Il Ristorante di Giorgio Baldi
114 W Channel Rd, Santa Monica, CA, 90402
Il Ristorante di Giorgio Baldi Menu
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Address :
114 W Channel Rd
Santa Monica, CA, 90402 - Phone (310) 573-1660
- Website https://www.giorgiobaldi.us
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
- Mon :Closed
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Valet
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Dressy
Ambience : Classy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Kimberlie C.
I would give this place 5 stars but the service sucks sometimes. The waiters are often arrogant and not attentive. With that being said the food is absolutely amazing. I'm never disappointed whenever I go. The sole literally melted in my mouth the last time I was there. I ate more than I ever have in my life! I love that they will do a trio of pastas if you just ask. I've never had a bad pasta here. It's always fun to look around too because there is usually a celeb or 2 tucked away in a corner.
(4)Kai C.
Dining at this elegant beach shack that sits in the Santa Monica canyon off PCH is where you'll find this cozy and casual Italian hideaway. It's quaint and homey dining atmosphere has captivated the wealthy Malibu elite with its simple, yet elegant offering of a Tuscan menu. Owner and chef Giorgio Baldi and family have been bringing you true Tuscan fare since 1990. There is no reason for complex sauces or over compensated dishes that present unnecessary ingredients for culinary approval here. It's not that type of establishment. Such dishes as the hand-cut, handmade papparadelle with meat ragout, a rustic blend of premium ground beef and veal. The sauce exudes the flavors of Giorgio's famed housemade tomato sauce bursting with vine-ripened tomatoes, garlic, basil and a touch of cream, the pumpkin ravioli with a hint of fresh nutmeg, oven-roasted striped bass with fresh herbs and premium Italian olive oil, the beef carpaccio and the bone-in rib eye are just some of the flavorsome menu selections worth trying. Don't be surprised if you find yourself seated next to Quincy Jones, Tom Cruise, Goldie and Kurt or Flockhart and Ford for that matter, yes the place is visited by those who appreciate damn good Tuscan cuisine. At the end of the day the food here is the real star sighting. Celebrity Chef Kai Chase
(5)Angel A.
BEST ITALIAN HANDS DOWN. I love Italian food & GB is def best i've had.... romantic atmosphere although it can get pretty packed.. the pumpkin ravioli is a must-try... remember to save room for dessert!
(5)Natalie C.
We had wine, minestrone soup (AMAZING!), lamb and veal ravioli. Delicious, quality food. I highly recommend it. It's very pricey, but worth it.
(4)Amber Rose P.
A friend declared this restaurant as one of the best in LA, so when my brother and sister came to visit, I made a reservation for Friday night. Previously warned that the tables were crowded and we'd likely feel like "sardines in a can", I made a 6:30 reservation for Friday night, hoping to avoid the 8pm dinner rush. It wasn't necessary. Although it is small, it is still quiet, warm and beautifully-lit, with warm candles and yellow lights. And even if you do feel crowded, the food and wine are so stupendous you'll forget about anything except savoring all of it. We ordered Gnocchi so tender it dissolved on our tongues, a couple fish dishes and homemade ravioli in a white truffle sauce. And no matter what you order here, make sure it includes truffles. So worth it. Ask your server which wine you should drink. And order dessert-any of them-even if you're too full.
(5)Mary C.
What do I have in common with Christina Ricci, Mark Wahlberg, and John Goodman? We all enjoyed dinner last night at Giorgio Baldi, one of the best Italian restaurants I have ever been to. I've been here a few times now, and the meals have been fantastic. From the perfectly chosen tomatoes in the bruschetta to the crispy potatoes that come on the side of every entree, this restaurant has left no food detail unattended. The dish that you absolutely MUST order is the agnolotti, a ravioli stuffed with sweet corn and served with a white truffle sauce that I would seriously sell my boyfriend's dog for. The Italian waiters speak a mile a minute, food can be slow coming out of the kitchen, and you might get bumped if you're seated in a high-traffic area, but these are all small concessions to make for food this good. You'll probably be dining in tight quarters, but the ambiance is comfortable and elegant, while still retaining a bit of Santa Monica casual. And if you're lucky, you might get to stargaze while you enjoy your meal.
(5)Ellen O.
excellent. it's always nice to sit and have a huge italian meal with lots of wine and family style plates covering the table. the starters were great, and the desserts were good, but the real star was the homemade pasta - especially the truffle, the asparagus ravioli, and the pumpkin ravioli. they all melt in your mouth. the pasta was definitely the highlight so i'm glad i allocated most of my appetite to this portion of the lengthy meal i enjoyed here a couple of weeks ago.
(4)Steve D.
Absolutely amazing food and I'd rank it in the top five best italian restaurants in the city. All of the ravioli's are excellent. Only downside to this place is that it is pretty small and the tables are quite close together. However, once the food arrives you quickly forget about this minor irritation.
(5)Daniel S.
Food: Delicious!!!! ******* Amazing. Service: AWFUL!!!!! Attitude, non attentive and just BAD. They really need to get over themselves. They still nail the food part, but the waiters and hostess really need an attitude check. REALLY Disappointing. I don't think I'll go back even if they have some of the best pastas in town. Not worth the bullshit.
(2)Jesse B.
straight class. nothing more / nothing less. the calamari here rivals to that i've had in Italy. expect a celeb or two, but don't bother them because you're at Giorgio's! come on now. . . .
(5)Vin D.
This is Italian food at its best. Appetizers like calamari fritti and Burrata with pesto and roasted tomatoes are incredible! Main dishes like lobster ravioli and fish-of-the-day pastas are to die for. They have some of the best wine selections on their menu too. Finish your meal with some delicious fruit ice cream. Yum! Btw, their serving portions are small so don't expect to get full unless you're ready to drop some serious dough. Finding street parking in this area is quite frustrating so I would recommend valet.
(4)SwamiKwami L.
Giorgio's, you are the most over-rated phenom since Justin Timberlake. We've been twice, and the truth is, Giorgio's has treated us badly each time. Here's why... 1. Sullen waiters who pee on Pig's head and tell him it's cabernet. My wife asked our pompous, sulllen 'waiter' a simple question: "is the veal good?" -- and he stared at her balefully, then snapped "everything's good." Oh, is it? That makes it so easy! Will you bring us, then, anything? You will. A plate of merde? Fantastico! 2. They serve, figuratively, plates of merde. My wife, the party girl, gets the veal. It's a sheet of wallpaper. Hence her question 'is the veal good?' Because she's a smart foodie and she knows veal can vary. 3. The restaurant is loud and hot and incredibly uncomfortable. All the signs of le monde hip, the bargain you make if the food and atmosphere is superlative...yet not here, my fellow puercos... 4. Alas, I must reiterate. Terrible wait staff. Both times. The second waiter was less overtly psychopathically sullen, but took forever to bring our food (maybe that's the kitchen's fault, of course.) Alas, he made the delay worse by almost sneering as he tossed the plates down -- was he delivering the Roman 'con brio' attitude? -- and in general acted like a martinet maitre d' out of a Tati movie, welcoming Akron tourists to the Maison dah doody doo Blanc in Paris. For the record, we are sweet, normally courteous people who know our foodie manners and don't show up in velour tracksuits (although Pig's Fila is pimp.) And yes, Pig knows that hideous people always think they're polite, too, but please accept my assertion that we are not. Hideous. Although after eating here, our self-esteem took a little battering. Oh, oh, oh...for the life of Pig, with three fantastic Italian spots in Malibu to pick from (hint-one is Allegria) why on earth is Giorgio's hot? Maybe if we went back we'd find out -- maybe we had a bad experience (twice.) It's possible...our fellow Yelpers seem to love the food... But, fellow puercos, the thing is -- two disasters are enough. Oh, I know that you see celebrities at Giorgio's. Yes, yes, you do. But I see stars at the 7-11 on Wilshire in Santa Monica, too, and frankly, the mystery turkey paste sandwiches in the glass case at the 7-11 taste better than my pasta at Giorgio's did. And so, despite all your much-appreciated Yelping paens to Giorgio's, which I would normally trust -- i believe we are finished with trying our luck at Giorgio's. Cased closed for this Pig. Yes, Giorgio? Uh, no.
(1)Ray S.
I finally ate last night at G Baldi and it was fabulous. Serivce and food was exceptional. What has always suprised me about the Baldi restaurants are the affordability of the wines on the wine list. We shared the Asparagus ravioli and crab cakes as appetizers. I've now had the Langostino's at both Baldi restaurants and they are still one of my favorite dishes in Los Angeles. I highly recommend and enjoyed Giorgio Baldi's!
(5)Nancy W.
If they did not have pasta with botarga I would never go back to this place. Within 1 hr they served an entire 4 course meal. For these prices I want to be able to relax in between each course, I don't want the next course to arrive before I stop chewing the course before!
(1)Elizabeth R.
I really can't believe this place has so many good reviews. It's truly one of the most over-hyped, overpriced places I've ever been to. My husband and I went for his birthday and we were really looking forward to the meal, but it was disappointing all around. Everything took FOREVER. Our reservation was at 7:30 and we didn't get food until after 9pm. The food was o.k. We were not impressed. The wine list was completely lame...if you are going to employ an absurd mark-up on wines, please make them rare and unique vs. something that I can get up the street at Vons. They asked us if we wanted water and then charged us $8 for it (we didn't ask for bottled water). Overall, it's the type of place that's rather insulting to true foodies. If you know good food and service, don't waste your time here.
(1)Lala Y.
I came here for a business dinner with my vendor. The mood and everything of this place is better for family/friend gathering, and date. It is too dark for business dinner. In my opinion. Food was good and service wasn't too bad. However, we did waited for more than 20min for our waiter to greed us. (He said as our reservation was for 5, and he only see 4 of us, so he thought we still waiting for our friend......This is not really a good excuse, but that just me. He could at least asked if he is wondering, and we did let the host know when she seated us.) Anyway, after 20min of waiting, we got a bit upset, so we went to the manager and asked for a better waiter. Our waiter immediately came by and apology. Rest of the evening was very pleasant and food played a huge role. I will definitely come back, with my husband and friends.
(3)Adela K.
this ristorante is so utterly romantic. the mini corn raviolis will kick your ass. but throw truffles on a stick and i would eat it. so other than that, i hate to admit it...but the rest of the food didn't really live up to the hype. it was good, but not breathtaking. and i expected breathtaking. meh.
(3)Jon S.
Excellent restaurant with great food and atmosphere. I took my fiancee for her birthday last year and had an amazing meal and love going back. I can't wait for another special event to return. My only complaint is that service feels almost too fast for an Italian restaurant.
(4)Amy H.
Steak, ravioli, and fish are wonderful! This is a very romantic restaurant.
(5)Gee M.
I don't understand the hype. Yes the pasta is good and you'll be sure to see Steven Spielberg or Jennifer Aniston. But the pasta here is as good as the pasta at Cafe Delfini or Modo Mio. So which would you prefer: annoyingly snotty service and ridiculously expensive prices, or nice, attentive service and not out of this world prices. I think I know which one I would pick.
(2)Amanda C.
After years of hearing about this landmark LA. spot I finally had a chance to visit last night with three friends and we had a fabulous meal. The service was very smooth, lovely waiter from the old days, very Italian and knew his stuff inside and out. They rushed the food to us a bit which was my only issue. The table was perfectly situated in the front and was cozy, warmly lit and although the place was crowded it wasn't noisy so you could hear each other talking which was welcome. The food was superb- especially the raviolis - really nothing to say but perfection! Home-made pasta is supposed to be like this; light as a feather. We had a very nice salad of thinly sliced fennel and artichoke with parmesan- very, very delicious. I ordered Dover sole which was quite good although a tad over-cooked- not easy to do in large quantities- so I get that. We had two desserts; a panna cotta- perfectly done and served with strawberry sauce and fresh berries and a chocolate crepe that was also amazing with nutella inside and sugared hazelnuts- which were addictive. I would return to this place for a special occasion as it is expensive and everything had a ton of butter on it - so can only eat this way once in a blue moon.
(4)R C.
Another 5 star rating, well yes, but with some reservations. I've been to GB three times and most recently last night. Here's a list of odd errors: 1. Bread never arrived until we asked for it after the soup. I wasn't sure it was included until people on both sides of us got it when they sat. Well worth the wait, crispy, a little salty, fresh and warm. Then I realized they forgot the pomodoro. Well that came after the pasta... 2. We were never offered a second glass of wine or more water until I asked for it. 3. The primo (pasta) arrived 45 minutes after the zuppa. We're vegetarian so we only had the two dishes and this is way to long for technically two primi to be spread out. 4. Ordered coffee and desert, the coffee arrived immediately and the dessert 15 min. later, a no no if you've ever been to Italy (and don't the waiters know this?). 5. Overall confusion between the busers and the waiters, bread plates picked up before the pomodoro, knives randomly arriving before dessert, the above bread basket scenario. Once the pasta arrives, Agnolotti or white sweet corn ravioli w/ truffle sauce, all is forgotten. I had to order another basket of bread for "scarpetta", done with discretion of course. The warm chocolate cake is incredible as well with the mixture of the pudding like center with mint vanilla ice cream. Make reservations, but prepare to wait another 15 min. or so more or show up early and get a drink at the new Hideout next door.
(5)Pat G.
Had dinner there tonight, probably the best italian food I have had since being in Italy. I have traveled all over the world and dinner tonight was amazing. The service was excellant. The pasta was wonderful and the fish outstanding. I cant wait to go back.
(5)L + C K.
Best ravioli I've ever had. Make sure to try the ravioli medley (pumpkin, truffel, lobster). Only knock against this place is the wine list is obnoxiously priced and it can feel cramped/loud when it's busy. Service is great though and quality of food is amazing.
(4)Michael S.
I judge Italian restaurants by how they make a simple tomato sauce. In Italy, no spice dominates and you shouldn't see cloves of garlic or chunks of onions. I give GB's penne with tomato sauce 5 out of 5...fantastic! Also had their breaded veal chop...huge portion, not so flavorful and would not order again. Waiters are personable and attentive. Hostesses are what you'd expect in a typical scene-y LA place. I called a month in advance to make a reservation for my wife's 30th birthday and requested a specific table. When i called to confirm the day before, a hostess told me in a snotty tone they couldn't guarantee my table. When we arrived, the table we requested was available but they escorted us to the back of the restaurant. My wife didn't want me to complain because they wound up seating us next to Tony Parker and Eva Longoria. Yes, you will see lots of celebs and you will pay a steep dinner bill to do so...but the food is very good.
(4)Julie E.
This is my favorite Italian restaurant in LA, and might be one of the best in this country. It's insane. I don't know if it's the crack that they inject into everything that comes out of the kitchen, but every single morsel I've tasted here - on several different occasions - has been magnificent. The pumpkin ravioli is to die for. I've also tried the veal chop and dover sole, both of which are incredible. It's a mixed crowd - I've seen families with young children, dates, business meetings, and, of course, celebrities. On my last visit, Sascha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher were canoodling, Mark Wahlberg was leaving as we were going in, Ted Danson and Mary Steenbergen were hosting their family, and Chris Rock was working the crowd. Awesome fun. Some people are dressed to the nines, others in flip flops - the LA dichotomy that a Chicagoan like me will never truly understand. I almost hate myself for saying this, but would recommend making a reservation on the earlier side - no later than 7:30 pm - because Georgio's is relatively small and people like to linger over dinner, so those with later reservations usually have to wait. Though no matter. I would wait to eat here. And it's not cheap, so bring someone with a big bank account and/or high credit limit. Long live Giorgio Baldi.
(5)Sarah C.
Amazing restaurant right on the water in Santa Monica. Went with a "Giorgio veteran" who ordered all the different varietals of ravioli. Amazing asparagus ravioli, pumpkin filled with butternut sage sauce, ordered the filet mignon to share with the table. A very dimly-lit romantic setting in the heart of Pacific Coast Highway. Definitely a "special occasion" type of dinner.
(5)Dianne M.
Everything was perrrrfect!!!
(5)Mai L.
ditto, baby.. It's interesting that most of the reviews on other websites have been extremely negative and on yelp nothing but rave reviews. Could it be that yelpers just have exquisite taste?
(5)Lisa M.
A definite winner. This is the best italian place I know, outside of Italy. It is pretty small inside, but the atmosphere is so pleasant. If it's not too dark, you might be able to spot a celebrity or two as well. I highly recommend to start with the carpaccio and polenta, the sauce is unbelievable. Their ravioli is amazing as well, top it off with any of their desserts and you'll be heading for serious food coma... possibly buzzed if you have any wine. My mom is friends with Giorgio, and he always comes and joins us at dinner. The waiters all speak Italian as well, to add to the atmosphere. This place is definitely not for those with tight purse strings, but it is worth it. Reservations are a must if you want to be seated within an hour.
(5)Danielle P.
Overall, my experience with this place was really good. The service was prompt, food arrived in timely manner, and it was quite tasty. I had ordered both the lobster ravioli AND the porcini risotto (decisions, decisions...) and both were great. I found that the filling for the lobster ravioli was a bit underseasoned, but the homemade pasta encasing it made up for it. It literally melted in your mouth. I would most certainly visit there again!!
(4)George D.
Can you say "Truffle" Another of my go to , always good, never disappointing etc etc etc. Housed in a charming old , yup "house" on channel, but miles away from Los Angeles. Open kitchen where Giorgio takes center stage many a night and even when he is not at the helm the food is excellent and consistent. The tuna salad (Much more exciting than I make it sound) is exceptional. I generally start there then have the prawns over pasta with a light marinara, but the show stopper is the large flat noodles in a light cream and white truffle sauce--many have tried and failed to compare. Second only to the truffle pasta is the pumpkin ravioli topped with a burnt sage butter and a light dusting of cheese----yum yum. Again another dish that is frequently duplicated but few as good as his. Todd English in New York is close as is Il Bucco, but I stil give Girogio first place. Service as good as the food, ambiance just fantastic. Recommendation, ask to sit inside and near the kitchen in the winter, its cold near the door and on the enclosed patio. Dining room is small and only one restroom per gender (go light on the water and leave the dietary supplements at home). Indulge Indugle Indugle and smile.
(4)Benito L.
The next time I go, I shall order no entree and instead eat a thousand dollars worth of raviolis. ^__^
(5)Paige R.
A perfect date place. It's really dark inside too. The food is amazing! Order the fish of the day! This is a family owned restaurant, feels like you're entering someones dark living room. I think it's the wife or daughter that stands as the hostess... lot's of celebrities...Fran dresecher was there and I sat next to Tom Ford! The quality of the food was definetely what it was all about and I give 5 stars.
(5)D C.
Truffles and their magical qualities The food reminded me of some of the best meals I've had in the Piedmont region. The carpaccio and pasta appetizers with shaved truffle were fantastic. Great food. Great service. Good wine selection. Highly recommended.
(4)Ramona R.
It was our first time going to dinner here this past Saturday night. I got our reservations about 2 weeks ago, and let the host know that we are coming down to celebrate our wedding anniversary, so if they can please give us a nice table we would appreciate it. Anyhow, Saturday came along, and the restaurant never called to confirm our reservation, so I called them myself to confirm the time, and once again I told them we are coming to celebrate our anniversary, please give us a romantic, nice table there. They said okay. Our reservations were at 9pm. We got there on time, they seated us at first in between 2 tables, and we were scrunched in, no room around us. Fine, we thought, it was a small restaurant. I tried to put my jacket down beside me, no room. I had to hang it on my husbands chair. Anyhow, 2 minutes later, the host came and told us they had a better table for us. We said okay, and they moved us to a table right in front of the kitchen. WTF. It did have more room, as it was a round table, but it was in the WORST location!! And all the other tables in the restaurant were full. Already we were disappointed. Anyhow, they brought the menu. We wanted to order wine. A glass of wine started at $17. A HALF bottle started at $47. We are not cheap, as my husband and I dine at the finest restaurants, but they were going to serve me a glass of a $10/bottle chianti red wine for $17. Hmmm... anyways, we ordered an appetizer. We got the Burrata with pesto. It was delicious! We ate it in like a second , since it was sooo yummy. Then for our entrees I ordered the "special" they had on the Branzino sea bass fish with mushrooms. My hubby ordered some steak dish they had. We also ordered a side of pasta with tomato sauce. The fish I ordered was $47, my husbands dish was about same, and the side of pasta was $17. My fish was drenched in oil. It was nasty. I had a few bites, and had a stomach ache. My husbands steak dish was not bad, but not good either. Nothing special, and that too was drenched in oil. The pasta was good, but since it was a "side" it was like 4 bites. The service there was not good at all, it took the waiter 20 minutes to come to our table each time. We asked for balsamic vinegar 3 times before someone brought it to our table. We are not picky eaters, or cheap, but this restaurant did not meet our standards. We eat at the finest places, and Georgio baldi really disappointed us, especially since we had gone there for our anniversary dinner. We definitely would not go back as there are so many other restaurants with better food.
(2)Richa J.
I was a little nervous because I thought the service would be too snooty based on these reviews, but it wasn't. Our service was great. We had a nice italian waiter. The food was fantastic. I got the pumpkin ravioli from the menu... it was good, but a little oily. It wasn't that expensive either at $15. The suggested appetizer was the best thing we ordered... it was a mozzarella tomato pesto thing. I think the specials that the waiter suggests tend to be more expensive. The mood is nice with candle lighting. My bf was really excited since we were seated near a hot actress from Lost. The tables are pretty close to each other. Lastly, expect to valet. Anyways, the food is great and we had a nice romantic date!
