We got the penne alla vodka and Tagliatelle & Chianti Short Ribs. The short ribs were definitely my favorite and even though I was really full, I completely finished the plate. We chose to be seated outside in the patio area and it was such a nice setting. The service was also great and I look forward to coming back here. read more

Gaetano's Restaurant - Tagliatelle & Chianti Short Ribs Penne Alla Vodka - Italian Near Me - Torrance, California

How lucky am I to have lunch at Gaetano's twice in one week! Until this week, I had only been here for dinner. We came for lunch on Tuesday and again on Friday because we wanted to pick up a Burke Williams gift certificate nearby--only to discover they're closed on Tuesdays. Oh well, that gave us a good excuse to come back Friday! Gaetano's has a new lunch menu. On Tuesday I had the Salsa Verde Steak Sandwich, and on Friday I tried the Gaetano Sandwich. Both were delicious and definitely won't leave you disappointed--or hungry! She had the Roasted Butternut Squash Ravioli both days and loved it so much there was no reason to try anything else. It wasn't very busy at lunchtime, so we didn't need a reservation. The restaurant was comfortably air-conditioned, which felt especially good on a hot, humid summer day. Great food, relaxed atmosphere, and two very enjoyable lunches in one week. We'll definitely be back! read more

Gaetano's Restaurant - Roasted Butternut Squash Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Torrance, California

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A friend's choice for their birthday dinner, a solid Italian restaurant that gives both grandeur and family-style. As we make our way into the restaurant, it was already clear that the staff were hustling. One is helping carry 3 bags of pastas and 4 boxes of pizzas out to a customer's car. Another holds the door for us with a welcoming smile, then immediately runs to the kitchen. And the host is hurrying back to greet us. It didn't feel understaffed, but it was definitely busy, yet they all had a great vibe. Also 10/10 server, the guy was funny, efficient, and sometimes theatrical. For appetisers, we got the Calamari and Burrata Caprese. They were both solid, with a shoutout to the burrata, great flavour and texture. My wife and I shared the Tagliatelle and Steak Risotto. The short ribs were truly melt in your mouth, easily twisted on the fork with the tagliatelle. Amazing sauce, heavily supported by the mirepoix. The skirt steak was a little harder to chew, not sure if it was the juxtaposition between the two dishes, or if it factually was that way. The risotto however was great! A strong mushroom flavour with some spinach sprinkled on. The garnishes made it a wonderful adventure to eat. You could tell most of the customers were regular, but on that note, if you are ever in the area, give it a shot! read more

Gaetano's Restaurant - Florentine Skirt Steak - Italian Near Me - Torrance, California

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Lunch was good as always. We love their lunch "combos" which enable you to get 2 selected items ($21.00). We have noticed they have a $2.00 upcharge on certain items. Negative.. -Penne Asparagi was delicious with mushrooms, asparagus, sauce and penne pasta. Also had ther italian chopped salad which is good, but not as good as the past. - Butternut Squash Ravioli was ok, it had way too much cheese and overshadowed the squash. This is also a $2.00 upcharge. Also had ther pear gorgonzola salad which is great. - Bread that is served with the meal is soft and a stand out star, delicious! Service and decor are nice as well. read more

I was craving some pasta and pizza so I brought my husband and my mother-in-law to this restaurant. It's a little tucked away in a shopping center with a short pathway to the entrance. In the front there are outdoor seats and when you walk into the restaurant there's a bar on one side and booths and tables on the other. The service is decent. You get complimentary bread and oil before your meal which was delicious. We also came during happy hour which is every day from 3-5 and was $3 off starters and drinks. My husband and I shared a pasta dish and pizza. We got the Italian pizza which was kinda like a combo pizza. It had red bell peppers, olives, sausage, and pepperoni. The crust was a bit thick for my liking but it was really cheesy with the added freshly shaved Parmesan. I loved the olives but my husband is not a big olive person and thought there were too many. Our pasta was a penne pasta with asparagus, mushrooms, tomatoes, and chicken. The sauce was a light garlic sauce and the chicken was really well seasoned. Sometimes I feel like chicken in pastas are a little on the dry side but this chicken was delicious and the pasta was perfectly cooked. The complimentary bread was also so delicious. It came out warm with a nice crispy crust but soft middle. Overall I really enjoyed my meal here and would recommend this place to anyone looking for a decently priced Italian dinner. read more

