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    Monarca Pasta & Grill

    4.6 (194 reviews)
    InexpensiveItalian
    Open • 11:00 am - 7:00 pm

    Monarca Pasta & Grill Photos

    Business Info

    MONARCA PASTA & GRILL ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Jaelarra J.

    While looking for food in the area, I came across this place based on its reviews and decided to give it a try. I ordered the Chicken Lasagna and the black sauce pasta. I asked the gentleman taking my order if I could add extra veggies to the pasta, but after driving an hour back to my side of town, I realized none of the additional veggies nor shrimp I requested were included. The Chicken Lasagna was decent--different, but I'd rate it a 7/10. As for the black sauce pasta, I was told it would have some spice, but it ended up being more on the sweet side, almost like it had a hint of BBQ sauce. I'd rate that a 4/10.

    Italian bread
    Victoria M.

    The food was amazing and the ambience was fun and accessible! In addition to the shrimp scampi spaghetti and bread being delicious so was the lemonade I ordered.

    Carne Asada
    Monifa S.

    Monarca is a little mom & pop restaurant in a tiny shopping center. It may seem a little sketchy from the looks of it, but the food did not disappoint. Came here for dinner with a party of 4. The seating is tight, but it works. I would honestly call it a fusion restaurant as there are Italian, American, and Mexican cuisine options. There is also a parking lot. It is a little small but we were able to find street parking. We were a little confused at first regarding seating, but it is seat yourself. Someone eventually brought us a menu and provided us with beverages. The server was very kind and attentive. She did her best at explaining stuff to us. I got the carne asada with tortillas and rice and beans. As we were waiting for the food, we were given fresh tortilla chips and salsa. The chips were so good as they were crunchy, warm, and sweet. The salsa was not a spicy salsa, but it had a very light taste. The carne asada was well seasoned and moist. The rice and beans were average. The tortillas were not homemade or anything special, but they were good. I enjoyed the food and was very full. The prices at this place are unmatched. The carne asada meal was less than $10. AMAZING!! Overall, I enjoyed the food and would most likely come back here.

    Monarca chicken pasta and carne asada. So delicious!
    Tiffany C.

    It was our first time here at this place and overall we really liked it! ENVIRONMENT: This place is a hole-in-the-wall hidden gem. It's a very small restaurant with 8 tables total (3 two-person tables and 5 four-person booths). There weren't many people when we went but it might get crowded on other days. We parked on the street to get here. SERVICE: The servers are very friendly & attentive and made sure that we had everything we needed throughout our meal. Wait time was also very quick. They also gave us free chips and salsa as we waited for our food. FOOD: We ordered 2 entrees: the Carne Asada entree and the Monarca Chicken Pasta. Both dishes had huge portions! - Carne Asada Plate: very delicious, the meathad that nice charred bbq flavor with a hint of lime. It was a tiny bit dry though. It came with a side of rice&beans and garlic bread ...huge portion and very filling! 8.5/10 - Monarca Chicken Pasta: this dish was surprisingly amazing! It was a chicken bowtie pasta dish with pink sauce (tomato + alfredo sauce) and their signature black sauce which is a sweet savory sauce that tastes similar to teriyaki sauce. I feel that the sweetness of the black sauce brought out all the flavors of the pink sauce and chicken. 9/10 -Apple Pie: Their apple pie was not bad, but the crust was kinda hard and not very fresh. But we did like how it was warm and not too sweet, as well as the fact that it came with vanilla ice cream. 6.5/10 PRICE: The prices here are very affordable! Almost every dish was under $15, and there were several that were under $10! This restaurant is really a bang for your buck. Overall, we highly recommend! Great food, great prices, and we will DEFINITELY come back to this place if we happen to pass by the area in the future!

    Chips
    Shelby S.

