Best Italian Restaurants in Sawtelle
2 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Il Moro
Longstanding Italian dining room with a quieter dog-friendly patio.
Notable Picks
#1
Il Moro
8.7
Il Moro has served polished Northern Italian fare since the mid-1990s, pairing housemade pastas and seafood with an extensive wine list. The shaded patio offers a more refined dog-friendly option on this stretch of Olympic, suited to business meals or quieter date nights with a pup in tow.
Must-Try Dishes:
Housemade Tagliatelle, Risotto of the Day, Grilled Branzino
What Makes it Special: Longstanding Italian dining room with a quieter dog-friendly patio.
Worthy Picks
7.7
A Sawtelle counter spot where a former Osteria Unetto chef wok-fires Japanese-Italian fusion pastas—mentaiko cream, tarako ika uni—alongside straight Roman preparations, giving the menu a split personality that rewards adventurous ordering. The 67-review sample skews heavily positive but includes a noticeable cluster of middling experiences, suggesting the kitchen is still dialing in reliability on a compact operation.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mentaiko Cream Spaghetti, Tarako Ika Uni Pasta, Chicken Katsu Curry Pasta
What Makes it Special: A Tokyo transplant where a former Osteria Unetto chef stir-fries Japanese-Italian fusion pastas in a wok alongside straight-up Roman classics on Sawtelle.