Diners' Choice: Italian restaurants in Beach Cities

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Italian cuisine in Beach Cities? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Caffe Pinguini

4.8

4.8 (1646)

$31 to $50

Italian

Playa del Rey

About the restaurant

We are open for curbside pickup, takeout and delivery and offering a 10% discount on all orders! Lunch will be open from 12pm-2:30pm & Dinner from 5:30pm-9:30pm.

Italian owners, Tony Cotrufo and Enrico Fiorentini, both hail from Rome and have been serving fresh authentic Italian cuisine at their Playa Del Rey location since 1997. They offer homemade pastas, an excellent wine list, outdoor seating and daily specials.

Caffe Pinguini was awarded with the "Marchio Ospitalita" Italiana - Seal of Authenticity". The seal distinguishes those restaurants with the highest quality of Italian hospitality.

Top review

AdamVIP

Dined 4 days ago

It was great! Great service and great home style food!

Avenue Italy Cucina Italiana -West Rancho Palos Verdes

4.7

4.7 (833)

$30 and under

Italian

Rancho Palos Verdes / Rolling Hills Estates

About the restaurant

We are open for Takeout & Curbside pick up! Order any pizza and get fries with it. We are open from 5pm-8pm!

Benvenuto!

Our Chef Mario Zanetti, originally from Piemonte, Italy has been in the fine dining industry for more than 25 years. During his prestigious career, Mario has been the Lead Chef for La Stada Restaurant in Los Angeles, as well as owned his own very successful restaurant in Orange County.

Now his unsurpassed expertise can be shared with you at Avenue Italy, where you will find a welcoming atmosphere and freshly prepared food by the expert and his team.

Top review

Cheryl

Dined on Jun 1, 2025

This was an unexpected treasure of a restaurant. Celebrated my birthday with my family. The food was excellent. Unfortunately, we’re seated on an enclosed patio feeling and felt a bit isolated. Would have preferred to be indoors to enjoy the live music and charming restaurant ambience.

Gaetano's Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (2455)

$30 and under

Italian

Torrance / Carson

About the restaurant

Back to back winner of the Daily Breeze's "Best Italian Restaurant in the South Bay", Gaetano's Restaurant is a family owned operation that emphasizes food quality and radiant guest service. We feel the most important part of Gaetano's is the experience. From the second you walk through our door, it is our duty to make your visit memorable.

All of our food is handmade from the Butternut Squash Ravioli to the Tagliatelle and Chianti Ribs. Our Authentic Italian dishes with a modern touch sends guests home happy and wanting more.

Top review

KristinVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Everyone is so friendly and attentive and the food is the best!!

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Experience

Free Corkage Wednesday's

Bottle Inn Hermosa

4.9

4.9 (1975)

$30 and under

Italian

Hermosa Beach

About the restaurant

The Bottle Inn is a neighborhood gem nestled in the residential seaside community of Hermosa Beach, just south of LAX Airport. We have been catering to our regular patrons, guests, tourists and celebrities for 50 years. Our restaurant is known for it's romantic, cozy ambiance and it's consistently outstanding classical Italian Cuisine. In addition to our recently renovated ocean-view patio, wine bar & cozy dining room, our intimate wine cellar is available for parties of 2 up to 20 guests. Our menu features a variety of authentic Italian entree & pasta dishes, fresh seafood & appetizers. Top off your meal with one of our signature homemade cheesecake & desserts. We are conveniently open nightly for dinner @ 5:00pm. We also offer facilities for private dining & events. ~ A little corner of Italy in your neighborhood! Salute!

Top review

Dr. MicheleVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Deanna is amazing!!! She trying makes you feel like family!!

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Popular dish

Fettuccine Bolognese

Bettolino Kitchen

4.7

4.7 (2790)

$30 and under

Italian

Redondo Beach

About the restaurant

Housed inside an unassuming strip mall, Bettolino Kitchen aims to give you an unexpected experience that rivals those of the big guns. Owned and operated by 4th generation South Bay Restaurateurs, Bettolino Kitchen takes a modern spin on dishes you would come to expect in a classic Italian restaurant.
All pastas are homemade, desserts are freshly baked, cocktails are scratch-made and decor is a breath of fresh air.

Top review

DebbieVIP

Dined 5 days ago

great food! comfortable environment. friendly service! pro-tip: their lunch menu is abbreviated but they have some items on the full menu available that was available at lunch - you might want to ask for the full menu.

