Open since 2001 this is one of the best Italian restaurants in Los Angeles and one of my favorite restaurants in Santa Monica. Inside is really beautifully done, I especially love the chandeliers, and it's a great place for a date. It is a bit expensive however the food quality and taste is really there. They don't have a dedicated parking lot but I was able to find free street parking a block away, aside from that you can opt for valet parking. Our server was very polite and everything that we ordered came out pretty quickly. I started off with the Carciofini, which I thought was wonderful. It was small in portion size, but huge in flavor. I wish it would be a bit larger, but it had some great flavors. We also ordered the Fiori di Zucca which was also very nice however I wish it would've had more cheese and less anchovies. This is more of a savory version of this dish. For the entrées we chose the Cacio e Pepe, which is one of the best versions that we've had in a long time, and the Milanesa, which was delicious. I have had it many times in Milan and this reminded me of when I had it overseas. Overall a fantastic Italian restaurant in a beautiful setting in a really fun part of town. It would especially be great for a date, but would also be nice for any other setting. I highly recommend. read more

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I've probably been to Via Veneto ten times at this point. I've brought friends, colleagues, and family. It's always the move. Always great. We've worked through most of the menu over the years and there honestly isn't a miss. The langoustines are non negotiable. They're so good we almost always order more than one, including tonight. The pastas are cooked perfectly every time. The arrabbiata sounds pedestrian on paper but it's flawless. The bolognese is solid. The cacio e pepe is my son's favorite and for good reason. Tonight we added the traditional beef carpaccio and it was outstanding. The staff strikes that ideal balance. Attentive when you need them, otherwise they let you be. Very Italian in that way. No hovering. No performance. Just calm confidence. The room is dim but you can read the menu. The noise level is perfect. Enough energy to feel alive, enough privacy to have a real conversation. The team is consistent. Same faces. Same warmth. They're awesome. It's great for any occasion. For me, it's become something more than that. It's a place I return to and keep bringing people back to because it just never disappoints. read more

Via Veneto - Langoustines - Italian Near Me - Santa Monica, California

It was a good walk from the hotel I was staying at. But it was a nice walk, cool and breezy, with lots of fun shops and restaurants along the way.. But it was worth it Had a reservation here for 7pm last night, arrived early, and was seated. But it was very busy when we arrived, and it got busier after 8pm Shot out to Mauro! Let me start by saying it's a lovely space inside. And the decor is also nice for a date night, girls' night, celebration, or just catching up, great vibes. And the music was also lovely. Tables are on the smaller side if you decide to order a lot of different items from the menu, lol, like we did. The entire experience from the moment we sat down until the last bite of dessert was delicious. The calamari was delicious, and the gnocchi was as well. I would go back again And the serving was also just the right amount. read more

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Came here for a birthday celebration and had a wonderful time. Staff were extremely professional, gave some great recommendations for specials (impressive how they had everything memorized to a T!) and food came out quick. The inside is a bit small (yet intimate), but larger parties can sit outside on the patio. All the pasta dishes were well prepared and you get a lot of food for the price. Was blown away by the flavor and size of the tomahawk, which was a perfect medium rare was cut up table-side. Would love to stop by here again if I'm ever in the area. read more

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Amazing food, service, and vibes. Our server Maro did a great job and the food was delicious.

If I could give more than 5 stars, I would. This is hands down my favorite restaurant in all of Los Angeles. From the moment you walk in, you're transported -- the atmosphere is both effortlessly romantic and quietly exclusive. It has that rare "see and be seen" energy without ever feeling try-hard. Every detail, from the lighting to the music to the design, has been thoughtfully curated to elevate your experience. Next-level cuisine! Authentic, refined, and wonderfully delicious! You can literally taste the quality in every bite. This is not your average trendy LA spot, this is the real deal. The ingredients are clearly top-tier, and the execution is flawless. Every dish is a conversation piece. Amazing and impressive service, warm, attentive, and never intrusive. You feel taken care of from start to finish. It's a place that somehow feels like a secret--yet it's always buzzing, Truly one of those rare gems where everything just hits. I keep coming back, and it never disappoints! read more

