10645 W Pico Blvd

Here is my mom's review. She does not love using computers but does love good food and asked me to post her review for her. Vicini is a gem of an Italian restaurant, hidden away on Pico a couple of blocks east of Westwood Blvd. Chef Lacio Bedon has created a warm and welcoming atmosphere in his comfortable restaurant. The menu offers a wide variety of outstanding dishes from appetizers to dessert. Recently my husband and I began our meal with warm, fresh bread. We also enjoyed the Caesar salad dressed perfectly, and the pollo al funghi prepared with a delightful and light sauce. The charred broccolini was perfectly grilled and the fruit tart with three kinds of fresh fruit was delicious. On a previous visit, the branzino was grilled to perfection and the pasta was delicately flavored and served al dente. Everyone from the waitstaff to Chef Bedon makes diners feel welcomed and not rushed in any way. We highly recommend this relatively new Italian restaurant without any hesitation. Every dish is carefully prepared with quality ingredients and has earned my five stars.

Food 5/5 Service 5/5 Ambiance 4/5 Love this new neighborhood spot. Feels like high end Italian food at a comfortable and cozy establishment with a staff that has real care for their food.

This place is just okay. Service is okay... the guy we had didn't offer fresh grated cheese but offered the three tables around us. Also very loud inside from people talking. The food was underwhelming. $28 for the below which is described as a "rich cream sauce" and it has the runniest sauce as if it was chicken broth. Wouldn't recommend going here for price and then the flavor...

My friend and I came here for dinner on a Sunday night. The place was pretty empty. Probably because it's still a new find. The food was authentic Italian and cooked perfectly. We started off with the Squash Blossoms, which were tasty, however, they should have been four pieces and not three since we were sharing it. For the main course I ordered the Pasta Vongole and my friend decided on the Tagliatelle Bolognese. Both were incredibly tasty and freshly made. But I wish there was more portions on all their dishes as they were on the small side and with their high prices, we weren't getting what we were paying for. So that was a disappointment. For dessert we ordered the chocolate chip bread pudding. It was just okay and we both preferred it without the raisins. On a final note, our waitress was friendly but I don't appreciate that she laid down our bill before we asked for it. Maybe they were eager to close early. But still, she should've asked us.

Real authentic Italian Restaurant with real Italian Wines from the best Italian regions. Chef/Owner Lucio really showed his mastery in picking ingredients and cooking them to perfection. Polenta croutons were so delightful. Octopus was nice and soft not hard and chewy. Velvety and heart warming pastas. You cannot go wrong with anything on this menu. As soon as the first dish arrived I knew it was all going to be amazing. Definitely going back to try the whole menu.

Came in on Friday night and we were quick to be seated. Our waiter was very attentive all night, and presented us with various off-menu items they had for specials. Food was definitely on the pricey-er side. We decided to start with beef tartare & the baby arugula salad. The tartare was very good! The salad was okay, hardly any pomegranate seeds with a few shreds of cheese and hardly any dressing. The salad was light, but I would have preferred at least a little more of the toppings. For my main dish, I had the limon tagliolini, an off-menu pasta. The lemony-cream sauce was amazing and the pasta was cooked perfectly. I would definitely come back to try this again (if they continue to offer it). The bolognese was also good, and the pasta tasted very fresh. For dessert tried the salted caramel pear and plum pastry/tart. I wasn't a big fan, I felt like the flavors didn't really go together and the plums were too candied/sweet for me. The crust on the pastry was good, I would have preferred a different fruit or flavor. Regardless, I had a nice time and would like to come back!

Lovely Italian spot with good service and food. We had a casual dinner there on weekdays and it was quite full but still no wait. I got pate as appetizer and it was SO GOOD. Probably one of my favorite pate because of the great texture and taste + their berry toppings that goes so well with the pate. My main was also delicious. Not much else to say except was it was a pleasant dining experience. Would come back again.

Carbonara: extremely salty Bolognese Tagliatelle: excellent Caesar Salad: delicious Spaghetti alle Vongole: bland The parking situation was a hassle since they reserved the parking space in the back for to-go orders, requiring customers to park many blocks away. While the service was attentive, there was a lack of warmth in the interaction, which could have made the dining experience more welcoming.

A great new find. We had pasta and risotto which were amazing. Had to try the octopus too and it was delicious. The fries were crispy and hot and broccolini was not to be missed. Service was excellent. The chef even came out to say hello. Don't forget about dessert. You have to try the panna cotta. I will definitely try their tiramisu on the next visit.