This place is tucked away in a shopping center across from the parking lot of Bank of America, or on the opposite side of the parking lot from Mimi Cafe. It's been here for years but it's taken me this long to give it a try. It's a Sunday afternoon and we're celebrating my mom's birthday. I made reservations for lunch and the table was ready upon arrival. Our server was polite and friendly but not overly organized. The restaurant has a good lunch menu and even a lunch combo for roughly $21 for most items. Some of my family ordered the pasta while my mom and I had the lunch combo. With a few drinks lunch for 6 came to just shy of $200 including tip. Ample parking on site. read more

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My book club LOVES this place. We met for our monthly meeting and staff is so friendly and accommodating. Two of us had the butternut squash ravioli which was delicious. Sauce was creamy with a lot of flavor. Pizza and veggie penne were happy choices for two people. The pear and Gorgonzola was another favorite choice. Service was very good. Complimentary focaccia was also good. read more

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Everything at Gaetano's is delicious. I especially like the salmon salad. They serve you a nice size salmon, and sometimes, I can't finish it all. Go there during happy hours because the appetizers are served half price. I really enjoy the calamari. The desserts are huge and served to share with your party. The servers are very professional and very comfortable setting. read more

I've been a fan of this place's sister restaurants - Bettolino Kitchen and Piccini Italian Takeout. So Gaetano's has been on my bucket list to try for quite some time now. Same style of cozy, refined, Italian homemade food with slightly different recipes. Their calamari appetizer with both the basil aioli and marinara is a classic and a must-get for your first visit here. I've also had their Tagliatelle, Penne Asparagi, and seasonal salads before. I'm looking forward to coming back to try more of their pastas, florentine skirt steak, and halibut/salmon dishes soon. I've only been here a total of ~3 times, but had to write this to highlight Rondell's customer service. Friendly, prompt, and he has that all-around good energy that makes an eatery that much more pleasant to dine in. Will be back soon to try the happy hour specials! read more

Gaetano's Restaurant - Garden Salad, Fried Calamari Appetizer, bread w/ olive oil. - Italian Near Me - Torrance, California

We had a lovely evening with friends last night. Our server Anthony was friendly, personable and attentive. A really great person. It was packed so a bit loud but otherwise everything was ideal. The butternut squash ravioli is delightful, so flavorful and a nice portion. Others had the eggplant and chicken Parmesans and were very happy. Huge portions too. The salmon salad is a nice piece of salmon, mouthwatering and flavorful on a bed of lettuce. Great cocktail menu and of course to top it off, the very best spumoni in town! Perfect evening read more

Gaetano's Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Torrance, California

We came here for lunch and decided to dine outside since it was such a beautiful day. It ended up being the perfect choice! Everything we ordered was so good, and the bruschetta was absolutely perfect. The location is also a huge plus -- it's so close to everything and in the perfect spot, which makes it super convenient. Amanda, our waitress, was so kind and attentive, and she really made our experience much more pleasant. The hostess was just okay -- it felt more like she was just doing a job rather than being welcoming -- but overall we still had a great time and would definitely come back. read more

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Was meeting a friend in the area who wanted Italian and this was a happy accident to come upon. We went on a Thursday night and it is graduation season, but there were celebrations going on all around us. Somebody was celebrating graduations, there was birthdays there was a baseball team overall just a really busy restaurant. Nothing notable about the ambience overall just comfortable place for a very, just like family, friendly Restaurant vibe. I have the burrata caprese and I think it could use more balsamic I mean burrata is burrata so it was fantastic. The tiny tomatoes throw me off a little bit for but like in general everything was delicious.. My friend ordered the lasagna which I was a little bit envious of after I saw it. It's a huge portion and it's absolutely fantastic.. I had the night special, which is chicken piccata, which was overall very lovely buttery lemon and tangy could've used a little bit more pasta, and the broccoli was cooked really well in general lovely. We share the tiramisu for dessert and I really can't complain. I think it could've been a little bit more punchy when it came to the coffee in the rum, but it was still really good. And General service was great. They were really busy so it wasn't anything too frequently and the manager or the owner checked in on the tables and I'm happy that we went here.. read more

