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Aliotta's Via Firenze
Categories: Restaurants Italian Restaurants Gluten-Free Italian, Gluten-Free [Edit]
4485 Torrance BlvdTorrance, CA 90503
Neighborhood: Torrance
(310) 371-9555
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 2 pm
Mon-Thu 5 pm - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 9:30 pm
Sun 4 pm - 9 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
86 reviews for Aliotta's Via Firenze
Review Highlights
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"...made bread with Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar that was..." In 3 reviews -
"...Vongole, which had fresh clams with light white wine sauce." In 4 reviews -
"Best of all, you can talk to chef Mike." In 1 review
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86 reviews in English
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Review from Morgan C.
Redondo Beach, CA
4/25/2012
I have eaten here twice now and I will say this...this place is a good find!
As others have said, don't let the strip mall location fool you...its very cool inside. The local strip mall location just means it is quick and easy to get to for those in the South Bay...beats having to go to Santa Monica and dealing with hipster doofus types. Once you are inside it really is like being transported to another locale. You forget that there was a Wienerschnitzel just outside the door!
First I was here with a group of 3 and the second time was with a group of 7. Both times the food was good, the service was good, and a great time had by all. What you see in the pics is really what the place looks like!
Has its own parking lot so you should be at ease with your car just out front.
If you have never been I highly recommend...you will want to come back...I know I will be eating here again! -
Review from Stephanie B.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
5/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
I had a friend absolutely rave about this place, so I met a colleague for lunch here. Despite the unassuming exterior, it is a pleasant dining room - very large and tastefully appointed. The service was good - not overly attentive but not ignoring either.
The food is standard Italian fare prepared relatively well. I ordered the Ravioli Leggieri. The plate arrived with about 10-12 2 inch square raviolis. The ravioli was fresh and it was filled with ricotta and chopped spinach. The raviolis were then tossed in a plain marinara sauce that had a couple of flecks of basil. While the food was well executed and was tasty, it was boring.
The real highlight of the meal was the bread that is delivered at the beginning of the meal with oil and vinegar. Considering my pasta was $15, I don't know that I would come back. It is pretty basic, and I could easily do this as well at home for less. -
Review from Amberlin J.
Pacoima, CA
4/12/2012
Maybe it's just me, but I didn't hear my server say: "Alcohol or we don't pay attention to you" when he initially asked whether we were going to have either of the two specialty wines.
Right off the bat I wasn't given a straw-which is fine, I just asked for a straw and lemon later. The lemon came in handy because the scallops and saffron sauce were so bland, the only thing I could taste was the pasta which reminded me "Oh yeah, you were tossed or sitting with the seafood..."
Spritz some lemon, wish for soy sauce and settle for the table vinegar, voila-flavor. My partner in crime had a popular dish of theirs, recommended by our server (who recommended everything on the menu off the bat)-I wasn't impressed, he didn't think it was worth the total.
The food was mediocre at best. Even with the http://restaurant.com coupon it turned out to be cents short of 32.
The marketing strategies are through the roof, but their desserts being brought out on a tray is pretty effective. However, based on the food, I couldn't bring myself to ordering anything.
P.S. A can of coke is 3.50 here. -
Review from Courtney C.
Torrance, CA
4/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
I wish I could give it a better review. It was such a quaint restaurant, located very much out of the way, but worth the look. Bathrooms are very clean and stocked, always a good sign.
I went with a group of coworkers for a lunch, and the waiter was very nice. The food was good, but a little heavy for me. We ordered the bruschetta and calamari as appetizers, and had several different dishes individually. We all did have dessert as well.
Our problem was that we all had some issue later that evening -- maybe TMI, but all of us had upset stomachs and had to use the bathroom several times after we ate there. It was bad because we all enjoyed the food and the atmosphere, so I'm not sure what went wrong. -
Review from sara a.
Redondo Beach, CA
3/2/2012
What a pleasant surprise!!!
The food was so delicious and fresh.
The service was some of the best customer service I have ever experienced.
I cant wait to go back.
The dessert was awesome!!!! -
Review from John S.
Redondo Beach, CA
Every time I go, I like this restaurant better. We took the whole family for my birthday and we had a meal fit for kings. The lamb was the favorite of everyone.
