Ugo has been around for a while, and it's a popular date-night spot. My partner and I came by for an early dinner and were promptly seated al-fresco; it wasn't took busy when we arrived, but by the time we finished, the place was getting packed. It also seemed that Ugo was understaffed, so it took a while to get our order taken. All the same, our server was really nice, even though she had other tables to tend to. We ordered the Spaghetti Amalfi, Caesar Salad, and Quattro Formaggio. Food was pretty good, with punchy flavors from the tangy blue cheese on the pizza to snappy shrimp in the Spaghetti Amalfi. Even the Caesar Salad was richly-dressed and herby croutons. Overall, pretty good Italian food! read more

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Wow. This place was outstanding. We drove 45 minutes to get here and it was worth it! They only have one booster seat which is kind of a bummer, and doesn't make it feel totally family friendly, but besides that, everything was outstanding. Hannah, Sergio, and Gustavo all delivered amazing service. Friendly, checked in on us. Got the prosciutto, arugula pizza - two of them actually. We think it would go better with truffle oil drizzled on top and some fresh cracked pepper, but the flavors were on point and the VPN pizza was awesome. Reminded me of my favorite place in Palo Alto. The arancini were fantastic as well, and love that it came on top of some red sauce with meat. My daughter ate the margherita pizza and almost ate half of the entire pizza lol. (She is only 6). Asparagus was cooked to perfection. Love the sunshine coming into the restaurant and love that it's not stuffy at all and reminds me of places in Italy. We sat outdoors. Got the peach drink with club soda, but wouldn't recommend since it was a bit too sweet for my liking and think it could taste more fresh. Hard to find a slice of peach during the winter though! My kiddos got the gelato, which was good - not the best gelato ever, but still hit the spot! Love that it came in the metal cups to keep it cold. I'll have to try it next time :). We will be back. Hands down. read more

Ive not been here for a bit The food is ok bolanase bland salad terrific Staff friendly and solicitous Gelato especially the peppermint unique and wonderful read more

Portobello mushroom fries with dip was really good... ......................................................................................................................... read more

Ugo - Portobello fries - Italian Near Me - Culver City, California

I almost gave up trying to find food this night during a rough drive. They had great pizza here I suggest getting the large pizza for 2 people. We were so hungry we dove in before taking a photo. The pizza was great. read more

Ugo - Pepperoni pizza - Italian Near Me - Culver City, California

It has probably been 15 years since I've eaten at Ugo. A coworker and I went to lunch and it is one of his favorite places to eat in the area. I can see why he comes back. The service that he receives is very good. The staff acknowledges him for coming back and are very attentive to his needs. It's a great indoor outdoor space for good weather lunches like today. We started with the bruschetta. It was nicely done but lacked some punch from the vinegar drizzle. I loved the lightly toasted bread. Usually the breads are too crunchy but this was light. We also had the spinach salad with nuts and apple slices that was nicely done and a good start to the meal. My friend had the Don Tomasino pasta w/ added mushrooms. It's his staple, he loved it. I had the ORECCHIETTE SAUSAGE & PEPPERS. It was good and I loved the spinach in the dish. I would like to have requested a spicy Italian sausage instead of the standard sausage. Next time maybe. All in all it was a good lunch stop. read more

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Authentic and aromatic Italian food for satisfying the need for a delicious experience found here! We ordered the lasagna and the seafood pasta. Our tasty appetizer was so filling. The Panzerotti was heavenly! The lasagna was super rich and I felt like I was back in Italy! Every bite was super yummy. My husband enjoyed the pasta though he felt the olive oil and garlic sauce was a bit too light for the density of the pasta However we both felt the flavor was on point. The lady serving us was friendly and attentive. We will be back. read more

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My friend and I visited Ugo for brunch/lunch this past holiday weekend. We walked in and it was quiet which we loved given the hecticness of culver on the weekend. our server, Hannah, was just so sweet, attentive, and efficient in her care for us. she recommended great dishes, brought out condiments, and continued to check in on us. the one thing i would have changed, that doesnt affect my rating, is that in the farmers skillet if there could be less mushroom, there was just so much it overpowered the other veggies. 10/10 would return and ask to be seated in her section read more

Ugo - farmers skillet! - Italian Near Me - Culver City, California

I visited Ugo's for lunch, and the service was great! The waiter was very attentive and ready to bring us what we needed in a timely manner. The menu has a lot of great options, but I really enjoyed having a separate lunch menu with smaller portions. I ended up ordering a chicken Caesar salad from the regular menu, but I can't wait to go back to try some of the lunch options. The lettuce in the Caesar salad was very fresh and had a nice crunch. The croutons also had a nice crunch and a great flavor that made each bite of crouton a nice little treat. They have outdoor seating that was great for a nice summery day like today. The flowers from the trees did tend to fall on us once in a while we were eating, but I don't fault the restaurant for that. It was worth it for the nice outdoor dining. read more

