Had a lunch herePretty good and similar to Italian food ( similar.....)But taste of linguini with scallops (add shrimps ) were good ... little bit overcooked but it's OK...Service is good .Maybe needs a little refurbish ..
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Carol R.
Our first meal at Cantalini's was a family reunion of sorts. The food was tremendous and the service fantastic. So good that my husband and I went back for lunch on our own a couple of days later. Definitely try the grilled veggie sandwich, the pasta special--whatever it is, and the cannoli. You won't be disappointed!
Antonette C.
I had the bolognese and meatballs. It was by far the worse I have ever had. The spaghetti are box spaghetti at best. The sauce was extremely salty. And the meatballs tasted awful and flavorless. I know this place has been here a while because I used to live nearby. I ate until I was satisfied since I was starving, but definitely wouldn't do again. This will be a first and a last. At my server was extremely pleasant.
Kerry R.
A very confused staff and winetasting made for a very unacceptable experience. The wine stewards were rude. The staff at Catalini was rude. We will not be back.
Michella L.
Best Italian on the westside. We love coming here. Food is full of flavour and portions are generous. Service is also always good and kind. I also appreciate that they allow for modifications on pasta types. My favourite is the eggplant parmigiana with the bruschetta. This is a hidden gem.
Alexandra Archival
I don’t recommend coming here restaurant front looks like it would be a delicious mom and pop hole in the wall spot but once you walk in they are attempting fine dining but not succeeding food was mediocre at best and at $25+ a plate it was a disappointment food was basic ingredients were low quality and under seasoned quality wasn’t there and they have too many tables to the point that servers are constantly bumping into you and your elbow to elbow with other guests. One of the servers knocked my purse off the back of my chair and didn’t even apologize. Also weird side note but their ladies restroom is in a dirty dive bar next door that smells like cigarettes. I rarely write a bad restaurant review but I couldn’t get over a $130 bill for an app 2 entrees and 2 glasses of wine. It’s giving overpriced Olive Garden. The only positive was the live music.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 1
Rob & Raiden
Food was outstanding had been looking for a place that made really good linguine & clams this place is rite up there! Service was on par very attentive love this place definitely gonna go
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Eric P.
This is always a must-visit when near the marina. The atmosphere is great and food is fantastic! Try the spumoni!
Sean F.
In a region full of pretentious, overpriced Italian food, this spot is old school! Dark and quiet. Great wine options. Traditional Italian fare. Given the area, prices are reasonable. Plus there is a great dive bar next door!
Evan Y.
The service is fine, the food is okay, the ambiance is traditional red leather booth Italian. Nothing to write home about, but also you won't be sending your food back. Honestly can't taste a difference between this place and Pinguini down the street. The saving grace of this establishment is the sacred Harbor Room in the back. 6 stools, stiff drinks, cheap beers, damn good jukebox, and nearly expired salty crowd of regulars who make you question why you walked in the door.
This place is AMAZING! The location is near the beach, plenty of parking in the back of the restaurant, and the ambiance inside is very cozy. There is a lot of history on the walls of this place. The wait staff is very attentive and we've had the same waiter at least twice - he always has all the recommendations and specials. The food is deliciously satisfying. You will not go home hungry!
Gabrielle A.
Amazing garlic bread!! Make sure you get it! My pasta was alright - nothing special. Loved the atmosphere and location. Great bars around the corner. I'll be back!
Jim E.
The service was great, loved the food and atmosphere. Nice place to take family and friends.
dave lytle
Classic old school Italian.
Jennifer G.
Where have I been te last 30 years in SoCal and never ate here? This place is old skool italian. it is a small restaurant that is perfect for a romatic dinner. The interior is italian decor, pictures of celebrities that have visited/eaten there. The lighting is dark. I am not a fan of the dim lighting since it makes it so difficult to read the menu. (Thank God for cell phone flash light!) The food is excellent, especially seafood. I had the linguini pescatore. The calamari and scallops were so good, super fresh too. No rubber tasting calamari and the scallop no toughness or old (sour) taste either. Shimp was big, plump and meaty, the clams and mussels are real good. Pasta was cooked al dente and the sauce was rich and not heavy. The house bread of focaccia was amazing. For 30+ years I have not found a place in SoCal that has ever had focaccia bread that tasted as good as North Beach San Francisco's Liguria Bakery. Cantalini's focaccia is right up there w/Liguria's. Fresh, soft, fluffy, not dry at all and full of flavors! We asked for the basket to be refilled a few times and our server happily provided more. We had the burrata with tomatoes and balsamic glaze. The rest of my party (8 of us) had chicken piccata (rich delicious sauce), shrimp w/spaghetti (very rich as well, enjoyed by my friend), 3 of us had the linguini pescatore, scallop and linguine, ravioli w/marinara were all enjoyed by individuals in my party. One person ordered baked ziti. Loved it from what I tasted but she wasn't too happy because she said it was too much sauce. We all thought it was not bad and the extra sauce means make more pasta and add to it and you get another meal out of it! She's not the person reviewing this restaurant. My party agrees that we all would've made more pasta the next day to make another meal out of it. Person taking our order sorta rushed us to try and take our order immediately but we still had a person that hadn't arrived yet. It took a iittle while to get our orders in but nevertheless, our server made up for it by being attentive, giving us more foccacia, gave me a complimentary tiramisu for my birthday and then he got the whole restaurant singing happy birthday to me. I loved that they all sang in unison and sang it well too! I cannot wait to return to Cantalini for authentic italian food. It may have taken 30 years to find a great italian place but i'm glad to have found it now! No pictures unfortunately because it was way too dark to take pictures. Thank you Cantalini!!!
