Team C&J
This Restaurant Is Permanently Closed.
Restaurant Rating
Cost Rating
Food Type
Italian
32441 Golden Lantern, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
If the Bottega Angelina address looks familiar, that’s because the space that now houses Pizzeria Angelica and the Mercato used to be Savannah Chop House, Laguna Nigel’s long-in-the-tooth hilltop steakhouse. To say that the owners of Bottega Angelina, Filippo, and Shokoufeh Fusco, have transformed this space is an understatement.
The new restaurant and accompanying market are contemporary, inviting, and a welcome addition to the Orange County culinary scene. The restaurant has a certain kind of Southern California glamor to it while still evoking a coastal Italian vibe. The dining room is beautifully airy and full of natural light, and the decor is done in vibrant oranges, Mediterranean blues, and crisp white. It almost feels like an intimate, boutique version of Eataly.
And we haven’t even touched on the view! From Bottega Angelina, you can see all the way to the ocean when the skies are clear. It’s great to see someone finally create a destination dining spot in Laguna Niguel that does justice to this hilltop space.
We dined at Pizzeria Angelina as a sort of last meal before we started a new “clean” eating diet. When you know you’re going to be loading up on lean proteins and veggies, you’ve just got to indulge in some authentic Italian food. The sauces, the bread, the delicious meats and cheeses. And, wow. Pizzeria Angelina was a great choice.
The lunch menu at Bottega Angelina includes popular Italian dishes like Fritto Di Mare (fried calamari), Polpo Affumicato (charred o
ctopus with crispy capers, Taggiasca olive, and sundried tomato pesto), a selection of gourmet panini sandwiches, salads, handmade pasta, and pizzas.
We couldn’t resist the Capricciosa Pizza. The crust was soft but crispy around the edges, and the toppings were a satisfying mix of m
elted mozzarella di bufala, imported ham, savory mushrooms, briny olives, and tender artichokes.
We also enjoyed the rustic simplicity of the Spaghetti Chitarra Al Pomodoro. If you’ve never tried pasta with made-from-scratch noodles, you will be amazed at the difference this makes.
If you visit Bottega Angelina for dinner, the menu expands to include heartier dishes like house-made pappardelle with wild boar meat sauce, house-made butternut squash ravioli, Maine lobster, oven-roasted branzino, pork shoulder, and lamb chops.
We can’t talk about this restaurant without saying a quick word about the wine offerings because the wine list at Pizzeria Angelina is an Italian wine lover’s dream. The by-the-bottle list has some excellent bottles of white wine and includes lesser-appreciated Italian varieties like Timarraso, Arneis, Falanghina, Fiano, Grillo, and Greco di Tufo.
For the red wines, you will find Sagrantino, a few nice Chiantis (Sangiovese), Aglianico, Barbera, and Ruche. The Ruche, which is one of Piedmont’s native grapes, could be a nod to owner Filippo’s Piedmontese roots because that is an intriguing grape that you just don’t see on everyday wine lists.
When you enter the Mercato, you’re greeted by what is perhaps the most creative use of pasta we’ve ever seen. Take a look at the photo of the woman on the motorcycle. Her dress, shoes, hair, and jewelry are all made of pasta! It’s a piece of art.
Equally as impressive as the dining experience at Pizzeria Angelina (and the woman made of pasta) is the Mercato, Bottega Angelina’s Italian market. The Mercato is a playground of fresh Italian ingredients and pantry staples imported from all over Italy. Within the Mercato’s beautifully designed walls, you will find fresh Italian pasta, dried imported pasta, pastries, salumi, various cheeses, anchovies, and coffee.
There is also a gelato station which has small batch gelato, tiramisu, and other tasty delights. Need a unique gift? The Mercato also has eye-catching home goods, artisanal chocolates, fancy olive oils, and more!
Il bar, the aptly named bar at Bottega Angelina, has generous counter seating – 27 seats in all, and is home to the aptly named 27 Club. This wine-themed club and event takes place every Saturday and Sunday from 2 pm to 4 pm, and, you guessed it, takes place at the 27-seat bar.
When you attend a 27 Club wine tasting, you will receive a curated selection of charcuterie and antipasti, along with a unique Italian wine. If the wine list is any indication, there will be some truly interesting varieties, the kind you won’t get at your average restaurant or wine bar.
While walk-ins are accepted, this event draws a crowd, so it’s best to make a reservation. The event is reasonably priced at $27 per person for reservations and $47 for walk-ins.
The food doesn’t get much better than the offerings at Bottega Angelina, and the service is excellent. This is a wonderful spot for lunch, dinner, an afternoon cocktail, or fancy Italian coffee. Overall, this was a 5-star experience across the board for food, service, and the vibrant, buzzy atmosphere.
All things wine, and food you could ever need or want — straight to your email!