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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3/5/2011
Aliotta's has become my favorite restaurant of all time. The food is always fantastic and the staff… Read more »
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Review from Reno C.
1/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
Aliotta's is tucked in the back of this strip mall. As many times as I have driven down this street, I never noticed it. I picked up a coupon in http://Resturant.com as the on-line menu looked good. Aliotta's coupon did not have the Friday and Saturday restriction, so I was happy to use it.
From the outside, it did not look like much. Once inside, it was totally different; an Italian theme. One thing I like was the accents of the staff.
We started with a bottle of Chianti, the Mezza Mezza salad (Cesar and House Baby Greens), and a bowl of Pasta & Fagili (White bean soup). The Mezza Mezza salad has the two flavors that I like for a salad; Cesar and an Italian dressing. The soup was okay, but not something for 'me' to order again.
Main courses were Fettucine Capesante and Linguine Vongole. I ordered the Linguine Vongole with the White Wine sauce. Both pasta dishes were very good, as I would order them again. The service was very good, dishes were cleared promptly, water was filled without asking, and the Chianti was poured. Good food and service, what more can you ask for. -
Review from Caroline W.
Los Angeles, CA
1/28/2012
Don't judge a book by Its cover... Yes, Aliotta's Via Firenze may be located in a somewhat run down looking strip mall, but this place is a real gem.
Once inside, the restaurant is warm and inviting and you feel like you've just entered a garden cafe in Italy. It's a quaint little restaurant but still feels open and spacious. It's a nice place to go on a date or a night out with family and friends.
Now, on to the food. They have a very extensive menu and I'm always a bit overwhelmed with what to order because all the pastas, steaks and seafood all sound so good. Also, make sure you wait for the server to go over the specials for the day, it's quite impressive and makes the decision making process even more challenging.
For appetizers - definitely order the Portobello Mushroom with shrimp with fresh mozzarella. This isn't on the menu and is sometimes listed as one of the specials. But even if it's not, you can still ask for it and they will make it. Highly recommend!
For entrees, I've tried a bunch of items including the Cioppino, Lamb Ossobuco, Spaghetti with meatballs and sausage and 2 of the steaks - their Porterhouse and Rib-eye. I wouldn't say the food is the best I've ever had, but it is all very good. The Cioppino came with a ton of seafood, all very fresh. The Ossobuco was huge - intimating huge and fall off the bone tender - a real winner! The Spaghetti was cooked perfectly al dente (yay!) and the sausage was some of the best I've ever had (although the meatballs were just okay) and sauce was good. The steaks are really high-quality cuts and really good. I wouldn't say they are Mastro's quality, but the steaks have a nice flavor with the perfect amount of fat and cooked perfectly medium rare (as requested).
The service here is excellent, comparable to a 5-star restaurant in Beverly Hills, except without any pretentiousness. The owners/staff are extremely friendly and they all help out to make sure their guests are taken care of.
The only small complaint I have is that I wish they had better desserts. Desserts are somewhat of a disappointment for a place that has such good food. We've tried the tiramisu, cannoli and crepe filled with creme brulee and all of them have been a bit of a let-down. Also, service can get a bit slow during rush hour.
Price is on par for the quality of food and ingredients and large portions. -
Review from Cherish H.
Chino, CA
2/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
Wow! Defintely was surprised by this place! Ambiance and location = amazing. Service was fast and friendly. And food was delish!
Pasta primavera : very tasy, robust flavors with depth to the sauce. Light, sautéed veggies in garlic with perfectly al dente pasta
Rigatoni with meatballs: tender, moist meatballs (haha), perfectly done pasta.
The bread served was fresh and soft. The olive oil was fruity and tasty. Overall, this place was a great surprise for the location. As many have stated, I would never have stopped here unless fiance was craving Italian and we yelped it!
Yummilicious Factor = A -
Review from Mike H.
San Diego, CA
2/7/2012
I liked several things about the experience in spite of service glitches and the worst use of a sea bass fillet, I've ever encountered.
First the good, the restaurant uses some imagination. The bread was not the usual cliche one encounters at Italian restaurants. It was a combination of two breads made in house one was a mostly crispy flat bread and the other was freshly made roll.
