LA Puglia

Avoid this place at all cost. Food is bland and drinks are watered down. Super disorganized experience and restaurant. Seems like all staff members are running around with no clear plan or objective. My girlfriend and I decided to spend Valentine’s Day there and, though not crowded, it felt as if our waiter had no idea we were there despite a longstanding reservation. Took him about 25-30 mins to initially introduce himself and start us off with drinks. Since my partner and I had been looking at the three course menu for a significant, we have all three courses ready to order in addition to our drinks. So we provided him with our drink order and the entirety of our three-course-meal. Nevertheless, our first course arrived 30 minutes after that and our second course almost like an hour and half after. There were periods where we spent nearly an hour just waiting for food. During the entirety of our stay at the restaurant, the waiter only came by twice. At the end, I had to leave my table to go find him and tell him that we’re in a bit of a rush now since this had delayed our evening plans and to please my our desserts to-go. He proceeded to make us wait roughly 25 more minutes to then bring the desserts in dine-in utensils and plates. And acted confused when I explained my frustrations. Finally, we just left without desserts after having paid $361 for this horrendous evening with gratuity already included unfortunately because of Valentines. I highly advise anyone not to go here. They charge fine dining prices while providing the service and food quality of a Jack in the Box.

Not worth it. We walked in at 7:30 pm with a reservation at 7:15pm, and it’s now 9:25 pm as I’m writing this. We still don’t have our correct drinks, no water, and no food. The service is practically nonexistent. After bringing the first course, the staff disappeared. We had to get up and look for someone because no one came to check on us. They brought the wrong drinks, both with alcohol when one was supposed to be non-alcoholic. The table next to us received the wrong food, and another table even laughed saying the same thing had happened to them. Customers were openly complaining and joking among themselves about how disorganized this place is. When we first arrived, the table next to us looked upset. They asked for their dessert to-go and never received it, they ended up leaving without it. At the time we didn’t understand why, but now it makes sense. On top of that, a mandatory 20% tip is charged at the time of reservation regardless of the service. The place may be beautiful, but the experience is frustrating and a complete waste of time. I will update later with what time we actually end up leaving. Update: We finally left at 10:30 pm. We walked in at 7:30 pm, so it was three hours of total chaos. We never received the desserts we actually ordered because they brought two incorrect desserts instead. At the very end, they brought me a strawberry ice cream that I never ordered. My drink was brought back again incorrectly, still with alcohol, just a different type this time. It’s unbelievable that after explaining the mistake, they repeated it. In the end, we were charged $292 for a frustrating, disorganized experience full of errors. We are extremely upset. The service was completely unacceptable.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Santa Monica! Very friendly service and most of all…delicious food! Absolutely every plate we had was perfection!

The best REAL Italian restaurant in SoCal! Told by an Italian, from Puglia. If you want to experience the authentic flavors of Puglia, this is the place to go! The dishes bring me back to my grandmother’s kitchen. Excellent service too. Bravissimi Valentina and team!

What a little gem! Specializing in Italian food from the Puglia region, this little place is tucked into one of the many shopping centers along Wilshire Blvd. I’ve driven by this place many times and didn’t know it was here. There are a handful of tables surrounded by trees on the front patio, a main room with a bar and maybe 20 tables, and a piano room. There’s no valet, but we found lots of spots on Wilshire. We had two appetizers, two pastas, and two non-alcoholic drinks, and even with a tip, our bill was under $150. You can come dressed casually or business casual, but it’s not a dressy place. I highly recommend for a small group of friends to get together. I didn’t see any kids, and the menu didn’t look like they were geared to families. There’s a lunch and brunch menu.

We just had the most wonderful Valentine's dinner. Always a wonderful atmosphere, it was tastfully decorated for the occasion. The service was wonderful, as always, even though they were so, so busy. I started with the fennel salad and my husband had the clams and mussels, both scrumptious. Then he had the cheese plate with jam and walnuts and I had the langoustine. What a treat.

La Puglia has authentic and delicious Italian cuisine! The ambience is modern and charming and you feel quite welcomed......Valentina always goes the extra mile for us, and makes the evening even more memorable!❤️ We love to come enjoy the dinner and Jazz night whenever possible! Highly recommended!

