50 Best Italian Restaurants near Lawndale

“Since ordering for the first time a few days ago, we have gone back two more times. The food has been very good, the staff has been friendly and the pickup has gone smooth. We love how many choices there are all in one place. We will be frequent fliers ?“

“Amo Italia is a solid go-to if you’re looking for reliable Italian delivery in the South Bay. It’s a ghost kitchen on Hawthorne Blvd in Lawndale, so there’s no dine-in—just delivery or pickup—but ordering is very easy. They’re on all the major apps, and pickup is quick (you grab your order from a locker setup).

What stands out is the range of vegetarian and gluten-free options—it makes ordering for a mixed group much easier.

We recently ordered for a small get-together with kids and tried a mix of dishes:
• Spicy rigatoni – really good, probably the standout. Just eat it fresh—it can dry out if it sits too long.
• Pesto pasta , well-balanced, not creamy, nothing overly heavy.
• Fettuccine Alfredo with chicken – a hit with the kids, creamy and comforting.
• Mediterranean salad – fresh, well-seasoned, a nice lighter addition.
• Margherita pizza – simple and tasty, though on the smaller side. One person could easily finish it if hungry.

Portion sizes overall are okay, and everything arrived well-packed. We ordered through Uber Eats (Uber One helped a bit with savings), but pickup is just as convenient.

We’ve also tried their rigatoni vodka before—creamy and good—but this time the spicy rigatoni was the favorite at the table.

Overall—it’s just good, dependable food that works well for family meals or casual hosting.

Would order again. 👍“

“Food was great! Wonderful dessert recommended by our server!!“

“I’ve been to Felix multiple times over the years, and in general, I think it’s a fantastic restaurant with consistently high-quality food. That’s why this review is disappointing to write.

The last two pasta dishes I’ve ordered have been underwhelming. My previous visit, the carbonara fell short, and this time the cacio e pepe was even more disappointing.

The cacio e pepe was overwhelmingly peppery, lacked the rich, creamy Pecorino Romano flavor that defines the dish, and tasted like it had little to no cheese. It was nothing like a proper cacio e pepe should be. I had just returned from Italy a few weeks ago, where I ate authentic cacio e pepe at small local trattorias, so I know exactly how beautifully simple and balanced this dish can be. Unfortunately, Felix’s version completely missed the mark. Considering the restaurant’s reputation and premium prices, I expected much more.

To make matters worse, the service at the bar was disappointing. Not once during the meal did anyone ask how the food was or whether everything was okay. A simple check-in could have given us the opportunity to share our concerns while we were there.

I genuinely hope the team takes this feedback constructively because Felix is still a great restaurant overall, and I’ve had many excellent meals here. That’s exactly why these last two visits have been so surprising. I hope they address these issues and bring the pasta back to the standard that made Felix such a standout in the first place.“

“The food and ambience & wine selection was excellent! We will be back!“

“Guys, I would love to gatekeep this place, but the public deserves to know. This is literally the best food I have ever had in my life. I usually just go to restaurants depending on the actual taste and quality of the food and don't really care about the service, but omg the staff here are actually INCREDIBLE.“

“Went for Easter lunch and it was fabulous.“

“The torpedos are incredible“

“Our server Sean was amazing!“

“For starters our server, Evan was an absolute pleasure to spend the evening with. The wine selection was really awesome. Our drinks were good and our food was even better. I had the love letters. He had the spicy pizza he started with the carpaccio and ended with a tiramisu and lemon cello. I highly recommend this place. It really was a wonderful evening and we know good food.“

“Amazing staff, fantastic food, great atmosphere. 10 out of 10 for me!“

“Always a great experience and meal at Orto, strongly recommended!“

“I took my husband for Father’s Day brunch/lunch at our favorite Italian restaurant here in the Palisades and as always it did not disappoint. It never does. He loved his steak and eggs, steak was Devine and I loved my chick pea soup. Always have the panne cotta and the cherry gelato and an espresso in their delightful patio and you’ve been to Italy!“

“It has the rare ability making you feel both out at a restaurant and being invited into someone’s stylish living room for dinner. Records line the shelves, music spins through the space, and every table seems to be having the exact night out they hoped for.

The crispy rice salad starts things off. Each ingredient earns its place with a honey miso dressing that threads it all together. The pizzas are outstanding. They absolutely deserve the spotlight. Thin crust perfection. Crisp edges, restrained cheese, balanced tomato sauce, exactly enough char underneath. Both the classic and pepperoni pies feel disciplined, making it dangerously easy to finish more slices than intended. For the pasta, the rigatoni bolognese brings al dente cooked pasta coated in a layered, rich meat sauce. The ratio of meat to pasta is spot on, making every bite feel substantial without becoming overly dense. Hearty but never excessive. Dessert arrives as a strawberry ricotta cheesecake that somehow feels light. Creamy ricotta filling, fresh strawberries, strawberry sauce. Not too sweet, not too rich.

