Caffe Pinguini Reviews

We just lucked into finding a great Place here. The pasta was wonderful and service was 5 stars. Nice place for a couple dinner.

Seeking great Italian food, cooked and delivered by true, authentic Italians- this is the place. Went there for our New Year's Eve Dinner and it was molta bene (very good). As true Italians it is hard to eat good Italian food out, but this is worth the time and money. And the service is great also. Once again, a nice walk from the Inn at Playa Del Rey and nice walk home. And they have a nice choice of good wines.

Oh my gosh. I can't believe how long I've lived in Playa and never ate here. I did takeout tonight and can't believe how good the food is. I got the Contadina and it was delicious. And the side of bread tasted like it was freshly made right then. And the meal was plentiful. Portions are great. So great that I'm hoping I get hungry again to finish it tonight! I think I found my new fave place in the neighborhood. I have been missing out! Worth every penny and a great date spot.

I had the fettuccini with veal marinara sauce and my wife had fettuccini with cream sauce. Both were delicious. Atmosphere and service were a little off otherwise would rate an excellent.

The outdoor seating is wonderful, near the Beach with great atmosphere. The Food is always good a bit pricey. I became very upset when they later on told me the Corkage fee was $33.

We have been going to Cafe Pinguini for what seems like 20 years now, and have always been treated well. Times have changed, and Pinguini has become extremely popular, which is admittedly good for business, but not ideal for old customers. Just the other night we were there for a birthday celebration, and despite making a reservation well in advance, were led to the worst table in the restaurant, directly adjacent to the restroom door. Ultimately we were able to get a better table, but only after some unnecessary complaining, where we felt the initiative should have been taken by the restaurant staff. With the exception of special days such as New Year's Eve and Valentine's Day, the food has come back to the pre-pandemic quality, but this is offset by the wait staff relentlessly rushing around the restaurant, creating an apprehensive atmosphere of an imminent collision. Some of the food on the fixed price menu on special days is spoiled by over-salted steamed spinach which is barely edible. Obviously this is a result of assembly-line dishes calculated to accomobate the maximum number of diners with the least effort.

We tried this restaurant after seeing it in Playa del Rey and checking it out on Trip Advisor. The place is slightly upscale with both indoor and outdoor seating. Our waiter, Luca, an Italian from Milan, Italy was excellent. I knew he was Italian as soon as he pronounced my Italian last name from our reservation correctly. The food was very good. I rated the place five stars and would go back for special occasions, but my preference would be a small hole in the wall Italian restaurant, such as Bruno's in Santa Monica. They do have valet parking but you can park a block or two away for free on the surrounding streets.

Sometimes everything goes right and that's what happened when we visited this restaurant. It was a beautiful evening, the place is very nice and the food and service were both wonderful. We were a party of four and even though we had never been there, we were treated like like old friends. But best of all was the food. Everything was done to perfection. Our wives both had Chadian sea bass and said it was the best they ever had and my Osso buco was melt-in-your-mouth. We will definitely be back.

The food is always great here. The service is also good. They have a take away service if you are on the run.

Great Italian restaurant with great atmosphere. The lobster pasta special was great and you can also get a half order which is nice. We also had the burratta which was excellent. The Pinot Noir was also very good. I enjoyed my dinner and would definitely go back. They also had options for the kids which was good.

After a long day of travel, we were excited to hear about this restaurant within walking distance from our hotel. We even got a recommendation from a local. We were casually dressed for an evening out (khaki pants and nice t-shirts) and initially found a warm reception from the staff. Hot bread and water arrived quickly to our table and the waiter promptly took our order. However, it quickly became apparent we were not welcomed by the waiter primarily serving our table. We were not presented with a wine/drink menu nor offered any specials. This waiter did not offer any assistance with the menu nor pay any attention to us again until it came time for the bill. This would not have been a bad thing necessarily except that another table seated shortly after us were offered a wine/drink menu, suggestions, and house specials. We overheard all of the great service which was not offered to us and wondered if it was our appearance or the fact that we are not flashy people which attributed to our lack of service. May I add it was not a busy night at the restaurant, at best 10 seated tables and no waiting. I can only speculate if we were judged about the size of our wallet and served based upon a rash judgement. On a lighter note, the secondary server, possibly an assistant, who was helping fill water and clear plates did a phenomenal job. This is the man you want as your waiter. He was friendly and attentive the entire night and even offered us the wine menu, albeit a little late. Additionally the food was fantastic. Both dishes we ordered were well seasoned and perfectly prepared. If it weren't for the blatantly horrible main server, we would gladly have ordered wine, desert and probably after dinner drinks. The assistant server did what he could to salvage our night, and it is sad that after such great food we walked away with a bad taste in our mouths.

