11 Best Italian Restaurants in Venice

“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!“

“Our server Sean was amazing!“

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

“Delicious food and drinks!“

“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.“

“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!“

“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!“

“Old School pizza place where they make their own go every Pizza is tossed by hand. I can't recommend this place enough atmosphere is not exactly jumping but in terms of grabbing some food or getting full of the house you really can't do better“