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Buona Sera Ristorante
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
247 Avenida Del NorteRedondo Beach, CA 90277
Neighborhood: Redondo Beach
(310) 543-2277
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 9:30 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 10:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Steven J. said: "Stelian "Steve" Tasu and his gang are finally back after being closed for remodeling for months! First of all, the place looks GREAT now! NO more eating under fluorescent lights -- the decor and the ambiance is really pleasant...…" read more »
71 reviews for Buona Sera Ristorante
Review Highlights
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"My dad ordered their pappardelle with pheasant." In 3 reviews -
"hubbby's food: pumpkin ravioli with cream sauce." In 4 reviews -
"They're located in Riviera Village, so street parking..." In 4 reviews
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71 reviews in English
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Review from Christian C.
Manhattan Beach, CA
4/5/2012
This was about the best food experience I've had in a long time. Our server, Sam, was absolutely amazing.
Very good, fresh tasting food. Great wine. Very impressive. -
Review from Angela O.
Los Angeles, CA
3/6/2012
Had dinner there last night - the food was delicious!
Try the spinach salad with pears, and rigatoni with prosciutto and vodka!
There is a very special added feature with a singer who does songs from the 50s and 60s - Sinatra, Martin, and Torme --
Nice walking afterward. -
Review from Aaron F.
2/15/2012
I came here last night for Valentines Day dinner with my girlfriend. I was happy to see that the pre fixe menu was relatively inexpensive compared to previous dinners. The menu had three courses that ran for $55.00 per person.
Once we entered the restaurant, we noticed that it was a quaint small set up. All the tables were quite close together. Our hostess then walked us to the back, past the kitchen to a small room with more crammed tables inside. I spotted next to us a young/teenager type couple that were there for dinner as well that amused us the whole night. The presumed boyfriend was on his phone playing what looked like Words with friends, more to that later....
Our table was very small, I mean so small it barely had enough room for our glasses and dishes. it was a bit a annoying. Another thing that annoyed me was the crammed tables. We literally were sitting on top of another couple and accidentally kicked my neighbor a few times with my foot.
It took quite awhile for our server to take our order. I later realized she was assigned to the entire room we were in that had about 7 tables so I felt kind of bad. After we ordered, the wait was quite long. I do not know if it was because the restaurant was packed or that is how they run the place. Either way, I downed our complimentary bread quite fast.
Our first appetizer came out which were "Burrata fresca ai Pomodorini" This was a creamy mozzarella topped with basil oil and balsamic reduction. The cheese was excellent and quite fresh tasting. It came on a small bed of spinach and baby tomatoes. The plate was very small as well as the appetizer. My girlfriend got imported prosciuto plate that was quite similar to what I had. Her cheese was excellent also.
We kept looking over our shoulder at the teenage couple. They were not talking to each other, staring at their phones the whole time and were basically wearing street clothes. I was quite shocked the boyfriend even was able to afford this type of meal. They were the least bit interested in actually talking to each other on VALENTINES DAY. I guess their phones were more important.
After we finished our appetizers it took a long time as well to get our main course. I ordered a creamy rigatoni dish with small amounts of ground beef. Sorry, I am blanking on the name. The pasta was cooked nice and soft, not too creamy and small amounts of beef. I almost drank the rest of the sauce left on my plate. The best dish that I tried was my girlfriends Pumpkin ravioli in parmigiano sauce. This by far, was the best pumpkin ravioli I have ever had. The pumpkin flavor was strong but not overpowering. I had this type of ravioli before but not this good. I highly recommend this dish next time.
For dessert I ordered cannoli which actually came out as two. My girlfriend got some chocolate hard shelled dessert with ice cream in the middle. My cannoli's were filled with rich mascarpone and mini chocolate chips buried in the middle. The crust was good and crunchy. They were pretty good but not the best I have had.
Service was a bit slow but again, I felt bad since it seemed like she was the only server in the area. It also took a bit to get our check. Overall, we really enjoyed our meal and will return but hopefully next time it won't be so crowded. -
Review from SoCal S.
Hermosa Beach, CA
5/24/2012
I would give this 5 stars, but there were only two of us and we waited 50 minutes for our food, however the food was EXCELLENT! I ordered the pasta with sausage (I don't remember the formal name) and it was to die for. My bf ordered the pesto gnocchi, and although he enjoyed his food, his fork kept making its way into my dish. Very authentic with pleasant service.
