Il Moro Reviews

What a terrific place...Almost obscured by office buildings and provides an incredible oasis of atmosphere in an inside pavilion of sorts, courtyard. EXCELLENT service and delightful dining. I couldn't believe it existed in this seemingly over-business like area of LA. Very lovely evening, quiet, tranquil with great menu and excellent service. It really couldn't have been better...

It started before we got into the restaurant, no valet on a Saturday night. The hostess wouldn't seat us until our entire party was there, then she tried to seat us in a terrible location (even though the restaurant was less than half full), I had to ask her 3 times before she would change the table and then she gave me a dirty look. One of the servers asked us what we wanted to drink and then left for that drink before asking the second of us what we wanted. The waitress was nice but, because there were only 2 people working the entire restaurant, was VERY inattentive. I ordered the Lentil soup (watery) and Chicken Cacciatora (the tomato sauce tasted like it was right out of a can). My wife ordered the fish of the day and was very unimpressed. We tried the restaurant after a long absence but will NEVER try again. This place should close its doors!

We hosted a dinner for 10 last evening. The patio was lovely and the server couldn't have been more attentive. The food was excellent and we had a ball!

Il Moro had some semi last minute reservations left for NYE. We wanted a low key early evening so we arrived at 6:30PM. We chose to be seated in the bar area since it seemed more open. My table had: Seared tuna - My sister said it was just okay. Filet - My husband liked my dish better. He wasn't in love w/ his dish. Lamb chops - It was good, but not great. All our entree portion sizes were really small. I'm not looking for Cheesecake-style servings, but we were a bit surprised at how tiny it was. Some of us were still hungry after finishing dessert. My dessert was yummy. I had some sort of vanilla custard. My husband and sister had the apple tart. It had potential, but fell short of being good. It was swimming in balsamic vinegar. If they curved that a bit, it might have saved the dessert. I'm glad I tried Il Moro, but I don't think I would return. I feel bad saying that since service was great, albeit a bit slow at times due to the crowd, but it's just not enough to return.

Went to Il Moro restaurant at Olympic Blvd for a lunch. The staff was nice and helpful. Tried pasta. This was a great experience

We had not been to Il Moro for over a year. Our last meal there was somewhat disappointing, but we were looking for a somewhat last minute reservation for New Year's Eve. What a wonderful surprise! Il Moro was busy but our waiter gave us what felt like his full attention, and it was not so noisy that we could not hear each other. Our food was excellent and plentiful. The atmosphere was elegant and we did not feel rushed! It was a great evening and I would return for another special occasion without hesitation.

Il Moro is really two restaurants, an indoor modern dining room and a lovely outdoor patio with its own waterfall and brook. The same great food and friendly service in both locations. The ambience is always friendly, and constantly changing because of rotating art exhibits. I've only been going there for about 25 years, but the crowd has always been a happy mixture of young and old. The cocktails are very imaginative, and the wine list is small but good. Go there twice and you'll feel like family.

Food is okay but definitely not worth what they charge $$$$. Lunch for 3 of us included 3 salads and two ice teas. Cost $96.00. Wait staff was fair and the location is not very great. Plenty of great Italian restaurants in Los Angeles so don't waste you time there..

Been coming here for many years , always consistent good food . Menu hasn't changed much over the years and the pizza is the best here . Large thin crusted and crispy , simply delicious . They always have a lot of specials going on so be prepared to listen to The long list . Good selection of wines . The service is great , same staff that have been around for a long time . Nice outdoor seating as well , great for dinner parties and celebrations .

Like some of you, I am now doing take-out at my favorite restaurants. Il Moro still open! I decided to try out their take-out last night. Overall, we were very pleased with the quality of food (even as take-out). 1. Soups - Bought 2 minestrone to go (heat up later). This was for two different elderly neighbors. They said it was delicious! 2. Salmon Entree with Salad - Salmon was perfect, and the texture was still good after the drive home. The spinach and potatoes were cooked just right. I also enjoyed the salad. 3. Baked Pasta to Go - We LOVE their bolognese sauce, and they can make it with any pasta. We ordered the medium container (half tray). We went ahead and had it hot on pick-up so we could enjoy the pasta for dinner, and then had leftovers for lunch today. They do ask for these large orders to be called in the day before, so I made the order on Thursday. They also included bread, which rounded out the pasta just right! Pasta was still top notch at home. 4. WINE - Their high end wines are 50% off! Can't pass that up, so also added a bottle of my favorite wine. Il Moro was very clean inside, and has one customer inside at a tie (thanks for not overcrowding!). The food preparers also wear face masks and looks like they are keeping everything sanitized. They have adjusted hours, so check-out their website.

