also. Inviting fireplace by the bar. Really pretty freaking from the ceiling in main area and nice patio seating. Definitely will be going back soon.
(5)
Sharon M.
Good food, clean and friendly staff. Enjoyed the environment. Had the fettuccine pasta with olives and my boyfriend had the blackened talapia. Not too much selection for vegetarians most of the food had meat or sea food.
(4)
Komal S.
Great happy hour ! love the flatbread and the eggplant fries..
(5)
Shantelle T.
Good prices. Average food. Its kind of like a mix between cheesecake factory and olive garden. The patio is nice and there's seating for big groups but its clearly a mediocre chain restaurant suited for middle America. A fillet is $20 which is great but I could cook a better fillet at home. The menu doesn't even have traditional Italian fare like pasta bolognese or homemade raviolis. Oh and the calories are printed on the menu. Eeeek!! I dont want to see that unless im at McDonalds. It is a large menu with a lot of choices though. I would say its a nice experience for families and people on a budget that want a decent dining experience. If you're entertaining out of town guests or going on a date or even going out with the girls, I definitely don't recommend it. There's a ton of better places in the spectrum for those with finer palettes such as cucina enoteca, Javier's, yard house, etc.
(3)
J M.
The ambiance is nice at Brio, the service is good, but the Grilled Salmon Fresca is probably the best dish I've ever eaten! Try it, if you like salmon, fresh asparagus, tomatoes, basalmic etc. Honestly, I'm still thinking about this entree that I had two nights ago. And the calorie count (according to the menu) is only 500! Impossible-- It was soooooo good.
(5)
Cosmo G.
I really wanted to like this place. The ambiance was great and the service was quick. The food was a big disappointment. We visited last September 19 for dinner to celebrate my mother-in-law's birthday. Let me start off by saying I do not like spicy food at all. Their complimentary bread was spicy. The calamari was dry and overcooked (crispy instead of juicy and tender) The dish I ordered, Lobster & Shrimp Fettuccine was spicy!!! I hesitantly ordered it after our server reassured me it was not spicy-all I could taste were the pepper flakes! I did not find anything else in the menu that appealed to me, hence, I gambled on that main dish. My husband's flatbread was nothing special. The only saving grace that night was my mother in law's Shrimp & Crab Cakes! I've visited their sister restaurant Bravo in IL and their food was so much better! Let's just say that I would rather go to Olive Garden than Brio.
(1)
Peeka L.
This was disappointing. I went here for happy hour and ordered some entrees as well. Sangrias were good but a bit too sweet. Eggplant fries were tasty. My friend ordered the Ravioli di Bello which was underwhelming. It was edible but the quality was on par with mediocre Italian chain restaurants. I had a salad which was overdressed and soggy. They use regular ol iceberg, not even Romaine. However the location is not bad. It's away from the craziness of Irvine Spectrum. The building is completely new and there's ample outdoor seating. Would I come back for lunch/dinner? No. But it would be a good option for Happy Hour where prices are closer to the quality of food and drink you're getting.
(3)
Nadereh M.
Very elegant ! GREAT service, very friendly staff. Loved the food . And the dessert, loved the size ! They are all individual size mostly for $3.95, nice! The outside seating, loved it!!
(5)
Kimo L.
Went for brunch on a Sunday. Got there a little after 11 and had to wait about 10 minutes for a table despite the fact that the restaurant was ENTIRELY empty. We were told that we couldn't be seated because there were no servers except for one outside in the patio area. Since we had our 2 year old and given that it was hot outside, we waited for the inside table. Found it weird that a place would open at 11, yet the servers didn't arrive until 11. WTF? Once seated, things started out promising since we were practically the only ones there. Ordered drinks, and then waitress came back a few minutes later to verify our orders. There were only 3 of us, and 2 of the 3 got lemonade. Ok, maybe I'm being picky but I hate it when servers don't write things down. I find that there's usually a 50-50 chance the order will come out flawlessly. Appetizer came out along with my wife's side chopped salad, which was the sorriest looking salad I've ever seen. Sure it was a side salad, but seriously it looked so boring. Some chopped up lettuce, cucumber and tomatoes. Really? I could have done that. At least make it look pretty! Food took a while to come out--I'd say at least 25 minutes, but the good news is that we were the only ones with that problem given the fact that the people who were seated well after us all got their food before we did. When my entree came out, it was wrong. I asked for no pine nuts and added chicken. Got pine nuts and no chicken. Food itself was decent. Not horrific, not terribly exciting. They gave my 2 year old some pizza dough to play with, which was nice. I'll probably come back, but not any time soon.
(3)
Faud H.
Beautiful restaurant and good food. Tried several dishes from the late night happy hour menu. We tried five items and had 5 drinks between the two of us and our bill was only $55 which was a fantastic value. Only complaint was the service. We went on the second night they were opened so mediocre service was expected. Overall it was a good experience and we will definitely be back!...went there again and ordered the portobello ravioli which was recommended, and I hated it. The sauce was watery and the filing tasted like frozen ravioli from the supermarket... Will have to take a break from this one unfortunately.
(2)
Pooja D.
Loved the food! I have tried the fried ravioli, peach sangria, caprese salad and they are all really good. Service is fast. Happy hour prices rock. The warm bread in the beginning is really good too. Went there twice in 3 weeks and would go again!!
(4)
Brian L.
The price is fair the atmosphere is trendy and sophisticated, the service was attentive and the food was good too! Not all the plates are authentic Italian,, they have great plates put together and a good use of thinking outside the box. If you want pizza it not on the menu, but you can order the childs pizza and its a large enough size for an adult.
(5)
Katerina Y. Y.
First time here. Really enjoying the bread tray. Sour dough freshly baked and a cheesy brushetta. Parking is atrocious at the Irvine spectrum tho so be prepared to relax and enjoy the crowd. Definitely not for the person who wants quiet and peace. But once you are at the restaurant.- definitely delicious. The husband will definitely come again if we are in the area.
(4)
Debra S.
Nice but way too noisy! We were there for dinner on Friday evening and couldn't hear each other across the table. The decor is beautiful but whoever designed the acoustics didn't value conversation! Food and service were good, but the noise level really undermined the experience.
(2)
Breanna S.
Great food, fast and friendly service! I ordered the braised beef with parpadelle noodles, one of today's Chef specials which was absolutely delicious! The white peach lemonade was also yummy!
(5)
Brent M.
Great food and service. Came here for happy hour and ordered off the regular menu as well. Great atmosphere and attentive servers. The Bruschetta Quattro and Mushroom Ravioli with brown butter sauce are the best I've tasted. The sangrias are the best I've had as well. Brio has better food and is more reasonably priced than Cucina Enoteca here at the Spectrum. Will be back often.
(5)
Alyssya G.
My server was Melrose and she was amazing! The food is to die for. I had the grilled steak salad and it was delicious. I am definitely coming back here over and over
(5)
GAIL W.
Great place to pop in for lunch and sit at the bar. Staff is super friendly and food is delicious. I ordered the chicken Limone from the light menu. Took half home and it was just as good the next day for lunch. Been here many times for happy hour and dinner, gets very busy and loud. Lunch was a quiet change.
(5)
Tracy H.
Great food, great service. No corkage. We will definitely be going back :)
(5)
Marc M.
Everything was great. Our waiter, Anthony, was amazing to say the least and was very helpful and personable. The other staff was also great, as well as the food, atmosphere and service time. Food came super quick as well. Definitely going back for happy hour or brunch
(5)
Braden P.
I'm happy to see another new restaurant coming to the Irvine Spectrum. The build out looks great, and it is a great spot to stop by for some wine.
Having been to Tuscany recently I have to say they have truly captured the quality and character that is so distinctive to the Tuscany region. Bravo, excellente!
(4)
Anthony D.
Food was great. Are server Nikki K recommended a couple of dishes. One was med shrimp which was fabulous. salads and spicy shrimp appetizer was to die for.
(5)
Amy L.
I was excited to try this place since it recently opened at the spectrum. After a fourty five minute wait I wasn't blown away with my experience there. Maybe if I didn't have to wait at all it would be okay but my expectations grew the longer that I waited. I ordered the campanelle carbonara which I thought was mediocre. Unfortunately not as tasty as I would have hoped for. My friend ordered portobello mushroom ravioli which she said was good but not quite filling enough. Another friend ordered the pasta alla vodka which looked appetizing but was not on the same standard as other competing Italian places that she had tried before. What disappointed me the most, however, was the lack of service possibly because of how new this restaurant is. Our bread came out after our main dishes did!!!! Also, I had to hunt down a waiter to ask for a napkin that the table didn't yet have. It was okay. Nothing to be worked up about but nothing to rave about either. Maybe happy hour would be more worthwhile
(3)
bimali b.
I liked this place very much. The ambiance is good, but gets a bit too loud in the nighttime and I cant really speak over it. The food is good. The ravioli was my favorite. I have only been here three times now, but I do like it and would come back. There are plenty of choices for vegetarians (not a load, but enough) and the choices are good. The prices are also reasonable and the service was good every time I went.
(4)
Mark C.
Outstanding lasagna. Great dining experience. My wife and I are very picky diners. We were excited about such a great experience in both service and great food.
(5)
Jerry W.
Love this place, great location of course, Irvine Spectrum, how can you go wrong. Came here for happy hour twice and thought it was great. They just opened and so far great ambiance, well managed and good food and drinks
(5)
Keith P.
Unsweetened tea was very sweet. Sent it back. Salad was drenched in dressing, and steak was mostly overcooked (they never asked how we wanted it). Lobster bisque was very good, but needed a little more lobster. Gorgonzola syeak medallions were ordered medium, but came out well done. Sent it back to redo, and second plate came out either medium well or rare. Topping on medallions was way too salty. Inedible. I scaped it off and dipped the steak in the mushroom sauce, and that helped. Mashed potatoes were thick and starchy, not creamy or light. Grilled veggies...carrots were overdon, soft, and wrinkled. All other veggies were undercooked...must not have been done at the same time. Bread was soft, warm, and delicious. Unfortunately, the butter was cold and hard. Impossible to spread. Didn't try the desserts, but they looked tasty.
(2)
Pov ..
Not overly impressed and slightly disapointed. Hair in my wedge salad, no apology from managment. Salmon with Angel Hair, only about 3 bites of pasta. Looked incomplete. Beef Carpaccio was good. The busser and servers were more attentive than our own server. Better option at the Spectrum than this. Cucina, Del Frisco's, etc...
(2)
Jenn H.
I came here for their happy hour on Friday. My friend and I had 2 drinks each and 3 happy hour food items and our bill was only $35! Their happy hour has food for 4, 5 or 6 dollars. Good portions too, my friend and i weren't even close to finishing our food. Peach sangria was great. Staff was friendly and the restaurant was very clean. I'm already planning my next trip to Brio.
(5)
C F.
Great place! Great waiter! His name is Brice. Had the linguini with lobster and shrimp. Very good. Wine was fairly priced at 7.75 for house. We will continue come back. Thanks.
Went to dinner last night and it was amazing. The restaurant itself if very nice. We sat on the patio which was very nice. Service was over the top. Have not had service that good in a long time! And the food was amazing. My wife had a shrimp salad that was great, friends had salmon they raved about and I had the Gorgonzola covered steak...one of the best meals I have ever tasted! Could have eaten two plates! Also, drinks we so good as well. Prices were not bad at all. $15-$25 for entrees. Overall on ring the best dining experiences we have had in a long time. We can't wait to go back soon!!!
(5)
Angelique O.
Stuff on the butter. No, methinks not.
(1)
Steven C.
WOW! What an evening this turned out to be. When we saw the event for BRIO Tuscan Grille we were a bit on the fence on whether or not to put in for it or not but boy am I glad that I did. For a business that doesn't open for a few more days this place already has their stuff together in nearly every aspect. As we were waiting outside for one of our friends to arrive the staff on hand came out and asked if we would like to be seated at our table and wait inside. We graciously accepted and were soon led through the beautiful restroom to the backroom where we seated at our table of 4. The ambiance and decor of the restaurant were beautiful and fit the style nicely throughout. Everything looked very lush and colorful and really gave this place an upscale charm to it. Our friend arrived just a minute or two after our seating and our server Deidre quickly made her introductions and took our drink orders. The drinks were quickly brought out to the table along with a beautifully made roasted red pepper bruschetta appetizer for the table. We were a bit confused initially as to what we could and could not order from the menu as I think all of us expected some sort of prix fix menu options and were so happy when they said we could order anything off the entire menu and it was free of charge. The bruschetta was quite good and really setup the evening nicely. For my meal I went with the Pasta Brio which consist of rigatoni, grilled chicken, seared mushrooms and roasted red pepper sauce. The pasta was cooked perfectly and the flavors were tremendous. The grilled chicken added a nice layer to the flavor palette and the roasted red pepper sauce was also made nicely although I was hoping for it to be a bit spicier. My wife went with the grilled chicken "under the brick" which she also seemed to really enjoy and also included mashed potatoes and fresh veggies. I had a bite of her chicken and it had great flavor and melted in your mouth, I would definitely come back for this dish as well. Just as we thought the night was drawing to an end our server brought out a couple of mini desserts for us to try to close out our experience. We got to try the caramel chocolate layer cake as well as a key lime and both were great. The chocolate was probably my favorite of the two simply because I love chocolate but the key lime was also very good although a bit too sweet for my overall taste but I would eat it again. It is safe to say that all three of us really seemed to enjoy the experience, the food and the patronage shown to us by the amazing staff on hand for the evening. The restaurant is beautiful, the food is great tasting and the menu is diverse and healthy enough for everyone to find something they will enjoy. Although the meals, appetizers, desserts & drinks were on the house all of the servers did an amazing job and I hope that everyone managed to tip them accordingly for their service. My hat goes off to the staff for the amazing work they did tonight. With BRIO Tuscan Grille opening in a mere couple of days I know it is just a matter of time before we return again. I saw numerous other dishes on the menu that sounded great and I have no doubt that they too will be amazing when the time comes to try them out. I highly recommend this place and hope that anyone who enjoys great Italian food will give them a try, I am glad we did.
(5)
michelle k.
First time here & I am not an Italian or pasta food liker. But I came because I was meeting a friend for lunch. I had a really hard time picking something from a menu I generally don't like but our server was really helpful. He suggested the pasta alla vodka. You can have this w/ your choice of chicken or shrimp for an additional fee. I chose to have both chicken & shrimp. This recommendation was absolutely delicious. The server assured me no one has ever returned this dish & said I could try it & return this if I was truly unhappy. Well, he's right. The pasta hater actually enjoyed this dish. The portions are large and I was unable to finish the dish even though I wanted to. I highly recommend this to any non pasta likers.
(4)
Joel R.
Im pleasantly suprised with my meal here! Highly recommend their steak bruschetta -- 6 large pieces. They do have a blue cheese sort of tasting sauce so if you are not into that order something else. I loved their spicy cream sauce pasta with green onions with shrimp ( last entree listed on the menu). Will be coming back just for that dish alone! Atmosphere is clean and nice. Service was great for lunch.
(4)
Ashkan E.
Appetizers are good but the food not so much. On the plus side there is no corkage fee. So perfect spot to take a bottle of wine on the patio by the fire and enjoy with the appetizers.
(3)
Shelly A.
One of our most favorite restaurants!!! Love all their pastas and salads. Great ambience too!!!
(5)
Chad C.
Good atmosphere, ok service, food was very disappointing. I got the lobster and shrimp linguini. Very plain and boring . Nice place tho
(2)
Vic C.
Came by with my husband around 12:30 pm for our complimentary lunch during Brio's staff training session. (Thank you Ryan C. & Brio Tuscan Grille for the opportunity) Service was rather friendly, attentive and overall a wonderful dining experience. These are the delicious food items we partook in this afternoon: Complementary Bread- Who doesn't love bread? I have dined at another BRIO Tuscan Grille Restaurant (in Rancho Cucamonga) and they always automatically bring this basket of bread to the table and I love eating it every time. Margherita Flatbread- Part of the appetizer section of the menu, this item itself is large enough to be a meal. Loved the tomatoes and strips of basil, really gave it a fresh and authentic flavor. Lemonade- I don't recall what flavor lemonade this was, but it had some kind of berry kiwi flavor. It definitely had a pucker to it at the end of each sip from the straw, but in a good way. Santa Margherita- A type of Pinot Grigio, my husband really enjoyed this and had 2 glasses. I had none as I am not a big fan of white wine. Calamari Fritto Misto- Part of the appetizer section of the menu as well, this is deliciously fried calamari that you just love to eat. The horseradish sauce and marinara sauce were excellent with the fried calamari. Well seasoned and not overly oily. Lobster Bisque- This soup was quite smooth and had an excellent mouth feel on my tongue. It had the right thickness to this soup and excellent creamy flavor. This bisque is also made with shrimp and onions, according to our fantastic server. Campanelle Carbonara- We were quite full by the time our main entrees came out so my husband and I only got about 2 bites of this dish. The pasta sauce was quite creamy and the chicken in this dish was moist and tender. It is a nice touch to have the added spinach leaves in this dish. Quinoa Salad With Asparagus & Grilled Chicken- This salad automatically is mixed in with feta cheese, which I was not made aware of. I am not a big fan of feta cheese and I told our server. A manager came out to tell me that feta cheese has been mixed in with the salad (as the quinoa part of the salad was already premade earlier) and told me they wouldn't add any extra feta to the salad though, if I still wanted it. I decided to just stay with this entree. I only had a few bites of this dish because I was already full and though the quinoa salad part of this dish was fine (but if I had ate this dish in it's entirety, I am not sure if I would like it in the end because of the amount of feta I would have by that time). The asparagus that is in this dish was great and I like the different textures in this salad. The chicken was most and cooked well. I asked for the dressing to be placed on the side and I am glad I did because I didn't like the taste of it. It had a lemony- grassy taste (not a lemon grass taste though) and felt it was missing something. Tiramisu- Wished this dish was a little bit sweeter, but it was good. I am not a big fan of the cocoa powder on top of the tiramisu because it did cause my husband to cough/ choke a bit while consuming this dessert (I never like cocoa powder by itself and rarely use it as a topping for any baked goods and desserts I make). Creme Brulee- I liked this dessert better than the tiramisu. It was made well with the hard candy shell and pudding underneath. As mentioned before, service was quite attentive and friendly. Our server, Jose, was funny and friendly. He gave some great food recommendations as well. One thing to note though was that we waited quite a long time for our entrees to be brought out. We had a manager, our server and another server come out to us a few times to tell us that it is coming soon... but it really took like 30 ish minutes (no joke... we didn't leave the restaurant until close to 2 pm and we got in here around 12:30 pm. We were seated w/in 5 minutes of checking in). I know that is a long time to wait, but this is their training and we were getting treated to free food (and quite a lot of it and I have leftovers for lunch tomorrow sitting in my fridge as I write this review) and so it was forgivable. Because we waited quite a long time for our entree, our drinks were comped (drinks were not free). With any new restaurant, there are bound to be some slip ups and I forgive this restaurant of that and honestly would come back here and check out again in the future. By the way, their grand opening will be this Thursday. Lastly, just want to mention that this place is right across Forever 21 and also across from Nordstrom in case you are looking for this place at the Spectrum. Also their wifi (unprotected) was pretty fast and the woman's restroom was clean and had a nice elegance to it.
(4)
John L.
Amazing food. Every dish I have had there has been the best or one of the top three of any Italian dish I have ever had. That Happy Hour Burger though...... $5 for a burger that blows away The Counter, Slaters, or any other burger you have ever had. a MUST try!
(5)
Dhenise K.
Been here like twice a week since im a lite eater. I always get the beef carpacio is like a thin cured meet that goes well with their flaxseeds bread. It was dinner nigth so kinda slow on service but the food was decent and good for tapas or sharing. Will be back next week fo try their pasta and bruschetta.
(4)
Iana G.
I've been here about 10 times since they opened! I love this place! It's definitely in my top 10 most favorite restaurants! Pasta Brio is my FAVORITE! You can't go wrong especially if it's your first time. I love the ambiance of the restaurant and like the fact that the outdoor space feels almost like a lounge! The drink prices are so reasonable and my absolute favorite is their white peach sangria!
(5)
Tika B.
Came here for Happy hour on a Friday afternoon with the coworkers. Their happy hour runs from 3:30-6:30pm M-F, and I have to say yummy drinks and food being $4-6 is a pretty great deal! Plus the portion sizes are amazing! I ordered the 2 different sangrias and boy were they delicious. We also ordered the artichoke dip, which was perfect for 3 people! Definitely come early since it was pretty crowded by 5-6ish.
(5)
Gene P.
We came in after some shopping at the Spectrum. There was a 45 to 50 minute wait for a table, but the bar and patio area was first come first server, so we decided to take a seat at the bar. After looking over the menu and checking out some pictures others have posted, we chose to order the Calamari fritto misto to start, the Campanelle carbonara for me, and the Grilled mahi mahi for my wife. The calamari came out quicker that I expected, which was a pleasant surprise. It had a light flaky batter that was not too salty. Among the fried squid were some fried jalapeño bites, another pleasant surprise. After an appropriate time for us to almost finish the calamari, our dishes came out. The dish that I had was a creamy chicken pasta with spinach and bacon bits. This is the kind of dish that you love while eating, but hate yourself after eating all of it. I won't say how much I ate. The pasta was not quite al dente, but also not too far off. The sauce was rich and creamy and how can you go wrong with a sprinkling bacon bits mixed in. My wife's dish was grilled mahi mahi on a bed of basil and farro, which is very similar to brown rice, topped with tomatoes. The dish is under the "Lighter side of Tuscany" section of the menu. I had one bite and liked what I had. The fish wasn't overcooked and the farro was cooked just right. The flavors were delicate. I would rate Brio Tuscan Grille a solid 4.
(4)
ellen h.
Gorgeous new restaurant with dishes that taste delicious without being too heavy. The restaurants itself is open and designed beautifully. We sat outside in the patio and it's a great place to relax, people watch, and enjoy a great meal with good company. The service was friendly and accommodating. We ordered the the steak bruschetta and lobster bisque to start. The bruschetta was tasty but difficult to eat as it's too big to eat in one bite, but hard to bite into two. There was a spicy flavor to it that was unexpected and not necessary. I probably wouldn't order this again. The lobster bisque was very creamy but didn't really stand out for me. For entrees we ordered the mushroom ravioli and pasta alla vodka- both extremely delicious! Mushroom ravioli: The filling was stiffed with creamy mushroom goodness and the pasta laid on a light mushroom sauce, and was topped with pieces if mushroom and cherry tomatoes. Highly recommend this dish if you are a mushroom lover. It's not too heavy and very tasty. Pasta Alla Vodka: another great dish full of flavor while still feeling light. A nice tomato cream based sauce coated the pasta which was filled with ricotta cheese. There was also some fresh tomatoes, basil, garlic and pancetta which all helped cut through the creaminess. Really yummy! Chocolate torte: good but unmemorable. Comes with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Great experience- check it out!
(4)
Rachel P.
Nice atmosphere, friendly hostess and server, and good food. My daughter had the chicken parmigiana and the chicken was nice and crispy and the side of pasta Alfredo was really good. What a great kid's meal. I had the chefs special chicken limon and it was good. It was pounded out chicken breast dipped in egg wash and pan fried served with a caper lemon sauce. The sides of mashed potato and grilled veges were good. We will be back here again.
(4)
Carissa U.
My friend Tiffany C. told me about this event so we signed up. We were lucky to snag a reservation at 8:30pm. We got there at 8pm and the restaurant was busy and a little noisy. But the food passing us by looked yummy. Brio is a beautiful new stand alone restaurant right next to the Spectrum and the Nordstrom parking structure. Our party of 4 arrived and we were greeted, welcomed, and seated right away. We were treated to a wonderful complimentary dinner which included: Calamari - I only thought this was okay. It wasn't as crispy as I would of liked it, but my dinner partners seem to have enjoyed it. Carpaccio - OMG it was huge! And really good! Beef Bruschetta - I really enjoyed this as well, and would definitely order this again. Chopped Salad - I had a few bites from my fiance's salad, but there was just wayyy too much dressing that we couldn't finish it. It was good, but would of been better with less. It was too soggy. Carbonara (mines) - YUM! Only drawback was the chicken was a little overcooked. But the flavors of the sauce was on point and the pasta was cooked perfectly. Shrimp Verduta? (his dish) - Good. But mines was better. :P Pasta Brio (friend) - I don't care for red sauces, so I didn't like it that much. Cheesecake - YUM! Some type of chocolate lava type cake (forgot the name) - this was just okay to me. Only drawback of the whole experience is that they ran out of a lot of our initial choices - both soups, Pasta Alla Vodka, veal, lasagna... and we didn't find out until we were done with apps and hungry, ready for dinner. :( We didn't leave till about 10:30pm since the kitchen was so backed up. But it's okay. I know they're still working the kinks out, so it's expected. But shout out to our server William who was awesome. We'll definitely check it out again. Thanks again BRIO and Yelp!
(4)
Angela C.
Thank you Brio for the Yelp soft opening event. I felt very special. Moving on to the actual review. The restaurant building itself felt like modern Tuscan decor with a beautiful outdoor seating that not only has glass wind blockers, heaters, and a fire place, but also fans. The bread basket contains both sour dough and a crispy parmesan flavored carb. The shrimp with eggplant appetizer is absolutely delicious, bursting with flavor, and crispy, perfectly cooked eggplant. I have to say, that I couldn't tell it was even eggplant. My one concern about this dish was that it was way too salty. Once the salt is toned down, this is an awesome dish to not just eat, but also to dip your bread in the tasty sauce. The crabcakes contained tons of crab and baby shrimp, minimally held together by bits of breadcrumbs. This is the real deal. Most other places have crabcakes that are mostly breadcrumbs with some crab meat. Not here! This dish was accompanied by perfectly sauteed vegetables. If you are a dainty eater and a crab lover, this is the perfect size dish for a relatively healthy, low carb entree. My favorite of the lunch was the Ravioli di Bello - mushroom ravioli with champagne brown butter sauce and tomatoes. The creaminess of the mushroom ravioli totally complemented with the tangy tomatoes and the sweetness of the brown butter sauce. DIVINE!!! My mouth is watering for it again as I am writing up this Yelp review. Stay away from the Steak salad. Although the vegetables were fresh, the steak was chewy and not marinated. The horseradish dressing had no taste and no kick. 5 stars instead of 4 stars because the Ravioli di Bello was sooooo yummy and the shrimp with eggplant has potential to be superb once the salt content decreases. Plus, Brio Tuscan Grill truly has tons of real crab in their crabcakes.
(5)
Anthony M.
Great atmosphere, totally nice restaurant... But lacking in the simple complementary customer services. Would I come back, no! This was my second try. First time was in opening day.
(2)
Andy P.
The ambiance here is nice. They have a nice outdoor area where you can sit by the fire pit and sip your spirits. The interior is elegant. I especially like the seats at the kitchen bar where you can see the chefs doing their magic. Since this was their soft opening, a lot was going on. They were on top of it. We had 5 different management members stop by our table to check in on us throughout our dinning experience which is nice. In terms of service wise, above par despite their hectic schedule. Food. Overall, everything tasted good. We had a Pepperoni-Ricotta Flatbread Pizza. That was light, crunchy and had the right tone of flavors. Some place is either too greasy or lacking of character. This one did it just right. So the dishes that was ordered were Lasagna Bolognese Al Forno, Veal w/ light Alfredo Sauce, and Herb Chicken w/ Mashed Potatoes and Vegetable. Lasagna was pretty good. I would recommend that. The cheese, sauce, meat, and pasta was at delivered with the right proportion. Veal was good. I had better but this was decent. As for dessert, a little disappointed. Cheesecake was mediocre at best. Platting was not up to par. But lets skip that and go into taste. It did not present the creamy rich flavor that I have sampled before. Crust was a little thick and it lacked the usual characteristics of a cheesecake. The strawberry on top did not do much for it either. Overall dinning experience was a solid three stars. Will be back for their happy hour and perhaps revisit their dishes again once everything is settled in.
(3)
Jo-an S.
A friend took me here for lunch a couple of days ago, and I must say I was pleasantly surprised. The dining room itself is gorgeous. The relaxed ambiance was refreshing, and the natural lighting made it feel like we were dining al fresco. SERVICE was okay, but could definitely be better. Our server did not give us straws for our drinks, nor did she put down beverage napkins or coasters. Maybe beverage napkins aren't mandatory there, but I would highly suggest it, as condensation from beverages make for a messy wet table hindering a delightful dining experience. The kitchen brought out a Chopped Salad instead of a Caesar Salad. I highly doubt it was the kitchen's fault as the Executive Chef was there expediting. The correct salad was finally brought out... AFTER the entrees. A Caesar Salad takes 2 minutes to prepare; this should NOT have happened. Lemonade- Too tart and WAY TOO SWEET. It was good, but needed to be diluted. Salmon Salad- DELICIOUS! The salmon was seasoned and cooked perfectly. I thought it was strange that they served the dressing on the side; it seemed pretty tacky and half-@$$ed to me. Lasagna- I did not try it, but my friend seemed to have enjoyed it. OVERALL, I would give Brio some time to work out all the kinks, but I will definitely be back.
(3)
Ashley R.
Went for lunch today with a friend. We got the spicy shrimp and eggplant appetizer which was phenomenal, I ordered the Limone Chicken which was cooked to perfection, the roasted veggies and mashed potatoes were also great. What I did not like is that they cram everyone sitting so close together including large parties and its so LOUD you can barely carry on a conversation! Our service was good, almost too good if thats possible (waitress came back like 5 times to ask if we were ready to order when we told her to come back in 10 minutes) UGH Overall it was yummy! A little overrated!
(3)
Calvary D.
Overpriced. Nothing special bout this place. Decor, ambience, and atmosphere is the only thing great bout this place.
(2)
Shima S.
I was there for lunch during a weekday. This is a brand new restaurant at Irvine Spectrum. It is Italian and I saw a lot of pasta dishes. I looked over people's table and I think the food look more appetizing here than actually taste ;) On their menu they have an option for under 600 calorie dishes which is really helpful as far as choosing something relatively healthy among Italian food dishes. I ordered the Salmon salad with asparagus. The salad was ok but my Salmon was raw in the middle! Don't get me wrong! I like my salmon sashimi but not on a salad that is supposed to have a grilled salmon. I told our server and he ordered a new dish for me right away! We ended up taking it home since I told him towards the end of our food. He didn't even charge us for the salad which I thought was an excellent act of customer service! Just because of that I have to give them 4 stars instead of 3 ;) because that made me remember this place as a place where they provide excellent customer service :)
(4)
Jackie N.
So we came here twice so far; one during the soft opening during lunchtime and then a Friday night for dinner. They just opened so I won't grade on their service. The restaurant is very clean and has a homey feel to the decor. Great place for conversation or family outing. Bread basket: delicious rustic bread. The Parmesan flatbread though isn't the best. Too much herbs and Parmeasan. Berry Lemonade with Alcohol: very refreshing and berrylicious. Lobster Bisque: Very creamy and rich but definitely something to try. Beef Carpaccio: This appetizer is beautiful to share for 3 people. Still wondering if I ate raw beef though. Spinach Artichoke dip: I couldn't eat too much of this dish due to too much cream. It gets very tiring easily. Strawberry and balsamic chicken salad: Love the dish but I would recommend getting the dressing on the side. Chicken and avocado sandwich: burnt bun dry chicken. Nothing special. Crab cakes: The crab cakes would have been better if there was less mayo. The veggies that accompanied the dish was excellent especially the potatoes. Butterscotch Bread pudding: I hate bread pudding. The server told me this was their best dessert but I wish he let me chose me own dessert. Torta di Cioccolata: Disappointing. Super gooey and no cake to it. It may look good on their dessert tray but don't fall to the illusion that it will be yummy. I think I've been here enough to try it out. Not sure if I would go back.
(3)
Christine K.
Came here for dinner last night and the place was poppin'! It was jam packed by the time we left with a mixed crowd of couples, families and friends. The cocktails on the drink menu are reasonably priced but definitely are on the weaker side so if you're looking for a stronger punch, order off the menu! While my cucumber vodka drink was tasty, it lacked the alcohol. My grey goose soda was more to my liking (AKA it packed the punch). Anyway, onto the food. I ordered the Fettuccine With Roasted Tomato Compote & Kalamata Olives. I absolutely LOVED this dish and practically licked the last bit of tomato sauce from it! The fettuccine was cooked perfectly al dente and the sauce was deliciously tomatoey and savory at the same time. I especially liked the capers and olives as they added a nice kick to the dish. Serving size was just right - not too much or too little. I also had the Brio Salad which was pretty good as well but the pasta was much better. The best part? The Fettuccine dish was less than 600 calories - score! All in all, I would definitely go back here and try out the HH. The dishes are all reasonably priced and are high quality. Yay for a good Italian place in OC!
(4)
Carl B.
Excellent happy hour. Til 6:30. Dishes from $3.95. Had the hummus-excellent, eggplant fries were delicious, flatbread, fried ravioli and tomato mozzarella salad. Did some of these appetizers twice plus 8 drinks all,for about $60.00. Great drinks too. Peach sangria was $4.00 and best sangria I have had. All in all I would recommend Brio with my highest rating and ll be coming back.
(5)
Ian M.
Brio features a romantic setting, decent Italian food, and low quality service. The ambiance is really nice. There are low hanging chandeliers, that almost look planetary, over several tables. Each table has a light shining down on them which brightens you and your mates, while the rest of the restaurant looks more dimly lit. It could be a really good place for an anniversary if the food didn't give me the shits, and had our waitress paid any attention to us. Maybe we can chalk it up to them being relatively new and busy. We were seated about 5-10 mins after showing up promptly for our reservation time. After being seated, we alerted our waitress that we would be ordering off of the Irvine restaurant week menu, which seemed to throw her off as she searched for those menus. Meanwhile she didn't introduce herself, tell us her name and that she'd be taking care of us tonight, or anything of that nature. We first saw her name on the check that she dropped off later on without much eye-contact. Anyways, we're about to order our food when one of the members of our group gets a call from the front desk alerting us that our table is ready. While that's nice that they would follow up, that's not a very organized operation to have not realized we were already seated. For dinner, I had the chicken carbonara pasta, which tasted pretty good. It wasn't worth 19 plus dollars, but I would eat it for 15. Everything on the menu was a little too bloated when it came to prices. I had tiramisu out of what looked like a shot glass for dessert. That was excellent. During the course of our meal, our waitress filled our waters and asked how the food was, but it was clear that our tip wasn't important to her. She sparked conversations with other tables, putting her hand on people's shoulders and laughing, while paying as limited attention to us as possible. One thing about business: it's that your A client and D client should both feel like an A client and never wonder if they're the D client. I whispered to our table, "she's serving us like we're 12 year olds. I wish I was a big enough asshole to tip her like a 12 year old." I didn't, though, but I likely won't be coming back anytime soon. A couple hours later I had the bubblies and made multiple trips to the bathroom that night. I'm guessing it was the pasta but could have been the tiramisu. I rarely have stomach problems after eating, so something didn't jive. If I ever come back, it might just be to give their bar a chance. It looked pretty happening over there.
(2)
Chris C.
Ok much much better than last time! Maybe the key is go when they aren't busy (here at 3pm) or there's a new manager.
(5)
jami V.
One of the best HH around. They've got a deal everyday. The hamburger with chips is $5 and is excellent. Service was a bit scattered a few months ago but seems to be getting better. Great for groups - nice patios all around the restaurant.
(4)
ANGELA L.
YUM! Very fresh, good quality good. Portions are a little on the smaller side, but that's expected with these fancy schmancy places (majority of the time anyways). I tried the chicken quinoa salad with asparagus, but the substituted the chicken with salmon. I loved this combo, and my digestive system did as well. The only downside was how SLOW the service was, and everytime the waitress finally remembered to bring us something we asked for she always had an excuse. I'd rather hear a "my bad" than some long story about how it took her 10 hours to grab hot sauce for us because she had to walk to the bar, as if it was a long trek miles away. Still she was apologetic and pleasant so she's still OK in my book. I love the atmosphere of the place too! I went after work so a lot of people were there hanging out with co workers and having drinks in the outdoor patio where I was. Very relaxing. The inside of the restaurant is beautiful too...totally thought I was in Italy or whatever they were going for!
(4)
Sophorn T.
Food is good cuz E.S. says so...... ****** update: came back amd the service was good
(3)
S W.
On the one hand, Brio is very bright and clean, and has a wide open patio area that is great for a weekend brunch. The brunch prices are very reasonable, especially relative to competing establishments in the vicinity. And, as an added bonus, the friendly staff offered pizza dough for the kids to play with while waiting for their food. On the other hand, there was my Turkey Sausage, Spinach and Biscuit Benedict. First of all, the order was literally half the size of a regular eggs benedict order... for almost the same price Secondly, the two major components that (glaringly) caught my eye were the scant, shriveled up cylinders of charred turkey sausage (which I later found to have the consistency of hockey pucks) and the (flavorless) Hollandaise sauce that was spartanly sprinkled onto the plate. Although the portion size of my fellow diners' plates was more age-appropriate, none of my dining companions had anything positive to say about their brunch choices. Suffice it to say that we will not be heading back to Brio anytime in the near future.
(2)
Gabe P.
New place with an open, bright Italian style, feels like you are in a centuries old building and a green Tuscan hill is right outside. You are still at Spectrum and your car is in the parking structure, but it's nice to let your imagination fly. You got to have the eggplant fries, and then you'll get them again because everyone wanted to try one and they are gone too fast. But pretty much anything we had from that happy hour slash small portions menu was good, no exceptions. The service was great and the bar area is pretty large and open, but it gets busy fast. One of those places you feel like you didn't get the whole picture yet and there is more to try and like.
(4)
Priscilla O.
It was decent, nothing special at all. The crowd is a little weird and the restaurant is NOISY. I was actually here on a date and couldn't really hear my date who was sitting across from me. Very mediocre food, but their sangria is pretty yummy! I probably won't be stopping by again though.
(3)
Julie V.
The ambiance is fantastic, and the food even better. I've been twice now, (not so good since it's only been open for a week, yikes), once for dinner and then for lunch. I don't know if the service will always be so great and friendly, or if it's just because it's just open and they are trying to get the great word of mouth reviews and of course, the Yelp reviews. I'm hoping the service stays as great as it's been so far. I've decided that I'm going to have to eat my way through the menu to find what my favorite is, since both items I've had are mouthwatering. The only complaint is I didn't see any toilet seat covers in the restroom....petty yes, but kinda want those in there. Just hoping that was a last minute oops on their part that will be fixed soon.
(5)
Cella W.
I moved to California from Florida 2 years ago. I was so happy when I found out Brio was coming to OC! I was expecting a lot out of this Brio, given I've been going to Brio for 14 years and was a regular at the Millenia Mall location in Orlando. Totally lived up to expectations! I went 2 days after opening date because I just missed it so much! The carpaccio was just how I remembered! The calamari was very good and the aioli sauce was just delicious! The carbonara as always one of my favorites!! Mmm!! The dessert was a great little treat!!! The bartenders were very nice too, made me feel like I was at my old Brio!! I have lots of favorites..salmon salad, prosciutto asparagus bruschetta, lobster bisque (can't go wrong), the lamb chops, the chocolate lava cake..yummm!!! Happy Hour burger is delicious! Drinks are delicious as well!!! The peach sangria one of my favorites!! I love the wine selection as well!!
(5)
Amy D.
We attended a complimentary soft opening dinner where the restaurant chose an appetizer and dessert for us to try and then we chose our entree. Appetizer: Shrimp and Eggplant with a tomato creamy spicy sauce. Sounds like an unusual combo and so I probably would not have ordered it. I am so glad that we were able to try it because it was tasty! The shrimp were perfectly grilled and the eggplant (think of fried zucchini but with eggplant) did not have a greasy deep fried weird taste but tasted fresh. The sauce was AMAZING! We did it the Italian way and dipped our bread in it-Yum! Entrees: Lamb Chops with a Pistachio Mint Pesto: The plate comes with 6 nice size chops. I have never been given that many chops ever and currently priced at $29.95 (not bad at all). The chops come from New Zealand, not sure what that means but the waiter volunteered the info. I'm not one who gets the whole mint and lamb combo but the pesto has just a nice hint of mint (sweetness) and enjoyed greatly after the second bite and then on. Ravioli Alla "Something": Apologize for not remembering the exact name, this dish my husband ordered and it was ravioli's filled with portabello mushrooms. I am not a fan of mushrooms so taking his word for it that he thought it was a real winner. Dessert: Tiramisu in a glass. Honestly....just ok. More cream than cake/cookie and a bit underwhelming. Mascerpone Cheesecake: My first bite it seemed really sweet but grew on me. I would order again. Rich, a lot of flavor therefore the relatively small size was perfect-even for sharing. Not bad selection of wine choices by the glass about three from each region and vine. Corkage fee is $15. All in all, the ambiance is nice and refreshing, welcoming. Its nice to have an Italian choice at the Spectrum, I am a fan of Cucina Enoteca as well but I believe the two have different perspectives and its what you are in the mood for. Yes, we will be back!
(4)
Kevin J.
I feel nauseated recalling my experience here. this was my first and absolute last time here. let's get one thing out of the way first... people here are nice and service is good. but the food is so below average that I'd rather be chowing down at Denny's. first the eggplant and shrimp appetizer. didn't these people learn anything in culinary school? eggplant is bitter so it needs to be salted and rested before being cooked to take out the sting. apparently the $12 per hour cooks didn't read the cliff notes. next the supposedly awesome chicken parmasean looking thing was so so so undercooked that it was like biting into a ripe mango. just horrible to a point that I can still taste the rawness an hour later. I stopped by a supermarket afterwards to buy junior mints to mask the untreated and horrible taste. lastly the pasta with spicy red creamy sauce and chicken was again horrible. the strong foul taste of the chicken means one thing... old meat. I spit it out as soon as I bit into it. absolutely garbage and irresponsible to serve such poor quality. the only reason they get 2 stars is the waitress. she was very nice and helpful. she gets 5 stars and the food gets 0. don't waste your time here. as I write this I feel sick and hope it doesn't become something worse.
(2)
David L.
So I walked into the bathroom before my meal and after I went to wash my hands, I noticed one of the workers (a chef or busboy? Whatever, still disgusting) walk out of the stall and out the bathroom without washing their hands. No thanks so I left without eating.
(1)
Angie T.
The sourdough bread starter with the butter was delicious. Pasta Alla Vodka was satisfying. Will be back again.
(4)
Kayla N.
I've been here for dinner and their happy hours. Dinner was amazing the portions were more than generous and worth the cost. I got one of the lower calorie meals the filet with sweet potatoes and spinach. The filet was delicious but the sweet potatoes were a little under cooked. The table bread is amazing. When we went for happy hour most of the appetizers were $3.95 which is and awesome deal. We got the flatbread, spinach dip, eggplant fries and the burger. The drinks were pretty good too but the Sangria had no wine in it? For Happy Hour we sat outside on the patio and it was very cute. They have really comfy couches and the atomosphere was really relaxing after a long week of work.
(4)
Dawn H.
I recently spent my birthday at Brio, and intentionally sat in the lounge area to watch a play-off game. We were a party of 10, and kind of waited for tables to open up, so we could sit together, because the only TV's in the place are in the bar area. All good! We initially ordered two plates of their bruschetta sampler, while waiting for everybody to find parking. While amazing, the 8 of us there at that time didn't have plates, forks, or napkins. I improvised, and grabbed a few napkins from the bar. The bruschetta sampler is GREAT! I highly recommend! Each one better then the next. The waitress, who might have been on Zanez, or just maybe drunk, I don't know... wandered by, and I asked for two more waters, there were 8 of us then, and a total of 6 drinks on the table. She seemed confused, and said everybody had a water. We did not. I can easily count to six glasses on the table... This shouldn't be this difficult. OR confrontational. I just asked for water for our party. The last two of our party arrived, and another table opened up allowing us to all sit together. Stoned out waitress show's up again, and we get the order going. I ask for silverware, for the party, and she (lala land) says "you don't have silverware because you just sat at this last table..." The reality is that the table, that was just cleared and the ONE I was sitting at, was the only one to actually HAVE silverware. It was right in front of us...I wanted the silverware for the other tables that already went through a round of appetizers without... I received a blank stare. that's why this isn't 5 ****'s The food was FRIGGING amazing. They should take a long and hard look at the employees there. IMO. Great night! Ducks won!!! Good food, Good company!!
(4)
Peter C.
Awesome Italian food, had the lamp chop and the lobster pasta, kids had the lasagna, all were tasty, great service too, manager came and check on us multiple times and said hello. Kids had a pizza dough to play with and could make they own small pizza. Been here twice already will be back for sure!
(5)
Aaaaa R.
As an Italian food fan, Im always trying to find the best places to eat and Brio has the food definitely worth driving far for! My friend gave me a gift card and Im so glad she did. The food is delicious I ordered the shrimp and crab pasta and it did not disappoint. It was amazing!!! Our server was at his best despite that we were the youngest ones in there. This is a nice classy restaurant to enjoy some great italian food and wine! We will be visiting more often!
(5)
Irene C.
Great easy appetizers and drink selection for happy hour.
(5)
Ling K.
We've been to Brio twice now and both times, came away feeling ambivalent about it. The first time, we tried to make it to happy hour but were one minute late, and got stuck with the regular menu. Pity, because $4 carpaccio is pretty hard to beat! Instead, we had the prosciutto and mushroom pizza to start, which was quite tasty but resembled a flatbread more than a pizza. At $9.95, also a little steep. For our entrees, we had the pasta Brio and the shrimp Mediterranean. Again, both pretty tasty - but pushing $15/$16 bucks a pop... On top of that, the halogen lights were driving us crazy! I've never been the type to complain about a lighting issue at the risk of sounding like that Yelper who leaves zero stars for slow ice water refills, but these lights were super strobe-y and were actually noticeably distracting during the meal. We went back today for lunch and pretty much felt the same way. Yes, there were a couple lunch "specials" that were slightly cheaper than the dinner menu, but overall the price point didn't quite match the quality of the food and both pasta dishes ordered (lasagna and pasta pesto) were overcooked. Sorry Brio! If you're trying to pass yourself off as an Italian place, you need to at least nail down that al dente sweet spot. My advice: if you're looking for a convenient location with fast and attentive service, one step up from Olive Garden/Cheesecake Factory, by all means go for Brio! However, if you're looking to pay around $25-30 for a proper Italian meal, check out Luna Rossa at the District or Il Farro in Newport instead.
(3)
Giz S.
Apparently the Olive Garden died, and was reincarnated into a more expensive, equally subpar, "Italian" themed restaurant. Because no self respecting Italian would EVER mistake the meals here, for authentic or delicious. With really high hopes of a culinary gem sprouting up in the spectrum, my friends and I met here and ordered the Italian chop salads as appetizers. Listen, the Denny's style lettuce, tomato, and onion fell a few slices of salami, cheese, or peppers short of what was promised, but hey, when you're here, your family. The main course of pasta and various cheeses and sauces blended together without any inspiration could have come out of a microwave or high school cafeteria for all I know. Nothing "wow" to make you wanna ask for more, or plan your next girls night out around. The waitress was really cool and so was the bartender, but other than that, nothing to wrote / text home about.
(2)
Roshay M.
For the first time I visited this place on Friday and I absolutely loved it. It's such a relaxing environment and the food was GREAT!! I tried the black pepper shrimp, artichoke dip and pizza bread it was definitely worth every penny. With regards to alcohol beverage I didn't really care for it as much it taste more like a fruit punch drink, and I don't feel it's worth buying. I will revisit soon!
(5)
Kamilia A.
We waited 20 minutes although we reserved a table. Other than that our waiter was so sweet and the food was delicious.
(4)
Deborah H.
I have been to Brio twice now, and both times have been exceptionally pleasant. It's been so long since I've been to a place where they actually make you feel like you matter as a customer, rather than make you feel like you're just part of an automated system. My first time there, the kitchen forgot to add chicken into my pasta pesto, but I hadn't realized until I was almost finished. I shrugged it off and was just going to pay for it, but my friend briefly mentioned it to our server. Then I was approached by 1 or 2 more servers asking about their mistake and apologizing, as well as the manager. I was honestly completely fine with it and I let them know it was okay. They eventually just took the entire meal off the check, which surprised me cause I expected them to just not charge me for the chicken. Second time around, our server's name was Devon. He was very efficient, friendly, and a very genuine person. He gave us really nice recommendations as well. The kitchen was a little backed up and we ended up waiting maybe ten more minutes than we should have, which is really not a big deal. But of course, we got complimentary dessert on the house after they came and apologized. Overall, my two visits to Brio could not have been better and I think it is well worth the price!
(5)
Jennifer H.
Came here for restaurant week, and contrary to the other reviews, my service wasn't lacking just because we ordered off the restaurant week menu. Our waitress, Melrose, was very attentive and sweet. From the prefix menu, we ordered the Lobster Bisque Soup (which has pieces of chopped shrimp in it), the Chopped Salad, and the Shrimp & Lobster Fettuccine. EVERYTHING was delicious! The best part was the dessert which came in these parfait cups- we each got one. I recommend the Reese's PB Cup! All for $25! We made reservations and were seated on time. Ambiance is great and it has a bar inside if you want to just grab a drink. Definitely will be back!
(5)
Richard C.
My wife and I checked out one of the Newest Additions to The Irvine Spectrum, Brio Tuscan Grille, This restaurant and Service was Amazing, our Waitress Diane was Friendly and extremely knowledgeable. The food was incredible, we started off with the Lobster Bisque, and the Sliced Steak Bruschetta, then we had the Beef Capriccio, it was to Die For, hand down the best Beef Capriccio we have ever had! For our main courses we had the Veil Milanese and the Grilled Lamb Chops with a Pistachio Mint Pesto, the pastas are made from scratch. The food overall was amazing this is a wonderful addition to Irvine. May wife and I look forward to visiting again soon, even just to hang out and have some wine at the bar and some more of that incredible Beef Capriccio, and to try some of the other wonderful dishes to we saw throughout the evening.
(5)
Jo D.
Joined a group of friends for Happy Hour on Friday. We sat outdoors and our server, Greg, was awesome! We brought several bottles of wine, and he graciously uncorked them and kept them chilled. Great appetizers, especially the grilled shrimp! My sympathy to the servers who work the patio. Long sleeves, ties, aprons!
(4)
Allie K.
Five stars for all-around EXCELLENT, from the food, to the ambiance, to the decor, comfortable seating, great service, AND the calories are indicated on the menu! I ordered the roast chicken, without potatoes (extra veggies), and not only was the chicken cooked and seasoned to perfection, the assortment of vegetables included yams, broccoli, asparagus, various peppers, and others, grilled in seasoned olive oil (yum). My date ordered a platter of assorted bruschettas, each apparently uniquely masterminded by the very creative chef! To drink, I had a delicious, Italian Sauvignon Blanc, priced at only $6.95. (Prices are competitive here, and portion sizes generous.) Free safe parking is conveniently located across the street. I HIGHLY recommend Brio Tuscany!
(5)
Harold G.
We were seated between the bar and the kitchen. The decor was upscale but it was very loud. I couldn't hear the person seated two seats away. The waitress was annoying but she took our order, a table for 7, without writing it down. That was about the only thing impressive. She made sure to keep our glasses and bread full. She knocked us out of the way to use the crumb scraper. We had two salads and a lobster bisque soup. The soup was steaming and tasty. The entrees included pasta fra divolo (supposed to be spicy not at all), risotto which wasn't bad but nothing special, beef medallions (they were good), lemon chicken (good but nothing special. When you are spending almost $25 per person, you should expect the food to be wow!! Unfortunately, nothing was. I would not recommend this place unless you are into screaming at the people you are sitting with, over spending for mediocre food, and if you don't make reservations waiting a long while.
(2)
SoCalGal M.
First-timer. Joey, our server, recommended the wine, appetizers and entrees for my companion and myself. Everything was fantastic and exactly what he described. Ask for Joey with the blue eyes. He will make sure you have a great evening at Brio's. (And no I am not related to Joey. LOL!)
(5)
Don B.
Sometimes you just happen upon a place and the experience can go one way or another. We happened to be shopping at the Spectrum, it happened to be around dinnertime and we happened to see a banner advertising Brio. We popped in. Very inviting decor, quite a few tables, i would bet the atmosphere is truly bustling when they are busy. Flatbread appetizer was very good as is the bread they serve upon greeting you. My wife and daughter split a penne with chicken entree and salad, both of which they proclaimed to be very tasty. My entree was the star, however, the Lasagna Bolognese. Absolutely delicious, with a combination of Bolognese and Alfredo sauces that made for a taste adventure with every bite. Huge portion as well and I admit polishing the whole thing off, the last few bites for flavor, rather than hunger. Glad we happened by, we'll definitely be back.
(5)
Nicole D.
My husband and I ate here for dinner tonight. It was our first time dining here. We arrived at a good time because there was no wait and we were immediately greeted and sat in a booth. The service was fantastic- our servers were prompt and polite. I only needed to ask for a refill on my water once, but that was after we got the check so the meal was pretty much over. The food was great (but a little salty in my opinion. My taste buds are sensitive to salt though). Everything was delicious, the right temperature and the right portion. Highlights : the bruschetta sampler was divine!!! I would consider order a couple of those and making an entree out of them lol. The entrees were delicious but the lobster fettuccine was a tad too spicy for me and again as mentioned above the chicken pomodoro was great but just a little too salty (that didn't stop me from inhaling it though!). The desserts were fantastic! Next time I'm doing samplers of all their desserts. Lowlights: we ordered Lobster bisque as appetizers and it never came. However because I still wanted it I asked for it to packed to go. In my opinion we shouldn't have been charged for it since they forgot all about it, but whatever. The restaurant has a very cozy ambiance to it with nice warm colors throughout their interior decor as well as ambient lighting. The outdoors have nice firepits in the lounge area where a lot of patrons were enjoying their wine :) the bathrooms were super clean and tidy as well. All in all it was a good experience and we decided we would definitely go there again. We saw a sign for Sunday Brunch! I wonder if it's a buffet !?!?!? I hope so. Anyway perhaps we will try them out on a Sunday because they're brunch is offered until 3 pm which is great for me because I can sleep in until noon and still run across the street to make it in time for brunch lol.
(4)
Manar A.
Loved the steak bruschetta and lobster and shrimp ravioli. The ambiance was great, the service was excellent. We had the nicest waiter I've ever had, especially to deal with my demanding family. Great overall experiment except for being a bit over priced, would go back again!!
(5)
Daniel R.
First time here. My braised beef and my wife's pesto pasta was out of this world too! Service by Gabriel and the GM Natalie was great! We will return soon!
(5)
Jim U.
Fantastic food and great prices! The Executive Chef came to our table and made sure we were well taken care of and enjoyed our meals. They are not as authentic Italian food as they probably think they are but for $10 to $15 for an entree they blow away their competition! Great Happy hour, bar scene and private dining too!
(5)
Mitchell C.
Our company had a small holiday dinner event at this location and I was blown away with the favors as well as the plating. The burgers, ravioli and buffalo mozzarella were all flavorful!
(5)
Dan B.
I give them a 2 Star because the place is slow as hell for lunch and the place is dirty. The Counter at the Bar is gross and the chairs have crumbs all over them. It took us over 30 minutes to get our food at 1:00pm and the place was empty.
(2)
Juliane B.
This place is a joke. I have no idea how it has so many good reviews. Terrible food, terrible service. I had the worst dining experience of all time here, and so did most of the other guests around me. Went on a weeknight for happy hour to celebrate my Birthday with a friend. The bartender was super slow - he seemed to be more concerned with getting his side work done, and chatting with the servers and manager, than taking care of his guests. We had to flag him down anytime we wanted something - he never checked in on us. In fact, we had finished our appetizer (Spinach dip - not very good) and had empty glasses of wine, and had to ask him if we could order our entrees and get another round of drinks. That should have been our first clue that we should have just paid out and gone somewhere else. Instead, we decided to stay and asked to start with the steak salad (which was good), and then share the pesto pasta. Of course they both came at the same time. The pesto pasta was disgusting, and there was nothing pesto about it. I'm sorry, but angel hair pasta with tomatoes and basil on top does not qualify as pesto. On top of that, the cooks clearly had not drained the pasta properly, because it was full of water. I hate sending food back, but my friend (who works in a restaurant) insisted. Another red flag - the pasta came back three minutes later. There is no way they refired it in that amount of time. My guess is they just sent the same pasta back. I also loved how no one came to check back with us to see if the pasta had come out better the second time around. At this point I was just ready to go. However, my friend waved the manager over to let him know that our experience was really bad (she had to wave him over because he was standing in the corner of the bar goofing around with some of the servers). He was really awkward and asked us if we wanted him to comp our meals for us. She said, no, we weren't looking for a free meal, we just wanted him to fix the problem. We were trying to have a nice meal for a special occasion, and their terrible service ruined the whole night. As we were getting up to leave, a random girl came over with a tray of desserts. I could see the transition as her smug face turned into the fakest smile I've ever seen. As she shoved the tray in front of us she said said, "Who's Birthday is it?!?!" Really?!?! Too little, too late. I was insulted by how ingenuine the whole thing was. We weren't the only ones that night who had bad experiences. The couple next to us were visibly upset when they left. I saw them talk to the manager as well. In addition, a gentleman sitting next to us made several comments about the slow service. Terrible all around. I wouldn't even bother going back if I had a gift card.
(1)
Maggie M.
DEVON has to be the best server Ive had! We came here for my best friends birthday and even though we were still waiting for the rest of the party he was so sweet and attentive to us. I didnt like any of the drinks on the menu and he came back with something for.l me that was perfect. Great extensive menu... the longer I read it the more I didnt know what to get! Food was good but the service and ambiance is what really set this place apart. Friend and I got the lobster bisque.... so freakin THICK and creamy only complaint was that it was in this weird shaped bowl and I couldn't get all the deliciousness out so many friend tipped it over bc were ghetto I ordered the Pasta Pesto from the light menu. Meh I should've ordered something high in calories Small desserts were awesome!
(4)
Julia O.
Beatiful surrounding. Yet food was less than desirable. Lobster Bisque was cold, pork chops were like leather. Worst was the berry lemonade was all syrup and the lemonade tasted like dish water. Something as simple as lemonade you would image for the price could be better. At that point didn't want to stick around for desert.
(2)
Joe I.
Amanda was our server when we came in late last Thursday evening. I ordered the Salmon Griglia Insalata along with a Pomogranatini. On Wednesdays, they have a special price on Martinis and the Pomogranatini was delicious. The salmon was perfectly cooked on a bed of mixed greens. The staff is extremely attentive. The ambiance in the bar is quite nice. There isn't load music to talk over. The service was quick and it is a lovely venue to have a drink and share a meal. :-)
(5)
Mrs. G G.
The best Happy Hour I have had at the Spectrum BY FAR! Service was amazing, drinks were amazing.. Ambiance is awesome! Highly recommend this place. Its really convenient because its at the Spectrum but not inside so its easy to park and walk right over without battling the inside of the Spectrum.
(5)
Ben C.
HEALTHY MENU - We have been twice and have only eaten off the "Lignter Side" (healthy) menu and I must say it's very impressive! Incredibly good size portions and shockingly good for dishes under 450 calories. Not to mention great prices too. See my pics for what we have had
(4)
Pat A.
Food was just okay. The vodka sauce on the ricotta filled shells tasted like a can of tomato soup wated down with a little cream. The wedge salad was bland and the lettuce watery. And I am not sure what kind of bacon they are putting on top, but it was hard and chewy. The bread is good. But the butter is in those little aluminum packets which I despise. If you have great bread, then put real butter shaped into those little balls on a plate. The Peach Bellini was excellent! Although it did not arrive until I was well into my main course - yes, it took that long. The atmosphere is classy. The vibe is good. High chatter and noise level but not in a bad way unless you want a romantic quiet evening. White tablecloths. Located right next to the 3-level parking structure, but on a Fri/Sat night hard to get parking so Get valet parking. It is only $6 plus tip and so worth it.
(3)
Andrea K.
Came back for happy hour today. I have to say this is now my favorite happy hour spot at the spectrum. Great food. Great portions at a great price. The service was outstanding Natasha was our server. They have the best kids friendly menu ever. My daughter loved all the choices.
(5)
K L.
I've been here before and the food was better. Tonight I got the brio steak salad. It was very disappointing. For a restaurant such as this, the salad looked like a bag of iceberg that was chopped into little pieces and was a few days old-lots of brown and wilted pieces. The steak was supposed to be medium rare, but mine ranged from burnt to very rare. So disappointed. The only thing that pushed it to 2 stars is the fact that the dessert and peach Bellini were good.
(2)
Teri B.
This is my 3rd time here including the grand opening. I must say they have really stepped up on the service and food! Our server Alex was beyond wonderful. We had to wait a bit for the food so she gave my two kids pizza dough to play with and even baked it for them. What a great way to keep the kids entertained. I had the shrimp and lobster fettucine. It was my second time having this. The first time the pasta was too al dente. It was perfect this time. The kids had chicken parmigiana and salmon. Both well made and the portion was generous. Took one star off because of the bus boy. He took away plates that we weren't even done with. Other than that, it was a great experience. The manager was very friendly as well.
(4)
Wendy K.
Came here for a friend's birthday dinner with a party of 8. I was 20 minutes early for our reservation but the host seated me right away and took the cake I brought with me to put in the fridge. Our server was Melrose and she was very knowledgeable about the menu and attentive. We tried the pumpkin ravioli and the shrimp and eggplant appetizer. The pumpkin ravioli was sweet and had a really nice taste that reminds you of fall, and the shrimp with eggplant was spicy and flavorful. I ordered Fettuccine with Roasted Tomato Compote & Kalamata Olives for my main course. It was a little too salty for me, but otherwise had good flavor. The server was able to bring us the cake at the right time with candles lit. And she also gave us all separate checks for ease of payment. Thanks Brio for making our birthday celebration a success!
(4)
Henry K.
Birthday dinner for my son. Besides the exceptional service from our waitress, everything else including hostess, value and food were good, just not great. We'll be going back but may not be 1st choice.
(3)
Christina P.
Meh, I have experienced much better. Hosts were so friendly and did an amazing job welcoming us for my birthday celebration. She told us she would tell the server, if our server didn't already notice the obnoxious flowers and balloons. Perhaps, our server D was overworked or just busy. I was very sympathetic and didn't expect a happy birthday, but she made my dinner very uncomfortable. I am server and I don't understand why cranky people work in this industry. Yes, yelpers are the worst, but the service was so terrible, I had to share. It was my first time there and I doubt I'll return again. For those who don't care, the healthy Orza and shrimp pasta was decent. The rest is comparable to Macaroni Grill.
(2)
Widad D.
Expensive for nothing. I've had better. I had the pasta fra diavolo. It wasn't that great.
(3)
Kelly S.
Had such a great experience! Our server Melrose was amazing! She took such great care of us and knew the menu like the back of her hand!
(5)
Sara N.
I love this place. Despite being a chain restaurant, it delivers high quality, tasty food. This place reminds me of great memories going to the Brio in Cleveland. I am more than happy to see this chain in Orange County.
(5)
Sunny P.
The food is great, the service is not. I would have given this place 5 stars if not for their service which is really important for me. Or maybe we had the wrong server at that time. :/ maybe if we had other servers it might be a good experience for our first time there. We'll see.
(4)
Tricia B.
Had Sunday dinner here with family. The food wasn't bad, I def wouldn't order the house salad again. It was drenched in dressing and the ingredients were soggy -nothing fresh about it. Also the calamari was overly breaded, scanty pieces of calamari in way too much batter.
(3)
Beth B.
We had late night appetizers and dessert as well as drinks here last night. The food and drinks were delicious (we ordered off the happy hour menu). The best part was the ambiance. We sat out on the patio by a fireplace and had great service from our server. We hope to go back and eat dinner here to be able to give a more comprehensive review.
(4)
Amir G.
Considering this place just opened last Thursday, I couldn't be more satisfied. I'd been to the Brio in Victoria Gardens in the past (which was great too), but I spend a lot of time at the Irvine Spectrum so I was excited to give this location a try once it finally opened. We ordered a Fettucine Alfredo, simple - but not on the menu - with grilled onion and sauteed mushrooms. It couldn't have come out better, and the service was great too. I'll be back again soon!
(5)
Sophia P.
Went the past wk to try for the first time. Te atmosphere is wonderful, the services was top notch. The wine list for wines by the glass not so much and not too many choices for Italian wines. The food was good but nothing fabulous. Had the steak bruschetta and the fried shrimp and eggplant app. Again, the food was good - worth going again for the nice patio and feel of the place. Food is average not bad but not great either.
(3)
Vanessa F.
This place is beautiful. Service was great. Me, my husband and son came on a Thursday evening and were seated right away. We ordered the romano crusted eggplant with shrimp appetizer, a cup of lobster bisque, the bruschetta sampler and the Brio pasta. The eggplant appetizer was really good and not too spicy. I really liked the lobster bisque because it wasn't too salty, was very creamy and had some small chunks of lobster in it. The bruschetta sampler was ok. You get 2 pieces of 4 different bruschetta, so a total of 8. Most of them had variations of cheese and tomatoes on it, so my favorite was the steak, but it was a little hard to eat because the steak wasn't cut up on it, just one slice of steak you had to bite into. The Brio pasta tasted like Chef Boyardee canned pasta, but in a good way! I think it was the sauce. I had a ratatouille moment there where I could taste my childhood, but in a grown up way with the way the pasta was dressed up. We also ordered a strawberry lemonade which also good. The bread basket came with the flatbread crackers with seeds and the really hard sourdough bread, which I didn't really care for. Overall, I enjoyed the ambiance, service and food at this place and I would definitely be back!
(4)
J P.
Long waits (1 hr+) we were going to leave but as we were about to were notified we could eat at the bar so we did. Didn't get menus or any attention for about 10 mins and had to ask for bread. The bread chips were actually pretty tasty with some herbs on top with a little kick. The other bread that comes out was alright but nothing special. I ordered the chicken risotto which although a bit small on portion was quite tasty. Tasted a bit simple but you could taste the pine nuts and sweet potato once your palate was looking for them in the creamy texture. Not sure if I would come again but the main dining area seemed like a nice atmosphere to take a date.
(3)
Nicholas D.
We went in for an early dinner. For an appetizer we had the calamari which was very standard that came with a good marinara sauce but a bad creamy horse radish sauce. For appetizers we ordered the pasta Alla vodka, the crab and shrimp cakes, and the chicken sweet potato risotto. The pasta Alla vodka was nice but nothing all that special. The crab and shrimp cakes were for there price a little small but till quite tasty and was very fresh. The risotto was good everything was quite nice but was slightly lumpy. The service however was amazing and the waiter who gave us a drink instead of the water we ordered comd it. This place was like a very upscaled cheesecake factory with better food but smaller portions.
(3)
A S.
This place is pretty awesome, I usually go during happy hour or for lunch. The happy hour appetizers and drinks are great and very reasonably priced, especially for the spectrum. Great place for after work drinks, also the bar area has TVs songs got for MOnday and Thursday night football. The food is your typical Italian and every dish I've had has been pretty good, the portions are sizable and generally can be split, unless you're starving or have a big appetite.
(4)
Biggest Critique X.
the happy hour is 9 to 10 which is closing. Delicious food items and prices are amazing. Also has great ambience and outdoor patio seating. Cozy romantic and have a drink
(4)
Shelly H.
Love this place! Excited to go again! Clean and fresh. Their bread is amazing. Great drink selection. We needed a place like this in the spectrum. So happy we have one in Orange County now! Iv been to their St.Louis location and it's the exact same of not better! See you guys again soon :)
The food here was good, nice atmosphere but it wasn't spectacular. The hostesses forgot about us even though we had a beeper. But they bought us an appetizer for the mistake which was nice. I did like that they had a "light" menu with calories. The service was fine. The place just didn't "wow" me. I don't think I'll think of it when I think of where to go to dinner.
(3)
Marryam S.
Nothing bad but not great either. Mushroom soup was good but the pasta we ordered was just average.
(3)
Peter C.
