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    Antico Nuovo

    4.0 (457 reviews)
    PriceyItalian
    Closed 5:30 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

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    ANTICO NUOVO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Intimate

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    Reviews With Photos - Antico Nuovo

    Tagliolini
    Samantha G.

    I've wanted to go here for so long and I can truly say it lives up to the hype. The food was absolutely incredible. From the bread to the ice cream. The space is small with some shared tables but some stand alone. Our waitress was lovely and able to provide suggestions but I think you really cannot go wrong no matter what you order. I like the menu changes based on what is in season but I loved every item we ate. I will dream about the corn pasta and the focaccia with whipped ricotta. Top contender for my favorite LA restaurant.

    Ashley K.

    Waited a month for this reservation and I honestly can say that the fileja pasta and the (seasonal) strawberry ice cream were worth the wait. These two items alone carried my entire meal. Yes, the other dishes were also very tasty but I would drive in LA traffic and wait another month (if I had to). The focaccia bread was very unique. The outside is very crispy and this inside is so soft and spongy. It's almost like a sourdough bread. Nicely salted (a little too much for me) but was perfect for my husband who was having it with some wine. The zucca arostita was also well cooked but a little on the saltier side for me. We also ordered the plin dell alta langa which was good but not as great as the fileja.

    Pappardelle Tortelli
    Ashley H.

    This place was definitely a revisit!! Food is absolutely delicious!! Must get the pappardelle, so yummy & the meat is tender- not a red sauce. The Tortelli is lemony and a little cheesy too. Service is very very good, they replace all plates in between courses. Cookies & cream ice cream is a must order as well, it's super creamy and the cookies are crisp!! Inside it's so cute and definitely bustling, everyone had a great time, better for parties 2-6 I would think!!

    Agnolotti
    Alice Y.

    Been wanting to try this place - heard that it's super cute and charming. Imagine when I pulled up and it's in a random spot in the city in a parking plaza. Valet parking. It is very cute and charming and rustic inside. Loved the planters / wine buckets they used as dividers on the communal tables. Overall food was good. The carpaccio, focaccia and whipped feta and the agnolotti were probably the faves of the night. Everything else was decent. I had higher expectations for the food, but overall a nice night out with friends.

    Stewart L.

    A great new find for me, recommended by my foodie hair stylist and the LA Times. I'd put this place a notch above Evan Funke's Felix, Mother Wolf and Funke based on food, but the ambiance is far more subdued (to my liking). Antico is situated on the western edge of Koreatown within Korean mini-mall. The outside is quite nondescript; the small parking lot becomes valet only once the restaurant opens. Street parking can be tight. The quaint dining room features an open kitchen with live fire action (they use almond wood). There are 2 communal tables in the centre, with smaller tables surrounding them, plus a 4-seat counter facing the kitchen. I got a prime seat here. The menu of course is carb-heavy. Note they do not do pizzas here, but the pastas are house-made, as are the desserts. Here's what I ordered: 1) Focaccia. Probably ordered by every table, either plain (with olive oil and sea salt) or with 5 different "toppings" that are served along side. I was able to order a trio: whipped ricotta/pistachio pesto, artichoke/pine nut pangrattato, duck liver pate. All were delish, but my fave was the duck liver (I'm a duck or chicken liver pate/mousse fiend). 2) Tortelli pasta with lemon, ricotta, marjoram, pine nuts. One of 3 vegetarian pastas, light (as much as a pasta can be). Yummy. 3) Plin del' alta langa. I chose a second pasta instead of a main. This was agnolotti filled with a fine meat mixture of pancetta, beef cheek and rabbit with a jus sauce. So savory and tasty! 4) Sprouting cauliflower. The baby cauliflower had a beautiful bagna cauda (anchovy-based) sauce. 5) Ice cream. Antico is famous for their ice cream; they offer 7 toppings. I was able to get "half" servings of 3, and I struggled to finish them because I was almost bursting and even the half portions are large, served in individual glasses. My topping choices were pistachio crunch, honeycomb and Harry's strawberries. The strawberry was nicely tart, but my fave was the pistachio, which was a brittle. An excellent meal. Service was also excellent; I got expert guidance through the menu. From my seat I saw a lot of the kitchen action; you'll be glad to know the pastas are pre-portioned in plastic bags, ensuring consistency. And the final inspector tastes each dish, plates the pastas and adds a final flourish of olive oil and pepper before the dishes are sent out. Definitely will be back!