We found the pasta dishes closer to what we encountered in Italy, rather than a reinterpretation, as was the bread. I also enjoyed the reworking of the tiramisu, where they substituted Limoncello and lemon zest for rum and coffee.
I must give special mention to the wine list. They had a number, of reasonably priced choices, that went beyond the usual suspects.
The bad was substantial though. The service started very slowly. Once the waiter made his appearance several tables stopped him from returning to his secret hiding place, to give orders. So no telling how long the tables had been waiting for him to appear before we arrived. However, once the ordering was complete the committee: water person, food runner, and bread person took great care of us.
A dining companion, ordered one of the special dishes. It was sea bass with vegetables, it comes out in gray broth with unidentifiable pieces of soggy veggies floating in the gray water.. The sea bass looked like a dirty sponge in old dishwater. My timid companion kept her mouth shut until after we left. She confirmed my opinion, that was the worst sea bass she had ever eaten.
It is definitely a 3 star restaurant, worth the time and money, if you're in the area. It is probably a 4 star restaurant, worth the effort to search out; I completely enjoyed the attention to detail and the fact that it was more than an Italian by-number restaurant.
Even though I didn't order the dirty dishwater entree, I can't get beyond it and recommend you stay away from the specials so 3 starts it is.
Mike -
Review from Big fat foodie S.
Torrance, CA
1/12/2012
Went to Aliotta's Via Firenze with my folks and wife to celebrate our move into the area. We found them on yelp.
We were surprised by the location (in a strip center behind a KFC, but our concerns quickly vanished once we entered. The ambiance is quite nice, the servers attentive and the food quite good.
Appetizer: The Carpaccio de Carne - AMAZING! I don't get carpaccio as much as I would like, but this was vibrant and delish!
Main: Ravioli Leggieri - Spinach and ricotta-filled pillows of wonderfulness. Obviously fresh and well prepared. Others at the table had the Rigotoni Bolognese (meh), the chicken and artichoke penne (yum) and the Capellini Bianco (Good, I heard).
Dessert: Creme Brulee crepe (meh) and the Panna Cotta (alright)
Will be back for sure!
Convenience: (2) - Docked a point for such an obscure location, but parking was plentiful
Ambiance: (3) - very warm and upscale dining room
Service: (3) - Excellent service.
Value: (3) Expensive, but worth it.
Presentation: (3) Well presented food with care and love.
Food -
Balance: (3) Well balanced flavors, proportions and ingredients.
Authentic/Creative: (3) Both authentic AND creative. Good attention to detail.
Flavor: (3) The bolognese was a little one-note, but all-in-all great (especially the carpaccio)
Heavy vs. Light: (3) Perfect balance for the style of food
Proper Preparation: (2) Pasta was pitch perfect. The creme brulee crepe dessert was the only poor showing here. The brulee process left both a burnt and propane taste in the dessert.
Overall: (28) Excellent! Will be back
Grading is subjective and based on the following criteria, each rated from 0 (bad) - 1 (acceptable) - 2 (good) - 3 (outstanding) to arrive at an overall rating with a maximum of 30 points.
* = 0-6
** = 7-12
*** = 13-18
**** = 19-24
***** = 25-30 -
Review from Angela L.
Torrance, CA
12/28/2011
I came here on two occasions - once for a friend's birthday party and recently with the bf for dinner. Both times we used the http://restaurant.com coupon and I probably would not go back without it.
I agree with other reviews that food is overpriced for what you get. Expect $17+ for any non-vegetarian pasta and $24+ for other veal, chicken, seafood entrees. Both times I got some kind of pasta - they were both good but I could probably make them at home too (except the saffron sauce). My bf ordered the veal dish with a side of steamed vegetables... I don't think I had ever eaten veal until then and I thought that it was just "meh"... and portion was definitely not big enough to feed my bf's appetite.
Service was alright. Without the coupon, I would probably go to Cheesecake Factory or Macaroni Grill instead. -
Review from Donna G.
Redondo Beach, CA
Updated - 4/13/2012
Chef Mike is the best! We recently held a dinner party at our home and had Mike prepare all of the food for the event. He made pizza, pasta with chicken and artichokes, an antipasto platter as well as a dessert platter. All of the food was amazing! Our guests loved it! We highly recommend Aliotta's and Chef Mike as the food is always delicious and can be made to order. When you eat in the restaurant, you always feel like a special special guest! Thanks Mike for making our party a success!
