Magnone Trattoria & Market

As wonderful as this place was — they have closed their doors =(
A diner is going to take over — I believe it is called Betty Sue’s…

Phenomenal, go before they close December 18. Beautiful ambience, excellent food. Best date night I’ve ever had. I am so bummed they are closing or we would go every week on wine Wednesday. This place is truly stunning & the food was delectable.

Found this little gem the other night so I stopped in for a quick glass of wine and bowl of meat sauce. Will come back on another night for a more in depth look at the menu.

Had another great meal here the other night!
Our server was wonderful and she was so on top of it! They had an appetizer that we had ordered that was supposed to be fine for my husband to eat (he’s allergic to onions and garlic), but our server found out that he actually couldn’t have it or the «Calamari Fritti», so she brought a «Salumi E Formaggi Al Legno» (a variety of salami, cured meats and cheeses) for him on the house which was really nice. We even found out that their bread (which is delicious!) had garlic in it, so they were super nice and separately grilled some bread with some olive oil for my husband which was very kind. For my entrée, I had the «Tagliatelle Con Ragu» which was amazing!
The food is excellent and the prices are reasonable. The service has been awesome. I highly recommend and I know that we will for sure be back!

Went there a few weeks ago on a weeknight about an hour before they close. There was no one there except for the employees. After being seated we realized why. The server kindly said, «For future reference, they only take reservations.» Oops. He was right. I read all the fine prints to my Groupon but never noticed that line.
There was a fireplace which helped add to the nice warm ambiance. Music was at a good volume (if there were other patrons would definitely help mask the chattiness from my kids). Good sized restaurant.
Server was very friendly and attentive. Brought us complimentary buttered bread after taking our order. It was pretty good probably due to all that butter. I’ve been spoiled by Olive Garden so was a bit sad there wasn’t salad. Think it would’ve been $ 3.95 extra? The calamari appetizer was crispy and good. My hubby really liked it as well as his gnocchi and other pasta entrée. My chicken had very tasty seasoning on the crispy skin. The potatoes were ok a bit bland and the zucchini was normal. Overall the food tasted fine but without the deal would be kind of pricey. Hubby said he wouldn’t mind going back.

One star for ambience and one star for food. I loved the atmosphere and the food was delicious! A very romantic setting…
However, the service was horrible!!!
1. Table was dusty…
2. Took almost 20−30min just to get water (apparently communication error…)
3. After, it took our server 15 min to take our order.
4. Couldn’t get a hold of our server so we asked a different server for new side plates (the plate was dusty). This server then just switched our plates with a different table. Plates were still dusty…
5. Got the wrong appetizer (once again communication error… this one was somewhat understandable since bruschetta and prosciutto sound similar I guess). Decided to take the appetizer off.
6. Our server said they were slammed which caused the many miscommunication… Did not seemed slammed to me. I only say this because I was once a server and I think I can gauge when it is slammed… but maybe they were short staffed? Not sure…
Will definitely give it a second try because the food was actually pretty good… Hopefully better service next time!

Let’s be clear about one thing: it is five stars for the service.
I came here when I was visiting a close friend of mine in the area and the food was overwhelmingly average for me. The portions were on the smaller side, the food was slightly greasy, and flavorwise — I was not impressed. I got the butternut squash gnocchi and the portion was TINY. For sixteen dollars? I know I could get a better portion size in New York… which is saying something. Fried pizza dough, meh. Fried cheese, double meh. To me, it was kinda similar to those random walk-​in pizza spots in NYC. You’ll eat it cause you’re there but you know that there is better out there.
The best part of my meal was honestly the bread. The bread warmed up with olive oil and balsamic was the only reason I was full.
But aside from the food, the service was wonderful. Our waitress was so attentive and aware of allergies. She really did everything that she could to make sure that we were happy.
So yeah, three stars. The food was meh but the service is really great.