Atmosphere was romantic. The outside courtyard as well as the indoors was beautiful, although the inside can be very noisy ( enough so that talking is difficult). The price is definitely not cheap ( two glasses of wine, a shared special salad, two entrees, a shared dessert & one coffee was $175, plus tip). But the service was good and the food ( a sea bass in a lemon caper sauce and a branzino) ) was super. The menu was pretty extensive; although there were not that many choices of wines by the glass there were enough. The place is out of the way, but worth the effort to visit.

My wife and I recently enjoyed a meal outside in July and had a great time. The soup with Italian sausage and tortellini was amazing. I had a filet with Gorgonzola that was perfect and my wife had the special prawns diavolo. The waiter was attentive and helpful. The only complaint was the hostess ignoring us while we stood in front of her for 5 minutes literally waiting for her to talk to us but she was too busy talking with wait staff. Could have been a 5 star, but that was rude and unapologetic to not speak to guests who are standing in front of you looking for help/service.

Good food and ambiance. Ask to be in the main dining room or patio for best experience. Takes reservations and has valet service. Better than some of the other trendy places in Playa del Rey.

Initially very busy and noisy. Food was reasonable although the menu was limited for higher end Italian, and we felt we were an inconvenience, with drinks flung down and orders taken at the speed of light. Locals might fare better.

Really good. Excellent service. Food that matches the service. Surprisingly large inside. A bit expensive...4 instead of 5 stars. I'll certainly return to this secret spot. Can't go wrong with this authentic food.

Outstanding menu! Gracious Staff! Authentic Italian ambiance as well as superb presentation, prepared to perfection. Lovely experience after a long journey to beautiful Playa del Rey! Several repeat visits during our two week stay, including placing orders for take away as well :-) .

We got here pretty early for a Saturday evening. Had two kiddos with us. Staff was wonderful, supplying pens and scrap paper so the kids could draw while my friend and I caught up. Delicious potato and leek soup. They specially prepared pasta for the kids, and the children loved the desserts. I pride myself on eating out with kids and keeping them occupied. The staff helped us do that. The kids loved drinking their lemonade and looking around at the "fancy place." Thanks to waitstaff for not talking down to the young ones. To practice arithmetic, I allowed the kids to do the math on the check. Explained the concept of a gratuity, told one what to divide by (for 20%) and he decided the waiter needed a bit more. Grazi.

Even though there are many, many very good Italian restaurants, I can count on one hand the number that I believe rise to this level of quality, atmosphere, and service and I've probably experienced hundreds. My wife and I went there to celebrate her milestone birthday. A friend recommended it as a very special place. I cannot say enough good about this restaurant. The minute you walk in you feel like you are in Italy. The decor is very Italian, the waiters are Italian, and one of the owners is always there to greet you. Virtually everything we ordered was superb. The service was excellent. I had mentioned on the online reservation that it was my wife's birthday. When it came time for dessert, without asking, the waiter brought us a complimentary chocolate dish that was out of this world. I could go on an on but, I think all readers understand my opinion of this incredible restaurant.

I was at the beachfront with a friend looking at a home under construction. After we finished we looked around for a lunch spot. We saw diners sitting in a patio on a street corner and walked over. As soon as we walked in it was obvious this was a serious Italian restaurant and it proved to be delicious. Just the bread lets on that they are inspired about their food. A very pleasant surprise when I least expected it. I will be back there often.

I have to admit that my wife and I are snobs when it comes to Italian food. This place left us more than satisfied. If you're a fan of Olive Garden, don't eat here because the food is as authentic as you will find.

This restaurant is off the beaten path near the beach and quite unassuming from the outside. Once inside it is cosy but a delight. The staff are very accommodating and available at anytime. The menu has all you would expect in a good Italian restaurant. The food is perfectly prepared. The prices are very reasonable. This place is worth a try. Highly recommended.

This little cozy and romantic restaurant located a block from the beach in LA’s quaint Playa Del Rey, just 15 minutes from LAX is real gem. With nice outside patio is delightful place to enjoy pleasant California weather for lunch or dinner. If you have more than 3 hours layover at LAX, it is worth a trip. Italian food at its best, absolutely delicious, no matter what you pick on the menu. Service is equally impeccable. All this coupled with very reasonable prices makes this place a rear jewel in LA. S. Alexis Santa Monica, California

Caffe Pinguini is 50 feet from the entrance to the beach in Playa del Rey. It is a small Italian restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seating. The food is well-priced with fairly standard Italian cuisine. The atmosphere is the main attraction. The restaurant has the ambiance and service of a much pricier restaurant. It is excellent value for the price.

Delightful authentic Italian restaurant just a block from the ocean. Came here for dinner with family (who are regulars) on a Saturday evening for dinner. The regulars we were with gave us excellent recommendations and they ordered up the wine. We were very satisfied with the before dinner bread, our pasta dishes, the wine, and the service. Would highly recommend for a nice evening out and will return when I'm back in the area.

