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    Pasta Bar

    4.2 (139 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndItalian, New American
    Closed 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated 1 week ago

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    The crew
    Raed U.

    Ok this is an overdue love review to pasta|bar. My favorite one star Michelin in LA is osteria but this one hits different and might be the spot I go to when I want to really spoil myself. Chef DJ is awesome, very friendly and you feel Ike. You're talking to your buddy, he waits for you at your seats after you get your first bites in the entry room. The place is in a weird strip mall but don't get fooled, you're about to receive arguably one of the best meal that you'll ever have. It's a cozy setting with only 12 seats overlooking the kitchen. The kitchen is art, everyone knows exactly where to be, it's quite , intimate and as if you're watching a painting in the works. The food is out of this world, my favorite was the wagyu tongue ramen inspired dish , but every dish was perfection. We were there in December for an early anniversary celebration but will be there again soon.

    Ann L.

    Heard astounding reviews about this place, two of which were very good foodie friends of mine. Boy were they spot on. It was a bit of a drive for an Orange County native but well worth the trip. The ambiance, service, and the presentation and flavor of each dish was simply exquisite and palate happy. This is a prefixed menu from starters (predining or "pregame" as I would call it), main course, and desserts. Here's what we had from start to finish: You start off in the bar/lounge area where you are met by a host/hostess who prepares this cool herbal mocktail (rum included if desired). They use this decanter system (displayed at the bar) where the herbal tea filters from the top through a system of citrus fruits and collects at the bottom into a pot. This is then mixed with a pomegranate juice to give it a slight sweetness with choice of rum if you desire an alcoholic kick to get things started. Mocktail is just as delicious. I added the etoh which was very light so no need to worry if you're a light weight like me. 1. Starters ("pregame" warm up): then comes the three starters/hors d'oeuvres...honestly was so captivated to start I cannot remember the exact items but I'll try to explain the flavors. Egg soufflé with beluga caviar, scallop tart, and prosciutto tart with black truffle flakes on top. The third one was my favorite and I'm not even a big prosciutto fan. About 15 minutes later you are escorted into the main dining room where you can watch the kitchen drum up all of the deliciousness. 2. Margarita's sourdough: slightly larger than fist size sourdough with CULTURED butter that has a hint of herbal flavor. Very good. But please pace yourself as you have a whole meal to enjoy. They'll wrap it for you at the end if you don't want to fill yourself up from the beginning. 3. Salad: a beautiful, rainbow of colored salad with Wagyu and dressed with ponzu. The herbs are all grown in their garden (different green leaflets, tiny carrot bites, purple flower decor...). Very good and light. 4. Kanpachi: fresh Kanpachi with Aji Amarillo, peruvian black mint (herbal), and melon aguachile. Presented with a tiny floral decor that is also edible of course. Very good. 5. Mezzaluna: Mezzaluna pasta filled with fermented mango and sticky rice, with a side of Scallops (imported from Japan) and charred mango. Dressed with delicious mango hollandaise. This was my favorite!!!!!!! 6. Cavatelli: the chef infuses the pasta dough every morning with toasted black sesame seed and kimchee powder. The sauce is made of Korean ssamjang. Also served with grilled Caledonian prawns. Sooooo good. 7. Cappellette Fiore: Garleek (hybrid of garlic and leek) is melted down with butter into the pasta. Simmered with garleek infused broth. Just look at the beautiful florals (edible) from the garden. 8. Tagliatelote: tagliatelle pasta seasoned with delicious Huitlacoche (fungus that grows on corn and considered a Mexican delicacy), corn, and Cotija cheese. Believe the red is Serrano? Delicious 9. Vermillion: Vermillion rockfish with zucchini and charred daikon complimented by herbs from their garden. Flavored with Thai Vierge. 10. Duck Magret: very tender duck steak, turnip puree in the center as well as brown butter burnt turnips. Sauce is plum and lemon. Fantastic. Not a fan of duck because it tends to be gamey but this one tasted like steak. 11. Pavlova: blackberry and black currant at the bottom and lemon meringue on top. My favorite dessert. 12. Gelato: Sobacha gelato (toasted buckwheat tea) with toasted Marshmellow made with tonka bean and toasted with the charcoal. On second thought, this one was my favorite dessert! lol 13. Popsicle (lunch box): watermelon yuzu popsicle sprinkled with a plum and grapefruit powder, milk chocolate bon bon with coconut custard and pineapple filling, and caramel treat. The popsicle with the plum/grapefruit sprinkle was bomb. I need those sprinkles for the house. 14. Cocktails: Eastside terrace (Roku gin, cucumber, mint, rhubarb, and lime cocktail), mango lassi (plantarey rum, crème de banana, coconut chai tea, and honey mango), and of course Sesame Old Fashion (Nikka days. plantarey pineapple, sesame, chocolate, tobacco, and black walnut. Eastside terrace was refreshing and the old fashion is a classic and must try. Love the sesame especially and the leaf decor (took a few home). Such a memorable experience. Food was phenomenal, presentation spectacular, and the service was exceptional. Very well thought out dishes, and every detailed decor not only was aesthetically appeasing but it added a very special flavor to each dish. Please come and visit. Well worth the trip out.

