La Vecchia Cucina brings classic Italian cuisine to 2654 Main St in Santa Monica, offering a welcoming setting for guests who appreciate familiar flavors, generous choices, and the pleasure of sharing a meal. The menu includes a variety of pastas and pizzas, along with comfort food, healthy options, and local specialties.
Whether you are stopping in for brunch, lunch, dinner, dessert, or a late-night meal, the restaurant provides a versatile dining experience suited to different occasions and preferences.
Guests can choose from dine-in, takeaway, delivery, and on-site services. The bustling dining room combines casual, cozy, trendy, and upmarket qualities, creating an inviting atmosphere for solo dining as well as relaxed meals with others. With table service, seating, a bar on site, and a restroom, La Vecchia Cucina is equipped for a comfortable visit.
Its offerings include beer, wine, cocktails, happy-hour drinks, alcohol, and coffee, with highlights such as great cocktails, great coffee, great desserts, and a great wine list. Fast service adds convenience, while the range of dining options makes it easy to enjoy the restaurant for a quick meal or a longer evening.
Accessibility is an important part of the experience, with a wheelchair-accessible car park, entrance, seating, and toilet. Dinner reservations are recommended, and reservations are accepted, although there is usually a wait. Customers rate La Vecchia Cucina 4.60 out of 5 based on 581 reviews, reflecting its strong appeal among diners.
Credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments are accepted. Visit La Vecchia Cucina at 2654 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405, United States, or call +1 310-399-7979 to plan your visit.
Popular Items
Frequently ordered and highly recommended items at La Vecchia Cucina
Our Story
Welcome to a place where great food meets warm hospitality. We believe dining is more than just a meal - it's an experience to be savored and shared.
Our kitchen is dedicated to creating dishes that bring people together, using recipes that honor tradition while embracing innovation.
Photos
A glimpse of our restaurant experience
Food & Drinks
Fresh mozzarella cheese, heirloom tomatoes, basil and extra virgin olive oil.
Fresh burrata cheese, heirloom tomatoes, prosciutto San Daniele, basil, extra virgin olive oil, and aged balsamic vinegar.
Fresh mozzarella cheese, heirloom tomatoes, basil, with roasted peppers and zucchini, served on a bed of pesto sauce.
Fried squid served with our spicy marinara sauce and lemon on the side.
Chilled seafood salad with lobster, jumbo shrimp, calamari and green beans tossed in an extra virgin olive oil lemon dressing.
Steamed Manila clams and black Mediterranean mussels in a spicy garlic white wine broth.
Eggplant rollatini with goat cheese and herbs, topped with our marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, basil and oven-baked.
Flatbread topped with diced Roma tomatoes, basil, garlic and extra virgin olive oil.
Romaine lettuce hearts and croutons tossed in our classic creamy Caesar dressing, topped with grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese.
Baby mixed greens with tomatoes, cucumber, celery, radish and carrots tossed in our classic balsamic vinaigrette.
Baby arugula, radicchio and Belgian endive tossed in our classic balsamic vinaigrette, topped with walnuts and shaved parmigiano-reggiano cheese.
Our chopped salad with romaine and iceberg lettuces, tomatoes, turkey breast, salami, pepperoncini and fresh mozzarella cheese tossed in a champagne vinaigrette.
Rigatoni tossed with our signature meat sauce.
Penne tossed with garlic and vodka in our marinara sauce with a touch of cream.
Spaghetti tossed with our hand-rolled meatballs in our pomodoro sauce.
Farfalle tossed with sautéed lobster, asparagus, white alba mushrooms and diced tomatoes in a light white wine pomodoro sauce.
Linguine tossed with Kalamata olives, capers, mushrooms and basil in our pomodoro sauce.
Penne tossed with garlic, extra virgin olive oil, red chili flakes and parsley in our spicy marinara sauce.
Linguine tossed with diced chicken breast, sun-dried tomatoes, leeks, zucchini, diced tomatoes and basil in an extra virgin olive oil garlic sauce.
Linguine tossed with manila clams, garlic, red chili flakes and parsley in a white wine sauce.
Linguine tossed with sautéed diced U12 wild blue shrimp, shitake mushrooms and diced tomatoes in a creamy pesto sauce.
Linguine tossed with Manila clams, black Mediterranean mussels, squid, striped bass and a U10 wild blue shrimp in our spicy marinara sauce.