Scrolling through Instagram the other day I see this Eater LA article about a chef with a proud pedigree opening a new spot in West LA, and so I read it. I was super excited to see that he was opening in the old Louise's spot (for you locals, it's over near the former Westside Pavilion). The restaurant has been completely and tastefully redone in deep blues and whites, with a fresh almost Mediterranean vibe. When we arrived, we were immediately greeted and sat at the counter where the bartender serviced us and was excellent. We started off with the tri-colore salad and the beef carpaccio with the parmesan fondue and the salad was great-- but the carpaccio-- holy smokes. It was INCREDIBLE. So, so good. I think it's one of the best carpaccio's we've ever had. The next dishes we ordered was the Spaghetti Vongole, and the Tagliatelle Bolognese and we shared both dishes. Where to start? OK, I'm a vongole snob, and this is probably my favorite dish known to man and I'm a tough critic on this dish. It was impeccable. The clams were all super fresh, the pasta was freshly made, the sauce was a delicate blend of olive oil, with some lemon and salt. It needed absolutely nothing and was the best pasta/vongole dish I've had since I was in Italy and Switzerland last year. The tagliatelle dish was also incredible. The absolute perfect portion for dinner; with fresh pasta, a delicious sauce and plenty of beef/pork ragu. Such a solid dish. Would definitely order again. Lastly we had the peach and apricot tart with salted caramel. We were told Chef bought the peaches and apricots just a couple days ago at the local farmer's market, and we just had to try. This too was great. I think I loved it more than the boyfriend because I'm not a fan of super sweet desserts, and this is one that's a sweet and savory dish. I loved it, but the boyfriend was wanting it to have a scoop of vanilla ice cream, while I lapped up the salted caramel like it was my job. The one star review below almost scared us out of coming. So I'm not sure who the person was who did the hit piece down below, but our experience was soooooo far different it was night and day. The TV is in the bar area and there is no sound on it. The music was trendy and nice-- played at a level where it wasn't loud or obnoxious; the perfect volume to set a vibe and not ruin it. Also-- the food was incredibly flavorful and bland would most certainly not be a word to describe it. It needed nothing extra; and I'm extra af. (Extra mayo, extra salt, extra sauce-- I have no shame). Anyhow, Vicini's will now be a staple on our dining circuit. OK and passable Italian food is easy to find-- Excellent Italian is not. This place is excellent!

Newly opened Italian restaurant on the Westside! We came opening weekend and were lucky to snag a reservation! We were seated at one of the booths and our server Asia, along with the rest of the staff, were amazing! The restaurant has a classy yet homey feel which I enjoyed. We ordered the Carpaccio di manzo (beef carpaccio), Capesante scottate (seared sea scallops), Spaghetti alle vongole, side of grilled broccolini, and ended with the peach and apricot tart (highlight of our night!) The green pea puree on the scallops and the buttery lemony sauce on the vongole were to die for. To top off the night, the apricot and pear tart was exceptional! It came out warm and was the perfect texture. The salted caramel was the icing on top. Overall, amazing experience at Vicini on opening weekend. Would definitely come back to try more of their menu!

My bf and I were able to snag a last minute dinner reservation on Friday night, and it did not disappoint! The servers were so friendly and personable, making sure that we enjoyed each dish. We were starving and ordered quite a bit to share - Prosciutto e Melone, Capesante Scottate (seared scallops), Risotto Nero Con Sepia (black ink risotto), Tagliatelle Bolognese, and ended with the Peach and Apricot Tart with salted caramel. Everything was great but the seared scallops and risotto really stood out. Scallops were tender and perfectly seared with a delicious pea puree and the risotto was flavorful and unique. The only con is that parking can be a bit difficult. Aside from that, the service was amazing and the food was incredible - we'll definitely be back!

Real time review. Let's see how this goes. New Italian restaurant and was greeted by the very affable owner/chef Lucio and sweet server Asia. Complimentary bubbly to start from Lucio. Off to a good start! This is a surprisingly large and airy restaurant. Very clean. Nice ambiance. First course. Salad with ricotta. Let me taste this and let you know. Tart, well balanced, sweet, earthy. Very yummy. On to course two. Octopus. Very tasty. Grilled to perfection with olive oil in a hummus like base. Nicely charred tomatoes have brought out the sweetness. Onto the main course. The spaghetti alla vongole was delicious. Slightly past al dente, but I'm sure some people prefer that. The lobster ravioli was briney and unctuous. Very nice. Highly recommend this two week old place! Love getting into restaurants before they get really popular!

