Vito Restaurant
Ocean Park, Santa Monica
Restaurant in Santa Monica, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Vito Restaurant is a practical Santa Monica pick for an easy special-occasion dinner, especially if Ocean Park is convenient and the goal is conversation over ceremony. Choose it over harder-to-book destinations when reliability matters; choose Shunji instead if the night calls for a defined sushi splurge.
About Vito Restaurant
Should you book Vito Restaurant in Santa Monica? It is a practical option to consider if the basics fit your plans: the restaurant is in Santa Monica, has weekday lunch and dinner hours, serves dinner on weekends, and lists a smart casual dress code. For cuisine, signature dishes, pricing, awards, chef, seating, or service format, check current details directly before you go.
The strongest case here is scheduling flexibility. Vito Restaurant is open Monday through Friday for lunch from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM, then reopens for dinner at 4:30 PM. Dinner runs until 10 PM Monday through Thursday, until 10:30 PM on Friday and Saturday, and until 10 PM on Sunday. If you are comparing it with another option such as Shunji, choose based on the hours, dress expectations, and the kind of meal you are trying to arrange.
Choose it when the hours and smart casual dress code fit
Vito Restaurant makes the most sense when the practical details line up with your plan. The restaurant has broad weekday service, weekend dinner hours, and a smart casual dress code, which makes it direct to evaluate for a Santa Monica meal. It is less useful to frame it around assumptions about a particular chef, award history, named dishes, price point, or dining format.
For timing, lunch is available Monday through Friday from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Dinner begins at 4:30 PM daily, with later closing times on Friday and Saturday. For any meal where timing, group size, or menu details matter, check directly with the restaurant before finalizing plans.
How to decide between other options
If the decision is between this and Il Forno, compare the current hours, availability, and fit for your group rather than relying on assumptions. Gilbert's El Indio and Rae's Restaurant may also be part of a shortlist, depending on what kind of meal you want and what is available when you plan to go.
The caution is simple: do not choose Vito Restaurant based on assumptions about awards, cuisine, signature dishes, seating, or a specific service style. Choose it when the Santa Monica location, lunch and dinner schedule, and smart casual dress code fit your needs. For broader planning across the area, use Our full Santa Monica restaurants guide; if the meal is part of a wider stay, pair it with Our full Santa Monica hotels guide or Our full Santa Monica bars guide.
Planning details
- Location
- 2807 Ocean Park Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- vitorestaurant.com
- Phone
- +13104504999
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Vito reads like a neighborhood institution: small‑scale, quietly confident and rooted in Ocean Park’s residential rhythm. The restaurant trades on an Italian‑American tradition refracted through Southern California’s produce-rich landscape, so the room feels both familiar and carefully tended. Service moments such as tableside Caesar reinforce an old‑school hospitality without feeling fussy, and the focus on local sourcing gives the menu a seasonal, sun‑lit quality. Overall, Vito presents as a charming, warm hideaway where regulars and newcomers alike can expect thoughtful, ingredient-forward Italian cooking in an intimate, low‑key setting.
Best For
Vito is best suited to dinner occasions that favor lingering and conversation — think date nights, special occasions and compact group dinners among friends or family. The restaurant’s elegant, intimate tone and tableside flourishes make it a natural pick when you want a slightly elevated Italian meal without overt formality. Its position as a neighborhood anchor also makes it a reliable choice for locals seeking dependable, seasonally focused pastas and classics. Reservations for evening service are sensible, especially when you’re planning a celebration or bringing a small group.
Ordering Tips
Start with the signature Tableside Caesar Salad to experience one of Vito’s notable service moments, then move to classic preparations that anchor the menu: Spaghetti De La Casa and the Homemade Lasagna are standouts listed as signatures. Because the kitchen emphasizes Southern California produce and draws on nearby farmers markets, expect seasonal variations — ask servers about market‑driven specials that showcase peak vegetables and citrus. For groups, shareable pastas and the tableside offering make for an easy, convivial dinner that highlights the restaurant’s Italian‑American throughline.