(4)Grace F.
in my world, to feed is to love as loving food is loving life itself. giorgio loves his food and i love my life when i eat his food. giorgio was cemented as my first favorite italian restaurant the moment i stepped foot in the cozy establishment over 4 years ago. dining at giorgio is an experience...it is probably one of the most authentic italian restaurants i have been to stateside where everyone speaks italian, the food is top notch, and giorgio steps out to sit beside you as the dinner rush winds down and shares with you his prosciutto just flown in from italy and wants to know what you think. every time i go, into a world of authentic italian-ness i plummet, and for a few hours of my life, i can forget about all that is american and enjoy a romantic meal while falling in love all over again. for me, il risotrante di giorgio baldi is a special place. i've dined there in 2's and 4's a handful of times over the years and each time i go i'm reminded of how wonderful it is to have this little italian gem tucked away off of channel road. the restaurant is a bit sceney in a very beach-casual, yet pricey $$$$ way - think wealthy malibu elite donning their beach duds descending on this cozy eatery for a casual, yet expensive meal. celebrity sightings are common (minus the paparazzi)...my fella and i were seated next to cindy crawford as she celebrated her birthday with a group of girlfriends. the lighting is dim and sexy and the open kitchen provides you an opportunity to see what's happening in there - if you're lucky, you'll see giorgio beaming at you. the food is great. ignore the regular menu and trust in the daily specials. pumpkin ravioli, risotto in truffle oil and fontina cheese and of course, being a pescetarian, you can't pass on the sea bass or the sole. yelpers, this is a special occasion restaurant -- you have to go with a mentality of enjoyment rather than focusing on the $$$$ price tag. go with your loved one, go with another couple or two and enjoy the evening out...order the bottles and let the vino flow...it'll be an eve of memories in the making.
(5)Scott N.
Great food that is simple and tastes fresh. Been there several times over the years and consistently tasty. I do not love italian but will eat here any time. Also very romantic. Only complaint is service can be abrupt sometimes.
(4)Beebee s.
Ok say this is the place I only get to go to once very couple of years because it is $$$$! But when I save up enough money and feel like indulging, this is where I go! Pasta perfection...veal that melts in your mouth...wine like no other list...I wish I could afford to go more often.....
(5)Alex D.
My Italian fiancee from Milan agreed: this is one of only four Italian restaurants in LA that are deeply authentic and hold fast to traditional Italian gastronomical truths...phenomenal.
(5)Stefani U.
The Best!
(5)Kelly H.
good place to splurge on authentic italian. It was on the company's dime so I can't complain. great service. Ravioli is worth trying.
(5)Buck D.
Having sworn off this restaurant for 2 years after being treated so poorly I stupidly made an attempt to reconcile!! Not only was the blatant celeb favoritism in high gear but our party was at a "tea table" for 2 and we had 5 people...Gwyneth Paltrow was seated comfortably at a table for 6 even though there were only 2 of them. The same was true of another hollywood type --large table with 2 people. Its so disgusting its hard to believe that they are so busy. After knocking chairs with persons on 2 sides, having wait staff (not waiters fault) slither through aisles and again knock our chairs its difficult to even comment on the food. If you want to be treated like dirt, go to Giorgios. Oddly, there is never any attempt to "mask" this favoritism...
(1)mike s.
Expect to wait, even if you have a reservation. Expect to be crammed in this little place, and know that it is expensive.... go into it knowing these things and you should really enjoy. Fantastic food, great people watching and a fun atmosphere.
(5)Kris C.
This place has great ambiance, good service and great food! Parking is a bit tight, so we leave the hummer at home. The waiter we had was hella funny and nice, I love great waiters!
(4)j c.
Well done Italian. Very much enjoyed the mushroom risotto, asparagus ravioli, and the tiramisu. Branzino was okay as were starter salads. We can't make it through a meal without cocktails and/ or a bottle of wine. They don't serve cocktails, and the wine list starts around $120 a bottle and goes up to $2000. There are only 5 wines by the glass. They do not allow you to bring in bottles. We had a very nice Gaja, the list is impressive. But the pricing makes it a once in a while, rather than weekly place to visit. Our waiter and others that I overheard only push/ recommend the most expensive dishes. They certainly stay busy, it always seems to be packed. I wonder how many of them were regulars...
(3)Naz P.
Pasta was delicious. White truffle sauce is amazing. Very small portions, we had to order an extra entree. Long wait even with reservations.
(4)Sabrina S.
Go there. Order the sweet corn white truffle agnolotti. Thank me later.
(4)Lisette R.
This is the food of dreams. The carpaccio and the ravioli are unrivaled. Words don't do it justice. Go there. And if you don't like it, you are no friend of mine.
(5)dan c.
We had a reservation for 2. No tables were available when we showed up on time. We ended up spending over 45 minutes steering at 3 tables that were empty but reserved (?). I brought a bottle of wine of my birth year to celebrate my birthday but guess what, the so called Ristorante told me that they will not open it as part their "Don't Bring Your Own Wine" policy. We asked for the cocktail list while we were still waiting in the entrance way but it was a no go as well. While it was nice to be in line with a celebrity, I'm not booking a table to wait in line even with a celebrity. This place is clichee, a trap and poorly managed. No apology, no update on the waiting time, no dinner because we walked out... I'll never go back to this place because I hate mediocrity . Giorgio Baldi's restaurant is very LA. Go there if you want to be seen and wait on the side walk, not for a dining experience. BTW, they didn't comped the valet parking. PATHETIC!
(1)Stanley L.
I had a business friend came from Europe, she is italian. Didn't know where to take her for dinner, so I checked out online reviews and found this place. I liked it, but more importantly, my friend liked it....and she is italian....
(4)Jack G.
The rating is based on service not food. I read the previous comments on Baldi before going and just thought the people with negative comments were bitter and expecting too much... unfortunately we had a very negative experience as well. Our waiter did not tell us any specials, would not make any recommendations (even when asked twice), and proceeded to ask my husband (while I was in the restroom) if it was indeed his birthday...which was odd, and he also told my husband he would be bringing out a birthday cake for him... We did not order cake or desert... they brought out a piece of cake, very nice...it was tiramusi (which my husband does not like) and charged us $12 for it...we had all intentions of ordering a nice desert but to bring one we did not ask for and charge us... On a better note I would suggest going next door for a drink, great bar tender and drinks.
(1)Ed L.
Agree with everyone else, fantastic food. Waiter was hilarious. They had us in within 45 minutes of our reservation, for which I understand in LA is a great accomplishment. We had drinks at the dive bar next door. The ravioli sample for the middle of our table was OUT OF SIGHT. Ravioli as art. Only knock was that it was overpriced. I've eaten at plenty of top restaurants, and I didn't feel that the $50 entree here was quite worth it. However, this is the best Italian I've ever had on the West Coast and if you are in Santa Monica area and want to check out a vibrant, sometimes celebrity haunt, this is the place.
(4)Sarah M.
This place reminds me of something I could find in one of the small communities that surround my summer house in Point O' Woods, New York. Cozy and intimate, GB is tucked away on W. Channel Road, right off the PCH and away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Santa Monica. From first appearances, the restaurant resembles a sort of beach shack, especially because it's neighbors to The Hideout--a low key, dive-y beach bar where GB hosts and hostesses recommend having a drink while you're waiting for your table. But once inside, the low-ceilings, dim lighting, knowledgeable wait staff, and scrumptious food transport you to a lovely hideaway at the foot of the Santa Monica hills. The high prices and off-the-beaten path vibe attract a mixed crowd of celebrities, industry professionals, and wealthy locals looking to enjoy a delicious meal without the pretension of other, more "scene-y" restaurants. And the food is probably the best Italian food I've eaten in Los Angeles. I shared a truffled ravioli first course which was quite possibly the best pasta dish I've ever eaten. It was like little pieces of heaven melting in your mouth. I followed this course with some kind of white sea bass that was perfectly roasted and seasoned. The waiter was very well versed on the menu, specials (the ravioli was a special), and wine pairings. I wound up being too full to enjoy the gelato we got for dessert but it didn't matter since this was a truly memorable meal. Judging from other people's reviews, this place seems to be very expensive, but even though I wasn't paying, I can safely say it's worth every penny.
(5)Paul S.
There's almost always a star-siting at Giorgio Baldi - try Sunday nights. If you're in a big group they'll seat you outside in the tent-covered patio and you better not expect to be able to get up to pee because once you're seated, you're stuck there. The pasta is to die for and they're known for their pasta sauces. The ravioli is the perfect consistency - you won't even need teeth to eat it - melts in your mouth, but it's NOT overcooked.
(4)Toni G.
We joined friends here last night and it was a fantastic evening of wine, food, service and chit-chat. The service was excellent! Everyone enjoyed their food immensely; from langostino to papparadelle with white truffle oil. I had the linguine arrabiata (modified to remove the accompanying lobster). It's a place to go when you need excellent food and experienced staff. We arrived early and had a drink at the Canyon Bar next door. The hostess at the restaurant came and got us when our table was ready.
(5)Tim B.
Real Italian food. Real good.
(4)Amy M.
Yes, it is REALLY THAT GOOD. I think I may have had an out of body experience when I tasted my lobster ravioli: they were easily the most deliciously perfect little Italian morsels I've ever put in my mouth. Even my mozzarella/tomato/basil appetizer was so fresh, I felt like I was trying each for the first time (I am convinced they have their own garden and a cow out back). Aside from the food, the restaurant itself is pretty cramped and dark; luckily, we got a table outside, which gave it an entirely different vibe (quiet and peaceful, especially when you catch a whiff of the ocean breeze). Definitely worth the big bucks, hands down.
(5)jane m.
ok, this place has to be one of the most frustrating experiences i've ever had at a restaurant: such good food yet bad service and truly awful training of staff. two of us went here on a saturday night at 8:30. prime time and it was not hard to get a res a few days before. we arrived on time and had to wait maybe 15 minutes. not too bad. we were seated and abruptly and immediately asked "still or sparkling"? we said still and out came a small bottle of imported water. he drained that into the two glasses on the table and then promptly brought out a second bottle and left it full on the table for when we wanted more water. it was the classic water up-sell with no tap water option offered. then the specials were recited and we ordered one of those, tuna carpaccio. the waiter did not mention the price, but most of the other apps were in the $10-$15 range so we thought it would be on the upper end of that, maybe a little more. anyway, we ordered five dishes: ravioli in brodo langoustine salad green salad tuna carpaccio corn agnolotti in truffle sauce the waiter looked at us kind of perplexed and said 'what is the main course here, how do you want it - I CAN ONLY DO IT IN TWO COURSES. i've eaten out a million times and never heard that? clearly they just want to rush you out the door to flip the table - which didn't make any sense because the place was nearly empty when we left. so we had three dishes first (on a very cramped table) and then two more. whatever. we looked over the wine list and it is one of the strangest i've read. reasonable markups on some things and insane markups on others. we asked for a nicely priced pinot grigio (but expected to be sneered at - the waiters attitude was definitely glowering) but noticed a bottle of lazy creek pinot noir for $245! now, lazy creek is great, but it sells for $45-$60 normally...the prices are all over the map here. first we had an amazing bowl of ravioli in brodo...light soft ravioli's in a veal broth. amazing. the green salad was nice. langoustine salad was tremendous. great flavor, nice portion. the comes the tuna carpaccio. it was a huge plate, much more than two people could ever eat. but it was great with potatoes, green beans, arugula and pesto. the agnolotti was truly one of the best things i've ever had. ethereal, light, incredibly flavored. it was just tremendous. the truffle flavor was intense and aromatic. perfect dish. really. the wine was great but the waiter insisted on keeping it off the table so we never got to even read the bottle. you'd think it was on ice, but it clearly wasn't. when it was finished he didn't tell us (we never saw the bottle drained - maybe it happened but i can't believe both of us missed it) and never offered us more. he was so rude and dismissive. then the bill comes and we see the tuna carpaccio is $35!! way above and beyond any other apps. i later heard from a friend that she ordered the "special" lobster and got the bill and found out it was $100! they are ripping people off here. it is so frustrating because the food is very good. why do this to customers? i know we were lucky to be seated so quickly. a lot of other reviews have had orse experiences than i, but they need to change their ways. there are plenty of other places to eat that don't treat you poorly and rip you off.
(1)Isabel B.
Up there with Melisse in terms of special occasion dining for me. Yes it's crowded and noisy and rubber necky but I'm all about the food and the pasta here is unlike any other. In truffle season, it is as close to heaven as you get. So ignore the waiter's butt in your face and bring an Italian English to English translator, it's worth it and then some.
(5)cat c.
Went here for an anniversary dinner, recommended by a friend. Overall experience was fine, but for the price, we were a little disappointed. We ordered the crab cakes appetizer, which tasted like something we could have made at home from frozen pre-made stuff. They weren't bad, but again, for the price they weren't good enough. We ordered the pumpkin sage ravioli which was divine and the sea bass they had as a special. I'd say the pumpkin ravioli was worth it, although it comes out and you think to yourself "am i going to be hunry after this?" My husband's sea bass was well prepared, but lacked that "it" factor that makes a dish great. We might go back to try other items, but when there are so many fantastic places in LA, it's kind of like why waste your time?! Also, they automatically brought out bottles of flat water, and charged $8/bottle for them. That was ridiculous in my opinion. We didn't ask for bottled. When they asked if we wanted sparkling or flat, we said flat. I guess we should have said "Tap - from the sink."
(3)Joan J.
There was food and oil stains on the menu which was a turned off. But BEST ravioli ever had! 10 STAR for that! Definitely a must try! The Porchini Pasta was to die for as well. The olive oil they serve there is pretty fruity. The only thing I didn't like about that place - portion is very small. Also, got ripped off by the dessert(about $15), the waiter kept saying the crepes was served by a SCOOP of Hazelnut icecream, well, when the dessert came, I thought I was on Punk'd! The crepes was about 4" in diameter which I can tolerate that but guess what, it's not a scoop, it's a DOLLOP of ice-cream(a sphere with diameter of smaller than a quarter coin - no joke) If I go back, it would be solely for the ravioli.
(4)martin y.
While I will say that the food here is very good, everything else about the restaurant is so negative to me that I barely gave it 2 stars. I've given them 3 chances spaced out a couple-few months apart - I will not return. I do have to say that they are consistent in providing a frustrating and very disappointing experience though, they have that down well. The attitude of almost everyone who works there, except maybe the busboys, is haughty, negative, and condenscending. The lighting is horrible, I had to use a small pocket flashlight to see the menu (maybe they think guys will bring bad blind dates there), the chairs are so uncomfortable that I feel like I need to see a chiropractor afterwards, and the prices are really high for what it is. Also, the place is really hot for some reason (little to no air movement), maybe it's from the staff being so full of it. Given there are so many other better places in town to choose from, I really do not understand how this place keeps busy, unless the Malibu/SM crowd is just too lazy to drive into Brentwood (e.g., Palmieri, Osteria Latini) and locales a little farther East (Angelini Osteria).
(2)Alexis M.
NEVER AGAIN. My family has been celebrating special occasions for many years here, although over time the food has gone down, and the prices have gone way up - and they have become OBSESSED with catering to Stars. We were kept waiting for our table for over an hour (really) as they deliberately overbook the restaurant to make it look crowded, busy and in demand. They could not have cared less about ruining a birthday and didn't even bother to apologize much less send over glass of wine! We were sad to say goodbye to our old place, but it's just not all that and there is great Italian food all over LA.
(1)Aaron K.
Small, difficult to get into, expensive, and sceney, in all the best ways. One of the best combinations of authentic Italian cuisine and local ingredients in Los Angeles. Studio execs abound. So does fantastic food. Go late and you'll see GB sitting down at a table nearby to have his own dinner.
(5)Isabell C.
The restaurant is small and cozy. The food is out of this world. Make sure you have a reservation. Love the fish. I would go here every nite if i had a gazillion dollars.
(5)P. N.
Best Italian restaurant I have been to so far. I came here for my wedding anniversary and my wife (who studied abroad in Italy) sang praises about this place. Definitely a celebrity hotspot (if you are into that kinda thing -- saw Bruce Willis and his girl... what's her faces name). All their seafood pasta is awesome. I only wish this place was more affordable so I could come here more often.
(5)Jessica B.
The specials are always amazing. The food is so fresh, I enjoy dining here on special occasions. Be sure to ask for a table inside when making your reservation, as there is a small, screened in patio that is cramped. I've spotted at least 2 celebs every time I've gone here.
(5)Juan E.
I was forced to give them one star because of the Yelp web site although my real rating is 0 stars. Service was awful. Food was not what it was all hyped up to be. If you're going to dinner for a special occasion, this is not the place. My wife surprised me for my birthday and unfortunately it was not a memorable experience. They had a snobby attitude from the start so our first mistake was not leaving upon arriving. Seriously, it was that bad. After sitting down and reviewing the wine menu, we asked the waiter if he could recommend a bottle of wine at a specific price point (on the lower end of their ridiculously priced wine list). He said it was going to be really tough to do so (while chuckling), basically being a smart-ass. Next, he failed to tell us the specials for the evening. We know this because we overheard the server at the table next to us recite the evening specials, and after we heard the specials, my wife would have ordered something else. Lastly, the server came over and asked me if it was my birthday while my wife was in the bathroom which I thought was a little strange. He then brought out a dessert with a candle; however, we got the bill and noticed we were charged for the dessert. While some restaurants do charge for birthday desserts, it was just not handled properly. And they brought out a dessert I hated. While there are good Yelp reviews, which is one of the reasons we went, it was so disappointing and a place we won't ever bother going to again. Nor will we ever recommend it.
(1)Eli B.
Giorgio is SO good, meaning, one of the best restaurants in LA if not THE best, that I can overlook his snotty daughter at the door and the annoying crush of diners both waiting for and actually AT their tables, which are jammed in so tightly together that you'll be able to hear Anna Wintour tear her steak. Do I care? No. Giorgio is the MAN in the kitchen and the waiters are fantastic. Order anything, although the ravioli and the branzino are legendary. To me, best italian (Northern) in L.A. hands down, and as I said some of the best food in the whole city. Good wine list, too. Tucked away in a sweet corner of Santa Monica Canyon.
(5)Danny C.
Best Italian in LA bar none.
(5)Leesa J.
Went here for Valentines Day on Saturday February 13th- after much rave review from others. Our reservation was at 730pm. The hostess proposed a 15min wait to eat in the main dining room, or we could be seated promptly in the wine room across the way. We opted for the wine room. Even though the room was small- the candlelight ambiance was perfect and intimate with only 5 or 6 tables. To start, we had the prosciutto, mozzarella bread. The appetizer portion was very, very small and only feeds two people at most. If you have a larger party I recommend ordering multiple appetizers. The cheese toast was yummy, nothing exceptional, maybe not worth the $24 for such a small portion, but no big deal. Time to order. May I mention it took the waitstaff quite some time to bring us water, or drinks, or to come and get our order. My date ordered the pumpkin ravioli and I ordered the fried calamari. The waiter indicated that the calamari was more of an appetizer but I chose to proceed anyhow. The pumpkin ravioli was fabulous. The butter sauce offsets the sweetness of the pumpkin absolutely fabulously! The portions served was very very small-- think about 6-7 half inch by half inch size ravioli's. I will continue to rave about this flavor! The calamari was nothing terribly special, it was cooked well, not chewy and the sauce to dip in was yummy. My boyfriend mentioned I could get the same dish at fishermans wharf in San Francisco for $6 versus the $22 for this dish. Again, it took some time to get the check, and then more time to have him pick it up and return it to us for a signature. Overall, I had a great time. This is def a place that you would visit for a special occasion. I'm not sure I would go back terribly often (pricey!) but, as I mentioned above, the ambiance is really memorable.
(4)claudia k.
this place is simply amazing.....star*star*star*star*star*
(5)mike c.
A bit pricey but good pasta, good wine list, and helpful staff. Pumpkin ravioli is a must.
(4)Ian M.
Probably the best Italian restaurant in LA. It is one of the top restaurants to find celebrities that aren't looking to be seen. Leave your Prius with the valet and step into a cozy restaurant that transports you back to Italy. I had the Pumpkin ravioli back in October and it was great. The lobster ravioli is also excellent, but you pay for it. None of the courses are too big allowing you to try multiple options. Check it out, but make reservations way in advance for the summer months. Only a week or two is necessary in the winter.
(4)Natalie W.
I love it here. I couldn't say enough about how this place makes me feel from the first moment I walk through the door. It's a dark cozy nook seaside, your imagination could lead yout to believe you were dining near the Mediterranean. It could just very well be the most romantic spot to eat for me in Los Angeles. The menu is simply put with an abundance of traditional plates to choose from but consider the authentic daily specials heard by your waiter as he squeezes them all in one long two-minute breathe. If you could pleasantly surprise yourself and remember them all without trailing off on other things you've been thinking about earlier on in the day, then give yourself a pat on the back. I wouldn't say Giorgio's is fit for a tight budget, so if you have the money (nothing too abnoxious, but then it could totally depend on you), then treat yourself to this delight. You won't feel like you've been had at other high-end Los Angeles restaurants that aren't overall impressive anyways. It's personable here, intimate and the connection you have with this simple, rustic homemade fare in far best the most Italian I've ever had the country and the experience itself is just lovely, really. So go ahead and give your palate a taste of it all. My favourite has always been the homemade pumpkin ravioli with buttered sage and the branzino imported from the seas of Italy. Feel as though your on that special trip, it's worth it to just close your eyes and feel transported to another time and another place here so don't wince at the bill but be grateful for the experience. It's one of a kind.
(5)Helena D.
This was the most over rated meal I have ever had. The mushrooms were dry and tasteless, the fish was bland and dry, even the vegetables that accompanied the meal were over done and soggy. The artichoke salad had no flavor at all. The pasta was dry as if someone dry roasted it and forgot to add sauce. So strange! I have never tasted that before and hope I never do again. My friend who ate there many times in years past agrees that is has gone way down hill, as did the couple sitting next to us. The service was unfriendly and the food presentation was HORRIBLE. Its as if they just threw my our $150 meals on the plate. No garnishes, no finesse what-so-ever. The ambiance is one of aging wannabes and has-beens on dates with trashy middle aged women. Giorgio Baldi is no longer the Hollywood draw that it once was, perhaps because first and foremost the food stinks and the lighting is soooo poor that even I couldn't read the menu and I have 20/20 vision. I strongly discourage any foodies or even casual restaurant enthusiasts from eating there.
(1)Stephanie W.
Honestly, there is no comparison between this and the majority of other Italian restaurants in the country. I am very picky when it comes to my Italian and I always leave Georgio's feeling completely and utterly satisfied. The closest thing I've come to this restaurant is Il Mulino in the Village in NYC. For starters I recommend the light and airy ravioli's which are so authentic & fresh, they melt in your mouth! I also love their homemade caprese with basil and cherry tomatoes that taste like they came straight off the vine. For entrees, nothing beats their special sole w/ lemon-butter sauce. I have never tasted anything quite like it. It's a piece of heaven I tell you! The best part of all this, the portions are designed so you can actually finish a 4 course meal and not feel like throwing up! If there is one place that I always go when in L.A. - this is it. Food is exceptional, the service is impeccable (not to mention the hottie hot hot Italian waiters), and the whole experience is worth the fairly large price tag.
