My biggest issue with this place has nothing to do with the food--service, service, service. Service is so important, especially when trying to impress new guests. There is no host/hostess waiting at the front and no one paying attention to guests who enter the restaurant. We stood around for maybe 10 minutes before we finally saw a waiter and let him know we were there. I almost lost it when a group of 4 came in after my group of 5 had been waiting for almost 40min and got seated right away because a different waitress saw them. The waiter we originally spoke to saw this and told us they were cleaning up a larger table. Luckily, we were seated just a few short minutes afterwards--but not at the larger table as promised. Whatever--we were starving and itching for some carbs pre-half marathon. Once we sat down, there was no menu offered. We were looking on Yelp and the takeout menu we had from waiting in the front area so that we'd be ready to order once the waiter came back. That aside, the food is decent. We ordered a handful of items to share: - Cioppino with Red Sauce: the best dish of the night. Seafood wasn't too fishy and the red sauce was delightful. - Tortellini alla Caruso: comfort food galore! Tastes kind of like a five-cheese ziti. - Fettuccini Alfredo: unfortunately bland. Hand to mix it with extra sauce from the tortellini to make it bearable. The minestrone soup was pretty good--nothing special. And the bread hit the spot after waiting so long to be seated. All in all--I wish we received better service. This review would be much higher if we did. It seems like Rufino's is truly family-owned and run, which is great. But it does seem like they need more help and structure. Not sure if I'll come back after that long initial wait, but I wonder if it will help to make a reservation or to come earlier when tables are empty.
(3)
Michelle M.
Food is delicious, ordered the special pizza, trio, chicken a limone, and mostaccoli & lasagna. They were all delicious and filling! Dessert was cannoli and spumoni ice cream. Come to relax and enjoy your company. The service is good, but slow.
(4)
Brandon D.
Once again, great food and not disappointed. Start you off with bread with olive oil and some balsamic vinegar to mix with. I recommend the bruschetta. Between a table of five, that dish had no chance. Tried the lasagna this time, what a great amount for what you pay for. The only off side was that there was only one server for the whole restaurant. Which is not much but be prepared to have talking material or stories ready.
(4)
Jennifer A.
Where to begin...first even though we made a reservation which yelp says they take...they don't. Marri's (over on Katella) does and has much better food. Second, the waiter which I think may be the owner is rude and clearly can't manage large crowds. Took almost 10 minutes waiting to ask about our reservation only to be told they don't take them...all I have to say is update your info online then instead of falsely advertising what you offer. Finally the food is average. It's nothing to rave about.
(2)
Delena T.
First I have to start off with how amazing their complimentary bread is! It was so fresh, garlicky, and just plain perfect. Soft and warm on the inside and a somewhat hard shell on the outside. My boyfriend and I had gotten the mushroom appetizer which was in my opinion ehh alright. The soup that came with the pasta was exquisite! So full of flavor for a simple vegetable soup. The main course hadn't even made it to the table and yet I was sold just from the bread and soup. I had gotten pasta with scallops which was also delicious but I was already so full from stuffing myself with yummy bread. The waitress constantly checked up on us so service was great. I got the pasta togo barely leaving a dent in it but honestly everything here was amazing. I would come back without hesitation.
(4)
Matthew E.
Such a beautiful Italian restaurant, I had the trio with a side salad and what a great meal! Overall great setting inside, the only issue is the women waitress seemed to have an attitude. But besides that, if your craving Italian food, come here!!
(4)
Anthony B.
Delicious dinner tonight after a long day at Disneyland. E had pizza, pasta, lasagna and ciopino arriabata. Very very good.
(5)
Jennifer V.
If you're craving Italian food this is definitely the place to be. Absolutely everything in the menu is amazing. I could be here everyday and still dream about it.
(5)
Steven Q.
This has got to be one of my favorite Italian places in Orange County. I discovered this place when I went to a team lunch with my co-workers. Rufino's isn't the most glamorous of places but the food will be worth it. The prices for lunch time are absolutely worth it as you get a variety of dishes to choose from and a soup or salad. I usually get the Lasagna lunch special. Also, the meal comes with bread which was one of the best that I have ever had! One negative include the service as it can be slow at times and the staff isn't really customer service oriented.
(4)
Patty M.
The best Tortellini in Southern California highly recommended feels like your eating at a warm and cozy home I love this place best breadsticks omg so good
(5)
Mark A.
Love the bread and pizza. ..lived blocks away for 4 yrs never knew what i was missing
(4)
Pearl F.
My husband and i came for a date night. The food was good but the servers was just ok.
(3)
Ryan C.
The rumors are all true, the bread is absolutely fantastic! Pair it with some of their delicious marinara and you'll be perfectly content eating just that for the rest of the night. Unfortunately, you'd be missing out on some of the restaurants other great dishes. For a start we got the calamari. It comes fried in a light batter and served with their house red sauce. There is a good mixture of both tentacled and circular goodness. Even the non-seafood lover at the table liked it and that says a lot. Their pesto is pretty fantastic. It's creamy and you and you definitely taste the fresh basil in every bite. Even got a piece stuck in my teeth - none of that bottled crap here. We enjoyed it over some of their gnocchi. It too was a nice portion and I like that they give you enough to enjoy family style or just be a glutton on your own. I really like the pizza. We ordered a large for the table and had plenty of leftovers. They are sliced large and they aren't skimpy on the toppings and cheese. I asked for extra sauce and it literally dripped out the side of my mouth with every bite. It was messy, but well worth the spectacle. Chicken parmesan is a big serving as well. It comes with a side of spaghetti and marinara. The one thing that has definitely been keeping me coming back to this place are the noodles that they use. They aren't quite normal spaghetti, but they aren't quite full fettuccine noodles, they are somewhere in the middle. I don't know why, but I think they always make the dish taste better. Again, we shared this amongst four people and still had some leftover. To finish things off, we ordered a cannoli. It was like a crispy ice cream cone with cream and cherries. This was a little bit harder to share because of the texture, so everyone just broke off a piece while the two that liked it the most just finished it off with their hands. I haven't had too many cannolis in my life, but this was good and I'd order it again. Service is great, but they are sometimes a little understaffed. Georgina has been serving us for the past ten years and always remembers us when we walk in. She greets everyone at the door with a big smile and the locals love her. Make sure to order extra bread (it's endless), because you'll want to use it as a dipping tool throughout your meal!
(5)
Monique R.
The food is here is too overpriced for the quantity and quality. This is a hole in the wall type of place and has very cheezy italian decor (yellow tones, old chairs, angelic paintings) it's just kinda weird. I ordered the lunch special (fried eggplant, ricotta filled pasta roll) with minostrone soup. The portions are SMALL! Not worth the wait. Italians don't even cook the food. That should say enough.
(2)
David P.
Found this little restaurant after leaving Disneyland in a little strip mall and the food was fantastic! Had the salsiccia and was very good! Almost like going into a little restaurant in Roma.
(5)
Cameron L.
Just called to ask a few simple questions about food allergies, my girlfriend has a severe food allergy, wanted to clarify about the entree substitutions. Got a snotty attitude from the girl on the phone, extremely rude, "is that all because we are super busy right now..." That is uncalled for and a terrible display of customer service. You ruined a customers visit before they even walked through the door. Will not be going here after all.
(1)
Virginia A.
If you are looking for an upscale place where the waiter's wear matching shirts and pronounce the meals with a dashing accent and pour your wine from a bottle covered with linen... stop - you'll need to go elsewhere. If you want to have great food prepared like your Nona and/or family cooks.... stop! Then this is your place! Feels like your visiting family or having a family member fix your meal. Great food, good variety and the garlic bread is AMAZING. It appears to be a family owned/ran business and as such, I little less in staffing than the average place but honestly, that's what gives this place my full 5 stars! I'd rather wait a bit and give small business MY BUSINESS keeping small business alive. Great food for a good price.
(5)
Manny D.
Awesome authentic Italian in Anaheim! Meatball sub is epic! Minestrone soup full of veggies and delicious goodness! Dessert was soooo good!
(5)
Edgar E.
The best authentic Italian food you can get in Orange County for a great price. The food is amazing and the setting it quite and warm. Most of the servers are humble and very welcoming however I have had one bad experience with an older lady. Nevertheless great hole in the wall restaurant.
(5)
Monica D.
Incredible restaurant! Great food that's freshly made and it tasted like a home cooked meal! Incredible service! All around amazing experience
(5)
Cathy R.
Okay, guys...if you like garlic & tomatoes, the bruschetta is a must have! It was lemony & full of capers & olives - soooo delish! I've been craving it since I had it last. Seriously, try it! The pasta michalangelo is amazing & so is the gnocchi with Caruso sauce - half Alfredo half marinara. Yum! I had the pasta siciliano last night which is vegetarian but oh so good. The minestrone soup is full of veggies & delicious. The fresh bread served before the meal is hot and tasty! Ask for a side of marinara sauce to go with it! I plan to try the lasagna next time which will probably be tonight. :) Five stars allllll the way! Good job, Rufinos. I love your authentic Italian cuisine!!
(5)
Anthony C.
Champaign veal dish was excellent. Couldnt put my fork and knife down. Service was on point. 5 star review
(5)
Aimee H.
My husband and I have been coming here for about six years and him and his family have been coming here longer. It's a tiny Italian joint with big heart. The owner 'Mama' is almost always there and goes out of her way to make you feel welcome. The food is always fantastic and made fresh. You can't beat the prices and you can't beat the quality. Anyone who tells you any different doesn't know good Italian.
(5)
J B.
This place is an old favorite for many years :-) Have never had a bad meal here. It's"Old-school", a classic red sauce Italian restaurant. Four years they would play Dean Martin on the stereo every time we would come in, and I loved it! They stopped for some reason, and I missed that part. The lasagna is rich and delicious, the cioppino is phenomenal, and they make their own thick focaccia bread that is to die for, really!nothing fancy on the wine list, just good standard Chiantis, etc., but it's homey and fun and a family favorite. I think what I like most is that it's real, not trying to pose, just a family restaurant with good, consistent excellent food :-) We've had many special meals here over the years, and we asked them to cater our mom's wake. They've been that special to us.
(4)
Sarileeze L.
If youre looking for authentic Italian food that tastes like its straight from Italy then Rufino's is the place for you! Ok i must admit, i have never actually been to Italy and eaten there, but i imagine it cant taste much better than what you eat at Rufinos. First let me start off with the atmosphere. The outside of the restaurant isnt very appealing, but once you walk in, you get that home and comfy feel, especially since the restaurant is smaller. The ambience is very mellow. The old and vintage italian decor paired with the soft music in the background sets up for a romantic dinner date! (Guys if you wanna earn some points bring your lady here) Now onto the important stuff, the food! Now i must say the waitress/host can be a little snippy, but she is an elderly italian woman so i kind of expect that from her. Shes not bad, just not the most warming personality. They start you off with these garlic parmesean breadsticks that are some of thee best breadsticks i have ever had! Dip them with some balsamic vinegar and oil and youre set to go! My gf loves their manicotti which is smothered in plenty of homemade sauce and melty gooey mozzarella. I on the other hand like to consider myself a true lasagna officionado and theirs is BOMB! Again smothered in plenty homemade sauce and stuffed with ricotta and sausage. Rufinos is definitely a hidden treasure and one not to be judged by its cover. Give a try if you want a true taste of Italy! You wont be disappointed. Bon apetite!
(4)
Martin G.
Best way to lay out this review is that if Rufino's was in our town it would be our go-to for Italian food. Authentic Southern Italian cooking presented and served by a very attentive serving staff. Awesome garlic bread to begin the meal....original recipe of the owner's Sicilian Grandmother. Veal Parm (my default) is my comparison example. My wife had Chicken Parm. Meat was tender, marinara was tasty with just the right zest. Tiramasu for dessert was the deal- closer. Homemade with real cheese, light and tasty. Great dining experience in a homey environment with traditional Italian soundtrack.
(5)
Janeth S.
The food is amazing we went there for my bday dinner and we were impressed. We are not too much into Italian but this place is awesome. The bread sticks are delicious fresh and service was good. I had a beer called Peroni and it was great we will be coming back soon. My wife bday is in two weeks .
(5)
Gregory G.
Have tried it yet. Called order in told 15 mins I'm at 45 for a pizza. This better be great because service sucks.
(2)
Jacqueline G.
I love yummy mom and pop owned restaurants! I rarely go out to get Italian but I like this cute little place. I have been here once a year two for two years and it seems pretty consistent. Friendly staff and also like everyone else has sad. The garlici bread! I would eat more bread but I really need to save the stomach for the main course. A lot of Disney marathon runners like to come here. I heard some other guests sit down and mentioned 'same table as last year.' Glad it's consistent. Split spaghetti and meatballs. Two large meatballs and I like the meat. Didn't taste like eating purely ground beef fat. Those kinds of meatballs are nasty. I like the sauce where I didn't have to put sugar in it. I like putting sugar in my spaghetti but I shouldn't ruin the homemade flavor of this traditional dish. I forgot what my friend ordered but it was two chicken breasts with bell peppers, onions and mushrooms. Very good dish and could have totally eat that on my own if didn't split the dish. I would think if you ate that one you wouldn't feel disgustingly full.
(4)
Chad A.
NE corner of Euclid & Ball I'm probably going to get whacked for this review, but hear me out...nuttin for nuttin it'll make sense! I came here because one this place is located close to work two because a dear friend had talked up a particular dish so well. She made it sound like Bruce Lee was going to do a number on my tastebuds... unfortunately after coming here this time I just didn't share the same sentiments. I do want to return though. I started off with their tasty Complimentary Bread Sticks: yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… by dipping them in their truly hearty, delicious, and veggie filled Minestrone: yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… I thought Carolina's had the best Minestrone till I tried this one... These guys get the big blue ribbon for that. I loved the broth and all the veggies that made this one up. I thought "now this is a great start!" Here's where things got ugly flavorwise. They were already ugly from the overpatroned/understaff. It was a Sunday afternoon and I don't know if they are normally slow on Sundays, but this was a dedicated holiday. Every table was filled with diners and many large parties with only one server trying to handle all the tables. It didn't really fare so well for solitary me. Also with the full house ambulating through the maze of full chairs proved quite challenging. Refills or needs proved quite difficult on this afternoon... I had their Pollo al Limone: yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… which certainly looked and smelled great. Problem with this dish is that their was just no proper balance of flavors. This dish is made up of Boneless Chicken prepared in Butter, Garlic, Capers, Lemon, & Spices. I love garlic, but it was just too damn assertive in the sauce. I thought to myself "I wish there was less garlic and more lemon flavoring to this dish." The Spaghetti was cooked a perfect al dente and the chicken was cooked perfectly displaying both juiciness and nice seasoning. The portion on this was of course huge. I wasn't expecting much decorwise, but was pleasantly surprised. Between the murals, paintings, music, and various Italian inspired decor items one should have no confusion as to what type of restaurant they are at. They have both booths and regular tables available. There's plenty of parking in this Strip Mall location.
(3)
Christine B.
Worst service ever!!!!!! Took 45 minutes to get my food. And then gave an attitude when I asked about it.
(2)
Leslie V.
I literally made a yelp account to really give this place what it deserves. I want to be fair and not exaggerate. The food is amazing as everyone says BUT BUT BUT! !!! The service is horrible! The lady (I believe is the owner) always has a really rude attitude. Every time I go there she is the "server". She never touches tables or gives you refills. Today was my last straw. I get not every place is going to be perfect, but is good food worth the disrespect?! I had ordered an entree I guess I knew nothing about and instead of offering me something else, she tried to convince me that I should eat it. I was over it at that point and asked to have a box, she STARED me down and I could hear her snickering with her staff about me. I was shocked. Again awesome food but won't be coming back. Look out for her guys.
(1)
Kristine C.
Nothing too exciting about this place. I had the lasagna and I did not like the sauce at all. Gentleman was nice over the phone, but not so nice at the moment we decided to eat our food to go, there. Understandable, but I would think you would want your customers to feel welcomed. I won't be returning, I can find better food and service elsewhere.
(2)
Kim H.
I had to get the pizza because the menu said it was "famous." I'm such a sucker for marketing. BUT, even if they're lying and it's not really famous, it should be. It's really good. I got the vegetarian pizza and what I appreciated about it was that it was packed with veggies. One may even say it was STUFFED with veggies. They were falling out all over the place in a wonderfully sloppy manner. The dough was perfectly soft, and the crust was crisp and oily. Basically, it's only 9:45am and I'm already thinking about the leftovers in the fridge...
(4)
Mari D.
By far my favorite Italian place to eat at. The owners go out of their way to make sure you're happy & the food is pretty cheap (compared to other Italian restaurants). They give you good portions & the food is delicious. I've had the lasagna and the Penne con salsiccia and they were both amazing. Oh and the complimentary bread they give is also amazing.
(5)
Moni L.
A cute little hole-in-the-wall that has delicious food. The owner will make great suggestions of wine, even if it's off the menu. The chicken parm. is amazing; it almost melts in your mouth. I wish they still delivered.
(4)
Paul A.
I was looking for a new local Italian place and this might be it, but I'm unsure. We had a pizza...it was okay We had cheese bread....heavy cheese, delicious when hot We had the regular fresh bread which was better than the cheese bread... Antipasto was okay The fresh bread was the highlight.
(3)
sara n.
Driving through we stopped because the yelp reviews were good. Eggplant parm and garlic bread were Delish! The woman who was serving us was very nice.
(4)
Stephanie F.
So good and not that expensive big portions, enough food for more than one person I always split with my husband
(4)
Robert A.
Talk about a gem! Living 30 years in the Anaheim area and I found the perfect little Italian whole in the wall just a month ago! The lady owner was friendly and had a smile greeting us. She let us pick what we wanted in a fashionable time frame and also recommended a few dishes. The penne sauce and alfredo were very creamy as well as cooked in perfection. Fresh parmesan was at the table to sprinkle on our pasta. The garlic bread was potent, but fresh and flavorful. Lunch special was the way to go and looked like a big grand feast. Need to take a few of the buddies who love Italian and hope they enjoy it as much as I did.
(5)
Kelly K.
Until a few months ago, I had never heard of Rufino's. I had never seen it, even as I passed it to get tongue tacos. It is in the dreariest strip mall, hidden behind a Spire's that I'm surprised has neither burned down nor been taken out by a drunk driver in a Mickey Mouse Club hat as he sped down Ball in an alcoholic rage because another pin trader didn't give two shits about a Tinker Bell Half-Marathon commemorative pin. I digress. The first few times I ate Rufino's, I sent my boyfriend over to get take out after finding it on Yelp. It was good. Real good. Especially the part about me not driving there to get it. That was my favorite. I liked the pesto gnocchi and the lasagna and he had some other stuff that he liked. We finally went in for dinner and I was lame and ordered spaghetti and meatballs and some Italian beer that was okay. It was your average light beer. In fact, I think it was made by Heineken or something. Meatballs were boss, by the way. Service was fantastic, although the place could use a facelift. If you're thinking about taking someone out on a first date and she doesn't live in this area, she may be concerned about the outside appearance and wonder why you didn't take her to Olive Garden instead. Leave her ass on the curb and enjoy some ossobuco. You just dodged a bullet, my friend.
(4)
Jackie I.
Great place. Delicious food. Family location. Everything we tasted was great. Hubby got lasagna with meat sauce 5 stars. Daughter got gnocchi with pesto sauce 5 stars. I got chicken and broccoli with cream sauce 5 stars. Niece got spaghetti with marinara sauce 5 stars. Service was great too. Prices are average. $10 average price per plate.
(5)
Quynh Tran P.
I lived in Anaheim My entire life and I dont remember ever seeing or hearing about this place. Go figure. My friend (Nancy M.) wanted pasta and decided to take me here. The restaurant was hidden in a sketchy looking strip mall. Thank god the interior was a lot nicer than the outside Inside the hostess told us we can sit anywhere we liked. There was only one other party inside the restaurant so we had our choices of tables and booths. My friend wanted to sit at a long table that sits like 8 people because she thought it looked classy. It was just 2 of us so we settle for a small table for 2. Anyways, I had the chicken Marsala and she got the Gnocchi. We were able to samples each others plate. My Dish was awesome, Hers was too cheesy for me. I'm not a big cheese fan. The complimentary bread was good, we asked for 2nds.
(4)
Mike C.
Rufino's Ristorante Italiano, Anaheim, Ca. Our new favorite restaurant! Superlative "home-style" Italian Cuisine from a dedicated and caring staff. We recently moved to Orange County and boy are we glad we discovered this hidden gem. From the moment we entered - the aroma of terrific cooking enticed us from the kitchen. The service, presentation and the food delivered on point. We've been there twice this week. Visit one: Fresh salmon. Visit two: pasta dishes. Supremely satisfied on both occasions. Better than any food we've enjoyed in Boston's North End, Arthur Avenue in the Bronx, Mulberry Street in Manhattan, 9 th Street in South Philly - OR - at Aun't Lucy's house! We highly recommend.
(5)
Nancy M.
Yes the rumors are true, the bread here is super good! So good, I've been craving it since! I had the gnocchi with pesto sauce. It was super hot and not too garlicky. It was better than the gnocchi from other restaurants. My friend had the chicken Marsala. That was good too. Our server was a very nice lady.
(4)
Mary S.
Came here for dinner with the BF cuz I was craving some italian food. To start they served us some bread which was really good. Then we both ordered the lasagna and each entree came with a soup or salad so we decided to get one of each. The house salad with italian dressing, the dressing definitely tasted homemade but was a little too sour for my taste and just needs a little more sweetness to it, but it wasn't bad, the greens in the salad were crisp so the greens were fresh. The soup was minestrone soup which was good, I prefer a little bit of noodle in it, but even without the noodles the soup still had great flavor and taste. The lasagna was good as well, it was a nice portion and had good flavor. The service wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. There seemed to only be one server for the whole restaurant which isn't huge but it just made things go a little slower, the server seemed to have one busser and one runner, but it still took her a little bit of time to get around to each of the tables but it was understandable since she was the only server, but they weren't super busy either. All in all, food was good, service was okay, nice. And prices and portions were good, very reasonably priced.
(3)
Robert M.
I would have given this restaurant a one star if it weren't for the food. Food was great large portions at a great price. The service on the other hand was horrible. Our group of three walked into the restaurant. There was a lady standing at one of the tables and kind of waved us over to it and left. We weren't sure if she wanted us to come there or not, but we went and seated ourselves. The menus were already on the table. There was no greeting whatsoever, when she finally came by all she asked was what would you like. This is basically how the whole meal went. She never once came to our table to see if everything was okay she finally came back to the table at the end of our meal and refilled our drinks but that was the only visit to the table. And when we received the bill she basically plopped it on the table and left. It would've been nice if she asked us about our meal, came by once in a while, or at least smiled. Saying thank you would've been nice to. I'm assuming she was one of the owners because she was not young I would say she was probably in her 60s. Next time I'll go to a restaurant that appreciates their customers.
(2)
Stephanie M.
Just dined here for the second time, and it will be my last. The service is slow, unfriendly, and unprofessional. The highlight of the meal was when our server grabbed my fork and used it to get ice out of the water pitcher, and then handed it back to me. Well, in all fairness, she did ask me if my fork was clean before refilling waters at the table. Wow. I was literally speechless. The food is just not good enough to put up with such terrible service, plain and simple.
(1)
Carlee F.
Boy do I love this place!! I've been here so many times and always try something different. It looks a little sketchy from the outside but it's such a gem! The decor inside is kind of an old mural that made me feel like I was in a side cafe in Italy. The woman and man who runs the place are so kind! The soup with tortellini is the best soup for a cold. The potato gnocchi with pesto is amazing! Don't even get me started in the bread! Delicious, warm, cheesy, toasted.... Yumm!
(5)
Rhonda D.
This is one of my favorite places! Killer Italian. You will not be disappointed with anything you order. The calazone is 32 inches long and can't be beaten by any chef in California! Today I have ordered spaghetti and meatballs. Savory, garlicky, and hearty. I ordered the calamari fritte appetizer & yummy salad. The bread is incredible. This place is the best kept secret in Anaheim. Located in a tiny strip mall, there is ample parking, small restaurant with comfortable seating, great music, ambiance. The place is always quiet, has low lighting, and murals on the wall. Much better food and prices than buco De peppo...you will pay between 7.99 and 21.00 for entrees. You will leave full, and with boxes. Great place for family dinners, they can accommodate large groups, I would make a reservation for that so that they staff for it. They do a lot of take out orders for people who work at resort spots and neighbors. They beat Luigis, Mama Cozas, Buco De Peppo, and Carolina's in Garden Grove hands down.
(5)
Justin J.
Best Italian food in SoCal! Amazing food, very inexpensive. I was blown away. From the bread sticks to the pasta everything was perfect.
(5)
Neal S.
Try the calzone they have different sizes. The extra large is 30" and is excellent. We always order the minestrone and it is always tasting good. Excellent place to go large portions and tasty.
(5)
Vanessa G.
Their minestrone soup soothes the soul
(5)
Mohamed B.
Tried mushroom pizza and it was too garlic heavy and soggy since the delivery driver got lost. Lasagna was good and minestrone soup was just passable. Might try their other dishes but will steer clear of the pizza in future.
(3)
Ian B.
So first impressions are everything and this place didn't impress me. My dad and I are in town visiting and were checking for Italian places in the area and came upon this place. We walked in and weren't greeted in the first few minutes. We finally got someone's attention and still had to wait a few more minutes to get seated after I asked a second time for a seat when there was available tables. The food was mediocre and the beers were overpriced. During the meal they never checked on us so overall the service sucked. If the food was any good I could forgive this but alas it wasn't although, to be fair, my dad did like his veal but he's old. Peace out shitty L.A...back to the bay.
(2)
Cristina S.
The food was good, and the service was nice during our meal but after our meal we walked into the parking lot to see our car being towed. The tow driver informed us we were being towed bc the parking was for customers only, we explained we were customers, we went into the restaurant and while a server came out to our defense (and the cops were also there and offered to be witnesses if we had to go to court over this). We had to pay $60 to get the driver to release our car, meaning parking cost us as much as our meal to eat there. The restaurant did not offer to pay, and simply gave us a number for the property manager who over the past year has still yet to call us back, and we are now being forced with the decision whether to go to small claims court to attempt to collect back our money that was basically stolen from us bc of eating here. Again the food was good, but it's not worth going here unless you want to risk spending as much on parking!
(1)
Laura G.
This place had some decent food. Bread was good and crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. Good flavors but rating it down for service. They didnt help us until 10 mins later and soup and bread came out with the meal. Couldn't even get the bill to get out of this place.
(2)
Bill K.
Upon entering I was greeted by very warm air. It was 7:15 pm and the outside air temp was around 79. It felt 85 inside. Didn't really make me want to eat hot Italian food. The soup was good (although it made me warmer). They had the front door open and the cooler air began to make things a little better. Got the pollo alla Marsala which was pretty bland Overall a mediocre experience and hot. They really should invest in air conditioning.
(2)
Calvin H.
Sometimes you're just tired of going to Italian restaurant chains and you just want to sit down and enjoy a nice mom and pop place. You know, like the kind that would make Michael Corleone have a good day and not do something horrible to you and everyone you care about... or maybe you just want to carb up after a long day at Disneyland. Well my friend, this is place to be. First let me start by saying the garlic bread is amazing! I could probably get full just eating that alone but that would be waste. In addition to the bread, each dish also comes with a side of soup or salad. I ended up trying the gnocchi in pesto sauce and the chicken marsala. Both were excellent and very flavorful without feeling overly greasy or heavy.
(4)
Marcus G.
They charged $27 for chicken Alfredo and two salads. The dinner is supposed to comes with salad. DO NOT COME here they will rip you off Never going back
(1)
Brian K.
This place takes me back to dinning in Italy...truly authentic Italian food in a very neat hole-in-the-wall place. I would have never found this place, had it not been for YeLP!!! To start we sat ourselves because no one was there when we arrived. Once we sat down at a table a couple of minutes later we were greeted by a nice lady. She was very accommodating and quickly helped us with our order. The garlic bread that is served first was delicious. It was served with oil and vinegar to dip the bread in. We also ordered the garlic cheese bread which came out oozing with cheese and tasted amazing. Next was the house salad; this came out with way too much ranch dressing. If you dont like too much dressing ask for it on the side. It was a good salad; although would have preferred it with less dressing. We ordered the minestrone soup which I could tell was homemade; it was very fresh and had many large veggies. Finally, we ordered the Manicotti pasta. This was very cheesy and was served on a hot dish. All of the food that came out was very well prepared and tasted great. Next time I am going to try the pizza!!! Overall this place is a great local family owned spot to come for a real taste of Italy, at Rufino's Italian Restaurant.
(4)
Brandi L.
This place is rude and just plain wrong. I ordered for delivery . I told the guy to make sue to put a lot of parmesan cheese ,he said he would. No cheese I order a coke. No coke. The driver was rude wouldn't answer the phone .
(1)
Clay B.
The waitress wouldn't say "lemon pledge" for me. Very disappointed. The tables were some weird hard styrofoam substance with a cloth over it... All jokes aside, a good restaurant, good atmosphere. Pretty good dinner sandwiches.
(3)
Nicole G.
This place was AMAZING!!! Super yummy. I got the manicotti and it was delicious! I also had the minestrone soup and it was very good as well. The bread was extremely tasty, especially when you dip it in the oil and vinegar they provided. There was a big party of people there that the waitstaff was attending to, so they were a little bit slower in getting back to us for refills and to check on us, etc. But overall, the food was amazing, it had cute decor and a nice ambiance, and my husband and I will definitely be returning! We plan on bringing his parents with us next time so they can experience this hidden gem, too!
(4)
Patty H.
Got my carb load dinner on here the night before my Disneyland 1/2 marathon. The food & aromas were out of this world! The cheese was piled on the pizza. The marinara sauce was perfectly seasoned & stewed! The pasta was cooked al dente to perfection! The service was a bit slow but there were a lot of other runners & families & not enough staff. Nevertheless, the owner himself, seated us, took our order, brought out the garlic, parm cheese bread, and hooked up my pasta w/ an extra helping of marinara sauce!!! Definitely returning!!! oh wait, I already did!!!
(4)
Virginia L.
My husband & I were in the mood for Italian, but we wanted to try a new place. We checked Yelp and found Rufino's, it wasn't to far away and the Yelp review were really good, so we gave it a try. We were not disappointed. The place was small, the servers were nice, but the food was excellent. The dishes were very filling and very tasty. I would recommend this place.
(5)
Jackie S.
Amaze Balls!! I would always pass by this location and always wondered if it was any good.I mean the outside of this place doesn't look very welcoming, but then again never judge a book by its cover right! Until one day my friend and I were around the area and decided to try it. The place is small and very intimate. I think its very cute and the seats very comfy. Now the food is AMAZING!!! I love the cheese bread and my ultimate favorite is the Fettucini Alfredo pasta. Honestly bomb.com The portions are huge enough for left overs. The prices are very reasonable!! Honestly I would choose this place over olive garden any day. They got nothing on Rufinos! Next time your in Anahiem and have the craving for italian food definitely try Ruinos!! Almost forgot I do believe they have a lunch special where you can try my favorite Fettucini Alfredo and other amazing food for like half the price. Definitely a plus!! xoxo Jackie :)
(5)
Antonio S.
I live in Utah now, I miss this place. I use to go here a lot with friends and have a good time and a great meal. I always ordered the garlic bread, antipasto salad and a pizza with the works. I've tried they're other dishes too, all were great as well. The lady who would serve us was the owner I think, she was always friendly and helpful. I can't wait to go back and eat they're awesome food!
(5)
Michelle D.
This place is awesome the food is delicious and the prices are good! I'd recommend this place to anyone. The only thing that sucks is that sometimes it really hot in there and it's small, other than that it's okay.
(5)
Elizabeth E.