First time and really enjoyed the food and experience. Went with another couple (party of 4). Starters were inventive while still authentic to Italian cuisine. Pasta dishes featured fresh-made pasta, some classics (Carbonara) but also some very unusually creative options. Nice wine list, great service. Highly recommend! Let's keep this neighborhood place going!!

Our family goes to Vicini once every couple of weeks, and it's always solid. Today we tried brunch, and oh boy! The food is delicious, the juice for the mimosas is fresh and organic, and they do something very wicked to their potatoes.

We went to Vicini with friends to celebrate a birthday. The food was absolutely delicious and we look forward to going again to try more dishes. We ordered: capesante con agrumi, caesare insalate, risotto al tartufo, paccheri con guanciale, and branzino alla griglia - and for dessert, the panna cotta. To help celebrate the birthday, our waitress also brought out a complimentary tiramisu. If you like Caesar's salad, you need to try this one for the croutons alone. The scallops in a shell were really tasty (see photo). And all the entrees were really good. The portion sizes were on the smaller side, forcing you to slow down and savor every bite. Just a heads up: Parking is a problem. There's no designated parking or valet. Plan to park somewhere in the neighborhood. One suggestion to owner: On the menu, add the English name for each dish - alongside the Italian name. You already list the dish elements in English. It would make it easier to order if you don't speak Italian.

Had an amazing dinner last night with my family at Vicini Restaurant, food took me to another level of palate and service was excellent. Have to mention that the atmosphere was fabulous, definitely coming back!!!

Great pastas and fish Nice booths and quiet atmosphere Exceptionally warm and welcoming service

I'm originally from Italy. I have now just two fav Italian restaurants in LA and one of them is "Vicini". In their dishes you can find the real Italian taste which is not easy to find overseas because of the different quality of the ingredients. Best in town! A real Italian experience. Service was good, chef is simply the best. Great ambiance!

The other reviewers are spot on. The food here is excellent but the portions are small... and unless they lower price points or elevate the experience, I can't see how this place will survive. It looks like they used the old chairs and tables (?) from Louise's, the music is obtrusive, the lighting is too bright, and there's a TV monitor near the bar playing weird images (almost like screen savers). That said, I'll be back because I live in the neighborhood and want to support a local business. And, again, the food is great! Really hoping they make some changes to the decor.

Great new neighborhood place - great service and food, really recommend the pasta! Comfortable and relaxed with attentive servers.

Vicini was lively. A fairly intimate vibe whether at a table or the bar with delicious options from start to finish. Chef Lucio and wife Jennifer and sons and team just you to sumptuous original takes on Northern Italian dishes and drinks from Lucio's home region. Yummm! We started with spritzes, scallops and kale salad followed by the bolognese on fresh pasta and finished with melt-in-your-mouth flourless chocolate and fresh peach tarts and after dessert drinks. All amazing and served with elegant, graceful, knowledgeable yet casual style. A memorable night, one which I plan to repeat soon A must for LA foodies!

We had the following food items: -agnolotti di brasato -tagliatelle bolognese -branzino alla griglia -Polipo alla griglia -chicken liver mousse -tri-colore salad -spaghetti alle vongole We enjoyed each dish and to me the restaurant has a lot of classical Italian items you would expect and nails them from the seasoning and preparation. We also tried one of their drinks called the "veccio" and its mighty tasty and I definitely recommend if you like spicy/herby alcoholic beverages. Service was good and our wait staff member was friendly and attentive. As a note the branzino takes a little bit longer to prepare but definitely worth the wait. Favorite two dishes were agnolotti and the chicken liver mousse. I do hope in the future the restaurant offers specials surrounding agnolotti with difference sauces (brown butter & sage, en brodo, et cetera) and pizza. My only complaint is that I think the portions could be slightly bumped up but all in all, I would take this restaurant over a lot of overhyped Italian restaurants in the Los Angeles because the quality control is definitely there.

Went on Saturday night, was somewhat quiet. The interior is simple but comfortable. We sat at a high top in the bar area. Service was very good and the food was very good. We had the octopus, burrata and a pasta. They were all good and we will definitely return as we live close by!

