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Il Toscano Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
24590 Hawthorne BlvdTorrance, CA 90505
Neighborhood: Torrance
(310) 378-2686
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 11:30 am - 2 pm
Tue-Sat 5:30 pm - 10 pm
Sun 5 pm - 9 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Chance C. said: "Extremely good Italian food. Lomeli's has been here for as long as I can remember and with such good food it isn't going away. I was sent here by my grandmother when I first got my driver's license because she wanted lasagna. I…" read more »
23 reviews for Il Toscano Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"You can't leave without trying the homemade tiramisu." In 6 reviews -
"The pasta is awesome." In 9 reviews -
"I love the beef carpaccio and mango salad, my husband loves..." In 1 review
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23 reviews in English
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Review from Sylwia K.
Redondo Beach, CA
11/27/2011
This is a place to take someone special for dinner or when you feel like you want to move back in time. The ambience of the place, decor, and the service are absolutely exquisite. The place and people make you feel at home and create a memorable experience. Worth your time and every penny.
Occasionally they have a live music which is phenomenal and adds to the uniqueness of Il Toscano. The Italian food that they serve is top notch. I recommend their selection of ravioli which will make you understand why people love Italian food. This restaurant indeed made me realize why people are raving so much about it.
And yes, I love plenty of sauce in my Ravioli:) -
Review from scot s.
Palos Verdes Estates, CA
4/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
I've had good luck at this place the past 5 times I have been. The food is good, I do like to get the handmade ravioli most of the time. The owner is very kind and visits most tables throughout the night. I like to bring my own bottle of wine, $10 cork fee, which is very reasonable. Could the place use a remodel, yes, but the food and service are better than most.
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Review from Emily Y.
4/17/2011
I understand this restaurant has been around for over 20 years and yep, sho seems like it. The food is mediocre for the price which is about $13-$18 for pasta dishes and over $20 for any meat dish. When I first walked in I thought I was in an Episode of Kitchen Nightmares where the environment seemed a little dated and stale.
Ordered the mango and bleu cheese salad and a few pasta dishes. The salad tasted like baby spinach from a bag with chunks of mango and chunky bleu cheese dressing you'd find in the salad dressing aisle. The pasta dishes were just ok. The homemade ravioli were drowning in sauce. The scallop linguine had overcooked little scallops from the freezer. Gordon, please rescue these dishes!
Nothing really tasted fresh and the presentation wasn't great either. I think there are slot of other decent Italian restaurants in the South Bay that are better. -
Review from jennifer C.
Downey, CA
11/7/2011
I was there three nights ago. I loved their food, service and ambiance was something out of a romantic movie. Will highly recommend.
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Review from Natali B.
Torrance, CA
3/15/2011
I really like Il Toscano, the food the ambiance and the owner Vittorio make this place a great experience.
Vittorio takes his time to get to know you and your family and he likes to know what you like to eat and to do but don't get him started on his only 3 years old grandson because he will never stop talking about him!! ;)
I love the beef carpaccio and mango salad, my husband loves the peppers ravioli that are not in the menu but they make them for him
The veal is good and the lamb dish,
You can't leave without trying the homemade tiramisu! -
Review from Anthony N.
Playa del Rey, CA
4/13/2009
Okay, first things first, I went here with a big group so the menu was fixed. This definitely added to the poor experience. We were about a group of 15. The only real choice we had was the entree--veal or stuffed chicken.
Before the meal started, the owner came out (who was friends with the person who organized the event) and talked a little bit about the menu. Friendly guy. He brought out this stainless steel cart with him. And when he began discussing the entree, he pulled out compartments, which housed the dishes (pre-cooked). Ugh, not a good idea.
Anyway, the first course was a cheese ravioli in marinara sauce. The kind of thing you can make up at home with a refrigerated ravioli and a bottle of Prego. I had the chicken, and it wasn't good. Small, rubbery, as Kramer would say, "This chicken should be ashamed of itself." It had also gone stone cold. Finally, we were served a sliver of tiramisu, which was okay.
The food really reminded me of airplane food. I didn't really want to say anything to the guy who organized it because it was one of his places. But fortunately, a few days later, he blurted out on the way to lunch, "Yeah, I will never go to Il Toscano again." My sentiments exactly. -
Review from Ken P.
Mission Viejo, CA
8/15/2008
Having read the charmed reviews of this restaurant and with only the guidance that a first date lived in Torrance and loves "pasta," I figured this would be the appropriate place to visit.
