Vitello’s Restaurant
4349 Tujunga Ave, Studio City, CA, 91604
Vitello’s Restaurant Menu
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Address :
4349 Tujunga Ave
Studio City, CA, 91604 - Phone (818) 769-0905
- Website https://www.vitellosrestaurant.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Valet, Street, Private Lot, Validated
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Keelan E.
Some great quick and delicious slices of pizza. YUM
(5)John C.
Let me start by saying that I have been eating here for over 20 years. I have seen the place change ownership once and go through some rocky changes but they survived. That is until tonight, my wife and I noticed on our last few visits that something was just not right; the electricity in the room was not the way it used to be. The waiters seamed sad almost like an old friend was sick or had passed away. Tonight we found out why, turns out Vitellos has hired a new chef; they have changed the menu and decided to serve less then quality Italian food, in order to make a buck. Man the disappointment when I ordered the Lasagna and what I got was some store bought frozen mess, it was awful. Gone is the fried Zucchini or anything that resembles fresh pasta. If you were a fan of the management as we were both managers have left Vitellos. In speaking to our waiter we learned at how disappointed other customers have been at the changes and by looking at the reviews here I can see I am not alone. Once upon a time Coke a Cola tried to change the product and called it new coke thinking people would love it, guess what they hated it and it damaged the brand cost millions of dollars to repair and they had to switch back. With a restaurant you don't have that luxury, once you lose your customers, they don't come back and their memories are very long. What a sad day for Vitellos.
(1)Kitt H.
The food is not great (I've been generally underwhelmed with everything I've ordered, though when I go for the calamari in red sauce, I'm happy), but there's something comforting about the place. I guess the food is really kind of a time-warp back to a 1950s "Italian" restaurant, not unlike Ian Holm's competing restaurant in "Big Night" -- Primo: "Do you know what happens in that restaurant every night? RAPE! RAPE!... The rape of cuisine." But it's nice to sit outside the front door (if you can get lucky and avoid anyone smoking) and have a mellow evening dinner in Studio City, then cross the street for some great gelato/sorbetto for dessert. I'll keep coming back. And if you can park on the street, do, because it's usually not too hard, and paying for valet in that neighborhood is a little kooky.
(3)Allan H.
This is some of the best service I have had in La La Land. The host, owner, waitress and busboys were friendly, attentive, smiling....all those thing that tend to not happen on a Saturday night dinner out. The restaurant was busy and the four of us arrived without a reservation. We were seated immediately and had bread and drinks in hand within 10 minutes. The food was just OK. The salad I ordered was exactly what I wanted - iceberg lettuce with blue cheese dressing. I would imagine I would be one of very few people who appreciate the simplicity and blandness of this salad. It was great. Entrees - not so strong. The sauce on the Veal Parmagiana was a bit too sweet for my taste. The meat texture was a bit too much like the Chicken Parmagiana that Mr. B ordered. My partner got the Chicken Picatta which had no capers but did have an abundance of mushrooms and dark meat. It was odd but edible. Dusty D got the Scampi Pasta which, while good, was a bit too garlicky for me. The wine list wasn't helping matters either. There are some reasonably priced, drinkable bottles on the Italian list but things like Sea Smoke at $98 or Caymus at over $200 are a bit much. Stick with the Chianti......it works well with the food Food 2 Service 5 Decor 3 Other super cozy booths
(3)Katie C.
So. So. Disappointing. I've been to this place more than a handful of times and am sad to say I probably won't be back - at least not for the food. I'll start by saying that usually the food is great with a wide variety of 'down home' Italian dishes and I really enjoy the feeling of it being kind of a family place. Whenever I was there I would see servers smiling and generally in a good mood. So not the case last night. Walking in, something felt off but we were seated in the main dining area and given menus. We then decided we'd rather sit in the Joe's bar dining space and asked our server if we could move. She seemed nice and told us to go ahead and move and to take our menus with us, so we did. There were 3 people at the bar, and one large family-type party in there that had already finished their food. Yet somehow, despite various servers making eye contact, we sat there with no service for at least 15 minutes. My boyfriend eventually went to the bartender to ask for some service (water? bread? drinks? hello?). Louis took our drink orders, apologizing profusely, and eventually took over our table claiming the server was new and slammed. Around this time some lady - who I assume had some managerial status - came over to apologize for the mix up. She was trying to be nice but the slightly bitchy, rude vibe was not lost on my boyfriend or myself, especially when she insinuated that the lack of service we received was our fault. She talked about a new GM and a new Executive Chef and pushed the specials - no thanks. Strike 1. Having sat unnoticed for 15 minutes we'd had plenty of time to notice that the menu was about 1/4 of the previous size, was missing some of our favorites and was all in all just different. Strike 2 - not thrilled. Louis brought us bread which we ate since we were hungry but it seemed like it was a day or three old, was super dry and really lacking the Vitello's quality I'd come to expect. We asked for some vinegar and oil which helped make the bread more palatable (with some parmesan suggested by Louis) and at least kept our hunger in check. Our food arrived - Lasagna for him (which used to be amazing) and pasta with mushrooms and chicken for me. Strike 3. Though I did generally like my dish I was a bit surprised to see that it came out to be $21. For $21 at the old Vitello's I could have fed a small family. Now to the truly disheartening part - WHAT DID YOU DO TO THE LASAGNA!?!?!? This was, at best, a very small step above a frozen, reheated lasagna. No sides, not a lot of sauce. Just sad and pathetic. Louis continued to be great. Unfortunately the manager lady came back again to check on us at the end of the meal. We attempted to express or disappointment in some of the changes and she was still pushing the specials. Lady - LISTEN! We (the 'regulars') want the good lasagna and extensive menu back along with the servers your new regime have driven away! For those experiencing this 'new' Vitello's for the first time, maybe it passes for 'good' but hearing the inside scoop about most of the old staff leaving due to the new management and sweeping changes, loss of business from regulars and some of these yelp comments - I'd say you'd have to be plain stupid not to see that what's going on is NOT good. Please stop driving this Valley fav into the ground and bring back the good lasagna (with ricotta), bruschetta and healthy sized meatballs.
(1)Michael D.
At one time, Vitellos was a favorite...used to celebrate most anything there, with friends, family, etc. Tuesday night was different and we made the decision not to return. Since the executive chef and management had changed, the food and service have gone downhill. No more cloth napkin under the bread in the basket...instead, the bread wrapped in a single paper napkin. No more cheese on the table...portion controlled by the server. The lasagna, which used to be baked with crusty cheese on top, now has the appearance of mass made, served on a plate, thrown in the microwave oven then served. The flavors never had the chance to marry. The kicker was when we asked for the check, motioning our hands in a writing movement over our palm, saying, "Il conto, per favore" to be told by Chris, the water, "I dont speak that junk". When we pointed this out to Katie, the cashier, instead of offering to comp our meal, or invite us back as their guests, to give them another try, she just said, ''sorry''.....There are other italian restaurants with better food, better service and better staff. Sorry Vitellos. You've lost a long time customer.
(1)TheTruth W.
It's hard for me to give this place 3 stars, because in the 80's and early 90's this place was home to some of the best Italian food around. My grandma lived down the street from this place, so my family went here a lot. Who can forget the weekly Italian mafia meetings in the upstairs area with the smell of burning cigars and the older men in their designer suits chattering about business dealings, while downstairs, the fat lady was singing (literally) opera. Unfortunately, with new owners came changes to the atmosphere and quality of food. Oh how I long for the days of the old Vitello's.
(3)Jerry C.
What happened to this place? I had gone there for years and now I couldnt be paid to eat there. The food is severely lacking and over priced. You get half the portion as you'd expect.Worst of all they can't even make good marinara. I heard the old owners had sold the place apparently to some rude folks. Steer clear of this place at all costs! Not even Chef Ramsey can save this place.
(1)Roger I.
I will add my negative comments with the others. I ordered 2 large pizzas for pickup. My first clue that things are different at Vitello's is that the man answering the phone was not a familiar voice, not too enthusiastic, and did not ask for my name. He told me 20 minutes when order will be ready. Upon my scheduled pickup, cashier was unaware of the order and said there was a computer glitch--oookay and it will be 5 minutes. 30 minutes later my order was ready. I opened the boxes to make sure the order was correct. The Vitello Special looked different and somewhat skimpy, oh well, I just wanted to get out of there. There was no acknowledgement of a delay or apology during my extended wait. $35.00 for 2 large average pizzas can be had some place else for much less. It will be awhile before I return to Vitello's.
(2)Chloe T.
Awesome food! I went to Vitello's Express in Sherman Oaks first, then went here later! Great food, a couple good salads. It is a BIT pricy, but still really good food and a relaxed environment!
(4)Matt E.
You know what, there is just some weird vibe going on in here everytime I go. The food isn't bad, but I feel like I should have started coming here along time ago. Like when I was a baby, then maybe I'd be used to it by now. The Pasta ala Robert Blake is what I always order. It's really good. No joke. It's just the people who work here and the vibe of the other customers and the layout of the joint. It just is a weird feeling. Sorry I can't give a better review.
(3)Sharon M.
Crappy Italian food at high prices. This is Olive Garden food but at double the prices. The staff is rude and arrogant. There is no reason to go here given the alternatives. McDonald's would be a better choice.
(1)I K.
I could go in detail but bottom line-- This place has really declined. I have been going here for 30 years and it's not the same. Mediocre food and poor service. There are many better choices in Studio city.
(1)Sadie G.
I loved this place. The decor made me feel like I was back in Italy, I love the old timers singing opera downstairs (I guess on wednesdays open mic?) The service was AMAZING, I mean I never felt forgotten and our server was obviously busy. I had the Chicken Piccata and it was very good, it wasn't all breaded and greasy... The bus boys are the BEST here, they don't make you sit in your own filth and feel like a cow, like they do at even some of the most up scale places. Everyone was on top of their game here. Good form Vitello's!
(5)Kerry C.
I was looking foward to eating here for the 1st time last night. I went to see the Jeff Hamilton Trio, (a great jazz trio) in the upstairs dining room. Before we made reservations I looked at their website and saw several items on the dinner menu that looked very appetizing. We made reservations, & upon arriving were escorted upstairs to a table. Before a waiter came by we were greeted by Jeff Hamilton (a personal friend and the drummer for the trio.) After chatting for a few minutes he left to prepare fpr the gig. Finally a waitress came & dropped off a menu. I was surprised to see an entirely defferent & abbreviated menu from what was on the website. I asked her for the full dinner menu and was told that this was not allowed "upstairs". We asked her to see the manager or owner, so that we order the meal that we wanted , rather than one of only 6 choices, and no appetizers. She came back and told us flatly no, the manager would not allow anything other than what was on that upstairs menu. Bear in mind we were paying a $20 cover charge just to be in the room. I wanted to leave immediately, but I felt obligated to stay since I had already conversed with Jeff. I ordered the only veal dish offered, it was tough and tastless. My wife had so so spaghetti. Needless to say, I will not be back!
(2)Scott M.
The Blake thing is what brought me to Vitello's in the first place, I now eat there once or twice a year. It seems they are trying to represent themselves as an upscale restaurant. The service is okay, though the busboy seems more attentive than the waiters. Microwaved garlic bread - eat it fast or it turns to stone. I was asked by my waiter to remove the knife and fork from my salad plate, to use on my main course. We asked for fresh Parmesan cheese - all they had was that powder crap in a jar on the table. Sad - the food is delicious, I love the look and the location. I can always find free parking in the neighborhood. I'll return, but I wish they'd get their act together.
(2)F F.
I was curious about this place because I had driven by a lot of times and it usually seems busy. The decor seems old. The ambiance was OK. The food was awful. I ordered prosciutto with melon for an appetizer and the melon slices were super thick and it had a slice of lemon in the middle. Then again every item we ordered came with a slice of lemon. I have no idea how they keep that place open.
(1)L. H.
Vitello's used to be one of my favorite restaurants in the LA area, but it has seriously gone downhill since they changed chefs/owners. It's quite possibly the worst Italian food I've ever had. So sad because it used to be so delicious. The fried mozzarella is now obviously frozen from a box, and the lasagna now tastes like some horrible combo of Ragu and Alpo. Beyond disappointed. Oh...and you will actually be paying more for this dog food now. Will definitely not be returning to this place!
(1)Jen B.
NEW MANAGEMENT=SEVERELY DISAPPOINTING CHANGES I have been a regular of this restaurant for the over four years. Every time I was in the mood for good traditional Italian food, it was the first place that popped into my head. I never once had a complaint about the food, the service was good and the restaurant had a great charm. When I went in there about a month ago, as soon I saw the menu was different I was worried. What have they done? The old menu was perfect, it had a good amount of options and charming pasta names named after famous people. This new menu was trying was too hard to be a fancy Italian restaurant menu, along with more expensive prices. This could of all been shrugged off if the food was the same, but it WAS NOT even close. Not only were some of my favorite items off the menu, but the ones they kept on were changed for the worse. I almost always ordered the Chicken Pomodoro, a simple, light pasta dish, yet this time they had taken the chicken part off and so I added it on. In order to compensate for taking the chicken off it was 2x the pasta and 100x less the taste. I couldn't have made it any more bland if I tried and a chef I definitely am not. My boyfriend got the Chicken Parmesan and it was also extremely bland. After a couple bites of sheer disappointment, we called the waitress over and told her how disappointing it was and she told us to direct out complaints to the manager which we gladly did. The manager took the food off our bill but didn't really care about what we had to say, she just said that they were trying to move away from old Italian. WHY? That is what I would go there for. The waitress also informed us that she worked there for many years and was also disappointed by the changes. Before this I would of given Vitello's five stars, now I wouldn't wast my time. It's definitely not worth the new prices!!!
(1)Nikki A.
I was really excited to go to the famous "Robert Blake" hot spot, but I was pleasantly surprised beyond the legends. The food and service is outstanding! We had a birthday party for some friends of ours. They graciously offered us the entire back room with our own bar. We ordered all sorts of meals in our group and not a single complaint. Appetizers included some of the best garlic bread I've ever had this side of Italy, fried zucchini with marinara (and you could tell it was fresh and not frozen), bruscetta (sp?), fried mozarella and some salads. Everything tasted delicious and the service was quick and amazingly friendly. For dinners we had some pizzas and pastas of course and all of them were fantastic. We were all nibbling at each other's meals and everyone agreed... it was alllllll goooooodddddd! I definitely recommend this venue for group events or dates. I don't see it as much of a family restaurant, but definitely a must try!
(5)Julie H.
Vitello's Ravioli is to DIE FOR!!!! First I tried it with the pesto sauce and I almost ordered another it was sooo good. Then I went back and decided to try it with the pink sauce and now I'm torn cause they were both extremely tasty!!! Seriously, if your in the area and want Italian Food, you can't go wrong with this place. Love the staff!!! Thay are always super friendly and inviting!
(5)Rose S.
This place is Incredible!! I love the dim lights and the privacy of the large booths. Makes me feel like I'm waiting for the Godfather ;P This place is also great for night time entertainment they have an upstairs banquet a with a stage, great for party's and for their occasional guest singers and performers.
(4)david f.
Great place for a nice romantic dinner with a Grifter
(5)Amber K.
Vitello's is a fun place to have a mellow and relaxing dinner. We love the atmosphere and service here. They don't rush you out of your seat, so you can hang out, eat, drink, and chat with friends for a few hours. We almost always order the fried calamari appetizer and a couple glasses of wine to accompany dinner. Sooo good!
(4)Payman B.
Some friends and I went here recently and had an amazing meal. I love Italian food, but i rarely go to Italian restaurants because the food can be so heavy. And it's hard to find a really really good Italian restaurant that's not insanely expensive. We ordered a bunch of appetizers; calamari, prosciutto w/melon, a square of mozzarella with marinara on top and stuffed mushrooms. Everything was top notch. I had the Veal Parmesan, which was just glorious. Had a slice of pizza, also delicious. Everyone was happy and the staff was great. All in all, a damn good hearty Italian dinner.
(5)maxine s.
OUR FAVORITE NEIGHBORHOOD ITALIAN JOINT. Famous for the Robert Blake incident, Vitello's is the place to go for any occasion. They have a live music lounge, which is always poppin' and the staff is so nice! Love the fried zucchini for appetizers - ANY pasta dish AND absolutely cannot leave without having their Tiramisu, which is by far the best I have ever tasted! Only thing is -- pasta portions are small for an Italian place. Still, 5 stars. Otherwise -- SALUTE!!
(4)Steve G.
It is nice to find an OLD SCHOOL Italian restaurant still left in LA that doesn't charge an arm and a leg. Service was top notch. The food was excellent. I really have no complaints other than the Garlic Bread was just OK. The Mozzarella Marinara was spectacular. The marinara here has huge flavor. It tastes like something somebody had to slave for a couple of days to make. The Pizetti (appetizer pizza) was outstanding. We got the Margherita which had the same BIG tomato flavor. The crust was cooked perfectly. No more than 1/32" thick and was crunchy but not brittle. Perfect amount of sauce and a little fresh Mozzarella with some fresh basil made it irresistible. Next we went to our main courses. Everybody raved about their food. I had the Cannelloni stuffed with Ground Beef and topped with that awesome Marinara and some Mozzarella. Very good. My wife had what she said was the "Best Shrimp Dish in her Life". It was the Mediterranean Scampi. I mean really how can you go wrong with Butter, Garlic and White Wine? I really can't remember what my Aunt and Uncle had because I was too busy with what I was eating but they raved too. An $8 corkage for your own wine isn't bad either. We will be returning soon.
(4)Barb P.
What happened to the "old" Vitellos? I had some friends visiting from out of town and thought I'd take them for a nice dinner. Well, I was shocked when we drove by and the whole front of the restaurant was gone, along with the homey feeling and the great service. We had called ahead for reservations, and they still sat us right in front of the noisy bar, with music WAY too loud on horribly uncomfortable chairs. Where were the nice old fashioned booths? Gone, with all the rest of the charm that used to be Vitellos. Service on a Sat. night was HORRIBLE, and i mean horrible. Took over 30 min. just to get a glass of wine, and after our salads they never brought clean forks, I had to get up and take forks from other tables. The food was good when it finally came, they had our order wrong so we had to wait for that too. Had to wait for the bread. Prices were high for what we got. Very disappointed and will not be returning. Why can't city restaurants leave a good thing alone?
(1)Amy E.
It's just not that great. The bright red tomato sauce that came on the lasagna smelled and tasted like Ragu. The pollo al pesto came with puny little pieces of what appeared to be dark meat chicken - not the luscious chicken breast I was imagining. The garlic bread and garden salad were average, although the vinaigrette dressing was outstanding. Overall, very average and not worth going a third time. The atmosphere is very Dean Martin-Italian, and there's lots of live music. But if you're looking for good old-world Italian, try Anna's on Pico.
(2)new york r.
I'm from new york my in-laws are from Italy, so it is hard to find good Italian food in California, started coming here about 4years ago and couldn't believe we found a place that was almost as good as home!! BUT SORRY TO SAY, the new chef ,menu,portion size and price is horrible!!!!! the antipasta salad that we order had no salad to it and about two pieces of each meat and a few pieces of cheese for $23 and that was the large!! usually we have to share the pasta dinner because there is so much, this time we shared the chicken parm and it hardly filled the plate with the pasta it was like a child's meal. we left hungry, but that might have been because the sauce(gravy) tasted like Olive Garden and we didn't eat much of it. Our bill for the antipasta salad, chicken parm , veal marsala with two cokes came to $75.00. Until they bring the old chef back with the old menu, we won't be returning or bringing any friends and relatives like we use to do.
(2)Susie S.
3 hours after eating my dinner and still have a bad taste in my mouth. Either the prosciutto or the veal was going bad. Sure glad I didn't finish my plate but the other two friends I was with ended up with the runs. Our waitress was nice but very slow in the kitchen. Also a little too pricey for what you get. I heard the menu changed completely just recently and it's been downhill since. Too bad, the area is nice.
(1)Eric M.
Went here with a bunch of friends. The help was very nice in helping select the food. I had pizza, cant really go wrong with that, nevertheless it was pretty tasty. There minestrone soup, which apparently is the same recipe for the past 20 years, is pretty damn good
(4)D H.
Oh how the mighty have fallen. I used to eat at Vitello's often. I worked in the neighborhood about 5 years ago and it was a regular staple. It is what my good friend calls a "sauce joint" the sort of place where you expect paper placemats with Italy printed on them and home cooked tasting meatballs that remind you of the Italian grandma you never had. At one time, it certainly was this. After dinner tonight though, I won't be back. We arrived and were seated right away, after a few minutes a server came and we ordered drinks. I got a vodka tonic and my friend a rum and coke. Drinks arrived promptly, then everything went awry. Our server disappeared for 1/2 an hour, then when she reappeared acted like nothing had happened, though my friend had to go up to the front desk to track her down. No apology or even acknowledgement. I ordered the special pasta which was supposed to be porcini and truffles with a white wine sauce and my friend got the cacciatore. We ordered garlic bread to start since by then we were both starving, but declined the salad, because reading the description I didn't think it was worth an additional $2, yeah it was the iceberg/crouton variety. Garlic bread was iffy, kind of greasy and hard to cut, it had not been properly sliced through. Our meals arrived and my pasta was, er, crispy. I appreciate al dente, but this was something else. When the server returned, she asked how it was and I said "ok" and she was concerned and offered to have them cook it further. Points to her there. On return, it was improved, but it wasn't really great. The server then told me next time to tell her that I wanted it done more than al dente, as if it was my fault the pasta wasn't cooked (which is different than al dente btw). I could have made better myself from Trader Joe's Papperdelle. The kicker? $16.95 for noodles with a few bits of porcinis, no sign of the supposed truffles and really nothing else going on. My friend at least got a tasty cacciatore, but it also seemed a bit pricey for a dish that was a piece of meat, a bit of pasta, sauce and a pepper cut up. The point here is, they are charging way too much for really mediocre food. I would have paid less at CPK and gotten better Italian, which is saying something. I try to support the mom and pop but this was embarrassingly bad. I used to love going to this place and I am really disappointed to see it have gone so far downhill in such a short space of time. I hope they can get back on their game.
(2)Phil M.
We have been regulars at this place for years. Today we decided to make a last minute dash to get a nice dependable bite to eat. Little did we know that the place had gone under new management and the exec cook was booted. Not to mention the menu sliced in half. But let me back up here. We arrived and ended up sitting in the main dining room and decided to sit in the bar area dining room. After waiting for 15 minutes with many waiters noticing us I decided to go to the bar and ask for some service. The bar tender asked if we wanted bread and we said yes. He brought out this stuff that shouldn't have been considered for a dog chew toy with butter! Where is the oil and vinegar? So we knew that the lasagna was good here but apparently that changed too! Tasted a step above frozen supermarket quality. My girl decided to go with the Pappardelle and to me it smelled like rubber tires. I was really disappointed. Not to mention the manager was really pushing the specials! We don't go there for the specials sorry. We go there because of what we enjoy. Now we don't. I would imagine many other will follow suit. Guess I gotta find another Italian spot.
(1)Debbie M.
Evening started off right..good friends....good wine and well a lot of laughter....but then it happened. My friend was nicely eating her appetizer salad and low and behold she had a little friend in her dish, a worm. After we sent it back in disgust and had a good laugh with the waitress the night continued with some Delicious eggplant Parmesan and zucchini. I was happy with my meal but was a bit disappointed that the owner did not comp the meal after the worm incident. They tried to give a free $4 dessert yet they were out of almost all the desserts and only then did they comp just the one meal. Good food but honestly thought they could have done more considering the situation.
(2)Tony P.
Well gang- My partner and I have come here for almost 9 years - not just because of its ill gotten media fame but because we liked the food and have a favorite waiter we always ask for. While the waiter is still there and as awesome as ever, we were sooo less than impressed with the menu change and the news of the new chef- They took a family MOM & POP style menu and ruined it- just ruined it. It's sooo sad. If you read the other recent reviews (We were just there last month so all this is recent) I agree with 90% of what they say. The food portions were smaller, they were "refined" beyond value. The pizza we had had flavor but paled in comparison to their menu in the past. I just felt that the new menu didn't fit and tried to be too "fru-fru" probably will not be going back there for a long time. Vitello's if you have any sense, you'll go back to the old menu, seriously.
(2)Jeff S.
I went to Vitello's with my buddy, and the service was excellent. The food was good, but came a little cold. The waiter told me that they were short staffed that morning.
(4)C. H.
I've been going to Vitello's for years and just recently went after the remodel. All I can say is WOW! The service was always good, but now is far more EXCELLENT. We chose a few recommendations from our server and all of were SOOOO GOOD! The general manager, Brad was very sweet and came by to check on our table. He couldn't be any nicer and had just as good of energy as the place was bringing in this evening. The whole place just had so much more life to it. The revamped menu was much better than what I'd tasted before (so much more flavor now). I highly recommend the trophie pasta to start (comes in a truffle sauce). Delicious! I read a few reviews that people didn't seem to enjoy the new changes, but I have to say, that I'm a huge fan. I know that the old style Vitello's was really charming, but it seems like the new style is transitioning more with our times. The patio and ambiance really does make it so much more inviting. Thanks for another wonderful meal and evening! We'll be back again soon!
(5)Lisa P.
Not the best Italian food. the food is very salty and not to flavorful. I had stuffed mannicotti and the meat wasn't very flavorful and the sauce was very watery and salty. Fun fact they names a dish after Robert Blake called fusilli a la Robert Blake.
(2)Tiffany R.
I went here with an old friend, and was only mildly creeped out by the total absence of other patrons. The eggplant parmigana was quite tasty, good sized portion and exactly what I was expecting. The copious amounts of garbanzo beans on the salad made for an amazingly gaseous 24 hours, as I, along with anyone else who was left in my wake, are sorry to say.
(3)Ana C.
I love the restaurant atmosphere but their pizza is soggy, Soggy, SOGGY. Either they don't know how to make it or they just don't care. I've ordered from them for pick up quite a few times-- you'd think I would have learned by now to stop ordering their pizza; it's a soupy undercooked mess. Come on, Vitello's hire someone who knows how to make a pizza.
(2)Aaron D.
decided to finally write a review of this place after going to Peppone's last night....... very similar, authentic italian restaurants with great service. Overall Vitello's is consistently very good. Great food quality, great specials, good wine selection. Service has been hit or miss..... never rude or bad, just a little slow sometimes. It's rarely busy enough that you have to wait long. Spectacular canolis. But Pepone's does edge it out overall. Give em both a shot!
(4)Larry L.
If you are looking for average food then this is your place. The service is fantastic and the interior is dark. I say average food because I don't think it is actually italian. But there is pasta and sauce available if you would like it :) Don't expect the sauce to taste good tho - more like ragu. You are going to wonder why the Veal comes diced up and not whole. You will also wonder why the garlic bread has sesame seeds on it. Like I said - it's food - just not Italian.
(2)Bradly B.
Carmen Lundy at "Upstairs At Vitello's" was a stunning evening of wonderful food, great service and what a singer...went second night to her new "Changes" Cd release party and the place was packed, alive and hopping! Los Angeles doesn't have many venues for singers of her calibre so it was encouraging to see a great turnout for the Legendary Jazz Diva who is the greatest Jazz Singer alive without a doubt. Sound is great and Carmen gave the performance of a lifetime so we stayed for both shows which was rewarding as none of the songs were repeated from the first show making for a magnificent evening...haven't dined for years at Vitello's and happy to report Lasagna was multi-layed, fresh and tasty and Lobster with Asparagas was yummy and satisfying...didn't see any food left on plates and cleary everyone dined happily and loved the great show...kudos to the hostess and serving staff who are all warm, friendly and professional, making sure everyone had their needs cheerfully tended to...Bravo Upstairs, keep up the great music and delicious food!
(5)Kap K.
Vitello's is situated in Studio City within a street lined with various delis and other restaurants. It's actually a charming neighborhood. Parking can be found on the side of the restaurant but it is a very small parking lot so it is likely you will end up parking on the street. The best way to park is just go to the neighborhood adjacent to the parking, it is a little bit of a walk but it isn't bad, it's free, just make sure you read the parking signs for those restrictions! When we walked in we were greeted promptly. Being LA, it is not uncommon to see celeb pictures lining the wall as testament to the "quality" of the restaurant. I am thinking okay, some ringing endorsements from the celebs so I anticipated good service and food. We were seated and server came to take our drink orders. Unfortunately server was not well versed in all the wine selection just the ones that he was familiar with and he did admit he didn't know the entire selection but recommend few that he was familiar with so we ordered a Da Vinci Chianti which surprisingly wasn't bad at all! We then proceeded to order the food. We were given a basket of garlic bread which was okay, nothing out of the ordinary, standard sesame French bread which appears to be something bought in a local supermarket bread aisle. If you have been to Italy you know that Italians are passionate about food, oh but the bread, to screw up a bread that is just sacrilegious! I should have just gotten up and walked away....but alas...a friend pick this place with all good intentions and I didn't want to appear rude so I bit my tongue and stayed. We ordered another typical and standard appetizer, fried calamari. Calamari arrived with a side of marinara sauce and the appearance of the fried calamari was not pleasing to the eyes. It looked like big pieces of cookies stuck together, as if someone made cookie dough and dipped the calamari and threw it in the deep fryer. As predicted, I took a bite and I was met with "crunch" and hot oil seeped out of the batter like volcanic lava, ouch!!!! The calamari they used were small pieces so most of the calamari while looking big were actually nothing more then "batter" and little calamari. After treating the 3rd degree burns that we all suffered from the calamari our orders finally arrived. I ordered the veal piccata which came with a side salad and spaghetti along with your choice of sauce. I expected the noodle to be the standard consistency, al dente, but was met with an over cooked noodles that were too soft and the water downed meat sauce. At this point I was miserable but I am mindful that just because I am not enjoying the food I should not kill the mood in the group, I grin and bear it just focusing on the good company I had and thank goodness for the company because I wanted to walk out of the place. We all finished our meals and server asked if we wanted dessert, at this point, I was not interested in ordering any dessert if the dinner was any indication of the quality, dessert was the last thing on my mind. But sure enough, the few in our group had a sweet tooth and wanted to try the dessert, as you can image, in silence I screamed, noooooo! but again bit my tongue and just smiled.....maybe just maybe...the dessert will different, maybe it will be the savior of the evening, so against my better judgment we ordered some dessert. Folks it is one of those things when you are losing so badly in a craps table in vegas, you think this is it, you bet the remaing chips, the ultimate hail mary, you think to yourself this one last roll of the dice will make the difference and you will get back all your losses and come out on top......We crossed our fingers and ordered dessert and few minutes later ours desserts arrived, the Baccini gelato, spumoni cake and cheesecake. Mama mia! baccini was suppose to be gelato covered in chocolate shell but when I carefully tried to "crack" the shell to partake of the gelato inside, my spoon made a thud sound, yep, it was hard as a rock! And after several minutes of trying to crack the chocolate shell I managed to crack enough of it to get to the "gelato" and that ended up being hard as a rock also, it was nothing more then tasteless cheap ice cream. Cheese cake was cheese cake nothing to rave about and spumoni, oh it is truly a sad day, do they not understand the concept of spumoni?? I was hoping for a smooth ice cream layers rather I could have played hockey with this thing. Yep, the dice was rolled and ended up with big fat zero, nada, zip, cero... I wish I can give this place the benefit of the doubt and chuck it up to just a bad night in the kitchen, maybe it wasn't their day I mean after all they have all the celebrity pictures endorsing the restaurant....so....then ...what the heck happened? Do celebrities get a different menu and different quality of food? Inquiring minds want to know!
(1)Veggie Y.
Nice jazz club upstairs.
(4)Lynn Z.
been here several times before it was the "new" vitello's osteria. i was embarrassed to have recommended this place to celebrate some family birthdays tonight. i knew the "old" menu was reliable, especially considering that we had some teens and a kid in the party, but that menu is gone. the decor is about the only improvement. across the board, the food was disappointing. the service was a joke. no bread and long waits between courses, yet the busboys came to the table 5 minutes after the food was served to ask if they could clear our plates. honestly it felt like the waitstaff was in training and using us as guinea pigs. when i complained that my $18. butternut squash torelli was unacceptable as an entree (6 mini ravioli, with a bit of butter and 2 sprigs of sage), the server said the chef said that it was so small because it was handmade. huh? my companion picked at his undercooked short ribs with overcooked polenta. i had pre-arranged birthday deserts privately with the host, then the server came over to the table after the mains to ask "is there a birthday"? the $300 tab with mandatory 20% service for a party of six and the total lack of any concern on the part of the staff will insure that we never return. don't waste your money.
(1)Sonny D.
The Colonel introduced me to this places 6 months ago, selling it has the place Robert Blake killed his wife. The restaurant is nice, nothing fancy but has an Italian homey feel. I had the eggplant parmesan, very good. I can tell this place has a lot of regulars and the waitress we had was very nice.
(4)Nikki R.
We were looking for good pasta and cute ambiance...and that's what we got! I'm a fat kid from the Midwest, so the portion size out here in general is something to get used to, but I have yet to leave this place hungry, yet i don't feel like a fat guy after thanksgiving who has to lean back to breathe. My favorite is some pasta with chicken AND shrimp in a cream sauce, YUMMY! And the area is really fun and cute, so you can walk around for a while after you eat. Good date place!
(4)DE S.
First time at Vitello's. It was awesome! My date and I ordered lobster ravioli with pink sauce, chicken parm with a side of gnocchi and a cannoli for dessert. Everything was superb, but the cannoli stole the show. Will be coming back for sure -- maybe to check out the live entertainment show (which was in a separate room upstairs in the back, but sounded fun). Great service, easy parking (valet) and friendly staff. Used open table for reservation. Thanks for a great dinner Vitello's!
(5)Eliz G.
Service: probably the best i've had in LA. The atmosphere was great..super old school Italian decor..very charming. Food: OK. Red sauce: extremely mediocre. I asked the server if the gnocchi was homemade and it clearly wasn't. The entrees are not authentic Italian but pass well for it. Great place to go and have a bottle of wine with some phenomenal garlic bread and salads.... stay away from the "fried mozzarella" appetizer.. very unappealing... the mozzarella sticks at your local pizza place are probably better. I go here because it's close and there aren't any other Italian places near by that I know of.
(3)Lane W.
the food tastes like italian fast-food. not great, edible though. and Opera singers... stop SHUSHING me! You're in a bar!!!
(2)Alisa B.
it used to be my husband's and my go-to italian restaurant. went tonight for our anniversary and didn't realize they changed owners and chefs. how disappointing...the food is bland and i still can't figure out how you mess up chicken parm. it's not the same vitello's and i really wish we knew before we headed down there for a disappointing dinner. the only upside was the staff was very attentive, but that could have been because no one was there. no surprise. dont go!
(2)Eric A.
