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La Finestra

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19647 Ventura Blvd
Tarzana, CA 91356

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(818) 342-2824
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La Finestra - Tarzana, CA
La Finestra - Tarzana, CA
La Finestra - Tarzana, CA
La Finestra - Tarzana, CA
La Finestra - Tarzana, CA
La Finestra - Tarzana, CA
La Finestra - Tarzana, CA
La Finestra - Tarzana, CA
La Finestra - Tarzana, CA
La Finestra - Tarzana, CA
La Finestra - Tarzana, CA
La Finestra - Tarzana, CA
La Finestra - Tarzana, CA
La Finestra - Tarzana, CA
La Finestra - Tarzana, CA
La Finestra - Tarzana, CA
La Finestra - Tarzana, CA
Reviews
( 10 )
( 2 )
( 2 )
( 1 )
( 5 )

Best

I just finished my first meal at La Finestra and what a treat... It?s hard to pick among the Ventura Blvd restaurants, but from the time I first entered, I could sense the good en...

Worst

A friend and I stumbled into this place the other day. At first glance it appeared to be a fancy restaurant. The prices were overpriced however for the quality of the food. We nev...

solid 11/5/2011

I think this is solid, Italian-American food. It's not the best Italian on the planet, but it's definitely good enough. I probably won't come back here, however, because I just don't think it's that much of a wow factor. more
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Ventura Blvd Restaurants 3/26/2011

I just finished my first meal at La Finestra and what a treat... It?s hard to pick among the Ventura Blvd restaurants, but from the time I first entered, I could sense the good energy level of patrons who were thoroughly enjoying their dining experience! A good sign is that there were obviously lots of regulars. My favorite place to eat Italian food. Best Gnocchi I ever had! Gnocchi and the Chicken Marsala is pretty tasty too more
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Restaurants San Fernando Valley 3/22/2011

I was pleasantly surprised by the service at La Finestra. With many restaurants in San Fernando Valley, we found one where the staff was really friendly and it almost felt like a family atmosphere. Someone who looked like he was the owner helped us with the wine selection and even gave us a sample since we didn't know what to order. My fiance had no problem getting his water re-filled as they did so without even being asked. I ordered the linguine alla vongole (clams) and it was very good...clams tasted fresh.... more
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Better then ever 6/21/2009

The place has been in the hands of new owners for about a year. They have improved the quality of the food enhanced the decor. I highly recommend. Get on their mail list seem to have many specials.\r \r My wife and I recommend. Pros: Menus stayed the same food much much better Cons: none more
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Food OK, but the worst managment & owner possible 6/4/2009

The food itself is OK, but never in the 100+ reviews I have seen has there been an owner of a restaurant who personally responds to any negative review with lies and insults.\r \r The additional responses from a ""customer"" clearly are from an employee or an alternate username for the owner himself.\r \r Bottom line: Don't waste a penny going to this place. The food is actually decent and the prices are affordable, but the management/owner is such an idiot that it's really not worth your time, energy and money. Pros: affordable Cons: rude management, defensive and owner who may be a sociopath more
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A-M-A-Z-I-N-G That's right, it's good. 2/13/2009

I eat out a lot and there is plenty of bad Italian in the Valley. La Finestra is not that Italian. La Finestra is the shining beacon of hearty yummyness. The lazagne is ridiculous. Make sure to order a Margherita Pizza first thing when you sit down. It can't be beat. Very accommodating staff. The owner is always present and friendly. Pros: Everything and they do lunch! Cons: They don't deliver :( more
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Wonderful dining experience 2/13/2009

La finestra was recommened by a friend and we weren't disapointed. Even though the place was completely packed, we were served promtly and the food was great. I had veal marsala, my wife enjoyed the salmon. I thought the prices were resonable for the large portions. The owners are there working the room and make sure everyone is happy. We are looking forward to our next visit. Pros: Great food Cons: parking is tough when the place is busy more
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so so so so not worth the extreemly high prices below average food nto ever going back even if it were free bad service poor management ect............... 1/21/2009

really bad and wayyyyyyyyyy overpriced boring flavors rude manager P.S if you are a new owoner you might want to work on your bedside manners did I mention wayyyy overpriced Cons: way overpriced for bad Italian food more
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Over Priced and Not so good 1/8/2009

