Five Star Brunch!* What a fantastic brunch experience in ritzy Manhattan Beach! The maitre'd couldn't have been nicer and seated us at a beautiful booth by the window. Luckily, we got out before the sun became too uncomfortably hot. The decor is beautiful, tastefully done without being too much. A stunning bar, a beautiful open kitchen, hanging lamps, the exposed beams, the skylights, chef's kiss to the interior designer. I was there for brunch, which runs from 10a-2p on weekends. Eggs in Purgatory A variation on a shakshuka. Insanely delicious! Baked eggs in a yummy tomato sauce, veggies, some kind of pepper situation (pickled?), perfect balance of spicy and sweet, perfectly seasoned. If they sold the sauce by the gallon and the toasted sourdough by the loaves, I would be the first to sign up!! Bomboloni Di Gabriele More or less a stuffed doughnut with a crunchy sugar layer on top and yummy Nutella stuffed into it. Perfect dessert after the savoury eggs. What a fantastic experience! Can't wait to come back! PS. Looks like we've reached $12 draught beer! * Yelp has a Rotten Tomatoes-style problem: How do you score brainless-but-fun Marvel movies and so-serious-my-brain-hurts Oscar movies on the same scale? How do you score triple--Michelin-star world-famous chef establishments and Mom-and-Pop shops that over-deliver on the same five-star scale? I have no idea, so please be warned that this five-star rating might be a subjective call and YMMV. Enjoy! read more

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I first learned about Love & Salt after attending a Yelp Elite Event for brunch, and I was blown away by the food and drinks. I enjoyed it so much that I had to come back! I raved about the B.A.P. (Big Ass Pancake) after my first visit, so of course I had to order it again. Unfortunately, this time it didn't wow me like it did before. Last time, the pancake had those perfectly crispy edges, and this time it didn't. And I LOVE a crispy-edge pancake! I also ordered scrambled eggs, but they were a little too runny for my liking. The Bourbon Buzz brunch cocktail was good, though! Definitely enjoyed that. Service was just okay this time. Our waitress wasn't as attentive as I would have liked. At one point we needed something, and another waitress, the African American woman (I didn't catch her name) noticed and took care of us right away. Overall, Love & Salt still has a cool ambiance. This visit just didn't hit quite the same. read more

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First off my review is to be taken with a grain of salt (hehe) but the food was a bit subpar. The Fett'unta wasn't to die for but it was very good. Very forward with the garlic if you are into that. We ordered a cacio e pepe and a carbonara for dinner. The cacio e pepe was 3 at best. Way too much pepper. Carbonara tasted like chicken bouillon. Also a 3. Aside from the food, the vibes were good, drinks were amazing (according to my wife), and the service was wonderful. read more

First off I want to talk about the exterior. Compared to other places in Manhattan Beach, Love & Salt looked very unwelcoming from the outside due to its concrete walls. So this place is very easy to miss! When you walk in, the place opens up to this rustic farmhouse seating area. Very beautiful! I ate the brioche french toast and it was solid. I found the inside to be a bit too eggy at times but thats just my preference. The best part was how crunchy the outside was. Parking is super difficult. There is limited street parking and a paid garage close by. But even the garage was almost full. read more

Love & Salt - Brioche French Toast - Italian Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

Love & Salt is an excellent dinner spot for something a bit more upscale. They have a pretty substantial menu, with a lot of great options. They even have some really delicious mocktails. Make sure not to miss the meatballs for an appetizer. They were probably the best dish of the night. That said, you can't really go wrong with anything you order. I only really had two very minor complaints. Their pasta was a little more al dente than I tend to go for, but that didn't ruin the dishes by any means. The other thing was that the mocktails didn't come with anything to stir them with. Even a straw would have been helpful. All things considered, you really should check out Love & Salt if you are in the LA area. Well worth it. read more

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I've been to Love & Salt several times over the years, and I remember absolutely loving it. I recently returned for my birthday, and while the food was still very good, the overall experience didn't quite live up to what I remembered. We started with the Fett'unta and Grilled Sprouting Cauliflower, and both were excellent. The cauliflower was easily one of the standout dishes of the night. For our mains, we shared the Love Letter Discoteca pasta, Whole Branzino, Angus Ribeye, and both the Japanese Mushrooms and Spicy Soppressata pizzas. Everything was flavorful, well prepared, and perfect for sharing. Unfortunately, the rest of the experience fell a little flat. The dining room was very loud, and we were seated right by the front door, so there was a constant flow of people walking by. I understand every restaurant has a few less-than-ideal tables. I worked in restaurants myself but it definitely affected the experience. If you're dining with a smaller group, I'd recommend sitting at the bar instead. From what I remember from previous visits, the bartenders are fantastic, and I actually prefer the atmosphere there. I had also noted on my reservation that we were celebrating my birthday. I wasn't expecting a complimentary dessert or anything, but I was surprised that neither the host nor our server acknowledged it with even a simple "Happy Birthday." It's a small detail, but thoughtful hospitality goes a long way in making a celebration feel special. read more