This place is definitely a hidden gem! Perfect date spot and its unfortunate that more people don’t know about this place! Ambient, romantic, and relaxing Italian atmosphere!
It was rather empty when we came for their dinner service and there was no hostess at the front: she was sitting at the bar chatting with coworkers. After someone finally noticed us, she ran over and asked us where we’d like to sit for preference.
I asked for some recommendations for wine with my pasta and they had to get a different server to come out to talk about pairings, I thought this was rather funny. We got our wine and food, and I have to say: I am impressed.
The meat and cheese board was to die for and while the main course dishes were a bit in the large side, I got excited to bring some food home to eat later!

It was 7:30pm and my newly engaged fiancée and I wanted to have a romantic dinner spur-​of-​the moment. I wanted to dine-​out somewhere intimate, at the same time satisfying my sophisticated palate, late in the evening with no reservation. We obviously didn’t want to drive to Hollywood. A quick search on Unilocal,and magnone & trattoria immediately popped up.
SHORT VERSION:
FOOD= spectacularly cooked, seasoned and cooked to perfection, local organic ingredients really shine through. Well-​designed menu, this restaurant is truly authentic to Southern style Italy type dishes. (don’t come looking for chicken parm and tiramisu!)
SERVICE= Shaun was an amazing waiter, so kind and knowledgable, overall incredibly helpful and charming. He will be the main reason we return! The manager even sat us an hour before closing with no reservation, with a groupon! She was so polite!
DRINKS= great selection of wines to pair with your entrée and full bar. Also serve delicious flavors of san pellegrino sparkling water of course.
AMBIENCE= intimate and chic, i enjoyed it so much.
PRICE= mind-​blowingly affordable. for under 20 $ a plate you get a whole fine-​eating experience!
WHAT WE ORDERED:
ME: I ordered the Spaghetti Alle Vongole which was brilliant! It was buttery, garlic-​y, spicy and the house-​made pasta was just over al-​dente and the clams were soft and not chewy. I chose to pair it with the prosecco but it was 86ed and went with the riesling which shaun recommended and it was bright and yummy with my vongole! I had the riesling to drink as well as a pomegranate san pellegrino. For dessert I had the panna cotta, it was rich, decadent, parfumed with vanilla beans and perfectly gelatinous.
Fiancée: (upon shaun’s recommendation) Tagliatelle con Ragu which I ate more than my fiancée liked me to was soooo delicious. The sauce was creamier than your average bolognese, and the meat was incredibly tender and toothsome. It was very reminiscent of that southern italian style sauce. The ribbon flat pasta was perfect for the sauce, the bite essentially melted in your mouth.
BAD NEWS:
I guess they sold the restaurant and will be closing early next year i think. It’ll be transformed into a chain diner! How shameful! I am so sad about this! I can’t believe I lived so close and never been here because this is my new favorite restaurant. I will definitely be returning often to try everything, and bringing my friends to enlighten them on this gem!

I’ve been here a few times, this time left me with the taste of, I WILL NOT BE RETURNING.
First they were out of almost all the seafood, encased sausage, and soda for the kid, that’s the beginning. The bread took forever to get.
The waiter, I think was boycotting my table, I had to beg to get a refill on my iced tea, he took off with my glass, and I saw him doing other things. To get my glass of ice tea back only took about 5 minutes, I was begging for ice from the neighboring table (my shot at humor) nonetheless, he never checked on us once. I was increasingly getting upset, I was parched damnit. I had just gotten out of ER, and I wanted my iced tea.
He didn’t ask if we wanted fresh Parmesan, and we were afraid to ask at this point.
The only time he was quick at the table was to drop off the check, and pick it up. SURPRISE, the $ 3 I left you won’t even get you Starbucks .
I generally tip more than 20% when service is good. I have a child in the food industry.
The food was yummy as usual. I was just disappointed in the lack of choices I had at 7P. M

