Il Gatto: Authentic Italian Dining Experience in La Habra

Il Gatto is a La Habra gem with a perfect vibe. The bruschetta is fresh, the pizza is top-tier, and the desserts are packed with flavor. They have a deep wine collection and great cocktails—choose between a cozy booth, the bar, or their lovely outdoor patio. Great food, great atmosphere. Don't miss it!

Adorable and delicious, highly recommend. Atmosphere is inviting, both inside and outside. The food was delicious, including the drinks. Meal began with a complimentary warm bread basket and oil and vinegar. Calamari appetizer was crispy and tender. Pastas were great, best Italian food in the area. Lobster ravioli was creamy and flavorful, but the pesto risotto with scallops was absolutely incredible, plump, seared, and the pesto just right. Dessert, tried the Panettone bread pudding, and loved it. Pudding was moist and covered in caramel, didn't have, and didn't need the usual ice cream pairing. All portions were on the large size, which was perfect because otherwise, I wouldn't have shared. Suggest trying their spritz, which was a select either or menu. I did lemoncello with Sicilian lemonade and basil; it was awesome, and I had more than one. Outside seating faces street, has a running water fountain, and firepit. I spotted some birds flying about, not disruptive, but added to the cute courtyard vibes. Located on a main, sometimes busy street in La Habra but has a large free parking lot in the back. Buon Appetito, Piatto Pulito

Came here on a friend's recommendation and it did not disappoint! The atmosphere is lovely, and everything from the appetizers to the pizza and pasta was delicious. The pasta and bruschetta, in particular, were some of the best I’ve had in a long time. The portions are very generous for the price, making it a perfect spot for large groups. Great service and a solid 5-star experience all around!

We were so happy to go to the old Cat and Custard Cup location again. We were pleasantly surprised at how great everything was. Our server was knowledgeable and friendly. The bread basket was really good! The salads were fresh and delicious! We had the Chicken Parmesan and the Bistecca Al Pepe Verde. We loved both dishes. We shared the chocolate souffle cake for dessert. It was fabulous! We will definitely be back for more!

The atmosphere is really nice, especially on Thursdays and Sundays when the piano is being played. We went on a Saturday so no piano but still a really great atmosphere. There are at least two fireplaces and a nice fire pit in the courtyard out front. The service was good, our waiter was attentive and he even gave suggestions for cocktails from the bar when we asked. The food is fine -- not bad by any stretch but also not the greatest -- though the value was good and portions were also good. I have really high standards so my ratings may be a bit lower than most. I am definitely returning because I really love the atmosphere and recommend that others go too!

What a find! This is an exquisite dining pleasure on all fronts. The room is gorgeous, with a fireplace, beautiful round bar, and live Jazz! So classy, yet cozy with stellar service. The food is 5-star in my book. Il Gatto is my personal favorite!

We celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary last night. It was perfect. We had the filet mignon and it was cooked to perfection. We also had the lobster ravioli. Delicious! I loved the French onion soup - perfection! Try their Lemon Drop Martini, it just makes dinner even more special. And they suprised us with a lovely anniversary dessert to celebrate If you love live music, come on over on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. They had a lovely trio band playing. And they’re adding live Latin music on the patio on Wednesday nights Thank you IL Gatto

On the rare occasion, or so it seems, of a date night with my wife, we opted for something different, yet familiar. We've driven by this place more times than we can remember and I even got fish and chips here when it was The Cat and Custard Cup. We were on our way to get sushi when my wife looked up the Yelp reviews and said, let's try this place... " Fair enough, I thought (and it was close to home)." I vaguely remembered this place, but it seemed brighter than before. Parking was tight for a Saturday night at 830, but we got a spot. (Their closing at 1030 was a huge plus!). Walking from our parking spot under the veranda that fronted the small shops set the tone for our date night. The open entrance with the bar front and center and the huge English fire place on the right with a smattering of tables and booths gave a cozy and romantic vibe that my wife commented on right away. We were seated almost immediately, albeit near the restroom (not a good first impression). But we had a great view of the open kitchen. The head chef was expertly crafting the evening's dishes with his sous chef following suit and the cook preparing the meals. I was captivated by the smoothness of the kitchen and the constant direction by the head chef. Our waiter, Daniel, was top notch and attentive and very polite. I started with a draft Peroni and my wife just had water. The water was bottled still and was good. Daniel graciously poured for both of us. My beer was cold and delicious. Warm sourdough bread was brought out along with the requisite olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The bread had the right amount of chewiness with a nice crunch. Of course, if you've read my reviews in the past, the caprese salad was a must... And I must say it was absolutely wonderful. Unlike Vivo at Universal City Walk, this version was not deconstructed or with sliced mozzarella. No, it was sliced heirloom tomatoes under a half ball of buffalo mozzarella with generous amounts of arugula decorating the entire plate. The balsamic vinegar drizzle was appropriate and not overpowering. I'm not sure if there was pepper and salt, but as far as I was concerned, the dish was seasoned perfectly. In addition to the standard fare on the menu, there were two specialities of the the evening: crispy skinned black cod over risotto and linguine vongole (with clams). We decided on the two specialties: the cod for my wife and the linguine for me. We continued to finish the two remaining pieces of bread when our entrees arrived. Both were served hot, with the risotto creamy and cooked to perfection and the linguine al dente. The crispy skinned cod had a wonderful crunch when the fork pierced the filet, but the skin was a tad over salted. The saltiness continued into the broth/sauce of the risotto. When eaten without the skin, both the risotto and fish were delightful. Likewise, the Manila clams were perfectly seasoned, but the white wine sauce was salty. When I mentioned this to Daniel, he said that the clams were naturally salty and that the white wine broth may have had additional salt added. Nonetheless, my wife and I did not send either plate back and we gladly finished our meals. Btw, Daniel thanked me for my observations and told me he would relay it to the chef. I couldn't develop a comprehensive review without including dessert. I was excited to hear they had bread pudding (one of my favs) but with an Italian twist: panettone for the bread base! I love, love, love bread pudding and this, by far, is my absolute favorite. The pairing of warm, soaked panettone with a vanilla brandy sauce with a hint of confectioners sugar was sheer artistry. If I just had this dessert, my review would have been a strong 5 stars. Everything made the evening memorable, from the ambience, to the service, to the dessert and yes, even the entrees along with their salt. We'll be back for sure, but I've already told my Italian friends to join us next time. And that time will be sooner rather than later...much sooner.