La Tavola Trattoria

A very good local Italian restaurant that does not attain the level of atmosphere or cuisine as a couple of my recent standout reviews. In particular, I was disappointed by the seafood bucatini, which seems on paper to be perfectly designed, but was one of the driest pastas I've had in recent memory. My date enjoyed her tomato-based pasta. However, the good service, stellar bread and oil, heirloom tomato preparations, and interesting tiramisu may be worth the trip.

La Tavola is the perfect place for an upscale dinner with friends or family. Highly recommend making reservations ahead of time (and specify whether you want an inside booth/table or outside table!). As well, plenty of side streets to park on for free with a quick walk to the restaurant and square. We were seated quickly given our reservation, and were greeted immediately by our friendly server. He walked us through the menu, gave his personal recommendations, and made sure to check up on us frequently throughout our whole dinner. The ambiance in this restaurant is lovely, and it’s quite small and intimate. My friend and I split the veal meatballs with polenta which were mouth-watering! Alongside the fresh bread and olive oil given, it was the perfect start to our dinner. My tagliatelle bolognese, a classic, was delicious and fresh. My friend’s cannelloni was super unique with the lamb and cheeses fusing delectably. Overall, the price was typical for a nice dinner in Atlanta ($$$$), but very worth it given the service, environment, and delicious food!

The food was amazing, and that were even gracious enough to make their Cacio e Pepe off menu for me, I’m super appreciative! Our served Judd was so kind and fun, really took care of us! Kit, the manager, was a pleasure as well!

Dakota’s guidance through the menu was a warm welcome for our first time here. From the Monday pasta deals, to pairing wines with our dishes, Dakota is the epitome of hospitality. Secret shoppers beware.. you won’t get your shenanigans past him! 10/10, would recommend

OMG! The pasta here is absolutely delicious! This clearly is a popular place as it was packed for a Monday night. We ordered the Burrata appetizer which was spectacular and went well w/the bread. I ordered the mushroom ragu dish, I don't recall the name. I probably should've taken some home for left overs but it was so good, but I couldn't stop eating it. LOL. I also ordered the Peroni draft, a requirement when in a good Italian restaurant!

My friend took me here as she has been many times and highly recommended it. It was all she described and more. The food and drinks were delicious and service was great as well! We opted to get multiple appetizer sized pastas to sample a bunch in family style and I highly suggest this method. Our server was Lou and he was so great. It was busy for a Tuesday night but he was able to take good care of us and the rest of the tables. Also, Lou, if you're reading this: you could have a career as a model just saying :) haha. But seriously this place is awesome and it's the perfect combination of fancy and casual vibes that you could dine here for a special event or just for a nice dinner on a weekday. Oh and save room for dessert trust me.

Pretty accurate, authentic food (I grew up in Italy). It was a quiet, late Tuesday night. Not a lot of people there. The only circumstantial issues were the unnecessarily loud music and the fact that 2/3 options on the daily menu weren’t available. Meh, no big deal. Food was good. Wine was good. Served sambuca well. Tiramisu was delish. Server was great.

We set a reservation for 5bpm on a Friday. Server was very attentive and knowledgeable about menu and restaurant. We started with the pear salad, along with the bread. The sourdough was fresh, nice and hot and the olive oil was to die for. It had herbs and spices in it so when you dipped the warm bread, it was magical. The salad had a good flavor but it was a little acidic for my taste. Next I got the spaghetti with veal meatballs. The meatballs were amazing. The pasta and sauce were OK. Not as I would have expected from an authentic italian restaurant, but still good. My friend got the mushroom ragu. The sauce was so silky, smooth and delicious. The desserts were also divine. I forget the chocolate crunch dessert name, but a bite of that followed by the cappuccino is Heavenly. Would definitely come back.