Jim & Donna Gibson1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/2/2010
Aliotta's is the best Italian food in the South Bay. Whenever we go there we are always treated like… Read more »
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Review from colleen b.
Redondo Beach, CA
3/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
I really like this place. I ordered the spinach ravioli and the pasta pillows are made in house. The flavor was so incredibly good. I also ordered the mezze salad, which was a bit over dressed. My husband the house special crab ravioli and he loved it. My kids ordered off the kids menu. Chicken nuggets with pasta. My oldest left hungry (maybe she needs to move onto the adult menu). The nugget portion of the meal was small and she doesn't like pasta. Little one was happy. The atmosphere is beautiful and the owner gregarious. I really am glad I found this place and will go back.
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Review from Julia k.
Gardena, CA
11/17/2011
Im writing this not on the food but the customer service.
I guess it was because it was very busy, but my food was burned on the bottom, when I mentioned this to the owner, he looked at it and told me "oh, thats not burned, thats how it suppose to be" and just walked away to another tabl, I was a bit suprised. I thought he would at least offer to make it again, but he was so adamant about it being perfectly fine, kinda lost my appetite and just paid and left. -
Review from Anita W.
8/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Oh man I have some nasty garlic breath right now. I think I've eaten 5 altoids since lunch and am pretty sure I'm still exhaling full cloves of garlic right now. But ya know what? I. LOVE. IT.
Aliotta has become our go to Italian restaurant for work luncheons and it is simply delicious. I typically get their grilled chicken breast with vegetables (a butterflied chicken breast grilled with plenty of garlic, parsley, olive oil and lemon - a simple but delicious preparation - with steamed veggies) but I have also tried their minestrone soup, pastas and fishes. Everything has been yummy and fresh. I kind of adore their bread basket too (yes, it can be hit and miss - sometimes fresh - sometimes tasting a day old - but when those little baby rolls and slices of foccaccia are fresh I can inhale them. You can see why I refrain from pasta as a main sometimes - bc I loaded up on the carbs too early in the game!)
The chef is straight from Sicily and you can tell everyone working there has got a little Italian blood and love in them. Service is generally fast (the little Italian Mama and Papa who serve the bread and clear the dishes are just too sweet).
And here's a sweet tip: http://www.aliottas.co.... Visit the link and print out the coupon for one free dessert (tiramisu my friends - loosen the belt buckle now). -
Review from Melinda H.
Torrance, CA
2/21/2012
Went to Aliotta's for my husband's birthday and we can't wait to go there again! The food was quite good and the service was very attentive and they were good with my 3-year old son as well! Loved the decor!
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Review from Tankobu T.
Torrance, CA
2/19/2012
We always come here for special occasions. We enjoy the food and ambiance. We always overeat on the breads. I usually get the seafood (clams, mussels, fish) pasta dishes. The wife ordered the Canneloni dish which was very tasty. It's a pasta crepe with some beef, veal, and spinach, with some red pomodoro sauce. We wanted to try something different and glad we did.
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Review from Mary H.
San Pedro, CA
Our favorite Italian restaurant is closed on Monday so we decided to try something new. We were seated promptly, only 2 tables were seated. We received water, bread and menus right away. Nice bread selection served warm, so far so good. Mark had Caesar salad which was SP-so at best, needed more dressing. I had the Mista salad which had nice mix of greens, tomatoes, carrots and Parmesan cheese served with a nice Italian dressing.
I ordered Tortellini Alexa, cheese tortellini, proicutto, peas, mushrooms in a cream sauce topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. The dish was good but needed more sauce, nice portion.
Mark had the Veal Toscana. Tender Veal with broccoli & carrots.
We both felt meals were good but not great, we will probably give it another try, but Scardinos has retained our vote for our favorite Italian restaurant. -
Review from Marina M.
Hawthorne, CA
10/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
The boyfriend and I have birthdays very close to one another so we celebrate together, which means that we both have to agree on a location. Birthday dinner was turning into a disaster, we'd waited too long to eat, we couldn't make a decision, we'd started bickering and things were looking bad. Thanks to my trusty yelp app, a search of the area for "Italian" led us here.