    Deedee O.

    Chef D.J. and his very friendly benevolent team of wizards Orchestrate a 12 course symphony of pure magic that will have your senses wishing the night would never end. Each dish was so perfectly crafted, it awakened a whole new palate of perception in me. There is a theatricality to this culinary event that elevates the night to a dining experience of a lifetime!! Treat yourself!!!

    Setting
    Shanelle S.

    An absolutely divine experience with multiple courses. Note that there is no signage; just look for the door bell next to the gold plate on the second floor to be let in. It's next to the steakhouse on the second floor. We came here for my dad's birthday and had a reservation that we made beforehand. We started off in the bar with a mocktail with Green tea and pomegranate, and then were shown to our seats around the kitchen. The menu changes but we had the following: 1. Little bites of an Uni emulsion, Beignet with caviar, and Wagyu tartare tart 2. Margherita sourdough bread with house cultited butter 3. Salad - tempura corn fritter with local herbs, avocado, radish and wagyu sauce and croutons 4. Kanpachi crudo that was wrapped in banana leaf for 24 hours with three different sauces including an Agua chile gelee, and cilantro with its blossoms 5. Mezze Luna with Hokkaido scallops, sticky rice, charred mango, and Fresno chile hollandaise 6. Cavatelli pasta with prawns, kimchi, and leeks. The pasta was hand rolled in the morning. 7. Cavatelli with white asparagus topped with fried asparagus, kale kombu, and a green bean dashi. 8. Tagliatelle with chanterelle mushrooms and brown butter. It was hand rolled and infused with black truffles. 9. Trout from Mt Shasta that's been dry aged with a mousse infused with porcini and brioche in lieu of the skin, chicken reduction, and and Italian dandelion 10. they served some tea from the dish first as a teaser. The tones of rosemary and the figs were strong. There was squab with the foot, sausage made from the leg and intestines, and the breast. It's from Lancaster, only 47 miles away from the restaurant! Reminder to not eat the foot because there's a bone!! 11. pavlova with a dehydrated vanilla merengue, macerated strawberries with fig oil, and dusted with dehydrated strawberries on top. 12. Toasted marshmallow (which was caramelized by a coal) on top of Okinawa brown sugar caramel 13. Lunchbox with a mango yuzu popsicle and other chocolates plus some cookies to-go. By this point, we were stuffed but it hurt so good. Loved the total experience here, from the modern ambiance to the lovely chefs and team to the delicious, creative food.

    Amy Y.

    Definitely a "worth-it" Michelin star restaurant experience. I loved the separate greeting/welcome room, where we were served a delicious complimentary "welcome" cocktail. I also loved how the "dining room" is a literal bar, where we interacted/watched the chefs cook. All the cocktails were good too. I was so full after bread, 12 courses, and 3 desserts! Navigation tip: We got lost trying to find the restaurant. Pasta bar is located on the second floor. Make a left after getting off the escalator. Look for the little gold plate on the white glass window.

    Flavors are superb with layers of nuances
    Mike S.