While the service was impeccable and the staff were welcoming, the food definitely needs improvement. Apart from the seafood, which was really tasty and soft (both the soup and the seafood pasta), the rest was completely bland. Either it wasn’t salted enough, or it was simply tasteless (the white pizza, the tiramisu, and the chocolate cake). The lasagna and parmigiana were soggy, soaked in too much tomato sauce, and the cheese was chewy. I didn’t say anything to the server or the manager because a friend invited us! My husband and I would only go back for the seafood. The rest is not worth it, especially given the prices, unless they make some good changes.

Authentic Italian dishes with a refined touch. Nice atmosphere and friendly service. We came here for dinner on the weekend as a party of two, 5/5, for food, service, and ambiance. - Bruschetta Volare: Creamy stracciatella and savory prosciutto, served on crunchy, toasted bread with a nice charred flavor. Can't go wrong with this. Teresa Pasta: This was a great option for something light but still full of flavor. It reminded us of a seafood gnocchi dish from Italy by the coast. The seafood and tomato were perfectly balanced, and each pasta shell was evenly coated in sauce. We enjoyed it from the start to the last bite. Nicola (Branzino): The branzino was cooked beautifully. The minced zucchini was subtle, adding a nice texture without taking away from the flavor of the fish. I also really liked crispy fatty skin. Another light yet flavorful choice. Millefoglie & Gelato: We got both hazelnut and pistachio gelato. They were all good but we felt that they didn't stand out to us as much as the savory dishes. Would love to try other desserts next time. - Overall: The food was to our taste, and the portions were just right for two people (we could have shared just one dessert and been perfectly fine). Both the servers and the owner were attentive and friendly. We were happy with the experience and look forward to coming back to explore more of the menu.

My friend and I came here for dinner and loved the ambiance of the restaurant. It was elegant and intimate and we loved all the details of the restaurant. Our waitress was super nice and took the time to describe the menu. We ordered an appetizer, a salad, and a pasta. The portion sizes were normal and everything was delicious! Parking is street parking, luckily I came for an early weekday dinner so it was easy, but I can imagine it being harder on weekends since its located off Wilshire.

I may have ordered the wrong thing, but in reality, it could have been a lot better. I really don't like writing bad reviews, so keep in mind I'm just one person, and others have liked it. Food: The Cavatelli con Cozze e Vongole - with clams and mussels - tasted of the ocean (yes, it's clams and mussels what do you expect?) mixed in with a spicy tomato sauce. Was disappointed. The people next to me ordered the pasta with beef sausage and loved theirs (and they are regulars), Can you tell I don't like writing bad reviews? And giving you another side of the story. I also ordered the beet salad with burrata and arugula. The beets were good, but just seemed as if they plated it with arugula, Burrata and some flavored beets without even conceptualizing the dish into cohesive dish. If you go to scopa, that dish is perfection. Like you can't stop eating it, perfection. So again, disappointed. With 0 for 2 on the food, I didn't bother getting dessert. Service: Mediocre. They were much more attentive to the regulars, almost felt as if I was an inferior customer. I asked for balsamic and olive oil and it came all disaggregated, while the regulars got it in a nice dish, with what looked like better balsamic too. I saw the regulars get another plate of bread (which if you go, get the one with seeds and it has some fruit in it). I asked for some more bread and they gave me the regular bread. I mean, maybe that's 0 for 3! Ambiance: the restaurant is gorgeous. Lots of light, which I absolutely love. the seats by the wall have cushions and comfortable. The regulars and I joked that it's perfect for us shorter people because we have good back cushion and can touch the ground. If anything, order a different dish from what I ordered, you may fare way better than me.

We loved this place! Reading some of the reviews, some have called it pretentious. I think they have misunderstood their intention to uphold a certain quality throughout the restaurant's food, service, and ambiance. We appreciate that they use organic ingredients and make so many things fresh! We felt like you could really feel the passion and dedication to well crafted food here. Service was excellent as well! Valentina was extremely warm and kind. We will be back and sharing this place with those we love. The whole place feels very cohesive and thoughtful. We had the lasagna, dandelion and fava beans (if you love strong bitter flavors this is for you), kalamata olive bread, bruschetta, panzerotto, millefoglie. Everything we had was great but our favorites were the: Panzerotto, Kalamata olive bread with the olive oil, and the millefoglie is to die for!!! Soooo good! We usually never take pictures of our food or take leftovers home but we had to for La Puglia!

