Il Barone Bottega Italian Market

Bummer. I tried this place out bc it’s close to our new office and I needed a place to get to-​go lunch. I now understand it’s not set up for to-​go orders — and won’t go back. I ordered a mushroom app for $ 15 thinking, no problem, I eat light. $ 15 + tip is reasonable. Well, no, I got a small plastic to go 5×5″ box of ½ cup of mushrooms. I had to ask for bread, which I only got a couple pieces of.
You guys have lost my business, but you may want to consider providing to-​go customers some level of value. Or don’t offer to-​go.

Love this place! It is a very short walk from my office.
They offer pastries, sandwiches and coffee plus there are awesome Italian grocery items. Too bad they close early!
I haven’t had their food or coffee but I come in for the pastries and find them reasonably priced and delicious.

Awesome gelato. I tried the pistachio flavor and I’m hooked. I picked up a variety of baked goods that were good but it’s the ice cream that made my day. Thank you!
Note, I also had lunch at their restaurant and have to say the food was unbelievably good and fresh. Brought back memories of my vacation in Italy.

When you walk in and your hear Italian you know you are in for some good food. I had an Italian sausage sandwich and some Italian rice in the shape of a pear that I cannot remember how to spell. Oh and a SanPeligrino Pomplemo grapefruit sofa. I think I am gonna stay for coffee afterwards…
Only downside is there isn’t much seating available, so it’s more of a bistro.

This establishment is very worthy of your «sniffing in»…and is about a 4.5 affair.
The STAFF speak Italian to each other behind the counter and they are friendly, helpful and accommodating. I like the plaza where they’re located as it has an older 70s’ vibe to it. «Columbo» would be at home based on the exterior look and feel…
Their small store section sells an interesting mushroom sauce, a pumpkin sauce and other things you don’t see at other Italian deli and groceries. The selection is small but the quality and items chosen look great. They even had a boxed pistachio centered candy which looked like it had a thin layer of white chocolate.
I had a free sample of COOKIE which was buttery and tasty. The CANNOLO pastry was shaped long and skinny with a super thin and delicate cookie-​like shell. The portion size is at most medium but closer to small (not mini) and at nearly $ 5.00 is a bit pricey. The shell tastes AMAZING! There are petite chocolate shavings shoved in each end of the tube.
The texture of the cream is more loose unlike the thicker, firmer and dense cannolo creams I prefer. The color isn’t a pure white and I taste slight vanilla with more chocolate taking over the show. It is moderately sweet with thankfully NO lame chocolate sauce drizzled on the plate.
It lacks the «cream cheese type sourness» I love which arrives through using multiple cheeses or using sheep milk’s ricotta vs. cow’s milk ricotta alone (no sourness). Truth-​be-​told, I’ve tasted several hundred cannoli in my lifetime so I am a tough judge. This one is good but it just didn’t cater to my finely tuned palate of my preference for a delicious cannolo… for me.
I saw some tasty looking cold cut sandies which were prepped and looked very nice. They also sell gelato and other pastries. Next time I will enjoy a java as well and maybe some wedding cookies.
The restaurant looks to be a bit pricey for my current budget but eventually maybe I’ll «sniff in» there as well.

I have searched all over Italy for the perfect caprese panino. I found it here The best! And authentic homemade gelato. This place rocks! Molto buono!

The reviewers are right — this is hands down the best Italian market in OC.
The panini was crusty delicious, and just packed with imported meats and cheeses, the arancini was a decadent treat, the paired deli salads were so thoughtfully composed, and the piadine — okay, wow. I had the bresaola piadine with arugula and truffle oil, and this flatbread was so good, I’ve already made an appointment with myself to have this again for lunch next week.
After such a wonderful lunch, the only thing left to do was have espresso with homemade bread pudding drowned in creamy vanilla gelato, while planning what to order on my next visit.
Grazie mille, Donatella! A presto!

Super delicious!!! And awesome ambiance!!!
They have AMAZING paninis!!! They remind me of my favorite Panini I found while roaming the streets of Vatican City. I haven’t found anything similar in all of Italy, and somehow I find it in Irvine. And not to mention, the gentleman working behind the counter are very sweet, super helpful, and have the most charming Italian accents.
Definitely a place worth checking out and having lunch!!! You will definitely not be disappointed!!!

I was reading a review in OC Weekly a while back and decided to meet a former colleague for lunch here.
Molto Bene! What a fantastic little place, the paninis were just fantastic, and with the melted mozzarella and meats reminded me more of something similar to the pizza rusticas my grandmother would make.
Just a great little gem of a find and I can’t wait to go back.

I am sitting outside this small but wonderful shop and want to share what a gem this is! I walked in looking for a quick lunch and am greeted in true Italian fashion — boisterously and warmly. The employees and patrons are all bantering back and forth in Italian. The whole experience was a treat. I ordered the stuffed focaccia sandwich with a side of potato and green bean salad. It is the most perfectly grilled panini I have ever had. Great char. Melted crunchy deliciousness. Love this place and will be back on all future work trips!

Best Italian market in Orange County. Everything you’re looking for you can find here with amazing prices. Everyone is very friendly. I went in to buy a couple of items and ended up staying for lunch. Their paninis are to die for. made fresh right in front of your eyes. Definitely go and check this place out. You won’t be disappointed!

Absolutely one of a kind! Every single type of Italian imported good you can think of, it’s like walking into a little market in Sicily! Homemade cookies galore, homemade bread for Paninis, all imported meats are top notch and nothing but the best! This place is perfect to go grocery shopping for that special dinner, or just to pick up some stuff to keep in the pantry and fridge. If it’s Italian, it’s here. Also a great place to stop and get that coffee and breakfast, along waffles with Nutella alongside breakfast paninis and crepes, and lunch is a must! Best paninis in town!!! Don’t miss out this place is to good to pass up!