We had our office holiday luncheon at Il Moro in December. It was a very pleasant experience and everyone one of the staff seemed to like their entree and overall meal dining experience. Those that had lamb were pleased but my Sapori Di Mare was absolutely sublime. There were no complaints or criticisms of the food. We were seated outside which was a little uncomfortable for a group of 15 and made it difficult to converse with everyone. While our waiter was pleasant, we could have seen a lot more of him so maybe he was short-handed that day. Nothing special about the front of the house in so far as greeting and seating us. This restaurant is worth a visit for an evening dinner when maybe not so busy. I would go back.

I took three Italians to Il Moro for dinner. They all ordered different dishes, different starters, etc. Service was very good. Attentive. Food was judged: "Good, not extraordinary. My Spaghetti Vongole was very good. Wine was great. Two bottles. The room is fine. Easy to talk and hear each other. Cost was near $100/person, which is normal for Santa Monica. We enjoyed our evening there.

Good down the middle Italian cooking. Never disappoints, but doesn't inspire either.

Enjoyed a business lunch in their outside courtyard. The salmon salad special was delicious. It was prepared just perfectly. The complimenting greens, fresh tomatoes and light dressing was a wonderful combination. The menu is quiet vast and has selections for all types of pallets. The service and atmosphere was quiet enjoyable. Quick service, very good prices. It is tucked in an area that might be a little tough to find but well worth it.

I was hosting a birthday gathering for 9 people and wanted something memorable for all. I chose Il Moro because it has a wonderful patio/garden setting, a great menu and a very respectable wine list. I WAS DEFINITELY NOT DISAPPOINTED. The guests had come from Illinois, Michigan and Texas for the occasion and they have never stopped commenting on the wonder of the evening. My highest regards for the restaurant, the ambiance, the service....the entire evening was a wonder.

Excellent Italian restaurant on a unexpected location. Well known to locals and much appreciated. Had a very worm welcome and a great dinner. Food as it’s supposed to be.

Went here for dinner with the work team during the week. Nice modern clean decor inside. We sat outside and this was contrasted by the lush garden feel with a man-made stream running through it for an earthy feel. Staff was attentive though not particularly friendly The food offered was naturally Italian but not fancy. It was basic comfort food....plainly prepared grilled fish dishes and recognizable pastas and salads. I had the tuna tartar as a starter. ..it was fresh and had small chunks of fruit mixed in. For a main course several had the grilled fish and the comments were positive. I had the carbanara. ..very good Wine list is extensive. We had a Borolo. ..young and light...... I'd recommend this restaurant

the first courses were OK at best. My octopus was fresh and tender, but the dish was essentially without spices and consequently totally bland and uninteresting. My wife's salad was similar - good ingredients, but the final mixture was missing the herbs and spices it needed to have interest. My branzino was OK albeit rather small, but the versions at a dozen places within 10 minutes of Il Moro are more interesting. The outstandingly terrible dish was the sapori di mare. We were introduced to mussels during the years we lived in France, and loved them. For years after coming back to the US, we did not eat mussels because the mussels here tasted truly terrible compared to the European ones. Happily, a decade or so ago, the US discovered good mussels and joined the rest of the world in appreciating the joy of mussels. The mussels in this dish were entirely of the antique vile variety - can't even imagine where they found them. Or perhaps they were just very old and had spoiled. Either way, one felt that one would get very sick eating them.

Almost right off the exit of 405 at Olympic Blvd, this is an average Italian restaurant in modern Milanese style decor, serving passable pasta for a bit higher than the average price. Soups and pasta are not any different than what can be found in Wholefood hot buffet counters. Outdoor seating doesn't have any view. Not particularly attractive in any aspect.

