Absolutely outstanding food and service. I had the gnocchi and my daughter had the ricotta ravioli. Both pasta dishes were prepared and served perfectly. The marinara was fresh, tomato-e with perfect blend of basil and garlic. Service was outstanding and our servers were top notch. Always skeptical when going to a restaurant in a tourist area, but we hit a home run tonight. read more

Would never return. We chose this restaurant for my bachelorette dinner and the experience was disappointing from the moment we walked in. Paula, the hostess (and possibly an owner according to all the other reviews here), was dismissive and treated our group with obvious disrespect while warmly interacting with other tables around us. We were the largest group in the restaurant and the only Asian American group. Everyone in our party was Asian except for one white guest, who was the only person Paula spoke happily to and even joked with when he asked where the restroom was. The contrast in how our group was treated was hard to ignore and left us feeling singled out. Our server was nice, but the poor hospitality overshadowed what should have been a special celebration. I left feeling unwelcome and I hope no one else has a similar experience. read more

We chose this restaurant to celebrate my best friend's bachelorette party because of its high ratings, but it was definitely NOT WORTH IT. We had a reservation and called ahead to ask if we could arrive earlier since we finished at the aquarium sooner than expected. We completely understood if the answer was no, but we were already in the area and if the answer was no, we could've totally kept busy until our actual reservation time, no big deal. The hostess, Paula, responded rudely, saying, "I can't do this right now," before handing the phone to another staff member, who kindly told us it would be fine. When we arrived, Paula simply pointed at our table and said, "There's your table," then looked down and ignored us. I wasn't even sure if we were supposed to seat ourselves until another staff member noticed and kindly escorted us to our table. The restaurant was empty when we arrived as well. At one point, we walked past Paula to get to the restroom and she slightly scoffed, looking at us with contempt. At first, I thought maybe I was overthinking it, however, throughout the evening, we noticed Paula and another staff member enthusiastically greeting and checking on every nearby table except ours. We were the largest party in the restaurant, celebrating a bride-to-be who was even wearing a veil, yet no one acknowledged the occasion. We felt so un-welcomed and it left a bad taste in my mouth. Our server was wonderful, unfortunately, the food was mediocre, nothing special, especially for the price. Overall, the poor hospitality overshadowed the entire experience. I hope management takes the recurring 1- and 2-star reviews seriously and works to improve the atmosphere because this was a very disappointing experience. read more

We had the best night in a long time at this fabulous restaurant! Chef was amazing, and his wife went out of her way to accomodate us with an extra couple last minute on a busy saturday night! We wil be back!!!! read more

It's been five years since being able to return back to this amazing Italian spot and it was exactly how we remembered it. Our first visit was for our honeymoon and this visit was with our toddler and we were slightly nervous to bring him but it was so lovely and that made us feel right at home! All the food items are incredible, fresh and that home cooked Italian feel with class! Can't wait to come back again and hopefully not wait another five years! Definitely make a reservation as well, this spot is only open from 5-8:30 on the weekends! read more

La Mia Cucina - Italian Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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On a family trip to Monterey to celebrate my parents' 40th anniversary, we were looking forward to the spot that my dad was raving about, having been for one of his cousin's birthday celebrations in the past. Despite making a reservation, we were not warmly greeted like many of the fellow Yelp-ers here, as we showed up with a stroller and baby, and were abruptly told to find a storage place for the stroller ourselves and that next time we need to let them know in advance about the stroller and baby, which is what we thought we did...the hostess was not very kind in her tone, and I was forced to walk across the street to put the stroller back. It left a pretty sour taste in our mouth even before the meal began. After that, though, the waiter and servers were quite kind and accommodating. We opted for a calamari appetizer, which was nothing like I'd ever seen before - it was almost like a calamari bread cut in strips, as opposed to fried cut-up parts of calamari. For mains, I got the meat and spinach ravioli, which was good, but I don't quite think worth the price point...It was also very warm and uncomfortable inside, so much so that we had to take the baby out for a bit to cool off. Overall, a solid Italian meal, but even though the initial hostess said to let them know next time about stroller and baby, I don't think a "next time" will come anytime soon... read more

La Mia Cucina - Meat and spinach ravioli with Parmesan cheese - Italian Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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We loved this restaurant!! Outstanding food and some of the best service Ive seen and experienced. Definitely recommend!

