Sweet Basil Bistro

HIDDEN GEM in Big Bear ✨

A charming Italian Bistro located within walking distance of Big Bear's downtown Village.

The food was phenomenal!! So flavorful and balanced! If only there was smell-o-vision…Absolutely impressed and exceeded my expectations!

What we tried:
Sautéed Crab Cakes
Fried Calamari
Fried Cheese Ravioli
Garlic Cheese Bread
Sizzling Garlic Shrimp
Salad
Spaghetti with Creamy Basil Pesto Sauce
Linguine with Clams

Published 2 years ago

This restaurant is good. I ordered linguine with pesto and chicken and it was amazing. My partner ordered lasagna and was disappointed and not contented with his order and the owner offered us a discount for a bad meal. Overall I had a good experience here

Published a year ago

Thus place was wonderful! The service, drink, and food were excellent. All of the food was amazing -- The filet mignon was melt in your mouth! We got the last piece of the housemade berry cobbler and it was delicious! Very happy we chose thus place

Published 2 years ago

Very very delicious food. Many options to choose. Big portions. And definitely a 5 star restaurant.

Published 2 years ago

This place is a must if you are in town. The staff was incredibly kind and informative. We were celebrating our 16 Year Wedding Anniversary and we had an amazing time. My wife ordered the Sally's Best pasta. And let me tell you this was honestly the best tasting pasta she has ever eaten. Every bite was packed with flavor and the portion sizes were very generous. I ordered the ribeye which was humongous and delicious. We will definitely be returning. Thanks for a memorable night.

Published 2 years ago

This was the best dining experience I have had in Big Bear in a long time!! The food was phenomenal, the service was flawless. From the moment I walked in I already knew it was going to be good, the place was packed, and smelled so yummy! Every aspect of our meal was perfect, and really beyond my expectations. I had the linguine with creamy pesto sauce and the Italian sausage, which they slice and cook up so it’s crispy and delicious. My wife had the penne with the pink sauce and some meatballs, we both had food envy, so naturally I cannot wait to go back and try more. For dessert we had the crème brûlée, always one of my favorites, and they put a little candle in it for our anniversary. Honestly, not many places up here pay such good attention to the food, the quality, the experience, and the guests. 10s across the board!

Published 3 years ago

Went on a Saturday night and I recommend making a reservation...it was busy and they were only seating people with one. Small little spot but the food and service was excellent. You have to order the artichoke appetizer...it was delicious! Everything vwe had was so flavorful and our waiter was always checking up on us. Also had a great drink menu...I recommend the old fashioned

Published 3 years ago

As others have commented, yes it is a "hidden gem" in Big Bear. We were in the mood for Italian food while in town and looked this restaurant up. It got good reviews so we gave it a chance. Wow, were we surprised! The food, service and ambience was great. It was delicious food and very fresh. We can't wait to go back when in BB and highly recommend this to others.

Published 2 years ago

everything was perfect! from the minute we walked in, everyone was super friendly and the food was delicious. Thank you Allison, Ryan and Megan for a great time. We will be back very soon :) Highly recommend this restaurant, please note to make a reservation in advance, they do get busy and its a smaller venue

Published a year ago

One of the worst dining experiences I’ve ever had. The chicken was bone-dry, the pasta was undercooked and gummy, and to top it off, we noticed visible health violations in the kitchen area—absolutely unacceptable.

Despite having a reservation, we were made to wait an unreasonable amount of time to be seated. The staff was rude and dismissive, acting like they were doing us a favor just by acknowledging us. The food was ridiculously overpriced for the poor quality, making the experience even more frustrating.

Save your time and money and go somewhere else—this place is a complete disaster.

Published a year ago

Published a year ago

This restaurant is good. I ordered linguine with pesto and chicken and it was amazing. My partner ordered lasagna and was disappointed and not contented with his order and the owner offered us a discount for a bad meal. Overall I had a good experience here

Published a year ago

Very good place. Thanks

Published a year ago

This place is a must if you are in town. The staff was incredibly kind and informative. We were celebrating our 16 Year Wedding Anniversary and we had an amazing time. My wife ordered the Sally's Best pasta. And let me tell you this was honestly the best tasting pasta she has ever eaten. Every bite was packed with flavor and the portion sizes were very generous. I ordered the ribeye which was humongous and delicious. We will definitely be returning. Thanks for a memorable night.

Published 2 years ago

Wonderful evening! Food was awesome! Great bottle of Riesling....Service was fantastic!
David went over and beyond!
Plus we also added dessert and it was great too!
We will definately be returning!