Amazing food and service. High quality of meats. The white peach pomer was really good. I got to sit by the fireplace.
(5)
bonny m.
I wanted to like this place. The reviews made me want to. We walked in amd the hostess was on the phone and her back was turned, she never looked up or acknowledged our presence! There was a server at the desk that said, she will be right with you - when she realized that was untrue, she offered to take us to our table. We sat down finally and here comes our waitress, either she was untrained or just had no personality. We ordered our drinks (water and iced tea), an appetizer, then proceeded to peruse the menu. She came around again after 10 minutes and brought the bruschetta we ordered and proceeded to take our order. There is an item on the menu that simply says 5oz. filet...okay filet of sole, filet mignon? What? My sister asked..and her response was simply it was 5 oz. of beef....no elaboration, no nothing...okay still willing to give the benefit of the doubt, she takes our orders. Her demeanor was despicable and several times I wanted to ask for a new server because at this point our dining experience was merely unpleasant! At this point our waters and iced tea never got refilled....our meal came and it was tasty, not the best Italian food I've had, but certainly not the worst. She never returned to the table to ask how the food was, she disappeared, then she re-appeared, cleared our plates and then brought the check, at which point I respomded loudly...guess we don't get dessert...she then apologized and said...oh did you want dessert? I said No, she asked again and I said, no,,we are good! She made the lame excuse that people don't like when she interrupts their dinner conversation...but no one could accuse her of that because not only did she not interrupt, she didn't serve her patrons AT ALL. What she didn't know is that I was there scoping out the place for an upcoming significant party, but this place will neither get my business or any referrals from me. And that went for the other people in my party! The service was horrible and the food was just ok. I must say this...she brought out dessert in the end and apologized but it was not sincere, she dropped the dessert on the table and off she went again - we paid she took our payment and we never saw her again which was fine with me because she was awful - oh did I tell you the restaurant was not crowded. So to conclude with how I started, she either had a horrible attitude or she just needs some customer service training. Should have got a name but It doesn't matter - my money will be spent elsewhere! Just horrible!
(1)
Danny M.
Place looked good, so we went for dinner to check it out. Ordered several dishes, they were all terrible. The only thing that was good was the bread, and I only wish they didn't serve it with cheap cold butter. We left a lot of food on the table, which is very unlikely for us. To make things worse the service here is terrible, probably some of the worst I've ever experienced.
(1)
Suzy J.
Went to Brio for the first time.... it was just okay. We had a great server though who was educated about their menu and super friendly. We ordered Pesto Pasta- decent, Crab/shrimp cake - on the smaller side and the menu said Sweet potato but I only got carrots :( Bread basket didn't taste fresh at all. I will go back.. and give it the 2nd try!
(3)
Michael H.
Fantastic Menu, good service and right next to the parking garage... Definitely worth a visit. Also, great patio...
(5)
June V.
Very disappointed! Although I thought the restaurant was beautiful and the menu looked Devine the fact that the calories for every dish was posted next to it really ruined the possibly of a great dining experience. I know that when I eat out there are more calories and richer foods then when I prepare them at home but I DO NOT want to be reminded this unless I deliberately go to a health food restaurant. I ended up ordering a dish from the light menu which was very good but I was so disappointed that I didn't order one of the wonderful looking creamy pasta dishes. Something I would have ordered somewhere else and not thought about it. I don't count calories and generally eat healthy but when I go out I do not want to know the calories and I am hoping there are others out there who agree with me and that Brio removes this from their menu. They can have a section lighter menu as they also have a gluten free menu but PLEASE leave calories out. If someone wants to know then they can ask to server and they can have a list of calories per dish for that purpose! I will not go back here and most of my friends feel the same way.
(2)
Jenny H.
Amazing for the first time I've been here. I got the grilled lamb rack based on the numerous pictures on yelp. It is simply beyond expectations!!! The mint flavor is strong but subtle enough to not overwhelm the lamb! Even my boyfriend - a diehard hater of lamb - agreed that it was delicious. Highly recommend!!
(5)
Happy P.
The food was outstanding!!! I had the steak salad it was delicious! I would highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)
Jennifer B.
Another great dining experience at Brio. My party of five was seated right away because I had made reservations. We had great service and the food was served hot and it was delicious. The peanut butter dessert was amazing!
(5)
Linda F.
Best shrimp and eggplant Parmesan ever! They customized our order to add more shrimp! Fabulous!!! Dined outdoors since it's crazy loud inside. Great food!
(5)
Melissa P.
I was in the mood for Italian Friday, August 1, 2014, and my friends and I decided to give this place a try. We called in a couple of hours ahead of time and made a reservation. Good thing we did because the place was packed. Our server was a rock star. Very knowledgeable about the place and the menu and did an awesome job. The food was, and I know this word is overused but there's no other word to describe it AMAZING! I had a shrimp and eggplant appetizer. The shrimp was spicy and had just the right amount of sauce. I ordered a peach Bellini, and let me tell you, I will never be able to have it at another place again. It's a frozen concoction with fresh strawberries on top. It's like a nice alcoholic peach snow cone. My main course was the lasagna. Best lasagna ever. Ever. They handmade the pasta for each order so the noodles aren't overly firm. It's full of cheese. It's gooey, wonderful deliciousness. Along the way, our server apologized that the kitchen got backed up and our food wasn't coming out quickly, but quite frankly we didn't notice. We were too engrossed in out appetizers, drinks, and good company. If I wanted fast food I would have gone to Wendy's. We were out of their within an hour so it's not like we were waiting that long. I've been raving to everyone I know about this place. We are going back on Thursday before a movie. I really don't understand the negative reviews, this is the best place in the spectrum by far.
(5)
Chris G.
This new place in the Spectrum looked busy. The interior is hip and it was a busy Friday night. We tried the brick chicken. It was like something you might get at Denny's. The veggies were over cooked and tasteless. Choose another spot for Italian. There is another little spot over near Paul Martins and Javier's. Head over there. This is a non starter. Note that it is a chain
(1)
Joby B.
Just has a really good dinner here. Service is excellent, prices are good and food is delicious. Had the lobster and shrimp paster, was excellent.
(5)
Mark M.
Very nice inside as you would expect from Brio. The service was what you could call "acceptable." The food was good, but for $30 I would expect more than 5 piece of asparagus and roughly 10 roasted vegetables accompanying my steak. Again, the food was good but the portions of the non pasta dishes were horrible.
(3)
Becky G.
Tried this place for the first time this weekend and thought it was just ok. The staff was accommodating and helpful. The decor was nice but the ambiance is quite loud as the set up is a large, open space with no high divisions between the booths. They have a room that is separate for large groups, which is a nice accommodation, but all doors to the room were open so the party in there added to an already noisy experience. I got a lunch special --salad and risotto. The salad wasn't anything to write home about and the risotto was grossly undercooked -- crispy when I bit down into it, no where near where it should have been. My main complaint about Italian restaurants in Southern California is that the pasta is usually over cooked and the pasta has too much sauce so it was weird to run into an undercooked dish. The balance of flavors was good (butternut squash, roasted chicken, pancetta and cheese) and the ratio of the ingredients to risotto was good. My husband loved the carpaccio (I'm pregnant so I unfortunately couldn't partake) and enjoyed the lobster bisque. I probably wouldn't go back here for a meal or a special occasion but would be interested to try the happy hour sometime post pregnancy.
(3)
Alexander M.
Last night was my wife's birthday dinner. We had a party of 10 and each couple brought a bottle of wine (There is no corkage fee!). Having the parking garage right next to the restaurant makes it super convenient. The food was great but the service was the best part of our experience. Devin S. was very nice and attentive. He always made sure we had everything we needed. Our table was probably a pain but he helped us with a big smile. Water was always full, empty plates were cleared quickly and the bill was split 4 ways (thank you for doing that). He made my wife's birthday dinner go smoothly. Can't ask for much more.
(5)
Diane C.
Came here with friends. Since we had a reservation, were seated immediately by a cute petite blond with a warm welcoming personality. Can't recall the waitress's name since we had one, then had another one (break time). Everyone seemed to have enjoyed their food as all the plates were empty. I had the lobster bisque soup which was delicious and the bruschetta with steak that was good but not the greatest. Since it was a belated birthday gathering, they brought over a cute little cheesecake and we all took a bite. Unfortunately and unknowingly, there must have been soy in it because I immediately had a reaction. I should have asked before taking a bite. Just didn't think that a cheesecake would have soy product in it. The restrooms are kept nice and clean. The staff is friendly. It's a bit loud, especially near the kitchen. Next time, we'll sit outside.
(4)
Christina L.
I had an absolutely wonderful evening here. It's very romantic yet casual. The service was fantastic, Andi was very friendly and checked up on us frequently! We started with Calamari and Steak Bruschetta. Both were delicious, I especially enjoyed the calamari. The drinks and appetizers came out promptly but the entrees took slightly longer. Not sure if it's because that's how long the food takes to prepare or because they give you time to enjoy each other's company over libations... But I thought everything was timed perfectly. My Shrimp and Lobster Fettuccini was absolutely perfect. Easily one of my favorite pasta dishes now! The Dirty Martini was a bit on the weak side, but good regardless. I really enjoyed this place and plan to come back often!
Double date night with our friends and we were actually supposed to eat at another restaurant that had a 45 minute wait, and as we strolled the spectrum we decided to see how long the wait was going to be at Brio. Turned it out even though it was not on the empty side we were seated in 15 minutes so we ended up having dinner there. Great spacious atmosphere and the service was friendly and efficient! Very welcoming as soon as you walk in. Now let's talk about the food! My husband had never had beef carpaccio so we ordered that as the appetizer and oh man, that was a good carpaccio and for the four of us it was a much larger plate than anticipated, still great and easily devoured up! Finally we all decided on our entrees... I ordered the Pasta Brio (figured it would be good bc it had the restaurant's name in the title) and man it was good, simple pasta but the flavors were great and rich creamy sauce that satisfied my palette. My husband ordered the Chicken Limone which was like a chicken piccata, also really well done. My friends ordered the Chicken Milanese and the Gorgonzola Crusted Lamb Chops that even had me saying it was good and I'm not usually a lamb fan! Overall great portion sizes, filling and I would definitely come back!!
(4)
Frances W.
Such a beautiful place to dine in! We went there for lunch, and I enjoyed everything about it. From the food, to the service, to the ambiance...it was a really wonderful experience! It was my first time at a Brio, but definitely won't be my last. I'm thinking of dinner service next time.
(5)
Marissa L.
I've been on the brink about this place. It just barely makes four stars. I came here for a sizable family dinner. My Aunt made reservations earlier in the day and called back quite a few times to add people one at a time. They seemed to be fine with our changes. When we got there on time our reservations were ready. We didn't all come at the same time, but they were fine with that too. We had two wait staff for our table which was nice and needed. One kept our drinks filled and helped out and the other was in charge of our food orders. They worked well together and we only had one complaint. My Aunt wanted another drink during our meal and it took a while to get someones attention for it. Other that that the service was alright. As for the food, we started off with a couple apps. I choose the calamari with peperocini because I love peperocini. My Aunt also got a couple different types of bruschetta. The calamari were crispy and I liked the lemon mayo sauce. The peperocini were sliced and also fried. I've never seen that before, but it was delicious. They were crunchy with a zing of spice. I wasn't going to try the bruschetta, but there was only one left and no one was taking it so I took it. It was on a hard slice of bread, I'm guessing it was toasted. It had a rich creamy cheese spread at the bottom, a thin slice of bacon and it was topped with a sweet tomato bbq jam and basil. The cheese and bacon were awesome, but the jam was kinda too sweet. I loved that it had a smokey flavor, but the sweetness really overpowered everything. I should also mention the bread that they have here. They have two types. One is just a regular crusty bread, pretty average. My favorite though is their flaxseed flatbread. It's crispy, crunchy, salty and topped with flaxseed and rosemary. It's my favorite thing that they serve here. Before our meal I got the lobster bisque. I've seen mixed reviews for it on here so I was unsure to get it. The waiter asked me if I wanted soup though and I just went for it just to try. It is way to salty. I took three, maybe five bites and I was done. Not ordering that again. For my entree I got the carpaccio. I've been here once before and had it. I knew it came with a regular flatbread so I asked my waitress if I could have their flax flatbread instead and she said they could do that. Their carpaccio is simple and delicious. It comes on a really long plate too. Probably the biggest plate of carpaccio I've ever seen. With the flaxseed flatbread it was even better than before. The meat is sliced paper thin and melts away on your tongue. With the flaxseed bread it gave the dish some crunch and texture. The salad is also pretty good, dressed well with nice fresh greens. This is probably the only thing I will order here as my entree because it's just that good. Of course we had dessert. I let my Uncle, the chocolate junkie, decide on dessert because he's always good at that. He ordered the chocolate lava cake of course and it was to die for. Super rich and decadent. The cake and chocolate was warm and rich and the vanilla ice cream helped cool it down. Overall a great family get together with good food. Everyone seemed to enjoy the evening here.
(4)
Tracie L.
Came here for dinner and it looked like a mix of Cheesecake Factory with Olive Garden. It's located right by the parking structure near Nordstrom's and Capital Seafood! Not exactly IN the spectrum shopping plaza itself, it's near Del Frisco's. For our party of 9 we got seated pretty quickly on a weekday around 7pm. For the price range of the food it's not bad. Service was just subpar and not very good at giving recommendations...I asked her about the chicken & sweet potato risotto and she said it was like a casserole. Ummm wtf? I've eaten risotto at so many high end restaurants and if you're gonna tell me it's like a casserole there is no way in hell I'll be ordering that. How can risotto even come close to being a casserole? LOL. Also the bread they start you off with isn't anything special. I personally didn't like any of the bread starters. It was very bland and salty..Guess I'm just spoiled by that brown bread at Cheesecake Factory haha Appetizers: Spicy Shrimp Eggplant - The best one out of all the appetizers we got! The cream sauce went well w/ the romano crusted eggplant. It wasn't too spicy either, but had enough kick to it! Also nice medium sized shrimp Calamari - A very big portion and 2 sauces: marina & tartar. Was just typical calamari, but it was lightly fried and not too greasy Bruschetta Quattro - Sampling of 4 different bruschettas. My fav were the sliced steak and applewood bacon & tomato jam bruschetta. The basil made the applewood bacon one really refreshing! Crab & shrimp crusted salmon = I got this as my entree and Instead of farro & quinoa I subbed it with roasted veggies and sweet potatoes. Just as I expected...the salmon came out pretty dry. Portion wise it was just ok, the salmon could've been bigger The portion sizes here are pretty big for the pastas especially the shrimp & lobster fettucine. However protein to carb ratio is off. There is a butt load of fettucine, not enough protein!! The shrimp was small and barely had any lobster pieces in there Dessert: Torta Di Chocolata - Basically it's a molten lava cake w/ vanilla ice cream on top lol. Not bad and a good portion size to share between 4 people. I do wished that the cake was fresher because it seemed kind of dry. I'm not the biggest fan when it comes to Italian so take my review w/ a grain of salt. I guess you can come here if you're craving Italian and have nowhere else to go while shopping at the Spectrum, but there are plenty of better restaurants nearby IMO..
(3)
Liz E.
BRUNCH REVIEW I don't know what this place is like for lunch or dinner, but Brio Tuscan Grille definitely jumped on my list of favorite brunch places on the very first time I had brunch here. Fast, friendly, and great service. Clean and nice location. And best of all, breakfast is satisfying and just what I need after a Saturday night out! They have a small menu for brunch and they don't open until 11 am, but they made the food perfectly that I almost licked my plate clean! To be honest, I loved how simple the brunch choices were and it wasn't difficult to make a decision on something even though all the 5 or 6 choices for brunch sound good to me. I had the scrambled eggs, bacon, and potatoes for brunch. Scrambled eggs were average. Bacon is always good, made perfect between crunch and chewy. I ignored the potatoes until the end and they really surprised me on how good they were. They were lightly crisped, seasoned and spiced just right, and I really wish I ate them first before anything else. The potatoes were oooohh, so good! And for a Sunday brunch, it wasn't crowded out on the patio. The weather was perfect. It was a great start to a good day!
(5)
Frances G.
Pretty close to 5 stars. My party and I came here on a Thursday at 6:30p (our reserved time). Being a weekday, the restaurant was maybe about 3/4 full and we got seated right away (near the kitchen though). For starters, I got the Peach Bellini ($7.50), and we all shared the Bruschetta Quattro ($15.95) and the Calamari Fritto Misto (($11.95). Like the name, there were 4 different bruschetta - 2 each of roasted red peppers, sliced steak, applewood bacon & tomato jam, and something with cheddar cheese. They were all good. The calamari was also nice and crispy, and it came with marinara and cream sauce (it also included fried peperoncini, which was a nice surprise). For main, I ordered the Pasta Fra Diavolo with shrimp ($18.95), which was campanelle in a spicy tomato cream sauce topped with green onions. It had a kick, but was still good. Hubby got the Crab & Shrimp Crusted Salmon ($22.95), which he and I both thought was just okay (the crust or something had an unexpectedly sweet flavor). Overall, service was nice and food was tasty for the most part. Even the complimentary bread basket was good. If anything, it's a bit pricey so not a place that I can frequent :(
(4)
Kimmy W.
I am SO happy with this new little strip of restuarants that has revived the spectrum! BRIO is one of the tastiest meals I have had in a while. It is located on the 405 side of the spectrum directly next to the parking structure so there's no laborous trekking like to Cucina (no offiense!). I was at the Spectrum first of all for happy hour with my coworkers so when they tired of the Dave & Buster nachos they asked me where we should go to dinner - HALLELUJA that BRIO has been on my radar for a while so I knew just the place! We waited a bit for a patio table since it was a lovely spring evening and the patio looked so inviting with its plush couches and dim lighting. We were sat towards the back but did not notice any street noise. It was a nice and I mentally noted it for future date nights. I really prefer Tuscan italian for its abundance of fresh veggies and seafood so I went with the Shrimp Mediterranean dish and was immediately in heaven. Its made up 4-5 spicy grilled jumbo shrimp on a bed of orzo, farro pilaf with tons of veggies like broccoli, asparagus, tomatoes, spinach and finished off with a pesto vinaigrette. It was the perfect portion and beautifully presented, not to mention the fresh, delicious flavors spoke directly to my favorite things about tuscan cuisine! I was admittedly swooning over my dish when I overheard my boss say the quinoa was eh... another coworker ordered the Lobster bisque which he said was alright... I can't be sure what they all ordered as I was heavily invovled in my foodgasm. I also didn't pay so I can't really comment there but I would absolutely come back for a date night or some occasion to mark - its a sweet place and I'm so happy its in my neighborhood!
(5)
Adam B.
My wife and I stopped here on our way home from West LA. It was our first time going here. We split a Cesar salad, Ravioli Di Bello and the Grilled Salmon Fresca. The warm bread and butter they bring out was great. The Cesar salad was really good. They actually had really good ceaser dressing. The two main dishes we're hood as well. We really enjoyed everything. Our only complaint was the Salmon was cooked a little to much. The salmon dish also had grilled sweet potato which i normally hate, but they were good. Probably because of the sauces on the plate it did not taste like sweet potatoes. We would definitely come back to try other items on the nenu.
(4)
Ryan D.
On this adventure along with 4 other Yelpers i saved 5 shrimp from living a dismal life in the sea, by having them seasoned, grilled and served on a bed of rice, broccoli, asparagus, and spinach, I have never been to Brio, and one of my friends coordinated an gathering of a few friends for dinner on a Saturday night. The restaurant is modern, clean and the staff is friendly. The restaurant is located at the Irvine Spectrum and parking is plentiful and its a short walk to the front door. If you arrive early i suggest you take a stroll and check out the home of the SoCo cougars. When seated, the table was nicely arranged and bread and butter was served, the flax seed flat bread was buttery and good. The menu is huge, both literally and physically, the wine list takes up half of the reverse side of the menu along with other house beverages. I chose a simple iced tea which was good. The server was attentive and accommodating and overall a good experience. I feel for the price, the quality of food and service was right on par with what you would expect. I would suggest you give this place a try and try the shrimp!
(4)
Ali N.
It was one of those double date nights with some really good friends, the wait here was not bad at all for a Friday night, we got our table in no more than 10 mins. We started out with beef carpaccio which I am usually not a fan off and neither is my friend but this one was so good! The plate was way bigger than expected with almost 20 slices of beef but we finished the plate with plenty of room for dinner - side note we had 3 baskets of bread which was also so tasty! I got the lobster bisque and the Gorgonzola crusted lamb chops. The bisque was awesome and the lamb was not bad I didn't enjoy the blue cheese crust and some pieces were slightly to gamy in taste but I don't think I would get it again from there. My wife got the chicken Milanese and she enjoyed it but she would have liked it better with less of the cheese sauce it comes with and more tomato sauce. My friends liked their food a lot also. Overall it is a really nice place and the food was really good, I will definitely be going back to try out more items off their menu.
(4)
Kat L.
Decided to try Happy Hour as I mentioned in my first review and for my first experience it lived up to the hype other yelpers raved about. About 3-4 dishes from their HH bar menu should fill a party of 2 up. We accidentally ordered 6 dishes which was a little excessive, but nonetheless worth trying out a lot of items on the menu. Also for HH the martinis and many drinks on the menu are well priced for about only $5-6 and they were well mixed. My friend got a cosmopolitan and a mojito which were both tasteful. I recommend the artichoke dip and shrimp dishes! Glad Brio opened up at the Spectrum!
(5)
Ellie Q.
Wow! What terrible service and food! Our waitress was passive aggressive from the get go. Our food was undercooked and missing sides. The appetizers were good, that's why they get two stars. Manager was polite and compted our missing food but he wasn't very apologetic. I'm leaving hungry, moody, and disappointed. Heading to the Cheesecake Factory!
(2)
Ricardo A.
The place at first sight looks like any other restaurant of modern days with fake stone columns and a cheap travertine floor. Call Brio a Florentine restaurant is a stretch, however the food is not bad. It is another noise American style restaurant with oversize servings. If you're hungry is a good choice.
(3)
Nika I.
I came to this restaurant with my family and we all enjoyed it. The interior is very cool. The restaurant has an outdoor patio. They provided us with a good service. Our party tried Mediterranean shrimp, lasagna, shrimp fettuccine, and chicken lemone. They were all very tasty. I'll come back!
(4)
madeleine n.
Their bar/patio area is self seating and can accommodate multiple parties, which is nice considering how busy this place can get. There are heat lamps/fire pits too! Our server took a while to greet us, but once he did he was great at checking up on us. He was super informative when we had questions about the menu too. But the server who replaced him wasn't very attentive. She dropped off our check and took about 20 minutes to come back for it. We had the Roasted Garlic Spinach & Artichoke Dip appetizer, my friends both got the Ravioli Di Bello, and I got the Carpaccio appetizer as my entree. The dip was good and even the crisp flat bread it came with was good on its own. The ravioli was okay. I had high hopes for the "champagne brown butter sauce" but it was nothing special. The carpaccio appetizer is definitely an appetizer for sharing. But it wasn't too filling as an entree. It got a bit bland after the first few bites, even with its mustard aioli, so I asked for some salt and pepper. I've had better carpaccio, but theirs was still satisfying. Everything was good, but not sure if I'd come back.
I came here for happy hour and was stoked it goes until 6:30pm unlike some places that goes until 7pm. It was packed and a great environment to be in if you wanted to have a casual drink with some appetizers. It took a while to get drinks and food to come out but everything was delicious. You definitely get what you paid for! Drinks were delicious and some were decently priced at $5.
(4)
Matt K.
Fancy Italian place if you want to have a nice dinner out. We were here for a birthday. They initially messed up and miscounted our reservation so we had to wait extra time for a proper table to be ready, but I'll chalk that up to a mistake which shouldn't happen often. There were some specials that evening and the shrimp bruschetta appetizer special was delicious. It was well liked by our entire party. The entrees were also tasty and plentiful. A few people took home leftovers. I really enjoyed the carbonara as it was with different pasta and a couple extra ingredients that aren't traditionally in there. Those additions were tasty and appreciated. I don't think anything knocked my socks off, but it was a pleasant meal, a little more upscale but for the price, it was worthwhile to come for a group gathering. It's not grossly expensive. The staff was also nice but they did get pretty busy.
(4)
Mae R.
I kept passing by this place every time I shop around the spectrum. So I decided to try it with my family and it was not a disappoint! Every dish we ordered were very tasty! We ordered spinach and artichoke dip, calamari, sliced steak bruschetta, shrimp and lobster ravioli, campanile carbonara, and pasta brio. We ate around dinner time and it was crowded so there was a 30 minute wait, but we decided to sit at the bar next to the fireplace. We enjoyed our evening there. The service was fast too and the staff were very helpful.
(5)
Stella S.
This restaurant has good tasting food and great desserts. Staff is courtesy and always coming to see if we need anything. They have a smile on their face. The manager seems ignored my us, not sure way. Maybe just a bad afternoon. Ask"are you finally done, can I pick up your plates", had not been there more then an hour. Lucky the waitress was wonderful and asked us if we wanted dessert. Glad we stayed. Dessert was very tasty
Happy hour is incredible! Bar plates are all from $3.95-$5.95 ** written in price order, lowest to highest** - beef carpaccio - tomato margherita flatbeard - crispy eggplant fries - sausage & pepperoni ricotta flatbread - tomato mozzarella salad - brio burger - black pepper shrimp - crispy cheese ravioli - roasted garlic, spinach & artichoke dip Drinks $4-$6 ** in order ** - italian lemonade - sangria rosa - white peach sangria - black raspberry Cosmo - vodka martini - key lime Mojito - mango Mojito - classic Manhattan - italian margarita Beer & Wine - Peroni - $4 - Tavolo Matto Wine - $5 Overall such reasonable prices for the amazing food they had. I had the black pepper shrimp and it was amazing. Each piece is placed on Romano crusted eggplant and it has a black pepper cream sauce with it. Soooo good! :) Seating is on your own in the patio or bar area for happy hour. Service is good but the patio can get a little tight... Overall great food for the prices! Definitely will be coming back soon for happy hour!
(4)
Alpha L.
Came here on a Thursday night. Service was just average. The atmosphere reminds me of Cheesecake Factory. Sourdough bread and butter is served when you arrive, but the butter is hard and impossible to spread on the bread. We started with the sliced steak bruchetta, bisteca salad, and chopped salad. Everything was on the salty side, but edible and average tasting. Bisteca salad was nice and crisp which was refreshing. For the main course, I had the blackened talapia, which I liked. It came over a bed of grilled veggies (carrots, broccoli, and zucchini) and has a kick of peppery spice. My husband had the pasta alla vodka (2 stars, basically cheese filled wontons in vodka sauce) and our nanny had the braised beef paparadelle which tasted good, but was again on the salty side. All in all, a very average experience and we wouldn't go back or recommend the place in particular.
(3)
Robbie G.
We've been here several times now, both for Yelp Elite events and on our own. The food here is always amazing and fresh, regardless of what we've ordered. The staff are friendly and attentive. The location at Irvine Spectrum Center is a good one, and they have a parking garage right next to it, which is super convenient. This last time we went we sat at the bar and ordered a few of the happy hour specials, and also some Pasta Alla Vodka (our personal favorite dish on the menu). The drinks from the bar are strong, but not to the point of being gross--I know you know what I'm talking about, ha ha. Long story short, Brio is fun but on the pricey side, and this is a great place for a date night.
(5)
Britney I.
Decided to try out Brio the other day for a late lunch. I went in and it looked like I would have been the only one dining at that time. I asked the hostess for a table on the patio and she told me (with a slight attitude) "the patio is open seating. Just seat yourself". So I walked out to the patio and sat at one of the couch areas. I waited for about 10 minutes and no one came to wait on me or even offer me a menu despite having two servers look directly at me through the window. One of the servers went over to the hostess and they were just talking and hanging out. I figured I wasn't going to be served at all so I left and went to another restaurant in the Spectrum. Needless to say I will not be returning due to the extremely poor service.
(1)
Sasha B.
Not my first time dining at Brio and food has no complains, but this evening experience and nice dinner mood was completely ruined by obnoxious people and rude front desk person. Didn't take the name but even the waitress was shocked by the way the whole situation was handled. So, me and my family were at outside seating area and had full dinner with appetizers, drinks and entrees. Just when we placed the order for desserts and coffees, two ladies came up and started to move chairs to literally sit next to us without even "squeezing"room in between. We were so in shock that we didn't even understand what is going on. Next thing we know, another party of four people are getting seated at our table with host helping them to move the big armchairs from other table for all to fit. Well, needless to say that we got up and left without finishing any desserts or having coffee. Not sure how well established restaurant can allow such a disappointment and ruined dinner experience to let happen but I insisted that my son who rushed to pay the bill, would not leave a cent as a tip. We all left in very disturbed mood and definitely not planning to come back to this location. I think the restaurant should understand that they either have to state clearly their rules for community dinners or let one party to finish their meals and do not allow other party to crash family dinner in such a "suffocating" manner. Not to say that I am amazed at how these other party people had no shame to push their ways to our table and acted this arrogantly - clearly their actions were to make us leave to have the table.
(1)
Danny B.
First time stopping in for Happy Hour and we had a great time and the prices can't be beat!
(5)
Scotty T.
Never got seated. Open tables everywhere, on a Sunday afternoon, non-peak. Waited 15 minutes looking at the (open) patio. Walked out of the lobby and over to Cucina Enoteca, and were seated immediately. So, only for (poor, inept) service, will update for foods if I ever try again.
(1)
Jessie K.
Pretty disappointed with the experience at this restaurant. Had a reservation at 8:30 and wasn't served until 9:30. Food was mediocre (do NOT order the chicken under brick dish, and the pasta pesto was very bland and I barely tasted pesto). Service was slow but that could have been due to the late time but the overall experience wasn't very nice. Wanted to love it but wouldn't come back :( if you're looking for an Italian place Cucina Enuteca is the #1 way to go!
(2)
judi H.
We had a wonderful lunch on the patio! The flatbread special was amazing as was the mushroom soup and the chopped salad which was nicely chopped! Will definitely return as the menu had so many delicious choices!
(4)
Wilbert G.
Atmosphere is great. Family friendly and service is great. Cesar salad is fresh, soups are a must. Weeknights are best.
(4)
Tiffany S.
We went for dinner tonight to celebrate my sisters birthday. We had a great evening from start to finish. The service was excellent and the manager nick was extremely accommodating. The food was delicious! Will be coming back to dine here again.
(5)
Michele F.
It's hard to find Italian food that is flavorful and not bland. I have been here twice and enjoyed my food on both occasions. Last time I had the Pasta Alla Vodka which I split with my son and not a drop of pasta was left. My husband ordered fish and enjoyed it as well.
(4)
Salvador O.
above average prices and above average ambience below average quality and below average service
(3)
Kat H.
Delicious pastas..perfectly cooked and super creamy and delish. The menu has calories for all items-fantastic for calorie counters like me. Had a bottle of wine with the meal, perfect. Good service, will def come back. Had a bar playing basketball game on tv.
(5)
Priscilla P.
this review is for their happy hour prices are very cheap! all food and drinks were from $4-$7 and the portions weren't small. unfortunately, they were out of the beef and shrimp when we were ordering so we only got to try the eggplant fries, burger, artichoke dip, fried ravioli and caprese salad. my favorite was the eggplant fries. i wasn't a fan of the flatbread that the dip came with. the fried ravioli was also not that good. the burger and caprese salad were okay. the drinks weren't strong but i like my drinks like that. the cocktails weren't coyingly sweet and weren't too alcoholic, which i liked. the outdoor seating area looked nice. service was good.
(4)
Bren B.
Not sure if it was the fact that the place was newly opened or what but honestly I was under whelmed. II was excited to try this new upscale restaurant. The service was good(not amazing) but the fool left something to be desired. Look like Mamma D's will continue to be my go to Italian restaurant in Orange County.
(3)
Richard C.
First time there and what an experience! Hostess drops two glasses of water on the floor breaking the glass and spilling water all over one in our group, including in her purse. Then she just walked away laughing. Waiter very helpful, trying to make our person comfortable. Chicken was very good, potatoes so so and vegetables were burnt and tasted funny. They did comp half the bill. When we were leaving we were given rolling eyes by either the hostess, wow! Don't plan on ever going back.
(2)
Ross C.
The food was fantastic and the atmosphere is just right for casual dining. We returned here at the urging of the manager after a bad service experience and I have to say, Brio redeemed itself with great food and an attentive wait staff. Monica provided the right balance of attention without being an intrusion. Well done.
(4)
Mitch L.
I went in with an officemate to have lunch at the bar today ~ The interior is nice and they seem staffed for a much larger crowd than they had at noon, so hopefully that pans out for them. I had a lager and a chicken chipotle panini that came with a side of fries. It's sort of disappointing that they don't have any beer on tap, but whatever, Yard House is 50 steps away. The panini was super flavorful and the fries were pretty alright. If I have one complaint about the food, it's that the dish I ordered had way too much salt. The bartender was friendly and attentive so that was nice. All in all, a welcome addition to the neighborhood ~
I have eaten here several times. The service is good the food options are creative and lively with a Nice ambiance. I always enjoy myself when I dine here .A must try is the beef carrpacio. It's a larger size Portion then most places and is served with a drizzle of sauce for flavor. Iv never been disappointed.
(4)
Maggie G.
Updating my original review because I made it to Brio for their awesome happy hour. Drinks and appetizers range from $4 - $6! What a bargain. I figured out the shrimp thing I got last time: Its the Black Pepper Shrimp. $6 at happy hour. Most places would probably charge $15 for this. We also got the margherita flatbread, garlic spinach artichoke dip, and crispy cheese ravioli. There were 4 of us, and we couldn't finish everything. Nice size appetizers--and did I mention they were only $6??!! I am usually a beer and wine kind of girl, but I went with the frou-frou White Peach Sangria since it was 95 freakin' degrees when I was there and I needed something refreshingly icy and cold. It was only $4! Tasty--I had to get two!! Service was good. Our artichoke dip didn't come out on time, but they were very apologetic and when we got it, it was steaming hot. Our waitress knew we were going to a concert at Irvine Meadows, so she was on the ball as far as getting our food to us fast, and getting our check quickly. I am not a fan of chain restaurants, but I think I am going to make an exception for Brio. See you at happy hour!
(5)
Brittany S.
I felt like i was eating bad bar food at an airport restaurant. I've never eaten at an Olive Garden, but I would imagine it to be better than Brio. Some of the worst food I've had in a looooong time.
(1)
Amanda A.
I was here for lunch on Sunday, and loved it! From the moment we walked in, everyone was so warm, welcome and smiling. From the hostesses, staff, our waitress, etc. We couldn't ask for better service. Ambience was great. We sat outside on the patio and it was lovely. The food was yummy, loved the Bruschetta Quattro. We ordered a pitcher of the White Peach Sangria which was absolutely amazing. The presentation was beautiful, and it was delicious. Will definitely be back!
(5)
James B.
We went to celebrate my wife's Birthday at Brio in Irvine since we have had stellar experience with Brio in other parts of the country. But unfortunately this location didn't live upto expectations. Unlike other Brio's, this location is crowded and noisy. Tables are close to other tables deviating away from from intimate and quit settings that Brio is known for. Our Server was fast and expressionless whereas we expected slow and smiling experience allowing us to relax bit more (expectation from other Brio's). My reservation included a Birthday special which meant to bring out a small cake with candles at the end of the dinner. That didn't happen and was even more disappointing. Food wise, the stuffed mushroom ravioli was awesome but pasta was dry (no gravy) and bland (no taste). Place is better for bigger parties and larger groups...I wouldn't recommend it for couples - date nights, romantic evenings.
Today's experience at Brio was rather strange (and I'd say it'd probably be closer to 3 stars if I could have given a half star of some sort). I've really enjoyed every time I've been there, as can be seen in my past review. However, today, everything seemed to be slightly off. Our server seemed very distracted the entire time. Maybe she was having an off-day. Maybe she was new. I like to give everyone the benefit of the doubt that perhaps there was something else bothering them and that was why the service was off, but anyway, here was what happened. The first time, we told her we wanted coffee. She asked if we wanted cream and sugar. We said no, black was fine. Five minutes later, she comes back and asks, did you say you wanted cream? We said no, black is fine. No need to bring out anything extra. Five minutes later, she comes back ... coffee AND cream in hand. Obviously, not a big deal, but it just seemed that she wasn't paying attention to what was being said. When we asked to see the dessert menu, she nodded happily and said, let me get you that. She brought the check over instead. Perhaps it was just misunderstandings or what not, but like I said, the whole experience was just very odd. On another note, I ordered the Sicilian Omelette and I am 100% certain that I got the Tuscan Omelette on my plate instead (I should have taken a picture as proof but I was so hungry that I just dug in). I looked at it because it looked like an egg white omelette (which the Sicilian is not) and confirmed it with the guy who was serving it to me and he said, yes, that is the Sicilian Omelette. Pretty sure he was just reading what was on his notepad and not knowing what the difference between the two was. There were sweet potatoes and turkey sausage in the omelette, not the ham, bacon, sausage that I was supposed to get in my omelette. Again, not a big deal, but had there been something that I was allergic to in one or the other, it probably would have turned out to be something more serious. The food wasn't quite as good as it was before, but I would hope that the servers and the kitchen pay better attention in the future more overall.
(2)
L B.
I recently went there for the first time during lunch. with the exception of the waiter who walked upfront when there was no hostess, looked at us and walked away....everything else was amazing. I ordered the grilled vegetable Panini and asked them to add grilled chicken....I highly recommend it for lunch. the service was great and I loved the design of the restaurant. I'm looking forward to going back and checking out the dinner menu....has a great little outdoor area that is fun to explore.
(5)
Varant H.
I wasn't very impressed with my steak. Mainly because it came out medium well when I asked for medium rare. I normally don't complain much but I let my server know and the manager comped my meal and dessert. The others in my party enjoyed their meals. The service was friendly but, we were starving and a little disappointed that we asked for bread a few times and it didn't come out until after our appetizers came. I could have just been a one off experience. I'm willing to go back and give it another try.
(3)
Brian A.
Incredible. The mushroom ravioli was to die for and their happy hour burger is the best burger I have ever had.
(5)
Aisha R.
Great food and no corkage fee. Prices are reasonable. My favorite are the bruschettas.
(4)
N B.
Loved this place! Came here with family, and let me just say, we're not an easy group to deal with! Our server, Bryce, was phenomenal! He was EXTREMELY attentive, patient, and kind. He also had a good sense of humor which is always a plus! He answered all our questions and requests with a smile and went along with all the cheesy jokes and acts done by the family. That in itself is a feat worthy of acknowledgment. Overall, he was really pleasant and really made the experience. Go Bryce!!! Second, the food was very good. We ordered the salmon fresca, mushroom ravioli, half chicken, mahi, and beef medallions and everyone enjoyed their food. Tasting everyone else's dishes, I must say, I enjoyed their food as well. The portions are generous, and if you do choose to over indulge, you don't leave feeling gross. The food is light but tasty. The beef medallion was also scrumptious! The beef was SO tender and melted in your mouth Third: dessert. The dessert was food, however I did prefer the main entree more. We tried the tiramisu and moscolarno (or something like that) cheesecake. The tiramisu tasted very moussy, so it didn't. Have that cake feel that most tiramisus have, but I think that's the goal since they're served in these little glasses. It was still really good and fluffy, just not what I had in mind. The cheesecake was also pretty good but idk if I'd go out of my way to get it. Overall, a great experience. The food was delicious, the seating was nice, and our server, along with other members of the staff we interacted with, were all very pleasant. Would def recommend!
(5)
Kim M.
Pretty good place. Food was good. Was given a recommendation for a drink from the bar. When I didn't see it on the dinner menu, the waitress said it's only available for happy hour. It was a martini - can't you make it during dinner too with a dinner price tag? She looked confused, went & asked & came back to let me know "she could do it!!" Hmmmm, ok thanks! The drinks weren't very tasty. It's a new place so I'm sure it will improve. Beautiful restaurant though.
(4)
Minh T.
Double date dinner place :) Came here with my bf and his married friends on a Friday night. The company was great! The look and atmosphere of this restaurant is nice. I hate the parking situation since it's at the Spectrum. Plus, the food isn't that inventive or wow tasting. Service was ok. Our waitress didn't refill our cups up enough, and she forgot our drink orders so that we had to flag her down a couple times to remind her. What I got to eat: - Calamari: I like the aioli sauce it comes with, garlic and lemony. The calamari itself is crispy in the beginning, although a bit on the oily side so it got soggy pretty quickly. The flavoring is good, they didn't completely mask the taste of squid with too much batter. -Roasted Red Pepper Bruschetta: comes with 5 pieces. They put a slice of cheese on a crostini and the traditional tomatoes and other stuff. What I didn't like about this was that the cheese didn't easily bite off, so the entire cheese slice slipped off with a bite and then all the toppings fell off. -Fra Diavolo: recommended by the waitress. It tastes like a normal cream tomato sauce and not spicy at all like the waitress said it would be. It's not a bad tasting dish, just very normal tasting. -Fennel sausage and tomato pasta: meh, The dish didn't really have much flavor, it was just a bunch of veg and sausage thrown together with pasta and some garlic olive oil probably. I'm not in any way moved or impressed by this place. I think they need to up their game and train their staff better. Def a little better than a one-star experience, but that's not saying much.
(2)
Jim M.
Loved the entire package food, ambiance, service and the friendly wait staff. I will take all my friends, family and business associates for the same experience.
(5)
PaigeeGa L.
Automosphere amazing but messed up on my dish. The 2nd portion attempt was even smaller....I can't have anything dairy and they reused old dish with and feta was in there. Did not make a new dish and very disappointing. Manager took care of situation the right way. Chefs were lazy. Waitress avoided us after the order was messed up. What would Gordon Ramsay do????????? Olive Garden experience would of been better and I don't like Olive Garden.
(1)
Nour A.
Wasn't anything too special. I got the ahi tuna salad - dressing was okay but fish didn't taste fresh. Luckily there was enough dressing...
(2)
Holly T.
Food was great. Service was a little slow but it was at lunch time during the week. We weren't in a hurry so we looked past it. Servers were a little strange. One in the bar and one waiting our table. They were not friendly. Its like they just got out of a bad meeting and didn't want to be there. I will give it one more try and if I receive the same kind of service I won't go back...service is key people, its what provides tou a paycheck.
(4)
Robyn F.
We went for a late lunch and sat outside in the patio. We ordered the shrimp and zucchini appetizer and chicken piccata it was excellent! The service was good, however it could have been better. We will definitely go back again especially for the shrimp appetizer!
(4)
Denise G.
Service left something to be desired. Lobster bisque was perfect and bistecca tasty. Hard to go wrong with these two items though.
(3)
Koz K.
Had a bad experience first time I visited.... But a month later, they have improved a lot. So will give credit where the credit is due... So I am going for 4 stars...
(4)
Jeff E.
Good for Business Lunches. Great Location!
(4)
Rami O.
We went there on last Saturday evening for the first time. The place is new and nice looking. However the noise level was extreme and the waitress even joked about her painful throat by the end of every evening from speaking so loudly. This is probably attributed to using all hard surfaces in the interior. the patio would have been more pleasant. The food was ok but not great but stay away from the salmon salad because the plate was all covered with endless amount of string potatoes that completely devastated the salad and salmon.
(3)
Marissa W.
Very good food and large portions! I did ask for the gluten free menu and ordered salmon from it. When I looked at appetizers they were on the main menu. We ordered an amazing spicy eggplant shrimp dish. Not till I ordered did I find out the eggplant was breaded which luckily is fine since I'm not allergic I'm just trying not to eat it. So please waiters pre warn people of there is gluten on a dish if you notice they ask for the gluten free menu and you aren't busy! Anyhoo I ordered the salmon with veggies and mashed potatoes (: very yummy and reasonably priced for the sizes
Terrible customer service. I was excited to try this place as it is fairly new. When we arrived, we were greeted by a host who clearly had better things to do than attend to guests. After 5 minutes of waiting, I said excuse me to the host and Rather than a greeting, i received with "the wait is currently 45 minutes". I explained that I had a reservation for three and a high chair. The host did not reply, but offered a friendly rolling of the eyes and a large sigh. When escorted to our table, we reminded the host of the high chair and the host responded that they will give us one when it becomes available. I asked why one was not reserved as part of our reservation. I even called and confirmed that it would be available and was told that it was. The host repeated that we can get a high chair once one opens up. Slightly frustrated, I asked to speak to a manager. I fully don't expect them to take a high chair from someone who is currently using it, but they should also inform me if their policy is not to guarantee a high chair as dining with a one year old is very difficult if they are required to sit in your lap for the duration of the meal. The manager approached and apologized, but offered the same explanation. They simply do not have enough high chairs. I explained the lackluster attitude of the host and the managers response was a simple, we'll talk to them. Disappointed and knowing that I was not going to find another restaurant without a ridiculous wait time, I sucked it up and ordered food. Although the food was ok, not spectacular, the terrible customer service will keep me from returning again.
(1)
Joseph M.
Sorry to all! This review was meant to be for Cuccina Enoteca in the Spectrum. Simply not very good food. Stuffed zucchini blossom were good. Doughnut whole things are good but terrible dipping sauces. Linguini and clams (a delicate food) should never have pepper flakes. Let alone to the point of a single hot burn and no flavor. The other pasta was just as bad. The beet salad was OK but small. We won't be back. The Traveling Foodies
(1)
Erin D.
Excellent menu, food, portions and service. I've been twice in the last week and really enjoyed both the chicken piccata and the brick chicken. Delicious! And large portions - very pleased. This place is a new favorite!
(4)
Patrick D.
Came for late lunch on a Sunday afternoon with my wife. Upon entering, we requested a table outside. The two hostesses up front seemed completely uninterested in accommodating our request and informed that no tables were available, but were welcome to the bar patio and sofa seating. We went out there ourselves and found an available table (with no help from the hostesses - why are they there?). After waiting a few minutes I went to one of the sofa tables and grabbed menus and place settings. So far, not so good. Eventually bread/butter was brought to the table - fresh and delicious. Our server (Andi) came by soon enough and took our drink orders. Upon returning, we inquired about whether there were any tomato sauces based pastas available (the menu was a bit vague on this in same areas). Our server proceeded to read off the menu and speculate which pastas had what sauces. The server did not really have knowledge about the foods being offered (or at least the knowledge you'd expect from a server working in this type of establishment). At the start of the service our server seemed uninterested in really serving us. Our first request to refill bread and the ice tea was meet with a reaction of disappointment (like it was an inconvenience). But I will say that the service attitude did improve as the meal experience went on, though I wonder if the cheerful attitude we received toward the end of service (when the check was provided) was more related to our departure. If only the cheerfulness was consistent from the beginning that I might consider it authentic. We ended up ordering the Artichoke Spinach dip to start and 2 entrees: the Pasta Brio and the Lasagna lunch plate (w/ insalata). The dip was amazing. With the inclusion of garlic, the dip was elevated when compared to similar offerings elsewhere. The Pasta Brio was given a 5/10 by my wife. While the chicken was tender/juicy and not dry, the rest of the dish was forgettable and quite plain. It was not believed to be better that what you could get at an Olive Garden. When the Lasagna dish was brought out they also brought out the insalata which was quite surprising (and disappointing). So my Lasagna had to sit for about 10 minutes or so while I went through the fairly size able insalata. It tasted well enough, no complaints, but would have liked to received it before the Lasagna came to the table. The Lasagna itself was OK and didn't do anything to make itself standout. The dip was the food highlight of the experience. Likely not returning for a 2nd visit. TL;DR * Terrible overall service that seemed in line with other review complaints * Food was ok overall but doesn't offer enough to overcome garbage service.
(2)
Jeffrey M.
So disappointed. Came here for happy hour. Artichoke dip was tasteless. Shrimp dish overly salty, greasy and tasteless. Food left a horrible after taste in my mouth. Must be the salt? Happy hour white wine undrinkable. Will never go back. $49.00 wasted.
(1)
SSS K.
Service was bit slow but this is a good restaurant with hearty food that u can make into healthy meals w the right substitutions. Great ambiance and creative, neat use of Carrara white marble basin upon quartz vanity in the restroom. Will return
(4)
Vivian T.
I love their beef carpaccio!!! Delicious!!! So is their caprese salad! The atmosphere is great. Pricing is fair. Definitely come back!
(5)
Kelly C.
Came in for appetizers and drinks, Strawberry Fresca was amazing! We had the bruschetta sampler and the carpaccio, both were definite winners! The bread for the bruschetta was extra fresh, all ingredients went well together for each of the four bruschettas, highly recommended! The amount of carpacchio we got was incredible for the price, definitely best bang for your buck and its the best carpacchio my husband has ever had! Both servers we had did a great job as well;)
(5)
Julie S.
Super cute and great service but I didn't like what I ordered. I had the salmon salad and the greens were not fresh. Let's just say they weren't green. And my friend got a pasta and it was ok. Like I said, not terrified food but great ambiance. Beautiful interior decor and our waiter was so super adorable and sweet
(4)
Nicole T.
Such delicious good! The pasta and shrimp are amazing. The flatbread pizza is to die for. Even the bread they serve the table is ridiculously good. No corkage fee. Service is attentive. I like the fact that their veal is humane free-range (even though I still don't really eat veal). Love this place!!!
(5)
Gaby G.
Best salmon I've ever had! The drinks are really good too... I think you can order anything here and it's absolutely delicious! Must go!
(5)
Man S.
We sat at the bar, supposedly a full service bar. The bartender is great however the waiters who brought our meal out do not seem to be helping the poor bartender out, who is making drinks for their tables. I asked for red onion, never got it! I asked for red chili flakes, never got it!!!! The food was okay! We ordered the spicy shrimps and eggplant, wedge salad and fennel pastas; however the wine was great!
(3)
Kelley T.
Food was not that great. I had the cream stuffed French toast with berries, which the server raved about and I was quite disappointed. Because it was stuffed, then frozen (pre-made), it was soggy and didn't boast much flavor. Nice ambience and friendly staff.
(3)
Kathy T.
When it comes to dining, you usually look at two things. Food and service. So lets start with the food. The food was ok. We got the prosciutto and mushroom flatbread as the appetizer. Hubby liked the roasted chicken. I got some type of Mediterranean salad with chicken. As you can tell, the food was that memorable that I can't recall what I had. Food overall was not terrible but also nothing to rave about. Now lets talk about the service. First of all it took some time for the server to show up at our table. The restaurant was not busy, so I can't imagine why it took so long for us to get our drink order. Once we order, our appetizer came rather quick. But after that, it is like they had forgotten about us. It took a LOOOONG time for us to finally get out dinner entree. A good server would have came to us and informed us of the delay. But not ours. We had to track him down to find out the status of our food. And of course the typical answer we got was "your food is coming right out". Did it come right out? Of course not! Then another guy (perhaps the manager) came and told us that there was a problem in the kitchen so our food is taking longer than it should. At that point, the proper thing he should have done was to offer a little something on the house. That would have cost them nothing but It would have eased my frustration. But instead, they have lost me as a customer for life. Would I come back here? NO Would I recommend anyone here? NO You decide for yourself after reading this review.
(3)
Jim F.
8/15/14 Friday night I came in with a few friends and before getting a table I went to wash hands in mens restroom. One soap dispenser was completely removed and the other was empty without soap. Then there was a store bough soap dispenser sitting on counter (Soft Soap). This was completely empty too. Right before I was leaving the bathroom I told an employee who was heading to the bathroom. He looked at me with a blank look and tried to pump soap as if he didnt believe me. He discover it empty and didnt seem to care. He then went to restroom. I then asked to speak to manager. His name was Nick and he apologized. I told Nick there was no way I would eat here. And he said, anything I could do, for example buy us an appetizer. Are you kidding me???? I would never have someone buy me an appetizer when especially I know that there was no soap in restroom. This was very disappointing since this restaurant is only two weeks old.
(1)
Matt D.
Above average food. Service was slow. Bruschetta quartet was the highlight. We were here on Tuesday night and it was moderately busy but not enough to be slow.
(3)
Kristin B.
me and justin b. luckily made the cut for this preview dinner and i was thoroughly impressed with my experience here at Brio Tuscan Grill! i had underestimated travel time so we actually showed up for our reservation about 20 minutes early but Brio was able to accommodate us and we got seated right away! major plus that they didn't overbook the restaurant so the night was already off to a good start haha. after we were seated and given some of our server's favorite dish recommendations, we were served the spicy shrimp over breaded eggplant appetizer. omg it was amazing! the panko breaded eggplant and the shrimp were really delicious and i didnt think the dish was TOO spicy, it had the right amount of kick/flavor. then my caesar salad was next and it was standard. tasted good but nothing spectacular about it haha...for my main entree, i went with the lasagna and so glad that i did! the portion size is very generous and i ended up taking half of my meal home for lunch the next day haha...but the lasagna is super cheesey with meat sauce and i thought it was delicious. and to top it all off Brio served us dessert as well! we were served the lemon cake and carrot cake served in an oversized shot glass haha. the carrot cake was definitely my favorite out of the 2, but i was sorta jealous of other tables that got the bread pudding or chocolate flavor ones haha. i'll have t come back and try those next time! my dinner for 2 would have cost me around $50 (no alcoholic drinks ordered this night) and i think thats more than reasonable for a nice date night out service as a whole was a bit slow, but that was expected since it was still a preview dinner/training opportunity. every member of the staff that i encountered though was friendly, knowledgeable and really willing to help! for instance, i had needed a new fork and was looking for my server, but during that time another server must have seen my look of confusion/panic haha...so she went out of her way to bring me a new fork! i loved the team work here at Brio and i think they are well on their way to a successful opening! get out all those slow service kinks now so you can WOW us when we come back ;)
(5)
Sy h.
Mediocre food, less than mediocre service. Ordered a chicken dish was told 20 minutes later they were out of it; but I could order another chicken entree how do you run out of chicken but have "another chicken entree"?
(2)
Yummy C.
Beautiful restaurant.. Awesome staff.. Great happy hour menu! Best deal in town :))) Everything is ok tasting but not amazing..
(4)
Elizabeth C.
Fantastic! Delicious! We had the spinach artichoke dip, lamb chops & strip steak. The house bread & butter are to die for. Awesome service! Very well recommended.
(5)
Dsunnybunz ..
We love this place. Good food and love the live music that starts at 9. Our waiter, Claudio was very attentive.
(5)
Parisa H.
This is my favorite place to eat with my family or clients Great food, perfect atmosphere, awesome customer service. Best of all they take reservations. Love love love it
(5)
Henry Z.
Brio's food was delicious! Me and my family enjoyed our meal there. The service was great, the location perfect, food amazing, everything a restaurant needs! Highly recommend!
(5)
Aaron E.
Brio fails somewhere between Macaroni Grill and Olive Garden or as I like to call it "Hell and Perdition". After reading countless reviews about Brio's brand of Italian I felt compelled to get them checked off of my list and made a reservation for 7:45pm on a Friday night. The house was packed and it was apparent from the jump that the staff was not ready for the onslaught of being in the weeds at peak hour. Our party was not seated for 20 minutes with a reservation, so we posted up at the bar until our table was ready. I will say that the interior of the restaurant was quite inviting, but it goes downhill from here fast. Once seated we were greeted by our lackadaisical server who would sloppily orchestrate service for our table in a tag team effort with another server, neither aware what the other was doing. Drinks took ages to arrive, water glasses remained empty and the pace of the meal was slow to the point of staggering. Brio's service is horrific at peak times, so please be advised. The cuisine was no redemption. The Cesar Salad was very Chili's-esque. The Tomato & Mozzarella Caprese was weighed down but under ripe Tomatoes and grainy and flavorless globs of Mozzarella. The Grilled Mahi Mahi was over everything. Over cooked, Over seasoned, overloaded with Cilantro and I was over it altogether. The Pasta Pesto came in as the table favorite and featured a nice light Pesto sauce covering Angel Hair Pasta, (a stingy amount of) grilled Chicken, caramelized Onions, Tomatoes, Peppers, Feta crumbles and fresh basil. With exception to the Pasta Pesto, every plate returned to the kitchen with at least half of the dish still on it. Naturally our oblivious waitresses took no notice. I thought I did a reasonable amount of homework prior to choosing Brio for a meal but now realize where I made my mistake. The majority of the reviews I read on Yelp were from an Elite event that the restaurant had advance warning to prepare for. The experience I had was nothing close to what was described and the chance that I return is slim to nonexistent.
(2)
Justin T.
Very friendly service and the food was amazing. It was a lot of fun having dinner on the patio and the restaurant itself is beautiful. I can't wait to come back and try more dishes.
(4)
Eric O.
Just visited this location for the first time---after going to the Rancho location before. Very nice restaurant but our direct service was very subpar. We had William(guessing it was his name based on our receipt). Came to us first for drinks and appetizer but didn't return for 20 minutes after that for our entree order. We would normally be understanding but the restaurant was relatively empty on a Monday at 3pm and a holiday. Appetizer took 25 minutes to come out---almost thinking it was forgotten about. Food was good and bruschetta sampler was amazing. Average dining experience but not worth the price tag for the overall experience.
(3)
Michelle T.
Excellent service, delicious food, lovely ambiance! Our waitress was extremely knowledgeable and incredibly friendly. I came here on a Sunday at noon, and we got seated right away. The hostess gave us the option of dining inside or outside. We chose outside since it was such a beautiful day. [[Roasted Garlic, Spinach, & Artichoke Dip]] Cheesy, creamy, delicious, yum! The dip came with Parmesan flatbread, and it is perfect for sharing with those dining with you! [[Sicilian Omelette]] Wow, I wish I could make eggs this fluffy. Anyways, the omelette is filled with smoked ham, bacon, sausage, onions, tomatoes, Mozzarella, Provolone, and Parmesan. It's served with some potatoes on the side. My boyfriend ordered this dish, and he said it was quite delicious and filling. [[Campanelle Carbonara]] This was the dish I ordered. I am a sucker for Alfredo, chicken, and bacon. Put them all together in one plate, and I'm sold! However, there was nothing special about this dish. There was nothing that set it aside from any other Carbonara I've had before. Although it's nothing special, it was still delicious. Bread & Parmesan flatbread was served along with a piece of butter before any of our food came out. The bread was nice and warm, so the butter melted nicely on it. I also like how they served actual butter, and not that margarine-I Can't Believe It's Not Butter-crap. Ultimately, I would definitely come back here - for dinner though. I want to try some of the items that are only offered on the dinner menu.
(5)
Cindy L.
Brio is located next to Del Frisco's and has beautiful outdoor seating -- which is self-seating, I believe. It's far away from the main eating locations at the Spectrum, but close enough to center if you need to grab a bite to eat before more shopping! Maybe it was because this restaurant is fairly new still, or perhaps I just didn't order the right things but I didn't think that there was anything spectacular about the food here. I started with the beef carppacio, which was oddly enough a pale shade of pink and served with a mustard sauce.The greens were dressed with vinaigrette and not enough seasoning -- I thought. I ordered the Shrimp Mediterranean which was interesting. The shrimp wasn't very spicy, but it was served with spinach and broccoli orzo and pesto. It was fair. My friend's food wasn't that much better -- she had the salmon salad which was essentially a charred hockey puck on a bed of mixed-greens. I thought the food was mediocre, the seating and surrounding area were nice -- but the company was the best part. We ended up staying for a few hours and just kept talking and laughing the entire time. I wish the server was a little more attentive, even though we were more interested in catching up -- we never had our waters re-filled nor were we asked if we'd like dessert or coffee. I guess I should say that I consider Brio to be more of a Mediterranean style restaurant that serves AMERICAN-Italian cuisine as well. With reasonable prices, I think this place is fine though I think Cucina Enoteca is much better at serving more rustic Italian cuisine -- definitely more flavorful. If you're not looking for anything too adventurous, Brio is definitely a must-try.
(3)
Chris F.
This place was great! Nice vibe, atmosphere, and great service. I had the lobster and shrimp fettuccine. Simply amazing. I'll definitely be going back.
(5)
Margaret N.
Christmas luncheon for a group of eight. The Quatro bruschetta is delicious for sharing as an appetizer and the lobster bisque was a hit with diners who ordered it. The best entree selected by a group vote was the Pasta alla vodka. Melts in your mouth. Pasta Brio seared mushrooms were delicious but the sauce was a little bland. Shrimp Mediterranean is delicious. The only negative in the service was the slow serving of the drinks. Soup and appetizers came before the drinks. The servers were bringing food to our table meant for other diners. Naturally, this is a busy time of the year, but that should not interrupt the order of the service. However, all in all, I would dine here again for sure.
(4)
Archie D.
Ah, Brio! How I wish I liked your food more than I did! Came in here a week or so ago and ordered the Bistecca Alla Fiorentina, and a Bruschetta Quattro, along with whatever my girlfriend ordered (some sort of chicken). My steak was cooked well, but lacking seasoning. You could tell the server was new, but she was really nice and overwhelmed, so that's okay. The bruschetta was hit or miss, but the red pepper one was by far the best. Ambiance was nice and somewhat romantic, but on the more casual side. I think for the price, you're better off going to Houston's or somewhere else (Del Frisco's next door is pretty bland, too).
(3)
Herald L.
NADINE is amazing! try to get her as your server #realtalk I didn't want to write a review until I had the chance to come back for HH, which happened yesterday. I am currently a huge fan of this restaurant. The quality is amazing and the prices are reasonable (read: cheap). I not a huge fan of the dining options at Spectrum and usually I don't eat pasta when I go out cuz carbs on carbs on carbs, but Brio and CE at Spectrum are the only exceptions. I tried all the bruschettas, PASTA ALLA VODKA (my favorite), chiggin on quinoa salad, the misto salad, the half chiggin, and the lamb chops. it was all great! The ambiance is pretty laid back. I love how high the ceilings are and how open the restaurant feels. The porch dining is great since it's been so effing hot in Irvine lately, it's nice to eat dinner out side once in a while. minor complaints- please stop giving us bread AND appetizer plates at the same time cuz then there's no room on the table for the food. I mean, I guess the plates of food could go on top of the small bread plates and we could use the appetizer plates to eat the food off of... OR you could just give us ONE set of plates. whatever. Yesterday I went to HH with the work family and we ordered everything on the food menu. THE BEEF CARPACCIO is only 4 bucks and it's A-mazing. We ordered two of those. The fried ravioli were also a good HH snack. Drinks are super cheap. Try their house Italian Margarita. it tastes light and refreshing and has tequila in it. Shout out to NADINE who worked the bar area yesterday. She has the most beautiful eyes and the best sense of humor. She definitely made our visit more enjoyable. PLUS she got jokes for days. we were all dying at her snarky comments. See you soon NADINE!!! and Brio too, I guess.
(5)
Alisha M.
My husband and I were blown away with the level of service and experience at Brio. I WISH I remember our waitresses name is because I want to let her manager know! She knew the menu from front to back, her recommendations were on point! We can't wait to go back!!!
(5)
Henry C.
Very accommodating service and good food. Went in for a quick lunch, told our server we had a time crunch and the food was out very fast. Quality and taste were very good. Need to go back for dinner and have a more leisurely dining experience.
(5)
Julie M.
I came here for lunch and I'm not sure if there is a different chef for the lunch hour or what because I heard some really good things about this place. Unfortunately, I can't say the same as my friends. I ordered the chipotle chicken panini and it was soooo herbed out it completely overpowered the entire dish. It tasted like someone dumped half the oregano bottle on it and then sprinkled on some more. Too much. So, I had them return it and i ordered the dessert sampler along with the chicken carbonara pasta to go. The sampler was delish! I really enjoyed all of them. Especially the peanut butter chocolate one. Upon returning back to work and letting all that settle, I decided to try out the pasta. TOO SALTY!!! :( whats going on? This place cant always be like this, I hear such good things. I'm even willing to come back but maybe for dinner. Anyone else experience something like this?
(2)
Kat N.
Nadine and Kelsey were amazing servers! The food was AMAZING! Sat by the fireplace and definitely coming back.
(5)
Charlie C.
I had a 6:45pm reservation and when my friend and I got there we were quickly seated and greeted by the friendly server and a huge serving of beef carpaccio. The presentation on that dish was pretty and delish! After we then took a look at the menu and we decided on the shrimp and lobster fettuccine and fillet mignon. Before we got our entrees, our salads came first, I got the chopped salad and my friend got the caesar. The chopped salad had was over dressed and really sour for my taste. The caesar was perfect. The shrimp and lobster fettuccine was really good. The pasta was cooked perfectly and the seasoning was well balanced. The steak was okay. In my opinion for around 30 bucks the dish should have a lot more than a piece of meat, some mashed potatoes and veggies. It should have came with some pasta instead of potatoes. And for dessert we got this lime thing and a carrot cake thing served in a shooter glass, both were very tasty! Overall this preview dinner went well. The servers were on point with their customer service, the food was good, and I will be sure to come back when they open to try other pastas and menu items!
(5)
Craig C.
Excellent food and service. I had the Florentine steak and it was comparable to the one I had in Florence.
(5)
Sopa S.
Read the reviews and really wanted to try this spot. Unfortunately my experience differs greatly from the other reviewers here. The service is good enough. So is the atmosphere. The problem lies in the food. Ordered the artichoke dip for an appetizer and it tasted like it was pre-made and came right out the microwave. Very spongey and unappetizing. For entree I ordered the steaks and it was nearly as bad. Though I ordered medium rare it came out medium well and was extremely dry. The mash potatoes tasted like the microwave variety you get from Walmart. I left with a big bill and still hungry as the food left me wanting. Definitely not coming back.
(1)
Diane V.
I was cordially invited by Yelp to get a complimentary preview of the new Brio Tuscan Grill at the Irvine Spectrum. Having never been to a Brio at all, I accepted with a +1. It's located right across from Forever 21 and adjacent to the parking structure, so it's convenient. The hostesses were very pleasant and seated us immediately. The decor was nice, kind of like a Tuscan Cheesecake Factory and was a good size. It's rather intimately casual but is also good for large parties and special occasions. I didn't drink because I really needed to detox after the World Cup Weekend, but I ate a lot to make up for it. We had the following items: Spinach & Artichoke Dip: I did indulge in the complimentary appetizer, which was REALLY good. It came with parmesan crackers, and they also had sourdough bread available if you preferred that instead. Chopped Salad with no dressing: the salad itself was good, but when I tried my date's same salad with dressing it was extremely tart and lemony. Like, really tart. He didn't finish it. Grilled Mahi Mahi: Yum! It was very tender, and the orzo and spinach were a good pairing with the fish also. The sauce that it came with is a little too sour for my taste, but the dish didn't have a lot of it so it was good. Veal Milanese: The veal itself was good, but something about all these sauces....they must really love lemon here. All their sauces are really tart and super sour tasting. to me, this didn't pair well with the food. Lemon Cream Pie Mousse: This one tasted really funky. I did not like it at all. It tasted like yogurt gone really bad. I'm not sure if that's how lemon cream pie is supposed to taste, but I had to spit this one out. Chocolate Mousse: Ah, much better! It's a bit rich, but if you like that, this dessert made up for the funky taste of the other dessert. Service: Very good and super attentive. A little too much actually. Everyone here was a little too eager to clear plates. One person after another asked us to clear the appetizer plate that we (um, I) were still working on, so it got to be a bit too much after the 4th person asked to clear the plate. But other than that, they were good about water refills, asking how things were, and being there when you needed them. They looked overstaffed/appropriately staffed, so it doesn't look like they'll have any issues of being under-staffed and slow here. The managers came by to ask how things were, so that was especially a nice touch. Bathrooms: Clean and nice. I had to walk through the line to get there, though, which was rather uncomfortable, but it wasn't too bad. Credit cards are accepted. Grazie, Brio!
(4)
RIA U.
Came here on Saturday afternoon with my husband and in-laws... My excitement they had my favorite Sauvignon Blanc!!! For appetizers we got the caprese and beef carpaccio OMG...his huge. Both were very delicious!!! For dinner I had the mushroom raviloli... It was to die for!! The outside ambiance is great for so cal afternoon dining. Will definitely be back!!
(4)
Mike K.