    Whipped Ricotta
    Tristen S.

    Definitely a must try restaurant. They had unique pastas that were good. I liked their whipped ricotta and focaccia as well! I also got to try their honeycomb ice cream that they're famous for. Service was really friendly and professional. The ambiance was very vibey and romantic. Seems like a great date spot! It's located in a very small plaza. There's valet available and some street parking too.

    Cannelloni della sora maria (tomato, bufala, spinach). Soft, creamy, with crispy edges. My friend loved this
    Dana L.

    Solidly delicious. The restaurant is tucked into an unassuming location (I had to do a double take to make sure I was at the correct place), with a hole-in-the-wall vibe from the outside. Once you enter, you're engulfed in a warm, cozy, romantic, relaxed open setting. My waitress was welcoming and answered my questions and provided interesting facts about a couple of the dishes. Focaccia was soft, pillowy, nicely crispy and lightly salted on the outside; it pairs really well with the soft burrata+ green scallion oil. I quite enjoyed this. Scallion oil could be stronger, though; I tasted fresh 'green' with first taste of the oil but subsequent tastes had no flavor. Broccoli chicory Caesar was excellent, well-mixed with plenty of cheese. I'm typically a fan of mild cheeses, and the bufala (buffalo mozzarella) inside the spinach Cannelloni was great. The dish was soft, creamy, with nicely crisped edges. (They make all their pastas in-house) My foodie friend really liked the beef cheek + veal tongue pappardelle. The pasta was thinner and springier than usual pappardelle I've had - very interesting. I personally thought the bagna cauda that came with the cauliflower was a little too sour/acidic for my taste. Other than that, no real complaints about the food. My friend thinks for a similar price point, though, there are better pasta & foccacia places out there in LA. So, for that reason and the limited time I have in LA when visiting, I definitely would not mind returning, but I also would not go out of my way to come here. It's worth trying once.

    pollo de crostone
    Hailey J.

    WOW. from food quality to ambiance and service, this place takes the cake. every dish felt intentional and made me feel like even simple food can be elevated in flavor ~Food~ focaccia ($12) with whipped ricotta ($19): 100/10 just wow. the best appetizer i've ever had. the focaccia is nicely crusted and the ricotta was so silky smooth, with pistachios adding the perfect crunch pappardelle ($40): 8/10 this was one dish i didn't really care for. i can appreciate the quality, but i wasn't the biggest fan. there was too little pasta for the price, and the flavor wasn't enough to justify the cost for me pollo e crostone ($46): 10/10 i didn't expect to get chicken at a restaurant like this, but it was highly recommended and absolutely delivered. it was perfectly juicy and nicely sour from the lemon. i didn't care for the focaccia under the chicken though pistachio crunch ice cream ($13): 10/10 creamy ice cream with great pistachio flavor Service: wonderful service. wine recommendations were great and suited our taste well. plates were replaced in a timely manner and water was always filled Cost: quite pricey but worth the price (spent about $250 for two people) Parking: street or valet parking

    Focaccia, squab pasta, beef cheek paparadelle
    Grace C.

    Beautiful restaurant for a nice date or special occasion. Every dish we ordered was delicious. The focaccia was perhaps the best focaccia I have ever had, crudo was super lemony and peppery, squab pasta was perfectly al dente, beef cheek paparadelle was beefy & fatty, skirt steak was smokey and delicious, honeycomb ice cream was to die for. Service is so attentive, kind, and considerate. Just an all around awesome experience. Valet is ten dollars.

    Pappardelle with bolognese
    Vi H.

    been DYING to try this place for so long, and it was so worth it! Their focaccia may be one of the best restaurant breads ever and it's so crispy on the outside and wonderfully pillow soft on the inside. The ricotta with pistachio takes it to the next levels. Both the pappardelle and foglie d'ulivo were so delicious and each was extremely rich in flavor. Pappardelle was a little salty, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. The restaurant is gorgeous too and a very elevated homey rustic vibe. Service was fantastic as well!

    Pistachio and Strawberry
    Raeanna D.