    Monarca is a small restaurant located in a similarly small strip mall about a mile from USC. What I really appreciate about this place is that it is not in a pretentious area but it still has extremely good food AND pricing. There is some parking in the strip mall, but it can get pretty tight (literally) and/or full. There's plenty of street parking across the street. We weren't really sure what to do when we arrived since no one really greeted us and there weren't really any directions, so we seated ourselves. Our server has friendly and ensured all of our orders were correct. The chips and salsa were fantastic. We asked for multiple bowls because they were that good. One time, we even got a hot, freshly made batch and they were amazing. We ordered some guac and it was ok--kinda of bland but still good. I had the lobster ravioli with pink sauce (a mix of tomato + Alfredo sauce) and loved it. I could definitely taste the lobster in each bite. The garlic bread was good, too, and it was great dipping up the me extra sauce with the bread. I would definitely return!

    Baked Tilapia
    Shannon Z.

    This place is one of those hole in the wall places that people don't really know about but they serve really good food. It's located near USC so students should definitely come here to check out the food because they serve a pretty big portion for a good price! This place is small and it's definitely not for big parties. My sister and I found parking on the plaza next to it which I believe belongs to this place?? I ordered the spaghetti shrimp pasta and my sister ordered the baked tilapia. The portion size of the baked tilapia was HUGE. It came with rice, beans, and the tilapia. It's definitely enough to have for 2 meals. The shrimp pasta was delicious as well; the shrimp was thoroughly cooked, the sauce was perfect. I've seen lots of pictures on Yelp that there were suppose to top off the pasta with shredded cheese but my dish didn't have that. The portion size for the pasta wasn't HUGE but it did leave me full, with alittle leftover. One of the best things about this place was that it came with free nacho chips with green salsa dip, and garlic bread which were all very yummy as well. Both of our meals came out to be around $23 which is a decent and affordable price compared to other pasta shops. I believe that they sell $6 pizzas that look really tasty when I saw pictures of it on Yelp and that's super cheap. The quality of the food is decent compared to the price. If you're in the USC area, you should definitely check out this place!

    James R.

    Hidden gem !!! Great food , great prices and friendly staff !!! Limited seating and parking but worth the wait

    Tilapia
    Michelle Z.

    My sister randomly found this place since she was looking for food near USC. It is a small restaurant in the same plaza as Olympian diner, and if you drive by, you most likely would not have noticed it. We wanted to come on a Tuesday, but apparently they're closed on Tuesdays. It was a bit difficult locating the restaurant and finding parking, but we parked behind the plaza because the parking lot for this plaza is small. The place is smaller than I expected; you order up front, and then go sit down. They bring out a plate of chips and a small bowl of salsa. The salsa and chips were just okay, but it was free and good way to past the time. They also brought out some garlic bread (it was mostly just butter) right before we received our food. I ordered tilapia, which comes with rice and beans, and my sister ordered the shrimp pasta. The dishes were huge, especially my tilapia. It was two pieces of fish, 1/3 plate of mashed beans, and 1/3 plate of rice. I usually hate beans, but this beans was actually good because it tasted nicely seasoned. It was the perfect wet-consistency. I even dipped my garlic bread into it. The rice and fish were also really nice, especially after squeezing some lime juice on top of it. I only ate less than half the plate and took back the rest for another meal. The meal portion is huge, and for about $10 or $11, I think this is pretty affordable for how many meals you can make out of this.

    Garlic bread
    Chuy D.

    This place is out of control delicious! We tried a lot of plates.. the chicken pasta was great! The little shrimp soup was fire!! And the lobster ravioli were the absolute best!! So so good! Thank you monarquita!!

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    8 months ago

    Cooke and staff are very nice ! Great food also!! Definitely recommend the pasta and pizza super delicious thank you all,

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    2 years ago

    the best chicken fettuccine. I will always be a loyal customer to this restaurant flavors always on point

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    1 year ago

    Everything I have had so far has so much flavor ! Their Alfredo pasta is so delicious and the tilapia with rice and beans hit every time!