(5)Marc F.
I have been a Giorgio fan since he first opened up in Santa Monica Canyon I guess it's been over 12 or 13 years and it remains one of the very best eateries in SoCal. It's always jammed like the 405 because it's so popular and so small, but it's worth enduring the little trifles for the wonderous chow. I love the dover sole or the lobster ravioli and they serve a mushroom peccorino dish that is a killer, it's all extra delicious. Not cheap, but in this case you get what you pay for...out of this world Italian cuisine.
(5)Jessica Y.
Delicious and exceptional service (there were 10 of us)! The bread and desserts weren't special, but the food sure was. My favorites were: beef carpaccio with truffle sauce (it was the first time I ate raw beef and it was so delicious that I didn't even care), prosciutto and mozzarella(?) on toast (probably my fave and I don't even like prosciutto), and the mushroom risotto. We also got a beef dish, lobster raviolis, truffle and corn raviolis (verry nice, too), truffle tagalitelle, a pasta with roe, a beef entree, shrimp, and a ahi tuna appetizer that were all very delicious and well done, as well. Didn't really look for celebs since I was too busy enjoying the good food. Only wish the pasta was less soggy and more al dente and the tiramisu and hazelnut crepe aren't that great as compared with their food. Try the coconut sorbet, though. One of the best Italian restaurants in L.A., but of course with all good things, more pricy, too. Definitely better than Angelini Osteria and a close rival with Mozza Osteria.
(5)jay h.
we had reservations for 10pm, and they made us wait in the doorway for 30 minutes before seating us. The bread came out cold. The server was a nice older gentleman. The food was served in very small portions with very large price tag for each item. We were sitting next to a couple that had been there for 2 hours before their entree was served. Another couple complained about waiting for 45 minutes for their entree. Finally another table next to us tried to explain to their waiter that the wine was not up to par. The waiter argued with them and it ended up with the owner coming over to the table furiously in a huff and started yelling at the customer, telling him he was wrong, that the wine was good and the customer can f'--- off and die and that he should get the f out of here if he doesn't like the wine. His daughter joined in to further insult and attack this poor customer and his group. I have never seen anything like it in any restaurant ever. These people jumped to a conclusion that this customer was trying to pull something and this was not the case as they stated the food was good but the service and wine "Sucked" These appeared to be well to do decent people from the neighborhood that knew good wine and for the prices this restaurant charges they expected quality. The worst part was when these people left or should I say almost thrown out after they paid, the owner and the daughter as well as the waiter very audibly called him some very foul words that I won't even mention here. This was extremely unprofessional and upsetting that the business owners conducted themselves in such a hot headed and crude manner. I have since read some of their other reviews and have seen many similar type scenarios described by other patrons. Needless to say We will never come here again! If you want to spend a lot of money to get phenomenal Italian food there are many other, superior choices on the Westside. I understand celebrities go here, but don't be fooled like us. This Restaurant has double standards for these celebrities.
(2)Wadher S.
The food is straight up money! Literally & figuratively. The truffle rav is pretty dang amazing. Nice little date joint too.
(4)Nicky C.
A cozy, romantic place to eat exceptional Italian food. Come with an empty stomach though so you can enjoy a 4 course meal that won't leave you feeling stuffed. They have a wonderful selection of appetizers, pastas, entrees, and desserts. The langostini is fresh. The mushroom pecorini is to die for. Their raviolis are excellent. A couple of things to know about: make reservations, be prepared to spend money (but it well worth your while), and lastly keep an eye open for some star-sightings.
(5)sunshine w.
I was with my boyfriend an a friend of mine for dinner. They gave us a table literally in front of the main entrance. So I had to be wedged between my table and the back seat of someone whose table was behind us as I was the smallest. My boyfriend being the biggest had to sit in the entrance area (literally) because he wouldn't fit anywhere else in our table (he's 6'1"). The waiters, who may or may not be blind, kept bumping into his elbow as they passed him. One of them several times. My friend also got bumped around a lot as she was also sitting at a high traffic area. We asked if we could get moved but they did not want to move us. Mind you, we did have reservations! My friend, who has lived in London, Florence, and Paris and has traveled extensively around Europe told me after we left that place that it should be so easy to lose weight in this country if all the food tasted like that. Never will go there again.
(1)jen m.
tiny restaurant tucked away where no one can see. the ravioli is TO DIE FOR. all the kinds. lobster, sweet corn, asparagus, and PUMPKIN!!! soooo damn good. pricey, but good. didn't see any stars around as i'm told there usually are, but i can see how they would flock there since it's so tucked away.
(5)Jeff L.
totally agree with everyone else. This place rocks big time. JL
(5)Rich S.
Loved this place - had a 9:30 table on Saturday night and they seated us immediately at a nice spot right next to Don Rickles of all people. I see what people are saying about the cramped space, it was tight, but a small price to pay for what was probably the best ravioli I've ever had. We ordered the carpaccio with truffles and the mozzarella caprese to start, both excellent. I had the agnolotti, small raviolis with sweet corn inside with white truffle oil. Amazing. She had tagliatelle, again with truffles!! Needless to say we were truffled out by the end of the night and probably over did it. Asked the waiter to pick out a good amarone, and he actually picked one that wasn't the most expensive on the list, and it was excellent. Wine list is actually reasonably priced and very strong on italians obviously, not so much on other regions. Dessert was a chocolate crepe kind of thing with nutella, and probably the only non-memorable part of the meal, although maybe I was still craving truffles. Almost every post on here and other sites talks about the "outrageous" prices, I beg to differ. Yes, it's by no means cheap, but for incredible pasta like that, it's about the same price, or maybe a few bucks more, than you'd spend at several inferior spots in LA. And the wine list isn't crazily jacked up either. I'll definitely be back there.
(5)Jessica S.
I can't say enough good things about this restaurant. I love the family atmosphere, Elena the owner is the daughter of Giorgio and has worked there her whole life. She greets everyone with kindness and familiarity. While it is pricy it is worth every penny. The pumpkin ravioli is a must, but get the pasta trio and don't miss out on the sweet corn agnolotti!! The restaurant staff is polite and friendly. They remember you from visit to visit even down to the wine you ordered at a dinner months prior. It is a perfect place for a family meal or a special occasion dinner. Best Italian restaurant in Los Angeles hands down.
(5)Allison C.
Perfect in every way. The service was warm, friendly and impeccable. The atmosphere was hip and romantic. The gnocchi melted in my mouth. I can't wait to go back again and again.
(5)Amy C.
*Ok/Good food, romantic ambiance, overpriced, medium portions. I probably wouldn't come back here again. We ate here last night on a whim; a friend had recommended the spot. The service was impeccable, I will give them that. Our waiter was prompt, friendly, helpful and everything that you would want out of a server. Now the food was another story. Dishes ordered: - Zucchini Ravioli w/ Lobster and Tomato Sauce (Meh; portions were small, ravioli felt slightly overcooked. It was just OK) - Corn Ravioli w/ Truffle Sauce (Good; the best dish of the night. Small portions, not really for sharing) - Grilled Langoustines (Good; nothing to call home about. Simple seafood, grilled well) - Clams in white wine sauce (Meh; the sauce was simple, but it was a little flavorless) - New York Strip (OK; tender, but no wow factor) Overall, the food was just OK, but the portions were small, the food felt overpriced. I would say go elsewhere if you want a good Italian meal.
(3)Lindsay S.
Not a great dining experience last night... Food is always great. we shared all of our favorites....gnocchi Gorgonzola, veal meatballs and the salted caramel butterscotch dessert. The restaurant experience was not great. The team last night jammed people in so tight that we were all on top of eachother and could not move. They put a party of 8 in a corner next to us when the space was clearly meant for a party of 4. We were rushed in and out in about an hour or so...having spent almost $300 for 2 people. Baldi's felt like Applebee's last night. No courtesy to the guests...just the need to pack in as many people as possible without any consideration for their guests.
(2)Alex M.
top notch food, ambiance - the staff will scold you if you try to say hello to any celebs but screw them, do it! Everything on the menu is good, honestly! Make sure you pair with Krafuss Wine. IT is amazing! food portions are small so order as if you were in italy with various portions per person and get ready to break the bank but its very well worth it.
(5)Lisa M.
This was my first visit to Il Ristorante di Georgio Baldi and I was surprised at how small the place was. It was a little cramped for our party of 8 people. It took a while for them to seat us even though we had a reservation but I guess this is what you expect from being at such a popular restaurant? Our waiter was pretty busy and things came out pretty slow, but the waiter made up for it with his knowledge of the menu and his charming attitude. He had an Italian accent. Big plus. The place would be really romantic if I hadn't gone with such a big group. Definitely a great date spot. The lighting was dimmed to perfection and the air is just right because you're so close to the beach. For my appetizer I had the prosciutto with fig - and it was the most amazing prosciutto I've ever had. The fig was perfect. What a match. I had a dish of Pappardelle in white truffle sauce with shaved truffles on top. The sauce was almost a little too bland so I am so glad I got the truffles on top. Those were pretty amazing. Worth making it a $150 dish? Not sure. But I'm happy for the experience. My first glass of Rosé and it tasted much better! lol. Some of the girls had mistakenly ordered some pasta dishes not realizing that they were meant as appetizers and sized as such. This was worked out with the waiter who brought them more and helped us figure the price. I think sets to rest the complaints I've read about the portion sizes. The tip alone was $163.... Yeah. The night was just under $1,000 for the group. No celebs that night but the cars were gorgeous. Two beautiful Aston Martens in the valet and some other Porches. All in all it was a great night.
(4)Olga G.
My Favorite Italian restaurant in Santa Monica! Dover sole is must try, so delicious!
(5)Wes N.
Authentic Italian food, excellent service, price is right. Great place to spot celebrities - Sarah Michelle Geller was sitting right across the table in my last visit. A 5 stars in SM. What I had: - octopus entree - lobster for main ( I usually don't like lobster but this is pretty gd) - homemade tiramisu for desert Paired w pinto Grigio.
(5)Miss B.
Our favourite restaurant! It is hidden, quaint, intimate and far away from the chaos of Hollywood. We usually celebrate our birthdays and anniversary here. Amazing food. Absolutely love it.
(5)Kayla S.
AMAZING! the bread was fantastic and the pasta was insane
(5)Benny Lenny G.
If you want to see celebrities, THIS IS THE PLACE! Every time we have gone, we have seen multiple A-listers. Food is fair but over-priced. Truly, the only reason we return is for the celebrity-sightings...don't go otherwise.
(3)Ieva K.
We had reservations here for a group of 7, when we got there we were seated immediately. From the second we walked in until we walked out, the service was excellent. The atmosphere is dark and romantic, however our entire table had to take out iPhones just to be able to see the menu, it's that dark. Our table was in a seafood mood and we ordered accordingly. The ahi tuna appetizer was hands down my favorite. Dinner ranged from seafood pastas to fish and lobster. Everything was delicious. We also ordered a large variety of desserts, again delicious, my favorite being the tiramisu.
(5)Salim M.
I recommend the Branzino, and the house made pasta square (straci) and add meatballs to the pasta dish. Fantastic. Burrata is a solid starter. Ambiance is lovely. Steven Spielberg and JJ Abrams were having dinner there at the same time (discussing Star Wars?). Lovely meal.
(4)David J.
Great food and evening ruined by wait staff and rude hostess. And it was a Tues night :(( with no one waiting for the table. Won't be going back
(1)Jenny I.
Date night ;) amazing little Jem. Super quiet and dark. Very intimate. So if it's first date and you're not trying to be toooo alone with the date. I would pass. I enjoyed it. Food was amazing. We had octopus omg delicious for appetizer ;) shared three different pastas pumpkin pasta my favorite, corn and gnocchi was yummy as well! Our dinner was the special which was their steak! Over all amazing food. Serve was decent. The waiter was extreme busy :)
(4)Julie K.
I went last night after not being there for a while... All of us loved the food. I had the raviolis with meat sauce. Just great survice ... Great eats. Apz where amazing. A recommend.
(4)Tanya A.
One of my favorite restaurants! The food is amazing! Love their agniolotti with truffle sauce. Their service could definitely improve. You definitely get the feeling you are being rushed so the next wave of diners could be seated. And even if you make reservations, you will definitely still have to wait at least 15 min to get seated. Last time I was there we ended up waiting for 30 min, so we got some oysters and a cocktail next door at Hungry Cat. But the hostess made up for it and sat us at one of the best tables (in my opinion) in the house.
(4)carol s.
Service 5 stars Food 4 stars It is good but nothing worth to die for. I had similar or even better food in Pasadena with half of the price. Price $$$$$ 4 people after tip which costed over $400 This is a place for people want to be seen or to check out beautiful blonds.
(4)Jeanne S.
Delicious food, portions could be a little more generous for the amount of money they charge.
(4)Beth F.
Celebrated our 10 year anniversary here last night and still dreaming about the octopus carpaccio, corn agnolotti, spinach gnocchi, butternut squash ravioli and the roasted veal chop. Not a drop of food or sauce was left on our plates. We chose a fabulous Amarone to round out the meal and sat on the outside patio away from the hustle and bustle of inside. It really was close to being a perfect meal. My one itty bitty remark would be that the butternut squash ravioli is very sweet....but if you like sweet, you'll love it. I suppose nobody needs to have three rich pastas in addition to another appetizer and entree in one sitting, but it was a special occasion after all so we threw caution to the wind and indulged. It was our first visit to Il Ristorante di Georgio Baldi and won't be our last. But next time we'll reel it in a little and eat like normal people. i'm dying to try so many other things on the menu!
(4)Daniel O.
Amazing!!! This place just moved up to my favorite Italian restaurant. We were a group of 10 celebrating my friends birthday. I wasn't so thrilled about the layout and how small the restaurant was but the service, wine and quality of food made up for it. I have never had a bad dish there and will never disappoint. I had the.. Octopus Carpaccio - one of the specials Agnolotti - awesome flavor!! Gnocchi al Vostro Gusto - another great pasta dish Arrosto di Vitello - so tender don't need a knife We also shared 3 bottles - Chianti Classico Riserva, Rancia, Felsina Berardenga which served as a nice accompaniment through each course of the meal. The venue is quite romantic - right off the beach and very dim-lit. High profile place as well...sat across the room to Cindy Crawford and next to a celebrity chef (forget his name).
(4)DC H.
We had a reservation, and arrived right at the time of the reservation. The blonde hostess said that the people sitting on the table where we are going to be seated are about to leave. The restaurant is very small, and cramped, and there is no waiting area for those who are waiting to be seated. It was cold outside, so we all cramped in between the front door and the place where the hostess was, and we were in everyone's way. Fast forward to 50 minutes later (I inquired about 3 times about our table within the 50 minutes wait, and was given the same story every single time). I went up to the hostess again, and asked her about our table. She said that she thought that the guests, who she thought were about to leave, are still sitting there, and there is nothing she could do about it. I then asked her to get a little inventive, and figure something out since our reservation time was confirmed for (at that point) 55 minutes prior. To make a long story short: Just about ONE hour after our actual reservation time, a small table became available, and the hostess said that they were going to give us that table. I asked her how she would fit our party of 8 around that tiny table which seated 4 people prior. She said that she would put a table topper on it, to increase the table surface. Once the table topper was on there, it appeared that there was no room left to put chairs around the table... One diner from my group then approached the hostess, and asked if they had a more adequate table for us. The hostess just kind of ignored her, so she repeated herself in a louder voice. She then asked to speak to the manager, and ended up talking to the owner. Not that it has anything to do with the current situation but my fellow dinner goer told the owner that we usually go to E. Baldi and have never received such terrible treatment, and the owner's response not once but TWICE was: "Just go there then". My fellow dinner goer also mentioned that they should not have accepted and confirmed a reservation if they cannot honor it, and that seemed to have infuriated the owner. After a few more words between my fellow dinner goer, and the owner, my fellow dinner goer was over this whole issue, walked outside, and started talking to our group on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant. The owner tried to follow her out, and at the restaurant door, she came face to face with me. She then started yelling at me, and very calmly, I asked her: "Why are you yelling at me?" She then yelled: "I'm not yelling, she [pointing at my fellow dinner goer who was talking to our group and not even regarding the yelling owner] is yelling". Very calmly, I tried to explain to the hysteric owner that no one aside from her is yelling at the moment. The owner then wanted to retrieve to the inside of the restaurant, and a very nice guy from my group (who was not part of any of the conversations) held the door open for her. She then turned around and snapped at him: "There's no reason to smile, this is not funny". Unbelieveable!!! A hysteric person who is not trying to resolve a situation should never be managing a place. That's just not good news. Bottom line: We had our reservation confirmed and even one our after the appointment time, our table was not ready. Unacceptable. My fellow diner probably should not have raised her voice after having been ignored but I think that the owner should have tried to calm and resolve the situation instead of starting to yell back. And, when everything was said and done, I honestly don't think that the owner should have tried to follow us out, and continued to yell when everyone else was already over the situation, and ready to move on. I understand that delays in restaurants can happen but a capable hostess, manager, owner, would have found a solution, and would have apologized without us having to tell them that an apology for the delay would be in order. It's really not rocket science. Lastly, when we picked up our car from the valet, it was $8. I handed the valet a $20 bill, and he asked if I wanted changed. I then said: "Of course, I just handed you a $20 bill, which is 1.5 times more than the cost of the valet service". The valet then took his sweet time to return with the change. How desperate and needy does that come across...???
(1)Lydia T.
This place is so tiny. Call it intimate but, it beez what it beez. Started with the truffle carpaccio and it was deliciously delicate. I had the sole and it was divine. This place is kinda fancy. But it was also dark, so no one noticed how mangey I actually was. Authentic Italian foodies, enjoy. The staff was very professional: took pride in the establishment and made sure you had whatever you needed.
(5)C R.
Amazing!!!! This place just moved up to my favorite Italian restaurant in LA. We had the - meatball special - amazing - sweet corn ravioli w truffle - to die for - mushroom risotto - really great - pappardelle w beef ragu - yummy! - gnocchi w tomato basil sauce - my favorite - asparagus in a butter sauce w melted Parmesan - I didn't love this but my husband enjoyed it - tiramisu - I expected better, too much coffee flavor - cannoli flavored tort (w pine nuts and ricotta custard) - amazing!! Service was outstanding. The place was small and cozy. It wasn't that expensive either, worth very penny! Can't wait to go back!
(5)Laura S.
Great ambiance and service. Yummy (but SUPER over-priced) food and wine list. Definitely a place to go for a celeb sighting or to impress a date.
(3)Emily B.
Finally made it here and it has been very highly anticipated. I read through a lot of the Yelp reviews so I knew what could go wrong and to bring a lot of patience. We were a group of four women celebrating a birthday and we had a great evening. We decided to order a little of each course and share plates to try to taste as much as we could. Our server was terrific (from Venice, IT) and could not have been more accommodating. Apps we ordered were the Crespella al Salmone (salmon crepes) and the burrata tricolore - both delicious. The salads we ordered were the Favorita and one w/baby artichokes as well as the Pasta Fagioli soup. These were all very good. Next we went onto pastas. Our server pointed out all the pastas are served appetizer sized (which explains anyone's complaints about portion sizes on the pasta!). We ordered both the Agnolotti (ravioli w/sweet corn in white truffle sauce) and Ricciarelle al Tartufo (pappardelle pasta in white truffle sauce). Both were OMG delicious. Would have licked the plate. Last, we ordered the Aragosta Saltata (two and half pound fresh Maine Lobster sauted with veggies, chili pepper and olive oil and the Spigola al Forno (white fish). We should have not ordered the entrees - we were stuffed starting out. Also, the lobster dish was more like a stew, although it was served back in the shell. The fish was nice. Our consensus was that we should have skipped the main entrees and instead ordered four different pastas to try! They were so good. We finished up the night with the panna cotta (birthday candle) and the creme brulee. I don't eat dessert but both dishes were empty by the time we were done. We ordered to bottles of a Tuscan wine that went very well with our dinner. Servers did a great job taking empty plates quickly and replenishing our water glasses (just regular water). We cannot wait to go again for another birthday. Oh, our celebrity sighting was from the reality show: BH Housewives. With four of us, it was about $130/person including tip. You could definitely order less than we did but we were very excited to try a lot of dishes.
(4)Nikki C.
My favorite Italian restaurant in Los Angeles SO FAR (better than Madeo IMO!). The restaurant has a very intimate setting, with only about 20 tables. The service was personable and friendly. The food was amaaaaazing. Every bite melted in my mouth. I am excited to try Capo now, and compare! :)
(5)Spencer V.
Choose a special occasion, make a reservation and get down to Giorgio Baldi! Went here on Friday night and it was amazing. Octopus carpaccio, mushroom risotto, agnolotti with truffle sauce and even the dessert, a chocolate lava cake. Yes, it's expensive. But you're not coming here every week, or even every month. It's a special place for a special occasion. Enjoy!!!
(5)Chris G.
I had one of those nights that validated all the great reviews I'd read about Georgio Baldi. For starters, arrive early and occupy your extra time next door at the SHOREbar. Interesting ambiance, good social vibe, tasty beverages, generally a good start to any night. They feature a variety of house 'special drinks', all checking in around $15, but worth the investment. I connected with the Hemmingway, which put me on course to a chill evening. On a Saturday night ,at 8:30 prompt, we were seated by the daughter of the GB, who honors her father's memory by keeping your evening special. The restaurant is small and intimate, which makes a meal with friends memorable. My party of 4 was seated in the middle, which was not a problem. My experience with the waiter could occupy a full paragraph, in a great way. He killed it, his knowledge of the food, and ability to explain the dishes had me salivating over everything. With his thick Italian accent and charisma, I may have had one of the best waiter experiences ever, and for the life of me, I can't remember his name. While explaining our dessert options, he opted not to mention the crème Brule. When asked about it, his reply was, "I've only told you of the best, besides, crème Brule is...FRENCH." Epic, right? Trust me, it was. As for the food he did endorse, the detail to temperature, and when they decide the food is done was evident by the perfectly browned dover sole (A+), and the heavenly, chocolate mousse with a hint of Kirsch (A+). My group of four shared family style, which allowed for multiple delectable main courses, and a variety of antipasti and insalate. My reviews is not heavy on food description, it is ALL g-o-o-d, trust your waiter, and if his suggestion is something you might normally like, you are assuredly in for a treat. This is my second visit to this location, over a 5 year span, which demonstrates how consistent they are. * Potato gnocchi, cherry tomatoes & Maine lobster - A * Tortelli of butternut squash, ricotta, amaretto, crispy sage & browned butter - A+
(5)Nico K.