Our host, Andrew, took care of us as soon as we walked in the door. Even though we had reservations, we hit terrible traffic on 85 and arrived almost an hour late. But this was not an issue for Andrew! He sat us at a cozy two top table right in the front window, so we enjoyed a beautiful view with great Italian music and soft light ambiance in our own quiet corner. The wait staff gave us their wonderful undivided attention and even offered a couple interesting wine suggestions (with a small taste to help us make the right choice before ordering a bottle) We started with a bottle of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2022 (suggested). A pleasant unknown surprise to us with its bold earthy taste. It has definitely become a new favorite! We split a Caesar salad with the white anchovies- a yummy start. (We highly recommend the added anchovies for a great bite) My husband ordered the bolognese and wanted to lick the bowl. (I believe he did take the warm bread and wipe it clean haha) I ordered the mushroom ragu which was a pleasant pairing with the wine but was just a bit salty for me - but I am salt sensitive, so... We wanted to stay longer and enjoy a cup of coffee (which took me back to Italy just with the aroma from the table next to us) and a dessert (which everyone seemed to be ordering - always a good sign) but we had sympathy tickets and had to be on our way. Oh well, next time for sure! If you are looking for a special evening, move this little gem in Virginia Highlands to the top of your list of choices.

the loveliest dinner i have had in a while. we were treated SO well by barry! free bread service with olive oil was phenomenal, i am an olive girl so the olives starter was a must, caesar salad was the best i've ever had (i don't even like caesar salad), and my mushroom tagliolini was extremely tasty and a good portion for the price! tiramisu to top it off was perfect. a gem of virginia highland. everything from the drinks to the dessert delighted me, and not a terrible bill of a little over 100 (we each got a drink)

I'm starting to think that the Fifth restaurant group genuinely knows what they're doing. Great food, great service, and ever so slight comfort issues (at least for someone my age). The vibe of La Tavola is neighborhood bar meets trattoria. Many customers, especially those seated at the bar, appeared to be regulars. There was an atmosphere of conviviality aided, no doubt, by the fact that the tables are crammed in one on top of another. The noise level, surprisingly, is not excessive. The food is excellent and not overpriced by Atlanta standards. We started with a burrata app, a dish that can be something of a cliche and not my favorite in any case. The kitchen chose to use a mint pesto which made all the difference. The flavors were bright and fresh and the rough chopped pistachios added some needed texture. The mains were also quite good. The veal saltimbocca was not entirely traditional - no spinach and I'm not sure about the sage - but the sauce was rich and tasty and the veal was tender. The roasted potatoes worked well but were a little salty by the end. The seafood black pasta was also a winner although the clam shells didn't have any clams. The vegetarian in our party felt that the mushroom pasta was heavy although I feel that's a matter of personal perception. It didn't strike me as such but YMMV. Service was friendly and it does seem that all servers with the Fifth group have a script that they all follow. Still, it works well. Oh, and there's free valet parking behind the restaurant.

Visited on a Tuesday, parking is available on the street or valet at Wells Fargo across the street for $3 (does not include valet tip). Get your ticket validated at the restaurant. Cocktails: basil limoncello - good & rosy cheeks- seasonal cocktail with Mezcal - ok Food: bread & olive oil are served complimentary, nothing special about the bread, crusty outside, soft middle. I usually love the free carbs but nothing about this bread was unique. I had the veal meatball w/ polenta for me entree. The meatballs were decent, but I've made better. The polenta...just not my thing. Service was friendly, decor was classic Italian restaurant.

Very cute Italian spot in Virginia Highland! The indoor restaurant area is pretty small, but the patio is huge and so gorgeous!! There's plenty of street parking around as well as valet if you're too lazy to look around. The service inside was great and super fast too which was a huge plus since we went with a pretty big party. I had their cult classic tagliolini which is perfect if you're a mushroom fan! I definitely get why they have a huge following for the pasta alone lol. I also tried the focaccia and the veal meatballs, and thought that they were ok, but I think I make better versions of both Overall I can't recommend the tagliolini enough! The other pasta dishes ordered also seemed to be well liked too, so definitely come to La Tavola if you're looking for a cute outdoorsy space for Italian food.

Service was great. Michael was helpful and knowledgeable. Caesar salad was excellent and the best part of the meal. Would definitely buy again. The mushroom taglioni was ok. I think that the sauce might have been better as a cream sauce. Lamb shank was very tender. The carrots were undercooked. The olive oil cake was worth the calories! Great neighborhood.