I was not disappointed (by the restaurant either)! The legends of Vittorio are true, he's a warm and inviting gentleman who does his best to ensure everyone's dining experience is as pleasant as possible.
Emphasizing that he wanted his restaurant to be exactly how he enjoys eating, the environment is warm and friendly, modest and inviting.
While the food was good, I personally found it unremarkable compared to the overall attention we received at the restaurant - having closed it out at around 9:45, Vittorio personally serenaded the two of us with his mandolin playing romantic Spanish and Italian songs.
An excellent experience with an abundance of personal charm. -
Review from Bob G.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
1/15/2012
Sunday night out and made the wrong choice. Wines by the glass very poor, but I guess that's why it costs $7. Wife ordered the "special" Crab, Avocado, Cucumber salad, which had almost no avocado and extremely small pieces of not-so-fresh crab, unripe tomatoes, etc.. The salad had been made and refrigerated earlier because it was brought 2 minutes after ordering. I had the Caesar salad and it was just okay. Wife ordered chicken Piccata, another mistake. I had pasta with sausage, which was just okay. When the waiter came to pick up the plates, he didn't even ask if the food was okay, even though most was left on the plates. I think we had the very same experience that "Emily Y" wrote in her review and agree with her assessment of the decor, etc.
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Review from Don B.
Torrance, CA
4/23/2010 1 Check-in Here
I cannot say enough about Il Toscano. This is one of my favorite restaurants anywhere! The food is great, the service is spectacular and the owner, Vittorio, is truly a character. All you have to do is go there once and he will always remember you.
While I love Vittorio, the real star here is the food. For anyone who considers Macaroni Grill or Olive Garden to be Italian food, don't bother. This is real Italian food. Simple preparations, good ingredients (they make their own cheese) and a broad range of choices. Some of the food is actually prepped at your table! The menu changes every night, as does you choice of meats, appetizers and desserts.
I love the Bracciola of Beef. Thin flank steak stuffed with breadcrumbs and spices and braised in a luscious marinara sauce. Sausage and peppers served over polenta is great. Save room for dessert, the Tiramasu is fabulous. -
Review from Michael R.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
2/23/2008
Another "coming here for years" review. The place is so unassuming outside and inside -- yet the food is among the best you will find along the coast. And yes, Vittorio (the handsome one! smile) will remember you...The wait staff is fast and friendly. The wines will warm you.
Having had cioppino throughout the US and up and down Italy I have to recommend this dish here is the best! It's not overlayed on a high hidden pile of pasta or rice or bread so that it looks like you're getting more than you're getting. They drop the little creatures to swim in the bubbling broth at different times so nothing gets overcooked. Real mussels and clams and shellfish and whatever is right. Flavorful, hearty broth that you want to savor every drop. Somehow evokes memories of what the dish was - the leftovers that weren't sold - no fresher could be found. Add'l pieces here include nice chunks of salmon, halibut, and other fish that could easily be worth a spot on your plate on their own. Hmmm - maybe I'll go there tonight.
mangare ! -
Review from yvette d.
Manhattan Beach, CA
12/28/2011
I love this place. The food is good, the wine is good, the service is good and the caring and nurturing owner Vittorio is the best. It is an old fashioned restaurant that caters to its guests and genuinely cares about your satisfaction. It is not crowded or noisy and therefore allows you to relax and enjoy a nice meal.
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Review from Bianca A.
South Bay, CA
1/4/2010
We were greeted right away by the owner who also seated us at our table. Italian art, instruments, and odds & ends were mounted on shelves through the dining area. The tables each had simple white table cloths, the walls were wooden. Nothing too fancy here, in fact it felt like I walked into an Italian kitchen. The staff was very warm and pleasant. A different staff member told us the nightly specials, took our drink order, and took our main order. However, this wasn't your usual "so and so will be right with you, let me get your drinks".... rather everything flowed very smoothly, as if for example each staff member was "assigned" to only take drink orders, food orders, etc. The only other time I experienced a dinner service like this was at another Italian restaurant in Tampa. My dad said that's how they do it in Italy. I guess I would have to take his word for it until I go there.
We ordered the Calamari Luciana to start. This calamari was fresh and sauteed in a spicy tomato sauce instead of fried. I enjoyed it. I wish I knew of other places that offered this variation as it's a bit healthier.