Published 2 years ago

Excellent service, the food is delicious

Published 2 years ago

Published 2 years ago

We came in to eat for dinner. We waited 30 plus minutes just for our appetizers to get out, and had finished the appetizers long before our dinner hit the table. The servers and bussers were all very kind, however, my friend waited about 20-30 minutes for a refill on her water glass. The food wasn’t the worst, but I do not think it is worth the price at all.

Published 2 years ago

Very expensive ...took cake to go..opened the box to find the smallest piece of cake..looked like a half of a piece..total $100 for 2 people

Published 2 years ago

As others have commented, yes it is a "hidden gem" in Big Bear. We were in the mood for Italian food while in town and looked this restaurant up. It got good reviews so we gave it a chance. Wow, were we surprised! The food, service and ambience was great. It was delicious food and very fresh. We can't wait to go back when in BB and highly recommend this to others.

Published 2 years ago

Published 2 years ago

Good Italian food

Published 2 years ago

Found metal in my soup and it was difficult to track someone down. We never received the beverages we ordered. We were the only people in the restaurant. Very disappointing.

Published 2 years ago

Surprising gem in inconspicuous location. The staff was very friendly, knowledgeable about the food, and professional. The food was delicious and nicely presented.The restaurant is small and cozy in a european urban way.

Published 2 years ago

Very very delicious food. Many options to choose. Big portions. And definitely a 5 star restaurant.

Published 2 years ago

Great food and great staff! Also gluten free pasta available and knowledgeable staff.

Published 2 years ago

Published 2 years ago

Great service, food and atmosphere!!

Published 2 years ago

Great service, food and atmosphere!!

Published 2 years ago

The food was mediocre. We had a mushroom soup that was very salty. Everything else was just ok. The server was very nice.

Published 2 years ago

HIDDEN GEM in Big Bear ✨

A charming Italian Bistro located within walking distance of Big Bear's downtown Village.

The food was phenomenal!! So flavorful and balanced! If only there was smell-o-vision…Absolutely impressed and exceeded my expectations!

What we tried:
Sautéed Crab Cakes
Fried Calamari
Fried Cheese Ravioli
Garlic Cheese Bread
Sizzling Garlic Shrimp
Salad
Spaghetti with Creamy Basil Pesto Sauce
Linguine with Clams

Published 2 years ago

Thus place was wonderful! The service, drink, and food were excellent. All of the food was amazing -- The filet mignon was melt in your mouth! We got the last piece of the housemade berry cobbler and it was delicious! Very happy we chose thus place

Published 2 years ago

This is the very best Italian restaurant we've ever eaten at. Hands down, worth the drive from wherever you are right now.

Published 2 years ago

Aside from the fact the name sounds healthy, the Sweet Basil Bistro provided a Gorgonzola Crusted Steak that was a culinary delight. Big Bear has many restaurants to choose from...
Choose wisely... Sweet Basil Bistro

Published 2 years ago

We ordered the filet mignon entree and clams with linguini entree and they were both delicious.

Published 2 years ago

Published 2 years ago

We had a lovely takeout from Sweet Basil Bistro. They have an extensive menu and catered for gluten free and vegetarian diets.

Published 2 years ago

Host woman working there had an attitude. Maybe hire someone other than the local mountain tweaker for a host position since they should be enjoyable and friendly.

Published 2 years ago

Legitimately a delicious high quality meal. Had the Italian Meatloaf. Probably the best choice in town for a delicious meal!!

Published 2 years ago

Small, quiet restaurant. I had the meatloaf with potatoes. It was the perfect serving size. High quality food. We were also served bread and olive oil. The server treated us very well.

Published 2 years ago

Tried this place out for Mother's Day. I made a reservation but there was no wait. It was just Ok. Small portions high prices( $23 for 6 raviolis). Didn't even include bread with the meal? Most Italian restaurants include complimentary bread with the Meal but not here. Food was not impressive. Did not feel like a quality Italian restaurant. We ended up getting a pizza at Maggios after we left here to eat at home.

Published 2 years ago

Stopped in for lunch, very nice. Quiet and relaxing. Food was good.

Published 2 years ago

I order angel pasta marinara sauce and mushrooms. There was hardly any sauce and the mushrooms were terrible. I made my own sauce to salvage the meal. The bread was good.

Published 2 years ago

This place is delicious!! The food is really good. It’s small but cozy too. Service was excellent!

Published 2 years ago

amazing food and amazing ambient.

Published 2 years ago

Excellent food! The harvest day salad was delicious with apple, gorgonzola and pecans. Sally's pasta dish was really good. I add ed two meatballs to it and would order again!!

