We had a birthday dinner to celebrate and chose LA Puglia based on the beautiful food images and the restaurant did not disappoint! Delicious menu, drinks, great service, and super cute yet comfortable ambiance. What a great way to end a night! read more

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Somehow, this eatery reminds me of the small local restaurants in the city of Perugia in the Umbria region of Italy. Its underrated elegance is relaxing and welcoming. There's a good selection on the menu, but we saw the three course lunch for $28 on their website so we decided to give it a try since it's such a great deal. And it didn't disappoint! For the first course, one of us chose the salad, another one chose the focaccia bread, and the other one chose the cauliflower. They were all good! For the second course, all of us chose the pasta with beef Ragu, and it was wonderful! The pasta was cooked out Dante and the sauce was very tasty. For the last item, we all ordered coffee and added a tiramisu to share. The tiramisu was very small, so it was a little disappointing, albeit very tasty. There are many great restaurants in Santa Monica, so it's hard to choose... but to me parking can be a big hassle so I like this one because they have a small parking lot in the back, not big, but if you're lucky enough to get one a spot, it's super convenient! There are street parking, but this is a very crowded area so street parking is often hard to find. A couple of blocks away there is a vans and they have a large parking lot in the back so that might be a choice if you happen to need to do some grocery shopping at the same time. read more

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Walking distance from work, so we all decided to stop by for some drinks after work. This place turned out to be such a great Italian spot! The vibe was relaxed, and our server was super attentive -- even though we were sitting outside. They also gave some great food recommendations that did not disappoint! Street parking is available, but it can be a bit tricky. I didn't see any valet service, and it definitely gets busy during dinner hours. I loved that they had live music on a Tuesday night -- such a nice touch to end the day! read more

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Very cute vibes and great Italian food with lots of vegetarian / gluten free options. Although the menu was a little pricey, portions were sufficient. We shared the Enzo bruschetta which had some of the most delicious tomatoes I've had in a long time, and eggplant parm was also tasty. For pasta I got the nonna anna which was delicious and didn't skimp at all on meat. Tiramisu for dessert was nothing special but still good. The restaurant interior has a lot of natural lighting, which was a nice change from a lot of Italian restaurants in nyc that are super dimly lit. Parking was easy on the street in front even on a Saturday evening. read more

LA Puglia - Nonna Anna Orecchiette con Braciole - Italian Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Very beautiful and dim-lit ambiance Italian restaurant. Had this a while ago but I still think about this place because the experience was so pleasant! I went for my work and I ordered a mussels pasta, very beautifully seasoned 9/10! Only because I am personally not a huge fan of pasta but this amazing. The service was lovely as we're a huge group, they were very attentive, even got to speak with the chef! I highly recommend coming here for a date night as the lighting in the place is so romantic. read more

LA Puglia - Italian Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Performative. I really don't want to have to give this 1/5 stars but it was seriously bad. With the plethora of Italian restaurants in LA, this just does not cut it. The Beef Bolognese pasta was below mediocre. The meat tasted pasty in a sene. The portions are extremely small as well. Others in my party ordered the Teresa Pasta & said it was disgusting. Another ordered the Patty pasta & could not even finish half the plate (already a small portion). For an appetizer we had the calamari... just don't even bother. It was all crunch & no octopus. Save your calorie lol. For dessert we had the panna cotta which was good (hard to mess up). Ambiance: This place is good at pretending it's a fancy restaurant but once you're sitting down you realize the tale is flimsy, the chairs are flimsy, the center pieces are cheap, & the space is small & congested. La Puglia is performative, to say the least. The one redeeming aspect is the service. Our server was truly attentive & that has to count for something. He checked on us often & gave us in depth recommendations when we asked for them. read more

Takes me back to Italy. The pasta is cooked PERFECTLY. The pizza was INSANE. The bruschetta was out of this world. Seriously insanely good food. I would even come back to eat the exact same meal again. I would even argue that this pizza was cooked better than my favorite from Bestia (overall). Not only is the pizza amazing, the crust was also the perfect amount of squishy yet crispy. I ate every single one of my crusts which I would normally consider a waste of valuable stomach real estate but this was worth every bite. It's hard to describe in words, you would just have to take my word for it. Seriously 10/10 spot. Service is friendly and informative. The interior is very nicely decorated with a lot of live greenery in the front. read more

