Was @Clayfu influenced and hit Pizzeria Irene with some friends over the weekend. Tucked into Old Towne Orange along one of the side streets, it offers a simple menu: 4 starters, 6-8 pizzas, 3 desserts and a very interesting wine list.
We ordered all the starters.
Solid meatball and sauce. Meaty and tender.
The house Caesar had a mix of green and pink lettuces. Very pretty. Maybe a touch too much cheese.
Charred broccolini…super pretty. But not terribly exciting.
Burrata with roasted garlic. Our friends adored this.
Funny enough, Pizzeria Irene uses the same flour as Sei. Great dough…soft and chewy with a nice crisp. Gentle fermentation flavor. Fennel sausage and pepperoni. Liked them both.
Dessert here is great. The cheesecake comes topped with a seasonal compote…our visit was pear. But where they shine is the ice cream game. The pistachio is the best rendition of a frozen pistachio treat since Leo’s at Bulgarini. The coffee ice cream was complex with other flavors that can be found in a great coffee like warm spices. The strawberry was also good.
The wine list was very interesting. Lots of options between here and Europe. We had a lovely rioja from 2015 with a pepper finish that went great with sausage and pepperoni. And it was only $100. Apparently, they had a Lafitte-Rothschild wine tasting tonight that I didn’t have time for.
Service was great even though we were their last reservation of the night. We felt welcomed and had a great experience. Chef here likes Truly in Dana Point and has his sights set on Sei after my recommendation.
An evening stroll in the neighborhood for a nightcap is also highly recommended.