We were at Gaetano's to celebrate a birthday. We were a party of 4 with reservations and were seated right away. Reservations are a must here. We selected inside as it gets cool in the evening this time of year. The Mater De was from Hawaii so we had a nice conversation about the Islands on our way to our table. Our server Ben was also once a Hawaii resident. The noise level was higher than normal as it was a Friday night and Birthday week for several large groups which was fine and added to the dinner. We were served drinks and the awesome warm bread and delicious olive oil and spice dip. Our group ordered 2 Shrimp Mediterranean dishes, shrimp, bow tie pasta, sun dried tomatoes and pine nuts (A rating), one order of Penne Alla Vodka, comprised of penne pasta, spicey sausage, onion and red pepper all with a nice red sauce( A rating). Last, but not least the Dinner special pasta which was also A rated. The Garden salad and Caesar salad as a side are large enough to split and each was delicious as well. For dessert the flourless chocolate cake and the complementary spumoni ice cream topped off the meal. A thumbs up for the meal and our server Ben who was knowledgeable of the menu and super attentive. Thank you Ben. read more

This is my "go to" place for a gathering of friends. The food is well- prepared and there is a good variety of options for all palates. I love the patio, weather permitting. The wait staff is attentive and friendly!! I'm always happy to suggest coming here! read more

The good: I tried the salmon with broccolini and pasta, pepperoni pizza, tiramisu and Nutella bread pudding with brioche. The salmon dish was delicious and the fish was cooked perfectly. The pasta was also very tasty. I ate the entire dish even though I didn't think I was that hungry! The presentation was nice even when I had ordered delivery. My toddler enjoyed the pizza. The bread pudding was very yummy and wasn't overly drenched in Nutella like I thought it might be. I definitely want to come back to dine in next time. I liked that they had a kids' menu. The pepperoni on the pizza was very nicely cooked with slightly curled edges. The crust was also nice and not too doughy. The bad: I didn't care for the tiramisu. I think it was because of the coffee liquor or espresso they used. It's a little on the pricey side. The interesting: They take reservations online and offer gift cards. read more

Gaetano's Restaurant - Grilled Salmon - Italian Near Me - Torrance, California

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Yes so good food and customer service. Pasta made here it was great. Bread was delicious drinks and dessert were good

Their Calamari was good. Their Florentine Skirt Steak with the Spinach Risotto was good. Their server was ok but I feel like he was rushing us to go when we were just there for an hour. I forgot his name but he was a male server. He said we were "taking too long" I understand it's Sunday and might be a lot of people waiting, but please don't rush your customers. We were just there for an hour, enjoying the ambiance outside the restaurant (as we were seated outside) and the great food. We ordered appetizers, mains and some drinks, so why the rush? We didn't had the chance to order dessert bec. we were so full. Again, we were there for an hour only. Next time, tell your customers ahead of time that you want to implement an hour table time only. For the food and ambiance, I'd go back, but with the server rushing us to leave, I don't know. P.S. we dined here just today 5/3/26. read more

Gaetano's Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Torrance, California

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I am SO beyond bummed i have never given this place a try sooner. I've always noticed it my entire life, driven by as young as being a child in the backseat of my mom's car. I've been a grown adult for longer than I'd like to admit- and finally tried this place. I've now been twice and seriously think about the meal i had on a daily basis. The staff is incredibly kind, it's so clean and cute. The food is amazing. Highly recommend the bruschetta appetizer and the pesto pasta (the photos i shared are of the half portion since i shared the meal with my friend) I am beyond obsessed. cannot wait to go back. read more

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Catering order for death in the family. Easy to order. The food is always so good. read more

Food, atmosphere, and service are a solid 8. When the place is busy, you feel a little squeezed. Food Selections are great! The disappointment is that the basics of home style Italian restaurant are meatball spaghetti and Margarita pizzas. In this area, Gaetano is 6 out of 10. read more

Great food and service,as well as the area. I am from Lakewood area and finding a new Italian place was really cool. We started off with a pizza and had a variety of plates and they all had great responses from my table. We never got a chance to take any pictures of the food read more

