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    Chi Spacca

    4.2 (808 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndItalian
    Open 6:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Chi Spacca Photos

    CHI SPACCA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Intimate
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Chi Spacca

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    Reviews With Photos

    Beef and Bone Marrow Pie
    Sandy Y.

    This meat speakeasy has a cozy and intimate vibe. I loved sitting up at the counter and watching all the chefs in action! FYI, some of the items can take 1 hr + to be made (like the oxtail), so keep that in mind! Knowing this helped us make our menu selection. We ended up ordering the anchovy + butter, branzino, cabbage, and beef & marrow pot pie. Anchovy + Butter: I was astonished by how much butter there was! I ended up having to scrape some off. Once I had the preferred amount of butter, the anchovy + toasted bread + butter combo was packed with flavor and textures. Branzino: Prob my fav dish of the night. The branzino was cooked perfectly with its crispy edge. The bed of herb salad and charred lemon was a great pairing with the fish, giving the dish a nice acidic element. Beef & Marrow Pot Pie: I love pot pies so this was a no brainer to order! Its very unique and photogenic. There's a generous amount of beef inside. This dish is also served with a side of extremely creamy mashed potatoes. FYI, this dish takes longer to come out! Cabbage: Nothing too exciting, it was nice to have a veggie side. You feel very well taken care of here. There's plenty of metered street parking around (and after 6PM, its free).

    Beef and Bone Marrow Pie
    Julia H.

    Came to Chi Spacca with a group of 4. Reservations were made in advance. We arrived about 15 minutes early and were seated outside when I saw plenty of tables inside. The reason? Because we checked in early...I've seen a lot of other reviews about how reservation times weren't followed, so I think that may be the norm here. They really should add some shades on the outside dining, because as the sun sets, you're literally sitting in the sun. Moving onto the food, our group wasn't really impressed. I think the only dishes I loved were: -a few of the items from the Affettati Misti (like a charcuterie meat plate) -- The croquette trotter, 'nduja and rabbit pate were all good and paired well with their Focaccia di Recco. All the sliced meats were a bit too salty. -The Beef & Bone Marrow Pie, though it was a very hearty & heavy dish. -Grilled Octopus, this could've used more lime wedges, but I liked the cranberry beans that comes with this dish. The Hanger Steak was nothing to rave about (a bit over); the Glazed Lamb Ribs were okay, some pieces were fall off the bone, but the one I had barely had any meat on it; Short Ribs were also just okay and very oily. We ordered a wine that was around $75 per bottle, can't remember the name but their sommelier recommended. This was pretty good as it paired nicely with all the meat we ordered. Lastly for dessert, we ordered the Gelato with Olive Oil & Sea Salt. Too much sea salt, and their olive oil was likely a bit rancid. Nothing like what I had in Italy before, so that was a disappointment. We did notice a lot of parties picking up takeout pizza for their sister restaurant, so I wonder if that's any good...but I won't be visiting again for Chi Spacca. They have valet available, though I didn't see where. We were lucky enough to find street parking on a small street nearby (not monitored on Sundays).

    Juan F.

    It pains me to write this review. I have been coming for almost 10 years now on special ocasions. This is actually one of my wife's favorite restaurants. I fell in love with their Foccacia and their Tomahawk Pork Chop. Every year, service was excellent and good was great. Even our kids love it. However, on our last visit last week everything went downhill. We got seated on time at 6pm during our reservation time. We ordered pretty much everything immediately. Salad and Foccacia came within 20min but the entrees did not come until 8pm. We kept asking our server and manager for updates on our food and all we heard was "its coming soon" or "let me check on it". When the food finally came, the pork was EXTREMELY salty. To top it off, the lady in the table next to us was throwing up mid dinner which definitely added to the experience. Not sure if I would come back.

    Pepper B.