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Cute vibe and genuinely friendly service. I ordered the IPA, which arrived with a surprisingly charming presentation. The bread was soft and delicious, though I would've preferred it served at the start rather than alongside the meal. The beet salad was solid, and the salami crushed‑tomato pizza had good flavor. I'm definitely curious to come back and try the pasta next time. read more

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Great & beautiful place. Langustine cooked prefect , strawberry dessert is so delicious. Seafood and veggies friendly place. Excellent cook, definitely will comeback read more

LA Puglia - Italian Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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This beautiful Italian place is romantic spot and small to large party friendly! We came as it opened at 5 PM and we sat down very quickly. People started to come in after 6 PM. The food is really good and not overly flavored or salted. The servers were kind and always attending to us making sure that our water was full. We came around dinner time and they had very romantic lighting set. The Wagyu pasta great flavor, and you can tell the pasta noodles were handmade. The pizza was also very good, but was a bit soggy maybe could have cooked a little bit longer to be a little bit less Soggy. Overall, very beautiful place to eat lunch or dinner !! read more

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Yes, yes, yes! It was our first time at LA Puglia and from the moment we walked in, we were charmed. with our authentic southern Italian experience.This restaurant pays attention to the smallest detail and it shows. It is a beautifully, well-thought out space , very welcoming and inviting. I am obsessed with the spatterware dishes that so charmingly graced our table. I am definitely going back to buy the tumblers and coffee mugs! We started with glasses of the lovely Sauvignon Blanc and Arnold Palmers. We enjoyed the Panzerotto-folded fried mozzarella and meat pizza. If I'd been at home, I would have picked it up, but it's huge, so I used a fork and knife. We also loved the Quando nasce un amore-homemade bread with tapenade and semi-dried cherry tomatoes. I may or may not have eaten all three pieces. (ok, I did, but don't tell!) For mains, we enjoyed the Franco Salmone in Crosta di Pistaccio-pistachio crusted salmon fillet with cauliflower and the Pia Spaghetti alla Chiatrra ai Gamberi-guitar spaghetti (square-shaped pourous spaghetti) with blue shrimps. This pasta dish was one of the best I've ever tasted and full of flavor! For dessert, because whoever says no, we had the Anima Gemella Millefoglie-layers of delicate pastry with Italian Chantilly cream, strawberries, and blueberries. This dessert is definitely a showstopper! Our excellent service was provided by the lovely, poised, very knowledgable Shelby who we would definitely request when we come back-and we will! read more

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Food is okay nothing wow factor. The service is terrible. When I went it took like 30-40 minutes for the a simple pizza and dessert to be brought to us. The most craziest part was when I paid I did not tip because it's OPTIONAL plus service was terrible so why would I but the server, he told me "I have to this is America here we tip" even tho I'm American...i obviously told him no and didn't tip at all...if the service was better it would be at least 3 stars..the jazz was amazing but with service like that its just not enjoyable at all read more

Avoid this place at all cost. Food is bland and drinks are watered down. Super disorganized experience and restaurant. Seems like all staff members are running around with no clear plan or objective. My girlfriend and I decided to spend Valentine's Day there and, though not crowded, it felt as if our waiter had no idea we were there despite a longstanding reservation. Took him about 25-30 mins to initially introduce himself and start us off with drinks. Since my partner and I had been looking at the three course menu for a significant, we have all three courses ready to order in addition to our drinks. So we provided him with our drink order and the entirety of our three-course-meal. Nevertheless, our first course arrived 30 minutes after that and our second course almost like an hour and half after. There were periods where we spent nearly an hour just waiting for food. During the entirety of our stay at the restaurant, the waiter only came by twice. At the end, I had to leave my table to go find him and tell him that we're in a bit of a rush now since this had delayed our evening plans and to please my our desserts to-go. He proceeded to make us wait roughly 25 more minutes to then bring the desserts in dine-in utensils and plates. And acted confused when I explained my frustrations. Finally, we just left without desserts after having paid $361 for this horrendous evening with gratuity already included unfortunately because of Valentines. I highly advise anyone not to go here. They charge fine dining prices while providing the service and food quality of a Jack in the Box. read more