Beautiful Santa Monica restaurant with really mediocre, expensive Italian food. I ordered pasta and clams. The pasta was so bland, even though the menu said it was spicy and as you can see in the picture, the clams were so microscopic they were smaller than the pieces of pasta. The serving was quite small for the price! Also ordered an arugula salad with mozzarella and tomatoes, that was served in an oblong dish that made it incredibly difficult to eat without dropping it on the table. Have to say they have a wonderful wine list and as I said the restaurant is beautifully designed. Sadly, a real disappointment.

Go for their Puglian wines! I particularly enjoyed Minutoro (100% Fiano), which was dry, light and crisp. Their cheese plate was fabulous -- the cheese selection was excellent, and it paired well with my white and rosé wines. If you're a doggie parent, they have three outdoor tables. The area is nicely divided by a low planter divider so that you can enjoy the fresh air with your pup in a relaxed manner without seeing passerby right by you.

I heard about this place from an Italian person who was from Puglia. She recommended it to me. So my friend and I tried it out on 4th of July. Ambience is cool and chill. Everyone seemed happy, it was a happy vibe. Food is a bit on the pricier end but consider the location and amazing service and the whole package I think it's understandable. Service was wonderful. Since it was my first time trying southern Italian food I asked the waitress to explain and introduce some things to us and she was very knowledgeable, patient, and passionately taught us some southern Italian food things and made recommendations according to our preferences. She had very deep and clear knowledge of the menu. All servers were attentive. We did not once have to wave anyone down to take care of things and it made our dinning effortless. Great bonus to the Resturant! To the owner, Please treat them well! We ordered 4 dishes as shown in the photo and everything was very new to our taste. We might not be accustomed to the taste but can appreciate the experience trying new cuisine! Both my friend and myself find the grilled blue shrimp to be our favorite among everything. A little tips to local foodies, it seems like southern Italian food likes bitter veges, so be sure to tell them about it or ask about it if bitterness is NOT what you are into. I'd be happy to try other food at a different time.

Live music with Scott is the game changer. Food is amazing, service is prompt, would come again.

So, after living here over a year, we FINALLY discovered this gem and absolutely loved it. We came for a late lunch/ early dinner. The only question we asked was "why have we not been here yet?!" We sat at the bar. It was lovely. Great ambience. We got the meatballs, some amazing bread, wine, a sandwich, and the bartender gave us some homemade pistachio gelato. OMG. Everything was perfectly cooked and executed. We get the meatballs everywhere they have them, and these are great. No veal, still so tender. The bread is house made. They have an Italian pizza oven. It all was incredible. They have a great event space. The bartender gave us a tour. If you like Italian love and good, Come here! You will be so happy.

My wife, friend and I decided to have a dinner here and we're glad we did! For a starter we had a special: octopus tentacle in fava bean sauce. I'm not usually a fan of octupus but this was perhaps the freshest, most tender octupus I've tasted. It was that good. And combined with the fava bean sauce it was an unique and amazing dish with a robust flavor. For mains my friend had the Nonno Vita Cavatelli Frutti di Mare in squid ink pasta; my wife had the Alessia with pasta carciofi, olive e crema di gorgonzola; and I had the Manu, cavatelli al pesto. We shared each other's dishes and they were wonderful: vibrant yet nuanced flavors, super fresh ingredients, portion sizes just right. For dessert we had this massive ice cream cake called Salome. It was meant for 2-4 people and there were 3 of us. We were stuffed at the end of the meal. The service was prompt and professional. The ambiance of the restaurant was buzzy. Because we were there on a Tuesday it was jazz night. So we stepped into the adjoining room to watch first rate jazz. For Italian food, this is one of the top restaurants I've been to in Southern California.

The lasagna was amazing. With the complimentary bread, it was a true treat. And the great music with Elaine Gibbs was another treat. Awesome night. Be warned: when you rsvp on the Tuesday music night, MAKE SURE, you choose the music seating. My date and I came specifically for the band, but the confusing rsvp had us stuck in the non-music section. But, the owner and staff went the extra mile to get us in the sold out music side and that's greatly appreciated. Good to see restaurants still care.

We came here on a perfect Tuesday for dinner because a jazz band plays on Tuesdays which was a lot of fun! And we came here too without much expectation about its cuisine and we were astonished! The three of us shared a delicious and interesting appetizer Polpo Arrosto, a wood-fired octopus tentacle in a beautiful rich sauce. The octopus was so tender. The Elena Spaghetti alla Chitarra con Scampi e Ganberi made fresh with Black Ink Tagliatelle ordered by my friend was a win win. The Alesia Trofiette al Carciofi in olive e crema di Gorgonzola was well balanced and not overwhelmingly cheesy. The Rosa San Giuannid was simply fresh and healthy. Since portions were just right, we had room for Salome, a wonderful ice cream laced with sponge cake topped with cream and fresh berries. Our server was so engaging with the dishes they sounded all very good to try! The restaurant has an Italian feel that made everything authentic. Ottimo!

