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    Osteria La Buca

    4.1 (2.5k reviews)
    Open 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Osteria La Buca Takeout or Delivery

    Osteria La Buca Photos

    Business Info

    OSTERIA LA BUCA ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Osteria La Buca

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    Aiperi A.

    Cute Italian cuisine with delicious pasta. Pesto Pea Ravioli was mind blowing, highly recommend. Excellent service with warm and genuinely welcoming staff. Definitely one of those places where you can sit for hours enjoying good food, wine, and conversation.

    Commentary Bread
    Winn H.

    I first discovered Osteria La Buca from a credit card, and well, here we are! Ecstatic for Italian but also knowledgeable of LA traffic patterns, I decided to come early to find street parking - so early they weren't other customers yet. Thankfully, the staff members were welcoming and let me wait inside for my friend. During our visit, we enjoyed quick service and regular refills of water and check-ins on our food. With high ceilings and wooden walls, the dining space was large, rustic, and relaxing - especially if you have the privilege of sitting near the glass windows watching traffic pass slowly by. We shared a Guanciale Pizza, which was delicious - ate that up! Was there pizza? It vanished so fast! And that pizza was loaded with ingredients, too, an unhealthy excuse to continue carb loading. Our next was a Nero Spaghetti, of which we both got our own. The black noodles were tasty and firm, not too chewy. The main start of the show was undoubtedly the seafood. Everything was fresh and well-prepared. The clams were clean, the squid cooked to perfection - not rubbery at all! The shrimps were crisp; as a regular shrimp enjoyer, I was very impressed. Overall, the Nero Spaghetti was a very well-put together dish - compliments to the chef, please!

    Cacio E Pepe Arancini
    Katie K.

    This was a really nice treat. Some friends, who regularly dine here, took us for dinner. We sat up top and got the view below. It was pretty cool. The service is impeccable. They attended to every need. Clearing plates between courses, getting more beverage, explaining the menu, timing each course. We didn't love the Caesar salad, it was a little too bitter. We let the server know, and she immediately took care of it. We had the manager stop by. He was wonderful. All of the pasta was perfect. The cook was spot on. The red sauce was just the right complexity of acid and salt. There is nothing I can say except that everything is good. You cannot go wrong. We ended the night with a tiramisu. It was one of the best I've never had. Just the right blend of creaminess and espresso flavor. The mood is perfect for a date night. Dimly lit with candles. The vibe is upscale without being pretentious. There is a full bar in an open concept dining area. Really fun vibe all around.

    Carne Cruda,  House-Made Ricotta, Pork Meatballs

    Second time in here and nothing but amazing things to say about this place! They always have last minute reservations, food is absolutely amazing so many things to pick from, and the service is great! Another one of my favorites is the short rib ravioli, so rich and delicious! This is my go to spot in LA! Don't think twice just go!!

    Beer and bread. What else do you need?
    Jeremy J.

    I've been coming here for the past two years and every time it's never been short of amazing. The food is consistently delicious, service is always top notch and the ambience is so warm and inviting. Everything from their pastas to the pizza and most notably their tiramisu. They have a very broad wine list and a great cocktail program as well! I love Osteria LA Buca so much

    Elisa C.

    Had girls night at Osteria La Buca and dined on their upstairs patio. It was a cozy spot and with a larger party next to us got a little loud at times. The staff were very attentive with getting bread and water to the table. The rosemary bread was quite delightful and served warm. The food did not disappoint with a nice light salad with lemon olive oil dressing. The rigatoni was hearty and had extra large pasta. The cacio e pepe spaghetti was perfectly seasoned. Our waiter suggested the bacon & honey pizza and that was an amazing combo. We were so full we didn't have room for dessert!

    Bucatini Carbonara
    Tiffany H.

    We ordered the short rib ravioli, soppressata pizza, and the bucatini carbonara. The short rib ravioli and the soppressata pizza were absolutely delicious! The short rib in the ravioli was flavorful. The ravioli was made of sweet corn and you can really taste the corn flavor, which I enjoyed. The soppressata pizza was also light, flavorful and easy to eat as the dough wasn't too thick and the crust was thin! It had a strong garlicky taste to it as well which gives it more flavor. The bucatini carbonara was ok. It lacked a bit of flavor and could use a bit more salt, but the creaminess was on point. Service was great. Our server was attentive and we received our orders quickly. The restaurant has two levels and has plenty of seating. Would be a great date night spot!