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Super super solid spot. Discovered this through a yelp event and I was blown away. The bacon was on point and SO juicy, the French toast was crispy, the 5 egg sandwich was so bouncy, and the vibe inside was immaculate. It is walking distance to the beach so a great location overall. Service was great as the food came out quick. I'm def coming back soon! read more

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The 5 cheese sandwich was super filling and thickKk. The lemonade was pretty good too, it tasted closer to a limeade. The potatoes were seasoned well and was tasty. The pizza had a good amount of sauce and the crust and crunch was very noiceee. Service was good and our server checked in often and helped us out when we needed it. The vibes were nice and the indoor dining was clean and modern. Nothing crazy about the place but this can definitely be good date vibes. We came here when it was brunch time. read more

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Used to love going to Love and Salt for dinner so we decided to try out their brunch for the first time. Lots of open tables on a Saturday and we thought uh oh. Is it not good? We ordered their eggs in purgatory and corned beef hash. The eggs in purgatory was served nice and hot and had a lot of flavor. The corned beef hash was very greasy and mush. It had this weird scent to it that we couldn't figure out. Both dishes were served with toasted bread but the edges on one side burnt.... On all of them. So they were faced down. Overall it was okay... service was good but we will be going to other places for brunch instead. read more

Love & Salt - Eggs In Purgatory - Italian Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

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Love it. We got the French toast and the Big Ass Pancake. I usually love French toast but I don't love deep fried versions. But it was good. The pancake was excellent. Also grabbed a cocktail called Passion Project, which I really like. read more

Love & Salt - Passion Project cocktail - Italian Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

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Pasta was AMAZING! It was fresh and a good portion!! My only comment is the mixed drinks were ok, ranges from $15 and up. It just wasn't worth it, you can get better drinks nearby. The service was great. It was fast and friendly. The tables are at a good distance from each other so it doesn't feel crowded. read more

Love & Salt - drinks - Italian Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

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Love the vibes, atmosphere, and location! Within walking distance to Manhattan Beach Pier and easy street parking. Food is delicious as well. Fast service. Make sure to make a reservation ahead of time as they are very popular. Really enjoy the bread + burrata as appetizers. Sourdough is toasted to perfection and goes so well with the burrata. Pizza (vodka sausage) and pasta (carbonara) is on the more flavorful side, so if you enjoy less oily and salty food, would recommend asking them explicitly. We enjoyed it nonetheless. One appetizer + pizza + pasta was more than enough for two people. We were very full and had leftovers. read more

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Unfortunately, the experience was somewhat lackluster, especially because this was a dinner my newly engaged fiancée and I chose to celebrate such a special occasion. I do want to recognize that the staff did a great job attending to us throughout the evening. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same about the food quality. I ordered the Angus Ribeye and specifically requested it medium-rare. With a cut like a ribeye, I believe proper temperature and a well-executed sear are essential to bringing out the tenderness and flavor of the meat. Unfortunately, the steak arrived closer to medium-well. As a result, it was noticeably drier than expected, which took away from the delicate flavors and overall experience I had hoped for. The cocktails, however, were excellent and met my expectations, so I have no complaints there. My fiancée ordered the Siciliana pizza, but unfortunately, the center was undercooked. We brought this to our server's attention, but there was no follow-up afterward to address the issue. That was particularly disappointing given the quality and reputation I would expect from a restaurant that is recognized from Michelin. read more

Came here for Valentines! It was very noisy inside and small tables. The pizza was very good but I didn't like the bone marrow pasta much personally. It was just very greasy read more

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The restaurant is located very close to Manhattan Beach. We ordered the bone marrow pasta, pork chop, and basque cheesecake. The food was so good. I finished the bone marrow pasta on my own. The dish had so much flavor and the pasta was cooked perfectly. The pork chop was very good and we really enjoyed the cheesecake. The restaurant was very cute inside but so loud. I couldn't hear a thing that my friend was saying to me and we were right in front of each other. We were constantly like, "what did you say?" I hope they could lower the volume because I was so overstimulated that night. Food was great but it wasn't an enjoyable dinner experience. read more