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Via Veneto has been our favourite Italian restaurant for 20 years! The level of cuisine and quality are superb! pretty much unmatched in LA- our "special night" place. Charming and chic with a great vibe- I will admit to always falling back on my favourite dishes- House made raviolis, spinach, pumpkin & lobster are very fine and delicious. The grilled baby NZ Langoustines are sublime and I don't know how they always have these - as we never see them anywhere else. My husband loves the Milanesa- and we do anything ANYTHING with truffles- fettuccine - steak- scallops - always a decadent treat. Service is always excellent- We love VV - it's about time I wrote a review! read more

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Not great at all! Almost bad, even! A little bit hilarious! The ambience is nice, and the restaurant is pretty, but absolutely everything about the host, the waiter, and the service is unwelcoming and almost offputting. I went tonight with a friend I hadn't seen in a while and we had a reservation for 8:30pm. We walked in at 8:30pm and nobody acknowledged us. After we stood in the entrance for a bit someone said "just a minute," and wheeled a butcher block over to carve and serve a table-side steak. Someone asked "do you have a reservation?" and he looked quite surprised when I answered "yes, for 8:30pm." It almost looked like he expected me to say I didn't have one. It almost looked like he would've preferred it. We weren't seated until 8:43pm. Nobody offered to start a drink for us at the bar. There was nowhere to stand or sit, and nobody offered a place to do either. They took our drink order when we were seated. My friend ordered a double gin martini and I ordered an espresso martini. The drinks were good. They get a star. We asked the waiter what some good starters were, and my friend said he was vegetarian, which was news to me since we last saw one another. The waiter rattled off a load of items including beef carpaccio, Dover sole, branzino, and all sorts of other specials that were certainly a lot more than just starters. It was overwhelming. I could hardly understand the options because they came so fast and there were so many. More than that, I was trying to listen for something vegetarian for my friend, and I couldn't even identify anything. It was a relief when the waiter walked away from the table and we could just look at the menu. When he came back, we said we would like to put in some starters, and he said that we actually had to put in our entire order. He either didn't say that during his initial spiel, or we didn't hear it. At that point the whole visit had been such a challenge that it wasn't worth asking him to come back in a few minutes, so we just ordered a couple things to get it over with. We ordered the stuffed zucchini leaves to start (they also get a star), and then we each ordered an entrée of pasta. The zucchini leaves were great. I personally make a better Bolognese. My friend had the Gnocchi and while he told me it was good I noticed he left about 1/4 of it uneaten on his plate. I would've ordered more antipasti, I might have ordered a protein for me, some veggie sides to share, a couple more drinks, but none of it seemed enticing, or even possible, because of how unwelcoming the service was. When the dessert menu came I wanted to try the tiramisu, but I wanted to get out of there more than that, so we didn't bother. It's too bad! I mentioned to a colleague that I was going, and they said he they had been wanting to try it. I told my barber and they said they wanted to try it, so they likely would for a date night soon. People are talking about this restaurant in town, but I'm sorry there isn't much positive I can say about it. It looks great on the inside. The room has a good aesthetic mood, but the staff is definitely not in a good mood. read more

I am not one to ever leave reviews. but this is a fair warning to anyone that you will most likely be racially stereotyped. The moment they sat us it was a table in the corner, we thought at first it was cute but then no one came to attend us after 10 min they brought us menus but had already sat a table down token menus to and offered drinks. We started to put the puzzles together and realize it may have something to do with our looks or something. read more

