Matteo's

Over the past 22-years I’ve had exactly one answer to anyone asking for the best Italian restaurant in Santa Monica (it also is one of three recommendations I give for all of West Los Angeles): Matteo’s. I lived in West Los Angeles for 13-years (1997-2010) and it was a staple (I eat put 4-6 times a week). And even after living in Manhattan the past nearly nine years (2010-present day, 2019), and having been exposed to New York City’s supposedly vastly superior Italian restaurants, I’m still putting Matteo’s up against NYC’s best. It’s class all the way, and after so many years and special moments there, I can just say never have I encountered a bad service situation nor have been disappointed in the food or atmosphere. The past several years I’ve had to do more global travel as my firm has expanded so I have sadly been back three times in the past two years. But I was happy to walk out still as enamored as ever with one of my West LA favorites: Matteo’s. One of my highest recommendations!

I was a bit skeptical at first as I am Italian and often high prices dont reflect the quality of the food, but this place it is truly delicious and has great service. A nice change from the "usual" restaurants! The Pasta with fresh Tartufo was Yum!! Cocktails and Tagliata di Tonno also very good. Complimenti allo CHEF!!

I did the murder mystery dinner here with a group of friends and it was so much fun! The acting was pretty good, the good was good, and the setting was pretty nice. For spending 4 hours there, the time flew by! The mingling and cocktail hour was very useful for getting to know the others in the crowd. It was awesome how they engaged with the patrons in their act!

Iconic Italian restaurant. Great food and service. A place where people actually dress up for dinner. Loved that gentlemen wore suit jackets and women dresses accordingly. Loved my Elderberry Greyhound. A place were you can have a conversation and not yell over the music. Excellent!!!

Omg happy hour until 930 pm with excellent food choices. We had the meatballs, calamari and olives off the happy hour menu and they were delicious. I'm looking forward to returning to enjoy a meal.

R M

This was the Sunday hang out for a lot of old Hollywood celebrities. Sinatra used to tip the valet $100.

Roxie Beckles

Absolutely LOVE this place. It's quaint and tucked away over in West LA. The food was amazing, service incredible. And the restaurant itself very nice. Perfect place for a date night.

Gor Gal

The food and service are outstanding. This is a very nice place to enjoy the dinner with an authentic Italian mood.

Troy Jensen

Over the past 22-years I’ve had exactly one answer to anyone asking for the best Italian restaurant in Santa Monica (it also is one of three recommendations I give for all of West Los Angeles): Matteo’s. I lived in West Los Angeles for 13-years (1997-2010) and it was a staple (I eat put 4-6 times a week). And even after living in Manhattan the past nearly nine years (2010-present day, 2019), and having been exposed to New York City’s supposedly vastly superior Italian restaurants, I’m still putting Matteo’s up against NYC’s best. It’s class all the way, and after so many years and special moments there, I can just say never have I encountered a bad service situation nor have been disappointed in the food or atmosphere. The past several years I’ve had to do more global travel as my firm has expanded so I have sadly been back three times in the past two years. But I was happy to walk out still as enamored as ever with one of my West LA favorites: Matteo’s. One of my highest recommendations!

The Dude

Omg happy hour until 930 pm with excellent food choices. We had the meatballs, calamari and olives off the happy hour menu and they were delicious. I'm looking forward to returning to enjoy a meal.

Carla Lash

If you want to return to the days of the quiet elegance of the 1960s through the 1980s, treat yourself to a meal at Matteo's. Roomy leather booths, decor that takes you back in time, personalized service and a delicious menu that your taste buds will thank you for. Veal, pasta, seafood, lambchops with beautifully arranged side dishes. There is a small bar or enjoy drinks at your table. The host will make you comfortable and you will relax and enjoy the ambience as you view old pictures of Sinatra and Martin on the walls. Valet parking is available as well as some street parking. A great place to celebrate any spe ial occasion.

Nelva Rodriguez

Iconic Italian restaurant. Great food and service. A place where people actually dress up for dinner. Loved that gentlemen wore suit jackets and women dresses accordingly. Loved my Elderberry Greyhound. A place were you can have a conversation and not yell over the music. Excellent!!!

Francesca

I was a bit skeptical at first as I am Italian and often high prices dont reflect the quality of the food, but this place it is truly delicious and has great service. A nice change from the "usual" restaurants! The Pasta with fresh Tartufo was Yum!! Cocktails and Tagliata di Tonno also very good. Complimenti allo CHEF!!

Jason Lin

Talk about hidden treasure. Matteos is a perfect throw back joint with authentically prepared Italian dishes and friendly service. You can tell the staff are glad to be a part of this establishment. Come for the generous happy hour and stay for a great meal.

Ingo Core Ab

Great interiors, fabulous history, attentive and friendly service, fantastic food, lovely wines. You don't need more for an evening out. Loved this place and will come back whenever I travel to LA.

Kevin Lemen

I did the murder mystery dinner here with a group of friends and it was so much fun! The acting was pretty good, the good was good, and the setting was pretty nice. For spending 4 hours there, the time flew by! The mingling and cocktail hour was very useful for getting to know the others in the crowd. It was awesome how they engaged with the patrons in their act!

Wow! This place was amazing -- GREAT for happy hour specials! Great food, great service and great experience. I'll definitely be back.

Hoboken is an old style Italian cafe next to Matteos. Good food and attentive service

Things change. Matteo's doesn't. Much. with the new decor one no longer gets the feeling that Frank Sinatra is about to walk in, but it's fresh and nice, without spoiling the feeling. The menu is a bit limited for people who eat neither fish nor veal.

This is an old classic Italian restaurant that has a happy hour :) the menu is relatively small but everything is good. It's definitely worth checking out.

I actually came here for a murder mystery dinner. It was a great time. I had the Atlantic salmon which was really good. My girlfriend had the chicken parmigiana which was also tasty. And had some drinks at the bar. I liked this place for their food and ambience. Try it.

Robert M

Hoboken is an old style Italian cafe next to Matteos. Good food and attentive service

Eric Barnes

Wow! This place was amazing -- GREAT for happy hour specials! Great food, great service and great experience. I'll definitely be back.

Kelli Clark

This is an old classic Italian restaurant that has a happy hour :) the menu is relatively small but everything is good. It's definitely worth checking out.

Ruben Pellecer

I actually came here for a murder mystery dinner. It was a great time. I had the Atlantic salmon which was really good. My girlfriend had the chicken parmigiana which was also tasty. And had some drinks at the bar. I liked this place for their food and ambience. Try it.

J Grummish

Things change. Matteo's doesn't. Much. with the new decor one no longer gets the feeling that Frank Sinatra is about to walk in, but it's fresh and nice, without spoiling the feeling. The menu is a bit limited for people who eat neither fish nor veal.

Was here for an event hosted by friends. Arrived early and sat at the bar for a martini. The whole vibe of this place, from the help to the guests, seemed to me to be pretty uptight, which I though was strange because the place was virtually empty, and the food was just average.

Although the atmosphere is nice, there is a lack of flavor in the food as well as a lack of customers, giving the restaurant an "empty" feeling.

Pace Woodford

Although the atmosphere is nice, there is a lack of flavor in the food as well as a lack of customers, giving the restaurant an "empty" feeling.

David Farrell

Was here for an event hosted by friends. Arrived early and sat at the bar for a martini. The whole vibe of this place, from the help to the guests, seemed to me to be pretty uptight, which I though was strange because the place was virtually empty, and the food was just average.