Penne tossed with diced ora king salmon, scallions, green beans, radicchio and diced tomatoes in a cream sauce.
Spaghetti tossed in a classic sauce made from parmigiano-reggiano cheese, pecorino cheese, organic eggs, black pepper and smoked guanciale.
Fresh casareccia pasta tossed in a braised lamb shank ragu topped with a quenelle of Italian buffalo milk ricotta cheese and micro basil.
Fresh bucatini pasta tossed with sautéed shallots, garlic, smoked guanciale and pecorino cheese in our pomodoro sauce.
Lasagna made with layers of mozzarella, parmesan and ricotta cheese with prosciutto cotto in our house ragu.
Tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and basil.
Tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, mild Italian sausage, mushrooms, green bell peppers and onions.
Tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, mild Italian sausage, chorizo, diced jalapeño pepper and caramelized onions.
Tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, mushrooms, artichoke hearts and Kalamata olives.
Tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and mushrooms topped with fresh prosciutto San Daniele.
Tomato sauce, tri-color bell peppers, red onions, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, zucchini, tomatoes, Kalamata olives and basil (served with or without cheese).
Mozzarella cheese, goat cheese and oregano topped with fresh prosciutto san daniele, diced tomatoes and baby arugula.
Tomato sauce, mild Italian sausage, Kalamata olives, red onions and basil topped with fresh burrata cheese.
Grilled chicken breast sautéed in a white wine lemon sauce.
Grilled chicken breast marinated with extra virgin olive oil, garlic, crushed red chili flakes and herbs served with sautéed green vegetables.
Lightly pounded and breaded chicken breast topped with basil, mozzarella and parmigiano-reggiano cheese and finished in a light white wine pomodoro sauce.
Lightly pounded and breaded chicken breast topped with baby arugula and heirloom tomatoes tossed in an extra virgin olive oil lemon dressing.
Chicken breast rolled and stuffed with baked eggplant, grilled zucchini and mozzarella cheese in a shitake mushroom marsala wine sauce.
Oven-broiled Mediterranean sea bass in an extra virgin olive oil lemon herb sauce.
Oven-broiled ora king salmon with baby mixed greens and Kalamata olives tossed in extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
Fair trade U10 wild blue shrimp, caught off the Western coast of Mexico, sautéed with garlic and rosemary in a white wine sauce.
Thinly pounded veal sautéed in a light white wine lemon caper sauce.
Thinly pounded veal sautéed with artichoke hearts and sun-dried tomatoes in a marsala wine sauce.
Thinly pounded veal sautéed in a light white wine pomodoro sauce, topped with basil, mozzarella and parmigiano reggiano cheese.
Grilled lamb chops topped with a garlic and rosemary balsamic reduction sauce.
Lightly pounded grilled USDA choice filet mignon medallions topped with a baby arugula salad tossed in an extra virgin olive oil lemon dressing.
Grilled USDA choice filet mignon medallions topped in a light white wine pomodoro sauce with garlic, oregano and basil.
Choice filet mignon, topped in a port wine reduction sauce with mushrooms and leeks.
Broccoli, sautéed or steamed.
Broccoli, carrots and zucchini, sautéed or steamed.
Zucchini, broccoli, green beans and peas sautéed with EVOO, garlic, herbs, red chili fakes.
Fries tossed with sea salt, parsley truffle oil and parmigiano cheese.
Fries tossed with sea salt.
Espresso soaked ladyfingers, mascarpone.
Chocolate mousse, raspberries, chocolate ganache.
Vanilla bean cream, strawberry coulis.
Hear from our valued guests
Delicious pasta, so many options and they all sounded tasty. Our waiter was super nice and helped us picked our dishes and the dessert was amazing!
Love love love love love this place. Food is delicious and fairly priced and the bread in the garlic oil is INSAAAAANE. And they are old school with a proper Maitre D. Scott is the man. Right in the heart of main st. Too. This is one of my favorite restaurants in LA
Magnificent!!! My daughter and I were visiting the area and previewed the menu- we didn’t have high expectations because so many restaurants boast “authentic Italian cuisine.” The food we consumed reminded me of Italy! Folks- you will not be sorry. The portions are handsome. The food is piping hot where need be. The pasta is perfectly prepared. The freshness, flavor and quality is all there. The bread is fresh, light——divine. The service was outstanding- super kind staff. This is one of the few restaurants I would drive the hour to frequent. I would recommend reservations as they do get quite busy but I would not discourage you from trying to walk in to get a table- they will try to accommodate. We enjoyed the outdoor seating. While there are space heaters- it gets chilly because you’re by the sea, so I do recommend something warm for the latter part of the day/evening. Buon appetito!