Genuinely surprised at the bad reviews on here. My girlfriend and I came to Via Veneto late one night after our reservation for another restaurant informed us that despite accepting reservations until 1030pm they "closed the kitchen at 915pm" (a bit absurd - won't be going to that place again...), so that gave us the opportunity to finally try Via Veneto, as their kitchen stayed open til 1030/1045pm which was really nice and it had been on our list for a while. The service was honestly excellent - though to be fair it was just us and I think 2 or 3 other tables so not too busy. The appetizers were exquisite, we got the polpette and tartar which were both great. We also tried the cioppino, cavatelli with baby back pork rib ragú, gnocchi with arrabbiata sauce, and quail parpadelle - all were fantastic. I will say the meal was a bit pricier than I would have expected for an Italian restaurant and the portion sizes could have been a little bigger, but overall, we enjoyed ourselves very much and it was a lovely evening. The ambiance is also nice and intimate for a date. We will definitely be back to try some of the other pastas! :) read more

Atrocious value for money. Ignored at the door for 5-10 minutes. There is no host. Understaffed. Water glasses unfilled. Brought our starter twice. Waited almost 45 minutes for entrees. Pasta is an embarrassment - pathetic excuse for Cacio e Pepe. If there is any Italian who works here, your ancestors are crying because of the disgrace you have brought upon your cuisine. The wine list is extortionate. The cheapest glass of red is $20 with no identification, label or anything. Minimum bottle is $150+ for nothing special. The half rate food is apparently the lure for the overpriced wine. Clearly taking advantage of tourists and the elderly. They even dared to add $20 in WATER to our bill, which we had to complain to be removed. Do not eat here. read more

A classic of the fine Italian dining in LA!... I have been there many times since the beginning, and it never disappoints. Pasta with sea urchin (uni) and branzino are a must, but in general all the dishes are well prepared respecting the Italian traditions in the balance of flavors. read more

A Hidden Gem on Main Street Via Veneto brings true Italian charm to Santa Monica. The atmosphere is warm and intimate--dim lighting, rustic elegance, and just the right touch of romance. The handmade pastas are the standout--especially the ravioli tasting and the rich, comforting ragus. The fritto misto is perfectly crisp, and the veal milanese is massive and cooked to perfection. Service is polished but friendly, with a sommelier who makes the wine feel like part of the experience. It's not cheap, but the quality makes it feel absolutely worth it. For a special night out, Via Veneto delivers--refined, cozy, and deliciously memorable. read more

Very nut friendly establishment except for dessert. A very romantic candlelight dinner experience, but you're definitely paying for it. Bolognese, Vongole, tiramisu totaled around $95 after tax and tip. Opener was bread, olive oil, and olives that were a nice palette cleanser. The Bolognese fettuccine was fantastic, perfectly cooked and paired with a flavorful meat sauce. The Vongole had a decent amount of clams (maybe 15-20 pieces) and paired well with the light olive oil. Portions were generally on the smaller side - enough for maybe 4-5 bites per person for 2. Service was polite to a point. However, preference was being given to the table next to ours that was ordering multiple courses, wine, and expensive dishes. It seemed that after we refused the wine menu, we were put on the backburner. Almost no one looked our way for water refills or an extra utensil. read more

