La Sosta Enoteca

(310) 318-1556

2700 Manhattan Ave.
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 33.8733 -118.4047

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Price:

$$$

Last updated 6.08.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Local Favorite, Romantic Dining, Group Dining, Dine At The Bar, Notable Wine List

Cuisine:

Italian

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About La Sosta Enoteca

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – A street corner location at the meeting points of Hermosa and Manhattan Beach, this upscale eatery and wine bar finds a cozy familiarity among the local grocer to the million dollar homes of the area. Recognizable architecture painted in earthy Tuscan tones and dark windows reveal an elegant interior, complete with vintage bar and intimate dining area. The kitchen serves up intricate cheese and meat platters, easily shared by two or more. There's also intricate dishes of homemade pasta, grilled fillet and daily-baked desserts.

Editor's Tips

Parking:
If no parking is available on Manhattan, continue on to Hermosa for ample meters and a healthy uphill walk to the restaurant.
Know Before You Go:
The restaurant doesn't accept reservations for groups of four or less, so arrive early or simply opt for eating at the bar.
ambiance
93.33000183105469% positive
  1. “The atmosphere is warm and the food is done to perfection in traditional Northern Italian style.”
  2. “The atmosphere is great and the decor is sheik.”
  3. “The atmosphere is charming, casual and inviting to sit and linger.”
  4. “It felt like we had been transported to a little romantic restaurant in Italy.”
  5. “Bottom line - The food is good, the the atmosphere is good, BUT the portions are quite a bit smaller than you will get at an average Italian restaurant, the service is poor, and this place is extremely OVER PRICED.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “True European-style service, waiter was very helpful in guiding our wine and meal choices.”
  2. “They have a very, very unique and good wine cellar specializing in hard to find Italian gems and your comment about half-glasses and carraffes shows a complete lack of understanding of fine dining!”
  3. “your choices, including advice on their superb wine”
  4. “The wine list is pretty good, if your are in the mood for an interesting Italian wine.”
  5. “The name implies "wine bar" but there are no 1/2 glasses or 1/2 caraffes available and when I asked the, waiter said that I could order 2 glasses.”
food quality
85.26000022888184% positive
  1. “This is just like that amazing meal you still remember from your last trip to Italy.”
  2. “Good food but quite expensive”
  3. “Forget the overpriced food, but when we”
  4. “The atmosphere is warm and the food is done to perfection in traditional Northern Italian style.”
  5. “Enjoyable meal”
  6. “Frankly, my own tendency is to avoid 'Italian' restaurants in this country altogether, because they cater too much to that American sensibility - Olive Garden must be 'authentic' cos they have a cooking school in central Tuscany.”
  7. “Anyone who has been to Italy and eaten or has any savy about good quality food at the right price for what you're getting, won't be fooled by this.”
  8. “The lobster gnocchi was good (I sneaked a piece off my girlfriend), but a bit rich (would be good to share with someone accompanied by a salad).”
  9. “This place is very authentic.”
  10. “We had a caprese salad which was quite outstanding however we paid $17 for it!”
  11. “While the food is excellent, the prices are on the high side and it inexcusable that they give you so little (especially on the pasta dishes).”
  12. “Your "affetati misti" a huge plate of the best quality italian meats sliced generously for $18, compared to the "cutting board" , priced at $14/person, where the amount for "two", charged for two was more like for 1/2 a person-not to mention the meats wer”
  13. “Bottom line - The food is good, the the atmosphere is good, BUT the portions are quite a bit smaller than you will get at an average Italian restaurant, the service is poor, and this place is extremely OVER PRICED.”
  14. “Not only was the food woefully overpriced ($20-$30 for a modest portion of pasta; $40 for entrees) and underwhelming, but the management proved to be completely unethical.”
  15. “This was unquestionably the most authentic Italian dining experience I've had outside of Italy.”
