Decent spot for Italian in the heart of LA. I read some of the reviews to see what the hate is about and I didn't see that on my visit. We came for a company event. Food was good but not spectacular. Service was good. Plenty of seating. I particularly liked the pizza and various appetizers. read more

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I had a very disappointing experience here and initially tried to handle it privately by contacting management directly. I sent an email explaining my concerns and asking for a response, but weeks went by without any reply. Since management couldn't be bothered to acknowledge or address the issue, I'm sharing my experience publicly. I ordered a matcha drink and was surprised when it came out heavily sweetened. I immediately explained that I cannot have sweetened matcha and politely requested either a replacement drink or a refund (it was $8). I was then told that the matcha used is a pre-sweetened powder, and my request was denied. What made this especially frustrating is that matcha is traditionally unsweetened unless otherwise stated, and there was no indication before ordering that the product contained added sweeteners. As a result, I paid for a drink I couldn't consume. Unfortunately, this is not the first time I've received incorrect or unclear information from staff regarding ingredients. As someone with dietary restrictions, accurate ingredient information is extremely important. What disappointed me most wasn't just the misinformation--it was the complete lack of concern when the issue was raised respectfully and the refusal to offer any reasonable resolution. The combination of poor communication, dismissive customer service, and management's failure to respond afterward leaves me unable to recommend this business. read more

The cafe can brush up on their customer service skills. Please dnt be rude. Be more helpful wheb a customer need assitance. I only come here for the Panna cotta. Prob the only best thing on the menu. Such a nice restaurant but scrappy service. read more

Came here yesterday after seeing exhibit at The Broad next door. It's so convenient and I've never had a bad meal here. The salad was perfect for a healthy lunch and also ordered a coffee. I like refills to keep hot and waiter left a small pot at table for my friend and myself which I liked. Service was good and there wasn't a crowd so all was easy and smooth. We returned for some delicious pastry desserts before hitting the road and after viewing rest of the museum. Parking was easy too at museum- 29$ for 6 hours but was happy as car was safe and all in one easy spot. read more

Vespaio - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Stopped in before a show and was sat on the patio. The menu had fresh pastas and everything sounded delicious but I opted for a salad which was great. Service was great and the vibes were great as well. Highly recommend as an option before a show. read more

Vespaio - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I would say this is good Italian food not quite great. The service is also good. From the two times I've come here I have tried a variety of the dishes. The thin pizzas are a little doughy rather than crispy. The eggplant Parmesan is light and not fried, which I really enjoy. The roast chicken is a solid choice. I found the scampi risotto with asparagus too bland for me. This is a great location in Dtla convenient to museums and concerts/plays. The dining room is nice and inviting. When I'm seeing a show nearby it's a go to eatery. read more

Vespaio - RISOTTO SCAMPI - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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This restaurant is conveniently located within walking distance of the Walt Disney Concert Hall, so we decided to stop there for some happy hour treats before a show. We parked at the concert hall and walked over, as parking around there is limited. The restaurant itself was quite lovely, the ambiance feels like you're in a villa somewhere along a coast, with views of Downtown Los Angeles. We sat at the bar to take advantage of their great happy hour menu and we had a wonderful time. The service was fantastic, our bartender was very friendly and attentive, giving us recommendations for the wine. We placed our food orders and received them promptly, with the beef tagliata and arugula salad being the winner of the evening for delicious food. The pizza we ordered was decent, not incredible but I did appreciate the large pieces of mushrooms that were included. Once we were done with our food our bartender appeared with a dessert menu that we could NOT resist. The carrot cake was delicious and the vanilla bean whipped cream that came with it stole the show, the combination together was incredible. A great place to enjoy before a show in the heart of Los Angeles. read more

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This was the perfect spot for lunch after exploring MOCA and The Broad. It was beautiful and had the AC running which came in clutch for the hot day. I ordered the Garganelli which had mixed seasonal seafood and I was so happy to see squid! Squid is one of my favorites so that really made my day. My waiter was incredibly attentive and kind. I will be back. read more

