July 6, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Brentwood Beat: Maria’s Italian Kitchen to Move from Brentwood After 52 Years

I’m ill.  

Maria’s Italian Kitchen is leaving Brentwood Village and will be gone by the end of 2024.

Like many Brentwoodians, I love the place and have been going there for decades. Maria’s has been in this same location for 52 years. 

Owner Maddy Alfano said she was presented with a rent increase she simply couldn’t afford.  

“We have cherished being part of this community, but due to rising costs, we must relocate,” said Alfano.  “I am grateful to have created so many memories and made so many friends,” she added.

Madelyn Alfano, owner of Maria’s Italian Kitchen.

Alfano grew up in the business, working at Maria’s in her youth.  Many of the recipes are family recipes.  

“In 1968, my parents, Maria and Don, moved our family from Hoboken, NJ, to Los Angeles, where they took over the Village Mart Grocery Store in Brentwood Village,” according to Alfano. “My mom began cooking her famous meatballs, lasagna, and eggplant parmesan in the Meat Department, eventually converting the garage into the first Maria’s Kitchen.”

Continued Alfano: “For over 52 years, we have cherished being part of this community, but due to rising costs, we must relocate. This is a very sad day for me and my family. But I have been blessed to have great memories and friends in Brentwood. So long to the Brentwood Village but not to our Brentwood community.”

Maria’s, back in the 1960s.

Maria’s will soon move to 3032 Wilshire, at the NW corner of Wilshire and Berkeley in Santa Monica.  That’s 1.5 miles away from the heart of Brentwood, an 8-minute drive. 

One advantage of this new location: Unlike Brentwood Village, Maria’s new location offers lots of free parking.  There will also be dedicated spaces for pickup and delivery. Maria’s will also keep the same phone number: 310-476-6112.

A recent photo of Maria’s.

I don’t think I could count all the times I went to Maria’s or called in for delivery or pickup. My grown children, now living out of town, always want to go to Maria’s when they visit.  They loved Maria’s growing up. Alfano said she hated to leave, but felt she had no choice.  She doesn’t know what will go in that location once she vacates. 

Maddy has always been a great contributor to the Brentwood community.  She has been a strong spokesperson for small business owners in Brentwood. Brentwood is an amazing place, but slowly but surely, we are losing pieces of our soul.  Our treasured hangouts are disappearing, one at a time. I still miss Regular Jons and Spangles. The Brentwood Inn, in Brentwood Village, was a great watering hole.

In recent years we lost Early World and Souplantation, California Pizza Kitchen recently vanished. New York Bagel Co. is about to go. And now Maria’s. Ouch. New restaurants that arrive in Brentwood, replacing the old ones, are almost always very fancy – and very expensive.  

They just aren’t the same, I’m sorry. I know I’m not the only one who thinks this.  My buddy Josh Stephens is always saying we need a pub in Brentwood.  I couldn’t agree more. 

If anyone wants to explore creating a great Brentwood hangout – a real gathering place where we can show up in T-shirts and blue jeans – please get in touch: jeffhall@mirrormediagroupla.com.  

Maybe we can come up with a plan and find local backers. Best of luck to Maddy Alfano and the entire Maria’s team.  I think Maria’s food is the best. I know I’ll make the hike to Santa Monica often enough. But my wife and I can walk to Maria’s now, and we will miss that.

in News
Related Posts

Michael Madsen, Star of Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill, Dies at 67 in Malibu

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Actor Remembered for His Intense Performances and as a Poet  Actor Michael Madsen, known for his distinctive gravelly voice and...

Los Angeles City Council Cracks Down on ‘Disaster Tours’ in Pacific Palisades

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

City Council Bans Commercial Bus Tours in Burn Zone Amid Community Backlash Tour buses that have been operating in fire-ravaged...

Tow Truck Scammers Target Crash Victims Across L.A.: Authorities Warn of Fraud at Accident Scenes

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Officials Urge Drivers to Stay Alert After Collisions as Rogue Operators Demand Inflated Fees  Motorists involved in vehicle accidents are...

Woman Dies After Melrose Store Altercation: LAPD Launches Homicide Investigation

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Critically Injured Young Woman Died July 2, After She was Badly Beaten at Work  The death of a woman critically...

CHP Officer Dies in Culver City Crash: Medical Emergency Suspected Behind Tragic Incident

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Officer lost consciousness while transporting a suspect before crashing into a tree California Highway Patrol Officer Miguel Cano died early...

L.A. Beaches Brace for Holiday Rush: Over 1 Million Visitors Expected This Fourth of July

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

County Officials Urge Beachgoers to Pack Out Their Trash and  Monitor Water Quality More than one million visitors are expected...

(Video) A visit to New York Bagel & Deli in Santa Monica

July 3, 2025

July 3, 2025

Authentic NY Style Bagels with Extra Creamy Cream Cheese and Multi-Cultural Desserts. Located at 2216 Wilshire Blvd. A visit to...

Hot Dogs & Rosé: Something About Her and The Culver Hotel Roll Out Summer Specials

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Westside Venues to Serve Playful Bites and Seasonal Sips For the Holiday Weekend A bold new offering is making its...

NeueHouse Hosts Bold One-Night Dinner With Culinary Phenomenon Diego Argoti

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Acclaimed Chef Brings Culinary Mischief With a Five-Course Tasting Experience. NeueHouse Hollywood will host an exclusive, one-night-only dining event on...

(Video) Legacy, Reimagined: Architecture, Design & Construction by Home Front Build Los Angeles

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Go To Homefrontbuild.com For More Information @home_front_build Legacy, Reimagined: Architecture, Design & Construction by Home Front Build Los Angeles Go...

405 Crash Near the Getty Sends Three to Hospital: Two Seriously Hurt Near Site Where LAPD Sgt. Died

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Early Morning Multi-Vehicle Collision Shut Down Lanes Near Brentwood Three men were injured and traffic was snarled for hours following...

(Video) Jikoni, the AfriCali PopUp from celebrated cookbook author Kiano Moju Has Been Extended Until July 3 at Citizen Public Market

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Bold Flavors and Spice Merge with Crisp, Chewy Chapati. Delicious With a Caring Chef and Staff. Jikoni, the AfriCali PopUp...

Pentagon Orders Troop Drawdown in LA: 150 National Guard Members Reassigned to Wildfire Duty

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Federal Forces Begin Partial Withdrawal From Protest Response as California Leaders Push Back U.S. Northern Command announced Tuesday that 150...

California Highway Patrol Deploys for Independence Day Enforcement Surge

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

All Available Officers to Hit California Highways for Holiday Weekend As Californians gear up for Fourth of July festivities, the...

Court Postpones Arraignment for Driver in Malibu Crash That Killed Four Students

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Fraser Michael Bohm Faces Murder Charges in Fatal PCH Wreck  The arraignment for Fraser Michael Bohm, the 23-year-old man accused...