La Tavolata - Artesia, California

Sandra Spitaleri

Ho scoperto il ristorante perché ero nella piazza: sono italiana e posso dire che solo alcune cose sono davvero italiane. Già l’impiattamento è errato, alcuni piatti non esistono proprio nel nostro menù(il pane all’aglio?i tortellini di pollo?)mi spiace non ci andrò mai a mangiare. E sinceramente non ho visto nessun italiano alla conduzione del locale.

Imon Olgado

Nota Bene: Call ahead of time to make a reservation so you don't have to wait. The place is small (which I like - makes it more personal) and not your usual big named restaurant in the area. That being said, here's the review:

One of South Street's best kept secrets, La Tavolata offers a delightful escape from the bustling Asian food scene in the area. This cozy, intimate space transports diners to a quaint Italian trattoria, where the focus is on simple, delicious food.

While parking can be a bit of a challenge, the warm and welcoming atmosphere, coupled with attentive service, makes it well worth the effort. The staff is knowledgeable and eager to guide you through the menu, offering expert recommendations.

The real star of the show is the food. The pasta is made fresh in-house, ensuring a truly authentic Italian dining experience. The generous portions and high-quality ingredients make every bite a pleasure. The wine list complements the dishes perfectly, offering a variety of options to suit every palate.

If you're seeking a satisfying Italian meal at a reasonable price, La Tavolata is the place to be. It's a hidden gem that's sure to impress.

Brock Harris

Ate here for a birthday, not the first time dining in this restaurant. I'm Italian, love Italian food. La Tavolata is one of my favorites I've had in SoCal so far. Reasonable post-pandemic inflation prices, delicious food, comfortable atmosphere. Highly recommend trying out at least once!

Phil C

La Tavolata is an excellent little Italian restaurant hidden in a dense shopping and food plaza. I've had the pleasure of dining here a few times and had delicious experiences each time. The menu boasts many classic Italian dishes and a good wine and beer selection.

On recent visits, we made reservations and were seated promptly. Service began with complimentary bread, and we ordered drinks, such as their Pinot Grigio or Peroni beer, while we decided on our dinner.

A few of my favorite dishes are the Spaghetti ai Frutti di Mare, Ravioli alla Bolognese, and Spaghetti alla Bolognese. The calamari and spinaci (spinach) were great to share. For dessert, we enjoyed the homemade tiramisu.

The staff was friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere was cozy. I highly recommend this place and hope to dine here again soon.

Jenna RxTravelBug

Pretty good if you’re craving pasta and are in the area (or want something semi- halfway between OC and LA… kinda). We got 4 dishes for 3 of us, no wine this time! 4 dishes was too much. They give really good bread (free). Everything was pretty good, but nothing I’d go out of my way for.

Wine bottles are $25-40! Something like that. Pretty good if you’re looking to enjoy with your pastas. This reminds me little Italy in Boston, which I haven’t been to after moving out of that area—-very small restaurant feel!

I WOULD come back, if close by. Long wait since small restaurant (we waited an hour at 8pm, so sat closer to 9pm)

David Molner

This was our second attempt to eat here. The first time a year ago but they were too busy. We got reservations this time as recommended. They open right at 5 as were our reservations.

We were sat and drink orders were taken. Our drinks arrived just a few minutes later and we ordered. Wine glasses were a bit spotty and mine had lipstick on it.

Then the food arrived along with bread. I had the shrimp and mussels. Wonderful sweet year spicy flavor. My wife had the Bolognese to which she felt was just average flavor and wished for more. They say they make their pasta fresh daily and it did seem fresh.

Our server was nice but a little hard to get her attention for more bread and had to grab another server.

Overall a better Italian restaurant for the area but we prefer so many others out of the area. We will give it another try next time in the area and see how it goes.

Ed Fung

Came here for dinner over the weekend. This place is like a family style Italian eatery. Friendly service and not stuffy. Pasta was home made and delicious. We ordered their pork belly special, tortellini and fettuccine with cream sauce, followed by a tiramisu. We enjoyed our dishes tremendously. Considering how reasonable the prices were, definitely worth a 5-star review.

Diddy Abdul

Some of the best Italian food I’ve had. The spicy pink sauce is amazing. Bread is super delicious. The soup was good. Salad was okay. This place is a must try. I highly recommend it. It’s not too big inside. Nice small spot. I highly suggest to make a reservation so you won’t have to wait hours for a table.