Il Sole Restaurant

(310) 657-1182

8741 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90069 34.0916 -118.3817

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Neighborhoods: West Hollywood, Central LA

Price:

$$$$

Last updated 8.16.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Travelers Check

Restaurant Special Features:

Late Night Dining, Outdoor Dining, Private Rooms, People Watching, Online Reservations, Notable Wine List

Cuisine:

Italian

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Il Sole Restaurant

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – The tables are intimate, the space is tiny, the volume loud and the diners are a mix of first dates, industry insiders and low-key celebs. With classic minestrone, spaghetti with Tuscany-style meat sauce, and an extensive wine list, the restaurant easily evokes memories of Italian vacations. The rich lenticchie and riso is a house favorite, as is the insalata di carciofi, a delicate mix of baby artichokes, red onions, shaved Parmesan and mixed greens.

Editor's Tips

The Extras:
The restaurant rents a private room for parties up to 35, and also offers catering from five to 1000 guests.
The Extras:
The restaurant rents a private room for parties up to 35, and also offers catering from five to 1,000 guests.
ambiance
85.71000099182129% positive
  1. “Great food, atmosphere and service”
  2. “cozy atmosphere but do not sit on the patio unless you smoke.”
  3. “don't mind paying for good service, food & location although just a bit disappointed after hearing so much about Il Sole.”
  4. “Great food, ambience”
  5. “The atmosphere was nice without being stuffy and the food incredible.”
  6. “believe for the size of the location and service it was very expensive.”
  7. “small and quaint location that is fitting for romantic dinner for two, but also has the capacity for a large group of ten (inside).”
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. “Our waiter, Michael, was attentive without hovering, lovely to our five year old, who by the way, was treated to a bowl of penne pasta and a cookie plate on the house.”
  2. “This restaurant gets 2 stars because they did have good wine & dessert”
  3. “and dessert (choc ganache) were all delicious, as was my glass of Cab (sorry, forgot which one).”
  4. “Everything we ate here was incredible, starting from the salad all the way to the amazing desserts.”
  5. “This restaurant gets 2 stars because they did have good wine & dessert in additional to the valet guys being courteous and fast.”
  6. “From the attentive and knowledgeable waiter, the incredibly tasty food and the surprise anniversary dessert, I will be back.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “This restaurant gets 2 stars because they did have good wine & dessert”
  2. “little pricey ($150) for two without drinks but otherwise a great experience.”
  3. “The food is amazing and the wine list is extraordinary.”
  4. “still has nice wines or bring your own bottle.”
  5. “We had wonderful service, great food and wine recommendations and would definitely return.”
  6. “This restaurant gets 2 stars because they did have good wine & dessert in additional to the valet guys being courteous and fast.”
  7. “It delivers excellent Italian food with what could be the best Italian wine list in LA (you'll pay for it though).”
food quality
96.02999687194824% positive
  1. “The food is superb, the Veal, the spaghetti and meatballs, the chicken, the risotto with mushrooms, the salads with so much flavor that gives "salads" a whole new meaning, and so many more great dishes.”
  2. “From the attentive and knowledgeable waiter, the incredibly tasty food and the surprise anniversary dessert, I will be back.”
  3. “Great food, atmosphere and service”
  4. “and dessert (choc ganache) were all delicious, as was my glass of Cab (sorry, forgot which one).”
  5. “The atmosphere was nice without being stuffy and the food incredible.”
  6. “They make some seriously good Italian food.”
  7. “have had my share of good and bad food, but nothing ruins or enhances a meal like the service.”
  8. “The service was good, the star sighting not so much, but we highly recommend the food.”
  9. “Great food, ambience”
  10. “The food is amazing and the wine list is extraordinary.”
  11. “Everything we ate here was incredible, starting from the salad all the way to the amazing desserts.”
  12. “Superb food -- every dish we loved.”
  13. “It delivers excellent Italian food with what could be the best Italian wine list in LA (you'll pay for it though).”
  14. “had the special pumpkin raviolis which were delicious also.”
  15. “The food was decent, our waiter was good, but the night was spoiled from the very beginning due to the rude, snotty hostesses who think they are just too good.”
  16. “don't mind paying for good service, food & location although just a bit disappointed after hearing so much about Il Sole.”
  17. “Our waiter, Michael, was attentive without hovering, lovely to our five year old, who by the way, was treated to a bowl of penne pasta and a cookie plate on the house.”
  18. “The food was tasty.”
  19. “The artichoke salad, pretty good as well.”
  20. “The tomato soup was mouth watering, and I dipped their yummy bread in it.”
  21. “We had wonderful service, great food and wine recommendations and would definitely return.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “have never been to any nice restaurant that would treat any customer like this.”
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. “From the attentive and knowledgeable waiter, the incredibly tasty food and the surprise anniversary dessert, I will be back.”
  2. “We had wonderful service, great food and wine recommendations and would definitely return.”
service
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. “From the attentive and knowledgeable waiter, the incredibly tasty food and the surprise anniversary dessert, I will be back.”
  2. “Our waiter, Michael, was attentive without hovering, lovely to our five year old, who by the way, was treated to a bowl of penne pasta and a cookie plate on the house.”
  3. “If I was at Denny's, I expect that sort of poor service.”
  4. “With that said, the hostess was friendly and completely attitude free even though we were 30 minutes late for our reservation.”
  5. “have had my share of good and bad food, but nothing ruins or enhances a meal like the service.”
  6. “believe for the size of the location and service it was very expensive.”
  7. “Waiter was very friendly, read some other reviews that they tend to rush you but that wasn't our case.”
  8. “The waiter was really personable and had great recommendations.”
  9. “it was crowded, interesting people, good vibe.”
  10. “Anyway, we were seated fairly quickly (w/o a rez, even) and our server was very friendly, although slow.”
  11. “The service was good, the star sighting not so much, but we highly recommend the food.”
  12. “We had wonderful service, great food and wine recommendations and would definitely return.”
  13. “don't mind paying for good service, food & location although just a bit disappointed after hearing so much about Il Sole.”
  14. “The food was decent, our waiter was good, but the night was spoiled from the very beginning due to the rude, snotty hostesses who think they are just too good.”
  15. “Great food, atmosphere and service”
  16. “The service was friendly and attentive.”
  17. “The service was just as wonderful.”
value
33.3299994468689% positive
  1. “But like the Ivy and other power-spots, Il Sole is VERY expensive.”
  2. “little pricey ($150) for two without drinks but otherwise a great experience.”
  3. “believe for the size of the location and service it was very expensive.”
wait time
100.0% positive
  1. “Anyway, we were seated fairly quickly (w/o a rez, even) and our server was very friendly, although slow.”
  2. “With that said, the hostess was friendly and completely attitude free even though we were 30 minutes late for our reservation.”
1 Star Rating: Poor

