Allegria

Our service was great and the waiter was adorable. Ambiance was romantic and definitely recommended. For the music,,,I would recommend jazz or house and the people were cool. Portions were good more

First of all, all the positive reviews you see are actually for Allegria, the great restaurant that housed this location prior to Charlie Dilorenzo's ego. Charlie opened her drug filled lesbian den in February 2009, with canned food and ton of Coke. She managed to attract outsiders due to positive reviews for Allegria that linked to her website and tricking people who called Allegria for reservations because they maintained the same phone # when taking over. In reallity, Charlie's uses Choice Beef, frozen soups and seafood, and store bought desserts. If that isn't trying to take advantage of unsuspecting customers, then I don't know what is. Pros: Nada Cons: You name it! more

After a wonderful hike in Malibu, we stopped here for dinner. Now I was reluctant to eat Italian since I had it recently. Luckily, the food here was great that I had no probably with eating Italian again. The atmosphere was romantic. The only complaints I had was with the service. The waiter ignored us a good part of the evening. But I would go back again for the food and maybe we will have a better waiter next time. more

Love this place. Great selection of wine, really laid-back and cozy. Great place to take a date for dinner, or even a large group. The service was really helpful, and gave great recommendations--The lobster raviolli is make-you-close-your-eyes good. Parking can be kind of a problem if PCH is busy, but if you get there early it's no problem. If you're looking for a table primetime on the weekend, definitely call ahead as it's a pretty small place. If you're looking to score points call in a to-go order and walk across the street for a beach picnic. more

Unquestionably the best Italian cuisine in Malibu. If you ask any Malibu local where to eat, 9 of 10 will direct you to this cozy restaurant just down the road from the Malibu Pier, and it's easy to see why. The minute we stepped in, it was obvious we were in for a treat. The cacophony of smells and sounds was incredible, and by the time the hostess had led us on a winding walk through tables laden with some of the most visually appetizing food I've ever seen, we felt right at home. Our waiter was superb. He recommended a bottle of wine to match what we ordered for dinner, and paid us the respect of choosing one in the middle of the price range, rather than simply picking the most expensive one on the list. Our salads were some of the freshest we've ever had at a restaurant, and no less than 5 minutes after we had finished them, our entrees arrived piping hot, and visually stunning. We were in love after the first bite, and even though we were stuffed at the end of the meal we decided to go for a dessert. It was the best decision we made all week. I don't know what was the best part of the evening. The service, atmosphere, and service were truly remarkable, and we're still comparing the food at other restaurants to this one. Next time we find ourselves in Malibu, Allegria will be the first stop we make!\r \r Insider tip - Ask your server to recommend a bottle of wine for you. Allegria has one of the better cellars we've found lately, and they often have special selections that aren't on the regular wine list. Pros: Service, food, atmosphere, wine list Cons: Parking, especially on weekends more

We had a reservation for 8:30 and showed up right on time. They were very nice and apologetic, but we didn't get a table until after 9. We asked for water for all 6 people in our party, and the waitress brought three glasses and said she would bring three more. Ten minutes later, I asked her where the other glasses of water were, and she seemed very annoyed, saying ""I told you I was going to bring them right away."" Yeah...well...anyways, the food took a long time to prepare. It was good but certainly nothing spectacular. The salad had dressing on it, although we asked for dressing on the side, but by that time everyone was so hungry that we ate it anyways rather than sending it back and waiting another half hour. Anyway, in reading the Citysearch reviews, I saw the coupon which says ""Allegria coupon - one free dessert per table with this ad. Print this coupon or mention Citysearch to receive 1 free dessert per table."" Apparently I'm not the only person who has had difficulty getting a free dessert. I mentioned the ad, and the server refused to give me a dessert. I asked her to confirm that with the supervisor, and she came back and said I could get a dessert, but it was a complex process requiring me to register online, complete paperwork, etc. I didn't press the issue, and I didn't get a free dessert. I definitely won't be back, and unless you enjoy mediocre Italian food served slowly with an attitude, you'll consider alternatives. In the area, I recommend Paradise Cove and the Marmalade Cafe. Pros: We were seated just two tables away from a table where Pierce Brosnan may once have eaten. Cons: Service, wait, refusal to honor coupon more

Nice place, good food and friendly staff--except for our waiter who hostilely rejected the coupon I presented because the expiration date was in 3007. The waiter maintained that it was a misprint. Anyway, I did not argue with him over a free-dessert coupon so I just said to show the coupon to the manager. I said that in a congenial way, mind you, as I did not want the waiter to spray his saliva on our free dessert . Anyway, we did get our free dessert. After all, the manager looked like a reasonable person. But the free dessert did not feel free anymore. Pros: Good food, friendly staff Cons: One rude waiter more

I've been to Allegria many times over the years, and am happy to say that they have raised the bar. The food is consistently wonderful and authentic reminding me of my mom's cooking in Italy. The service staff goes the ""extra mile"" ,opening the door for me when I come and go, and offering anything they can to make my dinner perfect. Too many places in Malibu seem to rest on there laurels, it's nice to have a place that always treats you like family. I can't recommend a more enjoyable dining experience in Malibu! more