Incredibly fast and polite service, really good food, and a great experience of being able to eat outside.

Wow, what find. This little gem is close to the beach in the Playa Del Rey area. It is an odd are near the airport. The food is very good and the indoor/outdoor dining makes you feel like you are more in Europe then LA.

Wow. One of the best meals I've had in a while. We ordered the salad of the day, which we shared, and the chicken piccata (thin, not overcooked pieces of chicken breast in white wine, lemon and butter sauce - yum!) and the fettuccine contadina (homemade fettuccine - light, delicate, delicious - with peas, mushrooms, pancetta and a cream sauce). The fettuccine was particularly noteworthy. We shared a salted caramel gelato -- very generous serving, delicious. We sat outside -- they have heaters but we didn't need one. There is also an interior dining room. The service was attentive but not intrusive (that's hard to balance and they did a great job). It's not cheap but I thought the prices were reasonable. The wine list is a bit expensive for me. I was pleasantly surprised by how great the food was and can't wait to find an excuse to return.

If you like Italian food, you try Caffe Pinguini in Play del Rey, California. While the location of the restaurant is a little off the beaten path, it is a gem hidden near the beach. Owned by two owner from Rome, the food is excellent. The four of us at dinner each had something different: risotto, linguini mare, veal piccata, and shrimp salad. Before entrees, we order the caesar salad which was light and perfectly prepared. The food was excellent prepared and was delicious. The wine list is extensive but the prices of the wines were quite high. We ordered a Mul

I took a group from work for dinner and everyone raved about the food and service. I can personally say that the Chilean sea bass was perfect. The outside atmosphere was a big hit for our European counterparts. We will be back

Wonderful selection of Italian entrees, near the beach. Easy parking and very accommodating and friendly staff. Very reasonably priced. Very crowded but not noisy. We were dining with old friends and could easily and comfortably carry on a conversation.Disappointed with my wine choice. Fault on me.

Our family always love this quaint Italian restaurant It doesn’t disappoint us. Staffs are very professional, attentive and they know what they are offering. The service is always excellent. My family enjoyed the awesome food. The wine selection was great. The desserts were out of this world. We always want Itslian desserts, we celebrated my husband’s birthday and of course the family Easter dinner and it did not disappoint us. We will definitely go back. We will definitely recommend to our friends. We left very happy and satisfied.

Our first time. We were very well taken care of by Meo, even though the restaurant was very busy. The food reminded us of our recent vacation in Italy, authentic, well seasoned generous portions and a Tiramisu that was elegant and light. Excellent meal, we'll be back.

Great romantic cafe on Playa del Rey beach intersection.Food is fantastic if not pricey. Extensive wine list and wine tasting events. Great place for anniversary, birthday, special event in a cozy atmosphere with outdoor garden.

Chef’s special branzino is AMAZING, the outdoor patio with heated lamps beautiful/romantic and the service impeccable. Well done - thank you for a beautiful experience!

Cafe Penguini is located in Playa Del Rey, steps from the beach, across from Playa Provisions. Look for the adorable penguin signs...and don't let the unassuming outside of the restaurant fool you! Inside the restaurant is a delight for the eyes, and immediately communicates fine dining. The restaurant is small and intimate, conducive to conversation. The staff is welcoming and accommodating, and knows how to make their guests feel special. The food is amazing....perfectly prepared and presented. The menu is not overwhelming and offers something for everyone. This is fine dining, so expect it to be pricey...it is worth it! It is our go-to neighborhood special occasion spot. Most recently, my husband and I went for New Year's Eve dinner. We had a 6:00 reservation so our millennial son could join us. The restaurant was elegantly and festively decorated. Our meals were perfect...I had a wonderful fennel salad and Chillian sea bass, the men had salmon and filet mignon....all accompanied by vegetables and roasted potato cooked to perfection. The wine list is outstanding, though here too be prepared to pay. We had a leisurely dinner and never felt rushed...though they obviously were expecting a turnover. So go ahead and splurge...you will not be disappointed!

It's safe to eat pasta here. It's the real deal. The waiter, from Rome, possibly the owner, was amazing, humorous and ultimately gracious. You're safely in the hands of a professional. I ordered the sea bass and a side of pasta aglio olio. It was perfectly cooked. The fish though was better than perfect. It was golden on the outside, moist and tender on the inside and tasted velvety. Amazing.

Three of us ate here one Tuesday evening and all of us thought this was very good. We didn't drink alcohol, so it cost about $35/head which I thought was good value. I had veal with lemon and it was very good indeed - very light and exactly what I wanted. Would definitely visit again.

Great burrata and Prosciutto appetizer, nice atmosphere. Fresh pasta fra diavolo with prawns and sea bass were excellent.