    Margarita pizza (top) and Spaghetti Cacio E Pepe (bottom)
    Madeleine B.

    We made a reservation for 5:30 on a weekend evening and had no trouble. It got busy around 7. They gave us some bread to start, which was fine. My friends got the margarita pizza with gluten free dough. I got the cacio e pepe. My friends said their pizza was good, and I really liked the pasta. It definitely tasted like they made the pasta in house. The food was good, but my main complaint was how dark the room was. By 6:15, it was so dark that we had to use our flashlights to read the check. There's "candlelit" and then there's "Im going to trip."

    The food was okay, the service was good and what not. What I felt wasn't okay was adding a service fee called "Staff health" which I feel like the server/bartender should be open and honest. I don't see any other restaurants doing this and if they are it's not an extra $5.30. That's not even including tip. I just think you should be honest with customers.

    Pingüino
    Maritza S.

    Walked in without reservations and was able to get a table. The people working the host stand were super friendly. The valet was very busy but I found parking about a block away. The ambiance is dark, romantic, and calm. I didn't take photos of the food because we were seated upstairs and it was super dark. Definitely recommend this place for a date. The food was delicious! We started our meal with the fried artichoke hearts appetizer. I could've eaten the whole thing by myself. The artichoke hearts were lightly fried and covered in a lemony sauce. We also had the whipped ricotta appetizer. It was good, but not as good as the artichokes. For my main, I had the seafood pasta. I can't remember what it was called, but it was squid ink noodles and a spicy tomato sauce. It was full of shrimp, squid, and clams. It was heaven in a bowl! For dessert, we shared a tiramisu . The flavor was delicious, lightly caffeinated with a creamy mascarpone filling. I will definitely go back .

    Broccoli Di Cicco
    John M.

    Thought this place would be like many of the other overhyped and overhyped Italian places in LA, but I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious all of the food was. The bacon and honey pizza is something we will definitely be getting again! They were flexible after we arrived a few minutes late for our reservation and they accommodated our child's food preferences.

    Octopus
    Leo H.

    Wanted something less filling so I stopped here for a nice salad and I wanted to try the octopus and it's was amazing tender and very flavorful what the service here is great..

    Eggplant Parmesan
    Karen L.

    This was my first time back at Osteria La Buca in about 5 years. I had such great memories of the food, craft cocktails, and service. This time was different. The quality of the ingredients in the short rib ravioli and eggplant parm that we ordered was still the same, but gone was the healthy preparation. The ravioli was floating in a heavy creamy sauce, and the eggplant was heavily breaded and fried. The service was terrible. Our order was taken promptly and the food came out in a reasonable time, but during the following 45 minutes that we were there no one checked in on us to see if we needed anything, and our plates sat on the table for 20 minutes after we were finished until we asked for them to be cleared. The entire time the bartender and 2 other employees stood around chatting and ignoring the customers. They also add 5% to every check, which they will remove if you ask them too.

    Shot of Fernet

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    25 days ago

    Always enjoy my time here. Ambiance, service, and food is impeccable every time. Parking is bad sometimes, but valet isn't too much.

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    7 days ago

    Ravioli served cold. Chicken Parm over salted. Pasta too soft. At least the bread was good.

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    Osteria La Buca Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Osteria La Buca

    Do they still have the xoxonut cocktail?

    Where is the parking for this place?

    Street if you can find it or valet.

    How big are the pizzas?

    They are all personal size pizzas

    Do they still have ayce spaghetti and meatballs and salad?

    No Spaghetti meatballs :(

    Is there gluten free options available?

    Yes they have a gluten free pasta option

    Are the menus different for lunch and dinner or is it the same menu?

    It's a different menu. The dinner menu is broader. The lunch menu is still great and has yummy options, but there are definitely differences. Take heart that lunch is a little less expensive.

    Is it valet? if so, how much?

    We have always found street parking nearby but we eat on the early side. The valet is reasonable so good option too.

