Caffè Delfini is a rare find - an authentic, romantic and deeply welcoming neighborhood gem that truly deserves to be a destination for both Angelenos and visitors alike. The cuisine is exceptional! My favorites are the linguini with clams and mushrooms, fettuccini bolognese, eggplant parmigiana, veal scaloppine, and the unforgettable lobster pasta. Please leave room for one of their divine desserts - like home made tiramisu. There are also gluten free options, so no one is left out. A heartfelt thank you to Riccardo, Alex and Terri for continuing the legacy of a longstanding, very loved and special Italian restaurant. p.s. There is valet parking, so no worries about parking so close to the Santa Monica beach. read more

Incredible service. Very attentive to the entire small, intimate restaurant. This makes dining there amazing but then there's the food. 10/10 perfection! Classic Italian dining! We shared a Caesar salad and it was perfection. I had the risotto and my friend had the spicy penne and we loved every bite. Yummy wine and champs. Can't wait to go back!! read more

Caffé Delfini - Risotto Mare (Clear, Sauce) and my friends finished Penne Arrabbiata- both delicious!! - Italian Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Last night I had the zucchini noodles with bolognese it was one of the best plates of food I've had in quite some time. The bolognese is rich and satisfying, but not at all heavy, just deep flavor with a velvety texture. The zucchini noodles were so nicely done, like eating an al dente linguini minus the carbs. To drink I had the house Chianti, which was a great accompaniment to the bolognese, and the espresso was perfect. I felt very welcomed and had exceptional service, in a quaint little dining room by the sea. Highly recommend. read more

Romantic ambiance set for a dreamy first date. Perfect ambiance for group dinner with friends and family. Food authentic Roman Italian cuisine. Delicious branzino. Unforgettable Bruschetta, simply delicious! Tasty perfect wine to compliment the meal. read more

Tucked on Channel Road between Santa Monica and the Palisades, Delfini is aimed squarely at a clientele that likes traditional Italian food with atmosphere more typical of an elegant trattoria. The interior is cozy with comfortable chairs and soft finishes; the three of us sat at a corner table with a nice view. Service was efficient and unobtrusive The pasta was cooked perfectly; I enjoyed a traditional Bolognese - style ragu. Remember that you ate near the coast with its attendant parking problems and elevated prices but if you want something satisfying and cozy, this is the place. read more

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very good italian food in a nice cozy environment that isn't too loud. all the great classic italian food options are available, and it's all great. the handmade gnnochi was a particular standout. read more

This restaurant is about as authentically Italian as my girlfriend's german shepherd! The boxed rigatoni came to the table on a sadly separated butter and cheese sauce that was hiding beneath the tired pasta, miserly sprinkled with what appeared to be crunchy bits of Arm and Hammer breakfast bacon. $36.00. The burrata was good but it was served with a few sprigs of wilted arugula. and when I say wilted, I mean it was just plain tired. The service was good but not very friendly. The manager was running around in jeans and a tee shirt and seemed and looked like a guy from the beach just passing through to use the restroom. One of our guest's chicken wasn't delivered to the table for at least 10 minutes after the rest of us had been served. We had to pour our own water continuously and the waiter was quick to get the signed credit card tray from our table so he could probably get home. All in all, not a very well run establishment. Would not recommend. The branzino was good but, again, a very parsimonious portion for the price. read more

This place blew me away. I was stuck in the area at work and had to grab something quick to go. I decided to check this place out, I walked In and was immediately greeted by host who was so polite and nice. He offered me a table but sadly I was in a rush. I just grabbed a piece of their lasagna to go. I have to say, this lasagna was AMAZiNG! I loved ever single bite of it and could not get enough. The bread on the side was also excellent. I can't wait to go back and try more of their menu, if every dish they have is as good as their lasagna this place is a total gem. read more

Caffé Delfini - Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Santa Monica, California

