La Vecchia Cucina

It’s a nice place, always busy, but do not expect anything outstanding, it’s just fine, everything is just fine, convenient if you live close by and don’t wanna cook, there is no any other reason to come here.

The bruschetta had fresh tomatoes but not much else for flavor - some balsamic vinegar would have been better! Wine was lovely! Pasta was ok, basic.

Delicious pasta, so many options and they all sounded tasty. Our waiter was super nice and helped us picked our dishes and the dessert was amazing!

We discovered La Vecchia Cucina years ago when our son transferred schools. We walked along the broken sidewalk full of roots hoping we had discovered a gem. Wow, did we. We have never had a bad meal. A family favorite is the Bolognese and any seafood fra diavolo. Fettuccine Alfredo and Chicken Marsala are also big favorites. We still can't figure out the secret to their Bolognese and they are tight lipped. We frequently enjoy the calamari appetizer with marinara. The deserts look scrumptious, buy we have never had room to actually order one. The wine and cocktail list is well curated. The bar tender will make just about anything your request. The specials are always fantastic and the seafood fresh, never overcooked. The garlic and herb dipping oil gets us in trouble everytime. We simply love garlic, but need lots of bread to use all of the oil. It they bottled and sold it, we would buy a case. The service staff is on point and attentive. They work diligently to anticipate and meet your needs. The kitchen is somewhat open and close to the dining room. They are professional and always accommodate dietary needs and restrictions. Hopefully everyone benefits from this review. I promise next time to post pictures. Wishes for a happy and healthy upcoming holiday season.

Magnificent!!! My daughter and I were visiting the area and previewed the menu- we didn’t have high expectations because so many restaurants boast “authentic Italian cuisine.” The food we consumed reminded me of Italy! Folks- you will not be sorry. The portions are handsome. The food is piping hot where need be. The pasta is perfectly prepared. The freshness, flavor and quality is all there. The bread is fresh, light——divine. The service was outstanding- super kind staff. This is one of the few restaurants I would drive the hour to frequent. I would recommend reservations as they do get quite busy but I would not discourage you from trying to walk in to get a table- they will try to accommodate. We enjoyed the outdoor seating. While there are space heaters- it gets chilly because you’re by the sea, so I do recommend something warm for the latter part of the day/evening. Buon appetito!

Love love love love love this place. Food is delicious and fairly priced and the bread in the garlic oil is INSAAAAANE. And they are old school with a proper Maitre D. Scott is the man. Right in the heart of main st. Too. This is one of my favorite restaurants in LA

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ La Vecchia Cucina – Flawless Italian Dining in Santa Monica! La Vecchia Cucina is my go-to for perfect Italian food every time. The ambiance is warm and inviting, the service is attentive and friendly, and Chef Mark’s dishes are *always* on point—especially my favorite, which never disappoints. From the first bite to the last, every meal feels like a celebration. If you love authentic, delicious Italian cuisine with a relaxed yet elegant vibe, this place is a must. 10/10 – will keep coming back!🍝❤️

Been visiting the Holly place for years, last decade, pretty much whenever I visit the area. Not to be missed, as it's the closest you gonna get to Italian home cooked meals, outside of Italy. The main 'problem' you might face is which meal to pick that particular evening, as all are absolutely delicious, or perhaps you feel just somewhat cowardly and going to stick to the proven, over the years, favorites... that's a great dilemma to have and I warmly recommend putting oneself in that position, if not already done so... buon appetito!

Firstly, we've lived in the neighborhood for 25 years and somehow have never eaten here. Our loss. It was a friend from out of town wanting to treat us to dinner who took us here. We're grateful for the treat and the find. The food, atmosphere, interior design and service were great. Our waiter Mike was positively lovely. We have a cousin whom we take out to lunch or dinner every 3 weeks and brought him for our second visit. He enjoyed himself immensely. We're not Italian or consider ourselves food cognoscenti. We can't tell you what the lingering after-palate was on the sauce for the fish. We just like the place.

Fresh ingredients, lots of menu options, and good service, but it's definitely not the best Italian spot in LA. My favorite menu item was the branzino- just wish it were served with roasted potatoes instead of mashed potatoes. The vodka pasta and primavera pizza were also good. Salads were just fine, and were very simplistic in nature. Good spot to visit if you're in the area, and with a medium sized group.