    I came here by myself on a random Thursday evening. I called and was able to get a 9 pm reservation. I can tell this place gets busy even during weekdays so I recommend making a resy, especially if you are a big party. I think the ambiance and staff were great. Dim lighting. Small ish space. Comfortably seat 4-5 people. Larger party it might be a little harder to keep sharing food. This place is in such a random location, surrounded by a liquor mart and homes. There is a small parking lot with a valet. I took a Waymo here because I can tell that the street parking here would be really diI was a bit hesitant to go by myself but the staff were very nice despite how packed and busy they were. They have a deal where if you are a solo diner. You can choose 3 spreads of a smaller portion with 1 focaccia so you can try multiple things. Then you can also choose 2 different pastas and they will give you a half portion. you can also do a dessert and choose 2 ice cream flavors! I love that they provide this option. It's a pretty expensive bill so I'm glad they give solo diners the opportunity to try new things. Let's get into the food! The 3 spreads I chose to have with my focaccia were the anchovies, duck liver pate, and whipped ricotta. The anchovies are pretty good and what you'd expect. Salty in the best ways. If you like things like anchovies you'll like this. Portion is on the smaller side I'm sure, even as a full order, though it's expected. On to the pate. It's delicious especially with the saba. Saba adds a sweet taste that pairs well with deep flavors of the pate. It surprisingly Honestly wish I had enough rough to order a second focaccia just so I could enjoy it for longer. The whipped ricotta is light and refreshing. I love pistachio so I love the pairing. The 1 focaccia honestly wasn't enough bread, surprisingly the spreads were a pretty big portion considering. At least that was my experience. The focaccia is tall so you get a good amount of crispy outer edge and still the soft inside. A perfect ratio if you like the crispy part of bread. The pasta. I know the sugo is a popular choice, and I did enjoy it. I will say I thought it was a bit too salty for me. I think the reduction was a bit too concentrated or something? The meat inside was tasty though. I might skip this if I go by myself again. Though I can see this being a great item to share for a larger party. I don't think I could consume a full plate of this one. My much preferred the piccolo pasta actually. I wasn't sure how pea and mint was going to pair but I thought it was great. Not too heavy of a dish and the flavors were there . Not too strong but not too light either. I could easily eat a full portion of this. It's somehow comforting. I didn't have to get the dessert but it sounded so good! So I got one strawberry and one pistachio. the deal is 2 flavors and half order. But honestly I was so full I literally took two bites of each and then packed it to go since home was not too far. I ended up saving it in my freezer and I finished it the next day it was so creamy. The strawberry flavor is more tart but still creamy. You can tell it's fresh, and let me say that it tastes nothing like your usual strawberry ice cream that you buy at the store. The pistachio was also creamy and delicious! No notes honestly. I love that they add the crumbled pistachio, it adds to the texture so well. Over all a wonderful place to splurge on a dinner. I spent roughly $150 for my meal which also included 2 glasses of wine. Def save this spot for a fancy night out to eat well made Al dente pasta. I can't wait to come here again to try more or new things on the menu.

    Caesar Salad
    Gab G.

    Booked a group dinner (selected the menu ahead of time). Prob the best food I've had in LA to date. Here's what I ate: + Whipped ricotta + Duck liver pate + broccoli chicory caesar + plin dell' alta langa + Sweet corn and chanterelles triangole + steelhead trout - cherry tomato agro e dolce, pine nuts + pollo e crostone - chicken roasted over focaccia, salsa verde + Bone Marrow with potato puree + Jimmy nardello Peppers + Honeycomb ice cream + pistachio ice cream My absolute favorite bites were the sweet corn pasta, pistachio ice cream, and surprisingly, the chicken. Like some of the best chicken on earth. Next best dishes were the duck liver pate, trout, and honeycomb ice cream. Caesar, plin pasta and bone marrow also worth ordering! High marks all around.

    Alisa K.

    Antico Nuovo is undeniably cute and charming, with its dim lighting and warm, intimate atmosphere--perfect for a date night or a cozy evening out with friends. The ambiance sets the tone immediately: inviting, romantic, and just a little mysterious. The menu is definitely on the adventurous side, featuring unique ingredients (including rabbit), so it's not for the faint of heart. While I appreciated the creativity, the dishes themselves were a bit of a mixed bag. The focaccia was decent, and the whipped ricotta fell on the bland side. The lemon pasta was good, bright, and comforting, and the crudo--while a bit fishy--still delivered good overall flavor. The black cod had a similar issue, but once combined with the sauce it worked better. Dessert followed the same theme: the honeycomb ice cream was decent but didn't deliver a true wow moment. Service was genuinely good and our waitress was attentive. Overall, Antico Nuovo is a solid spot with great vibes, but I was expecting more from the food and wished there were a few additional options on the menu. A nice experience--just not the standout I hoped for.