Published 2 years ago

Published 2 years ago

This is a 100 out of 10 on everything! A home run!
This is my first time eating at Sweet Basil Bistro and all I can say is "AMAZING!" From the minute you walk in you are made to feel at home. The service is perfect in every way. It's like you are family and made to feel welcome. Then the food comes, WOW!It's heaven on earth. The chicken Alfredo is homemade and the best in the world and I've eaten it in 27 different countries so that says a lot. They have the best choice of wine.
The whites are terrific my favorite is their house, Merlo. Bread is fresh, all you can eat. The owner is the most amazing person I've ever met! She knows how to make you feel welcome. The hostess, chef, waiter, and staff are fantastic. Big Bear has many places to eat but Sweet Basil Bistro is hands down the best on this mountain by far. They do take walk-ins if it's not busy but I recommend making a reservation because it's popular for a reason. Call ahead for sure. Make sure you order dessert, because that menu is to die for! Chocolate mouse cake, Gelato, so many choices, but I loved the terramasue. It's mostly Italian but has a great seafood menu and more. Lunch, dinner, dessert, wine, and more. A wonderful atmosphere. A family place but very romantic also. A great place for a first date, engagement, reception, birthdays, and more.
Thank you, Ali and the staff at Sweet Basil Bistro for making my birthday the best I've ever had.

Published 2 years ago

Published 2 years ago

Bland and overpriced

Published 2 years ago

Terrific food! Try this place if you ever come to visit!

Published 2 years ago

Hidden secret gem. Good ambience good service delicious food

Published 2 years ago

Wonderful dining experience! This little restaurant does not feel like it's tucked away under anything. We were seated right and our waitress was super friendly. I think her name was Jaime and she took great care of us. She recommended the grilled artichoke appetizer and it was so delicious we didn't even stop to take a picture! We followed it up with the penne with bolognese sauce. Added an extra Italian sausage because why the heck not? My fiance had the linguine with the pine nut pesto sauce and she loved it. And apparently she needed a ribeye on the side to round it out. The steak was cooked perfectly. We finished our meal with the house made doughnuts and they came with three sauces. Those take a few extra minutes as they fry them to order. This was a gem and we will be back. It has a classy feel for a date night but there were families in there too so don't worry about bringing the kids.

Published 2 years ago

Our main waitress was very nice & helpful and made my son's birthday a fun nite. Unfortunately, the other waitress that took our order didn't tell us the pasta dishes we ordered were made with whole wheat flour, and they were not tasty at all. We won't order them again, for sure.

Published 2 years ago

Published 2 years ago

Published 2 years ago

Great family restaurant

Published 2 years ago

One of our favorites in Big Bear! Excellent food, service and atmosphere... very small and quaint...quiet... highly recommended

Published 2 years ago

Published 2 years ago

Awful establishment, poor management, not family friendly , said they were waiting on dinner right but litterally a few people were in the building.

Published 2 years ago

Excellent food and service.

Published 2 years ago

I've lived in Big Bear more than 20 years. This the one of the best restaurants here. I highly recommend it.

Published 2 years ago

Published 2 years ago

Holy macaroni baby!!!!!! Sweet Basil is amazing!!!! The butternut squash sage soup is nothing less than divine!!! If you don't try it you are making a mistake. My son had the Branzino and I had the lobster lasagna (we shared) food was phenomenal! Both dishes were so flavorful and rich and perfectly prepared! Thank you so much for accommodating my son and I as walk ins on a busy night!

Published 2 years ago

I dined in here a few days ago and had the BEST experience! We came pretty late and didn’t realize how packed it would be so we didn’t make a reservation but they were able to accommodate to us and get us a table very quickly. The service was great, the drinks were great, and the food was even better. This is my favorite place in Bear at the moment and I can’t wait to come back!

Published 2 years ago

Published 2 years ago

Cute little restaurant. Food was ok, with the exception of the creme brulee (I wouldn't recommend it).

Published 2 years ago

The food was pretty good, but the pesto sauce was too salty. And it was really loud in the restaurant. Then they threw out the rest of my meal after they offered to box it up for me. Not impressed.

Published 2 years ago

Had reservations for 2 Christmas eve,our daughter showed up unexpectedly making 3. They refused to seat us even though a table for 2 became available that a chair could have be added. This is a very small restaurant and the new owners are even smaller. This establishment is definitely not accommodating. We are locals and have been coming here 20 years,but the new owners are very hard hearted. We won't be back. Locals boycott Sweet Basil Bestro.

Published 2 years ago

The butternut squash soup is amazing! Probably the best soup I've eaten ever!! The olive oil that comes with the bread is so garlicky, which is my favorite flavor, so that was a huge delight!!