Companion gets the details right. The room, the music, the pacing, the service, the food. It’s all welcoming and deeply enjoyable.“

“Delicious food and drinks!“

“Good food and good service“

“服務員態度親切，讓客人覺得溫馨“

“Wonderful food. The owner is very sweet. Said he's been here since 1986. He knows what he's doing. Great Italian food. Linguine shrimp skampy & ferrettini alfredo with grilled chicken perfection 👌 👍 🥰 💞 Bravo 👏“

“This place is a hidden gem in Venice!! Great service and fantastic food. Had to get seconds cus it just was that good!! Best one is the spaghetti with pesto and buratta and also the ravioli spinach in bolognese sauce - pasta is made fresh and sauce is simply amazing. Definitely coming here every time I go to Venice beach!“

“Might be the best Lasagna I’ve ever had! Food was amazing and the staff was awesome!! Definitely will be a permanent stop each time I’m in LA.“

“Yummy wine as be delicious food!“

“We frequented this sandwich shop when we were traveling in Florence and Rome. Pleasantly surprised to see they have a store in Venice and decided to give it a shot. Sandwiches here are not as good as the ones in Italy, but pretty great for what I’d expect here.

Got the l’italiana and the la schiacciata del boss. Both were good in their own way but I’d say the truffle cream in the del boss sandwich is an excellent umami boost.

Sandwich portions here are pretty big and half a sandwich is enough to fill me up!“

“Sooo yummy and good service!“

“The foods are amazing … i had the salmon creamy pasta and i liked it so much, the salmon with cherry tomatoes are very refreshing , porcini and mushroom are the new favorites , but the black truffle was the most unforgettable one , once you taste it, it seems you are watching a classic italian movie. The employees are friendly and very accomodating. The atmosphere itself makes you feel like home.“

“Love the California sunshine pizza, the penne pasta with pink sauce and mushrooms, Caesar salad, garlic bread, calamari, shrimp scampi, chef extraordinaire Julie Munn and crew! Food is always delicious whether eat in or takeout. The California sunshine pizza is even better the next day unheated! That's how good it is. All vegan 🌱 and organic greens😋🤤“

“10/10 Recommend. When I’m in the area, I always gravitate to this spot. I love everything on the menu.“

“Good fare at a fair price...“

“If you want an experience you will not forget, rush to STECCA TAVERNA! From their gracious staff, to their fine interior aesthetics, you will be instantly fulfilled.

Their Italian cuisine is as legitimate as it gets. The menu from top to bottom are all hits. They simply cannot be beat. I have been a repeat customer since they have opened.

Bravo STECCA!“

“Service and food is amazing. Would definitely recommend.“

“Happy New Year Y’all!!🥂✨🤘🏼🥳 As many of you know I’ve been playing piano and singing at Casa Ado in Venice for the last 3.5 years, for a total of 700+ shows. There have been two paintings with me in them, a painted recording of this era of my life! It is unclear what will be happening with the restaurant going forward, as there may be some ownership change. Everyone is sort of holding their breath, and for now, music has not been included in January of 2020. There is talk it could go either way in Feb. 🤷🏻‍♂️ Thank you all who have come and supported me these past few years on Washington Square and I will keep everyone posted as to what settles out in the next bit of time. For now, I am looking at all the possibilities and have some cool projects lined up on the horizon. Add me as a friend, Stay in touch, and wishing you all the best decade yet! 🥂✨🥳🤘🏼 Love, Mike 🎹🎤❤️“

“Great folks, diverse clientele and awesome food!!“

“The best comfort food for our family!“

“Great place for italian products and the sandwiches are devine!“

“What a fantastic discovery. I was craving calzones and used to have a spot in Los Feliz which I would go out of my way for. After trying a few places which fell short of the mark in South Bay, I almost gave up on finding authentic Italian food locally. The search was worth it as this is now going to be one of my forever places to come on a regular basis. From the calzone, to the pizza, salads and even the Cannoli Siciliani Pistacchio, everything has been nothing short of amazing. To top it off, it’s family run and they are all the sweetest and most warm people I’ve encountered at any local restaurant. If you haven’t tried them yet, you need to stop by.“

“（Spicy Honey Pie） ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Thin crispy crust + pepperoni + honey drizzle, sweet and spicy flatHeng is super addictive!Must order!Cons: Too small, not enough for two people to share ($22). Rigatoni Vodka ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The sauce is rich and a perfect blend of cheese and tomato, but you can get tired of eating too much of it. Garlic Shrimp⭐⭐⭐ The shrimp were fresh, but the portion was small (only 5 for $18) and the garlic flavor was not prominent enough. Tiramisu ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Just the right amount of wetness, coffee liquor flavor, LA Top 3 level! But open until midnight, one of LA's few delicious late night snack options.“

“I would give via Venetto five stars based on their delicious food alone, but unfortunately it took forever to get served. I realize it was a Saturday night and they were busy, but it took quite a bit longer than it should have. The food is top-notch- and I'm super picky especially about Italian food. “

“Great pizza, super friendly staff“

“Came in tonite every thing was great Our server was great aswell food excellent will be back“

“I did takeout of a gluten-free pizza. The GF crust was so good, I was legitimately worried that I had been given regular crust by mistake and had to reassure myself by looking at pictures of the regular crust (which does look different). Takeout service was professional and attentive. Positive experience!“

“great venue. great customer service, excellent appetizers.“

“Delicious home made pasta ! Friendly staff !“

“old school~ great food~ great host~ a treasure~“

“Highly recommended, this is a very good restaurant“

“Absolutely amazing spot. Friends brought me to try and loved it! Wonderful customer service too.“

“Cool place to chill eat and drink .“

“The food was amazing. The service was impeccable. We had a great meal. Thank you!“

“Pasta is so fresh!! Everyone is so sweet!!! Love this place!!! You need to try everything on menu!! It's so yummy!!“