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    Maddalena Restaurant

    3.9 (92 reviews)
    ModerateSalad, Seafood, Italian
    Closed 9:30 am - 6:00 pm
    Updated 1 week ago

    Maddalena Restaurant Photos

    MADDALENA RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Touristy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Maddalena Restaurant

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    Robert B.

    We loved this hidden gem! Great Italian food, and a charming little shop and winery. We went on a seeing trip. It's nice to find such a beautiful place in such an unexpected neighborhood. We all need to explore our own backyard more. The lasagna was excellent. My panacotta dessert too. Excellent service too!

    Clam Chowder
    Michelle K.

    We came here on a rainy day after Christmas and the place was pretty empty. But we've been coming here for years and we love their food! Today was no exception! Everything was delicious and they were extra attentive. After Christmas is definitely the time to go!

    Entrance
    Matthew Y.

    I've been here a good few times and it always satisfies. One con as others have stated is that after you're seated, getting service is a little difficult, especially if they're busy. If you're able to get someone, they're extremely friendly, so not too big of a deal, but you just have to ask. Do take note that there will likely be a line on the weekends. Their Italian spritz is nice and tasty! I'd ask for light ice as sometimes, the whole glass is ice. I got the steak and eggs and that was okay. Steak was cooked fine, although a bit thin. The potatoes were actually flavored well and the scrambled eggs cooked perfectly. The side toast they give was perfect to make a little butter, jam and egg sandwich. Their filet mignon stir fry is always good! Super flavorful and beef is tender as well. A favorite of the wife. The bread they serve on the side for the pasta was actually great. It wasn't stale or hard and had a nice chew to it. The salad was fresh as well. Overall, a good place. Maybe a tad overpriced, but things these days are expensive and the whole atmosphere is worth checking out.

    Receipt order and wrong order plate

    Terrible service on both sides for wine tasting and the restaurant. Tried wine tasting and they took forever to serve us and when we did get a server he was busy going to other customers. Order from the restaurant and waited over 45 minutes. I didn't realize they gave us the wrong order until it was too late when they closed. I ordered two things and paid a lot for them to just give me one plate of salmon that was not my order at all. Will never come back to this place again. First and last time here. Very disappointed!!!!!!!

    Tiramisu
    Anton F.

    Such a great place. Maddalena's, located inside of the San Antonio Winery, is a neighborhood staple. Family owned serving the community for over 40 years, it's an all purpose restaurant, for large group gatherings for dinner or just lunch for 2. A very wide selection of food items, some of my favorites are the Classic Breakfast, Lobster Ravioli and Rack of Lamb. The Tiramisu and Cannoli are very good for desert. Mimosas, Spritz and of coarse wine, are all available as well. The service is great, from ordering, to dining, I have enjoyed the experience. I had an opportunity to meet Santo Rubilo, one of the owners, while having lunch with coworkers. Thank you very much! Definitely a place to check out while in Los Angeles.

    Nicole E.

    Maddalena is located in San Antonio winery toward the back of the building. Restaurant ordering is cafeteria style. You place your food order with the cashier and then place any wine flight orders (3 options available at $22 )with another cashier and then complete payment at the end of the line. Be sure to tip on your payment or leave cash. Otherwise, the servers seat you and bring you your food when ready. The menu is pretty large so I had a difficult time picking. I ordered the turkey melt for $17. I thought it was pretty decent. My friends ordered the spaghetti with meat balls and the chicken shiitake which all had large/generous plating. I did appreciate the fact they had displays of the entrees before ordering so you got an idea. Service was attentive but servers seemed a bit rushed. I can only imagine on a busy weekend or the holidays. Overall, a solid spot if in the area.

    Raspberry New York Cheesecake
    Matt H.

    Don't let the cafeteria concept put you off. San Antonio's Maddalena Restaurant is a truly iconic space here in Los Angeles. If you live in LA and have not experienced the place you are missing out. Great space, great service, great food, and of course great wine. I have never had a bad dish. The pasta is fresh, the chicken juicy and the sausage plentiful and spicy. The deserts, if you have room, are well worth the calories. Some of the items in "gift shop" and rotating holiday decor may be a bit haphazard and kitschy, but you will see folks from all over Los Angeles here, and it just feels right, welcoming and inclusive. A must visit.

    Chicken Dijon
    Bianka G.

    I've had more and more items and the food has definitely gotten tastier! Top 3 items for me: Shrimp Scampi Mushroom chicken Filet mignon pasta Also, service is top notch!

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    3 months ago

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    8 months ago

    Great food, ambiance, and service!! Hidden gem of downtown la. Will return again with more time

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    4 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Food was great. Of course wines are always excellent! The manager was so nice he gave me a free bottle of wine for my birthday!!

