Locanda Del Lago

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Address:
231 Arizona Ave.
Santa Monica, CA 90401

Neighborhood:
Santa Monica

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Cuisine:
Italian

Price: $30 and under

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Locanda Del Lago Details

Dining Style: Casual Elegant
Website: http://www.lagosantamonica.com
Phone: (310) 451-3525
Hours of Operation: Lunch: Monday - Saturday: 11:30am - 4:00pm; Dinner: Sunday - Thursday: 4:00pm - 10:00pm, Friday & Saturday: 4:00pm - 11:00pm; Brunch: Sunday: 10:30am - 4:00pm
Payment Options: AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: Italian
Executive Chef: Michelin-Starred Gianfranco Minuz
Dress Code: Casual Dress
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Chef's Table, Counter Seating, Delivery, Farm to Table, Full Bar, Gluten-free Menu, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking Area, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Personal wines welcome, Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies), Private Room, Smoking Area, Takeout, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine, Wine Bar
Catering: Lago's services are available for private parties inside the restaurant or off-premises catering. Whether it's a business location or a party for family and friends, whether the event takes place at the restaurant or at the location of your choice, Lago's catering specialists will handle every detail.
Special Events & Promotions: Lago's services are available for private parties inside the restaurant or off-premises catering.

Getting there

Cross Street: Third St. Promenade
Parking: Valet
Parking Details: Valet every evening from 6:00pm - close. Before 6:00pm, there are 4 public parking structures located within 2 blocks of the restaurant.

A word from Locanda Del Lago

Lago spotlights the cuisine of Bellagio on Lake Como, Northern Italy and features the ultimate upscale restaurant experience with exceptional flavors and meticulous, friendly service since opening in '91. It’s a favorite of foodies, celebrities, locals and travelers. The freshest seasonal… ingredients available from the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market are served in traditional and innovative recipes, and pastas, focaccia, desserts and gelato are housemade daily. The popular bar offers Happy Hour nightly and distinctive Artisanal cocktails. Great patio with view of 3rd Street Promenade. Lago’s wine list has received an Award of Excellence from WINE SPECTATOR every year since 1995 and has over 400 selections from Italy and California. “Don’t miss the Ossobuco alla Milanese” - GOURMET. "There’s no better place to people-watch than at the outdoor patio” - FROMMERS. "Recommended" - MICHELIN. "Perfectly crafted pastas" – ZAGAT. "Best Italian Cuisine" – LOS ANGELES TIMES.
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Diner Reviews