This is some of the best Italian food in the Westside, and definitely one of the best restaurants in the area. Everything is fresh, authentic, and delicious. Happy to have Vicini in the neighborhood!

Really good food. Friendly staff. Casual vibes. We went here for date night and had a great time. Highly recommended getting dessert

Great service. Very attentive. Friendly. Good energy from the kitchen that could partially be seen, by the bar in front. Had a glass of Nebbiolo, very nice. Enjoyed the appetizers of squash blossoms stuffed with ricotta- came out hot and crispy. Beef carpaccio- delicious, unique mayonnaise-style sauce. Had the tagliatelle with bolognese sauces- delicious, hearty, perfectly cooked pasta. Had the clams and Linguini garlicky and buttery - yum. Desserts good too - had tiramisu and peach tart. Would recommend trying. Worth it.

Sooooo good! Portions sizes are great, food is high caliber, vibes are on-point. Got the Grilled Branzino and Octopus.

I didnt know Louises doesnt exist anymore, But Vicini does lolololo love the menu, short, clear n clean. The service was amazing, Our server Chad explained the menu, she was very attentive. he warned us that he pasta was small portions, wich was good cause we ate an appetizer and dessert, The Pastas were good, nothing out of this world but good. The thing was with the "tiramisú" cause it was soooooo sweeeet, and the mascarpone was just a lot, and two little pieces of lady fingers. and yes, it is a little expensive. We will come back. 7 out of 10

Amazing all around! Chef Lucio has truly outdone himself. Everything I put in my mouth was delicious and the components of each dish are so well planned. The octopus was probably my absolute favorite! Many more visits to come and can't wait!

We went for the first time last night. Food was excellent, prices aren't too bad in this era of inflation. We'll be back.

The food is okay, service okay , the prices for a neighborhood place are way high. No real ambience, no table cloths, candles or little lights. Menu is very small and limited , no bread unless asked for and paid for. 125$ for no drinks, only regular water, 4 appetizers, 1 Brussel sprouts, each one is 23 $ except the Brussels 11$ lg order. Also a mildew smell when walking in . No flowers or scented candle which would help

Very small portions for the amount of Money it costs to eat here. Not the best value.

Chef Lucio is amazing. Every dish was delectable! If you want some of the best Italian food you've ever had, try Vicini. Not to be missed. My only complaint is that it is on the west side. For me, as I live in Pasadena, it was not ideal. But I'm still gonna go cuz his food is great.

WOW!!! They are very accommodating and understanding (I don't eat meat and they modified the food to my needs). They don't rush you, they listen to you, and they do take their time to make you feel welcome and informed. They are very friendly and respectful. The place is super clean and the atmosphere is peaceful and very cozy, it's inviting. This place is stuck in my head as my "go to" for relaxation and recharge (yes, no only you relax but you also eat, put nutrition in your body). If this is not good enough, wait until you get the food and that's even better, much better. The food tasted really fresh and not out of a can, like home made. It was not over spiced nor under spiced, it was just right. Perfect. I went for brunch so the menu at the moment only had brunch items, and all of them seemed carefully selected. I wanted to try them all... I settle for trying one at a time with each visit since from now on I'll keep coming. It's a new restaurant, family owned and operated, and it's clearly visible that they truly love what they do, and their customers. Since it was not so busy that day (and we were the first ones) the Master Chef (and co-owner) Lucio even came to our table to say hello and hear our input. Only in the movies!!! Try and be there when they open to be the first ones and hopefully the Master Chef will come out to your table too!!! It could become a thing! Jennifer (co-owner), Greeted us at the door and made us feel "at home" immediately. It felt as if we had known each other for years! My wife liked Jennifer totally. The waitresses were attentive, not intrusive at all, friendly, and informative. I was impress by their service. Their prices are very affordable, and it's a good size meal. At other Italian restaurants you pay high and is little food, and not as good tasting as this one, not even close. This place is an awesome find. I'm craving their food! I 100% recommend this place. UPDATE: We went today again for Sunday night pizza, and it was so good that we HAD to order a second one. Wait, guess what? It was so good that my brain only snapped out of it when there was one more slice left, so, I'm not sorry to tell you that the one photo here is the only evidence. They do have several waitresses, but the Master Chef even brought to our table one of the pizza! Talk about personalizing service!