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My friends and I had a GREAT start of the year dinner at Vespaio. It was a Saturday evening and the restaurant was packed. The pre-show/concert crowd was definitely wall to wall. We had reservations for 6 people and were seated as soon as everyone was present. We were seated in the back room. All the tables were filled and there was a company party of sorts in their outdoor patio area. I ordered the branzino ($38) and it was delicious. Flaky, tasty, crispy skin. Just what I wanted and devoured that white fish along with the sauteed spinach it came with. Also ordered were the pappardelle with wild boar ragu ($29), tagliatelle verdi with beef & porcini ragu ($29), paccheri bolognese ($29), risotto with porcini with a lot of shaved truffle ($30). Delicious. The table loved all their orders and we scarfed down our food. We also ordered calamari ($22) as an appetizer and that was good. Lightly battered & fried alongside fried zucchini strings. There was a special appetizer that night, burrata, pistachios and truffle truffle truffle. It was very good. We ordered a trio of desserts. Tiramisu ($12), bombolini ($12) that came with a custard chocolate dipper & a passion fruit panna cotta which may have been a special that evening. All the desserts were tasty but the panna cotta was probably my favorite of the 3. Service was great. I mentioned the place was packed. After about 730/8pm, the restaurant emptied out as all the patrons went to their shows. We pretty much had the restaurant all to ourselves after that point. It was great! I highly recommend Vespaio. The food was great, the restaurant space is nice and the service was real good. Get the branzino. Valet parking out front. read more

Great service and great food would definitely recommend and if you need a good place near downtown then would definitely recommend coming to see this place to eat pasta read more

Vespaio - The place - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

One of the best restaurants near the Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles. Excellent food, service and ambiance. Their menu is extensive, including their dessert offerings! I had their branzino with sautéed spinach and my guest had the scallops appetizer (this usually comes with guanciale but she is a pescatarian). The chef was very accommodating to her dietary restrictions. The only complaint is their tables are spaced too close to each other. You can barely get into your seat without knocking around the items on the table, or risk getting burned by their real lit candles. There is no room for setting your purse down and tables are too small to fully fit plates of food if you order a side dish or salad. read more

Vespaio - Scallops in the background, artichoke carpaccio with arugula. - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I came here with my mother back in October 2025 on a Saturday evening after a lovely time at the Broad. Thankfully, we were able to quickly grab a table despite having no reservation. I will recall the service being a little standoffish. We did enjoy the food, which was tasty and plenty for two people (ended up bringing leftover pizza home), but it was difficult to get the attention of the servers at times, and I had the distinct feeling that they found us tiresome to deal with. I understand that things get busy for them so I hope that service will be better next time. read more

Vespaio - PACCHERI BOLOGNESE MARGHERITA PIZZA - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I have such a soft spot for Vespaio as we've made many good memories here. It's often our go-to when we're spending time at The Broad, and with the museum's world-class collection being free, Vespaio feels like a natural extension of the elevated experience. The cuisine reflects classic Italian restraint, shaped by Chef Agostino Sciandri, whose career spanned London (the Savoy!) and years cooking in Tuscany brings the best and unfussy take on Italian food. We've stopped in just for drinks many times, and most recently came for happy hour with a large group. I honestly hope someone had reserved ahead, because it felt like a small miracle that they were able to accommodate all of us. The happy hour was excellent. We ordered almost everything - seared tuna, pizzas, and absolutely inhaled the mushroom pizza the moment it hit the table. I believe I ordered a mule (Thank God for pictures!). read more

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I wanted to add that the porchetta sandwich is also a strong menu item. The meat is thinly sliced and seasoned with lots of herbs and savory flavors. You have your choice of bread, including the house baked focaccia which is not too thick or heavy. It comes with a side of house made potato chips and giardiniera (pickled vegetables). read more

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Came for dinner on a weeknight. I ordered the bologneso pasta and it was amazing! I am only knocking a star off due to the small portion size for dinner. I ate all my plate and was looking for more. We also ordered some focaccia bread and it was soft and warm served. read more

Great service, the food, drinks, all around great experience. Remember to try their pastries too! read more

Came here bc we were starving and ordered two sandwiches to go. Sandwiches were pretty expensive and not very tasty. Lamb was gamey and vegetables were sparse. Conveniently located by the museum though. Was expecting the bread to be better for the cost. read more

Great restaurant for dtla office crowd. Went for a holiday company party recently. $29 parking at the broad, $19 if you validate with free museum reservation. The burrata salad was delicious and fresh. I asked for no fish garnish. The ravioli was a good vegetarian option, but the filling was a little gritty. The sage was not fragrant. The sauce did not separate, so that's worth noting! It didn't make me feel heavy and bloated. Our dessert was tiramisu. I'm not a big tiramisu aficionado, however it tasted like espresso and mascarpone lol the lady fingers were SOAKED in the espresso. It was flavorful. The focaccia was fresh and chewy. I'd return if I was in the area read more

