Absolutely love this restaurant! My husband and I came here early on a Saturday night, and we kept talking about how it reminded us of our trips to Italy and the restaurants in the small neighborhoods that we visited. First of all, Italian-owned. Second, a warm, inviting, and family vibe. The location, near the theater but not in the busy part, makes it feel even cozier. We were in the middle of everything hot in Culver City, but away from the chaos. The food was absolutely fantastic-- he had the special lamb, I think) and I had pasta with lobster cream sauce. Do yourself a favor and just order a bottle of wine because you will definitely have more than one glass. We highly, highly recommend Carasau if you want authentic, delicious Italian food and/or want to relive your trip to Italy. read more

got the seafood pasta (fregola di mare) and it was amazing and fairly priced! beautifully presented as well. the proscuitto and funghi pasta was disappointing however - the meat was not the expected proscuitto, and the flavor of the pizza was underwhelming. tiramisu is a small pot (15$), nothing special and not worth. outdoor patio seating has warming lamps, not busy on a sunday night. read more

Carasau - Prosciutto & Funghi pizza - Sardinian Near Me - Culver City, California

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I really wanted to like this place! The stars are strictly for the food we ordered. I've been looking for a great cioppino ever since I was in Sicily. Sad to say, this was not it. The flavor of the soup was quite bland and the color was shallow, the seafood was a bit rubbery, so it may be frozen, not fresh. All of that would be fine except that the price point is quite suggestive of a more delicious meal. My partner ordered the chicken parmigiano and was also equally unimpressed, especially at this price point. The café is cute, with a comfortable outdoor seating area- heaters and foliage to control for any unwanted passerby attention. The service was friendly enough and they made suggestions and answered questions adequately. Also, if you're parking in their lot, make sure you pull straight up to the gate for it to open. We drove right past it because we thought the lot was closed as it is inaccurately marked Culver Studios parking. Perhaps other items on their menu are much tastier. We just wish we had a better experience. read more

So amazing service.We had a private room and it was so nicely prepared for us. If you need a private event definitely consider this venue. read more

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I had an absolutely wonderful experience at Carasau Restaurant and can't recommend it highly enough. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was warm, elegant, and inviting -- the perfect blend of modern style and cozy comfort. The lighting, decor, and overall ambiance made it ideal for both a relaxed dinner and a special occasion. The food was truly outstanding. Every dish was beautifully presented and full of rich, authentic flavors. You can immediately tell that the ingredients are fresh and high quality. The pasta was perfectly cooked, the sauces were balanced and flavorful, and the seafood tasted incredibly fresh. Even the bread and appetizers were memorable -- simple, but prepared with real care and attention to detail. What really elevated the experience was the service. The staff were attentive, friendly, and genuinely passionate about the menu. They were happy to make recommendations and explain dishes without ever making us feel rushed. Everything arrived at just the right pace, allowing us to fully enjoy each course. Overall, Carasau Restaurant delivers not just a meal, but a complete dining experience. Exceptional food, outstanding service, and a welcoming atmosphere make it a place I will definitely return to -- and happily recommend to friends and family. read more

Carasau - Calamari - Sardinian Near Me - Culver City, California

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Returned to this restaurant. The saffron pasta is delicious. Service is very Italian and great. The restaurant is not vibey unfortunately, but the food is solid. They were out of fregola the night we visited which was a bit disappointing. read more

Carasau - Sardinian Near Me - Culver City, California

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This was our first time trying Carasau. Our party made reservations for a small get together. There are some tables and a nice setup outside. It was a little chilly so we dined inside. Our server was Nick. I ordered the Spaghetti Vongole e Bottarga. I wanted to save some for to go but I couldnt stop eating it lol. Very delicious! We also ordered frito mistro which had everything, calamari, shrimp zucchini and so good! Love how they prep your to go. And our birthday guest was given a complimentary Tiramisu. Soooooo good! Overall service and experience was top notch here and they did extremely well to check for our food allergy and support our allergy needs! Thank you so much! read more