The olive spread is tasteless.\r The cesar salad is tastelesss\r The bread is not fresh and served cold\r \r \r SORRY\r Not recommended more
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DO NOT EAT HERE! Overpriced and mediocre! 12/28/2008

We were very disappointed . The food was MEDIOCRE and lacked flavor. The service was unfortunate. We had to constantly ask for refills on our ice tea. Considering the poor taste and quality of the food, La Finestra is over priced. We ordered three salads to be split amongst the six of us and they charged us a split fee. That is ridiculous. They should have told us and we would have done it ourselves. The chicken parmesan ($17.50) had no flavor and was a small portion. It was served with vegetables that were not appetizing. The pizza was pathetically small (12in.) and thin and not worth the $15. Almost tasted, like it was a frozen pizza. I would really have to say that Olive Garden would be a better bet for the taste of the food. For the price, I would go straight to Adaggio's or Giovannis. I wish we would have stayed home, because I really feel ripped off. \r \r more
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Delicious Italian food. 9/30/2008

After a meeting in Tarzana I was craving italian food. When I walked into La Finestra, it smelled so good, like homemade sauce and garlic. I picked from their lunch menu. I have to say my side salad for awesome...it was simple with a tangy red wine vinegarette on it which I loved. Lol, I actually went out and bought red wine vinegar after trying this dressing. My penne with mushroom, peppers and italian sausage was also delicious it came out steaming, tasted fresh and the penne was al dente. I'd definitely want to visit La Finestra again whenever I'm in the valley. I will definitely make the trek for this restaurant. Pros: Salad, pasta, free parking Cons: Tarzana is a kinda far from my house :( more
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BEST GNOCCHI I ever had! 7/25/2008

My favorite Italian Restaurant! Nice small family type atmosphere. Elegant yet kid friendly. Best Gnocchi and chicken marsala I've had yet. Owners and service is outstanding, friendly. I have been a customer for years. Pros: Amazing Food, Friendly service, Small Quiet Atmosphere Cons: parking more
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A very unpleasant dining experience! 12/30/2007

We showed up for our 8:30 reservations, only to be promptly told that the kitchen was closing early because the place was ""dead"". From the minute we sat down, we felt rushed and rather unwelcome. It was as if we were a burden to the staff for daring to come and eat at this establishment! We opened a very special bottle of wine. Our server did not even pour a taste of it first (which is common wine service ettiquette), she simply filled our glasses up and walked away! I was irritated by that. Our salads were served immediately, but, we were barely able to eat three bites of them before our entrees came out. We had to have them put our entrees under the heat lamps to keep them hot, so we could finish our salads. Our entrees came back and were mediocre. My pasta with fresh red pepper had no fresh red pepper in it and my husband's pasta was crunchy from being under the lamps. Yet we ate it anyway, because we didn't feel like sending it back was an option. Throughout our entire meal we were constantly reminded of how little time we had left to eat (manager was leaving by 10ish and staff was finished with their sidework and ready to go home), so we basically scarfed down our food and were forced to plow through our special wine. When we finished dinner, our server offered us coffee, but no dessert (honestly, at that point we figured we weren't welcome for dessert anyway, but it would have been nice if she offered it). We paid our check and stayed a little longer with the manager's convincing. The manager was very nice and offered to ""take care of us next time"". Too bad there won't be a next time. We ended up going to Cold Stone for dessert - ridiculous! The food is decent and well-priced, but the service - forget it. This place is just not worth it - there are dozens of other good Italian places in the valley. And to the owner - I'm not ""hiding behind my computer"" - I spoke my mind last night. Bottom line: It's not our problem if you decide to close the kitchen early! Pros: Moderately priced, decent food, nice manager Cons: Service is terrible, the customer doesn't feel important and is treated inappropriately more
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Best. Pizza. Ever. 9/7/2007

Best. Pizza.Ever.\r \r Quattro Formagi Cheese pizza: thin crust, lightly sauced; so tasty I ate en entire piza by myself (I'm 5' 3"" and weigh about 105-110). Need I say more? :) more
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Customer feedback 8/21/2007