I eat here all the time and I love it. The service is great, we always request Carlo. Very authentic atmosphere, and the food is delicious. However it can be a bit inconsistent. \r Great place to rbing a date, especially a first date, the lighting makes everyone look attractive and the place is busy but still quiet. \r \r Great lunch and dinner!! Pros: atmosphere, food, romantic Cons: service can be slow, tarragon sauce is horrible more

carlos is the best he is so nice,make my date and I feel so special, good job and great food, if you go there ask for carlos and run away from the italians servers if you want some good service more

I think the prior reviewer might have been having withdrawl from Pizza Hut. Allegria has long been one of my wife and my favorite local places and is possibly the most consistant that I know of. Even among the higher end places, my complaint is often the inconsistancy but Allegria is batting around 990. Although not dirt cheap it is very affordable compared to other places serving comparable cuisine. Regarding the complaints about service, I have very rarely found them slow enough to complain about however if you are in a huge hurry to eat and make the theatre or some such, maybe you should consider Denny's. The service is what I would call relatively relaxed and layed back but never rude. I prefer a waiter who is conversational and relaxed to one who drools on you and makes you feel uncomfortable trying to treat you like royalty. I don't see how anyone with a sophisticated pallette could not love Allegria. The pizza mare is simply killer with shrimp, baby clams in the shell and calamari and the sea food is always exceptional. Pros: Best Pizza Mare' on the planet, my wife is a fan of the Risotto dishes Cons: Probably best if you are not lookin to eat and run, a place to relax and enjoy the meal more

My husband and I had the pleasure of dining at Allegria in Malibu last weekend. Not only was the food incredibly good the service was excellent and the manager even came to our table to introduce himself and make sure our dining experience was excellent, which it was. The pasta was the best I have ever had and my husbands osso buco was superb. The wine list was quite extensive and the server was very helpful in choosing an excellent wine to go with my meal. Overall we had such a great dining experience, I will definetly be back many, many times to Allegria. So if you love great Italian food and a romantic atmosphere I would tell you go to Allegria you will not be disappointed! Pros: Ambience, food, service, wine more

Please do not go, for the love of all that is holy! Seriously, the food is quite mediocre and the servers are really rude. They are impatient, do not smile, and are not helpful. Have you ever boiled pasta, thrown in some oil and vegetables and under-seasoned it? If so, you are not missing anything. Stay home and save your money--it's quite expensive for the quality. more

Whenever I'm in Malibu, I love to stop in Allegria's and eat. I've tried everything on their menu and I love it! The pizzas are the best!! but it's not the only favorite thing on the menu. The veal scallopini is sooooo good!! And the carpaccio and calamari affogatti are some of my favorite appetizers. The atmosphere is romantic. The only downside I can think of is when ignorant Malibu parents let their kids run around the restaurant like it's jimboree....i've only seen that a couple times, but it's annoying in any restaurant when parents dont' know how to control their kids. The service I feel was great! Especially from Pino and Fabio, who have been there forever! I highly recommend this restaurant!! more

We've been looking for true Tuscan food in LA for a long time, finally found a place that is very, very close to the real thing. The fettucini ragu and lobster risotto were outstanding, brought back many fond memories of the excellent food we experienced in Florence. Warm chocolate cake should not be missed! Only negative is that the service was basically non-existent, and we waited longer than we ate. However, the food more than makes up for the service (or lack of), which is really a testament to the chef. Prices are very reasonable for the quality and quantity. Ambiance was relaxed, casual, family style. With a little more consistency and attention to service, Allegria could be one of the best N. Italian restaurants in LA. Overall, would recommend others to try this restaurant, but be forewarned about the inconsistent service. Pros: Authentic Tuscan food, Dessert, Price Cons: Slow service more

As a student at Pepperdine Law School, we didn't have many options for affordable eating that actually tastes good too. But this place is amazing! Their food is always fresh and the service is fantastic, especially if you have the guy with the big moustache serving you... My wife and I were there last week and I had the Osso Buco with gnocchi. Wow, not only did it taste fantastic, but it could have fed two people! The restaurant itself is cozy and you feel like your in an Italian family osteria. This place is even better than most of the more expensive places in Malibu. Definitely worth many return trips... Pros: Food, Service, Ambiance more

If you want to have a TV dinner in a nice attmosphere with a MALIBU attitude, this place is highly recommended. We went there this past weekend and were totally disappointed with the food and service. We order the caramari fritte and it was chewvy and the crust has no flavor, the veal dish was so bad that we had to sent it back (the waitress said that 'IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, IT YOUR TASTE') just to get this terrible porkchops. We did not even finish the meal when we asked for the bill and rushed out!! Pros: nice setting Cons: food, service more

This place has it all: execellent food, decor, scenery, and service. Whenever I have out of town visitors, I take them to Allegria because I know it's gonna be a sure hit. The food is fresh and one can tell they don't use ordinary ingredients. The pizzas are very thin and crisp; the fish are the type you don't find in most other places. Good wine selection. The desserts are not overly sweet. more

Wow! Save yourself a trip to tuscany. This is as close as it gets to my mother's cooking and she is from there. Also the staff is as if they are still in the old country. If you want the real thing, this guys have it. Pros: food, service, ambience more

This is one of my favorite restaurants and I have been there many times. The Tortellini de Zucca (Pumpkin tortellini) is fantastic. The bread and tomato, garlic tempanade comes out warm and is very, very good. Some of my friends are still raving about the food. The ambiance is cozy and inviting also. Pros: Reasonable, casual, great food more