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    7 hours ago

    Very dissatisfied and disappointed. The sea bass waiter recommended was very fishy. They used tons of lemon to cover the fishy taste.

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    Antico Nuovo Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Antico Nuovo

    How much is the valet fee?

    Valet and street only

    Hi, I know this question was asked back in 2023... Are there currently still gluten-free options on the Antico Nuovo menu? Please let me know. Thank you.

    Yes

    Are there gluten free options for pastas?

    Yes

    Is the counter/bar seating first come first serve? If so, do they allow parties of one?

    you need to make reservation overall but if there are seatings available you can also just walk in and sit there if there's no upcoming reservation

    What are the vegan options?

    Most dishes will have dairy, eggs or fish. There are some side dishes and generally one vegetarian main course but it may/may not be vegan. The menu changes seasonally but it also doesn't list every ingredient used in the preparation of a dish.

    Why does the Antico website say closed Saturday and Sunday? Same for yelp?

    It's closed weekends.

    What is the corkage fee?

    Corkage policy is "$35 per bottle for the first two, $50 per bottle thereafter with a maximum of four."

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    Maccheroni Republic

    Maccheroni Republic

    4.4
    (4.6k reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$

    I LOVE their Bianchi & Neri, seriously the best pasta dish they offer. I am a big fan of thin…read morespaghetti, the black noodles are because of squid ink. It is tossed with shrimp, mushrooms, and roasted pancetta, all in a rich creamy bisque. Our party of 5 all ordered this and we never regret it (about $25 per plate). We also ordered a seasonal dish called Paccheri Nero Di Polpo featuring squid ink paccheri pasta cut to resemble calamari and served with cooked octopus ragù. They serve free bread as you wait and you can help yourself to olive oil, vinegar, and/or their chili oil. Can't go wrong with an order of calamari. Their meat balls were tasty and more sausage forward.

    Maccheroni Republic - Life is full of pasta-bilities!…read more So if you know anything about me, you know that I love pasta more than just about anything. While I can only officially claim about 12% Italian heritage, I'm 100% down for Italian food, especially homemade pasta, any day of the week. I'm spending this week in Little Tokyo for a conference, and while Japanese food is also absolutely my jam, when Maccheroni Republic slid into my Yelp feed, I knew that I had to hoof it over there immediately after we broke for the day. I saw the front of the building, and my heart sank because it looked closed, but then I noted the sign that indicated that the entrance is on the right side of the building through the courtyard. Thank goodness! I strutted through the courtyard, and observed about 15 people waiting for tables. Unbothered, I went up to the host stand and chatted with the stylish maitre'd - Dino - who indicated that he could have a table for me in 7-10 minutes. I proceeded to wait and I watched how he deftly sat the other waiting parties in order without difficulty or notes. To the untrained eye, it might have looked a little chaotic, but Dino absolutely knew what he was doing. About 15 minutes later, Dino sat me at a corner deuce in the inside dining room where I had a nice view of everything. Angel efficiently took my order and did a very good job of overseeing my table as well as about nine others. The dining room is so cute and homey, and the patio is a welcome respite from the bustle and business of downtown. Since I was "da sola" or on my own, I just tried the shrimp cakes and I ordered the Rigatoni all Norma which is one of of my go to pasta dishes since I don't eat much meat. Incidentally, this dish is named after Norma, the famous 19th-century opera composed by Catanese native Vincenzo Bellini. According to legend, a famous Sicilian playwright, Nino Martoglio, tried the pasta and was so overwhelmed by its perfection that he exclaimed, "Chista è 'na vera Norma!" ("This is a true Norma!"), comparing the culinary masterpiece to the musical one. So says Wikipedia anyway. The shrimp cakes were delivered quickly by a sweet food runner who kindly checked on me periodically during my dinner. The four shrimp cakes were accompanied by sauteed onions which paired really nicely with the crispy cakes that were brightened with a spritz from the fresh lemon wedge. She also brought a basket with four slices of Italian bread which I enjoyed with the EVOO and Balsamic that were on the table. My Watermelon Ciao was also so good. It was sweetly tart and such a nice treat on a Monday! Not long after I polished off the shrimp cakes, the rigatoni was delivered and dusted with a generous layer of parmigiana. The little fresh mozzarella pearls glistened on the top of the pasta and slowly melted and oozed into the sauce as I stirred it up. Yum! The rigatoni were al dente and delicious, and they were perfectly sauced. Of course, the eggplant was perfectly cooked as well, I only wish there had been a few more pieces of it - although by the time I ate the last noodle, I was so full! Alas, I had no room for dessert, but I intend to bring some of my conference colleagues back for a meal before the end of the week because it was THAT GOOD. I also loved that this place is NOT pretentious at all. There were all sorts of folks enjoying their food here from medical professionals in scrubs to college kids in shorts and t-shirts, and I was also very casually attired, but I was treated well and welcomed with graciousness and delicious food! Mille grazie Maccheroni Republic, Dino, Angel and everyone at this wonderfully lowkey yet fabulous trattoria.

