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    Mona Pasta Bar

    4.6 (151 reviews)
    PriceyItalian, Wine Bars
    Closed Closed

    Mona Pasta Bar Reservations

    Order Mona Pasta Bar Takeout or Delivery

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    MONA PASTA BAR ATMOSPHERE

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    Hipster
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    Recommended Reviews - Mona Pasta Bar

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    Casarecce  Cacio e Pepe
    Daniel W.

    Mona Pasta bar is a cute little store in the fashion district that has a lot going for it, but also many things stopping me from wanting to go back. Let's start with the good - great atmosphere and decor, intimate dining room, and nice view of the street for people watching from some seats. The restrooms are make you feel like a mental asylum patient (in a good way)! There are also some great options on the menu - the meatballs appetizer was very good. However, there are many parts of the experience that could be improved for this kind of restaurant. We came at 6 PM for a reservation and the restaurant was already full. Throughout our meal I found it difficult to call for service since there were so many people and so few staff - just one person handling the bar, payments, and a lot of the food as well. Our pasta dishes were below expectations. We had the casarecce and cacio e Pepe. The cacio e Pepe felt under seasoned - it was only creamy with not much savory taste at all, almost watery. The casarecce was better but still felt a little under salted. The actual pasta noodles were made quite well though - for fresh pasta, they were cooked not too soft and a great texture different from normal dried pastas. Logistically, it was quite difficult to find parking. Pretty much only street parking and paid lots nearby. For the price and location, I expected a little more. In a city with so many incredible Italian options, not sure this spot stands out. Maybe I'll be back in the future, but I won't be planning for it.

    Caesar salad
    Ahlennah B.

    Have you ever wanted to have dinner on the set of a bathroom from the 1980s world of American Psycho? If so, this is the level of tile, reflective surfaces, red light, and (volume of) retro lounge music for you. All pasta dishes were cooked competently, but nothing I would crave going back for in the future. The calamari was surprisingly spicy - more than my preferred level, so I'd skip that next time. The Caesar salad was quite nice. TONS of cheese. Same with the brussel sprouts, which we enjoyed. This place is definitely about the vibe and the proximity to other activities downtown. It was a busy Thursday night when we were there. It was somewhat cramped and difficult to get around inside, and service was a little slow due to the busy-ness. Wait staff was friendly and made good suggestions!

    Alyssa N.

    Me and my friends visited for a girls night and loved this place!! We had a reservation for a Friday night for 6 people. It wasn't busy at all and we stayed until close LOL. The staff was really nice. It's a cute restaurant, has pink decor everywhere. It's pretty small and parking is tough! I ordered the pomodoro pasta, it's not on the menu. Its a great dish, very balanced and not too heavy :) We also ordered a few bottles to share with the table. Everyone loved their dishes-- I wasn't able to try them all, but it was the perfect vibe for our group to catch up!

    Cacio e Pepe
    Alana C.

    We had an exceptional experience here. The service was impeccable and the ambiance was simply lovely. The pasta was absolutely delicious. We visited this restaurant as part of a stop on the Red Dining Book food guide, and it certainly lived up to the hype.

    Menu
    Travelle M.

    This was my second time visiting Mona Pasta Bar, and once again, it did not disappoint. The service was fantastic--attentive, warm, and genuinely thoughtful. The ambiance is quaint and chic, with a beautifully minimal setting that feels both cozy and intentional. What really stood out to me was how memorable the experience was. I still remembered the wine I had on my first visit, and although it was no longer on the menu, our wonderful server recommended a natural wine alternative that was absolutely perfect--fresh, effervescent, and exactly what I was hoping for. For food, I had the meatballs along with the tomato and burrata salad, both of which were delicious and well-balanced. My counterpart ordered the Brussels sprouts bolognese and thoroughly enjoyed it as well. All in all, it was a great second experience, and I'm already looking forward to returning again soon. Mona Pasta Bar continues to deliver on quality, service, and atmosphere.

    Calamari fritti, meatballs, pappardelle bolognese - so good!!!
    Danielle L.

    I really do not have much to add but can attest that the pappardelle bolognese is amazing!! Mona gets it every time!