  16. “The food we had was excellent, both the pasta and meat dishes, just right portions which allow you to leave the restaurant feeling perfectly full and looking forward to your next visit.”
  17. “Great Italian food should not be this expensive.”
  18. “The food was all around very good but the portions are quite small the the prices quite high.”
  19. “don't mind paying for good food, but even I have a limit.”
  20. “Overall, a great meal and a nice place to eat.”
  21. “can understand the venetian spaghetti being small, as that is typical for authentic italian, but nothing special and you had to get a magnifying glass out to find the 1/2 chopped anchovy filet, if that.”
  22. “The cutting board is unique and Luca the owner personally to every table explains where each cheese and meat is from and what goes with what.”
  23. “This is the best Italian food in the South Bay.”
  24. “I'd like to start this review by saying I am definately and LA eater and will spend an atrocious amount of money for good food.”
  25. “There wasn't much effort in presentation for such an expensive meal.”
  26. “True European-style service, waiter was very helpful in guiding our wine and meal choices.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “True European-style service, waiter was very helpful in guiding our wine and meal choices.”
  2. “your choices, including advice on their superb wine”
  3. “Waiters are mostly Italian and they have excellent knowledge of the menu.”
overall
88.88999938964844% positive
  1. “La Sosta is packed all the time, especially on weekends with locals and folks who drive from afar to dine at this great restaurant.”
  2. “Overall, a great meal and a nice place to eat.”
  3. “Bottom line - The food is good, the the atmosphere is good, BUT the portions are quite a bit smaller than you will get at an average Italian restaurant, the service is poor, and this place is extremely OVER PRICED.”
service
77.77999877929688% positive
  1. “The name implies "wine bar" but there are no 1/2 glasses or 1/2 caraffes available and when I asked the, waiter said that I could order 2 glasses.”
  2. “True European-style service, waiter was very helpful in guiding our wine and meal choices.”
  3. “Service was friendly and casual.”
  4. “Service was downright rude and arrogant.”
  5. “The owner and waiters will take great care to guide”
  6. “Bottom line - The food is good, the the atmosphere is good, BUT the portions are quite a bit smaller than you will get at an average Italian restaurant, the service is poor, and this place is extremely OVER PRICED.”
value
69.0500020980835% positive
  1. “Bottom line - The food is good, the the atmosphere is good, BUT the portions are quite a bit smaller than you will get at an average Italian restaurant, the service is poor, and this place is extremely OVER PRICED.”
  2. “Anyone who has been to Italy and eaten or has any savy about good quality food at the right price for what you're getting, won't be fooled by this.”
  3. “Not only was the food woefully overpriced ($20-$30 for a modest portion of pasta; $40 for entrees) and underwhelming, but the management proved to be completely unethical.”
  4. “Great Italian food should not be this expensive.”
  5. “While the food is excellent, the prices are on the high side and it inexcusable that they give you so little (especially on the pasta dishes).”
  6. “I'd like to start this review by saying I am definately and LA eater and will spend an atrocious amount of money for good food.”
  7. “The food we had was excellent, both the pasta and meat dishes, just right portions which allow you to leave the restaurant feeling perfectly full and looking forward to your next visit.”
  8. “Forget the overpriced food, but when we”
  9. “It isn't a "cheap" evening but I find that the prices are very fair and reasonable, especially for an experience that is unique in the Los Angeles area.”
  10. “There wasn't much effort in presentation for such an expensive meal.”
  11. “The cutting board may be pricey but is fantastic and not something you will find elsewhere.”
  12. “The food was all around very good but the portions are quite small the the prices quite high.”
  13. “Your "affetati misti" a huge plate of the best quality italian meats sliced generously for $18, compared to the "cutting board" , priced at $14/person, where the amount for "two", charged for two was more like for 1/2 a person-not to mention the meats wer”
  14. “Good food but quite expensive”
4 Star Rating: Recommended

12/17/09

Enjoyable meal

by Foment3

We had pasta, it was good. Overall, a great meal and a nice place to eat.