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    Interior
    Interior
    MASCARPONE FLAN
    MASCARPONE FLAN
    Scallops with squid ink risotto

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    Scallops with squid ink risotto
    Cento Pasta Bar

    Cento Pasta Bar

    4.4
    (1.2k reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$$

    Charming laidback outdoor courtyard setting nestled in trees and a lively kitchen-view, counter…read moreseating inside. The menu is inviting with plenty of great options without being overwhelming. Less is more. But let's talk art (culinary, that is). The dishes certainly deserve main features. To start "the best Caesar salad in LA" and I quote which was certainly true. Grilled octopus charred on the inside and juicy at the center. Spicy pomodoro is perfectly al dente and a well-balanced sauce. But, my favorite-- the agnolotti! Wow, melt in your mouth! The flavor profiles of corn, crème fraiche, and old bay were delicious. My only wish -- larger serving of this (smallest pasta serving on the menu). To complete it, banana pudding tiramisu -- delicious too with a firm center and oozy outside. Atala was wonderful and very sweet. Recommendation: come with a group of at least 4 to try more on the menu -- the large plates (branzino and ribeye) looked excellent! Definitely a worthwhile visit.

    Cento is located a little in the cut, but definitely worth seeking out…read more I came for dinner and we had some really outstanding dishes. Of the things we ordered, I really loved the farro salad ($22?) best. Refreshing pomegranate seeds are mixed with the farro and give the salad an added crunch. The farro sits on a bed of dill infused crème fraiche. It is a deliciously refreshing salad and the perfect complement to any meal. For pastas, the sweet corn agnolotti ($28) was so light and fun. The little pockets of agnolotti is stuffed with corn and swims in a savory broth anchored by crème fraiche. It's giving summer and I'm absolutely here for it. Cento's dining space is quaint, so make sure to make a resy.

    Photos
    The kitchen view from our seats
    The kitchen view from our seats
    Spicy Pomodoro
    Spicy Pomodoro
    Beef Tartare

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    Beef Tartare
    Bestia

    Bestia

    4.3
    (8.4k reviews)
    5.5 mi
    $$$

    This was one of the best meals I have had in a long time. The Cheap Sunglasses cocktail was nice…read more The housemaid buttermilk ricotta with grilled bread was sublime. The prosciutto and arugula salad was without equal. The Cavatelli alla Norcina was so good I thought I died and went to heaven. We ordered one of each dessert and they were all good. But the Vin Dolce Chiffon Cake, sauteed apricots & cherries and vanilla-mascarpone whipped cream, rules over them all.