07/18/11

Overpriced to the point of irresponsible

by Truebluesy

We went there for dinner this past Saturday night. Not a hard reservation to get, but I wish I'd chosen different after getting hit by a $400 bill for three people. Il Sole isn't anywhere near the gastronomical level of a Mozza or Scarpetta, and to be fair, by looking at the menu the prices aren't the same as those fine dining establishments. But BEWARE the specials -- they don't give you the price and they are ASTRONOMICAL. My mistake for not asking (bad assumption) but I never thought the crudo (basically sashimi) would run $40 dollars for six small slices of fish. Even at the best sushi restaurant they would never charge that. And as for the carpaccio, once the "summer truffles" were added? Another $40. That's $80 for appetizers, and light ones at that. Then came the really big hit, the lobster risotto. A one and a half pound lobster, hardly anything spectacular, with some tomato sauce and risotto. $61. My jaw nearly hit the floor when I saw that on the bill. Are they kidding? There wasn't another pasta on the menu more than $20, nor a meat or fish over the mid-40's. With a price that much higher than the rest of the listed menu, the servers should be REQUIRED to tell you the price instead of forcing you to ask. IMO.

Outside of that, the food was serviceable, nothing any better than an average Italian restaurant you'd find anywhere. The service was fine, and we got see Paula Abdul, which didn't help my appetite once I got a closer look. I'd either choose a less expensive, average Italian restaurant or a fancier, higher rated one -- this place thinks it's the latter when actually it's the former.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

12/30/09

Amazing Food, Wines and Service!

by BePresentinAllYourMoments

My husband and I frequent Il Sole, but in my opinion not enough! This is 1 of our favorite spots and they NEVER let us down. The food is superb, the Veal, the spaghetti and meatballs, the chicken, the risotto with mushrooms, the salads with so much flavor that gives "salads" a whole new meaning, and so many more great dishes. Il Sole is truly a dining experience and is worth every penny. We love getting dressed up {but it's not a stuffy conservative place, it's very sexy and chill} and always run into a celebrity or 2 {dining there}. On Valentines Day, every table was a celebrity table, so very COOL and everyone is simply enjoying their spectacular dining experience!

  • Pros: The Food, The Wine List, Service, Ambience, Location
  • Cons: We don't go there enough!
2 Star Rating: Below Average

12/04/09

Left feeling abused

by Foodie from NYC

The problem with Il Sole is it aspires to be something it is not - a 4 or 5 star place. But that would require atmosphere (this place is kind of a dump), service (erratic at best) and management (people were left waiting, we were surprised by a $61 charge on the check for one of the specials, the restaurant couldn't help us with the valet). In short, this place probably won't be around in the long term, because it doesn't deserve to be. Skip it.

  • Pros: Solid food
  • Cons: Charged $61 for one of the specials
2 Star Rating: Below Average

07/20/09

Even more self-important than their celebrity clientele.

by bevHillsBebo

How's this for a they-couldn't-care-less story?

We arrived early and -- miracle of miracles! -- nabbed a curbside parking place. And hour into our meal, I asked the hostess for change, to top-off the meter, and was told (I kid you not!), "Oh, we don't have coins." As clarification, she added, "We round everything off to the nearest dollar, so we don't have to deal with coins."

(I considered rounding the tip off to the nearest hundred dollars -- but elected to expose their arrogance instead.)

So, is IL SOLE self-absorbed, precious, or just plain irritating? I'l leave that "call" to you.

  • Pros: Good, fresh Italian food.
  • Cons: Celebrity focused, aloof "service"
4 Star Rating: Recommended

04/02/09

Great Pasta

by GlamourJackie

Went here for my anniversary and it was delish. It's right on Sunset and valet parking is right in the front. Waiter was very friendly, read some other reviews that they tend to rush you but that wasn't our case. We aren't celebs and they treated us great. Got a window seat so got to see all the action going on on the strip. Great time.

  • Pros: Valey Parking in front, Great food, cozy atmosphere
  • Cons: Traffic

The Details on Il Sole Restaurant

Place Categories:

  • great italian food
  • good service
  • fantastic il sole
  • attentive waiter
  • nice atmosphere
  • good wine
  • fantastic dining experience
  • good location
  • great recommendations
  • completely attitude free hostess
  • nice restaurant
  • romantic dinner
  • more great dish
  • love tiramisu
  • love bottles
  • fantastic other plates
  • amazing italian restaurants
  • all delicious choc ganache
  • fantastic lasagna
  • yummy bread
  • favorite spots
  • dirty plates
  • this good sea bass
  • good surprise anniversary dessert
  • very friendly server
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