Really good pasta, big portion, and generous amount of shrimp! I got the Penne Gamberi ($16.90) and it came with so much shrimp! Pasta was good. I was surprised that there's so much steam coming off of the pasta as if it just came out of the microwave. Everyone's pasta was steaming except the guy next to me. I joked with him that he got the freshest pasta because everyone else's came out of the microwave. I like the interior, it's aesthetically pleasing. Wasn't sure where they place the parmesan cheese or red pepper. Glad I came here, would definitely come back when I'm near USC. read more

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Had to update my review -- coming here for the first time in two years, their pink sauce is no longer anywhere near as good as it was before. It both looked and tasted like run-of-the-mill tomato sauce (no longer pink), but the staff confirmed that it was their pink sauce. Having lost the only flavor unique to the establishment, the $20 price tag is no longer justified. Go eat a tomato and you'll get the same flavor at a fraction of the cost. read more

Il Giardino - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This place is no longer what it once was the food quality and customer service is so terrible these days. This used to be my go to lunch spot but for about a year now the food has been so not up to par and there is a short bald man that I think is the owner or manager who is so rude and nasty I will definitely never come back! Take your money somewhere else unless you like to eat bland pasta and be mistreated. read more

We dropped our granddaughter at University. It was a great day! The campus is USC is great! They a lot options for food. But this restaurant had good options for sandwiches and pasta. The nhoque is delicious. The service is friendly and quiet fast. The ambiance is beautiful, trying to be upscale for the campus. Good options for parents visiting their children. The price is reasonable. Just a tip, the bread on the meal could be warm. read more

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I got a salmon bow tie pink sauce pasta special and I felt like the flavor was ok. I guess what do you expect on USC campus. I will say that the portions are big and the pasta was cooked well. The salmon pieces were overly salty and fishy for my taste. If I do come back, I won't be getting this dish and maybe trying something else. Service was great and friendly tho! read more

Il Giardino - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Listening to your customer should be top 2 things to do in the food industry. I've been a customer for several years (I work on campus), we frequent for lunch and have catered for meetings. I have been very pleased with their food and service (which is why I come back) with the exception of today. I catered 7 meals for a meeting, upon pick up we decided to check the bags before we left bc the walk back to campus is not super close. The senior man (gray balding slim short) was clearly bothered that we had the audacity to check their work. He was dismissive, he did not listen, he was not nice, and thought we didn't know what we were doing when we said we were missing a meal (6/7). So he decided to check the bags and the receipts himself to then realize we were correct, but instead of acknowledging and apologizing to the customer for the mistake, he walked away to go make the last meal and quickly and handed us the missing meal and said "here you go" without eye contact or again an apology. We were not rude, we were not upset about the mistake, and we definitely did not deserve to be dismissed multiple times. I gave them a 2 bc the food is good. read more

First time I came I got beef bolognese. It was alright, not much seasoning and salt so first impression of food not great. Second time I got the daily special which as a fusilli pasta with chicken and chipotle sauce and let me tell you it was AMAZING!! Totally satisfied my pasta craving. Service was awesome and quick, resataurant was clean, and lighting was pretty. Overall would come again just for the daily special (they have it often)! read more

Il Giardino - daily special and beef bolognese - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My husband picked up dinner for us. He got a pesto pasta and I got the lemon caper chicken with pasta. Portions were good and everything was fresh. Now my chicken dish didn't come with the pasta he requested which was a huge let down since he paid for it and tipped. Besides that I found out the dish did not need pasta it was perfect the way it was. It was soo delicious .. chicken was moist and flavorful. The lemon caper sauce was addictive and the veggies were cooked perfectly. I honestly enjoyed the dish so much I will totally be sending my husband back for it. His pasta was okay a little on the bland side and the garlic bread was not good at all. I would skip on it. read more

Il Giardino - Chicken with Lemon and Capers. I had already eaten some .. very good. - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I visited this spot because another USC professor had recommended it to me and said the pasta was great! And she was right. Every time I've had pasta here, the flavors have been unique and delicious and the pasta is very solid. The dishes are simple yet always good. Il Giardino is located in USC Village and has indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a full menu of pasta. There are set dishes or you can build your own. They also have specials often! The service is quick and the clientele is mostly students. I've been here several times and I haven't been disappointed. read more