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Review from Andrew R.
11/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
I came here for dessert with a friend after hitting another local restaurant for dinner. It's a little tucked away from the major streets of the village area, but still easy to find. The first thing that happened when walking through the doors was a nice, warm greeting from the hostess. We took a seat at the bar since I think most of the tables were full, and asked about the desserts of the night.
Apparently the chef is always changing the desserts up and the extensive selection can change nightly. We had our choice from panna cotta, tiramisu, bread pudding, chocolate soufflé, and spumoni. There may have been some others, but we decided to go for the first three. We also got some drinks to go with it.
First off was the twig and berries dessert martini. I'm going to admit, I forgot what it was supposed to taste like and what was in it, but it tasted awesome, sort of like a tiramisu martini with some strawberry or cherry liqueur. It was sweet without being overly sugary, it had some good texture differences with the foamy top, and it packed a decent punch. The second dessert martini was a key lime pie. It was pretty good too, with its key lime flavor and tartness mixed with the tasty foam on top to give it more depth. After these drinks, I enjoyed a washington apple and my friend had a glass of wine.
One quick thing to insert here is how awesome the bartender was. He worked off of our preferences and instead of just recommending a popular drink, he would ask us what we like. For example, I wanted a mixed drink with bourbon in it, so I got a washington apple. Little sweet for me, but it was the perfect choice to start with. Had I been there longer, I'm sure he would have tweaked his recommendation and made something stronger. As for the wine, he brought out a good glass based on a few flavor preferences.
Anyway, back to the desserts! The panna cotta was deliciously creamy and rich, it had the perfect consistency, and it was served with a raspberry syrup drizzle. The bread pudding, which was my second favorite, was super tasty with its chunks of bread, the vanilla sauce, and the baked gooey deliciousness. My favorite, which was just barely ahead of the bread pudding, was the tiramisu. It was awesome and everything was perfectly executed. The layers of cake were thoroughly soaked and the mascarpone layers were the right amount to balance it out. The cocoa and the flavor and everything were amazing. I already like tiramisu, but this is definitely my favorite place to get it.
So to wrap up the experience, amazing food, amazing and personal and friendly service. The price is higher than a burger joint down the street, but not overpriced for what you get and totally worth it. A lot of their food is the simple classics, executed really well (and in big portions too). I never had to wait to get my water refilled, they always made sure I was topped off. Overall, I hope to go back as soon as possible! Oh, and the atmosphere, decoration, low light makes it an excellent date place. -
Review from Carl B.
Redondo Beach, CA
2/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
This wonderful, friendly and cozy restaurant is quickly becoming a favorite even though I've only been there 3 times. My first time, I was greeted at the door like I'd been there all my life. My daughter and I went for a quick post-soccer practice meal and wound up having the best Chicken fettuccine I have ever had! (Technically it was her dinner, but "Daddy Tax" law dictated I "try" her dinner. I had the penne with fantastic Italian sausage and some delicious vino. The staff is attentive, Sam is a blast, and the food is amazingly authentic. The bread, which I suspect they bake there, is to die for! I will be coming back here again and again.
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Review from Mike G.
Pleasanton, CA
2/19/2012
Went to dinner with my wife and the meal was good and served piping hot.. The service was also good. I am very discriminate and if they only had the cannoli for dessert I may have rated them a 4. The Sinatra guy was okay but the " canned music" was louder than his voice so where was Sinatra. Would go back on a Sunday because there is no corkage fee. Other than that I suggest sharing as the meals are huge.
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Review from Sally A.
Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA
2/3/2012
My first experience was a random drunken visit after the wine bar next door but I had a vague memory of the food that was enough to bring me back for another visit, sober this time. Sam is a great addition to the staff and goes out of his way to make sure you are happy and satisfied. Larry is a wiz in the kitchen and I love that he can make everything so tasty and memorable. The next best thing is their happy hour menu...$5 gets you some incredible food as well as a great glass of wine.
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Review from Gina S.
