Caffe Pinguini Italian Restaurant

If you are looking for authentic Italian food and warm inviting service, visit Caffe Pinguini. We were in the area and got a last minute reservation and glad we did! Our homemade pasta dishes were great and the gelato dessert a perfect complement to our dinner.

Café Pinguini was such a pleasant surprise! They actually had thoughtful vegan options after modifications, and our server was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu even helping me navigate what could be modified to fit my needs. I ended up with a penne arrabbiata with veggies, and it was out of this world in flavor perfectly balanced spice and freshness. The atmosphere was cozy, dimly lit and inviting, with a lovely wine list that made it an ideal spot for a dinner date. Overall, a great experience delicious food, attentive service, and an ambiance that makes you want to linger just a little longer.

Excellent lunch on a beautiful day. We especially loved the Italian hospitality. Look forward to returning.

Great Italian food, awesome, friendly service staff, great atmosphere. Eat indoors or on the outdoor patio. Very close to the beach. I don't know what it's called, but the serve a hollowed of frozen lemon filled with lemon gelato/ sorbet as dessert,omg!! Best dessert ever. All the dishes we ordered were great. I had fettuccine with meat sauce. 2 in group were raving about the fish,said it was the best ever.

Delicious authentic Italian food. We enjoyed everything from the appetizers to the entrees, and the desserts as well. The service was fantastic, our server was very attentive. It was our first time here, and I am glad that we found Caffe Pinguini. We'll be back!

Here I am AGAIN! Caffe Pinguini has quickly become my favorite Italian restaurant here in LA! Love the service, atmosphere, food and let’s not forget the amazing wines the serve! Here’s a peek at dinner tonight…highly recommend BOTH dishes!

Opens at 5pm (on fridays) and usually gets busy about an hour after opening. We had a bit of everything they had suggested since it was our first time there and frankly it was not what we expected. Over all the service was great, the staff was attentive & friendly but Unfortunately the food was not worth what we paid. The noodles were quite chewy, slightly under cooked even, tossed in a dried tomato paste like "sauce" with no garnish or "fresh ingredient" taste. We ordered two types of soups of which both tasted of the same broth, definitely not of fresh chicken broth but of generic carton grocery store broth. I would however recommend the pizza with peppers, mushrooms & sausage and a salad which actually tasted house-made fresh to order. Wine selection was great but the dessert could have been better for the price.

One of my best dinning experiences. The soup is so good. Service perfect. I wishI didn't live 3,000 miles away. Dessert worth flying here renting a car just for that.

Gosh - this place is soooo good. I have lived in pdr for so many years and haven't been here and finally made it. The Chilean seabass was very delicious. The oso buco was imo even better. Hard to choose what to eat but neither of these disappointed at all. Service was great and our waiter was awesome. Can't wait to go back.

Caffe Pinguini review The good: The vibe was great -- a bit loud, but lively and fun. The food smelled amazing when we walked in, and the maitre'd/owner personally came by our table. He was kind, welcoming, and even brought out a carrot for our pup, which was a really nice touch. Service started off strong too -- we were quickly offered water and drinks. Our appetizers were fine, nothing memorable but decent. The bad: Unfortunately, the experience fell apart after that. We were essentially forgotten. New tables came in, got their food, ate, and were ready to leave while we were still waiting -- over an hour and a half later. We had to finally speak up, and five minutes later our food arrived: cold pasta and undercooked, doughy pizza. What made it worse was the lack of acknowledgment. Our server didn't apologize, brushed it off as just being a "busy night," and thought a single piece of dessert for four people would make up for it. It didn't. To top it off, one of my friends' leftovers weren't even packed correctly. Overall: The energy and friendliness at the start were promising, but the execution was very disappointing. With such long waits, cold food, and poor handling of the situation, I can

Salty! Salty! Salty!!!! We were excited to find an Italian restaurant that's authentic with great reviews. It's a neighborhood restaurant in PDR closed to the beach. We ordered the specials of osso buco, the veal shank and split a pasta. The pasta came early since they made it fresh and was quite good. After that our experience went downhill. We got a huge dose of salt in every bite of the specials. We washed it down with two glasses of Brunellp that didn't seem to drown the salty dishes but made it taste even saltier. What a disappointment!! I would give it another try just to have the homemade pastas. They all looked good. Just don't order the specials. I think the chef is a salt addict and the clients that goes there with amazing reviews love salty food. It didn't sit well with my stomach and this morning I need a cleansing to flush out the salt.