    Dinner before the Concert
    Pam S.

    OMG!! we came here before the Angus and Julia Stone concert (around the corner from the Orpheum Theatre) the last Saturday in June and what a cozy little joint this place is! We sat at the bar Service was spot on, my wine was delicious (a Chenin Blanc) and the Bolognese Pappardelle was mouthwateringly good! The wine list consist of natural wines. Such a chill vibe in here but we were early in our reservations so keeping that in mind I'd say it might get busier the later the hour. Also be aware they do NOT take cash for payment of your meal. They do, of course for tips just not for the meal. Not a lot of room in here so don't come with the thought of a romantic dinner for two where you can whisper sweet-nothings to one another without someone else overhearing hahaha. Parking lot was well lit behind the building, it is shared with the Theater. Respectfully Reviewed.

    Meatballs
    Nina F.

    I went into this restaurant on a weeknight and was seated immediately. It's a bit dark in there and wasn't loud so you could definitely have more of a romantic date vibe with conversation. The service itself was fine. Our waiter was attentive and the food came out pretty fast. It's not my favorite but pasta place in DTLA nor I would say the top three but I could see coming to this restaurant frequently if you're a local.

    Filet mignon
    Jaquelyne L.

    We went on a Sunday night and it was surprisingly empty. The service was great, but the staff is small as the space is small as well. However, the server was attentive and the food came out timely. We ordered the burrata, cacio e pipe, filet mignon, calamari, and meatballs. All were pretty good but some better than others of course. The burrata with tomatoes were so delicious and I am not a tomatoe fan, but the dish was so cohesive with the dollops of pesto and sprinkling of sea salt. The cacio e pepe was delicious as well and very cheesy, so be prepared. The bucatini was the perfect texture and just the right amount of chew to hold the sauce. Everything else ordered was good, but those were my top picks.

    Baby artichokes

    Super delicious!!! 10/10 recommend this place and the service is amazing. Such sweet people with a New York vibe.

    Tiramisu
    Sarah E.

    Probably one of my favorite meals in recent memory. We were just walking by and the cozy atmosphere and dim lighting pulled us in. The calamari was great. The caesar salad was great as well, although I do wish it was chopped just so the flavors were distributed better. We each ordered a pasta and it was difficult to choose, I wanted to try each one! However I feel I chose right for my first time. The pasta texture was so perfect and the flavor to die for. The meat was incredibly tender. We raved about it the whole walk home! I had a glass of white and my bf two glasses of a red, both recommendations of the server who was pleasant and the perfect amount of presence during our meal. We never felt forgotten or bombarded. The tiramisu was so creamy and delicious. Overall I can't wait to go back and try the rest of the menu!

    Vodka pasta
    Natalia M.

    Mona is a little pasta bar I came across that I tried last week. First impression was the music, very fun and energetic for a late night dinner! Second, small but cozy spot with terrible parking lol (we ended up spending $15 each) Now for the food, we ordered some apps. the raw fish, the artichokes and the Brussels sprouts. The artichokes were a bit dry but honestly still tasted good to me, my friends didn't love them. The Brussels sprouts and crudo were incredible! I'd come back for them. The vodka pasta was okay to me but the clam pasta was a lot better! Service throughout the night was good. It's worth coming by and trying for a date night!

    Meatballs
    Gerico S.

    A new pasta bar opened in the neighborhood and we had to check it out. We came in on a Friday night as soon as they opened during their happy hour. The restaurant was really cute with a laidback ambiance. We ordered: - Calamari Fritti - Meatballs - Cheese Board - Pappardelle Bolognese - Olive Oil Cake The calamari was good but can't really mess up on that lol. We enjoyed the meatballs. They were juicy and had a bouncy texture. The cheese board was really good - next time I'd want to add the charcuterie. The olive oil cake was light and the perfect way to end the meal. When we get pasta, we usually order the Pappardelle Bolognese and although this one was cooked well, it wasn't our favorite. Would go back for happy hour!

    Bucatini Cacio e pepe

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    Great food, cozy restaurant, amazing service. We had one dinner in LA and was so happy to have had it here. Highly recommended.

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