Orto Santa Monica

“Our waiter was so attentive and personal. There weren’t many people there but it did not affect the atmosphere, as they played great music. I appreciated the waiter being Italian himself, really made it feel authentic. Our waiter explained dishes on the menu thoroughly and made recommendations that we greatly appreciated. Will be recommending to everyone! I can’t believe this place isn’t busier, it’s amazing.”

“Lovely and cozy Italian spot, so happy we chose it. Everything we ate was fantastic. Meatball and burrata apps, carbonara, branzino, salmon. The cocktails were also quite good. We had an issue with part of one dish and they were very helpful and took it off the bill. Everyone was great. Highly recommend!!!”

“Andre ( sp ?) took really good care of us. My partner has a dairy allergy, suggested to have the calamari made w/ just flour! (means the meals are made to order fresh! And made sure all the appy's & her meal was dairy free. Phenomenal attention to detail! So good, came back a 2nd time before leaving LA! The Tagliolini on the wheel (off menu special) was 5⭐ (added mushrooms to it)”

“Lovely place! ✨ We had such a lovely experience at Orto in Santa Monica. The restaurant has a beautifully romantic ambience ~ soft lighting, intimate tables, and a cozy atmosphere that immediately makes you feel relaxed and welcome. One of the highlights of our evening was the truffle pasta 🍝 prepared in the wheel of cheese. Watching the owner, who is originally from Italy, create it right in front of us made the experience even more special. The dish itself was incredible ~ rich, creamy, and full of authentic flavor. Orto is truly a gem for anyone who enjoys delicious Italian cuisine with a personal touch. We can’t wait to come back!”

“If Rome and Santa Monica had a love child, it would be called Orto — and it would be delicious. This place is a little slice of Italy with zero jet lag. The chef clearly trained in the ancient Roman art of making you rethink your life choices after the first bite of cacio e pepe. The owner is nice and will be helping you to make the right choice Everything feels authentic, from the handmade pasta to the fact that you’ll immediately regret not ordering the dish your neighbor got. Pro tip: come hungry, leave speaking Italian, and don’t trust anyone who says they’ll “just share a plate.”