It should have been 5 stars, but lately I've been disappointed. I have been coming to this restaurant for over 20 years (even when it was in the smaller space across the street). It has been, literally, the best Italian food I've ever eaten. We actually dined there about an hour before Robert Blake shot his wife. When it changed hands, we were thankful that the menu stayed the same. Sort of. They put in some nicer booths, added annoying singer nights, annoying Valet parking (the parking lot is right next door for pete's sake! Why would I pay someone when I can walk 10 steps to my car?!). I have been ordering my favorite dish for years, Mostacchioli al Forno. It has always come on a huge overflowing plate...it is absolutely delicious. It's always been enough to take some home for lunch the next day, and it's even better reheated. The last three times I've gone, the portions have gotten smaller and smaller. Now I eat the entire plate full with none to take home, and the prices have gone up. They also have amazing blue cheese dressing for the salads. Then the very last time I went, even the quality of the food wasn't as good. Don't know what's going on there, but they better shape up or they're gonna start losing their long-time regulars. There's one older guy waiter that's been there for a long time who is really annoying.
(4)Marvelous M.
Great Italian! Ellen and I went here on a Wednesday night, *I think*. I had shrimp scampi (with some other name... Mediteranean something...). It was GREAT. The atmosphere is totally comfy and I'd recommend this place to anyone.
(5)Rabbit B.
So I finally got an opportunity to eat at Vitello's. And what did I think you ask? Well, it was okay but I've had better Italian food elsewhere. I do have to say the service was very good. As for the atmosphere, I love the little bar in the back. It's got a lot of personality. It's also nice to be able to go upstairs and listen to music. I was surprised to see people like Pancho Sanchez and Billy Vera on the calendar. So would I go back? Maybe if there was somebody performing I was interested in checking out. Oh and as for parking, they valet which is always convenient. All in all we had a pleasant evening and I would probably recommend it even if only for cocktails and music. Oh and by the way...the Restivo Brothers who built the restaurant haven't owned it since 2007--just so you know--and they pulled off the menu the "Pasta a la Robert Blake" so don't look for that dish because you won't find it.
(3)daren m.
an institution. nice room esp the big one with the chandelier - ask for it if you make reservations. decent food but far from amazing. my spaghetti was soggy and the meatballs were mealy, my waiter disappeared from our table tonight during dinner - never got cheese or fresh pepper on my pasta. fine if you are in the hoode.
(3)Penn T.
We got takeout from them the other night and it was delicious. I had the garlic pizetti, which is an extremely thin appetizer pizza. We split the spaghetti with meatballs and the beef ravioli in alfredo sauce, both were yummy as well. The only downside was that I ordered a salad and they didn't include it. Annoying! But I forgive them because the rest of the food was good.
(4)John S.
If for no other reason this place has the best stuffed pizza in town. Any time I can feed a family of 4 for $20 and enjoy it im sold. Have had other items on the menu and they are all good but none as good as the stuffed pizza. Also a great neighborhood to walk around and enjoy before or after dinner.
(4)Fred A.
So I was shocked to find the food was really doggone good...better than I expected. I ordered the Chicken Parmesan and I loved it! Came with a side of pasta and meat sauce.....and I loved the sauce too! Make no mistake, this is traditional Italian-American cuisine. Not for gourmands or epicures. Just good old homestyle restaurant food Italian style. Better than Palermo's and close to Miceli's. Decent service too. They make a good manhattan also....maybe that's why I liked it so much....nah! Just plain good Italian food.
(4)Dana C.
In the past month, I have come here for an event and ordered food for delivery. I have had the BEST experience with both. The everything pizza is absolutely delicious, as is the Chicken fettucine alfredo. It's become my new favorite Italian place! The only thing I hate is that you cannot park on side streets after 9 or you get a parking ticket (as I did...).
(4)Nate B.
The best Italian restaurant in LA, and I've eaten at them all. Great food and great service. Not hovering, but there when you need them. And the live shows are wonderful. It's in a good safe area with valet or self street parking. Highly recommended. You won't be sorry.
(5)Mike D.
I wonder if many of the previous reviewers actually tried the food here. A group of six of us picked Vitello's last night after checking out some of these reviews and hearing that this was "The Robert Blake Restaurant." We sat in large, fairly comfortable booth underneath an air-conditioning duct that must have also been connected to their meat locker. We definitely enjoyed the campy Italian atmosphere and the old-school waiter. Here's the problem: Have you seen the commercial where the chef comes out and says, "I didn't cook this food, Pizza Hut delivered the pasta!!!" Well Vitello's needs to call Pizza Hut. I had the halibut which, judging from my friends' reactions, was the best dish on the table. I would compare it to a reasonable frozen entree from Trader Joe's. The pasta dishes didn't go over as well and suffered from a severe case of the blands. The pasta primavera came out with a "white" sauce that consisted of a puddle of watery wine at the bottom of the bowl. The penne arrabbiata reminded me of the dish I make for myself when all I have in the house is pasta, Ragu, and chili flakes. The veal parm looked like it time traveled to my buddy's plate from my 8th grade cafeteria lunch tray. Overall, the food won't kill you, but what's the point of going out if you can do better with Pizza Hut delivery? I liked the atmosphere enough that I might return to the back of the restaurant (for a manhattan or a martini) where an amateur opera singer had the crowd literally screaming, "Bravo!"
(2)mark w.
One of my favorite restaurants. Vitello's has great food, terrific ambiance and is always packed. You don't have to wait long though as there are several rooms for seating and the staff does a great job making sure you have everything you need. I love everything I've tried here, and recommend the Garry Marshall pasta dish, yes, named after the director, who's a regular. When you're done, walk off your meal - this little nook of the Valley is like Brentwood, very beautiful, with little shops, a local theatre, etc.
(5)nan w.
I have been going to Vitello's for about 5 years now. I have enjoyed the food from the very beginning. I haven't found any Italian restaurants that I have liked except for Vitello's. Their spaghetti, gnocchi, raviolis, chicken marsala, lasagna are all excellent. Their pizza falls a little flat so I haven't ordered another. I failed to give Vitello's five stars because ever since they changed ownership, I feel the new owners are out to make a buck. The new owners implemented valet parking, which isn't necessary. And they have now started charging for the dinner salad. I'm surprised they haven't started charging for the dinner bread. It used to be the salad and bread would come with your dinner. Even though there are the two negative comments, Vitello's is still a good restaurant with great food. Thank God the new owners haven't messed with the recipes.
(4)Stephany B.
love their chicago deep dish pizza. it's great to go on a friday night, order a bottle of cheap red wine, share a pizza and watch the awesomeness of the older folks singing broadway showtunes! it's like kareoki with a pianist. anyone can come in and bring sheet music for the piano player and sing whatever you want. my boyfriend and i had a such a great time when we went recently, we stayed the whole night! they were all so cute, reliving their younger years on the stage and performing with such great presence. we will be back soon, i promise!!!
(4)Stephanie S.
I've been to Vitello's many times and have always had a wonderful experience! As of late, New Years Eve! My last minute ass didn't make reservations anywhere, and everything was booked! Duh... I called to see if they were booked, which they were. But not until 7:30! Woop! Dinner at 5:30 it would be then! lol I ordered chicken with noodles and a cream sauce with extra mushrooms! The only thing I didn't like was the calamari.. :( It was really bland, and only came with marinara. Ew. Aioli please! The waiters are always friendly and accommodating, even with my order changes. I will continue to go back here for the wonderful food and LIVE MUSIC! It's a fun place!
(4)George K.
Come for the music, on any given night you are sure to find great jazz here. The food is reasonably priced traditional Italian (pizza, spaghetti and meatballs...) The upstairs room is a nice jazz scene, full bar and tablecloths, like an old-fashioned jazz supper club. They have started booking some of the best bands in LA. Call to find out the cover charge. It is a real listening room, which is nice for a change -a jazz room with food, rather than a restaurant with jazz (If you want to eat and talk, stay downstairs in the main restaurant).
(4)Vick H.
Major disappointment, we arrived there on a Saturday afternoon, wasn't very busy, waited by the hostess desk to be acknowledged for a few minutes, (no hostess), few of the employees walked by without saying a word, finally I asked a guy who worked there if there was a hostess and he said: "its comin, its comin" finally the waitress got us a table. She was extremely incompetent, wasn't sure about their own menu items or their own house champagne. We ordered spaghetti, mind you it's their specialty, both pastas were totally under cooked, at the end the bill was $70 for 2 people. Total waste of time and money. Bad service, bad food, and over-priced.
(1)Lisa R.
I hadn't eaten here for probably 8 years. Husband and I were driving around, trolling for some food and as we headed down Ventura Blvd, I though of Vitello's. We were both a little skeptical but went for it: my food? Fantastic. I had the garden salad with their blue cheese dressing. OMG! So deeelish. the dressing was amazing. I also had the capellini with marinara and chicken. WOW. Really was not expecting it to be as good as it was. Husband had the linguini and clams. Just okay. Nothing amazing. the other questionable part? Our server was MIA most of our meal. I think the staff was doing a lunch / dinner trade off, but before the trade, she was just barely noticing us. We will be coming in more often. I forget about this place -- oh, and the price was really decent, too!
(4)Robert C.
It's inconsistant. Last time was really nice; good service and food. Tonight the mussels were mushy (meaning not very fresh). You know how you put one in your mouth and you immediately spit it out because something just isn't right? The Mediterranean Sea Bass was dry/over-cooked. The carbonara was really good again. The busboy tried to take my unfinished plate of carbonara. So irritating having to defend your food from the busboy. It's like everybody's in too much of a hurry or they're operating in fear of their jobs. That's just the feeling I get. They take plates and silverware and then you have to ask to get new ones. And then you have to ask them to clear things you ARE done with, ie: the empty bread basket or water bottle. With no pepper on the tables you expect them to offer it fresh ground, but nope. Vitello's is loud and with the piano playing, almost intolerable. It was a relief to finally get out of there this evening, $133 and a $68 parking ticket later. Yeah..tonight turned me off Vitello's. Well, you know I'll go back for the carbonara, I'll sit away from the piano and I'll try to concentrate on communicating my needs to the server in time, before she whooshes away, impossible to summon back to bring me a knife.
(2)Ron P.
We got in at 7:45 we are 3rd party in. We ordered the waiter suggested that both of my guests will order the same pasta to make it easy in the chef and wouldn't get mad on her. Waited 45 min while we watch other people the enter 20-30 min after us get there food and have got only our salad and calamari and a bottle of wine. Called waiter, she said: DO U GUYS ORDERED? and then she looked at her paper work and said she FORGOT to put our order in. Then we get our order and my order Eggplant Parmesan was COLD. Do I need to add more.......... FIRST AND LAST TIME!!!! DO NOT GO THERE!!!!!!
(1)Irene M.
Hmmm had a $25 deal that expired ...has $10 value now Manager insists that even though I no longer can get the $25 deal, the paid value of $10 must still be used dine in WTH!!! I reason with her thst im just going to order & ask for a to go box so why waste plates. & the server's time & ask for a to go box. Meanwhile the manager ..butch looking lady is habing a smoke in front of the restaurant ..isn't that stuff supposed to be done in the back?
(2)Al S.
Used to come here for years, it was never great but wasn't bad. Went there tonight, first thing I noticed was the new menu, nothing original, just the usual that you'd expect to find anywhere. I ended up ordering Chicken Parmesan. It was truly awful. Lukewarm, watery and tasteless. Not to mention ridiculously over priced. The side of pasta was equally watery and terrible. Got the bill, over $100 with tip (for two of us). Service wasn't bad, but the food was the worst I've had in a long time. I can't overstate how bad the food was tonight. Never again.
(1)Sabrina L.
I've eaten here twice and left both times disappointed. The first time I tried their saltimbocca. My husband liked his pasta dish which I thought was better than mine. For dessert, we got the tiramisu which was good. I decided to give Vitello's another try the other day and decided it's not for me. My brother ordered the caprese which was bland (but not bad after adding salt) and the Marghrita pizza which he didn't care for. I got the panini (I forget which one) and it was OK. The fries were too crispy. Other people must love the place because it seems popular but it's just not for me.
(1)Adam L.
I would've nearly given 4Stars for the quaint inside decor and atmosphere. It has good wood-fired Pizza (not the best I've ever had), but good. The pasta looked great, as it was presented to nearby tables, but we felt like Pizza. The house Chardonnay was disappointing. I ordered the 'house dry white' but they were apparently changing the menu, so our server recommended the 'NEW" house White/Chardonnay and I was surprised to see that it was $9.00 per glass. That was a price hike considering the one I ordered was only $7.50. It wasn't a great one either, however I am a Sav Blanc fan. I should've gone the New Zealand Sav Blanc for the same price. You can never go wrong with a Marlborough Sav Blanc from N.Z. The Margarita thin crust wood-fired Pizza was delicious, but the "Italian/Greek" one was a little over-powering in flavor and over filled. The Garlic Bread was lovely. Our Server was nice. The place looks great. We had a lovely evening. We LOVE that Tahunga strip of shops and restaurants. Vitello's has a feel of a LOT of gorgeous L.A. history!
(3)April L.
Just got home from dinner with the family at Vitellos.. I haven't eaten there in a while. I was extremely disappointed that they've changed their entire menu and have raised their prices. Gone are all old great dishes that I've enjoyed over the years and replaced with boring "nothing special" ones.. Our waiter Chris was great but the food took a long time to get to the table. I'm sad to say that I probably wont be going back there. :(
(2)Pam E.
Love the atmosphere and the food. I work close by and it's a great place to stop for dinner and cocktails. The renovation made all the difference. Rarely went there before. Now it's trendy, really good food and friendly service
(4)Matt S.
I've been eating here for the past five years or so, and in the last year it's become absolutely atrocious. Their menu has changed drastically, along with all their ingredients and prices. The same meals, made not as well are on average $5 more per entree. I ordered a pizza (since there's no way they can mess that up right?) and waited an hour...gave them a call asking why it was taking so long tonight and they said they'd call back in 15 minutes...another 45 pass and I call them back to ask why it's been two hours with no pizza? The person on the phone gets defensive, blaming me for waiting that long and not calling earlier (which I clearly did). They made a huge issue of canceling the order and had no answer for where their driver was. Not worth the hassle for sub-par canned Italian food.
(1)Marilyn P.
Do yourself a favor, order the pizza with meatballs. Desserts are good. No complaints. Take out is priced a bit cheaper than dining in I believe.
(5)Leonard B.
Your big debate can only be, "What was worse, the food or the service?"
(1)Nikki S.
Stupidly tried one last time to order from Vitellos - Over 2 hours and no pizza appeared?! On the phone I only got a weak 'well, we're busy tonight' and they scoffed at me when I ask that they remove the charges they had already placed on my card. Their horrible service really ruined a great Saturday night at home.... I hope they lose all their business and shut down after such astonishingly bad customer service.
(1)PickyWhiteGu Y.
THE SHORT: I've been coming here regularly for 10 years, so that should tell you how much I loved this place (note the past tense). Below, I will tell you at length why I'm using past tense, but in the meantime - for those who like short reviews - here it is: Do not go here. Do not go here. Do not go here. Save your money or give your money to charity or go to 1,000 other Italian restaurants in LA, but DO NOT GO HERE. THE (VERY) LONG: When news hit that Robert Blake had offed his wife in the Vitello's parking lot, I thought: "I have to try that restaurant!" I was so delighted when I first went; the sauces were amazing. This was truly NY Italian at its best. The dated interior only added to the charm. It was love, love, love at first sight. When I took my wife their the first time, she noticed the menu said something like: "Feel free to modify anything to your liking." So she did, and the result was a meal she termed one of the three best meals she'd ever had in her life. I've now been with my wife for 10 years. She's never said anything remotely like that about any other place (and we eat out a lot). For a long time it was my favorite Italian food in LA. Every time I had an out-of-town visitor, it was one of the two or three places I took them to eat. Everyone enjoyed it. Tonight, that all changed. First thing you need to know is that the management has changed and with it the chef, the menu, the prices, and the willingness to modify. Oh, and the divider between the urinals. That was gone, too. I guess the new management thinks we should have to look at each other's penises. Anyway, after much effort (see above), my wife ordered her modified favorite meal and it tasted NOTHING like it used to. Like, imagine you're expecting a Morton's ribeye steak, but instead you're served Steak-umms by some guy named Morty. Only Steak-umms are way tastier than this Olive Garden-esque fare. If this meal had been our first impression 10 years ago, we never would've returned. [NOTE: My wife just walked in, saw what I was writing, and told me to tell you all: Do not go here.] I'll admit my chicken parm was decent. The problem was it was only about 50% as good as it once was, not worth $20, and not good enough to make me ever want to go back. Oh, and they no longer serve pasta as a side with their ITALIAN dishes. It's now lukewarm veggies and mashed potatoes. The guy behind me in his thick, NY accent upon learning the place he'd been coming to for 10 years changed the menu: "Whoever heard a servin' mashed potatoes with Italian food?" I know what you're thinking: If you don't want potatoes or zucchini, just order a side of pasta. That's a great idea! Only it's $7.00 extra! Seriously, people do not go here. When we weren't offered bread, I asked our beleaguered waiter if part of the new Vitello's was no bread. "We now only offer it upon request." "Well, my wife is requesting bread." A few minutes later, we had 2 or 3 slices of a decent-but-not-great Ciabatta bread in front of us with a below average olive tapenade. 45 minutes later we had a line item on our bill for $2. Two entrees, the bread and a bottle of $35 wine, plus tip, came out to just under $100. Before the menu change, we used to spend right around $70 for the same items, only we actually enjoyed them. Have I mentioned you should NOT go here? I am not exaggerating when I say the waiters were at wits end the whole night. I watched as they dealt with customer after customer objecting to the changes. I heard responses like: "I have nothing to do with it, I'm just a waiter." and "I've been listening to this for two weeks." I had busboys, noticing I wasn't a fan of the new food, whispering to me that they had people walking out left and right "in the middle of their meals." I had waiters who recognized me drop by my table to point out the new manager, trying to urge me to say something. On their way out, two elderly, long-time patrons who had been sitting next to us, took the time to come over and tell us they too were unimpressed. I'm telling you, people, I have never seen such a colossal failure in all my life. Dear owners: You bought Vitello's because you wanted to own Vitellos'. If you just wanted to own an Italian restaurant, it would've been cheaper to open a new one. I give this faux-Vitello's 12 months tops before they'll either attempt to change back or be out of business. BOTTOM LINE: Vitello's is no longer the place to seek out when you want NY/American Italian. Now, it's just another one of a 1000 similar, forgettable Italian restaurants that happens to have a sign on the front that says "Vitello's." Do not go here. UPDATE: Thanks to a Yelper, I went to Vitello's Trattoria in Thousand Oaks and it IS owned by the former owners of Vitello's on Tujunga, it DOES feature the old menu and most importantly IT FEATURES THE OLD RECIPES! For a longtime Vitello's frequenter (me), it was totally worth the drive.
(1)Sonho L.
so a solid 3 stars for the food. I'm not an Italian connoisseur by any means, but I know bad Italian and this isn't bad. It's probably solid as some of the reviewers have said. But the upstairs music. A THOUSAND STARS!!! the Jazz... The world class jazz... here in the San Fernando Valley. It's almost an anachronism... It's crazy. The Valley? World Class jazz? YES!!! Order a few drinks, maybe the pizza, and sit back to the music. Sway, holler, clap, and cheer! It's fantastic!!! The room is small and there are no bad seats. Acoustics are great. The rear and side tables are raised for great sight lines. Really does have the right mood for a jazz club. Sort of the mood Catalina's used to have when it was on Cahuenga and the Baked Potato still has. Music is different from night to night, so do a little homework if you're not sure about a group. The Jazz room does have a $20 cover, but for the incredible musicians you can see there, it's a freaking steal!!!
(5)Cristina M.
I love Vitello's for several reasons: *walking distance from my house *great atmosphere *I can bring my dog and have dinner/drinks outside *entertainment upstairs *decent martini's *homemade tiramisu *I'm Sicilian and I LOVE noodles!!! Only downside is that it's a little too dim inside for me.
(4)camille n.
Great food with a very interesting new menu, great atmosphere, great service! The new vitello's really delivers, excited to see what it will be once it's all done. I both dined and went to one of the show and both experience were great, will definetely recommend to check out the place.
(5)Irma A.
My husband and I had dinner at Vitello's last night. I wanted to have seafood pasta, so my husband suggested we try Vitello's. The ambiance was cozy, and I notice more seniors driving in their nice cars. The price is a little bit more than an Olive Garden. We had calamari as appetizer (my husband thinks its really good) - its crispy but a little to much bread crumbs for me. I ordered Mediteranian Scampi pasta and finished with a canolli and coffee. I find the preparations basic, but tasted well. I will give the food 3 stars, but the servers were really nice and attentive - so I give Vitello's 4 stars.
(4)S C.
I used to live in the neighborhood and would go here a lot. It used to be the quintessential old school Italian restaurant: great food, large portions, comfy booths, Italian music, reasonable prices, etc. My boyfriend and I took his parents here last Saturday since they love Italian food. What a huge disappointment. The new decor looks like something from the '80s. Like they tried to go modern, but they missed by a few decades. Gone are the comfy booths, replaced by small, hard chairs and crowded tables. We had a reservation and still waited a while for a table (at 6 p.m.). The service was slow, and I sat without water for most of the meal. The menu is completely different and smaller than it used to be. The portions are smaller, and the prices have doubled (at least). The music they were playing was baffling. Not even sure what it was, but it was not Italian at all. We ordered an appetizer platter, and as I went to take a bit of shrimp, I noticed it hadn't been deveined. EWWWW! I talked to the server about their gluten-free options, and she told me they had some types of pasta and pizza. I then ordered chicken picatta, and when it came out, it was served over pasta (not gluten-free pasta). Wow. I sent the food back and asked for vegetables in place of the pasta. My entree was fine, but not worth $18. I wish we'd gone elsewhere. We won't be back. It's a sad day.
(1)John B.
Ehhhh ate here for the first time last night. Very nice staff and service, the food, nothing special at all especially at relatively high, pretentious whole-dollar-amount prices. Odd and kind of boring menu that tries to be uppity northern Italian and rustic southern Italian all at the same time. Eggplant in a pasta special ruined the dish by being overcooked and burned. These people need to hire a real chef. What's with the valet parking? And time to redecorate and get some tableware that does not look like it was lifted from a cafeteria. We went across the street for dessert.
(1)Marty W.
Wow...never have I seen such polarizing reviews of a restaurant. So let me break it down. First of all, I'm not a fan of live jazz so my updated review is about the downstairs room which I visited last week. I live not far from Vitello's and first started dining there 20 years ago. Honest feeling--while I liked the food and ambiance to a degree, I never thought the food was anything special. Better than good, thought not as fine as newer Italian restaurants that have sprung up in the Valley in the past 10-15 years and certainly not in the same league as Italian restaurants on the other side of the hill, specifically in Hollywood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica. Vitello's seemed to retain its popularity as much because of tradition, being really the only decent Italian restaurant in the Tujunga corridor without having to head off to Ventura Blvd. in Studio City or Sherman Oaks for a better dining experience and also because it was a good place to bring large families with kids for a not-too-expensive evening out. I visited Vitello's just after they brought in a new Manager and a head chef from Sardinia. While the menu items were fewer and the prices slightly higher, I thought the ingredients and preparation were IMHO infinitely better. And I was pleasantly surprised by the addition of daily menu specials which seemed very inviting. Items like new fresh fish dishes and rack of lamb were not a part of the old Vitello's nor were some of the added appetizer and dessert items. But I then thought there was a new problem. Now they had to totally redesign the inside of Vitello's to give it a contemporary and more inviting look. Little did I know that this was the grand plan of the restaurant's new management and something they would address after reinventing the menu and bringing in a new head chef and an assistant cook. I returned last week for dinner and was most pleasantly surprised. Except for the one brick wall and the structural design of the entrance foyer, nothing else of the old look remains. When you walk into the main dining area, you are in for a treat. No more booths, no more old fashioned murals. It's all brand new! The new French doors were a very inspired design choice that, when open, give you a view of the street as well as the new outside dining area which is now a real dedicated patio area which should be nice for outdoor dining during the delightful weather at this time of the year. I like the tree in the middle of the main room and the fireplace all which give Vitello's a contemporary 2012 look. And I understand that there will soon be a visible bar rather than the previous "service bar" in the back of the restaurant. I think they have done a magnificent job reinventing Vitello's. The interior is well designed and utilizes the available dining space to great advantage and I hear it accommodates almost as many diners as did the original design. Nice chairs, nice tables. I give the designer of the main room an A+ . And I do commend the management for one thing. While the look has changed and the food has markedly improved, they have retained several of the servers that have been with the place for years. So there is still a part of the old Vitello's that lingers. The new manager, Brad, is trying to make this place really work by making Vitello's an equally pleasant experience for jazz fans who immediately head upstairs and for the regular diners who are simply there for an enjoyable dining experience downstairs. The "new" Vitello's may still be a work in progress and perhaps they need to figure out how to make service a bit more consistent when they get unusually crowded when there is live jazz happening upstairs. But I think they're on the right track!
(4)Elyse M.
If I could give Zero stars I would. We have been going to Vitello's since we moved into the neighborhood 7 years ago. When we went last weekend for my husband's birthday we were beyond disappointed in the new menu changes. We were not aware of the new managements or the new menu so right off the bat we were disappointed. Vitello's was never a place we went because we thought the food was cutting edge or hip and trendy, we went because they had good traditional Italian menu items, definitely something for everyone, it was fun and the staff was great. It was truly iconic to Studio City....can you say "Robert Blake Special". When I opened the menu and didn't see one familiar menu item, Everything was overpriced and not one item even looked appetizing. I almost got up to leave, but as to not make an scene on my husband's birthday I reviewed the items and tried to find something I wanted to eat. The Food The starter salad was small and looked like they came out of a bag of salad, less than appitizing. One salad was swimming in watered down olive oil that they tried to pass off as balsamic dressing the blue cheese dressing was the worst I have ever had, watered down ranch and I think that may have been some blue cheese crumbles in there but I couldn't find them. The Gnocchi was good, not great and I would skip the gorgonzola sauce. It didn't come with a side dish and the portions were barely enough to feed my toddler, not worth $17. My husband had the chicken parmesan and it was ok, but not worth $20. The sauce was very chef boy-r-dee out of a can, definitely nothing to write home about. The worst part was the side dishes that you HAD to get...No pasta here people, just potatoes and zucchini. WTF? Who eats chicken parmesan, or any Italian dish with potatoes and zucchini. We had to order a child's meal pasta for $7 to get a side of pasta with his chicken parmesan. Cheeseless Lasagna. This is a great alternative to an Italian favorite but they did not offer a traditional lasagna so it was no cheese or no Lasagna. Who are they kidding. It was GROSS. Service Out server was great and very apologetic when she was met this resistance. I honestly felt bad for her. You could tell that she had been dealing with the backlash of the bad decisions of the chef and management. She was gracious, and tried every hard to offer suggestions and alternatives but there was nothing she could do about the menu. There were no familiar wait staff faces and as we chatted with her we learned that many of the former staffers left because the new menu and management were not going so well. Coming from year of being in the F&B business when you have a great staff of people that have been there for years and they leave all at once, that is generally not a good sign. I am always open to change trying new things. I can appreciate adding new menu items and am all for changing it up. I can even appreciate them making cosmetic updates to the restaurant, but they have totally missed the boat on the classic iconic traditions of Italian food and Vitellos and what people want. The renovation sound fun and new, but I after what they have done to the menu I am sure that they will be a flop. I hope they don't lose the classic charm that have already begun to diminish. People don't go to icon, traditional Italian restaurants for a cocky chef's sub-par attempt at chic Italian food. We will not be returning anytime soon and we will be spreading the word about the new terrible menu :(.
(1)Reagan B.
Best old school Italian restaurant in the valley, possibly in all of L.A! The people that work there are also very friendly. Have fun! :)
(5)David L.
Really take umbrage with Jay L 's "review". Don't know what he was smoking, but (perhaps) I was the older gentleman at the end of the bar (although not Mexican). The bartenderess (Brianna) was exceptional and extremely pleasant and welcoming, so I can't imagine where that comment came from. Sounds like a typical "wanna be" actor spouting off. Food was great. Macallen Scotch (12) was excellent. Service excellent. Perhaps Jay needs to come back when he is having a better day. BTW, they have two large screen HD TVs and Lisa (manager) is fantastic to everyone.
(5)Yoli M.
This is my first impression review. I am willing to give it one more shot but here goes: The good- nice mood lighting. Pricing not to bad, nice people working there. The bad- Pizza was a little too greasy. My ex and her dad shared this, and it was disgusting greasy, we had to use their cloth napkins to sop up some from the pizza cause it was like... puddles of grease sitting on top. Also, on this particular occasion, the service was slow. Maybe my waiter, was overwhelmed, maybe he forgot about us cause we were put in a dark corner (which I suspect was cause I had my 3 yr old with me and dinner service was about to get going, It was about 630 when we got there). But It took FORREEVER to get greeted at the table then, once we did get our food, waiter kinda disappeared. The busboy helped me pack some stuff up, and then I waited about 15 mins to just ask for my check!! So, all in all...it was ok. My cannelloni was delicious and like I said, the people were nice. But I expected more.
(3)Stephy S.
Bang bang. Okay, now let's move on to the restaurant and not the controversy from a few years ago. Vitello's has been a Studio City landmark for years. When I used to play in the Moorpark park as a wee little child in chords and mary janes, we'd pass this place and say, "No way, Barone's is SOOOO much better!" (You have to have grown up in the Valley to agree with that one.) Anyhoo, it wasn't until my older years, and let's face it, the years when I discovered the magic of the dirty martini that this place really clicked with me. In the back there is a little bar with mostly older folks. My kinda scene for good martinis. There is usually someone singing and while this can be loud at times while trying to have stimulating conversation and get down someone's pants, it does provide a neat little background to get your buzz on to. As for the food, I wouldn't say it is the most amazing Italian food ever. It's good, but not great. The pastas are usually what I go with. But again, you don't come here for the that. You come here for cool servers with tons of personality who always remember your name. You come here for the slightly cheesy decor and a comfy environment that won't rush you. You come here and you keep coming back because it's perfect for a mid-week meal out with your honey or a strong kick ass martini after work.
(3)Jason S.
I got a pizza to go the other day, after not having been there in a while. The pizza was good and the recent renovations looked very nice. However, a medium sausage pizza, which used to be around $15 dollars, now cost me $21.80! That's a pretty big increase! Looking at the menu for their Vitello's Express location on Ventura, the prices still look reasonable, so I will likely go there for take out in the future.
(3)Robert S.
This is an old Italian restaurant in Studio City with a very traditional menu that also has live Jazz. It is located in the upscale Tujunga Village section across from Aroma Coffee and one of my favorite Gelato shops. The restaurant is famous in some ways with a wall full of autographed celebrity photos and is just as infamous as the location of the murder that was alleged to have been masterminded by actor Robert Blake. The restaurant, like everything else in the area has almost no parking unless you are willing to use a valet. As you enter, you are greeted by a friendly staff that appears to have been working there for several years. The interior is dark and very much in keeping with a traditional Italian theme. They sold an average sized large cheese pizza for an average cost of about $15. The high point of the pizza was a reasonably abundant amount of great quality cheese that was stringy and tangy. The sauce was both fresh and abundant but somewhat bland. The worst part of the pizza was the crust which was quite soggy, thick and undercooked. This terrible crust, combined with abundant sauce and under-cooking meant that all of the toppings would readily fall off the crust as you lifted up a piece, even when it had cooled. I really liked the atmosphere and interesting history of this place and the pizza had come good potential but the terrible crust ruined it for me. I cannot recommend the pizza at this restaurant.
(2)S. T. V.
Valet parking is $3.50 - you can't tell because there's no sign. You can try to find parking on the street for free. The ambiance is perfect for a date or an intimate gathering. The lighting is dim and decoration cute. The food was good overall. I'd describe it as simple, consistent Italian food. Good wine list for pairing. I believe they can accommodate large groups in their banquet rooms. There's also a jazz show upstairs but that costs extra.
(4)David D.
Dreck, absolute dreck! Yelp lead me astray. Forced atmosphere with high priced menu items that were gross, yes gross. Special was grilled salmon, but came out broiled and was undercooked. My grandma's veal was tough, pasta cold, no bread delievered to our table. How does this place stay in business? Maybe people wanna see where robert blake killed his wife. Pizza @ other tables looked good, too bad I'll never be back to try it out. Boom, bam, bow!
(1)Faye T.
Food took so Long to reach the table I'm sure it was good but we were so miserable because we waited an hour for it to arrive. The waitress didn't even bring us any bread we had to practically beg for something. The manager Brad, when I asked him where my drink was he said it takes a while for drinks to come out ma'am. Our appetizer arrives before we even got drinks at the table! The service was HORRIBLE..I will never go there again..and I will never recommend it to friends or out of town guests...
(2)Rick H.
OK so I have given this place 3 chances and 3 strikes and they are OUT !!!! First time driver got lost and it took an hour and a half to get here as you can imagine the food was terrible and cold. Second strike they forgot half my order and than when they did deliver tge second half they charged me $10.00 for freaking bread and oil and vinegar !!!!! Third strike took over an hour to deliver salmon dinner and spaghetti ! Once again cold and almost in edible !! Every time the driver shows up it is always the same BS excuse. Oh sorry we got busy right after you called. Sorry but I am calling BS !!! The food is mediocre at best tge delivery service is horrible and tge service is at best BAD !! Last resort if nothing else is available or if you are just too drunk to drive and don't want pizza
(1)Greg P.
This restaurant has changed drastically. The food is absolutely awful. The old bread they used to have has been exchanged for bread that is now frozen and then defrosted. The service is terrible and the prices are a joke. I think that maybe this is under new management because it is under construction. We had to send back most of our meal after waiting for 45 minutes. This is a place that I have been to 30 times and will never go back again.
(1)Lili B.
This place is like an old classic italian restaurant you would see in a movie. The food is good the service is good. They have a bar/lounge in the back (sort of weird location for it) you can have drinks. Nothing spectacularly amazing but the food is good.
(4)Danny m.
Foooogetaboutit! Actuyally, i do find it kinda charming. Went with a date, and chatted with the waiter about where Robert Blake sat. hd an entertaining evening, and thought it was o.k. Would do it again.
(3)Becky S.
For awhile, to me Vitello's was just that restaurant across the street from my beloved Gelato Bar (and yelp book club haunt Aroma Coffee, woot). But then we were craving Italian and didn't want to leave the Valley, so after it was suggested I did my research and through the wonders of Google discovered that whole Robert Blake thing....Well, that settled it. We had to go if only to satisfy our morbid curiosity. Walking in the dining room, I was charmed by the high ceilings and the mural of Cefalu in Sicily. Sure, that may be cheesy, but I love it. There used to be a dish named after the infamous man, but it is now known by its shorter name: Fusilli e Minestra (pasta with garlic, olive oil, spinach and tomato sauce), and I hear it's actually pretty good. I had the Melensane Rolatini ($16), eggplant with ricotta and cream sauce, and it was ok. I'd go with something else next time. Useful factoid: Bottles of wine are half off on Tuesday nights. Kinda creepy factoid: When you walk by the reservations desk there's a monitor that shows security cam footage of the booths and nooks in the restaurant. I guess if you need an alibi, this is still the place to be...