Ugo - Caesar salad with chicken - Italian Near Me - Culver City, California

Date night restaurant with all the classic pasta and pizza dishes. It's an elevated vibe with outdoor seating. We got the pasta and pizza, and the pasta was standard - something I could definitely make at home. The pizza seemed napolitan style with thin crust. The waiter was kind read more

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I visited for the happy hour which includes 50% off drinks. It is only available in the back at the bar. A cute area with nice decor accents and a TV in the corner. I ordered a cucumber and ginger gintini (martini with gin). It was deliciousss. I later ordered the portobello fries and they were good as well. read more

Ugo - Cucumber ginger martini with gin - Italian Near Me - Culver City, California

Well rounded Italian restaurant! Great pizza, pasta and appetizer selections. The pasta al forno was so good - loved the sauce with bolognese, ham and peas. Their pizza dough is soft and perfectly chewy. Initially thought $16 for the arancini was a bit much for two pieces but they are fairly large with a great filling. read more

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I've eaten here a few times a whole ago and was excited to come back with my daughter. There were 4 of us and three ordered lasagna and I got the minestrone soup and the salad La mamma. We also got bread for the table. Service was extremely slow and after 45 minutes we had to ask if it was coming or not. The bread was weird. They polished the lasagna. The soup was watery and lacked flavor. Thankfully the waiter asked if I wanted pepper or cheese because that was the flavor, the salad also lacked flavor. I ate half and asked for a box to take the rest home so I could doctor it at home. Waiter never came to ask if we wanted dessert. The exterior was dirty including the tarps above the tables which were filthy and I could only imagine stuff blowing off into the food below. This place is not cheap either. Ugo. What happened? read more

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Ugo is in the middle of Downtown Culver City and you'll probably recognize it as the restaurant that has a yellow and blue awning outside or a display case full of desserts in the front--guilty as charged on the latter. This sit-down Italian restaurant has an extensive menu with Neopolitan-style pizza served uncut, pasta dishes, salads, and paninis, as well as a fantastic selection of gelato and coffee drinks. For the price, Ugo is just okay. The food is pretty good, like their pizzas topped with housemade fresh mozzarella cheese, Italian meats, and crushed tomatoes, or their pasta dishes and paninis, but at almost $16 for just the standard Margherita pizza, and $17 for the most basic pasta, I feel like it's a little overpriced. Their pizza is similar to 800 Degrees but not quite as tasty and about $5 more. From the other reviews, it seems like the move here is to come to Happy Hour, where the prices are much more reasonable, from 4-7pm on Monday-Thursday. Now most importantly, let's talk about the desserts. Their gelato selection is awesome! I especially like the creme brulee and stracciatella (chocolate chip) flavors but all the ones I've tried are creamy and delicious. The other desserts on the menu range from fruit tarts to Nutella pizzas and it all sounds/looks incredible. I would definitely come back for dessert (and coffee if I liked coffee) but I'm not rushing back for dinner. They have upped the game with the inside now so the decor and feel is better than it was years ago and the service is par for the course. read more

The food is great. One of the best pizzas I've ever had. I recommend the Margherita and Marinara. read more

Ugo - Pizza - Italian Near Me - Culver City, California

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Ugo is one of the pasta places in culver city that I usually pass by and unable to go in but this time I decided to go in and check it out. The café has broad appeal with casual and cute vibes, the outdoor with lights at night takes you into a small town movie set, fair pricing, and standout desserts, while the adjoining wine bar adds a novel, social touch. The service is great! I got the pink sauce pasta paired with fried calamari and the rib eye steak that was cooked to perfection. I really enjoy this restaurant with such a relaxing vibe and calm atmosphere read more

Ugo - Dinner for 2 please - Italian Near Me - Culver City, California

Got together with a group of friends here. The service and food were good. Everyone shared and enjoyed what we all had. We were so hungry I didn't get much of a chance to get food photos except one where we had already dipped in! It's a good place for a group. They have a very nice outdoor patio as well. read more

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Solid Southern Italian food from Sicily (arancino) and Naples (pizza). Super friendly and accommodating staff. Will have to try their woodfire oven baked Napolitano pizza next time...and more arancini, those things are super delizioso! read more