I had dinner here earlier this week for a special occasion and really enjoyed this spot. The location is very good, footsteps away from the beach. Our reservation was just after sunset, we arrived early and walked on the beach before the walk across the street to this location. Parking was very easy as there's lots of street spot next to the lagoon. The restaurant is very cozy, with lots of Italian style and nice warm lighting. It is split between indoor and outdoor seating, both of which were great options. We sat outdoors with lots of greenery around weaved with warm ambient lighting. Our server was great, we were seated right away and our our orders were taken the second we had chosen what we wanted. Additional servers come by to refill water frequently and keep a clean table removing any finished plates. The most important part, the food was very good. As we were seated we were greeted by a complimentary basket of nice warm bread. We ordered penne vodka and a side of chicken milanese, both of which I enjoyed. The potion of pasta was a good size, with a nice sauce and perfectly cooked penne. It was large enough to split, but I could likely eat the full portion on an empty stomach. The chicken was very thin and crispy, with a nice flavor. It came with a side of veggies that were full of flavor. I enjoyed Caffe Pinguini for this occasion, the mix of the location, the ambience, and the food made for a very enjoyable night. Hope to visit again!

to celebrate a special event, came to this cute little corner italian spot in playa vista. the ambiance was so quaint and cozy. old world feel with stucco on the walls, an outdoor patio with walls of plants and plenty of heaters, and glass doors with a open concept combining the indoor dining room. heaters were not too necessary, it's just starting to warm up on the southern california coast making it a really perfect night. we first were given some really soft bread and evoo and balsamic to dip it in. ordered penne vodka and that was pretty good. had a nice flavor but the sauce was a bit too thin in my opinion, with too sharp of a tang. i make this all the time at home and am italian american so i'm quite picky, but it was cooked perfectly al dente. maybe i would come back and try the orichette next time, which sounded really good as it was cooked with mushrooms and sausage. on the side we shared a chicken milanese which was breaded perfectly and served with a lemon and some veggies. it was soooo thin, cooked well, but a bit too thin making it a bit dry. the service was very friendly and fast. i like the waiter we had, he was chill and sociable. they poured our waters all the time so we never went thirsty. i'd love to come back here and try more stuff, it's a cute lil spot just steps from toes beach, with ample parking next to the lagoon!

Amazing food and service. Great vibe in there. We got the mushroom cream pasta and the seafood pasta, and it was delicious. Highly recommend Pinguini

Calm ambiance, wait staff were super friendly and helpful. The wine and food was really lovely.. and such a nice night out. Recommended!!

The food was first class and so was the service. I was totally surprised and impressed! The ambiance is a seaside bistro, relaxing and quiet. I look forward to returning.

So wonderful to find a spot close to home with great service, ambiance and well prepared food. Been here a few times ordering the same things: their linguini mare and their bolognaise are both home runs in flavor and portions are big enough for leftovers (at least for me). Ordered a few specials of the night and while the huge veal chop was incredibly tender and perfectly cooked, their spicy shrimp pasta was the only time I was disappointed with anything at this place. The shrimp were overcooked, and it was not spicy at all until I added some red chili flakes. Servers were all charming and efficient, and they will help you choose if you feel overwhelmed by their extensive menu. Their freshly baked bread is addictive and they have nice wines by the glass and bottle at very reasonable prices. Their valet is also incredibly affordable and very fast.

A treasured Italian restaurant by the sunset, with fresh seafood, chewy handmade noodles, generous portions and high cost-effectiveness, and a full atmosphere!

I've seen this restaurant for YEARS as I quickly drive by. My friend took me for my birthday and I AM SO HAPPY SHE DID!!!!! First of all, the service is absolutely wonderful. Even the valet guy was very nice. THE BREAD - best bread I've had and I eat out quite often. It's really delicious!!! Caprese Salad - I know this is served at most Italian restaurants, but I found it particularly tasty here. The buffalo mozzarella was fresh and creamy. Fettucine Contadina - I decided to order something I normally would not order, but this was really very delicious!!! I'm happy I stepped out of my comfort zone! I look forward to returning some time soon!

Let me start off with shout out to Nacho and Franco, busboy and server. First off I brought a friend here , yesterday, who's extremely picky. He enjoyed everything and pointed out that there's nothing better than great service, which these guys give.They're hysterically intelligent, and they add good sense of humor into the course. The food is GreatI would have taken a picture, but I ate it all. I enjoyed myself here so much that i've been here two days in a row for lunch and think this is my new spot.