Modern Italian setting with great service and food. The lasagna was delicious and freshly made.

My daughter and I came in because of the good reviews on yelp and we were not disappointed. The food is DELICIOUS and the service is exceptional. As an appetizer we had the Arret- meatballs in tomato sauce. They came with a side of delicious soft bread. We also shared the Capunti al ragú and the puglia pizza. All three were very tasty. Gama and Rene were very friendly and attentive. We will definitely come again!

Amazing place, all 5 stars across Ambience, Food and Service. As you enter, you will be absorbed by the great ambiance: a place on its own, with modern decor, great background music and italian movies in black amd white. The service by Antonio was top notch: friendly, very knowledgeable, with the awesome suave style that Italians own. He gave us excellent recommendations, catered to our desires and was super friendly and funny. On to the food. What an amazing job! I went fir chitarra (kind of thick spaghetti) with scampi. The pasta was perfectly cooked, with a sea food sauce that made my palate so happy. Scampi was prepared perfectly. Desserts were amazing too, with the sponge cake being the star of the night. Excellent drink and wine menu too. Come in, enjoy the food and feel you are in a modern yet familiar restaurant in Rome!

We celebrated my mother's 80th birthday here and the food and service were amazing. All our guests were happy and satisfied with the wonderful food and great service

A friend and I stopped in on a Wednesday evening for an early dinner around 5:30pm. The restaurant was a little fancier than I was expecting for my friend and I but the host and server were incredibly friendly and the food was amazing! At 5:30, the place was nearly empty and the host was able to seat us right away. The table settings were so colorful and beautiful, which really struck me as unique compared to the usual white plates, white napkins, and silverware you see at restaurants. They didn't have the Nonna Anna which I was planning to order because they said it takes a lot of preparation, so I got the Patty with a Chardonnay while my friend ordered the Emilio. We both LOVED our dishes! Mine came with cavatelli pasta, which was different than the menu said but fit the dish which was so fresh and packed with flavor. My friend said her Emilio was delicious and she ate every bite. My wine was also a good choice and had plenty of flavor that complemented my dish. Overall, this was a lovely unexpectedly amazing little place with a great atmosphere. The price was about what you'd expect for a restaurant like this and my friend and I vowed to come back and enjoy dinner here again.

I've been to Puglia, Italy, and it was a wonderful experience and trip. The food was amazing, so I looked forward to coming to this restaurant. The bottom line is that this place is just pretentious. There are many quality, some exquisite, Italian restaurants in the immediate area that are well versed at creating beautiful interpretations of Italian cuisine. I guess the grinder was that we ordered one of their specials, but of course, were brought something similar listed on their main menu that was twice as expensive as the special. When we pointed out the mistake to our server, he was very apologetic and asked if we'd like the special...that we ordered. Well, yeah, we did actually. We assumed they would toss what was sitting at our table, in front of us, so when he asked us if we wanted to eat it...we said sure. We waited for the actual special to arrive at the table for a while and oops, our mistake. Instead, they charged us $52 for their error and wouldn't take it off the bill. Per the owner. They said they would have taken it away if we didn't want to get charged for it. Well, why didn't they?! I am so tired of these servers that dont write anything down. There are too many good Italian restaurants nearby to settle for this big disappointment. Pretentious. And forgettable.

The gluten free pizza dough is the best I've ever had. It looked like a regular pizza dough. The taste of the pizza was incredible. We had a salad and it was very delicious... the olive oil they used was really flavorful. I am really impressed by the high quality of the ingredients and by their kindness and good service. I am Italian, living in LA for ten years, and I felt the flavors and the warmth of my country. .

LA Puglia is a gem. This restaurant on Wilshire BLVD is across from the Mercedes Benz dealership, and, as you can surmise from the name, features the food and wine of the Puglia Region of Italy. We don't know the region all that well, but our host Valentina and our server Luca guided us along a lovely culinary visit to the region. Pizza, pasta, wine, all with a Puglian twist, and an absolutely amazing "Tartare di Tonno" (tuna tartar) accompanied with passion fruit and capers. It's a beautiful space with a chill, jazzy vibe. I think LA Puglia is the real deal and a welcome addition to westside dining.