Don't let the location fool you. We had passed this location a couple of times when I finally Yelped it and was so glad I did! Minestrone soup is very hearty and tasty. Gnocchi pesto was delicious! The dinner sized portion was enough for me to have leftovers for lunch. Very reasonable priced, especially for the amount of food they give. Looking forward to going back.
(4)
Cory G.
I ate here on Monday with my wife. Their bread was what people praised, and it was good and fresh, with a good seasoning. They also had more traditional oil and vinegar table side for your bread. I hade tortellini with a creamy red sauce. It was decent. The place is small, and old inside. There were a lot of people here at the time, and it took forever to get service. It seemed like they only had one guy working and they hardly refilled my glass. My wife thought this place was amazing, and I would eat here again also; however it is just your run of the mill hole in the wall. The service could be better, theyre super friendly, it just took forever to get refills like I said earlier. The bread was the best thing this place has going for it.
(3)
Dave K.
If you looking for a big name or green cloth napkins and amazing decor and professional photographs of Italy hung on the walls and standard commercially prepared, Americanized Italian fare, then by all means, go to Olive Garden but if you are looking for authentic, absolutely delicious Italian food that tastes exactly like you are dining somewhere in Florence or Rome then had to Rufino's Italian Restaurant. Don't let the outside strip mall location fool you, an absolute gem is hidden inside. Frescos cover the walls depicting Pompeii and Rome but it's about the food isn't it? There has to be an authentic Italian chef involved here somewhere! Dessert: there should be an award for best spumoni and it should go to Rufino's!
(5)
Will M.
Totally good, authentic Italian food in a dilapidated property in the northeast corner of Euclid and Ball. We saw grunge rock dudes exchanging either phone numbers or money about 50 feet away..But once you walk in, it's a very different place. We relax, and the waiter seats us and hands us a menu. I am not driving, so I order a luscious glass of Parducci Cabernet for $6.50 - a dollar cheaper than the last place I had this brand. Looking through the menu, it's got a lot of variety, but one thing I noticed was the lack of meat sauce options. Everything is made with their healthy, lively, delicious, thick, rich and garlicky tomato sauce. As one of my Italian friends Vinny tell me, "That's why we're healthier than you Americans - we use a little olive oil, eat just a little meat, and no deep frying, a little butter, and no trans fats.. And he's probably right. But I would've loved the option of meat sauce on my pasta - sorry Vinny. I ordered the combination cheese ravioli and spaghetti ($12) and my friend had the manicotti, filled with ricotta cheese ($10). Other yelpers mentioned how long the wait could be because there were only 2-3 servers that night. Well on this night, there was only one server with 7 tables plus the owner. So let's put them on the clock and see how long the food takes to come out. Two minutes later, they bring out their minnestrone soup (you can choose house salad instead). I loved it, It had fresh cabbage, zucchini and carrots in a mild, not overly acidic tomato base - and no noodles which I prefer. Five minutes later, the one waiter bring out awesome cheese/garlic/onion/olive foccacia sticks. It's brought out warm, slightly toasted in their pizza oven, They leave balsamic vinegar and olive oil and a small bowl at each place setting. And I love dipping great bread into a mixture of the two. The food comes out in less than 15 minutes. And the portion size is huge. I only had the spaghetti and took the ravioli's home. It was delicious, as was the mannicoti. This was one very good meal. No room for some of the great desserts though, maybe next time. Ambiance is casual but nice. They put a lot of thought into the pictures and knick knacks, and a visual clutter of Italian inspired decor. It's totally different from the world outside. One thing that bugged me was their squeaking pizza oven. It was almost like a chalkboard scratching sound. If they lubricate the moving parts, they'll reduce wear and tear on their pizza oven, and make it quieter inside. But overall, it was a very nice meal, and the price was awesome. Definitely a must try again. And the gunge dudes were gone - probably headed for Seattle or motel by the time we left.
(4)
Frances P.
Food is fantastic no question about it!! I had the pasta combo with lasagna and cheese ravioli with delicious veggie soup and cheese bread. So good!! The only thing was that the service was pretty slow I think they freshly make everything so I can't hate that. I would go again and be aware that I will be there a while or see if I could order to go. Prices are great for such tasty food.
(4)
Andrew P.
Best post Disneyland dinner ever. Way better decision than Cheesecake Factory or Bubba Gump. Support a local business and get an awesome Italian meal.
(5)
Ken S.
I'm from the San Francisco bay area where there is some fine Italian restaurants Ruffino's is as good as it gets I have brought around 20 people here over a period of five years, A lot of the people I brought our food and restaurant critics. And they've all said it, If you love Italian food Ruffino's is "The Place" a true gem of a restaurant....
(5)
Rosana A.
Delicious hole in the wall authentic Italian restautant. I had the Trio, my husband had the Shrimp Arribiata and we shared the Calamari Della Casa. We enjoyed everything including the complimentary bread. We will definitely come back every time we visit Disneyland.
(5)
Karen R.
The pizza awesome! Hands down! The customer service very nice people very attentive
(5)
Valigirl V.
After the directions link in Yelp failed to get us to the restaurant, a phone call was made and an employee was very helpful getting us to the restaurant. Atmosphere is very 1970s and the restaurant is small and not in the best of neighborhoods. That said, still make the trip, as it is SO WORTH IT! food is beyond exceptional (Note: I from the NJ/NY and know good Italian food). Also large shareable portions and very reasonably priced. The service was so friendly and caring, it felt like we were eating at someone's home. I had the meat lasagna which was the best ever! Other dishes ordered by our group were as follows: pesto gnocchi, combo (chicken parm/fetticini Alfredo/lasagna). We started with the bruschetta. All was just delish (including the coffee). Four stars instead of five given due to the bad direction link and atmosphere. Food gets 5 *****
(4)
Albert B.
Great food! Great prices! My only complaint is that they are veryyyy slow about everything. Usually only 1 or 2 people waiting on about 10 tables. I've recommended this place to many of my friends and they all say the same (great food, slow service). They also mentioned that the location looks sketchy and ghetto (which is true), but I've lived a few blocks away my whole life and it's perfectly fine! :)
(4)
Miriam R.
better than olive garden!! we (me and co-workers) always get hooked up on the lunch special even after its over since the owner is good friends with our i.t guy. i always get the alfredo and i pay extra to have it with chicken. the milestone soup is good and so is the salad. the garlic bread is so yummy i dip it in olive oil oh so yummy. if you want to eat here on your lunch hour, i suggest you call in your order before you go in they also offer take out.
(5)
Edwin R.
My girlfriend and Brother and I where looking for something to eat and found this restaurant locally and decided to try it. (Just cause our last name is "Rufino":) The food was good. (Especially the Veal) Service was good. Waiters always checked in with us occasionally. The place had a very decorative place. Definitely good Italian restaurant. And new customers here!!!!
(5)
carole c.
After spending the entire day at Disney we were home with pooped smalls and empty bellies. Trusting our meal plans to Rufino's we were not disappointed. Fabulous light, fluffy pillows of goodness, the gnocci was wrapped in a delicious pesto sauce. The pizza's pepperoni had been cooked perfectly with a light crisp to the outer edges of the meat without a burn, the crust was light and crispy also. Thank you Rufino's for giving us the perfect ending to the perfect fun day!!
(5)
Billy B.
Delicious, I want to say that the owner gives the most amazing service. Cheers to you sir. The waitress older lady very sweet. I love this place. My baby boy loves the food. So comforting and the best Italian in the area.
(5)
Rob R.
Fresh food, done right. Comparing them to several nearby Italian places, Rufino's is better for several reasons. Service is prompt and attentive without hovering. Drink orders taken and delivered quickly. Fresh bread comes next. Tried two chicken dishes. Fresh veggies, light sauce (not oily), not over salted. Thinly pounded fresh chicken breast (take note Carolina's), tasty sauces. Refills on cue. Clean room. Nice decor. Friendly owners and staff.
(4)
Julian V.
Food was Amazing!!! Authentic Italian Food!! Really loved it! Will come back indeed!(;
(5)
Caroline O.
My co workers and I USED to love this place. We work at a local hotel and we were always treated well and we LOVED their food. We always recommended it to our guest but thier service is not good. Thus, we have removed them from our delievery options. It used to be that they would take a credit card for delievery and then all of a sudden it is only cash. They never gave us a minimum, and all of a sudden there is a $25 min. I called and when the lady said there was a minimum. I said ok let me call you back. What I was planning on doing was looking for something else to order to meet the minimm and the lady on the phone hung up on me! That was the tip of the iceberg for us. Their food is really good, but the service is not. So Goodbye Rufinos we will now be ordering from other local Italian restaurants that are friendly and offer better customer service. Oh, and we'll be sending our guest to other restaurants as well.
(1)
Theodora E.
I've been using Yelp for a long time and have never given such a bad review. I came here with a party of 20 and were treated so poorly. It was my friend's birthday and we came with all of her friends and family. While ordering, someone in our party asked about the lasagna. The waitress (an older lady) got confused and rang in the lasagna when we only asked a question about it. When it came to the table we told the manager we had never ordered it. He refused to take it off the bill! No one touched it the whole dinner and we were forced to take it home since we were forced to pay for it. Then when the bill came (of course with the lasagna still on the check), we gave our payment to the manager. He came back to the table insisting we still owed $50 which was a complete lie but we ended up paying anyways because we didn't want any trouble. While leaving the manager told us he never wanted us to come back. Please don't waste your money coming here or risk being embarrassed in front of the whole restaurant like we did.
(1)
Angelique B.
I was craving some authentic Italian food, and Rufino's is it! After reading some reviews I was convinced to order some take out for my family. My mother is a picky eater so I was a bit skeptical. All in all we ordered the pollo alla Marsala, fettuccine Alfredo, ravioli, the trio and the gnocchi with pesto. Every single dish was delicious and flavorful! My mom LOVED the Marsala and the gnocchi, which made me love Rufinos more, it's hard to win her over. The portions are enormous, and plenty of leftovers :) can't really comment much on table service as we ordered to go. And the garlic bread is as fabulous as all the reviews state. Will most definitely be returning soon.
(5)
Wade F.
Everybody was right. We were at Disneyland late and kids were hungry and we wanted to eat before they fell asleep and this restaurant is right outside the gate and it had good reviews so we tried it. With our annual passes looks like we have a favorite stop to eat after the park. 2 adults and 2 kids $45 without alcohol. Way better than inside the park where our bills are $100+
(5)
Ness P.
My husband and I love this place! Best italian food I've ever had. The bread is delicious. I love how its a small family owned restaurant. The service is great and the owners are so sweet. They always have chef specials at a great price and the servings are huge! An order of shrimp fetuccini will be good for 2 ppl. We used to go to Olive Garden whenever we craved italian food. We haven't been there since!
(5)
chibi i.
We sat down and a very tasty bread was put on the table. Ordered the Pollo Michelangelo. It comes with soup or salad and veggies or pasta. Got the salad and veggies. The dish was good. It was chicken in a light tomato based sauce with a good amount of vegetables. Also ordered the Calamari Luciana. I didn't try this dish. But it looked good and with the pasta, it was a pretty big portion. Not sure if I would come here again, but staff was friendly.
(3)
Laura T.
I absolutely love this place! Great service and good pricing and amazing quality. Honestly I never eat Italian anywhere else. I'm a dedicated costumer and I am never disappointed!
(5)
John L.
As a little ninja living in Lubbock, Texas, I remembered my love for Italian food. Specifically, spaghetti and meatballs. Oh how I would think about spaghetti all the time and wonder when I'll have it again. I still have no recollection of where I got this love from. Now as a Master ninja living in Anaheim, Ca, I do not have those cravings as much as I use to. However, after fine tuning this robust body in the ways of the samurai, the craving returns. Service - A-Ok Cleanliness - Price - $13.80 (includes tax and tip) Seafood - Yes, salmon, squid, mussels, scallops, shrimp, clams, etc. Meats - Yes, beef, chicken, ham, veal, etc. Vegetables - Yes, salads Dessert - Yes, variety of truffle, Crème Brule, Tiramisu, Spummi Wedge, Cannoli Fruits - N/A Other - (1) Located on the corner of Euclid St and Ball Rd (2) Free parking in large private lot. (2) Cash and Credit Cards are accepted here--minimum of $10 order for credit card. What was ordered: Stracciatella ($3.99) - Eeek! Me thinks not. (1 star) - Spinach, eggs, and parmegiana cheese in chicken broth. The soup is actually quite large. It was served in a 6 inch diameter by 4 inch height ceramic bowl. The waitress/owner dropped off a small tin on the table. I open the lid and this aromatic smell of fresh parmesan cheese tickled my fancy. I liberally spread this all over the soup. The spinach was fantastic--very flavorful. The poached egg whites were on the bland side, but w/ the spinach it gave it more texture. The chicken broth was very tasty and seasoned very well. The unfortunate part is they gave me extra protein. I found a dead fly as I was finishing off my soup. The owner was very apologetic and took this item off the bill--she even spoke to the cook regarding this. Garlic Bread (Complimentary) - Woohoo! As good as it gets! (5 stars) - They brought me 3 pieces of garlic bread to compliment my Stracciatella. The bread pieces were approximately 5 inches (L) x 1 inch (W) x 1.5 inches (H). I must say this is the best garlic bread I have EVER had. The garlic flavor was so divine that you would lick your hands afterwards. You do not even need the olive oil and balsamic vinegar to dip it in. The bread was perfectly warm and spongy. Spaghetti and Meatballs ($10.99) - Yay! I'm a fan. (4 stars) - Fresh spaghetti, tomato sauce, and 2 large meatballs. The meal was approximately 10 inches (L) and 5 inches (W). The spaghetti was perfectly al dente. The sauce was really good as well--you can taste the sweetness of the tomato and a little bit of the acidity as well. The meatballs were more than enough for one person. As you cut them in half, you can see that it was cooked well through as well as the vegetables that were incorporated into the meatball--see specs of orange and green. Of course, I liberally used the parmesan cheese all over the meal. Delicious. Overall, the meal was quite good sans the extra protein--so do not let my rating turn you off completely. Things happen in restaurants that are arbitrations, but the food is quite good. Don't forget about what I said about the Garlic Bread--it is quite amazing. Shinobi out!!
(2)
Crystal L.
It was good. We would go back. Waiter was super polite and attentive. A little pricey. It was $50 for 3 dinners. We ordered lasagna, Alfredo marsala, and ravioli's. nothing too exciting. The bread was really good and I like their minestrone. I would recommend it for a quiet slow paced meal.
We love Rufino's! My boyfriend and I are both big junkies for italian food. Rufino's hits the spot every time. They've been around forever, the owner or his aunt are usually the ones waiting on customers. The service is great. But the food. Oh my goodness the food. I try something new every time I come in. Gnocchi with pesto sauce? Not only beautiful but so tasty and light. Chicken parmesan? I couldn't stop eating even though I felt like I would explode. Don't even get me started on the lasagna... But the two things that are the true measure of their greatness are the bread and the marinara sauce. The garlic bread is fluffy and warm with just a hint of rosemary. So soft and so savory. Excellent. And the marinara sauce... here is my issue with marinara. Most places open a can of tomato sauce and pour it into a sauce pan, heat it up a bit, put it on your food and call it good. Not Rufino's. Rufino's sauce has flavor and just a little bit of heat. It's perfectly balanced and never too sharp. See? It's the simple things that make them shine. Oh, and one other thing. When we work late and there seems to be no hope of going somewhere decent for dinner - Rufino's is still open. Ready and waiting for us folks who end up not getting around to dinner until 9 o'clock at night.
(5)
Rafael D.
Usually come here for lunch with the co workers. I must say the food here taste really good. Their lunch specials are great. You can to a variety of mixtures from pizza, sandwiches, to pasta. The food is really good, really does taste like home made and with effort. The restaurant itself gives it a cozy feel, even a little bit intimate. It is a small place, but I never have a problem with seating and waiting. Every time we eat here, the owner is the won who attends to us, nice person by the way. Must try, oh and the pizza defiantly feeds a lot of people.
(5)
Brian T.
Authentic as Italian food in America gets. Overall: With the awesome service, flawless food and frank Sinatra playing, you will have no problem feeling as if you're in a real Italian restaurant. I've been to Italy myself and i have never came across a better place to remind me of Italy than Rufinos Service: unbeatable. very polite and knowledgeable Italian gentlemen named "Mike". He was very polite and patient. explained things well and as it turns out he is the head chef. Food: So good! we went there 2 times. we got the cioppino, and the trio the first time. It was AMAZING. the food doesn't get any more authentic than this. the portions were good too! not to mention the good selection if wine. MAKE SURE YOU GET THE TERRA MISU, they make it from scratch. its AW-SOME! Location: Parking is easy. Its in a little strip mall. down the street from travelodge and Disneyland. easy to find just look for "Restorante Italiano".
(5)
Matt W.
Truly amazing! I really wish Rufino's was much closer to my house so I could go all the time. I've been going there whenever I can for the past 7 or 8 years. It's a bit unassuming and in a very modest shopping center (it looks as if they've begun to make the surrounding area a bit nicer). It's the kind of family-style Italian restaurant that I love. Much of the food here is homemade. They make many of the pastas fresh. The bread you get before the meal starts is quite fantastic as well. Often I start with one of their pizzas, and I really love them!! Chicken parm is one of my favorites anywhere- so thin and crispy and delicious!! Tonight I took a couple bites out of the eggplant parmigiana and it was also delicious! The sauces are excellent. What's great about Rufino's is they give you a lot for a very modest price! Each meal includes soup or salad for pretty much between 10 and 13 bucks. Whatever you do, make sure you get the minestrone!! It's phenomenal! Can't wait to go back sometime soon when I am in the OC! By the way, if you are staying around Disneyland, this is a FANASTIC choice to have dinner or lunch- it's very close to the parks!!
(5)
Sandra A.
This place has the best food ive tasted in a while. I enjoy fresh Italian food and I appreciate the quality. And our server was the sweetest cutest lady. They will be seeing more of me!
(5)
Summer H.
Wasn't sure about this place based on appearance, but it turned out to be a great pick in Anaheim. Service was good, food was great. The breadsticks are uh-maze-ing, HOT and fresh--I could only wish for some roasted garlic to add some crunch to my dipping olive oil. The Italian salad dressing is quite vinegar-y and salty, but I liked it a lot. I tried the pollo Michelangelo, pollo parmigiano, lasagna, fettucini Alfredo, calzone with marinara dipping sauce (we are a big family and like to taste all the dishes brought to the table!)--all delicious. Price is $11-$14 per plate. Ambience was fair. If you like Italian, you have to try this place!
(5)
Alex G.
The breadsticks were amazing, and addicting. Everything I tasted was VERY flavorful, and it all seemed to taste fresh, not pre-cooked or "frozen fresh". The place could use a little make-over. Maybe Chef Ramsay could stop by and drop a dime.
(4)
Leslie C.
I can't wait to be hungry again so I can eat my leftovers! Amazing breadsticks like everyone has said, and I would have given 5 but the service was awful. There was a younger gal who was very pleasant but the older lady was unpleasant and proceeded to take an extra 20 minutes to get us boxes and a check (and it may have actually been longer). Food is awesome we just wish we had ordered it as takeout instead.
(4)
Vivian T.
Their baked mostaccioli is delicious!!! Their tiramisu is amazing!!!
(4)
Briana D.
I've been here twice, and plan on coming back as soon as I can. I thought this place was adorable. Small hole in the wall, but lovely inside, and the feel of a mom & pop ran establishment. Staff is very sweet and nice... a little shy at times, but they are super sweet. The food.... Oh - I love it! I LOVE the tortellini, and I had the Gnocchi too (very good - but Im a huge tortellini fan). Their bread-sticks are really good, everything taste homemade. I have wine every time I come here for dinner. I have not had any lunch specials here, I wish I worked closer so I could come here for lunch.... its ok, I will make do with my dinners I get here every now and then. I have eaten at other Italian places since discovering this place and every time I do I think of how much I really love this place. .... there's just something about it. OH! - And for a 5 star place - the prices are pretty good!! Cant go wrong.
(5)
Michael H.
Always good. Love the gnocchi with pesto and Italian bread. I have lived by the restaurant for ten years and have only tried them recently. Now we go at least once a week and want to try everything on their menu.
(5)
Jean S.
Loved this place! Found it on yelp and will go out of our way to go back. Great food, we had cioppino and fettucine with scallops, minestrone, and plain pasta with butter for the little one. Everything was amazing, they were very accommodating and so well priced. I would give them 10 stars if I could.
(5)
Brian Y.
3.75 Came here for dinner before the Disney 1/2 this year. Great spot for carb loading. Luckily started here before it got really busy. I don't think they anticipated the intake of so many runners as it got really crowded later with people rocking the annual shirt. Anyhows, getting back to the food, it was good. I enjoyed my dish and would come back again. Parking in a lot, so this fits the good safe choice category.
(4)
Will F.
we were leaving disneyland a little early, but we were really tired and hungry! my girl was craving italian food, so i yelped it and decided on this spot...and we hit the jackpot. i dunno if it was cuz we were hungry or what, but the food was DAMN GOOD. i had the gnocchi with pesto sauce and she had a shrimp scampi pasta of some sort and they were the bomb dot com. her son wanted a cheese pizza and we figured the small would still be too big for him, but our waitress solved it by offering a personal sized pizza for the lil guy. she was so helpful and kind. another dish we had was the fried calamari and it was way better than average, especially with the marinara sauce that accompanied it...somethin about that sauce that stands out! anyways, the atmosphere was cool, the service was top notch and the food we had exceeded our expectations by miles. i wish i had room to order a dessert! perhaps next time i hit up disneyland lol
(5)
Morgan M.
Definitely a hole in the wall! Great food.
(5)
Kingweasel X.
I was excited to try Rufino's. So many rave reviews from the Yelpsters made me figure this was a slam-dunk. I heeded the recommendations and left a lot of time, which was necessary but totally worthwhile. My star withholding comes not from the food, which was delicious, but from the service. Everything went fine until the entrees were done. Server: Do you want anything else? My wife: I'd like this raspberry truffle. Server: OK AND THEN SHE WALKS AWAY!! She didn't even LOOK at me! I barely managed to catch her to order something for myself. Desserts came, the check came halfway through. I through my card into the folder, sticking out halfway and put it on the end of the table. Dessert became finished. Still no receipt to sign. I slid the check folder halfway off the table, card first. The server walked past the table three times, never even glancing our way. Luckily I had cash so we weren't trapped there forever, but really, come on! I tipped much more nicely than I would have normally, because the food WAS great (Pollo al limone & Pollo alla crema) and I really want to give this place another chance later on; and while I don't mind waiting for great food, I can't tolerate waiting overmuch for something as simple as paying for my food.
(2)
Vanessa H.
Found this place using the Yelp App and it was decent. My friend and I agreed that it was a solid 3.5 stars, but I would dock 0.5 for the service we got from an older lady whose manner was a little impatient with us. I don't know her story. The food was about average, and reasonable for the price. Not a bad joint, I think I was just expecting more from the 4 overall stars this place had.
(3)
S H.
Under new ownership we are told as we walk in. We had an entertainment book coupon, but told new owner will only honor for $10 instead of $14. No worries we say. And you must buy two drinks under new ownership. Ok, fine we say. So we order a special and a pizza. You cannot use the coupon on that they tell us. Ok, fine, just bring the special and the pizza and the drinks we already agreed to. Hmmm ... weird start. Bread was good. Cokes were flat. salad was good, small and plain, but good. All the pasta and pizza was good. No complaints. Over all its an ok place. We won't go back but if you are nearby and looking for Italian, it may be worth a try. I dropped a star from 3 to 2 because they were such pricks about the coupon.
(2)
Lorene S.
I love the food here and it ia a very quite and friendly place to eat and i enjoy going here.
(5)
Gary M.
Food was great! Went here on a Sunday around lunch and they gave us the lunch special they normally have on mon-fri. Complimentary focaccia bread is awesome as previous reviewers have said. I had 2 item combo (7.99 lunch special) and a salad (1.00). With their home made italian. I had lasagna and ravioli, both were phenomenal! My uncle had manicotti and tortellini, I tried them and bother were also very good and authentic. We will definitely be coming back.
(5)
J C.
This should be more like 2.5 stars, but I'll give it the benefit of the doubt. First of all, the gf and I came here as a backup because Carolina's (Garden Grove) was closed (*groan*) due to a kitchen fire. We were craving Italian, and based on reviews, this place looked promising. I'm always down for giving the 'mom-and-pop' joint some business. I ordered the spaghetti with meatballs. It wasn't spectacular, but then again, when is spaghetti with meatballs ever spectacular. It wasn't horrible either, though. The (home made) meatballs were the best part. The gf ordered the trio (Chicken parm, fettuccine alfredo, & lasagna). I had some of the fettuccine (average) and the chicken (surprisingly tasty). I didn't try her lasagna. Upon bringing her leftovers home, the gf said there was a teeny tiny piece of metal (?) in her food. Perhaps a little piece broke off from a cooking utensil or other instrument in the kitchen? Who knows. She stopped eating leftovers after she found that. At the end I couldn't resist and ordered the teramisu for dessert. It was a generous piece (albeit for $3.99), but a little soggy. The garlic/cheese bread pre-meal WAS good, as people are saying. My $.02 would be to wait, if you can, for Carolina's to open back up. Their food is far superior. If you can't wait and have to settle, then Rufino's will do.
(3)
Monique G.
Love coming here with the family on a weekend. Love the atmosphere and the service, they really make you feel welcomed. Small and cozy with great food.
(5)
Ninja N.
I should of had their pizza! The waitress was really nice! Salad was yummy! I am a sucker for good bread and this place has gooood bread!! FYI - - Great lunch deals Spacious parking Secluded booths Awesome owner "Ill be back!"
(4)
Brian T.
OK, I am from a family with 2 Italian grandmas that know how to get down on some seriously tasty food. This place is the only local Italian cucina that can even keep pace with the G'mas. My girlfriend and I both agree that the calzone is the best we have had. But do try everything else... Rufino's will not disappoint!
(5)
Maggie F.
Biggest calzone ever! Delicious. If you want traditional Italian, this is the place. Friendly service and funny decor. A mix of old world and hole in the wall. Avoid the fettucini Alfredo. It's not great. However, the breadsticks and lasagna are amazing!
(4)
Emilio T.
I had their lunch special which was a pizza and a salad. The lady was super cool, cause she let me add additional toppings at no charge! that is service!! Salad hit the spot while my pizza warmed in the oven. It came out gooey with a nice soft dough. I had to fight with the cheese and it became stringy with every bite. I didn't need to dab my pizza with napkins because their meat was very lean. Finished with a nice crispy crust at the end of each pizza slice. Oh they also have some good bread! Lots of lunch specials Quick Service Cool Owner Enough parking Private booths Good prices!
(4)
Isabelle K.
Are you kidding me? This was one of the worst Italian restaurant I have ever been to...Olive Garden would've been better. Heck a frozen Stouffer lasagna would've been better....I ordered the Chicken Marsala with the "fresh" pasta and it was a pounded to death chicken breast with a layer of boiled out of the box linguini swimming in a pool of oil....My sis had the tortellini alla carusso and the tortellinis were mushy pasta bites drowned in a pink sauce which tasted like chef Boyardee raviolis. My friend ordered the Pollo Al Penne Baresse which might've well been one of those Lean cuisine frozen dinner....All of that added to the flat sodas and the 15 mins wait at the door before anyone even acknowledged us gives this place a 1 star no amount of foccacia bread can make up for that....So disappointed...
(1)
Super F.
2 starts because the food was ok. Despite the fact that they put PINNEAPLE in the Carusso sauce. It took 1hr to get our food. I didn't even get the salad that comes with my pasta. I will never come back.
(2)
Andy P.
This is the only place that I've given five stars so far. From the outside, it ain't much. It's look better on the inside. But heck, the food surpasses its decor by a zillion miles. The bread.... OH! THE BREAD! I really don't dig bread that much, but DAMN! the bread here is PURE HEAVEN! The soup, appertizers, pastas, veals, etc. .... luv it all. Now the icing on the cake - the price is wallet-friendly. Service is nice and friendly. Georgina always give me extra bread!!! The only complain here is that it's not near my house as I would have wanted it to be!
(5)
Ted R.
Got to know where this place is to find it. One of those word of mouth places or locals only. My kind of place I had the marsala fettucini and my wife had a small pizza. Both were excellent. A great authentic Italian place with very reasonable prices. They even had house wine by the litre and 1/2 litre. Very old school which is the way I like it. Not a big place with glitter and all that just great food and nice owners. Will definitely go back again when in the area.
(4)
Harriet G.
Talk about a great mom & pop joint..Dis place is one a dem! Me and BFs from junior high caught up as we ate here for dinner. I love how, true mom & pop restaurants themed from the old country give you that feel when you walk in, right? Then, great company and great food make for a great night, don't cha think? We didn't even care how long it took for our food to get to the table, because our server was very attentive & checked on us often. Of course, the green salad and bread were delicious. But, I had to stop while I was ahead, because I was looking so forward to my oh so simple plate of pasta with red sauce! I ordered the Capellini Giardino - angel hair, fresh tomatoes, garlic, fresh basil and herbs. What more can I say? This wasn't mama's spaghetti!! Then, I tried my friend's Tortellini alla Caruso.. omg. I couldn't tell what they put in that Caruso sauce. But, it was belissimo! :) We thoroughly enjoyed our evening and had leftovers to boot! :) Thanks Rufino's, for keeping it simple, yet unique!
(5)
Marie F.
I checked out the reviews before heading here for my cousin's birthday (party of 25) so I figured it would be a while before I actually got food. The bread was definitely a highlight...so good I had 4 pieces. My salad was lettuce and dressing. Period. Now for the entree, I ordered the Trio with Fettuccine Alfredo, Lasagna and Chicken Parm for $13.99. The Fettuccine stood out here with a delicious cream sauce infused with garlic that was delicioso. The rest I could give or take. I do have to say that the portion was generous. Now about the service...really authentic Italian which means pretty rough. They aren't about to give you customer service here. As a matter of fact, don't expect a smile or a thank you and you'll have to hail down the server for attention. Just be happy to get your food and smile to your dining companion(s). For a feel for the true Italia, this is it.
(3)
Tam L.
Located in the plaza behind Spire. Food was decent & portions a plenty. The staff was super nice. Their homemade minestrone was more like a vegetable soup but tasty regardless. The complimentary bread is like a super soft focaccia. The buscetta is served non-traditional & adds black olives. Although it's not my favorite Italian eatery, I would come here before going to the major chain Italian restaurants. plus I rather support the local Mom & Pops. Vegetarian friendly.
(4)
Michael S.
Visiting Anaheim for the weekend and as we arrived we decided to try this place based on the ratings we saw on Yelp. It is located in a strip mall and has a great feel. Food and service was excellent. Definitely a must try...
(4)
Joe S.
I live my life following two very strict, but very simple rules: 1. Do not do unto others what you don't want done to you; 2. When cooking spaghetti, under NO circumstance shall any other pasta be substituted in place of spaghetti noodles. That being said, I ordered spaghetti and meatballs to go. I opened up the container and what do I find? Spaghetti noodles replaced by LINGUINE noodles! I nearly fainted- oh the humanity! =O Being the president and founder of the WSO (World Spaghetti Organization, an organization I created, like, just now) I was appalled that an Italian place would even attempt to alter what is the very essence of Italiano food- the pasta. And let alone mess with spaghetti, the most sacred of all pasta dishes. Ugh, I am so upset right now I can't even finish this review (-_-)
(2)
Meg T.
Walking into Rufino's is like walking into my italian grandmother's dining room, if i had an italian grandmother. The waitress was so inviting and warm, and it really felt like we had know her for a long time. Note, this place is not meant for people in a hurry. This is a family run business with one cook and 2 waitresses and to a certain extent it makes people enjoy their food. I think something in the kitchen broke while we were there because the food did not come out of the kitchen for anyone for like, 20 minutes but the waitress was very apologetic and we got free ice cream from it. Reasonable prices, pretty good food, HUGE portions. I'd return again.