Elegant atmosphere yet relaxed and pleasant. Nice menu variety and attentive service. all the food was good, nothing overly memorable but consistent, nicely plated, appealing and appetizing. portions are definitely satisfying, prices are on median to higher side. Overall had a lovely time. metered parking all around.

The food,service and ambiance make this one of the best Italian restaurants on the Westside. Chef/owner Mark Molina,his brother and the staff present Italian dishes that compare to some of the best restaurants in New York.

We were grateful the host seated us after a tiring day of touring. We found the cozy restaurant on Yelp as we were returning to our hotel, and are glad we did. Wish we had this place at home. Laura was a friendly and attentive server. The chopped salad was good, not as great as others. The pastas were steaming hot. My son enjoyed his large portion of rigatoni bolognese, and my partner's linguine zingara was crafted well in a garlicky oil sauce. I liked the decadent eggplant rollatini with goat cheese in marinara sauce. Wish we could be pampered like this at home. Thanks!

Love this place! Can't believe I've never been here before until some friends from the East Coast suggested we meet here for dinner. The service is spot on... a little slow...but the food is fantastic and they are very accommodating. The best seafood pasta I've ever had. I switched it up a bit and asked them to make it with white wine sauce instead of their tomato and that perfected the dish for me! Will be back for sure!

This is our favorite place for happy hour. A line starts forming at about 4:45 PM. They let you in at 5 PM and you have to find a seat at the bar. Good Wine is $8, well cocktails are $10. I had spaghetti marinara with chicken for $12. (And I took some home.) My friends had the calamari fritti, with a slightly spicy marinara sauce, and a full pizza, and the rigatoni Bolognese. We are regulars here.

Excellent Italian restaurant in the Ocean Park section of Santa Monica. Came here with 2 other people and we started off with the great bread with olive oil and garlic chives--extremely tasty. Followed that up with a Caesar Salad that we all shared, also very good. We all stuck with pasta and went our own separate ways; I decided upon the Bucatini Amatriciana which was a very healthy serving and delicious. No room for dessert but I would come back here in a heartbeat. Indoor, outdoor and bar seating available.

Went there on New Year's Eve so understandable that service was a little slower. The food was good but not memorable. We ordered from the special menu oysters, chicken dish and the Cavatelli. Unfortunately there was a piece of plastic in one of the dishes that we ordered. We did bring it to the waiter's attention and they did take it off the bill which we definitely appreciated. The restaurant was nicely decorated for the new year which was very festive.

I went to La Vecchia Cucina in Santa Monica with some of my oldest friends from elementary school. The wine and food flowed with the stories of our mutual past, present, and always future. We started with an excellent Chianti. I ordered the shrimp la Vecchia scampi, which was excellent. The restaurant was cozy on a cold evening, and we had excellent service throughout the meal. My friends had rigatoni Bolognese and chicken marsala. Everyone enjoyed the meal, the conversation, and the friendship that has endured through time and distance from each other. La Vecchia provided the right space and ambience to make this reunion special.

Fantastic Italian Food! My partner and I had the MARGHERITA pizza with Goat Cheese and Oregano added to it - it was so perfect! The Crust, Sauce, Cheese - everything was top-notch! This is the best Pizza I've had in Los Angeles (Santa Monica) since moving here. My sisters both had Pasta dishes and they loved them! They also offer soft warm bread with Olive Oil, Basil, and Fresh Garlic dipping sauce... so decadent!! I will definitely be going back!

I have nothing terrible to say, but our meal was just not delicious. I'm not a snobby diner, but it all felt like wasted calories. The dishes just didn't come together to create something worth finishing, never mind returning for. Actually, the bread was delicious, although I would've preferred good butter to olive oil. The zucchini blossoms, which can be a fantastic appetizer, tasted more of the oil they were cooked in, than anything else. The gnocchi was filler and the pizza - with sausage - both of which I LOVE, were just not worth eating. I love most pizza I eat, but this pizza had very little flavor and what flavors were present were at odds with one another. Too bad. With a 9 month old baby at home getting out to dinner on our own is a treat and you want to make it worthwhile, but this was a missed opportunity. :-/ Luckily, my date was a 10 out of 10!