Il Giardino - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I don't usually leave reviews, but this place seriously deserves the hype. I ordered the daily special with chipotle sauce, truffle oil, and the most AMAZING chicken I've ever had in a pasta dish. Every bite was packed with flavor, and the garlic bread on the side? Chef's kiss. Perfectly buttery, crispy on the edges, and made the meal even more addictive. But honestly, what made the whole experience stand out the most was the customer service. Alanys and Michelle were absolute stars -- super fast, incredibly kind, and made me feel so welcomed. You can tell they really care about the customers and keep everything running smoothly. Delicious food + top-tier service = I'll definitely be back. Don't sleep on this spot! read more

Il Giardino - daily special - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Peaceful atmosphere with calm music.fast service. Freshly made ingredients. Lots of flavor without all the grease and bloating! read more

Il Giardino - Daily special Chipotle cream sauce and chicken - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I really wish Yelp had a decimal system. Not all 4 stars are the same. Not all 5 stars are the same. If we had a decimal system, I would give this place a 4.7 stars. I'm giving this place 5 stars because this place does almost everything right. As you enter this restaurant, there's a pasta maker making fresh pasta, the menu prices are exceptionally cheap for what your getting. I got the Spaghetti Mare (Seafood pasta) for $14.99. For me the portions were perfect, but I don't eat that much. So I can see someone who has a hearty appetite being unsatisfied with the amount of food. My only complaint about my meal is the noodles were a bit on the softer side, I prefer my pasta to be al dente, however, freshly made pasta can't be made al dente (firm) due to the nature of fresh pasta. Only dry pre-packaged pasta can be made al dente, so be warned as you come here. read more

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Had the salmon bow tie special. Definitely a good choice. Closed a little earlier than I would like. Bread was not a plus.

The past 5 times I've ordered the daily special which is fusilli pasta in chipotle sauce with chicken and asparagus. The chicken always has this smoky taste and for the price, it's huge and worth it! I always eat half of it and save the half for dinner. It also comes with bread. Service is okay..kind of slow. But it's at the village so I'm sure they get pretty busy. read more

Il Giardino - Fusilli pasta with chipotle sauce and chicken and asparagus - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Chicken panini was good. High quality. Needed cheese. Chipotle mayo had just enough kick. The bread was the star. Tasty. Crispy. Just plain good. Chicken could have used a little more seasoning and maybe a little more spinach in the sandwich. Would I get it again...yes...but next time trying the pasta. Service was friendly and quick. Located in USC village so it is convenient and clean inside. read more

Has become one of my fav places! I've tried I wanna say 6 different combinations of pastas and sauces and they're all delicious! Perfect for sharing to try different options. Everything is cooked so well and their Caesar salad is so well dressed and delicious as well. Place is super clean and quiet. read more

Usc giardino what to say about this place, I was here this afternoon for my dinner, the customer service was very bad, I was in front of the menu for a long time ready to order and a girl with glasses was in a corner with her phone, until she realized that I was in front of her I asked for a lemon with chicken, it was just fine and the place is nice but it was a little dirty and messy, how disappointing. read more

The fast food concept for DIY pasta is such a great idea for a university setting. I've tried 3 of their sauces: the rosé, the creamy mushroom, and the aglio e olio. All three were no exaggeration very delicious. Their gnocchi and tagliatelle were also very fresh and tasty. I love their complimentary herby bread as well. read more

When I have pasta cravings and no time to cook, I come here. BEST SECRET MENU ITEM HERE = EXTRA SAUCE added to any dish (for free!) Definitely do that so every bite will be well coated and super saucy. They make every order fresh and the pasta is delicious. I usually get the tagliatelle bolognese (very meaty with rich flavor) but today tried the penne gamberi (shrimp) special -- not disappointed! Comes topped with lots of shrimp cooked just right. You can substitute the pasta and add a different sauce to any of the specials. I swapped rotini and added pink sauce and it was super comforting, creamy and flavorful. Also - this team hustles! I came in one day behind what seemed like the entire USC swim team and they pushed out the pasta super fast and still quality. Hope their hard work is recognized and well compensated. read more

