LA Puglia

4.7

256 Reviews

$31 to $50

Italian

Make a booking

2 people

28 Dec 2024

19:00

Booked 11 times today

Experiences are available.

Great for fine wines
Good for special occasions
Neighbourhood gem

LA Puglia celebrates the beauty of the Puglia region - in the Southern Italy - through its culinary tradition with a contemporary sensibility and aims to transport its guests right there through an authentic food & wine experience.
Calling it “an ode to the authenticity of our regional cuisines”, the prestigious Gambero Rosso International awarded LA Puglia in Santa Monica as Restaurant of the Year from among its 2023 list of Top Italian Restaurants in the world. The official press release describes feeling transported to a small town between Bari and Lecce where flavors without filters and authentic, precise cooking deliver a genuine Apulian experience.
Our menu features specialties such as fresh orecchiette with brasciole, black linguine with seafood, puree of fava beans with sautéed dandelion greens, the unique Apulian focaccia, and Pasticciotto, the decadent cream-filled pastry eaten for breakfast in the province of Lecce.

Order delivery or takeout

Private dining

Book your next event with us

View details

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Italian
Hours of Operation
Mon 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Breakfast Tue–Sun 10:00 am–11:30 am Brunch Tue–Fri 10:00 am–12:00 pm Sat, Sun 10:00 am–2:00 pm Lunch Tue–Sun 12:00 pm–3:30 pm Dinner Tue–Thu, Sun 3:30 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:30 pm–9:45 pm
Phone number
(424) 229-5902
Website
http://www.lapuglia.us/
Payment Options
Cash not accepted
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive Chef
Valentina Bianco
Private party facilities
For your special event, count on us! Our event planner will assist you with menus, recommendations, and decorations to make it simply unique! Our Gallery room also features a lounge area and a projector and has its own private entry which ensure a truly intimate experience for all your events!
Private party contact
Valentina Bianco: (424) 303-2624

Location
1621 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403
Area
Santa Monica
Cross Street
On Wilshire between 16th and 17th
Parking details
Valet
Additional
Gluten-free Options, Vegan

Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

Send a gift card

Experiences

NYE Early Seating with Giorgia Renosto Duo Live
US$115.00 per person
31 Dec 2024 only
The charm of Italian classics, the elegance of vintage jazz, some French chansons and Spanish hits for a New Year’s evening performance that seamlessly blends genres and timeless songs. Join us to celebrate NYE with a 3-Course menu at $115 per person with Live music. NEW YEAR'S EVE DINNER 2024 ✨ First Seating with Live music: 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM | $115 ✨ First and Second Seating without entertainment in our Main Room: 5:00 PM – 9:30 PM | $115 ✨ Second Seating with Live Music by Fresh Mint Pharaohs: 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM | $155 Taxes and 20% service fee are not included.
NYE Late Seating with Live Music
US$155.00 per person
31 Dec 2024 only
Ring in the New Year at LA Puglia! Join us in our Gallery Room for a memorable New Year's Eve celebration featuring live music by Fresh Mint Pharaohs and a delectable 3-course menu with a midnight Spumante Toast. Fresh Mint Pharaohs brings the energy, blending jazz, neo-soul, funk, and Afropop into vibrant grooves that unite and uplift through the shared joy of music. NEW YEAR'S EVE DINNER 2024 ✨ First Seating: 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM | $115 ✨ Second Seating: 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM | $155 (Sales tax and 20% gratuity are not included) Explore our full New Year's Eve menus here: www.lapuglia.us We can’t wait to celebrate with you! 🎉
NYE Main Room
US$115.00 per person
Multiple dates available
Ring in the New Year at LA Puglia! Join us in our Gallery Room for a memorable New Year's Eve celebration featuring a 3-course menu at $115 p.p. + tax and 20% gratuity NEW YEAR'S EVE DINNER 2024 ✨ First Seating with Live music: 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM | $115 ✨ First and Second Seating without entertainment 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM | $115 ✨ Second Seating with Live Music by Fresh Mint Pharaohs: 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM | $155 (Sales tax and gratuities not included) Explore our full New Year's Eve menus here: www.lapuglia.us We can’t wait to celebrate with you! 🎉

Offers

Happy Hour!
Multiple dates available
Sun - 14:00 - 15:45, 15:45 - 16:45,Tue - Sat - 14:00 - 15:45, 15:45 - 16:45
It's Happy Hour at LA Puglia from 2 PM to 5 PM! Join us and immerse yourself in the flavors of Southern Italian cuisine. Indulge in our pizzas, pastas, and appetizers, along with expertly crafted cocktails and fine wines that will transport you straight to the heart of Puglia. We can't wait to welcome you!
Lunch Tasting Menu
Multiple dates available
Sun - 11:45 - 15:45,Tue - Sat - 11:45 - 15:45
Enjoy a curated selection of our most popular lunch items for just $28! Available Tuesday through Sunday, 11:30am to 3:30pm. Create your personalized tasting menu by choosing one item from each section and immerse yourself in the unique flavors of Apulia.