Went in for Sunday brunch with family from out of town...there were 5 of us in our party and when we sat down, 3 of us had dirty plate in our place settings...we gave them to the host as he was handing out menus and he apologized and gave us new plates...2 more dirty dishes...if someone complains about a dirty dish, wouldn't you want to make sure you replace it with a clean plate? The first person to pick up a napkin noticed it was dirty. We left.
(1)
Shawna C.
I felt like this restaurant was an expensive Macaroni Grill. The restaurant decor was elegant, but the drinks and food were not worth the prices. Service was polite but not attentive. Use Open Table for reservations during busy dinner hours.
(3)
Safina M.
Brios never ceases to amaze me with their great food, friendly ambiance, and good customer service. It has become a staple restaurant for my family and I since it first opened. The inside is formal but very loud so I definitely recommend sitting on the cushioned seating outside--they have heaters all around! The meal from start to finish is spectacular. They have a great variety of appetizers including the bruschetta and caprese salad. The bruschetta incorporates the flavors of Italy into one bite with the ricotta cheese and tomatoes. The caprese salad is simplistic but very flavorful with the olive oil and balsamic vinegar drizzled on top. The main entree comes soon after, my favorite being the Pasta Alla Vodka. To top it all off, the dessert is divine and at a reasonable cost. The portions for the dessert are minis but very filling so you are able to try a plethora of items at a low cost. My personal favorite for the desserts is the peanut butter mousse that has the perfect balance of sweetness and crunch. Overall, I highly recommend Brios to everyone, you will not regret it!
(5)
Amanda Y.
I was so excited to see a Brio open here (moved to CA from OH 2 years ago, frequented the brio in Cleveland) it's exactly what spectrum was missing! Have been here twice since it opened. First time service was a little rocky since it had just opened but they were just getting into the swing of things. Second time, sat at the bar and had excellent service. The food was excellent, as always, both times. Can't wait to go back!!
(5)
Peter Y.
I came here with my girlfriend for a soft opening and were greeted by so many people and seated in the smaller quieter dining room towards the back instead of the spacious main dining room. The main dining floor is decorated with ornate pendant chandeliers in an open space with stone pillars strewn about, which definitely gave you the Tuscan feel. The smaller dining room has large open windows to the main floor yet still keeps the room quiet. The room was also lined in wood and had an elegant ambiance to it. We started off with the roasted garlic, spinach & artichoke dip served with delicious crispy parmesan flatbread points. The flatbread was quite good on its own, but paired nicely with the dip. We also had the beef carpaccio, which was ginormous! It was topped with an lovely array of dressed greens, mustard aioli and capers and sprinkled with Parmigiano-Reggiano. For thr main course, we ordered the grilled lamb chops with pistachio mint pesto and the Compart Farms Duroc pork porterhouse. The lamb chops were slightly dry, but had excellent flavor. The charring was done well and went quite well with the pistachio mint pesto sauce. It was accompanied with a side of roasted sliced red potatoes, red bell peppers, asparagus and caramelized onions. It could jave also been the pairing of the the roasted potatoes that gave the lamb chops and ultimately the whole dish a 'dry' feel to it, but you be the judge to that when you try it. Moving along to the porterhouse, I was very nicely cooked and served resting on a side of mashed potatoes and was accompanied by arugula & watercress salad and some roasted red bell peppers, zucchini & carrots. I especially liked how the carrots tasted and the mashed potatoes were smooth and creamy. For dessert, we got the molten lava cake with a decadent gooey fudge center topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, garnished with fresh raspberries and dusted with cocoa powder. The meal was awesome and our server Lala was super attentive and gave us great service. I can't wait to go back and try their other menu items. I also like theit menu because it tells you the calorie count of each item....if you're into that sort of thing.
(4)
Lisa B.
Just came back from having dinner here on a Thursday night. I have to say, I am quite impressed! The decor is beautiful, service is attentive and efficient, and the food was better than I expected. The kid's menu, first of all, is wow... My 3-year old son asked to get the salmon. I was surprised he wanted salmon and then quickly did a double take when I realized that salmon was on the kid's menu! My 9 year old had the lasagna. When their orders came, the plates were huge. My husband usually orders salmon if it's on the menu when we go out to eat. But since my little one beat him to it, he decided to try something different. The first thing we all realized was the portion size of the salmon from the kid's menu was larger than the adult portions at many other restaurants we've been to like this. It's quite a bit! Plus, there was a lot of broccoli and a good serving of mashed potatoes. Love it when restaurants don't skimp on the kid's menu! Plus, the waiter gave the kids bread dough that he told them to shape however they wanted. They took their raw dough to the guy making the pizzas in the kitchen area who put their creations in the pizza oven. The kids brought it back to the table and gobbled up their freshly baked breads with their dinner. They had so much fun, and when the kids have fun then my husband and I are over the moon! My husband had the Gorgonzola-encrusted beef medallions. He really liked the flavor of it but thought it was a bit over cooked. It didn't stop him from wiping his plate clean, though. I had the lamb chops. Fabulous... It came with scalloped potatoes and asparagus (which my 3 yro helped me to devour, too). I can tell when a restaurant serves good food when my picky eater eats! We don't normally order desserts after dinner, but the selection seemed so good. So we got the tiramisu and chocolate caramel-something (sorry, I've forgotten what it was called, but it's chocolate and caramel in a cup with whipped cream). Not the best tiramisu I've ever had, but it was yummy even after eating a full dinner. The chocolate caramel dessert was really flavorful. Overall, we would definitely recommend and come back here again.
(5)
Christie C.
I got the whole grain vegetable pasta that Amanda, the excellent multitasking bartender, recommended for me! First time eating here and the food was so tasty. Not just your ordinary Italian joint, and it won't break your wallet. Also got the rose sangria, fresh fruit and all! I will definitely be heading here for my next Italian fix!
(5)
Michael S.
Service was good (waitress part). It wasn't too busy bc they could have sat us right away inside. But we opted to sit outside. So we waited. Once we were seated the waitress was great. Got our drink orders fast and brought them out fast. Gf ordered flirtini... She liked it. I ordered a Pinot Grigio, goes "well" with Alfredo. Checked in on yelp and waited for the food. We talked and they brought out the appetizer pretty fast and then we waited... And waited... And waited for the main course... I'm getting hungry and started wondering where the food is. My gf said it's getting busy... Which didn't matter bc our order was in. I checked on yelp and it has been 40 mins since I checked in, granted we did get the appetizer fast, it was still 40+mins! Finally the food comes out around the 45min mark with an apology (they knew they took forever!) we start to eat and I'm not impressed with the salty chicken Alfredo w/ bacon (i forgot what it's called) and my gf just ordered the lobster bisque and salad, which she said the bisque was salty. If you have ever tried the Brio in St. Louis, this place is not nearly as good. Not sure if the chef has a huge impact on the taste of their food but this chef is no bueno. His cooking time was way too slow and the food was salty. We like Brio and might have to wait until we visit our parents in st louis to ever try Brio again.
(2)
Charles R.
Had the shrimp for lunch. Nice spicy combination with rice, asparagus and more. Well presented and great flavor. Restaurant has a nice ambience, and the service was friendly and excellent. I will definitely recommend it to family and friends.
(5)
Yen L.
Newly opened at Irvine Spectrum, it's located on the same side as Nordstrom and Yard House, adjacent to the parking structure. We dined in the patio, which was open seating with some tables and comfy patio furnitures. They served full menu out there. We took advantage of the week night late Happy Hour (3:30-6:30 and 9:00 til close, Mon-Fri). From the HH menu (drinks and plates $4-6) we enjoyed the sangria rosa, which was refreshing with muddled strawberries and pineapples. The beef carpaccio was tasty and light. The black pepper shrimp was rich and saucy on Romano crusted eggplants. The spinach artichoke dip was just okay, it was a bit overwhelming to eat with the Parmesan flatbread it came with. We did like it better with the plain loaf bread from the bread basket. The highlight of the meal was the 5oz Filet Brio from their regular lighter fare menu. The filet was perfectly cooked and well accompanied by sweet potatoes, roasted peppers, spinach, and asparagus. At only 365 calories, it was awesome! We appreciate the fact that they offer desserts in petite sizes. We got the tiramisu in a little shot glass and it was just the way to end a meal. The waiting staff were very nice and helpful. We would definitely return to try the other items on the menu and to take advantage of the HH.
Every time I come to this location I have an amazing experience. The food is fantastic I HIGHLY recommend the Spicy Shrimp and Eggplant appetizer and the Shrimp and Lobster Fettuccine as a Entree they are excellent! Happy hour has great deals as well!! The servers are very nice and very educated about the menu. I usually ask to be sat in Kelsey's section she is a great server, hilarious, helpful and always checks up on the table a reasonable amount of times. Great place! One of the best restaurant I've even been to.
(5)
James M.
Meh. Like an overpriced Olive Garden. The carpaccio was pretty good though. The pasta seemed dried and not fresh made, and that is the whole point of a good Italian restaurant, isn't it?
(3)
Abhi S.
Great authentic Tuscan grill ! Under 600 calorie dinner section is great. Had Mediterranean shrimp it's just awesome! Highly recommended!
(4)
jennifer c.
Love this place. I love that it's next to the parking structure. Easy to get to. The food is good. The lunches are good. Happy hour is crazy cheap and the yummy. U Can bring ur own wine bottles and they will open them at no charge is designated areas. We have always had great service.
(4)
Divakar P.
Went to BRIO on 3rd feb for a dinner with my wife. Though it wasn't crowded but The overall hospitality was excellent. Chris, the Guy serving us was neat and very attentive. The shrimp and eggplant appetizer was very good. Highly recommended if you like bit of spice. I would really want to visit the place again.
(4)
Linda L.
It was average. It was truly average. The food was solid, but nothing to write home about. The prices were middle of the road for Orange County Italian table service. The servers were eager but on the slower side. I had some trouble communicating with them. We had several miscommunications in terms of ordering. I will grant that they did fix the mistakes and they did not charge for the mistakes. That definitely showed good customer service on their part. The food also came out a but slowly. The beef carpaccio was one of the highlights of the meal. I have to say that I wish they had some sound walls in the place or some sort of dampener. The restaurant was unbearably loud. I couldn't even speak to the person sitting next to me or across from me. I find it terribly tedious to scream at my dinner partners just to communicate with them. I may visit again if I already happen to be at the Spectrum, however, I will not fight for a parking spot at the Spectrum just to eat here.
(3)
Bruce D.
Nice restaurant. Food is good and the staff is very friendly. I would go there again.
(4)
Cherie K.
Horrible experience here. I made a reservation for my graduation dinner because of the great reviews but was beyond disappointed. The food took 45 minutes to come out and the pasta dishes that everyone else ordered were extremely dry and mediocre. I ordered the grilled chicken "under the brick" and it was completely inedible from how bad it tasted. The Marsala sauce was thick and gooey and tasted like teriyaki sauce that had gone bad. The waitress did not offer to refill our waters for at least 30 minutes and we had to wave her down to ask, and even then she took her time. My family had flown in from across the state for this dinner and the entire experience was SO disappointing.
(1)
Tanisha M.
Loved the atmosphere of the restaurant, not to mention their amazing white peach sangria!! My daughter loved their macaroni and cheese -- they used penne pasta that looked like it was covered in Alfredo sauce. My husband ordered the Caesar salad and lasagna for lunch and I had the Caesar salad with a bowl of minestrone soup. We also ordered their calamari which was also light and crispy. Overall I really enjoyed this restaurant but a $65 lunch for three was a tad but TOO pricey for me.
(4)
Amber G.
Yummmmy this place was good! The service was great staff was very friendly.We sat outside on patio. The chicken pesto was good! Salmon salad was fresh and good! Food served with warm fresh bread.The outside patio has fire pits, outdoor heaters, comfy patio furniture. The mini deserts were perfect! Good size bar inside.
(5)
Lien T.
The food is very tasty. The plates come with smaller portions, which is a good thing so that we try a variety of dishes while we are dining. One side down is the restaurant is very crowded and noisy, it is hard to talk if you have a big group. Next time we will reserve the outside patio.
(4)
Bria B.
Our experience here started out questionable but the servers and management here were wonderful and the food was delicious so they completely made up for it. The wait time ended up being twice what we were quoted, but once we sat down one of the managers brought out a complimentary appetizer right away. Our server was so sweet, even when we ended up having to cancel the order for our entrees because we had been at the restaurant so long (our appetizer also took a long time to come out and we had somewhere else to be. All in all it took about 35 minutes from when we ordered the appetizer for it to come out. And 45 min later still no entree). I was very grateful that they were so accommodating. Also, the drinks were delicious, especially the sangria. Since they are a new restaurant, I would allot some extra time to dine there, but the food and service are worth it. Ill be back on a day when I have plenty of time to lounge and enjoy.
(5)
Farzaneh E.
This is the second time I am coming here . The first time I ordered salad and it was really good , this time I came with my 8 years old daughter and ordered pasta and ravioli and fries . Didn't like any of them . Very oily and ravioli was dry and taste less. The service is nice and fast .
(3)
Marmar S.
I love the foods and drinks over there . Grill chicken with quinoa salad is great . Great price for great food
(5)
Kristina Z.
Went to Brio quite a few times now and I think that I like Brio way better back when it first opened. My family and I went to Brio again for New Years after being told that the wait at Cucina would be at least 2 hours (yikes!). We were seated within 10 minutes which was nice because it was New Years and every place else was full. This is what we ordered: - Beef Carpaccio - Sweet potato risotto - Lobster and shrimp pasta - Fish feature - Veal (forgot its name sorry!) Overall, the food was very salty. The beef carpaccio was good although the bread was a lil on the stale side. The risotto and the pasta was extremely salty! The white peach palmer was extra sweet that day but it was still good. The service was also quite slow and quite disappointing but most likely because it was New Years. I've been to Brio many times and this time I didn't have the best experience. Oh well, now I know to make extra early reservations! But I gotta say, Brio's steak salad IS worth going there for. Not sure if i'm going to go back on special occasions, but I might go back just for the steak salad (;
(3)
Jason C.
I have to give Brio a 3 based on the service, though the food deserves a 4. My Wife and I went there on date night a few weeks ago and had a total Seinfeld moment. When they brought the bread, the server slammed it down and crumbs went everywhere. Instead of cleaning it up, the server actually kept it there throughout our entire dinner, desert and after dinner drinks We laughed because not one person who bussed out table decided "hey maybe i should clean up this mess" It eventually became a running joke especially after we paid the bill and the bread and its mess, was still all over the table
(3)
Rchrrrd X.
Went on a groupon and yes the place is far but well worth it. Everyone I encountered was nice which is always a plus and our waiter was a Argentinian man and he was funny. Food was goo. Shrimp soup was great with other things we ordered. Overall me and my wife had a great time. Will upload a pic later
(5)
Colette K.
Sat at the bar during happy hour. They have a decent selection for HH. I really enjoyed the carpaccio, it's huge! We also ordered the sausage flatbread off the reg menu and it was delicious! The service was good. We ended up ordering a bottle of wine just to have 2 glasses since the wines by the glass were horrible.
(3)
Linh M.
My first time and i would never come back. The quality of the food and the taste is not worth the price. I ordered the shrimp pasta dish and turn out the shrimp taste like frozen shrimp (not recommend). The only thing i like is the service. Peace
(2)
Harvey T.
First time here, and we came with a group of six for my wife's birthday. We had a hiccup when they brought two plates of our order out wrong. But they were very quick to fix it, and gave us deserts on the house to help make up for it. The food was pretty good. Most of us had steaks of some sort. Presentation was good. The beer selection was pretty weak in my opinion.
(4)
Christine D.
Went here for restaurant week. Service was lacking. If you're going to promote your restaurant for more business, best to be on point with service for repeat customers.
(3)
Eric R.
First time trying this restaurant. Had dinner with friends. The ambience is very pleasant. We had a reservation and were seated promptly upon arrival. Everyone was happy with the food. The portions are generous. Everyone was satisfied with taste of their food. The chopped salad was a great way to start. Properly dressed with a creamy Parmesan dressing. The only negative comments I have is that one of my friends asked the server what a particular dish was and rather than explaining it, the server directed my friend back to the menu to read the descriptions. Also, I ordered the pork chops with roasted vegetables. Both seemed to be overly salted, however, putting the salt aside, the flavor was good. The server did keep the beverages refilled without having to be asked which was appreciated. She did seem to lack a sense of humor. Overall, it was a good experience and I would not hesitate to dine here again if I find myself back in the area.
(4)
Tracy H.
Cute place at the Irvine spectrum for Italian food! Called in for reservations the morning of, which was a good idea because upon arriving the wait was out the door. The place is extremely busy. So many people there for dinner. Came here for girls night and ordered the steak bruschetta as appetizer ($12). The different textures between the moist juicy steak on the crispy bread was to die for! I wanted more! Definitely a must try! I ordered the lobster shrimp fettuccine (~$23), which was okay. It didn't blow my mind. The sauce is mediocre. My friend ordered the penne alla pasta (~$23), which was a little better. We also ordered the crab cakes, which came with two crab cakes with no sauce and a side of vegetables. The crab cakes were moist, but not worth the price. However, beside the mediocre food, service here is great! Waiters come by often and ask how you are, if you need anything and if the food is to your liking.
(3)
Geeyoung L.
I would probably rate this place 2.5 stars. I came for Sunday Brunch around 12, after my graduation with my family and boyfriend. The restaurant was not very crowded, but they still made several parties wait, and I even had a reservation. After being seated, we were given our menus, and I asked for the dinner menu as well, since the options were very limited. We ordered the Pasta Brio, Shrimp and Lobster Fettuccine, Pasta Pesto, Salmon with Angel Hair, and the Sicilian Omelet. The Pasta Brio looked like there was a lot of sauce and not much in it other than just the rigatoni itself. For the portion size and price, it was definitely not worth it. My Shrimp and Lobster Fettuccine had tiny pieces of lobster, a few pieces of shrimp, and a ton of overcooked, dry fettuccine, with not much sauce. I thought that the flavor was there, but the sauce was lacking. They needed to add a ladle of sauce. The Pasta Pesto was very different from any pesto I have ever seen. There was only fresh pieces of spinach, and the sauce, I couldn't even see. It was clear. The chicken didn't even taste like chicken, but more like salmon, which was very odd. Again, the sauce was lacking. The pasta was just lacking flavor in general. My dad's Salmon with Angel Hair pasta was very disappointing for him. He thought the salmon was good, but the pasta was just unappetizing. There was no sauce or flavor at all and just seemed like noodles put on a plate with some oil and a piece of salmon. Worst of all, the Sicilian Omelet was definitely the least tasteful omelet I have tasted. The eggs did not taste like eggs, but more like chemically altered, salty eggs. For an omelet dish, I would have expected it to come with pieces of toast at the very least, but it was just the omelet and some potatoes. The size of the omelet was actually pretty good, but the taste was not even subpar. The service we received was very slow as well. We asked for coffee to be refilled and it took over 10 minutes to bring it out. We had to wave our hands around for the waiter to come. Also, it was my graduation brunch and we wrote on the reservation that we were celebrating my graduation, but they didn't even congratulate me in any way. Every restaurant I have been to that I made a reservation for a certain occasion has always congratulated the person of honor in any way they could. My whole family and boyfriend were super displeased with our trip here, and thought that it was a very bad experience.
(2)
Ursula G.
Beef carpaccio is fresh and worth every bite. Their bread is warm, and the crispy one with all the seeds is so full of flavor. Service is attentive and friendly, and prices are comparable to olive garden but the food quality is a world of difference. Their wedge salad is huge, best shared. Was not a fan of their lobster bisque, it was not creamy, but instead clumpy - and the consistency of carrot soup. The chicken risotto is also extremely salty and hard to finish. Besides those dishes, I am a huge fan, the crab cakes are really great, the lasagna is simple and satisfying. Last great thing about this place, is it's location - right next to the parking structure, so it's easy to find, park and go without having to get lost in the ever evolving spectrum.
(3)
Patrick P.
Service is slow. Food is good though. But service needs help. Plus no music can be heard let's set the tone. Frank Sinatra its a simple formula. Never understood why Italian establishments don't get this. Dim the lights let Frank do his thing.
(3)
Mona M.
I love their happy hour. The happy hour food portions are prefect for sampling everything with a small group and the prices are great. Seating gets hard to find towards the end of happy hour so I usually come if I can come early!
(4)
Stacy F.
Really enjoy this location for several reasons. One, it's walking distance to our place, doesn't get much more convenient than that really. Two, it's always delicious. They are consistent with their food and we've never had a bad experience. Three, the staff here is amazingly friendly. They are always welcoming, very quick to take care of us, and on the off chance we need something they deliver on it. The negatives are the parking if you do need to bring the car over. This location is forever busy, so if you want to go to happy hour here, be ready to hover over people at the bar. They only allow happy hour in the bar area, so this jams everyone in one space, but this isn't all that different from the other places in the same area. Overall: A Great place to grab a plate of pasta alla vodka, enjoy the Cali environment and get some great service.
(4)
Matthew Y.
This restaurant is located in the Irvine Spectrum near the Nordstroms. The best thing to do when coming to Brio is park in the covered structure right next to the restaurant. When you get off the 405 head down Irvine Center drive and turn right on Enterprise Drive it's the second left which takes you to the Nordstroms parking lot and now your right where you want to be. The restaurant is to the left of the parking structure. Friday night was my wife's work Xmas party and they choose Brio Tuscan Grille. I had never heard of this Italian restaurant. When we show up it's really elegant and fancy. We find her co-workers at this huge table. We greet everyone and we are instantly greeted by the servers asking us what we wanted to drink. I was like dang quick service! I order a Guinness which came in a tall can. I thought that was a little tacky for how upscale this place looked. My wife order some fruity cocktail as usual. I was looking over the menu and there was a lot of choices but I have a rule where when I go to a new Italian joint I always order the Lasagna and if it's wonderful then mostly likely everything on the menu is good. This is just something that I do. We all decided to order some appetizers to start. Now there were 7 of us so we needed something that would be enough for everyone. There was already some sourdough rolls and flatbread on the tables mind you. yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… Roasted Garlic, Spinach & Artichoke Dip, Great for sharing, with Parmesan flatbread $11.45. It was really good and it got cleared out pretty quick. yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… Margherita Flatbread Fresh Mozzarella, vine-ripened tomatoes, basil $13.85. My wife's choice. It was good but i thought it was a little excessive because we had flat bread on our tables and we just had flatbread chips and dip and now we are ordering more bread. I have never ate so much bread in one sitting. Thanks Hunny! yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… Beef Carpaccio was served with field greens, capers, mustard aioli and Parmigiano-Reggiano $13.45 It came out on this huge platter. I had one tiny little bite of this. Everyone else said it was delicious. yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… Then on to our Entrees but I'm not going to list what everyone ordered because frankly i was a little to drunk and full to notice. My wife ordered Grilled Lamb Chops with Pistachio Mint Pesto* Roasted red potatoes, red bell pepper, asparagus, caramelized onions $29.45. It looked mouth watering. I tried one little chop and OMG it was so good way better then my dish by far!!!! yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… I ordered Lasagna Bolognese Al Forno, Oven baked and layered with authentic Bolognese meat sauce, Alfredo, Ricotta and Mozzarella $18.65. Now like was saying before I judge the entire restaurant based of the quality of there Lasagna and frankly there was no meat sauce! They claim to have Ricotta but I would have to disagree. This Lasagna was not good. It tasted like it they replaced the Ricotta with Alfredo sauce and it tasted weird. The Meat sauce that was on top had no meat as you can see in the picture below and it was flavorless. I was pretty disappointed because how can you mess up a simple dish like this. I mean it's just noodle, cheese and sauce. I don't recommend this dish and I was glad I didn't have to pay for it. yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… Honako's Boss ordered Filetto Di Manzo Toscano* 8 oz filet center-cut filet, served with mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables $29.45. I tried a little piece of the filet and it was really good. I might get that the next time. Honako's co-worker ordered Grilled Salmon Fresca* Grilled asparagus, sweet potatoes, spinach, roasted peppers, pesto vinaigrette, Feta, diced tomatoes, balsamic glaze $18.95. He said it was fantastic and such great flavors. He was very happy with his choice. Then my wife's boss spoke with our server and explain its my wife's birthday on Monday and if they could do something for her. They brought out a bunch of little dessert and one with a candle in it. It was really tasty brownie with ice cream. I would like to give a HUGE THANKS to Serena our server for taking care of us. You took a bunch of wonderful photos and provided the best service. Thanks Again for making our Xmas dinner really wonderful and creating great new memories. Overall this Italian restaurant is a 5 star restaurant but I am only giving 4 stars because of my sad Lasagna and the Guinness tall can. I would definitely come back again. The food really tasty and it was a full house Friday night so they must be doing something right. Thanks again Brio for the great Xmas Dinner. Love, Matthew Y.
(4)
Leslie R.
Service was slow and drinks were weak but the food was good. Our waiter was very apologetic about the slow service. As there are very few family friendly restaurants with above average food I will definitely give this restaurant another chance but will opt for wine instead of cocktails and hope for faster service.
(3)
Roxanne F.
When I first walked into Brio, my attention was drawn to the beautiful and elegant decor. The main dining area has drapes on the ceiling similar to the decor of a wedding venue. Unfortunately, that is really the only thing going for this restaurant. I made a reservation, but was still asked to wait 10 minutes. Three minutes after my group of four was seated, I received a phone call from Brio informing me that my table was ready. That showed me how unorganized the staff is and quite embarrassing for them. Our waitress and our food was not impressive. I will start with our waitress since she was the least impressive aspect of our visit at Brio. She greeted us with a dry welcome and neglected to tell us her name. We didn't see her much because she was tending other tables, which I understand since it was very busy. My issue was that when she did come to our table, it was brief and straight to the point. She did ask how everything was, but didn't stay at our table long enough to hear our answer. Another negative was that she didn't clear our plates in between starters and entrees. When our entrees arrived, our table was full with already used plates that should have been taken away. Now for the food. I ordered the fish of the day and that was mahi. I thought that was very tasty and have no complaints. My two friends shared an order of calamari and each had the lobster fettuccine. The breading on the calamari wasn't crispy and fell off as soon as it was touched. The order came in a large bowl, but consisted mainly of breaded peppers. My boyfriend had the chicken carbonara. He enjoyed it while he was eating it, but regretted it later because he came down with an aching stomachache. After dining here, I was sadly disappointed because this is a beautiful restaurant that seemed to have potential. Even though the restaurant and food looks beautiful, it doesn't make up for the poor service. Next time I have a craving for Italian food, I will be dining elsewhere.
(3)
Clarissa M.
We liked our dinner Great gluten free pasta with lobster sauce Nice calamari fritti Great magherita and for dessert best tiramisu and cheese cake The only complaint I had that noise levels were too high but we will be back
(4)
Mimi L.
I've enjoyed my visits here thus so far. HH here is quite worth the visit esp for the prices they offer! So the 4 stars really goes out to the HH here. As for lunch/dinner -- entree prices are a little up there. But still worth the visit if ya haven't tried. Great for big groups or an intimate dinner date. Comfortable & spacious seatings. Since it is a pretty open room, dining area can get pretty loud. This is a pretty upscale looking Italian restaurant but one can be dressed causal for any type of dining. :: LUNCH @ BRIO :: - Beautiful decor, high ceilings & great ambiance - Great outdoor seating spots - Private dining room available for parties/events - Service was not so bad but not outstanding Crab & Shrimp Cakes (4.5/5) Pasta Brio (3.5/5) Roasted Vegetable Panini (4/5) Dolchinos -- Tiramisu & Key Lime Pie (4.5/5) :: HAPPY HOUR @ BAR BRIOSO :: - Huge bar w/ several flat screen TVs - Mon thru Fri from 3:30PM - 6:30PM - $5 Martinis on Wed - HH food & drink menu items from $4-$6! :) Beef Carpaccio (4/5) Crispy Eggplant Fries (4.5/5) Tomatoe Margherita Flatbread (4/5) Brio Burger (4/5) -- love how the kitchen already cuts the burger for you in 4 quarters! Black Pepper Shrimp (4.5/5) Lemon Basil Crush Martini (4/5) Sangria Rosa (3.5/5)
(4)
Jamie N.
Hanging out with friends over food and drink is probably one of my greatest pleasures, but scheduling them is always...I mean, can be...a hassle. Once you figure out everyone's schedules for timing and proximity, there's always that question of "what to eat?!" Being that it was a new spot I've been wanting to try and the menu had quite a selection of dishes that were mid-range, I decided to invite my friends to Brio Tuscan Grille located at Irvine Spectrum. Not to mention, they were able to accommodate group parties without a problem. I was rolling pretty deep with nine people, but probably not for Italians. It was a Friday evening, so we had a couple cocktails to start while looking through the menu. Frozen peach bellini (think slushie), Mango Mojito (tastes like juice) and Strawberry Basil Mash (where the basil at?). During this time, they also brought out bread baskets, which continued to replenish itself throughout the wait time. I ended up filling up on a little too much bread, which always happens. A couple friends decided to get starters - Bruschetta Quattro. It was a sampling of the four housemade bruschettas: roasted red bell pepper, sliced steak, roasted tomato & herb pesto and another I can't recall. Also, our table tried the lobster bisque. The bisque lacked a depth of lobster flavor and according to the menu, it says, "with shrimp and a touch of sherry." Not exactly sure how the flavors were extracted or in what porportions the shells have been used for the base, but it sure didn't translate to the final taste. Disappointing, probably won't order again. I think the majority of our table got the Lobster and Shrimp Fettucine. Shrimp and lobster tossed with mushrooms, green onions, tomatoes in spicy lobster butter sauce. The lobster butter sauce wasn't overwhelming, which is great because it didn't feel heavy. The mushrooms were lovely and absorbed all the flavors. Veal Milanese Scaloppine. The thin cut veal is lightly breaded and paired with tomatoes and a white wine lemon caper sauce. The portion of veal was small and thin, but remained tender and easy to cut. To round out the dish, the veal is served with a side of Fettucine Alfredo. Crab & Shrimp Cakes. Lump crab meat and chopped shrimp served with a creamy horseradish sauce and medley of roasted vegetables (carmelized onions, red potatoes, bell peppers, and broccoli). The cakes were absolutely delicious. It was well seasoned and balanced, chunky and had a slight crust from the pan. After all this food, we were too full to indulge in desserts. Half of us had leftovers to take home, so portions are fairly large and on the heavy side. Brio Tuscan Grille is a chill spot to hang at, but to me, nothing really stood out that beckoned my return.
(3)
Tina N.
We had the great pleasure of being served by Devon last night. What a a great experience and great customer service. We all know that customer service is not what it used to be. So when you find it you should commend it. People tend to complain when there is a bad experience but fail to mention the good ones. Thank you Devon for recognizing when we needed that extra special touch when it was so crowded and things got a little slow. Brio has a winner in you, i hope you are well recognized for your efforts and exceptional service. Your recommendations on the appetizers, dessert, and wine were perfect. Thank you thank you for being part of a great night.
(5)
Yasaman J.
Last Saturday my family decided to check this place out. Being a Saturday we thought that there would be a 2 hour wait for this place but to our surprise we did reserve table for 8 and the table was ready an hour later!! When we walked in at 8 on a saturday the restaurant was not busy at all, which was very surprising. We sat at our table and our waitress came to get our drink order. Having brought our own wine (since there is no corkage fee) we asked for some wine glasses. Not too long after complimentary bread were brought and by then we were ready to order. We ordered the lasagna, 2 salmon dish, pesto pasta, kid's hamburger, the strawberry salad and the pork kotlet... The pesto pasta was very good. It had a hint of fennel seed, chicken, and herbs which was nice. I did try a little piece of the salmon and it was very tasty. They put balsamic vinegar reduction on it which was very delicious. The lasagna, I was told that it was very yummy as well. It had tons of meat in it.. The strawberry salad was huge!!! It is a good dish to share for veggie lovers in my opinion... One dish that you need to stay away was the pork kotlets... For the price of ($24.95) which was the most expensive of all the dishes that we got, you get 2 tiny pieces of meat with a small portion of pasta on the side... I mean the dish was so not pretty to look at that I almost asked the waitress to take it back.... When you charge your customers that much for a dish, you need to make sure that the plate is at least somewhat pretty to look at.... For dessert, we ordered couple of their cheesecake mini options. It was ok but nothing special. After eating there, I have a mixed feeling about it. Yes, although there is no corkage fee, I don't know if the food wowed me that much to go back again....
(3)
Margarita C.
Absolutely love this place! We tried this place out before and we did not like it the first due to horrible service. Fortunately, we got a coupon for a free appetizer so we thought we'd give it a second shot, and omg was it amazing !! Busy Friday so we sat at the bar and the service by our bartender Jess was unbelievable! She kept checking up on us making sure we were enjoying everything, notified us that the bread was running behind, and even helped me make a drink that I would enjoy! Couldn't have asked for a better way to end the night !!
(5)
Anita B.
Lots of money for pasta and salad. Service is the worst part of the bill. Zero enthusiasm and plates and glasses which were left at the table.
(1)
Lara D.
Mainly been here during happy hour on Wednesdays. It's a lovely restaurant with outdoor seating. Always crowded and packed with people. If you come during happy hour with a group it's tough to find seating outdoors. Standing is kind of awkward, but the food is worth it. Happy hour apps are great. The basil tomato pizza is delicious as well as the shrimp with breaded eggplants. For cocktails try the lemon basil! Didn't like the pomegranate too much. Staff and service are great and delightful.
(4)
John P.
Percilla was awesome! Her and the gangs service was a nice touch to end the night after a long day. The happy hour menu hit the spot! With Michael ending the night, he kept the same level of service we received when we arrived. Thank you Brio and until next time.....cheers!
(5)
Suzy N.
I've been here twice with my best friend and we have had the most excellent service both times! The servers are very patient and attentive, they are very knowledgable and helpful. The first time I was here, I ordered the mushroom ravioli (there's a name for it, I just don't remember what it was called exactly but it was on the lunch menu) and my friend got the grilled salmon salad. We split the calamari and it was all excellent! We decided to treat ourselves to some wine and the special the were serving that day was Kim Crawford, it was a deliciously fruitty white wine, absolutely perfect. The second time we both ended up ordering the exact same thing. We started off with the calamari; there's something about their sauce that is so good. Following that we both ordered the pasta alla vodka and that was so good! it was my first time ordering this dish anywhere and I absolutely loved it. The spicy marinara, tomato-fredo type sauce was not overpowering or too spicy which is perfect for me. We both also treated ourselves to a white peach sangria that was so good! Needless to say I will be back here again !
(5)
Pooneh M.
Amazing food, wonderful service and really caters to large party like our 17 people! I will definitely be coming back for more celebrations here .
(5)
Dan S.
This place looks fancy but the customer service is slow and both pairs of silverware had crusty leftover food on them. Food tastes great though.
(3)
Mandy L.
You know, I never really understood the concept of why Italian food is so expensive, especially when pasta is both affordable and easy to make. It was my staple go-to dish when I was a graduate student, and still is when I'm too lazy to cook real food. So this is why I appreciate it when I find an affordable Italian restaurant that is actually decent, which is what Brio is. Brio has some traditional staples, as well as a seasonal menu that I think is worth checking out. The latest is a pumpkin ravioli, and a talapia dish. They do garnish a lot and the food has beautiful presentation. Food for the eyes and food for the stomach. Good news for those who love bruchetta....be excited!!!! Theres a few different bruschetta options to choose from! Who knew you could do so much with tomatoes? Last, but not least, they also have a light, low-calorie menu and gluten-free options, so it's very accommodating for those with allergies or are trying to watch the calorie intake. The fennel and roasted tomato pasta is light on the sauce and isn't too salty. I can't wait to come here again to try some of the other dishes!
(4)
Trina D.
Brio has late night happy hour starting at 9 pm (M-F)! If your date happens to start late and you're at the Spectrum then this would be the place of choice. They serve full-sized portions from their happy hour menu! When I think of HH offerings, it's usually a smaller pared down version. Not at Brio! We had full sized plates of black pepper shrimp, fried cheese ravioli and the margherita flatbread. Whew! We also ordered a serving of the mushroom ravioli from the regular menu not knowing the sizes of the other plates. All that plus 2 drinks from the HH menu totaled $40, not including tip. What?! Yeah, pretty awesome.
(4)
Timmy S.
I stopped here for lunch before going to an afternoon movie at the Spectrum. I was immediately seated and was given several recommendations including the Pasta Alla Vodka which I remembered reading high praise for in a recent review by Tami D. I quickly decided to go with that as well as a chopped salad. A basket of warm fresh bread and flatbread was brought to my table which was all excellent. The chopped salad was amazingly refreshing; loads of fresh cucumber, olives and tomato brightened the chopped leaves of lettuce. The pasta dish was incredible. Their description: delicate ricotta filled handmade pasta, with crispy pancetta, garlic, basil and a spicy tomato Parmesan cream sauce. I was glad I ate very little bread initially because I needed it to sop up all that delicious sauce! Service was top-notch and the interior, while obviously a fantasy of Tuscany, was comfortable and inviting. Seating is available both indoors and on a lovely patio. Definitely recommended!
(5)
Tami D.
After reading Laina and Rohlin's great reviews about this restaurant, we knew we had to check this place out. I came here prepared. After reading lots of reviews, I knew exactly what I wanted. While I ordered the Pasta Alla Vodka, my husband wanted something a bit healthier and ordered the Tilapia. We wanted to split the Brio Chopped Salad while we waited. We also saw the dessert tray and knew we (or at least I) had to save some room for the dessert at the end of our meal. Our bread came out right away and was delicious. The Chopped Salad also came out quickly and was so yummy. The salad had plenty of cucumber, tomato, and olives mixed in with fresh chopped lettuce and was just enough to hold us off till our main meals. My pasta was wonderful! This ricotta filled pasta in a creamy parmigiana sauce was heavenly if not a bit addictive. My husband's Blackened Tilapia as great as well. He thought his meal was seasoned perfectly and the fresh broccoli, carrots, and zucchini on the side were quite tasty. We thought the service was great throughout our meal. Since it was our first visit here, our waiter made sure to tell us what all the favorites were. Although I already knew what I wanted, he had plenty of great options for our next meal here. We thought he was so friendly and helpful here. Our food was brought out quickly and our drinks were constantly refilled. From beginning to end, the wait staff was just wonderful here. The restaurant's decor was lovely here too. There was comfortable seating, dark wood furniture and beams, polished travertine floors, a few beautiful plants, and great windows and lighting. I also thought the patio was nice, and outdoor fireplace would be great on cooler evenings. I think this is now our favorite Italian restaurant! With wonderful food and great service, we can't wait to go back. I also look forward to taking my friends here for a delicious brunch soon!
(5)
Jennifer M.
This is the 2nd time I have eaten here and the food is delicious and the service is great. I had the pasta alla vodka it was amazing ! The calamari was good and the pork chop was great too. Nothing bad to say about this place. Definitely a new italian favorite of mine in the south OC area.
(5)
Mary A.
I was fortunate enough to get on Brio's soft opening night and got a preview of their menu. The place was packed! We were instantly greeted and seated when we entered. Brio was huge and everything was so lovely there. The women's bathrooms were clean and spacious. There was a slight incident where their computers shut down due to overload of orders. Luckily we had placed our orders in and gotten our meals before their system glitched. The restaurant manager sent us a plate of Beef Carpaccio- raw beef served with mustard aoili and parmesan to start and some flat bread. It was delicious! I've never had beef carpaccio now I know what else to order. I ordered Minestrone soup and veal scaloppine with tomatoes and a white wine lemon caper sauce, served with Fettuccine Alfredo. My bf ordered the Shrimp Verduta Angel hair tossed with shrimp, garlic, sundried tomatoes, roasted artichokes, caramelized onions, feta and spinach, topped with pesto bread crumbs. Both were super yummy however the veal was heavily salted. I did note it to the waitress and she mentioned they were still working on their menu so it was good they were getting input on their entrees. The waitress surprised us with a small sampling of their desserts which filled our bellies to the top. Overall it was a delightful experience!
(5)
Ms F.
The food was fabulous and our server Melrose was amazing. She was very attentive with us and never felt rushed. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Lee L.
I took a whole semester of Italian in college just so I can pronounce my dishes properly when I order at restaurants. I've got some serious foodie blood running through these veins. After learning that the letters "ch" actually sounds like a "k" in Italian, I've been asking for brusKetta, only to have most servers return my efforts at authenticity with a short pause then a befuddled, "Oh, you want the bruSHetta?" Sure, whatever. Effort wasted. The Sliced Steak BrusKetta was built on toast crispy enough to hold a robust amount of toppings but not so hard that it would chip any teeth. I tasted a hint of blue cheese that was not overpowering and accentuated a substantial slice of tender steak. The tangy vinaigrette and slightly bitter arugula balances out each bite. The Prosciutto & Roasted Mushroom Pizza was also a pleasant bite, but it's when you deconstruct it that you see the attention to detail. Thin slices of evenly laid out tomato on melted provolone, small bits of artichoke heart, roasted mushrooms- there's much more than the arugula and prosciutto that first meets the eye. The menu offered a decent offering of wines and a number of cocktails. They had one selection of my favorite wine, Zinfandel, but that one choice, from Mendocino, was excellent and quite enough. The service was a bit unpolished. My water was never refilled and the server handed us the bill when we were only halfway through our second dish. He asked if we needed anything else then immediately set the bill down when we said no. I think I might have pretended to walk away a bit to give the illusion I'm not trying to rush the customer out. Saturday night did mean there was a crowd building up in the lobby, and us leaving meant that another group could enjoy some quality food with well-balanced flavors. I'll definitely be back again to confuse some more servers by asking for brusKetta.
(4)
Cat Q.
This is obviously another overrated place. The service is strange. Our waitress is very weird. She was friendly and attentive in the beginning, until we send our inedible overly salted dish back, she start to be annoying, she charged us for the returned overly salted dish, we waited over 10 minutes for our coffee and she gave us a weird look when we walked out the door, her facial expression was unacceptable, her act makes us feel regretted that we tipped her. I don't understand her problem, she didn't cook the dish, why would she feel personal about it? --+ The bread is nice and warm, but the crisp was hard. There are a bunch of herbs on the crisp, when you take a bite, the herbs and the bread crunches splashed everywhere. Trust me, it wasn't crunch, it was just hard. -++ Peach Bellini is like drinking peach prosecco slush. I drink it very slowly in the beginning, but I ended up finishing the entire cocktail together with the appetizer. ---According our waitress The spicy shrimp and fried egg plant was a hands down best dish, H*lycr*p! I think she got bad taste or the chef got overdosed of narcissism or the person who said that never dine out. That was a "WTF is that crap" dish. The shrimp was nicely cooked, but the shrimp was covered by a layer of overly salted herbs, then the egg plant was nicely fried, but there is another layer salt on the panko, then the whole dish was soaked into a overly salted sauce that overpowered the entire dish. There is no other taste in the dish, just a pack of salt. I couldn't stop drinking the water to flush the saltness and the numbness on my tongue. --+ Pasta Alla Vodka: It's not really ricotta filled pasta as they rescript, it's more like ricotta filled cappelletti, the skin is al dente, the filling is creamy and fresh, the pink sauce is tasty and they are pretty generous with the crispy pancetta topping and it's very salty again. I couldn't really taste the pink sauce anymore, my tongue is still numb because of the inedible appetizer. This dish is chunky. --+Pasta fra diavolo: 2.5/3 are Campanelle and 0.5/3 of chicken. It's tasty and the pasta is al dente. but the chicken inside is just too tiny. ---Cappuccino is funny, because it looks like cappuccino, but it was only less than half cup of coffee au lait inside, the rest are all milk foam. The host ladies got fake smile, sometimes they looks impatient when you come in without a reservation, sometimes they don't even look at you when you walk in. The service is weird and the food can get you soon or later a heart attack because of their overly salted, almost bitterly tasting food.
(1)
Jeff L.
Nuts, nuts, nuts. A lot of the items on the menu contained certain tree nuts, which half of our party was allergic to. Well, anyway, we at least ordered something that we could eat. (We were invited here, we did not come on our own accord.) The bad thing was that it was not mentioned about which items contained tree nuts on the menu, so we had to ask. The items we were able to eat without health issues tasted good, though. The good thing was that their free bread was unique. Many of us kept asking for it. They have a coupon in the out-of-towner coupon book that the Irvine Spectrum offers.
(3)
S K.
We went there on Friday night at 7:45. There was no wait. We ordered the shrimp and egg plant appetizer. It was good. I ordered the white peach sangria it was good too. The wedge salad was good too. It would have been nice if the waitress would have asked if we wanted to split the salad. The pasta was just okay. There was nothing special. We got the pasta vodka
(3)
Amy S.
This review is for the service over everything else! I would like to thank the staff at Brio for making a reunion with my cousin who I had not seen in over 20 years very special. Her and I were thrilled at the service from the bar staff and especially the service of our server, Devon. We came in on a Thursday night (separately) to see meet each other and Devon assured that our time spent at this establishment was absolutely perfect. Thank you for recommending dishes, being patient with us for yapping so long and for just making our reunion that much more special. I have been to fine dining restaurants where I have spent hundreds of dollar on special occasions and did not receive the service and kind treatment that we both experienced at Brio. My thanks to you and your staff for an amazing night out and for understanding how important this day was to us. It is most appreciated.
(4)
Becca H.
This place has opened not too long ago and my boyfriend and I have really wanted to try it. My family was coming down from LA to meet us for dinner so we decided to come here. The ambiance is great very well designed and I love all the stones. For an appetizer we got the calamari. It was good! Never had peperonchinis in the calamari but it was great. The garlic aioli sauce was yummy. I got the pasta fra diavolo with shrimp. It was really good! For a salad I got the bistecca insalata. It was yummy!! The service was great. I would definitely return!
(5)
Chad P.
I first tried Brio in Scottsdale Arizona. Found it so good that I had to seek it out in So Cal. Love the food, atmosphere, bread and service. I would highly recommend this place and it probably has the best italian food at the Spectrum.
(5)
Taylen T.
Terrible service at this location. Sarah, the hostess, was extremely rude and seemed to have a problem seating us. There shouldn't have been an issue since it was not busy. The lack of customer service made our experience at this location very unpleasant. Natalie, the GM, was not present for us to speak to, so Dusty (another manager) apologized for our experience and was very nice. My family and I came to dine here and make a reservation for an event, but will no longer be booking that event with Brio at Irvine Spectrum. The Brio in Las Vegas, Nevada had excellent service so my family and I expected the same.
(1)
Laura H.
Average. Ordered the grilled salmon salad on "mixed greens" with chopped tomatoes, asparagus a dash of feta and skinny fried potato strings. I switched the balsamic dressing for herb. I was surprised by the large portion but gave to say that the greens were mostly iceberg and that ruined it for me. I would have preferred a much smaller salad with a quality spring mix or baby greens. Just my personal preference. The peach Palmer ( iced tea with lemonade and peach syrup) was refreshing. Also the sourdough boulee served at he table was very good. These two were the best part of my meal. Service was prompt and good and the prices were reasonable.
(3)
Lalida S.
Our Marketing Department came here just a few weeks ago to celebrate our September birthdays and also as the lunch location before our team bonding event (which was a scavenger hunt throughout Spectrum). Best place to park here is in the Nordstrom structure and walking across the street here (it's right by Yard House). I believe we had a party of 12 and we made reservations in advance for it. The bread they put aside for you as an appetizer at the beginning is delicious! We had great service from our waitress and everyone was attentive enough to constantly be refilling our water and grabbing us what we needed. I ordered the chicken piccata and it was pretty darn delicious. Overall, I'd probably come back here again for a date or dinner with family or friends. Bonus points for giving in to our department bonding and letting my scavenger hunt group take a picture with the chefs as one of our dares.
(4)
Malibu Z.
So delicious. Tried so many items and they were all great. Wish there were more boneless, skinless, chicken breast dishes but chicken parm is amazing. Also they have a great happy hour!!!!
(5)
Nikki S.
BRIO Tuscan Grille, an upscale restaurant serving authentic, northern Italian cuisine. The menu features a wide variety of dishes prepared including grilled and oven-roasted steaks, fresh fish, made-to-order pastas, bruschettas and flatbreads similiar to what one would find in restaurants in Tuscany. The menu also includes a lineup of gluten-free items as well as the "The Lighter Side of Tuscany" menu featuring selections with 550 calories or less. My review is strictly for Happy hours.....Great happy hour deals if you want my opinion :-) Happy hours are weekdays from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm. You have great selection of bar plates and drinks ranging from $4 to $6. Here are some of my favorites from the Happy hour menu: Beef Carpaccio: Served with field greens, capers, mustard aioli and Parmigiano-Reggiano $4.00 Tomato Margherita Flatbread :Fresh Mozzarella, vine-ripened tomatoes and fresh basil. $4.00 Crispy Eggplant Fries: With Creamy Horseradish & Pomodoro sauces for dipping. $4.00 Black Pepper Shrimp: Pan seared shrimp with Romano crusted eggplant and a black pepper cream sauce. $6.00 I normally get the house Merlot which only cost me $5 per glass (On Tuesday night $5 extend to all night and not just for happy hour) All the bartenders and servers have been super attentive and friendly each and every time I stopped by here. I will be back soon :-)
(4)
Erin L.
Very busy during happy hour, as they only serve the happy hour menu at the bar or out on the patio. However we literally ordered one of everything and it came out to be fairly inexpensive. My favorite was the beef carpaccio and the shrimp. The Artichoke dip came in third place :) I had the Italian Margarita as well and it was good, and had a good amount of booze level, but not too sweet. We stayed until 10pm talking and our server was very attentive and checked on us often which was nice. I would be back here for sure. Its a good place to have an after work get to together, similar to what we did last night.
(4)
Michelle L.
One of the newer offerings at the Irvine Spectrum. It's located next to the Yard House in a slightly separated area. When my friend and I saw that they were participating in OC Restaurant week, we decided to check it out. Lunch was $15 for your choice of appetizer and one entree. First of all, the restaurant is really beautiful and classy. It's a great place for a date or something intimate. We went during lunch and the service was excellent but maybe that was because the restaurant was mostly empty. Their house bread is delicious. The fresh sourdough was steaming when it came out and fabulous with their butter. I didn't care too much for their parmesan crisps. It was a little salty and it was just covered with unnecessary herbs that fell all over the table. For our starter, we ordered the Lobster Bisque. It came in the cutest container and it was a generous portion. I appreciated that there were little bits of lobster throughout it but it was ridiculously salty. My friend and I also liberally peppered our soup too for a little more flavor. For our entrees, we ordered the Pasta Brio and the Salmon with Angel Hair. The Pasta Brio was rigatoni pasta tossed with grilled chicken, garlic, seared mushrooms, parmesan cheese and a sweet roasted red pepper cream sauce. I did like the sauce but once again, a little salty. It wasn't anything special and you probably could make this at home. The Salmon with Angel hair came with tomatoes, green onions, asparagus, cilantro pesto and scampi butter sauce. I really appreciated the generous portion of salmon. The portion of pasta was skimpy but I didn't mind it. What I did mind was the excess salty in the dish again. Overall, the food is just okay here. They need to cut back on the salt because I must have drank at least 3 full cups of water during my meal here. A good deal for OC Restaurant week but I don't see myself coming back anytime soon. 3/5
(3)
Mohamed E.
First time here, I went with a colleague for business lunch. The sitting was good, I liked the shrimp appetizer, cannot remember the name. It was a bit noisy even for lunch. I got the shrimp and crab cake, it was a little bit above average but not exceptional. The waiter was new at the place, so the food came a it late and he was not sure of a couple of things. Overall not bad but not that impressed.
(3)
Kristin P.
If I could give zero stars I would. I have been here several times with my family and friends and sadly every time I come back it gets worse and worse. From the service to the food, I may never go back. The last time I visited, my husband and I ordered two waters as we were waiting for the rest of our party to attend. The waitress brought out our waters and after a few sips of mine I felt something hard in my mouth. I took the hard object out to discover that it was a very sharp piece of glass. I sucked this piece of glass up the straw and thank god I found it before swallowing it. I then waited for the waitress to return so I could show her and simply ask for another water.... And after waiting for her to return, which was about 20 minutes, my husband ended up getting the waitress. She apologized and said she would send out the manager. Unfortunately, the manager never showed up... And even worse that waitress must have switched tables because we never saw her again, she didn't say she was going on break and nor did the guy that replaced her explain where she went. Very strange. Anyways, on top of that the service was average, the prices are high, nothing was comped or taken off, and they dropped one of our appetizers on the floor right in front of us. I get that stuff happens. I am a clumsy person by nature so most things do not bother me. What bothers me is that she said she would send out a manager, never did and disappeared. Shady. By the way I know someone who swallowed a piece of glass from a restaurant and actually had to be admitted into the hospital. She ended up suing the restaurant and getting a hefty penny for her troubles. I think this restaurant should be glad I didn't swallow that piece of glass. I won't be going back because this place is a danger to my health.
(1)
Dennis H.
It will be interesting to see how Brio and Del Frisco do since they are two new restaurants right next to one another. Since I have tried both, I give the edge to Del Frisco but my wife seems to like Brio more. So I ordered the Bistecca Insalata which I thought was decent...nothing amazing, a little heavy in the dressing. My main dish was the Brio Pasta, this was good just wished the serving was a bit more. The pasta plates definitely have a lighter flare to them, very different from Maggiano's (my fav). The desserts, lots to choose from ... I had one of their chocolate dessert glass/cups. Not too much where it's bad for you. I think Brio is smart for catering to the "lighter" menu people since Italian food tends to be very rich.
(3)
Laina A.
Brio will be giving Cucina Enoteca a run for their money! Management and staff treated us great, delivering delicious food. What food you ask? A beautiful selection of salads, we had Chopped, Caesar, Caprese and Rohlin had to be different and leave the C's and order the Bistecca Insalada. I had bites of all and Rohlin's ended up being my fave, loved the parmesan creamy salad dressing. yelp.com/user_local_phot… and yelp.com/user_local_phot… and yelp.com/user_local_phot… All of this was free! Pasta Alla Vodka, Lasagna and a Risotto with chicken and sweet potato. I taste tested quite a bit and it was all very good but the soft pillows of cheese filled pasta in a delectable sauce won my heart. Bravissimo to the Pasta Alla Vodka! yelp.com/user_local_phot… The decor is beautiful with great lighting, beautiful travertine floors, and a draped ceiling with a magnificent chandelier. It is quite a large restaurant with a lot of outdoor fabulous looking seating with heat lamps when it gets slightly chilly in So Ca. There are delicious drinks to be found including lemonade and I opted to pay for a wild berry lemonade cooler (vibrantly delicious) yelp.com/user_local_phot… Thanks to Yelp, it's awesome to be Elite! Thank you management and staff and my stomach thanks the executive chef.
(5)
Hema K.
This place screams for reservation. It is a must specially if you are planning to dine here on Friday nights or during weekends. Valet parking is available and it is $4. Outdoor seats are more lively and don't have a crowded restaurant feeling. I had been here before through a Yelp event and have been wanting to come back. Came here with hubby and kid. Staffs are attentive and service was fast despite a very busy evening. Kids menu are all around $6 and sides are $2. Kids portion size are huge compared to what I have seen at other restaurants. The mac n cheese was bland and my kid likes it with a dash of pepper so I went to town with pepper dash. Unfortunately we couldn't dine and had to cancel our order. The manager was understanding and had us checked out. Will come back here for sure!
(4)
Stephen B.
5 stars for all the yummy happy hour stuff. Beef carpaccio $3.95 Tomato marguerite flatbread $3.95 Crispy eggplant fries 3.95 Sausage & pepperoni ricotta flatbread $4.95 Tomato mozzarella salad $4.95 Brio burger $4.95 Black pepper shrimp $4.95 Crispy cheese ravioli $5.95 Roasted garlic, spinach &artichoke dip $5.95 All wonderful. Crispy eggplant fries are awesome.
(5)
Kathleen H.
Brio gave me and my boyfriend an incredible first impression! I ordered the Blackened Tilapia, which came with a side of grilled veggies. I am not a critic with my food, but I was blown away by this dish! The lemon dressing was fantastic. I am not a big fan of vegetables, but the way the veggies were smoked, grilled and then tossed in olive oil was incredible. The service was fantastic and the ambiance wonderful. I'll definitely be coming back!
(5)
Rodney S.
I felt like "King for the Day" BRIO Tuscan Grill will be having it's Grand Opening on Thursday, July 17 yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… For staff training, BRIO offered complimentary meals to those that were lucky, like me yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… I was sat near the kitchen, where I witnessed, firsthand, the controlled chaos. A bread tray w/ butter greeted me yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… Pellegrino for the Filipino yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… For starters, I was given the Spinach & Artichoke dip yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… The dip was delicious. Warm, creamy & very tasty I had the choice of any item on the menu. I decided upon the Grilled Mahi Mahi, as Mahi Mahi is probably my most favorite fish yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… Vine-ripened tomatoes, farro, spinach & tomato basil vinaigrette, paired nicely with a cooked to perfection Mahi Mahi fillet. Tender enough to cut with a fork, my mouth watered with each bite, cleaning my plate bare. Tuscan mashed potatoes & grilled vegetables come with most dishes, but not with the Mahi Mahi. I was asked if I wanted it. Sure, why not? yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… I only had a few bites before having everything packed to go, as I wanted to save room for dessert. Speaking of dessert, I had the Creme Brulee & Torta de Cioccolata Creme Brulee yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… Crunchy outer shell covering smooth creme anglaise. Such a delight to eat! Torta de Cioccolata yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… Rich chocolate cake with a warm center, topped with Vanilla Bean Gelato, chocolate syrup and creme anglaise. Rich, indeed! Immaculately decadent, each spoonful was a piece of heaven. Great early, early birthday cake for me The staff was on point, making sure I was happy with my dining experience. Joseph, my server, did a a great job yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… Nikki was friendly & talkative yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… Candace was a sweetheart yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… Sous chef, Carlos, hustled to make sure orders were ready yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… Executive chef, Andre, was quite busy so I didn't want to take too much of his time. Kudos, Chef Andre! yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… My tummy was stuffed & I had a smile on my face as I left a wonderful lunch, courtesy of BRIO Tuscan Grill. Thanks to Chef Andre, the management & the staff for hosting a fun menu preview. Good luck with the Grand Opening Thursday! Excelsior!
(5)
Marissa S.
It really is sweet to be elite. This invite-only preview tasting is one of the perks of being a Yelper and although I had a bad cold, I just couldn't pass up on an opportunity such as this. Thank you for making me a part of it! With that said, my palate may have been compromised so I can't fully vouch on how everything tasted. However, I have to say that everything looked wonderful. From the marble structure, high draped ceiling, and wipe open space, the restaurant depicts elegance from all points and yet the setting remains casual enough to be enjoyed without having to dress up. Tables are covered with white paper on top of linens and the huge bar that's hard to miss upon entering showcases a myriad of libations to choose from. The outside patio looks so cozy and is already a promise that this place will be a hit for Happy Hour. A three-course lunch of our choice was what they had in store for us and any non-alcoholic drink, all for free. They served us a platter of shrimps on eggplant as an appetizer which had a nice heat to it. The lobster bisque was my choice of soup followed by grilled salmon atop a bed of angel hair pasta in a garlic wine sauce with tomatoes and asparagus as my main entree. For dessert, our server brought to our table tiramisu and some chocolate caramel cake both served in tiny parfait glasses. You can tell from all the dishes how everything was well thought of with the beautiful presentation from every plate. Service? We felt like VIPs from the moment we walked in until we walked out the door. The staff is supposed to be in training but who were they kidding? They all looked like they were pros at what they did. Amazing crew! And with its prime location next to the parking structure across the Yard House, Brio Tuscan Grill is truly a great addition to the Irvine Spectrum Mall.
(5)
M K.
Very good Italian food with a great variety of choices! Tried the lite pasta pesto today and it as delicious.
(5)
Jonathan Z.
I've been to a few menu preview/soft openings before, so I know that anything could happen. The BRIO menu preview was a success on my end. To start our server brought us the spicy shrimp and eggplant appetizer. It was a little on the saltier side, but it was an impressive dish with a wide range of texture and flavor. I also ordered a minestrone soup, which was nice and hearty. My guest and I ordered the Pasta Alla Vodka and the Veal Milanese. The veal was very good and had a lovely sauce, but the Pasta Alla Vodka won my heart. Each bite had a nice explosion of flavor from the cheese. The sauce was delicious and the crispy pancetta was icing on the cake. Speaking of cake, we got the caramel/chocolate and the bread pudding. Both were on the sweet side. I liked the bread pudding the best. BRIO pulled out the stops and we had an excellent experience.
(5)
Ryan P.
Tacca superiore BRIO TUSCAN GRILL Yelp ONCE AGAIN came through with a GREAT opportunity for Yelpers to do a menu tasting BEFORE this place opens. The catch...NONE it was NOT an official YELP event it was INVATATION ONLY and we were just helpin out with our taste buds and gonna to try some FREE (my fav F-word) food! All in an effort to help BRIO and get the word out! I have apparently been living under yet another rock and had NEVER heard of this place so I was UBER EXCITED to try them out. Plus it goes without saying I LOVE to eat, I LOVE the Spectrum, I LOVE FREE and I LOVE GOOD ITALIAN food! I called and made a reservation for two and then found out that my Yelp buds Shawna C and Steven C EXTRAORDINAIRE also got an invite so we all decided to have dinner together. At the time I had invited my friend D who TOTALLY FLAKED on me and apparently had a brain fart and thought I was his momma or he was 5 and I was supposed to remind him to put it on his calendar or remind let me know. REALLY how old are you? If I wanted children to run behind I would have had them! I should have just asked a more reliable friend or plus 1. That is a mistake I WON'T BE MAKING AGAIN....EVAA! Thus it ended up being the three of us and I was YET AGAIN the 3rd FRICKIN wheel but thankfully they were so gracious and didn't seem to mind! Ok I think I'm done venting! JERK...Ok now I'm finished! Anywho...On to more important things.... The place is located right across from Forever 21 (I wish) by the parking garage, but I still got lost somehow! I REALLY do have a great sense of direction usually! Anyway I arrived shortly after Mr and Mrs. C and was greeted and seated immediately with the rest of my FAN-TA-BU-LOUS party. We were brought menus and asked what we would like to drink and we all went for the tea. It was a humid day so it was perfect. We were not sure how the process went so we asked and were told we could order ANYTHING off the menu we wanted! OH BOY! Things just got EVEN BETTER...REALLY didn't think that was possible! What a TRRREEEEAAATTTTT! Sadly my lunch earlier was fighting back with a vengeance and felt like a unborn baby playing soccer in my tum-tum. I really had no appetite so I tried to get something I thought would be different and something that would nuke easily and perfectly the next day for lunch or dinner! Depending on how long this World Cup playback was gonna last in my tummy! They brought over a complementary appetizer of bruschetta which I usually HATE because of the tomatoes but it had red pepper on it instead which was AWESOME! I had NEVER had bruschetta before so I had to try it! YUM, YUM, YUMMY! I sooo enjoyed it! It had a warm and mild taste with a zing of balsamic vinegar and the zest from the red pepper was PREFECT with the toast and cheese! I would order that again in a heartbeat! Plus it didn't irritate my already bubbling tummy! Our server Deidre came back shortly after and took our orders and I got the lobster bisque soup with the Shrimp Verduta pasta, which was angel hair, garlic, sundried tomatoes, roasted artichokes, caramelized onions, Feta, spinach and sourdough bread crumbs...SCRUMPTIOUS (I had a smiggy-bite to taste). Mrs. C Shawna got the Caesar salad with the Grilled Chicken "Under the brick", which was roasted veggies, mashed potatoes, and 'shrooms Marsala sauce, which she seemed to REALLY ENJOY! And Mr. C Steven got the minestrone soup which was UBER hearty looking with the BRIO pasta, which had rigatoni, grilled chicken, seared 'shrooms and roasted red pepper sauce. LOOKED SO DELISH and he ate it all with NOOO PROBLEM! Shawna and I both left with a doggie bag but not before they surprised us with TWO mini DESSERTS to share! DESSERTS is STRESSED spelled backward but I CERTAINLY was NOT STRESSED! One was chocolate mousse I think (I didn't try it) being that it was taunting me from the oversized SHOT GLASS it was in but it looked YUMMY and Shawna C didn't have ANY PROBLEM showing it who was in charge and puttin' it down!! The other was a SUPER LIGHT Key Lime mousse in a oversized shot glass! I did have a smig and it was BOMB! REALLY GOOD! The C's were able to finish those off so nothing was going to waste! Our server Deidre was AHH-MAZING and kept our glasses full and made sure we are REALLY taken care of! She didn't miss a beat! At the end we got a survey card that we all filled out. One question was about the bathrooms so I did what ANY UBER NOSEY YELPER would do and got up checked and took pics with my phone before returning and marking the card! I also got TOTALLY BUSTED by another server that came over to our table and leaned into my ear and said, "You either got up to check out the bathroom or didn't wash your hands!" SOOOO BUSTED! I GOT READ! SOOOOO FRICKIN embarrassing but A PERFECT END to the NIGHT....HI-LARIOUS! I WILL BE BACK FO' SHO'! BTW...the bathers are on point! Hahahah!
(5)
Shawna C.
What an event!!! And to think, I almost skipped this one. A fellow Yelper put in for it and I was going to hold off, but then I changed my mind. This event was a three or four course meal before the opening of Brio. We decided to go with dinner as we had to work. Seats were filling up quickly, so you had to request and invite, and then call in for reservations. When we got there we were waiting for our friend so that we could all go in together, but unfortunately our poor friend got lost in the spectrum despite just being at the right location but then walking off into another land. As she was looking for her way back, one of the organizers asked if we had wanted to go in. We ended up going for it and knew that she would find us. I kept my expectations on the lower in, as if you expect too much, things seem to go downhill, and it wasn't even open yet. They pretty much proved us wrong in every aspect, and I was so thankful for that. They had us down, and took us to our tables with no issues. Our fellow yelper buddy Ryan P came in right after us. We were immediately asked what we wanted to drink and we all went with iced teas. Bummer that I did not even look and saw that other friends had yummy fruit lemonades. Iced tea is usually my default. Either way, it came out immediately and it tasted just fine to me. They brought out roasted red pepper bruschetta and immediately asked if we were ready to order. We asked what we could order, assuming there was a prefixed menu. They told us anything. ANYTHING??? Seriously?? Well that is something I am not used to. We of course needed a few minutes at that point. They came out with some yummy bread and butter and we then placed our orders. I ended up going with the grilled chicken "under the brick" with a Caesar salad. The chicken came with veggies, mashed potatoes, and mushroom masala sauce. That sauce was delicious! My husband had the minestrone soup and the pasta brio, and Ryan had lobster bisque and the shrimp pasta. We all dove in and loved every bit of it! Everything tasted perfect. I couldn't finish all of my food and took about half of it home. Plus dessert was coming. I think they choose random ones because they popped up with a caramel chocolate cake dessert in a glass as well as a key lime cake. Both were delicious. Was anything here bad? Doesn't seem like it! EVERYTHING was free. Service was outstanding. They constantly checked on us, picked up plates the second you were done, or even before you were done! They were very friendly as well. We were given a survey card at the end. One asked about the bathroom quality. None of us had gone in there so an interesting look popped up on Ryan's face, she kindly asked where the bathroom was, snatched her phone and left. We laughed. She came back and one of the funny workers there leaned over, and told her that she either didn't wash her hands or she was snapping photos because she was so fast. Hey, maybe she can pee quick! We were all laughing after that. It seemed that other people were there for other events and had a pre fixed menu, so it may have depended on how you ended up there. Loved the service, loved the comedy, and the food was amazing. We definitely felt like VIPs that night. The staff here is way more ready than most places that have been around forever. I will definitely be back.
(5)
Veronika W.
Yummy food and excellent service ...thank you Ms. Melrose for being such an incredible waitress!
(5)
Jenny L.