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    9 months ago

    The lamb dish is so good. The ambiance is just like you are in your own dining table, comfortable

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    11 months ago

    Wow! food and service blew me away! great place to dine and bring family to. Definitely earned 5 stars.

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    1 year ago

    Amazing food. The wine was superb! I had the shrimp and scallop paste. The bread was soft and warm and the service was great.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Maddalena Restaurant

    Can minors visit restaurant?

    Yes

    How is the food there?

    Great! Flavorful and a great selection. I went there for lunch and there was a 'visual' menu- as in they prepare all the meals and you can see the outcome before you order. Food comes out quick and the service there is great.

    View All 3 Questions

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    Maccheroni Republic

    Maccheroni Republic

    4.4
    (4.6k reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$

    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.

    First time at this restaurant. The staff was really…read morewelcoming and attentive which really makes a difference when stopping to enjoy good company and food in downtown. We went fairly early in the afternoon , to enjoy Lunch while visiting my aunt. They brought out fresh bread and it was really good, the balsamic vinegar had an amazing flavor . Forgot to snap photos of the appetizers , it's was Brushetta and The bone marrow, both were excellent Every dish came out and was sooo good , a nice portion and every dish was very well balanced and exceeded our expectations. The shrimp tasted very fresh and was perfectly plump and not overcooked. The Ragu with wild board was excellent and ragu was rich and hearty. Lasagna was very rich and decadent and we enjoyed every bite. Gnocchi con carne was delicious as well For dessert we had affogato , espresso was very rich and velvety , with the perfect sweetness. Flourless chocolate cake was amazing . We look forward coming back, the patio was really cute and offered shade and made us feel like we were transported to much calmer atmosphere (love downtown la though ) Above all else , every single staff member we encountered made the experience amazing , we will definitely be back.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    MASCARPONE FLAN
    MASCARPONE FLAN
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    Cento Pasta Bar

    Cento Pasta Bar

    4.4
    (1.2k reviews)
    7.4 mi
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    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.

    I have to admit, I don't eat pasta very often, but damn... the pasta here was amazing…read more Getting a reservation was surprisingly easy through OpenTable, which was a huge plus. We came on a Thursday night as a group of four and the place was pretty busy. From everything I've heard, Cento is one of the more popular pasta spots in LA right now, so I was excited to finally try it. We started with the radicchio salad which was delicious. Light, refreshing, and tangy, a great way to start the meal. For pasta, we ordered the Spicy Pomodoro, Sweet Corn Agnolotti, Broccoli Bucatini, and the Cavatelli Finocchio. Honestly, it was hard to pick a favorite because every single one was excellent. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente, the sauces were flavorful, and each dish felt unique. My only complaint is that the portions are a little small. I understand they're meant for sharing, but to be honest I probably could have eaten all four by myself. At around $30 per plate, this definitely isn't a cheap meal. One thing that was a little disappointing was that it was my fiancée's birthday and I had noted it on the reservation. We noticed another table receiving what looked like a special birthday dessert, but nothing was mentioned for us. My fiancée didn't want me to ask about it, so we just let it go and ended up getting dessert elsewhere. Not a huge deal, but it was a bit of a letdown. That said, the food itself was absolutely outstanding. If you're a pasta lover, this place is definitely worth checking out.

    Photos
    The kitchen view from our seats
    The kitchen view from our seats
    Spicy Pomodoro
    Spicy Pomodoro
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    Donna's

    Donna's

    4.3
    (687 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$$

    Really loved my time at Donna's. Came here for my sister's birthday dinner and it was amazing…read more The hostesses and our server were fantastic. Appreciated o how our server recommended some of her favorites on the menu. Definitely try the arugula salad if you want to change it up a bit from the usual Caesar salad. The garlic bread was a hit! It was a great mix of buttery on the inside and crispy on the outside. Chicken parm and fusilli was also sooo good! I'd recommend to do family style and share so you can try more of the menu items. The interior is very clean and beautiful. The lighting is a bit dim but it adds to the vibes of the restaurant. Will definitely come back!