What a disaster. We went there for Valentine's Day and it was ruined. We were forced to get the prefixed menu which was $140 plus tax. The price was outrageous but what was worse is the horrible food that they served. First, we got "welcome crab cakes" which were inedible and smelled off. Then we had to choose a starter. My husband got the mushroom soup, and I got the Burrata salad. The soup was so bad we had to return it and the salad was literally three cherry tomatoes cut in half and a scoop of cheese. For the main, my husband got a steak and I got the lobster pasta. Both were mediocre at best. The server was too busy, never filled our water, everything took forever to come out, and he made a mistake in our bill even though it was a prefixed menu. Bottom line - worst Valentine's dinner ever. read more

Best breaded veal I have ever eaten. We had to move out of LA after the fires and plan to move back soon...and this will be the first restaurant we visit. Excellent Italian food. read more

Exquisite journey of flavor from beginning to end. Beautiful plating. Personal attention. Can't wait to come back.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Los Angeles. Tucked away in Santa Monica canyon, the charming ambiance is warm and welcoming. There are only a handful of tables which makes it ideal for a special date or an intimate evening with friends. Definitely recommend reservations. I always have the Tagliolini Radicchio. It is delicious and the portion is big enough for me to take a little home for lunch the next day. I highly recommend Caffe Delfini. read more

I just had the most amazing meal at Caffe Delfini - I'm in love!!! It is just steps from the hotel I'm staying at and after working a long day and not wanting to get back in the car, I thought I'd give it a try. Approaching the restaurant, I was greeted warmly by a charming gentleman. He made me feel very welcomed, and found me a nice table even though I was a solo diner and the place was incredibly busy. I can't get over the meal - delicious in every way!! Steak, sautéed spinach and roasted potatoes - not one bit of extra salt or pepper was needed - it was PERFECT!!!! Service and food were absolutely fantastic!!! THANK YOU!! read more

My husband and I love this spot. Consistently great food, warm ambiance and fantastic service. Alex is always welcoming and charming. Hector and the wait staff are top notch. We recently tried the eggplant parmigiana appetizer and it was delicious! Our favorites are the lobster fettuccine and branzino. They also have a lot of yummy gluten free options. Their selection of wines is great. Can't wait to go back! read more

Cutest little spot right across from the beach with the MOST delicious authentic Italian I've ever had. The service is fantastic and I love everything about this place!! read more

This is a small sweet Italien restaurant that exudes a feeling of being a guest in a private restaurant. The art on the walls is amazing and I found it captivating. How this restaurant escaped my attention for years is beyond me. Perhaps it is the lack of parking and the busy street (West Channel Road, near PCH) that kept me from experiencing it. But I will be back. We had the fresh bread and butter, and a salad to start, Carciofini, artichoke hearts and arugula and celery with a citrusy dressing. Sublime. My friend had the soup, Pasta e Fagioli, puree' of white cannellini beans with a little bit of short canneroni pasta and chicken broth. She thought it was bland. But I read the ingredients and it seems like it is a bland dish. Beans, pasta, and chicken broth: a recipe of calm flavors. For dinner I had the Trout Almondine, and it was a bit dry. Perhaps it was overcooked. Maybe I was full from the bread and salad, but I couldn't finish it. The potatoes and sautéed spinach were good. I didn't tell the waiter. It was just a little dry. My friend had the Eggplant Parmigiana, for her meal, after the soup and salad. It is listed as an appetizer. She liked it. It is smaller than a regular meal, but it worked out since she had a soup and salad before the dish. The service is great. The waiter and owner seem to both be happy to attend to us. The owner said they were short staffed, but we didn't notice any issues. The restaurant is small and the tables are close together, enough that I could hear the conversation at the next table. So it is cozy. But don't show up and have a confidential discussion at this location. I was cognizant of the sound of others talking, but enjoyed the evening. I may have skipped any tidbits of scandal! There was a large party at a table on the other side of the restaurant and occasionally I could hear them laughing. So overall, amazing food, and I want to try their other salads next time I visit. We recommend reservations. We had arrived too early, at 5:10pm. They open at 5:30pm and the "just arriving" waiter said to come back, seemingly flustered by our presence. We walked the canyon and came back after 6pm and then felt lucky to be seated right away. buongiorno! read more