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My cousin recommended this little gem for dinner and I LOVED it. I ordered their Tagliatelle w/short rib ragu and it was phenomenal. The noodles were al dente but delicate, and the beef was beyond tender with a very flavorful ragu. I paired it with the Pear & Gorgonzola Salad which was a winner in balancing the flavors of the pasta. The bread they serve warm is like a light, soft focaccia with herbed olive oil for dipping. I also enjoyed their Blood Orange Soda which was very refreshing and not too sweet. We finished with the Nutella Bread Pudding. ::Chef's kiss:: 5 star meal! Great quality, great flavors, clean, modern decor. Shout out to Elijah, our server. The staff we dealt with directly were friendly and made us feel like they were genuinely happy to be serving us. Not common this day and age. Definitely looking forward to going back. read more

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Visited Gaetano's again as we are frequent diners at this restaurant . Food is good. Nice crusty bread served with evoo. The salmon is good as is many of the pasta dishes . One of my favorites is the butternut squash ravioli. There is usually a special or two offered in addition to the regular menu. Pizza is a thin crust and great as an appetizer to share with the table . Service is pretty good too. Ambiance is nice and bright with outdoor seating with heaters. Bar stools for dining at the bar with tv's to watch while eating . read more

Went there for dinner. Took my parents, who were visiting from out of town. Food was a bit disappointing. Felt the pasta was over cooked. The eggplant parm and chicken parm was pretty good. Portion was huge. They give you free bread and olive oil, which was nice. read more

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Came here for Lunch and I love their variety of options you can do lunch special. I absolutely loved their soup of the day it was Barley chicken soup, it was creamy and super flavorful. I ended up getting their butternut ravioli and they were fresh and very good along with their salad. Their pizza never disappoints and we also had their Meatball sub that was amazing! read more

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Lived in South Bay all my life and finally came to try this place out. It's good but not great, so just kind of keep in mind. The food wasn't that flavorful and the best part was honestly the free bread I think. The servers were nice though and it had a good community feeling despite being so loud inside but overall, it's local so how can you really complain. Be sure to make a rezzy tho because it fills up fast and they usually can't make edits to your reservations f the restaurant is full read more

Oh my god! I wanted to go here a while ago but it was two hour wait for dinner so I said no thanks. I decided to try for Saturday lunch and there was no wait! I sat outside which was nice and peaceful! Quiet but pretty. I had the sweetest waitress! She was very quick and funny! The breads are out of this world! The garlic cheese one and the sandwich bread! Everything was so fresh and not heavy at all!! The flavors were so good and I cannot wait to go again! read more

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This is one of the best Italian restaurants in the area and one of our favorites with comfortable seating both indoor and outdoor. It's a busy place, we went with reservations and were seated promptly. The service was excellent, courtesy, friendly, and helpful. Food is served amazingly quickly. Food was delicious as always, we love the fried calamari. My Mediterranean Shrimp was a bit salty for my taste, they promptly fixed for me without question and gave me a soup while waiting. Overall, it was a joyful experience. read more

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What a cute restaurant with plenty of free parking in the plaza . The staff were very friendly and accommodating to our group. The food is out of this world--especially the butternut squash pasta. Trust me, you wouldn't even know it's a vegetable! The pizza and every dish we tried were absolutely delicious. Don't get me started on the drinks! I'm definitely stopping by again! read more

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Sunday night and the place was very busy -- a positive sign! FOOD: For an Italian restaurant there was a variety of flavors and sauces. And everything was (a) quite good, and (b) served in significantly large portions. Even the the complementary bread tasted fresh-baked and served with an herbed olive oil. Yum! Indeed, the biggest regret of our visit is that we were returning from out of town the next day, so there was no way to take home the large amount of leftovers. SERVICE: Even with a reservation, it took a while to be seated (we asked for an indoor table, but enough people asked for outdoor ones while we were there to make me think the heating out there would be quite adequate). Once seated, our waiter was pleasant and helpful, didn't push, but made sure our needs were voiced and met. AMBIANCE: For all the Family Business vibe, the place felt a bit like it had all been recently redecorated. But everything was clean and in good shape. NET-NET: A definite neighborhood gem, and more than worth our visit. Thanks to Yelp for the recommendation, and I'm flagging this place for a return visit should we be back in town any time soon. read more

Came here on a weekday night one time & it was packed!!! The food portions were super good and reasonable prices. The ambiance is super cute, especially on the patio with the heated roof. I will definitely be back here again! read more

Everything was great. From service to food. We were a party of 6 and everyone really enjoyed our dinner there.