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Stellar service and food. My unfavorable review of Vespaio some years back mysteriously disappeared. Happy to say things have much improved and the seafood dishes tasted great! Bunker Hill used to have a much more vibrant food scene before Covid, unfortunately Otium, Bunker Hill Bar & Grill and Patina all have closed. Vespaio is about the only respectable Italian restaurant standing as of right now. (Smeraldi in the Biltmore no longer serves dinner, and Bottega Louie is only good for pizzas and desserts.) read more

Vespaio - Seafood pappardelle - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I was a little worried because of the rating of this place but I was blown away! This restaurant is right next the the Broad which was convenient. The interior was very pretty and we quickly seated. There is a lunch menu and I ordered pasta with the beef sauce. Very very good. The sauce was flavorful with small chunks of beef not ground which I loved. The pasta was homemade and delicious. Definitely give this place a try. read more

Vespaio - TAGLIATELLE VERDI - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Large Italian restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating options, and a bar. Great for an after-work dinner or lunch time meal. We enjoyed the pastas which were all really fresh and paired well with tasty sauces. The desserts (featured in photos) were great too and generously sized. Apple crumble and the coconut cake were favorites. The service was attentive and friendly . read more

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Picked this place because we were going to the Mark Taper Forum and wanted their happy hour menu. The bar was packed when we arrived but we found a high top table with 2 chairs. If I was to rate the restaurant on service alone it would be a 5. The bartender was so attentive and friendly while being super busy. We had the charred octopus which was good but a very small portion of octopus and a pizza. For an Italian restaurant the pizza was average. Drinks were excellent. A good place if you're attending the Music Center or Disney Hall. read more

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We made a reservation at 645pm. When at 655pm I politely inquired about the table because we had to go to the theatre, the hostess seemed super stressed and said "well everyone here is going". She then found a table that had been sitting empty, that she had missed. It was outside and very pleasant on a summer evening. No menus for several minutes - I went to ask about those and the hostess apologized saying our server had a huge section and was busy. He actually was very nice but yes, overwhelmed. No bread, but that's ok. The buffalo salad was odd: one basil leaf and a small halved head of lettuce. The bufala was crunbly and served plain - no olive oil or vinegar accompanied it, not even salt or pepper. My seafood pasta special had a dried out prawn on top. The taglione pasta was a giant clump, and the sauce lacked flavor. I think people only come here for the proximity to the museum and theatres. read more

Had a gig at Colburn and needed food before the concert. Saw this place and got happy hour. Beef tagliata, sea bass ceviche, roasted cauliflower/broccoli/brussels sprouts, berries, and apple cobbler. Everything was tasty and fresh, excellent service, beautiful restaurant! Not sure why they have only 3.5 stars, but would recommend! read more

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Great service, nice environment and location near all of music theaters. Fried Calamari was really great, fresh, crunchy, eggplant parmigiana tasted good. Seabass was the best. Their Affogado was the best. read more

Great ambiance and delicious food. When we were there, we had their calamari seafood pasta special, Parma Prosciutto & Bruschetta, and bread pudding with vanilla ice cream. Calamari seafood: Creamy, pasta cooked al dente, and flavorful seafood. Delicious. Would get this again. Parma Prosciutto & Bruschetta: Simple dish. Topped with black truffles. Toast was hard but the prosciutto was good. Probably wouldn't get again but because I'd rather get something else, not due to poor execution. Bread Pudding: the all-star! So yummy and it came out warm and gooey with a side of caramel. Would come back for this. read more

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Chose to dine here on a recommendation before attending a concert and I'm so glad we did! We were greeted with kindness and seated immediately, in fact it was a few minutes earlier than our reservation, which was great! Our server was kind and helpful. The ambiance was warm and inviting, a place to sit and have a nice conversation and enjoy your meal. They have an extensive wine list but since we don't drink, my hubby had lemonade and I had a Shirley Temple. We ordered the Focaccia Bread and enjoyed it with their delicious EVOO and Balsamic, i think I could've just had that for dinner, it was so good! For our main course, my husband ordered the Ribeye Steak with Brussel Sprouts, medium rare, and he really enjoyed it. It was tender and seasoned well, it ranks up there with the best in his opinion. I ordered the Risotto Scampi, but I think I would've enjoyed the pizza better. It wasn't bad, by any means, just for my taste, it didn't seem seasoned enough, I added a little salt to it which I never do, it was just a little bland for my taste, but maybe someone else would love it! We saved room for dessert and I ordered the Coconut Cheesecake, which was delicious, it had a syrup drizzle on the plate and strawberries & cream on the side, so good! My husband had the Apple Cobbler that came hot and with caramel, he enjoyed it so much he didn't even offer me any! I can't say what it tasted like, but judging by his reaction, I'd say it was pretty awesome! We finished off with a Macchiato and coffee, which were made perfectly! Overall, it was a wonderful experience, from beginning to end, I would recommend it to anyone, it was a perfect dinner for our date night! read more

