SLAY Italian Kitchen - Italian restaurant in Manhattan Beach - 1001 Manhattan Ave, USA

First visit but not the last. Very enjoyable. Nice decor and layout. One of the few LA restaurants that does not blast loud music. Easy to carry on a conversation. Staff very friendly and helpful about menu items. Not a full bar but they do have a few specialty cocktails and a nice beer and wine selection. The garlic bread was a cheesy loaf with a good garlic taste that came with a spicy tomato dip. The Brussel Sprout appetizer was very good with a nice blend of flavors and sauce. The fresh fettuccine with shrimp was very nice and flavorful with a nice white cheese sauce. The pasta primavera was light and had a nice selection of vegetables. All in all a very nice experience. The pizza looked delicious but that will be for another visit!

I recently dined at Slay Italian Kitchen, and I must say, it was a delightful experience. The lasagna and fettuccini pasta were nothing short of delicious; the flavors were exceptional, and the portions were just right. The tuna poke was a pleasant surprise, with its freshness and unique blend of flavors that left me wanting more. To top it off, the tiramisu was the perfect sweet ending to the meal. The ambiance and service added to the overall charm of the restaurant, making it a must-visit for Italian cuisine enthusiasts.

Toasted ravioli were excellent. Pork ragu was good. Service was good. They didn't cheap out on the pork, which is nice. Would have liked a piece or two of bread included with the pasta, without having to pay $10 for focaccia. Atmosphere ok. Prices are a little steep for the pizza and some of the pasta.

Good vibes decent food, great service. The food was okay, not superb. The garlic bread was yummy but had barely any garlic taste to it and the salad portion was very small. The fettuccine was good though! Pretty platings. Saturday dinner wasn’t too busy; we were able to be seated without a reservation for two. Our server was caring and nice.

When the garlic bread is the star of the show, then you know we were not happy with our meals. The service was great. Atmosphere fine. There were five of us. Everyone felt the dishes were mediocre. Did the marinara pasta sauce come from a jar?

On the eve of my Mom's wrist surgery, Slay was the pre-op meal choice. She broke it playing pickleball a few days prior as she is an absolute warrior. Just picture my peanut of a mother (5'1 on her best day) laying her body on the line for her Tuesday night pickleball group made up of Manhattan Beach moms. I, for one, am proud to be from this bloodline. We arrive at Slay with clear eyes and full hearts, ready to smash some Italian food. We are sat outside and the vibe is what I imagine people expect when they come to Southern California: 70 degrees and sunny while sitting at a restaurant a few blocks up from the sand with the vast Pacific bobbing up and down in the peripheral vision. Our family always orders a margherita pizza as an appetizer, so we couldnt break tradition. Pizza was ultra thinw with fluffy crust, just how I like it hehe. Calamari was a godsend as well and the meatballs also did their thing. Great team performance from the apps. They recently got their liquor license, so you already know I had to crack off on a Spritz. Their Italian Spritz was honestly one of the best I've had in a MINUTE, and that's saying a lot. I think I may be an Aperol Spritz sommelier at this point. The service was fantastic, and much to my chagrin my brother at one point commented to me on how the waitress doesn't break eye contact. I had to pull him aside and give him a little pep talk. "Novos NEVER break eye contact, LOCK IN MIKE!" The spaghetti and meatballs delivered like Pheidippides delivering the news to Athens that they had won the Battle of Marathon. Iconic. Slay is the best kept secret in Manhattan Beach. MANHATTAN BEACH STAND UP!!!!

Food does not looks like presented on the pictures, but still it is delicious, made and served with love. It is a good place to eat, after long day on the beach. Photos attached

My go to in Manhattan Beach. Wonderful food, wonderful service, great setting. I do think the corkage fee is a hair unreasonable at $40 but I’ll still be back.