I've been on a little bit of a 5 star spree lately so I am a little bit shocked and sad that I am here leaving a very different kind of review today. I had a work team dinner at this restaurant this evening and it was going oh SO well! The server was very animated and lively and that was great. The way he recited the specials of the day was very impressive I'll add. My coworker mentioned that she was eyeing the salmon and when I read "wild Alaskan king salmon" on the menu, I agreed it would def be delicious. Turns out another colleague also ordered the wild Alaskan king salmon as well! 3 wild Alaskan king salmons orders in our group of 8. We had some shared starters and they were great. A fried soft shell crab dish and a langoustine salad. Both were great, no complaints. But...here we gooooooooo Everyone's dishes started coming out one by one. The cioppino dishes (3) came out first- looking very grand and delicious. Next the pasta dish came out- looked great! First salmon comes out 2 seats down (male coworker- details matter) looking really good. The 2nd salmon comes out across from me (female coworker) - also looking exactly the same as the first. I attached a generic photo of a nice fillet of salmon to show what their salmon fillets looked like (the photo with the glass blocking the salmon is my coworker's salmon). Everyone is waiting for my dish to arrive last because it's customary to wait for everyone to get their entree before anyone starts to eat...we try stalling by saying we need to take a group photo. We take a few group selfies...we get the server to take a few...still no salmon. (And I'm still smiling at this point lmao) At this point my boss was worried her cioppino was getting cold so she starts and if the boss starts, everyone starts. Obviously I said go ahead guys bc I never want food to get cold!! Stupid rule if you ask me. And the story CONTINUES!! The server comes by and says oh we are still waiting for one salmon. I'm sitting there as the whole group is digging in. Still nothing...few minutes pass...finally, the salmon arrives. I could not. Could NOT. Hide my reaction. Did they think I was blind? Could I not see the difference in cuts of the salmon? Did they think I needed to be on a DIET so they gave me the leanest part of the fish? The tail end? Thank you for your CONCERN but I am here to enjoy a $55 slice of the fattiest and highest quality fish...not a $55 slice of TAIL FILLET. TAIL???? 55$??? Bruh they gave me the salmon cut recommended for TACOS, FRIED RICE , and PASTA SALAD. Bruhhhhhhhh. Idk what kedgeree even is but it's described as a rice dish with flaked fish. I wait for my coworkers reaction and they look at me and see I'm confused so they agree, ask them what's up with this??? So I mention to the server that this cut of salmon is different and not what I expected. They take it away... Next. Ok they bring a NEW piece of salmon out. This cut is BETTER than the one I got originally??? If you had THIS cut why didn't you give this to me in the first place??? You gave the BEST 2 cuts to my coworkers and then skipped the middle part to give the last tail portion to me??? Why??? They skipped this mediocre piece to give me the worst one??? I can't really think of a reason why they would do that because besides me saying "Grazie" twice, I didn't do anything to them to antagonize them? Did the chef have a personal vendetta towards me? Did I ghost you? Unmatch you on an app? Are you my friend's ex bf? If you don't have enough nice cuts of salmon, just say you don't have any more salmon so I can order a DIFFERENT dish entirely...don't serve the tail fillet along with two loin fillets??? IT GOES ON. I start eating this mediocre middle cut of the salmon. RAW. Inside. I ordered medium. Maybe I'm wrong but my understanding of medium is slightly raw and juicy in the middle. SEE PHOTO ATTACHED FOR YOUR REFERENCE. Idk I guess it looked pretty juicy and SASHIMI in the middle to me. I mention this to the server and they take it back and cook it ALLLLLLLLL the way well. Ah well, cat food for dinner, maybe better luck next time...at another venue...even wedding salmon is better than this! They did send free desserts for the table (not sure if it was because of my issues or not). They were good. Okay idk where to end this. I only saw two other couples in the restaurant the whole evening. I had a wonderful time with my coworkers. Food, not so much. read more

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average place with okay service. felt somewhat pretentious for what reason HAHA. the food was okay but nothing crazy, the starting bread was nice and fluffy though, provavlt my favourite part of the meal read more

Via Veneto - Italian Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Our first impression was the rude Host/server at the entrance. After we parked in front at the meter, we asked if this parking spot is good, he rudely replied, "Read the sign." I made this profile solely to leave this review. I do not recommend this restaurant. read more

Had seen Via Veneto for a long time and thought we should give it a try during our recent visit to Ocean Park. We entered a really beautiful interior. Omar greeted and sat us. After we received our drinks he described the specials which were numerous. Many being variations of items already on the menu. They are know for their raviolis. That night they had 4 types. We ordered a ravioli "flight" including asparagus, corn with truffle, pumpkin and a ragu. This came after a classic beef carpaccio with truffles and an amazing Pecorino Romano. Our main was a perfectly rare, grilled bone in veal chop which came with one of their sides. We chose grilled asparagus. I had a pano cotta with two berry sauces. All the food was beautifully prepared and presented. I found the wine list a on the high side but the selection was wide. Omar was very attentive and knowledge of the food. Would defiantly return. read more