In response to gravitysrainbow's review, and as the owner of La Finestra, I have a couple of things to say. First off, everyone has the right to their opinion, and we don't really expect to please 100% of our customers. But I know we please 99%. \r \r The reviewer mentioned that we did not offer more bread; we should have been more on top of that. Then they mention that a side salad was $6, actually our dinner salad is only $4.50. Then they clam that the food was good, but the was overpriced. I don't know where this person gets fresh atlantic salmon for $15.50 around LA, but I would like to know. I wouldn't say our meals are a bargain, but we are fairly priced and much more reasonable than many restaurants that serve similar dishes.\r \r Regarding the Italian music; when we stopped playing it we had an overwhelmingly positive response from our customers. We do have one Aerosmith song in our list of 700 songs, and that one is a ballad.\r \r They also thought that $2.50 was overpriced for a soft drink. I don't know where you can eat in a full service restaurant and pay less, but that's me. And we do offer free refills; just ask.\r \r The most amazing part of the review is the comments about our cheese. We use only Parmesan Reggiano, and grind it ourselves daily. If you'd like to see the full block sometime, please let us know. If this person was really an expert on Italian food, they probably would have know that.\r \r We are constantly trying to improve our restaurant, and take these types of comments seriously. I only wish this person had addressed these concerns here in the restaurant and not hidden behind their computer. \r \r If you wish to contact me directly, please feel free to do so at grandall@LaFinestraTarzana more
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By far the best pizza on the planet 8/5/2007

I loved La Finestra for years! and yes the old owners have moved on and the old wait staff was fabulous! But you cant beat the pizza!!! Ask claudio to make your pizza he's the best!! The new owners changed the decor with new tables, paint and a more intimate setting with candles. The dishes are a bit pricey but they are large enough to share, check out the chicken parm ask for the cheese well done, you will be hooked! I really miss the old owners but the new ones also make you feel like family, and try hard to make your experience the best! Dont be surprised if you end up eating pizza 3 nights a week! Enjoy! Pros: Great food, enough to share, owners make you feel at home, PIZZA IS THE BEST Cons: inconsistent service more
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Failed attempt at trying to be fancy! 8/4/2007

A friend and I stumbled into this place the other day. At first glance it appeared to be a fancy restaurant. The prices were overpriced however for the quality of the food. We never seemed to have the same server throughout the course of the meal, as the staff seemed to not know exactly what their mission was. I think we received 3 pieces of bread to start and they never came back again before our meal got there to ask if we wanted more. I would have gotten a side saled, but not when the only option was getting a full-sized saled at the cheapest $6. I am not going to lie, my main coarse was not all that bad. I got Farfalle al Salmone and my friend got Rigatoni Quattro Fromaggi. They were both not bad in quality, but to me felt somewhat overpriced at $15.50 & $13.50. I had a few observations while eating there, one if you are trying to seem like a fancy Italian restaurant, why are you playing Aerosmith and not some Italian music! Secondly, my friend got a coke to drink and they gave her a simple can and the charge would be $2.50. A pretty steep mark-up if you ask me, I mean at least tell me the coke is from Italy or something to explain the mark-up. We ended up asking for water (yeah we had to ask), just because we were not sure if they would charge her another $2.50 for another coke. Thirdly, what kind of fancy Italian restaurant does not use real Parmesan cheese and instead tries to save a buck by using the canned stuff. I have worked at quite a few restaurants before (including one Italian) and I can speak with some validity when I say that the service was not good and the food below average for what type of restaurant they appear to trying to achieve. Pros: Food Cons: Service more
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New Owner. Not the Same. 9/6/2006

This place was a favorite of mine for 10 of the 15 years it has been open. Unfortunately the very congenial and hospitable owners have sold this place and moved on. The old staff is gone and the once-authentic central and southern Italian menu has changed. The prices are still reasonable but I will have to do my Italian eating in other parts of the city. Pros: Reasonable Cons: Old chef/owners gone. more
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The best Italian in LA 6/13/2003

The employees are wonderful and make you feel like you're dining in your own home. It is a wonderful experience! Pros: Moderately Priced, great authentic dishe, great atmosphere Cons: Slow paced more
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Menu for La Finestra


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Editorial

  • In Short
    This low-key, brightly lit restaurant is decorated with kitschy touches like fake plants, painted ceramics and floral-patterned booths. The menu provides elaborate descriptions...

  • 3/11/2005 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Payments: Visa, American Express, Master Card
  • Neighborhoods: South Valley, Tarzana
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