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Interior - Il Girasole, Costa Mesa, CA

Il Girasole

4.5
4.5
68 Reviews
$31 to $50
Italian

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2 people
23:30
Booked 9 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Good for special occasions
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Innovative
Il Girasole, now open at SOCO & The OC Mix in Costa Mesa, CA, brings a refined, modern Italian dining experience to Orange County. Named after the Italian word for "sunflower," the restaurant embraces a family-owned ethos, with a menu inspired by classic Italian flavors elevated through fresh, high-quality ingredients. Enjoy a variety of beautifully crafted dishes, from handmade pastas and creative flatbreads to thoughtfully curated seafood and meat selections. Each dish is prepared with a focus on authenticity and quality, delivering a dining experience that balances traditional and contemporary Italian cuisine.

Highlights from the menu include unique offerings like wild striped bass, duck, sea urchin risotto, and handmade pasta with truffle enhancements. Il Girasole has quickly become a must-visit destination for both Italian food aficionados and those seeking an elegant yet welcoming dining environment in Costa Mesa.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Contemporary Italian
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Wed–Sun 11:30–14:00 Bar Tue 16:00–21:00 Wed, Thu, Sun 11:30–21:00 Fri, Sat 11:30–22:00 Dinner Tue–Thu, Sun 17:00–21:00 Fri, Sat 17:00–22:00
  • Phone number
    (657) 218-9439
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Area
    Costa Mesa
  • Cross Street
    Sunflower Ave and Hyland Ave
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Public transit
    Bus 43 stops at Harbor Blvd & Sunflower Ave
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • 4 course Il Girasole Experience

    US$98.00 per person

    Multiple dates available
    Join us to an exclusive 4 course menu created by our culinary team check the menu here https://www.il-girasole.com/menu

What 68 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.2Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Orange County

    Innovative

  • North Orange County

    Innovative

  • North Orange County

    Great for fine wines

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Il Girasole is a vibrant, modern Italian restaurant in Costa Mesa known for its "fantastic cooking" and "beautiful presentation." Guests rave about the "exceptional" service, especially from Antonio, and the "creative and delicious" dishes. Highlights include the "amazing" pasta and "outstanding" desserts. Perfect for special occasions!

68 Reviews
  1. Hannah

    Orange County1 review

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Perfect date night spot! Loved it and will most likely be coming back :)

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  2. CK

    Orange County3 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    The food is good but the portion is a bit small and little pricey.

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  3. Jack VIP

    Orange County11 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Food was excellent. Will definitely return again.

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  4. Stacie VIP

    Orange County2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Delicious food, impeccable service! We've already booked our next reservation!

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  5. Marianne

    Los Angeles1 review

    4.0

    Dined on 5 March 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    It is a nice place, the restaurant is brand new and has vibrant and stylish atmosphere. I went for a quick lunch to try their offering for OC Restaurant week. The service was good, I felt welcome. For appetizer I had crudo Hamachi and it was very fresh, I would have liked it to be just a tad more seasoned but overall - great presentation and it tasted good. For entree I had pasta with guanciale and it was very flavorful - a little too al-dente for me, but again, it is a matter of preference. The desert was wine-poached pear and it was fabulous - both taste and presentation were great. Overall pretty decent experience.

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  6. sarasongbird VIP

    Orange County25 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 5 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful new addition to OC’s excellent food options. Il Girasole offers beautifully prepared and served meals and a lovely wine list. Can’t wait to go back.

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  7. Amy

    Orange County68 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 3 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Il Girasol is a gem! We tried the restaurant week tasting menu and it was wonderful. We started with the consigliere cocktail which was perfectly crafted, balanced and delicious. We had the hamachi crudo and beet salad starters both fresh and very good. For the second, we had the gnochetti and the risotto. The kitchen knows what they are doing! The risotto was perfect- just exactly Al dente and well seasoned - exactly as it should be but rarely is. We both loved the duck breast main course. The duck is aged and then seared to perfection with a fabulous fennel crusted crispy skin, a tiny layer of unctuous fat and a tender meat layer that was exactly medium rare. They share a pour of true demi glace around the duck and you are in culinary heaven. Dessert was an amazing pavlova and fresh fruit- so good. The price for this feast was extremely reasonable- honestly an actually terrific deal! Service was personal and personable- a lovely experience we look forward to repeating!

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  8. Allison

    Orange County10 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on 2 March 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    So glad I got to try this place, finding it from OCRW2025! The paintings inside are soo cute & service is top notch!! We were the first ones in with a reservation so not sure why we got the seat next to the restroom but oh well. We went with the 3 course deal for $35 and it was delicious! Everything was light, fresh & tasty. You won’t leave feeling over stuffed with is nice! The humachi was fresh and presentation A+. My seabass was also crispy & fresh and loved the veggies. My friend also really enjoyed her pasta dish. We got both desserts and tried both! Chocolate flourless cake was very decadent and soft! The poached pear was freshing and more my liking but both amazing! Totally worth trying! Highly recommend!!

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  9. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 2 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I had high expectations for this restaurant and it 100% exceeded them! Great service, unique and chic design, relaxed dining experience. Highly recommend!

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  10. Lisa VIP

    Orange County16 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 2 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    A gem of a restaurant! The bar mixologist were amazing! Fabrizio was an excellent waiter! Food was delicious, Gnochetti & the Rib Cap with Cacio de Pepe Raviolo was to die for! Definitely must visit when in Costa Mesa- SOCO!

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FAQs

Il Girasole is rated 4.5 stars by 68 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
23:30
Booked 9 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Il Girasole

3321 Hyland Ave, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Sunflower Ave and Hyland Ave
  • Area
    Costa Mesa
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Wed–Sun 11:30–14:00 Bar Tue 16:00–21:00 Wed, Thu, Sun 11:30–21:00 Fri, Sat 11:30–22:00 Dinner Tue–Thu, Sun 17:00–21:00 Fri, Sat 17:00–22:00
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Contemporary Italian
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Public transit
    Bus 43 stops at Harbor Blvd & Sunflower Ave
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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