Published 2 years ago

Published 2 years ago

This was our first time visiting and we had such a wonderful meal, we're returning for dinner tomorrow. We are only here in Big Bear for two nights so that says a lot. The food was excellent and so was the service. The creamy mushroom soup was really next level.

Published 2 years ago

I only ordered their artichoke to-go, but it & the sauces were AMAZINGLY yummy 😋

Published 2 years ago

Fresh Italian food and outstanding wait staff. Great cozy atmosphere.
I had Eggplant Parmesan. It wasn't your usual baked casserole loaded with cheese, rather a plate of sliced eggplant, lightly breaded, with minimal cheese and marinara. It was very good and obviously made to order.
My friend had linguine with clams, which she loved.
I'm looking forward to trying the lobster lasagne next visit.
Reservations recommended.

Published 2 years ago

My husband had the chicken parmesan and he said it was really good.
I ordered the linguini with clams in a white wine sauce. I asked for marinara on the side and combined them. It was delicious.
The bread was fresh and warm. They served water in beautiful crystal glasses.

It's a small establishment but cozy, warm and quaint. There was a friendly young lady who was "everything"= hostess, bar tender, waitress, bus person and cashier.. she was amazing at all her jobs.

So glad we went there. Definitely will return

Published 3 years ago

A little gem with authentic yummy food!

Published 3 years ago

WOW! Highly recommend the linguine with clams, lobster lasagna, and chicken Parmesan. Wow. Celebrated our friends birthday here and will be back

Published 3 years ago

Always great 👍

Published 3 years ago

Such a delicious meal!!! Try the lobster lasagna - it’s sooo good! Great vegan options also.

Published 3 years ago

Published 3 years ago

We wanted to try this place because of the stellar reviews. First time here.

Can only speak about my take out for dinner. Walking in, place is small with about 20 or so booth/tables. Online order was a few estimated time was almost accurate, we only waited a few more minutes.

Ordered the calamari and custom pasta with pink sauce and chicken. Sadly disappointing that all the food had no flavor.

Flavor from the marinara and tartar sauce was the only thing you taste in the tiny calamari. Pink sauce had no flavor, pasta wasn’t even salted. The parmesan was the only thing worth mentioning.

At least you could still eat because it wasn’t overpowering or overcooked. Hope it was a one off issue and just a fluke. So hence the 2 stars otherwise wouldn’t be the ~50 spent.

Published 3 years ago

Published 3 years ago

Reservations only. They don't take walk-ins.

Walked in at 6pm on a Saturday and was immediately told to go online and make a reservation, but the soonest they had was 8pm. The restaurant was 2/3 full.

Food looked good. Wish I could have tried it!

Published 3 years ago

Published 3 years ago

Published 3 years ago

Published 3 years ago

Lobster Lasagna!

Published 3 years ago

Absolutely the best Italian spot I've been to in a long time! Ryan and Megan killed it with service from walking through the door to the final goodbye. Upon walking in, you're met with the best aromas coming from the kitchen. The atmosphere was on point for a dinner date. Had the fresh bread & oil, grilled artichoke, and beet salad to start with a bottle of cab. The mains consisted of the mushroom truffle pasta and eggplant parmesan. My partner is vegan, and they were very attentive to her requests. Everything was delicious and the service impeccable. Highly recommend, we will absolutely return again. Be sure to reserve as it is a very intimate setting. Long waits should be expected without a reservation.

Published 3 years ago

Published 3 years ago

Published 3 years ago

Published 3 years ago

Great food. Wonderful vegetarian options.

Published 3 years ago

Published 3 years ago

Food was very good. I had gluten-free penne and my wife had the eggplant parmegian. The sauce was superb!

Published 3 years ago

Delicious food, especially the bread!

Published 3 years ago

Published 3 years ago

Published 3 years ago

Absolutely impressed! I come from New York and let me tell you, this was hands down the best Italian food we’ve had on the west coast. Service was AMAZING, you need a reservation but we got lucky and we got a table walk in. The lady at the front of the house was so understanding, she took an order just cause it was past dinner time for our baby and we got his food as soon as we sat at the table. Their freshly made loaf of bread was so delicious and really set the tone for the rest of the dinner. We ordered their Chicken Parmesan, special of the day-chicken picatta and my mom had their lobster lasagne which was out of this world!! (It’s really hard to impress my mother since she’s Indian and won’t like anything but Indian food) So creamy and delicious, I definitely will try my best to replicate it at home. We live in Joshua Tree but safe to say like another review that I read, I’m ready to drive out here all the way just to have some great Italian food. This is your spot!!! Eat here now!!

