Buona Vita

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439 Pier Ave
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

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(310) 372-2233
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Buona Vita - Hermosa Beach, CA
Buona Vita - Hermosa Beach, CA
Buona Vita - Hermosa Beach, CA
Buona Vita - Hermosa Beach, CA
Buona Vita - Hermosa Beach, CA
Buona Vita - Hermosa Beach, CA
Buona Vita - Hermosa Beach, CA
Buona Vita - Hermosa Beach, CA
Buona Vita - Hermosa Beach, CA
Buona Vita - Hermosa Beach, CA
Buona Vita - Hermosa Beach, CA
Buona Vita - Hermosa Beach, CA
Buona Vita - Hermosa Beach, CA
Buona Vita - Hermosa Beach, CA
Buona Vita - Hermosa Beach, CA
Buona Vita - Hermosa Beach, CA
Buona Vita - Hermosa Beach, CA
Buona Vita - Hermosa Beach, CA
Reviews
( 7 )
( 3 )
( 0 )
( 2 )
( 2 )

Best

This is a great place for a quick easy and affordable dinner. The restaurant is slightly loud and the tables are spaced close together. You can get to lknow other people easily or...

Worst

Buona Vita's major draw seems to be the free corkage, and the lively atmosphere. Because of this most people get so drunk they don't notice that the food is terrible, and that mos...

Horrible customer service rude unattentave staff discourtious staff 9/29/2007

What a shame, I had heard so much about this. Arrived about 615 pm and followed the instructions at the door on the sign, please write you name on the board for them to seat you. I waited about 5 - 10 minutes to be noticed by the staff standing in the door, they would all look at me and return to their conversations at the pick up window at the kitchn. I was single but waiting for one other. A party of 4 signs up and they are greeted promptly and seated right away irregardless of who was on the list first. To make matters worse, the place was only 25 - 40% occupied. I walked away and called and spoke to the manager. Word of mouth. Please advise your friends. Too many other places were available that night to take me in for dinner and I generally tip 20% or higher. I went to the Thai restaurant instead. more
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True Northern Italian Choices! 7/16/2007

I really enjoy eating here, with the exception of the long wait. If you're not in a rush or really really hungry this place is great to go. It's constantly busy and great food aside, it's probably because there's no corkage fee, so bring your own wine! The seating is fair, first come first serve. The atmosphere is intimate. A little tight sometimes but lively never the less. Even with large groups, they bring the food out at once so you do not have some people eating and others not. If you love garlic and anchovies, the caesar salad is a must! The pasta and pizza are great, not oily or heavy, they aredistinctly flavorable and appies ~ the mozzarella and tomato is so fresh. Pros: Fresh ingredients, no corkage fee, first come first serve Cons: no reservations available, parking extremely limited more
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NO CORK FEE! 4/23/2007

This is a great place for a quick easy and affordable dinner. The restaurant is slightly loud and the tables are spaced close together. You can get to lknow other people easily or keep to your selves if you'd like. The food is awesome I always get the penne fungi pasta w chicken. Yummy! sooo good & the salad w the goat cheese is awesome too! when I go woth a friend we will share the salad & entree & we still leave stuffed! Tiramisu is the best dessert! & NO CORK FEE!!!!! ;) more
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THE TRUTH! 11/22/2006

If you ever get bad service it's because the workers are being treated poorly BY SOMEONE.\r \r THE NEW OWNER IS NOT A FAIR PERSON, FEMALE.\r Cons: GIVE RESPECT TO GET RESPECT!!! more
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The Good Life, Indeed 1/11/2006

I've been to Buona Vita several times and have always been impressed. Most recently, I organized a 20-person group for a friend's birthday. Our waitress was courteous, helpful and attentive - even dimming the lights and blasting, ""Celebration!"" when it was time to present the cake! It was so cheesy and great - we loved it! And the food - the food! Order the lobster ravioli - and for a lower-calorie/fat option, get it with marinara sauce. Every bit as delicious as the traditional sauce. The appetizers and pizzas are excellent as well. What's more, there is no corkage fee, so our 15+ bottles of wine were welcomed with open arms. Pros: Food, service, no corkage fee Cons: parking more
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Great Food Great Italian Ambiance No Corckage Fee 6/30/2005