Last weekend I had one lunch and two dinners at this fine Italian restaurant. I selected the restaurant each time, and my guests were either pleasantly surprised by the ambience, or, in one case, happy to return to an old favorite that we shared. An L-shaped main room(s) starts on Purdue Street (just south of Olympic Blvd. with a cozy bar with whatever sport you might want on TV; move along to the main bar and catch as lightly different vibe, with great cocktails and friendly bar and adjacent tables. Next we have the corner of the "L" where you are welcomed like family to the main dining rooms: a smart interior with rotating art work from friends of Il Moro, and an outside patio beside which runs a small stream. Day or night, the patio is always sought after, with shade umbrellas for lunch and heaters for those L.A. nights. My family and I have had all of our special occasion dinners at Il Moro for about 30 years. We hope to continue doing so for 30 more.

We dropped in here late one evening and loved it. The cocktails are unusual but delicious, we had the specials for dinner and they were all great. The venison was particularly good but no complaints about anything. The service was top rate, relaxed but attentive. We will be going here a lot in future.

We went to Il Moro once more. We had a great experience but I saw a negative review and wondered how that might happen. Let me tell you that nothing has changed from the perspective of someone who has been to Georges Blanc and Aimo and Nadia to name some of the European stars. It is a pity that tripadvisor cannot check for competence in reviewing... Gaetano has a gem in this restaurant that would deserve more than a visit even if it were not in the US, but in Italy. We are extremely demanding when it comes to food, and had a nightmare with American cuisine and messy use of ingredients (particularly garlic and onions), so we are delighted to have found a place that deserves the name of restaurant. Gaetano proposes a path to educating your palate to the honest and fresh taste of natural ingredients, This time we had a delightful fennel soup, with the touch of powdered licorice, and a black sea bass on a bed of artichokes, Also the desserts have another touch like the apple tart on caramel sauce. I know how hard it is with the uneducated, self-proclaimed foodies that cannot tell a diamond from glass that abound in the US, but I hope he will succeed.

Been around for years, nice menu with some organic choices. Spent Thanksgiving in little private dining room.

Five of us gathered for a birthday celebration on Il Moro’s patio. From greeting to final good bye, the staff could not be friendlier or more accommodating. The food selections, both menu items and specials, are varied and inventive. Well prepared and served, the meal was exquisite. Well worth the splurge.

The service and food are worthy of an "excellent" rating but the location leaves much to be desired so "very good" will have to do. It is not a bad location - it just isn't enticing at all and there is little ambience which oddly makes it perfect for a business luncheon but maybe not the best for a dinner or special occasion. The valet is convenient and you walk right into the restaurant. The service was impeccable and the food was delicious. I ordered the pasta special which was braised beef ravioli - yum!

NOW OPEN FOR SUNDAY BRUNCH! I am a regular customer at Il Moro and often dine in for business lunches (great to impress clients) and the incredible happy hour AND! I recently went with a group of friends for Sunday brunch and the experience was delightful and extremely pleasant! We dined on the patio on a beautiful sunny day with a very pleasant breeze, the patio is very quiet and it feels like being in a botanic garden not even in a city! Also the friendly staff and the atmosphere totally felt like walkin in a friend's backyard. As for the food! I was pleasantly surprised about the items on the brunch menu which are not tipically Italian and embrace American and Mexican culture offering high quality, organic meats and juices and cheaper prices than the lunch menu! We were a group of 6 and ordered what follows: Pork Roast (a substantial slice of pork covered with mushrooms and served with Italian polenta...AMAZING, melted in my mouth and filled me up!) Chilaquile, deliciously crispy fresh tortillas, cheese and green tomatoes sauce Barbacoa, other melting in your mouth slow cooked beef served on a crispy thin lay of focaccia bread Fettuccine with truffle oil OUTSTANDING idea very delicate and flavorful, Italian style portion served with a sunny up egg on top. Once you break the egg its flavour mixes heavinly with the truffle oil Seared Tuna, extremely refreshing and optimal for those who want to stay on the light side! Super fresh and tasty fish amplified by a light lemon dressing, olives, anchiovies and sliced boiled eggs We had a kid with us and she wanted pancakes..BIG, fluffy and fresh made! Interesting choice of serving it with strawberry butter other than the usual maple syrup. BOTTOMLESS MIMOSAS for everyone except the kid who had fresh squeezed organic orange juice. Do not ignore the sides! They're small but cheap and very particular, I tried the cheese fritter and I was almost full with just that! We also shared a pastry basket to start with (to die for assortment of homemade European style pastries) and a fruit plate at the end of our meal served with a divine mango dip! I wanted to take advantage of the prices furtherly and decided to order a giant blueberry muffin to go..well.. IT IS GIANT! I had breakfast with it for the following 3 mornings with just 5 $! TOTAL COST for 6 people including 2 coffees and a cappuccino: less than $ 186.39 tax included. OVERALL EXPERIENCE: Great family style ambience and patio; divine foods, super affordable prices for high quality usual standard of Il Moro. GREAT FOR GROUPS AND FAMILIES!