Going to this restaurant for years ! Always excellent food & service ! My family loves this restaurant

I was looking for somewhere for dinner before hopping on a red eye at LAX and ended up at Caffe Pinguini (penguin cafe). And Wow - I’ll be back. This little joint is only a few miles from the airport and it is worth the trip. It’s a smaller place, made larger with some outside dining, which we took advantage of. The menu is authentic Italian with first, pasta and entree courses - but you can mix and match for a meal. The service is efficient and knowledgeable and happy to guide you through the menu. I love to start with a half portion of pasta and then an entree and they were happy to accommodate. The pasta is fresh made and the sauce was delicious. I had a veal dish for my main and it was slightly less great but good nonetheless. The wine list skews Italian with some solid choices, although they have plenty of off years on the list too. We had a Chianti Classico Riserva and it was a nice compliment to the meal Awesome find - I’ll be back.

The best meal we have eaten yet, on a three week trip across California. Attentive service and delicious pasta. Not the cheapest place to eat; $55 per head with wine and coffee, but the quality of food was worth it.

My wife and I were visiting my son who is in LA for service program for the year. He invited 5 of his friends and we had a great time. Food was excellent and service was great. I highly recommend this establishment. Overall Impression: 4.7 - Quality of Food: 4.7 - Service: 5 - Cost: 4. $450.00 with 20% gratuity (or $56.25 per person) without alcohol drinks. - Atmosphere: 5 - Cleanliness: 5 - Parking: 4 (Street) - (5: Superb/Excellent; 4: Solid/Very Good; 3 Average; 2: Below Average; 1: Do not recommend)

This was a quiet Italian restaurant with excellent food. We were greeted and promptly sat down. Our waiter helped with our choices of entrees and the staff was very attentive cleaning dishes off the table, refilling our drinks and serving hot bread refills with our meal. It was a great recommendation by the Inn at Playa del Rey that we were staying at.

Best meal in LA, superior service and food! We will be back for sure! Loved the pasta and fish, but the desert was to die for!

We stumbled upon this place after arriving at nearby LAX. Valet parking was immediate and convenient. Good selection of entrees and salads and more. We shared a Caesar salad and a pizza. The salad was excellent and was brought to us on two plates. (Obviously the server told the kitchen we would share it.) The pizza was less successful but filled our hungry stomachs. This was a Thursday evening and the restaurant was not crowded. Service was excellent and responsive.

We stayed near the airport for an early morning flight to JFK and wanted a nearby restaurant. The review of one restaurant recommended 5his one, so we gave it a try. It’s a smallish restaurant near the beach with indoor and outdoor tables. We made a reservation inside. My husband and I shared a buratta salad. He chose branzino as his secondo piatto ( as always) and I ordered grilled salmon. Everything was of high quality and expertly prepared. The service was attentive and I was able to speak to the waiter in Italian. Two brothers from Rome opened the restaurant. $145 for two, with one glass of wine each and a tip. Well worth it.

No need to cook when this little gem is down the street. Small children at home moved us to opt for takeout. Called ahead and the food was ready in 20 minutes. Delicious! We had Bolognaise, Pesto, Arrabiata, and A La Vodka sauces on various pastas. Get extra bread....they make it themselves and is so good.

caffe Pinguini came highly recommended by an Italian work colleague. Lived up to all our high expectations. The waiter recommended the bacon pasta and it was superb. Lovely cafe with indoors and outdoors and close to the airport at Palaya del Rey. Must go. definitely will go again.

The best meal we had in Los Angelos. I had veal.My husband had branzino. We had such a hard time choosing what to get .Everything was so special. Right down to the bread and Tiramsu . Thank you for such wonderful sevice and meal.

Our best meal treat. Small little authentic Italian restaurant near the beach. Wonderful pastas, salads, desserts.

Three of us had dinner on January 26. Our pasta dishes were excellent. We all agreed that this was Italian at it's best. It was better than restaurants we recently visited in Vienna and Florance. Service was very friendly and helpful with excellent suggestions. I highly recommend this restaurant and we will return

Such a relaxing and charming place. Super nice patio surrounded by fences, lights, palm trees and heaters. Service was outstanding and food was delicious. Will definitely be back.

A friend often dines here so on a recent visit to LA, he hosted a small dinner party. The ambience and the service were excellent. The wine better was better than average. Most important the food was very good. We tasted each other's pasta course as we tried to decide which was the best. Each was very good. We all had fish which we all enjoyed.

Four of us went to dinner and we all truly enjoyed the meal and restaurant. Service was excellent, as were the dishes we ordered. Had the rack of lamb and pasta dishes.

If you are a real foodie you'll probably fall in love with this restaurant, everything is made from scratch and it's clear, you can smell the deliciousness of the food, before you even start eating. The Chilean Sea Bass is unbelievably good, probably their signature dish.