  • Pros: Good food, nice atmosphere
1 Star Rating: Poor

10/07/08

RIP OFF - IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE

by MarksReview

Not only was the food woefully overpriced ($20-$30 for a modest portion of pasta; $40 for entrees) and underwhelming, but the management proved to be completely unethical. When I used a $200 gift certificate for a $94 dinner tab, the manager refused to give me the rest back - as either credit or cash. I wasn't expecting money back, but certainly credit for future meals. They refused to let me have either and were rude in the process. Give that they already had the money (my staff had given them $200 for the purchase of the certificate as a gift), this practice is beyond unreasonable and well into unsavory.

If anyone is considering going there, I'd take a pass. There are many better, cheaper and more honest establishments in the area.

  • Pros: candle light
  • Cons: bad attitude, overpriced food, stingy portions, mediocre meals
1 Star Rating: Poor

09/25/08

Very Overpriced - above average food/below average service

by axis4321

Bottom line - The food is good, the the atmosphere is good, BUT the portions are quite a bit smaller than you will get at an average Italian restaurant, the service is poor, and this place is extremely OVER PRICED. I have no problem spending a nice chunk of change for a good piece of meet. But come one, we are talking about $25 for a plate of pasta which costs about 35 cents. Great Italian food should not be this expensive.

3 Star Rating: Average

08/11/08

Good food but quite expensive

by KristenZale

I'd like to start this review by saying I am definately and LA eater and will spend an atrocious amount of money for good food. This restaurant has high prices similar to a top rated LA star chef but I am not sure its fair for the quality of food you recieve. We had a caprese salad which was quite outstanding however we paid $17 for it! That was a bit ridiculous. We also tried a delcious bean salad-- beans, sauteed onions, and raddichio-- also $17 dollars. The food was all around very good but the portions are quite small the the prices quite high. Keep this in mind when you are visiting. For this reason, it will probably be another 4 years until we return.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

06/30/08

Fantastic experience

by tifosi77

After years of passing by La Sosta Enoteca, my wife and I finally decided to give it a try. What a revelation!! Everything about LSE is right from the top drawer. The food is prepared with the respect for each individual ingredient that Italians have hard-coded in their DNA, and the dishes reflect the fierce regionality and austerity that is a hallmark of 'la Cucina Italiana'. And, of course, it is all absolutely delicious, and complemented with a fantastic wine list.

I will not dispute or disparage the negative reviews that are on this page - I was not there, so I cannot say what someone else's experience was like. I will just say that my own experience was markedly different. This was unquestionably the most authentic Italian dining experience I've had outside of Italy. I feel too many American's perception of Italian food has been shaped by the red sauce/checkered tablecloth stereotype, and that's unfortunate. Frankly, my own tendency is to avoid 'Italian' restaurants in this country altogether, because they cater too much to that American sensibility - Olive Garden must be 'authentic' cos they have a cooking school in central Tuscany. Phooey! The true beauty of Italian food, regardless of its region of origin, is simplicity and balance.

La Sosta Enoteca, however, is that rarest of exceptions. An Italian restaurant in America that not only holds on to its roots, but shows them off with dazzling expertise and panache. True, it's not cheap, and the parking situation leaves a lot to be desired. But I cannot wait to go back and really explore the menu. Highest possible recommendation.

  • Pros: True Northern Italian food experience
  • Cons: Poor parking, a little pricey

The Details on La Sosta Enoteca

Place Categories:

  • good quality food
  • arrogant service
  • warm atmosphere
  • overpriced great italian food
  • great meal
  • fantastic italian dining experience
  • favorite place
  • pricey cutting board
  • romantic restaurant
  • recommend la sosta
  • superb italian wine
  • rich lobster gnocchi
  • good wine cellar
  • great italian food
  • very helpful waiter
  • nice chunk
  • quite outstanding caprese salad
  • great care
  • authentic italian
  • favorite buffalo reggiano
  • authentic cos
  • too warm valpolicella
  • pretty terrible acoustics
  • best quality italian meats
  • huge plate
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