C The service was exceptional. The food is authentically Italian meaning not adjusted to conform to American expectations of Italian food - didn't taste garlic in anything. We had 6 very small seared scallops ($29), fava been dip ($18) and eggplant parm ($23), 3 glasses of iced tea ($5 each, no refills). Total for 3 appetizers, 3 iced teas $85. The olive oil is delicious. Parmigiano reggiano tasted like the real deal. Lots of good food that is pricey and outdoor seating is right on Wilshire so, noisy. Plan to park on the street. I plan to return to try the desserts.

The most authentic Italian food in the area that offers a great variety of dishes and wines from the region of Puglia, on the heel of Italy , well known for its culinary excellence. The eggplant parmigiana was so tasty but still light, cooked on the spot. I loved the Alessia pasta. The ambience is cool and the staff along with the owners are very friendly. I'll be back very soon, it's definitely worth the drive from OC.

Discovered La Puglia thru a trusted "foodie" friend who raved about this restaurant! They did not disappoint! Very nice ambiance, which captures the essence of Puglia cuisine of southern Italy! Our group of five were greeted, with full service and recommendations by "LUCA". He himself is from Puglia, which added to the authenticity. Their menu, which features only hand made specialty pasta dishes, was quite diverse, also providing some extraordinary seafood dishes as well! Appetizers were incredible, including Bombette beef rolls & smoked mozzarella, as well as steamed Garlic mussels. Entrees were also outstanding for all of us! I enjoyed the linguine with blue shrimp. Wifey enjoyed the pistachio crusted Salmon, while our group also had the Seafood soup and lobster. Gelato deserts and pastries were mouth watering! Everything was amazing, they even project old Italian black and white videos from the 60's! All of us were delighted and excited by our first experience at La Puglia, and look forward to returning. Luca made our encounter delightful and even entertaining! Highly recommended! We will be back!

It's L.A. Puglia, not La Puglia - and it's so good (food, service, decor, ambiance) that it's worth pronouncing correctly. Went for lunch this time and will be back with my wife to try dinner sometime soon.

Pizza takeout only. 1 Cisternino and 1 Tranni. Burnt crust in places. No not blistered but burnt. I believe in pizza topping restraint but these were flavorless. And $25 each for a 12" pizza is too expensive even for LA. Owner was very nice when I picked up. Restaurant interior was quite lovely. You've got to get someone who can make pizzas. It's hard for me to believe they meet your standards. The next evening we ate in house at a Santa Monica family run Italian restaurant. Among the several entrees ordered, was a pizza with caramelized onion, crisped pancetta and goat cheese. The flavor and balance of toppings was perfect. A 16" was $25.00

LA Puglia restaurant is a delightful spot that offers an authentic Italian atmosphere, complete with delicious pasta and divine gelato. The waitstaff is a delight, and their jazz nights add an extra layer of fun to your evening, making it a must-visit for Italian cuisine lovers seeking a memorable experience. Recommended Attire: Smart Casual, Rock n Roll chic, After work Vibes

Came here as we were visiting family in town. Had great expectations of this place from reading the reviews but the food fell a bit short, also a bit more pricey than I expected to pay with the quality of food that was served. Service was OK - we showed up an hour and a half before closing so some menu items were already out of, or not being made anymore due to the place closing soon. The meat lasagna (see picture) presentation was lacking, unappealing, and did not appeal to the taste buds. Looked like it was heated-up chili of some sort. The Gianni - did not have much meat in the seafood, and leaned on the smaller side, but the dish was pricey for the amount of seafood meat you actually got. All in all, you don't get your money's worth for the food served here.

Incredible. Food brought us back to our honeymoon in puglia so authentically. The panzerotti tastes just like the ones we had, and the beet salad was incredibly fresh. Service from Luca was fantastic, he made it an unforgettable experience! When people ask what my favorite restaurant is in LA I now know the answer is La Puglia without a question!

Wow incredible ambience and service. Food was really good, everything we ordered was magnificent

Cute date night spot but not my favorite dishes ordered. Staff was extremely friendly and welcoming. Walked in on a weekday and had no issues getting a table. Would def recommend buying a loaf from their little market because our server sold me on it and I continue to come back to their little market just to buy it. Made fresh in store!