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    2 years ago

    Food was surprisingly good. I got the spaghetti with meat sauce. Will definitely go back.

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    3 years ago

    Excellent mom and pop shop. Pastas are delicious and portions are huge. Family staffs are always friendly.

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    4 years ago

    The service is always good. My go to is the shrimp Alfredo and the caribbean Pasta. It's so tasty and it's all home made and fresh

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    Maccheroni Republic

    Maccheroni Republic

    4.4(4.7k reviews)
    2.8 mi•Downtown
    •$$

    One of our absolute favorite restaurants -- we honestly look forward to coming to LA just to eat at…read moreMaccheroni Republic. The Ravioli Di Zucca and Rigatoni Pom'Amore are phenomenal -- easily some of the best pasta we've ever had. The Lasagna di Carne is delicious too, although the rich meat sauce is so generous that you don't get to appreciate their incredible pasta quite as much. Small, quaint indoor dining + a cute patio that somehow doesn't feel like you're in the heart of LA. The restaurant is first come, first served, and there's often a wait. Come early or grab a cocktail across the street at Grayson while you wait. It's worth the wait. Every. Single. Time.

    I've been so busy since we came back from LA that I'm just now getting around to leaving a…read morereview... Our annual visit to Maccheroni Republic. We always seem to end up ordering the same dishes and we've never been disappointed. Everything tasted great as usual. They also had the Italian Custard on the dessert menu this time. We had tried it once before and absolutely loved it, especially the caramel sauce that comes with it. We practically had to fight over the caramel sauce. LOL. It's that good! If you ever see it on the dessert menu, I highly recommend trying it. We enjoyed everything but the overall atmosphere felt a little different this time. We actually wondered if something had changed with the management or the restaurant itself. We used to have to wait quite a while for a table but this time we went on a Friday night and there was no line at all. The crowd also seemed very different from what we remembered. We also felt a little rushed by our server which was disappointing. One of the things we always liked about Maccheroni Republic was the relaxed, laid-back atmosphere and we had never felt rushed during our previous visits. I can't quite put my finger on it but something just felt different this time. Still, the food was great and overall, we had a good time.

    Photos
    Maccheroni Republic - Interior

    Interior

    Maccheroni Republic - MASCARPONE FLAN

    MASCARPONE FLAN

    Maccheroni Republic - V Violetta Di Melanzane Fennel and Herb Salad with Grilled Norwegian Salmon

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    V Violetta Di Melanzane Fennel and Herb Salad with Grilled Norwegian Salmon

    Cento Pasta Bar - Carbonara

    Cento Pasta Bar

    4.4(1.2k reviews)
    3.2 mi•West Adams
    •$$$

    My friends and I went here for a girls night dinner and it was genuinely such a cute place to eat…read moregood food, great vibes, and cute pictures! The service is so sweet here and we felt very taken care of the entire night. The parking situation is either street parking if you're lucky or valet parking ($12 cash/$15 card). We ordered the Spicy Pomodoro and the Carbonara and I will say, the Spicy Pomodoro was so yummy and creamy and we really enjoyed it! The Carbonara was a bit salty for my taste but it was still very yummy. Overall, 10/10 experience!