    Service top notch with amazing art like culinary experience, not your average restaurant, will be back for sure

    Welcome Drink
    Matt P.

    The restaurant is located on the 2nd floor right next to Larsens. There's no giant sign to let you know this place is here. We actually walked past it and had to look at the address. The front door is unassuming and has a small plaque with the name of both the Pasta Bar and Sushi Bar. You have to ring the doorbell and someone will let you in. Definite Speakeasy vibes. You are then seated at in the bar area awaiting your table. If you are here for the Sushi, I believe there are 3 or 4 seating times per night. The Pasta Bar only has seating for 12, so you will need to wait until your seat clears up. While waiting, we were treated with a welcome drink and a pre-dinner treat. The drink reminded me of Xmas in a cup. The 3 pre-dinner treats were pretty good and I enjoyed the uni mousse thingy. After about 10-15 minutes, we were brought back to our seats. You are seating at a bar right in the kitchen so you get to see the action. I did notice how warm it was in there and I was sweating a little bit. The chef is has his playlist going on in the background. Mostly 90's-2000 R&B & Hip Hop. I enjoyed the playlist because that's basically my personal playlist also. I was told the menu changes seasonally, but they also make little changes depending on what ingredients were available. Including the sourdough bread, you get a total of 12 courses. Come hungry because, though the dishes are small, it will fill you up. The dishes are pretty good for the most part, but I find it weird that this is a Pasta bar, but there's only about 3 dishes that had actual pastas in it. We both did find that the dishes were a bit on the salty side. Even the cultured butter for the sourdough had salt crystals in it. I wish they backed off the salt a little bit. We added the wine pairing and were able to split the pours. This actually helped shorten the time in between dishes as we were able to interact with the sommelier and listen to his descriptions with the pairing and the wine. The service here is fantastic. Everyone is personable and very attentive. Water was filled and our wine came out in a timely manner. We actually were able to talk to the head chef and he divulged that they have a a community garden close by that they use to grow some of their ingredients. Overall, the experience was great and the experience was fantastic.

    Dan Z.

    If you are into gimmick or ok with 1/3 of the courses being desserts like cookies and ice creams then this is the place for you! Oh not to mention head chef DJ 's attitude. He asked me how the only protein of the night - a piece of duck breast was, and once heard me saying it was a bit tough and chewy, his only response was "nice" and turnt away. Chef DJ definitely looks like he spends all his time eating so... he should know the quality of that dish. The lady in the front is very personal and professional tho.

    Nathan P.

    Since eating is your hobby, I'm always looking for new and interesting places to try. The Scratch Restaurant group has been on my list as they have both Pasta Bar & Sushi Bar. To my surprise, they're both located in the same building and have the same entrance but each concept is split up into its own dining space. I was dining solo, so I was able to make a reservation same day. It was difficult to find the entrance since it's hidden with only a small sign indicating the location. I think it might be helpful to include a bit more detailed instruction on how to find it for first timers. After ringing the doorbell, someone opened the door and asked for some info before I was led to a seat at the lounge bar. This is the waiting space for both concepts. Started off with a welcome cocktail which was made using a coffee filtration machine which was fun to watch. The wait was a bit long after reservation time due to guests taking their time. We then got some canapés to start which was well presented and fun but nothing mind blowing. Once entering the dining room/chef counter, it was definitely transformative. Very well lit and the mood was set right away. Awesome vibes and good music blasting through the speakers. Started off with their sourdough bread and butter which came out steaming hot. The salad course was surprising and fresh with clean and crisp vegetables brought together by a ponzu jus. Crudo was light and refreshing but leaned on the sweeter side. The use of huacatay and aji amarillo powder was unique and tasteful. Moving onto the hot courses, I received the mezzaluna pasta which was visually striking. The pasta matched the pattern and colors of the plate. Scallop was sweet as well as the mango sticky rice filling. Fresno hollandaise added the much needed heat and richness. Next up, the cavatelli. Hand rolled pasta which was al dente. Flavor was a bit flat. Had a smoky flavor profile with the poblano and serrano? Pork was a bit chewy. On the drier side and would have liked a saucier dish so the cavatelli could soak up the sauce. The standout of the cappelletti was the smoked mushroom dashi. Nice palate cleanser. Tagliolini was okay. The more saucy of the pastas but cream based. Most flavor coming from the truffle shaving and breadcrumbs. The final savory courses were the striped bass and squab entrees. The fish dish was the most summer tasting as it was light, bright, and use of vegetables complemented the bass. It was the first day running the squab and I thought it was good. It was my first time trying this protein and it was well cooked. The dessert courses probably were my least favorite as it wasn't super creative. All were things I've tasted before. Wine pairing was nice and service from Jennifer was on point. Service all around was outstanding and might be my favorite part of the experience. Each dish is presented by the chef/cook. It shows pride in their work and nice to interact with the talent and dedication. Shout out to the chefs (from a fellow cook) Price is very high with my check coming out to $360+. Dining at a Michelin restaurant isn't often so I don't mind splurging if it's worth it and thankfully my experience here was! I'm interested in checking out sushi bar next as I love omakase.

