Ugo

Awesome fresh and delicious real Italian dishes. The Gelato is some of the best I have ever had. I highly recommend. The patio seating is great and the Culver City parking structure is a very close, about a half a block.....Very convenient.

Visited this place with a colleague on a Monday evening. The food was very good. Super tasted. Ate everything. We had the lobster ravioli and the penne pesto. As an appetizer we started with the fried mozzarella. And ended with some top tier gelato. The food is great; go for the food if that’s your thing. If you are into ambiance, then try another spot. For example, I wouldn’t take a person here on a really romantic date. It’s just not that kind of vibe but if you don’t care about that then the food is worth the trip. Service was ok; I’ve had better.

Big tables are all outdoors. It's easy to make reservations on Resy, but the site says all tables are inside only and they actually only have a couple of small tables inside, so be aware you will most likely be outside. The food is nice, fancy Italian food, with homemade cheeses and DOC cheeses. Real Italian style pizza and gelato. The gelatos are also freshly made there.

Very nice location in Culver City. We went for happy hour. Had the Margherita pizza, calamari and croquettes. Their pistachio gelato is bomb. We'll be back to try their pasta and main courses on the menu. Clean place, friendly staff. It's a nice place to unwind to cap the week.

There's one entrée I stick to at Ugo's. I've tried one other dish and didn't love it, so I get the same thing every time; the tortellini limone. I only get one dessert, tirimusu. Today, both were off... the pasta is usually seasoned perfectly with a hint of lemon. Today, there was zero lemon and so over salted that it tasted like a packaged pasta. Their tirimusu ranked top 2 for me, and I've had a loooooot of tirimusu! Today, it dropped to number 7 or 8. With that being said... the manager and waitress were amazing. They were very understanding and patient. They took the meals off our bill without hesitation. They offered to remake them, and overall, they were great! Going here & getting this meal has become a tradition to celebrate accomplishments for my daughter and I, so I'm hoping this was just a bad day because I really do enjoy this restaurant.

I visited Ugo on a recent Tuesday evening with friends, eager to try their Italian fare. The penne boscaiola was ok. While the sauce was creamy and flavorful, it lacked the promised porcini mushrooms and pancetta. The dish felt a bit heavy on the pasta and light on the promised ingredients. The panzerotti, however, was a delightful surprise. Crispy on the outside and filled with savory goodness, it was a standout dish that I'd happily order again. I couldn’t even get a picture because it was so good! For dessert, I opted for the napoleon. Unfortunately, it fell short of expectations. The pastry was less than crisp, and the overall texture felt a bit stale. The cream filling was tasty. Despite the mixed experience, I'm intrigued by their pizza and cheesecake. I'll definitely be back to give those a try.

Dinner tonight was OK. Really just OK. But $100 for a personal pizza, spinach ravioli, a glass of wine and a spritzer should mean better than OK. The quality and taste was missing. Just felt like the ingredients were sub-par or maybe there’s a new guy. I don’t have a talented enough palette to tell you what was off with the food but I can say that the spritzer tasted like it was made by a 16 year old. Nothing was wrong but also nothing was right. I’d probably feel a bit better if this was a forgettable experience but it was so “meh” that it sticks out. Like driving through Kansas.

Italian place in downtown Culver. Came here on a Wednesday evening with no reservation for dinner but still got seated immediately. We had a margherita pizza, penne pasta, and brussel sprouts. Given that it’s in downtown culver, prices were higher than the quality of the food warranted. The brussel sprouts were undercooked and the pasta was tasteless. Our waitress didn’t come by to check in with us so we had no water refill the entire meal. That being said, the seating outside was good for people watching, although the tables were dirty due to the fallen leaves.