I ordered the Sringhe al nero di Seppie , which is a pasta made with squid ink, topped with jumbo shrimp. I've never had a pasta like this. It was very unique and the taste was light but the portion was generous enough that there was enough to take home. The pasta was cooked to al dente and the shrimp was seasoned well. I would like to learn this recipe because it's a slightly different from the usual spaghetti.
For dessert, I ordered traditional Tiramisu. It was served quickly and was very tasty. Was it the best tiramisu I've had? No... but it tasted fresher than any other tiramisu I've had recently.
The drawbacks to my experience were that it took us forever to settle the check. The server left us alone for a while after we got our desserts. Then it took us a while to get his attention to bring us our check and even longer to cash us out. For me that's always the part of the meal that will either make or break my experience. Maybe it's the curse of being a former server, but I believe the check drop off & return shouldn't take more than 5 minutes.
All in all the experience was pretty good. The staff was very hospitable, it wasn't scripted. The food was pretty good... better than the chain restaurants for sure. I definitely wouldn't recommend this restaurant if you are in a hurry as the vibe is slow paced and relaxed. I would probably return sometime in the future but it's not my "go to" Italian restaurant. I'll try to find something a bit closer to my house for that. -
Review from Mad L.
Torrance, CA
3/7/2011
Bottom line: Il Toscano is a fantastic authentic Italian eatery! The owner/chef simply cooks up some amazing Itaian dishes!
My wife and I have been going to Il Toscano for years, and felt we needed to finally give it some props! While the décor may not be to Gordon Ramsey's liking, the food, I would imagine would be! Every dish we've tried has been absolutely solid. We basically keep keeping the pasta dishes because they are so well done! As a rule of thumb, we tend to judge Italian places on the simple things. Do they have a good minestrone soup? Do they have good spaghetti and meatballs? Well, not only does Il Toscano have "good' versions of those...their spaghetti and meatballs could very well be one of the best we've ever had! The past is cooked perfectly every time! And the meatballs, while smaller, are so tasty with a perfect texture you'd expect from an Italian relative! The sauce is also superb! It's honestly so tasty, that we tend to get it every time we go. But, we do enjoy the rotating types of raviolis, other soups and other pastas. Every single one, prepared with quality ingredients and skill!
This is truly a neighborhood gem. It truly feels like a long lost relative has cooked up a nice meal for you! And, if you so choose, corkage is only $13! Bring a nice bottle and indulge yourself in some amazing food at Il Toscano!
And if you're lucky the owner may just come around and sing a bit while he plays some italian music on his many madolins! -
Review from L. G.
Oakland, CA
5/31/2007
I have been coming here for years and I enjoy it every time. I feel this is the only decent Italian restaurant in the South Bay and the food is quality. The owner is friendly and the service is pretty good. Antipasti are decent, the pasta is good (they make their own, no dried stuff). I usually order prosciutto with figs, some calamari (not that good but it's still fried calamari), and red bell pepper ravioli. The ravioli here is great, as well as the black pasta (squid ink, excellent texture).
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Review from Craig V.
Culver City, CA
3/11/2007
I have been frequenting this establishment for well over 10 years. This is hands down my favorite italian restaurant. The owner Vittorio will remember you each time you come in and possibly might give an impromptu mandolin performance. Now to the food. The pasta is awesome. My personal favorites are the lasagna, ravioli, linguine pescatore, basically anything on the menu will make you happy. This place is great to take a date or just to go out and have a nice dinner.
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Review from Melissa O.
Torrance, CA
10/14/2008
I found the food to be pretty good. Was it the best italian food I've ever had? No. But it was good enough to take my mom to. She enjoyed her dish and I enjoyed mine. (We orderd the same dish, but she added sausage to hers). It was braided pasta with a red sauce, tomatoes and mushrooms. But what really made it earn 3 stars was the fact that they remembered that I mentioned it was my mom's birthday. They surprised her with a yummy tiramisu with 3 cute little candles on it. It was delightul. The service was great, and we felt right at home.
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Review from todd r.
Hermosa Beach, CA
Updated - 1/14/2009
I have been here to dine at least 20 times mostly dinners, but also some lunches. We come here quite frequently, and the relationship with the owner makes you feel appreciated for the repeat business. Is everything here good, not exactly - but if you stick to the classics you do better. Make sure to try the fresh Buffalo mozzarella and the ricotta cheesecake. Both are handmade on a cooperative farm co-owned by the owner of Il Toscano. The pastas are the star, with a particular emphasis on ravioli. I tend to avoid the meat dishes here since I think the pastas are executed better. The fish is also a good choice, but over the last visits I find myself gravitating towards the pastas and walking away happy.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/29/2008
This is a great little Italian restaurant with real character. Vittorio is a good host and will… Read more »
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Review from charles m.