    Kenny B.

    Great food, the service is fantastic and the ambience is wonderful. I really enjoy dining here.

    Miya B.

    Celebrated my second birthday in a row here this past weekend, and there's a reason why Pasta Bar is my baseline standard when it comes to 1-starred Michelin restaurants. From the moment you are greeted to the moment you leave, you feel taken care of, and the overall vibes of the restaurant is just chill and a purely good time. The music is curated by Chef DJ and his playlist is full of bangers. I love that it's a more laid back feel while maintaining a level of sophistication, which is something that's rare to find in fine dining in my experience. Since my last visit, the service has been consistently stellar (Grant, the GM is awesome, all of the chefs and kitchen staff are super passionate and friendly) and the presentation of the dishes has become more elevated. It's a 12 course meal with 3 desserts so definitely come hungry. Despite feeling very full at the end, the pacing of the dishes was superb and you're never left waiting for your next course nor feeling rushed to finish your current one. Each course is also explained incredibly well but also in a manner where it's obvious the chefs are excited about the food - and I love that. We did the reserve wine pairing ($225 per person compared to the signature wine pairing at $145) but even for people like us who aren't as well-versed in wine, it was 100% worth it. The sommelier was extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and encouraged any questions we might have. All of the pairings went perfectly with the courses, and we even found a few Rieslings that we fell in love with and had to note down to have again in the future. We didn't have any cocktails, but were offered one on the house to try, and it was absolutely magical and we will definitely be having some the next time we inevitably return.

    Sammie C.

    Once or twice or thrice a month my husband and I like to suffer driving through LA traffic to try out new restaurants, just so we can lament on the way back what a waste of time it was. Well, not the case for Pasta Bar, it was definitely a worthwhile experience. Impeccable service, delicious tasting course, and perfect wine pairing made for a memorable evening out. Love love love how meticulous the chefs were with the arrangement on the dishes, and love that they forage from their own garden. Chef did mention that the menu was seasonal, so perhaps seasonal visits are in the book.

    Patrick G.

    This is the best restaurant in Los Angeles. There are broths served at this restaurant that are more delicious and fulfilling than entire meals at other similarly ranked restaurants. The service is unparalleled. Restaurant as a True Calling and as Art.

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    2 months ago

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    Creative menu; amazing service; unique and interesting ambiance; looking forward to the next visit.

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    Such a great experience! Service and atmosphere is so amazing! Recommend that you do this experience.

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    Pasta Bar Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Pasta Bar

    For the standard wine pairing, how many different wines?

    When we went in February, there was a different wine for each accompanying dish.

    Are there non-alcoholic pairings or offerings for those who do not drink?

    Hi! We do not currently have a full non-alcoholic beverage pairing. However, we offer many different… Read more

    Is there option to have a vegetarian menu / lacto ovo is ok?

    Hi! Thank you for your inquiry into our dietary accommodations. We do have a vegetarian tasting… Read more

    Do we need reservation?