    Is there a corkage fee?

    On their website it says $20 corkage fee for each bottle you bring, 3 max. For each bottle you buy in the restaurant, they will waive one corkage fee.

    Any hope for a vegan here? Some places work with you to modify dishes.

    L, They are very flexible, especially Miguel, the Bar Tender who also understood and knew the menu cold. I suppose you could call and see what they say. They were certainly… Read more

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    The Mulberry

    The Mulberry

    4.0
    (119 reviews)
    8.0 mi

    Pretty good meal overall!! The chicken wings had a really crisp exterior and a great crunch, but…read morethey did lean a little dry - but honestly felt like the trade off for getting them that crispy! The sauce helped bring some juiciness back and balanced it out. The bluefin tuna bibimbap was pretty enjoyable. The tuna tasted fresh and the textures worked well together, but the dish could have used a little more seasoning to make the flavors pop. The perilla was a great touch though. It added a slightly minty flavor that complemented the tuna without taking over the dish. The beef short rib was easily the standout. PERFECTLY cooked, incredibly tender, and seasoned just right. The richness of the meat paired so well with the lettuce wraps that it almost feels like they should automatically come with the dish. Service was good and everything came out smoothly. Would come back!

    Cute spot, dark ambience. Makes for a decent date spot, I'd think. Food is elevated korean fusion…read morewhich is worth a try, but I wouldn't come back unless there's an occasion. Made a reservation 1 week out, and only 9:45pm was available for a Saturday for a party of 6. Kind of odd that last call for their regular menu is at that time; luckily a few of us got there before that time to put in orders in time. Drinks: - GF & Plum Soda $8.00: refreshing! would get this again - Flower Sour $17.00: my fave; slightly tart and fragrant - Baesuk White Negroni $17.00: barrel fragrant and like an old fashioned - Plum Martini $17.00: medicinal lol Food: - Aguachile $19.00: mid, imo. in kimchi broth so it has that fermented aftertaste. - Beef Short Ribs $49.00: yuuum. oh so tender but only 6 pieces. worth a try - Pork Spare Ribs $36.00: also super tender, 6 ribs. worth a try - Bluefin Tuna Bibimbap $29.00: a decent amt of tuna, i would get this again - Spicy Braised Black Cod $41.00: not very memorable, nor was it spicy. nice and flaky tho - Chilled Acorn Noodle $22.00: salty and lots of seaweed - Fried Chicken Wings $23.00: not oily and good flavor. crispy but wouldn't get again - Hotteok $16.00: came with a sake like ice cream and it was nice! worth a try Street parking is kinda tough on this side of Sawtelle, esp since it's across the popular sun nong dan

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    The Mulberry
    Salad, had too much white lettuce which was very bitter 7/10
    Salad, had too much white lettuce which was very bitter 7/10
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    Acorn noodles
    The Lucky Tiki

    The Lucky Tiki

    4.5
    (51 reviews)
    7.1 mi

    My partner and I recently went on a tiki bar roadtrip from Tacoma down to Palm Springs, and I think…read morethat Lucky Tiki might be my top spot out of the 10 or so locations we visited. Drinks: Really, really good. My absolute favorite was the boat drink with foam on top, but we split several others and I liked everything we tried. Vibe: Unmatched. There are several drinks on the menu with a theatrical presentation that gets the whole bar involved. The space is small, so you'll inevitably have your conversation interrupted by an alluring siren's call or some ceremonial rowers. This is a crucial part of the tiki experience for me. The bartenders all have their different spin and clearly are in it for the love of the game. We had a lot of fun chatting with the staff. Food: I ate 2 orders of soup dumplings and probably could have bodied down 5 more. They were ridiculously good, but prohibitively expensive.

    Some of my LA friends have frequented tiki bars for years, and after visiting Lucky Tiki recently,…read moreI finally get it. Tiki cocktails have expanded beyond rum into smokier tequila and mezcal drinks, which are more my speed. Lucky Tiki takes planning. You'll probably need a reservation weeks ahead and yes, they'll politely kick you out after 2 hours. These drinks are delicious and designed to ruin your decision-making skills. Worth it. Uber home, obviously. This spot is "hidden" in a bowling alley, and inside you'll find retro lighting and decor and tiki cocktails. One drink came with bubbles, another arrived flaming, and one to a soundtrack of thunder and lightning. It's part cocktail bar, part performance, and the staff is committed to the bit. They have two LA locations, which helps if one is booked.