La Tavola is a charming little trattoria tucked neatly into Virginia Highlands, the sort of place that looks like it was sketched straight from someone's Pinterest-fueled imagination of a quaint Italian eatery. Picture this: a long, narrow space with cozy booths hugging one wall, the bar and kitchen snugly opposite, close enough to feel the heat of the stove. It's the kind of intimate setting where you half expect to overhear whispered confessions over glasses of Chianti. Visually, it's spot on--a trattoria by the book. The food? Solid, though it won't have you calling your nonna to brag. Other neighborhood spots--Sotto Sotto springs to mind--have upped the ante on Italian fare, leaving La Tavola feeling more like a reliable understudy than the star. As for the staff, well, they've clearly mastered the art of indifference. The maître d' greeted us with the same enthusiasm one reserves for assembling IKEA furniture. He even found time to scold another couple, though for what offense, we could only guess. The waitstaff, while competent, seemed to operate under strict orders to keep interaction to a minimum. The result? Service that was fine, technically speaking, but about as warm as a refrigerator. Would I recommend it? Sure, if you're in the neighborhood and craving pasta. Just don't expect to feel like anyone was particularly glad you came.

This is the quintessential neighborhood Italian spot. It's dark, moody, and extremely intimate (maybe 15 tables in the entire place, if that). We were lucky enough to snag a table for dinner without a reservation. This place was packed and based on convos with staff, it stays this way so I'd recommend a reservation just in case. Service was great, they still manage to make sure you're having a good dining experience even with the place filled back to back. The salumi board was good but on the smaller side, especially giving 4 meats but only 1 cheese and no real sides just some pickled veggies. I'd probably skip it next time. The veal meatballs were soft and well seasoned. I especially loved the polenta underneath. I wish the tagliolini had been seasoned better - it was a bit plain and definitely needed salt and acid. Pasta was al dente. Overall a good date night spot, I'd like to come back and try out some of their other dishes.

I had a reservation for a party of three at 8:15. We arrived a few minutes early, but the place was packed, and our table wasn't ready. It took about 10 minutes before we were notified, and when we returned to the restaurant, the table was still being set, so we had to wait another 5 minutes. Once seated, though, the experience turned around quickly. Our waitress was phenomenal--extremely knowledgeable about the menu and gave some fantastic recommendations. We started with the Caesar salad, which was one of the best I've ever had, and the calamari with its delectable sauce. For my entrée, I had the succulent pork from their seasonal menu, while my friends enjoyed the squid ink pasta and the bolognese, both of which they loved. Since we were celebrating my birthday, we were treated to a rich mousse-like chocolate dessert and a glass of champagne for the table, which was a nice touch. Overall, the experience was lovely in this small, charming Italian restaurant. I highly recommend making a reservation, especially since it gets busy. Also, they have discounted pasta specials on Mondays--definitely make a reservation for that, too!

The service was impeccable from Dakota, Incredible! The ambiance was amazing and intimate. However, it was not the best Italian food I've ever had in my life. I feel there are other places with less customers that are far better with even no reservation required. I would recommend for a date spot, special occasions, but don't expect authenticity. In conclusion, beware when dining here and if you do, make sure you get Dakota!

My boyfriend and I came in with a 7:30pm reservation and were seated pretty quickly. The ambiance of this restaurant is very nice. Great jazz and soul music plays at a comfortable volume. The brick wall and light fixtures make for a trendy atmosphere. We dressed up a little, but most of the other patrons were pretty casual. When we got there, the restaurant was already almost completely filled up, with just a couple of tables open. Our server Kaylee was very friendly and welcoming. My boyfriend and I each ordered a glass of montepulciano, which was delicious. It was dry but light and fruity. For our appetizer, we went with our server's recommendation: the Burrata (Burrata cheese, apple mostarda, hazelnut, mint). It was great along with the complementary bread and olive oil (which we ordered a couple extra servings of due to it being so good but also because we waited over an hour for our entrees to arrive. Our server did her best, apologizing to us and checking back and forth between tables and the kitchen. Understandably, there were lots of orders placed around the same time, but it felt like we were waiting forever. Our dinner began at 7:30 and ended at nearly 9:30... quite a long time. For this reason, I sadly had to dock one star. Had we ordered dessert, it probably would've been a 2.5-3 hour dinner). For our entrees, we shared Nero Spaghetti (gulf shrimp, calabrian shrimp sausage, soffritto, basil) and the Tagliolini (mushroom ragu, truffle oil, pecorino romano). Both pasta dishes were exquisite. At the end of our meal, our server asked if we wanted to sign up for rewards. I did and am looking forward to coming back to La Tavola, most likely at another time of day to see if it's less busy/quicker in the kitchen, as well as excited to try their sister restaurants we haven't tried yet!