Caffe Pinguini is a authertic Italian restaurant that is location in Playa del Rey at the beach, there is valet parking here, or if you are very lucky ther is also parking on the street. Tony the owner came out here from Rome Italy started Caffe Pinguini restaurant in 1997 there in one in Manhatten Beach aslo Veuice Beach. Tony along with his wife was the host, who greeted us with a warm and welcoming smile, we opted and sat in the cozy and dark patio across from us was Kirk Rambis Los Angeles Lakers basketball player / coach. We had the bread which "ooh la la la" the simple caesar salad was mouthwatering delicious the best I ever had, the special was the sea bass was cook perfectly and lastly the pistashio cheesecake was definitely a winner. All of the staff and cooks came from Italy

A hidden gem for sure. If you were driving by, you'd probably miss it. There's a patio and indoor dining area. Each time I've been here I've always chosen the patio. It's super cozy and all the staff are amazing. My favorite thing on the menu by far is the insalata di mare. The seafood is extremely fresh and it's lightly dressed with lemon and olive oil. The seafood pasta is also really good. Overall, portions are pretty big--nice to share a few times. They serve fresh sourdough bread as soon as you're seated and it's so warm and fresh. My new favorite italian spot !

Tastes like frozen cafeteria food. Be gone here twice in the last 25 years. Every time I come here it's disapppointing. Tastes like a wet sponge. I'm sick of this place

Very cute restaurant which somehow balances the beachy, seaside cafe vibes with the moody, authentic Italian restaurant really well. The service was also impeccable, they were prompt, friendly and helpful. It's a great little local restaurant. The food was all good, but kind of par for the course with all the good Italian you can get in California. We got some seared salmon and shrimp scampi with spaghetti and from that experience I would say stick to the pasta. The salmon was pretty lack luster but the pasta was The only thing... the prices were exorbitant. An appetizer, two entrees and one glass of wine cost over $200 with tip. The portions were great but this still seems insane to me. Maybe I'm just not used to prices in SoCal?Either way, if your wallet is feeling a bit heavy, you can go here to lighten the load

The ambiance was great. It felt so cozy and elegant at the same. The food is delicious and I loved the affogato! Waiters are so friendly and smiling. They have a wide variety of wine. The bread was toasted to perfection. Overall the experience was deliziosa! 10/10

Excellent food one of the best Cesar salads I have ever had. Parking a little tough it is by the beach. The service is excellent and it definitely has the charm of a neighborhood restaurant.

I love coming here. Even without a reservation they will seat you and not treat you with an LA bad attitude. The linguine bolognese is so very soft and flavorful. It's best when you're able to sit outside. Sitting inside is not desirable because the table sizes are super small. Overall I give 4 stars.

This seems to be a quite popular place! It was packed last weekend when we went to celebrate Father's Day on a Saturday night. The pasta was great, the branzino, not as much. But overall, the food is pretty good and we plan to return. The parking is awful though, so you have to valet. Just keep that in mind.

Had a lovely time here. For the mid-range price, it was so so good. I've been to caffe Pinguini several times and always get some kind of seafood in a spicy red sauce pasta dish. This time, it was a special shrimp one. Also loved the dessert: sea salt caramel scoop and tiramisu. Get them both, it's worth it! Tbh next time I'd skip the pizza. It wasn't anything special and I've never been to Italy but it looked less like pizza at other Italian restaurants. Why not knock off a star? Well, it's just a lovely place and the other food, service, and vibes really make up for the miss here!

this is the first Café and I don't know what took me so long, but the cuisine was spectacular. Start off with the salad with cheese, tomatoes, and was a nice way to start. The grilled fish was fantastic as was the mixed shellfish pasta. The service was very good and it was great to dine in such a nice place that is very casual with their dress code right near the beach.

Service was excellent Food was pretty good and could tell the owner and staff take pride in their food and service would definitely go back Wish there was more street parking

One cannot say enough! Great authentic Italian extensive bill of fair. Amazing staff, Ignacio & Jean Franko are Top Notch. Their Chef Gerardo of decades is consistently Brilliant. Owner Tony rounds out dedication to fine restaurantourship. The seaside Italian Villa like atmosphere is hard to beat. Plus if their is something you don't see on their well rounded menu , just ask, often you'll be accommodated. Need we say more. It's BOBBY & Moni's European favorite venue, and right in our back yard. Not going to suggest particular menu items, as we've never had a dish that wasn't DELICIOSO. GRAZZI PINGUINI

It's been a while since I've been there but an opportunity came up to go and meet my sister in law and partner for dinner with my wife. Still seems like a hangout for locals. Beer and wine only, which was fine as many were available. Staff was friendly, knowledgeable with an Italian flair. Couldn't decide on a flute de mare for a osso buuco and got to try both ! Other items were a Burrata appetizer and a calamari frito. Unfortunately no room for a tiramisu. Highly recommend restaurant !