Had a lunch herePretty good and similar to Italian food ( similar.....)But taste of linguini with scallops (add shrimps ) were good ... little bit overcooked but it's OK...Service is good .Maybe needs a little refurbish ..
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Our first meal at Cantalini's was a family reunion of sorts. The food was tremendous and the service fantastic. So good that my husband and I went back for lunch on our own a couple of days later. Definitely try the grilled veggie sandwich, the pasta special--whatever it is, and the cannoli. You won't be disappointed!
I had the bolognese and meatballs. It was by far the worse I have ever had. The spaghetti are box spaghetti at best. The sauce was extremely salty. And the meatballs tasted awful and flavorless. I know this place has been here a while because I used to live nearby. I ate until I was satisfied since I was starving, but definitely wouldn't do again. This will be a first and a last. At my server was extremely pleasant.
A very confused staff and winetasting made for a very unacceptable experience. The wine stewards were rude. The staff at Catalini was rude. We will not be back.
Best Italian on the westside. We love coming here. Food is full of flavour and portions are generous. Service is also always good and kind. I also appreciate that they allow for modifications on pasta types. My favourite is the eggplant parmigiana with the bruschetta. This is a hidden gem.
I don’t recommend coming here restaurant front looks like it would be a delicious mom and pop hole in the wall spot but once you walk in they are attempting fine dining but not succeeding food was mediocre at best and at $25+ a plate it was a disappointment food was basic ingredients were low quality and under seasoned quality wasn’t there and they have too many tables to the point that servers are constantly bumping into you and your elbow to elbow with other guests. One of the servers knocked my purse off the back of my chair and didn’t even apologize. Also weird side note but their ladies restroom is in a dirty dive bar next door that smells like cigarettes. I rarely write a bad restaurant review but I couldn’t get over a $130 bill for an app 2 entrees and 2 glasses of wine. It’s giving overpriced Olive Garden. The only positive was the live music.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 1
Food was outstanding had been looking for a place that made really good linguine & clams this place is rite up there! Service was on par very attentive love this place definitely gonna go
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This is always a must-visit when near the marina. The atmosphere is great and food is fantastic! Try the spumoni!
In a region full of pretentious, overpriced Italian food, this spot is old school! Dark and quiet. Great wine options. Traditional Italian fare. Given the area, prices are reasonable. Plus there is a great dive bar next door!
The service is fine, the food is okay, the ambiance is traditional red leather booth Italian. Nothing to write home about, but also you won't be sending your food back. Honestly can't taste a difference between this place and Pinguini down the street. The saving grace of this establishment is the sacred Harbor Room in the back. 6 stools, stiff drinks, cheap beers, damn good jukebox, and nearly expired salty crowd of regulars who make you question why you walked in the door.
Restaurantji Recommends
This place is AMAZING! The location is near the beach, plenty of parking in the back of the restaurant, and the ambiance inside is very cozy. There is a lot of history on the walls of this place. The wait staff is very attentive and we've had the same waiter at least twice - he always has all the recommendations and specials. The food is deliciously satisfying. You will not go home hungry!
Amazing garlic bread!! Make sure you get it! My pasta was alright - nothing special. Loved the atmosphere and location. Great bars around the corner. I'll be back!
The service was great, loved the food and atmosphere. Nice place to take family and friends.
Classic old school Italian.
Where have I been te last 30 years in SoCal and never ate here? This place is old skool italian. it is a small restaurant that is perfect for a romatic dinner. The interior is italian decor, pictures of celebrities that have visited/eaten there. The lighting is dark. I am not a fan of the dim lighting since it makes it so difficult to read the menu. (Thank God for cell phone flash light!) The food is excellent, especially seafood. I had the linguini pescatore. The calamari and scallops were so good, super fresh too. No rubber tasting calamari and the scallop no toughness or old (sour) taste either. Shimp was big, plump and meaty, the clams and mussels are real good. Pasta was cooked al dente and the sauce was rich and not heavy. The house bread of focaccia was amazing. For 30+ years I have not found a place in SoCal that has ever had focaccia bread that tasted as good as North Beach San Francisco's Liguria Bakery. Cantalini's focaccia is right up there w/Liguria's. Fresh, soft, fluffy, not dry at all and full of flavors! We asked for the basket to be refilled a few times and our server happily provided more. We had the burrata with tomatoes and balsamic glaze. The rest of my party (8 of us) had chicken piccata (rich delicious sauce), shrimp w/spaghetti (very rich as well, enjoyed by my friend), 3 of us had the linguini pescatore, scallop and linguine, ravioli w/marinara were all enjoyed by individuals in my party. One person ordered baked ziti. Loved it from what I tasted but she wasn't too happy because she said it was too much sauce. We all thought it was not bad and the extra sauce means make more pasta and add to it and you get another meal out of it! She's not the person reviewing this restaurant. My party agrees that we all would've made more pasta the next day to make another meal out of it. Person taking our order sorta rushed us to try and take our order immediately but we still had a person that hadn't arrived yet. It took a iittle while to get our orders in but nevertheless, our server made up for it by being attentive, giving us more foccacia, gave me a complimentary tiramisu for my birthday and then he got the whole restaurant singing happy birthday to me. I loved that they all sang in unison and sang it well too! I cannot wait to return to Cantalini for authentic italian food. It may have taken 30 years to find a great italian place but i'm glad to have found it now! No pictures unfortunately because it was way too dark to take pictures. Thank you Cantalini!!!