As usual the food is great. The service as well. We came back after our kids help us celebrate or 50th wedding anniversary here and they did a spectacular job. When we come over from the hot valley always plan to have dinner at this establishment. read more

An AMAZING bday meal celebrated here! The personal touches of confetti at our table made our food so festive! They even brought me a scoop of gelato with a candle to make a wish. I was so honored and the food my husband and I shared were delicious. Staff were all very attentive especially on our water which was appreciated. Even got to meet owners, both very sweet and husband held door open for us on way out. Will be back for sure- thank you all so much for making this a night to remember and very special!!! (: read more

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This was an attempt to approach Thanksgiving in a different way...it worked out! The food was top notch and paired with the service one of the best experiences of the year. We were visited at our table by the owner, what a nice pleasant spirit. We had the Mushroom Ravioli and Seafood Linguine I enjoyed them both equally. I would go back again as we are in the area. read more

La Mia Cucina - Mushroom Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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Service and food were exceptional. The chef greeted us at our table and recommended his mushroom ravioli, which he makes from scratch. Other favorites he recommended were the lobster ravioli (most popular dish on the menu) and the Sunday night special, spaghetti and meatballs. We ordered the mushroom soup, (deliciously creamy but light), the mushroom ravioli (as good as the chef said), and the spaghetti and meatballs (two very large savory meatballs with a perfectly spiced tomato sauce). I highly recommend this locally owned and operated restaurant! read more

This restaurant is spectacular! I was traveling for business, and my team hosted a dinner in a private room at La Mia Cucina. The staff was friendly, and the chef came out to greet our large party. The food! Fantastico! From the appetizer to the dessert, everything was beautifully plated and so delicious! I wish I could dine here every month, but alas I'm on the wrong coast for that. The space is beautifully decorated with archival posters. Everything here is wonderful. Give them a try! read more

The food and servers were great, we would definitely recommend if the hostess Paula at the front did not work there (she might be one of the owners actually). She was incredibly rude to my wife on the phone when we asked if we could change our reservations from 7pm to 530pm since we just got out of the aquarium at 5pm. We were definitely willing to wait till 7pm but thought it wouldn't hurt to ask. She got upset, handed the phone to a gentleman and he politely said yes they can do 530pm. We got there right on time to check in and Paula pointed to my wife where to sit and did not say a single word such as "hello" or "welcome". Just a look of contempt on her face. Ironically she was nice and talked to me (the only white person and non-asian in our group) and even made a joke with me when I asked where the restroom was but did not talk respectfully to anyone else in our group. Make sure you read the 1 and 2 star reviews before eating here especially if you're not white. It's actually true that Paula will make her rounds to only the tables with white guests. read more

One of the greatest restaurants I've been to. The staff were so friendly, all of them. I ordered the Lobster Ravioli and it was amazing. The entree came with a salad or soup. I went with the salad with the house creamy Italian. Additionally, you get bread with oil and balsamic vinegar. For desert my wife and I shared a tiramisu and it, like the rest, was amazing. We came straight from a race a Laguna Seca and were not dressed up at all, which I was concerned about. The way we were welcomed and thanked for coming in, we will be back very soon. read more

Came here for dinner after arriving in Pacific Grove. I'm glad they were able to accommodate our party of 8 on a Friday night. The restaurant is cozy and the service was warm and welcoming. The food we ordered (a combination of a few appetizers and a few pasta dishes) were all good, but the main standout to me was the crab cake. I haven't had a crab cake that great in a while, I think the shrimp in the crab cake really added to its texture. One down side was just the gap between the appetizers coming out and the main dishes, which was almost 30 minutes, we were getting a bit restless. Other than that, we had a good time there. read more

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One of my family & myself favorite restaurant. Love Paula & Mike. So welcoming & friendly I feel like we're at their home having dinner

Everyone in our group agreed with two thumbs up. The interior felt like an art gallery, with servers dressed impeccably in clean aprons, resembling chefs themselves. To make a reservation, be sure to call ahead. The host and the entire staff were amiable, adding to the positive experience. What we ordered: FOCACCIA BREAD - The first serving is complimentary, but the second comes with a $4 charge. While we were tempted to order more because it was so delicious, we decided to hold off until we tried the rest of our meals. CALAMARI - This isn't your typical calamari with tentacles and small rings. Instead, these were deep-fried calamari steaks, and they were out of this world. THE BEST calamari I've ever had. Must order. FARFALLE with BOLOGNESE - We originally wanted the Friday special, Lasagna, but it was sold out. The server recommended this dish as it shared similar ingredients. It was satisfying, and we don't regret ordering it, though I can't help but wonder how the lasagna would have compared. Guess I'll have to come back on a Friday to find out. LOBSTER RAVIOLI - Fresh lobster meat wrapped in tender pasta, served with a Sherry cream sauce that we practically licked clean. It was that good. POTATO GNOCCHI - Chewy, pillowy gnocchi served over a rich cream sauce. It was a great alternative to the rest of our pasta dishes, providing some variety. read more

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We had the tortiglioni with sausage and ricotta ravioli. Ricotta Ravioli: 4/5 comfort food. Nice light tomato sauce. Thin pasta wrapping. Hard to not like this. Tortiglioni: 3/5. I liked that the pasta had some chew to it. Sauce felt deep and complex. Sausages tasted somewhat dry and plain but perhaps that's just how many of these restaurants like to cook them? read more