My wife and I come here frequently, so I figured I'd share (even though they really don't need my good review). Let's start with their fresh bread!! Omg it's so good. And their house cocktails are fun and delicate well. My favorite dish is the butternut squash ravioli with added grilled salmon. My wife always goes for the chicken Marsala. I've had the other following items: pizza , calamari fresh and crispy, meatballs are delicious and hearty, and the seafood dish (can't recall the name) is great. Now to dessert...spumoni ice cream is a must as well as the Nutella bread pudding. We usually get Elijah as our server and he's awesome, but every other staff member from bar tenders to bus boys are very friendly and accommodating. They place is pretty small and cute, but not really a romantic date type because it's a tad noisy. Bottom line....We will keep coming back because this place never disappoints! read more

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For lunch arrive and park for free. Have a seat indoor or outdoors. If you love wine they have a wonderful Pinot Grigio that pairs amazing with the Ciabatta Chicken sandwich.... Order a side of mushrooms. The service is amazing as always. Heather is a hard worker working the front as host but takes the time to assist tables. The dessert strawberry shortcake made with home made cream and fresh strawberries is everything a dessert should be. If it is lunch and you are near by you should definitely stop by. read more

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The Perfect Date Night Spot! Beyond Excellent. If you are looking for a truly romantic dinner spot, look no further. This place is an absolute gem. From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere was perfect. They have amazing outdoor lighting that sets the mood beautifully, paired with soft music that allows you to actually have a conversation. It's intimate, cozy, and exactly what we were looking for. Both the service and the food were beyond excellent. I had the Penne Alla Vodka, and it was delicious--perfectly creamy and flavorful. The portions here are very nice sized, so you definitely won't leave hungry. I paired it with a glass of the Ballet Vineyards Pinot Noir, which was an excellent recommendation. Everything about this experience was top-notch. I will definitely be coming back soon! read more

My husband and I came to Gaetano's last night. We've come here about 5-6 times but had never tried their pizza. Last night was the night! Wow! It's really the best pizza that I've had in a very long time. We ordered the Italian pizza which has handmade sausage, pepperoni, meatballs, olives, mushrooms and red peppers. They make the pizza dough in house; quite the process. The manager Ken said the dough is a 48 hour deal and it's really quite good! Our server was Anthony, he was very good as well. The only thing we added to the pizza was grated Parmesan and the hubs adds crushed red pepper. This place is always busy. You can walk in, but it's best to make a reservation. The decor is very nice, the lighting outside is whimsical. I'm looking forward to warmer weather sitting out there with a glass of wine. read more

Gaetano's Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Torrance, California

Tried this place for the first time and was very impressed. Service is fantastic, friendly, and in high spirits. The bread was soft and a great starter before getting our entrees. The butternut squash ravioli was a classic; soft and very savory. Their holiday cocktail menu is also worth looking at if you want to try something different. The place looked busy on the outside but you can get a table for 2 very quickly. The heat lamps are very effective and make sitting outside very pleasant during our "SoCal winter." read more

Nice ambience with outdoor seating. I prefer going for lunch as it tends to be quieter and their lunch menu has a split option where you can get a half soup/half salad or half/pasta. Many vegetarian options. read more

Gaetano's Restaurant - Lunch Combo - Minestrone soup and Pear & Gorgonzola salad with focaccia - Italian Near Me - Torrance, California

Today was my first visit to Gaetano's, and it was an amazing experience. Every dish was delicious and far exceeded my expectations. The ambiance was calm and elegant, with a touch of sophistication that made the atmosphere feel both comfortable and upscale. From the host to our server, everyone was warm, kind, and welcoming. Overall, the service and food were exceptional, and I look forward to returning. read more

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The service was pretty quick and friendly. Got seated without delay and young waiter was kind enough to engage on recommendations. No issues until food was brought out which was the half n half. Very light portions of basic spaghetti/meatball and half a sub. Was around 20 usd I believe and nothing out of ordinary. Sub was like cold out of a deli and pasta was borderline tv dinner from the frozen food section of market. I could've had this at home for half the price and sorry but not worth it. This is like another place that appears to be trendy for a quick lunch only. High prices and very limited portions. No wonder the Olive Garden is so popular on the never ending pasta bowl. No hate at all and nice people but can't spend that much money just for basic food and weak portions. Again, a small portion of pasta and a sub from the deli aisle was what I basically got. read more