Sardelli's Italian Steakhouse — Restaurant in Hollywood

The drinks, appetizers, entrees, and pasta dishes we ordered were for the most part delicious. We began with their sweet and spicy shrimp, beef tartare, an old fashioned and a lychee martini. The sweet and spicy shrimp was reminiscent of Chinese food which caught us off guard, but it was tasty nonetheless.

The beef tartare was good but we have had better, it was larger pieces than we were expecting but still very tender, and while it was slightly fatty with a flavor of olive oil it was faint compared to others we’ve had. The flavor of the beef shown through the most, we prefer for our tartare to have more obvious flavors other than the beef itself. The bread that came with it was delicious and brought more flavor to the dish, it was crispy and crunchy and thin with a flavor of cheese.

Each of us loved our prospective drinks, my partner his old fashioned and me my lychee martini. It was not too sweet and had two plump lychees in it. He also commented his old fashioned wasn’t too sweet.

The gnocchini pasta was absolutely knock your socks off fantastic. The truffle is strong, the pasta was al dente, and the meat was very tender. No complaints or comments to add on that one, we both took a bite and looked at each other with joy.

The short rib was just as good, with a very tender short rib bed atop a mound of buttery silky potatoes, spinach, and a flavorful sauce. We practically licked the plate clean.

Now for the disappointing molten chocolate lava cake. We were both so excited for this one as we had already been impressed by the rest of the meal and thought certainly they’d blow this one out of the water too. Sadly, the chocolate molten lava cake was flavorless and rubbery. It broke open beautifully and checked every visual box before biting into it, but as soon as we took a bite we felt the sting of disappointment set in. The chocolate lava was gooey but not in a pleasant way, it was lacking in salt and sweetness and reminded me of a mixture of cocoa powder and eggs. The cake itself was rubbery and also flavorless. There was no rich chocolate and I hate to say it but, dominos has far superior chocolate lava cakes. We immediately stopped eating it and let our kind waitress know we wanted to send it back. She very kindly replaced it with the mini cannolis.

For context, the night before we had just ordered cannolis from a local pizza joint and they were delicious. So with this fact fresh in our minds, we took a bite of the mini cannolis served to us by sardellis and once again disappointment set in. They were good, but quadruple the price of our local pizza joint with half of the flavor. They were yummy enough to eat in the moment but not enough to order again nor to recommend.

All in all, delicious entrees and drinks but so-so appetizers and downright disappointing desserts.

Parking -

Sardelli’s is located in a townhouse near the beach, we decided to park in the parking garage down the road because there was very little street parking. The other option was valet but there was no attendant when we arrived.

Ambience -

The first floor where we dined was beautifully lit, there was a large chandelier in the center of the dining space and several small-medium tables. There are large windows that gently let the sunlight in, and to our left was the view of the kitchen and bar. We absolutely loved the space it was beautiful.

We will definitely be returning and ultimately loved our...

Our recent gathering at Sardelli's Italian Steakhouse turned out to be an unforgettable dining experience, blending the best of Italian cuisine with mouthwatering steaks. Here's why this restaurant stands out:

From the moment we stepped inside, Sardelli's exuded an elegant yet welcoming atmosphere. The dim lighting, plush seating, and tasteful decor set the stage for a sophisticated evening. The ambiance struck the perfect balance between upscale dining and relaxed camaraderie, making it an ideal spot for our group of friends to enjoy a special night out.

Sardelli's menu offers a tantalizing fusion of classic Italian dishes and premium steakhouse fare. We started with the antipasto platter, a delightful assortment of cured meats, cheeses, and marinated vegetables that whet our appetites for what was to come. For the main course, the steaks stole the show—juicy, perfectly cooked, and bursting with flavor. Each bite was a testament to the chef's skill and dedication to quality ingredients.

The drink selection at Sardelli's was equally impressive, featuring a curated list of wines, cocktails, and spirits to suit every palate. We indulged in a bottle of robust red wine that complemented our steaks beautifully, enhancing the overall dining experience. The attentive staff were also quick to recommend pairings and offer their expertise, further elevating our evening.

Speaking of staff, the service at Sardelli's was impeccable. From the moment we were seated to the last sip of our drinks, the staff were attentive, courteous, and went above and beyond to ensure our dining experience was flawless. They were knowledgeable about the menu, accommodating of our requests, and genuinely invested in making our evening special.

While Sardelli's is on the higher end in terms of pricing, the quality of the food, service, and ambiance more than justifies the cost. It's the kind of restaurant where you're paying not just for a meal, but for an experience—one that's worth every penny, especially when shared...

This restaurant is beautiful and the food is lovely and the waitress Marie was the saving grace for our experience.

Unfortunately, that's where this ends. It is located one block off the beach, so we checked the website to see if there was a dress code. Nothing was listed, so my husband wore an upmarket tank top and nice shorts. We were stopped at the door and he was sent back to the hotel to get a shirt with sleeves. We told the manager that the only shirt he had with sleeves was a tshirt. He said this was OK. So my husband went all the way back to the hotel to change his outfit from nice casual to beach bum. I was left sitting alone waiting for him to return. This is NOT a dress code - it's a ridiculous joke. And it marred our experience from the beginning.

When I joked with the water server that he'd be coming back a lot because we were thirsty, he said nothing, turned his back on me and left.

If it weren't for our server, Maria, we would have left and never returned. As it is, we won't return. My husband was a chef in fine dining for years. This is not what we expect from a fine dining establishment. Making your guests feel unwelcome and disregarded is NOT what a fine dining experience is meant to be.

Update - I posted this review before we left. On our way out, I stopped by the ladies restroom. I was surprised to find the seat up. I thought, "oh, they must have just cleaned it." Imagine me chagrin when I put the swat down to discover it was covered in urine with a public hair on it. Yeah, if there were a zero star rating, this would have earned it. (FTR - this was a 5:30pm reservation, so the place had not...