Nice romantic place! Parking is hard...valet is like 8 bucks They have this amazing, AMAZING, papardele white sauce. Now, I don't know the effect if you eat too much of this. Was sharing it with a couple of people. They also have this GREAT pumpkin ravioli. AND SUPERB sweet corn something truffle. they put truffle oil on everything. EVERYTHING. So, if you think truffle oil is over rated, or if you don't like it, forget this place.
(5)Dorielle B.
Perfect. Every dish is perfectly balanced, just sweet enough, not too rich. Don't miss the Burrata Tricolore (so creamy, so cheesy still, perfection), Agnolotti (perfect pillows of buttery sweet corn and truffle), Straccetti (best tomato sauce ever), Ravioli di Zucca (the most amazing union of pumpkin and sage), Ricciarelli Tartufo (perfect amount of trifle, cream and heaven). For desserts don't miss the Tiramisu and the Torta Della Nonna. Seriously. Don't miss these dishes. Enjoy!
(5)Tony R.
So... I was told the ravioli is amazing and the thing to try. My friend described them as "little pockets of amazing goodness". To be honest, I was a little skeptical about the over-sell but had to try them so we ordered a sampling of ravioli for the table. And holy cow was she right. We tried the asparagus , sweet corn, lamb, pumpkin and white truffle ravioli. Each was distinctive and equally amazing. And yes, little pockets of heaven. For my main course our server recommended the Veal Rack Roast (Arrosto di Vitello). So I said, what the heck. I have to say, this could very well be one of the best Veal entres I've ever had. The meat was perfectly cooked and so tender that you could eat it with just a fork. It's been 3 days since I had dinner at Giorgio Baldi and I think I might be going into ravioli withdrawals. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Food S.
Excellent food, great service, full of celebrities. I just wish their portions were larger I always leave hungry.
(4)alexia y.
My fav spot in la for sure. The sweet corn ravioli is to die for. Good white wine selection. Love coming in here.
(5)Kat C.
4 stars for food! Be careful you might drive right by. Only sign are 2 neon letters 'gb' The front door looks like a back screen door, not a welcoming entrance nor were we welcomed upon entering because we had to walk through a crowd standing in a small space and the hostess has her back to entering guests...a little odd design if you ask me. The bread was good and we ordered the meatball appetizer, that was good - enough. We ordered a bottle of house Cabernet...our server who was pleasant came over and poured what was in the last bottle of house Cabernet into our glasses (not full glasses but about 1/2) (this was on the house - tx). They had no other Cabernet, odd. We ordered asparagus ravioli And ravioli w sweet corn...both were delish!!! Fresh and perfectly cooked. We also split a butterscotch w salted caramel dessert that we let our server choose for us. A perfect dessert! Call days in advance for a reservation...it's super small and crowded but it makes the restaurant cozy! Enjoy
(4)Stassi S.
This place is one of my all time favorite restaurants in the whole entire world, I luv this place so so much. Every time I'm in Cali GB's is an absolute must. And as a slim chick I always order seconds there (but to be fair the portions are rather small).
(5)Darren K.
A very intimate, low-lit, classy swank place that you can't go wrong for a romantic date. However, it's one of those places where I think people's opinion of the food is a bit inflated due to expectations, price, and maybe too much wine. The food is great, but not the best. Tried bits of the langoustine penne, sweet corn ravioli, uni pasta, octopus carpaccio, branzino, sole, and rack of veal. The best of the bunch was by far the octopus carpaccio and sweet corn ravioli. Not sure if I would come back just for the food alone, but I'd love to come back for a nice evening if I'm with someone special.
(4)Stephanie C.
I took my bf here for his birthday as we were out visiting LA. 3.5 stars. I'm rounding down only because the reviews are good here that it won't tip the scale. This little street in Santa Monica seems to have tons of intimate spots- Giorgio Baldi, included. (Beware, no parking whatsoever- you need to valet it). I have to admit, everything is great but it's a bit hyped and because I was told it was "the best food in LA" by a friend, and recommended by foodies, I was expecting leaps and bounds. I was a tad disappointed only because the prices are so outrageous- more expensive that any place in NYC that's not a Bouley, or Daniel, etc etc. Entrees are $45-50.. yes I said that right. I guess since it's family run, they have to charge more... they do fly in high quality ingredients from all over but still (like steak from Wash state, truffles for $170-300 a bunch...etc) I got pan fried sole in lemon and butter sauce- very standard and uncreative preparation for sole and it was $42. Granted I got a heaping portion of fish but still. I guess the food is like that here- simple and solid but wildly uninventive. I guess most solid Italian food is that way.. maybe. My bf got the veal, which was a huge portion and close to $60. While he liked it (esp the mushrooms) he even said the sauce was bit simple and that the dish sort of stood out because it was a high cut of meat- again, simple and unimaginative. Going backwards a bit, we shared two really good apps: the corn truffle agnolotti which everyone raves about it. These were the by far the BEST thing we had and warrant all the stars- except like all the pastas, they are very small in portion. And for $21, I expected more.. there was maybe 10 pieces total and very small. The corn sauce was amazing (and good to sop the warm bread with)- strong in truffle flavor- but had this amazing "popping" sensation in your mouth. The pasta just zings and all the flavors come together- it's awesome. The taste is just so clear and crisp- tottally recommend. We both ordered a glass of wine- they were def. high quality and varied a bunch in taste based on what we ate. I had a full bodied one whose name I can't remember (began with an A) - it was close to primitivo which is my favorite. My bf ordered a drier one which I personally though had no flavor. What's crazy is that it was some $25 a glass.. which means they bottle was probably $300 or so! Anyway, also shared the burrata which was super fresh but on the firmer side, which I do not like. Thus, it was a bit too gummy for me. My bf liked it though- some of it was soft, some firm. The cherry tomatoes atop were very fresh and nicely grilled and the pesto was fresh also. I prefer more parm cheese in my pesto but that's me. We also shared a desert- a nutella crepe which was very good. Great chocolate filling, good shell and yummy hazelnut ice cream. :) The dish was overall a wonderful nutty, chocolately, and praline (even?) flavor. They had all kinds of desert (the usual- panna cotta, tiramisu, etc) so if this is not your thing, do not fret. Setting is super intimate and dim lighting, so yes it's romantic. It's also not big so it's a bit cramped, which is an oxymoron. They try to fit it a lot of people and were actually open about us changing our rez for 8 to 8:30. I'd say by 9:30..even 9, it's pretty dead. But then again, we came on a Tuesday. Our waiter was good- made good recs, and was mildly tentative and polite but it wasn't warm really.. but I can't complain too much, you can't ding them for personality. I guess all I can say is that it wasn't fine dining was I imagined (at least from a service POV) but it was way above fine dining prices. Maybe that's just LA for you. Not everywhere can have food the way NY does :) Don't regret coming and would recommend but I'd hope not "the best food in LA" Dinner for two runs $200+
(3)Benjamin S.
I love this place but its just too expensive. The ambiance is great. Its dark, romantic, a good place for a date. Most of the food is really good. The pasta dishes might be the best in LA. The waiters are all really awesome. My only complaint is the price. If money isn't an issue, then this place is a 5-star restaurant. What we ate: Meatballs- must order, they're great, do not miss this dish. Burrata Tricolore- good dish, comes with roasted tomatoes and pesto, we always order it but we love burrata. Maltagliati Verdi- my favorite dish on the menu, great meat sauce, I could eat this for appetizer, main course and dessert. Ravioli Con Asparagi- another favorite dish, the pasta is so delicate and perfect. Agnolotti- another great pasta dish, the truffle sauce is perfect. Sogliola Al Limone- this is the Dover Sole, its good and light, there are better main dishes than this on the menu. Tagliata- this steak is good and if you're hungry its really good, its a big portion.
(4)Laure H.
I have never had a bad dish there, I have never been disappointed. Everything is fantastic, the meatballs, the polenta with mushrooms, the beef carpaccio, the cannelinis with lobster, everything tastes great!! The lobster alla catalana is fantastic. It is huge, and the meat is already taken out of the shell, and mixed in a delicious basil and fresh cherry tomatoes salsa, and serve warm back in the shell. I suspect that they actually serve more lobster meat than what they actually take off the shell. There is so much to eat that I always share it. The very dim lights make for a very romantic setting as well. The service is better than five stars, the whole staff really cares about you having the best experience. I love this place. If only they could do their so take potatoes the same way than Toscana does, I would give them six stars!
(5)Carl E.
I love, love, love this place. Everyone else has said it pretty well. I still talk about the White truffle risotto I had 5 years ago, and one of the most excellent culinary experiences in my lifetime. Paired with my super tuscan, it left a flavor on my palette even as I was laying my head down on the pillow in Santa Barbara following the drive from the hotel. It was THAT good. Lately I have been unable to find the sauces from GB at any of my former shopping places where I could find their sauce for my home use. Anyone know anything about it?
(5)Nancy K.
Love love LOVE Giorgio Baldi - small, intimate, romantic, and the food is sooo good. The Ricciarelle al Tartufo (homemade short pappardelle in a white truffle sauce) was devine, I seriously cannot stop thinking about that pasta. The Aragosta Saltata (two and a half pounds of fresh Main lobster sautéed with cherry tomatoes, basil, parsley, lemon juice, chili pepper and olive oil) was incredible, totally worth the hefty price tag. This is the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion with a close friend or significant other. Guys, take your girlfriends here on your anniversary, pronto.
(5)Matthew S.
An Olive Garden that is 1/8th the size, you get 1/8th the food, and it is 80 times the cost. If the food were 80 times better, I would've loved this place. But the food was extremely unimpressive, considering dinner cost the same amount as my new iPhone 5. That is not an exaggeration. I had a meal so memorable here in 2001 that it stayed in my mind for all time. Now I can close the book on it. So-so crabcakes, fish about which my wife said "I could've cooked this at home." Pounded veal that tasted like truck stop chicken fried steak. Both plates were 50 dollar plates of food. "Do you want arugula and tomatoes on your veal?" "Sure." Got ya, extra 7 dollars. The still water at the table was 8 dollars. Yelp says romantic and classy. We sat right next to a family table of four, two kids. They were well-behaved, but... On a larger note, if you're wondering where all of the very rich, older, out of touch people in LA go to eat, it's here. This place has zero connection to the rest of the LA culinary scene. None of the excitement, none of the relevance. I'm fine with a traditional menu, but the food needs to be great. This place is surviving on reputation and location alone. I'm sure it was amazing in 1989. Not anymore. You can literally go anywhere else to have a better, more fun, less expensive dinner.
(2)Sarah B.
Get the lobster ravioli. It's not on the menu but just do it. Thank me later. I would get it as an appetizer because it's kind of small and then if you're feeling crazy get another pasta or the langoustine as an entree. Or whatever suits your fancy. Also quite fond of the bruschetta, and the mushroom and cheese appetizer. This restaurant really can do no wrong. Eat some pasta. See a celeb. Go home happy.
(5)Clayton V.
In truth, I was tempted to give Giorgio Baldi five stars simply based on the delectable Siberian egg caviar I began the evening with. The wine list is difficult to beat as well. Though I am no Italian cuisine connoisseur, I must say that this is a crown jewel of PCH. My dining companion and I split a bottle of 2004 Brunello di Montacino as recommended by the native Italian server, which served as a nice accompaniment through each course of the meal. If you have a jonesing for carbohydrates, the lobster gnocchi will suit you well. The venue is quite romantic--right off of the beach and very dim-lit. High profile place, as well...sat next to Blake Lively and across the way from some notorious baseball star.
(5)Aiko S.
This place is very very good! Crepe with smoked salmon, cream corn ravioli, and pumpkin ravioli were my favorites, but to be honest everything was good! The desserts were not sweet at all which I really LOVE!
(5)Adam C.
Came here on a business dinner and my team was immediately seated right next to Mark Wahlberg and his wife having a quiet dinner. I see he is mentioned in other reviews, so I guess this must be one of his favorite spots. Looks can be deceiving. This place appears pretty casual all the way around. From the outside, you'd never guess this was a high-end Italian restaurant. When you walk in, it's still not clear that this is gourmet dining, other than the prices on the menu and the eventual quality of the food they bring out. We ordered a pasta sampler and thought it was outstanding. We had the sweet corn ravioli and it was fabulous. For my entree, I had some sort of veal thing pounded flat and still on the bone. Reminded me of schnitzel, but that's not a bad thing. Our wines were very good as were the desserts. If you go, you must get the butterscotch pudding. It's mind-blowingly good. Other people commented on servers being rude. We didn't have that experience. Our waiters were top notch in every way. Very attentive, pleasant, full of great suggestions, cracking jokes with us and even ordering us a car service back to our hotel when it was all over.
(4)Emily R.
Giorgio Baldi is a solid Italian restaurant. Perfect for a special occasion or a date or just a nice dinner out, my friends and I decided to go here for dinner on a Thursday night. We valeted the car, went inside, and were seated immediately. Ordered wine, branzino, gnocchi, agnolotti, and something yummy that I don't quite remember for dessert. Everything came out wonderfully. The gnocchi was the star of the night. Fluffy, light, and delicious. Oh and our server. He was great- charming and delightful. A very solid yummy dinner. Valet tried to double charge me. Handed them a $20 and got a few dollars back. Too bad I only drive one car not two. Then they spent 10 minutes trying to figure out what had happened. It's not that hard fellas. Ridiculous.
(4)Peter C.
4 Stars This review might as well be for one dish. I mean the place has good food, good servers, and nice ambiance. But one thing stood out head and shoulders above everything else. Don't get me wrong, the Burrata Tricolore was really good, some of the best burrata I've ever had and the Salted Butterscotch Caramel Pudding was delicious. But this one dish, will be the reason I come back. The dish I dream about. The Sweet Corn Agnolotti with white truffle sauce is really good. I had told about this dish and I was worried about the hype. But it wasn't hype. The delicate agnolotti are swimming in a butter white truffle sauce. Each pillowy soft agnolotti is filled with a burst of sweet corn. Very much like a soup dumpling, but much more delicate.The sauce and the corn blend so perfectly. Each order comes with about 12-15 agnolotti, each one the size of a dime. The dish leaves you wanting more. My next visit will definitely consist of the sweet corn agnolotti, but also looking forward to trying other pasta dishes on the menu.
(4)Vivian L.
this was a romantic restaurant for dinner. the frist thing i noticed was that the tables are really crammed tight against eachother. not much space for walking around and manuevering. the hostess had to pull the tables out, let patrons squeeze into the booth, and then slide the table back in place. the entrees were good - corn ravioli with truffle oil and penne, as were the apps - mussels and octopus ceviche. but be careful of the prices of the specials! each app was more expensive than the entrees! $30 and $25 for each app. additionally, the portions were small. otherwise, service was good and the place was cute. based on price alone, i probably would not come back too often, though this place has a great location close to the beach!
(3)Liz A.
This is a quaint little restaurant right off the coast with an amazing menu. All of the pasta dishes are delicious. Definitely try the agnolotti to start.
(5)Sarah S.
Incredible food experience. Everything we ate was fantastic and perfectly made. The octopus carpaccio will make you cry its so good. The pastas were insane - the sweet corn ravioli with truffle sauce and spinach pasta with meat sauce were heaven. The service was very solid and the ambiance was lovely. The valet area is a little crazy on the weekends and my only complaint is that the wine list is a little inaccessible - there are so many fantastic and accessible wines available out there in the world and their list started at like $85 a bottle and then swiftly moves upward to $3500 a bottle. They could use a couple more options in the $50-75 range. The desserts were both perfect - one of the best tiramisus I've ever had. Will definitely return!
(4)mr c.
was much better when giorgio was alive to make the food.
(1)Ashley B.
After 10+ years in living in Santa Monica, I finally tried this place out. Meh. It was a sad disappointment. Went on a Sunday night, and the place was packed. The dining room itself is very tiny with tables right next to each other - I could hear everyone's conversations around me clearly. Service was unpredictable and slightly rude. At certain points we couldn't get our waiter's attention no matter how hard we tried. Other times he was on top of us, seemingly wanting to rush us out the door. Food itself was mediocre. My stomach wasn't feeling too great that night, but I didn't want to cancel the reservations. So I got a basic spaghetti with red sauce. Again, nothing special. The only decent thing was my beef carpaccio appetizer. One thing I definitely noticed: if you are a regular, you get treated MUCH better. Free food, larger pours of wine, attentive wait staff, etc. (We witnessed 2 tables with regulars at them, and they were enjoying their dinner much more than we were.) So unless you're planning on eating here on a regular basis, take your money elsewhere.
(2)Chris C.
The food was very good. The service was ok and the wine priced were ridiculous. I won't go back. Too many other restaurants with very good food and more reasonable wine prices
(3)Henry P.
Food good but not worth the price, service okay once they grace you with a table, but the overall experience is garbaggio. Let me tell you why.... 8:00 (me) Hi. I have an 8:00 reservation. (hostess) It will be 15 minutes. At this point I'm thinking....hmm...no sorry, no we are running a bit behind, etc so I know it's one of "those" places. 8:20 (me) Hi. Are we all set now? It's been about 20 minutes. (hostess) It'll probably be about 15 minutes. The interesting thing is right after this another couple asked if their 8:00 table was ready and the hostess told them it would be "15 minutes" and to grab a drink next door. They then told the hostess that they just came from having a drink next door because she had said the same thing twenty minutes ago. We finally sat down at 8:45. The hostess did not apologize and not a single word from the waiter. I don't mind waiting if a place is busy but I got the feeling that this was one of those "thanks for coming.....we'll get to you" type places where it happens all the time. This definitely kills the experience for me personally. My favorite (not) part of dinner was having tons of ass and crotch brushing up against my shoulder every time (all night) someone walked by. Fun. There were bunch of people from "the biz" if you're into that sort of thing. Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, some big director my friend recognized..and then my favorite Eugene Levy. Whatever. All I can say is ....eeehhhhhh.
(3)Wesley C.
One of the best Italian ristorantes in town. Spoil yourself. Spaghetti Semplice is perfection, Dover Sole with Lemon Butter Sauce is light but flavorful, you can't go wrong with the Roasted Veal Chop with either butter & sage or the porcini mushroom sauce and the Vongole is one of the best in town. Homemade Tiramisu is the perfect ending. It's a small place that's packed every night, reservation definitely recommended.
(5)Linda B.
cozy, expensive an delicious! very small but delicious plates. great service as expected. pumpkin ravioli was excellent.
(4)Lisa C.
Slightly off the beaten path, this is the quintessential Italian restaurant. The soft lighting, impeccable service, and divine traditional Italian cuisine make this place worthy of any special occasion. It's pricey and I can imagine how some might think this place is too pretentious. However, my friend and I ate here with no advance reservation at 9pm on a Friday night. The hostesses were polite and we were able to sit at a table along the wall rather than in middle of the crowded dining room. I'm pretty sure I went to sleep that night floating in sage butter!
(4)Kathy S.
Intimate Italian restaurant on the Pacific Coast highway. Starters and salads were pretty standard Italian fare, nothing special (we had prosciutto with melon and a rucola & parmigiano salad). The pasta and entrees were where Giorgio Baldi shined - sweet corn truffle pasta was a taste sensation - literally used the bread to soak up all the sauce. Steak was so perfect it melted in your mouth. Creme brule dessert was just OK. Expect to wait a bit, even with a reservation. Recommend sticking to pasta and wine by the glass to experience this restaurant, otherwise you're looking at $$$$$.
(4)Betsy R.
Lately, I have been to many of these so-called amazing restaurants owned by "celebrity chefs." I have at least 100 restaurants bookmarked to try. I read the reviews on these must try places but so far, every place I have tried I always seem to be disappointed by the food. Or I say, "it was OK, but it's no Baldi's" Sure the ambiance is sassy and usually very impressive but the food never really lives up the the hype. Then after dropping $150 or more for 2 people, I get depressed. My husband and I both say, "we could have went to Baldi's for that money and stil had some $ left over to go back for more raviolis." Finally after having that experience one too many times, we have sworn off those "fancy" restaurants and decided to stick with what we know is consistently good. Baldi's is one of these restaurants - the rare find that makes you fall in love over and over again with every bite you take. I am still amazed at the food here. I just don't understand how the raviolis can be this incredible. Since we started coming here in 2004, we have yet to have a bad meal. We leave happy and satisfied. And for every person we brought there, they thank us for introducing them to this gem. Some say it's pricey, but it's worth every dollar. And honestly, if you compare Baldi's to the "celebrity chef" restaurants like Bazaar, Fig & Olive, and Ink (to name a few) the food is actually around the same price if not less expensive and has so much more flavor. But in all honesty you really can not compare Baldi's to restaurants like that b/c Baldi's is in a class of it's own. This restaurant doesn't have "try" to be something extraordinary, IT JUST IS. The dishes are simple Italian fare but the taste will blow you away. You will dream of this food for days to come. People will tell you to shut up b/c you can't stop talking about it. You will be baffled by how thin the pasta on the outside of the ravioli is - how do they do that? The sauces may make you angry b/c they are so freaking amazing. My only complaint is how fast my plate is devoured. It always ends too quick but I am on a food high for days. Thank you Girorgio Baldi for making food so good and for being a part of my life.
(5)J K.
Every bite of pasta I had was amazing. I'm usually not a fan of polenta, but their crostino of polenta with porcini sauce was heaven in my mouth. I also had a couple of pastas, which were absolutely delicious. Finished with the beef filetto, which was prepared perfectly and good, but didn't stand out compared to steaks I've had at other top steak houses. I would have preferred to have another pasta dish. All in all, an unforgettable experience.
(5)John F.