Just go here!! Servers are on point, food is authentic Italian with lots of specials and superb sauces! Love this place.. they make you feel like family. Every time! Just the best!!

We have been dining at this restaurant for over 15 years. Never had less than a great meal here. Highly recommended.

IT's okay. I ate there two weeks before and made a reservation for a particular table. I called again a few hours before dinner to ensure that we were coming. When I got there--on time--they had given the requested table to someone else. And the service is pretty slow, as others have noted. The waiter looked right at us as we waved at him, but wheeled away and did not come back. That happened several times. The food was decent, but pretty pricy. I probably will not go there again.

They have a fantastic patio to have your Italian dining experience on. Excellent menu choices, service and meals! We started with a small pizza with prosciutto which was very tasty. Main meal was risotto and shrimp, then the best part.... desert, tiramisu. I definitely recommend this spot.

This was our first visit to Caffe Pinguini, and we discovered a real gem. The restaurant has a very comfortable vibe and the sense of a long-established restaurant. The service was excellent. Wine list had an nice variety of both American and Italian wines. My wife and I were there with 5 other people, and everyone thought their entrees were excellent. I had the sea bass which was perfectly cooked, done in a simple preparation of butter, garlic, lemon and capers and it was one of the best I've had. It is the kind of place that you enjoy lingering and the dinner was very well paced. Overall a great experience.

My husband and I had a very pleasant meal at this restaurant. The food was very good, but the service was mediocre. The setting is pleasant, and the prices were more or less what I expected going into it. My husband enjoyed his pizza, and I enjoyed my dish, but we didn't leave thinking that it was the best place ever, or a must return kind of place. I doubt I'll have to occasion to go here again, but if someone REALLY wanted to go, I would join in happily, however I wouldn't go out of my way to go back.

When visiting my family in Southern California I absolutely love the experience of dining at Penguini! We arrived from NY today and were delighted when we learned we had reservations at Penguini! Located right off the beach (which we couldn’t see as it was after sunset), the restaurant is a treasure. There’s valet parking. Once inside, there’s both indoor and outdoor seating. We sat at a lovely round table outside. Imagine, a New Yorker eating outside in January! It was very comfortable with heater lamps. The food is fabulous. We shared a caprese salad. My young niece and nephew are frequent diners here and know the menu. Jennifer had a delicious shrimp risotto She said it doesn’t taste like rice and is REALLY good. Alex had a very tasty (and a little spicy) penne arribiata with red pepper. We enjoyed linguine with seafood in white wine sauce, and Vezina with vegetables, which was delicate. The sea bass and filleto Gorgonzola (steak with blue cheese sauce ) were fabulous. The wine was lovely too! It’s still my favorite place!

Restaurant is very dark inside, especially the center of the room. I had to hold the menu up in front of my face trying to read it. The waiter came along and pushed the candle from the center of the table towards me which did not help any. He then brought some bread and olive oil but no balsamic vinegar or herbs to go with the oil. I noticed other tables had some, so I asked the waiter for some. He picked up the bottle from another table, stuck it down on the table and walked off without a word. I guess they are on a budget for balsamic vinegar. The vegetable soup was home made with lots of fresh veggies. They didn’t skimp on the veggies and it was delicious. I ordered the fettuccine with radicchio which was also well prepared in a very good white sauce, but I did not realize it was also served with pancetta as I don’t normally eat pork. If I could have seen the menu better, I would have ordered a different entree. The food was well prepared and tasty, but the service and ambience left a little to be desired. For the price, I expected better. Owner needs to invest in some light bulbs, a few more bottles for the balsamic vinegar, and some customer service training for the waiter. Extensive wine list, but note that they do not serve beer.

I think the title says it all. If you want Italian in Playa del Rey, go to Cantalini's. If you want good service, go somewhere else.

This is my second time visiting this restaurant and I was even more impressed by the atmosphere, service and food than the first time. Tucked away on an unassuming corner of Culver Blvd just as it ends at the Pacific is a transplanted piece of Italy. I used to ravel extensively to Rome and Milan and was always amazed at the truly amazing food that was prevelent in Italy. Having been raised on US Italian food I considered it tasty but no means extraordinary. One I found the truth in Italy, I was forever disappointed in the quality of Italian fare one back in the states. This restaurant changes everything. Once you leave you car and enter Caffe Pinguini you basically leave the country. You are in Italy. The service, the food, the warm hospitality......I could be in a neighborhood gem in Rome. This one will keep me coming back again and again!

Excellent, excellent food! Sea Bass was delicious and perfectly cooked. The pesto linguine with added shrimp was outstanding and more than I could finish. The food is very obviously homemade and the service was very attentive. Would definitely recommend.