The short of it: Excellent food meets fantastic service in an elegant setting that has a "no pretense" upscale neighborhood vibe. Worth the trip. The long of it: Wow. If you know my other reviews you know that ambiance/atmosphere is important to me. and food being equal I'd much rather be at a neighborhood place than a stuffy restaurant where everyone's goal is to make sure everyone else knows how important they are. La Vecchia looks like a a stuffy place, but is surprisingly comfortable -- like a really nice pair of shoes that are unexpectedly like walking on air. I judge finer restaurants by two criteria: the food and how much it feels like an upscale neighborhood place you'd find on the Upper East or Westside of Manhattan. La Vecchia checks both boxes. To start, Scott, the manager/maître d' greets people on the street or at the door. Many of the people he knows by name, the others he greets as if he knows their name. Either way, you feel at home. Sitting at my table I could have been in the 70s on Columbus or Third. Perfect for a first date, an anniversary, a birthday, or just a dinner for no reason, this is a casual place that can definitely dress up nicely. The bar is friendly and lively in a relaxed way, and is populated with both regulars and new comers. Each feels at home. Service is Goldilocks spot on: attentive, available, and not obtrusive. Ok, food: Pizza dough bread. I mean great pizza dough bread. (If you know what I mean, you know what I mean.) The house Pinot Noir is exemplary for the varietal. The special stuffed zucchini blossoms, sublime. The Casareccia All'Agnello and the Bucatini Al'Amatriciana are must haves on the menu (if you eat meat. If you don't eat meat don't fret -- the menu is full if vegetarian items for every palate). And, yes, they have vegan and gluten free choices. Tiramisu for dessert -- the marsala (or rum, but I think marsala) takes it's place on the stage as a background player -- which is to say it's well balanced. The accompanying whipped cream was too sweet and is merely a distraction. When the bill came I felt it was worth every penny. Not cheap, but definitely fairly priced. My only complaint, and don't judge me, the portions were too large and European instead of American portions would have served well. The pastas are so robust that they would have been better at 2/3 or 1/2 the size, if only to have room for another dish to try... or maybe that's just their way to get you to come back? I guess that's why I come back.

The food was served hot and we thought our dishes were good however our server wasn't friendly. She didn't give us her name but I felt like she ignored us most of the night. I'm usually good at remembering names so I know she didn't tell us her name We had to wait forever to order dessert, I order a coffee flavored gelato and got chocolate gelato. I mentioned to our server that it was incorrect and she blamed it on the kitchen getting it wrong . Then took over 10 mins to bring out the right gelato . I wouldn't come back.

Overall 2.4/10 experience. The lasagna was not good as it lacked any kind of flavor whatsoever and was undercooked. The branzeno was exceptional and fresh. As for the service, it suddenly became good once I asked for the check (I wonder why).

Food was amazing. Zingara, Calabrese pizza and chopped salad. Restaurant was busy, server was polite and regularly checked in. We had a bottle of pink bubbly Vecchio. My children enjoyed and desserts was delicious. It is an open kitchen nice to watch, great ambiance.

I've been coming here forever and it's always good. They now have an outdoor patio which is nice. Service is always great. Street parking or metered lot parking behind the restaurant.

I've been coming here for several years and when my family is visiting, I always bring them here. I had never done happy hour before so I brought my friend and we sat at the bar. Service was so sub par. Bartender was rude which was a first for me at this venue. We noticed the bartender was extremely nice and generous to other couples at the bar but was extremely snippy with us. It's unfortunate because I'll never do this again and will not recommend which is a shame because it used to be one of my go to places in the neighborhood.

Neighborhood gem. I've lived in Santa Monica 21 years and have dined here more than any other restaurant in the city. It feels like home. Every dish is delicious. Pastas are cooked to perfection. We had the squash blossom special tonight and they were the best I've ever had. Thanks La Vecchia for being consistent all these years. Five stars all around!

Absolutely obsessed with this place! Have been coming here for years and it does not disappoint. I love sitting at the bar. There's always good energy & great customer service. The parking is a bit of a challenge but that's just the name of the game in this neighborhood.