LA Puglia - Italian Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Maybe LA just has too much Italian food? But I wasn't wowed or impressed with the food. We also got some apps which I didn't take a picture of as well as pizza but it just wasn't anything special. We also were ignored for most of the night and everything just took forever or I feel like we got slightly snarky remarks. I won't be coming back but sure the ambiance and vibes were okay? read more

LA Puglia - Italian Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Very special spot in Santa Monica - excellent vibe. Delicious food along with an excellent bar and wine list, absolutely love the films on the wall too btw read more

My friend and I came here for dinner and loved the ambiance of the restaurant. It was elegant and intimate and we loved all the details of the restaurant. Our waitress was super nice and took the time to describe the menu. We ordered an appetizer, a salad, and a pasta. The portion sizes were normal and everything was delicious! Parking is street parking, luckily I came for an early weekday dinner so it was easy, but I can imagine it being harder on weekends since its located off Wilshire. read more

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I don't even know where to begin. Went for Valentine's Day dinner. We were sat 30 min after our reservation, the waiter wasn't friendly at all and he barely came to our table, took 40 minutes to get a drink, had to ask the busboy for water and napkins... after our food was brought to us. The food was extremely subpar. The eggplant parm was served thinly slice in a bowl of marinara, and looked like soupy slop. We left before dessert. We left starving. $350 for the worst dining experience I've had in a very long time. read more

La Puglia has ruined every other Italian restaurant in Santa Monica for me, in the best possible way. My wife refuses to eat anywhere else, and I can't blame her because once you've had their fan of the Trani pizza (eggplant, zucchini, cherry tomato, bell pepper, and stracciatella), you realize how embarrassing most pizza really is. It's not just the flavors...it's the way the vegetables are coaxed into sweetness without losing bite, the creaminess of the stracciatella that doesn't smother but elevates, and the crust that reminds you someone in the kitchen actually cares. The rest of the menu is equally uncompromising, but that pizza is the centerpiece. It's a dish that somehow convinces my wife and me--two stubborn eaters (her more than me outside, me more than her at home) with very different opinions on food--that we agree on something. The staff, warm without being performative, clearly know they're serving plates worth remembering. Santa Monica is drowning in "nice" restaurants with identical menus and inflated reputations. La Puglia is the rare spot where the hype is justified, the ingredients sing, and the loyalty it inspires isn't about trend but about truth. If you're tired of mediocre Italian wrapped in marketing gloss, go to La Puglia. Just don't get too attached to anywhere else. You won't be going back. I love the vibe of the jazz night too...but that's harder with kids. read more

First time here, and I went on Valentine's Day. This was clearly just a very disastrous service the restaurant as I observed everyone else around me having a similar experience. Namely, there was absolutely 0 service, at least 3 different servers were acting as our server and neither of them had any idea what was happening. We had a reservation and still had to wait 15 minutes to sit. At one point waiter 1 asked if we had put in our food order 40 minutes after arriving thankfully waiter 2 had taken it 20 minutes after being seated. (And retaken after they forgot 5 minutes later). Only one of the individuals (kind of felt like it was the manager) had any business working as a waiter in my opinion. The food took an absurdly long time to arrive and was okay maybe a 3/5 overall. They ran out of one of the desserts we wanted and this was on a limited set menu. That was a bummer. Finally, the set menu was $110/per person, and when the bill arrived the two set menus were included but they somehow overcharged us for one of the items we selected from the set menu. So many better Italian restaurants to choose from even in the same neighborhood. read more