The food is fine, and the majority of the pricing is reasonable, but the service is really bad. It started with the host staff. One hostesses felt that it was ok to put one their giant purse on a spare chair at my table, and then rummage through it during my meal. Then, in a quarter full restaurant, I was passed between two servers, one of whom throughout my meal, actually stood in front of my table with his back to me during the majority of the meal. Maybe it was just a matter of my table location, but it seemed almost purposeful, and they sat me at the table, I didn't ask for it. The food was fine, not spectacular, just fine. The bread was fine, my salad was fine, my linguine with shrimp was tasty enough and well cooked, but it wasn't anything to redeem the atmosphere. The portions are indeed small, but not outrageously so. I would eat there again ... if I didn't have to eat it there again.
(2)Carol K.
Talk about an extravagance! Giorgio Baldi is not for the faint of wallet but is "the" place to go in Santa Monica for great Italian food! A friend of mine who knows Giorgio himself and is a regular at this place talked so much about it, that I changed my travel itinerary just to stay over another night so I could visit it. We rounded up a table of 4 and headed over in the private car supplied by my hotel (pretty fancy wheels, but you need them when pulling up to this place!) But as fancy as you think it is- that is just how unpretentious this small, "off the beaten path", restaurant is that is frequented by "Hollywood's elite" once you get inside, as this is a family run business. The hostess gushed over us and sat us at a great table to see and be seen. Not being seen, however, seemed to be "de rigueur" of the night as it was so dark in the place that the server had to find me a flashlight to read my menu. No matter. I just let my friends do the ordering for me . . . . We started with some of their sharable pasta dishes. I gasped when my friend asked for the in season white truffles to be "shaved" over two plates ($130 per shaving") Ouch! I knew this was going to be quite the night! The wine was flowing and the dishes kept coming- 4 kinds of pasta (two with those amazing truffles), burrata to spread on the fresh bread, mushroom topped polenta, all delicious, all a portent of the goodness that was to come. For our entrees- I ordered the fish special of the day which was a sea bass with mushrooms and artichokes, while my friend had the steak and my other friend the Dover sole. In my book- the sole was the winner- perfectly prepared and oh so tasty! A lovely evening with friends, and given all of our extravagances I wasn't surprised to see a bill that was well over $700 for the 4 of us! And while I hear celebrity sightings on any given night are the norm- the food had me so distracted George Clooney could have walked in and I would have missed it (okay- so maybe that's an exaggeration!) Authentic, great food, served in a simple environment by people who love what they do and it shows from the chef to the front of the house staff. Bravo Giorgio Baldi! You were the perfect choice for my final night in Santa Monica!!
(5)Oliver E.
The hostess has ruined my evening with her unprofessionalism as well as childish attitude. She is a complete animal. If you ever go here I wish you the best of luck. The food is nothing special and the service is atrocious at best. I was extremely dissatisfied with my meal. I will be sure not to come back unless I want to be put in a bad mood. If I were the proprietor I would reconsider retraining everyone from the valet to the servers. The service ruined my experience. I would never dare to recommend this restaurant to anyone. i despise this restaurants service food and sardine crammed atmosphere.
(1)The Hungry Cat ..
We love the cuisine and friendship of our good neighbors!
(5)Christina P.
One of the best Italian meals I've had! Be warned, come to Giorgio Baldi and you won't get an avant garde foodie mumbo jumbo. You WILL get perfectly prepared traditional Italian antipasti, pastas and fish. (And you will pay pretty handsomely for it.) After much acclaim from friends, my bf and I decided to have a special dinner there. I made the reservations with no problem about two weeks before and when we arrived for dinner at 7 the place was half empty and we were seated right away. Pretty soon after, though, the cozy little space was packed. My only complaint about the building itself was that the tiny entryway started looking really cramped when several parties arrived at once. We had a wonderful Italian waiter who was professional and friendly at the same time. We ordered the crab cakes and carpaccio to start. The flavor of the crab cakes was nothing new but the texture was amazing. The carpaccio was some of the thinnest, most tender I've ever had, smothered in a cream sauce. For pastas, I ordered the sweet corn ravioli with white truffle sauce and my date had the gnocchi with gorgonzola sauce. He quickly declared it the best gnocchi he'd ever had (stripping the title from the previous record holder at Fritto Misto on Colorado in Santa Monica). My ravioli was by far my favorite part of the meal...tiny little delicate things filled with a tiny bit of sweet corn and topped with a rich sauce that finally made me understand the big deal about truffles. We then split one of the night's specials, a diver sole with a simple lemon sauce that was prepared impeccably, and came with spinach (standard) and deliciously crispy potatoes that tasted like super fancy tater tots (and you can't go wrong with tots). The service was excellent, even when the place became packed. Our waiter had all of our requests to us right away, and didn't look annoyed when SOMEONE accidentally sent red wine flying over to my side of the table. Luckily my dress was unharmed. The least special part of the night was dessert. We followed our waiter's recommendation and ordered an apple pie/tart thing that came with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Flavors were fine, but it just tasted like your average apple torte. Still, more than 24 hours later and I can't stop reminiscing about this place. It's truly a piece of heaven, and perfect for a special night!
(5)Bill H.
Terrible service! Made a reservation for a Friday night to celebrate the engagement to my fiancé and never got seated. I waited an hour past my reservation and there was still no open table in site. Terrible reservation management! To make it worse the receptionist kept telling me 10 more minutes ever 10 minutes. It was obviously busy so she should have been honest so we could have gone else where instead of loitering around for an hour. Not the way to spend an engagement! Thanks for almost ruining a special night! I would never go back. I could see they pack you in like sardines and there were kids running around.
(1)Jeff M.
This place has great food. I had the Crostino al Prosciutto, Ravioli con Asparagi, Risotto ai Funghi Porcini, Gnocchi al Vostro Gusto, and the Butterscotch and salted caramel pudding and nutella crepes for dessert and everything was exceptional. The place has a good romantic atmosphere, it is expensive (but worth it), and the service is not fast but reasonable. The valet guys need to get their stuff together, but other than that a great place!
(4)Susie Q.
Firstly I will just say I am not the type to sit down and write a review on a restaurant but I felt the need after eating at Giorgio Baldi. I had my dad in town visiting from Canada and wanted to take him to a nice restaurant. I had never been to Giogio Baldi but always wanted to. So the night began like this... valet guys were great.! Super nice, super friendly. Took my car and my dad, friend and I went inside. The hostess was lovely and sat us right away at a nice table. To my surprise there were children there- not just children, but running around the (very) small restaurant. We all got dressed up thinking it was a well to-do place (the prices on the menu gives it away). We were waiting on 2 other friends to join us and we literally sat there for what felt like forever with no water in our glasses and no menus. Still no "hello" from our server, I flagged down the busser and asked for some water for us- sparking please. I saw him walk over to what I later found out was our server (who was chatting with another table) to tell him we needed menus and water. He stopped chatting and got us a wine menu. What about food? I was already annoyed. The reason I was so annoyed was that I am also a server. The first thing we do is give menus and fill water glasses. If I was super busy, I would at least walk over to my table and apologize and say I would be right back. So he brings us only the wine menu- literally we picked the cheapest bottle of wine for $72. Yikes for Sauvingon blanc? OK fine. Our friends were 20 mins late and our server continued to ignore us and eventually I got up and asked our busser for some food menus so we could at least order an appetizer while waiting. I get that celebrities and wealthy people go to this restaurant and I'm sorry none of us were on the big screen, but when we spend over $500 on a meal, I would like some proper service. Once our friends arrived, our server never came over, so once again flagged our busser to tell him we were ready to order. What an ordeal! Food came. Yes, the ravioli was amazing but $25 for 5 little pieces? I mean I know I am no pumpkin specialist but really?? Seems a wee bit pricy. Everyone agreed our food was "so so". After our expensive appetizers, most of us ordered the branzino. None of us were thrilled. If you want an amazing branzino, try The Tasting Kitchen! 1/2 the price and cooked to perfection. If you have a ton of money and don't care about service, then eat here. I'm not saying it was awful, just sucks when you spend a ton of money and don't get treated properly. Our server spent more time with the 'dude' in surfer shorts and a baseball hat next to us. He didn't look like a celebrity to me. Anyway that's my two cents...
(2)Jamie M.
Updating my review from 2011. My last visit I was so completely disappointed with the service, that it ruined the food (which was great) where after my man ordered a moderately priced ($70) bottle of wine, we were treated like second class citizens. Don't think I will ever be going back.
(1)3beeskitchen ..
I dream about this place...... The Sweet corn Raviolis w/ truffle sauce are to die for. The Dover sole is fantastic. The langoustines are delicious. Everything you order here is amazing and will keep you wanting more. 5 Stars for the food 5 Stars for the service TREAT YOURSELF!
(5)Raphael F.
Giorgio Baldi is a classic for a reason--the food. Simple. Authentic. Fresh. Incredible. The best Italian in LA. And despite the demographics in the restaurant, you're not required to be a 50+ year old man with a very attractive younger lady to enjoy a meal here. The mixta salad was simple, fresh, and fantastic. Especially the cherry tomatoes. The hand cut agnolotti stuffed with white corn and covered in a white truffle sauce is a perfect pasta. Unbelievable. Not ordering this is a sign that you suck at life. The meatballs were shockingly good. The veal special was so tender that I could cut through it with a spoon. And the flavor was just spot on. Highly recommended. Lastly, the profiteroles-- filled with gelato, sprinkled with powdered sugar, and placed over a bed of chocolate sauce--are a great dessert.
(5)Shawn G.
Fantastic italian food. The service was impecable. Love the homemade pasta, not to miss.
(5)Jojo A.
I'm a fan indeed, especially of the sweet corn agnolotti with white truffle! Few things you must know before going: valet parking only - unless you get lucky and find street parking (rare); make a reservation but expect to wait sometimes - I always go during the week after 8pm so it isn't so packed. Hardly have ever been left to wait for my table; if you do have to wait, you can go to the bar next door and grab a drink. they will come get you when your table is ready and let you take your drink to the table which I thought was cool; The place is small and cozy, like a large living room space but romantic. If you do not like to be seated next to people (tight spaces), then this is not the place for you or your group; lastly Food is amazing, fresh and I have always loved everything I tried. Yes, the portions are small, but I like it that way. One of my favorite Italian spots for sure.
(4)Michael S.
Here's one for you...".Welcome to Giorgio Baldi, we are a Florentinian restaraunt, and we serve primarialy fish...." OK...Florence is not known for fish....Florence is known for steak (Bistecca Alla Fiorentina), so right out of the gate I found myself uninterested in anything else our waiter had to offer. The food was over priced, my bottarga was bland, and the wine list was standard fare for "upscale" italian. I found E. Baldi to be much, much better.
(1)Erin D.
Amazing service, very personal... never even had to pick up a menu. Every item we at was delicious and prompt. Lobster, pumpkin ravioli, dover sole, mussels, polenta...it was heavenly! Highly recommended... this is food for people who truly enjoy REAL food, no smoke and mirrors or fancy tricks... this is the REAL DEAL!
(5)Alice W.
Best Italian restaurant in town. Madeo's is my normal stop but if I'm on the west side, this is it. Try steak carpaccio with creamy truffle sauce - it's pure heaven. All meats are grass fed/ free range. And they were able to accommodate my jonsing dry white clam sauce with spaghetti. Lambchops came with killer mint sauce - house secret. With good reason. Service was impeccable. And beautifully accommodating.
(5)Stephen L.
This is probably only the second 5 star rating I've every given out on Yelp. I usually only give out 4 stars, even after a really good meal, since I can always find something small to criticize or want the restaurant to feel that they should still strive for perfection. The meal my wife and I had last Saturday night, however, was perfect! We've been here several times and will try to get back a few times throughout the year. This place isn't for everyone, however, and in reading some of the negative reviews, I can see how a first-timer here might have difficulties. First of all, even with a reservation, it's entirely possible you won't be seated on time. If this is an issue for you and you can't deal with a bit of a wait, then don't come. My wife and I always follow the same routine when we come. We get there about a 1/2 hour early, tell the host(ess) we're there and go right next door to the Shore Bar to have a cocktail. There's no place to sit and wait at Baldi's and I can never figure out why people stand in front of the place waiting when they can go next door and have a drink. We were seated right on time this time, but we've waited longer to get in on other visits. Second, this place is small, dark and always packed. I think they purposely keep it this dark since it gets a lot of celeb customers who don't want to be recognized. I kinda like it this way and don't mind using the light from my cell phone to read the menu. We've worked our way through most of the menu here and are at a point now where we order almost the same things each time unless there's a special that grabs our attention. We always start with any salad that includes burrata and the grilled langoustine. This time the bur rata salad had roasted tomatoes and some pesto. Both dishes were amazing, as usual. We typically skip entrees and do a pasta tasting. This time we had the panzarotti and agnolotti with sweet corn and white truffle sauce. We enjoyed a 2007 Guado al Tasso super tuscan wine that was also amazing. You can't go wrong with anything with porcinis or truffles here. Finally, we had the butterscotch and salted caramel pudding, which was the perfect ending to the meal. It's dark, small, busy, and expensive, but the food is amazing and worth it. It's not for everyone, but we love it.
(5)Jenna D.
I am ashamed it took me this long to review this restaurant as it is MY FAVORITE restaurant in the world. yea I said it. the world. their pasta dishes are the stars, especially the ravioli. the texture is unbeatable and the sauces are so simple yet complex and perfect-- i need to calm down. the porcini tomato sauce is incredible-- u have to try at least one thing with it... the pasta/sauces are very rich so i'd recommend getting some ravioli's as appetizers for the table for everyone to taste, and then a protein for dinner. I've had the special--the lobster pulled from the shell, sauteed and mixed with cherry tomatoes, and returned to the shell-- it was amazing but my absolute favorite is the DOVER SOLE with lemon butter sauce--one of the most simple, yet delicious preparations. this is a great place for a date or celebration dinner (with a smaller party as it is TINY) just make sure to make reservations in advance. I've gone in a sweatshirt and jeans and dressed up---it's dark enough it doesn't matter.
(5)Jocelyn L.
This is a tough one. I had the BEST ravioli i've ever had in my life. But paid the MOST money for Pasta in my entire life. Pound for pound, i'm not sure it's worth its weight in gold... Our party of 7 came here on a Friday night and were not quite prepared to pay the prices for an early dinner; I'll admit that we should have been more mentally prepared since we were a table of foodies...but we also don't quite believe that we need to pay an arm and a leg for good food. The service was also very snobbish when they realized that we were not the huge spenders they expected from us. More on that later Anyway. We started with the sampler of ravioli for each of us: - I'll start off by saying that the Ravioli was silky, smooth and the texture of the ravioli was absolutely heavenly. - Brown Butter Sage Ravioli- Sweet and savory. Delicious - Ravioli stuffed with sweet corn in truffle sauce. Probably one of my favorite raviolis from the sampler. Generous with the truffle and the corn was sweet and tasty - Lobster Ravioli- a tad salty (probably the tomato base), but the lobster was sweet and juicy - Asparagus Ravioli- i don't know what else to say except....tasty We also shared a huge lobster and the Fillet of Dover Sole. The lobster was OK; the tomato sauce was a little overpowering although the lobster was done perfectly. I think i just prefer steamed lobster because it brings out the natural sweetness in the lobsters. I did not try the Dover Sole since i don't like cooked fish. Service: - The service made us feel Very uncomfortable. I'll be the first to admit that a big table like ours should have been prepared to spend for dinner at an establishment like this. However, we were there at 6p (and the restaurant was very empty) and after he realized that we were 'just' getting the pasta sampler (which was NOT cheap and quite filling) + Lobster + Sole, he pretty much told us that the chef was not going to be happy if we decided to get more food later (which we were considering after we figured out the portion sizes) That completely turned us off and we decided to venture to another restaurant for Chapter 2 of our dinner plans. Our meal came up to $60 per person, which certainly wasn't cheap for what we got. I'd have happily given it 4*s if not for the awkward service which left us feeling like we were robbing the restaurant. The attitude is really not needed, especially in a city with tons of great restaurants Ah well
(3)Ying Y.
Overpriced for the quality of food and definitely for the terrible service. The fact that it's located next to a dumpy bar with no where to walk afterwards adds to the misery of the experience--Avoid, at all costs--there's far too many better Italian restaurants all over L.A. and on the west side especially--
(1)Zara G.
hands down best Italian restaurant in LA. Incredible atmosphere. Whenever someone asks where to go for good Italian I send them there. I love their truffle carpaccio and corn ravioli. and everything else. They have a great wine list as well.
(5)Rachel S.
Amazing, fresh pasta! The corn ravioli was filled with buttery goodness, and the gnochi with meat sauce was amazing, and a large portion!
(5)Jay A.
Absolute Fat. Went here last minute and OMG what a terrible experience, made the mistake of not asking how much the mushrooms were to start with, they tasted pretty average (I could have done better) and like they had been soaked in fat, then had Pork which was OK, but quite fatty and the potatoes it came with were like fat sponges. So I now have that fat coating throat feeling and to top it off the bill arrives and the 2 mushrooms were $40, what the hell, taking the P or what. The atmosphere is quite good although lots of waiters hanging around trying to look busy but the food very very average for the price, go to a fast food joint you will get the same amount of pleasure and half the fat. Seriously if you want a decent restaurant in Santa Monica avoid this place like the plague and go to R&D Kitchen on Montana or Blue Plate on Ocean, much better value for money and much much much less FAT!
(1)Gibson T.
Perfect for a romantic meal and the food is fantastic. Service is impeccable. Obsessed w the gnocchi. Tables are a touch too close together/space is a little awkwardly shaped but that's the only knock!
(4)Sally C.
I like this quite restaurant. The pasta is a must try! The fish is average can be better .. however you never know who is sitting right next to you .. it could be an average joe or a huge celebrity .. which I have noticed. its pricey but pleasant!
(4)Samuel C.
2 years later, I must add this to my YELP. we found street parking because my car is not a Bentley, and we didn't dress anything like we belong (sweat pants). we showed up close to 9pm prime time and we didn't have a reservation. odds for us to get in is next to impossible. the young hostess said to wait at the bar next door and she will try to hook us up but an older lady told us "no way". for some reason, we must presented ourselves as this sad couple on a Christmas day, so the young hostess followed us and said just wait. we stood by the front door and waited. this is Jan 2nd so it's cold, my girlfriend and I hugged each other to stay warm. we see others also trying to wait and complained about how important they are so they should get a table but all got turned away. we kept smiling at the young lady to let her know that we are still there, an hour later she hooked us. we walked in dressed like a homeless comparing to all the stars/celebrities/oscar winners/super models/wealthy business men, everyone was looking at us like who are we and why are we getting the best table in the house. YES, we got the best table in the house and guess who is standing next to us ... Giorgio Baldi himself. he didn't discriminate by the way we looked so I started to talk to him and ask for suggestions. the waiter was so enthusiastic and passionate about each dish. we were so torn on what to order because they all sounded great by the way he describe them. we ordered beef carpaccio, sweet corn ravioli which was recommended by GB himself, spicy linguine with langoustine, lobster for 2. I was not a Italian food fan because I never thought of pasta or pizza is all that interesting. it's good, but I didn't know about the variety of dishes or difference between pasta itself. after this meal, my thoughts about Italian food changed. this is some good Italian, now I measure every Italian restaurant to this experience and I still have not yet found it. it was getting late and GB was eating at the table next to us. we got to chat with him a bit more. to end the night, for my girlfriend's birthday, GB send us a great glass of dessert wine to go with our dessert panna cotta. that wine was smooth and sweet, too bad I can't remember the name of it. after 007 picked up his to go and left GB, we got a picture with GB to make sure we remember this day - the day I started to like Italian food. oops, I mean my girlfriend's 29th birthday.
(5)Sandeep W.
Wait times despite reservation are too long. Had to wait 45 minutes after a reservation. No apologies, nothing from the hostess. Everytime I checked - it was another 15 minutes. Made it sound like they were doing me a favor by having me wait only 30 minutes! Portions are horribly small. I thought my entree was a complimentary appetizer till I realized - that was it. Fortunately I had a lot of food before and so I was okay but ordinarily that was just a riduculously small portion for a lot of money. The pasta tasted good but definitely can find better. Service was just brusque. The waiter looked like he had a lot of tables.
(1)Brendon D.
Did I get Punked? People talk about this place a lot. They say, "Whoa, you have to go to GBs because God eats there and he loves the balsamic they use." I gotta tell you that the service was CRAP. I have a chip on my shoulder sometimes. If the service is snobby or rude, but the food is amazing....my overall experience is crap. Honestly, I don't see why people rave about GBs, but never about the place across the street, Caffe Delphini. They have better food and better service. Don't half step. Save money and have a better experience across the street.
(2)Carol S.
If your not famous, not bother!!! and dont show up on time for your table unless your of course you're morgan freeman... rude hostess, rude waiter, yes there was a star here, a star there, their money is the same color as mine...typical l.a. eatery, complete with all the b.s. would rather eat at il pastio, see the same bull, but taste better food. btw i happen to be on a reality t.v. show
(1)Jaymi W.
Service: 5 stars Lack of pretension: 5 stars Food: 5 stars Valet: 4 stars, it's $10!!!! But when I didn't have it, he let me go with just paying $5. Went to a private party here and couldn't have been more impressed with the level of service. I never had a chance to want anything. Poof! There it was being delivered by a friendly fella with an adorable Italian accent!! I got up mid meal to chat with someone and when I returned and sat down...the waiter immediately came over and gave me the two appetizers I had missed. With 50 of us in the room, I was amazed at the fact he knew exactly what I had missed. Pretty impressive. It's definitely not cheap. But, I think it's a testament to the quality that I would go back even if it was on my dime. ;)
(5)Kim M.
Sounds like most people have a problem with the price of this place. If you don't, then the food is really damn good. Plenty of celebrities for eye-candy if you're into that thing, a lot of industry people hashing out deals. It's near Malibu, off the PCH, it's a scene. We hate waiting so we really only go for late dinners during the week.... Very low lighting which we like. BUT: Tables are close together, it's always crowded. I prefer to sit on edges of the room as opposed to center of the dining room. Pasta was incredible. Given small portions, you come here to feast on a full three course meal. I love desserts and wouldn't bother with the Tiramisu again, though. Lackluster at best. Italian done straight up, don't expect crazy creations. Is it authentic? We say yes. Waiters that speak Italian and deliver the food with authentic rude attitude. Just expect that they'll only crack a smile if you're dropping mad money on the meal and they're gonna get theirs....yes, they wait on you like they're annoyed you're there in the first place. It's soooooo LA, but we forgive it.....