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    Sailor at the Bar Entrance
    Sailor at the Bar Entrance
    Hard carved and painted Giant Tiki at Lucky Tiki
    Hard carved and painted Giant Tiki at Lucky Tiki
    Whatever floats your boat was also delicious.

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    Whatever floats your boat was also delicious.
    Thunderbolt

    Thunderbolt

    4.4
    (265 reviews)
    3.6 mi
    $$

    Matt B. and I are living with my parents these days, and one of the benefits of this arrangement is…read morethat we can leave the house quite easily after the kids go to bed. We decided to get a drink to celebrate Father's Day, only to strike out at the first two bars we tried--I guess a lot of places are closed at 9:30 on a Sunday. This is how we ended up at Thunderbolt, a buzzy bar in Echo Park, just far enough away that we'd never made our way over. I loved it immediately. Thunderbolt has the friendly, comfortable atmosphere of a neighborhood bar and the hip aesthetic and high-level cocktails of a millennial boozer destination. (Not that young people can't or shouldn't hang out here, but it seems especially geared toward people like us, who drank at Walker Inn a decade ago.) We ended up sitting next to a guy who regularly drives up from Palos Verdes. I guess the place gets pretty busy, but it was ideal on a Sunday night. Happening but not crowded, with just enough space at the bar for us to grab two seats together. The bartender was great, super helpful and welcoming. He also made excellent drinks. Thunderbolt is one of those bars with an encyclopedic illustrated book for a menu. Not a long menu, just a detailed one, with a lot of information available about each drink. We got a Liquid Picnic and a Barcelonnette--just one round to close out the weekend. Both were delicious. The Liquid Picnic was a smooth, savory gin martini made with London dry gin, tomato, citron, vermouth, rosemary, and black pepper. I learned from the book that it used clarified tomato water. (There was also further reading about the clarification process.) The Barcelonnette was a mezcal sour with Suze, passionfruit, and lime, the foam made without egg white through some geeky mixologist process. Thunderbolt is not our neighborhood bar, but we plan to go back when we can to check out the rest of the menu. It's a wonderful place, well worth a jaunt on the freeway.

    Was charged three times, totaling hundreds of dollars, and waiting for the pending transactions to…read moredrop (or stay :/) in 3-5 business days is no fun. We can't all be made of money, but this shouldn't have happened.

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    Thunderbolt
    Thunderbolt
    Thunderbolt

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    Her Little Bar

    Her Little Bar

    4.2
    (38 reviews)
    2.4 mi

    Her Little Bar is a great spot and the vibe is significantly improved under the new ownership. It's…read morealready attracting a fun and friendly mixed crowd of locals as well as people from across the city looking for an agro-free good time. The bar staff know what they are doing and they are welcoming, chatty and chill. It feels like they actually want you there! My wife and I already love to swing by for a couple of post dinner drinks but we'll be back for some game day fun too - they have a bunch of screens. They don't do food BUT the couple who now own Her Little Bar also own a bunch of the restaurants nearby (Her Thai, Met Him At A Bar, and the recently opened The Night We Met). There are other great options too and whatever you go for, you can eat it in the bar. There's a good selection of drinks and the cocktails are solid. We already have a solid pub/microbrewery but this is a great bar with a different vibe. A bar has been in this location for years but we really love this new incarnation. The corridor between Wilshire Blvd and W 9th is becoming a great pocket for food and drink with good people looking for BS free good times and the Her Little Bar crowd, staff and management are a great example that. A welcome addition to the neighborhood.

    I came here with friends on a quiet Wednesday night. There are a lot of good choices for bars in…read morethe area but I am so happy we came here. They had a good selection of beers and my friends got their cocktails done perfectly. There was maybe one to two other people in this bar when we walked in. We had a booth all to ourselves. A good night at a solid bar in the neighborhood. I was a local, I'd be here more often.