They have kept me here for two hours with my gf on Valentine's Day, spent 100 bucks per person for a very mediocre 3 course meal, and there is ZERO SERVICE. The ambience and the first course was nice but they literally served me a shitty like fried appetizer for my main course and it ruined my whole appetite. Feel bad for shitting on a restaurant like this built you would think on Valentine's Day they would want to turn tables read more

So, after living here over a year, we FINALLY discovered this gem and absolutely loved it. We came for a late lunch/ early dinner. The only question we asked was "why have we not been here yet?!" We sat at the bar. It was lovely. Great ambience. We got the meatballs, some amazing bread, wine, a sandwich, and the bartender gave us some homemade pistachio gelato. OMG. Everything was perfectly cooked and executed. We get the meatballs everywhere they have them, and these are great. No veal, still so tender. The bread is house made. They have an Italian pizza oven. It all was incredible. They have a great event space. The bartender gave us a tour. If you like Italian love and good, Come here! You will be so happy. read more

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Beautiful Santa Monica restaurant with really mediocre, expensive Italian food. I ordered pasta and clams. The pasta was so bland, even though the menu said it was spicy and as you can see in the picture, the clams were so microscopic they were smaller than the pieces of pasta. The serving was quite small for the price! Also ordered an arugula salad with mozzarella and tomatoes, that was served in an oblong dish that made it incredibly difficult to eat without dropping it on the table. Have to say they have a wonderful wine list and as I said the restaurant is beautifully designed. Sadly, a real disappointment. read more

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I may have ordered the wrong thing, but in reality, it could have been a lot better. I really don't like writing bad reviews, so keep in mind I'm just one person, and others have liked it. Food: The Cavatelli con Cozze e Vongole - with clams and mussels - tasted of the ocean (yes, it's clams and mussels what do you expect?) mixed in with a spicy tomato sauce. Was disappointed. The people next to me ordered the pasta with beef sausage and loved theirs (and they are regulars), Can you tell I don't like writing bad reviews? And giving you another side of the story. I also ordered the beet salad with burrata and arugula. The beets were good, but just seemed as if they plated it with arugula, Burrata and some flavored beets without even conceptualizing the dish into cohesive dish. If you go to scopa, that dish is perfection. Like you can't stop eating it, perfection. So again, disappointed. With 0 for 2 on the food, I didn't bother getting dessert. Service: Mediocre. They were much more attentive to the regulars, almost felt as if I was an inferior customer. I asked for balsamic and olive oil and it came all disaggregated, while the regulars got it in a nice dish, with what looked like better balsamic too. I saw the regulars get another plate of bread (which if you go, get the one with seeds and it has some fruit in it). I asked for some more bread and they gave me the regular bread. I mean, maybe that's 0 for 3! Ambiance: the restaurant is gorgeous. Lots of light, which I absolutely love. the seats by the wall have cushions and comfortable. The regulars and I joked that it's perfect for us shorter people because we have good back cushion and can touch the ground. If anything, order a different dish from what I ordered, you may fare way better than me. read more

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I got a recommendation from a friend about this place. Told me it was one of the best happy hours in Santa Monica. They were somehow underselling this place. It's absolutely fantastic in every way. First, it's an incredible space. Very cute and clean. Even the dishes and cups are so cute. The staff are fantastic and very sweet. More importantly the foods is incredible and wonderfully priced especially for the happy hour menu. We ordered a lot and a few of the standouts were the panzerotto, a calzone type dish, the meatballs and both pastas. We had the alessia and nonna Anna. And the desserts were spectacular. We had their homemade gelato and pannacotta. Honestly, everything we had was a standout. Only negatives for me and they are small critiques are that it's warm inside the space but there's an oven in the middle of the room so that's to be expected. Lastly, there were no hand towels or hand dryer in the restrooms. If I were you I would make this a priority visit. And definitely take advantage of the Aperol spritz on happy hour! : ) read more

