34 Best Italian Restaurants in Santa Monica

“My wife and I went to the Grove in Los Angeles last night and we had dinner at "Sogno Toscana," an it was outstanding. It was perfect in every way; great food, great drinks, outstanding and friendly staff, beautiful location, etc. I love Italian food but I can't think of one Italian restaurant that I like, until "Sogno Toscano." The food was outstanding, and there was so much more we saw go by that we can't wait to go back and try. And the drinks were outstanding. I love martini's and they served the best martini I've ever had. Giacomo was our server and took great care of us. He's from Italy and "Sogno Toscana" brought him to America when they opened their New York restaurant, and now he's in LA for this new restaurant. Although very busy, the entire staff were very fun to be around, and most of them are Italian which is also great.“

“Beyond expectations! Best meal & service in at least 10 years. I’ll 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.“

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

“Sooo yummy and good service!“

“Good fare at a fair price...“

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

“We had a nice, cozy dinner here and really enjoyed the atmosphere. We ordered our pasta without cheese, but it was accidentally served with cheese. The staff handled the mistake very professionally and apologized immediately. They quickly brought us the correct order, and the service throughout the evening was friendly and attentive. Mistakes can happen, but the way they resolved the situation was excellent.“

“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 venue. great customer service, excellent appetizers.“

“My boyfriend and I came here for my birthday dinner and everything was fabulous… The ambience was incredible, phenomenal soundtrack, amazing ravioli, great menu too many yummy things to choose from. great service will definitely be back.“

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

“Best Pasta in Los Angeles!🤤😋🍝🍷“

“My family was just trying to find a place to eat. We didn’t want to eat anywhere with too much people or any sketchy place. We came across this place and we decided to try it out. The moment we came in the staff/waiters were very kind. This was our first time trying Italian food out, and the waitress explained to us each dish and which dishes we should try. The food came quickly, and it was delicious! The pizza was so scrumptious, the pasta was amazing. The white cheese coating and bacon bits were just so delicious. The atmosphere is very nice. There’s music playing in the background that immediately makes you feel at home, but doesn’t overpower your conversations. It’s perfect for a date night, family dinner, and anything in between! Definitely a must try diner! That’s why we leave this five star review.😃“

“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.“

“I'm a huge fan of cheese, and was looking for an opportunity to try some new ones. They had a very bold Parmesan that wasn't overly salty. The 10 year aged cheddar melted in my mouth. The coconut Gouda from Holland was a surprise hit with the table. But my personal favorite was the french triple cream. I'm going to have to see if I can find some when I fly home.“

“Very good food very nice Ambiance great service if you are in Los Angeles this is definitely a restaurant to put in your check list. Thank you, Luca and Valentina.“

“Super good, walk up, small patio full intalian menu, curb pull up/beach walk to quick eats. Very nice find. Exactly what I was looking for. I will stop by anytime I'm here. Next door there's a coffee spot that I will try next time passing by.“

“It was fun! And pretty environment. Food was delicious“

“Had heard great things from colleagues, so I decided to stop in and see what the hype was about. While I was looking over the menu, the lady working at the time greeted me and even offered samples of a few spreads on bread, which was a nice touch since some of the ingredients were unfamiliar to me.

I ended up ordering a weekly special with prosciutto, arugula, artichoke cream, and stracchino, and added nduja after trying it and liking the flavor. The sandwich was delicious and packed with ingredients.

It’s definitely on the pricier side for a sandwich, but the portion is huge. Honestly, it’s enough to share, or do what I did eat half for lunch and save the rest for dinner.“

“Great afternoon lunch with delicious food and wonderful service“

“Great customer service, very good espresso, tasty fresh pastries.“

“What a great variety of pizzas and salads. Tha pastas are exceptionally good. Great device and place to go with freinds. lots of parking to boot. Ive been here multiple times and plan on carrying on:) Will definitely them for catering very soon.“

“I go here when I'm in the area. The sandwich to get is the spicy Gdmother with the works. People line up for this sandwich. They also make them ahead of time as they are so popular. I actually got the tuna the last few times which is also amazing. Their bread is so fresh - crunchy on the outside yet soft on the inside. This is a must go to place! Be prepared to try and find a parking space and to wait in line but it is well worth it. It's also an Italian deli where you can find all things Italian.
For payment, they take cash or debit cards. They have a small ATM machine in the store.
Although parking is typically a hassle and the wait inside to order sandwiches is also a hassle, it is well worth it.“

“😍😍 😍pretty Tasty Pizza😍😍😍“

“Food, service and ambience were excellent, we love it !“

“Incredibly fabulous food. Very professional wait staff. Can't thank Roberta and Elena enough. Thanks so much.“

“This rundown will ensure you enjoy the greatness of Capo. Start with the Filet Tartare accompanied by the grilled Ceaser. Move on to a split pasta plate of the Ragu and Corn Ravioli with truffles. Finish up with the Veal Scallopini while knocking back the last few sips of the incredible Grenache. Yes. I recommend Capo.“

“the service is phenomenal lovely atmosphere, very clean, cleanliness is the next thing to Godliness. the staff is friendly, the waitresses are really nice just all around lovely place the view is off the chain thank you penthouse for a lovely breakfast and God bless yours truly Michael and Jeannie.“

“This hidden back patio is one of my favorite places in LA!

The food is delicious, I love their salads and pizza but come for their sandwiches every time. This time I got their meatball and my boyfriend had a slice of pepperoni pizza.

Stop by Jyna Issac’s on your way out for some fresh bread and pastry.“

“If you want to go to a bar with perfect seating, great airflow, excellent drinks, flawless service l, a fantastic DJ, a parking lot, a nyc vibe, no one rushes you and you can even reserve a table for drinks…go to the Chestnut Club. My favorite new bar. 14th & Santa Monica Blvd @TheChestnutClub same owners as scopa and black market liquor!“

“Me and my husband came out to Santa Monica and ate lunch at Rosti's on Thursday. The pasta dish Rigatoni Beef Ragu that Lisa, my server, suggested was really good! She was personable and friendly, really thoughtful about my food choices since I’m pregnant. Thank you!“

“Such yummy food and chill atmosphere. The only problem is the close at 8pm when it’s still light outside?!? I’ve seen them turn away several customers many many times. I think it was a covid thing originally so hopefully they go back to more normal hours. At least stay open until 9pm please 🙏🏻!“

“The kind of night where you stumble into a speakeasy that's usually impossible to get into, only to find they have a one-hour opening before the next reservation. We slid in, ordered drinks, and ended up with one of those bartenders who makes the whole experience.

He was genuinely engaging, traded stories with us, mixed one of the best dirty martinis I've ever had, completely understood why I needed **three** blue cheese-stuffed olives (because two is bad luck), and even surprised us with a little taste of a cocktail we'd been eyeing.

Great bartender, great conversation, great vibes, and the best kind of unexpected find. His name is Jer-bear and we already reserved our next visit 😌

-The Claw Sisters“