Service is great so far. Soft opening... The food was seriously good. Think better tasting Cheesecake Factory. Well seasoned, especially the veggies. Whoever is manning the grill knows what they're doing. Great char and perfectly seared medium rare meats. The veggies are crisp and seasoned very well, I can taste garlic in the seasoning but it's not overwhelming. The waiters are so eager to serve. The managers stopped by often as well. Fill out the survey cards, they actually care! The space is HUGE! There is a full separate bar area, a conference room, a covered patio, and the dining space is separated so it doesn't echo. I bought my 3 month old (guilty) and no one seemed to mind and he slept through the sound just fine. My favorites: -The lobster bisque: so creamy and they certainly aren't shy with giving you lobster! -The creme brulee cheesecake. My friend and I INHALED it...in between bites, we were moaning with pleasure. Tips: -It's next to the Yard House, so park near there in the structure. -Complimentary Wifi. -The menus have calories printed so, that helps if you're counting. -Get the cheesecake, you're welcome. :) WILL COME BACK.
(4)
Sukhraj B.
On Monday night, a few Yelpers were invited out to try Brio at their new location during a soft opening event at the Irvine Spectrum. If you're looking for it, Brio is located near Nordstroms and across from Sur La Table. Park in the structure that's adjacent, exit out and you'll come face to face with it. My +1 and I had our choice of an appetizer, entree and dessert all on the house. Woohoo. We started off with the mushroom and prosciutto pizza. This was an instant hit. The pizza is a thin crust sort of wood fired with a spicy prosciutto and mushrooms and a slight hint of truffle oil. We loved it and finished it quickly. For our entrees, we chose the Pasta Brio (a signature dish) and Fra Di avoil. The Pasta Brio was just ok for being a signature dish. It reheated well for leftovers the next day but we really loved the second dish with shrimp. The sauce was really good. For dessert, we got the mascarpone cheesecake and a creme brulee. Dessert was chef's choice and I was hoping to get something other than creme brulee to try but oh well. The cheesecake was our favorite. Light fluffy and well done. We'll be back to try other dishes.
(4)
Gabby B.
This Yelp event has left me speechless!!! I don't know how you did it Ryan C. but I must bow down to you and BRIO for this unforgettable night! I was lucky enough to get an invite for dinner to experience this amazing Italian restaurant. We were greeted and quickly seated at our table. The place was was huge, think of cheesecake factory status that's what the environment and decor kind of reminded me of but with a view of the entire kitchen! At first I didn't now what to expect for a complementary dinner for two. I assumed it was either going to be a fixed menu for the night or small samples of items from their menu. To my surprise we were actually allowed to order anything off the menu!!! Our waitress Jessica was very pleasant and knowledgeable of all the items on the menu. And as she was informing us about the menu another waiter quickly placed a big platter of their flat-bread on our table. The flat-bread was very yummy it had the right amount of tomato sauce and it was nice an crispy and light. Once we were ready to order we both got the minestrone soup since they had run out of the lobster bisque,it was one of their hot items of the night. It has been a while since I have eaten minestrone soup and this soup made me regret not having it sooner, although I don't know if it would of been this delicious anywhere else. I went with the shrimp ventuta as my main entree, it consisted of angel hair pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach and lemon rings. It was amazing!!! the shrimp were sauteed to perfection and the sun-dried tomatoes were big and full of flavor. When it was time for dessert we thought we were going to have the option to chose from many of their desserts but they simply brought out their New York style cheesecake. It looked incredible but It tasted very different from the regular breadcrumb style crusts this one was lacking. Although it tasted different it was still good. We noticed everyone had different desserts and I think they were just preparing everything from their menu in order to practice for the real launch of the restaurant. When our magical night was finally over we got the pretend check that tallied up to $68 but was cleared to $0. This doesn't seem to bad for a nice 4 course Italian meal. Non-alcoholic drinks $2.50 Flatbread $13 Shrimp ventuta $18 salmon plate $19 We don't know how much was the cheesecake since they didn't put it on the bill. We were very satisfied and stuffed by the end of the night. The service was amazing every server that brought out a dish was very professional and attentive.I am a 100% certain that BRIO will flourish and thrive in the Irvine spectrum and this restaruant will become very popular fast.
(5)
Dora K.
Great food, but very noisy and chaotic atmosphere due to the loud crowds n open kitchen , although cool to see us a distraction n contributes to the chaotic environment !! I recommend sitting away from the back kitchen area if you want to talk!
(3)
Angie D.
It's been awhile where an entire night's menu has astounded me and made my taste buds dance like this menu tasting at BRIO! My friend and I arrived for our reservation at 5:45 and were immediately seated and served some Spinach & Artichoke Dip-- talk about setting the mood for a great start! Got the drinks outta the way, I ordered a White Peach Palmer & my friend, Tiffany, got the Wildberry Lemonade. Then came the hard part-- choosing the entree. I was surprised at the variety (and amount) of dishes they were previewing & ended up stunned for awhile. Eventually, I decided to try their "signature dish" the Pasta Brio and Tiffany got the Pasta Alla Vodka (both our servers said it was their favorite). Both pasta dishes were phenomenal! Sauces had tons of flavor, pasta was cooked a perfect al dente, and both dishes were seasoned to perfection! The grilled chicken in the Pasta Brio was thinly sliced but it was still moist and you could taste that grill flavor. Dessert followed with a tasting of their Chocolate Caramel Cake and Tiramisu (my all-time favorite dessert) and both were decadent without being too dense, too sweet, or too rich-- basically they were wonderful as well! Honestly, I think BRIO's addition to the Spectrum is smart, decor & space is a breath of fresh air, and it's also perfectly positioned away from the bustle of the theater-area but located near Yardhouse and the more adult-friendly nook. All-in-all, the dinner went wonderfully, our servers (Katie, Alex, & Augustine) were friendly and very personable! I shall be back!
(5)
Jade R.
I came here to celebrate my birthday last night with a group of 8. I made reservations a week in advance so we had no problems being seated. The restaurant has an open feel, and the decor screams upscale Italy. You can expect romantic lighting, and fine dining service. The service was impeccable. I will be back just because of the level of service that was provided. Our server's name was Kevin, and I can't say enough positive things about him. He was knowledgeable about the menu, their drinks, but was fun, down to earth, and never skipped a service beat. They serve freshly baked sourdough loafs, and herb flat bread crisps as the complimentary starter. They only offer a slice of butter for half a loaf of bread, which is unusual. I like my butter! The group ordered a variety of dishes ranging from the carbonara, steak, pesto pasta, primavera, salmon salad, and ravioli. There isn't a bad dish in the house, but my favorite dish of the night was their Lobster Bisque. Wow! It was rich with that Seafood flavor, but had a creamy texture that went down smoothly. I ordered the Carbonara which is a bit different here because they serve it with spinach. I liked how they sprinkled the dish with the spinach last minute because it allowed me to stir the fresh spinach in when I received my dish which wilted it. It made my dish seem more fresh and made to order. I can't wait to come up with an excuse to come back here soon!
(4)
Richard M.
Fellow Yelper Robert A. and I were invited to preview this new location in Irvine. We arrived at 5:45pm and were promptly seated. Our server went over the details of the new place and patiently answered our many questions about the menu items. Everything on the menu was fair game which was thoughtful of them. The manager picked out our appetizer for us which was: Beef Carpaccio - I never had this before. It was thinly sliced beef (think shabu shabu) carefully laid out on a large oval shaped plate. In the middle were these two triangular pieces of bread standing up-right to form a two-sided pyramid. It was the type of bread that is crispy like a cracker. Focaccia? Idk, but between the bread was a salad made with some type of leafs that wasn't lettuce. I really need to start paying attention to the names of the stuff I eat. I'm sure it would make my reviews a little more helpful for ya'll who are reading. It was really good whatever it was made of. Next was the second course. We were allowed to choose any of the salads, or soups offered. We both opted for the lobster bisque. I'd never had this before. This had lobster, shrimp, and I think onions in it too. It was cream based so it was heavy and filling. They also brought some warm bread to our table which I used to sop up the last bit of the soup. For our main course we were again allowed to choose from any of the pastas, meat dishes, and the lite dishes for those watching their calories. I went with the shrimp and crab cakes. I'd never had this before. It came with two cakes along with some roasted slices of potatoes, carrots, broccoli, and maybe squash or zucchini. I really like the sliced potatoes as the sides were crispy. I had no problem eating the first cake, but by the second one I was feeling the heaviness of the lobster bisque and had to fight my way through the second cake. These cakes were delicious, but I was starting to feel like I was going to burst at the seams at any moment. Robert had the pasta alla vodka which looked good. I didn't try any of it though. Last course was dessert. We were served a mini cheesecake selected by someone in the kitchen. I was happy with the choice. I'd had this before so I had something to compare it to. It had a dollop of hwipped-cream. Hwipped! There was a pool of caramel which it sat in. It was one of the better cheesecakes I've had. Not too heavy, or rich. The service was top notch. Very attentive and knowledgeable of the items on the menu. After each course they would come by and scrape the crumbs off the table and refill our drinks. We had two servers because one had to take his break, so Katie came in to take over while he went on break. Both were excellent. I wish I could remember the other servers name. This was an excellent event yet again from Yelp and I am forever grateful for the invitation and experience!
(5)
Sherri G.
The hubby and I were looking for a new spot for dinner and decided on Brio since we've never been and the reviews looked pretty good. The restaurant is nice and open with high ceilings - highly recommended for the claustrophobic. We arrived at our table, I pulled my chair out and almost pulled off the chair's slipcover. It's not attached. Drink orders were taken straight away and we were educated on the menu. I ordered the Grilled Chicken quinoa and the hubs ordered lasagna. Our breads came to the table as we waited - very fresh and hot, and the drinks were replenished quickly without asking once through the meal - I like that. Entrees: Lasagna: The hubs (who orders lasagna every time we go to an Italian restaurant) said that this was the 2nd worst lasagna he's ever had. (Baci in HB currently holds the #1 position). I was surprised so I tasted it. Yep, not very good. This was mainly because there was so much yellow cheesy sauce instead of a more traditional marinara. What the hubs got was different than what they advertise in the pictures. Maybe there's more than 1 type of lasagna? Grilled Chicken Quinoa Delicious! I really enjoyed the dish but wish the grilled chicken was either entirely hot or entirely cold. The sauce added a nice flavorful touch but didn't overpower the quinoa. Chocolate Tort: It was ok. I'm not a tort lover so what do I know. We both enjoyed the cappuccino. Ambiance: IT IS VERY NOISY IN THIS RESTAURANT. I had to yell at my husband and he was only 2 feet away. Small children who won't shut up and eat also ruin the dining experience. Why can't they seat families FAR AWAY from couples who want to enjoy their dining experience? I have kids, I wouldn't mind being seated around other families. I get that couples or singles want to have a nice evening, maybe get away from their annoying kids for a few hours. It's a little disappointing being seated in the center of noisy kids in a noisy restaurant. We wouldn't be heartbroken if we never came here again. If there's a next time, maybe we'll dine outside or next to the fire pit in the comfy chairs. I didn't see many kids outside and it was much quieter. OR maybe I'll make lasagna and eat in my closet.
(2)
Diana Y.
Came here for lunch on Saturday at 1. It wasn't too busy when we arrive but got busier later, I guess a lot of people eat late on weekends. Started with their hot bread and calamari. I liked the fresh sourdough, not so much the crisp. Calamari comes with marinara and a white sauce. I really liked the white sauce and the calamari was cooked perfectly tender. I only wish they put the sauce separate bc it's just glopped on to the plate next the calamari so half of the dish gets soggy by the time you get to it. I got the lighter angel hair with salmon dish. It was in a light lemon sauce. The sauce was tangy but felt it was missing something, salt or cheese perhaps. The salmon was a good portion and cooked medium, I forgot to tell the waiter I wanted it more well done, so FYI they default to medium if you don't specify. I tried the ravioli in the vodka cream sauce. The ravioli was filled with a soft cheese mixture, the sauce was creamy. It would have been a much better dish if they put something with a different texture in the ravioli, a veggie or meat. It was creamy on top of soft. Flavors were good, could have been kicked up a little more, I feel like the dishes were shy, even for a dish that's vodka cream you'd think they'd be more bold with the seasoning. I like the decor and ambiance and I felt the waiters were making an effort to be on top of their game. Would come back again as their HH menu looks good too.
Brio is like a glorified Olive Garden in my humble opinion. My parents came over to babysit the little guys so the wife and I could go out for a few hours... The wife has been to Brio for happy hour a few times with co-workers and has seemed to like it OK. I made a reservation through Yelp and was able to get a same-day reservation at 7:30. We saw John WIck beforehand at the Irvine Woodbridge theaters (cool movie). We arrived right on time and were informed that there were no tables available and we'd have to wait - strike 1. Makes me furious when I have to wait when I make a reservation. No seats in the bar, so we sat outside. It was kind of rainy out there, so we had the outdoors to ourselves. We were sitting in a covered area so it wasn't affected by the rain. The bar waitress set up a table for us outside and we decided to just eat out there so we didn't have to wait. Plus, it was very noisy in the dining area... almost like being at a sporting event. OK - to the food - the appetizer of calamari was terrible. The breading did not stick to the calamari and it was very soft and not crispy. The dipping sauce was in the same bowl that the calamari was served in and not in its own bowl - weird. There was a limited amount of marinara and some odd white sauce. I've never been to an Italian restaurant that serves a white mayo type dipping sauce with calamari. Well either way, it was sent back and I made it clear I didn't want them to attempt to re-make it. Our pasta dishes arrived shortly after - wife got a shrimp/lobster pasta dish that was somewhat oily and had very little lobster. I'm guessing the "lobster" was previously frozen langostino style lobster - a.k.a. the cheap ass fake lobster. My pasta dish - I don't recall the name, I think it was ala vodka or something like that, was awful. I paid several dollars extra to add chicken too and there were about 3-4 small pieces of chicken. It was super salty and super oily - absolutely disgusting. I don't attach Yelp pics too often, but I'm going to do so here so you can see how oily my dish was. The pasta dishes aren't cheap here either - like $20 and relatively small portions. Total came to about $90 with tip - and that was after the calamari was voided. We had a few drinks as well. No beers on tap here - I should mention that too. The one saving grace was the service - our waitress was serving people at the bar as well as us outside. She was fast, friendly, and attentive - I'll give her that. But in the end, the food was terrible and I will not be back. Too many good Italian restaurants in the area. Plus, the wife and I don't get to go out just the two of us very often now that we have the little guys, so it's kind of a bummer to go out and eat food that tastes worse than food I can make at home.
(2)
Melissa R.
Food is great. Been there a couple of times. Great service and good wine. I had the lasagna and it was delicious. I also went there when it first open and had great appetizers and happy hour.
(4)
Jenny H.
Honestly, the food here is a little more on the average side, with really the good location, ambience, and fine service boosting its score. I came here with my parents after exploring the Irvine area one day. I got the lobster and shrimp ravioli, which is actually lobster ravioli with grilled shrimp on top of it (name is a bit deceiving). It was flavorful and filling, and the sauce wasn't too overwhelming. It wasn't mind-blowing by any means, but I would consider getting it again. My father got the pork chops. They were dry and quite average, so I personally don't recommend them. My mother got the roasted vegetable spaghettini, which was also nothing special. On the other hand, the Peach Bellini was amazing: not too sweet, and no alcohol taste at all! A must-try for fruity drink lovers like me! The ambience is really nice; a good place for a group of friends, family dinner, or a date. The service is also quite good. The waiter/waitresses will recommend their favorites and aren't pushy. They are also relatively attentive. This place is good, but that's about it: just good.
(3)
Jimmy L.
Finding a place to celebrate a birthday, we picked brio. Initially when we walked in, we were impressed by the decor of the place. I would say, the price of items in the menu is definitely a surprise based on the decor. Now going to the review of the food. Overall the food was okay, not great nor bad but just okay. I think the place is more for the ambiance than the actual food. Maybe we attended in the week of restaurant week but the food is similar to macaroni grille. Not sure if i will want to come to eat on purpose, but if there are lines and brio is readily available, I will not mind eating there
(3)
Tim O.
Meh. Alright service. Our waitress was friendly and vocal about our needs though it did take a while to get things like refills and salad. Appetizer of calamari was decent, though the breading was a bit thin and there wasn't a very good calamari:pepperoncini ratio (I do like me some pepperoncini...but I'd prefer the squid thank you. Pasta was alright. Got the lobster and shrimp fettuccine and she got the lasagna bolognese. Nothing super exciting about it. It's also noisy. Like...borderline awful din. I don't know how a restaurant gets that noisy. My fiancee put it best. It's like a more refined Olive Garden. Inauthentic Italian food but actually freshly made...I think. I'm not an expert on Italian food, mind you. You should talk to an Italian about that. Also, people at the table next to us, I am thrilled that you bumped into some friends while you were here, really I am. But I don't know if that warranted getting up from your table and standing in the middle of a narrow aisle for ten minutes talking to them, blocking the paths of all of the waiters and busboys. You could have maybe stayed at the table to talk, you freaks of nature you.
I've eaten at Brio three times now, and have found the experience to be inconsistent. The second visit was for a work lunch. Service was great...drinks were refilled, food came out fast, and our service was very attentive and positive. The second time, however, was less enjoyable. I requested the same dish I had just two weeks prior. The server said the menu had changed, and when I explained that I had just had a ravioli dish that may still be available off the menu, she didn't offer to at least check with the chef. (I also work in the area, and LA Bite still has that dish on the menu...so, weird). The restaurant was half empty and we sat for about 10 minutes until our drink orders were taken. Also their bread (mix of flatbread and fresh bread...so good) came out before the drinks. Now here's the kicker: there was a hair at the bottom of my pasta dish. At this point, I'd eaten 75% of it, so there wasn't really anything I could do. I did mention it to our server, and the manager came over, apologized, then took it off the bill. I did appreciate that it was comped, rather than a replacement just being sent out. They may still be working out some of the kinks, so I'm not in a hurry to rush back, but I wouldn't sway anyone from going here, either.
(3)
Kelly C.
Beautiful new restaurant. Grand soft open today. Convenient parking in the structure. The shrimp and eggplant is a bit salty but still good. Great presentation. 1st place in Irvine that I've seen Wild berry lemonade. So yummy!! Better than strawberry lemonade! The service was AMAZING. The servers were all very nice and hospitable. This restaurant offers small dessert portions like Seasons 52 in a shot cup. Great new addition to Irvine Spectrum!
(4)
A M.
Nice outdoor patio. Delicious complimentary bread and Rosemary crackers. The wedge salad is delicious. The chopped salad was boring and the dressing was not delicious. The light pesto angel hair was very good and my husband raved about the salmon. Service was very good.
(5)
Rachel S.
We had been excited to try this place for a while and had a few hours to ourselves one afternoon while the in-laws had our kids. The service was terrible. There was even a couple near us who got up and left after waiting so long for the server to take their order. I just ordered a cappuccino thinking that it should be decent at an Italian restaurant. Wrong. It tasted like steamed milk with a dash of coffee. And the server didn't bring any sugar to the table. After waiting a long time for the sever to come back I asked for sugar and mentioned it tasted very milky. She made it again. It came back the exact same way. She didn't come back to ask how it was and at this point we had been there for almost an hour and didn't want to wait again for her to make another bad one. My husband had a Moscow mule which he said wasn't good. We are not generally picky people, but I expected much better from a place like this.
(1)
Joyce Z.
The food here is great! However everything else brought my review down to 3 stars. Since this place is new, they really need some time to get their shit together. On a Friday night, the Spectrum gets very busy & it can often take at least 45 min just to get a spot at a restaurant. Brio told us it was only a 30 minute wait! I heard great things about the Colorado location, so I had to try it. After waiting 1 hour 15 min, we still weren't seated. There were many open tables, and the hosts said the kitchen was having problems. Many people started leaving...and nothing was done to fix this. I wanted to leave too, but I already waited sooo long I had to try this place. We then found a seat at the bar and decided to just eat there. (By then it was already 9:00pm...) The bartenders were pretty unprofessional. One of them gave us attitude when we asked for utensils. How do you want us to eat the bread then? Use our hands? Another accidentally gave our credit card back to a different customer. WTF. Aside from all that trouble I didn't want to deal with, I'm glad there is finally a yummy traditional Italian restaurant in Irvine. We got the Pasta Brio ($17.95) and Pasta Alla Vodka ($18.90). Both were delicious. I think I'll wait at least a month before coming back so that they can get the hang of how to manage everything.
(3)
Kira W.
Even on a rainy day, Brio impresses! I went when it was pouring outside and was seated on the covered patio. The patio is super cute! I ordered their specialty pasta alla vodka, which is stuffed with ricotta and in a tomato cream sauce. Absolutely delicious! It was very filling and even enough to split with someone. I love how they post the calorie count on their menus!
(5)
Dominique D.
Honestly, this was very mediocre Italian. The service was mediocre as well and the place just seems overrated. This was my first experience there so I made a reservation, but when we arrived my friend and I still waited a while to be seated as if the place was overrunning with people ready to eat here. When finally seated, it took 10 minutes to even get a waiter to come over to ask for a water, again the place was not packed at all, and at that point I told him to bring me two glasses of wine because I didn't know if he was going to take another journey on his way to get my water. On to the food: I ordered the calamari as an appetizer which was actually pretty tasty, and for the entree shrimp and lobster fettuccine-can't go wrong with that right? Wrong. It wasn't very flavorful in my opinion and I found myself constantly adding salt and pepper. I was fooled my the decor and website thinking that "Oh my gosh, this is going to be so great!" Lastly, my friend and I were both incorrectly charged for our meals, but it was fixed until my friend realized she was charged twice and we had to go back to get that fixed. After the apologies and speaking with management we were given cards for free appetizers which we could never use because behold...they had expired a year prior.
(2)
Aida L.
Nice place, I have not been disappointed yet! The risotto is really good.
(5)
Stephany N.
Carpaccio was great. Definitely recommend. Daughter had the lobster ravioli and loved it
(4)
Ryan R.
I really like italian and every so often i have a hankoring (is that a word) for something savory that sticks to the bones. So we had a customer meeting here today, and the food didn't disappoint. I started with the Lobster bisque which was really good and finished with the Pasta Fra Diavolo with Chicken which was really good... It had a rich tomato-vodka sauce and the pasta was fun, it looked like little trumpets. My workmate had the ravioli which looked awesome. Its a great big place with plenty of seating, even at lunch. I suspect Dinner gets a little bit nuts here. The only negative is it took a while to get things like refills, but thats just nit picking... Great place, would defintely come back.
(4)
Amy D.
Happy hour is so great!! Goes from 3:30 until 6:30 pm M-F and starts again at 9 pm until close which is awesome. For happy hour I will continuously go back and I would give it four stars if they had not run out of three of the five items we ordered. Bar plates are all from $3.95-$5.95, Drinks $4-$6 and Beer & Wine $4-5 on their happy hour menu. Fried ravioli's weren't all that great. Flat breads were good. Bar and outside patios are really great settings. Main menu has a few really good dishes: the Brio sliced steak salad was a favorite amongst the people I was with. I LOVE the Pasta Alla Vodka! The Gorganzola Beef Medallians were not great at all. Beef just was not tender and it was over cooked. I will be going back and may update this by a star if in the future everything we order is available. (Three out of five apps not available? That is bad.) Happy Hour is a great value and really nice setting. Service was pretty good the several times I have been.
(3)
Veronica W.
With a diverse menu and excellent atmosphere, Brio has become one of my favorite places to meet friends for lunch or dinner. The food is always excellent and is sensibly priced...not cheap but it also won't break the bank. The quality of service you get really depends on which server you get - some are great while others are highly lacking. Overall a wonderful dining experience, although it would be good for the management team to make sure all servers offer great service. Could be lack of training or accountability?
(4)
Henna S.
I actually give this place a 3.5 - good food and nice atmosphere, but a little bit on the expensive side. I got the Ravioli Di Bello, which was certainly tasty, but the quantity was a little underwhelming for the price.
(3)
Sunny R.
Love this place. Whether it's drinks with friends or weekend brunch with the family! Friendly staff and great food.
(5)
Sarah B.
Been here twice so far, and have not been disappointed with food or service as of yet. I have tried the shrimp Mediterranean and the salmon fresca. Both are great and taste clean! not doused in oil and fat. Their bread is delicious as well. My only gripe is this. When i made reservations for 9 people, they put us RIGHT next to the kitchen (even though i made a request for that to not happen), and it was SO loud with people walking in and out. I have this thing about being seated next to a restroom or a kitchen when i have reservations...IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN! They were willing to reseat us, but the only other table was the exact same setting on the other side. Anyways, the food is good, and the watiers are always nice.
(4)
Ray H.
Came here for a group lunch. I have the Pork Chop for $17 that is grilled perfectly, tender and juicy, served on a hot plate. Deserts are delicious, not as sugary as many other restaurants in the area. Service is excellent as the waitress keeps checking on us for refills.
(5)
Krystle G.
Where is my girl Jay (Janet), she is the bomb! I mean she provides excellent customer service with hints of humor and friendliness. She got to know us and made great recommendations. She made our first visit to not be our last. We ordered: a few white and red wines by the glass, Brio Chopped Salad, Gerber Farms All-Natural Roasted Half Chicken and the Gorgonzola Crusted Bistecca. It was my birthday so Jay surprised us with the Torta di Cioccolata for dessert. It was the chocolatey richness I was lookign for with some delicious vanilla bean gelato (need more). I definitely want to try the Creme Brulee and the cheesecake next time. It gets pretty loud inside the restaurant, so we sat outside which was perfect.
We came in with a group of 9 to celebrate a college graduation and the service was among the worst i've received. Unprofessional and unenthusiastic service from a server who didn't seem that she want to be there. She did not have the care/presence of mind to refill our waters until i asked... a fundamental and easy way to keep in touch with your guests. the restaurant was EMPTY too so it's not like she was too busy to take care of us. Also when we sent back a dish (see description in next paragraph) she simply offered to replace it, no apology, and she comped it. the manager didnt seem to care either as he did not come over. In my opinion that lack of sympathy shows a low level of customer service which is unacceptable at a restaurant of this price range. The Chicken Marsala sauce was not fresh, in fact I wouldn't be surprised if it was sitting in a heating all day. Not only was it flat and flavorless but the consistency was not that of any marsala sauce i've ever seen. It looked more like Japanese gravy. The lemonade was watered down too. Also we ordered the Carbonara dish which was said to have included bacon.... there were literally 3 small bits of bacon. for the price of $19 i was very unimpressed by the small size and dry noodles. Honestly I would not recommend wasting your time here.
(1)
Nijole T.
Happy hour at Brio is the way to go! Not a fan of their regular fare which is very Olive Garden in a nicer surrounding at even higher prices, happy hour offers a large variety of small plates at reasonable prices. Service was fine, though not great. My favorite was the flatbreads and I think also the best value for your money. Not really for kids, this is more of a date spot. Nice addition to the area, as I think they just started expanding into California.
(3)
Rob T.
The ambient was nice but the food was not good at all. I ordered the lobster bisque and it not all what I am used too - too fishy. I also order the prime rib steak and it was mediocre. I will definitely come back for drinks. The drinking scene was pretty cool. I like outdoor social scenes.
This was my first time here and I will be back despite a few hiccups. My husband made a reservation over the phone in the afternoon and when we arrived in the evening they couldn't find it. It was very busy Friday night, but the hostess got us seated 5 minutes later. The Pasta alla Vodka and Tiramisu were my favorites. I will not hesitate to order those again! The only negatives I have with this restaurant are: The noise level is very high! It's so loud in there that I had a hard time hearing our server and it was difficult to talk to my husband. Although all of our food came out super fast (almost too fast), I felt a bit rushed. It actually felt like they were trying to turn tables over as quickly as possible to serve more customers and make more profit. I do not like restaurants that do this and this is what it felt like on a Friday night.
(4)
Armando C.
If you can make a pasta under 600 calories taste good, then damn you got skills. And that's exactly what Brio did. The chopped salad with vinaigrette dressing was so-so. The lettuce-to-ingredients ratio was off, but was very light, which leaves room for other dishes. The pepporini sausage flatbread is not a must order, but can cure any pizza craving. Beware lactose peoples, there is a good amount of cheese on it.
(3)
Tania S.
I first heard about Brio from a friend that is a Vegas resident. She raved about this restaurant and how excited she was that there would be one in Irvine. I've only gone once so I might have to give it another try but my first experience was nothing to rave about. The restaurant itself is brand new, they actually built an entire building for it! They revamped the parking as well so its easier to get to. We went early on a Thursday afternoon and the restaurant was a bit empty but completely packed by the time we left at 6:30. We ordered the calamari and it was pretty good. Pieces where small though. For my main dish I ordered the Pasta Alla Vodka - Ricotta filled pasta, spicy tomato Parmesan cream sauce, crispy pancetta, garlic, basil. My sister spoke so highly of this dish, I had to try it. Again, it probably got hyped way too much and I was expecting some mind blowing dish...I was extremely disappointed by it. It was not tasty at all. I will give it another try though, maybe their other more popular dishes will be better!
(2)
Danielle R.
I first visited this place on Nov. 4th. We celebrated my bf's birthday, our entire experience was 100%, our server was outstanding (wish I had the receipt with her name on it) she brought everything out hot, grabbed us another bottle of wine right at the appropriate time and was always smiling. The food was amazing, everyone was very satisfied. They even stored our cake we brought with. The second time I visited this place was a completely different story. 11/5-I was so pleased with my previous experience I have raved about this place and invited a girlfriend to meet me after work for Happy Hour, I was told by my cousin the prices and portions were great. I arrived at 5:45, got great seats by the fire pit. Took about 15 mins for the server to approach me despite it not being busy and being the only people seated around a 6 seat fire pit!!! I ordered a water and a mojito, said my friend would be joining me shortly, about 12 mins later the mojito came, no water. When my friend came she ordered a drink and we ordered food. When the apps came I asked if we could have flatware, apparently this was a tall order because the entire time we were there, none came. Even after asking the 3rd time! My friend said "when/if we see her, we need to ask for the check and have our cards ready, because otherwise we won't get out of here until 11pm at this rate" I agreed but was humiliated that I had spoken so highly of this place and my friend was shocked at the horrible service we received when our server seemed to be MIA or walking around leisurely when in sight, but acted as if she could hear us..... I gave 3 stars to balance out the night and day differences in my 2 experiences. The food is wonderful but not being given a fork over a 1.5hr period and eating shrimp with your fingers, isn't.
(3)
Nina M.
Came for dinner with my mom on a Sunday night. It wasn't crowded but there was a few big tables. Unfortunately our waitress paid more attention to them and never even refilled our water. After waiting for 40 mins we finally got our food and the waitress blamed it on the kitchen cook. Not cool or professional. Although our food was fine, and the manager kindly picked up our tab after we complained about the bad service, we won't likely be back. It didn't leave a good lasting impression.
(3)
Erin T.
This review is for the brunch only The Spectrum is full of upscale restaurants, Brio Tuscan included. The decor is nice, bright and open, a great contrast to Bru Grill in Lake forest. I love their bread basket! You get these bread stick things, and two other kinds of bread. A sourdough I think and maybe a french roll? Ham & Biscuit Benedict - eggs benedict is one of my favorite breakfast food...swap out a english muffin for a biscuit? I'm all for it! The potatoes that come with it were meh but for $10.50 I was quite satisfied. Tuscan Omlette - i like the variety of filling in this. Sweet potato in breakfast is such an underrated thing. It definitely didn't need the salsa but I appreciate the option to have it. The only thing I didn't like about the breakfast was the fruit. It tasted like they added sugar to it so sweeten it up and while I like sweet fruit, extra sugar is just not necessary.
(4)
Siranush H.
I was so excited to try Brio after hearing about it's opening from friends and fellow yelpers. I'm sorry to say I was not impressed and did not care for the incredibly slow and non-responsive service. We waiting at the bar to be seated and shortly after were shown to our table. We were given menus so we could order. While we were doing so, we asked for bread and butter. We waited, we ordered and then we asked for bread and butter. This went on all night until we had already finished our first course. Our waiters got switched during half of our dinner and the service got better but not great. Their staff seemed to be running around and could not seem to remember our requests throughout the night. The food was not amazing. We had the Margarita Pizza and Beef Carpaccioto start. The pizza tasted cold and bland, the carpaccio was better. I had a Brio Chopped Salad that was oozing in dressing, I didn't taste much more than that. I shared the Pasta Fra Diavolo and Filetto Di Manzo Toscano. The pasta was good, probably the best dish I had all night. The Filetto Di Manzo Toscano was extremely dry even though we asked for medium rare - a very disappointing steak. We were offered dessert on the house because of this. I'm not opposed to giving Brio another shot, I just wish I enjoyed my experience the first time around. I was expecting more. Try it for yourself.
(3)
Heidi C.
The highlight of my experience here was the service. My company department had a hosted lunch and our group of about 15 people had the most attentive servers. I think we were assigned 2 servers and drinks did not go without refills, 2nd plates were brought promptly, and check backs were frequent and friendly. Management also stopped by to make sure we enjoyed everything. I tasted the tuna taco appetizers which had a nice flavorful sauce on top. My co-worker and I split the tri tip salad and the chicken sandwich. The Tri-tip was cooked medium rare to medium at parts. I prefer it all at medium rare. The salad came tossed but I thought the dressing was still a bit dry and I needed more acid, maybe a different dressing altogether. The chicken sandwich was solid, the bread being one of my favorite parts. A great experience overall, and I look forward to coming back as a smaller group or couple for the service and some of their signature dishes. IMG_9836.JPG
(4)
Jenny F.
********OCRW REVIEW********** OC RESTAURANT WEEK Hmm, I really wanted to like this place. Its one of the new restaurants at the Irvine Spectrum by the Yardhouse structure. The ambiance was really nice and the dining room was gorgeous. White table cloths and all that jazz. However I felt the food fell short. Lobster Bisque (4 stars) - This bisque was good but very salty. Comes with pieces of lobster :) Pasta Brio (3 stars) - Very mediocre. I wouldnt recommend this dish. Not sure i'd be back. theres just so many other options.
(3)
Robert D.
we went for Happy Hour. There was a "glitch" with our drink order. The Bar Manager, Nadine, came to our table and apologized and bought us each a drink. She was delightful and "turned lemons into lemonade". We had the Brio burger and the pepper shrimp. Both were outstanding, in addition to a real bargain, with the happy Hour prices. I immediately texted 2 of my friends and we will definitely be returning to Brio. Also, the free parking garage was very convenient. Bob n Mary Laguna Beach
(5)
Jessica-Marie M.
Really had a bad experience to start but the customer service was exceptional. I ordered a tomato bisque and was accidentally brought lobster bisque with shrimp! I'm allergic to shrimp and the moment I tried it I knew there was shrimp or crab in it. I spit it into a napkin and ran to ask a server or hostess. One of the managers overheard me explaining and he came over to check the soup. At first I was really upset because he told me the lobster bisque and tomato bisque look alike and that they could easily be mixed up. Which freaked me out because someone could easily end up in the hospital with a mix up like that. He confirmed my soup was lobster not tomato and immediately looked into what happened. Luckily I only had one bite and spit it out, I also took two benadryl that I carry with me. Just in case I had my epi-pen but I didn't have to use it. The manager check on me several times, made sure my meal was taken care of, and really showed he was concerned. It turns out the server made a mistake. Actually this is the 3rd time a server's error has ended in my meal having an allergen in it, but this was the best service I received by management and the server after the fact. Other than getting the wrong soup the rest of the meal was really good. It really was not the best night, but I know accidents happen and I really appreciate the restaurant's service despite the mistake
(4)
Franklin Y.
Honestly didn't think too much of this place, mostly because I don't see why anyone should pay so much money for Italian food (pasta). For the same amount I could have went to Mama D's to have better food with better service. As much as the setting is very romantic and fancy, the food itself didn't taste or feel very good. Don't get me wrong, it was still pretty good for Italian food, but like I said there are definitely better places to get your fancy Italian food fix.
(3)
Lena K.
Loved It!!! Came here for the first time due for Happy hour & fell in love! Great location; right next to the Nordstrom parking structure. Loved the outdoor patio. We got there at 5:30 & it was already jam packed but later on we found couches outside. The lemon basil martini is a must!! And the dirty martini 2am was great too. And we ended up going on a Wednesday which happens to be $5 martini day! Appetizers were good. My friends kid had the Mac & cheese & it was deliciousness! Can't wait to go back! Tips: park in Nordstrom parking structure, try & go before 5:30 if you want outdoor & order the lemon basil martini!
(4)
Sharon T.
Great ambience, good service & very accommodating. We would certainly come back again! The happy hour food menu was really good (I had the grass fed beef burger), price was right & it was delicious! The drinks weren't bad either. I would certainly return!
(4)
FoodLover G.
Came here for dinner. Started with the tomato mozzarella salad. I paired it with the White Oak Chardonnay. We ordered our sons cheeseburger early but it came out with our entrees. The waiter was helpful but extremely confused. I had the grilled salmon fresca but there was way too much going on in my opinion. I felt like I had bruschetta without the bread all around the fish. The salmon was over cooked and burned. My sons burger was extremely done. My wife had the carbonara which was really good but really rich. The chicken was the dark meat from the chicken which contributed to the richness. The sauce was extremely thick. I had a glass of a Tuscan Italian wine that was so so. It is worth trying it out. I would love to see others feedback. It could just be getting the kinks out from being new. Ambiance is good.
(2)
Emily G.
Such a wonderful Italian restaurant. Great place, good decor. They have a large menu with lots of choices.
(4)
Chris C.
There aren't a lot of nicer, Italian restaurants in Irvine so the addition of Brio to the Spectrum fills a void. While this may be chain fare and not entirely authentic, it is a good option for a nicer Italian meal that won't break the bank. On the niceness scale this is somewhere in between a higher end Macaroni Grill and a place like Canaletto Ristorante at Fashion Island. ATMOSPHERE: Brio does its best to make you feel like you aren't eating in the middle of a parking lot (even though it's located in between a multi-level parking garage and Del Frisco's). If you are looking for an "authentic" experience, a few things may distract a bit from that. The interior, is sort of an over the top take on what Americans think Tuscany is - something akin to an Italian-style model home in Coto de Caza or the decor the Real Housewives of New Jersey might choose. Plus, our server pronounced caprese as ca-prees (a personal, petty pet peeve of mine). We opted for the covered patio along the side of the restaurant, which is great as long as it's not too hot outside. The piped-in music was some sort of adult-contemporary mix like they play in the parking lot at the District. SERVICE: We arrived for an early dinner and needed to get in and out to make a show at Verizon Wireless (Irvine Meadows). Our server made sure to get our food and drink orders right away. The kitchen was a little over ambitious and our mains came while we were only halfway through our starters, but given that we were crunched for time I didn't mind. Moreover, our server came by to apologize that the food had come so quickly and explained how there were some big groups, so the kitchen fired things up a bit early. No big deal. She continued to be attentive and processed our bill quickly. FOOD: Some prior reviewers complained about the portion sizes. I found the portions to be totally reasonable and fairly priced. Our first courses - tomato & mozzarella caprese and caesar salads were fine but nothing special. The basil in the caprese seemed very bright and fresh, but there was not nearly enough of it. AC had the Shrimp Verduta, which seems like something you can make at home but was very well executed. I had the Ravioli di Bello, which was a real delight for a mushroom lover. Lots of great, well cooked ravioli filled with mushrooms and their earthy umami flavor and covered with more mushrooms. The richness of brown butter sauce was balanced out by the addition of cherry tomatoes. I'd come back and order either pasta dish again.
(4)
Tina G.
Since Brio has opened, I have been here three times. Once for business lunch (group of 8 when they first opened), once for lunch yesterday and once after work for dinner/drinks. The restaurant is very easy to get to, since I know many ppl that avoid spectrum bc it takes to long to navigate. If you park in the garage by Nordstrom, there is a staircase that takes you right in front of BRIO. The bar area is classy, with a floating bar. Good size Best part are the 3 outdoor patios. HH is in the bar and outdoor patios and one of the best. Full size portions for HH prices (not like other restaurants that cut portions in half to make u think its a good deal during HH) Meals are also great, fresh and clean. I was told that they get their seafood daily from Santa Monica seafood. I've had their filet, shrimp Mediterranean, quinoa salad, bruschetta Quattro, shrimp eggplant app and carpaccio. Excellent. I will surely go back soon!
(5)
Alicia G.
Great Food - Great Prices. Highly recommend their pasta carbonara. Delicious and huge portions I had enough for another meal. My boyfriend loved the chipotle chicken panini. The children menu is also great, low prices with a big serving, two small children could just share one. Interior is very pretty and very clean.
(5)
Devon T.
We were so hoping that the food would be a good as the atmosphere, but unfortunately it wasn't. It's not bad, but just not great. I'd say it's a step up from Macaroni Grill, of which I am also not a fan. Probably more of a place to get a drink and enjoy the surroundings. The bruschetta looked good, but we didn't try it, so that might go nicely with your drink.
Looooooved the shrimp and eggplant appetizer. A def must. Pretty great service considering they just opened. Great waiter named Joseph :) ohhhhhh must get the chocolate cake with ice cream on top. Omg - to die for!!!! I would def come here again!!!!
(5)
Jenn P.
I had watched this place being built on my frequent trips to Spectrum, and was excited to try it when it was finally opened. After work one day we decided to go in and give them a shot for Happy Hr. The inside is really nice and spacious. They offer tables and booths, and a huge bar area. What I like most is the outdoor patio which offers sofas and fire places. We went with a few items for HH and a couple drinks. -Crispy Cheese Raviolli- This was awesome. You really have to put effort into getting fried wrong haha. These were served in a large portion with marinara and Ranch(don't hold me to this one) dipping sauces. -Beef Carpaccio- This was very goos as well. Raw beef served with mustard aoili and parmesan. -Margarhita flatbread- This was also very good. Everything was fresh and tasty Lobster Bisque- My al time favorite soup. Brio did not disappoint. -Mojhito- I tried one of there flavored mojhitos. I am blanking on what flavor, but it was very good. Sangrea- This was good as well. If your looking for something refreshing and light this is a great choice. Prices were great and service was fast and friendly, I look forward to trying them for lunch, dinner, or more happy hrs in the future.
(4)
M Rose T.
We went there for happy hour. Food 5 stars: ordered their hamburgers with chips. It was okay. We ordered Sangria and Italian lemonade cocktails they're the best. Location/ambiance 5 stars: it's by Irvine Spectrum mall. I liked their Tuscan decor. Service 5 stars: great service. Price 5 stars: just right.
(5)
Elaine G.
Went here for happy hour....amazing! They are doing something right! The quality of the food is top notch. The price is unbelievably CHEAP! The quality is 5 star. I don't get it! Fresh made tomato sauce, burger was so juicy, eggplant sticks with the horseradish sauce was superb and the flatbreads were the best ever. Had the margarita and the sausage pepperoni. I'll definitely come back again over and over and over...
(5)
Shivangi S.
I came here last night for my brothers birthday with my family since we were already in Irvine Spectrum. It's located right across the Forever 21 and I think it's one of the relatively newer restaurants. We came in on Friday night at about 5:30 and we were seated immediately. The inside is sooo pretty! It has a beautiful Tuscan decor that I loved. The servers and hostesses were all super friendly and nice. I think our servers name was Bryce, and he was super attentive and nice. They start you off with bread and it was so good! They waited a while to give us the butter though which was odd, but not a big deal. My siblings, and my mom all had the penne with the spicy creme sauce and they'd loved it, they would give it a 5/5. I had the Pasta Alla Vodka and it was sooo good too! The only thing though was that the pasta shells were sort of like ravioli, it had a ricotta filling and normally I wouldn't mind that; however, the pasta shells super big and a little too much sometimes. But it was still really, really good! I highly recommend it. Next time I would just get penne or bow tie pasta instead. I will definitely be back again!
(4)
Nicholas R.
I can only speak on brunch, but the brunch was elite! Perfectly poached egg on my sausage Benedict, my girlfriend's omelet was fantastic, our waiter was great, seriously go here for Sunday brunch!
(5)
Kristin Leigh M.
Oh, yummy! I've been watching this place being built for the past few months since my office is one of the neighbouring tall buildings. Colleagues and I decided to pop in for lunch this past week, and boy, I'm happy we did. If you love bread, this place is your paradise. Bread is my weakness, and I swear I could have made a meal out of their bread basket (rolls and these hard cracker-like flatbreads with seasoning). YUM! Aaaagh! As for the main course, there were so many that I wanted to pick from, but I ended up going with the lunch lasagna, which came with a small salad. I ordered the insalata something or other... but it was a wedge salad. Perhaps I overlooked that part when I was ordering. I wouldn't have ordered a wedge. My colleague got the cesar, and another the greek salad, and they both looked tasty. The lasagna (beef) was GOOD! It needs to be served on a smaller plate though... it covered like 1/3 of the plate, which looked awkward. (Or maybe they can put the salad in a bowl ON the same plate). I can't wait to go back to try some of the sandwiches and the chicken parmasean. Everything looks so yummy! It's still fairly new so not very busy... yet!
(5)
Rohlin A.
The better half and I have been eagerly awaiting the opening of this restaurant since spring so when this event appeared, we were quick to reply to make sure we had an invitation to this event and invited the fully grown ankle biters along (you never stop feeding them) as our plus ones. BRIO's motto: "To eat well is to live well" are definitely words for everyone should strive follow. I am sure many people interpret eat well to mean healthy ... I am not one of them. Rohlinism: Eat well = high quality, flavorful dishes with good portions. I felt this evening BRIO delivered my interpretation in spades! The preview was four courses and included non-alcoholic drinks, but the bar was available if you wished to purchase liquor. Our drink orders were a Wildberry Cooler, a Peach Bellini, a Strawberry Lemonade ( yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… ) and a regular Lemonade. The drinks were a little slow coming out, but they arrived about the same time as our appetizer of Margherita Flatbread ( yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… ). Since Erica isn't a huge fan of tomatoes, we also requested some complimentary bread (not sure why we had to ask) which consisted of a Sourdough Loaf (not typical for an Italian restaurant) and some Flaxseed Crispy Flatbread ( yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… ) with butter (surprised olive oil and balsamic wasn't offered). Laina felt the Margherita needed more cheese, but the tomatoes were fresh and the pizza had a nice mix of flavors. I really enjoyed the flatbread and ended up eating half of it on my own. Everyone loved the sourdough (out of place or not), it was served hot, fresh and just the right amount of lactobacilli. I think we were split on the Flaxseed, I enjoyed the crunch and found the use of flaxseed an original idea for a hearty flavor (it also made quite a mess). Our server returned and we placed our orders: Laina - Brio Chopped Salad / Pasta Alla Vodka Erica - Caesar Salad / Lasagna Bolognese Al Forno Jessica - Tomato & Mozzarella Caprese / Sweet Potato & Chicken Risotto Me - Bistecca Insalata ( yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… ) / Sweet Potato & Chicken Risotto ( yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… ) In between course, I had a chance to visit with Jaime and Ryan who were dining at a different table and get a look at the open kitchen ( yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… ) in action. Everyone really enjoy the food, except for Erica who was feeling ill. My salad was wonderful and I would order it again (very few salads hold that distinction). There was a good amount of bacon, gorgonzola and tomatoes. The lettuce wedge was very fresh and properly dried and the Parmesan dressing was perfectly balanced. In this age of duality, I am continuously looking for places that can put new twists on old dishes or present something entirely new on a plate. Risotto is a mainstay of Italian cuisine, but while most risottos are rustic in flavor, this risotto reminds me of Southern Comfort food. The mix of sweet potatoes and chicken went very well together and the pancetta, parmesan, thyme and pine nuts all added to flavor of the dish. I was thankful the asparagus was cut into small spears instead of diced, made it much easier to pick them out (Yuck!). The meal ended with Butterscotch Pecan Bread Pudding ( yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… ) and BRIO's Famous Cheesecake ( yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… ) with Caramelized Sugar and Creme Anglaise. The bread pudding was pretty good, the pecans and butterscotch went well together. The caramelized sugar gave the cheesecake an unique crunch, the consistency of the cheesecake was perfect and it had no crust which added to the uniqueness of the dessert. The dessert Nazi (Laina) even gave the cheesecake high marks and she usually only likes her own cheesecake. Everyone had leftovers to take home, expect yours truly who turned into a black hole from which no food escaped! The only downside, even though the service was very friendly and personable, at times it was somewhat slow and some things had to asked for when they should have been provided. I imagine these minor ticks will be worked out. Thanks to Ryan for arranging this event and the management and staff of BRIO for putting on a fantastic preview dinner!
(5)
Melissa P.
Went for lunch and would definitely go back to try other items on the menu. The bruchetta sampler was delicious and the pasta a la vodka my friend ordered was really good. I tried the chicken picatta which I would absolutely not recommend. The chicken was dry and it was suuuuper salty. Definitely opt for pasta dishes if you're considering this one. The carbonara which my other friend ordered was also pretty good. I think my favorite part was the kids menu. They have your typical grilled cheese, Mac and cheese and chicken tenders, but also an additional listing of options that included grilled salmon, grilled chicken, lasagna, etc. I was also really surprised when my sons "kids" meal arrived. It was pretty much an adult portion of salmon with broccoli and mashed potatoes at the $6.95 price point. If you're eating out with the kiddies, this is a great place to go. Four stars because my entree was less than noteworthy, but everything else was excellent.
(4)
Lauren L.
Tony our server was awesome! Me and my friend were getting alot of plates to share and we didn't even ask to share and he split the food for us which is very thoughtful. The shrimp and eggplant was good as always and the pasta alla vodka was great!
(5)
Carolyn K.
Had lunch here the other day with a bunch of friends on a Sunday morning. Decor and ambiance were nice. Reminded me of some Vegas restaurants on the Strip. The restaurant is conveniently located next to the parking structure near Nordstrom. (They now offer valet there). Our waitress was friendly and attentive, and service was pretty fast. We started off with the Spicy Shrimp and Eggplant appetizer and it was DELICIOUS! A Must order! We also got complimentary Bruschetta Quatro from signing up for their email list. It was a pretty good size sampler (8 pieces) and was tasty. I got the Risotto & Bistecca Insalata lunch plate. The Risotto was unimpressive, although ingredients were fresh. (Canaletto has better tasting risotto IMO.) The bistecca salad (essentially a wedge salad) was generous, and was VERY fresh. A friend ordered the salmon with angel hair pasta which I got to taste. The salmon was moist, not overcooked, and pretty generous. Hubby ordered Pasta Brio and said it was ok, but he wouldn't get it again. A friend in our group ordered one of the brunch omelettes and devoured it. Sadly, we had no room left for desserts... So we will probably be going back again to try some of their other dishes and the dessert! Tip: Sign up for their email list and they will email you a free appetizer offer.
(4)
Ronnie G.
Well, we went in not knowing what to expect but we were pleasantly surprised. For the most part if you've eaten at one Italian restaurant you've eaten at all of them but these guys really care about what they're putting on your plate. Definitely order the quattro bruschetta starter. It was really the best interpretation of a shared appetizer we've had. Also, weirdly enough, their salads are amazing as well. My wife had a a mushroom ravioli dish that definitely was a from scratch plate and was tasty. I had a steak tenderloin salad with gorgonzola dressing that was amazing as well. You definitely won't be disappointed at this eatery.
I came here on Tuesday for one of my friends surprise birthday dinner. It was my first time eating here. The restaurant was pretty busy for a Tuesday night. The food was really delicious but the service was horrible. I do understand if our waitress was having a bad night but that doesn't mean she could be rude to us. We asked her for separate bills and that seemed to have made her mad because she gave us lots of attitude. We also ordered a small dessert for the birthday boy and a candle so that we could sing happy birthday but she didn't even bring that out after we had already been waiting for 15 minutes. We ended up paying and leaving without singing happy birthday which wasn't cool at all. I did call the manager the next the day and he was very kind and helpful and he apologized for the service. I really liked how nice he was. I will be returning for the food but if I get the same waitress as last time I will definitely ask for a different one. Overall, food was tasty.
(3)
Monica L.
The food is absoluty amazing. The lobster bisque is a must have! I also tried the lobster and shrimp fettecuni which was also good. The only part that fell short was the service. To start off, I was given a water and immediately I see that the glass was not clean. It had a seasame seed stuck on the rim of the glass. I waited ten minutues. I saw our waiter several times but he never approached our table even though we tried to waive him over. The waiter barely came to check on us.I had to ask a manager passing by to give me a new glass and for bread. Which I felt upset since the neighboring tables were being assissted. All had Bread except us. I finished my soup by the time the water came to the table. Barely came to the table for refills on water until asking a manager or someone walking by since the waiter never came back to the table until after we showed frustration. It was disappointing that I had to be frustrated to be given better service after the fact. Hope that the service gets better since the food is so good.
(3)
Sara D.
What a great surprise this was! Finding good Italian is tough in LA/OC. The restaurant itself is very open and warm, with high ceilings. The bar is right at the entrance, very large and inviting. Our server was fantastic, Sean G. He made personal recommendations, which was a nice touch, I found I changed my ordering decision based on his recommendation. The food itself was fantastic! We started with the artichoke dip, which was hot, flavorful, and not too heavy. Entrees were the Gorgonzola Strip Steak and the Pasta alla Vodka. The steak was cooked to perfection, and the mashed potatoes were among the best I've ever had. The gorgonzola on top of the steak was the perfect addition to a well seasoned steak. The pasta was melt in your mouth perfection, with extremely fresh pasta and the sauce was creamy and delicious, and just the right amount of it. The crispy pancetta on top was brilliant, adds a nice crunch and a touch of salt to an already incredible dish. We finished with the 2 chocolate desserts, the Caramel Cake and the Molten Cake. Both were worth the calories, they were fresh, chocolatey awesomeness. A cool thing about their desserts is that they offer small and large options. There were a ton of other menu items we wanted to try, and will definitely go back! Ask for Sean, he'll take great care of you.
(5)
Kristen H.
This place is great! Their caprese salad and lobster bisque were perfectly delicious. My husband had a steak and loved it. Great service, friendly staff, super ambiance. We will definitely be back!
(5)
Joan C.
Great food, great service, great bar and patio area!! Will definitely go back! Loved the chopped salad and spinach dip!!
(5)
Karley P.
So I came in for my birthday awhile ago with my whole family. I ordered their filet MR and it came out well past well done. I told my sever and she apologized and took it away to give me a new one. They even asked if I would like a salad in the mean time so I wasn't waiting. Although i declined, the gesture was nice. It ended up taking quite a while for my steak. By the time it came my family was finished eating. My waitress felt awful, not her fault the kitchen was busy though! The manager stopped by the table and apologized as well. And as a little treat (being my birthday and they felt bad) they offered us each a dessert on the house. They handled the problem great. And we all left satisfied. I wish I remember our waitresses name. But I have definitely been back multiple times thereafter.
(4)
Matt L.
Mediocre at best. It's a chain and it feels like one. One notch up from Olive Garden.
(2)
Bryan N.
The prices were a little expensive the food for the taste and quality. Was mediocre over all they had to comp us on two items one because it took forever and the second because they over cooked the fish it ended up being a block of wood the first time. The fact that they actually tried to pass it off was insulting. The waitress mention that is normally how they cook it. Either she never eats fish or she is just clueless they must not be able to actually try the food which any decent chef should do for the staff. how else do they expect the staff to describe the food. after they cooked a new fish Mahi-mahi it was much better but still overall not a good experience also it didn't seem like it was as busy as you would expect. Just to clarify the prices would not be bad if the actual food was good. Service poor had to repeatedly ask for plates forks more a few times and took a long time even though they where not that busy. Hopeful the service and food gets better but they have been open long enough to workout problems so I don't see them getting better. I feel the trend will be less and less stars as time goes by. I advise at least try it just don't expect much from the service or food. Btw the desert was okay I think the only positive think about our dinner experience. Would I ever go here again? No! Most places I always give it a second look but don't feel anything will change here.
(1)
T.J L.
The carpaccio appetizer was not so bad. We ordered the 5 Oz filet and the Mahi Mahi for entrees. Decent to say the least. Kelsey was our server. Without her maximum 3 stars. She made our night one we will never forget. Thank you Kelsey!!!!!!!!!
(5)
Lisa K.
I've been to this restaurant in Arizona and now the new one in Irvine. The food is very good and so is the ambiance. A great place to go for a weekend lunch or a nice dinner out with friends. They have a very nice outside area to dine in as well.
(4)
JT L.
This place looks promising for family's day out brunch- Near beach, light sea breeze. nice and clean area.... So we took our toddler here for the weekend brunch. The restaurant opened at 11am, so we arrived around 11:10am. We sat outside patio area, we were the 2nd table outside. Ordered an appetitizer, 2 pastas for the adults and kids meal for our toddler. So far so good right... We were the 2nd table outside and a group of people for the 3rd table came in. After few minutes, other 2 tables received the bread and we never got one...Puzzling....Do we need to ask for the bread? We did and recevied it after 10 minuites.... Of course the bread came AFTER all the appetizer and main courses... Now we were eating the pasta and was trying to feed our toddler. We asked for the children's utensil or to go plastic fork & spoon since they are smaller, easier and safer to feed the toddler. No, we don't have smaller utensils, what we have is the ones on the table.... Ok... Just to give you guys an idea the size of the fork on the table, imagine the fork is about 5 inches long, and 2-3 inches wide enough to pick up a 20oz steak... How the hell am I suppose to feed the toddler with a fork that is big enough to use as a self defense weapon... And they even have kids meal and other craps to feed the little ones... Now the food, I am not sure which part of the Italian they represent, their food is OK... Not too greasy or too light. Not much chicken or shrimp in the pasta, just enough for you to pick out some and say "Oh, there is some chicken or shrimp in this boring looking pasta...."
(2)
Cori B.
My experience at Brio was not good. Was excited to try the new restaurant and we made reservations a few days prior. When we showed up on a busy Saturday night we were met by Dusty who was rude and confrontational. Apparently, they didn't have record of our reservation. Dusty let us know that they wouldn't be able to seat us for 1.5 hrs. He was not apologetic. He was not customer service minded. We decided that this wasn't a good sign of what might come. We left and went to The Yardhouse. Would have loved to love Brio, but it doesn't appear that that is in the cards for me or my 7 friends.
(1)
Dave H.
We went into Brio for dinner, food was pretty good and atmosphere is nice. I have been to many brio's but this one was extra good because of the bar tender. Priscilla never missed a beat, made sure our food was right and drinks were full... Oh and she is hilarious! Sit at the bar if you know what's good for you.
(5)
Vicky T.
We came here on a Friday night and absolutely loved it! Our waiter's name was Dominic - he was extremely diligent, friendly, and provided excellent service. Our table ordered the Beef Carpaccio and Calamari for appetizers, which were both extremely delicious! I ordered the Pesto Pasta and my boyfriend ordered the Bistecca Fiorentina which were both also amazing. I would definitely recommend this place to all my family friends and would come back. Thank you, Brio, for a great dining experience.
(5)
Sam B.
A friend of mine was super excited when she saw that this place was opening at the Irvine Spectrum. We generally hit up the Happy Hour at The Yard House, but this time around we decided to stop in here instead. Let me just say that i LOVE that patio! It's gorgeous, and so lovely. Unfortunately, it was too hot for my taste so we opted to sit indoors at one of the bar high tops. Drinks: I tried the Sangria Rosa and the Peach Sangria. Both were delicious, bubbly and refreshing, but I liked the Peach more. Plus at $4 a pop -- it's totally worth it! Food: we shared a few of the happy hour menu items: The Crispy Cheese Ravioli, Brio Burger and the artichoke dip. The ravioli were okay, I wasn't dazzled, but also not disappointed. I liked the burger - i could tell the meat quality was high and the bun was nice, soft and a little chewy. I wish it came with a little more flavor, but it was good, and I would definitely order it again. I wasn't crazy about the artichoke dip at all. It wasn't nearly as good as the Yard House's dip and was certainly a much smaller portion. Service: If yelp allowed us to rate places by category (food, drink, service, etc) i would give our service 2 stars -- and that's actually a little generous. Our waitress was not very attentive, and is the main reason that I didn't give Brio and overall 4 stars. She barely came to the table, and when we wanted to order our second round of drinks, she was no where to be found. I had to flag her down EVERY TIME WE WANTED SOMETHING. If not, she would have never stopped. My friend mentioned that the waitress never really checked on the tables, and that all the surrounding tables had to flag her down as well. The waitress stopped the most at our table when/after she delivered the check! She dropped it off, and stopped to check and see if it was settled two or three times within about 10 minutes. After the second time, we quickly took out our wallets to settle the bill and she said something somewhat apologetically about how there was 'no rush' -- ha, yeah right! Sheesh. Overall, I really liked Brio and would like to return -- hopefully next time we will get a better waitress.
(3)
Kelley A.
Went to Brio today for lunch with a group of 11. No real vegetarian options on the menu so I asked to modify the Roasted Vegetable Panini sandwich by removing the cheese and no tomato pesto mayo - the server said they don't make substitutions on that sandwich but that she would check with the chef. Few minutes later she said no problem and then came back a few more minutes later and said the tomato pest may was put on the bread and on the grill is that going to be ok? I said no - I don't eat dairy. She then whipped out the menu and said in a not so nice voice that I would have to select another item. I went with the Margherita flatbread pizza - no cheese. It was just okay - nothing special. And the server's attitude was just not nice. The restaurant is beautiful but I wont be going back - a chef who wont allow substitutions and a server who seemed perturbed because I wanted to change they way the sandwich was made - doesn't impress me. Brio - take note - you are in a world where Vegans and Vegetarians live and eat at restaurants - if you won't accommodate them - you are losing business.
(1)
Cooper Q.
verry good food i had the pork porterhouse it was realy tasty and moist i liked the fact they left the pork a bit pink in the center the seoning was nice but needed a bit more sat but other then this the meat was good the potatos wher good as well the sever was attantive but not overly so i loved that he took pride in what he was seving i also had a nice glass of zig-zag zin the deseirt was avrage i would not have it aggan the chocolat was over powering the carmal and other flavors the decor was verry upscail a big candler greeted me and they had white cloths on the cealing overall i,d recemed you come and try it
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Garage Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Fri, Sat, Sun Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Raven G.
The ambiance is classy yet welcoming and everyone here is dressed casual. Started out with the Peach Bellini cocktail. So good, light and refreshing. I read some reviews that mentioned the Pasta Alla Vodka so I tired that and was really happy with my order. The noodles were stuffed and the pancetta was crisp, the sauce was flavorful, and I was happy. I thought it was better than their signature dish, the Pasta Brio, which was mildly spicy. The server was attentive. The only thing I didn't really like were the inflated prices. I felt like the dishes me and the bf got cost more than they should have.(about $18 for a plate of pasta for one). Pasta is usually filling and hard to finish but we ate everything without a problem. But then again, it was good quality, moderate portions, but good, so idk maybe I'm just being cheap. Not used to having room for a dessert and drink after a pasta dish I suppose. But yeah other than that pretty good.
(4)Teleia T.
Amazing! Great service and fantastic food. Everything we got was amazing. Highly recommend the risotto. Very nice atmosphere also. Inviting fireplace by the bar. Really pretty freaking from the ceiling in main area and nice patio seating. Definitely will be going back soon.
(5)Sharon M.
Good food, clean and friendly staff. Enjoyed the environment. Had the fettuccine pasta with olives and my boyfriend had the blackened talapia. Not too much selection for vegetarians most of the food had meat or sea food.
(4)Komal S.
Great happy hour ! love the flatbread and the eggplant fries..
(5)Shantelle T.
Good prices. Average food. Its kind of like a mix between cheesecake factory and olive garden. The patio is nice and there's seating for big groups but its clearly a mediocre chain restaurant suited for middle America. A fillet is $20 which is great but I could cook a better fillet at home. The menu doesn't even have traditional Italian fare like pasta bolognese or homemade raviolis. Oh and the calories are printed on the menu. Eeeek!! I dont want to see that unless im at McDonalds. It is a large menu with a lot of choices though. I would say its a nice experience for families and people on a budget that want a decent dining experience. If you're entertaining out of town guests or going on a date or even going out with the girls, I definitely don't recommend it. There's a ton of better places in the spectrum for those with finer palettes such as cucina enoteca, Javier's, yard house, etc.
(3)J M.
The ambiance is nice at Brio, the service is good, but the Grilled Salmon Fresca is probably the best dish I've ever eaten! Try it, if you like salmon, fresh asparagus, tomatoes, basalmic etc. Honestly, I'm still thinking about this entree that I had two nights ago. And the calorie count (according to the menu) is only 500! Impossible-- It was soooooo good.
(5)Cosmo G.
I really wanted to like this place. The ambiance was great and the service was quick. The food was a big disappointment. We visited last September 19 for dinner to celebrate my mother-in-law's birthday. Let me start off by saying I do not like spicy food at all. Their complimentary bread was spicy. The calamari was dry and overcooked (crispy instead of juicy and tender) The dish I ordered, Lobster & Shrimp Fettuccine was spicy!!! I hesitantly ordered it after our server reassured me it was not spicy-all I could taste were the pepper flakes! I did not find anything else in the menu that appealed to me, hence, I gambled on that main dish. My husband's flatbread was nothing special. The only saving grace that night was my mother in law's Shrimp & Crab Cakes! I've visited their sister restaurant Bravo in IL and their food was so much better! Let's just say that I would rather go to Olive Garden than Brio.
(1)Peeka L.
This was disappointing. I went here for happy hour and ordered some entrees as well. Sangrias were good but a bit too sweet. Eggplant fries were tasty. My friend ordered the Ravioli di Bello which was underwhelming. It was edible but the quality was on par with mediocre Italian chain restaurants. I had a salad which was overdressed and soggy. They use regular ol iceberg, not even Romaine. However the location is not bad. It's away from the craziness of Irvine Spectrum. The building is completely new and there's ample outdoor seating. Would I come back for lunch/dinner? No. But it would be a good option for Happy Hour where prices are closer to the quality of food and drink you're getting.
(3)Nadereh M.
Very elegant ! GREAT service, very friendly staff. Loved the food . And the dessert, loved the size ! They are all individual size mostly for $3.95, nice! The outside seating, loved it!!
(5)Kimo L.
Went for brunch on a Sunday. Got there a little after 11 and had to wait about 10 minutes for a table despite the fact that the restaurant was ENTIRELY empty. We were told that we couldn't be seated because there were no servers except for one outside in the patio area. Since we had our 2 year old and given that it was hot outside, we waited for the inside table. Found it weird that a place would open at 11, yet the servers didn't arrive until 11. WTF? Once seated, things started out promising since we were practically the only ones there. Ordered drinks, and then waitress came back a few minutes later to verify our orders. There were only 3 of us, and 2 of the 3 got lemonade. Ok, maybe I'm being picky but I hate it when servers don't write things down. I find that there's usually a 50-50 chance the order will come out flawlessly. Appetizer came out along with my wife's side chopped salad, which was the sorriest looking salad I've ever seen. Sure it was a side salad, but seriously it looked so boring. Some chopped up lettuce, cucumber and tomatoes. Really? I could have done that. At least make it look pretty! Food took a while to come out--I'd say at least 25 minutes, but the good news is that we were the only ones with that problem given the fact that the people who were seated well after us all got their food before we did. When my entree came out, it was wrong. I asked for no pine nuts and added chicken. Got pine nuts and no chicken. Food itself was decent. Not horrific, not terribly exciting. They gave my 2 year old some pizza dough to play with, which was nice. I'll probably come back, but not any time soon.
(3)Faud H.
Beautiful restaurant and good food. Tried several dishes from the late night happy hour menu. We tried five items and had 5 drinks between the two of us and our bill was only $55 which was a fantastic value. Only complaint was the service. We went on the second night they were opened so mediocre service was expected. Overall it was a good experience and we will definitely be back!...went there again and ordered the portobello ravioli which was recommended, and I hated it. The sauce was watery and the filing tasted like frozen ravioli from the supermarket... Will have to take a break from this one unfortunately.
(2)Pooja D.
Loved the food! I have tried the fried ravioli, peach sangria, caprese salad and they are all really good. Service is fast. Happy hour prices rock. The warm bread in the beginning is really good too. Went there twice in 3 weeks and would go again!!
