C&O Restaurants

"Steps from the beach and just far enough away from the mixtape salesmen of the boardwalk, C&O is a completely cheesy and totally awesome Italian restaurant that your parents will never stop talking about. The family-style menu is familiar and appealing, and their all-you-can-eat garlic knots should definitely be on the list of most dangerous foods in America. Yes, the courtyard and its painted facades are over the top, and the waiters are definitely going to sing “That’s Amore!” more than once to you, but who cares? Mom’s totally buying into it and so are you. The corkage fee is minimal, so surprise them by bringing a bottle of their favorite wine." - jess basser sanders, brant cox, brett keating

"While we’ll forever mourn the closing of C&O’s joyously cheesy, open-air trattoria a few blocks from the ocean in Marina Del Rey, the good news is this fun Italian spot’s other location is still going strong just down the street. And that means those world-famous garlic knots are still available for consumption. We can’t say that the pasta here is totally worth going out of your way for, but filling up on those buttery garlic knots before you even get seated is an LA rite of passage. " - brant cox

"There are just a few things you need to know about C&O, a casual Italian spot on Washington Boulevard: Order the garlic knots, choose an entree to share because the portions are big enough to feed several people, and sit outside on the very pleasant patio. This charming neighborhood hang is the perfect spot to bring your parents after you finish driving them around the marina and briefly show them the Venice Boardwalk (from the comfort of the car, of course.) " - nikko duren, garrett snyder, sylvio martins

"While C&O Trattoria has closed, C&O Cucina remains open for takeout and delivery - call (310) 301-7278 to order. “Honey, we’re landing at 5pm and your father and I are gonna be hungry”-- Mom. If there’s a bigger sh*t-your-pants statement in the English language, we don’t know it. The parents are coming to town AND THEY’RE HUNGRY. Cue apocalypse. Where do you take them? Will it be too pricey? Too casual? Too LA? SHOULD YOU EVEN BOTHER SHOWING UP AT THE AIRPORT?! Enter C&O Trattoria. Located on the intensely kitschy strip along the Venice/Marina border, C&O is as close to an “old stand-by” spot as you’re gonna find. The place is both perfectly commercial and intrinsically local all at the same time. There’s a fantastic open-air patio with painted Italian cityscapes on the walls and crooning waiters that takes the word “festive” to an entirely different level. Is it cheesy? Of course. Do we care? Not one bit. Add in the fact you’re a mere 30 feet from the beach, and you’ve got parents-in-from-out-of-town dinner glory. Oh and the food? Solid as a rock. The menu is familiar Italian (read: pasta), with portions big enough to debunk any worries about being left hungry in a city perpetually on a kale flush. But enough of that - now it’s time to discuss the real draw at this beachside pasta joint: the garlic knots. Sweet mother of whatever God you believe in, biting into one of these is like watching Friends for the first time. You don’t understand what these feelings are, but you know they’re good. And beats us what’s actually on them. Olive Oil? Butter? Cocaine? Who cares. Any item in a restaurant that comes with its own portion disclaimer has our respect. Served in unlimited quantities, the wait staff literally has to remind you to not eat too many before the entrees arrive. Fat chance, waiter Brian but thank you, you’re still doing a very good job. They’ll tell you to drink the house wine, but go ahead and just bring your own. Then allow yourself to sit back, listen to the waiters sing “Amore” to your teary-eyed mother, and pat yourself on the back. Cause you nailed it. Food Rundown Garlic Knots Just give yourself over to the force. Penne Arrabiata Spicy, savory, and perfect to pass around the table a few times. Fettucine Sun Dried Tomato Mom is definitely gonna order this because “sun dried tomato” in her mind officially means she has arrived in Southern California. Good news for mom is that she won’t be disappointed. Linguini Mare The perfect order for dad because it has not one, not two, but THREE different kinds of seafood in it. “And how can I pass up a deal like that?” -- Dad. Shrimp Ravioli Another extremely solid dish to pass around the table. Rigatoni Sausage The spicy Italian sausage is crazy good here if someone’s looking to get a little adventurous. Tartufo This has absolutely no business being this good, but their Italian ice covered in dark chocolate is the perfect end to the meal. Right before that mandatory stroll out to the pier." - Brant Cox

"A classic Venice Italian-American spot, C&O Cucina has all the carbohydrate-based comfort food you need at a time like this. This includes linguini with clams, calamari fritti, chicken parm sandwiches, and, of course, their totally addictive garlic knots. Order online, and add Curbside Pick-Up to your cart with your car make and model in the notes. We haven’t been here yet, but want you to know this spot exists." - Team Infatuation