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Popular dish

Rigatoni al Pesto

Jame Enoteca

4.8

4.8 (1063)

$30 and under

Italian

El Segundo

About the restaurant

Jame is Jackson and Melissa Kalb's first restaurant, focused on Southern Italian cooking and way of life. Jame's vision is to use local, market-driven ingredients to create delicious and unique Italian dishes. This is particularly true in the hand-rolled pastas, but is also seen in other popular dishes like the crispy brussels sprouts, kale salad, and Crispy Braised "Coop's" pork shank. Join us next door at John Thomas Bar where Chef Jackson highlights sophisticated twists on classic cocktails for those who are looking for some late night fun. Take a quick trip to Southern Italy and be a guest in our home.

Top review

Diana

Dined on Jun 12, 2025

Really enjoy the pasta selection here! Very authentic and unique dishes I don’t see elsewhere. The spicy rigatoni, paccheri, and ricotta cavatelli are delicious, but we especially enjoyed the kale salad which was recommended by our server. Who btw, was so kind and didn’t rush us out after we had finished—although of course we didn’t linger—it was nice to receive such great and accommodating service.

Bacari PDR

4.8

4.8 (1439)

$31 to $50

Italian

Playa del Rey

About the restaurant

Bacari PDR is a Venetian-inspired small plates restaurant featuring Mediterranean-influenced dishes by Chef Lior Hillel. We are the 2nd restaurant of Kronfli Brothers, a family-owned, growing group of restaurants in the Los Angeles area. Alongside our delicious tapas, we offer a rotating curation of small-production wines and eclectic beers, unique craft cocktails & mocktails, and we are also known for our one-of-a-kind 90-minute open bar special.

Our team provides warm hospitality in our comfortable, intimate indoor patio or in our spacious, breezy outdoor patio. You will feel like home when dining at Bacari PDR.

We welcome but do not require reservations — we love to accommodate walk-ins and large parties, even on busy nights. Bacari PDR is the go-to spot for our neighbors, and we look forward to hosting you soon!

Top review

Julianne

Dined on Jun 15, 2025

i LOVE bacari! great food, drinks, and vibes for a reasonable price.

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Popular dish

sea bass

Popular dish

vegan double chocolate cake

Popular dish

shawarma tacos

Sunday Gravy

4.7

4.7 (31)

$31 to $50

Italian

Inglewood

About the restaurant

In the early 1970's our dad opened his first restaurant, Jino's, in Our very same location. He aimed to give the people of Inglewood an option different from the big chains by using quality ingredients and a fresh approach. Our goal at Sunday Gravy is to continue building on that foundation. We proudly serve fresh pasta by Florentyna’s and organically made artisan breads from Cadoro Bakery, both made with pride in Inglewood. At Sunday Gravy, we emphasize the coming together of family, friends, and communities around great food, drink, and conversation.

Top review

amy

Dined 4 days ago

The food was delicious and the staff attentive and delightful

Mangiamo

4.8

4.8 (1659)

$31 to $50

Italian

Manhattan Beach

About the restaurant

Mangiamo Restaurant, serving traditional Italian cuisine through a California lens, is located in the heart of beautiful downtown Manhattan Beach, one block west of Manhattan Beach's historic pier. Mangiamo has been serving the South Bay since 1984. Mangiamo is currently serving indoors and outdoors on our heated decks with epic views of the Pacific Ocean.

Top review

Jeffrey

Dined on Jun 1, 2025

The Pumpkin Tortellini and Gnocchi con Short Rib Ragu appetizers were a great start. The Osso Bucco is wonderful, highly recommended. Frank the manager is always great and so were our servers Valentin and Gustavo.

Primo Italia

4.8

4.8 (1464)

$31 to $50

Italian

Torrance / Carson

About the restaurant

True Heritage Based Italian Cuisine set in a Beautiful, warm and vibrant wood-look setting. Truly, your South Bay outpost, for craft cocktails, live music Thur-Sat, Private Events and always only the best authentic Italian food our area has to offer. The Beach Cities best Italian located at 24590 Hawthorne Boulevard in Torrance, California. Michelin Star quality dishes at South Bay prices.
Indoor and outdoor dining, as well as private rooms available!

Top review

RosalieVIP

Dined 7 days ago

We had a wonderful Father’s Day dinner. The steak special was outstanding!! (As well as everything else)

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Experience

Live Music with Ayline Artin

Experience

Live Piano Music at Primo Italia

Experience

Mothers Day at Primo

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