New restaurant in the neighborhood. The tuna carpacio and octopus apps were a great start. Pastas we had tagliatelli bolognese, carbonara and clams. Kids liked bolognese and carbonara the best. I had the salmon. Really tasty and great crispy skin. Surprised this place is not that busy. Check it out. Solid Italian joint. Good service.

This weekend I ended up walking home later than expected and I was followed for about a mile on Pico from the park by a homeless guy on a shopping cart, zooming across multiple lanes of traffic to get to me, repeatedly. I got to Vicini just as the wait staff were cleaning up, and they were very kind, friendly, and reassuring. They invited me in and made me comfortable, and kept a lookout to let me know when the coast was clear. The owner even offered to drive me home, although I ended up opting to be escorted out the back entrance. Next time you want Italian, please go support a restaurant that goes out of its way to be a good neighbor and to foster a safe, caring community. Although I didn't try the menu, it looks fantastic!

The food was excellent but I was most impressed by the staff. They selected a wine that paired well with our menu choices. The interior is warmed by an Italian artist's interpretation of the Wine Goddess.

Love this place! The ambiance, tasteful decorations which are clean and refreshed and the staff were on point. Parking was not a problem. The food was delicious and the service was on point, smooth for being a new restaurant and opening day and courteous staff. Made me feel right at home.

What a great find! We just happened upon this place on our way to our hotel in Culver City. parking out front is free after a certain hour. The service was great! Both ladies that helped us were very friendly. The food was incredible! We had the Caesar salad, squash blossoms, octopus, bolognese, carbonara, mango sorbet and panna cotta! All incredible! my wife and I will be back for sure!

Love this place - amazing pasta cosy atmosphere and overall a great place. Wine list is good too

Finally a replacement for Sotto! Friends made a res here because the chef is from Angelini Osteria and the food was fantastic! The menu leans towards Venetian cuisine with house cured sardine pasta and squid ink risotto on the menu. We had excellent squash blossoms filled with creamy ricotta, an heirloom tomato salad with sweet tomatoes a large silky ball of burrata, fresh tagliatelle bolognese which was rich and scrumptious. We always judge an Italian restaurant by its bolognese, and this version is craveable. We also had linguine vongole with bottarga which I can't wait to eat again. Oh and an umami Caesar salad with polenta croutons. I really hope this place makes it!

On the positive side the food portions and quality was very generous and tasty. Shared a salad with shaved artichokes which was more than enough for two. Chicken pillard was tasty. Service was excellent. On the other hand, menu was limited and prices were were comparable to high end westside restaurants without the ambiance. Without tablecloths and no charm felt more like neighborhood dining at a more reasonable price point.

Amazing ambiance. Wonderful staff, friendly, and quick! The food was delicious! Do not leave without trying the tiramisu! Can't wait to visit again.

Bolognese Dish delicious. We had a few dishes and they were all great. Flourless chocolate cake was tasty. Service was excellent. Found this on yelp as it was five stars and it exceeded expectations and we will be back soon to try other dishes

Read about this new restaurant online through Eater. Very glad I did! Had the octopus, risotto, and ragu. All were really good. Was a bit bummed they were out of the branzino. Had dessert too. The peach crostata was really good. Waiter asked how it was and I said it was missing a scoop of ice cream. Next thing I know, he's dropping off a scoop! Will definitely be back.

THIS PLACE IS AWESOME! Been here twice just this month and loved my meal both times--can't wait to go back again. The menu is a perfect combination of traditional Italian with elements of fresh California cuisine. Wine list is not overwhelming, but provides a great variety with options for both by-the-glass and by-the-bottle. The waitstaff is super friendly, and Lucio (owner/chef) embodies all that's wonderful about Italian cooking and hospitality. I noticed a private room for larger groups--thinking about a holiday dinner with friends or colleagues from work. Don't miss this gem!

Came here for brunch with a large group and got the Cheeky Ri (highly recommend). Service was fast and attentive especially for a big group but most of all it was the best brunch I've had in years. Will be coming back and recommend to anyone.

The ambiance and food was okay for a neighborhood restaurant, the service was very good.

Recently organized a corporate happy hour here for my office so we got to try a rather broad array of their food. Nothing really blew me away; other people shares my sentiment. The pizza was decent as was the pasta but I don't think it was good enough for me to come back. Bar area was on the smaller side and it was tight with 15-20 people. The restaurant could use with dimming the lights some as it was very bright in there.