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I don't know why they don't have better reviews - I loved my meal here! I got the boar ragu pappardelle which is one of my go-to Italian dishes, and it was great! The boar was tender, the pappardelle had the perfect toothiness and mouth feel. My friend goes there A LOT and he loves everything he had. My other friend had the bolognese and honestly it looked so good, I want to go back to try it! Our waitress was so lovely. Honestly she was very relatable, made our dinner that much better. We shared a bottle of Malbec and it was lovely. The restaurant is beautiful inside with comfortable lighting. It's an easy walk down from the concert hall. Not too pricy for the food and location, especially for downtown LA. I will definitely be back! read more

One of the best restaurants currently in the area. Perfect walking distance to the Music Center and the Disney Concert Hall. With less than an hour to have a pre-show dinner, we didn't have time to linger, but we did enjoy our meal. The Short Rib Risotto was excellent. Also delicious is the Wild Salmon. The service was very accommodating, given our tight schedule. We never felt that we had to rush. Vespaio is an excellent alternative to the usual spots in the area. We will definitely be back for more. read more

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Tried out Vespaio for an early dinner since it was walking distance from the Disney Concert Hall. Service was attentive but food was just okay. I don't understand how they will not accommodate when asked if they could add some vegetables to a pasta pomodoro (we were willing to pay for the upcharge) since my husband is vegan and their menu does not have any other vegan-friendly option. I tried their eggplant parmesan and although it was served bubbling hot, it could have used a side of toasted bread to accompany it. Their calamari was good, but their coconut cake was kind of dry but wet (think tres leches but not as soaked) at the same time, which was offputting. I doubt we will return should we have another concert to attend to in the future. read more

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We had a 4:30pm dinner reservation for 8 people because we have a 6:30 show to catch at the Ahmanson theater. The timing of the service was very difficult. We were never given drink menus or asked if we wanted to order drinks or appetizers. Instead, we followed up and asked to order our meals 3 times. About 45 minutes after we were seated, the server was finally able to take our order. Most of our visit, the server was glued to the computer. Probably trying to figure out how to put in the orders. I feel bad because he was very friendly and nice. Constantly apologizing for the mistakes. Just seemed overwhelmed and unable to manage multiple tables. When the food and drinks arrived, not all of it was correct. We let them know 2 of the drinks were missing. Then when all the drinks arrived, we met them know one of them was still wrong. The steak which was ordered medium rare arrived closer to well and tasted powdery. Unfortunately, it was too late to get a correct steak. I did request to speak with the manager. And he offered to comp the overcooked steak. And he made sure the rest of the dinner was timely, including the serving of dessert. I'm glad he turned things around. While I definitely don't recommend getting steak, but those in my party who got the pork dishes were very pleased. The best part of this restaurant is the ambiance and location in DTLA next to the theater and museums. read more