As soon as we walked in, the whole night turned around. No loud music, no crowds of obnoxious 20-somethings, just nice, welcoming waitstaff and well dressed tables with comfortable chairs. It was the perfect setting for our birthday dinner.
If they hadn't saved our birthday dinner, I probably would give 4 stars rather than 5, because while the food was good, the price seemed a little high for the the quality and location. Let's just say they have excellent timing. -
Review from Douglas H.
Redondo Beach, CA
9/15/2011
Aliotta's has been around the corner from me for a number of years now and after my first venture into this lovely, surprising, hole-in the wall, I am kicking myself for waiting so long. The theme was rustic with the dining room decorated with beautiful antique chandeliers and hand painted walls decorated with Italian themed paintings. The menu was also rustic and the chef incorporated regional flavors into many of his dishes. I was also intrigued by the monthly cooking classes that are available with the cuisine of a different Italian region offered each month by the Chef/ Owner.
But back to the food. The meal started with a basket of freshly made bread with Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar that was both warm and not overly filling. The calamari appetizer was average but good and the pomodoro dipping sauce was very flavorful. For my entree, I enjoyed a dish of Orecchietti Teresina while my girlfriend enjoyed the Farfalle Volo. My dish was very flavorful and perfectly portioned. The Vodka/ garlic sauce was not overpowering and the prosciutto did not make the dish overly salty. My girlfriend really enjoyed the mascarpone based sauce of her dish.
The Mascarpone filled napoleon I had for desert was surprisingly light and sweet!
Our server was very attentive and pleasant. He took very good care to make sure our first Aliotta's experience would not be our last. Looking forward to returning to Aliotta's to sample more of their alluring menu selections. Highly recommend, especially for my California cronies looking for good italian fare near the beach!!! -
Review from Angelie D.
Arcadia, CA
4/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Went here about a month ago for an anniversary dinner and I fell in love! The location and exterior side of this restaurant is mediocre. Nothing that makes it stand out and that is probably why a lot of people miss it. Once you step foot inside it's a great warm welcoming of Italy right in front of you. The dim lighting makes it a very intimate setting. The nice chandeliers hanging from the ceiling are fit for royalty. The paintings, mirrors, and wooden furniture can get you feeling like a little bit of Italy is right at the palm of your hands.
Selection of wine - loved it. Most of their wines are Italian but they do have some that come from norther Cali. We shared a bottle of wine with our meal. The wine itself was dry but had a fruity flavor to it.
Our appetizers were SOOOOOO good. We ordered fresh mozzarella shitake mushroom drizzled with a balsamic reduction. I've never had fresh mozzarella before.. IT WAS AMAZING. It was so soft, creamy, melted in my mouth goodness!!!
My main course was the seafood linguini. Loved the fresh seafood. Every bite was like jumping head first into the ocean! The sauce was very light and didn't overpower the seafood. The seafood was the star of the show for this dish!
Didn't have enough stomach space for dessert.. so I was a bit sad!! Overall i truly did enjoy the quality of the food, the diligence of my waiter, and the romantic atmosphere.Listed in: Wine Galore
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Review from Catherine K.
Los Angeles, CA
3/30/2011
A pleasantly surprising hole-in-the-wall feel exterior, a grandeur upper-scale interior.
If not for Yelp, we would have never found this place...Alliota's Via Firenze.
When we saw the good reviews, we circled Torrance Blvd. looking for the plaza--it's a bit difficult to spot at first but it's near the KFC.
The shabby strip mall with cheesy Christmas lights may look questionable, but I was in awe at what the inside looked like. Beautiful, huge candlestick chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, with large wine bottles decorating the interior shelves. Take a look at the Yelp pictures and you'll see what I mean.
The service was prompt, and the bread was one of the freshest I have had recently. They give you two complimentary breads to dip in olive oil and vinaigrette. One was a roll, the other garlic cheese bread.
The menu prices initially scared me because I had been expecting a low-key, casual Italian hole-in-the-wall, but after the meal, you'll see that it's worth the price.
