Hostaria del PiccoloGreat Italian FoodGrilled octopus and pastas were great. Reasonably priced for how good it was5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMMy 5th or 6th ratingI go here frequently so I guess I quite like it. I like all the servers, but since I'm trying to learn Italian, I wish all WERE Italian! It's more fun that way!5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMInteresting foodTHE FOOD: The worst thing I ordered was probably the wild boar sausage--looked like a plate of dog doodoo and tasted like regular microwavable frozen breakfast sausage. The best was the octopus & vegetables--everything tasted amazing. And the side of potatoes tasted like creme brulee--YUM! Also, bonus points for noting which items are gluten-free.
THE SERVICE: Waiter forgot one of our orders (the sausage) but the staff was overall very attentive and good about filling up our water, clearing our plates and making sure everything was good. But do some of the busboys not speak English or something?
THE AMBIENCE: I liked how the restaurant was decorated/designed; had a very laid back feel to it but at the same time was very modern looking.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AM3 Hour Late Lunch, Early DinnerMade reservations on Open Table for Mother's Day. This reminded us of Italy - 3 appetizers (ribs, quail, boar sausage), pizza, pasta, and two entrees (veal was to die for). Shared amongst 3 of us. Gelato and sorbet for dessert. Waitress very attentive. A little expensive - but well worth it! I LOVED IT!5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMWe love Hostaria del Piccolo!My fiance took me to Hostaria del Piccolo for my birthday a few months ago. Since I'm gluten and dairy intolerant we're always on the hunt for good places that accomodate to my food issues. (It aint fun!) We saw a review for Hostaria del Piccolo in the LA Times and decided to check it out. We loved it! So much so that we returned there this past weekend with our mothers for our annual Mother's Day dinner.
The food is really, really delicious. (Not just for this here gluten sufferer!) The dishes are creative and fresh, the service is really great, the ambiance is delightful, and we walk out of there happy. Plus, our mothers were super happy. What more could you want?5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways delicious and truly Italian!I had lunch here with my Dad. I love that all the waiters are from Italy and you can speak Italian with them. Food is always good. I had the baccala with crostini; the grilled octopus with vegetables; and Dad had a pizza with shrimp, mushrooms and mozzarella. All were delicious. I like that the portions are smallish (except the pizza -- there is always some to take home), and there is so much variety! Pigs ear salad, black pizza dough, two octopus dishes, etc. Very good!5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMPromise DeliveredHostaria del Piccolo's menu promises a lot and delivers. Salads, pizza, pastas. and entres measure up well and price well. Combined with an interesting, but limited, wine list, this is definitely worthy of strong community support. The crowd in Santa Monica tends to be older than Venice, which is partially dominated by a huge 4 screen video wall. Santa Monica is walking distance for many who work or live nearby and a great addition to the neighborhood.
