North Italia, Handmade with Love From Scratch Daily

It’s been just a little over a year since North Italia arrived in Irvine, the Arizona based chain is part of Fox Restaurant Concepts, the same group that brings us True Food Kitchen.

If you love Italian food, you won’t be disappointed. Their handmade pizzas and housemade pastas are some of the best in OC--go for the Bolognese--and you can’t go wrong with any of the main dishes including chicken parmesan with crushed tomato, aged provolone, mozzarella and parmesan rigatoni; filet of beef with crispy potato, roasted mushroom, cipollino onion and marsala; and Skuna Bay salmon with butternut squash fregula, horseradish gremolata, breadcrumbs and saba.

Favorites also include the Tuscan Kale that’s perfectly cut with crispy pancetta, and the Prosciutto Bruschetta that’s perfect for sharing, with crescenza cheese, grilled asparagus, truffle and grana Padano.

For Valentine’s Day, you can treat your loved one to North Italia's special three-course menu. For just $65 per person, you can choose from an array of starters such as the roasted sweet potato soup, or the black truffle and artichoke lasagnette; and main dishes such as as slow-cooked short rib with heirloom carrot, swiss chard and creamy polenta; diver scallops with celery root risotto, crispy shallot and pancetta gremolata; and grilled branzino with cipollino onion, fennel broccolini, farro and lemon and butter; and rosemary chicken with brussels sprouts, butternut squash, and lemon pan sauce.

Desserts are to die for, you’ll have three to choose from: Salted Caramel Budino, Dark Chocolate Tart and Tiramisu sprinkled with chocolate pearls.

Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

2957 Michelson Drive in Irvine. 949.629.7060.