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Vito Italian Restaurant in Santa Monica

I kind of stumbled upon this place while researching Italian restaurants in the LA area. It looks promising, not too expensive, nice menu and dining room. Has anyone here eaten at this place? How is the food and service? Worth a drive from Century City?

We're looking at Toscana in Brentwood or Il Pastaio in BH, but Santa Monica isn't that far and we'd be willing to drive over if the food is worthwhile. Thanks for your help.

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  1. Love Vito! Old style, red leather Italian. Great caesar salad. Took friends there last week and they loved it.

    1. Toscana and Il Pastaio have better food, albeit Il Pastaio has a more limited menu and is more casual. The food and decor at Vito is old school Italian and decent, and the folk there try very hard to make sure you enjoy your evening. If you sign up on their mailing list you will get a 30% discount card for any future meals. Despite all that, I do not use my card very often as there is so much better Italian around.

      1. Its been a while since I have been to Vito, but Toscana and Il Pastaio are both outstanding and better than Vito. Note that Il Pataio does not take reservations after 6:30 so there may be a wait as it gets crowded. Not so much I would imagine with Vito. Vito may be good, but I dont think the same class.

        1. Thanks for all your responses. I'll add Vito to my LA list for the time being, I still think it looks interesting, maybe for another trip.

          How would the wait be at Il Pastaio on a Sunday night around 7:30? If it would be a really long wait then we'd probably go with Toscana since we could make dinner reservations. Thanks again!

          1. I'll dissent: Il Pastaio is not 1/2 the restaurant Vito is. It has a long line solely because it is inexpensive in an expensive part of town - not because the food is particularly good.

            However, Vito, while good and "old school" as rnp0123 says, is not 1/2 the restaurant Toscana is (though it might be 1/2 the price). Toscana is fabulous for authentic NORTHERN Italian food made by Italians from Italy. Vito is decent for semi-authentic SOUTHERN Italian food made by Italians by way of the East Coast.

            1 Reply
            1. re: Ciao Bob

              I think you perfectly summed it up.