(4)Brian L.
The price is fair the atmosphere is trendy and sophisticated, the service was attentive and the food was good too! Not all the plates are authentic Italian,, they have great plates put together and a good use of thinking outside the box. If you want pizza it not on the menu, but you can order the childs pizza and its a large enough size for an adult.
(5)Katerina Y. Y.
First time here. Really enjoying the bread tray. Sour dough freshly baked and a cheesy brushetta. Parking is atrocious at the Irvine spectrum tho so be prepared to relax and enjoy the crowd. Definitely not for the person who wants quiet and peace. But once you are at the restaurant.- definitely delicious. The husband will definitely come again if we are in the area.
(4)Debra S.
Nice but way too noisy! We were there for dinner on Friday evening and couldn't hear each other across the table. The decor is beautiful but whoever designed the acoustics didn't value conversation! Food and service were good, but the noise level really undermined the experience.
(2)Breanna S.
Great food, fast and friendly service! I ordered the braised beef with parpadelle noodles, one of today's Chef specials which was absolutely delicious! The white peach lemonade was also yummy!
(5)Brent M.
Great food and service. Came here for happy hour and ordered off the regular menu as well. Great atmosphere and attentive servers. The Bruschetta Quattro and Mushroom Ravioli with brown butter sauce are the best I've tasted. The sangrias are the best I've had as well. Brio has better food and is more reasonably priced than Cucina Enoteca here at the Spectrum. Will be back often.
(5)Alyssya G.
My server was Melrose and she was amazing! The food is to die for. I had the grilled steak salad and it was delicious. I am definitely coming back here over and over
(5)GAIL W.
Great place to pop in for lunch and sit at the bar. Staff is super friendly and food is delicious. I ordered the chicken Limone from the light menu. Took half home and it was just as good the next day for lunch. Been here many times for happy hour and dinner, gets very busy and loud. Lunch was a quiet change.
(5)Tracy H.
Great food, great service. No corkage. We will definitely be going back :)
(5)Marc M.
Everything was great. Our waiter, Anthony, was amazing to say the least and was very helpful and personable. The other staff was also great, as well as the food, atmosphere and service time. Food came super quick as well. Definitely going back for happy hour or brunch
(5)Braden P.
I'm happy to see another new restaurant coming to the Irvine Spectrum. The build out looks great, and it is a great spot to stop by for some wine.
(4)Nina H.
This place is so beautifully designed inside. The food was more than great and they were helpful with the gluten free menu. They have creme brûlée as well which was delicious! I definitely will be coming back on their official opening day which is July 17th :).
(5)Ken H.
Having been to Tuscany recently I have to say they have truly captured the quality and character that is so distinctive to the Tuscany region. Bravo, excellente!
(4)Anthony D.
Food was great. Are server Nikki K recommended a couple of dishes. One was med shrimp which was fabulous. salads and spicy shrimp appetizer was to die for.
(5)Amy L.
I was excited to try this place since it recently opened at the spectrum. After a fourty five minute wait I wasn't blown away with my experience there. Maybe if I didn't have to wait at all it would be okay but my expectations grew the longer that I waited. I ordered the campanelle carbonara which I thought was mediocre. Unfortunately not as tasty as I would have hoped for. My friend ordered portobello mushroom ravioli which she said was good but not quite filling enough. Another friend ordered the pasta alla vodka which looked appetizing but was not on the same standard as other competing Italian places that she had tried before. What disappointed me the most, however, was the lack of service possibly because of how new this restaurant is. Our bread came out after our main dishes did!!!! Also, I had to hunt down a waiter to ask for a napkin that the table didn't yet have. It was okay. Nothing to be worked up about but nothing to rave about either. Maybe happy hour would be more worthwhile
(3)bimali b.
I liked this place very much. The ambiance is good, but gets a bit too loud in the nighttime and I cant really speak over it. The food is good. The ravioli was my favorite. I have only been here three times now, but I do like it and would come back. There are plenty of choices for vegetarians (not a load, but enough) and the choices are good. The prices are also reasonable and the service was good every time I went.
(4)Mark C.
Outstanding lasagna. Great dining experience. My wife and I are very picky diners. We were excited about such a great experience in both service and great food.
(5)Jerry W.
Love this place, great location of course, Irvine Spectrum, how can you go wrong. Came here for happy hour twice and thought it was great. They just opened and so far great ambiance, well managed and good food and drinks
(5)Keith P.
Unsweetened tea was very sweet. Sent it back. Salad was drenched in dressing, and steak was mostly overcooked (they never asked how we wanted it). Lobster bisque was very good, but needed a little more lobster. Gorgonzola syeak medallions were ordered medium, but came out well done. Sent it back to redo, and second plate came out either medium well or rare. Topping on medallions was way too salty. Inedible. I scaped it off and dipped the steak in the mushroom sauce, and that helped. Mashed potatoes were thick and starchy, not creamy or light. Grilled veggies...carrots were overdon, soft, and wrinkled. All other veggies were undercooked...must not have been done at the same time. Bread was soft, warm, and delicious. Unfortunately, the butter was cold and hard. Impossible to spread. Didn't try the desserts, but they looked tasty.
(2)Pov ..
Not overly impressed and slightly disapointed. Hair in my wedge salad, no apology from managment. Salmon with Angel Hair, only about 3 bites of pasta. Looked incomplete. Beef Carpaccio was good. The busser and servers were more attentive than our own server. Better option at the Spectrum than this. Cucina, Del Frisco's, etc...
(2)Jenn H.
I came here for their happy hour on Friday. My friend and I had 2 drinks each and 3 happy hour food items and our bill was only $35! Their happy hour has food for 4, 5 or 6 dollars. Good portions too, my friend and i weren't even close to finishing our food. Peach sangria was great. Staff was friendly and the restaurant was very clean. I'm already planning my next trip to Brio.
(5)C F.
Great place! Great waiter! His name is Brice. Had the linguini with lobster and shrimp. Very good. Wine was fairly priced at 7.75 for house. We will continue come back. Thanks.
(5)Kelly B.
My husband and I are thrilled to have a restaurant nearby with a fresh take on Italian food! We don't drink alcohol so we had the wild berry lemonade - yum, and free refills. Service was on top of everything the whole night. We tried the eggplant and peppered shrimp appetizer which was incredibly tasty and yet light. The sauce is amazing. For dinner I ordered the salmon from the 'light' section of the menu and husband ordered portobello ravioli. Both were fresh, delicious, and flavorful without being heavy. Vegetables were cooked perfectly and salmon was tender. We saved room for dessert and opted for 'the trio' (and you can order anything a la carte) which consisted of mascarpone cheesecake, creme brûlée, and butterscotch bread pudding with a small scoop of gelato (I've been to Italy and so far nothing has compared to authentic gelato, not even this, but not a big deal). Everything was YUM. Must try: Mascarpone cheesecake. We are definitely coming back here on a regular basis!! Brio, welcome to the Irvine Spectrum!
(5)D S.
Went to dinner last night and it was amazing. The restaurant itself if very nice. We sat on the patio which was very nice. Service was over the top. Have not had service that good in a long time! And the food was amazing. My wife had a shrimp salad that was great, friends had salmon they raved about and I had the Gorgonzola covered steak...one of the best meals I have ever tasted! Could have eaten two plates! Also, drinks we so good as well. Prices were not bad at all. $15-$25 for entrees. Overall on ring the best dining experiences we have had in a long time. We can't wait to go back soon!!!
(5)Angelique O.
Stuff on the butter. No, methinks not.
(1)Steven C.
WOW! What an evening this turned out to be. When we saw the event for BRIO Tuscan Grille we were a bit on the fence on whether or not to put in for it or not but boy am I glad that I did. For a business that doesn't open for a few more days this place already has their stuff together in nearly every aspect. As we were waiting outside for one of our friends to arrive the staff on hand came out and asked if we would like to be seated at our table and wait inside. We graciously accepted and were soon led through the beautiful restroom to the backroom where we seated at our table of 4. The ambiance and decor of the restaurant were beautiful and fit the style nicely throughout. Everything looked very lush and colorful and really gave this place an upscale charm to it. Our friend arrived just a minute or two after our seating and our server Deidre quickly made her introductions and took our drink orders. The drinks were quickly brought out to the table along with a beautifully made roasted red pepper bruschetta appetizer for the table. We were a bit confused initially as to what we could and could not order from the menu as I think all of us expected some sort of prix fix menu options and were so happy when they said we could order anything off the entire menu and it was free of charge. The bruschetta was quite good and really setup the evening nicely. For my meal I went with the Pasta Brio which consist of rigatoni, grilled chicken, seared mushrooms and roasted red pepper sauce. The pasta was cooked perfectly and the flavors were tremendous. The grilled chicken added a nice layer to the flavor palette and the roasted red pepper sauce was also made nicely although I was hoping for it to be a bit spicier. My wife went with the grilled chicken "under the brick" which she also seemed to really enjoy and also included mashed potatoes and fresh veggies. I had a bite of her chicken and it had great flavor and melted in your mouth, I would definitely come back for this dish as well. Just as we thought the night was drawing to an end our server brought out a couple of mini desserts for us to try to close out our experience. We got to try the caramel chocolate layer cake as well as a key lime and both were great. The chocolate was probably my favorite of the two simply because I love chocolate but the key lime was also very good although a bit too sweet for my overall taste but I would eat it again. It is safe to say that all three of us really seemed to enjoy the experience, the food and the patronage shown to us by the amazing staff on hand for the evening. The restaurant is beautiful, the food is great tasting and the menu is diverse and healthy enough for everyone to find something they will enjoy. Although the meals, appetizers, desserts & drinks were on the house all of the servers did an amazing job and I hope that everyone managed to tip them accordingly for their service. My hat goes off to the staff for the amazing work they did tonight. With BRIO Tuscan Grille opening in a mere couple of days I know it is just a matter of time before we return again. I saw numerous other dishes on the menu that sounded great and I have no doubt that they too will be amazing when the time comes to try them out. I highly recommend this place and hope that anyone who enjoys great Italian food will give them a try, I am glad we did.
(5)michelle k.
First time here & I am not an Italian or pasta food liker. But I came because I was meeting a friend for lunch. I had a really hard time picking something from a menu I generally don't like but our server was really helpful. He suggested the pasta alla vodka. You can have this w/ your choice of chicken or shrimp for an additional fee. I chose to have both chicken & shrimp. This recommendation was absolutely delicious. The server assured me no one has ever returned this dish & said I could try it & return this if I was truly unhappy. Well, he's right. The pasta hater actually enjoyed this dish. The portions are large and I was unable to finish the dish even though I wanted to. I highly recommend this to any non pasta likers.
(4)Joel R.
Im pleasantly suprised with my meal here! Highly recommend their steak bruschetta -- 6 large pieces. They do have a blue cheese sort of tasting sauce so if you are not into that order something else. I loved their spicy cream sauce pasta with green onions with shrimp ( last entree listed on the menu). Will be coming back just for that dish alone! Atmosphere is clean and nice. Service was great for lunch.
(4)Ashkan E.
Appetizers are good but the food not so much. On the plus side there is no corkage fee. So perfect spot to take a bottle of wine on the patio by the fire and enjoy with the appetizers.
(3)Shelly A.
One of our most favorite restaurants!!! Love all their pastas and salads. Great ambience too!!!
(5)Chad C.
Good atmosphere, ok service, food was very disappointing. I got the lobster and shrimp linguini. Very plain and boring . Nice place tho
(2)Vic C.
Came by with my husband around 12:30 pm for our complimentary lunch during Brio's staff training session. (Thank you Ryan C. & Brio Tuscan Grille for the opportunity) Service was rather friendly, attentive and overall a wonderful dining experience. These are the delicious food items we partook in this afternoon: Complementary Bread- Who doesn't love bread? I have dined at another BRIO Tuscan Grille Restaurant (in Rancho Cucamonga) and they always automatically bring this basket of bread to the table and I love eating it every time. Margherita Flatbread- Part of the appetizer section of the menu, this item itself is large enough to be a meal. Loved the tomatoes and strips of basil, really gave it a fresh and authentic flavor. Lemonade- I don't recall what flavor lemonade this was, but it had some kind of berry kiwi flavor. It definitely had a pucker to it at the end of each sip from the straw, but in a good way. Santa Margherita- A type of Pinot Grigio, my husband really enjoyed this and had 2 glasses. I had none as I am not a big fan of white wine. Calamari Fritto Misto- Part of the appetizer section of the menu as well, this is deliciously fried calamari that you just love to eat. The horseradish sauce and marinara sauce were excellent with the fried calamari. Well seasoned and not overly oily. Lobster Bisque- This soup was quite smooth and had an excellent mouth feel on my tongue. It had the right thickness to this soup and excellent creamy flavor. This bisque is also made with shrimp and onions, according to our fantastic server. Campanelle Carbonara- We were quite full by the time our main entrees came out so my husband and I only got about 2 bites of this dish. The pasta sauce was quite creamy and the chicken in this dish was moist and tender. It is a nice touch to have the added spinach leaves in this dish. Quinoa Salad With Asparagus & Grilled Chicken- This salad automatically is mixed in with feta cheese, which I was not made aware of. I am not a big fan of feta cheese and I told our server. A manager came out to tell me that feta cheese has been mixed in with the salad (as the quinoa part of the salad was already premade earlier) and told me they wouldn't add any extra feta to the salad though, if I still wanted it. I decided to just stay with this entree. I only had a few bites of this dish because I was already full and though the quinoa salad part of this dish was fine (but if I had ate this dish in it's entirety, I am not sure if I would like it in the end because of the amount of feta I would have by that time). The asparagus that is in this dish was great and I like the different textures in this salad. The chicken was most and cooked well. I asked for the dressing to be placed on the side and I am glad I did because I didn't like the taste of it. It had a lemony- grassy taste (not a lemon grass taste though) and felt it was missing something. Tiramisu- Wished this dish was a little bit sweeter, but it was good. I am not a big fan of the cocoa powder on top of the tiramisu because it did cause my husband to cough/ choke a bit while consuming this dessert (I never like cocoa powder by itself and rarely use it as a topping for any baked goods and desserts I make). Creme Brulee- I liked this dessert better than the tiramisu. It was made well with the hard candy shell and pudding underneath. As mentioned before, service was quite attentive and friendly. Our server, Jose, was funny and friendly. He gave some great food recommendations as well. One thing to note though was that we waited quite a long time for our entrees to be brought out. We had a manager, our server and another server come out to us a few times to tell us that it is coming soon... but it really took like 30 ish minutes (no joke... we didn't leave the restaurant until close to 2 pm and we got in here around 12:30 pm. We were seated w/in 5 minutes of checking in). I know that is a long time to wait, but this is their training and we were getting treated to free food (and quite a lot of it and I have leftovers for lunch tomorrow sitting in my fridge as I write this review) and so it was forgivable. Because we waited quite a long time for our entree, our drinks were comped (drinks were not free). With any new restaurant, there are bound to be some slip ups and I forgive this restaurant of that and honestly would come back here and check out again in the future. By the way, their grand opening will be this Thursday. Lastly, just want to mention that this place is right across Forever 21 and also across from Nordstrom in case you are looking for this place at the Spectrum. Also their wifi (unprotected) was pretty fast and the woman's restroom was clean and had a nice elegance to it.
(4)John L.
Amazing food. Every dish I have had there has been the best or one of the top three of any Italian dish I have ever had. That Happy Hour Burger though...... $5 for a burger that blows away The Counter, Slaters, or any other burger you have ever had. a MUST try!
(5)Dhenise K.
Been here like twice a week since im a lite eater. I always get the beef carpacio is like a thin cured meet that goes well with their flaxseeds bread. It was dinner nigth so kinda slow on service but the food was decent and good for tapas or sharing. Will be back next week fo try their pasta and bruschetta.
(4)Iana G.
I've been here about 10 times since they opened! I love this place! It's definitely in my top 10 most favorite restaurants! Pasta Brio is my FAVORITE! You can't go wrong especially if it's your first time. I love the ambiance of the restaurant and like the fact that the outdoor space feels almost like a lounge! The drink prices are so reasonable and my absolute favorite is their white peach sangria!
(5)Tika B.
Came here for Happy hour on a Friday afternoon with the coworkers. Their happy hour runs from 3:30-6:30pm M-F, and I have to say yummy drinks and food being $4-6 is a pretty great deal! Plus the portion sizes are amazing! I ordered the 2 different sangrias and boy were they delicious. We also ordered the artichoke dip, which was perfect for 3 people! Definitely come early since it was pretty crowded by 5-6ish.
(5)Gene P.
We came in after some shopping at the Spectrum. There was a 45 to 50 minute wait for a table, but the bar and patio area was first come first server, so we decided to take a seat at the bar. After looking over the menu and checking out some pictures others have posted, we chose to order the Calamari fritto misto to start, the Campanelle carbonara for me, and the Grilled mahi mahi for my wife. The calamari came out quicker that I expected, which was a pleasant surprise. It had a light flaky batter that was not too salty. Among the fried squid were some fried jalapeño bites, another pleasant surprise. After an appropriate time for us to almost finish the calamari, our dishes came out. The dish that I had was a creamy chicken pasta with spinach and bacon bits. This is the kind of dish that you love while eating, but hate yourself after eating all of it. I won't say how much I ate. The pasta was not quite al dente, but also not too far off. The sauce was rich and creamy and how can you go wrong with a sprinkling bacon bits mixed in. My wife's dish was grilled mahi mahi on a bed of basil and farro, which is very similar to brown rice, topped with tomatoes. The dish is under the "Lighter side of Tuscany" section of the menu. I had one bite and liked what I had. The fish wasn't overcooked and the farro was cooked just right. The flavors were delicate. I would rate Brio Tuscan Grille a solid 4.
(4)ellen h.
Gorgeous new restaurant with dishes that taste delicious without being too heavy. The restaurants itself is open and designed beautifully. We sat outside in the patio and it's a great place to relax, people watch, and enjoy a great meal with good company. The service was friendly and accommodating. We ordered the the steak bruschetta and lobster bisque to start. The bruschetta was tasty but difficult to eat as it's too big to eat in one bite, but hard to bite into two. There was a spicy flavor to it that was unexpected and not necessary. I probably wouldn't order this again. The lobster bisque was very creamy but didn't really stand out for me. For entrees we ordered the mushroom ravioli and pasta alla vodka- both extremely delicious! Mushroom ravioli: The filling was stiffed with creamy mushroom goodness and the pasta laid on a light mushroom sauce, and was topped with pieces if mushroom and cherry tomatoes. Highly recommend this dish if you are a mushroom lover. It's not too heavy and very tasty. Pasta Alla Vodka: another great dish full of flavor while still feeling light. A nice tomato cream based sauce coated the pasta which was filled with ricotta cheese. There was also some fresh tomatoes, basil, garlic and pancetta which all helped cut through the creaminess. Really yummy! Chocolate torte: good but unmemorable. Comes with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Great experience- check it out!
(4)Rachel P.
Nice atmosphere, friendly hostess and server, and good food. My daughter had the chicken parmigiana and the chicken was nice and crispy and the side of pasta Alfredo was really good. What a great kid's meal. I had the chefs special chicken limon and it was good. It was pounded out chicken breast dipped in egg wash and pan fried served with a caper lemon sauce. The sides of mashed potato and grilled veges were good. We will be back here again.
(4)Carissa U.
My friend Tiffany C. told me about this event so we signed up. We were lucky to snag a reservation at 8:30pm. We got there at 8pm and the restaurant was busy and a little noisy. But the food passing us by looked yummy. Brio is a beautiful new stand alone restaurant right next to the Spectrum and the Nordstrom parking structure. Our party of 4 arrived and we were greeted, welcomed, and seated right away. We were treated to a wonderful complimentary dinner which included: Calamari - I only thought this was okay. It wasn't as crispy as I would of liked it, but my dinner partners seem to have enjoyed it. Carpaccio - OMG it was huge! And really good! Beef Bruschetta - I really enjoyed this as well, and would definitely order this again. Chopped Salad - I had a few bites from my fiance's salad, but there was just wayyy too much dressing that we couldn't finish it. It was good, but would of been better with less. It was too soggy. Carbonara (mines) - YUM! Only drawback was the chicken was a little overcooked. But the flavors of the sauce was on point and the pasta was cooked perfectly. Shrimp Verduta? (his dish) - Good. But mines was better. :P Pasta Brio (friend) - I don't care for red sauces, so I didn't like it that much. Cheesecake - YUM! Some type of chocolate lava type cake (forgot the name) - this was just okay to me. Only drawback of the whole experience is that they ran out of a lot of our initial choices - both soups, Pasta Alla Vodka, veal, lasagna... and we didn't find out until we were done with apps and hungry, ready for dinner. :( We didn't leave till about 10:30pm since the kitchen was so backed up. But it's okay. I know they're still working the kinks out, so it's expected. But shout out to our server William who was awesome. We'll definitely check it out again. Thanks again BRIO and Yelp!
(4)Angela C.
Thank you Brio for the Yelp soft opening event. I felt very special. Moving on to the actual review. The restaurant building itself felt like modern Tuscan decor with a beautiful outdoor seating that not only has glass wind blockers, heaters, and a fire place, but also fans. The bread basket contains both sour dough and a crispy parmesan flavored carb. The shrimp with eggplant appetizer is absolutely delicious, bursting with flavor, and crispy, perfectly cooked eggplant. I have to say, that I couldn't tell it was even eggplant. My one concern about this dish was that it was way too salty. Once the salt is toned down, this is an awesome dish to not just eat, but also to dip your bread in the tasty sauce. The crabcakes contained tons of crab and baby shrimp, minimally held together by bits of breadcrumbs. This is the real deal. Most other places have crabcakes that are mostly breadcrumbs with some crab meat. Not here! This dish was accompanied by perfectly sauteed vegetables. If you are a dainty eater and a crab lover, this is the perfect size dish for a relatively healthy, low carb entree. My favorite of the lunch was the Ravioli di Bello - mushroom ravioli with champagne brown butter sauce and tomatoes. The creaminess of the mushroom ravioli totally complemented with the tangy tomatoes and the sweetness of the brown butter sauce. DIVINE!!! My mouth is watering for it again as I am writing up this Yelp review. Stay away from the Steak salad. Although the vegetables were fresh, the steak was chewy and not marinated. The horseradish dressing had no taste and no kick. 5 stars instead of 4 stars because the Ravioli di Bello was sooooo yummy and the shrimp with eggplant has potential to be superb once the salt content decreases. Plus, Brio Tuscan Grill truly has tons of real crab in their crabcakes.
(5)Anthony M.
Great atmosphere, totally nice restaurant... But lacking in the simple complementary customer services. Would I come back, no! This was my second try. First time was in opening day.
(2)Andy P.
The ambiance here is nice. They have a nice outdoor area where you can sit by the fire pit and sip your spirits. The interior is elegant. I especially like the seats at the kitchen bar where you can see the chefs doing their magic. Since this was their soft opening, a lot was going on. They were on top of it. We had 5 different management members stop by our table to check in on us throughout our dinning experience which is nice. In terms of service wise, above par despite their hectic schedule. Food. Overall, everything tasted good. We had a Pepperoni-Ricotta Flatbread Pizza. That was light, crunchy and had the right tone of flavors. Some place is either too greasy or lacking of character. This one did it just right. So the dishes that was ordered were Lasagna Bolognese Al Forno, Veal w/ light Alfredo Sauce, and Herb Chicken w/ Mashed Potatoes and Vegetable. Lasagna was pretty good. I would recommend that. The cheese, sauce, meat, and pasta was at delivered with the right proportion. Veal was good. I had better but this was decent. As for dessert, a little disappointed. Cheesecake was mediocre at best. Platting was not up to par. But lets skip that and go into taste. It did not present the creamy rich flavor that I have sampled before. Crust was a little thick and it lacked the usual characteristics of a cheesecake. The strawberry on top did not do much for it either. Overall dinning experience was a solid three stars. Will be back for their happy hour and perhaps revisit their dishes again once everything is settled in.
(3)Jo-an S.
A friend took me here for lunch a couple of days ago, and I must say I was pleasantly surprised. The dining room itself is gorgeous. The relaxed ambiance was refreshing, and the natural lighting made it feel like we were dining al fresco. SERVICE was okay, but could definitely be better. Our server did not give us straws for our drinks, nor did she put down beverage napkins or coasters. Maybe beverage napkins aren't mandatory there, but I would highly suggest it, as condensation from beverages make for a messy wet table hindering a delightful dining experience. The kitchen brought out a Chopped Salad instead of a Caesar Salad. I highly doubt it was the kitchen's fault as the Executive Chef was there expediting. The correct salad was finally brought out... AFTER the entrees. A Caesar Salad takes 2 minutes to prepare; this should NOT have happened. Lemonade- Too tart and WAY TOO SWEET. It was good, but needed to be diluted. Salmon Salad- DELICIOUS! The salmon was seasoned and cooked perfectly. I thought it was strange that they served the dressing on the side; it seemed pretty tacky and half-@$$ed to me. Lasagna- I did not try it, but my friend seemed to have enjoyed it. OVERALL, I would give Brio some time to work out all the kinks, but I will definitely be back.
(3)Ashley R.
Went for lunch today with a friend. We got the spicy shrimp and eggplant appetizer which was phenomenal, I ordered the Limone Chicken which was cooked to perfection, the roasted veggies and mashed potatoes were also great. What I did not like is that they cram everyone sitting so close together including large parties and its so LOUD you can barely carry on a conversation! Our service was good, almost too good if thats possible (waitress came back like 5 times to ask if we were ready to order when we told her to come back in 10 minutes) UGH Overall it was yummy! A little overrated!
(3)Calvary D.
Overpriced. Nothing special bout this place. Decor, ambience, and atmosphere is the only thing great bout this place.
(2)Shima S.
I was there for lunch during a weekday. This is a brand new restaurant at Irvine Spectrum. It is Italian and I saw a lot of pasta dishes. I looked over people's table and I think the food look more appetizing here than actually taste ;) On their menu they have an option for under 600 calorie dishes which is really helpful as far as choosing something relatively healthy among Italian food dishes. I ordered the Salmon salad with asparagus. The salad was ok but my Salmon was raw in the middle! Don't get me wrong! I like my salmon sashimi but not on a salad that is supposed to have a grilled salmon. I told our server and he ordered a new dish for me right away! We ended up taking it home since I told him towards the end of our food. He didn't even charge us for the salad which I thought was an excellent act of customer service! Just because of that I have to give them 4 stars instead of 3 ;) because that made me remember this place as a place where they provide excellent customer service :)
(4)Jackie N.
So we came here twice so far; one during the soft opening during lunchtime and then a Friday night for dinner. They just opened so I won't grade on their service. The restaurant is very clean and has a homey feel to the decor. Great place for conversation or family outing. Bread basket: delicious rustic bread. The Parmesan flatbread though isn't the best. Too much herbs and Parmeasan. Berry Lemonade with Alcohol: very refreshing and berrylicious. Lobster Bisque: Very creamy and rich but definitely something to try. Beef Carpaccio: This appetizer is beautiful to share for 3 people. Still wondering if I ate raw beef though. Spinach Artichoke dip: I couldn't eat too much of this dish due to too much cream. It gets very tiring easily. Strawberry and balsamic chicken salad: Love the dish but I would recommend getting the dressing on the side. Chicken and avocado sandwich: burnt bun dry chicken. Nothing special. Crab cakes: The crab cakes would have been better if there was less mayo. The veggies that accompanied the dish was excellent especially the potatoes. Butterscotch Bread pudding: I hate bread pudding. The server told me this was their best dessert but I wish he let me chose me own dessert. Torta di Cioccolata: Disappointing. Super gooey and no cake to it. It may look good on their dessert tray but don't fall to the illusion that it will be yummy. I think I've been here enough to try it out. Not sure if I would go back.
(3)Christine K.
Came here for dinner last night and the place was poppin'! It was jam packed by the time we left with a mixed crowd of couples, families and friends. The cocktails on the drink menu are reasonably priced but definitely are on the weaker side so if you're looking for a stronger punch, order off the menu! While my cucumber vodka drink was tasty, it lacked the alcohol. My grey goose soda was more to my liking (AKA it packed the punch). Anyway, onto the food. I ordered the Fettuccine With Roasted Tomato Compote & Kalamata Olives. I absolutely LOVED this dish and practically licked the last bit of tomato sauce from it! The fettuccine was cooked perfectly al dente and the sauce was deliciously tomatoey and savory at the same time. I especially liked the capers and olives as they added a nice kick to the dish. Serving size was just right - not too much or too little. I also had the Brio Salad which was pretty good as well but the pasta was much better. The best part? The Fettuccine dish was less than 600 calories - score! All in all, I would definitely go back here and try out the HH. The dishes are all reasonably priced and are high quality. Yay for a good Italian place in OC!
(4)Carl B.
Excellent happy hour. Til 6:30. Dishes from $3.95. Had the hummus-excellent, eggplant fries were delicious, flatbread, fried ravioli and tomato mozzarella salad. Did some of these appetizers twice plus 8 drinks all,for about $60.00. Great drinks too. Peach sangria was $4.00 and best sangria I have had. All in all I would recommend Brio with my highest rating and ll be coming back.
(5)Ian M.
Brio features a romantic setting, decent Italian food, and low quality service. The ambiance is really nice. There are low hanging chandeliers, that almost look planetary, over several tables. Each table has a light shining down on them which brightens you and your mates, while the rest of the restaurant looks more dimly lit. It could be a really good place for an anniversary if the food didn't give me the shits, and had our waitress paid any attention to us. Maybe we can chalk it up to them being relatively new and busy. We were seated about 5-10 mins after showing up promptly for our reservation time. After being seated, we alerted our waitress that we would be ordering off of the Irvine restaurant week menu, which seemed to throw her off as she searched for those menus. Meanwhile she didn't introduce herself, tell us her name and that she'd be taking care of us tonight, or anything of that nature. We first saw her name on the check that she dropped off later on without much eye-contact. Anyways, we're about to order our food when one of the members of our group gets a call from the front desk alerting us that our table is ready. While that's nice that they would follow up, that's not a very organized operation to have not realized we were already seated. For dinner, I had the chicken carbonara pasta, which tasted pretty good. It wasn't worth 19 plus dollars, but I would eat it for 15. Everything on the menu was a little too bloated when it came to prices. I had tiramisu out of what looked like a shot glass for dessert. That was excellent. During the course of our meal, our waitress filled our waters and asked how the food was, but it was clear that our tip wasn't important to her. She sparked conversations with other tables, putting her hand on people's shoulders and laughing, while paying as limited attention to us as possible. One thing about business: it's that your A client and D client should both feel like an A client and never wonder if they're the D client. I whispered to our table, "she's serving us like we're 12 year olds. I wish I was a big enough asshole to tip her like a 12 year old." I didn't, though, but I likely won't be coming back anytime soon. A couple hours later I had the bubblies and made multiple trips to the bathroom that night. I'm guessing it was the pasta but could have been the tiramisu. I rarely have stomach problems after eating, so something didn't jive. If I ever come back, it might just be to give their bar a chance. It looked pretty happening over there.
(2)Chris C.
Ok much much better than last time! Maybe the key is go when they aren't busy (here at 3pm) or there's a new manager.
(5)jami V.
One of the best HH around. They've got a deal everyday. The hamburger with chips is $5 and is excellent. Service was a bit scattered a few months ago but seems to be getting better. Great for groups - nice patios all around the restaurant.
(4)ANGELA L.
YUM! Very fresh, good quality good. Portions are a little on the smaller side, but that's expected with these fancy schmancy places (majority of the time anyways). I tried the chicken quinoa salad with asparagus, but the substituted the chicken with salmon. I loved this combo, and my digestive system did as well. The only downside was how SLOW the service was, and everytime the waitress finally remembered to bring us something we asked for she always had an excuse. I'd rather hear a "my bad" than some long story about how it took her 10 hours to grab hot sauce for us because she had to walk to the bar, as if it was a long trek miles away. Still she was apologetic and pleasant so she's still OK in my book. I love the atmosphere of the place too! I went after work so a lot of people were there hanging out with co workers and having drinks in the outdoor patio where I was. Very relaxing. The inside of the restaurant is beautiful too...totally thought I was in Italy or whatever they were going for!
(4)Sophorn T.
Food is good cuz E.S. says so...... ****** update: came back amd the service was good
(3)S W.
On the one hand, Brio is very bright and clean, and has a wide open patio area that is great for a weekend brunch. The brunch prices are very reasonable, especially relative to competing establishments in the vicinity. And, as an added bonus, the friendly staff offered pizza dough for the kids to play with while waiting for their food. On the other hand, there was my Turkey Sausage, Spinach and Biscuit Benedict. First of all, the order was literally half the size of a regular eggs benedict order... for almost the same price Secondly, the two major components that (glaringly) caught my eye were the scant, shriveled up cylinders of charred turkey sausage (which I later found to have the consistency of hockey pucks) and the (flavorless) Hollandaise sauce that was spartanly sprinkled onto the plate. Although the portion size of my fellow diners' plates was more age-appropriate, none of my dining companions had anything positive to say about their brunch choices. Suffice it to say that we will not be heading back to Brio anytime in the near future.
(2)Gabe P.
New place with an open, bright Italian style, feels like you are in a centuries old building and a green Tuscan hill is right outside. You are still at Spectrum and your car is in the parking structure, but it's nice to let your imagination fly. You got to have the eggplant fries, and then you'll get them again because everyone wanted to try one and they are gone too fast. But pretty much anything we had from that happy hour slash small portions menu was good, no exceptions. The service was great and the bar area is pretty large and open, but it gets busy fast. One of those places you feel like you didn't get the whole picture yet and there is more to try and like.
(4)Priscilla O.
It was decent, nothing special at all. The crowd is a little weird and the restaurant is NOISY. I was actually here on a date and couldn't really hear my date who was sitting across from me. Very mediocre food, but their sangria is pretty yummy! I probably won't be stopping by again though.
(3)Julie V.
The ambiance is fantastic, and the food even better. I've been twice now, (not so good since it's only been open for a week, yikes), once for dinner and then for lunch. I don't know if the service will always be so great and friendly, or if it's just because it's just open and they are trying to get the great word of mouth reviews and of course, the Yelp reviews. I'm hoping the service stays as great as it's been so far. I've decided that I'm going to have to eat my way through the menu to find what my favorite is, since both items I've had are mouthwatering. The only complaint is I didn't see any toilet seat covers in the restroom....petty yes, but kinda want those in there. Just hoping that was a last minute oops on their part that will be fixed soon.
(5)Cella W.
I moved to California from Florida 2 years ago. I was so happy when I found out Brio was coming to OC! I was expecting a lot out of this Brio, given I've been going to Brio for 14 years and was a regular at the Millenia Mall location in Orlando. Totally lived up to expectations! I went 2 days after opening date because I just missed it so much! The carpaccio was just how I remembered! The calamari was very good and the aioli sauce was just delicious! The carbonara as always one of my favorites!! Mmm!! The dessert was a great little treat!!! The bartenders were very nice too, made me feel like I was at my old Brio!! I have lots of favorites..salmon salad, prosciutto asparagus bruschetta, lobster bisque (can't go wrong), the lamb chops, the chocolate lava cake..yummm!!! Happy Hour burger is delicious! Drinks are delicious as well!!! The peach sangria one of my favorites!! I love the wine selection as well!!
(5)Amy D.
We attended a complimentary soft opening dinner where the restaurant chose an appetizer and dessert for us to try and then we chose our entree. Appetizer: Shrimp and Eggplant with a tomato creamy spicy sauce. Sounds like an unusual combo and so I probably would not have ordered it. I am so glad that we were able to try it because it was tasty! The shrimp were perfectly grilled and the eggplant (think of fried zucchini but with eggplant) did not have a greasy deep fried weird taste but tasted fresh. The sauce was AMAZING! We did it the Italian way and dipped our bread in it-Yum! Entrees: Lamb Chops with a Pistachio Mint Pesto: The plate comes with 6 nice size chops. I have never been given that many chops ever and currently priced at $29.95 (not bad at all). The chops come from New Zealand, not sure what that means but the waiter volunteered the info. I'm not one who gets the whole mint and lamb combo but the pesto has just a nice hint of mint (sweetness) and enjoyed greatly after the second bite and then on. Ravioli Alla "Something": Apologize for not remembering the exact name, this dish my husband ordered and it was ravioli's filled with portabello mushrooms. I am not a fan of mushrooms so taking his word for it that he thought it was a real winner. Dessert: Tiramisu in a glass. Honestly....just ok. More cream than cake/cookie and a bit underwhelming. Mascerpone Cheesecake: My first bite it seemed really sweet but grew on me. I would order again. Rich, a lot of flavor therefore the relatively small size was perfect-even for sharing. Not bad selection of wine choices by the glass about three from each region and vine. Corkage fee is $15. All in all, the ambiance is nice and refreshing, welcoming. Its nice to have an Italian choice at the Spectrum, I am a fan of Cucina Enoteca as well but I believe the two have different perspectives and its what you are in the mood for. Yes, we will be back!
(4)Kevin J.
I feel nauseated recalling my experience here. this was my first and absolute last time here. let's get one thing out of the way first... people here are nice and service is good. but the food is so below average that I'd rather be chowing down at Denny's. first the eggplant and shrimp appetizer. didn't these people learn anything in culinary school? eggplant is bitter so it needs to be salted and rested before being cooked to take out the sting. apparently the $12 per hour cooks didn't read the cliff notes. next the supposedly awesome chicken parmasean looking thing was so so so undercooked that it was like biting into a ripe mango. just horrible to a point that I can still taste the rawness an hour later. I stopped by a supermarket afterwards to buy junior mints to mask the untreated and horrible taste. lastly the pasta with spicy red creamy sauce and chicken was again horrible. the strong foul taste of the chicken means one thing... old meat. I spit it out as soon as I bit into it. absolutely garbage and irresponsible to serve such poor quality. the only reason they get 2 stars is the waitress. she was very nice and helpful. she gets 5 stars and the food gets 0. don't waste your time here. as I write this I feel sick and hope it doesn't become something worse.
(2)David L.
So I walked into the bathroom before my meal and after I went to wash my hands, I noticed one of the workers (a chef or busboy? Whatever, still disgusting) walk out of the stall and out the bathroom without washing their hands. No thanks so I left without eating.
(1)Angie T.
The sourdough bread starter with the butter was delicious. Pasta Alla Vodka was satisfying. Will be back again.
(4)Kayla N.
I've been here for dinner and their happy hours. Dinner was amazing the portions were more than generous and worth the cost. I got one of the lower calorie meals the filet with sweet potatoes and spinach. The filet was delicious but the sweet potatoes were a little under cooked. The table bread is amazing. When we went for happy hour most of the appetizers were $3.95 which is and awesome deal. We got the flatbread, spinach dip, eggplant fries and the burger. The drinks were pretty good too but the Sangria had no wine in it? For Happy Hour we sat outside on the patio and it was very cute. They have really comfy couches and the atomosphere was really relaxing after a long week of work.
(4)Dawn H.
I recently spent my birthday at Brio, and intentionally sat in the lounge area to watch a play-off game. We were a party of 10, and kind of waited for tables to open up, so we could sit together, because the only TV's in the place are in the bar area. All good! We initially ordered two plates of their bruschetta sampler, while waiting for everybody to find parking. While amazing, the 8 of us there at that time didn't have plates, forks, or napkins. I improvised, and grabbed a few napkins from the bar. The bruschetta sampler is GREAT! I highly recommend! Each one better then the next. The waitress, who might have been on Zanez, or just maybe drunk, I don't know... wandered by, and I asked for two more waters, there were 8 of us then, and a total of 6 drinks on the table. She seemed confused, and said everybody had a water. We did not. I can easily count to six glasses on the table... This shouldn't be this difficult. OR confrontational. I just asked for water for our party. The last two of our party arrived, and another table opened up allowing us to all sit together. Stoned out waitress show's up again, and we get the order going. I ask for silverware, for the party, and she (lala land) says "you don't have silverware because you just sat at this last table..." The reality is that the table, that was just cleared and the ONE I was sitting at, was the only one to actually HAVE silverware. It was right in front of us...I wanted the silverware for the other tables that already went through a round of appetizers without... I received a blank stare. that's why this isn't 5 ****'s The food was FRIGGING amazing. They should take a long and hard look at the employees there. IMO. Great night! Ducks won!!! Good food, Good company!!
(4)Peter C.
Awesome Italian food, had the lamp chop and the lobster pasta, kids had the lasagna, all were tasty, great service too, manager came and check on us multiple times and said hello. Kids had a pizza dough to play with and could make they own small pizza. Been here twice already will be back for sure!
(5)Aaaaa R.
As an Italian food fan, Im always trying to find the best places to eat and Brio has the food definitely worth driving far for! My friend gave me a gift card and Im so glad she did. The food is delicious I ordered the shrimp and crab pasta and it did not disappoint. It was amazing!!! Our server was at his best despite that we were the youngest ones in there. This is a nice classy restaurant to enjoy some great italian food and wine! We will be visiting more often!
(5)Irene C.
Great easy appetizers and drink selection for happy hour.
(5)Ling K.
We've been to Brio twice now and both times, came away feeling ambivalent about it. The first time, we tried to make it to happy hour but were one minute late, and got stuck with the regular menu. Pity, because $4 carpaccio is pretty hard to beat! Instead, we had the prosciutto and mushroom pizza to start, which was quite tasty but resembled a flatbread more than a pizza. At $9.95, also a little steep. For our entrees, we had the pasta Brio and the shrimp Mediterranean. Again, both pretty tasty - but pushing $15/$16 bucks a pop... On top of that, the halogen lights were driving us crazy! I've never been the type to complain about a lighting issue at the risk of sounding like that Yelper who leaves zero stars for slow ice water refills, but these lights were super strobe-y and were actually noticeably distracting during the meal. We went back today for lunch and pretty much felt the same way. Yes, there were a couple lunch "specials" that were slightly cheaper than the dinner menu, but overall the price point didn't quite match the quality of the food and both pasta dishes ordered (lasagna and pasta pesto) were overcooked. Sorry Brio! If you're trying to pass yourself off as an Italian place, you need to at least nail down that al dente sweet spot. My advice: if you're looking for a convenient location with fast and attentive service, one step up from Olive Garden/Cheesecake Factory, by all means go for Brio! However, if you're looking to pay around $25-30 for a proper Italian meal, check out Luna Rossa at the District or Il Farro in Newport instead.
(3)Giz S.
Apparently the Olive Garden died, and was reincarnated into a more expensive, equally subpar, "Italian" themed restaurant. Because no self respecting Italian would EVER mistake the meals here, for authentic or delicious. With really high hopes of a culinary gem sprouting up in the spectrum, my friends and I met here and ordered the Italian chop salads as appetizers. Listen, the Denny's style lettuce, tomato, and onion fell a few slices of salami, cheese, or peppers short of what was promised, but hey, when you're here, your family. The main course of pasta and various cheeses and sauces blended together without any inspiration could have come out of a microwave or high school cafeteria for all I know. Nothing "wow" to make you wanna ask for more, or plan your next girls night out around. The waitress was really cool and so was the bartender, but other than that, nothing to wrote / text home about.
(2)Roshay M.
For the first time I visited this place on Friday and I absolutely loved it. It's such a relaxing environment and the food was GREAT!! I tried the black pepper shrimp, artichoke dip and pizza bread it was definitely worth every penny. With regards to alcohol beverage I didn't really care for it as much it taste more like a fruit punch drink, and I don't feel it's worth buying. I will revisit soon!
(5)Kamilia A.
We waited 20 minutes although we reserved a table. Other than that our waiter was so sweet and the food was delicious.
(4)Deborah H.
I have been to Brio twice now, and both times have been exceptionally pleasant. It's been so long since I've been to a place where they actually make you feel like you matter as a customer, rather than make you feel like you're just part of an automated system. My first time there, the kitchen forgot to add chicken into my pasta pesto, but I hadn't realized until I was almost finished. I shrugged it off and was just going to pay for it, but my friend briefly mentioned it to our server. Then I was approached by 1 or 2 more servers asking about their mistake and apologizing, as well as the manager. I was honestly completely fine with it and I let them know it was okay. They eventually just took the entire meal off the check, which surprised me cause I expected them to just not charge me for the chicken. Second time around, our server's name was Devon. He was very efficient, friendly, and a very genuine person. He gave us really nice recommendations as well. The kitchen was a little backed up and we ended up waiting maybe ten more minutes than we should have, which is really not a big deal. But of course, we got complimentary dessert on the house after they came and apologized. Overall, my two visits to Brio could not have been better and I think it is well worth the price!
(5)Jennifer H.
Came here for restaurant week, and contrary to the other reviews, my service wasn't lacking just because we ordered off the restaurant week menu. Our waitress, Melrose, was very attentive and sweet. From the prefix menu, we ordered the Lobster Bisque Soup (which has pieces of chopped shrimp in it), the Chopped Salad, and the Shrimp & Lobster Fettuccine. EVERYTHING was delicious! The best part was the dessert which came in these parfait cups- we each got one. I recommend the Reese's PB Cup! All for $25! We made reservations and were seated on time. Ambiance is great and it has a bar inside if you want to just grab a drink. Definitely will be back!
(5)Richard C.
My wife and I checked out one of the Newest Additions to The Irvine Spectrum, Brio Tuscan Grille, This restaurant and Service was Amazing, our Waitress Diane was Friendly and extremely knowledgeable. The food was incredible, we started off with the Lobster Bisque, and the Sliced Steak Bruschetta, then we had the Beef Capriccio, it was to Die For, hand down the best Beef Capriccio we have ever had! For our main courses we had the Veil Milanese and the Grilled Lamb Chops with a Pistachio Mint Pesto, the pastas are made from scratch. The food overall was amazing this is a wonderful addition to Irvine. May wife and I look forward to visiting again soon, even just to hang out and have some wine at the bar and some more of that incredible Beef Capriccio, and to try some of the other wonderful dishes to we saw throughout the evening.
(5)Jo D.
Joined a group of friends for Happy Hour on Friday. We sat outdoors and our server, Greg, was awesome! We brought several bottles of wine, and he graciously uncorked them and kept them chilled. Great appetizers, especially the grilled shrimp! My sympathy to the servers who work the patio. Long sleeves, ties, aprons!
(4)Allie K.
Five stars for all-around EXCELLENT, from the food, to the ambiance, to the decor, comfortable seating, great service, AND the calories are indicated on the menu! I ordered the roast chicken, without potatoes (extra veggies), and not only was the chicken cooked and seasoned to perfection, the assortment of vegetables included yams, broccoli, asparagus, various peppers, and others, grilled in seasoned olive oil (yum). My date ordered a platter of assorted bruschettas, each apparently uniquely masterminded by the very creative chef! To drink, I had a delicious, Italian Sauvignon Blanc, priced at only $6.95. (Prices are competitive here, and portion sizes generous.) Free safe parking is conveniently located across the street. I HIGHLY recommend Brio Tuscany!
(5)Harold G.
We were seated between the bar and the kitchen. The decor was upscale but it was very loud. I couldn't hear the person seated two seats away. The waitress was annoying but she took our order, a table for 7, without writing it down. That was about the only thing impressive. She made sure to keep our glasses and bread full. She knocked us out of the way to use the crumb scraper. We had two salads and a lobster bisque soup. The soup was steaming and tasty. The entrees included pasta fra divolo (supposed to be spicy not at all), risotto which wasn't bad but nothing special, beef medallions (they were good), lemon chicken (good but nothing special. When you are spending almost $25 per person, you should expect the food to be wow!! Unfortunately, nothing was. I would not recommend this place unless you are into screaming at the people you are sitting with, over spending for mediocre food, and if you don't make reservations waiting a long while.
(2)SoCalGal M.
First-timer. Joey, our server, recommended the wine, appetizers and entrees for my companion and myself. Everything was fantastic and exactly what he described. Ask for Joey with the blue eyes. He will make sure you have a great evening at Brio's. (And no I am not related to Joey. LOL!)
(5)Don B.
Sometimes you just happen upon a place and the experience can go one way or another. We happened to be shopping at the Spectrum, it happened to be around dinnertime and we happened to see a banner advertising Brio. We popped in. Very inviting decor, quite a few tables, i would bet the atmosphere is truly bustling when they are busy. Flatbread appetizer was very good as is the bread they serve upon greeting you. My wife and daughter split a penne with chicken entree and salad, both of which they proclaimed to be very tasty. My entree was the star, however, the Lasagna Bolognese. Absolutely delicious, with a combination of Bolognese and Alfredo sauces that made for a taste adventure with every bite. Huge portion as well and I admit polishing the whole thing off, the last few bites for flavor, rather than hunger. Glad we happened by, we'll definitely be back.
(5)Nicole D.
My husband and I ate here for dinner tonight. It was our first time dining here. We arrived at a good time because there was no wait and we were immediately greeted and sat in a booth. The service was fantastic- our servers were prompt and polite. I only needed to ask for a refill on my water once, but that was after we got the check so the meal was pretty much over. The food was great (but a little salty in my opinion. My taste buds are sensitive to salt though). Everything was delicious, the right temperature and the right portion. Highlights : the bruschetta sampler was divine!!! I would consider order a couple of those and making an entree out of them lol. The entrees were delicious but the lobster fettuccine was a tad too spicy for me and again as mentioned above the chicken pomodoro was great but just a little too salty (that didn't stop me from inhaling it though!). The desserts were fantastic! Next time I'm doing samplers of all their desserts. Lowlights: we ordered Lobster bisque as appetizers and it never came. However because I still wanted it I asked for it to packed to go. In my opinion we shouldn't have been charged for it since they forgot all about it, but whatever. The restaurant has a very cozy ambiance to it with nice warm colors throughout their interior decor as well as ambient lighting. The outdoors have nice firepits in the lounge area where a lot of patrons were enjoying their wine :) the bathrooms were super clean and tidy as well. All in all it was a good experience and we decided we would definitely go there again. We saw a sign for Sunday Brunch! I wonder if it's a buffet !?!?!? I hope so. Anyway perhaps we will try them out on a Sunday because they're brunch is offered until 3 pm which is great for me because I can sleep in until noon and still run across the street to make it in time for brunch lol.
(4)Manar A.
Loved the steak bruschetta and lobster and shrimp ravioli. The ambiance was great, the service was excellent. We had the nicest waiter I've ever had, especially to deal with my demanding family. Great overall experiment except for being a bit over priced, would go back again!!
(5)Daniel R.
First time here. My braised beef and my wife's pesto pasta was out of this world too! Service by Gabriel and the GM Natalie was great! We will return soon!
(5)Jim U.
Fantastic food and great prices! The Executive Chef came to our table and made sure we were well taken care of and enjoyed our meals. They are not as authentic Italian food as they probably think they are but for $10 to $15 for an entree they blow away their competition! Great Happy hour, bar scene and private dining too!
(5)Mitchell C.
Our company had a small holiday dinner event at this location and I was blown away with the favors as well as the plating. The burgers, ravioli and buffalo mozzarella were all flavorful!
(5)Dan B.
I give them a 2 Star because the place is slow as hell for lunch and the place is dirty. The Counter at the Bar is gross and the chairs have crumbs all over them. It took us over 30 minutes to get our food at 1:00pm and the place was empty.
(2)Juliane B.
This place is a joke. I have no idea how it has so many good reviews. Terrible food, terrible service. I had the worst dining experience of all time here, and so did most of the other guests around me. Went on a weeknight for happy hour to celebrate my Birthday with a friend. The bartender was super slow - he seemed to be more concerned with getting his side work done, and chatting with the servers and manager, than taking care of his guests. We had to flag him down anytime we wanted something - he never checked in on us. In fact, we had finished our appetizer (Spinach dip - not very good) and had empty glasses of wine, and had to ask him if we could order our entrees and get another round of drinks. That should have been our first clue that we should have just paid out and gone somewhere else. Instead, we decided to stay and asked to start with the steak salad (which was good), and then share the pesto pasta. Of course they both came at the same time. The pesto pasta was disgusting, and there was nothing pesto about it. I'm sorry, but angel hair pasta with tomatoes and basil on top does not qualify as pesto. On top of that, the cooks clearly had not drained the pasta properly, because it was full of water. I hate sending food back, but my friend (who works in a restaurant) insisted. Another red flag - the pasta came back three minutes later. There is no way they refired it in that amount of time. My guess is they just sent the same pasta back. I also loved how no one came to check back with us to see if the pasta had come out better the second time around. At this point I was just ready to go. However, my friend waved the manager over to let him know that our experience was really bad (she had to wave him over because he was standing in the corner of the bar goofing around with some of the servers). He was really awkward and asked us if we wanted him to comp our meals for us. She said, no, we weren't looking for a free meal, we just wanted him to fix the problem. We were trying to have a nice meal for a special occasion, and their terrible service ruined the whole night. As we were getting up to leave, a random girl came over with a tray of desserts. I could see the transition as her smug face turned into the fakest smile I've ever seen. As she shoved the tray in front of us she said said, "Who's Birthday is it?!?!" Really?!?! Too little, too late. I was insulted by how ingenuine the whole thing was. We weren't the only ones that night who had bad experiences. The couple next to us were visibly upset when they left. I saw them talk to the manager as well. In addition, a gentleman sitting next to us made several comments about the slow service. Terrible all around. I wouldn't even bother going back if I had a gift card.
(1)Maggie M.
DEVON has to be the best server Ive had! We came here for my best friends birthday and even though we were still waiting for the rest of the party he was so sweet and attentive to us. I didnt like any of the drinks on the menu and he came back with something for.l me that was perfect. Great extensive menu... the longer I read it the more I didnt know what to get! Food was good but the service and ambiance is what really set this place apart. Friend and I got the lobster bisque.... so freakin THICK and creamy only complaint was that it was in this weird shaped bowl and I couldn't get all the deliciousness out so many friend tipped it over bc were ghetto I ordered the Pasta Pesto from the light menu. Meh I should've ordered something high in calories Small desserts were awesome!
(4)Julia O.
Beatiful surrounding. Yet food was less than desirable. Lobster Bisque was cold, pork chops were like leather. Worst was the berry lemonade was all syrup and the lemonade tasted like dish water. Something as simple as lemonade you would image for the price could be better. At that point didn't want to stick around for desert.
(2)Joe I.
Amanda was our server when we came in late last Thursday evening. I ordered the Salmon Griglia Insalata along with a Pomogranatini. On Wednesdays, they have a special price on Martinis and the Pomogranatini was delicious. The salmon was perfectly cooked on a bed of mixed greens. The staff is extremely attentive. The ambiance in the bar is quite nice. There isn't load music to talk over. The service was quick and it is a lovely venue to have a drink and share a meal. :-)
(5)Mrs. G G.
The best Happy Hour I have had at the Spectrum BY FAR! Service was amazing, drinks were amazing.. Ambiance is awesome! Highly recommend this place. Its really convenient because its at the Spectrum but not inside so its easy to park and walk right over without battling the inside of the Spectrum.
(5)Ben C.
HEALTHY MENU - We have been twice and have only eaten off the "Lignter Side" (healthy) menu and I must say it's very impressive! Incredibly good size portions and shockingly good for dishes under 450 calories. Not to mention great prices too. See my pics for what we have had
(4)Pat A.
Food was just okay. The vodka sauce on the ricotta filled shells tasted like a can of tomato soup wated down with a little cream. The wedge salad was bland and the lettuce watery. And I am not sure what kind of bacon they are putting on top, but it was hard and chewy. The bread is good. But the butter is in those little aluminum packets which I despise. If you have great bread, then put real butter shaped into those little balls on a plate. The Peach Bellini was excellent! Although it did not arrive until I was well into my main course - yes, it took that long. The atmosphere is classy. The vibe is good. High chatter and noise level but not in a bad way unless you want a romantic quiet evening. White tablecloths. Located right next to the 3-level parking structure, but on a Fri/Sat night hard to get parking so Get valet parking. It is only $6 plus tip and so worth it.
(3)Andrea K.
Came back for happy hour today. I have to say this is now my favorite happy hour spot at the spectrum. Great food. Great portions at a great price. The service was outstanding Natasha was our server. They have the best kids friendly menu ever. My daughter loved all the choices.
(5)K L.
I've been here before and the food was better. Tonight I got the brio steak salad. It was very disappointing. For a restaurant such as this, the salad looked like a bag of iceberg that was chopped into little pieces and was a few days old-lots of brown and wilted pieces. The steak was supposed to be medium rare, but mine ranged from burnt to very rare. So disappointed. The only thing that pushed it to 2 stars is the fact that the dessert and peach Bellini were good.
(2)Teri B.
This is my 3rd time here including the grand opening. I must say they have really stepped up on the service and food! Our server Alex was beyond wonderful. We had to wait a bit for the food so she gave my two kids pizza dough to play with and even baked it for them. What a great way to keep the kids entertained. I had the shrimp and lobster fettucine. It was my second time having this. The first time the pasta was too al dente. It was perfect this time. The kids had chicken parmigiana and salmon. Both well made and the portion was generous. Took one star off because of the bus boy. He took away plates that we weren't even done with. Other than that, it was a great experience. The manager was very friendly as well.
(4)Wendy K.
Came here for a friend's birthday dinner with a party of 8. I was 20 minutes early for our reservation but the host seated me right away and took the cake I brought with me to put in the fridge. Our server was Melrose and she was very knowledgeable about the menu and attentive. We tried the pumpkin ravioli and the shrimp and eggplant appetizer. The pumpkin ravioli was sweet and had a really nice taste that reminds you of fall, and the shrimp with eggplant was spicy and flavorful. I ordered Fettuccine with Roasted Tomato Compote & Kalamata Olives for my main course. It was a little too salty for me, but otherwise had good flavor. The server was able to bring us the cake at the right time with candles lit. And she also gave us all separate checks for ease of payment. Thanks Brio for making our birthday celebration a success!
(4)Henry K.
Birthday dinner for my son. Besides the exceptional service from our waitress, everything else including hostess, value and food were good, just not great. We'll be going back but may not be 1st choice.
(3)Christina P.
Meh, I have experienced much better. Hosts were so friendly and did an amazing job welcoming us for my birthday celebration. She told us she would tell the server, if our server didn't already notice the obnoxious flowers and balloons. Perhaps, our server D was overworked or just busy. I was very sympathetic and didn't expect a happy birthday, but she made my dinner very uncomfortable. I am server and I don't understand why cranky people work in this industry. Yes, yelpers are the worst, but the service was so terrible, I had to share. It was my first time there and I doubt I'll return again. For those who don't care, the healthy Orza and shrimp pasta was decent. The rest is comparable to Macaroni Grill.
(2)Widad D.
Expensive for nothing. I've had better. I had the pasta fra diavolo. It wasn't that great.
(3)Kelly S.
Had such a great experience! Our server Melrose was amazing! She took such great care of us and knew the menu like the back of her hand!
(5)Sara N.
I love this place. Despite being a chain restaurant, it delivers high quality, tasty food. This place reminds me of great memories going to the Brio in Cleveland. I am more than happy to see this chain in Orange County.
(5)Sunny P.
The food is great, the service is not. I would have given this place 5 stars if not for their service which is really important for me. Or maybe we had the wrong server at that time. :/ maybe if we had other servers it might be a good experience for our first time there. We'll see.
(4)Tricia B.
Had Sunday dinner here with family. The food wasn't bad, I def wouldn't order the house salad again. It was drenched in dressing and the ingredients were soggy -nothing fresh about it. Also the calamari was overly breaded, scanty pieces of calamari in way too much batter.
(3)Beth B.
We had late night appetizers and dessert as well as drinks here last night. The food and drinks were delicious (we ordered off the happy hour menu). The best part was the ambiance. We sat out on the patio by a fireplace and had great service from our server. We hope to go back and eat dinner here to be able to give a more comprehensive review.
(4)Amir G.
Considering this place just opened last Thursday, I couldn't be more satisfied. I'd been to the Brio in Victoria Gardens in the past (which was great too), but I spend a lot of time at the Irvine Spectrum so I was excited to give this location a try once it finally opened. We ordered a Fettucine Alfredo, simple - but not on the menu - with grilled onion and sauteed mushrooms. It couldn't have come out better, and the service was great too. I'll be back again soon!
(5)Sophia P.
Went the past wk to try for the first time. Te atmosphere is wonderful, the services was top notch. The wine list for wines by the glass not so much and not too many choices for Italian wines. The food was good but nothing fabulous. Had the steak bruschetta and the fried shrimp and eggplant app. Again, the food was good - worth going again for the nice patio and feel of the place. Food is average not bad but not great either.
(3)Vanessa F.
This place is beautiful. Service was great. Me, my husband and son came on a Thursday evening and were seated right away. We ordered the romano crusted eggplant with shrimp appetizer, a cup of lobster bisque, the bruschetta sampler and the Brio pasta. The eggplant appetizer was really good and not too spicy. I really liked the lobster bisque because it wasn't too salty, was very creamy and had some small chunks of lobster in it. The bruschetta sampler was ok. You get 2 pieces of 4 different bruschetta, so a total of 8. Most of them had variations of cheese and tomatoes on it, so my favorite was the steak, but it was a little hard to eat because the steak wasn't cut up on it, just one slice of steak you had to bite into. The Brio pasta tasted like Chef Boyardee canned pasta, but in a good way! I think it was the sauce. I had a ratatouille moment there where I could taste my childhood, but in a grown up way with the way the pasta was dressed up. We also ordered a strawberry lemonade which also good. The bread basket came with the flatbread crackers with seeds and the really hard sourdough bread, which I didn't really care for. Overall, I enjoyed the ambiance, service and food at this place and I would definitely be back!
(4)J P.
Long waits (1 hr+) we were going to leave but as we were about to were notified we could eat at the bar so we did. Didn't get menus or any attention for about 10 mins and had to ask for bread. The bread chips were actually pretty tasty with some herbs on top with a little kick. The other bread that comes out was alright but nothing special. I ordered the chicken risotto which although a bit small on portion was quite tasty. Tasted a bit simple but you could taste the pine nuts and sweet potato once your palate was looking for them in the creamy texture. Not sure if I would come again but the main dining area seemed like a nice atmosphere to take a date.
(3)Nicholas D.
We went in for an early dinner. For an appetizer we had the calamari which was very standard that came with a good marinara sauce but a bad creamy horse radish sauce. For appetizers we ordered the pasta Alla vodka, the crab and shrimp cakes, and the chicken sweet potato risotto. The pasta Alla vodka was nice but nothing all that special. The crab and shrimp cakes were for there price a little small but till quite tasty and was very fresh. The risotto was good everything was quite nice but was slightly lumpy. The service however was amazing and the waiter who gave us a drink instead of the water we ordered comd it. This place was like a very upscaled cheesecake factory with better food but smaller portions.
(3)A S.
This place is pretty awesome, I usually go during happy hour or for lunch. The happy hour appetizers and drinks are great and very reasonably priced, especially for the spectrum. Great place for after work drinks, also the bar area has TVs songs got for MOnday and Thursday night football. The food is your typical Italian and every dish I've had has been pretty good, the portions are sizable and generally can be split, unless you're starving or have a big appetite.
(4)Biggest Critique X.
the happy hour is 9 to 10 which is closing. Delicious food items and prices are amazing. Also has great ambience and outdoor patio seating. Cozy romantic and have a drink
(4)Shelly H.
Love this place! Excited to go again! Clean and fresh. Their bread is amazing. Great drink selection. We needed a place like this in the spectrum. So happy we have one in Orange County now! Iv been to their St.Louis location and it's the exact same of not better! See you guys again soon :)
(5)Christina S.
I went to this restaurant as a party of 9 and service was very accommodating. We ordered 3 bottles of wine, calamari, Caesar salad and chopped salad as appetizers and all were good. For my entre, I ordered the shrimp vertuda with angel hair pasta and it was delicious! We also tried the shrimp and lobster fettuccine, a couple chicken dishes, steak, and the pasta diablo. For dessert, we shared the cheesecake which had a creme brûlée crust on top (so gooood), and the chocolate cake. Everything we ordered was delicious! So happy a good Italian restaurant opened at spectrum!
(5)Lauren T.
The food here was good, nice atmosphere but it wasn't spectacular. The hostesses forgot about us even though we had a beeper. But they bought us an appetizer for the mistake which was nice. I did like that they had a "light" menu with calories. The service was fine. The place just didn't "wow" me. I don't think I'll think of it when I think of where to go to dinner.
(3)Marryam S.
Nothing bad but not great either. Mushroom soup was good but the pasta we ordered was just average.
(3)Peter C.
Amazing food and service. High quality of meats. The white peach pomer was really good. I got to sit by the fireplace.
(5)bonny m.
I wanted to like this place. The reviews made me want to. We walked in amd the hostess was on the phone and her back was turned, she never looked up or acknowledged our presence! There was a server at the desk that said, she will be right with you - when she realized that was untrue, she offered to take us to our table. We sat down finally and here comes our waitress, either she was untrained or just had no personality. We ordered our drinks (water and iced tea), an appetizer, then proceeded to peruse the menu. She came around again after 10 minutes and brought the bruschetta we ordered and proceeded to take our order. There is an item on the menu that simply says 5oz. filet...okay filet of sole, filet mignon? What? My sister asked..and her response was simply it was 5 oz. of beef....no elaboration, no nothing...okay still willing to give the benefit of the doubt, she takes our orders. Her demeanor was despicable and several times I wanted to ask for a new server because at this point our dining experience was merely unpleasant! At this point our waters and iced tea never got refilled....our meal came and it was tasty, not the best Italian food I've had, but certainly not the worst. She never returned to the table to ask how the food was, she disappeared, then she re-appeared, cleared our plates and then brought the check, at which point I respomded loudly...guess we don't get dessert...she then apologized and said...oh did you want dessert? I said No, she asked again and I said, no,,we are good! She made the lame excuse that people don't like when she interrupts their dinner conversation...but no one could accuse her of that because not only did she not interrupt, she didn't serve her patrons AT ALL. What she didn't know is that I was there scoping out the place for an upcoming significant party, but this place will neither get my business or any referrals from me. And that went for the other people in my party! The service was horrible and the food was just ok. I must say this...she brought out dessert in the end and apologized but it was not sincere, she dropped the dessert on the table and off she went again - we paid she took our payment and we never saw her again which was fine with me because she was awful - oh did I tell you the restaurant was not crowded. So to conclude with how I started, she either had a horrible attitude or she just needs some customer service training. Should have got a name but It doesn't matter - my money will be spent elsewhere! Just horrible!
(1)Danny M.
Place looked good, so we went for dinner to check it out. Ordered several dishes, they were all terrible. The only thing that was good was the bread, and I only wish they didn't serve it with cheap cold butter. We left a lot of food on the table, which is very unlikely for us. To make things worse the service here is terrible, probably some of the worst I've ever experienced.
(1)Suzy J.
Went to Brio for the first time.... it was just okay. We had a great server though who was educated about their menu and super friendly. We ordered Pesto Pasta- decent, Crab/shrimp cake - on the smaller side and the menu said Sweet potato but I only got carrots :( Bread basket didn't taste fresh at all. I will go back.. and give it the 2nd try!
(3)Michael H.
Fantastic Menu, good service and right next to the parking garage... Definitely worth a visit. Also, great patio...
(5)June V.
Very disappointed! Although I thought the restaurant was beautiful and the menu looked Devine the fact that the calories for every dish was posted next to it really ruined the possibly of a great dining experience. I know that when I eat out there are more calories and richer foods then when I prepare them at home but I DO NOT want to be reminded this unless I deliberately go to a health food restaurant. I ended up ordering a dish from the light menu which was very good but I was so disappointed that I didn't order one of the wonderful looking creamy pasta dishes. Something I would have ordered somewhere else and not thought about it. I don't count calories and generally eat healthy but when I go out I do not want to know the calories and I am hoping there are others out there who agree with me and that Brio removes this from their menu. They can have a section lighter menu as they also have a gluten free menu but PLEASE leave calories out. If someone wants to know then they can ask to server and they can have a list of calories per dish for that purpose! I will not go back here and most of my friends feel the same way.
(2)Jenny H.