    Loved this spot. Out of the 3 Nancy Silverton places that occupy this corner this one is probably my 3rd choice. I love Osteria Mozza, it's my number one and then Pizza is two. Chi SPACCA has a great intimate vibe. The service is very attentive. My only tweak would be its pretty tight quarters, the tables are small and then they're serving you huge portions to try to fit on your table. Not to mention EVERYONE is waiting. Chi SPACCA definitely has the longest wait times for the food out of the 3 cause the menu is so meat heavy. It's just a constant circling of servers and managers telling people, it's coming soon, it'll be a little longer. Stuff takes a good while here. Delicious though!

    Bistecca Fiorentina 50 oz
    Aaron M.

    Chi Spacca is such a gem in LA. I love coming here to enjoy their steak and wine. Came to celebrate an anniversary and the whole team treated us so well and gave us an amazing dinner. From start to finish, the meals were coursed out perfectly. Perfect for an intimate dinner and dinner with a group, Chi Spacca does well the accommodate. Our favorite here is definitely the Bistecca fiorentina, the 50z porterhouse. Definitely worth it!

    Stewart L.

    This was my second visit to Chi Spacca, the smallest and most meat-centric of Nancy Silverton's 3-restaurant complex on the corner of Melrose and Highland. I came this time specifically for their smash burger, served only at the counter on Mon. and Tues. The counter has 6 seats, and everyone seated there ordered the burger The burger is the most economical dish on the menu. Chi Spacca is not a live fire place (although there is a wood-burning oven), so they have a grill and a flat top. At the counter, I saw huge chunks of meat (New York and Porterhouse) spend large chunks of time on the grill on all sides; an instant-read thermometer was used. The burger of course had a much shorter cook on the flat top. It has 2 patties, American cheese, Calabrian chili aioli, lettuce, tomato, grilled onions and pickles on a toasted sesame bun. The burger was fine. I did not really taste the chili aioli, and the bun did not hold up well, but overall pretty tasty. I started with roasted squash blossoms. These are of course stuffed with ricotta and served with a tangy tomato vinaigrette that had more punch than a traditional marinara, plus basil. Classic. I also ordered the onion rings. They were large, beautifully battered and fried, along with some greens (parsley?). Very crisp and light, but I couldn't really taste the onion flavour. They came with a nice garlic aioli, but I prefer simple ketchup, which they do provide without resistance. For dessert they offer vanilla soft serve ice cream with a choice of 4 toppings; I chose the saucy dates and salted pecans. Delish. Service was decent, but they somehow my burger order was not put in or noticed. I saw 3 guys who arrived after me receive their burgers and sides before me. They were receiving their 2nd round of burgers when I finally got my first, which I may not have received at all had I not asked. When I went to the restroom after the main course but before dessert, they cleared my seat, thinking I had left. Luckily they didn't discard my leftovers! Overall the burger experience is probably a one and done for me. Should I return, I'd probably get a savory pie or grilled meat.

    Hanger Steak
    Mike L.

    Having been to Mozza, we wanted to try its sister restaurant Chi Spacca. When we arrived on a Sunday evening, all the street parking was full so we ended up using their valet. Upon entering the restaurant, we were immediately greeted by the hostess and taken to our seats. The dining space was intimate. The tables were almost a bit too close together though. We were hungry that evening so we ended up ordering a few more things that we could finish: the hanger steak, the octopus, the romanesco, the caesar salad, and the salted dates. We started our meal with bread and their Caesar salad. The bread was toasty yet tender, nothing too special. But the Caesar salad was delicious! The dressing was rich and creamy. The greens were crisp. The anchovies were briny, but the saltiness added the right amount of savoriness to the dish. What made the salad more special was the use of lemon and orange juice/zest that really brightened up the salad. After finishing most of our starters, we decided to add the salted dates due to our server's recommendation. We were a bit concerned that the dates would be too sweet, but we were pleasantly surprised. The dates were charred and salted resulting in bitter and savory flavors that helped balance the natural sweetness of the date. For our main dishes, we ordered the grilled octopus, the hanger steak, and the romanesco. The steak was perfectly cooked and paired very well with the bed of braised leeks. Unfortunately the horseradish flavor didn't come through enough. The grilled octopus was also very delicious. It was very tender and the beans and sauce really paired well with the octopus. Lastly we wanted a vegetable with our meal so we opted for the romanesco. The romanesco was cooked well and still firm. The bagna cauda brought the acid and savory flavors to the dish. All in all, it was a great meal and a great experience!