(4)
Matthew T.
Great Italian food. Super rich and flavorful. The caprese is awesome. Great desserts too. Little bit pricey but well worth it!!
(5)
Amy V.
Our new go to place for Italian food. I grew up in the neighborhood but haven't been here in ages about 10 years at least. I somehow always forgot about this place. We went out a couple nights ago to Spires and I saw it and decided to go there with my husband and our friends for dinner. I had the chicken Alfredo while my husband and our 2 other friends split the large calzone. It was delicious as was dish we definitely will be returning. The only negative about this visit was the lady who was freaking out as she parked her car in a spot in front of the water place next door that the owner had marked "water only" and so the owner of the water store had her car towed while she was at some other store in the center so she was yelling and bawling up and down the walkway and screaming at the water store owner. But that is not Rufino's fault, the waiter even went out to try to calm the lady down. The service was great as was the food. I think we found a definite keeper with Rufino's.
(5)
Jenn N.
You know breadsticks are good when you'll drive out of your way from Disneyland to a small strip mall for them. Everything we've ordered on the menu has been great - I'll sidenote that we've never tried the pizza though. Great atmosphere for having such a lackluster store front.
(4)
Sean M.
The food was good, the breadsticks were very tasty, unfortunately they didn't bring more after we tore through the first batch. The Saltimbocca alla Romana was very tasty and the portions were huge. Everyone in the group seemed to enjoy it. The service was a bit slow, we waited a long time for the food but it was definitely worth the wait. I will definitely be returning.
(4)
Giovanni S.
Being Italian and very picky about Italian food and being a cook myself, I'm always skeptical about trying new restaurants. Working the NAMM 2012 show, my best friend and I decided to try Rufino's. Obviously a family owned business, We had a calamari appetizer. Not bad, a little tough but way better than most places I've tried. Their minestrone soup was to die for - Excellent. Even got a to go order for my girlfriend and she loved it. The Osso Bucco was also very good. Would have gotten 5 stars if it was heated through a bit more. I love the marrow and it was cold and a bit frozen. The taste was awesome though. Having left overs today. Don't ever judge a restaurant on one visit. We will definitely be back!!
(4)
Poachedeggs g.
Eggplant Parmigiana
(4)
Chris G.
So glad to find this gem in anaheim. We wanted to get away from Dland and Downtown Disney to eat, so we wouldn't have to battle the crowds. We drove down Ball and turned on Euclid intending to go to Spires. Luckily we spotted the "All you can eat Pasta and Pizza for $6.99" banner outside Rufino's. Great food! Delicious bread and the pasta and pizza were so good. This will be our new Italian spot in Anaheim. Will return to try the specialties for sure! The restaurant is small and intimate, but kid friendly and very clean. Service is a little slow because there was only 1 cook and the owner there who was the waiter and busboy at the same time. But, they were so nice and the food so good, that it was worth the wait.
(5)
Kathy W.
I love this place! Every time we get a chance we come here. I have NEVER been disappointed with my experience! I would recommend this to anyone that likes Italian food. Also It's a great date restaurant. Definitely try this!
(5)
Cesia M.
OMFG delish... great family rest. the service is great ... ive been to this place over 20 times... very chill .. u cannot go wrong w this place....
(5)
Deanna L.
Rufino's was a featured restaurant on a list provided by the hotel my family was staying at and we had a craving for Italian, so after a long day at Disneyland we stopped by for dinner. We were not disappointed. In fact, we loved it so much we came back the second night for dinner as well! The waitress was sweet, the bread delicious, and the food was amazing. If we didn't live in Northern CA, this would be a place we would happily visit often! I read the other reviews and agree with some that mention the strip mall. Don't judge Rufino's by its location. There is a gem inside!
(5)
Hoang T.
I love hole in the wall places and this is one of those classic mom and pop restaurants where if you become a fan form the start, you'll keep coming back. I had the sausage dish with the meat sauce and I just can't recall what the name of it was but the final verdict from me would be it was just okay. Probably an off day as my friends that took me there are big fans of the place. 3 stars for now but I might come back for possible updates.
(3)
kim v.
Two hour wait for food is not acceptable, especially when they were not even busy. Four other couples or families came and gone before we got our food. We had even called with reservations since we were a party of 13..unacceptable. Rufinos was highly recommend by WorldMark, I will make sure they hear about our experience.
(1)
Terence C.
It was okay for me.. not bad.. I had a pasta dish with chicken and a red sauce and it tasted mediocre.. not as excellent as I would have liked, but it was decent. The service was good at first then it went downhill.. when I ate there, there was moderate traffic but not to say the least, it isn't hard to refill drinks or ask how your food is tasting.. Would I come back.. maybe.. I would give it a second chance. Oh before I end my review, the prices were decent between the average neighborhood of $9-18 and portions were big.
(3)
Lorraine S.
I found this place in a coupon magazine and they were offering a free entree with any other entree and two drinks. First of all, the breadsticks are so damn good. Wayyy better than any other chain out there... Their texture, softness, and crispy crust just does it right. PERFECT and beats all the other Italian chains out there, no doubt. I got the Fettuccine Alfredo and my BF got the same, except with penne. I know.. typical Italian entrees, but the sauce of the thing was soo creamy and thick. It was seriously soo good! Oh, and make sure to share next time, because portions are hugeee! We were only 1 out of 2 tables, and the service was pretty fast and attentive. Love it and will be coming back to try other stuff on the menu. It's molto molto GOOD. I don't think you'll coming back to the chains anymore, once you've discovered hole in the wall eateries like this. *I wanted to try the Spumoni Wedge or the Canoli for dessert, but I had no room ;(
(4)
Brian W.
I have been coming to Rufino's for the past 8 years or so! They have great service and great food. To be honest, i don't think that I have ever had anything bad from here. I live very close, so most of the time we will get take-out and bring it home. They make the food quick and its always delicious!
(5)
Diana G.
The calamari is to die for but the lady who runs the restaurant isn't very welcoming. The bread is amazing too!
(4)
Isabel S.
When I lived by the Happiest Place on Earth, we stumbled upon this place and decided to give it a try. I AM SOOOO GLAD WE DID ! The service is slow and the actual cooks are of my hispanic decent but the owners are italian. **The garlic bread is soft and better than the Olive Gardens **The meatball sandwich is HUGE and super tasty with the perfect seasonings ** The fettucine alfredo is a bit plain get the carbonara instead ** Pizza is DELISH, sausage is spicy and the sauce is light and fresh, cheese is melty gooey and plentiful
(4)
Michael M.
Georgina always makes us feel at home and delivers excellent service. She always has great suggestions. They have an extensive menu with a varity of traditional dishes. The complimentary foccacia and olive oil and vinegar are great to tie you over until your delicious meal arrives. The pasta and pizza are excellent. Try the cheesy peperoni or the decadent manicotti. They have a nice house chianti and excellent ice cream truffles for dessert.
(5)
Christine H.
On the outside, it doesn't look like much, but on the inside, it's a cozy and welcoming little Italian restaurant. Family owned and the food tastes authentic. The service is also very attentive and friendly. Breadsticks were awesome - well-seasoned and tasted like they were fresh out the oven. We ordered a pasta (generous portion you can probably share with someone else)...I forgot the name, but it was pretty good...the linguine was cooked al dente, which is how I like it. It was a red sauce with onions, mushrooms, sliced sausage, and chicken I believe. We also tried their tomato soup, which was surprisingly hearty and robust with flavor. It was perfect on a chilly day and a great way to start off the meal. I hope to come back and try their pizzas.
(4)
C E.
Great food. Osso Veal was delicious. Trio manager special was great! Bread sticks came to table right out of the oven. Bruchetta was good, had olives, capers, tomato, basil, onion all in the center, and mini bread squares on the side.
(5)
Greentea R.
love love love their garlic bread. soup tastes like it was made from scratch. I ordered their pasta carbanara which was good but I think it was a bit too greasy for me. That's what i get for ordering a dish with bacon in it. I stilled enjoyed it though and I will determinately be coming back to try other dishes on their menu.
(4)
Andrew R.
I can't get enough of Rufino's!! My friend who grew up around the corner took me there a few years ago, and I feel completely in love. I've brought friends from all circles and haven't gotten a complaint from anyone. I even took my whole family there for my birthday dinner and they all ask "When are we going back to Rufino's!?" It's not too harsh of a drive, maybe 20-25 minutes from Irvine, but no matter where I am; if I'm craving Rufino's, we will drive. Nothing beats they're delicious bread and "homey" atmosphere. The old school italian music (cue Dean Martin "That's Amore") and faux florals don't even seem cheesy, it's actually totally charming. The business is obviously run by a family and I absolutely LOVE that! But I must say, that I need to challenge myself someday because I get the Tortellini ala Caruso EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. Without fail. That's the first thing I had, and I don't think I will ever order anything else!! It's seriously so addicting and the sauce is perfect! Especially with the mini salad before (you get a choice of soup or sal) and dipping the leftover bread in the sauce after!! DELISH!! **here's a little hint. They give you a little thing of parmesan cheese....ask for some fresh garlic. Now, take a side plate and spoon some parmesan cheese on. Then dribble some of the oil that's supplied on the table and then the garlic; You want it to be a semi-paste consistency. Take your concoction and spread it on the bread. DELICIOUS! SO much better than the typical oil and vinegar, it's so Macaroni Grill. ugh. Although they can be slow at times, I don't even really mind because I always find myself talking about the cute atmosphere of it all with whoever I'm with and we drift off to talking about traveling, finding other incredible "hole in the wall's", etc. and to me, the wait is TOTALLY worth it. 5 stars for Rufino's!!!
(5)
Raffy C.
Absolutely the best Italian in town! The fettuccine marsala is by far the best thing I've put in my mouth this year (sorry boyfriend) ... save your pennies and forget mama cozzas down the street and come here instead. Ps the owners are absolute sweethearts and any place that's been in business for this long is well worth the drive.
(5)
Joanna L.
Ive been coming to rufinos for about 8 years now. Ive love the food there, its very good. That being said... i refer to it as "Bitchface Italian" -They make you wait excessively to be seated and for the food and especially for the free bread -the older lady (and only female) waitress is a rude cunty bitch. Watching her over the years ive noticed that she knows how to be polite, and attentive, and sociable but that really only applies to white ppl between 30-50, oh and she loves tourist. Shes a total bitch though; in fact ive never seen her smile to a non white, and/or youthful individual. She will make offhanded, rude statements in a passive aggressive way that makes you wanna slap a bitch for disrespecting you while your trying to enjoy your meal. -the waitress alone is the reason i dont go as often as i used to and when i do it take out only. The gentlemen in the kitchen, who i believe is the manager, this guy w glasses who normally wears a black shirt - hes cool. If you get him as your waiter itll be a good time
(3)
Tamara M.
I really enjoyed this place. Old homey Italian feel. The waitress was an older lady who is a little on the serious side but once we started conversating she was such a sweetheart. I had the lasagna. It was delicious! It had beef and sausage and just the right amount of sauce with a robust flavor. Cooked in the dish served. With a glass of pint noir! Which was more like two glasses. It was very delicious. I will definitely be returning for more yummy food!!
(4)
Jak P.
So... Mixed feeling about this place. Let's dive right in and get to the point. The food had its ups and downs. Starting with the bread, it was pretty good for antipasta. The minestrone soup is homemade and packed full of flavor. But, when it came to the entrees, this places falls a bit short. I ordered the fettuccine Alfredo with chicken. To say that it lacked flavor was an understatement. I had to add my own salt to give it some taste. We also ordered the spaghetti with meat sauce. It looked like someone just mashed up a meat ball and put it into the tomato sauce..... Uhm.. Wha? And finally we also ordered the trio, which was wrongly priced on their menu btw. It was the chicken parmigiano, lasagna and fettuccine. The dish came out cold even though it was last. This was only worsened by the service. We came on a fairly busy night so we'll cut them some slack for that, but the whole restaurant was being served by 2 waiters the whole time we were there. We were even seated before someone, but received our food way after them. Overall, i wasn't that impressed with the food, other than the appetizers. Would I come back, maybe if they were bent on winning me back. But I doubt they'll do that, so nope.
(3)
Silvia G.
Food is not bad, but service and atmosphere were not as good, 3.5 stars We brought a coworker here for his bday after reading the great reviews on Yelp. I have passed this plaza before but would have never noticed this restaurant next to the $.99 store. The Place looks kinda quaint but a bit old and dark. Our Server was kinda rude, no greeting, and a "what do you want?" kinda attitude. The Bread was good but not as amazing as I expected from the reviews. It was soft but a bit dry, like it was just reheated. Dishes come with a choice of soup or salad. I had the minestrone soup and it was good. The Chicken al limone was tasty with the right amount of sour and it came with huge capers. It was about the same price as the lunch specials so not sure what the "specials" really offered. Overall, decent food but would probably not go back because of the less than enjoyable experience.
(3)
Janiza R.
Delish!!! I deff recommend the pasta carbonara. The bread is so incredibly good! Service was good. Thanx to my neighborhood friends for letting me know about this little gem!
(5)
George S.
Friendly service, food is great and prices are very reasonable. Look like family owned place. Good for small group dine out too. Highly recommends this place. Enjoy!
(5)
Tracy M.
Our Italian grandmother waitress was wonderful. The food was wonderful. The ice tea was so so yummy.. As was the bread and the ambiance and the pasta.. Come here for some authentic Italian food.
(5)
Candy P.
We had dinner here recently. Table for two. Took about 30 to 45 minutes... But the wait was worth it. The pasta was homemade and cooked al dente. The marinara sauce was fresh and tangy. Their pesto was perfectly garlicky!! We are definitely coming back very soon. Parking was easy. They seem to accommodate large groups but it's a small place. Can't wait to come back!!
(4)
Diane M.
I had the spaghetti bolognese with soup and bread. Everything was so fresh and delicious. All tasted hand made with care. I will be back again. I want to try so many of their dishes. The tiramisu was fabulous. It's worth a special trip for itself! I can't wait to share a pizza with friends. When you are inside you forget you are in Anaheim. The great aroma of the food and the friendly service will make you think you are in Italy. A wonderful evening!
Love the food and breadsticks are the bomb! Service sucks though
(5)
Kimberly M.
Their lunch specials are a pretty good deal. I've tried their pizza and eggplant parmigiana. It comes with some soup. I get a kick out of hearing their italian accent, even the cook has one XP.
(4)
Liz C.
Came here for the first time after seeing the reviews on Yelp. The service was friendly and the food was amazing. I will most definitely be coming back
(4)
Michelle M.
4 stars for the food. Service was well not the absolute best. Arrived at 2pm when the restaraunt opened and were literally the only two people in the joint. Barely greeted by an older women (my hunch the owner). We were asked to pick a seat. She walked over handed us menus, took our drink order and walked away. Upon her return we let her know it was our first time there. That didn't prompt any better greeting than the one we received walking in and there was no interaction between her and us the rest of the time. She brought our meal and drinks in a timely manner but was practically mute each time she arrived at our table. Even a smile would have been nice. Anyways, the food was terrific. The bread sticks were soft and warm upon arrival. I could have had a whole basket to myself. My lasagna was delicious. My husband ordered Chicken Parm which was also rich in flavor. Both plates tasted authentic and the marinara sauce had bold flavors. We would come back but our expectations for service won't be as high.
(4)
Johnny B.
We wanted something close to our hotel and I had researched this place online. Believe me when I tell you that this was the best dinner we had, better yet best Italian food ever! Everything from the cheese sticks to the veal/ chicken parmigiana and lasagna. We would recommend it to any visitors to the Disney resort area. Worth the drive/bus drive/walk or crawl!!! Just get your butt here!!! These bread sticks are the best ever! Ask for some to take home. The people and chef are amazing. We thanked them all for such a fabulous dinner.
(5)
Lynn S.
this is definitely a place worth a try!!! we went for Sunday late lunch the herb bread was fresh and yummy you can choose either soup or salad with your meal the soup I got is a tomato based veggie soup... super yum and tasty my bf got the fresh green salad with Italian dressing which he likes it a lot! we got the spaghetti carbonara and spaghetti bolognese and we both loved it pasta is fresh cooked and the sauce has a lot of flavor in it overall... we both agreed this is a place worth coming back again!!!
(4)
Nicole Y.
What an amazing Italian gem! I was in Anaheim to run a half marathon and was looking for Italian restaurants and stumbled upon Rufino's on Yelp. As soon as I'd arrived, I knew I'd make the right choice. It's located in a strip mall, like many Anaheim destinations. The inside decor was simple but classic Italian. We started with a delicious caprese salad, which was followed by a regular side salad and I had ordered the superb minestrone soup. Dinner selections for me and my bf were the gnocchi in pesto (keep in mind, this is cheese based pesto, so not for the lactose intolerant) and I ordered the cappellini giardino which was massive and ended up being lunch the next day as well. Unfortunately I was too full to try dessert, but the spumoni was really calling out to me. Next time!
(4)
Kristine S.
Lived in OC and for more than 20 years I did not know this little gem existed. Had the Chicken Marsala it was to die for. Sauce perfect. Chicken tender. The right amount of everything. The owners wife was our waitress. Worth the wait. It is in strip mall so not the biggest location but they also have To go area. Little snug and warm inside but smelled so good. Garlic bread free. While waiting for everything else. For desert we had ice cream Bon Bon. Yummy. Going again soon.
(5)
Seph T.
I pretty much gave up on Italian food before my close friend took me here. I was unimpressed looking at the menu so I went on here to see what other people were ordering. The calamari de casa really caught my eyes from one of the pictures and I ordered it. Boy oh boy... that turned out to be one of the best decisions I'd ever made when it comes to Italian food. It's probably the one dish that redeemed Italian food for me. Order it the next time you're here. Keep in mind that it's only an appetizer however so you'll need to eat a lot of bread (which is excellent here also) if that's the only thing you're ordering.
(5)
William M.
Okay, to start it off with what everyone wants to know, their food tastes good. Not "Delicious," but "good." Their price are also kind of in the expensive mark, but their large portion makes up for it for sure. Now, for one of the worst service that I have experienced in my life... Right as I walked in around 6:50 pm Tuesday night, there were only 2 or 3 groups in the restaurant. One of the groups were about 5 or 6 person group, and the other two groups were couples. As I walked in, I waited around 5 minutes to get seated...not only did we not get seated, no one bat an eye at us. Since the store was practically empty and yet so busy where no employee has the time to sit us down, we just grabbed the menu and sat ourselves to a random table. After waiting for another 5 minutes, one of the male staff (most likely the kitchen staff) came to us and said "I see you sat yourselves down" and just...walked off. He didn't even ask if we want something to drink, or anything. He just stated the obvious and went off back into his kitchen. Shortly after that, I made an "I need to order" eye contact with the waitress, so she came up to our table and took our order. My friend chose a salad for her side dish, and then the waitress asked "what kind of dressing would you like?" Now, my friend is visiting from Japan, and she's not used to the English language or our food, so after hearing all the different dressings, she asked the waitress "What would you recommend?" and then the waitress gave my friend a troubled look, and said "It's your own preference, so I would not know." Yes, but she asked what would "YOU" recommend, not what would "I LIKE." After we have made our order, the waitress gave us some water...that tasted horrible. The water tasted like it was straight out of their sink. They served us a non-filtered tap water and might I say, it tasted like shit. So my friend was complaining how horrible the water tastes, and after a while, our food came. Tasted fine, and the portion was big so we were at least able to enjoy that part. After a while, I finished my water, and I started timing at 7:11 pm to see how long the staff would notice to refill the water. Never. The waitress never asked about the empty water cup, even after we finished paying. Since there were so much food, we asked for a take-out box and a check. After she brought our boxes and check, I said "Oh, sorry. Can you split the check?" and then I could not believe what came out of her mouth in reply: "You should be telling me this before I give you the check." with an annoyed tone. I was in shock. Sure, I did not tell her to split the check, but I did not expect to be scolded because of that. After a while, the waitress came back with our checks, and we both paid in cash so we would receive $20, $10, and $5 bills (no $1 bills), but when the change came, I received 5 $1 bills, and my friend received a $5 bill and 5 $1 bills. THE AUDACITY! What was going on in her head!? Did she honestly think that she could even get a penny worth of tip from me? There is an empty water cup that stayed on the desk for 17 minutes on the edge of the table! 17 minutes! There were only 2 groups in that restaurant, and that was us and a mother with a child that isn't even ordering anything, and you don't notice an empty glass and expect a tip!? There is a limit on how selfish you can be. We just left the restaurant without any tips knowing that we will never be coming back again, and that they would not know we left a tip until we were long gone, since they obviously did not give a shit. TL;DR- Food was good, service was absolute shit and greedy. Food saved the review by 1 star.
(2)
Shawna C.
We have been meaning to check this place out for a long time now. We had an Entertainment coupon last year to buy a meal and get a meal free, and we never made it. Unfortunately we never made it there and this year this was not one. Lately we have been trying to find new places to try mostly on weekends to start getting a bigger variety, (which while you find so many more things to love, it's hard to get back to things that you already loved.) Oh well... hopefully someday soon I will make lots of moolah and we can eat out somewhere nice and delicious every day. We came in around 6:30 on a Saturday and I figured that it would be packed by this point. Then again, there weren't a whole lot of reviews so maybe this place is still well unknown, although not everyone is a Yelper so that may not relate to anything. However, it was not packed. It's not that noticeable on the road either in my opinion. We walked in, and it was a pretty small place, but quaint. We were seated, once we juggled to get through between the group sitting at the tables and the booth itself. It took a while to get our drink orders placed. We were served with their Italian bread first. Pretty tasty, I ordered the lasagna and I chose salad with bleu cheese as my item over minestrone soup. The salad was nothing spectacular, but it was not a watery lettuce plate bought from the store either. I enjoyed it. The bleu cheese was not bad either. Not runny or anything. The lasagna was delicious! I would definitely get that again. While the dish looked small, it filled me up. My husband had minestrone soup and chicken cacciatora as his main course. He seemed to really enjoy the soup and remarked that it was delicious, but did not seem too impressed with his cacciatora. Although, he had never had it before so he had nothing to base it off of. Food was delicious, service was okay. It took a while to take our order and a longer while to pay. (Which I specified in another recent review that I can't stand waiting forever to pay a bill) I would come back, but I did find it a little pricey for what we got. Maybe I am a tightwad for the moment, but maybe I am also seeing better prices at a lot of other places. I know a few other Italian places where I get more bang for my buck though.
(3)
Karen P.
Great friendly fast service. Awesome authentic Italian food. The bread sticks were to die for.
(5)
John F.
We looked for a place apart from downtown Disney on our first night here. Saw great reviews for this fine restaurant. Great soup and anti pasto. Main dishes were excellent and finally prepared. You will find the atmosphere definitely Italian. This is a great choice. And good prices. Enjoy!
(5)
Cody E.
Local hole in the wall hidden gem for sure! Fantastic, thank you fellow Yelper's! The decorum is amazingly kitsch the staff is authentic and the food is AMAZING. I however don't believe that $$ is needed it's priced very reasonable around the $10-15 range for an entree. The best was the cheesy lasagna and baked mostaccioli, it' literally had a layer of cheese below and then pasta, sauce and more cheese. The sauce is wonderful not too sweet and not too spicy. The Chicken Parmigiana is fantastic and very well portioned. Fresh homemade soup with the dinner, and to top it all off an amazing basket or three of complimentary bread sticks to call it a night with!
(5)
Caril W.
Great. Flavorful! Just fell in love with a this spot! The steak and cheese, the noodles, the soup (has healing properties) and the salad. All were great. Oh and the bread! I got take out. I can only imagine how good it is to eat-in. First, I know getting a philly cheesteak at an authentic Italian place may not be your first choice but it was the best cheese steak I ever had!! And yes I have been to Philly several times. Then the ranch dressing was amazing! The greens were very fresh!! My four year old almost ate it all up from me. The same applies to the soup. My kid loves it. If you have small children you know getting them to try new and healthy options is difficult so this was a win for us. Then the cheese steak was just moist, tasty and the texture of the bread was perfect! Not to soggy and not to bready. It all fit together just right. On top of that the service was very good. The soup was actually complimentary. The guy who took our order I assume was the owner. A very kind gentleman. Hoping to return often. Found a hidden jewel just around the corner!! Yay:)
(5)
Joe S.
I am full blooded Italian. Sorry, Ma, you never cooked Italian food anywhere near as good. . Real value,too..
(5)
E K.
The spaghetti carbonara was very tasty, good portion, same as the bruschetta it was so good with olives there and very fresh, just one thing it was only one waitress for the hole place, however we were not too much people but I do think they need more people working there! The food was excellent!
(5)
James L.
Had spaghetti & meatballs for lunch. Was authentic with homemade noodles, sauce and meatballs. Came with a side of very delicious bread. Although the flavor is pretty good and everything is home cooking, it was a tad spicier than how I like my authentic Italian. There isn't too much you can say about spaghetti & meatballs other than 1) the noodles were good, homemade 2) sauce was flavorful and not too runny 3) meatballs were good, a little spicy, however. Not my favorite place, but still a very respectable Italian joint.
(4)
Daniel K.
Food, good. Service, bad. 1 server for 12+ tables, not even a smile. First and last.
(4)
Debbie T.
Amazing... True ... Italian food!!! Just like homemade. We really enjoy this place! We've been to plenty of really good restaurants and nobody beats the bread they serve there. Everything is just wonderful. Loving having this little gem close by!
(5)
Jenny Y.
Usually can't find any good, solid Italian restaurants anymore, but this one was pretty on point. It is a tiny hole in the wall restaurant hidden in the corner of a shopping plaza, but the food tastes very authentic. Unlike the Americanized Italian food served in most restaurants, this is a family owned Italian restaurant that serves great tasting Italian food. Went in for lunch and they had a lunch menu that was very well priced and plenty of options. I can never decide what I want in Italian restaurants because of the various choices. I ended up going with the 2 item combo and chose the lasagna and eggplant parmigiana. Both were very tasty and well portioned. They serve a soup or salad for lunch and the best thing of all is the yummy tasting bread. They bring out fresh and warm bread that has just come out from the oven. For me, if the bread is good, then nothing else matters. and the bread here is delicious! :) The lady serving us was attentive and kind. I'm glad I found a new Italian spot!
(4)
Joe D.
This place is understated. Unassuming but filled with real Italian flavor. Had the trio. The fettuccine Alfredo was the best I've had in thirty years. This combination works and plenty for tomorrow. The Caesar Salad was also surprisingly good. The place for a quiet romantic dinner.
(5)
Rachael R.
Service was really friendly, we were served by who I could only assume was the owner. Had the fettuccine Alfredo, which was fantastic. Husband had lasagna and really enjoyed it. Also had pizza for the kids. Looked good and I'll find out tomorrow at lunch. We will definitely be back.
(4)
David C.
Meh. And very slow. I wish this had been better, but as usual it's tough to find good places to eat near Disneyland.
(2)
Merari R.
Best Italian I've had. The staff is very friendly, the Bread is AMAZING as well as the food. It's a cute little hole in the wall that everyone needs to visit it's an adorable restaurant. Food is reasonably priced and we'll worth it!
(5)
Jenn A.
I called to make an order for delivery. I asked the lady how long it will be and she said "when the food is done, he will leave" lol! I ordered fettucine alfredo for myself and spaghetti marinara for my son. the alfredo was amazing! so buttery and cheesy, omg! the homemade breadsticks have rosemary in them.. not a fan of rosemary at all but i still ate them! i also got a piece of tiramisu and it was pretty delicious! I spent $40 but it will literally be three meals worth as we have tons of food leftover. Update the next day: My son asked to order Italian again. This time I ordered a small pizza (its more like a medium), the trio (lasagna, fettucine alfredo and chicken parm) and an order of brushetta. It's like, i didn't know this place could get any better; but it did!!! the trio was flipping fantastic, the lasagna was out of this world delicious. the bruschetta was so garlicky, i know no vampires will get near me! i love garlic! again, we have a ton of food leftover and it was only $35 tonight!
(5)
Kate D.
Worst service I have ever had! My boyfriend and I arrived at this restaurant after a day at Disneyland at around 7:30pm on a Thursday. There was no host/hostess, and we waited a bit before anyone noticed us. There appeared to only be one server working the entire place! A group of 4 came in behind us and they tried to seat them before us, and only did not after one person in the group of 4 mentioned we were there first, and she had to say that multiple times. After we were seated, it took awhile before anyone came to take our order, and when the server did come, she was very matter-of-fact, and not very friendly. The pasta dishes come with a choice of soup or salad. My boyfriend ordered soup and he was given a salad anyway. We didn't see anyone with a soup in the entire restaurant, so we started to wonder if maybe they were not serving it, but he was offered the soup, and was never told he couldn't have it. The decor in the restaurant is pretty ugly, including Budweiser advertisements/info sheets under glass at the tables. There were cleaning products just sitting out. At one point a group of people came in and were standing at the door for at least 5-10 minutes, and no one even acknowledged them. Another group was seated, and then ignored to the point that they got up and left, since no one ever came to take their order. We also had a hard time getting our waters refilled throughout dinner. I got the ravioli and spaghetti combo. It reminded me of cafeteria food, but tasted a little better. It looked very thrown together, swimming in marinara, and I would just call it adequate. My boyfriend seemed to like his dish a little more. The garlic bread was very good. After we finished eating, we waited at least 20 minutes and no one came to ask if we wanted anything else, or to give us the check. We finally determined how much we owed based on how much our meals cost, and I Googled Anaheim sales tax, and we left that amount in cash on the table (we had planned to pay by credit card). Never got a check. The server only came over after she saw we were leaving. I have never had that experience before! I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone. The food isn't worth it.
(1)
Joseph Z.
Came with my family for my mother's birthday. Service was quick to get us our drinks and even recommend some food for us. The bread they give you here is amazing it's so delicious overall it was a great experience.
(5)
Sofia A.
Amidst the urban chaos that surrounds Anaheim with Disneyland, the Convention Center, and the Anaheim Angels Stadium; there is a hidden jewel most commonly enjoyed by locals. Ruffino's is located on the Northeast corner of the Euclid and Ball intersection. A small family owned and family operated with an ambience reminiscent of Italy. The music is soft and invites conversation. The food is amazing. Everything is freshly made. The bread with its cheese and seasoning topings is delivered hot to the table. It is addictive, can't have enough. The salad is freshly prepared. My favorite, chicken alfredro is creamy with hints of roasted garlic and toasted chicken chunks. The owners are friendly and accommodating. You'll want to save room for desserts because they are delicious!
(5)
Thomas T.
Omg! Wow. Great tasting Italian food. Caesar salad was fresh and had the perfect dressing. Some of best Cesar I have had! The bread omg! Wow! Was spectacular with the oil and vinegar. I had the Veal Parm. Was awesome. Some of the best I've ever had. My wife had the Carbonara. Loved it. Very good cream based sauce. Generous portions for great tasting food. So why the 4 stars and not 5? The food took WAY too long to come out after the salad. Was full from the salad and bread by the time the dinner came out. It was about 20 min after we finished our salad that the dinner finally came. By that point I was already full and annoyed. What's the point in having great tasting Italian food if it doesn't come out in a timely manner? If you dine here ORDER YOUR MEAL FIRST BEFORE you get your salad or apps. Overall good dining experience.
(4)
Sharon S.
Now this is one neighborhood Italian restaurant to write home about. The pizza has that yummy factor, it must be in the sauce. I truly enjoyed the carbonara, brilliant idea with mushrooms in the carbonara. It's a small place but worth coming to. Yes its true the restaurant has only one server. She was better the 2nd time we came back. So get past the service to enjoy the food.
(5)
Kunous K.