Il Giardino - a luscious bite of their shrimp pasta special - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Decent spot for some quick Italian grub if you're near or on the USC campus. I will say there are probably better food options overall, but the price and portions here aren't bad, and there's definitely a convenience element to dining here. I also feel like it never gets super crowded here, which is definitely a plus. I like how customizable the pastas here are, and they really do have a range of options for noodles and sauces. I just oped for the Penne Gamberi, probably out of laziness, and it was honestly pretty tasty and came with a decent amount of shrimp. My friend got the special, which was a Salmon Spaghetti. The sauce was tasty, but noodles were clearly overcooked. The bread that the pasta comes with is really delicious and soft, and I found it was the star of the meal. read more

Il Giardino - Penne Gamberi - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I really like this place, they've got things other than pasta but I normally go for their rigatoni. It's really a solid option.

Came here twice for lunch in January 2021 and May 2024. Limited seating inside, plenty of spots outside. Had the Farfalle Al Salmon and Spaghetti Mare. The sauces don't have much flavor, the pasta was okay, but the proteins were good. I think the meal came with a piece of garlic bread, which was a bit cold. read more

I came here with a colleague for the first time. I was excited to try a pasta place near USC. I'll typically get a restaurant's pesto because that is my favorite. Honestly, I was underwhelmed by it. It looks beautiful, but the taste was bland :( I felt like the sauce was very mild - not enough basil and maybe some flavor, like garlic or some salt. I liked how they oust toasted fresh pine nuts on top! I also did not really like the bread neither :/ I was pretty disappointed and probably won't get it again. There are definitely other pasta places that are better in the area! read more

Il Giardino - Pesto - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Amazing food service and flavor!! Best pasta ever !! Fast friendly and delicious !! read more

Il Giardino - The best seafood pasta in Southern California - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Kinda average, wasn't anything to special. Felt like portion was a bit small as well. Service was okay at best. Environment was also nothing special read more

Fast and impressive, I had no issues what so ever. All people in my party were happy and satisfied

I've spotted this restaurant a few times every time I visit USC Village and last week I was able to try it out. I order the Fusili Pasta with Pesto Sauce and Grilled Chicken and I must say it tasted great! The pasta itself is about $10 and the chicken is an additional $4 plus taxes it's about $15. However, the portion of the food is enough for two meals or two people. You can save it for later or share it. Good for college students on a budget. Given that it's at USC don't see many on the budget but maybe in debt (LOL - just a little humor). Well check it out if you can and you're hungry and you don't know what to eat around there. You'll like. read more

Il Giardino - Fusili Pasta with Pesto Sauce and Grilled Chicken - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

One of go-tos for comfort food in the USC Village. I always get the penne with pink sauce, and it hits the spot every time. The bread is a fluorescent yellow color which is a little strange, but this is a great spot for a warm bowl of pasta if that's what you're craving. read more

Il Giardino - a bowl of pasta and a plate of vegetables - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The seafood mare spaghetti isn't the same as it used to be pre-pandemic. The seafood taste is minimal if not there at all. These are the two stars. The service was horrible. The girl who took my order took three minutes to notice me even though they weren't that busy; she was looking through some digital orders, and it was the cook who noticed how long she was taking to nudge her that I was waiting. I ordered a pellegrino that was not included in the to-go bag. Pre-pandemic, to-go orders would include utensils and a little things of peppers and cheese. None of that was included. Considering you're paying a premium for mid-quality food, these little things would be a norm. I wished I hadn't even tipped them. read more

Il Giardino - a plate of spaghetti and bread - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Good place to get some pasta. They have multiple vegetarian options. The service is quick and courteous. Plenty of space to eat in or around. read more

Il Giardino - Spaghetti Checca - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Il Giardino is located inside USC Village. It recently opened and replaced the previous Italian joint that had a much higher price point. Il Giardino offers make-your-own-combination pasta for around $10, which is much better than the previous place. I stopped in over the weekend and ordered the handmade tagliatelle with Bolognese. The noodles looked more like dry, pre-made linguine, but otherwise I like how hot and tasty the food was. Temperature of my food is really important, so I appreciated how piping hot it was. It came with two small pieces of focaccia bread. The portion size was great. There was no line, and I got my food within minutes of ordering. This was a great option because CAVA had a huge line next door, and I was in a hurry. read more