Daniel was so pleasant when he took my order over the phone. I have only ordered one other time. The food is delicious and Daniel took his time to explain a few options for me to order. The food was delicious again, especially the ravioli. I recommend this place. I have not had the chance to dine in, but it looks nice inside too.

Great ambiance, friendly attentive staff and incredibly tasty food. Our waiter Mike was so kind and we loved our Valentine's Day dinner. Can't wait to return.

Comforting Italian food, good cocktails and friendly service. I would not consider this a fine dining venue but similar to a local trattoria in Italy. The produce does not appear to be sourced from local farmers markets. Pastas are tasty but nothing special. Skip the panna cotta. A nice place to meet friends. Patio is quite nice. Noise level is moderate.

Back after an absence... mead the terrific bread with the garlic...olive oil. The appetizer was a cold seafood mix of shrimp and calamari and lobster ina lemon oil dressing. Delicious. Mopped up the sauce with the bread too! Penne Arabiata with shrimp was cooked perfectly Al dente. The sauce was creamy and the portion large. The seafood pasta with linguine and spicy marinara sauce as also a hit. A medley of fish and Cala and one shrimp... clams and mussels was terrific. Nice portion with a mix of spice and tomato garlic. Wines were the pinot Grigio to start and the Nebbiolo as the main dish accompanying wine. Both good value on the by the glass menu. Good to be back. I highly recommend this place.

Good service and classy ambiance, but unfortunately the food was underwhelming. I got the pesto pasta dish. The waiter told me-- I hope you like pesto! So I was excited. However, the dish really lacked flavor. I am not someone who adds additional salt to restaurant food, but in this case I had to flag the waiter down for both salt and pepper. Cocktail was ok, nothing too interesting.

YUM. The sauce is completely packed with flavor, which I think is so important in a simple dish like Penne Alla Vodka. The waiter gave me the most perfect wine recommendation to go with my meal! I love asking questions when coming to a new restaurant. "Whats your best selling dish?" "What pairs best with this". Sometimes when I ask these questions you can get an unpleasant response so it was refreshing to get such great recommendations from my waiter. The bread comes out warm & they give you this exquisite olive oil dipping sauce with fresh garlic & basil. I sat on the outdoor patio, which was actually so relaxing even though it's right out by the street. The indoor seating looked amazing, this would be a perfect date spot in my opinion. Excited to come back again!

Super cute neighborhood italian restaurant. They have a ton of options all which were delicious, super friendly and helpful people working, and it's in a nice part of santa monica that isn't super touristy. Highly recommend for comfort italian food in a chill setting.

Comforting Italian food with a great DOCG Italian wine list. I particularly enjoy the veal piccata.

I have been here several times now and make it a point to come here every time I'm in Santa Monica. I always get the penne arrabbiata and the last time I was here I was happy to see it on the menu still since it had been quite some time since I was here last. I love this pasta dish because the restaurant cooks the pasta to the perfect al dente and the sauce is super flavorful and has just the right amount of spice. Consistency is this restaurant's game because every time I have that dish, it's always the same. I also tried some of my boyfriend's salad, which was the mista salad and it was pretty good. Everything was fresh, though the portion size was a little small and for a $15 salad with basic ingredients, the portion size should be a little bigger in my opinion. I like the bread they give you at the beginning and like how consistent this business has been over the years.

I love this place! Service is great, the owner Mark is the absolute sweetest man and created the entire dining experience for my table. We had a 9 person table, celebrating two birthdays, got to enjoy pizza, oysters and fantastic pasta dishes, very welcoming and comforting atmosphere and definitely will go back!!!

I really do enjoy this place. Reminds me of Nuovo Vesuvio from the Sopranos. Quality food and good service.

Good for happy hour. Get there early to get a seat at the bar. A little pricey otherwise. HH is not available at tables.

I've walked by this spot 100+ times in the past year, but it has always been closed. I looked it up out of curiosity today and surprisingly it reopened tonight so I walked over to check it out. They've got a huge patio that I thought belonged to The Bird Cage next door. Plenty of outdoor seating. I walked up and was seated quickly. The bread is some of the best I've had in the west coast. Nice crunchy crust with a warm, fresh out of the often and soft inside. Served with some fresh basil in garlic olive oil. I ate way too much of it. Ordered the calamari and the bucatini al'amatriciana. Both were very good and on par with something you might find on the east coast. Decent size portions as well which wa since to see because it is definitely not the cheapest spot for Italian food. I will definitely be back to try some other things on the menu.