Redondo Beach, CA
5/11/2012
We had the worst service at this restaurant tonight! We arrived a few minutes before 7pm and were seated somewhat quickly so everything was looking good. The place was crowded but they said we could be accomodated quickly. We are a family of four (two kids). After 30 minutes they finally brought us bread. After another hour - still no food! We kept asking where our food was. AT this point our kids were miserable! It was bascially past their bedtime and we hadn't even eaten. We kept getting excuses that it was coming. I said to my husband, We're leaving! My husband stupidly paid for the bottle of wine we ordered that we didn't even finish. AT that point we were then told that the order was never even put in. No one at the restaurant even bothered to offer us some sort of discount for the wait nor did they even seem concerned that we had to wait so long. The place was very chaotic, loud and disorganized. We live in the Riviera and frequent that restaurant and others often. I have never received such aweful service. Needless to say we will never being going back mainly because they didn't even try to make ammends. Ugh!
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Review from Jim M.
8/1/2011
I'm issuing a 4.5 star review for this aamazing restaurant. Came here for a friend's surprise engagement party last Saturday night. There were about 16 of us and the menu was preplanned/limited. And, it was limited to all really amazing things. Their sauces, their service, the environment... everything was just mega great. And maybe since this is the South Bay, but there was plenty of parking. Especially cool, as the 6-man event had just wrapped up.
I will definitely be going back soon to give them a shot via the two person experience. Very high quality recipes and food! -
Review from Steveo S.
Hermosa Beach, CA
2/6/2012
We had great food, martinis and grappa. And some Frank Sinatra too! Atmosphere - It's like being in Italy. Lots of conversation and laughing. A bit pricey but Highly recommended.
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Review from Debbie E.
8/25/2011
We tried Buona Sera since I had a Living Social coupon.
Overall we were happy with it - the food, the service, and the atmosphere. It's laid back and classy all at once.
We brought our own bottle of wine. There is a $20 corkage fee, which is high, but considering the low end of the bottles on the wine menu are in the $40-$50 range, we were doing well for the meal.
We started off with Caesar salads, which had fresh grated Parmesan cheese on them. I had the pumpkin ravioli (note that it is spinach ravioli) in some kind of a light cheese sauce. It was good. He had a steak which he said it was good but not overly special. It came with asparagus and carrots. We had tiramisu for dessert, which was fine but nothing spectacular. Tables near us had the pizzas, which looked really good with a cripsy crust.
Service overall was fine. It was nice since everyone was so friendly. A few missteps in being late for things (asking if we wanted pepper on our salads when we were 3/4 of the way done, asking how the tiramisu was when it hadn't come out yet, about 25 minutes after we ordered it).
Many intimate tables but I also liked that the bar was set up for dinner too, so a solo person or couple could sit at the bar and have a full meal.
Some outdoor tables but no one sat outside even though it was a nice evening.
It can easily run $50+ a person but I think it's great there in the South Bay there is a little more of an upscale place to go for dinner. -
Review from Krystal L.
Redondo Beach, CA
Updated - 7/9/2011
I finally returned back to Buona Sera and am updating the rating from 2 stars to 3.5 stars. I was pleased to have had a decent experience this time. The food was really good. We had the risotto with the Italian sausage and the gnocchi with the shrimp and bay scallops. Both were delicious.
The service was also much much better. Two very minor quirks: the Maitre d ended up being our server. Unexpected, however the service was good, so no complaints with that. The second quirk was that when we asked for water, it was poured into our wine glasses, not water glasses. Not a big deal though, since we didn't end up ordering wine.
The prices were slightly higher than I remembered, however I walked away with a very satisfying meal so I can deal with that. That risotto was good!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/26/2010
Sorry. Buona Sera is inconsistent.
In the 3 times that I have been here I have had one good… Read more »
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Review from Gary C.
San Francisco, CA
12/26/2011
Pricey for what it is, but nonetheless solid preparation of fresh ingredients delivered in recognizable form. OK, that didn't come out right. I like this place overall, but it is not $$$ - maybe if you skip salad and/or an appetizer. The service was good, but not fabulous. The food was excellent, definitely at the level you would expect given entrees priced in the $30 to $35 range. A nice place to take a date; great food, pricey, casual but chic at the same time.
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Review from Jenny P.
Redondo Beach, CA
8/22/2011
After living in the South Bay for over a year and walking by this place on our way to Yogurtland all the time, we finally looked up the reviews on Yelp and because of all the comments about great service and authenticity, we decided to give it a try. Wow are we glad did!!!