Caffé Delfini - Eggplant parmigiana - Italian Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Bless this place for being close to Ginger Rogers Beach and allowing us to dine here severely underdressed in our tank tops and swim shorts! Service was really friendly and welcoming and we were happy to dine here after a long day at the beach. It's a nice and cozy establishment that serves freshly made pastas with a hearty touch. My favorite pasta was the Squid Ink that had pieces of squid and shrimp. The Eggplant Appetizers was delish too!! read more

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Great food. Tagliolini radicchio and tortellini bosco were excellent. Good service. Cozy small restaurant. Valet parking was good.

A true hidden gem in the Rustic Canyon area of Santa Monica close to the Malibu border. Absolutely delicious homemade Italian food with a great menu selection inside a quaint house type of setting. Tonight we dined inside, but they have outdoor seating right on the street as well which allows you to actually see the Pacific Ocean. Parking can be tricky in this area but we were able to find street parking a few blocks away but they do offer valet if needed. The tables are very close together so a private or intimate conversation may be, and was for us, difficult at times, but still the food alone is worth a visit. Our server was very polite although the service speed was pretty slow in terms of drink refills, but our food did come out pretty quickly, even in the full house that they had this evening. I started off with the Bresaola, which is a personal favorite of mine, and I grew up eating. Usually, I order beef carpaccio in Italian restaurants so it was nice to see the change to Bresaola. It was delicious and I could've eaten two courses of it. For my entrée, I chose the Fettuccine Bolognese, because the fettuccine was homemade in-house, and I can honestly say the Bolognese sauce with it was absolutely fantastic. The portion size was perfect as well, not too big and not too small. Finally, I topped off the meal with a delicious cappuccino. Every bite and sip I had this evening was truly great and worth remembering. I would highly recommend to anyone who is a fan of Italian food or is looking for a delicious out of the way intimate dinner with friends or family. It also is a killer date spot. It's definitely on my short list of repeat restaurants and I will be back very soon. read more

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I've been a huge fan of Caffe Delfini for over 30 years, but moved out of the area and hadn't been for almost a decade. Just had dinner there while visiting LA and I was happy to see that it is still the most romantic, cozy place you could ask for. We were greeted warmly, and the service throughout the meal was spot on. Dinner was delicious! Authentic and handmade. Especially loved the shaved artichoke salad and the bolognese. Their Tiramisu is a standout as well. Hope to come back soon, it was a wonderful evening! read more

This jewel of a restaurant serves delicious authentic Italian cuisine in a romantic, intimate setting. The mellow music allows conversation and the service is gracious and welcoming. We have always enjoyed our dinners here. Make a reservation today. KW read more

Had a wonderful meal tonight. Great setting, quiet so we could have a conversation. The chicken Parmesan was the best I ever had. Some of the best pasta. Great service. A gem. read more

Service was Superb! Food was Amazing! Atmosphere was Wonderful, peaceful and Calm & Family Friendly. We will Be Back. read more

Caffé Delfini - Penne Butter For our 4 year old. - Italian Near Me - Santa Monica, California

This was our second visit to this little gem while staying at a nearby Santa Monica hotel. The concierge first recommended it to us back in 2023. We always look for places a bit off the beaten path, and he assured us this was exactly that. He was right. On our return visit, we were pleasantly surprised to see the staff hadn't changed. We got the same cozy corner table in a corner, perfectly positioned to take in all the action. You can't help but notice the warm, familiar vibe here--lots of regulars being greeted that revealed a long standing familiarity with each other. Even though the restaurant was fairly busy, the atmosphere remained calm and efficient--something we really appreciated. Both times we dined here, we noticed multiple flight crew members in full uniform, complete with rolling suitcases. That definitely caught our attention, especially since the airport isn't exactly around the corner. The menu is extensive and classically Italian--and surprisingly good.     The only downside? Parking is a bit pricey, but honestly, it's worth it for the quality and experience. Highly recommended if you're looking for something authentic, slightly tucked away, and full of character read more