(4)K K.
After driving by a thousand times, went for the first time last night. I will admit, my expectations were low, but the food was amazing. The only reason I do not give it 5 stars was the ambience -- we sat on the covered outside patio which is very tiny and VERY loud. The patio only fits one row of 3 4-top tables. My friend and I were in the back corner but next to a party of 8. The noise was deafening, which made conversation difficult. But the food was amazing. I would especially recommend the sea bass with mushrooms and the truffle papardelle. Creamy and decadent and delicious!
(4)Joseph D.
I have eaten here twice and will avoid in the future. It is bitter sweet. The food is excellent but the service makes it not even worth it. They really need to hire more waiters and perhaps let Enzo the waiter go. Our party was sat at 645 and we didn't leave till 1030. It took forever to get a waiter over. In addition, we tried to get a couple appetizers while we decided on our orders because we were starving. For some reason, there is a trend toward restaurants not allowing this because "the chef wants everything to come out right". Surely the true purpose is so that tables don't sit around all night and keep the table occupied. Through much persistence our waiter finally put in our appetizer orders. he delayed the rest of the service tremendously. In addition, your on your own for the wine. If you don't know any, the waiter will not help you figure one out. I loved the 120$ bottle of Amarone that has a nice full body. The dishes to get are the pastas: Tortelli of butternut squash, Sweet corn agnolotti, mascarpone, truffle butter. The veal in sage and butter second course is phenomenal. skip the appetizers and desert, nothing special we spent over 1300$ for 5 people. a bit overpriced, i'll say
(3)Colleen B.
Loved Giorgio Baldi! It's intimate dim lighting, quaint and the food is delish. Had meatballs for appetizer and homemade gnocchi w/bolognese sauce. Awesome people watching too. Bentleys and Rolls Royces pull up to drop off the beautiful crowd.
(5)Megan S.
We went here on Saturday night, February 13th, so we wouldn't have to do a pre-fixe menu somewhere else. God were we stupid. At 6:05 we arrived, and we were the third party to be in the restaurant. They would not take us at 6:30, but there was no one in the restaurant until 7. Up side? We got the great corner booth table in the back of the restaurant so we got to watch everyone come in and also people weren't constantly squeezing by us to get into their tables. People need to squeeze because the occupancy says 61 people, but I easily counted seating for 65 (and I'm being conservative, and I'm not counting the wait staff, which was considerable). Tip: Make sure to specifically say TAP water, because I thought that was what we meant when we said flat. At 5 dollars a bottle, it takes one whole bottle just to fill two water glasses. Wine: They only do Chianti and Chardonnay (blech) by the glass, the Pinot Noir is a half bottle - at 35 dollars, this is the cheapest half bottle. This was actually a very good wine choice, and I was happy we got it. Smooth and soft, with none of the bite that cheap Noir gives you. Salad and Appetizer: We each had very refreshing salads, mine was the special with the artichoke hearts (It looked kind of like a colorless baby bird's nest, I know that sounds gross, but it was really good!) The crostini with the prosciutto was just okay - I wouldn't order this again. Main: On to the second course, where the origin of the three star rating begins. I had asked originally for the Pumpkin Ravioli, only to be told I really wanted the Corn Ravioli. He told me in such a way that I was like, all right, fine, although the thing that kept popping up in my mind was "this dish is 7 dollars more than what I wanted" and "corn is the cheapest ingredient on the market" (thank you Food, Inc. for that fact)...breathe, breathe, I'm sure it's great. And it was great, but it was 15 mini baby ravioliti - yes I just made that word up, you can use it to refer to ravioli smaller than Cheez-its - for 25 dollars. I know, I KNOW, it's not on the main course section, but still! To be fair, the ravioliti are amazing, filled with a succulent corn inside that melts like a rich butter inside your mouth. The boyfriend asked what Langostines were and pointed to the PASTA dish that he wanted. Our waiter then explained what they were and out came the Entree for the Langostines. I guess we didn't think about it at the time, but the entree was 42, the dish my boyfriend pointed at? 21. That's not right. Maybe we should have realized that this was not in fact what he wanted right away, but since he pointed at the pasta dish, one would think that's what would have been brought. One Chocolate Torte - 18 bucks - and it was good, but not 18 dollars good. So a bill that we had thought would have been like 130 turned out to be 190, before tip. People here pay for the privacy, the location, and some of the quality, but I can guarantee, GB is more than recouping its costs. Valet is $6 - bring cash IF you go. Personally, I think The Little Door is better than this place - yes louder atmosphere, but you're getting what you pay for.
(2)Bruce M.
Love this place. Never disappoints. As good as it gets.
(5)Jillian R.
This place is amazing, and actually not overly expensive considering I come here for the pasta. I have tried the Lobster for 2 which was good, but we were a little disappointed with it. But I have never been disappointed with the pastas! Especially the sweet corn & white truffle ravioli, which is so rich it could be a dessert (it's amazing). All the pastas are made fresh; the various sauces/styles change from time to time, but they are always top notch. Although this restaurant only has a handful of tables, we always seem to see a celebrity dining here. It must be the lack of decor and the crowded feel that has prevented Gorgio Baldi from receiving any Michelin recognition, because it is certainly not the food (if I'm being brutally honest, it is without question better than Valentino).
(5)Jennifer O.
great authentic Italian food! it really doesn't get any better than this, and really, i expect this type of quality when it's so expensive! you have to make reservations since it's such a small place... and dinner takes at least 2 hours so don't be in a rush to go anywhere any time soon. service was okay, nothing really special (i don't know the waiter's name and the water glasses went empty). one thing to note is how dark it is in there. the waiters will give you a flashlight with your menu if you need one. or you can try and read your menu using the tiny votive candle on your table. i think that celebrities love that it's dark because then nobody will recognize them and they can eat in peace. (we did see Kenny G there for dinner) i ordered the asparagus ravioli which was divine! it just melts in your mouth. the portions are small, so order something else to go with it. i got the Rucola & parmigiano insalate. the arugula is fresh and spicy, the dressing is light, and they don't skimp on the cheese! my husband got the Prosciutto e melone. i hate melon and i love this dish. strange, but the sweet melon and the salty prosciutto work just perfectly together. reminds me of Rome. mmm.... we also got Nodino di Vitello: roasted veal chop. nice and juicy. a perfect roast. and very meaty, if that's what you're looking for. dessert was excellent. i opted for the profiteroles and my husband got the lemon sorbet. the profiteroles were light and sitting in a dark chocolate sauce. not overly sweet, and not overly rich. perfect end to a meal. my husband loved his lemon sorbet. it was very lemony! over all, i recommend this place if you're looking for a fancy Italian dinner. it's expensive and they have fine wines (i don't drink but they had a huge menu and we got a couple of nice bottles for the table). it's dark and thus, romantic? the food is great and the drive over is nice. try it if you have at least $50 to spend per person.
(4)John M.
Yes - celebrities eat here. In fact, the one and only time I went, we were sat next to Cindy Crawford and her 3 friends (they were celebrating her birthday). The light is dim, the food is delicious, the service staff is made up of folks of actual Italian descent. My only word of caution is be prepared to spend through the roof for your meal (especially if you order wine). Definitely a nice place for (intimate) special occasions.
(4)MsMichele P.
If I were to give a grade, the grade would be a strong C. Not horrible and not outstanding. The candle lit ambiance was pleasant and the wine went well with the meal that was ordered. Unfortunately, the waiter could barely speak English and I had a very difficult time deciphering what the hell he was saying when he was explaining the 'specials'. In light of the fact that I had NO CLUE what he said about the specials, I stuck to the menu and ordered risotto with mixed veggies (it was fairly tasty), while my friend ordered white fish with mushrooms (so so). My favorite part of the meal was the dessert... we shared a chocolate lava cake with a small side of milky mint ice cream. I know that this place has a TON of celebrity clientele and I cant figure out why... am I missing something? Regardless, I give them a C for the ambiance and tasty little dessert.
(3)Brian L T.
Yes, this place is very overpriced, but since I did not have to pay for my meal, I shall refrain from commenting about it. The first thing you should know about this place is that the food is good, and the ambiance is definitely a throwback to semi-authentic Italian restaurants one would find on the Northern shores of the Mediterranean. My friends, all very affluent visitors to the US, splurged like none other and had a 8 course meal, to which I have no complaints about whatsoever (The desserts are amazing!). That being said, the staff was a little bit inconsiderate when it came to asking about details of the food, as if we were expected to know and be connoisseurs the moment we step foot through the door. Additionally, the bathrooms are pathetic for a place you pay upwards of $25 per plate, and for some reason, I always received the smallest portions of all the food they served. Maybe they foresaw this review. Anyhow, while the prices may not justify the marginal goodness of the food, it is nonetheless a place to be seen at. The amount of Ferraris, Porsches, Bentleys, BMW Ms, and Mercedes AMGs outside were astonishing. I personally go to restaurants for the food and not the scenery, but if that's your type of crowd, then I would definitely recommend this restaurant.
(3)Jimmy H.
Love this place. Food is great and pasta is always cook to perfection. Place is a little cramped and reservation is needed. Portion is small and price is on the high side. Lots of movie stars dine here (saw one or two every time). Oh make sure you ask for price if the "special" has the world truffle in it. My appetizer came out to be $110. My fault for not asking. Pretty much everything is good on the menu. Love this place and will keep coming back.
(4)MrSantaMonica K.
3/ 3/4 to be exact! Food very good; however very small portions This has to be the smallest and most crowded space on the Westside...packed right on top of each other, can be good or bad depending on your mood, will take more space anyday So; the service is definitely lacking, as well as the incredible overpriced wine... Your better off bringing your own bottle! Please note my "rating" is solely based on the food; accounting for the service and wine (and price) would be more towards a 3!
(4)blacky B.
best italian in LA. Staff are kinda douches. Minus a star for that. Last Friday, nearly got whiplash.
(4)Jason B.
2.5 Stars? We had been excited to try out Giorgio Baldi since we moved to LA (almost 2 years ago). We had heard such wonderful things, it has great reviews on Yelp, so we finally decided to try it. Horrible disappointment. We were seated promptly, which was nice, and we got a cute little table in the corner on the patio. Things were looking up... We ordered a bottle of wine, which was at least $15 more than the same bottle at other restaurants, but hey, that's cool, it's a fancy joint with a reputation--they get to mark their wines up as much as they want. The wine came out quickly, which was good and bad: good because we wanted to drink our wine, but bad since we had to take baby sips on this bottle for an hour and half waiting for our meal to come. Once the meal finally arrived, we guzzled down the rest of the bottle just to get out of the place. I ordered the "crostino prosciutto" appetizer ($21, I think), which was pretty nasty. It was basically a piece of French bread, with some mozzarella on it, topped with prosciutto, then baked, and then they dumped butter on it. Yep, butter, rendered prosciutto fat, cheese, and bread. It was greasy, salty, and a waste of prosciutto. My girlfriend ordered the pasta e fagioli soup ($14), which I thought was OK but bland (I have eaten and myself made better), but which she described thus: "It's like eating a bowl of frijoles." On reflection, she's right: it was just a bowl of mushy beans. After we finished our appetizers, and nursed another small glass of wine, fearful of finishing the overpriced bottle too soon, we waited 45 minutes for our main dishes to arrive. I had the mini ravioli with corn and white truffles ($26), which tasted like garlic and 1% milk. The actual pasta, which must be house made, was fine, but nothing to get excited about. My girlfriend ordered the pumpkin ravioli ($25), which were bitter and oily. The butter sauce broke, and it was basically just grease with crispy sage leaves. In the taxi she speculated that the pumpkin had been prepared in the fall, then frozen. Yum yum. Before we finished our main dishes we had asked for our check and a cab. Final damage was $203 before tip, and I cannot express enough how poor this restaurant was when lined up against similar places, and when considering what we got for what we paid. Toscana, in Brentwood, is far and away better than Giorgio Baldi. I suppose it was kind of cool that Cuba Gooding, Jr., was a table away from us, and yet he did not make my meal taste better than 2.5 stars. Remember "Snow Dogs?" It was like that. I would pay to eat at Toscana (or Palmeri, also in Brentwood) before I would let you buy me a meal at Giorgio Baldi. This restaurant would maybe be 3 stars if it had been half the price, but sadly it wasn't. Now we're making bagels at midnight to mask our dinner. Boo.
(2)Tony T.
Excellent dining experience. Try to sit outside, heaters and more romantic and more elbow room. The pastas were "lick the plate" good and the entrees were also good but when I go back I'd just order large orders of the pasta dishes.
(5)Erica L.
Oh my f***ing God. This restaurant is that good. I had the Gnocci with gorgonzola, and it was some of the best pasta I have ever had, those in Italy included. My friend had the Lambchops, and the bite I had was tender, moist and flavorful. I had a bite of my mother's pasta, which was a tomato base, and was yuuuummmyyyyy. The waiter was a bit impatient, but we cut him some slack because a) the restaurant was packed, and b) He was Italian, afterall, and Italians aren't especially known for their patience and considerate manners. They seated us outdoors, and despite my fears of being cold, there were heaters and plastic drapes which kept the heat in nicely. It also proved to be much roomier than being indoors, where the tables were tightly squished together. It is pricy, so be prepared to spend some serious cash. We were a bit upset about not having paid attention to cost of the Burrata cheese appetizer before we ordered it, as when it appeared it was tiny, and a full $20. But the pasta was so good, I promptly forgot all about it.
(5)John W.
I took my girlfriend to this restaurant on a celebratory weekend recently because she used to live in the area and had mentioned that it had been her favorite place to take friends and clients...........we had reservations and were on time only to find we had to wait about 30 minutes to be seated with no comfortable waiting area inside..........we finally were escorted to a table in the corner of the small and cramped outside area........we were not in a good mood at that point.........our waiter's name was Enzo and he was a real prick to my girlfriend ......talking down to her like she was a child and telling her how to order and almost mocking her that she had not ordered a big entree to start out with.......we ordered a nice bottle of wine to go along with an appetizer, salads and pasta dishes.............Enzo began to ignore us and paid most of the attention to a table full of models next to us who each ordered an appetizer as their meals. We were getting irritated.............we decided to close out the meal and move on with the evening. He brought us the check and included his 20% tip without telling us..........the total for the two of us was $380!!!! Needless, to say we were both extremely disappointed with the value of the overall experience .............the food was just ok, the ambience was average, and the service was a disaster. If you are planning on trying this restaurant because all of the good things you have heard, think twice. You will be disappointed. There are many better options in the immediate area.................... good luck.
(1)J S.
Are you kidding me?! This food was sent from the gods. Expensive, yes. Worth it, oh hell yes!! Had a salad and the pumpkin ravioli in a butter sage sauce, followed by tiramisu. Oh and did I mention Rhianna was there? Maybe you've heard of her....basically you need to go there....go now.
(5)Paul L.
Very solid italian, but traditional. Nothing really surprised me. Service is good, and we didn't wait very long as a walk-in couple at 8ish...2 apps, 2 entrees on the high end of menu + 2 glasses of wine = $100 each with tip. Things we ordered... The pumpkin raviolli was amazing like every review comments. The sea bass was perfectly prepared. Lobster salad got to admit was lackluster. Salmon crepe anitpasti was good, but looking back I was I ordered the beef carppacio.
(4)Syn L.
We came here with dear friends who have been coming here for years and raved about it often. Since one is Italian we figured he's taste tested enough to know the best from the plethora of good ones in town. To be honest, I've been staying away from Italian for some time trying to curb the carbs, but my ass skinny friend said not to worry since servings are small and worth the carbs. From the reviews here, sounds like we got lucky with our reservation on a Saturday night. The place was already crowded with people waiting, but we still got seated within 10 minutes, although the tables were cramped pretty tight. We sat near the entrance and noticed within half hour that there were famous people at different tables around us. Looked like hollywood deals were getting drafted over dinner. We let our friends do the ordering since they were veterans. They asked for double orders of various ravioli dishes to share amongst us, I thought we'd be full before our entrees but not at all. The raviolis were the BEST part, the pumpkin ravioli just melted, the corn ravioli tasted so much more interesting than it sounds, the lobster one yum! The ravioli skin was super thin and melts in your mouth. Oh and the truffle sauce...heavenly. Servings were indeed small, I only got to taste 1-2 raviolis of each flavor and wasn't enough! For entrees, hubs had the sole but my fish which was the night's Special was much better, for the life of me I cannot remember the name, since it was over a year ago (this review is long overdue). I was the designated driver so I cannot comment on the wine but everyone seemed buzzed so must have been good. The waitstaff was not the highlight of our experience, he just took our orders quickly, but we were too engrossed in catching up to care. We got to meet Mr. Baldi on our way out though, he was such a sweetheart that we had to complete the night taking a picture with him....correction, we didn't end our night there we continued to the bar down the street where my husband puked out the expensive carbs he had for dinner. NICE. Overall great experience, I like the atmosphere for the most part, probably influenced by good friends and good lighting. One star off for the cramped seating and aloof waiter...oh and it felt really warm inside, could use better ventilation.
(4)jiwon L.
hubby took me here (our 2nd time) for my birthday. its always a special treat for us. we ordered.... -burrata (alwaysssss great) -sweet corn ravioli (this time we got the FULL order. dreamy pillows of goodness in your mouth) -langostine linguine in spicy tomato broth (took me back to our honeymoon in greece) -dessert...we ordered sorbets (eh, could've passed on those) they seriously need to can that sweet corn ravioli so i can eat it anytime i want!
(5)Jimmy H.
Famous for their Truffle dishes.... Infamous for their snobbishness! Expect to wait an hour for your table, expect to wait for the waiter, expect to wait for the food, expect to see some celebrities, and expect some very good food. When I was there, we saw Tobey Maquire, Ben Affleck, and Jennifer Garner. That's the Hollywood Spider-man, Daredevil, and Electra (for you comic-book movie fans)! Oh yea, the food was pretty good also. Giorgio's son has a restaurant in Beverly Hills called E. Baldi. Equally darn good.
(4)Janice B.
I don't no where to start - so many bad things to say about this ridiculous restaurant!! First off it was a Saturday night, so knew it would be crowded - but this place clearly overbooks reservations to ensure the place is packed. Result, 45 minute wait and they send you next store to get a drink (are they getting a cut as I gather this is a common practice). And no they don't come over and get you like another patron mentioned, you have to keep going back and check. The place is very small and the tables are so close together the waiter can barely get by and the size of the tables are such that everything is cramped, not even close to a fine dining experience - if it were trattoria with quick service and reasonable prices I would accept this concept - but really $30 for a barely dressed salad , or a pasta dish that was on a flat plate (no presentation) and barely enough for one person that was $28. It goes downhill from there.... all the food was nothing special, the branzino was over cooked with so much things stuffed in it, it was a mess on the plate. My friends veal was tough and tasteless. The beef when described as soaked in cognac had no flavor at all and was mushy. We could barely eat comfortably as the table should have been for two but that is not how they operate. Ironically everyone around us seem to like the abuse, excessive noise level and overpriced food. I saved the best for last. There were four of us and to preface, we had 2 bottles of expensive wine. The bill came and it was $685 and the waiter added his tip to the bill! Are you kidding me, I have NEVER heard of that in my life unless it was a party of 6,8 or more. I was so embarrassed as my friend insisted on picking up the tab and was dumbfounded when he saw the tip (20%) added. We called the waiter over and he said "Listen I was planning on giving you at least that and probably more but can you explain why you personally added it to the bill?" He had a surly answer " Well if you don't agree you can scratch it out and put it whatever you like!" If it were me, I would have given him $1, but my gracious friend left the tip on and we left. Dinners , all I can say is the restaurant world is now catering to the celebrity chefs, the wanna be's who need to be seen, where they are "always" on the list at clubs, and not to the general consumers anymore. Pity as my money is green just like theirs but the difference is, I expect something for my hard earned money.
(1)Juno N.
This has been my favorite Italian restaurant for the past 7 years and still is. Dependable good food and I always crave for their pastas. Yummy! Make sure to make reservations before you go! It's a very cozy restaurant.
(4)Stephanie S.
Absolutely amazing food & service we had 6:30 reservations on a wednesday and it was dead when I got there ... I mean 1 other couple on a restaurant w 12 tables...they tried to put me @ that crappy table in the back by where they dump the dirty dishes ... hell no!!!! You are going to spend 50 to 100 per person w/o drinks... So I got a table up front and all was well! The people I went with have been here several times... They new to order like 4 different raviolis then waiter splits them between the 4 of us Needless to say it was really good & pumping when we left @ 10...apparently the place to see the famous people....
(5)Scott R.
I took my girlfriend to GB for a celebration and had reservation for 8 pm set 1 week prior. Upon arriving 10 minutes early the hostess said it would be at least 10 minutes probably 30. we were the only ones waiting. She told us to go to the bar next door to grab a drink and they would come get us. OF COURSE THEY DIDN'T COME GET US. After a drink next door, we returned to still wait for 10 minutes to finally get a table at 8:30. Again busy restaurant but there wasn't a wait. Finally getting a table about 8:30 the service was slow but very polite. The Food: The appetizers are excellent Burrata tri color and meatballs seem to be the best course of their meals. The Filet was decent nothing you couldn't get anywhere else with less wait. Their Veal chop is amazing and worth ordering. Skip desert. We had their desert crepe and Crem bele which was short of memorable. I think there are plenty of other restaurants in Los Angeles to patron.
(2)julia s.
The food (gnocchi) was as nice as I have ever had and the service was as nice as the food.
(5)Maxi T.