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My wife and I were in the area walking around when we stumbled across Vespaio. They have a menu outside their entrance, so after perusing it we decided to give it a shot. It's located directly next to The Broad, across the street from The Museum of Contemporary Art. It's also within walkable distance from the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the L.A. Opera House. Inside the restaurant looked nice and was pretty empty for a Saturday afternoon, but they sat us in their covered patio. Note that their patio doesn't have solid walls, just an airy/removable tarp separating you from the street, so you get all the street smells (or in our case, all the weed smell from someone sparking up right next to the restaurant). After we were seated, it took a while for anyone to notice us. Thankfully we looked over the menu before entering, because we didn't even get one when the hostess left us. We were just about to call it quits and go elsewhere when the waiters finally gave us attention, so we rolled the dice and stayed. My wife asked if they have any caffeine-free tea, so the waiter left to go check. Another waiter plopped down green tea shortly afterwards and said it didn't have any caffeine in it. Normally it's customary to give options so the customer can choose what they would like or choose something else, but whatever. I ordered the Pappardelle Pasta while my better half ordered the Marinated Chicken Breast Salad. We both couldn't help but laugh at the portions of our food (I'm sure the contact high helped). The Marinated Chicken Breast Salad had a few tiny pieces of chicken hidden underneath what looked like a grocery store salad mix plus some unrelated/uncut leaves. The Pappardelle Pasta didn't even cover the bottom of the bowl and was bland. Fyi - Vespaio automatically adds a 4% business surcharge to every bill "to assist in providing competitive compensation and insurance benefits for our stuff. The surcharge is not a tip or gratuity and is retained by the restaurant." I'm pretty sure they meant "staff" instead of "stuff" but who knows. Either way, you're running a crappy business if you can't afford compensation/benefits for your employees. So after $60 plus a tip that wasn't earned, we left the restaurant hungry which honestly hasn't happened to us in years. We enjoyed each other's company though so we still left in high spirits - though again, that could be due to the stoner graciously sharing his smoke with the entire patio. If you have kids or are with someone who has asthma, ask to sit inside. We took a swing on this place and boy was it a miss! If you're in the area checking out museums or concerts, do yourself a favor and keep walking! Hell, you'll even get more bang for your buck from Subway & Chipotle next door. Vespaio has bland food, hilariously small portions, bad service, and is overpriced to gouge the customers for all you're worth. PS - on the way out, my wife stopped by the restroom. A male employee with a trash bag (presumably the janitor) asked if she was going to use the restroom. She said yes and entered, then the guy followed her right in. He didn't leave and bizarrely waited inside until she was done. She was the only woman in the restroom, so she felt incredibly uncomfortable by this absolute creeper following her inside and blocking the only exit. Seriously, steer clear of Vespaio. read more

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Great staff, decent menu and very close to the museums and the music center. This makes is an excellent stop before or after a concern, show or visit. The menu is great mostly Italian with a decent wine list. The service is great and servers are attentive. read more

Food was all delicious, however I didn't care for the fried calamari and zucchini not pictured, it was underwhelming to me. The zucchini was shoestring cut and hard to pick up with forks. Don't get it if you tryna be cute. My mom liked it tho. BUT EVERYTHING ELSE!!!! 10 outta 10. Servers were friendly and very attentive. Spent about $200 for apps, mains, non alcoholic drinks, and coffee for 2 people. Worth it. Definitely coming back! read more

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This place was so convenient and we were able to quickly get food before our show at the Walt Disney Concert hall. The restaurant is a tiny bit crowded, but the staff is very kind. I had a delicious glass of moscato. The rosemary potatoes were cooked to perfection. The pizza was average, but the rosemary pizza bread stole the show! read more

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Good food and vibes. The service was prompt and efficient. Parking in DTLA is always a challenge. But this. Place was worth the hassle. read more

Vespaio - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

We recently visited Vespaio for the first time. We were in LA for the opera as an anniversary gift to ourselves. The staff at Vespaio were very nice and the seating on the patio was spacious with the only downside being the noise from the street and the open air so close to the sidewalk where people walk and smoke. We ordered an appetizer of cheese and bread. The combinations were unique and very enjoyable. Our dinners were full of flavor. I enjoyed the Tuscan Kale ravioli and my husband loved his pork chop. He initially asked to swap his fried green tomatoes for another vegetable but was informed this wasn't an option. In the end he tried them and found he enjoyed their crispy texture. I felt the fried tomatoes could have used a little more seasoning. We ended our meal with some amazing desserts. We shared the Italian donuts and the apple crumble. Both were very good! We've already recommended this spot for a pre-show dinner to our family and friends! read more

Stopped in for dessert just before a show at the Mark taper form. Love that it's within walking distance.. sat in the very cute bar.. quick service tasty treats no complaints. read more

Vespaio - Apple dessert - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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This was my first time dining at this restaurant. I went here for a New Year's Eve dinner before going to see a concert at the La Philharmonic. The service was stellar, and the food was delicious. All the entrees were flavorful and tender. Beautiful Italian-style decor. We had lobster spaghetti, branzino fish, peach cobbler, beet salad, ahi tuna, basil martinis, and margaritas. The female manager and our waiter were very friendly, and accommodating and made sure we were taken well care of. Also, the owner's son came by our table and greeted us. Note: They charge a 3% percent surcharge for their employee's insurance on your bill. So make sure you are aware of the charge it's posted on the regular menu. read more

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Lovely place for lunch with a cozy California bistro vibe. Delicious food-we had a panini and a salad both yummy. The servings are generous and we could have shared. Service was excellent. Highly recommend. We would dine here regularly if we lived in LA! Also had dessert. read more

Vespaio - Carrot cake big enough to share - Italian Near Me - Los Angeles, California