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I thought Ugo was going to blow me away. People toss it around as a Culver City favorite so often, I figured I was in for something special. And while the vibe is pretty great (think charming outdoor seating, a little Parisian flair), I've definitely had better pasta elsewhere. It's not bad, just didn't live up to the hype. Still, for a casual alfresco dinner with good company, it holds its own! read more

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Stopped by Ugo in Culver City for some Italian and had a really solid meal. We ordered a mix of pizzas, pasta, grilled octopus, prosciutto eggs benedict, and finished with gelato. Everything came out at a good pace, service was straightforward, and the food was consistent across the board. The Figo Neapolitan Pizza and grilled octopus were definitely the highlights for me -- the pizza had a subtle sweetness that worked really well, and the octopus was tender with a nice char. The fettuccine pescatore was also very solid, plenty of seafood but still easy to finish. The Margherita pizza was simple but well done, and the eggs benedict hit the brunch spot with the prosciutto adding the right amount of saltiness. We wrapped it up with the gelato, which was honestly incredible -- probably the best we've had recently and a great cap to the meal. Overall, nothing felt over the top or complicated, just solid Italian food done well. It's the kind of place you'd come back to without overthinking it -- good flavors, consistent dishes, and dessert that actually makes you want to linger a little longer. read more

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No management and no Customer Service They serve burnt food that is hard as rocks & don't care Portobello mushroom fries we tried twice and even specifically request requested that they be LIGHTLY done, but they were burnt to a CRISP They also deceive what the menu says the lobster ravioli has no lobster in it But it has imitation lobster surimi instead Look at my review & you can see that the ravioli is partially filled . Edit: the owner responded to my one star review & actually lied by saying they had talked to me multiple times! That even proves how unethical they really are that they would lie in writing. I have plenty of witnesses to confirm that I called this business. 5 times a week for over 3 weeks, leaving messages the whole time. It wasn't until I insisted to the employee who was taking the messages that I was not going to give up until I receive a callback.. and then the owner's wife called me back ONCE & that was the only conversation we had. To actually lie and say that we had multiple conversations is so unprofessional & unethical! We had no problem with the time of the delivery that Postmates delivered this food. The problem was with the restaurant itself and the quality of food. I am allergic to Pollock.(which they make imitation lobster sticks out of.) & had an allergic reaction that made me sick for days. I was glad that they were so stingy with the ingredients or I would've been even more sick. I also told them that because it took me so long to get a call back. It was way too late to ask Postmates for any type of adjustment which really wasn't the issue. Usually a restaurant owner. (especially an owner who is not on premises.) wants to hear what's going on when they are not there. Never in my wildest dreams that I expect the owner to be as unethical as their food . Knowing they lied about everything they put on their reply, I know they are lying about having lobster in that ravioli because I know it was imitation lobster sticks that was made out of Pollock and cornstarch. read more

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My boys and I like to come here to grab great Italian food at an affordable price. They have an epic happy hour which has food options as well. We love getting the Arugula & Fig pizza during that time. Ugo is conveniently located in the heart of Culver City with option to dine inside or out on the patio. If you can't find street parking, no problem! There is a parking garage located close by. read more

Ugo - Seafood Alfredo - Italian Near Me - Culver City, California

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We needed to find a nice restaurant equidistant between the West side and the South Bay for our family to get together for dinner. Ugo far exceeded our expectations! We were able to make a last minute reservation for a large group. Service was very good. All of the servers were very mindful to let us make our indecisive drink selections and allow our group to catch up. Food was relatively timely. I was very happy with my Ugo pizza and the large selection of side veggies. Gelato was unique, clearly house made, and delicious. The kids raved about the homemade pasta and declared it better than the pasta that we had in Italy! We are definitely going back. read more

Hello, We are regulars and love this place. If you go to the bar ask for Gunner or Moises. Great drinks! They are the best bartenders in Culver City. I want them to get a bigger TV on the wall in the bar, only thing that needs to change. read more

Ambiance: classic Italian restaurant with indoor dining and outdoor seating, although the patio area smells just like a gross street Service: very slow and forgetful, come to ask a bunch of times when we're literally waiting for the bill in the end Food: variety choices for pasta and pizza, wide selections for desserts GNOCCHI - *** Potato dumplings in choice of basil pesto, chewy texture, average taste PIZZA GONDOLA - ** Gondola shape pizza with crushed tomatoes, home made mozzarella, parmigiana cheese, ricotta cheese, spicy salami and basil, twisted pizza shape, undercooked dough inside and burnt outside, not crispy at all, bad combination of sogginess and burnt pizza TIRAMISU - **** Layers of lady fingers dipped in espresso and a smooth mascarpone cream, great taste and eatable chocolate cup, recommend Price: moderate portions and affordable prices, about $30 per person read more