La Puglia in Santa Monica is a delightful gem that truly captures the essence of authentic Pugliese cuisine. As someone hailing from Puglia myself, dining at this restaurant was a nostalgic experience that instantly transported me back to the flavors of my hometown. From the first bite, it was evident that their dedication to traditional recipes and high-quality ingredients was paramount. The menu showcased an array of classic Pugliese dishes, each prepared with genuine expertise and attention to detail. The pasta dishes, in particular, were a standout, perfectly al dente and generously adorned with robust sauces that reminded me of home-cooked meals with family. Additionally, their selection of seafood was both abundant and impeccably fresh, embodying the coastal essence of Puglia. The ambiance of La Puglia further added to the experience, with rustic decor and warm, welcoming staff that made me feel right at home. Whether you're a Pugliese cuisine enthusiast or simply seeking an authentic and memorable dining experience, I wholeheartedly recommend La Puglia for its genuine taste of Puglia in the heart of Santa Monica.

Elegant and simple place with great menu and pleasant atmosphere. This restaurant has a great menu of Southern Italian cuisine. We have tried a couple things and they were delicious and well executed! There is bar seating as well as tables. Decor is simple modern and very pleasant, creating a relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere. There is also a small market where you can get bread, pasta, jams and a few other things. All service staff was excellent and very attentive. Prices are quite high. Great date spot!

I would still go back to Puglia even on a bad day they had in the kitchen. I have been here a couple of times and I've always loved their staff and food BUT tonight was a totally different level not in a good way. Only the reason I still give 4 stars is because of our server, Federico. He saved the night for us to want to come back even though the food was just okay. For the food, they only deserved 2 stars! We ordered mussels as an appetizer, pomegranate salad, and lamb chops with potatoes. The only food was the side of the lamb chop dish tonight. As you can see, the lamb was way overcooked. The mussels were in the broth but the broth was bland. The salad was just olive oil and lemon and no seasonings. It was way overpriced for what we had tonight. Federico, the server, definitely saved us from noticing something was wrong. He was attentive and asked us to be honest and asked if he could do something. There are many places when a customer complains, they just take off an item, or sometimes even discount. We weren't looking for any of that. We just wanted to communicate how bad the food was tonight. I appreciate the restaurant staff for sincerely showing us care and welcome, and tonight Federico was the one. We thank you for having us. Maybe next time will be better cooks in the back. Valentina, thank you for the pastries. Federico, thank you for the dessert.

Made a reservation for Friday night few days in advance. They give 90 min for you to eat, if 8 people and more, 2 hours. So if you want to order a bottle of wine and cheese and gradually transition to a main course, might not be possible. They want you in and out. Service was very very mediocre. Italian guy was very nice to the ladies who came alone, he would chat and ask them questions, laugh, etc, but he wouldn't even come ask us anything, we had to constantly flag him to get something. We had mixed salad to start, was a pretty large portion, we shared it. Salad was nothing special to be honest. Same salad we make at home everyday and tastes the same. And we are not chefs by no means. I had vegetarian pasta with tomatoes and my husband had beef ragu. Both dishes were fine but nothing amazing. Just a pasta from Italian place. We ordered tiramisu, again, nothing special, just a regular tiramisu. Was a decent place, overpriced considering mediocre service and not amazing food. Ambiance is fine, had some old movie play on background, tables are pretty close to each other. I wouldn't really come here again. Also it's located in kind of not the nicest part of the city. It is Santa Monica, so no place is super safe but we didn't feel super safe walking 2 min to the car.

One word to describe the experience: beautiful! I spotted the restaurant when we were driving down Wilshire trying to decide on a location for lunch before an appointment. The restaurant caught my eye with its red umbrellas and floor to ceiling glass wall. I'm so happy we stopped in because the ambiance inside was breath taking - the velvet chairs, marble table tops and music were inviting. What really topped the ambiance & aesthetic were the people!! Everyone was friendly from the moment we stepped in and they took pride in La Puglia. We were on a time crunch, so we didn't have time to fully relax and take our time, but we will absolutely be back. I also grabbed a few bakery items & it was the best "to go" dessert - also, I'm very glad Yelp! saved this review in my drafts because I thought I had posted it. My aunt and I came here in August 2022 I believe

Hands down the best Italian food I have had. This is definitely pure, authentic Italian food. It really feels like you are eating in Italy. A bit on the pricey side, but was worth the quality of the food. I ordered a simple lasagna and it was amazing! The people were very friendly and definitely took pride in working here. 10/10 recommend!