I got the olives, hamachi crudo and taglioni. The olives were good but a little too salty. The hamachi was delicious and fresh. There was a slight citrusy flavor and some spice from the chili. Our waiter was really selling the mushroom pasta. I was hesitant because I'm not a huge fan of thinner pastas but the texture was great. There was a lot of mushroom so don't get it if you're not a fan. We sat outdoors and it was really nice. Heated and covered.

We had a great time at this restaurant while visiting from out of town. The food was fantastic. The vibe was really cool. The service was wonderful. Chrissy was amazing! She was so attentive and nice. Should I ever be back in Atlanta, I know where I'll be going for dinner!

Super cute Italian spot, street parking may be a little tricky but there was valet parking across the street at the bank. The man who greeted us was super friendly and welcoming but our server was not great- she was slow and a bit socially awkward/unfriendly. We ordered a bottle of wine right from the get go and it took 20 minutes to arrive, it wasn't even that crowded, then she took forever to take our order. When we finally ordered and the food came out, everything was great. To start, we ordered the burrata, meatballs and a Caesar salad. Then everyone got a pasta dish- it was definitely a lot of food but everything was great.

This place is a scam. If you are a large party they will scam you to death. They charge $60 for $23 dish. They charge for dishes they never served they add on items they never brought out. It is unreal. Unreal how they get away with the rubbery. If you are charging for extra people you must serve the amount of food you are charging me for. Theft in light of day.

What a terrific dining experience. We popped in late on a week night and they were happy to seat us. The host was friendly and helpful. The menue is authentic and everything we ordered came out on time and perfect. We even enjoyed desert. They recomended an Italian wine and then found out they didnt have it so served us a premium wine at the same cost. This place just has a great vibe, like they all really ejoy what they do and that is tough to come by these days. I look forward to dining there again anytime I am in the neighborhood!

What an amazing dinner and experience!! Our waiter brought the best energy and did a great job talking through the menu when we couldn't decide what to get! I ended up ordering the seasonal butternut squash gnocchi and wow, SO delicious. It was sweet, it was salty, it had a little bit of acid from the greens in the dish. I loved it. My friend ordered the cannelloni and that was also very very good; the tomato sauce was to die for. Both of our dishes tasted so fresh and flavorful, we couldn't stop talking about this meal after. We got the tiramisu for dessert and it was the perfect ending to the dinner. Highly recommend making a reservation as it was super packed on a Friday night. Keep in mind it is a tighter restaurant, more intimate, but so very cozy and the vibes are just right.

This is very quaint neighborhood Italian restaurant. I read the reviews and took my wife here for our anniversary. This was our first visit and it was amazing. Food was hot, fresh and flavorful. The service was excellent. Highly recommended for an intimate date night or if you just want to get some good Italian food.

Quite a few people in this city tend to rave about this restaurant as "one of the best Italian restaurants in town" so, you know your girl had to go see what the hype was all about. When you enter the establishment, the main dining room is very quaint and the bar is very small. Since it was a nice day, we decided to sit outside on the patio. To eat, we ordered the Veal Meatballs as an appetizer, the Squid Ink Spaghetti and Tagliatelle Bolognese for entreés, and the Tiramisu for dessert. I also had the Basil Limonada cocktail to drink. The meatballs were ok, and though I didn't try the Squid Ink Spaghetti, my friend said it was good. I thought that the Tagliatelle Bolognese was alright and my cocktail tastes pretty basic. Our waitress was nice and seemed energetic whenever she stopped by our table so that was cool. Overall, this place was fairly average. It wasn't bad but I wasn't exactly blown away either. I would be open to going back; however, there are definitely much better Italian restaurants that I've been to around town so I wouldn't go out of my way to return to this one.