The ambiance in the place is so incredibly romantic, especially for being in the midst of Riviera Village. The service is outstanding, and the food is completely unique and unlike anything else in the area. I had the Rigatoni with Vodka sauce because I'd read a good review about it, and they weren't kidding when they said it was to die for. My fiancee had some pheasant pasta dish (the name of which is slipping our minds thanks to the great Peartinis). If you aren't used to gamy dishes though, this may not be the one for you. Very tender though with a great sauce. we also tried a strawberry arugula salad that was on special. You HAVE to try this if they have it.
A little pricey but fits to the area and the portions are large. We've heard they have delicious desserts and we looked at the dessert menu but were much too full. No worries though cause we'll be back!!!!! -
Review from Katie W.
Gardena, CA
7/25/2011
Got the living social deal and I wish I would have bought more!
This is a small Italian restaurant with a warm and cozy atmosphere. It's rare to find perfection in terms of food, ambience and service but Buona Sera has it all.
The food is what is truly getting 5 stars here. Their seafood spaghetti was quite possibly the best dish I have had in a very long time. Margherita pizza was absolutely delicious too.
I Love LOVE LOVE this place!!! -
Review from lindsey c.
Redondo Beach, CA
12/28/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Love this place! The mushroom risotto with sliced new york steak in a wine sauce is AMAZING I believe it's $22, but they give you a large portion and not shy with the meat. Also the filet migon is delicious, I used to come here just for that since it was so great and $32? You are aloud to bring in a bottle of wine although the corking fee is steep at $20 a bottle. They have a great cabernet on their bottle menu thats $29. I take friends here for celebrations, birthday dinners, or when we want to splurge on a girls night dinner date. It's intimate and perfect for dates, anniverserys, etc. Never had a bad meal and have dined here around 3-4 times a year for the last two years.
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Review from David K.
Santa Monica, CA
4/15/2011
One of the best Italian restaurants in the South Bay, hands down.
I recommend:
Appetizers: Calamari, Carpaccio
Pizza: Al Proscuitto di Parma
Pasta: Gnocchi w/ duck ragu sauce, Pumpkin ravioli -
Review from Johnny G.
Redondo Beach, CA
Note to peeps going to Buona Sera on Valentines' Day; they more than DOUBLE THE PRICES on their entrees. Yes, really.
This was not by any means, our first, or even second trip to this cute restaurant in the Riviera Village in S. Redondo, so we were really looking forward to it. I was very happy they were able to give us a reservation within 60 minutes on V-Day as well.
It took a long time to get to the main course, which I understand, after all, it was pretty busy.
HOWEVER, I have a pretty damned good visual memory, and the black ink risotto I ordered had taken a hit from a "shrink-ray" or something...it was a LOT smaller portion than the previous visit. Okay, whatever, I let it go, enjoy the moment. It was very very good. It's my favorite dish.
The bill came and it was JUST A BIT surprising. So wifey hit up the Yelp app and then linked to the restaurants' website; What is usually a $17 pasta entree is all of the sudden $38?? That's well over 100% mark-up---WTF?? A Valentine's Day "GOTCHA" moment---
They do it for red roses on the same day at supermarkets, and that I totally understand because the "price" is visible, and you know before you get to the register to pay. Buona Sera's menu omitted the prices. Not sure if I am on board for that kind of practice. It's not like it's fresh fish either, although there was a notation was on the menu to add $9 for some particular seafood platter I cannot recall.
I could be nit-picking, and showing my thrifty nature, but there should be some transparency if you are going to raise the standard prices of your dishes by 85 to over 100 percent!!
(As a side note, evidently the menu was posted in the bathroom with smaller text at the bottom indicating the price for dinners that particular night)1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/27/2010
Pretty good surprise buried nearby the Redondo Riviera Village, down the block from Trader Joe's.… Read more »
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Review from Jim I.
Torrance, CA
12/24/2011
Buona Sera is one of our favorite restaurants in the South Bay. The owners and staff always make us feel welcome.
The assortment of entrees is good. We've enjoyed various pasta, chicken and beef dishes. In particular we like the pasta bolognese; chicken cotoletta and the filet. My wife also has had good luck with various risottos, and friends of ours enjoyed the filet of sole.