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I used to love this place and thought the pasta was great but it recently has fallen flat when I came. I usually order the pesto sauce with penne and chicken, but this time I decided to get the tagliatelle noodles. The noodles were cooked well, and the pesto sauce was fine, I just wish it was more creamy, but I guess its just how the sauce is made. The chicken was severely under seasoned, I could not make out a single flavor on it besides cooked chicken. It was slightly overcooked, but did complement the pasta quite well. All in all, the food was just okay, it was solid and provided a good meal and filled me up, but the flavors were lacking. read more

High quality, the price isn't too expensive, foods are tasty. Would recommend. I like the fact that the line isn't too long and seats are available. Variety of food options and combinations. read more

Il Giardino - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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4.1/5 - No frills pasta bar, but gets it right Got the bowties with arrabiata sauce, garlic bread, and chicken on top. They get the pasta right here, it's Al dente, it's hot and fresh, the sauces are great. Everything aside from that is lackluster. Chicken is pretty bland and lifeless. Garlic bread is fine but floppy and lacks integrity or depth of flavor. I love this place cause they give good portions and when I just want pasta they deliver. Very solid go to. But you want more, go somewhere else. read more

A nice addition to the village! The gnocchi here is on point. The marinara isn't heavy or super salty - a perfect balance of everything. I truly enjoyed the dish. The ambiance here is nice too. It reminds me of a high end restaurant at a really affordable price. I've spent some time in Italy eating their pasta, whether it be in Florence, Rome, Venice, or Pisa and the marinara here is a reminder of the good times of my stay there. I love it! I'll definitely be a back often! See you when school starts! read more

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The chicken with lemon and capers, yum! Especially on the patio on a sunny day for loads of ambience read more

Il Giardino - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The food does not have any flavor at all. Very bland.I ordered the rigatoni with Bolognese sauce and I was very disappointed. The service was average and the ambience was basically like a cafeteria. You're better off with a frozen food dinner from a grocery store which would be a lot cheaper and have more flavor. Therefore, I do not recommend this restaurant at all. read more

Fantastic addition to USC Village! Although I don't know authentic Italian food or have tasted food in Italy, I can at least say that the pasta is truly fresh. When the restaurant just opened for a month or so, I got a chance to ask the owner how the pasta is made and it's really made fresh every day. The huge machine at the front is what they use. I've tried practically almost all spaghetti options, and they're all great and chewy! My favorite is definitely the gnocchi (pronounces no-key). It's very soft and easy to bite into..sort of like the handmade Japanese mochi! The sauces are also unique. Pesto isn't the usual oily pesto served at other places, but it has creamy texture instead. The mushroom sauce was quite different from what I expected since the mushrooms themselves have a very deep, earthy taste to them. Personally, it's not to my liking but perhaps others will favor them. Lastly, the Bolognese isn't bitter as the previous pasta place has made them to be. Hooray! If you want the full set, spaghetti with protein, then it will cost about ~$15 pretax. I did order the chicken once and it was quite a small fillet for an additional $4. And each spaghetti comes up with two slices of fresh bread! Happy hour 20% from 3-5pm is available! read more

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Just fine if you want to get some warm food. The service is just fine. Will try tiramisu next time.

Located in USC village, this unassuming pasta joint is a casual place to enjoy a great bowl of pasta. Choose the type of pasta you want along with a sauce, or go for the pasta specials of the day, salad, or sammie. They also have a couple chicken dishes at $15 a pop. FOOD Angel hair with pesto - super creamy, good but not as good as pasta sisters where I had a similar dish. Comes with two pieces of bread Farfalle with smoked salmon - super good!! My favorite, the pink sauce is on point with the smokiness of the salmon. Kale salad - super light and refreshing and filling. Tons of fiber and fresh with the light dressing and apples SERVICE nice dudes behind the counter AMBIANCE Casual. Great lunch spot. I'd be back. read more

Il Giardino - Pesto pasta with burrata added on top - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California