Fritto Misto

The faint yellow walls, tile floor, open-raftered ceiling and copious potted plants give Fritto Misto a casual Californian vibe that’s interchangeable with most other eateries in Hermosa Beach. The quote from the estimable Zagat guide—“Fantastically good food at rock bottom prices”—proudly printed atop the menu of this “Neighborhood Italian Café” immediately sets the place apart, however. The high-quality food is indeed affordable with pasta dishes ranging from just $10.75 for the chicken cilantro ravioli or Cajun seared chicken to $17.50 for the garlic shrimp, and there are ample options available for salad lovers, vegetarians and low-carbohydrate dieters. Moreover, everything is made fresh daily, by hand, from the alfredo to the ziti.