    I ate at Bestia several years ago, before COVID, and I still think about that dinner today. I had…read moreflown from New York during a dreary stretch, and landing in sunny Los Angeles felt like arriving on another planet. California offered an immediate rush of light, space, and possibility. My memory is that when I turned my phone back on at LAX, my friend messaged to say he'd gotten us the hookup at Bestia. That dinner belongs to a chapter in which I spent considerable time in California and felt energized by the contrast with New York. My friend is highly discerning, with impeccable taste in food, design, and culture. He notices details most people miss, so when a place impresses him, I pay attention. From the moment I saw his message, I knew the reservation meant something. Even before we entered, Bestia's character was evident. Faded lettering crossed the corrugated metal facade, while brick walls and old loading doors preserved the warehouse's industrial history. Inside, enormous windows and garage doors brought light into a room shaped by glass, exposed ductwork, and warm amber pendants. When I fantasize about living in a loft, many of the attributes I picture are here, especially the incredible windows and connection to the street. Inside the restaurant, the dining room achieved a combination I rarely encounter. It had the table density and collective buzz of a great New York restaurant, but within a large, design-forward space closer in scale to something found in Chicago. New York creates energy through tight rooms, while Chicago excels at ambitious spaces with strong architectural identities. Bestia captured both advantages and made its considerable footprint feel alive and unified. We sat shoulder to shoulder at a pale stone counter facing the open kitchen. Golden era hip hop was playing, and A Tribe Called Quest still rings a very specific bell. I ordered the squid ink pasta, and it was exquisite, with enough depth and precision to command attention amid everything happening around us. We also spotted an unmistakably A-list celebrity, whom I will leave unnamed, making the night feel quintessentially Los Angeles. During that period, I often stayed at the Ace Hotel downtown, and the Arts District felt vibrant, raw, and full of possibility. The proximity to Skid Row could be deeply jarring, with severe hardship existing beside ambitious development and expensive restaurants. That contrast kept the neighborhood from feeling like a neat story of urban renewal, even as Bestia seemed to anchor its evolution. The warehouses and loading docks gave the area a character that no new development could convincingly recreate. Nearby, I also remember the American Apparel complex during its demise and the rise of impossibly cool Los Angeles designer John Elliott. His Escobar sweatpants and Villain hoodie helped define the kit of that moment; loyalists will understand. Los Angeles is a fickle city, drawn toward whatever is new and shiny, which makes Bestia's longevity especially impressive. Scene without substance is plastic, and Bestia earned its electricity through exceptional cooking, assured service, and a remarkable space; if I lived in Los Angeles, this would be one of the places I'd rely on whenever I wanted to impress someone. This is absolutely one of my favorite restaurants in the world.

    Photos
    Bar area!!
    Bar area!!
    "Coffee and Donuts"
    "Coffee and Donuts"
    Squid Ink Spaghetti

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    Squid Ink Spaghetti
    PASTA e PASTA by Allegro

    PASTA e PASTA by Allegro

    4.4
    (1.8k reviews)
    4.6 mi
    $$

    So shocked I hadn't heard about this place sooner but if you love pasta and don't want to spend $30…read moreon every dish this is the place to go! Loved that it had some classic dishes and some fusion ones as well. Came on a Friday night and joined the waitlist but only had to wait about 10 minutes! There was complimentary bread and a side salad that came with the entrees, and the bread was warm and delicious... We ordered the two Allegro specials on the menu-- Uni pasta and Bolognese. For appetizers we went with the server's recommendation; chicken gizzard confit. Chicken gizzard confit was mind blowing. As someone who enjoys things like gizzard, these were cooked in a way I had never had before and it was delicious. The uni pasta was sooo rich, creamy, and flavorful. 10/10 I would recommend it. The bolognese was good too it was super complex compared to the ordinary bolognese and had eggplants as well. Overall, the ambience was great and experience was amazing. Service was also very good and attentive. Super great spot for a date night or just a casual dinner with friends!

    Location did not do this restaurant justice! Inside Honda Plaza, all the way at the very end of an…read moreold aged boring plaza, Pasta e Pasta has a somewhat cartoon character signage. Once step inside, the decoration, the vibe totally changed. It's a dark hue with humbling yet elegant setting with a bar table and I almost felt like a dining in the cave ambiance. The menu was not complicated and only focused on pasta, but there are so many choices to my liking! The squid ink, the mentai cream, the uni sauce, and the garlic butter sauce. We ended up settling with Creamy Crab Gratin, mentai cream pasta, the Pescatore Bianca (seafood spaghetti), and Tarako Spaghetti (Cod roe and squid garlic butter sauce). -Crab Gratin is really creamy and cheesy. I just didn't quite get why there are a few pieces of penne pasta inside. But overall tasted good! -All pasta comes with bread and salad. The salad is really fresh and serve mostly lettuce and cherry tomato, which is how I like it. The dressing is not the ranch creamy kind, more cloudy vinaigrette based, also to my liking. -Seafood spaghetti came with a variety of seafood, shrimp, squid ring, mussels, clams, etc. The portion is huge. -Mentai cream pasta: delicious! I think if I order uni pasta, it'll be the same cream base sauce but with uni and $6 bucks more. I'm happy with my choice. The whole dish is consistent, creamy with a slight kick from the mentai, slices of mushrooms and shredded seaweeds on the top. Delish! -Tarako Spaghetti: I took a small bite and appreciated the strong taste of garlic butter in the sauce. -All 3 pasta are served with the thin spaghetti like angel hair. Service is ok, we asked for water refill and the response was polite. Dirty dishes were taken away timely. If I had more time, I would definitely come back for a second visit. A place like this deserves to be in a more upscale block on the street. Btw, parking inside the plaza is not free even though it's just a strip mall. Expect about $8 bucks for dinner parking. It's gated entrance. If you get lucky, you can park on the street and pay the meter.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    PASTA e PASTA by Allegro
    PASTA e PASTA by Allegro

