Royalty has come to Westwood with the opening of Prince of Venice. This Italian restaurant, which got its start as a food truck run by an actual Italian prince, recently opened its first brick-and-mortar fast casual restaurant in the Village. Prince Emanuele Filiberto is on the premises, presiding over the kitchen and even taking orders. As you would expect, he has high standards, using local organic vegetables, cage-free eggs and free-range meat, along with Italian flour and olive oil.

Pizza slices range in price from $4.50 to $7, from the standard margherita and pepperoni to more the unusual, like a salmon with garlic sauce to a cacio e pepe. Crusts are thin and crispy. There was a nice mix of fresh veggies on the Veggie Lover, though the crust had been a bit overcooked, brown and crunchy. The cacio e pepe was interesting, with a light garlic cream sauce, some broccoli florets and parmesan shavings, though a little light on flavor.

I managed to snag a couple of margherita slices fresh out of the oven. These fared much better, with one slice enough to satisfy my daughter’s appetite.

Pastas, which range from $11 to $22, are made in-house (which one will be able to watch being made once the pandemic is over). Their maccheroni alla bolognese was decent, the pasta al dente, the sauce less rich than I expected. I was worried that the serving would be small, but it turned out to be enough for two to share. Paired with a couple of slices of pizza, it made for a perfectly-sized meal.

Prince of Venice had the misfortune of opening during the pandemic, only to be exacerbated by the closure of outdoor dining, which is a shame because they have a lovely patio adjacent to the restaurant. Having another reasonably-priced Italian option in Westwood is always a welcome addition. Plus, you even have the opportunity to meet royalty at no extra charge.

Location – 1091 Broxton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024
Website – https://princeofvenice.us
Kid’s Menu – No
Vegetarian Friendly – Yes. Vegan-friendly with modifications.
Gluten-Free Options – Only salads at the moment. Gluten-free options to be added in the future.