What 256 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.8Food
4.7Service
4.7Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

La Puglia in Santa Monica delights with "authentic Southern Italian cuisine" and a "friendly owner and staff." Guests rave about its "fantastic hosts" and "outstanding service." Enjoy a lovely atmosphere with jazz nights and a "beautiful interior." Don't miss the "delicious food" and extensive wine list. A must-visit!

256 Reviews

A
Angelica
Orange County
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Without a doubt this is our favorite restaurant in Santa Monica. Every time we come we are reminded of how much we love it; the food is phenomenal, the ambience is perfect, but it’s truly the people who work here that make this place one of a kind. We always look forward to our next reservation!
Is this helpful?
D
Deborah
VIP
Los Angeles
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 20 December 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Everything was exceptional. I would definitely make this a go to dinner n my dining choices.
Is this helpful?
S
Stephen
VIP
Los Angeles
9 reviews
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on 19 December 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
First time dining at this establishment and it was a great experience. Friendly staff and excellent food and service. Definitely recommend.
Is this helpful?
J
Joseph
Edinburgh
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on 18 December 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
La Puglia offers a blend of positives and areas for improvement, which given the cost, left us a bit disappointed. The staff is kind and polite, creating an inviting, upscale atmosphere. However, the initial service was slow (lack of attention and surity to get everyone's drink orders), and the table placement was less than ideal (right next to the kitchen and pathway to the party room). The food quality was inconsistent. While the seafood appetizer was decent and the bruschetta flavorful, the highly recommended Patty - Capunti con Salsiccia, Cicorie e Pecorino disappointed four guests who barely touched it. On the brighter side, the pizza received praise, and the lamb dish was enjoyable, though the accompanying potatoes fell flat in flavor. The wine was delicious, but the $40 mark-up for a bottle of Gelso D'Oro seems a little high for a mid-tiered Italian restauarant. Overall, a mixed dining experience with room for refinement for a restaurant that seeks to position itself as upscale Italian: focus on increasing flavor and asking yourselves "what will make this experience amazing." It's close, but not there yet.
Is this helpful?
B
Brandon
VIP
Las Vegas
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on 14 December 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
10/10! Amazing ambiance and service and ever better food.
Is this helpful?
C
Chris
VIP
Los Angeles
15 reviews
5.0
15 reviews
Dined on 14 December 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Delicious Italian dishes. Some interesting selections that gave a lot of selection and a delicious glass of wine. Nice background music and ambience. We really enjoyed our dinner.
Is this helpful?
M
Mark
VIP
Los Angeles
24 reviews
5.0
24 reviews
Dined on 13 December 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This was my second visit to La Puglia. I hope there will be many more. I love the food, the people, and the ambiance.
Is this helpful?
K
Keiko
VIP
Los Angeles
30 reviews
3.0
30 reviews
Dined on 7 December 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 4
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 5
Slow service, so expect to be there awhile. Very cute space and large menu.
Is this helpful?
M
Michelle
VIP
Los Angeles
12 reviews
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on 7 December 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We had the most delicious dinner in this beautiful restaurant! The owner , Valentina is so warm & welcoming☺️. Looking forward to our next dinner !
Is this helpful?
E
Elaine
VIP
Orange County
92 reviews
5.0
92 reviews
Dined on 5 December 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
I loved my experience at La Pulia. Two things that I thought could be improved, the temperature of the food was a bit on the cool side, what I expected to be hot was maybe warm. The other concern was that 3 of the 4 entries came out and it took about another 5 minutes for my pizza to arrive. I feel this may have been an issue with staffing since it was a weeknight. The ambiance of the restaurant was wonderful, I do hope to visit again in the near future!
1 person found this helpful

FAQs

LA Puglia does offer delivery in partnership with Uber Eats.

LA Puglia is rated 4.7 stars by 256 OpenTable diners.