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Disappointed is an understatement. We went for our wedding anniversary. The staff didn't ask, and when my husband volunteered this information our waiter shrugged. The service was negligent at best. After having no water for over 30 minutes, we asked for a carafe. The waiter was put out, refilled our waters but didn't bring a jar for refilling. One of the waiters looked like he hadn't bathed recently--his hair was dirty and his shirt untucked. The food was subpar. My husband asked the waiter for a recommendation between the veal (which they are known for) and a special. The waiter recommended the special, which looked like a can of Campbell's soup over egg noodles and cost $60. He barely picked at it and the wait staff was uninterested when the response, "fine" to "how is it?" My food was passable, but almost non existent in substance and priced at $50. I cannot believe we spent $400 here. It's unacceptable. They said they are opening a bar next door. Don't go. read more

Honestly, this was one of the worst dining experiences I've had in a long time. The food was actually pretty decent, and yeah, the prices were kind of crazy but that's not a shock for an LA spot. The real problem was our server. He was straight up rude and kept staring at my partner in a super uncomfortable way. It was weird, unprofessional, and completely ruined the vibe of the night. And just when we thought it was over, he wrapped things up by talking about himself and plugging his book. Seriously? Totally inappropriate and out of place. read more

Such delicious desserts and delightful coffee! The waiter speaks Italian, it's incredible! The ambiance is so intimate and the restaurant is gorgeous! We went for dessert because we already had dinner elsewhere! Their dinner menu does look top notch. This is an excellent date spot, you will definitely have a second date if you go here. read more

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This place is bombed period. Everyone that works here's Italian! It's a small quaint, elegant, highly recommend! read more

Went there for dinner. Place is clean food is delicious. Service was fast and people are friendly. I highly recommend:)

I loved this Italian restaurant so much. It is definitely one of my top two favorite Italian restaurants in Los Angeles. We ate every single morsel of every dish you're seeing on my posts. That's how good it was! Excellent service from our waiters. The owner Fabrizio is so kind and generous. What we ordered... Parmigiana - incredible eggplant dish. Wonderful flavors. Squash Blossoms - this dish was so appetizing and delightful. The perfect creaminess on the inside and crunchiness on the outside. Bone Marrow - it was exquisite! They serve three large bones with bone marrow and bread on the side. The flavors were luscious. Carbonara - This next dish evoked a memory from when I was in Sardinia. This was the most incredible Carbonara I have ever tasted. You must order. There was an intense gustatory satisfaction with every bite. Spaghetti with Langostino and bottagra- The flavors were all there, it was very thalassic. Pasta was so tasty and special. Panna Cotta - this dessert was heavenly. Perfect texture and creaminess. Just how I like my panna cotta. I can't wait to return soon and you must do the same! read more

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We went for our anniversary and was truly amazed with the food and service. The ambiance is perfect. It's such a beautiful romantic place! Will be back! read more

Food was amazing! Service was great - our waiter knew the menu inside and out and everyone was very polite and attentive. If you're expecting traditional American portions and "over the top" service go elsewhere. This is an Italian restaurant that honors that service. Aka normal portions for one person for dinner and service that is personal but also lets you enjoy your time and dining experience. Everything we ate was also homemade and made with care and you could tell. We loved it and will be back with our whole family, thank you for a great 30th birthday experience your food is delicious and your waiters/staff are the best! read more

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We went there with my wife The food and service were amazing! Very cozy place , great Ambiance ! Omar our server was knowledgeable and friendly, great service too ! Highly recommended! read more

We've been to via Veneto a few times now and I can truly say this is one of my favorite restaurants in the area. They pay so much attention to detail and will provide you with the best dining experience. Everything we've ordered has been impeccable. read more

We had a lovely dinner with our family. We were a larger party and we were sat upstairs. It was a nice private area and our server Christiano was amazing! The food was 10/10 very authentic and fresh, we will be back! read more

This is my absolute favorite restaurant outside of Italy! AUTHENTIC Italian Cousine next level! If you want to take a mini Italy vacation, Via Veneto is the spot. Best pasta in town, hands down. read more

This has been a favorite of mine and my friends for over 15 years. The atmosphere is cozy and intimate, the food is amazing and the service is EXCELLENT. You feel like you are walking into a jewel box with all the warm colors and candlelight. Whenever I have friends or family come to town they want to eat there immediately. read more

