Georgio’s Cucina

11992 Ventura Blvd.
Studio City Ca 91604
818 985 1072

For those of you who follow The Dining Duo on Facebook, you already know what huge fans we are of Georgio’s Cucina. It’s important to have a “home away from home” and this has become ours when we’re not venturing out to discover new haunts.

It’s comfortable and the food is always tasty. So much so that we get lazy experiencing new places and always come home to this family restaurant run by the always-smiling, warm and gracious Therese.

Some of you might remember Georgio’s as a traditional pizza and pasta “stop-in”, and that’s just what it was. However, about a year ago, Therese, the original owner’s accountant-by-day-restaurateur-by-night daughter took charge and hired an award winning chef, Jeffrey Nimer, to restart this Studio City establishment. The results are fabulous, and Georgio’s has become a force to be reckoned in the Valley.

Georgio’s received a much-needed face-lift, but maintained that charm and cozy feeling. A sprinkling of tables amongst a handful of booths, the lights are low, the walls are covered with photos as if you were at someone’s home, and the room is anchored by an armoire that is both eye appealing and functional serving wines and other items. The music is inviting and the aroma of good cooking permeates the entire place.

Let’s begin with the best deal in town, Sunday nights, where one can dine on a three-course meal for $15. That’s right: fifteen dollars: the price of a few lattes at your local Starbucks. This menu changes every week but our favorite was the vegetable soup (loaded with fresh organic peas, carrots and celery), wild salmon with pea risotto (yes, we did say costly and preferred WILD salmon), and flourless chocolate cake for dessert with a $5 glasses of wine. The lovely Therese admits she loses money on this but she does it to accommodate her loyal patrons, and to encourage new ones to come give it a try for little financial risk. By the way, the wild Salmon is usually on the menu at $24 and is served with baby carrots and a saffron-shellfish brood. Michael, who is not normally a huge salmon lover, swears by it.

The other nights are special at Georgio’s because there is always an updated menu. Some of our favorites include their organic Chicken Parmesan, their home made flatbread with pear and arugula and their Roquefort crusted filet mignon with red wine reduction ($27), grass fed, of course because both Therese and Jeffrey insist on the best. Our guests have agreed this dish is one of the best pieces of meat that they ever experienced.

If you start your meal with their Heirloom tomato salad that is literally overloaded with Burrata, you will be a very happy diner.  The Caesar is also crisp and cold, served with just the right amount of zing.

The desserts are always yummy, and they will tempt you from the moment you enter since they’re on display in the middle of the restaurant. Scott of course loves their flowerless chocolate cake because it’s delicate, creamy and chocolaty without being overbearing.

There are always others to choose from that are equally appealing if you’re not a chocolate lover.  Whatever you choose, one of the friendly servers will be happy to bring it to your table.  Sylvianne is one of our favorites...beautiful, smart, multilingual and a reflection of the "village" charm that Georgio's exudes.

Just next to Trader Joes (where we conveniently do our “after dinner” grocery shopping) and with plenty of self-serve lot parking (we hate searching for a space on over-crowded Ventura Boulevard for other restaurants), we highly recommend this little-known treat right in the middle of Studio City. Tell Therese and Jeffrey we sent you.

Appetizingly yours,
Scott and Michael
The Dining Duo