First time here... Just passed by and the yelp rating look good... Salad no surprise, but the bread is gooood... Crunchy on the edges and soft inside, the cheese taste mix well with the olive oil and vinegar! Ordered a Saltimbooca Alla Romana, the veal is delicious, pasta is a little too soft... The Parma ham highlighted the whole dish! It is a good place if you are just in an Italian mood, service is ok... A mom and pop restaurant, don't expect too much on service, I got what I need and the food came in timely manner.
(4)
Andy P.
A small "Mom & Pop" Italian restaurant tucked away in a large strip mall. Placed a takeout order at the counter, ordered 3 main courses and 3 deserts. I judge Italian restaurants by their Eggplant Parmesan. My order didn't disappoint me, the meal was great. The Gnocchi was fantastic. The garlic bread was really tasty. Because the Eggplant was so good I'll try something else on the menu next time we want Italian food.
(4)
John B.
Get the tortellini cruso! Great food but the service is borderline horrible. Ask for water when seated or you probably won't get it. I had to walk across the restaurant to find the old woman to get water half way through my meal. As a single diner it took over an hour an a half to order, eat, find/get water, flag down the server to request the bill and pay. Give the server you're card as soon as they give you the bill or you'll be there another 20 minutes. Once served no one will EVER come check on you.
(4)
Roy B.
Went to Ruffino's and something happened. yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… Lei parla italiano? No worries Ruffino's got you covered. And you'll be speaking Italian by the time you leave. I am now sure I have multiple personality disorder. I watch a couple old Sopranos shows, go to Rufino's, have some bread, some pasta and I start speaking Italian as if it were my native tongue. Georgina the waitress will remind you of Livia Sopprano. Don't forget to have some vino! Il vino ha effetti benefici per la salute e va ritenuto un prodotto alimentare. Vino and you'll be thinking Sinatra 'amore'! yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie that's amore ..... FOOD: Start yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… off with some of Ruffino's amazing bread. Lil' oil n vinegar too. yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… Try the calamari so tasty! yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… 5*****Stars Try one of the great specials. yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… Osso Bucco ... Veal shank & pasta yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… 5+*****Stars Italian Trio ... Chicken Parmesan, Lasagna, Fettuccini. Alfredo trio 3.75***Stars yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… Or other entrees like Lasagna yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… 4****Stars Ravioli ... yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… 4****Stars Many deserts to choose from. yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… FOOD TASTE: Bread ... to die for goodness, parm. & butter, a dip in the oil & vin. I's soooo good! Cheese Ravioli ... great simple dish. Ruffino's nails this one with the tasty velvety cheesy ravioli's in a simple marinara sauce that hides hits of herbs and love. Calamari ... this is a dish you die for, so tasty and the calamari is so tender it almost melts in your mouth. TRIO: Chicken Parm ... Tender cut of breast seasoned, fried and smothered in parm. wonderland. very tasty and hearty. Lasagna ... a delish dish of ricotta, parm, and pasta that makes for a good red sauce cheesy covered bake. Fettuccini Alfredo ... Fat noodles smothered in rich cream sauce. Oh how I love you cream sauce n noodles! Osso Bucco ... Veal shank roasted perfectly to let that marrow melt into the pasta sauce. The rich veal marrow makes for an amazing sauce base. I ruined a shirt slurping this awesome broth from the meat bone, and noodles. Worth every penny and more for a new shirt. Super tasting dish! Don't forget desert. Ruffinos offers an awesome selection of choices for your sweet tooth! The cannoli's are to die for! yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… Try a an Italian beer yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… The service is great and the atmosphere is charming. A great place for dinner! Back again soon
(5)
Brian L.
Quaint little place that seems charming enough. But I came in during lunch time and the place was empty except for one table and still couldn't find anyone to take my takeout order. Had to look around and practically had to put my head through the little window they have for takeout orders to find a waitress to take my order. After all that, I was overcharged by a little over $1. It's not much, but it's the principle. It took almost 20 minutes to get my order. For a sandwich. And it was middle of the road, nothing special. Won't be coming back here. Ever.
(1)
Tami C.
Smaller restaurant with great food. We ordered the 2 item off the lunch menu so we could sample a few items. I ordered tortellini and eggplant. My husband ordered lasagna and ravioli. The Ravioli was ok but wouldn't order it again. The rest was some of the best food I've ever had! The bread is great too. Will definitely be back!!
(5)
Lili H.
I have to publicly thank to Mr Roy B for introducing me to this delicious and dangerous place. Growing up in Colombia I used to love Garfield (the cartoon) not only for his smart-ass remarks but also for his love to pasta and Italian food (he was born in an Italian restaurant if I recall correctly). Besides in Col. Italian food SUX (sorry with the restaurant owners of my beloved Bogota but they are far from remarkable) Yes, for me is impossible to pass on a good Italian meal, moreover if is a in mom&pop restaurant. NO Chains, those are so boring and predictable... But as they say: a moment on the lips an eternity on the hip, so I try not to fall into temptation too often... Rufino's has both things great food and is a mom&pop Italian restaurant. Located in a strip mall (like most of the mom&pop places) they made an effort to beautify their front door yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… The service was nice and attentive. We started with delicious bread (again a moment on the lips an eternity on the hip... OMG) then as usual I ordered meat lasagna and it was great yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… To finish the delicious meal we had dessert (I should say I had dessert because I ate most of it) yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… Soooo if everything is so great, why not 5 stars? again the temperature! people the AC is a very useful device!!! don't be so cheap because that can cost you your clientele... just saying Well after all these years, my love for Garfield and Italian food remains intact Simply Delicious! Of course I'll be back, for the food and to try all their exquisite desserts yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… (PS: who cares about the hips) Highly recommended!
(4)
Jonathan R.
Best authentic Italian restaurant in the oc.. That's all I have to say. Oh and great service too!!!
(5)
Oscar M.
I been coming for 17 years is always a great food, a good place to take friends and family.
(5)
Michael M.
What a delicious lunch. Had the Pollo al Limone. Man it hit the spot. Tastes just like the one I make. That's how you know you found a gem. When I'm too lazy to cook you can find me here anytime.
(5)
Doug T.
My punk kids were actually looking forward to coming back to this place vs.. the well known theme park across the way.. it feels like a flashback to little Italy in NYC.. the Oso Bucca is phenomenal, especially if you like the bone marrow.. they cut an end off so you can scoop it out. The cups are those old school red plastic coke cups, which is funny and the lighting and decor seems like it's out of 1979..
(5)
Randy H.
Love this place. Great portions and tasty. At first the waitress seemed cold but she's actually nice when you get to know her. We go there a lot
(5)
Nikki R.
Visiting Anaheim for a week with 16 other family members and we opted for Italian tonight...What a fantastic place. Everything was amazing, with so many people we obviously tried multiple things. So many choices and they have perfected each and every one that we tried. The Marsala was amazing, pesto gnocchi was superb, veal parmesan was stupendous, and the tortellini alla Caruso was to die for. They even made an extra large plain cheese pizza for the kids that made you sit back in your seat and moan it was SO good. Italian sodas, a creme brulle that was truly the peak and firework finale. Small little mom and pop joint, if you blink you will miss it and that would be a shame. I will return for sure.
(5)
Kristy S.
Definitely a solid Italian-American restaurant, but since we only tried a couple of the basics I can't give a higher review (yet). Service is a bit slow, but it seems like a mom and pop restaurant run by an older Italian couple (meaning: I really wasn't expecting fast service from them anyway). However, we were able to get in and out within about 45 minutes when just ordering two entrees. Not tooooo bad. We got the Trio (fettuccine alfredo, lasagna, and chicken parmigiana) and the spaghetti w/ meatballs. The fettuccine was al dente and the alfredo sauce was not too heavy. They place everything close together, so the marinara from the lasagna mixed with the alfredo and actually made a nice pink sauce. Score! Lasagna was loosely slapped together - it wasn't a uniform chunk of lasagna like I expected. Noodles were here and there, with ricotta and bits of sausage/beef strewn throughout. Although it was a bit shapeless, the taste was good and simple. Chicken parm was definitely my favorite. It had a really crispy crust with a juicy interior. The melted mozz and marinara on top were the perfect amount -- the chicken didn't get all soggy like at other restaurants. Tasty and moist, can't ask for much more. Spaghetti was nothing spectacular - typical spaghetti from the box. The meatballs were tender and had an interesting flavor. Extra nutmeg or allspice maybe? It was different from other meatballs I've had but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. I would probably order something else next time. I'm definitely going to have to go back soon to try some more dishes! We still haven't found our favorite Italian place in Anaheim so maybe the next visit will solidify Rufino's for us.
(3)
Sarah L.
This rating is for service, not food-because we never got that far. We waited 10 minutes to be seated, while the waitresses actively avoided making any eye contact with us. In that time, no one spoke to us or acknowledged us in any way--or the other two groups waiting either. To make it worse, there were empty tables that just needed to be prepped for guests. We finally cornered the person manning the takeout area and then were told it would be 10 or 15 minutes. I'm assuming the service must be better most of the time, based on the other reviews, but we're only in town for a couple days and aren't likely to try the odds again.
(1)
Diem N.
Just the hole in the wall place .... Really good pasta , AMAZING GARLIC BREAD, cozy ....
(5)
Ainsley D.
My boyfriend wanted pizza, I wanted pasta and Yelp brought us here. Upon walking in, we were greeted immediately from a little window peeking into the kitchen. I could tell throughout our visit that our server was part owner or family of whoever owned the restaurant. Turns out that he was the owner and told us at the end of our meal that he recently bought the place. Every server should be this kind, if not because you want your customers to return, then to get fat tips haha. Definitely a hole in the wall restaurant, but those are always the best. We were excited about the garlic bread that everyone on Yelp raved about. When it came out it was SO HOT, felt and tasted like it just came out of the microwave :-/ BUT our meals were a lot better and that, to me, is what counts. I ordered the Capellini Giardino: angel hair pasta with fresh tomatoes, (lots of) garlic, fresh basil and herbs... very very delicious! My boyfriend got a pizza with jalapenos and black olives... they did not skimp on the toppings, A+ Also very close to Disneyland. If you are looking for an Italian restaurant near, I would definitely suggest Rufino's.
(4)
Angela G.
I am no Italian food expert but the food here was mediocre. The presentation was not great and the service was sllloooowwww. I had been looking forward to coming here and i was disappointed. I would not come back. Olive garden tasted more authentic than this place.
(2)
Jim L.
My family has been going to here for a long time now we find the staff friendly the food delicious and it's always a good time for all.
(5)
Ere J.
Try the trio. Its my fave. I share it with my husband every time. I love this place. Its small cozy and the service is outstanding. The calamari is great, house salad pretty good. Tiramisu a great way to end your visit. All the flavors are so comforting, and the service is so sweet and comforting. I love that this place has no TV's. Please keep it that way. TV's bug me!
(5)
Annie N.
I went here with a friend a while back. They have lunch and dinner deal all day. The meal comes with soup, salad, and bread sticks. I absolutely love their bread sticks it's soft and crunchy. I ordered Alfredo which was good but overly cheesy. It looked like something I could make out of a can. Also, we ordered their ice cream that looked like a truffle candy? It was not bad but the coating of candy outside of the ice cream was too hard for the spoon to break it. Was okay I wouldn't order it again. With all the food the meal came with it was very filling so we had left overs. Lots of left overs. It's in a like small area somewhere you wouldn't notice a restaurant. The parking lot has a lot of space. Inside decoration is interesting it was a homey Italian feel to it.
(4)
CC C.
Incredible food. Deceiving from outside. Appears to be a little pizza joint. However, our party of seven enjoyed a variety if delightful dishes including the best Brushetta I've ever had, creative soups and a nice wine list. We would absolutely go back.
(5)
Lauren M.
My favorite Italian restaurant. I am constantly craving their Italian bread. I could make a whole meal of it. I LOVE THIS BREAD! Dip it in a mixture of olive oil and balsamic vinegar and you get perfection. The minestrone soup is always piping hot and soothes the soul. It may be a bit bland for some, but I can appreciate it when food isn't salted to the gills. I tend to always order the eggplant parmigiana because I'm obsessed with it. I order it easy on the cheese because it's usually smothered in it. This is comfort food incarnate for me.
(5)
Julie B.
Nasty! Meatballs were not even edible. Service was lousy felt very run down. Will not be back. Bagged salad and all why are all of these reviews so positive. I don't understand what anybody would like about this place.
(1)
Kim F.
Ok, where do I start? I was feeling nostalgic and wanted to eat something that reminded me of my mother's cooking. Was really craving Saltimbocca, but was having a hard time finding any restaurants near me that served it. So I turned to yelp, and found this little gem. I started off with the foccacia bread (OMG, soooo good) and a salad. Next up, an appetizer of Melanzana Caprese; absolutely delightful! I could smell the fresh basil on it before it even got to my table! I even took a few moments to take in the aroma before digging in. After being so impressed with my appetizer, I was definitely eager for the main course. When the Saltimbocca alla Romana arrived, it was definitely a feast for my eyes (and subsequently my taste buds and stomach!). I swear I nutted with the first bite, and believe me, that is the highest of all compliments...hahaha. It was just THAT INCREDIBLY GOOD. It wasn't quite like my mom made it, but I honestly think I liked this one a little better (sorry Mom, RIP). Paired this with a glass of Pinot Noir, and I was in hog (and veal) heaven! Ended the meal with some spumoni and a fresh cup of coffee. Both were fantastic, and I loved that the coffee was nice and bold, as a good cup of coffee should be. The ambiance was welcoming and cozy. Daniel was my server, and he was very friendly, attentive, and professional...and I loved his accent when he helped me pronounce some of the things on the menu. The food came out quite timely; right when I finished one course, the next one was in front of me. To sum it all up, it was worth every mile of the 50-mile drive. I have no complaints, and I definitely will be returning. :)
(5)
Bob P.
We go here often with the folks and have always had a great time. Tonight was an off night at Rufino's. The wife and I had the trio. The pasta Alfredo was ok at best, the lasagna was runny and the chicken parmesan was over cooked and crappy. We also had to ask for drink refills several times before it happened. Sorry guys! I really love to support mom and pops.....just can't do it tonight!
(3)
Haydee P V.
Couldn't decide, so I got the trio...delish! Our fav Italian place! Their garlic bread is to die for!
(5)
Brian B.
Very good food here. Small strip mall Italian place that has probably been here for ages. I'm usually very loyal to Mama Cozzas when out here in Anaheim but I saw good reviews on Yelp for this place so gave it a try. The service started off a little rough with a kinda cranky woman waiting on me but it got much better as time went on. I noticed a family speaking Italian at the next table so I assumed this was going to be good. Yes, the bread they bring you is incredibly awesome. Sort of like sliced pieces of focaccia that is crunchy, buttery, warm and crazy good if you dip it in a little olive oil. I had the small anti-pasta salad which was greens loaded with veggies, olives, cheese and mortadella with a little cup of dressing on the side. For the entree I had veal piccatta over linguine with lemon sauce and capers and it was exactly as veal piccata should be. I may have to go back here tomorrow and night and try something else. Overall this was really good Italian and worth finding.
(4)
J. M.
My fav Italian restaurant!
(5)
Nathan W.
This place was great. We came after a day in Disneyland, and it was a very busy day in the park - very crowded. Even still, this small mom and pop Italian Restaurant was quiet, and not crowded. Our group shared a caesar salad, breadsticks and a pizza. All of it was exceptional. Pricing was very good, and so was the service. This will be our new spot. Beats any chain restaurant in the area - hands down.
(5)
Lauren N.
This is my favorite Italian restaurant in Orange County. Everything I've tried so far has been delicious. I recommend the chicken marsala, baked mostaccioli, or gnocchi. The bread is amazing and addicting so make sure you save room for your entree. The house wine is also good. Weekday evenings are the best time to go as it's not very busy.
(5)
Alexey F.
Delicious garlic bread, fluffy and glistening with garlic butter. Delicious pasta dishes that are new to me (try the Caruso sauce) and killer Gnocchi alla Pesto. In a quiet, classic Italian restaurant environment...AND, inexpensive.
(5)
Mike P.
The garlic bread was delicious mixed with the oil and vinegar. I tried the chicken limone and it was on par with others that I have had. Great job. Will be back.
(4)
Tobin D.
Great place for lunch! One of favorite Anaheim restaurants friendly staff. Great chicken Marsala,great bread sticks.
(4)
R S.
Used to be our favorite local Italian restaurant (besides Cortinas, which is beyond compare). Waited to be seated, no friendly chat or anything. Then waited for drinks or water or anything. After 10 minutes of being ignored we went across the street to Chipotle. Maybe someone died. A huge disappointment after all these years.
(1)
Jennifer A.
Good spot to get a good carb heavy meal in before running the Disney Half. The bread is addicting especially dipping it in balsamic/olive oil. Had the masala, and it was pretty good. We got there early so it wasn't too crowded and the service was attentive, however as the night progressed and more people came, service (understandably) became a little slower.
(4)
Mark N.
It's a quaint place. The staff was friendly. The food was good, but it was typical west coast Italian - certainly not what came out of my grandmother's kitchen (or my kitchen, for that matter); but I'm one of those stuck up east coast Italians who think they know what Italian food is supposed to taste like (and I do). :-)
(3)
Jeremy E.
Rufino's is a cool little mom and pop italian place. I've been here a few times for the pizza. The sausage here is very tasty!! The pizza here taste great!!! Check this place out if you are in the area!!
(4)
Karen P.
The breadsticks are amazing!! It's a cute little restaurant, never too busy, and the food is great. Good size portions and the shrimp is huge and delicious. You won't find that at Olive Garden!
(4)
David G.
Rufino's is at the top of my list for Italian cuisine. I have not found a better restaurant in all of my searching to date. Things started off rocky at first. Georgina was a bit stand-offish and rude at first but now we are on a first name basis. Quality of food and ingredients is top notch and never disappoints. I have tried everything on the menu and have no complaints. The new owner is a bit of a clot but I am willing to overlook his nuances due to the lifelong friendship I've made with Georgina and the little slice of Tuscan heaven I've found in the armpit of Anaheim.
(5)
Andrew P.
This is one of the best Italian restaurants that I have ever been to. They make the best fresh bread and fresh pasta that I have eaten. The staff is great, and the place is usually pretty busy. It is a great date place or to have a large group meet. I really like their catering service, I have used it a few times for family party's. They deliver on time and usually give me extra . Don't fill up on the bread before your food gets to the table, it is really good and hard to stop eating.
(5)
Noe Z.
Breadsticks are served warm and delicious. The portions are pretty big and are best eaten family style. We went in a large group and ordered a wide variety of foods.
(4)
Annabelle M.
Garlic bread=amazing. would have liked to have more. 5 stars service=slow. wasn't crowded. but it seemed kinda homey/family owned. 4 stars (our water was refilled often enough) eggplant parm=4 stars. skin was a little tough in places. price=4.5 stars. $10 for my eggplant parm with [skimpy] salad. Would be 5 stars if the salad was slightly bigger and more than just lettuce. Total bill=$50 for 4 people (one soft drink) I noticed they are still charging the old tax rate of 8.75 instead of the new 7.75 and brought it to our waiter's attention. not a big deal over a few cents, but i'll be interested to see if they fix that. deserts looked amazing. next time. friend's lasagna looked a bit watery. other friend's ravioli seemed like it needed something else (vegetable? more ravioli?) chicken parm looked good.
(4)
Kim B.
My favorite Italian place! Don't let the strip center location fool you. Focaccia bread to die for! Excellent wine prices. Every meal has been great. Love this place.
(5)
Theodore G.
food was very good and very authenic Italian dishes alot of food for the price there was 9 of us so 9 meals 3 appitizers(spelling off but u get it) and drinks was$168 the only thing that sucked was she dropped a plate of food and spilled a drink maybe 3 1/2 stars need to go again and try something else
(4)
Kathey H.
My sister and I decided to try this restaurant after getting tired of those which claim to be authentic and home made. We loved the freshly baked bread to start, which was so soft and the kind which melts in your mouth. She tried the fetuccini alfredo with big chunks of chicken and it was like nothing we've ever had, with the creamy sauce clinging to the pasta. I had the combo eggplant parmigiana and lasagna. The eggplant was rich but not overbearing and the lasagna sauce was amazing! The owner had us try the Tiramisu and that was the best that I have tasted. The marcapone was mild but with its distinct flavor intact. We will definitely go back and I have already told my co-workers about it!
(5)
Mehrdad M.
Ate there for the first time last night. While the strip mall that it is in may seem a bit ghetto. The food was amazing. The pizza was crispy on the bottom and packed with juicy toppings on top. The gnocchi with pesto sauce was addicting. I couldn't stop popping them in my mouth. The veal parmigiana was delicious as well. It came with a side of spaghetti with marinara, and you could tell that the marinara was home-made, not from a jar. I can only take away 1 star for the bad location and slightly slow service (nothing too bad, they're just understaffed). Overall, I will definitely be back here. Great food at fair prices.
(4)
Sean M.
Combo Pizza - 5 Stars. THE PIZZA IS FUCKING AWESOME!
(5)
Mark M.
Must be an off day for Rufino's Restaurant on the night we went there! We were the only customers in the restaurant at the time, and it seemed dingy and not as clean as I would expect it. In fact, the first booth next to the window had a layer of dust on it with a sign on it stating that it was RESERVED. The God Father must sit there upon his visits to this Italian establishment. Now for the food: We did not find anything super about the food, yet the service was decent. It was sort a bland mostly, yet the bread sticks were some of the best that I have had! Hot and steamy! For a quick dinner, do not expect much, then go ahead and go to Rufino's Italian Restaurant, Most prices are around $10.00 per meal with some execptions, but if you want taste, Keep searching! Bucca would be my choice!
(3)
m m.
Pricing good, service exceptional. Food just so-so.
(3)
Tracy T.
Really good, hearty Italian. With the rainy weather - my sister and I have been frequenting this place as much as we can afford. We love the breadsticks - go through 3 baskets; and one time they gave us a loaf to take home and toast in the oven. I really like the lasagna, and the minestrone soup, the vegetables are so tender. But my sister and I are addicted to penne al bru .. can't remember - but penne, grilled chicken, broccoli and cauliflower florets in a lovely cream sauce. I usually hate white sauces, but this one hits the spot, not too heavy. For dessert we've enjoyed the cappacino something (ice cream). Have yet to try the spumoni. The choclate chip, sweetened ricotta dessert wasn't too great though ... forget what it was called. Plenty of parking, always open when I have a hankering.
(4)
Cindy Z.
Rufino's is a little hole in the wall restaurant that takes you back to the day of intimate dining. The ambiance is great, like stepping back into the 50s. The menu is extensive and the food is exceptional. They will customize your order to meet dietary restrictions and still manage to make it delicious.
(5)
Shig N.
A group of us wanted to go do dinner and Tony said this was good Italian food. It was. The owners were attentive but I think our group size was a little overwhelming. We had 15 or so. If we had a slightly smaller group or had called ahead to warn them of our coming - I think they would have good fine. They put forth the effort and we appreciated that. The food. Delicious. Everyone said their meal was good. I had spaghetti - that's what I often have since I am not a big fan of Italian food. I enjoyed it. Their portions are hearty and I look forward to a lunch of spaghetti. The breadsticks were good, too.
(3)
Kris K.
I've been living in the area for several years, & I have never came across this small hole in a wall. I work for a hotel nearby & I always come across their Delivery Menu & always think to myself; "Ewww, Rufinos? That sounds so ugly." So I never bothered to give them a chance nor recommend it to hotel guests. "Never judge a book by its cover." That's exactly what I did. My coworkers & I were dying from hunger & were completely done-zo with all the delivery joints in the Anaheim Resort. We were up to trying something new. I accidentally picked up their menu & gagged, yet again. We placed our order, and 35 minutes later, we were all in heaven. We honestly fell in love with their pizza. It actually tastes like pizza! None of that cardboard, plastic tasting ish from chains, but amazing pizza. Ok, I might be exaggerating but it was honestly good. Def not your typical chain or raggedy hole in a wall. I am also highly excited to recommend this place to our guests. Smooches!o
(5)
Greg T.
Found this place by accident on our way back to Disneyland and it was a great find. Only a few miles from Mouse-land and much better quality, atmosphere, price and portions than anything in Disney. Our family of 4 had a great meal at a great price with lots of leftovers. The breadsticks are great, the spinach/egg soup was awesome and all the pasta was great. I recommend the trio, but only if you are really hungry. I love family run places with old style decor and this place was it.
(4)
Scott A.
I'd have to say I have a mixed review for this place. The food gets a 4, but the service gets a 2. I knew ahead of time it would take long, so that didn't bother me, but the lady who served us didn't answer my questions, was brief with her service and wasn't very friendly at all...The food was tasty, I didn't care for the bread much, but the cabonara pasta was good and for $10 (entree, salad & bread) it's a good deal. I guess I'd say if you can ignore the service and just go for the food, you'll be alright...
(3)
Shirrae S.
food was very good...service...just ok...could have been better...but the food was actually very delicious...i got the chicken limone...and had enough for take home and was just as great or better the following day...i will be back!
(3)
Elizabeth K.
WOW...I've lived in this area my whole life and never been here until last week. Its definitely a good Italian restaurant that's very affordable with large portions. There was an older lady who was the waitress and she was pretty good since she was the only one I saw working that evening. The garlic bread is really good and its not so much Garlicky its more of an herb bread. I tried the Pasta Trio and its HUGE and really good for being the typical Italian dish and it also comes with a bowl of soup. My husband had the Osso Bucco and the meat was really soft however I thought the tomato sauce was a little tangy. We ordered the Vino Dela Casa (House Burgundy Wine) in the Litro size and oh boy that sucker was huge and not bad for being a house wine. For desert we had the pistachio truffle ice cream covered in white chocolate and creme brulee and both were really good. Overall I'd definitely go again when I'm craving some home style Italian food.
(4)
Cammy W.
This is a cute family neighborhood restaurant. Has been there a long time and the owners/staff are really sweet. We were having a pasta feed for the Tinkerbell Half Marathon the next day. We told them we needed to eat quickly. They were very accommodating and the food was perfect for our needs. I'd go there any time I was in the area.
(4)
Karli K.
Breadsticks were awesome. With vinegar and oil to dip -yum! Calzone was good as well!
(4)
Rose H.
This little "hole in the wall" place has the BEST bread and authentic Italian food. I had the Chicken Marsala and my daughter had the Shrimp Scampi......it was absolutely the best I've had! The prices are very reasonable, portions are great, and the service was very friendly...felt like home.
(5)
Melanie S.
This is such a cute place. Really small and quaint. The bread here is to die for...I've never had better fresh garlic bread ever. The pastas are so yummy, carbonara is so good...but pretty rich. The only issue is that I think there are only 2-3 servers that work the place each night. If there's more than maybe 5 parties there, the service can be a little slow. But I really don't mind it. My place to go to for good Italian in the OC.
(4)
Sean S.
Overall. It's OK. Was it great? No. Was it acceptable - Yes. Is it better than Sals? No - Sal's KILLS them when it comes to seafood and pasta dishes. Do you want pizza go here. Want the standard in seafood and pasta in Anaheim, go to this little joint called Sal's at magnolia and ball.
(3)
Erica G.
Let me start off by saying my family and I used to come here for years before it was purchased by the new owners. We have been a few times more and even had my birthday dinner here back in February with about 20 people. I wish i could give this review no stars but i guess one will do. Last night my family and I about 8 of us got there around 6 and it was already packed with people with one server, one bus lady, and one cook. by the time we sat down and started to order drinks it was about 6:45 pm. By that time more guests started to arrive and still only one cook, one server and one bus lady. By that time the new owners son arrived with his friends and of course he got his food before some of the other customers got there order. There were other guests that arrived and ordered after we did and they got there food before us. We kept asking for more bread, drinks and seriously we didn't get anymore drinks or refills but we did get more bread. oh and i forgot to mention when we ordered our drinks we also ordered to orders of Brucetia and that came out an hour later and of course we sent them back because we were already full from the bread. By the time our food came it was about 8 and i kept asking the server where the manager was and finally the son was helping the cook in the back. The owner finally came in around 8:15 and i finally was able to complain and he apologized for the service and offered to give us free desert and 25% off the bill, but by this time it was already to late for that. I had mentioned that his son got his food before any body else and he stated that he was at the beach and it was his night off so he didn't have to help. Right there that was a BIG RED FLAG because he should have called his dad much earlier for help. i told him i wanted our meal compt since we come there a lot and it was bad service so he started getting angry then i threaten him that i was going to report him and that's when he started to get nasty. My family and i walked out and he followed us out with, you didn't pay your bill and we told him we weren't going to pay and to call the cops if he wanted to. so he got mad at the server thru the bill at her and told her the bill was coming out of her check. It wasn't her fault that the owner wasn't managing correctly. He lost around a $100 from last nights dinner and some loyal customers. So anyone who is reading this review DON'T GO!!!!!!! There are much better Italian restaurants around with better service and food. Good luck to the new owner!
(1)
Gloria L.
I L-O-V-E love Rufino's. I recently moved to Anaheim, and have been looking for good eats cuz I don't cook. I decided to try Rufino's based on some reviews, and I've visited a handful of times now. So here's my Zagat-esque take: FOOD: Good, homemade quality (like you have your own little Italian mama back there). DECOR: There is none, other than some murals, so if you're into ambience, fancy linens and plates, you're gonna be disappointed. This is why it's not 5 stars. SERVICE: I was afraid cuz some other reviewers mentioned rude or slow service... NOT SO my friends. I've been served by a sweet older woman who was patient enough to put up with my 3yo niece's kuh-razy antics. I've also been served by a younger woman (attentive and friendly) and a younger man (attentive, but maybe a bit too hover-y). COST: Can't complain, it's equal to the food quality. DISHES ME AND MINE HAVE ENJOYED*: Spaghetti Sicilian, Tortellini Caruso, Pollo al Limone, Eggplant Parmagiana, Spaghetti Carbonara, and of course, the bread. AND OMG THE BRUSCHETTA! It's sooo good, sometimes I'll place a pick up order just for that! MEH DISHES*: My brother didn't like the meatball in the spaghetti and meatballs. * I'm veggie-tarian, so the meat dish reviews are what my friends and family have told me.
(4)
Amy P.
Quaint little italian restaurant. Enjoyed a quiet lunch with a friend. Breadsticks were hot out of the oven. The caesar salad cost extra from just the side salad but is TOTALLY worth it. Carbonara was delicious, lunch portion was HUGE!!! It's in an old strip mall, but don't let that detract you!!!
(5)
Erik S.
The food here was excellent. The garlic bread tastes wonderful, and so did the Fettuccini Alredo i ordered. I would be giving this place 5 stars, but the service here was horrible. I don't care how Italian this can get. The service was horrible. There were only 3 of us, and the food took forever. Not once did the server give a s#*t about us during the meal. But the food was great. If the food was any less, I would be giving this place fewer stars.
(3)
Jackie C.
The owner and all of his staff are really guest first . The homemade sauces and breadsticks are to die for. The personal attention Mike gives to all of his patrons is fantastic! They care about you, the diner to ensure your experience is magnifico! Jackie, Anaheim, CA
(4)
E C.
I have a friend of Italian descent & she says that this place is an authentic Italian restaurant! (Olive Garden & Bucca de Beppo IS NOT!-according to her). It's a small, cozy place and the bread is delicious! I believe it is family owned and has been for years. I've only had lunch there and i've had lasagna so i would recommended that as well as their lemon chicken! 5 STARS!!!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
Italian Cuisine
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.
Angela V.