One of the most romantic and special spots. Every time I return to Santa Monica I find myself craving this special Italian spot. They care about quality of ingredients and it shows. read more

Via Veneto - Gnocchi and pasta that my partner and I split - Italian Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Via Veneto has been the place where my family loves to celebrate special occasions. In fact, we can never get enough of it and often find new reasons to eat there. I don't usually write reviews, but after last night's dinner, I realized I need to share my thoughts. Over the years, there hasn't been a single occasion when we were disappointed. The staff is great--very friendly and always ready to help. The food is incredible, and we can't wait to go back. I'm not sure how it's possible, but every time we go there, it seems to be better than before. The ambiance is lovely, too! It never disappoints! read more

The place looks nice, and some of my friends liked their food, but we all decided we would never return. I had great hopes as it seemed like it would be good, authentic Italian food. Two of us had lobster ravioli and it was absolutely mushy. I would have sent it back, but we could never find our waiter. He was very inattentive and never came to see how our food was. They had limited cocktails because they don't have a bartender. While we were all deciding on main dishes, the waiter would not allow us to order antipasti first, and some were very hungry. We had to order everything at once. Most of the food had good flavor, but it wasn't worth it. read more

Discovered my new favorite Italian restaurant. Hidden away on Main Street Santa Monica is this establishment that has been around for a while but I never got around to trying it, but everything about the place blew us away. Very kind, informative staff who helped us through the menu and also helped pick out an a real showstopper of a wine for not too much money, an absolutely delicious Oregon Pinot that was perfect for drinking. Antipasti to die for (prosciutto with burrata and a fried mushroom dish with cheese), then the pasta middle course really I can't remember the last time being so blown away (Paccheri with langoustines and pork rags tagliatelle special). Last course was the bone-in veal chop which was just sensational. Wish we had room for dessert but we were absolutely stuffed, and they generously provided us with single scoops of lemon sorbet on the house anyway. Couldn't believe how delicious it all was, so much better than the more recent additions to the LA Italian scene (which is indeed getting crowded), we'll be back for sure! read more

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Great wine. Great service. Great food. We were there on a Monday at 6 and it was slow. I'm not sure why because it was fantastic. Mauro was such a great server. Helpful without being over bearing. We will be back!! Did not disappoint! read more

One of the best authentic Italian places I have been to. The quality of the food was top notch and so was the ambiance. Im looking forward to dining in there again. read more

Came here for dinner and it was amazing. The food and wine was phenomenal. We had Omar choose our entire order and from the wine, appetizers, and main entrees, everything was perfect. It was truly an experience and recommend this to anyone looking for an authentic Italian meal. read more

This restaurant is the best restaurant outside of Italy. The quality is unmatched. Been several times over the years and brought out of town guests. It always impresses. The Caciuppo seafood stew is to die for and Truffle Risotto are my favorites. read more

I will preface by saying I would return, however our experience was not my favorite. Service: our server was somewhat cold and seemed less interested in us after declining the wine list. Water not refilled when emptied. No one was outright rude but also not warm. Everyone but the initial server was polite enough. Bread: I was pleasantly surprised that the bread was complementary, and it was outstanding. Warm, fresh. Comes with olive oil and a shaved meat my friend liked. Pastas: flavors were good, however, for a fresh pasta mine was a step short of al dente and was somewhat difficult to digest. It had more bite than I would expect for a fresh pasta. My friend's dish was more 'al dente' firm but still easy to chew. I believe mine was pulled a little too early. Dessert: my tiramisu was outstanding (truly my favorite part of the meal) but my friend's panna cotta was unformed (usually expect a cheesecake or flan level of firmness, hers had the texture of melting ice cream at the time the plate was just dropped off). Ambiance was outstanding. Between the tiramisu, bread/sides, and flavor profiles I believe this place has solid potential and would return, though hopefully with a different server. The service is what pushed this down to solid 3 stars from me. Hopefully better in the future should we return! read more