    Yes, they have limited seating (I think up to only 12 guests at a time, with only 3 seatings per night), so reservations are definitely a must. Also, they personalize a little welcome card with your name on it so you would know where to sit. Highly… Read more

    Is there a way to accommodate a pescatarian at your restaurant? I don't eat red meats and was considering making a reservation for next month

    Hi! Yes, all Pasta|Bar locations are able to offer a pescatarian tasting menu for you. We look… Read more

    Do you have an age policy?

    I don't know specifically but when we were there, there was a ~11 year old boy with his parents (cutie dressed in a full suit!)

    Hi, my husband and I made reservations coming up in a few weeks - are you able to accommodate me as a strict vegetarian? No seafood, no fish sauce. Please advise :)

    Hi Hilary! Here at Pasta|Bar LA, we are able to accommodate a fully vegetarian menu. We look forward to having you in with us in a few weeks.

    Do you offer outdoor dining?

    Hi Michael, Due to the style of dining that we provide, we are not able to offer any outdoor… Read more

    I can't find a wine list anywhere. Is there one available to view? Is a wine pairing offered and if so, for how much?

    Hi RD, Thank you for your inquiry into our beverage program! We have (2) separate wine pairing… Read more

    How much is the pre-set menu?

    According to the website, it's $165 per person.

    View All 13 Questions

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    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.

    Ambiance - although this place has lots of seating, it has a cozy, neighborhood vibe…read more Service - excellent. From the friendly greeter/hostess to the Italian sommelier who checked in on us and joked with us often, they really made us feel we've been customers for a long time. This is only our second time here. Our friends' last time of eating her was over 10 years ago. This is simply because we all live far from this resto. Our friends lived in the valley and we live in OC. Food - very authentic Italian food. We ordered a bottle of wine, clam linguine, shrimp cake (for appetizer), Frutti de Mare, rigatoni Norma, pappardelle Alfredo, cioppino, tiramisu and flan.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    MASCARPONE FLAN
    MASCARPONE FLAN
    Scallops with squid ink risotto

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    Cento Pasta Bar

    Cento Pasta Bar

    4.4
    (1.2k reviews)
    11.6 mi
    $$$

    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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    Beef Tartare
    Bestia

    Bestia

    4.3
    (8.4k reviews)
    16.9 mi
    $$$

    Enjoyed a simple dinner at Bestia on a Sunday evening, which provided a less than usual business…read more The surroundings are as expected, unassuming and driving into the area provides environment context that would highlight the privilege of such a place. Had one cocktail and an old fashioned, both were exceptional. Dinner was light with the Caesar salad that ranks as one of the best I've had in both taste, freshness and presentation. The Burrata pizza was good. Taste profile, 10/10. Texture, 5/10 as the bottom of the the pizza was soggy and chewy from the wetness of the sauce. Perhaps an area of improvement here. Since it was late, we skipped dessert, but overall, we enjoyed our meal, ambiance and the service.

    After hearing so much hype about Bestia over the years, I finally got the chance to try it…read more The atmosphere is definitely one of the highlights. We sat near the bar and it was fun watching the kitchen and staff work throughout the evening. The space feels lively, trendy, and perfect for a night out. My favorite dish was the scallop crudo. The sauce was creamy, tangy, and surprisingly refreshing. I also really enjoyed the truffle pasta -- the texture was super chewy, almost like mochi. Overall, the food was good and I can see why it's such a popular spot in LA. While I enjoyed the experience, I personally don't think it is THAT amazing and need months ahead reservation..... Still, it's worth trying at least once for the atmosphere and signature dishes.

    Photos
    Bar area!!
    Bar area!!
    "Coffee and Donuts"
    "Coffee and Donuts"
    Squid Ink Spaghetti

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    Squid Ink Spaghetti
    Donna's

    Donna's

    4.3
    (685 reviews)
    14.2 mi
    $$$

    This has to be my new favorite LA restaurant. Every dish I had was amazing, even the dessert. I was…read morepleasantly surprised by the chicken parmesan and linguini & clams pasta. The caesar salad was also made really well. The service was friendly and quick. It's a super cute vibe inside too! Parking can get tricky since it's all street parking, but not too bad.