I ordered the CRESPELLE DI MAMMA THERESA, which were crepes filled with ricotta, spinach, and mozzarella cheese. I never had a dish like this before--it looked plump like an omelet.
The dish is on the heavier cheesy side, but I love cheesy dishes so it was perfect for me.
My bf got the Linguine Vongole, which had fresh clams with light white wine sauce. He really enjoyed his pasta with his white wine haha.
This place is definitely more upper-scale than your average Olive Garden or Vince's, so I felt a bit underdressed in my jeans, but they didn't say anything. Great place for a date! -
Review from Edward B.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
2/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is sort of hidden from view, but this place is truly a gem. Excellent service, food, and bread!
I had a cavatelli in pesto (very nice, although somewhat plain), but what I really really liked was some of my sister's pasta. It had a tomato pestoey sauce over spaghetti and chicken. The sauce was out of this world and next time I will be going back and ordering that. -
Review from Yuki M.
Los Angeles, CA
5/18/2011
My friend Ako inspired me to search for a perfect Carbonara and I think I found one here.
Carbonara was not on the menu, but they cooked it for us anyway. The result was very satisfactory. According to my boss, Hanada-san, it was better than Eatalian's Carbonara!
We also ordered Carlamari, Risotto Trinacria, Ceasar Salad, Linguine Vonglole. They were all good, except clam in Vongole and Risotto which tasted very fishy to my taste.
There is a coupon on their home page for free desert and we got Tiramisu for it. It was delicious! -
Review from John S.
Torrance, CA
3/8/2012
Great place to eat.. You will not be disappointed. Really Great service.. he will cook anything for you if its not on the menu.
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Review from J K.
Redondo Beach, CA
11/13/2011
The food was super salty. Way over priced for the portions, average italian food, and the service was awful for not being busy.I really don't understand how they got good reviews
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Review from Quinlan F.
Los Angeles, CA
12/7/2010
"Staaaaahht Spreadin Da News"- Frank Sinatra
Lovely Torrance Italian Restaurant. Lovely Indeed.
We walked in to no greeting or host but a friendly flashy grey haired guy (i assume the owner) walks up and seat us.
We had a bottle of Chianti and enjoyed the delicious complimentary bread basket. I enjoyed the pollo alla toscano: chicken in wine sauce, lemon sauce, sundried tomatoes and mushrooms, with steamed veggies. Wifee ordered the veal in wine sauce sundried tomatoes, but she thought it was satisfactory at best. The fee also ordered the linguine alfredo and said it was the best ever.
Although this place is located in a strip mall, its still nice, romantic, and hits the spot. I dont think to many people know about this place, so start spreading the news. -
Review from F. P.
San Francisco, CA
12/31/2010
A nice, traditional Italian restaurant in Torrance. From the outside, it doesn't seem like much but when you step foot indoors, you see a large dining area with a comfy vibe. Definitely not hip or trendy (nor does it try to be). Instead, it offers delicious homemade pastas with carefully executed sauces.
The bread was served warm with olive oil and balsamic vinegar and we dangerously filled up on second servings.
For starters, the calamari fritti was light with just the right amount of crunchiness.
I had the grigliata del mare, which were 6 large shrimp and 6 scallops presented on a bed of spinach with white wine sauce. I enjoy these dishes the best ... simple and clean but coming together wonderfully.
The pasta dishes were also beautifully presented with fresh ingredients. I especially liked the fettuccine firenze with chicken, sausage and mushrooms in creamy tomato ("vodka sauce") but the others were all quickly devoured.
Service was quite friendly and given that the restaurant was largely empty, quite attentive.
Nice selection of Italian wines too. -
Review from claire w.
Torrance, CA
3/4/2011
Visited this evening since I was having a pasta craving. Just amazing Italian food! A little on the pricey side, but it's definitely worth the visit. The ambiance -romantic, the food -sends your taste buds souring, and the service -impeccable!
We ordered a Chianti, Linguine Vongole, Orecchiette Teresina, house salad, and peanut caramel crepe desert with ice cream. Each dish has it's own original flavor and texture. The flavors are so unique that it's not easy to replicate. A visit to Aliotta Via Firenze is a must for Italian food lovers! -You won't be disappointed!
