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Nestled along a narrow street right off of the Venice Beach Boardwalk, Piccolo Ristorante is a cozy little Italian restaurant that’s only a stones throw away from the water. With only about a dozen tables in total, 10 inside and 2 outside, the atmosphere at this neighborhood spot is awfully romantic.

Piccolo Ristorante opens its doors at 5pm and doesn’t accept reservations, so you’ll have to either come in early or be prepared for about an hour wait (depending on how busy it is of course). If you find yourself on the waiting list then you have a few options. There is a neighborhood bar right around the corner where you can enjoy some drinks and live music. You can also hang out inside the restaurant, but you’ll have to settle for sitting on the steps (with a bottle of wine of course).

All of its dishes are prepared using only the freshest ingredients and accentuate the flavors of Northern Italy. Their wine list isn’t particularly amazing, but they do have a pretty good selection of Italian wines. The food at Piccolo Ristorante has always been consistent, but I wasn’t crazy about it the last time I visited. Their signature dish – the Potatoes and Fig Tortellini was excellent, but the rest of the food came out a little too salty (something everyone in my party noticed). I’m not one of those people who complain and send the food back, so I did end up eating it all. Since this wasn’t my first time at the restaurant and I was happy in the past, I’ll just treat this as an isolated incident.

The food is not cheap; a bottle of wine, 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, and dessert will run you about $150 (with tip).

Getting Here

Parking in Venice Beach can be a little tricky, so your best bet is to park at the lot on Rose Ave & Speedway for $4. After parking your car, take the Boardwalk a few blocks south and then make a left on Dudley Street; Piccolo Ristorante will be on your left.