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Oh what a beautiful spot! Just tucked a corner away from the main bustling walkways of Culver City Steps (behind maruwa seicha), this lovely restaurant did not disappoint. It has a gorgeous interior but we sat in the patio area because of the perfectly warm weather and quiet space. Plus I had my two pups with me. I've never tried Sardinian food before and this did not disappoint! For starters, they bring bread with olive oil dip. Imagine a bread so fresh it's cloudy soft on the inside with a perfectly crispy exterior and topped with toasty fennel. exquisite! We Arrived before 5pm so we got to order something off the Happy Hour menu. Calamari with tartar and cocktail sauce was perfectly crispy and hot. Some places mess up this simple starter but not here! Then we got the Burrata cheese, which had perfectly skin- tight texture with a creamy inside atop a bed of arugula and fresh tomatoes. Incredible!! I ordered the Malloreddus alla campidanese, which was my favorite!! Yummy little shell shaped gnocchetti that was cooked just right. And The sauce tasted so umami it's like they actually used real herbs! The fregola de mare was a perfect portion with plenty of mussels, squid, clams and two large prawns atop pearl pasta. However, I think the sauce was missing something as it was a little blander than I thought I'd be. Maybe a little spicier kick would do well. The menu was easy to navigate and under the pasta section, the items with a red asterisk was what was considered traditional Sardinian food. Our waitress was so wonderful. Gave great recommendations for food and wine, checked on us in a timely manner, and offered my pups some water too. I highly recommend checking this place out! Especially if you haven't had Sardinian food before!! It has that intimate family-owned business vibe but with a gorgeous and spacious interior and outdoor seating. read more

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After the Brazilian Block Party at the Culver steps we found this Italian restaurant tucked away by the movie theatre. It was a warm night so we sat outside. Ordered Ravioli allo Zafferano which was filled with ricotta cheese, saffron cream sauce ,mint,pecorino cheese. The sauce was very light but creamy with good flavor. Hubby had the spaghetti primavera that had zucchini,snow peas, mushrooms, broccoli,asparagus in a cherry tomato sauce. It was a large portion with lots of veggies and great flavor.We shared the panna cotta for dessert. It was okay. Service was average. Server didn't check on us after food was delivered. We drank all the water from our carafe and weren't asked if we wanted a refill. They weren't busy so don't understand the lack of service. read more

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I'm really confused by all the high reviews....either they had a really off night or reviewers are mainly friends & family... We had reservations for 6:45 but they didn't sit us down til 7pm and to a table that was NOT even set up....the guy was wearing a chef jacket so I assume he was the owner or chef working double duty??! They didn't even give us napkins so I had to ask and the guy handed it with no apology, as if..... Then it took 20 minutes before they even gave us water....then another 10 before they took our order.... We tried to order the carasau bread but they said it was out and only had pizza focaccia.... So we opted for that Also got the eggplant parmigiana which was probably the best thing we ordered here but it wasn't amazing or anything... Also the cheeseboard which was kinda stale and kinda odd Also the fruit di mare pasta with shells that was underwhelming and the spaghetti pomodoro that was also meh.... The branzino didn't come til we were basically done with dinner and it was meh.... And the pizza foccacia never came but they still charged us so we had to point that out.... Horrible experience, meh food.... Never coming back here read more

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Good food and wonderful service! Came here on a Sunday night so it was pretty empty which was nice since we had a dog with us. The server was also so nice and brought out water for our dog :) I've never had Sardinian food before but safe to say I really enjoyed it! The pizzas were really good and the pastas were also very tasty. The fregola di Mare had lots of proteins; they definitely didn't skimp on the seafood! While the mallordeous was savory and rich - the leftover sauce was perfect for the table side bread they kept giving us! Nice place for a date night or a dinner with some friends!! read more

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Loved discovering this tucked away Italian restaurant just off the hustle and bustle of Main street in Culver City. I took my pasta loving son here for a special mom/son lunch. His pesto pasta was good, I spent most of my time stealing his food. I had a salad which was fine and probably healthy, but next time I'll be ordering some handmade pasta. A charming Italian waiter helped us out and made us feel at home. Recommend heading off the beaten path. read more