Amazing for the first time I've been here. I got the grilled lamb rack based on the numerous pictures on yelp. It is simply beyond expectations!!! The mint flavor is strong but subtle enough to not overwhelm the lamb! Even my boyfriend - a diehard hater of lamb - agreed that it was delicious. Highly recommend!!
(5)Happy P.
The food was outstanding!!! I had the steak salad it was delicious! I would highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)Jennifer B.
Another great dining experience at Brio. My party of five was seated right away because I had made reservations. We had great service and the food was served hot and it was delicious. The peanut butter dessert was amazing!
(5)Linda F.
Best shrimp and eggplant Parmesan ever! They customized our order to add more shrimp! Fabulous!!! Dined outdoors since it's crazy loud inside. Great food!
(5)Melissa P.
I was in the mood for Italian Friday, August 1, 2014, and my friends and I decided to give this place a try. We called in a couple of hours ahead of time and made a reservation. Good thing we did because the place was packed. Our server was a rock star. Very knowledgeable about the place and the menu and did an awesome job. The food was, and I know this word is overused but there's no other word to describe it AMAZING! I had a shrimp and eggplant appetizer. The shrimp was spicy and had just the right amount of sauce. I ordered a peach Bellini, and let me tell you, I will never be able to have it at another place again. It's a frozen concoction with fresh strawberries on top. It's like a nice alcoholic peach snow cone. My main course was the lasagna. Best lasagna ever. Ever. They handmade the pasta for each order so the noodles aren't overly firm. It's full of cheese. It's gooey, wonderful deliciousness. Along the way, our server apologized that the kitchen got backed up and our food wasn't coming out quickly, but quite frankly we didn't notice. We were too engrossed in out appetizers, drinks, and good company. If I wanted fast food I would have gone to Wendy's. We were out of their within an hour so it's not like we were waiting that long. I've been raving to everyone I know about this place. We are going back on Thursday before a movie. I really don't understand the negative reviews, this is the best place in the spectrum by far.
(5)Chris G.
This new place in the Spectrum looked busy. The interior is hip and it was a busy Friday night. We tried the brick chicken. It was like something you might get at Denny's. The veggies were over cooked and tasteless. Choose another spot for Italian. There is another little spot over near Paul Martins and Javier's. Head over there. This is a non starter. Note that it is a chain
(1)Joby B.
Just has a really good dinner here. Service is excellent, prices are good and food is delicious. Had the lobster and shrimp paster, was excellent.
(5)Mark M.
Very nice inside as you would expect from Brio. The service was what you could call "acceptable." The food was good, but for $30 I would expect more than 5 piece of asparagus and roughly 10 roasted vegetables accompanying my steak. Again, the food was good but the portions of the non pasta dishes were horrible.
(3)Becky G.
Tried this place for the first time this weekend and thought it was just ok. The staff was accommodating and helpful. The decor was nice but the ambiance is quite loud as the set up is a large, open space with no high divisions between the booths. They have a room that is separate for large groups, which is a nice accommodation, but all doors to the room were open so the party in there added to an already noisy experience. I got a lunch special --salad and risotto. The salad wasn't anything to write home about and the risotto was grossly undercooked -- crispy when I bit down into it, no where near where it should have been. My main complaint about Italian restaurants in Southern California is that the pasta is usually over cooked and the pasta has too much sauce so it was weird to run into an undercooked dish. The balance of flavors was good (butternut squash, roasted chicken, pancetta and cheese) and the ratio of the ingredients to risotto was good. My husband loved the carpaccio (I'm pregnant so I unfortunately couldn't partake) and enjoyed the lobster bisque. I probably wouldn't go back here for a meal or a special occasion but would be interested to try the happy hour sometime post pregnancy.
(3)Alexander M.
Last night was my wife's birthday dinner. We had a party of 10 and each couple brought a bottle of wine (There is no corkage fee!). Having the parking garage right next to the restaurant makes it super convenient. The food was great but the service was the best part of our experience. Devin S. was very nice and attentive. He always made sure we had everything we needed. Our table was probably a pain but he helped us with a big smile. Water was always full, empty plates were cleared quickly and the bill was split 4 ways (thank you for doing that). He made my wife's birthday dinner go smoothly. Can't ask for much more.
(5)Diane C.
Came here with friends. Since we had a reservation, were seated immediately by a cute petite blond with a warm welcoming personality. Can't recall the waitress's name since we had one, then had another one (break time). Everyone seemed to have enjoyed their food as all the plates were empty. I had the lobster bisque soup which was delicious and the bruschetta with steak that was good but not the greatest. Since it was a belated birthday gathering, they brought over a cute little cheesecake and we all took a bite. Unfortunately and unknowingly, there must have been soy in it because I immediately had a reaction. I should have asked before taking a bite. Just didn't think that a cheesecake would have soy product in it. The restrooms are kept nice and clean. The staff is friendly. It's a bit loud, especially near the kitchen. Next time, we'll sit outside.
(4)Christina L.
I had an absolutely wonderful evening here. It's very romantic yet casual. The service was fantastic, Andi was very friendly and checked up on us frequently! We started with Calamari and Steak Bruschetta. Both were delicious, I especially enjoyed the calamari. The drinks and appetizers came out promptly but the entrees took slightly longer. Not sure if it's because that's how long the food takes to prepare or because they give you time to enjoy each other's company over libations... But I thought everything was timed perfectly. My Shrimp and Lobster Fettuccini was absolutely perfect. Easily one of my favorite pasta dishes now! The Dirty Martini was a bit on the weak side, but good regardless. I really enjoyed this place and plan to come back often!
(5)Yona Y.
I am not a fan of Italian food (maybe because I haven't tried authentic Italian foods in Italy), but this restaurant is not quite Italian, but more like a typical american family restaurant. I just came in for a casual dinner with a low expectation but I ended up having a great fine dining experience. Hosts were friendly and interior was great. Although it was a weekday night, restaurant was pretty packed. I ordered a few items that seemed pretty popular. Wedge salad. Super fresh, crunchy and right amount of cheese and dressing. I was very impressed with how the salad was served on a chilled cold plate. Loved the detail. Roast chicken with plenty of chunky veggies side. Chicken was cooked and seasoned perfectly. Fat was drained well, lightly crunchy skinned, moist and smoky flavored inside. Big portion. Salmon. Perfectly cooked. A side of sautéed sweet potatoes and quinoa salad added sweet salty savory flavor and different textures to the dish. Finally, their famous cream brûlée cheese cake. The cheese cake is very rich, dense and milky than sour. Even milkier cream drizzled over caramelized crispy sugar top, and the scottish butter short bread like crust bottom...take everything in one bite...(drool drool droool) wow. I can finish the whole cake no matter how big it is. My waitress was friendly and very attentive, food was impressive for the price, I couldn't ask for any better.
(5)Nida A B.
Double date night with our friends and we were actually supposed to eat at another restaurant that had a 45 minute wait, and as we strolled the spectrum we decided to see how long the wait was going to be at Brio. Turned it out even though it was not on the empty side we were seated in 15 minutes so we ended up having dinner there. Great spacious atmosphere and the service was friendly and efficient! Very welcoming as soon as you walk in. Now let's talk about the food! My husband had never had beef carpaccio so we ordered that as the appetizer and oh man, that was a good carpaccio and for the four of us it was a much larger plate than anticipated, still great and easily devoured up! Finally we all decided on our entrees... I ordered the Pasta Brio (figured it would be good bc it had the restaurant's name in the title) and man it was good, simple pasta but the flavors were great and rich creamy sauce that satisfied my palette. My husband ordered the Chicken Limone which was like a chicken piccata, also really well done. My friends ordered the Chicken Milanese and the Gorgonzola Crusted Lamb Chops that even had me saying it was good and I'm not usually a lamb fan! Overall great portion sizes, filling and I would definitely come back!!
(4)Frances W.
Such a beautiful place to dine in! We went there for lunch, and I enjoyed everything about it. From the food, to the service, to the ambiance...it was a really wonderful experience! It was my first time at a Brio, but definitely won't be my last. I'm thinking of dinner service next time.
(5)Marissa L.
I've been on the brink about this place. It just barely makes four stars. I came here for a sizable family dinner. My Aunt made reservations earlier in the day and called back quite a few times to add people one at a time. They seemed to be fine with our changes. When we got there on time our reservations were ready. We didn't all come at the same time, but they were fine with that too. We had two wait staff for our table which was nice and needed. One kept our drinks filled and helped out and the other was in charge of our food orders. They worked well together and we only had one complaint. My Aunt wanted another drink during our meal and it took a while to get someones attention for it. Other that that the service was alright. As for the food, we started off with a couple apps. I choose the calamari with peperocini because I love peperocini. My Aunt also got a couple different types of bruschetta. The calamari were crispy and I liked the lemon mayo sauce. The peperocini were sliced and also fried. I've never seen that before, but it was delicious. They were crunchy with a zing of spice. I wasn't going to try the bruschetta, but there was only one left and no one was taking it so I took it. It was on a hard slice of bread, I'm guessing it was toasted. It had a rich creamy cheese spread at the bottom, a thin slice of bacon and it was topped with a sweet tomato bbq jam and basil. The cheese and bacon were awesome, but the jam was kinda too sweet. I loved that it had a smokey flavor, but the sweetness really overpowered everything. I should also mention the bread that they have here. They have two types. One is just a regular crusty bread, pretty average. My favorite though is their flaxseed flatbread. It's crispy, crunchy, salty and topped with flaxseed and rosemary. It's my favorite thing that they serve here. Before our meal I got the lobster bisque. I've seen mixed reviews for it on here so I was unsure to get it. The waiter asked me if I wanted soup though and I just went for it just to try. It is way to salty. I took three, maybe five bites and I was done. Not ordering that again. For my entree I got the carpaccio. I've been here once before and had it. I knew it came with a regular flatbread so I asked my waitress if I could have their flax flatbread instead and she said they could do that. Their carpaccio is simple and delicious. It comes on a really long plate too. Probably the biggest plate of carpaccio I've ever seen. With the flaxseed flatbread it was even better than before. The meat is sliced paper thin and melts away on your tongue. With the flaxseed bread it gave the dish some crunch and texture. The salad is also pretty good, dressed well with nice fresh greens. This is probably the only thing I will order here as my entree because it's just that good. Of course we had dessert. I let my Uncle, the chocolate junkie, decide on dessert because he's always good at that. He ordered the chocolate lava cake of course and it was to die for. Super rich and decadent. The cake and chocolate was warm and rich and the vanilla ice cream helped cool it down. Overall a great family get together with good food. Everyone seemed to enjoy the evening here.
(4)Tracie L.
Came here for dinner and it looked like a mix of Cheesecake Factory with Olive Garden. It's located right by the parking structure near Nordstrom's and Capital Seafood! Not exactly IN the spectrum shopping plaza itself, it's near Del Frisco's. For our party of 9 we got seated pretty quickly on a weekday around 7pm. For the price range of the food it's not bad. Service was just subpar and not very good at giving recommendations...I asked her about the chicken & sweet potato risotto and she said it was like a casserole. Ummm wtf? I've eaten risotto at so many high end restaurants and if you're gonna tell me it's like a casserole there is no way in hell I'll be ordering that. How can risotto even come close to being a casserole? LOL. Also the bread they start you off with isn't anything special. I personally didn't like any of the bread starters. It was very bland and salty..Guess I'm just spoiled by that brown bread at Cheesecake Factory haha Appetizers: Spicy Shrimp Eggplant - The best one out of all the appetizers we got! The cream sauce went well w/ the romano crusted eggplant. It wasn't too spicy either, but had enough kick to it! Also nice medium sized shrimp Calamari - A very big portion and 2 sauces: marina & tartar. Was just typical calamari, but it was lightly fried and not too greasy Bruschetta Quattro - Sampling of 4 different bruschettas. My fav were the sliced steak and applewood bacon & tomato jam bruschetta. The basil made the applewood bacon one really refreshing! Crab & shrimp crusted salmon = I got this as my entree and Instead of farro & quinoa I subbed it with roasted veggies and sweet potatoes. Just as I expected...the salmon came out pretty dry. Portion wise it was just ok, the salmon could've been bigger The portion sizes here are pretty big for the pastas especially the shrimp & lobster fettucine. However protein to carb ratio is off. There is a butt load of fettucine, not enough protein!! The shrimp was small and barely had any lobster pieces in there Dessert: Torta Di Chocolata - Basically it's a molten lava cake w/ vanilla ice cream on top lol. Not bad and a good portion size to share between 4 people. I do wished that the cake was fresher because it seemed kind of dry. I'm not the biggest fan when it comes to Italian so take my review w/ a grain of salt. I guess you can come here if you're craving Italian and have nowhere else to go while shopping at the Spectrum, but there are plenty of better restaurants nearby IMO..
(3)Liz E.
BRUNCH REVIEW I don't know what this place is like for lunch or dinner, but Brio Tuscan Grille definitely jumped on my list of favorite brunch places on the very first time I had brunch here. Fast, friendly, and great service. Clean and nice location. And best of all, breakfast is satisfying and just what I need after a Saturday night out! They have a small menu for brunch and they don't open until 11 am, but they made the food perfectly that I almost licked my plate clean! To be honest, I loved how simple the brunch choices were and it wasn't difficult to make a decision on something even though all the 5 or 6 choices for brunch sound good to me. I had the scrambled eggs, bacon, and potatoes for brunch. Scrambled eggs were average. Bacon is always good, made perfect between crunch and chewy. I ignored the potatoes until the end and they really surprised me on how good they were. They were lightly crisped, seasoned and spiced just right, and I really wish I ate them first before anything else. The potatoes were oooohh, so good! And for a Sunday brunch, it wasn't crowded out on the patio. The weather was perfect. It was a great start to a good day!
(5)Frances G.
Pretty close to 5 stars. My party and I came here on a Thursday at 6:30p (our reserved time). Being a weekday, the restaurant was maybe about 3/4 full and we got seated right away (near the kitchen though). For starters, I got the Peach Bellini ($7.50), and we all shared the Bruschetta Quattro ($15.95) and the Calamari Fritto Misto (($11.95). Like the name, there were 4 different bruschetta - 2 each of roasted red peppers, sliced steak, applewood bacon & tomato jam, and something with cheddar cheese. They were all good. The calamari was also nice and crispy, and it came with marinara and cream sauce (it also included fried peperoncini, which was a nice surprise). For main, I ordered the Pasta Fra Diavolo with shrimp ($18.95), which was campanelle in a spicy tomato cream sauce topped with green onions. It had a kick, but was still good. Hubby got the Crab & Shrimp Crusted Salmon ($22.95), which he and I both thought was just okay (the crust or something had an unexpectedly sweet flavor). Overall, service was nice and food was tasty for the most part. Even the complimentary bread basket was good. If anything, it's a bit pricey so not a place that I can frequent :(
(4)Kimmy W.
I am SO happy with this new little strip of restuarants that has revived the spectrum! BRIO is one of the tastiest meals I have had in a while. It is located on the 405 side of the spectrum directly next to the parking structure so there's no laborous trekking like to Cucina (no offiense!). I was at the Spectrum first of all for happy hour with my coworkers so when they tired of the Dave & Buster nachos they asked me where we should go to dinner - HALLELUJA that BRIO has been on my radar for a while so I knew just the place! We waited a bit for a patio table since it was a lovely spring evening and the patio looked so inviting with its plush couches and dim lighting. We were sat towards the back but did not notice any street noise. It was a nice and I mentally noted it for future date nights. I really prefer Tuscan italian for its abundance of fresh veggies and seafood so I went with the Shrimp Mediterranean dish and was immediately in heaven. Its made up 4-5 spicy grilled jumbo shrimp on a bed of orzo, farro pilaf with tons of veggies like broccoli, asparagus, tomatoes, spinach and finished off with a pesto vinaigrette. It was the perfect portion and beautifully presented, not to mention the fresh, delicious flavors spoke directly to my favorite things about tuscan cuisine! I was admittedly swooning over my dish when I overheard my boss say the quinoa was eh... another coworker ordered the Lobster bisque which he said was alright... I can't be sure what they all ordered as I was heavily invovled in my foodgasm. I also didn't pay so I can't really comment there but I would absolutely come back for a date night or some occasion to mark - its a sweet place and I'm so happy its in my neighborhood!
(5)Adam B.
My wife and I stopped here on our way home from West LA. It was our first time going here. We split a Cesar salad, Ravioli Di Bello and the Grilled Salmon Fresca. The warm bread and butter they bring out was great. The Cesar salad was really good. They actually had really good ceaser dressing. The two main dishes we're hood as well. We really enjoyed everything. Our only complaint was the Salmon was cooked a little to much. The salmon dish also had grilled sweet potato which i normally hate, but they were good. Probably because of the sauces on the plate it did not taste like sweet potatoes. We would definitely come back to try other items on the nenu.
(4)Ryan D.
On this adventure along with 4 other Yelpers i saved 5 shrimp from living a dismal life in the sea, by having them seasoned, grilled and served on a bed of rice, broccoli, asparagus, and spinach, I have never been to Brio, and one of my friends coordinated an gathering of a few friends for dinner on a Saturday night. The restaurant is modern, clean and the staff is friendly. The restaurant is located at the Irvine Spectrum and parking is plentiful and its a short walk to the front door. If you arrive early i suggest you take a stroll and check out the home of the SoCo cougars. When seated, the table was nicely arranged and bread and butter was served, the flax seed flat bread was buttery and good. The menu is huge, both literally and physically, the wine list takes up half of the reverse side of the menu along with other house beverages. I chose a simple iced tea which was good. The server was attentive and accommodating and overall a good experience. I feel for the price, the quality of food and service was right on par with what you would expect. I would suggest you give this place a try and try the shrimp!
(4)Ali N.
It was one of those double date nights with some really good friends, the wait here was not bad at all for a Friday night, we got our table in no more than 10 mins. We started out with beef carpaccio which I am usually not a fan off and neither is my friend but this one was so good! The plate was way bigger than expected with almost 20 slices of beef but we finished the plate with plenty of room for dinner - side note we had 3 baskets of bread which was also so tasty! I got the lobster bisque and the Gorgonzola crusted lamb chops. The bisque was awesome and the lamb was not bad I didn't enjoy the blue cheese crust and some pieces were slightly to gamy in taste but I don't think I would get it again from there. My wife got the chicken Milanese and she enjoyed it but she would have liked it better with less of the cheese sauce it comes with and more tomato sauce. My friends liked their food a lot also. Overall it is a really nice place and the food was really good, I will definitely be going back to try out more items off their menu.
(4)Kat L.
Decided to try Happy Hour as I mentioned in my first review and for my first experience it lived up to the hype other yelpers raved about. About 3-4 dishes from their HH bar menu should fill a party of 2 up. We accidentally ordered 6 dishes which was a little excessive, but nonetheless worth trying out a lot of items on the menu. Also for HH the martinis and many drinks on the menu are well priced for about only $5-6 and they were well mixed. My friend got a cosmopolitan and a mojito which were both tasteful. I recommend the artichoke dip and shrimp dishes! Glad Brio opened up at the Spectrum!
(5)Ellie Q.
Wow! What terrible service and food! Our waitress was passive aggressive from the get go. Our food was undercooked and missing sides. The appetizers were good, that's why they get two stars. Manager was polite and compted our missing food but he wasn't very apologetic. I'm leaving hungry, moody, and disappointed. Heading to the Cheesecake Factory!
(2)Ricardo A.
The place at first sight looks like any other restaurant of modern days with fake stone columns and a cheap travertine floor. Call Brio a Florentine restaurant is a stretch, however the food is not bad. It is another noise American style restaurant with oversize servings. If you're hungry is a good choice.
(3)Nika I.
I came to this restaurant with my family and we all enjoyed it. The interior is very cool. The restaurant has an outdoor patio. They provided us with a good service. Our party tried Mediterranean shrimp, lasagna, shrimp fettuccine, and chicken lemone. They were all very tasty. I'll come back!
(4)madeleine n.
Their bar/patio area is self seating and can accommodate multiple parties, which is nice considering how busy this place can get. There are heat lamps/fire pits too! Our server took a while to greet us, but once he did he was great at checking up on us. He was super informative when we had questions about the menu too. But the server who replaced him wasn't very attentive. She dropped off our check and took about 20 minutes to come back for it. We had the Roasted Garlic Spinach & Artichoke Dip appetizer, my friends both got the Ravioli Di Bello, and I got the Carpaccio appetizer as my entree. The dip was good and even the crisp flat bread it came with was good on its own. The ravioli was okay. I had high hopes for the "champagne brown butter sauce" but it was nothing special. The carpaccio appetizer is definitely an appetizer for sharing. But it wasn't too filling as an entree. It got a bit bland after the first few bites, even with its mustard aioli, so I asked for some salt and pepper. I've had better carpaccio, but theirs was still satisfying. Everything was good, but not sure if I'd come back.
(3)Neeta J.
Love this place for after dinner drinks and desserts. They have mini creme brûlée and other sweets which make a perfect treat after improv or dinner at the spectrum. The seating outside is really nice and Tony is a great and attentive waiter!
(5)Gordon L.
I came here for happy hour and was stoked it goes until 6:30pm unlike some places that goes until 7pm. It was packed and a great environment to be in if you wanted to have a casual drink with some appetizers. It took a while to get drinks and food to come out but everything was delicious. You definitely get what you paid for! Drinks were delicious and some were decently priced at $5.
(4)Matt K.
Fancy Italian place if you want to have a nice dinner out. We were here for a birthday. They initially messed up and miscounted our reservation so we had to wait extra time for a proper table to be ready, but I'll chalk that up to a mistake which shouldn't happen often. There were some specials that evening and the shrimp bruschetta appetizer special was delicious. It was well liked by our entire party. The entrees were also tasty and plentiful. A few people took home leftovers. I really enjoyed the carbonara as it was with different pasta and a couple extra ingredients that aren't traditionally in there. Those additions were tasty and appreciated. I don't think anything knocked my socks off, but it was a pleasant meal, a little more upscale but for the price, it was worthwhile to come for a group gathering. It's not grossly expensive. The staff was also nice but they did get pretty busy.
(4)Mae R.
I kept passing by this place every time I shop around the spectrum. So I decided to try it with my family and it was not a disappoint! Every dish we ordered were very tasty! We ordered spinach and artichoke dip, calamari, sliced steak bruschetta, shrimp and lobster ravioli, campanile carbonara, and pasta brio. We ate around dinner time and it was crowded so there was a 30 minute wait, but we decided to sit at the bar next to the fireplace. We enjoyed our evening there. The service was fast too and the staff were very helpful.
(5)Stella S.
This restaurant has good tasting food and great desserts. Staff is courtesy and always coming to see if we need anything. They have a smile on their face. The manager seems ignored my us, not sure way. Maybe just a bad afternoon. Ask"are you finally done, can I pick up your plates", had not been there more then an hour. Lucky the waitress was wonderful and asked us if we wanted dessert. Glad we stayed. Dessert was very tasty
(5)George H.
This place is pretty cool from the inside décor to the outside patio area. The inside echoes so it does get louder, and the kitchen staff is constantly busy and at times you hear them yelling. Aside for that, I walked by here a couple times from the parking lot but what caught my attention was the fireplace outside at night. It just presented a nice cozy and comfortable feeling. The menus are nice, easy to read and presentable. The food is spot on, you can't go wrong with the pasta alla vodka, steak salad or the halibut. Of the eight different people at our table, 2 of them got the pasta and 3 of us got the steak salad. The pasta was referred to golden nuggets of heaven. Thumbs up across the table on the steak salad. Everyone enjoyed their food and the portions are perfect. Would I come here on a date or with family or with friends? Yes, all of the above.
(4)Richa A.
Happy hour is incredible! Bar plates are all from $3.95-$5.95 ** written in price order, lowest to highest** - beef carpaccio - tomato margherita flatbeard - crispy eggplant fries - sausage & pepperoni ricotta flatbread - tomato mozzarella salad - brio burger - black pepper shrimp - crispy cheese ravioli - roasted garlic, spinach & artichoke dip Drinks $4-$6 ** in order ** - italian lemonade - sangria rosa - white peach sangria - black raspberry Cosmo - vodka martini - key lime Mojito - mango Mojito - classic Manhattan - italian margarita Beer & Wine - Peroni - $4 - Tavolo Matto Wine - $5 Overall such reasonable prices for the amazing food they had. I had the black pepper shrimp and it was amazing. Each piece is placed on Romano crusted eggplant and it has a black pepper cream sauce with it. Soooo good! :) Seating is on your own in the patio or bar area for happy hour. Service is good but the patio can get a little tight... Overall great food for the prices! Definitely will be coming back soon for happy hour!
(4)Alpha L.
Came here on a Thursday night. Service was just average. The atmosphere reminds me of Cheesecake Factory. Sourdough bread and butter is served when you arrive, but the butter is hard and impossible to spread on the bread. We started with the sliced steak bruchetta, bisteca salad, and chopped salad. Everything was on the salty side, but edible and average tasting. Bisteca salad was nice and crisp which was refreshing. For the main course, I had the blackened talapia, which I liked. It came over a bed of grilled veggies (carrots, broccoli, and zucchini) and has a kick of peppery spice. My husband had the pasta alla vodka (2 stars, basically cheese filled wontons in vodka sauce) and our nanny had the braised beef paparadelle which tasted good, but was again on the salty side. All in all, a very average experience and we wouldn't go back or recommend the place in particular.
(3)Robbie G.
We've been here several times now, both for Yelp Elite events and on our own. The food here is always amazing and fresh, regardless of what we've ordered. The staff are friendly and attentive. The location at Irvine Spectrum Center is a good one, and they have a parking garage right next to it, which is super convenient. This last time we went we sat at the bar and ordered a few of the happy hour specials, and also some Pasta Alla Vodka (our personal favorite dish on the menu). The drinks from the bar are strong, but not to the point of being gross--I know you know what I'm talking about, ha ha. Long story short, Brio is fun but on the pricey side, and this is a great place for a date night.
(5)Britney I.
Decided to try out Brio the other day for a late lunch. I went in and it looked like I would have been the only one dining at that time. I asked the hostess for a table on the patio and she told me (with a slight attitude) "the patio is open seating. Just seat yourself". So I walked out to the patio and sat at one of the couch areas. I waited for about 10 minutes and no one came to wait on me or even offer me a menu despite having two servers look directly at me through the window. One of the servers went over to the hostess and they were just talking and hanging out. I figured I wasn't going to be served at all so I left and went to another restaurant in the Spectrum. Needless to say I will not be returning due to the extremely poor service.
(1)Sasha B.
Not my first time dining at Brio and food has no complains, but this evening experience and nice dinner mood was completely ruined by obnoxious people and rude front desk person. Didn't take the name but even the waitress was shocked by the way the whole situation was handled. So, me and my family were at outside seating area and had full dinner with appetizers, drinks and entrees. Just when we placed the order for desserts and coffees, two ladies came up and started to move chairs to literally sit next to us without even "squeezing"room in between. We were so in shock that we didn't even understand what is going on. Next thing we know, another party of four people are getting seated at our table with host helping them to move the big armchairs from other table for all to fit. Well, needless to say that we got up and left without finishing any desserts or having coffee. Not sure how well established restaurant can allow such a disappointment and ruined dinner experience to let happen but I insisted that my son who rushed to pay the bill, would not leave a cent as a tip. We all left in very disturbed mood and definitely not planning to come back to this location. I think the restaurant should understand that they either have to state clearly their rules for community dinners or let one party to finish their meals and do not allow other party to crash family dinner in such a "suffocating" manner. Not to say that I am amazed at how these other party people had no shame to push their ways to our table and acted this arrogantly - clearly their actions were to make us leave to have the table.
(1)Danny B.
First time stopping in for Happy Hour and we had a great time and the prices can't be beat!
(5)Scotty T.
Never got seated. Open tables everywhere, on a Sunday afternoon, non-peak. Waited 15 minutes looking at the (open) patio. Walked out of the lobby and over to Cucina Enoteca, and were seated immediately. So, only for (poor, inept) service, will update for foods if I ever try again.
(1)Jessie K.
Pretty disappointed with the experience at this restaurant. Had a reservation at 8:30 and wasn't served until 9:30. Food was mediocre (do NOT order the chicken under brick dish, and the pasta pesto was very bland and I barely tasted pesto). Service was slow but that could have been due to the late time but the overall experience wasn't very nice. Wanted to love it but wouldn't come back :( if you're looking for an Italian place Cucina Enuteca is the #1 way to go!
(2)judi H.
We had a wonderful lunch on the patio! The flatbread special was amazing as was the mushroom soup and the chopped salad which was nicely chopped! Will definitely return as the menu had so many delicious choices!
(4)Wilbert G.
Atmosphere is great. Family friendly and service is great. Cesar salad is fresh, soups are a must. Weeknights are best.
(4)Tiffany S.
We went for dinner tonight to celebrate my sisters birthday. We had a great evening from start to finish. The service was excellent and the manager nick was extremely accommodating. The food was delicious! Will be coming back to dine here again.
(5)Michele F.
It's hard to find Italian food that is flavorful and not bland. I have been here twice and enjoyed my food on both occasions. Last time I had the Pasta Alla Vodka which I split with my son and not a drop of pasta was left. My husband ordered fish and enjoyed it as well.
(4)Salvador O.
above average prices and above average ambience below average quality and below average service
(3)Kat H.
Delicious pastas..perfectly cooked and super creamy and delish. The menu has calories for all items-fantastic for calorie counters like me. Had a bottle of wine with the meal, perfect. Good service, will def come back. Had a bar playing basketball game on tv.
(5)Priscilla P.
this review is for their happy hour prices are very cheap! all food and drinks were from $4-$7 and the portions weren't small. unfortunately, they were out of the beef and shrimp when we were ordering so we only got to try the eggplant fries, burger, artichoke dip, fried ravioli and caprese salad. my favorite was the eggplant fries. i wasn't a fan of the flatbread that the dip came with. the fried ravioli was also not that good. the burger and caprese salad were okay. the drinks weren't strong but i like my drinks like that. the cocktails weren't coyingly sweet and weren't too alcoholic, which i liked. the outdoor seating area looked nice. service was good.
(4)Bren B.
Not sure if it was the fact that the place was newly opened or what but honestly I was under whelmed. II was excited to try this new upscale restaurant. The service was good(not amazing) but the fool left something to be desired. Look like Mamma D's will continue to be my go to Italian restaurant in Orange County.
(3)Richard C.
First time there and what an experience! Hostess drops two glasses of water on the floor breaking the glass and spilling water all over one in our group, including in her purse. Then she just walked away laughing. Waiter very helpful, trying to make our person comfortable. Chicken was very good, potatoes so so and vegetables were burnt and tasted funny. They did comp half the bill. When we were leaving we were given rolling eyes by either the hostess, wow! Don't plan on ever going back.
(2)Ross C.
The food was fantastic and the atmosphere is just right for casual dining. We returned here at the urging of the manager after a bad service experience and I have to say, Brio redeemed itself with great food and an attentive wait staff. Monica provided the right balance of attention without being an intrusion. Well done.
(4)Mitch L.
I went in with an officemate to have lunch at the bar today ~ The interior is nice and they seem staffed for a much larger crowd than they had at noon, so hopefully that pans out for them. I had a lager and a chicken chipotle panini that came with a side of fries. It's sort of disappointing that they don't have any beer on tap, but whatever, Yard House is 50 steps away. The panini was super flavorful and the fries were pretty alright. If I have one complaint about the food, it's that the dish I ordered had way too much salt. The bartender was friendly and attentive so that was nice. All in all, a welcome addition to the neighborhood ~
(4)Taylor D.
This restaurant is so nice. I remember working at the Spectrum when they were still constructing the building, and I came believe it turned out this amazing. The interior is beautiful with tapestries hanging on the ceiling and modern look. The service was great and welcoming. We ordered the lobster bisque which was really smooth and creamy. I also ordered the lamb chops which was nicely grilled and tender. The dessert selections were exciting and the prices were extremely reasonable. The creme brûlée, tiramisu, and cheesecake were light and fluffy, especially after such a great and filling dinner.
(4)Jeane M.
I have eaten here several times. The service is good the food options are creative and lively with a Nice ambiance. I always enjoy myself when I dine here .A must try is the beef carrpacio. It's a larger size Portion then most places and is served with a drizzle of sauce for flavor. Iv never been disappointed.
(4)Maggie G.
Updating my original review because I made it to Brio for their awesome happy hour. Drinks and appetizers range from $4 - $6! What a bargain. I figured out the shrimp thing I got last time: Its the Black Pepper Shrimp. $6 at happy hour. Most places would probably charge $15 for this. We also got the margherita flatbread, garlic spinach artichoke dip, and crispy cheese ravioli. There were 4 of us, and we couldn't finish everything. Nice size appetizers--and did I mention they were only $6??!! I am usually a beer and wine kind of girl, but I went with the frou-frou White Peach Sangria since it was 95 freakin' degrees when I was there and I needed something refreshingly icy and cold. It was only $4! Tasty--I had to get two!! Service was good. Our artichoke dip didn't come out on time, but they were very apologetic and when we got it, it was steaming hot. Our waitress knew we were going to a concert at Irvine Meadows, so she was on the ball as far as getting our food to us fast, and getting our check quickly. I am not a fan of chain restaurants, but I think I am going to make an exception for Brio. See you at happy hour!
(5)Brittany S.
I felt like i was eating bad bar food at an airport restaurant. I've never eaten at an Olive Garden, but I would imagine it to be better than Brio. Some of the worst food I've had in a looooong time.
(1)Amanda A.
I was here for lunch on Sunday, and loved it! From the moment we walked in, everyone was so warm, welcome and smiling. From the hostesses, staff, our waitress, etc. We couldn't ask for better service. Ambience was great. We sat outside on the patio and it was lovely. The food was yummy, loved the Bruschetta Quattro. We ordered a pitcher of the White Peach Sangria which was absolutely amazing. The presentation was beautiful, and it was delicious. Will definitely be back!
(5)James B.
We went to celebrate my wife's Birthday at Brio in Irvine since we have had stellar experience with Brio in other parts of the country. But unfortunately this location didn't live upto expectations. Unlike other Brio's, this location is crowded and noisy. Tables are close to other tables deviating away from from intimate and quit settings that Brio is known for. Our Server was fast and expressionless whereas we expected slow and smiling experience allowing us to relax bit more (expectation from other Brio's). My reservation included a Birthday special which meant to bring out a small cake with candles at the end of the dinner. That didn't happen and was even more disappointing. Food wise, the stuffed mushroom ravioli was awesome but pasta was dry (no gravy) and bland (no taste). Place is better for bigger parties and larger groups...I wouldn't recommend it for couples - date nights, romantic evenings.
(2)Amanda T.
It was nothing special. My fiancé and I came here on Valentine's Day at 3:35. We walked in and all three hostesses seemed to be bothered we were standing there. One looked up the other two were busying doing mundane things such as using her card to scrape something off the Hostess desk. We were seated quickly, and noticed we received the brunch/lunch menu which stated it was only served until 3. We asked our waiter for the dinner menu and he seemed annoyed at the request. Prior to the food we received bread, but we didn't have any knives. We requested knives, but the waiter only brought one. We understand paper on the table tops is a quick way to clean up, but it seems like a very cheap move for such a nice restaurant. Took away from the experience. The food was very good. I ordered the Pasta alla Vodka and my fiancé ordered the Lemon chicken. The cover waitress was very polite and attentive. The food and backup waitress is the only reason why they received a 3 star.
(3)Myrna C.
Today's experience at Brio was rather strange (and I'd say it'd probably be closer to 3 stars if I could have given a half star of some sort). I've really enjoyed every time I've been there, as can be seen in my past review. However, today, everything seemed to be slightly off. Our server seemed very distracted the entire time. Maybe she was having an off-day. Maybe she was new. I like to give everyone the benefit of the doubt that perhaps there was something else bothering them and that was why the service was off, but anyway, here was what happened. The first time, we told her we wanted coffee. She asked if we wanted cream and sugar. We said no, black was fine. Five minutes later, she comes back and asks, did you say you wanted cream? We said no, black is fine. No need to bring out anything extra. Five minutes later, she comes back ... coffee AND cream in hand. Obviously, not a big deal, but it just seemed that she wasn't paying attention to what was being said. When we asked to see the dessert menu, she nodded happily and said, let me get you that. She brought the check over instead. Perhaps it was just misunderstandings or what not, but like I said, the whole experience was just very odd. On another note, I ordered the Sicilian Omelette and I am 100% certain that I got the Tuscan Omelette on my plate instead (I should have taken a picture as proof but I was so hungry that I just dug in). I looked at it because it looked like an egg white omelette (which the Sicilian is not) and confirmed it with the guy who was serving it to me and he said, yes, that is the Sicilian Omelette. Pretty sure he was just reading what was on his notepad and not knowing what the difference between the two was. There were sweet potatoes and turkey sausage in the omelette, not the ham, bacon, sausage that I was supposed to get in my omelette. Again, not a big deal, but had there been something that I was allergic to in one or the other, it probably would have turned out to be something more serious. The food wasn't quite as good as it was before, but I would hope that the servers and the kitchen pay better attention in the future more overall.
(2)L B.
I recently went there for the first time during lunch. with the exception of the waiter who walked upfront when there was no hostess, looked at us and walked away....everything else was amazing. I ordered the grilled vegetable Panini and asked them to add grilled chicken....I highly recommend it for lunch. the service was great and I loved the design of the restaurant. I'm looking forward to going back and checking out the dinner menu....has a great little outdoor area that is fun to explore.
(5)Varant H.
I wasn't very impressed with my steak. Mainly because it came out medium well when I asked for medium rare. I normally don't complain much but I let my server know and the manager comped my meal and dessert. The others in my party enjoyed their meals. The service was friendly but, we were starving and a little disappointed that we asked for bread a few times and it didn't come out until after our appetizers came. I could have just been a one off experience. I'm willing to go back and give it another try.
(3)Brian A.
Incredible. The mushroom ravioli was to die for and their happy hour burger is the best burger I have ever had.
(5)Aisha R.
Great food and no corkage fee. Prices are reasonable. My favorite are the bruschettas.
(4)N B.
Loved this place! Came here with family, and let me just say, we're not an easy group to deal with! Our server, Bryce, was phenomenal! He was EXTREMELY attentive, patient, and kind. He also had a good sense of humor which is always a plus! He answered all our questions and requests with a smile and went along with all the cheesy jokes and acts done by the family. That in itself is a feat worthy of acknowledgment. Overall, he was really pleasant and really made the experience. Go Bryce!!! Second, the food was very good. We ordered the salmon fresca, mushroom ravioli, half chicken, mahi, and beef medallions and everyone enjoyed their food. Tasting everyone else's dishes, I must say, I enjoyed their food as well. The portions are generous, and if you do choose to over indulge, you don't leave feeling gross. The food is light but tasty. The beef medallion was also scrumptious! The beef was SO tender and melted in your mouth Third: dessert. The dessert was food, however I did prefer the main entree more. We tried the tiramisu and moscolarno (or something like that) cheesecake. The tiramisu tasted very moussy, so it didn't. Have that cake feel that most tiramisus have, but I think that's the goal since they're served in these little glasses. It was still really good and fluffy, just not what I had in mind. The cheesecake was also pretty good but idk if I'd go out of my way to get it. Overall, a great experience. The food was delicious, the seating was nice, and our server, along with other members of the staff we interacted with, were all very pleasant. Would def recommend!
(5)Kim M.
Pretty good place. Food was good. Was given a recommendation for a drink from the bar. When I didn't see it on the dinner menu, the waitress said it's only available for happy hour. It was a martini - can't you make it during dinner too with a dinner price tag? She looked confused, went & asked & came back to let me know "she could do it!!" Hmmmm, ok thanks! The drinks weren't very tasty. It's a new place so I'm sure it will improve. Beautiful restaurant though.
(4)Minh T.
Double date dinner place :) Came here with my bf and his married friends on a Friday night. The company was great! The look and atmosphere of this restaurant is nice. I hate the parking situation since it's at the Spectrum. Plus, the food isn't that inventive or wow tasting. Service was ok. Our waitress didn't refill our cups up enough, and she forgot our drink orders so that we had to flag her down a couple times to remind her. What I got to eat: - Calamari: I like the aioli sauce it comes with, garlic and lemony. The calamari itself is crispy in the beginning, although a bit on the oily side so it got soggy pretty quickly. The flavoring is good, they didn't completely mask the taste of squid with too much batter. -Roasted Red Pepper Bruschetta: comes with 5 pieces. They put a slice of cheese on a crostini and the traditional tomatoes and other stuff. What I didn't like about this was that the cheese didn't easily bite off, so the entire cheese slice slipped off with a bite and then all the toppings fell off. -Fra Diavolo: recommended by the waitress. It tastes like a normal cream tomato sauce and not spicy at all like the waitress said it would be. It's not a bad tasting dish, just very normal tasting. -Fennel sausage and tomato pasta: meh, The dish didn't really have much flavor, it was just a bunch of veg and sausage thrown together with pasta and some garlic olive oil probably. I'm not in any way moved or impressed by this place. I think they need to up their game and train their staff better. Def a little better than a one-star experience, but that's not saying much.
(2)Jim M.
Loved the entire package food, ambiance, service and the friendly wait staff. I will take all my friends, family and business associates for the same experience.
(5)PaigeeGa L.
Automosphere amazing but messed up on my dish. The 2nd portion attempt was even smaller....I can't have anything dairy and they reused old dish with and feta was in there. Did not make a new dish and very disappointing. Manager took care of situation the right way. Chefs were lazy. Waitress avoided us after the order was messed up. What would Gordon Ramsay do????????? Olive Garden experience would of been better and I don't like Olive Garden.
(1)Nour A.
Wasn't anything too special. I got the ahi tuna salad - dressing was okay but fish didn't taste fresh. Luckily there was enough dressing...
(2)Holly T.
Food was great. Service was a little slow but it was at lunch time during the week. We weren't in a hurry so we looked past it. Servers were a little strange. One in the bar and one waiting our table. They were not friendly. Its like they just got out of a bad meeting and didn't want to be there. I will give it one more try and if I receive the same kind of service I won't go back...service is key people, its what provides tou a paycheck.
(4)Robyn F.
We went for a late lunch and sat outside in the patio. We ordered the shrimp and zucchini appetizer and chicken piccata it was excellent! The service was good, however it could have been better. We will definitely go back again especially for the shrimp appetizer!
(4)Denise G.
Service left something to be desired. Lobster bisque was perfect and bistecca tasty. Hard to go wrong with these two items though.
(3)Koz K.
Had a bad experience first time I visited.... But a month later, they have improved a lot. So will give credit where the credit is due... So I am going for 4 stars...
(4)Jeff E.
Good for Business Lunches. Great Location!
(4)Rami O.
We went there on last Saturday evening for the first time. The place is new and nice looking. However the noise level was extreme and the waitress even joked about her painful throat by the end of every evening from speaking so loudly. This is probably attributed to using all hard surfaces in the interior. the patio would have been more pleasant. The food was ok but not great but stay away from the salmon salad because the plate was all covered with endless amount of string potatoes that completely devastated the salad and salmon.
(3)Marissa W.
Very good food and large portions! I did ask for the gluten free menu and ordered salmon from it. When I looked at appetizers they were on the main menu. We ordered an amazing spicy eggplant shrimp dish. Not till I ordered did I find out the eggplant was breaded which luckily is fine since I'm not allergic I'm just trying not to eat it. So please waiters pre warn people of there is gluten on a dish if you notice they ask for the gluten free menu and you aren't busy! Anyhoo I ordered the salmon with veggies and mashed potatoes (: very yummy and reasonably priced for the sizes
(4)Donnie D.
Me and my fiancée love coming here on our dinner dates! The food is absolutely amazing here. Every single pasta dish I've tried here I have fallen in love with. My fiancée's go to dish is the Blackened Tilapia. The fish is so soft and just falls apart and full of flavor.
(5)G V.
Terrible customer service. I was excited to try this place as it is fairly new. When we arrived, we were greeted by a host who clearly had better things to do than attend to guests. After 5 minutes of waiting, I said excuse me to the host and Rather than a greeting, i received with "the wait is currently 45 minutes". I explained that I had a reservation for three and a high chair. The host did not reply, but offered a friendly rolling of the eyes and a large sigh. When escorted to our table, we reminded the host of the high chair and the host responded that they will give us one when it becomes available. I asked why one was not reserved as part of our reservation. I even called and confirmed that it would be available and was told that it was. The host repeated that we can get a high chair once one opens up. Slightly frustrated, I asked to speak to a manager. I fully don't expect them to take a high chair from someone who is currently using it, but they should also inform me if their policy is not to guarantee a high chair as dining with a one year old is very difficult if they are required to sit in your lap for the duration of the meal. The manager approached and apologized, but offered the same explanation. They simply do not have enough high chairs. I explained the lackluster attitude of the host and the managers response was a simple, we'll talk to them. Disappointed and knowing that I was not going to find another restaurant without a ridiculous wait time, I sucked it up and ordered food. Although the food was ok, not spectacular, the terrible customer service will keep me from returning again.
(1)Joseph M.
Sorry to all! This review was meant to be for Cuccina Enoteca in the Spectrum. Simply not very good food. Stuffed zucchini blossom were good. Doughnut whole things are good but terrible dipping sauces. Linguini and clams (a delicate food) should never have pepper flakes. Let alone to the point of a single hot burn and no flavor. The other pasta was just as bad. The beet salad was OK but small. We won't be back. The Traveling Foodies
(1)Erin D.
Excellent menu, food, portions and service. I've been twice in the last week and really enjoyed both the chicken piccata and the brick chicken. Delicious! And large portions - very pleased. This place is a new favorite!
(4)Patrick D.
Came for late lunch on a Sunday afternoon with my wife. Upon entering, we requested a table outside. The two hostesses up front seemed completely uninterested in accommodating our request and informed that no tables were available, but were welcome to the bar patio and sofa seating. We went out there ourselves and found an available table (with no help from the hostesses - why are they there?). After waiting a few minutes I went to one of the sofa tables and grabbed menus and place settings. So far, not so good. Eventually bread/butter was brought to the table - fresh and delicious. Our server (Andi) came by soon enough and took our drink orders. Upon returning, we inquired about whether there were any tomato sauces based pastas available (the menu was a bit vague on this in same areas). Our server proceeded to read off the menu and speculate which pastas had what sauces. The server did not really have knowledge about the foods being offered (or at least the knowledge you'd expect from a server working in this type of establishment). At the start of the service our server seemed uninterested in really serving us. Our first request to refill bread and the ice tea was meet with a reaction of disappointment (like it was an inconvenience). But I will say that the service attitude did improve as the meal experience went on, though I wonder if the cheerful attitude we received toward the end of service (when the check was provided) was more related to our departure. If only the cheerfulness was consistent from the beginning that I might consider it authentic. We ended up ordering the Artichoke Spinach dip to start and 2 entrees: the Pasta Brio and the Lasagna lunch plate (w/ insalata). The dip was amazing. With the inclusion of garlic, the dip was elevated when compared to similar offerings elsewhere. The Pasta Brio was given a 5/10 by my wife. While the chicken was tender/juicy and not dry, the rest of the dish was forgettable and quite plain. It was not believed to be better that what you could get at an Olive Garden. When the Lasagna dish was brought out they also brought out the insalata which was quite surprising (and disappointing). So my Lasagna had to sit for about 10 minutes or so while I went through the fairly size able insalata. It tasted well enough, no complaints, but would have liked to received it before the Lasagna came to the table. The Lasagna itself was OK and didn't do anything to make itself standout. The dip was the food highlight of the experience. Likely not returning for a 2nd visit. TL;DR * Terrible overall service that seemed in line with other review complaints * Food was ok overall but doesn't offer enough to overcome garbage service.
(2)Jeffrey M.
So disappointed. Came here for happy hour. Artichoke dip was tasteless. Shrimp dish overly salty, greasy and tasteless. Food left a horrible after taste in my mouth. Must be the salt? Happy hour white wine undrinkable. Will never go back. $49.00 wasted.
(1)SSS K.
Service was bit slow but this is a good restaurant with hearty food that u can make into healthy meals w the right substitutions. Great ambiance and creative, neat use of Carrara white marble basin upon quartz vanity in the restroom. Will return
(4)Vivian T.
I love their beef carpaccio!!! Delicious!!! So is their caprese salad! The atmosphere is great. Pricing is fair. Definitely come back!
(5)Kelly C.
Came in for appetizers and drinks, Strawberry Fresca was amazing! We had the bruschetta sampler and the carpaccio, both were definite winners! The bread for the bruschetta was extra fresh, all ingredients went well together for each of the four bruschettas, highly recommended! The amount of carpacchio we got was incredible for the price, definitely best bang for your buck and its the best carpacchio my husband has ever had! Both servers we had did a great job as well;)
(5)Julie S.
Super cute and great service but I didn't like what I ordered. I had the salmon salad and the greens were not fresh. Let's just say they weren't green. And my friend got a pasta and it was ok. Like I said, not terrified food but great ambiance. Beautiful interior decor and our waiter was so super adorable and sweet
(4)Nicole T.
Such delicious good! The pasta and shrimp are amazing. The flatbread pizza is to die for. Even the bread they serve the table is ridiculously good. No corkage fee. Service is attentive. I like the fact that their veal is humane free-range (even though I still don't really eat veal). Love this place!!!
(5)Gaby G.
Best salmon I've ever had! The drinks are really good too... I think you can order anything here and it's absolutely delicious! Must go!
(5)Man S.
We sat at the bar, supposedly a full service bar. The bartender is great however the waiters who brought our meal out do not seem to be helping the poor bartender out, who is making drinks for their tables. I asked for red onion, never got it! I asked for red chili flakes, never got it!!!! The food was okay! We ordered the spicy shrimps and eggplant, wedge salad and fennel pastas; however the wine was great!
(3)Kelley T.
Food was not that great. I had the cream stuffed French toast with berries, which the server raved about and I was quite disappointed. Because it was stuffed, then frozen (pre-made), it was soggy and didn't boast much flavor. Nice ambience and friendly staff.
(3)Kathy T.
When it comes to dining, you usually look at two things. Food and service. So lets start with the food. The food was ok. We got the prosciutto and mushroom flatbread as the appetizer. Hubby liked the roasted chicken. I got some type of Mediterranean salad with chicken. As you can tell, the food was that memorable that I can't recall what I had. Food overall was not terrible but also nothing to rave about. Now lets talk about the service. First of all it took some time for the server to show up at our table. The restaurant was not busy, so I can't imagine why it took so long for us to get our drink order. Once we order, our appetizer came rather quick. But after that, it is like they had forgotten about us. It took a LOOOONG time for us to finally get out dinner entree. A good server would have came to us and informed us of the delay. But not ours. We had to track him down to find out the status of our food. And of course the typical answer we got was "your food is coming right out". Did it come right out? Of course not! Then another guy (perhaps the manager) came and told us that there was a problem in the kitchen so our food is taking longer than it should. At that point, the proper thing he should have done was to offer a little something on the house. That would have cost them nothing but It would have eased my frustration. But instead, they have lost me as a customer for life. Would I come back here? NO Would I recommend anyone here? NO You decide for yourself after reading this review.
(3)Jim F.
8/15/14 Friday night I came in with a few friends and before getting a table I went to wash hands in mens restroom. One soap dispenser was completely removed and the other was empty without soap. Then there was a store bough soap dispenser sitting on counter (Soft Soap). This was completely empty too. Right before I was leaving the bathroom I told an employee who was heading to the bathroom. He looked at me with a blank look and tried to pump soap as if he didnt believe me. He discover it empty and didnt seem to care. He then went to restroom. I then asked to speak to manager. His name was Nick and he apologized. I told Nick there was no way I would eat here. And he said, anything I could do, for example buy us an appetizer. Are you kidding me???? I would never have someone buy me an appetizer when especially I know that there was no soap in restroom. This was very disappointing since this restaurant is only two weeks old.
(1)Matt D.
Above average food. Service was slow. Bruschetta quartet was the highlight. We were here on Tuesday night and it was moderately busy but not enough to be slow.
(3)Kristin B.
me and justin b. luckily made the cut for this preview dinner and i was thoroughly impressed with my experience here at Brio Tuscan Grill! i had underestimated travel time so we actually showed up for our reservation about 20 minutes early but Brio was able to accommodate us and we got seated right away! major plus that they didn't overbook the restaurant so the night was already off to a good start haha. after we were seated and given some of our server's favorite dish recommendations, we were served the spicy shrimp over breaded eggplant appetizer. omg it was amazing! the panko breaded eggplant and the shrimp were really delicious and i didnt think the dish was TOO spicy, it had the right amount of kick/flavor. then my caesar salad was next and it was standard. tasted good but nothing spectacular about it haha...for my main entree, i went with the lasagna and so glad that i did! the portion size is very generous and i ended up taking half of my meal home for lunch the next day haha...but the lasagna is super cheesey with meat sauce and i thought it was delicious. and to top it all off Brio served us dessert as well! we were served the lemon cake and carrot cake served in an oversized shot glass haha. the carrot cake was definitely my favorite out of the 2, but i was sorta jealous of other tables that got the bread pudding or chocolate flavor ones haha. i'll have t come back and try those next time! my dinner for 2 would have cost me around $50 (no alcoholic drinks ordered this night) and i think thats more than reasonable for a nice date night out service as a whole was a bit slow, but that was expected since it was still a preview dinner/training opportunity. every member of the staff that i encountered though was friendly, knowledgeable and really willing to help! for instance, i had needed a new fork and was looking for my server, but during that time another server must have seen my look of confusion/panic haha...so she went out of her way to bring me a new fork! i loved the team work here at Brio and i think they are well on their way to a successful opening! get out all those slow service kinks now so you can WOW us when we come back ;)
(5)Sy h.
Mediocre food, less than mediocre service. Ordered a chicken dish was told 20 minutes later they were out of it; but I could order another chicken entree how do you run out of chicken but have "another chicken entree"?
(2)Yummy C.
Beautiful restaurant.. Awesome staff.. Great happy hour menu! Best deal in town :))) Everything is ok tasting but not amazing..
(4)Elizabeth C.
Fantastic! Delicious! We had the spinach artichoke dip, lamb chops & strip steak. The house bread & butter are to die for. Awesome service! Very well recommended.
(5)Dsunnybunz ..
We love this place. Good food and love the live music that starts at 9. Our waiter, Claudio was very attentive.
(5)Parisa H.
This is my favorite place to eat with my family or clients Great food, perfect atmosphere, awesome customer service. Best of all they take reservations. Love love love it
(5)Henry Z.
Brio's food was delicious! Me and my family enjoyed our meal there. The service was great, the location perfect, food amazing, everything a restaurant needs! Highly recommend!
(5)Aaron E.
Brio fails somewhere between Macaroni Grill and Olive Garden or as I like to call it "Hell and Perdition". After reading countless reviews about Brio's brand of Italian I felt compelled to get them checked off of my list and made a reservation for 7:45pm on a Friday night. The house was packed and it was apparent from the jump that the staff was not ready for the onslaught of being in the weeds at peak hour. Our party was not seated for 20 minutes with a reservation, so we posted up at the bar until our table was ready. I will say that the interior of the restaurant was quite inviting, but it goes downhill from here fast. Once seated we were greeted by our lackadaisical server who would sloppily orchestrate service for our table in a tag team effort with another server, neither aware what the other was doing. Drinks took ages to arrive, water glasses remained empty and the pace of the meal was slow to the point of staggering. Brio's service is horrific at peak times, so please be advised. The cuisine was no redemption. The Cesar Salad was very Chili's-esque. The Tomato & Mozzarella Caprese was weighed down but under ripe Tomatoes and grainy and flavorless globs of Mozzarella. The Grilled Mahi Mahi was over everything. Over cooked, Over seasoned, overloaded with Cilantro and I was over it altogether. The Pasta Pesto came in as the table favorite and featured a nice light Pesto sauce covering Angel Hair Pasta, (a stingy amount of) grilled Chicken, caramelized Onions, Tomatoes, Peppers, Feta crumbles and fresh basil. With exception to the Pasta Pesto, every plate returned to the kitchen with at least half of the dish still on it. Naturally our oblivious waitresses took no notice. I thought I did a reasonable amount of homework prior to choosing Brio for a meal but now realize where I made my mistake. The majority of the reviews I read on Yelp were from an Elite event that the restaurant had advance warning to prepare for. The experience I had was nothing close to what was described and the chance that I return is slim to nonexistent.
(2)Justin T.
Very friendly service and the food was amazing. It was a lot of fun having dinner on the patio and the restaurant itself is beautiful. I can't wait to come back and try more dishes.
(4)Eric O.
Just visited this location for the first time---after going to the Rancho location before. Very nice restaurant but our direct service was very subpar. We had William(guessing it was his name based on our receipt). Came to us first for drinks and appetizer but didn't return for 20 minutes after that for our entree order. We would normally be understanding but the restaurant was relatively empty on a Monday at 3pm and a holiday. Appetizer took 25 minutes to come out---almost thinking it was forgotten about. Food was good and bruschetta sampler was amazing. Average dining experience but not worth the price tag for the overall experience.
(3)Michelle T.
Excellent service, delicious food, lovely ambiance! Our waitress was extremely knowledgeable and incredibly friendly. I came here on a Sunday at noon, and we got seated right away. The hostess gave us the option of dining inside or outside. We chose outside since it was such a beautiful day. [[Roasted Garlic, Spinach, & Artichoke Dip]] Cheesy, creamy, delicious, yum! The dip came with Parmesan flatbread, and it is perfect for sharing with those dining with you! [[Sicilian Omelette]] Wow, I wish I could make eggs this fluffy. Anyways, the omelette is filled with smoked ham, bacon, sausage, onions, tomatoes, Mozzarella, Provolone, and Parmesan. It's served with some potatoes on the side. My boyfriend ordered this dish, and he said it was quite delicious and filling. [[Campanelle Carbonara]] This was the dish I ordered. I am a sucker for Alfredo, chicken, and bacon. Put them all together in one plate, and I'm sold! However, there was nothing special about this dish. There was nothing that set it aside from any other Carbonara I've had before. Although it's nothing special, it was still delicious. Bread & Parmesan flatbread was served along with a piece of butter before any of our food came out. The bread was nice and warm, so the butter melted nicely on it. I also like how they served actual butter, and not that margarine-I Can't Believe It's Not Butter-crap. Ultimately, I would definitely come back here - for dinner though. I want to try some of the items that are only offered on the dinner menu.
(5)Cindy L.
Brio is located next to Del Frisco's and has beautiful outdoor seating -- which is self-seating, I believe. It's far away from the main eating locations at the Spectrum, but close enough to center if you need to grab a bite to eat before more shopping! Maybe it was because this restaurant is fairly new still, or perhaps I just didn't order the right things but I didn't think that there was anything spectacular about the food here. I started with the beef carppacio, which was oddly enough a pale shade of pink and served with a mustard sauce.The greens were dressed with vinaigrette and not enough seasoning -- I thought. I ordered the Shrimp Mediterranean which was interesting. The shrimp wasn't very spicy, but it was served with spinach and broccoli orzo and pesto. It was fair. My friend's food wasn't that much better -- she had the salmon salad which was essentially a charred hockey puck on a bed of mixed-greens. I thought the food was mediocre, the seating and surrounding area were nice -- but the company was the best part. We ended up staying for a few hours and just kept talking and laughing the entire time. I wish the server was a little more attentive, even though we were more interested in catching up -- we never had our waters re-filled nor were we asked if we'd like dessert or coffee. I guess I should say that I consider Brio to be more of a Mediterranean style restaurant that serves AMERICAN-Italian cuisine as well. With reasonable prices, I think this place is fine though I think Cucina Enoteca is much better at serving more rustic Italian cuisine -- definitely more flavorful. If you're not looking for anything too adventurous, Brio is definitely a must-try.
(3)Chris F.
This place was great! Nice vibe, atmosphere, and great service. I had the lobster and shrimp fettuccine. Simply amazing. I'll definitely be going back.
(5)Margaret N.
Christmas luncheon for a group of eight. The Quatro bruschetta is delicious for sharing as an appetizer and the lobster bisque was a hit with diners who ordered it. The best entree selected by a group vote was the Pasta alla vodka. Melts in your mouth. Pasta Brio seared mushrooms were delicious but the sauce was a little bland. Shrimp Mediterranean is delicious. The only negative in the service was the slow serving of the drinks. Soup and appetizers came before the drinks. The servers were bringing food to our table meant for other diners. Naturally, this is a busy time of the year, but that should not interrupt the order of the service. However, all in all, I would dine here again for sure.
(4)Archie D.
Ah, Brio! How I wish I liked your food more than I did! Came in here a week or so ago and ordered the Bistecca Alla Fiorentina, and a Bruschetta Quattro, along with whatever my girlfriend ordered (some sort of chicken). My steak was cooked well, but lacking seasoning. You could tell the server was new, but she was really nice and overwhelmed, so that's okay. The bruschetta was hit or miss, but the red pepper one was by far the best. Ambiance was nice and somewhat romantic, but on the more casual side. I think for the price, you're better off going to Houston's or somewhere else (Del Frisco's next door is pretty bland, too).
(3)Herald L.
NADINE is amazing! try to get her as your server #realtalk I didn't want to write a review until I had the chance to come back for HH, which happened yesterday. I am currently a huge fan of this restaurant. The quality is amazing and the prices are reasonable (read: cheap). I not a huge fan of the dining options at Spectrum and usually I don't eat pasta when I go out cuz carbs on carbs on carbs, but Brio and CE at Spectrum are the only exceptions. I tried all the bruschettas, PASTA ALLA VODKA (my favorite), chiggin on quinoa salad, the misto salad, the half chiggin, and the lamb chops. it was all great! The ambiance is pretty laid back. I love how high the ceilings are and how open the restaurant feels. The porch dining is great since it's been so effing hot in Irvine lately, it's nice to eat dinner out side once in a while. minor complaints- please stop giving us bread AND appetizer plates at the same time cuz then there's no room on the table for the food. I mean, I guess the plates of food could go on top of the small bread plates and we could use the appetizer plates to eat the food off of... OR you could just give us ONE set of plates. whatever. Yesterday I went to HH with the work family and we ordered everything on the food menu. THE BEEF CARPACCIO is only 4 bucks and it's A-mazing. We ordered two of those. The fried ravioli were also a good HH snack. Drinks are super cheap. Try their house Italian Margarita. it tastes light and refreshing and has tequila in it. Shout out to NADINE who worked the bar area yesterday. She has the most beautiful eyes and the best sense of humor. She definitely made our visit more enjoyable. PLUS she got jokes for days. we were all dying at her snarky comments. See you soon NADINE!!! and Brio too, I guess.
(5)Alisha M.
My husband and I were blown away with the level of service and experience at Brio. I WISH I remember our waitresses name is because I want to let her manager know! She knew the menu from front to back, her recommendations were on point! We can't wait to go back!!!
(5)Henry C.
Very accommodating service and good food. Went in for a quick lunch, told our server we had a time crunch and the food was out very fast. Quality and taste were very good. Need to go back for dinner and have a more leisurely dining experience.
(5)Julie M.
I came here for lunch and I'm not sure if there is a different chef for the lunch hour or what because I heard some really good things about this place. Unfortunately, I can't say the same as my friends. I ordered the chipotle chicken panini and it was soooo herbed out it completely overpowered the entire dish. It tasted like someone dumped half the oregano bottle on it and then sprinkled on some more. Too much. So, I had them return it and i ordered the dessert sampler along with the chicken carbonara pasta to go. The sampler was delish! I really enjoyed all of them. Especially the peanut butter chocolate one. Upon returning back to work and letting all that settle, I decided to try out the pasta. TOO SALTY!!! :( whats going on? This place cant always be like this, I hear such good things. I'm even willing to come back but maybe for dinner. Anyone else experience something like this?
(2)Kat N.
Nadine and Kelsey were amazing servers! The food was AMAZING! Sat by the fireplace and definitely coming back.
(5)Charlie C.
I had a 6:45pm reservation and when my friend and I got there we were quickly seated and greeted by the friendly server and a huge serving of beef carpaccio. The presentation on that dish was pretty and delish! After we then took a look at the menu and we decided on the shrimp and lobster fettuccine and fillet mignon. Before we got our entrees, our salads came first, I got the chopped salad and my friend got the caesar. The chopped salad had was over dressed and really sour for my taste. The caesar was perfect. The shrimp and lobster fettuccine was really good. The pasta was cooked perfectly and the seasoning was well balanced. The steak was okay. In my opinion for around 30 bucks the dish should have a lot more than a piece of meat, some mashed potatoes and veggies. It should have came with some pasta instead of potatoes. And for dessert we got this lime thing and a carrot cake thing served in a shooter glass, both were very tasty! Overall this preview dinner went well. The servers were on point with their customer service, the food was good, and I will be sure to come back when they open to try other pastas and menu items!
(5)Craig C.
Excellent food and service. I had the Florentine steak and it was comparable to the one I had in Florence.
(5)Sopa S.
Read the reviews and really wanted to try this spot. Unfortunately my experience differs greatly from the other reviewers here. The service is good enough. So is the atmosphere. The problem lies in the food. Ordered the artichoke dip for an appetizer and it tasted like it was pre-made and came right out the microwave. Very spongey and unappetizing. For entree I ordered the steaks and it was nearly as bad. Though I ordered medium rare it came out medium well and was extremely dry. The mash potatoes tasted like the microwave variety you get from Walmart. I left with a big bill and still hungry as the food left me wanting. Definitely not coming back.
(1)Diane V.
I was cordially invited by Yelp to get a complimentary preview of the new Brio Tuscan Grill at the Irvine Spectrum. Having never been to a Brio at all, I accepted with a +1. It's located right across from Forever 21 and adjacent to the parking structure, so it's convenient. The hostesses were very pleasant and seated us immediately. The decor was nice, kind of like a Tuscan Cheesecake Factory and was a good size. It's rather intimately casual but is also good for large parties and special occasions. I didn't drink because I really needed to detox after the World Cup Weekend, but I ate a lot to make up for it. We had the following items: Spinach & Artichoke Dip: I did indulge in the complimentary appetizer, which was REALLY good. It came with parmesan crackers, and they also had sourdough bread available if you preferred that instead. Chopped Salad with no dressing: the salad itself was good, but when I tried my date's same salad with dressing it was extremely tart and lemony. Like, really tart. He didn't finish it. Grilled Mahi Mahi: Yum! It was very tender, and the orzo and spinach were a good pairing with the fish also. The sauce that it came with is a little too sour for my taste, but the dish didn't have a lot of it so it was good. Veal Milanese: The veal itself was good, but something about all these sauces....they must really love lemon here. All their sauces are really tart and super sour tasting. to me, this didn't pair well with the food. Lemon Cream Pie Mousse: This one tasted really funky. I did not like it at all. It tasted like yogurt gone really bad. I'm not sure if that's how lemon cream pie is supposed to taste, but I had to spit this one out. Chocolate Mousse: Ah, much better! It's a bit rich, but if you like that, this dessert made up for the funky taste of the other dessert. Service: Very good and super attentive. A little too much actually. Everyone here was a little too eager to clear plates. One person after another asked us to clear the appetizer plate that we (um, I) were still working on, so it got to be a bit too much after the 4th person asked to clear the plate. But other than that, they were good about water refills, asking how things were, and being there when you needed them. They looked overstaffed/appropriately staffed, so it doesn't look like they'll have any issues of being under-staffed and slow here. The managers came by to ask how things were, so that was especially a nice touch. Bathrooms: Clean and nice. I had to walk through the line to get there, though, which was rather uncomfortable, but it wasn't too bad. Credit cards are accepted. Grazie, Brio!
(4)RIA U.
Came here on Saturday afternoon with my husband and in-laws... My excitement they had my favorite Sauvignon Blanc!!! For appetizers we got the caprese and beef carpaccio OMG...his huge. Both were very delicious!!! For dinner I had the mushroom raviloli... It was to die for!! The outside ambiance is great for so cal afternoon dining. Will definitely be back!!
(4)Mike K.
Went in for Sunday brunch with family from out of town...there were 5 of us in our party and when we sat down, 3 of us had dirty plate in our place settings...we gave them to the host as he was handing out menus and he apologized and gave us new plates...2 more dirty dishes...if someone complains about a dirty dish, wouldn't you want to make sure you replace it with a clean plate? The first person to pick up a napkin noticed it was dirty. We left.
