There's no dearth of Italian restaurants in Orange County and for Pina's Bistro to stand out among the crowd for over 15 years drawing in loyal patrons everyday, they certainly have got it right. If they propagate family-style dining they sure know better as owner Pina deftly wields the ladle in the kitchen and her daughters wait on tables.

Hand crafted sausages, pasta, bread and sauces explains Pina's fervor for Italian cooking and delectable starters of wild Atlantic littleneck steamed clams and eggplant Parmigiana could help support this fact further. House originals such as grilled pork chops, spaghetti Bolognese and chicken piccata are painstakingly made from scratch and seafood favorites too follow suit with shrimp and scallop arrabiata and linguine calamari. Familiar sights of pannacotta, cannoli, tiramisu and walnut Italian rum cake could only signal the curtain call on this satisfying Italian meal.

Pina's Bistro also serves some fine wines and imported beers.