Published 3 years ago

Published 3 years ago

Excellent I highly recommended

Published 3 years ago

Published 3 years ago

This was the best dining experience I have had in Big Bear in a long time!! The food was phenomenal, the service was flawless. From the moment I walked in I already knew it was going to be good, the place was packed, and smelled so yummy! Every aspect of our meal was perfect, and really beyond my expectations. I had the linguine with creamy pesto sauce and the Italian sausage, which they slice and cook up so it’s crispy and delicious. My wife had the penne with the pink sauce and some meatballs, we both had food envy, so naturally I cannot wait to go back and try more. For dessert we had the crème brûlée, always one of my favorites, and they put a little candle in it for our anniversary. Honestly, not many places up here pay such good attention to the food, the quality, the experience, and the guests. 10s across the board!

Published 3 years ago

The food here is amazing and the staff went above and beyond. We had Ceasar Salad, short rib ravioli and linguine with gorgonzola cheese sauce. I think you would have to go to Italy for better Italian food.

Special shout out to Ryan, the server/hostess that was so kind to me when I had a bout of altitude sickness that turned in an ambulance ride. The staff was responsive to my emergency, called 911 and took care of me until paramedics arrived.

Needless to say I will be returning to this awesome place next time I visit Big Bear. I was just sorry I didn't get to try their desserts!!

Published 3 years ago

Published 3 years ago

Great Italian restaurant. The food is top notch.

Published 3 years ago

There are quite a few items on the menu that can be made vegetarian or vegan. The vegan options we tried were all amazing and the portion sizes were great!

Published 3 years ago

Best Italian food! And drink 🍸 🤪

Published 3 years ago

My family had the best meal. Every dish was delicious. The fish special was amazing. Very delicate, juicy and seasoned well. The service was impeccable and I will make sure I come back afain.

Published 3 years ago

Been living in Big Bear for 6+ yrs and it was our first time here. Really enjoyed it! The food was very good, service was good and the bottled wine prices were not too steep. We had one beer drinker in our group who thought the beer selection was lacking, but that was our only complaint. We'll definitely be going back.

Updated July 2023: Have been back here several times since my last review. For the first time, the entree I ordered (rib eye) was disappointing. It was huge and had a nice flavor, but the cut seemed to be of very poor quality. Our appetizer and dessert were both good.

The service used to be amazing, but it has been pretty borderline our last several times here. Well aware that everyone has staffing issues, but it felt like they would check back in with us just moments before we were about to question if they forgot we were there. Just a personal preference, but I don't like the team approach where multiple people are waiting on us. Will go back, but not order the same entree.

Published 3 years ago

Everything we ordered was fresh, had great flavor, and were good portions. It was nice to find a healthy option to order from while we were in Big Bear.

Published 3 years ago

Better place to stop and get some good food. The food is made well. The they are quick and fast to refill drinks. A nice family atmosphere.

Garlic bread dip is the best. Linguine and clans were delicious.

Published 3 years ago

Published 3 years ago

Amazing food!

Published 3 years ago

The lobster lasagna is to die for. It's my favorite local restaurant. I'm forty minutes away but still on the mountain. It's definitely my favorite destination when I want something really good to eat. Can't go wrong here.

Published 3 years ago

Did a to go order here last weekend. The place was packed, the staff was superrrr nice and helpful, didn't wait long. Food was really good. Only mark down is its definitely pricey. 2 pastas and an appetizer cost us over $70. I know it's a tourist town so I expected higher prices but that was without any drinks or tip etc. Parking lot on a Saturday night was pretty full.

Published 3 years ago

Overpriced for what we received. There wasn’t enough sauce on the pasta and at 24 dollars for meatballs and spaghetti it shouldn’t be dry. The meatballs were good though. We also ordered an antipasto salad and they forgot the meat. The tiramisu tasted like pure alcohol. We didn’t finish it.

Published 3 years ago

What a great meal! We were able to set a reservation via OpenTable. The service was friendly and attentive. The menu was great. Everybody ordered something different and we all enjoyed our selections. The fried ravioli was an especially nice appetizer, and the little donuts were a hit for dessert. We were able to take our time and enjoy our meal with friends. Definitely a do-over.

Published 3 years ago

Published 3 years ago

Published 3 years ago

Published 3 years ago

I heard stories about the Lobster Lasagna and the Filet Mignon. Finally went there and we had the place all to ourselves! My new favorite!

Published 3 years ago

Great food but pricey for portions

Published 3 years ago

Though they've been around for decades, they are still known only by the locals. A 4.8 average rate thing for them is not good enough. We are bowled over by the wonderful service and great flavors. We sent a tip back to the chef. Can't say enough about this place. I drove a hundred miles to get here. I think I'd do it again.