"We truly enjoyed our dinner The stone fruit Branzino special was outstanding as was the pasta with meat sauce. Chrissie, our service, really made the evening. She was so knowledgeable as to food and wine but her personality was terrific. We highly recommend this restaurant for a wonderful dining experience"
Dined on 7/3/2014
"The Italian Cobb salads were excellent. I felt like I was in Florence."
Dined on 7/3/2014
"The branzino looked and tasted like trout. The braise ribs had so much fat that I had to search very carefully to find the meat, though the sauce was very good and the small pieces of beef were very tender and tasty. The bread was excellent. We have been there a few times in the past and both food and ambiance were better."
Dined on 6/28/2014
"Starts with a genuine welcome smile. Friendly attentive staff. Menu with many choices and reasonable prices. Clearly this restaurant is now on my list of regular local dining venues."
Dined on 6/18/2014
"If you want good food this is the best place to eat on the promenade. It is one of the better Italian restaurants in Santa Monica. A tad tight in terms of seating but you expect that in this location. Wonderful wine list especially the Italians."
Dined on 6/7/2014
"Beef carpaccio melted in my mouth! Pasta was very good. Overall very nice experience. "
Dined on 5/18/2014
"Location and ambience are very good, but overall, that the food would match. Not so... Food was in the OK category. "
Dined on 5/17/2014
"Fabulous appetizers at reduced prices for Happy Hour as well as nice wines by the glass. "Best Burger that ever passed our lips" was the table consensus and the delicious Frito Misto easily fed two, for those on a budget who want to step out in a beautiful candlelit setting. Superb breads and a wonderful complimentary happy hour trout paté were a heavenly touch! Can't wait to go back! The beautiful space accommodated a large crowd without feeling crowded."
Dined on 5/11/2014
"My husband and I enjoyed another fabulous meal at Locanda del Lago, all delicious dishes and great service in a beautiful setting. Always a pleasure!"
Dined on 4/10/2014
"Osso B., great but marrow was good. Spinach Ravioli awesome, Masi amarone wine excellent"
Dined on 3/28/2014
"This time we had dinner and it was very good but lunch at Lago is my favorite. They have a terrific antipasti bar and several prix fixe lunch choices. And the antipasti bar can be part of the price fixe. Dinner at Lago is lovely but lunch is the best."
Dined on 3/27/2014
"Well prepared food, great service and terrific people watching if you get a table at the window. There is a nice outdoor dining area, but when we were there, someone out on the Promenade was using a megaphone to shout his warnings about being hellbound, so we chose to sit inside. The burger is definitely not an afterthought and is really special. A spaghetti with seafood dish was al dente, seasoned to perfection and loaded with seafood. We'll be going back!"
Dined on 3/23/2014
"The food here is always excellent and of high quality. The owners are from Bellagio and they know what they are doing. It is truly northern Italian."
Dined on 3/19/2014
"Have been to Lago many times. This time wasn't the best. We were seated exactly where we asked not to be seated - in direct line of cold air from open door. The waiter was harried to infinity and mumbled the specials from about 6 feet away from us, so we couldn't hear what he was saying. Had to ask for parmesan for main courses. He was great when it came time for dessert and I asked for berries & whipped creme. That worked out spectacularly. Will definitely return - I think it was an off night. If it had been our first time to Lago, we may not have returned, but we realized it was just an off night."
Dined on 3/19/2014
"We had high hopes sitting down at our table, but when the bread came it tasted odd and they started to fade. The prices on the menu were fairly substantial, so we expected our entrees to be delicious. They were not. My chicken was overcooked and the polenta dry and hard. The mushrooms were good, but for the price perhaps the addition of a few vegetables were in order. My husband said his entree was just "okay." We agreed there would not be a return visit. Disappointing."
Dined on 3/19/2014
"Enjoyed nice dinner at Lago, had the 3 Course Meal. We were told the fish on the 3 course was not available that evening but we did not want the guinea hen as the main course. Our server was kind enough to check and we were allowed to have the sea bass on the menu as a substitute. The salad was delicious, the pasta was tasty but kind of dry so a little hard to eat. Needed more sauce. The sea bass was excellent. We then decided to go for the dessert. My husband had the molten cake, he loved it. I had the panna cotta, I was a little disappointed with it. It was too firm, not light and soft in texture as I have had at various other restaurants. Maybe that is the way it turned out that evening. Our server was very nice and attentive."
Dined on 3/17/2014
"Lago used to be a gourmet dining experience but then it went downhill and the number of customers did too. But now the combination of creative chefing, excellent management and superb service makes it a spot that's perfect to both enjoy ever changing seasonal specialties and good conversation. A spot that's both good for families who care about eating and romantics who also welcome the atmosphere. Roonie"
Dined on 3/3/2014
"Food was served fresh and done up nicely. Great server with great knowledge. We had the frito misto appetizer and I had the filet mignon and my colleague had the chicken. When I am in the area I will definitely dine there again."
Dined on 2/17/2014
"Wanted to eat Italian in Santa Monica close to the Cirque du Soleil venue so picked Locanda Del Lago. Even though my party was early we were seated at a good table. Service was very good but disappointed with food. One person ordered short ribs, it was served at room temperature. Other person ordered filet mignon, nothing special about it at all. I ordered the fish stew, normally only served at lunch time but they were able to accommodate my selection. The stew was tasty but not very much of it. For the price we paid for dinner items, didn't feel we were getting our money worth."
Dined on 2/15/2014
"Went on Valentine's Day and the place was extremely packed."
Dined on 2/14/2014
"Food was overpriced and not up to the reputation or reviews we've read. Server felt bored and could have been more attentive and explained each course served, instead of just dropping them on the table and walking away. Drinks were not very well made either. Overall, disappointed."
Dined on 2/14/2014
"Great location on the promenade, consistently good food, wine and service make "Lago" one of my "go to" places. My gluten-intolerant friend was very pleased that they can make a number of their dishes gluten-free."
Dined on 2/11/2014
"The place was nice and the server was really good with us. My girlfriend wanted wine options and that's exactly what she got. She loved the wine, bread and filet mignon. The vegetable lasagne is a must try. We had a fun night and the best part of our dinner was the service. We got there early and they took us though it was a packed house. The place is pricey but worth it."