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    The iconic mermaid and my beer
    The iconic mermaid and my beer
    Her Little Bar
    Her Little bar Bartender Vinny was great host and he was attentive and great service. This place is an amazing dive bar.

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    Her Little bar Bartender Vinny was great host and he was attentive and great service. This place is an amazing dive bar.
    The Obscure Distillery

    The Obscure Distillery

    4.5
    (213 reviews)
    5.6 mi
    $$

    Stepping into the venue felt like crossing a threshold into a world that operated on a different…read morewavelength--and honestly, it was exactly the shift I didn't know I needed. It wasn't your typical corner haunt. There was an intentionality here that turned a simple evening out into a genuine education. The curation of spirits was nothing short of impressive, but what set the experience apart was the conversation. I arrived knowing the difference between a glass and a bottle, but left with a newfound appreciation for the nuances of rum, the craftsmanship behind a smooth whiskey, and the unexpected complexities hidden within a well-made vodka. Each pour came with a story, a history, and a level of expertise that transformed every sip into a lesson. The atmosphere was the perfect anchor for it all--utterly chill and devoid of the frantic, forced energy you find elsewhere. It was the kind of place where the music sits at just the right volume and the lighting invites you to actually linger. It was refreshing to find a spot that treats its craft with such respect while keeping the vibe completely grounded. I walked out feeling a little more cultured and a lot more relaxed. Consider this my official notice: I'll definitely be back.

    My friends and I recently visited Obscure, and overall we had a great experience…read more First, the venue itself is absolutely beautiful. From the moment you walk in, it feels like you've been transported somewhere else. Every room is thoughtfully designed, and the atmosphere is immersive and unlike anything we've experienced before. The storyteller was welcoming, engaging, and incredibly knowledgeable. I really enjoyed learning about the history of alcohol and the stories behind each tasting. The cocktails were definitely on the stronger side, but you could tell they were crafted with high-quality ingredients. Unfortunately, our experience was somewhat tainted by our hostess. She came across as impatient and unwelcoming, which set the tone early on. When we first entered, we were each handed a small glass of liquid, and then she immediately walked away without explaining what it was or what we were supposed to do with it. We assumed it was a welcome drink, so we all took a sip only to discover it was actually a palate cleanser. A little guidance would have gone a long way. The next room had a beautiful bayou-inspired setting. While the historical information was interesting, I found myself wishing the experience leaned more into the mystical or magical themes that the venue seems to promise. One thing worth mentioning is the restroom setup. I don't mind coed restrooms, but there was no signage explaining that the restroom is shared with two open stalls. Some guests may appreciate a heads-up, especially those who might feel uncomfortable or triggered by that arrangement. After the tastings, you're taken outside. A few of us stopped to use the restroom first, and when we returned, our friend had already left the table and all of our drinks had been cleared away. We were disappointed because we hadn't finished them. Our friend had been told she couldn't take the drinks with her, but when we returned we could take them outside. She was told that they'd be there when we got back. We were disappointed. The outdoor portion of the experience also felt a bit rushed. We barely had time to enjoy our drinks, let alone take photos of the beautiful space. The beignets at the end, however, were absolutely delicious and a highlight of the evening! Finally, we were escorted to the members-only bar, which was stunning. It gave off major Harry Potter vibes with its hidden, magical atmosphere. One of my friends was still finishing her drink on the patio since we couldn't legally walk on the sidewalk with it. Our hostess told us she'd come back for us but she never did. After waiting quite a while, another staff member happened to walk by and kindly helped us. Once inside, everything turned around again. The bartender was warm, friendly, and helped us choose drinks off the menu. I ordered the piña colada, and while it was much stronger and different from the traditional version I'm used to, it was absolutely delicious!!! Despite some service issues and inconsistent communication, I would still recommend Obscure. The concept is unique, the cocktails are excellent, and the venue is truly one of a kind. I'm hoping our hostess was simply having an off day, because with more attentive service, this experience could easily be five stars.

    Photos
    Divine Paradox
    Divine Paradox
    Upon entering
    Upon entering
    The scenic bar

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    The scenic bar

    Osteria La Buca - italian - Updated July 2026

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