Bits & Bites: Turning focus to food, Italian style

Lately my focus has been on the local political scene, preparing for the upcoming Feet to the Fire, where Tom Johnson and I will interview Newport Beach City Council candidates Aug. 17 and Costa Mesa council candidates Aug. 18 at Orange Coast College.

I’ve had a belly full of politics, so this week I’m switching gears to Barbara’s Bits & Bites, continuing to discover and rediscover fun places to eat locally.

Italian food is a favorite, and there are plenty of good places in our area.

Stasha the Wonder Dog and I have three favorites close to us — Sgt. Pepperoni’s Pizza Store, Onotria Wine Country Cuisine and North Italia.

Sgt. Pepperoni’s Pizza Store

Sgt. Pepperoni’s is at 2300 S.E. Bristol St., Newport Beach. We take out here, since it doesn’t have a pet-friendly patio.

The place is tucked away in a small, nondescript strip center between Birch Street and Jamboree Road.

When it comes to pizza, I’m a tough critic. I’m a native New Yorker, but Sgt. Pepperoni’s pizza is probably as close to N.Y. pizza as I’ve had in Orange County.

You can build your own pizza with a variety of toppings: pepperoni, sausage, meatballs, ham, salami, fresh spinach, broccoli, tomato, onion, bell pepper, mushroom, black olives, fresh garlic, jalapeño, ricotta, pineapple, artichoke heart, fresh basil, fresh cilantro, chicken, fresh mozzarella, bacon, pesto. Pricing varies depending on the number of toppings and the pizza size.

I’m partial to the margherita pizza – 14-inch, $16; 18-inch, $24 – with fresh tomato, fresh mozzarella and basil.

Another good choice is the homemade lasagna: mozzarella, ricotta, Romano cheese, spinach and Parmesan served with two garlic knots, $10.50.

I’ve served up to three people with it and like to pair it with the Caesar salad, $8.

You can eat at the restaurant — it’s small, nothing fancy, but it is kid-friendly, with games to occupy the little ones.

Beer and wine are available. You can check out sgtpepps.com for online ordering, takeout, delivery and full menu listings.

Sgt. Pepperoni’s is open for lunch and dinner, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays.

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Onotria Wine Country Cuisine

Down Bristol Street is another of my go-to Italian places, Onotria Wine Country Cuisine, 2831 Bristol, Costa Mesa.

There’s a small outdoor dog-friendly dining patio.

The place doesn’t have the greatest street signage so it’s easy to miss. When you do find it, enter the driveway and travel to the back of the building for valet parking and the restaurant entrance.

The interior is bright and cheerful, with a wine country vibe.

It’s a good-size place with a couple of private rooms for intimate gatherings.

The staff goes out of its way to be friendly and engaging. Every server we’ve had here has had a winning personality that added to our dining experience.

Specializing in traditional farm-to-table Italian cuisine, “all food products are 100% natural hormone-free, antibiotic-free and of the highest quality of organic and biodynamic seasonal offerings,” according to the restaurant’s website, onotria.com.

Two of my pasta favorites are rigatoni with San Marzano tomato sauce, garlic, basil, extra virgin olive oil ($18) and the orecchiette with roasted garlic, pork sausage in a rapine pesto with Pecorino cheese ($16).

Onotria’s menu suggests wines with each entrée category — for example, with the pastas listed above, it suggests “full body and bold red wines.”

The food menu is extensive, including fish, poultry and meat entrees such as Veal Sausage Cassoulet with white cabbage and cannellini beans ($22) and a half chicken, brick-pressed and seasoned with a mustard, lemon and garlic sauce ($26).

Lunch and dinner reservations are suggested and can be made at opentable.com or (714) 641-5952.

North Italia

The newest Italian place I’ve added to my list, North Italia, is in a shopping center right before the 405 Freeway at 2957 Michelson Drive, Irvine.

I usually avoid this center because parking is so difficult, but there’s valet parking for North Italia.

The restaurant has a large outdoor dog-welcoming patio, and the food is quite good.

The interior is light and airy, but the noise is a bit loud when the place is crowded, which it usually is.

Pastas are made fresh daily, with unique offerings such as Short Rib Radiatori, Parmesan cream, fresh horseradish, wilted arugula and herbed bread crumbs ($21) and Squid Ink Mafaldine with white shrimp, calamari, acqua pazza, mint, fennel pollen and Calabrian chili ($22).

For reservations and full lunch and dinner menus, visit northitaliarestaurant.com/locations/irvine.