Walked to the beach from Culver’s city and was glad found this place. Was recommended by a local shop owner who knew her stuff. I enjoyed the very Italian waiter who said he has been there for 20 years. He listened to our preferences and we were very happy with his recommendations.

We were very disappointed with dinner last night. The restaurant provided a very nice outside table and the ambience was relaxing (inside was too noisy). Service was slow at first; our server showed at table when after 20 mins after sitting I got up to get a glass of wine from the bar. The mare pasta dish (in Tomato sauce) was bland and indifferent - both sauce and seafood. A good friend recommended it to us and it was highly reviewed - I hope your experience is better.

Authentic italian cuisine in Playa del Rey. Would suggest a reservation (I did via Open Table), since the place seems to be always packed. Very tasty food and al dente pasta. Romantic place to be with very courteous staff. Vast wine options. Location is also a plus!

We had some time before our flights from LAX and found this excellent Italian restaurant in Playa del Mar. We sat outside on a lovely afternoon and the service was attentive and prompt. My salmon was very well done and my friend's Sea Bass practically disappeared, he enjoyed it so much.

We ate twice at this restaurant last week: both times the food was good, and one or two dishes were really excellent. Also some very good red wine - Nero d'Avola, and a half bottle of Saintsbury's pinot noir carneros. The service was welcoming, friendly and efficient. Two good and enjoyable meals. The slight drawback is the price! Our half bottle cost about $35, the bill on our first evening was about $200, and on our second evening, when we just had some pasta, wine and a dessert was $115. Maybe this is normal for California?

This place has been here forever and I hadn’t visited in a while. What struck me upon my return was how incredibly consistent they are. From the wait staff to the food quality,.... everything was as I remembered,......excellent! The setting is quaint and relaxed, the service is great and the food is out of this world. I had the beef carpaccio special to start followed by an amazing penne arbiata with vegetables. As an LA native, I’ve seen many great restaurants come and go and I’m glad Caffe Pinguini has stood the test of time.

A hidden gem. What table cloths. Small cafe. Authentic Italian. Nice wine list. Quiet. Romantic. Fun. We loved it. Located between el Segundo and play. Enjoy

This place prides itself on being particularly and authentically Italian. I get it, but he food was not particularly unique and it was overpriced. Come on: $7.50 for a couple of scoops of chocolate sherbert and a couple of berries? I've been to Italy tons of times and I've paid a lot more for food there in tops places, but then you feel like you've had a really unique dining experience. Here the chocolate souflé was seriously deflated and the sherbert was just ok. The nice thing about this place is that it is very close to the beach, the service is excellent and you can sit outside (even in November) and still be comfortable. They have heating outdoors (waste of energy, but comfortable) and do their best to make you feel comfortable. They have nice vegan options especially in the pasta area. The pasta is homemade and it is wheat (as opposed to egg) based. The vegetable soup is made with a chicken broth, so watch out... Don't bother with valet parking. There is plenty of parking on the street.

This cute Italian restaurant sits in a small area called playa del Rey.. we walked from our airBnB. Tasty fish, pastas and risotto dishes. Fruiti de Mari app dish was fresh and tasty. Good wine selections, great service.

Caffe Pinguini opened a restaurant in Irvine. I went for lunch today as our neighborhood received a 2 for 1 coupon. I will definitely go back. Lunches we got were $12 and $16. The 2 plates in my party were very good. You will pay at least $10 for any sit down lunch place so for the quality of food here st was well worth the few extra bucks. Loved the cordial and attentive staff. I really hope this location succeeds. I had chicken in wine and lemon. Co-worker had chicken with sauteed spinach which was also very good. Chicken was so perfectly cooked. Served with enough veggies. Fresh roll basket too. Also had a small caesar salad. It was $9. Ouch it was small for the cost. However, they did split it for my lunch mate and I which was nice. Fresh romaine. Croutons could be better. Shaved parm excellent. Cafe Pinguini please add the Irvine location to Trip Advisor.

Visiting our friend in Playa Del Rey and decided to all cruise around. As luck would have it, we found Caffe Penguini and somehow we were seated within 10 minutes on a Friday evening. Every table was occupied but you can still converse without shouting. Why so dark? A little more light would be appreciated. We were impressed with the ambience, the friendly and informative Italian wait staff and the quality of the food. My tortellini en Brodo soup was excellent as was the wild salmon. The wines are at the high end but some reasonable wines by the glass. The food is high quality Italian as you would find in a good osteria in Italy.

My wife and I dined at this restaurant for lunch after visiting the beach in Playa Del Rey. We are on the patio since we were still wet from the beach. It was a very comfortable atmosphere. Our waiter had a very thick Italian accent and it was obvious that he knew the menu and how everything was prepared. We had an appetizer that I can't remember the name of. It was at the recommendation of our waiter. It was a bed of greens with some soft mozzarella, peppers, and some type of fancy ham that I can't remember the name of. It was delicious. We shared a margherita pizza and had penne pasta with a spicy red sauce. The price of our meal was just under $50. It was costly, but very delicious. Well worth the money.