    Came here for Sunday dinner and honestly, the INTERIOR??? Worth coming just to see the space. It…read morehas this super unique underwater/H2O/mermaid vibe -- IFYKYK. They have indoor seating, a bar, and an outdoor patio. -PARKING: Valet is $12 cash or $14 card/Apple Pay. I also saw street parking available on a Sunday evening. -RESERVATION: Made a reservation online the day before. We waited about 10 minutes after arriving before getting seated, which wasn't too bad. -SERVICE: Everyone was SO attentive. Our server, the manager, and even other servers would check on us throughout the meal. We never had to flag anyone down -- water was constantly being refilled and someone was always making sure we were good. -FOOD -Hamachi Crudo: You really can't go wrong with crudo. DELICIOUS. Beautifully plated, perfectly acidic, and I actually liked that the pieces were thicker than what I've had at other places because the texture was better. Only downside is that you get about 4-6 pieces since it's priced by weight/market price. -Steak Tartare: The tartare itself was good and well-seasoned, but nothing super memorable. The sourdough though... The ends were SO burnt. It didn't look that bad from the top, but when we flipped the bread over, the sides were literally black. We just ate the middle. -Gem Caesar: Really good Caesar -- well dressed and COVERED in Parmesan. We had six people, so everyone just took a bite, but it was a solid salad. -Spicy Pomodoro: This was probably my favorite pasta. It tasted like nothing I've had recently! Rigatoni + ricotta, a tiny kick of spice, basil oil, and a subtle earthy flavor. I couldn't really taste the truffle, but honestly I didn't miss it. SO GOOD. -Carbonara: creamy, well-seasoned (can be salty for some people) and delicious. Classic and done well. -Cavatelli: Good, but tasted pretty similar to the carbonara to me -- just noticeably saltier. DESSERT -Banana Pudding Tiramisu: MUST GET. If you like tiramisu, you need to try this. The banana flavor was actually very noticeable, it wasn't overly sweet, and the portion was perfect for one person or to share between two. -Panna Cotta: Not really my cup of tea. It tasted a little too eggy for me, and I think the flavor could be a lot for someone with a sensitive stomach. -Passion Fruit Crème Brûlée: This was a limited-time dessert when we went, and I really liked it! The portion was a little bigger than what I usually see at restaurants, and the passion fruit flavor was subtle but delicious. Not overly sweet either. OVERALL Definitely enjoyed coming here! The interior + service were the highlights for me, and there were several dishes I'd order again. If you're coming, I'd especially keep an eye out for the Spicy Pomodoro and Banana Pudding Tiramisu.

    Photos
    Cento Pasta Bar - The kitchen view from our seats

    The kitchen view from our seats

    Cento Pasta Bar - Spicy Pomodoro

    Spicy Pomodoro

    Cento Pasta Bar - Rice + Rose

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    Rice + Rose

    Bestia

    Bestia

    4.3(8.5k reviews)
    3.6 mi•Downtown
    •$$$

    My siblings and I came to visit my cousin and her husband from Chicago, and decided to dine in at…read moreBestia on Saturday night, September 6th! For all of us it was our first time at Bestia, they picked the restaurant and glad to say it was a great pick! Everyone enjoyed our time here together for the first time. The experience was amazing from the welcoming of our waitress and the detailed menu descriptions she gave to fun fact about the name of the restaurant! The restaurant was well lit and sounded like everyone was having a great time, laughing and catching up with one another! As well as the staff helping each other out and making sure everyone was satisfied! Angelica, our waitress, was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu, as well as the rest of the staff! She helped us pick our entrees and appetizers as well. Angelica made sure we had everything we needed to enjoy our meal from making sure our drinks were refilled or bringing another round of drinks, to bringing clean plates for every entree we received! The bone marrow and branzino was definitely a 100/10, my brother who hates fish actually tried it and loved it! The bone marrow left everyone at the table speechless! Thank you to everyone at Bestia, especially our waitress, Angelica, for a wonderful dinner!

    I can't believe I haven't written a review for Bestia... it's one of the top Italian restaurants in…read moreLos Angeles, HANDS DOWN. Every time I eat here, I am already thinking of my next time back. I love their pastas to the moon and back, they are al dente but not too firm, the sauces are so good and flavorful, and each bite just makes me want to take the next bite. My favorite pastas: 1. Squid Ink Spaghetti - lobster. serrano. meyer lemon. micro shiso 2. Cavatelli alla Norcina - ricotta dumplings. pork sausage fresh thyme. shaved truffles Their appetizers are also really great, the grilled prawns are SO good, you can taste the sweetness of the prawn and the sauce doesn't overwhelm it. For entrees, their ribeye and porkchop are our favorites. The ribeye is so tender and cooked to perfection. The pork chops are juicy and not dry at all. SERVICE // is usually good, although our last time our server wasn't really around much and didn't even introduce any dishes to us. We thought hopefully that it was a fluke. AMBIANCE // romantic and beautiful interior, Bestia is in the arts district of Downtown Los Angeles. PARKING // Valet parking is available for $15, otherwise you can look for street parking nearby. If you haven't made your way to Bestia yet, you must!! It's not the cheapest meal in town but well worth the $$$.