I love sitting on the back porch at La Tavola. The service whether inside or outside is great. The servers were very attentive and the food is amazing. Highly recommend the Caesar salad, Tagliolini, Calamari (best calamari I have ever had). Shoutout to Chris Lea (beverage manager) for helping us find the perfect bottle of wine. The person I came with ordered a meal that was a little risky for her type of pickiness... she ended up not eating the meal, which she was more than happy to pay for, but the staff still took it off anyway AND offered her something in exchange. That was above and beyond kindness.

Stopped by for an early Valentine's dinner on Sunday night. I would highly recommend making a reservation on OpenTable cause they were packed and there is not much space to wait inside. FOOD: Nero Spaghetti ($24) - This was the squid ink pasta but they served it with shrimp instead of calamari. The squid ink pasta was chewy (in a good way) and didn't taste briny. Unfortunately the dish as a whole was incredibly bland. The components individually were great so it was a shame it wasn't seasoned more. Tagliatelle Bolognese ($23) - This dish was almost more bland and just all around not good. It became decent when our server gave us Parmesan cheese to add so we had more flavor to work with. The sauce was more liquidy than I'm used to so maybe that's why it was more bland? SERVICE: The hostess had us wait 10-15 min for a table past our reservation time, but ended up offering an already open table after realizing the other table was not going to empty out fast enough. Our server, Katie, was great. She was super attentive and brought us extra plates, Parmesan, etc. without us even having to ask. Other servers were accommodating as well when we needed new silverware and water. VIBE: Note that the space is small and super compacted with all the tables being very close, people waiting in a tiny entrance, and servers trying to get everywhere. I would recommend going to the patio for a less hectic experience. OVERALL: Probably more of a 2.5, but service was great so 3 seems fitting. I'm not sure if it just was an off day or maybe I personally just don't like the taste, since there are so many good reviews, so I recommend giving it a try to make your own judgements.

food was good. We both got the roasted chicken and enjoyed it. We were able to substitute the bread salad for finger potatoes no problem. We also got the veal meatballs which tasted great. A little slow as they were crowded but service was good and seated us on time on the cool back deck. We enjoyed it.

The food was some of the best food I've had in Atlanta. The service exceeded expectations, they really knocked it out of the park. Our server Michael knew the menu very well and even was able to recommend something outside of the menu when I asked if they had something specific. Cocktails were seriously the best cocktails I've ever had, the burrata and veal meatballs were amazing, and our main entrees were just as amazing. Really impressed with the food and the service, really impressed by this restaurant.

Had an amazing date night here at La Tavola. Our server Michael was friendly and explained the menu since it was our first time there. We started with the Ceaser Salad and the Burrata. We added on the anchovies to the salad and were glad that we did. The salad was fresh and satisfying. It slightly veered on being too salty but still good. The Burrata was great too, with a nice mix of surprising flavors like pistachio and strawberries. For the entrees, I got the Nero Spaghetti which was perfectly cooked and flavorful. Garlicky, buttery, with the slightest hint of spice. My husband got the Zuppa di Pesce and it was lovely as well, with plenty of seafood and two very large toasted pieces of bread for dipping. We wished we had room for dessert but we were stuffed, so we'll get some next time! This might be our new favorite Italian restaurant in the ATL!

Our final dinner in Atlanta while on vacation. Wow what an area. It was just gorgeous houses everywhere. I was taking pictures of them all lol. Anyway despite not having carbonara which is only on Mondays btw! Encase you are like me and look at pictures and think wow I must eat that, only on Mondays! I had different pasta. It was delicious regardless. Even better than the same dish I had a few days earlier while home in NY! Which is saying a lot from this self proclaimed foodie :P even our boy finally ate some pasta after not eating at all on vacation (except goldfish or cheerios lol) service was wonderful, best waiter ever. Scotty I think was his name.

My favorite Italian restaurant in the Atlanta area I usually go for either the Cioppino or the squid ink pasta and both never disappoint. Service is consistently friendly and the ambiance is quaint

Love this place ! Really intimate with a great ambiance and charm. The food was delicious, creative, and timely. Our server Dakota was so incredible also. Well definitely be back, thank you La Tavola !

The food and service was great. They have an awesome deal on Mondays with $12 pasta options. However, I used a gift card to pay for my meal which had additional money leftover after tip was factored in. Later when I went to check my balance on the card, there was money missing. If you end up paying with a gift card for your meal, would recommend making sure you use your entire gift card during the visit.