We brought our Chicago friends to Il Moro before a performance in Santa Monica, and we were impressed! The food is fresh and not overly rich; the service is attentive without being obtrusive; the setting is warm and bright (but not harshly lit), and the location is close to everything in Santa Monica. You can easily miss the restaurant as it appears as a mere storefront in a city-block building next to a Krav Maga studio. But don't miss it! Perfect for a pre-show meal.

Pizza impressed me, but not the rest of the food I ate. I had "Sapore di mare", "Polipo alla griglia" and cheesecake... Nothing special. The service also nothing special.

Excellent Italian restaurant in Los Angeles, with delicious food, friendly service, and reasonable prices. Salads, pasta, and fish were all fabulous. We will be back.

This place is ok, but the only tine I go here is when a vendor is buying. Too pricey for middle-class guys like me.

Wow!! We recently had our small wedding reception here...and it was AMAZING!! We were on a tight budget and never thought we'd be able to afford a place as nice as this! We met with the husband and wife owners and they catered to us as if we were rich and famous! They were willing to be flexible with the menu, let us try our menu ahead of time, and gave excellent recommendations. The waitstaff was incredible, they remembered our names and brought our courses to whichever table we were sitting at as we socialized. The ambiance was incredible, everyone raved about the incredible food, and the entire waitstaff was amazing. Could not be happier!!! All for an amazing price! Thank you Il Moro! We will be back!

My wife and I just returned from dinner at II Moro,and we are raving about our experience.The food and service was outstanding. The ravioli with salmon she ordered was tender and tasty,as was the rack of lamb I ordered.The apple tart dessert was to die for. The meal was even surpassed by the romantic ambience of the outdoor patio, where the tables face a man-made brook that runs adjacent to the patio. On a warm summer night you can't beat this venue. We look forward to returning.

This is a nice Italian restaurant tucked away on Olympic boulevard in west Los Angeles. This is a surprisingly spacious restaurant with a nice ambience. The server was very friendly and generally helpful. The food was not bad per se, but just not up to the standards of Italian restaurants that we are used to on the east coast and frankly even in the Midwest. The bruschetta appetizer was quite good, but I didn't much care for the anchovies fritters. We ordered individual main dishes but shared. The pasta was good, but a bit too heavy. The first few bites were quite tasty but after that it was a chore to eat because you could feel the heaviness. The chicken in red sauce was not bad. I personally found the sauce to be quite tasty but others it my family disagreed. The eggplant pizza was quite good. The crust was especially well made. The only dessert we shared was the caramel custard, which was not particularly good. So again, overall the food and ambience are quite good. This is probably a 3.5 star rather than a 3 star restaurant but given what I was expecting from an Italian restaurant in Los Angeles, it fell a bit short.

I think I've driven by this place a thousand times and never noticed it. I finally had a chance to give it a try, based on a glowing recommendation from a close friend. My first impression was that it looked like a restaurant you'd find in a hotel. The decor is somewhat dated and understated, but the place is clean. I was there on a Saturday night during dinner hours, and it seemed like most of the guests were in their 70s or 80s. However, from the moment our waitress greeted us, the service was top-notch. And that can make all the difference in a restaurant like this. The menu has lots of great options. We started with a glass of the Malbec, which took some time to open up, but was great once it did. And it paired perfectly were the incredible aged balsamic they serve for dipping bread. But the bread itself seemed like an afterthought. There is nothing special about it, and it doesn't taste homemade. For appetizers we decided to share the Portobello e Cannellini (portobello mushroom with Cannellini beans). The mushroom was very earthy, but the Cannellini beans did not have much flavor. This was my least favorite dish of the evening. We also had the Polipo Alla Brace (grilled octopus on chick pea pure), which was fantastic. The octopus was so tender, not chewy at all. For our entrees we shared the Pizza Parmiggiana (rolled eggplant, mozzarella, basil). It was amazing!! The pizza dough is thick and a little chewy, which I love. The the crust was perfect for dipping in the balsamic. In fact, I would prefer it if they served a bread made out of the pizza dough as their bread basket, for dipping in the balsamic and olive oil. We also shared the Ravioli do Pollo (homemade pasta stuffed with chicken). For this dish the pasta was cooked to perfection, but the chicken inside was dry and overcooked. Based on this meal, I will come back to try some of the other dishes on the menu.

good food; lovely atmosphere and good service. The salads are really terrific and pasta dishes even better!

