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!!“

“One of those restaurants that gets everything right.

Kudos to the owners, management, and entire staff for creating such a fantastic dining experience. The food was excellent, the service polished yet genuinely friendly, and the bar and dining room had a charming, welcoming atmosphere.

The menu is thoughtfully crafted, with plenty of delicious options. The staff was knowledgeable, professional, and personable—always a combination I appreciate.

One thing I always check when trying a new restaurant is the condition of the restrooms. In my experience, clean bathrooms often reflect a well-run kitchen. Felix Trattoria checked that box as well.

I’ll definitely be back next time I’m in the area.“

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

“The pasta was delicious, but we had to wait 15 minutes to be acknowledged, and when they did take our order, it was for everything and they “ran out of bread we run out all the time” at 7pm on a saturday. Restaurant 101: greet guests quickly, offer them some wine / drinks, even if you’re delayed on taking their order. Also offer more salad options or appetizers and we would’ve easily ordered dessert if it was offered.“

“Went for Easter lunch and it was fabulous.“

“The torpedos are incredible“

“Our server Sean was amazing!“

“One of the best restaurants around. From the Yellow Tail Crudo to the Farmers Market Peas & Burrata di Puglia to the Salt Spring Mussels to the Duck Egg Pizza. Everything was simply amazing and the service, drinks and energized atmosphere make this a place we like to come to often. Highly 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!“

“Highlights: vodka chicken cutlet (very good); dry red wine was very good (forget which one; happy hour price very solid)

Wouldn't get again: Pepperoni pizza (nothing special); focaccia (decent but came out lukewarm / cools off very quickly); cheesecake (too expensive for the size; wish it was served colder)

Too loud at night, kinda have to yell to talk.

Really cool vibe; love that they're playing actual vinyl records.

Really cool Faema E61 espresso machine (didn't try any drinks from it tho).

Service is very good.“

“I love this kind of place. Has been there forever and a hidden gem. Do not let the unassuming aesthetic dissuade you, this is very good authentic italian food and experience. Antonio is fantastic, ask for and take his reccomendations. Go with the flow here, it's relaxed but quality italian. Go somewhere else if you want bougie ambiance but mid teir italian. Wine salads dinner and deserts all excellent. If you have been to Italy you understand that modesty and relaxed environment plus excellent food and people is how it is supposed to be.“

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

“Delicious food and drinks!“

“Good food and good service“

“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!“

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

“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!“

“I wish we had found this place sooner, we probably would've eaten here 3 meals a day and im not kidding.
I always order Alfredo when given the option of pastas at a new restaurant. Its my favourite pasta dish and its just what I do.
This was THE BEST ALREDO SAUCE I have ever had in my life. I had it with the gnocchi which were also very good.
My husband had a side got garlic bread- even that was fantastic and the best we've had at a restaurant. (how does one make garlic bread that good, i dont even know, but fabio does).

The service was great, the man taking our order (im assuming that was fabio but I couldn't tell you,) was so sweet.

I wish he had a restaurant so the seating wasnt just on the beach mixed with people having food from the other places near by, cause this should be its own space.

Best food we had in LA.“

“Sooo yummy and good service!“

“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😋🤤“

“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.“

“Good fare at a fair price...“

“The best comfort food for our family!“

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

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

“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. “

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

“（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.“

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

“Almost every employee has a thiqqq italian accent so big points on authenticity. We ordered the yellowtail grapefruit appetizer, pear and arugula salad, mushroom tagliatelle, and the seafood spaghetti. The pasta was extremely fresh and made in house, one of the greatest meals I’ve had in the South Bay. Service was executed brilliantly and the vibes were through the roof. I want to live at Stecca Taverna but they don’t allow that so I will just frequent whenever I can.“

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

“I was taken there by my Italian colleague from Milano. Great place if you know what authentic Italian food is outside of Italy. We had a fresh, crispy Margherita pizza, the spaghetti carbonara with pistachio and meatballs. Excellent service and very friendly environment! Strongly recommended!“

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

“Located conveniently close to Santa Monica Pier, but not your typically tourist trap. Bruno’s is a cute little restaurant serving great Italian food in an intimate setting. The employees are kind and attentive. The open kitchen allows you to see the care taken in preparing your meal. Highly recommended.“

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

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

“Cool place to chill eat and drink .“

“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.“

“We ended up at Lozio Osteria Pizzeria Bar completely by accident. My friends and I were looking for a new place to celebrate my birthday, somewhere we hadn’t been before, and this turned out to be such a great find.

Honestly, all the food was absolutely delicious. The truffle fries were especially amazing. We finished them so quickly that we had to order another round.

We had bruschetta, a charcuterie board, Caesar salad, fettuccine bolognese, and carbonara, and everything was spot on. For dessert, we ordered a pistachio cake. The portions were perfect for a group of five girls, and we left happy and full.

The cocktails were also great, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.

And the service really made the experience. Our waiter had such a great sense of humor, kept joking with us, and truly lifted the whole mood of the evening.“

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

“Highly recommended, this is a very good restaurant“

“excellent service and the food was absolutely delicious.“

“A friend and I visited Il Forno Trattoria last Saturday. After we left, my friend realised she had lost her grandmother's ring, of great sentimental value. We telephoned the restaurant even though it had already closed for the night, and the team immediately invited us back to search. When we arrived, the staff were cleaning up but had already started to look for the ring and helped us look through the restrooms and, kitchen. At least three or four employees actively helped, including providing gloves and helping us go through the trash to ensure it was lost in a restroom trash can. It was clear that everyone was genuinely concerned and willing to do whatever they could. Although the ring was not found, their professionalism, empathy, and willingness to stay late and actively help without question have left a lasting impression. I mustn’t forget the meal itself had been excellent: well‑prepared dishes, attentive yet unobtrusive service, and a well‑chosen wine list. Taken together with the staff’s extraordinary support, the experience showed Il Forno Trattoria at its best. It is the epitome of excellent service. Whether you are looking for quality Italian cuisine or a restaurant where the team truly cares about its guests, I cannot recommend Il Forno Trattoria highly enough.“