(3)James C.
So I went to Vitellos with my date which I traveled all the way from downtown to go to because i "now this place is so good its worth the drive" BULLSHIT!!!!. Let me be the first to tell you that this place isn't ANYTHING like how you remember it. The place has been remodeled, it looks NOTHING like how it used to look. The amazing Italian vibe is completely GONE. I felt like I was at some hipster coffee shop in Silverlake. The DRINKS are FUCKING TERRIBLE. The place is under new management and let me tell ya. THE NEW MANAGERS ARE DICKS THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE CUSTOMERS AND THEY ARE NOT TRYING TO GET YOUR BUSINESS. You know why? Well let me tell you. My date and I wanted a drink off of the cocktail list. The only one that even sounded remotely good, they of course didn't have it, so we asked for a drink that would be really good in place of it. IT WAS FUCKING TERRIBLE, so we ordered another drink, Margaritas to boot, you can't fuck that up right/ THEY WERE FUCKING TERRIBLE!. So guess what happens after that, the new manager owner fat ugly bastard mother fucker comes over and says, "Either you drink the drinks we gave you or don't order drinks, we're not going to make any more drinks for you.:" SO I was thinking fuck this guy I am going to order whatever I want. The drinks NEVER CAME, THE SERVICE as I am sure you have read before IS PAINFULLY SLOW. THEY DON'T GIVE A FUCK THERE. I had to almost LITERALLY FIGHT THE MAN TO GET A DRINK AND GET MY FOOD. The food was mediocre at best and way more costly and expensive than what its worth. I FUCKING HATE THIS PLACE I WILL NEVER COME BACK AND IF YOU EVER GO THERE YOU'RE AN IDIOT!!!! I HOPE THE MANAGER GUY READS THIS BECAUSE YOU ARE A FUCKING ASSHOLE AND I WOULD HAVE KICKED YOUR ASS IF I WASN'T A HIGH CLASS PERSON FUCK YOU AND YOUR RESTAURANT YOU WON'T LAST ANOTHER SIX MONTHS YOU FUCKING BASTARD!
(1)Todd P.
Old school Italian food with a murderer twist. This is the place Robert Blake had dinner with his wife and then supposedly shot her in the head out back. Interesting.
(3)Stephanie B.
I am new to the area and though I never saw the old Vitello's, I can promise you this place is amazing. So amazing we've been there everyday for over 2 weeks. Everything that we've ever had on the menu has been amazing, the meatballs, all of the salads, great wine, soup, short ribs, etc....I could go on. The service has been exceptional. Not only is the menu great, they have some awesome events, like the live music and cabaret, and movie night (which is my fav). The owner and manager, Joey have gone above and beyond their hospitality duties. If you're looking for a romantic, swanky atmosphere, this is the place!
(5)Barbara C.
The employees here must be on drugs. Someone in my party ordered a salad and the servers brought it out before it was finished being assembled - it was just a bed of spinach - the shrimp and tomatoes were forgotten! I had some weird chicken parm sandwich - could have been better, could have been worse. It wasn't anything to brag about. They dont bring you plates and utensils that correspond with the food. Upon delivery of desserts, it took the staff about 15 minutes to bring extra forks - by that time, we had figured out how to eat dessert with our meal utensils. Also, it smells old, musty and dirty. Go to Olive Garden instead.
(1)Spencer S.
I lived across the street from Vitello's during the 1994 Northridge earthquake, and they were a neighborhood hero for opening that night to make pizzas and serve drinks to the neighborhood people, when everyone else closed (including 7-11, who ran out of water). So they were always cool in my book. Though their food never was outstanding, it was pretty good, and an evening at the "old" Vitellos was always a good time, with decent wines, decent pasta and surprisingly good fish (especially the salmon with angel hair). And lots of Frank Sinatra. So when we heard about the change in menu and management, we were excited. Vitello's was always a little dated, and we figured a change would do them good. Our first table was 3 feet away from the brightly lit, noisy kitchen... very unpleasant, so we moved a few booths away, which was better, though we could smell the bathroom and watched as customers climbed up the stairs to visit it, and come back... (hub remarked "it kind of sucks to sit here and watch all those people come back who just pooped.") Hub ordered arugula salad... but... where was the dressing? It was a dry mound of leaves with the equivalent of 3 nuts, chopped to nubs, that had fallen under the leaves, and 3 globs of cheese on top. He choked it down with a glass of wine... poor guy. I ordered the "Italian Greek salad," which the menu said was made of "mixed greens." Mixed greens were chopped iceberg lettuce and 5 pieces of arugula. Yep. I did get dressing on mine though. Hub ordered the sausage pizza, which he actually loved. Hot, fresh, with great dough, it was a big improvement on Vitello's former thick, doughy pizzas. And only 2 slices without sausage pieces on them... unlike their former pizza, where the toppings melted and moved around so much, you could often end up with half the pizza sans toppings. Unfortunately, that was all that was good. I ordered a $24 salmon. It was curiously served upside down on the plate--skin side up, with steamed broccoli (the waitress had said sauteed) that was also upside down... really bad presentation. No pasta or anything else, by the way. The salmon supposedly had "lemon caper sauce" but with skin side up, the sauce was not on the edible part. I flipped the entire contents of my plate right side up, only to find the salmon was very undercooked. I sent it back to get it "re-grilled" (waitresses words). It came back hotter, but no less raw. (The plate was hot too, telling me they either stuck the whole thing under the heat lamp, or in the microwave. Bad form.). By then, hub had eaten most of his pizza, so I sent the salmon back again and got a refund. The service was good, but it always was at Vitello's. Still... we are sad to see that the changes only reflect prices, but not food quality. Sorry Vitello's... we might come back for a glass of wine or mayyyybe order a pizza, but we won't eat there again.
(2)Adina F.
I don't understand all of the horrible reviews, I went yesterday and had Penne Arabiatto and it was absolutely delicious. Just the right amount of spicyness. The garlic fries were a-ma-zing and the service was great. I went during a non busy lunch time though so this could be why. Very old fashioned ambiance and its pretty dark in the restaurant, which I like. I'd eat here again and again!
(4)Jamie K.
I used to eat here and get delivery all the time before they "updated" the place. Then when we ordered our usual for delivery it was more expensive and came with out the pasta (meaning they gave us less food for more$). That turned us off for a bit, but we live walking distance and thought we didn't utilize this enough. So we walked up there with our two kids (it use to be really really family friendly) got seated outside and forgot about. We had to ask for bread twice (for the kids) - it never came, our appetizers were lack luster and we ended up leaving with out our entrees to go across the street. At one point our waitress walked out after we had asked for bread 2x's ignored us by only helping another table when we were flagging her down and that was when we left. The manager was very apologetic, but it is not the same warm charming Italian place we ate at for years before.
(1)Big M.
I love the food here. Its expensive (for me) but the food, drink and atmosphere is nice. Only thing I didnt get was the old-geezer room in the back where they play live music, but whatever.. stay in the front room with the rest of the normals and you'll be fine. ps: Leave the gun, take the cannoli pps: Dont leave anything or anyone important in your car. ppps: Great place to bring a date you permanently want to part with!
(5)Eduardo X.
Yes, this is the Robert Blake place. I like going to Two Roads Theatre across the street, so I've been here a few times. Eh. Nothing special, but not bad. Standard fare Italian stuff, good for groups and larger sized parties. I'd eat here again, but it wouldn't be in my top 5 choices for any given night in the area. The decor and friendly service upgrade the rating. Good place to go for comfort food and friendly service.
(3)rena s.
Friends from out of town are coming and normally, in the old days, I would have taken them to Vitello's. Now I can't because it's so terrible, I wouldn't take anyone there, especially a friend. I hope they don't think all their remodeling is going to make it a better place to go, because it's not, the food still stinks. They made a huge mistake when they changed the menu and none of the neighborhood regulars go there anymore. Maybe they don't care, but it sure is giving Ciaoti more business, because that's where I'm taking my out of town friends!
(1)Mari B.
We came here to watch Pocho Sanchez perform at their jazz club. Great venue to watch a musician. Very intimate and personal setting. The staff was extremely nice and attentive. We only had dessert and wine, and it was pretty damn good. The food there looks great too, however I heard from regulars that it's better to grab dinner at the dinning room then in the jazz club since they have a better selection downstairs. The Cannoli was amazing. It was just as good as grabbing one from Little Italy in Boston. I would definitely go back to watch another show there.
(4)Bebe J.
I ordered chicken parmesan. It was so chewy and tough. The worst chicken dish I have ever had. I don't know how this restaurant could have any positive reviews. The food seemed like it was made several days before and reheated in a microwave before it was served. Very disappointing.
(1)Carla B.
Pre-Valentine's Saturday. He walks in and says: "I have a surprise for you. Pónte linda." (= "Get dolled up" in Spanish) So, I got my hair done, put on the gray pencil skirt, red corset, black satin blouse half way unbuttoned yet classy, black stockings, black institutional charol heels, the 30's black hat, string of pearls and deep red lipstick, and out we went. I thought Vitello's was a possibility, since I had mentioned it at some point as one of those places I always see and have never really been to. As Jin mentions, I too used to go to Gelato Bar and wonder about the place as people went in and came out. I remember going in once, just to see a jazz show in the upstairs little cabaret room, and liking it; but I hadn't really had the dinning experience. So when my bf took the highway exit, I smiled like a seven-year-old. :-) Once inside, my bf mentions he has a reservation and the host asks us to follow him. The booth he took us to is one of those hidden ones with the curtains, which are OK; but the center part of the dinning room is more open and cute! So I got up after the host left and inspected from a distance; he sees me and comes to ask if everything was to our satisfaction. I say "I was wondering if maybe you'd have a table over there." He says he has 2, and points at the C-shaped black booth as the better one. We sit, and moments later our server Donna comes over. HARD to make a choice for an entrée! The choices are not super exotic -- it's good old Italian, but everything is home-made and sounded just great: the lobster ravioli in white creamy sauce, the baked pastas, the halibut, the filet of sole... While debating, we order a bottle of their Tuscan red wine. I knew I wanted to try their meatballs, so I asked our waitress if we can have some kind of an appetizer with their home-made meatballs. It's not really on the menu, but I thought I'd ask. She says "Sure! How many would you like?" Yay! We order 4 and they come in a red meat sauce -- generous size and delicious! For entrées, he orders the Fusille Minestra vegetarian pasta in marinara sauce and I order the Veal Parmigiana with linguine in marinara sauce. My bf's pasta was very light and tasty, but my veal parmigiana was delicious! For dessert, I wanted their chocolate cake, but they ran out. :-( I normally am not a fan of tiramisu, because I'm not crazy about coffee desserts, and also because the cake in tiramisu desserts I've had is usually very dry. Their tiramisu was perfect! It had a generous amount of bavarian cream between the thin cake layers to keep it moist and dark chocolate shavings on top -- I loved it! It blended so nicely with red wine. Oh, yeah! And the bread they serve you before bringing your food is so warm and good! The bill: 1 Monte Antico Tuscan red wine bottle @ $39 1 side of 4 meatballs as appetizer @ $6 ($1.50 per meatball) 1 Pasta Minestra entrée @ $14.75 1 Veal Parmigiana entrée @ $17.50 2 tiramisu cakes for dessert @ $5.95 each + Tax @ $8.11 __________________________________________________ = $97.26 plus tip We had a lovely time! One thing, though: it would be GREAT if they remodeled the bar area with the upright piano. A good ol' baby grand belongs in that corner, with bars stools around the piano. THAT would invite anyone for after-dinner drinks! :-) The red velvet curtain needs to go, as well as the old chairs and tables in the middle. I do like the booths, though. It's a classic room with great potential! Will definitely return! P.S.: The place has valet parking @ $3 (CASH ONLY) and is very well known as a live music (mostly jazz) venue.
(4)Anabel d.
According to the definitions of the Yelp Stars I am a tad torn between a 2 and a 3. Once we were driving up to the restaurant it clicked that I had been there once before to see a friend play with a jazz ensemble. Since I couldn't remember if I had eaten my first time there I was excited to try the food. I feel compelled to write this review after having left there shortly because the experience was...well, how shall I put it... memorable? First off, I am usually off from work around 8pm and finding a restaurant to eat isn't extremely difficult. Since it was a late night and I wasn't let out until 9:30 my boyfriend's sis chose Vitello's for our dinner spot instead of another place my boss had suggested for Italian food. I like to plan ahead and when planning to go out to dinner and have some vino, I tend to take my own so that I know I will enjoy it. I was caught off guard by the $15 corkage fee (per bottle). I am used to paying ten so granted we decided to keep it to one bottle between the three of us. Ok - no big deal. Upon only having less than a minute to glance at the menu I was asked to order. The waitress was nice enough and offered to answer any questions we may have about the menu. I suppose it was a bad idea to take her up on that. The first question that came to mind is if they used fresh pasta. No, I was not trying to be snobby and I did not ask if they made their pasta to order? That might be rude because of course they would... but rather, I was curious if, being an Italian restaurant, if they made their pasta there. She said she was not sure and would have to check and would be back to take our order and asked if we wanted to order appetizers but we figured we would be all right with some bread and butter. Both me and my beau's sister were craving seafood and three different dishes sounded appetizing, the Shrimp Fra Diavolo, Mediterranean Scampi, and Lobster Ravioli. I knew if the pasta or if the raviolis were made there that it'd be an easy choice so I asked her if she'd found out about the pasta. She'd forgotten to ask and when she came back the manager or the whoever the gentleman in charge it seemed came back with her. He was very rude in his reply and told us that the pasta was frozen not fresh, then he pointed to someone sitting behind us and told us that supposedly that's the chef sitting right over there and in about a week they will start making their own pasta. He then continued to tell us to order because the kitchen was closing. Had I not been very hungry and already enjoying my wine, I may have been offended enough to leave. I am unaware if maybe he was trying to be mafioso and trying to make sure we know who is the capo di tutti capi around there or what the deal was. Maybe the manager was distraught because there was a sick and drunk woman going up and down the restaurant (yes, it is true - who gets too drunk to walk at a sit-down Italian restaurant? Obviously this woman). After following the Don's orders and placing our food order we had to stop one of the helpers in his tracks to ask for the bread we never received and then holler over different person for utensils. Once the food arrived I have to say other than the prawns being slightly overcooked, I was not dissatisfied. My beau's Spaghetti Carbonara was tasty and his sis enjoyed the Linguine with Fresh Clams and the bread that was brought was nice and warm. Will I try this place again? Possibly.
(3)Sandy H.
I have been going to Vitellos for about 8 years. It was always one of the best Italian places around and I loved the atmosphere, the food, and how quickly we were always taken care of. That said, I went there last night only to discover that the menu had completely changed as well as the recipes. Most of my favorites were gone (Chicken Marsala, Spaghetti with Ravoli) and so I ordered the standard Spaghetti with meatballs. When the spaghetti arrived, it looked nothing like the dish of old and tasted awful. The sauce had completely changed and the meatballs were tiny little things that had no flavor. One of the things I used to say about Vitellos was that they had the best marinara sauce around. Can't say that anymore! They also have changed their dinner salads by attempting to serve them with spring mix mixed with iceberg. I guess they think dressing this up on a white, square plate will make me think it's special. It's not. It's still the same, overpriced salad (used to be free with dinner) and it's still drenched in dressing. Order the dressing on the side unless you really like a lot of dressing. The ONLY good thing that they changed would be the bread, although you get way less than you used to. It's now a fresh sourdough and not the standard, frozen then thawed sourdough that they used to serve. And we had to ask for it, it wasn't brought to the table immediately as we were sat like the days of old. Overall, I used to really love this place but I'm sad to say, it was a terrible experience since the new owners apparently think they had to change every thing about what made it great. I don't think I'll be going back anytime soon and I'll let others know of my opinion on the new changes. My dad used to love going here, but I am going to let him know that it is really awful now and suggest maybe we head to Little Toni's since they are still doing things they way they always have.
(2)RoseMary H.
My husband, friends and I have been going to Vitello's since about 2002. They have always been fabulous. Authentic Italian food and ambience and great service. Well, no more. When the new owners took over, the first thing they did was get rid of the free parking and put in valet. Ok. New owners need to find sources of more revenue. But now the restaurant has become just like any other "Italian" place. Might as well go to Olive Garden. The portions are skimpy and the food tastes just like any other place. I don't know if they have a new chef but I do know they completely changed their menu and it's awful. It's generic and the marinara sauce tastes like Ragu. We've gone back quite a few times hoping that it would get better because we loved the place so much. But it hasn't gotten better, as a matter of fact, the service is worse each time. Therefore, we've decided to give up. If you remember the old Vitello's, I suggest you don't go back. If you've never been, I'd say don't go because the food isn't worth the pricey menu. I recommend Little Toni's on Lankershim/Riverside/Vineland intersection. Their food is still great and their prices are very reasonable.
(2)Kay B.
I lived up the street and we came here every week. In a city where places like Aroma rule- where the food is yummy and the people are unbearable- this place is so refreshing. Comfortable, clean, great staff and consistent food. Not the most epic meals I've ever had but NEVER left disappointed
(5)Natalia R.
After getting dee-nied by Aroma (no thanks when the line is out the door and past the patio...not to mention they aren't the fastest in town... especially when they are busy - ah, I digress) and then again by Caioti's (seriously stood in the doorway for about 4 minutes while the server and hostess passed us by at least 12 times and - nada) we took a gander across the street and noticed lonely old Vitello's. It was a fantastic day outside, so the empty tables beckoned us and two seconds after asking for a table, we were seated. Voila! See that, Caioti?? It's not that hard. Loved the old school style bread they give you piping hot, crusty on the outside and fluffy as all hell on the inside (extra points for the butter not being rock hard - love that). Our server was fantastic and shortly after we were seated, they brought out water and doggie treats for our pup - doggone awesome (sorry, I couldn't help it). Despite some other ragu-infused reviews, our food was great - the hubs had the Veal Parmigana Sandwich and I had some pasta that our waiter suggested with a pink sauce and peas and both were yummy. The Caesar salad is one of the best we've had in the valley. The food is not necessarily blow-your-mind fantastic, but a good and hearty "mmmmmm" with great portions (especially for a lunch menu), the way Italian food should be - and I have the feeling that it is reliable and consistent - the same way every time, which is priceless when it comes to a restaurant. In my opinion, when I eat Italian, I want to feel warm and fuzzy and so full I can't see straight and Vitello's accomplished just that. We were welcomed like family and will most definitely be coming back regularly. They may not be famous for their coffee or have a salad that makes pregnant women go into labor, but they have old school charm and know how to treat a customer and that makes Vitello's worth all their weight in cheesy-garlic-bread-gold.
(4)Joelle G.
We were looking for something different to do on a Saturday night, and Vitello's offered an alternative to simply dinner and a movie. On weekends, the upstairs portion of the restaurant turns into a lounge that features cool music acts (the one we saw was an amazing modern jazz band). You have to make reservations for the lounge area, and they seat you between 7-7.30 (although truthfully people were showing up past 8 and still getting seated - albeit at a table of strangers) Unfortunately, even though the atmosphere is amazing up top, the menu is VERY SMALL. They only offer about 4 dishes from their regular menu, and they're not even the good ones at that. I ordered the mostacolli and my boyfriend had the chicken parmesan. Both were very large orders and filling, but so-so tasting. We skipped dessert and headed for the Gelato place after the show. At first, the service was great and our waiter was extremely attentive and awesome at making wine suggestions. But, once the show started it was hard to track him down (should be expected, I suppose - the band was really good) All in all, it's a fun night when you're looking for an alternative to a typical date. But, I think it strongly depends on who the act is preforming. If it were a less entertaining band, I don't think I would've returned.
(3)daniel s.
Let's be honest....aside from the nostalgia and notoriety and cheesy but quant atmosphere, the food at Vitello's pretty much sucks.... I've been here several times and never remembered enough about the food to complain or rave....but tonight I ordered the chicken marsala.... I'm no chef, but I know that the chicken should be pounded thin and lightly coated with flour....my chicken was breaded....and totally uneven, meaning it was the same chicken they use for the chicken parm with a bland marsala sauce/gravy poured over it.... I'd really like to know, why do they waste the time and effort to bread and fry the chicken when they don't need to....and why don't they take the time and effort to make the chicken marsala different than the chicken parm? Could it be that they open up, and cook a certain amount of breaded chicken cutlets for the day and just either add marsala sauce or red sauce? also, they rushed us out of there, as well
(1)carsen l.
We take big groups (8-12) of family and friends here because they can accomodate same-day reservations for such groups and the service is always excellent. A helpful hint - always, ALWAYS make a reservation for this place. Even if you want to eat in an hour. I've seen empty tables with people outside waiting for half an hour just because they didn't make a reservation. For whatever reason, they will make you wait if you did not call ahead. It's odd. Really. As previously mentioned - the service here is always excellent. Attentive staff always keeps the drinks coming and wine glasses full. The food isn't the greatest italian food in existence, (I don't love the tomato sauce, but I'm very picky with my sauces..) but portions are huge and the food is always perfectly cooked and well-seasoned. Parking on the street is never available during dinner hours, so go for the valet in the parking lot just south of the restaurant. Overall, this place supplies a really comfortable environment to hang out for a while (without being rushed,) and eat yourself in to a pasta coma. PS: Try the chocolate ice cream cake thing at the restaurant or skip it and head over to the gelato place across the street. And if you're hungry after that, go to Aroma Cafe -also across the street - and eat anything on the menu. Seriously. There's not a bad choice on the menu. Did I just turn this in to a review for another restaurant? I did. Oops.
(4)Fran B.
The service sucked, but the concert was great. ordered a soda, garlic bread and marinara sauce. soda and cheesecake, NEVER arrived. order three cheese ravioli to go, never arrived. concert was over and was walking out and the waitress said " i will bring your check " I said, what for and went down stairs with guest to order a meal. oy vey ! the bread sucked, the soup was a bowl of water with sprigs of spinach and a little mozzarella, that sucked, FINALLY the three cheese ravioli arrived and everyone one had eaten, so i took it with me. put it in the fridge and went to Lucile's on Hawthorne's Blvd in Torrance . That , that sucked too but not as bad as Vitellos . My guests was star vin so one of them scarfed down spaghetti and meat balls, she said the spaghetti was not cooked, was hard,. the calamari appeared to be OK, the plate was clean, the gnocchi was eaten. ALL guest stated that he service sucked, left a tip cause the waiter was nice and the food was not his fault. Valet parking, please!!
(1)miss c.
I have never eaten at Vitello's (prior to tonight), though I had eaten a Vitello's Express before and did not like their food at all. Naturally, if Vitello's Express was terrible, I did not have any interest eating at Vitello's. But, a group of us were going out to celebrate our birthdays and this was where they had decided to go. (We ended up here because Firefly did not take reservations for parties over 8 people) I checked out yelp prior to going and could not believe how many terrible reviews there were. Based on the reviews and the price (definitely overpriced), I decided on a simple $10 margherita Pizzetta (I would have much preferred to pay the same price & get a mushroom pizza from CPK). Anyway, I would have been more than happy to have countered those reviews with a great one, had the meal been great. It was not. The pizza was okay. It was not terrible, but it was not great. it was nothing special. It tasted like they used tomato sauce out of a can. there was no great taste to it. I told the waiter "easy on the sauce" since sometimes a lot of sauce can bother my acid reflux (this is not too often). It didn't seem light on the sauce. The edges were burnt, which i hate. It was greasy. Oh and I bit into something that nearly cracked my tooth that neither me nor my friends could figure out what the heck it was. The pizza was made out of dough, tomato sauce, mozarella & basil...none of those things should be the size of a pencil eraser and hard enough to nearly crack my tooth!!! The rest of the table seemed to enjoy their meals, though they were drinking a lot. As the only sober one at the table, I can definitely say that I will never eat a pizza there again. Aside from the food, the service was rather slow and the pizza's were brought out about 10 minutes after everyone else was served. The waiter was sweet but not very attentive. Overall...overpriced, not very good food. Even as i sit here writing this, the supposedly easy on the sauce pizza has upset my stomach and left a bad taste in my mouth. If I ever go back (which is unlikely), and the food is somehow impressive, I will gladly amend this review. As for now, I will just say, there are many other good Italian restaurants in Studio City/Sherman Oaks that are better priced...why go to Vitello's when you can eat better & pay less. oh and for those of you wondering about parking, there is an overpriced valet, or street parking...but be prepared to possibly walk a few blocks if you park on the street.
(1)Louise A.
Local restaurant within walking distance from my house. Unfortunately, I will no longer be patronizing this place. They refused to use an online deal I purchased. The combination of food taste, price and service leave much to be desired.
(1)Joe M.
The mints at the front are great but after that...does the word stronzo mean anything to you. I had out of town guests and they sat us in the bar next to some guy named "dead and dug up" on the organ. I now understand why Robert Blake shot somebody after eating there. Dine at your own risk.
(1)James S.
Our first experience with this wonderful restaurant was on Valentine's Day, 2010. We did not think to make reservations, but they took a liking to us, and seated us in the lounge (we were told 20 others had been turned down). The service was prompt and courteous, the ambiance is beautiful (dark, quiet, very romantic). All of the food was fabulous, and the entire menu is very reasonable (12 to 18 bucks for an average plate, 10 for REALLY good appetizers, such as some of the best Calimari I've ever tasted). I've been back twice, once for lunch on the go - about 10 bucks for one of the best 12" Margharita pizzas I've ever tasted - ooozing mozzarella! -- and for my wife's birthday, which they made very memorable... Check them out online at vitellos.com , and then experience them for your self - I think you won't be disappointed! :)
(4)Ronn C.
It may sound bad, but when I heard about the Robert Blake incident, I knew I had to try this place out! In 2009 I got the chance. I had the dish that use to be named after Robert Blake. I can't recall the name of the dish, but it was phenomenal. They had excellent bread and a nice cozy, quite environment. It was lunch so it may be different at night. The prices were quite reasonable. The waiter was very friendly and willing to tell us about the history of Vitello's and about the celebrities that go there. They have a nice photo gallery of the "stars" that have eaten at Vitello's. Next time I'm in LA I will definitely go back.
(5)Melissa M.
What can I say?......Consistant Service is always fab Food is always great The music upstairs is always enjoyable......Great Find!!
(5)Gail R.
Great entertainment, good seating, good sound throughout. The food stinks. I don't want to waste words, here, but I suggest just ordering your drinks--cover the $18 minimum and sit back and enjoy.
(2)Alisha A.
Don't go there for the food (which is okay), go there for the live music Upstairs! Just as an example, tonight is Pancho Sanchez! Yay! Live music!
(5)AJ A.
We had a great time. The newly remodeled downstairs was amazing. We were seated fairly quickly in spite of not having reservations and the food and wine was good. Our server had a vast knowledge of the best wines to serve with which dishes. We will definitely return to experience the upstairs live jazz.
(5)Lillian L.
It's decent Italian food. I've only been once.... and I admit it's not enough to make a complete judgement. It didn't blow... but it didn't blow my socks off either. My pasta dish was good... farfalle with pink sauce and peas. I added a couple links of italian sausage. Garlic cheese bread was yummy. I tried the calamari, but it was the unruly, chewy big kind... not the delicate scrumptuos baby kind. So that was a downer. A big plus - it's right across the street from an awesome gelato place! I might be coming back to try other pasta dishes and pizza.
(3)Natalie R.
I know that there's been tons of talk about the changing in their menu at Vitello's but I really think the food is BETTER now than it was before! I went to Vitello's about a year ago and then have gone 4 times in the past two months (twice dined in, 2 times take-out) the food has been great! The salmon is amazing, it's cooked perfectly and just may be my favorite. The seafood really is the chef's specialty. The pizza is also AMAZING, I did pizza for take out both times, for my roommates and I - they devoured it! When you go, get a Pizzetti as an appetizer, you'll be glad you did! Yes the prices are a bit higher, but you get what you pay for. If you want something cheap, go to Henry's Taco's on the corner. Quick and cheap. I'm a fan of the new Vitello's.
(5)Maria K.
We've been going to Vittelo's for years and I've gone 2 times recently since "the change". What a pleasure! It has such an open and welcoming vibe now. I feel that the food is just as good as ever...some dishes are different...and Hooray for them!! Let's keep in perspective the beauty of a good meal and glass of wine because for the complainers...yours is a "first world problem"! Enjoy life!
(5)Shafina T.
Vitello's is the best Italian food I've ever had! We've all had our share of Italian food, and I don't know about you but for me it's usually nothing to write home about. So when it came to my best friends' birthday I knew we had to do something special and our first choice was closed...so, we found Vitello's! The bread is absolutely incredible, Chris packed the left overs for us in foil so it was ready to pop into the toaster oven and for us to enjoy the next day. We had the baked ziti and lasagne, and let me tell you - that schtuff was off the hook! My friend's fried veal wasn't great, but everything else was fabulous. I highly reccomend the stuffed mushrooms and the margarita pizzetti. We'll definitely be back to Vitello's and I think it's kinda cool that something major happened there...lol
(4)JJ W.
The food here is good and the ambiance is old school. What you find here from what I experienced is nothing great or spectacular but it is well -made. I was floored by how small the dinner salad was but there was this piece of tomato that was extravagant. It can be best described as sweet and subtle with an explosive flavor. I like the seafood pasta and it was made very well here. The sauce reminds me of something I can make at home.
(4)Diane K.
This place is so different than it used to be. The 'look' is more open after the updating (50's glam) and the menu has changed - more in tune with the local vibe. I've been here a few times already and had enjoyed each meal we had. The wait staff was also attentive and friendly. The only problem is that it has become very loud (not only from the music upstairs). Hard to talk if you're sitting inside the restaurant and not close to the street. Great Italian wine list!!
(4)Dany G.
Thank goodness for a Family tradition I was able to join in on! Every year my boyfriends family gets together for the Grandma's birthday and we head to Vitellos. I know this place is famous for the whole Robert Blake thing (they even have a dish named after him) but it should be because of the food. I have been here several times now and ordered different things every time and have loved them all. From the simple pasta with Veggies, Veal Scallopini or Eggplant Parmesan everything is wonderful. They atmosphere here is just how it should be lots of bricks, comfy booths and dark lighting, If you are lucky enough to be sat in the right area there is live music including a piano player that will play his rendition of almost every song you can image, and its all good.
(4)Leo C.
Thank you Vitello's for a memorable evening and birthday celebration. I was saved by Tabitha and her savvy crew, who noticed my Open Table reservation was for dinner seating, not show seating. Not only were we squeezed in to a sold-out event, we were center row and one table in! The food was tasty and served hot (important to me), and better than we expected given the limited showroom menu and rush to put everything out before the music started. Strong drinks and a nice cocktail selection rounded things out. Good service from our waitress. You really come here for the music, however - the show was amazing - Terry Trotter and his Trio wooed us with some wonderful sounds, and with a guest vocalist on 2 numbers, we were transported to jazz heaven for a time. But wait, it's not over...after the show, we headed to the downstairs lounge, where Bill Cunliffe and his organ trio were holding down the fort. They were in excellent form, and were joined by 2 guests, a young alto saxophonist and trombonist Francisco Torres from Poncho Sanchez' band. An amazing evening of food, drink and quality jazz, thank you Vitello's!
(5)Henry B.
Went back to visit as I used to work for this owner. Was curious to see the new design. Wow... It is hilarious, hidious, and downright tacky. Its half done; the back area, stairs, bathrooms haven't changed, it still smells like musty mold, and the cement/silver look? TACKY... It was obviously done by an ameteur. I have a guess who. The ONLY thing this place has going is the talent it books upstairs. The food is nasty, canned, overpriced, and boring. Go across the street to Ciaotti for a much better pizza. Plus, recently we went to see Denise Donatelli. The ONLY reason we went is because I know her. The redheaded hostess laughed in my face when I asked for a booth. Nice way to treat someone who spends $200 on mostly wine as we ate before hand. Im in hotel senior management. If one of my hostess did that, she would be shown the door. Save your money. Wait for the bands to play The Mint or Charlie O's...
(1)steve r.
Apparently from what I've read, Vitello's is under new management. That explains why I paid $19 for a simple chicken parm, that used to be $10.95. I have an old menu at home, and compared the prices, and everything has increased, AN UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT! The price of our entrees increased 73%, not a buck or two, but 73%. Seriously? Are these people crazy? And my wife and I were not happy with the quality of our meals from this new management. It's always been a great place to get a reasonabley priced, quality Italian meal. NOT ANYMORE!
(1)Justin T.
I like Vitello's... For me, Italian dining is more about the entire experience. Good food is important, but I like great service, family style atmosphere and great menu selection. Vitello's has all of this. Plus their upstairs section has live entertainment every month for music, comedy and other events. I also like that you can wear jeans, or dress up a bit and either way you won't feel uncomfortable or out of place. It's a vibrant atmosphere with a "come as you are" feel. I've only been several times but haven't had a bad experience yet. The food comes in decent portions and the cheese manicotti was delicious! Very fresh and flavorful.
(4)Nick K.
Are you serious? We have lived just down the road from this place for a year+ and have just now tried this place. We went in on a Friday night about 8ish and there was a 10-15 minute wait, no biggie, so we went over to the bar to have a drink in the interim. I mean we walked down a dimly lit brick hall to the back of this fairly large(but still very personal) establishment where the bar is located and had a seat. There were plenty of tables in this area and so we asked if it would be alright if we took a booth back there, and of course it was no problem. There was a very talented musician in the bar area, Randy Strom, who was fingerboarding a gorgeous 12-string guitar. It's not often that you find live music that suits the mood of the establishment PERFECTLY, it was really a treat. The waiter was very friendly and suggested the perfect meal for me... I always order fetucci alfredo when I try a new Italian place...he suggested a variation with chicken and gorgonzola that was very delicious, but I have to give the top prize to the CHICKEN MARSALA that my fiance ordered, AMAZING FLAVOR. She also ordered the La Puerta Malbec(Argentina) which was fantastic. If you are looking for a nice place for a date night in the Studio City area I highly recommend checking this place out. The portions are large enough to fill you up, the price is great for the food and awesome atmosphere and the staff is great as well. I will definately be trying the place again in the future. NEW FAVORITE ITALIAN PLACE IN STUDIO CITY!!!!!!!
(5)Sayla V.
Went here with six twenty and thirty something friends. All professional women. The waitress (senior citizen chick) pushed the half price wine so hard, I swear they must get bonuses for selling bottles. I felt like I was at a strip club getting hustled to the champagne room. And she was ROOOOODDDDDD. (That's rude.) I mean, "You ready to order?" Before we could inhale, she'd walk away. She made small talk with other tables but was so curt with ours. WTF?!!! One person in our group surmised that she thought we were teenagers. We give in and order the wine. The woman asks everyone for our IDs. Once she saw our ages, she got a bit friendlier. Just a bit. I don't know. It was weird. We tip well, we're not loud. Our moms raised us well. We don't smell. Did a group of professional women kick her ass in a past life? Two stars for the food. It honestly wasn't that great. I love calamari. That's what I had. I've had better.