My friend and I visited Ugo for brunch/lunch this past holiday weekend. We walked in and it was quiet which we loved given the hecticness of culver on the weekend. our server, Hannah, was just so sweet, attentive, and efficient in her care for us. she recommended great dishes, brought out condiments, and continued to check in on us. the one thing i would have changed, that doesnt affect my rating, is that in the farmers skillet if there could be less mushroom, there was just so much it overpowered the other veggies. 10/10 would return and ask to be seated in her section

Ugo is in the middle of Downtown Culver City and you'll probably recognize it as the restaurant that has a yellow and blue awning outside or a display case full of desserts in the front--guilty as charged on the latter. This sit-down Italian restaurant has an extensive menu with Neopolitan-style pizza served uncut, pasta dishes, salads, and paninis, as well as a fantastic selection of gelato and coffee drinks. For the price, Ugo is just okay. The food is pretty good, like their pizzas topped with housemade fresh mozzarella cheese, Italian meats, and crushed tomatoes, or their pasta dishes and paninis, but at almost $16 for just the standard Margherita pizza, and $17 for the most basic pasta, I feel like it's a little overpriced. Their pizza is similar to 800 Degrees but not quite as tasty and about $5 more. From the other reviews, it seems like the move here is to come to Happy Hour, where the prices are much more reasonable, from 4-7pm on Monday-Thursday. Now most importantly, let's talk about the desserts. Their gelato selection is awesome! I especially like the creme brulee and stracciatella (chocolate chip) flavors but all the ones I've tried are creamy and delicious. The other desserts on the menu range from fruit tarts to Nutella pizzas and it all sounds/looks incredible. I would definitely come back for dessert (and coffee if I liked coffee) but I'm not rushing back for dinner. They have upped the game with the inside now so the decor and feel is better than it was years ago and the service is par for the course.

I visited Ugo's for lunch, and the service was great! The waiter was very attentive and ready to bring us what we needed in a timely manner. The menu has a lot of great options, but I really enjoyed having a separate lunch menu with smaller portions. I ended up ordering a chicken Caesar salad from the regular menu, but I can't wait to go back to try some of the lunch options. The lettuce in the Caesar salad was very fresh and had a nice crunch. The croutons also had a nice crunch and a great flavor that made each bite of crouton a nice little treat. They have outdoor seating that was great for a nice summery day like today. The flowers from the trees did tend to fall on us once in a while we were eating, but I don't fault the restaurant for that. It was worth it for the nice outdoor dining.

I hadn't been to Ugo in awhile so was excited to go there last night and I wasn't disappointed. My only question to myself was "why did I wait so long to come back??". The service was excellent. Both our waitress and the gentleman who filled our water glasses and cleared the table were friendly, helpful and professional. And the food was fantastic. I brought a client who, by her own admission, doesn't like a lot of foods and is very fussy about what she eats - and she absolutely loved it. The menu is varied and everything was fresh and authentic. Looking forward to coming back here again soon.

Service: Outstanding. You are a VIP here. Food: Caesar Salad . . . . Very good, but too big and too expensive. They need to offer a half-size option priced as an appetizer that precedes a main entrée. From what I could tell looking at other tables, all their salads are giant, meals-unto-themselves. Chicken Parmigiana . . . . Good, but too expensive. Black Forest cake . . . . Excellent and worth it's price.

I thought Ugo was going to blow me away. People toss it around as a Culver City favorite so often, I figured I was in for something special. And while the vibe is pretty great (think charming outdoor seating, a little Parisian flair), I've definitely had better pasta elsewhere. It's not bad, just didn't live up to the hype. Still, for a casual alfresco dinner with good company, it holds its own!

Solid Southern Italian food from Sicily (arancino) and Naples (pizza). Super friendly and accommodating staff. Will have to try their woodfire oven baked Napolitano pizza next time...and more arancini, those things are super delizioso!

Got together with a group of friends here. The service and food were good. Everyone shared and enjoyed what we all had. We were so hungry I didn't get much of a chance to get food photos except one where we had already dipped in! It's a good place for a group. They have a very nice outdoor patio as well.

My boys and I like to come here to grab great Italian food at an affordable price. They have an epic happy hour which has food options as well. We love getting the Arugula & Fig pizza during that time. Ugo is conveniently located in the heart of Culver City with option to dine inside or out on the patio. If you can't find street parking, no problem! There is a parking garage located close by.