    Cindy S.

    Amazing service and amazing food to make my birthday feel extra special. I enjoyed the handwritten birthday card. The open dining space that looks directly into the kitchen provided warm vibes. The parking was a bit challenging but was able to find nearby street parking.

    Cross section of Beef and Bone Marrow Pie
    Ken C.

    Chi Spacca is a Michelin recommended restaurant by Nancy Silverton that focuses on meats cooked over open fire. The LA Times has it perennially ranked high on their top 101 restaurant list. The charcuterie is definitely worth trying as they cure their meats in house. I'm happy that they were willing to serve us a "half portion" of their charcuterie ($20 for half portion), which was a great value and shareable for two (assuming that you'll be ordering entrees). What's interesting about the charcuterie is that the sampling of meats has a variety of flavors and textures that you can't really appreciate unless you try them for yourself. The foccacia di recco ($36) is a recipe that took Silverton two years to master. The dough is kneaded out thinner than paper and the layers are filled with cheese. This makes cheesy bread with cracker-like consistency. They gave the option of pairing it with black truffle (which we did for a portion of the bread at a cost of $6/gram), and we also paired this flatbread with their charcuterie. I don't feel that black truffle is necessary as an add on to the thin, crispy bread, particularly if you plan to eat your bread with other things. If I were to come back, I'd honestly order different breads. The beef cheek and bone marrow pie ($68) is their most instagrammable option (other than their signature, dry-aged 50 oz steak). It has a really buttery crust, a rich and savory demi-glace sauce, and a very rich and savory beef cheek that's amplified by bone marrow. If, for some reason, you want even more richness, it's served with really creamy mashed potatoes that likely has a ton of butter. It's good, but it was far too rich, heavy, and decadent for my taste. If you want vegetable side dishes, I really enjoyed their roasted carrots ($17), which were flavored with harissa, yogurt, and dill. It was nice to cut some of the richness of the bone marrow. Our favorite bite of the evening was with their porcini rubbed short ribs ($68). The ribs were cut thin like LA-style galbi and heavily seasoned with the porcini rub, which gave some strongly savory flavor. Overall, I think it was a nice, albeit very expensive dinner. If you are a chase sapphire card holder, this restaurant qualifies for the bi-annual $150 credit if you book a reservation through OpenTable. My three-star review is absolutely not because this restaurant is lacking quality and flavor; rather, I feel it's because LA has a handful of places that offer better value for wagyu and prime beef cooked over fire. I realize that there's nothing value about Wagyu and many will disagree with me; therefore, if you have this on your bookmark list, then you should absolutely try it for a special occasion. Just make sure to be ready to splurge for some of those signature cuts of meat.

    Onion Rings
    Betty N.

    **SOLID ITALIAN IN LA** PARKING Valet is your best bet. If not, be ready to walk a few blocks and hope for street parking. AMBIANCE Small, dark, and moody in a good way. We sat at the chef's counter, hands down the best seats in the house. Great view of the action and adds to the experience. FOOD Focaccia di Recco - $34 Stracchino and extra virgin olive oil. This was the standout starter. Beautiful presentation, light and crispy with excellent flavor. Worth every bite. RATING: 5/5 Chicken Pot Pie with Roasted Carrots - $48 A large, hearty pie paired with buttered, creamy roasted carrots. Comforting and rich, definitely meant to be shared. Prefer more American traditional. We ordered too many dishes and couldn't finish the pie but was an excellent leftover. RATING: 4/5 Hanger Steak - $45 Cooked perfectly medium rare with braised leeks, Pecorino, and horseradish. Bold, balanced, and packed with flavor. One of the best dishes of the night. RATING: 5/5 Onion Rings - $17 Big battered rings with garlic aioli. Good flavor, but the batter was thicker than I prefer. Lighter would've been better. RATING: 4/5 OVERALL Excellent choice for a date night or special occasion. Undoubtedly request seats at the chef's counter. Service was fantastic, pacing was spot-on, and our waiter was friendly and professional. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

    Leigh S.

