Vincenzo Ristorante
714 Montana Ave
Santa Monica, CA 90403 (310) 395-6619
- Price Range: $$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Dressy
- Good for Groups: No
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
7 reviews
Neighborhood: Westwood
"Wow --- Carlo's recipes will melt in your mouth. This little spot on Westwood will surely please any palette serving delectable Italian…" read more »
11 Reviews for Vincenzo Ristorante
Nice rustic Italian joint, get's a solid 3.5 for LA italian.
Pros: Food was good, although a little pricey. Eggplant was delcious, very flavorful dishes. Fresh bread.
Cons: took on hour for our food, they forgot to put the order in to the kitchen. Very nice, althrough they didn't offer desert or an add'l glass of wine for the mess up....surprised for the class of restaraunt. My portion was small for my eggplant ziti dish, my wife's was generous for the seafood special.
The owner is from Naples. He and his wife run the front of the house. They really make you feel like you're at home. The food is rustic Italian, not an American style pasta joint. It's an intimate place with only a few tables. You can go there on a date and dress nice or be a neighborhood person and go more casually. This place is not cheap, but it is well worth the trip. Make a reservation. More than 4 people? Go somewhere else.
Vincenzo will greet you at the door and make you feel right at home. This charming, tiny, Italian spot on Montana is a great date spot. The prices are not for the faint of heart (or wallet) but you can get out of there for $30 a person (with a glass of wine).
The food is excellent and authentic. Try the seafood for something out of the ordinary or the Penne alla Vodka for something unique.
Pros: Food, Vincenzo himself.
Cons: Price, not great for groups of more than four.
Vincenzo's is a gem. I'd happily go back here any day - if only my wallet could stomach it more easily!
* service was great - vincenzo personally greeted and waited on us even though we were first-timers. we told him what kind of fish and wine we liked and he gave us recommendations that worked out very well.
* the food was fantastic. we split everything - fresh burratta, mediterranean sea bass (similar to trout in texture) in lobster cognac sauce (which was a custom dish for us), and the lamb chops. each dish was delicate, well-presented, and even though the portions were halved, it was a good amount for 1 person alone!
* the ambiance was cozy, but nothing particularly special. it's a good date spot or for a group of four.
This is one of the hidden gems of Santa Monica. Their are a few dishes there that our world class. The Penne Vodka is in a league of it's own. It's the best I've ever eaten. When the Barata is served as a special it's a must order. Finally for someone that doesn't love meat balls theirs are amazing. It offers fresh tasting food, a neighborhood atmosphere and the staff (including Vincenzo) make you feel like an old friend no matter if it's your first time or 20th time eating there.
This place is cute and intimate. The owner Mr and Mrs Vincenzo are the most welcoming people you'll meet. The service is unbelievable! I recently went with my family this past week and Mrs. Vincenzo remembered me from 2 years ago. I was really impressed.
Besides the superb service, the food is also amazing. I had their black peppered steak with grilled veggies and it took me back to Italy. Their pastas are always al dente and their bread is amazing. Mostly everything on the menu is delicious. I will always go back because of the great service and food.
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I went here because the big boss lady love it. Her Apt in SM was around the corner and hence she met all of her friends there for lunch.
So I decided to go check it out. Its a small room with table packed in, not quite sardine style. We were seated below a picture of Vincenzo and my boss on the wall.
Seated by Mrs. Vincenzo, Vincenzo himself will come out and talk to you, and possibly take your order, and then as he did with me gush over my boss, and tell me about her friends at the table at the window (who given my profession, could not go and talk to without embarrassing myself horribly).
Food comes all in good time, and its very tasty. I was not blown away by it but still enjoyed it.
All in all I was a little awed by the price given the food, but still I might go give it another whirl.
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Food was very good. The staff was very nice too.
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I hesitate in posting this review since I consider Vincenzo's to be the best-kept secret in Santa Monica. Maybe even all of Los Angeles.
Romantic, intimate, perfect for a date-night, you'd hardly even know it existed if it wasn't for the hard-to-read neon sign.
Vincenzo and his ex-wife (!!!) greet everyone personally. And the food they serve...like you died and went to Italy. Makes you feel sorry for all the suckers dining at Spumoni across the steet.
If you're looking for a quiet evening in Santa Monica, seemingly miles away from the L.A. scene, Vincenzo's is the place.
Make sure to try the Penne alla Vodka. Words fail to describe how good it is.
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I'm going to have to disagree with everybody else. The food is very tasty and good, though nothing special. I'll give it that much.
The cons are:
-Small, uncomfortable seating.
-Tiny portions
-Exuberant prices, which, while expected of all nice Italian places, doesn't fit well the portions (i.e. the $19 risotto would be more appropriately priced at $12, which you could find at most other places)
-Sketchy service with the main waiter who is pretty brusque. The lady in charge is nice at least. Mr. Vincenzo seems to only greet regulars.
With a million other Italian places in the Westside there are better options.
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"Leave the Gun - Take the Cannolis" - and if you can - get some Pasta Fagioli to go!!! Locating a cool restaurant in Los Angeles is like finding a sexy girl --- they are all over the place, they look good, they smell good and the accoutrements are very cool but at the end of the night it's just not the real thing and you resign yourself to accepting what is considered to be the best - but there just isn't genuine quality to it. But, this place is different as it could just as easily be located on Cross Bay Boulevard in Howard Beach, Queens --- that's how good it is. It is small, so I highly recommend reservations and it is expensive (but if price is the true test of relative quality then throwing down a little more once in a while on that special someone is a privilege at this place) but this is a MEAL not just dinner. In addition to a standard menu, Vincenzo comes up with a few different nightly preparations with no seemingly consistent selection but if he tells you to order the Meatballs that are being made from his Grandmother's recipe --- you are a schmuck if you don't listen to him because he is an Excellent Chef and his grandmother was one hellava teacher. He also observes and listens to regular customers and one night he may surprise you with a dish made up with just you in mind. As "Sollozzo" said in "The GodFather," "Try the veal, it's the best in the city." This place is great and it is a great date place - memories can be initiated and celebrated here.
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