Bruno's Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Santa Monica

Nice people, tasty chicken parm w good portions -huge. Sauce on chicken parm good. Sauce on pasta tasted like canned tomatoes. Pasta overcooked, either at restaurant or due to steaming in the plastic wrapped togo container. Same issue with chicken parm, completely sealed preventing steam from escaping so when it was opened up about 4 minutes after being packaged it was on the rubbery side.

Additional feedback: ordered delivery 2 or 3 times between 8 and 9 pm and each time it was cancelled without explanation after paying for, waiting for, and expecting the delivery.

Great location. 3 suggestions for massive improvement:

1. Since the majority of the business is obviously take out, the single most important key is making sure the food arrives edible. Containers that don't allow the rapid escape of steam destroy the food within seconds (not minutes) turning the container into a literal pressure cooker, turning meat into rubber, pasta to mush, and crispy to soggy. Restaurants that don't get this also don't get that few would return after receiving food that's received in the condition mentioned above. Remember, luke warm food can be enjoyed or heated further if desired. Rubbery meat, crispy turned soggy, and pasta turned mushy cannot be enjoyed at all.

2. Every Italian restaurant is judged on one thing and one thing only, the tomato sauce. As mentioned above the tomato sauce on my pasta tasted as if it were dumped from a can, not even a jar it was that sad. A simple pat of butter added would be an improvement on the sauce.

3. There's nothing more inconsiderate and offensive to a customer deciding to give their business and trust to an establishment, than making plans around, traveling to, or ordering delivery during the establishments own chosen business hours, to find out they decided to close early. The perception is middle finger to...

My boyfriend and I went here last night because I wanted pizza and we were at the Santa Monica pier. I ordered a small plain pizza and my boyfriend had the chicken francese. The francese was extremely salty and oily. I think it was fried. My experience ordering francese in the past is that the chicken is grilled, but not here. My pizza was very good, I had no complaints. My boyfriend complained that he didn't feel well afterwards but we went to sleep and the feeling must have passed for him. However, I woke up around 1am with intense cramps and found myself in the bathroom moments later. I thought that maybe I had over eaten but this was pain that I haven't experienced before. I knew a few minutes later that I was going to throw up. My entire night was spent in the bathroom, with disgust coming out both ends. My boyfriend did not have any of the pizza, but ate some of my food at other meals yesterday, so it had to be the pizza. Fast forward to right now. Writing this from the hotel room bed, I have pain and the shivers all over my body, clearly a result of food poisoning. I hope that I will feel better soon, as I am on vacation and have already wasted one day in bed! I'm supposed to fly to San Francisco tomorrow, but I won't be able to in my current state. I wouldn't recommend Bruno's to my worst enemy. Thank you for ruining my...

Hidden and nestled on Ocean Avenue in an unassuming spot, Bruno’s Italian Restaurant is a true slice of Italy that left me thoroughly impressed. From the moment I walked in, I was welcomed with a warm, inviting atmosphere and genuine hospitality that made the experience unforgettable from the owner Stefano!

The menu features a variety of classic Italian dishes, but the standout for me was the gnocchi with red sauce. It was nothing short of spectacular! The gnocchi were perfectly tender yet held their shape, and the red sauce was rich, hearty, and bursting with flavor, as though it had been simmering for hours. Paired with toasted bread that was delightfully crisp and warm, it was a meal to remember.

What sets Bruno’s apart is the authenticity brought by its Italian owners. Their passion and love for traditional cooking shine through every dish, making this place a rare find.

Whether you’re a local craving a comforting meal or a visitor exploring Santa Monica, Bruno’s Italian Restaurant is a must-visit. It’s the kind of hidden gem you’ll want to come back to...