My biggest issue with this place has nothing to do with the food--service, service, service. Service is so important, especially when trying to impress new guests. There is no host/hostess waiting at the front and no one paying attention to guests who enter the restaurant. We stood around for maybe 10 minutes before we finally saw a waiter and let him know we were there. I almost lost it when a group of 4 came in after my group of 5 had been waiting for almost 40min and got seated right away because a different waitress saw them. The waiter we originally spoke to saw this and told us they were cleaning up a larger table. Luckily, we were seated just a few short minutes afterwards--but not at the larger table as promised. Whatever--we were starving and itching for some carbs pre-half marathon. Once we sat down, there was no menu offered. We were looking on Yelp and the takeout menu we had from waiting in the front area so that we'd be ready to order once the waiter came back. That aside, the food is decent. We ordered a handful of items to share: - Cioppino with Red Sauce: the best dish of the night. Seafood wasn't too fishy and the red sauce was delightful. - Tortellini alla Caruso: comfort food galore! Tastes kind of like a five-cheese ziti. - Fettuccini Alfredo: unfortunately bland. Hand to mix it with extra sauce from the tortellini to make it bearable. The minestrone soup was pretty good--nothing special. And the bread hit the spot after waiting so long to be seated. All in all--I wish we received better service. This review would be much higher if we did. It seems like Rufino's is truly family-owned and run, which is great. But it does seem like they need more help and structure. Not sure if I'll come back after that long initial wait, but I wonder if it will help to make a reservation or to come earlier when tables are empty.
(3)Michelle M.
Food is delicious, ordered the special pizza, trio, chicken a limone, and mostaccoli & lasagna. They were all delicious and filling! Dessert was cannoli and spumoni ice cream. Come to relax and enjoy your company. The service is good, but slow.
(4)Brandon D.
Once again, great food and not disappointed. Start you off with bread with olive oil and some balsamic vinegar to mix with. I recommend the bruschetta. Between a table of five, that dish had no chance. Tried the lasagna this time, what a great amount for what you pay for. The only off side was that there was only one server for the whole restaurant. Which is not much but be prepared to have talking material or stories ready.
(4)Jennifer A.
Where to begin...first even though we made a reservation which yelp says they take...they don't. Marri's (over on Katella) does and has much better food. Second, the waiter which I think may be the owner is rude and clearly can't manage large crowds. Took almost 10 minutes waiting to ask about our reservation only to be told they don't take them...all I have to say is update your info online then instead of falsely advertising what you offer. Finally the food is average. It's nothing to rave about.
(2)Delena T.
First I have to start off with how amazing their complimentary bread is! It was so fresh, garlicky, and just plain perfect. Soft and warm on the inside and a somewhat hard shell on the outside. My boyfriend and I had gotten the mushroom appetizer which was in my opinion ehh alright. The soup that came with the pasta was exquisite! So full of flavor for a simple vegetable soup. The main course hadn't even made it to the table and yet I was sold just from the bread and soup. I had gotten pasta with scallops which was also delicious but I was already so full from stuffing myself with yummy bread. The waitress constantly checked up on us so service was great. I got the pasta togo barely leaving a dent in it but honestly everything here was amazing. I would come back without hesitation.
(4)Matthew E.
Such a beautiful Italian restaurant, I had the trio with a side salad and what a great meal! Overall great setting inside, the only issue is the women waitress seemed to have an attitude. But besides that, if your craving Italian food, come here!!
(4)Anthony B.
Delicious dinner tonight after a long day at Disneyland. E had pizza, pasta, lasagna and ciopino arriabata. Very very good.
(5)Jennifer V.
If you're craving Italian food this is definitely the place to be. Absolutely everything in the menu is amazing. I could be here everyday and still dream about it.
(5)Steven Q.
This has got to be one of my favorite Italian places in Orange County. I discovered this place when I went to a team lunch with my co-workers. Rufino's isn't the most glamorous of places but the food will be worth it. The prices for lunch time are absolutely worth it as you get a variety of dishes to choose from and a soup or salad. I usually get the Lasagna lunch special. Also, the meal comes with bread which was one of the best that I have ever had! One negative include the service as it can be slow at times and the staff isn't really customer service oriented.
(4)Patty M.
The best Tortellini in Southern California highly recommended feels like your eating at a warm and cozy home I love this place best breadsticks omg so good
(5)Mark A.
Love the bread and pizza. ..lived blocks away for 4 yrs never knew what i was missing
(4)Pearl F.
My husband and i came for a date night. The food was good but the servers was just ok.
(3)Ryan C.
The rumors are all true, the bread is absolutely fantastic! Pair it with some of their delicious marinara and you'll be perfectly content eating just that for the rest of the night. Unfortunately, you'd be missing out on some of the restaurants other great dishes. For a start we got the calamari. It comes fried in a light batter and served with their house red sauce. There is a good mixture of both tentacled and circular goodness. Even the non-seafood lover at the table liked it and that says a lot. Their pesto is pretty fantastic. It's creamy and you and you definitely taste the fresh basil in every bite. Even got a piece stuck in my teeth - none of that bottled crap here. We enjoyed it over some of their gnocchi. It too was a nice portion and I like that they give you enough to enjoy family style or just be a glutton on your own. I really like the pizza. We ordered a large for the table and had plenty of leftovers. They are sliced large and they aren't skimpy on the toppings and cheese. I asked for extra sauce and it literally dripped out the side of my mouth with every bite. It was messy, but well worth the spectacle. Chicken parmesan is a big serving as well. It comes with a side of spaghetti and marinara. The one thing that has definitely been keeping me coming back to this place are the noodles that they use. They aren't quite normal spaghetti, but they aren't quite full fettuccine noodles, they are somewhere in the middle. I don't know why, but I think they always make the dish taste better. Again, we shared this amongst four people and still had some leftover. To finish things off, we ordered a cannoli. It was like a crispy ice cream cone with cream and cherries. This was a little bit harder to share because of the texture, so everyone just broke off a piece while the two that liked it the most just finished it off with their hands. I haven't had too many cannolis in my life, but this was good and I'd order it again. Service is great, but they are sometimes a little understaffed. Georgina has been serving us for the past ten years and always remembers us when we walk in. She greets everyone at the door with a big smile and the locals love her. Make sure to order extra bread (it's endless), because you'll want to use it as a dipping tool throughout your meal!
(5)Monique R.
The food is here is too overpriced for the quantity and quality. This is a hole in the wall type of place and has very cheezy italian decor (yellow tones, old chairs, angelic paintings) it's just kinda weird. I ordered the lunch special (fried eggplant, ricotta filled pasta roll) with minostrone soup. The portions are SMALL! Not worth the wait. Italians don't even cook the food. That should say enough.
(2)David P.
Found this little restaurant after leaving Disneyland in a little strip mall and the food was fantastic! Had the salsiccia and was very good! Almost like going into a little restaurant in Roma.
(5)Cameron L.
Just called to ask a few simple questions about food allergies, my girlfriend has a severe food allergy, wanted to clarify about the entree substitutions. Got a snotty attitude from the girl on the phone, extremely rude, "is that all because we are super busy right now..." That is uncalled for and a terrible display of customer service. You ruined a customers visit before they even walked through the door. Will not be going here after all.
(1)Virginia A.
If you are looking for an upscale place where the waiter's wear matching shirts and pronounce the meals with a dashing accent and pour your wine from a bottle covered with linen... stop - you'll need to go elsewhere. If you want to have great food prepared like your Nona and/or family cooks.... stop! Then this is your place! Feels like your visiting family or having a family member fix your meal. Great food, good variety and the garlic bread is AMAZING. It appears to be a family owned/ran business and as such, I little less in staffing than the average place but honestly, that's what gives this place my full 5 stars! I'd rather wait a bit and give small business MY BUSINESS keeping small business alive. Great food for a good price.
(5)Manny D.
Awesome authentic Italian in Anaheim! Meatball sub is epic! Minestrone soup full of veggies and delicious goodness! Dessert was soooo good!
(5)Edgar E.
The best authentic Italian food you can get in Orange County for a great price. The food is amazing and the setting it quite and warm. Most of the servers are humble and very welcoming however I have had one bad experience with an older lady. Nevertheless great hole in the wall restaurant.
(5)Monica D.
Incredible restaurant! Great food that's freshly made and it tasted like a home cooked meal! Incredible service! All around amazing experience
(5)Cathy R.
Okay, guys...if you like garlic & tomatoes, the bruschetta is a must have! It was lemony & full of capers & olives - soooo delish! I've been craving it since I had it last. Seriously, try it! The pasta michalangelo is amazing & so is the gnocchi with Caruso sauce - half Alfredo half marinara. Yum! I had the pasta siciliano last night which is vegetarian but oh so good. The minestrone soup is full of veggies & delicious. The fresh bread served before the meal is hot and tasty! Ask for a side of marinara sauce to go with it! I plan to try the lasagna next time which will probably be tonight. :) Five stars allllll the way! Good job, Rufinos. I love your authentic Italian cuisine!!
(5)Anthony C.
Champaign veal dish was excellent. Couldnt put my fork and knife down. Service was on point. 5 star review
(5)Aimee H.
My husband and I have been coming here for about six years and him and his family have been coming here longer. It's a tiny Italian joint with big heart. The owner 'Mama' is almost always there and goes out of her way to make you feel welcome. The food is always fantastic and made fresh. You can't beat the prices and you can't beat the quality. Anyone who tells you any different doesn't know good Italian.
(5)J B.
This place is an old favorite for many years :-) Have never had a bad meal here. It's"Old-school", a classic red sauce Italian restaurant. Four years they would play Dean Martin on the stereo every time we would come in, and I loved it! They stopped for some reason, and I missed that part. The lasagna is rich and delicious, the cioppino is phenomenal, and they make their own thick focaccia bread that is to die for, really!nothing fancy on the wine list, just good standard Chiantis, etc., but it's homey and fun and a family favorite. I think what I like most is that it's real, not trying to pose, just a family restaurant with good, consistent excellent food :-) We've had many special meals here over the years, and we asked them to cater our mom's wake. They've been that special to us.
(4)Sarileeze L.
If youre looking for authentic Italian food that tastes like its straight from Italy then Rufino's is the place for you! Ok i must admit, i have never actually been to Italy and eaten there, but i imagine it cant taste much better than what you eat at Rufinos. First let me start off with the atmosphere. The outside of the restaurant isnt very appealing, but once you walk in, you get that home and comfy feel, especially since the restaurant is smaller. The ambience is very mellow. The old and vintage italian decor paired with the soft music in the background sets up for a romantic dinner date! (Guys if you wanna earn some points bring your lady here) Now onto the important stuff, the food! Now i must say the waitress/host can be a little snippy, but she is an elderly italian woman so i kind of expect that from her. Shes not bad, just not the most warming personality. They start you off with these garlic parmesean breadsticks that are some of thee best breadsticks i have ever had! Dip them with some balsamic vinegar and oil and youre set to go! My gf loves their manicotti which is smothered in plenty of homemade sauce and melty gooey mozzarella. I on the other hand like to consider myself a true lasagna officionado and theirs is BOMB! Again smothered in plenty homemade sauce and stuffed with ricotta and sausage. Rufinos is definitely a hidden treasure and one not to be judged by its cover. Give a try if you want a true taste of Italy! You wont be disappointed. Bon apetite!
(4)Martin G.
Best way to lay out this review is that if Rufino's was in our town it would be our go-to for Italian food. Authentic Southern Italian cooking presented and served by a very attentive serving staff. Awesome garlic bread to begin the meal....original recipe of the owner's Sicilian Grandmother. Veal Parm (my default) is my comparison example. My wife had Chicken Parm. Meat was tender, marinara was tasty with just the right zest. Tiramasu for dessert was the deal- closer. Homemade with real cheese, light and tasty. Great dining experience in a homey environment with traditional Italian soundtrack.
(5)Janeth S.
The food is amazing we went there for my bday dinner and we were impressed. We are not too much into Italian but this place is awesome. The bread sticks are delicious fresh and service was good. I had a beer called Peroni and it was great we will be coming back soon. My wife bday is in two weeks .
(5)Gregory G.
Have tried it yet. Called order in told 15 mins I'm at 45 for a pizza. This better be great because service sucks.
(2)Jacqueline G.
I love yummy mom and pop owned restaurants! I rarely go out to get Italian but I like this cute little place. I have been here once a year two for two years and it seems pretty consistent. Friendly staff and also like everyone else has sad. The garlici bread! I would eat more bread but I really need to save the stomach for the main course. A lot of Disney marathon runners like to come here. I heard some other guests sit down and mentioned 'same table as last year.' Glad it's consistent. Split spaghetti and meatballs. Two large meatballs and I like the meat. Didn't taste like eating purely ground beef fat. Those kinds of meatballs are nasty. I like the sauce where I didn't have to put sugar in it. I like putting sugar in my spaghetti but I shouldn't ruin the homemade flavor of this traditional dish. I forgot what my friend ordered but it was two chicken breasts with bell peppers, onions and mushrooms. Very good dish and could have totally eat that on my own if didn't split the dish. I would think if you ate that one you wouldn't feel disgustingly full.
(4)Chad A.
NE corner of Euclid & Ball I'm probably going to get whacked for this review, but hear me out...nuttin for nuttin it'll make sense! I came here because one this place is located close to work two because a dear friend had talked up a particular dish so well. She made it sound like Bruce Lee was going to do a number on my tastebuds... unfortunately after coming here this time I just didn't share the same sentiments. I do want to return though. I started off with their tasty Complimentary Bread Sticks: yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… by dipping them in their truly hearty, delicious, and veggie filled Minestrone: yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… I thought Carolina's had the best Minestrone till I tried this one... These guys get the big blue ribbon for that. I loved the broth and all the veggies that made this one up. I thought "now this is a great start!" Here's where things got ugly flavorwise. They were already ugly from the overpatroned/understaff. It was a Sunday afternoon and I don't know if they are normally slow on Sundays, but this was a dedicated holiday. Every table was filled with diners and many large parties with only one server trying to handle all the tables. It didn't really fare so well for solitary me. Also with the full house ambulating through the maze of full chairs proved quite challenging. Refills or needs proved quite difficult on this afternoon... I had their Pollo al Limone: yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… which certainly looked and smelled great. Problem with this dish is that their was just no proper balance of flavors. This dish is made up of Boneless Chicken prepared in Butter, Garlic, Capers, Lemon, & Spices. I love garlic, but it was just too damn assertive in the sauce. I thought to myself "I wish there was less garlic and more lemon flavoring to this dish." The Spaghetti was cooked a perfect al dente and the chicken was cooked perfectly displaying both juiciness and nice seasoning. The portion on this was of course huge. I wasn't expecting much decorwise, but was pleasantly surprised. Between the murals, paintings, music, and various Italian inspired decor items one should have no confusion as to what type of restaurant they are at. They have both booths and regular tables available. There's plenty of parking in this Strip Mall location.
(3)Christine B.
Worst service ever!!!!!! Took 45 minutes to get my food. And then gave an attitude when I asked about it.
(2)Leslie V.
I literally made a yelp account to really give this place what it deserves. I want to be fair and not exaggerate. The food is amazing as everyone says BUT BUT BUT! !!! The service is horrible! The lady (I believe is the owner) always has a really rude attitude. Every time I go there she is the "server". She never touches tables or gives you refills. Today was my last straw. I get not every place is going to be perfect, but is good food worth the disrespect?! I had ordered an entree I guess I knew nothing about and instead of offering me something else, she tried to convince me that I should eat it. I was over it at that point and asked to have a box, she STARED me down and I could hear her snickering with her staff about me. I was shocked. Again awesome food but won't be coming back. Look out for her guys.
(1)Kristine C.
Nothing too exciting about this place. I had the lasagna and I did not like the sauce at all. Gentleman was nice over the phone, but not so nice at the moment we decided to eat our food to go, there. Understandable, but I would think you would want your customers to feel welcomed. I won't be returning, I can find better food and service elsewhere.
(2)Kim H.
I had to get the pizza because the menu said it was "famous." I'm such a sucker for marketing. BUT, even if they're lying and it's not really famous, it should be. It's really good. I got the vegetarian pizza and what I appreciated about it was that it was packed with veggies. One may even say it was STUFFED with veggies. They were falling out all over the place in a wonderfully sloppy manner. The dough was perfectly soft, and the crust was crisp and oily. Basically, it's only 9:45am and I'm already thinking about the leftovers in the fridge...
(4)Mari D.
By far my favorite Italian place to eat at. The owners go out of their way to make sure you're happy & the food is pretty cheap (compared to other Italian restaurants). They give you good portions & the food is delicious. I've had the lasagna and the Penne con salsiccia and they were both amazing. Oh and the complimentary bread they give is also amazing.
(5)Moni L.
A cute little hole-in-the-wall that has delicious food. The owner will make great suggestions of wine, even if it's off the menu. The chicken parm. is amazing; it almost melts in your mouth. I wish they still delivered.
(4)Paul A.
I was looking for a new local Italian place and this might be it, but I'm unsure. We had a pizza...it was okay We had cheese bread....heavy cheese, delicious when hot We had the regular fresh bread which was better than the cheese bread... Antipasto was okay The fresh bread was the highlight.
(3)sara n.
Driving through we stopped because the yelp reviews were good. Eggplant parm and garlic bread were Delish! The woman who was serving us was very nice.
(4)Stephanie F.
So good and not that expensive big portions, enough food for more than one person I always split with my husband
(4)Robert A.
Talk about a gem! Living 30 years in the Anaheim area and I found the perfect little Italian whole in the wall just a month ago! The lady owner was friendly and had a smile greeting us. She let us pick what we wanted in a fashionable time frame and also recommended a few dishes. The penne sauce and alfredo were very creamy as well as cooked in perfection. Fresh parmesan was at the table to sprinkle on our pasta. The garlic bread was potent, but fresh and flavorful. Lunch special was the way to go and looked like a big grand feast. Need to take a few of the buddies who love Italian and hope they enjoy it as much as I did.
(5)Kelly K.
Until a few months ago, I had never heard of Rufino's. I had never seen it, even as I passed it to get tongue tacos. It is in the dreariest strip mall, hidden behind a Spire's that I'm surprised has neither burned down nor been taken out by a drunk driver in a Mickey Mouse Club hat as he sped down Ball in an alcoholic rage because another pin trader didn't give two shits about a Tinker Bell Half-Marathon commemorative pin. I digress. The first few times I ate Rufino's, I sent my boyfriend over to get take out after finding it on Yelp. It was good. Real good. Especially the part about me not driving there to get it. That was my favorite. I liked the pesto gnocchi and the lasagna and he had some other stuff that he liked. We finally went in for dinner and I was lame and ordered spaghetti and meatballs and some Italian beer that was okay. It was your average light beer. In fact, I think it was made by Heineken or something. Meatballs were boss, by the way. Service was fantastic, although the place could use a facelift. If you're thinking about taking someone out on a first date and she doesn't live in this area, she may be concerned about the outside appearance and wonder why you didn't take her to Olive Garden instead. Leave her ass on the curb and enjoy some ossobuco. You just dodged a bullet, my friend.
(4)Jackie I.
Great place. Delicious food. Family location. Everything we tasted was great. Hubby got lasagna with meat sauce 5 stars. Daughter got gnocchi with pesto sauce 5 stars. I got chicken and broccoli with cream sauce 5 stars. Niece got spaghetti with marinara sauce 5 stars. Service was great too. Prices are average. $10 average price per plate.
(5)Quynh Tran P.
I lived in Anaheim My entire life and I dont remember ever seeing or hearing about this place. Go figure. My friend (Nancy M.) wanted pasta and decided to take me here. The restaurant was hidden in a sketchy looking strip mall. Thank god the interior was a lot nicer than the outside Inside the hostess told us we can sit anywhere we liked. There was only one other party inside the restaurant so we had our choices of tables and booths. My friend wanted to sit at a long table that sits like 8 people because she thought it looked classy. It was just 2 of us so we settle for a small table for 2. Anyways, I had the chicken Marsala and she got the Gnocchi. We were able to samples each others plate. My Dish was awesome, Hers was too cheesy for me. I'm not a big cheese fan. The complimentary bread was good, we asked for 2nds.
(4)Mike C.
Rufino's Ristorante Italiano, Anaheim, Ca. Our new favorite restaurant! Superlative "home-style" Italian Cuisine from a dedicated and caring staff. We recently moved to Orange County and boy are we glad we discovered this hidden gem. From the moment we entered - the aroma of terrific cooking enticed us from the kitchen. The service, presentation and the food delivered on point. We've been there twice this week. Visit one: Fresh salmon. Visit two: pasta dishes. Supremely satisfied on both occasions. Better than any food we've enjoyed in Boston's North End, Arthur Avenue in the Bronx, Mulberry Street in Manhattan, 9 th Street in South Philly - OR - at Aun't Lucy's house! We highly recommend.
(5)Nancy M.
Yes the rumors are true, the bread here is super good! So good, I've been craving it since! I had the gnocchi with pesto sauce. It was super hot and not too garlicky. It was better than the gnocchi from other restaurants. My friend had the chicken Marsala. That was good too. Our server was a very nice lady.
(4)Mary S.
Came here for dinner with the BF cuz I was craving some italian food. To start they served us some bread which was really good. Then we both ordered the lasagna and each entree came with a soup or salad so we decided to get one of each. The house salad with italian dressing, the dressing definitely tasted homemade but was a little too sour for my taste and just needs a little more sweetness to it, but it wasn't bad, the greens in the salad were crisp so the greens were fresh. The soup was minestrone soup which was good, I prefer a little bit of noodle in it, but even without the noodles the soup still had great flavor and taste. The lasagna was good as well, it was a nice portion and had good flavor. The service wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. There seemed to only be one server for the whole restaurant which isn't huge but it just made things go a little slower, the server seemed to have one busser and one runner, but it still took her a little bit of time to get around to each of the tables but it was understandable since she was the only server, but they weren't super busy either. All in all, food was good, service was okay, nice. And prices and portions were good, very reasonably priced.
(3)Robert M.
I would have given this restaurant a one star if it weren't for the food. Food was great large portions at a great price. The service on the other hand was horrible. Our group of three walked into the restaurant. There was a lady standing at one of the tables and kind of waved us over to it and left. We weren't sure if she wanted us to come there or not, but we went and seated ourselves. The menus were already on the table. There was no greeting whatsoever, when she finally came by all she asked was what would you like. This is basically how the whole meal went. She never once came to our table to see if everything was okay she finally came back to the table at the end of our meal and refilled our drinks but that was the only visit to the table. And when we received the bill she basically plopped it on the table and left. It would've been nice if she asked us about our meal, came by once in a while, or at least smiled. Saying thank you would've been nice to. I'm assuming she was one of the owners because she was not young I would say she was probably in her 60s. Next time I'll go to a restaurant that appreciates their customers.
(2)Stephanie M.
Just dined here for the second time, and it will be my last. The service is slow, unfriendly, and unprofessional. The highlight of the meal was when our server grabbed my fork and used it to get ice out of the water pitcher, and then handed it back to me. Well, in all fairness, she did ask me if my fork was clean before refilling waters at the table. Wow. I was literally speechless. The food is just not good enough to put up with such terrible service, plain and simple.
(1)Carlee F.
Boy do I love this place!! I've been here so many times and always try something different. It looks a little sketchy from the outside but it's such a gem! The decor inside is kind of an old mural that made me feel like I was in a side cafe in Italy. The woman and man who runs the place are so kind! The soup with tortellini is the best soup for a cold. The potato gnocchi with pesto is amazing! Don't even get me started in the bread! Delicious, warm, cheesy, toasted.... Yumm!
(5)Rhonda D.
This is one of my favorite places! Killer Italian. You will not be disappointed with anything you order. The calazone is 32 inches long and can't be beaten by any chef in California! Today I have ordered spaghetti and meatballs. Savory, garlicky, and hearty. I ordered the calamari fritte appetizer & yummy salad. The bread is incredible. This place is the best kept secret in Anaheim. Located in a tiny strip mall, there is ample parking, small restaurant with comfortable seating, great music, ambiance. The place is always quiet, has low lighting, and murals on the wall. Much better food and prices than buco De peppo...you will pay between 7.99 and 21.00 for entrees. You will leave full, and with boxes. Great place for family dinners, they can accommodate large groups, I would make a reservation for that so that they staff for it. They do a lot of take out orders for people who work at resort spots and neighbors. They beat Luigis, Mama Cozas, Buco De Peppo, and Carolina's in Garden Grove hands down.
(5)Justin J.
Best Italian food in SoCal! Amazing food, very inexpensive. I was blown away. From the bread sticks to the pasta everything was perfect.
(5)Neal S.
Try the calzone they have different sizes. The extra large is 30" and is excellent. We always order the minestrone and it is always tasting good. Excellent place to go large portions and tasty.
(5)Vanessa G.
Their minestrone soup soothes the soul
(5)Mohamed B.
Tried mushroom pizza and it was too garlic heavy and soggy since the delivery driver got lost. Lasagna was good and minestrone soup was just passable. Might try their other dishes but will steer clear of the pizza in future.
(3)Ian B.
So first impressions are everything and this place didn't impress me. My dad and I are in town visiting and were checking for Italian places in the area and came upon this place. We walked in and weren't greeted in the first few minutes. We finally got someone's attention and still had to wait a few more minutes to get seated after I asked a second time for a seat when there was available tables. The food was mediocre and the beers were overpriced. During the meal they never checked on us so overall the service sucked. If the food was any good I could forgive this but alas it wasn't although, to be fair, my dad did like his veal but he's old. Peace out shitty L.A...back to the bay.
(2)Cristina S.
The food was good, and the service was nice during our meal but after our meal we walked into the parking lot to see our car being towed. The tow driver informed us we were being towed bc the parking was for customers only, we explained we were customers, we went into the restaurant and while a server came out to our defense (and the cops were also there and offered to be witnesses if we had to go to court over this). We had to pay $60 to get the driver to release our car, meaning parking cost us as much as our meal to eat there. The restaurant did not offer to pay, and simply gave us a number for the property manager who over the past year has still yet to call us back, and we are now being forced with the decision whether to go to small claims court to attempt to collect back our money that was basically stolen from us bc of eating here. Again the food was good, but it's not worth going here unless you want to risk spending as much on parking!
(1)Laura G.
This place had some decent food. Bread was good and crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. Good flavors but rating it down for service. They didnt help us until 10 mins later and soup and bread came out with the meal. Couldn't even get the bill to get out of this place.
(2)Bill K.
Upon entering I was greeted by very warm air. It was 7:15 pm and the outside air temp was around 79. It felt 85 inside. Didn't really make me want to eat hot Italian food. The soup was good (although it made me warmer). They had the front door open and the cooler air began to make things a little better. Got the pollo alla Marsala which was pretty bland Overall a mediocre experience and hot. They really should invest in air conditioning.
(2)Calvin H.
Sometimes you're just tired of going to Italian restaurant chains and you just want to sit down and enjoy a nice mom and pop place. You know, like the kind that would make Michael Corleone have a good day and not do something horrible to you and everyone you care about... or maybe you just want to carb up after a long day at Disneyland. Well my friend, this is place to be. First let me start by saying the garlic bread is amazing! I could probably get full just eating that alone but that would be waste. In addition to the bread, each dish also comes with a side of soup or salad. I ended up trying the gnocchi in pesto sauce and the chicken marsala. Both were excellent and very flavorful without feeling overly greasy or heavy.
(4)Marcus G.
They charged $27 for chicken Alfredo and two salads. The dinner is supposed to comes with salad. DO NOT COME here they will rip you off Never going back
(1)Brian K.
This place takes me back to dinning in Italy...truly authentic Italian food in a very neat hole-in-the-wall place. I would have never found this place, had it not been for YeLP!!! To start we sat ourselves because no one was there when we arrived. Once we sat down at a table a couple of minutes later we were greeted by a nice lady. She was very accommodating and quickly helped us with our order. The garlic bread that is served first was delicious. It was served with oil and vinegar to dip the bread in. We also ordered the garlic cheese bread which came out oozing with cheese and tasted amazing. Next was the house salad; this came out with way too much ranch dressing. If you dont like too much dressing ask for it on the side. It was a good salad; although would have preferred it with less dressing. We ordered the minestrone soup which I could tell was homemade; it was very fresh and had many large veggies. Finally, we ordered the Manicotti pasta. This was very cheesy and was served on a hot dish. All of the food that came out was very well prepared and tasted great. Next time I am going to try the pizza!!! Overall this place is a great local family owned spot to come for a real taste of Italy, at Rufino's Italian Restaurant.
(4)Brandi L.
This place is rude and just plain wrong. I ordered for delivery . I told the guy to make sue to put a lot of parmesan cheese ,he said he would. No cheese I order a coke. No coke. The driver was rude wouldn't answer the phone .
(1)Clay B.
The waitress wouldn't say "lemon pledge" for me. Very disappointed. The tables were some weird hard styrofoam substance with a cloth over it... All jokes aside, a good restaurant, good atmosphere. Pretty good dinner sandwiches.
(3)Nicole G.
This place was AMAZING!!! Super yummy. I got the manicotti and it was delicious! I also had the minestrone soup and it was very good as well. The bread was extremely tasty, especially when you dip it in the oil and vinegar they provided. There was a big party of people there that the waitstaff was attending to, so they were a little bit slower in getting back to us for refills and to check on us, etc. But overall, the food was amazing, it had cute decor and a nice ambiance, and my husband and I will definitely be returning! We plan on bringing his parents with us next time so they can experience this hidden gem, too!
(4)Patty H.
Got my carb load dinner on here the night before my Disneyland 1/2 marathon. The food & aromas were out of this world! The cheese was piled on the pizza. The marinara sauce was perfectly seasoned & stewed! The pasta was cooked al dente to perfection! The service was a bit slow but there were a lot of other runners & families & not enough staff. Nevertheless, the owner himself, seated us, took our order, brought out the garlic, parm cheese bread, and hooked up my pasta w/ an extra helping of marinara sauce!!! Definitely returning!!! oh wait, I already did!!!
(4)Virginia L.
My husband & I were in the mood for Italian, but we wanted to try a new place. We checked Yelp and found Rufino's, it wasn't to far away and the Yelp review were really good, so we gave it a try. We were not disappointed. The place was small, the servers were nice, but the food was excellent. The dishes were very filling and very tasty. I would recommend this place.
(5)Jackie S.
Amaze Balls!! I would always pass by this location and always wondered if it was any good.I mean the outside of this place doesn't look very welcoming, but then again never judge a book by its cover right! Until one day my friend and I were around the area and decided to try it. The place is small and very intimate. I think its very cute and the seats very comfy. Now the food is AMAZING!!! I love the cheese bread and my ultimate favorite is the Fettucini Alfredo pasta. Honestly bomb.com The portions are huge enough for left overs. The prices are very reasonable!! Honestly I would choose this place over olive garden any day. They got nothing on Rufinos! Next time your in Anahiem and have the craving for italian food definitely try Ruinos!! Almost forgot I do believe they have a lunch special where you can try my favorite Fettucini Alfredo and other amazing food for like half the price. Definitely a plus!! xoxo Jackie :)
(5)Antonio S.
I live in Utah now, I miss this place. I use to go here a lot with friends and have a good time and a great meal. I always ordered the garlic bread, antipasto salad and a pizza with the works. I've tried they're other dishes too, all were great as well. The lady who would serve us was the owner I think, she was always friendly and helpful. I can't wait to go back and eat they're awesome food!
(5)Michelle D.
This place is awesome the food is delicious and the prices are good! I'd recommend this place to anyone. The only thing that sucks is that sometimes it really hot in there and it's small, other than that it's okay.
(5)Elizabeth E.
Don't let the location fool you. We had passed this location a couple of times when I finally Yelped it and was so glad I did! Minestrone soup is very hearty and tasty. Gnocchi pesto was delicious! The dinner sized portion was enough for me to have leftovers for lunch. Very reasonable priced, especially for the amount of food they give. Looking forward to going back.
(4)Cory G.
I ate here on Monday with my wife. Their bread was what people praised, and it was good and fresh, with a good seasoning. They also had more traditional oil and vinegar table side for your bread. I hade tortellini with a creamy red sauce. It was decent. The place is small, and old inside. There were a lot of people here at the time, and it took forever to get service. It seemed like they only had one guy working and they hardly refilled my glass. My wife thought this place was amazing, and I would eat here again also; however it is just your run of the mill hole in the wall. The service could be better, theyre super friendly, it just took forever to get refills like I said earlier. The bread was the best thing this place has going for it.