This was so good. Whenever BF and I drive up Entrada (at least that's what thought it was called, it's actually Chanel and some call PCH) on the way to Malibu, there is a little pocket of 3 establishments that are always hopping, and we always say, "hmmm, we should eat there." So Friday night, I booked us a table at Il Ristorante di Giorgio Baldi and it was goo-ooo-ooood. I give it 4.5 stars. The only reason I can't do the whole 5 is that the hostess said "sure, come in at 9" and it was well past 9:30 before we got sat. But we did get sat at the best table in the house (corner by the window) so it was fine. Perfect people watching in that bird's eye view of the restaurant. Yummy List: OMG, my Branzino (sp?) fish with shitake mushroom and baby artichokes. So Good. The chocolate desert with pine nuts and a dusting of powdered sugar.and custard Our Italian white wine. BF's dover sole in lemon butter sauce. The risotto with porcini mushrooms. OK list: The ravioli in veal broth Clearly, this is a favorite special date place because there were lots of couples hugged up outside in the cold (ourselves included) to wait for a table. Note that you can go next door the bar and have a drink, and they will come get you. I want that branzino again. Right now.
(5)Jean L.
The setting reminds me of Nick and Toni's in East Hampton, one of my top 10 favorite Italian restaurants ever. I came here once a while ago, but still have vivid memories of the white corn ravioli with truffle sauce and the dover sole. There is personality in the cooking, a delicate infusion of flavors catered to those who seek the best of Italian dining. Desserts aren't as phenomenal. Creme brulee and tiramisu are what they are. I could think of a bunch of better places for italian desserts, like Little Door, Il Cielo, or Il Moro to name a few. The price isn't right; I've had heavenly pasta without the hefty tag. Still, if you want a candelit, ivy, sea-side cottage with superb pastas and seafood, go. Great food and location, location, location.
(4)Erin L.
I've been to Giorgio Baldi many times over the years and have never been disappointed. If you want excellent Italian food and superb service in an intimate setting, look no further. The brown butter sage ravioli here rocks my world. And the wine list-- oh, the wine list. I've also enjoyed the sweet corn ravioli and the dover sole with lemon butter sauce. Really, anything you order here is delicious. Order multiple courses, a few bottles of wine and settle in for the night. The space is small, dark and candlelit. The tables are close together. It has a very romantic vibe. And yes, I have seen more than my fair share of celebrities here (sitting next to Ron Howard at dinner is kind of cool, no matter how jaded you are about these things). I will keep coming back to Giorgio Baldi on special occasions for wonderful food and atmosphere.
(5)Cheryl c.
The food was great, but portion size on *some* dishes VERY, VERY, VERY small. I ordered the truffle ravioli and it was DELICIOUS, but the smallest portion and ravioli I have EVER seen. It was akin to the portion size on a chef's tasting menu. I read other reviews on Yelp that stated the same, but I did not heed their warning. (Also the raviolis themselves were about half inch by half inch.) My husband ordered risotto which was a decent portion, but lacking in flavor. We also ordered crab cakes and a citrus lobster salad for appetizers, both were very good. I think when I go back I may order a double order of the ravioli. (And let me just say for the record I am not a larger proportioned individual, I am small to average size.) l am not sure if that is a faux pas, but it will be necessary in order to avoid a trip through the drive thru on the way home.
(4)HungryDoberman P.
Went here a little wile ago with someone who is a regular and I have to say it is some of the best Italian food I've had outside of Italy. I came here on a friday night around 8:30 and it was still pretty busy, though I got seated right away (probably because the guy I was with was a regular). The food is absolutely impeccable I had a pasta with sea urchin and truffle sauce from the special menu and the tagliata (italian style steak thinly sliced). Both dishes were absolutely perfect and completely satisfying. In terms of high end Italian food in LA, I think this place is much better than Toscana in Brentwood or Il Pastaio in Beverly Hills. The only thing I would say about this place is call early in the week for reservations because the restaurant has very limited seating. I liked the place so much that I tried to go back with my girlfriend and we couldn't get a reservation until 10PM (calling the day before).
(5)Haute H.
I was torn between titles "Don't go!" and "Too bad I'm not Jessica Simpson" any way where to start. I did some research on Malibu restaurants that would compliment my experience at the flawless Malibu Beach Inn because Moonshadows just didn't cut it that one time. I made a 7pm for my own birthday on a Saturday night 1/22/11. Due to a late cab, I responsibly called to ask to push it to 7:30 which they obliged. I arrived at 7:15pm and we're greeted with an abrupt "You can go next door for a drink" from 2 nonchalant hostesses, fine it's Saturday night. My companion doesn't drink. We come back to a still bustling restaurant with no table. We sit at about 7:40 and the waiter greets us, brings me a glass of wine and explains the specials. Great! I'm thinking this will be a good night. The tables are super close together but I love cozy, busy restaurants very similar to the vibe of Le Bouchon in Chicago, a bistro everyone should visit when in Bucktown. Anyhoo we decide on some pasta appetizer and we are assured it's vegetarian, tomato sauce only. Well folks at about 9pm!! I wave down a woman in a blazer who seems to be running things and explain that we had a 7:30 and to our dismay we have received no food. Mind you we were told to order the whole meal, no courses here foodies. This woman says she will get it fired right away. What? It's not cooking yet? She went on to say that I should have told her sooner, possibly true. The waiter said that there was only one cook that could make this pasta appetizer and he was just behind. An hour? The pasta starter arrives and it has bacon in it, perfect. Meanwhile I sadly watched the tables next to us and across from us enjoy course after course and they seemed to be having fun. Not us, we were officially the forgotten table. By the time we received our whitefish entrees we were starving. I cannot tell you if it was good or not. We merely chewed then swallowed. I mean all the 4 star reviews and this is what 2 people get? Yeah yeah Cindy Crawford and Larry David love this place but if you're not them forget it! At this point I notice the restaurant dying down and a blond waiting at the door, omg it's Jessica Simpson, great. To watch this restaurant jump thru hoops to make sure she was comfortable and I'm sure fed was just too much to bare. I would bet millions she didn't wait an hour for an appetizer or anything else for that matter. Our waiter became her waiter and a surrogate waiter came over to take our dessert order cause you know I still want to blow out a candle and make a friggin wish here. Chocolate crepes arrive, they sing happy birthday but I am too disappointed to care really. This place is not a reflection of its prices or hype. Do not waste your time or money. P.S. I feel the pain of running a place like this as I have been a hostess, server, manager and event planner so I know the difference between whiny customers and a poorly run restaurant. Baldi dropped the ball.
(1)Diana H.
After hearing about this restaurant for awhile, and because we live in Malibu we decided to give it a try. The food was really good,but the portions were extremely small. The waiter had an attitude, it wasn't the atmosphere you find in Italy. The table was way too close to other tables, we could listen to their conversations easily. I think their pasta is home made, and is really, really good. I would prefer to order it in next time. I just expected more from such a famous restaurant.
(3)Beth R.
This is the BEST Italian food in Los Angeles. I'm a world traveler and I found this place through my industry friends. Its by far the closest thing you will get to Italy. I've have been several times and each time the owner and his staff have taken great care of me and my friends. I have sent tons of High profile people here and never get bad feedback. You will love everything on the menu and maybe if your lucky the owner will greet you and send over one of his favorite dishes.
(4)Sky D.
Best white truffle risotto in the world.
(5)Russel M.
We've been several times and the food just doesn't "Wow" us. Another bummer is they don't allow corkage so you have to buy their over priced wines. We love Il Mulino in NYC and there is no comparison to Georgio Baldi in our opinion. Go to Valentino or Angelini Osteria instead.
(3)evan d.
I wish I could eat here every night but sadly I 1: don't live in LA 2: Could never afford it even once a week 3: Would get tired of the snooty clientele But that said, it's one of the most delectable italian meals I've had in my life and I lived in Italy for a year!
(5)James M.
This place is amazing! It is small, cute and cozy, the food is outstanding- might be the best I have ever had. We typically get a sample platter of Ravioli as a starter, and they are all as smooth and tasty as possible. The servers are authentic, knowledgeable and if you get Pulcione, entertaining as well. The food is expensive, but worth it for a special occasion. What will bring your bill up is the wine, but they pride themselves on having a wine cellar stocked with great wine that you can't get other places. Love this place!
(5)Nicole J.
Actually this is some of The Best Italian Food I have ever had in My Life. The Bay Area is riddled with Italian restaurants But NONE on this Level of Greatness.My Girlfriend turned 35 and I felt like she should know what Nice & Authentic Italian Food was about so I heard all the raves about this place and so I called up and made Reservations for four 2 weeks in advance. Me and My Crew Love Good Food so we were Hoping for The Best. Finally the Night comes and I kept having to push our reservation back but NO PROBLEM we arrived after 9 and we were seated Almost immediately, Right in front of the Door but that's what you get when your an hour and a half late for your reservations. Next we had a waiter freshly flown in from Italy.. He was Nice, knowledgeable and Funny. We began to Order, I enjoyed the broad range of the wine list affordable to Not so affordable. We selected a Nice Pinot Grigio. A few of us had salads and then The Entrees were Heaven on a Plate. I had The Anglionotti which was a sweet corn ravioli with a White truffle sauce. The only problem was the wasn't quite enough. One friend had the Gnocchi and another an awesome Crab Risotto and another friend had a nice light fish dish. We all tried each others food and everything was Amazing. I wish I lived in Southern California so that I could go more often. A couple of us tried some desserts, they had a version of Peach Cobbler that was pretty Dam Good, and The Birthday girl had a little Birthday Chocolate cake with a good sherbet which I Loved. I Love Sherbert. Bottom Line The Food was Slap your Mom Incredible, they made sure we kept our reservations even though we were over an hour late and The waiter was Delightful and made our Experience Enjoyable. The Price was High but The Food and Experience was totally worth every penny of it. If you cannot afford it, DO NOT GO. If you want Great Authentic Italian Food, a Good Time, Good Service & Beautiful People to Look at while you eat and the possibility of maybe catching a celebrity sighting This is The Spot for You! This place makes Me want to go to Italy just for The Food! 1 Word A-W-E-S-O-M-E
(5)Neo H.
I had high expectations for this restaurant, and unfortunately it fell short. While there were a couple dishes that were outstanding, the food was way too oily for my taste. And the restaurant was too dark. It was like having a meal at a seance table. The bf enjoyed the spinach spaghetti with meat sauce. The pappardelle with cream sauce was okay. I looooovvveeedd the spaghetti with fish eggs, but it was swimming in oil. The pumpkin ravioli was a disappointment. Again, too oily and the raviolis were too soft and too sweet. I should've taken the server's advice when he said he thought it was too sweet, more like a dessert. And the ricotta cheesecake waas A-MAZING!!!! I was also delighted when my request days prior for a birthday candle in the dessert carried through. Oh and we saw Bruce Willis!
(3)Jimmy M.
You go to this restaurant prepared to spend some money. Be careful though, the bill adds up quick. 5 small bottles of flat water $25. (Order tap) Desserts $15+bucks a pop. But the shocker---a sample platter of 3 pastas $107. The 3 of us each had about two tablespoons of 3 pastas (corn, artichoke, and lobster). They billed $57 + $50 for this "tasting." I called this morning to check if we were billed incorrectly, but the manager stated it was correct. Overall though, great service. The waiter took his time explaining the specials. Didn't feel rushed at all...of course no celebrities this night to compete with.
(4)Cara D.
I had a wonderful meal the other night. I went there with my mother on a Saturday night with a reservation (I am pretty sure that was needed) and were seated at a great corner table immediately. We were kindly greeted by our waiter and ordered a bottle of wine. Our meal was wonderful. We split an artichoke salad special and the pumpkin ravioli which was to die for. It actually was one of the best things I have ever tasted. The artichoke salad was also really good. As far as main meals they were pretty good. I can honestly say that I did not have a good order. I ordered the mixed fish dish. Boo on me for that one. But my mom ordered a fish special and it was pretty good. Dessert was also quite tasty. We got a chocolate lava cake and the warm chocolate was a perfect ending to the meal. The one thing that I didn't like was that we couldn't order a small plate between our appetizers and main meal. They simply would not allow it. Other than that, a phenomenal setting and a great meal.
(4)Jen G.
I know I am in the minority...but i really just thought it was OK. We were really crammed in -- very tight squeeze. Also, the chairs were pretty uncomfortable. The price tag was high, which is OK, but I didn't feel like the taste matched it. Batali's pasta at Mozza is better. I think that pizzacotto's is as well. Also, I thought the options were a little limited. there weren't that many entree options...so I went with just an app and pasta. I could have used a little more food, though. PLus, the desserts were C+. For the same price tag, I'd go back to Spago (where the pasta is about the same, if not better).
(3)Katherine N.
I've been to this place a few times and have never been disappointed! The wine list is good and I do recommend the Prosciutto and Mozzarella on toast. The Lobster Ravioli was tasty, Make reservations earlyy though. And once your seated, don't expect to be able to pee seeing how the place is tiny and you are stuck in your seat
(4)Paul A.
The outside appearance is OK. Our inside experience was small and stuffy. The wait service was slow and rude and not at all friendly. I made a reservation two days in advance and had to wait 45 minutes to sit. Then was squeeze into a corner by the door. ;-( The food was OK and the prices weren't.
(1)Dila H.
Excellent excellent excellent.. I think this is the best Italian Restaurant in Los Angeles... I had prosciutto wrapped appetizer and Pumpkin Ravioli and both were delicious.. I could eat the seconds cause the sizes are small :) We tried profiterole and bread pudding as well...Fell in love with the bread pudding!! We had a reservation but we still waited about 30 min on a Wednesday night! That was the only frustrating part but it was well worth waiting :)
(4)Daisy D.
Awesome secret this place! Quite small and intimate but I thought the food was pretty good! I would definitely go back. I had the soup, lobster, fish and some pasta dish.. Oh and dessert! :) I was satisfied with everything.. definitely go back..
(5)Scott M.
Pretty damn good. This is the way I like it, simple and delicious. One of the best meals I have had in LA. If it weren't for it's outrageous price, I would probably eat here regularly.
(5)Ed K.
Now i've had my share of good Italian places (food and classic intimate ambience) during my time spent on the east coast and i've also been to places designed to simply feed and fill your stomach. Giorgio Baldi falls in the former category and does it in style. I'll start off by saying, the prices are high and the portions are small...yet this has become one of my favorite italian places in LA...if anywhere. Located in a secluded, yet easy to find location off the PCH near the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, this small, cozy eatery offers some of the most fantastic pasta and fish dishes i've had to chance to sample with that high-end cuisine presentation you'd see in the finest restaurants of NYC or Beverly Hills, enough to do the snobbiest japanese restaurants proud. The corn ravioli, wide flat pasta (the name escapes) with the white truffle sauce (i can't stop thinking about this) were terrific as well as the pasta prepared with sauceless porcini mushrooms. Among the extensive fish menu, i got to sample the lemon-butter sole filet which was nothing short of european fish perfection. With a dining experience like this i had to have desert and i can recommend both the tiramisu and creme brulee. I don't like to use too many superlatives in one review so I better stop here, but did i mention the white truffle sauce? Oh yeah...
(5)James M.
This is by far the best restaurant experience I've had on this planet. It's a small, old school, Italian joint up the PCH from downtown in Santa Monica. The food is amazing, lets start with the appetizers, the Pumpkin Ravioli should be illegal it's so good I've ordered it for dinner. It's a bit packed most of the time and you're close to your neighbors but last time I was there I was next to Ed Burns and across from Jessica Biel, so at least your seated next to people you've seen or know or like to look at. I never make a trip to LA without hitting this place at least once.
(5)Heather T.
Wish the menu had a few more options as there's not much variety here but what they have is delicious. Very pricy but what can you expect from a celeb spot. Inside the tables are super cramped and its a bit dark - (or maybe that good when you can see up Woody Allen's nostrils!) but attentive staff and generally good vibes. The porcini sauce is my favorite. A nice local spot that is consistent.
(4)Darien R.
Second time here. Upgraded from a four to five stars. Let me tell you why. Despite being tired from the plane ride, we drove an hour to return to Giorgio - mostly for that AGNOLOTTI in CORN TRUFFLE SAUCE. It was my daughter's dish last time we came, but I was very determined to make it *my* dish this time around. We ordered: + AGNOLOTTI in CORN TRUFFLE SAUCE (5/5) - Yelp reviewers are not exaggerating on this one. It is as good as they say, maybe better. Just perfect. Tender and flavorful little morsels of pasta heaven. We asked the waiter for an extra half portion on each of our two orders on this dish, and get this - it STILL wasn't enough for us. That's my only complaint about Giorgio is the portion size of their dishes. It's pasta for crying out loud, they can certainly afford to give a bit more, especially given the price they are charging. If you come here, maybe you should order this dish as an appetizer so that everyone at the table can have a forkful. +GNOCCHI W/BOLOGNESE (5/5) - Wow. Out of the park. As much as I loved my AGNOLOTTI, it was love at first bite with this one too (it was my wife's dish). I had order's remorse, even though I was fully satisfied with my own dish, if that's even possible! The most perfect gnocchi I've ever tasted, including all the food I've encountered on our trips to Italy, and the food of my youth, growing up in an Italian family full of good cooks. +BURRATA CHEESE APPETIZER - (5/5) Every table should have at least one of these. +MEATBALLS (5/5) - In a world where even Italians have a hard time making a good meatball, this meatball is pretty darn good. Nobody beats my Italian mother's meatballs, but these are right up there. Perfect appetizer, they come three on a plate with sauce. +FRIED CALAMARI (4/5) - Nicely done, with a few bits of zucchini and mushroom thrown into the mix. Delicious. +CRAB RISOTTO (5/5) - Skillfully made. We ordered this as a table appetizer and it was great. Wanted it all for myself but was forced to share. +PRAWN LINGUINE (3/5) - This is the only dish for me that fell below standard. Lacked the robust flavor that all our other dishes had, felt the sauce was a bit watered down. Two tiny little shrimp that shouldn't be called "prawns". +PANNA COTTA (4/5) - Very good, not the best I've ever had, but would still recommend. +NONA'S TORTE( 4/5) - Hard to describe, not sure what was inside, but it crumbly and buttery, and in the end, I didn't care what was inside. Wish they would give a bit more! +CHOCOLATE CAKE (3/5) - When the waiter told us about the chocolate cake, I instantly had this image of a traditional slice of American-style chocolate cake in my mind. When they brought the "cake" in a miniature sized ramekin, I was disappointed and underwhelmed. Especially given the fact that we like to share our desserts. There was barely anything to share - really, just one bite for a single person. It was more of a mousse than a cake. I think it's misleading to call that a cake. I love the food at Giorgio's but the chintzy portioning, if I'm honest, affects my level of enjoyment. It bothered me the whole meal. Everything was undersized. After the bread, the appetizers, and our main course, I was still hungry and had to order the CALAMARI and the PRAWN LINGUINE. That said, the service was very good. All the servers are Italian and know what they're talking about. They're not shy about giving you their menu recommendations. Beside the skimpy portions issue, the other negative is the size of the restaurant. VERY cramped. It was exceedingly awkward being seated between two tables, where we had to squeeze ourselves between the guests who were eating to get to our table. While I'm waiting for my wife and daughter to wedge themselves into the booth, I'm standing with my butt jutting into their table (nowhere else to stand!). Then you sit down, and you're immediately transported into their private conversations, practically eating with them at the same table. A W K W A R D. But as they minutes pass, you get used to the space invasion. There are a few tables where you can avoid this kind of cramping, but you have to get very lucky. Good luck. Any other restaurant, I would say (based on the cramped table seating) I'm never coming back, but the food is so good here, I can't and won't say that. Some of the best Italian food I've had, served sparingly, in a very pricey, cramped environment. Go and see what you think. Message me a sentence or two telling me what you think. Interested to hear your take!
(5)Brianne A.
DATE NIGHT: This is the place you go on a quiet romantic evening away from it all, and next to gentle crashing waves along the shore. You pay the valet, you buy the wine, and you enjoy. I adored the Agnolotti, a homemade ravioli filled with sweet white corn in a white truffle sauce, and enjoyed the Fiorentina salad as a side. He devoured the Arrosto di Vitello (Veal rack roast) and saved me a mouthwatering bite. I recommend this place to anyone who wants to have an intimate splurge night out. Cheers!
(5)G. T.
I'm Italian/Croatian, love to cook, and have to admit I've watched far too many cooking shows. With both of my parents also being skilled in the kitchen and having a husband who is more of a hazard than a help when cooking, it's been a necessity to hone my skills in the culinary arts. It doesn't help that I also hail from the Napa Valley where a good portion of my friends worked in the restaurant biz. Moving to LA has been exciting especially when checking out the local cuisine interpretations, fusions and flavored. We've dined at Panzanella twice now, and I'd say it's been consistent. There are plenty of traditional dishes alongside some unique CA versions of Classic Italian fare. I can't seem to stick to a GF diet if eating Italian (and seriously who'd want to?) never steering clear of my hearty pasta dishes. And my mean, lean Argentine hubby always indulges in the meat dishes. Here are the highlights: Pros: Pumpkin ravioli, seafood stew, and grilled sea bass in red wine reduction. Stiff drinks, great vino selection, and a vibrant loud classy Italian ambiance. Knowledgeable and friendly waitstaff. Last min reservations for small parties accommodated. Cons: Valet parking only (some street pkg avail with a bit of a walk on busy nights.) Mushroom ravioli super bland, no flavor. A bit overpriced, but not extreme. Overall we've been pleased with our local Italian restaurant, but look forward to the many others to discover.
(4)Debi C.
The meal was great, our server , Pulcione, was fantastic! The ONLY complaint was the restaurant is too dark. Many diners used their phones to read the menu and shine it on their food. The food was delicious and beautifully presented- turn the lights up so diners can fully enjoy the experience! Ambiance is one thing, but it is just too dark.
(4)Brittany F.
What makes celebrities flock to this hideaway that is tucked behind a wall of ivy, just a block from the beach? Is it the tiny, intimate space that's always packed and cozy? Or the home cooked Italian food? For me personally, the food was ok, but I think it's the atmosphere that makes this place special. They don't allow corkage and have a very expensive wine list so choose carefully. We had a great bottle for $80. I love their pastas so I ordered the sweet corn ravioli to start and then the langostine linguine for my entree. I also snagged a bite of a few other dishes, including the burrata, the meatballs (excellent), the pumpkin ravioli, and the branzino. Everything was good, but to be honest, nothing was extraordinary. I prefer E Baldi in Beverly Hills or Madeo for this type of Italian food or Capo in Santa Monica.
(4)Antonia S.
