Piccolo Ristorante Italiano

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5 Dudley Ave
Venice, CA 90291

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(310) 314-3222
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Piccolo Ristorante Italiano - Venice, CA
Piccolo Ristorante Italiano - Venice, CA
Piccolo Ristorante Italiano - Venice, CA
Piccolo Ristorante Italiano - Venice, CA
Piccolo Ristorante Italiano - Venice, CA
Piccolo Ristorante Italiano - Venice, CA
Piccolo Ristorante Italiano - Venice, CA
Piccolo Ristorante Italiano - Venice, CA
Piccolo Ristorante Italiano - Venice, CA
Piccolo Ristorante Italiano - Venice, CA
Piccolo Ristorante Italiano - Venice, CA
Piccolo Ristorante Italiano - Venice, CA
Piccolo Ristorante Italiano - Venice, CA
Piccolo Ristorante Italiano - Venice, CA
Piccolo Ristorante Italiano - Venice, CA
Piccolo Ristorante Italiano - Venice, CA
Piccolo Ristorante Italiano - Venice, CA
Piccolo Ristorante Italiano - Venice, CA
Reviews
( 36 )
( 2 )
( 3 )
( 2 )
( 12 )

Best

I had to comment here because this is one of our favorite restaurants. First of all, the ambience is fantastic. It feels like you are walking into a restaurant in Venice, Italy (w...

Worst

A charming, snug and intimate place. So snug that we were party to our neighboring table receiving a lengthy harrangue regarding management's current battle with Zagat. At the ...

avoid at all costs 8/1/2008

If you like to get treated badly by the waitress because you did not take the strongly suggested appetizer, be refused Parmesan cheese on your 5 noodles (very small plates) because the restaurant's chef thinks it would spoil the plate and pay $30 per person for all of this, this place is definitely for you. Pedantic, over priced and the food is not even good. Without kidding this is my worst restaurant experience in 38 years and, believe me, I ate in some great places before. more
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BETTER SPEND A LOT OF $$$ - BECAUSE THE STAFF WILL BERATE IF YOU DON'T 7/19/2008

Apparently our $29 half bottle chianti and three pasta dishes (ranging $17.50 - $18.50) were not enough of an order. Both the waitress and the sommelier 'warned' us the portions were small and that most people would order an appetizer to go with it. In fact, the sommelier rather berated us about it and made it clear that we shouldn't have been seated if we weren't going to order more food. Pros: food tasted great, albiet small portions Cons: wait/management staff were extremely rude more
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Great food, but watch those ""comps"" 6/20/2008

We went there on a Tuesday night hoping to find a less crowded place than on the weekends. The food was fantastic - and so was the wait. I had ordered the pea soup for my app, and was brought the beet salad - no problem, our waiter said - keep the salad and I will bring your soup. The soup was one of the best things I have ever eaten - just amazing. My black pasta with lobster sauce lacked a bit of flavor, but my husband's steak was wonderful. more
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For THAT money?? 4/13/2008

The worst night, ever. Waited a long time, and very disappointed when we got it. Food was truly awful-- trying too hard. A huge, disgusting bone stuck in the middle of fish causing it to be meaty and greasy was the special! Rude staff. Asked for a cappucino at the end, and was told they ""won't serve cappucino during the meal."" First of all, for those prices, they really should. Second of all, we were done. We've traveled the world, eaten in the best restaurants anywhere-- have never been treated so badly, by people who clearly have nothing to be so self-pleased about. Go anywhere else, Santa Monica and Venice are full of great places. Pros: nada Cons: insulting waiters, terrible food, expensive more
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Best Italian in Los Anglels 3/30/2008

This is one of the best Italian Restaurants in Los Angeles. You can experience amazing food with out putting up with the pretentiousness of the LA restaurant scene.The restaurant is small so be prepared to wait. The wait is well worth it. My favorites are the butternut gnocci and pine nut salad. You may also want to try the Tuna Tartare. The parking is only a stones throw from the restaurant too. more
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one of the best!!! 3/19/2008

