Doesn’t everyone love a neighborhood restaurant, even if it’s not exactly in your hood? La Vecchia Cucina on Main Street in Santa Monica sits among the newly opened restaurants getting plenty of attention. Good for those new kids on the block, but give me this neighborhood Italian any day.

Opened by brothers Mark and Anthony Mollica 15 years ago, La Vecchia Cucina serves exceptional northern Italian home cooking. The dining room buzzes with friends, families, first dates, and everything in between—debating orders, sharing bites, all swearing to be back soon. It’s casual and comfortable but grown up with white tablecloths in the single dining room. There’s even reasonably priced parking behind the restaurant. A miracle in Santa Monica.