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Great local dining spot downtown Manhattan Beach. Nick our Server was fantastic and very accommodating. Food was fantastic, loved the Chicken, so tender and moist. My favorite was the Trottole Salsiccia. Drinks were great. Love the ambiance. read more

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The staff was very friendly. The atmosphere quaint but frittata and toast dish was just ok. read more

Love & Salt - Sunday Brunch - Italian Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

Made reservations for Valentine's Day and everything was excellent. We got to sit at the high tops which overlook the kitchen so that was pretty cool. We got sat right away and the service was great. It was pretty busy, so it was surprising how fast the food came out. We started with the meatballs which were very tender, but I wish they came with a bigger piece of bread. Both of the pastas were perfectly aldente and had great flavors. read more

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Peter was absolutely amazing and was very thorough with his recommendations. Food was out of this world! Peter was really kind and made sure we got our food in a timely manner. The staff is so incredible! Wasn't too busy for a Saturday night but please make a reservation to make sure you get a table! Kale Caesar is a must! Duck egg pizza was phenomenal along with the mushroom gnocchi read more

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I have been to this restaurant twice.both times I had the margarita pizza.one of the best pizzas I have had in California.definitely must try. read more

First time visiting Love & Salt and we really enjoyed the service and the food selected. Top notch Sopresata Pizza Delicious bone marrow pasta - caution it's al dente not usually my first pick but it was really good Fennel salad - average only bevause it had too much cheese Cocktails on point!! Yellow tail crudo is a MUST read more

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I've tried Love & Salt three times now and each time I would have rated it three stars. The service is always quite fantastic and I love the lighting inside when it's night time. But the food is always just mid, which kind of makes me sad! I've tried their Wedge Salad, Fett'unta, Bucatini Al Pesto Genovese, Spicy Soppressata Pizza, and I believe another pizza called Capitain (but don't quote me on that one). Their cocktails are always a little too sweet for my taste, and that's saying a lot! I so desperately want to go back and have one super fantastic meal that makes me a regular, but three times in a row with mediocre meals makes me a little hesitant to return. read more

Great Italian restaurant located in the heart of Downtown Manhattan Beach. The food and service here was great and general vibe was slightly upscale, but casual enough to have fun dinners here with small groups or to bring your SO for a nice/casual meal out. It should be noted though, that my experience was probably different from most. I came here for a large group for a milestone birthday and the check was covered by someone in our party. So I don't really know or have a sense of how expensive everything is and our service was great considering that everything was already selected in terms of food along with some bottles of wine and we just interacted based on drink recs and if we needed something, etc. Because of the large party, we also got to dine upstairs in the private wine /dining room, which was really cool. So my opinion or assessment on the general vibe is really based on my short stroll through the main dining room. While the food was really good, I think that I was was more enamored with the somewhat unique experience we had here. Based on my memory or my best guesses, our prix fixe menu consisted of: - Baby Kale Caesar - Castelfranco Radicchio Salad - Margherita and Spicy Soppressata pizzas - Creste Di Gallo Midollo (bone marrow pasta) - Roasted free-range chicken - I wanna say...a short rib on top of risotto dish? (tried looking at menu but didn't find anything that fit what the food looked like, but it was good. Overall, this was just a really great night and great experience. Definitely would come back, but I feel like it would be a way different experience under different circumstances. Parking: I was able to find street parking two blocks away at a meter. It was past the limit, so it was free. I would imagine parking tickets get doled out in this area at a pretty high volume, so just make sure you pay attention to the signs. read more

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Once again the food here was phenomenal! The service was fantastic as well! The only annoying thing is the ambiance, it's always so nosy and crowded in here, I almost prefer the bar seating since it's a little further from everything else. The stuffed shells with the tomato ragu is probably my new favorite item here, it's so delicious! Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 2.5/5 Value: 4/5 Overall: 4.33/5 read more

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Meh is the best I can say about brunch here. We ordered Eggs in Purgatory and Full Belly Eggs. The flavor of the Eggs in Purgatory was good but the bread that is served with it is terrible. First it was burnt and I had to ask for more bread. The bread I was given tasted 3 days old and they actually charged me on the bill for asking for bread that wasn't burnt. The Full Belly Eggs were scrambled and just OK and it came with duck fat potatoes that were underwhelming. I didn't even bother eating them. We also ordered a side of biscuits. At $7 I was expecting a large glorious biscuit. It was small and lackluster. Also don't bother ordering their $7 orange juice. It is NOT freshly squeezed and would probably be best only used for mixing cocktails. Will definitely not be returning for brunch. read more