    Welcome back chi I missed how good you can be. Super attentive great service incredible ambience and the food! Each bite was better than the next. The squid was incredible The artichokes a treat I only wish the 36oz New York was fattier The carrots? Insane The mushrooms? Don't skip I love you chi I'm so glad the greatness has been restored I already want to go back

    Kay D.

    SAPPHIRE CARD HOLDERS BE AWARE THEY CHARGE YOU AS MOZZA2GO instead of CHI SPACCA . I feel strongly enough about this experience that I needed to let it sit before writing, because the frustration was unreal. My reservation was for 8:45 PM. I checked in an hour early at 7:45 PM, politely letting the host know I had called ahead and asking if there happened to be an earlier table available as I am commuting 2 hours. Totally understood that there were no guarantees. What I did not understand was being seated 30 minutes past my reservation time -- and only after standing around watching tables turn, guests shuffle in and out, and staff move back and forth in a space that already feels claustrophobic and chaotic. I even watched as a couple with the same reservation time (who had asked for the bar & come in after me) get seated before me in the same area. I've attached proof of my reservation and the timestamp showing when we were finally seated. This is Los Angeles. In the vastness of this city, no restaurant is worth this amount of wasted time and money. I make the drive for good food and LA is a city filled with one Michelin stars and listed spots, even many unlisted that are hidden gems - I'd recommend Gwen another spot just a mile away for sapphire card holders and everyday consumers. And the most disappointing part? The food didn't even come close to justifying it. Mediocre food the tones were all sour. Nothing memorable, nothing exciting, nothing that made me think, "Okay, at least this was worth the wait." At the end of the day if the food is not amazing at this price you are selling the experience - service, ambiance, and even food was not even worth half the price point. If you are used to flavors seasonings beyond salty, sour, oily if you are looking for umami something with substance - this is not it. The support they receive here Is an idea and illusion of a bustling popular eatery when it's in fact three places that make up what should just be just a pizzeria. The worse part is my server was actually nice, I feel so incredibly bad and this is in no way the servers fault but timely service and good food are aspects of a dinner anticipated especially at this price point. I wanted to leave but at every point it was a game of cat and dog - give it a few more minutes just a few. The ambiance only made things worse -- cramped, loud, constant traffic, and an overall feeling of being rushed out rather than welcomed in. Limited space plus constant movement completely kills whatever atmosphere this place is trying to sell. I left frustrated, disappointed, and honestly confused. A restaurant asking for this level of patience should deliver something exceptional. Chi Spacca didn't come anywhere close.

    Nijole T.

    The food here is phenomenal! We booked a a private event with their famed pig head dinner for a special celebration in our family. From the moment we were greeted, service was impeccable. Every wind was catered, too, they exceeded our every expectation! We sampled our way through their entire menu, one dish, more mouthwatering than the next! You can simply taste the care and quality that is put into each detail, each bite, and each dish. Prices are fair, considering you are eating food made by one of the best chefs in town! I love the open kitchen and vibe of the restaurant, it feels cozy and intimate. Highly recommended for a special occasion. I will have to come back for their famed burger night on Mondays!

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    It's ok to visit this restaurant to see. Focaccia bread is amazing. But over all over priced. But not bad.

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    Page 2 of 21

    Chi Spacca Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Chi Spacca

    Can they accommodate for a gluten allergy?