The food okay, I got their bolognese and got it piping hot which was great. But, the whole dish itself barely had any flavor and was definitely not worth the price. The ambiance was very nice and elegant looking. Service was also good. But the food itself I would say isn't worth the price.

Went here the other night and had a simply delightful evening. The servers worked together and all of them were so engaging and fantastic. I had the mezcal based drink and it was soooo good. The server indicated it's one of their fall drinks and it is NICE! I ordered the mushroom pasta and added shrimp. I really enjoyed it. I added a little red pepper to spice things up a bit. On Monday's they have 3 pastas for $12 each I believe. I'll try this next time. The chocolate dessert was good as was the complimentary olive oil cake. Excellent experience!

This is a pretty fancy place, and kind of intimate upon entering, so I'm glad I wore my cool jacket when picking up my squid ink spaghetti. It was really good!

Came here with my two sisters for a birthday! As always it was fantastic, the food was perfect, the service was impeccable. Thank you for a lovely evening.

My sister and cousin got together to get food and drinks. When we arrived we parked in the street nearby. We walked in and was greeted. Amanda was our server, and she was great. I ordered the vesper martini and it was a little too strong. I sent it back and had a lemon drop martini which was good. I then got the squid ink pasta and shrimp and it was pretty good. My sister enjoyed her meal and my cousin really enjoyed his spaghetti and meatballs. The bill was affordable and all in all we had a good experience.

The food here is amazing! The Fraser salad is the best in atlanta. The service was on par, even with the restaurant being a little small. The drinks could be bigger or a larger size because they are too good to be so small.

Ordered this to go. Terrible. Not worth the prices. We paid $10 for a Cesar. It was a few pieces if lettuce with seasoning. Give me a break. Do better.

LOVED! we came on a Monday night. I brought my father here for his birthday dinner. Service with stellar. We got the burrata appetizer, so good. The bread Service was amazing with olive oil. The truffle pasta was delicious and my father got the chicken and I got the rigatoni. For dessert we got the olive oil cake and the cheesecake. Everything was amazing. My mom is very picky and this was one of her favorite places to eat! We ended up getting the basil lemonade without alcohol, and we also love that although it's probably better with alcohol. There's a back side patio outside seating and also indoor seating. there's also a bar. There is a little small but bigger in the back. It's only street parking for what we could tell. It's located in a great area and it's a nice walk! Five stars for food and service in ambience. Loved it here.

Embark on a culinary journey at La Tavola, where the heart of Italy meets the vibrant soul of Atlanta's historic Virginia-Highland neighborhood. This charming eatery promises an authentic Italian trattoria experience that transcends mere dining. As you peruse the menu, the classic veal meatballs beckon with their timeless appeal, while the tagliatelle Bolognese boasts a richness that pays homage to tradition. For those seeking a culinary adventure, the mushroom tagliolini and squid ink spaghetti provide bold and captivating options. Additionally, the seasonal specials showcase a fusion of genuine Italian flavors with the finest produce sourced from the bountiful South. Allow your server to guide you through the extensive wine selection, and watch as the perfect glass is expertly paired with your chosen dish, elevating your dining experience to new heights. La Tavola proudly claims its position as the purveyor of the best Italian cuisine in town, leaving patrons consistently wowed by the authenticity and excellence of each dish. With an invitation to become a regular, La Tavola extends a warm welcome to all who seek an exquisite blend of Italian culinary traditions and Southern bounty. Prepare to savor every moment and make La Tavola your go-to destination for an unparalleled taste of Italy in the heart of Atlanta. Just leave a spot for me at the bar! Enjoy

Had an amazing experience here. Walking around on a Monday evening and stopped in. I'd recommend getting a reservation as they fill up quickly and it's an intimate space. Service: impeccable from the start. Randy the manager was very informative and accommodating. We started at the bar and Lucas made amazing cocktails while explaining the menu and what pairs with what. When our table was ready we were handed off to our server Dakota who also was very informative and fun. Food: everything was delicious. We had the tagliatelle bolognese as an app. Went great with the bread they start you with. Rigatoni with veal meatballs and the main event of the night for me, Saltimbocca Alla Roma (Veal entree). For dessert the olive oil cake. Overall an amazing dining experience and I can't wait to return.