(3)Dave K.
If you looking for a big name or green cloth napkins and amazing decor and professional photographs of Italy hung on the walls and standard commercially prepared, Americanized Italian fare, then by all means, go to Olive Garden but if you are looking for authentic, absolutely delicious Italian food that tastes exactly like you are dining somewhere in Florence or Rome then had to Rufino's Italian Restaurant. Don't let the outside strip mall location fool you, an absolute gem is hidden inside. Frescos cover the walls depicting Pompeii and Rome but it's about the food isn't it? There has to be an authentic Italian chef involved here somewhere! Dessert: there should be an award for best spumoni and it should go to Rufino's!
(5)Will M.
Totally good, authentic Italian food in a dilapidated property in the northeast corner of Euclid and Ball. We saw grunge rock dudes exchanging either phone numbers or money about 50 feet away..But once you walk in, it's a very different place. We relax, and the waiter seats us and hands us a menu. I am not driving, so I order a luscious glass of Parducci Cabernet for $6.50 - a dollar cheaper than the last place I had this brand. Looking through the menu, it's got a lot of variety, but one thing I noticed was the lack of meat sauce options. Everything is made with their healthy, lively, delicious, thick, rich and garlicky tomato sauce. As one of my Italian friends Vinny tell me, "That's why we're healthier than you Americans - we use a little olive oil, eat just a little meat, and no deep frying, a little butter, and no trans fats.. And he's probably right. But I would've loved the option of meat sauce on my pasta - sorry Vinny. I ordered the combination cheese ravioli and spaghetti ($12) and my friend had the manicotti, filled with ricotta cheese ($10). Other yelpers mentioned how long the wait could be because there were only 2-3 servers that night. Well on this night, there was only one server with 7 tables plus the owner. So let's put them on the clock and see how long the food takes to come out. Two minutes later, they bring out their minnestrone soup (you can choose house salad instead). I loved it, It had fresh cabbage, zucchini and carrots in a mild, not overly acidic tomato base - and no noodles which I prefer. Five minutes later, the one waiter bring out awesome cheese/garlic/onion/olive foccacia sticks. It's brought out warm, slightly toasted in their pizza oven, They leave balsamic vinegar and olive oil and a small bowl at each place setting. And I love dipping great bread into a mixture of the two. The food comes out in less than 15 minutes. And the portion size is huge. I only had the spaghetti and took the ravioli's home. It was delicious, as was the mannicoti. This was one very good meal. No room for some of the great desserts though, maybe next time. Ambiance is casual but nice. They put a lot of thought into the pictures and knick knacks, and a visual clutter of Italian inspired decor. It's totally different from the world outside. One thing that bugged me was their squeaking pizza oven. It was almost like a chalkboard scratching sound. If they lubricate the moving parts, they'll reduce wear and tear on their pizza oven, and make it quieter inside. But overall, it was a very nice meal, and the price was awesome. Definitely a must try again. And the gunge dudes were gone - probably headed for Seattle or motel by the time we left.
(4)Frances P.
Food is fantastic no question about it!! I had the pasta combo with lasagna and cheese ravioli with delicious veggie soup and cheese bread. So good!! The only thing was that the service was pretty slow I think they freshly make everything so I can't hate that. I would go again and be aware that I will be there a while or see if I could order to go. Prices are great for such tasty food.
(4)Andrew P.
Best post Disneyland dinner ever. Way better decision than Cheesecake Factory or Bubba Gump. Support a local business and get an awesome Italian meal.
(5)Ken S.
I'm from the San Francisco bay area where there is some fine Italian restaurants Ruffino's is as good as it gets I have brought around 20 people here over a period of five years, A lot of the people I brought our food and restaurant critics. And they've all said it, If you love Italian food Ruffino's is "The Place" a true gem of a restaurant....
(5)Rosana A.
Delicious hole in the wall authentic Italian restautant. I had the Trio, my husband had the Shrimp Arribiata and we shared the Calamari Della Casa. We enjoyed everything including the complimentary bread. We will definitely come back every time we visit Disneyland.
(5)Karen R.
The pizza awesome! Hands down! The customer service very nice people very attentive
(5)Valigirl V.
After the directions link in Yelp failed to get us to the restaurant, a phone call was made and an employee was very helpful getting us to the restaurant. Atmosphere is very 1970s and the restaurant is small and not in the best of neighborhoods. That said, still make the trip, as it is SO WORTH IT! food is beyond exceptional (Note: I from the NJ/NY and know good Italian food). Also large shareable portions and very reasonably priced. The service was so friendly and caring, it felt like we were eating at someone's home. I had the meat lasagna which was the best ever! Other dishes ordered by our group were as follows: pesto gnocchi, combo (chicken parm/fetticini Alfredo/lasagna). We started with the bruschetta. All was just delish (including the coffee). Four stars instead of five given due to the bad direction link and atmosphere. Food gets 5 *****
(4)Albert B.
Great food! Great prices! My only complaint is that they are veryyyy slow about everything. Usually only 1 or 2 people waiting on about 10 tables. I've recommended this place to many of my friends and they all say the same (great food, slow service). They also mentioned that the location looks sketchy and ghetto (which is true), but I've lived a few blocks away my whole life and it's perfectly fine! :)
(4)Miriam R.
better than olive garden!! we (me and co-workers) always get hooked up on the lunch special even after its over since the owner is good friends with our i.t guy. i always get the alfredo and i pay extra to have it with chicken. the milestone soup is good and so is the salad. the garlic bread is so yummy i dip it in olive oil oh so yummy. if you want to eat here on your lunch hour, i suggest you call in your order before you go in they also offer take out.
(5)Edwin R.
My girlfriend and Brother and I where looking for something to eat and found this restaurant locally and decided to try it. (Just cause our last name is "Rufino":) The food was good. (Especially the Veal) Service was good. Waiters always checked in with us occasionally. The place had a very decorative place. Definitely good Italian restaurant. And new customers here!!!!
(5)carole c.
After spending the entire day at Disney we were home with pooped smalls and empty bellies. Trusting our meal plans to Rufino's we were not disappointed. Fabulous light, fluffy pillows of goodness, the gnocci was wrapped in a delicious pesto sauce. The pizza's pepperoni had been cooked perfectly with a light crisp to the outer edges of the meat without a burn, the crust was light and crispy also. Thank you Rufino's for giving us the perfect ending to the perfect fun day!!
(5)Billy B.
Delicious, I want to say that the owner gives the most amazing service. Cheers to you sir. The waitress older lady very sweet. I love this place. My baby boy loves the food. So comforting and the best Italian in the area.
(5)Rob R.
Fresh food, done right. Comparing them to several nearby Italian places, Rufino's is better for several reasons. Service is prompt and attentive without hovering. Drink orders taken and delivered quickly. Fresh bread comes next. Tried two chicken dishes. Fresh veggies, light sauce (not oily), not over salted. Thinly pounded fresh chicken breast (take note Carolina's), tasty sauces. Refills on cue. Clean room. Nice decor. Friendly owners and staff.
(4)Julian V.
Food was Amazing!!! Authentic Italian Food!! Really loved it! Will come back indeed!(;
(5)Caroline O.
My co workers and I USED to love this place. We work at a local hotel and we were always treated well and we LOVED their food. We always recommended it to our guest but thier service is not good. Thus, we have removed them from our delievery options. It used to be that they would take a credit card for delievery and then all of a sudden it is only cash. They never gave us a minimum, and all of a sudden there is a $25 min. I called and when the lady said there was a minimum. I said ok let me call you back. What I was planning on doing was looking for something else to order to meet the minimm and the lady on the phone hung up on me! That was the tip of the iceberg for us. Their food is really good, but the service is not. So Goodbye Rufinos we will now be ordering from other local Italian restaurants that are friendly and offer better customer service. Oh, and we'll be sending our guest to other restaurants as well.
(1)Theodora E.
I've been using Yelp for a long time and have never given such a bad review. I came here with a party of 20 and were treated so poorly. It was my friend's birthday and we came with all of her friends and family. While ordering, someone in our party asked about the lasagna. The waitress (an older lady) got confused and rang in the lasagna when we only asked a question about it. When it came to the table we told the manager we had never ordered it. He refused to take it off the bill! No one touched it the whole dinner and we were forced to take it home since we were forced to pay for it. Then when the bill came (of course with the lasagna still on the check), we gave our payment to the manager. He came back to the table insisting we still owed $50 which was a complete lie but we ended up paying anyways because we didn't want any trouble. While leaving the manager told us he never wanted us to come back. Please don't waste your money coming here or risk being embarrassed in front of the whole restaurant like we did.
(1)Angelique B.
I was craving some authentic Italian food, and Rufino's is it! After reading some reviews I was convinced to order some take out for my family. My mother is a picky eater so I was a bit skeptical. All in all we ordered the pollo alla Marsala, fettuccine Alfredo, ravioli, the trio and the gnocchi with pesto. Every single dish was delicious and flavorful! My mom LOVED the Marsala and the gnocchi, which made me love Rufinos more, it's hard to win her over. The portions are enormous, and plenty of leftovers :) can't really comment much on table service as we ordered to go. And the garlic bread is as fabulous as all the reviews state. Will most definitely be returning soon.
(5)Wade F.
Everybody was right. We were at Disneyland late and kids were hungry and we wanted to eat before they fell asleep and this restaurant is right outside the gate and it had good reviews so we tried it. With our annual passes looks like we have a favorite stop to eat after the park. 2 adults and 2 kids $45 without alcohol. Way better than inside the park where our bills are $100+
(5)Ness P.
My husband and I love this place! Best italian food I've ever had. The bread is delicious. I love how its a small family owned restaurant. The service is great and the owners are so sweet. They always have chef specials at a great price and the servings are huge! An order of shrimp fetuccini will be good for 2 ppl. We used to go to Olive Garden whenever we craved italian food. We haven't been there since!
(5)chibi i.
We sat down and a very tasty bread was put on the table. Ordered the Pollo Michelangelo. It comes with soup or salad and veggies or pasta. Got the salad and veggies. The dish was good. It was chicken in a light tomato based sauce with a good amount of vegetables. Also ordered the Calamari Luciana. I didn't try this dish. But it looked good and with the pasta, it was a pretty big portion. Not sure if I would come here again, but staff was friendly.
(3)Laura T.
I absolutely love this place! Great service and good pricing and amazing quality. Honestly I never eat Italian anywhere else. I'm a dedicated costumer and I am never disappointed!
(5)John L.
As a little ninja living in Lubbock, Texas, I remembered my love for Italian food. Specifically, spaghetti and meatballs. Oh how I would think about spaghetti all the time and wonder when I'll have it again. I still have no recollection of where I got this love from. Now as a Master ninja living in Anaheim, Ca, I do not have those cravings as much as I use to. However, after fine tuning this robust body in the ways of the samurai, the craving returns. Service - A-Ok Cleanliness - Price - $13.80 (includes tax and tip) Seafood - Yes, salmon, squid, mussels, scallops, shrimp, clams, etc. Meats - Yes, beef, chicken, ham, veal, etc. Vegetables - Yes, salads Dessert - Yes, variety of truffle, Crème Brule, Tiramisu, Spummi Wedge, Cannoli Fruits - N/A Other - (1) Located on the corner of Euclid St and Ball Rd (2) Free parking in large private lot. (2) Cash and Credit Cards are accepted here--minimum of $10 order for credit card. What was ordered: Stracciatella ($3.99) - Eeek! Me thinks not. (1 star) - Spinach, eggs, and parmegiana cheese in chicken broth. The soup is actually quite large. It was served in a 6 inch diameter by 4 inch height ceramic bowl. The waitress/owner dropped off a small tin on the table. I open the lid and this aromatic smell of fresh parmesan cheese tickled my fancy. I liberally spread this all over the soup. The spinach was fantastic--very flavorful. The poached egg whites were on the bland side, but w/ the spinach it gave it more texture. The chicken broth was very tasty and seasoned very well. The unfortunate part is they gave me extra protein. I found a dead fly as I was finishing off my soup. The owner was very apologetic and took this item off the bill--she even spoke to the cook regarding this. Garlic Bread (Complimentary) - Woohoo! As good as it gets! (5 stars) - They brought me 3 pieces of garlic bread to compliment my Stracciatella. The bread pieces were approximately 5 inches (L) x 1 inch (W) x 1.5 inches (H). I must say this is the best garlic bread I have EVER had. The garlic flavor was so divine that you would lick your hands afterwards. You do not even need the olive oil and balsamic vinegar to dip it in. The bread was perfectly warm and spongy. Spaghetti and Meatballs ($10.99) - Yay! I'm a fan. (4 stars) - Fresh spaghetti, tomato sauce, and 2 large meatballs. The meal was approximately 10 inches (L) and 5 inches (W). The spaghetti was perfectly al dente. The sauce was really good as well--you can taste the sweetness of the tomato and a little bit of the acidity as well. The meatballs were more than enough for one person. As you cut them in half, you can see that it was cooked well through as well as the vegetables that were incorporated into the meatball--see specs of orange and green. Of course, I liberally used the parmesan cheese all over the meal. Delicious. Overall, the meal was quite good sans the extra protein--so do not let my rating turn you off completely. Things happen in restaurants that are arbitrations, but the food is quite good. Don't forget about what I said about the Garlic Bread--it is quite amazing. Shinobi out!!
(2)Crystal L.
It was good. We would go back. Waiter was super polite and attentive. A little pricey. It was $50 for 3 dinners. We ordered lasagna, Alfredo marsala, and ravioli's. nothing too exciting. The bread was really good and I like their minestrone. I would recommend it for a quiet slow paced meal.
(4)Jorge P.
I went yesterday with my family after a day at Disneyland. The place is dark and looks in need for refurbishments. The tables and chairs looked in bad shape and in need for replacements. No AC available so, it was warm inside. For a Saturday night, the service was handled by only three people, the couple who owns the place and another guy. Due to those things, I took a star. We were a group of five and we waited a while for the hot items specially for the simplest one that was a pasta Alfredo without chicken. Now, the food was really good, the bread and minestrone soup were delicious. We ordered an antipasto that was very good. We ordered Osso Buco, Pasta alla Marsala, Pasta Alfredo and a Trio dish with chicken parmigiana, linguini and lasagna. All the items were served very hot, tasty and in large portions. We shared a creme brûlée for desert that was also very good. The prices were reasonable because the portions were big and the food was very good. I had a question about my bill and the lady there was a little harsh addressing my question that was done patiently and respectfully. Because of that, I took another star from the review. The other owner was much better in his people skills. In general, we recommend the place. The food is very good. But don't go in a hurry because the service is slow.
(3)Nicole P.
We love Rufino's! My boyfriend and I are both big junkies for italian food. Rufino's hits the spot every time. They've been around forever, the owner or his aunt are usually the ones waiting on customers. The service is great. But the food. Oh my goodness the food. I try something new every time I come in. Gnocchi with pesto sauce? Not only beautiful but so tasty and light. Chicken parmesan? I couldn't stop eating even though I felt like I would explode. Don't even get me started on the lasagna... But the two things that are the true measure of their greatness are the bread and the marinara sauce. The garlic bread is fluffy and warm with just a hint of rosemary. So soft and so savory. Excellent. And the marinara sauce... here is my issue with marinara. Most places open a can of tomato sauce and pour it into a sauce pan, heat it up a bit, put it on your food and call it good. Not Rufino's. Rufino's sauce has flavor and just a little bit of heat. It's perfectly balanced and never too sharp. See? It's the simple things that make them shine. Oh, and one other thing. When we work late and there seems to be no hope of going somewhere decent for dinner - Rufino's is still open. Ready and waiting for us folks who end up not getting around to dinner until 9 o'clock at night.
(5)Rafael D.
Usually come here for lunch with the co workers. I must say the food here taste really good. Their lunch specials are great. You can to a variety of mixtures from pizza, sandwiches, to pasta. The food is really good, really does taste like home made and with effort. The restaurant itself gives it a cozy feel, even a little bit intimate. It is a small place, but I never have a problem with seating and waiting. Every time we eat here, the owner is the won who attends to us, nice person by the way. Must try, oh and the pizza defiantly feeds a lot of people.
(5)Brian T.
Authentic as Italian food in America gets. Overall: With the awesome service, flawless food and frank Sinatra playing, you will have no problem feeling as if you're in a real Italian restaurant. I've been to Italy myself and i have never came across a better place to remind me of Italy than Rufinos Service: unbeatable. very polite and knowledgeable Italian gentlemen named "Mike". He was very polite and patient. explained things well and as it turns out he is the head chef. Food: So good! we went there 2 times. we got the cioppino, and the trio the first time. It was AMAZING. the food doesn't get any more authentic than this. the portions were good too! not to mention the good selection if wine. MAKE SURE YOU GET THE TERRA MISU, they make it from scratch. its AW-SOME! Location: Parking is easy. Its in a little strip mall. down the street from travelodge and Disneyland. easy to find just look for "Restorante Italiano".
(5)Matt W.
Truly amazing! I really wish Rufino's was much closer to my house so I could go all the time. I've been going there whenever I can for the past 7 or 8 years. It's a bit unassuming and in a very modest shopping center (it looks as if they've begun to make the surrounding area a bit nicer). It's the kind of family-style Italian restaurant that I love. Much of the food here is homemade. They make many of the pastas fresh. The bread you get before the meal starts is quite fantastic as well. Often I start with one of their pizzas, and I really love them!! Chicken parm is one of my favorites anywhere- so thin and crispy and delicious!! Tonight I took a couple bites out of the eggplant parmigiana and it was also delicious! The sauces are excellent. What's great about Rufino's is they give you a lot for a very modest price! Each meal includes soup or salad for pretty much between 10 and 13 bucks. Whatever you do, make sure you get the minestrone!! It's phenomenal! Can't wait to go back sometime soon when I am in the OC! By the way, if you are staying around Disneyland, this is a FANASTIC choice to have dinner or lunch- it's very close to the parks!!
(5)Sandra A.
This place has the best food ive tasted in a while. I enjoy fresh Italian food and I appreciate the quality. And our server was the sweetest cutest lady. They will be seeing more of me!
(5)Summer H.
Wasn't sure about this place based on appearance, but it turned out to be a great pick in Anaheim. Service was good, food was great. The breadsticks are uh-maze-ing, HOT and fresh--I could only wish for some roasted garlic to add some crunch to my dipping olive oil. The Italian salad dressing is quite vinegar-y and salty, but I liked it a lot. I tried the pollo Michelangelo, pollo parmigiano, lasagna, fettucini Alfredo, calzone with marinara dipping sauce (we are a big family and like to taste all the dishes brought to the table!)--all delicious. Price is $11-$14 per plate. Ambience was fair. If you like Italian, you have to try this place!
(5)Alex G.
The breadsticks were amazing, and addicting. Everything I tasted was VERY flavorful, and it all seemed to taste fresh, not pre-cooked or "frozen fresh". The place could use a little make-over. Maybe Chef Ramsay could stop by and drop a dime.
(4)Leslie C.
I can't wait to be hungry again so I can eat my leftovers! Amazing breadsticks like everyone has said, and I would have given 5 but the service was awful. There was a younger gal who was very pleasant but the older lady was unpleasant and proceeded to take an extra 20 minutes to get us boxes and a check (and it may have actually been longer). Food is awesome we just wish we had ordered it as takeout instead.
(4)Vivian T.
Their baked mostaccioli is delicious!!! Their tiramisu is amazing!!!
(4)Briana D.
I've been here twice, and plan on coming back as soon as I can. I thought this place was adorable. Small hole in the wall, but lovely inside, and the feel of a mom & pop ran establishment. Staff is very sweet and nice... a little shy at times, but they are super sweet. The food.... Oh - I love it! I LOVE the tortellini, and I had the Gnocchi too (very good - but Im a huge tortellini fan). Their bread-sticks are really good, everything taste homemade. I have wine every time I come here for dinner. I have not had any lunch specials here, I wish I worked closer so I could come here for lunch.... its ok, I will make do with my dinners I get here every now and then. I have eaten at other Italian places since discovering this place and every time I do I think of how much I really love this place. .... there's just something about it. OH! - And for a 5 star place - the prices are pretty good!! Cant go wrong.
(5)Michael H.
Always good. Love the gnocchi with pesto and Italian bread. I have lived by the restaurant for ten years and have only tried them recently. Now we go at least once a week and want to try everything on their menu.
(5)Jean S.
Loved this place! Found it on yelp and will go out of our way to go back. Great food, we had cioppino and fettucine with scallops, minestrone, and plain pasta with butter for the little one. Everything was amazing, they were very accommodating and so well priced. I would give them 10 stars if I could.
(5)Brian Y.
3.75 Came here for dinner before the Disney 1/2 this year. Great spot for carb loading. Luckily started here before it got really busy. I don't think they anticipated the intake of so many runners as it got really crowded later with people rocking the annual shirt. Anyhows, getting back to the food, it was good. I enjoyed my dish and would come back again. Parking in a lot, so this fits the good safe choice category.
(4)Will F.
we were leaving disneyland a little early, but we were really tired and hungry! my girl was craving italian food, so i yelped it and decided on this spot...and we hit the jackpot. i dunno if it was cuz we were hungry or what, but the food was DAMN GOOD. i had the gnocchi with pesto sauce and she had a shrimp scampi pasta of some sort and they were the bomb dot com. her son wanted a cheese pizza and we figured the small would still be too big for him, but our waitress solved it by offering a personal sized pizza for the lil guy. she was so helpful and kind. another dish we had was the fried calamari and it was way better than average, especially with the marinara sauce that accompanied it...somethin about that sauce that stands out! anyways, the atmosphere was cool, the service was top notch and the food we had exceeded our expectations by miles. i wish i had room to order a dessert! perhaps next time i hit up disneyland lol
(5)Morgan M.
Definitely a hole in the wall! Great food.
(5)Kingweasel X.
I was excited to try Rufino's. So many rave reviews from the Yelpsters made me figure this was a slam-dunk. I heeded the recommendations and left a lot of time, which was necessary but totally worthwhile. My star withholding comes not from the food, which was delicious, but from the service. Everything went fine until the entrees were done. Server: Do you want anything else? My wife: I'd like this raspberry truffle. Server: OK AND THEN SHE WALKS AWAY!! She didn't even LOOK at me! I barely managed to catch her to order something for myself. Desserts came, the check came halfway through. I through my card into the folder, sticking out halfway and put it on the end of the table. Dessert became finished. Still no receipt to sign. I slid the check folder halfway off the table, card first. The server walked past the table three times, never even glancing our way. Luckily I had cash so we weren't trapped there forever, but really, come on! I tipped much more nicely than I would have normally, because the food WAS great (Pollo al limone & Pollo alla crema) and I really want to give this place another chance later on; and while I don't mind waiting for great food, I can't tolerate waiting overmuch for something as simple as paying for my food.
(2)Vanessa H.
Found this place using the Yelp App and it was decent. My friend and I agreed that it was a solid 3.5 stars, but I would dock 0.5 for the service we got from an older lady whose manner was a little impatient with us. I don't know her story. The food was about average, and reasonable for the price. Not a bad joint, I think I was just expecting more from the 4 overall stars this place had.
(3)S H.
Under new ownership we are told as we walk in. We had an entertainment book coupon, but told new owner will only honor for $10 instead of $14. No worries we say. And you must buy two drinks under new ownership. Ok, fine we say. So we order a special and a pizza. You cannot use the coupon on that they tell us. Ok, fine, just bring the special and the pizza and the drinks we already agreed to. Hmmm ... weird start. Bread was good. Cokes were flat. salad was good, small and plain, but good. All the pasta and pizza was good. No complaints. Over all its an ok place. We won't go back but if you are nearby and looking for Italian, it may be worth a try. I dropped a star from 3 to 2 because they were such pricks about the coupon.
(2)Lorene S.
I love the food here and it ia a very quite and friendly place to eat and i enjoy going here.
(5)Gary M.
Food was great! Went here on a Sunday around lunch and they gave us the lunch special they normally have on mon-fri. Complimentary focaccia bread is awesome as previous reviewers have said. I had 2 item combo (7.99 lunch special) and a salad (1.00). With their home made italian. I had lasagna and ravioli, both were phenomenal! My uncle had manicotti and tortellini, I tried them and bother were also very good and authentic. We will definitely be coming back.
(5)J C.
This should be more like 2.5 stars, but I'll give it the benefit of the doubt. First of all, the gf and I came here as a backup because Carolina's (Garden Grove) was closed (*groan*) due to a kitchen fire. We were craving Italian, and based on reviews, this place looked promising. I'm always down for giving the 'mom-and-pop' joint some business. I ordered the spaghetti with meatballs. It wasn't spectacular, but then again, when is spaghetti with meatballs ever spectacular. It wasn't horrible either, though. The (home made) meatballs were the best part. The gf ordered the trio (Chicken parm, fettuccine alfredo, & lasagna). I had some of the fettuccine (average) and the chicken (surprisingly tasty). I didn't try her lasagna. Upon bringing her leftovers home, the gf said there was a teeny tiny piece of metal (?) in her food. Perhaps a little piece broke off from a cooking utensil or other instrument in the kitchen? Who knows. She stopped eating leftovers after she found that. At the end I couldn't resist and ordered the teramisu for dessert. It was a generous piece (albeit for $3.99), but a little soggy. The garlic/cheese bread pre-meal WAS good, as people are saying. My $.02 would be to wait, if you can, for Carolina's to open back up. Their food is far superior. If you can't wait and have to settle, then Rufino's will do.
(3)Monique G.
Love coming here with the family on a weekend. Love the atmosphere and the service, they really make you feel welcomed. Small and cozy with great food.
(5)Ninja N.
I should of had their pizza! The waitress was really nice! Salad was yummy! I am a sucker for good bread and this place has gooood bread!! FYI - - Great lunch deals Spacious parking Secluded booths Awesome owner "Ill be back!"
(4)Brian T.
OK, I am from a family with 2 Italian grandmas that know how to get down on some seriously tasty food. This place is the only local Italian cucina that can even keep pace with the G'mas. My girlfriend and I both agree that the calzone is the best we have had. But do try everything else... Rufino's will not disappoint!
(5)Maggie F.
Biggest calzone ever! Delicious. If you want traditional Italian, this is the place. Friendly service and funny decor. A mix of old world and hole in the wall. Avoid the fettucini Alfredo. It's not great. However, the breadsticks and lasagna are amazing!
(4)Emilio T.
I had their lunch special which was a pizza and a salad. The lady was super cool, cause she let me add additional toppings at no charge! that is service!! Salad hit the spot while my pizza warmed in the oven. It came out gooey with a nice soft dough. I had to fight with the cheese and it became stringy with every bite. I didn't need to dab my pizza with napkins because their meat was very lean. Finished with a nice crispy crust at the end of each pizza slice. Oh they also have some good bread! Lots of lunch specials Quick Service Cool Owner Enough parking Private booths Good prices!
(4)Isabelle K.
Are you kidding me? This was one of the worst Italian restaurant I have ever been to...Olive Garden would've been better. Heck a frozen Stouffer lasagna would've been better....I ordered the Chicken Marsala with the "fresh" pasta and it was a pounded to death chicken breast with a layer of boiled out of the box linguini swimming in a pool of oil....My sis had the tortellini alla carusso and the tortellinis were mushy pasta bites drowned in a pink sauce which tasted like chef Boyardee raviolis. My friend ordered the Pollo Al Penne Baresse which might've well been one of those Lean cuisine frozen dinner....All of that added to the flat sodas and the 15 mins wait at the door before anyone even acknowledged us gives this place a 1 star no amount of foccacia bread can make up for that....So disappointed...
(1)Super F.
2 starts because the food was ok. Despite the fact that they put PINNEAPLE in the Carusso sauce. It took 1hr to get our food. I didn't even get the salad that comes with my pasta. I will never come back.
(2)Andy P.
This is the only place that I've given five stars so far. From the outside, it ain't much. It's look better on the inside. But heck, the food surpasses its decor by a zillion miles. The bread.... OH! THE BREAD! I really don't dig bread that much, but DAMN! the bread here is PURE HEAVEN! The soup, appertizers, pastas, veals, etc. .... luv it all. Now the icing on the cake - the price is wallet-friendly. Service is nice and friendly. Georgina always give me extra bread!!! The only complain here is that it's not near my house as I would have wanted it to be!
(5)Ted R.
Got to know where this place is to find it. One of those word of mouth places or locals only. My kind of place I had the marsala fettucini and my wife had a small pizza. Both were excellent. A great authentic Italian place with very reasonable prices. They even had house wine by the litre and 1/2 litre. Very old school which is the way I like it. Not a big place with glitter and all that just great food and nice owners. Will definitely go back again when in the area.
(4)Harriet G.
Talk about a great mom & pop joint..Dis place is one a dem! Me and BFs from junior high caught up as we ate here for dinner. I love how, true mom & pop restaurants themed from the old country give you that feel when you walk in, right? Then, great company and great food make for a great night, don't cha think? We didn't even care how long it took for our food to get to the table, because our server was very attentive & checked on us often. Of course, the green salad and bread were delicious. But, I had to stop while I was ahead, because I was looking so forward to my oh so simple plate of pasta with red sauce! I ordered the Capellini Giardino - angel hair, fresh tomatoes, garlic, fresh basil and herbs. What more can I say? This wasn't mama's spaghetti!! Then, I tried my friend's Tortellini alla Caruso.. omg. I couldn't tell what they put in that Caruso sauce. But, it was belissimo! :) We thoroughly enjoyed our evening and had leftovers to boot! :) Thanks Rufino's, for keeping it simple, yet unique!
(5)Marie F.
I checked out the reviews before heading here for my cousin's birthday (party of 25) so I figured it would be a while before I actually got food. The bread was definitely a highlight...so good I had 4 pieces. My salad was lettuce and dressing. Period. Now for the entree, I ordered the Trio with Fettuccine Alfredo, Lasagna and Chicken Parm for $13.99. The Fettuccine stood out here with a delicious cream sauce infused with garlic that was delicioso. The rest I could give or take. I do have to say that the portion was generous. Now about the service...really authentic Italian which means pretty rough. They aren't about to give you customer service here. As a matter of fact, don't expect a smile or a thank you and you'll have to hail down the server for attention. Just be happy to get your food and smile to your dining companion(s). For a feel for the true Italia, this is it.
(3)Tam L.
Located in the plaza behind Spire. Food was decent & portions a plenty. The staff was super nice. Their homemade minestrone was more like a vegetable soup but tasty regardless. The complimentary bread is like a super soft focaccia. The buscetta is served non-traditional & adds black olives. Although it's not my favorite Italian eatery, I would come here before going to the major chain Italian restaurants. plus I rather support the local Mom & Pops. Vegetarian friendly.
(4)Michael S.
Visiting Anaheim for the weekend and as we arrived we decided to try this place based on the ratings we saw on Yelp. It is located in a strip mall and has a great feel. Food and service was excellent. Definitely a must try...
(4)Joe S.
I live my life following two very strict, but very simple rules: 1. Do not do unto others what you don't want done to you; 2. When cooking spaghetti, under NO circumstance shall any other pasta be substituted in place of spaghetti noodles. That being said, I ordered spaghetti and meatballs to go. I opened up the container and what do I find? Spaghetti noodles replaced by LINGUINE noodles! I nearly fainted- oh the humanity! =O Being the president and founder of the WSO (World Spaghetti Organization, an organization I created, like, just now) I was appalled that an Italian place would even attempt to alter what is the very essence of Italiano food- the pasta. And let alone mess with spaghetti, the most sacred of all pasta dishes. Ugh, I am so upset right now I can't even finish this review (-_-)
(2)Meg T.