This restaurant has been a Santa Monica staple for years. The quality of the food, excellent service and prices make it a perfect go-to any time you want to visit Main Street. This place is mostly locals, casual and never misses.

It has been years since I have dined at La Vecchia Cucina located at 2654 Main Street in Santa Monica. It brings back fond memories of my Mom coming to California from New Jersey where we would always request that first table in the window to the left! Tonight I had the Antipasto La Vecchia ($18.00) and the Linguine Mare e Monti ($28) plus two Iced Teas. My friend had the Carbonara ($25) plus Calamari Fritti ($18) and two glasses of Bonfante Barolo ($44). The total bill was $152.70 plus a cash Tip of $25. We ate outside and their outdoor dining is just as nice as inside. In fact more people were outside than inside! This is a landmark restaurant that offer the finest in Italian cuisine and is a reliable venue for two or for parties much larger! La Vecchia in my mind is the best restaurant on Main Street and the food and service speak for themselves! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

As per the reviews, I reserved a patio spot for my family for a birthday occasion and it was pretty much perfect, besides the car traffic on the street. Good walled off fence as to not see the street as much nor get bothered by ongoers. Inside was a little loud and cramped. Waitress Cameron was amazing, funny and friendly. Great cake plate writing as well. Manager introduced himself and had a connection conversation with my mother. Other service workers were always there when you needed something. Drinks and food were great. Would come here again

There is now only one Italian restaurant on the Westside we go to: La Vecchia Cucina. The food is spectacular, the service and staff expert, and the wine and cocktails always perfect. They are flexible with our picky kiddo and we always feel welcome. Favorite dishes include the Bucatini Al'Amatriciana, Farfalle La Vecchia, and the Linguine Vongole. You can even order French fries!!! Good value at the bar midweek for happy hour as well.

We have been to La Vecchia countless times since 1998; many family dinners while our kids were growing up, then frequent Happy Hours at the bar once kids were grown, in short many happy times there over the decades. Last night my husband and I went there for Valentine's Day. We may have had the best dinner ever at our favorite place. Every meal starts with a basket of irresistible hot homemade bread (the flour is imported from Italy), accompanied by a dipping bowl of olive oil, fresh basil and chopped garlic. (We request it without garlic). Between us, we ordered the Branzino al Forno, a broiled sea bass in a lemon-herb sauce; and one of the specials: fettuccine with salmon and pearl tomatoes in a lemony wine sauce. The squares of salmon melted in my mouth and tho' it was very filling, I could not stop eating it. We shared an abundant tri-colore salad. The shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano and walnuts brought it to the next level. I had a delicious, refreshing glass of Sauvignon Blanc. For dessert, my husband dove into the outstanding tiramisu and I ordered the gelato affogato -- a delectable dish of the smoothest, creamiest vanilla gelato with a demi-tasse of espresso poured on top, the best dessert I think I ever had. Absolute heaven. The restaurant isn't just attractive. There's a cool, upbeat vibe. It is immaculate. The ladies' bathroom is spacious and spotless (haven't seen the men's room so I can not comment on that). The service is top-notch. Water glasses are refilled without needing to ask. Btw, the water has a good taste, unlike some establishments. I'm talking about plain, not bottled water. It's crystal clear and the glasses are as clean as can be. I fear I'm saying so many positive things my review won't be taken serously but it's the truth. Plus, last night being Valentine's Day, it was even more of a feat to provide excellent food and service. Negatives? I have to struggle to think of anything. The restaurant can get noisy. Reopening after the covid lockdowns, they no longer offer my favorite dish, tuna carpaccio (translucent slices of raw tuna topped with citrus-y arugula). I'm thinking, thinking... No, there just aren't any. It's as close to perfection as a restaurant can be. Reasonably priced, consistent, great atmosphere, well-trained long-term staff, excellent food.