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Like a professional chefFrom the moment we arrived at La Puglia, our experience was marked by several setbacks. First and foremost, we were disappointed by the absence of valet parking, which had been advertised when we made the reservation. Upon arrival, we had to find parking on our own, which was inconvenient. Once inside, the service began with a waiter who, although polite, seemed rushed, as if he was more focused on finishing his shift than providing a pleasant experience. He gave us just enough time to place our order but didn't check in on us during the meal, leaving us with the feeling that we were being attended to superficially. As for the food, the bread they served was burnt on the edges and surprisingly dry, which gave us a negative first impression. Then, my lasagna arrived cold, and to my surprise, we found a hair in the dish. Although I was wearing my hair down and assumed it was an accident, it still shouldn't happen at a restaurant of this caliber. My friend's pasta was also cold, with the meat being dry, which took away from the dish's flavor. To make matters worse, when we asked for parmesan cheese, we had to wait 10 minutes before anyone came over. During that time, the waitstaff seemed completely absorbed in their own tasks, without offering the attention one would expect in a dining experience. The rush to close the kitchen was also palpable: we even heard bangs coming from the kitchen, which added a sense of chaos to the atmosphere. To top it off, while they were offering us desserts, glasses broke at the bar by accident, further contributing to the impression of disorganization. In summary, our experience at La Puglia was highly disappointing. The lack of attention to detail, the rushed service, and the inconsistent quality of the dishes made us leave with the feeling that the restaurant didn't live up to expectations. Unfortunately, we don't think we'll be returning. Also the owner wrote and say it's my fault I don't recommended this restaurant read more

My wife and I just ate at La Puglia - what a wonderful experience from the food to the service. A visit from the Chef which was informative and pleasant. The ambiance complemented the dining experience. We are looking forward to going on Tuesday for live Jazz music coupled with a fine dinner. read more

Go for their Puglian wines! I particularly enjoyed Minutoro (100% Fiano), which was dry, light and crisp. Their cheese plate was fabulous -- the cheese selection was excellent, and it paired well with my white and rosé wines. If you're a doggie parent, they have three outdoor tables. The area is nicely divided by a low planter divider so that you can enjoy the fresh air with your pup in a relaxed manner without seeing passerby right by you. read more

LA Puglia - Drink menu - Italian Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Authentic Italian dishes with a refined touch. Nice atmosphere and friendly service. We came here for dinner on the weekend as a party of two, 5/5, for food, service, and ambiance. - Bruschetta Volare: Creamy stracciatella and savory prosciutto, served on crunchy, toasted bread with a nice charred flavor. Can't go wrong with this. Teresa Pasta: This was a great option for something light but still full of flavor. It reminded us of a seafood gnocchi dish from Italy by the coast. The seafood and tomato were perfectly balanced, and each pasta shell was evenly coated in sauce. We enjoyed it from the start to the last bite. Nicola (Branzino): The branzino was cooked beautifully. The minced zucchini was subtle, adding a nice texture without taking away from the flavor of the fish. I also really liked crispy fatty skin. Another light yet flavorful choice. Millefoglie & Gelato: We got both hazelnut and pistachio gelato. They were all good but we felt that they didn't stand out to us as much as the savory dishes. Would love to try other desserts next time. - Overall: The food was to our taste, and the portions were just right for two people (we could have shared just one dessert and been perfectly fine). Both the servers and the owner were attentive and friendly. We were happy with the experience and look forward to coming back to explore more of the menu. read more

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I heard about this place from an Italian person who was from Puglia. She recommended it to me. So my friend and I tried it out on 4th of July. Ambience is cool and chill. Everyone seemed happy, it was a happy vibe. Food is a bit on the pricier end but consider the location and amazing service and the whole package I think it's understandable. Service was wonderful. Since it was my first time trying southern Italian food I asked the waitress to explain and introduce some things to us and she was very knowledgeable, patient, and passionately taught us some southern Italian food things and made recommendations according to our preferences. She had very deep and clear knowledge of the menu. All servers were attentive. We did not once have to wave anyone down to take care of things and it made our dinning effortless. Great bonus to the Resturant! To the owner, Please treat them well! We ordered 4 dishes as shown in the photo and everything was very new to our taste. We might not be accustomed to the taste but can appreciate the experience trying new cuisine! Both my friend and myself find the grilled blue shrimp to be our favorite among everything. A little tips to local foodies, it seems like southern Italian food likes bitter veges, so be sure to tell them about it or ask about it if bitterness is NOT what you are into. I'd be happy to try other food at a different time. read more