New chef (a ""Top Chef"" guest judge), new menu, new look, innovative recipes, and delightful specials, with the most respect for quality: ""Beef tongue with tuna aioli"", ""Ravioli with baccala"", ""Lamb with rhubarb"", ""choclate with Venetian liquor""; unpretentious service but with an eye for details: the addition of a young sommelier, makes this little jewel still among the top five Italian restaurants in Los Angeles. Bravo! Pros: waiting with a glass of prosecco is part of the experience Cons: table by the door, a bit chilly more
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Best of the best 11/1/2007

Can't stress it enough--this is hands down the best food I've ever had. I brought some out-of-town guests here and they *still* rave about the place, and that was four years ago. I used to be a huge fan of Locanda Veneta, and so when Antonio (the chef) moved down to this place, I had to try it out. I'm glad I did. He's amazing, and so is the food. A must-try. more
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Don't go there so I can take your table 5/23/2007

I, like some of the reviewers below, am hesitant to write this review because Piccolo is so small, but after I saw a few negative reviews there's no way I can't give this restaurant its just dues. Piccolo is one of the best italian restaurants I have ever been to, bar none. I first discovered it on Citysearch 2 years ago when my parents were visiting from out of town and I wanted a new restaurant to try. It was hard to find and we found ourselves lost on the little alley street, but finally just parked the car and walked down the boardwalk until we found Dudley. They don't take reservations and I was nervous we would wait for a while -- and we did -- but the manager turned it into a pro. As my parents and I stood next to the open kitchen (which I love, that you can actually see them cooking away!) the manager brought each of us a glass of incredible champagne, on the house. Who gives a glass of champagne because you have to wait for a table?! We were actually the only people waiting, and we oddly enjoyed the wait not just because of the champagne, but eyeing the different dishes being created. Once seated our waiter recommended the potato and fig ravioli, but I opted for another dish as that didn't sound good. My mom did order it, and I almost stole her plate. Let's just say the 2 times I have been since I have barely looked at the menu because I am obsessed with this ravioli! The wine selection is phenomenal, the service is great, the interior is adorable and feels like a New York find, and I am more than grateful I now live about 5 blocks down the street! This restaurant puts Ago to shame. Pros: Amazing food, friendly staff, fantastic decor and ambience, great location next to the beach for a post-meal stroll, expansive wine menu Cons: No reservations, parking more
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They nailed it! 5/8/2007

I love this place. I had my second meal there this past week and the second was better than the first and I didn't think that was possible. Get the chef's tasting. It's the only way to go. And the butternut squash ravioli are sooooo good. It's expensive and the waits are long, but it's well worth it. And of you're a red wine fan, give them a price and let them pick the bottle. They're good at that. And then sit back and enjoy the rest of your experience (at least until the check comes). Pros: Food, atmosphere, service and wine Cons: EXPENSIVE, but worth it more
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I've Gone To Italy 5/7/2007

I can't rate this place highly enough. It was amazing. Everything from the appetizers to the wine. I strongly recommend letting the chefs take over. It's more adventurous and they seem to put some extra love in it. It's busy and it's expensive, but it was worth every cent. Pros: Everything but the price Cons: The price more
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Well worth the wait!!!!! 4/22/2007

I was dazzled by the food!!! The service was so wonderful, friendly, and not snooty at all!!!! It is really small, so if you are in a hurry, this isn't the place to go. Go enjoy, drink one of their amazing bottles of wine (off of a very large wine list) then sit and relax. I haven't had Italian food like this in a very very long time!!! Very well priced, and delicious!!!! Pros: atmosphere, price, wine list Cons: parking, wait more
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Best little Italian place - only the locals know! 2/22/2007

This is my fav little Italian place and my fav hidden local fav. Very hard to find - not on any main streets and is tucked away. Very small and always full. Best pasta just so delicious you really cant go wrong. Great for romantic night or with girlfriends. Went there last Monday with a girlfriend and it was just fantastic! more
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Consistently amazing 2/5/2007

I have been to Piccolo many times, because the food and service are the best. Everything that I have ever had on this menu has been exceptional. Some of my favorites are the tuna tartare, grilled calamari, the warm goat cheese cake, the potato and fig tortelli, the gnocci, the beef filet, lamb loin...i could go on and on, but trust me, this menu is top notch! I'm greeted personally by the manager Vittorio, who is always cheerful and accomodating. I feel welcomed each time I come. He is polite and attentive, and makes our dinners even that much more pleasant. I have always recommended this place to friends, and they have all had great experiences, and then thanked me for introducing them to it!! I'll be back again and again. Pros: Service, Food more
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phenominal 1/18/2007