Can't say enough good things about this place. I came for the pizza, which was phenomenal (got the margarita) but my husband got the fettuccine pescatore and said it was in the top pastes he's ever had. We didn't plan on desert but after sampling a few gelatos landed on a canoli and pistachio gelato. The gelato was the essence of pistachio and oh so creamy (also served so beautifully in a fluted silver cup). The cannoli was perfect, not to sweet but just enough to balance the savory ricotta and filled to order so the shell was perfectly crispy/crunchy. Service was great as well: although we initially tried to sit at the bar and the bar-tender wasn't helpful, we moved to the main restaurant and had no issues at all. Our waitress was very kind and attentive and the other waiter working with her also stopped by to help/check in. Ambiance was also great, pleasant music and a nice seating arrangement. So happy with the whole evening, food and beyond.

I love Ugo!!! Such a classic and cozy restaurant vibe!! The servers are super friendly and make you feel part of their family during your dining! The bolognese is a world favorite in my family alongside the Tiramisu! I definitely recommend taking your friends or family here for a warm ambience, I'm always left with an enlightening experience through Ugo :)

I've been wanting to try Ugo for quite sometime now and am so excited to have finally gone! To get straight to the point, I absolutely loved all of our food. My friend and I decided to split two dishes: the Pizza Wreath and Pesto Gnocchi. The Pesto Gnocchi was requested specifically by my friend, we asked for a creamier base and it most definitely was that! The flavors were quite good, the gnocchi was soft and chewy, and I loved the tomatoes on top to balance all those flavors out. The Pizza Wreath was absolutely delicious as well. I loved how there was a salad in the middle so we didn't just have carbs and fats for our dinner and we didn't have to order a salad separately to get some greens in. The Pizza Wreath was similar to a calzone, more like a "folded" pizza experience so if you like folding your pizza slices, this option would be great for you! The crust was chewy and had the perfect thickness. Very reminiscent of the pizza you can get at Eatly. I would loved a bit more sauce but other than that, the cheese was gooey and really tasty. When the time for dessert came around, it was a hard choice! I went ahead and chose the Tiramisu as my final item of the night since I had read so many great things about it from other reviews. I really loved the consistency as well as the strong espresso flavor topped with velvety mascarpone cream and an incredible touch of bitter cacao powder to cut the sweetness. I would've loved to have more lady fingers to help add more depth to this dish as it all became more pudding-like. But I truly did enjoy the flavors! Before I left, I had requested the Italian Hot Chocolate to-go as it was quite chilly outside. I was pretty disappointed! An authentic Italian hot chocolate is usually just straight melted chocolate but this didn't taste like that. It was definitely diluted with a lot of milk, it wasn't my favorite and wouldn't order it again. In terms of the overall service, I wasn't too happy with it either. As much as I appreciated everyone's kindness, the wait to order, to get the hot chocolate, and then the check was excessive. I had to flag down my server and other workers several times in order to be able to proceed forward in our dining experience. I did enjoy everyone's spirits, just need some improvement with timing and attentiveness. Overall, I thought this experience was quite nice! Small comments here and there and I wouldn't go here for a formal event, however, it's great for cold nights and if you're craving some hot Italian cuisine.

Amazing quality food. The Brussels sprouts are a must. Then I typically have the white sangria. And a pasta and then end it with gelato and an iced latte. All the food is delicious. The service is very friendly

Food is yummy. Sitting outside is nice because you get to people watch & a lot is going on. Menu can be expensive so remember how much you're ordering. Some staff are super friendly.

Italian place in downtown Culver. Came here on a Wednesday evening with no reservation for dinner but still got seated immediately. We had a margherita pizza, penne pasta, and brussel sprouts. Given that it's in downtown culver, prices were higher than the quality of the food warranted. The brussel sprouts were undercooked and the pasta was tasteless. Our waitress didn't come by to check in with us so we had no water refill the entire meal. That being said, the seating outside was good for people watching, although the tables were dirty due to the fallen leaves.

The food is mediocre. The pizza sauce was so salty. The pizza bread and crust itself was okay but nothing special. The tiramisu was in a novel chocolate cup but the flavor itself lacked ... I won't be back.

Food and service was decent...they offer indoor and outdoor sitting but I smelt pee the whole time while siting outside; not that it's the restaurant's fault. Probably most of the la is smelling like this with out of control homeless issue. The pizza and pasta were both good and hearty! It looks like their gelatos are also popular as well!