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A friend of mine took me to this restaurant a few weeks ago. Tonight was my second visit with another dear friend, who travels the world, to this amazing new find. The best way to sum up our experience would be, La Puglia in Santa Monica offers an exceptional Italian dining experience. The food is authentic, with dishes that transport you straight to Italy. The owner, from the La Puglia region, ensures everything is top-notch. The waitstaff is professional and efficient, and the décor and ambiance are uniquely modern, adding to the overall amazing experience. Our dishes were outstanding, the pre tasting of three different wines was a great touch! I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone seeking authentic Italian cuisine. The in-house baked bread and the gelato, made with chocolate imported from Sicily, are absolute must-tries!" read more

The food is so on point, the ambience reminded me of being in Italy and having a slow and casual amazing dinner. as the couple said next to me as they handed their credit card to the server, the service was horrible. We walked in with a reservation and waited for a good five minutes before we just talked to somebody at the bar and said we had a reservation. We ordered a drink. We were then sat at our table and it was 15 minutes before we finally flagged somebody down, we asked for menus and for a bottle of water. Look at the menus, the water never came, we flagged somebody else down and said we were ready to order, he was pretty knowledgeable about the menu so we did get some information in ordered. We waited about 25 minutes between the time our appetizers were cleared and our main dish arrived. We had dirty dishes and empty drinks the entire time, nobody ever came to check on us. There was a manager who I think is Italian and she was amazing. She then started checking on us. We never saw our server again until the check came. She got us our second round of drinks and finally our food arrived and it was so very good. And then our dirty plates sat there for 15 to 25 minutes while we talked with empty drinks yet again. She finally came back over. We told her we did not want dessert we would just like the check. The vibe is truly Italian, but the service was just awful. read more

Delicious food and excellent service. We arrived late and they were gracious enough to seat us and then they never rushed us. The interior is beautiful; lovely design but still warm and inviting. We are so looking forward to returning there. read more

An authentic Italian experience! La Puglia is an absolute gem in Santa Monica. The meatballs were tender, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned--a must-try. But the true standout was the Patty with Dandelion Greens. O M G--every bite was unforgettable. The earthy, bold flavors were perfectly balanced, and it's easily one of the best dishes I've ever had in my life. The ambiance, the flavors, and the care in every dish make this place a true treasure. I can't wait to return and share this incredible experience with a friend! read more

Came here as we were visiting family in town. Had great expectations of this place from reading the reviews but the food fell a bit short, also a bit more pricey than I expected to pay with the quality of food that was served. Service was OK - we showed up an hour and a half before closing so some menu items were already out of, or not being made anymore due to the place closing soon. The meat lasagna (see picture) presentation was lacking, unappealing, and did not appeal to the taste buds. Looked like it was heated-up chili of some sort. The Gianni - did not have much meat in the seafood, and leaned on the smaller side, but the dish was pricey for the amount of seafood meat you actually got. All in all, you don't get your money's worth for the food served here. read more

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We loved this restaurant and sent some out of town guests who were entertaining family and they loved it as well. Great service and a great bar for before, during and after dinner. Amores, Italian after dinner liqueurs, were fabulous and well explained by our waiter. Ambiance was pleasant. read more

A friend and I stopped in on a Wednesday evening for an early dinner around 5:30pm. The restaurant was a little fancier than I was expecting for my friend and I but the host and server were incredibly friendly and the food was amazing! At 5:30, the place was nearly empty and the host was able to seat us right away. The table settings were so colorful and beautiful, which really struck me as unique compared to the usual white plates, white napkins, and silverware you see at restaurants. They didn't have the Nonna Anna which I was planning to order because they said it takes a lot of preparation, so I got the Patty with a Chardonnay while my friend ordered the Emilio. We both LOVED our dishes! Mine came with cavatelli pasta, which was different than the menu said but fit the dish which was so fresh and packed with flavor. My friend said her Emilio was delicious and she ate every bite. My wine was also a good choice and had plenty of flavor that complemented my dish. Overall, this was a lovely unexpectedly amazing little place with a great atmosphere. The price was about what you'd expect for a restaurant like this and my friend and I vowed to come back and enjoy dinner here again. read more

