The Eats...

Owners Fabrizio Amati (La Finestra) and Salvatore Careddea (Il Balcone) have a gold mine here at the former home of La Finestra on Ventura Boulevard. We were looking for a quick bite to eat Friday night before going to watch our son-in-law-to-be's band perform, and this was the perfect choice. Squeeze in like sardines to tiny parking spots in the back if you can find them, and get ready to enjoy some authentic Italian cuisine. Both owners, born in Italy, have been in the food biz for over 30 years, and you can tell. Start off with the Carpacio di Manzo,  raw beef tenderloin, arugula, and parmigiano. This antipasti was both beautifully served and delicious. Linguine alle Vongole  included tons of fresh clams, olive oil, garlic, and clam sauce. Even though it wasn't my dinner, I loved it. I had the Lasagne Bolognese. A hearty serving of lasagne stuffed with meat sauce and cheese satisfied my appetite. Ask for the tomato sauce on the side! Have your server recommend an Italian wine for you. I didn't post prices because nothing here is very expensive. Dinner will run you under $20 a person without wine. Ancora Cucina Italiana 19647 Ventura Blvd. Tarzana, (818) 881-8411.  Mon-Thu, Sun 5pm-9pm, Tue-Fri 11:30am-2pm, Fri-Sat 5pm-9:30 pm

Recommended Dishes: Linguini and Clams, Lasagne, Carpacio, Italian wines by the glass.

This charming little Italian jewel is right in the heart of Beverly Hills. The family-owned eatery boasts a cozy dining room with an intimate atmosphere. Since 1989 this southern Italian restaurant has delighted diners with favorites such as Red or White pizza, Spaghetti Aglio e Olio- garlic, hot peppers, parsley, and olive oil ($12), and Spaghetti al Fieletto di Pomedoro- fresh tomato sauce, garlic, and basil ($13). Start off with the endless fresh baked bread, olive oil, and balsamic then order up some Carpaccio di Manzo ($13). Super thin slices of raw filet mignon are topped with artichoke hearts, arugula, shaved parmesan, lemon juice dressing, and extra virgin olive oil. Try some on top of the fresh bread too for a real delight! Bruschetta ($9), is homemade bread topped with tomatoes, garlic, basil, and extra virgin olive oil. This is a must-order. For dinner try the Speck and Gorgonzola white pizza ($15). Thin crispy crust is topped with smoked Italian prosciutto, gorganzola, and mozzarella cheese. (No tomato sauce). Pizzas are pretty big, so play nice and share! Red pizza is also delicious and Napoletana ($13) does not disappoint. Tomato sauce, mozzarella, oregano, and anchovies top this winner!  Pasta dishes are outstanding. Linguine alle Vongole ($14) consists of clams, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, hot peppers, parsley, and white wine. We order sans the hot peppers but you can have it as spicy as you like! For a casual Italian dinner in Beverly Hills Da Pasquale is fantastico! Da Pasquale Restaurant 9749 Santa Monica Blvd. Beverly Hills. (310) 859-3884.

Recommended Dishes: Red and White pizzas, carpaccio, Linguine all Vongole.

Le Vecchia Cucina

I really cannot say enough good things about Le Vecchia. We love this place despite the lack of parking. Park in a public lot and walk, that's my solution. Le Vecchia has been open for more than 20 years and remains a true neighborhood gem. Owners Mark and Anthony Mollica have run the restaurant since 2006. Chef Mark's Sicilian cooking is outstanding.  It should be; he uses his mother and grandmother's recipies! As soon as you open the door your senses will be on Italian overload with the smell of garlic and pizza, and the sight of tons of hip people. This place is crowded, and rightfully so. Make a reservation because they do honor them. Ask for a window table as those are the best in the house. Tables are very close together so you will get to know your neighbors. Our server, Matt made excellent recommendations and every dish was exciting and tasty. Le Vecchia offers about 15 wines by the glass ($8-$17). There are some really good Italian wines so be sure to ask your server to recommend one. Dive into the garlic olive oil dip sitting on your table but be forewarned; it's addicting. Garlic lovers will go ape for this stuff!  Fresh bread is served warm and perfect for dipping. We started with the Chicken and Vegetable soup ($7). Fresh veggies and chicken served in a flavorful broth made this dish delicious.  We also tried the Insalata de Cueno ($14), a wedge of iceberg, applewood smoked bacon, pear tomatoes, hard boiled egg, and Maytag blue cheese all tossed in in a blue cheese dressing. Salads are big enough to split. Pasta dishes range from Spaghetti Aglio E Olio ($12) with extra virgin olive oil, garlic, parsley, and crushed red pepper chili flakes to Linguine Pescatore ($22) which is Linguine tossed with manila clams, black Mediterranean mussels, squid, diced fresh fish, and a jumbo prawn in marinara sauce. Pizzas are crisp and light and range from $13-$15. Try the Tevere with mozzarella cheese, spicy chicken breast, baked onions, roasted peppers, and fresh tomatoes. Flavors will explode in your mouth! The Salmon al Forno ($23), broiled sustainable salmon topped with baby mixed greenss and black olives tossed in olive oil and basalmic vinegar is perfectly cooked and moist. Entrees range from $19-$29. For dessert Molten Chocolate Cake ($8) is the winner. A perfect portion of chocolate cake encases a molten chocolate filling that oozes out at the first bite. Fresh whipped cream is served on the side. This is Italian at it's best! Le Vecchia Cucina 2654 Main Street Santa Monica (310) 399-7979.

Recommended Dishes: Pizzas, Linguine Pescatore, Filet, Salmon al Forno, Insalata de Cueno, Molten Chocolate Cake. 

Centanni is one of the few true Italian trattorias in Los Angeles. This little hidden gem in Venice is excellent! Grant, our server started our dining experience with a smile and wishes for an amazing dinner. Nothing wrong with that! Needless to say; he delivered! We were greeted by the lovely owners, Alex Paez and his wife Helen Wassell-Paez and seated right away in the quaint dining room. We started with a glass of Fourteen Hands Chardonnay. ($8) Wine prices are very fair here and there is a great selection of reds and whites by the glass. You can bring your own wine too. We were excited to taste chef Marin Santos' (former chef at Valentino and Dolce) Italian cooking. Dinner began with the sauteed shrimp. ($6) Would it be rude to say that we resembled Jack Spratt and his wife as we licked the platter clean? Honestly? This is some of the freshest, most delectable plump garlicky shrimp I have ever eaten! Dip the grilled bread served alongside into the garlic sauce and you'll be in heaven. The bruschetta ($5), is a hearty portion of fresh Italian bread topped with juicy tomatoes, garlic, and cheese. Be sure to check for the special bruschetta offered frequently. This plate got emptied too. R had the Minestrone soup ($4.95) and Pollo Piccata ($13.50) with mashed potatoes. Soup was fresh and homemade loaded with vegetables.The chicken's lemon caper sauce was zesty and buttery.  Two large chicken breasts were moist and tender. I had the Spaghetti Aglio e Olio ($9.50) with garlic, green onions, olive oil, and Pecorino cheese. (Add chicken, salmon, or shrimp for $4) How can a simple dish be so delicious? I don't know so I had to ask the Alex,  who was happy to tell me. The owners are delightful people. This is truly one of my top five favorites! Parking is on the side (3 spaces on Nowita Place) or on side streets. Call for reservations or book through OpenTable.com.  Centanni Trattoria 1700 Lincoln Blvd. Venice (310)314-7275