(2)Nick J.
I used to love coming to Vitellos when I would visit Studio City. My girlfriend mentioned that it was under new management and that they had changed the menu. She mentioned that they were going to be changing a lot of things including the decor. It seems to me that this one of those restauarants that has become an institution in its local area. Because of that I don't think changing everything around is going to be a good thing. I tried the new lasagna, which is my go to meal choice, and I was disappointed. The sauce was thin and watery and there was not much mea
(2)Natalie F.
Disappointing! I came back after a long absence with the incentive of a discount voucher. I used to really enjoy the food here but the menu has since changed and the prices seem a little high for what's become mediocre food. I took the server's recommendation for Chicken Parmagiana (versus the Lasagna Della Casa) and it was pretty unremarkable. The side of spaghetti was al dente but was overwhelmed by sauce. My dad wanted the Veal Saltimbocca but was told they didn't have that because their shipment of prosciutto from Italy didn't arrive (really??). Near the end of the meal I realized we weren't even offered bread. I checked out some of the other diners' tables on the way out and didn't see bread there either. An Italian restaurant that doesn't automatically serve bread?! I had hoped for the same menu and dining experience I remembered from past visits but sadly, that was not the case. It's the Vitello's of the past that is memorable. The current Vitello's is forgettable.
(2)Diane M.
Been going to Vitellos for over 30 + years. Loved the old traditional look and food. Have given the new place two tries, and so far, not good. The first time I ordered a pizzetti and though the flavor as OK, it was COLD. I don't like cold food. My friend had the minestrone soup, and it was horrible. Absolutely no taste. A week later We returned with another friend (who also used to go to the old Vitellos) and had lunch. Though they did not have the antipasti chopped salad on the lunch menu, we were told that we could get it. Thirteen dollars later, we had a salad that had a lot of lettuce, very little meat, no garbanzo beans, no pepperoni's, practically no cheese, or anything else. Probably one of the worst salads I have ever eaten. I will not return to Vitellos, nor will my two friends. We left there and went across the street to the Aroma Cafe.
(1)Tom K.
We miss the old Vitello's. It had history and tradition and a classic old school italian restaurant feel. Now it's too hip for its own good that looks like it was designed by guys wearing skinny glasses. No more salad with your entree. No more great mural. It's now just another "gotta be hip" interchangeable Hollywood restaurant. We'll miss you.
(2)Jen U.
We did not have reservations and walked here on a Saturday night from a friend's house. We found parking on the street right away, and they were able to get us in within 5 minutes of walking through the door! The food was basic, traditional, Italian food and very delicious. The tiramisu was fantastic!
(5)Drew D.
This place was great, the servers are busy but they still take the time to be congenial. I had the veal Marsala which was good it was kindoff tart just like it should be, they made it with a white wine and all together it was a good dish. My dad got the chicken parmesan, and that I highly recommend I had a few bites and it was delicious. There is a nice ambiance here and when I went they had a live jazz band playing up stairs, all in all it was an enjoyable meal.
(4)Jin N.
4 star for the pizza. It's like a better version of Papa John's. 6 stars for this one dish that's EGGPLANT STUFFED WITH CHEESE. It has a real name but I think it was in Italian, but for real, this is something I've never found elsewhere. Sure, you'll walk out of there feeling 10lbs. heavier, but it's worth getting fat over this stuff. A few other dishes were 3 star, like the salad that comes with the meal. I relapsed to my Denny's mini salad experience. SO i give my average rating of 4-star. Great place for some serious Italian food.
(4)Karyn K.
The personable service and the "good 'ole days" experience are what makes this place fun. The food isn't mindblowing but won't disappoint. When you come don't order something you could make at home for $2-what a waste! Try something interesting like the Pollo Arancio (Chicken with mushrooms and orange sauce), or the melon with prosciutto. Tell your server about your tastes and have them recommend something. Lunch is a great deal here- with low prices and large portions. Skip the valet and park on the residential streets (West of Tujunga).
(4)maya f.
last night my daughter had her birthday dinner at Vittelo's and it was perfect they were very accommodating made a special Prix fixed menu for her and even added gluten free and vegetarian choices on a specially printed menu just for her and her friends it was very nice and very reasonably priced for all the food they got! they even served her birthday with candles and made it very special ! great night lots of fun perfect place for a special occasion dinner.
(5)Darcy W.
I took my Dad here on his last night of his visit to L.A. thinking this place would have authentic italian food, turns out it sucked. The ambience is nice, which is why I give it one star. For starters the bus boy was more attentative than the waiter. I should have given him the full tip. The food...well the meal came with a side salad, a wonderful iceberg lettuce salad, blech! how cheap can you get ,at least throw in a few pieces of Romanie and maybe some carrots. Me and my Dad both ordered the pasta with tomato sauce, although it looked like we had two different sauces. wierd. The taste, not original at all, it reminded me of Chef Boy R Dee in a can. YUCK !! I could do better opening a jar of pasta myself at home and it would taste more authentic than this "pasta" I was given. The bread was also simple ,plain white bread nothing special. Well, that pretty much sums up the whole meal "nothing special" I see this place as a tourist attraction, nothing more I will never eat there again that is for sure. opps gotta go before the guidos "whack me"
(1)Danielsnut S.
Vitellos rocks, if you're craving Italian food, it's one of my favs. I think it's like $3 bones to valet, or you can street park! Good service, great food, 2 stories; you can sit either upstairs or downstairs! The Chicken cacciatore is good, and the Italian-Greek salad is really good, that's usually what I order, and some wine, I think the corkage fee is $8 if you bring your own bottle, but they got plenty there to choose from for ya! Full bar, - 1star cuz the mushroom appetizers were gross, jus my opinion anyways, great restaurant!
(4)Lady L.
Great pizzas!! So thin and yet so yummy. The sauce is perfect.. just the right amount of salt and spices. A really cozy setting... feels very authentic.
(3)Philip G.
Mostaccioli al forno. Try it and you will be perfectly pleased! But if your with friends a must have appetizer is their Margherita Pizzetti. Even when they are busy service does not take too long for order delivery. This is another favorite of ours and in the countless times we have been here, there has only been one "bad service" experience that we can recall.
(4)Cosmo M.
I really like this place. Their stuffed pizza is fantastic! Very nice and romantic inside. One of my favorite places to take my wife.
(5)Ai C.
A very intimate Italian restaurant out in Studio City. There is an upstairs room where there is live opera, jazz, and other kinds of music playing on certain nights. We went here on a friday night, called in for a 7 pm reservation, waited 3 minutes. Papa Lion and I looked around at the headshot studded walls, admired Papa Lion's own headshot on the far right, and then we were seated. It is booth style, and we faced a family of 7 I ordered the chicken fettuccine Alfredo with house salad and a coke. Mr Food ordered the Lobster ravioli with the minestrone, and Papa Lion ordered the Chicken marsala. After repeating myself to the waiter about four times, we received two loaves of sesame bread and butter. Salad came in square plates and the house dressing was peppery and lemony at the same time. Excellent dressing. The food arrived in a timely manner, and the portions are on the little size. The noodles were al dente, but a little over indulged on the alfredo sauce. The chicken was perfectly seasoned, We all shared a bite around. Mr Food's ravioli was scrumptious, and not enough for someone who can eat my dinner too. Papa Lion's Chicken with a squeeze of lemon and freshly fried and breaded zucchini was superb. We ordered a tiramisu to go (we ate it watching Happy Feet) and it was perfect, not to expresso-y, and the cream was fluffy and light with little sauce at the bottom. Perfect way to end a perfect evening of quality Italian food. I took off a star because my meal had way too much alfredo sauce, but I could have sopped it up with my sesame loaf if Mr. Food hadn't eaten it all. The cost here is what you would expect at good quality italian restaurant. The service ok. We had trouble communicating with our waiter as he couldnt' hear us very well (he was getting on in age) and the busboy who asked if he could take the salad plate, and didn't when we said it was ok. Best thing to do in that situation when language is a barrier is to leave the plate on the edge of the table. Vitello's is located in a quaint little village and it is surrounded by a bunch of little shops including a super cute vintage shabby chic shop that carries great yarn that you can't find any where else. Vitello's is the kind of restaurant that Mr Food and I go to celebrate special occaisions but can go to just have a great romantic meal. It is a hole in the wall, famous shop so be prepared to spot someone famous dining there like Gary Marshall (think Home Alone and all those movie busters) who also happens to have a dish named after him. Also, when you walk into the restaurant, try and find Papa Lion on the wall of fame. He's the Token dude in the hat, and sings to the tune of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."
(4)Linda H.
We've been eating at Vitello's for over 20 years. The quality of their food had always been outstanding. We usually get take outs. Yesterday, we got 1 order of garlic bread, a large house salad, fried calamari, cappallini with tomatos, garlic, and basil, angel hair with meat sauce, and linguini with fresh clams. All for a price of $70.00. The linguini was under cooked, angel hair came with little to no sauce, and cappallini was just barely ok. What happened to the old Vitello!! New owners, newly streamlined menu with way overpriced food. I for one don't mind paying good money for really good food. But I doubt if we'll go back again. Maybe that's why the guy behind the counter gave me a coupon for 25% off for our next visit. Otherwise, people probably will not go back.
(2)Jay S.
This place has really gone downhill. My family and I went in on Sunday evening at about 7:10 and were not served until 8:30. The waiter had an attitude saying the kitchen was short-staffed and the chef wouldn't listen to my special request, which simply consisted on plain pasta and vegetables in olive oil. The people in the next booth were getting desert when we had not yet gotten our main course. The menu is different and the portions smaller. I suspect new management/owners. Whatever, this is the last time this place gets my business.
(1)Charlene W.
Dear Vitello's, What happened to you? Your food used to be magnificent! Once you changed hands from the old guys who use to yell at the busboys, things changed. The sauce changed. The portions changed. I used to drive all the way from Culver City every other week just to taste that delicious eggplant parm, now I prefer ::gasp!:: the Olive Garden! (Say it ain't so!) Please get well soon so I can come back. xoxo Charlene
(3)Jay D.
Blake...schmake..... This joint was bumpin on a cool November monday evening... well, bumpin maybe not, but it was definately a good experience. The service was excellent. How I define service excellence is your server knowing when someone needs something before they realize it and/or being generous with orders, ie we ordered garlic bread in this place and they offered to refill it twice. We tried a Veggie pizza and the spaghetti/ cheese ravioli. Both were good, and large portions. We'll be back!
(4)dave g.
EH, overpriced, the eggplant parm "specialty" was very humdrum, like cafeteria style, the jazz upstairs sounded cool though. Ask them where Robert blake shot his wife and they look at you funny.
(3)Tita L.
Chicken marsala is killer. As was the spumoni cake. Yum. I landed at this place under very bizarre circumstances. Josh, our waiter, was quite the trooper. They took a little too long to bring out our food. It's a ginormous restaurant with one cook! Commons sense, people. Sounds like a recipe to vear of customers to me. The two baskets of warm bread and yummy butter calmed our ravenous shadows, though. That was thoughtful!
(3)Sabina U.
Had a great lunch with the soup of the day and pizza. Delicious! Definitely want to try more things on the menu. Also can't wait for the E Spot Lounge to open upstairs! Edit/addition 01/13/2015: Came back again a few days ago and had a pasta for lunch with luxurious chocolate mint truffle tea! It was just as good as my previous experience. And as a side note, the ambiance is great. Classy, but not snobby. It feels clean, but not strict. The street level restaurant/bar part has a beautiful, modern interior and a cozy view of the street outside. Edit/addition 01/21/2015: I have been back two more times since my last update and this place keeps surprising me with good food and high quality beer. Tonight, I ventured out and had a mixed drink (agh, I forgot the name, unfortunately). It was completely unique and I have to admit that it blew my mind a little. Thanks, Vitello's! I'll be back!
(5)Micki B.
This used to be one of those red booth Italian places, but it has completely transformed into a chic, classy spot. Excellent place for a date or just an upscale evening - who knew such a thing could happen on Tujunga! The menu is pretty sizable (including a dessert menu by Carnie Wilson, lol) and has a ton of yummy options. I ordered a Linguine Clam with spicy red sauce and oh my GOD it was delicious and epically sized. My date ordered Chicken Parm and said it was really tasty. I could see myself coming back and trying out other menu items - it was hard to pick just one! (PS this place has restaurant.com coupons, at least at time of review, and accepts OpenTable.)
(5)Kim V.
A bit on the pricey side but a lovely place, excellent service, and the vegetarian sausage is great and not too spicey.
(4)Monique G.
I love Vitello's and have been coming here for years. The food is delicious and the servers are wonderful. I am HORRIBLY disappointed about their "new" policy that you cannot make a reservation for a table for a party less than 5 (FIVE) people. Also, they do not have black napkins - a minor point, but people wear black clothing and they have these horrible red and white napkins...not very classy.
(2)Ani A.
I'm really surprised this restaurant doesn't have 5 stars. I was hesitant about giving this place a shot at first because of the reviews. But I am soooo glad I did! Ambiance was amazing, service was exceptional, and food was more than delicious. We ordered the skirt steak, the fettuccine Alfredo (added shrimp), and the lobster ravioli. And to top it off, the live pianist was incredible. I can't wait to go back! I'm surprised some people had bad experiences but I would definitely recommend Vitello's to anyone and everyone.
(5)Phillip N.
There is little that I dread more than making dinner reservations for the same day, especially if it is for a Friday night... but even more so for a Saturday night. I was met with just such a challenge as I learned at about 10 AM on Saturday morning that we were having dinner out instead of in with our dear friends. Gulp! On a Saturday night? Finding a place to go to dinner on short notice in Los Angels can be a gamble. Either you score and get lucky landing a table at a place where they've had a cancellation or you get a table at a place that hasn't really made a name for themselves yet and are just so-so. Well, I am always up for a challenge and called on an old stand-by, Vitello's in Studio City. I had not been there in at least 5-6 years, but I knew it was consistent place, with a pleasant, laid-back attitude that would please everyone. I rang them up to make the reservation for 4 at 6:30 but was informed they were having a private part till 7 and that was the soonest they could get us in, fine by us! Thank you for accommodating us! (First Star: nice and easy reservation) Arriving on time, I was immediately struck by the massive, two-story atrium, open floor plan. It was modern, striking and beautiful. This was NOT the Vitello's I remembered from years ago! I stepped outside to quickly double check the name and make sure we were in the right place. Apparently they underwent a massive redesign and redecorated the entire restaurant! It really is a beauty. (Second Star: Fantastic Interiors and decor). We were seated almost immediately. Although they had closed down for a private party, it seems like there was still some lingering diners from the previous event. We were seated at a table towards the back, which although quiet and secluded from the large front area, it was right next to the swinging kitchen door which had bright florescent lights. We were helped by a great server, Jesse, who placed her card on the table as she introduced herself and took our drink orders. She, and the rest of the wait- staff, were very together, acting like a well-oiled machine and attentive. Just as we were finishing our starters the light above our table went out- fortunately we had to move over a table which put us away from kitchen (a good thing) and even more quiet. They were very attentive and quick to help us move to the new table. Efficient and caring! (Third Star: Attentive, friendly, kind and quick!) We each ordered a starter (Caprese salad, Arugula and a Caesar (split). Each salad was great, well balanced with their dressing to lettuce quotient. The balsamic used on the Caprese was an AMAZING. 18 yr. old vinegar. Fantastic. the main courses came out shortly after and each was perfectly seasoned, baked, boiled and prepared. The Bronzino was a perfect, my Pasta with salmon in a pink vodka sauce, peas and sun-dried tomatoes was wonderful, the chicken parmesan, was great as well. Desert was a winner too with the 4 of us splitting two chocolate deserts. One was a gelato cake (a combo of cake and gelato, fabulous, and a Cannoli, great.) (Fourth Star: Good food, well prepared, pleasantly presented.) We had a truly memorable and pleasant time out. The food, service and decor were all above our expectations and we would gladly return. Sadly however, the noise level is a little high on the high end and we were disappointed at our inability to be stated in th emit room,. Because of the size and scale of the main room, it is difficult to maintain an intimate setting. Also, this place has been there for 50 years, it looked like it's been open for 50 days. Not a good idea to totally turn one's back on the past and one's history. The area is like a small-town Main Street and they forgot who they were in their desire to be trendy and 'cool'. Go, ENJOY and ask to be seated towards the back. Also, they have a theater up stairs with a variety of acts GO to their web site for the full calendar.
(4)Carmel B.
My friends recently arranged a Girls' Night Out at Vitello's to have dinner and see the show upstairs. I had never been here before. The dining room is intimate and we were seated at a four top not too far from the stage. There are booths along the wall that seat six. The AC was cranked up when we first arrived; we must have been directly under a vent because cold air was blowing right on us. We mentioned it to our server and the problem was corrected immediately. We started with cocktails. I had a vodka martini and was happy they had Tito's. All of us enjoyed our drinks, which were served quickly. In fact, the service as a whole was excellent, prompt and professional. It has to be a challenge to wait tables during a show. The food selections are primarily Italian, of course, but they had a wide variety of course selections and included something for everyone, whether it was fish, meat, or vegetarian dishes. We got so carried away ordering the appetizers, we probably should've stopped there: fried raviolis, prosciutto-wrapped asparagus (also fried), and garlic bread - all served hot and tasty. Before the night was over, between the four of us, we'd also tried the chicken piccata, the capellini alla Checca, the classic Caesar salad and a chopped salad. When we first arrived, I went to check in on Yelp and noticed there was a special offer of a complimentary Margherita Pizzetti pizza with check in. As soon as I opened the link, however, I noticed fine print specifying that the offer was not available in the upstairs dining area. I was not pleased, considering, in order to eat upstairs, you have to buy tickets to the show. At $23/person, I figured our $92 had earned us a right to the pizza. My server couldn't help with my confusion, but she sent over Alvin, the manager. He listened politely to my plea and then asked what he could do to make it right. I said he could honor the offer for our table. And, good man that he is, he did! Our group, for some reason, decided to bring our own wine ($20 corkage), which we did enjoy, but I later noticed they have a rather fine wine list both By the bottle and by the glass (although I think we may have saved a few bucks). Judgement not being our strong suit, we went ahead and ordered two desserts to share, despite our full stomachs. I can't remember exactly what we had (too much wine?), but I do remember it was yummy. Carnie Wilson is their pastry chef and she seems to know what she's doing. As for the show, it was fabulous. The opening act was called The Lampshades, a crazy duo who do a lounge act like something created on Saturday Night Live. It was kitschy, and hysterical. The female of the couple is Kate Flannery, who played Meredith on The Office. This act was so funny, I started to worry that the headliners would have a hard time following them. I needn't have been concerned. Nutty Jazz, an 8-piece band with a lead singer, was high-energy with off the chart talent. I hardly stopped smiling all night, just amazed by the skill on that stage. They do their own style of jazz, playing classic rock and modern pop in a bebop swing-style reminiscent of big band, mashing up songs you'd never dream of blending. It's musical genius. YouTube either of these acts and you'll see what I mean. It was a gift to see them live. I recommend Vitello's and would return. We went away fat and happy.
(4)Christine C.
Had dinner here with a large group this past weekend and was impressed! Food - I had the grilled warm vegetable salad (small portion for $7) and the cappelinni alla checca ($15). Both were excellent. Portions are not huge but certainly adequate. They bring bread to the table with butter. It was good but nothing special. Wine-- didn't have any this time as I was driving afterward but the wine list is extensive and they offer a nice selection of beer as well. Service -- excellent. Even for a big party, our waitress did a fantastic job of making sure everyone got what they needed. Just an FYI -- they do add a 20% gratuity to the bill for large parties. I don't have an issue with them doing this but you should know it happens so you don't accidentally tip 40%. Ambiance -- intimate and classy. We sat in the cellar room which was nice because we had almost the whole room to ourselves. There is outdoor sidewalk seating as well as a main dining room which is a bit more noisy and crowded. Even so, the vibe is lively and comfortable. Parking -- some street parking on Tujunga and side streets but there is a small valet lot that costs $4 with validation. Be sure to get validated as it's more expensive if you don't. Good place for a date or just a night out with friends if you're in the mood for Italian food.
(4)Oscar Dario M.
We have been here Twice, NOT for the FOOD but to see an L.A. based vibraphonist play upstairs. Unfortunately, we are required to but two items. I don't understand how they can mess up food and I can't understand why people choose to eat hear for Italian food or food in general and I can't understand why there are 5 star reviews on Yelp. There is nothing authentic about the food, period. I ordered a pizza because I thought it was the safest thing on the menu. Wrong. Super thin burnt crust, goat cheese?! (why) and a pile of arugula and prosciutto, literally a pile mounted in the middle of the pizza for me to spread around! I have never left half of a pizza uneaten and that says something about this particular pizza because after all pizza is an easy food to consume. We also tried the bruschetta, WOW, very sour! Didn't finish it. Sadly the only thing edible was the assorted Olives. It's such a shame because the restaurant looks very nice, very elegant when one walks in. Guess that's the only positive thing I can say about this place. my wife and I have agreed to never return to this place even if our favorite vibraphonist is playing ...
(1)Erick C.
so for rather a while I've driven past this place thinking it looks nice and thought I should give it a try. tonight I took my g/f for dinner there. the music was horrendous (some kind of jazz fusion with African - discombobulated noise). the service was nice enough but one does have to get up off the table after a suitable time to find a server. the drinks, uninteresting. the food, solidly mediocre. the prices, competitive. and the ambiance... I'd like to call it eclectic but incongruous would be a better word. oh, and the crowd, blissful in its absence. all summed up, not a place I would go a second time.
(1)Kirsten B.
I am so baffled by the good reviews for this place AND where the pictures of good food were taken?? NOT from the same restaurant I've tried like 3 times. I live 5 blocks from here and every time I drive by it is packed and I keep getting duped into thinking it's gotten better, but in reality it's gotten worse! I really wish I had my camera with me this last week when the husband got the lasagna and I got the Alfredo! His was 18$ and he said "how could they screw up lasagna, it's almost impossible", then he saw it... It was like a tiny tiny piece of stoffers frozen lasagna and it had ZERO flavor!! And for $18!! With no salad or bread?? Next was my Alfredo! $16 and NO CHICKEN. It was made with very overcooked EGG NOODLES!! The cheapest of all noodles, which are NOT meant to be used for a typical Italian Alfredo dish, I lived in Italy for a while and NEVER was given Alfredo with egg noodles, but that's besides the point. They were super mushy, they were soaked in the sauce like a soup and the Alfredo tasted like it had not been salted or peppered. Maybe they were Worried that some patrons like to season their own?? Ugh! I couldn't get through it, And my stomach was queezy for hours. Did I Mention they charged me $3.50 for two small end pieces of garlic bread that was burned on the edges. Needless to say I will not be falling for the packed house again, I will simply accept that these poor people have accepted terrible Italian food as their only choice but I will be brave and say NO MORE!!
(1)Xoxo S.
The ambience is nice ,sort of ,if you disregard the loud piano . Now the bad news : the food ,boy I don't know who cooks here ,but I've had better food at the mall ,I mean get it together ,this is terrible . Had a pizza and the chopped salad ,it was so bad we just left after a few bites ,oh and cheap they are not . Total #Fail all the way .
(1)Andrew G.
Great place to enjoy a fine Italian meal. Love the live music...adds a romantic flare to any selected dish. The service and food were excellent. I enjoyed their chicken parmigiana and spaghetti dish...and was by no means dissapointed. We began our evening with the stuffed Portobello - great flavor and the texture was not too "rubbery" or "mushy"...but rather, in the words if Goldilocks, "...it is just right...". Certainly worth your time and money to patronize this fine establishment.
(4)Ron H.
I've been going here a lot after the remodel a few years ago. The food is much better and the atmosphere is light and airy. Pizzas are good but so is most everything else. The only thing I don't like is the fact that the meatballs are made with veal and I stay away from veal. The menu as I remember does not tell you that you're getting veal meatballs. Everything else is up to par and above some of the other Italian-American restaurants in Los Angeles. Please don't forget to check out the showroom upstairs because there's always something going on up there.
(4)Davide L.
I really love the staff here. The nicest and most attentive waiters. Great happy hour. One of my favourite spots in the Valley. Great Food, Great Drinks.
(5)Nikita P.
I dined at Vitello's for the first time and enjoyed my experience. My friend and I shared a few items so we could try more things. We had the following: - Bruschetta (very good!) - Arugula Avocado salad (just OK - would not order again) - Pizza alla Salsicca (good) We considered ordering dessert but all of the desserts seemed really heavy, so we passed. I love it when restaurants offer a single scoop of ice cream / sorbet / gelato for those who want a light dessert and suggest that Vitello's consider adding this to their menu (hopefully the restaurant reads this review and takes action!). Some of the other Yelp reviews mentioned slow food and bad service. We didn't have problems with this. All of our items arrived timely and service was good overall. We did have a hard time flagging someone down for a second glass of wine while enjoying our pizza, but it wasn't too bad. Maybe our waitress was just giving us some space to enjoy our food, especially since everything we ordered had been delivered at that point? I definitely plan on going back to try some of the other items on the menu.
(3)E. R.
I love Vitellos. I have been coming to Vitellos for fifteen years and was pleasantly surprised to see that after the remodel it improved. The ambiance is better, the food is great and it is a neighborhood spot I will always come back to.
(5)Anthony H.
Weak. Service, food, flavor, ingredients, vibe. Everything was weak. I wish I could say something positive about this place. But they seem to be missing the desire to provide quality food and service to their customers. Also, no dairy alternatives. Just whole milk and cream.
(2)Matthew M.
This place is the bees knees! Especially because of the best server team ever! Make sure to ask for Claudia or Gloria as your server. The sausage and peppers rocked my socks off. Literally. Drinks are cool as a coconut and tasty like a pineapple. Aka get the pina colada. Drop mic. Off stage.
(5)natalie j.
Service was great for a little bit, but quickly left something to be desired. Our waitress would rush by without giving us a glance. Which is especially disappointing if your waiting on so called "bottomless mimosas". Our glasses found their bottoms pretty quick after about the second serving. It was very uncomfortable just to ask for another round. Plus the mimosas were mostly juice. Wouldn't recommend this place unless you have severe case of scurvy.
(1)Ryan A.
We dined here a few nights ago for a business dinner and we enjoyed every minute of our experience. The outside seating was ideal since it was such a beautiful night. The service was extremely fast and friendly too. I tried the turkey quinoa meatloaf and it was delicious! I highly recommend it to anyone who comes here. The atmosphere was very cool. There was a live jazz singer playing that night. All in all, a great place to grab dinner.
(5)Marilynn L.
This place is like a glorified Olive Garden. The prices are high for what you get - our pizzas on thin crust were unexceptional and our pastas were fairly simple, very easily replicated at home. You come here for food that is pleasing to everyone - meaning it's not very exciting or creative. The service was good and the beers on tap and wine offerings were good. We're glad we skipped dessert to go across the street and get gelato though. After eating bland fried ravioli, and a caesar salad that had ZERO punch to it (no parmesan, no anchovy-flavor, not pepper), I wanted something with great flavor like a pistachio gelato from Gelato Bar :)
(2)Andrea C.
Top Notch!! Love this place Wednesday night jazz, great food and company can't get any better!!! Scallops to die for.. Wine selection is great!! Garlic Bread my girlfriend thinks is the best in universe. I actually think she might be right on this. Can't wait to go back Caesar was great and huge...
(5)Valerie W.
Was not to happy with the service, we were seated right away. Our waiter only came to take our drink order, the manager came to take our dinner order. Ordered eggplant parmigiana, and the soup of the day. The eggplant was tender put the sauce had no flavor at all. I really thought their food would improve, but it has not. I like the old Vitello's better when they were cooking real Italian food.
(2)Valley D.
This is my favorite place. Seating takes a minute, but so worth it. Authentic and delicious Italian food. TRY THE BRUSCHETTA!!!
(5)Brian S.
Dined last night with some friends. As a foodie from the Bay Area & serious background with food I am often very critical of haunts that are not my own. Vitello's is charming: decor, atmosphere, & live music were flawless. I ordered the warm vegetable salad, with a little grilled chicken for protein. Fantastic. Salad wasn't overly dressed & veggies weren't over/under cooked. Sampled my compatriots' dishes as well, very fine indeed. What made this a 5 star review & not a 3 was the often overlooked & under appreciated nucleus of my dining experience: service. Kelly is an asset to this establishment. She is warm & inviting, but also fully knowledgable of the restaurant's menu & wine list. To expect a server to know about what goes into the preparation of the chef's dishes or the region of a super Tuscan should be common place but you would be surprised how often this is not the case. Not only did our server carry herself with poise and a fantastic attitude, she did not hesitate to answer a single question I asked effortlessly. I am accustomed to a "let me ask the chef", or "I'll be right back". I also watched her interaction with other guests & noticed they were equally charmed. I am reticent to head back to the bay today because I would love to head back and sample another dish or two. Definitely on my list for the next trip down. Thank you Vitello's. Thank you Kelly! PS. Not to taint so much positive gush with negative but: therapy dogs are a joke. Seriously, you can live without your Pomeranian for the duration of a single meal people. Get a grip.
(5)mindy h.
First of all I never post reviews..I just don't understand these reviews for Vitellos! Last night 4 of us enjoyed another great evening there. The food was very good, atmosphere is wonderful, and the service was perfect! Vitellos continues to be one of my favorite local restaurants! I love yelp, but sometimes yelpers are just wrong!
(4)Dani W.
The decor and ambiance drew me into this restaurant. It has a rustic, homely feel and the staff are warm and friendly. The food was delicious and fresh. The piano was playing in the background. A truly lovely dining experience. It is my new favorite spot!
(5)Lindsay E.
I came here last night with my husband. We live close and wanted to try it out despite the somewhat negative reviews. We walked in without a reservation and that seemed to confuse the three hostesses although they weren't that busy and after about 15 mins we were seated. Not a big deal for us to wait as we didn't know what to expect. The ambience is nice and our waitress was super friendly. We pretty much went all out since we hadn't ate much all day and I must say the only reason I may come back would be for a glass of wine or possibly piece of pizza (which we didn't try) but our entrees were just lacking flavor and not worth the price. Overall the experience was worth the ambience, drinks, and our tiramisu. We could have done without the actual meal and ate down the street at aroma!
(3)Denis D.
I made a reservation the table on the concert Poncho Sanches by Internet on Vitello's website and received a confirmation by e-mail. I made some calls before but unfortunately without any results. 3 days later (on the day of the concert) they called me and said that all the tickets were sold and I can seat with my friends in other hall not in a concert hall. No excuse, no explanations. So all my plans were ruined. I think that it's a bright example of unprofessional attitude.
(1)Mexican F.
menues were filty. crumple and full of stains. hostess has a tip jar on her counter.. low class. they charge $3.50 for what they call artisian bread. which is normally free at any other restaurant. food tastes like it has beem microwaved from a restaurant down the street. waiter splatter food over you and try to make it better with a free drink. horrible food. dont eat there. i am still puking.
(1)Katelyn N.
I don't know why there are so many bad reviews! We had the chicken parm and gluten free margarita pizza. So delicious!
(4)Nancy G.
Terrible service. Terrible food. Overpriced and they did not treat me with any respect. Also they charge $5 for sharing a plate. It's not worth it for such average food. I will not be returning!
(2)Alex W.
On my third day in Los Angeles, I was really craving a chicken parm for lunch, so my Grandmother and I ventured off to find an Italian restaurant. Being an Italian grandmother, I was very surprised to hear that she was actually a fan of Olive Garden. However, she suggested we head over to Studio City, where she knew of a good restaurant. We made the short drive into Studio City, where we drove along Ventura Boulevard. Unfortunately, we had little success finding an Italian Restaurant that seemed worth going to. One restaurant claimed to serve Italian food, yet featured only pizza and American-style sandwiches! There was not even any pasta on the menu! The other restaurant we knew to have good Italian food was closed due to the fact that it was a Sunday. This led us to Vitello's on Tujunga, just a few minutes from Studio City. Upon arriving, we were a bit frustrated to find the parking lot next to the restaurant to only offer valet, which in this case was more of a hassle than help. Heading into Vitello's, we found a uniquely designed restaurant with dim lighting and a wall of celebrity autographed photos of past diners. The room we were led into featured a number of booths suitable for five to six guests. Painted on the wall was a mural of an Italian city situated on the Mediterranean. The restaurant was nice and quiet, which was perfect for my grandmother, who can have some trouble hearing in loud restaurants, and our waiter was very friendly. As an appetizer, my grandmother ordered the fried calamari, while I got a cup of straciatella. The calamari was easily the best calamari I had ever tasted in my life. Breaded lightly with tremendous flavor, I got a nicely, but not overdone salty-citrus taste. It was so good, I could not stop throwing more calamari into my throat! The calamari also came with a marinara sauce that complemented the salt well. After finishing our amazing calamari, my chicken parm arrived. A small side of pasta with marinara sauce complemented my large piece of chicken. The chicken was excellent, with a perfect blend of marinara sauce, cheese and chicken, none overpowered the other. The chicken had a light breading that added a slight crisp to it and the cheese was applied generously. With the calamari as an appetizer, this was enough to fill my appetite and satisfy my craving for a chicken parm. Both my grandmother and I were very pleased with our meals, and she also found the tiramisu to be delicious. A return trip to Vitello's is sure to be in the works. Calamari: 10 Chicken Parm: 8 Straciatella: 5 Atmosphere: 6 Overall: 8
(4)Christopher M.
Delicious, can't stop coming back no matter what
(5)Jamie M.
My family and I have been going to Vitello's for the last 25 years and thoroughly enjoyed the Italian restaurant atmosphere. As of recent we showed up to celebrate my mothers 60th birthday and to our surprise the entire restaurant has been given a facelift to resemble a modern industrialistic nightclub. There is nothing that reflects Italian cuisine, nor does the stuffy corporate studio executive look or the food for that matter. On top of the look and taste which could be overlooked I guess, the service was a frickin joke. The guy who served us Eric, couldn't have been more distracted. When ya ask if you need anything else and every drink glass is empty, and food is wrong order?? Really? Don't ever go if you have never been and if your a patron of the old, forget it, the new owners must be deutsche bags. Certainly they aren't Italian!!!
(2)Victor C.
I used to come here quite a bit back in the day, but this was my first visit since the change of ownership, and ohhh boy. Both the food and the service have gone sharply downhill ... especially the service. We saw a show on a Saturday, got seated at 8pm. Our waitress approached us and took our order immediately, however, it took 20 minutes to get our martinis, 30 minutes to get our bread and appetizers, and 50 minutes to get water and entrees, and we ordered everything all at once. My girlfriend and I split fried mozzarella which was most likely reheated in the microwave, but whatever, it's hard to screw up cheese. For our entrees, I ordered the chicken parmesan and she ordered the sausage pizza. The food is decent- not comparable to the old Vitello's circa the Bonnie Lee Bakely murder- but still acceptable considering most entrees run under $20. I'm actually kind of surprised they don't charge more for food and drinks than they do. I mean, they shouldn't, but in that area, they could get probably get away with it. Here's a tip for enjoying this place: don't think of it as a restaurant, but instead, a jazz club with tolerable food. Don't come here just to eat. The upstairs area is actually a great place to see a show- great layout and great acoustics. Expect the service to be on the slow side, like most concert venues. Anyway, as long as Frank Stallone returns, I'm sure we will.