This is my no-wrong-note favorite Italian restaurant in Atlanta. I've always enjoyed it, but tonight's dinner nudged me into true fandom. I usually order a balance of the restaurant's longtime classics along with seasonally rotating dishes. My choices tonight for the former were veal saltimbocca and mushroom tagliatelle, and for the latter we had a burrata appetizer and then a seared duck breast with an intriguing spice rub served with marinated tomatoes and summer squash. To round out our experience, Chef Kevin brought our table a complimentary pasta dish (rigatoni with vodka sauce, which was excellent). This kind of extra attention is what fills this place with happy, local locals every night.

Excellent restaurant with great service and exceptionally good food. Very nice decor in a trendy Atlanta neighborhood. Highly recommend what I believe is a superb restaurant.

4.5 stars for a solid Italian spot. I was looking to grab dinner one evening after work and wanted to stop somewhere on my route between work downtown and my house in Decatur. I came across La Tavola, located on Virginia Ave near the intersection with North Highland Ave, and was amazed that I had never heard of this spot. I also saw that the venue had a $10 Monday special on pasta and instantly knew this was my spot for the night. I arrived at the venue and was able to grab a seat at the bar. The venue itself isn't terribly large (maybe 20 tables?), but the dark atmosphere really creates that cozy vibe that works for a date night or nice client dinner. The bartender was an extremely friendly fellow who took time to talk to everyone and make sure all my needs were met throughout the night. I guess the venue has some type of rewards program, which actually helped him keep track of regulars without coming off as too eager when I saw him interact with others. I decided to start of my meal with a nice glass of red wine after putting in my order for some bucatini carbonara and a saltimbocca to go with it. The bartender also had some fresh bread with olive oil and balsamic brought out, which was some of the better bread service I've had in a while. It took a minute for my food to come out since the place was slammed, but both dishes tasted delicious both separately and then mixed together. The servings were quite plentiful (the $10 pasta would have been enough on its own), and they were such high quality that they still tasted great when I reheated them for lunch the next day. All of this for around $50 was quite the deal. Overall, La Tavola provides the Highlands area with a great Italian restaurant experience. The venue, service, and food were top notch and really made this hidden gem stand out.

I'm so glad they have valet parking. I'm bad at street parking, and barely have any luck to find available spot for street parking when dining out. If you're in front of the restaurant, the valet parking is in the Wells Fargo bank parking lot, on the opposite side of the street. Definitely make reservation ahead, especially in winter. They don't have much space for the waiting area, and you don't want to stand outside for so long in the cold at night, unless you want to train your body for cold resistance. The restaurant is much smaller and more casual than we thought, more cozy that way. We were seated very close to the front door so it was pretty cold when people in and out, which is pretty often too. I kept taking coat on and off because of the cold air from the door. Because of the small space, the noise level is also pretty high, so it's a bit hard for communication with soft voice people like us; less talking and more focusing on eating then. The food was good but not amazing. I found the menu is a bit limited for my taste but that is just me. You can see their menu on their website. The server was friendly but because it's very crowded and busy so we don't see our server much but we were not ignored. Any other server was just as accommodating when we ask for refill or napkins. Our order: - Salumi boards. - Caesar salad with white anchovies (it's a $2 extra). - Risotto (my friend said it was really good). - Market fish which was a roasted bass, on a bed of vegetables (it was okay). - Tiramisu (the alcohol taste in the dessert kind of overwhelm everything else). Overall, my experience was neutral. There's not much to complain but I probably won't go back since it was kind of a drive for me, and the food was alright. I might have high hope due to all the reviews and photos from their social media. I still recommend the place since it's still a good restaurant, just not for me.

La Tavola is, without question, the very best restaurant in Georgia. The ambiance, the management, the service, and most of all, the food(!!) is wonderful. It is an incredible value, and in 17+ years, I've never ever ordered anything that was not delicious. They just updated their menu for summer and I can't say enough good things about it. I just spent a month in sampling restaurants across Italy, but not a single carbonara touches the one you can get on Monday nights at La Tavola.