We had dinner here on a Friday evening. The ambience is good, and our waiter with his very courteous and attentive. One of our dishes was the pumpkin ravioli and that was delicious. We also had the rigatoni and that was good. For dessert, we had a lemon tart. It was small, but tasty. A main course here will cost approximately 30–35 dollars. Coffee is $8. Dessert is $15. A dinner for two with no drinks and including the tip will be approximately $100. But for that you get a good meal at a quality restaurant. all in all, a good dining experience.

I love Il Moro. The restaurant was recently sold to the chef and one of the top waiters when the owners wanted to retire and none of their children wanted to run the restaurant. The restaurant is in an office building which appears from the outside to be cold and void of any human feeling. However, once inside the restaurant opens on a lovely patio that boasts an extensive Koi pond. You can reserve a table on the koi pond, but reserve one with a heat lamp as well. There is a bit of a wind tunnel on the patio. The patrons appear to be well heeled and a bit older. However, the atmosphere is lovely and the food is delicious. Starting with the in restaurant made rolls in the bread basket nothing misses a beat. Those rolls are terrific. When the pastry chef who makes them had hand surgery and they were absent for 4 months customers noticed. They serve the rolls with a wonderful imported for them balsamic vinegar and an olive oil that they were selling in a little Murano glass bottle. The bottle alone was worth the cost. I like to dip the rolls in the balsamic and don't even bother with the olive oil. The waitress, Erica is special, and she know that I always order their lasagna. They make their lasagna with a béchamel sauce instead of stuffing it with ricotta cheese. It is divine. I have been buying their balsamic for years now. I drizzle it on my morning bagel. They have daily specials that often incudes lamb chops and a pasta del mar. My husband has ordered both. I have also had their filet of sole in lemon butter, and it too is very good. We have never had a bad meal at Il Moro. I also love their apple tarte, but if you are a chocolate lover or favor tiramsu, you will find it on the menu. The waiter who is now an owner and his wife work in the restaurant. She is the hostess and he fills whatever role is needed at the time. Sometimes he is a floor manager, sometimes a host, and when the need arises, he will wait tables too. Additionally, parking is free with a ticket that the restaurant will validate. However, we often find street parking outside the restaurant on Purdue street.

I've been meaning to write about this restaurant for a while now...even before my parents 60th Wedding anniversary party we held there in September 2014. Because it's tucked away from the main street and in the bottom of a building many people miss it! This is unfortunate because it is a very special place! The owners really care about the quality of the food they serve and created a beautiful ambience - understated and simple. Nice place for a lunch outside on the patio with the sound of a waterfall fading away the traffic noise. Inside is intimate and you can actually have a nice conversation without yelling at each other while enjoying delicious food! Great for family and friends anytime or for a special occasion - even business! The artichoke salad is so good! And if you like Salmon - well - it doesn't get better than this! Go enjoy!

This place is hard to find but worth finding. The food was wonderful. We had the portobello and white bean appetizer, the fresh salmon and the lamb chops and the apple tart (a la mode) for desert. Everything was cooked perfectly and tasted wonderful. The apple tart was one of the best I've ever had. Not too sweet and in a lovely carmel balsamic sauce. Delish!! The wines were good and the service was attentive. They also have a nice outside seating area. The only downside to this place is it's location. It's in a big office building in West LA. Nothing much around there if you're looking for something to do afterwards, but if you're up for just some great food it's worth the trip.

Seemed like it was going to be a typical Italian place in a business building but was quite surprised at the elegant setting and the quick and constant attention by the staff. The food was beautifully and creatively presented, like my pumpkin pasta in an actual pumpkin bowl. The salad my client ordered was plentiful and looked delicious, she was the one that recommended this restaurant and loves everything about it. You must try a dessert even if you have to share it, everything tastes fresh and authentic. Great experience.