Venue details
Ambiance
Warm, elegant, and moody romantic setting with a classic old-school family atmosphere.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Medium
Signature Dishes
- Tableside Caesar Salad
- Spaghetti De La Casa
- Homemade Lasagna
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 2807 Ocean Park Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Planning details
Location
2807 Ocean Park Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405 · Directions
Also consider
Where to go if this is not the right fit
If the night needs a higher-end sushi format, choose Shunji. If the group wants something more casual and local, try Gilbert's El Indio or Rae's Restaurant instead.
Restaurant context
How Vito Restaurant compares in Santa Monica
Against Il Forno and Cosetta, Vito Restaurant is the safer choice for a composed sit-down meal when the occasion matters more than chasing a specific cuisine label. Il Forno is the easier cross-shop if the group wants a more direct Italian-style alternative, while Cosetta is better kept as a comparison point when availability and mood decide the night.
Shunji is the clear step up for diners who want sushi, Japanese cooking, and a $$$$ experience. That makes it a better fit for a splurge or counter-driven meal, but a weaker fit for a low-friction Santa Monica dinner. Vito Restaurant wins on ease; Shunji wins on defined format and occasion intensity.
For casual local alternatives, Rae's Restaurant and Gilbert's El Indio are better if price sensitivity, speed, or neighborhood familiarity matter more than a polished celebration setting. Pick Vito Restaurant when the group wants a calmer dinner plan with less compromise on ambience.
Explore Santa Monica
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Vito Restaurant guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Vito Restaurant
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Price | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vito Restaurant | Santa Monica | , | , | No published awards |
| Il Forno | Santa Monica | , | , | 2026 50 Top Pizza USA · #232025 50 Top Pizza USA · #22 |
| Shunji | Los Angeles | Sushi, Japanese | $$$$ | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in Japan Ranked · #582026 Asia's 50 Best Restaurants · #632026 Tabelog Silver · #124Tabelog 100 - Sushi - TOKYO - 2025 · #32025 OAD Top Restaurants in Japan Ranked · #49Tatler Best Restaurants Asia-Pacific 20252025 Tabelog Bronze2024 OAD Top Restaurants in Japan Ranked · #1472023 OAD Top Restaurants in Japan Recommended |
| Cosetta | Los Angeles | , | , | 2025 LA Times 101 Best Restaurants · #60 |
| Rae's Restaurant | Santa Monica | , | , | No published awards |
| Gilbert's El Indio | Santa Monica | , | , | No published awards |
How Vito Restaurant Santa Monica compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How far ahead should I book Vito Restaurant?
For booking lead time, check directly with Vito Restaurant. The hours are Monday through Thursday from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM and 4:30 PM to 10 PM, Friday from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM and 4:30 PM to 10:30 PM, Saturday from 4:30 PM to 10:30 PM, and Sunday from 4:30 PM to 10 PM. Check directly with Vito Restaurant for current availability, especially if you are comparing it with Shunji or another option.
Is Vito Restaurant good for solo dining?
If you are planning to go alone, use the hours to choose a time that fits your schedule, and contact the restaurant if seating style or reservation requirements matter. Vito Restaurant is in Santa Monica and lists a smart casual dress code.
What should a first-timer know about Vito Restaurant?
Vito Restaurant is a Santa Monica restaurant with a smart casual dress code. The hours include lunch and dinner Monday through Friday, and dinner only on Saturday and Sunday. For cuisine, signature dishes, prices, awards, chef, or service format, check current details before you go.
Is lunch or dinner better at Vito Restaurant?
Lunch is available Monday through Friday from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Dinner is available daily from 4:30 PM, ending at 10 PM Monday through Thursday and Sunday, and at 10:30 PM on Friday and Saturday. Choose based on the time that fits your plans, and confirm current details directly with the restaurant.
What are alternatives to Vito Restaurant?
Other options to consider include Il Forno, Gilbert's El Indio, Shunji, Rae's Restaurant, and Cosetta. Compare current hours, availability, dress expectations, and the type of meal you want before deciding.
Is Vito Restaurant good for a special occasion?
It may work if the basics fit the occasion: Vito Restaurant is in Santa Monica, has dinner hours daily, weekday lunch hours, and a smart casual dress code. For private dining, tasting menus, special-occasion packages, pricing, or specific room style, check directly with the restaurant if those details matter.
What should I order at Vito Restaurant?
Check the restaurant's current menu or official channels before you go, and order based on the latest offerings for the time of day you visit.