Dined on 2/8/2014
"Date night - nice atmosphere - great location! It's loud, but has a nice ambiance. Tables for two are VERY crowded even before the food arrives (try to get a larger one if available). Food was overall very good scallops++ beet salad++ had a Taggelioni (spelled wrong) thing which was wide noodle pasta, and a meat sauce - no real red/white sauce - just a meat sauce - which was odd, and didn't work for us - I could see it as being great though if we said do that meat sauce, but put red and white with it (pink) - or just red... Service wasn't great - but wasn't horrible - our waiter had a hard time with English - but he tried... It was very busy that night. I'd go again if in the area..."
Dined on 2/1/2014
"Veal carpaccio and fish prepared livornese style was outstanding!! Very impressed iwth the quality of food on the Dine LA menu. Loved this lunch!"
Dined on 1/28/2014
"Wow! This is an incredible restaurant. We made a reservation through Open Table and were seated immediately. The waiter was very knowledgeable about the menu. I had the whole mediterranean seabass. Excellent tableside presentation. My wife had the Chilean Sea bass. Cooked just right. Very tender and moist. Great selection on the wine list. This was a memorable dinner."
Dined on 1/27/2014
"My husband and I have been to Locanda del Lago a number of times over the past 7 years, usually once every visit to L.A. before we moved here. This time, unbeknownst to the restaurant staff, we were celebrating some special milestones and also happened to pop in during DineLA. So glad that we did, because from start to finish, this was one of the best and most memorable meals we've had in L.A. From the burrata with squash and prosciutto to the beet infused gnocchi (hope it's added to the menu) and sea salt crusted sea bass to the lovely lemon sponge cake and panna cotta, the food was absolutely exceptional. All fresh and farm-to-table, the tastes were simply delectable. Can't wait to go back more often now that we live on the west side!"
Dined on 1/25/2014
"Arrived early for our reservation and they were able to accommodate us. We sat at a table that I actually wanted to move from to a corner because too many people walking by and too close. We sat for a while and no one came over to even give water. We then ordered drinks. As soon as that waiter took the drink order another waiter came over and said he was our waiter.Warm bread was delicious. We ordered our food. When the food came out both dishes looked the same. The mgr comes over takes a look and confirms that both dishes were the same when we had ordered two different things.They comp'd us for our drinks. Besides the mixup the food was good. Only other issue was the breaking of wine glasses every so often."
Dined on 1/25/2014
"no refill for lemonade, u will be charged for another one. one glass of lemonade less than 250 ml, half ice and half lemonade and NO refill explain to my server and he dont really care about customer service."
Dined on 1/25/2014
"When you go to the Third Street Promenade, you are usually not going to find a fine dining restaurant close by, but this little bit of Italy is right ON the Promenade and offers wonderfully authentic Italian meals, wine, service and lovely dessert. I love their Pasta Carbonara for lunch and their Filet Mignon at dinner was melt in your mouth delicious! Save room for their Tiramisu, it's like you've not had before!"
Dined on 1/23/2014
"Great restaurant for various occasions.... has been owned by same owner for the last 25 years.... Awesome food and service"
Dined on 1/11/2014
"Locanda Del Lago delivered as promised with a great meal."
Dined on 1/3/2014
"Enjoyed our evening! Food was delicious and fairly priced. Beautiful wine list. The cocktails were weak, but the wine suggestion was right on!"
Dined on 12/28/2013
"7:30 reservation; arrived at 7:25, but had to sit outside or wait for 30+ min. No service for 8 min; water, drink and dinner orders placed immediately. The Super Tuscan wine--which I had had before-- tasted more like a blend of 2 buck Chuck cab and merlot. I let it go. My husband ordered a salad and the veal, with spinach substituted for the potatoes. I ordered Filet Mignon, medium rare. The substitution was ignored for my husband...and my steak was an unrecognizable 1/3" thick, oddly-shaped piece cooked medium to well-done. When I asked the waitress what kind of meat it was she said "rib-eye" --with no price reduction as it was "bigger." I took a few bites and took it home--it was a "flat iron". Rip-off."
Dined on 12/25/2013
"I selected this restaurant because its one of the few places that were open for X'mas day (and Thanksgiving). It's location in the Santa Monica Promenade also makes it convenient if you want to do some last minute shopping or catch a movie after your meal. They have a decent holiday prix-fix menu, but you can also order a-la-carte. The northern Italian inspired menu has variety, and since I do not eat pasta, they have fish and other protein dishes to choose from. When its all set and done, it's not cheap. But I didn't have to do the dishes after the meal, so its worth the price."
Dined on 12/25/2013
"This restaurant is consistant with fiid, service and ambience. The owner is a man of taste and takes the time to say hello to the customers. A admirable Italian trait. he makes you feel like you are a guest in his home. Everyone is happy because the food and environment are so nice."
Dined on 12/6/2013
"This was the first time I had to face the holiday season without my parents (they both passed away this past year). With family spread out around the country, I chose to celebrate Thanksgiving locally with my daughter at Lago. I cannot begin to tell you how surprising it was for us to truly have the best time, despite what I anticipated to be a mournfully sad day. The server and manager treated us like family and the food and wine was amazing! Thank You Lago!!!!"
Dined on 11/28/2013
"My wife and I have to travel to Santa Monica in business 3-4 times a year (we live in the mountains of Virginia). We found Lago about a year ago and have returned every trip since. We love wine pairings and chef's sampler menus, and since the one at Lago changes quarterly it's what we always do. We've never been disasppointed. One suggestion, though. I am a Vesper martini fan and the bar doesn't stock Lillet Blanc. You should get some."
Dined on 11/20/2013
"I took my friend Pat to Lago for her birthday dinner - at her request. She had an amazing Osso Buco and I had a Sea Bream special. We started with a simple mixed salad which was lightly dressed and very fresh. The surprise ending to our meal was a beautiful Tiramisu - on the house - with a candle in it - which was complimentary. I've been to Lago many times and it never disappoints."
Dined on 10/18/2013
"Locanda Del Lago 's seasonal menu gives a taste of Lake Como and Northern Italy. Traditional pastas and risottos will not disappoint. The ambience is warm and the service gracious. This is a great place to bring a date and the location couldn't be better on the 3rd Street Promenade. You can choose indoor or outdoor dining."
Dined on 9/13/2013

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