The staff makes this place A+ but the dishes are divine...yes heavenly. The portions are substantial but one does not partake for the size of the meal on the plate. Your palate will get a most welcomed workout! Close your eyes take a bite and fall into complete bliss.

We selected Pinguini on the recommendation on the playa del ray inn and were not disappointed. We dined in the outdoor section and as the night cooled they turned on the gas heaters which kept us comfortable. While it was a bit on the pricey side, we did order some of the premium seafood including a very good special of lobster tail with spaghetti, and an equally good seafood soup. The service was attentive and reasonably quick, although on a Sunday night it is not as busy as other nights. The complimentary chocolate sorbet was both unexpected and delightful. The overall quality of the food was above average and I would eat here again if I came back to the area

My family took me here while I was visiting. It's a very quaint place with a lovely patio. The menu is very authentic Italian and they have wonderful wines. I had the Fettuccini Bolognese which was absolutely delicious. If you are looking for authentic Italian and great atmosphere, try this place. It is definitely on the fine dining price point. Don't forget to make reservations.

Charming outdoor space. Had a great experience on our recent visit with my family. Our waiter was very gracious and attentive. We appreciated the fact that he was Italian and shared stories about his hometown. The appetizers, entrees and wine were great. I'd definitely return to this restaurant.

Caffe Pinguini is a charming Italian restaurant in Playa Del Rey. I have been there several times and they always have great food and terrific service. In addition to their menu, there are also a good number of specials to choose from. Nice neighborhood feel to the place, as opposed to the feeling you get from a big chain restaurant where people come in and out and they never remember who you are. At Caffe Pinguini, they waiters always remember returning guests and greet you like an old friend.

Absolutely the best service and the best food!!! Amazing sea bass. And the Caesar salad was so good!!! Fast, friendly service. Nice patio & dining room!

When you have to ask for ground pepper for your Caesar salad and grated Parmigiano on your pasta, there is a problem. The food is tasty, but the devil is in the details.

I just tripped over this place because I needed to waste some time near LAX. The minestrone soup was the best I have ever tasted. No beans, just vegetables and fresh thyme cooked lightly in a delicately flavored chicken broth. My partner loved the Lemon Chicken because it was flavorful, but the lemon did not overpower the dish. The lemon chicken came with cooked potatoes, carrots and broccoli and normally I don’t rave about vegetables this much, but this restaurant really knows how to cook vegetables that are flavorful, but not over cooked. The attention to detail in this place tells me this restaurant is serious about food. Afterward I took a long walk on the beach. You can’t ask for more than this in a dining experience.

My wife and I love Italian from Italy to little Italies all over North America. Caffe Pinguini almost makes you feel as if you are in Italy. The pastas are all Al dente with delicious but not overstated sauces and the pizzas are A-1. Service is excellent Prices are fair

The staff were pleasant and the setting nice but the food was a let down. The bread was soft and fresh but the rest was rather mediocre. The linguine Mare was very buttery and not at all white wine sauce with a few prawns and a good number of scallops and squid bits. The bolognais was very bland, not really meaty or that stand out Italian. Starter of mozzarella & shitake was the best bit. Can't say about dessert as we left.

From the outside it looks like an awesome restaurant. Nice ambience and location. I think they try to make it a little too fancy sometimes. Prices are a bit high for what you get.

We wanted a casual late dinner after watching the sunset and walked into this restaurant. The prices were affordable and we were welcomed even tho it was later in the evening and we decided to eat lightly. The outdoor setting was lovely and the food came without a long wait. . I had the scallop salad;the scallops were some of the best I have had. They were the large ones cooked perfectly and with good scallop flavor. The pasta my husband ordered was also good. I would definitely come again.

This charming restaurant is a hidden gem but you should go out of your way to find it in Playa del Rey. We have been coming here for years but for several reasons had not been for a while. We went back last night and it did not fail to wow us once again. The inside of the restaurant truly reminds you of a small, local trattoria in a little Italian town. The outdoor patio is charming. The food is some of the best Italian food you will have outside of Italy. The staff are attentive and helpful. There are many choices and nice variety. Their wine offerings are terrific. We won't wait so long to return again. Ciao!!

Caffe Pinguini is a truly delightful authentic Italian owned and operated restaurant. Lovely quiet and romantic atmosphere. We had soup and pizza. The soup was really outstanding, reminded me of the soup we had in Italy! Pizza was delicious. They also have homemade Gelatto. The best I have had in U.S. I had cappuccino flavored and my husband had salted caramel. Loved it. They have a great outdoor area but it was a little chilly for us to enjoy it. I recommend it highly.