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It was a rainy day and my brother and I stepped into this amazing cute Italian Sardinian restaurant with delicious food. What a cute discovery and ambiance. My brother insisted on trying Sardinian wine which was so delicious. They're known for their wine apparently so happy I tried some. Pizza was delicious. My brother ordered a veggie sandwich to go which was delicious. There was only one server so I wasn't offered any Parmesan and I wanted chili peppers. Didn't get a chance to order it with my food or asked if we needed anything or else I would have given a higher score. read more

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*One star removed for slow service and improper bathroom ==== Came here for dineLA. The menu was amazing, food was worth it. I actually sat in traffic for 3 hrs for this experience. Vincenzo did a good job juggling all the tables, but I had to i keep flagging him down. Apppetizer: bruschetta. Bread was a bit thick but still refreshing. Entree: saffron ravioli. Fresh, the right amount of saffron and it was sweet and creamy. Dessert: panna cotta with berry compote, strawberries, and granola read more

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Had an enjoyable team dinner at Carasau, and shared most of the dishes family style, but I recommend you get your own plate as their pasta is delicious enough to hog on your own. Don't make the same mistake I did and park on the street as they have a private lot for diners that is not permit required or payment required. It was a Tuesday evening at 5:30 and there weren't many diners so our party was seated immediately. The interior is moody with darker color tones so that you focus more on your food. Our group ordered pastas to share around the table, and each one was great. The portion sizes are a little small for sharing, but everyone had a bite of each. The pasta was nice and al dente, and the accompany sauces were flavorful. read more

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The restaurant was pleasantly busy with Friday evening date nights, after work gatherings and graduation parties. Our 8pm reservation was still immediately honored. The hostess and waitstaff were terrific. This was my first experience with Sardinian cuisine and I'm only sorry I hadn't tried it earlier. The appetizers, the wine and our main courses were all delectable. It was my first time trying Fregola. Loved it. read more

Carasau - Appetizers of Frito Misto, burrata, bread and wine. - Sardinian Near Me - Culver City, California

it should go without saying that Italian cuisine is not monolithic. Not all pasta are the same and certainly the food will vary from region to region. Carasau is not just an Italian restaurant. It is a Sardinian restaurant. I have been here a couple of times, mostly for their delicious gelato, but they also offer delicious and unique pasta. The malloredus is quite good. Doesn't feel heavy for a pasta and yet filling. The flavor is good, although just a tad too salty. Could be the cheese but it does overpower any other flavor in the dish. Good thing it is still a tasty pasta dish. Now, the seadas is quite different. I don't think I've seen this at any other Italian restaurants before. Seadas is a Sardinian specialty, a crispy, deep fried pastry stuffed with Pecorino cheese (love this cheese!) and drizzled with warm honey. It is very delectable and has a beautiful balance of that salty cheesiness and sweet, delicious honey. It's practically a must-have at Carasau if you've never had Sardinian cuisine before. Of course, you also can't go wrong with their gelato, which is light, airy, and oh-so-sweet. My favorites are the pistachio, lemon, and strawberries. Lastly, the restaurant itself is charming. It is a great place for a relaxing lunch or dinner read more

Carasau - Seadas (typical Sardinian dessert) - Sardinian Near Me - Culver City, California

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Dinner at Carasau was such a lovely experience, especially celebrating a friend's birthday The restaurant is really cute and cozy...on the smaller side...but they also have a beautiful outdoor seating area. We came with a big group of about 10 people, so service was a little slow at first since they waited for everyone to arrive and be seated, but the waiters were so polite and attentive the entire time. Once we got going, the service was great. The food was absolutely delicious...I loved my pasta...and the wine was amazing. Overall, it's a beautiful spot, perfect for a celebration, and definitely worth the price. read more

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The place is pork happy. So if you don't eat pork, I wouldn't recommend this place. Out of the 15 pasta entrées, there are only five without pork and seafood. read more

Went here for Christmas Day. They have happy hour 11AM-5PM! We ordered the soup of the day (mushroom and Gorgonzola) and the half size spaghetti pomodoro. The soup was comforting and creamy. It literally tasted like mushroom Alfredo sauce! The pomodoro had fresh Al dente pasta. The veggies tasted freshly sautéed. Our server was very friendly. It booked up pretty quickly mid service around 12:30 from everyone else having Christmas lunch. The server and the cooks in the kitchen did a fantastic job holding down the fort. read more