This is a cozy family restaurant right off the main street in the heart of Pacific Grove. Most of the fellow customers seem to know the owners and are warmly greeted when they arrive. (We were also warmly greeted, sans the hugs. :-) ) Their dining rooms are tastefully decorated with art deco posters. We shared a Caesar Salad and a Bruschetta for our appetizers and enjoyed them immensely. My main dish was the Fresh Sanddabs which were, in fact, very fresh, very tender and tasty. My wife's lobster ravioli was also delicious. read more

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Absolutely one of my most favorite places in Pacific Grove. Food is fantastic! Highly recommend!! Can't wait to go back!! Server was great! Loved Paula and her amazing chef husband. Everyone was so kind!! read more

La Mia Cucina - Seafood linguine is amazing!! - Italian Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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This is our go to Italian restaurant in Pacific Grove! Polly and Michael are always friendly, the ambiance is pleasant, and the food is tasty! You can go for a romantic dinner or with well-behaved kids. (I added the "well-behaved" part because that's my preference and expectation at a nice restaurant.) Everything was great! See my pics. Our favs yummy bruschetta starter and delicious focaccia bread house salad (we split it) crab and prawn cakes - "meaty" & so good! The only less than stellar entree was the spinach & meat raviolis. it's the first time we were a bit disappointed in it and we've been coming here for 6 years! the sauce and filling had great flavor but was a bit too al dente. In the past it seemed like the pasta was rolled out thinner and not as al dente. Looked like the prices went up which seemed on par for a fine dining experience in Pacific Grove/Monterey. With all that, another 5 star experience! We'll be back!! read more

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The ambience is cozy, the service and food is outstanding. I ordered the veal Sorrentino and my husband had the veal saltimbocca. My husband opted for the house salad and I opted for the soup which was heirloom tomato. We ordered a bottle of red Italian wine, a Barolo. We were served bruschetta right away. They also brought warm focaccia bread which reminded us of my husband's Noni. Everything was excellent!! We ended with the sherry cake with pistachio ice cream. Yummy! We definitely will return! read more

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We all had various ravioli and each dish was perfect. Super friendly service, warm ambiance, and enjoyed meeting the chef as he visited each table. Delicious crème brûlée to finish the night! read more

Wow... what a great experience. Food was amazing, service was great. What else can you say. Great atmosphere such a cool look. Started off with the Calimari. Not the fried calamari with tentacles... breaded calamari steak that melts in your mouth We then got the raviolis for our entree... salad and soup were very good...I ordered the portobello mushroom and the wife got the lobster. Both were delicious... especially the lobster ravioli... tempted to lick the bowl clean but resisted the urge Overall 10/10 experience. read more

Excellent food, service, and ambience! Bread the best. Beet burrata best ever had. Lobster ravioli fantastic. Salads fresh and inventive. Service awesome, proactive and appreciated. read more

Consistent great experiences here. The food is inventive and exceptional, the service friendly and attentive, the ambience festive and comfortable. Owners Paula (hostess), and Michael (chef) are gracious and welcoming. I really think this is the best restaurant in the Monterey area. read more

Amazing food as usual and I can usually find parking which is a rare find in Monterey area. The affogato is the perfect end to a very good meal. read more

It's always special when you visit a place without any expectations and end up discovering your new favorite restaurant. The quality and flavor at La Mia Cucina are truly unmatched. read more

A favorite! Service was pleasant and flow was spot on. Our food was flavorful and cooked perfectly. Will absolutely visit again. read more

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A wonderful place to go in PG, that we would highly recommend. The food is great, the staff is great and we were treated like old friends.

What an amazing experience! La Mia Cucina reminded my wife & I of our trip to Florence but with much better service. The husband & wife team who run the restaurant are warm & inviting, the food is authentic & delicious, the ambience is sophisticated & the service is top notch. Places like this are becoming rare & will definitely be back in the future. Thank you! read more