We happened on to this place while visiting the area. The service was warm, helpful, and quite professional. Excellent Burrata appetizer, very good pizza. My only complaint is that the wine list is a challenge. It’s very long, but is about 95% wines over $100 with just a couple of wines under $100. Come one, you would actually sell more wine if you broadened it out to include a nice selection in the $50 or $60 dollar range.

If you are around Los Angeles and want to eat really Italian come here. Restaurant tried for dinner on September 21, 2025: great food, Service performed with courtesy and sympathy (we speak Italian correctly!), right Price quality ratio.

My husband and I decided to give Caffe Pinguini a try after avoiding it for no real reason for a couple of years. Long story short, the food was blah and the service was snooty. No reservation? Major attitude, despite the place being empy. We were led to a tiny table in the rear near a waiter's alcove, past a sea of much better tables, which remained empty as we dined. Not being able to see if there was a full bar, we asked if they had scotch. The waiter said : "There is only what you see," meaning wine bottles. Not helpful and made us wrong again. There are plenty of restaurants with full bars which also have wine bottles displayed; we did not need the scolding. It being Halloween night the special pasta was a pumpkin ravioli which I ordered. It was so sweet it might have been dessert, literally as if made from pumpkin pie filling. It arrived swimming in melted butter, must have been 8 tablespoons of the stuff. (I cook and have a fair eye for measurements; this was a LOT of butter.) My husband had a seabass special, a very small fillet looking lonely on the plate and served barely warm. The caesar salad which preceeded these dishes, and which we shared, was tiny. I had three mini marshmallow sized croutons on my "half." This was so skimpy we laughed out loud. For $8.50 plus a $1 split charge. Every chance he got the waiter "topped up" our wine glasses - a clear ploy to tempt us into a second half bottle. He did this even when we moved the bottle against the wall and, we thought, out of his reach. I can't say anything was horrible but we came away feeling unsatisfied, especially given the prices. There was not a single pleasant interchange with the staff, and every move felt calculated to make us feel we didn't measure up. No reservation? Only one salad? Just the pasta for madam, no secondi? No second bottle of wine? No coffee or dessert? The irony being of course that had we felt relaxed and welcomed we might well have stayed longer and spent more. But at our little table in the back and with the negatives piling up we were happy to leave.

My husband and I recently celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary and decided to go to Café Pinguini in Playa Del Rey. It was a wonderful evening of delicious food and extremely friendly and courteous staff. We arrived at 7:00p.m. and had 6 courses, we split each one to have a kind of tasting menu, and left at 10:00p.m. We tried a couple of the specials, Barrater appetizer and Osso Bucco main dish which were delicious. Each course was spaced perfectly for us, we do not liked to be rushed and prefer European style dining. The pasta course was fabulous too. Our waiter recommended wine pairings which were perfect. Can't recommend Café Pinguini enough. Thank you guys, and I'm looking forward to my birthday.

We just came back from lunch at Caffe Pinguini in Playa Del Ray in Los Angeles. I ordered Mozzarella cheese appetizer and Chilean Sea Baas. The food was excellent and the sea baas was outstanding.

We have eaten at this cafe one other time (a few years ago) and by the end of the evening we were reminded that our feelings had not changed. This is a restaurant that just gets by with being good but not great. No one there seems to be striving (as they are across the street and in so many up and coming restaurants everywhere) The restaurant was about a third full but no attempt was made by staff to have any conversation. The order was taken and we avoided the fee for sharing a salad by not being given an extra plate--inconvenient to say the least and one of my pet restaurant peeves for additional income (entree split charge maybe ok; salad, not ok) Veal dishes at $31 should have been the best veal picatta/scaloppine ever but they were a little too chewy and no capers in the picatta--hmmm. Bread was delicious as were the reasonably priced desserts at $7.50 The ho hum entrees and their humdinger prices added up to the hope that we will remember to try other places next time.

We enjoyed everything about this restaurant, the ambiance, the professional and knowledgable staff and the wonderful food. We had their famous pasta bolognese, a scrumptiously prepared Bronzino, filet mignon and veal scallopini. Everything was absolutely delicious. Everyone in our party loved their diners. The vegetables were perfectly prepared and very tasty. The wine was extensive. The setting was beautiful Tuscan Italian. Very lovely. They also have vert attractive outside dining unfortunately no ocean view even though they right there.

The service was great. Be aware that parking is very limited, so plan on valet parking or drive a couple blocks and park at the beach. Then after dinner you can enjoy a walk along the beach at sunset. We had half a plate of two different pastas. They were both so yummy. So if you can't decide, note you can get half of one and half of another. The grilled salmon with wine sauce was very moist. The bread is delicious. The tiramisu was light and yummy. Definitely recommend! Bonus... This restaurant is a Pokemon go stop, so kids can spin every 5 minutes, if the need something to keep busy.