(1)Shawna C.
I felt like this restaurant was an expensive Macaroni Grill. The restaurant decor was elegant, but the drinks and food were not worth the prices. Service was polite but not attentive. Use Open Table for reservations during busy dinner hours.
(3)Safina M.
Brios never ceases to amaze me with their great food, friendly ambiance, and good customer service. It has become a staple restaurant for my family and I since it first opened. The inside is formal but very loud so I definitely recommend sitting on the cushioned seating outside--they have heaters all around! The meal from start to finish is spectacular. They have a great variety of appetizers including the bruschetta and caprese salad. The bruschetta incorporates the flavors of Italy into one bite with the ricotta cheese and tomatoes. The caprese salad is simplistic but very flavorful with the olive oil and balsamic vinegar drizzled on top. The main entree comes soon after, my favorite being the Pasta Alla Vodka. To top it all off, the dessert is divine and at a reasonable cost. The portions for the dessert are minis but very filling so you are able to try a plethora of items at a low cost. My personal favorite for the desserts is the peanut butter mousse that has the perfect balance of sweetness and crunch. Overall, I highly recommend Brios to everyone, you will not regret it!
(5)Amanda Y.
I was so excited to see a Brio open here (moved to CA from OH 2 years ago, frequented the brio in Cleveland) it's exactly what spectrum was missing! Have been here twice since it opened. First time service was a little rocky since it had just opened but they were just getting into the swing of things. Second time, sat at the bar and had excellent service. The food was excellent, as always, both times. Can't wait to go back!!
(5)Peter Y.
I came here with my girlfriend for a soft opening and were greeted by so many people and seated in the smaller quieter dining room towards the back instead of the spacious main dining room. The main dining floor is decorated with ornate pendant chandeliers in an open space with stone pillars strewn about, which definitely gave you the Tuscan feel. The smaller dining room has large open windows to the main floor yet still keeps the room quiet. The room was also lined in wood and had an elegant ambiance to it. We started off with the roasted garlic, spinach & artichoke dip served with delicious crispy parmesan flatbread points. The flatbread was quite good on its own, but paired nicely with the dip. We also had the beef carpaccio, which was ginormous! It was topped with an lovely array of dressed greens, mustard aioli and capers and sprinkled with Parmigiano-Reggiano. For thr main course, we ordered the grilled lamb chops with pistachio mint pesto and the Compart Farms Duroc pork porterhouse. The lamb chops were slightly dry, but had excellent flavor. The charring was done well and went quite well with the pistachio mint pesto sauce. It was accompanied with a side of roasted sliced red potatoes, red bell peppers, asparagus and caramelized onions. It could jave also been the pairing of the the roasted potatoes that gave the lamb chops and ultimately the whole dish a 'dry' feel to it, but you be the judge to that when you try it. Moving along to the porterhouse, I was very nicely cooked and served resting on a side of mashed potatoes and was accompanied by arugula & watercress salad and some roasted red bell peppers, zucchini & carrots. I especially liked how the carrots tasted and the mashed potatoes were smooth and creamy. For dessert, we got the molten lava cake with a decadent gooey fudge center topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, garnished with fresh raspberries and dusted with cocoa powder. The meal was awesome and our server Lala was super attentive and gave us great service. I can't wait to go back and try their other menu items. I also like theit menu because it tells you the calorie count of each item....if you're into that sort of thing.
(4)Lisa B.
Just came back from having dinner here on a Thursday night. I have to say, I am quite impressed! The decor is beautiful, service is attentive and efficient, and the food was better than I expected. The kid's menu, first of all, is wow... My 3-year old son asked to get the salmon. I was surprised he wanted salmon and then quickly did a double take when I realized that salmon was on the kid's menu! My 9 year old had the lasagna. When their orders came, the plates were huge. My husband usually orders salmon if it's on the menu when we go out to eat. But since my little one beat him to it, he decided to try something different. The first thing we all realized was the portion size of the salmon from the kid's menu was larger than the adult portions at many other restaurants we've been to like this. It's quite a bit! Plus, there was a lot of broccoli and a good serving of mashed potatoes. Love it when restaurants don't skimp on the kid's menu! Plus, the waiter gave the kids bread dough that he told them to shape however they wanted. They took their raw dough to the guy making the pizzas in the kitchen area who put their creations in the pizza oven. The kids brought it back to the table and gobbled up their freshly baked breads with their dinner. They had so much fun, and when the kids have fun then my husband and I are over the moon! My husband had the Gorgonzola-encrusted beef medallions. He really liked the flavor of it but thought it was a bit over cooked. It didn't stop him from wiping his plate clean, though. I had the lamb chops. Fabulous... It came with scalloped potatoes and asparagus (which my 3 yro helped me to devour, too). I can tell when a restaurant serves good food when my picky eater eats! We don't normally order desserts after dinner, but the selection seemed so good. So we got the tiramisu and chocolate caramel-something (sorry, I've forgotten what it was called, but it's chocolate and caramel in a cup with whipped cream). Not the best tiramisu I've ever had, but it was yummy even after eating a full dinner. The chocolate caramel dessert was really flavorful. Overall, we would definitely recommend and come back here again.
(5)Christie C.
I got the whole grain vegetable pasta that Amanda, the excellent multitasking bartender, recommended for me! First time eating here and the food was so tasty. Not just your ordinary Italian joint, and it won't break your wallet. Also got the rose sangria, fresh fruit and all! I will definitely be heading here for my next Italian fix!
(5)Michael S.
Service was good (waitress part). It wasn't too busy bc they could have sat us right away inside. But we opted to sit outside. So we waited. Once we were seated the waitress was great. Got our drink orders fast and brought them out fast. Gf ordered flirtini... She liked it. I ordered a Pinot Grigio, goes "well" with Alfredo. Checked in on yelp and waited for the food. We talked and they brought out the appetizer pretty fast and then we waited... And waited... And waited for the main course... I'm getting hungry and started wondering where the food is. My gf said it's getting busy... Which didn't matter bc our order was in. I checked on yelp and it has been 40 mins since I checked in, granted we did get the appetizer fast, it was still 40+mins! Finally the food comes out around the 45min mark with an apology (they knew they took forever!) we start to eat and I'm not impressed with the salty chicken Alfredo w/ bacon (i forgot what it's called) and my gf just ordered the lobster bisque and salad, which she said the bisque was salty. If you have ever tried the Brio in St. Louis, this place is not nearly as good. Not sure if the chef has a huge impact on the taste of their food but this chef is no bueno. His cooking time was way too slow and the food was salty. We like Brio and might have to wait until we visit our parents in st louis to ever try Brio again.
(2)Charles R.
Had the shrimp for lunch. Nice spicy combination with rice, asparagus and more. Well presented and great flavor. Restaurant has a nice ambience, and the service was friendly and excellent. I will definitely recommend it to family and friends.
(5)Yen L.
Newly opened at Irvine Spectrum, it's located on the same side as Nordstrom and Yard House, adjacent to the parking structure. We dined in the patio, which was open seating with some tables and comfy patio furnitures. They served full menu out there. We took advantage of the week night late Happy Hour (3:30-6:30 and 9:00 til close, Mon-Fri). From the HH menu (drinks and plates $4-6) we enjoyed the sangria rosa, which was refreshing with muddled strawberries and pineapples. The beef carpaccio was tasty and light. The black pepper shrimp was rich and saucy on Romano crusted eggplants. The spinach artichoke dip was just okay, it was a bit overwhelming to eat with the Parmesan flatbread it came with. We did like it better with the plain loaf bread from the bread basket. The highlight of the meal was the 5oz Filet Brio from their regular lighter fare menu. The filet was perfectly cooked and well accompanied by sweet potatoes, roasted peppers, spinach, and asparagus. At only 365 calories, it was awesome! We appreciate the fact that they offer desserts in petite sizes. We got the tiramisu in a little shot glass and it was just the way to end a meal. The waiting staff were very nice and helpful. We would definitely return to try the other items on the menu and to take advantage of the HH.
(4)Lonnie T.
Right off the bat The food here sucks. After a long and stressful ordeal @ the Apple Store, me and my fiancé decided that we needed some "good" food for dinner. This was our first (and last) visit. We ordered the spinach dip, which was ok. But the flat bread chips that came with it were stale. I ordered the sausage and roasted tomato pasta, and my fiancé ordered the pesto pasta. The cook must have forgotten to drain my pasta, I swear that I was eating soup. My fiancés pasta had little to no pesto and forgot to add "flavor". Overall, not worth the 65.00 that included a generous tip, the service was good. No presence of a manager. Will not be going here again that's for sure
(2)Cody P.
Every time I come to this location I have an amazing experience. The food is fantastic I HIGHLY recommend the Spicy Shrimp and Eggplant appetizer and the Shrimp and Lobster Fettuccine as a Entree they are excellent! Happy hour has great deals as well!! The servers are very nice and very educated about the menu. I usually ask to be sat in Kelsey's section she is a great server, hilarious, helpful and always checks up on the table a reasonable amount of times. Great place! One of the best restaurant I've even been to.
(5)James M.
Meh. Like an overpriced Olive Garden. The carpaccio was pretty good though. The pasta seemed dried and not fresh made, and that is the whole point of a good Italian restaurant, isn't it?
(3)Abhi S.
Great authentic Tuscan grill ! Under 600 calorie dinner section is great. Had Mediterranean shrimp it's just awesome! Highly recommended!
(4)jennifer c.
Love this place. I love that it's next to the parking structure. Easy to get to. The food is good. The lunches are good. Happy hour is crazy cheap and the yummy. U Can bring ur own wine bottles and they will open them at no charge is designated areas. We have always had great service.
(4)Divakar P.
Went to BRIO on 3rd feb for a dinner with my wife. Though it wasn't crowded but The overall hospitality was excellent. Chris, the Guy serving us was neat and very attentive. The shrimp and eggplant appetizer was very good. Highly recommended if you like bit of spice. I would really want to visit the place again.
(4)Linda L.
It was average. It was truly average. The food was solid, but nothing to write home about. The prices were middle of the road for Orange County Italian table service. The servers were eager but on the slower side. I had some trouble communicating with them. We had several miscommunications in terms of ordering. I will grant that they did fix the mistakes and they did not charge for the mistakes. That definitely showed good customer service on their part. The food also came out a but slowly. The beef carpaccio was one of the highlights of the meal. I have to say that I wish they had some sound walls in the place or some sort of dampener. The restaurant was unbearably loud. I couldn't even speak to the person sitting next to me or across from me. I find it terribly tedious to scream at my dinner partners just to communicate with them. I may visit again if I already happen to be at the Spectrum, however, I will not fight for a parking spot at the Spectrum just to eat here.
(3)Bruce D.
Nice restaurant. Food is good and the staff is very friendly. I would go there again.
(4)Cherie K.
Horrible experience here. I made a reservation for my graduation dinner because of the great reviews but was beyond disappointed. The food took 45 minutes to come out and the pasta dishes that everyone else ordered were extremely dry and mediocre. I ordered the grilled chicken "under the brick" and it was completely inedible from how bad it tasted. The Marsala sauce was thick and gooey and tasted like teriyaki sauce that had gone bad. The waitress did not offer to refill our waters for at least 30 minutes and we had to wave her down to ask, and even then she took her time. My family had flown in from across the state for this dinner and the entire experience was SO disappointing.
(1)Tanisha M.
Loved the atmosphere of the restaurant, not to mention their amazing white peach sangria!! My daughter loved their macaroni and cheese -- they used penne pasta that looked like it was covered in Alfredo sauce. My husband ordered the Caesar salad and lasagna for lunch and I had the Caesar salad with a bowl of minestrone soup. We also ordered their calamari which was also light and crispy. Overall I really enjoyed this restaurant but a $65 lunch for three was a tad but TOO pricey for me.
(4)Amber G.
Yummmmy this place was good! The service was great staff was very friendly.We sat outside on patio. The chicken pesto was good! Salmon salad was fresh and good! Food served with warm fresh bread.The outside patio has fire pits, outdoor heaters, comfy patio furniture. The mini deserts were perfect! Good size bar inside.
(5)Lien T.
The food is very tasty. The plates come with smaller portions, which is a good thing so that we try a variety of dishes while we are dining. One side down is the restaurant is very crowded and noisy, it is hard to talk if you have a big group. Next time we will reserve the outside patio.
(4)Bria B.
Our experience here started out questionable but the servers and management here were wonderful and the food was delicious so they completely made up for it. The wait time ended up being twice what we were quoted, but once we sat down one of the managers brought out a complimentary appetizer right away. Our server was so sweet, even when we ended up having to cancel the order for our entrees because we had been at the restaurant so long (our appetizer also took a long time to come out and we had somewhere else to be. All in all it took about 35 minutes from when we ordered the appetizer for it to come out. And 45 min later still no entree). I was very grateful that they were so accommodating. Also, the drinks were delicious, especially the sangria. Since they are a new restaurant, I would allot some extra time to dine there, but the food and service are worth it. Ill be back on a day when I have plenty of time to lounge and enjoy.
(5)Farzaneh E.
This is the second time I am coming here . The first time I ordered salad and it was really good , this time I came with my 8 years old daughter and ordered pasta and ravioli and fries . Didn't like any of them . Very oily and ravioli was dry and taste less. The service is nice and fast .
(3)Marmar S.
I love the foods and drinks over there . Grill chicken with quinoa salad is great . Great price for great food
(5)Kristina Z.
Went to Brio quite a few times now and I think that I like Brio way better back when it first opened. My family and I went to Brio again for New Years after being told that the wait at Cucina would be at least 2 hours (yikes!). We were seated within 10 minutes which was nice because it was New Years and every place else was full. This is what we ordered: - Beef Carpaccio - Sweet potato risotto - Lobster and shrimp pasta - Fish feature - Veal (forgot its name sorry!) Overall, the food was very salty. The beef carpaccio was good although the bread was a lil on the stale side. The risotto and the pasta was extremely salty! The white peach palmer was extra sweet that day but it was still good. The service was also quite slow and quite disappointing but most likely because it was New Years. I've been to Brio many times and this time I didn't have the best experience. Oh well, now I know to make extra early reservations! But I gotta say, Brio's steak salad IS worth going there for. Not sure if i'm going to go back on special occasions, but I might go back just for the steak salad (;
(3)Jason C.
I have to give Brio a 3 based on the service, though the food deserves a 4. My Wife and I went there on date night a few weeks ago and had a total Seinfeld moment. When they brought the bread, the server slammed it down and crumbs went everywhere. Instead of cleaning it up, the server actually kept it there throughout our entire dinner, desert and after dinner drinks We laughed because not one person who bussed out table decided "hey maybe i should clean up this mess" It eventually became a running joke especially after we paid the bill and the bread and its mess, was still all over the table
(3)Rchrrrd X.
Went on a groupon and yes the place is far but well worth it. Everyone I encountered was nice which is always a plus and our waiter was a Argentinian man and he was funny. Food was goo. Shrimp soup was great with other things we ordered. Overall me and my wife had a great time. Will upload a pic later
(5)Colette K.
Sat at the bar during happy hour. They have a decent selection for HH. I really enjoyed the carpaccio, it's huge! We also ordered the sausage flatbread off the reg menu and it was delicious! The service was good. We ended up ordering a bottle of wine just to have 2 glasses since the wines by the glass were horrible.
(3)Linh M.
My first time and i would never come back. The quality of the food and the taste is not worth the price. I ordered the shrimp pasta dish and turn out the shrimp taste like frozen shrimp (not recommend). The only thing i like is the service. Peace
(2)Harvey T.
First time here, and we came with a group of six for my wife's birthday. We had a hiccup when they brought two plates of our order out wrong. But they were very quick to fix it, and gave us deserts on the house to help make up for it. The food was pretty good. Most of us had steaks of some sort. Presentation was good. The beer selection was pretty weak in my opinion.
(4)Christine D.
Went here for restaurant week. Service was lacking. If you're going to promote your restaurant for more business, best to be on point with service for repeat customers.
(3)Eric R.
First time trying this restaurant. Had dinner with friends. The ambience is very pleasant. We had a reservation and were seated promptly upon arrival. Everyone was happy with the food. The portions are generous. Everyone was satisfied with taste of their food. The chopped salad was a great way to start. Properly dressed with a creamy Parmesan dressing. The only negative comments I have is that one of my friends asked the server what a particular dish was and rather than explaining it, the server directed my friend back to the menu to read the descriptions. Also, I ordered the pork chops with roasted vegetables. Both seemed to be overly salted, however, putting the salt aside, the flavor was good. The server did keep the beverages refilled without having to be asked which was appreciated. She did seem to lack a sense of humor. Overall, it was a good experience and I would not hesitate to dine here again if I find myself back in the area.
(4)Tracy H.
Cute place at the Irvine spectrum for Italian food! Called in for reservations the morning of, which was a good idea because upon arriving the wait was out the door. The place is extremely busy. So many people there for dinner. Came here for girls night and ordered the steak bruschetta as appetizer ($12). The different textures between the moist juicy steak on the crispy bread was to die for! I wanted more! Definitely a must try! I ordered the lobster shrimp fettuccine (~$23), which was okay. It didn't blow my mind. The sauce is mediocre. My friend ordered the penne alla pasta (~$23), which was a little better. We also ordered the crab cakes, which came with two crab cakes with no sauce and a side of vegetables. The crab cakes were moist, but not worth the price. However, beside the mediocre food, service here is great! Waiters come by often and ask how you are, if you need anything and if the food is to your liking.
(3)Geeyoung L.
I would probably rate this place 2.5 stars. I came for Sunday Brunch around 12, after my graduation with my family and boyfriend. The restaurant was not very crowded, but they still made several parties wait, and I even had a reservation. After being seated, we were given our menus, and I asked for the dinner menu as well, since the options were very limited. We ordered the Pasta Brio, Shrimp and Lobster Fettuccine, Pasta Pesto, Salmon with Angel Hair, and the Sicilian Omelet. The Pasta Brio looked like there was a lot of sauce and not much in it other than just the rigatoni itself. For the portion size and price, it was definitely not worth it. My Shrimp and Lobster Fettuccine had tiny pieces of lobster, a few pieces of shrimp, and a ton of overcooked, dry fettuccine, with not much sauce. I thought that the flavor was there, but the sauce was lacking. They needed to add a ladle of sauce. The Pasta Pesto was very different from any pesto I have ever seen. There was only fresh pieces of spinach, and the sauce, I couldn't even see. It was clear. The chicken didn't even taste like chicken, but more like salmon, which was very odd. Again, the sauce was lacking. The pasta was just lacking flavor in general. My dad's Salmon with Angel Hair pasta was very disappointing for him. He thought the salmon was good, but the pasta was just unappetizing. There was no sauce or flavor at all and just seemed like noodles put on a plate with some oil and a piece of salmon. Worst of all, the Sicilian Omelet was definitely the least tasteful omelet I have tasted. The eggs did not taste like eggs, but more like chemically altered, salty eggs. For an omelet dish, I would have expected it to come with pieces of toast at the very least, but it was just the omelet and some potatoes. The size of the omelet was actually pretty good, but the taste was not even subpar. The service we received was very slow as well. We asked for coffee to be refilled and it took over 10 minutes to bring it out. We had to wave our hands around for the waiter to come. Also, it was my graduation brunch and we wrote on the reservation that we were celebrating my graduation, but they didn't even congratulate me in any way. Every restaurant I have been to that I made a reservation for a certain occasion has always congratulated the person of honor in any way they could. My whole family and boyfriend were super displeased with our trip here, and thought that it was a very bad experience.
(2)Ursula G.
Beef carpaccio is fresh and worth every bite. Their bread is warm, and the crispy one with all the seeds is so full of flavor. Service is attentive and friendly, and prices are comparable to olive garden but the food quality is a world of difference. Their wedge salad is huge, best shared. Was not a fan of their lobster bisque, it was not creamy, but instead clumpy - and the consistency of carrot soup. The chicken risotto is also extremely salty and hard to finish. Besides those dishes, I am a huge fan, the crab cakes are really great, the lasagna is simple and satisfying. Last great thing about this place, is it's location - right next to the parking structure, so it's easy to find, park and go without having to get lost in the ever evolving spectrum.
(3)Patrick P.
Service is slow. Food is good though. But service needs help. Plus no music can be heard let's set the tone. Frank Sinatra its a simple formula. Never understood why Italian establishments don't get this. Dim the lights let Frank do his thing.
(3)Mona M.
I love their happy hour. The happy hour food portions are prefect for sampling everything with a small group and the prices are great. Seating gets hard to find towards the end of happy hour so I usually come if I can come early!
(4)Stacy F.
Really enjoy this location for several reasons. One, it's walking distance to our place, doesn't get much more convenient than that really. Two, it's always delicious. They are consistent with their food and we've never had a bad experience. Three, the staff here is amazingly friendly. They are always welcoming, very quick to take care of us, and on the off chance we need something they deliver on it. The negatives are the parking if you do need to bring the car over. This location is forever busy, so if you want to go to happy hour here, be ready to hover over people at the bar. They only allow happy hour in the bar area, so this jams everyone in one space, but this isn't all that different from the other places in the same area. Overall: A Great place to grab a plate of pasta alla vodka, enjoy the Cali environment and get some great service.
(4)Matthew Y.
This restaurant is located in the Irvine Spectrum near the Nordstroms. The best thing to do when coming to Brio is park in the covered structure right next to the restaurant. When you get off the 405 head down Irvine Center drive and turn right on Enterprise Drive it's the second left which takes you to the Nordstroms parking lot and now your right where you want to be. The restaurant is to the left of the parking structure. Friday night was my wife's work Xmas party and they choose Brio Tuscan Grille. I had never heard of this Italian restaurant. When we show up it's really elegant and fancy. We find her co-workers at this huge table. We greet everyone and we are instantly greeted by the servers asking us what we wanted to drink. I was like dang quick service! I order a Guinness which came in a tall can. I thought that was a little tacky for how upscale this place looked. My wife order some fruity cocktail as usual. I was looking over the menu and there was a lot of choices but I have a rule where when I go to a new Italian joint I always order the Lasagna and if it's wonderful then mostly likely everything on the menu is good. This is just something that I do. We all decided to order some appetizers to start. Now there were 7 of us so we needed something that would be enough for everyone. There was already some sourdough rolls and flatbread on the tables mind you. yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… Roasted Garlic, Spinach & Artichoke Dip, Great for sharing, with Parmesan flatbread $11.45. It was really good and it got cleared out pretty quick. yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… Margherita Flatbread Fresh Mozzarella, vine-ripened tomatoes, basil $13.85. My wife's choice. It was good but i thought it was a little excessive because we had flat bread on our tables and we just had flatbread chips and dip and now we are ordering more bread. I have never ate so much bread in one sitting. Thanks Hunny! yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… Beef Carpaccio was served with field greens, capers, mustard aioli and Parmigiano-Reggiano $13.45 It came out on this huge platter. I had one tiny little bite of this. Everyone else said it was delicious. yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… Then on to our Entrees but I'm not going to list what everyone ordered because frankly i was a little to drunk and full to notice. My wife ordered Grilled Lamb Chops with Pistachio Mint Pesto* Roasted red potatoes, red bell pepper, asparagus, caramelized onions $29.45. It looked mouth watering. I tried one little chop and OMG it was so good way better then my dish by far!!!! yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… I ordered Lasagna Bolognese Al Forno, Oven baked and layered with authentic Bolognese meat sauce, Alfredo, Ricotta and Mozzarella $18.65. Now like was saying before I judge the entire restaurant based of the quality of there Lasagna and frankly there was no meat sauce! They claim to have Ricotta but I would have to disagree. This Lasagna was not good. It tasted like it they replaced the Ricotta with Alfredo sauce and it tasted weird. The Meat sauce that was on top had no meat as you can see in the picture below and it was flavorless. I was pretty disappointed because how can you mess up a simple dish like this. I mean it's just noodle, cheese and sauce. I don't recommend this dish and I was glad I didn't have to pay for it. yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… Honako's Boss ordered Filetto Di Manzo Toscano* 8 oz filet center-cut filet, served with mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables $29.45. I tried a little piece of the filet and it was really good. I might get that the next time. Honako's co-worker ordered Grilled Salmon Fresca* Grilled asparagus, sweet potatoes, spinach, roasted peppers, pesto vinaigrette, Feta, diced tomatoes, balsamic glaze $18.95. He said it was fantastic and such great flavors. He was very happy with his choice. Then my wife's boss spoke with our server and explain its my wife's birthday on Monday and if they could do something for her. They brought out a bunch of little dessert and one with a candle in it. It was really tasty brownie with ice cream. I would like to give a HUGE THANKS to Serena our server for taking care of us. You took a bunch of wonderful photos and provided the best service. Thanks Again for making our Xmas dinner really wonderful and creating great new memories. Overall this Italian restaurant is a 5 star restaurant but I am only giving 4 stars because of my sad Lasagna and the Guinness tall can. I would definitely come back again. The food really tasty and it was a full house Friday night so they must be doing something right. Thanks again Brio for the great Xmas Dinner. Love, Matthew Y.
(4)Leslie R.
Service was slow and drinks were weak but the food was good. Our waiter was very apologetic about the slow service. As there are very few family friendly restaurants with above average food I will definitely give this restaurant another chance but will opt for wine instead of cocktails and hope for faster service.
(3)Roxanne F.
When I first walked into Brio, my attention was drawn to the beautiful and elegant decor. The main dining area has drapes on the ceiling similar to the decor of a wedding venue. Unfortunately, that is really the only thing going for this restaurant. I made a reservation, but was still asked to wait 10 minutes. Three minutes after my group of four was seated, I received a phone call from Brio informing me that my table was ready. That showed me how unorganized the staff is and quite embarrassing for them. Our waitress and our food was not impressive. I will start with our waitress since she was the least impressive aspect of our visit at Brio. She greeted us with a dry welcome and neglected to tell us her name. We didn't see her much because she was tending other tables, which I understand since it was very busy. My issue was that when she did come to our table, it was brief and straight to the point. She did ask how everything was, but didn't stay at our table long enough to hear our answer. Another negative was that she didn't clear our plates in between starters and entrees. When our entrees arrived, our table was full with already used plates that should have been taken away. Now for the food. I ordered the fish of the day and that was mahi. I thought that was very tasty and have no complaints. My two friends shared an order of calamari and each had the lobster fettuccine. The breading on the calamari wasn't crispy and fell off as soon as it was touched. The order came in a large bowl, but consisted mainly of breaded peppers. My boyfriend had the chicken carbonara. He enjoyed it while he was eating it, but regretted it later because he came down with an aching stomachache. After dining here, I was sadly disappointed because this is a beautiful restaurant that seemed to have potential. Even though the restaurant and food looks beautiful, it doesn't make up for the poor service. Next time I have a craving for Italian food, I will be dining elsewhere.
(3)Clarissa M.
We liked our dinner Great gluten free pasta with lobster sauce Nice calamari fritti Great magherita and for dessert best tiramisu and cheese cake The only complaint I had that noise levels were too high but we will be back
(4)Mimi L.
I've enjoyed my visits here thus so far. HH here is quite worth the visit esp for the prices they offer! So the 4 stars really goes out to the HH here. As for lunch/dinner -- entree prices are a little up there. But still worth the visit if ya haven't tried. Great for big groups or an intimate dinner date. Comfortable & spacious seatings. Since it is a pretty open room, dining area can get pretty loud. This is a pretty upscale looking Italian restaurant but one can be dressed causal for any type of dining. :: LUNCH @ BRIO :: - Beautiful decor, high ceilings & great ambiance - Great outdoor seating spots - Private dining room available for parties/events - Service was not so bad but not outstanding Crab & Shrimp Cakes (4.5/5) Pasta Brio (3.5/5) Roasted Vegetable Panini (4/5) Dolchinos -- Tiramisu & Key Lime Pie (4.5/5) :: HAPPY HOUR @ BAR BRIOSO :: - Huge bar w/ several flat screen TVs - Mon thru Fri from 3:30PM - 6:30PM - $5 Martinis on Wed - HH food & drink menu items from $4-$6! :) Beef Carpaccio (4/5) Crispy Eggplant Fries (4.5/5) Tomatoe Margherita Flatbread (4/5) Brio Burger (4/5) -- love how the kitchen already cuts the burger for you in 4 quarters! Black Pepper Shrimp (4.5/5) Lemon Basil Crush Martini (4/5) Sangria Rosa (3.5/5)
(4)Jamie N.
Hanging out with friends over food and drink is probably one of my greatest pleasures, but scheduling them is always...I mean, can be...a hassle. Once you figure out everyone's schedules for timing and proximity, there's always that question of "what to eat?!" Being that it was a new spot I've been wanting to try and the menu had quite a selection of dishes that were mid-range, I decided to invite my friends to Brio Tuscan Grille located at Irvine Spectrum. Not to mention, they were able to accommodate group parties without a problem. I was rolling pretty deep with nine people, but probably not for Italians. It was a Friday evening, so we had a couple cocktails to start while looking through the menu. Frozen peach bellini (think slushie), Mango Mojito (tastes like juice) and Strawberry Basil Mash (where the basil at?). During this time, they also brought out bread baskets, which continued to replenish itself throughout the wait time. I ended up filling up on a little too much bread, which always happens. A couple friends decided to get starters - Bruschetta Quattro. It was a sampling of the four housemade bruschettas: roasted red bell pepper, sliced steak, roasted tomato & herb pesto and another I can't recall. Also, our table tried the lobster bisque. The bisque lacked a depth of lobster flavor and according to the menu, it says, "with shrimp and a touch of sherry." Not exactly sure how the flavors were extracted or in what porportions the shells have been used for the base, but it sure didn't translate to the final taste. Disappointing, probably won't order again. I think the majority of our table got the Lobster and Shrimp Fettucine. Shrimp and lobster tossed with mushrooms, green onions, tomatoes in spicy lobster butter sauce. The lobster butter sauce wasn't overwhelming, which is great because it didn't feel heavy. The mushrooms were lovely and absorbed all the flavors. Veal Milanese Scaloppine. The thin cut veal is lightly breaded and paired with tomatoes and a white wine lemon caper sauce. The portion of veal was small and thin, but remained tender and easy to cut. To round out the dish, the veal is served with a side of Fettucine Alfredo. Crab & Shrimp Cakes. Lump crab meat and chopped shrimp served with a creamy horseradish sauce and medley of roasted vegetables (carmelized onions, red potatoes, bell peppers, and broccoli). The cakes were absolutely delicious. It was well seasoned and balanced, chunky and had a slight crust from the pan. After all this food, we were too full to indulge in desserts. Half of us had leftovers to take home, so portions are fairly large and on the heavy side. Brio Tuscan Grille is a chill spot to hang at, but to me, nothing really stood out that beckoned my return.
(3)Tina N.
We had the great pleasure of being served by Devon last night. What a a great experience and great customer service. We all know that customer service is not what it used to be. So when you find it you should commend it. People tend to complain when there is a bad experience but fail to mention the good ones. Thank you Devon for recognizing when we needed that extra special touch when it was so crowded and things got a little slow. Brio has a winner in you, i hope you are well recognized for your efforts and exceptional service. Your recommendations on the appetizers, dessert, and wine were perfect. Thank you thank you for being part of a great night.
(5)Yasaman J.
Last Saturday my family decided to check this place out. Being a Saturday we thought that there would be a 2 hour wait for this place but to our surprise we did reserve table for 8 and the table was ready an hour later!! When we walked in at 8 on a saturday the restaurant was not busy at all, which was very surprising. We sat at our table and our waitress came to get our drink order. Having brought our own wine (since there is no corkage fee) we asked for some wine glasses. Not too long after complimentary bread were brought and by then we were ready to order. We ordered the lasagna, 2 salmon dish, pesto pasta, kid's hamburger, the strawberry salad and the pork kotlet... The pesto pasta was very good. It had a hint of fennel seed, chicken, and herbs which was nice. I did try a little piece of the salmon and it was very tasty. They put balsamic vinegar reduction on it which was very delicious. The lasagna, I was told that it was very yummy as well. It had tons of meat in it.. The strawberry salad was huge!!! It is a good dish to share for veggie lovers in my opinion... One dish that you need to stay away was the pork kotlets... For the price of ($24.95) which was the most expensive of all the dishes that we got, you get 2 tiny pieces of meat with a small portion of pasta on the side... I mean the dish was so not pretty to look at that I almost asked the waitress to take it back.... When you charge your customers that much for a dish, you need to make sure that the plate is at least somewhat pretty to look at.... For dessert, we ordered couple of their cheesecake mini options. It was ok but nothing special. After eating there, I have a mixed feeling about it. Yes, although there is no corkage fee, I don't know if the food wowed me that much to go back again....
(3)Margarita C.
Absolutely love this place! We tried this place out before and we did not like it the first due to horrible service. Fortunately, we got a coupon for a free appetizer so we thought we'd give it a second shot, and omg was it amazing !! Busy Friday so we sat at the bar and the service by our bartender Jess was unbelievable! She kept checking up on us making sure we were enjoying everything, notified us that the bread was running behind, and even helped me make a drink that I would enjoy! Couldn't have asked for a better way to end the night !!
(5)Anita B.
Lots of money for pasta and salad. Service is the worst part of the bill. Zero enthusiasm and plates and glasses which were left at the table.
(1)Lara D.
Mainly been here during happy hour on Wednesdays. It's a lovely restaurant with outdoor seating. Always crowded and packed with people. If you come during happy hour with a group it's tough to find seating outdoors. Standing is kind of awkward, but the food is worth it. Happy hour apps are great. The basil tomato pizza is delicious as well as the shrimp with breaded eggplants. For cocktails try the lemon basil! Didn't like the pomegranate too much. Staff and service are great and delightful.
(4)John P.
Percilla was awesome! Her and the gangs service was a nice touch to end the night after a long day. The happy hour menu hit the spot! With Michael ending the night, he kept the same level of service we received when we arrived. Thank you Brio and until next time.....cheers!
(5)Suzy N.
I've been here twice with my best friend and we have had the most excellent service both times! The servers are very patient and attentive, they are very knowledgable and helpful. The first time I was here, I ordered the mushroom ravioli (there's a name for it, I just don't remember what it was called exactly but it was on the lunch menu) and my friend got the grilled salmon salad. We split the calamari and it was all excellent! We decided to treat ourselves to some wine and the special the were serving that day was Kim Crawford, it was a deliciously fruitty white wine, absolutely perfect. The second time we both ended up ordering the exact same thing. We started off with the calamari; there's something about their sauce that is so good. Following that we both ordered the pasta alla vodka and that was so good! it was my first time ordering this dish anywhere and I absolutely loved it. The spicy marinara, tomato-fredo type sauce was not overpowering or too spicy which is perfect for me. We both also treated ourselves to a white peach sangria that was so good! Needless to say I will be back here again !
(5)Pooneh M.
Amazing food, wonderful service and really caters to large party like our 17 people! I will definitely be coming back for more celebrations here .
(5)Dan S.
This place looks fancy but the customer service is slow and both pairs of silverware had crusty leftover food on them. Food tastes great though.
(3)Mandy L.
You know, I never really understood the concept of why Italian food is so expensive, especially when pasta is both affordable and easy to make. It was my staple go-to dish when I was a graduate student, and still is when I'm too lazy to cook real food. So this is why I appreciate it when I find an affordable Italian restaurant that is actually decent, which is what Brio is. Brio has some traditional staples, as well as a seasonal menu that I think is worth checking out. The latest is a pumpkin ravioli, and a talapia dish. They do garnish a lot and the food has beautiful presentation. Food for the eyes and food for the stomach. Good news for those who love bruchetta....be excited!!!! Theres a few different bruschetta options to choose from! Who knew you could do so much with tomatoes? Last, but not least, they also have a light, low-calorie menu and gluten-free options, so it's very accommodating for those with allergies or are trying to watch the calorie intake. The fennel and roasted tomato pasta is light on the sauce and isn't too salty. I can't wait to come here again to try some of the other dishes!
(4)Trina D.
Brio has late night happy hour starting at 9 pm (M-F)! If your date happens to start late and you're at the Spectrum then this would be the place of choice. They serve full-sized portions from their happy hour menu! When I think of HH offerings, it's usually a smaller pared down version. Not at Brio! We had full sized plates of black pepper shrimp, fried cheese ravioli and the margherita flatbread. Whew! We also ordered a serving of the mushroom ravioli from the regular menu not knowing the sizes of the other plates. All that plus 2 drinks from the HH menu totaled $40, not including tip. What?! Yeah, pretty awesome.
(4)Timmy S.
I stopped here for lunch before going to an afternoon movie at the Spectrum. I was immediately seated and was given several recommendations including the Pasta Alla Vodka which I remembered reading high praise for in a recent review by Tami D. I quickly decided to go with that as well as a chopped salad. A basket of warm fresh bread and flatbread was brought to my table which was all excellent. The chopped salad was amazingly refreshing; loads of fresh cucumber, olives and tomato brightened the chopped leaves of lettuce. The pasta dish was incredible. Their description: delicate ricotta filled handmade pasta, with crispy pancetta, garlic, basil and a spicy tomato Parmesan cream sauce. I was glad I ate very little bread initially because I needed it to sop up all that delicious sauce! Service was top-notch and the interior, while obviously a fantasy of Tuscany, was comfortable and inviting. Seating is available both indoors and on a lovely patio. Definitely recommended!
(5)Tami D.
After reading Laina and Rohlin's great reviews about this restaurant, we knew we had to check this place out. I came here prepared. After reading lots of reviews, I knew exactly what I wanted. While I ordered the Pasta Alla Vodka, my husband wanted something a bit healthier and ordered the Tilapia. We wanted to split the Brio Chopped Salad while we waited. We also saw the dessert tray and knew we (or at least I) had to save some room for the dessert at the end of our meal. Our bread came out right away and was delicious. The Chopped Salad also came out quickly and was so yummy. The salad had plenty of cucumber, tomato, and olives mixed in with fresh chopped lettuce and was just enough to hold us off till our main meals. My pasta was wonderful! This ricotta filled pasta in a creamy parmigiana sauce was heavenly if not a bit addictive. My husband's Blackened Tilapia as great as well. He thought his meal was seasoned perfectly and the fresh broccoli, carrots, and zucchini on the side were quite tasty. We thought the service was great throughout our meal. Since it was our first visit here, our waiter made sure to tell us what all the favorites were. Although I already knew what I wanted, he had plenty of great options for our next meal here. We thought he was so friendly and helpful here. Our food was brought out quickly and our drinks were constantly refilled. From beginning to end, the wait staff was just wonderful here. The restaurant's decor was lovely here too. There was comfortable seating, dark wood furniture and beams, polished travertine floors, a few beautiful plants, and great windows and lighting. I also thought the patio was nice, and outdoor fireplace would be great on cooler evenings. I think this is now our favorite Italian restaurant! With wonderful food and great service, we can't wait to go back. I also look forward to taking my friends here for a delicious brunch soon!
(5)Jennifer M.
This is the 2nd time I have eaten here and the food is delicious and the service is great. I had the pasta alla vodka it was amazing ! The calamari was good and the pork chop was great too. Nothing bad to say about this place. Definitely a new italian favorite of mine in the south OC area.
(5)Mary A.
I was fortunate enough to get on Brio's soft opening night and got a preview of their menu. The place was packed! We were instantly greeted and seated when we entered. Brio was huge and everything was so lovely there. The women's bathrooms were clean and spacious. There was a slight incident where their computers shut down due to overload of orders. Luckily we had placed our orders in and gotten our meals before their system glitched. The restaurant manager sent us a plate of Beef Carpaccio- raw beef served with mustard aoili and parmesan to start and some flat bread. It was delicious! I've never had beef carpaccio now I know what else to order. I ordered Minestrone soup and veal scaloppine with tomatoes and a white wine lemon caper sauce, served with Fettuccine Alfredo. My bf ordered the Shrimp Verduta Angel hair tossed with shrimp, garlic, sundried tomatoes, roasted artichokes, caramelized onions, feta and spinach, topped with pesto bread crumbs. Both were super yummy however the veal was heavily salted. I did note it to the waitress and she mentioned they were still working on their menu so it was good they were getting input on their entrees. The waitress surprised us with a small sampling of their desserts which filled our bellies to the top. Overall it was a delightful experience!
(5)Ms F.
The food was fabulous and our server Melrose was amazing. She was very attentive with us and never felt rushed. We will definitely be back.
(5)Lee L.
I took a whole semester of Italian in college just so I can pronounce my dishes properly when I order at restaurants. I've got some serious foodie blood running through these veins. After learning that the letters "ch" actually sounds like a "k" in Italian, I've been asking for brusKetta, only to have most servers return my efforts at authenticity with a short pause then a befuddled, "Oh, you want the bruSHetta?" Sure, whatever. Effort wasted. The Sliced Steak BrusKetta was built on toast crispy enough to hold a robust amount of toppings but not so hard that it would chip any teeth. I tasted a hint of blue cheese that was not overpowering and accentuated a substantial slice of tender steak. The tangy vinaigrette and slightly bitter arugula balances out each bite. The Prosciutto & Roasted Mushroom Pizza was also a pleasant bite, but it's when you deconstruct it that you see the attention to detail. Thin slices of evenly laid out tomato on melted provolone, small bits of artichoke heart, roasted mushrooms- there's much more than the arugula and prosciutto that first meets the eye. The menu offered a decent offering of wines and a number of cocktails. They had one selection of my favorite wine, Zinfandel, but that one choice, from Mendocino, was excellent and quite enough. The service was a bit unpolished. My water was never refilled and the server handed us the bill when we were only halfway through our second dish. He asked if we needed anything else then immediately set the bill down when we said no. I think I might have pretended to walk away a bit to give the illusion I'm not trying to rush the customer out. Saturday night did mean there was a crowd building up in the lobby, and us leaving meant that another group could enjoy some quality food with well-balanced flavors. I'll definitely be back again to confuse some more servers by asking for brusKetta.
(4)Cat Q.
This is obviously another overrated place. The service is strange. Our waitress is very weird. She was friendly and attentive in the beginning, until we send our inedible overly salted dish back, she start to be annoying, she charged us for the returned overly salted dish, we waited over 10 minutes for our coffee and she gave us a weird look when we walked out the door, her facial expression was unacceptable, her act makes us feel regretted that we tipped her. I don't understand her problem, she didn't cook the dish, why would she feel personal about it? --+ The bread is nice and warm, but the crisp was hard. There are a bunch of herbs on the crisp, when you take a bite, the herbs and the bread crunches splashed everywhere. Trust me, it wasn't crunch, it was just hard. -++ Peach Bellini is like drinking peach prosecco slush. I drink it very slowly in the beginning, but I ended up finishing the entire cocktail together with the appetizer. ---According our waitress The spicy shrimp and fried egg plant was a hands down best dish, H*lycr*p! I think she got bad taste or the chef got overdosed of narcissism or the person who said that never dine out. That was a "WTF is that crap" dish. The shrimp was nicely cooked, but the shrimp was covered by a layer of overly salted herbs, then the egg plant was nicely fried, but there is another layer salt on the panko, then the whole dish was soaked into a overly salted sauce that overpowered the entire dish. There is no other taste in the dish, just a pack of salt. I couldn't stop drinking the water to flush the saltness and the numbness on my tongue. --+ Pasta Alla Vodka: It's not really ricotta filled pasta as they rescript, it's more like ricotta filled cappelletti, the skin is al dente, the filling is creamy and fresh, the pink sauce is tasty and they are pretty generous with the crispy pancetta topping and it's very salty again. I couldn't really taste the pink sauce anymore, my tongue is still numb because of the inedible appetizer. This dish is chunky. --+Pasta fra diavolo: 2.5/3 are Campanelle and 0.5/3 of chicken. It's tasty and the pasta is al dente. but the chicken inside is just too tiny. ---Cappuccino is funny, because it looks like cappuccino, but it was only less than half cup of coffee au lait inside, the rest are all milk foam. The host ladies got fake smile, sometimes they looks impatient when you come in without a reservation, sometimes they don't even look at you when you walk in. The service is weird and the food can get you soon or later a heart attack because of their overly salted, almost bitterly tasting food.
(1)Jeff L.
Nuts, nuts, nuts. A lot of the items on the menu contained certain tree nuts, which half of our party was allergic to. Well, anyway, we at least ordered something that we could eat. (We were invited here, we did not come on our own accord.) The bad thing was that it was not mentioned about which items contained tree nuts on the menu, so we had to ask. The items we were able to eat without health issues tasted good, though. The good thing was that their free bread was unique. Many of us kept asking for it. They have a coupon in the out-of-towner coupon book that the Irvine Spectrum offers.
(3)S K.
We went there on Friday night at 7:45. There was no wait. We ordered the shrimp and egg plant appetizer. It was good. I ordered the white peach sangria it was good too. The wedge salad was good too. It would have been nice if the waitress would have asked if we wanted to split the salad. The pasta was just okay. There was nothing special. We got the pasta vodka
(3)Amy S.
This review is for the service over everything else! I would like to thank the staff at Brio for making a reunion with my cousin who I had not seen in over 20 years very special. Her and I were thrilled at the service from the bar staff and especially the service of our server, Devon. We came in on a Thursday night (separately) to see meet each other and Devon assured that our time spent at this establishment was absolutely perfect. Thank you for recommending dishes, being patient with us for yapping so long and for just making our reunion that much more special. I have been to fine dining restaurants where I have spent hundreds of dollar on special occasions and did not receive the service and kind treatment that we both experienced at Brio. My thanks to you and your staff for an amazing night out and for understanding how important this day was to us. It is most appreciated.
(4)Becca H.
This place has opened not too long ago and my boyfriend and I have really wanted to try it. My family was coming down from LA to meet us for dinner so we decided to come here. The ambiance is great very well designed and I love all the stones. For an appetizer we got the calamari. It was good! Never had peperonchinis in the calamari but it was great. The garlic aioli sauce was yummy. I got the pasta fra diavolo with shrimp. It was really good! For a salad I got the bistecca insalata. It was yummy!! The service was great. I would definitely return!
(5)Chad P.
I first tried Brio in Scottsdale Arizona. Found it so good that I had to seek it out in So Cal. Love the food, atmosphere, bread and service. I would highly recommend this place and it probably has the best italian food at the Spectrum.
(5)Taylen T.
Terrible service at this location. Sarah, the hostess, was extremely rude and seemed to have a problem seating us. There shouldn't have been an issue since it was not busy. The lack of customer service made our experience at this location very unpleasant. Natalie, the GM, was not present for us to speak to, so Dusty (another manager) apologized for our experience and was very nice. My family and I came to dine here and make a reservation for an event, but will no longer be booking that event with Brio at Irvine Spectrum. The Brio in Las Vegas, Nevada had excellent service so my family and I expected the same.
(1)Laura H.
Average. Ordered the grilled salmon salad on "mixed greens" with chopped tomatoes, asparagus a dash of feta and skinny fried potato strings. I switched the balsamic dressing for herb. I was surprised by the large portion but gave to say that the greens were mostly iceberg and that ruined it for me. I would have preferred a much smaller salad with a quality spring mix or baby greens. Just my personal preference. The peach Palmer ( iced tea with lemonade and peach syrup) was refreshing. Also the sourdough boulee served at he table was very good. These two were the best part of my meal. Service was prompt and good and the prices were reasonable.
(3)Lalida S.
Our Marketing Department came here just a few weeks ago to celebrate our September birthdays and also as the lunch location before our team bonding event (which was a scavenger hunt throughout Spectrum). Best place to park here is in the Nordstrom structure and walking across the street here (it's right by Yard House). I believe we had a party of 12 and we made reservations in advance for it. The bread they put aside for you as an appetizer at the beginning is delicious! We had great service from our waitress and everyone was attentive enough to constantly be refilling our water and grabbing us what we needed. I ordered the chicken piccata and it was pretty darn delicious. Overall, I'd probably come back here again for a date or dinner with family or friends. Bonus points for giving in to our department bonding and letting my scavenger hunt group take a picture with the chefs as one of our dares.
(4)Malibu Z.
So delicious. Tried so many items and they were all great. Wish there were more boneless, skinless, chicken breast dishes but chicken parm is amazing. Also they have a great happy hour!!!!
(5)Nikki S.
BRIO Tuscan Grille, an upscale restaurant serving authentic, northern Italian cuisine. The menu features a wide variety of dishes prepared including grilled and oven-roasted steaks, fresh fish, made-to-order pastas, bruschettas and flatbreads similiar to what one would find in restaurants in Tuscany. The menu also includes a lineup of gluten-free items as well as the "The Lighter Side of Tuscany" menu featuring selections with 550 calories or less. My review is strictly for Happy hours.....Great happy hour deals if you want my opinion :-) Happy hours are weekdays from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm. You have great selection of bar plates and drinks ranging from $4 to $6. Here are some of my favorites from the Happy hour menu: Beef Carpaccio: Served with field greens, capers, mustard aioli and Parmigiano-Reggiano $4.00 Tomato Margherita Flatbread :Fresh Mozzarella, vine-ripened tomatoes and fresh basil. $4.00 Crispy Eggplant Fries: With Creamy Horseradish & Pomodoro sauces for dipping. $4.00 Black Pepper Shrimp: Pan seared shrimp with Romano crusted eggplant and a black pepper cream sauce. $6.00 I normally get the house Merlot which only cost me $5 per glass (On Tuesday night $5 extend to all night and not just for happy hour) All the bartenders and servers have been super attentive and friendly each and every time I stopped by here. I will be back soon :-)
(4)Erin L.
Very busy during happy hour, as they only serve the happy hour menu at the bar or out on the patio. However we literally ordered one of everything and it came out to be fairly inexpensive. My favorite was the beef carpaccio and the shrimp. The Artichoke dip came in third place :) I had the Italian Margarita as well and it was good, and had a good amount of booze level, but not too sweet. We stayed until 10pm talking and our server was very attentive and checked on us often which was nice. I would be back here for sure. Its a good place to have an after work get to together, similar to what we did last night.
(4)Michelle L.
One of the newer offerings at the Irvine Spectrum. It's located next to the Yard House in a slightly separated area. When my friend and I saw that they were participating in OC Restaurant week, we decided to check it out. Lunch was $15 for your choice of appetizer and one entree. First of all, the restaurant is really beautiful and classy. It's a great place for a date or something intimate. We went during lunch and the service was excellent but maybe that was because the restaurant was mostly empty. Their house bread is delicious. The fresh sourdough was steaming when it came out and fabulous with their butter. I didn't care too much for their parmesan crisps. It was a little salty and it was just covered with unnecessary herbs that fell all over the table. For our starter, we ordered the Lobster Bisque. It came in the cutest container and it was a generous portion. I appreciated that there were little bits of lobster throughout it but it was ridiculously salty. My friend and I also liberally peppered our soup too for a little more flavor. For our entrees, we ordered the Pasta Brio and the Salmon with Angel Hair. The Pasta Brio was rigatoni pasta tossed with grilled chicken, garlic, seared mushrooms, parmesan cheese and a sweet roasted red pepper cream sauce. I did like the sauce but once again, a little salty. It wasn't anything special and you probably could make this at home. The Salmon with Angel hair came with tomatoes, green onions, asparagus, cilantro pesto and scampi butter sauce. I really appreciated the generous portion of salmon. The portion of pasta was skimpy but I didn't mind it. What I did mind was the excess salty in the dish again. Overall, the food is just okay here. They need to cut back on the salt because I must have drank at least 3 full cups of water during my meal here. A good deal for OC Restaurant week but I don't see myself coming back anytime soon. 3/5
(3)Mohamed E.
First time here, I went with a colleague for business lunch. The sitting was good, I liked the shrimp appetizer, cannot remember the name. It was a bit noisy even for lunch. I got the shrimp and crab cake, it was a little bit above average but not exceptional. The waiter was new at the place, so the food came a it late and he was not sure of a couple of things. Overall not bad but not that impressed.
(3)Kristin P.
If I could give zero stars I would. I have been here several times with my family and friends and sadly every time I come back it gets worse and worse. From the service to the food, I may never go back. The last time I visited, my husband and I ordered two waters as we were waiting for the rest of our party to attend. The waitress brought out our waters and after a few sips of mine I felt something hard in my mouth. I took the hard object out to discover that it was a very sharp piece of glass. I sucked this piece of glass up the straw and thank god I found it before swallowing it. I then waited for the waitress to return so I could show her and simply ask for another water.... And after waiting for her to return, which was about 20 minutes, my husband ended up getting the waitress. She apologized and said she would send out the manager. Unfortunately, the manager never showed up... And even worse that waitress must have switched tables because we never saw her again, she didn't say she was going on break and nor did the guy that replaced her explain where she went. Very strange. Anyways, on top of that the service was average, the prices are high, nothing was comped or taken off, and they dropped one of our appetizers on the floor right in front of us. I get that stuff happens. I am a clumsy person by nature so most things do not bother me. What bothers me is that she said she would send out a manager, never did and disappeared. Shady. By the way I know someone who swallowed a piece of glass from a restaurant and actually had to be admitted into the hospital. She ended up suing the restaurant and getting a hefty penny for her troubles. I think this restaurant should be glad I didn't swallow that piece of glass. I won't be going back because this place is a danger to my health.
(1)Dennis H.
It will be interesting to see how Brio and Del Frisco do since they are two new restaurants right next to one another. Since I have tried both, I give the edge to Del Frisco but my wife seems to like Brio more. So I ordered the Bistecca Insalata which I thought was decent...nothing amazing, a little heavy in the dressing. My main dish was the Brio Pasta, this was good just wished the serving was a bit more. The pasta plates definitely have a lighter flare to them, very different from Maggiano's (my fav). The desserts, lots to choose from ... I had one of their chocolate dessert glass/cups. Not too much where it's bad for you. I think Brio is smart for catering to the "lighter" menu people since Italian food tends to be very rich.
(3)Laina A.
Brio will be giving Cucina Enoteca a run for their money! Management and staff treated us great, delivering delicious food. What food you ask? A beautiful selection of salads, we had Chopped, Caesar, Caprese and Rohlin had to be different and leave the C's and order the Bistecca Insalada. I had bites of all and Rohlin's ended up being my fave, loved the parmesan creamy salad dressing. yelp.com/user_local_phot… and yelp.com/user_local_phot… and yelp.com/user_local_phot… All of this was free! Pasta Alla Vodka, Lasagna and a Risotto with chicken and sweet potato. I taste tested quite a bit and it was all very good but the soft pillows of cheese filled pasta in a delectable sauce won my heart. Bravissimo to the Pasta Alla Vodka! yelp.com/user_local_phot… The decor is beautiful with great lighting, beautiful travertine floors, and a draped ceiling with a magnificent chandelier. It is quite a large restaurant with a lot of outdoor fabulous looking seating with heat lamps when it gets slightly chilly in So Ca. There are delicious drinks to be found including lemonade and I opted to pay for a wild berry lemonade cooler (vibrantly delicious) yelp.com/user_local_phot… Thanks to Yelp, it's awesome to be Elite! Thank you management and staff and my stomach thanks the executive chef.
(5)Hema K.
This place screams for reservation. It is a must specially if you are planning to dine here on Friday nights or during weekends. Valet parking is available and it is $4. Outdoor seats are more lively and don't have a crowded restaurant feeling. I had been here before through a Yelp event and have been wanting to come back. Came here with hubby and kid. Staffs are attentive and service was fast despite a very busy evening. Kids menu are all around $6 and sides are $2. Kids portion size are huge compared to what I have seen at other restaurants. The mac n cheese was bland and my kid likes it with a dash of pepper so I went to town with pepper dash. Unfortunately we couldn't dine and had to cancel our order. The manager was understanding and had us checked out. Will come back here for sure!
(4)Stephen B.
5 stars for all the yummy happy hour stuff. Beef carpaccio $3.95 Tomato marguerite flatbread $3.95 Crispy eggplant fries 3.95 Sausage & pepperoni ricotta flatbread $4.95 Tomato mozzarella salad $4.95 Brio burger $4.95 Black pepper shrimp $4.95 Crispy cheese ravioli $5.95 Roasted garlic, spinach &artichoke dip $5.95 All wonderful. Crispy eggplant fries are awesome.
(5)Kathleen H.
Brio gave me and my boyfriend an incredible first impression! I ordered the Blackened Tilapia, which came with a side of grilled veggies. I am not a critic with my food, but I was blown away by this dish! The lemon dressing was fantastic. I am not a big fan of vegetables, but the way the veggies were smoked, grilled and then tossed in olive oil was incredible. The service was fantastic and the ambiance wonderful. I'll definitely be coming back!
(5)Rodney S.
I felt like "King for the Day" BRIO Tuscan Grill will be having it's Grand Opening on Thursday, July 17 yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… For staff training, BRIO offered complimentary meals to those that were lucky, like me yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… I was sat near the kitchen, where I witnessed, firsthand, the controlled chaos. A bread tray w/ butter greeted me yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… Pellegrino for the Filipino yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… For starters, I was given the Spinach & Artichoke dip yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… The dip was delicious. Warm, creamy & very tasty I had the choice of any item on the menu. I decided upon the Grilled Mahi Mahi, as Mahi Mahi is probably my most favorite fish yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… Vine-ripened tomatoes, farro, spinach & tomato basil vinaigrette, paired nicely with a cooked to perfection Mahi Mahi fillet. Tender enough to cut with a fork, my mouth watered with each bite, cleaning my plate bare. Tuscan mashed potatoes & grilled vegetables come with most dishes, but not with the Mahi Mahi. I was asked if I wanted it. Sure, why not? yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… I only had a few bites before having everything packed to go, as I wanted to save room for dessert. Speaking of dessert, I had the Creme Brulee & Torta de Cioccolata Creme Brulee yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… Crunchy outer shell covering smooth creme anglaise. Such a delight to eat! Torta de Cioccolata yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… Rich chocolate cake with a warm center, topped with Vanilla Bean Gelato, chocolate syrup and creme anglaise. Rich, indeed! Immaculately decadent, each spoonful was a piece of heaven. Great early, early birthday cake for me The staff was on point, making sure I was happy with my dining experience. Joseph, my server, did a a great job yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… Nikki was friendly & talkative yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… Candace was a sweetheart yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… Sous chef, Carlos, hustled to make sure orders were ready yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… Executive chef, Andre, was quite busy so I didn't want to take too much of his time. Kudos, Chef Andre! yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… My tummy was stuffed & I had a smile on my face as I left a wonderful lunch, courtesy of BRIO Tuscan Grill. Thanks to Chef Andre, the management & the staff for hosting a fun menu preview. Good luck with the Grand Opening Thursday! Excelsior!
(5)Marissa S.
It really is sweet to be elite. This invite-only preview tasting is one of the perks of being a Yelper and although I had a bad cold, I just couldn't pass up on an opportunity such as this. Thank you for making me a part of it! With that said, my palate may have been compromised so I can't fully vouch on how everything tasted. However, I have to say that everything looked wonderful. From the marble structure, high draped ceiling, and wipe open space, the restaurant depicts elegance from all points and yet the setting remains casual enough to be enjoyed without having to dress up. Tables are covered with white paper on top of linens and the huge bar that's hard to miss upon entering showcases a myriad of libations to choose from. The outside patio looks so cozy and is already a promise that this place will be a hit for Happy Hour. A three-course lunch of our choice was what they had in store for us and any non-alcoholic drink, all for free. They served us a platter of shrimps on eggplant as an appetizer which had a nice heat to it. The lobster bisque was my choice of soup followed by grilled salmon atop a bed of angel hair pasta in a garlic wine sauce with tomatoes and asparagus as my main entree. For dessert, our server brought to our table tiramisu and some chocolate caramel cake both served in tiny parfait glasses. You can tell from all the dishes how everything was well thought of with the beautiful presentation from every plate. Service? We felt like VIPs from the moment we walked in until we walked out the door. The staff is supposed to be in training but who were they kidding? They all looked like they were pros at what they did. Amazing crew! And with its prime location next to the parking structure across the Yard House, Brio Tuscan Grill is truly a great addition to the Irvine Spectrum Mall.
(5)M K.
Very good Italian food with a great variety of choices! Tried the lite pasta pesto today and it as delicious.
(5)Jonathan Z.
I've been to a few menu preview/soft openings before, so I know that anything could happen. The BRIO menu preview was a success on my end. To start our server brought us the spicy shrimp and eggplant appetizer. It was a little on the saltier side, but it was an impressive dish with a wide range of texture and flavor. I also ordered a minestrone soup, which was nice and hearty. My guest and I ordered the Pasta Alla Vodka and the Veal Milanese. The veal was very good and had a lovely sauce, but the Pasta Alla Vodka won my heart. Each bite had a nice explosion of flavor from the cheese. The sauce was delicious and the crispy pancetta was icing on the cake. Speaking of cake, we got the caramel/chocolate and the bread pudding. Both were on the sweet side. I liked the bread pudding the best. BRIO pulled out the stops and we had an excellent experience.
(5)Ryan P.
Tacca superiore BRIO TUSCAN GRILL Yelp ONCE AGAIN came through with a GREAT opportunity for Yelpers to do a menu tasting BEFORE this place opens. The catch...NONE it was NOT an official YELP event it was INVATATION ONLY and we were just helpin out with our taste buds and gonna to try some FREE (my fav F-word) food! All in an effort to help BRIO and get the word out! I have apparently been living under yet another rock and had NEVER heard of this place so I was UBER EXCITED to try them out. Plus it goes without saying I LOVE to eat, I LOVE the Spectrum, I LOVE FREE and I LOVE GOOD ITALIAN food! I called and made a reservation for two and then found out that my Yelp buds Shawna C and Steven C EXTRAORDINAIRE also got an invite so we all decided to have dinner together. At the time I had invited my friend D who TOTALLY FLAKED on me and apparently had a brain fart and thought I was his momma or he was 5 and I was supposed to remind him to put it on his calendar or remind let me know. REALLY how old are you? If I wanted children to run behind I would have had them! I should have just asked a more reliable friend or plus 1. That is a mistake I WON'T BE MAKING AGAIN....EVAA! Thus it ended up being the three of us and I was YET AGAIN the 3rd FRICKIN wheel but thankfully they were so gracious and didn't seem to mind! Ok I think I'm done venting! JERK...Ok now I'm finished! Anywho...On to more important things.... The place is located right across from Forever 21 (I wish) by the parking garage, but I still got lost somehow! I REALLY do have a great sense of direction usually! Anyway I arrived shortly after Mr and Mrs. C and was greeted and seated immediately with the rest of my FAN-TA-BU-LOUS party. We were brought menus and asked what we would like to drink and we all went for the tea. It was a humid day so it was perfect. We were not sure how the process went so we asked and were told we could order ANYTHING off the menu we wanted! OH BOY! Things just got EVEN BETTER...REALLY didn't think that was possible! What a TRRREEEEAAATTTTT! Sadly my lunch earlier was fighting back with a vengeance and felt like a unborn baby playing soccer in my tum-tum. I really had no appetite so I tried to get something I thought would be different and something that would nuke easily and perfectly the next day for lunch or dinner! Depending on how long this World Cup playback was gonna last in my tummy! They brought over a complementary appetizer of bruschetta which I usually HATE because of the tomatoes but it had red pepper on it instead which was AWESOME! I had NEVER had bruschetta before so I had to try it! YUM, YUM, YUMMY! I sooo enjoyed it! It had a warm and mild taste with a zing of balsamic vinegar and the zest from the red pepper was PREFECT with the toast and cheese! I would order that again in a heartbeat! Plus it didn't irritate my already bubbling tummy! Our server Deidre came back shortly after and took our orders and I got the lobster bisque soup with the Shrimp Verduta pasta, which was angel hair, garlic, sundried tomatoes, roasted artichokes, caramelized onions, Feta, spinach and sourdough bread crumbs...SCRUMPTIOUS (I had a smiggy-bite to taste). Mrs. C Shawna got the Caesar salad with the Grilled Chicken "Under the brick", which was roasted veggies, mashed potatoes, and 'shrooms Marsala sauce, which she seemed to REALLY ENJOY! And Mr. C Steven got the minestrone soup which was UBER hearty looking with the BRIO pasta, which had rigatoni, grilled chicken, seared 'shrooms and roasted red pepper sauce. LOOKED SO DELISH and he ate it all with NOOO PROBLEM! Shawna and I both left with a doggie bag but not before they surprised us with TWO mini DESSERTS to share! DESSERTS is STRESSED spelled backward but I CERTAINLY was NOT STRESSED! One was chocolate mousse I think (I didn't try it) being that it was taunting me from the oversized SHOT GLASS it was in but it looked YUMMY and Shawna C didn't have ANY PROBLEM showing it who was in charge and puttin' it down!! The other was a SUPER LIGHT Key Lime mousse in a oversized shot glass! I did have a smig and it was BOMB! REALLY GOOD! The C's were able to finish those off so nothing was going to waste! Our server Deidre was AHH-MAZING and kept our glasses full and made sure we are REALLY taken care of! She didn't miss a beat! At the end we got a survey card that we all filled out. One question was about the bathrooms so I did what ANY UBER NOSEY YELPER would do and got up checked and took pics with my phone before returning and marking the card! I also got TOTALLY BUSTED by another server that came over to our table and leaned into my ear and said, "You either got up to check out the bathroom or didn't wash your hands!" SOOOO BUSTED! I GOT READ! SOOOOO FRICKIN embarrassing but A PERFECT END to the NIGHT....HI-LARIOUS! I WILL BE BACK FO' SHO'! BTW...the bathers are on point! Hahahah!
(5)Shawna C.
What an event!!! And to think, I almost skipped this one. A fellow Yelper put in for it and I was going to hold off, but then I changed my mind. This event was a three or four course meal before the opening of Brio. We decided to go with dinner as we had to work. Seats were filling up quickly, so you had to request and invite, and then call in for reservations. When we got there we were waiting for our friend so that we could all go in together, but unfortunately our poor friend got lost in the spectrum despite just being at the right location but then walking off into another land. As she was looking for her way back, one of the organizers asked if we had wanted to go in. We ended up going for it and knew that she would find us. I kept my expectations on the lower in, as if you expect too much, things seem to go downhill, and it wasn't even open yet. They pretty much proved us wrong in every aspect, and I was so thankful for that. They had us down, and took us to our tables with no issues. Our fellow yelper buddy Ryan P came in right after us. We were immediately asked what we wanted to drink and we all went with iced teas. Bummer that I did not even look and saw that other friends had yummy fruit lemonades. Iced tea is usually my default. Either way, it came out immediately and it tasted just fine to me. They brought out roasted red pepper bruschetta and immediately asked if we were ready to order. We asked what we could order, assuming there was a prefixed menu. They told us anything. ANYTHING??? Seriously?? Well that is something I am not used to. We of course needed a few minutes at that point. They came out with some yummy bread and butter and we then placed our orders. I ended up going with the grilled chicken "under the brick" with a Caesar salad. The chicken came with veggies, mashed potatoes, and mushroom masala sauce. That sauce was delicious! My husband had the minestrone soup and the pasta brio, and Ryan had lobster bisque and the shrimp pasta. We all dove in and loved every bit of it! Everything tasted perfect. I couldn't finish all of my food and took about half of it home. Plus dessert was coming. I think they choose random ones because they popped up with a caramel chocolate cake dessert in a glass as well as a key lime cake. Both were delicious. Was anything here bad? Doesn't seem like it! EVERYTHING was free. Service was outstanding. They constantly checked on us, picked up plates the second you were done, or even before you were done! They were very friendly as well. We were given a survey card at the end. One asked about the bathroom quality. None of us had gone in there so an interesting look popped up on Ryan's face, she kindly asked where the bathroom was, snatched her phone and left. We laughed. She came back and one of the funny workers there leaned over, and told her that she either didn't wash her hands or she was snapping photos because she was so fast. Hey, maybe she can pee quick! We were all laughing after that. It seemed that other people were there for other events and had a pre fixed menu, so it may have depended on how you ended up there. Loved the service, loved the comedy, and the food was amazing. We definitely felt like VIPs that night. The staff here is way more ready than most places that have been around forever. I will definitely be back.
(5)Veronika W.
