Ugo Trattoria

Ugo Trattoria – A Hidden Gem on 3rd Street Promenade

Ugo Trattoria is a fantastic spot for authentic Italian food right in the heart of Santa Monica’s 3rd Street Promenade. The flavors are rich, the portions generous, and the vibe is welcoming without being too formal. Perfect for a casual date night or happy hour with friends.

Their happy hour is definitely worth checking out, especially if you’re a fan of Italian beer—Peroni on tap?? Yes, please! But the star of the show? The meatballs. Tender, flavorful, and served in a rich tomato sauce, they’re easily some of the best meatballs I’ve had on the Westside, and an absolute steal during happy hour.

Whether you’re looking for a quick bite, a relaxing drink, or a full-on Italian dinner, Ugo Trattoria hits all the marks. Definitely going back soon!

We started with the calamari fritti and it was honestly so good—crispy, fresh, and the sauce was amazing. Portion size was perfect to share. The lasagna was great too, just the right size for one person and full of flavor. I had the Spaghetti Amalfi and the combo of shrimp and sauce was on point. The pizza was alright, kind of basic and cheesy. The tiramisu was a highlight—it comes in a chocolate cup you can actually eat, which made it really fun and different.

The ambiance is casual and relaxed, calm overall with no loud noise or crowd, which made it super enjoyable. Only thing to keep in mind is that they close early, so don’t go too late. Prices are regular—nothing too expensive, nothing super cheap either.

Everything tasted fresh and well prepared. Eric, the only staff member working at the time, was amazing—fast, attentive, and genuinely helpful. You could tell he was doing his best and it really showed. I’d definitely go back.

Fig pizza. All you need to know

We had lot better experience here in the past when there was different host and hostess. The other host we used to see when we dined here in the past was very kind to my little family. Very accommodating. In the past when we frequented here for dinner we loved it not just the food but experience . It was kindness and love. Thursday April 24 around 5 pm even though my little daughter had suggested to go to MIXT after shopping , I said hey why don’t we get your favorite pizza from Ugo restaurant. It was my fault that we went to Ugo instead and ruined our evening. This new hostess I had never seen her there before and she wasn’t accommodating at all. My daughter asked to sit inside by the door where we always used to sit. We were denied. We sat outside on a wobbly tiny dirty table facing the intense sun . It was very uncomfortable. Not to mention at the time we requested to sit inside no one else was sitting wasn’t crowded at all. I asked about one of the pizzas not to put goat cheese on it. Hostess said hmm I don’t think you can chant anything on the menu. She said will ask the chef. It took forever for food to arrive. And again it was not pleasant where we were sitting. Sun was in my eye. Tiny table wobbly and dirty with little kid with me. Appetizer came first instead of everything to arrive same time. In the past service was prompt. It took forever for just one appetizer to arrive to our tiny wobbly table facing the sun. And I got sick after eating that appetizer. It was a bad experience. And we won’t go back since they have a new hostess. We liked the old ones . I told my little daughter I’m sorry I didn’t walk to MIXT with you. I thought the waiter at Ugo is the same always used to be there and he was always kind and would let you sit inside. So yeah for us will never go back there to this restaurant. Waste of time money and I got sick at night from their appetizer. And terrible experience.

Great food and specially the pizzas
The price compared to the other restaurants is Good

Amazing food and very quick service without it being rushed

The Best meal I had in US.

Had a good ravioli and meatballs

We got few issues with this restaurant:
1) garlic is everywhere and it is not written on the menu
2) parmisan is not parmisan as described on the menu, it is just a kind of cheap version of.
3) there was an arrogant lady that she said in USA we put garlic in all tomato. My answer was do not put neapolitan pizza because it is not near to the proper one.
5) it is an Italian trattoria but the chef is from Mexico.
I do not have anything against Mexican people but it is like that I am italian and I'll open a sushi restaurant or a taco restaurant.
Advice: if you do not like garlic you have to choose a different restaurant.
Note: on the image is written so seasoning, no garlic. Unbelievable

The food at Ugo on 3rd Street Promenade is absolutely delightful! The Pene con Pesto was bursting with flavor – perfectly creamy and well-balanced with fresh ingredients. The Sangria complemented the meal beautifully, refreshing and not overly sweet. The atmosphere was cozy yet vibrant. Highly recommend this spot for anyone craving authentic Italian cuisine.

I wasn’t expecting much from Ugo at first, to be honest. It’s in a super touristy area, and most restaurants around there tend to be overpriced and disappointing. But wow, was I wrong.

The food is excellent — it’s authentic Italian. No gimmicky chicken Alfredo here. Portions are just right, the flavors are spot on, and everything feels thoughtfully made. The staff are super friendly. The best part: The prices are actually fair! It’s so rare to find a place in this area that doesn’t feel like a total rip-off. As someone who is directly living on Third Street Promenade, I also really appreciated that they offer a discount for neighbors.

I went with an Italian friend who’s usually pretty harsh when it comes to Italian food, but even he didn’t have a single bad thing to say. That’s saying something.

If you’re looking for great Italian food in Santa Monica, Ugo is 100% worth it. Highly recommend!

The food was excellent. Service was awesome. Friendly staff. I highly recommend this place for vegetarians and if you like flavor. Spice it up with chili flakes and diced garlic. Yummy!

I have come to Ugo several times. My favorites are the minestrone soup, gnocchi, and gelato. I will try the pizza next.

The food was good. The chicken in my pasta was not good; it was a bit chewy. We liked their cauliflower sides, and the gnocchi in four-cheese sauce were good. Also, the bread was good and fresh.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Amazing customer service, great food, and the employees were super kind and funny! Coming back here again soon!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Lasagne, Penne Pasta, Calamari