Reviews for Alza Italian Kitchen in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

Wow! This was amazing! The restaurant Is spacious with booths and table tops. You can eat outside under heat lamps if you... choose. Our server was kind, and knowledgeable on the food which was excellent as everything on the menu sounded great soguidance was helpful. Tonight I decided to try the chipotle shrimp flatbread with a Cesar salad! Mm mmm mm flavor galore! Mydaughter went with the spaghetti, mother-in-law went with the piccata and partner went with chicken Parm everyone is extremelypleased! We will be coming back. Read more

First impressions matter. Place is clean and plenty of nice decor. Ambient feels like a sports bar not a fine dining spot.... Appetizers came after our meals. Not impressed with their mix drinks. Food was blend and cold. Waiter offered bread but forgotto provide it. They have plenty of competition around. Step up your game. I will update if things change. Enjoy! Read more

Last night was the second time we went to Alza's for dinner. What got our attention and led us there to begin with was the... band, Vintage Vinyl, playing in the courtyard area. You can also eat outside or go into the air-conditioned restaurant and bar. We chose to be outside both times. The band plays 60's through 80's music, I believe and are really, really good. Not tooloud - you can still have conversations while they are playing. The food is very good - the charcuterie board (small) isabsolutely beautiful and has way too much on it for 2 people. Salads were good, mushroom risotto was awesome, pizza wasfantastic. I don't recall what dishes everyone had but we all had ample portions and brought a to-go box for home. Comparableprices to the area. If you want to have a fun time in a fun-filled atmosphere, go to Alza's when Vintage Vinyl is there. Youmight even get up and dance! Read more

I can not say enough about this place. The food was fabulous, the service was great Michael couldn't have been more helpful. ... The atmosphere was great. There was live music which made it really special. We were on vacation and I needed to go back forone last meal. Wish we had one around us. We had the fish chowder which was fantastic. Everyone got something different andeveryone raved about it. I can go on and on. This is a don't miss restaurant. Thank you Steve and Laura for taken us there. 5stars for sure!!!! Read more

My experience at Alza was delightful to say the least. The atmosphere is both exquisite and welcoming and the bartender, Brian,... was one to remember. His drinks are made perfectly to end my evenings after a long 9 hour shift at work. I highly recommend the“Delia” drink if you’re looking for a refreshing summer splash in a glass. 5 stars and a round of applause for my newfavorite restaurant/bar :) Read more

What an awesome experience! Food was amazing, especially the bacon risotto - an absolute must! The service was exceptional! The... patio was a great spot to enjoy live music, have a drink and enjoy a delicious dinner. If you haven't been, you're missing out. Read more

My friend and I stopped at Alza Italian Kitchen for lunch today! We got there about 12:30 and they had a nice lunch crowd. I... wanted to sit at the bar so we just walked in and sat right down. They had a very nice selection of craft beer! I ordered a HazyIPA. It was very good. Nice and cold! We both ordered the chicken Parm, one of my favorites. It came with a bowl of soup,Italian Sausage and vegetables. That was fantastic, so good I was tempted to order another bowl. But the chicken Parm arrivedjust then. Tender chicken breast with Provolone cheese and marinara sauce on a bed of pasta. That hit the spot. We both agreedhow good everything was. I left the server a great tip and she earned it! The service was fast and friendly. I would highlyrecommend Alza to anyone! Read more

I was happy to see a new restaurant in RSM and decided to meet a friend there for dinner. When I first walked up, I waited... quite some time for a hostess. When no one showed up, I went inside to speak with the gentleman behind the cash register. Heseemed bothered that I was asking about getting seated. There were only 2 tables with customers and a few folks at the bar so Iwasn't sure why he seemed annoyed. I asked to be seated outside and he said sit anywhere I want and he'll get menus. We sat ata table which we had to clean ourselves. When my friend and I ordered, it took about 20 minutes to get our meal. I wanted clamsbut was told later they didn't have enough clams to fulfill my order. The only saving grace to the evening was the food wasdelicious. I love supporting local businesses, especially now, and I hope they can train their staff on good customer service.During this challenging time, I would hope there would be more appreciation for customers who chose to give them business.Especially a new restaurant. Read more