Il Ristorante di Giorgio Baldi

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114 W. Channel Road, Santa Monica
310-573-1660

giorgiobaldi.com

Hours: Dinner Tue.-Sun.; reservations taken for seatings between 6 and 10 p.m.

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Farro bean salad is a colorful toss of steamed langostine with tomatoes, celery and basil in a lemon and olive oil dressing.

At Giorgio Baldi, the 16-year-old Italian restaurant in Santa Monica Canyon, $90 buys you one lobster special. Not that anyone is likely to mention the price should you happen to order it, despite the fact that it's well over twice the price of the most expensive dish on the menu.

"Ninety percent of our customers are Hollywood," says the waiter when my husband questions the over-the-top bill. "It's rude to say the price."

That's Giorgio Baldi, an old-fashioned spot where it's too dark to read the menu anyway. A friend one night describes the place with its white tablecloths, candlelight and rickety chairs as "someplace your grandmother would take you."

— Leslie Brenner
Oct. 4, 2006

Cross street: Pacific Coast Highway

Reader Reviews

January 2, 2007

Anja Santa Monica, CA

My favorite meal of all time is the white truffle risotto served at Giorgio's during truffle season (oct-dec). Unfortunately, I will never be back due to the lack of care from the servers. They are pretentious, rude and ruined a beautiful meal. It will be the absolute downfall of that restaurant if they don't find a new staff. (maybe it's Giorgio himself that just doesn't care) In any case, don't waste your money unless you like to be treated like an inconvenience.

October 23, 2006

Rico Miledi Irvine, ca

A Bad LA Moment. The past occasions I dined here were excellent but I will not go again. We made a reservation so we did not expect to be treated like a supplicant Oliver Twist by a Maitre Dee that greets patrons with his back. They were overbooked, but did not call us; instead we were left outside on the pavement. Don’t risk this place unless you like hanging around as an unpaid extra in an advertisement to their hip ness.

October 11, 2006

cathy santa monica, ca

Waiters with attitude are so annoying. They are supposed to be helpful not snotty. We were there for a New Year's Eve dinner that we wanted to be special and the staff were arrogant and so full of themselves it was ridiculous. Food was good but I don't care how good , if the people serving you think they are doing you a favor to serve you dinner that you are paying (alot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) for. Hint, you are not that important, or you wouldn't be waiting tables.

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Venue Details

Cuisine	Italian
Rating
Ambience	Intimate, buzzy and show-biz relaxed.
Best dishes	Spaghetti bottarga; pappardelle porcini; gnocchi with Gorgonzola sauce; combinazione di spigola e langostine.
Best table	The corner banquette.
Prices	Salads, soups and antipasti, $7-$25; pastas and risottos, $12-$25; fish and meat, $16- $90; desserts, $12-$15.
Service	No doubt regulars are treated well here, but for those not known, it ranges from friendly and professional to insulting and careless.
Wine list	Pricey, with some predictable California bottles, the usual suspects from Champagne and lots of Italian. Restaurant does not permit diners to bring in outside wine.

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