When our friend told us to look for Il Moro on the ground floor of a high rise on Olympic Blvd., I thought the worst. I expected a cafe with evening service or worse. It turned out to be a great restaurant. The decor modern and very tastefully done. The service was great. Despite it being Saturday night, we didn't feel rushed. The salads and entrees were very good: my wife had Italian sea bass and I had their version of cioppino which was fantastic. They have a good wine list.

Il Moro is very conveniently located between Century City and Santa Monica and right off the 405, so I often meet there for business lunch. It is always disappointing. The meals are overproduced with too much spice and sauce. Today I ordered the Turbot which was rubbery and undercooked, and my guest had the salmon which he said was mediocre (he only ate half of it). The best thing about this place is its convenient location. Otherwise, I'd say avoid it.

This was my first time here but not my last. They literally had the very best Salmon I have ever experienced. They start you off with terrific bread rolls for dipping into their great Garlic dip - Wow! They also had some very nice Salad choices and other main dishes that everyone was enjoying. The service was outstanding and friendly, as was the Host in charge. Everything about this restaurant made our lunch an absolute terrific experience. Highly Recommended!

I don't appreciate valet parking much, but there was a garage nearby that validated - so, free parking. Yay! No wait on this Tuesday night, the place was about ninety percent full. Spotless, clean, well lit. Friendly Italian hosts and server. Had a glass of (delicious) California Malbec and the eggplant appetizer. Fabulous! Oh! the balsamic vinegar. WOW! So good! It was all we could do not to order more bread. Then the mains. I just had to try the pumpkin tortelloni served in a pumpkin. I know, I know...kind of gimicky, but when in Rome...My daughter had some kind of stuffed spinach and ricotta pasta. The fillings were so tender and flavorful and the sauces were perfection. Topped it off with a light flourless chocolate cake and mama mia! O bisogno! Repeta, per favore!

I met two business associates at Il Moro because of its convenient location. Although on a side street, there is valet or free (w/validated) parking. The restaurant has inside and outside options. It is spacious and bright. The service was excellent as was the food. I enjoyed a steak salad with a delicious bowl of mushroom soup. There is also a nice bar.

We are italians, and we are visiting the US for one year. We enjoyed the atmosphere, the extreme kindness of the service, and the quality and originality of food. It is definitely a place to visit if you want to escape the usually poor 'Italian' cuisine in the US (most of the time only rich in garlic and onion, so far away from the balance we use in Italy - most of the time a terrible and obnoxious experience, even in 'established' venues). Il Moro was a joyful experience. Food was excellent, and well presented. Every member of the restaurant showed how professionally they operate. Bravo!

Lunch at Il Moro is pleasant and plentiful. Outdoor seating is cool or the dining room next to the kitchen offers a nice view of the garden outside. Dinner needs a little moro, however. The salad special was ok--greens, avocado and some other nutlike stuff dumped on top. My fish entree was a delicious piece of black cod, then smothered with a ketchup-like caper laden sauce that overpowered the delicate and tender fish. Too bad--less sauce or a flavor to the steamed veggies would have delivered more. I was left a little underwhelmed. There are lots of west side restaurants that offer great food--and Il Moro can be one of them from time to time. Perhaps the chef should reconsider the less is Moro.

Very lovely lunch. Excellent service, outstanding food and excellent choice in wines. Relax and outstanding place to visit with friends. Attentive service.

Great food and the family atmosphere created by owners makes the dining (inside or on the patio) a treat after 21 years of patronage. Wine list is short but varied and all aspects of the food are tended to with great care. Ask for Elio, Gaetano, or Luci. Special occasions are their specialty.

Just ate there this week for a business meeting. Food was absolutely fantastic. Beautifully prepared and flavorful. Good drinks too.

I have been many times... some times the food is better then others but last time the food was exceptional. They have small room you can reserve (with a minimum) that his ideal for intimate discussion or romance.