I'm a 'fake local,' in town for a while, and my culinary radar quickly circled in on this in town, gem of a ristorante! Several things really stuck out to me about my dining experience, the candor and warm professionalism of my waiter Luis - the kindly uncle I never knew I had, as well as the incredibly classy restraint with which the chef crafts his offerings. The focaccia, along with oil and vinegar was a beautiful, housemaid touch, and an amuse bouche of a light and playful bruschetta, welcomed me in. The special salad was roasted pistachios with heirloom cherry tomatoes, mixed greens and herbs, as well as the freshest, most succulent bay shrimp, and perfectly rendered bacon. The simple straightforward 'ingredients first,' ethos had immediate 'wow' factor. The seafood linguine was fabulous: a cream sauce, just light enough to be bound by a couple heavy-handed spoonfuls of Parmesan and the fresh bounty of the sea: scallops, cod, a couple of fresh clams, and some beautiful prawns were allowed to sing their own notes, without being over-seasoned. It takes years of being in a kitchen as well as having a culinary gift, to cook with this restraint, and I so appreciated my meal. The chef was obviously concerned in the best way with the diners experience, and was present in the dining room, as well as attending to the kitchen, which is nice as many chefs are relegated to the helm, and never show their face. From the service to every aspect of the food; this restaurant perfectly captures an intimate dining experience, that is a buttoned up version of an Italian mother's cuisine. If I could give 6 stars I would. If you want, foam, smoke and fennel powder, go and visit a chef who's just graduated from culinary school and working in a big city somewhere. If, however, you want the best food and astounding pastas with local ingredients from the sea, treat yourself to a dinner at La Mia Cucina! Muuuah! read more

Celebrated Moms 86th Birthday.Wife chose this restaurant,since our previous meal was excellent! Also very classy inside,white table cloths on all the tables. Quiet ambiance , Excellent Service , and of course excellent food! The waiters , Host ,the Chef and service staff all make you very comfortable, and make sure you are well taken care of! read more

Right of the bat let's mention Giovanni, our server. We couldn't forget this guy for all the wrong reasons. Came in the second party at opening time 5:00 PM with a reservation. Got sat at the corner of the lower dining room by the hostess, perused at the menu and noticed 5 minutes in that nobody introduced themselves as our server while other tables got their waters & orders. Wife got annoyed at the attention the other tables were getting while we definitely checked in before them. After 12 minutes, (wife turned on her stopwatch after 6 minutes in) the lady serving waters turned to us and told us our server was coming. Finally 15 minutes in, the grumpy Gio came and asked how we've been and asked us if we'd like to hear the specials. We shook our heads & said no politely and said we were ready to order. That's when things got weirder. When I ordered the Veal, he interrupted me in the most snooty remark of "What kind? There's four of them". Kept my cool with his tone of voice and just muttered "Saltimbocca" without asking how the other three differed (Piccata, Marsala and Sorrentino BTW). We asked the other staff servicing our table who our waiter was and they answered Gio and Giovanni. Complimentary bread service came after the bruschetta. Now normally, in a relaxed setting we would've savored these. But the uncomfortable atmosphere set by our initial encounter advised our appetites to take the night off and will probably be seeing them during breakfast. Food 4/5 (Calamari, Chicken Primavera and Fresh Veal) had decent portions and tasted decent. Boxed to-go due to "lack of hunger" Ambience 4/5 Italian posters allover and candlelit tables w/ immaculate linens. Service 1/5 Gio Always liked the peace and quite of Pacific Grove and the pleasant experiences we've had with our stay and dining here, but La Mia Cucina (translated obscurely from Gio's POV is certainly "My Kitchen") changed all that. Disappointed that we were excited to experience dining here with all the 4 & 5 stars reviews. We should've paid more attention to more than a couple of the 1 star reviews read more

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This is one of the best meals I've had in a while. Everyone is attentive. Amazing food. Go on Friday and get the lasagna special!! read more

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My partner and I missed our reservation on Valentine's Day and this place let us in! The service staff was so nice! Inside, the atmosphere was very inviting and warm. The food was also amazing! Definitely recommend the ricotta ravioli!! read more

La Mia Cucina - Ricotta Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

good food. small portions. cute place. good service. Bit pricey for portion size. Very good. read more

La Mia Cucina - Salad - Italian Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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This is go-to Italian restaurant whenever we're on the Monterey Peninsula. The atmosphere, food and service is always amazing. Make a reservation and enjoy the experience, you won't be disappointed. It's consistently delicious. read more

Wow! I am so happy to have found an authentic Italian restaurant somewhat near me! The restaurant is very spacious and well decorated. The woman at the front of the restaurant (I think she was the owner) was super welcoming and kind. The food here is delicious! And the prices aren't that high considering the amount of food served. All entrees come with homemade focaccia bread and a soup or salad. I ordered the mushroom ravioli and asparagus soup. Both dishes were delicious! Service was great and they gave us a complimentary cannoli since we were celebrating a birthday. Overall, amazing experience! Worth the hour drive and I will be back for sure!! read more

La Mia Cucina - Mushroom ravioli, homemade focaccia and spaghetti meatball - Italian Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

We tried this restaurant for the first time this last weekend and absolutely loved it! The service and ambience were great, and the food was amazing. We loved the small extra touches that went into the meal - bruschetta right when we sat down, complimentary bread service, and little hearts at our table for our anniversary. My husband had the pasta special and I had the mushroom ravioli. Both were so good!! We will definitely be back! read more

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