The service was okay, the menu rather small but the prices were ok I thought at first. Ordered regular pasta which was a extremly small portion. Didnt taste any better than a 5$ pasta either. You should not go here and order such a thing as pasta because it is absolutely not worth the price, the special italian dishes might be. They didnt have a dessert card but when we asked for dessert they had more options than the main menu had which the waiter simply told us. The dessert was pretty good but nothing extraordinary - not worth the price, but a billion times better than the pasta
(2)Stelle S.
Despite this being a celeb hot spot, I love authentic Italian food and if Riri comes here for the same dish every time, I'm trying it. What I don't love is the server reciting the endless specials while eyeing the room, barely paying attention to whether I'm paying attention. Perhaps paying attention to Orlando Bloom walking in. I don't know. I also don't love how the descriptions are repeatedly dumbed down (which makes it take even longer to get through). I know what branzino is and you don't need to explain Kobe beef, which by the way is not Kobe if it's raised in Washington, frauds. Oh snap, Rihanna just walked in. Frittura di mare was delicious. Ask for extra lemons. Asparagi Gratinati was under-salted and 20 degrees too cool. Parmesan hardened. I was annoyed (bc I was hungry) that we waited 20 minutes for our pastas after finishing our appetizers--eaten slowly even by Italian standards. #bored. Oh there's Eva Longoria. Linguine Imperiale had perfect heat but lacked a little... flavor. A very simple plate of pasta. Agnolotti (white corn, white truffle sauce) was decadent. Small bites but every one of them is insanely delicious. The dessert list (also delivered to you via lackluster oration) is endless and the appearance of dishes like chocolate lava cake, nutella crepes and creme brulee tell me Giorgio Baldi aims to please... tourists. If I wanted chocolate lava cake I'd go to T.G.I. Friday's, man. Now why are you dumbing down the desserts for me? I know what an effing "panna cotta" is, you don't have to call it "panna cotta flan" because (when I ask why) "flan" is easier to understand. Panna cotta is to flan as great service is to yours. #analogies. Delicious torta della nonna, albeit nontraditional. With the chocolate layer it has a connolo feel. Fantastic latte.
(3)David L.
This is by far one of my top three Italian restaurants in Los Angeles. You cannot go wrong with anything here on the menu. I always order the ravioli dishes because they are very impressive. There is a small patio you can eat on or and indoor area. You will not be let down. All of the locals know about this place and it has been a great spot for many years now. This is a very quaint and classy restaurant. There is valet up front.
(5)Rodney I.
I wasn't sure what to expect. Yeah, I know it's a staple and everyone dies for the place and Yada Yada Yada but still... Don't sit on the patio. It's cramped and the heater only has two settings, ON which turns into a sauna and OFF which leaves you in that weird zone where you don't know if you will want your jacket or not. Sit inside so you can focus on what's important / the FOOD!! We started with the octopus salad and it was divine. It comes with bite size potatoes and these little black, crunchy I don't know what's but they are amazing. I wasn't sure what to go for next so I sipped on a light chianti (2012) which held its flavor very well. When it came time for the main course I took a friends advice and ordered off the menu (the pasta Atriciano sp?) but then circled back and picked up the sweet corn ravioli for good measure. I can't remember a time where hype matched my dining experience but this certainly did and the number 1 reason why was not the atmosphere or the ppl watching or the blah... It's because of the food. What a hit!!
(4)mermaid m.
I have loved this tiny ristorante for many years ~ all reasons are magical, romantic. Smells like Italian White Truffles, a step into Italy ala California. Tonight Food was just OK. Everything lacked flavor. Food has gone way down hill. Tastes have cheapened as ingredients are low grade. Probably imitation flavored truffle oil instead of real truffles. Wine expensive but amazing. Probably would not go back again. The ambiance is so cozy, but food has gone down hill and too expensive for what it really is. Wait staff preoccupied, and seem like robots. staff is very inattentive and service is lack luster and arrogant. Sad.
(2)Steven B.
We went to Giorgios only because we could not get a table reserved at Capo. Also, this place is considered a cool spot, so we decided to dine here for my girlfriend's birthday. I had eaten here one previously, and I recall being underwhelmed. But, since my client paid that time, I paid scant attention to the price / food value. Not this time. The wine list is off the charts over-priced (multiple times retail). I asked the waiter to bring us 3 samples of the red wines by the glass, available at $18, $24 and $25 per glass. We figured if we both liked one of them, then, we'd order a bottle. All 3 were mediocre. I would rate them as retail value of $12 per bottle or less. We each ordered a glass each and I can honestly state the Costco Kirkland brand Cabernet is far superior. And, this from a person who routinely spends $300 or more per month on bottled wine in wine shops. The menu items did not deliver any better value. A $20 pasta dish was tiny and the noodles were flacid, way over-cooked. The meatball side dish was an embarrassment. The arugula Parmesan salad was a small heap of lettuce crowned with 7 razor thin slices of cheese for $17 (that's not a misprint) In other words, we left hungry, after dropping $150 plus on dinner. The dining experience was a colossal disappointment.
(1)Thomas M.
Very intimate setting, wonderful service. Food was good, but a couple of minor misses. Overall a great experience and would recommend to anyone who likes Italian with a seafood focus.
(4)Jessie K.
I would say this place is a must! The service is also top notch! Great friend guys, who seem to be working in the right place. I believe they were all Italian, which makes it more authentic. We ordered soo much food!! Everything we had was better than the next dish. We even were able to order their white truffle risotto, which is apparently only seasonal. My other favorite dish was probably the pumpkin ravioli. The only thing I was unimpressed with was the sautéed spinach, which is fine if that was the only thing. I just loved sautéed spinach and this did nothing for me. It was also our friends birthday, and we definitely got a special birthday song that was pretty unforgettable, the waitstaff had asked her how they wanted them to sing her song to her, giving her the options of frank Sinatra style, Miley Cyrus, or traditional birthday style. Needless to say we picked Miley Cyrus and it was pretty epic.
(5)Jamie E.
Came here for my engagement dinner! Food is excellent. The hostesses and waiters seemed a little aloof/not the friendliest. My fiancé told them we got engaged and they didn't come over and say anything, no congratulations or anything. Small restaurant AND they weren't even busy. But back to the food: amazing. What to get for SURE: the pappardelle pasta with white truffle sauce. I had the lamb which was very yummy -- a little fatty, but yummy. Fiancé had the veal Milanese which I really enjoyed, although is it a little bland. Gotta squeeze a lemon on it to give it some zest. The pastas are the most incredible things at this restaurant so if you don't eat meat or don't wanna order meat, I say NO NEED. Keep calm and carb on!
(4)Sheena P.
Delishhh Italian food!! Although it's a $$$$ restaurant, don't expect a fancy place. It's the place is the size of a big living room and literally next to (not cute) apartments. Parking is bad too so just valet it for $8. Here's what I ordered: Agnolotti ($25) - ravioli filled with sweet white corn in a white truffle sauce...AMAZE! Portion is very tiny so this was considered more of an appetizer. MUST GET Burrata Tricolore ($20) - pretty much like a caprese. Mozzarella with tomatoes and pesto sauce - not super flavorful but not bad either Stracetti al Basilico ($19) - "square pasta" in a tomato sauce topped with basil...the pasta was pretty much pappardelle so I don't know why the description said "square." It was very simple but pretty good - if you want a basil tomato sauce that's AMAZING though then I suggest Scarpetta! Ricciarelle al Tartufo ($25) - pappardelle in a white truffle sauce - good but it got sickening quick! I suggest the sweet corn ravioli over this or maybe adding in mushrooms or something to spice this dish up! Molten lava cake: can't go wrong! Although it wasn't as warm/hot as I liked it but still enjoyable! Came with (sour) raspberries and a berry gelato. Perfect way to end the meal!
(5)Chris P.
I don't get to eat here enough but this is amazing Italian food. The restaurant is a little pricier than most so I go here only on special occasions or if a job is paying :-) As for what to order, you really can't go wrong. The pastas are divine. The risotto...wow! I've enjoyed the seafood, steaks and salads too. The wait staff are commendable. Very attentive and serious about proving a great experience. Truly a great restaurant.
(5)Bader S.
Bad service after spending more than $2000 on the restaurant they told us they cannot split more than 3 cards. Disappointing afrer a great night. The waiter was just to lazy to swipe more cards.
(1)Samantha T.
Excellent food and excellent service! Its a tiny restaurant but serves one of the best Italian food in Los Angeles hands down. The food is pricy but worth every penny. The raviolo filled with sweet corn in a white truffle sauce and the Risotto Paveron is a must. The steak is also great as well. Fun place to go with friends or on a date.
(5)George M.
The pasta was amazing a perfect blend of taste and texture. The Halibut was better used as door stop than eaten
(1)Jackie D.
My all time favorite Italian restaurant. The pasta with langostino is my favoite thing on the menu! Just love it! Great ambiance and always celebrity sightings if your into that type of thing. Be sure to call ahead for reservations.
(5)Nicole D.
First off. We have been to lots of amazing restaurants all over the world and just because celebrities like Rihanna come here doesn't mean that the food is good or the asthenosphere is good. Quite the contrary. And Rihanna was in fact there on the night we dined and the restaurant did give our table to her to sit alone and call her friends on when we had a reservation. The staff clearly has no clue about customer service and what it means to give great service. We showed up for our reservation and they were clearly not ready for our table. Mind you 30 min behind and telling us that the table sitting there had paid and waiting for them to leave to give us the table!? Really??This is such bad management. We were sent to the bar next door until "the table" was ready. Our party who dines here regularly for the last 20 years once a week and spends up to $450 a dine (who clearly after this night will no longer dine here) is told he'll get a certain table but upon seating after they are not ready we get seated in the middle of a big soup bowl of tables so close you could scratch your neighbors under arm and not want to btw. So the atmosphere is not worth mentioning so and let's get to the service. Four words about the service. They. Could. Care. Less. Waiter looking around to see who's who and who's coming in and telling bus boy what needs to be done when he's trying to tell us the specials and take our order? Not cool. Not only is this the worst manners from a real Italian - but really you can't even focus on the customer and what they want? So not impressed. And when you don't even bring the salads out that you ordered and then in the end overcharge for a side of aioli pasta, you know this high roller will never be returning. The food is average. The only thing that's good is the pumpkin ravioli. The fish was dry and the salads we never got. The wine was the best part. The hostess, server and the food is a big thumbs down. You would think that a reservation for a special night made weeks in advance would be honored. Apparently not at this joint. I don't care about the celebs because I live in LA. We go to top notch celeb filled restaurants and we have amazing service with great food for less than $500 for four people. Three words. Go somewhere else. Not worth the congested overpriced mess trying to get to your table. It's a pass for this Producer. Lol. Paparazzi out front doesn't mean it's good. Bad front end and back end service that caters to a bunch of false Hollywood wannabes. We'll spend our $500 bucks somewhere else thank u and no thank you on this once I've been there and done that. We'll dine at some other area finest where we have elbow room.
(2)Shannon N.
Darn I really wanted to despise this place. I was in the area a while back and they seemed pretty snotty when I asked to see a menu. That turned me off so much that I decided not to stay. However I found myself in the area recently again, and figured I would give them another try. The hostesses were different this time around, two blonde females. They quickly were able to accommodate me without a reservation, but when I asked for a table on the patio farthest from the door, she said that it was set for four people, not for two. Since I'm not Rihanna or Mila Kunis, I was of course denied my only request. Alright then, I sat facing away from the door, but figured it could have been worse. I only came to conquer one thing: Agnolotti. I made sure I pronounced it properly, and from my server Emanuele's reaction, I didn't completely screw it up. This took less than 10 minutes to arrive, and about 15-20 minutes to consume and enjoy. I had about 19 pieces of ravioli to get through, and I wasn't going to waste any time letting it cool. The merging of sweet corn in the cream truffle sauce was to die for, and something that should be consumed lightly. Agnolotti is not a dish to eat every week; this is a treat for the palate. Even when I finished the ravioli portion, the remaining bread I had made friends with the minimal sauce I had leftover, so I wouldn't waste. Tacky as that may be, I'm also going to get my $25 worth. The restrooms are inside near the kitchen in a very busy area, so be careful you don't get run over by a server, or vice versa. I didn't glance around too much while inside the dining area, but it seemed like it was on the smaller side, and rather intimate. It wasn't too hot on the patio, thankfully, and I rather enjoyed my time here. I thanked the hostess for taking me in on such short notice, and I hope their sister establishment e.baldi in Beverly Hills is just as nice.
(3)Wes B.
I've taking the time to eat here and spite the fact it's a Hollywood Hang Out, the food isn't that great as most put it. The Pasta and most the food likes like a Frozen Dinner put on a nice plate. That's It! Denny's makes a better Steak and Potatoes and Olive Garden does a way better job. Sorry to say but some my find this to be incorrect but it was it is. Baldi needs to step it up and if the food quality can be like Gladstone's up the road on PCH then we something to exaggerate about regardless if Harrison Ford and Rihanna are there.
(2)Angela P.
Wonderful birthday celebration with friends had the pumpkin ravioli amazing however a very small serving had I know I would have started out with a salad.We had made reservations one month in advance and they kept us waiting for 45 mins but gave us a great table so I guess that made up for it. Not very fancy casual attire we were over dressed but hey birthday celebration only happen once a year all and all great place for dinner.
(4)Paula R.
I don't always write notes on yelp but I had dinner at Giorgio Baldi last night, and was AMAZED!! The food was outstanding, wine was amazing and service impeccable. I will be back!
(5)B. D.
This place was exquisite! The pasta sauce was delicious and homemade. Every dish was a 5 star!
(5)Javier J.
After various photos of Rihanna surfaced over the years of her coming out of this place I figured I'd try it out. I arrived and first thing I noticed was that valet was terrible. I drove into their lot and rolled my window down, after a few seconds of awkward silence I was the first to ask "what now?" basically, no professionalism whatsoever..he said "it's valet" No really? I thought you were a pap disguised a valet, c'mon man. On the way out same story, it was raining and never did they ask us to come over and take cover under their area. Terrible valet. Oh and it's +2$ if you use card via square card reader. Anyways, now to the rest of my experience here. Walked in initial service was cool, helpful waiter, but seemed watered down to suit my demographic (24 year old Mexican) First off he literally said "no wine list right?", how about you just leave it there and let me decide. Just little things here and there throughout the meal that just made me feel not welcomed. Didn't even bother to ask if I wanted parmesan cheese on my food like he did to the table next to mine, which fit their average clientele (in their 30's caucasian). Also, I ordered 3 things before telling him I wanted lamb chops and after every item I named him he kept on repeating "what about for your main dish?" Like if he didn't know I read on here that all the portions are beyond small and shouldn't just order a pasta dish. Oh but wait there's more! Checking my bank activity that night I noticed that they pre-authorized it for 20% more than the bill , I'll let your mind wonder as to why they did that (thankfully I only tipped 13% and has since been adjusted). You know how they say that writing things down helps you view the reality of things at times? I think I just realized their service sucked. Oh well. Let's talk about the food now. Ravioli dishes: Ordered the "Ravioli con Asparagi": Ricotta cheese and asparagus filled ravioli + "Tortelli di Zucca": Pumpkin filled ravioli. My date isn't a fan of asparagus and I am not a fan of pumpkin but the irony of that is that we enjoyed the raviolis, that's how good they are. Meatballs: They were good, Soft and easy at the bite. The tomato sauce was good too, perfect balance, not too thick or watery. But just good, not something I'd get again with excitement but got the job done. Lamb Chops: Should of trusted another review when they said they were too fatty..some fat is good, I mean it's lamb after all but to have to play through a maze with your bites to get around the fat, no good. Lacked flavor as well. Not impressed. It was crap basically. Ambiance is nice, dim lighting, candles..typical upscale italian place, have a few people standing around checking what's the next thing they can help you with, can be a good or bad thing depending on how they perceive you. Overall..ehh I'd agree with another reviewer who summed it up by saying to just go with the pasta dishes, meat isn't necessary..just get 2-3 extra pasta dishes over a steak or the lamb and load up on those carbs! The service was bad, including valet but I expected that, I'm sure it'll be better for you, I promise it will. Place has potential to be a very good experience for the right people. Raviolis a must though, like you have to try them if you come here. Plan on making a return in a decade or so when I will buy out their wine cellar.
(2)Raymond H.
Been meaning to try this place for a very long time, and finally visited for a little Mother's Day action. Food was prepared well, and there were some really good flavors, but really nothing that would want me coming back for more to spend $25 on a half-size of pasta. Mushroom risotto was delicious, as was the Veal Milanese (pounded super thin). Maybe its nice for a romantic dinner or special occasion because of its long-standing history, but there is so many great Italian places in LA, that I don't know if its worth the trip. (See Scopa Italian Roots)
(3)MT W.
Their traditions, as they say, are: simplicity, authenticity, and full respect of customers. True?Il Ristorante di Giorgio Baldi family managed tiny place situated in Pacific Palisades. Customers don't come here for the view. It's a celebrity place. Famous celebs are here to eat out quietly and not to be seen and regular customers are there to spot them eventually. Why not to be seen? Because it's the most dark lighted restaurant that I've seen. The light inside is so dimmed, that you can hardly see your plate and the dining room is so small and always completely packed that it's hard to discern anybody unless you sit next to them. They have a tiny terrace outside comprising about 4 tables only. The stuff has bad time management and for this reason it's 99,9 % possible that you won't be seated at the time of your reservation. There is no bar or lounge for your waiting time, so be prepared to hang outside and watch cars or go to the bar next door. First go the assortment of salads. You won't find there anything traditional as Caesar salad or Beet salad, though there are 5 different others and all are most the variations of local greens with a tiny additions of something else, like tuna or cheeses. The go traditional minestrone soup and a couple of more. For Antipasta dishes interesting was " lightly fried soft shell crab served on a tower of frisee, fresh tomatoes and grapefruit". The crab itself is very tiny, hiding in this tower of frisee, but if you find it there - it's delicious. "Sliced seared ahi tuna served with a flower of string and cannnelini beans, arugula lettuce and cherry tomatoes" is good too, but as well as the previous one - more other decorating stuff in there than tuna itself. Where is simplicity?! To hide the crab in the tower or make a flower of beans to put less tuna?... Prices of some appetizers are like of some entrees I'd say. They have 3 different risottos - since it's Italian, you're supposed to have risotto on the menu of course. "Paveron risotto" with crabmeat and roasted bell peppers is very rich and juicy. A lot of pasta variations, but not much of the seafood or meat. Mostly cheese or different vegetables or mushroom sauces variations. No lasagna. As for the fish - Dover sole is pretty good, but it's regular, normal, just good, not cosmic or anything. And easy to cook at home. They have Lobster there, may be should try that one to give the real evaluation. As for the meat: they don't have my minimum which is Filet Mignon. Sad. New York Steak or Veal Rack of Lamb Chops. I would have tried the lamb, but mint sauce doesn't come either to my mind or mouth with it at all. Simple combination of grilled vegetables is 19$. No comments here, that's just authenticity. As for Desserts: most are Italian, but also they have Molten Lava Cake. Gelato, which is ice cream... Profiteroles, Nutella Creps, Panna Cotta Flan (Panna Cotta is flan itself, it shouldn't be named like that then...) Quite extensive wine list, with the obvious straight shift to Italian direction, too strong even for an Italian restaurant . Prices bite, the cheapest Barolo or Amarone would be significantly higher than 100$. Herewith you can NOT bring your own bottle of wine, they don't have a corkage policy, that is atypical and unpleasantly surprising. They say that their wine list changes often and if you call them they will email it to you. No way. They will not. I've been calling them for a week asking to do that as for planning special event, they never ever bothered. Besides, when I came in they prohibited to make a copy or photo it. Why is that?! At least that's not "respect our customers" as well as the waiting time before they sit you. The service itself is pretty slow. And low. May be they can explain it compensating that some servers have Italian accent.. But when you're done with your food they want you either to order something more or to leave. Yes, you can meet there (if you're lucky to find them and see in the dark) Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber, Jennifer Garner, Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks or Rihanna. So, if they have the reputation that celebrities go there - that doesn't mean that the food is good and everybody should praise the place. They go because they have to go out sometimes, they are people too, and there nobody can see them, because it's very dark inside and the place is small. So, I've thought: may be they don't charge them or they have some discounts?! Think about that... Besides, LA is a place that lives on rumors. If somebody famous said "it's good" - then more and more people go, and here we see the line... There are a lot of fantastic places in LA, where you can also get an imposing check but still, better food and service. Let's remember Capo, Spago or Ago... All are Italian, famous too, but really better... Let's face it: Il restaurante di Giorgio Baldi can be in the list of "the most expensive restaurants of LA", but not in the list of "Devine", or "Extravagance".
(1)Colleen V.
Meh is right. Small, expensive portions and wine. The servers have a bit of an attitude also. From how much it was hyped up, I expected better. I know celebrities go here, so maybe that's why they charge so much. And maybe that's why they aren't that friendly to customers who aren't famous. I don't know, but I won't be back. There are enough great restaurants in LA to visit that give you great food and great service for a fraction of the cost.
(2)Desiree Michelle M.
5 Stars for the food but 2 the for service. First of all, they immediately sat us outside and we were the only ones there (everybody else was inside) so that felt a bit strange and off. It made the Ora of the place feel a bit off too. They didn't seem like they cared and just told us when we sat down "you don't want wine right" which I wasn't planning on but come on really? And than the food took longer than expected maybe because there were more "important" ppl to take care of first. Also they charged my friend more than the price that was on the bill which was whatever because it was only a couple dollars over but it wasn't really about that. It was more principal and the way it was handled. Waiter just stated (on the phone) that the manager would call back the following day since it's only a couple dollars. I'm sorry we aren't for bugging for a couple dollars but it was just annoying having the receipt read something different than the card that was used to charge. Maybe it's because we didn't feel 100% welcomed when we got there and they weren't as attentive in getting our orders but any ways on a up side the food was AMAZING! Seriously the best and most authentic Italian pasta I've had in LA so the quality was on point. The sauces they use for the pastas do the trick. Pricey but quality made up for that. I definitely would go back just because the food made up for the so so service. The server we had wasn't bad tho.
(2)Winston F.
It is hard to give any place a good review when you wait over forty five minutes for your table to be ready. Their casual attitude about making us stand in the cold was extremely off putting. It's a shame they don't respect reservation times.
(1)