Somerville, MA
7/12/2005
Never mind the perfect risotto, the delicate veal, the tiramisu. Il Toscano deserves your business because Vittorio will remember you the second time you visit--even if it's years later and with a different party. If you are looking for an absolutely spectacular dining experience with a romantic atmosphere, Il Toscano should be your choice, and be sure to have the limousine driver take you up to some scenic lookout (read: makeout) point in PV or Redondo afterwards.
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Review from Dave Y.
San Diego, CA
4/11/2009
Went for a birthday dinner. The standout dishes of the night were the prosciutto with melon, swordfish, sole, the cioppino, and the tiramisu. Although I'm used to a more aggressively spiced cioppino, I feel that had the cioppino been spiced that way then you would have lost the flavor of the fresh seafood in the broth. Chunks of fresh fish, calamari, shellfish, and shrimp, topped with one large prawn. A little high on the calamari ratio, but that was my only complaint.
I have to rave about the prosciutto with melon. Most places will serve the standard canteloupe or honeydew as the fruits are relatively inexpensive and sufficiently sweet. The melon served here was so sweet and tender I had to make my way back behind the wine rack to sneak a peek at what they were using. Turns out it looked like a bigger version of canteloupe except there were green basketball-like striations around the whole thing. Not sure what type it was - casaba? Crenshaw?
As far as other appetizers went, we tried their fried calamari, whichwas pretty standard fare, and their grilled king oyster mushrooms, which was interesting.
I ordered the veal osso bucco, which could have been braised for a tad bit longer. Still, a very solid choice.
The highlight of the evening was when the owner came out to play a few pieces for my mother on the mandolin. That was a real treat. Afterwards he came by to chat and talk to us for a little bit. Really made us feel welcome and at home.
All in all, pretty good food but the service bumps it up to four stars. -
Review from DEanna G.
Long Beach, CA
8/4/2011
Went there for a baby shower and the food and ambiance was something out of a romantic movie : ) I loved everything about it down to it's schedule. I found it very authentic and desirable. I can't wait to go there for a romantic evening with my husband. Oh not to mention the location and set up!!!! Read all reviews objectively taking note of spelling errors. Always consider your source.
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Review from Raphael Aizan S.
Torrance, CA
2/25/2009
I would be a regular if the food was as good as the hospitality.
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Review from BILL A.
San Pedro, CA
10/13/2008
We decided to try this restaurant last week based on the reviews written here. WHAT A MISTAKE.....We arrived early and the place was virtually empty, we were seated near the kitchen and I had a delightful view of the coke machine, the kind you see at a fast food restaurant, I got to watch the dish washers refill their glasses during the entire ordeal. We ordered the calamari appetizer which was really good, too bad that was all that was good. The main course was a disaster, I ordered three pastas as a combo, one in a red sauce and two in a cream sauce all served on the same plate, penne in a red and gnocchi and ravioli in cream, all I could taste was the flour from the uncooked pasta, and when the sauces co mingled it just got worse. After a few bites I just stopped eating the crap. I guess the owner noticed and asked what was wrong and when I told him he asked me to be more specific. I wouldn't get into a pissing match so he just removed my plate and walked away. when we were presented with the check my meal had been deducted which really is not what I wanted but the waiter insisted. I did notice that during our meal other diners arrived and were greeted like old friends, perhaps regulars who don't know the difference between good Italian food and being massaged by the staff. Needless to say we won't try this place again....EVER
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Review from Cheryl L.
Torrance, CA
1/17/2009
My first impression of this place was that it had great ambiance. There was a guy playing the piano and another one playing the mandolin. However, they only played for 10 minutes at a time then then when they stopped playing the restaurant was kinda quiet. I came here on a Friday night and did not have trouble getting a table right away. I had the fried calamari, which was very tasty and the the veal with prosciutto, which I thought was too salty. For dessert I had the ricotta cheesecake, and for some reason I thought it would taste like regular cheesecake but it didn't. It was more crumbly and moist but I don't think I would order it again. The service was good until we wanted to pay the bill. The waiters were ignoring us and we had to wave them over to get their attention. I probably would not come back here again.
