Location: Santa Monica
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California, United States Food Guide: 10 Italian food Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Santa Monica
Best Italian restaurants nearby. Discover the best Italian food in Santa Monica. View Menus, Photos and Reviews for Italian restaurants near you.. The beaches of Santa Monica attract all sorts of visitors-- don't be surprised to see families playing on the sand next to a boot-camp fitness class with a barking instructor. Visit the Santa Monica Pier, a haven of shops, restaurants, and carnival attractions (including a Ferris wheel) atop a wooden wharf. By night, the Third Street Promenade is the place to be, bustling with activity from moviegoers, party animals, and talented street performers.
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10. Uovo
Overall Ratings
4 based on 104 reviews
Reviewed By PlatinumHoney
Everyone is looking for distinction with quality, and this place has got it. Very good pasta in this casual relatively inexpensive ($16 entree + tip/tax) for its type place. Pasta imported fresh from Bologna...enjoyed the pasta, but heavy handed on the oil for the clam sauce dish (could be more with less oil) and the roasted cauliflower was nice, albeit too salty, or salt forward as they say here. Service good. Pretty basic but pleasant. Seating at a long bar or at a handful of tables ( not the most comfortable, but not a demerit). A nice lunch spot within walking distance of the beach and the shops.
9. Valentino
Overall Ratings
4 based on 151 reviews
Valentino has been serving some of the best Italian food for 45 years! Also, offering a great wine list, recipient of the Wine Spectator Grand Award since 1981. Also, with several private rooms, it offers a great venue for your next private event.
Reviewed By westlinn
Just got home from a wonderful meal had at this establishment. Wonderful food, obviously well trained staff serving it. This restaurant was Michelin rated when Michelinâs used to come to Los Angeles. Not sure where these haters are eating, but having Eaten at dozens of Michelin rated restaurants all over the world, I donât get it.
8. California Pizza Kitchen
Overall Ratings
4 based on 177 reviews
Reviewed By TheMcLeanVAFive
We were two families vacationing and checking the sights , and got hungry wandering around Santa Monica. Sometimes you just want consistent, dependable, and clean. California pizza kitchen was just the ticket. Lots of variety for all the different family members - young and old. And reasonably well executed to make it worth your while. Overall itâs good value and good food.
7. Milo & Olive
Overall Ratings
4 based on 194 reviews
Milo & Olive is the neighborhood bakery and pizzeria project from Josh Loeb and Zoe Nathan, the husband-and-wife team behind the RC Family restaurants. Opened in winter 2011, Milo & Olive serves as a community dining destination, offering a variety of Zoe
Reviewed By 838karmenr
Everything in this place says fresh and organic. Everyone in this place looks happy and joyful. The food is excellent, made with organic fresh ingredients, their bread and pizzas are exceptional, their salads super yummy.I had a slice of pizza (burrata with prosciutto and arugula) -- amazing!Coming back for another slice and a salad for sure!
6. North Italia
Overall Ratings
4 based on 245 reviews
Reviewed By alibB9TY
After an eventful beach day, we were starved but anything from that first block of the pier was bumpin. We were lucky enough to have stumbled upon this place and were not disappointed. The host told us there was no seating but there should have some spaces for 2 at the bar. BEST CHOICE! drinks straight up and delicious. Food order was taken right away. I had the prosciutto pizza and my friend had the muscles and both were incredible!The service was amazing! The manager came up to us and apologized for how long our food was taking but honestly we didnt even notice. But the conversation was much appreciated and the food came out within minutes afterwards.The only odd part was that all the bartenders would take care of us, one would bill right away after every order and the other 2 understood that we were actually having a meal. We got a bit confused with that part and just asked for our totaled Bills afterwards. Dont really know what happened there.
5. Brunos
Overall Ratings
4 based on 366 reviews
Reviewed By tellurideplunge
Nice little place right next to Santa Monica Pier entrance. Very good Caesar salad was excellent. The pizza was decent but a little bit on the bland side. Minestrone soup was very good. Still a good meal overall.
4. Stella Barra Pizzeria
Overall Ratings
4 based on 251 reviews
Reviewed By TIGAsia
Welcoming atmosphere, good service, reasonable prices, fresh pizza with great crust, nice starters (we like the spicy wings), and a vibrant bar make this a great place to visit almost any time. We live nearby and this is our "go to" place when we want upscale pizza and a good place to hang out.
3. La Vecchia Cucina
Overall Ratings
4 based on 493 reviews
Reviewed By Gary T
My wife and I had lunch here today and we both had the $18 lunch special that includes an appetizer and either a sandwich, pizza, or pasta. Before I get into comments on the food lets talk 5 star service, it was clearly that, not intrusive but prompt and proper.Food wise- I had the Tuna Salad and Bolognese and both were delicious.My wife went simple with a Cesar salad and a not tomato paste pizza and she called both a great choice.At $18 each both were a great value.This place is a 10-15 minute walk from the main Santa Monica pier, but oddly enough wasn't filled with tourist like us, but rather locals who were obviously regulars.I guess most travelers don't actually research where to get great food... which is sad.
2. Fritto Misto
Overall Ratings
4 based on 637 reviews
Reviewed By JULOfrVan
Four of us dined here in May at the recommendation of a server at Upper West Restaurant (which is awesome) when asked for a recommendation for a good Italian restaurant. Fritters Misto met expectations. It is a cosy busy restaurant so donât be surprised if you have to wait a few minutes for a table. We had a couple of the pasta specials - lobster & shrimp ravioli in cream sauce which looked delicious & our dining partners commented it was very good. My husband & I had the lamb with pesto pasta. I couldnât eat all of mine but my husband devoured his. Portions/servings are generous. No big wine markups here (unlike so many restaurants) which is so refreshing. We enjoyed a nice Napa red (forget name) produced by Wagner (of Caymus fame). Our waiter was very personable, knowledgeable & efficient (sorry forget his name). There is some parking available in back of the restaurant. We walked from our hotel but also noted there is a train / rail line nearby. Would recommend & dine here again when in Santa Monica.
1. Forma
Overall Ratings
4 based on 202 reviews
Reviewed By Isunwin
Had a 7pm reservation that we made at the last minute. We were seated promptly. Service was good and prompt. For starters, we ordered arancini rice balls, mozarella knots with bread. It was all very good. For our main course, I had spaghetti agliolio and my husband had shrimp and calamari. He was very surprised by how large the shrimp was. For dessert, my husband had the fried donut with chocolate sauce. Overall, we had a nice dining experience. The only thing to note is, is that the seats/tables are tight and the noise level is high.
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