(3)Rhonda B.
Love Vitello's! Cocktails are great and the food is always prepared perfectly. The veal piccata was amazing and the jumbo sea scallops were incredible. The pastas are always yummy! Great service in a comfortable atmosphere.
(5)Steven C.
The place is nice but wouldn't serve me alcohol because my ID wasn't valid anymore... That doesn't change my age does it ? Too bad, could have been a great venue yo hang...
(1)Irina D.
I've been twice at this restaurant and I have to say that a lot depends from the server that you have. The first time a young lady served my table and she was wonderful. She was friendly, brought extra stuff like napkins right away, and was always there when I needed something. The food was well done and everything I ordered ( moscato wine, iced tea, and fettuccine Alfredo pasta) tasted delicious. The second time I came here the food lacked quality, and the server was never to be around. What I strongly dislike about some restaurants, and this one is no exception is inconsistency. Therefore, I can only give this place three stars.
(3)L. T.
Meh. Went tonight and it was 2/3 empty and for some reason we still Waited 20 minutes for a seat . Truffles fries were mediocre not bad not great. Veg lasagne special was good to very good. PiZza tasted like something outta trader hoes but less flavor. Like a huge fistful of arugula right in the center of the pie. Not spread around or baked in like you I would basil but a dry clump of pointless arugula. Sauce tastes canned and crust is uninspired. Waitress was super sweet though. Nice ambiance but food needs to be MUCH BETTER. A shame bec it's in a cute location and has a nice vibe but the level of food is on par with a so so pizzeria
(3)Sherry S.
A local favorite we have visited several times and never a disappointment. The staff are professional, friendly and awesome! The food - even better! Extensive wine list and the pizzas are crunchy and perfect. Beef Short Ribs are one of my favorite dishes.
(5)Lara S.
I hadn't been to Vitellos since they revamped the place. It looked packed every night and I thought I should give it a try again. I wasn't a fan of the old Vitellos either, a family style spaghetti and meatballs kind of place. But the reviews were good of the new menu and renovated restaurant, so my husband and I went for a date night. We ordered the Arugula and Avocado Salad which was pretty yummy and very large. For entrees my husband ordered the Filet Mignon Stack and I ordered the Salmon Farfalle. Both were disappointing. The steak came in "two medallions" and for $28, the sizes were comically small. Each medallion was maybe an inch thick and closer in size to a patty in a slider than any filet mignon I've seen. Strange too because the salad was very big. The Salmon Farfalle was just gross. It's my favorite go-to Italian dish - salmon and peas in a vodka sauce. But this version was so lackluster, the flavor sub-par. The quality of the salmon was questionable and all the pieces still had skin on them. No one wants lots of gray salmon skin in their pasta. Yuck. All in all, the prices are that of a high end restaurant, but the food does not match.
(2)Millie B.
Just had our "Libra Girls Lunch" at Vitello's on Tujunga today. The service was amazing and warm and gracious! The beautiful and charming Lisa was our waitress and treated us with perfection. Loved the new decor! I ordered eggplant parmigiana with vegetables and they were the best I have had in a very long time! Sheer perfection! As a surprise, we were treated to birthday cannoli's and tiramisu which absolutely stole the show. I highly recommend this tried and still very true restaurant! Bon Appetit!!
(5)Guillaume T.
Excellent service and food. Pizzas are made the European way, thin crust, fresh ingredients.
(4)Mama D.
I love this place! I cant say enough. We came here for Mothers Day dinner. We sat outside and it was beautiful. We had the same waitress. I wish I knew her name, because she is AWESOME! She is funny and seems to enjoy her job. The food was excellent as always. I have to say the bruschetta was the BEST I have ever tasted! Bring back the fried zucchini. please! Love you guys. Will always choose this place when in the area
(4)Patricia T.
I had a great night of good food and good company! And good wine! I had a shrimp fettuccine special and it was delicious! We also had the bruschetta and calamari appetizers and they were both excellent. For desert we shared a orange cream sickle cheesecake. So good! Our waitress Kelly and the manager Lisa were great too! Overall, we had a wonderful time!! I'll be back!
(5)Melissa H.
Celiac diners BEWARE!! I'm giving this 2 stars because the bartender who served me was honest to a fault and I appreciated her help! I have Celiac disease, meaning I cannot consume wheat, nor can I consume anything cross-contaminated...I become VERY ill! Yes, I understand that in a restaurant there is chances of cross contamination BUT if your kitchen is following simple precautions it's totally possible to offer completely Gluten Free safe meals. On their menu they even have the GF symbol and it says "proudly serving gluten free options". I talked to the bartender and told her I have celiac and that I needed to be very cautious, she said they had the GF pasta and pizza crust. She then added to her statement and said, but I'd go with the pizza, the GF noodles are cooked in the same water as the other noodles. WHAT!?!?!?! Oh no no no! So I order the GF pizza and ask that it be cooked on foil...sure no problem. Well, they were out of GF crust. Back to square 1 looking at the menu.... Ok... So I asked about a few of the entrees...the 3 I checked on could NOT be made gluten free. At this point I'm ready to leave but I have a drink in front of me and it's 9pm, I want to eat. The bartender upon returning from her last trip to talk to the chef said that he would start a fresh pot of water for my GF pasta. Awesome! I did the basic fresh roasted tomatoes and garlic pasta and added the prawns....it was good. I hope the management actually reads this...yes, eating gluten free has become a fad for many, especially here in Hollywood where fad diets are the "thing" to do...but HAVING to eat gluten free is a reality for many people. If you're going to offer Gluten Free options you HAVE to truly make it gluten free and not cross contaminate, otherwise you may as well not offer it. This means baking the GF pizza on foil or on a pan that flour hasn't touched, and using a clean, washed off cutter for it. Boiling a separate pot of water for all of the GF pasta too! Props to the awesome bartender last night who was in the know!
(2)Robyn M.
Very good food fresh ingredients. Small small place and for the small small portions and the price of the small portions you would think there would be toilet paper in the restroom. Nope both tiny stalls empty and no one cleaning it up. Other than that it was a nice experience.
(2)Judy C.
We are addicted to this restaurant -- and I'm not kidding. Their spicy Mussel appetizer is fabulous (we sometimes go for lunch and have this...just because we are in the neighborhood)! Their eggplant parma is to die for and their spaghetti sauce taste's like my mummy's. We have also had their Chicken Piccata; Pizzas; Warm Salad and Cold salads..Arugala salad is to die for...I'm telling you ...the food is scrumptious..the service is great...and I always have good company! In the next three weeks, we will be there at least once a week...omg....Vitello's Anonymous -- Is there such a meeting?
(5)Kevin M.
I wanted to try something different while I was at work and I was craving Italian, so I thought I would give this place a try. I got here around 12:30pm. There was plenty of seating and plenty of parking. My waitress brought me a menu right away. As I was looking at the menu, I could hear a large group and some kind of meeting going on in another room. The decor seemed very old and the table I sat at wasn't the cleanest, but they all kind of looked the same. I ordered the Rigatoni with meat sauce. The past was cooked perfectly, but the sauce had a strange taste. The kind of taste you get when you re-freeze a sauce and reheat it over and over. It definitely was not fresh! I was starving though and I inhaled it. The service was decent, but the food was not. I don't think I'll be back.
(2)Jessica O.
Came here for paint nite los angeles this past weekend and had a blast! My friend and I got their early so we grabbed some drinks at the bar and tried their fried zucchini. So delicious! The atmosphere seemed very lively and fun with someone playing the piano in the dining area. We didn't try any of their main dishes, but I definitely want to come back! I also highly recommend trying the paint nite here, it was a ton of fun!
(4)Dan T.
Overall I have to say they have a good menu. I miss the old school look from when they remodeled a few years back. I liked the Chiopino. My wife had the linguini and clams. Both dishes were very good and I would order them again. I really enjoyed the caesar salad with anchovies. Our server was a little loopy, at one point she replaced our utensils. As she put down the new forks she said "I have to look to see if we have any clean knives". Well we didn't end up with knives, which was fine given what we ordered.
(4)Shadows M.
Vitello's is the best! I gave my son and daughter-in-law a wedding shower at Vitello's. Jessie the private event coordinator is the best! I shopped around for price and location and VItello's was by far the best price. I had about 30 people, Jessie helped me plan a menu of about 12 items that the guest could choose from. The food is delicious!! The staff was very pleasnt and quick, we had a private room with plenty of time to play games and open presents. I was so impressed with the service, the food and Jessie that I am now planning my daughter's 18 birthday party at Vitello's. Quality all the way!
(5)Lynn H.
An understated, hidden gem on Tujunga blvd. I came here on a Friday night and was mesmerized by jazz singer Angela Parrish at the piano. The scallop was perfectly done and seasoned. I had the ice cream with espresso for dessert--a great finish, but it will keep you up all night. Well, depending on your plan, it may just be the start of something exciting. I would definitely return to start another night off on the right note and palate, literally and figuratively.
(4)Rick S.
I've always found the food at Vitello's to be good. They've finished the remodel and the place looks great! Great Jazz upstairs. You'll hear some of the best musicians in L.A. here.
(4)Daniel M.
Where has "my Vitello" gone from yesteryear? I recall coming to this restaurant years ago and being just completely mesmerized with the whole "Italian" atmosphere. The huge mural on the wall that made you feel like you were dining in Italy was amazing. The food was fantastic and remember how they had a folded paper menu that had some dishes that were named after stars. The front waiting area had hundreds (I'd venture to guess) photos of stars with their autographs was in itself something to behold. I would many times, while waiting to be seated, read what these stars had to say about Vitellos. It was a great way to whittle away the time. THEN a month ago it happened. We drove into Studio City from our home in Downey and saw that the whole inside was gutted and replaced with some "modern" type of look that completely destroyed the beauty of the original Vitellos. I do understand that times change and all that but seriously this restaurant was known for their atmosphere and great food. Now it became this dark hole where you have to wait an hour to get a simple appetizer. I can only imagine that the real owner must have passed away and left the restaurant to his younger, less knowledgeable, son who completely wrecked his fathers dream restaurant. I don't think I will ever visit this restaurant again because of the disappointing service, long wait time for food, and completely dreary atmosphere. Someone messed up big time in choosing to change an icon like Vitellos. Rest in Peace.
(1)Margo H.
First time back since they remolded, and wow did they do a good job. We sat outside on Tujunga and it was a beautiful experience. We were also there while live jazz music was playing... so overall the abundance was great... however, we were not impressed by the food. Every dish we had was just OK (the soup & the salad & pasta) nothing to write home about.
(3)Stephanie J.
The setting is great, nice live piano music & friendly staff. Too bad, I can't say the same for the food. I've had better pizza margherita from the grocery store, the crust was soggy and tasted blah. While the arugula avocado salad was so tart, just too tart. -And where were the avocados and goat cheese? Listen, in the end, it's about the food!
(2)Kinsley G.
This place has a great atmosphere, amazing food and friendly staff! My husband and I brought our own wine, even though there is a $20 corkage fee (which is a bit high) but cheaper than buying single glasses! The eggplant and the chicken marsala were amazing!!!! There was a piano player who sang and played beautiful music! We can't wait to go back
(5)Jennifer B.
We held our office holiday dinner at Vitello's and ended up having 19 people in our party, including 2 small children that came along with their parents. Even with several bottles of wines, appetizers, entrees and desserts, our waitress was amazing and we did not have one issue with our orders being incorrect. The food was so good, the service was great and the atmosphere was perfect for a holiday dinner.
(5)Rachel L.
Hmmmm I fall into the category of "haven't been to Vitello's since the changes" I generally like modern and fresh. And the new refurbishment is very pretty. I can't say how I feel with it blending into what I loved about the old Vitello's. There was just something so charming about the old Vitello's that is lacking here. Perhaps if I didn't know anything different than I wouldn't care as much. This was a neighborhood gem before, now . . . . not sure. We asked if they had a house wine, we were just pointed to look at the wine menu for bottle options (I guess that's a no?) we ordered a bottle of the rose anyway. I was bent on getting Italian, and that was pretty much reserved to the left side of the menu. I wanted to learn towards the newer dishes on the right, but stuck with Italian. My husband got the chicken parm and I got the spaghetti. Both OK. We got the garlic bread as an appetizer, it was too overcooked and burnt on the bottom. We should have sent it back, but we were too hungry to care. I was asked if I wanted a salad to go with my meal, I said OK, thinking it would be a side salad up-charge to my dinner. Nope. I got the Caesar and it was bland with two mini croutons. It might have come out of a bag. No freshly shredded cheese on the top, and I was not offered fresh pepper. Disappointing. Not worth the $7 ticket price. There are too many other places I want to try in the future to come back here for dinner. The just started Sunday brunch, I might give that a try. I haven't seen the prices posted yet, but given it's proximity to where I live, I am gonna bet that I will come back to try it.
(2)stuart b.
As long time Studio City resident I had heard about how good Vitello's was from a number of people. Sadly my experience was not all that great. If you're looking for Americanized Italian ( in the same way that TexMex is to real Mexican) then this place is average. Nothing special but not terrible. I was hoping for something more than that and thus it was a big let down. The service was friendly but below average in terms of paying attention and delivering things in a timely manner..it wasn't that busy. The location is great and the ambiance was nice but with so many other good dining options in the area I doubt I'll return.
(2)Scot L.
Crappy service. The place was empty but I get a hassle for not having a reservation. Food is ok depending on what you order. I live around the corner and would to see management put a little more attention into getting their servers to pay more attention. Would it kill you to bring some bread, especially after asking for it multiple times only to get 2 meager pieces AFTER the food arrives? The piano players are the one bright spot.
(1)L N.
fantastic food/wine, good ambience.
(5)Jay A.
My wife and I stopped here when I surprised her for her birthday, they have a great small/intimate venue upstairs that puts on a variety of shows. If its still playing I highly recommend watching the "classic broadway shows", they bring in talented singers - to include current celebrities in big time shows (Glee, Big Rush, etc). The meals were great, they had a nice collection of different style of meals, beef, veal, pasta's, etc. My favorite part was the mozzarella triangle in marinara sauce sauce, it was just mouth watering. The rest of the meal was great and the atmosphere is nice due to their open door structure, I would highly recommend you stop by this place - might want to make a reservation as it can get packed quickly.
(4)K R.
We went to Vitello's Sunday Brunch and had an excellent meal. The food was great, the service was impeccable and the decor was amazing and comfortable. We loved the bottomless mimosas, the fritta was like tasting a cloud. Check this place out on any given Sunday. You won't regret it.
(4)Ashley O.
I went here for the first time a couple of months ago and it wasnt that bad. It was alright nothing that I would jump off my feet to go to. So I really wanted ravioli since I didn't want to have pizza. I guess the ravioli was whatever the choices were for the day. I wanted chicken parmasgran but all they had was butternut squash or lobster. I went with the lobster. Very random for a choice of ravioli and it wasn't that bad. The waiter was nervous for my decision since he recommended it. It was strange but not bad. I think I would have to come again to see if I really liked this place. It had a good vibe and it wasn't that bad. If you are in the area, give it a try if the menu appeals to you.
(3)Cynthia B.
Vitello's is an upscale restaurant with good food and a solid ambiance that leans a bit to the "older crowd" side. If you're looking for a nice place to eat with lovely piano playing and an upscale yet unpretentious ambiance, this is an excellent choice if you'll be in the Studio City area. The food is mostly excellent. This is not a place to hunt for bargains, but it isn't outrageously priced, either. I've found the side dishes to be an unexpected highlight (scalloped potatoes are a personal favorite). The pasta is good, but if you're only going to eat here once, I'd steer toward the Entree section of the menu - perhaps the Chicken DaVinci or chicken or veal parmigiana. For lunch, they have a decent selection of sandwiches and salads - I've only tried the salads for lunch and they were quite good. Probably the least favorite food item I've had here was the turkey hash for brunch. It was dry and a little bland - definitely not something I'll be re-ordering. My experience has been that the service is friendly and sufficiently attentive. Unless you're emotionally attached to what Vitello's used to look like, the remodel was a very positive thing. The decor gives the restaurant a fresh, modern feeling without robbing the place of warmth (the piano helps set a relaxed mood). Although the prices ensure that Vitello's isn't an "every day" option, it is still a place I like to return to on occasion for a good meal in a nice environment.
(4)Naomi C.
Came here for dinner the other night with family. This place is super cute! The location is terrific and they do offer valet/lot parking though there's plenty of street parking in the residential area behind the restaurant. PROS: 1. Gorgeous interior featuring twinkle lights and really comfy seating. 2. Delicious Italian food! (I ordered the Eggplant Parmesan- so so good!) You can order salad family style as a starter- pretty good Caesar salad; nice for sharing. 3. Cucumber water- for some reason this little touch is just refreshingly terrific. 4. Great service; our waitress was very helpful and attentive. 5. Live Jazz music 6. Amazing deserts- we had the Tiramisu and Blackout chocolate cake (which was phenomenal) Additionally, this place has outdoor seating which is lovely on a warm eve and for people watching. Though we sat inside near the twinkle lit tree but could enjoy the outside evening breeze coming in. CONS: 1. Like I said service was great but I had to ask for more water and it took a while...not terrible just is what it is. 2. if you sit too close to the piano player in the front of the restaurant it can get pretty loud to the point where you can't hear the people sitting across from you. Overall a lovely experience and I would definitely go back and recommend to others. Also, the people we had dinner with brought a bottle of wine with them and there was no issue with that which is always a plus! Definately a great romantic date place! Enjoy!
(4)Hugh S.
I've been coming to this restaurant for 20 years. I've had birthday parties there, a friend had an engagement party...my second date with my now-wife was at this restaurant. It's changed hands a couple times and recently underwent a dramatic redesign. The food--and the ethics--have gone in the toilet. Came here tonight with my wife and two devilspawn. The last time we came--about a month ago, also on a Sunday night--it took an extraordinarily long time to get our food. So we figured we'd be safe, and make a reservation. Four adults, three kids. For 5pm. Get there at 5, and they're not ready for us. They said they thought our reservation was for 7. Took about 15 minutes to sit us down. NOT 10% OF THE SEATS WERE ALREADY TAKEN. The place was empty. Another group came in after us and sat before us. I noticed because this older guy was staring at me with sad eyes. Like, seriously, dude--I'm here with two kids under four and you're gonna try and give me the sad eyes? I will cry on your face, punk. Takes a few more minutes--still inexplicably--and we finally order. Three pasta dishes, two pizzas and, for me, a veal parmigana. The pastas are gluten free, which, of course, takes a bit longer. AND THEN AN HOUR PASSED. You know, kids are totally down with hanging out in a restaurant for an hour with nothing happening. S'no big deal. I'm chasing my kids down the street. I'm running them in circles outside. Giving them games on my phone. Teaching them second languages. I took my four year-old to the bathroom, and my wife asked where the food was. They politely said it was on the way. If they had started cooking right when my wife asked, it STILL would've taken too long to arrive. Sad-eyed guy? Ate his dinner, ate dessert, packed a doggie bag and still whimpered everytime I looked his way. Bush leagues, man. I could show you blackness. It is angry, tired, hungry children. Food comes. I usher everyone inside, Sit down to a plate of veal parmigana that is searing to the touch. The plate--not the food. It'd either been microwaved or set-up a voting booth under a heating lamp. The meat was tough. Really tough. So tough that I sent it back. I can't remember the last time I sent food back. I've been with my wife for nine years, and she couldn't remember me ever doing it. Because I'm not sure if I ever have. The waiter wasn't a bad guy. He was suitably apologetic, and clearly embarrassed. I've seen the Gordon Ramsey and the Bobby and Giada and Morimoto--I know how the business works, and I knew it wasn't his fault. So I told him that if he wanted to punish the chef, he should make him eat that veal. Now I'm the guy who's pilfering food from my friends and children in order to stave off low blood sugar. What I'm saying is I WAS STEALING FOOD FROM MY KIDS. Turned around and sad-eyed guy had left. Thanks for abandoning me, dude. So he came in after us, sat, had drinks, full courses, desserts, doggie bags, after-dinner laughs and vanished just when we got our food. I stayed entirely calm through all of this, mostly because I didn't want to upset my kids. Woman manager came out and asked me what was wrong--she seemed surprised that my leisurely 90-minute wait ending in surfboard veal should be a problem. I reiterated that eating that slice of corduroy would be more self-loathing than even I could achieve, and asked her to just run the check. She did, and charged us full-price for everything but the veal. I didn't complain' that's her prerogative. I gave the poor waiter a 20% tip. My prerogative. And now I'm trashing the heck outta their place on Yelp without the need for any hyperbole. Also my prerogative. I'm like Bobby Brown without everything Bobby Brown is, has, or does. Now, look--everyone has bad nights. My wife used to run a restaurant, and plenty of my friends have worked in them. I live in Los Angeles, after all. But I'll refer you to subsection one, paragraph three of this tirade, in which I stated, and I quote, "The last time we came--about a month ago, also on a Sunday night--it took an extraordinarily long time to get our food." I cut and pasted that, so I couldn't accuse myself of taking myself out of context. Not only is this the second time this happened, it's the SECOND TIME IN A ROW. That we had to wait. NEARLY AN HOUR. For simple food. WITH THREE KIDS. In a restaurant that started NEARLY EMPTY. Caps and smallies, that is a STUPID way to run a business. Fool me twice, shame on me. I guess. Won't be a third time, that's for sure. And I'm a 20 year vet who lives in the neighborhood, so I can only imagine these yutzes are bleeding longtime customers. No biggie, it's not like there are any other restaurants in the neighborhood. Oh wait... No discount except the veal that I sent back? REALLY? That's cold, dawg.
(1)Anthony M.
Well, I can certainly understand why Robert Blake was in a mood to murder someone after dining here. Okay, so perhaps that was unfair given that most of the negative reviews seem to date from long after that infamous case. Even so. What a fucking ordeal our dinner turned out to be. The place is apparently staffed by the future wives of Stepford, minus the charm. The decor manages to be both pretentious and uninspiring. That takes talent. Upon arriving we were told there'd be a 45-minute wait, or we could be seated upstairs immediately. 45 minutes?! Little did I realise that would almost be how long we'd spend waiting for our food to arrive. So we sat upstairs in what was apparently intended as a private dining or function room. The old adage "out of sight, out of mind" proved true as it took forever before we set eyes on our waitress. We ordered the fried mozzarella starter, which was delicious then waited for our entrees. And waited. And waited. And waited. And waited. And waited. So bad was the wait and so inattentive was the service that we asked an entirely different waitress to please track ours down. Minutes later she appeared and was quite apologetic, albeit in that dippy, valley girl sort of way. Before I could raise a fuss she informed us our meals would be out in one minute to which I responded by informing her that in two minutes we'd be asking for the check. I mean, enough already. The family of three seated just opposite us ordered at the exact same time we did, received and ate their food, paid, and departed all before we were even served. Fucking awful. When our food did arrive it was massively disappointing. I ordered the braised short ribs, which were dry, completely unremarkable, and totally devoid of flavour. I have made this same dish twice before; it really isn't that difficult to get it to taste good. My friend, by the way ordered pasta, which I can make from package to plate in under 10 minutes! And something tells me I'll be seeing a lot more of my kitchen following this rage-inducing visit to Vitello's.
(1)Matt H.
Ok, here's the deal- as a professional musician AND a food connoisseur who lives just a few blocks from this joint: MUSIC- great in the upstairs venue. That's the only reason I can give 2 stars. FOOD- mediocre (at best) to shameful for a restaurant that charges such high prices. There's nothing worse in a restaurant experience than overpaying for under-par food. If you're just looking to eat, walk across the street and every restaurant there is WAY better- Caoti, and Aroma. My first experience was with the bruschetta- completely stale bread, lifeless tomatoes. For such a simple dish, all you need is quality and fresh ingredients. Then recently went to see some friends perform who were AWESOME, but of course I had to order drinks and/or food. This time, I really had low expectations for food, and once again Vitello's met those expectations. My wife and I ordered the short ribs, with some glimmer of hope based on the waitress' recommendation over the chicken piccata. When you think short ribs, you imagine juicy tenderness melting in your mouth...of course, you won't get that here...I asked my wife her opinion after a few bites. She said "it's not bad...(pause) but it's not good". We both laughed in agreement. Honestly, I would prefer going there for the music with Burger King as a dinner option (and I don't eat fast food). It's like someone doesn't care, or doesn't know what they're doing, pretending to cook fine dining and charging high prices in hopes that you will magically believe you are fine dining. ? I really want to like this place because they have class act music and it's walking distance for me. If they could only get a really great chef in there, and lower the prices a bit, it could be a great dining and music experience and I would love to be a regular. Oh how I wish upon a star.
(2)R H.
Food tasted very good and the waitress we had was awesome! Perfect for a date night! I did however get sick to my stomach but not sure if it was the food or not. But I will say the staff was exceptional as they had someone make me a soda water to feel better! Very sweet of them! Got the Lobster Ravioli and Chicken DaVinci. Very tasty! Next time, if I return someday, I'll definitely try the pizzas!
(4)Tom R.
I came to this restaurant years ago, around 2003 or 2004 and got a spaghetti plate to go. It was very good, had lots of flavor & remember the people being nice that took my order. The look inside was cool, good old classic italian restaurant look. From the looks of the pictures and all the recent reviews, I'm debating on if I would go back. I moved far from the area so I never got a chance to go back but since they did all sorts of changes, don't know if it would be worth it or not. But from what I remember, I had a good experience from this place.
(4)Grape D.
Can't STAND it since the do-over. Everything I liked about Vitello's is gone or changed for the worse. Prices waay up, attitude waaaaaaay up, food quality down, menu made pretentious and de-Italianized, portions much smaller, servers depressed and missing the old days like the rest of us, opera open mic gone from the back room. What can I say? It's a freaking disaster and this former every-couple-of-weeks-Vitello's-regular will NEVER be back unless they put it back the way it was.
(2)Darth F.
All Flash. No Fire. Great location. Decent improvements from previous decor. Service was sub par. Seems as though the waitress we had was more interested in talking to the bartender then waiting her tables. When she came around she was friendly though. The Food. Let me first just say I have been to lunch and dinner here. I haven't tried the brunch. We began with a salad which took forever to get to us. Chop salad. U could taste that the ingredients had been sitting around for some time as the lettuce was rusted and the tomato mushy at best. Garlic toast wasn't bad. Inconsistently cooked. But not bad. My date had the ravioli. FROZEN! Another @ the table had spaghetti and MB . The meatballs where the star in a dish that was devoid flavor. Does anybody taste the food in the kitchen before they send it to the table? I ordered Gluten free pasta marinara. Seems like a no brainer.. Unfortunately in amongst my GF pasta was fettucine which leads me to believe they put the GF pasta in the same water as the normal pasta. I mentioned this to the waitress who didn't seem surprised by it. She did ask if she could "fix" it. But I don't think anybody there has the ability to fix anything. Too many rookie mistakes from a supposedly veteran place. this pretty much sums up the handful visits we have made to Vitellos in the recent past. I cant speak to what it was.. But what it currently is .. Not a place to eat Italian food. 1 star for strong wine list and great drinks.
(1)Robert R.
My problem with Vitello's Restaurant is that I just didn't know why I didn't like it. The food is OK, so I went back for a fourth visit and finally discovered my reason for not returning. The service is just plain amateurish. Starting at valet parking, which most restaurateurs don't realize is the first impression a customer gets, the service is sloppy. I pull into the parking lot, no valet. I park my own car, no valet, I get out, I move to open my wife's door and, suddenly, there's the valet. He was on his cell phone. Personal calls first, then the patron. The only thing he says is, "Valet only." Next comes the front door. No smile, just a "Yes." "Table for two, please." Empty restaurant, but she must look over the list. We're shown to a truly uncomfortable table. "May we sit there, please?" "Sorry all other tables are reserved." They don't get a surge of people until we're on desert. Our waitress, very nice and personable, takes our drink order and goes to the bar. The drinks are made, she puts them on her tray, and then, and then! she stops to talk to her buddies behind the bar. Personal chit-chat first, then the patron. Our order arrives, we ask for clean forks and wait and wait. Finally, the server returns. "Forks?" "Oh, yes, I'll have the waitress get you one." That's the problem. Giving people, but badly trained and not cognizant of the whole idea of service. Sorry, we're not returning, even though the food is really OK.
(2)Terry D.
They've remodeled and the ambience is great. have the mussels appetizer in red broth, to die for.
(5)Rob L.
place is amazing! here for 3rd time this week. staff is very friendly, food is delicious and wine fair priced.
(5)Foodie X.
Not a fan of any of the food, I've tried several selections, it's all been Mediocre at best. The venue is a modern setting, with a nice little upstairs lounge, in that lounge they have Cabaret Shows, Burlesque, and entertainers. This is the only redeeming factor for me, I've enjoyed a few of those shows. Outside of that, there is just an unwelcoming feeling here. The drinks are overpriced, the service is slow to average. Nothing about Vitellos says WOW. My review is based on 5 visits, all within the last 2 years, so unlike other Yelpers I can't speak of what once was. What is now, is a Mediocre experience, that could be made better with attention to food quality. If you are going, check out the weekly Cabaret, it can save your experience.
(2)Teri R.
My out of town friends chose for us to meet at Vitello's, and after checking the yelp reviews before going, I was expecting the worst. Well, haters gonna hate and some people are just ridiculously harsh, because our Wednesday evening at Vitello's was just lovely. I had been there once, maybe 7 or 8 years ago. The place looks completely different and what some yelpers (who miss the old look) call pretentious, I thought was just beautiful. The host at the front was pleasant and friendly, as was our waiter who was very attentive. I had no appetizer or dessert so I can only speak of the margherita pizza which was perfectly yummy and just the right size for one person. Note: Pay attention to the parking signs outside. My friends got a ticket for being on that side street past 9pm. My car was around the corner and just fine. All in all, I will definitely be back.
(5)Jennifer M.
I was a huge fan of vitellos for several years. Dining in and taking out. When I went in February on a Friday night, I made the decision never to return. Don't get me wrong, the renovations are great. But with the upscale ambiance comes the uppity service that can ONLY be delivered by a Los Angeles hostess. The usual-didn't take our name, told us she'd be there soon. Someone else comes up, asks if we've been helped, we acknowledge that we're not sure, chaos ensues. We're there early for dinner, the new renovated area is half full, but they seat us in the back where there is no music, and is reminiscent of a billiards hall. You ask for water, it doesn't come. You ask for some mood music so you don't have to hear all of the minutae of the party seated beside you, no dice. You ask to be moved to the nicer party of the restaurant, blah blah blah. After waiting 22 minutes with no report, no music and not even any water, we called it a night. I'm not super demanding when i go out to eat. I waited tables, bussed tables (yes they let girls do that in Ohio), catered, bartended, and managed restaurants, so i get that things so wrong. But this was a new benchmark in bad service.
(1)Jackie D.
We came across this place and loved the vibe so we thought we'd give it a try. I usually order Vitello's express so I figured if we tried the restaurant we couldn't go wrong. We sat outside...which I loved. We shared the Jane's Chop Salad which is so light but fulfilling and all the ingredients really compliment each other. We also had the thin crust tomato, basil, and pesto pizza. I've never had a pizza crust be so thin before but it was different and we loved it! It was a great pick for a light lunch. The only reason I gave it four stars is because it wasn't very busy and our waitress wasn't attentive.
(4)Richard H.
Nice atmosphere, good service, prices are reasonable. Shared a pizza and had a couple of beers before walking back home.
(4)Jack F.
Service was excellent. Food was outstanding. Terrific live pianist for Saturday brunch. A rare gem in Studio City.
(5)Beth R.
I think this restaurant deserve better then a 3 average rating. The service is not the best but it's not bad either. The ambiance is good. We have a god so we always sit outside which is nice because most places in LA with outdoor seating are on busy streets so there is a lot of noise and car smog. In the evenings the sidewalk is shaded. I've never been but they have jazz bands upstairs and I think comedy shows. You can have dinner and watch the show. My favorite dish is the Ravioli Bandiera (it's called something else during the winter). It's a unique yummy dish I have never had anywhere else. The specials are always good too. My husband usually gets them. I wish they would have the risotto as a permanent dish because it's yummy too!
(4)Joe B.
Wow, what a disappointment! I was there a few years ago when it was TRULY an Italian restaurant and I didn't know about the change. Had I known, I wouldn't have gone back (I should have read Yelp before going back!). The only good thing about the dinner was the cannoli. Other than that, the food was bland and over priced, the wine was ridiculously over priced (for what I paid for a glass, I could get a bottle at BevMo) and the wait staff was lazy. And gone was the old Vitello's ambiance. What a shame. Someone should have clued the new owner in about the old saying, "If it ain't broke..." I won't be going back and I won't be recommending this place to friends.
(1)Jazz P.
Went there for Sunday brunch. The ambiance is perfect as there was live piano, really open and airy, and super clean. The food was so great, I got a quinoa breakfast bowl and it was unlike anything I had gotten before! I will most definitely will be going back for more brunches and to check out the dinner vibe. I highly recommend going to this restaurant.
(5)Jackson T.
The perfect place to go if you want to spend your evening hunting down your table's food. 45 minutes to get a beer. An endless wait for pizzas that never come. A wonderful evening with great friends ruined by the worst service and management ever. Never coming back again.
(1)Todd B.
I would review the food but the service was do bad we left before ordering. My companion had a dirty placemat and when he asked for a new one the server said "WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT?!?" My friend said that it was dirty and with a great deal of attitude the server said that she would clean it! We are now eating pizza across the street. We will never return to Vitellos again.
(1)Michele B.
I celebrated my engagement here back in 2001 and the place was awesome. Nice homey atmosphere, great for anyone in your party to find something they would enjoy. I went back for an Anniversary and was stunned by the difference. Gone was the homey atmosphere, I felt like I had wandered into a club on Melrose. It took ages to get seated, forever to order, and the food was just plain bad. I honestly couldn't find anything traditional on the menu, and there was nothing I really wanted to eat. I mean Miso on a chopped 'Italian" salad, really? I got the Prosciutto Appetizer and it has way too much balsamic on it to eat, the House Salad wilted lettuce and all, the Spaghetti and Meatballs which were bland and tasteless, and I didn't even wait to see about dessert. I highly recommend finding a different restaurant unless your into overpriced and tasteless food,
(1)Steve M.
I really like the "new" Vitello's - the new menu is great, there's a great 1/2 price deal off the entire wine list every Monday, and the manager, Lisa, makes me feel truly welcome every time I step inside the place. I'm not a jazz fan so I can't comment on the music, but last night there were apparently more than 100 people in the music bar, so I guess it can't be all bad! The 50% deal on the wine list is amazing - I paid $60 for a 2010 Seasmoke "Ten" Pinot last night - that's pretty much what I'd have to pay retail. Oh - and again, Lisa is a great host.