My wife loves white pizza's and this place does it right. Tried it last night and just walked in. Had a great experience with staff and good food. Great atmosphere too, we will be back! Thanks, Pam and Stan read more

Love & Salt has been on my list of MB restaurant to try for years. I've been to most if not all, the surrounding restaurants but for some reason, missed this one. Finally, an opportunity to try out Love & Salt with my friends who prefer tapas style girl dinner. Cozy seating and friendly service right off the bat. The atmosphere is lively and loud. Note if you are trying to have a conversation, it is challenging. The music is very loud. I love bone marrow pasta and had to order that! We order this along with the Duck pizza, Shaved Fennel Salad, and Wood Oven Meatballs. Served Tapas style, we enjoyed being able to taste a little of each for the four of us. The shaved fennel was unique and something I haven't had before. Note: Regarding the Duck pizza, if you are a dry egg or the type of diner that orders their steaks well done, this is not the dish for you. The heat of the pizza is supposed to "poach" the duck egg on top, however, i think it would help if there was some way to heat the egg from the top? I love over easy eggs, but unfortunately, one of our dining companions opted out. No biggie, but just something to check before ordering. We loved our cocktails and the grande finale, Nonno's Tiramisu! Even our non-tiramisu fans enjoyed it. read more

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Food was fantastic and service is amazing. It is a little pricey so you'll have to order multiple dishes to be full. Definitely packs a punch in each bite though! I got the truffle pasta and tried some of the other salads as well as we shared for girls night. Definitely a nice hangout spot and great views outside as well read more

Love & Salt - Menu - Italian Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

Finally got to try this place out. The food was good, a little dark vibe inside. It packed up quick and you definitely need a reservation. read more

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Share your food, order what we got (excluding the grilled bread) and pull out those lactase pills! Love & Salt is a 5 minute walk from the Manhattan Beach Pier and the location is surrounded by so many dessert spots (and other businesses) should you or your group want to explore after eating. If you're sharing, you're looking at spending about ~$45-$55 bucks per person. Yes, the portion sizes are not huge, but what do you expect from a business located in one of the most expensive zip codes? I will say though that you ARE getting a deal relative to the area the restaurant is located in. Often times, portion sizes are even smaller for the price of each plate we paid. Although all of the food was quite tasty, my top two favorites were the Trottole Salsiccia and the Creste DI Gallo Midollo. Below are what the 4 of us got in order of what I enjoyed the most to the least (but all of it was tasty): Trottole Salsiccia ($25) fennel sausage, swiss chard, parmesan, bread crumbs Creste Di Gallo Midollo ($29) bone marrow, garlic confit, bread crumbs, parmesan Bucatini Al Pesto Genovese ($32) rustic pesto, burrata di Puglia, pine nuts Sausage all Vodka Pizza ($26) fiore di latte, pickled peppers, pecorino Fett'unta ($12) grilled bread, sea salt, garlic, olive oil In terms of service, we were attended to by someone named Peter. He gave us the space we needed to chat but if you're a solo eater or with a group that doesn't talk then maybe you'd want a waiter that comes around more often. For us, he was perfect. I enjoyed my food experience here and will return if the opportunity arises. read more

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It's a real shame the service was so poor, because the food was pretty good. Like another reviewer mentioned, our server (Peter) rushed us the entire night -- constantly interrupting, clearing plates before we were finished, pushing dessert, and even bringing the check without us asking right after we ordered another drink. He came back multiple times to collect it before we were ready, making it crystal clear he just wanted to turn the table. By the end, we felt unwelcome and uncomfortable which really soured the entire experience. We understand if there's a time limit, but the crazy thing is, we weren't even there longer than a regular dinner. We spent $400 only to be made to feel like an inconvenience. I almost never tip less than 20%, but I couldn't justify it, he was basically kicking us out. Also, be aware of the "auto-tip" feature -- they calculated it on the total, when it's supposed to be calculated based on the pre-tax the subtotal, which is misleading and not good business practice. On a positive note, the two hostesses were fantastic -- warm, friendly, and professional. They were the highlight of the service staff! read more

Came here for a group dinner event. Parking can be a challenge with the beach traffic. Come to find out the private meeting room is upstairs with no elevator access. This is not disability friendly at all. The two downstairs restrooms were handicap accessible. Walking up the stairs was a challenge for me. We had a pre-fix menu served family style. The food was very good, but i need to deduct a star because of having to negotiate all the stairs to get to the private room read more