The food was EXCELLENT. The service was great. The steak out of this world. However, a few small issues. The beautiful pizza, came but the crust was slightly burnt. In my opinion, I think the surface of the oven was not cleaned. Another issue was that they don't allow outside wine. Most restaurants charge $25 cork fee. Why not? And if you order margaritas, make sure you tell them double shot. Because, you have to have a Atomic Absorption machine to detect the alcohol. Otherwise, yes, I will come again.

They couldn't have been more accommodating. Super delicious food for a large party. The manager was very professional and kind. Thank you so much.

The Panettone had mold, and when I returned the two boxes, the female owner or manager took about 20 minutes to process the refund. She mentioned it was packaged while still moist. Offering an apology with not much care. Unfortunately, I've also encountered insect-infested packaged pasta here. I'm hesitant to return for any more spoiled items.

My boyfriend and I decided to try LA Puglia out on a whim for date night. We loved the look and feel of the place such as the retro films playing on the wall to the ambiance. I didn't really care for the crowded seating if you don't have your own secluded table (you're kind of crammed next to people to the point where you can hear their every word). It's real, authentic Italian here which I appreciate but also wish they would take allergens a little more seriously. I have a gluten and egg allergy which can make it really difficult and nerve-wracking to dine at places where I may get a pizza or pasta unless they are exclusively GF or vegan for that matter but it doesn't mean places don't have the options. What threw me off here was when I asked questions the waitress was very almost confused, hesitant to check with the chef and kind of stand off ish when I simply asked. I've had waiters not take this seriously before and I've paid the price later unnecessarily, so this is a serious matter for any restaurant/ customer. After asking 5 times and needing to get another waiter to ask again and have them check w the chef, I ordered the gluten-free pizza which they insisted didn't have egg in the dough either. It was honestly a very bland, mediocre pizza. The side vegetables were very basic and overpriced and the same with the caprese. My boyfriend insisted his gluten-free bolognese pasta was delicious and he'd get again if he ate meat still. I ended up being fine which was great so they were correct that there wasn't egg or gluten in the dough, but needing to check with 5 different waiters for an answer made me very nervous and uncomfortable. They do have a cute area next door for jazz which i'd love to check out and maybe just have a drink. I wanted to like this place more, if those things don't matter to you i'm sure their other dishes are good

Amazing food and incredible pizza- we loved the ambiance and authentic Puglia cuisine ,

I cannot say enough things about La Puglia. The decor is incredible and every detail was thought out. The food takes me back to Italy...handmade organic and perfect! The service was also amazing; genuine and polite team. A must for lunch or dinner, or Tuesday evening jazz!

AMAZING! very authentic food, great Tuesday Jazz. I will truly miss the bruschetta, espresso martini, and gelato! Counting the moments until I come back to town to enjoy again

Zero stars , is what this establishment deserves. The owner, chef was very dismissive and clearly didn't hear or see what I was trying to convey. Ordered a vegetarian sandwich to go and to my surprise it was drenched with oil!! Where on earth do you pay 18-20$ for a sandwich, I don't care what style it is, and it is swimming in oil ! It was the worst bougie sandwich I have ever taken a bite of. Oooo and why would you make a sandwich and not cut it in half?? The bread was super cold. Had to reheat both sandwiches to be able to bite into them! If you use the best ingredients you may need to have a check with your ratios and standardize your chefs! Just by using the best ingredients you don't get the best product !!! I would not give this establishment any business ! Definitely needs help on their customer service, specially if the owner/chef can't take feedback !

