Cucina Alessa

Cucina Alessa Restaurant Review:

A “Welcome to Italy” sign should grace the doors of Cucina Alessá, an upscale yet rustic Italian bistro with intimate dining rooms and a small bar. Located right on Pacific Coast Highway in a north end neighborhood called Newport Shores, Alessá is a good place to hang out and enjoy some of OC's most authentic Napoli-inspired fare, with many of the items culled from family recipes. Don't miss starting with the minestrone soup before proceeding to the well-balanced Caesar salad, which is tossed with tangy homemade dressing. The Napoli lasagna dish is a standout, as are the rolled-this-morning ravioli and gnocchi. And as one might expect, there’s also a lineup of thin-crust pizzas, featuring gourmet toppings like Parma prosciutto, arugula and white truffle oil. On weekends, guests can drop in for breakfast dishes such as an Italian sausage omelet with smoked mozzarella or eggs Benedict.