The food is great, especially when the owner is in town! When he is not, it is still VERY GOOD! The Chicken Nastari is to die for and the Chocolate Mousse and Brazilian Flan are fantastic desserts. For me the Gnochi al pesto is a favorite as well. I have had better Gnochi but the flavor is great. Prices are fantastic and you can bring your own wine. It is a great date restaurant, a bit cramped but in Italy all the restaurants are like that! You will love this place, oh and dont forget to try the burnt Mozarella appetizer! Pros: no corckage, chicken nastari, dessert Cons: crowded, no parking more
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Good pasta 4/19/2005

Been to Buona Vita several times. Parking can be difficult if you don't live in the city. The pasta's delicious -- highly recommend the pesto gnocchi, lobster ravioli, and bruschetta. The pizza's just okay. Can be crowded, especially on the weekend, which may result in wait times as long as an hour and a half. Still, a fun cozy place! Pros: Inexpensive Cons: Crowded more
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Great ambience! 3/24/2005

i went to have dinner for my friend's bday tonite, and found this little restaurant very fun. the food was just so-so, but don't get me wrong, it's good, just not great. however, w/ the no corkage fee feature, i guess it's worth it. if u're not taking advantage of that, then u might as well try other Italian restaurants instead. One more horrible fact is PARKING. it took me 20 mins circling around & around b4 i could find a parking spot quite a long way away from the restaurant. Pros: ambience, no corkage fee, service Cons: parking, so-so food, tight seating more
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One of my favorites 8/25/2004

I'm not sure what others are saying about the food...it's quite delicious. I recommend the polenta, bruschetta, and the pasta primavera. I have eaten there quite a bit over the years and always find it an entertaining place to take out-of-towners and is good for birthdays and big parties. I have had really bad service there, but both times it was the same waitress and I haven't seen her in quite some time. Service can be slow, esp. on weekends but it is packed to the brim in there, and most are big parties, so I blame it on that (having been a server and knowing what that's like). By the way, to those hailing the corking...pay up and give a better tip just for that! Don't go if you're already super hungry since you may have to wait! Pros: inexpensive, fun atmosphere, no corking fee Cons: , wait on weekends more
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Terrible Food, Great Music 6/30/2004

Buona Vita's major draw seems to be the free corkage, and the lively atmosphere. Because of this most people get so drunk they don't notice that the food is terrible, and that most of the food comes out of a can or shrink wrap. (They display their food sources on shelves by the bathroom, so I'm not guessing here) You're lucky if you get you're water filled up, since they do not have an bus staff. The waiters don't give you much attention, yet you feel strangely obligated to give a good tip because they let you bring your own wine without corkage. Overall, it is a fun restaurant, especially on birthdays when they bump techno music and flick the lights on and off - but not fun enough to make up for its shortcomings. Pros: Free Corkage, Birthdays Cons: , Service more
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Go for no corkage, Not Food 4/27/2004

I've been here many times. It's a great restaurant for groups if you are having a party since there is no corkage for wine. Aside from that, the food is not very good and the service can be bad (especially in a large group). Pros: No Corkage, Good for groups Cons: , Sometimes Rude Staff more
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Amazing! Simply Amazing! 2/10/2003

This place is really nice..small but romantic and very nice. People are friendly. Food is mouth wateringly delicious and to top it all off, the prices are very reasonable. I would go there again and again if I didn't live so far from it. :) more
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Momma Mia! 11/7/2002

By far my most favorite restaurant in Los Angeles. Great food, fabulous for birthdays, NO CORKAGE FEE, and v. v. romantic. I have brought friends here numerous times and no one has been disappointed. Loud, fun and crowded on weekends. more
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Salute! 10/23/2002

Very authentic italian food at great prices. The portions are huge too. Although the place can get a little loud on the weekends, it's a lot of fun and caters well to large groups. You can also bring your own wine and they don't charge a corkage fee. Highly recommend! Pros: Price, Good food Cons: Little loud, Parking more
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Menu for Buona Vita


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Additional information
  • Hours: Sun-Thurs, 5-10pm; Fri-Sat, 5-11pm
  • Payments: American Express, Visa, Master Card
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