    Getting reservations here felt like getting concert tickets for a popular artist. Reservation slots…read moredrop at 10am, 28 days in advanced. Within minutes, tickets for Saturday night were completely taken. Crazy! So much hype around this restaurant and for the most part, it did actually live up to it. Garlic Bread - Heavenly. A crunchy exterior with a soft buttery finish in between every slice and topped with parm shavings. This was definitely my favorite out of everything we got! Arugula Salad - Dressed perfectly with a tooooon of cheese on top. My type of salad! There was enough acidity in the dressing that the cheese wasn't too overpowering. Meat and Cheese Plate - Assorted meats and cheeses with olives and artichokes. All the cheeses were rich and the meats were sliced thinly. The portion of the plate as a whole was a little on the small side though. Fusilli Alla Vodka - The flavor was good but it honestly tasted like I could've made it at home. I was expecting a more rich creamy sauce with a handmade pasta. My hopes were extremely high for this dish since this is the one everyone gets. It wasn't bad by any means, it just wasn't what I was expecting after seeing all the great reviews on it. Pan Seared Branzino - Comes on a bed of green sauce. The branzino itself was seasoned and cooked perfectly. The sauce felt a little out of place. A little too herby. It comes deboned. Patatas - Generous portion of crispy large potatoes with a delicious bed of aioli. Cannolis - Comes with 3 fun sized cannolis of differing flavors. Strawberry, chocolate, and I'm forgetting the other flavor. A fun take on your classic cannoli. My least favorite was the strawberry shortcake. It had the concept of a cannolis but just didn't hold up well and was more like cheesecake. The chocolate was the best. I did enjoy the toppings on either side of the cannoli for an extra crunch. Rosina - Perfectly balanced cocktail. A little sweet with enough tartness to not make it overpowering. Service was great, the interior of the restaurant was cute and homey, food came out quickly - overall, a very good experience. The hype around this place made my expectations extremely high, and although they weren't all met, this was still a meal I would definitely come back for.

    Photos
    Bar area.
    Bar area.
    Broccolini
    Broccolini
    Chicken Parmesan

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    Chicken Parmesan
    Mother Wolf

    Mother Wolf

    4.0
    (1.4k reviews)
    9.6 mi
    $$$$

    Tried a few dishes, and the standout was definitely the rigatoni--easily my favorite…read more Would come back again, especially to grab a seat at the bar and try more from the menu.

    We arrived right when Mother Wolf opened at 5:30 PM and were quite literally the second group…read morethrough the doors. Our party consisted of 10 people, and since online reservations appeared to max out at 7 guests, we figured arriving early would give us the best chance of being seated together. Unfortunately, we were informed that because our party exceeded 8 people, we could only be seated as one group if we agreed to a minimum spend of $125 per person. While I understand restaurants have logistical and financial considerations when accommodating large parties, that minimum felt excessive, especially considering that four members of our group were children. The alternative offered was to split us into two tables of five, which we accepted. However, what left a sour impression was that our two tables were seated at opposite ends of the restaurant. Given how early we arrived and the number of available tables surrounding both seating areas, it felt unnecessary and somewhat petty to separate us so dramatically. I appreciate that we were accommodated, but I'm not sure I appreciated how the situation was handled overall. As for the food, we ordered the Rigatoni All'Amatriciana, Gnochetti, Mezzi Rigatoni alla Carbonara, and Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe, along with the Margherita pizza, Sfincione focaccia, and meatballs. The quality of the ingredients was evident throughout the meal, and everything tasted fresh and thoughtfully prepared. Of the pasta dishes, the Cacio e Pepe was probably my favorite and the one I'd be most likely to order again. That said, while everything was good, nothing particularly stood out as a must-have dish that would draw me back. Given the premium pricing, I can confidently say I've had better meals at similarly priced restaurants. The standout of the evening was actually dessert. The tiramisu was excellent and easily the best thing we ordered all night. Overall, Mother Wolf is a beautiful restaurant with quality food, and I can see it being worth a visit if you're curious to try it. For me, though, it feels more like a one-time dining experience than a place I'd actively seek out again.

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

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

    Pasta Bar - italian - Updated June 2026

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