    Is this restaurant reservation only?

    Is there a suggested dress code?

    No but most people who go are on dates or anniversary or business

    Is the bone marrow pie always on the meal?

    Yes

    How many dishes / what assortment would be suitable for a party of 2?

    If you ordered an appetizer, salad or side dish and main entree it would be a nice balanced meal for two. So 3-4 dishes.

    What's the corkage fee?

    $30 a bottle. 2 bottle max strictly enforced.

    View All 10 Questions

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    I came here last year for my birthday as well! I love how their delicious pastas are made fresh…read moredaily! I already knew that I wanted! I knew I wanted the bone marrow (again! We also ordered frtto misti (fried calamari and fried shrimp) as an additional appetizer which was deliciously light and crunchy! I've never had osso bucco before, so l presumably I thought they'd be using veal shank, but it was beef shank. The flavors tasted are of those that have been simmering cohesively on a low flame for several hours! It was what I'd expect in an Italian stew! Accompanied by a side of perfectly orchestrated I also had their squid ink risotto. Very distinctive flavor mixed within this squid ink plate. Bay scallops mixed within the squid ink and risotto. I just wish it was a little softer. I thought it could've used perhaps 5 additional minutes! Topped off with 2 perfectly cooked diver scallops! To end my birthday meal, I had a frozen creamy treat of affogato! Yay!! Happy 55 to me! I'm blessed to have enjoyed another delicious birthday dinner at Maccheroni Republic

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    Cento Pasta Bar - Carbonara

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    4.4(1.2k reviews)
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    We came here for my birthday dinner and ordered a number of items…read more To start, we got the Caesar salad and mussels. The salad was actually really good but the mussels lacked flavor. I wouldn't recommend the mussels. Then we shared the carbonara and the spicy pomodoro. My friend really liked the carbonara but personally I thought it was okay. The spicy pomodoro was fantastic though. The right amount of flavor and creaminess. I can see why this is their best dish. To finish we got the banana pudding tiramisu. Honestly this was just okay. I heard so many rave reviews about this but maybe it was an off night but I've definitely have had better elsewhere.

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    OSTE - Mortadella Pinsa

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    4.6(1.5k reviews)
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    A friend took me to Oste for a belated birthday dinner, and since it was my first time there, I was…read morecurious to see what all the buzz was about. We arrived a little early for our reservation, and even though they were busy, they seated us right away outside. Our table was along the walkway, which wouldn't necessarily be my first choice next time, but I appreciated that they got us settled without making us wait around. The outdoor area had a relaxed neighborhood feel, and it was nice being outside while the evening was warm. We started with the Fiori di Zucca. The squash blossoms were stuffed with ricotta and Parmigiano, lightly fried, and served with marinara. They were good, although they weren't the dish I found myself thinking about afterward. That honor goes to the mussels. I wasn't expecting them to be my favorite thing we ordered, but they absolutely were. The broth was flavorful enough that I kept going back to it after the mussels were gone, which is usually my personal test for whether a mussel dish has done its job. We also shared the Pappardelle alla Vaccinara with braised oxtail ragù, Parmigiano, and rosemary oil. The ragù had a deep, meaty flavor, and I liked how the rosemary oil cut through some of the richness. It was a solid pasta, but the mussels still won the night for me. My cocktail was light and refreshing, with cucumber and mint, and worked especially well with dinner outside. Everything we ordered was flavorful, and the meal made for a lovely belated birthday dinner. Parking around this stretch of 3rd can be a little tricky. I ended up finding street parking a few blocks away, but Oste does offer valet, which would have saved me the neighborhood parking hunt. For a first visit, I'm glad I finally got to try Oste. It was a relaxed, flavorful dinner and a really nice way to celebrate a belated birthday.