Hate to do this because they were so nice, but …
Service 5*
Décor 3*
Food 2*
And since I can’t recommend it and would not go back, an overall 2*.
Obviously the service was outstanding so I won’t go on about it. And the décor was obviously just okay. As for the food: the open kitchen was very appealing and the menus on wooden boards creative.
Bruschetta: a simple and very common dish, here was toasted bread with cherry tomatoes on the side, tossed with copious amounts of raw minced garlic and olive oil. One bite of that and all you tasted was raw garlic for the next few days!
Spaghetti Vongole: a favorite dish and not difficult to make, this version was DROWNING in some liquid, like a soup with canned clams and four clams in the shell floating on top. The pasta was good but the bowl was so shallow that there was not much of it. Left with a big bowl of unappetizing liquid clam juice (I guess).
Penne with Four Cheeses: this can be a special dish, but this version was a glorified mac and cheese, bland and needed seasoning. Not bad but also not good and again in a dish so shallow, there wasn’t much of it.
Cursing the raw garlic for the next few days. UGH.

Who knew such an amazing Italian restaurant could be in such a random part of Riverside?!
This place is amazing. The staff is always friendly and attentive which the food has never failed me. The prices are pretty good for what you get and if you really want a cheaper price, check if groupon has a deal. I know I’ve seen one for this place for the past few months on there.
The best thing about this place is the bread! It’s covered in garlic, and oh so very crispy. Dipping it in the olive oil and balsamic vinegar will make it the best thing you will do all day.

I cannot stress how amazing this place is. The service, the atmosphere, and most of all the food is absolutely phenomenal. Our waiter, Sean, was friendly and attentive. We received our food very fast and it tasted delicious. I ordered a Pollo Arrosto and I shared the special appetizer of the day which was the Tuna Tower. The only other place in Riverside who’s chicken can compare to the quality and flavor that I had at this restaurant is Marios Place. However, Marios Place is often crowded, loud, and way too dark.
I was extremely impressed with the flavor of their dishes and the attention to detail. I also tried their Torta al Cioccolato. If you are a fan of rich, bitter dark chocolate this is a must have. Great place! I highly recommend it to anyone craving Italian.

My husband and I wanted to try this place after seeing a Groupon for it. We’re so glad we took a chance on Magnone Trattoria. The food is delicious! We were surprised and yet grateful that it wasn’t overcrowded with people waiting to eat. We made a reservation for seven o’clock and were promptly greeted by a waitress. We were quickly seated inside and given water and bread with olive oil. The atmosphere is low-​key and perfect if you’re looking for a somewhat intimate place. We were sat inside, but the outside looked like a great place to eat too.
I have to say that the bread they give you is amazing! If I wanted to, I probably could’ve filled up on it. It was that good. For entrees, my husband ordered the penne quattro formaggi. It was rich and creamy, so if you’re into cheesy pasta this one is for you!
I wanted more protein so I ordered the pollo arrosto and it was perfect! The chicken was tender with a crispy glaze skin and it came with seasoned cut potatoes and zucchini (they had other veggies you could get it with). My portion wasn’t huge, but I definitely filled up on it. We didn’t try any of the dessert, but we definitely plan to next time. :)
Overall, we loved this place! After the Groupon, our bill came out to $ 16 with drinks. Without the Groupon we would’ve paid around $ 40. Either way, it’s a bargain and definitely worth the money.
My only complaint is that our food did take a while to come out, but it was VERY fresh so we didn’t mind. We will definitely be back!

Everything was marvelous until dessert and coffee.
We started dinner off with the caprese salad that was one of the best I have ever had. We upgraded to the burrata cheese which was well worth the extra $ 2. Dinner was magnificent! I had the chicken dinner which melted in my mouth and was cooked to perfection. My side of zucchini was surprisingly full of flavor! The potatoes were… there. My boyfriend had the fried veal in marinara sauce which he loved. I went crazy for his mashed potatoes that were beyond creamy! We both enjoyed our entrées and the service we received was fantastic.
We tried the cannolis for dessert and they were well below par. They are not the traditional cannoli as they are made with Nutella, however I wish the ends were at least dipped in chocolate chips like tradition. But that’s me being picky. Our waitress recommended the chocolate cake for next time. And the coffee tasted like diner coffee… Nothing to write home about.