Published 3 years ago

Staff is amazing

Published 3 years ago

Stopped here for lunch with my 9 year old on our way into Big Bear. We each ordered the soup and sandwich. As my child said, A+! Hot ham and cheese with red pepper soup was delicious and filling! Definitely coming again to try more items.

Published 3 years ago

Food was good. Had the sea bass.

Published 3 years ago

Went here for Valentine's Day. The menu has a great selection. I got a valentine day special. Swordfish dinner with veggies and rice. It was perfect! Definitely recommend this place. Most restaurants were booked for Valentine's Day and we found this spot. We were able to reserve a table (barely,) they were busy.

Published 3 years ago

Went on a Saturday night and I recommend making a reservation...it was busy and they were only seating people with one. Small little spot but the food and service was excellent. You have to order the artichoke appetizer...it was delicious! Everything vwe had was so flavorful and our waiter was always checking up on us. Also had a great drink menu...I recommend the old fashioned

Published 3 years ago

Intimate little spot in Big Bear serving up five star food! Always busy, with occasionally lengthy wait times but... Oh so worth it! Absolutely delicious food, friendly staff too

Published 3 years ago

Best pasta I’ve had IN. MY. LIFE. Best customer service and homey environment.

Published 3 years ago

Published 3 years ago

They didn’t even give us table ,the places was empty and the waitress was in a bad mood, did even respond back a simple hello. Al she did was give us the back and look else where. When the try to pass she immediately obstruct the way. We walk out

Published 3 years ago

Really great food, good service, just have patience cause they can get real busy. Its a small place and they could probably expand and continue to be very successful. I'm definitely coming back each time I'm in the area. Had the filet mignon with shrimp wrapped in prosciutto. It was perfection!

Published 3 years ago

Не слишком дорого, но и не дёшево.
Вкусно. В целом, нормально.

Published 3 years ago

Published 3 years ago

Awful experience. Poor management. Avoid at all costs! This restaurant would rather knowingly steal money through fraudulent charges than return a call and set a mistake correct. So poorly run and losing money they have to steal from customers.

Published 3 years ago

Delicious food, great service and we’ll be back! highly recommend!

Published 3 years ago

The food was outstanding and the service was incredible. Waitresses were absolutely working their tails off and couldn’t have asked for a better night

Published 3 years ago

They will steal from you. Beware. Managers and owners are fraudulently charging people.
Find another restaurant to give your money to.

Published 3 years ago

I would leave zero stars if I could. Do NOT eat here and do NOT make a reservation. I have never left a negative restaurant review before. Sweet Basil fraudulently charged my credit card for over $400 after telling us NOT to show up for our reservations. And since the hostess told us not to show up I was assured the fee would be waived. I have called repeatedly and both the owner and manager refuse to return my calls. The “cancellation fee” is less than a fraction of what we were charged. No decent business steals from patrons. I can’t imagine what they are adding on to peoples checks behind the scenes. Lots of shady work ethics going on here. Save your money, STAY AWAY.

Published 3 years ago

Please go, now.

Published 3 years ago

Published 3 years ago

great food and excellent service. recommend making a reservation as it fills up fast. the Italian meatloaf with garlic mashed potatoes was amazing. great wine selection as well. highly recommend. best food I've had at Big Bear. cheers! 🍷

Published 3 years ago

We honoured our reservation and the restaurant charged me $40 cancellation fee. I am currently waiting for the manager's response.

Published 3 years ago

Published 3 years ago

Lovely atmosphere, attentive service and excellent food. We ordered the fried ravioli appetizer, lobster ravioli, ribeye, eggplant Parmesan, and pesto noodles - kids size. Plus desserts. All was enjoyed and finished! Note: we made a reservation on open table and we’re seated right after we arrived. Couldn’t have gone better. We’ve ordered from here before during pandemic and remember the food was excellent then too. In the world of Big Bear restaurants, this place is a 10/10.

Published 3 years ago

Great place to have lunch and diner. Very kindness and professional service, very very delicious food!

Published 3 years ago

We confirmed a reservation for 3 via text [Hi there. We have a reservation for 3 for hale at 6pm. Could we move the reservation up an hour to 5pm please?] [answer: yes, thank you] only to show up and be told they made a mistake and couldn't seat us but it was really our fault anyway. The place was smelly so probably a good miss. They told us it was fully booked but it was mostly empty.