The outdoor patio is very breathy and layback, especially after the sun goes down and the string lights come up. We were there for a group happy hour, and I literally got to try every slice on the menu. Happy tummy, happy customer. There is a seafood salad dish that's refreshing. There is a pasta dish, not sure which one but the sauce is just the right balance of ragu richness and the sour tanginess, with the perfectly al dente penne, difficult to put down the fork. It was a great experience!

It was my first time eating here and I was very pleased. The food is divine! I just got back from a Europe trip and eating there margherita pizza felt like I was back in Europe. If you are looking for a good Italian restaurant this is definitely the place to go! Oh, and the staff was very friendly.

Fantastic place, amazing food, incredible staff. My favorite spot in a neighborhood filled with great restaurants.

This a lovely place to come a get a nice and yummy meal, very good Italian style food, good wine , nice ambiance, excellent customer service, in door , also out door's sitting, and barra.

We were not able to eat here due to my daughter's celiac. Admittedly, it is an Italian restaurant so.... pasta. Most Italian restaurants will cook their gf pasta in separate water but this establishment does not. We appreciate that the hostess on the phone volunteered this information but if you are gf due to intolerance or celiac, best not to eat their gf pasta.

After a walk on the beach on this beautiful warm winter day, friend and I walked over to Main Street to find a restaurant for an early Sunday afternoon dinner. The menu and outdoor dining area both looked enticing and we were seated outdoors by heaters (welcomed as the early evening chill was setting in). Nice selection of wines by the glass and wonderful Selection of pastas and pizzas- I was pleased to see a gluten free pasta option (penne or spaghetti) and hope they will add a gluten free pizza option in the future. The burrata appetizer we shared was excellent, and the pasta bolognese delicious. Will definitely be back!

I ordered takeout from here and was pleasantly surprised by the quantity of the food and the quality. I ordered pasta and they included delightful bread and olive oil. I definitely will be coming back for a sit down dinner soon as the ambience seems very cool and romantic. Highly recommend!

Service is good, but food is not. We even couldn't finish one dish. All pastas are oily and sour, hard to eat more, and the salad is the only one we ate half dish. I may not come again.

The maitre'd Scott drinks on the job often, and is incredibly rude as a result. The waiters follow his suit in rudeness. It makes for an extremely unpleasant dining experience. If you want good pasta nearby, go to Papille Gustative or Felix.

Thank you, Chef/Owner Mark and team for an unforgettable meal! When in downtown Los Angeles, my go-to Italian spot is to visit Chef Celestino at Drago Centro however thanks to my friend and her wonderful husband James, I'm thrilled to discover this delicious and high-end dining experience in Santa Monica! We ordered the the following: * CARPACCIO special on arugula with shaved aged Parmesan along with: * CAPRICCIO IMPERIALE - Chilled seafood salad with lobster, jumbo shrimp, calamari and green beans tossed in an extra virgin olive oil lemon dressing * MELANZANE ALLA CAPRINA - Eggplant rollatini with goat cheese and herbs, topped with our marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, basil and oven baked * RIGATONI BOLOGNESE - Rigatoni tossed with our signature meat sauce * TAGLIATA DI MANZO - Lightly pounded grilled USDA choice filet mignon medallions topped with a baby arugula salad tossed in an extra virgin olive oil lemon dressing * OSSOBUCO ALLA ROMANA - Center cut veal shank braised with celery, carrots, onions, veal stock and red wine, served on a bed of Italian Arborio rice Chef surprised us with a rare #offmenu treats from the kitchen - firefly squid (hotaru ika) and uni both from Hokkaido served in ponzu dressing with arugula. (Yes we love arugula!) Definitely make reservations and try this classy spot with stellar service the next time you're in Santa Monica!

Thank you for helping us celebrate our dear friend's milestone birthday in such fine fashion. Your graciousness and hospitality are certainly noteworthy. I was blown away by your extensive fine-dining menu. Your calamari fritti and padellata di cozze e vongole were amazingly delectable. Your Caesar salad with chicken satisfied my husband's taste buds, while the tagliata kept me in heaven for a good 45 minutes. Our party agreed that your freshly-baked bread, dipped in olive oil and garlic, deserves its own five-star review. Here's a special shoutout to Daniel, who handled our needs proficiently and with a smile that can light up all of Santa Monica. Go, Bruins!