Carasau - $14 happy hour pasta and $9 happy hour soup of the day. - Sardinian Near Me - Culver City, California

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This Sardinian restaurant impressed me so much I literally Google-mapped the island afterward. Everything is seafood-forward with handmade noodles that taste like someone's nonna is in the back. Our server seemed like the owner, and it must've been our lucky night because he surprised us with a complimentary appetizer. Absolutely coming back. read more

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Carasau in Culver City was... good. Not great, not terrible--just firmly parked in the middle lane. I ordered the spaghetti vongole, and while the dish itself was solid, the oregano really came in like it was trying to headline the plate. The flavors were there, but the balance was not. We also tried their "happy hour," which, let's be real, isn't exactly making anyone happy at those prices. We got the meatballs and eggs--2 eggs, 3 meatballs, a little avocado--for $26. Tasty? Yes. Worth $26? That's between you and your wallet. On the brighter side, my Aperol Spritz was excellent--honestly one of the highlights of the meal. Service was quick and friendly, no complaints there. The focaccia, though... $7 for what is basically just bread, and not even a generous amount of it. Let's just say it didn't spark any joy. Overall: a decent spot with good vibes and good service, but the food and pricing don't quite match the ambition. Would I go again? Maybe--for the spritz. read more

Carasau is a wonderful restaurant, and my #1 pick when I'm craving a fresh seafood experience with fantastic service and fair prices. Plus it's tucked right into the cutest part of downtown Culver City and has a heated/shaded outdoor patio. Chef Vincenzo is as kind as he is talented. He provides exceptional high-touch service and will teach you about the Sardinian way of life if you're lucky! He treated my mom and me like royalty on our last visit, coming to check in frequently, making apt suggestions, and making sure my mom was pampered. It was so sweet. My favorite dish is the Fregola Di Mare pearl pasta with the most tender, fresh, and perfectly cooked clams, mussels, bay scallops, and shrimp, in a lobster broth with a touch tomato sauce. This pasta is indulgent and so comforting, but also somehow light and delicate. I can't explain it. The pepperoni pizza is a fantastic Neapolitan style pizza with charred thin crust and a sweet, tomato-forward sauce. DO NOT sleep on their other incredible seafood dishes including the Lemon Fettucini Saffron Cream. The saffron cream sauce is nothing short of magical.... Their tiramisu is also delicious with plenty of fresh whipped cream. I love love love this place and will keep coming back! read more

Carasau - Fregola Di Mare pearl pasta with clams, mussels, bay scallops, and shrimp, in a lobster broth and tomato sauce. SO delicious. - Sardinian Near Me - Culver City, California

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Good food, but the lack of wait staff and extremely slow pacing of our prix fixe Valentine's dinner tanks the rating to a 2. It took 3 hours from start to finish, for our 4-course prix fixe meal to be served to us. This was not because we were slow to eat, but because they were slow to bring food out. Thank goodness we didn't have to be somewhere before 9:15pm, but I wish they had told us in advance that the prix fixe menu was a 3-hour commitment!! I had not intended to spend the entirety of my free evening captive at this restaurant, but that's what happened. My body got so tired of sitting it felt like I had been stuck in a car on a road trip. There were long stretches of time without a server in sight in the whole dining room. All of the tables in the room, including us, would find ourselves sitting there with dishes needing to be cleared and no one coming to check on us or offering more drinks. No one ever checked on us actually. Food was good, but the price point is too high for such mediocre service. Seems like something fell apart in the planning of how to approach the rush of the Valentine's holiday. PS - I also found it odd that the prix fixe 4-course menu basically consisted of double entrees (2nd and 3rd courses were substantial). My guess is that this helped them feel like rather than turn the tables over, they could have 1 table count as 2, and to get there, that means serve 2 entrees?? I appreciate the option to have a leisurely experience and not be rushed out, but wish I'd known in advance if slowness was in fact the restaurant's intention with the 4-course meal. read more