(5)Sophia T.
I was actually surprised as the food was great and the atmosphere was nice. This would be a great place to eat on a beautiful sunny day as the windows open fully. I had their Brussel sprout soup which was absolutely delicious and their pizza was flavorful with a bit of crunch (super thin). I had their tuna sandwich which was ok but my friends said the fish and chips was the best they ever had in LA. I'll have to try that next time. BTW: the French fries were perfect...truffle-do I need to say more?!
(4)S H.
Had reservation for 11 people on Tuesday. Took us to their game playing room. Not much ambience. Asked for bread 3 times. Never got it. Lunguine and white sauce was like water. Would not recommend this place. Kids liked their sausage pizza. Lasagna ok. Meatloaf dinner? My daughter was still hungry. Too much money for portions. Should come with a dinner salad. We traveled from Arizona and looked forward to this place. Disappointed . Very much so
(1)J. S.
Went there for a business meeting because I knew they had parking. As much as I like the new decor, I have to admit I miss the old traditional Italian feel and the beautiful fresco on the wall. I wanted something light and tasty so got the caprese salad. I liked it! Service was good and since there were not a lot of people there we did not feel pressed to leave so was able to conduct our meeting without having to worry about time. I miss the old Vitello's and its menu but since it is in a great location and they parking, I will be back.
(3)Esteve M.
I miss the old Vitello's. The food was good. But small portion and over priced.
(2)Greg K.
Totally unreasonable management. My school had an event here and, as a member of the administration, I went to support the students. I had eaten before I got there and sat down with some coworkers at a booth. The waitress comes around to take our order, and I say I'd just like some water and she tells me there's a mandatory $18 charge per person. This was never communicated to the school. So I say that's fine, if it's a table thing, I don't mind standing. I stand somewhere completely out of the way and the manager (I'm assuming) comes over and makes up a bunch of reasons why I can't stand certain places ("You're in the way." "Fine, I'll move over here." "That's where the camera is going to be filming." "Really?" [There was never any camera filming] "You can stand _here_.") - she actually takes me out of the room - with a parent - and makes us stand in the lobby where we can kind of see the students perform. A few minutes later, she relented and told me I could sit in the shaming corner, far away from everyone else, on a stool. Yeah. Never mind the fact that there was an entire booth available and a number of chairs vacant throughout the room. So I sat there for a while with an old glass of water ("Have one on me," she said as she showed me my stool), and eventually, a few students came around and we chatted and enjoyed the show. Later on, I braved walking back to the coworker's booth (which was half open) and sitting there - hopefully not to incur an additional $18 charge to their bill. Side note: Their food was terrible. The fries were cold and the sandwich was not worth what they paid for. I would not recommend this place for anything.
(1)Aneta S.
It is very pretty and cozy in here, but I do miss the "old school" hide out. :). The food was ok, it's a nice place, beautiful décor, and I am sure it will do well - it will take some time getting used to.
(3)Sandra C.
The venue itself is super nice, and I really enjoyed the live music. That's about it. This is hands down the most expensive mediocre food I've ever eaten. C'mon Vitello's, you really gotta step up your game.
(2)Helen S.
Our annual Holiday party was held at the showroom.The food wasn't tasty, and the guests were not given enough time to finish or even try to fill half a plate. There was duct tape on the walls and the appearance of the room looked tired. The staff did not appear to be friendly and were cleaning tables faster than we could chew.
(1)Sarah S.
Went here for lunch, cute location with nice staff. Split the salad with arugala and pine nuts which I enjoyed and a margherita pizza which was much larger than I thought it would be. Will return again!
(3)Dena H.
Yesterday I took my daughter Hanna here for a post graduation mother daughter lunch date. I had heard about this restaurant through a good friend and since Italian food is my daughters favorite I thought I would surprise her. We live in Westlake Village. This restaurant was so worth the drive. I have never had better Italian food in my life. Though we were there for lunch it felt like a dinner meal. Everything was too perfection. And the most amazing menu. My daughter is a vegetarian and they also catered to her taste. The people were so friendly. Our server was Lisa and she was the sweetest. The Vp/Gm was Brad. He was so nice. He treated all customers like they were family. I'm Italian and I liked the Italian feel of that. Lol. This restaurant also has a game room and jazz bar. I'm bringing my husband back on Saturday night. The prices we reasonable. And the atmosphere was awesome. Lots of shopping in the area too. So you can make a day or evening out of it. Great lil town. OMG! I can not forget the dessert it was UNBELIEVABLE!! Freshly baked like all food in this restaurant. I promise anyone who eats here will be more then happy. My daughters and my new most favorite place. Thanks Vitello's ! You rock!!
(5)Chrissie L.
I had heard about this place over the years and in fact my grandparents (who have lived in Sherman Oaks for 65 years and are well over 80) have been coming here for years. I arrive on a cold wet Friday evening with my full term pregnant friend. After circling around for a while and finally parking several blocks away, we make it inside the restaurant. I did not realize that it had such a modern look but I overheard someone speaking about the remodeling so I assume it is pretty new. It had that kind of modern, pretentious vibe so that was the first warning sign. We were greeted by a host who said the wait was about 30 minutes without reservation but that we could be seated at the bar right away. We looked at each other hesitantly but then decided to stay since we had just braved the weather and parking situation. Furthermore, my pregnant friend was quite hungry and it was already approaching 7:30pm. We were seated at the small bar which was pretty snug since it was full. After watching the waitress go back and forth and take orders over our heads we were given menus. We ordered pretty much right away. My friend opted for the carbonara and I the Spaghetti with meatballs. I also ordered a side of the parmesan brussel sprouts. These came first and though they were tasty, there was no sign of parmesan. Then we waited and waited and waited and about an hour went by before our food arrived. We were ignored the entire time until our food came out at which point we got some sort of apology because they are "packed" tonight. My friend took one look at her plate and said it looked like an appetizer portion. Right as she said that a woman sitting next to her looked over and asked if she ordered an appetizer. The pasta was semi decent but not worth an hour wait and definitely not worth the $18 they charged for it. As for my spaghetti, the sauce was extremely bland and boring with no real taste and the meatballs were dry. I did not even finish the plate. We left right away after paying $25 each and still hungry. I had to hear a mouthful from my pregnant friend the whole ride home and I can't blame her. I will never return here again, nor would I recommend it to anyone I know.
(1)Adam T.
Where to start? First, I don't mind change - when it's for the better. Stepping into Vitello's new look at first I was a bit astounded, the new modern fresh look is interesting, open and I could get used to it. I did think "hopefully they haven't changed to much..." We were sat in about 15 minutes, also quicker than I expected. However, once the menu was set before us, I knew this was no longer the Vitello's that I was desiring. This is no longer "Traditional Italian" the food has been just as modernised as the dining area. First thing ordered was a "Chianti" though I thought the name off - find out that's because it is really a just mislabeled in the menu - it was a Tuscan Red, just not a Chianti. I guess this is the reason the waiter took so longer finding it too. Along with this we ordered the Fritto Misto, aka fried calamari, shrimp and zucchini. The 4 pieces of zucchini were mushy, the 3 shrimps a tad tough (frozen?) and the squid, yes squid not calamari, was chewy and over sized pieces. Topping all of this was the flavourless "batter" that everything was thrown in, generally the pieces of squid has fused into large globs. The plate came with spicy tartar, which was anything but, and an oily marinara sauce. Now that's thankfully over maybe dinner will bring a reprieve to the first course. I ordered a new Ravioli, Spinach with Truffle, and out the 6 little lonely dumplings came on a large plate with a schmear of a tomato based sauce that was too sweet. Disappointed? Indeed. Scot's Lamb ragu came out and was a very sizable portion, though as he states "Ragu" was right - the lamb had lost all its essence in that sauce, "I've had frozen dinners that had a better palate." Upon finishing the dinners, the waiter asked if we would like desert. We both answered quite quickly that we were done. We went across the street for some excellent desert and coffee (seeming how we were both still hungry). I'm sorry Vitello's but I see no reason to come back again, which saddens me I truly used to enjoy and savour your traditional dishes. You get one star - for those that want an over-priced, under-served, modernised, bland meal in a trendy updated looking restaurant - but even this is a stretch.
(1)Venus M.
Loving the whole Tujunga strip and watching this place pretty much finish up its renovation I was very tempted to try. I finally convinced my boyfriend for us to go here last Friday night instead of over the hill like we normally do. We made our reservations for 9 but decided to go in early to sit at the bar and enjoy the environment. We were greeted with a warm welcome and explained what we wanted to do since the restaurant was not too busy they reserved our booth with a sign and allowed us to sit at the bar a while. The drinks were strong...no complaints there. The bar was actually rather cozy and the bartender was friendly but not over attentive. We then made our way over to our table to order. For starters I wanted the bruschetta...very tasty and fresh and the bread wasn't too stiff. My boyfriend had the meatballs AMAZING! Then for entrees I decided to go with the Trofie alla Sausage...(super yummy) and my man went with Filetto di Branzino (wowzers). There was a little more almond crust on the branzino than what he expected but I really liked it. Overall I loved the environment, the background music was great (being that there was no band upstairs for the night), the service was on point, the food was flavorful and fulfilling. I will be back!
(4)Anne L.
Ok, wow. What just happened? REALLY disappointed! The atmosphere:A- Piano player: A Food: B+ Staff: D+ Very, very bad first experience here. The staff bitched to each other for 25 minutes at the bar (yes, I actually kept track of the time) before I told them I had to move myself closer to the piano player... So I can hear him and not their trash talking about their co-workers! I sat at the new table they relocated me to for about 20 minutes (with no checks on me by the bartender who still insisted on waiting on me) before I saw that 2 of the 3 staff members that were up at the bar talking shit about their coworkers were gone so I moved back to the bar. I asked the bartender if he could watch my food and drink and he said yes. No joke... I come back from my brief visit to the bathroom and the piano player is packing up, the front door is locked, and all the chairs on the tables are being turned over. This is at 10:41pm and AFTER the bartender assured me they weren't closing the restaurant but only closing down the kitchen. The "manager" a.k.a. very immature person who is not even near qualified to run a restaurant starts going "Woo Hoo!" And waving her hands and dances across the restaurant floor showing her happiness that she locked the place down early so she can go home early and care about her personal concerns and not anyone else in the restaurant. Funny thing is I came out tonight due to their 10pm - Close Happy Hour menu they post on their website but it appears they close less than 45 minutes after they start their happy hour! And I mean SHUT DOWN!! I'm thoroughly disappointed at my experience. In all honestly if they spent as much time and money revamping their STAFF the same way they revamped the cosmetic appearance of their restaurant they could be a real leader in this area of the Valley. NEVER underestimate the value of your staff!!!!
(2)Lora A.
We love heading to Vitello's for a yummy dinner! A big fan of the super thin pesto pizza appetizer and really enjoy the chopped salad. Everytime we go they have a new specials and awesome waitstaff. I love the new look and the outdoor/indoor seating. Very cozy yet open. NOW THEY HAVE HAPPY HOUR :)
(4)Soraya A.
Love the food & love the environment! Lovely to go on date nights!
(5)Yolanda R.
Where is all the real jazz in LA? Upstairs at Vitello's is keeping the torch burning all on its own practically, like a jazz statue of Liberty! I was there on Sunday for a Vocal Showcase and it was every bit the great jazz room that those in the know have come to miss! This was the fifth time I've been there and it does not disappoint, either in the excellent quality of the musicians or the very nice and reasonably priced food and drink. I had their Watermelon and Avocado salad (yummy) just as a change from my favorite steamed mussels in red (or white) sauce. Delicioso! Parking advice: ALWAYS use the very reasonable valet ($3.50). Street parking is highly restricted in this very cute but popular neighborhood.
(5)maegen r.
My husband and I love this place. The marinara sauce is amazing which, for me, is indicative of good italian and makes or breaks the entire meal. It tastes fresh with the right amount of sweetness. Great open-air and outdoor seating and the staff we've experienced has always been super nice and attentive but never overbearing. Reasonably priced and good sized portions AND gluten-free options!
(4)Jonathan I.
Eh. My wife and I didn't have a great experience here. Our server left us waiting for over 15 minutes before coming to greet us and the food took forever to come out. The server explained that it is because there was a large party whose order went in immediately before ours. After being there 45 minutes and still not eaten we asked the server to just put our food in Togo bags and took it home. The food was nothing special. I can cook better Italian food myself. And since we ended up eating it at home anyways, we would have been better off doing that.
(2)J T.
So I think this restaurant has changed ownership- complete new look (only downstairs- upstairs is terrible I feel sorry if you get seated upstairs- you can smell the plastic of the new carpet as you bite into your overpriced flatbread pizza I went here with my wife and thought it would be a good idea -NOT!! They had open tables downstairs but told us that they could only seat is upstairs... The smell was terrible so we drank our overpriced wine and left- WE WILL NOT BE COMING back EVER!!!! Was really excited about the new look too....oh well.
(1)Michael T.
We celebrated my brother-in-law's birthday last Friday night. Very pleasantly surprised at the ambiance, as we had not dined there since the sale/remodeling. Excellent vibe, which was enhanced by Alex, our server. She was a delight, making suggestions, serving individual dishes when they were ready (rather than wait for complete meals), and her attitude was spectacular! We also spoke with Brad Roen, the General Manager, and learned something about the restaurant's future plans. Oh, and the food was very good, from my wife's fish to brother-in-laws steak to my lasagna. All things considered, a very enjoyable experience!
(4)Talia L.
The last time I went to Vitello's their menu was totally different and not in a good way. My favorite Robert Blake special (har har) is gone. A few of my family's other favorite dishes are gone as well. Entrees are still expensive but are now much smaller portions and no longer come with soup or salad. During our last visit the service was painfully slow. My dad almost walked out, he was so frustrated. At this point I think Vitello's is only worth going to for the live music. The ambience is nice, as it always has been, but their food is a serious letdown. I'm figuring they must have changed ownership. Boo at my favorite childhood restaurant going downhill.
(2)Luke R.
It's not awesome, but it's not bad either. It's just "okay". I have been here a few times now and tried a few different dishes. Each dish has been fine. No complaints about the food. It isn't what I would call bland, but not very flavorful either. What I do object to, however, are the prices. They aren't outrageous, per se, but they are a little high for the quality and quantity. My most recent purchase, which was a take out order of chicken fettucini alfredo cost me $17 plus tax. I'm not against going here again, but it certainly not at the top of my list by any stretch.
(3)Nick H.
Charles Vitello, the original owner of Vitello's Restaurant, was my grandfather and was true to his craft to bringing authentic and delicious Italian food to the public. When he passed away, the business was bought by Steve and Joe Restivo and they truly kept the legacy of my grandfather alive in Vitello's. Those two were the main reason I came when I was kid and all through my years in high school. They always treated you like you were one of the family and that's how I felt it should be. The red leather booths and the dim lights gave it its ambiance. The waitstaff was always friendly and accommodating, the chefs had a deep passion for tradition and food, and the lounge/bar area on Friday nights bellowed with local opera singers, which gave our nights when we dined there a unique experience. The main entrance covered with headshots of famous celebrities was an awe whenever I walked in, especially Director Garry Marshall, who was a regular and would always cast Steve in roles in upcoming films he would be making. Now, the restaurant has changed... Joe passed away and Steve has moved on. The restaurant has become an empty shell, only glorified because of a celebrity murder and not for its once rich and inviting environment. My grandfather was proud of what he brought to the restaurant but now, under new ownership, its been driven to the ground. Even the new owners won't recognize my grandfather as the founder and give him creditation he deserves. That is insulting to me and my family. For those of you who remember those days and have a distaste for Vitello's now, I don't blame you. When Steve and Joe left, the heart and soul went with it. My grandfather would probably be upset about how his restaurant transformed and how it is now a misrepresentation of what true Italian food should be. NOTE: I'm giving this "5 Stars" in honor of my grandfather's legacy and that I only wished to have been able to meet my grandfather to tell him that I'm proud of him. But, at the same time, I wish I could give it "No Stars" only because to current owners did not bring to light the man who started it all.
(5)Marni H.
Ohhhhhhh Vitellos.....gone forever..... I went last night to show it off to a new friend and walked in to the most generic, no personality, just-like-every-other-average restaurant in LA. Gone are the awesome old school red leather booths and dark lighting, replaced by hard steel beams and hard wood tables. a banquette along the wall insures that one person ALWAYS gets the "bad" seat now, instead of the cozy 2-4 person booths that used to line the exposed brick wall. Seriously I felt like crying. I've been going there and introducing people to it as one of hollywoods/the valley's best old school dive restaurants for about 16 years, everyone loved it and always asks to go back. Its not about the food or the prices, which werent bad, it was about the ambience. I personally went 2 or 3 times a month. I have texted about 15-20 people to tell them never to go back, its gone, and I wonder how many other people THEY had introduced to it...... Its gone. I will never go back to whatever this place has become, ever again. they should have blown it to bits like the Sands in Vegas -- it would have been more humane than turning it into nothingness...... signed, sad, disappointed, angry
(1)Larry L.
My friend and I decided to order delivery from this place because he lives pretty close to it. We were starving so we ordered a lot of food. (Fettuccine Alfredo, Pizza with Sausage and Pepperoni, Lasagna, and their strip steak) First we waited over an hour for the delivery guy to call us and tell us they were outside our gate, well we don't have a gate. They wrote the wrong address down. So we wait another 15 minutes and get our food an hour and fifteen after ordering when we were told 45 minutes. But we were starving and were just excited to get our food. So after tearing everything open we realize that although the menu states the entrees come with sides, there were none delivered to us. So we paid full price for our meals but don't get the sides? Strange. Well lets start with the Steak. Completely cold, chewy, and rough. No sides to the meal either. Pizza was cold and tasteless Fettuccine Alfredo was greasy, no sauce, oil dripping from the pan and of course....cold! Lasagna was, yes cold, but then i dive into it and i wish i could say it was pleasant but that would be way too embellished. After seeing what our $100 brought us I decide to call Vitellos and just explain to them our disappointment. So I call and speak to the manager "Becky" I believe her name was. I explain that our food was late, cold, no sides, and tasteless. She didn't really care too much and i could tell she just wanted to get me off the phone so she offered to send us a gift certificate and she wrote down my address and phone number. I was pleasantly surprised and said thank you and hung up. A week and a half later, no gift certificate. The place sucks! --------- An update on this. I received a call from another manager saying how sorry she was and that they are truly embarrassed and give us another chance. She also made sure to tell me that she would send through the gift card and send me a follow up email. Well none of those things happened as of yet, its been a month. oh well.
(1)Holly F.
My first time here was wonderful. We came for our 26 wedding anniversary. The service and food was excellent. From the bar/bartender to the owner and are waitress, everything was perfect. I will definitely come back again.
(5)Lynn Z.
My daughter lives close by so we walked over on a Monday for lunch to celebrate her birthday. We were looking forward to a wonder lunch. I should have known when it was not busy at prime lunch time. But we sat on their patio which was nice but if your an Italian Restaurant you SHOULD be able to make decent Garlic Bread or Ceasar Salad that is not tasteless, that also happened to be the way the whole lunch was...what a waste of money that lunch was! I mean if your not busy at lunch which looks like it should be a prime spot for a restaurant figure it out! Here's a hint: It's your food and super slow service.
(1)Therese B.
We haven't been for a long time since it was renovated. Liked the new contemporary decor. Food was ok but too pricey.
(3)April D.
I am happy to report that the past two times that we have been here the service and food has been great! I am so glad because I love the spicy arrabiatta with veggie sausage. My only suggestion is that when someone purchases a bottle of white wine, please put it on ice so it doesn't get warm!
(4)Christina P.
OK, perhaps I should have read more reviews before coming here because I had no idea that this was the site of the Robert Blake murder! It may have made my visit a bit more memorable, knowing the creepy history behind it. As it was, it was fine, but I felt like it was one of those places that rides on its long history to be able to overcharge customers without really excelling in the quality of the food. I do feel bad that I can't give it another half star for the excellent service we received, though. I came here for a show upstairs and already had a bad taste in my mouth when I read on the website that it was going to be a $15 cover charge (for the cheaper seats), plus a two drink minimum and a $15 food minimum. Those are the most restrictions I've ever dealt with both from a restaurant or music venue, and as you may know, I do not enjoy being told what I need to buy. But as it was a band of family members I gladly paid up. For all of that, I wish the menu was a little more varied. I'm not sure if the upstairs has a smaller menu than the dining area downstairs, but it was kind of a 'greatest hits' type of menu, with only the real basics on there: spaghetti and meatballs, chicken picatta, that kind of thing. I actually really enjoyed my spaghetti and meatballs but it honestly did feel like something I could whip up at home - and I'm not the greatest cook. I also wished there were more affordable glasses of wine - my pinot grigio was fine at $7 but the only pinot noir available was $13, which I thought was a little overpriced for a place like this. My final complaint was about the music venue itself. For such a storied jazz venue, you'd think they would have taken a little bit more time to update the space, especially the stage area. The musicians were fabulous, but I didn't love the super thrown-together backdrop... it just felt kind of low class for such a classy environment. Now that all my whining's out of the way, I really do have to commend all of the employees, from the host to the waiters. They had a bunch of people to deal with and a lot of orders to take at once and they seemed to take it in stride with smiles on their faces!
(3)Bob S.
Just had to post my experience because it was so bad. The entire night ended up costing me $140. Here's what happened. I was bringing my gf to come see some live Jazz for her birthday here. I had heard terrible things about Vitellos and the way they treat the musicians that play there, but one of my favorite piano players was playing and a bunch of vocalists, and my gf is a vocalist so I thought this would be great. I looked online and saw a $10 cover, and that it started at 8pm so I thought to myself cool, we'll get dinner before hand, and then head over to the concert and grab some dessert there for her birthday. We parked relatively close to the place in a 2 hour parking zone, get out, and go inside. We were a little late because of our dinner before hand, so it's about 8:30pm. We get seated into this small romantic room with a ton of long tables that were not so romantic because we were sitting so close to a bunch of strangers. The servers were running around like crazy with frowns on their mouths. Iv'e worked in restaurants before, and I know how it is being a server, but these servers looked like they were miserable. That was que #1. At the front they wrote on a poster that there is an $18 minimum. OK I thought, we'll get a drink or two, and some dessert, and we'll be good! It did not however mention that it is $18 PER PERSON. After we had ordered $18 worth our waitress mentions this to us. I was shocked. The website did not say this, the sign at the front did not say this, but our waitress is telling us this AFTER we ordered our food, AFTER we had gotten dinner somewhere else before hand that I have to spend another $18! SO if you bring a date, you are going to walk out of there $70 (56 plus tax and tip) poorer no matter what. That is one expensive jazz club! So we ordered a mojito and gelato with espresso first. The mojito was small and didn't come in any flavors, and cost $9. They said they had a full bar so I asked for a coconut mojito, and the waitress said no we only have regular. So much for full bar... I told the waitress that it was my gf's birthday so if they could figure out a way to add a candle that would be great. I know it's gelato but I figured it could work out some how. They show up with the gelato, and it's this little tiny scoop of what looks like and tastes like melted dryers ice cream. Then the waitress comes over and takes a candle out of her pocket and sticks it in the ice cream. Doesn't even light it and walks away! My gf and I were just laughing hysterically. There was a candle on the table so we used that to light the birthday candle ourselves. Then of course they tell me the news about having to spend ANOTHER $18. So We order some Bruschetta and a pizza to go. The Bruschetta shows up and is completely burnt. Like, black burnt! And the pizza comes and is nothing like the description. It's super super thin, like thinner than thin, and has a scraped across thin layer of tomato sauce. No cheese! Well it was goat cheese. Just little tiny dollops of goat cheese placed randomly on the pizza. And then they threw a bunch of spinach in a pile in the middle! I was like what is this??? It was $12! Whatever I thought, I'll just take my losses and get outta there. I go to my car, and it has a ticket on it! On the parking for 2 hours sign, at which I was there for exactly two hours, it said in small print (except between 9pm and X am if you don;t have a permit) It was 10:30pm. I was furious! The parking ticket was $68! This must have been deliberate being that the concerts end at 10pm and they have valet parking... The next day I go to eat the pizza for lunch. It was just straight up nasty. I went down to the grocery store and bought some things to try to make it better, but it was still pretty gross. Never again will I ever go to Vitellos. If someone said to me, "Your favorite musician is in town!", I would say, "Where are they playing?", and if they said Vitellos, I would say "nah, F that!" They've screwed over my musician friends who have played there, they have terrible food with a ridiculous minimum, over worked servers, and you can't park next to it during the concerts unless you get valet!
(1)Meesh M.
Love cool jazz spots like this! Music on Friday eve was nice. Decor and layout is lovely...Food decent...service strange. Not that efficient or helpful (as other reviewers noted they are a bit frazzled and they have a blatant disregard for customers which is a bit unsettling). Basically servers are really into themselves for the most part and a tad bit snooty as well. Maybe the clientele they have to deal with on the regular makes them like this or it could be that management just does not give a hoot? Either way 3 stars is all I can honestly give them all around. Music, general layout & design and ambience the best parts of going here.
(3)Mandi K.
Love their Martguerita pizza & I'm an experienced NYC pizza guru- the crust is thin, and just overall a great pizza. Lovely jazz club upstairs and the live music there tends to be really great.
(5)Matthew F.
The atmosphere fun, very busy. The other reviews seem to point out how the old was better than the new. Being a newcomer I never had the pleasure so I will review the new. Made a reservation, since these days it always helps. Was seated right away with smiles from all staff. The menu is simple, and the beer selection is good. I myself am biased towards one particular beer which they carry so I was happy, My girlfriend got a wine from one of their many selections. Made her smile all night. The garlic bread was great as a starter, and so was the minestrone soup. We ordered and the the main course was great. I eat a lot of Italian, this place hangs with the best i've been to. I always order the lasagna for my first time at Italian places, they pass that test i'm set. The service from the staff was great, even our server who was busy, spent a good amount of time when she could with us to make sure we were okay, always left us with a smile. The meals did take a while to show up, but truthfully gave me more time to talk with girlfriend and enjoy the music being played by the piano player. People are in such a hurry now a days. We got in at 8pm left by 9:15 caught a movie later that night. I can say I will be recommending this place to my friends and I have to come back to try the Da Vinci chicken that my girlfriend got, it looked amazing. In closing this is the new Vitello's and I enjoyed it. The old may have had a nostalgic flare to it, but changing with the times occurs with anything. I like the change.
(5)Rachel L.
A pretty location with potential, but brunch was meh. One of our party had to send the food back for being stone cold. My food was instantly forgettable. Brunch on a weekend should be busy but we were the only people in the place! That should have been a sign. Some question over the check left us less than thrilled and we won't be returning.
(1)Bunny B.
Their veggie salad is so freaking good!!! The only downside was that their portions were small. I also got the artichoke soup (amazing), and margarite pizza (not the greatest). So overall the experience was a little wishy washy but the veggie salad made up for it and I'll go back just for that. Really cool vibe and ambiance, piano player made it very enjoyable. Plus seeing Captain Kirk (William Shatner) at the table nearby certainly didn't hurt!
(4)Jean L.
If Robert Blake hadn't shot his wife around the corner, I probably wouldn't have been overcome with sensationalism and amusingly agree to stop by for dinner. Vitello's is, bluntly, not very good for the price you pay. Also the portions are small. Or am I just fat? In either case I inhaled my entire Gnocchi with Pink Sauce and was left wanting three more individual bread sticks... After I already had the Calamari Misto.
(3)Susan C.
Over rated!
(3)Seth B.
Ive been going to Vitellos for years for the music. Usually the food is delivered in a timely manner, but this last thursday, the wait was over an hour. And they completely forgot the two older ladies across from us...and charged them on top of it. From what Ive read, the place has gone thru management changes, so maybe this is the end of an era. they do still offer a great jazz night, which is the only reason Ive given them two stars.
(2)Aleksandra T.
Simply put a terrible experience. I had a Cesar salad with chicken $20!!!!!!! Chicken was tiny, overbooked. Not even fresh Parmesan on the salad. Waited for my water 10 minutes. Asked for no ice, comes with ice. Waited for salad 20 minutes. I came in @1:30 on a Monday, so can't even excuse it - is not a busy day. One thing: I did get a discount of 50% because I did complaint about service, time, and the charge. So the waitress did try to fix it. At least the fact that the service was bad. But the chicken???? The price for a small portion??? That's not a mistake. That's just bad business. I wish I had taken I pic of the size of the salad, the few pieces of over grilled meat....
(1)Oshun F.
First time eating here. I ate all of the chef's specials. Orgasmic. Luna Varone is one of LA"s best kept secrets and its incredible that you can eat her creations here at such a great price. I wish I could remember the name of the dishes... for starters she sent out a French Vegetable Bisque with Shaved Parmesan and Grilled kiwi Salmon. For the main course I had grilled Branzino and my friend had the tenderest Duck Breast in some crazy delicious sauce ( I don't even like duck)... to round it all out we had hand made raviolis alternating where every other one was stuffed with spinach or gorgonzola all toped with balsamic and truffle oil... You got to eat here on a night she is cooking... eat the chef specials. If it's a week night you might get lucky and have her come out of the kitchen to tell you about her dishes. The owner is a sweetheart and all of the staff are amazing. Not to mention the ambience. Sit by the olive tree and face the street... you won't be sorry.
(5)David G.
Last night we saw Sally Kellerman upstairs at Vitello's. The space was warm and intimate - a great setting for the show. The food was terrific and we would certainly come again. Sally Kellerman's interpretation of mostly familiar songs (some new to us) is fabulous. Her warmth and charm made the evening a pleasure.
(5)Melinda S.
I loved Vitello's ,that is the Vitello's that used to be. We had not been there in a while so we were shocked to find a sterile looking, ugly , "modern" interior that had no relation to the homey, adorable, NY style Italian place with red banquettes and cozy lighting. We asked the host if there was a new owner and were told it was same owner , same menu. Well, menu has nothing to do with the original menu ( including yummy Robert Blake pasta) and prices have practically doubled. Our waitress had her head in the clouds, all the service was awful, bread we asked for three times took an eternity and tasted like cardboard. The entrees were small and definitely had nothing Italian in the preparation, all doused with pepper. We asked the busboy , who by the way left all the crumbs etc. on our table, if there was a new owner. If he could not do his job at least he told us the truth. The original Italian owner sold the place 3 years ago and new non Italian owner gutted the place. So there you have it. TV dinners masquerading as real food outrageously priced. Needless to say its bye-bye fake Vitello's and rest in peace to beloved Original Vitello's!
(1)Lola L.
My second visit to Vitellos and I loved it both times. My BFF and I sat at the bar because it was a pretty busy Saturday night. the bartender was great (I suppose I should know her name so I can give her a special shout but alas, I do not recall). The manager, a big guy named Brad I believe, chatted us up and even bought my friend and I a drink--Sambuca black. I love Sambuca and the black was great too if you like licorice. Both times Ive been there, we had appetizers and the Italian beer they serve on tap. every time i drink that beer i get pretty buzzed so be cautious! That may have been what happened to Barretta that fateful night...Two beers and the Sambuca shot and I was nearly on my butt! thankfully my friend live within walking distance.... from what I understand, they have new management. If my experience with Brad and the great female bartender is any indication, I like the new Vitellos. Their bruchetta is to die for. We get it every time. Its a little pricey for a couple slices of bread with bruchetta on top but it is delicious!
(5)Fiona F.
Good cheap grub! You can't beat cheap in LA... The pizza is pretty tasty and I always enjoy dining on the outdoor patio!
(4)Viv T.
This is the third time I've eaten at this restaurant. I ate here when it was the "old" Vitellos but since the change of ownership, I prefer the ambience and the menu. I am in the insurance industry. Part of our underwriting process includes asking questions like "do I like the food, the service, the ambience?" Is it consistent with each visit? Etc. I would write the insurance on this place all day long. The owner, Brad Roen is very approachable and seems to know who the regulars are. I am a Ventura County resident so I don't participate in the jazz scene but I will recommend this place to anyone. Try the Chicken Parmigiana sandwich....with the salad and vinegrette -- yummy!
(5)Kailey O.
Came for a show here in the upstairs room. The service was short staffed, but they managed to get everything out in a timely manner. The stage is nice and the room fits about 50 people. The ambiance was horribly loud. I could not have a long conversation with anyone since they have the house music turned up so loud and people yelling to speak over that volume the food is mediocre; the kalamata olives tasted like chemicals. park on a street parallel to tujunga, otherwise you will get a ticket
(4)Ashley G.
Amazing, hip, cool, DELICIOUS, quintessential Brad, the new partner. Implementing all the elements of feug shi in this "brad" new renovation he managed to maintain the speakeasie facade in the jazz club and paradoxically opening the walls to the fresh air of this charming community. He's not done yet and I'm eager to see thefinished product. The food brings a new take to old favorites and I always leave here satisfied. Too bad he can't get 10 stars.
(4)Miriam E.
Went there yesterday for the jazz show and was expecting a bit more from this place. First of all, service was close to zero. We sat and waited for a loooong time until a server came to take our order for drinks. We inquired about the menu, I had looked online and saw some dishes that I would like to try, but he said that maybe it was the upstairs and the downstairs menu combined, that whatever was in the menu in our table was available, nothing else. First huge disappointment of the night since the upstairs menu is not that great. The drinks took forever to come, a guy in a white shirt (maybe a bus boy?) came to check on us and as we complained, he took over and not only brought the drinks but took our order for the appetizer and sparkling water. He was very nice and kept checking on us. The server was around but never came back to the table during the whole night. We ordered the Misto Calamari and boy, what a disappointment! Oily, saggy, the batter on the zucchini would just fall apart because wasn't properly cooked, and the "spicy tomato dipping sauce" was just tasteless. Second and third disappointments at once since the drinks were below average. We went to this place to enjoy the show and have dinner, but after the calamari, we decided to go eat in another place. Then, guess who suddenly reappeared? Our phenomenal server brings the check to collect the tip, what a shame, what a lousy service. I feel sorry for the guy who was really nice and tried to do something good for us, but it wasn't enough to save the rest, for him I am giving 2 stars instead of only one. I would go back for another show, but would not drink or dine there again.
(2)Allison B.
Went here to see a friend play Jazz. The show and upstairs venue were great. Food was good, but way over priced. The waitress was horrible. The margarita pizza and caesar salad were good. But the calamari batter never got crispy and the marinara dipping sauce tasted straight out of the can. Our real problem was with our waitress. We asked for bread with our meal and she rolled her eyes and said "I'll see what I can do". (What kind of italian place doesn't serve bread?) My boyfriend patted her shoulder and said thanks, and she said "don't touch me" under her breath. strike one. P.s. she brought our bread at the very end of our meal. Then when we finished eating and she brought the check I caught her eye because I had questions about the extra charges we had for not ordering a minimum of 18 per person on top of the ten dollar cover charge (rip off). She held up her finger in my face and said "give me a minute". Strike 2. Over ten minutes later she's nowhere to be found. We end up going to pay in the front and tell the manager about the 20% gratuity she automatically added to our party of 3. Strike 3 bitch. Sorry vitello's, even with your new facelift your food isn't good enough to make up for your crappy waitresses.
