665830 Mon Nov 09 10:39:51 -0800 2009 15 2 Los Angeles Area 0 5167383 Which do you recommend/prefer for a 5 year anniversary dinner? Atmosphere and food are both equally important! We live on the westside and last year went to La Botte and I was very disappointed. I don't remember the food but i hated the ambience - it was too light and stark. We like traditional italian food - pastas, red sauce, veal, that type of thing. I really want a great meal and don't mind the cost as long as we don't leave feeling "let down". Thank you!!!! Mon Nov 09 10:39:51 -0800 2009 283689 yummytrip 1 5167813 Funny-On Saturday night we went to Madeo and on Sunday night it was Giorgio's. We had an excellent experience at both. Madeo was super busy and we had to wait for about 30 minutes for our 9PM reservation. The owner visited every table and apololgized to us for our wait. We started with pizza that was excellent. The pastas were tastey and I had a filet mignon with peppercorn sauce. My friend had a traditonal veal picata which she loved. My husband had some type of veal chop on the bone with sage which was not as tastey as the other dishes. We also love their meatball appetizer. Giorgio's was also very crowded. I started with my favorite pasta dish which is called Penne Imperiale (spicy red sauce with lagostino). Pasta was cooked perfectly. Then had Giorgio's lobster which was excellent as well. Homemade gelatto for dessert as well as teramisu. Mon Nov 09 12:56:00 -0800 2009 5167383 26816 handlertaper 1 5167920 There's a reason we've been to Baldi only 3 times - each time has been dismal. At the same meal one pasta dish was way overcooked while another was woefully undercoked. The waitstaff has uniformly been rude, appearently prefering to pamper their Industry regulars rather than provide basic service to the rest of us. Once the waiter suggested that I try some white truffle on my risotto without teling me that it would add $120 to the price of the dish (perhaps my bad, I should have asked the price). But the nail in the coffin was on the first visit with the 80+ in-laws who lived in Santa Monica Canyon. Their favorite restaurant, Marquis West, had closed and we were looking for a replacement. We went to Baldi because the MW chef recommended it and said that he had trained Baldi. We had high hopes and explained to the waiter (at 6:00 pm) that the in-laws were looking for a place close to home, that they would come in at 6:00 six days a week, would be out of there in less than an hour and a half and would spend at least $150 each night. We asked if Baldi would come out so they could introduce themselves (they were from that old school) . He replied flatly "No." We were astonished that he would turn away such an income stream. We gave the place 2 more chances but had the experiences described above. Perhaps if you're a regular and tip very well the place can be enjoyable, or perhaps our 3 tries were atypical, but we will never darken their door again. Mon Nov 09 13:27:29 -0800 2009 5167383 14405 TomSwift 1 5168133 What about Valentino? Piero will make sure you have a special evening. Mon Nov 09 14:22:34 -0800 2009 5167383 11756 lizziee 1 5168940 Have not been to Madeo, but have been to Giorgio. And although the food is very good, unless you're a celebrity, or in the know, the service can be quite dismissive, the specials are astronomically priced, and the place is TINY. Be forewarned. Mon Nov 09 19:26:42 -0800 2009 5167383 90755 Phurstluv 1 5169033 Peppone. Old school, but excellent. Tons of regulars for a reason. Veal Milanese was terrific and whole roasted cauliflower delicious. Pastas are all solid. Not even trying to play in the same league as Valentino, Angelini Osteria, etc. This is a traditional upscale Italian place of which there are many in NYC, but few here. Mon Nov 09 20:11:38 -0800 2009 5167383 10875 BHAppeal 2 5169924 That roasted cauliflower is astonishing. Tue Nov 10 08:23:51 -0800 2009 5169033 14405 TomSwift 2 5171911 High end read sauce = Ristorante Peppone. Get their filet mignon meatballs with marinara and angel hair. Whoa nelly! Tue Nov 10 22:14:09 -0800 2009 5169033 11933 J.L. 3 5172940 Those meatballs are always a hit for our group. Outstanding and, for Peppone, fairly reasonably priced. Wed Nov 11 10:07:15 -0800 2009 5171911 14405 TomSwift 1 5169822 They are both great and somewhat similar. In fact, the owners are from the same chic town on the west coast of Tuscany - Forte di Marme. I believe they came together and worked together for a few years before splitting -- not amicably. So the main dishes (pastas, branzino, meats, the aforementioned penne imperiale, bottarga) are quite similar. Madeo has a bigger menu and a full bar. For seafood, I see little difference. For meats, especially the carved veal roast, I give the edge to Madeo. And for the ambiance-fun-factor, Baldi Tue Nov 10 07:53:44 -0800 2009 5167383 11732 Ciao Bob 1 5171144 I would recommend e baldi over either of those two, except that if you found La Botte's ambience to be too light and stark (with which I couldn't disagree more, but to each their own) that you won't like the decor of e baldi, I like the food at both g baldi and madeo, but have a slight preference for the atmosphere at g baldi because i find it to be more convivial, albeit also louder and more cramped. Tue Nov 10 15:32:55 -0800 2009 5167383 239779 krick 2 5174684 believe e baldi closed about 2-3 months ago. Just could not cut it in that intersection with the Dragos diagonally across the street, twice over. Wed Nov 11 20:56:31 -0800 2009 5171144 10359 carter 3 5177599 E Baldi is most certainly open. I ate there yesterday (Nov. 10, 2009). However, for the OP, I would recommend Madeo or Peppone, especially when you consider the type of restaurant that was requested. I think Giogio Baldi is an excellent choice, but I think that Madeo and Peppone do a better job of making new guests feel welcome. Thu Nov 12 20:08:54 -0800 2009 5174684 92059 pinpei 4 5178977 Agree that Peppone is full of "regulars", but I've never seen any issues when I've brought new patrons along... Fri Nov 13 10:13:23 -0800 2009 5177599 11933 J.L. 1 5171719 Thank you so much for all the replies. I will look into Peppone as well - that sounds good. I'm not into the celebrity factor..just atmosphere and food. And thinking back to my night at La Botte I think "light " was the wrong word - it was fairly empty and cold and I guess while some find the tables spaced apart more intimate, I prefer the cramped, cozy feeling. I also had a newborn at the time and hadn't slept in weeks so that could have affected my experience. Maybe I'll give it another try some time. So many places to try!!! Tue Nov 10 20:06:30 -0800 2009 5167383 283689 yummytrip 1 5171953 Hands down Madeo over the crowded, overly expensive and often disappointing di Baldi. Giorgio's is for people who think they know food. Tue Nov 10 22:58:27 -0800 2009 5167383 137061 foodiemahoodie