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    Settecento

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    4.4(1.1k reviews)
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    4.7 miEcho Park
    $$$

    Donna's is inspired by an east coast great red sauce. The menu Italian-American classics, but also…read moredone with California ingredients. They have a full bar and a great wine list. You really need a reservation. It is large, but it fills up. The place is comfortable and clean. The bathrooms are great. It is family and tourist friendly and you can bring your kids. The service is perfect. They know the menu and can guide you. They are there when you need them and leave you to linger if you want. Their food is great, all of it. We rarely get a Chef's wine pairing menu, but we did this time and we were blown away by the food and the pairing. We has summer truffles, Crostone which is pear, great butter and orange blossom with robiola. We also had heirloom tomato with stone fruit. We also had lamb and a wonderful dessert. The wine was perfect. We also love all of their red sauce pastas and have tried most of them. You will love this place.

    Donna's is incredible. The service is top notch, the decor is charming, and the cocktails are…read moreamazing. As an avid apple juice lover, if apple juice is on the menu then it must be amazing, right? Right... because it was the literal champagne of apple juice. A must order for apple juice lovers. As if that wasn't enough, the food was just as spectacular. We ordered: -Garlic bread (3/5) (It's good but a little much for me) - Shrimp scampi (4/5) (Please note that this is not served with pasta, just the prawns and the garlic bread is a must pair with this) -Linguini with clams (4/5) -Tiramisu (5/5) I'd come back a million times to try everything on the menu and repeat my favorites.

    Photos
    Donna's - Bar area.

    Bar area.

    Donna's - Vodka pasta

    Vodka pasta

    Donna's - Broccolini

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    Broccolini

    Mother Wolf

    Mother Wolf

    4.0(1.4k reviews)
    1.2 miHollywood
    $$$$

    I've been to Mother Wolf a few times now for business lunches, girls' nights, and birthday…read morecelebrations, and it's become one of those places I'm always happy to go back to. The dining room has a polished, old-world feel with deep red banquettes, mirrored walls, oversized floral arrangements, chandeliers, and the open kitchen glowing in the background. It feels grand without being stiff, and once the room fills up, there's a real buzz to it. The Fiori di Zucca are probably my favorite thing on the menu. I could eat these squash blossoms for the rest of my life and remain completely at peace with that decision. They're stuffed with ricotta and Parmigiano, fried until crisp, and they somehow disappear from the table very quickly. The Burrata e Crudo is another automatic order for me. Creamy burrata, prosciutto, basil, olive oil. Simple, excellent, and usually gone once everyone starts sharing. For pasta, I almost always come back to the Rigatoncini alla Vaccinara with oxtail ragù, guanciale, peperoncino, and pecorino. It's rich and comforting and one of those dishes I look forward to ordering again. I also love the Spaghetti all'Arrabbiata when I want something with a little heat. The tomato sauce is bright and punchy, with just enough spice to keep me going back for another bite. I've had the pizza and liked it, but if I have limited room, I'm choosing the pasta. Their cocktails are consistently good. Their espresso martini has made more than one appearance at my table, and at this point I consider us to be in a committed relationship. Service has been solid across my visits, and they offer valet, which I appreciate because Hollywood parking has never once tried to make anyone's evening easier. Mother Wolf has become a repeat for me, whether I'm there for work, dinner with friends, or celebrating something. And yes, I'm ordering the squash blossoms again.

    Was the worse night ever ! The service was horrible, the…read moreambience was very disturbing- and the food was just Ok . We were waiting for over an hour just for the bread and salad , and then another 35 min for pasta - absolutely embarrassing for restaurant like this that this is the service !! Our DRINKS - came with mushy straws and all the ice was already melted in our Gin! Definitely not deserved the amount we paid . I'm from Vegas and something like that would never happen there. The worst location of mother wolf - definitely NOT recommended!!!!

    Photos
    Mother Wolf - Open kitchen

    Open kitchen

    Mother Wolf - Polpette Di Coda (Oxtail Meatballs)

    Polpette Di Coda (Oxtail Meatballs)

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

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

    Chi Spacca - italian - Updated September 2026

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