(2)Ed M.
Well known LA Italian-American establishment with really good food. The old world feel is gone now but the remodeled Vitello's feels really modern. Robert Blake's silly ass can't even draw traffic away from this place! My favorite dishes are the Veal Marsala and Spaghetti with Meatballs.
(4)Sam L.
Ah... you get downgraded Vitello's. What happened to your food?! +1 for the entertainment factor... or else I'd give this place 2 stars. Here we go... I've only been twice to Vitello's and only ever for the Jazz Club "Upstairs". I'm not an audiophile by any means... typically, it makes me feel awkward. Music is typically too personal for me to share with others. It's some weird hang up that I have... but it's true. This time I went to see Carmen Lundy, who's a friend of my parents. She's a sweetheart and an amazing and very talented singer. It was lovely. Quiet. Sophisticated. Older crowd. Perfect. As for the food: I had the eggplant...eh... It wasn't as good as I had hoped for. The cannoli was mushy. What is that?! I've never had a mushy cannoli! For shame! I remember the food being much better the last time I was here... plus, I was almost on the floor last time about this girl. Okay... let me lapse into this story. There was this guy sitting across from us with his Eastern European mail order bride. She must have been right off the boat too... since this was the most hilarious thing I've ever seen. First of all, she probably knew I was laughing at her because I had to keep biting myself from bursting out laughing. Okay, there was this guy singing... I forget who... but he was singing Jazz (hence this being a jazz club I guess). Mostly Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin type stuff... so she kept interrupting him. She would raise her hand in the middle of him singing to ask questions. Then he was mentioning his CD...and she got up and wanted to buy it in the middle when he was singing. Plus, she didn't know what the food was on the menu. So the guy (who looked just like John Corbett) was explaining the concept of Italian food to her...and she kept saying that she didn't like it. Anyway, suffice to say, she finally ordered. Decided that she changed her mind...got up in the middle of when this guy was singing (she was at my table and we were in the front) and pushed through a line of people to go change her order. Then she started screaming about something... god knows what...and had to be taken back to her seat. She had the most hilarious attitude though...slamming plates and eating poorly. It was hilarious. I enjoyed this part of the "show" much more than anything else. The guy was so mortified though as we were all staring at him and his "wife". It was hilarious and probably the most interesting and hilarious people watching experience I've ever experienced.
(3)Craig S.
OK, I finally went back after a LONG time. I will say that the food has improved a good bit. The service was about as bad as it gets. The servers were nice and apologetic but the drinks didn't all get there at the same time - party of seven, four of us got our drinks then the other three waited for over 15 minutes for their's. One of the pizzas was stone cold and was pepperoni instead of mushroom. (We had 3 vegetarians in our group.) They took it off the bill, which was appropriate and nice of them. The entertainment was great but I'll write about that under the Vitello's Jazz and Supper Club review, which will have more stars. Bottom line - Vitello's will never again be the iconic and amazing Italian restaurant it once was with great food and great service. That era has ended. Now its trying to be too many things which always ends up coming up short somewhere. But upstairs its a really cool intimate music venue. (I could do without the pianist/vocalist downstairs in the front dining room.) Go to Vitello's upstairs for the music and endure the food service if you're hungry.
(2)Brice C.
Vitello's has got a lot going on. They're Vitello's to the next level, a place where you can get interesting cocktails made by mixologists while listening to fantastic live music, while still having fantastic pizza and an incredible wine list. Reading through a lot of the reviews, it seems like some people are more upset that Vitello's went through a few changes and a facelift, but aren't really accepting it for what it is now. While there are still plenty of sleepy "mom & pop" Italian restaurants around town (I can think of at least four in North Hollywood alone) there aren't many places that combine live music, fantastic drinks & wine, and great food. The new bar looks great, and talking to Daniel, the head bar tender, is exciting - he's got some great things planned. Vitello's is making changes, and sure, a lot of people aren't going to like it. But you have to adapt and make changes to survive, and I think Vitello's will be here for a very long time.
(5)Michael D.
Came here with a friend and wanted to try the pizza. We wanted to try the place because everyone has eaten there except us. Ordered a large cheese pizza and wasn't too pleased. Had better pizza. The diet coke was flat and served in a water glass. Asked for garlic and they said that they only had fresh garlic but it wasn't. They gave me the minced garlic you get from the supermarket that comes from Gilroy Farms. Not really want I wanted. The server was sweet but only checked on us once. The pizza was okay at best. The place looked like a cliche Italian place and they piped in the overplayed Dean Martin and other tunes you'd hear on the Goodfellas soundtrack. At the same time, the couple with the kids in the next booth didn't even try to control their kids as they broke glasses from the table. All in all, I didn't feel it for the price we paid. I suggest going across the street to Caioti Pizza and get a better pie with a nicer vibe. By the way, I'm still fighting the heartburn!
(2)katy m.
Wow! Has this place changed for the better. We've been several times in the past - it was your typical old-school italian place...red booths, murals of the Venice canals on the walls, etc. It's my bday (and I'll cry if I want to) and received a free meal email, so the gf and I met friends and shebang! They've completely renovated the interior! Busted out the front wall and replaced it with french doors, raised the ceiling, planted a gorgeous tree in the middle...it looks fantastic. They are still working on the remodel, so it was somewhat cramped, therefore 4.5 stars, but when they are done, watch out! The food was also fab. I had one of the night's specials, braised lamb shank in Cabarnet sauce over a creamy polenta. Just delish. Shelly had short ribs and loved her choice as well. It was really crowded, but service was prompt. Upstairs, the music was popping as usual. I really love this area of Studio City anyway, so the "new" Vitello's really adds to the area. Overall, a wonderful night.
(4)Shannon M.
We've been here twice and both times really enjoyed the atmosphere, the food, the service and the piano music. I had never been to the "old Vitello's" and I'm glad. Without having the comparison I can appreciate this place as it it. I enjoy the modern decor, open to the street seating, and cuisine - sans nostalgia. It's a very nice, romantic little spot.
(4)Marcelo A.
Great ambiuns, outstanding food. Try the chicken saltimboca or the meatball appetizers with lots of parmesan cheese.
(4)Roger G.
Disappointed is all I can say. Went there with the wife and kids to celebrate our anniversary and revisit this spot that we last went to 5 years ago. We had reservations but once they saw we had kids they tried to stick us at a crappy table. We said no thanks and they moved us. Then 10 minutes until someone bothered to come over to the table. We ordered but sadly the waitress forgot to tell us about their specials that night which may have been better than the dishes we ordered. We had fried mozzarella which i've had better frozen at home. My chicken piccata was average and my wife's salmon farfalle was sub-par. The best meal was my daughters spaghetti and meatballs. The waitress redeemed herself for not telling us about the specials by comping a cannoli dessert, which was good. I think this place is ok for happy hour or appetizers while catching one of the shows. You will not catch me here again as there are way too many better restaurants around.
(2)Tai K.
Love the atmosphere of vitellos very modern and host and waitresses are beautiful. The ambience is relaxing and service was excellent. I ordered the ravioli bergeri ( don't know if spelling correctly) but it was two raviolis in a white light Alfredo sauce. One ravioli was a spinach and cheese and other was a cheese. Omg! To die for. My friend Wendy ordered the lasagna and she loved it. I would recommend vitellos to anyone. Also there is a nice jazz bar upstairs if your a jazz lover go check it out. I would give a 5 but prices could be dropped slightly. But all in all loved it.
(4)Ruben R.
Visited Vitello's once before they remodeled and thought the food was good, but the decor was definitely in need of a make-over. So, I was happy to see that they had updated. In and of itself, the remodel isn't anything all that special, but sitting in the dark dining room, looking out onto the quaint neighborhood outside transported me to a trendy San Francisco restaurant in one that cities trendy neighborhoods overflowing with character and vibrancy. The remodel frames that personality very well. The live piano in the background and the buzz of a the grown-up and well dressed adult crowd made for a nice experience. The food was as good as the first time, nothing outstanding, but good, high-quality food, exactly what I expect for the price and a pleasant night out. The only negatives were regrading the service--well actually, the management. Two managers were present, the floor manager and the GM. The biggest issue was the floor manager's personality. His demeanor was more like what I would expect at a "Disney," or "themed" restaurant. When I go to a restaurant like this, I want the management staff to be invisible. He was everything but. He was loud and way too exuberant for a dining room like this. When he asked me and my dinner guest if our food was okay, he never actually stopped walking. It was like he anticipated we would say yes, so never actually stopped and didn't appear to actually be listening. While waiting for our food, I glanced toward the bar and noticed a blond female server collecting her drinks when the Manager walked up behind her and playfully tugged her pony tail. Really, a manager who thinks it's okay to touch someone's hair during dinner service? I continued watching him to see if he might go wash his hands, but he never did. Sadly, the next thing he did was present a table-side cheese risotto to a nearby table. Kinda gross and made sure I will never order the risotto. A few minutes later he prepared another cheese risotto to the table next to us. He was so over the top that my dinner guest and I had no choice but watch. He even turned the cart toward us and kept making sure we were watching by directing his jokes to us as well. we basically had to put our conversation on hold until his "show" was done. During the show, he made stupid jokes about how this task required upper-body strength and muscles, and he made smelly cheese jokes, etc. All-in-all, his "performance" was all about him, not at all about the food and definitely not in line with what I expect from a nice restaurant like this. At one point, the GM walked by and made a loud comment to the servers about how "ON" the manager was that night, which confirmed that he too wasn't clear about how a restaurant like this can be elevated to a higher and classier level. My final comment is directed to the bar tender. I ordered a $15 glass of port. I was seated in a spot that allowed me to watch her work, so I saw her serve my wine and place in the counter for our server to collect. She then turned to speak to a customer seated at the bar who asked about the Port she had just served. She showed him the bottle the grabbed a straw, dipped it into my wine and drew a small amount of wine to taste. Okay, not a huge deal, but you do that when you need to sample a mixed drink, there's no reason to do that for wine. When I order a good and expensive wine, I don't want contaminating with plastic. Again, I realize this is nit-picking, but its not what I expect from a nice restaurant like this one could and wants to be. Sadly, this review says little about the food, which is actually pretty darn good. But goes to show how little things like these can negatively effect the overall guest experience. Happily, all of my negative remarks are easily fixable and I hope they will be fixed before I return... And I will return.
(3)Joann L.
Simply put, the 2nd worst restaurant I have ever, in my entire fairly long life had the displeasure of attempting to eat in! The food was, well, in one word VILE. It's hard to even describe how bad the food was and the rest of the experience wasn't much better. I sent back 2 plates. The first was something from their 'specialties' referred to as veal tenderloins, with artichokes and mushrooms with a caper white wine sauce. What was put before me was some impossible to describe pile of something dredged up from the bottom of yesterdays stock pot with grayish looking what I guess were mushrooms and a couple of canned artichoke halves all floating in this watery looking puddle of 'sauce'?! Floating around in this disgusting melange were some overcooked penne. The worst thing was the smell!! While it didn't exactly smell 'bad' as in 'spoiled', combined with the look of the thing, I now understand the term..."it made my gorge rise." I won't go on to describe my other attempt at getting something edible. When I asked for olive oil rather than butter, one of those double carafe sets with the oil and vinegar was plunked down. The oil carafe was all greasy and icky and the oil tasted rancid. The waitress was sweet, but clueless and hopeless. Of course I complained to the manager. He listened, nodded and finally said he was sorry I didn't have a good experience, but that's just the way it is at Vitello's. On my way out the door I turned and said (my voice tends to carry) "I now understand why someone might have murdered someone after eating here!" The bread wasn't too bad.
(1)Hortencia B.
Took hubby for Father's Day brunch. Place has been completely remodeled. Miss the old leather booths. Also miss the old waiters. The place was not very busy and it took 15 minutes for a Mimosa. Crabcake Benedict was delicious. Mimosa were more oj than champagne. The waiter was slow and hard to find.
(3)Valerie S.
I was here on a first date and we came to watch a jazz band. The band was amazing. We ordered red wine and a pizzetta. The wine was great! The pizzetta not so much. It was a very thin crust with plain tomato sauce and too much mozzerlla. Not a whole lot of flavor - they need to put herbs in the sauce and reduce the cheese and also serve it on something warm that won't cool so quickly. I had a great time there because of my date, the band and the wine...sadly the restaurant itself was only ok.
(3)Carolyn A.
Originally was headed to Caioti right across the street but since it was full we decided to try Vitellos for the first time. Big mistake. The waiter never brought me my drink, the food took forever to arrive and when it finally did my order was incorrect. The food was bland, nothing special. Not much on the menu, the wine list is bigger than the menu. Anyway, we ordered garlic bread as an appetizer and it didn't arrive until we got our food. I asked for my drink 3 more times before I finally got it. People who arrived after us got served first. Not satisfied at all, the waitress apologized and we got offered free dessert but declined. Never going back there again!
(1)Steven B.
A friend and I had dinner here on 5/4 (Sat. night). Made a res for 7:15pm. Got seated promptly and the evening started with great service. Placed our order and then things went south...the food +1 hour to get and when we questioned our server she admitted that our food was "behind two large groups". Understandable, but we should have been advised earlier. The food arrived...I had chicken piccata (tough chicken, small serving, meh..and $18!), and my buddy had lasanga, which he reported as good. Upside: manager took our food off the bill, which was truly standup service...but the food was mediocre and overpriced, so I won't be back. Sorry Vitellos.
(2)Amy C.
Review for Sterling's Upstairs: The location is awesome, tons of quaint little shops to visit around here. Not too many local supper clubs anymore, so it almost feels as if you're transported back in time. As the nostalgia kicks in, the show begins. It doesn't even matter that the food isn't too great. The entertainment always is! They have a set menu during shows as well as a minimum - tickets were $31, which included $13 towards your food/drink bill. Wine selection is vast, drinks are tasty and strong. Qualms: The margherita pizza was soggy, service was slow, and the food was "pretty good." For the price I would have loved more, but the show compensated for that. I definitely will be back again!
(4)Kate O.
Snooty waitresses/hostesses. Super long wait for my food, which when it finally arrived was cold and disgusting. Waste of meal. Wish I'd had eaten at McDonald's...
(1)Meredith G.
I had a great experience at this restaurant with one of my co-workers. I had their burrata caprese and minestrone soup! The only bummer was that they were out of clams so no linguine vangoie for me of my friend. The service was still great and the ambience was perfect. Will definitely be going back.
(4)Steve M.
Love the new addition of live piano on the patio downstairs. Pizza, salads and appitizers are very good. I live a block away and enjoy going to a romantic evening with my lovely wife. Service and food is top shelf! Yep, I'm a fan.
(4)Lindsay S.
I don't know if they are related to Vitellos express, but they are nothing alike. Waiters here were rude, inattentive and rude some more. My ravioli was basically out of the can, although my boyfriend did enjoy his pasta and bread. I on the other hand wanted to dine and ditch, thats how bad this place was. Yes, this is where Robert Blake shot his wife.
(3)T C.
Oh Vitello's! What happened to you! Once upon a time you had decent pizza for Los Angeles. Now it's just like all the other average pizzas I've had. Just a note. A little olive oil and garlic on the pizza crust goes a loooooong way. PS. Your new prices are not cool. Looks like I'll now be going over the hill for Italian or just staying home and cooking it myself.
(2)Jennifer E.
We stopped here for dinner on a Monday night, and we had a great meal and some great wine. Also, we were pleasantly surprised that it was half off bottles of wine night on Mondays. The service and meals were very good, but I think the thing that sealed the deal for me was the cannoli. I'm always on the lookout for a good cannoli, and this was one of the best ones I've had in a restaurant. We will definitely go back to this place.
(4)Bob M.
Disclaimer: my review is based on a show I saw there so it's possible the dining experience alone is better. I arrived with a friend to see a music performance and was escorted upstairs to the Sardine Room. Whether it's actually labeled that or not, it should be - never in my life, Vegas, Sunset Strip, anywhere - have I ever seen so many people crammed in so tightly to see a show. I had to disturb several people just to get to my chair, and the table was narrow enough that the patrons on the other side's half-eaten pizza was sitting in front of me when I arrived. There was not enough room for me to turn my chair to face the stage so I watched the show sidesaddle, craning my neck to get a view around a pillar. I ordered a $9/glass house Cabernet and got what tasted like box wine, then we shared a vegetarian pizza. The pizza's crust was pretty good but the toppings were bland. I'm giving it three stars because the remodel is tasteful and modern, and the atmosphere downstairs pleasant. But the showroom felt disconcertingly like a firetrap. Change the show seating and put some flavor in the menu, and this could be a nice place to eat.
(3)Ethan S.
Solid food, which is very important. The atmosphere seems a little cheesy and maybe a bit staid, but it's oldschool Italian, and I can dig it. The pizzetties are ok... the crust is very thin and it's nothing special topping-wise. For main courses, the pastas are all very nice. I especially like the penne al forno, which was rich and very cheesy. The chicken cacciatore was by far the best chicken dish, and I highly recommend it. The sauce is sweet and very fresh: the peppers and onions add a nice texture and sweetness too. The desserts were also very good. The spumoni was rich and had nice flavor and the cannolis had a nice pistachio crunch and a sweet filing with a crispy outside. Our waiter was very attentive and professional. The only complaint with the service, is that the bus boys repeatedly asked us "is everything ok" throughout the meal... maybe 5 times in all which got extremely annoying. Especially because that's probably one of four phrases they know in English (no offense). And a few minor things, such as bringing one less plate when giving us new ones, but nothing major by any means. I always like to look at the bathroom as some sort of 'nice-ness' measurement, and to be honest, it was dirty and skanky. The last thing I will say is that I didn't like that they had advertisements along some walls and in the beginning of the restaurant; it gave it a cheapy feel. Overall, good service and classic old school Italian-American food. Not too pricey, and definitely tasty.
(4)Joel H.
I was a big fan of the old Vitello's so the change in ambiance is a downgrade in my opinion, nothing unique about it. The food was still good, so I'll be back, but I sure do miss the old school vibe.
(3)Amy S.
The amazing customer service and great jazz upstairs is what will bring me back to Vitellos. I had been here before and ate at the lounge upstairs and wasn't all that impressed with the small variety of appetizers and select menu items available. The menu at Vitellos downstairs (the full) restaurant is much more expanded but the quality is just OK. I really wished it was a bit better. My friends didn't complain with their entrees, but being the food snobs that we are, I think we were all expecting a little better. I ate all my food and it was appetizing. It just wasn't how I imagined the food at a renowned Italian restaurant to be. It was just good. I had the Chicken Marsala over linguini pasta. PROS Our waiter was perfect, attentive and very pleasant. The manager came down on her own accord to tell us she was going to comp our cover charges (we missed the second set because we took so long eating.) :-( *The bread was super piping hot and delicious. Make sure to try some bread as this alone may be worth the visit!* It's definately not a fancy Italian restaurant and they don't serve huge family style portions like at Maggianos (which I like). But it's not the worst. Your mom would probably love it.
(3)jeff f.
Have been twice recently, both times incredible experience. I saw one of the best jazz drummers in the world, Peter Eskrine play at the upstairs space. What a cool, intimate venue, and one of the few places in LA to see world class jazz musicians. Had dinner, a piece of fish sautéed with a red pepper sauce and I licked the plate clean! Outstanding. The next meal was in the newly remodeled front room. Huge open windows, and comfy booths with a tree in the middle. So different from what it had been in all the right ways. Brad and Becky are fantastic! Highly recommend any of the specials the chef is doing that night. Everything is very reasonably priced, two can dine and its super affordable considering the quality is excellent. Try the Pizetta, super thin crust, delicious Margherita Pizza! They are really turning this classic institution into a modern Neighborhood bistro that welcomes all. You will be treated like family and have a wonderful experience. Cant wait to go back! Go Vitello's!!!
(5)HungryDoberman P.
Literally the worst Italian restaurant for the money in Los Angeles - period. I honestly have no idea how they stay in business with Aroma cafe right across the street. I've been here a couple of times because my girlfriend lives in Studio City and Aroma cafe was full. I'm not even mad that my food was so bad - I'm just confused as to how they stay business. The only explanation I can come up with is that people want to see the place where robert blake shot his wife *ahem* allegedly shot his wife. I ordered a spaghetti pomodoro - you know a spaghetti with fresh tomato sauce - as in the most basic thing any italian restaurant can possibly make. For a 13 dollar pasta dish I would expect maybe a sauce made with fresh tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil with a touch of parsley - mixed with some homemade pasta or at least some decent store bought italian pasta. But no not at Vitello's. They literally took some cheap store bought noodles (not spaghetti) barely cooked it, dropped it on a plate, and then opened a can of store bought tomato paste (not store bought sauce) just a can of tomato paste and dumped it on top of the noodles. To add insult to injury they didn't even bother to mix the pasta and the sauce - they just dumped it on top. I'm not the world biggest snob - if I had eaten that pasta at a cafeteria, mess hall, or friend's mom's dinner table I wouldn't complain. But the fact that they actually charged me over 10 us dollars for that meal... If I ever give them my money again - I deserve to get shot by robert blake.
(1)Arielle O.
My boyfriend and I have been here a couple of times and we love it. The atmosphere and cuisine are both awesome. Sometimes it can be hard finding an good Italian restaurant but this is authentic Italian at it's finest. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Personally, I love the ravioli. Yummm! Romantic find- definitely recommend :)
(5)Adam H.
What can I say - I am a fan of this place. I think the food is good! Down to something simple like a pizza or spaghetti and meatballs w/ italian gravy, I think Vitello's hits it. A lot of people may complain after the recent renovations but I think it gives the place a nice little pulse in the surrounding area of Tujunga Village. I have dined here twice and each time I wasn't disappointed. Whether you frequent this establishment as a fan of jazz or just looking to mop up some tomato sauce w/ a piece of fresh bread - Vitello's will leave you satisfied. It's nothing poetic, nor is it the zenith of Italian cooking but it works and I consider it authentic and worth the price of dining out - compared to my attempt of egg noodles and Ragu at home. Take it or leave it but I would say take it and you may be surprised.
(4)Ian G.
Sigh. I grew up going here. Which is inaccurate, because it was across the street where ciaoti is when I was little. But this is where we got pizza. When I moved back to the area after college and my folks and I met here a lot. It always had good pizza and Italian staples. Well, new ownership has caused a steady decline. Prices went up, portions got smaller, taste got bland... All the focus seems to be on the jazz calendar. While I love jazz, I am more interested in a good neighborhood Italian restaurant with great pizza. Oh well.
(2)Caren C.
We've been coming here since a month after Robert Blake murdered his wife. Morbid curiosity, but pleasantly surprised by the food. We loved it and recommended this place to all our family and friends. I even had my birthday party here. But I'm sorry to say this place, with all it's cozy comforts has jumped to the bottom of the list for me. When we first dined here, you could order dinner and soup or salad would come with the meal. For dessert the Tiramsu was so generous that you had to share it. Now, dinner is just dinner and a dinner salad will cost you extra. The Tiramisu is so tiny, you can't afford to share and for six bucks, "shame on you." The service used to be so attentive. The servers were always there with water and the owner would come to the table to make sure you were happy. Now you have to beg for service, as the servers go into hiding . I'm wondering now if the owner sold this lovely place to someone who could care less. For us, well, we've decided to move on. Check this place off our list. I guess it's back to Bella Vista on Magnolia in Burbank.
(2)D. W.
This is actually a LESS THAN 1 STAR RATING, but since I have to give it some rating, one star is it. Lets not mix words here, I would rather give it a totally NEGATIVE rating!!! DON'T waste your time or $$!!! Poor service, food was completely void of any flavor, ambiance is cold, portions cut down, prices remained the same. NEVER going again!!!!!! I have been to VITELLOS when it was the "old" VITELLOS, and I was there last year when they started making some small subtle changes, however the core of that restaurant remained the same: friendly efficient service, GREAT food, great portions, family atmosphere, and NOT trendy in any way! That is all gone now!!!!! About a year from my last trip there, a complete renovation happened... Ok, change can be good. Not in this instance. I have NEVER witnessed someone cry walking into and out of a restaurant due to the changes and how poor the food and service had become. I witnessed it this time!! Everyone in my party was so thoroughly disgusted with their entire meal/dining experience (these are MOSTLY the people who introduced me to this restaurant, mind you) that we took turns consoling each other. We NEVER left food on our plates at this place before, so much was thrown away from just our table!! If you do decide to try it, I suggest licking the sidewalk to get some flavor on your taste buds before eating ANYTHING here!!!!!! Be prepared for COLD/LUKE WARM minestrone soup, under cooked, rubbery, bland or just plain flavorless food, and somewhat disappointing portions. For a better experience, and I am dead serious on this one, GO TO OLIVE GARDEN or your local equivalent!!!! They should have torn the old one down and let it have died peacefully.
(1)Suzanne U.
Retaurant has been redesigned to trendy look which is apealing, but loved the old world hand painted wall and ambiance previously. I ordered the classic Italian dish of lasagne and was disappointed this time - kinda bland. Usually served with warm bread or garlic bread and not even. They used to have such great food.
(2)Leslie S.
I wish I had checked out the reviews before eating here. I was in the mood for an italian restaurant and my boyfriend and I decided to try something new- Vitello's. This will be my last time going there. The one thing that I liked was the service. The restaurant wasn't very crowded when we arrived around 9:15pm on a Saturday evening. Our server was very friendly, and attentive. But that's the only thing I enjoyed. I ordered the gnocci with marinara sauce, which cost $16.00 and was rather pricy for the small portion size that I was given. I had to force myself to eat it. The gnocci itself wasn't bad, but the marinara sauce was the worst I have ever eaten in a restaurant. In fact, it tasted like it came out of a can. I actually think it must have come from a can- even the smell was awful. I ate what I could, and then pushed the plate away- the smell was making me nauseated. I also tried the $27.00 short ribs that my boyfriend ordered. For $27.00, I expected a much higher quality dish. The meat was a little tough, and there were big chunks of fat that had not been removed. The chef even left the bone there. For that much money, the bone and the big chunks of fat should be removed. If you want great short ribs, I would recommend Spark Woodfire Grill. Theirs cost $10 less, and tastes amazing!!! Plus, theirs is a bigger portion, and they know better than to leave the fat and bones with the meat. Overall, the food was WAY over priced, and the quality was really poor. I won't ever go back. There are much better options out there that taste better and cost a lot less.
(1)Cindy N.
I've eaten here about 3 or 4 times, the food is good and the service is great. It's a romantic place, yet its also good for families and groups as well.
(3)Wilson K.
This place smells like 2 stars. Really, it has a smell. The food isn't bad, but is not even close to good. I see that it is having a bit of work done, so here's to hoping that includes the menus as well as the doddering server who couldn't remember our order but wouldn't write it down. It could really be good with the live music, etc. but the food and the smell of the place ruin it for me. I will give it one more try as it is so close to home, but Vitello's really doesn't deserve it. Don't go out of your way to eat here, or allow it to ruin a special occasion.
(2)Christine J.
Mother's Day Brunch. Thought it was a good idea but I was pretty much WRONG! Okay the food was GREAT and the remodeling job is superb but the service was f-uped! Won't come back here again! Because, the SERVICE SUCKED! Please get a manager to train your crap staff properly!
(1)Rich R.
Food was great. Lisa the hostess is friendly, beautiful and fantastic.
(5)Marcia F.
I really wanted to go here just to say I had after the infamous "Little Rascals" shooting. The restaurant had a family atmosphere. The upstairs was more like a lounge where you could imagine the rat pack. Cannoli's were fantastic. I like manicotti but found the red sauces a bit bitter. No regrets. Yet I don't think I would ever rush back. Seems like a good neighborhood spot.
(3)Rick N.
Avg to lame. Aluminum foil found in my meal and they didnt even offer to take the dish off my bill. Seriously guys - time to close shop - this is a tired expensive italian rip off
(2)Patty T.
We are consistently in Tujunga Village or Willage and I like to call it, on a sometimes, weekly basis. Never went to Vitello's. Maybe I felt it had bad juju after the whole Blake scandal. Just never went. My hubby and I decided to catch dinner after celebrating Tippi Hendren's birthday at the Magic Castle. So HOLLYWOOD right? It was cold and rainy so Aroma was out of the question. We were kicking ourselves for waiting so long to eat here! Everything was delicious. The service was nice and the ambiance was lovely. The Marguerita Pizzetta was OUTSTANDING But we have been a few times since and Vitello's never disappointed us. I want to try another entree besides the Chicken Piccatta but it won't happen. It is so darn good. Their salads are delish too! Mmm..I want some Vitello's NOW!
(5)Isabel R.
I've been before and it was cool... Tonight, however... Was crap. Calamari was chewy Our servers name was Eric. It seemed like he would have preferred to be helping other tables and when he was with us he would flip from condescending to ass kissing. We literally made up a drinking game as to which server would attend to us because he clearly had a split personality and neither one was genuine. Should have stayed on the better side of town. ill never go back.
(2)Amber G.
I love the new Vitello's! The open air atmosphere feels very European and it's great for drinks during the summer. I loved the thin crust pizza, pasta with pink sauce and warm vegetable salad. We had a large party with kids and the manager Lisa was very helpful and accommodating. I like this new Vitello's, they definitely needed this make-over. I will be back for sure.
(4)Natalia P.
Excellent service. Chris is so attentive. They had a tiny mistake with the food and were taking care of us relentlessly. We will return :)
(4)Sean C.
A friend of mine got a bar tending at Vitello's so I stopped by and was excited by the remodel! its a totally new vibe! .....the food was always good. So the redu just made it all the better! ... Ya got to see the new look!
(4)Christopher S.
Ever since Matt Epstein purchased the restaurant, and the new manager Brad Roen took charge.... the makeover and the new menu.... The place has come alive! Even Lisa Mavros the day manager can get you to smile. The food is great. It's authentic. They really do have a chef from Italy cooking. It's around the corner for me... and I am spoiled by it's proximity. I would suggest you go HUNGRY. You will be full... as the food is hearty Italian, served in a beautiful environment and by attentive waiters. DON'T CONFUSE THIS CURRENT VITELLO'S WITH THE OLD VITELLO'S.... It's a hip place now. It's the ONLY Italian restaurant in the Valley with a beautiful open door patio out front in order to people watch and be able to dine "al fresco!" It's ALWAYS a treat to indulge there.
(5)Yvette B.
They did a nice modern remodel. The open front wall gives the space a really airy, open, and warm feeling. Good service, interesting live shows, best red sauce around. Yum.
(4)Marjorie U.
This place is pretty old school. The bar area is separate from the dining area. They have a live band playing in the bar area. The dining area looks like somebody's living room with a huge chandelier in the middle. It actually looks like a house. I do love their pasta except for their Gnocchi. I don't like that it's baked. I like the traditional way of preparing it with just the marinara sauce. Baking it ruins the texture of the gnocchi. Overall, I like it.
(4)Chris C.
Ever been somewhere not very exceptional that a lot of people think is exceptional because they have bought the long-time hype? This is that place. It is still coasting by on fake buzz and the Robert Blake/Bonny Bakley notoriety. And sorry, but the people reminiscing about how great it was 10 years are dreaming too. I was here then and it was a mess, a confused waiting area, and the bullsh*t favoritism of hosting staff making a fuss over regulars to make them feel important while being considerably cooler to others. The servers are/were usually ok, but mediocre old school Italian food still rules here. Sorry, but this place was never legendary.
(2)Richard F.
When I get the craving for some good Italian food this place never lets me down, and make sure to save a little room for desert because they have the best cannoli in the west.
(4)CINDY M.
First off, the renovations are ugly. The bar is buried under metal risers and is not the least bit inviting. The place now looks like something from the 80's. The hostess was fine, seated us outside in front. We waited at least 10 minutes until anyone to greet us once at the table. Then the waiter came over....a snotty Italian guy that questioned every choice we made and gave the slowest, least attentive service I've ever had. Who is this guy and why is he allowed to wait tables? My husband ordered the fried calamari and I got the "caprese salad". He seemed to like his fish, but the caprese was a sloppy, gooey, ice cold mess. And I mean ICE COLD. So cold it hurt my teeth. So cold that the olive oil and balsamic were jellied. Obviously pre-made and stored in the fridge. Tasteless and just gross in texture and eye appeal. We both ordered small pizzetis as our entrees, which the waiter questioned for some reason. It was lunch babe, not dinner...not gonna order a big plate of pasta! They arrived cold and tasteless. No one in that kitchen uses herbs and spices. We left as quickly as we could, after waiting and waiting for the waiter to give us our check and run our card. Boy oh boy....never again. Just done.....
(1)A W.
We had passed the by newly remodeled Vitello's in Studio City a number of times, commenting on beautiful the newly remodeled restaurant was. We even stopped by one time when walking to find out that they had two new Italian chefs. Well, last night we decided to give it a try.......beautifully remodeled on the outside, newly printed menus with fancier Italian names....same old oridinary boring old-fashioned food inside. I ordered a chopped salad and the house specialty "eggplant parmesean". Chopped salad was like a cobb salad, a few sections of "cut up" not chopped tomatoes, olives, cheese and lettuce. The eggplant parmasean was 50% zuccini and 50% eggplant. I asked which pasta I could have with it...I was told all they have its spaghetti and linguini. I asked if they had any "modern" pasta like farfalle, rigatoni or fussili? No, just the other two. If these are new Italian chefs, then I am a gourment French chef. They pumped out the same old boring Italian food as I had in the 60's.....lasagna, spaghetti and ravioli. With so many good Italian restaurants in L.A., why would I go back to an old boring restaurant with a new menu and a new front facelift. Don't bother....tons of good Italian restaurants on Venutra or the other side of the hill.
(2)Mike C.
While some of the reviews have been spotty of late, my experience this last Saturday night was quite positive. We had a group of 12 which can be a challenge in itself but the wait staff was quite pleasant, efficient with drinks, and speed of orders. One order was not placed correctly and it took a while for the correct one to arrive, but they comp'd the lady a dessert as an apology. Our group hung out for quite a while after the meal but we never felt rushed and our server was very good at providing refilled drinks and such until we left. Best of all, everyone had a great time--thanks Vitello's for providing a nice venue for us.
(4)ariel o.
Nothing special. Here's why: 1. Overpriced: the cover charge is $20 a person. Even with dinner and a bottle of wine. That's unacceptable. Cover should be waived with dinner and drinks. Not to mention the food is too expensive and poor quality. 2. Mediocre service: my waiter was unattentive. We had to go downstairs to ask for cheese for the pasta. however, they were very nice so it's not terrible. Just a bit annoying for the price 3. Mediocre entertainment: the jazz isn't anything special. I love live music, especially jazz, but the act I heard wasn't anything too great. However, the crowd is appreciative so it makes it more enjoyable. My check stub came out to be over $150 for a waste of carbs and poor jazz entertainment. It's ok though. I know that next time if I do decide to return, skip the food and just get drunk and hear some jazz music. I suggest if you come here be aware that it's nothing special. So don't get your hopes up for anything. The negative reviews on here are very accurate
(2)Patrick O.