Yummy food and excellent service ...thank you Ms. Melrose for being such an incredible waitress!
(5)Jenny L.
Service is great so far. Soft opening... The food was seriously good. Think better tasting Cheesecake Factory. Well seasoned, especially the veggies. Whoever is manning the grill knows what they're doing. Great char and perfectly seared medium rare meats. The veggies are crisp and seasoned very well, I can taste garlic in the seasoning but it's not overwhelming. The waiters are so eager to serve. The managers stopped by often as well. Fill out the survey cards, they actually care! The space is HUGE! There is a full separate bar area, a conference room, a covered patio, and the dining space is separated so it doesn't echo. I bought my 3 month old (guilty) and no one seemed to mind and he slept through the sound just fine. My favorites: -The lobster bisque: so creamy and they certainly aren't shy with giving you lobster! -The creme brulee cheesecake. My friend and I INHALED it...in between bites, we were moaning with pleasure. Tips: -It's next to the Yard House, so park near there in the structure. -Complimentary Wifi. -The menus have calories printed so, that helps if you're counting. -Get the cheesecake, you're welcome. :) WILL COME BACK.
(4)Sukhraj B.
On Monday night, a few Yelpers were invited out to try Brio at their new location during a soft opening event at the Irvine Spectrum. If you're looking for it, Brio is located near Nordstroms and across from Sur La Table. Park in the structure that's adjacent, exit out and you'll come face to face with it. My +1 and I had our choice of an appetizer, entree and dessert all on the house. Woohoo. We started off with the mushroom and prosciutto pizza. This was an instant hit. The pizza is a thin crust sort of wood fired with a spicy prosciutto and mushrooms and a slight hint of truffle oil. We loved it and finished it quickly. For our entrees, we chose the Pasta Brio (a signature dish) and Fra Di avoil. The Pasta Brio was just ok for being a signature dish. It reheated well for leftovers the next day but we really loved the second dish with shrimp. The sauce was really good. For dessert, we got the mascarpone cheesecake and a creme brulee. Dessert was chef's choice and I was hoping to get something other than creme brulee to try but oh well. The cheesecake was our favorite. Light fluffy and well done. We'll be back to try other dishes.
(4)Gabby B.
This Yelp event has left me speechless!!! I don't know how you did it Ryan C. but I must bow down to you and BRIO for this unforgettable night! I was lucky enough to get an invite for dinner to experience this amazing Italian restaurant. We were greeted and quickly seated at our table. The place was was huge, think of cheesecake factory status that's what the environment and decor kind of reminded me of but with a view of the entire kitchen! At first I didn't now what to expect for a complementary dinner for two. I assumed it was either going to be a fixed menu for the night or small samples of items from their menu. To my surprise we were actually allowed to order anything off the menu!!! Our waitress Jessica was very pleasant and knowledgeable of all the items on the menu. And as she was informing us about the menu another waiter quickly placed a big platter of their flat-bread on our table. The flat-bread was very yummy it had the right amount of tomato sauce and it was nice an crispy and light. Once we were ready to order we both got the minestrone soup since they had run out of the lobster bisque,it was one of their hot items of the night. It has been a while since I have eaten minestrone soup and this soup made me regret not having it sooner, although I don't know if it would of been this delicious anywhere else. I went with the shrimp ventuta as my main entree, it consisted of angel hair pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach and lemon rings. It was amazing!!! the shrimp were sauteed to perfection and the sun-dried tomatoes were big and full of flavor. When it was time for dessert we thought we were going to have the option to chose from many of their desserts but they simply brought out their New York style cheesecake. It looked incredible but It tasted very different from the regular breadcrumb style crusts this one was lacking. Although it tasted different it was still good. We noticed everyone had different desserts and I think they were just preparing everything from their menu in order to practice for the real launch of the restaurant. When our magical night was finally over we got the pretend check that tallied up to $68 but was cleared to $0. This doesn't seem to bad for a nice 4 course Italian meal. Non-alcoholic drinks $2.50 Flatbread $13 Shrimp ventuta $18 salmon plate $19 We don't know how much was the cheesecake since they didn't put it on the bill. We were very satisfied and stuffed by the end of the night. The service was amazing every server that brought out a dish was very professional and attentive.I am a 100% certain that BRIO will flourish and thrive in the Irvine spectrum and this restaruant will become very popular fast.
(5)Dora K.
Great food, but very noisy and chaotic atmosphere due to the loud crowds n open kitchen , although cool to see us a distraction n contributes to the chaotic environment !! I recommend sitting away from the back kitchen area if you want to talk!
(3)Angie D.
It's been awhile where an entire night's menu has astounded me and made my taste buds dance like this menu tasting at BRIO! My friend and I arrived for our reservation at 5:45 and were immediately seated and served some Spinach & Artichoke Dip-- talk about setting the mood for a great start! Got the drinks outta the way, I ordered a White Peach Palmer & my friend, Tiffany, got the Wildberry Lemonade. Then came the hard part-- choosing the entree. I was surprised at the variety (and amount) of dishes they were previewing & ended up stunned for awhile. Eventually, I decided to try their "signature dish" the Pasta Brio and Tiffany got the Pasta Alla Vodka (both our servers said it was their favorite). Both pasta dishes were phenomenal! Sauces had tons of flavor, pasta was cooked a perfect al dente, and both dishes were seasoned to perfection! The grilled chicken in the Pasta Brio was thinly sliced but it was still moist and you could taste that grill flavor. Dessert followed with a tasting of their Chocolate Caramel Cake and Tiramisu (my all-time favorite dessert) and both were decadent without being too dense, too sweet, or too rich-- basically they were wonderful as well! Honestly, I think BRIO's addition to the Spectrum is smart, decor & space is a breath of fresh air, and it's also perfectly positioned away from the bustle of the theater-area but located near Yardhouse and the more adult-friendly nook. All-in-all, the dinner went wonderfully, our servers (Katie, Alex, & Augustine) were friendly and very personable! I shall be back!
(5)Jade R.
I came here to celebrate my birthday last night with a group of 8. I made reservations a week in advance so we had no problems being seated. The restaurant has an open feel, and the decor screams upscale Italy. You can expect romantic lighting, and fine dining service. The service was impeccable. I will be back just because of the level of service that was provided. Our server's name was Kevin, and I can't say enough positive things about him. He was knowledgeable about the menu, their drinks, but was fun, down to earth, and never skipped a service beat. They serve freshly baked sourdough loafs, and herb flat bread crisps as the complimentary starter. They only offer a slice of butter for half a loaf of bread, which is unusual. I like my butter! The group ordered a variety of dishes ranging from the carbonara, steak, pesto pasta, primavera, salmon salad, and ravioli. There isn't a bad dish in the house, but my favorite dish of the night was their Lobster Bisque. Wow! It was rich with that Seafood flavor, but had a creamy texture that went down smoothly. I ordered the Carbonara which is a bit different here because they serve it with spinach. I liked how they sprinkled the dish with the spinach last minute because it allowed me to stir the fresh spinach in when I received my dish which wilted it. It made my dish seem more fresh and made to order. I can't wait to come up with an excuse to come back here soon!
(4)Richard M.
Fellow Yelper Robert A. and I were invited to preview this new location in Irvine. We arrived at 5:45pm and were promptly seated. Our server went over the details of the new place and patiently answered our many questions about the menu items. Everything on the menu was fair game which was thoughtful of them. The manager picked out our appetizer for us which was: Beef Carpaccio - I never had this before. It was thinly sliced beef (think shabu shabu) carefully laid out on a large oval shaped plate. In the middle were these two triangular pieces of bread standing up-right to form a two-sided pyramid. It was the type of bread that is crispy like a cracker. Focaccia? Idk, but between the bread was a salad made with some type of leafs that wasn't lettuce. I really need to start paying attention to the names of the stuff I eat. I'm sure it would make my reviews a little more helpful for ya'll who are reading. It was really good whatever it was made of. Next was the second course. We were allowed to choose any of the salads, or soups offered. We both opted for the lobster bisque. I'd never had this before. This had lobster, shrimp, and I think onions in it too. It was cream based so it was heavy and filling. They also brought some warm bread to our table which I used to sop up the last bit of the soup. For our main course we were again allowed to choose from any of the pastas, meat dishes, and the lite dishes for those watching their calories. I went with the shrimp and crab cakes. I'd never had this before. It came with two cakes along with some roasted slices of potatoes, carrots, broccoli, and maybe squash or zucchini. I really like the sliced potatoes as the sides were crispy. I had no problem eating the first cake, but by the second one I was feeling the heaviness of the lobster bisque and had to fight my way through the second cake. These cakes were delicious, but I was starting to feel like I was going to burst at the seams at any moment. Robert had the pasta alla vodka which looked good. I didn't try any of it though. Last course was dessert. We were served a mini cheesecake selected by someone in the kitchen. I was happy with the choice. I'd had this before so I had something to compare it to. It had a dollop of hwipped-cream. Hwipped! There was a pool of caramel which it sat in. It was one of the better cheesecakes I've had. Not too heavy, or rich. The service was top notch. Very attentive and knowledgeable of the items on the menu. After each course they would come by and scrape the crumbs off the table and refill our drinks. We had two servers because one had to take his break, so Katie came in to take over while he went on break. Both were excellent. I wish I could remember the other servers name. This was an excellent event yet again from Yelp and I am forever grateful for the invitation and experience!
(5)Sherri G.
The hubby and I were looking for a new spot for dinner and decided on Brio since we've never been and the reviews looked pretty good. The restaurant is nice and open with high ceilings - highly recommended for the claustrophobic. We arrived at our table, I pulled my chair out and almost pulled off the chair's slipcover. It's not attached. Drink orders were taken straight away and we were educated on the menu. I ordered the Grilled Chicken quinoa and the hubs ordered lasagna. Our breads came to the table as we waited - very fresh and hot, and the drinks were replenished quickly without asking once through the meal - I like that. Entrees: Lasagna: The hubs (who orders lasagna every time we go to an Italian restaurant) said that this was the 2nd worst lasagna he's ever had. (Baci in HB currently holds the #1 position). I was surprised so I tasted it. Yep, not very good. This was mainly because there was so much yellow cheesy sauce instead of a more traditional marinara. What the hubs got was different than what they advertise in the pictures. Maybe there's more than 1 type of lasagna? Grilled Chicken Quinoa Delicious! I really enjoyed the dish but wish the grilled chicken was either entirely hot or entirely cold. The sauce added a nice flavorful touch but didn't overpower the quinoa. Chocolate Tort: It was ok. I'm not a tort lover so what do I know. We both enjoyed the cappuccino. Ambiance: IT IS VERY NOISY IN THIS RESTAURANT. I had to yell at my husband and he was only 2 feet away. Small children who won't shut up and eat also ruin the dining experience. Why can't they seat families FAR AWAY from couples who want to enjoy their dining experience? I have kids, I wouldn't mind being seated around other families. I get that couples or singles want to have a nice evening, maybe get away from their annoying kids for a few hours. It's a little disappointing being seated in the center of noisy kids in a noisy restaurant. We wouldn't be heartbroken if we never came here again. If there's a next time, maybe we'll dine outside or next to the fire pit in the comfy chairs. I didn't see many kids outside and it was much quieter. OR maybe I'll make lasagna and eat in my closet.
(2)Diana Y.
Came here for lunch on Saturday at 1. It wasn't too busy when we arrive but got busier later, I guess a lot of people eat late on weekends. Started with their hot bread and calamari. I liked the fresh sourdough, not so much the crisp. Calamari comes with marinara and a white sauce. I really liked the white sauce and the calamari was cooked perfectly tender. I only wish they put the sauce separate bc it's just glopped on to the plate next the calamari so half of the dish gets soggy by the time you get to it. I got the lighter angel hair with salmon dish. It was in a light lemon sauce. The sauce was tangy but felt it was missing something, salt or cheese perhaps. The salmon was a good portion and cooked medium, I forgot to tell the waiter I wanted it more well done, so FYI they default to medium if you don't specify. I tried the ravioli in the vodka cream sauce. The ravioli was filled with a soft cheese mixture, the sauce was creamy. It would have been a much better dish if they put something with a different texture in the ravioli, a veggie or meat. It was creamy on top of soft. Flavors were good, could have been kicked up a little more, I feel like the dishes were shy, even for a dish that's vodka cream you'd think they'd be more bold with the seasoning. I like the decor and ambiance and I felt the waiters were making an effort to be on top of their game. Would come back again as their HH menu looks good too.
(3)Maggie C.
This new restaurant has high ceiling with good lighting and lots of open space. There are bar seating, tables, and outdoor patio area, all inviting and welcoming atmosphere. Good for business meetings, dates, and special occasions. When we went for the soft opening, we were seated at the bar. The bar area is huge (can probably seat 25-30 people) with lots of selections of good wine. Upon seating, the server laid out black napkin on the marble countertop to serve as placemat. Beneath the bar table, there are purse hooks for ladies to put their bags, or gentlemen for their briefcases. Also, I was delighted to find a black pole slightly above the ground (circling the bar area). This is very useful for us short folks to use as foot rest or to get in/out of the high barstools. We were really excited to be one of the first ones to try this restaurant... Non-Spirit Drinks: * White Peach Palmer 3.50 - light and refreshing ice tea with a hint of peach flavor, perfect for those who prefer less sweet beverages * Strawberry Lemonade 3.25 - very yummy and quench your thirst on a hot day; the rim of the glass is lightly coated with sugar for decoration purpose, and we couldn't help licking it~ Appetizers: * Beef Carpaccio 13.45 - thinly sliced carpaccio with capers, cracker (?) and leafy greens, tastes okay with light seasoning * Margherita Flatbread 13.85 - lots of tomato slices, would have tasted better if the tomatoes were toasted slightly, and some parts of crust too crunchy like a cracker * Calamari Fritto Misto 11.45 -Fried calamari and pepperoncini served in the middle of two different sauces (marinara and horseradish?). The calamari was yummy and good to share with friends. The green pepperoncini balls were not too spicy, but not fond of it. Salads: * Grilled Salmon Salad 15.95 - grilled salmon served with asparagus, diced tomatoes, and leafy greens. Salmon was juicy and the dressing is light, good for those lighter palates. * Brio's Sliced Steak Salad 15.95 - grilled tenderloin was so tender with just right balance of candied pecans, mushrooms, veggies, gorgonzola, and balsamic glaze. This can be a meal on its own, and the dressing on the creamy side. Entrées: * Crab and Shrimp Cakes 23.45 - our FAVORITE! 2 thick cakes served with roasted/sliced potatoes and carrots on the side. You can taste the real crab and shrimp with every bite, and I'm still craving the flavor. The potatoes were on the dry side though. * Veal Milanese 24.95 - two slices of veal with white wine lemon caper sauce over fettuccine. While rich, flavorful and not a bad dish, I can't help thinking I'm eating country fried steak, so I got distracted and probably didn't fully appreciate this entree. :( Desserts: * Crème Brulee 3.95 - has thicker crust of sugar on top which I don't mind at all... I LOVE sugar, but the crème was a bit grainy and not as creamy as I'm used to at other places * Mini Chocolate Cake 2.99 - chocolate, cake, and whipped cream served in mini slim glass, each bite is full with rich chocolatey decadence The servers and bartenders were very attentive and friendly. It was a very welcoming dining experience. Would come back to try other items.
(4)Brad T.
Brio is like a glorified Olive Garden in my humble opinion. My parents came over to babysit the little guys so the wife and I could go out for a few hours... The wife has been to Brio for happy hour a few times with co-workers and has seemed to like it OK. I made a reservation through Yelp and was able to get a same-day reservation at 7:30. We saw John WIck beforehand at the Irvine Woodbridge theaters (cool movie). We arrived right on time and were informed that there were no tables available and we'd have to wait - strike 1. Makes me furious when I have to wait when I make a reservation. No seats in the bar, so we sat outside. It was kind of rainy out there, so we had the outdoors to ourselves. We were sitting in a covered area so it wasn't affected by the rain. The bar waitress set up a table for us outside and we decided to just eat out there so we didn't have to wait. Plus, it was very noisy in the dining area... almost like being at a sporting event. OK - to the food - the appetizer of calamari was terrible. The breading did not stick to the calamari and it was very soft and not crispy. The dipping sauce was in the same bowl that the calamari was served in and not in its own bowl - weird. There was a limited amount of marinara and some odd white sauce. I've never been to an Italian restaurant that serves a white mayo type dipping sauce with calamari. Well either way, it was sent back and I made it clear I didn't want them to attempt to re-make it. Our pasta dishes arrived shortly after - wife got a shrimp/lobster pasta dish that was somewhat oily and had very little lobster. I'm guessing the "lobster" was previously frozen langostino style lobster - a.k.a. the cheap ass fake lobster. My pasta dish - I don't recall the name, I think it was ala vodka or something like that, was awful. I paid several dollars extra to add chicken too and there were about 3-4 small pieces of chicken. It was super salty and super oily - absolutely disgusting. I don't attach Yelp pics too often, but I'm going to do so here so you can see how oily my dish was. The pasta dishes aren't cheap here either - like $20 and relatively small portions. Total came to about $90 with tip - and that was after the calamari was voided. We had a few drinks as well. No beers on tap here - I should mention that too. The one saving grace was the service - our waitress was serving people at the bar as well as us outside. She was fast, friendly, and attentive - I'll give her that. But in the end, the food was terrible and I will not be back. Too many good Italian restaurants in the area. Plus, the wife and I don't get to go out just the two of us very often now that we have the little guys, so it's kind of a bummer to go out and eat food that tastes worse than food I can make at home.
(2)Melissa R.
Food is great. Been there a couple of times. Great service and good wine. I had the lasagna and it was delicious. I also went there when it first open and had great appetizers and happy hour.
(4)Jenny H.
Honestly, the food here is a little more on the average side, with really the good location, ambience, and fine service boosting its score. I came here with my parents after exploring the Irvine area one day. I got the lobster and shrimp ravioli, which is actually lobster ravioli with grilled shrimp on top of it (name is a bit deceiving). It was flavorful and filling, and the sauce wasn't too overwhelming. It wasn't mind-blowing by any means, but I would consider getting it again. My father got the pork chops. They were dry and quite average, so I personally don't recommend them. My mother got the roasted vegetable spaghettini, which was also nothing special. On the other hand, the Peach Bellini was amazing: not too sweet, and no alcohol taste at all! A must-try for fruity drink lovers like me! The ambience is really nice; a good place for a group of friends, family dinner, or a date. The service is also quite good. The waiter/waitresses will recommend their favorites and aren't pushy. They are also relatively attentive. This place is good, but that's about it: just good.
(3)Jimmy L.
Finding a place to celebrate a birthday, we picked brio. Initially when we walked in, we were impressed by the decor of the place. I would say, the price of items in the menu is definitely a surprise based on the decor. Now going to the review of the food. Overall the food was okay, not great nor bad but just okay. I think the place is more for the ambiance than the actual food. Maybe we attended in the week of restaurant week but the food is similar to macaroni grille. Not sure if i will want to come to eat on purpose, but if there are lines and brio is readily available, I will not mind eating there
(3)Tim O.
Meh. Alright service. Our waitress was friendly and vocal about our needs though it did take a while to get things like refills and salad. Appetizer of calamari was decent, though the breading was a bit thin and there wasn't a very good calamari:pepperoncini ratio (I do like me some pepperoncini...but I'd prefer the squid thank you. Pasta was alright. Got the lobster and shrimp fettuccine and she got the lasagna bolognese. Nothing super exciting about it. It's also noisy. Like...borderline awful din. I don't know how a restaurant gets that noisy. My fiancee put it best. It's like a more refined Olive Garden. Inauthentic Italian food but actually freshly made...I think. I'm not an expert on Italian food, mind you. You should talk to an Italian about that. Also, people at the table next to us, I am thrilled that you bumped into some friends while you were here, really I am. But I don't know if that warranted getting up from your table and standing in the middle of a narrow aisle for ten minutes talking to them, blocking the paths of all of the waiters and busboys. You could have maybe stayed at the table to talk, you freaks of nature you.
(3)Alex T.
Came here for Irvine restaurant week last week.The pre-fix menu comes with an appetizer to share,one entree each and one dolchino(layer cake in a shot glass) each. Appetizer was the best part of the whole meal.It was eggplant and spicy grilled shrimp on top of a thin crust drenched in a spicy pink sauce. Entree: The beef gorgonzola with mash : Beef was tender,well seasoned.Good mash,creamy. Shrimp and lobster: More shrimp than lobster but overall a very good pasta dish. The portion is enough for two. Dolchino: caramel chocolate: think of a warm brownie + caramel frappé Raspberry NY cheesecake: cheesecake factory in a shot glass
(5)Jessica L.
I've eaten at Brio three times now, and have found the experience to be inconsistent. The second visit was for a work lunch. Service was great...drinks were refilled, food came out fast, and our service was very attentive and positive. The second time, however, was less enjoyable. I requested the same dish I had just two weeks prior. The server said the menu had changed, and when I explained that I had just had a ravioli dish that may still be available off the menu, she didn't offer to at least check with the chef. (I also work in the area, and LA Bite still has that dish on the menu...so, weird). The restaurant was half empty and we sat for about 10 minutes until our drink orders were taken. Also their bread (mix of flatbread and fresh bread...so good) came out before the drinks. Now here's the kicker: there was a hair at the bottom of my pasta dish. At this point, I'd eaten 75% of it, so there wasn't really anything I could do. I did mention it to our server, and the manager came over, apologized, then took it off the bill. I did appreciate that it was comped, rather than a replacement just being sent out. They may still be working out some of the kinks, so I'm not in a hurry to rush back, but I wouldn't sway anyone from going here, either.
(3)Kelly C.
Beautiful new restaurant. Grand soft open today. Convenient parking in the structure. The shrimp and eggplant is a bit salty but still good. Great presentation. 1st place in Irvine that I've seen Wild berry lemonade. So yummy!! Better than strawberry lemonade! The service was AMAZING. The servers were all very nice and hospitable. This restaurant offers small dessert portions like Seasons 52 in a shot cup. Great new addition to Irvine Spectrum!
(4)A M.
Nice outdoor patio. Delicious complimentary bread and Rosemary crackers. The wedge salad is delicious. The chopped salad was boring and the dressing was not delicious. The light pesto angel hair was very good and my husband raved about the salmon. Service was very good.
(5)Rachel S.
We had been excited to try this place for a while and had a few hours to ourselves one afternoon while the in-laws had our kids. The service was terrible. There was even a couple near us who got up and left after waiting so long for the server to take their order. I just ordered a cappuccino thinking that it should be decent at an Italian restaurant. Wrong. It tasted like steamed milk with a dash of coffee. And the server didn't bring any sugar to the table. After waiting a long time for the sever to come back I asked for sugar and mentioned it tasted very milky. She made it again. It came back the exact same way. She didn't come back to ask how it was and at this point we had been there for almost an hour and didn't want to wait again for her to make another bad one. My husband had a Moscow mule which he said wasn't good. We are not generally picky people, but I expected much better from a place like this.
(1)Joyce Z.
The food here is great! However everything else brought my review down to 3 stars. Since this place is new, they really need some time to get their shit together. On a Friday night, the Spectrum gets very busy & it can often take at least 45 min just to get a spot at a restaurant. Brio told us it was only a 30 minute wait! I heard great things about the Colorado location, so I had to try it. After waiting 1 hour 15 min, we still weren't seated. There were many open tables, and the hosts said the kitchen was having problems. Many people started leaving...and nothing was done to fix this. I wanted to leave too, but I already waited sooo long I had to try this place. We then found a seat at the bar and decided to just eat there. (By then it was already 9:00pm...) The bartenders were pretty unprofessional. One of them gave us attitude when we asked for utensils. How do you want us to eat the bread then? Use our hands? Another accidentally gave our credit card back to a different customer. WTF. Aside from all that trouble I didn't want to deal with, I'm glad there is finally a yummy traditional Italian restaurant in Irvine. We got the Pasta Brio ($17.95) and Pasta Alla Vodka ($18.90). Both were delicious. I think I'll wait at least a month before coming back so that they can get the hang of how to manage everything.
(3)Kira W.
Even on a rainy day, Brio impresses! I went when it was pouring outside and was seated on the covered patio. The patio is super cute! I ordered their specialty pasta alla vodka, which is stuffed with ricotta and in a tomato cream sauce. Absolutely delicious! It was very filling and even enough to split with someone. I love how they post the calorie count on their menus!
(5)Dominique D.
Honestly, this was very mediocre Italian. The service was mediocre as well and the place just seems overrated. This was my first experience there so I made a reservation, but when we arrived my friend and I still waited a while to be seated as if the place was overrunning with people ready to eat here. When finally seated, it took 10 minutes to even get a waiter to come over to ask for a water, again the place was not packed at all, and at that point I told him to bring me two glasses of wine because I didn't know if he was going to take another journey on his way to get my water. On to the food: I ordered the calamari as an appetizer which was actually pretty tasty, and for the entree shrimp and lobster fettuccine-can't go wrong with that right? Wrong. It wasn't very flavorful in my opinion and I found myself constantly adding salt and pepper. I was fooled my the decor and website thinking that "Oh my gosh, this is going to be so great!" Lastly, my friend and I were both incorrectly charged for our meals, but it was fixed until my friend realized she was charged twice and we had to go back to get that fixed. After the apologies and speaking with management we were given cards for free appetizers which we could never use because behold...they had expired a year prior.
(2)Aida L.
Nice place, I have not been disappointed yet! The risotto is really good.
(5)Stephany N.
Carpaccio was great. Definitely recommend. Daughter had the lobster ravioli and loved it
(4)Ryan R.
I really like italian and every so often i have a hankoring (is that a word) for something savory that sticks to the bones. So we had a customer meeting here today, and the food didn't disappoint. I started with the Lobster bisque which was really good and finished with the Pasta Fra Diavolo with Chicken which was really good... It had a rich tomato-vodka sauce and the pasta was fun, it looked like little trumpets. My workmate had the ravioli which looked awesome. Its a great big place with plenty of seating, even at lunch. I suspect Dinner gets a little bit nuts here. The only negative is it took a while to get things like refills, but thats just nit picking... Great place, would defintely come back.
(4)Amy D.
Happy hour is so great!! Goes from 3:30 until 6:30 pm M-F and starts again at 9 pm until close which is awesome. For happy hour I will continuously go back and I would give it four stars if they had not run out of three of the five items we ordered. Bar plates are all from $3.95-$5.95, Drinks $4-$6 and Beer & Wine $4-5 on their happy hour menu. Fried ravioli's weren't all that great. Flat breads were good. Bar and outside patios are really great settings. Main menu has a few really good dishes: the Brio sliced steak salad was a favorite amongst the people I was with. I LOVE the Pasta Alla Vodka! The Gorganzola Beef Medallians were not great at all. Beef just was not tender and it was over cooked. I will be going back and may update this by a star if in the future everything we order is available. (Three out of five apps not available? That is bad.) Happy Hour is a great value and really nice setting. Service was pretty good the several times I have been.
(3)Veronica W.
With a diverse menu and excellent atmosphere, Brio has become one of my favorite places to meet friends for lunch or dinner. The food is always excellent and is sensibly priced...not cheap but it also won't break the bank. The quality of service you get really depends on which server you get - some are great while others are highly lacking. Overall a wonderful dining experience, although it would be good for the management team to make sure all servers offer great service. Could be lack of training or accountability?
(4)Henna S.
I actually give this place a 3.5 - good food and nice atmosphere, but a little bit on the expensive side. I got the Ravioli Di Bello, which was certainly tasty, but the quantity was a little underwhelming for the price.
(3)Sunny R.
Love this place. Whether it's drinks with friends or weekend brunch with the family! Friendly staff and great food.
(5)Sarah B.
Been here twice so far, and have not been disappointed with food or service as of yet. I have tried the shrimp Mediterranean and the salmon fresca. Both are great and taste clean! not doused in oil and fat. Their bread is delicious as well. My only gripe is this. When i made reservations for 9 people, they put us RIGHT next to the kitchen (even though i made a request for that to not happen), and it was SO loud with people walking in and out. I have this thing about being seated next to a restroom or a kitchen when i have reservations...IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN! They were willing to reseat us, but the only other table was the exact same setting on the other side. Anyways, the food is good, and the watiers are always nice.
(4)Ray H.
Came here for a group lunch. I have the Pork Chop for $17 that is grilled perfectly, tender and juicy, served on a hot plate. Deserts are delicious, not as sugary as many other restaurants in the area. Service is excellent as the waitress keeps checking on us for refills.
(5)Krystle G.
Where is my girl Jay (Janet), she is the bomb! I mean she provides excellent customer service with hints of humor and friendliness. She got to know us and made great recommendations. She made our first visit to not be our last. We ordered: a few white and red wines by the glass, Brio Chopped Salad, Gerber Farms All-Natural Roasted Half Chicken and the Gorgonzola Crusted Bistecca. It was my birthday so Jay surprised us with the Torta di Cioccolata for dessert. It was the chocolatey richness I was lookign for with some delicious vanilla bean gelato (need more). I definitely want to try the Creme Brulee and the cheesecake next time. It gets pretty loud inside the restaurant, so we sat outside which was perfect.
(5)Kelly N.
Came here for lunch with coworkers. Decor of restaurant feels very Mediterranean. I ordered Chicken Milanese. It was a good size portion of pasta and chicken. The chicken was thin and crispy. Pasta was yum. Shared the trio desserts, bread pudding, cheesecake and creme brûlée. My favorite was the creme brûlée.
(4)Blake S.
We came in with a group of 9 to celebrate a college graduation and the service was among the worst i've received. Unprofessional and unenthusiastic service from a server who didn't seem that she want to be there. She did not have the care/presence of mind to refill our waters until i asked... a fundamental and easy way to keep in touch with your guests. the restaurant was EMPTY too so it's not like she was too busy to take care of us. Also when we sent back a dish (see description in next paragraph) she simply offered to replace it, no apology, and she comped it. the manager didnt seem to care either as he did not come over. In my opinion that lack of sympathy shows a low level of customer service which is unacceptable at a restaurant of this price range. The Chicken Marsala sauce was not fresh, in fact I wouldn't be surprised if it was sitting in a heating all day. Not only was it flat and flavorless but the consistency was not that of any marsala sauce i've ever seen. It looked more like Japanese gravy. The lemonade was watered down too. Also we ordered the Carbonara dish which was said to have included bacon.... there were literally 3 small bits of bacon. for the price of $19 i was very unimpressed by the small size and dry noodles. Honestly I would not recommend wasting your time here.
(1)Nijole T.
Happy hour at Brio is the way to go! Not a fan of their regular fare which is very Olive Garden in a nicer surrounding at even higher prices, happy hour offers a large variety of small plates at reasonable prices. Service was fine, though not great. My favorite was the flatbreads and I think also the best value for your money. Not really for kids, this is more of a date spot. Nice addition to the area, as I think they just started expanding into California.
(3)Rob T.
The ambient was nice but the food was not good at all. I ordered the lobster bisque and it not all what I am used too - too fishy. I also order the prime rib steak and it was mediocre. I will definitely come back for drinks. The drinking scene was pretty cool. I like outdoor social scenes.
(2)Elle C.
1. First happy hour: fun and enjoyed the food and drink offerings, great service. 2. Second happy hour (with a large group): AMAZING service, waiting on 15 people, coming-and-going; lots of fun; the group was impressed with the restaurant's atmosphere. 3. First dinner: again, AMAZING service; knowing we were celebrating a birthday, our server was excellent in allowing us to relax and enjoy ourselves; food was very good (although the beef medallions were a bit over cooked). 4. Second dinner: disappointing. The server appeared distracted, not very attentive, and certainly didn't provide the excellent service received during my 3 previous visits. Our entrées didn't have me longing to order them, again. Our server didn't try to entice us with the dessert tray (just a paper menu this time). The chocolate souffle didn't have the delicate, crisp exterior revealing a light, moist, and fluffy cake that I'd enjoyed just the week before; instead, this dessert had a denser texture, lighter than fudge. I'm hoping that this recent visit was just an "off" day. Even so, after this last visit, I'm not so eager to return right away.
(4)Natalie B.
This was my first time here and I will be back despite a few hiccups. My husband made a reservation over the phone in the afternoon and when we arrived in the evening they couldn't find it. It was very busy Friday night, but the hostess got us seated 5 minutes later. The Pasta alla Vodka and Tiramisu were my favorites. I will not hesitate to order those again! The only negatives I have with this restaurant are: The noise level is very high! It's so loud in there that I had a hard time hearing our server and it was difficult to talk to my husband. Although all of our food came out super fast (almost too fast), I felt a bit rushed. It actually felt like they were trying to turn tables over as quickly as possible to serve more customers and make more profit. I do not like restaurants that do this and this is what it felt like on a Friday night.
(4)Armando C.
If you can make a pasta under 600 calories taste good, then damn you got skills. And that's exactly what Brio did. The chopped salad with vinaigrette dressing was so-so. The lettuce-to-ingredients ratio was off, but was very light, which leaves room for other dishes. The pepporini sausage flatbread is not a must order, but can cure any pizza craving. Beware lactose peoples, there is a good amount of cheese on it.
(3)Tania S.
I first heard about Brio from a friend that is a Vegas resident. She raved about this restaurant and how excited she was that there would be one in Irvine. I've only gone once so I might have to give it another try but my first experience was nothing to rave about. The restaurant itself is brand new, they actually built an entire building for it! They revamped the parking as well so its easier to get to. We went early on a Thursday afternoon and the restaurant was a bit empty but completely packed by the time we left at 6:30. We ordered the calamari and it was pretty good. Pieces where small though. For my main dish I ordered the Pasta Alla Vodka - Ricotta filled pasta, spicy tomato Parmesan cream sauce, crispy pancetta, garlic, basil. My sister spoke so highly of this dish, I had to try it. Again, it probably got hyped way too much and I was expecting some mind blowing dish...I was extremely disappointed by it. It was not tasty at all. I will give it another try though, maybe their other more popular dishes will be better!
(2)Danielle R.
I first visited this place on Nov. 4th. We celebrated my bf's birthday, our entire experience was 100%, our server was outstanding (wish I had the receipt with her name on it) she brought everything out hot, grabbed us another bottle of wine right at the appropriate time and was always smiling. The food was amazing, everyone was very satisfied. They even stored our cake we brought with. The second time I visited this place was a completely different story. 11/5-I was so pleased with my previous experience I have raved about this place and invited a girlfriend to meet me after work for Happy Hour, I was told by my cousin the prices and portions were great. I arrived at 5:45, got great seats by the fire pit. Took about 15 mins for the server to approach me despite it not being busy and being the only people seated around a 6 seat fire pit!!! I ordered a water and a mojito, said my friend would be joining me shortly, about 12 mins later the mojito came, no water. When my friend came she ordered a drink and we ordered food. When the apps came I asked if we could have flatware, apparently this was a tall order because the entire time we were there, none came. Even after asking the 3rd time! My friend said "when/if we see her, we need to ask for the check and have our cards ready, because otherwise we won't get out of here until 11pm at this rate" I agreed but was humiliated that I had spoken so highly of this place and my friend was shocked at the horrible service we received when our server seemed to be MIA or walking around leisurely when in sight, but acted as if she could hear us..... I gave 3 stars to balance out the night and day differences in my 2 experiences. The food is wonderful but not being given a fork over a 1.5hr period and eating shrimp with your fingers, isn't.
(3)Nina M.
Came for dinner with my mom on a Sunday night. It wasn't crowded but there was a few big tables. Unfortunately our waitress paid more attention to them and never even refilled our water. After waiting for 40 mins we finally got our food and the waitress blamed it on the kitchen cook. Not cool or professional. Although our food was fine, and the manager kindly picked up our tab after we complained about the bad service, we won't likely be back. It didn't leave a good lasting impression.
(3)Erin T.
This review is for the brunch only The Spectrum is full of upscale restaurants, Brio Tuscan included. The decor is nice, bright and open, a great contrast to Bru Grill in Lake forest. I love their bread basket! You get these bread stick things, and two other kinds of bread. A sourdough I think and maybe a french roll? Ham & Biscuit Benedict - eggs benedict is one of my favorite breakfast food...swap out a english muffin for a biscuit? I'm all for it! The potatoes that come with it were meh but for $10.50 I was quite satisfied. Tuscan Omlette - i like the variety of filling in this. Sweet potato in breakfast is such an underrated thing. It definitely didn't need the salsa but I appreciate the option to have it. The only thing I didn't like about the breakfast was the fruit. It tasted like they added sugar to it so sweeten it up and while I like sweet fruit, extra sugar is just not necessary.
(4)Siranush H.
I was so excited to try Brio after hearing about it's opening from friends and fellow yelpers. I'm sorry to say I was not impressed and did not care for the incredibly slow and non-responsive service. We waiting at the bar to be seated and shortly after were shown to our table. We were given menus so we could order. While we were doing so, we asked for bread and butter. We waited, we ordered and then we asked for bread and butter. This went on all night until we had already finished our first course. Our waiters got switched during half of our dinner and the service got better but not great. Their staff seemed to be running around and could not seem to remember our requests throughout the night. The food was not amazing. We had the Margarita Pizza and Beef Carpaccioto start. The pizza tasted cold and bland, the carpaccio was better. I had a Brio Chopped Salad that was oozing in dressing, I didn't taste much more than that. I shared the Pasta Fra Diavolo and Filetto Di Manzo Toscano. The pasta was good, probably the best dish I had all night. The Filetto Di Manzo Toscano was extremely dry even though we asked for medium rare - a very disappointing steak. We were offered dessert on the house because of this. I'm not opposed to giving Brio another shot, I just wish I enjoyed my experience the first time around. I was expecting more. Try it for yourself.
(3)Heidi C.
The highlight of my experience here was the service. My company department had a hosted lunch and our group of about 15 people had the most attentive servers. I think we were assigned 2 servers and drinks did not go without refills, 2nd plates were brought promptly, and check backs were frequent and friendly. Management also stopped by to make sure we enjoyed everything. I tasted the tuna taco appetizers which had a nice flavorful sauce on top. My co-worker and I split the tri tip salad and the chicken sandwich. The Tri-tip was cooked medium rare to medium at parts. I prefer it all at medium rare. The salad came tossed but I thought the dressing was still a bit dry and I needed more acid, maybe a different dressing altogether. The chicken sandwich was solid, the bread being one of my favorite parts. A great experience overall, and I look forward to coming back as a smaller group or couple for the service and some of their signature dishes. IMG_9836.JPG
(4)Jenny F.
********OCRW REVIEW********** OC RESTAURANT WEEK Hmm, I really wanted to like this place. Its one of the new restaurants at the Irvine Spectrum by the Yardhouse structure. The ambiance was really nice and the dining room was gorgeous. White table cloths and all that jazz. However I felt the food fell short. Lobster Bisque (4 stars) - This bisque was good but very salty. Comes with pieces of lobster :) Pasta Brio (3 stars) - Very mediocre. I wouldnt recommend this dish. Not sure i'd be back. theres just so many other options.
(3)Robert D.
we went for Happy Hour. There was a "glitch" with our drink order. The Bar Manager, Nadine, came to our table and apologized and bought us each a drink. She was delightful and "turned lemons into lemonade". We had the Brio burger and the pepper shrimp. Both were outstanding, in addition to a real bargain, with the happy Hour prices. I immediately texted 2 of my friends and we will definitely be returning to Brio. Also, the free parking garage was very convenient. Bob n Mary Laguna Beach
(5)Jessica-Marie M.
Really had a bad experience to start but the customer service was exceptional. I ordered a tomato bisque and was accidentally brought lobster bisque with shrimp! I'm allergic to shrimp and the moment I tried it I knew there was shrimp or crab in it. I spit it into a napkin and ran to ask a server or hostess. One of the managers overheard me explaining and he came over to check the soup. At first I was really upset because he told me the lobster bisque and tomato bisque look alike and that they could easily be mixed up. Which freaked me out because someone could easily end up in the hospital with a mix up like that. He confirmed my soup was lobster not tomato and immediately looked into what happened. Luckily I only had one bite and spit it out, I also took two benadryl that I carry with me. Just in case I had my epi-pen but I didn't have to use it. The manager check on me several times, made sure my meal was taken care of, and really showed he was concerned. It turns out the server made a mistake. Actually this is the 3rd time a server's error has ended in my meal having an allergen in it, but this was the best service I received by management and the server after the fact. Other than getting the wrong soup the rest of the meal was really good. It really was not the best night, but I know accidents happen and I really appreciate the restaurant's service despite the mistake
(4)Franklin Y.
Honestly didn't think too much of this place, mostly because I don't see why anyone should pay so much money for Italian food (pasta). For the same amount I could have went to Mama D's to have better food with better service. As much as the setting is very romantic and fancy, the food itself didn't taste or feel very good. Don't get me wrong, it was still pretty good for Italian food, but like I said there are definitely better places to get your fancy Italian food fix.
(3)Lena K.
Loved It!!! Came here for the first time due for Happy hour & fell in love! Great location; right next to the Nordstrom parking structure. Loved the outdoor patio. We got there at 5:30 & it was already jam packed but later on we found couches outside. The lemon basil martini is a must!! And the dirty martini 2am was great too. And we ended up going on a Wednesday which happens to be $5 martini day! Appetizers were good. My friends kid had the Mac & cheese & it was deliciousness! Can't wait to go back! Tips: park in Nordstrom parking structure, try & go before 5:30 if you want outdoor & order the lemon basil martini!
(4)Sharon T.
Great ambience, good service & very accommodating. We would certainly come back again! The happy hour food menu was really good (I had the grass fed beef burger), price was right & it was delicious! The drinks weren't bad either. I would certainly return!
(4)FoodLover G.
Came here for dinner. Started with the tomato mozzarella salad. I paired it with the White Oak Chardonnay. We ordered our sons cheeseburger early but it came out with our entrees. The waiter was helpful but extremely confused. I had the grilled salmon fresca but there was way too much going on in my opinion. I felt like I had bruschetta without the bread all around the fish. The salmon was over cooked and burned. My sons burger was extremely done. My wife had the carbonara which was really good but really rich. The chicken was the dark meat from the chicken which contributed to the richness. The sauce was extremely thick. I had a glass of a Tuscan Italian wine that was so so. It is worth trying it out. I would love to see others feedback. It could just be getting the kinks out from being new. Ambiance is good.
(2)Emily G.
Such a wonderful Italian restaurant. Great place, good decor. They have a large menu with lots of choices.
(4)Chris C.
There aren't a lot of nicer, Italian restaurants in Irvine so the addition of Brio to the Spectrum fills a void. While this may be chain fare and not entirely authentic, it is a good option for a nicer Italian meal that won't break the bank. On the niceness scale this is somewhere in between a higher end Macaroni Grill and a place like Canaletto Ristorante at Fashion Island. ATMOSPHERE: Brio does its best to make you feel like you aren't eating in the middle of a parking lot (even though it's located in between a multi-level parking garage and Del Frisco's). If you are looking for an "authentic" experience, a few things may distract a bit from that. The interior, is sort of an over the top take on what Americans think Tuscany is - something akin to an Italian-style model home in Coto de Caza or the decor the Real Housewives of New Jersey might choose. Plus, our server pronounced caprese as ca-prees (a personal, petty pet peeve of mine). We opted for the covered patio along the side of the restaurant, which is great as long as it's not too hot outside. The piped-in music was some sort of adult-contemporary mix like they play in the parking lot at the District. SERVICE: We arrived for an early dinner and needed to get in and out to make a show at Verizon Wireless (Irvine Meadows). Our server made sure to get our food and drink orders right away. The kitchen was a little over ambitious and our mains came while we were only halfway through our starters, but given that we were crunched for time I didn't mind. Moreover, our server came by to apologize that the food had come so quickly and explained how there were some big groups, so the kitchen fired things up a bit early. No big deal. She continued to be attentive and processed our bill quickly. FOOD: Some prior reviewers complained about the portion sizes. I found the portions to be totally reasonable and fairly priced. Our first courses - tomato & mozzarella caprese and caesar salads were fine but nothing special. The basil in the caprese seemed very bright and fresh, but there was not nearly enough of it. AC had the Shrimp Verduta, which seems like something you can make at home but was very well executed. I had the Ravioli di Bello, which was a real delight for a mushroom lover. Lots of great, well cooked ravioli filled with mushrooms and their earthy umami flavor and covered with more mushrooms. The richness of brown butter sauce was balanced out by the addition of cherry tomatoes. I'd come back and order either pasta dish again.
(4)Tina G.
Since Brio has opened, I have been here three times. Once for business lunch (group of 8 when they first opened), once for lunch yesterday and once after work for dinner/drinks. The restaurant is very easy to get to, since I know many ppl that avoid spectrum bc it takes to long to navigate. If you park in the garage by Nordstrom, there is a staircase that takes you right in front of BRIO. The bar area is classy, with a floating bar. Good size Best part are the 3 outdoor patios. HH is in the bar and outdoor patios and one of the best. Full size portions for HH prices (not like other restaurants that cut portions in half to make u think its a good deal during HH) Meals are also great, fresh and clean. I was told that they get their seafood daily from Santa Monica seafood. I've had their filet, shrimp Mediterranean, quinoa salad, bruschetta Quattro, shrimp eggplant app and carpaccio. Excellent. I will surely go back soon!
(5)Alicia G.
Great Food - Great Prices. Highly recommend their pasta carbonara. Delicious and huge portions I had enough for another meal. My boyfriend loved the chipotle chicken panini. The children menu is also great, low prices with a big serving, two small children could just share one. Interior is very pretty and very clean.
(5)Devon T.
We were so hoping that the food would be a good as the atmosphere, but unfortunately it wasn't. It's not bad, but just not great. I'd say it's a step up from Macaroni Grill, of which I am also not a fan. Probably more of a place to get a drink and enjoy the surroundings. The bruschetta looked good, but we didn't try it, so that might go nicely with your drink.
(3)Yogi B.
Somehow I have already eaten here four times and it has only been open for a couple of months. If you sign up for their loyalty program email they will send you a coupon for a free Bruschetta Quattro, which is four different big bite size bruschetta. One of them is a steak bruschetta and they were fine with substituting a different one. These are really tasty, even though the complimentary bread is also good. Roasted Vegetable & Whole Grain Spaghettini is bland, so I won't try that again. The Crab & Shrimp Cakes are nice with a horseradish kick. The Lighter Side menu, they also sent us a coupon that required buying a lighter side item for I think a free desert (which doesn't make sense, but I think that was the case), has Grilled Salmon Fresca which is super tasty and you can substitute broccoli for the asparagus if you don't like the effects of asparagus. Even better is the Grilled Mahi Mahi with a superb topping of tomatoes and vinaigrette on a bed of faro and spinach. That is my favorite so far. We have had some long lunches with appetizer, entrée and desert and everytime they time bringing the food out perfectly. They also have a great selection of moderately priced wine.
(5)Alice C.
Looooooved the shrimp and eggplant appetizer. A def must. Pretty great service considering they just opened. Great waiter named Joseph :) ohhhhhh must get the chocolate cake with ice cream on top. Omg - to die for!!!! I would def come here again!!!!
(5)Jenn P.
I had watched this place being built on my frequent trips to Spectrum, and was excited to try it when it was finally opened. After work one day we decided to go in and give them a shot for Happy Hr. The inside is really nice and spacious. They offer tables and booths, and a huge bar area. What I like most is the outdoor patio which offers sofas and fire places. We went with a few items for HH and a couple drinks. -Crispy Cheese Raviolli- This was awesome. You really have to put effort into getting fried wrong haha. These were served in a large portion with marinara and Ranch(don't hold me to this one) dipping sauces. -Beef Carpaccio- This was very goos as well. Raw beef served with mustard aoili and parmesan. -Margarhita flatbread- This was also very good. Everything was fresh and tasty Lobster Bisque- My al time favorite soup. Brio did not disappoint. -Mojhito- I tried one of there flavored mojhitos. I am blanking on what flavor, but it was very good. Sangrea- This was good as well. If your looking for something refreshing and light this is a great choice. Prices were great and service was fast and friendly, I look forward to trying them for lunch, dinner, or more happy hrs in the future.
(4)M Rose T.
We went there for happy hour. Food 5 stars: ordered their hamburgers with chips. It was okay. We ordered Sangria and Italian lemonade cocktails they're the best. Location/ambiance 5 stars: it's by Irvine Spectrum mall. I liked their Tuscan decor. Service 5 stars: great service. Price 5 stars: just right.
(5)Elaine G.
Went here for happy hour....amazing! They are doing something right! The quality of the food is top notch. The price is unbelievably CHEAP! The quality is 5 star. I don't get it! Fresh made tomato sauce, burger was so juicy, eggplant sticks with the horseradish sauce was superb and the flatbreads were the best ever. Had the margarita and the sausage pepperoni. I'll definitely come back again over and over and over...
(5)Shivangi S.
I came here last night for my brothers birthday with my family since we were already in Irvine Spectrum. It's located right across the Forever 21 and I think it's one of the relatively newer restaurants. We came in on Friday night at about 5:30 and we were seated immediately. The inside is sooo pretty! It has a beautiful Tuscan decor that I loved. The servers and hostesses were all super friendly and nice. I think our servers name was Bryce, and he was super attentive and nice. They start you off with bread and it was so good! They waited a while to give us the butter though which was odd, but not a big deal. My siblings, and my mom all had the penne with the spicy creme sauce and they'd loved it, they would give it a 5/5. I had the Pasta Alla Vodka and it was sooo good too! The only thing though was that the pasta shells were sort of like ravioli, it had a ricotta filling and normally I wouldn't mind that; however, the pasta shells super big and a little too much sometimes. But it was still really, really good! I highly recommend it. Next time I would just get penne or bow tie pasta instead. I will definitely be back again!
(4)Nicholas R.
I can only speak on brunch, but the brunch was elite! Perfectly poached egg on my sausage Benedict, my girlfriend's omelet was fantastic, our waiter was great, seriously go here for Sunday brunch!
(5)Kristin Leigh M.
Oh, yummy! I've been watching this place being built for the past few months since my office is one of the neighbouring tall buildings. Colleagues and I decided to pop in for lunch this past week, and boy, I'm happy we did. If you love bread, this place is your paradise. Bread is my weakness, and I swear I could have made a meal out of their bread basket (rolls and these hard cracker-like flatbreads with seasoning). YUM! Aaaagh! As for the main course, there were so many that I wanted to pick from, but I ended up going with the lunch lasagna, which came with a small salad. I ordered the insalata something or other... but it was a wedge salad. Perhaps I overlooked that part when I was ordering. I wouldn't have ordered a wedge. My colleague got the cesar, and another the greek salad, and they both looked tasty. The lasagna (beef) was GOOD! It needs to be served on a smaller plate though... it covered like 1/3 of the plate, which looked awkward. (Or maybe they can put the salad in a bowl ON the same plate). I can't wait to go back to try some of the sandwiches and the chicken parmasean. Everything looks so yummy! It's still fairly new so not very busy... yet!
(5)Rohlin A.
The better half and I have been eagerly awaiting the opening of this restaurant since spring so when this event appeared, we were quick to reply to make sure we had an invitation to this event and invited the fully grown ankle biters along (you never stop feeding them) as our plus ones. BRIO's motto: "To eat well is to live well" are definitely words for everyone should strive follow. I am sure many people interpret eat well to mean healthy ... I am not one of them. Rohlinism: Eat well = high quality, flavorful dishes with good portions. I felt this evening BRIO delivered my interpretation in spades! The preview was four courses and included non-alcoholic drinks, but the bar was available if you wished to purchase liquor. Our drink orders were a Wildberry Cooler, a Peach Bellini, a Strawberry Lemonade ( yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… ) and a regular Lemonade. The drinks were a little slow coming out, but they arrived about the same time as our appetizer of Margherita Flatbread ( yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… ). Since Erica isn't a huge fan of tomatoes, we also requested some complimentary bread (not sure why we had to ask) which consisted of a Sourdough Loaf (not typical for an Italian restaurant) and some Flaxseed Crispy Flatbread ( yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… ) with butter (surprised olive oil and balsamic wasn't offered). Laina felt the Margherita needed more cheese, but the tomatoes were fresh and the pizza had a nice mix of flavors. I really enjoyed the flatbread and ended up eating half of it on my own. Everyone loved the sourdough (out of place or not), it was served hot, fresh and just the right amount of lactobacilli. I think we were split on the Flaxseed, I enjoyed the crunch and found the use of flaxseed an original idea for a hearty flavor (it also made quite a mess). Our server returned and we placed our orders: Laina - Brio Chopped Salad / Pasta Alla Vodka Erica - Caesar Salad / Lasagna Bolognese Al Forno Jessica - Tomato & Mozzarella Caprese / Sweet Potato & Chicken Risotto Me - Bistecca Insalata ( yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… ) / Sweet Potato & Chicken Risotto ( yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… ) In between course, I had a chance to visit with Jaime and Ryan who were dining at a different table and get a look at the open kitchen ( yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… ) in action. Everyone really enjoy the food, except for Erica who was feeling ill. My salad was wonderful and I would order it again (very few salads hold that distinction). There was a good amount of bacon, gorgonzola and tomatoes. The lettuce wedge was very fresh and properly dried and the Parmesan dressing was perfectly balanced. In this age of duality, I am continuously looking for places that can put new twists on old dishes or present something entirely new on a plate. Risotto is a mainstay of Italian cuisine, but while most risottos are rustic in flavor, this risotto reminds me of Southern Comfort food. The mix of sweet potatoes and chicken went very well together and the pancetta, parmesan, thyme and pine nuts all added to flavor of the dish. I was thankful the asparagus was cut into small spears instead of diced, made it much easier to pick them out (Yuck!). The meal ended with Butterscotch Pecan Bread Pudding ( yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… ) and BRIO's Famous Cheesecake ( yelp.com/biz_photos/brio… ) with Caramelized Sugar and Creme Anglaise. The bread pudding was pretty good, the pecans and butterscotch went well together. The caramelized sugar gave the cheesecake an unique crunch, the consistency of the cheesecake was perfect and it had no crust which added to the uniqueness of the dessert. The dessert Nazi (Laina) even gave the cheesecake high marks and she usually only likes her own cheesecake. Everyone had leftovers to take home, expect yours truly who turned into a black hole from which no food escaped! The only downside, even though the service was very friendly and personable, at times it was somewhat slow and some things had to asked for when they should have been provided. I imagine these minor ticks will be worked out. Thanks to Ryan for arranging this event and the management and staff of BRIO for putting on a fantastic preview dinner!
(5)Melissa P.
Went for lunch and would definitely go back to try other items on the menu. The bruchetta sampler was delicious and the pasta a la vodka my friend ordered was really good. I tried the chicken picatta which I would absolutely not recommend. The chicken was dry and it was suuuuper salty. Definitely opt for pasta dishes if you're considering this one. The carbonara which my other friend ordered was also pretty good. I think my favorite part was the kids menu. They have your typical grilled cheese, Mac and cheese and chicken tenders, but also an additional listing of options that included grilled salmon, grilled chicken, lasagna, etc. I was also really surprised when my sons "kids" meal arrived. It was pretty much an adult portion of salmon with broccoli and mashed potatoes at the $6.95 price point. If you're eating out with the kiddies, this is a great place to go. Four stars because my entree was less than noteworthy, but everything else was excellent.
(4)Lauren L.
Tony our server was awesome! Me and my friend were getting alot of plates to share and we didn't even ask to share and he split the food for us which is very thoughtful. The shrimp and eggplant was good as always and the pasta alla vodka was great!
(5)Carolyn K.
Had lunch here the other day with a bunch of friends on a Sunday morning. Decor and ambiance were nice. Reminded me of some Vegas restaurants on the Strip. The restaurant is conveniently located next to the parking structure near Nordstrom. (They now offer valet there). Our waitress was friendly and attentive, and service was pretty fast. We started off with the Spicy Shrimp and Eggplant appetizer and it was DELICIOUS! A Must order! We also got complimentary Bruschetta Quatro from signing up for their email list. It was a pretty good size sampler (8 pieces) and was tasty. I got the Risotto & Bistecca Insalata lunch plate. The Risotto was unimpressive, although ingredients were fresh. (Canaletto has better tasting risotto IMO.) The bistecca salad (essentially a wedge salad) was generous, and was VERY fresh. A friend ordered the salmon with angel hair pasta which I got to taste. The salmon was moist, not overcooked, and pretty generous. Hubby ordered Pasta Brio and said it was ok, but he wouldn't get it again. A friend in our group ordered one of the brunch omelettes and devoured it. Sadly, we had no room left for desserts... So we will probably be going back again to try some of their other dishes and the dessert! Tip: Sign up for their email list and they will email you a free appetizer offer.
(4)Ronnie G.
Well, we went in not knowing what to expect but we were pleasantly surprised. For the most part if you've eaten at one Italian restaurant you've eaten at all of them but these guys really care about what they're putting on your plate. Definitely order the quattro bruschetta starter. It was really the best interpretation of a shared appetizer we've had. Also, weirdly enough, their salads are amazing as well. My wife had a a mushroom ravioli dish that definitely was a from scratch plate and was tasty. I had a steak tenderloin salad with gorgonzola dressing that was amazing as well. You definitely won't be disappointed at this eatery.
(5)Lillian W.
Love the food and the décor. Everything is delicious, and price is very reasonable.
(5)Andrea C.
I came here on Tuesday for one of my friends surprise birthday dinner. It was my first time eating here. The restaurant was pretty busy for a Tuesday night. The food was really delicious but the service was horrible. I do understand if our waitress was having a bad night but that doesn't mean she could be rude to us. We asked her for separate bills and that seemed to have made her mad because she gave us lots of attitude. We also ordered a small dessert for the birthday boy and a candle so that we could sing happy birthday but she didn't even bring that out after we had already been waiting for 15 minutes. We ended up paying and leaving without singing happy birthday which wasn't cool at all. I did call the manager the next the day and he was very kind and helpful and he apologized for the service. I really liked how nice he was. I will be returning for the food but if I get the same waitress as last time I will definitely ask for a different one. Overall, food was tasty.
(3)Monica L.
The food is absoluty amazing. The lobster bisque is a must have! I also tried the lobster and shrimp fettecuni which was also good. The only part that fell short was the service. To start off, I was given a water and immediately I see that the glass was not clean. It had a seasame seed stuck on the rim of the glass. I waited ten minutues. I saw our waiter several times but he never approached our table even though we tried to waive him over. The waiter barely came to check on us.I had to ask a manager passing by to give me a new glass and for bread. Which I felt upset since the neighboring tables were being assissted. All had Bread except us. I finished my soup by the time the water came to the table. Barely came to the table for refills on water until asking a manager or someone walking by since the waiter never came back to the table until after we showed frustration. It was disappointing that I had to be frustrated to be given better service after the fact. Hope that the service gets better since the food is so good.
(3)Sara D.
What a great surprise this was! Finding good Italian is tough in LA/OC. The restaurant itself is very open and warm, with high ceilings. The bar is right at the entrance, very large and inviting. Our server was fantastic, Sean G. He made personal recommendations, which was a nice touch, I found I changed my ordering decision based on his recommendation. The food itself was fantastic! We started with the artichoke dip, which was hot, flavorful, and not too heavy. Entrees were the Gorgonzola Strip Steak and the Pasta alla Vodka. The steak was cooked to perfection, and the mashed potatoes were among the best I've ever had. The gorgonzola on top of the steak was the perfect addition to a well seasoned steak. The pasta was melt in your mouth perfection, with extremely fresh pasta and the sauce was creamy and delicious, and just the right amount of it. The crispy pancetta on top was brilliant, adds a nice crunch and a touch of salt to an already incredible dish. We finished with the 2 chocolate desserts, the Caramel Cake and the Molten Cake. Both were worth the calories, they were fresh, chocolatey awesomeness. A cool thing about their desserts is that they offer small and large options. There were a ton of other menu items we wanted to try, and will definitely go back! Ask for Sean, he'll take great care of you.
(5)Kristen H.
This place is great! Their caprese salad and lobster bisque were perfectly delicious. My husband had a steak and loved it. Great service, friendly staff, super ambiance. We will definitely be back!
(5)Joan C.
Great food, great service, great bar and patio area!! Will definitely go back! Loved the chopped salad and spinach dip!!
(5)Karley P.
So I came in for my birthday awhile ago with my whole family. I ordered their filet MR and it came out well past well done. I told my sever and she apologized and took it away to give me a new one. They even asked if I would like a salad in the mean time so I wasn't waiting. Although i declined, the gesture was nice. It ended up taking quite a while for my steak. By the time it came my family was finished eating. My waitress felt awful, not her fault the kitchen was busy though! The manager stopped by the table and apologized as well. And as a little treat (being my birthday and they felt bad) they offered us each a dessert on the house. They handled the problem great. And we all left satisfied. I wish I remember our waitresses name. But I have definitely been back multiple times thereafter.
(4)Matt L.
Mediocre at best. It's a chain and it feels like one. One notch up from Olive Garden.
(2)Bryan N.
The prices were a little expensive the food for the taste and quality. Was mediocre over all they had to comp us on two items one because it took forever and the second because they over cooked the fish it ended up being a block of wood the first time. The fact that they actually tried to pass it off was insulting. The waitress mention that is normally how they cook it. Either she never eats fish or she is just clueless they must not be able to actually try the food which any decent chef should do for the staff. how else do they expect the staff to describe the food. after they cooked a new fish Mahi-mahi it was much better but still overall not a good experience also it didn't seem like it was as busy as you would expect. Just to clarify the prices would not be bad if the actual food was good. Service poor had to repeatedly ask for plates forks more a few times and took a long time even though they where not that busy. Hopeful the service and food gets better but they have been open long enough to workout problems so I don't see them getting better. I feel the trend will be less and less stars as time goes by. I advise at least try it just don't expect much from the service or food. Btw the desert was okay I think the only positive think about our dinner experience. Would I ever go here again? No! Most places I always give it a second look but don't feel anything will change here.
(1)T.J L.
The carpaccio appetizer was not so bad. We ordered the 5 Oz filet and the Mahi Mahi for entrees. Decent to say the least. Kelsey was our server. Without her maximum 3 stars. She made our night one we will never forget. Thank you Kelsey!!!!!!!!!
(5)Lisa K.
I've been to this restaurant in Arizona and now the new one in Irvine. The food is very good and so is the ambiance. A great place to go for a weekend lunch or a nice dinner out with friends. They have a very nice outside area to dine in as well.
(4)JT L.
This place looks promising for family's day out brunch- Near beach, light sea breeze. nice and clean area.... So we took our toddler here for the weekend brunch. The restaurant opened at 11am, so we arrived around 11:10am. We sat outside patio area, we were the 2nd table outside. Ordered an appetitizer, 2 pastas for the adults and kids meal for our toddler. So far so good right... We were the 2nd table outside and a group of people for the 3rd table came in. After few minutes, other 2 tables received the bread and we never got one...Puzzling....Do we need to ask for the bread? We did and recevied it after 10 minuites.... Of course the bread came AFTER all the appetizer and main courses... Now we were eating the pasta and was trying to feed our toddler. We asked for the children's utensil or to go plastic fork & spoon since they are smaller, easier and safer to feed the toddler. No, we don't have smaller utensils, what we have is the ones on the table.... Ok... Just to give you guys an idea the size of the fork on the table, imagine the fork is about 5 inches long, and 2-3 inches wide enough to pick up a 20oz steak... How the hell am I suppose to feed the toddler with a fork that is big enough to use as a self defense weapon... And they even have kids meal and other craps to feed the little ones... Now the food, I am not sure which part of the Italian they represent, their food is OK... Not too greasy or too light. Not much chicken or shrimp in the pasta, just enough for you to pick out some and say "Oh, there is some chicken or shrimp in this boring looking pasta...."
(2)Cori B.
My experience at Brio was not good. Was excited to try the new restaurant and we made reservations a few days prior. When we showed up on a busy Saturday night we were met by Dusty who was rude and confrontational. Apparently, they didn't have record of our reservation. Dusty let us know that they wouldn't be able to seat us for 1.5 hrs. He was not apologetic. He was not customer service minded. We decided that this wasn't a good sign of what might come. We left and went to The Yardhouse. Would have loved to love Brio, but it doesn't appear that that is in the cards for me or my 7 friends.
(1)Dave H.
We went into Brio for dinner, food was pretty good and atmosphere is nice. I have been to many brio's but this one was extra good because of the bar tender. Priscilla never missed a beat, made sure our food was right and drinks were full... Oh and she is hilarious! Sit at the bar if you know what's good for you.
(5)Vicky T.
We came here on a Friday night and absolutely loved it! Our waiter's name was Dominic - he was extremely diligent, friendly, and provided excellent service. Our table ordered the Beef Carpaccio and Calamari for appetizers, which were both extremely delicious! I ordered the Pesto Pasta and my boyfriend ordered the Bistecca Fiorentina which were both also amazing. I would definitely recommend this place to all my family friends and would come back. Thank you, Brio, for a great dining experience.
(5)Sam B.
A friend of mine was super excited when she saw that this place was opening at the Irvine Spectrum. We generally hit up the Happy Hour at The Yard House, but this time around we decided to stop in here instead. Let me just say that i LOVE that patio! It's gorgeous, and so lovely. Unfortunately, it was too hot for my taste so we opted to sit indoors at one of the bar high tops. Drinks: I tried the Sangria Rosa and the Peach Sangria. Both were delicious, bubbly and refreshing, but I liked the Peach more. Plus at $4 a pop -- it's totally worth it! Food: we shared a few of the happy hour menu items: The Crispy Cheese Ravioli, Brio Burger and the artichoke dip. The ravioli were okay, I wasn't dazzled, but also not disappointed. I liked the burger - i could tell the meat quality was high and the bun was nice, soft and a little chewy. I wish it came with a little more flavor, but it was good, and I would definitely order it again. I wasn't crazy about the artichoke dip at all. It wasn't nearly as good as the Yard House's dip and was certainly a much smaller portion. Service: If yelp allowed us to rate places by category (food, drink, service, etc) i would give our service 2 stars -- and that's actually a little generous. Our waitress was not very attentive, and is the main reason that I didn't give Brio and overall 4 stars. She barely came to the table, and when we wanted to order our second round of drinks, she was no where to be found. I had to flag her down EVERY TIME WE WANTED SOMETHING. If not, she would have never stopped. My friend mentioned that the waitress never really checked on the tables, and that all the surrounding tables had to flag her down as well. The waitress stopped the most at our table when/after she delivered the check! She dropped it off, and stopped to check and see if it was settled two or three times within about 10 minutes. After the second time, we quickly took out our wallets to settle the bill and she said something somewhat apologetically about how there was 'no rush' -- ha, yeah right! Sheesh. Overall, I really liked Brio and would like to return -- hopefully next time we will get a better waitress.
(3)Kelley A.
Went to Brio today for lunch with a group of 11. No real vegetarian options on the menu so I asked to modify the Roasted Vegetable Panini sandwich by removing the cheese and no tomato pesto mayo - the server said they don't make substitutions on that sandwich but that she would check with the chef. Few minutes later she said no problem and then came back a few more minutes later and said the tomato pest may was put on the bread and on the grill is that going to be ok? I said no - I don't eat dairy. She then whipped out the menu and said in a not so nice voice that I would have to select another item. I went with the Margherita flatbread pizza - no cheese. It was just okay - nothing special. And the server's attitude was just not nice. The restaurant is beautiful but I wont be going back - a chef who wont allow substitutions and a server who seemed perturbed because I wanted to change they way the sandwich was made - doesn't impress me. Brio - take note - you are in a world where Vegans and Vegetarians live and eat at restaurants - if you won't accommodate them - you are losing business.
(1)Cooper Q.
verry good food i had the pork porterhouse it was realy tasty and moist i liked the fact they left the pork a bit pink in the center the seoning was nice but needed a bit more sat but other then this the meat was good the potatos wher good as well the sever was attantive but not overly so i loved that he took pride in what he was seving i also had a nice glass of zig-zag zin the deseirt was avrage i would not have it aggan the chocolat was over powering the carmal and other flavors the decor was verry upscail a big candler greeted me and they had white cloths on the cealing overall i,d recemed you come and try it
(4)