Desserts are very good. In particular the Panna Cotta is outstanding.
The atmosphere is inviting. In addition to the main dining area, there is a 'wine room' in the back that holds about a dozen people. We prefer to eat there since it's quieter. -
Review from Doy P.
Lawndale, CA
12/15/2010 1 Check-in Here
My first time visiting was for a good friend's birthday, a large party of 24 and they seated us in a private room in back, with the place setting in a nice arrangement. Vincent our server was very attentive to our needs and even split the bill between our group for easy payment at the end. My only grip is his offering of soup or salad was not specific enough where I understood that these were in addition to the price of the meal. I wouldn't have minded much but I hate paying $9 for a salad which by my standard of quality could have been free at another establishment.
Luckily I order an appetizer because it took around and hour and a half before the entrees came. Most of my companions didn't order an appetizer so I'm sure they were starving. I had the enuoki w/ duck ragu which I was not impressed with nor were the ppl I shared it with. My other friends had better picks like the pumpkin ravioli so I won't grip about the quality of food there. My choice just wasn't good. All in all for the money and time I spent there, if it wasn't for the good company and special occasion, I'd rather be at Buca de Beppo's. -
Review from tom m.
Torrance, CA
1/7/2011
Enjoyed an anniversary dinner here and recommend for a quite dinner!
Location is not the best and atmosphere could be better, but as long your tastes aren't too discriminating, it's worth the $$.
Really enjoyed the service! -
Review from Stacy E.
Redondo Beach, CA
11/1/2011
I cannot believe this place does not have 5 stars. The food is amazing.
I have studied abroad in Italy twice and traveled there many times. This restaurant reminds me of Italy. It is not cheap, but it is completely worth it!
As far as the service being slow or poor, we did not notice either. In fact, we experienced the opposite. Our server was wonderful and gave spot on recommendations.
A few recommendations: The buratta appetizer was to die for! The mozzarella was fresh and delicious. For those that have traveled to Venice, you know that squid ink pasta and risotto are specialties of the city. Buona Sera's squid ink risotto was incredible. Even better than many restaurants in Venice. We had an incredible Barolo that was not very pricey. The chocolate souffle was a perfect ending to a perfect meal.
I cannot recommend this restaurant anymore. If you want Italian food done right, do not miss out on this amazing gem. -
Review from Isaac G.
Redondo Beach, CA
9/24/2011
I really enjoy the atmosphere for a date night but a little loud for +4 or more. Great italian with excellent music. There's a guy that sings I think on Wednesdays that is fantastic! Nice for drinks, a snack, or dessert....
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Review from Mia B.
Carlsbad, CA
2/12/2012
Doesn't look inviting on the outside (a few of the light bulbs are out in the restaurant name) but the inside is very cute and intimate. Nice decor. Delicious food, great service. My husband and I always order the calamari and this was soo yummy at this place! It was pricey though, $14. I would come back because the staff was friendly and fast with the food and food was delicious. My kind of place. It was a little pricey though.
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Review from Becky O.
Los Angeles, CA
1/3/2008
I recommended this restaurant to my date as a result of reading the yelp reviews. My yelpers did not let me down. It's a quaint place (located on a street that you wouldn't presume offered great food). The service was great. We both had the steaks with red wine and they were cooked exactly as we ordered. The red wine was not exceptional but decent and a great compliment to both steaks (we each had a different style but I can't remember which one exactly...sorry). It is a great place for a romantic evening (it is dark, candle lit and intimate). Enjoy!
Oh....don't forgt to visit the wine bar (Friends of the Vine) a few doors down. It's a great place to have a glass of wine (they have a great selection) while waiting for your reservation time.
You can make reservations to this place on http://opentable.com. -
Review from Scottie V.
Hermosa Beach, CA
8/20/2009
This is one of my favorite Italian places in the Southbay. It's a nice and charming little restaurant. I've eaten dinner here 4 times and I've never been disappointed. At one of the dinners I was with the manager, his wife, and a friend of there's' that was an Italian chef. The Buena Sera Chef whipped up an amazing 4 course meal for us. It was meal to remember.
The dish that I've order here twice and that I really like is the Pappardelle with Pheasant and Morel Mushrooms. The pasta is hand made and the dish is amazing.