I had a fantastic a birthday dinner here! First- the vibe is a perfect mix of elegant yet beachy. We came on a Monday night, which was a more relaxed atmosphere, but I'm told it can be quite the poppin scene on the weekends. Service was excellent from Peter- helpful yet non intrusive. And I really liked how the barkeep let me sample a few wines before making my selection of the powerful primitivo. The food is. a hybrid of classic Italian with Cali twists. Stone fruit salad: was a lovely presentation but didn't quite make sense with the flavors. I wish the fruit had been riper and the mint did not quite meld. Corn ribs: can I just give a massive shout out to CALABRIAN CHILI OIL!! This was my favorite item. They are sliced sections of corn on the cob lathered with a mix of honey and chili oil. It's a bit messy but worth every lick of your fingers!!! Arancini : respectable, made much more flavorful with the pesto. Next shout out goes to the Cadillac margherita pizza- named aptly so due to the special mozzarella di bufala that comes with. And it was perfection with a side of- CALABRIAN CHILI OIL!!! Dessert: I've had a zillion tiramisus, but this is a 100 year old recipe from within the family, and may it last another 500 years. The mascarpone was truly a star. And I had to try the amaro float! I've never thought of ice cream with amaro! It's a very interesting combo, and I recommend letting the ice cream really melt. Better yet- although it would not be as fun to watch, blending it would probably make for the tastiest option. Lastly you'll be a 5 minute walk from the pier, so you can burn off all those delicious calories with a walk along the strand. Thanks to all the staff for being so welcoming. read more

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A very nice place in the heart of the Manhattan Beach beach city. An Italian vibe with an ambiance of successful young adults. It is a place that is welcoming and comfortable. Maybe we've gotten lucky but we've never had to wait for a table or even a place at the bar and the service is always lovely. The food is wonderful and is always presented deliciously. read more

Love & Salt - Super Tuscan - Italian Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

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I don't understand the low rating. I really don't. Is it a good place? Yes Does it have good food? Yes Is service good? Yes Is it clean? Yes So I don't understand the low rating. I prefer Post, and Arthur J, and strand House, but this is a good restaurant. I don't get the low rating. Been coming to this location since it was Pierre and it has always been good. So, I have a new rating system......I will write what I feel honestly about an establishment. The only ratings I will give are 5 stars, which is enjoyable, or 3 stars which is "needs work." read more

A true gem. A delightful dining experience! Lovely spot with great service and amazing food. Got to go for a date night and we were thrilled with everything we ordered. The olives, Arancini, Bolognese pasta, and the roasted half chicken all incredibly delicious. The Tiramisu is so wonderful. The chicken was the best we've ever had ! The service was well timed and all needs were anticipated. Bravo for chef driven great Italian and SoCal inspired menu, all made with care and attention to detail. We felt so very welcomed and cared for throughout the meal. The flavors and textures were so great. Must try! Buon Appetito!! read more

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Came here with friends and LOVEED the food, only wish the prices weren't so steep. We started with the Christmas cocktail which was delicious and tasted like dessert. My bf and I shared the fig pizza which was quite yummy. The dough was cooked well and the pairings on the pizza went well together. We ate it easily as it wasn't a big portion for two. We also tried the beef marrow pasta which was insane, so flavorful and want to come back and get it ourselves. The ambiance of the restaurant is beautiful and romantic, but it is quite small inside so recommend making reservations. The food is really high quality, just know you'll be paying a bit more as expected as it's a nicer place. Would love to come back again. read more

Gluten-free girlies, beware!! While they do make homemade gluten-free pasta, according to our waitress, they do not use separate tools and they cook the gluten-free pasta with the regular pasta in the same water. If you have a gluten allergy or sensitivity, this is not a safe place to eat!! read more

Known as a neighborhood favorite, we were excited to try this place. The front of the house staff was great. Our server was attentive. The restaurant is very nice. The ambience is definitely one most folks will enjoy. It's clean, stylish decor makes for nice surroundings. We ordered some great dishes - the fennel salad, the roasted carrots, fennel sausage pasta, and the kids cheese pizza which had the most amazing crust. I do not recommend the Manhattan Sour - a bit too floral for me. read more

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Dropped by Love & Salt and tried the Damn Piña cocktail. I substituted the tequila with Fortaleza Blanco--it gave the drink a clean, smooth base. The cocktail had a nice little kick of spice, and the smoky rim added a unique twist that really brought it all together. Overall, a well-balanced drink with some character. I'd give it a solid 8 out of 10. read more

Love & Salt - Damn Pina - Italian Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California