Came for a weekday dinner. Free adjacent lot parking. Got the Miata salad, calamari, Malloredus, Branzino, and Tiramisu. The Miata salad was good, enjoyed it. The calamari was really, the best dish. The Malloredus was not good, the pasta was too hard. The seabass was better than most place, but it's also $47. The tiramisu was good, but too sweet. Overall, really enjoyed the dinner. Great restaurant for a romantic date. read more

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Beyond Amazing! Great outdoor seating in a super convenient location. They have free customer parking as well. Great service with a discussion of the menu. We went with the pesto Ravs and eggplant parm to start. I had the Bottarga for a main. Absolutely fantastic. Come and enjoy read more

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Our first time eating Sardinian cuisine. There were 4 of us in our party. We had the pepperoni pizza which was delicious! We had the fregoli salad with beets which was very refreshing. The black squid ink pasta was more on the salty side and I wish the branzino was served deboned. We ordered bottles of their Sardinian Chardonnay and red and both were surprisingly great! Our server was very attentive and the hostess was very pleasant. We are planning on coming back here again to try more of their pizzas and wines. read more

This is a Sardinian restaurant that definitely has its charms. The interior is cute and quaint and takes you to the Sardinian island of Italy. Staff were kind and friendly, and highly knowledgeable of the menu. The food was tasty and satisfying. This was my first time having Sardinian food and I was surprised by how the flavors were different than what I'd expect from an Italian restaurant. The fish was cooked to perfection and seasoned well, all throughout the dish. The veggies that came with it were also seasoned and cooked well. The shrimp linguine had a lot of spices that intrigued the palette. I would come back and try more dishes. read more

Carasau - Branzino - Sardinian Near Me - Culver City, California

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Again a pleasant Sunday Sardinian for an early meal at Carasau. At 4 PM we enjoyed the small plate menu and finished with a delicious dessert. Service was quick and the there were no other diners in the restaurant when we arrived so it was quiet. read more

Carasau - Chocolate mousse - Sardinian Near Me - Culver City, California

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We came here on New Years Eve. The service was amazing, the food was delicious and we will definitely be back. I had been wanting to try this restaurant for a while and I am so glad I did. Everyone loved their food, the wine was perfectly paired with the food and we had no room for the dessert (due to the bread being so delicious) but will try to leave room next time. read more

I stopped by for a casual dinner with friends. Cute vibe and great service. I met owner Vincenzo, who was very friendly. The food is really good. I also ordered some pasta to go for my daughter and she loved it. read more

The Fritto Misto appetizer had a crispy, light and well-seasoned batter. The lemon juice and tomato sauce was a good complement. The fregola (pasta pearl) was interesting texture with the Fregola Di Mare and Fregola Mediterranean. The taste was pleasing. I was offended with the cook surcharge being sneakily added to the bill, so i refused to pay it so the manager removed it. so many restaurants try to sneak surcharges without advertisement and consent. i don't micromanage their business expenses. They should fairly add up, include in and advertise the food prices and consumers will agree or go elsewhere. Simple and straightforward. read more

Very nice server. Ambience pretty good. Parking through the white gate was free. I liked the lasagna and the ravioli but I think the lasagna was better and I'd recommend that over the ravioli. The ravioli I got was the cheese one with white sauce (so not the pesto or red sauce ravioli). The lasagna was really good to me cause the texture was perfect. I like how you could cut into it and it doesn't fall apart. It was perfectly cooked. I'd say the marinara sauce for it was little too sweet, but overall it's a good lasagna. read more

Carasau - Ricotta Ravioli - Sardinian Near Me - Culver City, California

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Love love love Carasau! I obviously love coming here since I've done multiple reviews. Everything about this place is fantastic- the food, the service, the decor, the atmosphere. LOVE! They serve authentic Sardinian Pearl pasta that is so unique and delicious. The wine list is also all from Sardinia. Thank you again for having us! read more