I've been here many times and I don't think you can go wrong with Ugo......or technically Cafe Ugo for the OG people who knew it when it first opened. A classic Italian restaurant with a good brunch menu, but also a nice pasta and pizza spread. While the drinks are good, especially the lounge that they opened directly next door with occasional live entertainment, the highlight of Ugo for me are the desserts.....their gelato, tiramisu and cannolis!!! All so good! The service is also very friendly. I did have a Yelp check in offer (for a free gelato) that unfortunately was not honored by the wait staff since the manager was unfamiliar with it, but otherwise it was a great experience.

Ambiance: classic Italian restaurant with indoor dining and outdoor seating, although the patio area smells just like a gross street Service: very slow and forgetful, come to ask a bunch of times when we're literally waiting for the bill in the end Food: variety choices for pasta and pizza, wide selections for desserts GNOCCHI - *** Potato dumplings in choice of basil pesto, chewy texture, average taste PIZZA GONDOLA - ** Gondola shape pizza with crushed tomatoes, home made mozzarella, parmigiana cheese, ricotta cheese, spicy salami and basil, twisted pizza shape, undercooked dough inside and burnt outside, not crispy at all, bad combination of sogginess and burnt pizza TIRAMISU - **** Layers of lady fingers dipped in espresso and a smooth mascarpone cream, great taste and eatable chocolate cup, recommend Price: moderate portions and affordable prices, about $30 per person

Lunch after walking the Culver City Stairs we decided to come to Culver City Steps. Sat outside and had a nice refreshing sangria. We ordered the bread to starts and it tasted more like a flour tortilla than bread which was a big win for us. The flour fell onto our fingertips Pasta was great. We sent the kids down the street to grab a burger at shake shack while we enjoyed some quiet alone time ! Definitely a win for lunch

Cute spot in downtown Culver city. It could use some updating inside and out. When comparing the two, outside was cuter and was nice to have a surplus of heaters for a chilly LA night. Food was yummy but took forever to get to our table. We waited 30-40minutes for our two food items. It even took awhile for our drinks. I'm going to assume they were short staffed because I saw our waiter literally all over the restaurant running around. We had the four cheese rigatoni which was delicious but did not come out very hot and the Margherita pizza which was delicious. Flavor and crust were on point. I appreciate that where you get gelato, you can get samples before you get yours scoops. You can get two-three scoops depending on your cup size. All the gelato was delicious. I gave three stars primarily because the wait was just way too long and could do better to support what looked like the only waiter for the restaurant, they could really do some remodeling inside and out, and my food wasn't hot when I got it.

Food was good, I loved the oven baked pasta, my wife had the fig and goat's cheese pizza and my son loved the "bow tie" pizza, though that was a little spicy. Service was wonderful. They have GF pasta but not pizza dough though which makes it a bit of a challenge for us.

Just had an underwhelming brunch at this Ugo location. Everything took a long time. It took more than 45 minutes after we sat down for the food to arrive. My breakfast skillet was tiny - almost like kids' size. It had maybe 5-6 pieces of potatoes. I was not impressed.

Stopped by for happy hour and it did not disappoint! Cocktails were 50% off from 5-8p. The espresso martini was small but of so tasty! Highly recommend. I didn't get a picture of the calamari but that was my favorite small plate. The meatballs were average. Service in the lounge was exceptional even while crowded. I def want to go back to try the pizza and cannolis.

This place would be good on a sunny day for the patio for happy hour only. Food is good for happy hour prices otherwise twice the price and definitely not worth it. The service is super slow, especially at 3:30pm on a Friday.

I tried Ugo for the first time last night and thought it was great. For food I only had the Ugo pizza but it was delicious and I would order it again. It is more like an Italian pizza with globs of cheese rather than covered with shredded cheese. So good. I also had an espresso martini which was also great. Also tried the salted caramel and cookies and cream gelato. Very good like in Italy. Cookies and cream more subtle favors and caramel very bold flavor and very sweet. I would like to go back to try more menu items for sure. The ambiance was nice more cafe than fancy. The patio was beautiful but it was too cold to eat outside but they do have heat lamps. Service was quick and staff was welcoming and kind.

My friend and I enjoyed our food and the staff were nice however the service was extremely slow. I really liked the arancini, figo pizza and I like the wide variety of desserts here!

