Hostaria Del Piccolo - Venice

I've never wanted to give a restaurant 6 stars until tonight. Our server, Benedett, was remarkable. Plus, the food was next level amazing. So many fresh ingredients making this the best Italian restaurant outside of Italy that I've ever been to. Try it for yourself.

Obica (meaning here it is in Neopolitan) specializes in Italian-inspired dishes using mozzarella and other fresh ingredients. Having signed up for a Blackboard Eats deal, I talked my somewhat reluctant Mom into brunch at Obica which turned out to be an excellent choice. First off, if you know any octogenarians such as my Mom, you may be aware that they are not afraid to speak their mind and may have strong opinions that they don 't mind sharing. My Mom loved Obica. That should tell you enough to try it but here are the details: 5 Yelp stars for service. Our server Ander greeted us warmly; we 'd arrived a few minutes early and sizing up the situation, he offered to let me and my mother inside to wait rather than standing outside. So thoughtful! Throughout our meal he gave us information on the ingredients, the menu, the restaurant and the multi-cultural aspects of the dishes we were trying. Absolutely everyone was fantastic, helpful, and provided service with a smile. 4.5 Yelp stars for the menu. The ricotta pancakes were delicious, garnished with perfectly ripe raspberries and mango. Mom loved the avocado toast and was happy that they were able to modify the dish by leaving off the ham. We also tried a side of the mozzarella which is flown in twice a week from Naples and absolutely the freshest, best mozzarella I 've ever had. The chocolate almond cake was divine (gluten-free) and the panna cotta was smooth and creamy. The coffees were outstanding; one of the best espressos I 've had in a while. 5 Yelp stars for ambiance. The interior design is modern and comfortable, the soundtrack is relaxing and not too loud, and there 's a nice patio out back. Prices are reasonable for the area. Not sure about parking since we Ubered it. But I am sure we will be back. Grazie!

Food: few vege options. The meat is disguised in fancy words on the menu. So we order a dish that is generally no meat in it, but guess what ! Bacon could not hide it self. Owner said he is releasing a new vegan menu soon. So that is something to look forward to. Drinks: delicuos. Very generous with alcohol. Worth the price on that. Ambience : nice. Not claustrophobic. Service : excellent. Very eager and friendly servers. Concern: if u are vegetarian check with the server on every dish. Would go back? Yes, to try the vegan menu.

Obica is an Italian import on the southeast corner of 6th and Broadway in Santa Monica. On a weeknight, the otherwise challenging street parking situation is manageable. Meters are enforced until 9PM. I may not have head of this spot were it not for Blackboard Eats, but it is a great concept. While I am generally chain averse, this is an outpost of an Italian brand that is passionate about cheese and pizza. While there are locations in Italy, LA/NY, Japan and London, the cheese in all of the restaurants is made in Italy and comes from milk of water buffalo in Campania. For the pizza, they only use Petra flour and follow a particular technique. The low profile exterior is easy to miss, but the interior is spacious and beautiful. There is a small bar in the front, and the dining room is essentially divided into three sections. Two of the sections are inside and one is a patio that is covered and heated. If you are in the rear section or on the patio, you get to walk by the mozzarella bar, the salumi and the open kitchen. The décor is modern and clean, with linear grey banquettes, black vinyl chairs and brown and grey woods. The vibe is upscale but still casual, there being no table linens and using bistro towels for napkins. The service is quite good. While most of the attention is from the food runner/busser, he was very hospitable. Management does step in periodically, which I appreciate. The Negroni $11 was delicious. While it was my first, it was exquisite. I loved the spirit forward herbaceous blend with some floral notes. Also, they keep the water glasses full. The Burrata $11 was amazing. Served on a huge basil leaf with a drizzle of fruity extra virgin olive oil, the creamy and smooth cheese was among the best that I have ever tasted. It was sweet with just a hint of tang. It was wonderful on its own. But it really was amazing with the basil. The bread that they brought to the table was very good. There were two slices of white, two slices of wheat and two slices of olive. It was incredibly soft and fresh. I suspect that it is made in house, because the flour was fantastic. The bread is better than Mozza. The Caponata $9 was a sweet and tangy stew made from eggplant, tomatoes and onions with golden raisins, a bit or vinegar and pine nuts. I thought it was good but DM thought the Caponata was too sweet and did not have enough acid. It could have used some more basil, but I love fresh basil. I did like that the pine nuts were added to avoid a bowl of mush. The grilled vegetables $8 was a most plate but it was quite good. There were 6 grilled spears of asparagus, four grilled pieces of zucchini and 4 strips each of roasted red and yellow bell peppers. It was a very simple preparation, but they use quality produce. The Bufala Dop E Pomodoro Pizza $16 was the most disappointing dish considering the hype. I know that they use special flour and a special process for making the dough. I know they top it with organic tomatoes and bufala mozzarella from Italy, but it just tasted like regular margarita pizza to me with an average crust and chewy mozzarella. It was not very flavorful. On the other hand, the Branzino $28 was quite good. The generous filets of sea bass were very fresh and had crispy skin, but they were creeping towards being overcooked in parts. The filets sat atop a pea salad of black eyed peas, fresh spring peas so sweet! and snap peas. There were also green beans and two roasted Campari style tomatoes. The light and generally flakey fish paired well with the sweet veggies. The acid from the tomatoes was a nice palette refresher. For dessert, we ordered the Pera al Nero D 'Avola $10 , which is a pear poached in Nero D 'Avola wine with a Nero D 'Avola reduction and cinnamon gelato. The cored pear was perfect tender but not mushy and infused with the wine flavor. The reduction was divine syrupy and deeply flavored but not at all burnt. The warm flavors and cool creaminess of the ice cream was a perfect match. This was perfection. The decaf cappuccino $4 is also perfect and perhaps the best that I have had. A smooth and intensely flavored Italian roast has just the right amount of foam likely made from whole milk so that it is almost creamy. Overall, I am a fan of Obica for the beverages, the cheese and the dessert and the bread doesn 't hurt . I would definitely skip the pizza, and I am not sure that I would order other dishes that I had again. Instead, I would look to try other things on the menu. TIP: Great place for kids. Very accommodating with a diverse range of options on the kids ' menu.

This place is a hidden treasure and has become my new favorite in Santa Monica! The ambiance is perfect for any occasion, featuring high-top tables for happy hour, a main dining area, and a charming romantic patio at the back. It's an ideal spot for locals looking for a budget-friendly date night or a great place to catch up with friends. On Friday nights, happy hour lasts all night, while on weekdays it's from 4 to 6 PM. I absolutely love the fried risotto on the happy hour menu—I often order two servings because fried cheese truly is the best! During my last visit, my friend and I also enjoyed a side of grilled romaine and shared the schiaffoni di Gragnano, which is a delicious tube pasta with mozzarella di bufala. We left feeling very satisfied. The customer service here is among the best in the area; the staff makes you feel like both a rockstar and part of the family. A special shoutout to Leon, the kindest server, who remembered me even after a few months away! I can’t wait to return!