Published 3 years ago

This was my first time at this restaurant in December 2022 and I was very disappointed in the service. The hostess was very friendly and so was our waitress, but after taking our order, we never saw her again until we were leaving. No one came over to ask how our meal was or if we needed refills at all, and when I asked someone for more water, they never came. However, they were pretty prompt when picking up the bill. I was surprised that for a small restaurant they weren't more attentive. It gets 3 stars only because I thought the food was very good- I had butternut squash ravioli while my husband had lobster lasagna. It was pretty delicious. There's other restaurants with better service in the area, so I probably wouldn't come back.

Published 3 years ago

Published 3 years ago

Published 3 years ago

We had a nice dinner, very tasty. Enjoyed the wine, the atmosphere, service and the entire experience. We'll be back!

Published 3 years ago

Published 3 years ago

They were closed the last 3 times I tried to go there.

Published 3 years ago

The food, service, and atmosphere were all amazing. You can tell there is love and thought put into this place. We had a reservation for 7:30pm on a Saturday night. We were greeted kindly when entering and promptly seated. We had drinks and bread with olive oil right away. We ordered the appetizer special and antipasto salad to start. The fried ravioli and salad were incredible. So much flavor and was brought out quickly. Shortly after our main dish was ready. I had penne alfredo with grilled chicken and the portion was huge. The sauce was creamy, the pasta and chicken cooked perfectly. This was one of the best dining experiences I've had, especially in Big Bear. This 100% one of the top restaurants in Big Bear. The staff is attentive and friendly. The food is high quality and large portions. You will not be disappointed.

Published 3 years ago

Great food as ALWAYS. Thank you

Published 4 years ago

One of our favorite spots to eat Italian food in Big Bear! It’s a quaint little space with serving wonderful food. Our waitress Meagan is a great server with a positive personality! I love going here for special occasions too! It’s best to make reservations!

Published 4 years ago

1st time dining here and I was very impressed. My lunch special was delicious!

Published 4 years ago

Very nice place, excellent food, and great service.

Published 4 years ago

Not a family friendly restaurant. Actually they are quite the opposite. If ur children cry in this establishment u will be kicked out unfortunately. And not even just "asked" to leave they will physically remove u from the building which is above their pay grades I'd think. Disgusting place especially if u want to enjoy a dinner with family.

Published 4 years ago

Nice little Italian restaurant. The lasagna and squash ravioli were solid but not exceptional. Three stars comes from the hostess and wait staff struggles. Service was slow and they seemed confused, and I couldn't get a second cup of coffee despite asking three times. The clincher was the hostess encouraging a large dinner party seated next to us to hurry and leave so she could seat the next group.

Published 4 years ago

We Came as a family and all the plates were really good

Published 4 years ago

Published 4 years ago

Some of the best food you've ever tasted great atmosphere friendly staff if I could give 10 Stars I would

Published 4 years ago

I always make it a point to eat here when I'm I'm Big bear. The food is good. They try the best they can with the decor but the staff is nice ans knowledgeable and the food always tastes great

Published 4 years ago

Beautiful place great food and service

Published 4 years ago

Great food quick and friendly service

Published 4 years ago

Published 4 years ago

Food is allways tasty and fresh. One of the best places to eat In Big Bear.

Published 4 years ago

Published 4 years ago

Published 4 years ago

I recommend getting a reservation. I also recommend and insist in the stuffed shells w/cheese, spinach, and Italian sausage. 5 stars on that alone! SO GOOD!! Great service.

Published 4 years ago

Ein Muss wer in dieser Gegend ist. Unglaublich gut. Die Preise sind für die Qualität gerechtfertigt. Wir würden sofort wiederkommen.

Published 4 years ago

Great food, we enjoyed all of it!

Published 4 years ago

Published 4 years ago

Excellent service, great food! Had the lobster lasagna and it was really good.

Published 4 years ago

I would drive from Long Beach to Big Bear just to go here! Excellent & attentive staff. From the appetizer (fried raviolis), to the antipasti salad, & my “choose your pasta”, truly delicious!! And then to cap it off, the best tiramisu I’ve had in years! Wonderful restaurant!

Published 4 years ago

Started off with a great appetizer, our main dishes were great and lots of food, cocktails and ended with a great tiramisu dessert. Would come back again

Published 4 years ago

Great food. Good service.