I had a great experience here today! The space/ atmosphere is pleasant, the service is great and the food is fresh and delicious. Their pizza dough is next level, especially for LA (they said their flour comes from Italy). You can tell the pasta is homemade, too. All in all, this is a gem in Culver City and I would definitely recommend stopping by!

Ravioli di spinaci was fire - would come back here for this dish alone. However, my friends and I weren't impressed with the pappardelle bolognese unfortunately. The noodles clumped together and the sauce wasn't warm or very flavorful. The vibes are good here though with warm outdoor seating close enough to the action of downtown Culver City but not so close it's too crowded. The servers were not very quick but I think they might have been understaffed that night.

Ambiance felt like we were in Italy enjoying delicious & amazing tasting saucy lasagna, fresh salad , fish, asparagus & spinach, and the best service by Hannah very hospitable.

Hannah makes the best café latte and tiramisu delicious dessert. Everything is Italian style. Everything fresh and ice cream is to die for . Thank you, Hannah.

This is a great location. Outdoor seating is awesome. When you talk to any staff, they are fantastic. The problem is getting service when they are busy. I think they are understaffed here. I had to wait a long time for my order. I was seated outside and wanted the heater turned out and it took awhile for someone to actually turn it on. But whenever I was able to speak to any staff, they were polite and incredibly nice. Drinks are okay. Food is average. It's really the ambience and location you are paying for. I believe this place has gone through new ownership, so I'm not sure how much longer the current owners will last. There is really nothing here that stands out from any other restaurant in this area.

Figo pizza was good, sweet and the crust was delicious. The Tortellini Limones was very good.

I'll start with this review with i planned to go to Cafe Vida but the 45 min wait brought us back to Ugo. Plenty of street parking and no charge on a Sunday. Seeing an open brunch with only a couple of customers being served on a Father's Day was a blessing i thought. Early on i realized only a few customers didn't mean we'd get fast service. We got water served but it was awhile before our order got taken. My bacon was cold and my lady said her eggs were as well. She forgot to bring our utensils as well. The pancakes were delicious but water never got refilled or offered more syrup. My date told me to go 2 stars but the server being so apologetic makes it hard to. The explanation of Mother's Day being slow so they thought Father's Day would be the same made sense. The waitress bringing us 3 different checks because she confused us with 2 other tables and bringing the wrong persons debit over didn't. If there usually staffed for brunch hours it could be a better experience next time

This review is specifically for my amazing server, Irene. I came in last week and got the chicken piccata, which was delicious. But, what made it extra special is that I wanted it spicy, so she made it happen. Then the week after, I returned, but forgot to mention spicy to my new server. She remembered me and went above and beyond to the kitchen to let them know my request. She is genuinely kind and wants you to have the best dining experience. I really appreciate exceptional service alongside delicious food, and because of her and the food, I've now become a regular. Thank you, Irene, for your beautiful smile and hospitality!

Out of all the great places to eat in Culver City, Ugo would not be my first pick. The pizza and fried mozzarella were actually very good, but the rest of the meal just fell short. The brussel sprouts seemed to be just blanched and had a strange alcohol taste. The gelato was quite disappointing. Too artificially sweet and icy texture. If you come here, grab a pizza and skip the rest.

Food was not the wow factor I was looking for. Ordered the calamari, chicken Parmesan, and the Picante pizza. the pizza dough was good, the pasta was nothing to be crazy about, and the calamari was ok. I would say the only thing I got excited about was the block of fresh Parmesan cheese they grated over my pasta dish. Service wise it was very good, our server was sweet and made sure our waters were filled and we had everything we needed. They seated us outside and it was nice to people watch around downtown Culver City while having our meal.

Absolutely horrid service. Was served tasteless pasta. No one came to ask anything after we ordered. Had to go inside to ask for a refill and also go back inside to ask for the check. The older white gentlemen was rude inside. And the bartender in the back w/ longer black hair was insanely rude and snappy. Argued with us when we asked if it was possible to turn the heater on that was next to us when it was cold and chilly at night. And then proceeded to chuckle while shaking his head. Laughing at us and looking at the people around us for their co-sign. Zero hospitality or accommodation. Will never come back and will always bad mouth this spot in the community. Went there to eat and enjoy the vibe and left feeling stupid. Hope they shut down and a more deserving business opens in its place cause that's what Culver deserves.