What do I say. I'm sad. This restaurant was a dear friend of mines favorite place to eat. She turned me on to this cute little romantic place about 10 years ago. I took my husband on a date here on a Monday night (my first mistake). We have eaten here a bunch of times and it's really never been consistent. Let's get real about this for the three minutes that you might read my review or if you are looking to eat here. Sadly the food quality is not what it use to be and unfortunately we won't be back. I was so disappointed (and told our server) who did and said nothing to us or Alex the co-owner. He lost me at that moment as a customer by not addressing the quality of the dish and or if I was happy enough to eat the chewy gristle of chicken in front of me. He did however check in with the chef who confirmed he cooked a small breast and a thigh. I brought up the fact that the menu does not state any sort of thigh. As I thought, I was correct when the menu stated it was a chicken breast. I mentioned that they might want to indicate that on the menu! (For a picky eater like me if you serve me thighs I instantly want to get sick). And that's why you describe what the dish is to keep customers happy and they know what they are getting. What came was a chicken thigh disguised as a breast and only a very small part of it was really a real breast (and it was grisly and honestly chicken breast is not grisly as I cook it all the time). The potatoes were dry and burned and tasted like they were cooked hours before our meal. The only thing I liked was the overcooked spinach, but then again maybe I was just hungry. I tried not to be rude on my date and felt I had already complained with no "I am sorry" to report, to even make me feel better or want to come back. I'll go and spend my money somewhere else. I'm sorry this is just not acceptable. No check ins or check backs, empty water glasses and just pure disappointment for a restaurant my friend loved when she was alive. I'm sure she'd agree with me if she was still living on this planet. ‍ read more

Intimate dining in charming Santa Monica Canyon house. Ocean nearby. All plates top drawer, well prepared, perfect portions. Charming and efficient waiter addressed all particular needs. Authentic Italian establishment. read more

Caffé Delfini - The Spaghetti & Meatballs served every Sunday. How may one resist?! All plates, top drawer. Wonderful kitchen and atmosphere. - Italian Near Me - Santa Monica, California

My professional opinion on this place and taste"" As a top chef I am"" Bruschetta )) not"" simple cut tomato on white mushy bread. I've never seen anything so cheap my life time,, There bread is supermarket peanut butter jelly white bread. Not fancy bread quality" There sauce is straight out of a can of Preggo from Walmart. There simple marinara pasta taste like microwavable pasta. The worst Italian restaurant in a high class area I've ever seen in my life. 99 cent store ingredients this owner is living in his own world. Grade F read more

This is a fantastic restaurant. Everything from the service, to the bus staff, to the food and ambiance was top notch. Our server was a tall blonde who was very patient with our chaotic party. For dinner I got the special which was lobster pasta. We also shared a caesar salad. There was generous amounts of lobster and a good amount of pasta. Sometimes when you order that dish there is no lobster and tons of pasta. I also tried the ragu, which I would consider the standard of a good italian restaurant. I've had a lot of pasta recently and this was definitely one of the best ones. Everybody else in the party enjoyed their dinner. read more

This is a hidden gem that only our neighborhood knows about. They spend no money on advertising. The food is beyond amazing, as is the service. Quality all around Now open for brunch at 9am on weekends, and happy hour from 5 to 6. This restaurant is highly addictive and priced reasonably. For brunch, quiche and sandwiches are amazing, as well as pistachio filled croissants (!); for dinner, the calamari appetizer and the black squid ink pasta are amazing. If you don't go, you are really missing out. Try it once and you will love it forever !! read more