Walking into Rufino's is like walking into my italian grandmother's dining room, if i had an italian grandmother. The waitress was so inviting and warm, and it really felt like we had know her for a long time. Note, this place is not meant for people in a hurry. This is a family run business with one cook and 2 waitresses and to a certain extent it makes people enjoy their food. I think something in the kitchen broke while we were there because the food did not come out of the kitchen for anyone for like, 20 minutes but the waitress was very apologetic and we got free ice cream from it. Reasonable prices, pretty good food, HUGE portions. I'd return again.
(4)Matthew T.
Great Italian food. Super rich and flavorful. The caprese is awesome. Great desserts too. Little bit pricey but well worth it!!
(5)Amy V.
Our new go to place for Italian food. I grew up in the neighborhood but haven't been here in ages about 10 years at least. I somehow always forgot about this place. We went out a couple nights ago to Spires and I saw it and decided to go there with my husband and our friends for dinner. I had the chicken Alfredo while my husband and our 2 other friends split the large calzone. It was delicious as was dish we definitely will be returning. The only negative about this visit was the lady who was freaking out as she parked her car in a spot in front of the water place next door that the owner had marked "water only" and so the owner of the water store had her car towed while she was at some other store in the center so she was yelling and bawling up and down the walkway and screaming at the water store owner. But that is not Rufino's fault, the waiter even went out to try to calm the lady down. The service was great as was the food. I think we found a definite keeper with Rufino's.
(5)Jenn N.
You know breadsticks are good when you'll drive out of your way from Disneyland to a small strip mall for them. Everything we've ordered on the menu has been great - I'll sidenote that we've never tried the pizza though. Great atmosphere for having such a lackluster store front.
(4)Sean M.
The food was good, the breadsticks were very tasty, unfortunately they didn't bring more after we tore through the first batch. The Saltimbocca alla Romana was very tasty and the portions were huge. Everyone in the group seemed to enjoy it. The service was a bit slow, we waited a long time for the food but it was definitely worth the wait. I will definitely be returning.
(4)Giovanni S.
Being Italian and very picky about Italian food and being a cook myself, I'm always skeptical about trying new restaurants. Working the NAMM 2012 show, my best friend and I decided to try Rufino's. Obviously a family owned business, We had a calamari appetizer. Not bad, a little tough but way better than most places I've tried. Their minestrone soup was to die for - Excellent. Even got a to go order for my girlfriend and she loved it. The Osso Bucco was also very good. Would have gotten 5 stars if it was heated through a bit more. I love the marrow and it was cold and a bit frozen. The taste was awesome though. Having left overs today. Don't ever judge a restaurant on one visit. We will definitely be back!!
(4)Poachedeggs g.
Eggplant Parmigiana
(4)Chris G.
So glad to find this gem in anaheim. We wanted to get away from Dland and Downtown Disney to eat, so we wouldn't have to battle the crowds. We drove down Ball and turned on Euclid intending to go to Spires. Luckily we spotted the "All you can eat Pasta and Pizza for $6.99" banner outside Rufino's. Great food! Delicious bread and the pasta and pizza were so good. This will be our new Italian spot in Anaheim. Will return to try the specialties for sure! The restaurant is small and intimate, but kid friendly and very clean. Service is a little slow because there was only 1 cook and the owner there who was the waiter and busboy at the same time. But, they were so nice and the food so good, that it was worth the wait.
(5)Kathy W.
I love this place! Every time we get a chance we come here. I have NEVER been disappointed with my experience! I would recommend this to anyone that likes Italian food. Also It's a great date restaurant. Definitely try this!
(5)Cesia M.
OMFG delish... great family rest. the service is great ... ive been to this place over 20 times... very chill .. u cannot go wrong w this place....
(5)Deanna L.
Rufino's was a featured restaurant on a list provided by the hotel my family was staying at and we had a craving for Italian, so after a long day at Disneyland we stopped by for dinner. We were not disappointed. In fact, we loved it so much we came back the second night for dinner as well! The waitress was sweet, the bread delicious, and the food was amazing. If we didn't live in Northern CA, this would be a place we would happily visit often! I read the other reviews and agree with some that mention the strip mall. Don't judge Rufino's by its location. There is a gem inside!
(5)Hoang T.
I love hole in the wall places and this is one of those classic mom and pop restaurants where if you become a fan form the start, you'll keep coming back. I had the sausage dish with the meat sauce and I just can't recall what the name of it was but the final verdict from me would be it was just okay. Probably an off day as my friends that took me there are big fans of the place. 3 stars for now but I might come back for possible updates.
(3)kim v.
Two hour wait for food is not acceptable, especially when they were not even busy. Four other couples or families came and gone before we got our food. We had even called with reservations since we were a party of 13..unacceptable. Rufinos was highly recommend by WorldMark, I will make sure they hear about our experience.
(1)Terence C.
It was okay for me.. not bad.. I had a pasta dish with chicken and a red sauce and it tasted mediocre.. not as excellent as I would have liked, but it was decent. The service was good at first then it went downhill.. when I ate there, there was moderate traffic but not to say the least, it isn't hard to refill drinks or ask how your food is tasting.. Would I come back.. maybe.. I would give it a second chance. Oh before I end my review, the prices were decent between the average neighborhood of $9-18 and portions were big.
(3)Lorraine S.
I found this place in a coupon magazine and they were offering a free entree with any other entree and two drinks. First of all, the breadsticks are so damn good. Wayyy better than any other chain out there... Their texture, softness, and crispy crust just does it right. PERFECT and beats all the other Italian chains out there, no doubt. I got the Fettuccine Alfredo and my BF got the same, except with penne. I know.. typical Italian entrees, but the sauce of the thing was soo creamy and thick. It was seriously soo good! Oh, and make sure to share next time, because portions are hugeee! We were only 1 out of 2 tables, and the service was pretty fast and attentive. Love it and will be coming back to try other stuff on the menu. It's molto molto GOOD. I don't think you'll coming back to the chains anymore, once you've discovered hole in the wall eateries like this. *I wanted to try the Spumoni Wedge or the Canoli for dessert, but I had no room ;(
(4)Brian W.
I have been coming to Rufino's for the past 8 years or so! They have great service and great food. To be honest, i don't think that I have ever had anything bad from here. I live very close, so most of the time we will get take-out and bring it home. They make the food quick and its always delicious!
(5)Diana G.
The calamari is to die for but the lady who runs the restaurant isn't very welcoming. The bread is amazing too!
(4)Isabel S.
When I lived by the Happiest Place on Earth, we stumbled upon this place and decided to give it a try. I AM SOOOO GLAD WE DID ! The service is slow and the actual cooks are of my hispanic decent but the owners are italian. **The garlic bread is soft and better than the Olive Gardens **The meatball sandwich is HUGE and super tasty with the perfect seasonings ** The fettucine alfredo is a bit plain get the carbonara instead ** Pizza is DELISH, sausage is spicy and the sauce is light and fresh, cheese is melty gooey and plentiful
(4)Michael M.
Georgina always makes us feel at home and delivers excellent service. She always has great suggestions. They have an extensive menu with a varity of traditional dishes. The complimentary foccacia and olive oil and vinegar are great to tie you over until your delicious meal arrives. The pasta and pizza are excellent. Try the cheesy peperoni or the decadent manicotti. They have a nice house chianti and excellent ice cream truffles for dessert.
(5)Christine H.
On the outside, it doesn't look like much, but on the inside, it's a cozy and welcoming little Italian restaurant. Family owned and the food tastes authentic. The service is also very attentive and friendly. Breadsticks were awesome - well-seasoned and tasted like they were fresh out the oven. We ordered a pasta (generous portion you can probably share with someone else)...I forgot the name, but it was pretty good...the linguine was cooked al dente, which is how I like it. It was a red sauce with onions, mushrooms, sliced sausage, and chicken I believe. We also tried their tomato soup, which was surprisingly hearty and robust with flavor. It was perfect on a chilly day and a great way to start off the meal. I hope to come back and try their pizzas.
(4)C E.
Great food. Osso Veal was delicious. Trio manager special was great! Bread sticks came to table right out of the oven. Bruchetta was good, had olives, capers, tomato, basil, onion all in the center, and mini bread squares on the side.
(5)Greentea R.
love love love their garlic bread. soup tastes like it was made from scratch. I ordered their pasta carbanara which was good but I think it was a bit too greasy for me. That's what i get for ordering a dish with bacon in it. I stilled enjoyed it though and I will determinately be coming back to try other dishes on their menu.
(4)Andrew R.
I can't get enough of Rufino's!! My friend who grew up around the corner took me there a few years ago, and I feel completely in love. I've brought friends from all circles and haven't gotten a complaint from anyone. I even took my whole family there for my birthday dinner and they all ask "When are we going back to Rufino's!?" It's not too harsh of a drive, maybe 20-25 minutes from Irvine, but no matter where I am; if I'm craving Rufino's, we will drive. Nothing beats they're delicious bread and "homey" atmosphere. The old school italian music (cue Dean Martin "That's Amore") and faux florals don't even seem cheesy, it's actually totally charming. The business is obviously run by a family and I absolutely LOVE that! But I must say, that I need to challenge myself someday because I get the Tortellini ala Caruso EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. Without fail. That's the first thing I had, and I don't think I will ever order anything else!! It's seriously so addicting and the sauce is perfect! Especially with the mini salad before (you get a choice of soup or sal) and dipping the leftover bread in the sauce after!! DELISH!! **here's a little hint. They give you a little thing of parmesan cheese....ask for some fresh garlic. Now, take a side plate and spoon some parmesan cheese on. Then dribble some of the oil that's supplied on the table and then the garlic; You want it to be a semi-paste consistency. Take your concoction and spread it on the bread. DELICIOUS! SO much better than the typical oil and vinegar, it's so Macaroni Grill. ugh. Although they can be slow at times, I don't even really mind because I always find myself talking about the cute atmosphere of it all with whoever I'm with and we drift off to talking about traveling, finding other incredible "hole in the wall's", etc. and to me, the wait is TOTALLY worth it. 5 stars for Rufino's!!!
(5)Raffy C.
Absolutely the best Italian in town! The fettuccine marsala is by far the best thing I've put in my mouth this year (sorry boyfriend) ... save your pennies and forget mama cozzas down the street and come here instead. Ps the owners are absolute sweethearts and any place that's been in business for this long is well worth the drive.
(5)Joanna L.
Ive been coming to rufinos for about 8 years now. Ive love the food there, its very good. That being said... i refer to it as "Bitchface Italian" -They make you wait excessively to be seated and for the food and especially for the free bread -the older lady (and only female) waitress is a rude cunty bitch. Watching her over the years ive noticed that she knows how to be polite, and attentive, and sociable but that really only applies to white ppl between 30-50, oh and she loves tourist. Shes a total bitch though; in fact ive never seen her smile to a non white, and/or youthful individual. She will make offhanded, rude statements in a passive aggressive way that makes you wanna slap a bitch for disrespecting you while your trying to enjoy your meal. -the waitress alone is the reason i dont go as often as i used to and when i do it take out only. The gentlemen in the kitchen, who i believe is the manager, this guy w glasses who normally wears a black shirt - hes cool. If you get him as your waiter itll be a good time
(3)Tamara M.
I really enjoyed this place. Old homey Italian feel. The waitress was an older lady who is a little on the serious side but once we started conversating she was such a sweetheart. I had the lasagna. It was delicious! It had beef and sausage and just the right amount of sauce with a robust flavor. Cooked in the dish served. With a glass of pint noir! Which was more like two glasses. It was very delicious. I will definitely be returning for more yummy food!!
(4)Jak P.
So... Mixed feeling about this place. Let's dive right in and get to the point. The food had its ups and downs. Starting with the bread, it was pretty good for antipasta. The minestrone soup is homemade and packed full of flavor. But, when it came to the entrees, this places falls a bit short. I ordered the fettuccine Alfredo with chicken. To say that it lacked flavor was an understatement. I had to add my own salt to give it some taste. We also ordered the spaghetti with meat sauce. It looked like someone just mashed up a meat ball and put it into the tomato sauce..... Uhm.. Wha? And finally we also ordered the trio, which was wrongly priced on their menu btw. It was the chicken parmigiano, lasagna and fettuccine. The dish came out cold even though it was last. This was only worsened by the service. We came on a fairly busy night so we'll cut them some slack for that, but the whole restaurant was being served by 2 waiters the whole time we were there. We were even seated before someone, but received our food way after them. Overall, i wasn't that impressed with the food, other than the appetizers. Would I come back, maybe if they were bent on winning me back. But I doubt they'll do that, so nope.
(3)Silvia G.
Food is not bad, but service and atmosphere were not as good, 3.5 stars We brought a coworker here for his bday after reading the great reviews on Yelp. I have passed this plaza before but would have never noticed this restaurant next to the $.99 store. The Place looks kinda quaint but a bit old and dark. Our Server was kinda rude, no greeting, and a "what do you want?" kinda attitude. The Bread was good but not as amazing as I expected from the reviews. It was soft but a bit dry, like it was just reheated. Dishes come with a choice of soup or salad. I had the minestrone soup and it was good. The Chicken al limone was tasty with the right amount of sour and it came with huge capers. It was about the same price as the lunch specials so not sure what the "specials" really offered. Overall, decent food but would probably not go back because of the less than enjoyable experience.
(3)Janiza R.
Delish!!! I deff recommend the pasta carbonara. The bread is so incredibly good! Service was good. Thanx to my neighborhood friends for letting me know about this little gem!
(5)George S.
Friendly service, food is great and prices are very reasonable. Look like family owned place. Good for small group dine out too. Highly recommends this place. Enjoy!
(5)Tracy M.
Our Italian grandmother waitress was wonderful. The food was wonderful. The ice tea was so so yummy.. As was the bread and the ambiance and the pasta.. Come here for some authentic Italian food.
(5)Candy P.
We had dinner here recently. Table for two. Took about 30 to 45 minutes... But the wait was worth it. The pasta was homemade and cooked al dente. The marinara sauce was fresh and tangy. Their pesto was perfectly garlicky!! We are definitely coming back very soon. Parking was easy. They seem to accommodate large groups but it's a small place. Can't wait to come back!!
(4)Diane M.
I had the spaghetti bolognese with soup and bread. Everything was so fresh and delicious. All tasted hand made with care. I will be back again. I want to try so many of their dishes. The tiramisu was fabulous. It's worth a special trip for itself! I can't wait to share a pizza with friends. When you are inside you forget you are in Anaheim. The great aroma of the food and the friendly service will make you think you are in Italy. A wonderful evening!
(4)Chelsea M.
Definitely one of my favorite little hidden gems. I ordered the lunch special of lasagna and ravioli. The red sauce paired with any of their great selection of wines is perfect! The meal comes with salad and bread but I made sure to save room for dessert. My boyfriend got the tiramisu and I got creme brûlée; both made fresh in house! I spent about 48 dollars for a basket of garlic bread, a three course meal and three glasses of wine. Money well spent in my opinion and we were met with welcoming and kind service. I'll be sure to return before even considering a meal in Disneyland.
(5)Johanna O.
Love the food and breadsticks are the bomb! Service sucks though
(5)Kimberly M.
Their lunch specials are a pretty good deal. I've tried their pizza and eggplant parmigiana. It comes with some soup. I get a kick out of hearing their italian accent, even the cook has one XP.
(4)Liz C.
Came here for the first time after seeing the reviews on Yelp. The service was friendly and the food was amazing. I will most definitely be coming back
(4)Michelle M.
4 stars for the food. Service was well not the absolute best. Arrived at 2pm when the restaraunt opened and were literally the only two people in the joint. Barely greeted by an older women (my hunch the owner). We were asked to pick a seat. She walked over handed us menus, took our drink order and walked away. Upon her return we let her know it was our first time there. That didn't prompt any better greeting than the one we received walking in and there was no interaction between her and us the rest of the time. She brought our meal and drinks in a timely manner but was practically mute each time she arrived at our table. Even a smile would have been nice. Anyways, the food was terrific. The bread sticks were soft and warm upon arrival. I could have had a whole basket to myself. My lasagna was delicious. My husband ordered Chicken Parm which was also rich in flavor. Both plates tasted authentic and the marinara sauce had bold flavors. We would come back but our expectations for service won't be as high.
(4)Johnny B.
We wanted something close to our hotel and I had researched this place online. Believe me when I tell you that this was the best dinner we had, better yet best Italian food ever! Everything from the cheese sticks to the veal/ chicken parmigiana and lasagna. We would recommend it to any visitors to the Disney resort area. Worth the drive/bus drive/walk or crawl!!! Just get your butt here!!! These bread sticks are the best ever! Ask for some to take home. The people and chef are amazing. We thanked them all for such a fabulous dinner.
(5)Lynn S.
this is definitely a place worth a try!!! we went for Sunday late lunch the herb bread was fresh and yummy you can choose either soup or salad with your meal the soup I got is a tomato based veggie soup... super yum and tasty my bf got the fresh green salad with Italian dressing which he likes it a lot! we got the spaghetti carbonara and spaghetti bolognese and we both loved it pasta is fresh cooked and the sauce has a lot of flavor in it overall... we both agreed this is a place worth coming back again!!!
(4)Nicole Y.
What an amazing Italian gem! I was in Anaheim to run a half marathon and was looking for Italian restaurants and stumbled upon Rufino's on Yelp. As soon as I'd arrived, I knew I'd make the right choice. It's located in a strip mall, like many Anaheim destinations. The inside decor was simple but classic Italian. We started with a delicious caprese salad, which was followed by a regular side salad and I had ordered the superb minestrone soup. Dinner selections for me and my bf were the gnocchi in pesto (keep in mind, this is cheese based pesto, so not for the lactose intolerant) and I ordered the cappellini giardino which was massive and ended up being lunch the next day as well. Unfortunately I was too full to try dessert, but the spumoni was really calling out to me. Next time!
(4)Kristine S.
Lived in OC and for more than 20 years I did not know this little gem existed. Had the Chicken Marsala it was to die for. Sauce perfect. Chicken tender. The right amount of everything. The owners wife was our waitress. Worth the wait. It is in strip mall so not the biggest location but they also have To go area. Little snug and warm inside but smelled so good. Garlic bread free. While waiting for everything else. For desert we had ice cream Bon Bon. Yummy. Going again soon.
(5)Seph T.
I pretty much gave up on Italian food before my close friend took me here. I was unimpressed looking at the menu so I went on here to see what other people were ordering. The calamari de casa really caught my eyes from one of the pictures and I ordered it. Boy oh boy... that turned out to be one of the best decisions I'd ever made when it comes to Italian food. It's probably the one dish that redeemed Italian food for me. Order it the next time you're here. Keep in mind that it's only an appetizer however so you'll need to eat a lot of bread (which is excellent here also) if that's the only thing you're ordering.
(5)William M.
Okay, to start it off with what everyone wants to know, their food tastes good. Not "Delicious," but "good." Their price are also kind of in the expensive mark, but their large portion makes up for it for sure. Now, for one of the worst service that I have experienced in my life... Right as I walked in around 6:50 pm Tuesday night, there were only 2 or 3 groups in the restaurant. One of the groups were about 5 or 6 person group, and the other two groups were couples. As I walked in, I waited around 5 minutes to get seated...not only did we not get seated, no one bat an eye at us. Since the store was practically empty and yet so busy where no employee has the time to sit us down, we just grabbed the menu and sat ourselves to a random table. After waiting for another 5 minutes, one of the male staff (most likely the kitchen staff) came to us and said "I see you sat yourselves down" and just...walked off. He didn't even ask if we want something to drink, or anything. He just stated the obvious and went off back into his kitchen. Shortly after that, I made an "I need to order" eye contact with the waitress, so she came up to our table and took our order. My friend chose a salad for her side dish, and then the waitress asked "what kind of dressing would you like?" Now, my friend is visiting from Japan, and she's not used to the English language or our food, so after hearing all the different dressings, she asked the waitress "What would you recommend?" and then the waitress gave my friend a troubled look, and said "It's your own preference, so I would not know." Yes, but she asked what would "YOU" recommend, not what would "I LIKE." After we have made our order, the waitress gave us some water...that tasted horrible. The water tasted like it was straight out of their sink. They served us a non-filtered tap water and might I say, it tasted like shit. So my friend was complaining how horrible the water tastes, and after a while, our food came. Tasted fine, and the portion was big so we were at least able to enjoy that part. After a while, I finished my water, and I started timing at 7:11 pm to see how long the staff would notice to refill the water. Never. The waitress never asked about the empty water cup, even after we finished paying. Since there were so much food, we asked for a take-out box and a check. After she brought our boxes and check, I said "Oh, sorry. Can you split the check?" and then I could not believe what came out of her mouth in reply: "You should be telling me this before I give you the check." with an annoyed tone. I was in shock. Sure, I did not tell her to split the check, but I did not expect to be scolded because of that. After a while, the waitress came back with our checks, and we both paid in cash so we would receive $20, $10, and $5 bills (no $1 bills), but when the change came, I received 5 $1 bills, and my friend received a $5 bill and 5 $1 bills. THE AUDACITY! What was going on in her head!? Did she honestly think that she could even get a penny worth of tip from me? There is an empty water cup that stayed on the desk for 17 minutes on the edge of the table! 17 minutes! There were only 2 groups in that restaurant, and that was us and a mother with a child that isn't even ordering anything, and you don't notice an empty glass and expect a tip!? There is a limit on how selfish you can be. We just left the restaurant without any tips knowing that we will never be coming back again, and that they would not know we left a tip until we were long gone, since they obviously did not give a shit. TL;DR- Food was good, service was absolute shit and greedy. Food saved the review by 1 star.
(2)Shawna C.
We have been meaning to check this place out for a long time now. We had an Entertainment coupon last year to buy a meal and get a meal free, and we never made it. Unfortunately we never made it there and this year this was not one. Lately we have been trying to find new places to try mostly on weekends to start getting a bigger variety, (which while you find so many more things to love, it's hard to get back to things that you already loved.) Oh well... hopefully someday soon I will make lots of moolah and we can eat out somewhere nice and delicious every day. We came in around 6:30 on a Saturday and I figured that it would be packed by this point. Then again, there weren't a whole lot of reviews so maybe this place is still well unknown, although not everyone is a Yelper so that may not relate to anything. However, it was not packed. It's not that noticeable on the road either in my opinion. We walked in, and it was a pretty small place, but quaint. We were seated, once we juggled to get through between the group sitting at the tables and the booth itself. It took a while to get our drink orders placed. We were served with their Italian bread first. Pretty tasty, I ordered the lasagna and I chose salad with bleu cheese as my item over minestrone soup. The salad was nothing spectacular, but it was not a watery lettuce plate bought from the store either. I enjoyed it. The bleu cheese was not bad either. Not runny or anything. The lasagna was delicious! I would definitely get that again. While the dish looked small, it filled me up. My husband had minestrone soup and chicken cacciatora as his main course. He seemed to really enjoy the soup and remarked that it was delicious, but did not seem too impressed with his cacciatora. Although, he had never had it before so he had nothing to base it off of. Food was delicious, service was okay. It took a while to take our order and a longer while to pay. (Which I specified in another recent review that I can't stand waiting forever to pay a bill) I would come back, but I did find it a little pricey for what we got. Maybe I am a tightwad for the moment, but maybe I am also seeing better prices at a lot of other places. I know a few other Italian places where I get more bang for my buck though.
(3)Karen P.
Great friendly fast service. Awesome authentic Italian food. The bread sticks were to die for.
(5)John F.
We looked for a place apart from downtown Disney on our first night here. Saw great reviews for this fine restaurant. Great soup and anti pasto. Main dishes were excellent and finally prepared. You will find the atmosphere definitely Italian. This is a great choice. And good prices. Enjoy!
(5)Cody E.
Local hole in the wall hidden gem for sure! Fantastic, thank you fellow Yelper's! The decorum is amazingly kitsch the staff is authentic and the food is AMAZING. I however don't believe that $$ is needed it's priced very reasonable around the $10-15 range for an entree. The best was the cheesy lasagna and baked mostaccioli, it' literally had a layer of cheese below and then pasta, sauce and more cheese. The sauce is wonderful not too sweet and not too spicy. The Chicken Parmigiana is fantastic and very well portioned. Fresh homemade soup with the dinner, and to top it all off an amazing basket or three of complimentary bread sticks to call it a night with!
(5)Caril W.
Great. Flavorful! Just fell in love with a this spot! The steak and cheese, the noodles, the soup (has healing properties) and the salad. All were great. Oh and the bread! I got take out. I can only imagine how good it is to eat-in. First, I know getting a philly cheesteak at an authentic Italian place may not be your first choice but it was the best cheese steak I ever had!! And yes I have been to Philly several times. Then the ranch dressing was amazing! The greens were very fresh!! My four year old almost ate it all up from me. The same applies to the soup. My kid loves it. If you have small children you know getting them to try new and healthy options is difficult so this was a win for us. Then the cheese steak was just moist, tasty and the texture of the bread was perfect! Not to soggy and not to bready. It all fit together just right. On top of that the service was very good. The soup was actually complimentary. The guy who took our order I assume was the owner. A very kind gentleman. Hoping to return often. Found a hidden jewel just around the corner!! Yay:)
(5)Joe S.
I am full blooded Italian. Sorry, Ma, you never cooked Italian food anywhere near as good. . Real value,too..
(5)E K.
The spaghetti carbonara was very tasty, good portion, same as the bruschetta it was so good with olives there and very fresh, just one thing it was only one waitress for the hole place, however we were not too much people but I do think they need more people working there! The food was excellent!
(5)James L.
Had spaghetti & meatballs for lunch. Was authentic with homemade noodles, sauce and meatballs. Came with a side of very delicious bread. Although the flavor is pretty good and everything is home cooking, it was a tad spicier than how I like my authentic Italian. There isn't too much you can say about spaghetti & meatballs other than 1) the noodles were good, homemade 2) sauce was flavorful and not too runny 3) meatballs were good, a little spicy, however. Not my favorite place, but still a very respectable Italian joint.
(4)Daniel K.
Food, good. Service, bad. 1 server for 12+ tables, not even a smile. First and last.
(4)Debbie T.
Amazing... True ... Italian food!!! Just like homemade. We really enjoy this place! We've been to plenty of really good restaurants and nobody beats the bread they serve there. Everything is just wonderful. Loving having this little gem close by!
(5)Jenny Y.
Usually can't find any good, solid Italian restaurants anymore, but this one was pretty on point. It is a tiny hole in the wall restaurant hidden in the corner of a shopping plaza, but the food tastes very authentic. Unlike the Americanized Italian food served in most restaurants, this is a family owned Italian restaurant that serves great tasting Italian food. Went in for lunch and they had a lunch menu that was very well priced and plenty of options. I can never decide what I want in Italian restaurants because of the various choices. I ended up going with the 2 item combo and chose the lasagna and eggplant parmigiana. Both were very tasty and well portioned. They serve a soup or salad for lunch and the best thing of all is the yummy tasting bread. They bring out fresh and warm bread that has just come out from the oven. For me, if the bread is good, then nothing else matters. and the bread here is delicious! :) The lady serving us was attentive and kind. I'm glad I found a new Italian spot!
(4)Joe D.
This place is understated. Unassuming but filled with real Italian flavor. Had the trio. The fettuccine Alfredo was the best I've had in thirty years. This combination works and plenty for tomorrow. The Caesar Salad was also surprisingly good. The place for a quiet romantic dinner.
(5)Rachael R.
Service was really friendly, we were served by who I could only assume was the owner. Had the fettuccine Alfredo, which was fantastic. Husband had lasagna and really enjoyed it. Also had pizza for the kids. Looked good and I'll find out tomorrow at lunch. We will definitely be back.
(4)David C.
Meh. And very slow. I wish this had been better, but as usual it's tough to find good places to eat near Disneyland.
(2)Merari R.
Best Italian I've had. The staff is very friendly, the Bread is AMAZING as well as the food. It's a cute little hole in the wall that everyone needs to visit it's an adorable restaurant. Food is reasonably priced and we'll worth it!
(5)Jenn A.
I called to make an order for delivery. I asked the lady how long it will be and she said "when the food is done, he will leave" lol! I ordered fettucine alfredo for myself and spaghetti marinara for my son. the alfredo was amazing! so buttery and cheesy, omg! the homemade breadsticks have rosemary in them.. not a fan of rosemary at all but i still ate them! i also got a piece of tiramisu and it was pretty delicious! I spent $40 but it will literally be three meals worth as we have tons of food leftover. Update the next day: My son asked to order Italian again. This time I ordered a small pizza (its more like a medium), the trio (lasagna, fettucine alfredo and chicken parm) and an order of brushetta. It's like, i didn't know this place could get any better; but it did!!! the trio was flipping fantastic, the lasagna was out of this world delicious. the bruschetta was so garlicky, i know no vampires will get near me! i love garlic! again, we have a ton of food leftover and it was only $35 tonight!
(5)Kate D.
Worst service I have ever had! My boyfriend and I arrived at this restaurant after a day at Disneyland at around 7:30pm on a Thursday. There was no host/hostess, and we waited a bit before anyone noticed us. There appeared to only be one server working the entire place! A group of 4 came in behind us and they tried to seat them before us, and only did not after one person in the group of 4 mentioned we were there first, and she had to say that multiple times. After we were seated, it took awhile before anyone came to take our order, and when the server did come, she was very matter-of-fact, and not very friendly. The pasta dishes come with a choice of soup or salad. My boyfriend ordered soup and he was given a salad anyway. We didn't see anyone with a soup in the entire restaurant, so we started to wonder if maybe they were not serving it, but he was offered the soup, and was never told he couldn't have it. The decor in the restaurant is pretty ugly, including Budweiser advertisements/info sheets under glass at the tables. There were cleaning products just sitting out. At one point a group of people came in and were standing at the door for at least 5-10 minutes, and no one even acknowledged them. Another group was seated, and then ignored to the point that they got up and left, since no one ever came to take their order. We also had a hard time getting our waters refilled throughout dinner. I got the ravioli and spaghetti combo. It reminded me of cafeteria food, but tasted a little better. It looked very thrown together, swimming in marinara, and I would just call it adequate. My boyfriend seemed to like his dish a little more. The garlic bread was very good. After we finished eating, we waited at least 20 minutes and no one came to ask if we wanted anything else, or to give us the check. We finally determined how much we owed based on how much our meals cost, and I Googled Anaheim sales tax, and we left that amount in cash on the table (we had planned to pay by credit card). Never got a check. The server only came over after she saw we were leaving. I have never had that experience before! I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone. The food isn't worth it.
(1)Joseph Z.
Came with my family for my mother's birthday. Service was quick to get us our drinks and even recommend some food for us. The bread they give you here is amazing it's so delicious overall it was a great experience.
(5)Sofia A.
Amidst the urban chaos that surrounds Anaheim with Disneyland, the Convention Center, and the Anaheim Angels Stadium; there is a hidden jewel most commonly enjoyed by locals. Ruffino's is located on the Northeast corner of the Euclid and Ball intersection. A small family owned and family operated with an ambience reminiscent of Italy. The music is soft and invites conversation. The food is amazing. Everything is freshly made. The bread with its cheese and seasoning topings is delivered hot to the table. It is addictive, can't have enough. The salad is freshly prepared. My favorite, chicken alfredro is creamy with hints of roasted garlic and toasted chicken chunks. The owners are friendly and accommodating. You'll want to save room for desserts because they are delicious!
(5)Thomas T.
Omg! Wow. Great tasting Italian food. Caesar salad was fresh and had the perfect dressing. Some of best Cesar I have had! The bread omg! Wow! Was spectacular with the oil and vinegar. I had the Veal Parm. Was awesome. Some of the best I've ever had. My wife had the Carbonara. Loved it. Very good cream based sauce. Generous portions for great tasting food. So why the 4 stars and not 5? The food took WAY too long to come out after the salad. Was full from the salad and bread by the time the dinner came out. It was about 20 min after we finished our salad that the dinner finally came. By that point I was already full and annoyed. What's the point in having great tasting Italian food if it doesn't come out in a timely manner? If you dine here ORDER YOUR MEAL FIRST BEFORE you get your salad or apps. Overall good dining experience.