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Incredible neighborhood spot. I went here two nights in a row because they are dog friendly and the food is delicious. Vincenzo, who owns the place, is so kind as is his nephew, Nicolo who is a server there. The service and hospitality is so warm. You really feel like you're in a family run restaurant in Sardinia. The wine list is reasonably priced with very good wines and the descriptions of the wines are so helpful. The servers are majority Italian and really know how to give excellent wine recommendations and are incredibly attentive and helpful. And they're not just "dogs allowed" but actually dog FRIENDLY. They were so sweet to my puppy and Vincenzo told us how much he loves dogs and even showed us photos of his super cute late pup. The baby octopus and fritto misto are great appetizers. Of the pastas, all three I've tried are hits. My friend described the culurgiones special with mushrooms and truffles, which I ordered both times, as "life changing." I agree wholeheartedly. I'm not usually a fan of bay scallops because they tend to be overcooked and fishy but the lemon fettuccine saffron cream with bay scallops is to die for. The scallops are perfectly cooked and the sauce is divine. The pastas appear to be handmade as they have that nice bite that only handmade pasta does. Similarly, the Malloreddus was perfectly cooked to be dense and chewy and the pork sausage tomato sauce was delicious. Sadly, they were out of the pork chop when I went but the ribeye was perfectly medium rare and came with deliciously fresh and well seasoned vegetables. The second I took a bite of the Margherita pizza (with added burrata) I was transported to Italy. I don't remember the last time I had a pizza in LA that tasted so distinctly like real Italian pizza. Their desserts, including the Sardinian specialty seadas are a perfect end to the meal. All of the portion sizes are very reasonable to share or to have individually. By the end of the meal we were so full, but kept eating because it was so delicious. OH and there's a FREE parking lot. I parked at the culver steps which is a very short walk but next time I will try their parking lot. If you are looking for a warm environment with excellent food and wine at a reasonable price, this is your spot. I live only minutes away and I'm so glad I tried this place, I will be back, likely very soon!! read more

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Everything was great! Carasau is a great spot for dinner. We ordered the burrata salad, ricotta ravioli and salmon entree. They served us two kinds of house bread, focaccia and baguette, and both were delicious. The server worked hard to get everything right and put our order immediately into an iPad. Very impressive! This is a dog friendly patio - with the table next to us having 2-3 dogs. They were welcomed guests as crumbs fell on the floor. The whole place is delightful with small table lighting. Thank you Carasau! read more

Parking around here is difficult. They have their own lot, but it's not always open and the neighborhood parking is restricted to permit parking only. You might have to park in the public parking structure (pay per hour) nearby. After finding a parking spot, it's about a 5 minute walk away. This tacks on a lot of extra time if you don't know the parking situation in advance. We started off with the Bruschetta for an appetizer. It comes with three pieces of toast cut in half, topped with tomatoes, olives, mint, basil, and olive oil. A light, yet refreshing way to start the meal. I got the Fregola Salmon, which was pretty tasty. It was my first time having this pearl pasta, that comes from the Sardinia region of Italy. Reminded me of a cous cous with it's slightly chewy texture. The pasta was in a lobster sauce with dill and asparagus. I tried a bite of the Fregola Mediterranean. This one was a little richer, as it had a pecorino cheese sauce with gorgonzola, pork sausage, mushrooms, and walnuts. I also tried a few bites of the Spaghetti Primavera, and despite it looking like an ordinary vegetable pasta dish, I was surprised at how good it was! Another person in my party ordered the Lasagna, but it was about half the size compared to the photo on their online menu. That was disappointing and didn't look very filling. read more

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The food that I had was delicious, I had the Fregola Salad. I wanted something else that was listed as vegan online but wasn't. Just disappointing. If it wasn't for that, I would have given it a better rating. read more

Carasau - Fregola Salad (vegan) - Sardinian Near Me - Culver City, California

My friend liked her chicken parmigiana and it was well priced. Place is in an interesting location but parking was confusing. They have a gated parking lot next store but someone had to open it for you. I didn't like my raviolis- they were weird not satisfing. read more

I love this place! The food was so delicious. I cleared out almost everything on the plate. The service, all though slower than many, was very good! We asked for a bowl (we had a dog) and they gave it. They even offered treats for the dog! read more

Carasau - Sardinian Near Me - Culver City, California