    Photos
    Bestia - Bar area!!

    Bar area!!

    Bestia - Chorizo Panna Pizza

    Chorizo Panna Pizza

    Bestia - Muscles and Clams

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    Muscles and Clams

    OSTE - Mortadella Pinsa

    OSTE

    4.6(1.5k reviews)
    5.2 mi•Beverly Grove

    OSTE was excellent from start to finish. The pizza was amazing, with a crust that was flaky, but…read morestill substantial enough to hold up well with the toppings. The Bolognese was full of rich, savory flavor that was deeply satisfying. For dessert, the olive oil cake was buttery without feeling too heavy, and the lemon added a bright, refreshing flavor that ended the meal on a high note. The service was just as impressive as the food. Everyone was attentive and welcoming, and one of the waiters was especially kind to my spice-loving grandparents by offering them chili oil. That thoughtful touch made the meal feel even more enjoyable. Great food, great service, and definitely a place I'd be happy to return to.

    My first time here and the reviews are right…read more Service is immediate. As soon as I sat at the bar I was offered water and asked what I wanted to drink. As soon as spots cleared they were wiped down and set up. Tony was behind the bar. He was the right amount of attentive, offering suggestions, a generous pour of wine and appreciative of my visit. I started with a classic Negroni. I asked what would pair well with carpaccio and then tasted and was given a generous pour of Chianti. I had a girl dinner of bread and EVOO and carpaccio. Both arrived quickly. The bread was like an airy crispy pizza bread served with olive oil. The carpaccio had the expected parm and arugula but had a creamy aioli that worked really well. There was enough bread to takeaway and I was offered olive oil to go with it, a nice touch. While many of the restaurants along this stretch of Third Street aren't busy this was a vibrant and energetic spot for a Tuesday night. The patio space, indoor seating and limited bar area were all filled. As the bar spots emptied others filled the spots right away. The person next to me at the bar said it was one of his favorite restaurants and where he brings out of town guests. I barely touched the surface of their menu but what I had and the level of service will bring me back again to try more. I think I've found a new regular spot.

    Photos
    OSTE - Interior

    Interior

    OSTE - Caesar salad slaps so hard

    Caesar salad slaps so hard

    OSTE - Home Made Bread & Evoo

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    Home Made Bread & Evoo

    Settecento

    Settecento

    4.4(1.1k reviews)
    2.5 mi•Downtown
    Romantic vibe
    Live music

    I'm from Italy and it was a fantastic experience! The pasta was incredible -- in my opinion, the…read morepasta menu is the absolute highlight. It was freshly made (you could definitely tell!) and served in great portions. The Fettuccine alla Nerano were amazing, with incredible flavor and texture. Back in Italy, pasta with clams is my favorite dish, so I was super excited to order it since it's not easy to find in the US. It was done just right -- really great! The seafood was fresh and high quality. The only minor detail is that the clams were fresh and local, likely Pacific clams, which have a less intense, briny flavor compared to the Mediterranean vongole veraci that give off that rich sea aroma. But hey, we're in Los Angeles, so you naturally adapt to local ingredients. The Caprese appetizer was good, though I wished the portion had been a bit larger. Dessert was delicious, especially the zuppa inglese gelato -- the flavor took me straight back to Italy! Exceptional staff, too: I was pregnant and needed a shaded or air-conditioned spot, and the hostess went out of her way to find a table that suited my needs. The waiter who served us was equally wonderful! We left full and super happy. Thank you!