It's not the cheapest Italian place, but the quality of the food is high and it's worth it. It's a good place for splurging or a special occasion. -
Review from rachel c.
Hermosa Beach, CA
7/13/2010
As I previously mentioned finding great Italian food in the South Bay is a challenge. Buona Sera is one of the few places I trust for great food and excellent service. The staff is beyond helpful (they may have walked a cheese plate out to our car one night while trying to close...just because I needed some with all the wonderful wine they offer).
The food is authentic, fresh, and substantial. Oh yeah, and they enjoy truffles-BONUS! -
Review from Matthew M.
Redondo Beach, CA
4/26/2009
If it wasn't so expensive, I would have given it a 5 stars... my mom and step-dad still make fun of me when I made "the face" after looking at the bill on a mother's day...
A few years back, I told mom, "For Mother's Day, wouldn't it be nice if the whole family could just walk around the block and eat at one of the restaurant in the villages? It's right there but we never go there."
To my surprise, my mother agreed. Now keep this in mind, I only had $200 in my account and I never expected to pay that much money in one night.
We walked around the week before, and my mom decided to settle down for this restaurant, so we made reservation.
Mother's Day came. We arrived right on time, our table was ready. Then to my dismay, there was this woman and her little family that hated me and my sisters for attending "HER" school just because we were deaf. But we decided to just ignore her and have a good time. I think we "unintentionally" rubbed it in her face because she was not having a good time seeing us laugh and be merry. At least our family's bigger. Ha. Ha.
My parents and I had a special course that included lamb. I only had the lamb. That's all I really remembered. I don't even remember what my sisters had, probably pizza or ravioli. I don't care for them. I don't even remember what we all had for drinks.
But I do remember saying "My, how delicious the lamb and dessert was!" Then I opened the bill with a very long receipt. Total was $272.
My eyes have never been any wider since then.
And thanks to my step-dad's good eyes he grabbed it out of my hands. Then curse him for showing it to mom. Curse my mom even more for telling my sisters, who did NOT bring any money.
My step-dad paid for everything and I paid a generous tip - $70.
I would go there again.
Just be prepared to shell out $350 for 5 people.Listed in: Riviera Village
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Review from Vanessa T.
Redondo Beach, CA
3/22/2011
I have been here many times because I really like their Tomato Pomodoro soup it is amazing. The salads are big enough to share but are not a meal on their own. The prices are a bit steep for the sometimes rushed service you receive. I like this restaurant, I just wish they made you feel more important and less about them. I went here one night and was seated at the bar even though the tables were empty. I was subjected to clanking dishes and glasses which really was not what I wanted for a dinner out. It made me feel like they did not want to mess up a table for me and my guest. Management could be better. The food is good, the seats are NOT comfortable.
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Review from Joshua D.
Redondo Beach, CA
12/30/2011
Let me start off by saying my wife and I will not be returning to this establishment. I took her here before we were married, to celebrate our 1 year of dating. I planned on spending a lot, but what we were charged was outrageous. The waiter recommended a couple of wines for us to try, and wanting my wife (then girlfriend) to have a good time I told her to get whatever she pleased and she went with the waiter's recommendation, as did I. We also got an appetizer and a couple of entrees. Imagine my surprise when the bill came and it was nearly $200! The waiter had recommended a $35 glass of wine for my wife (then girlfriend) which she had had 2 of since we had not anticipated such prices, and a $17 glass of wine for myself! Our wine alone was nearly $100, if I had known I would have just bought a bottle, however as I felt genuinely ripped off, and wholly offended by this I won't be going back, even though I live in the Riviera.
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Review from Isabella L.
Culver City, CA
6/29/2010
Oh I was just thinking I need to be more critical of restaurants and avoid the 4 stars as much on yelp, but then I went to buona sera last night. I can't help it but I'm not giving 4 stars - it's actually a well deserved 5!
I had dinner with 2 friends here yesterday and I'm really impressed with the service and quality of the food. Everyone there was incredibly friendly, the food was very good. I had a 4 cheese risotto special with asparagus and mushrooms (they added mushrooms for me - nice!). The potion was large and I was savoring it the next day for lunch - delic. My friend had the ink risotto. I think she liked it as much as I liked mine - her lips were purple though - it was quite funny. My other friend had the trout special. I was so absorbed in my own food I forgot to ask how she liked hers, but I think she was happy with it.