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    Donna's

    Donna's

    4.3
    (709 reviews)
    3.1 mi
    $$$

    Food, incredible. Drinks, amazing. Service, always on point!…read more Always worth the hype when we come to Donna's. Had a booth this time and were one of the first people into the restaurant. Pro tip: the 5pm reservation never disappoints. Street parking was not bad either. Definitely a good date night spot!

    Wow, I was surprised at how busy this place was on a Wednesday night. We had 5:45 pm reservations…read moreand when we got here the places was FULL. I feel the seating was a little tight in certain areas put they did make clear walking paths. Traffic to get here was horrible but we got lucky and found a non-metered spot about a block away as soon as we arrived in the area. For apps, we ordered the garlic bread and meatballs. The garlic bread was different. It was a sourdough loaf with oozing garlic butter inside but was only toasted whole so overall ate very soft and I missed the typically toastiness I get with most garlic bread. The flavor was still very good, especially dipping it into the marinera that accompanied the meatballs. For entrees and sides, we ordered the lasagna, the eggplant tortellini, the chicken parmesan and the broccolini. I can only say they really like their parmesan here. I'm not the biggest fan so I brushed a lot of it off. The tortellini was the star of the show for me and I think it was partially because all the other dishes were marinera + parmesan so it gave a nice break in the flavor profile. Something to consider when ordering next time. The chicken parmesan was delicious. I found the lasagna to be okay and would pass on the broccolini next time (to be fair, I got rid of all the cheese so that probably change the flavor profile they were going for).

    Photos
    Bar area.
    Bar area.
    Vodka pasta
    Vodka pasta
    Broccolini

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    Broccolini
    Mother Wolf

    Mother Wolf

    4.0
    (1.4k reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$$$

    Food was absolutely amazing. Quality of the noodles and the pizza were impeccable, and the cooks…read morehave it down to a science. The highlight was the zucchini blossoms, their special. I recommend the arrabbiata, the oxtail ragu, and the amatriciana.

    It was the husband's choice for our final birthday celebration dinner and he was quick to decide on…read moreMother Wolf. Why? For the BISTECCA ALLA FIORENTINA (38oz Prime Porterhouse). I know, crazy, right? But we did it! You'd think just having the Porterhouse would be enough -- apparently it wasn't because we started with bread. At our server's recommendation we chose the bruschetta. Wow, what a fantastic start! The crunchy charred bread topped with the creamy Burrata and house made apricot jam was beyond delicious! Then he asked for his favorite pasta from our last visit -- SPAGHETTI ALL'ARRABBIATA. We can never get tired of this one. The house made pasta coated in that spicy sauce is so satisfying. Then came the steak. Although our server warned us that it was huge, we were still surprised when it arrived. But then came the included sides of fried fingerling potatoes and Ruchetta salad -- to say 'generous portions' is an understatement. I literally laughed at the mountain of salad when it arrived. It was all just incredible. The Prime Porterhouse was at the correct temperature, seasoned well and melt in your mouth amazing. The fried potatoes were hot, crisp and tasty. The salad was so good that the husband ate it -- I couldn't believe it! I tapped out early and in order to leave room for dessert, I had to force the husband to stop. We chose the CROSTATA DI MARMELLATA because of the apricots. We were so happy to have dined while they're in season and incorporated into Mother Wolf's menu. We were then surprised with complimentary sorbet (NETTARINA) and gelato (VANIGLIA) for our birthdays. Beautifully presented, the sweetness of each dessert was perfectly balanced and a wonderful end to a fantastic dinner. And this goes without saying -- service was impeccable. Thanks to the Mother Wolf team for another great experience!

    Photos
    Open kitchen
    Open kitchen
    Polpette Di Coda (Oxtail Meatballs)
    Polpette Di Coda (Oxtail Meatballs)
    Croquettes, least memorable of the night for me but good!

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    Croquettes, least memorable of the night for me but good!

    Antico Nuovo - italian - Updated July 2026

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