This is my second time back and it is truly a gem. The staff is amazing and I super love Jody! The people are an extra treat, and matched with the food you won't be disappointed. I get the squid ink spaghetti and this time it was made with shrimp sausage and shrimp! Can we say magnificent! I may go back this evening honestly The wine selection is always amazing as well! I love the little window seat it adds so much character to the ambiance. It's just enough light that peeks in with the best music selection.

Thus far, the best Italian I've had in the Atlanta area. Came here with a larger group (8 people), and everything from the service to the food was fantastic. The broth on the zuppa di pesce was utterly spectacular, and the pasta dishes were delicious. In our group, the carbonara, with a nice raw egg yolk and sprinkled with ample cubes of guanciale, was a crowd favorite. The meat and cheese board had great variety (speck, salami, prosciutto, bresaola, pickled veggies, etc.) and was a great way to start the dinner. Monday nights, several pasta dishes are $12. The portions are not huge, but it makes for an appropriate and satisfying dinner. A definite must try in Virginia Highland!

It is utterly mystifying as to why this restaurant rates so highly. My daughter and I were shown to a table next to the waitress' cubicle and were told that Ann or Mary-Cathryn would help us. She spent most of the time loitering or hiding in the cubicle and whenever she deigned to emerge and work, it took 10-15 minutes for our beverages to arrive. Indeed, whatever we requested! After looking at what the other diners had ordered, I noted that the portions were extremely dinky. So I had to stand and peer over her "safe haven" to request bread and butter. When we ordered, my daughter asked how the calamari was prepared and she clearly wasn't interested, but ___-Cathryn refused to accept the first "No thank you." Indeed, she gave us an Inquisition about how delicious it was and that we should order it, repeatedly. She finally got the very clear message that we didn't want it. We ordered the same entree, which was the pasta with olives, which was overly vinegary and made the over-minced mushrooms taste and look like black olives. Finally, the bread and butter, which was a small dab along with herb olive oil, which we didn't want arrived. ___-Cathryn asked if we would like another drink, which we did. That gives a strong indication of how long everything took. Another waitress came over and started to fill my daughter's empty Diet Coke glass, she corrected the waitress, who didn't bother to remove the glass. Finally, ___-Cathryn returned with our drinks and I had to request for a second time another iddy biddy bit of butter. When that finally arrived, so did our miserly portioned entrees. Here's the coup de grace, for all of that fanfare, it was obvious that our food wasn't individually prepared, but nuked! Furthermore, ___-Cathryn paid very little attention to us, but spent lots of time chitchatting with the men at the nearby tables, probably to get a bigger tip. Because my daughter was so hungry, she quickly ate her entree and ___-Cathryn decided that we had finished our dinner and tried to grab my half eaten plate, which I had to grab back from her. When I finished, I asked for the check, which was the fastest we saw ___-Cathryn move! I pay in cash and am very generous with tipping, so I wasn't going to lower myself via the tip. ___-Cathryn was shocked after she said that she would return with my change, when my reply was that "Its all hers" and thanked me. Needless to say, this restaurant is grossly overrated and overpriced with lousy food and service.

I went there as part of a party of 4. We had a charcuterie board and the calamari as appetizers and they were great. For our main course, 2 of us had the risotto, 1 had spaghetti and the 4th had the tagliolini. All 4 dishes were mediocre and we agreed we would not order them again. Service was pretty good although it was extremely busy so our server only came every now and then. I think he was doing the best that he could.

Four of us first time at La Tavola. Carissa is a great server and the chef came to the table which was nice. The food is great. The Caesar salad, with anchovies, had a nice kick to it. The main courses were very good. Now on our list of places to go back.

I am amazed at how consistently amazing La Tavola is! We have been coming here for years & had dinner there last night after a long hiatus. This is the 5th Group at its best - wonderful food, consistent excellent service & lovely atmosphere. They rotate out new dishes here & there, but leave some of their old standbys - aka Squid ink pasta with spicy sausage & thai basil pesto, bolognese. Last night i tried the Risotto with granabrodo, summer herbs & shrimp. Beautifully plated & so flavorful. The baked rigatoni, bolognese & spaghetti were outstanding. Desserts - total win! meringue with lemon sorbet, amarena cherries - light & delicious. Dark chocolate flourless torte with orange sauce & whipped white chocolate ganache? Sweet, but not too sweet. Outstanding evening all around.