From the outside, Napoli Italian Restaurant in Loma Linda off Redlands Blvd. looks kind of uninspiring, you know those typical restaurants located in a small shopping center that blends in with the other non-descript stores however, once you enter this lovely restaurant, you are greeted by the wonderful aromas of food that emanate from the kitchen as well as classical Italian music and two beautifully appointed dining rooms.

This classy restaurant offers the best of Italian cuisine at very reasonable prices.  Each dish is masterfully prepared and plated while the sauces are exquisite.

I started my dinner off with popular Calamari Fritti $8.50 and the exciting Antipasto Napoli $8.50. Fried Calamari can be found on many restaurant menus, but the ones served here are excellent. The breading was extremely crispy and the meat was very tender. A side of Marinara sauce comes with this dish. The Antipasto Napoli was a wonderful surprise, a huge plate of warm mushrooms, eggplant, bell peppers, onions, olives, garlic, tomatoes and artichoke hearts sautéed in a delicious Italian herb seasoned olive oil. This dish could easily feed 3-4 and was loaded with flavors.

Next came the main courses, the Linguini Pescatore $21.95, Gnocchi in a Gorgonzola Cream Sauce $14.95, and the Pollo Marsala. If you enjoy seafood and pasta, you have to try the Linguini Pescatore. This dish features an ocean full of shrimp, calamari, scallops, clams, mussels, and salmon sautéed in olive oil, garlic and either a marinara sauce or a white wine sauce. I choose the marinara sauce which was light and was the perfect match for the wonderful seafood. Another favorite of mine was the Gnocchi which are small light pillows of potato enjoying tossed in a creamy rich and delicious Gorgonzola cheese sauce. The Gnocchi’s were light and airy and the sauce was, so good, that I wanted to put my entire face into the plate and lick all of the sauce up. I absolutely love this sauce! The last dish of this flight of dishes was the Chicken Marsala, boneless chicken breasts sautéed in butter and Marsala wine with lots of mushrooms with a side of fresh vegetables and pasta. The chicken was moist and tender and the wine sauce was mildly sweet and delicious.

The last two dishes of the evening was the popular Filetto al Funghi $25.95, a nice juicy Filet Mignon sautéed in a luscious brandy laced brown sauce with lots of tasty Shitake mushrooms along with a side of veggies and pasta, and the unique Ravioli di Portobello $15.95, large raviolis stuffed with a delicious Portobello and sun-dried tomatoes tossed in a fantastic rich feta cheese cream sauce.
In addition to a nice wine list, their desserts are very good led by the homemade Tiramisu and Canoli’s. They also have a fairly large banquet room for that special party or meeting and can assist you with all of your catering needs. The servers are professional and friendly and the entire dining experience is relaxing.

In closing, Napoli often gets overlooked when looking for local dining options but it is without a doubt, one of the best restaurants in our area.