Came for the vibes, stayed for the food!! The place is super elegant and romantic, great date spot! The food and wine were incredible. Nacho was our server and he was funny, engaging, and incredible overall! Highly recommend to check out if you're in the area.

The food here was amazing and the service was great. Also their homemade bread they served was sooo good and took me back to my time in Italy. I'm so excited to go back.

Caffe Pinguini where do I even begin. First things first, the service here is top notch. The staff is friendly, helpful, and attentive. We had the pleasure of getting served by Tania. She was excellent. Purely from a food standpoint, I could not taste a difference between Caffe Pinguini, and Cantollinis across the street. Maybe I ordered the wrong thing? Maybe we came on a busy night? The sauce, and the bread were to die for. However the pasta that was supposed to be tying it all together tasted no different than the old school blue box of Barilla Penne you would get from Ralph's. It's a fun ambience with a patio, and inside option. Slightly awkward spaghetti western bathrooms with swinging saloon style doors. Kind of a trip. I would come back, but will likely steer clear of the pasta.

Great Italian food and awesome location near Toes Beach in Playa Del Rey. Good wine, bread and pasta. I also like that it is owned by a local family.

Pasta was really made made, the sauce was one of the best, very well balanced with the right level of salt and spice. They made it all vegan for me with no hassle at all. The bread were really good, and vegan too; and the people/service was great really pleasant.

Cute local Place. I sat outside the waiter was running around and seemed hurried. It was uncomfortable and made me think he wanted me to eat and get out. Calamari appetizer is very small for $23. Really small. Bread is wonderful. I had the rigatoni in Gorgonzola sauce and added the sausage. It was solid. I would come back but not with this waiter. You want a relaxed environment. He didn't provide that.

Incredible food, impeccable service, casually elegant ambiance. One of the best restaurants anywhere.

I went there tonight with my fiance, his niece and his parents. They are a family that spends time in Italy. (I've also been) They said this place was absolutely 100% like being there. I agree! Graazie mille, tutto era delizioso. Gamberetti perfetti!!! Servizio fantastico, Marco!!! - Amy

Great service, very authentic Italian food. Most the staff is Italian. Also really beautiful location. Went for valentine's day would definitely recommend

What a charming restaurant! My boyfriend took me here on our first date. The ambiance was perfect. The service impeccable. The food authentic. We dined by candle light and I felt the mood romantic. For dessert we shared the Lemon in the Fruit Shell Sorbetto. Out of this world! It was like a little slice of Italy! You won't be disappointed!

Ok. I don't want to offend them, but my husband and kids don't like North Italia. They love Caffe Pinguini. I do like them both for a different reasons, just to be clear. My kids have had their birthday dinner for the last three years. They each order their Penne every time (picture taken). My husband orders a Bolognese (picture taken). They swear that's their favorite pasta in the US. My favorite is their Carpaccio.

Went to caffe Pinguini on the way to drop my wife at the airport... had a really great experience.. the atmosphere was terrific service was great as was the food.. I really wish I could find a place like this closer to home! We'll be back for sure!

Che bel posto! This charming little gem hidden away at the end of Culver Blvd takes me back to the cafes in beautiful Rome and other Italian locales. It's a pleasure to sit in the lovely outdoor patio, even though you're steps away from busy Vista del Mar. The inside seating is serene. The Italian owner came out to greet us, and everyone was so friendly. We had burrata salad to start ( how can you go wrong?) And then Fettuccine Contadina ($21.50) - peas mushrooms and ham sauce, and Penne alla Vodka ($18.50), quill-tip pasta with a creamy tomato sauce and just a touch of vodka. Everything was yummy and we enjoyed our lunch, accompanied by Dean Martin playing over the audio. I had never been to this place and it will now become one of my go-to places for casual Italian.

Great Food Great Service Great Ambiance I've eaten here for many years and it's always been great. The fresh pasta is MONEY! The choice of Red, White, or Pink sauce makes the difference every time.