The summary salvo is that we had an extremely nice and pleasantly slow brunch to have a small (belated) birthday gathering. So, what's up? Recommended by some real-flesh Italians, we chose La Puglia for a Sunday morning brunch - just like that and a tiny little bit to celebrate my aging bones. Street parking was easy. Since Covid despite 900K+ losses in some minds never existed (?) but at least at this point seemed to be safely reduced, business appeared to be back to good old times. Stepping into this modern and lighted restaurant felt very nice and soothing, looking at not only the beautiful space as such but also the wonderful display of fresh baking goods and a whole bunch of colorful ceramics. Indoor seating was very comfortable such that spending a few hours didn't break the back . While Ali covers the backend of business (and can't resist the urge to respond to each good or bad review), Valentina and her crew were at the front. She not only made great recommendations but also spent time for pleasure conversation with customers about food, culture, Europe, etc. Wasn't that one of the key things we missed in isolation - talking to real and real like-minded people? The food was great, all organic and freshly prepared at the moment, hence not at supersonic speed. But that was actually advantageous as we shared everything, and the measured rollout prevented a sudden stomach overload. Since we had to wait for 2 folks who were stuck in traffic, we started with a wonderful real Italian Cappuccino AND a lukewarm, fresh, and superb Pasticciotto leccese - another one a little later was predictably inevitable. The Frittata with vegetables, Festa dei Baresi (salad), Quando nasce un amore (olive tapenade bruschetta), Picca Picca (smoked salmon sandwich), and the Puglia (pizza) were all on point. Everything was fresh and crisp (Note: I respectfully disagree with some less favorable and can only laugh at some ignorant yelp reviews) and represents a particular culture and style of a particular corner of Southern Italy! Out of principle, we had to try some desserts - even though we had started with one. The cannoli and a selection of 4 Miracolo gelati set a sweet and delicious end - except that there was a small additional surprise finale with candle. Definitely a wonderful and relaxing experience - and don't worry, we'll be back! PS1: The restroom was a fun experience at no extra cost - and for a moment I suspected hidden cameras - as I could initially not activate the high-tech water to flow but was only met with repeat attacks by the integrated high power hand dryers. Glad nobody watched... PS2: There appears to be an extra room that could be used for a larger event/party ... PS3: Who in the world in 2022 would really complain about not being able to pay in cash?? Thank you for touch-free credit card processing ... PS4: Ali, can you resist to comment? If no, I'd prefer to get a DM...

Modern pleasant environment. Excellent service, food delicious. Wine list pricey but interesting, discourage corkage. Cocktails well made

We came to celebrate my birthday at La Puglia. The food was delicious but the waiter was not very knowledgeable. Maybe he was new. Towards the end of our meal he started to warm up to us. We asked if they offered a dessert for birthdays and were told yes. A puff pastry was brought to our table, which was delicious. We were surprised that we were not told what the dessert would be. Most restaurants are happy to offer a free dessert to the birthday person but not La Puglia. When we received the check we were charged $20 for One Puff pastry with a candle on it. If we could have chosen what we wanted it would have made a difference and I probably would not be writing this review. After writing this review I looked at my Receipt and saw that the price of the dessert should have been $15, not $20. Then I also noticed that we were charged for 2 bottles of San Pellegrino when we ordered only one. Another $9.00. I cannot believe that such a nice restaurant would do this to their customers. So please everyone check your receipt before you pay the bill.

Our server started trying to get us out of the restaurant the second we were seated. I haven't been rushed out of an establishment this quickly since the time I brought Tom Cruise and John Travolta to The Vatican (my fans know how that ended). We arrived for our 7pm reservations on a Friday to a largely empty restaurant. As we tried to enjoy our company and ambiance, our server visited our table every 2-3 minutes requesting to take our order despite repeated attempts to inform her we had not yet looked at the menu. Finally, after 15 minutes she harshly told us that we "had to order within the next 5 minutes" since the food "takes a long time to cook." We complied with this demand and quickly placed an order. The food arrived promptly, and we were finished eating by about 8:30pm. We were engaging in a lovely post-dinner conversation, when our server once again interrupted at about 8:55pm to inform us that we had to leave because they "needed the table." Once again feeling like a scorned kindergartener, we engaged in our walk of shame out of the restaurant, passing four empty tables inside and three empty tables on the patio. I guess they were expecting to be overrun by the classic 9pm West LA dinner rush and needed eight free tables. The complete lack of manners and hospitality by our server made this an incredibly aversive experience. This is a shame because the food is actually quite good.

Had an amazing experience eating at LA Puglia and listening to the live Tuesday jazz. I love that there is a place to eat and listen to music but also a quieter section if you are looking to chat with company. I am biased being from Puglia but I was so happy with the dishes that I ordered - especially the Rosa. The mussels appetizer was also extremely tasty. Service was nice - we loved Luca! They were a bit understaffed but still made up for it with their kindness and we felt bad for the wait staff struggling to keep up. The drink list is on the pricier side whether you are ordering wine or cocktails. Not a cheap meal but also not the most expensive Italian food in LA and at least it is authentic! Absolutely recommend for date night or dinner with friends.