It;s a very intimate and small place - I love these casual yet pretty settings near the beach. The bartender/server was really attentive and charming. The owner was a sweetie.
I will definitely come back and hope they have some other great specials next time I'm there. -
Review from Tom C.
5/7/2009
This place is grrrrrreat! A gem in the south bay.
The veal osso bucco is incredible - so tender, with a fantastic red sauce.
My wife had the chicken which is cooked in their pizza oven, very juicy and flavorful. We started with a prosciutto salad which was tasty too.
And then the wine and service were incredible as well
One of owners recommended a great wine to go with my Osso Bucco (Renner Syrah-Cab).
The other owner, Alejandro gave us a sample of his homemade limoncello - I usually dont like limoncello because its so sweet it puckers your lips, but this stuff was smooth. We bought a bottle for $20, which topped off the night. -
Review from Kungfu H.
Redondo Beach, CA
6/27/2007
We had been meaning to try the place for a long time, but most times we walked by, the place looked rather empty. One day in 2006 we made up our mind to risk our hard-earned bucks, lots of them, to find out how their risotto would taste like. Thank heavens, we were not disappointed. Not at all. I would say their food is much more seriously Italian than most other local places who bill themselves so.
Another thing I would like to mention is that they have refreshingly friendly servers. Our favorite server Ugo, from France, asks, "How would you like your bier poured?" Yes, he can control quantity and quality of beer froth right out of a bottle!
The place is a pleasant change of pace, especially in South Bay. Besides, it's nice to know a restrautant who greets by its name. (Although it's uniformly in the night mode.) They're located in Riviera Village, so street parking shouldn't be a problem at any time of the day. -
Review from L W.
Redondo Beach, CA
7/20/2010
I haven't been in a long time, but am filling in reviews of local eateries, and would be remiss to omit this one.
Good food, great service and a quiet hidden back room that's great for entertaining.
(Needs advance booking). -
Review from Cookie V.
6/21/2009
This is fancy little italian restaurant is South Redondo Beach.
They give you free bruschetta when you sit down. We also ordered the calamari, and it was good. it was perfectly seasoned and the marinara sauce that came with it was good.
I had the Gnocchi with shrimp an scallops. It was in a pesto tomato sauce and it was delicious!
My cousin had the filet mignon special and she said it was good.
My sister had the special with the fettucine with walu (hawaiian butter fish). That was a very good dish too!
It was a bit pricey, but I would like to go back to try other things. -
Review from Mary C.
Lawndale, CA
3/9/2009
I love this restaurant! I was taken here on a couple of dates and yeah it wow'd me.
This place caught me completely off guard. First I couldn't believe I'd never heard of it before October '08. Coming in off the street I thought I was in for a super-fancy and expensive place which is really not my style. It is very well decorated and has a great ambiance. When we got inside I was relieved to see a mix of guests from dressy to dressy casual (which is usually the most I do). The staff was also very attentive but laid back, no pressure or attitude from these guys!
The food was soooo good! I visited Italy 2 years ago, loved the food and I've been missing it since I came home. Buona Sera's pizza is just what I remember from Florence! Fresh baked, from fresh ingredients, and simple. The whole pizza was 6 slices I think. We also had their pear salad which is just delicious. It's about the size of a side salad. So the portions aren't very big here but I really think you should try a few different things anyway.
Definitely a good place to impress a date and not too expensive if you share. We shared a pizza and a salad and spent less than $30. If you both order appetizers and entre's it will get a bit pricey.....but if you can afford it it's really worth it. -
Review from Brian H.
Los Angeles, CA
8/12/2011
Great restaurant! Great food! Great staff!! Love this place! Go there NOW!!! Mmmmmmmmmm!
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Review from Joe C.
Redondo Beach, CA
1/3/2012
Gnocchi were very heavy and dense, and had a raw center. Very sloppy, especially for the price. Nothing special about the place, and I'm not likely to return.
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Review from Sharon L.
Redondo Beach, CA
10/26/2011
Bummer that the food is so good but the service so bad, not worth going back! Had a dinner reservation for four on a Tuesday night, dinner took 3 and half hours!! 6:00pm to 9:30 and absolutely no customer service didn't ask for water refills, didn't offer bread.