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Service: Outstanding. You are a VIP here. Food: Caesar Salad . . . . Very good, but too big and too expensive. They need to offer a half-size option priced as an appetizer that precedes a main entrée. From what I could tell looking at other tables, all their salads are giant, meals-unto-themselves. Chicken Parmigiana . . . . Good, but too expensive. Black Forest cake . . . . Excellent and worth it's price. read more

Can't say enough good things about this place. I came for the pizza, which was phenomenal (got the margarita) but my husband got the fettuccine pescatore and said it was in the top pastes he's ever had. We didn't plan on desert but after sampling a few gelatos landed on a canoli and pistachio gelato. The gelato was the essence of pistachio and oh so creamy (also served so beautifully in a fluted silver cup). The cannoli was perfect, not to sweet but just enough to balance the savory ricotta and filled to order so the shell was perfectly crispy/crunchy. Service was great as well: although we initially tried to sit at the bar and the bar-tender wasn't helpful, we moved to the main restaurant and had no issues at all. Our waitress was very kind and attentive and the other waiter working with her also stopped by to help/check in. Ambiance was also great, pleasant music and a nice seating arrangement. So happy with the whole evening, food and beyond. read more

Italian place in downtown Culver. Came here on a Wednesday evening with no reservation for dinner but still got seated immediately. We had a margherita pizza, penne pasta, and brussel sprouts. Given that it's in downtown culver, prices were higher than the quality of the food warranted. The brussel sprouts were undercooked and the pasta was tasteless. Our waitress didn't come by to check in with us so we had no water refill the entire meal. That being said, the seating outside was good for people watching, although the tables were dirty due to the fallen leaves. read more

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Cute spot in downtown Culver city. It could use some updating inside and out. When comparing the two, outside was cuter and was nice to have a surplus of heaters for a chilly LA night. Food was yummy but took forever to get to our table. We waited 30-40minutes for our two food items. It even took awhile for our drinks. I'm going to assume they were short staffed because I saw our waiter literally all over the restaurant running around. We had the four cheese rigatoni which was delicious but did not come out very hot and the Margherita pizza which was delicious. Flavor and crust were on point. I appreciate that where you get gelato, you can get samples before you get yours scoops. You can get two-three scoops depending on your cup size. All the gelato was delicious. I gave three stars primarily because the wait was just way too long and could do better to support what looked like the only waiter for the restaurant, they could really do some remodeling inside and out, and my food wasn't hot when I got it. read more

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This review is mostly for their customer service. I placed a delivery order through a 3rd party app that was delivered with the wrong sides. I called, upset about it, and they promptly agreed to make me a whole replacement dish if I could come pick it up. They were kind and even threw in an extra side to help make up for it. The delivery app itself would only process a refund, leaving me without food, so I really appreciate them helping me salvage my dinner experience. Thank you, Ugo! read more

I love Ugo!!! Such a classic and cozy restaurant vibe!! The servers are super friendly and make you feel part of their family during your dining! The bolognese is a world favorite in my family alongside the Tiramisu! I definitely recommend taking your friends or family here for a warm ambience, I'm always left with an enlightening experience through Ugo :) read more

Ugo - PAPPARDELLE ALLA BOLOGNESE - Italian Near Me - Culver City, California

Food and service was decent...they offer indoor and outdoor sitting but I smelt pee the whole time while siting outside; not that it's the restaurant's fault. Probably most of the la is smelling like this with out of control homeless issue. The pizza and pasta were both good and hearty! It looks like their gelatos are also popular as well! read more

I've been here many times and I don't think you can go wrong with Ugo......or technically Cafe Ugo for the OG people who knew it when it first opened. A classic Italian restaurant with a good brunch menu, but also a nice pasta and pizza spread. While the drinks are good, especially the lounge that they opened directly next door with occasional live entertainment, the highlight of Ugo for me are the desserts.....their gelato, tiramisu and cannolis!!! All so good! The service is also very friendly. I did have a Yelp check in offer (for a free gelato) that unfortunately was not honored by the wait staff since the manager was unfamiliar with it, but otherwise it was a great experience. read more

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The food is mediocre. The pizza sauce was so salty. The pizza bread and crust itself was okay but nothing special. The tiramisu was in a novel chocolate cup but the flavor itself lacked ... I won't be back. read more