(We used the http://Restaurant.com gift certificate for this dining experience. Note that if you purchase it, you can only use one per visit. It doesn't clearly state that until you actually purchase the gift certificate.The deal is buy a $25 gift certificate for $15). -
Review from Evelyn S.
1/4/2011 4 photos
I must admit, I didn't know this place existed. The outside looks shabby, and it's not exactly in the best plaza, so I was really surprised with the indoor decoration. It definitely was a neat surprise, and I'm glad my best friend wanted to eat here for her birthday.
The food was just okay though. The calamari itself was too chewy, and the fried part got soggy fast. The pasta was good, but I still don't think it's worth $27 for a plate of pasta. Tiramisu tasted like every other tiramisu.
The waiter service was great though, and it's a good environment. Just wished the food was better and the price was a lot cheaper.
Turned out to be $100 for 2 entrees, 1 appetizer, 1 class of wine, and 1 dessert. Seems a bit expensive to me! -
Review from Lynne N.
Atlanta, GA
5/11/2011
I LOVE THIS PLACE! The owner is so genuine and charming! He picked a lovely bottle of Italian red wine, a Sangiovese, for us for under $50
The food is oustanding...start with the proscuitto melon! The lasagna is authentic and the tiramisu is fluffy and scrumptious. It is a hidden little gem in West Torrance on the border of South Redondo Beach. -
Review from Tracey W.
11/27/2010
I've never heard of this place before until a friend took me here. The restaurant is small, cozy and feels very italian-like. The staff was very friends and helpful with choosing the right dish! We started off with a glass of merlot and complimentary bruschetta and bread. I ordered the penne pollo e carciofi and it was delicious. It had grilled chicken with artichoke hearts in a basil marinara sauce! My friend ordered the carbonara.
The place wasn't very crowded at all but that just made service for us even faster! -
Review from Brian T.
Torrance, CA
9/18/2010
The service was a little bit messy in the beginning but they were expecting a huge party.
Now that the negatives are out of the way... Probably the BEST (or one of the best) Italian meals I've EVER had. And it's only a 4 minute drive from my house! I feel bad having never gone before in the last 10 years.
I had the Grigliata Del Mare, basically 6 large shrimp, 6 jumbo scallops, and veggies slathered in garlic, basil heaven (they gave me 7 shrimp actually... I'm not complaining =) ). My fiancee got the Farfalle Al Volo, which had an incredible sauce.
Better than C & O Trattoria, Maggiano's, Bucca De Beppo, and Olive Garden. More expensive too, but well worth it for a special occasion. Seriously not sure why no one has ever mentioned this place before. Ridiculous!!
Oh, and it's the Italian version of a Japanese hole-in-the-wall. It looks very unassuming from the outside but is SUPER nice inside. Best chair I've ever eaten a meal in. 5/5 on decor. Huge chandeliers for a restaurant of its size and great ambiance. -
Review from L and T S.
Redondo Beach, CA
10/23/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Great find. An old friend took me here and it was a great surprise. Wine selection is great and food choices all sounded amazing. I ended up having the Risotto Mare with a white wine sauce and it was very good. We'll be back to try the other dishes.
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Review from Henry P.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 10/12/2011
I love this place!!. Very authentic and the service is magnificient. Great ambiance
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Review from Laura G.
Torrance, CA
11/11/2011
Delicious! Not a place I would take my toddler however. I want to enjoy myself! Food was rich, flavorful and full of character. I want to sign up for the cooking classes to bring the recipes into my home. Definitely worth the visit.
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Review from Terry D.
Torrance, CA
11/30/2011
I've been going to Via Firenze for about 20 years. I've tried a number of fish and traditional Italian dishes, and have always been happy. The restaurant is set back from the street in a strip mall -- you probably wouldn't notice it if you weren't looking for it.
It's fairly small inside, so it's almost always quiet. The wine list is good as well. Reservations are accepted, but I can usually get in without one. -
Review from Joe C.
Carson, CA
11/29/2011
My first and last. Bad experience. Bad food and service and 18% tip included in bill for three people?! Not good.
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Review from Tanya T.
Redondo Beach, CA
7/31/2011 5 photos
I love this place! Very romantic! Great atmosphere! Even the bathroom was cute. Food was awesome! Definitely my new favorite place to eat :)