Published 4 years ago

We picked that restaurant because it was the closest Italian restaurant and well, we were not disappointed! The food is excellent and service is great. A bit too loud for my non American ears though! 😁

Published 4 years ago

A German deli in town recommended this place so we thought ok will try it. It was absolutely fabulous!!!! The most delicious homemade Italian food ever!!!! Truly a must ever single time we come up to Big Bear!!!! We drive up from Orange County!!! We enjoyed lasagna an Italian meatloaf gosh equally amazing!!! Dessert Crème brûlée an little donuts crazy homemade both are worth every bite!!!! I recommend this place it’s a forever in my books an once you try it you’ll thank me!!!! ❤️❤️❤️

Published 4 years ago

Quaint, intimate, pleasant restaurant. Food was amazing! Refreshingly elegant and sophisticated menu selections. Our server, Rian, was excellent.

Published 4 years ago

Delicious 😋

Published 4 years ago

I heard great things about the restaurant from my gf, who helps provide fresh ingredients for the owner. We decided to try it out, and boy we were glad we did! We started with the fried Calamari. It was unique in that it was fried in cornmeal. Very tasty and crisp! My girlfriend got some Pasta Gorgonzola w/ shrimp. utterly decadent. so good! so creamy! I went with the classic Chicken Parm. Did not regret it! super crispy fried chicken smothered in cheese. All over linguine pasta in a sweet basil sauce. The staff was very friendly and helpful in making our selections. They were patient with us even when we ordered dessert near the closing time. We ordered the Creme Brulee, and it was decadent as well. So rich. The decor was simple rustic Italian vibes. Overall 10/10

Published 4 years ago

Osum food, Taste is good, variety is good. VEG and Non Veg both were excellent. Must go

Published 4 years ago

Published 4 years ago

Ravioli with rib meat was great. Lobster lasagna was excellent. Will definitely be back.

Published 4 years ago

Friendly, calm environment. Great food, reasonable prices.

Published 4 years ago

Awesome Filet Mignon with Shrimp!
Girlfriend had the Sea Bass!
Best Mojito ever!

Published 4 years ago

Great little spot. Green harvest salad was a winner, prosciutto wrapped shrimp were delicious, crab cakes were pretty good. Entrees were solid. Blue cheese crusted filet (not stuffed as menu stated) was really good although well done when ordered medium. Grilled branzino was really good. Service excellent. The only negative was the black mussels that came out with about a third of them unopened which, as a Chef you shouldn't even send out as that means they aren't good. Place deserves 5 stars regardless and I'll be back.

Published 4 years ago

Surprised to find that they have been here for 14 years and we just fiund it.

Published 4 years ago

Published 4 years ago

Was really impressed by this place! One of the best Italian restaurants we've ever been to. The creamy tomato pesto is probably my favorite sauce I've ever had. At first, the prices seemed high but you get great portions and high quality. The atmosphere is very nice and the service is friendly. This is our new go-to restaurant when we are in Big Bear.

Published 4 years ago

Amazing service. Fresh and delish food. Really high quality. Absolutely would come back. Very nice dining but a little odd decor & music

Published 4 years ago

The food is amazing, high quality creative Chef. Everything seems to be fresh and homemade. I rate it the best restaurant in Big Bear

Published 4 years ago

This place is wonderful!
Service was great!
The fish was delicious, flavors are marveling!
Call ahead and you won't be disappointed with the wait!

Published 4 years ago

Published 4 years ago

Good food and excellent service..love the sausage wrap in a pan cake and with ice cream on the size..

Published 4 years ago

Published 4 years ago

They have a few vegan options and the waitress was very knowledgeable on the difference of vegan and vegetarian which was helpful in making a meal decision.

Published 4 years ago

I knew it’s the ideal Italian trattoria one could only chance-encounter once the charming hostess and the artworks on the wall greeted us. Families talking, slow music for the night playing, the space felt like home. The cocktails were nice and the food was simple but elegant and delicious. We loved the lobster lasagna - the natural sweetness and umami of the generous lobster filling gave such a joy. The linguine with new-to-the-menu wild mushroom sauce was also an ingenious creation - familiar ingredients, but a fascinating flavor that I had no experience of before. Look forward to visiting again!

Published 4 years ago

Published 4 years ago

Published 4 years ago

Published 4 years ago

Cozy place for the Italian fair. Great service, fast turnaround time. It’s amazing how tiny that kitchen is and what they can deliver out of it. We had 3 simple pasta dishes and scallop special. The special was absolutely great, perfectly cooked and the sauce was amazing. Pasta bulognese was just fine. Creamy pesto was a bit too heavy. The chicken parm was simply over cooked. Although table next to us raved about theirs chix parms. So don’t know what happened to ours. Overall good, but hit and miss with some dishes.

Published 4 years ago

Service was excellent!

Published 4 years ago

We had a great lunch experience however we didn't sit in and enjoy that delicious sandwich. However, we will return to dine in and will rate that experience.

Published 4 years ago

Published 4 years ago