Where You Should Eat: 5 Best Pasta Places In LA, 2021
The pasta scene in LA is alive and well with a group of illustrious chefs representing the unparalleled diversity within Italian cooking, and pasta more specifically. No matter what area of LA you are in, West side, hollywood, DTLA - I have compiled the shortlist for Italian in LA; Lets dive in!
Picture: Ricotta and Egg Raviolo with Brown Butter from Osteria Mozza. Small but mighty, unbelievably luxurious couple bites.
Osteria Mozza ~ Chef Nancy Silverton
Orecchiette - $24 With a sausage and mushroom ragu
This is a restaurant whose chef and legend precedes itself. There are few other places in LA that hold the mystique and the consistent quality like Osteria Mozza. The pasta, the mozzarella bar, the bread (oh the bread!), everything Nancy creates is the next best bite you’ve ever eaten.
The one thought I constantly have while I am dining and while I am reminiscing on meals is that the sauces are second to none! Yes the fresh pastas themselves are worth dreaming about, but the sauces are deep and rich, herbaceous and fatty, light when desired or glutinous when needed. Not a single dish here has ever hit my table that didn’t hit the mark!
“Life is a combination of Magic and Pasta” - Federico Fellini
Rossoblu ~ Chef Steve Samson
Tagliatelle al ragu Bolognese - $22
This industrial pasta haven on the edge of the Fashion District in downtown brings a combination of modern and rustic cooking and it is why I eat here. The staff and service are incredible, and the kitchen is sending out perfect plates all night; and their outside space is definitely something to enjoy!
I’ve been a handful of times, and appreciate that they do classics REALLY well. Great red sauce, great in house sausage driven pastas, decadent cream based pastas, etc…They take those familiar flavors and elevate them to incredible heights. Like any meal I have, I encourage you to share everything; a couple antipasti, a pasta or two, and a great piece of meat or fish.
M. Georgina ~ Chef Melissa Perello
Semolina Mafaldine Pasta - $18
Gorgonzola dolce, pickled treviso, candied walnut
So this one is not an Italian restaurant, really it falls in the seasonal California category that you see in many farm to table spots across the state. If you have not heard of Melissa Perello she is a big name in San Francisco and holds several Michelin stars. The vibe of her new restaurant in the Row DTLA feels and tastes expensive.
The pastas here tend to be unique noodle shapes in comparison to what you see on the average Italian menu, and she pairs those unique noodles often times with lighter sauces, which is wonderfully welcomed into my pasta rotation. Be sure to splurge and get one of her gorgeous steaks or perfectly cooked duck!
~ A tavola non si invecchia ~
At the table with good friends and family, you do not become old.
Scopa Italian Roots ~ Chef Antonia Lofaso
Bucatini - $22 Baby zucchini, garlic, arugula, burrata, pesto, lemon
This beautifully green dish combines a few of my favorite aspects of pasta; a noodle that is chewy but not dense, a healthy share of fresh cheese, and a blend of farm fresh herbs; this is about as ideal of a pasta dish as I can imagine.
One of the bad wraps of pasta is that it can eat rather heavy, but this dish is able to finesse that delicate line and stay somewhat light, while still full of flavor and satisfaction. A good pesto can never be wrong!
One of my favorite people to eat with is my mom, and having a mother that stays away from red sauce has also lead me to appreciate the vast world of pasta and escape the spaghetti driven pastas of my generations youth. It feels good to have so many damn options.
Bestia ~ Chef Ori Menashe
Roasted Marrow Bone - $22 Spinach gnocchetti, crispy breadcrumbs, aged balsamic
This is one of the absolute hardest reservations in LA to get, and it is worth every bit of difficulty to land one! The atmosphere is loud and bustling, the large warehouse maintains its rust and charm, while complimented by chic fixtures, a large open kitchen, timeless dishware, and smart industrial accents throughout.
The food is every bit as sexy as the vibe and clientele. Everything here has an extra hit of luxury; bone marrow, truffles, imported Italian olive oils, specialty cheeses, dry aged Ribeye, whole Branzino and the list goes on.
Arguable the best restaurant in LA and every bite you take here will likely confirm this notion!