Great all round experience! The meatballs were legitimately as delicious as Noni would make!

The incredible first-time dinner at Ugo in Culver City I just shared with my Mom and Dad was quite amazing for us...from our delicious antipasti and each course that followed continuing through to our Italian coffees and desserts! And the great service and excellent recommendations we received from our server, Alex, were all very much appreciated -- we especially enjoyed our Neapolitan-style Piccante pizza! Harry, the restaurant manager, also helped to make our experience at Ugo this evening memorable as well! As a Culver City local, I'm looking forward to our next visit.

Pretty decent happy hour everyday 230-630pm! Pizzas and portobello fries were the best! Could have done without the bruschetta bc while it was good, it didn't taste super fresh and the bread was a bit stale. Classic wood fired pizza really hits the spot! Def ask them to cut it more though. They only sliced it into 4 quarter slices so it just felt a bit too big when eating. Very nice chewy kinda dough . Great spot for happy hour food and drinks. 230-630pm! Street parking on the Venice side or metered parking. There is also a parking structure on Cardiff where the first hour is freee.

Worst pizza I have had in a long time. Their VPN certificate is a complete scam, they may have had it once in the history of the restaurant, but now the standards have been lost. Zero efforts!

My friends and I decided to go to Ugos in Culver City for lunch. I had the seafood pasta with fettuccine. I asked if they could make it with linguini pasta instead, but they don't use linguini. The seafood was fresh, great quality, and tasty. But fettuccine was not cooked properly, and some of the pasta was stucked together. Also, the sauce was a little too much on my plate (like I was having a soup). The tiramisu was fantastic. It's one of the best tiramisu I have ever tried. The service was excellent. We did like Ugo Italian restaurant, and we will be back. I believe the mess up with the fettuccine not being cooked properly, and too much sauce was, as we say, just not a perfect day.

Perfect spot for a nice sit-down lunch with quick and friendly service. The sandwich was ok, but the pasta was delicious! And a little gelato for dessert is a must!

Everything buss. Wow! The affogato and spinach ravioli were my fav items I had at Ugo. The potato appetizers were yummy & seasoned well. The customer service was attentive, fast & hospitable. I enjoyed every second here!

I want to start off. I was kind of raised with Italian friends growing up. With the Veara family here in Culver city. To those that know Big and little Albert. The wait staff is very slow unless the hostes sit a cute single guy at the table next to you. Then the waitress is hung all over the guy, and ingor everyone else table for service. Now the food we order the Farmer Skillet and the Fettuccine Pescatore. The egg in the skillet was undercooked, and the rest of the food was warm at best. My dish the Fettuccine Pescatore well let say they served me 1 of 5 clams that was dead on arrival that means it didn't open up after cooking. The other sea food was overcooked, and the pasta needed another 3 to 4 minutes more not to be hard. I don't understand why a cook would put an unopened shellfish on a plate to start with. You can get very sick if you don't know this and open it up to eat. Shame on the cooking staff for this. Sitting outside was nice and peaceful. We didn't have a desert this time. By the way, when was the ice tea container cleaned out it had a funny taste to it?

Really liked this place! Nice food, nice ambience, nice service! Its in the heart of culver city and the food is delicious too!

Decent little place in downtown Culver's city. The pastas and pizza were fine, but we were really disappointed and dissatisfied with the bruschetta. They shouldn't even offer it as it was soo terrible. For the price of it, you would rxect more, but it was like crusty old pieces of toast and unseasoned tomatoes. I love bruschetta and am always looking for good makes of it, and this was not it. We also ordered the margarita pizza which was fine, but nothing super special. The pasta fared well enough but not to make returners of us Overall I would go to other Italian restaurants if you have the choice.

What can you say about this place the service was absolutely horrible. Sit down order drinks 5 minutes later order food. Wait 30 minutes food comes out and you're still waiting for your drinks. Ask the waitress if they have a dessert menu she'll tell you Yes, and stand there and stare at you until you ask to see it. Order to Margarita pizzait was probably the worst I've ever hbyad absolute flavorless. Cocktails were absolutely uninspired They were just there to be on the menu. Set a disappointment for this great location.