I'll start with this review with i planned to go to Cafe Vida but the 45 min wait brought us back to Ugo. Plenty of street parking and no charge on a Sunday. Seeing an open brunch with only a couple of customers being served on a Father's Day was a blessing i thought. Early on i realized only a few customers didn't mean we'd get fast service. We got water served but it was awhile before our order got taken. My bacon was cold and my lady said her eggs were as well. She forgot to bring our utensils as well. The pancakes were delicious but water never got refilled or offered more syrup. My date told me to go 2 stars but the server being so apologetic makes it hard to. The explanation of Mother's Day being slow so they thought Father's Day would be the same made sense. The waitress bringing us 3 different checks because she confused us with 2 other tables and bringing the wrong persons debit over didn't. If there usually staffed for brunch hours it could be a better experience next time read more

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I want to Ugo for a happy hour to catch up with a friend. The happy hour was great on the patio, but our server was awful. When taking our order down, she didn't let us finish with our entire order. In fact, she walked away mid sentence. She ignored us through most of our meal, only coming up to drop off plates or clean in a way that made us uncomfortable. At the end, we didn't tip her because she was so rude, but the food was OK. I would not go back if that's the service that I have to look forward to regardless of how reasonable be happy hour special was. read more

Lunch after walking the Culver City Stairs we decided to come to Culver City Steps. Sat outside and had a nice refreshing sangria. We ordered the bread to starts and it tasted more like a flour tortilla than bread which was a big win for us. The flour fell onto our fingertips Pasta was great. We sent the kids down the street to grab a burger at shake shack while we enjoyed some quiet alone time ! Definitely a win for lunch read more

I've been wanting to try Ugo for quite sometime now and am so excited to have finally gone! To get straight to the point, I absolutely loved all of our food. My friend and I decided to split two dishes: the Pizza Wreath and Pesto Gnocchi. The Pesto Gnocchi was requested specifically by my friend, we asked for a creamier base and it most definitely was that! The flavors were quite good, the gnocchi was soft and chewy, and I loved the tomatoes on top to balance all those flavors out. The Pizza Wreath was absolutely delicious as well. I loved how there was a salad in the middle so we didn't just have carbs and fats for our dinner and we didn't have to order a salad separately to get some greens in. The Pizza Wreath was similar to a calzone, more like a "folded" pizza experience so if you like folding your pizza slices, this option would be great for you! The crust was chewy and had the perfect thickness. Very reminiscent of the pizza you can get at Eatly. I would loved a bit more sauce but other than that, the cheese was gooey and really tasty. When the time for dessert came around, it was a hard choice! I went ahead and chose the Tiramisu as my final item of the night since I had read so many great things about it from other reviews. I really loved the consistency as well as the strong espresso flavor topped with velvety mascarpone cream and an incredible touch of bitter cacao powder to cut the sweetness. I would've loved to have more lady fingers to help add more depth to this dish as it all became more pudding-like. But I truly did enjoy the flavors! Before I left, I had requested the Italian Hot Chocolate to-go as it was quite chilly outside. I was pretty disappointed! An authentic Italian hot chocolate is usually just straight melted chocolate but this didn't taste like that. It was definitely diluted with a lot of milk, it wasn't my favorite and wouldn't order it again. In terms of the overall service, I wasn't too happy with it either. As much as I appreciated everyone's kindness, the wait to order, to get the hot chocolate, and then the check was excessive. I had to flag down my server and other workers several times in order to be able to proceed forward in our dining experience. I did enjoy everyone's spirits, just need some improvement with timing and attentiveness. Overall, I thought this experience was quite nice! Small comments here and there and I wouldn't go here for a formal event, however, it's great for cold nights and if you're craving some hot Italian cuisine. read more

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My friends and I decided to go to Ugos in Culver City for lunch. I had the seafood pasta with fettuccine. I asked if they could make it with linguini pasta instead, but they don't use linguini. The seafood was fresh, great quality, and tasty. But fettuccine was not cooked properly, and some of the pasta was stucked together. Also, the sauce was a little too much on my plate (like I was having a soup). The tiramisu was fantastic. It's one of the best tiramisu I have ever tried. The service was excellent. We did like Ugo Italian restaurant, and we will be back. I believe the mess up with the fettuccine not being cooked properly, and too much sauce was, as we say, just not a perfect day. read more

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Pretty decent happy hour everyday 230-630pm! Pizzas and portobello fries were the best! Could have done without the bruschetta bc while it was good, it didn't taste super fresh and the bread was a bit stale. Classic wood fired pizza really hits the spot! Def ask them to cut it more though. They only sliced it into 4 quarter slices so it just felt a bit too big when eating. Very nice chewy kinda dough . Great spot for happy hour food and drinks. 230-630pm! Street parking on the Venice side or metered parking. There is also a parking structure on Cardiff where the first hour is freee. read more

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