Wow. We had an exceptional lunch on the patio. Domenico was a great waiter. Service was great, but the food was amazing. This is a hidden gem, true Italian cooking, and the feeling of Dolce Vita.

I've been here a couple times for date night with my husband and the food is delicious! Their bread is to die for. I had a bit too much of it before my food arrived. The service is also great and the staff ensured that we were always taken care off. The ambiance is also really nice by the ocean - you can eat either indoors or outdoors. Great place for a date night!

In January I dined at Caffe Pinguini with my family. We had a wonderful time. The wait staff was very helpful. The food was excellent. The portions were so generous that I remember taking home lunch for the next day. I really liked the place. So I decided to go back the next time that I was in the area. I did tonight. I was very disappointed. The wait staff still was very helpful. The atmosphere still was nice. The food still was excellently prepared. Regretfully the portion size was greatly reduced. I ordered a chicken dish. I received two small pounded portions of chicken. I doubt that together they were even a single whole chicken breast. My girlfriend order a veal dish and received three small pieces of veal. Clearly much less than what she expected. In order not to disrupt the meal, neither of us said anything to anyone until after dinner as we were driving home. Independently we both formed the same judgment: Our dinners simply were an effort to stretch leftovers after a weekend. For the price that I paid, we should have received much more generous portions. So, sad to say, given this experience, I will have to think twice before I go back to Caffe Pinguini.

Wow! This is the best meal I've had in a long time. Hands down the best pasta dish of my life. I ordered the spaghetti with black truffles. Holy crap! My caprese salad was so fresh and the tomatoes were perfectly crisp. I had the pistachio cheesecake for dessert and that was fantastic too. It was very light and creamy. They give you fresh bread and olive oil to start and that is lovely. The wine list is impressive. We enjoyed a delicious Malbec with dinner. Beautiful and spacious outdoor patio. Attentive and friendly staff and service. Every bite and sip was perfect! I am blown away.

GREAT customer service, food was delicious. Owner was very attentive, very satisfied with the food, service. Definitely will be returning

Amazing ambiance! The place is small but didn't have to wait for a table yet almost all were taken. They do have valet parking that was only $5.50. For the outdoor seating they can acclimate a table of 5+. It also have our door heaters scattered around so you can start warm on the chilly nights but it doesn't get too hot. We had a glass of chianti each. They give you bread to start. I had scallops with spicy tomato sauce and pasta. It came with 3 scallops. It had a mild spice, they said it was spicy. It was so yummy and not overly saucy the way I like it and the noodles were al dente. My fiancé got the penne alla vodka with chicken. His had a little more sauce but still a great flavor.

Excellent service and delicious authentic Italian food!. Everyone treats you like family. Thank you Tony and Mary.

Fantastic!! Food A+++ , Ambience A+++ (quaint and authentic), Service A++++++ knowledgeable and friendly staff with their #1 goal is for you to have a great dining experience!!

Was hearing a lot of buzz about Caffe Pinguini before our dinner last week. My uncle is a regular and had nothing but positive things to say. Considering I was craving authentic Italian, the expectations were high - and thankfully met. The restaurant offers a quaint, yet very atmospheric energy to feel like your right on the Almafi Coast. I'm not a big bread guy at restaurants, but feel as if would have been a disservice to not indulge in a french roll dipped in olive oil. For starters, we went with the burrata. My first time having the dish and it was absolutely amazing. Wish I was able to have more because every bite is so divine. The meal took a little while to prep and get served, but once it did I was thoroughly pleased. I had the osso bucco- cooked to perfection and the risotto was decadent. Other entrees at our table also looked amazing. I might take part in one of their pastas next time, the bolognese sounded great. Overall, Caffe Pinguini is a wonderful spot for all. Their prices are affordable for the quality of food you receive. Supported by a friendly waiting staff and a welcoming ambience, I will certainly visit this little gem in the future!

My husband and I just had the most delicious dinner in the patio of Caffe Penguini. The servers were amazing! A big shout out to John Carlo. The food was fabulousness . My hubby had a Caesar salad and I also had a starter salad. Both were lovely. The bread arrived hot, crusty and addicting! I ordered a custom entree. Rigatoni with mushrooms in the best red sauce I've has since my last trip to Italy. My husband's seafood soup was superlative, a large bowl of assorted seafood in a spicy red broth. He loved every bite, and would have licked the bowl if I let him... For dessert we shared an amazing apple tart with ice cream. A perfect end to a perfect meal.