Ingredients are important to each dish, and shine through. Sauces are light, even cream based, and add to the experience. Wines are well priced.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMFavoloso!The Pumpkin pizza & Rigatoni were amazing! Our new favorite spot in Santa Monica!! We can't wait to go back again!4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMgood food and good service.good food and good service. what more can you ask for?4/22/2013 12:00:00 AMThose tagliatelli are justThose tagliatelli are just amazing. Try them out next time.4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMNice Menu, Ample Portions, FreshInteresting menu with good variety. Arugula salad was large enough for at least 2 to share with just enough delicious vinaigrette, fish of the day was tasty and moist, well prepared and seasoned. Gnocchi were light pillows with a delicately sauce and fresh tomatoes. The dish could have used some fresh herbs for a little more nuance and texture. Pear carpaccio with chocolate mousse was a lovely ending - not too sweet, but well balanced and light. Food prices were reasonable with ample portions. Service was attentive.4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMFun & Fabulous FoodI was blown away by how good the food was and how unique it was. Very Italian, but sort of new Italian mixed with old. You have got to try the octopus, which the waitress recommended. Unbelievable. Also the "last" pizza on a very long list called Zucca, was an instant hit. Both wine selections we tried were good, and my martini superb. I wish I had this restaurant where I live. Had the cream puffs for dessert, which was perfect to share with my husband, and wish I had one now. Note: they have cushions for the chairs.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food, great staff.ClatteryWe met old friends with whom we really needed to talk, talk, talk. But they appreciate good food and great room design - we knew Hostaria del Piccolo would fill the bill; turns out they'd already discovered it, it's so much their style. We spent hours over the food - we all loved our choices - and the staff did not hurry us out - bravo to them! The only problem is that it does get clattery if you're trying to have an intimate four-way conversation. They sat us by the corner front window, I think to help us, and I'm not sure if it did. But anyway, I love this place. Banana nutella dessert bites are outstanding.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMGood pastas. On occasion canGood pastas. On occasion can be on the salty side, but this time, the food was seasoned perfectly. The hangar steak was a true medium rare. Octopus and calamari always consistent. The only shame is the noise. My voice was hoarse by the end of evening from having to shout. It is so noisy that it is often difficult to hear our server.4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMI would definitely recommendI would definitely recommend this place! We came for late brunch and everyone in our party, from the grandmother down to the 11-year old, got something they thought was delicious. The service was attentive and the ambience was just right. I could also see liking this place at night when the darkness outside the views windows and on the patio would lend to a vey romantic mood.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMOur server was friendly andOur server was friendly and knowledgeable. We had the polenta with pork sausage, the grilled calamari with chard and the black dough pizza with salmon. All were outstanding, as were our deserts, apple strudel and chocolate cake.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful food--and not theWonderful food--and not the standard Italian fare--in a chic, modern setting. Think yummy antipasti, pasta, pizza and fish in space that could be a sushi restaurant.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMPeckish for something outstanding?Dinner was EXCELLENT as usual. Probably more suitable for the younger generation as the noise level made it not conducive of a conversation, although the staff was very accommodating in lowering the volume of the music. Better have an early dinner, then the place is PERFECT! Even our table neighbor was fascinated by what we were eating and we shared some of the food with her. The ricotta appetizer with mushrooms.... to die for. We were hm-humming the entire dinner and so was our table neighbor :-)
To sum it up: definitely my favorite restaurant in LA.
PS I go nuts for their apple strudel with warm custard.3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMWaitress seemed slightly annoyedWaitress seemed slightly annoyed with us the entire time. We had a party of 10 and they wouldn't allow us to do Happy Hour since we didn't sit at the bar. Probably won't be back for mid-week happy hours with the gals as a result.3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMExceptionally Good FoodThe food is exceptional and the atmosphere is happy. Best Italian I have ever had. The prices are very good, and the portions are somewhat small, which was good for us becaused we stayed in a hotel and had no room for doggie bags. I had their putanesca pasta ($14), which was the most flavorful one I have ever had.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic food but ridiculous loud.The food is amazing... very well prepared and fantastic all around.
The noise level is not energetic but rather VERY LOUD which unfortunately has a negative impact on the dinner overall.
We were a group fo 6 an I was only able to speak to the person across and next to me.
If managemete reads this... PLEASE fix the problem.3/11/2013 12:00:00 AMWent for Sunday late lunchWent for Sunday late lunch this time and the place was empty and quiet; unlike at dinner rush. Had the pizzas and enjoyed it very much. The thin crust had the perfect crunch and the sauce/ingredients were flavorful. The Tagliatelle was excellent as usual!3/10/2013 12:00:00 AMBest service in LALove this restaurant. Always wonderful service and food.3/8/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat SM find - truly Italian!My husband and I found Hostaria del Piccolo through Dine LA and it was quite a find! The restaurant was packed with people and the food was unique and very Italian. We took the recommendation of our server and enjoyed every bite. I will say that the reviews really pointed toward the pizzas being out of this world and our pizza was definitely good, but I thought the entrees were more noteworthy... We will definitely be back and are glad we found Hostaria del Piccolo!1/30/2013 12:00:00 AM