Caffé Delfini - Getting together with old friends at Cafe Delfini - Italian Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Delicious. Came here for dinner and am so glad we did! We sat indoors and it's pretty cozy inside without feeling too cramped. Staff was lovely and friendly. I ordered the lobster pasta and my husband got the bolognese. We shared a Caesar salad to start. Everything was delicious and the pasta was very rich and creamy and flavorful. I could see why the locals frequent this spot. read more

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Incredible cozy Italian restaurant. I felt like I was eating at someone's home. The food was perfect and homemade. I wish I could eat here every night. The pasta Norma was amazing. The burrata was so soft and creamy. The carcofine salad was zesty. The most amazing part was the homemade orange dessert. Highly recommend this restaurant and we will be back again! read more

It was amazing. A server named Hector is the best and I loved the carbonara!! Best pasta I've ever had! You should definitely come!! It's the best! The owner was born in Rome. This is true Italian. The chefs have been here for 35 years!!! read more

Honestly skip the appetizers and go straight to the pasta with a solid bottle of wine. Then finish your meal with the decaf tiramisu. I got the pasta alla Norma which the waiter recommended and it was delish! read more

The hidden secret. Shhh. Don't tell. Love this place. Great owners and the food is on point.

This place had a great ambiance and the food was rich in flavor and freshness. The service was amazing. Ricardo was so nice, he was very good at explaining the different options on the menu to me and my boyfriend. Definitely a cozy and welcoming environment with great music. read more

Caffé Delfini - Shrimp Delfini in Guazzetto - Italian Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Caffe Delfini has to be one of my favorite restaurants!! The food is authentic and soooo good. This place is a must for anyone looking to enjoy a nice glass of wine over a dish of fresh fish or pasta. On top of the incredible food, the ambience is unmatched! The lovely owners and staff make you feel warm and welcome. The dim lighting and soft music makes this the perfect spot for date night. Attached is a picture of the caprese I had to start and dessert - affogato & flourless chocolate cake! I ate my entree too fast to take a picture but trust that it was equally as mouth watering, I got the chicken milanese. SO good. I highly highly recommend!! Would give Caffe Delfini 10 stars if I could! read more

Caffé Delfini - Italian Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Best food. Best ambiance. Great service. Get the cacio e pepe!!! Cozy, homey feel. read more

The ambience was lovely - romantic lighting, quaint cottage core interior, intimate seating. Our server was clearly persevering through some kind of illness which is never ideal when handling food but he was on it nonetheless along with the busboys. Unfortunately, neither of us liked our dishes. In fact, mine immediately turned my stomach and later upset it. The ragu overpowered the ravioli and the meat tasted off. I wound up scraping the meat sauce off and enjoying the ravioli by itself towards the end which was light but flavorful and cooked perfectly. My husband's seafood pasta was too much calamari for his taste, especially when so chewy, and the pasta was not cooked to his liking. The sauce was pretty good though. We both enjoyed the bread and olive oil and chocolate tartufo affogato desert. Hopefully, next time we'll have better luck with our entrees and our poor server will be on the mend. Other dishes coming out looked and smelled amazing so we definitely want to give Caffé Delfini a second shot. read more

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this was an amazing restaurant! i have celiac so was looking for something with good gluten free options as well as regular italian for my family and this place delivered. our server was super kind and conscious of my celiac as well as everyone else's needs. the food was delicious and very authentic italian food. everything here is amazing. the restaurant is super cute ambiance wise- not too loud, perfect for any meal. 10/10 would recommend- esp for anyone gluten free or celiacs! read more

Without a reservation on a Friday evening, we were warmly greeted by Alex who seated us without hesitation. A vibrant energy filled the room. The most delicate and delicious prosciutto and mozzarella was easily shared before two wonderfully sized bowls of pasta arrived. Add a perfectly timed, seemingly bottomless, bottle of wine and the meal was complete. Highly recommend for service, ambience and a fair price for exceptional food. read more