I read a really flattering restaurant review in a local paper, so I tried Il Vesuvio out one night. The gist of the review was that it is not only a pizza place (and a good one), but that the chef is really trying to produce gourmet food.
I ordered a dish of calamares, which really was excellent--not just the usual breaded, fried calamari with tomato sauce. They were tender and delicious. My friend had a more traditional Italian dish, which was also good.
I did try to go back another day, but the place was packed. It is not a large restaurant. But, since there are dozens of restaurants along Bell Boulevard, if you don't want to wait, you can always go elsewhere, and come back to Il Vesuvio when there are fewer people.
The prices are reasonable, but the parking is impossible.
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