(4)Sharon S.
Now this is one neighborhood Italian restaurant to write home about. The pizza has that yummy factor, it must be in the sauce. I truly enjoyed the carbonara, brilliant idea with mushrooms in the carbonara. It's a small place but worth coming to. Yes its true the restaurant has only one server. She was better the 2nd time we came back. So get past the service to enjoy the food.
(5)Kunous K.
First time here... Just passed by and the yelp rating look good... Salad no surprise, but the bread is gooood... Crunchy on the edges and soft inside, the cheese taste mix well with the olive oil and vinegar! Ordered a Saltimbooca Alla Romana, the veal is delicious, pasta is a little too soft... The Parma ham highlighted the whole dish! It is a good place if you are just in an Italian mood, service is ok... A mom and pop restaurant, don't expect too much on service, I got what I need and the food came in timely manner.
(4)Andy P.
A small "Mom & Pop" Italian restaurant tucked away in a large strip mall. Placed a takeout order at the counter, ordered 3 main courses and 3 deserts. I judge Italian restaurants by their Eggplant Parmesan. My order didn't disappoint me, the meal was great. The Gnocchi was fantastic. The garlic bread was really tasty. Because the Eggplant was so good I'll try something else on the menu next time we want Italian food.
(4)John B.
Get the tortellini cruso! Great food but the service is borderline horrible. Ask for water when seated or you probably won't get it. I had to walk across the restaurant to find the old woman to get water half way through my meal. As a single diner it took over an hour an a half to order, eat, find/get water, flag down the server to request the bill and pay. Give the server you're card as soon as they give you the bill or you'll be there another 20 minutes. Once served no one will EVER come check on you.
(4)Roy B.
Went to Ruffino's and something happened. yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… Lei parla italiano? No worries Ruffino's got you covered. And you'll be speaking Italian by the time you leave. I am now sure I have multiple personality disorder. I watch a couple old Sopranos shows, go to Rufino's, have some bread, some pasta and I start speaking Italian as if it were my native tongue. Georgina the waitress will remind you of Livia Sopprano. Don't forget to have some vino! Il vino ha effetti benefici per la salute e va ritenuto un prodotto alimentare. Vino and you'll be thinking Sinatra 'amore'! yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie that's amore ..... FOOD: Start yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… off with some of Ruffino's amazing bread. Lil' oil n vinegar too. yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… Try the calamari so tasty! yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… 5*****Stars Try one of the great specials. yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… Osso Bucco ... Veal shank & pasta yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… 5+*****Stars Italian Trio ... Chicken Parmesan, Lasagna, Fettuccini. Alfredo trio 3.75***Stars yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… Or other entrees like Lasagna yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… 4****Stars Ravioli ... yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… 4****Stars Many deserts to choose from. yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… FOOD TASTE: Bread ... to die for goodness, parm. & butter, a dip in the oil & vin. I's soooo good! Cheese Ravioli ... great simple dish. Ruffino's nails this one with the tasty velvety cheesy ravioli's in a simple marinara sauce that hides hits of herbs and love. Calamari ... this is a dish you die for, so tasty and the calamari is so tender it almost melts in your mouth. TRIO: Chicken Parm ... Tender cut of breast seasoned, fried and smothered in parm. wonderland. very tasty and hearty. Lasagna ... a delish dish of ricotta, parm, and pasta that makes for a good red sauce cheesy covered bake. Fettuccini Alfredo ... Fat noodles smothered in rich cream sauce. Oh how I love you cream sauce n noodles! Osso Bucco ... Veal shank roasted perfectly to let that marrow melt into the pasta sauce. The rich veal marrow makes for an amazing sauce base. I ruined a shirt slurping this awesome broth from the meat bone, and noodles. Worth every penny and more for a new shirt. Super tasting dish! Don't forget desert. Ruffinos offers an awesome selection of choices for your sweet tooth! The cannoli's are to die for! yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… Try a an Italian beer yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… The service is great and the atmosphere is charming. A great place for dinner! Back again soon
(5)Brian L.
Quaint little place that seems charming enough. But I came in during lunch time and the place was empty except for one table and still couldn't find anyone to take my takeout order. Had to look around and practically had to put my head through the little window they have for takeout orders to find a waitress to take my order. After all that, I was overcharged by a little over $1. It's not much, but it's the principle. It took almost 20 minutes to get my order. For a sandwich. And it was middle of the road, nothing special. Won't be coming back here. Ever.
(1)Tami C.
Smaller restaurant with great food. We ordered the 2 item off the lunch menu so we could sample a few items. I ordered tortellini and eggplant. My husband ordered lasagna and ravioli. The Ravioli was ok but wouldn't order it again. The rest was some of the best food I've ever had! The bread is great too. Will definitely be back!!
(5)Lili H.
I have to publicly thank to Mr Roy B for introducing me to this delicious and dangerous place. Growing up in Colombia I used to love Garfield (the cartoon) not only for his smart-ass remarks but also for his love to pasta and Italian food (he was born in an Italian restaurant if I recall correctly). Besides in Col. Italian food SUX (sorry with the restaurant owners of my beloved Bogota but they are far from remarkable) Yes, for me is impossible to pass on a good Italian meal, moreover if is a in mom&pop restaurant. NO Chains, those are so boring and predictable... But as they say: a moment on the lips an eternity on the hip, so I try not to fall into temptation too often... Rufino's has both things great food and is a mom&pop Italian restaurant. Located in a strip mall (like most of the mom&pop places) they made an effort to beautify their front door yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… The service was nice and attentive. We started with delicious bread (again a moment on the lips an eternity on the hip... OMG) then as usual I ordered meat lasagna and it was great yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… To finish the delicious meal we had dessert (I should say I had dessert because I ate most of it) yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… Soooo if everything is so great, why not 5 stars? again the temperature! people the AC is a very useful device!!! don't be so cheap because that can cost you your clientele... just saying Well after all these years, my love for Garfield and Italian food remains intact Simply Delicious! Of course I'll be back, for the food and to try all their exquisite desserts yelp.com/biz_photos/rufi… (PS: who cares about the hips) Highly recommended!
(4)Jonathan R.
Best authentic Italian restaurant in the oc.. That's all I have to say. Oh and great service too!!!
(5)Oscar M.
I been coming for 17 years is always a great food, a good place to take friends and family.
(5)Michael M.
What a delicious lunch. Had the Pollo al Limone. Man it hit the spot. Tastes just like the one I make. That's how you know you found a gem. When I'm too lazy to cook you can find me here anytime.
(5)Doug T.
My punk kids were actually looking forward to coming back to this place vs.. the well known theme park across the way.. it feels like a flashback to little Italy in NYC.. the Oso Bucca is phenomenal, especially if you like the bone marrow.. they cut an end off so you can scoop it out. The cups are those old school red plastic coke cups, which is funny and the lighting and decor seems like it's out of 1979..
(5)Randy H.
Love this place. Great portions and tasty. At first the waitress seemed cold but she's actually nice when you get to know her. We go there a lot
(5)Nikki R.
Visiting Anaheim for a week with 16 other family members and we opted for Italian tonight...What a fantastic place. Everything was amazing, with so many people we obviously tried multiple things. So many choices and they have perfected each and every one that we tried. The Marsala was amazing, pesto gnocchi was superb, veal parmesan was stupendous, and the tortellini alla Caruso was to die for. They even made an extra large plain cheese pizza for the kids that made you sit back in your seat and moan it was SO good. Italian sodas, a creme brulle that was truly the peak and firework finale. Small little mom and pop joint, if you blink you will miss it and that would be a shame. I will return for sure.
(5)Kristy S.
Definitely a solid Italian-American restaurant, but since we only tried a couple of the basics I can't give a higher review (yet). Service is a bit slow, but it seems like a mom and pop restaurant run by an older Italian couple (meaning: I really wasn't expecting fast service from them anyway). However, we were able to get in and out within about 45 minutes when just ordering two entrees. Not tooooo bad. We got the Trio (fettuccine alfredo, lasagna, and chicken parmigiana) and the spaghetti w/ meatballs. The fettuccine was al dente and the alfredo sauce was not too heavy. They place everything close together, so the marinara from the lasagna mixed with the alfredo and actually made a nice pink sauce. Score! Lasagna was loosely slapped together - it wasn't a uniform chunk of lasagna like I expected. Noodles were here and there, with ricotta and bits of sausage/beef strewn throughout. Although it was a bit shapeless, the taste was good and simple. Chicken parm was definitely my favorite. It had a really crispy crust with a juicy interior. The melted mozz and marinara on top were the perfect amount -- the chicken didn't get all soggy like at other restaurants. Tasty and moist, can't ask for much more. Spaghetti was nothing spectacular - typical spaghetti from the box. The meatballs were tender and had an interesting flavor. Extra nutmeg or allspice maybe? It was different from other meatballs I've had but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. I would probably order something else next time. I'm definitely going to have to go back soon to try some more dishes! We still haven't found our favorite Italian place in Anaheim so maybe the next visit will solidify Rufino's for us.
(3)Sarah L.
This rating is for service, not food-because we never got that far. We waited 10 minutes to be seated, while the waitresses actively avoided making any eye contact with us. In that time, no one spoke to us or acknowledged us in any way--or the other two groups waiting either. To make it worse, there were empty tables that just needed to be prepped for guests. We finally cornered the person manning the takeout area and then were told it would be 10 or 15 minutes. I'm assuming the service must be better most of the time, based on the other reviews, but we're only in town for a couple days and aren't likely to try the odds again.
(1)Diem N.
Just the hole in the wall place .... Really good pasta , AMAZING GARLIC BREAD, cozy ....
(5)Ainsley D.
My boyfriend wanted pizza, I wanted pasta and Yelp brought us here. Upon walking in, we were greeted immediately from a little window peeking into the kitchen. I could tell throughout our visit that our server was part owner or family of whoever owned the restaurant. Turns out that he was the owner and told us at the end of our meal that he recently bought the place. Every server should be this kind, if not because you want your customers to return, then to get fat tips haha. Definitely a hole in the wall restaurant, but those are always the best. We were excited about the garlic bread that everyone on Yelp raved about. When it came out it was SO HOT, felt and tasted like it just came out of the microwave :-/ BUT our meals were a lot better and that, to me, is what counts. I ordered the Capellini Giardino: angel hair pasta with fresh tomatoes, (lots of) garlic, fresh basil and herbs... very very delicious! My boyfriend got a pizza with jalapenos and black olives... they did not skimp on the toppings, A+ Also very close to Disneyland. If you are looking for an Italian restaurant near, I would definitely suggest Rufino's.
(4)Angela G.
I am no Italian food expert but the food here was mediocre. The presentation was not great and the service was sllloooowwww. I had been looking forward to coming here and i was disappointed. I would not come back. Olive garden tasted more authentic than this place.
(2)Jim L.
My family has been going to here for a long time now we find the staff friendly the food delicious and it's always a good time for all.
(5)Ere J.
Try the trio. Its my fave. I share it with my husband every time. I love this place. Its small cozy and the service is outstanding. The calamari is great, house salad pretty good. Tiramisu a great way to end your visit. All the flavors are so comforting, and the service is so sweet and comforting. I love that this place has no TV's. Please keep it that way. TV's bug me!
(5)Annie N.
I went here with a friend a while back. They have lunch and dinner deal all day. The meal comes with soup, salad, and bread sticks. I absolutely love their bread sticks it's soft and crunchy. I ordered Alfredo which was good but overly cheesy. It looked like something I could make out of a can. Also, we ordered their ice cream that looked like a truffle candy? It was not bad but the coating of candy outside of the ice cream was too hard for the spoon to break it. Was okay I wouldn't order it again. With all the food the meal came with it was very filling so we had left overs. Lots of left overs. It's in a like small area somewhere you wouldn't notice a restaurant. The parking lot has a lot of space. Inside decoration is interesting it was a homey Italian feel to it.
(4)CC C.
Incredible food. Deceiving from outside. Appears to be a little pizza joint. However, our party of seven enjoyed a variety if delightful dishes including the best Brushetta I've ever had, creative soups and a nice wine list. We would absolutely go back.
(5)Lauren M.
My favorite Italian restaurant. I am constantly craving their Italian bread. I could make a whole meal of it. I LOVE THIS BREAD! Dip it in a mixture of olive oil and balsamic vinegar and you get perfection. The minestrone soup is always piping hot and soothes the soul. It may be a bit bland for some, but I can appreciate it when food isn't salted to the gills. I tend to always order the eggplant parmigiana because I'm obsessed with it. I order it easy on the cheese because it's usually smothered in it. This is comfort food incarnate for me.
(5)Julie B.
Nasty! Meatballs were not even edible. Service was lousy felt very run down. Will not be back. Bagged salad and all why are all of these reviews so positive. I don't understand what anybody would like about this place.
(1)Kim F.
Ok, where do I start? I was feeling nostalgic and wanted to eat something that reminded me of my mother's cooking. Was really craving Saltimbocca, but was having a hard time finding any restaurants near me that served it. So I turned to yelp, and found this little gem. I started off with the foccacia bread (OMG, soooo good) and a salad. Next up, an appetizer of Melanzana Caprese; absolutely delightful! I could smell the fresh basil on it before it even got to my table! I even took a few moments to take in the aroma before digging in. After being so impressed with my appetizer, I was definitely eager for the main course. When the Saltimbocca alla Romana arrived, it was definitely a feast for my eyes (and subsequently my taste buds and stomach!). I swear I nutted with the first bite, and believe me, that is the highest of all compliments...hahaha. It was just THAT INCREDIBLY GOOD. It wasn't quite like my mom made it, but I honestly think I liked this one a little better (sorry Mom, RIP). Paired this with a glass of Pinot Noir, and I was in hog (and veal) heaven! Ended the meal with some spumoni and a fresh cup of coffee. Both were fantastic, and I loved that the coffee was nice and bold, as a good cup of coffee should be. The ambiance was welcoming and cozy. Daniel was my server, and he was very friendly, attentive, and professional...and I loved his accent when he helped me pronounce some of the things on the menu. The food came out quite timely; right when I finished one course, the next one was in front of me. To sum it all up, it was worth every mile of the 50-mile drive. I have no complaints, and I definitely will be returning. :)
(5)Bob P.
We go here often with the folks and have always had a great time. Tonight was an off night at Rufino's. The wife and I had the trio. The pasta Alfredo was ok at best, the lasagna was runny and the chicken parmesan was over cooked and crappy. We also had to ask for drink refills several times before it happened. Sorry guys! I really love to support mom and pops.....just can't do it tonight!
(3)Haydee P V.
Couldn't decide, so I got the trio...delish! Our fav Italian place! Their garlic bread is to die for!
(5)Brian B.
Very good food here. Small strip mall Italian place that has probably been here for ages. I'm usually very loyal to Mama Cozzas when out here in Anaheim but I saw good reviews on Yelp for this place so gave it a try. The service started off a little rough with a kinda cranky woman waiting on me but it got much better as time went on. I noticed a family speaking Italian at the next table so I assumed this was going to be good. Yes, the bread they bring you is incredibly awesome. Sort of like sliced pieces of focaccia that is crunchy, buttery, warm and crazy good if you dip it in a little olive oil. I had the small anti-pasta salad which was greens loaded with veggies, olives, cheese and mortadella with a little cup of dressing on the side. For the entree I had veal piccatta over linguine with lemon sauce and capers and it was exactly as veal piccata should be. I may have to go back here tomorrow and night and try something else. Overall this was really good Italian and worth finding.
(4)J. M.
My fav Italian restaurant!
(5)Nathan W.
This place was great. We came after a day in Disneyland, and it was a very busy day in the park - very crowded. Even still, this small mom and pop Italian Restaurant was quiet, and not crowded. Our group shared a caesar salad, breadsticks and a pizza. All of it was exceptional. Pricing was very good, and so was the service. This will be our new spot. Beats any chain restaurant in the area - hands down.
(5)Lauren N.
This is my favorite Italian restaurant in Orange County. Everything I've tried so far has been delicious. I recommend the chicken marsala, baked mostaccioli, or gnocchi. The bread is amazing and addicting so make sure you save room for your entree. The house wine is also good. Weekday evenings are the best time to go as it's not very busy.
(5)Alexey F.
Delicious garlic bread, fluffy and glistening with garlic butter. Delicious pasta dishes that are new to me (try the Caruso sauce) and killer Gnocchi alla Pesto. In a quiet, classic Italian restaurant environment...AND, inexpensive.
(5)Mike P.
The garlic bread was delicious mixed with the oil and vinegar. I tried the chicken limone and it was on par with others that I have had. Great job. Will be back.
(4)Tobin D.
Great place for lunch! One of favorite Anaheim restaurants friendly staff. Great chicken Marsala,great bread sticks.
(4)R S.
Used to be our favorite local Italian restaurant (besides Cortinas, which is beyond compare). Waited to be seated, no friendly chat or anything. Then waited for drinks or water or anything. After 10 minutes of being ignored we went across the street to Chipotle. Maybe someone died. A huge disappointment after all these years.
(1)Jennifer A.
Good spot to get a good carb heavy meal in before running the Disney Half. The bread is addicting especially dipping it in balsamic/olive oil. Had the masala, and it was pretty good. We got there early so it wasn't too crowded and the service was attentive, however as the night progressed and more people came, service (understandably) became a little slower.
(4)Mark N.
It's a quaint place. The staff was friendly. The food was good, but it was typical west coast Italian - certainly not what came out of my grandmother's kitchen (or my kitchen, for that matter); but I'm one of those stuck up east coast Italians who think they know what Italian food is supposed to taste like (and I do). :-)
(3)Jeremy E.
Rufino's is a cool little mom and pop italian place. I've been here a few times for the pizza. The sausage here is very tasty!! The pizza here taste great!!! Check this place out if you are in the area!!
(4)Karen P.
The breadsticks are amazing!! It's a cute little restaurant, never too busy, and the food is great. Good size portions and the shrimp is huge and delicious. You won't find that at Olive Garden!
(4)David G.
Rufino's is at the top of my list for Italian cuisine. I have not found a better restaurant in all of my searching to date. Things started off rocky at first. Georgina was a bit stand-offish and rude at first but now we are on a first name basis. Quality of food and ingredients is top notch and never disappoints. I have tried everything on the menu and have no complaints. The new owner is a bit of a clot but I am willing to overlook his nuances due to the lifelong friendship I've made with Georgina and the little slice of Tuscan heaven I've found in the armpit of Anaheim.
(5)Andrew P.
This is one of the best Italian restaurants that I have ever been to. They make the best fresh bread and fresh pasta that I have eaten. The staff is great, and the place is usually pretty busy. It is a great date place or to have a large group meet. I really like their catering service, I have used it a few times for family party's. They deliver on time and usually give me extra . Don't fill up on the bread before your food gets to the table, it is really good and hard to stop eating.
(5)Noe Z.
Breadsticks are served warm and delicious. The portions are pretty big and are best eaten family style. We went in a large group and ordered a wide variety of foods.
(4)Annabelle M.
Garlic bread=amazing. would have liked to have more. 5 stars service=slow. wasn't crowded. but it seemed kinda homey/family owned. 4 stars (our water was refilled often enough) eggplant parm=4 stars. skin was a little tough in places. price=4.5 stars. $10 for my eggplant parm with [skimpy] salad. Would be 5 stars if the salad was slightly bigger and more than just lettuce. Total bill=$50 for 4 people (one soft drink) I noticed they are still charging the old tax rate of 8.75 instead of the new 7.75 and brought it to our waiter's attention. not a big deal over a few cents, but i'll be interested to see if they fix that. deserts looked amazing. next time. friend's lasagna looked a bit watery. other friend's ravioli seemed like it needed something else (vegetable? more ravioli?) chicken parm looked good.
(4)Kim B.
My favorite Italian place! Don't let the strip center location fool you. Focaccia bread to die for! Excellent wine prices. Every meal has been great. Love this place.
(5)Theodore G.
food was very good and very authenic Italian dishes alot of food for the price there was 9 of us so 9 meals 3 appitizers(spelling off but u get it) and drinks was$168 the only thing that sucked was she dropped a plate of food and spilled a drink maybe 3 1/2 stars need to go again and try something else
(4)Kathey H.
My sister and I decided to try this restaurant after getting tired of those which claim to be authentic and home made. We loved the freshly baked bread to start, which was so soft and the kind which melts in your mouth. She tried the fetuccini alfredo with big chunks of chicken and it was like nothing we've ever had, with the creamy sauce clinging to the pasta. I had the combo eggplant parmigiana and lasagna. The eggplant was rich but not overbearing and the lasagna sauce was amazing! The owner had us try the Tiramisu and that was the best that I have tasted. The marcapone was mild but with its distinct flavor intact. We will definitely go back and I have already told my co-workers about it!
(5)Mehrdad M.
Ate there for the first time last night. While the strip mall that it is in may seem a bit ghetto. The food was amazing. The pizza was crispy on the bottom and packed with juicy toppings on top. The gnocchi with pesto sauce was addicting. I couldn't stop popping them in my mouth. The veal parmigiana was delicious as well. It came with a side of spaghetti with marinara, and you could tell that the marinara was home-made, not from a jar. I can only take away 1 star for the bad location and slightly slow service (nothing too bad, they're just understaffed). Overall, I will definitely be back here. Great food at fair prices.
(4)Sean M.
Combo Pizza - 5 Stars. THE PIZZA IS FUCKING AWESOME!
(5)Mark M.
Must be an off day for Rufino's Restaurant on the night we went there! We were the only customers in the restaurant at the time, and it seemed dingy and not as clean as I would expect it. In fact, the first booth next to the window had a layer of dust on it with a sign on it stating that it was RESERVED. The God Father must sit there upon his visits to this Italian establishment. Now for the food: We did not find anything super about the food, yet the service was decent. It was sort a bland mostly, yet the bread sticks were some of the best that I have had! Hot and steamy! For a quick dinner, do not expect much, then go ahead and go to Rufino's Italian Restaurant, Most prices are around $10.00 per meal with some execptions, but if you want taste, Keep searching! Bucca would be my choice!
(3)m m.
Pricing good, service exceptional. Food just so-so.
(3)Tracy T.
Really good, hearty Italian. With the rainy weather - my sister and I have been frequenting this place as much as we can afford. We love the breadsticks - go through 3 baskets; and one time they gave us a loaf to take home and toast in the oven. I really like the lasagna, and the minestrone soup, the vegetables are so tender. But my sister and I are addicted to penne al bru .. can't remember - but penne, grilled chicken, broccoli and cauliflower florets in a lovely cream sauce. I usually hate white sauces, but this one hits the spot, not too heavy. For dessert we've enjoyed the cappacino something (ice cream). Have yet to try the spumoni. The choclate chip, sweetened ricotta dessert wasn't too great though ... forget what it was called. Plenty of parking, always open when I have a hankering.
(4)Cindy Z.
Rufino's is a little hole in the wall restaurant that takes you back to the day of intimate dining. The ambiance is great, like stepping back into the 50s. The menu is extensive and the food is exceptional. They will customize your order to meet dietary restrictions and still manage to make it delicious.
(5)Shig N.
A group of us wanted to go do dinner and Tony said this was good Italian food. It was. The owners were attentive but I think our group size was a little overwhelming. We had 15 or so. If we had a slightly smaller group or had called ahead to warn them of our coming - I think they would have good fine. They put forth the effort and we appreciated that. The food. Delicious. Everyone said their meal was good. I had spaghetti - that's what I often have since I am not a big fan of Italian food. I enjoyed it. Their portions are hearty and I look forward to a lunch of spaghetti. The breadsticks were good, too.
(3)Kris K.
I've been living in the area for several years, & I have never came across this small hole in a wall. I work for a hotel nearby & I always come across their Delivery Menu & always think to myself; "Ewww, Rufinos? That sounds so ugly." So I never bothered to give them a chance nor recommend it to hotel guests. "Never judge a book by its cover." That's exactly what I did. My coworkers & I were dying from hunger & were completely done-zo with all the delivery joints in the Anaheim Resort. We were up to trying something new. I accidentally picked up their menu & gagged, yet again. We placed our order, and 35 minutes later, we were all in heaven. We honestly fell in love with their pizza. It actually tastes like pizza! None of that cardboard, plastic tasting ish from chains, but amazing pizza. Ok, I might be exaggerating but it was honestly good. Def not your typical chain or raggedy hole in a wall. I am also highly excited to recommend this place to our guests. Smooches!o
(5)Greg T.
Found this place by accident on our way back to Disneyland and it was a great find. Only a few miles from Mouse-land and much better quality, atmosphere, price and portions than anything in Disney. Our family of 4 had a great meal at a great price with lots of leftovers. The breadsticks are great, the spinach/egg soup was awesome and all the pasta was great. I recommend the trio, but only if you are really hungry. I love family run places with old style decor and this place was it.
(4)Scott A.
I'd have to say I have a mixed review for this place. The food gets a 4, but the service gets a 2. I knew ahead of time it would take long, so that didn't bother me, but the lady who served us didn't answer my questions, was brief with her service and wasn't very friendly at all...The food was tasty, I didn't care for the bread much, but the cabonara pasta was good and for $10 (entree, salad & bread) it's a good deal. I guess I'd say if you can ignore the service and just go for the food, you'll be alright...
(3)Shirrae S.
food was very good...service...just ok...could have been better...but the food was actually very delicious...i got the chicken limone...and had enough for take home and was just as great or better the following day...i will be back!
(3)Elizabeth K.
WOW...I've lived in this area my whole life and never been here until last week. Its definitely a good Italian restaurant that's very affordable with large portions. There was an older lady who was the waitress and she was pretty good since she was the only one I saw working that evening. The garlic bread is really good and its not so much Garlicky its more of an herb bread. I tried the Pasta Trio and its HUGE and really good for being the typical Italian dish and it also comes with a bowl of soup. My husband had the Osso Bucco and the meat was really soft however I thought the tomato sauce was a little tangy. We ordered the Vino Dela Casa (House Burgundy Wine) in the Litro size and oh boy that sucker was huge and not bad for being a house wine. For desert we had the pistachio truffle ice cream covered in white chocolate and creme brulee and both were really good. Overall I'd definitely go again when I'm craving some home style Italian food.
(4)Cammy W.
This is a cute family neighborhood restaurant. Has been there a long time and the owners/staff are really sweet. We were having a pasta feed for the Tinkerbell Half Marathon the next day. We told them we needed to eat quickly. They were very accommodating and the food was perfect for our needs. I'd go there any time I was in the area.
(4)Karli K.
Breadsticks were awesome. With vinegar and oil to dip -yum! Calzone was good as well!
(4)Rose H.
This little "hole in the wall" place has the BEST bread and authentic Italian food. I had the Chicken Marsala and my daughter had the Shrimp Scampi......it was absolutely the best I've had! The prices are very reasonable, portions are great, and the service was very friendly...felt like home.
(5)Melanie S.
This is such a cute place. Really small and quaint. The bread here is to die for...I've never had better fresh garlic bread ever. The pastas are so yummy, carbonara is so good...but pretty rich. The only issue is that I think there are only 2-3 servers that work the place each night. If there's more than maybe 5 parties there, the service can be a little slow. But I really don't mind it. My place to go to for good Italian in the OC.
(4)Sean S.
Overall. It's OK. Was it great? No. Was it acceptable - Yes. Is it better than Sals? No - Sal's KILLS them when it comes to seafood and pasta dishes. Do you want pizza go here. Want the standard in seafood and pasta in Anaheim, go to this little joint called Sal's at magnolia and ball.
(3)Erica G.
Let me start off by saying my family and I used to come here for years before it was purchased by the new owners. We have been a few times more and even had my birthday dinner here back in February with about 20 people. I wish i could give this review no stars but i guess one will do. Last night my family and I about 8 of us got there around 6 and it was already packed with people with one server, one bus lady, and one cook. by the time we sat down and started to order drinks it was about 6:45 pm. By that time more guests started to arrive and still only one cook, one server and one bus lady. By that time the new owners son arrived with his friends and of course he got his food before some of the other customers got there order. There were other guests that arrived and ordered after we did and they got there food before us. We kept asking for more bread, drinks and seriously we didn't get anymore drinks or refills but we did get more bread. oh and i forgot to mention when we ordered our drinks we also ordered to orders of Brucetia and that came out an hour later and of course we sent them back because we were already full from the bread. By the time our food came it was about 8 and i kept asking the server where the manager was and finally the son was helping the cook in the back. The owner finally came in around 8:15 and i finally was able to complain and he apologized for the service and offered to give us free desert and 25% off the bill, but by this time it was already to late for that. I had mentioned that his son got his food before any body else and he stated that he was at the beach and it was his night off so he didn't have to help. Right there that was a BIG RED FLAG because he should have called his dad much earlier for help. i told him i wanted our meal compt since we come there a lot and it was bad service so he started getting angry then i threaten him that i was going to report him and that's when he started to get nasty. My family and i walked out and he followed us out with, you didn't pay your bill and we told him we weren't going to pay and to call the cops if he wanted to. so he got mad at the server thru the bill at her and told her the bill was coming out of her check. It wasn't her fault that the owner wasn't managing correctly. He lost around a $100 from last nights dinner and some loyal customers. So anyone who is reading this review DON'T GO!!!!!!! There are much better Italian restaurants around with better service and food. Good luck to the new owner!
(1)Gloria L.
I L-O-V-E love Rufino's. I recently moved to Anaheim, and have been looking for good eats cuz I don't cook. I decided to try Rufino's based on some reviews, and I've visited a handful of times now. So here's my Zagat-esque take: FOOD: Good, homemade quality (like you have your own little Italian mama back there). DECOR: There is none, other than some murals, so if you're into ambience, fancy linens and plates, you're gonna be disappointed. This is why it's not 5 stars. SERVICE: I was afraid cuz some other reviewers mentioned rude or slow service... NOT SO my friends. I've been served by a sweet older woman who was patient enough to put up with my 3yo niece's kuh-razy antics. I've also been served by a younger woman (attentive and friendly) and a younger man (attentive, but maybe a bit too hover-y). COST: Can't complain, it's equal to the food quality. DISHES ME AND MINE HAVE ENJOYED*: Spaghetti Sicilian, Tortellini Caruso, Pollo al Limone, Eggplant Parmagiana, Spaghetti Carbonara, and of course, the bread. AND OMG THE BRUSCHETTA! It's sooo good, sometimes I'll place a pick up order just for that! MEH DISHES*: My brother didn't like the meatball in the spaghetti and meatballs. * I'm veggie-tarian, so the meat dish reviews are what my friends and family have told me.
(4)Amy P.
Quaint little italian restaurant. Enjoyed a quiet lunch with a friend. Breadsticks were hot out of the oven. The caesar salad cost extra from just the side salad but is TOTALLY worth it. Carbonara was delicious, lunch portion was HUGE!!! It's in an old strip mall, but don't let that detract you!!!
(5)Erik S.
The food here was excellent. The garlic bread tastes wonderful, and so did the Fettuccini Alredo i ordered. I would be giving this place 5 stars, but the service here was horrible. I don't care how Italian this can get. The service was horrible. There were only 3 of us, and the food took forever. Not once did the server give a s#*t about us during the meal. But the food was great. If the food was any less, I would be giving this place fewer stars.
(3)Jackie C.
The owner and all of his staff are really guest first . The homemade sauces and breadsticks are to die for. The personal attention Mike gives to all of his patrons is fantastic! They care about you, the diner to ensure your experience is magnifico! Jackie, Anaheim, CA
(4)E C.
I have a friend of Italian descent & she says that this place is an authentic Italian restaurant! (Olive Garden & Bucca de Beppo IS NOT!-according to her). It's a small, cozy place and the bread is delicious! I believe it is family owned and has been for years. I've only had lunch there and i've had lasagna so i would recommended that as well as their lemon chicken! 5 STARS!!!
(5)