I wanted to have dinner with my son & since we both love Italian food we picked this fantastic restaurant out of a few in the area. I’m so glad we did because this restaurant is simply divine. The décor, the ambiance, the food, the service and the design are all amazing.
After dining here I told my friends about it and said I would go back in a heartbeat.

I really enjoy this place. I think it is a beautiful restaurant, I love the open kitchen and the décor. it is very nicely done. The bar and patio areas are also very nicely decorated and I would be lying if I said I have never taken advantage of Wine Wednesday specials.
I mostly come here for lunch, as my office is nearby. The food is delicious. The Focaccia bread is amazing and each dish I’ve tried here has been better than the last. My favorite was their filet mignon lunch special. It was superb. I have tried other pasta and panini dishes that were tasty but THIS was the best dish I’ve ever had at Magnone. It was cooked to my liking and the flavor was tremendous. I would eat this every day if my waistline would allow it.
This would be a great happy hour spot as the bar is large, open and inviting. The restaurant is quite spacious and I am even thinking of hosting my company’s annual holiday party here as well.

Tonight I felt extremely important!
I’m from Brentwood, Ca. next to Santa Monica and privy to high end restaurants, where dropping a few hundred is common. I’ve been lucky enough to dine at fabulous restaurants around the world. But this time, tonight, I was in Riverside, Ca.
I found this restaurant on Unilocal and the pictures hooked me. My mind was set and I was fairly excited.
I arrived and was concerned whether or not I’d be seated, after all it was running a tad late. I was dressed in a t-​shirt shorts and flops and alone. I felt underdressed but was set and desperate for an Italian fix. I was greeted nicely and was told that the kitchen closes at 9:30 but would see if they would accommodate me. I was positive I would be turned away, it was in fact 9:45…
…not at all, cause tonight, I was extremely important. (Felt that way anyway) Sure enough I was alone, music was off and the chefs looked tired-​ish. I sat next to the chefs station in good ambiance, it was pleasing. I heard the music turn on and then my table candle was lit. After asking what was savvy on the menu, the waiter recommended a dish that was new and a salad that complimented it nicely.
As I ate my focaccia I watched this beautiful chef from Spain prepare my meal. She actually looked passionate under the circumstances. At last the introductory, a fresh Mista Insalata followed by a new dish on the menu a ‘crème based pasta’ thats was de-​lish (the entrée name eludes me) in fact it was so good I stood up, walked over to the chef and kissed her.
Everyone there this evening was perfect the food was amazing the price was a steal and the architecture and ambiance was great!
BRAVO!

Great experience, good food, cool interior design, love the garden in the front of the restaurant. The organic rosemary chicken is amazing. They also make majority of everything from scratch!
I love to support small local, family business along with knowing they uses some organic ingredients.
I brought my parent here for dinner and it is fancy but not to fancy where it is intimidating, enjoyed my experience overall, defiantly worth checking out!
Also the waiter was supper nice I didn’t catch her name but she was excellent and help me sneak away with getting to pay the check for the meal without my parents realizing it.

Tried this place for lunch this afternoon and it was amazing!
The restaurant décor is nice and the food was excellent! I had the Penne Quattro Formaggi with rosemary chicken and it was divine. The pasta was not over cooked, the sauce was extremely flavorful but not too heavy, and the chicken was juicy and seasoned perfectly!
Our waitress (I believe her name was Kim) was wonderful! Her customer service exceeded some high end restaurants I’ve been to by far!
I am looking forward to going again!