Il Ristorante di Giorgio Baldi
Santa Monica, CA 90402-1104
Phone: (310) 573-1660
- Price:
- $$$$
- Cross Street:
- Pacific Coast Highway
- Hours:
- Tue-Sun 6pm-12am
Editorial Review for Il Ristorante di Giorgio Baldi – by Jane Tunks
The Scene
The wealthy Malibu elite don their beach-casual duds and descend on this cozy eatery for a casual, yet pricey, meal. With dim lighting and effusive waiters, if you close your eyes, you might be fooled into thinking this low-ceilinged beach shack is an elegant hideaway. Owner-chef Giorgio Baldi beams from his open kitchen.
The Food
With a long list of enticing daily specials, ignore the regular menu. Standard dishes like warm seafood salad and breaded veal cutlet in tomato-olive sauces are decent, but nowhere near as decadently delicious as the specials, like al dente risotto soaked in truffle oil and Fontina cheese, and perfectly roasted white Mediterranean sea bass redolent of rosemary. Breaded mushrooms served with Pecorino cheese is an earthy, pleasing dish. Pedestrian desserts, like caramel panna cotta and dry nonna torte, aren't worth the extra calories.
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User Reviews for Il Ristorante di Giorgio Baldi
09/13/2008 Posted by monica1234
Pretty much that is all that needs to be said about this place. I was taken there a year ago by a famous friend and the owners daughter was all smiles and seated us right away. The service was attentive and the food was so so. Cut to a year later and go again (I am not famous) taking a few friends from out of town. The treatment I received could not have been more different. The owners daughter is still at the door and she was so rude my friends wanted to leave. We waited an hour for our table with a reservation. Then the waiter was pushing costly wine on us and when we didn't go for it the service went down hill. The food took forever to come out. When they delivered our dessert the check came with it. Right after that we were pushed out the door. I was so humiliated that I wanted to say something to the owner Giorgio, but he looked too busy, and not in the kitchen. He was sitting at a table, flirting, with let's just say what looked to be working girls. I guess you need to be either famous or of a questionable profession just to be served average at best food within a timely manner. Never again.
04/15/2008 Posted by malibudani
I'm really surprised by some of the positive reviews about this place. The food is nothing but a little above average but the service makes this the absolute worst place to have a good time. I had dinner here the other night and couldn't believe how rude everyone in this place was. They run a restaurant obviously for their 'friends and relatives' because they treat everyone else like they're doing you a favor. My food came 40 minutes after I ordered it and was cold! My complaints were practically laughed at. I tried this place because it was convenient to where I moved recently and will not be going back. It's totally unbelievable to read some of these positive reviews. It was like they were talking about a completely different restaurant. And the prices are a joke. I make good money but you absolutely are throwing it away here. Try someplace else that cares about their customers.
Pros: I'm still trying to think of one.
Cons: Anyone who works there.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
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