(Dined 06/18/26 TH @ 12:30pm): The Northern Italian cuisine served at this house was as hot as the…read moresun!
A realtor I recently worked with to sell two properties wanted to catch up and present me with a little something for the opportunity at Ca' Del Sole. I'd driven by this place since I often worked in the area or used the streets as a shortcut of sorts, while this was relatively close to his office in Studio City. Opened in 1994 by restaurateur Rudolfo Costella and fellow Venetian Master Chef Antonio Tommasi, the idea was to offer a glimpse into the atmosphere, cuisine, and culture of Northern Italy and a Venetian country inn in the center of the San Fernando Valley. Costella has since expanded his empire with a few more restaurants in Phoenix, AZ and Southern California, respectively. Would I feel at home under the guise of the warm Northern Italian sun!?
PURCHASE(S)
Breads & Dipping Sauce (COMP): Fresh puffy warm breads and an olive tapenade dipping sauce was a beautiful way to get this lunch started! It was refillable, but we were good.
Peroni Nastro Azzurro Pale Lager Beer 5.1% ABV 12floz Bottle ($7.00): Amber honey color, honey malty aroma, light body, light bready malty flavor, clean effervescent finish, and a light malty sweet aftertaste. An easy Italian birra!
Squash Blossoms 3pc ($21.95): We shared this lovely appetizer that was airy and lightly fried with a creamy sauce bed. I loved this creative healthy dish!
Minestrone Soup Bowl ($13.50): Loaded with a bunch of fresh vegetables and a low-sodium broth, this was hearty and simple, but I liked my realtor's soup more.
Asparagus Soup Bowl ($13.50): My realtor let me try his soup, which was an odd nuclear-yellow color, creamy, light, and silky smooth - heavenly!
Shrimp Fusilli ($23.95): Homemade green fusilli and medium shrimp in a buttery creamy sauce topped with grated cheese, the portion was smaller than expected, but each bite was blissful, and I used the bread to wipe down my bowl!
Salmon Farfalle ($23.95): My realtor let me try his heaping entree portion of thick chunks of tender salmon and velvety pasta in a butternut squash sauce - yummy
Valet Parking ($7.00): Cash only, there weren't any other onsite options.
SERVICE
Once we arrived for our reservation, the lovely young hostess sat us in a relaxing cabana outside in the back patio where we were greeted by a friendly older gentleman server armed with menus and glasses of water. We took forever to order (sorry!), so he went over the specials, which we pretty much ordered from. Our drinks and bread basket arrived quickly followed by the appetizer, then our soups, and finally our entrees all spaced out as they checked on us regularly. Everything was casual and professional - grazie!
PARKING
($7.00; valet only): They had a private lot. Otherwise, I should've done what my realtor did and parked along the main drag of Cahuenga Blvd. with meters - 'nuff said.
ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE
A deceptively large layout once you entered the waiting area with a separate bar area nearby, an indoor dining area off in another direction, and then the amazing outdoor dining area with its mix of cabanas and open-air tables among plants and trees. Obviously, there was plenty of natural light outside (I couldn't say about the inside) while various electric lights covered the rest. It had a very European relaxed feel. I saw a TV in the bar area but couldn't recall any background music other than the street traffic.
ATTIRE
Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops.
OVERALL
I was so happy to finally try Ca' Del Sole and couldn't wait to return, especially to try their Happy Hour (MO-FR 5pm-Close in the bar lounge area only; everything $5.00). The food was awesome, the menu selection was vast, the prices were a touch elevated, the atmosphere was European casual, and the service was top-notch. Plus, I preferred to support small mom & pop businesses whenever possible (sure, they owned a few other restaurants). I found complete value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $127.00 BEFORE any discounts, points usage, and/or tip). And, they accepted my credit card of choice... AMEX! 5.0 STARS