Our friend who has dined here for lunch many times, and who we were meeting for dinner, suggested we all come here for dinner on our recent visit to LA. Thanks for suggesting Il Moro for our dinner. His exclamation about their pasta was certainly mouthwatering and well deserved. I researched all the top Italian in the geographically acceptable part of WLA, and I agreed that Il Moro looks like a great choice. I called the restaurant to inquire about their meat offerings as the website showed a limited selection. When the maitre d' remarked that they have veal chop and veal Osso Bucco as a special a few nights a week, I advised him that I had a hangering for veal chop milanese. He said he'd make sure to have it available for next Thursday!! So, I'm sold. And sure enough, they had veal chop on the menu that night!!! I went ahead and made a booking for 5pm, for drinks and dinner. Erika, the manager/owner(?) very freely disclosed there was a large business meeting starting at 7-7:30, but we all thought it wouldn't be a problem, since we were starting early. Our food, and easy atmosphere enabled us all to have such a good time, we stayed till 9pm....and were never bothered by the large business dinner...we hardly even noticed them. The food was fantastic. The service was most attentive. Prices are very reasonable. I am classically trained in italian cuisine, and make Risotto at home. I rarely order it out as it never satisfies. However, to accompany my veal chop, I had to order their risotto w veal jus. Utterly fantastic...delicate yet most flavorful. As we're the other items ordered, all pictured below....pasta checca, mussels & clams, pasta Bolognese, chocolate torte, etc. We all tasted various items, and oohed and aahed. There's a reason this restaurant is still around after 24 years....they do it right. I'll definitely be back, to try other items, but may have to order that risotto again!! There's free validated parking in the adjacent garage. Buon appetito!!

I work two blocks from this hidden gem off Olympic Blvd just west of Sawtelle. It is a frequent lunch spot for my office. We have NEVER had a bad meal here. The menu is excellent. One of my favorites is the Branzino with capers & olives with a side of garlic sautéed spinach. Really first-rate! The daily specials are absolutely terrific. The service is 5-star. I visit often because its convenient, but the service & the food is what has me hooked.

hidden gem for northern italian. service is attentive... want to try happy hour.

My companion, a lifelong resident of Santa Monica and its immediate environs, had last eaten at Il Moro on the day Lady Diana died, and had subsequently forgotten about it (the restaurant, not Lady Di’s death) until we were driving past earlier that day. (This is not implausible, given the staggering abundance of fine eateries in this part of the world). Was Il Moro still there and, if so, in the same ownership? And again if so, did it still possess its extensive planted outside terrace with waterfall and pool, enclosed like a mini Shangri-La (Shangri-LA, perhaps) within the lofty glazing of the surrounding office blocks? And… could the Fettuccine alla Bolognese still be on the menu, and as tasty as she recalled? Yes, and yes, and yes, and yes, and yes — though for me, even if sampling this same dish showed to be indeed excellent, it paled in comparison with the truly memorable Mezzelune di Manzo e Portobello (pasta filled with braised beef, Portobello mushrooms, butter sage sauce) that I had. This was simply one of the finest pasta dishes I have ever eaten anywhere (if only the otherwise adequately but not memorably fed holiday in Venice we had a few years ago had yielded somewhere equally knock-out). It was probably the squeezing of a second Happy Hour $5 glass of merlot under the 7pm curfew wire that de-inhibited me enough to insist on a dessert each rather than shared (Il Moro’s pasta dishes, though exquisite, are not huge). The apple tart with sweet balsamic caramel sauce praised by another reviewer was indeed delicious, and big enough for two, which was also almost the case with the chocolate tart (complete with dollop of crema inglese) that I had. Two was definitely overdoing it, and exacerbated by the scoop of vanilla ice cream on each offered and accepted. (Side note here — Il Moro’s desserts are not cheap at a uniform $10 a pop and the ice cream, assumed to be a generous gratis garnish, turned up as additional items on the check, bizarrely differentiated at $3 for the apple tart and $3.50 for the chocolate: arguably a slightly naughty ploy). So next time, more circumspection on the desserts front (and maybe the wine), but boy, is there ever going to be a next time, especially out on that terrace with the moon rising between the office towers(!)… Five stars have rarely been more thoroughly earned.

Delicious, reasonable, eat out on the patio!

Ambiance is graciously sleek. Huge bar , glass walls, scenic outdoor patio with beautiful water fall. Set amid office buildings towering above, this is a truly romantic hideaway in West LA. Cuisine is Italian with an emphasis on seafood, which is their specialty. They do have delicious sounding chicken, pasta and meat dishes. We had calamari appetizer, huge portion, and perfectly done. For main, we had a night's special of Tuna with nut crust on a bed of sweet onions. It was the best I've ever had. The serving staff was exceptional. It's tucked away, but well worth finding. I'll be back next time in LA.