    Donnas was absolutely perfect! The ambiance reminds of if literal small Italy cafe vibes, very…read moreintimate. Our server Hannah was absolutely kind and sweet. Definitely would come back again!   Garlic Bread (5/5) I honestly don't say this lightly, but this is probably the best garlic bread I have ever had in my entire life. The outside was crusty and crispy and the inside of the bread was to die for. Super soft and warm with oogey, gooey buttery-ness with each slice. There are small garlic pieces inside, but that's what explodes the bread with amazing flavor. If there's anything you need to get, it's the garlic bread for sure.   Caesar Salad (5/5) Also an amazing starter! I love how each bit of lettuce was coated with cheese, so every single bite had some love in it. Croutons added a nice crunch for texture. Solid to begin your meals with.    Chicken Parmesan (5/5) Size was large, so please come hungry! The chicken was breaded perfectly and the sauce wasn't too heavy at all. Everything paired so nicely with each other. Basil added a nice aromatic touch to the dish without overpowering it. Amazing meal.

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    L'Antica Pizzeria Da Michele

    L'Antica Pizzeria Da Michele

    4.3
    (2.6k reviews)
    6.9 mi
    $$$

    The best authentic Neapolitan pizza I've had in los Angeles. The crust was incredible, the cheese…read morewas perfect, and the arugula prosciutto pizza was outstanding. The Caesar salad was really good, and the branzino was honestly one of the best I've ever had - great presentation too. The kitchen staff in the back were some latino dudes but tbey clearly know what they're doing because the food tasted very authentic and well executed. I'm giving 3 stars for service because we waited way too long for our bottle of wine. When it finally came out, it wasn't the bottle I ordered, and our waitress Lauren insisted it was the same thing, which felt insulting because it was obviously not the same vintage - it was off by two years. At that point, I just wanted some wine already, so l let it go. That said, the ambiance was great, and the food alone makes this place worth visiting.

    Would I recommend this restaurant? Not really…read more From the outside, the restaurant looks okay and doesn't particularly stand out, but once you walk inside, it's very cute and nicely decorated. The atmosphere is pleasant. Sitting outside in their back patio was enjoyable, while the indoor dining area is cozy and aesthetically pleasing. Everything looks appealing and well-presented, but unfortunately, much of the food lacked flavor. I ordered the Pappardelle Genovese pasta, and although it looked delicious and had plenty of meat, it was surprisingly bland. I even added sea salt to try to enhance the flavor, but it was still only average. The pizza wasn't bad, but it's not something I would order again. The drinks were fine and looked cute, but nothing particularly memorable. My favorite item was the beet salad. It was delicious and well balanced, with mixed greens, goat cheese, hazelnuts, and a balsamic vinaigrette. That was definitely the standout dish of the meal. Overall, the ambiance, decor, and presentation were better than the food itself. While it's a nice place to visit and enjoy the atmosphere, I probably wouldn't return for the food.

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    Interior.
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    Mother Wolf

    Mother Wolf

    4.1
    (1.4k reviews)
    6.6 mi
    $$$$

    Mother Wolf continues to set the standard for Italian dining in Los Angeles…read more The service was nothing short of phenomenal. Andrés was an absolute professional--his knowledge of the menu was outstanding, and his recommendations made the entire experience even better. He was attentive, personable, and clearly passionate about ensuring every guest had an exceptional meal. The food was spectacular. Every dish was cooked to perfection, and every bite transports you straight to Rome--except with much more comfortable seating (IYKYK). The quality of the ingredients and attention to detail are evident in every course. And don't skip dessert--the dessert menu is absolutely top-tier and the perfect ending to an unforgettable meal. The ambiance ties everything together perfectly. The music creates an energetic, upbeat atmosphere that's ideal whether you're kicking off a night out or winding down after a fun-filled day. It strikes the perfect balance between elegant and lively. Mother Wolf isn't just a restaurant--it's an experience. Between the incredible food, impeccable service from Andrés, and vibrant atmosphere, it's easy to see why it's one of the best dining destinations in Los Angeles.

    A nice dinner spot to give a try if you are craving some good Italian food. I had a reservation but…read moreit didn't get very busy when I was there on a Saturday night. I know this place used to be pretty busy and booked but think the hype might've died down? But I love it cause I was able to enjoy dinner with my friends comfortably. We ordered the arugula salad, squash blossoms, bread, prawns in the salsa verde sauce, oxtail meatballs, the oxtail ragu pasta and carbonara pasta. The salad was delicious and the perfect start to the carb overload coming. It was the perfect amount of lemon that it wasn't overpowering. The squash blossoms were delicious! Definitely one of our top three dishes. The bread was airy and simple, but it was delicious. The prawns and the sauce. *Chef's kiss* The meatballs were delicious and definitely something unique and different. Definitely enjoyed that. The oxtail ragu pasta was delicious. The carbonara pasta was a little undercooked and the flavor wasn't there. It just tasted like butter and pasta.. that was probably our least favorite dish. Everything was good and would be back again to try maybe some other pastas or even the pizzas.

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

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

    Maddalena Restaurant - salad - Updated June 2026

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