Just ate here last night on the recommendation of a friend and it was awesome, we arrived late at 9.15 and got a seat immediately, the service was personable, prompt and very patient as half our group didn't arrive for 20minutes. As for the food it was everything it was promised it would be, the quail I had ranks as one of the best I have ever eaten and no one in the group was disappointed in their food. I would recommend Piccolo with out reservation. Pros: Food, service, overall experience Cons: parking more
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okay, not sure about the hype. 11/20/2006

The food here is good, but not great, also it is tiny and they pack everyone in, so not sure why people think it is romantic. Pros: good location Cons: expensive food that does not meet expectation. more
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Cute Italian Place 11/15/2006

Amazing Italian food awaits you inside this very quaint little bistro right off of Venice Beach. My pasta was cooked to perfection and the mussels were very tasty. My soup was very good too. I've been back a few times but it tends to get very crowded and I've been forced to sit outside. While this normally wouldn't pose a problem, it gets very cold and windy right on the beach so I'd much prefer to sit indoors there. Pros: amazing italian Cons: little seating, no parking more
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I should give Piccolo a 2 11/14/2006

This is my absolute favorite dining experience in los angeles. Really, the only to eat here is to do the fixed plate ""extravaganza"" -- let Alberto or Stefano bring you dishes that meet your tastes over a couple bottles of wine and a few hours. And then come back and do it again. Pros: food, service, personal attention Cons: no reservations more
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Refined Italian 11/11/2006

One of the finest Italian restaurants I've been to outside of Italy. Tiny place with a lot of charm, everything on their menu is delicious. I especially recommend the tuna tartar appetizer and the linguine vongole entree - which is the closest to the linguine vongole to be had in Naples, with the very al dente pasta and tiny, super flavorful clams. So, the food is great. Downsides: very tiny place that doesn't take reservations, so you often have to wait outside for awhile and if it's a chilly night you will feel that ocean breeze. I'd tell you to go early to beat the crowds, but if you go early you won't be able to park anywhere except the pay parking lot on the beach: after 8PM you can park for free on Neilson Way. Another complaint: the prices keep going up! But it's still worth it. Last complaint: something very annoying happened to us last time we were there. My group was waiting outside for quite a while for a table, and the manager kept coming over and apologizing. He said he felt bad and wanted to bring us some wine. We said no, don't worry about it but he INSISTED, brought us three glasses of wine. The white wine was fine but the 2 glasses of red were pretty bad - but we weren't going to complain because they were free, right? No, he charged us $10 a glass for them! We didn't even want them! I'll forgive Piccolo because the food is so great, but that was weird. more
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unbelievable place!! 11/7/2006

I came to this restaurant on a recommendation from a co-worker, and I was blown away. First of all, it is so cozy, and the beach is right there!!! The moment we stepped inside, we were cheerfully greeted by a gentleman (i think the manager) and sat at a table next to the wall of venetian masks. We ordered the tuna tartare (the BEST i've EVER had!!!!) and the calamari (SO good) for appetizers, then ordered the steak topped with arrugula and parmisian, and my friend ordered the risotto with butternut squash amaretto and parmesian butter and sage sauce. OH MY GOODNESS! just talking about it is making my mouth water. We will definitely be back! Pros: FOOD, friendly service, right at the beach more
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So good!! Its our new favorite restaurant 10/26/2006

I went to Piccolo last night for the first time, and had one of the best dining experiences of my life. I took my girlfriend there for her birthday because she'd heard how good it was, so we went to check it out. The service is attentive, and friendly, and the food is amazing. Everything we tried was so good, I can't wait to go back. This is our new favorite place. Pros: excellent food, great service Cons: cant think of any cons. more
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Menu for Piccolo Ristorante Italiano


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Editorial

  • The Scene - The 5 Dudley address should be familiar to foodies who once flocked to the eponymous restaurant, formerly occupying this beach-adjacent space. With impressive interior changes,...

  • 12/3/2010 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Payments: Discover, American Express, Master Card, Visa
  • Neighborhoods: Venice, West LA
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