It's changed. Some people will like that, some won't. Used to be, Vitello's was a little old-timey. Big leather booths, etc. Now, it's like a hip sushi place. I liked the old way, but the new way's just fine, too. OK, I preferred the big private leather booths. But the people are the same, and the food's still very good. So why 3 stars? The lighting. It is harsh, overhead direct-down-on-you halogen lights. Not at all romantic or flattering, until they dim them down a lot (we asked, they complied- yay for Vitello's!). But if they're smart, they will get rid of those down lights completely. When you come to a higher-priced (the food prices did go up, expect $50 a couple if you don't drink) place, you probably want the mood to be right. Not intensely super, burn your pate bright.
(3)Ned M.
Very good whitefish with almond crust on a bed of steamed veggies -- nice indoor /outdoor redecoration.
(5)Lauren K.
Came here after a few years to revisit the old neighborhood a few weekends back. What a disappointing experience! The staff and service was fine, but the food was not impressive and way overpriced. I actually prefer the 'old school' Italian feel that Vitello's had prior to the remodel. Now it feels like a boutique hotel. We ordered the broccoli to start and it was just ok. Our dinner salads were small but decent. Then the dinner came; the chicken piccata was so buttery/oily, I literally couldn't eat the pasta. The chicken was also nothing special. My husband got the spaghetti and meatballs, pretty basic dish, not sure how you mess that up! The sauce seemed heavy or from a jar or something and the meatballs were a little dry and tasteless. Our bill was over $60 for very mediocre food in a very 'LA' atmosphere. I guess that 's what everyone pays for? We will not be back.
(2)Bob B.
***********UPDATE*************** (sigh) I went back. I know, I know, but it's not my fault!! I was with a group and my friend, who hadn't been there in a while, craved their pizza. I will qualify this update with, he loved his pizza. One point for Vitello's. The service was much better than last time! Well, the place was 3/4 empty, but still the service was good. And our server Robin was a doll! The food was dreadful.....again!! After my last bad experience and Yelp posting, I also popped a note to Vitello's management who were very quick to respond, apologize, and offer me to dine on them to make up for the bad experience. I have yet to take them up on their offer, and I didn't think it fair to take them up on this with a group of 5. But after last night I'll pass on the offer, even if it is free!! though, I do appreciate their quick response and offer. Nice move. Butcha need to improve along with the nice move!!!!! OH-With their offer to make up for my bad meal they also assured me that they planned on bringing back many of the classic dishes they were known for from their previous menu. Well, I didn't see em on the menu last night. The portions were a tad larger than my last visit, but not nearly as generous as they use to be. My entree came with sauteed veggies and roasted potatoes. I asked if I could have sauteed spinach instead of the potatoes and veggies. I was told they wouldn't do substitutions but I could pay extra for the spinach. Not the answer I wanted to hear, but hey-how much could a side of spinach cost at a neighborhood jernt? EIGHT DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS!!!!!!!!!!! For a teeeny lil portion of over cooked spinach mush that even Popeye would turn down! OH-not seasoned!!! No garlic, no salt, no pepper! I asked for spinach sauteed in garlic and olive oil. I got bland baby food. And not enough to fill a baby...for $8.50! Now, here's where Robin rocked! When I ordered she suggested she still bring the roasted potatoes and veggies since they don't do substitutions and I'm still paying for em. Plus, someone else at the table may want them. Nice call, Robin!!! I did end up asking her to bring me some garlic and olive oil to drizzle over the spinach, which she brought. OH-they didn't charge me for the garlic and olive oil! Wow, GOOd for YOU, Vitello's!! There are much better places in Studio City to go for Italian food. Firenze is great and so is Ca del Sole. But Vitello's is just Vi-lousy! *******************END OF UPDATE************************* I need to preface this with, I was a fan of this neighborhood gem way before people were dying to get in. It is (or was) an old fashioned, loyal, reliable place with generous portions and dishes named for the famous who live in or around this charming block on Tojunga. Last night, and for the second year in a row, a group gathered for a birthday celebration at Vitello's. This was a surprise celebration for the birthday girl, and the always attentive and charming staff made the surprise a huge hit. Then they passed around the menu. SURPRISE!!!!!!!!! Totally different menu. Run of the mill Italian food without the familiar dishes we were expecting. We were beyond disappointed. The portions were both boring and the portions are now tiny. Our server, who has waited on me many a visit, was charming and attentive. But the kitchen was not as cooperative. The food came out in batches, taking up to a half hour for everyone to be served. Each dish was accompanied with heartfelt appologies from our server. The evening manager took the time to come up, appologise further, and discounted the bill generously for the poor kitchen timing of our dishes. I asked what the "F" happened to the menu? He informed me the owners hired a new general manager, new chef, and overhauled the menu. Both he and our server expressed how disappointed the regulars have been. Both have worked at Vitello's for years. Both have grown to think of their fellow staff and long time customers as family. Both are miserable with the changes, and I was sad to hear that this terrific manager was leaving in two weeks due to the horrible changes. From what I understand, these are fairly recent changes. There is time to bring Vitello's back to the neighborhood jernt we, the loyal customers, want. And there is time to halt the planned remodeling, as I hear they plan to lose the lovely mural in the dining room, replacing the old world charm we have become accustomed to. Sad!
(1)Alyssa T.
Feels like the set of every Italian mafia movie. Also feels like I'm back in Philly. Is that a good thing? Not if the food doesn't measure up. I really wanted to like this place but It was just very mediocre All the food was very, very decent but also not any standouts. Garlic bread - hot and fresh but not particularly bursting with flavor. House chianti - a good value for a carafe, but forgettable even by house standards. House salad was the best part of the meal - fresh, crisp and a very tasty blue cheese dressing. Minestrone soup was decent and forgettable, like everything else. It could have come out of a Progresso can. Veal piccata was well-plated with plenty of mushrooms. Flavor was basic veal piccata. My date's eggplant Parmesan was also just ok. Not sure why everyone is talking about the tiramisu. It may be homemade, but that doesn't make it great. I order tiramisu almost every time I see it on a menu, so I have had a lot of tiramisus. I mean a LOT. The best tiramisu that I have found in LA so far is at Farfalla. This was not close. It was a bit too dense for my taste. However, I know that personal preferences on tiramisu vary, so I didn't downgrade the restaurant for this. Look - this is a totally decent and solid old-school Italian restaurant. The food is nothing special, but it is decent portions if that's what matters to you. If good flavor matters more...well, I wouldn't make this your top choice. That's all.
(3)Ari M.
I've been stopping into Vitello's once or twice a year for the last decade (the prices are a bit too high for more frequent visits). They are solely responsible for my addiction to minestrone (which I end up ordering whenever I go out for Italian and always wish it was as good as it is at Vitello's). Their menu is large and varied. I tend to order pasta dishes and have not been disappointed yet. The atmosphere is warm, friendly and decidedly Italian (or at least as Italian as a place needs to be for a person who has never been to Italy). Vitello's is a great destination for a family celebrating a special occasion or a couple looking to dine on a romantic evening. I'd suggest making a reservation to those who would visit on a Holiday or a Friday or Saturday night.
(4)Nancy T.
WTF, Vitello's? Two weeks after my first visit (a 3-star experience for me, a 4-star experience as per my husband) we returned. He was SO looking forward to some pizza, so imagine his shock when we were told that the menu had COMPLETELY CHANGED. Yup, no more big, dough-y pizzas -- they are only making pathetic thin crust creations now! When I mentioned that I had actually checked the menu on their website before arriving and there was no mention of changes, I was politely told that that was unfortunate but management would offer no concessions if we hated our food. Which we did. The pizzas were just... unremarkable. Service is fine, location is great, parking is easy, so 2 stars it is... but really Vitello's, next time you change EVERYTHING, a little notice would be nice.
(2)Joshua L.
I was extremely displeased with my experience at this restaurant. We had family in from out of town in who really enjoyed the Opera show they put on - its not great music but the atmosphere is pleasant. We booked a booth nearly 1 month in advance and were guaranteed a seat. As we arrived our booth was being cleaned and as we were literally 1 second away from sitting down in the booth and a woman who was a friend of the singers swooped in and sat down and claimed the seat for herself. It was beyond awkward and after explaining that we had reserved the booth she refused to get up. Every other seat was taken including most of the bar seats. What bothers me so much about this is not so much the rude lady, because you can't hold rude patrons against the restaurant. When we walked up and talked to the manager he was reluctant to do anything. We've planned our night around eating and listening to old people relive their youth by belting out songs that they should have retired 20 years ago. So finally the Manager clears of a spot at the bar, the corner mind you, which isn't ideal for a party of 4. He also says let me buy you guys dinner. Great - I applaud you for saving our night. We finished the dinner and then the bill comes - dinner has not been taken care of and the manager is "unable to be found." Luckily i am patient and made sure they found him - after a "interesting" conversation he owned up to his promise and made good. I just can't recommend a place that gives away your seat and then tries to lie to you. But whatever - they deliver! And for that 2 stars! Hope they don't spit in my food. :)
(2)Penny N.
Went here last night to see a show. I had some trepidation based upon the bad reviews here; however, I had been told that they just got a new chef and that the food was good again. Sure enough, the food was quite good. The menu is limited, but what my husband and I had was tasty and generous. I had the baby greens salad, the spaghetti and meatballs, a martini, a glass of house red, the chocolate cake and a cup of coffee and enjoyed all of it. The staff was nice and the show was excellent. The music wasn't too loud, the view was great, and the crowd was cool. I would definitely come here again. I'm sure this is not the nicest place in town for Italian food, but if you're coming to see a show, I recommend it.
(3)Allen C.
Essentially, Vitello's is kind of like that old actor who gets the Oscar just because he's been around for so long even though his last movies were "Boy Meets World: The Movie" and "The Story of Ernest Borgnine". Anyway, I say if Robert Blake can shoot his wife here, it's worth a try. I've been here a couple of times for work birthdays. It's definitely not the best Italian food you can have, but if you have old school tastes like me (spam, meatloaf, baked alaska, etc...mmmm--focus!!), this place is A-OK. The food does appear and taste oddly store-bought and pre-made, but if you think of it as a high end TV dinner, it's not that bad. The kitsch and cheese of the place is an attraction and the place is great for groups, but service could use a boost especially during lunch or special events. The best part of the place is all the action going on outside the restaurant on Tujunga Avenue. Watching people cross the street holding flags up so drivers won't run them over is the funniest thing ever!
(3)Rebecca K.
This WAS our favorite Italian Restaurant, up until tonight, that is. I am shocked and saddened by what I have learned from reading other recent reviews. Oh how I wished I had read them BEFORE taking our visiting family there tonight. I had touted Vitello's Braciole as on level to our family recipe, along with the widely varied and special pastas and great ambiance. Our family is Italian and from New Jersey, and have their own restaurant, so we were looking forward to impressing them with Vitello's. What we had instead wasn't even close to being memorable experience, unless you want to say it was devastating. It was "Eh". I guess we will just have our memories of the Vitello's that was. My husband and I have been going to this restaurant regularly for about 8 years, our last time being a couple of months ago. It was one of our "date night" choices. The once great staff and menu has now been completely re-hauled and in my opinion destroyed and replaced with a more run-of the mill offering. Gone are all of the neighborhood favorites and family recipes. Gone are all the smiling and familiar waitstaff and managers that always made each dinner a special occasion with their attentive and wonderful service. Instead the menu reads like a "How to of basic Italian cooking" and the new waitstaff...well, you can tell they are still just learning and not very comfortable. When the busboys are the highlight of the staff, there has got be something wrong. While the food was okay, the prices have been inflated beyond what the portion sizes and lack of ingredients call for. Extra charges for bread, having to beg for the fresh grated cheese and refills on drinks? Not what we had come to expect at all. Unless the new management wakes up and realize the crime they are committing in killing what was such an established local favorite, we will not be returning, and will spread the word to our friends who used to frequent it as well. And to take down or paint over that beautiful mural and change the old world charm that is in that dining room...THAT is just beyond my comprehension. Simply a travesty. Happy to hear that there is the Vitello's location in Thousand Oaks that is offering the old menu and is owned by the original owners. While we won't be able to go every 2 months, at least we can make it out there once a year.
(1)Tawny H.
Bland food. Over priced, small portions, left hungry and poor service. Leaving an Italian restaurant hungry is unheard! Will not becoming back.
(2)Jeffrey F.
Been coming here for several years and have always enjoyed it. We came here tonight for my uncle's birthday and even tho the service was great the food has really gone downhill. The changed the menu and none of the original dishes are on there. They even changed the bread which used to be great. I had the chicken marsala and it was very watery and oily. Plus waay to much garlic. My mother had the veal parm and it was very tough and it had an odd spice that tasted like cleaning fluid, (her words not mine). Really unfortunate as we probably won't be back. I'm giving it 2 stars because the service was good, otherwise the food is a one.
(2)Craig F.
I hate to say it, but Maggiano's food and atmosphere is way better. It really breaks my heart so say it, as I would rather support a local restaurant. But it doesn't. The food and atmosphere are almost poor here. The waitstaff really didn't seem to know what was going on. It was very suspect. Skip this.
(2)J H.
I have been patronizing Vitello's since the mid 70's and was well known by the previous owners Joe and Steve Restivo. The food was by far some of the best old Italian you could find in the area. Service was consistent and outstanding. They had a loyal clientele and the restaurant was packed every night. Living just blocks away, I would usually eat in once a week and get take out an additional two to three times a week. Since the change of ownership, management and menu, I have eaten there once. It will have been my ONLY experience as I will NEVER again return. The management is clueless, rude and inefficient. Wait staff is rude, rushed and clueless. The food has become so bland and generic, it isn't even worth a mention. What a complete and utter disappointment. Talk about a place that is ripe for an episode of Restaurant Impossible or Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares. I sincerely hope that the Brothers Restivo are enjoying retirement and NEVER come back to see how their family legacy has been destroyed by this group of incompetents.
(1)Eileen L.
Nice job on the renovation. Everything was as it should be, and a good value.
(4)B. Keith S.
This is not the Vitellos of it was 10 years ago. Now that the front it open, it gives you that classy restaurant feel, while seeming like you are sitting in a patio. The staff is always on their toes to ensure you have a good time and great food. The events are ever changing and quite good. My favorite dish is the chicken parmesan. Best restaurant in Studio City hands down.
(5)devin k.
This place is a disgrace to Italian food. I couldnt believe the plates that were coming out, and that people were actually eating the stuff. I got a Ceasar salad, veal marsala, and a free cannoli (their gift); my table got a cheese pizza, the italian greek salad (WTF?), and the eggplant parm. The caesar salad was underdressed and was just plain romaine with some shreds of parm on top; the dressing lacked the normal key components to what a good caesar dressing usually has- flavor most importantly. The Veal marsala was overcooked and shredded into chunks. It was also smimming in a soupy, broken, and vomitious looking mystery sauce that was supposed to be the marsala reduction. The side dish was their signature spaghetti,since my other choice was fried zuchinni *fail*. The spaghetti was undercooked and sauced with a tomato sauce that my grandma would have thrown back at the waiter in disgust. It was literally straight out of the can. What an epic failure. My dad had the eggplant which was mushy, unseasoned, and extremely greasy. The pizza the rest of the table got was rubbery and the sauce was gutless. i dont even want to talk about the "Italian greek salad" The only thing that was palatable was the cannoli, which probably was outsouced. I have had diahria all morning and I didnt sleep all night from the garbage food they had here. I guess the Robert Blake ordeal, the prime location, and the beautiful decor inside keep Vitellos in business because I cant see how people can stand to eat such terrible food. The sad thing was that the manager acknowledged the fact that questionable food was coming out of the kitchen (owner abandonment?).
(1)Julie E.
I wasn't expecting much when I came one Wednesday night to hear jazz upstairs (more of that in another review). I was actually kind of pissed that my friend wanted to eat here -- you always complain about venturing east of the 405 and this is OK with you? For sake of ease in seeing the show, we ate dinner here. To be sure, the food wasn't great. Granted, the high ceilings, large booths, and sordid history make Vitello's a bit more interesting than your average overpriced mediocre Italian joint. But the service was nice and the BREAD was so hot, fresh, crusty on the outside but soft and chewy on the inside, that it made me happy enough to gloss over the mediocrity of my main dish: chicken with pesto and mushrooms over limp, frozen linguine. Kind of bland and something I could easily make at home. What's up with restaurants not using spices? My other friends got the Italian Greek salad and pollo marsala. No major complaints but nothing great to report either. But BREAD + service made it much more tolerable than I anticipated.
(3)Jane C.
The piano player was incredible, the atmosphere beautiful. The food really disappointing. Chicken piccata was terrible. Everything tasted canned. I'd come for a drink and the music. Forget the food!
(2)Rich P.
The food here is fantastic! I had the pasta on special (pasta with black truffle + gorgonzola/marscapone sauce) and it was delicious. The wine selection is usually really good although there were two wines on the list we asked about & our server said they were out. The service was prompt, friendly, knowledgeable. The restaurant is undergoing a remodel, targeted to be complete in May. But it didn't detract from our experience at all. My favorite Italian restaurant in Los Angeles.
(4)Erin D.
I MISS THE OLD VITELLO'S!!! Everything has changed for the worst since the recent renovation. The restaurant used to be intimate with comfortable booths. Now the booths are gone and customers are crammed in there. The service even went downhill, our waitress was inattentive and slow. If you are looking for good Italian food, you can do MUCH better for the price. The only reason I'm giving this restaurant two stars is for the spaghetti sauce. That is the one thing that hasn't changed.
(2)Rachel B.
Went back to Vitello's for a family dinner and I have to say, I was very impressed by the high food quality, great service and free, easy valet parking. We ordered a fried mozzarella appetizer, and after years of eating at the big chains, I'd honestly forgotten how good this dish can be! I swear the bread crumb crust was about an eight of an inch thick! There was some major crunch with each bite, even though the patty of fried cheese was covered in sauce. They won me over with the fried cheese for sure. My dad went for capellini and meatballs, which he liked very much. My bro ordered the Lasagna, which looked pretty freakin amazing, like a tower of melted cheese. I got a Shrimp/Pasta dish with marinara, I don't remember what it was called on the menu. The shrimp were huge, my only complaints are that the tails were left on, and there was a ton of onion in the marinara. That first point, RE the tails, I just don't think there should ever be tails on shrimp, second point, I realize I'm crazy, I just can't eat onions. I get heartburn for days after eating them- but I'm not holding that against Vitello's as I understand that I'm in the minority. I have to say, the most impressive aspect of the evening was the service. These guys were on it! Bread basket refills, carafes of soda and water, big smiles, friendly people, wow! You just don't find this kind of service at most places. If you're in the area and hungry for Italian, you should try Vitello's. Incidentally, they deliver after 5!
(5)Maureen G.
A friend and I were lured in by the promise of live jazz music but didn't notice any music when we got seated. We then realized that they have an upstairs live jazz music lounge (with a cover charge). boo. Anyway, the food: it was fine, we ordered some apps: asparagus, broccolini and calamari and a bottle of wine so it was all good. I really hated the weight/feel of their silverware - way too light and felt almost bendable. I know that sounds weird, but I'm just not a fan of crappy silverware. The atmosphere of the restaurant is adorable, love the big, open windows and the indoor tree and the dim lighting, but the layout is awkward. Our table was just like in the middle of a tight walkway and it was impossible for people to get by and interrupted our meal a couple of times. Sooo yeah. Service was a bit slow, but very friendly/nice.
(3)Contessa B.
Ok....okay! One of the reasons I went here is because of the 'Robert Blake' factor....eerie, but the food was your basic Italian.....which is great. I only gave 4stars because the calamari was disappointing..thumbs down. I tried our waiters fave which was a shrimp and artichoke dish with lemon and capers over a bed of fetticini....mmmmYeah this was fab!! I ordered a Lemondrop martini but the bartender made an apricot one instead which was very yummy. I wanted another one but...I was driving. Our waiter was excellent and provided great chit chat. Parking was no problem...we found a spot just around the corner. We didnt try dessert due to the fact that we were going across the street to the Gelato Caffe'...which is great!
(4)Cynthia Y.
I came here for lunch last week with my Warner Bros family. I didn't know that this was where Robert Blake's wife was murdered! Lunch menu was pretty good, decent price. Pizetti was yummy- it's super thin pizza appetizer. Garlic bread was delicious! My entrée- Penne Siciliani was alright, i liked the sun dried tomatoes, but the chicken was a bit overcooked. Great dipping for garlic bread =) Overall not bad.
(3)Mister C.
IF IT AIN'T BROKE WHY FIX IT?? This seems to be the question everybody who has been a loyal fan of this restaurant for years is going to ask: WHY??? Is this just the result of new ownership and a new vision? Is it because they hired a new chef with some fancy ideas he learned while watching the Food Network.... or something much more sinister, who knows? Or maybe the joint is getting "busted out" by the mob for bad loans... so whaddaygonnado? But what I can tell you is that it is no longer the Vitello's Restaurant you knew before, so be warned. I wish someone had told me before I went, because I would have taken a wreath to lay in memorium for something that used to be really great. Something that use to be so endearing and so different than the thousand other restaurants on Ventura Blvd. or nearby that you could choose from. But alas, it is gone now, just a memory of past glory like the ruins of the once great Roman Empire. Sure the building is still the same. Same photos on the lobby wall to remind you of days and great meals past. But why they are keeping the same name is beyond me? Sorry folks! No more Robert Blake special; no more sausage and peppers and fried zucchini. Hell, they even replaced the classic Rat Pack music of Frank & Dean with some new age sounding crapola just to rub it all in while you sit there like a fool searching for anything on the menu that you may recognize, or want. Hell, there was a murder at this restaurant and that didn't even keep people from not coming! But I don't think this place will survive this crime. A bigger crime than even the murder I'm afraid to say. I know I won't be back. If I wanted to go out for mediocre Italian food I would have gone to Olive Garden and saved myself a fist full of money. So until they change this place back (if they are smart); I'm just going to call this place: "The Restaurant Formerly Known As Vitello's" and move on. I refuse to reward any restaurant management who is this stupid to screw up a good thing so badly. This place is now like Gilligan's Island meets Macaroni Grill, but with bad music. And I say this sadly and with mucho respecto for the "FIVE STAR" Italian restaurant that his place used to be. Such a shame.
(1)Jin N.
I've often sat across the street while at Aroma or Gelato Bar and made the requisite jokes about the Baretta murder, but I've never tried it out. When I finally had a meal there I was duly impressed. Upon entering you really do get taken back in time with all the decorations on the walls of yesteryear. You feel like you're taken into some brat pack movie or some GoodFellas scene. THe friendly host/hostess greet you warmly and invite you in as if your're family. I could hear some lively music playing upstairs from what seemed to be live music being played. I wouldn't have thought they featured live bands and performances. However, I was hungry and my friend and I wanted to be seated right away. We were taken into the dining area of dim lights and red vinyl booths. I almost laughed it seemed too cliche. I joked to the waitress that I wanted to be seated near the door just in case someone tries to put a hit on me. I laughed harder when she said 'fugeddaboutit" While we checked out the menu the waitress offered us some of their famous garlic bread. WOW. If you like butter and garlic, you will not be disappointed. They slather it on big hunks of bread that come out nice and warm. I had to be careful not to eat too much of it. It was hard not to. We decided to start with a pizzetti margherita, lobster ravioli and cefalo. The waitress was pleased I ordered something from their home village when I selected the cefalo. The cefalo turned out to be a breaded veal with some mushrooms. Quite tasty and hearty. I wound up eating it for a couple of days afterward. The ravioli was delicious as well. Nice and firm with a fantastic rich vodka tomato sauce. The pizzetti we tried was simply delicious. The crust of the thin pizza was so wafer thin that the weight of the marina and cheese hinged on spilling all over your lap. I was told they make all various thickness of pizza. There is nothing nouveau about Vittello.You won't find anything gastronomically daring. No foams or gelee, but just old school Italian food. This would be a great place for a date or have a private conversation --- yanno, when you want to wage war on your rival mafia gang.
(4)Chrissy P.
So, new Vitello's doesn't quite live up to the rep of the former. The bread (for which they charged $1.25 per slice) is just okay, the entrees peculiarly do not come with the option of a side of pasta (instead you're served poorly cooked carrots, zucchini, and passable mashed potatoes - no substitutions!), and the side of pasta you can order (the child's spaghetti marinara - though, really, an odd take on marinara) is an additional $7. My eggplant was good, though, and not fried (though still cheesy, which I like). The wine list isn't atrocious, and there are several quite good selections by the glass (I'm currently crushing on Frank Family Zin, and was pleased that it was available). We had kind of a terrible table, but we didn't have a reservation, so that wasn't unexpected. We found street parking easily, but they do have valet available. We skipped dessert and headed across the street to the gelato place, where I had a scoop of the pretty fab chocolate whiskey flavor.
(2)Linda M.
Had the worst Fettucini Alfredo ever here. Grainy, tasteless sauce that didn't seem to have any romano cheese or garlic in it, bland, tasteless, unpleasant. The Calamari appetizer was tough, rubbery, tasteless. Every dish seemed flavorless and poorly executed. Would not recommend, truly a lame attempt at Italian food. I'm not a chef at all, but can make these dishes at home with far better results. The place is rather crummy and patched together looking, which could be forgiven if the food was good. Just avoid this place, it isn't worth bothering with even though the prices are reasonable. For meals this lame, even these prices are too high.
(1)Amy M.
It was my first time to try this place out. The food was just ok and very overpriced. The waiter asked if I wanted some bread and I said yes. I thought the bread was free just like other restaurants. It turned out that we had to pay for the bread. I will not go back to this place again.
(2)Sheree H.
I like the food here. The ambiance is very intimate.
(4)Clara B.
Friendly service and great food. Tonight we had the Frank Family zin from Napa and it went well with our Margherita Pizzetti and Filet of Sole which was excellent with fried zucchini. My favorite dessert: spumoni ice cream, really yummy. They have great jazz upstairs and some well known performers as well. It's a fun convenient restaurant in the neighborhood and there is valet parking for $3.50 or residential parking.
(4)Chris S.
I was looking for an Italian Restaurant and at the last minute remembered the nice little walking district on Tujunga in Studio City/Valley Village. My wife and I parked and checked out a couple of places and decided on Vitello's. The food was good. I had the veal. I thought that the portions were small for the price (over $20). But the quality was good. It was very tasty. For desert, I had my usual Italian fav, Tiramisu. It was awesome! Really excellent. The only downside was that we got a parking ticket on the street where we parked. There was an obscure sign that said no parking after 9pm. Urgghhhh. $68!! So essentially, it was good food, a bit pricey and with the ticket it was an extremely expensive dinner. (But I won't hold that against the restaurant). Just be sure to pay for the valet and save yourself a lot of money.
(4)Sarah K.
I've come here a few times over the years and it's pretty good. This time we were a group of 7 and our big booth was a bit cramped. My 7 year old cousin was very happy with his spaghetti and meat balls which the rest of us had our "adult" meals and were satisfied with them as well. Everyone started off with calamari (except me) and enjoyed, the salads were ok. I had eggplant parm and it was good. Saucey. I enjoyed dessert but they didn't have plain vanilla ice cream for kids.
(3)Trey A.
The new renovation did not improve the overpriced food.
(1)James B.
Horrible for the price. Ravioli at 3.00 a piece? Greasy Brussel sprouts and pannecetta that had no taste. Garlic bread that was soggy and short ribs that were not cooked long enough. I usually don't complain but after paying $300.00 for dinner I expected a great deal more. The service was excruciatingly slow, and the ravioli was a joke. I actually laughed when the entree came and there were six ravioli with a bit of butter on a large plate. Ridiculous. When I politely complained the manager didn't even show up to defend his restaurant. I have had better service at ihop. I will not be back even at half the price for the quality of food they serve there.
(1)Dalia G.
Too bad. I've been wanting to check this place out since the remodel and am very disappointed. The decor is nice and I didn't go upstairs...but my 2 stars is based on food alone. It's very generic Italian food...no better than Olive garden to be honest. The prices were way too steep for the taste and quality. With all of the great Italian restaurant in LA, this is definitely not the place to go when you have a craving.
(2)Camilla M.
The place is amazing, nice street and the whole renovation was done to perfection, but the servers don't do anything literally, had to ask for bread 3 times and by the time they took it to the table I was done with my lunch, plus they are slow and not friendly. Food terrible as a person that was born in Italy the food just doesn't get even close, the pizza was paper thin...and not Italian thin I mean oven foil thin, you couldn't even lift it up because it would break, overcooked, looked like they spry painted the tomato sauce, it was invisible. Then I got the broccoli soup, found a piece of chicken in it and it tasted more like cheese than broccoli, and o close this awful lunch I got an espresso which looked like 3 espressos, with a spoon that could barely fit in the mug.
(1)Tracey M.
EEK- what is going on here? I remember my family coming from Brooklyn many years ago and it was a traditional Italian place - good food, good ambience. Yes the decour has changed and I understand this - but it has not once ounce of Italian flare. Not to mention - please do not seat us where the work is unfinished. No base boards, light fixtures incomplete - it was not cute. The food was not impressive. Calamari batter - soggy, alfredo sauce seperated and all you saw was half butter/oil and the other half seperated milk. I was appauled. Red sauce for the calamari was straight out of a can and the service was lacking - asking for some reggiano or pecorino took 3 tries - not to mention: "they only have a special grated cheese!" per the waitress...
(2)Donald B.
All things must change! And this change is ultimately good. Vitello's as been renovated and although open during the reconstruction, we finally visited after the grand re-opening. It's fun, open to the street, and breezy. he same familiar staff is there, which is great. There are a few classic old-school items still on the menu. Items to remember: Jane's saiad is great. The pizzetti (thin crust pizza) is still wonderful, especially the pesto. Just remember to ask for it crispy. Also -- the BEST gluten free pizza we have found! I don't know if they make the dough themselves or they order it in, but it's rolled out right, and cooked right -- and it's so hard to get it right.
(5)Jay L.
My new buddy Ned (the jazz vocalist) is probably the main reason that this place did not get 1 stars. I realize that I'm not the most conservative guy in the bunch and I'm somewhat new age west coaster with my cool & casual city fashion but that doesn't mean I don't know how to properly enjoy a classy joint plus my co-worker had a 3 piece suit on. Anyway you can probably already tell that the vibe was not the most welcoming at this establishment and the female bartender made sure we were made aware if we weren't already. Luckily for me, I consider every inch of the planet my rightful home so I put my elbows on the bar, ordered some of their finest scotch and struck up a conversation with the jazz singer Ned (he happened to come over to the bar as I sat down). It turned out to be a great conversation with lots of laughs and of course Ned was an aspiring actor just like me so we got along like old chums. There was a older mexican gentleman sitting at the end of the bar sort of observing me the entire night which didn't bother me because in my line of work(s) I am constantly being observed but I found it kind of odd. Anyway, for a nice classy date then maybe this place is ok but other than that...nahh
(2)Karsten F.
The service reminded me of the first time I ordered a drink when I turned 21. Young, naive and trying really hard to impress. On that "first legally drinking night" at a bar in S. Bend Indiana, I was trying so hard to be impressive and act like an adult. So I ordered a vodka martini. The bartender was busy/crazy and after he mixed it and poured it into a martini glass, he asked what I wanted in the drink. I had no idea so I said "maraschino cherry". The disgust on his face was immediately and vividly transparent. And it took all of his willpower to plop one in there against all his best judgement. I have to give him credit for his customer service and allowing me to make my drink mistake anyway. From that night on, I quickly learned that maraschino cherries go with drinks like apple martinis. Flash forward nearly 20 years, and many Many MANY apple martinis later, I ordered a apple martini at Vitello's. The drink arrived with the expected maraschino cherry. Yet interestingly it also had 2 giant olives in it. I chalked it up as an interesting mistake by either the bartender. Or the waiter who picked up the drink and felt it needed 2 green olives as well. When I ordered my second apple martini, the maraschino cherry was missing. Yet, it had 2 olives. I'm a huge fan of olives, but for those who don't drink apple martinis the salty olive taste does not go with the sweet apple taste. The other interesting note about the service at Vitello's is that they served my meal much earlier than my husband's. I just think they must be young not knowing the right way to make a drink and serve meals at the same time. Other than that, the food is very good. The staff tries really hard. We noticed the place has a jazz lounge upstairs which we'll try next time. However, if you want a mixed drink, stick to the wine.
(3)S K.
Nate M.: "What are you doin tonight? You wanna grab dinner?" Me: "Yah... sure... Let's go someplace casual." Nate M: "How about Gyukaku?" Me: "No... That place sucks. Let's go for italian." Nate M: "How about Vitello's?" Me: "Oh shit! Isn't that the place where that dude killed his baby mama?" Nate M: "Yah" Me: "I'm in.." What a beautiful tacky wonderland of all things chichi. I almost waited for a fake gondola ride. The food is yummy. So filling. Had the Chicken Cacciatore. Loved it. Filled with peppers in a nice rich tomato sauce. We also started with a Margherita Pizzetti. Light thin crusted pizza. Perfect start. Great, friendly service. Nice affordable wine list. We shared a central coast pinot noir. An absolutely happy happy wine. I wouldn't take my friends from Italy here because I think they might be slightly offended but, I thought it was great for what it was. Great company, great food. Thanks Nate... You might be hated by Yelpers but you are dearly loved by me. :)
(4)Hank K.
The last time I visited was at least a year ago...I think. I'm just getting around to this. They had already changed the menu but hadn't started any renovations (don't know what it looks like now). We used to stop in all the time... What can I say? The worst thing that could happen before was we got the most "veteran" waiter on a bad day and was a little crabby. My last visit with friends I was shocked to see everything we ordered was removed from the menu. We thought maybe we could still get our favorites by asking the waiter but It didn't work. The waiter suggested the "Spaghetti and Meatballs" and received the same groan as the table he just left when presented with the same option. Looking around I didn't see many happy faces and the meals in front of them not very appetizing. This was just sad. I have to assume the ownership changed hands. It's really a shame as this was our go to Italian restaurant. Our waiter gave us a few more minutes to decide and I took that time to announce "let's just pay for our drinks and leave". They still had hope and I really wanted to be wrong but didn't want to be proven right. I alone walked out. I always drove past Henry's Tacos (Los Angeles Magazine's #42 in the "101 Cheap Eats" article) but never stopped in. I walked the two (?) blocks. Took my time eating a few "gringo/California" taco's. Slightly better than a Del Taco Classic Taco and at least twice the price (sorry to say so, I wanted to enjoy it). I took my time getting back and walked in to find a sad table with half eaten meals. This is the first one star review I'm handing out. Only because I'm comparing it to it's former self. What happened? How can a place go from one extreme to the other so quickly? If somehow Vitello's returns to it's former glory we'll be back. That's just not going to happen though. ***** I read a bunch of reviews after posting mine. Big thanks to "Rebecca K." for filling me in on the return of Vitello's at a new location. yelp.com/biz/vitellos-it… They have a menu on the website. I found my favorites. Time to let my friends know.
(1)