    The food was fantastic as was the service. The wait staff, Dalton, made a recommendation upon…read morerequest, and he was spot on which was the pomodoro entree & one other. The recommendation was a hit. I also ordered the prosciutto e melone as an appetizer, it was a magnificent meal. Dalton provided professional, courteous, and swift service without rushing; he made the experience all that much more enchanting. Dalton was an absolute delight! I highly recommend this restaurant, whether with your crew or date night!!

    Photos
    Settecento
    Settecento
    Settecento

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    Donna's - Fusilli alla vodka

    Donna's

    4.3(739 reviews)
    3.8 mi•Echo Park
    •$$$

    We went last night for the first time to celebrate my birthday as it's around the corner from our…read morefavorite pizza place Quartersheets. What a great small restaurant with a fantastic buzz. No detail is overlooked. Beautiful design -- reminds me of what your Italian grandma's dining room would look like if she had great taste. We took a Lyft since the parking situation is tough (but there is a paid lot down the street) and we were running late.I called and left message that we were running 15 minutes late and they got my voicemail and they were great about. Table was available right away. Cocktails were impressive - and we started with a dirty martini and a Negroni blanco. The garlic bread made with Bub & Grandma's bread is a clear winner. Our server Emerson was top notch and steered us through the menu and drinks and was informative and friendly as very professional. When he'd walk through dining room, he was scanning to see if anyone was trying to catch his eye. And when I did he came right over. None of this look straight ahead stuff I sometimes see when it's a busy night. You can get out of Donna's for a reasonable price if you stick to garlic bread, salad and one of their excellent pasta dishes (5 of the dishes are in the $25-$28 range). We splurged and got the scampi (from France) what a sauce, truffle gnocchi, amazing chicken Marsala with amazing mushroom sauce $32) and the Cesar salad was delicious and not mailed in. We ordered 1 dessert (panna cotta with pistachio brittle and fresh figs) and they brought a tiramisu and tiny glasses of their own limoncello out on the house. We also tried 1 glass of their special vermouth since we are vermouth lovers. A++++ experience all round and it was a high level of ingredients and food -- chef and his team are top notch. I now need to find out who's the chef in that kitchen because they've built an excellent team. Donna's slyly calls itself just a "red sauce Italian restaurant" but I'd say that's a real understatement...and I think it's a great date night or small group place because it's intimate and you can hear your table partners talk. I don't recall any music playing - just the warm brown background noise of fun conversation. We ate early (my preference these days) and if you don't see any openings for reservations, ask Resy to give you an alert -- you'll get notified when reservations open up. Emerson said they always hold some tables for walk ins. PS -- I normally don't leave such long reviews, but I have some friends who are chefs and who own restaurants - and when I see other Yelp reviews where someone leaves a one star because the hostess was allegedly rude when everything else is great -- I just hate to see how it can affect a restaurant. I have no relationship with this restaurant at all. I don't know any anyone who works in it or owns any part of it, but I just don't like to see people abuse the reviews -- the restaurant business is tough as it is. And as someone who has worked downtown and driven through Echo Park for 30 years - I think Donna's is a great addition to Echo Park.

    So good !! And worth the waiting time. It gets busy so try…read moreto make a reservation. They do take walk ins. We went during a dodger game pre dinner / cocktail hour so that's also something to look at prior to going. Loved the restaurants look and design inside. staff was amazing and pleasant through out the whole dinner experience. Food: started with the garlic bread so flavorful. Tried the meatball dish and FUSILLI ALLA VODKA!! My favorite for the night. Everything had amazing taste and paired well!! There were 2 of us and sharing these plates was the perfect portion size for reference. Thank you Donna's !!

    Photos
    Donna's - Bar area.

    Bar area.

    Donna's - Vodka pasta

    Vodka pasta

    Donna's - Broccolini

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    Broccolini

    Monarca Pasta & Grill - italian - Updated September 2026

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