LA Puglia

4.7

255 Reviews

$31 to $50

Italian

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 23, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 9 times today

Experiences are available.

Great for fine wines
Neighborhood gem
Good for special occasions

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

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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
AMEX, Cash not accepted, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
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
Neighborhood
Santa Monica
Cross street
On Wilshire between 16th and 17th
Parking details
Valet
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

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Experiences

Christmas Eve Dinner - Main Room
$85.00 - $110.00 per person
Dec 24, 2024 only
Join Us for a Special Christmas Eve Celebration. Experience the magic of the holidays in our Main Room on Christmas Eve with a delightful 3-course menu. Seatings begin at 4 PM. 3 course menu @ $85 or 110 p.p. Please visit our website for more information: https://lapuglia.us/
Christmas Eve with Live Music
$85.00 - $110.00 per person
Dec 24, 2024 only
Join Us for a Special Christmas Eve Celebration Experience the magic of the holidays in our Gallery Room on Christmas Eve with a delightful 3-course menu and live music by the incredible Elaine Gibbs Quintet. Seatings begin at 6 PM. 3-course menu @ $85 or 110 p.p. + Tax & Gratuity. More at https://lapuglia.us/ Elaine Gibbs, known for her soulful R&B style, began her musical journey at 13 in the church. A finalist on The X Factor Season One, she captivated judges and audiences alike. With performances in over 25 countries alongside Gospel and R&B legends, Elaine has also sung for Rod Stewart and appeared in This Christmas, and performed live with Justin Timberlake for Victoria’s Secret. Don’t miss this unforgettable Christmas concert!
Christmas Dinner
$85.00 per person
Dec 25, 2024 only
Please join us for Christmas Dinner for a 3-course menu.

Offers

Happy Hour!
Multiple dates available
Sun - 2:00 PM - 3:45 PM, 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM,Tue - Sat - 2:00 PM - 3:45 PM, 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM
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 AM - 3:45 PM,Tue - Sat - 11:45 AM - 3:45 PM
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 255 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

4.7Food
4.7Service
4.7Ambience
4.3Value

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!

255 Reviews

D
Deborah
VIP
Los Angeles
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 3 days ago
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.
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S
Stephen
VIP
Los Angeles
9 reviews
5.0
9 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
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.
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J
Joseph
Edinburgh
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
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.
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B
Brandon
VIP
Las Vegas
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on December 14, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
10/10! Amazing ambiance and service and ever better food.
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C
Chris
VIP
Los Angeles
15 reviews
5.0
15 reviews
Dined on December 14, 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.
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M
Mark
VIP
Los Angeles
24 reviews
5.0
24 reviews
Dined on December 13, 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.
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K
Keiko
VIP
Los Angeles
30 reviews
3.0
30 reviews
Dined on December 7, 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.
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M
Michelle
VIP
Los Angeles
12 reviews
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on December 7, 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 !
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E
Elaine
VIP
Orange County
92 reviews
5.0
92 reviews
Dined on December 5, 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
K
Kristen
San Francisco
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on December 4, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 5
The live jazz was entertaining and perfect to enjoy with dinner and cocktails. The food and drinks were outstanding, as was the ambiance. It's a beautiful space, and it's noticeable that the owner puts her heart and soul into her restaurant. Our waitress could have been friendlier (she might have been stressed out that evening, or maybe there was a communication barrier); our night ended not as great as it began. Other than that, everything else was perfect, and we would dine there again. The traditional cuisine is just the best, and the live jazz, which is not easy to find in Santa Monica, made for a memorable experience.
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FAQs

LA Puglia does offer delivery in partnership with Uber Eats.

LA Puglia is rated 4.7 stars by 255 OpenTable diners.