OMG this is the most authentic Italian food I’ve had in a long time !
This place is amazing! We had a party of eight celebrating a graduation on a Friday evening; and could not have had a better time. The food is delicious and the service impeccable from the moment we walked in the door. Our server, Mike, was awesome and his hospitality really elevated our entire experience to the next level. Highly recommend La Vecchia Cucina in Santa Monica!
I'm here on vacation and have come to have dinner twice this week. The lamb was divine and the filet mignon with mushroom and leeks was the best I've ever had.
I love this restaurant! People here are so nice and the happy hour is amazing! I am obsessed with the bread plus garlic 🧄 olive oil + parmesan combo!! it comes with a meal and it’s 🤯
Went to celebrate a family member's birthday after going to another restaurant that was closed unexpectedly. Tried to reserve a table for a party of 6 before opening, but was told to just check in at the Host Stand. Went and were turned away because they were booked completely. Thankfully the GM Scott came out and got us a table as long as we were out by a specific time. The place is smaller than expected, but certainly nice. Our server was absolutely wonderful, and very attentive. The entrees were incredible and the desserts decadent. So grateful they were able to accommodate last second and for such a larger party. We had a wonderful time. Thank you to the GM Scott.♡
My husband and I are visiting from out of town, and decided to check out this restaurant. As soon as we walked in, they were warm and inviting. We had made a reservation, which I think is a good idea for anyone. Jason was our server and he was so friendly and quick with our order. We got the caprese to split as an appetizer, and the Linguine Alla Zingara as our entree. Everything was so fresh and flavorful. Thank you so much to the staff here for making it a fabulous anniversary dinner.
Unbeatable Service! The BEST!! Finding a restaurant that can consistently hit it out of the park for a family of six is no easy feat, but La Vecchia Cucina does it every single time. They are always incredibly accommodating to our large family, and the experience is nothing short of perfect. Literally every single dish, for every person at the table, is an absolute hit—we have never once been disappointed. The food is so delicious it genuinely makes you want to keep coming back for more. On top of that, every staff member is incredibly kind, attentive, and welcoming. Hands down, they serve the best Italian food around, and with the phenomenal service they provide, you won't want to go anywhere else. You can truly feel the difference when the owner is there, personally taking care of every client and making you feel right at home. Their sincere generosity and the welcoming, friendly atmosphere will always bring you back as it’s never disappointing and always on point. Amazing food, great service!!
Common questions about La Vecchia Cucina
La Vecchia Cucina is located at 2654 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405, United States , Santa Monica, CA, United States.
You can reach La Vecchia Cucina by calling +1 310-399-7979.
La Vecchia Cucina has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 based on 581 customer reviews.
La Vecchia Cucina features the following accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible car park, Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Wheelchair-accessible seating, Wheelchair-accessible toilet.
La Vecchia Cucina features the following service options: Delivery, On-site services, Takeaway, Dine-in.
La Vecchia Cucina features the following highlights: Fast service, Great cocktails, Great coffee, Great dessert, Great wine list, Serves local specialty.
La Vecchia Cucina features the following popular for: Lunch, Dinner, Solo dining.
La Vecchia Cucina features the following offerings: Alcohol, Beer, Cocktails, Coffee, Comfort food, Happy-hour drinks, Healthy options, Late-night food, Spirits, Vegetarian options, Wine.
La Vecchia Cucina features the following dining options: Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Dessert, Seating, Table service.
La Vecchia Cucina features the following amenities: Bar on site, Restroom.
La Vecchia Cucina features the following atmosphere: Casual, Cozy, Trendy, Upmarket.
La Vecchia Cucina features the following crowd: Groups, Tourists.
La Vecchia Cucina features the following planning: Dinner reservations recommended, Accepts reservations, Usually a wait.
La Vecchia Cucina features the following payments: Credit cards, Debit cards, NFC mobile payments.
La Vecchia Cucina features the following children: High chairs.
La Vecchia Cucina features the following parking: Paid parking lot, Paid street parking, Somewhat difficult to find a space.
Business Features
We look forward to welcoming you. Make a reservation or stop by - walk-ins welcome!
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