LA Puglia - The Patty with cavatelli pasta -- delicious! - Italian Near Me - Santa Monica, California

This is some of the best Italian food I have ever had. My family and I were looking for an Italian place nearby in Santa Monica to go and eat. Once we walked in we were welcomed so nicely and they were very generous about the fact that even though we didn't have a reservation, they still managed a way to get us a table. Not only was their food delicious but when I go out to eat with friends and family I always look for places that have a beautiful ambiance that welcomes you and is cozy. They have beautiful cutlery and plates that scream unique. Ordering the food was also so easy and simple because of their honesty towards what they make. Everything is authentic and fresh, the olive oil is even bough from Italy, and so are their wines, pasta, and sauces. They have been open for 10 years with the hope of bringing true southern Italian culture to LA and it shows beautifullyWhat a great find this place was and I will definitely be coming again. read more

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Hi , We went to Puglia last night with some friends . Food was great , ambience was great . Everything went fine till we got the bill . Who charges $5 for hot water with lemon . Me and my husband shared a dish they charged us $3 to split but really that was not the only dish we ordered . I am very upset with that . Maybe we won't consider this restaurant again . read more

The summary salvo is that we had an extremely nice and pleasantly slow brunch to have a small (belated) birthday gathering. So, what's up? Recommended by some real-flesh Italians, we chose La Puglia for a Sunday morning brunch - just like that and a tiny little bit to celebrate my aging bones. Street parking was easy. Since Covid despite 900K+ losses in some minds never existed (?) but at least at this point seemed to be safely reduced, business appeared to be back to good old times. Stepping into this modern and lighted restaurant felt very nice and soothing, looking at not only the beautiful space as such but also the wonderful display of fresh baking goods and a whole bunch of colorful ceramics. Indoor seating was very comfortable such that spending a few hours didn't break the back . While Ali covers the backend of business (and can't resist the urge to respond to each good or bad review), Valentina and her crew were at the front. She not only made great recommendations but also spent time for pleasure conversation with customers about food, culture, Europe, etc. Wasn't that one of the key things we missed in isolation - talking to real and real like-minded people? The food was great, all organic and freshly prepared at the moment, hence not at supersonic speed. But that was actually advantageous as we shared everything, and the measured rollout prevented a sudden stomach overload. Since we had to wait for 2 folks who were stuck in traffic, we started with a wonderful real Italian Cappuccino AND a lukewarm, fresh, and superb Pasticciotto leccese - another one a little later was predictably inevitable. The Frittata with vegetables, Festa dei Baresi (salad), Quando nasce un amore (olive tapenade bruschetta), Picca Picca (smoked salmon sandwich), and the Puglia (pizza) were all on point. Everything was fresh and crisp (Note: I respectfully disagree with some less favorable and can only laugh at some ignorant yelp reviews) and represents a particular culture and style of a particular corner of Southern Italy! Out of principle, we had to try some desserts - even though we had started with one. The cannoli and a selection of 4 Miracolo gelati set a sweet and delicious end - except that there was a small additional surprise finale with candle. Definitely a wonderful and relaxing experience - and don't worry, we'll be back! PS1: The restroom was a fun experience at no extra cost - and for a moment I suspected hidden cameras - as I could initially not activate the high-tech water to flow but was only met with repeat attacks by the integrated high power hand dryers. Glad nobody watched... PS2: There appears to be an extra room that could be used for a larger event/party ... PS3: Who in the world in 2022 would really complain about not being able to pay in cash?? Thank you for touch-free credit card processing ... PS4: Ali, can you resist to comment? If no, I'd prefer to get a DM... read more

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Great food, amazing service and jazz events are always interesting. Been there a few times. If you have biz on the area, definitely stop by. read more

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