Locanda del Lago
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Phone: (424) 229-9613
- Price:
- $$$
- Cross Street:
- Second Street
- Hours:
- Sun-Thu 11:30am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am-11pm
Message from Locanda del Lago
Lago Features Authentic Cuisine from Northern Italy's Lake Como Region
- Italian Cuisine from Bellagio
- Patio Dining in Santa Monica
- Private Parties, Catering
Instant Offers
Paid advertisement by Locanda del Lago.
Editorial Review for Locanda del Lago – by Claire Smith
The Scene
Accented by a palette of burgundy and gold, the welcoming dining room filled with paintings and artifacts from Bellagio provides a comforting respite from bustling Third Street Promenade. Weekends are usually packed with tourists, but the spacious, wraparound sidewalk patio offers an excellent people-watching spot.
The Food
Hearty and flavorful northern Italian dishes are inspired by traditional cuisine of the Lake Como region. Baked eggplant with buffalo mozzarella and tangy marinara is a crowd-pleasing appetizer, but the antipasto featuring thin slices of house-smoked sturgeon and sautéed trout appeals to more refined palates. Pastas are served al dente, like the wild-mushroom ravioli doused in zesty cherry-tomato and white-wine sauce. Thin, crispy pizzas feature simple, fresh ingredients like bright tomatoes and basil for a pleasing harmony of flavors. Slow-cooked osso buco, a fork-tender veal shank served with creamy saffron risotto, proves the restaurant's commitment to authenticity.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
What to DrinkThe house-made grolla is a fun and shareable cocktail: Flamed tableside, it's a concoction of espresso, grappa, brandy, sambuca, lemon peel and sugar served in a hand-carved Italian wooden bowl.
When to GoWeekday happy hour, 5pm-7pm, features Italian finger foods at the bar and drink specials.
User Reviews for Locanda del Lago
08/02/2008 Posted by livethelifeoflove
Wow! I am a major food snob and I have eaten in top restaurats all around the world. What a shock when our casual quick bite on the promenade turned out to be the most delicous, authentic stunning Italian food we have had in L.A. The quality of food far surpssed Capo or Vincente as far as Italian food goes (which we love as well). I'm not sure if there is a new chef, but we don't remember it being anything special severa years ago. Then, we went back again and the salt encrusted chilean sea bass and langoustino appetizer were to die for! the wine list is good as well. Hope you have as great of a time as we did and that this chef gets some major recognition.
Pros: amazing food!
Cons: not the best location and not very romantic with all the homeless people and tourists running around
07/31/2008 Posted by kiercemartin
This place serves great Italian food right on the Promenade. Inside has a pretty intimate romantic feel, and for as good as it is and the location, there's hardly ever too much of a wait. It's hard to go wrong here, but they do a great job with fish, and the lobster ravioli is my personal favorite. If you sit outside, there is great people watching on the promenade, and it's a little livelier. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area.
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